the Boomerang a University College Student Association Magazine | November 2009 - I
Recession Hits Young Job Seekers Aboud Hamayel and Rafaela Peteanu
A
cross the EU, unemployment rates have been soaring to a 9.7% all-time high. Among the most affected are youth between the ages of 18 and 25. The EU statistics agency, Eurostat, has reported a 20.1% unemployment rate among the youth and new job seekers in the EU. The Netherlands remains more stable, with 6.8% youth jobless claim.
The Problem for the Young Young, well-trained, eager to excel…but unwanted, a reality for many University alumni. It is perhaps a college graduate’s worst nightmare, given the current financial turmoil: failing in getting a job. As proud possessors of a Bachelor’s degree from the best undergraduate program in the Netherlands, UCU alumni (should) have the world at their feet, but is that really so? According to statistics from the UCU website, 87% of our graduates go on to Master’s programs. But those eager to start their careers might find the following useful. First of all, there’s the issue of experience. Despite the assumption that employers are keen on hiring cheap and highly motivated workforce, this is not always the case. In fact, due to the crisis, most jobs on offer now are for specialists – people who can solve problems fast and effectively, and who do not require extra training. New graduates, conversely, are bound to come across different obstacles, at least in the beginning, regardless of how well their internships went and of how willing they are to learn. And overcoming these setbacks requires time and money from the part of companies, none of which they are willing to invest, given the fragile economic environment. The fewer risks, the better, seems to be their philosophy. Secondly, the problem of remuneration is also important. Indeed, no one expects new employees to earn high wages, but the salaries which are currently being offered seem to be at an unprecedented low. This is not only frustrating, in the sense that a month’s work can sometimes barely cover the most basic needs, but it also raises questions about the importance of education. That is to say, if a young alumni working in a multinational company, for instance, comes to have a monthly income only slightly higher than his or her younger brother’s, working part-time in Albert Heijn, then something is definitely wrong with the system.
These stats are indicative of the nature of the job market and its most vulnerable age group, those under the age of 25. With companies cutting on their current employees, youth have a hard time in actualizing their career goals and are put aside when compared to more experienced workers. This has caused many students to ponder over their future, especially in countries like the U.S, where going to a university is a long term investment, with many financial obligations. Studies have showed that increasing youth unemployment leads to long-term reduction in income, arousing the fear of a grim future among many students. The Middle-East is another area where youth have hard times settling on a job, the rate of unemployment according to the BBC being 25%. In an interview with Sameh Hussain, a Jordanian student currently enrolled at the American University of Beirut, the dim reality was made clear, when he said that “my parents and myself have spent a fortune on my education, however, the reality is that good academic standing and an excellent CV are not enough these days.” The situation is difficult and jobs are scarce –“only those with higher connections can land a substantive job,” Sameh added. The situation for UC students is better, but remains similar, perhaps for different reasons. Many of our graduates choose to finish a Master’s program before they embark on a journey for the job market. The crisis in youth employment continues, with a 6% increase from last year. The response has been weak, prompting the International Labor Organization to emphasize that any effort of saving the banks and the financial sector must be met with similar stride in tackling youth unemployment.
» Continued on page 06
Boomerang Website Release - Monday November 9th Let’s compare
Energy
Nobel Prize
Humankind is living well above Earth’s carrying capacity. To deal with environmental issues alternative energy sources are waiting to be exploited on a large scale.
Do you know who won the Nobel Prize in Literature? Read all about this year’s winner in our global dynamics section
Hike Your Way Through
» PAGE 02
» PAGE 08
» PAGE 07
» PAGE 11
There are currently five LAS colleges in the Netherlands, including UCU. The Boomerang brings you a kaleidoscopic snapshot of their profiles.
COLLEGE HALL
SPECIAL FEATURE
GLOBAL DYNAMICS
Before venturing on the journey, there are certain knowhows and tricks you should familiarize yourself with. The Boomerang tells you all about the art of hitchhiking.
COLOSSEUM
the Boomerang | November - I 2009
02 COLLEGE HALL Liberte, Academia, Fraternite Sindhoo Rangarajan
A
lthough the birthplace of Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) education is Europe, it is our cousins across the Atlantic that seem to have had a greater role in nurturing it. So, in an attempt to re-introduce this style of education, which aims at an all-round intellectual development of the young adult, in Europe, the Netherlands has been particularly enthusiastic. There are currently five LAS colleges in the Netherlands, including UCU. The Boomerang brings you a kaleidoscopic snapshot of their profiles. Listed in order of number of years established:
Amsterdam University College Started in the Year: 2009 Located in: Amsterdam Motto: Excellence and Diversity in a Global City Dean: Prof.dr. Marijk van der Wende Student intake per year: 200 Affiliated with: Vrije Universiteit (VU) and Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) Short Description: AUC has organised their courses on offer into thematic fields. There are six themes on offer: 1. Energy, Climate and Sustainability 2. Life, Evolution, Universe 3. Health and Well-being 4. Information, Communication, Cognition 5. Social Systems (peace & conflict; equality, inequality & diversity; market & regulation) 6. Cities and Cultures There is larger emphasis on the sciences. AUC’s study programme is structured around three years of study, covering six semesters Each semester will be 20 weeks long, divided into three periods: 8 weeks, 8 weeks and 4 weeks. Students usually take five courses per semester. The campus is in the science park and lecture halls are in the Plantage neighbourhood, around the corner from Artis: the city zoo. The residential quarters are separate from the lecture halls and it is basically tousing (what do you mean?) that has been exclusively reserved for the AUC students. The student body consists of 40% international students and 60% Dutch students. The sex ratio is 45:55 to males. The fee for Dutch/ EU/EEA students is €3450, while the International student fee is € 10 950 Website: http://www.auc.nl/auc Liberal Arts and Sciences at Tilburg University Started in the Year: 2008 Located in: University campus, Tilburg University Motto: Understanding Society Dean: Prof. dr. Willem Witteveen Student intake per year: 60 Affiliated with: Tilburg University, School of Humanities Short Description: Liberal Arts and Sciences at Tilburg University is a three year programme that offers students the fundamentals of a variety of disciplines. The students are taught by staff from all faculties. In the first year, students acquire a broad knowledge of the world at large with courses in sciences, culture, and society. In the second year, in addition to two compulsory and one thematic course, students follow courses for their major programme which is one of the following. - Humanities: European History and Culture - Law in Europe - Business and Management - Social Sciences As is evident from the list, this LAS is exclusive for Humanities and Social Sciences, with numerous courses being offered in the fields of literature, Islamic studies, Strategy and Organisation etc. However, one cannot major in the Sciences. In the third year, students follow two compulsory courses, complete their ‘minor programme’, and complete their Bachelor’s thesis. LAS Tilburg offers: Their agreements with Venice International University, Duke University in North Carolina, Tsinghua University in Beijing, Tel Aviv University in Israel and Ludwig Maximilians Universität in Munich seem attractive.
