The Gaudie 15th February 2023

Vol 90 No 2 - Wed 15 Feb 2023 iV magazine inside 'This is not enough': Strikes Continue as UCU members call on universities to change. During the past year, industrial action has occurred throughout the UK as schoolteachers, postal workers, and nurses have gone on strike. Following unsuccessful negotiations with employers, Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) leadership have announced that their members will also join the picket lines. Over 70,000 academic staff from 150 universities, including the University of Aberdeen, are striking for eighteen nonconsecutive days during February and March after union bosses and employers failed to reach an accord in late January. On the 25th of January, UCU leaders met with Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) representatives and demanded that employers improve their pay offer, citing the rise in cost of living as well as the real pay decline in previous years. UCU also demanded that employers put an end to the utilisation of insecure contracts. UCU General Secretary Jo Grady commented that the UCEA's subsequent offer, which would increase pay between five and eight percent, did not compensate for years of decline in real pay and thus could not begin to deal with the cost-of-living crisis. Responding to the offer, Grady stated: 'Let me get straight to the point - this is not enough.' Grady opined that university vicechancellors would rather let staff go on strike and shut campuses down than use the 40 billion pounds sitting in reserves to aid in a pay rise and reverse pension cuts. UCU members believe that University vice-chancellors need to rethink their priorities in order to have a better environment for their staff and students. Local Aberdeen UCU Branch Secretary David Anderson said, 'The recent payoffer of 5% represents only a small and insignificant increase and pales before the increased cost of living. Other unions representing nurses, teachers, and transport workers have declined similar pay-offers. Our dispute is not only about pay, but also about the quality of education. Your lecturers and support staff only take strike action reluctantly, and we fully expect our managers to take this dispute seriously to avoid the considerable disruption that 18 days of strike action will bring.' In a Student Council Meeting on 31 January, AUSA VP for Communities Camilo Torres Barragán proposed an emergency motion which expressed support for the strikes while urging both sides to come to the negotiating table. '... As students,' the motion read, 'we support UCU's right to strike and believe their demands to be fair.' However, the motion also stated that AUSA would not support a marking boycott if industrial action reached that point. Citing the effect such action would have on international and final year students, Torres Barragán told councillors, 'We cannot put lecturers’ interests ahead of students’ interests, even though they are very similar.’ On 1 February, dozens of UoA staff members walked out or picketed at the entrances to the Old Aberdeen campus with signs demanding to be valued and seeking better offers for university workers. One Aberdeen UCU member who asked to remain anonymous said: 'I care so passionately about the students I teach [and] the work I do and, but I simply can’t make ends meet right now. I’m on a casual contract that only guarantees me 30 hours work over the whole year- even though I work more like 300 a term. I have had credit card applications turned down because of this type of contract, so I can’t borrow any money and prices continue going up and up. I need a pay raise at least in line with inflation just to even keep afloat, that’s why I’m going on strike.' Prior to the strikes beginning, a UoA spokesperson said: 'This is a national dispute, and we note that there are ongoing national negotiations and hope that agreement can be reached, and strike action averted. The University will make every effort to minimise the impact of any industrial action on students who will be given advice and kept updated.' Professor George Boyne, the University's Principal and Vice Chancellor, is the current Chair of UCEA and a leading negotiator in the pay disputes. Upcoming strike dates include: 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27, and 28 February; and 1, 2, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 March. Strange World (2022) A step forward or a step back? Strange World (2022) is the latest Disney release and I was eager to watch it, as it was predicted to be one of the biggest flops in the history of Disney movies, as well as the first film with a main character openly part of the LGBTQ+ community. The story focuses on the conflicts of three generations of the Clade family in the town of Avalonia: the stubborn explorer Jaeger Clade, his farmer son Searcher and his grandson Ethan. When the production of a plant that gives energy to the whole town is at risk, the family embarks on a journey to save it, in which they’ll find themselves in a ‘strange world’ that will challenge their views on the world as they know it. by Kani Barzani by Emma Chen A truthful review of a sunrise alarm clock The legacy of Jacinda Ardern Life & Style IV p.9 International Newspaper p.9 It is not a war crime if they are Palestinian Opine Newspaper p.10 ‘People are dying now’: Just Stop Oil Activist Speaks Out News Newspaper p.2 Photo courtesy of Andrew Cardno UCU strikes Disputes over pay, working conditions and pension cuts have led to the threat of continuous strikes for seven weeks Photo courtesy of Disney

30.10.19 The Gaudie spoke to Just Stop Oil activist and Aberdeen student Lee Matthews late last term. In November 2022, they went viral after throwing orange paint on Aberdeen’s Silver Fin Building as part of a protest against Barclay’s Bank. Here is part of our conversation, which has been edited for brevity and clarity. How did you first become aware of the global impact of the climate crisis? It's something I've always been latently aware of… But it was never something that was really in the forefront of my mind for most of my life. It wasn't until this February that I was walking to uni, and I saw a big poster across the road for a talk about the climate crisis and direct action… I was free that day, I figured I might as well pop by… they talked through some of the nitty gritty details of the climate crisis… [about how] we're not taking the appropriate steps. We're just continuing on with our life as normal. And I realized that that was something that I was doing. And I went home after that talk, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. And I realized that I had to get involved in some way. Can you tell us a little about how you felt during the protest? The thing about it that made it quite nerve racking for me was the more public facing aspect of it… [when occupying] an oil terminal, you don't have to deal with an angry public. So there was that aspect of it. And also, the other people involved in the Silver Fin action weren't comfortable speaking in front of a camera, so I knew that I would have to have to do that. And that was quite nerve racking, because then I knew that people were going to see me and know that I did that… Aberdeen is the oil capital of Europe, there is a big attachment to oil, a big fear of losing oil, which is completely understandable. So I knew that I would have to deal with that. I did not expect it to get as much attention as it did. So I think if I had known I probably would have been a lot more nervous beforehand. Just Stop Oil uses a lot of intense rhetoric, including likening the climate crisis to genocide. Do you feel these terms are appropriate? I think that the way that people think about the climate crisis right now, they're not thinking about it as a result of decisions that are being made right now. They're thinking about it as something in the distant future that someone's going to come up with some genius solution for. But the fact of the matter is, there is consensus about what we need to be doing, and that is stopping building more and more fossil fuel infrastructure… And yet, our government is actively choosing to license more and more… People are dying now. And that is something that could be avoided. So I think using language like that can quite often make people at least think about that kind of reality rather than it being more abstract and distant from us. So I think it does have some rhetorical use. Just Stop Oil is often criticised for their methods, such as blocking roads. How would you respond to this? It's not about necessarily convincing people. Especially with the climate crisis, we already know that over 60% of the UK population are incredibly concerned about the climate crisis and thinks something needs to be done. But things aren't getting done… the way I see it is that there are a number of people out there who don't know about the campaign, but already agree about the severity of the climate crisis… And it's about getting our campaign in front of those people so that they know that we exist, and they can look for us and try and join us… What are some ways that have helped you to cope with climate anxiety? One of the things that has helped so much is being involved in a community who recognizes the severity of the problem and are able to support each other. Within Just Stop Oil, I've made some amazing, amazing friends who care so much and are willing to do a lot to try and solve this problem. And they are fantastic people…. we have Zoom calls called Resilience to Resist [which help us to build] this community of civil resistance, and companionship, and love because we can't fix this on our own, we need each other to be able to do that. And being able to have that connection with other people is so important. p.2 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF ([email protected]) Holly Ferguson Matthew Sheppard NEWS ([email protected]) EDITOR: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco DEPUTY EDITOR: Kani Barzani DEPUTY EDITOR: Clive Davies FEATURES ([email protected]) EDITOR: Maeve Topliff DEPUTY EDITOR: Fi Hennicken INTERNATIONAL ([email protected]) CO-EDITOR: Gemma Mcleod CO-EDITOR: Eddie Nicholls SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT ([email protected]) EDITOR: Straun Donachie SPORTS ([email protected]) EDITOR: Ewan Knox OPINE ([email protected]) EDITOR: Caterina Fumero DEPUTY EDITOR: Tiina Heikkinen SATIRE ([email protected]) EDITOR: Maggie Johnson PUZZLES EDITOR: Holly Ferguson Editorial Team HEAD OF PRODUCTION ([email protected]) Theodore Williamson PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Zeta Kartsagkouli Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti SOCIAL MEDIA Leah Flint Alex Lawson Charlotte Hill SOCIAL SECRETARY Cathy Steven PHOTOGRAPHER Aedan Brennan Leah Flint Production Team We voluntarily adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (www.ipso.co.uk) and aim to provide fair and balanced reporting. The Hub Elphinstone Road Old Aberdeen AB24 3TU Tel: 01224 272980 The Gaudie is printed on 100% recycled paper. Note from the Editor: Hi everyone, Hope you are all well and enjoying the semester so far. February seems to have come round far too quickly. I cannot believe we only have three more in print editions of the paper for the rest of the year! Crazy. February, the month of Valentine’s has got us all in our feels. After my love for the Gaudie team, my campus crush is Nicola Dempsey - such a babe. If any of you are stuck on how to ask someone out this month, I thoroughly encourage you to pass them a copy of this paper with your number on the top. Nothing cuter than the student newspaper! Anyway, back to business, this edition includes articles talking about the national hedgehog decline, a perspective of being an international student and a person of colour attending Aberdeen University, and a review of the new Puss in Boots. Additionally, in the Gaudie community we hosted our pub quiz last week, which was very successful. Lots of you came along and it was lovely to see all your faces outside of the paper. We would like to thank all of you for your continued support, and a special mention to the Development Trust for providing us and many other university groups with funding. Over the upcoming editions we will be covering how other groups have spent their funding and the major difference it makes to students. Thank you once again, Holly xxx ‘People are dying now’: Just Stop Oil Activist Speaks Out Aberdeen Student Lee Matthews speaks to the Gaudie in exclusive interview by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco Photo courtesy of Lee Matthews One of the things that has helped so much is being involved in a community who recognizes the severity of the problem and are able to support each other.

