1'he Beaver is printed on JCi0% recycled paper. Please recycle yourcopy. Nervous System_lN II· :-{ · • ION The State of Africa ldlewild Continental shift interview NEWS4 Pa es 4 & 5 IBEmodel Abrave!}ewUnion:fl!:'A..-URES20Confl.ictin orderedtofast SUelections2007 I.MI Myanmar Election----~----.:.... byracialpolitics BAKEER-MARKAR ELECTED NEXT STIJDENTS' UNION GENERAL SECRETARY WTIH 808VOTES OVER SULLIVAN'S 545 MORE1HANTENPERCENTvornFORNEITHER CANDIDATE A received a formal apology from Chris Lam Dewji. Dewji, initially uriaware of fter an election filled the complaint made against with much controversy, him said, "it was a total mis-· Fadhil Bakeer-Markar communication and it wasn't a ' was elected as the LSE big deal." Students' Union General He also added, "Given that Secretaryfor the next academ-Fadhil is extremely, extremely ic year, by a large majority. popular among brown students Bakeer-Markar polled a andthatmost of the eight orso total of 808 votes, to Zoe audience members at High Sullivan's 545. Sullivan was the Holbornhustings werebrown, I only other candidate in the didn't think it was controver­race. A total of 163 people, or sial to imply that they would 10.4 percent of the turnout, probably vote for Fadhil. voted to re-open nominations. However, I have since apolo-Following the result, gised and would like to make Bakeer-Markar told The clear that I no longer believe Beaver that he would be "the any candidate has ever been Gen Sec for everyone" and particularly popular or unpop­whilst being critical of theSU's ularwith anygroup ofstudents handling of the Sutherland in any election ever." protest this year, he said his In a further twist, witnesses first goal would be to improve have alleged that they heard School-SU relations. Bakeer-Markar express similar Zoe Sullivan saidofBakeer commentsatlastyear's election -Markar: "I think for the most part Fadhil ran a great cam­paign." The race for General Secretary was. notwithout con- Itwas a troversy, as complaints and allegations of racism emerged. total miscom-Dark side ofthe moon:The lunar eclipse over LSE At one point, Bakeer-Markar made a complaint to the munication Returning Officer, Adrian out and vote for him". Taskforce this year, and that Bakeer-Markar was "a ments from many national Beciri, about current SU and itwasn't a Bakeer-Markar, who went Bakeer-Markar has supported racist towards Chinese peo-societies, including the Sri Communications Officer Ali on to win last year's election, Chinese societies. ple". The Returning Officer, Lankan society, the Indian big deal Dewji, who was working on denied that any of his com-When asked about the sep-Adrian Beciri said that he Society and the CSSA. Sullivan's campaign. He said ments regarding Meng's cam-arate incidents of possible would not be taking the matter Simon Douglas, a candi- SU Communications that Dewji had made com-paign were intended to be racism in this year's elections, further and was satisfied that date for Communications ments to him regarding race Officer racis. He also denied using the one LSE student,Hasit Savani, the email was an in-joke Officersaid"I thinkitwould be and his campaign. phrase "Chinese army". said that "such comments on between Wong and many mem-nai:ve to suggest that there is Bakeer-Markar alleged Hetold The Beaver thathis race are absolutely not befit-bers of the society. Wong has not a racial element in voting, that he had been told by Dewji comments "could have been ting of a member of the SU since sent a formal apology to because it has been observed that his supporters present ata seen as racist, butIdidn'tmean Executive." On the Meng issue, Bakeer-Markar. many times that that is the hall hustings were "brown"and it. Straight off that night I Savani said, "even under pres-This year's elections for case. I think some of the socie­that he will "get their votes apologised... I was under so sure I don't think he [Bakeer-General Secretary appeared to ty endorsement ideas lend anyway." count night. Bakeer-Markar, much stress...! have worked Markar] would have made such polarise theUnion between the themselves to a racially segre- Bakeer-Markarsaid, "At the ran against George Meng, a very closely with George Meng, comments had George Meng different national communities gated vote." time I took it as racist and I Chinesestudent,in the race for and used his ideas. I have also been black." at the LSE. Sullivan took Although there were no was very upset". He has since International Student's Officer. personally encouraged mem-In a separate incident, the endorsements from a range of explicitly racist comments told The Beaver that he is con-Two witnesses at the count bers of the Chinese community Sri Lankan society received a student societies which includ-made, several Union commen­fident thatDewji was notmak-alleged that they overheard to get involved in SU poltics". joke email regarding Bakeer-ed Labour, Liberal Democrats, tators have argued that the ing racist comments and will Bakeer-Markar say a number Both Meng and Bakeer-Markar Markarfrom AdrianWong, one Debate and the Feminist soci-comments have highlighted the not be taking the matter fur-of times thatMenghad"gotthe have worked on the of its members. eties. On the other hand difficulty of discussing impor­ther. He also said that he whole Chinese army to come International Students' In the email, Wong stated Bakeer-Markar took endorse-tant matters related to race. + 02 &averI06 March 2007 NEWS 6-&7~~IIIWlllii...-Bounrersfillroleofpolire; --. Paris School ofEcononlicsopens;Sup rtforDavies're-aR intrnent; aches in High Ho rn Inothernevvs ---=-« HIGHER EDUCATION NEWS ii'iGHER .ttl\iCAno.~ SVl'l'tl!!'lf.1rene.urs competition. draw staff from four grandesZhu Song ecoles, the Paris-I Universityand a national research centre. Not The Paris School of Thomas Piketty, the Economics (PSE) opened School's Director, has indicated last week, which France that there are doubts even hopes will rival top world insti-among its backers, telling Le ating for tutions such as the LSE and Monde newspaper that it was Harvard. "like setting up Microsoft in three days The institute aims to draw the Soviet Union".However he top researchers to the country argues that in order for French wouldhave a and give Europe new weight in higher education to compete in international economic debate. international rankings, it isdetrimental Formed by a collaboration essential to give the PSE flexi­of six research institutes, and bility in choosing whateffect to her drawing on public funds, pri-research to finance and what vate partners and its own pay to give researchers. health endowments, it will be capable The School has little of hosting 900 postgraduate. prospect of matching US aca-SarahWilow students and 350 research staff. demic salaries, but it hopes to Opening the school on set a European standard. seriously Nutritionist Thursday, Dominique de Recent successes include StPhilips Villepin, the French Prime tempting economists such as Medical Centre Minister, said that the school Philippe Aghion back from would allow "the construction Harvard for a six-month sab­of a French and European eco-batical, and developing an nomic doctrine", and could add advisory council studded with She already had a body a European voice to the current Nobel Prize winners, including mass index (BMI) of 17, signifi-monopolisation of academic Joseph Stiglitz, a development cantly below the medically safe debate and production of eco-economist, and Amartya Sen, a level of 18.5. Sarah Wilow, a nomic knowledge by American philosopher. nutritionist at the St Philips universities. Even with thispedigree,the Medical Centre, said "Not eat-Itsstructureis a breakfrom PSE will have its work cut out ingfor three days would have a convention in the French high-to win the international recog­seriously detrimental effect to er education system in which nition of theAmerican business her health and if it is done the elite grandes ecoles cling schools, the LSE or of France's repeatedly would do long term fiercely to their individual tra-own top-ranking economics damage." She added that if ditions. The selective PSE will school inToulouse. A model preparing for the runway at the Profitunity fashion show two weeks ago Vishal Banerjee Senior Reporter A recent study by an LSE professor shows that bouncers are becomingthe chief law-enforcers in areas where police are too stretched to cope, prompting an inquiryby The Beaver into the prac­tices of bouncers at the weeklystudent night Crush. LSE Professor Dick Hobbs told The Independent newspa­per, "We found that the police are utterly overwhelmed. In some cities you could have up to 30,000 people being policed by maybe a dozen police, but therewould be a couple of hun­dred bouncers there." One anonymous West End DJ told The Independent: "Its all down to the doormen. It makes sense, really. How else can theysearch everyone at the door but still have people get­ting in with drugs and gunsand stuff?" Crush generally adheres to most policies employed bymajor clubs within London·. Door staff admit there is no specific pattern to searches. However, they insist that most people are asked for forms of identification,and thattheytry to search anyone entering with a bag, in addition to pattingmost people down. Incidents of assault have arisen many times at Crush, and the bouncer on the door admitted thathehadcalled 999 in response to this "quite often". Crush will now prosecute people who have assaulted someone or have damaged something within the club. SU general manager Gethin Roberts said, "the door staff have the authority to act on behalf of the licensees and to do any of the things that licensees can lawfully do [other than authorise the sale of alco­ hol]." "Essentially this means they can grant or deny access, require someone to consent to ~ jectany­ ~ o]istoo rowdy, had too much to drink, is a danger to themselves or others and/or is rude tot ACrus being searched as a condition of access, confiscate drugs or , offensive weapons...intervene as necessary to prevent unlaw­ful or disorderly behaviour, use reasonable force to do this and if necessary to eject personsfrom the venue." Some of the problems in Crush have been known to spill out onto Houghton Street after theclosure of the club, or when people have been forciblyremoved from theclub. This has caused the SU to step in and ask the bouncers to clear prob­lems outside as well. Students from many uni­versities attend Crush, and one of the doormen at Crush told The Beaver, "It's a mixture [causing the trouble]. In the past it's been LSE kids as well." He added that bouncers will generally eject any person who is "too rowdy, had too much too drink, is a danger to themselves or others and/or is rude to the staff". The bouncerwent on to say that they would crack down on persistent offenders. In addition to this, the Westminster Council, the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority and the Metropolitan Police can make regular, unannounced inspec­tions at the LSE to check that all security rules are being met at any SU event. Crush usually has 14 bouncers in the area, easilymeeting the minimum legalrequirements, and police are rarely required to regulate situ­ations that arise at the weekly event. Cockroachesinvade HighHolbornhall- Simon Wang Senior Reporter T here has been a continual cockroach problem in the LSE's High Holborn Hall of Residence that is yet to be resolved. Although surroundingbuildings have also been affect­ed, a particularly large number of cockroaches (students have been calling it an 'epidemic')have been discovered within High Holborn. According to an email sent to High Holborn residents byDave Newnham, facilities man­ager for three LSE halls, a recentpricequotegiven by pestco'ntrollers was "rather larger" .,,.._....,______.....,____ than the School had hoped. He in halls. Photograph: Jess Cartwright said, "underLSE financial reg­ulations, we are forced to seek alternative quotes due to strin­gent financial authority lim­its." According to Tim Forsyth,Warden of the Hall, although the cost of· treatment is high.­the LSE is going to use a toxic gel to sort out the problem. A company will be in the Residence this week, and will be treating the Hall over the nextfive to six days. However, an anonymous source has expressed concern to The Beaver that the LSE is trying to heavily cut costs in LSE halls -one of these costs being the money spent on con­trolling pests -which is whythere has recently been an increase in the number of pests UKfaces dementiacrisis Stress season begins as • ISE PROFESSOR PREDICTS 1MILLION+ SUFFERERS BY 2025 exams Ioo m Laura Deck Patrick Cullen News Editor Senior Reporter A major study on the The LSE's mental health impact of dementia in provision has been criti­the UK, led by LSE cised by disaffected stu- Professor Martin Knapp, pre-dents as internship application dicted a massive increase in the season ends and exams begin, number of people suffering with a corresponding rise in from dementia within the next stress levels both on and off 45 years. campus. The report was commis-680 students used the sioned by the Alzheimer's School's Student Counselling Society. Professor Knapp, of Service (SCS) lastyear,and 294 the LSE's Personal Social have been seen by SCS in the Services Research Unit, led the first five months of the current Internship and exam stress overlap in March and April research with Professor Martin academic year, indicating that Prince from the Institute of stress and mental health is a Mitchell-Forster said that they are offering individual Psychiatry at King's College considerable strain on many groups will "focus on the posi-counselling and supportgroups London. students. tive" as well as attempt to for people having difficulty. He The findings of the report, However, authorities feel reverse the "severe neglect" of added that the School is which focused on the econom-that not all stressed students mental health issues among "increasingly taking a pro­ ic andsocial impacts of demen-take advantage of the LSE's "women of ethnic minorities active approach in helping stu­ tia, were presented to officials considerable support network. andyoung men who feel unable dents cope with stress, through from the Department of Health The Medical Centre is to talk." workshops and widespread and theTreasµry last week. sometimes the first resource Adam Sandelson of SCS publicity on·stress manage- The report concluded that stressed students turn to. One told The Beaver that the ment for students." the government had failed to second year student who School is aware of the high lev-In addition, said properly support people with sought help told The Beaver els of stress on campus andsaid Sandelson, "these workshops dementia and their families, that"the Medical Centre [was] included presentations for new and also found that dementia very unhelpful, it was an emer- students at the start of their costs the UK £17 billion annu-gency appointment and the degree course, as well as work- ally. The government has since doctor patronised me, hinting shops looking at coping with said that dementia care is 15,000 younger people are go around andso somebody has that it was just me overreact-stress and dealingwith psycho- already a priority. documented with dementia in to say it worth spending more ing, getting overemotional. He e doctor logical issues involved in Currently 700,000 people in the UK, and it is suspected that money on Alzheimer's or more told me it was just PMS." preparing written assign- the UK suffer from dementia, this number is significantly money on breast cancer or The same student said the patronised ments." and two thirds of these people underestimated because the more money on cardiovascular "LSE needs to be more wel-He said that more than 200 are women. By the year 2025, data is dependent on cases disease? Those are very diffi-coming ... there needs to be sup-me, hinting that students have attended these the numberof people who have being referred to services. cult decisions ... ". port for people who aren't [yet] workshops. dementia is predicted to exceed Effective medication can In response to the report, breaking down." it was just me The School said that the one million. greatly reduce the cost of care The Alzheimer's Society is call-Daisy Mitchell-Forster, LSE's mental health adviser This is largely due to the for people who have dementia, ing for dementia to be made a newly elected Women's Officer overreacting .... and the School's health and fact that people are living however the cost of prescrip-national health and social care argued that the School's coun-safety adviser were workinglonger, and the proportion of tion drugs is another source of priority. It is also asking for selling sessions are "insuffi-He told me it with the SU and other depart-people with dementia doubles contention. research funaing to be cient" and are many people's ments to increase the well-with every five year age group. In an interview on BBC increased, support for caretak-"lastportof call." Shesaidthat was just PMS. being to staff and students. One third of people over the Radio, Knapp discussed prob-ers to be improved, and a newly proposed supportgroups Many students still remain , age of 95 have dementia. lems of National Health national debate on who should would '-'address the gap unaware of the full range of Families that provide home Service funding for drugs to pay for the caretaking of betweentakingmedicationand An assistance on offer to them. care for relatives with demen-treat dementia versus drugs for dementia victims. counselling...they're for all. Others continue to not cpmetia save the UK more than £6 diseases such as cancer: "We Mental health is a very stigma-forward due to the stigma that billion every year. don't have enough resources to tised issue." surrounds mental health. .Seaver I06 March 2007 NEWS AliwinsEdWelfareamid gender tension RUHANA ALI WINS EDWELFARE RACE OVER JAMES KETTERINGHAM BYMARGIN OF 344VOTES KETTERINGHAM RAISES CONCERN OVER FEMALE DOMINANCE OF THE POSmON R Rajan Patel ed the position of Education cerns over campaigning tech-my political and democratic He said Ali would make a ould not and Welfare Officer, however, niques. She said that she was rights especially in my free "competent" Education and emember any-Senior Reporter with Ketteringham'sclaim that "shocked" when she found out time or when I have booked Welfare Officer. hing?" Ali said he is "growing increasingly that current Sabbatical Officer time off work." Ketteringham and Ali also she would "sup­uhana Ali defeated her concerned that the role is Alexandra Vincenti cam-Ketteringham said he was had different responses to port the girl and opponent James paigned for Ketteringham; "I "disappointed" by his defeat questions asked by The Beaver refer her to the Ketteringham for the was upset and disappointed. I and he thoughthe campaigned during the election count. In advice position of Students; Union think Sabbs should be neutral better than Ali because he response to "what would tre", while growing (SU) Education and Welfare in these races." focused on"talking to students you do if a teary-eyed first eringham stated Officer with 802 votes in what reasingly Vincenti replied saying: about their concerns" rather year approached you e would refer the had been a hotlycontestedrace "Being a sabbatical officer in than aiming for high after she had been thepolice, call for during the week. concerned that nowaybars me from exercising --"'--visibility. drugged at Crush and e drug tests and Ali said she was excited with campus before the count lastThursday, the role [of and felt that she deserved to win because she is "confident, EdWelfare] is I think a committed and prepared to push for change". becoming mpetent Her opponent, Ketteringhamsaidhewas"ner­ perceived as male could do vous" andfelt thatthings were "looking bad" during the vote suited only to the job just count. Ali said that her landslide females as well as a victoryby 344 votes "reallysur­prised" her. female Ali's"SuperRu-supporting youallthewaythrough"slogan was accompanied by her cam­paign for affordable education, including campaigning against fees increases as well as"argu­.ing for morestructureofteach­ing" and"makingpastoral care work for you through better security. tutorial support". Candidates also responded Ketteringham was pressing differingly to the question of for "equality, opportunity and , whether or not they were pro-justice", and wanted to be "an life or supported pro-life poli­approachable first point of cies. Ali initially said that she contact for students to find did not know what the term solutions to their problems, meant, and Ketteringham told academic orpersonal". The Beaver he would have to New controversy surround-Ruhana Ali celebrates her election as the new SU Education and Welfare Sabbatical Officer think about it. T he race for visible campaigning for the Many considered Meyer's Communications Officer Ruchika Tulshyan coveted post, Meyer says she is "aim Higher -vote Libby wasthemosttightlycon-Senior Reporter "Looking forward to working Meyer" slogan catchier than tested of this year's elections, with other Sabbatical Davey's: "for an efficient withcandidatesandsupporters Officers ... and looking forward Union, vote Tom Davey for stayed in the count room until In a nail-biting race for the to new challenges." She has Treasurer" and Courtney's: 4am to learn the final LSE Students' Union (SU) handled over £100,000 in her "Reliable. Passionate. Sabbaticalelection result. Treasurer, student voters previousexperienceofworking Experienced. Vote Jeff #1 for Kayt Berry won the elec-chose Libby Meyer with 694 at a boarding school, and Treasurer." tion with 659 votes over Dan votes over her opponents Tom believed she deserved to win Third year Philosophy and Sheldon's 46l) votes, after re-Davey and Jefferson Marshall duetoher"previous SUexperi-Economics student Charles allocation ofvotesforeliminat-Courtney . ence and knowledge." Laurence commented:"it does- Meyer ultimately beat SU Returning Officer n't seem like there are very Courtney by 146 votes. Absent Adrian Beciri told The Beaver many personalities in the elec­from the elections count night, that he found the race of tions this year. The SU is like a Ithought Davey trailed further behind Treasurer to be amicable and faux democracy with no with 245 votes. After highly "in the spirit of cooperation". accountability." ould win very popular, ,,,antedtodosomethingforthe would win~becausesheis \'eJYgood looking Union." popular, good looking and had The relationship between lotsof friendson hercampaign andhadlots of the SU Media Group and team". Sabbatical Officers was a big He also said that hefriends working issueduringthe campaign and thought that his was the best Berry, an established media campaign of the race, and pos­ onhercam-group figure as the head of sibly the wholeelecti-0n. PuLSERadio,said that repair-Simon Douglas echoed this paign team. ing this damaged relationship sentiment, saying "It was a "is the ·first tiling I want to very friendly race. All of us change". were able toagree times to fin- Dan Sheldon Askedif he thoughtBerry's ish early when it looked likeComm relationship with the Media campaigning was pointless,Officer Group w-orked to her advan-and I felt there was very little tage, second place Dan bitchiness in the campaign in Sheldon said...Itwas actually-to general" myadvantage. I thinkithelped While bitterness was most-me differentiate myself from lylostonthe losing candidates, ed candidates. theothercandidatesand domi-one Sabbatical candidate said Berry explained to The nate the agenda." that he had "never seen KaytBeaver that although she did-· Sheldon appeared disap-wearing lOW-(!Ut tops before n't like competition, uy decided pointed at losing; he told The she wore them at several key atChristmas to run because the .B«wer shortly before results hustings.. Needl say more?" Libby Meyer celebrates her win at 2.15 in the morning Union has given me so much I were announced that Berry Studentsfavour Davies're-appointment GLOBAL E-MAIL AND ONLINE VOTING DELAYED BY CONCERNS FROM THE SCHOOLAND THE PRESS OFFICE iiRETURNING OFFICER REPRIMANDED FOR USING THE TERM "ONLINE REFERENDUM" Laura Deck News Editor D uring the Students' Union (SU) elections last week, students voted in favour of the re­appointment of LSE Director Howard Davies in a non-bind­ing poll of student opinion on the issue. Students voted "Yes" or "No" in response to the ques­tion "Do you support the re­appointment of LSE Director Howard Davies?" and had the opportunity to write a brief explanation for their answer. Students could vote online or in the Quad. Access to online voting on the issue was delayed by the School due to concerns about the text included on the votingwebsite. Online voting was accessed through the SU's Global E­mail, which usually is mailed to students at the start of the week. Lastweek thee-mail was not sent until 4:35pm on Wednesday, more than seven hours after voting commenced. The Global E-mail was delayed due to requests from the LSE Press Office that an article from The Beaver be advisers before allowing the e-until the afternoon. If [theremoved and that Davies'man-mail to be sent. School] had those grievancesifestobeincluded on the voting Beciri told The Beaver that they should have been raised webpage. he was reprimanded for using before voting effectively start- SU Returning Officer the words "online referendum" ed." Adrian Beciri spoke to IT on the voting site, he was told However, Robinson added Services on Wednesday after-to change the text of the voting that "the School's reaction noon about the delay, and the webpage and he was also pre-showed that they are takingPress Office subsequently con-vented from sending a second students' views seriously," and tactedhim andrequested a pri-e-mail on Thursday linking to she said that the fact that the vate meeting to discuss the the voting webpage. vote went forward was "a Davies vote. Louise Robinson, a student remarkable achievement." The Press Office told Beciri member of the Court of Davies sent out his Lent that the vote might not be con-Governors, said, "It is frustrat-Term 2007 "Director's·Letter" stitutional and said that they ing that the polls opened and to all LSE students on Tuesday, needed to consult Davies' the e-mail didn't get sent out the day before voting corn- RONloseseveryrace Michael Deas Senior Reporter T here was an increase in the number of votes for Re-open Nominations (RON) this year after a contro­versial campaign by some stu­dents to raise awareness of the option to vote for RON. Ross Allan, the main organ­iser of thecampaign, took outa paper allowance on RON's behalf for all positions up for election. Posters were put uparound campus and in halls of residenceswithslogans such as "Don't let career politicians run your union" and "Vote for RON -He has· a mind readingmachine". Allan also advocated voting for RON at a number of elec­tion hustings. He told The Beaver: "I thought it was important to inform students that just ly over-resourced, and uncon­because they are unhappy with stitutional." the candidates on offer they Somestudents also claimed should still vote and register that the campaign had been a that opinion. Many students waste of resources, especially are fed up with the usual elite given that large paper alloca­of hacks running the union -tions were taken out for all it's undemocratic." races. But Allan did concede his Residences Officer re-elect campaign had attracted criti-Louise Robinson said "I think cism. "Some candidates were its excellent to raise awareness unhappy, but the campaign that there is an alternative. But definitely wasn't personal." because campaigns were run One such critic, for all races this has been a Communications Officer candi-massive waste of union date Simon Douglas, told The .resources -literally £180 worth Beaver: "I think it was disin-ofpaper outthe window" genuous, superfluous, massive-Allan was banned from the LSE's curriculum among other initiatives. Another member of the Court of Governors, Arthur Krebbers, said: "The result shows that, by and large, stu­dents see Howard Davies as a great, all-around asset to the school.. .. I trustourrepresenta­tives on Council will therefore vote in favour of Howard's reappointment." Eddy Fonyodi, also a mem­ber of the Court of Governors, told The Beaver that the result of the vote showed thatDavies' "strategic programmes for the School is thus perceived to be serving [students'] interests". Opponents of his re­appointment argue that tuition fees have increased and appli­cations from state schools have declined under Davies'tenure. SU Postgraduate Officer James Caspell opposed Davies' reappointment inlight of rising fees. "One of the reasons the Davies referendum fell is because he's already pricedmany of the people who would oppose him out of the LSE," he said. A candidate for the SU Communications Officer posi­tion, Simon Douglas, told The Beaver he thought that "the menced. tive effect on online voter majority of the people who Beciri called the letter turnout, but did not affect gen-really know whatis going on in "timely" and said that he felt eral voting in the Quad. the Students' Union and the that it was "unfair that Davies The vote was a result of School voted against him." could send an e-mail out to student campaigns for greater Beciri said that he was everyone"and none of the peo-input into the appointments of unsurprised by the result of the ple who oppose his re-appoint-high-level positions at the vote because it was a '"yes' or ment had the same ability. LSE. 