The Insider June 2025 by The Insider

PARTNERS

GENERAL PARTNER

Special thanks to

Citadele, Morten Hansen, Xavier Landes, Nicolas Gavoille, Annija Gaile, Zane Kalniņa, Kārlis Šadris, Danija Līva Jaundzema, all the gossipers ;) and the beloved team of insiders.

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

Well, well, well last issue of this academic year, and boy oh boy, what a year it’s been. We hope we made it a bit easier, and that all of you are now academic weapons If not on paper, then in our hearts

But what about this issue? To be honest, no deep story here Our managing writer Laura had an idea a year ago for a safarithemed edition, so we said, “f*ck it, let’s do it ” Therefore, this issue’s theme is SAFARI, IN THE WILD Think of it like this: it’s internship season, so you ’ re entering the corporate safari where survival is up to you and you have to look out for predators like bullshit tasks and toxic managers

Anyways, what’s inside? As Morten is retiring, we decided to ask him some not so formal questions the ones you sent in So definitely go check out the answers And don t miss his final column in The Insider For additional columns, we encourage you to friend him on Facebook

And the results are in go check out the nominations page to see who won what categories this year Perhaps something to write in your LinkedIn profile? Maybe not

But that’s not all We have multiple articles with a safari twist, so go, go and read them. Don’t forget to do the crossword and check out another game we have on page 54 If you ’ re gifted enough, put on the playlist curated by Nicolas and Xavier, as always

This kind of feels like the end of something a moment where students say kind words to each other But where to put these words? Exchange them verbally? Yeah, could do What about writing them somewhere? YES! So go sign each other’s June issue and leave some good wishes or unfunny jokes We’ve specially made space on the last pages of the issue where you can do that!

Thank you for being with us, dear readers, gossipers, memers, and others with an opinion We wish you good luck in your corporate safari and see you in August ;)

xoxo, The Insider

T H E

E D I T O R I A L

J u n e

18 NOT A MACRO Q&A

We have had MULTIPLE Q&As by Morten about macro and micro, but have we ever had a q&a about everything else? No!

That is why we asked Morten your questions and got some answers

22 NOMINATIONS!!!

The end of year calls for a summary of fave courses, organizations and other things So now is the time to know who was the biggest gossiper, biggest smoker and who has the prettiest feet of all

30 SS 1997

They say that the Insider is a reflection of the generational soul Judging by the topics, contents, and most importantlygossips, we can surely tell that the students of SSE Riga are becoming crazier, drunker and less responsible right?

It's the last stretch for studies, therefore more time to relax is needed So why not have 2 games this issue? Will you finish the game just like you finished the semester or Will you get finished?

Year 3s will have yearbooks, where they'll be signing each other’s pages So why should you be left out? Use this space to leave thank you ' s, wishes for your coursemates before leaving for summer

Associates of the Month

Elza Kate Užāne & Markuss Zvirbulis

SOROS

By Morten Hansen

At first, many thanks to the The Insider for hosting my column for many years A column, where I had the chance to write about this, that, everything and quite often nothing

This is my very last column so it has to be about something that somehow summarizes my many years at SSE Riga and unites us all and that is: Soros! I have often called Soros my “home away from home” and I have (even) more often bragged that no-one has been in Soros as much as I have and quite frankly (spoiler

You used to see me enter Soros with a cup of tea, open the laptop, fix the screen and switch on the projector In the early days I would enter with a coca-cola, check the blackboards, check my chalk, have my transparencies ready and turn on the overhead projector, if needed PS There was no laptop then and no projector

Soros feels like a flow (we like that term in Latvia) – of students, lecturers, visitors coming and going but Soros always being there for us, barely changed

I had intended to use the Last Lecture on Graduation Day, 14 June, for a nostalgic goodbye to Soros but that will unfortunately not materialize

Plan B must be a return when it might be possible – Soros was such a big part of my life that it deserves a proper goodbye

Let me stop here by extending my very, very best wishes to you, new graduates and current students, for the years to come

It was a great privilege to be part of your studies. In Soros.

Ever wondered just how powerful the SSE Riga network really is?

A recent study by Anete Pajuste and Miks Dzedons has the answer and it’s impressive. Since 1996, 3 204 brilliant minds have graduated from SSE Riga, with about two-thirds proudly representing Latvia. And let’s not forget the EMBA crowd: 438 graduates since 2004, nearly 80% of them also from Latvia, adding even more brainpower to the mix.

In total, 1590 companies are led (have a board seat) and 1513 are beneficially owned by SSE Riga graduates in Latvia.

417 lead one company

Notably, among Latvia’s 101 most valuable companies, 23 are led by SSE Riga alumni. Additionally, two SSE Riga graduates serve on the management board of Latvia’s most valuable company: AS Latvenergo

745 graduates lead at least one company in Latvia.

677 BSc graduates are beneficial owners of at least one company.

328 lead two or more, including two who each lead 64 companies.

On average, an SSE Riga BSc graduate becomes a board member within 7 years of graduation and an owner within 6 years.

404 own one company.

273 own two or more, including one graduate who owns 138 companies

Many companies in Latvia have multiple SSE Riga graduates as board members or beneficial owners, which shows that the SSE Riga network plays a significant role in leadership and ownership of companies.

THE

dupe dupe

THE THE ECONOMY: ECONOMY: ECONOMY: IIMITATION, MITATION, IMITATION, IINNOVATION, NNOVATION, INNOVATION, OR EXPLOITATION? OR EXPLOITATION? OR EXPLOITATION?

hy spend €60 on mascara when TikTok says the €6 drugstore version is just as good? Welcome to the dupe economy, where the thrill of the ‘same but cheaper ’ is changing how we shop, spend, and signal status. Driven by Gen Z’s search for value and virality, dupes (cheaper alternatives to high-end products) have exploded across beauty, fashion, and tech. But beneath the sur face of affordable trends lies a deeper shift in consumer behavior, brand strategy, and even how we define authenticity in the marketplace.

Searches for “dupe” have skyrocketed by over 300% in the past two years. As more and more people are enticed to do massive shopping sprees to keep up with the influencer hauls on social media, the “quantity over quality” mindset dominates. Companies like e.l.f. and Shein have transformed the beauty and fashion industr y by essentially duplicating luxurious products and selling them for a fraction of the price.

However, while the cosmetic and apparel sectors have been the most impacted, the dupe culture has spread into tech, home goods, and many other industries as well. This signals a big shift in the business world as a whole, leading many to question if imitation is taking over innovation.

While cheaper alternatives to expensive goods have always existed, they have never been claimed to be duplicates. Before the dupe culture takeover, businesses tried to stand out by being inventive and original, but now they can gain virality through imitating high-end brands without any creativity involved.

Ar ticle by Paula Kovalevska Design by Lenija Liepina

Many are tapping into this emerging market: a recent example is Walmar t ’s Wirkin, an almost identical version of the Hermès Birkin bag. It went viral on TikTok, selling out in mere hours. In response, the CEO of Hermès stated: “It ’s hard to say what to think about this because there’s a grey area.

Of course, I was mad. Because copying our IP, copying our creativity is pretty much detestable it ’s stealing someone else’s work.” Demus mentioning IP (intellectual proper ty) is interesting because that is one of the biggest obstacles for dupe sellers. They can only copy a product to a cer tain extent before it becomes a counter feit, which would be illegal to sell due to IP rights infringement, making duping a slipper y business model.

However, that is not the only reason why making dupes is a tricky affair. As most of these products are made in China, the recent implementation of tariffs in the US has caused a turn in the market. The tariffs pose a major challenge for Chinese dupe retailers due to having to raise prices, which makes the products less appealing to their American consumer base. In response, videos are being published on TikTok, where Chinese people supposedly expose the luxur y goods as all being made in China.

They claim that there is no difference in quality and that ever ything from Chanel to Lululemon is made in the same factories as their dupes, essentially urging consumers to buy directly from the manufacturers to exploit the tariff loophole. While this information has been more or less confirmed to be false by the brands, many shoppers have been more influenced than ever to par ticipate in the dupe market.

This leads me to conclude that dupes are only increasing in popularity, reaching more and more people, so the question becomes whether we let imitation take over innovation or fight back. Brands are star ting to become more conscious about their legal rights, and many are tr ying to protect their creative ideas on a more holistic level, instead of just guarding against logo and trademark use.