30.10.19 p.3 Photo courtesy of Ewan Kellie Photo courtesy of SaveBelmont Photo courtesy of University of Aberdeen Queen Consort Tours the University’s New Science Teaching Hub Camilla says that being in Aberdeen feels like coming home, in her first visit as Queen Consort Queen Camilla was shown around the University’s new Science Teaching Hub recently, in her role as Chancellor of the University. The University’s newest building, which opened in June of last year, caters to disciplines including chemistry, geoscience, medicine and biology. Her Majesty was accompanied throughout the facility’s state-of-the-art labs and teaching spaces, meeting with staff and students. She also spoke with a number of pupils from neighbouring Sunnybank Primary School, who were learning about fossils as part of the University’s outreach efforts. Her Majesty told those assembled that ‘Coming to this university, and to this city, has always felt a bit like coming home to me. Firstly, because my father’s family came from this part of Scotland,’ a reference to her four-times great grandfather, William Shand, 2nd Laird of Craigellie, who was born in Banff circa 1740. She went on to add that she and the King ‘are lucky enough to spend precious time each year in Aberdeenshire’, spending each summer at their Balmoral Estate. ‘And finally, because ten years ago, I received the great honour of being installed as chancellor of this very special university.’ This was both Her Majesty’s first visit to the University since becoming Queen Consort, and her first official engagement since the publication of her stepson, the Duke of Sussex’s book ‘Spare’, in which he refers to the Queen Consort as ‘dangerous’ and a ‘villain’. Queen Camilla, who is the University of Aberdeen’s first female Chancellor in its 528-year history, will enter her tenth year in the role this June. The Chancellor of the University is elected, for life, by the University’s General Council, composed of Aberdeen’s graduates and most academic staff, and is a largely ceremonial position. While Her Majesty described her achievements in the role as ‘modest’, she did note her success (which she suggested may owe more to luck than to skill) in ensuring the University has remained free from invasion by ‘raven wolves’; a task which, she told an amused group, is an ancient obligation of the Chancellor. Her Majesty told those assembled that she was sure the University had a great future ahead of it and that, ‘as your very proud Chancellor, I will be cheering you on every step of the way.’ by Fergus Doogan Queen Camilla, who is the University of Aberdeen’s first female Chancellor in its 528-year history, will enter her tenth year in the role this June. Several dozen students, activists, and members of the public gathered in Aberdeen’s Castlegate on Friday, 3 February to urge the Scottish Government to replenish the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Mental Health Fund, which has provided millions of pounds to Scottish universities for counsellors and other mental health services. If no action is taken, the funding will run out in July 2023. According to AUSA, the University stands to lose 96 thousand pounds in funding, which helps to pay for over 2000 hours of counselling services. Ellie Gomersall, NUS Scotland President, opened the rally by putting the issue in perspective, telling the crowd that financial pressures were causing negative effects on students’ wellbeing. ‘If you happen to face a choice between… going to your lecture or taking an extra shift at work to make sure you can keep that roof over your head,’ she said, ‘you’re going to take that shift. And that means that students’ studies are suffering.’ Several local politicians spoke at the rally. Admitting that Aberdeen can be a ‘tough place’ for activism, Guy Ingerson, Co-Convener for the Aberdeen Green Party said he was ‘really proud’ of those in attendance. Similarly, SNP MP for Aberdeen North Kirsty Blackman urged the crowd to let their politicians know what they think. She commented: ‘Email your MSP… phone their office, say this is really important that during the budget process, you ensure that student support levels are kept, that mental health support, that counsellors are kept, Make it clear that that is a key priority for you…’ AUSA VP for Welfare Sai Shraddha S. Viswanthan concluded the event by sharing some of her own experiences. She told the crowd: ‘I used to be an international student before being a Sabbatical officer… I was lucky enough to have access to mental health services, but that doesn’t give us the guarantee that… if the government doesn’t give us any sort of confirmation of funds coming in for these services and to preserve them, there will be so many students falling in detriment.’ ‘We stand in solidarity with lived experiences of students… We need answers from the government… We do not need complicated numbers or ambiguous words… we stand together and we demand that.’ After the rally had concluded, The Gaudie spoke to Nirvan Abedi, the Chairman of the Student Council. He commented, ‘I think it’s very important for everybody to be involved in this conversation because the decrease of this funding affects all of us as students… one of the biggest privileges of being a student in Aberdeen is that you can get those free counselling services during your difficult times as a student here. And if that fund is then decreased, that means that less students will be able to get that support that they require…’ Frank, a Ghanaian post-graduate student studying at the University, told The Gaudie that the rally was similar to campaigns he had been a part of in Ghana. He said: ‘This is an important conversation, and it's something we must all support… As a student leader back in Ghana, I think these are some of the conversations we always have when it comes to students’ development and welfare, and so that’s why I’m here.’ However, not everyone was pleased with the rally. Tomás Pizarro-Escuti, Convenor for the Law School and a member of Student Council, told The Gaudie: ‘I believe it is a shame that they did not take enough time to organise this… I’m really disappointed because this is such an important issue.. We should have marched from the University, from campus and come here to protest for real.’ Reflecting on climate strikes that were organised before the pandemic, he told The Gaudie that ‘student-led protests used to be massive.’ In order to secure a permit for a ‘public procession', Aberdeen City Council requires advance notice of 28 days and applicants to fill out several forms, including a risk assessment. A University of Aberdeen spokesperson commented on the potential loss of SFC funding. They said: 'The University is dedicated to caring for the wellbeing, health and safety of our diverse community, and in recent years we have made significant advances in our mental health provision. 'This includes the signing of a joint Student Mental Health Agreement (SMHA) with Aberdeen University Students’ Association, underpinned by a commitment to training and resources for staff and measures to ensure a more consistent approach to study related support. We are also engaged in a new partnership with Spectrum.Life that enables students to engage with mental health and wellbeing services 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. We are committed to driving improvements in the level of mental health and wellbeing support available to our students, and the funding we receive from the Scottish Government for counselling services plays an important role in this regard. We welcome the efforts being made by Universities Scotland to engage with and seek clarity from the Scottish Government on its intention to introduce a new sectorwide student mental health action plan, which will play an important role in determining our future provision.' ‘We need answers from the government’: Students and Activists gather in Castlegate to call for mental health funding to continue by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco SFC Mental Health Fund to run out in July if no action is taken.

p.4 30.10.19 The Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) has launched a new campaign to raise awareness about the disadvantages faced by international students. The Borderless Campaign, launched in January, has four main goals; the reformation of the student monitoring system, the equalisation of opportunities, an increase in representation in university staff and an end to the investment in companies that enforce or benefit from border control. Currently, international students are monitored in different ways than students from the UK. While UK students are not actively monitored unless there is an abnormality in their academic performance, international students may be asked to sign-in regularly in-person to confirm their engagement in courses, which could impact their capacity to travel or enjoy the same freedoms as UK students. The Borderless Campaign wants the monitoring system standardised for all students and an end to mandatory sign-ins for international students. Camilo Torres Barragán, AUSA’s Vice President for Communities and the face of the Borderless Campaign, told The Gaudie that opportunities such as scholarships and internships for international students are limited as student visas provide no recourse for public funding. Barragán, himself an international student, said: 'Many opportunities offered by the university are only offered to UK students because they are come from public funding, that makes it harder for the university to offer it to every student, so we understand that’s a legal, structural thing not controlled by the university but there are still avenues by which [they] can offer alternatives.' He added: 'even if it’s a problem of resources, for example if public resources are only applicable for certain students, we still want the university to create equivalent opportunities to international students.' Borderless Campaign representatives assert that an increase in international students at the University should be accompanied by an corresponding increase in international representation among the school staff. “We want the university to train their staff to facilitate more culturally sensitive interactions with students and we want the university work force to also diversify to reflect the student body.” Barragán stated. When asked if he thought some international students were wary of speaking up about these issues, Barragán replied: 'Definitely, international students and migrants don’t want to draw attention to themselves, you’re always scared that if you make too much noise your visa might be in danger, that’s a general feeling, I’m not talking specifically about Aberdeen University. But having weekly or monthly sign-ins doesn’t help because you always feel like you’re being tested. We go through great lengths and our families go through great lengths to get the money and visa to study here. So we’re wary about putting any of that at risk.' When asked for comment, a University spokesperson said: 'We always welcome the opportunity to consider ways in which we can improve the experience of all of our students and have already held discussions with members of the Borderless Campaign.' 'While there are elements around visa conditions and government legislation that we cannot change, we continue to work to minimise disparity for students where we can. We have made many changes to our approach on compliance with engagement requirements of student visas as a result of student feedback in the past, and continue to work with AUSA on the impact of processes and legislation on the student experience and look forward to continuing these discussions where we are able to make meaningful change.' 'Fundamentally we must remain compliant with external regulations while minimising disruption and we are currently looking at the issue of engagement monitoring across the University through our Student Support & Experience Committee.' 'We will continue to work with AUSA on their campaign and will also work, where we can, with local and national government on issues outside our control.' AUSA Launches Borderless Campaign Initiative aims to bridge gaps between UK and international students by Clive Davies ‘Devastated’ and ‘Horrified’: Aberdonians express solidarity after ten Palestinians killed in Israeli raid. Raid on Jenin Refugee Camp bloodiest day for Palestinians in over a year. I sraeli forces stormed the Jenin Refugee Camp in the West Bank on Thursday, 26 January, killing ten Palestinians, including seven militants and several civilians. Magda Obaid, a sixtyone-year-old woman, was among those killed. At least a dozen more Palestinians from the camp were hurt, with some in severe condition. According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli military said the raid had been carried out to arrest Islamic Jihad insurgents under suspicion for plotting terror attacks. Israeli troops were accused of obstructing paramedics' access to the injured as well as shooting tear gas into the Jenin Government Hospital, a charge they denied. Speaking to The Guardian, Sakir Khader, a Palestinian-Dutch filmmaker on the scene, said that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers approached the Jenin refugee camp before dawn via multiple gates. Armed Palestinians fired at an Israeli armoured vehicle camouflaged as a commercial van, prompting the IDF to fire back. The ensuing four-hour gun war caused considerable damage, he added. ‘I was trapped in the heart of a shootout for hours,’ Khader explained. ‘It was insane. There were snipers and drones… It damaged many automobiles as well as a public gathering place.’ On 28 January, a protest against the raid was held in Aberdeen’s St Nicholas Square. The Gaude spoke to several individuals at the rally, including a Palestinian student who stated: 'It's the least I can do for my country, no one understands the actual severity of the situation and how the Palestinian citizens are being treated on their own land.’ She continued, citing statistics from Al Jazeera: ‘... more than 170 Palestinians; 30 of which are children, have been killed across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem throughout 2022, and 29 Palestinians including 5 children have been murdered by the Israeli army in January 2023 alone.’ The Gaudie also spoke to members of the Aberdeen Socialists Workers Party, who stated that they decided to join the protest to ‘express solidarity,’ and ‘help those affected through raising awareness.’ When asked who should be held responsible for these devastating attacks, the group commented: ‘The Israeli government hold the highest responsibility, as well as international organisations for not condemning these attacks, and international businesses that are funding and inducing the atrocities happening on occupied land.’ The group voiced that ‘boycotting Israel or Israeli funded businesses, and disruptive protests’ are the two best methods of demonstrating support. Members also expressed how ‘devastated,’ ‘furious,’ and ‘disgusted’ they were about the media not showing interest on the Palestinian issue, commenting that the ‘media tends to skip over Arab and Islamic issues when they are in trouble but run to highlight and document every little mistake they do, it’s quite ironic. Also speaking to The Gaudie, a student from the University of Aberdeen commented how ‘shocked,’ ‘devastated,’ and ‘horrified’ she was about the attack, and insisted that ‘people worldwide should put pressure on their governments to act fast and efficiently before the issue escalates even further out of our control.’ The last person interviewed was the organiser of the protest, a middle-aged man concerned about humans in Palestine who had been advocating for this cause for over 30 years. He stated: ‘I am not part of any political party, but this is not about politics anymore, this has become a human rights issue.’ He continued, ‘Imagine sitting watching TV in bed and having a group of men with weapons barge in and throw you, your wife and kids out of your own house, how would you feel? That's how the Palestinian people have been feeling since 1947.’ He concluded by pleading with people worldwide to ‘show political and economic support in addition to solidarity.’ When asked if Israelis and Palestinians could live together in peace, people at the protest had a range of responses. ‘There could be peace between them,’ one attendee stated, as ‘Palestinians are willing to live peacefully on one land.’ Another attendee was less positive, telling The Gaudie: ‘There can never be peace between them because there has been way too much blood and inhumane behaviour towards the people of Palestine and if governments and international organisations don’t act fast, we’ll only be losing more and more innocent lives…’ A third rally-goer was more hopeful, commenting: ‘If the world is sincere and honest, and if both Palestine and Israel obey the orders of the United Nations and human rights organisations, then there could potentially be peace between both countries.’ by Nour Elshenawy 'While there are elements around visa conditions and government legislation that we cannot change, we continue to work to minimise disparity for students where we can. Photo courtesy of Nour