'not sure"' decision for most Beciri added that the Supporters of Davies' re-students. The final vote, includ-School said to him thatthesec-appointment cite his experi-ing both online and paper bal­tion on Davies in the election ence in the business world and lots, was 932 in favour of pullout in The Beaver had the in the public sector. In his Lent Davies' re-appointment, 311 same effect as a School-widee-Term "Director's Letter," Davies against it, and 360 spoilt/nomail opposing Davies. said that he would like to con-vote. He said he thought the tinue as Director to push for-delay of the e-mail had a nega-ward a five-year plan to renew Jewish Society apologises for "Islamophobic"endorsements campaigning on the street for an hour after throwing cam­paign leaflets and posters out of a top-floor window of The Old Building down onto Houghton Street. When con­tacted he refused to comment on the incident. Elections for non-sabbati­cal executive positions received the greatest number of votes for RON, with more than 250 votes for RON for the Residences Officer, LGBT Officer and Returning Officer elections. Michael Deas Senior Reporter T he LSESU Jewish Society issued an apolo­gy to its members· last week, after receiving com­plaints about an e-mail sent to it members endorsing candi­dates in Students' Union elec­tions that said there was a "very real threat of an Islamic society sweeping of the board causing dangerous UGM motions next year that are detrimental to the interests of Jews/Israel." Many students, especiallyMuslim students and candi­dates, were offended by the e­mail. A member of the Islamic Society told The Beaver, "Their actions were Islamophobic and this is a sensitive issue for Muslims at the moment. ManyMuslims I have spoken to feel victimised by this. I find it a shame that they equate the interests of Israel as being the interests of all Jews, many Jews don't support some of Israel's actions." Deborah Hyams, a member of the Jewish Society also expressed her concern: "Theyseemed to be openly tellingpeople to vote against those they saw as affiliated with the Islamic Society, and speakingoftheprospect of the victory of those associated with I-Soc as a 'threat'." Communications officer candidate Simon Douglas, who was not endorsed in the e-mail, said, "I thought it was disgust­ingly one-dimensional," when " Their actions were Islamophobic .... Many Muslims I have spoken to feel victimised by this. A member ofthe Isl asked about the Jewish Society's endorsements. Hyams said that the endorsements could contribute to a larger problem of discrim­ination: "In the context of the anti-Muslim discourse and Islamophobia that is too all common in the UK, where peo­ple are considered potential "security threats" simplybecause they are Muslim, we should be even more careful not to make statements like that." The Jewish Society· President did not respond to questioning by The Beaver. SU Returning Officer Adrian Beciri said that he had spoken informally to some members of the society about the e-mail and that he believed that the matter would best be dealt with after elections were completed. In thee-mail apologising to their members, the Jewish Societysaid"We of course have nothing against the Islamic Society, we admire it greatlyfor the many great events it offers on the LSE campus. Our intention was only to encour­age you, the JSoc members to use your votes to supportIsrael, but we accept that we may have addressed this in the wrong way and thus sincerelyapologise for any offence caused." While many societies endorsed candidates in the SU elections, some chose to abstain from this practice. Residences Officer Louise Robinson told The Beaver that she was pleased that societies such as · the Literature Society and the Amnesty Society chose not to endorse specific candidates. + Cqrtrage underfire COMMENT&ANALYSIS voices of the British popula-putforward by Laurence is the tion. Even before the bloody idea that "the distinguishedand destructive consequences conduct" of British troops is of Blair's lies were revealed in reflected in their "good rela-Iraq, one of the largest ever tionships with the local anti-war political demonstra-Iraqis". How exactly does1 Supportfor British military presence in Iraq and "the nation", it has become all tions in British history was Laurence define "good rela-1 Aula too clear that the war was held in February 15, 2003. An tionship"? The footages! All we are saying, 1s.•• Afghanistan is non-existent amongst the British fuelled more by Blair's con-released in 2006 of the abuse! Hariri T people andfor very good reasons cerns over the countries' natu-offourIraqi teenagers by eightj ral resources -oil -than a British soldiers, or the generalhe Back Our Boys cam-based upon two fictitious ities of these two countries is a threat to Britain's security. ill-treatment of Iraqi civilians paign, launched by premises. political myth that only serves This explains why US soldier inBritish custody, themacabre Charles Laurence in last The first premise is that to satisfy the insecurities of a serving in Iraq in 2003, Tim stories of rape and bloodyweek's The Beaver asking LSE British troops in Afghanistan patriotic imagination. It is a Predmore, described the war abuse -all reflect a very dif­students to sendletters of sup-and Iraq merit our support for lie. While many British troops as"an act not of justice, but of ferent "relationship" with port to overseas British troops, their bravery in defending deployed in Afghanistan in hypocrisy" since "oil. ..seems to Iraqis. This macabre side of is rampant with contradic-Britain's national security. 2001 or Iraq in 2003 may be the reason for our pres-the war has been marginalizedtions, ethnocentrism andpolit-This idea of a pre-emptive war indeed have harboured the ence". The underlying task of ''Instead of by the blind-patriotic zeal of ical myths. The campaign is to crush the terrorising capac-patriotic ideals of defending US and British soldiers is not the campaign and the only to protect Britain from the supportingthe mention of death in threats of dreamt-up weapons victims ofthis war Laurence's launch, is that of a of mass deception, butthepro-British solider. The over six­tection of oil fields. Concerns ortryingto endit, million Iraqis who have also over a viscous liquid, not this campaign is been killed in the war do not, national security, is the reason apparently,warranta mention. why British troops are scat-supporting thevery J>erhaps the campaign should tered around the globe. Like consider writing letters to the myths that any other neoliberal strategy, millions of bereaved Iraqithe troops in Iraq and legitimiseit families showing them oursol-Afghanistan are merely pawns idarityand disassociatingour-of Blair and Bush's imperial selves from the imperial ambi­board game. estimate of over two-million tions of Blair and Bush? Or The second false premise people gathered in London to perhaps writing to the British of the campaign is its assump-protest against the looming troops to inform them of the tion of British support for the invasion of Iraq. The deploy-declining British support for wars. This premise ignores the ment of troops overseas never the war, thereby pressuringfact that the Iraq and had the strong support of the them to demand theend to this Afghanistan wars not only British public and -as last war?Instead of supporting the lacked an evidential base, but week's anti-war protest illus-victims of this waror trying to also a consensual one. The war trates -still does not. end it, this campaign is sup-in Iraq was not only in breach Finally, a deeply unsettling porting the very myths that ofthe UN, but also ignored the justification of the campaign legitimise it. what they have done and experienced. I think the idea of showing our support for the troops (and all ofthetroops, not just the ones who hap­pen to share the Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and n't happen to be the same as same patch of land Molly his political resolve is, quite with us) is a good die. The common soldier should not shoulder the plainly, one, but I would bullshit. Tucker blame which rightly falls upon their government Notwithstanding the fact that appreciate it if x;ny opposition to the war has Charles Laurence I found me campaign do with their reasons for problem with the idea that the nothing to do with my solidar-could show a little launched· last week in The enlisting. Personally, I resent role of the soldiers in the war ity with the troops. I actually more sensitivity in Beaver by Charles the people who attack soldiers should be apolitical, but . feel that I have their interests future when deal-Laurence very interesting. I on ideological grounds, when Laurence is then inconsistent. much more firmly at heart ing with an issue don't disagree with it in the they have no concept of their He politicizes his campaign by because I was completely so contentious and main, but there points I felt life there ortherisks they face. implying that the support of against sending them to a needed to respond to. That being said, I did 'our boys' is an issue of sup-pointless war that did far Fighting a war is Hever a resent Charles' Laurence's tone porting the war. His comment, more harm than simple, safe job; I think there and certain aspects of his idea. "Their dedication does not good. I firmlyare very few people who would For one thing, the very title of weaken as ourpolitical resolve believe that the claim thatsoldiers have iteasy. the campaign strikes me as war is in no wayThe life they lead is one of vaguely offensive. This is an being fought to defend danger and discomfort, home-article published in the LSE me or my country, but sickness and heartache; far SU's newspaper; we as an rather the hidden agendas of from family and friends and institution have one of the a government I don't support. I all that is familiar and con-most international and diverse fully understand that the sol­stantly putting their lives in student bodies in the world, diers' families need to believe harm's way. I have absolutely and the notion that we should that the war had purpose so no problem with being only back OUR boys (that is, that they can think that the reminded of this, and further-only British servicemen) You''cannotblame danger their children face more, have complete respect strikes me as more than a little everyday is not in vain. That young men for the and admiration for them, exclusive. This especially con-doesn't mean I think the war although I do not support the sidering that not only have a actions ofa does have purpose, or that the warand never have. The waris number of our students fought danger isn't in vain. Every government over not a soldier's fault. Soldiers in the armies of different time I see a soldier crippled or enlist to serve their country; in countries, but some of them which they have no dead, it makes me ache for doing so, they often see itas an against the British army itself. them and their families, but I control over ideal construct, which allows Why should we support only can'tjustifythewarinorder to them to sacrifice themselves Brits? It bears consideration justify the horrors that result with honour and be a part of that this war is not one fought does, and in these uncertain from it. The thing I find most something bigger than them-on a national scale, but is a timesitis even more important unethical about the war is the selves. You cannot blame truly international effort and to show oursolidaritywith the way it devalues those that die young (often painfully so) men therefore it is an insult to the army." was quite inflammatory for it; the one thing joining the for theactions of a government other nationalities that fight to those whose political army gives them for their risk over which they have no con-in it. Not to mention the fact resolve hasn't weakened at all is the promise of a death that trol and which they are bound that we're apparently only since we went to war. I was means something, and our gov-by law to serve. Most of the backing the boys here, not the against the war then, I'm ernment has stripped them of soldiers currently serving in hundreds of women who also against it now; my political that right. The soldiers that Iraq had probably joined risk their lives. · resolve is justas strong now as survive come back to a countrybefore the war had begun, Some comments were a lit-it ever was and the idea that it that has all butforgotten them implyingthatithad nothing to tle hard to stomach. I have no is weaker just because it does-and will rarely appreciate COMMENf&ANALYSIS -i3eaverI 06 March 2007 09 c&a@thebeaveronline.co.uk 'We holdthese truths to be.•• ' Despite its diversity and nominally international stated her commitment to festo pledges. ugly head during tense timesFatima working withall diversityoffi-Yet, despite all the upsets, in the SU, both overtly and status, the LSE has underlying currents ofintol- Manji cers. Perhaps he was also in theendlast week's elections covertly. Politics should be erance which surfaced during the SU elections unaware that several active were a resounding success for about the discussion and cri­members of the LGBT society the anti-racism project.Those tique of policies, principlesendorsement becauseofa"real Those who agree with the were supporting her. Had she who tried toemploythetactics and ideas, not discrimination ''Thereis no racism at the.LSE. Why do threat of an Islamic society email are probably an extreme really been homophobic, of racial intolerance failed. In of a candidate because of the we need an anti-sweeping the board." The minority.The point however is would Ruhana have won with fact, Houghton Street was way he or she looks. racism officer?" say many-a-endorsementlist then removed that there are elements of the a staggering 802 votes? Clearly filled with new faces; students The duty to stop intoler­student. "Diversity, Diversity, every Muslim-sounding name, student body albeit a small Ruhana's support came from a who had neverbeforetakenan ance begins with the candi-Diversity" say many-a-hack. regardless of whether these minority, who believe faith-large group of students, the interest in Students' Union dates we elected. They must "International university"says candidates were backedby the based discrimination is majority ofwhomI am sure do politics were out work actively to ensure that the School's website. On the Islamic society or not. Such an acceptable. not believe it is acceptable to campaigning~ ~::,.~ stereotypes due to ignorancesurface of it all, there is no email is an overt discrimina-elect someone who believes in and adding fun are countered and to ensure placefordiscrimination atthis tion campaign against a group discriminating against homo-to the proceed-that discrimination has no Racism can rearits university. Yet last week's of people, purely on the basis sexuals. ings. More than place in this Union; regardlessStudents' Union elections oftheirfaith. uglyheadduring Beforeanyone points it out ever interna-ofrace,faith, gender, sexualitybegan to reveal some of the The claim made in the -yes, I was working on tional students or nationality. And tense timesinthe deep and underlying preju-email that Muslims being Ruhana Ali's campaign and from different they must provedices held at the LSE. elected would somehow be SU, both overtlyand she is a personal friend. It is backgrounds that their pro- In my time here, I have "detrimentalto theinterests of because of this that I know became involved, fessed commit-been extensively involved with Jews/Israel" is entirely covertly thatRuhana will bethefirst to proving that SU ments to diver-Students'Union elections as a unfounded. As an active mem-tell you that discriminating politicscanbeabout sity are not justcandidate, agent and cam-ber of the Islamic society Nextwas thewhite,middle against someone because they more than just a popular rheto­paigner. Elections are a nasty (ISoc),Iknowthatitsmembers class, liberal. Those who are are homosexual is not accept-struggle for power ric, but genuinetime and there is always a hold different views on the always first to point the finger able. And I use.her·example, between white, British, commitments to touch of viciousness. Everyone issueofIsrael and thatthereis at others and yell racism, who not to sing her praises, but to middle class, male bringing about is 'in it to win it,' (except Joel no mass conspiracy to act love the rhetoric of diversity, illustrate that itis all too easy hacks. And the newly equality and Kenrick), so it's only natural against the interests of either but when it comes to taking to assume something of a elected Students' stamping out there will be some bitching, Jews or Israel. In fact the ISoc action their passion doesn't headscarf-wearing Muslim Union sabbaticals, the• p9lities backstabbing and of course has worked actively with the quite prove to be so strong. woman, based on a stereotype, executive and com-of .bigoted tears. I'm certainly no 'softie' Jewish society in holding joint Onesuch characterparticular-rather than taking the time to mittees are composed discrimina­when it comesto experiencing events. Furthermore, had the ly aggrieved me last week by find out whatshe reallystands of a diverse group of tion. ·---. "the politics." Yet last week, senderoftheemailbotheredto indirectly suggesting a candi-for. people. The student there were times when even I look through thepoliciesofthe date for Education and Perhaps to some extent we body overall, proved was personally upset by the ISoc-endorsed candidate for Welfare was not on board with are all guilty of this.Too often that it rejects dis-tone "the politi~s" began to Anti-Racism officer, they the LGBT campaign. How did we make a judgement on crimination. tak~-l wl -and silently,_the would have noted her commit-he reach this conclusion? someone based on their Is racism ram­politr_c :alscrjntination .Il'lent to stopping both anti-Based on the fact she appears appearance.Butitisthesevery pant at the LSE? b~gan·. eJ'{(f:;;--.· · • Semitism and Islamophobia. to be a practising Muslim; assumptions that can lead to Thankfully not. But E:irsily, tbe Jewish·society When I spoke to several therefore she must hate gays. intolerance. 'Difference' is someoftheincidents sent out a-mass email to all its members of the Jewish society, Right?Wrong. something to be celebrated during election week members claipung it WilS I found that many of them not Perhaps this characterha:d andtodo this,wemustcommit showed just as it "vitallyimportant"to"votefor only disagreed but were also not noticed Ruhana Ali's elec-to diversity through ourwords does in 'real' politics,th~se strictly listed" in their disgusted with the email. tion policies where she clearly and deeds, not just our mani-racism can rear its AbravenewUnion veiled criticism of Jimmy The Students' Union has lost some ofits colour Tam's response to theSanjivi recently, but the newly-el~cted sabbaticals can go Sutherland issue ('more inter- Krishnan ested in managing relations T a long way in bringing back the Union ofold with the School than fightingfor our students'), his address wo days a year, time previousyears. SoIwasableto Students' Union depends on has left a lot of students wish-slows down on step back and watch it all. answering it -what, really, is ing he were our new Gen-Sec. Houghton Street.· At Time decelerates when you're the purpose of the union. We IfJoel werenot the Union hero leastthat's whatitfeltlikelast notsurewhat'snext.Andwhat can almost call this the he is, it's not clear that he Wednesday and Thursday as I saw on Houghton Street on Kenrick-Sullivan debate.Take could have given a speech like the polls opened and would-be Election Day was a less force-their Union General Meeting that as part of an actual cam-Execs paraded around Clare ful, more muted Union-to-be (UGM) General SecretaryMarket Building with capes thatisn'tsureofitself. Itis not speeches. Joel's inspirational Askanyone whatthe and flags, dummies and drag. hard to see why. swansong called for a cam-Whether it was because cam-This year, more than the paigning internationalist Gen-Secdoes, and paigners knew I was busy previous two in my time, has Union and a return to the they'llsay'siton organising LooSE TV cover-been a year framed by a big 'strong and radical unionism' age, or maybe I just smelled,I question, and ultimately the ofold.With an all-but-obvious various was 'hounded' far less thariin success of next year's exec and reference to Palestine, and committees...' at1dgo silent paign for Gen-Sec. Zoe Sullivan fell on the oppositeend ofthespectrum,with a set of practical, uncontroversial (though completely valid) goals that address students' needs here. The winning can­didate Fadhil Bakeer-Markar seemed to come somewhere between,advocating very local changes with the loudness, if not the genuine ferocity, of a reformer. Fadhilreachedoutto the disenchanted and prom­ised to make the union 'inclu­sive and responsive'. Students feel disenchanted because theyassociate the SU with the bloated UGM and the aura of hackery, forgetting the veryreal services the SU is meant to and does provide and com­ing to regard it as 'ineffective, irrelevantand irreparable'(thewords of a former-Exec mem­ber!) 'Students, not politics' is not a new sentiment by any means. Zoe Sullivan is not the first Gen-Sec candidate to have emphatically promised a move from political hot topics to practical student-oriented motions, nor will she be the last (and nor could she have stopped the torrent ofideolog­ical motions the UGM will vote on for the rest of its exis­tence). But the Union you see during election week, and the Union you see over the rest of the year, are never the same. Is it because candidates lie? No. It's because we choose people to fill certain defined roles to provide defined services and they tell us why they're best for that. Except for Gen-Sec. Ask anyone what the Gen-Sec does, and they'll say 'sit on various committees...' and gosilent.That's not the point. If the Union is embodied by the UGM, it is almost certainlypersonified by the General Secretary, the 'leader' of the Union. · It follows that rather than deliberately trying to putdown and marginalise the UGM and pursue an indeter­minate body of disillusioned students out there somewhere by appealing to a lowest com­mon denominatorofconsensus and talking almost completelywith vacuous proceduralterms like 'diversity' and 'inclusive', it's time a leaderaccepted that the only way to make students careabout the Union is to lead by example. Time to make a stand for what the students who do care have declared they care about by whatever representative channels we have set up, especially the UGM. Having shot and edited dozens ofUGMs,Iknowitjust as well as anybody and I think thatifFadhilwantstopromotewhat is unique about this Union he simply cannot dis­count the UGM. Demystify it and give it more appeal, by all means -this is surely a hugeelement of the Communications officer's joband Kayt Berry has promised to focus on it. And don't lose faith that beyond the careerist 'hacks', students do care-justlook at how we had a second year in each sabbatical race, and even a first year in one. These are people who have ideas and want to realise them right now. Filming candidate videos for the last two elec­tions, I am always fascinated to meet new faces running for the Exec and for the commit­tees, with genuine commit­ment and desire for changeoften motivated by personalexperiences.It's all there.Start enjoying your Union and stopapologising for the fact that not everybody else does. + 06 March 2007 COMMENT&ANALYSIS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sidhanth Kamath Without a doubt, now is dents, don't study together steer it. Read or listen over and Facebook. Just imagine if Melissa the hardest part of the aca-unless you will study. Focus on your best works to date. It will some of those half hour ses- MANAGING EDITOR demic year. Adrenaline from your work -especially if you remind you of your capabili-sions were swapped with read- Aditi Nangia Knight exam pressure has yet to kick are a border-grade student. ties, the process you went ing an online academic jour­in. The joys of the festive peri-Once exams are over, spoil through, and how pleased you nal. SECRETARY F inal year undergradu-od are well and truly over. them rotten for putting up were with your efforts. ll.Know when to stop.You Lucie Goulet ates, I sympathise... Deep down you know if you do with your lack of devotion. 8. Love your tummy. Treat cannot push yourself too hard. Imagine me, when fin-not pull some motivation out 3. Exercise regularly -yourself to lots of fresh fruit If you find you have read the NEWS EDITORS Laura Deck;Timothy Root ishing my degree last year, my from somewhere, come April even if just ten minutes a day. and vegetables and drink same paragraph seven times, ex-boyfriend gave me such a till June, your life will be twice Getting your heartbeat up water. Now's the time to spend now is the time to go to the hard time that I decided to as hard. really keeps your mood regu-your pint money on Salmon pub, have an all-night bender C&A EDITOR begin the break-up process in Initially this was an email lated. This includes casual sex, and Steak three times a week. and write off the following Chun Han WongMarch alongside my disserta-to stressed friends. I have now unless you've just necked five Though being healthy doesn't day. The night out will ease tion. I thought that if I just been told to circulate it to the pints. If getting sweaty does have to be expensive. Eat por-tension and the day off will FEATURES EDITORS Charlie Samuda; one less source of stress in my So here, fully revised, my yoga. canned or frozen bags of fruit get back on task the followingsplit with him, that would be masses. not appeal, try swimming or ridge every morning and buy make you feel guilty enough to Christine Whyte life. I found myself back at my Top Twelve Degree Survival 4. The Healthy Trinity. Try and vegetables for soups and morning. PART B EDITORS Tips as you make your steady to take one multi-vitamin, one smoothies. 12. Book at least one holi- Kevin Perry; decent into the last months of omega-3 oil, and one 9. When you feel the stress day for the moment you finish. Daniel B. Yatesthe all important milestone Echinacea capsule daily. levels rise, sit up straight, The prospect of some relax-that is your undergraduate 5. Regulate your sleeping breathing a comfortable 4 sec-ation will help you realise how SPORTS EDITOR degree: patterns. Sadly this omits onds in, 4 seconds out rhythm short-lived this degree is. It'll Matthew Partridge 1. Avoid making life-sleep-ins. Getting to bed at for about two minutes: be over before you know it. changing decisions. (Unless roughly the same time each 10. Set yourself a time Ok, I'm hopping off my WEB EDITOR Min Ou you work best underpressure-night will ease stress levels. limit for online-mooching pedestal now. I hope some of Avoid all casual then now's the time to get a 6. Avoid all casualsexover about on places like Myspace that helps. Good luck! PHOTOGRAPHY SUB-EDITOR Liam Chambers '' second job whilst re-decorat-the exam period. Casual sex sexovertheexam COMMISSIONING SUB-EDITOR ing your bedroom and helping takes up crucial mental and Charlie Hallion period pre-arrange your grandpar-emotional strength. So from LISTINGS SUB-EDITOR Neeraj Patel ents' funerals) April till June, make your PART C SUB-EDITOR mum's, unable to eat or sleep. 