However, there is only so much individual businesses can do. The rise of the dupe market is largely attributed to the high consumer demand for such products, but has the search for value gone too far? Only time will tell how the quantity over quality mindset will play out in the future.

HOW GEN Z

IS FINANCING FUN and Falling into Debt

ARTICLE BY RICARDS BISENIEKS

Have you ever wanted to go to a music festival, only to realize that a single ticket costs as much as a semester of your university tuition? Most people would probably skip it and move on Well, more and more young people aren’t waiting Instead, they are turning to “Buy Now, Pay

Later ” (BNPL) ser vices to afford ever ything from groceries to concer t tickets. No exaggerationpeople are even financing their morning coffee.

ix easy payments of €5 Sounds t? But behind these harmless-looking n hides a growing pile of invisible

ok at one of the most iconic music world - Coachella According to 5, around 60% of attendees bought NPL plans. That ’ s not just a few broke more than half of the attendees ance their weekend rather than pay he crazy thing is that it doesn’t stop also use BNPL for hotel bookings, verpriced meals. This once-luxur y now a monthly payment plan that be paying after the music stops

Just a few years ago, BNPL was used mainly for expensive items that cost thousands, like a car, TV or computer, but now it is used for almost ever ything. In the U.S., the BNPL industr y has exploded in popularity, with ser vices like PayPal Credit, Klarna, and Affirm being integrated into ever yday shopping platforms. However, in Europe implementation of BNPL has been slower, and the ser vice isn’t as widespread. In Latvia, such ser vices are not provided by Wolt or Bolt, at least not yet. But as global fintech companies expand, it ’ s only a matter of time before the trend reaches us

On the sur face, ever ything looks great, but if we take a closer look, there are many underlying problems that younger consumers don’t fully realize. The most obvious thing is that this encourages “emotional” spending, where we buy unnecessar y items that we could easily live without. Let ’ s be honest, only a few people would finance a fridge, but a golden toilet is a completely different stor y. A 2024 Bloomberg study found that 54% of BNPL users admit that they are spending beyond their means, with 24% saying it ’ s “out of control” Although it can be a smar t budgeting tool, it often pressures people into buying more than they can afford.

With rising inflation and a looming costof-living crisis, people star t to tighten up their spending habits. But instead, huge corporations are making it easier than ever to stretch your spending. BNPL breaks big purchases into smaller and more manageable payments, so making it easier to say yes even if you can’t really afford it.

This isn’t just a payment method, it ’ s a par t of a bigger economic shift as Gen Z is prioritizing experience over saving. With a rapid increase in housing prices and overall market uncer tainty, many young people don’t see themselves saving up for a proper ty any time soon. So, living in the moment and paying it off later seems like a reasonable choice. But this “ YOLO economy ” mindset can turn into financial strain, and people are basically getting into debt over their dinner.

BNPL is not a bad financial tool, but in fact, when used wisely, it can help to manage cash flow, avoid high-interest debt, and make large purchases more manageable But when it ’ s used to flex on social media or keep up with a lifestyle you cannot afford, it becomes dangerous. Music festivals might give you lifelong memories, but so can debt

Weaponizing U.S. Treasuries:

CHINA’S LEVERAGE AND ITS ECONOMIC RISKS

As tensions between China and the U S keep rising, one of China’s more quiet but potentially power ful tools could prove to be its stake in the U.S. government debt Alongside Japan, China has long been one of the largest foreign holders of U.S. Treasuries, peaking at over $1.3 trillion in 2013. But that number has been falling, and as of Februar y 2025, it is below $800 billion. This change is pointing more towards a strategic shift away from the US rather than just reser ve management.

China isn’t dumping Treasuries overnight, but it is repositioning. It ’ s been steadily building up gold reser ves and moving into non-dollar assets, par ticularly euro-denominated ones like German bunds. This change can also be somewhat seen in the recent market reaction, more specifically, the U S 10-year yields are up, and the German bund yields are down, as well as the appreciation of the euro. All signs point to capital being moved from the U.S. to the EU. This doesn’t mean China is liquidating their whole standing, but the idea of reducing its exposure to the U S is getting clearer

CHINA’S DIRECT HOLDING OF US TREASURIES TICKED UP IN FEBRUARY

Article by Marcus Paas Design by Elīna Bībere

All of this is happening while U.S.–China tensions are high. Expor t controls, tech restrictions, and tariffs are affecting both sides, especially during the more recent escalations in the trade war. In that context, the idea of China weaponizing its Treasur y holdings, whether as leverage or as financial retaliation, doesn’t sound that far anymore

But it ’ s not exactly a risk-free move

A sudden sell-off would push down the price of Treasuries and raise yields, which would hur t the value of China’s remaining holdings It would also flood China with U.S. dollars, which they’d then have to conver t, appreciating the yuan. That ’ s not what China would want; with weak demand and pressure on expor ts, it should tr y to boost domestic growth and keep the yuan competitive. Although they could instead, as discussed before, conver t their holdings into euro bonds or just hold the dollars to avoid this from happening.

For the U.S., this action could also bring consequences If foreign demand for Treasuries keeps dropping, it could push up longterm borrowing costs over time, especially with the U.S. running big deficits. Although Japan and domestic buyers still hold the majority, without China, the market becomes more sensitive and potentially more volatile during times of stress. That could mean steeper yield cur ves and shakier market conditions going for ward.

This idea of weaponizing financial assets also adds a whole new layer of uncer tainty. This could change how long-duration bonds and dollar-based assets are priced, and shift more attention toward geopolitical risks. For investors, the implications are wide-ranging. Higher yields make shor t-duration bonds more attractive relative to long-duration ones Moreover, the under tones of China’s repositioning could drive increased demand for non-traditional markets like gold and other real assets

Having said that, the U S Treasuries are still among the safest and most liquid assets in the world The U S dollar remains dominant, and any shift away is rather unlikely and will take time. But China’s gradual retreat signals a deeper rethink of capital allocation through a more political approach. This is less about panic and more about positioning in the world of global finance driven by market logic, politics, and power, especially if the tensions continue

Overall, these developments demand attention as the slow, deliberate nature of China's actions does not diminish their potential impact As global debt levels rise and the global competition intensifies, the balance of financial power could perhaps begin to see a shift.

NOT YOUR USUAL

Q&A WITH MORTEN

If you weren't an economist, what would you be?

After so many years, I just cannot fathom an alternative career And just saying “Eurovision star ” doesn’t count And wouldn’t really be me either, right Tight dress and all that Nah

What

is your dream car?

I saw an Aston Mar tin SUV the other day Saw – that ’ s as close as I came Other wise, in my summer house district quite a few people have a hobby of restoring American cars from the 1950s/1960s/1970s. I’d like one of those but my repair skills are nil.

Has there been a day in your life when you haven't had a single cup of tea?

Plenty – these days it is mostly a lecture thing Where it is per fect: Something warm and smooth for the throat and sometimes just nice for a 15-30 second pause

How many hours do you usually sleep every day?

I am not a person of routines so it can var y a lot

Do you speak latvian? And if so, how well?

Ah! The second ubiquitous question How many bad excuses do you want before I say – rather poorly but I get along easily I have lived in an English-speaking bubble here, never thought I would stay for so long, not married to a local – excuses, excuses.....

What kind of business did you do in Latvia?

My company was called MHansen Consulting which says it all (I think). Typically, presentations / speeches / conference key notes about the economic development

Quite smar t: First, I am paid to lecture for young students Then they become influential business leaders –and come back and ask me to speak to them again And once again I am being paid!

What’s the secret to maintaining healthy long-distance relationships?

Perhaps ask my wife?! :)

What

annoys you the most about students?

Why did you decide to move to Riga and teach at SSE and not stay in Denmark to teach at a Danish university?

One of the two most asked questions I get (the second shows up later) Coincidence! It was the early 1990s, shor tly after independence Free market economics was vir tually unknown here so I was asked by my home university to join a pan-Baltic programme promoting economics, law and political science education at the main universities I was meant to be here just ½ year, then one year then And figured out that this was the way to get closely involved with economic development of a formerly planned economy to a market economy while dealing with students and becoming par t of the economic debate. It shaped my career and for that I am forever grateful.