30.10.19 p.5 Before I begin, I’ve accepted that I go to a predominantly white institution meaning many of my peers won’t have experienced racism and some don’t even know what’s racist- A comment, joke or action doesn’t need to be intentionally hurtful for it to be racism. Often what’s needed is clear conversations about boundaries to observe with your friends of colour. Racist is a word that produces a lot of defensive reactions from people, however, calling yourself and others out on racist behaviours, no matter how subconscious they are, is essential to improving everyone's quality of life. So we should not shy away from the phrase, but instead tell it as it is. For example; racist slang is racist. No if, ands or buts. Just because it is casual language does not mean the effect will be equally casual. Using language that reinforces racial stereotypes or beliefs affects your friends of colour in huge ways. (This even means Singing/rapping/lip-syncing ‘the N word’ is Racist.) Stereotyping is Racist- Regardless of individual characteristics, stereotyping often includes assigning the same traits to every member of a group. It mainly rests on false generalisations, insufficient knowledge, and/or misunderstandings. Stereotypes typically presume negative traits about a group. Even individuals who have good intentions and are not overtly biased might generalise (That’s still racist!). Another behaviour that often flies under people's radar is asking a BAME (Black, Aisian and minority ethnic) person if they know another BAME person based on race. This is Racist. The refusal to acknowledge that humans are unique individuals who are not tied to every member of their racialized group is a key component of dehumanisation. It is discriminatory to presume that everyone who belongs to a racialized group knows one another -or looks alike. When making comments on who someone looks like or could know, we should be careful to avoid making racist assumptions and instead consider if we are expressing a sincere observation based on what is known to be plausible. Why “Reverse Racism” doesn’t exist: With the discussions of ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘All Lives Matter’ being incredibly topical at the minute I feel it is necessary to explain why ‘All Lives Matter’ is a racist ideology. Those who use All Lives Matter are misinterpreting the BLM movement as insisting that black lives, which are in much more danger than white lives, should be held above the others. This is not the case, what we aim to achieve is the same value for our lives as all others which currently does not exist. This diminishes the movement and recenters white lives, hence erasing black voices. Which is, you guessed it… it’s racist. This brings us onto the concept of ‘reverse racism’ which is a trigger phrase often used to bring the focus back onto white people. Today and in the past, white people have always sided with the powerful rather than the powerless. Therefore, for as long as we continue to live in a culture that upholds white supremacy, “reverse racism” is not possible. If you believe “reverse racism” is possible you’re rejecting your privilege in all its forms and you are saying that working to better the lives of ethnic minorities is "racist" towards white peoplewhich makes no sense as a BAME person can’t be racist to a white person. All of these behaviours and more result in some very insidious consequences for BAME people. A stressful situation, like a verbal attack motivated by racism, includes more than just abstract feelings; your body also gets geared up for battle. Along with an increase in heart rate, your blood pressure also rises (chronically, this increases your risk of heart disease and stroke). Your lower limbs receive a blood flow redirection that makes moving much easier. Additionally, chemicals like adrenaline and norepinephrine are overflowing in your body (problems with high noradrenaline are linked to PTSD and substance abuse), giving you instant access to a lot of energy that is essential for either fighting or escaping. These systems have developed to be active for a brief period before being reset to their default state after the threat has gone. When stress becomes persistent, issues arise- In addition to altering the nervous system, the immune system, the danger response of the cells, and gene function, racist trauma affects both physiological and mental well-being. In part, it is because of our body's instinctive survival mode that symptoms and disease may become a result. This is problematic for black people -who face racial bias and prejudice almost daily! Toxic chronic stress can cause diseases and a wide range of mental and physical health problems. But this extends further than just personal reactions to racism. There is also an inclination to believe that biological characteristics are to blame for ethnic inequalities in illness risk levels. The arrogant assumption that race is primarily a biological reality rather than a social reality with biological repercussions has contributed to this misconception throughout history. For instance, the startling finding that black British women are five times as likely than white British women to die during pregnancy rose around the same time studies showed minorities run the risk of getting worse medical treatment. Even when we think or hope that discrimination doesn't exist in the medical profession, it does. Racism is more likely to cause psychological issues such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. In comparison to those whose lives have not been undervalued, people of colour and all those whose lives have been marginalised by those in authority experience life differently. They encounter overt racism and prejudice much too frequently, which contributes to a heavier mental health cost than other people may endure. Racism generates trauma, making it a problem for mental health. People with major mental health disorders now tend to emphasise historical trauma as their cause. People of colour endure far more subtle traumas daily, including racial profiling, banks and credit companies refusing to lend to them or only doing so at higher interest rates, mass incarceration of their peers, school curricula that minimise or ignore their contributions to our shared history, and people avoiding them and their neighbourhoods out of ignorance and fear. Everyone responds to racism differently, and its impacts can change dramatically based on a variety of variables, including personal resilience, prior experiences, and resource availability. However, the negative consequences of racism on health and wellbeing are well known, and it is crucial to address this problem to achieve health equity and raise everyone's standard of living. Happy black history month! Racism is making us sick…literally! by Christine-Fatoumatta Manneh Let’s re-evaluate Physical Repercussions of Racism this Black History Month p.5 Photo courtesy of Gayatri Malhotra The refusal to acknowledge that humans are unique individuals who are not tied to every member of their racialized group is a key component of dehumanisation Those who use All Lives Matter are misinterpreting the BLM movement as insisting that black lives, which are in much more danger than white lives, should be held above the others. A stressful situation, like a verbal attack motivated by racism, includes more than just abstract feelings; your body also gets geared up for battle

p.6 30.10.19 Photo courtesy of Marlene Rossler The Day Before my Breast Reduction Surgery Part Two of a Series Hello everyone who is reading this! This is technically part three of my surgery journey as originally documented and skips over my accounts of the two consultations I had with surgeons. If you fancy reading up about that and getting a bit more information on the procedure itself, please check out my blog on Medium @marlenerssler! Fast forward to 12 hours before THE BIG DAY. I couldn’t believe it was actually happening after about a year of surgery planning and about 8 years of horrible back pain. Although I was over the moon excited and happy, I want to also talk about the hurdles I had to take since my last update. The first of these was getting a breast tissue ultrasound (which my German surgeon required me to get to make sure I don’t have breast cancer before cutting me open). Organising this turned out to be a process which took several months and cost a total of £650 by the way… fun times. I had to first talk to my GP in Scotland, convince her to refer me to a breast specialist in a private hospital and then convey/translate to them what it is that I needed exactly. Somehow along the lines things got lost in translation about 3 times and the process was very frustrating overall, so if you’re on your own BRS journey right now, consider yourself warned. The second hurdle I encountered was a big one. Arriving in Germany on the 4th of June 2022, I was in high spirits, feeling happy, healthy and excited. My surgery date was set for the 14th and my birthday was on the 10th so I was looking forward to smooth sailing, a bit of partying and comforting family time. Until Covid-19 came along. I was feeling great so the only reason I got a PCR test done was because the hospital required this for all patients who were going to stay overnight (or several nights in my case). I wasn’t worried about this at all, took the test in the morning and invited my closest childhood friends over for the evening. Of course, just as we were all sitting, chatting comfortably in the garden with drinks in hand, I got the email with my test result. And it was positive. Through some amazing higher power, the party was NOT completely ruined (even though I did go to my room to cry for a while before mingling with my girls again) and we compromised by me sitting a few metres away from everyone else at a special little table (my throne, as one of my friends called it). It was a nice evening but I was devastated, thinking about what this test result could mean for my surgery. But I had a gut feeling and three negative lateral flow tests later I decided to get a second PCR test done the next morning. I knew the results of this test would not be in before 9am the next morning, which was the time of my pre-OP appointment at the hospital. My brave mum and I got into the car at 7.30am to drive there, knowing that I could only enter the hospital if I got an email in the meantime saying I wasn’t infected with the plague. And what do you know! Just as we parked the car, I received the most beautiful email of my life! My previous test had been a false positive, the new one proved my gut feeling right: I did not have the dreaded virus. After a bit more crying (good crying this time) and hugging my mum in the car I headed into the hospital for what turned out to be a total of four and a half hours of registration, paperwork, blood samples being taken, talks with the plastic surgeon and the anaesthetist and most importantly, lots and lots of waiting. I could complain about that but in truth I was just so over the moon to know my plans had not been messed with! I’m way too German to be cool with that sort of stuff. Anyways! I was writing my third blog entry in between packing my hospital bag and having a nice big dinner so you know, good things were happening again. The next and final chapter of my surgery journey will appear in the Gaudie in just a few weeks so keep reading! Thank you so much for keeping up with me! -Marlene by Marlene Rossler Quasars are the next cosmic phenomenon of space. It’s a bright light of active nucleus which is powered by a supermassive blackhole at the centre of galaxy. They usually feed on in-falling matter and release electromagnetic radiation, due to their gaseous discs falling into the blackhole, causing friction and resulting in energy being released. Some quasars have luminosities thousand times greater than galaxies. NASA’S Hubble Space Telescope in March 2020 was used by a group of astronomers, led by Nahum Arav of Virginia Tech who aimed to research the massive amounts of energy emanating from quasars. This specific energy tears across interstellar space and induces destruction within the galaxies they occupy. Arav explained that due to the radiation pressure from black hole, blasts forces material away from galaxy’s centre into energy outflows that accelerate to velocities that are a few percent off the speed of light. He further added that the amount of mechanical energy the outflows carry is a thousand times higher than the luminosity of the Milky Way Galaxy. When the cosmic tsunami hits the interstellar material, the temperature rises to billions of degrees, where X-rays and Gamma rays are released, and gradually visible and infrared light is observed. Sounds like the most stunning firework show. The discovery of the quasar tsunamis act as the missing link to how the process of star formation can abruptly stop. When the brutal quasar winds hit across the galaxy disc, the materials that otherwise would have formed a new star get scattered. Makes you wonder what would the possible outcome look like if a quasar hit a planet, doesn’t it? Quasar tsunamis also might answer another cosmic dilemma as to why are there so few massive galaxies. Researchers theorise that when galaxies reach a particular size, the blackhole at the centre goes berserk in a quasar tsunami. Arav and his team discovered on the Hubble’s ultraviolet observations the range of energy output from quasar and this magnificent outflow gives us a glimpse into the relationship between the central blackhole and the host galaxy. Adding to measuring the most energetic quasars ever. The Hubble Telescope also recorded outflows accelerating faster than any other. The team observed that it increased from almost forty-three million miles per hour to roughly forty-six million miles per hour in a three-year period. They concluded that this acceleration would continue to increase over time. It’s also important to note that the astronomers studied data recorded from thirteen quasar outflows to calculate the speed of gas being accelerated by quasar winds. They did so by observing the spectral fingerprints of light from glowing gas. This points us towards the fact how immaculate the measurements must have been to discover these turbulent winds and to also declare them the most energetic, almost like a cosmic tsunami. An interesting fact to consider in today’s time is that quasars are very rare now as increasing density of quasars with distance means they were more common in the past than they are now. Joseph Hennawi of Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany, explained that “quasars shine between ten million to hundred million years in the ten billion year lifetime of a galaxy.” Quasar or a Cosmic Tsunami? by Simra An exploration article The discovery of the quasar tsunamis act as the missing link to how the process of star formation can abruptly stop. It’s also important to note that the astronomers studied data recorded from thirteen quasar outflows to calculate the speed of gas being accelerated by quasar winds. Photo courtesy of Flickr

arts culture fashion lifestyle food Arts p.2-3 Arts p.5 Lumie Light: A Review Life and Style p.8 iV Interview with Genevieve Carter Strange World (2022)

p. 2 Editors Holly Ferguson Matthew Sheppard IV Editors ARTS ([email protected]) Head Editor - Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti Deputy EditorsXandra Button Zac Bakella Emma Chen LIFE AND STYLE ([email protected]) Co-Editor - Kendra Clark Co-Editor - Kathryn Ritchie Production Theodore Williamson Zeta Kartsagkouli Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti Front page Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti I ’m falling in his d**ksand With love, Team iV iV Since 2022, writer and poet Genevieve Carver has been the poet in residence at the Lighthouse Field Station—a University group with the dual aim of supporting research within the School of Biological Sciences and integrating this work into the School’s teaching and outreach activities. Collaborating with SBS Marine Biologists, Genevieve has had the unique opportunity to ‘see what happens when poetry and science come together’ and has been directly involved in two projects, the first being a longterm study into the breeding of fulmars on the uninhabited island of Eynhallow in Orkney. The second project is acoustic monitoring work in and around offshore wind farms in the North Sea. ‘I wanted to immerse myself as much as possible in their process, including holding one of the birds which were really special’. by Jodie MacKay Image: @valadzionakvolha/ Adobe Stock Photo courtesy of writer