Students are accommodated within cycling distance from the university campus. The student body is 50% International and 50% Dutch, with the sex ratio being 63:37 to women. The tuition fee for NL/EU/EEA students is € 1620 per year and for non-EEA it is € 6312. Website: http://www.tilburguniversity.nl/prospectivestudents/bachelors/programmes/fgw/la/
Roosevelt Academy Started in the Year: 2004 Located in: Middleburg Motto: The Future Belongs to Those who Believe in the Beauty of Their Dreams Dean: Prof. dr. Hans Adriaansens Student intake per year: 200 Affiliated with: University Utrecht, European Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences (ECOLAS)
departments. During the final month of each semester, students participate in a project on which they work as a small group. In these small intensive groups, UCM strongly emphasizes the problem-based learning approach. The ‘capstone’ is a special project, which is done before graduation. UCM also has exchange agreements with universities in Japan, Brazil, Poland, etc. The UCM is housed in a fully renovated former monastery, dating back to 1485, located in the historical centre of the city of Maastricht The building comprises a small courtyard and is adjacent to the city park. Students live in the city of Maastricht. The student population is 50% International and 50% Dutch, with the sex ratio being 60:40 to women. The fee for NL/EU/EEA students is €1,620 and for non-EEA it is €8000. UCM allows students to extend their bachelor education for a further year or two in addition to the three years, in which case the fee for the fifth year will be subject to change. Website: http://www.ucm.nl University College Utrecht: Started in the Year: 1999 Located in: Utrecht Motto: Eager to Excel. Dean: Prof.dr. Rob J.F.M van der Vaart. Student intake per year: 200 Affiliated with: Utrecht University
Short Description: Roosevelt Academy offers students courses spanning four different subject areas: Academic Core, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences. After three years of successful skills-attaining (does this sound too weird? It’s just to avoid repeating student and studying) at Roosevelt Academy, students are awarded a Utrecht University Honours BA or BSc degree Since Fall 2008, RA has been the base for the Middleburg Centre for Transatlantic Studies (MCTS). The MCTS hopes to foster intercultural understanding and dialogue between students from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. MCTS offers two semester-length study-abroad programs plus a one-month summer program. Students live in one of the residential halls named the Bagijnhof, Roggeveenhof, Koestraat or Driewegenhof. Each hall house has between 100 and 200 inhabitants, being spread throughout the city. Under RA’s traditions, Sinterklaas has been named special honorary visiting fellow. The student population consists of 65% Dutch and 35% International. Website: www.roac.nl. University College Maastricht: Started in the Year: 2002 Located in: Maastricht Motto: NA Dean: Prof. dr. Harm J. Hospers Student intake per year: 200 Affiliated with: Maastricht University Short Description: UCM offers courses in all academic disciplines, such as Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. At the end of the first year, one opts for one of the three
Short Description: University College Utrecht is located in the former naval base Kromhout Kazerne. Students are offered courses in four departments: Academic Core, Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences. Students are expected to complete certain course requirements in their first year, such as Introduction to Academia, after which they declare a major and/ or a minor. The next two years are spent working towards these goals. UCU has several exchange partners ranging from America to Japan. There is a special Chinese language and culture track, whereby students spend one semester in the Xiamen University. UCU is a residential college. Students live on campus in units, the size of which range from four to eleven students. About 60% of the student population is Dutch and 40% International, with a similar sex ratio. Website: www.ucu.uu.nl With the advent of new colleges like LAS Tilburg, and AUC, the number of students entering the LAS experience in steadily growing. While all the five colleges are in essence linked, each has its own unique flavour. Perhaps in the future, events and festivals can be organised to bring together various colleges and may be even foster friendly competition
A University College Student Association Magazine
03 ASIC / UCSA Impudent Rodents Seen In Student Residences Jesse Groenewegen
I
n recent weeks, numerous sightings of rats rummaging through kitchens have been reported in the student residences on Elmarelaan, prompting several Wall inhabitants to express their amazement at the impertinence of the animals and to voice their concerns about the hygiene situation. “I went to the kitchen to get some sugar and this thing [rat] was just sitting there on the counter. We stared at each other and then it jumped off and I screamed. It just lazily jogged away, like nothing had happened,” said Lisa van der Kleij, Wall 13 resident. “It was a big, fat, ugly rat,” confirmed unit mate Omri Preiss. “It didn’t seem scared at all.” “I found it quite disgusting to see a rat
around our food,” added Kippy Gilders, also Wall 13. But when the students described their encounter to housemaster Maarten Diederix, he told them that they had to collect rat feces as evidence before he would take measures. “The rat droppings were disgusting, but we did what he told us. Then, one morning, he put rat poison in our kitchen, without telling anyone about it. What if my pecan bread had come in touch with that stuff without my knowledge?” asked Preiss “Some more communication would have been helpful.” Students approach the rodent issue in different ways. Residents of Wall 25 took matters into their own hands and mashed a rat to death with a broomstick. The remains were purport-
edly shoveled out onto the Quad. The more conventional course of action pursued in Wall 13 also seems to have yielded the desired results. “I haven’t seen any rats anymore,” said van der Kleij. But Preiss cautioned against premature optimism and recounted the story of a former student who used to live in the same unit, on the third floor. According to Preiss, she woke up one morning to find a rat on her bed. The rodent had climbed the exterior of the building and entered the room through the open window, in search of food. Students are advised to remain calm and contact Maarten Diederix if such a situation arises.
(the non-fiction documentation) as this leaves them time to do the entire process of film and project making. At the moment, “it’s really nice the way things are working out between the three committees”. Editing every event is impossible for FilmCo as it takes up a lot of time and detracts from their true ambitions. FilmCo is now at its most optimistic stage; they “have a nice little work environment”, they hold occasional movie nights for the members to get in touch with the most important movies in the film world, every now and then there’s workshops when they encounter problems or difficulties, they have a practice project ready to go and above all, they have the long-awaited equipment – “we are so blessed to have such amazing equipment; a 35mm lens adaptor! That makes it much more filmic and aesthetically beautiful, because it focuses on a lot more specific things like the films nowadays which grab the attention of viewers”. This can be testified by the interviewer who was highly impressed on seeing the “limited span in depth of field” as captured by FilmCo’s camera. “We’re starting from scratch until we show it in the UC auditorium” guaranteed Michiel, “our ultimatum is the red-carpet moment.” As
said by Neda, though they’re not professionals, they’re all very experienced, be it film studies, script writing or theatre school – “so we all kinda contribute together in a team, helping each other excel.” Newbies with verve and interest, however, are always welcome. Some people think FilmCo is overambitious, though, when it comes to concepts like the ‘green scene screen’ – “We do face some skepticism. But we’re having amazing fun and are really optimistic about ourselves and just need to not go for too many projects.” “We know UC life is very busy”, says Neda “but we think we can do it, we’re very optimistic that you can overcome obstacles and reach goals. And it’s worth it, to give UC part of our imagination and creativity in our films.” She asserts that “we can’t kid ourselves – real life is not all Hollywood fun and games” but, as the co-chairs maintain, it’s really hard not to be confident with the state-of-the-art equipment granted to them by College Hall. “It’s a really strong point…students should just use that opportunity. There’s room for all types of creative input from students– initiative or cooperative.” There are already a couple of projects running: some test scripts people are writing, a short movie about students at a bus stop and
their lives, and a mini project called “Eager”; very unique with a little more depth and seriousness, about students and their huge ambitions, dreams and problems as they obsess about the future. “Shifting further away from comedy, we’re apprehensive but still enthused. Thinking about a story can be intimidating but a challenge easy to overcome when you have a group” contemplates Michiel. Neda, who has always been more interested in films which work from a more extraordinary point of view, wants to create a mystery story about “a girl at UC receiving strange mail”…it would try and push the daily life of UC and see how far it can go(surrealistically). As for the chairs’ favorite movies? To name a few, ‘Magnolia’, ‘American Beauty’, ‘Stay’, ‘In the city of Sylvia’, ‘A Cock and Bull Story’ – cinematographically unusual films or stories with substance, yet not pretentious or preachy. Intrigued? FilmCo opens its doors for you if you are, but doesn’t force. “We don’t need a lot of members, but everyone is welcome to come. It’s very open-ended and broad-minded and we want to develop our projects….We have the means.”
programs, they “can make any idea happen.” As for the future, UCTV will air on a weekly basis, with an episode “that will be constantly looped” until the new one comes up.
