The Gaudie 22nd March 2024

iV Magazine Inside ▶Discover after pg. 10 SCOTLAND’S OLDEST INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 • GAUDIE.CO.UK • FREE In a recent interview with The Times, director Denis Villeneuve expressed a lack of enthusiasm for dialogue in film, as he believes that “pure image and sound, that is the power of cinema.” While this might be a controversial statement, one only has to watch Dune: Part Two to perfectly understand what he means. Dune: Part Two picks up shortly after the first film’s conclusion: as Paul and Jessica Atreides (Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson) begin to integrate into the native Fremen life of Arrakis, we stand alongside them—for better or for worse—through the sheer magnitude and overwhelming power... Review Dune: Part Two (2024) Since the Easter Holidays will soon be upon us, I’m sure that most of us can’t wait for the small break they will provide before we are forced to endure the last of the assessments and exams for this school year. One thing I’m certainly hoping for is an opportunity to catch up on the hours of sleep I have lost over the past few weeks (a number which is surprisingly high, even for my standards). All I need is my bed and a good enough True Crime podcast that I can listen to as I drift off to the land of dreams (though hopefully there will be no murderers chasing /me/ there). Thankfully it’s not a long wait now before we can relax and take a moment to breathe without deadlines making unexpected appearances from behind every available corner... Life & Style Keepin’ It Calm The winners of this year’s student officer elections were announced at Union Brew on Friday. Students and candidates alike gathered to learn who would lead AUSA into the 2024-25 academic year. 36 candidates in total battled for five days in a campaign that saw campus inundated with manifestos and leaflets. Turnout was reported at 14.2%, an increase of 0.8% from last year’s contest. Aberdeen University will be bidding farewell to its student president of two years as Vanessa Mabonso Nzolo stands down, with Christina Schmid taking over after being elected in a nail biting contest that saw 10 rounds of voting before a winner was declared. Having ran on a campaign emphasising ground-up organisation, she said of the campaign: “I’m feeling relieved, I’m obviously very happy that I won, but obviously the work starts now. There’s a lot to do, I’ve done a lot already with the Save the Languages campaign and I really want to have that as my main focus, so the cuts that will be made in the future won’t affect students, to unite the student body basically.” When asked about her term as student president, Vanessa had this to say: “I think it’s been really great, the fact that it’s been two years means we’ve had time to actually change things and you know, your first year is basically just learning stuff, trying to get to grips with what you should be doing. Second year you actually know how things go and can start doing more, so I think two years has been absolutely making. The skills, the people, oh my goodness, the people really make our uni, I’ve had a really amazing time.” Gaelic and Archeology student Rhiannon Ledwell opted to stand down as Vice President for Education and resume her studies, her tenure was characterized by a high-profile campaign to save language degrees at the University of Aberdeen. Speaking of her decision not the stand again: “I only ever intended to be in the role for a year and the way the year developed it really felt like a right place at the right time kind of thing for me. I poured myself into it for a year, felt we were able to accomplish a lot but I feel like it’s the right time to hand it over to the next people. I’ve worked really closely with both Miles and Kirsten over the past year and I’m really happy to see what either one of them will do next year.” She will be succeeded by Miles Rothoerl, who’s manifesto included fighting in-person exams and finding alternative means of combating AI cheating. He had this to say of the result: “I’m absolutely humbled and delighted that I’ve been elected to continue on the education committee, it’s something I’ve been really, really passionate about for the past three years. Next year is going to be a really challenging year in education, the funding situation is getting worse and worse, so it’s more important than ever that students stand together and that’s something that I will aim to promote. My campaign team has been fantastic and a huge thanks to everyone.“ Ainhoa Burgos Aguilera was returned as Vice President for Communities after defeating close rival Debashis Dey. Her campaign focused on reducing barriers faced by international students, promoting inclusive policies and increasing biodiversity and sustainability on campus. She told The Gaudie: “I feel quite happy to be fair, I’ve put in a lot of effort this year and I just have so many ideas and projects that I’ve started that I want to continue and finish so that I can give to the student community and I’m so happy that I’ll Christina Schmid Elected Student President “The Work Starts Now”: 2024 Student Ofi cer Election Results Announced The Future of AI: Transforming Industries and Shaping Tomorrow ▶ Science and Environment, pg. 11 Abortion Rights: France First to Protect Right to Choose ▶ International, pg. 6 North-East Vocabulary: Exploring the ‘F’ Words of Doric ▶ Features, pg. 8 ▲ PHOTOGRAPH: DUNK VIA FLICKR ▲ FROM LEFT: TÕNIS TILK (ACTIVITIES), KARIM HURTIG (WELFARE), CHRISTINA SCHMID (PRESIDENT), MILES ROTHOERL (EDUCATION), AINHOA BURGOS AGUILERA (COMMUNITIES) / AUTHOR ▶ CONTINUED IN IV MAGAZINE PAGE 9 ▶ CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ▶ CONTINUED IN IV MAGAZINE PAGE 2 by Clive Davies and James Wilson

2 FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 Contents International P. 5 Features P. 8 Opine P. 10 Science & Environment P. 11 Satire P. 12 Sports P. 13 Puzzles P. 14 ▶ EDITORIAL TEAM Editors-in-Chief Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco News Clive Davies (Editor) Anna-Maria Brynchak & James Wilson (Deputy Editors) International Nour Elshenawy (Editor) Ava Bowers (Deputy Editor) Science & Environment Georgie Burns (Editor) Kayleigh Weidemann (Deputy Editor) Features Maeve Topliff & Fi Hennicken (Editors) Jana Neimanns (Deputy Editor) Opine Andrew Cardno (Editor) Alex Murray & Eilidh McCartney (Deputy Editors) Satire Maggie Johnson (Editor) Khreshnee Thayabaran (Deputy Editor) Sports James Kinnaird (Editor) Oliver Kennedy (Deputy Editor) Puzzles Miles Rothoerl ▶ PRODUCTION TEAM Heads of Production Miles Rothoerl (Newspaper) Grace Taylor (iV) Production Designers Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti Kayleigh Weideman Nikola Dejko Kirsty Gardiner Mindi Premarathne Illustrator Noémi Gottmann ▶ COMMITTEE/MEDIA TEAM Social Media Antonella Valente Social Secretary Kayleigh Weideman Treasurer Oliver Ruth Podcast Team Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco (Host) Andrew Cardno (Host) Miles Rothoerl (Host) Ewan Smith (Producer) Write for The Gaudie All students of the University of Aberdeen are invited to write for The Gaudie. To contact specific sections, email them directly. For general enquiries, please message our social media pages or email [email protected]. We voluntarily adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s Code of Practice (www.ipso.co.uk) and aim to provide fair and balanced reporting. The Hub, Elphinstone Road Old Aberdeen AB24 3TU The Gaudie is printed on 100% recycled paper. EST. 1934 • GAUDIE.CO.UK • For the latest commentary, listen to Gettin’ Rowdy with the Gaudie on Spotify! Note from the Editor be able to continue those. Thank you so much for voting!” Tõnis Tilk was also reelected as Vice President for Activities, having bested runner up Jane Davidson.. His manifesto included pledges to offer more free activities to students and explore external funding opportunities to renovate sports facilities on campus. He had this to say of his victory: “It was a very, very tough competition this year. I’ve got to give my big thanks to Jane [Davidson], she honestly motivated me to go above and beyond what I thought I was capable of. I think I totaled 30,000 steps a day trying to campaign every day this week, I want to give my thanks to Jane and everyone who voted, all the clubs and societies who endorsed me and supported me. Thanks to everyone who voted.” Karim Hurtig will be succeeding two-term incumbent Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan as VP for Welfare, Sai had this to say of her departure: “I feel really good about Karim being elected, he’s been a wonderful candidate and he’s been so involved in student politics and with clubs and societies as well, that’s going to be great for him. I’m excited to see what he has in store. We’ve done a lot in regards to welfare these past two years so I really hope that will continue.” Karim, who’s campaign centered strongly around the mental health of students, had this to say: “I don’t know how I’m feeling right now, a lot of emotions. I’m looking forward to being here another year, working with everyone. [The campaign was] a rollercoaster but I feel a lot better about it now because it turned out well. [That’s] easy to say now but I think everyone in welfare did a really good campaign and we learned a lot from each other, I want to see what opinions they have and what we can do together.” In addition to the Student Officer election results, AUSA also announced that Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan had been elected President of NUS Scotland, a moment that will surely bring pride to the University as one of its own goes on to represent students on the national scale. Sai had this to say of her victory: “I’m so nervous! I’m really nervous! It was a tough election, a very challenging election, but we all made it. I’m really grateful to the team here, to all the sabbatical officers in the different colleges and universities outside of Aberdeen. I don’t know what to expect, but we’ll work together!” Am I the only one bewildered by the sun? It’s been so long I’ve forgotten what it looks like. Nonetheless, I’m praying that the sunny days will start outnumbering the rainy ones, even if I am enjoying it from the inside of Sir Duncan Rice Library. It has been, as it always is, a busy time at The Gaudie. We just hosted our 90th Birthday Gala, which was a fantastic time. We want to say a huge thanks to our speakers, Nigel Lindsay, Louise Hosie, and Rachel Amery, who gave us insights to what The Gaudie was like in their time, how they got into journalism, and some wise words for the future. Josh also did a wonderful presentation on old Gaudie papers, showing how student journalism in Aberdeen has changed and adapted with the times, but has always put students first. Back to the present—in terms of this latest edition, expect the latest on AUSA’s Sabbatical election results, with some of our very own Gaudie team members up to the challenge. It is also a goodbye to the previous team, who have done an incredible job in looking out for student needs. We have recent news on Karl Leydecker’s reappointment as Senior Vice Principal, and what this could look like for the languages department. International has covered a range of world news, including France constitutionalising abortion and what Navalny’s death could mean for the future of Russia. In Satire, we’re having a look at International Women’s Day from the perspective of Guy Everyman, who really…just doesn’t get it. Arts has an in-depth review of Dune: Part Two, and finally, Life and Style have come up with a much-needed list of ways to destress in this perhaps a little stressful time. As always, there’s something for everyone, and we can’t wait to see you next time! SAAS to Introduce Year-Round Payments to Aid Students in Summer Scottish-domiciled students will now have the option to spread their student finance payments over the summer months. In recent changes announced by the Scottish government, all SAASfunded students will, from the next academic year, be able to opt to spread their support over the full year. In addition, students will now be able to borrow a further £2400 per year. From September, undergraduate students will be entitled to a bursary and loan package totalling £11,400. Speaking on the new package of support for home students, the minister for Higher and Further Education Graeme Dey said: “The summer months can be a difficult period for learners when their payments stop – these changes will ensure that learners can access the vital funds they need the whole year round. “This is another example of the actions being taken by the Scottish Government to support students through the cost-of-living crisis. Scotland already has the lowest student debt levels in the UK, which is thanks to our commitment to free tuition and our enhanced student support offering. “We are already seeing a record number of students from Scotland’s most deprived areas applying to study at university. The changes made to the student support package will help to further break down barriers and ensure that access to our world-class institutions is not denied to anyone, whatever their background.” The changes come after a successful pilot of a year-round support package for care experienced students, which started in September 2022, lasting two years. In addition, careexperienced students will receive additional funding for housing costs over the summer, with a Summer Accommodation Grant announced as part of further plans to support careexperienced students from September 2024. The payment of £1330 will support care-experienced students to keep up with rent payments over the summer. Despite this, a recent report on the Scottish Budget from the Institute of Fiscal studies, said that student finance in Scotland had “become less generous over time, with total support for the poorest students cut by 16% (£1,600 per year) in real terms between 2013– 14 and 2022–23. A £900 cash increase this academic year in the amount students can borrow was the first realterms increase in at least a decade” The report also referred to dwindling funding for Scottish universities, noting the 3.6% cuts to funding for the 2024-2025 academic year. Despite this, the Institute for Fiscal Studies did agree that the plans “deliver on the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide a total package of support ‘the equivalent of the Living Wage’.” Borrow Limit to Increase by £2400 by Kirsten Koss ▶ CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE 4 Candidates/Result at Round 5 11 Candidates/Result at Round 12 6 Candidates/Result at Round 7 Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti Editor-in-Chief Single transferable vote. Final round vote allocations are shown. Votes for eliminated candidates/Re-Open Nominations that were not reallocated are listed in grey. 11 Candidates/Result at Round 12 3 Candidates/Result at Round 1 Data: AUSA/Graphic: MR

FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 3 More Aberdonians than ever before are opting to travel by foot, walk, and wheel. In its second Aberdeen edition, the latest edition of the Sustrans Walking and Cycling Index report published earlier this month has revealed that more than a fifth of residents are opting to drive less with 50% of Aberdonians choosing to ‘walk or wheel’ more, with 47% reporting a desire to cycle more. In the report’s foreword, Ian Yuill, co-leader of Aberdeen City Council noted the changing attitudes to getting around in the city, and he listed a number of initiatives that have helped to foster a changing travel landscape, including the recent introduction of the Big issue eBike scheme, which brought 213 bikes to over 58 spots in the city. Noting the council’s approach to improving cycling infrastructure in the city, Councillor Yuill shared the five goals that have underpinned the council’s cycling strategy, including maximising the role of cycling for short journeys; developing safe, convenient infrastructure, increasing cycling for leisure, tourism and recreation; integrating policies for cycling across council strategies; and setting policies which contribute to meeting cycling targets. The foreword by Yuill also details the council’s plans going forward, which will include major projects in the city centre, as well as the hotly anticipated ‘Beach Masterplan’ which are set to include a revamped beach area, a new pier, more green space, and a new stadium for Aberdeen Football Club. Speaking of the report, Councillor Yuill said: “The Council welcomes the report which provides key insights which emphasise the importance of continuing to deliver on improving walking, cycling, and wheeling opportunities for everyone. “One of the benefits of living in a city the size of Aberdeen is the wide range of active travel options that are available. Walking, wheeling, and cycling are a real alternative to the car for many people, especially for short journeys and the Council wants to help more people walk, cycle or wheel around.” Walking and Cycling Becoming Preferred Modes of Travel in Granite City Shifting Gears: Aberdonians Increasingly Embrace Active Travel Aberdeen City Council has set its budget for the next financial year. Tasked with making up a shortfall of more than £16 million, councillors voted to raise bus gate fines by 66% and shelve the long planned Berryden Corridor roadworks. Prior to the meeting, protestors from trade unions and community groups assembled outside the Town House, shouting slogans like “Save our services” and “No more cuts.” One protestor told The Gaudie: “There’s always money for Shell and BP but none for the little guys.” After last year’s disastrous budget, which saw the council hauled into court over the closure of libraries and pools across the city, such fears were not unexpected. However, these concerns were assuaged once proceedings began, as the ruling administration’s budget retained funding to vital services across the city. Cultural Grant Funding has been kept to the tune of £174,000, and the campaign to reopen the Belmont Cinema received £50,000. Sport Aberdeen has retained its block grant of £4.5 million, with additional funds set aside to reopen Bucksburn Swimming Pool. Beginning in the spring, drivers will be able to “park for a pound” in off-street car parks across the city centre after 5 PM. Councillors hope that the scheme, which will be trialled for 6 months, will provide a boost to Aberdeen’s night time economy. Commenting on the scheme, SNP Finance Convener Alex McLellan quipped: “Let’s ensure everyone knows Aberdeen is open for business.” And £1 million pounds has been allocated to create a “poverty-fighting fund”, with an additional £100,000 earmarked for the purchase of children’s winter clothing. Speaking after the budget was voted through (24-10, with 9 abstentions), Mr McLellan said: “We have produced a budget that delivers for both citizens and our city, as our spending plans prioritise frontline services, but also invests in the city centre. “Despite significant external challenges – high inflation, bigger energy bills, supply chain volatility – we have to balance the books without burdening people with extra cost when many are already struggling with household bills.” Council Co-Leader Ian Yuill (Liberal Democrats) added: “In listening to people, it was clear that many are still struggling financially, so it was important to reduce those pressures where we can. At the same time, we wanted to invest in Aberdeen’s future – in its young people and infrastructure for growth. “Our budget focuses on the key services upon which people depend – education and schools, repairing roads and pavements, protecting our environment, and helping the most vulnerable in our community.” However, opposition councillors hit out at the administration’s plans. Conservative Ryan Houghton accused council leadership of spending too much money on capital projects, including a £15.5 million redevelopment of Castlegate and £16.8 million urban park in Queen Street. As reported by the Press and Journal, Mr Houghton noted: “Some of us make financially prudent decisions and some do not. “This year it would seem the SNP want to put their budget on the credit card, by going against officer advice on the service concessions. “You are raiding the reserves.” Independent councillor Marie Boulton also criticised the spending spree, quipping that the administration must have found a “pot at the end of a rainbow.” With the relatively uncontroversial budget now determined for the upcoming year, it is unlikely that there will be a sequel to last year’s court action- much to the relief of councillors. Leisure and Cultural Funding Spared the Axe as Yearly Budget Approved by Councillors “Aberdeen is Open for Business”: Essential Services Retained Despite Budget Fears ▼ PHOTOGRAPH: MURILLO DE PAULA VIA UNSPLASH ▲ PROTESTERS GATHER OUTSIDE MARISCHAL COLLEGE / PHOTOGRAPH: AUTHOR by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco by Kirsten Koss Noting the council’s approach to improving cycling infrastructure in the city, Councillor Yuill shared the five goals that have underpinned the council’s cycling strategy. ▶ CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

4 FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 Karl Leydecker has been reappointed as Senior Vice Principal for another threeyear term. Hidden in the depths of the weekly newsletter sent to university staff was the news that from the 1st March 2024, Professor Karl Leydecker has been reappointed as the university’s Senior Vice Principal. Notably, news of the reappointment was not shared with students, or the wider public. The news comes mere weeks after the culmination of the consultation of the future of modern languages, a process which helped transform Leydecker from a relatively unknown university bureaucrat to one of the most divisive figures on campus. When asked how his role as chair of the modern languages consultation steering group impacted the reappointment of the controversial professor, a spokesperson from the University of Aberdeen ignored the question, instead reiterating the statement shared in the staff newsletter: “Professor Karl Leydecker’s tenure as Senior Vice-Principal has been renewed for a period of three years from 1 March 2024. This follows a formal evaluation of performance and a consultation with members of the University Management Group, in accordance with our protocol for the appointment of Senior Vice-Principals and Vice-Principals.” News of Professor Leydecker’s reappointment quickly soured the mood amongst staff and students with many levelling accusations that the former Professor of German’s attitude and performance during the language consultation had not been up to scratch. One member of professional services staff told The Gaudie: “I hope that Professor Leydecker can learn from the past few months of chaos in relation to the Languages Consultation. Threatening staff with redundancy, then turning around a week before strikes were meant to start and changing your mind, is not a good look.” As news of the reappointment made its way to students, students from across the university expressed anger that students were not officially informed of the decision. Kirsty Miller, a final year Sociology & Spanish and Latin American Studies student, and Save UoA Languages Campaigner shared her frustrations with The Gaudie stating: “I think it is quite frankly a disrespect to students that Karl Leydecker has been reappointed and students have not been informed. To the majority of us who have spent countless hours fighting to protect our language degrees from being destroyed by him and the rest of the senior management team, it feels like a slap in the face that he gets to continue in his role. I can’t say I have any faith that he won’t try and remove more degree programmes in his next three years.” The alleged lack of transparency does not appear to be unfounded, with a search of the university’s website returning nothing of substance regarding the membership of the ambiguously named “University Management Group” who a university spokesperson told The Gaudie was consulted on the reappointment. Expressing concern with the reappointment process, a third year History and English student said: “Staff and students should be told what the criteria behind this evaluation was, otherwise, they cannot be expected to have any faith in the democratic process of reappointment.” Cameron Greer, a second year Politics and Gaelic student agreed, taking his anger one step further, suggesting that it may be time for big changes in the Senior Management Team. Greer told the Gaudie: “It’s laughably disappointing that the university administration has decided to reappoint the person who led the failed attempt to shut down the modern languages department as Senior VP and mock students further by failing to announce this decision to us or the public at large. More disrespect, more poor decision making, more secrecy. Leydecker and Boyne must resign.” Despite dividing the university community over the past few months, it seems that Karl Leydecker, and indeed the remainder of the SMT won’t be packing their offices up just yet. Leydecker’s Role in The Push To Axe Modern Languages The Subject of Scrutiny Concerns Raised Over Karl Leydecker’s Reappointment as Senior Vice Principal by Kirsten Koss ▼ PHOTOGRAPH: UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN While the report noted some position changes, it cites the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as a reason behind a slight increase in the number of residents reporting travelling five or more days per week by car, from 41% in 2021, to 44% in 2023. Despite significant progress being made in making travel options more sustainable in the city, with the number of traffic-free cycle lanes increasing from 33 miles in 2021, to 36 miles, the report highlights inconsistencies in those groups choosing to walk or wheel to work. 33% of those surveyed in skilled manual work reporting walking or wheeling to work at least five days a week, with more than 55% of those working in high and middle level management, administrative and professional jobs cycling to work. Additionally, while the council notes that 71% of residents think that the city is a good place to wheel or walk, a closer look at the report reveals that this is a 10% decrease from 81% in 2021. The report shows this has impacted upon manual workers the most, with only 55% of manual workers believing it is safe to walk or wheel in their local area. Positively, the report shows an appetite for walking and cycling to work, something which is reiterated by Karen McGregor, the Director of Sustrans Scotland. Speaking to Aberdeen City Council, McGregor said: “The latest Index results show that Aberdeen City Council has the backing of the public to build on the work it has already started to make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle to get around.” ▶ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 The report shows this has impacted upon manual workers the most.

FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 5 On 16 February, Russian authorities announced the sudden death of Alexei Navalny in prison. A leader of the political opposition to president of Russia Vladimir Putin, his death has been widely condemned as a political assassination by the Kremlin. The Kremlin rejects this accusation, and attributes his death to natural causes after feeling unwell following a morning walk. Navalny was 47 at the time of death. In the past 15 years, Navalny had risen from lawyer to anti-corruption activist to being the highest-profile opponent to Putin. Coming in second in Moscow’s mayoral elections in 2013, Navalny was barred in 2018 from running for president due to a corruption conviction, after a trial described by the European Court of Human Rights as “unfair”. In August 2020, the protest leader fell unconscious during a plane trip in Russia and was subsequently evacuated to Germany. The German government shortly accused the Russian government of an assassination attempt, affirming the presence of a nerve agent of the Novichok family in Navalny’s body, a claim later confirmed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Immediately arrested on his return to Russia in January 2021, (officially on embezzlement charges, internationally recognised as politically motivated), Navalny died in a maximum-security colony known as “Polar Wolf”, located north of the Arctic circle and built by Gulag prisoners during the Stalin era. Even while he was in prison, in a popular series of videos (most available on Youtube with English subtitles), Navalny’s team uncovered networks of corruption, exposing the links of Putin and of notorious politicians to lavish villas in Russia and the European Union, many creating waves of scandals, and in particular reaching that subset of the population that seemed the most out of reach of the propaganda machine of the Russian government - the Russian youth with access to internet. To many, Navalny represented a hope for a future democratic Russia, embedded in Europe, without corruption or war in Ukraine; in stark contrast to Putin’s vision of Russia, often described as authoritarian, conservative, and turned towards the past. In an environment where any attempt to express political dissent is intensely oppressed, a wave of condemnation swayed the country following Navalny’s death, with people laying flowers on monuments to the victims of political repression. Illustrating the danger of protesting in Russia, cases have been reported of individuals being arrested for unsanctioned protests, and subsequently handed military drafts summoning them to the battlefront in Ukraine. A second wave of outcry followed a few days later, when Navalny’s mother declared that the authorities were refusing to hand over her son’s body in an attempt to blackmail her into having a discreet funeral - a particularly bad image in a country that retains a high rate of religiosity and where Putin appeals to a part of the electorate by presenting himself as a pious man. Even so, Navalny’s death seems unlikely to have any major impact within Russia in the short to mediumterm. An increased exodus of the youth, the pro-democracy, and other portions of the population fleeing the consequences of the war in Ukraine since February 2022 means that those that seem the most likely to support Navalny’s legacy are also the most likely to be leaving or having left the country. His widow Yulia Navalnaya, who remains abroad, announced to the European parliament and in a series of videos that she would continue the work of her husband. Immediately endorsed by Navalny’s team, and receiving support of European and transatlantic leaders, her political success remains to be seen. She joins an ever-longer list of Russian critics-inexile against Putin. Death of the Anti-Corruption Activist Widely Condemned as Political Assassination by Putin’s Oppressive Regime Labour Student “Aghast” After Party Membership Revoked UoA postgraduate student George Taylor has launched an appeal after his party membership was terminated just days before the Scottish Young Labour (SYL) elections. Mr Taylor, the Chair of Aberdeen Labour Students, was standing for Chair of SYL when his nomination was “voided” on the 6th of March. Speaking to The Gaudie, Mr Taylor accused Labour leadership of failing young members within the party. He told us: “Last week I was informed the party had “terminated” my membership and removed me from the SYL election. “It’s disappointing that young members won’t have a chance to vote on who serves as SYL Chair, and is further proof of the low regard I feel the party holds us in. “I’m aghast that some people think the party’s disciplinary process is a tool to be abused for an internal youth election.” The ban also means Mr Taylor, who currently serves as the secretary of Aberdeen Central CLP, will be unable to attend joint meetings until further notice. Mr Taylor noted: “A decision taken by the [national executive] in London means the Scottish youth wing have no say in who leads us, and leaves SYL with no mandate.” Mr Taylor’s primary opponent in the race, Solomon Cuthbertson, told The Gaudie that he was ‘hugely excited’ to begin the role after several years of SYL not having an active Chair. Mr Cuthbertson, who was elected unopposed, noted his confidence in Labour’s ‘strong and fair’ complaint system, adding: “It’s important to note that the Party has changed dramatically for the better since being found guilty of breaking equalities law by the EHRC in 2020. This has included the reformation and strengthening of our complaints procedure to be independent of the Party. “The accusation that I and my campaign have used the complaints procedure maliciously is not only wholly untrue, but not possible with the new independent model of complaints.” A letter informing Mr Taylor of the termination stated his membership had been revoked due to support for a “political organisation” that the national executive had deemed “to be inimical with the aims and values of the Party.” Speaking to The Gaudie, Mr Taylor dismissed this accusation as “categorically untrue.” “I have never been a member of / voter for / active in / or in any way supportive of any party other than the Labour Party,” he said. As a leftist critic of party leadership, Mr Taylor led young members in a walk out of the Scottish Labour National Conference in February, urging the party to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Now, less than two months later, his membership has been revoked. Mr Taylor isn’t planning to go down without a fight, he told us. He has written to the General Secretary of the party, and plans to appeal the “shortsighted” decision. We have reached out to Scottish Labour for comment. by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco by Jim Sigailov-Lafranchi ▲ PHOTOGRAPH: JOSH PIZZUTO-POMACO/PI George Taylor was Struck from the Ballot Days Before an Election to Choose the Next Leader of Scottish Young Labour ▼ PHOTOGRAPH: DANGRAFART VIA PIXABAY Alexei Navalny, Leader of the Russian Opposition, Dies in Prison

6 FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 France Become the First to Protect Women’s Right to Choose The Unseen Crisis: Vulnerable Girls in the UK’s Young Offender Institutions Monumental moment for women’s and human rights in France and for the world this International Women’s Day, as France makes abortion a constitutional right. An overwhelming majority of French legislators approved the addition to their Constitution on Monday 4th March 2024, with voting results at 780-72. Adding abortion to their constitution guarantees women’s freedom to choose to have an abortion and is an additional protection to France’s decriminalisation of abortion in 1975. The law in France since 1975 and the Constitution now protects women’s right to get an abortion up to 14 weeks into their pregnancy. As much as this is a phenomenal feat for women’s rights, they are still very limited to a short period of time to get an abortion. France has one of the shortest periods for women to get an abortion, for example in the UK women can get an abortion up to 24 weeks. Perhaps we should take a win where we can in light of the recent restrictions on abortion in the United States where women and doctors can be charged with a criminal offence for getting or performing abortions in some States. In certain countries in Europe, abortion is becoming more restricted too, including Poland and Hungary. Christopher Weissberg, an MP who supports President Macron, stated that adding abortion to the constitution was a way of “uniting against conservatives and reactionaries” and was a way of showing France as a progressive nation. President of the National Assembly from Macron’s Renaissance party, Yael Braun-Pivet stated “To the women of France, we say that we will never step backward. To the women of the world, we say that we will support them, and we will always move forward by their side.” Reproductive rights have been widely supported within France for years but adding abortion to the Constitution created the need for important discussions amongst the far right and conservatives. There didn’t seem to be much need for abortion to be added to the Constitution due to abortion already being legal. However, after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade in 2022, Macron’s government were incentivised to push for abortion to be completely protected. Of course, the win for France hasn’t come without some anti-abortion groups rearing their heads or even disapproval from the Vatican. Mathilde Panot of the left-wing Unbowed France group argued that the only reason Macron pushed for the constitutional change was due to the efforts already made by feminist groups and organisations. The success of this change can also be due to France taking advantage of public support due to what was happening in America. Without these factors the change in the French Constitution may not have been possible. The increase in support within farright parties throughout the world leaves women’s reproductive rights at risk. France taking the leap to solidify this right speaks to their drive to protect women. Those who disagree with the right to abort a foetus forget that they are not being made to have an abortion because of this law, they are simply being given an additional option. I n a disturbing revelation, a recent report on an unannounced inspection of HMYOI Whereby, highlights the unsettling treatment of a vulnerable girl at Wetherby Young Offender Institution, a facility that has been severely criticized for its handling of some of the UK’s most challenging juvenile detainees. The incident in question involved a girl being forcibly stripped by an all-male team of prison officers, a measure taken to prevent her from using her clothes to inflict self-harm. The core issue revolves around the Wetherby Young Offender Institution, which accommodates some of the nation’s most troubled minors aged between 15 and 18. The report documents nearly 900 selfharm incidents within a year, with a significant proportion attributed to just three girls, underscoring a systemic problem. Highlighting the egregious nature of the care provided, the report details how the girl, in a bid to harm herself, was twice subdued and disrobed by male officers. The author of the report, Charlie Taylor, voiced strong condemnation regarding the care standards for vulnerable youth, especially girls. He remarked, “The care for vulnerable young people, especially girls, was ‘not good enough,’” emphasizing the systemic failings within the institution. Taylor further criticized the facility’s lack of preparedness and appropriate response, stating, “The fact it happened twice is completely unacceptable,” and condemned the lack of a coherent plan for managing female detainees. The financial implications of such care are also scrutinized, with the Chief Inspector of Prisons commenting on the high costs of detention at Wetherby, nearly £250,000 per child annually. This figure starkly contrasts with the poor outcomes observed, prompting a broader debate on the allocation of resources and the effectiveness of such institutions. The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, also weighed in, expressing her concerns over the treatment of girls in YOIs. She told BBC Radio 4’s PM program, “This case should be the line in the sand where these girls are much better served by being in mental health wards or in secure children’s homes.” De Souza’s comments reflect a growing consensus that the current system is ill-equipped to address the needs of vulnerable female offenders and underscore the necessity for a shift in policy and practice. The incident at Wetherby underscores an urgent need for reform within the juvenile justice system, highlighting the critical importance of re-evaluating how young offenders, particularly vulnerable girls, are treated. As stakeholders contemplate the path forward, the paramount objective remains clear: transforming these institutions from places of despair to environments that offer hope and genuine opportunities for rehabilitation. Huge Step Forward for Women’s Reproductive Rights in France by Ava Bowers ▼ PHOTOGRAPH: EMMA GULIANI VIA PEXELS ▲ PHOTOGRAPH: COCOPARISIENNE VIA PIXABAY Exposing Systemic Failures: The Harsh Realities for Young Females in Custody by Nour Elshenawy The core issue revolves around the Wetherby Young Offender Institution, which accommodates some of the nation’s most troubled minors.

FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 7 Germany tries tackling drug abuse among young people with legalisation. From April 1st 2024, cannabis will become partially legal for those 18 years and above as a reaction to the rising numbers of consumers in recent years and the flourishing of the black market. Adults are allowed to carry and consume 25 grams in public between 8pm and 7am and can store 50 grams for personal consumption at home. In accordance with the new policy, the government wants to implement clubs where members can grow weed plants together for non-commercial purposes from July 1st onwards. The hope is by decriminalising cannabis it will be possible to “push back the black market significantly, protect children and teens better, and to offer older consumers a safer product”, according to Karl Lauterbach, Secretary of State for Health. Shielding young people from the harmful impacts of cannabis is the government’s utmost priority, and they want to start a preventive and informative campaign targeting children and teenagers to educate them on the dangers of the drug. Despite the general positive attitude towards the law, there comes criticism from the government and medical professionals. “Cannabis is a substance which has the potential of addiction, around ten percent of (frequent) users of the drug have an addiction”, warns Klaus Reinhardt, president of the doctor’s association in an interview with the German broadcasting service WDR. As the human brain is only fully developed around the age of 25, consuming substances like cannabis frequently can cause irreparable damage to parts of the brain that are relevant for learning processes, such as the saving of information and accessing your memory. The new law is supposed to gradually lead to commercialisation within Germany. However, this plan will only be implemented if the testing phase combats the black market and brings the expected results regarding health and child protection. Therefore, it is uncertain if cannabis import policies throughout the EU would be a possibility in the future, although other countries like the Czech Republic want to legalise cannabis until 2025. Whether this might be in the future for Scotland too is unclear, even though Scotland has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in the UK and Europe. However, Scotland does not ignore the problem but rather tries a different approach to solving the issue than its European neighbours. The diversion policy aims to decriminalise drug abusers when caught committing minor offences. It opens the path to a voluntary recovery rather than jail, as people are offered support in the forms of treatments or education and more. Whatever the outcome of either of these policies, it is evident that drug abuse is an important topic concerning all of Europe. Only time can tell what the best solution might be. Snoop Dogg Can Get His Fix in Germany Now There have been increased calls to bar Israel from entering the Eurovision competition because of Israel’s assault on Gaza and its war crimes committed against Palestinians, leading to a humanitarian crisis, and increasing settler violence in The West Bank. The calls to ban Israel has been reflected in major petitions signed by musical professionals in Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. In addition to these, the UK’s entry to the Eurovision, Olly Alexander, has signed a letter calling Israel an apartheid state guilty of genocide, which the organization Campaign Against Antisemitism has condemned. By contrast, the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement has advocated for a complete boycott of Eurovision, because BDS sees Eurovision as a platform used by Israel to whitewash what BDS considers ‘apartheid Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza’. Despite these concerns, Israel has been allowed to participate in the Eurovision even after the International Court of Justice, the highest court of international law, judged it is plausible that Israel’s actions in the Gaza strip could amount to genocide. These two recent cases raise fundamental questions about Eurovision’s values and how the European Broadcasting union (EBU) applies its rules in practice. The EBU’s rules include that participating countries must ensure that the contest is not politicised or bring the competition into disrepute. It is because of this rule that Russia was barred from the contest in 2022, following its invasion of Ukraine, a decision that Executive supervisor Martin Österdahl said reflected the EBU’s core values of democracy. Meanwhile, Israel has been allowed to participate, even though in terms of its illegality, Israel’s offensive on Gaza could be seen as analogous given Eurovision’s purported values. On the other hand, EBU forced Israel’s 2024 entry Eden Golan to change her song lyrics EBU due to the lyrics referencing the October 7 attacks committed by Hamas against Israel and the tragic experience of Israeli civilian victims experienced because of it. This is an example of EBU upholding one rule based on its narrow, inconsistent interpretation of what counts as ‘political’ or breach of its values. To understand the persistent call for boycotts, the destruction of Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank has to be seen as part of a wider trajectory seldom mentioned in Western news reports, which primarily focus on the most recent events out of context. As demonstrated by human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Humans Rights Watch, the current campaign of ethnic cleansing, starvation and collective punishment of Gaza stem from and are an escalation of Israel’s decades long expansion of illegal occupation and settlements in land, which is Palestinian under the international law, condemned by a number of United Nations resolutions, such as United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. Eurovision wise, Israel’s hosting of Eurovision in 2019 was itself already condemned by Palestinian civil society, calls which were ignored, even in the case of the Icelandic Hatari, who controversially flew the Palestinian flag during the final, despite the call by BDS to not participate. This background shows a longer history of Palestinian rights ignored in favour of Israel participating in Eurovision. This suggests complicity continues because it is a well-established disposition, and the rights of Palestinians therefore continue to be a secondary concern. This might be changing however: Belgium’s Culture Minister Benedicte Linard has recently called for Israel to be banned and politicians from the Spanish left-wing party Podemos have written to EBU to exclude Israel. It remains to be seen if there will be more calls from European countries to exclude Israel from Eurovision and which threshold Israel’s actions against Palestinians have to meet in order for them to be considered against Eurovision’s values. Eurovision Controversy Intensifies: Calls to Ban Israel Amidst Human Rights Concerns Germany’s Path to Legalise Weed by Louisa Pötschke From Artists’ Petitions to Political Appeals, the Debate over Israel’s Participation Reflects Broader Tensions Over its Policies and Actions in Gaza and the West Bank by Juka Seppala ▲ PHOTOGRAPH: MICHAEL FISCHER VIA PEXELS The diversion policy aims to decriminalise drug abusers when caught committing minor offences. This is an example of EBU upholding one rule based on its narrow, inconsistent interpretation.

8 FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 Many students that aren’t from the North-East of Scotland may struggle to fully understand what a local is saying when they first meet them. Generally, this can be because it takes time to grow accustomed to a new accent or dialect, but many people, when they first come to the North-East, may also just not be aware of Doric. Doric is a dialect of Scots, which is a West Germanic language closely related to English. As the name implies, Scots evolved in Scotland and has many different dialects, with Doric being the name of the dialect of the North-East. The North-East has been a stronghold for Scots traditionally, and Doric has maintained a large amount of its phonology as well as a great deal of North-Eastern residents understanding the language. Even if locals don’t speak in full Doric, it is likely that they will speak in SSE (Scottish Standard English) with some Doric vocabulary used throughout their speech. Some of the most common words that are used instead of their English equivalent are fit, faan, far, faa and foo. These are all interrogative words - words that are used to form a question - and because of how commonly used they are in the North-East, it is useful to know the meanings of them. This article will give a brief outline of what they mean and how they are used. ‘Faan’ is the Doric equivalent of the word ‘when’. An example of it being used in a sentence is ‘Faan is yer nixt claiss?’ which would mean ‘When is your next class?’. The word ‘faan’ in place of ‘when’ may sound confusing to people if they are not aware that the person is using a Doric word, rather than referring to an actual ‘fan’. This is an example of a ‘false friend’: when two words in different languages sound the same but have different meaning. ‘Fan’ is also pronounced or written as ‘fin’ depending on the area and speaker. ‘Far’ is the Doric equivalent of the English word ‘where’. It can be used in a sentence such as ‘Far aboot is i Library?’ which would mean ‘Where is the library?’. Another example of a ‘false friend’, in Doric ‘far’ is used in a question to find out the location of someone, while the English word ‘far’ is used in relation to distance. They are not the same word, so the listener will have to determine what is being asked ‘Faa’ is the Doric equivalent of the word ‘who’. An example of it being used in a sentence is ‘Faa his a spare pen?’ which translates to ‘Who has a spare pen?’. ‘Faa’ can also be spelled as ‘Fa’. In Doric the word ‘fall’ doesn’t have any L’s, so it is pronounced and often written the same as ‘Faa/Fa’. This can be confusing, but Scots is not alone in having what we call ‘homonyms’: words that can have the same spelling and same sound, but different meanings (English has plenty!). ‘Fit’ is Doric for the English word ‘What’. An example of ‘Fit’ in a sentence is ‘Fit dis George Boyne even dee at i University?’ meaning ‘What does George Boyne even do at the University?’. The word for foot in Doric is also ‘fit’ which means the sentence ‘Fit fit fits fit fit?’ is a possible sentence in Doric and would mean ‘What foot, fits what foot?’. A large number of Doric speakers will also use a glottal stop in replacement of the letter ‘t’ in the middle and towards the end of words, which you could expect to hear in words such as ‘fit’. A glottal stop is when a speaker obstructs the airflow before producing a consonant and the airflow continues after producing a weaker sound. This sound can be made when saying the phrase ‘uh-oh’ with the ending of ‘uh’ cutting the airflow to produce the sound. Scots has multiple dialects and in other places you may be more likely to hear ‘Whit’ rather than ‘fit’. When it comes to writing, speakers tend to write words in their specific dialect because there is no agreedupon written standard for the whole language. ‘Foo’ translated from Doric to English is the word ‘how’. It can be used in a sentence such as ‘Foo did ye dee in yer exam?’ which means ‘How did you do in your exam?’. Out of all the words looked at ‘foo’ seems to be an exception as its English equivalent does not begin with ‘wh’ like the rest. Actually, it is more similar than one might think. ‘How’ is one of the words that changed its spelling from the older English ‘hw’ to the now standard spelling of ‘h’. Other words changed their spelling from ‘hw’ to ‘wh’, unlike ‘how’, which has changed to ‘h’. Other dialects of Scot’s use ‘hoo’ instead of ‘foo’ which is closer to English. Doric is similar to English due to their shared evolution, and it is clear how similar they are by looking at the example words given. Change the beginning of these words from ‘f’ to ‘wh’ and they begin to be easier to understand for people that may not be familiar with Doric. This switch of the letters at the beginning of these sentences can also be applied to other Doric words. For example, ‘Fyte/Fite’ if translated from Doric into English means ‘white’. These fit, faan, far, faa and foo words are incredibly common to daily Doric speech and only make up a small portion of the Doric language, which is culturally important to the people of the North-East. Currently the University offers a Doric course open to first and second year students called Doric and Scots Language: An Introduction to North-East Scots (EF1005). Due to its similarity to English most of the population of the North-East will use Doric vocabulary in their speech very regularly with some using the odd word and some speaking full Doric. This means it is useful to learn Doric to communicate easier and be a part of the rich community of the North-East. The ‘F’ Words of Doric An Article About Useful Vocabulary in North-East Scotland by Jordan Duncan ▲ PHOTOGRAPH: CURTESY VIA UNSPLASH The North-East has been a stronghold for Scots traditionally, and Doric has maintained a large amount of its phonology. A large number of Doric speakers will also use a glottal stop in replacement of the letter ‘t’. Currently the University offers a Doric course open to first and second year students.

FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 9 Some of you reading this may have been to the Gaudie 90th Anniversary Gala recently. A smashing success for most guests, there was one thing that was bugging me: There was no food! Okay, that might have been a lie for dramatic effect: there were canapés, bite-sized snacks, for all tastes, except for vegans and vegetarians. I might be lying again. There was one vegetarian and one vegan canapé option. The vegetarian option included goat’s cheese which to me is the most vile cheese ever created and the vegan option was… also there. Every other canapé was either fish- or meat-based. Complaining to my sister about the dire choice of canapés - a very serious issue - made me reminisce of the many conversations I’ve had with friends, family and teachers about my dietary choices. Hi, I’m your annoying vegetarian/ vegan relative/friend/student and I’m no longer going to remain silent for fear of being labelled annoying, because I am also annoyed. I decided to become a vegetarian at the ripe age of thirteen because of a curious chain of coincidences. I was on holiday in Turkey and reading a book about an octopus who was smarter than most octopuses, at the beach, when I heard someone screaming in delight at having caught an octopus in their bucket. Of course, I ran down to the water to look at it and was fascinated by the beautiful creature. That same night, there were octopus rings at the buffet. How could I eat those after having seen the animal in real life and having read a book about how smart they are? It took about two years after that to fully transition into a vegetarian diet, partly because of well-meaning gestures from my grandparents. My grandfather, after I declared I wanted to be a vegetarian, went to the market to get me a nice-looking fish, and proudly showed it to me, sincerely stating he got it just for me since I don’t eat meat anymore. Another time, my grandmother made goulash soup for the whole family saying I could just eat the broth parts. However, it is not the well-meaning gestures of my grandparents that make me feel annoyed. Rather, it’s how many absolutely mind-bogglingly stupid arguments I’ve had to hear just to be told I’m annoying for merely stating why I’m vegetarian, or even just that I am. Cautious of the stereotype I have never initiated a discussion on the subject, instead I have been minding my own business. The same cannot be said of the meat-eaters who have been trying to involve me in discussions time after time. Someone once told me quite seriously that humans have fought their way to the top of the food chain and therefore should be allowed to eat everything they please. And I can’t even remember how many times I’ve been asked if I would kill and eat a pig if I was stranded on an abandoned island. And then there’s the classic but my steak was so happy when it was still a cow and led to the butcher’s block! While there are good reasons not to eat meat, as well as to eat it (for example if you have dietary restrictions that prevent you from eating most other food groups), people mostly don’t label those who eat meat for good reasons as annoying. To call somebody emotional, overbearing, or annoying for talking about something that is close to their hearts precludes any kind of healthy discussion. At that point, it doesn’t matter what one may say, your arguments could be the most convincing anyone’s ever heard, people will not listen to you. And there are indeed many arguments, not just moral, to stop eating meat, from its environmental impact, the inefficiency of meat production, its impact on the global poor, the unnecessary animal suffering, and its negative effects on our health. It’s hard to find other areas of life where there is such an overwhelming wealth of reasonable arguments in favour of a specific action, yet those arguments are shut down so easily. Even worse, they are often not even uttered in the first place. How come wanting to talk about one’s moral values is considered such a negative thing? To no one’s surprise, I think there is probably a gendered aspect to the discussion about meat-eating. Not only can the label of ‘annoying’ be considered a modern iteration of the pestering nagging wife, the discourse on veganism is peppered with emotional language. I want to make it very clear that I don’t think that this should mean that people don’t respect or listen to it: moral arguments often appeal to our emotions and emotionality is not reason for ignoring someone’s opinion. Instead I argue that because of the association of women with emotions, and patriarchy’s tendency not to listen to women, emotional arguments are taken less seriously. On the other hand, meat-eating is deeply associated with masculinity. Think your dad preparing meat on the grill. Think cavemen. There are in fact studies suggesting that identifying as more masculine is associated with a lower likelihood of reducing meat consumption. Obviously, there are annoying vegetarians and vegans. If you have had a lengthy and fair discussion with somebody about not eating meat and they have not changed their mind, then that is something you just have to accept. To initiate discussions at every family gathering is annoying. However, the same goes for meateaters. Asking your vegetarian and vegan friends to explain themselves all the time is annoying too. All I’m asking from people is not to shut down discussions about meat-eating from the outset because of the idea that people’s emotions might be involved. It’s hurtful to ask your friends or family not to discuss a topic that might be very important to them. Yes, I get emotional over vegetarianism and veganism. No, I’m not annoying. I’m annoyed. A Letter From Your Annoying Vegetarian Cousin/Aunt/Friend by Anonymous How the Stereotype of the Annoying Vegan Limits Healthy Discussion I decided to become a vegetarian at the ripe age of thirteen because of a curious chain of coincidences. ▼ PHOTOGRAPH: CURTESY VIA UNSPLASH