p. 3 arts| music Genevieve spent a week with the University team on Eynhallow which lies between the Orkney Mainland and Rousay. The island was abandoned in 1851 after the residents were struck by a typhoid outbreak, and ever since then, the ‘Holy Island’ has been subjected alone to the fierce tidal races, known as roosts. However, it was not the folklore or ecclesiastical origins that Genevieve was exploring, but rather, the tube-nosed seabirds called fulmars. She expressed, ‘I wanted to immerse myself as much as possible in their process, including holding one of the birds which were really special’. Genevieve is braver than me; the grey and white seabird is related to albatrosses and is known for spitting out a foul-smelling oil when defending their nests from predators. The University of Aberdeen has been carrying out research on the ecology of fulmars in Eynhallow since 1950. The project was initiated by Professor Wynne Edwards and has since been integrated into the Lighthouse Field Station’s studies of marine mammals and seabird ecology. Genevieve told me, ‘This is the first time I’ve worked closely with scientists. What’s been really exciting has been being part of the whole research project rather than just writing about results. For the second project, Genevieve took inspiration from the North Sea wind-farms acoustic monitoring work which has given her a ‘whole new way of approaching the musicality of the sea.’ Genevieve was able to immerse herself fully in this project too, and she explained to me that she ‘was able to go out on the fieldwork vessel and observe the team recovering the submerged C-pods which collect data on cetacean clicks.’ Indeed, the underwater sound traps and click detectors deployed by the Lighthouse Field Station’s team allow the voices of the underwater creatures to be taken beyond the sea, and now thanks to Genevieve, onto paper. She also performed her award-winning poem, ‘Postcards from a Fulmar’ on camera, with the swell of the North Sea in the background empowering its creative message. Indeed, Genevieve’s direct involvement in such research projects has shaped her writing as she has been able to take format inspiration from a number of scientific documentation practices. Genevieve said, ‘I’ve really enjoyed playing with the language of science as a new way of writing poetry. I’ve borrowed from Risk Assessments and Method Statements to create poem structures and incorporated colour-ring combinations and bird numbers in the text.’ She has also experimented with different voices— human, bird, dolphin, and machine, which I think is especially exciting. I have learned in my years of studying English Literature that often animal voices are left out of literature or pushed to the side. To have such vibrant and inspired documentation of these creatures is incredibly special and is vital in elevating voices that are often marginalised in the literary world. If you want to read Genevieve’s work you have to look no further than The Moth magazine which is a ‘quarterly printed art and literature magazine featuring poetry short fiction and art by established and up-and-coming writers and artists.’ Genevieve explained that ‘Some of the fulmar poems have been published in The Moth magazine as this sequence was the winner of The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2022. However, once I’ve finished writing I’ll aim to get a publisher for the whole sequence too.’ You can also experience her brilliant performance of ‘Postcards from a Fulmar’ on her Twitter page, @Gevicarver. She has also published A Beautiful Way to be Crazy under Verve Poetry press and her forthcoming pamphlet, Landsick, is forthcoming from Broken Sleep Books later this year. Presently, the Lighthouse Field Station team are seeking funding to build upon Genevieve’s residency and develop a variety of new opportunities. There is future potential for a sound designer and videographer collaboration, and also collaborative arts-science events in Cromarty and Aberdeen, as well as developing outreach work in local schools. It would be incredible to see more from Genevieve, as well as support for the expansion of art and science into the wider communities. After all, the importance of art should never be understated. [It was] ‘...a whole new way of approaching the musicality of the sea.’ Genevieve Carter: The Poet of the Lighthouse Field Station An exploration into the unique merging of art and science

p. 4 arts | film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) by Susanna Lehtonen When I heard that a sequel of Puss in Boots was coming out, my reaction was similar to a lot of other people’s: ‘Oh’. While I loved the Shrek spinoff of Puss in Boots when I watched it back in 2011, it didn’t exactly leave me itching for a sequel. So, when I sat down to watch the sequel, I went in with zero expectations, just mildly intrigued to hear Antonio Banderas as Puss, sipping some leche from a shot glass and swinging his rapier around. Having watched the movie, I’m glad that I did—it blew me away in more ways than one and went right to the top of the list of my favourite movies of 2022. The story of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) is entertaining and has a surprisingly deep meaning. We see Puss having the time of his life taking down monsters and charming the ladies without a care in the world. And why should he care? Puss has got nine lives. However, it turns out that his reckless adventures have left Puss with only his final life to go. Puss refuses to see the issue in his lifestyle, and instead he embarks on an adventure to find the Wishing Star which he wants to use to restore his nine lives. However, Puss is not alone: he is joined by his old partnerin-crime Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and heart-wrenchingly adorable Perrito (Harvey Guillén), a scruffy chihuahua aspiring to become a therapy dog. Though the movie has your average villains chasing the gang around to get to the Star first, a much darker presence overshadows Puss’s adventure: literal death, in the form of the Big Bad Wolf, follows Puss around as he refuses to face what all of us inevitably have to come across. Right off the bat, The Last Wish begins with a beautifully crafted action scene of Puss versus a giant over a vibrant landscape, with Puss’s carefree attitude bringing a humorous spin to it all. The sequence seems reminiscent of action scenes frequently seen in anime, which I saw as a nice tribute to a medium that has become especially influential in the last few years. The action scenes were enhanced with rich textures particularly apparent in the opening fight. In an interview, director Joel Crawford describes the style as looking like ‘a fairytale painting’. There is no more accurate way to put it—the vibrant colours and exhilarating action leave a huge impression in the first ten minutes. Exciting action and humour aside, what stood out to me was the story with a surprisingly heavy theme of mortality. In his final—amazingly animated—confrontation with the frankly terrifying Big Bad Wolf, Puss finally admits his arrogance and faces death with a newfound appreciation of his life. The Last Wish conveys the message of valuing one’s life in a very digestible way for audiences of adults and kids alike. The Big Bad Wolf suddenly doesn’t feel so frightening: it’s merely an entity we must all confront at our designated times. Not too early due to a reckless lifestyle, like Puss was doing at the beginning of the film, but we shouldn’t run away from it either. Between scenes of playful bickering between characters, vibrant action and genuinely good jokes with a side of existentialism, The Last Wish was a delightfully entertaining watch overall.

p. 5 arts | film Strange World (2022) by Emma Chen Strange World (2022) is the latest Disney release and I was eager to watch it, as it was predicted to be one of the biggest flops in the history of Disney movies, as well as the first film with a main character openly part of the LGBTQ+ community. The story focuses on the conflicts of three generations of the Clade family in the town of Avalonia: the stubborn explorer Jaeger Clade, his farmer son Searcher and his grandson Ethan. When the production of a plant that gives energy to the whole town is at risk, the family embarks on a journey to save it, in which they’ll find themselves in a ‘strange world’ that will challenge their views on the world as they know it. The style used for Avalonia and Searcher’s farm reminded me of the ’50s sci-fi classics with a particular homage to Jules Verne’s stories, with warm colours that give a sense of family and nostalgia in contrast with the cold tones and neon lights used to describe the ‘strange world’ and the creatures in it. The narrative structure and the setting—a farm and an isolated town surrounded by mountains and mystery—are classics of the Disney brand, yet the catch on the public is not the same as it would have been ten or twenty years ago. An external reason may be the general change in interests, leaning toward Marvel-esque frantic stories over a tale of a teenager finding his identity and discussing with his father. Nevertheless, while the movie has some promising ideas and the narrative arc works, something is missing. It is not as funny as older Disney movies, original or innovative in terms of plot, and not as emotionally engaging. I can’t help but compare it to previous works from its director Donald Lee Hall, such as Big Hero 6, Oceania or Raya and the Last Dragon, and I don’t witness the same intensity and attention to detail. The result is a modest story that touches on a few critical themes like generational conflicts and the importance of finding our own passion, but only in a superficial way. However, the elephant in the room is Disney’s effort to create an inclusive movie in which everyone could feel represented, and to do so without making it feel forced. Starting from Ethan, an interracial couple’s son, who has a crush on his male friend Diazo, and ending with the mixed cast and the family’s dog Legend with three legs, it is clear that Strange World is a big step forward in terms of inclusivity for the brand, particularly because none of these character choices influences the plot. There is not a single comment about Ethan’s sexuality, not even when he tells his old-fashioned grandfather about Diazo, and the response is simply a piece of weird but warm-hearted love advice. Such innovative choices stand out even more in the traditional setting of the movie, creating a standard that should be an example for future releases. Maybe one day we’ll obtain a Disney classic that is inclusive and charming at the same time. A step forward or a step back?

p. 6 arts | creative writing The telephone rings at a distance. The sound of Reha’s footsteps echoes as she makes her way through the hallway. The clinking sound of the jewels she is adorned with can be heard as she rushes down the stairs, past the rooms, ignoring all the members of the family assembled in the courtyard waiting for her. It’s Reha’s wedding day. Ignoring her family members, she stealthily grabs the telephone receiver and makes her way into the adjoining room. She waits for a while before picking up the telephone. She fights her breathlessness and eventually says, ‘Hello?’ A heavy voice on the other side of the phone with a slight giggle asks, ‘Were you running?’ His voice brings a bright smile to Reha’s face. She presses the telephone hard against her chest for a few seconds before replying, ‘No. I was not running.’ After remaining silent for a while she asks, ‘Have you reached London? Is it as beautiful as you said it would be?’ The voice from the other side of the phone appears more enthusiastic as he says, ‘Yes. I arrived a while back. I left my luggage at my accommodation and went for a walk. It’s beautiful, Reha. Everything and everyone seems so different but in a good way. It’s not old and shabby like our town. It’s big and beautiful.’ ‘So you think our town is old and shabby? Is that what you think about the people who live here, too?’ ‘You know that’s not what I meant. I meant it’s different and I like that. London is a big city with people who dream even bigger. It is a vibrant city with so many opportunities and I finally feel like I belong here.’ ‘Our town might be small and shabby, but people still dream here, you know. Their dreams might not be like yours, but they still are dreams. Vibrant can sometimes mean chaotic, it’s all about perspective.’ ‘Are you angry? I would understand if you are, Reha. It’s just that I needed to do this for myself. I knew I would regret it if I didn’t.’ He struggles to find the right words and thinks about saying something comforting but remains quiet. ‘There comes a time in our lives when we can neither hold our feelings in nor let them go. We continue to love hopelessly without expecting much in return. We continue to love people and try our best to fix their broken pieces while collecting our own. Despite that, some of us are destined to suffer. I’ve learned that you can try all you want, but people are going to hurt when it’s time for them to be hurt, and I think it’s my time to be hurt. I am not angry. I suppose I was merely hungry for love. A warm yet passionate kind of love. I wanted to know what it was like to be loved so much that I just wouldn’t be able to take anymore. For once, I wanted to be on the receiving end of it. But I also believe that people can only care for us and meet us as deeply as they’ve met or cared for themselves.’ Reha lets out a deep sigh then the silence between them stretches for a lifetime. With a slight tremble in his voice, he says, ‘I never wanted to hurt you. The thought of you beginning your life with someone else kills me. If only you could wait-’ His voice begins to crack. He tries to continue, ‘This isn’t how I wanted things to be…I…you…’ His voice can barely be heard over the phone. Reha takes a deep breath and continues, ‘I’ve spent most of my life waiting for you. Days, months, and years have gone by. It hardly matters anymore.’ She carefully wipes off her tears and tries to collect her thoughts. For the first time, she doesn’t have any words left for him. She takes another deep breath and says, ‘I need to leave. There are people waiting for me. It’s rude to keep people waiting.’ The voice can no longer be heard from the other side of the phone. Reha presses the telephone one last time against her chest before leaving the room and making her way into the courtyard. Reha and her family’s voices can be heard at a distance. There is an occasional sound of an instrument being played in the background, accompanied by happy laughs. Some of us are destined to suffer by Shruti Verma Image: @stokkete/Adobe Stock Photo courtesy of writer