So, if you’re in the mood for some UC home-made TV goodness, just tune in on UCTV. “It can be found on every TV on campus, right after the Polish channel.”
Date with FilmCo Gagantika Sidhu
I
n an inspiring interview with UC’s very own FilmCo, Boomerang tapped into the hopes, dreams and ambitions of this talent-based committee. Enthusiastic and visionary co-chairs Neda Eneva and Michiel Ten Brinke have always seen filming, acting, writing and drama as their passion, which is “how they came up with the idea” in their second year. As Michiel puts it, FilmCo “is in fact a substitution for the lack of film studies on campus, and was initially supposed to be the eye of the campus.” Serving as a bridge between DramaCo and UCTV, the committee’s aim was, affirmed Neda, to “give UC the gift of sight”. Before its inception, there was no documenting of events such as Academic endeavors or the Lustrum opening. This year, however, FilmCo rejoices at being able to finally have the space (and equipment) to follow their real goal and “initial fantasy” – giving students the opportunity to really get involved in the art of film-making, amateur but still giving ample experience. They’re very thankful to the ArtHouse and UCTV for taking over their peripheral functions for now
Jaap Tromp
O
n Thursday, 15th of October, the long-awaited premiere of UCTV took place. The project was given high priority by the current UCSA board and, early in the semester, a group of motivated students was gathered in order to accomplish this goal. Two days before the premiere, a trailer was released, to make the UC audience enthusiastic for the event. This seemed to have had the desired effect since, despite the midterm exams, a large crowd gathered in the auditorium to witness the premiere. The red carpet theme was picked up by many, which gave the occasion a Hollywood-like atmosphere. The first episode of UCU Top Gear, featuring a race from campus to Hoog Catherijne and back to the Jan Primus bar, launched UCTV. This program will be entirely car-related. It was followed by a show testing which pizzeria is the best in Utrecht, based on criteria such as delivery time, quality and price. After these two amusing productions, it was time for some-
thing informative: UCNN. This broadcast presented the news in a funny and witty way. The aforementioned three beats will be on UCTV regularly. The rest of the UCTV air time is reserved for students’ own initiatives. They can send in their own material to be broadcasted around campus. Among those willing to share their thoughts on the event, Geert Sillevis expressed his content with UCTV’s premiere. “A great deal of people showed up, despite the midterms. This means that the student body is enthusiastic about our initiative.” In addition, students’ reactions were also noted: “I have seen that many people laughed and clearly enjoyed our programs,” Sillevis stated. “I think that it’s been well-received.” Despite the satisfactory outcome, however, UCTV producers are still on the lookout for student participation. So, should you have any ideas you’d like to see on TV, you shouldn’t hold down: just contact the people in charge and they say they’ll be more than happy to help you put them into practice. With the help of cameras and editing
MARNIX WARREN
Enthusiastic reception of UCTV
the Boomerang | November - I 2009
04 UsCene The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Europe and Central Asia
The Xiamen Express Aleksandar Feodorov
“I
was hitchhiking through Kazakhstan. My driver and I were entering Astana, the capital city, when we were stopped by the police. I am sure they stopped us because it was a car with a foreign registration. The police officer approached the driver and explained to him that he had to pay a fine because the car was too dirty. The fine was 8000 $. After my companion told him that he does not have that amount of money, the officer told him “Ok, then 7950 $.” This bargaining kept going for a while, until the fine was 100 $. At that point, my driver took out a pack of Lucky Strike and gave it to the policeman. And we were free to go.” Last summer, second year UC student Gerben Nap hitchhiked from the Netherlands to China. He is now on exchange at Xiamen University and has lived there for a little more than a month. Gerben was kind enough to tell me more about his trip and his impressions of the countries he has traveled through. “My initial plan was to hitchhike to Vancouver, but I did not get a place in the university there. So, when I did get a place in the Xiamen exchange program, it took me less than two minutes to decide that I would hitchhike there.” Gerben said he simply finds flying the most boring way to travel and that train journeys are very expensive. He only spent around 1,000 euros for 70 days. “When you hitchhike you are a lot more flexible. You don’t have to plan that much, you meet the local people and you have a lot of spontaneous experiences.” He started his trip in the Netherlands, and then went through Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and, finally, China. “The trip lasted ten weeks. I did not travel every single day, of course. I made a couple of detours and I stayed in Istan-
bul for five days and in Baku for two weeks. I also stayed in Almaty, Kazakhstan, for a week. I think I traveled between 10,000 and 15,000 km in these ten weeks.” When he reached China, Gerben was falling behind schedule and decided that 5,000 km more to the distant East of the country, where Xiamen is, was too much. So he took a plane there and was able to arrive in time for the start of the semester. “When you hitchhike, you need time.” “I visited a lot of places. I saw the capitals of most of the countries I’ve been to and also cities like Istanbul, Almaty and Kashgar.” Most of the stories he told me about occurred in Asia, but Gerben also had tons of stories from Europe. One of them took place in Georgia. In Tbilisi, he met an elderly couple and they offered to let him sleep at their place, since he did not have anywhere else to go. “They did not have much, but what they had, they shared with me. And I am extremely thankful for that. You never have such experiences when you fly.” Gerben says that people in the East are all really hospitable. “They are always ready to help you and always with a smile on their faces.” On the other hand, he also experienced the corruption in countries like Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. In Almaty, he had to bribe a police officer with ten euros because he did not have his passport on him. “I don’t want to use the word corrupt, because it possesses a very negative connotation. It is more like a market system, you know, a way of organizing society. When people in the public sector don’t get paid very well, they search for other ways to get money. I think you can see it as paying extra taxes. Nobody likes it, but nobody likes a society without security either. And in the end, the police officer just needs to feed his kids too; the real problem is higher up.” His all time favorite experience, despite the giant blisters on his feet, was a hike in the
The King is dead! Long live the King! Sebastiaan Hols
I
n our latest edition, you could read that our beloved mini Albert Heijn on the Jan van Scorelstraat closed down. Students were reported to be in a state of disarray, for their favorite little snack store had left. Well, for all of the bereaved out there, your prayers have been answered! UC now has what might well be the best kebab on this side of town, at just a stone’s throw. Bocadios, run by the owners of Olijfje, is set up just across from the bus stop and it might well become your one stop shop for everything that’s tasty and Moroccan. For those of you who did not know, the grocery store Olijfje has a very good reputation, on account of its cheap and amazing sandwiches. The owners of Olijfje recognized the huge demand for the sandwiches and decided to open Bocadios. You can still get the amazing sandwiches at Olijfje but now you can get even more at Bocadios, and it’s also for a fair price. Take away costs anywhere between 3.50 and 12 euros, with a wide variety of meals on offer. They range from soups to Tajines, a traditional North African dish. Kofte, kebab or warm chicken baguettes are 5.50e. The store has a cozy, authentic atmos-
phere and also offers the option to eat in. If you choose to do so, there are a couple of two-person tables, and you will get your food served on beautifully decorated plates. Another perk of eating in is that you can order real Moroccan tea. The sweet mint tea is served in an iconic tea pot and brought on an impressive silver platter, fit for a king. Another important incentive to trying out Bocadios is the Sunday special. On Sundays, Bocadios has fresh croissants and warm sandwiches. When asked if the store was a success, the owner said that, although they had just set up the shop, there were lots of customers. Whilst sitting there it became obvious that my enthusiasm was shared by the neighborhood. Many customers are greeted by name and seem to have been old friends from Olijfje. It is this warmth between the customers and the store that really makes Bocadios worthwhile. In these times of social stigmatization, fueled by infamous (I hesitate to say) Dutch politician Geert Wilders, it is nice to see the two cultures getting along so well. All in all, the store is a great addition to the Jan van Scorelstraat. I warmly recommend it to any lazy students hungry for good food and a cool cultural experience.
