Issue 225

THE ISSUE 225 - FREE

SAINT

The award-winning independent voice of St Andrews students since 1997 THESAINT-ONLINE.COM

ST ANDREWS, 22 November 2018

UNIVERSAL CREDIT CHANGES THREATEN MATURE STUDENTS

St Andrews student starts petition to advocate for legislative reform Campaign receives backing from local MP, Stephen Gethins

Page 3

NEW HALLS NOT READY FOR OPENING, RESIDENTS MOVED IN REGARDLESS ANNIE SMITH News editor Multiple students in the two newly-opened student halls of residence, Powell Hall and Whitehorn Hall, have issued complaints to porters and Residential Business Services (RBS) just weeks after moving in.

Several complaints address issues including leaking showers, busted radiators, broken furniture, and a plaster smell throughout the buildings, among others.

Whitehorn Hall also saw problems with showers in its ensuite rooms, an issue which contractors did not have time to attend to before residents moved into the hall.

Residential Services Manager Evelyn Parker informed Whitehorn Hall residents of potential issues as they moved in via Facebook.

In the University and Whitehorn Hall Facebook group, she said, “Prior to handover there were a number of bathroom pod shower trays which appeared to be slow in draining causing

the trays to fill up. Unfortunately the contractors were unable to attend to these prior to opening.

“We require access to all en-suite rooms on Friday [2 November] to have all of these showers looked at. We appreciate your help in this matter.”

On Friday 2 November, Ms Parker noted on the Facebook group, “The contractors will need access to rooms on Monday to carry out some of the snagging,” noting four specific rooms for door and window repairs and three other rooms for flooring repairs.

After a five-week delay, students were allowed to move into Powell Hall and Whitehorn Hall during Independent Learning Week (ILW), Monday 22 October to Friday 26 October 2018.

Second-year Ewan Gilligan, who also serves as Treasurer of the Powell Hall and Agnes Blackadder Hall (PABH) committee, spoke to The Saint

Problems persist with both new halls, Powell and Whitehorn, including:

about issues with his room’s heating, which have been in place since he moved in.

Mr Gilligan said, “At first my radiator didn’t turn on, as they hadn’t connected it up. After being ‘fixed,’ my radiator won’t turn off and is constantly at maximum. This means my room is way too warm, and so I need the window to be open constantly.”

He continued, “My radiator was fixed quickly after the initial complaint, but I reported my radiator yesterday – the builders said they’d be back in an hour to fix it – and it hasn’t been fixed yet.”

Mr Gilligan made his initial comment on Thursday 15 November, and as of Sunday 18 November, his radiator had still not been fixed.

On problems with his room and the porter response, PABH Senior Student Sam Stanford said, “My flatmates and I have all had a few problems here and there, such as paint marks, loose screws, a dysfunctional radiator and the wardrobe drawers coming off.

“The fixes have been rolling in

Broken furniture Leaking showers Busted radiators fairly slowly, but I am aware of more important issues being sorted out, which makes sense. In the end I guess everyone is going to have complaints, but the staff are very considerate and it seems like everything will be sorted soon enough.”

Ms Parker informed Whitehorn residents of potential issues via Facebook, noting, “Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that your bedrooms have been cleaned, we still have workmen doing snagging. If you find your room is not clean, then please get in touch with us [as soon as possible].”

Whitehorn resident Noemie Jouas also spoke to The Saint on the issues she has faced since move-in on Monday 29 October.

She said, “Since I moved in, I had a few issues in my room. My radiator was leaking and my shower wasn’t draining properly. I asked to get this fixed and people came in a few days later to fix it but my shower still has draining issues.

“Additionally, my shower recently started making screeching noises whenever I turn it on which is quite unpleasant. We are unable to turn

the fan off of the stove in our kitchen while cooking but haven’t asked to get it checked yet.

“Overall, there have been a few issues that, after waiting for seven weeks to move in, I would’ve hoped would’ve been already resolved. For all the trouble we went through living far from town and moving residences with very little support from the University, it’s a shame that there are still complications that aren’t being resolved.”

Powell Hall Operations Manager, Sarah Pay, also informed Powell residents that the hall would still be undergoing work by contractors after students moved in.

She said via email to residents, “From 9 am on Saturday 27 October, students will be moving into Powell Hall. By the end of the day on Wednesday 31 October all residents will have moved in from the temporary accommodation.

“Contractors will continue to be on site for some time to deal with snagging and to complete the external works but hopefully this will not be disruptive work.”

Continued on page 4...

NEWS

2

News

Page 3

Viewpoint

Page 8

Money

Page 13

Features

Page 17

Photos

Page 22

Events

Page 24

Arts and culture

Page 27

Sport

Page 36

Editor editor@thesaint-online.com Deputy print@thesaint-online.com The independent voice ofeditor St Andrews students since 1997 Web editor web@thesaint-online.com Production manager production@thesaint-online.com Video editor video@thesaint-online.com Illustration chief illustration@thesaint-online.com Business manager saint.businessteam@gmail.com Business team saint.businessteam@gmail.com

Andrew Sinclair Joint Editor-in-Chief Olivia Gavoyannis Joint Editor-in-Chief Tom Williams Deputy editor

S

EDITORIAL

Inside the paper

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

We all must look out for each other As deadlines mount up, it is tempting for some students to coop themselves up in their rooms and focus on their studies, rather than engaging with some of the notable public campaigns that are currently being organised by their fellow students.

The stories in this issue, however, show that the students of St Andrews are just as engaged as ever – and making their voice heard to promote the causes that they believe in.

Everyone, regardless of race, colour, gender, religion, and identity, should feel safe in this town The front page highlights the difficulties that students have faced since the opening of Whitehorn and Powell Halls in recent weeks, as well as the

campaign led by Sandra Mitchell and local MP Stephen Gethins to challenge the way Universal Credit is dispensed to those on a student income.

Ms Mitchell’s campaign is one we support, as we do the intentions of the students – featured in the News section – that have started petitions to change the way we perceive and deal with gender-based violence within the town. Everyone, regardless of race, colour, gender, religion, and identity, should feel safe and comfortable in this town.

This notion of inclusion is reflected in the pieces by Emily Matthews on the St Andrews alums working to rehabilitate prisoners and Seoras Lyall on the petition created to challenge the extortionate ticket touting culture that has grown up around events like the Christmas and May Balls.

Positive community relations are vital in a town of this size, where students make up such a large proportion of the population during term times.

To that end, this week’s InFocus highlights the work being done by the current Community Relations Officer Morgan Morris, which will come to fruition at the annual St Andrew’s Day festivities.

The St Andrew’s Day celebrations will be held at the end of week 11, heralding the onset of the revision

period, exams, and the end of another semester.

Positive community relations are vital in a town of this size As is the case every semester here at The Saint, the committee will undergo a vast overhaul ahead of January 2019. We (Olivia and Andrew) have thoroughly enjoyed the time we have spent at this paper and especially the year we have had as Editors.

It has given us the opportunity to meet and interview some incredible people, work positively with our fellow students, and ensure that the stories that matter most to the St Andrews community, both residents and students, are reported accurately and fairly.

We wish Tom Williams and the rest of the team for next semester the best, and we wish you all good luck with your exams.

The Saint Student Newspaper Ltd c/o St Andrews Students’ Association St Mary’s Place St Andrews, Fife KY16 9UX

Printed by Discovery Print 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL Tel: 01382 575999

Photo: Kylie Andrews

Georgia Anderson Web editor Annie Smith News editor Kaitlin Shaw Viewpoint editor Jolie Minh Tran Money editor Kenalyn Ang Features editor Brianna Paterson Events editor László Szegedi Joint A&C editor Olivia Hendren Joint A&C editor Harry Dean Sport editor Sammi Ciardi Photography chief Gabby Wolf Illustration chief James Fox Senior copy editor Amy Elliott Senior copy editor Sasha Veliko-Shapko Business manager Elisa Jockyman Roithmann Video editor Advertise with The Saint saint.businessmanager@gmail.com saint.businessteam@gmail.com @saint_business

Visit us online thesaint-online.com Facebook: The Saint Twitter: @thesaintonline

The Saint is an entirely independent newspaper, run by students of the University of St Andrews. It is published fortnightly during term time and is free of charge. The Saint is not affiliated with the University or the Students’ Association. The text, graphics and photographs are under copyright of The Saint and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without prior permission of the editor.

NEWS

News editor: ANNIE SMITH Deputy editors: Bear Hutchison, Seoras Lyall, Caitlin O’Reilly, Samantha Philipp news@thesaint-online.com

thesaint-online.com/news

Students at risk over changes to Universal Credit Sandra Mitchell, a mature student at the University of St Andrews, has recently launched a petition to change how Universal Credit is dispensed for those who are receiving a student income.

Universal Credit is a type of payment to assist working-age people, who are currently unemployed or being paid a low income, with living costs.

This credit takes six different types of benefits and merges them into one payment, which includes income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, housing benefit, child tax credit, and working tax credit.

Ms Mitchell, who started the petition, states in an open letter, “Under legacy benefits such as tax credits, student income is not taken in to account, allowing families to still receive child tax credit alongside their student loan, which would go a long way to helping offset the costs of raising a family.

“But because Universal Credit

classes student income as unearned income, it is taken into account and deducted pound for pound, leaving many claimants with no award or very little.”

Since student income is currently deducted much more than a paid income, Ms Mitchell’s petition calls for student income to be treated the same and to instead deduct 63 pence in the pound, as well as an additive of a work allowance to be provided to students.

Ms Mitchell also said, “We are calling on the government to review how student income is calculated to allow for more support and to allow families to lift themselves out of the trap of poverty and low-paid jobs.”

Ms Mitchell further challenges the current policy by arguing that a fulltime working week at a university as a student should count the same way paying work does.

She continues her argument by noting that many students take out loans to allow them the opportunity to receive an education which will allow them to work towards higher-paying jobs.

Ms Mitchell added, “If this is allowed to continue then we are poten-

tially denying our country of seeing some of our best and brightest from fulfilling their potential, and this in turn will have a knock-on effect for universities, who will start to notice a decrease in their student intake.”

Stephen Gethins, North East Fife MP, also commented saying that students, particularly noting those from disadvantaged areas, should be supported in studying at university instead of becoming victims of Government austerity.

The local MP said, “It is shocking but not surprising that the Tory government continues to impose its austerity agenda and policies like Universal Credit which it knows to be flawed.

“Students like Sandra deserve better, she has worked so hard to get to university and should be able to study without the fear of her family going hungry or having to give up her course.”

Mr Gethins continued, “I am very pleased the students are being supported by the University but their treatment by the UK Government is not acceptable and I have written to the Secretary of State inviting her to St Andrews so she can meet students

affected.”

Rector Srdja Popovic and the Rectorial team have also advocated for Ms Mitchell and a change in the calculation of Universal Credit for those who are receiving student income.

The Rector said on his Facebook page that “the government’s new welfare plans are making it impossible for disadvantaged students to remain in University,” and he also applauded Ms Mitchell for her efforts and

advocacy.

On 31 October, Mr Popovic said, “Injustice can only be fought when people have the courage to make a stand against it. Thank you to St Andrews student Sandra Mitchell for fighting for all those students who are having their lives ruined by the Government’s new Universal Credit plans.”

Ms Mitchell’s petition stood at 381 signatures at the time of the issue going to press (Monday 19 November).

Photo: Kylie Andrews

SAMANTHA PHILIPP Deputy news editor

University petitioned to address sexual, gender-based violence A group of students, naming themselves Students Against GenderBased Violence On Campus, have petitioned the University to address the state of sexual and gender-based violence in St Andrews.

Students at St Andrews have been angry about the prevalence of gender-based violence within our community for years The petition has been created on Change.org and is a supporting document for a motion to be brought to the Students’ Association Joint Councils.

When citing reasons for the creation of the petition, Alexandra Holker,

a fourth-year student who sits on the Women in Work and HeforShe committees, told The Saint, “Students at St Andrews have been angry about the prevalence of gender-based violence within our community for years.

Starting the petition with a group of other passionate and engaged people was the only way forward for many of us.”

The group hopes to change the current culture at the University surrounding gender-based violence through the use of preventative education.

The petition cites nationwide statistics about sexual assault, including that three in five students have been sexually assaulted or harassed while at university, according to the campaign group Revolt Sexual Assault and student website The Student Room, and about one in five students experience some sort of sexual harassment during their first week of term, according to the National Union of Students.

Part of this educative measure would include compulsory consent and bystander workshops for first years, elected representatives of the SRC and SSC, sport presidents, presidents and secretaries of affiliated societies, and Union staff, specifically bartenders and bouncers.

When asking for sports presidents to receive training, the petition states that it would encourage workshops for specific sports clubs.

The group calls for consent and bystander training to be an obligatory

part of matriculation, specifying that the University Sexual Misconduct Policy must be read by matriculating students.

The group calls for consent and bystander training to be an obligatory part of matriculation The petition also calls for changes in Union policy, saying that they must review their current policy regarding nights out and sexual misconduct.

Another creator of the petition, Gabriella Romney, a fourth-year student and President of Femsoc, said, “in my years at St Andrews, I have witnessed far too many instances of complacency and inaction when it comes to gender-based violence. While I recognise there are no easy solutions and more can always be done, this petition marks an essential first step to not only create a safer environment, but to shift the conversation.”

The group plans to lobby the University to address the prevalence of sexual misconduct on campus and the culture that perpetuates it. They call for the Sabbatical team to request a

meeting between the Vice-Chancellor and relevant representatives to discuss how this can be achieved.

Paloma Paige, President of the Students’ Association, said, “We are committed to tackling gender-based violence alongside the University and are proud to support Got Consent as best we can.

“We also recognise that there is more work to be done which is why we are keen to work with all invested parties, something which the Gender Based Violence Roundtable, established with students and staff, actively facilitates.”

Ms Holker spoke personally of her experiences to The Saint, say-

ing, “I, as an individual, am angry.

I have heard countless stories and testimonies, from friends, acquaintances and strangers, of incidents of gender-based violence. I formulated a survey in September to gauge the expansive reach of the problem; the results proved to me that something needs to change.

“The fact that we accumulated nearly 300 signatures in three days is testament to how important this petition is for our community. Students’ safety and wellbeing should be put first, starting with a focus on preventative education of students and staff and changing the current culture surrounding gender-based violence.”

Photo: Sarah Collinson

BEAR HUTCHISON Deputy news editor

Unfortunately the contractors were unable to attend to these [problems] prior to opening “As snagging issues are being raised, they are tracked and then rectified by the contractor in a timely manner.

“Due to the proactive steps by the students and the positive interaction with the contractor, the snagging process has gone smoothly and with little disruption.

“Naturally, we apologise if anyone has been inconvenienced.”

On Saturday 3 November, Powell Hall saw faults with its fire alarm system after the fire alarm was triggered in Agnes Blackadder Hall.

The two halls have a linked system for safety in the case of a fire and the risk of a fire spreading.

According to students present in Powell Hall at the time, the fire alarm sounded in the corridors but not in individual students’ rooms, though either both areas or neither area should have sounded.

The University noted that only the main fire panel should have been activated and the issue was highlighted to the system supplier.

A University spokesperson stated, “There is no fire safety concern at either Powell or Agnes Blackadder Hall and both systems are fully operational.”

Shortly after new residents moved in to Powell Hall, the hall committee hosted a housewarming party with cake and wine, for residents of both ABH and Powell Hall, which Returners’ Representative Aaron Fraser noted was successful and well-attended by new residents.

The committee has also elected a Postgraduate Representative to their committee in order to better understand the concerns of Powell residents.

Whitehorn Hall also held a free pizza event on Thursday 11 November to welcome new residents into the hall and allow them to meet each other and their wardens.

President of the Students’ Association Paloma Paige organised a feedback form for residents of Whitehorn Hall and Powell Hall during accommodation week, which took place from Monday 8 November to Friday 12 November.

The survey focused on the Albany Park contingency plans and the move to Whitehorn.

The responses were collated and given to RBS, according to the survey.

Potential Powell Hall and Whitehorn Hall residents previously dealt with accommodation issues in June 2018 after the University alerted them that the two halls would not be finished in time.

The builders said they’d be back in an hour to fix it, and it hasn’t been fixed yet Residents were notified that they needed to be placed in alternative accommodation, a placement which lasted six weeks past the previously stated completion date.

Returning undergraduate students to both Powell and Whitehorn Hall were given two options, described as

NEWS

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

a “contingency measure.”

The first option saw students allocated a temporary room in Albany Park rent-free for seven weeks, with them then able to move into Whitehorn Hall as soon as their room was ready.

For the second option, those residents of Powell Hall and Whitehorn Hall with ensuite rooms were able to transfer their contract to a room in David Russell Apartments (DRA), whilst standard room holders in Whitehorn could transfer to a room in Fife Park.

Postgraduate entrant students were given one option of a maximum of seven weeks in Albany Park and then a return to their initial contract of Powell Hall.

In an email to residents on Friday 22 June, Student Accommodation Services said, “The expected delay in completion of our new halls is due to circumstances entirely beyond our control, and although our contractors are working as hard as possible to meet the original deadline for completion, we cannot take the risk that the rooms may not be ready for the start of term. We very much regret this.”

Students who chose to live temporarily in Albany Park, before transferring to Powell Hall or Whitehorn Hall,

Photos: Samantha Chinomona

4 Continued from page 1...

In response to issues reported by new residents of Powell Hall and Whitehorn Hall, a spokesman for the University of St Andrews said, “As with any brand new development, commercial or residential, there will always be a degree of snagging and an expected tolerance of snagging due to equipment being used for the first time.

were offered free transport and assistance in moving.

Additionally, they were also told that their rooms in Albany Park would be fully furnished with bedding and linen, their kitchens would be equipped with a range of equipment, and flat groups would remain the same in both halls.

Residents who chose the option of seven free weeks in Albany Park and Whitehorn Hall would instead pay £5688, a savings of £1266, while the option of a room in DRAFP would cost £6691, with no savings.

After waiting for seven weeks to move in, I would’ve hoped [these issues] would’ve been already resolved In the email, Student Accommodation Services also informed undergraduate students who were guaranteed a place in Powell Hall that the hall would be turned into a postgraduate-only hall, leaving them to choose either Whitehorn Hall or David Russell Apartments and Fife Park four months after signing their hall contact.

Many displaced residents wrote to the University with their questions and concerns.

A large portion of those affected feeling disappointed and noting that they feel the situation has been handled poorly, with one student noting they were “not entirely convinced the University [had] done their best job with handling [the situation] so far.”

It was revealed in a University Court meeting on 13 April that, due to delays in construction, contingency plans for Whitehorn Hall and Powell Hall were being considered.

However, that information was not publicised to students until 11

May by The Saint.

Student Accommodation Services cited weather issues, particularly the “beast from the east” snowstorm in late February and early March, as reasons for the delays.

At the University Court meeting in April, the meeting minutes noted that “progress, though behind, was still within tolerable levels,” but contingency plans were still being considered.

Around this time, the University agreed with the contractor that construction workers could use the weekends to catch up on quiet work, including painting.

Whitehorn Hall also came under controversy when the two halls were officially announced in February due to costs.

Whitehorn Hall was initially priced at £5,391 for single standard self-catered yet £9,156 for a single en-suite catered, making it the most expensive room provided by the University of St Andrews.

Meanwhile, Powell Hall costs were set at £6,954 for a self-catered en-suite room.

The costs originally raised complaints with students and the Rectors’ Committee, particularly seeing as the two new halls were announced around the same time as the announcement of the closure of Albany Park, which was previously the most affordable hall of residence at £3,915 per annum.

There will always be a degree of snagging ... due to equipment being used for the first time Rector Srdja Popovic said in February, “We hope to move forward with conversations with students and the University to see how we can best improve the situation for all of us.”

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

NEWS

5

University balls, events accused of ticket inflation SEORAS LYALL Deputy news editor

sale, said to The Saint, “I felt inspired to start this petition because I believe that unregulated ticket sales encourage the existing problems of elitism and social inequality at the University of St Andrews.

“In terms of my personal experience – yes, like many others I have tried (and failed) to get hold of resale ball tickets in the past. This time last year, someone tried to charge me £217 for a Christmas Ball ticket. I faced a similar situation with May Ball last

year. I come from a background, as many students do, where spending upwards of £200 on a ball ticket is unthinkable.

There have been reports of tickets being resold in excess of £200 “However, for me, this whole issue goes beyond ball tickets. I don’t want to live in a community where it is acceptable to indirectly exclude a whole demographic of students based on their financial situation. It is symptomatic of a wider problem in the student body.

“In terms of the petition, my eventual hope is that the Union will create a ticket resale site [or] app similar to FIXR or Twickets in which tickets will be resold for face value or less. The petition has already reached 17 signatures in a day, which is a promising start, and I would like to get significantly more soon. Getting a lot of signatures could help provide leverage on this issue.”

Photo:Terry Lee

A second-year student has set up a petition as part of the growing anger about inflating ticket prices for The Mermaids Christmas Ball.

Organised on Change.org, the petition calls upon the University of St Andrews Students’ Association to establish a resale site or app to ensure that tickets are only sold at their face

value or less. It has been alleged that some Christmas Ball tickets are being resold for up to £200, more than 400 per cent of their face value.

Despite sales now being solely online, as opposed to in-person ticket sales like several years ago, they typically sell out within minutes of going live.

Second-year student Harriet Watts Williamson, who launched the petition on Wednesday 14 November when Christmas Ball tickets went on

At the time of writing, the petition currently has 36 signatures. Ms Williamson has also reached out to the Students’ Association Director of Events and Services, Adam Powrie, and the Rector about the issue.

Speaking to The Saint, Mermaids Vice-President Shaina Sullivan said: “Mermaids Performing Arts Fund and the Mermaids Christmas Ball do not condone reselling tickets at increased prices. ”In the past three years we have decreased the number of tickets each individual can purchase from five to three to two to dissuade the purchasing of tickets with the intent to resell them. We have also strived to maintain our £37 ticket price in order to keep the event as financially accessible as possible. As a subcommittee of the Students’ Association, Mermaids follows the Union’s policies regarding ticket sales and will continue to do so.”

Mr Powrie echoed Mermaids’ sentiments and added, “We at the Association are currently reviewing the system for purchasing tickets and will liaise with Sub Committees accordingly to make sure we do what we can to allow for an equal opportunity to attend the events we are involved in throughout the year. As always, the Association welcomes student feedback and we will work hard to ensure that the student voice is heard.”

Former students work to support prison offenders Following the success of their business in London coffee shops and several prisons across the south of England, Max Dubiel and Ted Rosner are in discussions to bring their business, Redemption Roasters, north of the border, both to Scottish prisons and potentially to Edinburgh coffee shops.

Redemption Roasters provides work for offenders while also giving them the skills to work as a barista Redemption Roasters provides work for offenders while they are in prison, teaching them both the skills necessary to work in a roastery and as a barista, and then aims to provide employment in their shops or elsewhere in the industry once they are released.

Speaking to The Courier, Mr Dubiel said that the work they do in prisons “delivers real skills for those leaving the criminal justice system,” which

research shows plays a huge role in breaking the cycle of unemployment and re-offending.

According to the company’s website, offenders are 50 per cent more likely to offend if they leave prison without skills or a job, a figure which Redemption Roasters is working to change.

The duo behind the company met at St Andrews, and through being involved in a variety of student enterprises, such as balls and fashions shows, they developed an interest in placing social impact at the heart of their business.

While he recognised that one of the main point of balls and other events may be entertainment, Mr Dubiel believes that St Andrews students are aware of the wider impact they can have.

Offenders are 50 per cent more likely to re-offend if they leave prison without skills or a job In a comment to The Saint, Mr Dubiel stated that he thinks the small size and tight-knit community of St

Andrews means that students “have to be entrepreneurial” in order to create their own entertainment, and that this encouraged them to start their own business. He also credited the fact that the vast majority of St Andrews events are run for charity, which encourages students to think about social enterprise from an early stage.

Both Mr Dubiel and Mr Rosner worked in the city for a period following their time at St Andrews, and Mr Dubiel said that this time working in the corporate sector has provid-

ed them with invaluable experience, showing both of them that there is “just as much chaos” behind the veneer of a big company as there is in a start-up.

Mr Dubiel also suggested that the tight bonds and contacts he developed with other students at St Andrews has made the process of starting this business far easier. He encouraged any students considering starting businesses to “just do it,” as now is the best time in life to take action.

The stated aim of the company is to show that “the whole roasting pro-

cess can be socially responsible,” producing a cup of coffee that ‘“raises the bar for everyone.”

Laura Boyle from HMYOI Aylesbury, a prison for young offenders in Buckinghamshire, England, described the company as a “shining example” of how the Prison Service works with industry partners in order to teach skills that really reduce re-offending.

Through their northern expansion, the St Andrews alumni hope to bring their initiative back to where it began, in Scotland.

Photo: Pixabay

EMILY MATTHEWS

NEWS

6

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

InFocus: Morgan Morris, Community Relations Officer Morgan Morris discusses his committee’s work and St Andrews Day preparations

In somewhere like St Andrews, where during term-time students make up a considerable proportion of the town’s population, positive community relations are of the utmost importance.

Whilst for the most part residents and students get on, there is undoubtedly tension from time to time, especially over issues like housing and noise.

Making sure those relations not only run smoothly, but improve in a sustainable way, is part of the portfolio of the current Community Relations Officer, Morgan Morris.

If there are issues coming up or opportunities that arise, we bring it together and promote it to students and residents Mr Morris is a second-year Biology and Geography student, who was elected to the position of Community Relations Officer in March 2018 having served on the ComRels subcommittee as Freshers’ Rep during the last academic year.

Having attended the nearby Wade Academy in Anstruther, Scotland, Mr Morris knows the town of St Andrews well and felt that this role would give him the chance to “really immerse myself in St Andrews and make a difference being here using my local knowledge”.

Being a relatively new position within the Students’ Association as well as a position that inherently does a lot of work behind the scenes means that very few people actually know what being involved

in Community Relations here in St Andrews actually means, according to Mr Morris.

We’d really like people to go in and have a cup of tea with their neighbours and tell stories His role as Community Relations Officer sees him sit on both the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and Students Services Council (SSC), and he was elected earlier this year to sit on the Executive Committee.

Mr Morris claims that one of the best aspects of the role has been the ability to meet new people across the town.

He said, “My role entails that I represent the students and the locals.

If there are issues coming up or opportunities that arise, we bring it together and promote it to students and residents.”

He also added, “I also sit on the community council, I go to their monthly meetings and we discuss things going on in the town and so forth.

“There’s a lot of things that come with it that people don’t really see but it’s a really good job to meet loads of people in the town. I’ve met so many new local residents since March.”

Having formed his subcommittee in May, just before last semester’s exam period, Mr Morris and his team have been involved in a number of campaigns this semester, all of which have had the intention of maintaining harmony between students and residents.

He told The Saint, “We worked on the May Dip campaign with the Wellbeing committee to ensure that everybody was safe and leaving the community as they found it before May Dip happened. During Freshers’ Week we ran the bonfire campaign and we ran the Raisin campaign with the Sabbatical officers and Wellbeing.”

We have a ceilidh on South Street, which we’re aiming to be one of the largest in the UK As Mr Morris pointed out, those campaigns are things that students notice and are aware of during those festivities, but outsiders often don’t take much notice of who is responsible for them.

If the Community Relations subcommittee were not there, however, students and residents would undoubtedly notice and the town would be in a far worse state.

Something Mr Morris hopes everyone will notice is Community Relations Week in Week 11, or Monday 26 November to Saturday 1 December, which is the crescendo of his subcommittee’s work throughout this semester.