I could say the smar tphones but in a way no You need a break between lectures I don’t really think I am annoyed by students (in general) – but we are growing apar t. It is not your fault and it is not my fault but it makes it logical to cut our ties. A good recent example is AI – it has to be implemented at many levels; I just don’t know how so better leave it to others to deal with. I am annoyed by the use of it; you will find it natural – and you are most likely right.

What is your favorite dessert?

I think I ate all the desser t I wanted when I was a kid I typically never order a desser t.

What are your hobbies? Maybe you play golf, badminton or something else?

A long – ver y long – walk is my favourite these days. And reading. Badminton I did when I was younger while golf is for people who enjoy funny outfits....

Who is your favorite colleague in SSE Riga?

A little bit unfair question, I think I have really many good colleagues but, OK, to mention one I think I would say Konstantins. We go back a long way (he was actually my student once) and have been working together for a long time. And besides many other great abilities, Konstantins is great company when having a drink

What do you most often choose to eat for lunch?

Also here, I am not a creature of habit. What makes you happy?

What has been you favourite destination?

Let me say Italy – I have visited many times but would still like to come back Food, wine, landscape...

I will have to think about that one The blueberr y bush still makes me happy but on a more serious and long-term note, getting back into good or at least decent shape will feel like an accomplishment and make me happy.

What is the furthest destination (country) you have been to?

I hope the photo I attach to this questionnaire will be published, too. It will answer the question.

What has been your financial strategy throughout life?

Play it safe.... Ultra-safe FE people would consider me nuts and perhaps rightfully so

How many steps do you take a day?

and the same here Can easily do 10-15,000, sometimes more but will most likely never manage my goal of about 60,000 (marathon length).

What is your go-to restaurant in Riga?

I have visited plenty of them (I’ve had 30+ years to do so) And the selection has changed so much over the years But if it says kebab or shawarma, don’t expect to see me inside But thank God that JackSpot is no longer around (possibly the greasiest fries imaginable) It was the 1990s

Are you a regular in a shop / restaurant / cafe in Riga?

(e.g. someplace where they already know what you order is going to be)

In 1994, we had the bar Možums on Dome Square. They would star t pouring a Kilkenny when they saw me coming. Today it might be the restaurants Chef ’s Corner (I can get a table any day, any time) or Por tofino.

What is your favourite colour for a tie?

I have several ties that only have a single colour: Red, blue, yellow, green, white, pink (yes ) – only one is a no-go: brown But the right tie has a combination of colours, preferably red and blue.

What’s the weirdest or funniest thing a student has ever written in an exam?

There have plenty of funny/strange examples but a good specimen here could be the time when a student answered a question with: “I don’t know the answer but here is a picture of a horse” And presented a ver y competent drawing of a horse

Has there been a very memorable student over the years?

Many – and several that today I can call my friends. Let ’ s not mention names but I am for instance quite pleased that the person who looks after my flat when I am away, is a ver y high-ranking banker. Lots of positive externalities....

What’s a memory from your time teaching here that still makes you laugh?

Again many, many examples – but here is just one. A ver y smar t student – I think she will not mind being called by name, Amanda – was sitting in one of the chairs just in front of the back row and followed the lecture ver y keenly. The person behind her had placed a coca cola bottle on the ledge so it looked exactly as if it was standing on her head. It may not sound funny to you but it was hilarious!

Has there been a student question you still think about years later?

Again, many and for many good reasons – but also some with sadness since they have already passed away. That is cruel – students are not supposed to die before me.

Have you got any advice to us y1s, y2s and up?

Do you really want “advice” from someone 40+ years older than you?

OK, just a bit: Life is actually quite shor t – it doesn’t really always feel like 40+ years since I was a student myself. What happened? Life happened, I guess, but since time is such a scarce resource, make sure to get the best out of it. And never, ever say no to an offer before you really have to – if I had said no to going to the Baltics in 1993... I don’t want to think about that.......

Take care and all the best!

What is your favourite all time song?

Ozzy Ozbourne released the song “Mr. Crowley” in 1980 but I am still happy to listen to it, now 45 years later Vintage Ozzy

M II T AA T IOO N S O N O M N I N S

The nominations are back some categories familiar, some surprisingly specific, and all voted on by you A few names have managed to keep their titles from last year, while others make their first appearance on the list. Whether you were nominated, voted, or just enjoy reading along, thanks for being part of it.

Conducted and designed by Beatriče Elsta with great help from Eduards Skudra

THE ACADEMIC WEAPONS

THE RE-EXAMSURVIVOR

Rūdolfs Kārlis Pastors

Mārtiņš Pumpurs

THE FASHIONISTAS

Liliana Sidorova

ADDICT THE PARTYANIMAL

Danija Līva Jaundzema

FORBES 30 UNDER 30 IN THE MAKING

Aleksis Visockis

Raimonds Vilcāns

THE CAFFEINE

Roberts Stangainis

& THE BIGGESTYAPPER

Rūdis Otomārs Gaigals

Krišjānis Krams

Krišjānis Tamužs Vladyslav Shkurat

MOST BELOVED LECTURERS

COUPLE

Alise Kuzmina & Kristaps Plāte Ilze Rasnača

Morten

Talis J. Putnins

MOST LIKELY TO RUN A

WOULD GO ON VACATION IN THE MIDDLE OF A DEMANDING COURSE

MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND

SMOKING IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL

PYRAMID SCHEME THE SLEEPING BEAUTIES

THE PRETTIEST FEET

Elza Zeta Baumane

Pavel ZaytsevCGO

(Chief Gossip Officers)

Rasmus Riim

ānis

āvs Mūrnieks Rūdolfs Miks Jordans

Elza Pilāne Ričards Jurciņš

Renārs Ruģelis

Mikus Meiers

Odrija Ozoliņa Pijus Jaloveckas

Pavel Orlov

I k i n d a s u c k s

AI’m not a caveman, of course I use AI, it has made a lot of annoying school wor k easier and helps me find out random stuff I could just google

One could argue that it has made people more effective and their lives easier, but in this peace I will look at the various reasons why I think AI is impacting people in ways I don’t consider all that favourable .

I will tackle 4 main points: --- ar t, --- laziness/overreliance, --- the environment and --- AI’s impact on people on a personal level.

These I believe are the 4 main building blocks of this pile of shit we are creating in front of our ver y own eyes.

I star ted wr iting this ar ticle by asking ChatGPT to tell me the 4 main reasons AI sucks, here’s what it came up with:

--- AI needs huge amounts of data to function;

--- Many AI models, especially deep lear ning systems, are opaque and hard to inter pret;

--- AI systems lear n from human data, which often contains existing biases;

--- AI is often oversold as a magical solution to ever ything.

While these are valid concer ns and we love a self aware king/queen/entity, none of the 4 mentioned are the ones I find the most impor tant.

Also, I have a suspicion that there is quite a clear reason the impact on the environment was not mentioned, I’ll let you speculate on that.

Article by Kārlis Šadris Design by Katrīna Zingule

art

Delving into the topic of AI ar t and the discourse surrounding it has always been a bit of a pain in the ass It is almost ever y day that you see some bot account or smooth-brained individual on Twitter post either an image or video generated by whatever the latest AI model is and boast about how realistic and cool it is.

They often also point to the fact that soon ar tists will be replaced by AI and there is little added value to what directors, cinematographers, painters, photographers, etc , br ing to the table I will not even waste time to rebut the latter par t of this point, as if you find yourself agreeing to that, you are quite simply a fool

These specimens do unfor tunately have a point when they say that AI may star t replacing ar tists.

It is already star ting to happen, with major movie studios like Mar vel Studios using AI to make intros to their ser ies or some executives talking about replacing extras on film sets with AI

I While obviously the fact that people will lose jobs is sad, I feel like the sadder par t is that the major ity of people will be ok with it

The sheer amount of utter garbage that comes out of Hollywood is already stagger ing and I fear that it will get even worse. Movies like Deadpool & Wolver ine or Despicable Me 4 kill it in the box office, while independent and smaller studio film continues to str uggle. This simply boils down to the fact that a lot of people just want enter tainment for the sake of it and don’t want to think about what they are watching or listening to

All of these factors will make it super easy for AI to infiltrate cinema and other mediums of ar t in the near future

Of course we will still get master pieces ever y year, but people will pay less and less attention to them, which might eventually lead to the fact that there will simply be no business case for making wor thwhile cinema or other types of ar t.