mountains of Kyrgyzstan. One equally tremendous experience he had was riding in a limo through the Kazakhstan desert with some people from The Mongol Rally. “It is a charity rally. You basically have to go from London to Mongolia with the crappiest car you find.” Gerben says that, naturally, the East is a lot different from Europe. “The further East you get, the more interested people get in you as a foreigner from the West. Also, people invite strangers into their homes much more readily outside Europe. And the traffic is crazy. After Istanbul, it seemed to me that driving a car in the city is like cycling in Holland. Lines on the road are always ignored and, if there are two lanes on the road, the one on the right is used for basically everything else but driving.” Gerben has now been living in China for
a month and says that the culture there is extremely different. He had to get used to the food and, although Xiamen is a modern city, it was strange living there. “I feel enormous among the people. And people stare at me a lot.” He says that studying in Xiamen is enriching in every possible sense and that he has been learning a lot “and not only from the book.” “I think the trip was definitely worthwhile. I cannot think of any other way of traveling through that part of the world. It was an enriching experience.” When I asked Gerben to give advice to people who are planning a similar trip, he simply said: “People in Central Asia love American cigarettes. You can bribe anyone with a pack of Marlboro, but Lucky Strike also does the trick.”
King Football Aleksandar Feodorov
I
f you ask me what my earliest memory is, I would have to say football. I was probably four or five years old and I was at my home town stadium along with a 25,000 people crowd, watching the city derby match. The popularity of this sport all over the world is certainly not a coincidence: it has had a strong influence on the lives of many. And our beloved campus is not an exception. At UC, football is definitely the favorite sport. It is a well known fact that every Monday at 8 pm, at least twenty guys go to the sports field for a game. Thursdays are often the same, while Wednesday evenings are reserved for girls. But what is hidden from a large part of our student community are the two UC futsal teams that participate in the Olympos championship. There are two leagues at the sports center – three groups of teams play on Thursdays and three on Fridays. The first UC team is called UC United. It was established last year and three current stu-
dents and several UC alumni are part of it. “In the autumn season of the Friday league last year, we won six games and had one draw. In the spring season we won all seven games,” said 3rd year UC student Laurens Golverdingen, who is on the team. The current season for UC United started as brilliantly as the previous one, with a record of three wins out of three games. This year, another team joined the competition. UC All Stars, in which only current UC students participate, is competing in the Thursday league. Until now, our boys have three wins and one loss. “I play in UC All Stars because I like us beating other teams with our spirit and technique,” said Tim van Dijk, with a smile on his face after scoring three goals for a 5-2 win last Thursday. Football is a game that offers a lot of positive emotions and, to many, this is what makes it the greatest sport in the world. Let’s just cross our fingers and wish the UC teams good luck and hope they will keep representing the college outside campus so brilliantly!
A University College Student Association Magazine
05 PHOTO ESSAY
STEPHANIE SONDAAL
Light
the Boomerang | November - I 2009
06 COVER STORY Recession Hits Young Job Seekers Aboud Hamayel and Rafaela Peteanu
» Furthermore, students are under increasing psychological pressure, as evident from Robert Sutton’s observation of witnessing “more anxiety and fear” among his students at Stanford. This might lead to depression, since people could end up in workplaces they do not enjoy, or which are beneath their training and motivation. Conversely, in the absence of the youthful vitality, companies may fail to progress and could become less appealing to certain categories, which can only result in losses. Tips for Landing ‘The Job’ So, what are the steps to take if you are on the lookout for a job? Various websites are swarming with tips and tricks, but a closer look reveals that what they preach are nothing but commonsensical rules – basic guidelines which have been around forever. For the sake of the discussion, however, here are some of their most important points Be visible! You all know the Hollywood cliché of the young waitress discovered by a producer and who comes to be a great star, right? Well, newsflash: Hollywood is not the real world! So get moving and start post-
ing your CV on as many job boards possible. Also, you could try to apply directly to the company of your choice – some of them have an employment/careers section on their web sites, not to mention specialized social networks, such as LinkedIn. Just fill in your resume and get out there! Some hints on how to write a good CV can be found here: http://www.undutchables.nl/ candidates/how-to-write-a-good-cv/. Stay tuned! There are a bunch of websites and forums where you can learn new things about your field and meet people who share your interests. This way, you can make useful connections, as well as keep in touch with the latest updates in your specialization. In addition, by being part of such a network, you are more likely to find out about certain career opportunities faster and to be able to take advantage of them. Be direct! The aforementioned methods may or may not be effective, but if you are sure of what you want to do, you could try a more straightforward approach. For instance, try to make a list of companies you would like to work for. Then, identify a position within the said enterprises, which you think would be suitable for you and, finally, look for people (friends of friends of friends, remember the six degrees of separation theory?) who already work for your possible employers and who could recommend you for unadvertised, but available jobs. Create opportunities! Do you feel like you’ve already tried everything, but you still couldn’t get hired? Why not create your own job? As Raymond Gerson recommends, try to “[d]evelop a written or verbal proposal for the companies that interest you”, stating “what the proposed job is and how you can contribute to the company by solving their problems.” This strategy, he adds, can prove very effective, because, “[i] f your proposal demonstrates that you can contribute much more than you will cost
the company, it is likely that they will be interested in you”. Bear in mind, however, that such an approach will work better with smaller companies than with big ones.
So, if you’re worried that you can’t or won’t get a job, you might as well stop. Just keep a positive attitude and remember: Yes, you can!