2. Avoid all emotionally-hand your best friend. Meryem Torun In a twisted way, I made it so fuelled-indulgence (a-t this 7. Enjoy your degree and hard for myself to pass that I stage, i.e. pre-Easterholidays -re-inspire yourself. Avoid HE COLLECTIVE: had to rebel against notletting this excludes casual sex).You'll turning your degree into the collectivechair@thebeaveron­ anything come in the way of regret lost hours you could worst thing that could ever line.co.uk my grades. It worked! Top of have been spending on your havehappened to you. Instead, lsmat Abidi; Dana Al-Fakir; Ross the class. First-class degree. work if the person you've been consider it an extension of Allan; Sam Ashton; Sancha But many of my final-year fantasising about does not your self. Speak positively Bainton; Fadhll Bakeer-Markar; Vishal Banerjee; WII Barber; Alex friends are not experiencing reciprocate, ordoes but dumps about your specialist subjects. Barros-Curtis;Peter Barton; Rothna enormous upheaval, but you or goes home over the Treat your degree like a boat Begum; Neshy Boukhari; Clem instead something far worse. summer. If they do fancy you, you own instead of viewing it Broumley-Young; James Bull; Sam The 'I Really Can't Be Arsed let them do most of the run-asthevast ocean of knowledge Burke;Andy Burton; Sumit Buttoo;With This Degree Anymore' ning about around your you'll never tackle by exam Ed Calow; Jess Cartwright; James syndrome. timetable. If you're both stu-time. You command it. You Caspell; Claire Cheriyan; Chris Colvin; Laura Coombe; Owen Coughlan; Patrick Cullen; Peter Currie; James Davies; Michael Deas; Ali Dewji; Jan Daniel Dormann; Matt Dougherty; Simon Douglas; Part-time students. stand. This is no more demon- Aled Dilwyn Fisher; Alex George;Amina Adewusi possesses strated than by the positive Erica Gornall; Patrick Graham; a great amount of experience and principled campaign of Rupert Guest; Steve Gummer;in opposing racism and pro-Adrian Rogstad, who despite Andrew Hallett; Shanela Haque;moting cultural understand being relatively inexperienced, Aula Hariri; Chris Heathcote; Josh and students can expect to see produced impressive, progres-Heller; Kevin Heutschi; Tahiya Leftward Ho! Islam; Lois Jeary; William Joce; a more energetic commitment sive policies that inspired a Andhalib Karim; Laleh Kazemi­ close, Aled's emphasis on eco-shining stars will be new and vocal opposition to racism surge in support for clear Left Veisari; Joel Kenrick; James logical understanding as a Women's Officer, Daisy on campus that·was perhaps issues, such as targeted schol- James Ketteringham; Arthur Krebbers; L whole provides him with a Mitchell-Forster, Anti-Racism lacking last year, especially arship support for students in Sanjivi Krishnan; Laura Kyrke-Caspell mandate to initiate and lobby Officer, Amina Adewusi and witnessed by thelacklustre SU conflict areas and universal Smith; Ben Lamy; Charles for an agenda to reduce, reuse Mature and Part-time response to the racist and sex-language course subsidies. Laurence; Roger Lewis; Alex Levy; ast week's elections pro-and recycle, continuing work Students Officer, Ziyaad ist Kanazawa research. Despite his defeat, Adrian Shu Hao Don Lim;Bea Long; James vided mixed results for he and other Greens have car-Lunat. Finally, C&S, comprising received more votes than many Longhofer; Ziyaad Lunat; Jami Makan; Kim Mandeng; Jessica the Left, but every rea-ried out in recent years. Daisy brings both a wealth of the likes of James more well-known left candi- McArdle; Joey Mellows; Nitya son to be positive for the Building on this year's success of experience and the more dates in other races who Menon; lrfan Merali; Libby Meyer; future. -such as introducing automat-radical and broader approach unsuccessfully sought to tack Sophie Middlemiss; Daisy Mitchel- Firstly, it is certainly dis-ic double-sided printing and to women's issues that has to the centre-ground by Forster; Richard Morrow; Ali appointing to lose such com-lobbying for more ethical been lacking of late. Her cam-shrouding their progressive Moussavi; Doug Oliver; Erin petent and dedicated sabbati-investment-Aled will fight for paign pivoted on the notion politics. Orozco; Aba Osunsade; Rob cal candidates as Jeff environmental and social jus-that gender equality and However, the real chal-Parker; Matthew Partridge; Rajan Courtney and Simon Douglas tice on campus and beyond empowerment does notdepend lenge for the Leftisnotrelying Patel; John Philpott; Rebecca Pillinger; Keith Postier; Danielle to the real world, whilst many and campaign for the real and on one week of awareness but on 'representative' democratic Priestley; Joe Quaye; Tanya on the Left would have rel-effective improvements. is an ongoing struggle Itis imperative that institutions that so often prove Rajapakse; Dominic Rampat; ished continuing students Ed Similarly the expected re-throughout wider society. She '' ineffective and have compro- Gareth Rees; Ricky Ren; Louise Chevasco and James election of Louise Robinson will also bring a necessarily the Leftcontinues mised self-ascribed 'progres-Robinson; Daniel Sheldon; Alex Ketteringham to cause an allows her to continue as one synergetic approach to femi-to galvanize student sives' throughout the years. Small; Rebecca Stephenson; Jimmy upset. of the most competent and nist issues including environ-Instead it is imperative that am; Alex Teytelboym; Angus Tse; Instead, we are left with vocal officers within the SU, mental and social concerns, movement, bothin the Leftcontinues to galvanize Molly Tucker; Ruchika Tulshyan; sabbaticals whom, whilst lobbying for safer, more including introduction of sus-student movement, both in the Vladimir Unkovski-Korica; apparently competent, defi-affordable and sustainable tainable women's products the UGM and on UGM and on Houghton Street, Rosamund Urwin; Louise Venables; lexandra Vincenti; Simon Wang; nitely lack the campaigning residences and her role will such as moon cups, women-Houghton Street to stand up for the interests of Claudia Whitcomb; Greg White;I edge thatwas provided by Joel hopefully prove pivotal in only self-defence classes and a students across the world. This my Williams; YeeToWong; Kenrick and Alexandra extending the Living Wage to greater emphasis on queer Ketteringham, Rachael involves opposing all forms of Vincenti, the political heart of thecleaners who fall under the rights and identity. O'Rourke, Elle DoddandAndy discrimination, including the PRINTEDBYTHENORTHCLIFFEPRESS the current sabbatical team. residences contract. This year, Ziyaad's election brings Hallett, is yet again replen-systematic class discrimina-Nevertheless, there are many Louisehas provedan extreme-another experienced cam-ished by those who will seek to tion that increasingly perme-Ifyou have written three or more arti­ cles for The Beaver and your name successes to be acknowledged ly principled, effective and paigning voice to the uphold equal opportunities for ates British society, as well as does not appear in the Collective, and lessons to be learnt for an vocal voice on the SU Executive Committee and his all and make the Union and opposing occupation and please email: extremely important year Executive, supporting an commitment to encouraging UGM more inclusive in the exploitation overseas. If stu-thebeaver.editor@lse.ac.ukahead for progressive students increase in student consulta-theSUto demonstrate solidar-face of recent attempts to dents are to reclaim the LSE and you will be added to the list in at LSE. tion regarding School gover-ity with the oppressed people make a mockery of it, with from the pro-fees marketing next week's paper. Firstly, the re-election of nance and lobbying for an of Palestine is unrivalled. His racist, sexist and homophobic cabalthatcurrently convene in The Beaverisavailable in Aled Dilwyn Fisher in an Executive that is not afraid to dedication to environmental motions which have occasion-theVera Anstey Suite, then we alternative formats. extremely hotly contested stand up to the School when it and social justice will again ally reared theirheadthisyear. must continue to advocate our Environment and Ethics race is in the best interests of stu-strengthentheSU's campaign-However, one important radical vision today if we are Theviews and opinions expressed in was arguably a battle for the dents. ing edge, whilst he will no lesson for the Leftis not to shy to ever achieve a fairer, more The Beaver are those of the contribu• tors and not necessarily those of the new political heart of the Of the new faces on the doubt be implementing poli-away from the progressive socially just and sustainable editorsortheLSE Students' Union. Union. Whilst the margin was Executive, the undoubted cies to benefit Mature and principles upon which we LSE for tomorrow. COMMENT&ANALYSIS COMMENT -Beaver Established 1949 -Issue 662 -EeaverI 06 March 2007 LetterstotheEditor The Beaver offers all readers the right to reply to anything that appears in the paper. Letters should be sent to thebeaver.editor@lse.ac.uk and should be no longer than 250 words. All letters must be received by 3pm on the Sunday prior to publication. The Beaver reserves the right to edit letters prior to publication. Racialandreligiousintolerancesurfaces... ... from beneath troubled waters of elections Elections are always a hotbed of controversy, and this year's Lenttermelections are no exception. Ina culturally diverse insti­tution like the LSE,itis almost inevitable that fault lines of race and religion would surface under contentious circumstances. Controversialcandidateendorsement emails, unguarded remarks and racial innuendoes are but some of the unpleasant occur­rences thatmarred the run-up to this year's elections. Newly-elected Students' Union General-Secretary Fadhil 1 Bakeer-Markar is no stranger to such controversy, having found himself in a such a predicament exactly a year ago during the International Students'officer race. Having fallen victim to accu­sations of racist remarks himself, it is hard to miss the irony in Bakeer-Markar's complaint against the ill-advised comments of Communications officer Ali Dewji. While inflammatory racist intent can be safely discounted in this case, the avoidance of the potential backlash is not a given for every case of careless talk. Apartfrom thespatover racist commentary, thecontroversial and divisive nature of the Jewish Society's endorsement email, along with a 'racist'in-joke within the Sri Lankan society pres­ent a disturbing picture of the unseen discrimination that lie latent within the student body. The political correctness with which many students approach the subject may reflect a general consensus over thesensitivity of racial and religious issues, yet at the same time may mask underlying currents of ignorance and intolerance. The trouble therein is the difficulty of detecting such senti­ment, given that they usually remain well-hidden witil triggeredby moments of great tension and high emotional stakes. Nevertheless, there are both positives and negatives to be drawn from the revelations of the Lent term elections. It is regrettable thatracialandreligious intolerance still exist within thecampus, yet we can be thankful that such sentiment is limited to a small number of students. The Anti-Racism officer still has an impor­tantrole to play in the LSE SU, despite recent suggestions of the superfluous nature of the office. Complacency is the first steptowards failure, and the newly-elected members of the SU Executive committee should heed this timely reminder of the unseen dangers of intolerance. Isthelenttermelections thecomingof a new age... ... or simply yet another false dawn? I I I The annual 2-day frenzy has come and gone, and even before: thedustcansettleon thetrails ofournewly-elected SUexecutive: committee, observers are already scrutinising their every move.: Since the moment they declared their political aspirations on• _stage two weeks ago, these freshly-minted Union officers already:committed themselves to a thankless job in which results are: taken for granted while mistakes are mercilessly picked upon. : Hitting the ground running is important. With such short: terms of office, the amount of time available for the officers to• maketheirmarkson the Students'Union is limited. Getting off to: a bad start will only bode worse things to come. : As with any elections, the sabbatical positions are the focal: ·points of student attention. One can only hope that Fadhil can: galvanisetheUnion like never before, thatLibby can emulatethe• remarkable Joel, that Ruhana will prove her worth in the corning: year and that Kayt will demonstrate her media group pedigree in: her Communications position. Come week 8 of Lent term next: year, judgment shall be passed on these four; will pledges be ful-! filled? Or prove to be empty promises? Gotan opinion?Havevour savl 111,Beaver wantsto hearfrom vou. Emailc:&a@thebeaveronline.co.uk "is free" Dear Sir I applaud The Beaver for finally publishing an article that defends Israel. After countless articles viciouslycriticizing Israel, the publish­ing of Daniel Jason's "A toler­ant rule"finally brought some balance to debate and discus­sion on the conflict. Kudos to Daniel on a well-argued piece! Hopefully, this is an indication that The Beaver has learned that the only way to promotehealthy discussion is to pub­lish articles from different points of view. Our campus must recog­nize that the conflict is extraordinarily complicatedand neither side is free of blame for its continuation. The LSE is a university that pridesitself on its intellectualism and on its diversity. Let us contin­ue to hold our student body to high standards and conduct discussion on the conflict not angrilyoremotionally,butina civil and intellectual manner. Let us .beopen to hearing from people of different perspec­tives. Zach Seeskin "quite happy" Dear Sir So Tony Benn claims that he is not protesting against war and the. replacement for Trident but demanding that we bring troops home and abandon Trident. Wow, it is really clear from this what made him such an effective and worthwhile minister. Although Benn has missed two rather large points. The troops are being brought home, what he means is that he wants them brought home now, which means that protestingagainst the war is exactlywhathe is doing. And he wants to abandonTrident. He should bequitehappythen becauseat the end of its life it will be abandoned, what he means is that he doesn't want it replaced with a more up to date nuclear weapons delivery system. With such garbled and meaningless platitudes beingdishedoutby this mob those of us with a more realistic out­look on the world can take comfort from thefact thatpol­icy makers won't be listening to them. Will Joce "harsh prison" Dear Sir Sam Burke's 'The RightApproach' column last week patently failed to grasp the point of Cameron's stance on drugs. While not usually one to applaud the line of the Conservatives, I find Cameron and his supporters refreshing in their recognition that nei­therincarceration nor margin­alisation is helpful for drug users or society as a whole. Prohibition does not curb the use of drugs, while denyingthem the right to hygiene and safety standards not onlyendangers those who choose to inject drugs, but anyone else they share bodily fluids with. Cameron's endorsement of 'shooting galleries' in which users can inject drugs safely without fear of infection is an eneouraging sign that he recognises this. Sadly, Burke mistook this endorsement Cameron's ignorance of the negative health impact of heroin; it is unlikely Cameron is this stupid. Furthermore, Burke asserts that'cannabis is as addictive as other drugs', simply because it too affects (and I love the GCSE biology tang to this phrase) the 'plea­sure centre' of thebrain. This is factually incorrect and mis­leading; cannabis is not physi­ologically addictive, as heroin or cocaine are. It is habit-forming, but then so is exer­cise. Cameron's call for thelegalclassification of cocaine to be downgraded also heralds a new era for the-War on Drugsthat, finally, realises that the threat of harsh prison sen­tences does little to dampenboth supply and demand, while offering little hope of reform, redemption or better healthfor those who do choose to take drugs. Cameron's stance recognises that while some negative sanctions must stayinplace,thefact thatpeo­pletakedrugs will not change.The destruction wrought on society by drugs is mostly the result of theill health, finances or skills of drug users (somerelated to their social back­ground or educational stan­dards, others theresult of their drug use) and it is only with attention to these areas that those destructive elements might be eliminated; not by some ridiculous and unsup­portable notion that labellingthem as criminals mightlessen thedamage done to themselves and society. Sophie Knight "Jacobean secularist" Dear Sir I enjoyed your New World Ordercoverageanditwas sur­prisingthat a Fabian universi­tycould cover thesubjectbutI have a number of issues which I want to raise. Of course you know that some of your professors are recruiting the brighter stu­dents to be initiated in to the great enterprise? I was discussing this sub­ject with one student on the first day and I asked her if she remembered in 1990 when George Bush addressed Congressandspoke of theNew World Order? Shesaidshedid- n't as she was only four years old at the time. Before that Gorbachev spoke of the New World Order and in his biogra­ phy he credits the Pope John PaulII with bringing down the Berlin wall. The key question is this, was there a revolution in .Eastern Europe in 1989? According to themedia we had one, but it was only in Romania were people were killed. In Eastern Germanyand other states Gorbachev ordered the leaders to resignbecause they were going to implement the"great plan." If you were serious about expelling Sutherland, you eould ask him why he attends theBilderberg group meetings. These are secret meetings held. each year with prominent leaders from industries, acade­ mia, politicians from both the left and the right. Sutherland is in demand by a Fabian uni­ versity but he was in Goldman Sach's (is he left or right?). Hegel spoke of using conflict between opposites to imple­ ment change; the distinction between left and right is just for public consumption .. When Tony Blairwas asked about his appearance before the world's shadow govern­ment he lied and said he never attended the meetings; thereis proof of his presence in 1993. David Cameron has attended to be anointed the next leader of the country. In my estima­tion it is impossible to become Prime Minister without the approval the Bilderberg group. Lord Healy openly admits in his autobiography that he was the co-ordinator for the British contingent and that this is the most powerfulorganisation in the world. As a Christian I have to say that the Bible tells us of two New World Orders. The first one being organised by the Ethiopian genius Nimrod known as the Tower of Babel which God destroyed andscat­tered men over the face of the earth (Genesis: 11), confuses the languages and stoppedthem making a name for them­selves. Ever since, mystery reli­gions have organised them­selves in secret societies ·and cults to try for one world gov­ernment and make a name for themselves (Ezekiel: 8). Ifyoulook at the Book of Revelation 13, we have one world dicta­torship (anti-Christ) and no one can buy orsell unless they bow to him or take their mark in their right hand or in their foreheads -many say it will be a micro-chip aRd that technol­ogy now exists. (The Beaver, stop calling for more CCTV cameras). This is a huge subject, but if anyone doubts whether this plan is being implemented, get a book written in 1952 byBattersby called the "HolyBook of Adolph Hitler." Itfore­told every political changewhich has occurred in the last 50 years. "Utopia" by Plato is not a bad place to st;irt. For a historical treatmenJ:'try James Billington's "Fire in.,the Minds of Men: Origins of the Revolutionary Faith" which exposes the cultic origins of every revolution since the French Jacobean secularist Terror. It is available in the LSE library. By the way do you know that the symbol of Fabian Socialism is a wolf in sheep'sclothing? What could they mean that socialists might not be that nice after all? Just study the seal on the American dollar bill. It saysNovus Ordo Seclorum (NewWorld Order), which is also a title of a book by a Fabian Socialist philosopher H.G. Wells. The LSE has an Institute for Global Governance, I wonder who would want to fund that? The term 'conspiracy' is too loaded. Antony C. Sutton, the author of "Wall Street and the Bolshevik Revolution" and "Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler", calls it 'establishment studies.' Let us all agree there is an establishment in Britain and let us identify them and what theyplans are. It is a two minute walk from the Mother Grand Lodgeof England and the birthplaceof the First International to the Obelisk (phallic symbol)between Waterloo Bridge and the Hungerford bridge.Welcome to the Spiritual­Military-Industrial-Complex.And I thought the west was not spiritual? No, it is veryhard to get away from Egyptian religion. And beware of what wolves in sheep'sclothing teach you. Why do they not teach us that it was Marx who first called for a world central ban? Was the LSE not the centre for Austrian Economics at one point, how come they are no longerin the curriculum? Anonymous "some space" Dear Sir . As you may beaware,there is a proposal from the Government to give an extra £1 for every £2 raised by uni­versities from alumni and phi­lanthropists up to a cap of £2 million. This represents £2 mil­lion extra that the LSE had not budgeted for. The Students' Union should put in a bid for a portion of this money earmarked for particu­larproposals. ItrustthatThe Beaver will dedicate some space inits final issue of the year to some ideas that the Sabbs can develop over the Easter vacation for approval in the first UGM of the summer term. Dave Cole Hack, 2001-2006 + t­ eaver I06 March 2007 Rothna Begum I n light ofthe recentcontro­versy over nothing happen­ing with arts at the LSE, it is somewhat ironic as this yearof all years there has seen a real gearing towards the enhancement of an arts cul­ture. It has however at least served to prove that students are interested in the arts. The question as to whether there is anartscultureatall, I can only respond to with a resounding yes.Art at the LSE is not a contradiction. It is true that the LSE faces a disadvantage as we don't have an arts or music department, and undoubtedly it is the reason why other universities seem to be more 'arty'. There are a number of staff and students who are dedicated to the enhancement of an arts cul­ture.I sit on the Arts Advisory Group, which is made up of committed people who, despite thefact thattheyarevery busy as the heads of their own cen­tres/departments, are takingthe time out to discuss what theycando to enhance arts for the students and the LSE as a whole. The ·LSE is using its essence as a social science institution to have links with art exhibitions and initiatives despite not having an actual arts department. This year, the position of Arts Co-ordinator was created which was to oversee a num­ber of arts initiatives, take responsibility for a1t exhibi­tions and manage the Arts and Music website. As a student this was ideal for me to pursuethe arts and having founded the Literature Society during my undergraduate years I was aware of the importance in getting involved in order to change things. There areothers out there who also see a need for arts at the LSE, including those who think there is no arts culture. But the questionthat needs to be asked then is 'Why am I not doing anything about it?'If you are wonderingwhy there are no arts activities at the LSE, first really look to see if there is nothing. But if what you want isn't there then do something about it; get involved in a society, take the initiative to start something. It is always difficult, but there is more support now in place for arts that there wasn't before and if you're passionateenough you can see it through. A number of art societies and people who are carrying out arts initiatives are verydispleased with the idea that their hard work and efforts are going unnoticed. For instance, RAG week saw Dance Society go all out, Global Week had a great exhibition of perform­ance art, and Discover Islam Week with a display of Islam~c art including calligraphy classes and an aerial photoshoot of the word 'SALAM' (peace) made up of more than a 100 students. On top of which, the Music Society have extended their number of shows as well as the School's The LSE needs a cre­ ative outlet andthat can only be fostered ifpeople are willing to come forward Music programme that has an incredible set of LSE Lunchtime Concerts. Literature Society have goneall out on poetry at the UGM, poetry nights and the annual literary journal 'The Muse'. Film Society along with their great number of film screen­ings have seen the World pre­mier of'Zalzala'which was put on just last week. Drama Society will be holding their first ever musical 'Into the Woods' at the end of this term in Week 10. There are plansbeing drawn up of having an 'Arts ball'attheendoftheaca­demic year. The Arts Advisory Group held the first ever LSE Photography Competition this year which received an over­whelming 400 entries, 100 of Frolllheretoeternity ZhengGong H ow many photographsdid you take with yourdigital camera the last time you visited an interestingplace? A hundred, two hun­dred or even more? When feel­ing satisfied with taking all the beautiful sceneries back home, you have to be careful that it might bereave you from the most precious part of the tourism experience -enjoyingthe splendour in person. The digital camera is a wonderful invention that makes everyone a photogra­pher. A small memory card can easily store several hundred pictures. The images can be displayed on computers, with­out the trouble of film rolls or developing photographs.Computer software can trans­form even the most mediocre of photographs into masterpieces.The danger is that taking p i C ­tures of beautiful scenery becomes the central issue of the trip. Standing before the great­ness of Mother Nature, we can not stop pressing the small button on the magic box. Indulged in the amazement and happiness of discovery, we are too eager to capture all the beautiful scenery, forests, rivers, scenic buildings, moun­tains... The limitations of plas­tic film are not problems any more. The smallest pocket on your backpack can easily hold twenty digital storage cards, which allow you to takealmost as many pictures as you want. Surrounded by master­piece paintings in a hundred-year old great gallery hall, we let the flashes on our cameras glitter throughoutourtour. Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir ... , all the famous names spins our heads. Why ­not take photo­graphs of their works and enjoythem any time we want back home? No need to go to photographyshops, digital photos can be easily transmitted and dis­played on personal computers or televisions almost instanta­neously. It is not necessary to read the captions in a hurry, either. Just take a picture of the text and read it later on the screen. While viewing artifacts of ancient heritage dating thou­sands of years in great muse­ums, we can hear digital cam­eras' going 'click', on and on throughout a visit. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Indian... , everyartifactis worthy of a digital .photo. No wor­ries about weak light.We can always make adjust­ments with Photoshop.Bad image composition can be reframed at will and improper exposure can be compensatedautomatically. Our tourist experi­ ences becomes more or less a photographycontest. The winner is the one who takes the greatest number of interesting things with their magic box and brings them home. The side effect is that we easilysuccumb to impatience. How many of us still choose to sit down on a lawn and feel the peaceful earth beneath us, or stand in front of a portrait and scrutinize the stroke and hue, or stare at an ancient jarin its glass case and visualise its long history. By pressing the digital camera button, we tell ourselves: "I've got it." Since we can look at it later, what is the point in sticking to one spot? After we return from ourtravels, we do not really look atourdig­ital photos anymore! The greatest irony is that, more often than not, after we return from our travels, we do not really look at our digitalphotos anymore! On the Internet, there are many highquality photos, taken by pro­fessional photographers, on the same things we saw. Almost all the great galleries, ­museums and interestingplaces run their own websites, offering tons of fine feature pictures. Compared to those works, our own photos are blurry, and of low quality.Most of our own photos were saved in our hard disks and which are soon to be displayedin classrooms around the LSE as well as 24 selected photo­graphs up for the last week in the LSE PhotographyExhibition in the atrium. The sheer response to the competi­tion was evidence enough that there is a huge creative buzz that can be tapped into. This will soon turn into an annual competition and the School is trying to build up an arts and music programme that will be put into place for the coming years.'ReCollect: Creative Explorations of the LSE' is a new arts initiative takingplace by Heather Barnett (artist), which seeks to artisti­cally explore the diverse histo­ries, events and personalities that have shaped what the LSE is today. One of the upcoming performances is the "What's What?" An Eveningwith George Bernard Shaw which presents a multimedia promenade performancebringing to life Shaw's person­ality and wit, his era and links to the LSE. This event will be time to do it, this will become an official week for thecoming years and will hopefully serve to again enhance the arts cul­ture. There is a growing arts culture and it is good to demand more, but the best thing to do is to getinvolvedin some way or form. At the veryleast don't let the great art events and experiences just pass you by. This year may be the first for a number of things, but it lays the founda­tions for all things to grow. We need more people to getinvolved, the LSE needs a cre­ative outlet and that can onlybe fostered if peoplewilling taking place on the 26 and 27 April 2007 and there is a call for participants to get involved through acting or behind the · scenes. The SU Arts Forum alongwith Arts Advisory Group are holding the first ever LSESU Arts Week, which seeks to highlight the wealth of artis­tic activity that appears to go unnoticed. If you are someone looking to getinvolved there is no better left untouched forever. The back homewith a few hundred only ones that we look at are those containing ourselves and oi.µ-friends. However, we do not actually notice the beauti­ful backgrounds; we onlynotice the people in the pic­tures. So why do we spend so much time, energy and money to travel to those famous tourist destinations? We photos which we do not want to look at any more. Thesplen­dour that we are afteris lost! If you are a big fan of dig­ital cameras, please be aware of this danger. And the next time when you visit an ipter­esting place, after taking yourdigital photos, remember to slow your step, take a breath, look around, and concentrate looked upon the great scenery, paintings and ancient sites only through the small frame of our digital camera, coming on the beautiful things before you for a while. Real-life inter­action with your surroundingsmakes the trip complete. 'Ire}).)~clHaddavist\\Ero~busythis im\\m{ l\l!ltlDl: anuxl Sln£t !axl theGcuim'.n Rrons·~to~trackcl fNfrJ Ha:korohiserm-llln1ruml.Twasarnty Cll'irocm ... It all kicked off with uproar in The Daily Mail office as Supreme Commander Kim Jong-Karnath made an official decree against democracy. The Chair Collector Man­Basher-ji stonned out screaming something about patriarchy, followed closely by the Scandalised Security Stories Editor ... although Hacktavist reckons Moo's resignation had more to do with his being pally-with-a-<:ertain-sabby. Hacktavist since reteivromanya t'OUl­plaint from Hacks over Moo and l\,fother c,,,,u·•all too public canoodling. with soma Hack.,claimingitwusthemioonforordinazy studenl• avoiding ol Houghton Street. Hacktuvist advises them to get a room. Preferably not Mother Centi'• offiC<'...unle,; ofcoursethcywould like theirexploits docu­m.,nled in oc."C! We<'ks Hacl<1aV1St. Meanwhile at the Count, Eerie Beciri was in his prime, imposing Shariah law ­complete with his very own version of the Mutaween-inthe formofKreepy Krebbers and Barmy Bacon who were ready to crack thewhipagainstany Hack caughtwithalco­hol. Poor Dolly looked ready to Doug­imsel!