Of course, I am a complete snob when it comes to movies, but a world where Veo 3 g enerates what I see in the cinema is not one I want to live in.

overreliance

Secondly, on the point of overreliance. This is something that I have felt overwhelmingly in the last few months

As soon as some task is on the table, the first idea is to look at what Chat has to say. While, if you use it well, it makes your final product much better is quite undeniable, it is quite undeniable that overreliance on something as powerful as LLMs is a slipper y slope.

–- At what point are you even adding value to any outputs ChatGPT gives you?

--- Could you still do these tasks you are assigned without it?

--- Is the fact that you ask for summar ies for ever y single piece of text, not even fur ther killing your ability to read and comprehend infor mation?

I think these are questions ever yone should ask themselves I fear that the answers in my own case are not that positive

the environment

The third concer n is about the environment AI companies plow through water like crazy to keep their models functioning and their systems cooled.

As the impact of AI grows, so does its thirst for one of our planet’s most precious resources.

Given the fact that around 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water on a daily basis, is it really ok that we use so much water for something that we could have easily lived without

In recent weeks, I have tr ied to cut back on my AI usage and I tr uly realise how massive of a par t it plays in my ever yday life

AI g enerated pieces of text are quite often soulless and just a collection of a bunch of big words for no reason I sometimes feel bad for faculty at universities having to read essentially the same sounding text over and over again for almost ever y deliverable It must absolutely suck having to pretend to care about whatever is on that paper.

I do not know what the fix to this is, but now with “Deep Research” being a thing, it’s getting worse and worse.

Is there even any point in the student anymore, when the lecturer could just generate the output themselves?

I don’t think AI is something that will end the wor ld, but I feel like life would have been completely fine without it

All the supposed productivity gains, annoying “scaling B2B SaaS businesses with AI” star t-ups and make this sentence sound more sophisticated prompts come at quite a significant cost to the availability of one of our most cr ucial resources in the future

I suggest you think about it when making that next prompt and how much you really need it

ON A PERSONAL LEVEL

Lastly, the impact AI has on a personal level, which sor t of ties into the point about overreliance I feel like using AI is not as big of a skill as people make it out to be AI quite literally does stuff for you, often something that you could not do yourself Maybe that isn’t by itself a bad thing, but I just don’t see how AI is actually making people more skilled You g et more skilled at something by practicing your craft and putting in effor t

AI is like a shor tcut to the end goal, without you actually needing to put any bit of yourself into it

I think that AI makes people less passionate , decreases their drive and overstimulates an already overstimulated population

I would also argue that people have on averag e lost out on a lot of possible growth, whether it be academically or in their wor kplace, by essentially outsourcing their wor k to AI With AI getting more and more powerful, I see this problem only getting worse and worse

I’m not a person that hates AI. I just like people and hate seeing jobs and other things that people could do be taken away

I don’t think we should stop developing AI, but I just wish there was some more discourse on how unfor tunate all of what I have pointed out in this ar ticle is

I will tr y my best to use AI in a more nuanced and thought out way, not as a replacement for actually putting in work and I suggest that you, dear reader, do the same.

That’s all from me this month, thank you for your time

As you might guess from the looks of our opponents, Summer Symposium has been around for decades. Yet if you assume it has always been a noble tradition of sportsmanship, think again. Skimming through Insiders of the past, it has come to my attention that the current students are relatively well-behaved. The older generations, whom we now recognise as experienced company representatives giving solemn talks in guest lectures, appear to have been incredibly rebellious, brave and definitely not afraid to live a "little" during their time at SSER

To stay topical, for this issue I chose to revive a 1997 article by Regīna Jurēviča that looks back on that year ’ s SS through what seems to be a set of anonymised interviews with her coursemates. It’s interesting to examine them, and draw timeless parallels - unquestioned glorification of alcohol, loads of comparing, followed by whining when something is not the best ever, entitlement and so on.

I have, more or less, kept it exactly as it was, with quirky punctuation and a bit of flawed English The insult aimed at Tērvetes beer was totally uncalled for, but I left it in to gently ease you into the kind of perversity that will (hopefully) follow if this republishing of articles becomes a thing. Unimaginable profanities loom around in the Insider collections of the library, rest assured...

What is your overall impression about the Summer Symposium?

Excellent, said one of the sports lovers. It was really cool, a lot of fun, sports, partying, and (what I liked best) - no hangover!, added another student. WOOOW, said somebody who was not very eager to talk much I think it was very good overall, except for the organization of accommodation. I understand that it was extremely tough to provide everybody with enough room, but maybe next time would be worth to plan this part more carefully, involve more people in the organizing, said a student who was looking at this question seriously. A couple of people did not speak English very well so they just kept repeating: "Good, positive, great event, good (better then in previous year), real holiday, good relaxation etc " But then came a girl with a smile on her face and just said: "We are the champions". The final argument in this discussion came from one of the students who was really concerned with the beginning of the academic year. “Good relaxation was possible, which is very important before the tough school activities ”

What do you think of the sports activities?

I cannot imagine Engure, Summer Symposium without sports, immediately said one of the active participants in all sports activities. They were great, excellent, best, good. It was fun and quite well organized, agreed the previously mentioned group of people. And then that person who did not want to speak too much just said: “WOOOW” Still, not all of the students totally agreed with this opinion.

There were many who said that: “Maybe there were too many of them, too serious, good but maybe too much for one day, there were too many sports activities.” Somebody also said: “For people not interested in sports it took too long time to wait for those participating. That is what maybe slowed down the possible communication in a free atmosphere.” But then again came that girl with the smile on her face and said: “We are the champions” “They were better organised than in last year. Thanks to you!”, added the student who have kept silent all the time. Then one guy said that: “Some stuff included was too tough. For example - streetball for girls. They do not know how to play” and naturally the discussion went further to the sports activities for girls.

Regīna Jurēviča Regīna Jurēviča

Madara Šlitke Madara Šlitke

What do you think about sports for girls?

Many guys were not interested in answering this question, but that strange guy again said only: “WOOOO.” Some of the girls said: “Very necessary, normal, O.K., great (probably because they were in the 3rd place), Yeah!!!!!!! Keep on doing!!!!! especially streetball ” And now guess what, yes, the same smile and the same girl and the same: “We are the champions” There were also some people who did not like this innovation during the Symposium and they said: “Next time I hope there will be less sports for girls. ” There were also some skeptical people who said that: “They should practice more and only then participate” or “Eklofs were not girls! (Sorry!!!)”

What do you think about the prizes?

Not mentioning that guy with his never ending WOOOW there were people who said: “Good, seemed O.K. - good that there many prizes - lots of people get something, very appropriate, not bad ” The next group of people who obviously got the 4th place were not as satisfied as the former. They kept repeating: “Healthy *wink**, but some beer for the 4th place would also be good!!! I think it was not fair that there was such a big difference between the prize of 3rd and 4th place winners” The next group of people were really concerned with the amount and quality of alcoholic drinks “Too little beer”, said one of the beer lovers, “O K , but cheaper was not the best choice (especially Tērvetes)”, said the guy who is a real expert in beer quality, The briefest suggestion came from that girl with the smile on her face: “There should be more alcoholic drinks, especially vodka for the best shouter” But to end this discussion one of them just said: “I guess it was enough, why else were they struggling like hell to win?!”

What did you like the most and what did you dislike the most?