10 FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 I will be the first to admit that sex ed sucks. No matter what age you are or which teacher has been nominated to take it, the class is an awkward experience for everyone involved. But if we put the uncomfortable aspect to one side for now, one thing that does need to be discussed is the diversity (or lack thereof) within sex education. Government guidance on RSE (the official name for sex ed) requires a broad base of knowledge to be given to students, however unfortunately, this does not really happen in practice: the Young People’s RSE Poll 2021 outlines some shocking statistics about sex education before and during Covid. Although it highlights the ‘typical’ areas being well covered such as bullying, puberty and conception, there is a serious lack of education in other places, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and - oddly enough - sexual pleasure. So how can better education be implemented? Before that, a bit of history courtesy of OpenLearn. Sex education was first seen as far back as the late 19th century, with publications mainly aimed at parents being produced. However, these were mainly focused on personal hygiene: while very important, not quite what people are looking for in this area. The 1920s was when the first girl/boy split in education was first seen, with advice for girls focussing on self control and modesty, whilst the boys were schooled on the temptations of factory life, with some references to sex. It was in the wake of the Second World War that sex ed really took off, with a specific focus on the prevention of syphilis and gonorrhoea, likely due to the mass movement of soldiers at the time. Roll on the 1950s and 60s with descriptions of non-human reproductive systems and warnings of the dangers of masturbation (for the boys at least). Interestingly, the reproductive side of things was confined to biology lessons, and as this was seen as a subject better suited to girls, fewer boys were educated in this side of things due to lower uptake. In the 70s and 80s, discussions of relationships, decision making and parenting were added into the mix, though this was in PSHE rather than biology. What we have is an evolution over a period of about 60 years, and then an apparent stall on proceedings. Besides the merging of the two separate classes into one to form RSE, how much change has there been in recent years? The complete lack of diversity and education for minority groups such as the disabled community and LGBTQ+ community would indicate that there hasn’t been much. Researching into the possible reasons, there was one fairly big cause - Section 28. Section 28 came into force through the Local Government Act 1988, prohibiting schools and local authorities from “promoting homosexuality”. Given the ongoing stigmas with HIV/AIDS at the time, as well as homosexuality only being recently decriminalised in England and Wales (1967), Scotland (1980) and Northern Ireland (1982), this law did not help pave the path towards acceptance. Though it was finally repealed in Scotland in 2000, with the rest of the UK following suit in 2003, the damage was done: a significant minority of people went through their secondary years without receiving sex education relevant to them, and this is not something that has changed very much. According to the 2021 RSE Poll, around 28% of pupils did not receive any information relevant to people who identify as non-heterosexual, and a shocking 38% did not learn about any aspect of gender identity or receive information about trans or non-binary people. Sadly, the LGBTQ+ community are not the only minority group to receive inadequate sex education. The disabled community also face a lack of information, due to the implicit presumption that people who are not able bodied have no interest in sex. Don’t get me wrong: asexuality and aromanticism are completely valid identities (on that note, when was the last time anything under the ace umbrella was discussed in the context of RSE?). But assuming people’s sexual preferences and not providing education on this basis is a dangerous practice which must be rectified. Although the RSE Poll does not have any statistics on discussions of disability, sex and relationships - telling on its own if you ask me - they do have data for sexual pleasure. 46% of students did not learn about this at all. 46%. Sexual pleasure comes in so many different forms, and this changes depending on a person’s age, sexual orientation, gender identity, whether they are able-bodied or disabled… the list goes on. Seems like a pretty good place to start, and a fundamental gap in the curriculum. Sex ed has been mandatory in schools since the Children and Social Work Act of 2017, and there are an additional fifty pages of government guidance to support schools in implementing the curriculum. But how effective is all of this information? Going back to the RSE Poll again, there has been an alarming reduction in sex ed provisions post-Covid. At the time of the poll’s publication, 49% of students reporting receiving no sex education from schools over the lockdowns, and 48% received none from parents. This is both shocking and dangerous, and is something that must be tackled. However it’s not all doom and gloom. In 2021, Scotland made history by being the first country in the world to implement LGBTQ+ inclusive education into the school curriculum. This is a huge step in the right direction to improve RSE and representation as a whole. It will be interesting to see how this is implemented, and if other countries will follow suit. So we are moving in the right direction, but it is a painfully slow process: how much longer do students have to wait to see a fully inclusive sex ed curriculum? Hopefully the new program in Scotland will start to put an end to past biases and see everyone get the education they are entitled to and deserve. Be safe everyone! Hey Google, How Do I Have Safe Sex? The Lack of Diversity in Sex Education Although the RSE Poll does not have any statistics on discussions of disability, sex and relationships - telling on its own if you ask me - they do have data for sexual pleasure. 46% of students did not learn about this at all. by Durga Sharma ▲ PHOTOGRAPH: POLINA TANKILEVITCH VIA PEXELS

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p. 2 People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy With love, Team iV ARTS ([email protected]) Head Editors Xandra Button Emma Chen Deputy Editors Ella Haig Autumn Antonson Theo Pieczka LIFE AND STYLE ([email protected]) Head Editor Nikola Dejko GAMING AND TECH ([email protected]) Head Editor Samer Fakhri PRODUCTION ([email protected]) Head of News Miles Rothoerl Head of iV Grace Taylor Kayleigh Weideman Kirsty Gardiner Mindi Premarathne Nikola Dejko Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti COVER Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti iV I n a recent interview with The Times, director Denis Villeneuve expressed a lack of enthusiasm for dialogue in film, as he believes that “pure image and sound, that is the power of cinema.” While this might be a controversial statement, one only has to watch Dune: Part Two to perfectly understand what he means. Dune: Part Two picks up shortly after the first film’s conclusion: as Paul and Jessica Atreides (Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson) begin to integrate into the native Fremen life of Arrakis, we stand alongside them—for better or for worse—through the sheer magnitude and overwhelming power of Villeneuve’s presentation of this world. It may sound like a ridiculous exaggeration to say that watching our protagonist mount and ride a gargantuan worm inspires enough awe to spring tears to the eye, but that is the might of this film. As might be the goal for any partitioned story in film, this second half brings the entire vision together, retroactively making the first film better for delivering on the promises of this iconic story that debuted in Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel. For years, the story was deemed unfilmable by audiences and readers for years, citing the disappointment of David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation and Alejandro Jodorowsky’s mammoth attempt which was scrapped after it ultimately became unachievable. Villeneuve’s duology, however, treats this attitude with triumphant defiance, wisely allocating necessary time to both character and plot. As much as one can praise the visuals and technical mastery of the film, the true focus must not be drawn away from Dune’s story. While we may have to wait for a third film—based on the novel Dune: Messiah which Villeneuve has confirmed to be working on—to truly conclude this colossal adaptation, the film completely and resolutely honours the themes and intentions of the original book. In a reactionary culture that consists of some who glance at Dune’s plot, label it a white saviour, pro-colonial narrative and think no more of it, we are presented with a film that demands that we think. Herbert’s critique of the messiah figure, appropriation of indigenous cultures and how those in power wield religion and prophecy as a method of control is brought to the forefront and cannot be hidden from, no matter how much we may wish to root for our protagonists. One might struggle to recognise the people that our characters become, feeling frustrated that Paul isn’t our new Luke Skywalker—he is not a hero to be admired, but this makes him no less fascinating. Don’t be fooled by his heroic riding of a giant sandworm into battle: you, the viewer, are very much meant to judge him according to his actions and character. The impact and significance of this world would be truly incomplete without DUNE: PART2 by Jack Carlile

p. 3 arts| film Hans Zimmer’s momentous score, piecing together the sombre and menacing alongside the grand and exhilarating. What begins as a visual experience becomes a physical one; the music engulfs the audience entirely and acts as the gateway to this other universe, achieving a deep and impressive involvement for the entire runtime. In a reflection of the film itself, the score’s grandeur can co-exist and mingle with its sense of tragedy, carrying the weight of what we see and the consequences yet to be realised. The film is truly held up by astonishing performances across the board, as Chalamet leads with a raw, commanding power that irrevocably cements itself onto the audience. His transformation from the young boy of the first film to the increasingly menacing and tyrannical leader of the second, demanding (and receiving) attention and power. At the heart of the drama is also Zendaya’s portrayal of Chani, who is consistently believable as a character we can become largely involved with – someone who will act as the opposer of Paul’s messianic reputation while standing by his side. Alongside Javier Bardem as the Fremen Stilgar, Austin Butler and Stellan Skarsgård as the psychopathic Feyd-Rautha and sadistic Baron Harkonnen, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista and Florence Pugh just to name a few, the cast comes together in a harmonious, coordinated excellence that makes this greatly complex world far more accessible and entertaining. As a piece of modern, big-budget, epic filmmaking, Dune is the new benchmark. While Villeneuve has gone beyond proving himself in the sci-fi genre with earlier works such as Blade Runner: 2049 and Arrival, this is the work that carries the most weight as to audience standards for blockbusters. In a period where audiences are beginning to tire of the manufactured, trite ‘mindless fun’ that studios still attempt to churn out without any vision, the most popular film on the planet is a $190,000,000 adaptation of the second half of a 1960s science fiction novel. Let this be undeniable proof that audiences yearn for something as intelligent, thoughtful, and (even still today) subversive as this story. While we are all drawn in by the iconic worms and the scale of a war film stretched across a galaxy, Dune’s true significance and impact lies in what it tells us; you simply have to be open to listening. Dune: Part Two’s success is no mystery. Its status as a phenomenon requires no deeper analysis as to why these films work so marvellously. All it took was a filmmaker with a passion: someone who read the book as a teenager and wanted to place that world onto our screens even then. That dedication and adoration for the source material is dripping from every frame and every aspect of the film, making it impossible to resist being caught up in its narrative. Yes, allow yourself to indulge in the spectacle and vastness of this other world, but be prepared to peek behind the curtain and acknowledge the tragedy behind it. REVUEW Image via Warner Bros.