-into..a 'Ole a., the Gruesome Grc,,ns w.cbratw Caspell Oc_,nes sc:ape to viotmy. Lou-Lou GobiilSOlland bo,r ""Y own curly baiml clone (who smElles ODDiy of J\>tro!('Ultt)wereinteamofjoyatthethougl1t of thcir belcr.-al Baby Dilwyn being able ""'"'treesfury,,t anotheryroz: Tears all round from the Comms Candidates-ofooursethiswastobeexpect,­edwhentheywereallfacedwiththe prospect of having toliveuptothegreatcan'tDo-ji it's legacy. And more tears from Cactus Morgan as she finally ful.6Js Hupby Heath-eock's dreamandtakesoontrololSociety. Meanwhile thP Exec contim.1<'S to by and pl'oduceils'"'YOY,,11 Emtica. lfuckta\'ist heal'll reports of yet more in-breeding amon&st UJP. Green•: this time between the Noble Leader himscll and theWomen's of!i­""' elect. Hacklavist c:an <:anfinn Comrade Ca.spell is courting Crazy H,minist Fbr.;ter ­andNOI'fonna·UGM chair Crazyn'O'Brain -contrary to popular nurours. Somuch for Dovil-ji'sclaimthatitstheMediaGtoupwho sleep togl'tber ... But Hacktavist hopes His favourite Comms officer isn't too down in the dumps overhisfailuretowinthepositionofGenSec. We love you Drool-ji ...anddon'twor,y you11 get your revenge soon -as FaykStrawBeny Blonde leaves the dark side to take your place, no doubt sbe too will experience the wrathof the mediagroup.Afterall its tradi­tion to wage war against the MisCommunication Officer ... • Hacklavis'l thinks the .name of the counting room oould be a Green t'Onspiracy. Abuse of Exec J'°""'1'? Thrlvtps a-nsures !Ut' inorder? No doubtHeaUHxx:k will beready tooblig<' ... The Vladical Left R eform or revolution? This question has plagued the left in the 20th century. But for many the issue seems distant. Europe may be going through mild slumps and the legit­imacy of the traditional parties may be dissipating, butitsure as hell does not see thesame incidences of extreme and mass poverty as Africa or Latin America,ordespotic regimes such as those in Asia or the Middle East, or indeed the levels of turbulence that could lead one to argue that we can have (letalone thatwe need) fundamental change. What prob­lems there are can surely be attributed to the inher­ent troubleof organising complex societies, of elim­inatingvested interests and, simply, of badly execut­ed policies. Respect the complexity of the world and ditchtheillusion thatwe know betterthan past gen­erations! For utopia leads straight to the Gulag. Still, some of us believe in dreams and demand the impossible. For us, there is still relevance in debating revolution even at the centre of the world system.Yet we are consciously a minority: it is rare that revolutionary ideas win a mass audience. In advanced capitalist societies, the market delivers for most people, most of the time. There are problemsbut they appear as a minor motif in the generalcourse of affairs. That's why the majority of working people in twentieth century Western Europeremained foyal to social-democratic parties. But if revolution is to occur, it requires mass action. There must be some connection between our daily activity and that goal, however indirect. Revolution cannot be the forcible seizure of power by a minority with the ambition of changing con­sciousness later. That's the same argument used to justifY Russian tanks rolling into Eastern Europeafter 1945. So, to use an overly abused cliche, whatis to be done? In practice, there is no need for constructing con­crete walls between reform and revolution.To mount a struggle for reform is not the same as to be a reformist. Revolutionaries have to immerse them­selves in every struggle against injustice orexploita­tion. They have to be the most energetic and effective wing of any concrete battle, and they have to try to connect every concrete battle with a network of other battles. While reformist leaders seek to isolate theissue at hand and set limits on the movement, we try to find ways of taking it ever further, broader, deeper. We refuse to accept the need for a permanentdivision between leaders and the led and we refuse to remain within the boundaries of the acceptable. We argue, always, for involving more and more peo­ple and for intensifying the control of the rank and file over every aspect of the conduct of the struggle. As such, we seek to raise people's awareness of their own collective strength harnessed from below. Every step forward is a step forward in confidence and in self-organisation. But no step is ever final. Neither is the movement of reforms. For we argue at every stage that further reform is possible in theorybut not in practice: the vested interests of the pow­erful will at some point be threatened and they will refuse to allow further reforms. Sometimes, their hold over the situation will fail. In a world built on blind competition and exploitation, this is bound to lead to a meltdown of things as usual. These are the times for which all previous struggles have been preparation and training. The powerful can no longer rule as before. Such moments involve the interlock of reform and revolution. At these points, things start to develop a dynam­ic of their own. The masses become frustrated that incremental improvements that they are used to are suddenly being removed through no fault of their own: they are just as diligent, law-abiding and moti­vated as before -but they are now faced with cuts, discrimination and deception. This pattern is evident across the world and at different times in the 20th century: from Russia in1905and 1917 to Germany in 1918 and Italy in 1920; from France in 1968 or Poland in 1980. By way of principle, these move­ments start as movements that demand a return to a more just and more efficient status quo ante. Sometimes though -where struggles for reforms had been led by revolutionaries -the vast majority has the experience and the confidence to make the leapbeyond the possible: to demand a world based on need not profit. And dreams start to become reality. Notes on Nothing ··-· --·---·····------·-· ---·-------···· D avid Davis, that's the Shadow (and probably future) Home Secretary, has been in the news this week getting very worked up about some government proposals. In his words "This failed project which has cost the taxpayers millions of pounds . withoutproviding a single benefit is a striking example of this government's sheer incapability to deliver IT-based projects on time, on budget and in working order.". As ­serious as this sounds Davies was discussing the demise of possibly the silliest government initiative for some time (and there have been plenty to choose from) -youth bonus cards. The idea was to take juvenile delinquents, hoodies, andASBO types and give them 'reward cards' whereby every act of good behavior would store up credits which could then be exchanged for up to £25 in cash. The government had already spent £2 million piloting the scheme in ten different regions before declaring that"the costs far outweigh the consider­able risks and uncertainties". The suggestion that problem teenagers can be transformed into model citizens overnight through bribery (and quite frankly not very generous bribery) would be almost amusing if it weren't being seriously considered as governmentpolicy. As embarrassing as this must have been for the government they are not the only ones to have made themselves look ridiculous this week. Delivery company DHL issued an apolo­gy on Sunday to a husband and wife in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA for sending them a parcel intend for someone else. This would have been a harmless mistake except that the packages contained a liver and a 'partial human head'. Whoops. The items had been intended for a medical research laboratory. Even more shocking is the further admission by state authorities that "28 more bubble-wrapped human organs could have been dis­persed across the country". I'm not surewhetherthis or the youth bonus cards scheme con­stitutes the bigger screw-up. Multi award winning musician Kanye West is expecting a parcel of his own this week and should be hoping that it doesn't contain too many body-parts. The singer placed an order for the mother-of-all-takeaways when he paid £2,000 for a curry to be delivered from a restaurant in South Wales to his home in New York along with the chef. Quite why he felt the need to do this is unclear. But then what is the point of being a celebrity if you can't piss away your money for no good reason? And speaking of pissing away money: THE ECONOMfCSOF CONFLICT Jn 2007,the UKwm give£1blJUon inaid to Afrfca, and spend from f12.S bHffon upgradingTridentsubmarines •• ·• •• 1••l Hnd um mo11: a:)ou1 'he i:-i~,l•:c; in thi'-i ·,,.-e(:k\ Ft:,lllll't'.S b:: s1_:;11'dling for: 50 Years ofGhana's Independence Mt'W,~,ww.p .... Timeline ofMyanmar History The Shan Herald Agency for News reports in Shan, Burmese, English, andThai, featuring politics, literature, human rights reporting and opinion columns. -www~~ Rwandan Genocide The only video of a murder in.Rwanda is available on Google. It was never shown onTV in the UK. Youla WWW,~/~~-'fue')'-"':t"Wanda~ Head of Politics Desk:Cha,fje Head of Society Desk: Oflllin Head ofBusiness/Careers/Law Desk: ~Gupta Political Correspondents: Gf'4!'9White,. The Right Approach Sam Burke M en and women risk their lives everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan for our liberty and the liberty of others. We recognise their great service and owe them our steadfast support. However, there is anotheraspect of Britain's defence policy, which attracts much less attention, andyetitis justas crucial to the liberty of ournation and others. It provides protection, diplomatic clout and remains at the heart of Britain's role in the world. We gave it a name: Trident. Trident is the common name for the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. The Vanguard Class s1,1bmarines or SSBN (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear) to give them their proper name, provide the United Kingdom's strategic and sub-strategic nuclear capability. The first Vanguard class subma­ rine was launched in 1993 carrying Trident II D5 missiles and shortly after followed the launching of HMS Victorious, Vigilant, and Vengeance. Together they comprise the cornerstone of our defence policy and a significant contribution to the Alliance's deter­ rent forces. Although the set of Vanguard class subs were commissioned in the the Cold War, the origin of the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons goes back far further. The 1945 Labour government contained few enthusiastic Cold Warriors. Unlike our modern politicians of spin, image, andmessage,theyhad seen nuclearweapons used. At first the Government resis­ted advice that the USSR was irrevocably hostile and. hoped international control of nuclear weapons bytheUnited Nations might work as the ultimate deter­rent to war. But, in January 1947, it was Labour, under Clement Attlee, thatcommitted this country to manufacturing and deploying its own bomb. Why?Because he knew, as we know today, that when the chips are down, you cannot rely on usual safeguards. Attlee wouldn't rely on the UN as the newborn organisation then, and we shouldn't rely on it as the awkward adolescent, which itis today. Today's world of increasing turbulence requiresthe United Kingdom and her dependents to ret1:1in a nuclear capability. In the face of threats from Iran, North Korea, Russia and the giant pink elephant-thatis China, the United Kingdom must remain a power­ful military force. We must remain strong so thatless benign regimes do not take advantage of the sort of complacent attitude of the simplistic "No Trident" campaign. I do not doubt their honourable inten­tions (well, most of them) but there is a child-like naivety in their"march and shout" advocacy. People who support Trident can oversimplify the situation as well. Some talk about an "independentcapability" with the same ignorance of securityissues. The truth is we depend on the Americans to sell us the missiles, to keep them serviced, to provide satellite guidance and to allow our submariners to practise on American firing ranges. One day the US congress may decide to withdraw these facilities. It would certainly do so the moment we fired off a mis­sile without American permission. The pointremains, however, thatwe have a first shot -butmore importantly the threat of a first shot (and more if necessary) to safeguard our country in the event of a nuclear stand-off. The logic of 1947 remains impeccable. The reality is the same; the science of atomic weapons will never be eradicated. But one might say the circumstances are more precarious in that nuclear weapons are increasingly accessible to unsavoury n~tions such as North Korea with its power-crazed egomaniac Kim Jong ll. And we are all too aware of Iranian designs on a Nuclear capacity -strictly for energy purposes, and yet given half a chance they would "blow Israel off the face of the earth". I don't mind the odd bet, but somehow I don't think I'd take my chances. There is a cost to this, of course. The Prime Minister estimates the new submarines would cost between £15bn and £20bn over 30 years. It sounds like -and it is -a lot of money. But this would only take up 3% of the entire defence budget each year, vastly out of proportion to its relative importance. The only plausible guarantee thatBritainwillnot fall prey to nuclear blackmail is if we continue to possess the _means to pre-empt, defend and, if neces­sary, retaliate. Quite simply: nothing else will do. In the timeless ~ords of Vegetius: "Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet belluni: If youwant peace, prepare for war." 06March 2007 Gender equality across the continent The New Scran Abdul-Malik Adam accuses global powers Ghana in celebration of its 50thAnniversary Numberofgirls per 100 boys in primary school -2001 97 or more 97-90 90-80 80-70 Less than 70 No Data The former colonial powers France Britain Portugal Germany Belgium Spain Italy Independent Onthe 6 March, The British 50 years ago, grant Ghana independence celebrates · thewake of independence for revolution to thefirst time 1956bringsfreedom from France This former Fullindependence Spanishcolony grantedby recently discovered oil Belguimafter 17 years as a UN protectorate Aftera brutal colonial rule, Belguim releases itsholdonthe Congo .­ A violent insurrectionends in freedom for Kenya T he Ghanaian capital,Accra, is hosting over fifty world leaders·, diplomats and for­eign ministers from around the world in celebration of its independenceGolden Jubilee today. Independ­ence celebrations in Ghana usu­ally go unnoticed around the world. But not this time. The an­niversary provides an opportu­nity to reflect on the evolution, development, achievements and drawbacks of the whole conti­nent over the past 50 years. On March 6, 1957, the Gold Coast (now Ghana) became the first aountry in Sub Saharan Africa to gain independencefrom British colonial rule. Its first President, Kwame Nkrumah (an LSE alumnus), declared that "the independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up to the total liberation of Africa". For Nkrumah, attainingpolitical and economic freedom was necessary inpreventing con­tinuous foreign domination. While modest success has been achieved on the political front, the continent can not boast anyappreciable level of autonomy in relation to its economic re­sources five decades after self rule. History is repeating itself. The first scramble for Africa was the proliferation of conflictingEuropean claims to Africa through military influence and economic dominance. As a re­sult,thecontinent was success­fully divided up as if it were cake torn apart by greedy Eu- Theindependent nationofDijiboutisucceeds from Frenc Somaliland ropean leaders, and the effects are still felt in communities across Africa. The continent is againexperiencingthe 18th cen­turyrush for its valuable natural resources. This "new scramble for Africa" is the continuous foreign extraction and control of the ' story is repeating itself. The continent is again experienc­ingthe18th cen­tury rush for its valuable natura resources new shareany resem­blance with that ofthe 18th cen-. tury? I thin the levels of control y Portugueseruleis A compromise is finally overin reached for independence Mozambique from theformer colony of Rhodesia inChathamHouse,London -t a. + tuesdaythesixthofmarch, twothousandandseven Aldgate. A ldgate takesits namefrom anoldgate. Itwas calledAldgate. It was the eastern gateinto the City of London.Nowadays it closes down at the weekend, so don't bother going then. Unless you want to pop over to the nearby Spitalfields market, to pick up some "retro" (broken) furniture, or Brick Lane, Lo:iiaon's~ premierlocationfor buyingcurriesandbikes.TheBangladeshiswho run the curry houses have replaced the traditional population of Jews. They were evicted from the 'Old Jewry' in 1290 before Olly Cromwellinvited them back in.TheybuiltBevis Marks to celebrate, which is the oldest synagogue in London and the oldest in the UK thatisstillinuse.Nowadays,Aldgateis hometosky-scrapingarchi­tecture such as Norman Foster's (the guy who built the library) Gherkin and thatone thatlookslike the Natwestlogo from the sky. Its full of slightly wanky bars that cater to the after-work crowd, although leave the mainroads and there's a pretty decent chance of you finding an old school East End boozer, ora mugger.There is an excellent fresh fish stall calledTubby Isaacs behind the roundabout which sells crabs, king prawns and, for a genuine taste of the East End, jelliedeels.These are fucking disgusting. kevinperry partb@thebeaveronline.co.uk AV~I»'lti~TIVA­TOR 3200 PIPE ED. ~"'J~Mf~ MANUAL REASON DIMINISHER fil Kubrick an~m failure of men@ lntervdiew 1. . tarewiid-usedto 1ve m r0tarybin.ROTARY BINDISCHARGER ­BINSWEEP@ - ~1.-l,.'f.... ,_ ->.... -c......... __.,.,..11t~......., <-.'I~--,.,l!i·t.,,.... ( t1,o..-.-) Style NARROW RADIUS ANTI-WEAR ELBOWS ­EXTRABEND@ MM~!STRIC PRESCRIPTIONATOR -MKVI I t's always a difficult moment for me become less reliant on one crop. It's also W hat could be more utopian tion processes. People have to when a new s·queeze offers me a cup of really important for development, which than a world in which the sit in factories and put pieces te. I know I shouldn't but we've chat-is surely as important as growth. Ok, so West was free to exploit all together for a living, getting greaseted away about favourite Japanese elec-it's interfering in the market, but com- countries at will? We Westerners have under their nails and sweating a lot tronica and I want to check that the man plete economic liberalism has so far earned that right...Europe developed and all sorts of horrors. Personally,of my dreams is giving me aFairtrade failed to lift the South out of poverty. fastest...natural selection, and good I'm not really up for it...and neither cuppa. As feared, he's getting out the Buying Fairtrade means a whole commu­ white men have shed blood overseas are you, my like-minded Western Twinings. My instinct tells me he's an nity has a betterquality of life. What's theIattempting to reinforce what ought to friend.That's why we have to make use ;autter bastard and to run like the wind. market alternative? be patently obvious. With free trade of the fact that we are richer to getInstead I quiz him. Predictably he tries to otherpeople to do this stufffor us. And fob me off with the argument that "How guess what! Because their lives .are do you know it really makes a differ-worth less, non-Westerners will make ence?" things for less. This means lower prices )> This is easy. Producers who aren't cer-for us. So not only do we get to not tified Fairtrade can get away with any-have to make things, but we get to buything from forced labour to using pesti-,.,,,..-things cheaper. Welcome to free trade. cides that make farmers sterile. Fairtrade Of course, the world is not an ideal producers are guaranteed a fair price for place. A lot of the time non-Westerners their product. In addition they are given a ~\;~,_-just aren't clever enough to make zpremium to be invested in development sophisticated things properly, so we projects for whole community, like facili-..>#----· ··.. ,. l , , have to do it ourselves. In time, howev­ties for sport, education, sanitation and er,the rest of the world will become as health facilities. It's not just money -· intelligent as us and then they can though, they get rights too! This empow-even make the clever things. At that -i ' ers people, which is a good thing, right? point, though, we'll probably be even The lovely people at Fairtrade Labelling cleverer so it'll probably work out Organizations International check all this there'll always be a bit we have to do stuff rigorously. By buying Fairtrade you ourselves, but the point is we have to know that the people who made your minimise that. product were paid a decent amount and Also, some people are claiming that have bettera betterchance of health, edu-non-Westerners deserve some kind of cation and political empowerment. Surely leg up to our level, and that defending you can't argue with that? local production against exploit will The Economist wrote about"Fairtrade do this. Bollocks. It's not our responsi­being a subsidy that interferes with mar-bility to bail out the developing world kets and impeding growth." This sounds Said man looks stumped. Maybe it's economic theory, however, we now have just because we're better at everythingbig and clever but actually it's a cop out. too expensive or he justcan'tbe bothered. scientific justification for exploit. than them. Free trade just allows for The South isn't on a level playing field, As Fairtrade products become more wide-It's simple. People all over the the world's economy to function natu­and it's not as though Fairtrade is subsi-ly available, fall in price and companies world want things, and because we're rally, as itshould.We have the capabil­dizing bad products or inefficient indus-increasingly develop their own Fairtrade better in the West, we generally want ities to exploit the non-Western world tries, its simply giving existing producers products, this ambivalence becomesJ more things. Someone has to make for our own gain, so we should. It's a fair deal and ensuring workers rights. increasingly difficult to defend. Fairtrade these things. Obviously we don't really human nature. Nothing can stop us The experience of Fairtrade so far has is an easy way to improve people's lives in want to do it. Making even really low-from realising this utopia, so long as shown that extra funds raised by higher a tangible way. And if you just don't care grade goods like cars without four free trade prevails. So do your part to prices go into improving the product and enough, do it to make yourself feel good, wheel drive involves horrible produc-help theWest , avoid FairTrade goods. into diversifying production, so farmers or just to get laid. V otefor the winner things that are great ofRant at: cupcakes The winnerwill probably recieve a really nice prize. If you would like to write a Rant and win a prizeemail: rant@thebeaveron­line.co.uk last week's Rant winner: lauraparfitt drew drawing she wins an apple tree I've always been a cupcake girl. Judge me if you will, but they are so the best kind of cake. Strong words, maybe, ,but I stand by them. I don'tmean fairy Icakes, for all that they have the better name; they are the cupcake's bland sad little cousin. I don't mean muffins either, with all the breakfast-y, low-fat options they imply. I mean the glorious, icing-bedecked Cupcake, soft and moist but still weighty in your hand, like semtex. Cupcakes are simply better than normal sized cakes. For once thing, they are neater-all thesatisfaction of a slice of cake without the crumby mess, ortheneed for a plateand fork. I used to live or die by my lunchbox cupcake; biscuit or jaffa cake days were depressing. I'm not saying I was miserable when I got a cake slice, buttrying to ttn:wrap it from the cling-film when the icing had gone all squidgy, andgetting horribly sticky (if lacking infork) justmade the lack of cup­cake all the more painful. Cupcakes offer significantly greater cre­ative scope as well.Your average pie is tasty, no doubt, but where do you go with it? A cake can only have more layers, or decora­tions. A cupcake can exist in its pure and simple form, or it can be stacked; my beau­teous birthday cake this year was 25 cup­cakes spelling out a message and I nearly wept at the glorious sight of it. The dark side of cupcakes is that they aresmall enough to be dangerously moreish. If you have one, you want another, and another until you are lying sick and bloated in a cupcake coma. Yet what a wondrous coma it is: if that be my death,then I wel­come it with open arms. S aturday morning, settling down to watch the cooking show with that fat ginger bloke and then maybe a bitof rugby. There's no finer accompani­ment to such weekend fare, no greater tradition, than sucking back a great big cup of coffee and sitting back with a great big weekend newspaper, supple­ments spilling from its entrails. Why read the paper? Because I'm a news junkie, and because I want fea­tures. FEATURES -articles about cool new bands, interesting new films orT.V. shows, cutting edge avant garde artists. Not,ifI may say so, because I'm interest­ed in what Henrietta Hoity-Toity has to say about the sorry state of herlife. Who gives two fingers if her son Oscar is a possible dyslexic, or if her daughter Maya will eat only organic sprouts? The suburban lives of bourgeoise parents "trying to keep up with the Joneses" -or, in this case, trying to actually be the Jones, is of as little interest to me as Applied Principles of Macro Economics. One can only hope that some weekly trauma will indeed one day be the death of her, and then she'll just piss off. Cos after all, what the hell are newspaper columnists for? + a. four tuesday the sixth ofmarch, two thousand and seven • m es or e loisjeary talks to sr:ottish rockers id 7ild about·award ceremonies, the pi:tfalls of the music press and getting authors to write their lyrics I dlewild's drummer Colin Newton is flick-we practice and where all thesongs were writ- live bands I've ever seen." ing through the copy of The Beaver which I ten. Dave Enriga, who we worked with, has got Colin agrees, "It wasn't justlike 'you're my brought along to the interview and loads of old desks all _wrapped up in blankets mate, you're on the record'.Thereis a meritfor exclaims, "It's the most professional looking that be puts in the back of a van and drives to every single band on there. If you hear the student paper I've ever seen", which is nice, where we are -i.t makes it sound really good record everyone can see that they're all good since it is often the interviewer who flatters wherever you want to record. Not being in a bands and they're all good songs." the artist and not the other way round. He studio, having your own space, feels much reaches the centre spread -"When are the more natural and_relaxed than being in a real-"Flavour ofthe Week" Oscars? It's award season, our schedule has ly expensive studio whereyou have never been been packed,the Grammys, the Brits!" I detect before." During Idlewild's early years they were a hint of sarcasm in his voice and reassuringly I ask whetheritis intimidating working in championed by Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq; suggest that they don't look very fun, prompt-studios where other great albums have been however, judging on their earlier response to ing the matter-of-fact response, "No, well crafted. Guitarist Rod Jones, who is lurking at theestablishment's award ceremonies, I get the we've never been invited. We have to watch the back ofthe room, pipes up "No, it's fucking impression thatIdlewildare not big fans of the them on T.V" -a surprising revelation since brilliant" but Colin admits,"I find being in a music press. Idlewild are embarking on their twelfth year studio like that intimidating, because you "I guess when a band is starting out you together as a band and have long been estab-know that that's your chance and it has to be need somebody, like Steve Lamacq, to get you lished and respected in musical circles. done then and has to be done right. But it's out there so that people hear it. It's just the more fun staying in Los Angeles than driving nature of it -it's unlikely that anyone is going 'Heavier, Rocking Origins' to Fife every day." to hear you if you just do it yourself, there has Again Gareth chips in,"I'd have liked to to be support from somewhere. The press is In the period since 2005's have gone to L.A," which is met with Colin important in that respect, but it can also be 'Warnings/Promises', the band have been informing him that he was just too late and a yourworst enemy as well. Flavour of the week working on new album'Make Another World', discussion ensues as to the practicalities of re-one week and then the next it's just on to the which sees ldlewild return to their heavier building their church on a movie set and per-nextnew thing. We were all quitecynicalatthe rocking origins. "It's definitely something dif-suading Dave Enriga to fly his dusty mixing start but I think now, as the band gets older, ferent from what we have done before, butitis desks over the ocean. we're even more cynical. We've never really also us going back to how we've done it in the played thegame, so to speak, now I don't think past-the band in a room, standingaroundand 'LiteraryInfluence' there is any need for us to and we know we playing together and seeing what comes out. don't want to." 