The Gaudie 29th March 2021

On the apropos of Earth Hour Is it time to abolish the British monarchy? Bonobos adopt infants Inside the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal IV magazine inside International Newspaper p.8-9 Opine Newspaper p.14 Sports Newspaper p.16 Science & Environment Newspaper p.11 Under 7% of students vote in AUSA elections Sabbatical ballot turnout one of lowest ever despite incentives and “endorsements” A group of university students created slogan displays on campus to raise awareness for women’s safety on campus on 15 March. The displayed slogans began to turn heads at the University's campus, including at King’s College, the sports playing field, and under the University of Aberdeen sign at the entrance to the campus on King Street. The small group of students said their motivation for the initiative was to “speak up and keep raising awareness” for women’s safety following the international discussion sparked by the death of Sarah Everard earlier this month. Some chalk slogans around The University of Aberdeen campus read: “Sarah Everard is all of us except we made it home”, “Your testimony is valid”, and “Dear Sarah, it wasn’t your fault”. As part of the initiative, Claire Synnott said: ‘My whole friendship group is part of the 97%...We feel like we can’t do enough to support this movement, especially with Covid.’ Story continued on Newspaper page 3. Students raise awareness for women’s safety by Olivia Mackenzie Smith Only 6.7% of Aberdeen University students voted in the mid-March online elections for the Student Association’s new leaders. The ballot determined the five sabbatical officers who will run AUSA in the next academic year. All are recent graduates or taking a year out from their studies, and the positions are salaried. The three-way race for Student President attracted most voters at 993, or 6.7% of the university’s 14,775 undergraduates and postgraduates (latest available figures, 2018/19). The contests for the four Vice Presidents of Communities, Education and Sport and Welfare, attracted between 910 and 950 electors. These numbers included students who voted ‘Re-Open Nominations’, indicating they considered no candidate suitable. All positions but VP Education were contested. Meanwhile, AUSA’s incentive to optionally enter voters into a draw for one of seven prize gift cards worth up to £200 has attracted student criticism, as has a short ‘endorsement’ video by actor Ruby Barker. It has emerged that Barker, who appears in the Netflix drama series Bridgerton, provided the message for AUSA via a celebrity message website, cameo.com. The service, which ‘lets you hire celebrities to create personalized videos for any occasion’ is understood to have charged the Students Association £26.25 for the 22-second clip, during which Barker relays a message encouraging students to vote, mispronouncing ‘AUSA’. She then blows a kiss to the camera. Story continued on Newspaper page 3. by Jake Roslin Photo courtesy of Jeevan Bains Slogans advocating for women’s safety emerged around University buildings this week, including at King’s College, The Powis Gates, and the University sports training ground. Graphic courtesy of Jake Roslin WandaVision (2021) review One of their most unique productions yet, WandaVision is Marvel’s newest addition to their Cinematic Universe and the first title in their Disney+ Originals line-up. After the character Vision died in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), fans were confused how this hero could have any more stories in the MCU. Story continued on IV page 2-3 by Julie Toft Carlsen

30.10.19 Note from the Editor: p.2 HEAD EDITORS ([email protected]) Emilia Nuotio Rosie Benny NEWS ([email protected]) EDITOR Anttoni Numminen DEPUTY EDITOR Jeevan Bains FEATURES ([email protected]) EDITOR Zsófia Kiszely DEPUTY EDITOR Skye MacDonald INTERNATIONAL ([email protected]) EDITOR Istvan Peter Miskolczy DEPUTY EDITOR Marta Rodriguez SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT ([email protected]) EDITORS Anton Kuech Natalia Dec OPINE ([email protected]) EDITOR Amy Richmond DEPUTY EDITOR Aidan Bridgeman SATIRE ([email protected]) EDITOR Andrew Meechan SPORTS ([email protected]) EDITOR Alessandra Puglisi Editorial Team HEAD OF PRODUCTION Mathilde Communal PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Julie Toft Carlsen Istvan Peter Miskolczy COPY EDITORS Jenna Fults Amy Smith Emilia Nuotio HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Matthew Angell MARKETING ([email protected]) Matthew Angell Monica Ferreira Matthew Milne EVENTS TEAM Matthew Angell HEAD OF STRATEGY Raoul Rosca Production Team We voluntarily adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (www.ipso.co.uk) and aim to provide fair and balanced reporting. The Hub Elphinstone Road Old Aberdeen AB24 3TU Tel: 01224 272980 The Gaudie is printed on 100% recycled paper. Photo courtesy of Aberdeen University Website The University of Aberdeen has a number of contacts on its own and on the AUSA websites, ranging from financial services to accommodation help, with appointments available to discuss any queries. Nightline Operating between 8 pm – 8 am, Nightline is a service run by trained volunteers who can offer confidential emotional support from stress, offer guidance and are readily available in a crisis. CASE Aberdeen Aberdeen Consent Awareness & Sexual Education Group (CASE) promotes a culture of consent within the University of Aberdeen and offers an open space for discussions and a supportive environment for survivors of sexual harassment and assault. They can be contacted through their Facebook page and via email at case.abdn@ gmail.com. SafeZone App This app has been implemented to facilitate security and first aid is on hand immediately in case of an emergency. The app can automatically check you in and out of campus, and alert university security of your exact location with one click. Simply register with your university email address and phone number. Hillhead Student Village has installed new signage next to Seaton park urging students to remain vigilant. For further advice or support, students can contact [email protected]. Stay safe on campus Where to turn to if you need help by Fiona Williamson University says divestment from fossil fuels is ‘viable’ University tells Fossil Free Aberdeen that divestment is viable as long as transition is ‘managed over a period of time.’ After months of consultation between The University of Aberdeen, AUSA and the Fossil Free Campaign, and after years of student activism, the University’s Senior Management Team (SMT) is preparing to present its case for the divestment from fossil fuels to the University’s Court. The Court ‘oversees the management of resources of the University.’ AUSA’s Vice President for Communities, Radeen Moncrieffe said on Twitter that he was ‘immensely proud to have worked with [Fossil Free Campaign] this year’ while highlighting his hopes that ‘Court in June is overwhelmingly supportive of the proposal’. In a statement, Fossil Free Aberdeen talked about how they had put together a ‘detailed proposal for divestment based around positive ethical, financial and social impacts, along with our student and staff petitions for divestment.’ In the statement, the group also said that Principal George Boyne and Vice-Principal Karl Leydecker reported that ‘divestment was viable as long as this transition was managed over a period of time.’ The group explained that discussions with the Senior Vice-Principal and the University’s Finance Director David Beattie had been ‘very productive’ and that the University ‘had already made positive steps in this area with only around 1% of the portfolio currently invested in fossil fuel stocks.’ Principal George Boyne shared the University’s commitment to sustainability through the Aberdeen 2040 initiative which aims for zero carbon emission before 2040 at the Student Council Q&A session earlier this year. Other aims of the University’s Aberdeen 2040 initiative include the aim to ‘excel in research that addresses the climate emergency, enables energ y transition and the preservation of biodiversity alongside encouraging ‘everyone within our community to work and live sustainably, recognising the importance of our time, energy and resilience.’ by Jeevan Bains Photo courtesy of Aberdeen University Website This is going to be the last time I write an editorial. I know, how desperately tragic. I’ve only written one before and I can honestly say it was the worst thing I have ever done. Filled with clichés and just generally pathetic. A bit like this right now: me writing about writing. True to the rest of this semester this editorial is being done last minutes, in my pyjamas and dressing gown right here at my desk. Pre-pandemic I was an organised over-achiever with a distinct work-home balance that was borderline religious. I never worked at home and spent hours in the rice cube. Obviously, this year has been the absolute opposite. I’ve been forced to stay in the flat, like everyone else, and have had to completely reorganise my life. Fingers crossed this will be the last ever digital only version of the paper. As restrictions ease and international students come back in dribs and drabs, we are all praying for a return to normalcy. I have been genuinely fantasising about sitting in a group of people, chatting and carefree. I am embarrassingly excited to go to the gym and I’m more touch starved than I thought possible. Whatever normal looks like, whenever we get to it, I know that we are leaving the paper in safe hands. The Gaudie will continue to report on all the goings on at the University and wider community with great integrity. It won’t be long until you can hold the paper in your hand, flick through the pages, and use it to hit a seagull before (I hope) recycling it.