There are a number of events that will take place across the University during Week 11, and on the Sunday of Week 10, with the culmination being the annual St Andrew’s Day celebrations on Saturday 1 December.

The events they are holding include a West Sands beach clean on the S u n d a y a l o n g side the

Photo: Elisa Jockyman Roithmann

ANDREW SINCLAIR Editor-in-chief

Fellowship, a “Meet Your Community Council” reception in Beacon Bar on Tuesday 27 November, an East Sands Beach Clean in partnership with the Environment subcommittee on Wednesday 28 November, and finally a Chariots of Fire film screening in the Buchanan Lecture Theatre on Thursday 29 November.

Throughout the week, they will also be running a “Meet Your Neighbour” campaign, something that is clearly quite important to Mr Morris.

He said, “We’d really like people to go in and have a cup of tea with their neighbours and tell stories. This campaign has the opportunity to win tickets for three of the Christmas events in the Union.

“If you submit 100 words of your story of what you did to go and meet your neighbour, you can win these tickets.”

The showpiece of the week is the St Andrew’s Day celebration.

With some national media outlets already lined up to attend, it is set to be a spectacular occasion and has already gained significant attention on social media.

Mr Morris said, “We have the market in the morning (organised in conjunction with BID St Andrews and the Fellowship) from 11 am to 4 pm, with lots of student stalls and local resident stalls, food trucks, and there’ll be music.

“There’s a little break in between and then we have a ceilidh on South Street, which we’re aiming to be one of the largest ceilidhs in the UK, or at least Scotland. We have performances throughout that as well, and that leads into a parade down South Street and down to East Sands where there’ll be fireworks around the Cathedral which should be really good fun.

“We’re hoping for a really good turnout of students and residents to make it a really big event.”

Whilst Mr Morris said that they wouldn’t have someone to officially count the amount of people present for the Ceilidh, the current record is approximately 250 and he was “pretty certain” that they would be able to beat that and do a quick head count to prove it.

St Andrews Day is a ‘great opportunity’ to bring students and residents together in a positive way Although the plans for St Andrew’s Day and the celebrations that will follow are already in place, Mr Morris was keen to stress that there are still rewarding ways for students to get

involved.

“We’re looking for volunteers for the market, the parade, to marshal things. It’s a really good opportunity for students to get involved – hopefully it’ll go towards their volunteering hours from the Students’ Association and they’ll also get a free dinner voucher if they’d like to volunteer for the Saturday.

Of course we live here for four years, but many of the residents have been living here for more than 20 years “It’s a good opportunity to see behind the scenes of St Andrew’s Day and help make it really great.”

Mr Morris said that St Andrew’s Day is a “great opportunity” to bring students and residents together in a positive way, but that those positive community relations shouldn’t stop there and that we can all do more as students to make everyone’s lives that bit more enjoyable.

“Be aware of the neighbours around you, take the time to go and say hello to them, have a cup of tea with your neighbours. Take care with your bins – just be courteous of the town.

“Of course we live here for four years, but many of the residents have been living here for more than 20 years and have grown up here. You can also learn a lot from them about the town.”

Beyond this semester, Mr Morris and his team are looking ahead to next semester and broader projects.

Whilst he acknowledged that the elections in March do hamper the amount you can get done, he is hoping to extend community outreach in order to “let the community know that there is a position here that represents them.”

Those who would like to get involved with the Community Relations team are welcome to attend their sub-committee meetings on Tuesdays at 5 pm in Society Room A, or email Mr Morris at comrels@st-andrews. ac.uk.

He will also be getting office hours next semester in the Main Bar, where any students or residents with questions, queries or event suggestions are welcome to reach him.

Improving community relations is something that should be important to all of us in this wonderful little corner of the UK. With Mr Morris’ enthusiasm and passion at the helm, they appear to be in a pair of safe and capable hands.

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

NEWS

7

Student finds profit in sustainability with new company Self-started enterprise Resourced serves as environmentally-friendly business network Fourth-year student Joe Andersson of the University of St Andrews has recently launched his own business network, Resourced.

The network describes itself as “a network for business that attempts to reinforce profitability through sustainability.”

Mr Andersson first pitched Resourced at a competition for social enterprises, hosted by Enactus St Andrews.

A panel of judges chose his company as the winner and awarded him initial funding for his project.

The company begins with market research on the businesses within its network, where Resourced can identify “mutually beneficial opportunities to trade materials and waste.”

This also allows Resourced to work to understand the member businesses on a deeper level.

Then, Resourced works together with local industries in the area and will connect two local businesses together if it appears that there is a potential for them to exchange waste materials.

With that in place, Resourced works to help its partners save on disposal and removal costs during their business endeavours, as well as working to generate a new source of revenue for the otherwise wasted materials.

Resourced notes that each of these practises are in sync with the network’s sustainability ethos, as they pride themselves on the idea of finding profit in sustainable business practise.

Mutually beneficial opportunities to trade materials and waste Mr Andersson, an Economics student and Swedish national, said to The Saint, “I am devoted to finding ways to encourage sustainability and help others see the benefits of a sustainable mindset in business.”

He added, “I created Resourced to focus on finding efficient ways to re-use or re-purpose materials. The idea comes from a simple notion that profitability does not mean sacrificing sustainability.”​

Resourced will be hosting a pilot in the near future to help businesses find partners for trading surplus materials and waste products.

They hope this will mean the businesses save on disposal and removal

costs and even generate new streams of revenue through sustainability.

Businesses can contact Resourced at resourced.enactus@gmail.com if they are interested in the pilot scheme or networking opportunities.

Photo: Kylie Andrews

ANNIE SMITH News editor

VIEWPOINT

Viewpoint editor: KAITLIN SHAW Deputy editors: Archie Batra, Linus Erbach, Milly Butters, Jurin K. Flores

viewpoint@thesaint-online.com

thesaint-online.com/viewpoint

@saint_ viewpoint

Gender stereotypes: going unnoticed Are we as politically correct as we think we are?

Having recently written an article defending my passion for psychology, it got me thinking about the everyday implications of adopting a more psychological mindset. Once you do, its unbelievable how much you notice, and how much it makes you think about the everyday implications of society. Our gender is a big part of our identity, and although a person’s physical gender is biologically determined at birth, most of our perceptions of gender are formulated and learned from society, reflecting the extent to which even basic features of our identity are psychologically constructed. Naturally this comes with societal stereotypes.

We all know the typical, antiquated (and vastly wrong) mainstream stereotypes that supposedly divide men from women – think something like: men are insensitive and emotionally immature, women are always the overemotional damsel in distress in need of rescuing etc. This is old news and progress is definitely being made to change them.

We all know the antiquated mainstream stereotypes that supposedly divide men from women But there are a huge number of subtle beliefs, mentalities and representations that are often hardwired into us and our society. These manifest themselves all around us, both in our own conversation, thoughts and actions but also in the outside world, and often go totally unnoticed by most people. For example, being stuck in a bit of an internet

wormhole recently (extreme deadline avoidance techniques) I happened to come across an online advert for a photoshop app. I probably watched 30-40 seconds of naturally beautiful women being distorted, sexualised and otherwise altered.

Having a teeny tiny waist whilst maintaining your voluptuous curves naturally is physically impossible for 99.9% of the female population.

Why are we advertising that impossibility is what young women should aspire to, and if they don’t reach this impossibly high standard – hey we’ve made an app to make it look like you have! This is a fairly overt example of advertising that reinforces the stereotype that women are prized for their physical appearance over all else, but others are subtler.

One group of social psychologists did a combined analysis of over 60 studies examining how genders are presented in advertising and found some shocking results - that you likely didn’t even notice when watching the advert. For example, women were four times more likely to not have a speaking role compared to male counterparts, and three times more likely to be presented as a product user than as an authority (Eisend, 2009). Whether these adverts mirror our culture or in fact mould it, it is clear that the reinforcement of the idea of the subservient woman is not entirely a thing of the past.

The same applies to men. There are plenty of advertising related examples I could choose (how many women appear in beer adverts for example – it’s the manly man’s drink of

course) but what about mass media?

Male figures commonly appear as a bungling father figure in TV ads and sitcoms. Usually well-intentioned and light-hearted, his character rang-

applies to boys. A search results in pages of primary-coloured cars and robots. Now this is an obvious one – we’re reinforcing the types of things girls and boys ‘should be’ interested in through a presentation of gendered toys. In this way, we are psychologically constructing limiting stereotypes for them. This is important but the implicit and unnoticed aspect is perhaps more important: the idea of the ‘weird’ child who doesn’t conform.

Have you ever seen a boy alongside a girl on the front of the packaging for typically female toys? We are supressing the urge to be different.

Another example is the kind of language we use to talk about men and women.

We often describe and subconsciously think of women as softer, more caring and emotional.

And what’s wrong with that? In isolation, nothing at all.

However, a problem arises when we consider the kind of descriptions we place on women who aren’t being these things.

When women are assertive instead of nurturing, they’re labelled as bossy, intense or forward. The same qualities are often prized as powerful in a man.

Words like these are used disproportionately against women and describe a behaviour that is often either encouraged or goes unnoticed in men.

A description like ‘working mother’ infuriates me. How often, proporPhoto: Unsplash

Milly Butters Deputy viewpoint editor

es from slightly inept to completely hopeless when it comes to parenting their children or dealing with domestic issues. Think Homer Simpson for example. Regardless, it shapes this subconscious idea about gender and parenting roles on an entirely unnoticed level.

This isn’t limited to advertisement and mass media either. A quick google of ‘girls toys’ brings up pages and pages of sickening pinkness, full of dolls and play make-up. The same

The views viewsexpressed expressed in in Viewpoint Viewpoint do The do not not represent representthe theviews views of of The TheSaint Saintbut butare areindividual individual opinions. opinions.

tionally, do you hear of a ‘working dad?’ This undermines a father’s role in parenting too. There seem to be some subtle descriptors than we feel the need to mention about women, that are not considered relevant about men. And don’t even get me started on the description ‘ladylike’. That is praising women for showing a behaviour that isn’t perceived as threatening to the patriarchy. And describing a woman as over-sensitive or overly emotional dismisses them as pawns of their hormones and physicality.

When has a man ever been asked: ‘is it your testosterone making you behave like this?’

Is it right to draw a connection between men and emotional repression?

Men aren’t immune from this either. Telling someone to ‘man up’ might just be a jokingly affectionate way of encouraging them to get a grip, but the subtle implications of using our language like this is huge.

‘Man up’ is often used when someone is expressing some form of emotion. Is it right to draw a connection between men and emotional repression? We are conditioning men to reject within themselves anything that may be remotely emotional, fragile, feminine and ‘mushy’ - no wonder the suicide rate for men is sadly unbelievably high. If you think about the kind of rhetoric we use when describing people, even jokingly or without sexist intent, the problems men and women have in our society become a little clearer. Once you start defamiliarizing what we say and how we say it, our colloquial speech can leave a lot to be desired.

If you start to look more carefully, antiquated ideas about gender stereotypes that our politically correct society thinks it has overcome actually appear all around us, and filter into our unconscious at a very young age.

I wouldn’t for a minute suggest that in terms of a societal spresenation males and females are equal.

VIEWPOINT

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

9

Devil’s Advocate Is diet culture damaging?

YES

Milly Butters of message their products are spreading. And yet our media idolises them.

Despite more than 16,000 people signing a petition claiming their advertising was sending out highly damaging messages, Victoria secret still turned over a staggering £3.2 billion.

Clearly selling idealism works and it just makes me despair. When I was ill, I used to look at these women as the epitome of perfection. I envied their lives, but mostly I envied the respect that their bodies bought them.

Now I admire their success, but I firmly believe its for the wrong reason and I wouldn’t trade with them for all the money in the world. Please, don’t allow yourself to buy into the idea that diet culture sells you here: that how you look equals your success or worth. I can attest that watching the scales drop or building more muscle will never make you more content in yourself.

So, to reiterate, it is not healthy eating I have a problem with. I get that self-love comes in different forms: some people need to ‘Bridget Jones’ and eat a pint of ice cream on the sofa whilst listening to music that only makes you more depressed, while others find nothing more therapeutic than exercising in the gym or taking control of their unhealthy eating habits (though personally I think self-pity and chocolate cannot be beaten) and I totally respect the difference. My issue is with the culture that fosters the fad diet that changes every week and suggests that following it is the ‘right way’ to diet.

Every week is a different story: Eat low fat products! Don’t eat them because to compensate they’re full of sugar! Eat eggs because they’re full of protein! Don’t eat them because they raise your cholesterol! The list goes on.

These exist only to make money from the both the people who sell them and the products they endorse. Spreading the idea that they are healthy reduces how well we understand a proper diet, and I believe is one of the main factors that influences the rising development of eating disorders.

Diet culture reinforces an unhappiness with who we are, a desperate desire to prove our self-worth through restricted eating, a connection between weight or appearance and success and an unprecedented pressure to look a certain way. By all means, eat healthily and exercise. But don’t subscribe to a money-making industry that preys on our insecurities.

There is a huge difference between healthy eating and damaging diet culture

“

Every fortnight I sit down to write these articles and I imagine ‘reader reaction’ – I reckon I’m probably that person who defends the things people roll their eyes at. But I promise I’m writing about things that really matter to me and I strongly believe need changing. Pretty high up that list is diet culture. Now let me make one thing perfectly clear first: I am not discouraging those who advocate a healthy lifestyle at all.

As a nation we have to face up to the fact we have an obesity issue and our healthy eating leaves plenty to be desired. Yet I firmly believe that there is a huge difference between encouraging healthy eating and lifestyle habits and the highly damaging diet culture we often hear is the only way to achieve health or fitness goals.

Now, (although I’m slightly terrified of doing it) I’m going to lay myself bare here: In the past I had an eating disorder, and I can honestly attest that probably a good 70% of my trigger points came from what I found in the media and on the internet.

The most damaging aspect of media diet culture is that it reinforces the idea that losing weight will make you happy, rich, successful and attractive.

This idea is reinforced by celebrities – even if they aren’t actively campaigning for the next ‘revolutionary’ fad diet that helped them lose an utterly ridiculous amount of weight like a stone in a week (they likely don’t believe any of it they’re just being paid for it) they are being paid or pressured to look a certain way.

Our advertising and media works on selling dreams and not realities.

How many times have you seen a Victoria Secret model with an ounce of fat or a stretch mark? We don’t like to advertise reality because it doesn’t sell – what does sell is this subconscious connection we draw between wearing the product and feeling and looking more like the models. I can also attest that this mindset leads to nothing but disappointment in yourself. If these models got to where they are now through good conscious eating and regular exercise, I’d applaud them just like everyone else. But when models reveal in interview that they survive on liquid only diets leading up to a runway show, and no liquid for up to 12 hours before – so you ‘dry out’ which can lead to loss of up to eight pounds of water weight but is also seriously damaging for your whole body – I wonder about the kind

Archie Batra

I have no idea what ‘diet culture’ is, and I have no intention of finding out

I have no idea what “diet culture” is and, to be honest, I have no intention of finding out. It’s a term that immediately gives the impression that it was cooked up by members of the liberal, wet, and all-round insufferable new Left of the 21st Century, who have abandoned discussion on proper issues (like jobs, housing, and foreign affairs) in favour of non-issues that don’t matter to most people, but certainly make them feel a bit uncomfortable, or maybe even a bit offended. As such, it does not seem to me to be a serious problem, and I will therefore not treat it as one.

My best guess is that “diet culture” refers to a pervading attitude across the country that prioritises dieting. This new zeitgeist must have passed me by, because I’ve seen no evidence for its existence. Plenty of St Andrews students seem perfectly happy to devour their crisps, chocolate, and sweets in the library, and the noble houses of Empire and Dervish certainly don’t seem to lack for customers. In fact, Rocca’s recent decision to extend its opening hours into the wee hours of the morning seems to suggest the exact opposite is happening.

The wider country also seems to have had a strange reaction to their oppressive “diet culture”. Over half of the country is still considered to be “overweight”, and childhood obesity statistics make for depressing reading. Even soldiers in the Army have become a bit thick around the waist recently, with some of our country’s finest now prohibited from visiting Greggs.

I’ve also not noticed the existence of our “diet culture”: no one intervenes to nick my beer and crisps, even though I could probably do without them. Nor does anyone make me feel guilty about it; if anything, I’m made to feel ashamed because I won’t neck that sixth pint, or chip in for a dominos. I’ve never, ever felt the pressure to diet, and I imagine this is not uncommon. If anything, I could do with a bit of external pressure to get back into shape (Not that I was ever in shape, might I add).

But, for argument’s sake, let’s say that “dieting culture” does exist, and we’re all subject to its effects you know, eating, erm, healthily. So what? I get this reminder everytime I go home; it’s not Mum kowtowing to some oppressive culture of diet, it’s her looking after me. (At least, that’s

NO the speil I get every time I waddle to the fridge.) And, even if I resent it at the time, I do appreciate the thought. I think it’s quite nice when someone reminds you to look after yourself, but that’s just me.

We should also not forget the inconvenient truth that a lot of us could stand to lose a little weight, so maybe a culture that prioritised dieting wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Being overweight or obese is not some trivial thing: it can have serious and debilitating effects on your health that can be easily avoided. It’s worth keeping an eye on your weight for the sake of those who care about you, let alone yourself.

And, as much as I hate to point it out, there’s a financial cost to the country’s problem with obesity. The NHS spends £1.5bn of taxpayer money on treating illnesses related to obesity, £1.5bn that could easily be saved with sensible and achievable changes to the lifestyles of many of our compatriots. Not only would this bring down the cost of running the NHS, but it would give medical professionals more time and resources to focus on other, more pressing issues.

I suppose the argument could be made that people harm themselves when the diet when they don’t need to, and thus “diet culture” is a great evil that must be stopped. This is self-evident codswallop, in my view.

The only thing compelling an individual to strictly adhere to a diet they don’t need is themselves, and so I’m not convinced waging a war against some nebulous “culture” of dieting will do people like this any good.

What would be far more effective is addressing the needs of the individual in question, as they will all have different reasons for their zealous and harmful dieting. I don’t believe people are forced to harm themselves through excessive dieting because our culture worships it: I think the issue is far more complex, and thus necessitates a more intelligent consideration than “diet culture is damaging.” If we want to truly help people that are harmed by excessive dieting, we owe them our proper consideration, not a lazy referral.

I’m no mental health aficionado, but it seems that people benefit from one on one help, as opposed to being told it’s our culture’s fault. Talking with professionals to seek advice seems a lot better than railing against diet culture.

The views viewsexpressed expressed in in Viewpoint Viewpoint do The do not not represent representthe theviews views of of The TheSaint Saintbut butare areindividual individual opinions. opinions.

VIEWPOINT

10

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

The Frank Muir prize for humour - winning entry Ed Polsue: Somewhere in middle England, the Caledonian Sleeper, Coach A, Seat 06B, 21:58, 28.10.18 shunned comfort for the efficiency of the overnight train journey; tragically I was keenly aware that I wouldn’t be up to anything else in these hours of darkness. I am no stranger to a night of roughing it on a train. In fact, it is almost something of an adventurous treat on occasion.

Every now and then. However, so often had I done this that on this night, with the burdensome facets of student life hot on my heels, it felt distinctly less treatish. I was not prepared to endure the permanent brown light or the crass upholstery strewn with crumb, gum and sickness or the irritating questions from my fellow travellers such as ‘how far up are you going’ or ‘is there a plug socket next to you?’ I enjoy many aspects of the sleeper. I love the narrow carriages which are like something out of a low budget BBC dramatization of Agatha Christie. I enjoy the separate diesel engine with its headlamps squinting into the impregnable fog of night like a pathfinder as it winds its way across England and Scotland.

But not tonight. I had to secure for myself a passably decent night’s sleep. Perhaps I should mention that arriving at Leuchars Station at 0548 in sub-decent temperatures wearing the clothes you slept in next to the fat snorer next to you, his discarded cans of Magners rattling as you tread over them as quietly as possible, induces in one a feeling that they’d like to crawl into an unmade bed and die. With a decent helping on my plate, I thought prudent to try and get a decent night’s quota of zz’s.

I would board the sleeper, simply approach the nearest guard and politely request an upgrade, stiffen my sinews and pay what was required.

Next morning, I would be woken with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and freshly ground Kenyan.

With rare aplomb would I proceed to attack the day. I entered carriage A, found my seat with the tag that designated it mine: ‘POLSUE- RESERVED FROM EUSTON TO LEUCHARS.’ I wondered if the fellow who wrote ‘From Here to Eternity’ first hit upon the idea for the title of his blockbuster when he first saw his reservation tag on the Caledonian Sleeper. I had already asked several people clad in purple tweed and they had all inauspiciously delegated the answering of my question to someone named Mike Olleague, apparently a renowned and popular man, and a gentleman I sought with alacrity but, alas, to no avail. I took my place in 06B with the countenance of an optimistic oneeyed, chew-eared, Hairless Boston Terrier with an ASBO at breakfast on selection day at Battersea Dogs Home.

A couple of seats ahead of me was a father and daughter (c.8) and across from me was a mother and son (c.2 and a half). They were being rather noisy. This irritated me. She was kissing her son rapidly and repeatedly to his shrill giggles. This irritated me further; she was rewarding his hyperactivity with kisses and it sounded as if a bonobo was drinking Mulligatawny with a particularly small tea spoon.

And then the father got loudly annoyed with a girl who had the unmitigated temerity to imply that he might be in the wrong seat. This irritated me further. I detest spectating such awkward exchanges on the train. His accuser bravely dug her heals in; she knew she was innocent and was conducting her own defence with such tenacity. He soon realised he was in

the wrong. I was a tad surprised to learn that coincidentally, albeit rather bizarrely, they were also going to Leuchars.

But as the London night gave way to the Hertfordshire night, as passing trains slowly guided themselves to a nice warm shed, as the number of lit windows on rapidly retreating blocks of flats decreased, and as I contemplated the prospect of abandoning these people, I started to enjoy the company of my fellow passengers.

And then, Mike Olleague appeared!

This was my chance. He nodded approvingly at each of the occupants of the front half of Coach A, including the father and daughter. He even surrendered a faint curling of the lips.

But then he approached the mother and son. He bent over her seat and enquired, in incredulous earshot of me, as to whether she wouldn’t prefer a berth to take the little ones to, as it would be warmer, more comfortable and she could get a lie down instead?

The train’s horn squawked. The night closed in. A hellishly hot gust of air enveloped my face. The polar ice caps melted. The previously positive hue which had engulfed the train vanished like a frightened pigeon.

The corners of my mouth which were previously upturned, inverted with disbelieving disgust. This took the biscuit. This took the whole damned bakery. I like the idea that most people you might meet would tell you that I am not a malicious fellow, but all of a sudden, the thought of the rest of Coach A swimming across a lake thrilled me to the absolute core. Only after they had embarked on the swim would it transpire that the lake was already occupied by irritable crocodiles.

My malice had no bounds towards

these conspirators who had forsaken me so. I wanted them to be doused in sewage.

I who had attempted to get the berth through the correct online channels had floundered. And my hopes had been dashed. This blasted family, who were willing to take their wee darlings on an overnight train journey without forking out on a berth should, in my opinion, should be left to stew with the luggage, strikes and curtains which don’t work but for some unholy reason are de rigueur for these overnight journeys.

One might have thought that their refusal to procure a berth in the first place was an indication of their positively relishing the beastly temperatures and accoutring sufferance. And yet at the last minute they ditch me and the Zhivago family, opting instead for the life of comfort. All I can say is, I hope they sleep well. Yes, I hope they sleep blissfully. I hope that the soft, embalming embrace of the duck down sedates them into a sleep so blissful in fact, that their wistful dreams are only shattered when they catch a glimpse through their slightly opened window-blind of me, standing next to the sign at Leuchars, waving nonchalantly like a lucky maneki-neko cat in a sushi restaurant. The sight of the sign of their stop juddering smugly into the near distance would be ample punishment.

And the only thing they would have to comfort them is a box of solidifying scrambled eggs, rubbery smoked salmon and tepid Nescafé.

At least the noise has stopped now; I can now fall asleep.

I woke up at Dundee station and humbly paid for a cab back into St Andrews.

Relationships with parents - moving out Linus Erbach Deputy viewpoint editor My younger brother is in his last year of high school and applying to college. Even though I am a mess as a person, there is a wealth of advice to be given by me.

Beyond the intricacies of constructing a “perfect” college application, both the practicalities and the nuances of being an adult with more independence beckon a change in one’s relationship with one’s family. At a particularly emotional and vulnerable time in this angsty teen’s life, I find it important to ensure him that now is the time to loosen his grip on how he views his family life in relation to his coming of age.

I am not my little brother - there are significant differences to our experiences in high school and figuring ourselves out. He’s very confident in

who he is and what he wants to do.

He has had difficulties socially but has largely kept to himself and been happy.

In hindsight, a loosening of the grip was necessary I, on the other hand, was outgoing and flamboyant, trying to reconcile societal attitudes of my community with wanting so badly to be out with my sexuality. Folks here in St Andrews have a different experience than what my brother will likely experience, but I still find it interesting how relationships with family evolve over time as

a university student.

By and large, mine has become easier and fuller, but it’s not always the case with other folks. Acceptance seems to have been the first key factor for myself and for other folks I know.

At the first opportunity, myself and others went wild with drinking, body modifications, hookups, and capitalising on both physical and more financial independence. Independence is not easy to get used to on either side of the conversation.

My parents hated that I got a job as soon as I left the house. This was the case with others I’ve been friends with - there was at first a very tight grip around the idea of us focusing solely on university life. Some friends of mine have had dissimilar experiences, where their parents let them loose and assumed they’d be self-sufficient.

It depended largely on how we were defined as “student” and what that entailed. In a few cases, it worked out; in some, friends were left without

a support network.

Were the changes I made in response to my own insecurities? For sure. But space to screw up is necessary at the end of the day, and all of these relationships with family appear to be fluid. One day at a time circumstances change, from the most minute anecdotes to huge upheavals, which beckon adaptation.

In hindsight, a loosening of the grip was necessary. Relationships don’t degrade over time, rather they evolve. Nothing is lost when an 18-year-old moves out so much as it simply changes and reshapes into something new and more fulfilling.

Tension is always a given considering how much shared experience there is, but a new light is shed on you and once it is seen, things change. (I may sound like a self-help book from the bottom of a sale rack but there is a kernel of truth to it). In turn, a student gains a new perspective on their parents.

Photo: Unsplash

Irrespective of relativity, I have reason to think that the path of my life in the past 24 hours has been strewn with Satan’s children’s discarded lego bricks over which I have been wincing barefoot. That is to say I was down on luck. My essay on the historiography of the Urabi Revolt or rebellion or revolution or uprising or insurrection or whatever Professor Grey Matter chose to label it in his thesis from the University of Dull, was not going well.

I have been enduring an identity crisis, or more precisely my brain has been wondering where it dropped the other 59 points of its Intelligence Quotient. I had a budget form to fill out, and for someone who once got a mark of 2% in a maths exam in which I was allowed to use a calculator, is an intellectually invigorating task to say the least. I had a play proposal form to finish, a risk assessment to complete and letters to write. What’s more I knew I had a good nine-hours’ worth of train journey ahead of me to get back to St Andrews, leaving at nine in the pm and arriving at twelve minutes to six the next am. I went into cardiac arrest when I checked the watch and it glanced back at me with a smug look on its face to tell me it was ten minutes past eight and I had not yet left the house; I had forgotten the clocks went back. I fully accept that I wasn’t enduring the limits of human suffering, I mean I didn’t have to walk miles for water, I wasn’t in Colditz and nor was my job description ‘Sir Philip Green’s bathroom scales,’ but nonetheless I was a tad furrowed about my fast approaching deadlines. However, not to be downhearted; I had ambitions of vastly improving my overnight train situation.