'Iwelve years ago thatwas how we wrotesongs, As well as working on the new album, Gareth offers his insider-outsider perspec­so we just went back to that. On Idlewild have been the catalysts behind the tive,"I've always watched what happened with 'Warnings/Promises' a lot of it was acoustic up-coming 'Ballads of the Book' album -a Idlewild because I've been interested in the based -songs that Rod and Roddy had started project which was the brainchild of singer band myself. It's never been a scene sort of to write and then we got together and made it Roddy Woomble. The album is the result of the band." in to an Idlewild song. This time we made the collaboration between prominent Scottish "We've never been cool, flavour of the decision not to do it that way -to get Gareth authors and poets, such as Ali Smith and Ian month," says Colin, doing well to mask his bit-involved." Rankin, and Scottish musicians including terness. Gareth Russell replaced bassist Gavin Fox King Creosote and Vashti Bunyan, where the "I thought what was cool about the band a little over a year ago andgivestheimpression writers penned lyrics which were then inter-was for thatvery reason -it wasn't stereotypi­of being both a memberand a dedicated fan of preted·and recorded by the musicians. The cally cool, it was just Idlewild and a good the band."It was weird for me, coming in to a members of Idlewild are very proud of project, band. That's whatIthoughtand there, I've said band just as they were about to start writing which they describe as a "great achievement" it in an interview!" their new album. But the process that I saw and talk enthusiastically about the record and But Colin isn't stopping there."I used to going on in the room, within two or three days the motivation behind it. read the NME and Melody Maker. Now it just I felt like part of it. Everybody was pitching "On 'The Remote Part' album Roddy got makes me angry when Iread itbecause it's just ideas in together and you could hear the songs Edwin Morgan to write some lyrics for some the same shit and the same crap bands butjust taking shape from everyone's suggestions. It songs and he enjoyed thatprocess. He genuine-packaged differently. I mean look ..."he jabs was a fun way to write and a good way to keep ly liked meeting Edwin and was really happy his finger at a copy of one of the better-known everybody focussed on the music because with what they did. We have always had a lit-music weeklies sitting on the table in front of everyone has got a stake in it." erary influence in our song writing -it's not us, where a generic indie band, barely out of Colin agrees, "That'swhy thealbum sounds just 'I love you' and 'na-na-na'. We've always nappies and with only one album to their like it does and why the band arestill together tried to get some point across. I think Edwin name, looks up at us from the cover "... and everyone is happy. Everyone wins their then sentRoddy the lyrics for two songs unan-Seriously! It's just rubbish, it's a shame, but it own littlebattle."! remark on how harmonious nounced in the post, with a letter inviting him is"and with thatburstofangerhe throws him-it all sounds and am quickly corrected. "It to use them. Roddy then tried to get all these self back in his chair and shakes his head sounds it butit's not.Itis fun though. Ifitwas-other bands involved, at which point it all sadly. n't, it would just be another crappy job that became a bit too much and he decided to get Luckily for him, this feeling is not mutual you hate and it's definitelynot that. I think we [Scottish Record Label) Chemikal and the music press continue to celebrate and all still enjoy it." Quietly Gareth confesses, "It's Underground's help. It's a lot of work getting applaud the band. A band as diverse as a privilege to be able to do it." 18 bands and authors in to a studio." Idlewild is unlikely to please everyone all the How did they decide on which artists to time, and those who were drawn to the folkier 'Studio ina Church' include on the album? "It is people that we side of the band may not be overly keen on the genuinely admired," says Gareth. "There are harder tracks on 'Make Another World'; how­ 'Make Another World' was recordedin Fife, . some great bands on there -Sons and ever with 'Ballads of the Book', Idlewild have which Colin admits has a considerably differ-Daughters are a fantastic band [although he injected some much needed innovation and ent vibe to Los Angeles and New York where would have to say that since Roddy is married vision in to the music industry, for which they 'Warnings/Promises' was completed. "We've to the band's bassist, Ailidih Lennon] and are to be admired. got a little studio in a church and that's where Aerogramme are one of the most outstanding tuesdaythe sixth ofmar.eh, two thousand andseven five a. six ·tuesdaythe sixthofmarch, twothousand and 150• 41 152•-153 • •40 •155 1 34,151• e156 125 •38 •• 12 •42 •39 37 36 • . 52 . .69 75 ,,.. . ' • •••• •• •-··• ••••••••• .. .30 .31 .32 -:33 44 •45 .46 43 • • • 48 • 49 •50 .' .•51 • 159 77172 161 160 61• 162· • • 63 •60 64 • 59 65 ' • 76 66•• 56,58 ·•••11 55 • .10, 72 138. • 137 .11 .4 •3,20 18 • •19 .2 27 • •26 2 + r ( '.\IUi:El t--; 2 '5Beaver 06 March 2007 TheeBaywayofgettingrich Meryem Torun says don't waste your time buyingwhenyou cansell I t's hard to write about eBay any money. This is probablybe-money to augment our student to setup a traditional business. already cottoned on tothis idea. business) out of it by buyin without feeling like you're cause eBay isn't really as big a budgets. Being students, we're There are almost no sunk costs, We know that it's a good place itemsinbulk andselling them. repeating what has been marketasitseemsifyoufactor trained to be lazy so initially you don't have to leave your to go if you want to flog your This is quite an ambitious a· said in the business section of in thefact thatmost of thepeo-thisseems too much effort to be house to do work, it doesn't re-unwantedbelongingsand make for the average student, bu every newspaper over the last ple you would buy from are extra cash. More impressively, there's no reason any ordina few years. This is a business withinyour own country rather there are some who have made person (provided that they pu that has certainly received its' than worldwide; that's assum-thousands of dollars worth (of in the time and the effort fair share of accolades, not to ing you don'twanttopay extor-shouldn't achieve reasonabl mention incredible popularity tionateamounts of postage and success. After all, this is eBay (at least in the few countries it packaging and wait a week to you can sell pretty much any operates in). And for the most havetheproduct delivered from thing. This has in the past in part, this all seems well de-Hong Kong. eluded anything fro served. It's a great website to Whether these flaws are misshapen vegetables, to wis find almost anything, usually enough to condemn eBay as a dom teeth, to a UFO detecto with the option to either to bid waste of time is up to personal You can makeyour and vampire killing kits. Yo or buy immediately, providing judgement. The website itself can sell your labourorsell yo the ultimate second-hand mar-has done all it can do cramp businessasbigor headasadspace. These areob ket,andincreasingly a forun for down on the not-so-good as-small as youlike viously not the foundations o of small businesses. Obviously pects, with things like insur-a money-making business bu not everyone agrees. As with ance and seller ratings that andyoucanstopat they make you realise the po any technology there are fans exist to give buyers and sellers tential of such a big market. and there are haters. Popular a peace of mind. So even with anytimewithout You can really focus on some though it may be, there are these problems, it seems too thing you like doing, put in a flaws to be picked out. soontogiveupon eBay justyet. havingincurred many hours as you want to pu Clearly, putting so many However, there's an angle massive losses. in and make something out o people with dubious identities we're missing here. The ques-it. After all, who wouldn'twan in contact with each other has tion to be asked here is how as quire full time attention. You to graduate from universit oneor.two problems. Every now students can we capitalize on can make your business as big having started their own busi andthen weget reports of vari-what eBay offers? We can use it or small as you like andyou can ness? ous scams. Even without these tosatisfy ourimpulse shopping stopatany time withouthaving scams, youcan'talways be sure needs of course, but a better incurred massive losses. whether you're really saving idea would be to make some To a degree, students have • MtllllW:lwllli!IJ.miWlillLmu s..Cfl ... So here are top tips for a wannabe eBay-buff ID1111Wlaa»llllflt---,l..._. l Adyaoci'ii"s'w'e) Htlol~ s wit any business you nee to m a mche an eci e w at your business is going to be all about-this can be something you buy cheap or put together cheap, then sell at a higher price l Ftnd ..........INldl]ltfll? I .·HqwIP Seareh If you're completely new then build up your positive feedback by buying items firstto show your customers that you're trustworthy ~silts: @Bax MRfOCI ',Bay SIOCII ...... Size up your competition before you set your prices -you can You11111st ltQltterto 111d ot buy. ftll, IU)', 111d hll search for all the completed·listirigs to see how much your good St•dmg fllyer 999 lnit,al Necklaces Wdb cb•m"'"'°No,o Ii§ H MISSOURI OZARKS 612 ACRES POWEBtPHONE was sold for and take a cue from the sellers whose products sold owto B•Ai•i•c -cesWEIGHT Loss WJNNER "THE GREAT WEIGH-OFF" CHAMPION ~BeMIII: 04 SIGNATURE Wjll Clark '89 ws·AUTOGRAPH lllr:£'521111 for the highest prices (i.e. What was the item description like? • Ptmrllliltd lhOpplng page • Your!Mrit•-d 11111:hes Bu1in111 lnteme1 Vt'boba W0ds From H0rne What were they offering thatothersweren't?) • Moll-,,ild-llffl IIOlikatioM NRIJBK'WH[E GOLD:OVIMOND Al/PEMABS PIGUET MEN WATCH • ArletS$to ltlt-ffllnule bl!Qlint • P1yPal Buyet P!otectlon e pro ess1ona. ave a·goo me o commumcat1on wit your ~~~S19ll.ln buyers, always leave them feedback, make sure your items are Glelle!Sllaa t Sllop-.ldtl\t-1d sent off in time -basically make your customer service top notch. i jStleclOnt. .. · .:J~ i As always this is key. : _Latm ebou1 GlobalTrade _____j ret~nk -e=tiJI !! ~L et am1 1ar wit t e spate o services t at e ay prov1 es or se ­I~ Ilhl9llullIawilICJniJliIChlaiIfriwI~ I~ I11wIJwAndIlllJxI~ I ers. There are a lot oftools and tips ifyou know do your research MilluiaIMawINatJw1mdaINewZealand IPbiJiRJlla&iIPminllISiDwQIQI~ I~ I~ I Iahwl ll.lJIW (including statistics on what sort of listings bring in the most FegdbackForum IAnything p0Jn111i!.lzwl11ubIGiftC§dffJcatu I P.uP.aJIJ.11.111IAllillAluIQeyeJppe11 ITha eBaySh cash). •Anngyncem001, 1security Center IfQJic!uI~ I1:1$ i &W.Wk Graduates DeadlineWatch Nestle UKLtd: 9thMarch Finance Teach First: 30thMarch PW~: 31stMarch Finance/Law/Consulting lnternships Careers inAfrica: 18thMarch Graduate opportunities across Reuters:April 2007 Media /IT /Finance/Law Africa Government Legal Service: 30thMarch ZurichFinancial Services:31thMarch Business Analysis GovernmentEconomic Service:MidMarch Abbey: 8thMarch TalentDevelopmentProgramme SecureTrustBank: 12thMarch Trainee Manager , ~Beaver 06 March 2007 ( \nEEns3 anking gets a bad press at the London School of Economics. Despite the oards of students who will op on the Central Line to ank (1/8 of LSE students ap­lied to Goldman Sachs alone astyear) there is a core of anti­anker sentiment which per­eates everywhere in the chool. I'm sure we can all ·magine it. Sat with a liberal riendwho's justabout to dash ff to flier theworld with anti­eter Sutherland or livingage leaflets, the issue of in­ernships rises: "I can't believe ou want to go in to banking" r "The City?!". The look on heir face seems to imply that ven working for the devil ould be preferable. The banks re attacked as a career path n two fronts: first thelifestyle nd then theservicestheypro- i d e 1987: This is the year of the uppie and the height of the hatcher boom. Money is verywhere and its get rich uick, arrogance and obnox­. ousness to hand.Times have hangedbuttheCity lifestyle is till real alpha male stuff with arly rises, fitness regimes, lav­·shlunchesandchampagne-fu­lled evenings. My cousin, an xecutive analyst at Deutsch ank, once spent £2,000 on a unch. Fast cars, flash flats and assive bonuses are theaimof he game: for women its power uits, Dolce and Gabbana and arvey Nichols. Almost £9 bil­. on hasbeendistributedin the ity this year -the approxi­mate market value of Sains­bury's. It's for reasons such as this that Peter Hain, a leadingLabourpolitician, recentlysug­gested bonuses should be shared out to the needy and Charity. But what you have to remember about is the amount of hard work that's put in. Those early rises end in late nightsandeven requirements to work weekends. ';rough dead­. lines and the pressure of com­petition build up to provide a pretty stressful job. Which is precisely why the bonuses are justified. Of course (to coin a phrase) greed is never good and it is true to say the community should always be supported. Thosewitha conscience should, and do, support these in any case. Ultimately the high in­comesearnedintheCity spread throughout London and every­one benefits, even if pricy sand­wichesarewhat usstudentsgetleft with. According to most, the banks are bastards. Personal debtisatrecord levels, recently climbing over the £1 trillion fig­ure, and the banks with their narypeople who geta loan and massive profits are to blame. are thus able to re-decorate o One friendwas saying to me the extend their home, buy a ne other day: "How could you do car or take a special holiday. it?The banks ruin so many peo-Entrepreneurs can start thei ple's lives". It's always tough new business or develop a coming back on this one. Well, I product, resulting in longer-said, yes when people take on term job creation and invest-too much debt they do walk in ment. Investment banks to difficulties. But firstly they perform a similar function. should be mindful of avoiding Companies that gai excessive debtand then remem-economies of scale throughber the vast majority of ordi-mergers become more efficient whilst successful companies create jobs as their equityshares rise from investments. Every consumer product w buy come from companies de­pends on a vibrant financial services sector, whilst most o us would probably be withou a roof over ourheadsin the ab­The.banks are sence of mortgages. Besides supportto industry, London as attacked as a the financial eapital of th career path ontwo world contributes so much to the country's income an fronts::,first the makes up for our ever-escalat­ingde-industrialization.lifestyle and then So enough of this 'sellin your soul then?' or a gleeful the services they 'enjoy your eight 'tileight day!' provide The fact is thatbanking gener­ates massive wealth and em­ployment for both Britain an the world. The success of a our livelihoods really depends on it, not to mention the per­ .sonal benefits of a high-fly­ing banking career. Don't knock it. Lastminuteinternships Sadia Kidwai shares the secret to finding a lastminute internship. S o you applied toGoldman Sachs weeks ago. You wore your best suit, brushed your teeth, gelled your hair and knocked them dead at the interview (figuratively speaking, of course). But, alas, they rejected you. Now what? Months wasted? Chance of a lifetime, gone? Alternatively, having been the diligent LSE student, you have succeeded in spending two termssubmerging yourself in a) theCourse Collection of theLi­brary; b) The Wright's Bar; c)Facebook. However, those inces­sant emails from the Careers Service are starting to nag at the back of your mind. Eventu­ally you decide to put down your copy of the Beaver and startapplying for internships at all those hotshot banks, to find out you've left ittoo late. Never fear -the Beaver is here! I'm no Auntie Shaw,butI can impart a few pearls of wis­dom. First things first; it isn't theend of theworld if you don't get an internship Goldman Sachs. Keep your options open. So what, you didn't getto do an internship at a highflying in­vestment bank? Then apply to a lesser known one. In many ways, this makes more sense. Firstly, thecompetition is much less fierce, and you're more likely togain a place. Secondly, they are much more likely to make you an offer for full-time employment, which will im­press future employers farmore than a failed Citibank applica­tion form. Question is, where ·do you find all these unknown banks? The LSE Careers Service, for all ...it is vital to make an impact on employers that is not entirely based on your grades. itsirritatingemails, is probablythebest place to start.The web­site is murder to navigate,with enough links to makeyou suici­dal, butatleasttheinformation is there. Make a checklist of the companies on there, and dedi­catetimeto check each of their websites. Many companies don't Looking for jobs? Hereare someopportunitieslisted on theLSE careers website that you might find interesting. For further informationhttps://ca­reers.lse.ac.uk/lse-website­roain/student/searchForPositio ns.html. Employer: Opinion LeaderRea-search Position: Research Executive Description:Youwillneedto beable to: Write concise, sharpreports hat offer recommendations andnotjustreportage Conduct interviews, focus ~oups andworkshops with ponfidence (post training) Confidently analyse data Communicate effectively with rbroad rangeof p.eople -from thesocially excluded toChief Executives Salary Range: Salazy nego­tiable Closing Date: 9 May 08 ' escription:Workonarange ofbars atmany different ventsfromtheIdealHome ShewtoRazorlight, Royal ~ot,Lords,HenleyRegatta andArtand Fashion Shows!! s'erving coffee one day and hampa~ethenext-there's emethingforeveryskillto suiteveryone.! S!ilary Range: £5-10 perhour tlosingDate:15A1;_>r 07 ' U1ployer: C:adbu:cyT.rebor passett ositio11: F. ield Sales One Year. lacement • escription: OurSalesExecu­~ve.Placement Scheme will . give individuals theopportu­ ·tyto gau:i valuable workex­periencewhilstproviding a ~asis of studyas partoftheir ~hereducation. Theywill perform a realsales executive role from day 1 and willbe takenthrougha thorough trainingprogrammeinorder o build theirskills. Salary Range: £15-20kper year PosingDate: 11 Mar07 EmJ.>loyer: CamblidgePlace Limited Position: ReaJ EstateFundAn­alyst Description: Undertake the analysis of Real Estateacqui­sitionsand asset management initiatives and ongoing moni­toringandinternalreporting ofsuch transactions across a pan-Europeanportfolio. l3acked by soundanalytical work, provide advice on strat­egyrelating to proposed and existing projects. Salary Range: Salarynego­tiable ClosingDate:30 April 07 Employer: McLaganPartners Position: AnalystInternship Description: Candidates will work alongside senior consult­antsin the developmentand execution of consulting proj­ects and annualcompensation studies. Salary Range: £300-400 a week ,::losing Date: 28 February 07 + have information on their web­sites regarding formal intern­ships for undergraduate week unpaid internship, but showing a willingness to work will result in glowing refer­ ences, which is essential to finding a good job once you graduate from the hallowed halls of Clement House. Besides which, the skills which you will learn in any in­ternship will be invaluable to you when you finally do apply for full-time employment, whether they be organisational skills, team-building skills, or simply learning how to survive in the cut throat environment of Canary Wharf. Accenture run several one-day courses de­signed to give you a taste of these skills, as well as interview tips and an introduction to the company. The last of these run on the 21st March, and applica­tions remain open until 12'h March (for more information, search 'The Sampler'on the Ac­centure website). It takes onlyone day and is a great addition to yourCV. Then again, try and remain flexible. Ifyou can't obtain an internship in investment bank­ing, then aim for a slightly dif­ferentfield. Ifyou are interested in economics, and are a profi­cient writer, then why not apply for thePeter Martin Fellowship with the Financial Times, the deadline of which is not until 141h March?You mightfind that the corporate world might not be for you after all, and a sum­mer internship is the perfect way to discover new fields which you might not have oth­erwise considered. So don't limit yourself. You might not be spending all sum­mer at Deloitte or JPMorgan, butthatdoesn't mean you can't gain experience of some kind. ( ~Beaver 06 March 2007 --~~~--y--" -, ~---------...---..... -. -------------: -----------------­ Ali Moussavi interviE R eferred to as"captain"by hewasl the Director of the Lon­don School of Economics, Stelios Haji-Ioannou is no new­ comer to the LSE. A frequent guest, the Greek-Cypriot born Britishentrepreneurissatin the Green Room behind theOld The­ atre. The walls are covered in images of thegreatspeakers our venerable institution has hosted in pastyears. The 40-year old LSE alum­ nus has become a legend in cor­ porate circles. Known endearingly as Stelios, his Mediterranean charm epito­ mizes the easyGroup attitude to business. He has appeared on billboards and television and radio advertisements. "Within the business world, you have to make a distinction between the often called corpo­rateanimals-people who would and Mel try an internship with Goldman Sachs and then work for Gold­man Sachs -and entrepreneurs -people who want to start their own business." Stelios attracts the latterto his public lectures. He paints the distinction as an animalistic instinct younguniversity graduates possess. "Some say that if you have not started your own business byyour twenties you probably will not do it."-· The big firms at the LSE ­the so-called "patrons" of theca­reers service attractmuch adver­tising revenue.The School has almost become a conveyor belt for the high-flying graduate.Goldman? JP? Morgan Stanley?Merrill? Graduates, take yourpick. The recent development of LSE departments such as Man­agement, Human Resources, In­dustrial Relations, Accounting and Finance, have added to the flavour of an institution which preparesitsgraduatesfor a nar­row world of work. I asked Stelios if he thoughtthat this culture was unhealthyfor the freedom of an entrepre­neurial culture. Does the LSE graduates'conveyor belt remove the incentives for a free ex­change of ideas and entrepre­neurship? Stelios disagrees: "The world needs both investment bankers and entrepreneurs. Not every­body is [going] to be anentrepre­neur. [Investment banking jobsare] not a bad way to get some training/experience." "People say that Bill Gates walked out of Harvard to start Microsoftand who needs formal education? I disagree." He sug­gested that the bright-eyed graduate pool take their formal education andgeta few years of experience before they consid­ered the lone path of the entre­preneur. Stelios graduated in Eco­nomics from the LSE and went on to the Cass Business School atCity University to takea Mas­ters degree in Shipping Trade and Economics. His Greek/Mediterranean heritageplaced him in a fortunate posi­tion to pursue the industrywhere his family held stakes. Working for his father was valu­able pre-entrepreneur experi­ence for him. Stelios admits that -+ "If ther, yo outside1 preneurneed to five ye spendin Sachs i: pare yoship." Stel thatthe trepreniinallsh always stroll d start Al Alan S Bransoi there a putthe Harvarc landed "Wit mak calle peoGol man who + POST .lt::i:JB.ECTlONPUIIOut-2 Sabbatical Officers Election Pledges -Standing up for affordable education and better student support, while Fadhil Bakeer-Markar 808 improvingthe quality of teaching -Lobbyfor exam feedback and summerre-sits and against visa charge Zoe Sullivan 545 risesSpoilt 47 -Greater SU-School consultation Re-Open Nominations 163 -Better quality food on campus -Better Media Group facilities -More environmentally sound LSE Libby Meyer 694 -Encourage use of SU facilities Jeff Courtney 548 -Train Freshers Fair volunteersTom Davey 245 -GreaterFresher accessibility to AU clubs Spoilt 324 -Replacing existing Parish Hall floor to be more accessible to AU teams -Induction evening for society officers at the beginning of the year Re-Open Nominations 60 -Greater communication with societies regarding their budgets -Campaigning against fee increases and proposals to lift limits on under Ruhana Ali 802 graduate fees James Ketteringham 458 -Pressing for an end to visa charges for international students -Lobbying against fees for postgraduate applications andfor more bursaries Spoilt 179 -Ensuring easy access to lecture notes and course packs Re-Open Nominations 130 -Improving tutorial support -Termly welfare student forums -Improving disabled access to union buildings Kayt Berry 659 Dan Sheldon 469 -Build a bridge between student government and the Media Group Simon Douglas 296 -Encourage evolution of the Union General Meeting (UGM) with simple measures designed to increase overall student participation Ed Chevasco 250 -Increased use and development of web resourcesSpoilt 431 -Refining an SU news feed Re-Open Nominations 78 -Creating personalised calendars Retiring Sabbatical Officers JimmyTam, Joel Kenrick, AlexandraVincenti, General Secretary Treasurer Ed &Welfare Officer ·Part-Time ExecutiveOfficers Carys Morgan Orn Dhumatkar Andy Hallet Spoilt Re-Open Nominations Louise Robinson Spoilt Re-Open Nominations Lizzie Fison Shayaan Afsar Spoilt Re-Open Nominations Ziyaad Lunat Michael Blackwood Spoilt Re-Open Nominations Firoz N oordeen Adrian Rogstad Spoilt Re-Open Nominations .. POST ~ 3-B.ECJ10Npullout1t53 -Will share best practice between societies that self-finance and those that don't, to more equally spread 611 money to those niche societies that need more help 562 with funding 284 -Will massively increase society involvement in RAG -Will encourage community between national groups, 211 and maximise·use of joint budget. Encourage events 103 athalls -Will considersocieties' needs, from publicity to stor age space -Will remain committed to LivingWage and will secure from the School on campus and in Halls -Will continue to work with SU Green Party to demand a greater commitment to environmental sustainability · -Will improve information available to prospective and 1,029 current students; will support students moving into and within London 236 -Will make Halls bars work for students, improving293 common space use -Will support Halls committees in order to effect the chang.es thatresidences want in individual halls -Will work towards improved bandwidth -Promises to raise diversity of disabilities and well­beingissues 668 -Will publicise resources available, including explicit 508 references in Freshers'info 272 -Will increase awareness and motivate disabilityfriendliness with articles, posters,workshops and SU 107 recognition awards -Will continue to co-operating with Disability and Wellbeing office and Circles -Will work with careers service to address career 617 requirements specific to post-grads and ensure equal 463 opportunities for mature graduates 329 -Will campaign to reduce tuition fees and work for the establishment of specialist support groups 151 -Will lobby for extra academic support, different office hours for PT students, and extension of administrative and academic deadlines -Will increase representation and make residence international representatives more effectual -Will improve LSE induction by encouraging familiari­sation of London, via pioneering cultural events 649 Further develop the international students handbook and work towards General Course guide 505 -Expand SU diversity, by encouraging diverse inter­ 408 cultural events through increased mutual co­ 158 operation among societies -Will enhance welfare, by lobbying against fee rises, visa rises, work permit restrictions and push for more bursaries.Will work with anti-racism officer to fightdiscrimination.Will work with Environment & Ethics officer to form a more eco-friendly and healthy LSE -_Re. iring­ Re-elected !4 • '--' Emma Hallgren ST . pullout11114~. 220AM:Fisherre----i~~ electedas E&EOfficer Thursday, 1March 7.00PM: Votingcloses 2.08AM: ·Morganwins Societies Officer "The ballots were kept in exclusion zones:' SU Returning Officer Adrian Beciri • 3. 3.00AM: Bakeer-Markar ele electedGenSec Friday,2March 12.10AM: Howard Daviesre­appointmentvotescounted 3.47AM:Ali wins EdWelfare ­Officer POST s-ELECT10Npulloutl[:S3 • "Concentrating on my degree and hopefully a Masters for next year:' Gen Sec runner-up on her post-election plans 3.56AM:Berryelectedas Communications Officer )een ups and d \even though II ,, ~S. . ptEdecessor 4.10AM: SU ReturningOfficerAdrian Beciri offersafree ride --hometoanyonewhowill stayto countC&Sand F&S...mostpeopleheadhome 330AM: STVvotingsystem .-----takesthe Communications raceintoa4th round ofcounting -e&:} POSTits::JEI..ECTDNpullout~6 PART-TIMEOFFICERSCONTINUED Dominic Rampat Spoilt Re-Open Nominations Aled Dilwyn Fisher Doug Oliver Spoilt Re-Open Nominations Amina Adewusi Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang Abul'Abz'Hussain Spoilt Re-Open Nominations Daisy Mitchell-Forster Helen Roberts Spoilt Re-Open Nominations James Bacon Spoilt Re-Open Nominations + Election Pledges . _ . . _ .