30.10.19 p.3 (Story continued from front page) Miss Synnott explained that the slogans have: ‘helped educate some people as I’ve received positive messages about it, boys have said there is less stigma to talk about it right now”. When asked about the role of University groups in promoting women’s safety, she added that: ‘University official pages and societies need to do more... If students and staff are educated, and also understand that it does happen to their friends and family then it helps us feel safer.’ ‘If the university said ‘survivors we believe you’ it would be so significant.’ Miss Synnott described that despite receiving overwhelming support for the cause, she has also received negative comments regarding her online activism. ‘For the [slogans], I have not directly faced backlash. But for the posts I made on my page, some boys felt the need to comment rude things and try to devalue the post’ before continuing ‘I think it’s absolutely horrible to detract from the life of Sarah Everard’ Miss Synnott said ‘To all people, educate yourselves. And if anyone wants support or someone to talk about their own personal stories with I am available on all social media, as a fellow victim I’m here to support and I believe you.” Support and information can be found on the Women’s Aid website. The Aberdeen Consent Awareness & Sexual Education Group (ABDN CASE) hosted a virtual vigil and fundraiser in memory of Sarah Everard on 20 March in collaboration with Rape Crisis Grampian and the University of Aberdeen Feminist Society. The event consisted of short speeches by the representatives of each group and individuals, a minute of silence and a discussion on how to protect local communities from acts of structural violence and discrimination. A fundraiser was also organised for Rape Crisis Grampian, which provides support for those over the age of 13 that have been subjected to sexual violence at any time in their life. CASE Convenor Johanna Kauppi said: “It has been said many times that Sarah did everything right; she wore bright colours and sensible shoes, she took a well-lit route home and called a family member as she was walking home from a friend's house. As we know, this did not protect her.” Kauppi also highlighted the importance of intersectionality in the Reclaim the Night movement, condemning gender-based violence as well as racism, homophobia and transphobia. At this point, an individual interrupted her speech shouting transphobic abuse at the organisers and attendees and was immediately removed from the event. CASE released a statement apologising profusely over the outburst, stating: “There is no space or tolerance for transphobia at CASE, at the University of Aberdeen, or in society. We aim to provide a safer space for all, and will investigate the incident thoroughly as well as review our event policies to try to reduce the likelihood of this incident being repeated.” Despite this, Reclaim the Night was an event for people to speak up about their own experiences and share their feelings and anxieties. One of the attendees, Martin Le Brech told The Gaudie: “I really appreciated that everyone was able to share their stories as well as resources about the issues so everyone can have a look, and educate themselves.” “Reclaim the Night”: Virtual vigil for Sarah Everard shows importance of fighting discrimination and violence The event raised awareness about feminism and the importance of intersectionality by Mireia Jimenez Photo courtesy of CASE (Story continued from front page) The clip was shared by AUSA on social media to a limited and often derisory response. One Tweeter commented: ‘I’m sorry but AUSA hiring a minor Bridgerton actress... is funny as hell... whose idea was this?’ Aberdeen University’s Principal, Professor George Boyne, also made a lastminute appeal to encourage students to cast their ballots by way of an email sent to all undergraduates and postgraduates early on 18 March, the final day of voting. Asked whether institutional involvement in the student representative body was appropriate, a University spokesperson said: ‘Engaging in the democratic process whether student, local or national elections is a responsibility for us all and as such, while the University has not been involved in AUSA’s election campaign, we were happy to promote it to students through our channels.’ George Taylor, a 4th-year Physics undergraduate, finished runner-up for Student President after standing on a “Protest AUSA” ticket. ‘The majority of students still do not know who the Sabbatical Officers are or what they do,’ he told The Gaudie. He also criticised AUSA’s “hypocrisy” in offering high value gift cards to voters when a candidate who had done so would have breached election rules and believed Ruby Barker’s message ‘smacks of last-minute panic. A waste of students’ money’. ‘AUSA needs total structural reform if it is to survive,’ he continued. ‘This includes bringing the AUSA building into student ownership to turn it into a proper students’ union, putting more power into the hands of students, and radical reform of the elections.’ This year’s 6.7% student turnout figure is not the lowest for the sabbatical elections, with only 5.4% recorded last year, despite most students being on campus at that time. It is understood participation averaged around 20% a decade ago, and has fallen steadily since. The Gaudie reached out to AUSA for comment on the gift voucher incentives, the commissioning of the Ruby Barker video, and the involvement of the University Principal. However, no response was received by the time of publishing. This year’s 6.7% student turnout figure is not the lowest for the sabbatical elections, with only 5.4% recorded last year, despite most students being on campus at that time. The three-way race for Student President attracted most voters at 993, or 6.7% of the university’s 14,775 undergraduates and postgraduates (latest available figures, 2018/19).

p.4 30.10.19 New research has shown that advising women of lifestyle changes, namely dietary changes and increased exercise, in breast cancer screening appointments, can result in significant weight loss over 12 months. In turn, this makes women less likely to develop breast cancer. Professor Annie Anderson, as part of Dundee’s School of Medicine, said: “Our study has shown that structured guidance on physical activity and diet using important techniques from health psychology could have a major effect on breast cancer risk” Professor Stuart Treweek of Aberdeen University said that young females can, too, reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by regularly exercising and following a healthy diet. However, there have been concerns about the impact of the pandemic on screenings for breast cancer. An article written by Norman E Sharpless for Science explained that ‘cancers being missed now [due to the pandemic] will still come to light eventually, but at a later stage and with worse prognoses.’ Following the success of the ActWELL initiative, Professor Treweek expressed his desire for the Scottish Government to help roll out the initiative to clinics that have not been involved, with the potential to develop approaches specifically targeted to different groups of women, including those from socioeconomically disadvantaged and ethnic minority backgrounds, to help more women prevent breast cancer. University study finds lifestyle advice can prevent breast cancer by Mena Collin A study conducted by Aberdeen and Dundee Universities has found that breast cancer clinics advising about lifestyle changes in appointments can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer Photo courtesy of Miguel Á. Padriñán via Pixabay AberCrush, a community, social media page on Facebook for those secretly in love, is becoming increasingly popular among students at the University of Aberdeen. Established in November 2019, AberCrush has over 4,000 followers posting multiple confessions a day with anybody able to anonymously submit their secrets, or “confess your sins”, through an online form allowing students a space to confess their feelings. The only rule is no full names. Hamish, a 4th-year student of English and Creative writing, found himself one day a subject of one of these confessions. “I don’t think it was anybody serious, I think it was just a friend saying nice things about me”, he stated. The confession read: “H***** G*** you’re literally the hottest guy in aberdeen and my heart drops everytime I see you. p.s. you and that stüssy jumper are a match made in heaven x”. For everybody out there afraid to risk, Hamish advises to “Just go for it!”. Other topics have also emerged on the page including calls for more Queer spaces, submissions asking for advice on sex and relationships as well as those seeking support with their mental health. For information about sex and relationships visit the NHS Live Well Sexual Health page. AberCrush: An open secret by Katerina Vilemova An online community of those too shy to ask others on a date is growing in Aberdeen. The confession read: “H***** G*** you’re literally the hottest guy in aberdeen and my heart drops everytime I see you. p.s. you and that stüssy jumper are a match made in heaven x”. AberCrush has over 4,000 followers posting multiple confessions a day with anybody able to anonymously submit their secrets... Photo courtesy of Author

30.10.19 p.5 The March meeting of student council has voted in favour of several motions, including one which mandates the Students’ Association (AUSA) to lobby the University to ensure all students receive a graduation ceremony at some point. The motion was aimed at holding the University to its promise of providing graduation ceremonies to students who did not have one because of Covid-19. Other motions passed included a motion mandating AUSA to create an Access Hours Policy for use in Union Brew and one on content warnings. The content warning motion by Ivana Dradkova, AUSA Vice-President-elect for Welfare called for “content warnings on all subjects that may cause harm to students in lecture materials” and “other forms of communication”. Student councillors are members of standing committees such as welfare, communities, and sport, and they seek to represent students and hold sabbatical officers to account. Any student can stand for election on student council. In addition to the motions, one byelaw amendment was passed and one was defeated. Byelaws are the rules and regulations by which AUSA operates. An amendment to byelaw nine was passed by the council which updated the relationship between student groups and the Students’ Association. Current student groups include The Gaudie, Aberdeen Student Climate Network and ASR, among others. A key part of the amendment says: “where appropriate and/or necessary, AUSA can support Student Groups to manage their funds, apply for funding and assist with fundraising. “In the case of a Student Group receiving financial assistance from AUSA, AUSA and the relevant Student Group they will be required to publicly declare this to prevent conflict of interest.” Before now, byelaws prevented AUSA from