Now, many’s the time that I have

Relationships become more of a two-way street with time in many cases. One of the most heartwarming things I’ve heard someone say is “my mom or dad is my best friend.”

The passing of time and its impact on relationships is the subject of many a sitcom (the title of this wee piece pays tribute to Judi Dench’s commitment for a good chunk of the 90’s). The lesson at the end of the day which I would like to impart onto my brother is that it takes both parties to make it work.

Independence requires joint effort and once the pressure and stigmas of high school life are removed, relationships can breathe and more positive engagement can come from more personal space being occupied. My little brother is secure in what he wants his future to look like, but I honestly pray that he lets my parents be a part of it in a positive way. Space is necessary, but not to shut family out.

The views expressed in expressed Viewpoint do represent of The but opinions.

The views in not Viewpoint do the not views represent theSaint views ofare Theindividual Saint but are individual opinions.

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

VIEWPOINT

11

Where have all the good pubs gone?

Archie Batra Deputy viewpoint editor

Students like myself are therefore left with a very important question: where can I get leathered on the cheap?

As much as I don’t want to, I get the impression that I might have to cross the Stane’s successor off that list, which leaves me with depressingly few options. I was brought up to baulk at drinks that demanded more than £2.50 from me and, thanks to the great communities of the North West, there were very few pubs at home that didn’t maintain a good vibe on those prices.

Fewer and fewer St Andrean boozers are emulating this winning formula, with only one (the Rule, with its extremely generous student deal) coming close to possessing the great pubbing virtues of affordability and

atmosphere.

What’s more, I know exactly why all the good pubs are going, not that this enlightenment has made me any happier. Belhaven (or Greene King - I’m not sure how far up the chain the conspiracy goes) is gutting and rebranding their pubs because they think it will make the brewery more money and, frustratingly, they’re probably right. Belhaven’s new Whey Pat is doing brilliantly post-refurb, and the performance of other rejuvenated pubs across town lend further credence to the refurb doctrine. They’re playing catchup with our town’s grander public houses, and doing rather well at it, but I think they’re leaving students behind in the process.

The sad thing is, as much as I adore St Andrews’ pubs, worryingly few are actual free houses, untethered to a particular brewery. Unless I’m wrong, all of the town’s pubs bar Aikmans, the Criterion, and the Keys are beholden to a higher power. This means that any and all changes can (and will) be imposed from the top down, with little to no input from the customers, the lifeblood of any pub.

It’s a shame that such a small and gorgeous town is so dominated by such a small number of companies.

(Which, may I say, extends beyond our public houses.)

So, what’s to be done? Sod all, I suspect. Change is the only constant, as some Greek bloke (probably) said two and half millenia ago. As with the town’s other rebrands, Molly Malones will almost certainly do a roaring trade as soon as it reopens its doors, and I suppose I’ll just have to watch as people slowly but surely forget about its predecessor, and console myself with the knowledge not all the properly good boozers in town have disappeared - at least, not yet. Goodnight, sweet Blue Stane: and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. I suppose we’ll just have to make do with your replacement.

Photo: Unsplash

We St Andreans are experiencing a grave time in our history. Another great pillar of our community - the illustrious Blue Stane - is closing for “refurbishment.” Of course, it’s folly to believe that this is what’s actually happening: it’s being gutted, transformed, overhauled. It’s undergoing a metamorphosis, a mutation that will see it change beyond all recognition. Where once a proud, Scottish drinking establishment stood, a new and unfamiliar Irish pub shall rise.

Alas, the Blue Stane deserves a far better obituary than anything I can write, but it really was one of the town’s great pubs, at least in my estimation. Whilst guilty of some drinking sins (tellies are not pubby) it was a cracking all-rounder, with plenty going for it. Pool tables? Check. Cheap pints? Check. Juke box? Check. Quiz machine that regularly released gifts of five pounds or more? Double check. But, unfortunately, given the universal nature of the only comparable refurb in town (requiescat in pace, Whey Pat) there’s no reason to believe that its successor, Molly Malones, will preserve any of these hallmark features.

In fact, my money’s on Molly Malones distancing itself from its traditional clientele, and wooing some very different patrons. Perhaps customers that frequent the golf courses, or American tourists with holiday money to spend. At any rate, something tells me that students scraping together silvers and coppers for their next pint will probably find Molly Malones to be very different to the old Stane.

I am therefore deeply confused as to why the end of the Stane hasn’t been discussed more, especially as it’s not an isolated incident. It pains me to think that incoming freshers will never experience the joys of Drouthy

Neebors, the Beer Kitchen, Rascal’s, and the old Whey Pat. The St Andrews pub scene, one of the most attractive aspects of the town, is changing quickly and irrevocably, and skint, proto-alcoholic students like myself are therefore left with a very important question: where can I get leathered on the cheap? Or, perhaps more appropriately, where am I welcome to get leathered on the cheap?

TheThe views expressed in Viewpoint do not represent the the views of The SaintSaint but are views expressed in Viewpoint do not represent views of The but

Mental health and dating apps: the low down Linus Erbach Deputy Viewpoint Editor In cities like Chicago, Boston, London, Vienna, or Bratislava most recently, I re-download Grindr. I haven’t used Grindr in St Andrews since my first year here, though. I found that it wasn’t as easy to hide in the home screen full of torsos and blank, black squares. My anxiety over awkwardness that would follow a hookup, a conversation, or even blanking someone got the better of me. The culture around dating apps may be different in a large city as opposed to in little old St Andrews, so I spoke to some people here in St Andrews, users of various of dating apps and who identify with varying sexualities or gender identities, about how they feel impacted by dating app use here.

The experiences I gathered were varying (and by no means exhaustive of every experience with dating apps), but there was commonality throughout: there is pressure inherent to dating app use which causes great anxiety in many a user. Cishet folks and queer folks both, from what I’ve gathered, feel a pressure at times to expedite the connections they make on apps to sex; this pressure manifests in one projecting an image designed around toxic expectations inherent to using the app, as opposed to the opposite being the case. Projecting an image of oneself that may or may not be authentic can exacerbate depression and self-deprecating mindsets, especially after taking into account that much of the constructing of an image revolves around stereotypes and judgements applicable to other users. For instance, in my own experience and that of other Grindr users, there exist concepts such as “bottom-shaming,” and of course, sadly, racism and sizeism, which benefit nobody and end some folks up with chronic depression and eating disorders. Quite a few users I know have called the culture of Grindr “toxic.”

Gay folks in particular told me they feel the pressure of having grown up around folks reaching “landmark” points in their romantic lives such as their first kiss or their first hook-up, which has been a factor in creating anxiety in app users. Gay folks may not have experienced what are perceived to be landmarks in one’s maturing into an adult, causing crippling insecurities and prompting some to be dishonest about their experiences while online and subsequently enter into situations in which they may not be comfortable or for which they are not ready - behaviour which can be risky and damaging.

A couple people who use Grindr, Her or Tinder told me that there’s also a noticeable aversion to any kind of vulnerability being shown in conversations on dating apps. I heard the phrase “taking the dating out of

individual opinions. are individual opinions.

dating apps” multiple times and it was also articulated that the apparent anxiety over projecting an image of wanting to interact with other gay folks was too overwhelming at times to engage in any kind of activity with any matches. What an exhausting and depressing cycle this turns out to be for some users.

Projecting an image of oneself that may or may not be authentic can exacerbate depression and self-depricating mindsets Having said this, the game of chicken with openness is common throughout. Among hetereosexual users it appears just as prevalent, with users determining whether or not they want to message first or analysing messages intently, trying to extract some kind of readable tone from a single sentence. Such thinking rapidly becomes exhausting and spirals out of control, easily leading to further anxiety and self-doubt. It’s an unfortunate fact that tone and nuance are difficult to read over text; perhaps this is a mitigating factor in how seemingly pivotal an online image can be.

Lastly, it’s important to address attitudes towards trans users on different apps. I was struck by the controversy surrounding whether trans folks “should” or “shouldn’t” be on certain apps which are marketed towards certain genders or folks of certain sexual orientations. Personally, I’m of the opinion that trans and non-binary folks should feel welcome to use whatever apps they want or feel comfortable using - but sadly that isn’t always the case and it very unfortunately ostracises trans and non-binary folks and causes huge amounts of anxiety and self-doubt.

In a place like St Andrews, with a smaller pool of people on apps like Tinder, Hinge, Grindr, Her and Bumble, these effects are not lessened but amplified. In a town where everyone knows everyone, and at points in our lives where some may be vulnerable and insecure, immersing oneself in a toxic dating app culture can do more harm than good - potentially covering up real feelings with an image and with sex meant to be meaningless, while in reality it becomes far from meaningless.

VIEWPOINT

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

The environment - we are all hypocrites

Jurin K. Flores Deputy viewpoint editor

The world is in dire need of change.

Climate change over the past 150 years has resulted in global warming, increased health problems and natural disasters. We are no longer shielded from the horrifying consequences.

We all know and want to “save the environment.” From sharing posts about detrimental effects of plastic to volunteering to clean the beaches, we all tap ourselves on our backs for being environmentally conscious.

We forget that we’re all hypocrites.

We know the steps to make our lives more sustainable. Always recycle, be a minimalist, and god forbid you even touch a single-use plastic. We all believe in climate change mitigation but we are hypocrites for not doing everything that we could do to make the necessary change. Why? Here are some of the excuses we tell ourselves. Firstly, it’s the industry’s fault.

Industries including mining, fossil fuel production, fashion, and animal agriculture are some of the most polluting in the world. Large scale corporations such as Starbucks and CocaCola also make unsustainable choices that produces an immense amount of unnecessary waste. It is easy to put the blame on these large industries and corporations. After all, they’re the ones deciding to produce the unimaginable amount of waste - not us. The only way we can pressure harmful corporations to change is to stop de-

manding their products. By buying less from H&M and Forever 21 or finding energy suppliers that work with renewable energy, companies will feel the urge to make sustainable changes. As consumers, it may take some effort to make changes when it tends to be easier (and sometimes cheaper) to access these companies’ products instead of more sustainable alternatives. However, putting more of your money into these sustainable companies will make it more accessible in the future. Don’t point your finger at the corporations because at the end of the day, you’re only pointing at yourself.

We are told that one person’s mistakes won’t make a difference Changing all our habits to more sustainable alternatives is easier said than done because of our wants and needs. Being surrounded by the fastpaced culture of constantly creating new fashion and technology, make us consumers want more than what we

necessarily need. Furthermore, a lot of cultures are based on unsustainable practices - meat tends to be the main dish of every meal even though we are aware that animal agriculture is one of the most polluting industries (even United Nations recommends a global shift towards a more vegan diet for environmental and health reasons). Technology has also exceedingly moved forward the past century so much so that our everyday lives depend on them. It is necessary for us to have phones, cars, and refrigerators to survive this modern world. When it comes to necessities, it is unrealistic to expect changes. On the contrary, luxuries such as clothes or meat could be consumed less. It is easier said than done because our desires are strong.

The easy accessibility and constant advertisement of our wants make us devour these luxuries without grasping the actual large amount of consumption. It is up to us to change market demand. Buying clothes from sustainable shops (or depop) or eating meat only twice a week could help the environment immensely.

Moreover, we are told that one person’s mistake won’t make a difference. So we forgot to turn our lights off in the house, we got a plastic bag at Tesco, and we threw it in the general waste bin. These are just small mistakes that will not end the world. However, we are all doing this habitually. One person may not make a difference but collectively, we cause detrimental effects. Indeed, Dame Ellen MacArthur has estimated that

there will be more plastic than fish in

As if this wasn’t tragic enough, the medic is also awkwardly morbid about everything. Whether you’re having tea with your grandma or necking pints at The Rule, it is guaranteed that jokes of cadavers or rotting body parts will ensue. While you may enjoy simple sarcasm, the medic will strive to make things uncomfortable by discussing their latest dissection ventures - forget jokes about Louis Theroux, they’d love to talk to you about inserting a scalpel into a scrotum.

want nothing more than for them to be quiet, ask them to look at the mole on your back or a suspicious rash.

Flummoxed by this, the medic will proceed to ramble their way through a long explanation that, even to the Arts student, is full of flaws – imagine WebMD after a messy breakup and too many vodkas.

Despite the medic claiming to stay up late into the hours of the morning in order to work – which, to be honest, fits the pale-skinned, sickly profile perfectly – they actually spend a lot of time colouring unused flash cards, mindlessly flipping through lecture slides and claiming they couldn’t attend that lecture due to a doctors appointment. Newsflash, they were probably drunk, hungover or somewhere in between. But, beware: do NOT chastise the medic for underworking. Not only will they furiously spin their MacBook around to show you a series of meaningless diagrams that are, “so much more difficult than what you’re doing”, but they will proceed to rant and rave about their subject for twenty minutes while turning increasingly redder.

After all, the Hippocratic Oath (much like, “Hi, I’m a vegan”) has been replaced with, “Did you know I

It is up to us to change the market. Buying clothes from sustainable shops could help immensely the sea by 2050.

Even though we know the damaging consequences, we are still reluctant to undo our habits because other people around us are not willing to change. We as selfish beings despise the thought of others reaping the benefits from our sufferings and hard work. Call it naive but we have to believe that our own habitual change will encourage others to do the same.

Or another reason: tell yourself that at least you’re doing your part and stop feeling guilty. What is the point of mitigating climate change? It’s not like there will be an apocalyptic disaster in our lifetime (hopefully). Nevertheless, the consequences of climate change includes a shorter and less fulfilling

lifestyle. Personally, since my time on earth is limited, I not only want to live as long as possible but I also want to maximize my time. If we have the choice between to breathe or not to breathe clean air, I will pick the prior.

A reality in Beijing and Delhi, I do not want the inconvenience of wearing masks all the time when I am outside and having to unnecessarily spend time going in and out of hospitals.

Even though we may not always be doing the most sustainable actions, there are times when we need to really try. However, actions we think are environmentally friendly may unintentionally do more harm than good. Starbucks recently announced the replacement of straws with strawless (yet still plastic) lids.

Starbucks argues that straws are too small to be captured in modern recycling equipment in comparison to the lids. However, considering that most of the plastic is not recycled in the first place and many recycling plants are now refusing polypropylene (the type of plastic the lids are made of), the change may not be as sustainable as consumers believe.

I wish I could stop consuming things that I do not need and live with zero waste. Unfortunately, we all know that this will not happen.

Consumption will not stop, but it could decrease or shift. Being mindful of the detrimental consequences and put effort in habitual changes. It is too late to alter the damage that we have already made but we can still stop going down this path.

Musings on medicine

Anjuli Clough and Kaitlin Shaw

“By the way, I’m a medic.” For the majority of those who orchestrate their Friday nights around attending the Union, two rituals are often repeated; the excessive drinking of Pablos, and the pointless asking of, “So, what degree do you study?” While Pablos may be harmless (until you wake up the next day, but that’s another story), small talk about degrees can lead you down a rabbit hole of no return. While History, English or Maths may end the conversation there, the response of Medicine is guaranteed to prompt the usual grimace, occasional sneer of pity and raised eyebrows.

The predictability of such conversations is almost painful; followed 90% of the time with, “Wow, you must be smart” or “How can you afford to be out?!”, the medic has adapted to respond in the same way every time. While their first instinct is to prove you wrong (because A, not all medics are total geniuses, B, they have no idea why they’re out and neither does their liver, and C, they like proving you wrong because they do

medicine) the medic simply settles to laugh (a terrifying combination when paired with sleep-deprived eyes) and steer the conversation elsewhere, fast.

Trust us, a medic would rather do one thousand digital rectal exams than discuss the pros and cons of their degree - and yes, you don’t have to tell them again, they know they picked a very difficult degree. Thankfully, the conversation usually skirts around this topic; anything, even the discussion of how blonde highlights are an essential aspect of your autumn winter-glow up, is more easily received by the medic than an evaluation of their degree. After all, Tyra Banks has taught us for many years that new hair equals a new you.

This may explain why so many medics lie about their degree upon finding themselves caught in this situation. As the fight or flight response flares up (which, mixed with tequila slammers makes for an ugly situation), the medic may admittedly sputter out, “Science” as a defence mechanism. Suspect you’ve had the wool pulled over your eyes by a medic in this manner? Look out for the tell-tale wild eyes, and apprehensive face as they wait patiently for their cortisol levels to decrease.

The medic is also awkwardly morbid about everything However, the medic falls flat on their face when smacked with a diagnoses request. If you find yourself beefing with a medicine student and

Photos: Unsplash

12

do Medicine?”

Think it couldn’t get any worse?

Imagine two medics. Even worse?

Imagine two medics in a relationship – god forbid. Not only is that double the amount of MacBook spinning and scrotal-related humour, but they seem to have an inability to happily date.

Every medic is inherently a competitive Type A individual, and as such are simply not compatible - with more relationships failing than the number of times a medic will slap down their Bute card and demand free entry to The Vic, they are doomed from the start.

So, the next time you feel downtrodden about doing History, IR or English, give yourself a pat on the back. Medics may act as if they have everything together, but in reality they are just like the entire student body - sleep deprived, stressed and generally a bit messy.

Having combined both an inside and outside look while contemplating the species of the medic, it is safe to say we have dissected their behaviour to the bone (pun absolutely intended).

A final word of advice? When you next meet a medic, proceed with caution - you have been warned.

The views expressed in The views expressed in Viewpoint do not represent the views of The Saint but are individual opinions.

MONEY thesaint-online.com/money

money@thesaint-online.com

St Andrews Economists Dr. Luca Savorelli

Deputy money editor

Dr Luca Savorelli is currently the director of teaching of the School of Economics and Finance. He originally studied the economics of innovation during his PhD in Siena, Italy, later becoming a health economist. In the last year of the programme, he relocated to the London School of Economics, where he only expected to spend a few months. However, since then, he has been living in the United Kingdom for almost ten years. While at a networking event in London, Dr Savorelli learned about a position at St Andrews. He came to visit, and quickly fell in love with the town and the economics department here.

Maybe surprisingly for an economist, his students think of him as a great pianist. The most famous example that he uses in his lectures? Ciabatta bread. Interested in learning more about the man behind so many students’ admiration, The Saint sat down with Dr Savorelli for an interview.

TS: How did your research career begin?

LS: When I finished my UG dissertation I decided that I didn’t want any further examination and I wanted to work. I applied for a PhD and was awarded a scholarship immediately after, so I didn’t have much time to look for other jobs. My recent research has involved real firms, so that’s a way for me to see what’s going on in the real world. I’ve worked with firms in a variety of fields, including firms in the healthcare sector. I really appreciate the fact that I get to be working in both academia and professional industries as the two complement each other through knowledge exchange.

TS: What do you like most about teaching finance and economic policy at St Andrews?

LS: My students, of course. I get very good questions all the time.

Teaching economics is both difficult and easy at the same time. On the one hand, it’s easy because we are discussing contemporary issues – we’re still in the aftermath of a big financial crisis so economics helps clarify things. On the other hand, it’s difficult because economics is a dry science. Certain subjects have more of a story, while for others it’s harder to draw context.

It can be a challenge to make economics interesting at times. I try to crack some jokes, but I’m not very good at it.

TS: What’s your favourite memory from a lecture?

LS: I have a degree in piano performance, so one time I promised my students that I would play a piece during the last lecture. But just before I finished the piece, the fire alarm went off. One student recorded it and went viral amongst my students.

TS: What do you find most exciting about Economics? Are there particular areas in the field that interest you?

LS: I think economics really twists the way you see the world and help you understand current events in depth. Economics was born as a branch of philosophy – it provides a more sophisticated description of human beings and offers insights into the way they behave, which is partially why I find behavioral economics fascinating. One finds its application in our everyday lives.

TS: I saw that your past research papers had a focus on health economics and industrial organisation. Can you elaborate more on your past papers?

LS: My core research in economics was about obesity and eating behaviour. The first part came from my dissertation – it was a theoretical model where we studied the social pressure of pushing people to be thin. It was picked up by the press which is quite unusual for a piece of theoretical work. We also did some research to find the effect on people’s eating behaviour when they quit smoking. Previous research had shown that when there was a drop in smoking, there was an increase in obesity. When we started researching we didn’t know what to expect because there were mixed findings, but we were happy that we had a story that was not as straightforward and that it had some policy implications.

A few years ago, I started working in field experiments, especially with care homes to provide quality service.

Photo: Sanjana Ramaswamy

Sanjana Ramaswamy

TS: What research are you currently working on, and what would you like to further study in the future?

LS: I have a very interesting project with children in lower, middle high schools in Italy from ages 11-13. We study a programme called City Council of Children, similar to the class representative system here. There’s a school mayor and an elected cabinet of students. This was introduced to develop a sense of democracy in children. We want to find the effect on children’s behaviour in school, their marks, and their careers.

There’s not much research on younger pupils, and this is very important.

They will learn about fairness and doing public good from a young age.

TS: Is St Andrews very different from University of Bologna? What

do you enjoy about teaching here?

LS: Italian universities are very different from UK universities. Students are somewhat more independent in Italy. Here you can talk to your professors and there’s a variety of assessments, versus in Italy there were many oral examinations which could be challenging. I still work with the economics department in Bologna and many of my co-authors are from the there. I absolutely love the environment of St Andrews. It’s a small city all-centred around the university, but at the same time you don’t feel like you’re in a campus in the middle of nowhere. I really like the gothic look of the city especially when it’s foggy.

TS: When you are not busy working on economics, what do you do for fun?

LS: I go to the sports centre gym, where I see many of my students.

Sometimes they say hi to me, sometimes they don’t. I was a volleyball player but I don’t have time now since work keeps me late in the office.

I also play the piano and like to play Dungeons and Dragons when I’m with a group of friends back in Italy.

TS: Do you prefer living in Scotland or Italy?

LS: Winter in Scotland and summer in Italy. Not many people know this, but it gets even colder in Italy during the winter. As for food, you can find the ingredients to cook Italian food yourself in the supermarket. Nardini has good Italian food too, but I get the best result when I cook myself.

TS: What advice do you have for students who want to begin researching economics and would like to pursue a postgraduate degree in the field?

LS: Study econometrics, mathematics, statistics, and learn to programme. Once you have a solid base, you can begin researching. You could do an undergraduate research assistantship since you would work with a professor and get a monetary reward, which will make you feel like you’re working a real job.

Sometimes research can be tough. When you’re working with data, a large part of that is cleaning up the data. There is huge work in creating the data set and making it suitable for use. It’s a long process.

TS: What books would you suggest to students who are interested in learning more about economics?

LS: Richard Thaler’s and Cass Sunstein’s Nudge is a great classic. I don’t know if I agree with everything in this book. It’s sometimes simplistic, and I am not sure if their proposals work with complex policy issues, but there’s some truth in it. The challenge is how to study the soft data – people’s behaviour and intrinsic motivation.

This book introduces you to this concept. The classics of economic thought are great too. Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations is quite sophisticated in thought. I would recommend going to the original sources.

Money editor: Jolie Minh Tran Deputy money editors: Sanjana Ramaswamy, Lucius Reibel @saint_ money

Weekly Wrap-Up acacia beaton The trade war between the US and China continues. The US criticised China’s “empire and aggression” in Asia. Nothing new here.

UK-exposed stocks, including RBS, tumbled, as Brexit uncertainty grows.

The UK and the EU agreed on a draft exit treaty, determining Britain’s departure from, and future relationship with the EU. Yet the draft has a long way to go before it is a binding agreement. More than 20 EU trade partners at the WTO say they would lose out from the agreement.

The UK and the EU agreed on a draft exit treaty Theresa May’s Brexit deal was rocked by ministerial resignations of Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, and work and pensions secretary Esther McVey. MPs raged against the prime minister’s deal. A leadership challenge is looking increasingly likely, as prominent Tory Brexiteers call on her to quit.

The US has sanctioned 17 Saudi officials over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Kingdom’s consulate in Turkey last month. This comes after Riyadh said it would seek the death penalty for five suspects.

Global food prices next year face the triple threat of extreme weather, the US-China trade war, and livestock disease, warns Rabobank, a specialist food and agribusiness bank.

Global food prices next year face the triple threat of extreme weather, the US-China trade war, and livestock A likely El Niño weather system may bring dryness to South-East Asia, drought to parts of Brazil, and excess rainfall to Argentina. These threats do not bode well for farmers.

Full-time employment is on the up in Australia, which coincidentally, faces almost no disruptions from Brexit. Maybe you should move?

Bitcoin is the “evil spawn of the financial crisis,” says European Central Bank official Benoît Cœuré. It is “a combination of a bubble, a ponzi scheme and an environmental disaster.” After rising to a high of $20,000 last year, it has since fallen to less than $5,500.

Germany’s GDP fell in the third quarter, its first contraction since 2015.

This was partly driven by new emissions testing regulations, but also the general global economic environment, which has not been kind to exports.

China has responded to its slowing economy with monetary easing, fiscal stimulus and weaker currency to support growth.

Italy is still in a row with the Eurozone over its rule-breaching budget. This matters, because an expansionary budget could make it hard for eurozone’s third largest economy to meet its obligations to reduce its debt. The European Commission is already worried about Italy’s employment and growth.

Has the iPhone peaked?

Apple’s investors think so IMF head Christine Lagarde has suggested that central banks should issue digital currency to “fill the void left by the decline of cash.”

Critics worry that this could endanger financial stability, and bring a host of new crime prevention problems.

Angela Merkel announced her decision to resign as leader of Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Union, and to leave politics after the current term ends in 2021.

She may not last that long, as many in Berlin believe that the country needs a fresh start with a new leader.

Japan is preparing to sue South Korea at the World Trade Organisation over alleged subsidies for shipbuilding, in the latest row between the two.

Has the iPhone peaked?

Apple’s investors think so.

They lowered their revenue expectations, after the company announced it would stop reporting iPhone sales figures, which is generally considered to be a bad sign.

The Trans Pacific Partnership will enter into force from December 30, a rare victory for global trade. Australia was the latest to ratify, joining Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore.

Several other countries, including the UK, have signalled their interest in joining.

MONEY

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

Shark Tank Lingo: Demystifying Mr. Wonderful’s Creative Deals

jolie minh tran Money editor “I’m Out. Take it behind the barn and shoot it”, says Kevin O’Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful. In its nine years running, Shark Tank has attracted followers not limited to aspiring entrepreneurs.

The personality clashes between the sharks, their famous quotes, and the occasional pitches that make the audience grasp, all make Shark Tank a thrilling show to watch. With that said, regardless of whether one watches Shark Tank for the drama or the products, there’s no denial that the show offers practical insights into the making and building of a business. Without further ado, let’s decode all those fancy words that bubble around the tank.

Every pitch starts with an entrepreneur offering a piece of their business, saying something along the line of “I am asking for 100,000 dollars in exchange for 10% percent equity”.

10% ownership of the business for 100,000 dollars give the business a valuation of 1 million dollars, the math is straightforward. The drama begins, however, when sharks object to an unrealistically high valuation, which they would usually determine based on the size of the market–how many people consume this products, the ability of businesses to scale–can the business grow quickly at a cost-effective manner, and most importantly, sales. High sales indicate a more

established product and a stronger proof of concept, which ultimately equal lower risks. But of course, there are other factors that appeal.

First off, sharks frequently ask for gross product margin, which is gross profit divided by revenue.

This number shows whether a product is efficiently manufactured. For example, a product that costs $15 to make and sells for $20 does not scream profitability.

Low profit margins might mean that a company is not operating efficiently, or perhaps there are other competition in the market that drives the price equilibrium down.