p. 7 arts |documentary The music scene of the 60s and early 70s is riddled with all manner of weird and wonderful (often not so wonderful) characters, many having attained the status of legend over the ensuing decades, respected and revered by musicians and audiences alike. The short-lived band Cream consisted of three such titans of rock, with Eric Clapton pushing the sound of the guitar into new and uncharted heights and bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce providing his signature warbling, psychedelic lyrics. But it is the third member of the group who was perhaps the most distinctive character of all, the drummer Peter ‘Ginger’ Baker, a percussionist who influenced rock and its students to no end with his vibrant, jazz-fuelled sound. His personality is also equally remembered. Baker was a wild animal, infamous for his fiery temper which complemented the look he was named for, sporting an untamed mane of flaming red hair. It was this unique character that inspired amateur filmmaker Jay Bulger to seek out the former rockstar, hoping to create a documentary based on his life. The results are fittingly shocking. The film opens with a short clip of the drummer, now in his early seventies—although easily passing for an even older man, at the last moment of the last day of filming. He is shouting at Bulger, telling him he does not want him to conduct interviews with his former colleagues and associates. When Bulger tells him he plans to do so anyway, Baker assures him that he is going to ‘put him in hospital’. He then hits him in the face with his walking stick. Then follows a series of excerpts from interviews with other rockstar drummers, from Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Stewart Copeland of The Police, each expressing the deepest and most sincere admiration for this quite clearly horrible man. Thus begins the life story of one of contemporary music’s most controversial figures. We are taken through his earliest years, from a humble upbringing in London and his discovery of the drums to his early jazz influences and later formation of Cream, the band for which he is likely best known to this day. We follow him on his travels to a war-torn Africa, having had an infatuation with the origins of percussion since childhood. Once there, he leads something of a double life, spending his evenings mingling with the figures of revolution against the corrupt government, such as musician and activist Fela Kuti, whilst spending his days playing polo with the very same sorts of figures his friends so abhorred. Baker’s ‘inability to stay’ as remarked on by Karen Loucks Rinedollar, one of his four ex-wives, is a key theme of the film, as he travels (more often flees) from one country to the next over the passing decades. By the end of his story, back at the point where the film begins, the once-famed drummer, now having returned to his beloved Africa, is broke, infirm and practically unrecognizable, reclining painfully in his armchair with a near-permanent scowl, save for when he recalls past stories and events from his life, few of which are pleasant or warrant nostalgia. There are admittedly a few tender moments here and there: Baker genuinely seems affectionate of his adopted stepdaughters, and in a more recent archived clip, becomes choked up at the thought of meeting and subsequently gaining the respect of many of his drumming heroes, most of whom belonged to the jazz scene he so admired and often incorporated into his own style. Unfortunately, these moments are largely smothered by the more unsavoury (to put it very politely), albeit undeniably fascinating aspects of his life. Ginger Baker passed away in 2019 at the age of 80, having suffered from several illnesses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and degenerative osteoarthritis for many years prior, leaving behind a most distinctive legacy indeed. Many details about his life, from his inexplicably foul temper to his both natural and hard-earned incredible skill as a musician will always remain something of an enigma. But one thing is no doubt made abundantly clear by Beware of Mr. Baker. He was, as is recalled by the aforementioned Stewart Copeland, ‘a motherf***er’. Beware Mr Baker (2012) by James Wilson Image: ‘Ginger Baker in 1984’ by Gorup de Besanez is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

p. 8 life and style | review Lumie Light Review A truthful review of a sunrise alarm clock by Kendra Clark For as long as I can remember, I have struggled to wake up in the mornings and I have found running on less than 8 hours of sleep, nearly impossible. Even as a baby, my mum was delighted that she never had to worry about putting me to bed, I was already there. However, at the end of 2022, I got a new job that required me to get up at 5AM for a 6AM start… When I accepted the job and told my friends and family about having to start working at 6AM, all the people who know me best seemed genuinely concerned about this. And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned too. Getting up this early, never mind socialising and working, seemed horrific, impossible, and really, just cruel. So, after going around and around the idea that not taking the job just because of an early start time was pretty ridiculous, I started thinking about ways which would make these early mornings easier. I knew that my current morning routine when rushed was to jolt awake to the blaring of my phone alarm, lie in bed staring at the ceiling for at least 15 minutes wondering why I existed and how awful the day ahead was going to be because I had to get up early for it, scramble out when I would inevitably release that I only had 10 minutes before I had to leave, and in that 10 minutes, I would get dressed, brush my teeth, try to tame my hair, wash my face (time depending), pack a bag for the day (which I would forget everything important), fill up a water bottle, and run out the door like my life depended on it. Breakfast was nonnegotiable, in the sense that I would never consider having it. I would be okay for a few hours, using the adrenaline of my rushed mornings as my caffeine for the day, and then I would begin to crumble. I would be beyond exhausted and very, very grumpy. My friends would dread an early morning with me if we had a trip planned so much to the point where the night before, we would make a mutual agreement that we weren’t to speak to each other for at least two hours if it wasn’t necessary. After confirming with myself that I could not let that continue for a job and as if the TikTok algorithm knew (which of course it did), my social media was taken over with aesthetically pleasing videos of ‘morning routines’ and ‘get ready with me between 5-7 am for my 8-5 pm job’. Firstly, this made me feel worse. I suddenly was questioning myself why I wasn’t going to the gym, performing a 20-step skincare routine, or cooking for the next 5 meals at 4 am every morning. I looked closely at their morning routines and noticed a lot of them had a sunrise alarm clock. When I first heard about sunrise alarm clocks and how much they cost, I thought ‘wow, how can someone be fooled into thinking that that actually works?’ But I really did not know where else to start. I knew that no matter how much I told myself to eat breakfast or to wake up earlier, it would not work. So, I watched more reviews, compared a few prices, and of course, consulted with my private story - which the general consensus (funnily enough, voted by my friends who had witnessed an early morning with me) was that I should definitely buy one. One or two replied with ‘hear me out - use your phone’, or ‘why don’t you just ask your brother to shine a torch in your face every morning?’ - This valuable advice, was ignored. Photo courtesy of freepik Photo courtesy of Kendra Clark

p. 9 life and style | review 600 words into this review and I’m only just getting into actually purchasing the product. I cannot justify this, but here we are. I purchased the Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 for £75 on Boots. This alarm clock is originally £99 on their brand’s website, but you can find it discounted in other places like Boots. It’s £5 cheaper on Amazon, but I don’t shop on Amazon if I can avoid it, plus I collected 300 Advantage Card points which are worth a whopping £3. I should say here that you can definitely get cheaper ones that do the exact same thing. There are a lot of dupes which have the same, and sometimes more features. However, I had a look at some of these in the shop, and they felt flimsy and lacked the appealing features of the Lumies. The Bodyclock Spark 100 has the following features; 30 minutes of sunrise and sunset duration, gradual alarm beep, tap-control snooze, fade-to-off or fade-to-nightlight option, and the design of it is very minimalist. The Lumie lights felt and looked amazing. The colours of the light are really nice, and I regularly use dark orange for a reading light. When it first woke me up, I was so confused. I had woken up 10 minutes earlier than intended, but I felt like I had been awake for at least half an hour. I was awake but calm, and the light was bright, but not at its brightest. To this day, I don’t understand the science behind how it makes you wake up in a better mood, but it definitely works. When I first heard that sunrise alarm clocks do this, I thought it was definitely a deceptive selling point, so I was really surprised that it actually works. After purchasing the alarm clock, my mornings became so much easier. I wake up in a better mood and I genuinely feel more capable of getting out of bed early. There are some mornings when I don’t use it if I am staying over with my boyfriend and I really do miss it. I find his blaring iPhone alarm really aggravating now, so I don’t think I could ever get used to not having my Lumie. Overall, I definitely recommend the Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 for £75. It’s helped me tackle early mornings and I love the design. Although I absolutely adore it, I don’t think I could justify buying it at its original price of £100. Furthermore, I don’t have any experience using the other Lumie lights, but they go up to £230, which is pretty ridiculous if you ask me. Although you can get all of them for cheaper at places like Boots and Amazon, as a student on a student budget, the cheapest is luxury enough. Photo courtesy of Kendra Clark

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30.10.19 p.7 Millions of patients visit American and European medical facilities each year in pursuit of medical care. The use and sale of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment are governed by specific laws in both the US and Europe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency in charge of approving medical devices and medications in the US. While pharmaceuticals are approved by various organisations in Europe, medical device approval is the responsibility of the Competent Authorities and the Notified bodies. For instance, the European approach primarily demands evidence that the equipment is operating as expected, whereas the American regulatory system for medical devices places more emphasis on efficiency tests. The lengthy approval processes under the US system prevent patients from getting access to some highrisk devices in a timely way. The regulatory frameworks of the two nations will be compared in this essay in light of the approval of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Ap p r ov i n g Ph a rm a c e u t i c a l s Similarities: The goal of drug restrictions in both Europe and the US is to limit market access to only safe medications. The two regulatory systems place a greater emphasis on patient safety than the availability of a wide range of medications on the market. Clinical trials are required for new medications in the US, and the approval procedure can take up to a year and a half. The average clearance time in Europe is 12 months, and multiple clinical investigations are carried out throughout that time to ensure patient safety. It is clear that the restrictions and complex approval regulations are intended to ensure that patient safety is not threatened. Another similarity is that both countries base their approval processes for a specific drug primarily on the type of drug. Less clinical testing is necessary for medications that have similar qualities with those already available on the market. To ensure that a new pharmaceutical satisfies the established safety standards, however, extensive clinical trials are required. Additionally, the rules are harsher for medications used to treat serious conditions including cancer and diabetes. Ap p r ov i n g Ph a rm a c e u t i c a l s Differences: Even if the approval processes in the two nations are somewhat similar, the US system is tighter than the one in Europe. Every new medicine in the US must go through the following five phases. Clinical Trials, New Drug Applications, FDA Reviews of INDs, Pre-clinical Testing, New Drug Applications, and NDA Reviews. Each of the five processes requires thorough testing to determine the drug's safety and efficacy. Although not as stringent as the US system, the European one is as strict. The FDA in the US is charged with the responsibility of approving all medications produced in the nation. Prior to approval, the FDA examines and assesses each application submitted by the pharmaceutical companies. The approval process for drugs is somewhat decentralised in Europe, with many bodies assigned the responsibility of carrying it out. The European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA), the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP), national health authorities, and a registration process are the organisations in charge of approving drugs in Europe. To request FDA clearance of their product, pharmaceutical companies only need to submit one application in the US. The producer can release the medication onto the American market after receiving the approval certificate without needing to complete any additional registration procedures. In Europe, a member state's permission may not be recognised by other member states. Manufacturers must register with both the regional authorities and the individual state agencies. Approving Medical Equipment Similarities: One of the systems' main similarities is that both aim to promote innovation. The purpose of the European regulatory frameworks is to promote innovation and raise the standard of care provided by healthcare facilities across the region. The US healthcare system also promotes innovation by allowing effective technologies on the market. Efficiency evaluations are carried out under the US system to confirm that the created technology improves patient outcomes. The above approach makes sure that device makers continue to be inventive and provide new strategies for quick clearance. The second similarity between the two systems is that they both have patient protection as a primary goal in their design. A new device must undergo testing to guarantee patients' safety before it is made available for patient use. Before a device can be authorised by the Notified Bodies in Europe, the Competent Authorities oversee safety inspection procedures. In the US, the FDA performs safety inspections, and a machine is only approved if it complies with the safety standards. Manufacturers are required under both systems to disclose any unfavourable outcomes to reduce the dangers patients may face following the use of such devices this rule reflects the two systems' dedication to patient safety while also encouraging innovation. The third commonality between the two systems is that when the risks increase, so do the safety precautions. Manufacturers of low-risk devices are required to confirm that the item complies with the safety requirements. For high-risk devices that need more thorough safety testing before clearance, the circumstance is different. Before being approved in the US, highrisk devices must pass rigorous clinical and safety tests; It could take up to a year for the high-risk devices to be approved. In Europe, as in the US, low-risk gadgets are approved when manufacturers prove that they adhere to the established standards. However, before being approved, the highrisk devices go through more thorough safety checks. Approving Medical Equipment Differences: Data requirements is the first difference between the two. Manufacturers of medical devices in the US are required to submit to the FDA a thorough report on the device's effectiveness and safety. Only devices that pass both tests simultaneously and are shown to be both safe and effective are approved by the FDA. Since effectiveness is not a requirement for a medical device's clearance in Europe, the situation is different. Only the safety checks are essential for approval under the European system. Patients in Europe have quicker access to high-risk devices than in the US thanks to Europe's minimal regulatory procedures. The second difference between the two is Access. The US device approval procedure is lengthy and includes clinical trials to confirm a machine's efficacy. The length of the clinical trials causes delays in the device's release onto the market. For highrisk devices like heart surgery devices, the testing is more rigorous. Since only safety inspections are required during the short clearance process in Europe, devices are released onto the market on schedule. According to statistics, European patients have greater access to high-risk equipment than their American counterparts. The difference can be attributed to the European system's lack of clinical trials on medical devices. The third difference between regulatory bodies when it comes to device manufacturing is funding. Both in the US and in Europe, the funding of the regulatory agencies is different. In the US, the government provides 80% of the funding for approvals, with producers paying the remaining 20% in approval costs. This feature guarantees the bodies' independence and prevents the makers from tampering with the work. However, because of its excessive reliance on government funding, the FDA occasionally struggles with a lack of resources. In Europe, the manufacturers pay the regulatory agencies through the fees charged for approval. This type of sponsorship establishes a client-customer connection and may hinder the boards' ability to function, resulting in the approval of dangerous products. in conclusion, Drug and medical device regulatory organisations all work to ensure patients' safety, which is something they all have in common. The purpose and the safety practises covered by the laws in the US and Europe are very similar. The regulatory frameworks of the two nations, however, differ significantly in terms of the required approval processes. Europe doesn't perform efficiency tests, whereas the US mandates that all medical devices be examined for both safety and effectiveness. Additionally, the US system of drug approval is significantly tougher than that of Europe because it requires intense testing to guarantee the safety of the drugs before they are put on the market. The bodies are another key distinction between the two systems. The FDA is the only approval authority in the US, where the approval process is more centralised. On the other hand, several organisations in Europe are in charge of managing the approval procedure for both medications and medical devices. Difference between regulatory affairs in the US and Europe by Christine-Fatoumatta Manneh An In-depth Review Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