­ -Will encourage higherlevels of participationwithin the society for all, regardless of sexuality -Will work closely withWomens' and International students officer to ensure fair representation -Will support lesbian rights campaign963 -Will ensure better advertising of office hours and LGBT counselling services. Will integrate more with 370 welfare sabbatical to ensure those seek help who 251 need it -A truly integratedLGBT society within SU. Fightingbothhomophobia and exclusivity within LGBT -Will ensure that LGBT Awareness Week is high profile; try to facilitate LGBT career fairs and health workshqps Election Pledges -· ,_-_,:. _-· ---. ---­ -Will ensure another Climate Change Awareness Week; · Environmental careers fair; Freshers' environmental 673 induction 627 -Will campaign to extendTFL student discount260 -Will achieve Gold Class In Sound Impact78 EnvironmentalAwards -Will reduce Houghton Street postering using notice boards and electronic advertising -Will encourage ethical investment 581 -Will work with national organisations to tackle 553 racism, and celebrate diversity through jointcultural/ethnic/religious inter-society events 208 -Will work for increased representationfor an415 inclusive union that is both approachable and 94 appealing to all students -Will try to ensure that importanttopics concerninganti-racism are debated and discussed throughoutthe LSE -Will defend a woman's'right to choose and make sure fuller information regarding all options is available, as well as set up support groups 721 -Will provide free-defence workshops in halls and on­422 campus; an~ buses home from Crush 275 -Co-ordination with local gum clinics and St Phillips to safeguard confidential access to healthcare, advice 144 and promotion smeartesting -Will provide more sustainable and healthy products,such as mooncups and glycerine-free lubricants -Will campaign continuouslyfor gender equality and related issues -Will ensure election campaigns are run fairly and to strict guidelines -Will intervene where necessary to ensure free and fair elections 906 -Will encourage under-represented sections of student 392 body to participate in SU elections by utilising all forms of campus media to its'best effect 264 -Will push for electronic voting system,and raise awareness of STV and AV voting systems -Encourage campaign reform to allow for internet campaign options and improve current elections documents RETIRING CONTINUED Re-elected Shanela Haque Zoe Sullivan Adrian Beciri . POST f::A}1-El.ECTIONpullout(tg· Constitutionand Steering -FinanceandServices James Ketteringham Elle Dodd .Shayaan Afsar KenWangAndyHallett TonyLuo DaisyO'Brien Sadia Najma Kid'!'!ai Rachael O'Rourke Hudda Khaireh Helen Roberts Success ofelectronic voting T hank you to everyone who took part in the elections and particular­ly those who decided to make use of our new online voting system, to register their thoughts on Howard Davis. I wouldlike to mention a special thanks to Ron Riley, a senior programmer from the LSE. With his guidance and hard work we have built the frame­work to move to a unique sys­tem of voting on paper and online concurrently. I strongly urge all readers to attend this Thursday's UGM and support a Codes of Practice amend­ment thatwill allow the use of electronic technology in forth­coming elections. Adrian Beciri SU Returning Officer Non-sabbRundown M any of the elections for the Students' Union (SU) non-sab­batical executive positions were hotly contested, while some candidates were unchal­lenged. The Societies race was a closer and more hotly contest­ed race, with three candidates up for the position. Carys Morgan was elected to succeed the present societies officer Arthur Krebbers. Daisy Mitchell-Forster was elected as Women's Officer with 721 votes over her oppo­nent Helen Roberts' 422 votes. The most hotly contested racefor a non-sabbatical posi­tion was that of Environment and Ethics officer. Doug Oliver challenged incumbent officer Aled Fisher for the position, and failed to take itaway from him by 46 votes. The final result of the race stood at 673 for Fisher and 627 for Oliver. The anti-racism officer proved to be quite close as well, with Emmanuel Akpan­lnwanglosing out on the posi­tion by just 28 votes. The final result for the position was 553 for Akpan-lnwang to Amina Adewusi's 581. Candidates who were unchallenged, except for the option of re-opening nomina­tions, included Louise Robinson who will returnfor a second term as Residences Officer, James Bacon who was elected as Returning Officer, and Dominic Rampat who was electedas LGBT Officer. The results for the non-sabbatical elections were announced at the beginning of the night, and predictably raised speculation over which of the winners will run for a sabbatical position in the fol­lowing year. Societies Officer-elect Morgan saidthatshedid-n't know if she would pursue the path to General Secretary next year. Fisher suggested that this path will not be followed by himself. Asked whether he wouldbe runningfor a sabbat­ical position this time next year, he replied, "Absolutely not. It's my last Lenttermelec­tion." Erica Gornall Senior Reporter +. ElectionNightLive;., N othing, absolutely nothing, beats the adrenaline rush, the lunatic frenzy, the pulse-pounding excitement of pro­ducing a live event broadcast. Even the voyeuristic thrill of the ballot count pales in com­parison. The endless email exchanges with IT services, the fruitless dry-runs in the daysleading up to the count night, the pressure cooker atmos­phere in the final seconds before the programme goes on air, all culminating in the sat­isfaction of a successful live stream of the enfolding drama in the count room out to the world. From late hours of Thursday night into early Fiiday morning, the election count which gripped theatten­tion of the SU hacks were irrelevant. The usually tran­quil classroom that is A318 transformed instantaneously into a war room; the command information centre of the LSE SU media group. The live cov­erage, for the next 7 hours had become the be-all and end-all for the gung-ho mob of LooSE and PuLSE,the all-consumingobsession for the SU media group. Somewhat ironically, for the physically-drained pro­duction team, the true drama of the night had little to do with the elections count which they were covering live. The edge-of-the-seat affair revolved instead around the series of crises within the stu­dio; crashing of the streaming server, malfunctioning of broadcasting software, techni­cal difficulties with cameras and audio hardware. In a heartbeat, the seemingly suc­cessful broadcastfell to pieces,cueing mass hysteria. A flurry of remedying action restored temporal calm, but the cau­tious amongst them reckoned the next pitfall was just around the corner. The cycle soon repeats, but cool heads prevail.Putting in almost -Herculean efforts, the likes of PuLSE extraordinaire (not to mention former student) Phil Hutchinson and El Presidente ofLooSE Sanj Krishnan even­tually tided the motley gangthrough the emotional roller-coaster. As the multitude of technical troubles fell by the wayside, order was gradually restored. The production effort quickly slipped into a clock-work-like operation, and the viewer count of 30 a pricelessremuneration for tireless efforts. As the count nightwound down to its inevitable conclusion, the triumphant candidatesdrownin booze and adulation, while unsungheroes exchange pats-on-the­back for a job well done. The next adrenaline fix? Election Night Live 2008. Chun Han Wong · • · LooSETv ··· + -F Vote for Zoe: Be happy AliDewji, SUCommunications Officer SuperRu-­Supporting you _ Vote for all the way through! ··_ -ri1ebecause RuhanaAli Education andWelfare Candidate -.. · English is my first ._ language! ""': Unidentified campaigner reportedin a complaint Express your apathy--Vote RON for General Secretary Berrycan Communi-Kayt! Unidentified Kayt Berry, Comms candidate campaigner I hope to not be humiliated and get really drunk! The EdwardChevasco, Comms candidate integrityof the ballots · was maintained Adrian Beciri SUReturningOfficer This is the most dictatori­al count I have ever seen. Takes all the fun outofit. Adrian is a We have stillwon the moral victorykilljoy! becausewe haven't used any negative . . campa1gn1ng SteveGummer DougOliver, EnvironmentandEthicsLooSE TV Presenter Candidate + ,__ ____ _______ _______________ ___ __________________ _______________________ ~Beaver 06 March 2007 l'. \I:EEi~5 ee reneur interviews the manbehind the easyGroup empire :ain"by 1e Lon­nomics, 10 new­requentDt born tinthe >ldThe­ered in .ersour 1 tude to ired on on and ; world, :inction corpo­ owould oldman r Gold­reneurs !rt their 1ttracts ctures. :tion as young ,ossess. ave not ~ess bybly will LSE ­theca­1adver­ool has ror belt actuate. 1tanley? :e your ment of Is Man­-ces, In­mntingl to the 1 which r a nar­ :houghthealthy ltrepre­1e LSE remove :ee ex­_trepre­ eworld >ankers every­1trepre­ng jobs ~t some 1Gates to start formal fie sug­nt-eyedformal he was fortunate. "Ifyou haven'tgota rich fa­ther, you have to consider an outsider to finance [your entre­preneurial project]. They will need to see more than four or five years of experience. So spending a period at Goldman Sachs is not a bad way to pre­pare yourself for entrepreneur­ship." Stelios'philosophy suggests thatthe amazing thing abouten­trepreneurship is that it comes inallshapesandsizes. There are always theA-leveldropoutswho stroll down the high-street to start Amstrad and Virgin (Sir Alan Sugar and Sir Richard Branson respectively). However, there are also those who have putthemselvesthroughLSEand Harvard Business School and landed up at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. lies a loton being willing to risk business to geta higherreturn. "The classic trade-off that people have to make is: Do I workforGoldmanSachsandget a salary or do I transfer a busi­ness and makea lot more than a salary? And that'saboutrisktak­ing: which risk to take at what stage." "If you really want to pro­mote entrepreneurship, youshould promote a culture where non-fraudulent business failure · is actually tolerated. If you'restigmatized for trying andfailing thenfewer people will try in the future." As Howard Davies indicates thatthepublic lecture is aboutto commence on the stage of the New Theatre, Stelios put his Blackberryinhis jacket andhur­ries over his philosophy: how do we promote entrepreneurship? promoted peace in the Middle East and some had brought Eu­rope into an ever-closer union. "Howmanyofthepeople on that "Ifyou haven't got a rich father, you have wall are actually entrepreneurs? to consider an outsider to finance [your George Soros, maybe? That's aboutit." entrepreneurial project]. Sospending a The LSE students who periodatGoldman Sachs is not a bad dream of Wall Street and Liver­ pool Street should look beyond way to prepare yourself for entrepreneur- the city skyline. Some are des­ ship." tined to makea salary and some are destined to makea whole lot more. Studententerprise Andrea Kreideweiss discusses how you canimprove your CV by startingyour own business rearsof consid-who want to start their own business:"' · entre­ n Eco- d went School "Within thebusiness world, you have to make a distinction between the often called corporate animals ­people who would try an internship with Goldman Sachs and then work for Gold­man Sachs -and entrepreneurs -people a Mas­: Trade His eritage :e posi­ldustrystakes. 1s valu­experi­its that Technical and practicaledu­cation is no fault; neither are Masters degrees. Ifanythingthey ifve the future entrepreneur a m"bre solid foundation. Butprior to thatfoundation, there is aneven more fundamen­tal one -attitude. You have to take risks. Entrepreneurship re-We celebrate success for encour­agement and tolerate failure to avoid discouragement. He points at the photos on thewalls of speakersattheLSE: they had all changed the world in some way. Some had worked to end apartheid. Some had ended the Cold War. Some had N otsurewhethertheworld of traditional employ­mentis for you?Then you may want to consi_der running your own business. Whilst run­ning your own business is verymuch about making a financial profit, it does not necessarily mean you that you are only working towards generating eco­nomic value. Instead, you might want to look intofinding a com­mercial solution towardsa social need. This type of venture is called a Social Enterprise and has substantially increased in popularityin recentyears. Putting together a Business Plan Regardless of whether it is a commercial or a social enter­prise, therearea few basics that you will need to get your head around if yo_u are interested in starting an enterprise.It is easi­est doing this in a structured way, by compiling a business plan.Itis possible to beself-em­ployed or start a business with­out a business plan, but producingone will help you put­tionrunbythe Careers Service & LSE Entrepreneurs, offered a prizeof£9,000. As a bonus, participating in activities related to entrepre­neurship and small business planning will allow you to de­velop the much sought after commercial awareness thatgrad­uate recruiters will most defi­nitely grill you about in an interview. Once you havepartic­ipatedin a competition, andhave... hadyourbusinessplancritically· evaluatedby a jury, you will find yourselfbetterequipped to for a job interview. So you won't have to dread all those questions about"teani working"and"pre­sentation skills". Getting Started Whilst you're trying to come up with that money-making idea, you might want start preparing yourself for entrepre­neurship. Sign up for the start-up course Try to take part in at least one business plan competitionwhilst at LSE. Check www pllchlt.blil For more information on London's social enterprisesector visit~w.110l.asu,uls product orservice,yourmarket­ing and sales strategy, opera­tional details, financial forecasts and details of the funding you need. Templates and help with business plan writing-is avail­able from a number of sources, including your local Business Link (www,bl4J c4ruk) or Shell Live Wire lhc~wlnumll. You might also commercial mistakes• in some­body else's business! However, entrepreneurship is not just about having a letterfrom Com­panies House saying you are the managing director. It is about hands-on involvement, leader­ship, commercial awareness, thoroughness, creativity, hard work and eagerness to learn ­lots of things that you can work ting a structurearoundyour idea and help you formulate medium to long-term objectives. Ithelps you to askyourselftherighttypeof questions, communicate the objective and nature of yourbusiness to other people and is essential if you require external funding.A business plan would normally include a description of your business expertise so far, a description of the business op­portunityorsocial need you plan to address, information on your wantto refer to the LSE Careers Service as they offer courses in business plan writing as part of their annual EntrepreneurshipMasterClass seminars. Improving your CV It is quite likely that for a number of reasons you may not want to start your own business just now. After all, it might be advisable to make your first on while you are studying at the LSE. One way of doing this is to participate in a business plan competition. The advantage of this is thatthereis no riskof los­ing any of your own cash, but you will get valuable feedback onyouridea andhavethechance to win some serious prizemoney. For example, Pitch It!, LSE's very own business plancompeti­ + r ·.\HEEl~6 ~Beaver 06 March 2007 T Sa rabhSr ma prefers to teach long long timeago, in a V • When you first arrived at LSE, ficult itistoge~,a job. I applied things like the Beaver, if you work experience program, it's something like that. You don't placefar far away (well, did you think you were going to for the job never expecting to wanf a career in journalism, its very good, they generally get have to spend months andAustralia... ), before the go into a career in the media, or getit, I'dbeen turned by a lotof getting the broaderexperience, around to most people that monthsworkingfor them. More stressesandpressures of uni-did you have an idea what ca-others· like the Guardian because this is an amazing apply. Get your applications in than anything people want toversity, exams,internshipsand reer you wanted to go into? Traineeship and Financial early, putdown thatyou will be know that you really knowcareers, I remember a time I think I thought about being a Times Traineeship, so I didn't availablefor all of thefollowing what journalism's like and youwhenI actually did a jobbe-journalist, it was one of the expect to get it. When I did get holidays. It's really importantto still want to do it. The other causeI was sincerely interested strong things I wantedto do but it, I thought well, it's a year, get just a couple of weeks of thing is actually, ITV do have ain it.I understand thatteach-I wasn't set on it necessarily. they're paying, they're training work experience. workexperience process, which ingmightnotlieinthecareer Therewere lots of things cross-me to be a journalist, let's see you can apply for on the ITV pathsofmany studentswho go ingmy mind really. I was asyou what happens.And I ended up jobs website. toLSE,butthosewho dowant arewhen you're a firstyearun-really enjoying the visual togothatdirection have my dergraduate; you're hapless. I media, really enjoying the di-What if you just want to work utmostrespect.Ofallthejobs wasn't a determined journalist rectness of the communication. in written media, do you think thatI have done (ranging all from the outset,I think proba-It's a different skill and it's in-it's still important to get expe­theway from theglamorous bly actually I wanted to be a terestingandchallenging. AndI rience in radio and TV? •-highs of a paperboy, ridingmy diplomat more than anything think maybethere is a bit more It's such a changing industrybike from doorto doorat5am, else. of a chance in TV to be out in that it really depends. But I to spendingthis summerinthe the field as a juniormember of think a broad range of experi­offices of Goldman Sachs) this You became an editor of the staff, than there may be on pa-ence is probably always good. was simultaneously themost Beaver eventually, how much pers. ...[being editor of Because that shows that you interesting,frustrating,and did that prepare you for what have looked atpapers, looked atsatisfying. My job entailed you're doing now? Doyou have any advice for peo-the Beaver] was radio, you've looked atTV and goingin every Monday, It was really excellent prepara-ple who are maybe looking for decided you liked TVordecidedWednesday, and Friday after tion.You have to think about jobs in media but not finding really excellent youliked print. Because people school togoto a Churchbase- who your students are and them? are looking for people who are ment (for anyone who ever whose reading your paper and It's a really bad industry for preparation going to stick with them. goes to Perth, it's on Princess whattheywanttoreadandthat seeking out and finding goodDrive; you can additto your is key to journalism, because it talentinterms ofits formal HR Finally, is your career in the scenictourof the city!) whereI is communication, and its what procedures -nothing like the media what you expected it to taughtprimary school kids your reader, or viewer, or lis-banks.Butit'schanging. I think be, is it as glamorous as people everything from Mathsand tener, it's what they want to the scheme that I was on has think it is? Englishto Chemistry. Iknowit know,what they think is inter-made a real effort to try and It really isn't glamorous, it's acioesn't particularlysoundlike esting.Those are the tools you find people from different back-lot of hard work and intenselythemostinteresting job,to sit learn, the news judgement, grounds, made a real effort to competitive, andyou do have toforfour hours going through what's important to people and • do it fairly. And they didn't ac-bequitetough.ButthenI think examplesof how to domulti- how to communicate that. tually ask for a CV,they asked any career worth having theselication and helpingwrite es- you to critique a program and You mentioned the BBC, are days is like that.And its not all says, buttosee the proverbial You're obviously doing TVjour-to answer specific questions on there any other internships? bad.It's great fun.We sit in an ::: lightbulb turn on was satisfy­ nalism now, what made you a webpage application form. The papers are difficult, to my afternoon in Channel 4 Newsing. pick that over written journal-Things that are much more rel-knowledge, they don't run for-and discuss how we're going toAdmittedly, being a tutor ism? evant and specific to the jobs malschemes. Local papersarea cover a story, and it's really en­"dn'tpayspectacularly well I never saw myself inTV at all rather than where you went to great place to do it. Go and gagingandintellectual, because andafter a handful of months actually because I thought if I university, which they didn't pester your local radio station, at the end of the day, you're at the job Idecided togopur­wantedtobe a journalist,I'dbe evenask.Whatyou learnhereis your local paper, they have planninganprojectthatpeoplesuea more lucrative parttime a newspaper journalist. The what's important that you get loads of people on work experi-are going to enjoy. It is a cre­job, whichinvolved working as main thingis knowing howdif-out of this education, it's doing ence. Just a couple of weeks or ative industry in thatregard. a university professorassis­tant:interesting but exceed­inglydry.Buteven doing fieldwork thatchallenged uni­versity professors waslittle challenge compared to trying Get a media internship -to teach a 6yearoldhow to do basic maths andtryingyour very best to comprehend how Lucie Goulet analyses the various workplacement opportunities inthe media sector someone couldnotunderstand place and some amazing people come through here. Although you may not realise it at the time you're here, it's not like other universities,and its that that you get from being here, it's not the name, the LSE. Don't expect to get in because you were at the LSE. That won't necessarilyopen doors for you. Apart from getting involved in student journalism, what else do you think looks good on your CV? Work experience. BBC runs a how to add6+ 7! Thatbeing said,I also hadthechanceto teach some kids whowerein­crediblysmartand werefar prighterthan Iwas attheir 11ge. Morethan the academic side of it,tutoringgave me the ~hance to forget aboutbeing a teenager and act like a kid again. Itwas fun when I qui­etly indulged inproducing dis­tinctly average crayon drawings anddoingallthe things I hadn'tdone since I was young, except this time I couldappreciate the utterly simplepleasures of drawing stickfigures, andI got paid for itas well! To behonest, I have never understood the point of doing _,.., a job, even a part time one, ifit is really rubbish andyouare doing itpurelyfor themoney. I'vebeen luckyin thesense thatallthejobsthatI'vedone havebeeninterestingorfunin some way, butifyouhadto ask mewhatone of my favourite jobs was, rdsay teaching! The BBC you need togetin touchdirectly you really want to do. However, riencehtm)) Channel 4 offers paid news internshipprogram. with the relevaRt department. it also says that you are more "extremely limited number of It is aimed at students from The BBC has unpaid work ITV also runs a "Diversity Ex-likely to get inifthe work expe-short-term work experience US colleges. 2nd, 3ro year and placements for all kinds of peo-tended Work" placement rience is a partof a clear career placements to people with a graduates can apply. The ap­ple. The BBC website specifies scheme in London lasting for a path. strong desire to work in the plication process is quite long: that "Competition is fierce, so you have to submit among before you apply you'll need to other things an a.\l~hl~ft\{\h­consider whatyou can offer and i@ai@ssa.)\!ia.ffl}:ll~ M~llI­what you'd like to achieve". To isH:ng \\.'@l'~, ta~at'i.m~11.@ ~ apply you have to log on the \lffiHng t~\ami ffi.@@t a.II. BBC website tihi~t @I 131lM\l M-im ifiWr­(http://www.bbc.eo.uk/jobs/wo vi@w. rkexperience/) and chose one of 't'h.~1~ a.lim is a the sectors you areinterested in. ~-fl.~; almt~ al\h@ sa.m. Choice is wide, with pretty poo~l~afld wi.U1. till?%am@much everything from Advertis-~liwH@ftffl\ll\fffl\@fiffi.. ing to Design, BBC News, Lan­guages or Drama. You can also tt~\l~f-% browse the workexperience op­portunities by location. In the R@lllffl f\lfi!i a ~ra.6\la application form you need to tra.in@@pr~m. whl~l\11i p put details about your educa-mm,r~l\!W@ a% 00.@ ottl!.1 tion and training, your motiva-~@§t 1ftth@ mootaifi@ll!ill:;¥,.l tion behind your application, slfilt!lwith!li~ i.fii@n§. yourhobbies etc. There are also trn.miil{j \afiln~ H1row moreunusualsections suchas a wa ft@W!l 1~00\-. Amoott t\\ BBC News programmecritique, !ikill!i r~llil'OO. al.~ fh!ooey i ora Featuresidea. a.ft \lll.\l!illa.1 lafi~~aft abil­ ityl@ ffi@\,'t! @a!iily; aftij a j@fil'=­ITV Ila.ltsU~:rn.ifi@, The ITV website is less de­tailed when it comes to which _peno o 3 mon s, w 1c en-work experience are available. ables you to discover differentYou have to browse throughthe aspects of ITV. The website gen- various ITV regions to find out For General Course students: erally states that work experi­ which kind of scheme is in Associated Press ences areagreat opportunityto place.To get a short placement make up your mind as to what AP runs a 12-weeks-long with one of the departments, Channel 4 According to its website (http://www.channel4.com/4ca­reers/4careers new/work expe­ ~Beaver 06 March 2007 : .\BEEi~7 ' -----. ­ University,lifeandinterviews hates tosell --t cently worked as a gardenerinto wear a suit, but trousers, a meadow, I have a wealtl,ofshirt and a jumper normally badjobstodrawfrom whenwork well. If you drink, don't somebodyasks metonamemyoverdo it. Last one out of the most terrible.Thenastiestarebar is the first one to be taken the ones that makeyouques­off the potentials list. Walk tion yourvalueas a person, around, introduce yourself and such as being a dishbandandmingle. Remember that every-findingyourself elbow deep inone is in thesameboat. greasy waterunclogging a sink• andfinding outthatyour-Relax. Its very obvious when gloves arejustaninchtoosomeone is on edge. The less short. Orwhenyou'rewalkingyou pressure yourself, theeasier door-to-doorwitha suitcase of it is for you to perform.Alert random things to sellthatareyourself for potential signs of neitherusefulnorgood value, being under pressure. If you such as emergencyhammersfind yourself clenching fists or for escaping from yourcar... ? time for it, in between socialis-going to get a job now? hard-working and an interest-grinding your teeth, make a Cometo think ofit,thating, essays, classes andlectures, Finding out what industry ing person, then you will get -Rememberpartofthetestisto conscious effort to relax your-job was definitely my worst. and your extra-curricular ac-youwantto bein is crucial. Re-that interview. be friendly and presentable. self. Deep breaths and leaning There'ssomethingdemeaningtivities? search potential career paths, Firmsdon'twanttohirepeople back in your seat a bit help a about door-to-doorsales thatWell, it's not easy. Butthen, speak to friends and acquain--Once you get the interview, who will embarrass them at lot. no amount oftherapycanrec-you knew that. The first (and tancesandanyone else you can. prepare for it. An interview is client meetings. You need to be tify.You maywonderhow one probablycrucial)factor is good Use the resources that are exactly like anexam. Some of it someone who they can rely on -Drink water. It keeps you hy­such asIcouldgetinvolvedintimemanagement.We've all got availabletoyou like theCareers tests your intelligence, your tomeetclientsandalways come drated, keeps your mind func­a venture as scummy and24hoursa day, which works out Service. Consider spreading ability to perform under pres-backwithpositive results. Be at tioning, and above all buys you frowned upon as this.The an-to 168 hours a week. Say you yourself across several indus-sureandyourabilitytoworkin your sociable best. Practice in time. If you're stumped but swerliesin theirclever adver­want to sleep 9 hours a day (10 tries. Youmay find atabankin-restricted time slots. The rest themirrorbeforeifnecessary, to don't want to show it, drink tising. Looking through theis for lazy people, and 8 for av-terview, that it isn't really for tests your preparation -how warmyourself up. water. Take long, slow sips and local ragfor a summerjoberage).Thatleaves you with105 you after all. That advertising much time and·effort you put ask if you can fill yourglass up backin the day, I grazedhours to do things every week. jobjustseems so muchmoreat-into researching a -company -Thinksmartandshowthatyou again if required. through many dull andunin-Eat,drink,watcha movie,hang tractive. which you claim you want to are. Many of the problem ques­teresting jobappointmentsoutwithfriends,studyintheli-Once you have decided: workfor.Andifyouthinkabout tions you will be asked require -Be yourself andbehonest. This untilI found onethatread"arebrary and go to those 13 hours it from an employers perspec-a sensible practical frame of sounds very cliched and every-you a friendly, chatty, enthusi­oftaughteducationaweekthat -Apply early. Always. Take some tive, itmakes sense. Why should mind for you to answer them. one says it, butitis really true. astic person? Join ourfreshwe have atLSE. Seems like a lot time out to write up good an-theyhire someone who isn'tre-You deal with problems every-You may pretendtobesomeone newmarketingcompany"andof time, eh? Shouldn't be that swers to application questions. ally interestedin knowinga bit day in real life by thinking you aren't and get a job, but so Idid. hard to apply somewhere for a Speak to other people about about the company, its culture about them sensibly. Extend thenyouwillneverenjoy it. In-Warning bells rangfromjobortwo, you think. what they did. Above all, make andits people? that thought process to an in-terviewers pick up pretty the momentI steppedintotheYetitsthestartofyourthird sure you get to the interview terviewproblemquestion. quickly if you are not being dingy office, theirsiren mutedyear, you haven't done an in-stage. Companies aren'tlooking -Be confident. Interviewers like who you really are, and then only by my own desperationternship at a bank in the sum-for rocket scientists, all they that firm handshake, pleasant -Ifthereare any social events as your name is the first to be for money and my willingness mer, are not sure what other want are interesting and intel-smile and good eye contact. partofthe recruitmentprocess, taken