supporting student groups with their finances. Amendment to byelaw three, which did not pass, was meant to be voted on at the AUSA AGM but as a quorum was lost before the item could be discussed, it was moved to the student council. The proposed amendment would have radically altered the nature of the student council, allowing all members of the student body to attend and vote on matters, with no quorum requirement and the potential of contentious issues moving to a campus-wide referendum. Fewer than 200 people voted in AUSA’s referendum of its membership in the NUS in March. Robbie Uriarte, Foresterhill Rep on the Societies Committee said: “the proposed Bylaw three change would have effectively dismantled Student Council, made AUSA more inefficient than it already is and risked removing one of the few checks and balances on Sabbatical Officers’ power.” Student council votes for content warnings, access hours and byelaw changes Student reps also voted down one major byelaw proposal on the structure of council by Anttoni James Numminen A key part of the amendment says: “where appropriate and/ or necessary, AUSA can support Student Groups to manage their funds, apply for funding and assist with fundraising. Photo courtesy of The Gaudie University will return looted Benin bronze statue to Nigeria Nigeria’s minister of Culture describes it as “a step in the right direction” A bronze sculpture, looted from Benin (modern-day Nigeria) by British troops in 1897 will be returned ‘within weeks’ according to the University of Aberdeen. The decision to return the statue, acquired by the University at an auction in 1957, was made unanimously by an “expert panel”, including academic specialists and curators, as well as representatives of the University Court, the Hunterian Museum in the University of Glasgow and the Nigerian claimants. Before the statue was bought in 1957, it had been displayed at a London exhibition on African Art in 1927. Neil Curtis, Head of Museums and Special Collections said that it had been acquired in a way “that we now consider to have been extremely immoral.” “The University of Aberdeen has previously agreed to repatriate sacred items and ancestral remains to Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and has a procedure that considers requests in consultation with claimants.” The return of the statue has acquired international media attention, with coverage in African News Agency, numerous Nigerian news outlets such as NewsNG and Legit, The Guardian, CNN and others. Annie Wilson, convenor of the Students’ Association’s BAME Forum said the forum was pleased to see that the University is “finally taking some measures in enacting decolonisation across campus” while expressing hope that universities and governments would continue with similar actions in the future. “This is a very small step forward, a drop in an ocean of colonialist and imperialist violence, but it is a step that we are nonetheless happy to see. Decolonisation does not and should never just mean adding some BAME authors to reading lists and hiring BAME speakers for a few lectures or conferences. “It means returning stolen goods and artefacts, reimbursing the nations robbed and torn apart by British colonialism and imperialism, and doing so regardless of if it makes the White Man uncomfortable.” Principal George Boyne said: “It would not have been right to have retained an item of such great cultural importance that was acquired in such reprehensible circumstances. We therefore decided that an unconditional return is the most appropriate action we can take and are grateful for the close collaboration with our partners in Nigeria." According to its website, the University’s Marischal Museum holds “a significant collection of Egyptian antiquities”. These include “over 4,000 items ranging from everyday objects to pieces with ceremonial connotations. Main features of the collection include a mummy of a young girl and various mummified animals.” According to its website, the University’s Marischal Museum holds “a significant collection of Egyptian antiquities”. These include “over 4,000 items ranging from everyday objects to pieces with ceremonial connotations. by Anttoni James Numminen The Benin bronze. Photo courtesy of UoA

p.6 30.10.19 Reflecting on a year of Covid-19 Online to normality: how are students feeling about the coming months? by Skye MacDonald I t has been just over a year since the Coronavirus pandemic was declared, and a year since the UK went into lockdown. It has been a year since university was moved online, assessments were cancelled, the “Stay at home” message was the new normal and uncertainty, fear and apprehension kicked into lives world-wide. It has been a year of questioning, wondering, grieving and hoping. Hoping that a vaccine would be found, that our family and friends would stay healthy, that things would not last forever. It has been a year that many students have felt their lives take a halt, independence be lost, education be sloped. It has also been a year to reboot, re-energise and appreciate slowness. Reflecting on these past twelve months, I decided to put out a survey to students questioning them on their online learning and how they feel about heading towards some form of new normality. Now that a vaccine is being distributed, there is hope that the coming Summer months will bring an out-of-lockdown-life back again, and that by September things may look fairly normal. The automatic assumption might be that students can’t wait for life to go back to what we knew before — for clubs and pubs to be open, to have group gatherings, to have normal classes. However, from my anonymous research, while there was a lot of excitement at this thought, there is evidence that many students are feeling fairly apprehensive about the prospect of going back to normal social and university lives. The questions I asked were: Have you enjoyed online uni? What have the benefits of online uni been/ what have you missed the most about in-person university? How are you feeling about “going back to normal”? And, are you apprehensive about returning to normal, and if so, what about? The results were really eye-opening and revealed a mix of views about the coming months. I had 36 responses, with 55.6% of people answering being in 3rd year, 19.4% 4th year, 11.1% 2nd year and 13.9% 1st year. Asking the question, “Have you enjoyed uni being online?” the highest percentage of people (77.8%) said that they enjoyed some aspects of it, while only 13.9% said no and a minority of 8.3% said yes. The general consensus that students have enjoyed some parts of online learning can be said to be pretty positive, as it shows that despite a year of zoom calls, online lectures and decreased social interaction, there has been some up-sides to the “Open University” style of learning. Considering the benefits of online university, a lot of people commented on the flexibility they have felt this past year and how studying from home has helped their time management and enabled them to do more things for their enjoyment outside of uni-work. A few also commented on their appreciation of lectures being much more enjoyable in terms of podcasts and guestspeakers being utilised to a greater extent. One person wrote: “I don’t think people would have been so appreciative of a guest speaker via Zoom before the pandemic, but Zoom allows us to connect with people all over the world, and we can hear lectures or attend workshops with people that otherwise would never have been available to visit us in Aberdeen, which is really valuable.” A few of the respondents have commented on how because of their flexibility with online learning, life consequently has been less stressful. In a time where anxieties about the future are very normal, this can be considered a really great aspect of online learning. Due to not having to be on campus, we have had more time to just get on with work at our own pace, not being confined to so much of a strict schedule. On the other hand, there were, of course, many comments on how online university has meant less social interaction with classmates and lecturers. Some commented on the worry that they have missed chances to build relationships with professors since contact has been restricted to screen-only. Alongside this, the normal university experience of grabbing coffee with friends after a lecture or having lively discussions in an in-person class have been missed massively. The valuable practical experiences of some degrees (i.e., cadavers in medicine) have meant the worry of being behind in normal knowledge. When questioning how the respondents felt about “going back to normal” there was a huge mix of answers, ranging from “I can’t wait” to “super anxious”. A lot of people appear to be nervous about how difficult it will be to adjust to socialising again, especially in big groups. However, there were also comments on mental health improving, with one person saying: “I’m looking forward to it. Having a routine and going to campus is hugely beneficial to my mental health, as well as seeing people.” Generally, it appears that while many people are excited for post-Corona life, there are still understandable worries about how things will be: how going back to in-person classes will feel, how adapting to normal routines will be tiring. This apprehension was really revealed by the fact that out of the 34 people who answered the final question of “Are you apprehensive about returning to normal, and if so, about what?” twenty-five responded with yes, and with reasons. The main consensus appeared to be that students are worried about having busy social lives again and the fear of not being able to balance this alongside their university work. It might be said that this year has been a chance to slow down and prioritise university rather than a busy social life, and going back to seeing friends more (maybe than ever) alongside balancing degrees will be difficult. A lot of the respondents were second years when the pandemic was declared, so jumping into fourth year, and especially back to campuslife, will be a huge adjustment. Someone wrote, “It will be hard to go back to normal because we are not used to it anymore.” This final comment perhaps summarises the feelings of many. With the past years of rules and restrictions and online university, the idea of walking into a lecture theatre or a pub may seem foreign to us. It could be said that the fears and apprehensions for the coming months are understandable, and perhaps rooted in the unknown. We don’t know what to expect, and the thought of adjusting to old ways or an even “newer normal” rightfully provokes both excitement and nerves. Photo by Prostock Studio, Courtesy of Getty Images/iStockphoto “Have you enjoyed uni being online?” the highest percentage of people (77.8%) said that they enjoyed some aspects of it It will be hard to go back to normal because we are not used to it anymore