p.8 30.10.19 Volunteers have removed over 14,000 plastic biomedia filters from the shores of the Ythan Estuary after they were released from Ellon Waste Water Treatment Works during floods last November. Scottish Water launched what they described as an “extensive clean-up operation” at the time. However, huge numbers of filters are still present in the environment several weeks later. The small filters are about the size of a pound coin and are used to house bacteria which is used during the water treatment process. Scottish Water were not able to provide accurate numbers of how many filters were released during the spill, or how many have been removed so far. On January 26th, volunteers taking part in a beach clean organised by Turning the Plastic Tide removed over 5,300 filters and more than 80 kilograms of litter from Newburgh beach in two and a half hours. The volunteer group has now removed over 14,000 filters from the southside of the Ythan and Machar Pool. Lauren Smith, project for Turning te Plastic Tide, said, “The turnout by the community for the clean-up was fantastic…The majority of the volunteers had either encountered the plastic biomedia themselves on the beach or had heard about the problem thanks to local media coverage.” The filters can be seen in large numbers along the shores of the Ythan downstream from the waterworks. This includes Newburgh beach, and the shores of Forvie National Nature Reserve. The NNR is a designated seal haul-out site and home to the largest breeding population of sandwich terns on Scotland’s east coast. A spokesperson for NatureScot, who manage the reserve, said, “We remain concerned at the large numbers of plastic bio-media filters that are still present in high numbers along the riverbanks of the Ythan, the estuary and the beach and we are continuing to work closely with the environmental team at Scottish Water who are leading this clean-up operation.” Scottish Water have carried out eight days of dedicated clean-up work so far. A spokesperson said, “Operatives have been undertaking weekly beach walks, and there have been eight days of dedicated clean-up activity from colleagues and contractors to date – with more planned. We recognise that clean-up activity will need to be sustained over a significant period.” Removing the filters from the environment is not a quick or easy task. Lauren Smith explained, “It is difficult because of the nature of the habitat, the nature of the biomedia; it’s lightweight, it moves around with weather patterns, easily picked up in the wind, with high tide, so it does move around.” This means filters can wash up in areas that have already been targeted during clean up. Scottish Water said they will continue to use appropriate methods of removal, “Clean-ups on the beach have used quad bikes, chain rakes and a tractor, supplemented by collection by handcollection using gloves. In some areas, access is only possible on foot and smallerscale equipment or hand-collection are being use,” a spokesperson said. Hand removal is a slow process as the filters can easily become lodged in vegetation and debris, and can be hard to see in the first place. During the volunteer beach clean, volunteers were finding filters in patches other volunteers had already cleaned, which demonstrates how hard the filters can be to find. At their current size, the risk to wildlife is considered to be small. However, the filters will begin to break down over time, which means they are more likely to be ingested. “They’ll just break down smaller and then the smaller they are, then you’re risking things like ingestion from fish, seabirds, etc; it’s getting into the foodchain,” Lauren Smith said. In addition to the risk of ingestion, the filters which remain in the environment will contribute to the existing microplastic crisis. A spokesperson from NatureScot said, “as they degrade they will contribute to the significant existing microplastics issue our coasts face, so it’s vital as many of these are removed from the environment as possible.” Scottish Water do not have a completion date for clean up and say they are committed to removing as many filters as possible, “Our goal is to recover as many of the filters as possible and we recognise that activity may therefore need to continue for a significant period.” Thousands of plastic filters removed from shores of Ythan Estuary after sewage spill by Rosie Ballie Clean up ongoing after incident during floods last November The small filters are about the size of a pound coin and are used to house bacteria which is used during the water treatment process. I magine you are a hedgehog on campus. Last autumn, you somehow ended up in some garden, spent the winter there and now that it is spring, and you are awake again, you desperately need to get somewhere with food. But you just fell onto High Street and you struggle to walk over the cobblestones because you get stuck in the gaps. And where to anyway? There are barely any hiding places or food sources nearby and any larger greenspaces are cut off by busy streets. So you struggle on, trying to climb the edge of the kerb while a bus is approaching fast… Now, you might think, how likely is it for a hedgehog to get lost on campus? As a matter of facts, they are very likely to appear there! The European Hedgehog, which is native to the UK lives in grass-, heath- and woodland habitats but occurs quite commonly in gardens and urban areas. They are nocturnal omnivorous animals, feeding mainly on beetles, worms, caterpillars, slugs as well as bird eggs and chicks and generally hibernate from November to March or April under leaves, in hedges or beneath wood piles. While the European population in their natural range is stable according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the UK population has been rapidly declining, having lost between 30% and 75% on the mainland since 2000. Reasons for this drastic drop in numbers include farming methods, especially pesticides, cars and urbanization but mainly align with the general causes of the biodiversity crisis: habitat destruction and compartmentalisation and with this lack of food resources and retreatment spaces. Hedgehogs are an important part of the food web, as they control insect populations and pests, while keeping green spaces and gardens healthy. In response to the sudden plunge in the UK population, various nature conservation groups have taken action by setting up response systems for sightings of injured or ill hedgehogs, taking preventative measures and, maybe most importantly, informing the public. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society launched the Hedgehog Friendly Campus initiative in 2018 that has now reached Aberdeen Uni. After an alumnus of the university had reached out to them, the Secret Garden Society started a collaboration with the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, registering the university officially with Hedgehog Friendly Campus, hoping to obtain this certification. But before this title can officially be claimed, a group of volunteers that is now forming has to complete a number of activities to receive the bronze certificate of the initiative. These include fundraising, events, actions and promotion of the issue. So far, the group has been focused recruiting volunteers and assessing the risks hedgehogs face on campus, so they can concentrate their direct action effectively. They hope to raise more awareness among students with outreach events such as a pub quiz and arts and crafts session that will produce informational merch and signs which are then displayed on campus. Every Sunday the volunteers meet at 1 pm at the Secret Garden to plan and execute their actions. With spring coming, the activities aim at providing water and feeding opportunities around campus, for example by reducing mowing and increasing wildflower patches. ‘The most important thing is habitat connectivity.’, says Student Hedgehog Champion Ainhoa Burgos Aguilera. Hedgehogs are having trouble moving between green spaces on campus and finding food. Habitat corridors will make it a lot safer for them and benefit many other species as well. In addition, the next winter is already on the mind of the hedgehog ambassadors, with plans to build hedgehog houses for shelter. The final goals they are working towards, which include a litter-free campus and connecting the green areas, could be supported by a larger biodiversity motion that will be presented to student council on the 28th of February by the Environment and Ethics Committee. If this motion is passed, it will pave the way for the hedgehog group to lobby the university actively to make changes in the interest of increasing biodiversity on campus. But even now, they are determined to do the best they can to make Aberdeen Uni campus hedgehog friendly. For more information, contact the Secret Garden Society on their socials (Facebook/ Instagram/email) or stop by one of their Sunday sessions. Students take action against nationwide hedgehog decline by Anastasia Goelitz Campus critters find themselves in a P(r)ickle

30.10.19 p.9 I n the middle of January, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern made a shock announcement that she would not be running for re-election after having served since 2017. In a speech where she announced a national election for October, she said that her term would last no longer than 7th February. Ardern made it clear that her reasons for stepping down were simple: she simply hasn’t got enough left in the tank. Ardern, the youngest elected Prime Minister of New Zealand has had a positive reputation amongst many, and will certainly be missed. She has led New Zealand through some particularly difficult events, notably COVID-19, and the terrorist attacks in Christchurch back in 2019. Ardern is New Zealand’s third female Prime Minister and has served as an inspiration to many women and girls over the years. In fact she has become somewhat internet famous for her ‘clapbacks’ to misogynistic comments. Misogyny and lack of female representation in politics is still a major issue worldwide, in fact ‘UN Women’ said that at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years, in 2022 only 21% of Government ministers were women, with only 14 countries having achieved 50% or more women in cabinets. Arderns style of governance has cemented New Zealand's place on the world stage as a ‘soft power’ and one that decides its policies and actions in line with its moral values. In Arderns Presidency this was often based on compassion and empathy, the guiding principles which contributed to her 53% approval rating throughout the COVID19 pandemic. Even at its lowest point of 29% approval in January 2023 she was still considerably more popular than her closest opponent, Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon who polled at 23%. As to what Arden’s resignation means for global politics, that is hard to say. New Zealand's general election is set to take place in October this year and although Arden was able to gain enough seats to govern without a coalition in 2020 this is unlikely to happen again. It is more likely that the country will be led by a coalition government unless polling dramatically changes with either Arderns successor Chris Hipkins leading Labour into another term in government or the more conservative Luxon. Given his rising level of support, the leader of the National Party may manage to take control of New Zealand's parliament this coming October. Whilst the upcoming election will have a global impact, Ardern’s resignation has created a space to talk about what often goes ignored in politics: When a leader has offered everything they can, it is okay to step down. Jacina Ardern’s resignation has left the world wondering how New Zealand will shape itself in her absence, but her legacy has gone far beyond her time in office. The legacy of Jacinda Ardern by Gemma McLeod and Theodore Williamson Photo courtesy of Flickr Trigger Warning: Please be aware that the following article contains information that some readers may find upsetting, including details about sexual assault and exploitation. Flashy cars, guns, beautiful women, and motivational quotes are common sights for Andrew Tate’s 4.7 million Twitter followers. But for some, Tate, a ‘self-proclaimed misogynist’ and former Kickboxer-turned-social media influencer, displays a lifestyle that is feeding an online and systemic culture of hegemonic masculinity. Andrew, and his brother, Tristan, are currently being held in custody by the Romanian Police, amidst an investigation into allegations of human trafficking and rape. The brothers both maintain their innocence. However, a long history of his extreme views on women, starting with a video of him appearing to attack a woman that led to his removal from the television show Big Brother in 2016. This is indicative of a culture of violence against women that is gathering momentum. While Tate has previously been banned from most social media sites, he remains an influential figure; his videos on Tiktok have been watched more than 11.6 billion times. Often featuring expensive cars, women, guns and alcohol, Tate’s content is attractive for some, and Tate himself claims that his extreme views have been “misunderstood”. However, according to domestic abuse charities, his dehumanising attitudes towards women are capable of radicalising young men and boys. As such, schools across the UK are now taking steps to tackle his influence and educate students about him. However, while reducing Tate’s influence is pivotal, the issue doesn’t end with him. It remains that Tate’s views are representative of a wider problem of violence against women, sexual exploitation, and injustice. Across the world, physical violence, sexual harassment, and other forms of violence against women are increasing, especially since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns. 1 in 3 women globally are estimated to have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Violence against women, according to the UN, is a violation of human rights. Meanwhile, human trafficking is another violation of human rights highlighted by the rise of Andrew Tate. Defined by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as the ‘recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit’- it is the fastest growing criminal industry. There are estimated to be 50 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, with 136,000 victims currently estimated to be held in the UK. Approximately 6 million people are victims of forced sexual exploitation, 99% of whom are women and girls. Women and girls also make up 58% of victims of other forms of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. The human trafficking industry generates $150 billion USD annually, two thirds of which is generated through commercial sexual exploitation alone. In January 2023, both Andrew and Tristan Tate had their detentions extended for a second time, despite their lawyers saying that there is no evidence to support the allegations. The rapid ascendancy and popularity of Andrew Tate as a social media sensation shows that he is capable of influencing young men and boys. This not only calls into question the adequacy of current online safety laws but should also lead us to think about the actions we are taking against the wider systemic problems of violence against women, human trafficking and injustice – or maybe, about our lack of action. Online to Systemic: The influence of Andrew Tate by Ruth McCulloch The “manosphere” influencer’s arrest shows a frightening intersection between misogyny and a vast criminal industry. New Zealand Prime Minister steps down because she does not have enough left to give. Photo courtesy of Pixelbay Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