p. 4 by Willow Daymond Argylle is a fun-filled, twisty film. It follows an author named Elly Conway, who writes a series of spy thrillers which follow her character Argylle. In an unexpected turn the events, the real-life spy world starts to mirror the events in her books, and Elly is targeted by spies to get answers from her. I wouldn’t say it’s a cinematic masterpiece or particularly high-brow, but it is the perfect film if you are looking for something light-hearted. I managed to catch this film in the cinema, and I am certainly glad I did, as the actors lean into its silliness, both acknowledging it and keeping the audience on their toes with twists that embrace its ridiculousness. The tie-in book Argylle was released before the film’s premiere, with the author publishing under the pseudonym Elly Conway, which is the main character’s name in the film. While I will say I have not read the connected book, the movie has made me interested in reading it now, as I am quite curious about how the novel tells this story. Upon finishing the film, I did have hopes for the sequel, as I knew it had been planned. Unfortunately, due to the critics’ reviews, it seems like the sequel’s future is still up in the air. I must say, however, that one of the most ridiculous moments in the film was (and, if you’ve seen it, you’ll already know what I’m about to say) is the ice skating scene. Without giving too much away, in this scene Elly and her new spy accomplice Aidan are backed into a corner by a group of ‘evil’ spies. Heavily outnumbered, they must use their wits to fight their way out and survive. This scene is not a typical fight, however, as Conway uses her figure skating skills in combat. She creates the ‘ice rink’ out of oil and stabs knives into her shoes to create ‘skates’. With a layer of dramatic music placed on top, it does create a very ridiculous scene. There were some good scenes in the movie, with one of the best near the start, when Elly and Aidan first meet on the train. In this scene, a fight starts between Aidan and the other opposing spies. We see the fight scene through Elly’s eyes, but her mind plays tricks on her. Aidan changes every few moments from himself into her character Argylle. These constant changes make for a very fun fight scene that is quite different from other spy films. The cat that appears throughout the film is Alfie, a Scottish fold who is taken through all of Elly’s adventures, often in her very recognisable yellow backpack. I do think that we — the audience — mirror Alfie a lot through the story, simply being carried along through the narrative and having to go with the flow between all the intense twists thrown at us. In the scene where Alfie is thrown off a building, I think his almost cartoonshocked face mimicked not only my own face but the faces of the other audience members. I was most surprised that Alfie managed to survive the entire film. That cat didn’t have just nine lives, but probably more like twenty. Luckily, the film is aware of how over the top it is and never takes itself too seriously. This certainly goes in the film’s favour. Overall, it is a funfilled spy film which is nice for a lighthearted watch. Picture via UPI media arts| film ARGYLLE REVIEW A ROLLERCOASTER OF A FILM

p. 5 arts| film Upon receiving letters full of profanities and threats, the residents of a West Sussex town accuse the boisterous Rose (Jessie Buckley) of sending the explicit post. This dramatic comedy tells the real-life story of Littlehampton’s early 20s poisonpen scandal. It is less of a whodunit, as very early on, we find out who the culprit is. T h e r e i s a n undercurrent of social commentary based on women’s role after the First World War. The humour sets the social context; hysteria over women becoming ‘unladylike’ in a time of great societal repression. However, I felt as though attempts to highlight women’s suffrage and more profound meaning were almost lost under the sea of profanity. The director couldn’t decide if it was a comedy mystery or a social comment on the 1920s. Officer Moss was portrayed by Anjana Vasan, who gave an excellent performance of a woman fighting for equality in the workplace, which is an ongoing issue today. Her character further highlighted the movie’s social context and the woman’s position. Olivia Coleman wonderfully played Edith, the initial recipient of the letters. Her performance of the repressed spinster perfectly showed how she was trying to find a way out of the life she leads, and finally finding her voice. Timothy Spall took on the role of Edith’s father, giving a convincing performance as the domineering and insular man, scared of societal shifts after the war. The cast provided outstanding performances but were insufficient to save the weak plot. The story was a big task, and I think this portrayal became confusing. I enjoyed the movie, but the comedy is based solely on sweary women. Listening to straight-laced characters relay obscenities became a little tedious. Though based on a true story, the movie does take creative liberties. The story feels slightly unbelievable. Edith’s character seems to have no real motive for her actions. The way she pins the accusation on Rose makes little sense when she repeatedly says how much she likes her. Was she just jealous of her life? Did she wish to be free like her? It feels far-fetched to get oneself imprisoned to escape her life. Despite the outdated attitudes and the bizarre language, the way women are framed in the story emulates the constant battle of women today and their fight for equality. I believe the way women are spoken about in the film reflects today’s social media and the barrage of hate many women face for not fitting into socially constructed notions of how they should and shouldn’t behave. Also, the language used throughout sometimes felt out of place. Perhaps the choice of language was intentional, but Rose’s character felt too modern and didn’t fit with the historical context. In the closing remarks, “I’ll write to you” // ”I’ll brace myself,” it was unclear where Rose and Edith stood. It felt unbelievable that Rose wouldn’t care that Edith pinned a jailable offence on her. The lack of animosity between the two was left unexplained. Though I cannot say this was the most memorable film I have seen, I was entertained. Wicked Little Letters is a wickedly funny and charming British comedy for those who don’t mind a swear word…or twenty! by Grace Taylor Picture via Sony Pictures WICKED LITTLE LETTERS (2023) | REVIEW *contains spoliers

p. 6 Running on the success of Singer’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Luhrmann’s Elvis comes yet another enticing biopic following another one of music’s all-time greats - this time it’s Rastafarian reggae icon and figurehead ambassador of peace, Bob Marley. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, this film sees Kingsley BenAdir go from just another Ken as he was in Barbie to one of the most influential and identifiable figures in music’s history. Except, apart from the dreadlocks, he doesn’t really look like Bob Marley at all. But did the biopic succeed in what it wanted to do? Well, that’s a difficult question to answer; even after watching the film, it’s hard to decipher what the point even was. For those who are unfamiliar with Marley’s career and music then this film is a good starting point to explore some of his work, specifically his award-winning album ‘Exodus’. It gives a good (and mostly accurate) detailing of his life and his struggles in Jamaica at a time of political conflict. It also gives a little bit of spotlight to those who supported Marley – namely his supporting band, The Wailers; his producer, Chris Blackwell (played by James Norton); and his wife, Rita (played by Lashana Lynch). The performances that the cast put on were overall pretty good, but not particularly memorable. Most of the film takes place in London, whereas Marley’s time in Jamaica is only shown during the first half hour of the movie. I do think that it was a missed opportunity to not delve further into how he got into making music and how he rose to fame in Jamaica. Instead, the film jumps around a lot, going from one point to the next, almost as if the director had a checklist of events in Marley’s life to cover without going into much depth. This leads to the movie arduously shifting between scenes without any clear narrative binding them together. I think this puts the movie’s biggest issue into frame: it prides itself on showing us how Marley and his music pushed for peace across the globe, and yet the film feels so disjointed that the message becomes lost. Before the credits roll, real-life footage of Marley’s peace concert in Jamaica is shown, including the iconic moment where he united opposing political leaders on stage, having them shake hands. Even though I’d seen the clip before, this ten-second footage had a longer-lasting effect on me as I left the cinema than anything in the actual film. Don’t get me wrong – the movie isn’t bad. It has some good moments and it accurately recreates some of the moments in Marley’s career with theatrical pzazz. But it lacks sustenance. Marley’s music is all about the message. This is mentioned in the film, but the movie fails to get that idea across in a powerful way. Fans of Marley will enjoy his biopic, but to the casual viewer, it fails to impart what made Marley and his music truly special. Photo by Loco Steve via Flickr Background by Jackie Ramirex via Pixabay by Scott Crowden arts| film

p. 7 I f you ever wondered what Ursula the Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid was up to before meddling with Ariel’s life, the musical parody Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch currently showing at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen has all the answers. And let me tell you, it is a hilarious, campy ride that had me hooked from the first moment Ursula swam onto the stage with all the sass and spark you would expect from a fabulous sea witch. Without a doubt, the shining pearl of the show is its cast. Shawna Hamic (from Orange is the New Black, among other great shows) as Ursula is an absolute force of nature, blending humour, fierceness, and killer vocals into one phenomenal package. You can’t help but relate to—and root for—this wronged diva of the deep. River Medway, previously on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, delivers a brilliantly airheaded Ariel who sings her heart out about her… insatiable desires. A few cast members were not able to perform last night due to sickness, but the understudies for Prince Eric (Jack Gray) and Grimsby (Corrina Buchan) stepped into their roles and delivered performances that would make even King Triton proud. Directed by the talented Robyn Grant, Unfortunate is more than just a parody—it is a reclamation. It takes the familiar story we all know and flips it on its head, giving Ursula and her band of sea creatures a chance to rewrite their own narrative. With witty book and lyrics by Grant and Daniel Foxx, the show explores Ursula’s backstory, revealing how she was framed and banished by Triton’s father, and why she actually stole Ariel’s voice in exchange for three days to live as a human girl. The vibrant colours, campy costumes by Abby Clarke, and inventive puppets and props create an underwater world that’s as whimsical as it is wicked; the lighting and special effects work together to immerse you in Ursula’s dark waters. But it is not just the visuals that make the parody a must-see—it is the humour. From clever references to consent and body positivity to sassy renditions of classic The Little Mermaid tunes like “Where the d**** are” (originally “Part of your world”) there is never a dull moment. And while the second half of the show loses some of the comedic momentum, it is still a refreshing take on a beloved tale that touches on themes yet to be fully explored by mainstream companies like Disney, such as celebrating being plus-size, and happy endings for LGBTQ+ characters. The critique to Disney is present in the show and not even so subtle—the song “We didn’t make it to Disney”, sang by all those sea creatures too ugly to be featured in Disney products, says it all. In the end, Unfortunate is everything you could want in a musical parody and more. It is quirky and clever, with a cast that’s as talented as they are hilarious. So, grab your tickets and prepare to be swept away by the magic of Ursula’s untold story. Just remember to leave your voice at the door—the sea witch might just steal it. Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch | Review arts| theatre Photo courtesy of Aberdeen Performing Arts by Emma Chen

p. 8 arts| music by James Wilson I t’s hard to know exactly what you’re going to get with a Ween album. Oftentimes, it can feel as though their work is largely constructed as an in-joke between the duo that you’re never quite made a part of. One moment you find yourself genuinely enthralled by a track, finally feeling as though you get it, that you’re actually “in” on what they’re doing, only for you to notice that the next song in the queue is called ‘Waving My D*** In The Wind.’ At times, their music can feel almost impenetrable to a more casual listener, and in some ways, Quebec is no different, interspersed with their characteristic schoolroom humour and seemingly pointless randomness. However, it is equally filled with some truly powerful, moving elements, and it is within the latter that this album shines. The first three tracks on the record are a perfect example of this kind of unpredictability, opening with ‘It’s Gonna Be A Long Night’, a song with a fast-paced, energetic vigour reminiscent of Motörhead-esque metal. It is outwardly upbeat, but the lyrics betray an ulterior meaning, telling the story of a violent and chaotic drug-fuelled binge. This song is followed by ‘Zoloft’, a soothing, spacey tune with echoey, wailing vocals uplifted by gleaming, psychedelic synths. The third track, ‘Transdermal Celebration’, is an even more blinding diversion. Easily (in my opinion) the best song on the whole album, it is a profound and genuinely moving rock anthem that defies previous expectations entirely. It’s here that the album’s overall tone seems to stem from, hence an oftentimes sombre, and even more surprisingly serious record. This uncharacteristically sincere addition to their discography makes more sense upon learning about the circumstances in which the album was made. The band’s drummer, Claude Coleman Jr, had recently been in a near-fatal car crash, and as a result was absent from much of the recording process. Ween’s two core members were also experiencing personal hardships, with Michael Melchiondo, better known as “Dean Ween” stating that the time in which the album was being made was “not a great period in our personal lives”, and that he was “partying way too hard.” Aaron Freeman, better known as “Gene Ween” was going through a divorce at the time, the impact of this event being expressed in the song ‘I Don’t Want It’, which carries all the wistful melancholy of such a circumstance, as well as in the contemplative and toned-down ‘Tried and True.’ There are still some seemingly facile tracks to be found in the album, which few but the biggest diehard Ween fans would ever be likely to replay, but the album’s high points are well worth revisiting. It’s by far my favourite album of theirs and is likely the best starting point for any newcomers to their music. AN IDEAL ENTRY POINT Photo: Buck Lewis via Pexels, https://flic.kr/p/2b6fMe Background: Magdha Elhers via Pexels Quebec | Review To tHE WEEN RABBIT HOLE