In which case, Mr. Wonderful opts for the question, “Do you have a patent, or what is so proprietary about your product?” In simple terms, a patent protects other competitors from copying and producing a business’s invention at a cheaper cost. Similarly, when a product is proprietary, it has a distinctive feature that sets itself apart from others of its kind, and prevents the big corporations from “crushing you like the cockroach that you are” (Thank you Mr. Wonderful for your imagery). While calculating

whether a business is appealing, customer acquisition cost can assert a big role, as whether through coupons or social media, money spent on getting consumers shall not come close to exceeding customer lifetime value, which is the busi-

tion the burn rate goes into building inventory. A lot of the times, a new business has yet to reach break-even, which is the point where they make zero profit. Liquidity is part of the equation, as it determines how quickly a company can convert its current assets into cash.

Burn rate, liquidity, and the potential break-even point, altogether reflect the cash flow.

This financial performance indicator speaks volume about the profitability of a business, namely, the ability to sustain and expand operations. Upon hearing the projection of a company, or its plans moving forward with or without an investment from the shark, investors on the show can then decide whether the business is viable.

If the business seems promising to the sharks, pitchers can expect to hear their offers. In the case one is lucky enough to entertain Robert and Lori, their offers will be structured as initially requested. Daymond, on the other hand, would likely be interested in licensing the product, which means granting another company the right to proprietary information for a limited period of time in exchange for a fee.

Illustration: Maya Marie

14

ness’ ability to monetize those customers in their future relationships.

Next stop, which is Mark Cuban’s favorite–numbers and finance.

He usually starts off with asking how much money the business has raised, as well as the valuation of the company during the last round. If the company is a startup, Mark would then be interested in their burn rate, which is the amount of money spent on supporting operating costs. A major por-

Barbara is known for her franchising deals. Similar to licensing, it involves letting another party implement the company’s business model (how a company utilizes resources to generate profits) and use its brand name to sell its products or services.

Out of the six sharks, Kevin tends to be the most ‘creative’ in his offers.

A royalty deal is a prime example.

This ongoing payment is made to the investor every time a product is sold.

For example, if a pair of headphones sells for $15, Kevin would ask for $3 until he recoups a certain amount of the money invested.

After which, he becomes a shareholder, owning a percentage of the company. In rare cases where sharks believe that a product might be disruptive in nature, they would fight even if that means lowering their desired equity to become a partner of the company.

A disruptive product is one that creates a new market while displacing the existing one, such as Netflix, Uber, or Airbnb.

Many pitches like to refer to their products as disruptive in order to justify a superior valuation, only to be met with condemnation from the sharks.

After rounds of negotiations where counter-offers are made, business owners and shark tanks decide whether to move forward together.

Some business owners walk out of the tank with a deal, some do not.

In the long run, it is the business that speaks for itself.

The Economic Causes of World War One In Britain In the eternal debate over the United Kingdom’s role in the world, a chronology of Britain’s relative decline in global status is usually constructed over the last 70 years since the Second World War. For better or worse, the Lend-Lease Act, the Suez Crisis, and the entry into the European Economic Community are often used as examples of Britain’s economic and political power slowly disintegrating.

However, Britain’s economic superpower status has been in decline for much longer, since the First World War. On this centenary of the conclusion of that conflict, let’s take a look back on exactly what the War to End All Wars did to the British economy and its prospects for the twentieth century.

In 1914, the UK economy was no longer the world’s largest by GDP, having been overtaken by the United States, and, in some measures, by Germany. Yet, the country remained the world’s centre of finance, lending more money overseas than any others.

This gave Westminster the flexibility to finance, until 1916, not just its own war efforts, but half the French effort, a third of the Russian effort, and nearly all of the Italian effort. This, however, proved unsustainable, and after 1916 the UK (and through it the rest of the Entente) had to borrow enormous sums from American financial institutions.

By the end of the war, Britain had gone from the world’s biggest investor to its largest creditor

and the center of global financial gravity was swiftly moving across the Atlantic to New York City.

The financial pressures of the war and the human cost of losing so many men to either death or injury would put additional pressure on the British economy in the 1920s. To cope with the massive interest payments and rapidly rising inflation, a return to the gold standard was deemed necessary in 1920 by the Cunliffe Committee, which had the undesirable effect of decreasing real wages for the first half of the 1920s.

Unemployment remained high in the traditional industries of coal mining, iron and steel processing, and shipbuilding, with the latter being a shocking 30 per cent on average from 1925 to 1929. Total exports rose, but the United States and Japan began to eat into British market share in the Americas and East Asia respectively, a trend that outlasted all other primary effects of the war. While women were enfranchised in the aftermath of the war, they did not enter into the workforce in large enough numbers to compensate for the dead and injured, contributing to productivity growth that was extremely sluggish compared to the

first decade of the twentieth century.

The war also directly and indirectly increased the financial

along with the Ottoman territories in the Middle East, represented a bureaucratic and logistical challenge unseen since the scramble for Africa 30 years prior.

More challenging was the rising nationalism in the colonies aggravated by the war. In the case of the other CANZUK territories, gradualist reform and other diplomatic measures would prove sufficient to quell more radical calls for separation from Britain.

The same was not true elsewhere.

The Irish War of Independence proved to be a strategic nightmare for the United Kingdom as it sought to return to a civilian economic footing yet was faced with relentless guerrilla warfare that neither the government nor the general public was willing to stomach.

While cutting losses in Ireland was a wise economic decision, the first truly Illustration: Reuben Morris-Dyer

Lucius reibel Deputy money editor

burden of the Empire on the home country. Directly, the annexation of the German colonies of Namibia, Tanzania, and Papua New Guinea,

successful revolt against the British Empire since 1775 proved to Britain’s other colonial subjects, especially in India, that independence was achievable. By 1918, Indian grievances were piling up. In addition to the “normal” travesties and indignations of colonial rule at home, now over a million Indians had served in the British armed forces over World War I, with over 75,000 of them dying, for little practical advancement in general welfare or political autonomy.

Growing Indian nationalism in the interwar period necessitated large increases in the budget of the colonial bureaucracy and military apparatus; in combination with the deployment of armed forces to face an increasingly hostile Japan, India quickly became a serious drain on the United Kingdom’s financial resources. The British Empire had reached its territorial zenith, but the rot was beginning to settle in.

The British experience in World War One serves not only as a lesson of the futility of war and the tragedy of imperial ambition but also as a warning to those hoping for the United Kingdom to ascend, as a phoenix, back to its rightful place in world affairs. The descent of British economic power has been carrying on now not for seventy years but for one hundred; all the territories and titles gained by blood at the Somme and Gallipoli couldn’t stop it; they only made it worse. The climb back up to a superpower status is steep indeed, and those plotting an attempt to scale it ought to ask themselves why they will succeed where none of Britain’s twentieth century political champions could for 100 years.

Resume Builders

Three ways to use your winter well if you don’t have an internship david hallengren There are a myriad of reasons why you might not be planning on doing an internship, a work shadowing experience, or a similar professional scheme this winter break: lack of means to support yourself in a city for a month, familial obligations, or even just plain burnout and a need to recharge after a fraught semester.

While there’s no substitute for handson work experience, there’s equally no reason for your holidays to be a complete bust with regards to your professional development. There are plenty of things you can do wherever you find yourself over Christmas break to come back to St Andrews with a CV replete with transferable skills.

Start learning a language

I shouldn’t have to “sell” languages. The ability to communicate in another tongue is wickedly useful, opening you up for language required positions across the world and giving you an edge over other jobseekers at home. In a society as aggressively monolingual as Britain’s (or the United States, for that matter), an employee who can communicate effectively with foreign clients is an asset indeed.

Besides, language learning can be a pleasant leisure activity, opening up a world of new media and travel opportunities. In brief, learning a new language is a no-brainer.

The main obstacle to picking up a new tongue is the initial phase Whilst language learning was once the domain of a privileged few, the internet has made becoming a polyglot an ever more democratic endeavour. Online platforms like Duolingo and more language specific websites abound, as do opportunities to communicate with native speakers to access media in the language.

The main obstacle to picking up a new tongue is the initial learning curve, where the basics can be a bear.

If one only had the time to devote to the bones of a language upfront, the meat of it would come comparatively easily afterwards. You, however, have a month, so use it; it won’t get you to fluency, but it’s an important first step.

Brush up your Excel skills

As much as we might like to jump right into the good stuff – sophisticated work that draws on grand theory puzzled out over whisky (neat), making for lively conversation at charity galas – chances are that our first forays into the job market will see us in positions with decidedly less sex appeal. While we are not doomed to a life of minutiae, minutiae is a reality in the first years of our career, and we should be prepared for it. The ability to tackle the nitty-gritty, quotidian

tasks of a modern workplace is indispensable for an entry level career.

Unfortunately, many of us take perverse pride in technical incompetence, self-declared luddites revelling in our incomprehension of Excel formulae. The good news is that enlightenment is within our easy grasp with a plethora of resources available to help you finally tackle byzantine office software.

Unfortunately, many of us take perverse pride in technical incompetence Of particular note is the Microsoft Office Specialist certification offered through CAPOD. After following an online course showing you the ropes in Excel, Word, Powerpoint, and Access, you will be able to take a series of exams that, if passed, will grant you an official certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist, Expert, or Master. Make no mistake, this is a valuable, recognised qualification that you can put on your resume; the RRP to take similar courses and sit the exams is normally £65, but through CAPOD you can take the online course and sit the exams for free.

Volunteer

Though it may take ritual sacrifice to an intervening pagan deity to secure an internship at a top law firm, your local charities are less fussed. Non-profits are always looking for extra hands to assist with new and ongoing projects, so contact a charity in your area to see what opportunities are available.

Volunteering is a vastly underrated CV booster. Depending upon what your particular volunteering choice entails, it may well provide you with opportunity to gain experience in event management, leadership, and a host of interpersonal skills like effective teamwork and customer relations. It also suggests a capacity for empathy and an understanding of social justice, qualities many employers will find appealing.

MONEY

Revision and the law of diminishing returns jennifer lipman As we approach finals, the law of diminishing returns seems to be an apt topic relating to productivity. You’ve perhaps heard the phrase, “Work smarter, not harder.”

It might seem like a nice aspirational goal, but how much truth is in a tagline on an office poster?

The law of diminishing returns is a fundamental concept of economics, usually applied to small businesses maximising their efficiency. So how might this apply to us on a personal level? As we prepare to cram for our exams, we also must remember that the more hours we throw at something won’t always make it better.

Sometimes it might make the situation worse. Thus, it’s important to know when to stop, when to take a break, and how to use our time more efficiently.

The technical side A good way to explain this concept is through a business model. Imagine you are a pizza shop owner who needs to hire staff. There is only one oven and it’s a small kitchen space. While two employees might help produce more pizzas than one employee, if you hired 10 people, you’d have people sitting idle in a cramped space and your employees can’t do their jobs well. It’s simply inefficient.

The goal is to pre-plan the optimal amount of input before wasting Volunteering resources also suggests a capacity for empathy

On the less mercenary side of things, it’s a good opportunity to get out and meet real, live human beings and perhaps get some fresh air. It’s also an occasion to do a decent turn for those who need one, so approach volunteer work with an appreciation for the good you’re supposed to be doing.

15

Although workers are necessary for your business to function, at a certain point, too many employees make your business run inefficiently.

Another example might be how the flowerpot on your windowsill needs water to stay alive. Yet, if you were to pour a gallon of water on your poor gardenias, there would be water all over your floor and your flower might die from overhydration. The problem isn’t easily reversible and has some lasting negative effects. The goal is to pre-plan the optimal amount of water to give your plant before making the situation worse by wasting resources and damaging the end product.

How this applies to your work

Envision the following scene: you are a hard working, eager student feeling the pressure of your academics.

You are preparing for a particularly foreboding exam, or perhaps you are finishing a dissertation or general essay. Achieving that good mark

declined. In the beginning, you were knocking items off your revision checklist. Now, on your tenth hour today without a break, your eyes have drooped in exhaustion and you are more easily distracted. One minute you’re factoring differential equations, the next you are scrolling Facebook, yet still determined to keep working.

But you are working poorly.

You are wasting resources of time and energy by not taking breaks.

Each day you return to work more exhausted than the last, you are less efficient. What’s worse is this exhaustion has lasting effects on your long term efficiency. When it comes time to sit your exams or submit this paper, it will not be of the highest quality. Despite your hard work, amidst your exhaustion, you might make mistakes.

What can you do to be more productive?

T h e most important piece of advice I can give is two-fold. Schedule out your life in advance as much as possible.

Plan out your day in hour slots. Create outlines for what you want to be accomplished. Build plans of action for what sections need to be covered (and how many pages that might take). It might take some time in the beginning but it will save you from aimlessly covering your material.

Illustration: Olivia Hendren

22 November 2018• thesaint-online.com-

is crucial and you’ve diligently hunkered down in the library. It’s been days since you’ve had human contact. A rumour has emerged that you’ve fled to Nepal, intending to live as a goat. You begin to hear auditory hallucinations from your recalled library books. It’s 2 am, you’re high on caffeine and you’ve made peace with your god. The end is nigh.

Hopefully, you can see that this is a terrible situation. If you can’t, I’m telling you now that it is. You should not only stop now, but you also should’ve never gone down this path in the first place. It’s 2 am and you are so overtired it will take a week you don’t have to recuperate. Despite feeling fairly confident during lecture season, you can no longer remember the difference between Frederick the Great and Freddie Mercury. Yes, studying for your exams is key to getting a good grade, but throwing more hours at your work didn’t necessarily make it better. Your revision has become sloppy, you’ve lost sleep, and somehow you’re more lost than when you began.

The law of diminishing returns is about knowing when it’s time to stop. Three hours of revision will be much more productive than only one. If it’s only an hour, you have to spend time setting up, getting comfortable at the library, getting in the groove - and you might have finished a few pages of scribbled annotations. By hour three, you’ve gotten well into the groove of your work, you have a system, and items have been checked off your to-do list.

It’s when you’ve been in the library since 9 am and you are the only one left in the building that your marginal productivity has massively

Surround yourself with people who will keep you accountable Secondly, surround yourself with people who will keep you accountable - for both your work and taking breaks. It’s all about trying to strike a balance. I personally love the library because seeing others keeping on tasks is a fantastic motivator, and having friends who are willing to grab a coffee break might be that needed de-stressor. Additionally, go to bed at reasonable hours instead of your sleep schedule being 4 am to 11 am. You’ll only end up worse off.

The “Work smarter, not harder,” is aspirational, but also achievable. The key is knowing when it’s time to stop.

Features editor: KENALYN ANG Deputy editors: Catriona Aitken, Siobhan Ali, Alice Bessonova, Angus Neale

features@thesaint-online.com

thesaint-online.com/features

@saint_ features

St Andrews in 50 ALICE BESSONOVA Deputy features editor During its six hundred years of existence, the University of St Andrews has evolved with the town. While students have successfully maintained some older traditions throughout the years, advances in technology and the evolution of society are changing the University and its environment in various ways. Today, it can be said that part of the University’s charm is due to its combination of both modernity and tradition. Will it still be the case in the future? How will the University and its town evolve in the next fifty years? Although a definite answer cannot be given to these questions, it is interesting to speculate on how the bubble will look like at a time when most of the current generation of students will be retired.

In fifty years, the appearance of the town of St Andrews will most certainly resemble what it looks like today, although some notable changes are expected to come up. Currently, millions of pounds are being invested in making Scotland’s cities smarter through the Scottish Cities Alliance, aimed to improve services and infrastructures such as energy, mobility, waste and innovation. While St Andrews is not included in this alliance due to size, it will hopefully absorb the benefits from this initiative that will inevitably affect Scotland as a whole.

Fifty years ago, in 1968, the train connected Leuchars to St Andrews for the last time. Would it be too unreal-

istic to expect the train line to come back? For many students, the isolation of St Andrews can be a frustrating factor. The bus is not always a hundred per cent reliable, private shuttles can be expensive or unavailable, so there’s a high possibility that mobility in, to and from St Andrews will be improved and transport times reduced to make the town more connected to the rest of Scotland and the UK.

How many Scottish souvenir stores are really needed in such a small town?

What about changes in the town itself? A diversity in shops would surely be welcomed. After all, how many Scottish souvenir stores are really needed in such a small town as St Andrews when most of them are empty every day? Andrea Mariani and Kamilla Rekvényi, two fifth-year maths students, agree on that statement, affirming that Scottish souvenir shops keep appearing despite the need for more variety. For Ms Rekvényi: “it would be great to have more cafés where you can sit and study”, while for Mr Mariani: “some better and healthier food options will

hopefully appear, as well as a fitness studio conveniently located in the town centre, for both residents and students.”

Sofia Bairamukova, a fourth-year international relations student is less optimistic regarding the disappearance of Scottish souvenir stores: “They will probably have taken over St Andrews in fifty years’ time.” She jokingly adds: “We will definitely still see a lot of Barbour jackets and red pants around, and there still won’t be any McDonalds in sight.”

Concerning the town’s appearance, Mr Mariani notes: “the Christmas lights have been out for too long now,”, and wonders whether they will finally be taken off in fifty years.

St Andrews is known for its Scottish Gothic architecture, charming age-old streets, tiny passages and historic ruins. In the middle of all of this, modern buildings with tall windows and sleek lines are surfacing due to the University’s expansion and renovation projects. The town is therefore expected to have an expanded and updated skyline with more spacious and taller buildings.

In St Andrews, we can consider ourselves lucky to live in a town where we can enjoy clean air, beautiful landscapes and a healthy quality of life.

Still, both the town and the University will be expected to improve and advance efforts towards environmental sustainability without compromising its residents’ quality of life, such as using more renewable energy sources and work towards reducing the carbon footprint where possible. If a small town like St Andrews succeeds

in becoming a smarter and greener city and successfully implements policies that protect the environment, it can be a model for other cities.

For changes in the University, the recently unveiled strategy can offer us some insight into what the institution wants to achieve in the next years.

One of the high points of the strategy is the goal towards more diversity. Therefore, if the policies succeed, greater diversity in both students and staff can be expected, whether in racial, ethnic, socio-economic, religious, or gendered terms.

Based on current and future construction projects, the University will keep on expanding. Consequently, the number of students will keep on growing, which leads to a worrying question: will the housing crisis ever be solved, without compromising the University’s relationship with the town? Hopefully, by then, a solution will be set in place, perhaps even in the form of long-distance learning for some degrees, for which students will not have to attend classes on a regular basis and only come for exams or other specific in-class assignments. The most significant advantage of such a strategy is that students will not necessarily have to be living in town or its surroundings, which would leave more space for those who need to.

An obvious downside would be that long-distance learning would deprive students of an ‘authentic’ student experience in which social life and face-to-face interaction play a significant part. Nevertheless, as worldclass universities such as Berkeley in California or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are increas-

Illustration: Alice Bessonova

FEATURES

ingly offering online programs, other universities are expected to follow.

Although external changes will undoubtedly influence the future of St Andrews and its University, Iuliia Drobysh, fourth-year IR student believes that everything will ultimately depend on our community. She notes: “If we are given more initiative, then we will be an activist town that will revolutionise Scotland.” However, it could also go the other way: “if the community’s initiatives are ignored, then a lack of dynamism would make the town decay.”

Mr Mariani said, “The Christmas lights have been out for too long” At the end of the day, as the University occupies a significant place in the town’s environment, the way town and gown interact with one another will strongly influence the way St Andrews develops in the next fifty years.

Most probably, there won’t be any flying cars nor robotic tutors in 2068, but hopefully, the best traditions will live on alongside modern developments and technologies.

FEATURES

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

Overseas Series: Josefina Kurfurstova

JOSEFINA KURFURSTOVA

My name is Josefina and I’m a fourthyear International Relations student.

I lived my whole life in the Czech Republic, until I went abroad to do my undergraduate degree in St Andrews.

But St Andrews is not the “studying abroad” experience that I’m going to tell you about. That happened in Paris during my Erasmus placement in third year. I’m not surprised people say ‘Paris, je t’aime.’ anymore. Paris is where my heart is, and that is where it will stay for a long time from now.

The whole process of moving abroad was easier for me because I’d done it once before when I moved to Scotland for the first time. My decision to go on a Study Abroad programme from St Andrews was easy—I just didn’t like life in St Andrews that much. I was miserable and only wanted to go and live back in Prague when I’d finished my degree. I never imagined I could like any other place as much as home. My worst time in this town came around November 2016, just when the study abroad applications were almost due. I decided that being miserable in Paris for a year was better than being miserable in St Andrews.

I knew by spring that my life in Paris was and might forever be the best time of my whole life Studying abroad also meant I got a second shot at redoing all the stuff I thought I’d done wrong the last time I started at a new university. Just a heads-up—I didn’t redo anything as I had planned. I was scared of things being in French, I didn’t join any clubs or societies (even though a few of them were exclusively in English).

But to be honest I wasn’t that sorry.

Thinking about studying abroad, after St Andrews I didn’t expect much.

I thought moving to Paris would be a cool thing to put on my CV and tell stories about when I moved back to the Czech Republic forever. After two years in Scotland I thought that living abroad was not for me. Oh, how wrong I was.

The university I went to, Sciences Po, is a prestigious institute of political sciences—one of the best in Europe. I got really excited. You don’t get many opportunities to study Europe in St Andrews IR. Sciences Po, on the contrary, is very much about studying the European Union (even though not at all exclusively). Academically, it fitted my interests perfectly. But it was a really hard transition from the structure of courses I was used to in St Andrews

and made my first semester studying abroad almost painful because of the St Andrews credit requirements.

Unlike other exchange students at Sciences Po, I had to do six modules, none of which was a language class (that Sciences Po offered, and that I so badly needed to revive my French— unfortunately I couldn’t even take it voluntarily because Sciences Po has six modules as a limit and they don’t allow you to do more). For comparison, all of the other exchange students there only had to do four modules and a language class, or exceptionally five and a language class. My workload in the first semester was horrible, by far worse than the workload of St Andrews’ fourth year!

As you can imagine, my social life then wasn’t amazing. I didn’t have any real friends, although I was talking to some people in my classes. One of the great things about Sciences Po is that a third of all the undergraduate students are exchange students. This is because studying abroad is compulsory for Sciences Po undergraduates in third year. The exchange community in Paris was big and welcomed new people, but I just had no time to join in the first semester.

Even so, in November I went for a glass of wine with my classmates after our class was over. There I met Marta—my future flatmate and bestie.

I didn’t really like Marta that much at first. But she was looking for someone to live with her when she took over somebody else’s flat in January and I thought, why not? It was closer to Sciences Po and in a cooler neighbourhood and, most importantly, cheaper. Almost three quarters of the rent could now be covered by the erasmus grant I got. I managed to find another person to take over my room in a flat with an older lady where I lived before—amazingly enough it was a former St Andrean who was studying her Masters at Sciences Po. My first semester in France was tough (and I learned almost no French at all). But I didn’t feel out of place. I felt okay and wasn’t even that excited to go home, which was always the case going from St Andrews before.

I had no idea that my life in Paris had only just started. I moved in with Marta in the second semester, not expecting much since we didn’t really know each other. I had new classes, new exciting topics to think about, new classmates. Of course, Marta and I became best friends in a few months.

She taught me French and why Catalonia wants to be independent (as a proud Catalan). I taught her random Czech words, what it means to be from Eastern European and how to be a horrible cynic! We had a great time.

We were miserable at the same time in February, and the happiest in both our lives in May when we finished school, looked for jobs and travelled around France. We didn’t have much money so we didn’t go on many trips.

But day trips from Paris are great; after a year I still had places to discover in that city.

What is worth mentioning is spring in Paris. I thought it was cliché but it’s not. My cynicism fails me there, Paris is the most beautiful place to live in in the spring. It’s also a strike

season in France. In April, there was a “blockage” of Sciences Po by some of the students. They came into the main university building one night at the end of April and occupied it for the next four days, which caused most of the classes to be cancelled. At one point they tried to occupy another building where I’d just had a class.

We ended up being locked inside the building for two hours, not knowing when we would get out. In the end the security guards let us out in the groups of five from the old back exit, it was like a secret agent escape. Life (and people) can be so dramatic in Paris.

My first semester in France was tough (and I learned almost no French at all) I knew by spring that my life in Paris was and might forever be the best time of my whole life. I was so happy. I suddenly had everything I’d never experienced in St Andrews and never even knew I wanted. I lived a proper student life with a lot of friends with the same interests. I drank wine by the Seine, went to museums for free (because EU citizens under 26 are free in most places in Paris!), and found my best friend in the world. And, of course, I had a brief romance at the end of semester with a Norwegian classmate—doomed from the start by having to break it up when I left. I even stopped my cynicism for a few days. No, actually not as much.

Even so, I really miss the international community. Being with people from all different backgrounds and countries could be annoying at times.

But not being around them any more, I’ve realised that it was the most enriching society that I’ve ever been part of. I know you’ve heard all of this before because people who have studied abroad can’t shut up about it. I am the prime example. But studying abroad is the most fascinating thing you’ll ever do. How I changed as a person in Paris and learned to approach life differently is surprising. Especially when I never thought I could or would.

Looking back, I would not change a thing. Wish me luck, I’m applying to do to a Masters course there after I escape St Andrews once and for all.

Maybe I will live the great life in Paris once more. Or maybe I’ll hate it the second time. I just know that my affair with that city is not over yet.

Fun fact to end with. The whole time living in Paris was cheaper for me than living in St Andrews (and I live on one of the cheaper rents in this town, all the way up by Morrisons).

That is including life expenses and stuff that I don’t even have in St Andrews such as a pass for the metro.

Photos: Josefina Kurfurstova

18

Knowledge for Sale 22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

FEATURES

19

As a condition of matriculation, all students at the University of St Andrews are required to familiarise themselves with and abide by the University’s Good Academic Practice policy to avoid being accused of academic misconduct. Categories of academic misconduct are broad, and examples include false citations, misconduct in exams, plagiarism, and contract cheating. The latter is expressed in the following terms: “All work submitted for assessment should have been produced by you (or with your group if a group assignment). The use of services or attempting to use services supplied by third parties, such as essay purchasing websites is academic misconduct.”

In a breakthrough study by Swansea University published in August 2018, it is estimated that as many as one in seven recent graduates may have paid a third party to produce their work for them. The resort to a third party is referred to as “contract cheating”, a form of fraud taking more sophisticated ways than copying from the neighbour’s paper.

Although the numbers provided by the Swansea University study may give an idea of the extent of cheating in academia, more precise figures would be difficult to obtain due to the stigma around such practices and the stiff penalties if caught.

As many as one in seven recent graduates may have paid a third party to produce work One of the most popular forms of contract cheating are essay-writing services, often referred to as “essay mills” or “term paper mills.” Found mostly online, thus difficult to control, the number of essay mills have multiplied considerably over recent years as these companies saw a business opportunity that profits from the desperation of some students in the face of academic pressure, coupled with the high price tag on these services that some privileged students can afford.

Nowadays, to attract more student customers, essay mills are using increasingly sophisticated marketing techniques and are actively advertising their services on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Snapchat. Even when browsing educational content, academic-related websites or research for an essay, it is not unusual to see targeted advertisements for essay mills, preying on students with the help of creative and relatable slogans.

Essay mills also go as far as reach-

Photo: Pxhere

ALICE BESSONOVA Deputy features editor

ing out to students directly with the help of social media. Students who write public posts on social networks such as Twitter to complain about deadlines or high amounts of academic assignments can be contacted by these companies, who often resort to bots that will automatically reply to particular keywords. Furthermore, in order to convince students, these companies will provide testimonials from satisfied customers, although these can be easily falsified, as well as dubious promises to deliver plagiarism-free work.