The Crisis of Student Employment on Campus Boomerang Editorial Board
F
acing an ever increasing higher tuition fees, a possible decrease in government subsidies and an increasing housing and living costs is leading a growing number of students to find jobs to finance their education and living expenses. However, a concrete policy is not being proposed for increased student participation in the employment opportunities on-campus, specifically for international students facing language barriers and legal constrains. The problem is not that UC does not hire on financial need-basis or qualification but the fact that the job openings are very limited and only a handful of student get to work within campus. Phillip Paiement, the ex-Chair of ASIC says that “the administration must apply more pressure on companies that it contracts to hire more students”, positions such as
“grass cutting”, “promotional photography”, “cleaning” are all tasks that could be done by student for a reasonable pay. Not to mention that many of the administrative jobs are also well within the reach of students capacity including Public Relations, Career Development and IT work. These and other types of work could provide an increasing number of students, specifically international students with limited Dutch skills job opportunities hard to find outside the gates of UC. “The fact that International students have minimum job opportunities in Netherlands due to the language barrier seems to be trivial for those in the top of decision making hierarchy”, Phillip added. Some claim that there are only a handful of jobs on UC in general but that remains questionable. The fact is that four companies work within the vicinity of our campus including Volksbelang, Eurest, grass cutting
and cleaning, all of which present viable job opportunities. Most of us face many problems when we lose our access keys, or when electricity is cut off and have to undergo the traditional scheme for finding someone available to help us out. Why doesn’t Volksbelang (company responsible for Housing) hire a student to fulfill these emergency needs, someone available on-campus 24/7. Why not increase student presence in trying to achieve the goals laid down in the strategy document such as strengthening the position of UC both nationally and internationally or in “setting up an efficient business operation.” Being a member of ASIC last year Phillip fought hard for increased student work opportunities to be faced by a higher degree of what College administration refers to as “professionalization”. In the past two years many new jobs have been added to what has
been an understaffed college administration. But the fact remains that most of these newly added positions could have been done by students, hence, reducing the cost of hiring fulltime employees, while, decreasing the workload of those in college hall. The increased demand for jobs is not being met with coherent and concrete policy by the College administration and is brushed off as a luxury rather than a necessity. Today, as we embark on budget cuts, possibility for increased tuition fees, a decrease in governmental help for EU students will considerably damage the student profile at University College. The administration has not seriously tackled this issue and remains far away from revisiting its almost non-existent student employment policy
A University College Student Association Magazine
07 GLOBAL DYNAMICS A Pen Sharper Than The Sword Matthijs Maas
D
o you know who won the Nobel Prize in Literature? One hint: it isn’t Obama. Following October 8th, in the firestorm of controversy following the Swedish Academy’s decision to award the 2009 Nobel Peace prize to the American president, it might have been all too easy to overlook the other winners of that prestigious trophy. Of course, the Peace prize has historically always been the more politically inflammatory, and as such it is perhaps unsurprising (though lamentable) that the Literature Prize was somewhat eclipsed once more. This, however, is a shame, for the work of Romanian-born German author and poet Herta Muller is an invaluable, touching, and above all very important contribution to the world literature.
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been annually awarded to the author who has created, in the words of Alfred Nobel, “In the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.” Throughout its existence, there has been a regular debate on the interpretation of this definition, but where previous years saw surprising outcomes, Muller now was not exactly the dark horse; prior to the award, she had already been a long-time contender and nominee, and this time around this “Master of deliberation” was a particular favorite of many literary experts and publishers—at least in Europe. In presenting the Prize to her, the Nobel Committee explicitly described her as an artist “Who, with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed.” This puzzling commentary is a reference to the central subject matter of her oeuvre; the fertile ground in which all her works take root; that is, her experiences of growing up under a totalitarian regime in Communist Romania. Born in 1953 in a German-speaking enclave in the west of that country, several of her books were censored by Bucharest, and ultimately she fled the Ceausescu dictatorship in 1985. Three years later she more or less settled down in West Berlin, but thereafter the majority of her writings were geared towards all that she had left behind. As an ‘exile’ writing about her home country, her works are resounding examples
of what Germans call Heimatliterator; seminostalgic literature about one’s homeland. At the same time, she cannot but face the terrors that Romanians suffered under the thrall of the Soviets. For instance, her newest novel, “Atemschaukel’ (published in English under the title “Everything I Possess I Carry With Me”), which is based on the historic experiences of her friend Oskar Pastior and other survivors, describes the persecution of the ethnic German minority in Romania and their ultimate deportation to Soviet gulags. As such, every single one of her novels is, without fail, a cry against the tides of fear, displacement and totalitarian oppression that waved over the European continent during the 20th century. “My writing was always about how a dictatorship arises,” Muller herself elaborates; “how a situation is able to occur where a handful of powerful people dominate a country and the country disappears, and there is only the state left.” She describes those things that she fled from; the terrors she left behind, yet that she could not let go of: the treason and fear; the tortures and dehumanization; the “apathy of those who have found their niche”. In doing so, she provides a tangible, shocking record of the experiences and memories which real people in a real place at a real time did experience. The cases discussed may seem rather limited in their scope—‘merely’ the historical sufferings of a local German minority—yet its style and mode cement her works as an universal record of what inevitably happens, in every age and every place when a few ruthless individuals suddenly find themselves in a situation where their power runs unchecked. It is a record which, simultaneously, pleas for justice and humanity, and warns against forgetting or trivializing the inhumanity and horrors of totalitarianism, lest they are allowed to take root once more. Nevertheless, Muller was previously—and to an extent, even remains—somewhat unknown outside of the European mainland. Indeed some of her works have not even been translated from German. This, combined with the fact that Muller’s works are essentially European stories, in that they feature almost exclusively in communist-era Romania, in addition to a recent trend in Stockholm of picking solely European writers for the Literature Nobel Prize, has prompted many pundits to criticize the perceived bias in the Committees’ decision. One of the most pervading claims is that “the content and qualities found there could also have been discovered and rewarded in works of contemporary Chinese literature.” Still, as an author skilled at disseminating totalitarian systems and realities, Herta Muller is unparalleled by any other author in Eastern Europe, and arguably the world, and it is in recognition of this unity; this merging of ethics and artistic skill, that the Nobel Committee has awarded Muller the world’s foremost prize in literature. As her publisher argues: “By giving the award to Herta Muller, who grew up in a German-speaking minority in Romania, the committee has recognized an author who refuses to let the inhumane side of life under communism be forgotten.’ And, considering this, it is perhaps only fitting that the award coincides with the 20th anniversary of the disintegration and fall of totalitarian communism in Germany.
Deciding on the Future of Europe
Lisbon Blues Victor Evink
U
ntil Tuesday, Europe’s eyes were focused on Brno, Utrecht’s picturesque twin city at the foot of the highlands of South Moravia, Czech Republic. It is the country’s second largest city and home to the Czech Constitutional Court. Last week, it hosted a fundamental decision about the future of European integration. Since the Irish have voted YES on the referendum, held on October 2, the Czech president Vaclav Klaus was the last of all 26 Heads of State to have not yet ratified the Treaty of Lisbon. The conservative president, who informally declared not to sign at all events, is a strong critic of the increasing centralization of power under the new treaty, infringing on national sovereignty. Unlike the Poles, who let their decision depend on the Irish vote, the Czech conservatives intended to delay implementation of the treaty as long as possible, if not to prevent it altogether. Klaus had found an ally in the leader of the British Tory Party, favorite for the 2010 national elections David Cameron. Since Gordon Brown’s Labour-government had not kept the promise of a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the UK has signed last year in July. The Tories insisted on the promise and have still to hold one as soon as they take office. If the voters were to reject the treaty, Britain would withdraw its assent. They would be able to do so, only if the new reforms have not yet come into force by then. Until Wednesday, this depended on the Czech Constitutional Court. Since the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate have approved ratification in February and May this year respectively, only a verdict of the highest judicial power could still reinforce Klaus against increasing pressure, outside as well as inside the Czech Republic. In September, Klaus and 17 senators lodged a final charge against Lisbon in court. Under the new treaty, descendants of millions of Germans who were expelled after WWII can principally open property claims against the Czech Republic, appealing to Lisbon’s charter of fundamental rights. The court, initially expected to decide on October 27, postponed the verdict to November 3. United States of Europe The nature and the future of the European Union are the central issues in the debate. In BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show on October 4,
David Cameron has said that “Lisbon takes the European Union too far” by increasing political integration, adopting the clear characteristics of a state, instead of remaining a cooperative body of individually sovereign nations. Over the last years, the idea - a dream for some and a nightmare for others - of a ‘United States of Europe’ seems heavier under fire than ever. Since the suggestion of a federal united Europe was coined for the first time by George Washington in a letter to Marquis the Lafayette, thinkers and statesmen have been calling for it, like Victor Hugo on the International Peace Congress in Paris in 1851 and Winston Churchill in his speech at the University of Zurich in 1946, in the aftermath of the Second World War. The clash was most visible in 2005 when the Treaty, establishing a Constitution for Europe, presented a referendum to Europeans, originally to be held in ten member states. The French and the Dutch NO vote staggered officials. Referendums were postponed in Denmark, Poland, Portugal and the UK and cancelled in the Czech Republic and Ireland. The Treaty of Lisbon is the result of a period of reflection upon the rejections. Streamlining the EU The treaty remains similar to the constitution and reflects the desire of streamlining the EU, putting an end to its image of an obscure, time and money-consuming bureaucratic apparatus and bringing it closer to the people. The legislation process consisted of a majority vote. To enhance visibility of the Union, the presidency of the European Council will no longer be the head of government of the chairing member state, rotating every six months. Rather, a twoand-a-half year post will be held with a symbolic and representative function, combined with the office of the president of the European Commission. The latter creates something referred to as a ‘president of the European Union’. The current representative, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (HR) will be combined with the European Commissioner for External Relations, establishing a post, informally called the ‘EU Minister of Foreign Affairs’. Tuesday, the court has decided that the Treaty is not in contradiction with the Czech Constitution. Klaus was immediately brought to Brussels, where he, grumbling, signed. The new reforms will come into force before the end of the year.