This was the most interesting discussion since the opinions varied so much The one thing in common that most people disliked was the housing arrangement. They kept saying: “I disliked the necessity to fight for the room ” , “I did not like the arrangement of sleeping places” and “I disliked the organization of accommodation” and so on

But surprisingly enough, not all were concerned with this issue The person who, previously, was saying only wooow, now turned our attention to another problem and said: “I liked everything but there is a slight problem with organizing football” When speaking about things they liked people mentioned nice and happy people in general while one particular student admitted that s/he liked Ritvars K. the most Many mentioned sports, the beach and the sea, the great weather, the wine, dancing, fun, bulletin board and organizers as the things they liked the most. Unfortunately, there was only one person who said: “I liked our team!!!!!! ” And only one who mentioned “French fries for 40 s ” One girl surprised us all by saying that “Singing in sauna with Latvians” was the thing she liked the most (that could have been real fun especially if you do not understand what they sing)

Although there were some individuals who said that they “liked everything, I disliked nothing” most of the people had some things they disliked One of them said: “I wanted to sleep so badly and did not manage to behave crazy ” , others did not want to sleep, but “those aching legs, head and etc.” Some complained about the lost sauna key... while others criticised the cold water in the sea as well as those stones in it One person admitted that “The matchbox mixing race was stupid.” And somebody just finished by saying: “The rest was just great.”

Suggestion for improvements?

At this point people just started to talk all at once: “Two years in a row without football, THAT SUCKS, make it longer, Most of all I disliked the fact that I was not able to participate!, Good luck !,Let’s make Summer Symposium to be at least one week long, More! More! More! of such events, more music, more funny games, beer drinking competition, the whole symposium should last at least three days, stay cool, thanx for caring about our free time!, keep on, Winter Symposium is necessary and of course, never ending phrase there is always place for improvement

This was how you, dear school mates, evaluated the Summer Symposium. Thanks for answering the questionnaire and lets meet in Winter Symposium (maybe :-)

Summer symposium '25

LAST LECTURE Trump tariff effect on SAFARI

WILD DANCES. WILD DANCES. Rebellion of Movement.

As I’m still living on that Eurovision nostalgia, par t of me wants to dive into Ruslana’s iconic 2004 per formance of “ Wild Dances”. But…ummm no, we are NOT going there (despite my inner Eurovision fan). Instead, let ’ s talk about a rather different kind of wild dances: three unique dance styles that refuse to be choreographed into neat little boxes. So, welcome to the safari of movement!

The three dance styles that I’m referring to here are hip-hop, contemporar y and experimental All of them fall under the umbrella of modern dance as their roots stretch back to the 20th and 21st centuries, growing out of a cultural shift toward openness and self-expression

Society began to challenge norms and so did dance, evolving into something freer, more fluid, and most impor tantly - unapologetic.

Let ’ s begin by unwinding the dance style that is probably the most recognized from this list Hip-hop was influenced by a wide range of styles that were created in the 1970s and made popular by dance crews in the United States. This style shocked the entire world with fast, provocative and slightly aggressive moves.

It was purely revolutionar y in a world full of ball dances, ballet and static movement, however, hip-hop also made dancing more accessible to the general public. It taught groove, bounce and the ver y much-needed skill to find the rhythm Here, I can assure you that most moves you’ll see in the clubs are borrowed from exactly this dance style.

HAlthough hip-hop merges with multiple other dance styles like popping, locking, vogue and breakdance, the main point of hip-hop is freestyle. The idea behind this style is to learn the signature steps first, then find yourself in the movement and music. Finally, let your body improvise, find new steps, combine small and big, low and high movements.

A memorable mention is the outfits. Hiphop is one of the rare dance styles where it is normalized to dance in baggy pants or even jeans, a bunch of jewelr y and, honestly – whatever one likes and looks good in

Article by Kristiāna Labanovska Design by Patrīcija Nora Blūmentāle

Contemporary? What even is that?

Well, let me explain one of the most questioned dance styles out there This is one of the most recent dance styles and, just like contemporar y ar t, it might seem confusing to some. Contemporar y dance is a combination of multiple other, more well-known dance styles like ballet, acrobatics and jazz. However, the real value proposition of this style is the limitless possibilities This is THE dance style for self-expression as freedom of movement, emotions and fluid movements are encouraged. Contemporar y dance is danced barefoot, its strongest component is floor work, and it stresses versatility and improvisation.

The best par t about this dance style is the ability to connect the mind and soul while dancing, as well as express your emotions through movement. Therefore, acting is also an element of the per formance Contemporar y dance barely has signature moves and can be danced to any kind of music, thus, sometimes dancers choose to dance to the sound of someone talking in the background or even silence This is also probably one of the most physically challenging dance styles as it often involves running, jumping, expressive and energetic moves, as well as flexibility

Most people are familiar with only a few dance styles, like ballet, folk dance and maybe ballroom, which often creates some prejudices and stereotypes about dance that often are not reality at all The actual world of dance is broad, beautiful and yet unexplored. Therefore, by introducing you to some of the extraordinar y dance styles, I encourage you to find YOUR dance style, go to a concer t and have a summer of culture!

x p e r i m e n t a l

Now, this is a dance style that often seems shocking to even the most open-minded dancers It is extracted from contemporar y dance, or one could call it a more niche type of contemporar y dance. The main principle is ver y simple – to experiment. Here, extraordinar y elements are used, for example, running around a chair for about 10 minutes in a row or falling onto each other.

It is often criticized for not actually dancing or for a boring approach However, besides the poor reputation, experimental dance inspires other dance style choreographers to step out of the box, which later results in fresh and new pieces. So, wild is not inappropriate or difficult - it is bold, expressive and full of oppor tunities

WE THE JUNGLE

By Kārlis A. Strante PEOPLE

“Where the weak get eaten and the strong do not stay strong for long”

I once thought or, I should say, believed that SSE Riga was a sor t of gateway to freedom; a gate to an open field. However, I now feel that much less an open field, what is waiting is a jagged cliff face This is due to many factors, but mainly the breaking of the illusion that by simply being in SSE Riga, I was entitled to a life of oppor tunity. This is a sentiment I know is still that many first years still believe in, not realising that although SSE Riga helps, you are the only captain of your destiny. Nonetheless, those who also come to this reality often experience a stress that can only be described as a primal fear of being eaten. Eaten by others who are more successful, have more connections, experiences and posts on LinkedIn This fear is often one that only those who are in the wild, in the jungle experience, and yet here we are in our white shir ts, black trousers and silk ties, experiencing a fear once reser ved for hunter/gatherers. So we adapt, star t dressing, talking in a way that aligns with our “goals”. We put for ward KPIs to achieve by the age of 30 and sacrifice whatever individuality there was for a career which may never materialise the way you intended it to. And the stress keeps eating away at our sanity and sometimes humanity. This was exemplified by a course mate of mine

who when asked to share notes, felt the need to only show a par t, just so they could “be ahead”. Although this was a striking moment in and of itself, it did not seem odd, even normal I guess I had also star ted to embrace the jungle, where the weak get eaten and the strong do not stay strong for ver y long. Although this decent into madness by yours truly might seem as an indicator to something darker, I may assure you it is not. I simply find it interesting the social Dar winism that often arises in high stress environments. In environments where we become less human more animal.

That is why I titled this spread “We the jungle people” because, to my mind, most people star t to think in terms of education being a race and by treating it that way, they are becoming more primitive in thinking and turning to what I would refer to as jungle people: “those who only think of themselves, and others as competition”. However this school is still ver y social, the many school organisation and events are a testament to that Lets hope it stays that way for a bit longer.

Some people have taken the 'Glamour' trend too far, turning cheetah print fashion into actual cheetahs roaming their homes, as if they are living in a concrete safari

MONEY R OOAARRRS

Ever y year, if not ever y month, the internet discovers different things that are wealth indicators or status symbols One of the memorable ones for me has been rich people in the United Arab Emirates having cheetahs, pumas and other big cats as their pets. The trend has spanned the globe and has reached the United States as well (pretend to be surprised) I will tell you even more, it has gone extreme enough for governments to be concerned and implement laws against big cat ownership.