30.10.19 p.7 The Covid soundtrack is silent Restrictions mean no concerts, and Zoom can’t compare by Daniel Hesp I magine you live in a world with no music. Difficult, right? Music is a constant. However, despite its seeming cemented position in our lives, one aspect of music, live performances, has been very seriously handicapped by the virus and its restrictions. Cancelled performances hit close to home for many students who have been unable to perform with bands, with practise becoming extremely difficult and the dreaded zoom calls not quite substituting for the social side of performance. Consequently, groups of musicians have been struggling to retain a sense of normalcy. I caught up with Sara Young, a flute-player with the University of Aberdeen Concert Band, to understand how COVID restrictions have been problematic for the instrumentalists of the university. DH: In what way has playing in a concert band been affected by COVID restrictions? SY: Well, I play a flute, and there is a lot of air that gets blown out of your instrument when you’re in an orchestra. There is no way you could do that in person with social distancing, it just wouldn’t be possible as there isn’t a big enough space and it would be too dangerous. That is the main way playing has been affected — you can’t meet in person. Our band used to be 100 members and now at the weekly zoom meetings we’re lucky if we get 20 people. When you’re in a band the room is just filled with the music and you can forget about everything else apart from your music. But when you’re at home you’re in the same room as you do all your work in, that is the same room you eat in — there just isn’t any escape. DH: How have concerts been affected by the move online? SY: That is incredibly difficult as you might imagine, trying to organise a band online. The way that we play pieces now, we can’t do a concert, so we all record ourselves individually in our rooms, playing our parts and then send that in. This will be made up into a big video which people can then watch online, which is quite strange. Whereas in normal times going to a concert is quite a fun thing to do and it’s a good way to support your friends, it is a good way to get out the house, but the motivation for all these online things is just so low. We’re probably not going to get much of an audience. It can be really difficult to get the motivation to play when you don’t really have anything to work towards. DH: Does performing alone affect the dynamics of an orchestra? SY: Playing alone is so bizarre. First of all, it is difficult to get into and get a feel for the piece. Especially if you have a lot of bars to rest, at least if you’re in a band you can listen to what everyone else is doing and get a sense of what it sounds like, it’s different. If you’re on your own, you don’t have that and you have to work everything out for yourself. It’s a bit lonely, really. Especially when you’re playing a piece that is meant for a band and you’re very conscious of that and it’s just you on your own — you really miss out. Even in rehearsals, although we have meetings and we all play together everyone has their microphones on mute, so you can see people playing but you can’t hear them. DH: What are some of the challenges that come with playing with a group of people on zoom? SY: One of the challenges with that, especially with woodwind instruments, is where to place your camera so that you can get a good angle and so that your laptop picks up the right sound from your instrument because sound quality is a big thing. If you’re less confident playing on your own, it’s difficult to know if you’re playing the right thing or if you’re playing it at the right time because when you’re in a band you’re surrounded by other people paying the same part as you. One of the benefits of playing in person, obviously, is that you can hear when other people come in and you have really clear cues for your piece. You also have the challenges of videos lagging, overlapping sound, connection issues. One time we were trying to play, and our conductor’s screen froze so the tempo was all off. He would pause… and suddenly be really fast as the connection caught up. You can’t really play along to that, as you can imagine. DH: What about the best part of playing an instrument in lockdown? SY: I think it’s very easy for music to just fall by the wayside, when actually it is a really good way to do something fun and break away from the monotony of being on the screen. Having everything online, it’s nice to break away and play some music. But because the world is weird right now you just don’t really think about doing that. I guess it’s just like the escapism. It’s nice to have a hobby. Lockdown is so boring, it’s good to just pick up your instrument and just get away for a bit. The good thing about concert band is that you could go and be with your friends, get out of the house and play your instrument. Even if you didn’t really know everyone in the band there was a sense of community, making beautiful music with other people. It’s also really nice being able to create something with your music and just like mess around and have fun. While concerts and rehearsals have certainly taken a hit, hope is on the horizon. The Scottish Government recently outlined a move to Level 1 restrictions, and eventually Level 0 by June, allowing Aberdeen musicians to meet and rehearse. And with research from Yamaha revealing that “75% of Brits have turned to a musical instrument to help them beat the lockdown blues” there is a surge in new musicians, meaning that their ranks may soon be replenished with fresh faces. All this points to a positive outcome for future concerts. When we emerge postCOVID, experiences such as attending a concert will seem much sweeter because of their absence. After all, as Mozart famously said, “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” The way that we play pieces now, we can’t do a concert, so we all record ourselves individually in our rooms, playing our parts and then send that in. Photo by bizoo_n, Courtesy of Getty Images/iStockphoto Even in rehearsals, although we have meetings and we all play together everyone has their microphones on mute, so you can see people playing but you can’t hear them.

p.8 30.10.19 On the apropos of Earth Hour: what’s happening with global The environmental policies and events highlight the imporby Isti Miskolczy (A-K) and Marta Rodriguez (L-Z) Earth Hour is a worldwide movement of turning off all non-essential lights for an entire hour originating from Sydney in 2007. It is organised annually (usually towards the end of March) by the World Wide Fund for Nature with the aim of stressing the importance of sparing energy and electricity as well as climate change, global warming, and in general, protecting the environment. This year it took place on the 27th of March in between 8.30pm and 9.30pm as per each countries’ local time with many individuals, businesses and community places taking part and thus contributing towards conserving our very own Earth. Nonetheless, the environment should not be taken care of just for one hour, so we have highlighted the most important recent environmental steps, policies and/or events of all countries on Earth. A-D Afghanistan: The continuous warfare in the country has resulted in serious deforestation. Albania: Since 2011, Albania has been constantly reviewing and improving its environmental laws. Algeria: The southern 80 percent of the country is the almost fully uninhabited Sahara desert — so it is Earth Hour 24/7 there. Andorra: One of Andorra’s main export products is timber, which means big deforestation though. Angola: A target of a 60 percent electrification rate is set for 2025. Antigua and Barbuda: Rising sea levels really threaten the coasts of Antigua and Barbuda. Argentina: Its capital, Buenos Aires, has the goal of reaching one million daily trips by bike by 2023. Armenia: Armenian Lake Sevan has been suffering from major water pollution for decades now. Australia: The Earth Hour challenge originates from Sydney, Australia. Austria: Eleven percent of Austria’s energy is made out of wind. Azerbaijan: By 2030, Baku would like to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent. The Bahamas: Tourism is said to be having a big negative impact on The Bahamas. Bahrain: 92 percent of the country is made out of desert. Bangladesh: Out of all South Asian countries, Bangladesh is the most vulnerable to climate change. Barbados: Hurricane Harvey destroyed many homes in 2017 in Barbados. Belarus: Only 4.2 percent of land in Belarus are classified as ‘protected’. Belgium: All three major regions have adopted a climate legislation in Belgium. Belize: Belize’s government has been trying to have “responsible tourism” since a policy in 1998. Benin: Benin has to face serious desertification. Bhutan: Interestingly, hydro-power is Bhutan’s most important energy source. Bolivia: Timber industry is still hurting Bolivia’s environment to a great extent. Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Balkan country has a National Environmental Action Plan. Botswana: Limited water supply often results in water shortages in the country. Brazil: Brazil is one of the worst-hit countries by COVID-19. Brunei: According to a 2018 WHO study, Brunei has the second least dirty urban air on earth. Bulgaria: 85% of river water is said to be polluted by industry in Bulgaria. Burkina Faso: Slash-and-burn agriculture greatly “helps” desertification in Burkina Faso. Burundi: Soil erosion created by floods is a major problem in Burundi. Cabo Verde: As an archipelago, Cabo Verde is highly affected by rising sea levels. Cambodia: Wood and biomass are still the most popular sources of energy in Cambodia. Cameroon: About 60 percent of electricity in Cameroon is coming from hydropower. Canada: Canada was one of the earliest countries to declare a climate emergency in June 2019. Central African Republic: The country does not have a national electrification plan. Chad: Overall, Chad is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Chile: Chile has a 6435 km long coastline with the Pacific Ocean. China: China is responsible for 28 percent of the world’s CO2 emotions as a whole. Colombia: Water shortages usually occur in the Andes within Colombia. Comoros: Vanilla is one of the main export products of the islands of the Indian Ocean. Congo, Democratic Republic of the: DRC has at last half of Africa’s forests and water. Congo, Republic of the: There is an absence of proper electricity distribution in the country. Costa Rica: 6% of the world’s biodiversity can be found in Costa Rica. Côte d’Ivoire: The forests of Ivory Coast had once been the largest in West Africa.. Croatia: Croatia is heavily dependent on energy imports. Cuba: Oil still accounts for the majority of electricity generation in Cuba. Cyprus: Same for Cyprus. Czech Republic: Coal and nuclear energy are still the most popular forms of power generation. Denmark: Denmark is to build a renewable energy island. Djibouti: Djibouti imports its energy from Ethiopia. Dominica: Water shortages are a major problem in Dominica too. Dominican Republic: Hurricane Irma hit the Dominican Republic in 2017 and left more than 2700 homes damaged. E-H East Timor: Oil extraction