p.10 30.10.19 On the 26th January an IDF raid in the city of Jenin killed 9 people in what Israeli officials claim ‘an operation to arrest Jihad “terror operatives” planning “major attacks”’. Seven of the nine victims were claimed by various militant groups, while the other two were confirmed to be a 61-year-old woman and a male civilian, added to the around twenty people who were seriously injured. Moreover, Israeli forces blocked ambulances and fired tear gas at a hospital, reportedly causing suffocation injuries to sick children. Later that day, another Palestinian was shot during a confrontation with Israeli troops just outside of Jerusalem. Overnight, an airstrike was carried out in Gaza after two rockets were fired into Israelian territory. The raid’s death toll is the highest in recorded history by the United Nations . To complete the picture, the following day a Palestinian gunman shot dead seven Israelis outside a synagogue. These recent events follow what has been the bloodiest year on record in the area. 2022 saw about 150 Palestinians killed (nearly all by Israeli forces), and 30 Israeli casualties; the same number of Palestinians killed in January 2023. Let me be clear, this does not mean that any lost life on either side is justified, but it serves as an introduction to the following argument: the perpetrators of these killings are criminals. The difference is that, while on one side you have members of organisations and individuals that in most cases get arrested or die during their disgraceful acts, on the other side we have a country whose impunity allows it to continue with its illegal actions. Many civil rights organisations (including the Israeli B’Tselem) claim that Israel’s actions entail apparent war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. Additionally, the subjection of Palestinians to forced evictions, arbitrary detention, torture, and other ill-treatment are part of a discriminatory system that constitutes a form of apartheid, a crime under international law. One thing everybody can agree on is that criminals should be treated as such, and that they must pay the consequences of their actions. Now, no matter which side you are on, there is no denial that many – or at least some – of Israel’s operations are criminal actions. So then, why is it not punished? Everybody knows the scenario: world leaders come out of the shed, say a few words that would not make them look bad, or in worst cases show unconditional support to Israel, while simultaneously not fully condemning its actions. UN Secretary General said that he was “very concerned” by the rise in Palestinian fatalities. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reacted to these events by confirming that, while the EU recognised Israel’s “legitimate security concerns”, “lethal force must only be used as a last resort when it is strictly unavoidable in order to protect life”. French President Emmanuel Macron only added “The spiral of violence must be avoided at all costs”. Finally, US President Joe Biden said that the attack on the synagogue “was an attack against the civilised world” and stressed the US commitment to Israel’s security. As the French saying goes: “Deux Poids Deux Mesures”. While all these distinguished gentlemen harshly condemned the attack on the synagogue, they did not choose the same words to react to the innocent people who were involved in the Israeli attacks. In a world where the need for justice is strong, we forget that there is a land called Palestine where these injustices have been going for more than most of us can remember. What is the difference between a black person getting racially profiled in Minneapolis and a Palestinian person getting the same treatment in Jerusalem? What is the difference between an LGBTQ+ activist being illegally detained in a Russian prison and a Palestinian pacific activist in a jail in Tel Aviv? What is the difference between a Ukrainian kid losing his leg because or Russian strikes in Kharkiv and a Palestinian one in Gaza? If it is true that Israel’s actions are not punished by other governments, it rests on our shoulders too. Our governments answer to the will of the people (or at least this is how it should work). How many demonstrations around the world have we seen in support of sending weapons to Ukraine? How quickly did the Black Lives Matter movement get support in other countries outside of the US? In a world where justice is sought by anyone everywhere, we once again forget that there is a criminal called Israel that has not yet paid for its crimes. It is not a war crime if they are Palestinian by Youssef Salem The horrifying reminder of the cost of impunity DISCLAIMER All opinions expressed in opine are the views of the author. However, this does not necessarily represent the views of The Gaudie, AUSA, or any company that advertises in The Gaudie. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons on one side you have members of organisations and individuals that in most cases get arrested or die during their disgraceful acts, on the other side we have a country whose impunity allows it to continue with its illegal actions. In a world where justice is sought by anyone everywhere, we once again forget that there is a criminal called Israel that has not yet paid for its crimes. In a world where the need for justice is strong, we forget that there is a land called Palestine where these injustices have been going for more than most of us can remember.

30.10.19 p.11 ADHD was first recorded in 1902 by Sir George Frederick Still, who recognised a lack of behavioural control in a young boy. In 1968, it was recognised as a clinical diagnosis under a different name but was still believed to be non-existent in young girls. It was only in 1987 that the name ADHD was finally coined and the diagnosis was refined. We have come a long way since then, but have we come far enough? Universities now offer informal diagnoses which allow students to access support services without the eighteen-month waiting period courtesy of the NHS. But these support services often fall short. This is not to condemn the incredible student support staff at the university but rather a critique of the system in place. As a presenting feminine student with ADHD, I slipped under the radar for twenty years. When I received my diagnosis, everything started making sense, but my university experience did not get any less frustrating. The second year of university and HND level of college were not as similar as one might think, despite both being level five qualifications according to the Scottish government. The teaching methods and available support are incredibly different, regardless of being taught at the same level. College provides explicit instructions to complete essays, whereas university is far more abstract and grading can differ between lecturers. The lack of clear communication and simple instructions leads to lessened academic performance which can negatively impact mental health. And as many might already know, mental health is already jeopardised in ADHD people. Another significant difference is the level of support provided. In college, lecturers only qualify for the job with extensive subject knowledge and teacher training which the college supports. At Dundee and Angus College, classrooms are more personal and the schedules are regular. However, the university system is set up very differently. Lecturers can get their jobs by merely being qualified in subjects they would like to teach and teacher training doesn’t have to be extensive. In the School of Biological Sciences, lecture halls are impersonal places; schedules are incredibly irregular and students may be expected to pay attention for three consecutive hours. This environment is intense, even for neurotypical students. So, what are we expected to do with little time to study between long and laborious classes and an intense workload? We must work harder and longer to achieve the same grade as neurotypical students. Yet, lecturers are surprised to hear that students work through their weekends… The university offers provisions and access to disability funding to those of us with learning difficulties. These provisions can be extensive, including extra time in exams, extensions without awkward questions, and flexibility when marking for spelling mistakes. The Disabled Students’ Allowance can provide equipment, such as various computer programs and mentors. However, these computer programs are difficult-to-use and outsourced mentors are rarely qualified, often having no idea what ADHD looks like in a student. My support staff told me they had not been notified of the support I required and had no experience with ADHD. This inevitably led to ignorance, that although unintentional, made for some incredibly uncomfortable situations. These experiences prompted me to request a new mentor that would be able to make a real impact on my student experience as they also had ADHD. However, these qualified mentors are incredibly rare and will already have extensive workloads, making them inaccessible to most other students. More and more students are being diagnosed with ADHD due to the increased availability of resources, the recent surge in media visibility, and the gen Z approach to mental health. A positive diagnosis comes with a diverse range of emotions, ranging from frustration at the system to relief that our peers were wrong. All the times we were accused of being lazy and underachieving we did the best we could with what we had. I am a disabled student merely because the system around me was not built for me. However, with limited funding directed at ADHD resources and a dramatic increase in diagnoses, how can institutions handle the influx of new cases? The answer is easier than one may think. One of the dominating issues with neurodivergence in academic settings is the lack of neurodiverse voices. The people who decide what provisions and resources we should receive are, in fact, neurotypical people without personal experience of living with the struggles to complete basic tasks. ADHD voices should have the platform to push for change. Give us control of our education and let us prove to you, once and for all, that we aren’t just wasted potential. Give Us Control of Our Education: An ADHD Voice in Academia by Kiera Malham Universities should be better equipped in understanding ADHD students Photo courtesy of University of Aberdeen The International student University experience as a Person of Colour Acclimatizing and living the student experience in Aberdeen might be not so easy at first I left my home in Kenya to come to Aberdeen in 2021 and I’ve never had an experience quite like this. Despite having been to the UK before, I had never been to Scotland. I had so many questions in my head and you would imagine that they were something like: what will the weather be like? Is Scotland as cold as everybody suggests it is? What is university life like? While I had all these questions, in the back of my head I also wondered: Will I be able to fit in? Will I have to change the way I am to ‘’fit in’’? Something I believe the local students – or any students from the UK – will never fully comprehend, is how difficult it can be to be an international student. It was an exciting experience for me to have the opportunity to study abroad, however I couldn’t help but to worry about how I was going to adjust. Settling into Aberdeen initially I was never able to leave the house past 7 PM. And that’s solely because I was never able to do that back home without being at risk, and due to this I really isolated myself on the nights I was supposed to be going out and having fun. Eventually, I was able to realise that I am as safe as one can be, actually the safest as one can be in the UK compared to Nairobi. One major thing that I was able to observe is that most students had already formed their own little groups, and usually they weren’t diverse. It made approaching people so much more difficult. Steadily, over time, I came to realise that so many students were in the same position I was in. After having interacted with various students from different backgrounds, I was able to relate more, learn and enjoy the experience. Oddly, it was comforting to bond with others about how unaccepted a minority of people can be. After having lived in Aberdeen for a little over a year, I strongly believe that initially, it can be extremely difficult, but over time it becomes a lot better. The university’s efforts in diversity and inclusion, especially in societies, make it a lot easier to settle down. The experience of not belonging and later belonging has a bitter-sweet feeling. Bitter as it’s hard to relate and blend in, sweet because you’re different from the others around you. The most important lesson one can learn from studying abroad is to give yourself time to observe and acknowledge the things that are happening slowly around you. My experiences and acclimatisation are only a process that improves daily and I can’t wait to explore what Aberdeen has to offer me in the next few years. by Purvi Halai Something I believe the local students – or any students from the UK – will never fully comprehend, is how difficult it can be to be an international student The most important lesson one can learn from studying abroad is to give yourself time to observe and acknowledge the things that are happening slowly around you. We must work harder and longer to achieve the same grade as neurotypical students computer programs are difficult-touse and outsourced mentors are rarely qualified, often having no idea what ADHD looks like in a student. All the times we were accused of being lazy and underachieving we did the best we could with what we had