offthelist.Andif you get to doanythingto earn it. Onlyindustries you might want to ligent people to work for them. Don't slouch, don't do funny showupto them. Dress sensibly, thejob being who you are, there I didn't know whatanything work in and have fairly large If you come across as intelli-things with your hands and even if you are told you can is nothing quite like that feel-wasbackthen... With thejobblanksonyourCV.Howareyou gent, articulate, insightful, don'tfiddle with things. dress casually -you don't have ing! ~n the bagIsetaboutmytrain •ng, whichwasn't paid-a themethatran throughmuch ofthis occupation. Though I could seewhatI wasgetting into,the wild promises of"un­ Student'sguidetotemping cappedearningpossibilities" ropedmein like a mothto a fire. Anotherimportantpoint Earnsomemoneywhileyoulookfor a permanentjob. here isthatapartfrom mas­queradingas"marketingcom­panies", door-to-doorsales I f you're a third year but can wait for them to find you than minimum wage. Some temping agency and great for As a temp you are most companiesoperateon whatisdon't know what you're appropriatepositions. companies even offer a dental long term work likely to get secretarial or ad-know in thebusiness of scam-goingtodoaftergraduation, ministrative work, so you need mingand con-artistryas a you may try out temping. Al-What about holidays? to have basic computer profi­ pyramid structure. Basically though many students have ciency and good interpersonal thismeans that thelowestreservationsaboutworkingasa skills.You will also need refer-level workers earntheleasttemp, there are actually many ences. while thebigcatsattheapexadvantages. So here is a quick are cashingin onyourhard guide to answeryour questions Are there any useful websites work. Very depressing. onhowto become a temp. on this? As it turnedout, I was aSome useful websites in-naturalatthesales; all it Wbydoit? clude: :meantwas leavingyourmorals There is greater flexibility http://www.thesite.org/wor underyourpillowwithyour than ordinary jobs. You are not kandstudy/gettingajob/whatjob pyjamasin themorningand committed to work for months /temping and months, and moving be-...1nmany ways http://www.cvtips.com/tem puttingthem back onatnight. Even with thismoral-busting tweenjobswill allow you toex-ping_tips.htmlperience different types of it's better thana http://www.jobsite.co.uk/ar plan thepyramidsystem was cruel tome andI simply could work. In doing so, you are also ticles/candidate/cl/sl/a24l 1.ht able to gain a range of skills regular part-ml n'tmakeends meet. Hard-core salestakea beatingnotonly that will look excellent on your http:/ /jobsadvice.guardian. CV when you do find that per-timejob co.uk/lifeandwork/story/0,, 118 on yourconsciencebutyour emotions, which become in­ fect job, you have a better 1112,00.html volved in a roller-coaster style chance of gettingin. As a recent ride ofeuphoria aftera goodTimes article suggested temping How long should I do it for? dayto suicidalaftera donutcan help you have bettercareer Thereis a dangerthatif you (no sales in a day). Like a drugprospects. Not only this but it keep temping for too long itwill addictawaitingmynextfixwill help you get some extra eventually become hardtomove thefearoflosing a saleplayedcashwhilstyouwait. onto a permanent job. It's im­on my confidence andsoonallportant to keep looking for a I could musterwere a few pity How to get temp work? job as you work so that you sales. Each agency specialises in don't fall into this trap. Themoral ofthestory is different types of work, so do and medical package, so in Witan Jardine Recruitment thatunless youaregiftedwithyourrese·arch. You needto start As a temp worker you are many ways it's better than a www.witanjardine.co.uk What ifIdon't have a work per-nerves of steeland the abilityby contactingas many temping still allowed four weeks holiday regular part-time job. It's a Brook Street-Recruitment mit for the UK? toconnive people intheman-agencies as possible and send-every year, aswell as sick leave. good idea to enquire about Agency, Unfortunately, if you don't ner of a sociopath, beware of inginyourCV.Butmakesureto Sointhisrespectitisno differ-what they're going to offer you www.brookstreet.co.uk/ have a UK permit you will not theMarketingCompanyman-avoid dodgy agencies which ent from an ordinary job. beforeaccepting the job. Kelly Services, www.kelly-beableto takeup temp work. agers who talk the talk but may charge youfindingworkor services.co. uk make you walk door-to-door tofail to give you a statement of How much pay can I expect? What are the big agencies? Reed, www.reed.co.uk line their pockets. terms. Once you find the right Youwillbepaidbythehour, Adecco www.adecco.co.uk ­agenciesandgetregistered, you and you are likely to get more probably the most famous What do Ineed on my CV? -tJ A s somebody whohada Sidhanth Karnath gives advice on howto handle those stressful situations paperroundwhen she was 13 and morere- r­ 8 4Beaver 06 March 2007 The Ultimate· Career Quiz We realise there are still those of you who are struggling to pick a career, so here is a quiz that is sure to reveal your calling in life, atthe courtesy of Monster.co.uk 1. Where is your energy naturally directed? Extraverts' energy is directed primarily outward, towards people and things outside themselves. Introverts' energy is primarily directed inward, towards their own thoughts, perceptions, and reactions. Therefore, Extraverts tend to be more naturally active, expressive, social and interested in many things, whereas Introverts tend to be more reserved, private, cautious and inter­ested in fewer interactions --but with greater depth and focus. E ~7>--ften: high energy more than listen 'nlc out loud ~et, then thinlc )Like to be around people a lot Prefer a public role -Can sometimes be easily dis­ tracted l'::fer to do lots of things at once outgoing and enthusiastic ,111:r-cwert oftere·----­ Have quiet energy Listen more than talk Thinlc quietly inside their heads Thinlc, then act Feel comfortable being alone Prefer to work behind the scenes Have good powers of concen­tration Prefer to focus on one thing at a time i\re self-contained and reserved D Extravert (E) DIntrovert (I) 4. What kind of environment makes you the most comfortable? Judgers prefer a structured, ordered, and fairly predictable envi­ronment, where they can make decisions and have things settled. Perceivers prefer to experience as much of the world as possible, so they like to keep their options open and are most comfortable adapting. Judgers tend to be organized and productive, while Perceivers tend to be flexible, curious and nonconforming. Udge'l'fiJfte:tr; ake most decisions pretty silyserious and conventional y attention to time and are rompt fer to finish projects ork first, play later ant things decided eethe need for most rules ike to make and stick with dcomfort in schedules D Judger (J) ,.. ,,. Database administrator Special education teacher Alcohol and drug addiction counselor iversity manager / trainer Speech / language patholo­gist Career counselor Therapist 2.What ~ind of information do you natu­ 1rally notice and remember? Sensors notice the facts, details and realities of the world around them, whereas Intuitives are more interested in connections and relationships between facts, as well as the meaning or possibili­ties of the information. Sensors tend to be practical and literal people who trust past experience and often have good common sense. Intuitives tend to be imaginative, theoretical people who trust their hunches and pride themselves on their creativity. ested in fewer interactions --but with greater depth and focus. Sensorfilftiin: Focus on the details and specifics,Admire practical solutions Notice details and remember facts Are realistic --see what is Live in the here and now Trust actual experience Like to use established skills D Sensor (S) I:trtuitivesl>fte""":-----­ Focus on the big picture and possibilitiesAdmire creative ideas Notice anything new ordiffer­ent Are inventive --see what could be Thinlc about future implica­tions Trust their gut instincts Like to figure things out DIntuitive (N) So which one are you? Perceivers often: May have difficulty making tlecisions replayful and unconvention­1 e less aware of time and often run late ;?refer to startprojectsPlay first, work later ~ike to keep options open Question the need for many ike to keep plans flexible ant the freedom to be spon- DPerceiver (P) Intellectual propertyattor­ney News analyst Design engineer Biomedical researcher Network integration spe­cialist Pick the box below which corresponds to the choices you have made to the four ques­ tions. Advertising account execu­tive Magazine editor Therapist Careeroroutplacement counselor Corporate trainer 3. How do you decide or come to conclu­ sions? Thinlcers make decisions based primarily on objective and impersonal criteria --what makes the most sense and what is logical. Feelers make decisions based primarily on their personal values and how they feel about the choices. Thinkers tend to be cool, analytical and are convinced by logical reasoning. Feelers tend to be sensitive, empathetic, and are compelled by extenuat­ing circumstances and a constant search for harmony. ested in fewer interactions --but with greater depth and focus. ;I'hinkers often: Make decisions objectively Appear cool and reserved Are most convinced by ration­al arguments Are honest and direct Value honesty and fairness Take few things personally Tend to see flaws Are motivated by achievement {u-gue or debate issues for fun Thinker (T) Feelers often:-----­becide based on their values and feelings Appear warm and friendly Are most convinced by how they feel Are diplomatic and tactful Value harmony and compas­sion Take many things personally Are motivated by appreciation '.Avoid arguments and conflicts D Feeler (F) Investmentbanker Management / marketing consultant Copywriter Radio / TVtalkshowhost Real estate developer Strategicplanner aven,Iiitui ve, Thinker,Judger • Chief Executive Officer Networkintegration spe­cialist Managementconsultant Franchise owner Financial planner Early childhood education teacher Dental assistant ChiefInformation Officer Sports merchandise sales Physical therapist Home health social worker Interiordecorator Paralegal Credit counselor Computer programmer Commercial pilot Police officer Software developer Physical therapist Lawn service manager Pharmacist + + thousand and seven seven I.II • •11 • • • 18 • • • 15 .6 •19 •• •• .1 •14 21 27 • •10 • 26 23•1 • .11, 13 .25 :( • 8, 12 ?·114 1 •113 125 •• 124 119 •112 • 1~1 • 111 126 /it~ • 122· 118 •• ~09 123 16 • ~21.108 ~10 •111 ~-128 •106 •104107 105 •130 e103 2 .133 169• .111, 198 .102 .197 •100 •196 • • 101• 77172 173 J95 • .194 174 193 • t • 175 176 •192 177• 190 • • 189 178 179 180• . ,188• .181 .91 92 • •186 .90 181 •89 182 183184 ,as 18• .a8 86 9 ao •87 .73,84 + ::.[ - tuesdaythe sixth ofmarch, two thousand and seven bye bye winter blues jenniferleggett on how to be a cool kid this season Fashion week is well and truly over and the iiber chic havepacked up their Louis Vuitton trunks and left town. So what to do now?There's no better way to spring into spring than a look at the five hottest trends for theseason,showcased in ourproud city only weeks ago. Remembergirls,ifyou can'tbeat'em... join'em! And make sureyou're seen in some of these essential looks... 1 Space Odyssey get-up may 2Perhaps quite the antithesis 3Show some leg: the third that 5The one 'must have' we can sound like of the former is look is the con-all willingly something the next top tinuation of _.. .,,, last adopt is the you would wear ' trend: sporty chic. what seems to ....,.,_..,.,.,.,,,,.. has been well and crisp,whiteshirt. to ;i latenight star Having not made an , be the never-truly burst by the Simple and ver­trek marathon, appearance since the ending rise of our return of the .. satile, itwas fea­but you'll 1980s this look hemlines. · A-line. The( tured by vir­eat your 1 is well in need Shorts and tually every trapeze/ --...,.....i-wor d s of revival. But skirt turn-ups shape has designer at come before you dig \ are still head-b e e n London summer out your sweat ing skyward, exhibited fashion .2007. High-bands and keeping bare in the/ week. shine and/ start singing i legs well on Stella metallicsi Fame -hold the agenda 1.:­ ~~~:se~y• are the key on. Things this spring/ dresses . to this have changed ~summer. a n d f. look, but this time Shorts were macs,, black and around . t h e with1;.;:r tion bycreat­white are , Sporty chic favourite of empire ing a volumi­okay, too I. of 2007 sees designers waistlines giv-nous, flowing as long as the return of such as ing definition white shirt, they have a the R a 1 p h to the apparel. worn loose or reflective quality. Marni teaming Lauren Try billowing nipped in with Go the way of• short-sleeved a n d chiffon dresses a belt whilst Balenciaga with hoodies with flow-Carolina ala Givenchy, Prada kept head-to-toe glossy, ingskirts,andtrain-Herrera, teamed or if you've androgeny alive gold lycra, or if ers with three inch with crop jackets got the with shirts worn that's just a bit too heels.The balletrefer-and heels to truly heightsexper-tucked into bold try a black ences of Vera Wang celebrate the iment with high-waisted plastic mac a la with nude pinks and amount of leg on structure, like trousers.Sowear Lanvin. Either way high leggings may be show. Zac Posen. your white shirt this trend is sure to a more feminine way Top tip: Google like it's going makeyou sparkle! to keep up with this your nearest wax-out of fashion, trend. ing salon fast! knowing safelythatit's not. So don't fret, as long 11-s you hit just a few of these key trends your fashionista status will survive far longer than the buzz of London fashion week ever will! S ince lovers of ballet are not that certain frisson to the performance; it was successful a ballerina.She is undoubtedly world presented in the second act.One of commononcampus,Iwon'tbore my rather good fun to enter the theatre sur-. hugely talented; for all herfascist tenden-the best things about Giselle is that the few readers with details of posi-rounded by chanting protesters. And cies, she can certainly dance. She is the musicwas written specificallyfor the bal­tions, plies and pirouettes. The major actually, the whole debacle played out most technical dancer I have ever seen let so begins frivolous and fast-moving, excitement of this performance of Giselle in my favour: the theatre closed the with absolutely flaw-and ends up with the sombre woodwind. undoubtedly stemmed from the presence balconyarea,fearful thatprotesters less footwork and and strings of Act 'Iwo.The second act is of the so-called"BNP ballerina", Simone wouldbuyuptheseatsthere,mean-gave an ·dominated by the supernatural figures of Clarke, in the lead role.Giselle was actu-ing I got an upgrade from my crap-.-,-' the Wilis, the spirits of betrothed women ally played by a number of the principal py seat in the balcony (binoculars ' ·· incredi-who have died before their wedding day, ballerinas in the company, but rather essential) to a slightly who force men to dance themselves to excitingly, I had a ticket for Clarke's less crappy seat in bly spirited per-their death. The Wilis expect Giselle to matinee performance, so along with the the upper cir-formance. join them and help kill the Prince but in usual middle class mothers accompanying cle. Giselle is not the most anultimateactofdevotion (orstupidityin their daughters to the ballet were anti-accessibleballet(thattitlegoesto my mind, he deserved what he had corn-fascism demonstrators. The resulting The Nutcracker with its childlike .ing) she saves her beloved. Basically, undesirable publicity has been rather dis-The innocence) but it is amongst Giselle wins the dance-off with the Queen astrous for the English National Ballet, problem them.Its story is simple and of the Wilis, so even if the protesters did-who up until then had had a very success-with matinee common: boy meets girl, n't deliver, I got my desire in the end. ful winterseasonatthe London Coliseum, performances is girl falls madly in love Giselle was first staged in 1841, and withan absolutelystunningversionofThe that they are usually with boy, boy turns out to being one of the older ballets, originally Nutcracker and a well-received Alice in punctuated by wailing be a prince engaged to used mime as well as dance.This style of Wonderland. babies. This time the another woman, girl goes choreography has now lost favour,but the Since the ENB is state funded, it is bawling babies were mad and dances herselfto a ENB's version bravely stuck closely to the obliged bylaw to promote good race rela-joinedbya tokenprotester frenzied death, vengeful original. Whilst this decision was laud­tions, thus the problem of having a BNP shoutingduringClarke's first spirits attack boy.Ok, perhaps able, it gave the production a slightly member on their payroll. But personally,I solo, who was subsequently notyour average rom-com but not dated feel and actually at one point, as think the whole thing is ridiculous: draggedoutofthetheatre.Personally, unlike many fairytales and a very Giselle's mother acted out a ridiculously her political beliefs, objectionable as I wanted the protester to climb over accessible plot: throughout history, longstoryin mime,Idid considerwhether they no doubt are, are utterly irrele-the orchestra and jump on the stage, women have picked unsuitable men she wouldn't have been better off dressed vant to her ability to dance, and the and maybe even have a dance off who have no desire to marry them in a black and white stripey jumper, with BNP is actually,annoyingly enough,a with the ballerinas.Now that would andend up breakingtheirhearts.The a painted white face and a black beret, legitimate political party. Further, have been top quality entertainment. fairytale elements of the ballet were rather than her traditional peasant garb. Miss.Clarke was exposed as a bit of a But actually their protest was rather brought out rather beautifully in this However, this was a small flaw in what fool when it emerged that her boyfriend, lame and half-hearted, despite its production, particularly in the con-was otherwisea wonderful production. also a dancer at the ENB, was a Cuban exaggerated dramatisation in many of trast between the TheENB will almost certainlyinclude immigrant himselfand,in fact,almost the the newspapers.I think that they could idyllic German vil-Giselle in their next winter season in entire company comes from abroad. That learna fewthings from protestersatthe lageinthefirst . London; I implore you to go and see it, there are bigoted idiots in all types of L S E r. .,,,,.. , act where even if there is no fascist ballerina to cas­organisation, including the ballet, does Simone L ~,q.f I :0"T Giselleandthe tigate next year. not seem newsworthy to me and by draw-Clarke Prinee meet, ing attention to herBNP membership,the remained perfectly where the dancing is papers gave the party a huge number of composed throughout the light-hearted and in good column inches. But it certainly added a protest, as one would expectfrom so humour, and the supernatural pirouettes·and protests: an afternoon at the ballet rosamundurwi sees gjselle at the iondott coliseum nervous breakdown tuesday the sixth ofmarch, two thousand and seven nine .II , , youknow your life has changed when you wake up in a psych ward." In Nervous System, Canadian novelist Jan Lars Jensen recounts how he lost his mind after writ­ing his first book Shiva 3000, which he wholly believed would usher in the apoc­alypse. Set.in ·a futuristic India, Shiva 3000 linked'-t;he pantheon of Hindu gods to a sinistertechnology that would destroy the world. The authorhad no problem finding a publisher for his book, but during the process of its revision he grew uneasyabout its impending publication. He'd flouted the golden rule of his creative writing teachers, that is to never write about a place or culture that you haven't experienced firsthand. So in last-minute panic, he does some additional research on the internet about Hinduism and as he delves deeper, fear and paranoia take over him. He starts seeing what he takes to be manifestations of the looming Arl):lageddon·in daily occurrences of his Ufe'.and·-around the world. The word 'defamation!takes on catastrophic conse­quences and he becomes convinced that his novel will precipitate a huge scandal and ever-expanding lawsuits that will set the world on fire, build into an interna­tional-religious conflagration. In this personal memoir, it is Jensen's identity as a writer that takes center stage, and it is this identity that suffers a huge blow.Sometime after he'd first been admitted to thepsychoticward,helosthis abilityto readorwrite. "Theproblemwith reading troubled me. i'f I couldn't read, whatcould I do?Who wasI, with thatsub­tracted from the sum of me?" Ifyou think a book about mental ill­ness can't be fun to read, think again. Writing in a manner that can only be described as a wholly rational irrationali­ty laced with dark humour, Jensen's appeal lies in how he doesn't take himself too seriously, how he steers clear from constructing any link between a writer's creativity and madness. The author's story is indeterminate. Althoughinhispasttherehavebeen signs of his mental instability, such as obsessive hand-washing,strange fits before exams, a hysterical fear of flying and Bell's palsy, there is no real clinical explanation as to how he descended into mental break­down, nor as to how he eventually recov­ered. I spoke to him to find out more. Your first book Shiva 3000 was what pre­cipitated this nerv­ous crisis. How did the idea for that book come about? In the mid­ emilyding talks to janlarsjensen about going slowly mad things Indian, especially Hinduism. I was writing quite a bit at that point, and it occurred to me that nobody had written anyspeculativeorfantasynovelsbasedon those subjects. This coalesced with a lotof other ideas I'd been playing with in my fiction, and the novel flowed from there. Someone mailed us a postcard from India of Hanuman, around the same time. It seemed like a sign. And looking at the vivid image on the card, I felt as if I was on to something perfectly suited to my sensibilities. Inthebookyou spoke ofhowyoulost your ability to read and write. For a writer, that must be a blow. How did it impactonyou?Howdidyoulearntodo it again? Three things were responsible for that inability. The biggest culpritwasprobably the drugs I'd been prescribed during my stay in the ward. One was an anti-psy­chotic, and I tended to blame it over the other meds, because I suspected that whatever it did to tame themind andpre­yent delusional thinking also inhibited creativity. The connection seemed plausi­ble. But when I started taking it, I didn't have the wherewithal to make that con­nection, so thesudden haltin my abilityto read seemed like a mysterious and omi­nous development. The second culprit was the affliction itself -a psychotic depres­sion, as I've come to think of it. Depressionsapsyou of yourmotivation to do things, and filling a page with words requires a lot of subconscious motivation, from sentence to sentence -motivation thatyou don'teven realize you're drawing· on, when you feel well. The final thing, I think, was that, the episode in the ward and everything bad surrounding it had been triggered bY. my experiencefinishing my novel, and I was probably "gun-shy", whether I knew it or not, about returning to writing. I just couldn't muster that carefree joy of the process,as before. The combination of all of those things brought writing and reading to a dead halt, which was indeed a strange and frightening developmentfor someone who saw himself as a writer. Firstof all, a huge portion of my identityas Isawitwas sud­denly carved away. I didn't know how to fill my time, without reading and writing. I also didn't know what I'd do with my life, if I couldn't write, as I'd invested so much in pursuit of a careeras a novelist. I regained some of my reading ability while still in the ward, and weeks later, after my discharge, I found with great relief that I could get through several pages at a time, again, and retain whatI had read. Theabilityto write again took longer to return -six or seven months, I think -and corre­sponded with a decrease in the dosage of thatanti-psychotic medi­ ation, not surprisingly. How long did it take you after to write Nervous it difficult to write? Didyou everfeel you had to water things down? Ihadrecovered by thesummerof 1999 and I started writing Nervous System in 2003. For most of the interval between those dates, I just wanted to forget about what had happened and hoped that other people forgot aboutit, too. Then,in 2002, I started a website and was desperate for material to post. I recalled some of the things that had happened and wrote them up as best as I could remember, in short scenes. For thefirst time, I felt like I want­ed to record these episodes, while I could, before I forget them altogether. Some things I had forgotten, until prompted by my wife. For example,during the experience, I once accused her of poisoning grape juice she had brought into the ward for me. I hadn't remembered that episode since it hap­pened, but when she mentioned itin 2003, the whole scene flooded back,vividly.Ifshe had-n't mentioned it, I doubt I would have ever remembered it. And there were proba­bly more scenes that I never recalled ­probably missed some r e a 1 gems for t h e book! Oh well. In an attempt to promptmy memory, I went back to the hospi­tal ward, and that visit helped fill in some blanks. Idon'tthinkIwateredanythingdown, per se, but anyone who writes anything autobiographical does some selecting and shaping for the sake of the book -that's inevitable. The hardest part to write was the scene at the library, where I expected to endmyshiftwithsuicide. I found it upset­ting to think about and re-create that scene in such detail. When I first wrote it out, and the ,first few times I read the result, I was saddened by what I described,andemotionsrushed back.But, after I read the scene a few more times, funnily enough, I started to feel better about the event. It was strangely thera­peutic -perhaps because I could now impose a littleorderover events thatIhad no control over, at the time. Also it may have been healthy just to force myself to consider that difficult moment, rather than bury it (my first instinct.) In Nervous System, you said: "I had gone from being an atheist to deriving, on paper, an equation that proved the exis­tence of God, and that I was an agent of his incarnation as Shiva." Being an athe­ist in the first place, howandwhy do you think that happen? And are you still an atheistnow? I'm not sure why I made that leap. One possible reason was thatI'd been fill­ing my head with religious concepts while writing the book, and certain -ahem, *issues• -had started to percolate in my subconscious. Clearly I wasn't a very good atheist.The big questions in life, no mat­ter how much one might reject religious thinking, do not go away. You are stuck with them, one way or another. Maybe my interest in Hinduism actually flowed out of a budding discomfort with my lack of good responses to these questions, and writing a novel was just a strange coping mechanism for this friction. I was approaching 30, and had more reason to be thinking about mortality, perhaps. Maybe the spark I felt on the page when writing that novel was fed by grappling with those big issues, in a medium in which I felt comfortable, and the whole creative fervour I felt was just a gloss, or a by-product of that exploration. Writing the novel probably cracked something open in my receptiveness to ideas about spirituality, anyway, and the mental breakdown found thatcrack. ·Religion is a common element in a lot of people's experienceofmentalillness. It was also a common topic in the ward.You can imagine the conversations that come up between patients. Ofteri very painful to listen to (or worse, participate in). It's not surprising that this should happen, however. For one thing, when people are ill and vulnerable in this way, they naturally struggle for something to hold on to, to help make things normal again and make sense of a suddenly stranger world. Another reason for the prevalence of such thinking in the ward is that, if a person is delu­ sional, religious topics just seem to follow. "Why am I hearing voices when thereis nobody in the room?" If a person isn't well oriented to his or her illness before something like that happens, it's not surprising that he orsheshouldlook to the supernatural for ,-, explanation. And of course, it ~[t~.. is the same mind creat-. tf:::ti ing these delusions that is attempting to explain them, so, once a religious element is introduced '>---­into the cycle, it builds upon itself. .,...._... For me, once I stopped beingable to t----' • step back from my situation and what c+ I viewed as disastrous days ahead, it was a slippery slope thatquickly led (D to the end of the world, and the end of the world meant, for me, "cosmic importance." If you lose some of the gates of logic in your thinking, it's a ('\9\ quick route to the supernatural. I am no longer an atheist. Some of c+ my thinking on the subject actuallyresembles the ranting hypothesizing of my breakdown, but without the cata­strophic visions or egotism. Would you say that you are primarily a sciencefictionwriter?Howdoyouthink (D someone who's read your work before and someone who hasn't will approach Nervous System? I think of speculation as being a superb tool available to any writer, rather than me being a science fiction orfantasy author. The problem with those labels is they are just too freighted with precon­ceptions, now, and I don't want anyone skipping over my fiction (or my memoir) because of them, or expecting certain things becauseof them. Also, I don'twant to be limited in what I write, becauseof a label. I need freedom to