In the early 2010s hunting for big cats became a widely talked about issue in the UAE but the reason for the hunt was unusual – people just wanted new pets. There was a clear lack of concern for safety from brand new pet owners, although tigers, cheetahs and all such are known to be dangerous and uncontrollable The lure of having an exotic pet was irresistible, though. It must have been a great way to feel some adrenaline without leaving home and show others that you are rich and cool enough to go past owning just a Ragdoll or a Sphynx

S S

S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

Article by Anna Gogebashvili Design by Eduards Skudra

Soon enough the new daily life enter tainment and status symbol of the rich left their circles, and local and global outlets star ted writing about it The world had been enlightened and wealthy people from abroad also decided to obtain such interesting pets. This had been all fun and games (and maybe a couple of scratches and a lot of roars) until governments decided to look into the issue. At first, the authorities of UAE confiscated some wild cats from their owners and then, in 2017 owning exotic animals as pets was outlawed there. Private possession of exotic animals has been banned in some of the states in the USA too Obviously, the severeness of the law varies from state to state: some states such as Florida or New York have an endless list of animals that are illegal to own; in Oklahoma, the ban applies to the bears and big cats only; and in Oregon one can own an exotic animal if a special permit to do so is obtained; while in Delaware there is no restriction whatsoever, etc In the European Union exotic animal ownership is also regulated, but the laws differ throughout the member countries just like with the US states.

Despite the legal implications of being a big cat owner, I still encounter TikTok videos of Arab men driving around Dubai with pumas in their passenger seats (maybe you have seen those videos as well) Irrefutably this raises plenty of questions. I have done my research and here are some insights. Most probably not all cats have been confiscated as the authorities have no much power over some wealthy people sometimes, unfor tunately Moreover, there are some speculations about the existence of sketchy businesses related to bringing wild cats to the UAE from

the neighbouring countries where there are no bans on hunting and owning them. But, apparently, there are some shady but legal ways to still own a wild pet – the most popular one of them being making one ’ s ver y own private zoo and bringing the lions, tigers or any exotic animal there For those, who just want to experience the presence of a cat of a big size and subtly flex for once – some of the private zoos even offer various experiences The one that stood out to me was ‘A Dinner with Big Cats’. On the website it was not specified who would be having the dinner, but let ’ s hope it is not the kitty

Well, it is no surprise that mega rich people tend to have weird habits, but if you had a chance to own a cheetah, would you also dare to turn to the not only an odd but also a dangerous side and seize the oppor tunity and let your money roar?

THE H U M A N ZOO THE H U M A N ZOO

What is so utterly captivating about people watching?

In short - fascination.

Fascination with others

People watching is a form of voyeurism, where the nuances of human actions pose as entertainment. However, I would argue that it is not purely amusement that one seeks out when enjoying the view. It is also a search for understanding, for understanding of other people. Perceiving others as you perceive yourself - a whole human being with a mind can sometimes become perplexingtherefore surveying others may be a form of meditation on the topic. What each person is thinking, why are they moving the way they are, why did they choose those clothes and that person - all of these subtleties of human life are infinitely riveting and people watching brings you a step closer to understanding the whys of life.

Fascination with existence, fate & reality

Contemplation of reality is an endeavor I believe most people should engage in. Only through understanding your own beliefs about reality can one truly understand the meaning (or lack thereof ) of their life. People watching can be a wonderful device for just this thing.

An important distinction in belief, including in many religions, is the belief in fate. If one trusts that existence is influenced by fate, meaning one ' s actions and the world's turning is predetermined, then they should also believe that each passerby is going on a route decided by fate. Such an idea can be quite difficult to wrap one ' s head around. To truly understand it, would mean computing that each person is their own being and each person ' s fate is not a

Fascination with yourself

Existence in society is a performance and social norms are the medium. For especially self-aware people, people watching can be a form of validation. However, the validation may not always be positive. Most modern day people have either an inferiority or god complex, yet what both require is a feeling of superiority of sorts. For people who see themselves as lesser than being exposed to other, even worse examples may serve as a lifting force. As to the gods of their little universes, a constant stream of reimbursement of their worth is what is needed for fueling that ego.

randomised occurrence, rather a calculated maneuver by a deity or some other cosmological force.

On the other hand, complete denial of fate entails believing that the people you are looking upon have gotten there right in front of you in that moment completely randomly. Most definitely not an easier concept to swallow.

While some might people watch out of boredom, for some understanding of the intricacies of reality itself may be hidden under the simple act of seeing.

Article and design by Anna Marta Ozere

THE UN

1 ants have been key occupants of Earthly soils. If we think humans have gone through a lot, ants have experienced dinosaur ages, and literally lived among every person ever to exist. Today there are approximately 20 quadrillion ants That is around 2.5 million for every living human

So you ’ re probably wondering, why am I writing about ants? What’s so special about them? The main reason is that I believe we, as humans, actually have way more in common with ants than one might assume. In our ecosystem ants have the role of being biological engineers and decomposers - they take care of

all ‘’trash’’ If ants didn’t exist then, firstly, soils would become more compacted, less fertile, and less able to support plant life. Secondly, there would be no one to take care of dead insects, animals, and plant matter. Ant colonies are also strictly divided: there are ones that specialize in the colony’s overall function - the workers

There are also soldiers, males and the queen. Similarly, there are approximately 600 million minimum wage workers in the world Many of these workers have the job of taking care of the human ecosystem - working in fields such as retail, manufacturing or hospitality The Covid-19 pandemic was a dreadful example of the reality of our world - the irreplaceability of some of the lowest paying jobs for our society When the world shut off, thousands of people were still required to operate the basic necessities for humans - grocery shop owners, farmers, cleaners, etc.

Another thing humans have in common with ants is that we ’ re both easy to overlook and even easier to crush. People rarely think twice before stepping on an ant, even if it’s just going about its business. In the grand scheme of human societies, many people, especially those in low-income, high-effort jobs, are treated with the same carelessness Ants build empires underground, and yet they’re invisible to most Likewise, millions of people around the world live and work in the margins, keeping the system functioning while remaining largely unacknowledged. Ants die without ceremony, so do garment workers in unsafe factories or delivery drivers in heatwaves. Both ants and humans can be part of highly ordered systems that extract maximum labor with minimum recognition

Additionally, ants can not only be used to draw parallels with people, but also as objects of learning and growth A common trait of these insects is that they rarely operate alone. If you see an ant in the wild, it is likely it will have various accomplices. Ants display a form of ‘’swarm intelligence’’ - they act and work in a team for an efficient outcome. Put together, they are no longer a tiny, harmless insect, they serve to do more

Moreover, ants remind us of the power of humility and unseen labor In most ecosystems, their contributions go unnoticed. Yet without them, decomposition would halt, plant growth would suffer, and biodiversity would decline In a similar way, essential human labor done by caregivers, maintenance staff, delivery drivers, and waste collectors often goes unnoticed and unappreciated. But these roles are often the foundation upon which everything else stands. Perhaps if we viewed the world through the eyes of an ant, we’d better appreciate that true impact isn’t always loud or visible it’s often silent, small, and essential

ARTICLE BY ANETE RENĀTE TĪKMANE DESIGN BY INESE SMILA

No Safari for you this year!

-WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR SEMESTER DOESN ’ T INVOLVE A GIRAFFE, A GLASS OF APEROL, AND ERASMUS DRAMA.

The exchange semester is, for some reason, in this university considered the ultimate safari. So if you ’re not going, it can feel odd or even shameful to be lef t behind. This article is for those who are not going on exchange either by choice or chance.

Not going on exchange does not mean you are missing out. I didn’t go. And no, I don’t regret it.

Sure, exchange can be an amazing experience – new cultures, new people, and a perfect excuse to escape. But it’s also expensive. And exhausting. And anyway, more about Aperol than academics.

Staying, on the other hand, can be just as enriching. Without paperwork, apartment hunts, and panic attacks. With fewer lectures clogging your calendar. You can focus on yourself and remember what it feels like to be unhurried. And yes, still manage to drink. Because newsflash: wine is also sold here.

Article by Pavel Zaytsev Designed by Zlata Zajankovska

You can focus on your career, thesis, your side quests, local events, theaters. You can get closer to people who also stayed, or your colleagues, or even someone outside the school bubble. Or maybe you decide to distance yourself from SSE and f inally get some peace. Whatever your path, it’s yours.

Of course, you ’ ll miss out on some things. Exchange gossip will become a parallel universe, and SSE splits into two worlds – here and there. But you do save money. You can still visit your friends abroad. And you get some time and peace. Plus, Ryanair still flies, and vermut is not exclusive to Spain. For day drinking and partying, you don’t need to pretend it’s for “ cultural exchange” .

So, if there is no safari for you this year, good. Your journey doesn’t have to follow the crowd. The wild is wherever you choose to go. No safari –no problem!