ANNE-SOPHIE LALOUX
Herta Muller’s Literary Struggle For Remembrance
the Boomerang | November - I 2009
08 SPECIAL FEATURE The Shortsightedness of International Energy politics ISEP
N
owadays, alternative energy sources are waiting to be exploited on a large scale. With smartgrid possibilities just around the corner, all generated power can be efficiently distributed and consumers will soon be able to sell the power they generate themselves to the grid, thus becoming market players in their own right. Or so it seems. Opportunities and immense potential are everywhere, but so far policy makers appear to be ignorant of this. Until this very day, the key players in national and international politics maintain their energy security through conventional energy sources. One aspect through which this reveals itself is through incessantly high investments in conventional energy resources, such as oil and gas. At this very moment, a gas pipeline between Nigeria and the countries of the European Union is under construction. The unreliability of Russian gas supplies has forced European countries to seek alternative sources and suppliers, of which the Nigerian pipeline is an example with a particularly high price tag. Speaking of Russian gas, most Western European countries are actually importing more gas from Russia than they currently consume, storing the surplus underground for future consumption. The costs of this far outweigh the benefits and gas storage is therefore inefficient from an economic point of view. It becomes apparent then that the political
stability that is provided by this securitization of resources apparently enjoys higher priority than real economic considerations. In addition, the decreasing availability of oil and gas and the increasing instability of the countries in which these fuels can be found push governments towards diversifying their supplies. The Canadian oil sands are an interesting example. In these Albertan oil fields, there is more oil than in Nigeria and Venezuela combined. However, the extraction is highly difficult and requires huge investments, while profitability is not guaranteed. Despite the obvious risks associated with the investments, oil companies still opt for exploitation. A lot of countries also seek to exploit nuclear power on the largest scale possible. China is currently building eight nuclear power plants and recent investigation shows it has plans for another 100. In the United States, 32 of these plants are projected to be constructed. The main restrictions to nuclear power seem to lie in the availability of sufficient resources and (human) capital. Considering the profound challenges of building even a single nuclear power plant—an estimated production cost of 5 to 9 billion dollars per reactor and an average of about 10 years of construction— the current rate of production is a remarkably costly undertaking. The second aspect reveals itself through political affiliations with resource rich coun-
tries. The Dutch minister of Economic Affairs, Maria van der Hoeven, recently visited Kazakhstan—a country with 40 billion barrels of oil—to open an oil conference. This shows the importance of maintaining relations with resource rich countries. Unsurprisingly, the relative stability of Kazakhstani oil supplies—compared to countries such as Venezuela and Nigeria—has led other players to act as well. Statistics from the Energy Information Administration show that Kazakhstan is rapidly selling the rights to exploit their oil fields to Russian, Chinese, European and American companies. Speaking of China, where does this relatively resource-poor country obtain the energy necessary to meet its growing demand? China receives most of its conventional energy from Angola, Nigeria, Sudan, Russia, Iran and Kazakhstan. Although these are not the most stable trading partners, China is using as much diplomatic power as necessary to acquire the conventional sources it is so desperately dependent on. Another example of a country heavily
influenced by international energy politics is Nigeria. China recently made a bid to buy 6 billion barrels of Nigerian oil, a sixth of all the reserves in the country. Western companies like Shell immediately protested and pointed at the current contracts Nigeria has with these companies. As the end of these contracts is in sight, Nigeria is trying to maximize the revenue of selling its oil. Again, oil companies are in line to extract a country’s resources. Governments all over the world are trapped in their dependency on conventional energy sources to keep their economies running. Despite alternative technologies and systems being readily available, governments continue to seek shelter in familiar, tried-andtested energy sources. The fierce competition for ever decreasing supplies of conventional resources has led countries to put immense efforts into acquiring them. It is evident that such a short-term focus will not result in lasting energy security. In the long run, governments will only be fighting against their own lack of willingness to change.
Inhibitions to change in Energy Policy ISEP
T
he lack of willingness to switch from conventional energy sources shown by the key players within the international political sphere has been highlighted in the previous article. It was made clear that governments all over the world still prioritize investments in these familiar resources (Oil) and that soft power is maximized in order to get a share of the resource wealth. But why aren’t they changing to alternative energy? Politicians seem to have been affected by an ‘engraved unbelief ’ in an alternative energy mix. Conventional energy sources have propelled the world into what it is today, and growth has been directly related to natural resources for over a century. This conviction, however, now belongs to the past as these conventional resources are disappearing. Moreover, maintaining the status quo is a comfortable idea to politicians that lack either decisiveness or certainty about the solution.
In both cases, maintaining a distant stance is politically safest because political responsibility is avoided. Also, the scope of the problem is too large for individual actors to act upon. The quantity of information and decisions that need to be made cannot simply be managed by individual politicians. Since cooperation between these politicians does not properly exist, many politicians find the comfort of retreating into ignorance towards the difficult point of transforming the energy mix. Lobbies pursuing the energy industry’s goals strongly push the governmental bodies to maintain the status quo. Vast amounts of money are directed to those politicians that defend the preservation of the current energy mix. Within the lobbying industry, this branch achieves disproportionately more results than its ‘green’ counterpart. Alternative energy systems are too dispersed and varying for a strong unified lobby to emerge. Between the proponents of alternative energy sources, the
current struggle remains focused at deciding Fact box • Canada potentially possesses more oil which type of ‘renewable’ energy is most efthan ficient, rather than that it is concerned with Nigeria and Venezuela combined. deviating from the current superiority of • In 2008, the world-wide consumption of conventional energy sources. oil was more than 84 million barrels daily. The current lack of profitability is also of • The United States are accountable for large importance. So far, the costs of generatover ing energy through alternative energy sources 22% of all gas and oil consumption worldcompared to conventional energy sources are wide. an important argument for the stagnation of • An eight of all oil consumed world-wide their development. is used for transportation in the United The painful conclusion must be that States. countries will not move away from their reli• Global consumption of gas exceeded 3.0 ance on conventional energy sources in the trillion m3 in 2008. foreseeable future. The lack of international • Russia has 23.4 % of all gas reserves cooperation on the energy market encour• The European Union invested more than ages each country to secure its own share. As €10 billion in a gas pipeline from Nigeria to such, it is becoming less likely that a shift in Europe. the global energy mix will emerge anytime • “China’s energy demand will exceed that before the familiar energy sources that govof all OECD countries in 2030” ernments are so desperately clinching to, have Provided by ISEP been completely exploited.