is said to be one of the biggest environmental issues in TimorLeste. Ecuador: Ecuador approved a National Environmental Policy as early as 2009. Egypt: Oil and natural gas account for 95 percent of Egypt’s energy consumption. El Salvador: Around 682MW of renewable energ y capacity should be available by 2026 in the smallest country of Central America. Equatorial Guinea: All consumed energy comes from own resources in Equatorial Guinea. Eritrea: Same goes for Eritrea. Estonia: At the end of 2020, the construction of a new power transmission line from Estonia to Latvia was finished. Eswatini: Eswatini has its own Environmental Authority. Ethiopia: A major environmental concern in Ethiopia is illegal wildlife hunting and trafficking. Fiji: Sea level rising in Fiji is above world average. Finland: 40 percent of all energ y consumption comes from renewable energy sources in Finland. France: Approximately 70 percent of electricity of France comes from nuclear energy. Gabon: Forests account for approximately 80% of Gabon’s territory. The Gambia: Gambia has an Energy Efficiency Awareness campaign. Georgia: About half of Georgia’s electricity still comes from gas. Germany: By 2038, Germany wants to stop using coal as an energy source. Ghana: One-third of Ghana’s land is subject to desertification. Greece: Greece has to face freshwater quantity issues in agriculture. Grenada: Electricity in Grenada is nationalised. Guatemala: Around 40 percent of Guatemala’s energy is generated from fossil fuels. Guinea: Its 12 big rivers allow Guinea to have a huge potential for hydropower. Guinea-Bissau: The country is said to have unexplored petroleum fields. Guyana: Power is not stable in many regions of Guayana. Haiti: The 2010 Haiti earthquake left at least 100,000 dead and/or unaccounted for. Honduras: Petroleum has the largest share amongst the energy resources in Honduras. Hungary: Hungary relies very much on Russia in energy imports and finances. I-K Iceland: An Icelandic volcano has left more than 900 aircrafts grounded with its smoke in the air. India: India is the world’s third biggest CO2 emitter. Indonesia: Has had many disasters in the last year, including a volcano eruption and an earthquake. Iran: Iranis were blaming bitcoin for a recent power outage. Iraq: The War on Terror operation seriously damaged Iraq’s energ y infrastructure too. Ireland: Being a member of the EU, Ireland is committed to its Climate and Energy Package. Israel: Only 10 percent of energy comes from renewable sources in Israel. Italy: Almost 90 percent of electricity is self-produced in Italy. Jamaica: Bauxite mining is a major water pollution industry in Jamaica. Japan: Japan’s worst environmental catastrophe, Fukushima, happened exactly 10 years ago. Jordan: Rainfall is relatively rare in Jordan. Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan is the world’s biggest exporter of uranium ore. Kenya: Growing population tends to result in deforestation in Kenya. Kiribati: Kiribati is amongst the world’s most targeted countries in terms of sea level rising. Korea, North: Air and water pollution are causing environmental damages in North Korea. Korea, South: South Korea has to suffer from frequent air pollution. Kosovo: Thermal power plants produce the majority of Kosovo’s electricity. Kuwait: Oil accounts for more than half of the country’s GDP. Kyrgyzstan: It has one of the biggest shares of renewable electricity in the world. L-O Laos: Illegal logging causes major problems in Laos. Latvia: Latvia is on track to achieve its renewable target of 40 percent. Lebanon: Is ‘water rich’ when compared to its neighbouring countries. Lesotho: Its mountainous terrain makes it the highest country in the world. Liberia: Is a biodiversity hotspot and holds about 43 percent of what is left of the Upper Guinean Forest. Libya: Has the largest crude oil reserves in Africa. Liechtenstein: Is the only country to have 100 percent of its territory in the alpine region. Lithuania: By 2030, aims to have 45 percent of its electricity provided by renewable energy sources. Luxembourg: Introduced a carbon tax on the first of January. Madagascar: Is the fourth largest island in the world — it is almost the size of Texas. Malawi: According to UNESCO, Lake Malawi has the most fish species any lake has in the world. Malaysia: 80 percent of its rainforest has been destroyed by logging. Maldives: Is one of the countries at greater risk of sinking due to being 1.8m above sea level. Mali: Consumes about 6 million tonnes of firewood per year, causing a lot of deforestation issues. Malta: Maltese people are the most concerned about climate change in Europe. Marshall Islands: The lack of water sanitation facilities means that there is a short supply of clean water. Mauritania: Its dry season has lengthened due to climate change. Mauritius: The same has happened in Mauritius. Mexico: Tourism is destroying Mexico’s coast. Micronesia, Federated States of: Warmer sea temperatures are causing coral bleaching and depleting marine life. Moldova: Weather forecasting has improved in the last few years saving many lives from the deadly Moldovan storms. Monaco: Only 3.38 km in length, Monaco has the shortest coastline in the world. Mongolia: Is in the fourth position for most air pollution. Montenegro: Is home to the place with the highest precipitation in Europe — Crkvice. Morocco: Only has dromedary camels (one hump camels). Mozambique: In 2019, two cyclones struck the country. These kinds of storms are not normal in Mozambique. Myanmar: The recent political events are predicted to cause severe environmental damage.

30.10.19 p.9 warming and the environment in the countries of the world? tance of Earth Hour on the 27th of March from 8.30pm Namibia: Sossusvlei, in Namibia, is a plane of salt surrounded by unique red sand dunes. Nauru: With only 21 sq km, Nauru is the smallest island nation. Nepal: About one third of city inhabitants and two thirds of rural inhabitants do not have clean water. Netherlands: contrary to popular belief, the Netherlands is one of the least sustainable countries in Europe. New Zealand: New Zealand’s waters are very polluted with 95-99 percent of rivers that run through urban and farming areas carrying pollution above water quality guidelines. Nicaragua: The Nicaragua Environmental Conservation and Development Project is a programme which teaches sustainable agriculture to locals, reducing environmental decline such as soil erosion. Niger: After many years of fighting in court, Shell has been declared responsible for the 2008 oil spills in the Niger Delta which ruined the lives of many villagers and farmers. Nigeria: Has the highest rate of deforestation in the world. North Macedonia: The illegal and uncontrolled use of poison in the countryside is causing a severe decline in the numbers of Egyptian and Griffon vultures. Norway: Over 99 percent of the electricity of mainland Norway comes from hydropower plants. Oman: One of the biggest problems Oman faces is the high salinity of soil and groundwater, which affects a large part of agricultural land.ich affects a large part of agricultural land. P-S Pakistan: Is the second most polluted country in the world. Palau: Has banned 80 percent of fishing in order to allow for ecosystems to recover. Panama: In 2016, the Panama Canal was expanded to allow room for bigger ships. Papua New Guinea: Is the only country where Matschie's tree kangaroo can be found. Paraguay: There is a high index of water pollution, with rivers suffering from toxic dumping. Peru: Cerro Blanco in Peru is the second highest sand dune in the world. Philippines: Due to deforestation, only 35 percent of Philippines’ original forests remain. Poland: Has the worst air quality in Europe due to a heavy dependence on coal to power houses and the economy. Portugal: Aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. Qatar: Qatar is said to be emitting the most CO2 per person (at least in 2017). Romania: Its biodiversity is one of the most remarkable in Europe. Russia: Has recorded the hottest winter in 140 years. Rwanda: 50 percent of its energy comes from water power. Saint Kitts and Nevis: There has been a 12 percent raise in hurricanes due to climate change. Saint Lucia: Its mountainous terrain means that Saint Lucia has more precipitation than other caribbean islands. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Of the 32 Islands and keys that make up Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, only 9 are inhabited. Samoa: Has many magical waterfalls and pools such as the Togitogiga Waterfalls. San Marino: Is landlocked by Italy. Sao Tome and Principe: Both islands are part of the Cameroon volcanic mountain line. Saudi Arabia: Is the largest oil exporter in the The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Senegal: Though not a major contributor to global warming, it is severely affected by climate change, which causes extreme droughts affecting agriculture. Serbia: Is the 5th most polluted country in Europe. Seychelles: Aldabra atoll, one of the islands in Seychelles, houses the largest population of giant tortoises in the world. Sierra Leone: Only 2 percent of the population has access to clean water. Singapore: Singapore is the most recent country declaring a climate emergency (February 2021). Slovakia: Slovakia’s Forests have been severely damaged both by acid rain and air pollution Slovenia: 60 percent of its territory is forest. Solomon Islands: Climate change is causing almost irreparable damage to sea life, especially corals. Somalia: There are critical water shortages and a high risk of desertification. South Africa: Boulders Beach in Cape Town, and Betty’s Bay are the two places where one can visit the African Penguin in its natural habitat. Spain: Aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and have a 75 percent usage of renewable energy by 2030. Sri Lanka: Has lost 90 percent of its coral reefs due to climate change. Sudan: The response to floodings in late 2020 was hindered due to a lack of funding. Sudan, South: Has very rich biodiversity including savannas, rainforests and swamplands. Suriname: Has the shortest coastline in South America. Sweden: With 54 percent of renewable sources, Sweden has the lead in Europe. Switzerland: Has a target of reducing emissions by 80 percent by 2015, achieving ‘net-zero’ emissions. Syria: The Syrian war has left a trail of destruction which is severely affecting biodiversity, wildlife, water sources and agriculture. T-Z Taiwan: Aims to use only cars powered by renewable energy by 2040. Tajikistan: There is a high index of land degradation, with 97.9 percent of agricultural land suffering some level of erosion. Tanzania: Climate change is making the weather in Tanzania more extreme, with more flooding in the rainy season and extreme droughts in the dry season. Thailand: Produces 4.7 tons of CO2 per capita, which is slightly lower than the average of 4.8. Togo: Floods and landslides in Togo will increase due to climate change. Tonga: Is another island country that is disappearing, but this time due to erosion. Trinidad and Tobago: The west coast of