The Winner

This year ’ s Grand Final breakout star is JJ, a singer and songwrite

tria (so yes, Vienna 2026 incoming) He has captured both the ience, with his magical voice shaped by the classical music traini ted Love, he has showcased his vocal abilities, effor tlessly reachi

his vocals were (the song and JJ’s skills are truly impressive), the ging left many under whelmed For three minutes, the young singe

around a small prop-ship, barely using the scale of the stage, the lighting of St Jakobshalle Arena, or colour at all (for TV viewers

white filter was applied)

y g is still, of course, up for debate as the contest has always been fa

subjective, but there is one thing we cannot argue about - The winner this year has SAVED us all

The Elephant in the Arena: Israel

Saved how? Well, If not for JJ, Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, would have been entitled to the Eurovision’s Grand Prize

There’s Israel - a par ticipation that, despite Eurovision’s claims of neutrality And with that, the controversy only begins

No matter how it tries to be “non-political, strictly neutral”, the Eurovision has faced a myriad of allegations and a ton of criticism regarding almost ever y step of Israel’s par ticipation this year:

EURO

Letting them compete - in the world of today? How?

Israel’s per formance - A new flag policy in the Arena and fa the audience cheer?

The Televote - The allegedly bought viewers’ votes and a chance of a victor y

If not for Austria, we would truly need to somehow watch the Tel Aviv 2026 show And no matter wh about the world and peace, you would have to agree that the show would be a total controversial mess

Some Bright Spots

Despite all the negativity, Sunday's Grand Final has had a lot of positive, amazing highlights

The Success of Tautumeitas - the Latvian Representatives, the female group Tautumeitas have gained a lot of popularity not only in the Baltics, but also worldwide The folk motives of ‘’Bur man laimi’’, the costumes and the choreography have captured the hear ts of Denmark, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Brazil and many other countries Give the track a listen, if you haven’t already

Käärijä & Baby Lasagna - #eurodab at the Grand Final - a break filler that has outshone some of the main per formances The most colour ful and memorable contestants from the year 2024 had been owning the stage for three minutes and people’s minds for a lot longer Bright, chaotic, and glorious

VISION

ur factor - this year was rich in meme-y such as the Estonian “Espresso Macchiato” fever dream and the viral “Ser ving” n Malta’s lyrics Whether intentional or not, it gave us moments

Article by: Arīna Kosmačeva Design by: Lauma Simsone

That’s definitely not it but I should probably stop here (But come find me if you want to discuss MORE) See you next year or not

Espresso Macchiato

Baby Lasagna Käärijä

Tautumeitas ��

Things Things Things

There are things I’ ve let go of gracefully Certain friendships. Haircuts with confidence far above my grade. Even the need to explain myself to everyone Growth, I’ ve learned, is mostly about subtraction

I ’ve I ’ve I ’ve

But then there are things I should have outgrown by now - things that feel slightly embarrassing, slightly too raw, or just deeply me I don’t parade them around anymore, but they haven’t exactly left the building either Instead, they’ ve tucked themselves into quiet corners of my life, like emotional heirlooms. Here’s to the ones I still cling to when no one ’s watching.

Rewatching

Believing my opinion is the only right one 1 1 1 2 2 2

the same films like they’re oxygen

Rewatching the same films like they’re oxygen

Rewatching the same films like they’re oxygen

I know people who speak fluent “new release” and can list five indie films that “changed their worldview ” Me? I’ ve been watching Ocean's Eleven (2001) on rotation since I was fourteen. Throw in Ratatouille, the first Harry Potter, and a few Studio Ghibli titles, and that’ s basically the lineup

It’ s not that I don’t enjoy new storiesI do. But there’ s something almost ritualistic about revisiting familiar scenes It’ s like emotional muscle memory I know when I’ m going to laugh I know when to brace myself I can even play Subway Surfers in parallel. No surprises, no curveballs, just comfort

I used to think this made me unadventurous. Now I think it makes me someone who likes knowing where the story goes, especially when my own life doesn’t offer the same courtesy

Believing my opinion is the only right one

This one ’ s tough to admit, but it’ s true At my worst, I think I’ m the main character in a world full of people who just haven’t caught up to my brilliance yet At my best, I keep those thoughts to myself and nod politely while someone says something incredibly wrong about music, politics, or why Marmite is actually delicious (it’ s not, and I will die on that hill)

When I was younger, I argued like it was a sport. I had energy, charts, evidence, and a slightly smug expression. Now I’ ve learned to pick my battles, or rather, I’ ve learned to save my energy for fights that don’t end in someone crying in the group chat

Still, in the privacy of my own brain, I continue to win imaginary debates against people I haven’t seen in years Old habits die hard, and apparently, so does my inner know-it-all.

Outgrown Outgrown Outgrown

But still cling to when no one’s watching . . . But still cling to when no one’s watching . . . But still cling to when no one’s watching . . .

I once read somewhere that talking to yourself is a sign of intelligence, which is something I cling to every time I catch myself having a full conversation in the kitchen while making toast.

3

3 3 Talking to myself

Sometimes it’s harmless-me narrating what I’ m doing or practicing how I’ll phrase a text. Other times, it’s full-on dialogue with dramatic pauses and facial expressions Oscarworthy stuff, honestly (Best female actress, perhaps).

myself

(OUT LOUD)

(OUT LOUD) Talking to

I’ ve tried to stop. I’ ve made efforts to internalise my thoughts like a functioning adult But there’ s something comforting about hearing your own voice, even when there’ s no one around to listen. It’ s grounding, in a bizarre sort of way Like proof that you ’ re still here, even if it’ s just you and the butter knife 4 4 4 Not speaking up when I should* Not speaking up when I should* Not speaking up when I should*

I’ ve spent a lot of my life being quiet in the moments that mattered Apologising instead of asserting Shrinking instead of standing Even now, I sometimes rehearse what I should’ ve said hours or days later, like a tragic understudy who never made it to the stage.

I like to think I’ m better than I used to be - I’ ve learned to call things out, say no, say yes, say actually, that hurt But in highstakes moments, my silence still sneaks back in, wearing old shoes and a familiar shrug. It’ s a reflex I’ m trying to unlearn.

* Of all the things * Of all the things * Of all the things I’ m trying to leave I’ m trying to leave I’ m trying to leave behind, this one behind, this one behind, this one might be the MOST might be the MOST might be the stubborn. stubborn. stubborn.

Still growing, still holding on The truth is, growing up isn’t this neat before-and-after montage It’s messy. It’s remembering who you were and realising parts of that person still live in you. Some quietly. Some stubbornly. Some showing up at 2am like, “Remember this thing you did in Year 9? Let’s think about it for a bit ”

There are parts of me that are outdated, irrational, or just a little cringe But they’ re mine They shaped me And even as I outgrow them, I find it hard to throw them away completely. Maybe we’ re not meant to.

Maybe growing up isn’t about letting go of every odd, soft, or silly part of ourselves - but about learning how to carry them better

The playlist is diverging a b although there are some re The opening is a low-key gr followed by Talk Talk, a ver y rock in the 1990s and 2000 elephant fits in the theme new-wave band: Indochine. lyrics sometimes absurd, but that in the 1980s. Next, De Let Me Down Again, touch escapism. That version is ta which is simply grandiose (w Next comes a women-only b raw, piece of this playlist: empowerment Per fect for wa classic post-rock moment w video clip) M83 is the sec selection (lucky you), bridgin electronic piece: a remix of For the background stor y, I in Laska bar, a cool place.

horror et during the e whispered , “From ou are on your own, ” and k in the car .

I took the ofmy bag and turned it

e the origin of this

KES AND KES AND LADDERS

L ADDERS – FORWARDS

1. Went to Narvesen at least once a day every day – 3 move forward

2. Passed a course with a hundred points – 3 moves forward

3. Passed a course with an A – 3 moves forward

4. Made it to the Associates of the Month in the Insider – 3 moves forward

5. (For internationals) Learnt a bit of Latvian – 2 move forward

6. A professor remembered your name – 3 moves forward

7. Your nickname was on the Kahoot podium – 3 moves forward

8. Took a drink or two after the exam – 2 move forward

9. Made it to the Gossips – 4 moves forward

Safari…Wilderness and taking the right steps to survive.. Reminds you of something?