With such explicit claims, it would be hard for essay mills to deny that their services are solely for legitimate study aid and not intended for cheating. Although there is little doubt about the questionable ethics of essay mills, these companies are still not illegal in the UK and continue to operate freely.

The debate surrounding the legality of essay mills is currently making headlines in education news as on 27 September 2018, 47 university leaders in the UK, including principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews Sally Mapstone, signed a letter to secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds, calling for the ban of essay mills. Additionally, a petition has been made to push this issue into Parliament.

In the letter, it is stated that “Essay mills undermine the integrity of UK Higher Education and are unfair to the vast majority of honest, hard-working students.” Although it recognises that legislation is not the only solution to the issue of contract cheating, it would still be a step in the right direction: “Legislation would, amongst other advantages, shut down UK-based essay mills; prevent the advertising of their services near campuses and in public places such as the London Underground; enable the removal of essay mills from search engine findings and prevent UK-based companies from hosting online advertisements for essay mills.”

In some countries, such as New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and 17 US states, laws against essay mills al-

ready exist. Their absence in the UK only makes essay mills more prone to extend their influence in the country in all impunity.

Why do students resort to essay mills? “I believe students use these kinds of services due to lack of organisation, time, confidence or even just plain laziness,” Juliette Renaut, a fourth-year student in international relations, stated. She adds that none of these reasons can justify the use of such services. “Essay mills should definitely be outlawed. Even if it won’t fully eradicate the use of contract cheating as some will still find ways to get around it, those who consider it may feel more reluctant to do so.”

In many UK universities, possible penalties include suspension Another common belief is that some students resort to essay writing services because English is not their native language or if they have difficulties with academic writing.

However, how are students expecting to write better if they transfer the assignment to someone else instead of trying for themselves and learn by working on their own mistakes?

Besides, the fact that money is involved in essay-writing services only reinforces inequalities between students. Fifth-year psychology student Jessica Barclay commented on this matter by stating: “Essay-writing services should be illegal because people who don’t deserve a certain degree would be able to get one anyway

simply by having enough money to afford such services. It could potentially lead to them acquiring jobs that deserving people wouldn’t be able to get.” Indeed, despite the risks involved, essay mills can tempt more privileged students to buy their way to a degree while getting the same merit as hard-working students who do not resort to such practices.

Even if many essay mills guarantee that their services are confidential and cannot be detected by a plagiarism software, considerable risks of getting caught do exist. The same advances in technology that helped the spread of essay mills can also give rise to more precise methods detecting their use.

For example, as the efficiency of plagiarism software improves over time, it will be able to distinguish between linguistic differences in a student’s essays. Additionally, the essay mill itself can be a liability to students due to their records identifying their clients, whose identity may be exposed in the event of a court order or data breach, or if the shadow writer decides to submit an essay he or she wrote for someone else on a plagiarism software, and prove that its perfect match was, in fact, an unoriginal essay.

Therefore, if caught, students might suffer from severe repercussions. In many UK universities, possible penalties include being suspended or even permanently expelled from the institution. Even if evidence of contract cheating is found after a degree was obtained, it can also be formally revoked at any point in the future and have severe consequences on the former student’s career.

Ultimately, it is the students resorting to essay mills who will hurt themselves in the long-run by not taking up the challenges needed to acquire specific skills and wasting their education by refusing to learn.

Even if a student successfully graduates while having used essay mills on multiple occasions, he or she will lack certain competencies that a student is expected to have upon the completion of a certain degree.

Even if the existence of essay mills is a supply and demand problem,

legislation may change the context in which contract cheating happens.

If the legislation succeeds, conversations surrounding essay-writing services would be about “illegal services” instead of warnings about services who freely advertise on the internet and in the public sphere.

Essay writing services are dishonest towards students Nonetheless, additional approaches are needed in conjunction with legal ones. In October 2017, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) issued a guidance document containing suggestions for higher education providers and staff to combat contract cheatings, such as improved assessment, further education about the issue, and detection and processing of contract cheating allegations. Universities and institutions must, therefore, play their part by addressing the underlying issues behind the use in essay mills and provide students with the support they need.

In demanding environments such as universities, it is inevitable that some will succumb to the temptations of cheating. Essay-writing services are not only dishonest towards tutors, professors, and the university, they are also dishonest towards the students themselves resorting to these services, as the considerable risk they take is not worth the brief moment of relief that avoiding an assignment will bring them. Tackling academic pressure can feel more demanding than the easy fix of an essay mill, but the consequences are far more problematic, now and in the future.

FEATURES

20

Let it Burn: An ode to the bonFire ANGUS NEALE Deputy features editor “Fireworks, explain?” asked one American, as we walked down Market Street, our conversation irregularly punctuated by explosive cracks and radiant flashes of colour. The concept of Guy Fawkes night seemed perplexing, as it celebrates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot, Guy Fawkes’ eponymous attempt to kill King James I by destroying the House of Lords.

While fireworks and effigy-topped bonfires are common nationwide, the Lewes Bonfire tops most festivities.

Celebrating both Guy Fawkes night and commemorating the 17 Lewes martyrs, flaming barrels of tar are pulled down the street and thrown into the river while the Riot Act is read aloud. Effigies of contemporary villains from the likes of Kim Jong-Un to Donald Trump, David Cameron and his sidekick Sepp Blatter, Vladimir Putin, Bashar al-Assad, and others are torched upon bonfires in their celebrations. The curious occasion is frankly bizarre, tarnished by some sectarian connotations, with previous Lewes Bonfires including effigies of the pope. The heat from the raging bonfires across the town combines with the warmth of the atmosphere to produce a truly unique event, and a firefighter’s nightmare.

for fantastic tales. During the day the Ju’hoansi tribe conversed about economics and social relations in 75 per cent of their discussions; whereas during the night, singing, dancing, and storytelling composed 81 per cent of the time by the fire. From an anthropological perspective, human cognition and culture has been associated with campfires. Such interactions date back 400,000 years, shaping our songs and narratives. Fires remain a romantic setting for intimate conversation and stories. Our enthusiasm for such experiences is still alive today.

In Australia and New Zealand, fires are synonymous with the outback and the fraught relationship European colonialists have with them.

Inspiring dreams and evoking memories, they remain a nostalgic reverie of the past. In the harsh environment of the outback, they signify a domestication of nature, a constant trope of the colonial ideal. Though the connection is oblique, nationalist images are associated with the bush backdrop of the campfire. The Australian context also provides the exhilarating risk of devastation, as seen in campaigns to remind people to extinguish fires, taming nature to “make fire your servant, not your master.” For many people, making a fire allows them to act out

an exercise of the past, overcoming nature as part of the myth of humanity, demonstrating our control and triumph over it. This is despite the fact that studies show that our ancestors, Homo erectus, mastered this art long before we did.

Fires were the epicentre of our community, our blood pressure naturally lowers when we are near them, a sign of the comfort we derive from them. No wonder they are still alive and well in St Andrews to this day.

Bonfires, entirely legal under Scottish law on the foreshores of beaches, are popular across societies and social groups, and are used in a multitude of celebrations.

The latest bonfire I experienced was at a friend’s birthday. We started at 9:30 pm when a small hole was dug in torchlight, with wood then added.

Sadly the paper and kindling began to catch, only to burn out with cyclicality in the damp sand. However, the kindling eventually caught, which began the unbounded debate: how to stack the wood.

“Do a triangle, it gets more air in”, someone suggested. “No! It’ll collapse, go from the outside in.” “No, you’re suffocating the fire, blow air in.” “That log won’t catch, it’s not hot enough, the wood’s too damp.”

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com “I did scouts, I think I know what I’m doing.”

Onlookers marvelled, not at the fire but the petty display of masculinity, notably the boys of the group saw it as their responsibility to take control of the situation. The rest were engrossed in conversation, the celebration, and avoiding the billowing smoke and embers of the restless fire which was continually the victim of tinkering and poking. Quickly the coterie of friends became complete, the latecomers admiring the flames, much to the delight of those who claimed responsibility.

A small aside, the most commonly advised method of starting a campfire is as follows. Place your tinder in the centre, newspaper will do. Above this form a “tepee” of kindling, at the same time leaving openings for the wind to come in. On top of this form, construct a larger tepee of fuel wood, keeping the air gaps at the side. Finally, light the tinder and demonstrate your truly astonishing command of the forces of nature. Balance out the need for fuel, oxygen, and heat by starting small, using the driest fuel and a structure that is as tall as it is wide.

The experience felt discernibly earthly, as we stood with our backs to the cold, lapping waves. The bold yellow flames licked upwards, people’s faces shimmered in the warm light as the gold vermillion embers danced upwards. Within a couple of hours, other places beckoned, so we let the flames cease and then scattered and buried the glowing embers, collecting the remainder of our firewood for another such occasion.

Bonfires also take on a bleaker, more political significance. In Northern Ireland, on the “Eleventh

Bonfires and campfires seem archaic in a modern setting, once a source of light, which helped keep nocturnal predators at bay, and heat for warmth and cooking (evidence of cooked food dates back 1.9 million years). Outdoor fires now seem like a purposeless, antediluvian endeavour destined to result in injury or death.

Yet the communal value we bestow upon such an experience is phenomenal. Naturally, in contemporary life, little time is spent by the fire. Despite this, the moments we spend at them constitute something special, a time for music, enthralling stories, and developing relationships. These moments seem otherworldly, made better by an eclectic mix of people, unified in an awareness of our insignificance among the stars while, as anthropologist Polly Wiessener notes, flickering flames soften facial expressions and agendas of the quotidien are set aside

Illustration: Lauren Maires

Yet the communal value we bestow upon bonfires and camp fires is phenomenal

Night” of July, bonfires are seen fiercely burning in protestant/loyalist neighbourhoods. The marching bands and fires celebrate the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the victory of William of Orange over catholic King James II in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, an event that began the protestant ascendance of Ireland. The occasions are usually strongly sectarian with republican symbols such as the Irish tricolour and symbols of catholicism burnt upon huge fires of wooden pallets daubed with anti-republican slogans and often the images of Sinn Féin political leaders and candidates.

The towering flames are a powerful symbol of the persistent sectarianism found in Northern Ireland, striking fear in local catholic communities.

Some fires also cause incident due to their location and volume with court orders issued to reduce the size of some, often resulting in clashes with police as Loyalists defend them as an integral part of their culture. Pictures taken from the top of Cave Hill in Belfast show a dramatic scene where the lights of the city appear dim against the multitude of large lustrous fires, a film of smoking sitting low atop the city.

Bonfires also take on a bleaker, more political significance Politics notwithstanding, wood fires are also incredibly damaging to the natural environment. The period of which Guy Fawkes night is celebrated, often involving the weekend before, puts more dioxins and carbon into the atmosphere than the majority of industries do in a year. The contribution of wood burning to air pollution is significant, with compounds such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, benzene, and other toxic volatile organic compounds released. It is therefore clear that the disposal of garden waste by bonfire is inadvisable. But should this really stop you having the occasional fire at a celebration? That is a fiery debate which lacks a clean-cut answer.

Bonfires will always hold a strong communal significance, whether linked to specific cultural celebrations or for smaller gatherings. The shift from sterile electric light to the natural glimmering of flames triggers a psychological change, an awareness of our place in the world and the human condition. Our culture has been shaped by these experiences and the communal element of it appear to be a permanent feature.

Most St Andrews societies organise bonfires, impossible at most other universities, and though they may seem like a strange place for a large gathering, you are overlooking a fantastic experience if you dismiss them.

Do take care to put your fire out and clean-up afterwards, and it should go without a hitch. Try not to burn yourself.

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

FEATURES

21

RASA: Supporting Scotland’s Refugees SIOBHAN ALI Deputy features editor

and other items to distribute amongst refugees throughout Europe. Their various events, such as the aforementioned Syrian Food Night, also aim to raise money for the various charities supported by the society.

For people interested in volunteering abroad, the society hosts informative talks where members share their experiences, offer advice on how to get involved and address key questions on the logistics of working abroad with refugee organisations. RASA is also working towards launching a volunteering program with several locally-based groups that will soon be looking for community member participation.

Inspired to ease the plight of migrants and refugees fleeing to the United Kingdom from war, economic struggles or other hardships, Refugee Action St Andrews (RASA) is a society committed to increasing open dialogues about these issues. Having affiliated with the University of St Andrews Students’ Association, the society holds various events, talks, fundraisers and volunteering opportunities. According to RASA’s popular Facebook site, the current refugee crisis is the “largest humanitarian disaster in generations,” and the society are now calling for the University to “play our part” in order to support those who have fled war and persecution to find safety and rebuild their lives.

One way in which they hope to achieve this is through their main agenda to increase refugees’ access to higher education institutions in Scotland. RASA point out that refugees are considered overseas or international students by many universities, and are unable to pay these high fees. Focusing directly on the University of St Andrews, the society highlights that the University remains inaccessible to migrants and refugees who cannot meet the financial demands of a degree from the university. They are not eligible for any grants or student loans and face the additional burden of fees up to £21,000 a year which they cannot possibly afford considering many are unable to find work and must—according to the society—rely on government handouts of just £36 a week. Forced to abandon not only their homes and families but also their education, these refugees have few prospects for the future.

They have hosted talks with leading activists and experts

Drawing on the examples of the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, RASA calls for the vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews to support “asylum seekers, people with Limited/Discretionary Leave to Remain or Humanitarian Protection.” They launched a petition earlier this month demanding that all asylum seekers be classified as home students when it comes to fee status, and that scholarships be introduced for at least five asylum seekers, covering their tuition and living costs.

Another demand in their petition was that the university publicise their Equal Access policies, thereby making them far more accessible to prospective students. RASA additionally

Photos: RASA Facebook

The University remains inaccessible to migrants and refugees point out that there is a wealth of difference between “someone who has fled their country of origin to avoid war, torture or persecution” and someone who has “chosen to study in Britain”. They argue that this distinction should therefore be taken into consideration and reflected in the university’s policies. Hopefully through these proposed changes, the university will be able to bridge the gap between home students and refugees, offering equal opportunities for all.

RASA’s petition received 270 signatures from both students and non-students alike. One notable supporter was Stephen Gethins, a member of parliament for North East Fife,

who signed the petition as well. This overwhelming support from the St Andrews community meant that a motion for scholarships was approved

by Students’ Representative Council and will be passed on to higher authorities for consideration. This significant step towards the inclusivity of asylum seekers and migrants reflects the hard work and perseverance of the society members who committed their time and effort to achieving this.

Aside from their petition, RASA have been working tirelessly to increase conversations about refugee rights and opportunities within the community. They have hosted talks with leading activists and experts

such as Natasha Saunders, Alicia Kearns and Sarah Mardini who discuss the refugee crisis and its various political, social and economic intricacies. To highlight different cultures and increase awareness and understanding of different refugee groups, RASA also hosted a Syrian Food Night with traditional dishes.

Since their founding in 2016, the society has chosen a couple of charities to support each year. For example, the chosen charities for 2018 are the Scottish Refugee Council and the Refugee Council UK. RASA coordinated donation drives in collaboration with large Edinburgh and Dundeebased organisations, seeking clothes

RASA is also working towards a social media campaign titled “Reinventing the Word ‘Refugee’’’.

With the campaign, they aim to “explore people’s connotations to the word,” and the various discourses on migration. By highlighting cases of integrated, assimilated and settled refugees, they hope to depict an alternative view to what many might think of when they hear the word “refugee”, thus combatting the various preconceived notions and stigma surrounding the topic.

Their upcoming event, an art exhibition, explores the refugee crisis through an artistic perspective. By exploring the works of revolutionary photographers such as Elrik Johan Solheim, Simon Fox and Mariano Gringaus Urrutia and famous political cartoonist Vasco Gargalo, RASA hope to offer an interesting perspective into the crisis. The event will also feature testimonies from refugees and artwork, scripts and poems by students under the theme of “Beyond Borders.” Traveling across borders and fleeing everything you have ever known in order to start a new life is a daunting prospect, and the event page on Facebook calls for students to “reflect on their own sense of home” and immerse themselves in the life experiences of refugees.

Depicting the multi-faceted nature of the issue will hopefully increase understanding of the hardships of fleeing home and the hope that refugees can find in their new communities. It will also explore the concept of a world without borders and the prospect of a more fluid and inclusive world community.

RASA can be found on Facebook @ RefugeeActionStAndrews for updates on the current conversations on the refugee crisis. For more information on their upcoming events, fundraisers and volunteering opportunities.

22

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo Story: St Andrews in Monochrome

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

As we get closer to the end of the semester, it’s nice to take a moment to appreciate the quiet beauty of the people and places of St Andrews.

Photo: Henry Memmott

Photo: Samantha Chinomona

Photo: Samantha Chinomona

Photo: Henry Memmott

Photo: Henry Memmott

Photography editor: SAMMI CIARDI Deputy editors: Samantha Chinomona photography@thesaint-online.com

@saint_photos

Photo: Henry Memmott

Photo: Samantha Chinomona

Photo: Samantha Chinomona

Photo: Henry Memmott

Photo: Henry Memmott

thesaint-online.com/pictures

EVENTS thesaint-online.com/events

events@thesaint-online.com

Events editor: BRIANNA PATERSON Deputy event editors: Megan Dyson, Stella Gage @saint_ events

Welly Ball 2018: Above all a success, but is it a surprise?

Exactly how different is Welly Ball from last year?

MARTINA SARDELLI

As someone who hadn’t owned a pair of wellies until four days before the event, I could arguably be the bestsuited person to review Welly Ball.

I am a first year and where I come from it’s not customary to hold balls, meaning I had no expectations I am a first year and where I come from it is not customary to hold balls, meaning I had no prior experiences to refer to when taking stock of my expectations; but from the outset, the prospect of trying something new added a tinge of nervous excitement and intrigue to my night.

My friends and I started our night by taking a bus from Madras College: the journey to the venue was painless,

seemingly breezing by amongst the excited chatter of the party-goers and the promise of a night which was yet to unfold.

I may be biased when I express my opinion on the venue as I am a sucker for a crafty fairy light display, and, boy, did the Kinkell Byre deliver. The venue itself is spacious and has almost, in my opinion, a cavernous quality to it, which was rendered enchanting by the arrangements of lights which had been strategically placed around it.

One of my favourite things about the décor was the different atmospheres that had been created in the various rooms of the venue. Whereas the main dance floor had a club-like quality to it (coloured lights, DJ booth, packed with a capital P; you get the gist), stepping off into a side passage allowed you to transition into a tent which had been decorated like a celestial dome: the contrast of the blue fabric and the jewel tones of the lights scattered on it made for a beautiful and, dare I say, romantic sight. This allowed the guests to mill around and decide on which kind of night they wanted to have; this will have undoubtedly made for very different experiences at the same event.

This was further emphasised by the music, which was very different between the two locations. The starry side-tent had a live band which mostly played “golden oldies” (or the type of tunes one of your relatives will get up and dance to when they’re drunk

at someone’s wedding). On the other hand, more ‘recent’ tunes were played in the main room (if a party is taking place and Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” doesn’t play at least once, did the party actually take place?).

Another aspect of the evening I greatly enjoyed was the wealth of people the ball attracted. I got to meet a lot of people from different universities such as University College London (UCL) and Oxford, who, as a testament to Welly Ball’s greatness, said they came up to St Andrews each year in order to attend the event.

One of my favourite things about the decor was the different atmospheres that had been created As a half Italian, I shudder at the

Photos: Lightbox Creative

sight of long queues (in Italy, queuejumping is basically a national sport), so the time I have to wait in them plays a significant role in determining whether I’ll find an event merely good or excellent. The queue to the coat check seemed at first tame, thus tricking everyone into joining it in the hope that they’d wait 10 minutes, maybe finish answering some messages and leave their coats. Alas, it didn’t turn out this way and I had to wait in the queue for a while and a half, but in all honesty, it did not seem like time lost as you could easily turn to the person next to you (effectively sharing your same plight) and strike up a conversation (kudos to the brave people doing the coat checking – I commend you for your patience and dexterity). Conversely, the waiting time was nearly non-existent at the bar as people were mostly busy dancing and socialising with each other.

All in all, the event was run smoothly and with no hiccups: you could perceive there had been a lot of thought and effort that had gone behind it and people genuinely seemed to be enjoying themselves.

If anyone reading this hasn’t had the chance to attend Welly Ball yet I would highly recommend going in the future: not only would you be doing something good for your community (proceeds from this year’s ball went to the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust), but you would also be doing yourself a favour in the process (sometimes

self-care comes under the guise of an after-party ticket).

If anyone reading this hasn’t had the chance to attend Welly Ball yet I would highly recommend it So next year, show yourself some love for 2019: buy a ticket to attend and make sure you don’t miss out on one of the most boot-iful nights on the St Andrews social calendar. I guarantee for an event that is so smoothly run and bet the Welly Ball committee are already set up with a master plan for next year. What I do wonder is how diverse the Welly Ball is each year.

Being a first year I’m unsure if this is a recipe for success that they carry out each year or if they switch things up after each ball. Regardless of the cost of a ticket I’ll happily repeat that.

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

EVENTS

25

Location, Location, Location: An Events Guide to St Andrews Venues Megan Dyson Deputy events editor

For a nice drink with pals: St Andrews Brewing Company With the very recent opening of the second St Andrews Brewing Company on North Street, it only seems right that this one gets a mention. Whilst the South Street Brewing Company will always remain the classic, the North Street Brewing Company is a sports bar, making it a perfect spot for sporting fans. Their beer is made in St Andrews - their opening in 2012 marked the first brewery in St Andrews for 111 years - which gives it an extra special feel and almost an excuse to drink it because you aren’t just drinking any beer, but St Andrews beer. They also make their own gin.

What could be more perfect?

For a fashion show: The Rhynd DON’T WALK launched their new venue, The Rhynd, as a potential venue for fashion shows to use in the future. A brilliant alternative to Kinkell Byre or Lower College Lawn, it has rural charm while also being isolated enough to hold a proper party and dinner for hundreds of people. With a little bit of mood lighting and a little bit of set up in the venue, you’ve basically got yourself some prime real estate for any kind of slightly upperclass event.

For dinner with the parents: The Adamson

I don’t think it’s unfair to say that if your parents are coming to visit you, it’s a perfect opportunity to get some proper (expensive) food bought for you. Whilst pesto pasta and cheese toasties are perfect for when you’re poor and literally cannot afford to cook anything else, I’m sure I’m not the only one who misses real, good food. Whilst a little pricey (which you definitely deserve!), The Adamson has a lovely chilled-out vibe, as well as a separate bar which checks all the boxes. Treat yourself (with your parents’ bank account)!

With a really lovely variety of food... they also have an extensive drinks menu For when your friends come to visit: The Vic Whilst your pals from home may not be entirely impressed with a night

out in 601, it does have to be done at least once. But if you really can’t face the slight embarrassment more than that one time, The Vic is definitely worth a shot. With its half-club, halfbar vibe, it’s low-key enough to have a good catch-up, but also allows for drunk dancing with the classic bangers the DJs never fail to disappoint with, and you can get literal buckets of cocktails. Need I say more?

For when deadlines are hitting you and you absolutely need to drink: Main Bar I was really pleasantly surprised when I finally realised the only way to get through writing two essays in one week was to do as many shots as possible. It was then I decided to go to Main Bar. For a Tuesday, it was lit - as was I by the time I left. The price is definitely a huge appeal - and the bar stays open until 2am. Basically, if you’re looking for a cheap night out or even just a quick pint, the Main Bar is the place to be. No judgement from the bar staff here!

For a venue for a ball: Lower College Lawn Going against the crowd here, I’m not actually a fan of Kinkell Byre.

Lower College Lawn just means that you can drunkenly stumble home without having to fork out for a taxi.

Plus it’s just not as pretentious and lends itself better to a ball party.

Photo: DONT WALK

Photo: Lightbox Creative

Photo: Channing Cook

Szentek 2.0: The Return of the Party

Stella Gage Deputy events editor

I’m sure I’ve discussed this before in reviewing other events at Kinkell Byre, but I’ll take the time to reiterate: Events at Kinkell Byre can often blend together if event coordinators don’t make a concerted effort to find something, or some things, to make their event stand out from the rest.

Szentek is one event that never seems to face this problem, however.

It is one event at St Andrews that does a great job of distinguishing itself from the rest, maybe because it knows exactly what it is trying to be.

As stated on their Facebook page, Szentek is the “funkiest night in St. Andrews.” This emphasis on being funky has always been Szentek’s defining feature, but I would argue that this year the stand-out was the art and creativity.

Walking into Kinkell Byre, one is transported into a very unique environment. It is not the world of Wonka like for House of Horrors, or the typical glittery ball experience of May Ball.

Different to other events, Szentek engulfs you in a world of neon lights, strobes, and student art, the last one being particularly key to its uniqueness.

Kameron Cooper, who was on the art and design team for Szentek, says that “what makes Szentek so different from any other music event is that there is also a focus on art work and creativity.” All of the décor in Kinkell Byre was made by St Andrews students.

There were also three screens set up throughout the venue that were playing student-made films throughout the night. These are particularly cool editions to what would otherwise still be a fun event with great music.

Adding the artistic elements gave people the opportunity to not only appreciate the music but some great artwork as well.

Along with funky banners with paintings, quotes, and colours on them, the backdrop behind the main DJ booth was also a stand-out feature.

The display was made of cardboard boxes that had been painted by the art team, and there were two pillars on either side of the booth. This cool

geometric moment was also highlighted by the flashing, neon LED lights around the outline of the boxes.

Colour was constantly flooding the pace. With multiple big lights set up on the sides of the dance floor and smoke emerging from behind the booth, you could tell you’d find evidence of the colourfully back-lit, smoky photos on Instagram the next morning.

I would argue that this year the stand-out was the art and the creativity at the venue Over the years, Szentek has developed a loyal following of St Andrews students, something that separates it from other events. People get very into dressing up and going all out for it, which adds another great element.

Looking out on the dance floor and seeing a sea of vibrant colours, lights bouncing off of reflective outfits, and patterns galore is pretty special. No event is quite so funky and eclectic.

As the social aspect of the night is very important, something that was also unique this year was to have a DJ booth in the smoking area. That area can be a nice social environment, but adding a DJ booth just adds an extra nice element so people could go outside and not miss out on listening to good music.

Overall, I believe Szentek very much succeeded in being the “funkiest night in St. Andrews.” With nine different music acts, tons of student art, bright and colourful lighting, and more, Szentek 2018 was a night to remember. Not only that, but proceeds also went to Variety Scotland, a children’s charity based in Glasgow.

I think it’s pretty impressive that the committee delivered in so many different ways. As promised, Szentek truly brought “artwork, performance, and some world class music to our little seaside home.”

EVENTS

26

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

Boxing Charity Homeshow: A new fresh take on raising money for charity in town Stella gage Deputy events editor

I should preface this piece by saying I don’t really know much about boxing. Though I did look up the rules on my phone as I was walking to the event, so I wouldn’t be completely lost, I had never seen anyone fight in person, whether that be in or outside of a boxing ring. So, as you can imagine, the University of St. Andrews Boxing Club Charity Home Show provided a completely new experience for me.

And, it ended up being really fun.

I think one of my favourite things about this job is getting to go to events that I maybe wouldn’t otherwise have attended. The Boxing Charity Show was the sort of event that I didn’t think I would be able to enjoy simply because I don’t know much about the sport. The first thing that intrigued me about the event was that it was going to be in Younger Hall, being that the only events I had been to in that venue were musical ones. Again, to say I didn’t know what I was walking into would be an understatement.

The boxing ring was set up on the floor in front of the stage, with chairs surrounding three of the sides and a panel of judges behind the back. This set-up, though at first throwing me off because I’m used to seeing chairs in that space, was a great setup for the event. People could stand and watch, or sit watching from various different vantage points.