Trinidad is the home of the rare scarlet ibis bird. Tunisia: Only 58 percent of people living in rural areas have access to clean drinking water. Turkey: Because of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, Turkey holds the most water in the Middle East. Turkmenistan: 70 percent of the country is desert. Tuvalu: A small archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu, is predicted to become inhabitable in the next 50 to 100 years due to the sea levels rising. Uganda: Many hazardous chemicals are being used in an attempt to control the spread of tsetse flies. Ukraine: 35 years after the accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine still has very high radiation levels. United Arab Emirates: As of 2020, the UAE produces about 2.6 million barrels of oil per day. United Kingdom: In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to aim for zero emissions by 2050. United States: Has gone back into the Paris Climate Change Agreement, under the Biden Administration. Uruguay: Has 59 cubic km of renewable water resources. Uzbekistan: Is struggling with the salinity of the soil, with 50 percent of it being too saline. Vanuatu: Is ranked as the most dangerous country to live in, due to the amount of natural disasters it suffers. Vatican City: In a continuing move of The Catholic Church to take environmental issues seriously, Pope Francis has said that destroying the environment is a sin. Venezuela: Has the largest oil reserves and the second largest natural gas reserves in the western hemisphere. Vietnam: Has a lot of air pollution mainly due to the 58 million motorbikes and the 3.6 million vehicles. Yemen: Climate change has only aggravated the situation in Yemen, with droughts increasing and more people unable to have clean drinking water. Zambia: Is self sufficient in electricity. Zimbabwe: Has a very high deforestation index due to the burning of firewood because of lack of electricity. Photo courtesy of Arek Socha via Pixabay

p.10 30.10.19 New communication from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reveals that the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) is now listed as endangered and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is listed as critically endangered. Previously, African elephants were treated as a single species, however, genetic studies of populations found that the two species split from each other 5-6 million years ago. As a single species, the African elephant was classified as vulnerable. The new classifications are the two lowest categories, followed only by the ‘extinct’ classification. The IUCN assessments were performed by six assessors looking at population data from the 1960s to the present day. Overall, IUCN estimates put the total population size of elephants in Africa at 415,000. Forest elephants, in particular, recorded a steep decline of over 86% in 31 years. In contrast, African savanna elephant populations declined by 60% over the last 50 years. Dr Bruno Oberle, IUCN Director General, stated that “Africa’s elephants play key roles in ecosystems, economies and in our collective imagination all over the world. Today’s new IUCN Red List assessments of both African elephant species underline the persistent pressures faced by these iconic animals. We must urgently put an end to poaching and ensure that sufficient suitable habitat for both forest and savanna elephants is conserved. Several African countries have led the way in recent years, proving that we can reverse elephant declines, and we must work together to ensure their example can be followed.” Reasons for the population declines include climate change, demand for ivory and expansion of agriculture. Although ivory trade peaked in 2011, poaching remains a major driver of population decline. Land degradation and fragmentation is also increasingly becoming a problem for African elephants as they move over huge distances and require large areas to roam. “The results quantify the dramatic extent of the decline of these ecologically important animals. With persistent demand for ivory and escalating human pressures on Africa’s wild lands, concern for Africa’s elephants is high, and the need to creatively conserve and wisely manage these animals and their habitats is more acute than ever,” commented Dr Kathleen Gobush, lead assessor of the African elephants and member of the IUCN SSC African Elephant Specialist Group. Africa’s elephants pushed to critical population levels by loss of habitat and poaching by Anton Kuech IUCN Red List of Threatened Species updated for African elephants to endangered and critically endangered Photo courtesy of Chris Rhoads via Unsplash The new classifications are the two lowest categories, followed only by the ‘extinct’ classification. Africa’s elephants play key roles in ecosystems, economies and in our collective imagination all over the world. Reasons for the population declines include climate change, demand for ivory and expansion of agriculture We must urgently put an end to poaching and ensure that sufficient suitable habitat for both forest and savanna elephants is conserved.

30.10.19 p.11 Bonobos adopt infants Two female bonobos from different social groups were each nurturing infants that are not biologically their own. Marie and Chio from the Luo Scientific Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the first-reported case of animal adoption across groups. Adoption of orphaned infants is not new within the animal kingdom. Chimpanzees have been documented adopting related family members in East Africa. In West African communities of Tai Forest, Ivory Coast, unrelated chimpanzees adopting group members is not uncommon. As with humans, adoption means the infant receives allomaternal cares such as carrying, sharing food, grooming, and more. It is believed that this may be akin to altruistic behavior seen in humans, as such behaviour typically requires the adopter to spend their resources. Adoption may however benefit adoptive mothers, such as gaining indirect fitness and learning to be caregivers. Rarely is there ever a case of adoption across different social groups—chimpanzees, for example, are also prone to aggressive acts towards out-group members. “If chimpanzees see infants of another group, they can kill them,” Tokuyama said. “But in bonobos, in our case, they accepted the infant from another group, and we didn’t see any aggressive attitude to that infant. That is quite amazing in the animal world.” The case of Marie and Chio is unique, as the adoption goes beyond the boundaries of social groups without pre-existing kin relationships. Considering their stable group membership and capability for individual recognition, the cross-group adoption may have been enabled by the bonobos’ capability for altruistic acts and social tolerance towards out-group members. It is important to note, however, that there has never been a case of aggression towards infanticide or severe aggression within- or outgroup infants. Therefore, the adoption may just pertain to their strong attraction to infants and high tolerance towards immatures and out-group members. Whether or not animals are capable of prosocial acts has been a research topic of interest among evolutionary scientists. Bonobos are one of the great apes and share 97.8% of their DNA with humans. They are about as closely related to humans as chimpanzees. So, this documented case still opens up possibilities of research. “Bonobos are difficult to watch in the wild, more so than chimpanzees perhaps, and much behavior can be subtle, nuanced even. These discoveries show the value of long term study groups, with well-known individuals monitored over the years,” says bonobo expert and scientific director of the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, John Hart. There are also still unanswered questions, such as what happened to the biological mothers. For example, the transfers of guardianship were not actually observed. Moreover, these two isolated cases happened within a short time period. More questions remain to be answered. by Nidhiyaa Anagananthan Two wild bonobos in Luo Scientific Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The candidates for the oldest cephalopods in Earth’s history were discovered by scientists from Heidelberg University and stem from the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland, Canada. The fossils, approximately 522 million years old, could be the first known form of the invertebrate organisms, with current living descendants including cuttlefish, octopods, and nautili. If that is the case, findings propose that cephalopods evolved over 30 million years earlier than previously thought. "If they should actually be cephalopods, we would have to backdate the origin of cephalopods into the early Cambrian period," says Dr Anne Hildenbrand from the Institute of Earth Sciences, who headed the project along with Dr Gregor Austermann and with the cooperation of the Bavarian Natural History Collections. "That would mean that cephalopods emerged at the very beginning of the evolution of multicellular organisms during the Cambrian explosion." The fossil shells found on the eastern Avalon Peninsula are cone-shaped, with subdivisions of individual chambers, and connected via a tube termed the ‘siphuncle’. Cephalopods were therefore thought to be the first organisms to actively move up and down in the water and inhabit the open ocean. The found fossils are distantly related to the nautilus, with its spiral shape, but show clear differences in shape from still-existing nautili and early finds. "This find is extraordinary," says Dr Austermann. "In scientific circles it was long suspected that the evolution of these highly developed organisms had begun much earlier than hitherto assumed. But there was a lack of fossil evidence to back up this theory." The scientists from Heidelberg say that the fossils found in the Avalon Peninsula may provide this evidence—on one hand, they bear a clear resemblance to early cephalopods, but on the other, they differ significantly enough that there may instead be a link to the early Cambrian period. The Avalon Peninsula itself, or the relatively unexplored micro-continent of Avalonia, is a particularly suited location when it comes to paleontological research, with various creatures dating back to the Cambrian period still preserved in its rocks. Researchers have hope that other, betterpreserved fossil finds may confirm their predictions and classification of the found organisms as early cephalopods. The current research was published in the Nature journal Communications Biology, with logistic support given by the province of Newfoundland and the Manuels River Natural Heritage Society, which is located there. Are cephalopods older than we thought? Findings indicate that cephalopods evolved approximately 30 million years earlier than previously thought by Natalia Dec Photo courtesy of MJ Photopgraphy Photo courtesy of Albert Kok In scientific circles it was long suspected that the evolution of these highly developed organisms had begun much earlier than hitherto assumed.