explore what interests me, if I'm to keep going as an author. I don't know what fans of the novel would, generally, make of the memoir. Would it spoil the novel to know what went on in the background? Or would it just add a new spin? I'm not sure. Some people who have liked Nervous System very much vow to me that they will read Shiva 3000, and then... I don't hear back from them on that. Others have read the two books as a double bill and purport to have enjoyed both. My sense is that Nervous System will havebroaderappeal,because it's easier to access on a personal level. Do you still have a hysterical fear of fly­ing? I fly often now, but I don't like it. I've never been able to get back that glorious, carefree attitude I had about flying prior to my breakdown. When I'm flying I sim­ply hear too manythingshappeningin the engine sound and the metal parts of the plane; I'm often looking to the stew­ardesses for signs of trouble. I need dis­traction! Most of the new jets here have TV monitors on theseatin front of you -a great development in the history of avia­tion, as far as I'm concerned! Then again, the SwissAirdisasterhadsomething to do with the wiring of a new entertainment system, didn't it...? a. ten tuesday the sixth of march, two thousand andseven massive attack union of knives sherifsale is massively impressed sophiahattey is not convinced Armed with a sound that has always bal-Thankfully, though, they were all on stage and The Fly has described Union of Knives as reminiscent of Kid A­anced the menacing and the uplifting, seemingly happy to be there, accompanied by two era Radiohead andThe Beta Band's bleepitybleepbleep. Massive Attack can get political without drum kits and three brilliant guest vocalists. With Whatitywhatwhat?thought I, my experience of them having seeming insincere and opportunistic (even Noel no new material to promote (they are apparently left a rather different impression. As the openingtrack pulsed into Gallaghermight not have a prob-working on a new album), this the dirty, dirty Barfly, the only thing I could think of was 90's Euro­lem with them). In fact the songs, was pretty much a greatest hits dance outfit Sash -specifically 'Colour theWorld', being covered by with their distinctive pulsating set with a few extras. While The Cooper Temple Clause. rhythm section a constant for some bands might struggle to I'm being a bit unfair as most most of the two hour set, seem give life to this kind of set, put-tracks had nice beefy openings almost tailor-made for today's ting it all together here just on the drum machine, and political atmosphere. The gig at brought out Massive Attack's the melodic gui­tars and vocals BrixtonAcademy was a benefit range of sound; the guitar parts did draw out the occasional concert for the Hoping founda­on their more recent tracks sit-musical moment. But to tion, a charity that provides ting easily beside the more compare this stuff to Kid A is assistance to community projects electronic earlier stuff. There positively blas­phemous. working with Palestinian chil­were some drawbacks. Despite Inelegant and ever so slightly dren in refugee camps. By the most of the audience actively cringe-w~rthy, 1-­....1-11, the worst thing time Grant'Daddy G' Marshall or passively becoming increas­about Union of Knives is that I and Robert '3D' Del Naja led the ingly stoned there was little in know my angsty 11'1f~t 16-year-old self band on, the stage was filled with the way of dancingfor much of would have fucking loved statistics running in red across the night. It was also all a bit them. stacks of LED displays. And quiet; the bass here never got The support from Scanners although the message wasn't up to the type of level that was, by contrast, quite brilliant. exactly ambiguous, Del Naja feels in control of your heart-Lead vocalist Sarah strode onstage complete with unkempt prefaced the opener by emphasis-beat, only on 'Angel'did it come Cleopatra-esque bob, hypnotising vibrant blue eyes and a voice ing that the intention of the night close. Those small complaints sounding somewhere in-between (dare I say it?) PJ Harvey and was to go beyond governments and help those in aside and with'Teardrop'still able to bring the Karen 0.The music was gentle, electronic pop, which might have need. Not that he seems the type to mince his room to a stunned silence, Massive Attack remain easily been bloody dull if it were not for some juicy dissonance from words; it is easy to appreciate how the band has a band with a huge creative scope and a back cat-the guitarist and the tender, coherent vocal melodies. And to top it spent much of the past twenty years in varying alogue notnearly as dated as you might think. off they're all bloody gorgeous! Well worth taking a look,I'd say. stages of conflict. Following a stint across the UK with Ukrainian gypsy punks Gogol Youruniquelooks and yourpastycomplexionhave oftenbeencommentedupon.Is Bordello, 25-year-old troubadour Dan Sartain has developed a canny it true thatthis is because you sleep in a coffin, oris itbecauseyoulike to sit athome knack of garnering devout fans on this side of the pond to worship at his watchingyourfavorite Rambo movies? alter of Americana. Looking like Elvis before the pies and pills, the pasty-faced and pencil'tached former gas station attendant serves up twangy, reverb­[Laughs]"Dude, I don't sleep in a coffin.You know, some people tell me I'm dark. In soaked mariachi alongside rough-and-ready rockabilly, but not as we know. fact, one of the most common questions I got when I was young was "What are you?". it. With a bottle of bourbon in hand and sweat dripping from his floppy People couldn't quite work me out, so, instead of asking something like "What's your fringe and running down his gaunt'cheeks, Sartain's honest and bare-bloodline?", they just came out with:"What are you?". I knuckle lyrics transport us from his hometown of Alabama and deep into dunno! My grandmother on my mother's the desert at El Paso. side was a prostitute, so I could've come from anywhere. Honestly." "We've had a real stressful day and I'm all hot un'sweaty," drawls Sartain in his distinctive southern style."So, if anyone fancies giving me a smoke, I'll make it worth your while!" As he plucks the strings of his beat'-up ol'guitar with his teeth to Alice Cooper's 'Second Coming', the chicks startswooning and the temperature rises to equatorial lev­els -leaving us guys wondering why we're nowhere near as suave as the new kid in town. Isn'titthecase thatyoufirst gotinto Rockabilly music as a teenager, gelling your hair backto rebelagainstyour parents' veryliberalattitudes? "My parents like'Crosby, Stills and Nash', 'The Eagles' and'The Beatles' [He rolls his eyes around and takes a long drag of his cigarette, then his pasty face beams into a smile]. Everybody wants to make their mum cry when they are a teenager; I did it by becoming a greaser and getting all these old cars. When I was about 13 I started playing at the High-Note Club before these crazy, receding hair-line, hair-metal bands;their mic-checks often ended in a note like this: "Check 1, Check 1, [high­pitch,Justin Hawkings-esque squeal.) All these all ladies started buying my drinks 'cause they thought I was cute. That's when my careerreally began." Your songs talk about the dangers ofromance andthe struggles of fidelity. Is this takenfrom personal experience? "I'm satisfied with love right now and I'm listening to songs, which aren't about love. I listened to a lot of Chris Isaac, and pretty much all the best Isaac songs are about love and in minor chords; so I made my songs about love and in minor chords. I'm satis­fied with love so I don't want to complain about it anymore. I'd rather write about, you know [refills his whiskey on the rocks] spacey stuff ... " Despite your age, you deliver yoursongswith the wisdom of a man who's lived a lifetime, taking the rough with thesmooth; andyou'vebeen describedbackhome as "moretalented than a thousand talented dudes". "I'm more talented than two thousand talented dudes. Nah. I don't know. 90% of the time when you see a band that are complete strangers: they're gonna be bad. The guy that wrote that has seen thousands of bad bands open for his band. So it was a surprise for him that one of them was good. That was my band." You've been christenedbyNME as a post-punk Johnny Cash for you're energetic live performances. Infact, is ittrue that once you dealt withsome stageinvaders by shaking a brokenbottle atthem? "It was a gig with well over 2000 strangers. They looked like four frat-guys and they mooned me from the stage, I turned around just in time to see it. So I ran up and kicked one of them real hard in the ass. I broke a bottle and started imitating Mike Tyson before that Lennox Lewis fight. At first I thought that it was terrible, had to sit down for an hour after the show. Now I think it's one of the best gigs I've done: I'm proud of it." dan sartain charliehallion talks love, violence and prostitution with the rockabilly star + tuesday the sixth ofmarch, two thousand and seven kubrick's creed femme fatales x murderous machines kubrick + failure of men, calculates markobeney 'cinemadivides into two essential underestimation. Women are never unrav-way too young to be committingthesexu-is our downfall through manipulation. eras, before Stanley Kubrick and elled slowly to us in these films-the al acts with two Japanese businessmen. Men may be standing on the stage, but after StanleyKubrick'. His use of shocking truths are revealed as explicitly When Cruise discovers her at the back of women control the curtains. music, special effects, andsectioned story-and untimely to us as to ourleading man. a fancy-dress shop, we areleftappalled at In Kubrick's films women may con-telling have indeed become embedded InLolita,theunspoiled pre-pubescent girl the businessmen. But then Kubrick's trols man's life, buthisdeathis decided by into the Hollywood system. But it is often becomes the man's domination by the end alternative take on the situation appears machines. If male competition is divided overlooked how much the thematic motifs of the film. We no longer hate him for as the girl hides behind Cruise, using him between alpha and beta males, the in his films have affected contemporary machine in 2001: A Space Odyssey is cinema. Coppola, Scorsese, Lynch and unquestionably an alpha male. HAL 9000 Cronenberg, the modern masters of exhibits the characteristics that would be human despair, all owe their freedom to expected in a masculine man: rationalis­Kubrick's first attempts to explore man's tic, unemotional, quiet, and ruthlesslydarker side in Paths of Glory and Dr. intelligent. In the late scene in which the Strangelove.Itwas probably Orson Welles hibernating crew members' life supportwho first delved into the darkp.ess with systems are shut down by the machine, such passion and such studio funding, and his actions are committed with such a even he couldn't touch A Clockwork calm calculation that the men he Orange for its detached and amoral por-kills have become no more to him trayal ofits protagonist. than ants are to us. If this is true Kubrick, often referred to as the most masculinity, any man worried over objective of filmmakers, in fact accepted whetherhe is masculine enough canrelax, the subjectivity of his life when choosing knowing men need not aim for this.Jason his protagonists. Consider that each of the Anderson in his review said of the com-men in his films, and it was always men puter, 'It's no accident that the only com-who were the centre piece of his narra-pelling character in the piece is the HAL tives, were middle-class or at least afflu-9000, and Kubrick lends its death a grav­entworking-class, white and clearly exis-itas that he deprived of just about everytentially weary of their surroundings -in other casualty in his films'. Meanwhile, other terms Colin Wilson's The Outsider. the male players receive the same treat-Biographically,this is the director placing ment of character development as the himself amongst the epic deconstruction control panels in StarWars. of this world. If Kubrick hadn't been so The only other contemplation upon a shy and so opposed to fame, he would character's death appears in Full Metal have played these parts himself. Jacket, where women and machines are Core to the understanding of wanting toexploit the girl; we hate her for as a shield from her enraged father. The finally combined into a singular charac­Kubrick's works is the theme of man's exploiting him. As Brian McKay remarked look she gives explains fully she knew ter: the young ill-fated female Vietnamese inadequacy in regard to women and in his review, 'She is fully aware of her what she was doing, and still enjoyed it. sniper, capable of assassinating the machines. sexuality and the effect ithas on men, and Moments like these are offered through-marines with a precise dedication that Women in Kubrick's world can never likes to play it up ... Is she using it as a out, as male viewers are forced to re-their inadequacies do not afford them. It be taken at face value. Their apparent weapon?' examine our misconceptions that women starts to make sense why the marines are innocence is always torn away furiously at A similar predicament appears for are our property. Kubrick wants us to ordered to give their rifle a woman's a key scene, as if Kubrick himself had a Tom Cruise inEyes Wide Shut,this time in realise that female innocence is non-exis-name. vendetta against his loves lost through the form of a nymphomaniac who again is tent, that ourmisgivings thatthis is notso N ether Wright's Bar, nor even s·plashing out at the Garrick would do this time. We needed to escape, get away from the LSE campusfor a bit, seek a caffeine boost elsewhere. So with Fairtrade Fornight in mind, we headed to Progreso in Covent Garden. Set up jointly between a group of coffee-growing co-operatives and Oxfam,itsells certified Fairtrade and organic coffee. Located in this mall just off Neal Street, which though well-signed was not particularly obvious to the casual shop­per in Covent Garden, it was around a corner, down some stairs, and in an atri­um. This lent it a light, airy atmosphere, and I always enjoy being able to see the sky, yet the setting seemed bizarre for a Fairtrade coffee shop, as it was in the middle of an 'Everything Less Than £10' shop (a lie as my companion laterdiscov­ered, with much disappointment), and a variety of well-known surf/skate shops. I'm not quite sure what I was expect­ing, but it struck me that Progreso was actually just like going to any other cof­fee shop. Just like the Starbucks and Cafe Nero's of this world, you went to the till, placed your order, paid, heard a loud whooshing as the drink was being made, then collected the beverage of choice at the other end. Unfortunately, the service was quiteslowas therewas only one barista initial­ly. However we were duly compensated. When asked which products were in fact Fairtrade, she was extremely helpful, and had such vast, excellent knowledge. It was mainly all the different coffees and hot chocolates, and a plate of Fairtrade Mocha Brownies, though I did also spy some Divine chocolate bars, Geobars, and the Greenleaffruit juices (which inciden­tally are available in the Quad Cafe and SU shop). I opted for the Vanilla Latte, whilst my companion went for the White Hot Chocolate. These were rather curiouslyclassified as 'Comfort Coffee' and 'Leftfield' respectively. We apparentlyweren't'Hardcore' enough for an espresso or machiatto! These bizarre, quirky classifications aside, Progreso served a wide range of drinks, incorporating ;-;;,,:Ari,:'•ll!~'i•'{"·..• what Progreso stood for, ,-~,-,,-,,,,,,..... the ownership of the plenty of non-coffee options, probably the largest of anywhereI've been for a while, including those deli­cious 'Innocent' smoothies. Choice was a prevalent theme with food options as well. These varied from fresh cheesecake, to sandwiches and salads, to quicker on-the-•. go snacks like nuts and cereal bars. Though extremely tempted by the some fantastic-looking blueberry cheese­cake, and the organic gourmet sandwich­es,ourwallets weren'tquitein agreement -these were on the pricey side, at £2.90 and about £4 respectively. But in retro­spect it's not bad for London, perhaps I was just in a Scrooge-like student mood. The Fairtrade Mocha Brownies were more tempting at £1.50 each, but theylooked a tad dry. However I am a firm believer that the proof is always in the pudding, so I shall definitely have to give them a try next time. Whilst not quite at Wright's Bar prices (£1.50 for a regular coffee), it's not nearly as expensive as Starbueks, which comparatively is often up to £1 more for essentially the same product. Thoughcoffee from any of the aforementioned shops would be made from Fairtrade beans, Progreso differentiates itself bybeing totally dedicated to raising aware­ness about Fairtrade. Whilst wait­ing for my coffee, I picked upliterature which explained company, as well as their loyalty scheme which is through Oxfam instead of a free coffee, you get a free goat,which is given to fami­lies in Africa. There was the Fairtrade Foundation Newsletter, "Fair Comment", which was informative. Around the cafe, the Fairtrade logo was prominent,there were pictures of the farmers who formed the co-operative in Honduras, and they even showed a Fairtrade documentary at 2pmevery day. Hot drinks in hand, we made beeline for these comfortable-looking table and bench creations. The seating didn't real­ly make much sense to me. The central area was lacking in any vague character, and had the feel of a food court, due to these green, piasticky, generally rather icky chairs and tables. In fact the vast majority of customers, like us, avoided these. But it was a surprisingly large space, and though it initially felt like it lacked an element of cosiness, this was offset by a marvelous discovery -there were books stored under the benches! How exciting. Both of our drinks were delicious, with the White Hot Chocolate being a great discovery (if a bit overly sweet bythe end). Good coffee, literary delights, and a sound conscience for having helped farmers in developing countries get a fairer· deal -it was a satisfying if but fleeting escape from campus. SomefairtraaeeventshappeningatLSE next week: FAIRTRADE WINE AND FILMS EVENING -TUESDAY 6TH MARCH ­7PM,D702 A relaxed, informal evening with vari­ous short documentary films showing exactly how Fairtrade benefits small marginalised producers and also the opportunity to sample a variety of Fairtrade wines. Non-alcoholic drinks will be provided. An opportunity to watch, taste, chat and learn about Fairtrade. Hosted by LSESU People and Planet Society FAIRTRADE MARKET _FRIDAY 9TH MARCH -11AM TO 5PM, THE QUAD With a variety of fairtrade suppliers and products, including a fantastic range of jewellery, clothing, olive oils and handi­crafts. Come and learn a bit about fair-trade, and browse through the beautiful products! Hosted by the LSESU Palestine and People & Planet Societies A reception tofollowwithallparticipat­ing societies to celebrate the end of Fairtrade Fortnight at LSE. Details to progreso! be confirmed. sacharobehmed bucks the star for fair trade + Down Across 1. element of the interior of 1.TV-stick (6-7) a building (4) 5. available (4) 2. with a basis of experience 7. the tip (8) (9) 8. a drink (8) 3. negative prefix (3) 9. pale (4) 4. petrol puddle (3-5) 12. occupation-free (10) 6. each; all (5) 15. a position on a scale, a unit 10.subtlety (6) ofquality (6) 11. sandy water (6) 16. appear on birthdays; 14.french attractive mascu­sponges (5) line thing (4) 1 7. loyal; believing (8) Ask R ight, let's get this over with. Geoffrey Blundercunt St. John Fotherington Shaw here although I suppose you can call me Uncle.Spot ofbad news, Mrs Shaw's comedown with a bit of an ailment, syphilis she says. I don't know what she's complaining about, been in my family since 1364, never did us any harm. Woof! Anyway the old bitch is mostinsistent I take a look atsome of theseletters pil­ingup aroundherparts while she's in bed, so without furth~ ado ; '.,' ~ -.' ~r 'ft(I I:1Y-' . "\' + DearAuntie, Some people are now saying that poking on facebook is a sexual thing. Ihave poked so so so many people on Facebook and now I feel dirty, and a little like a rapist. You must feel like this allthetime,how do you deal with it? Social Policy 2nd Year Poking you say? Rather! Although I'd steer clear of the face ifI were you, far more interesting territory amidships and below decks in my experience. As for rape, it's not all doom and gloom, as we said in Burma, 'if they don't speak English, they can't say'stop'.' eking. Inside or out? BY ear Chap. First one, then the other. Repeat for as long as you are able. DearAuntie, I had a wank in a rickshaw. It was fresh. I also whacked my bul­bous sex-fist in the London Eye. I'm thinking about doing it in class. Lend me your sup­port and congratu­ 2 3 4 2 4 9 3 2 6 8 7 lations. Trigger Happy, Law My dear boy, when I was your age I held the all-England record for jerking the gherkin across three continents in a wheelbarrow. I would have made it fur­ther but by the time we reached Calcutta the swelling was so bad I couldn'tgeta decentgrip on the damn thing and I had to call it a day. Stop by the library sometime andI'llshowyouhowit's really done! Dear Auntie, Firstly, I ate a drugs. Chingwa. Secondly, i'm dropping out of school, have sold all my clothes to fund this stonking great crack habit and my girlfriend has left me. Now, the two may be connected but I don't know what's connected any more since i tried jugglingdotto dot books onLSD and fell intohell. Please be frank Kevin, 2ndYear Laddy-boy. When I was in Laos in the middle sixties a group of young reprobates took me in and we smoked delicious black opium. We swam the golden lakes of the imagination and were visited by the Maharaja and his tiger, who was called Bill. We became so intoxicated that I began to have flashbacks to Burma and dismembered them all with a broken 3 5 7 6 1 7 5 bottle of London Gin. The point is, drug use should not to be toyed with. Hallucinogenic substances are danger­ous things, and you should not imbibe them if you are prone to being poor, ill-educated, black, orany of the above. · DearAuntie, SU Elections have just happened and i'd like to congratulate everyone involved on their com­mitment and endeavour in bringing about an election that was good and hard work, fair on all counts and well done to allthe candidateswho were hard and fair and hard work, well done. Shame George Masterson, Sally Bentwhistle and Pervy 'Pervy' Paul Paulis can't take a leaf out of your book.HAHAH. Hack-kneed Oh, do shut up. You pif­fling idiot. I do hopemydearwifeis back next week to administer to you insuf­ferable plebs and your piteous mewling. Do whatever you do @the­beaver.partb@lse.ac.uk or through Auntie Shaw on Facebook. Signed : G.B.Shaw 13eaver I06March2007 15 ble for Africa Vulnerability to Climate Change . t ofneo-colonialism as the continent joins fIndependence. have shifted but the objectives perday. are the same. Political control is In trade relations, Africa is no longer the premium goal, in-often marginalised and treated stead economic dominanceisthe unfairly. China, for instance, is Coral Bleaching prize. The new scramble for battering the continent's Africais takingplace among the economies with a flood ofhighlyworld's bigpowers,whoaretap-subsidised goods. This has re-pinginto thecontinentfor its oil, sultedintheclosure of some tex­gold, diamonds and other re-tile industries in countries like t \ sources. The United States' de-Ghana.Ethiopia's impoverished termination to find an farmers also continue to receive Deforestation Impacts on food securityalternativeenergysource follow-meagre income from the coffee ingthegrowinginstabilityinthe Starbucks buys from them. Middle East is leading to a new Worse still, Starbucksisprevent-oil rush in Sub-Saharan Africa. ing the Ethiopian governmentOil companies around the world from trademarking its three. are aggressively pursuing new prizedcoffeebrandswhichcould Desertification Spread of Malaria fields in Africa with support add $88m a year to Ethiopian's i\ . from their homegovernments. export earnings.This obviously As an emerging global eco-could have changed the liveli­nomic power, China is often de-hood of the poor coffee produc­scribed as the lead country in ers. i this new scramble.China's total Despite all these, the conti­investment in 2006 in Africa is nent is still attracting more for-Sea level rise • Reduced freshwater availabilityestimatedtobe$6.3 billion mak-eigndirectinvestment, recording ing it the third largest trade a 200 per cent increase over the partner of Africa after the US last five years. Most of this has and France. It has signed trade however focused on extracting agreements with more than 40 naturalresourcesratherthande­countriesandimports 30% ofits veloping local economies. The oil from Africa. It biggest deal, a challenge for African govern­$2.3 billion investment by ments is to ensure that majorityCNOOC (a Chinese oil company) of their population benefit from in Nigeria allows thecompany a thehugeflow ofcapitalandthat GDP per capita in US dollars -2002 45 percentstakein an the agreements that are signedoff-shore oil field ca-with foreign investors are fair, pable of producing equitable and stand the test of about 180,000 barrels time. 4000 and above 3999-1700 1499-1200 1199-800 Below SOO MollyTuckerlooksathow the burden ofdebt repayments blight Africa's growth N ll tittll.! Wh<'ll lMt~ nite\>y. theycan,h1.-1\'!r ind1i-that tlw ~,-cmnumt.,,; Qf th'<' ~-umc ~tl<'lt\l}~l-o \'t);(hllhli-. 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'Th-<> d~-the St(.'l'X'<)\,p,',' l)l'\'l>'E'l\k,t h'I U th~ lllh.mtitm p.·Htl to Uwm U1cn, l.lel'alk11\P:\ns,and thatltls 1mr-cislonsm~t~foillu1..-c.~summit tn by 13\ll' ~\"C\'l'll\Wll~ the moot the world lll)p<'an" l\1 h.t\\~ ~nl' ha1:i-<; unrnk tn hat:k tosleep. of th~'\' roul\tlk~ al:'\."'Oll\tk\bk tit<•},)O\lr-clnt>ln,~ miti()l\sWl.l!' ~u ,mm.•sl~, OttNt, th~ s-owrn• mtu,n-of tht' mt)mbl.•ts~t,\S (in-J\.fri.~~l'IS Uw: ' aceru~ wlM\ Wl'Stt'rn ~fikl'i mt11t.s of th1, tinm W\'l."e S<) 001'-cludhi._t{ Dr1\ah'I) ha,,, bl.-cn 1.hl:fl\tl\\\)Oil(' ~t\~lffl(~tlf k1tt v&-st sumii ()f mnnc. to tht' rupt tha.l n1Hl!o11s t>f dollctl'l-of slu~ish\1) im1)!1-.-m1.-t\t tbcpl1.1ns, lUt'l.)S, Mstot, ~ntlsd~'tlloni~-d frkttn ll~~ tl\\. lmms dtsnpp,)3rud ti.nd th<' 'fuSQ.\' U\11.t thi>W1\.l lspurpo,•,d,y :rn.d tb.isl!s'Ofet)"~agnl\'\>mt tionsQS tht.'~·alh:~niJ>kd lo &)\id· J><..'()pletif frkattm1tioni;gah\\~ ~.,..,pi~Ah-kan ~u.ntri~mwl.c.t' take. Htl\\~\tr,dd.)t is ul'l.ltlf'f a sulu more thQn Qoy ,)f th~-e n&tiom; lucome thllil' \!\mntti.~ 1:nn tor tlmir~ow nmwt\) Qdhm Qm thQt the~ llll ~uldf!\'t'l'hopeh> ~yooek-imd mu.st r oosuclt«l. a\wiy hy ti. rx,.. n~\'l'l'U'l<:o'\~ :':the ~t~:'lf)i-.':.:t) P.!1U + An evening of "talking instruments, adulterous scandal, magic spells and general misbe­haviour..." LSE is a place of work: one only needs to wanderinto a lecturehall to observe the bustling students discussing exams, internships, elections-all with a FinancialTimes neatly tucked under their arm to realise this is no place for horse play.Unless you're in the rugby team that is. However, there are a few students, nestled away in the corners of the quad and the Shawlibrary that dream of singing, spotlights and stardom.Thatis why the Drama,Dance and Music Societies decided to join forces and unite every artistic dreamer in a perform­ance of Into theWoods by Stephen Sondheim. It's a musical of camped up fairytale charac­ters breaking free from the restrictions of their traditional stories of cheery morality and showing what they get up to 'After Happily Every After....' Stephen Sondheim was described as"thegreatestartistin American musical theatre"inThe New York Times, illus­trated bysuchproductions as SweeneyTod<;! andWest SideStory.'Into theWoods'is a story of uncensored Brother Grimm fairytales overlapping as The Baker and his wife try for a family, coming across Cinderella, Jack, theWitch and many more during their travels. Act I opens witha wish, a witch,anda curse. Each separatetaleintertwinesthroughoutthestory, each depending on a weakness orstrength ofanother.Theplay's conflicts are motivated by selfish wishes, madefor the betterment ofindividual characters.Act II explores what hap­pens after "happily ever after," when these wishes have come true. The show explores the consequences of actions taken in the first act, and the need for community in order to sur­vive "the Woods". It's a story of talking instruments, _adulterous scandal, magic spells and general misbehaviour. Theplaycarriesthe message 'Be careful whatyou wish for .. .itmight just come true'; so if you wish of an evening of.well-known LSE faces prancing, dancing and causing havoc then take a break from your studies and come watch what us thespy types have been up to while ignoring deadlinesan!i missing lectures. It's a hugeproduction, involving massive dance routines, sing-a-long-songs and some side-splitting laughter in between. And if that hasn't soldyou... Howard Davies is in it! Emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases are changing the Earth's climate, and can result in a global increase in temperature between l.4°C and 5.8°C over the next hundred years. The weather is likely to become more extreme, and glaciers are melting fast. But why would we need them any­way? This event seeks to clarify the high inlPor­tance of snow and ice for our planet. Our speaker, Pal Prestrud, is a Doctorate in Biology from University of Oslo, and is currently acting as vice chair of ACIA (Arctic Climate ImpactAssessment) and Directorof CICERO from June 2002. CICERO participates actively in the assessment work of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) .:,-_ LSE ArtsWeek 5th-9th March 2007 What's On? talks/tours