A University College Student Association Magazine
09 SPECIAL FEATURE Profile
Timon Dubbeling, Chair of ISEP Jaap Tromp
A
trip to the International Student Energy Summit in Calgary, Canada, last summer was a great inspiration for Timon Dubbeling to start with other students a think thank called ISEP.
A Hero’s Journey Arturo Desimone
The summit was centered around the question how we can sustain our energy needs in the future, from a political and economical point of view. “I decided to go there, because I have since long had a passion for energy in a larger context. I like to talk about how we make sure that energy will still be supplied in the future” Timon said. Timon found this matter so urgent that he decided to start the Independent Student Energy Platform (ISEP) to delve further into this topic. ISEP is a student think thank that aims at tackling energy issues and possible alternatives and at educating the public. The main motivation for Timon to start this think thank was his impression that the media does not highlight these issues sufficiently. “We want to put matters forward that we deem important. One of these things is trying to find out how geo-political structures evolve around energy issues.” Timon further elaborated by providing Kazakhstan is an example of country of continous oil supplies. He added that “you now see that many countries and companies are positioning themselves to obtain as large a share as possible.” Negotiating contracts and applying pressures through there governments and powerful special interest is part of the equation. This has a profound impact on all of us, the environment but “you hardly ever read about these things in the media.” Education is one of the big motivations for ISEP. “One of our goals is to educate ourselves” Timon added. But it seems that ISEP also looks at expanding its operation to include within its strategy a public relations effort aimed at educating students as evident from this collaboration with the boomerang. ISEP is young innovative project aimed at involving a large pool of students in discussions over this vital and central issue in world politics. Energy solutions, alternatives depend highly on our generation to tackle; hence, it is not bad to start somewhere even in the small rooms of our campus.
See future editions of the Boomerang for the next installment of A Hero’s Journey.
the Boomerang | November - I 2009
10 COLOSSEUM take the DIY ethos further. Thus with the financial aid from the government and creative mindset, many innoHenten vative bands are simply mushrooming. I’m the Swedish culture that makes their music From Barcelona is a great example of a DIY sought-after. The music producing process band. After being given four paid weeks off is very much characterized by a do-it-yourself from his office job and armed with a stack of (DIY) attitude. It’s literally home-grown music, unrecorded tunes, part-time singer/songwriter made in the musician’s bedroom, putting back Emanuel Lundgren decided to invite 29 of his the indie spirit in indie music. This puts the friends, most of whom were not professionals, Swedes in stark contrast to the contemporaries to record an album. in the UK or the US where fame or money are The cheery album was recorded at Lunhigher up on the priority list. They are more dgren’s house and various public spots. The laid-back with regular jobs and normal lives, band created a blend of sunshiny choral vocals, chamber pop instrumentation (heavy on the horns, banjos, and accordions), and folk-influenced tunes that makes it impossible for you not to sing along. Covering more experimental ground, Wildbirds and Peacedrums are a married duo Mariam Wallentin and her husband Andreas Werliin, from Gothenburg. Their sound has a wide range of influences from blues and alt country to drone, avant-jazz or the weirdest psychedelic folk. With using instruments like the zither, xylophone, santoor, guzheng and the steel drum their MARJETA MARKOVIC sound is genre-defying and unique. making music just for the fun of it. Perhaps this easy-going attitude is the diMore Swede Music: - Loney, Dear rect result of the Swedish government’s sup- Peter Bjorn and John portive stance regarding the arts. It seems - Jens Lekman bands want to go back to what indie music - Suburban Kids with Biblical Names used to be about, before it became a mean- Taken by Trees ingless term. Anyone can get money for guitar - Hello Saferide strings, or form a studiocirkel - a group of in- El Perro Del Mar dividuals who apply for government funding - Friska Viljor for rehearsal rooms. This encourages bands to
Sweet, Swede Music Angelea Selleck and Saskia van
S
wedish bands, it would seem are dominating today’s indie music scene. They have been cranking out a great deal of legit indie rock/pop acts. Coincidence or a perk of socialist government?
With big-selling Swedish groups such as Europe, Roxette, Ace of Base, Robyn, the Cardigans and of course ABBA, Sweden is the third largest exporter of music after the US and Great Britain. However, today Sweden is home to a diverse collection of performers, many of whom are beginning to earn international acclaim: singer-songwriters like José González, alt-rockers like Mando Diao, dark electronica from the Knife, pops act like the Concretes, difficultto-label songstresses such as Lykke Li and bigger successes like Shout Out Louds and the Hives, who helped bring noisy garage rock to the main stream. Stockholm city has become Scandinavia’s major music hub. It is home to the largest event producer in Scandinavia EMA Telstar, as well as many indie bands who move there hoping to make their big break. So what makes the Swedish music scene so successful outside the country’s borders? Like many bands, their success partly due the wonders of the Internet. They take advantage of this free publicity and music lovers worldwide respond instantly to attain music from unknown artists. Moreover, there are certain aspects about
One Way or the Runway
Genetic manipulation meets fashion Emma Gans
L
assie, 101 Dalmations, Paris Hilton and her chihuahua Tinkerbell all sparked a trend for specific dog breeds. Even the movie Babe led people to desire a pig on a leash. The popularity of certain pets fluctuates significantly, and they are often abandoned after they are out of style. Recently, the usage of pets as the latest must-have fashion item has been taken to a whole new level. Scientists are experimenting with genetically manipulating animals into glow-inthe-dark accessories. In April 2009, scientist used cells from sea anemones that express a red fluorescent gene to create this same characteristic in the dog ‘Ruby’. They have also experimented with pigs and rabbits. Some people consider it to be a new form of art that is interesting to explore. However, others have expressed outrage that animals are used in this way for the sake of art or fashion. While genetic manipulation can have its benefits for society, creating glow-in-thedark puppies serves no scientific purpose. The time and money spent on creating glowin-the-dark animals could be spent trying to combat disease. Fashion and art is not a field that genetic manipulation should meddle with. As with every hot fashion item, there comes a time when it is simply no longer trendy. The danger of this particular ‘fashion item’ is that it concerns animals. When they become so last season, they are not as easy to get rid of as a pair of shoes. In making animals a fashion statement scientist run the danger of supporting animal maltreatment.