Will Murdock, who was the social rep for the event, said that “the boxing match itself was a good social event because it appealed to everybody.”

There were 10 bouts of Olympic style amateur fights comprised of club members, other universities and local boxing gyms alike. Mr Murdock

Hamlet Prince of Denmark St Andrews Day

O

n Saturday 1 December, the town lights up with St Andrews Day celebrations, hosting a large street market and fair on South Street.

Tickets are free and are available on Eventbrite, so snap them up quickly.

emphasised how cool it was to “see the local community as well as St Andrews students come together to support everyone.”

would follow. The night went on with some pauses in between bouts, during which time people could hang out with friends or grab a drink from the

Once the bouts in which St Andrews students were fighting started, the real fun began. Cheers filled the space with each successful blow,

The first bouts were between younger fighters, which created a gentle start to the evening, an aspect that I personally enjoyed because I had no concept of the intensity that

bar. Each fight became more entertaining than the last as the skills of the fighters increased, and with each new bout I found myself closer and closer to the edge of my seat.

as well as gasps of disappointment when one of our own succumbed to the power of their opponent. Though the first St Andrews student lost, there was hope on the horizon, with vice-

Capitalism vs Socialism

Reclaim the Night

Christmas Ball

O

n Tuesday 27 November, STAUCA and the University Socialist Society get together for the age old debate: which is fairer, capitalism or socialism? Bound to be a passionate argument, it should be worth seeing.

O

n Saturday 24 November, a coalition of almost all equality-based societies are hosting an all-day workshop culminating in a night walk as a protest. It should definitely be worth checking out.

O

captain Bradley McCallion and team captain Pawel Borowski’s fights still to come.

These two fights were clearly at a whole new standard. With stronger physiques and tighter technique, these two men were intimidating opponents, to say the least. Needless to say, the last two fights were simultaneously jarring and incredibly impressive, with both fighters emerging victorious in their respective rounds.

Not only were the 10 bouts of boxing entertaining, but there was also an after-party which was “a good opportunity for all the competing boxers and coaches to meet each other and relax with a drink,” according to Mr Murdock, “Everyone had put a lot of work into organising the event so it was for them too.” A great end to an already pretty great night.

All in all, the clubs ended up raising over £1900 from ticket sales and drinks, and, because the event was sponsored by JAR Capital, the club was able to give all of the proceeds to YoungMinds, one of the UK’s leading charities supporting young people with mental health issues. The fact that so much money was raised is amazing because supporting young people’s mental health is a cause that is very important to the club.

Club Presient Blaise Cooper said he also wanted to put the event on because the “fighters train unbelievably hard. They put their bodies and their minds through hell in order to do what they do, and I wanted to give them a chance to show the fruits of that off in front of their home crowd.”

Not only did the event support a great cause, but it was also great fun and truly did show off all of the fighters’ skills. Who knew you could enjoy a sporting event so much without actually knowing much about the sport itself?

n Sunday 2 December, Mermaids are hosting their annual sellout Christmas Ball at Kinkell Byre. Arguably the biggest ball of the term, if you’re lucky enough to get a ticket it’ll be a blast.

eight

Brandy Montmartre

O

n Saturday 1 December, Hotel Du Vin are hosting St Andrews first-ever Burlesque show with visiting guest Brandy Montmartre. See her website for tickets.

O

Winter Showcase

n Tuesday 27 November, the St Andrews Blue Angels Dance Team host their end-of-year showcase.

It will be worth watching if you have any interest in dance, or just need a night of being entertained.

Wind Band Concert

O

n Friday 23 November, the Big Band of the University of St Andrews and the Concert Wind Band host an end-of-year concert for all you music lovers. Student tickets are £3 so snap one up when you can.

O

Thanksgiving

n Thursday 22 November, Thanksgiving finally comes to town! St Andrews Brewing Company is hosting something for all you wayward Americans who are missing home, so gather around the turkey and enjoy your pecan pie.

ARTS & CULTURE

Arts & culture editors: LASZLO SZEGEDI & OLIVIA HENDREN Deputy editors: Zeb Baker-Smith, Marianna Panteli, Milo Farragher-Hanks, Gabrielle Holliday, Taylor Tee, Iona Murphy, Annabel Steele arts@thesaint-online.com @saint_arts thesaint-online.com/arts-culture

Illustration by Gabrielle Wolf

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

Prepare your bookshelves for St Andrew’s Day

IONA MURPHY Books editor

The 30th of November is almost upon us. As someone living in St Andrews for the first time, I’ve been excited about this date all semester. No, it’s not because tomorrow I can make a start on my advent calendar (because let’s face it, I’m sure you already have). It’s St Andrew’s Day, and as a University of St Andrews student it’s an excuse to get excited and see some fireworks! Be sure to check out all the events in town and beyond and get in the spirit of the day. Whilst you’re counting down the days in anticipation, why not pick up some Scottish Literature and really get yourself in the mood for the big day!

Iona: Poems by Kenneth Stevens Something my October reads seemed to be lacking was poetry, so I’ve kicked this list of with a beautiful little book of poetry based on the Island of Iona on the West Coast of Scotland. I received this collection as a gift, and whilst I must admit I have a heavy bias given this Island is my namesake, this is truly a breath-taking celebration of Scotland’s finest scenery. The Island of Iona is associated with peacefulness and tranquillity which is the tone of these poems. This collection explores childhood, spirituality and inner peace, all through imagery of the beautiful natural landscape of Scotland. This collection is easy to delve into and is light to read, making it the perfect way to unwind; perhaps a collection to delve into on the night of the 29th when you’re so excited about St Andrew’s Day that you just can’t get to sleep!

The World’s Wife by Carol Anne Duffy A name you might recognise from your school days all those years ago, but don’t let this put you off. Duffy’s poetry is far more interesting than GCSE English made it out to be.

Nothing says Scottish pride like reading the work of a Scottish born Poet Laurette. This collection explores the erasure of women’s histories, telling the stories of the wives of great men in history and literature. This clever collection subverts gender expectations and challenges the confinements of gender, giving a voice to the hidden figures we don’t tend to think about. These poems are witty and subversive, I would recommend read-

ing the collection as a whole to get a feel for the powerful message, but if you’re short on time I would recommend ‘Frau Freud’, ‘Queen Herod’ or ‘Medusa’.

Collected Poems by Robert Burns It would be a sin to omit the big name in Scottish poetry from this list.

Everybody is familiar with the work of Burns (flash forward to New Year and ‘Auld Lang Syne’; Robert Burns wrote this). It’s worth reading ‘Auld Lang Syne’ away from the whole party culture of New Year; this poem is actually a lovely read and the Scottish dialect really creates a warm pride at being a part of this beautiful countries culture. Other poems worth reading are ‘Address to a Haggis.’ If you’ve ever celebrated Burns night this is the classic poem, if you’re not familiar with it definitely give it a read. There’s nothing more classically Scottish to celebrate with than a haggis!

‘To a Mouse’ is another wonderful poem; you can’t go wrong with a poem which rhymes “beastie” with “breastie”!

100 Favourite Scottish Poems to Read Out Loud by Gordon Jarvie If you want a quick fix of varied Scottish poetry, then this is the anthology for you. Jarvie carefully selects different Scottish poets, giving a nice equal dedication to both modern and classical writers.

The oral tradition is one which is important to Scottish poetry in particular, as dialect plays a large role in the sound of the poems, hence why I gravitate towards a collection so focused on sound. This collection includes classics worth delving into from Robert Burns, Stuart Kermack and Tessa Ransford. The beauty of this collection is that it doesn’t move via time period, but by tonality. Rather than getting a picture of a changing Scotland, there is a continued sense of the everlasting and timeless beauty of Scottish landscape and the evolution of culture. This is a really wonderful collection for finding popular poems

by Scottish poets and is a good starting point for finding new authors whose work you can delve into if you like what you read here.

Ashland & Vine by John Burnside No list on Scottish literature would be complete without the inclusion of

St Andrews’ very own academic and writer John Burnside. His latest novel explores a grieving alcoholic film student’s production of a documentary.

Although this novel is set in America, I had to include it in this list because of its sheer power to invoke emotion.

Exploring an unlikely friendship, the power of words and listening, and the very nature memory and its influence on how life pans out; this book is sure to have you questioning what shapes your identity and feeling a lot of conflicted and difficult emotions.

Illustration: La Tia Pereques / flickr The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

by Muriel Spark Set in Edinburgh in the 1930s, teacher Miss Jean Brodie sets herself the task of giving a group of ten year old girls a traditional education to follow in her footsteps, teaching them about her love life, art history, classics and ultimately fascism. She selects out girls whom she deems elite and could one day grow up to be like her. The story follows Miss Brodie’s teaching of these girls over the years till they turn seventeen, seeing how they develop and the influence education has on the young mind and shaping opinion. This novel is politically interesting, with the career paths and politics of the girls not always matching up to what we would expect from said education. This is a story of love, betrayal, politics and the importance of the education system being balanced and

fair. Though set in the 1930s, this novel is so witty and well written that it is easy to imagine the school and the events which unfold within its walls vividly.

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh This novel is where the famous “choose life” speech, which most people will have seen on a t-shirt at some point in their lives, originates. This book is definitely not for the faint hearted. Written in a heavy Scottish dialect, Welsh presents the lives of different drug addicts living in Edinburgh, Leith and the surrounding areas. Each chapter comes from the perspective of a different addict, with their stories becoming intertwined as the novel progresses.

This novel explores the harsh reality of drug addiction and is powerful and emotive in both what it says and what it omits. Whilst perhaps not a book to get you in the mood for celebrating, it is such a fine piece of Scottish literature that it felt like a betrayal to omit it from this list. It’s a must read for anyone interested in class politics and drug culture in Scotland. There’s nothing more powerful than the raw emotion and gruesome occurrences in this novel. If you don’t have time to read the novel, there is a wonderful film adaptation which is worth a watch.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith I’ve decided to recommend this entire series rather than choosing just one book. The global nature of the series means you can travel the world and choose whether you read a crime mystery set in Botswana (The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency) or in Scotland (44 Scotland Street). Light reads, but nonetheless entertaining, if you like a good who-dun-it mystery then this series is well worth a read.

This series contains eighteen books from 1998-2017, so if you enjoy them there is plenty to keep you going!

Each novel is about Mma Ramotswe, a Botswanan woman who sets up a detective agency. She solves different cases in different places, with each novel presenting a fresh new mystery to get your head around. The protagonist is well written enough that you’ll want to continue through eighteen books worth of her journey. Each case is so different- from the personal, to the cultural, to the gendered; there really is a case to cater for everyone’s

Photo: Wikimedia Comons

ARTS & CULTURE

28

taste in this series.

Reunion: A Search for Ancestors

by Ryan Littrell For anyone with even the slightest bit of Scottish heritage, your identity is tied to a clan. If, like me, you’ve found yourself trawling through the many shops in St Andrews searching for a scarf made from your family’s tartan (perhaps this is a bit of a niche problem) then this is a read for you.

Littrell explore the history of Scottish clans, plotting their development through the centuries and discusses their importance in the twenty-first century. If you’re interested in the environmental history of Scotland, this novel gives you that in an almost poetic way, viewing natural landscape within the formation of identity. This is worth a read to get a flavour for clan history and culture and how the meaning this has to people develops over time. Plus, you might find out some interesting information about your own heritage and the clan your surname ties you to.

At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen This one is for all you historical fiction lovers. If you like Downton Abbey, then this is a read for you.

This novel has everything you could ask for from a period drama: love, lust, heartbreak, desire, war- all set with the backdrop of the breath-taking Scottish Highlands. The main plot of the novel follows Maddie and her husband Ellis searching for the Loch Ness Monster to reinstate Ellis’ family name following a scandal whereby his father faked photos of Nessie.

This search for a monster is plagued by the ongoing terror of World War Two and the harsh realities of being a woman in this society. Upper class family struggles are conveyed harshly through the female first person narrative, exploring the social position of an upper class woman in a war torn society, both trying to find a monster and deal with her own personal monsters.

This St Andrew’s Day, whether you’re donning a kilt, eating haggis, wearing a red gown, or simply picking up a piece of Scottish literature (whether that’s set in Scotland or written by a Scot); enjoy the festivities and make the most of what this beautiful historic town has to offer. Happy reading, but most of all Happy St Andrew’s Day!

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

ARTS & CULTURE

29

Sleeping Beauty comes to the Byre with a Scottish twist

OLIVER SAVAGE

Let’s face it, pantomimes can be a bit problematic. Lots of productions now, even in these enlightened times, seem like they’re from decades ago, with elements of transphobia, sexism, and even racism in some cases. Which is a shame – at their best, pantos are fun, magical, and for me at least, they conjure memories of short winter evenings with my parents and grandparents, full of laughter and comfort.

According to The Stage, around 3 million tickets are sold for pantomimes across the UK each year, and that number isn’t set to change any time soon. We want to keep going, but a lot of the time, we simply feel like we can’t.

Unless of course, we start seeing pantos that are a bit more with the times. A bit less damsel-in-distress and a bit more #metoo, a bit less evil stepmother and a bit more funny-without-being-mean. So it’s a real delight to see what The Byre is offering up for us for the next couple of months. Their pantomime Sleeping Beauty promises all the best bits of pantomime – all the fun, laughter, and memories – without the bits that make me squirm in my seat.

This year, they’re going for a bit of a twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale – set in Fantasia, a magical kingdom with a distinctly Scottish twist, the backdrop is similar to what you’d expect. A young Beauty (or, Bonnie, in this show) is cursed as a child by

a jealous witch, and as her eightof Perpetual Succour which was nomieenth birthday looms, fears of the nated for an Olivier Award. Joining curse being realised abound across her in a lead role is Byre panto newthe castle. But they say it themselves bie Samuel Pashby as ‘Prince Hamish – ‘this Beauty is no snoozer’, and McGuffin’. Samuel has performed what we are treated to instead is the in several reputed shows across the heart-warming, uplifting, and frankly, eye-opening story of a young woman making her own fate. And all through Britain’s most-loved festive art-form.

The show features a returning veteran cast from the last four years of St Andrews magic Kirsty Findlay, Stephanie McGregor and Alan Steele as well as the award-winning production team from Glasgow’s Bard in the Botanics. This magical retelling of one of the world’s favourite fairy-tale comes from the Writer/Director Gordon Barr - the creative genius behind previous challenging, unique, and exciting panto successes at The Byre Theatre. Featuring an extraordinary and unique set, spectacular costumes, plenty of singalong songs and audience participation, Sleeping Beauty Photo: Viktoria Begg promises a fun filled evening, transforming the Byre in a way country including Cinderella at the you’ve never seen before.

Citizen’s Theatre, Glasgow and As Kirsty Findlay plays Sleeping You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe, Beauty, aka ‘Bonnie McTeuchter’.

London.

Kirsty brings much expertise, having New cast members also include starred in the rave reviewed Our Ladies Nicole Cooper as ‘Nessie McTeuchter’,

who won a prestigious CAT Award in 2016 for an enthralling performance in Coriolanus at last year’s Bard in the Botanics festival in Glasgow. Stephen Arden, known for his role in Zombie Musical, also joins the gang to play

‘Raven La Corbie’.

Stephanie McGregor also returns to the Byre, this year playing ‘Minnie Minxster’. Stephanie has extensive theatre credits including The Monarch of the Glen at Pitlochry and Glasgow

Girls for the National Theatre of Scotland as well as a number of Bard in the Botanics productions.

And finally, fabulous Panto Dame Alan Steele will bring oodles of laughs in his role as ‘Fairy Mary Doll’. Alan is a familiar face at The Byre having appeared in its previous six pantos. Alan has had a glistening career in theatre, performing at Royal Lyceum, Glasgow Citizens and Perth Rep as well as starring in many radio and television productions including River City and Taggart.

We’re in capable hands with the whole cast and crew for this exciting and refreshing adaptation of the Christmas classic – it’s exciting for me that I can go see a pantomime with friends, and not feel a little uncomfortable when gran guffaws at something she probably shouldn’t.

Previews start this week, and it’s running right through the exam period. If you ask me, it looks like a cosy and welcome break from being holed up in the library for revision.

Sleeping Beauty at the Byre Theatre starts on Thursday 29th November, and runs until the 5th of January. Tickets vary between £13.50 and £15.50 for students.

To book tickets or to see a full list of dates and times, head to the website www.byretheatre.com, or call the box office on 01334 475 000.

A day of On The Rocks brought to November: On The Pebbles

LASZLO SZEGEDI Arts & culture editor

This Saturday the 24th On The Rocks will be hosting On The Pebbles, a oneday teaser of next semester’s festival compiling 10 major events in various locations and venues. Publicity Manager Holly Scrivener revealed the broadened scope of the weekend’s shows that the On The Rocks committee encourages audiences to keep an eye out for, including pop-up events from dance society FOUND and a cappella group Bells.

On The Pebbles comes as an effort to establish an awareness of the festival throughout the year, assure a more collaborative process for artists and provide a platform for people and groups who would not normally work together to meet each other and think of something unusual and innovative. One of the prime examples in-

clude “Historytelling”, which brings together the Art History Society and Blind Mirth to host unconventional, comedic and informative tours in the Preservation Trust Museum. The initiative also introduced an innovative ticketing method: tickets are designed as a map in St Andrews, and can be picked up from the box offices at any of the ticketed events around town.

By buying one you gain entry into all events, where you can collect stamps as a form of encouragement to attend as many of them as possible.

You can find the timetable according to the press release at the time of publication on the right side of the page. On The Rocks reminds all visitors that the timings and venues of events are subject to change, and encourage everyone to check for updates on their Facebook page, their email (ontherocks@st-andrews.ac.uk), and welcome any last-minute questions at the box offices on Saturday.

Historytelling, Blind Mirth and Art History Society, Preservation Trust Museum, 1-4PM, Donations Suggested

The March – Open Dress Rehearsal with Blackbox Theatre, Large Rehearsal Room (UNION), 3-5, Ticketed

For the first time, thanks to Art History Society, Blind Mirth has been armed with facts! Join us in the Preservation Trust Museum for an unconventional, comedic, and informative tour of everything on display in this wonderful museum!

Always wondered what putting on a theatre show is like? Join Blackbox for the open rehearsal of their play “The March”. The March is a history play about science.

It examines mankind’s propensity for distorting forces for good in to something sinister, while asking if there is anything we can do to keep our humanity.

Immersive Dance, FOUND, 2-4PM, various venues, FREE This is not so much a show you go to see than a show you stumble upon. Found is a series of contemporary dance performances that will appear and disappear in various locations around town. Keep an eye out and let us know when you’ve #found us!

Immersive Acappella, Bells, 2-4PM, various venues, FREE A cappella? On the street? Keep your ears open because Bells are performing in a few secret locations around town!

Rock Painting, St Andrews Community Library, 2-4:30, Ticketed Join OTR Festival Designer Hannah in the community library to get creative with the symbol of our festival!

One Pound Poems, Inklight, Brew Co, 3-5PM, Ticketed The most anticipated event in the St. Andrews Martinmas semester...Pound Poems! Come get an individualized poem from us for one pound!

Design: Lydia Peterson

Gallery Tour, Art History Society, Junor Gallery, 4-5PM, Donations Suggested Join the Art History Society for a tour of one of St Andrews many galleries.

Music Cafe, Music is Love, Aikmans, 6-8PM, FREE An evening of music from some of St Andrews’ best loved student musicians.

Stand Up, Comedy Society, Sandy’s, 8-10PM, Ticketed The Comedy Society’s Stand Up Nights are already well ingrained into the St Andrews entertainment calendar and On The Pebbles gives you another chance to experience them!

Art Exhibition, Elspeth Rider, Aikmans/Brew Co/ Beacon Bar, 2-10PM, FREE Art On The Pebbles: A showcase of the creative talent found within and around St Andrews for the enjoyment of the whole community.

ARTS & CULTURE

30

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

LASZLO SZEGEDI Arts & culture editor

Jean-Paul Sartre’s Huis Clos explores an afterlife where hell is being with other people in a locked room, inflicting eternal torment on each other. If you recognised this brief summary as a key plot element from a beloved contemporary TV comedy (which I will not name for spoilers’ sake), look no further: the innovative, non-profit artists’ collective Peachy Keen Productions is bringing Sartre’s work to the Union.

No Exit revolves around Garcin, Inès, and Estelle, who find themselves in a room expecting to be tortured

in hell. Slowly they realise the true nature of their afterlife: the stories of eternal fire, brimstone, and burning asphalt were false, and the room they are enclosed in is their hell. To make the scenario all the more claustrophobic, unrequited love begins to bloom between the three damned souls in a true Midsummer Night’s Dream-fashion. Darkly comical with its sinister overtones and brimming with expectable Sartre-ian existentialist concerns, director Rowan Wishart saw an opportunity to bring the surprisingly topical elements of the French philosopher’s 1944 work to the foreground in her adaptation.

“Basically, it’s a three-hander. Two of the characters are women, both of

them very fleshed out. This is unusual for a play written in the ‘40s – for two women to have so much agency over a man is rare, even today.”

Written as a companion piece to one of his broader philosophical texts, Huis Clos was intended to clarify Sartre’s thoughts to the common reader, yet still posed some challenges in staging. “There is a reason this is studied at A level… some of the ideas are incredibly complex, the language is quite heavy, it’s hardcore philosophy with no absolute answers presented.

We started coming to terms with the characters just recently”, Ms. Wishart explained.

“We’re in our early twenties, it’s fair to say that we have our own brief periods of existential crises where we ask ourselves the same questions that bugged Sartre’s mind.” Ms. Wishart also highlighted that while she does not intend to include political undertones in the play, she finds the issues of morality (and specifically the questions falling between the binary of good and bad) intriguingly topical in the current political climate.

The play’s title also applies to the cast: there will be No Exit for the actors, who will perform for an hour and fifteen minutes straight without leaving the Union’s Small Rehearsal Room to look at their lines. “This means that each member of our three-person cast has to learn a third of that heavy text – there is no space to mess up. (…) These are some of the

most fleshed-out characters I’ve ever directed, and getting their unique layers and characteristics right has been extremely challenging.”

In addition to the restricted setup, Ms. Wishart mentioned Grace Cowie’s set design and the lighting as elements to keep an eye out for. The Small Rehearsal Room is an unconventional space to put on a play, leaving space for the crew to experiment with the lighting in innovative ways which Ms. Wishart preferred to keep as a surprise for her audience. “I certainly haven’t seen anything like it before in St Andrews, and we really hope it pays off.”

A fourth character makes a brief appearance: the Valet’s role is to take the damned trio to hell (much like Charon, Hades’s ferryman in Greek mythology). “I cast Guy Harvey in the role because I directed him in And Then There Were None, and he’s very good with dry British humour which suits the Valet perfectly. I had to apologise to him because I gave him very small roles in both plays… but he’s guaranteed to shine.” Much to her surprise, Mr. Harvey later revealed that he has 3000 listeners according to his music profile on Spotify, including songs from

Photos: Sasha Mann

Hell is other people on stage in No Exit

a West End show he played the lead in several years ago. “I can’t believe we cast the lead of a West End show in the smallest role twice”, concluded Ms. Wishart, laughing.

You still have a chance to reserve tickets to No Exit by emailing peachykeensta@gmail.com. The show will be performed tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm in the Small Rehearsal Room on the top floor of the Union.

LASZLO SZEGEDI Arts & culture editor

Focusing on a bride who has no choice but to marry an eligible, young bachelor while still in love with her ex, renowned Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding is a tale of deception and an exploration of fate. Set in Spain in the 1930s, the plot compiles several familiar limitations to the lovers’ blooming romance you’d expect from such a love story: the Bride’s former lover Leonardo has his own family now, yet he comes back on the night of her wedding with the proposition of running away together. She does not let this interfere with the ceremony and comes to realise her mistake only after the marriage has taken place.

They run away nonetheless, upsetting many and gaining more foes than allies in the process.

In an interview with The Saint, directors Krishna Patel and Montse Picado described their approach as “creepy and grotesque”, and “experiment with various acting styles” to replicate the range of complex emotions provoked by being forced into the conflicts of Blood Wedding. “We have an entire act set in a forest at night, during which the moon comes to life and death becomes a person”, Ms. Patel revealed. Fully prepared for a rehearsal following the interview, she was carrying a bag with various props and costumes, including an impressive handmade tiara designed to be worn by the Moon. “It was very important for us to stay loyal to the style of that time and place – we actually ended up designing a black wedding dress.” The directors drew attention to the strong correlation between the costumes, the set, and the acting in creating a specific mood for the performance which varies between real-

ism and fantasy. They encourage their audience to keep an eye out for the more symbolic elements in the costumes which allow for various subtle metaphorical implications concerning the characters who wear them.

“I did not let the cast touch the script for three weeks. We started with various trust exercises to get comfortable and to prepare ourselves for the different approaches we were going to try out. Initially, we had a plan to throw people around the stage, which turned out to be too difficult for us.

Thankfully, we managed to benefit from some of these limitations as they decreased the scale of the physical dimensions in the play and prevented it from going over-the-top”, Ms. Patel explained. “Every rehearsal has been fun and wild, I’ve made them run around screaming, learn flamenco dancing, throw each other around the room… I’d like to thank them for being so open to everything we’ve tried out so far.”

“For one of our rehearsals we were given the Committee Room in the Union – we were somewhat embarrassed to practice as we’d scheduled a workshop on theatre of cruelty for that day. That room has more windows than walls, and it would have been strange for people walking by to see us being weird, so we ended up talking about life”, Ms. Picado revealed.

“We’ve tried so many things, and the experience of some of them working while others not certainly brought the cast closer and made the performance more cohesive in general.”

“We told our cast: “If you want

to talk about feelings, go to Montse.

If you want to talk about anything else, go to Krishna.

If you’re mad at us for all our experiments, go talk to the producers.” Having worked on the same play in high school before, Ms. Patel was confident about her vision and aimed to broaden her scope by choosing Ms. Picado as her co-director.

“Montse is great at making things look frantic, while I’m good at blocking. We work together very well.”

They also seized the opportunity to keep some of the original Spanish lines in the performance for authenticity’s sake, adding a new task to the list of directorial duties which Ms. Picado took by practising correct Spanish pronunciation with her actors.

Photos: Krishna Patel / Montse Picado / Mirrhyn Stephens

“To be scary is liberating”: A preview to Blood Wedding

“To be scary is liberating”, concluded Ms. Patel in reference to the show’s visual style. Blood Wedding promises plenty of spectacle, eye-catching costumes and many other elements to keep an eye out for. It will be performed in the Barron Theatre this Saturday and Sunday (24th and 25th) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost ₤5 and can be reserved by emailing barronboxoffice@st-andrews.ac.uk.

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

ARTS & CULTURE

31

Fantastic Beasts returns with an underwhelming sequel Should you give in to the hype the second time around? Film editor Milo Farragher-Hanks highlights where the film works and where it stumbles.

MILO FARRAGHER-HANKS

Film editor

Toward the end of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald, there is an extended sequence wherein a character we barely know narrates to another theoretically important character who is barely in the film the truth of the latter’s backstory, which rests on forced marriage through mind control and apparently ties them into prominent figures from the Harry Potter backstory and a newly introduced prophecy.