We decided to revisit a cult classic board game Snakes and Ladders and came up with the SSE Riga student version with the steps that are relatable for all of us. A bit of ecstasy or a letdown? Grab a coin or any small object and move along the squares if you experienced any of these things throughout this academic year!

Will you finish the game just like you finished the semester or… Will you get finished?

NAKES AND LADDE

10. Scored an internship (we hope you did) – 4 moves forward

SNAKES

AND LADD SNAKES AND LADD

Article by Arina Kosmačeva & Anna Gogebashvili

Design by Dominika Ignatjeva

SNAKES – BACKWARDS

1. Pulled an all-nighter – 1 move back

2. Got rejected from a committee/organization – 1 move back

3. A professor ignored your email –1 move back

4. Showed up to the lectures hangover – 2 moves back

5. Your jacket got lost in the cloakroom – 1 move back

6. Forgot your ISIC to an exam – 2 moves back

7. Walked into Soros when you had a lecture in W32 – 2 moves back

8. You had a lecture in W32, period – 1 move back

9. Your laptop crashed out during a Respondus exam – 3 moves back

10. Your phone/laptop played something at the full volume at a lecture – 3 moves back

AKES AND LADDERS AKES AND LADDER NAKES AND LADDER

SNAKES AND LAD SNAKES AND LAD AKES AND LA

D

LA

SAFARI cro s sword &

not only

cro s sword SAFARI

by Rebeka Rumbēna

Arta & Rebeka

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

Looks like ifund has got a ton of skeletons in the closet. Stuff’s definitely not adding up after last event

RJ presents himself as this bomb public speaker but..... reading off a paper is a choice.......

Some bitches be pissin me off...

You may think that when you have a teambuilding with 3 COMMITTEES, some sexy shit should happen... nothing, absolutely nothing... you guys are BORING

I heard that the elections were a bit rigged Apparently another candidate won, but they chose to say that NOTA won

who is that elixir collector with a haste spell who was driving with kalnpriedes car?!?!?

Why OVK walking around like naked ipad kid????

Might as well have done the games without refs

A.Ķ y2 and A.M y2 were telling each other to ignore the fact that they were together for 30 mins allllll ALOOOOONE

Betons were pure vibes, that is the team that might stick in the long run…

Saw two sportcom associates (KB and AC) coazing up with each other, are they together?

Basketball referee was hot

RMJ dancing with another girl, he on a mission and a hot streak

How perkulators takes the best players out of every single year and still loose soooo much

Perkulatos talking shit like they’re the shit, but some of them cant even pass FE… pathetic

im crushing on womens nr1 volleyball team sm

Sports Com should have bought some options for the weather to increase their budget

perkulators men acting like they’re some wild animals

Sicilian Mafia were aggressive for no reason The attitude kind of embarrassing for alumni.

The party ended, the lights were out, and MM? He chose the dance floor as their final resting place

Perkulators’ guys shit on the riv al women’s volleyball team during the final, didn’t support their own at all, and still lost I feel sorry for the girls who f*ck these mentally challenged men with zero respect.

tikai fani palika tikai fani

AĶ and RS eating each other’s faces off was quite a view.

Perkulators, shouting rude things at your opponents makes you look childish It seems like you haven’t learned respectand that’s not how you wi n games.

where were the ss sponsors? ... felt a bit empty compared to last year and the year before

I’m sad to say that SS was underwhelming this year… Sure the weather, but also not many teams, no marketing, and no almost sponsors.

SS marketing was non existent, and chief was nowhere to be found, and in the end, asking for pictures to post from students, and not taking any yourself

the alumni team (perkulators) was rude and immature, saying the n word and insulting other teams way to much

The Insider chief has been single-handedly churning out random but juicy gossip, and as a result, the once-thriving gossip page is now dead with the last three issues being especially terrible

It is so great to hear that the Insider will have elections soon. With E.S. as the chief the Insider has become just unreadable and overall poorly done

Why wasn't the MarketingCom Chief at SS?

T E G y1 was acting too sexy and comfortable around some certain businesslab winner, and they say she has a bf

Some couple had fun in car next to 5th house

R.A was getting freaky with Y1s

PO Y1, respectfully, shut up.

Dear P O (now y1), please don't steal half of the lectures and seminars time asking questions that chat can answer in 30 seconds. It doesn't make you look smart, rather the opposite

Perkulators men completely lack brain cells.

I wonder if they even get girls when they act like animals and talk trash women in the games

Certain Y3 making the most of final year two Y1s, hands full. Looks like our finance bro’s taking his talents to Magic Mike

A dude was sleeping on dancefloor between tables after beer pong, even when the party was over

Alumni/half alumni teams like perkulators and sicilian mafia behaved like small kids on summer symposium. It felt like students are more mature and respectful than grown adults from these teams

Didn't know A.K and R.S swing that way

SSE Riga is the most toxic university in Latvia. The gossip culture and hatred toward people without any real reason are sad to see, especially the Year 2 students bullying Year 1 Why is this behavior normalized?

tf where are our ECB grades

Having to pay 20 eur to sleep on the floor is diabolical

I am glad that the elections for the organisations are finally here. RR better run in the upcoming insider elections

Time to revive the exam retaker dynasty and toss the left-out trash where it belongs - straight to the gutter

NHH should been played on party

Some old Players did very well

Looks like the Year 1 BFF squad just got a little more complicated. For months, these inseparable besties have been lowkey obsessing over the same Year 2 heartthrob strictly under the sacred girl code that says, “Hands off, he’s offlimits.” Right? Wrong. Because what happened after the summer symposium? Let’s just say one of these loyal ladies threw that rule out the window and hooked up with Mr. Yea r 2 himself. We won’t say who that would just spoil all the fun, wouldn’t it? The kicker? Her bestie is still totally clueless. Drama is simmering, secrets are bubbling and the question on everyone’s lips: When will the truth come out? Stay tuned, students, this love triangle might just be the hottest thing since last semester’s "Who broke the sink at Sinners Club?".

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

Your dual nature will be on full display this month. One minute you ' re vibing with strangers at a rooftop bar, the next you ' re ghosting all your group chats Both sides of you deserve their space, just don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep

Cancer Cancer Cancer

You’re overthinking again, and you know it July invites you to shut your laptop, silence the notifications, and touch some grass You need nature, movement, and conversations without bullet points

This is a month for flirting - with people, with possibilities, with change You don’t need to make any grand decisions yet, but start putting your feelings out The second half of 2025 could look very different from the first

You're not used to sitting still, but July slows you down for a reason This pause is meant for clarity, not punishment Reconnect with something spiritualeven if it’s just drinking beer under the stars

The summer grind is real, but you need a break Your ambition is impressive, but burnout doesn’t look good on you Make sure to sneak in some fun here and there

July will stir your emotional waters in unexpected ways You’ll find yourself thinking about people you haven’t thought of in years, and maybe even hearing from some of them Don’t fall into old patterns - acknowledge the nostalgia, then go forward

Virgo

Libra Libra Libra

July will test the strength of your social circle. Someone you ’ ve counted on may go quiet, while a newer connection steps up unexpectedly Don’t force loyalty where it’s not mutual Let the month rearrange your people, you’ll be better off for it

Capricorn Capricorn Capricorn

Your mystery is magnetic this month People will try to decode you, but don’t give it all away That said, one person might be worth the risk of vulnerability You’ll know who they are by how calm they make you feel

Pisces Pisces Pisces

July is your time, and it will show You’re glowing, but don’t let everyone have access to your light Set some boundaries Not everybody deserves a seat at your table

Taurus Taurus Taurus

Your brain is full of ideas, but you ’ re struggling to find people who get you July will bring at least one unexpected connection - creative, romantic, or both Don’t dismiss weird energy too quickly, it might be magic

Aquarius Aquarius Aquarius

July will tempt you to act fast, but patience will serve you better Everyone will seem slower than you this month, but don’t burn bridges trying to move ahead Some things need time to ripen before they’re truly worth it

Aries Aries Aries

This is your sensual summer Eat good food, feel the sun on your face, and don’t apologize for wanting more pleasure than usual July is your chance to reconnect with your body and your desire for simple joys