30.10.19 Trigger warning: sexual assault - murder Trigger warning: sexual assault - murder p.12 Photos courtesies of Craig Sunter and Katie Tegtmeyer via Flickr Sixteen is a funny age. For the young, it is a glimpse into the adult world. You may start driving, you may be allowed to drink, in some places you may even be allowed to vote. A kind of being of both here and there: an in-between. For the old, you maybe remember sixteen with a fondness. An almost sickly nostalgia that reminds you of your once weightlessness and lightfootedness in the world. They don’t say sweet sixteen for nothing. My world, however, turned sour at sixteen. It first happened at that age. I became heavy with the weight of other’s wrongdoings. And it happened again at seventeen. And at eighteen. And again, at nineteen. For every year since I was sixteen, I must write ‘and again.’ Will I become so heavy that my existence is crushed? I wish I could tell you when I will no longer need to pen this phrase, but I am neither a fortune teller nor an optimist. The it I speak of is the instances in which my being is tested. They come in varying forms and degrees of severity ranging from harassment to assault or worse. They all serve as the same reminder, that I am nothing but another in this world. It is now reported that 97% of women have these ‘its’. Its are now shared experiences amongst women and gender-marginalised people. A deeply unfortunate given of our existence. Sarah Everard’s murder has created a ripple effect in the conversation and discussion surrounding sexual violence and the safety of marginalised genders. I have spoken to many about my experiences, both in person and in online spaces. In many of these conversations I find support, solidarity, and a shared sense of grief. Yet this growing sense of hope is extinguished as quickly as it is lit. Sarah did all the right things. She wore bright colours. She stayed on the phone to her boyfriend. She stuck to the well-lit path. Yet, she was killed. There’s that old and clichéd saying, life is like a box of chocolates, and you never know what you’re going to get. But say once, you get a chocolate that was rotten, you may become weary of the whole box. Later, you find out that many of your female friends, colleagues, and family members all too have had some rotten chocolate. It almost seems like the problem isn’t with those eating chocolate, but the chocolate themselves. ‘But it’s not all chocolate!’ you say. When we highlight the possibility that this may not just be a women’s issue (that this may in fact be larger than just us) or when we mention the way the tackle the intertwining of oppression and violence may be at the responsibility of the perpetrators and not the victim, we send you into a panic. How dare we try to implicate you? You would never do such a thing! It’s quite frankly outlandish for us to question your acceptance and passive benefit from a system that kills us. It’s almost laughable isn’t it? How this conversation has panned out? We are told this is a women’s issue. Our behaviour is deemed risky and unsafe—that we’re asking for it. So we change. We impose parameters on our already limited mobility in the hope of some safety. But, of course, nothing changes. We are still harassed. We are still assaulted. We are still raped. We are still killed. That’s the beauty of oppressive structures: although large and dominating their architecture operates on a small, yet sophisticated method. A brilliant ability to shift the narrative so that the onus is somehow always placed on the victim. But not all are quick to dismiss. Some listen. I don’t write with a complete sense of pessimism. I almost do. Almost. Some that listen like to remind other men of the fact she someone’s daughter/ wife/sister. I think it is meant to be well intentioned, but I can’t help but become frustrated. I call this the proximity argument. The proximity argument serves as a reminder of our place in this world. Our place is dictated by our relations to men, with our value being found in our proximity to them. Men are someone. Women are someone’s. This rhetoric is harmful, it reminds us of our otherness, and it teaches men to only care about this issue under the assumption that it indirectly affects them. I shouldn’t have to justify who I am for you to listen. Please recognise me for me entirety. Please act on the basis of our shared ‘someoneness’. So the next time you think of saying ‘but it’s not all men’ or ‘I’m not like that”, think about what you’re doing. Think about how you continually centre the conversation to be about you. Think about how whenever we raise our voice, you shut it down. Think about how your failure to act endangers us. We know it’s not all men. You don’t need to keep telling us that. But we can’t help but think it. The victim’s voice is the most important, not yours. by Eilidh Keay We can’t reclaim the streets without changing attitudes I was sexually assaulted not long after I started university. I made my peace with it when the perpetrator apologised not long after. They seemed genuinely remorseful, and I had no interest in taking it any further (partially because my trust in complaints systems is low). But as a man, I’m always worried that when I do feel empowered to share my story, it’s speaking over women. After all, a lot of these discussions are very gendered, and the main priority rightly concerns violence against women. That leaves male survivors often thinking “where do we fit in?” The times we feel empowered to talk about it are often ones where the discussion centres around violence against women, so when I do have frank conversations about my own story as a queer man, I try to frame it as standing in solidarity with women. The murder of Sarah Everard in South London and the discussion it has created on Twitter has still been empowering. However, I will always feel uncomfortable because I will worry in perpetuity that I’m speaking over women. Much like with the rise of male mental health issues, the solution is more focus and support towards male victims of sexual assault (which in my case was perpetuated by another man). The first aspect of my assault that needs to be discussed is a queer one. The advances made towards me that night shortly after the club closing time were made after it was established that he was gay and I was bisexual. The concept of consent in LGBT+ spaces and among the LGBT+ community is something that needs discussed—my indication that I was not straight wasn’t a signal that I was interested in sexual activity with that person, and nor should it be. I’ve also been on the receiving end of predatory behaviour from older men in queer spaces, and while I’ve never been assaulted in a gay bar, I’ve certainly been made to feel uncomfortable. It made me question my choice to live, at least to my university friends, as an out bisexual man. The second is the aspect of toxic masculinity and how the patriarchy can hurt men. Society tells me I cannot be vulnerable, and my trauma is mine and mine alone to deal with. While I’ve always recognised this as bad, I can sometimes, even knowingly, fall into these traps. The patriarchy hurting men, especially queer men, isn’t particularly a point of discussion. I’ve always thought of it as a way to reclaim International Men’s Day from the incels and misogynists, who take it as the one day of the year society allows them to be overtly sexist, racist, or homophobic. This hypothetical space would be far more comfortable for divulging my trauma, knowing that I’m not speaking over women, and also so that the ‘Not All Men’ crowd don’t use me purely to justify their own “I’m not part of the problem, therefore I must not be part of the solution” mentality. All victims of rape and sexual assault need the time and space to tell their story in a way that is comfortable for them. That means we need to talk more about male survivors in a way that doesn’t take away from the gendered nature of sexual violence and ensure a separate discourse about male victims. We need a separate discussion about male victims of sexual assault One that still emphasises female survivors and doesn’t give into misogyny by Jack Boag

30.10.19 p.13 Racist Rule Britannia: are we doing enough? The emergence of a student’s racist behaviour raises a question: do we have a bigotry problem? Last week, the University of Aberdeen was dragged into the spotlight as the story of a student’s dispute with the student union hit the press. The student in question was Elizabeth Heverin, who, after displaying wildly racist behaviour, was temporarily banned from all premises and activities associated with the student union. Why did this story circulate so widely beyond Aberdeen, however? The involvement of the song “Rule Britannia”. It allowed papers such as the Metro, the Times, and many more to use such clickbaity titles such as “Aberdeen University student banned from union for saying Rule Britannia” —downplaying or downright lying about the circumstances surrounding the union’s action. #RuleBritannia was trending on Twitter as many cursed us unpatriotic lefties for our never-ending snow-flakiness and even Tommy Robinson, self-described journalist and professional thug, felt the need to weigh in. But the circumstances surrounding the ban go much further than quoting a song with imperialist undertones. The ban came during a virtual meeting with international students about whether an on-campus military presence is appropriate, due to their close ties with colonialism. Heverin responded in the chatroom: “if the British military makes them feel uncomfortable why did they come to a British uni?” then adding “Rule, Britannia.” The fact that she would rather foreign students stop coming to Aberdeen than the University address the army’s contribution to unnecessary overseas slaughter is enough to raise doubts in anyone’s mind as to her character. To confirm those doubts, all you need to do is look at her other social media posts, where she throws around racist and homophobic slurs; she tells one user to “get lynched” and even posts a picture of a Klan robe. After seeing this, one must wonder if a temporary ban is enough. Heverin has declined to comment. The union launched an investigation into her behaviour but couldn’t conclude that there was “deliberate racist content”—again, this is someone who posts pictures of Klan robes online. But should the student union be alone in acting on this? This is by no means a new thing, and we aren’t the first to point this out. An open letter was sent to the University when a black medical student had come forward with allegations of racism. The letter wanted a change to the culture, but has there been? It seems that everyone has time to be shocked and disheartened but not enough time to actually do anything. And where is AUSA in all this? A spokesperson for them said “freedom of speech should not be mistaken for permission to say horrible, abusive and disrespectful things without facing the consequences”. Although this statement is true, it does not seem to be accompanied by any action against Heverin or others