Just then, another character jumps in with their own addition to the story, which introduces the element of infanticide and immediately contradicts everything we’ve just heard, all to set up the reveal of the subject of the story’s real identity. If you wanted to preserve in amber everything wrong with the current age of genre franchise storytelling, in content (the prioritising of lore over character or theme, the clunky shoe-horning of gratuitous unpleasantness to make a childish milieu more superficially ‘adult’) and form (it is almost visually incomprehensible, set largely in a low-lit room, with shots so narrow and cuts so jarring there is virtually no sense of spatial geography), this scene would serve as a perfect case study. It’s the low-point of a film with few high points, a muddled, turgid slog which represents the nadir of J.K Rowling’s expanded ‘Wizarding World’ franchise thus far.

No character has anything like a coherent motivation or psychology beyond what will get them to the next plot point The film picks up months after the events of the first Fantastic Beasts (an entertaining but uneven affair which featured some intriguing concepts, visuals, and performances within a fatally confused story), as Johnny Depp’s titular wizard supremacist villain is transferred from imprisonment in New York to London in 1927. Inevitably, he escapes en route with the aid of his followers, and puts into motion his plan to make the world’s witches and wizards rise up and conquer their non-magical counter-parts. His dastardly scheme involves tracking down and recruiting Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), the troubled young repressed wizard at the heart of the preceding first film’s most compelling thread, who is said

to be the heir to a powerful wizarding bloodline. He’s not the only one looking for Credence, though: Albus Dumbledore, here played by Jude Law as a younger but already sage teacher, recruits his former pupil Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to find Credence himself before Grindelwald can – a mission Newt adamantly refuses, but then ends up basically doing anyway for unrelated reasons. Meanwhile, newly promoted MACUSA agent Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) – Newt’s chief ally in the previous film and apparently his ex-girlfriend now – is also on Credence’s tail, while her psychic sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) and her non-magical beau Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) also return, his memory wipe from the end of the first film having not stuck for half-explained reasons. And on top of all that, Newt has to deal with the return of Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz), his former Hogwarts sweetheart who is now engaged to his Ministry of Magic employee older brother Theseus (Callum Turner).

You can likely surmise from the above that The Crimes of Grindlewald has a lot of plot. Despite of this over-abundance of narrative material, however, the film is almost devoid of incident for much of the runtime, Rowling and returning director David Yates dedicating much of the film’s to setting up the convoluted mechanics through which it will manoeuvre around its characters to where they need to be and laying the groundwork for its climactic revelations.

The result is a film where storytelling and character development drown in exposition, where almost nothing actually happens and every major character speaks entirely in plot points.

The drama is here driven not by decisions but by contrivances (the most laboured of which is a protracted misunderstanding between Newt and Tina), while no character has anything like a coherent motivation or psychology beyond what will get them to the next plot point. It’s rather galling to watch a writer famous for creating beloved characters who’ve become shorthand for certain archetypes fail to present even a single recognisable human being here (with the possible exception of Fogler’s Kowalski, who’s disoriented awe at the world of magic and silent film-esque pratfalling still charm, and who provides a solid straight-man foil to Redmayne’s mannered mugging). The final act features one character making a choice that ought to be devastating, but their motives are so ill-defined all that registers is confusion. Even Grindelwald himself is a non-entity, spending more time delivering portents in a bizarre Trans-Atlantic accent through distracting corpse-like make-up and heterochromatic contact lenses than committing any of his titular crimes (Depp’s turn here is so non-descript it makes Rowling and Yates’s ardent defences of his casting even more embarrassing). We’re repeatedly told that Grindelwald is a dangerously persuasive figure, but there’s no Mephistophelian charm or demagogic charisma to be found in anything we

see of him.

There’s little sense of who this story is even meant to be about, with Newt and Tina having little actual impact on the plot, the crucial-on-paper Credence being talked about more than he acts, and young Dumbledore surprisingly marginal despite Law bringing wry authority (the way he turns up the whimsical intonations whenever persuading someone to do something dangerous is especially pleasing). The Crimes of Grindelwald seems to be concerned not with character or even with plot but with mythos, with expanding the ‘Potterverse’ simply for its own sake. Even the film’s one genuinely entertaining trip into backstory, a brief jaunt to Hogwarts featuring cameos by younger versions of beloved characters, falls flat once the rush of nostalgia brought on by the familiar iconography and the swell of John Williams’ familiar theme fades: it’s a moment of no actual emotional significance, simply a cheap play on the goodwill earned by past glories. By the time the film ends on an utterly meaningless revelation about a character’s true identity, what we’re watching isn’t storytelling but brand management, less a film than an illustrated Pottermore entry.

Worse yet, all of this is filtered through a suffocating visual gloom and an obnoxiously self-serious tone.

Yates’ Potter films often suffered from

a noticeable lack of magic in their drab, washed-out colour palettes, and he here doubles down on the oppressively dreary aesthetic. An oppressive mixture of greys, blacks, and browns dominate in the confines of Phillip Rouselott’s tight framings, often making it genuinely hard to tell what is happening.

Even scenes set outside in daylight are dimly lit and utterly drained of colour. There are moments of magic here – the underground lab/menagerie in Newt’s home has a suitably picture bookish surrealism, the beasts themselves are again design highlights, and the sight of Grindelwald signalling his followers by producing large black flags which fall over city rooftops like plumes of smoke has a German Expressionist-esque menace – but for the most part this is a downright visually ugly film, one that splits its narrative between two cities – Paris and London – and ends up making them look identical. Any sense of childlike wonder this franchise had is gone, save for the brief interludes involving Newt’s beasts (which are almost entirely superfluous but at least offer some visual and tonal variety), The Crimes of Grindelwald regarding its world with a po-faced severity it tries to reinforce through some genuinely unpleasant moments of cruelty, most notably a scene where one of Grindelwald’s followers murders a

toddler.

There’s an attempt at a timely message about the pernicious nature of fascism here, but good luck deriving any kind of concrete message from the film’s melange of vague platitudes about taking sides and the danger of reinforcing extremism through violence and its borderline distasteful historical allusions.

This is all posturing of the most vacant kind, the most empty and adolescent pleas to be taken as serious and grown-up.

There’s an attempt at a timely message Above all, The Crimes of Grindlewald is a film that leaves you with a sadness: sadness at seeing a world so iconic sullied, sadness at seeing talented storytellers seemingly misunderstand the appeal of their own creation, and sadness at what films like this mean for the future of mainstream cinema. “Together, we will remake this world and make history”, Grindelwald declares at one point – Rowling’s remaking of her own world will likely make history too, for all the wrong reasons.

Poster design by WORKS ADV / impawards.com

ARTS & CULTURE

32

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

The depiction of masculinity in Breaking Bad In light of the recent announcement of a forthcoming sequel film focusing on Jesse Pinkman, TV editor Marianna Panteli returns to the critically acclaimed crime saga to discuss how it was ahead of its time with its depiction of masculinity

MARIANNA PANTELI TV editor

episodes she is seen to strip away a traditional image of masculinity from Walter. She gives him veggie bacon, she tells him she wants him to get back from work on time. It seems as if she is at least partly responsible for Walter’s sad passivity. So, we find

Recently I have revisited the show that arguably, spare perhaps The Wire and The Sopranos, kick-started the TV and streaming revolution that has unfolded around us in recent years. In carrying out this exercise, of going back to Bad, I have understood it differently than I did on my initial viewing. The power of Breaking Bad as an amazing work is its ability to resonate in new ways as I have changed and the world has changed.

When I first watched Breaking Bad my angsty teenage outrage was drawn to the injustice of Walter not being able to afford his cancer treatment and the discrimination faced by his son Walt Jr. This time round it is clear that Breaking Bad was also a thoughtful exploration of gender; particularly of masculinity. Breaking Bad, ahead of its time, raised these issues as interwoven within its painstakingly and beautifully crafted narrative and serves a quiet and thoughtful reflection on this, until recently, ignored area of discussion.

We first look at Walter White, the show’s protagonist and anti-hero, who captures the viewer’s empathy and arguably holds onto to it for longer than is comfortable. We see Walter as a good man who turned bad. Heisenberg is the Hyde to Walt’s Jekyll. But Photo: flickr on reflection we begin to wonder as to the validity of this judgement. ourselves forgiving a man for murder Walter at the very beginning is combut Skyler is irredeemable for being a pletely passive. He is good through little nit-picky. his inaction rather than anything he is actually doing. We empathise with Walter because he is completely downtrodden and routinely humiliated, but we cannot really say that he is good. Thus, the shift from Walter to Heisenberg is a move from inaction to action. When Walter becomes active it happens that his actions are violent and destructive. Yet we are encouraged, or choose ourselves, to be on Walter’s side throughout the near entirety of the series. The reason for this may just be found in how Walter’s masculinity is presented.

Walter’s Beta-male oppressed character is a trope we are familiar with in our culture. We are often encouraged to sympathise and root for this character. We forgive him his sins. We resent Skyler for being a hindrance for this new Walter who has finally become a ‘real man’. It is unclear to what extent the show runners enWalt’s becoming Heisenberg fits gineered the series to create this reacinto how we our socially conditioned tion. However, we can say that for the to see masculinity. It is his duty or, first few seasons Skyler is presented more accurately, his right to go out as getting in the way of Walter’s agenand provide for his family and be cy as a man. Despite it being him who powerful. Thus, instead of seeing the displays problematic or abusive betransformation to Heisenberg as a dehaviour the audience blames Skyler. scent we see it as Walt reclaiming his Walter lies, assaults Skyler and steals masculinity. He is now a ‘real man’. their baby. She is at fault for holding Yet Skyler is a frustration to this, she back Walter, his ego, and his ability often becomes an obstacle to Walt’s to manifest it in the way he pleases. masculinity through her disinterest Skyler is the opposite to Walter so is in being a ‘proper woman’. She is naturally set up as the antagonist to not submissive, sweet, and caring Walter’s protagonist. In the opening but rather assertive and steadfast

Instead of seeing the transformation to Heisenberg as a descent we see it as Walt reclaiming his masculinity

in her values. It is arguable that this tapped a little too much into our ingrained collective traditions as actor Anna Gunn herself received threats on behalf of the fictional character, so much was the vitriol towards Skyler.

The showrunners played a dangerous

opening of the series Hank is brash, casually sexist and racist, and only serves to undermine Walt’s own sense of being the man of his family. Hank finds it easy to be a ‘real man’ because his personality fits easily into the preordained macho ideal.

game in unlocking and seemingly legitimising these beliefs about a man’s masculinity. However, as the series progressed the full vison of Skyler’s character emerged. The aggression felt to Skyler in early seasons show how malleable we are as audiences and how subservient we are to the institutional ideas of what man and woman should be allowed to be.

Towards the end of the series the collateral of Walt’s expression of his masculinity becomes more and more glaring. At the same time Skyler’s struggle to exist amongst this toxicity and resist it becomes more and more explicit. Finally, Skyler becomes the one who gains our empathy and the audience has been forced to confront its internalised misogyny.

However, this dynamic is not unique. The repressed underdog is a character type we are used to seeing in film and TV. It is one we are normally encouraged to empathise with.

Although the majority of these characters do not have a start-up meth empire, they do often engage in inappropriate behaviour but because they are the under-dog they are excused.

This brings us onto Hank. At the start of Breaking Bad he is the antithesis to this trope and the opposite of Walt. He embodies a trope at the other end of the spectrum, that of the jock, the lad, the Alpha-male macho buffoon. Unlike the underdog type this character does not attract our empathy. This is because they embody the negative side of masculinity and wear it out loud and proud. In the

However, Hank faces a series of crises to his health and career that leave him feeling emasculated. Hank is now the one plagued by his feelings of inadequacy as a man. Suppressing his emotions and seeing his mental distress as weakness Hank engages in violent outbursts, akin to Walt, that get him into trouble at work and ultimately lead to more tragedy for him. This results in Hank having lost everything he used to build his macho persona at the end of season three. Yet it is only at this point that Hank begins getting anywhere in finding Gus Fring and by consequence getting close to finding Heisenberg.

Walter’s hubris grows exponentially and he begins displaying the crudities associated with Hank The turning point for Hank is a

powerful scene where on the way to a meeting he breaks down in a lift in front of his wife. When the lift door opens he is composed and ready to face his colleagues as if nothing is wrong. Without words the show has captured the problem with our traditional notion that men must not show emotion to be masculine.

This is shown to be completely baseless because it is the character who most easily matches this convention who is displaying these emotions.

At this point, Hank, although facing many challenges, is able to drop the cloak of traditional masculinity. Hank begins a journey of trying to catch Heisenberg without his bravado and hyper-masculine persona. At the same time Walt is on the rise in terms of masculinity as he becomes more assertive and powerful and the audience applauds him for it.

However, the show ultimately displays how these attitudes that society instils in men are harmful to the person acting them out and those around them. Hank’s previous arrogance blinded him to seeing what Walt was doing right under his nose. However, the trials Hank faces give him the perspective he needs to see what type of character Heisenberg really is and lead him to Walt. Whilst this is happening Walter’s hubris has grown exponentially and he begins displaying the crudities previously associated with Hank.

The excessive ego that is tied up with hyper-masculinity ultimately leads to Walter’s downfall and the removal of this pretension from Hank leads to his success. Hank is a more effective detective, and more considerate person when his macho bravado is taken away from him. Hank dies a hero, Walter a villain. Thus, the opposing journeys that the men of Breaking Bad take through masculinity present a nuanced portrayal of the harmful aspects that classical machoism has both on the men themselves and those around them.

Breaking Bad is an example ahead of its time in tackling gender with serious intent. It manages this without being overly didactic which could detriment the storytelling. Sometimes this meant Breaking Bad strayed into murky territory. The show runners’ ambiguity with their intentions with the character of Skyler and holding her as an adversary to Walter led to extreme hatred to both the character and Gunn. The show’s warped lens of morality meant that it could not be made explicit that this behaviour, which is in line with Walter’s lashing out, cannot be legitimised. However, as the seasons progressed the exploration of gender dynamics was continually developed and became crucial to the plot, ultimately making the audience question the unseen forces behind their initial allegiances.

Breaking Bad continues to impress me as an impeccable work of television and as a pool from which we can draw the spark of many important conversations.

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

SVEN STRUAN FINLAY Back when I was 11, I was a bit of a geek. I knew of Marvel Comics from one of my friends but nothing more than that. Suddenly, later that year, my friends started to egg me on to see a new movie called Iron Man. I eventually gave in and we went to see it. In the middle of the movie, Tony Stark mistakes a man for Hugh Hefner. At the time this completely blew over my head as I presumed it was some other famous person. However, after the movie my friends kept talking about this scene. Throwing around the word “cameo”. I didn’t really understand but then my friend explained to me that it was Stan Lee. A legendary name in this universe I had just been introduced to. Ten years later, as a bona fide Marvel geek, I am honoured to write a tribute to this forever great man.

Lee was born as Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28, 1922 in New York City to his Romanian-born, Jewish immigrant parents, Celia and Jack Lieber. Stanley’s family struggled financially through the Great Depression. Despite the difficult circumstances, Stanley developed a love for the extraordinary by absorbing adventure novels, films, and William Shakespeare, who has always been included in Stanley’s list of favourite and most influential authors.

In 1939 with the help of family, Stanley got a job as an assistant at

A tribute to Stan Lee

the new Timely Comic division of pulp magazine and the comic-book publisher Martin Goodman’s company. Starting off, Lee refilled inkwells, fetched food, did proofreading, and other menial tasks. Stanley’s dream was to become a great novel writer.

Pursuing these ambitions, Stanley made his writing debut with Captain America: Foils the Traitor’s Revenge.

This is the first time Stanley Lieber used the pseudonym Stan Lee. Later in life, Lee said this was because comic books had a low social status and he didn’t want his birth name associated with comics if he were to become a novel writer. However, he later changed his legal name to Stan Lee.

Lee co-created Spiderman, Black Panther, Iron Man, Thor, and many other beloved characters Two years later, Lee was no longer an assistant but a full writer in the

company. After a year of internal power struggles, Lee was promoted to interim editor at 19. Showing his talent instantly, he remained as full editor-in-chief.

Over the next decade, the comic book industry collapsed as a moral panic led to burning of comic books by churches and a federal investigation blaming comics for juvenile delinquency. It is claimed that Lee held the Timely, now known as Atlas Comics, together alone at his corner desk during this era. Lee once even held a meeting and advised his subordinates that they should seek work in other industries.

Then in 1961 everything changed.

Lee saw the growing success of rival National Periodical Publications (the company that became DC Comics) and decided to rebrand, becoming Marvel Comics. Lee and Jack Kirby were tasked to come up with a superhero team. They delivered The Fantastic Four, which instantly rose to success, paving the way for the Marvel we know and love now.

Stan Lee’s superhero stories were very different to how most people perceived superheroes at the time.

Companies like DC were writing godlike characters in fictional worlds, but Stan Lee changed that. Writing his stories in the real world and giving the superheroes weaknesses and anxieties. Treating their powers as more of a curse than a blessing. Lee co-created Spiderman, Black Panther, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Thor,

and many other beloved characters.

Lee took an industry that he personally considered to be of low social level and built it up into a billion-dollar industry it is today.

Lee was the pioneer who

made it all for Marvel.

F r o m the 80’s, Stan started making a huge push for the big screen for his comics in LA. Unexpectedly, Lee made his break in 1998 with Vampire Hunter Blade. Although this wasn’t his creation it paved the way for The Marvel Cinematic Universe we know today. Lee Started making

33

cameos in the movies and became the pseudo Ambassador of Comics. Stan Lee was not just one of Marvel’s finest but also its face.

A quote from one of his own cameos is, “You know, I guess one person can make a difference. Nuff’ said”. Stan Lee, you are that one person.

You will always be loved and missed.

Every one of your cameos is a memorial to you and amazing accomplishments. Rest in peace S t a n Lee.

Photo: flickr

The mystery of Van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait

There is much to be said about the Arnolfini Portrait by Dutch painter Jan van Eyck, which depicts the Italian merchant Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini and his wife in their house in Bruges. The painting is rich with symbolism, with the dog representing fidelity, the oranges symbolising wealth, and the candle representing the presence of God. There has been extensive scholarship on almost every aspect of this painting except for the hat upon Giovanni’s head, which is the keystone for truly understanding the purpose of this revered portrait.

Giovanni’s hat is rather tall and wide. Like a chef’s hat, its height gives him status while its wide brim functions as sun protection to preserve his delicate skin, keeping him pasty pale during those notorious Dutch summers.

As indicated by the portrait, Giovanni is a very fashion-forward man. He is wearing a fur-trimmed robe on top of a collared shirt with blouson sleeves. The shirt keeps the outfit clerical chic while the robe rejuvenates it to give it an early modern vibe - perfect for church or the tavern!

The hat is also representative of his trendsetting ways, as it is one of his iconic looks that have been copied again and again by historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill. The little black dress may have been Gabrielle Chanel’s contribution to the world of haute couture,

but Giovanni’s medium-sized hat was the true forerunner of universally flattering, mass-marketed wardrobe staples. One could say that Giovanni is not just a fashion icon, but an advertising genius as well.

The hat also covers the entirety of his forehead, hiding what lies underneath. It could be a stylistic choice on his part, but also could be strategically placed by van Eyck to hide premature balding. Hair has been a desired attribute throughout history, as evidenced by the detailed attention paid to it by the Greeks and Romans in sculpture and the foot-long powdered wigs of Versailles. One could say that having hair is timeless.

Giovanni is not just a fashion icon Although van Eyck is very much a realist, the depiction of Giovanni and his wife would have been idealised. She is dressed in multiple layers, which suggests her practicality and thrift in wearing warm clothing instead of adding more wood to the fire. This further indicates that she is environmentally conscious; ideal traits for any ‘woke’ person. Van Eyck furthers this notion of being ‘awake’ through the addition of the bed in the background, on which none of them

are sleeping.

Van Eyck has purposefully depicted the couple in the best possible light, metaphorically and literally.

The lighting in the painting gives them each a soft glow, similar to the effect of a good highlighter, making their cheekbones pop and their jawlines sharper. Van Eyck has worked hard to present the couple in the most ideal way possible, therefore, if Giovanni was experiencing any sort of unideal hair loss, it could have been hidden by the hat.

Accurately painting hair is a true test of an artist’s ability, and van Eyck makes up for a lack of follicles to paint by adding a dog to the painting. The dog appears to be a terrier, maybe some kind of bichon mix. It is the perfect size to serve as a substitute for the hair on top of Giovanni’s head – not so big that it would draw attention away from the early ancestor to the “space bun” that Giovanni’s wife sports, but not too small for van Eyck to not be able to effectively show off.

In conclusion, the hat unlocks the true interpretation of the Arnolfini portrait. The hat itself could serve as a symbol of Giovanni’s power or hide his balding head for cosmetic purposes. Evidence for the latter is indicated by the way it keeps to the theme of portraying Giovanni and his wife as the ideal beauty standard of the period. Jan van Eyck has taken the secrets of the painting’s symbolic meaning to his grave, and with it, the truth of the forehead of Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini.

Jan van Eyck, Arnolfini Portrait, oil on oak panel of 3 boards, 1434 / wikimedia commons

ABBY LI

ARTS & CULTURE

ARTS & CULTURE

34

TAYLOR TEE Food editor

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

A guide to hosting Thanksgiving Make sure your dinner is attended by the loveliest

Although Thanksgiving is notorious for family argu-

of your lovely friends. To ensure this, make sure you

ments, save it until after all the food is cooked. The last

If you are one of the many Americans in St Andrews,

make that Facebook event ahead of time. It is most

thing you want is a half made dinner after the storm

there is hardly a time to feel more homesick than on

likely that not all your friends celebrate Thanksgiving,

of an argument.

Thanksgiving. Instead of clicking through Instagram

so make sure they tie down that date early before an-

With that being said, you can start early to avoid

stories of all your friends being home, it’s best that

ything else comes up. What’s a Thanksgiving dinner

the stress. If you’re in my situation and cooking for 20

you prepare a Friendsgiving that will take your mind

without the ones you’re thankful for? Sappy, I know,

people – wish me luck – you can always start the day

off it.

but let’s be real.

before. Things like the cornbread muffins and pump-

Sadly, your mum isn’t here to carry on cooking

kin pies can be made ahead of time. The last thing you

Friendsgiving go according to plan. First of all, make

when your attention turns to the celebrity perfor-

want is to leave them on the backburner and end up

sure to order your turkey in advance, preferably a

mances at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

with a cornbredless and pieless Thanksgiving. For the

couple of weeks beforehand. I ordered my turkey

You’re going to have to take full charge of the cook-

actual day of cooking, keep it simple. Roast and glaze

from Minick on Bell Street, where you have the option

ing. If you decide to host a Friendsgiving, you have

some vegetables. Buy store bought cranberry sauce

to choose from a variety of different sizes. If you want

become your mum. Even if your friends tell you they

and gravy. Leave the intricate stuff for the potatoes

to make the best of your turkey, make sure to brine it

will help, expect that you will have to take the wheel

you will end up doing three different ways, because

the day before. If you’re going to do a Friendsgiving

on this one. If you are depending on others to make

those things are essential. Just remember, St Andrews

and spend all this money on food, you better not dry

the job go smoothly, make sure they understand the

has the potential to hold some of the best Friendsgiving

that turkey out! So make sure to schedule your pick-

gravity you put on this day. Besides, if you go in with

dinners. Follow these little tips and you’ll keep it a day

up a day before Thanksgiving.

that mindset, it will leave less room for arguments.

to look forward to during your time at uni.

UndergraduEats

There are many steps towards making your

Student-friendly one-pot-pasta recipe

As a continuation of last year’s UndergraduEats column, Jody Brimacombe recommends this affordable alternative for a filling meal.

JODY BRIMACOMBE

There are some things that I love about student housing; for example, I love that my landlords change light bulbs for us.

Or I love that I can borrow my flatmate’s top when we decide to go to the Union at the last minute. But washing dishes by hand? Not one of them. Luckily, this one-pot pasta dish makes clean up easy. All you have to do is throw all of the ingredients into a pot, simmer it over the stove, and voilà – you can enjoy your rich, creamy whitewine pasta without having to worry about spending your evening scrubbing dishes. Yes, please.

Ingredients: (Serves 3-4) - 250 g linguine - 1 can artichoke antipasti - 50 g parmesan - 250 ml white wine - 550 ml vegetable stock - 1 tbsp butter - 3 garlic cloves, minced - Spinach - Salt - Crushed chillies (optional) Illustration by Rachel Cripps

Method: Using a strainer, drain the artichoke antipasti until there is no oil remaining.

In a large pot, combine the linguine, artichokes, parmesan, white wine, vegetable stock, butter, and minced garlic cloves.

Great Tip: Feeling lazy? Tesco sells pre-minced garlic, so you don’t have to waste time chopping your own.

Over high heat, bring the pasta to a boil. Then lower the temperature and let the pasta simmer uncovered over low heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

When the pasta sauce becomes thick and creamy, add a dash of salt and two handfuls of spinach. Stir until the spinach wilts.

Add crushed chillies and serve.

This pasta recipe is a great option for those chilly winter nights when you’re craving something buttery and rich to eat while you catch up on Celebrity Hunted. Plus, the recipe is easy to customize. Swap out the butter and Parmesan for dairy-free alternatives if you’re vegan, or sprinkle toasted pine nuts on top for more texture. More is better, am I right?

SPORT thesaint-online.com/sport

Sport editor: Harry Dean Deputy editors: Charlotte Cohen, Lewis Frain, Daniel Ross, Jason Segall sport@thesaint-online.com

@saint_ sport

A Birdseye View Andrew’s column First paragraphs are like this. They have a 4mm indent in the first line.

It will Everything take a long else in time theindeed article to is match like this, thewithout carnagethethat 4mm unfolded indent. in the Ore English dolor football il irit ullaorem First del Division diam on ipitBoxing dolor sectet Day 1963. ipismod Across tin vulpute the ten games veliquis played augue that dolobore day, an astonishing doluptat 66 nulputem goals were quiscilisit scored, wismolore with defenders veliacross quisis the nonsequat, league clearly sustin having euguerosto taken enit a far loborem too liberal diam, approach veliquate to feuis their Christmas nos non henim pudding vel the ilismolor day before. augue Notable dipisi. scores included Fulham 10-1Sequat Ipswich iliquis Town, nibh West et eugait Brom 4-4 do Tottenham euis eum nulla Hotspur am dui and eugue Burnley te ent 6-1 Manchester illam zzrilit United aliquisit(aditscore dolum made ilit all dolor the inmore henisincredible er ipit lumfor irit,the consed fact that tet United auguerawould esectem go on dunt to win volesto the corresponding elent landre faccum fixturequis played elessequam at Old Trafford dolut adigna just two facipis dayscillamet later 5-1). vullaor It has gone eriliqu oniscing to become er sis one ex ercipit of theaugait most famous nim incipis days dolore in the history dolore mincidunt of English domestic essi. football – a “day of days” if you Lorper will (although alisciduisi.

I highly In esto doubt delRoy esBailey, sequislIpswich’s ilit, conse‘keeper min estrud that do fateful elis Boxing essisl utem Day viewed ip ea itacilit, as such) volore yet do on aodolumsan much grander ut lum scale, zzriure this etwas veratin just one velisi chapter te conullum in the long dolorerosto and storied delhistory iquisit,ofquis football’s, estrud and tatieindeed tie ming sport ea infacipsumsan general’s, lengthy henismo association dolore delisisi with the tie Christmas velenissis period. aut dolorpero consenis adiThe link between sport and this holiday period goes back almost as long as sport itself. When you think about it, this is no surprise, with people off work and looking to kill some time while it also provides those people who can’t stand their relatives with an excuse to get out of much feared family engagements. Indeed back in yesteryear it was considered de rigueur for football teams to play one set of fixtures on Christmas Day, followed by another 24 hours later on Boxing Day. Managers who complain about the demands of the Christmas fixture list these days really don’t know they’re born. It is only really Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that are now considered sacred and generally inappropriate days for fixtures to be played on (yet considering the insatiable appetite of TV broadcasters these days, let’s see how long that lasts). The British football Christmas schedule is still unique in this regard: while most of their European counterparts are off on winter break, players up and down these Isles will be slugging it out across the whole spectrum of leagues, attempting to provide their followers with a degree of Christmas cheer.