Deniz Dirim
W
hat I’ve realized in my travels is that discovering countries is vey much like meeting new people—you learn their distinct likes, observe faux pas, and try to get a feel for the lifestyle. In Amsterdam pragmatism is preferred to indulgence, in Paris style is of utmost importance, and in New York— where I was over the October break— well…lets just say it’s a blissful array of all that is urban. Without going into an anthropological analysis (keeping in mind it would prove to be a very Western-centric discussion) let us briefly ponder on how these cultures came to be so different. The Netherlands is probably still living the influence of the Calvinists, whereas Paris has a long held a tradition of opulence. The Netherlands and France are nations formed from centuries of change and reform whereas diversified America is a patent product of immigration. Upon examining their histories, even ostensibly trivial qualities, like the Dutch’s preference to bikes over the Parisians’ and New Yorkers’ use of metros and taxis can be understood. A country’s choices prove to be deeplyrooted in its culture. The French, who value their luxury, prefer to sip their black coffee while lounging at cafes. In New York though, a completely different lifestyle calls for drinking coffee: typing away at a laptop, reading the new big novel, or hurriedly rushing the streets, to your next destination. However, regardless
of the citizenries living easy, being chic, or having everything at once, there are of course similarities. Perhaps the most obvious one would be a love of art. All three of these major Western cities have been and are art capitals of the art world. Holland flourished in the 17th century, Paris shined in the 19th and New York sizzled in the 20th. On exploring museums in these cities one will find a deep appreciation for all art—traditional, modern and everything in between. There is only, as with individuals, a difference in a nation’s taste. This brings me to my final point. My most baffling observation—a truly haughty phenomenon—is that all these cultures, (and the people who make them), contend that their way is indisputably the best. They staunchly maintain their own likes, biases, and lifestyles are the ultimate answer, the optimal choice. Does this have to do with arrogance of the people who comprise a city or some sort of inherent nationalism? One might say a bit of both. So, the relevant question remains…what are you? Which clan’s culture do you follow? If you cringe at the thought of making a decision it may be that you belong to the new species born as an inevitable result of globalisation, or international breeding…But don’t be so quick to loath lacking a sole location to label “home”; think of benefits of having a worldview. Consider each country as a unique person. Would you rather have one friend, or a whole globe full of ‘em?
Telomerase: The Elixir of Life? Saskia van Henten
T
elomeres are the plastic ends of our chromosomal shoelaces. As cells lose a small part of their chromosomes every time they divide, telomeres are pieces of sacrificial DNA that form a protective cap just the way the plastic ends prevent unraveling of shoelaces, telomeres prevent damage to the DNA. So, instead of the chromosome being chopped off, the telomere is chopped off. The 2009 Nobel Prize for medicine will be awarded to Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak for their work on telomeres and telomerase. Owing to their close association with cell-division, telomeres keep a tab on how many times a cell has divided. They also delay the aging of a cell and may therefore be the key to increasing our life span. Every time a cell replicates the telomeres shorten, until the telomere becomes too short to protect the chromosome and the cell will be unable to divide any longer without damage occurring. To prevent faulty replication the cell is then forced into a state in which it cannot further divide. As we age the telomeres become shortened, which is why the length of our telomeres could be used as a marker for
aging. An enzyme in our body called telomerase is however able to reverse the shortening of telomeres by increasing the length of the telomere. Embryonic stem cells express this enzyme, which enables them to divide without limit. In adult humans this enzyme is also present in low levels in tissues which replenish themselves frequently, such as skin and intestine cells. By increasing the activity of telomerase, the number of times the cells can divide could be extended, and aging could be prevented. Telomerase activity is also typical of cancer cells. By artificially increasing its activity cells will be more likely to turn into tumor cells. Because telomerase stimulates formation of cancer cells many scientist are skeptical about its capability to delay aging. Nevertheless, recently researchers have studied the effect of increased telomerase expression in cancer-resistant mice (created through stimulation of tumor suppressor pathways), and results showed these mice had increased lifespan and a later onset of disease. If researchers manage to prevent telomerase’s cancer-stimulation in humans, then it might indeed prove to be a powerful tool to counter aging.
A University College Student Association Magazine
11 COLOSSEUM The Art of Hitchhiking
F
or those who have waited hours at a shady gas station along the highway, or who have enjoyed rides with a middle-aged, dingy-shirted truck driver with pictures of nude women stuck all over his cabin, hitchhiking is no stranger. For those who have not, do not be afraid – the latter is an exaggerated example of a stereotype about Eastern European truck drivers. The former, well, the former is highly likely to happen at least once along the way. Putting aside the possibility of drawn-out waits however, everything else about hitchhiking is quite fun. Recently, the third official hitchhiking competition took place. On 17th October, the first day of our celebrated week off from the academic hysteria, ten couples (eight couples and two trios, to be exact) took off on an exciting and – as it later turned out – exhausting journey to Kraków. Most of them made it, some did not. Nevertheless, they can all agree that it was unique experience, incomparable to nothing else. You think it’s simple: get your thumb out, a vehicle stops, and there you go - you’ve just hitchhiked. But there’s more to just sticking your thumb out. Hitchhiking is an art in itself. There are certain know-hows and tricks you should familiarize yourself with before venturing on the journey. A very effective skill is to
know how to approach strangers with a smile that creates the impression of being a trustworthy person and sends out a positive vibe. Think it’s silly? Try it after a 24-hour lack of sleep. Another useful advice, especially when hitchhiking on long distances in Europe, is to stick to the gas stations on the major highways as much as possible. Taking a wrong ride to Bremen’s nowhereness, for instance, can cost more than five hours of waiting. Bona-fide hitchhikers would also say that having a cardboard sign with the direction is always a plus. Knowing these techniques, however, will not guarantee you the first ride. And contrary to expectations, more experience does not necessarily equals less amount of waiting on the road. Hitchhiking can be a bird in the bush sometimes. Whether you get a lift or not depends entirely on the perspective of the driver in that beaten-up old truck. But it’s like any game: adventurous and unforgettable. Just imagine the stories which can amount to a threevolume sci-fi saga afterwards. As for Kraków, I can only feel sorry for the people who have not visited that city yet. If you are already changing your perspective about hitchhiking, start practicing your thumbs (and smiles), and find a partner for the Spring break’s challenge to Barcelona. For more information, contact UCSA’s TripCo.
JAEL OTERDOOM
Iva Mechkunova
Crossword
Sindhoo Rangarajan
Key of last crossword
Dear peruser of the Boom, I hope you enjoyed the previous crossword. Here is a new one meant solely for your enjoyment! Feel free to contribute to the next crossword by mailing me any interesting clues (and the answers). Down 1. Colour of Camouflage 2. Olden name for Ethiopia 3. Writer of the song Summer Wine, also recorded it along with Nancy Sinatra 4. Japanese Soup served in Dining Hall 7. Chelsea FC’s owner 8. Collaboration between the British Company Lever Brothers and the Dutch Company: Margarine Unie 12. Father of Linguistics 13. Campus Cat’s name
Across 1. A Peter Jackson re-make (2 words) 5. Fairy from last year’s musical 6. April 22nd (2 words) 9. Ancient India’s contribution to mathematics 10. Region in Italy- a battle during WWII- Enur 11. Blackadder’s first name 14. Edson Arantes do Nascimento is better known as 15. Type of Bicycle (2 words) 16. One of the most abundant elements in the universe
QUAD
QUERIES
“Are you scared of not finding a job after college?”
“No, I’m really not concerned with anything professional yet.”
“I don’t even know what I want to do yet.”
“Not more than anyone else.”
Coen van de Kraats, 1st year, SCI
Danielle Vermeulen, 1st year, HUM-SSC
Lachezar Yanez, UCU graduate of 2009, now doing International Law of Human Rights and Criminal Justice
“No.” “Not scared, maybe concerned.”
“Not at all.”
“Not really.”
Sierk de Jong, 1st year, SCI and Joska de Langen, 1st year, SCI
Sjir Hoeijmakers, 1st year, SCI
Niels Brants, 3rd year, SCI (pre-med)
“Maybe a little, especially because of the broad education of UCU, but after I do a masters it should be fine.”
“We do neuroscience. They’ll be begging for us.”
“I’m not scared.”
Matt van der Gronde, 2nd year, SCI and Lorraine Dintzner, 3rd year, SCI
Lou van Gendt, 2nd year, HUM
Iulia Colescu, 2nd year, SSC