p.12 30.10.19 Concerns regarding injuries have plagued the sport of American football for over a century. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt called for banning the sport after 19 college students died in a single year playing football. Of course, these events predate the forward pass, to say that the game has changed since then would be a gross understatement. Throughout the 20th and early 21st century a myriad of rule changes, equipment improvements and medical advancements have made the sport exponentially safer. But the 2022 NFL season, perhaps more than any other in recent memory, demonstrated how much room there is for improvement in both injury prevention and response. On September 25th, in a Week 3 game against the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was shoved to the ground, hitting the back of his head in the process. The 24-year old managed to stand up under his own power, but stumbled and fell to his knees. He was helped to the locker room by two team assistants and the Dolphins announced that he was questionable to return to the game with a head injury.Nevertheless, Tagovailoa returned after halftime, having ostensibly passed concussion protocol. After the game, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel attributed the incident to a [D2]back injury, a statement that drew scepticism from NFL fans and media, as the event bore strong resemblance to a head injury. He told reporters “His legs got wobbly because his lower back was completely loose” Only four days later Tagovailoa took the field against the Cincinnati Bengals, a decision some feared put him at risk of ‘Second Impact Syndrome’, a condition wherein the brain suffers a second concussion before the symptoms from an earlier concussion have been abated. Christopher Nowinski, a neuroscientist and advocate for concussion awareness, tweeted the following on the day of the game: “If Tua takes the field tonight, it’s a massive step back for #concussion care in the NFL If he has a 2nd concussion that destroys his season or career, everyone involved will be sued & should lose their jobs, coaches included. We all saw it, even they must know this isn’t right”. The tweet proved to be frighteningly prophetic, as the worst-case scenario appeared to unfold. Midway through the second quarter, while scanning the field for a receiver, Tua was tackled and thrown hard to ground once again, his helmet clattering off the field. His body lay stiff on the ground as his arms bent and fingers twisted grotesquely in a fencing response. The Dolphins star was immediately placed on a stretcher and rushed to hospital. Two days later, the neurotrauma consultant who had cleared Tua of a concussion against the Bills was fired. Tagovailoa returned in a Week 7 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers and would play in 13 of a possible 17 games for the season. However, after a Week 16 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Tua’s season ended after it was determined that the quarterback had suffered yet another concussion after he self-reported symptoms that had gone unnoticed by doctors.Tua’s battles with concussions would have been the defining story of the 2022 NFL season were it not for a Week 17 Monday Night Football matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, which subjected viewers to one of the most tragic sights in the league’s 102-year history. Partway through the first quarter, Bengals receiver Tee Higgins was making a play on the 50-yard line, Bills safety Damar Hamlin performed a routing tackle on Higgins, at which point Higgins’ shoulder appeared to strike Hamlin squarely in the chest. At first, all seemed normal as both players rose to their feet and awaited play to resume. However, the 24-year old safety appeared to lose consciousness as he collapsed to the ground. Medical staff immediately descended onto the field to provide medical attention while the once invigorated crowd remained deathly silent. Responders would administer CPR on Hamlin for 9 minutes before placing him on a stretcher, all the while players from both teams knelt or stood by him in gestures of solidarity. Hamlin was transported by ambulance to hospital,and later that night the Bills tweeted that Hamlin had suffered cardiac arrest as a result of the hit and that his heartbeat had been restored on the field. After Hamlin was removed from the field, it was stated by announcer Joe Buck and later reported by ESPN that the league had told players that they would be given 5 minutes of reprieve before play was to resume. However, play never did resume and the NFL would later deny any accusations that it intended to compel the teams to finish the game. On January 5th, the NFL announced that the game would not be rescheduled and was cancelled. While NFL games have been cancelled before, it is the first time a game has ever started, postponed and never resumed. It is also the first ever game to be cancelled due to an injury to a player. No one would seriously suggest an injury-free league is a realistic or reasonable thing to ask for. But the disposable attitude teams have towards their players, as evident in the plight of Tua, and the sheer disregard for the emotions of players as shown in the aftermath of Damar’s injury are both surely within the NFL’s power to fix. Spectre of Injuries Casts Shadow Over NFL Season by Clive Davies The unthinkable has happened! A local Aberdeen woman has made it safely back to her house, despite the litany of obstacles that she and other women face on their journeys every day. This spectacular occurrence comes as a result of the effort of the entire community. Says the woman (who wishes to remain anonymous, obviously), “I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help.” This author assumes she is referring to the herculean effort it seems to take for men to respect a woman’s boundaries on the street. The woman has described her harrowing journey in detail, which started on campus, and ended, miraculously, in her flat in the city centre. “I knew that my lecture was going to end after dark,” she said in response to questions about how she ended up in the dangerous situation in the first place, “but I forgot that I was a woman.” Although she could have taken a bus, that would have meant that she might have had to sit near one of those guys that give you a weird vibe that appear on buses exclusively at dusk. So she decided to walk. Her walk went well for the first thirty seconds, until she turned the corner and lost the glow of the streetlights, and thus any semblance of safety. Undeterred, she turned on her phone torch, and hurried forward. “I’m not gonna be a statistic today” she recalls muttering, as if she ultimately had any control of the situation. The next obstacle she faced was a series of men approaching her asking for directions, reminiscent of a game of whack-a-mole. She deftly avoided them by pretending to be on the phone with her boyfriend/dad/ male landlord. “It’s possible they really were lost,” she said, “but it’s always hard to tell.” The last barrier between her and the warm embrace of a double-locked door and tasty dinner was a dark alley that led to her building’s entrance. Sprinting through it with her keys held between her fingers did the trick, which she cheerfully described as “standard practice.” Somehow, amazingly, she had arrived safely home. “I just want to thank everyone in the community for only being a regular amount of creepy today,” she said. When asked about her plan for the next day, she replied “I’m never going out again”, but immediately amended it, remembering that “actually I’ll probably get hungry for a takeaway in a few hours and risk it all for my curry.” Breaking News: This Woman Made It Home Safely, Somehow by Maggie Johnson An unprecedented occurrence This author assumes she is referring to the herculean effort it seems to take for men to respect a woman’s boundaries on the street. Tua Tagovailoa and Damar Hamlin Latest Victims of an Uncaring League Photo courtesy of Pixelbay Tua’s battles with concussions would have been the defining story of the 2022 NFL season were it not for a Week 17 Monday Night Football matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, which subjected viewers to one of the most tragic sights in the league’s 102-year history.

30.10.19 p.13 DISCLAIMER All opinions expressed in the satire section are written primarily for the sake of comic value and therefore do not necessarily represent the honest views held by the author, The Gaudie, AUSA, or any company which advertises in The Gaudie. Oh, hi honey, I thought you’d gone to sleep already! Didn’t we already tuck you in? You’re worried about monsters under the bed? Oh, don’t be silly, monsters aren’t real! What’s that? Why am I holding this bat? Oh, um… Mummy and Daddy were just gonna play some baseball later and I’m practising my stance. No, no of course I’ll come tuck you in again. Am I gonna leave the bat? No, no, I think I’ll just carry it with me. No, no reason at all. Oh honey, don’t you wanna turn on the light while you get back in bed? I’ve heard monsters don’t like when your light is on. You thought I said monsters weren’t real? That’s right, I did say that, didn't I. But you might as well just turn it on since the switch is right here. Alright, I’ll tuck you in nice and tight. Was I ever afraid of monsters? Well, maybe when I was very small, smaller than you even. But certainly not now. Because I am prepared with this ba– I mean because monsters aren’t real! Would it make you feel better about the monsters if you had your own bat to play nighttime baseball with? I’ve been thinking recently you might be needing one, but I didn’t want to scare you, and – WHAT WAS THAT NOISE?? A MONSTER?? …oh. Phew. It was just Daddy brushing his teeth in the next room. So…is that a yes to the bat? Because monsters aren’t real, but Mummy thinks you can never be too safe. There’s No Monsters Under The Bed, Mummy Is Just Holding This Bat For Fun by Maggie Johnson Nothing to worry about There’s Good News on the Horizon. Yeah, it’s that Far Away. Resting firmly on our laurels, but what else is there to do round here. Disclaimer: Everything said in the purpose of this article is said for comedic value and should not be taken seriously. I f you enjoyed our first contribution to the Gaudie, great! We hope it’s not set your expectations too high because it's all downhill from here, we truly are winging it this week. We’ve always got next week, especially after that fat cheque from the Gaudie. In fear of being labelled the Gaudie’s greatest ever one hit wonder and missing out on the high of our column once again being hot off the press. We are back. To avoid the embarrassment of our second column falling short, we have been admiring the work of Aberdeen’s finest creative minds in order to inspire and motivate us. From the murals on the underpass of Mounthooly roundabout to the god-awful buskers outside Primark, we’ve been examining their artistry in hopes it would trigger a creative spark for us, one that would give this column a solid structure, narrative or meaning. Surprisingly, this was not achieved so brace yourself for a dull, depressing and utterly pointless read. These three qualities appear to have long been the central motivations behind the work of Aberdeen City Council after all, so it will not be unfamiliar territory for any of you. It has been quite the fortnight since you last heard from us and it turns out the ‘rub of the Gaudie’ is a real thing, and we’re not just talking about when you wipe your a*** with it. Bloody cost of living crisis. We are officially hot stuff in the world of journalism with the offers flooding in from all sorts of publications, but Fleet Street, unfortunately you’re going to have to wait. Luckily, one thing that has to wait no longer is a drink. The past two weeks have also seen the end of Dry January which means the pubs are now packed to the rafters with the most boring people in the world, having their first drink of the year. We hope you Gaudie readers enjoyed your return to St. Machars Bar. Having to listen to all of those returning to the pub after a quiet January talk about how great they feel has only worsened our seasonal depression. Admittedly Aberdeen is so depressing that it is now considered a breach of the peace if you smile on the street. To be fair to the police, smiling on George Street is rather suspicious. With January in the rear-view mirror, we think it's fair to say that 2023 is not off to a flying start. So far, we have both achieved very little; extensions for deadlines and overdrafts tell the story of our 2023 so far. This year has been a bit like going to Richie’s Cafe after a night out, from thinking ‘this might be alright’, to being unable to leave the toilet for the entirety of the next day, 2023 really has fallen flat on its face. In a final effort to stay positive, we've decided to treat the Lunar New Year as another fresh start, hopefully with better results. This year, it is the year of the rabbit. The last time we checked (although we still have our doubts) rabbit is not on the menu in Richi’s Cafe, despite this likely offering an improvement to the sorry excuse for the food they serve there. The last time it was the year of the Rabbit was 2011, a great year for the two of us, both professionally and personally. Hannah for example earned her Cycling Proficiency certificate while Craig placed second in a school-wide Top Trumps tournament. 2011 also brought us the peak of the X Factor, William and Kate's Royal Wedding and the final Harry Potter movie, in other words it was insufferable to watch. If you remember 2011, it also gave us the London Riots. By the looks of it Aberdeen could benefit from a riot or two. Regardless, the j***ies on George Street still give it their best try. Maybe we could all benefit from adopting a bit of their can-do spirit. At the time of publishing, Valentine’s Day will have just passed, we hope everyone is feeling well rested. If you are not and were up all-night romancing (unlikely for Gaudie team members) this edition of the Gaudie is sure to send you right to sleep; or at least kill your b****. After all, Valentine’s Day is not all sunshine and roses for everybody. We think it’s certainly fair to say that after our second column we have firmly lifted ourselves into the journalistic stratosphere, although perhaps only to have the momentary success of the Challenger shuttle. Our grandiose plans for this column remain in place however this week we simply couldn’t be bothered. The wonders of Belmont Street and many more like it await us, and we will be bringing you along with us as promised. We have friends in high places, and we are absofruitly not afraid to use them. Expect surprises, special guests, and Gaudie exclusives. We apologise if you thought you’d catch a glimpse of us at the Gaudie quiz last week, we had a big night in watching paint dry. We know all you Gaudie readers are desperate for a slice of us, but please do not approach us, unless we’re at an official event, but you may be waiting a while for that. All good things come to those who wait, except Alan Sugar, who’s evidently waited his whole life to end up looking like a b*** s***. We digress. If you’ve made it this far, we could probably convince you to jump off that bridge your mum warned you about. We've got lots more treats for you loyal readers, all in due course. Until then, be lucky. by Craig Ross and Hannah Powrie In fear of being labelled the Gaudie’s greatest ever one hit wonder and missing out on the high of our column once again being hot off the press. With January in the rear-view mirror, we think it's fair to say that 2023 is not off to a flying start. So far, we have both achieved very little; extensions for deadlines and overdrafts tell the story of our 2023 so far Photo courtesy of Pixelbay

p.14 30.10.19 Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzle #1 4 7 3 1 2 5 3 6 5 9 4 7 2 5 7 4 9 9 8 1 1 5 6 4 Advanced Sudoku Simple Sudoku Crossword Gaudie 2 Across 2. where our pub quiz was held 3. god of love 4. chimney dust 7. a traveller's path 10. friend of Shaggy and Scooby-Doo 11. swamp grasses 12. mediterranean fruit with a stone Down 1. 'thank you' in French 3. half-man, half horse 4. what Taylor Swift fans are called 5. fungi 6. spikey woodland animal 8. protects you from the rain 9. hearty green 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzle #1 7 2 4 7 1 6 1 1 8 4 6 6 4 5 1 2 7 7 2 8 4 2 7 2 5 8 3 4 9 4 1 3