But it’s not just football that enjoys such an intricate relationship with the holy season. Across the Christian world, sportsmen and women of all kind will be engaging in festive bouts.

In the States, NBA Christmas Day games are a fixture of the schedule, with many of the more eye-catching clashes of the regular season scheduled for this day with an eye to drawing the attention of basketball fans who despise their extended family,

while the NFL has also been known to play games on 25 December over the years, schedule-dependent. Over in Australia, the annual Boxing Day Test played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has become one of the most iconic days in any international cricket calendar, indeed perhaps one of my most abiding Christmas sporting memories has to be in 2010, staying up on Christmas night until the early hours, watching England destroy the Aussies en route to a famous Ashes triumph down under.

Sport over the festive period doesn’t have to just be the sole remit of professionals, however. As many families can attest, many Christmas family get-togethers are not complete without the need for competition in some form. I for one am still reeling from my harrowing defeat to my grandma in last year’s combustible, sometimes personal, Dean family monopoly extravaganza. Wherever you are this Christmas period, however, be sure to knock back some mulled wine, engage in some “friendly” competition with relatives and hope sincerely that Ipswich Town’s Boxing Day game against Queens Park Rangers goes somewhat more successfully than it did 55 years ago.

Of course, this is also the final edition of The Saint this semester. In light of this it’d be remiss of me not to look ahead to some of the cracking sporting events lined up for next year, which hopefully will eclipse even the highs of this current term’s epic line-up. The ice hockey varsity match is always a fun outing – who doesn’t love the idea of a weeknight spent at an ice rink in Dundee, with food, drink and entertainment aplenty? The annual charity polo tournament in April (in contrast to what my seniors at this newspaper believe, it is a sporting occasion!) gives us all an opportunity to dust off those chinos and loafers and pretend to be champagne connoisseurs while the return of Fight Night, which proved such a knockout (!) last time, allows the chance to watch contemporaries of ours batter one another to a pulp and generally give us another fun night out. I’d highly recommend going to as many of these as you can.

Finally, the last edition of a semester always comes with goodbyes, and I simply have to mention our outgoing Editor-in-Chief, Andrew Sinclair.

Andrew has been a stalwart of these back pages now for four years, also becoming the first ever Chief Editor of this paper from Sport. He has provided me with priceless, much-needed counsel over this semester and will no doubt go on to fantastic things in the realm of sports journalism.

Thank you Andrew, you will be missed.

Photo: Saints Women’s Rugby Facebook

Harry Dean

SAINTS TRIUMPH IN TRUNCATED ENCOUNTER LEWIS FRAIN Deputy sport editor A strong Saints performance and victory was cut short after Stirling suffered from several injuries which meant St Andrews’ first home match of the season finished early.

A tight BUCS table meant the stakes for this match were high and this was further emphasised by previous results. Saints came into this game after their first loss of the season against champions Glasgow last week, which ended 42-24, so were looking to bounce back against a Stirling side whom they had beaten 32-17 in the away tie.

A 4 pm kick-off meant this game was played under the lights on the rubber crumb pitch at University Park.

The start was perfect for Saints, as they piled early pressure on Stirling’s defence and pinned them into their own 22. This brought reward also when Emma Stormonth crossed the line for the first try of the match.

A difficult angle meant this try went unconverted but Saints would continue with their strong play and push Stirling back. Once again Saints would break through Stirling’s defensive line and post a score of 10-0 after only ten minutes of the match played.

This perfect start wouldn’t last however as Stirling got back into the game. Some good running and rucking put Stirling in St Andrews’ half for the first time. A gap in Saints’ defensive line allowed Stirling’s full back to surge through and score a great try

and get her team back in the match.

A first injury set-back for Stirling put their comeback on hold however.

When play resumed Stirling again put pressure on St Andrews’ defence.

A wayward Stirling pass though would be brilliantly intercepted by Emily Jones who surged across the other half of the pitch without opposition to put Saints back in control of the match with a third try. The first successful conversion of the game made the score 17-5 to St Andrews just over halfway through the first period.

Stirling were not going to be pushovers, however, and they immediately responded with some strong play.

Saints put up a resolute defence but Stirling’s pressure would eventually bear fruit as they crossed the line for a second try close to the posts. This was well converted and reduced Stirling’s deficit to just five points again.

St Andrews responded strongly to Stirling’s revival and would put the game beyond doubt by the end of the first half. Saints pressure on the left-wing paid off and a strong surge and try from Rhiannon Fox-Rothwell restored the ten-point cushion and secured the always important try bonus point, which could prove crucial with the table so tight.

The rest of the first half would continue in this regard as St Andrews pushed Stirling back on the defensive.

As the clock went past 40 minutes, Saints kept up the pressure looking for a last breakthrough before halftime. Some excellent passing opened up space and Maggie Fletcher would

find that breakthrough to record St Andrews’ fifth try of the match. An entertaining first half then, would end 27-12 to the home side.

The second half wouldn’t quite settle down after the restart. St Andrews picked up where they left off by pushing Stirling back. Battling defence from Stirling would prove their downfall however, as a series of injury stoppages would lead to them not having a full team to complete the match.

There was an attempt to continue the match but after much discussion between the referees and coaches of both teams, it was agreed that the match end there. The final score being 27-12 to St Andrews.

An unusual conclusion but a strong performance and important victory for St Andrews nonetheless.

There were a series of good tries combining strong running, passing and several periods of sustained pressure resulted in scoring. Defensively there were some gaps but overall St Andrews were resolute and had to be strong to contain Stirling when they did come at them.

St Andrews can be happy with their performance and should take real confidence into next week’s game where they welcome league leaders Aberdeen to the sports centre, with Saints sitting only one point behind them and Glasgow in the BUCS Scottish 1A division.

Following this they will not have another home game until the end of January. Once again, it is against Aberdeen.

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

SPORT

37

SPORT IN 2019: A PREVIEW Sport editor Harry Dean turns his attention towards the 2019 sporting calendar, and the myriad top quality events scheduled to take place over the looming 12 months. and maybe even the Lebron Jamesdriven Los Angeles Lakers could change all that come the playoffs next summer.

March will see the return of the Formula One World Championship and the competition organisers will no doubt be privately desperate for some variety in the championship standings at the season’s close: Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have enjoyed a lavish domination of the silverware in recent seasons. The men’s tennis season will begin with the same questions as last year’s, most pertinently: when will the younger generation of starts such as Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev finally break through to replace the game’s ageing legends? Similar questions abound in the women’s game: did Naomi Osaka’s shock upset of Serena Williams to triumph in the US Open in September herald the beginning of the end for Williams’ ruthless dominance of the sport? Next year sees no Ryder Cup or Olympic games for supporters of men’s golf; instead the focus will be on the compelling balance of power between the American and

European players and their pursuits of the year’s four majors. The women’s game does however see the return of the Solheim Cup as well as the competition’s return to golf’s spiritual home Scotland: Gleneagles will be the setting as Team Europe attempt to reverse their defeats to the USA in the last two editions of the competition.

Ultimately, this is only just a sprinkling of the amount of sport that will be on show to be devoured the world over next year.

It would also be foolish to predict the outcomes of the sport on offer over the ensuing 12 months; at the end of 2017, no one could’ve predicted the injury-hit Philadelphia Eagles would claim their first Superbowl title, or that England would embark on such a deep run at the FIFA World Cup, or that Team Europe could enjoy such a handsome Ryder Cup victory as they did.

The essence of sport is in its unpredictability, so no matter what your allegiance or level of interest, make sure to sit back and savour what will surely be an unforgettable year in all manner of arenas across the globe.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

to a game whose popularity has stagnated in this nation recently, it would appear to be now.

Turning to the football club scene, it is true that the Premier League, after a series of processional title races, is shaping up to be a genuinely intriguing contest this time out. Never before have three teams remained unbeaten this far into the season, yet Chelsea, Liverpool and leaders Manchester City are, and they all have designs on taking the title back this May. The picture at the bottom of the table appears equally murky. Across Europe too, in particular Germany and Spain, established clubs have found the going unusually tough so far this year, perhaps paving the way for new names to forge their way into the European elite. In particular, the struggle of Real Madrid this season could ensure a different name on the Champions League trophy this spring, a title “Los Blancos” have claimed four of the last five seasons. The Women’s Super League has also kicked into gear, with Arsenal looking strong bets to reclaim the title won by London rivals Chelsea last year.

Across the Atlantic, Superbowl LIII in Atlanta will take centre stage this February. The Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans Saints have been the pick of the bunch so far this season, but do not be surprised if Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, the usual suspects, get back to the big time once again.

The Boston Red Sox stormed to the World Series in Baseball last year; can Alex Cora’s men repeat the trick?

Moreover, the Golden State Warriors have enjoyed a clear hegemony over the rest of the pack in the NBA, yet the Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers,

Photo: infonfacts.com

It has always been in our nature as humans to look forwards, to ponder future exertions. It is perfectly normal for us to think ahead to what tomorrow may hold, even if today has barely even concluded. As any diligent student (not necessarily including myself!) will attest, no sooner has a demanding assignment been wrapped up and sent off before you start contemplating the next looming deadline, whether that be an essay, presentation, or exam. The world of sport is no different. Of course, 2018 has been a vintage year for all of us sporting diehards, providing us with memories that will last a lifetime.

However, as the year draws to a close it’s only right that our attention be turned to the looming spectre of 2019 and all the promise it holds in a sporting sense — what a mouthwatering year we have in store.

To begin with it is only right to analyse the world championships taking place in major sports across the year.

The eighth FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held throughout June and July in France and promises to be the biggest edition of the tournament thus far. Phil Neville’s England will hope to go better than their impressive semi-final finish in 2015 but will face a stiff challenge from the likes of the USA and Germany. Scotland will also be making their debut in the competition; indeed they are the first Scottish senior side to qualify for a global tournament since the men’s team back in 1998.

Perhaps the most followed sporting event of 2019 will be the Rugby

World Cup, taking place next autumn for the first time ever in a developing rugby nation — Japan. New Zealand are once again strong favourites to record a third consecutive title.

However, they have been dealt a tough hand by being placed in the same group as rivals South Africa and will need all their wits about them to claim another crown. All of the British nations have reasons to feel quietly confident about their chances and the upcoming Six Nations in February and March will provide a far clearer picture of where each team is at ahead of the tournament properly getting underway.

Also, for the first time in 20 years, the Men’s ICC Cricket World Cup will return to English shores. The revamped 10-team tournament takes place early next summer, almost certainly ensuring there will be a drastic decrease in the one-sided affairs that became a staple of the early rounds of previous, more inclusive, editions of the tournament. England has been the standout side in this format since the last World Cup in 2015 and, boasting home field advantage, will go in as clear favourites to lift their first ever world championship. The likes of India, however, will no doubt provide the sternest test possible while Pakistan, who proved how dangerous they can be on their day in the 2017 Champions Trophy, cannot be ruled out. It is not an exaggeration to say that 2019 will constitute the biggest summer of cricket in English history: on top of hosting a World Cup they also play Australia in a bid to regain the Ashes they relinquished so meekly last winter. If ever there were a better time for the English Cricket Board to attempt to win back new disciples

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

HARRY DEAN Sport editor

SPORT

38

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

DANIEL ROSS Deputy sport editor On Tuesday night, I checked in with the St Andrews Ice Hockey Club (the Typhoons) and shadowed them through a typical training session. When interviewing their Club President (James Matons), and team Captains (Chase McCarthy and Duncan Hindmarch) it struck me how passionate this group of students are for their sport.

The setting speaks for itself: the interview took place on the back of the team bus at 10 pm on the way to an 11 pm practice. Clearly these are not fair weather players. James explained that the previous week the squad had travelled an almost 12-hour round journey in order to play a fixture in Manchester. The club is entirely student-led. Chase and Duncan lead the training sessions, and all logistics are run by the club members, whether that be transport by members of the committee, or water by Nick Falicia (“water boy”). Everyone in the club clearly puts in a heroic effort on and off the pitch in order to play their sport in St Andrews.

Upon arrival at the rink and chatting to other members of the team in the locker room, it is evident that like most things in St Andrews the Ice Hockey Club is international; players coming from Europe, Canada, America, and even Asia. Equally, the hockey league in which they play is not run by BUCS. This means that anyone associated with the university can play, even if they are no longer a student. For example, club member, Jed, amazingly comes from work to 11 pm training and still manages to have the energy to glide past many youthful undergraduates. Rumour has it that other clubs around the UK have pushed this rule to the limits. Apparently one club has a player registered with a birth date in the 1960s. It is also not uncommon for the Typhoons to come up against a professor on the ice. On ice, the Typhoons do the educating. James informed me that the club is also open to other universities which do not have an ice hockey team, such as Dundee and Aberdeen. There are British members of the club, such as Nathan Frankel.

Chase and James have reinforced that rank novices have been in the club and are always welcome.

An ice hockey training session is a spectacle in itself. The session began with Chase leading the group through the plan for the evening. Chase did his best Jackson Pollock impression with a dry erase marker as he spread visual representations of session drills across the transparent boards that surround an ice hockey rink. When the drills began, it was evident that there is no dispute: ice hockey is the highest tempo sport at St Andrews.

Players whizzed around the court, the goal tenders were constantly being put through their paces, and Nick Falicia’s water was soon drunk dry. As the training progressed the training became more match-related.

Naturally as the number of players on a team grows larger the need for communication is key. This quickly exposed the strong Canadian cohort

in the side. The shouting of the stereotypically Canadian sound “Eh” grew as the session moved on. I saw my first ever slap shot, hit with pace that a field hockey player could only dream of.

It was also great to see the impressive ability of the freshers in the side; Quinn Stevens and Nathan Frankel both looked very impressive in the shooting drills. Further, whilst Nick Falicia may have the designated duty of water boy, his true talents clearly lie on the rink, as he constantly made agile runs. The future of Typhoon ice hockey is clearly bright.

The final part of the session was a four vs four game with subs. Ice Hockey, unlike most sports, has a system of rolling subs — players are subbed on and off the rink whilst the game is still in play. Sitting next to the players during the game you get to experience a very active version of musical chairs, as players get up from the bench and vault over the boards on to the ice.

When a player scores for a team, the players proceed to kick the boards, giving the goal scorer an aggressive sense of approval and congratulation.

I am not sure which team won the match but it was an exciting contest, so I am going to say the observer was the winner. If the players were not exhausted enough, they finished the session with icy shuttle runs; hardcore indeed.

Whilst the Ice hockey team have to deal with incredibly anti-social hours in order to pursue their sport, it is perhaps important to highlight the privileges: namely, McDonald’s. To conclude the training session, as all good athletes do, we treated ourselves to well-earned (in the hockey team’s case) McFlurries.

When we arrived back in St Andrews the message I got from the Club, apart from their very strong hockey ability, was how tightly knit a group they are. Like most teams they socialise as a group on a Wednesday, when they create a multi-cultural evening at Maisha. However, the way they train in late evening, and take long journeys together clearly has created an invisible bond within the group.

They even have a special bond with their coach driver, D Bear, who has and wears a Typhoon jersey to take them to their fixtures. During the interview James spoke of how once players join the club they rarely leave.

Most freshers are a part of the club for the rest of their St Andrews stay.

The Club maintains the legacy their founders worked so hard to create. Perhaps most telling is their devotion to remembering the legacy of founding club member, Jonny Wookey who tragically died in 2012.

Each spring the club hosts a fixture against Edinburgh Eagles (Edinburgh University’s ice hockey team.) James described it as the biggest fixture of their season with normal attendance of over 1,000 supporters.

It was a great night getting to know the Ice Hockey team, both on and off the pitch.

If interested in joining the hockey club as a player or a member please contact their email: icehockey@ saints-sport.com.

Photo: Daniel Ross

AN EVENING WITH THE TYPHOONS

22 November 2018 • thesaint-online.com

SPORT

39

Photo: Charlotte Cohen

RUTHLESS SAINTS STORM TO SATURDAY MORNING SUCCESS

CHARLOTTE COHEN Deputy sport editor In an industry reeking of male dominance, it is interesting to watch a sport in a room full of female supporters. Not only that, but to watch a team whose male counterpart does not exist, enabling the women’s team to have their chance to shine for the whole of the university instead of succeeding in the shadow of their male counterpart.

Netball is a game that isn’t very well recognised in the sporting industry, potentially due to its lack of male presence, but it is one that women seem to excel in.

There’s a combination of teamwork, running, passing, and shooting with many rules that sports like football and hockey do not seem to have.

Women have a particular knack for lifting each other up when the odds are stacked against them, something that is useful in a sport like netball where a team can go from winning to losing in a matter of minutes.

However, this is not a problem that the St Andrews women’s first team have faced in this season’s BUCS league. After their staggering 74-46 victory against Heriot-Watt’s first team on Saturday, the girls are sitting at the top of the BUCS league on nine

points, having not lost a single one of their games — towering over the rest of the table with their 75-point goal difference, whilst the rest of them teams are struggling to get out of a negative GD.

In an industry reeking of male dominance, it’s interesting watching sport surrounded by females With quite a crowd gathered to watch the girls play, they did not disappoint. They started the game strong and by the end of the first quarter they were already nine points ahead, with the score 21-12.

Heading into the second quarter Heriot-Watt were reluctant to give up, scoring within the first few seconds and putting the score at 21-13. Yet, the

Saints were not letting their impressive lead slip, instantly playing the ball to the other end of the court with an immediate goal, 22-13.

A throw in from the Saints only got the ball to the centre of the court where play switched over to HeriotWatt and they managed to put another past the girls, 22-14.

Again, the Saints immediately shifted into gear and some great play from the girls matched Heriot-Watt’s goal, putting another in the net, 2314. Some excellent defending by the Saints saw play move back into HeriotWatt’s half once again, where the ball went out for a Saints throw leading to another goal for the girls. 24-14.

Another two in quick succession from Goal Shooter Laura Dewhurst put the girls up by 12 points with the score at 26-14.

Play began again from the centre and travelling from the Saints gave play away to Heriot-Watt as they made their way into the Saints half, but with some excellent defending from goal defence Sally Sandison, the Saints managed to play the ball back down the court and into a dangerous area for Heriot-Watt, and dangerous it was with the Saints bagging three goals in quick succession.

As Heriot-Watt headed, once again, into the Saints half and towards the net, play switched back over to the

Saints after a travelling offence and into Heriot-Watt’s half. Narrowly missing two shots, Herriot Watt tried to grab the rebound without any success and the third attempt from the girls went in, 30-14.

Some great pressure from the Saints in their own semi-circle led to a penalty for Heriot-Watt, but they could not quite manage to get a much-needed goal. After a great pass from wing defence Leah Allcock, play moved back up the court and another goal for the Saints made it 31-14.

Back down the court once again, Heriot-Watt managed to finally put one past the Saints but a quick turnaround saw the girls back into HeriotWatt’s semi-circle managing to get another three points in quick succession once again, taking the Saints points to over double that of Heriot-Watt’s at 34-15.

As play continued Heriot-Watt managed to secure another penalty and after missing the shot and the rebound an eventual goal saw them trying to close the points gap. But the Saints played the ball right back up the court again to secure another point.

However, Heriot-Watt were not giving up and they too managed to score another two in quick succession taking the score to 36-18 as the end of the second quarter approached.

A third goal from Heriot-Watt saw them itching to close the 18-point gap but a great pass from centre Anouska Nicholls moved the ball into HeriotWatt’s half, amounting to another goal for the Saints. As play continued Heriot-Watt put three goals past St Andrews, putting the score at 39-22 with Saints making one last attempt to score as the buzzer sounded to mark the end of the second quarter and the half way point of the game.

As play resumed the girls looked in good spirits and they instantly made their presence known with an immediate goal. But Heriot-Watt went back up the other end, also scoring almost instantly, to make it 40-23. With both teams scoring within the first few minutes the score was 43-25 and the Saints were still dominating play.

Another nine points from the Saints and six from Heriot-Watt and the score was 49-29, with the girls maintaining a strong 20-point lead.

A penalty for Heriot-Watt that initially missed, managed to find its way in on the rebound as they attempted to close the gap, but a penalty from the Saint’s goal attack Caitlin Evans made the score 50-30.

Heriot-Watt managed to put another five goals past the Saints, whilst the girls only managed three. This put the score at 53-35 as the penultimate quarter drew to a close. A great play from wing attack Lauren Coull enabled another goal from Dewhurst.

Obstruction from Heriot-Watt again saw a Saints goal and the third quarter finished 53-35 with the Saints firm-

ly maintaining their lead.

The final quarter began with another strong start from the Saints; an immediate goal put the girls up 56-35.

A throw in from the Saints in HeriotWatt’s third saw Evans go very close.

Heriot-Watt managed punish that miss, quickly scoring. But St Andrews were not willing to let their lead go, managing to score another four points.

As play resumed the girls looked in good spirits and they instantly made their presence The Saints continued to maintain their lead, putting another nine goals in the net; Heriot-Watt only managed to score five. With the score sitting at 65-40, Heriot-Watt moved into St Andrews’ third with some great leaning from goalkeeper Emily Males but she could not quite manage to fend off another Heriot-Watt goal. Keeping the streak going, Heriot-Watt managed to put another three past the Saints. The score did not remain at 65-43 for long, with the Saints scoring another three points, 68-43.

More excellent play saw the Saints getting another past Heriot-Watt, quickly followed by another. But not before Heriot-Watt could put one past the girls.

With only 90 seconds left to play another point from Heriot-Watt saw the score at 70-45 and it was clear who the winner was going to be. Another three points for the Saints, including a great pass from Evans helped Dewhurst score to put the score at 73-45. Play remained in Heriot-Watt’s danger zone enabling the Saints to score a fourth, putting them 29 points ahead with 74, compared to HeriotWatt’s 45.

An eventual penalty for HeriotWatt saw them scoring one final point before the buzzer sounded, marking the end of a thrilling game. Joyous celebrations from the girls on the court and the side lines marked an astounding win for the girls.

Saturday’s win sees the girls remaining comfortably at the top of the BUCS league. After only finishing third last season, their current performance marks an improvement in their ability since last year and Saturday’s game was certainly a precursor for an incredible season to come .

SPORT

Page 37 A look ahead to the major sporting events of 2019

@saint_sport

sport@thesaint-online.com

thesaint-online.com/sport

Photo: Twitter/@UStAFootball

CUP HEARTBREAK AS SAINTS CRASH OUT ON PENALTIES

Prior to kickoff, a minute’s silence was observed (above) to mark the passing of Hilary Olsen, mother of former Saints player Ellie.

JASON SEGALL Deputy sport editor A cup match is one which any football fan looks forward to. There’s a reason why everyone always refers to the magic of the FA cup; knockout matches have a completely different feel to a regular league game. The pressure does weird things, with many a giant killing the result on the professional stage.

The Queens Park Shield game between reigning cup champions St Andrews Men’s first XI and Edinburgh Napier first XI, however, appeared to be an even contest on paper, with both sides playing their league football in BUCS Scottish 2A. St Andrews had the better of the league standings by just the single point, having come away 2-0 victors away to Napier in the league. With Saints coming into the game off a 5-2 home drubbing at the hands of Glasgow’s second team compared to Napier’s 4-1 home win against the University of the West of Scotland, this looked a mouth-watering contest.

The day itself was suitably Scottish, cold and dank, with light drizzle ensuring that F1 was excitingly slippery.

This was not a day for intricate Barcelona-style tiki-taka, which was demonstrated not two minutes into

the first half, as Napier broke from a long ball over the home defence, finding an attacker on the edge of the area, which was squared past the lacklustre St Andrews defensive effort and turned into the roof of the net. All of a sudden, the defending champions were behind.

And it was nearly double trouble for the home side, with the Saints keeper doing his best Manuel Neuer impression, forced from his area to clear another Napier long ball.

It wasn’t long before we were reminded that we were, in fact, playing in Scotland, with a crunching and somewhat unnecessary late challenge which would not be out of place in the Old Firm on a St Andrews defender in his own half seeing a free kick awarded to the home side. Indeed, the game had the feel of a derby, with a degree of needle even at this early stage from both sides.

The early goal seemed to have woken the home side up, as from then on, all the dangerous attacking possession was that of St Andrews.

The Napier keeper, who performed well throughout the game if one disregards a worrying tendency to hook his goal kicks into the neighbouring gardens, was well tested from the top of the visitors’ area, the first of many well-saved opportunities for the home side.

Napier came close again not long after, with a brilliant piece of attacking skill seeing their skipper penetrate deep into the St Andrews box, but his cross found no one. An opportunity squandered, but another shot across the bows of the home defence. The defenders made a better show of their jobs at the other end, with one of the Saints centre halves rising like a Saturn V rocket to meet a corner kick, only to put the ball well over the bar.

It would be from another corner that Saints would level proceedings, one of the few that was played short.

The resulting cross was fired across the Napier area, where it was clinically turned in at the back post.

After half an hour, the score sat at 1-1 which would be where it remained at the half-time whistle, and one would be hard-pressed to say that that scoreline was unfair on either side.

The second half, however was a different kettle of fish, with Saints now playing downwind without the persistent Fife wind blowing into their faces.

Just three minutes after the orange peels had been returned to their bucket, a foul on a St Andrews man charging after a piercing through-ball saw a direct free kick about 30 yards from the Napier net. The resulting shot was curling towards the bottom right

corner, but it was well beaten away by the visiting keeper for a corner; a warning shot across the Napier bow.

Play proceeded in a similar vein, with Saints dominating the attacking areas of the pitch, but the tricky conditions meant that the final, clinical blow could not be struck.

On the hour mark, the home side saw possibly their best chance to break the deadlock, with a cross finding a Saints man within the Napier six-yard box from a free kick, but a good piece of defending meant that the ball was cleared from the line.

From that point on, it was clear that if someone was going to win the game in regulation time then it would only be St Andrews. Some fantastic attacking football was played by the home side, with chance after chance just missing its mark or being stopped by the salmon-esque Napier keeper.

As time ran out, and the sky darkened from the oncoming dusk, the prospect of the lottery of a penalty shoot-out loomed large, and the final few minutes were frantic, as Saints tried to capitalise on the possession which they had throughout the second half. As their final attempt sailed wide, the final whistle blew, and it would be penalties which decided this epic of a cup game.

The first spot kick was clinically scored by Napier, and was quickly

matched by St Andrews. Both sides also scored on their second, and it was with the score at 2-2 that Napier were the first to blink, hitting the bar, and the Saints man converted to put the home side ahead at 3-2. It nearly remained as such after Napier’s fourth, the Saints keeper getting most of a strong hand to the attempt, but he could only palm the ball into the roof of the net. Then came a mistake, as the home side’s fourth was blazed wide onto the cricket square. Napier scored their final penalty of their regulation five, meaning that Saints had to score to take it to sudden death. Alas, it was not to be, as the shot struck the post.

St Andrews, for all their fight and class in regulation play, had been sunk by that most cruel of tiebreakers.

So there will be no defence of the title this year, but a rematch in the league coming up in just three weeks, Saints will be chomping at the bit to avenge this cup defeat.

Before then, a trip to Dundee followed by a visit from the good men of Stirling are the next obstacles in the path of St Andrew’s finest men’s footballers. Kickoff for the match against Stirling 3rds will be at 2pm on the 28th November.

All are encouraged to attend what appears a must-win game if the side are to maintain their push for the Scottish 2A title.