p. 9 Since the Easter Holidays will soon be upon us, I’m sure that most of us can’t wait for the small break they will provide before we are forced to endure the last of the assessments and exams for this school year. One thing I’m certainly hoping for is an opportunity to catch up on the hours of sleep I have lost over the past few weeks (a number which is surprisingly high, even for my standards). All I need is my bed and a good enough True Crime podcast that I can listen to as I drift off to the land of dreams (though hopefully there will be no murderers chasing me there). Thankfully it’s not a long wait now before we can relax and take a moment to breathe without deadlines making unexpected appearances from behind every available corner. And fixing a sleep schedule won’t be the only benefit of the Easter break, as the main bonus will be an overall decrease in stress levels since there won’t be any classes to worry about. As I’ve gathered from my friends’ commentary lately, a lack of 9 AM classes would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully most of us will have ways to de-stress during the break and recharge as much as we can, but I’m going to share a few of my favourite ways in case you want to try something new. First off, I recommend something that might take a bit of effort but will be beneficial in the long run. One of my favourite things to do now that the weather has warmed up a bit is going on walks more often. During the colder season the idea might not be as appealing (since my fingers never appreciate the cold temperature and become frozen stiff ), but with the sun making an appearance more often these days, a short stroll outside is far more enjoyable. There will be people who prefer to stay at home all day and occupy their time in any other way that doesn’t involve stepping foot outside, but taking a daily walk can be beneficial not only physically but mentally too. It has been proven that even taking a 10-minute walk can increase our energy and mental awareness while simultaneously reducing stress and anxiety. It’s a wonder that such a simple task can result in such beneficial results. Furthermore, taking walks in parks or going to the beach can even connect you closer to nature, which might result in a temporary but peaceful experience. As you look around and notice all the flowers that are slowly starting to grow back in or listen to the sound of the waves against the sandy shore, just take a moment to relax without any interruptions. But if that’s not exactly your cup of tea, then simply pop some earphones in, select your favourite playlist, and see how many songs you can get through before you start to head back home. Frankly, I believe that just because you’re relaxing doesn’t mean that you must do absolutely nothing. That’s why there are a bunch of hobbies that can be taken up during your spare time to keep you occupied without promoting any stress. One of my favourites would be crocheting, which (despite maybe being thought of as an activity for grannies) consists of fun projects to focus on if you’re feeling creative. From blankets to cardigans and plushies, you can create whatever you desire as long as you have a ball of yarn, a crocheting hook, and some mild determination to learn a new craft. And while you are creating stitch after stich, its not by Nikola Dejko Keepin’ It Calm! Cont. on page 10. life & style| tips

p. 10 A List of Activities Which Might Help the Mind De-stress against the rules to put a movie on in the background if the repeated process of crocheting is too mundane to keep your focus. It might take some time and you will probably have to come back to finish your project, but the end results will definitely be worth it. And aside from crocheting there is also knitting, which some might prefer, or even embroidery which opens up a door of cute designs you can embroider onto pieces of clothing or any blank cloth that strongly catches your attention. Another hobby I might recommend to past the time is origami. However, I will forwarn that this particular activity might not be entirely stress-free. It’ll sound a little sad if I admit to the number of times that I’ve lost my temper while attempting origami. Even though small pieces of paper never really pose a threat towards anyone (at least, I should hope not), they do in regards of my patience when I realise that I’ve folded them wrong, again. If you’re looking for a bit of a challenge though, I highly suggest you search up some origami designs and get to folding as soon as you have some spare time. Lastly, I would like to suggest a peaceful activity that I have recently taken an interest in. A few weeks ago, I decided on a whim to sign up for a yoga class to simply experience what it’s like. Since I have never attended such a class before, I only knew of the things I’ve heard about yoga from other people or videos that I’ve seen online, some of which mock the practice and make a huge joke of it. My real aim had been to see if the stretches involved would be any good at getting rid of a few aches that have been plaguing my body lately. As someone who seems to suffer from seemingly constant back pain (let’s have a raise of hands if you agree, just so I’m not alone), I decided that giving yoga a try wouldn’t be the worst idea. If I didn’t like it, then I would simply never attend another class. However, I honestly wasn’t disappointed, and I immediately booked another class the moment I left the first one. Not only was the experience quite relaxing, but the stretches were so gentle that they didn’t push any limits. My instructor made the whole session even more enjoyable by presenting a calming atmosphere the whole time and talking everyone though the stretches in a serene manner. I realise that some people might not be swayed, or that they believe that yoga would not be their thing, but if you’re looking for an easy way to relax for half an hour and de-stress then this is perfect for you. And it’s not necessary to participate to an extreme either, because if a cramp appears in your side and you want to stop or you simply want to lay on your yoga mat and stare at the ceiling a bit, then you’re heavily encouraged to do so. There is no judgment and I leave every class with my back feeling a little bit lighter. Hopefully these suggestions catch your interest, and you decide to give at least one of them a try. During times when assessments are hanging over our heads ike anvils, ready to drop and crash us under their weight at any given moment, I think it’s best to take any opportunity we get to find ways to relax. Whether it’s going on walks, occupying ourselves with hobbies, or even trying yoga, you should remember that being constantly stressed is never good for you either physically or mentally. Take care of yourself as much as you can, and I hope that we all manage to survive through these stressful times. life & style| tips

FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 11 Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a concept in science fiction to a powerful tool that is revolutionising various industries. As we look ahead, the future of AI promises even more profound transformations, impacting our daily lives, businesses, and society as a whole. What AI abilities are set to redefine the workplace? Enhanced Automation: Routine tasks in manufacturing, logistics, customer service, and data analysis are increasingly being handled by AI-driven systems. This shift frees human workers to focus on creative and complex tasks, leading to higher job satisfaction and innovation. Personalised Experiences: AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data and make predictions fuels personalisation in various aspects of our lives, from personalised medicine to tailored marketing. AI enhances user experiences, providing products and services uniquely suited to individual preferences and needs. Healthcare Transformation: AI is poised to transform the healthcare industry. Machine learning algorithms can analyse medical records and imagery with incredible accuracy, aiding in diagnosis and treatment planning. AI-driven medical devices and telemedicine solutions will make healthcare more accessible and efficient. Education: AI-powered education platforms can offer personalised learning experiences, adapt to individual student’s needs, and provide valuable insights to educators. AI is set to revolutionise how we learn and teach, making education more accessible and effective. A u t o n o m o u s Ve h i c l e s : Autonomous (self-driving) vehicles are set to transform transportation. AI algorithms for navigation and safety will make roads safer, reduce traffic congestion, and improve overall mobility. Environmental Conservation: AI can be a game-changer in addressing environmental challenges. Predictive modelling and data analysis can help monitor and mitigate climate change, protect wildlife, and optimise resource management. Advanced Robotics: AI-driven robots are becoming increasingly sophisticated and versatile. From assisting with household chores to performing complex surgeries, robots will perform various tasks, making our lives more convenient and efficient. Financial Services: AI is reshaping the financial sector by improving fraud detection, risk assessment, and investment strategies. Chatbots and virtual assistants are also streamlining customer service in banking and insurance. Global Collaboration: The future of AI is not confined by borders. Collaboration among nations and organisations is essential to ensure that AI development is guided by shared values and a commitment to benefit all of humanity. While the future of AI holds immense promise, it also poses challenges, including ethical considerations, job displacement, and ensuring equitable access to its benefits. As AI becomes more integrated into our lives, ethical concerns around data privacy, bias in algorithms, and job displacement are coming to the forefront. Governments and organisations must establish clear regulations and ethical guidelines to ensure responsible AI deployment. As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial that society works collaboratively to harness its potential while addressing these concerns. We must remember that for every ability of AIs we harness, others can harness or hack with maleficent goals. However, as long as we prioritise ethical considerations, ensuring that AI-driven progress benefits individuals and society, the journey ahead will undoubtedly be exciting, filled with opportunities to shape a more innovative, efficient, and compassionate future thanks to AI’s continued evolution. The Future of AI: Transforming Industries and Shaping Tomorrow When my daughter was born, twice I had to take her to the infant intensive emergency care at night because she couldn’t breathe”. This is the story of Nina Subramani, cofounder of Warrior Moms, a women’s organisation in India that fights for clean air, in an interview with the Observer Research Foundation. The initiative started in 2020 when a group of worried mothers came together over their common concerns about the levels of air pollution in Indian cities and its effects on humans, especially their children’s health. The movement has since grown considerably with thousands of mothers from major cities like Mumbai, Nagpur and Delhi joining, many driven by personal experiences: rushing their newborn babies to hospitals or developing asthma and other health problems themselves after moving to a larger city. Many Indian doctors, as well as environmental and health officials around the world, have expressed support for the group and their goals. Air pollution through particles (particularly carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide) is a rising issue around the world, causing a variety of potentially fatal heart and lung diseases and leading to around seven million deaths each year. It is one of the major environmental problems in India. According to the World Health Organsiation (WHO), air pollution exceeds the air quality guidelines by far and accounts for 39% of deaths from strokes and ischaemic heart disease. An estimated 36% of the population does not have access to clean fuels and technology for cooking, and 98% of Indian children do not breathe safe air. The group’s main objective is to implement the WHO’s air quality standards across the country to ensure clean air for their children, as it is a basic right. Subramani explains: “We are based on common sense and sound science, and we want a better future for our children”. Warrior Moms provide a platform for women and parents across the country to connect and access resources for the fight against air pollution. Through social media campaigns like ‘Know Your Rights’, rallies and policy intervention, they provide information about the sources of air pollution and how to report activities such as the use of firecrackers, mixed garbage burning or cutting down of trees. They actively demand a move to green energy, as they see the burning of coal, petrol and other fossil fuels as one of the major sources of air pollution in India. According to the group, solutions include better waste management, enforcement of the regulations for construction sites, urban mobility and biodiversity protection. With more mothers joining and the international attention for the group growing, the group is only just beginning to be a global example for meaningful environmental advocacy and female empowerment. ‘Warrior Moms’ Fighting For Clean Air An Outline of the Potential Benefits of AI in All Aspects of Society A Brief History of the Warrior Mom’s Quest for a Cleaner, Safer India by Seb Vanhoonacker by Anastasia Goelitz ▲ PHOTOGRAPH: THISISENGINEERING VIA PEXELS Machine learning algorithms can analyse medical records and imagery with incredible accuracy.

12 FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 Our Beloved Library I would like to preface this article with the statement that I have nothing against SDR. I feel like this is something I must say to cover my back because I will admit that the library scares the living bejesus out of me. I’m stating this because I keep thinking back to the whole ‘being exceedingly nice to any sort of AI for their inevitable takeover’ thing, so if I set up the pretence of having no prior negative emotions then that’s my a** covered from that library. Anyway, now I got that over with- I’d like to explore the deep seated, almost inexplicable fear I get from this looming, slightly out of place piece of architecture. Now I know the premise of this is absolutely insane, (it’s an inanimate building what the h**** are you on), but I swear this building has a mind of its own. Much like that one Doctor Who episode with the House and the nephew and something. I think the main reason I believe this is due to the elevators in that place. Every other day they are out of order, and that then feeds into the perpetual fear of it breaking down whilst you are still in it. Imagine, you’re casually going to whatever floor you are going to study on (5th is the correct answer thank you) and then it stops. You are now stuck between the 6th and 7th floor and you can swear you hear a slight evil maniacal chuckle of the elevator shifts. Don’t worry, this is not a sign of insanity- you’re just incredibly perceptive and on it. After this spine-chilling ordeal, you now arrive at the next part of your harrowing journey to study. Looking for a seat, especially during exam season, when the percentage within SDR skyrockets from 17% to 95% and almost every seat has been taken is a nightmare. You must sit next to somebody on a table, or even worse--directly opposite them. Now enters the awkward stage of accidentally making prolonged eye contact with the stranger before the silent challenge of ‘which person leaves their place and studies first’. It almost always ends up in tears- I cry very easily. I do have a solution however, to combat the space issue in the library during this fearful season. Simply remove all the bookshelves! We don’t need books, that’s a ridiculous assumption. Especially for the librarywe have computers for that stuff. The countless introductory lectures we had on navigating Primo way back in first year was not because it helped us with secondary sources- it was just foreshadowing the eventual ban of all books in the library. Obviously. Through the hard work that is done without an ounce of distraction, sustenance is needed. This is where a different kind of fear stems in, financial fear. I did not think I would need to sell my left kidney to afford some of the food that Aberbean sells. Granted, it’s a super cute name for the café, but the prices- not so cute. The lentil crisps? Over £2. This mere fact keeps me up at night, the stem of my insomnia. How can this be, such a miniature thing amounting to my entire bank account? Seems fishy and targeted I don’t know. Again, I think this is just the entire building’s fault. It plans everything I tell you. At night specifically, after midnight when every poor student and staff straggles back home, the ghostly occurrence (who you gonna call…) of self-written prices for food and yet another elevator breakdown is being scheduled. The reign of the constant terror filled days caused by the Sir Duncan Rice Library continues. Huge news has struck this week as Women’s History Month has been replaced with Everyone Getting Along Month (or EGAM for short). This news comes as a result of a worldwide push for harmony and simplicity. Says one EGAM activist, Guy Everyman, “In this increasingly fractured world, what we need is to celebrate everyone, not just one group over another.” Everyman is part of a group that advocates for EGAM, although earlier in his career he penned the first draft of a call for International Men’s Day and Men’s History Month. Since realising that his core anti-woman message was received much better when it is obfuscated behind calls for unity, he has switched to EGAM activism. When asked about the continuing issues faced by women globally, another EGAM activist, Gentle Mann, described “complete and total chaos for all of mankind, not just women.” He was not familiar with the concepts of gendered violence, the pay gap, or falling literacy rates. However, he did note that “it’s possible that people might not want to get along with other people that have actively endangered their rights,” and went on to add that “this would only be a problem in theory, as everyone is getting along this month.” This reporter could only find one female member of EGAM to interview. She refused to go on the record about her reasons for joining, but it should be noted that she was white, upperclass, and straight. Per her interview, “Everyone Getting Along Month is a day that celebrates women. It celebrates everybody, and rewards those that don’t push the boundaries, instead leaving the status quo.” EGAM activists have also released their list of reasons that Women’s History Month is no longer needed. See below: Women can totally vote, in, like, most places We all already know who Rosa Parks is and stuff Women can be hired at jobs OR have a baby! What a privilege to be able to choose (but not do both, we’re not crazy) This holiday doesn’t include men and that makes me feel bad As the month of March drags on, EGAM activists plan to celebrate their victory by not hiring or firing any women, in order to get along with everybody. They also hope that this international stage of a holiday month will bring more attention to their sister cause, What’s The Deal With Valentine’s Day Month (Isn’t That For Girls?). It’s Time I Spoke the Truth by Khreshnee Thayabaran ▼ PHOTOGRAPH: ERIKA WITTLIEB VIA PIXABAY. ▲ PHOTOGRAPH: ADINAVOICU VIA PIXABAY Everyone Should Just Calm Down a Bit by Maggie Johnson Women’s History Month Cancelled in Favour of Everyone Getting Along Month DISCLAIMER ▶ All opinions expressed in the satire section are written primarily for the sake of comical 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. He was not familiar with the concepts of gendered violence, the pay gap, or falling literacy rates.

FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 13 Futsal In just their first full season as a club, University of Aberdeen Futsal have firmly made their mark on Scottish Futsal. Like football, futsal is played indoors on a smaller wooden-floored pitch with smaller goals. Fast paced action often results in high scoring tense fixtures, and the sport is widely accessible regardless of skill level. Founder Rory Lamond has recruited a strong group of around 60 players, and have completed an immensely successful debut season, winning the Scottish Men’s Tier 2 League, the Scottish Futsal League Aberdeen Cup, Scottish Conference Cup, and the Aberdeen League Title. There is current an A and B team, a women’s team, and a social team who meet regularly. They will look to retain their cups next season whilst playing in the highest tier of Futsal. Four out of four trophies is an incredible achievement and a real testament to the professionalism and consistency of the group of players, and we wish them every success in the future. Women’s Football In a season of significant change for the girls, the Women’s football team showcased their commitment and unity, as they swerved relegation. Oliver attended their pivotal game against Stirling in late February, and watched the team clinch a vital 3-2 comeback victory. In a postmatch interview with club president Erin Groman, coach Scott Duncan and striker Caitlin McFarlane, they highlighted the tough season they’ve endured, but also their togetherness and willingness to finish the season strongly and give all the girls a chance to play football. Coach Scott Duncan will be stepping away from the club at the end of the season, after 15 years. “It wasn’t an easy decision to step back”, Scott added, “but I knew the girls could continue without me”. “Lack of numbers has made it really difficult”, Caitlin admitted, “but we’ve picked it up a lot in the last few weeks”. When I asked Caitlin about her hattrick, she said, “I’m buzzing! I would’ve been happy with a point at 2-2, but when that ball came through, obviously I had to score!” “She was captain fantastic today, what the club is all about”, Scott proclaimed. When asked if they had a message for any girls interested in playing, they said “come give football a go! It’s more than just a football team, and you’ll meet friends for life!” Men’s Fencing The fencing team had an eventful season, which was delayed until December, meaning a packed opening to 2024. They were awarded a string of home ties in the UK National Trophy, reaching the semi-final before being handed a mighty away day in Nottingham. Wins against Dundee, Edinburgh, and Stirling meant they were the last Scottish university in the competition. After an arduous overnight bus journey down south, the boys came close to the final, losing to Nottingham with a score of 135-95. Back to league action, and the team finished in an impressive 2nd place, with 7 victories and 1 loss, to eventual winners Dundee. They will retain their place in the Scottish top division, meaning there will be no long journeys south next season. Women’s Rugby The girls secured a well-deserved place in the conference final after seeing off both Glasgow Caledonian and Dundee in the quarter and semi-finals respectively. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be as they were defeated by a very talented Heriot Watt side on a soggy day in St Andrews. Nevertheless, a Conference Cup final is a testament to the talent of the team, and we’re sure their success will continue into next season where they can hopefully take the trophy home. Hockey For Aberdeen University Hockey, it was a winning season for both the Men’s and Women’s teams. The Women’s 1’s defeated Edinburgh 4’s in a tense game in St Andrews to lift the BUCS Conference Cup. While the Men’s team 1’s was triumphant in the league which saw them promoted to BUCS 1A for the 2024/25 season. However, they fell just short in the Conference Cup final, losing out 3-2 to an impressive Edinburgh 3 side in St Andrews. Nevertheless, two cup final appearances, and one league title round off an incredible season for one of the university’s biggest sporting clubs. Kickboxing 2023/24 was an incredible season for the Kickboxing Club, not only was there a significant amount of personal achievement but the club was instrumental in hosting the first ever all-Scottish university kickboxing tournament. Kickboxing and other combat sports have suffered from an absence of any form of BUCS competition in Scotland, but Aberdeen’s head coach Adam Lambert and club captain Egi Stocca sought to change this. After months of planning the event took place on Saturday 17 February and saw five different universities travel to the granite city to battle it out. The tournament saw not only the kickboxing club take part but also individuals from other combat societies such as Mixed Martial Arts, All-Round Fighting, and Taekwon-do. But the club’s success did not stop there, as last weekend the team made the trip south to Leeds to compete in the British University Kick-boxing championship. An intense weekend of competition saw the team return north with five medals, including two golds and three silvers. Overall, it was an incredible year for not only kickboxing, but all combat sports at the University of Aberdeen, we can’t wait to see them all in action again next season. Swimming Last, but by no means least, we have the UoA swimming team, who once again had a very successful, and recordbreaking, season both as individuals and as a team. Individual accolades include Toni Shaw who won para swimmer of the event at the BUCS short course and Faye Rogers, who won the same award at the BUCS long course tournament, with the latter also breaking the European 100m fly record. Additionally, Jamie Ferguson and Tom Robinson both achieved 4th place in the UK, while Kieran Lennox at just 17 years old achieved 5th in the UK for the 50m fly breaking the age group record in the process. As a team Aberdeen achieved 15 ‘A’ finals and 21 ‘B’ finals across both the BUCS short and long course, going on to claim 5 gold and 3 silvers from these finals. These incredible results have also secured the team’s place at the BUCS team championship in April, so we wish them the best of luck as they travel to Sheffield and we’re sure they will return with a few more medals for what is now a sizable collection. Putting the Gold in Blue and Gold: UoA’s 2024 Sporting Achievements The University of Aberdeen Reflect on Another Successful Sports Season ▲ PHOTOGRAPHS: UOA FUTSAL CLUB/AUWFC by James Kinnaird and Oliver Kennedy

14 FRI 22 MAR 2024 • VOL 90 NO 15 WORDLADDER SLOW DOWN Across 1. The process of converting sugar into alcohol 3. A literary work that blends fact with fiction 4. A small, green vegetable often used in salads 6. The study of the mind and behaviour 7. The process of splitting an atom 10. A large, flightless bird native to New Zealand 11. The chemical symbol for sodium 14. A type of flowering plant often associated with love and romance 16. The capital of Brazil 17. The capital of Italy 18. A device used for measuring atmospheric pressure GAUDIECROSSWORD Across 1. Clarification 4. Elf 5. Seoul 8. Meteorology 12. Canapé 13. Clock 15. Mermaid 17. Jazz 18. Catalyst 19. Manga Down 2. Impression 3. Insomnia 4. Etymology 6. Ostrich 7. Tonne 9. Orwell 10. Lithium 11. Triceratops 14. Ottawa 16. HTML MILDSUDOKU FIENDISHSUDOKU WORDLADDER TINY LINY LINT LIST LAST VAST PUZZLESSOLUTIONS Transform the starting word into the ending word by changing one letter at a time, creating a chain of valid English words in between. Complete the grid, so each row, column and 2-by-2 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 through 4. Complete the grid, so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 through 9. Looking for answers? Make sure to pick up the next edition of The Gaudie for the solutions to the crossword, as well as all the other puzzles on this page. MILDSUDOKU FIENDISHSUDOKU Crossword Clues Down 2. The study of celestial bodies and the universe 5. A condition characterised by the inability to remember past events 6. A type of tropical fruit with a hard, spiky shell 7. Pl.: Organisms that thrive in damp environments and often appear as mushrooms or moulds 8. A device used for measuring the depth of water 9. A unit of measurement equal to 1,000 metres 12. A small, round fruit often used in pies and jams 13. A mythical creature with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse 15. A large, carnivorous mammal native to Africa and Asia