who thinks that this sort of behaviour is excusable. Every incident is met with “we don’t condone this and an investigation will be carried out”. Sometimes it feels like the only thing keeping AUSA together is the desire to keep quiet. It is nowhere near good enough for people and institutions to not be racist—what these institutions need to grasp is that they need to be actively anti-racist. However, AUSA are not the only ones who have a responsibility in defending students from hate crimes; the staff of this University also have an obligation to ensure that no one is victimised for their race, sexual orientation, gender, or any other unchangeable characteristic. According to the ‘Code of Practice on Student Discipline’, the University Court can launch a disciplinary investigation into any student charged with misconduct. The most serious forms of misconduct can include “discriminating against any member of the University community” (perhaps by calling someone a slur) and “behaving in a violent, indecent or threatening manner” (like threatening to lynch someone). There have been charges against Heverin accompanied by evidence, so why isn’t an investigation being started? A petition has taken off calling for this very investigation. The student who started this petition, Rosie McCaffrey, says “language like that, especially when used so aggressively the [that] police have gotten involved, is threatening to a lot of the student population.” The story of Elizabeth Heverin is disturbing, but what’s more disturbing is the knowledge that she’s not alone. The best way to create an environment free of prejudice is to fight it wherever you find it, and at the moment it feels like the University is failing to do that, but they can take a step in the right direction by launching a full-scale disciplinary investigation into any and all allegations of discrimination. by Evelyn Bayerlein and Olivia Mackenzie Smith Photo courtesy of Clay Banks via Unsplash The impact of Orientalism In the fight against Anti-Asian racism, we cannot ignore Western imperialism I n the past twelve months, there has been a notable increase of racist incidents against individuals of East Asian descent in Western nations. While it may be simple to view this through the conventional media lens, which claims that racism is propagated by a right-wing fringe and is an abnormality in the way the West operates, this is far from the whole story. Since WWII, the West (I will refer primarily to the US here) has systematically oppressed East Asians, no matter their particular background. A quick glance at the nations bombed and/or invaded by the US since 1945 provides a clear view of the extent to which East Asian countries have been targeted. Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea and almost every other East Asian country has at one time been a victim of US bombs, troops, or economic sanctions in the last seven decades. It is true that the Covid-19 pandemic propelled Anti-Asian racism, particularly with the almost daily branding of the disease as the “China Virus” by former US President, Donald Trump. However, these sentiments did not begin in 2020. They stretch back much further than mainstream narratives will care to detail. Those originating from the Asian continent have always been viewed through the lens of ‘Orientalism’ (see Edward Said), which paints Asians as innately ‘backwards’ and ‘other’ in stark contrast to a more sophisticated, Western civilisation. These views have permeated through academia and the media and have found their place firmly in Western populations. The Covid-19 pandemic did not initiate antiAsian sentiment, it merely provided fresh ammunition. The contemporary Asian opponent comes in the form of China. Soon to be the world’s largest economy, China is spreading its wings as a nation state and planting its influence across the globe, much to the frustration of the previously hegemonic United States. Threatening American hegemony has never gone without aggressive opposition and now is no different. The US utilises every available asset — from the media and the military, to NGOs — to push its anti-Chinese messaging. Even ‘progressive’ heroes such as AOC and Ilhan Omar have signed on to the economic sanctioning of China, despite knowing full well the impacts this will have on the Chinese people and their access to food, healthcare, and water. A glance at almost every Western political party shows that they all fall in line with the anti-Chinese narrative and are more than willing to back the US’s imperialist intentions. The point of this background explanation is to establish the undeniable link between government intentions, actions and attitudes, and the racism East Asians experience daily. There is no distinction between opposing Western imperialism in Asia and supporting your Asian friends, neighbours, and coworkers. I see far too many people citing government backed sinophobia and then sharing an “end racism against Asians” post in the same breath. There are clear failings from the Chinese government, like most countries, but the never-ending message that China is innately evil and ‘out to get’ the West is the fundamental messaging which facilitates the rise in anti-Asian sentiment Asians are subjected to every single day. If I can encourage readers to do one thing, it is to read into what you are told, do not believe at face value the narratives propagated by mainstream sources and ensure that you do not view China — or any other East-Asian nation — through the same orientalist lens it has always been examined through. by Robbie Kirk Photo courtesy of winsu bagus (@winsubagusw) via Unsplash

p.14 30.10.19 The United Nations has declared this decade as the decade of ecosystem restoration, officially from 2021 to 2030, in order to breathe some new life into our ever-degrading planet. It arises on the back of the current climate emergency, for which scientists say the time to respond is getting shorter and shorter. Not only will the climate catastrophe that we are heading for devastate the planet itself, but it will affect people all over the globe (a sentence that should seem laughably obvious, but isn’t so to some). While many incremental solutions are suggested every year, the main requirement for this to be a success is neither an economic nor political one. The change needed is one of outlook and perception. This problem is especially clear in Scotland. Many Scots will paint beautiful landscapes in others’ minds when describing their home, likely highlighting the glens, bens, lochs, and wildlife. I hear often that we are incredibly lucky to live in this corner of the world. The Highlands and Islands especially appear untouched by human activity, but this could not be further from the truth. Many of the desktop wallpapers and the framed landscape photographs are breathtaking at first, but if you look for long enough you’ll soon realise the incredible lack of biodiversity in the Scottish countryside. Reflecting back on my upbringing, it’s easy to now see this lie that we’ve been sold: Highland springs, organic farm fields, rich forests, liquid-crystal lochs. These are, in reality, few and far between. In fact, it’s impossible to say where the Cairngorms National Park really stops and starts. The muted landscapes of Scotland are mistakenly treasured. For how immensely sparsely populated Scotland is, the footprint of man’s dominion reaches even the most remote places. Historically, the countryside has been mistreated; people and nature alike haven’t been the priority. The Highland clearances of the 16th and 17th centuries and then mass emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries have led to much of the country being deemed ‘inhabitable’, or at least somewhat undesirable to live in, in many a Scot’s mind, with poorer education, employment, housing, and limited access to public services common in rural areas. The for-profit driven degradation of Scottish land is largely to blame, and a normalisation of the limited biodiversity that surrounds us. A new outlook is needed. Huge open fields separated only by hedgerows for grazing animals is not normal; it’s not nature. Draining and burning peatlands is not ‘management’, it’s destruction. Processes such as this destroy carbon capture pockets, wildlife habitats, and natural water purifiers. Forests that are planted to only later be destroyed are not forests. They need not only trees, but mosses, shrubs, and soil microbes, to name a few, for it to work as a habitat. As the Scottish Rewilding Alliance have said, nature is something to align and ally ourselves with, not something to resist. Not only is a fresh outlook needed to move away from our current ‘ecological blindness’, but some misconceptions need to be cleared up before rewilding can take place. It’s not about putting the planet or wildlife before people, and it’s not to be restricted only to rural areas. Humans can live alongside new creatures and new green developments, and we can create many green jobs out of it. Common Weal’s own policy papers have found that many, many new rural jobs would earn more in terms of income than current livestock production, and that’s not even mentioning the awful waste that is private shooting estates too: more jobs would exist with increased rewilding land management strategies. Ecotourism would skyrocket. People already love the red kits, white-tail eagles, ospreys, and bottlenose dolphins of the Moray Firth, as the Scottish Rewilding Alliance notes. Moreover, although 73% of people support rewilding, only 52% support reintroducing wild lynx (a Survation poll shows); this in no way means animals are being given priority. In fact, this proposal often arises only because of people’s complaints about vast deer populations ruining forests that we enjoy. If beavers are being annoying, the solution is not to kill them, but to firstly recognise the great benefit they do have, and then consider relocating them. It’s important that the benefits of rewilding are not only felt by the rural population, as green spaces in cities are equally important. Though, once again, it requires a mindset that nature is our ally, not our foe. Changing people’s minds will be hard, but it is possible. Only a lifetime ago were red squirrels considered vermin, yet now they’re beloved creatures that are a thrill to spot. Attitudes and priorities can and will change, but the first step is realising that we’ve grown too accustomed to a landscape that is monocultural and flat, despite the colourrich stories about our ‘lucky corner’ of the world. Rewilding requires new outlooks by Aidan Bridgeman Much of Scotland’s cherished natural beauty is muted The royal family has an enduring importance in Britain. Monarchists argue that they embody the country’s human identity and roots, perpetuating a nation’s history. Monarchs are considered symbols of unity in times of crisis, and they exemplify the human values that a country stands for. This powerful image extends to the voluntary union of the 54 countries identified within the Commonwealth of Nations. While politicians come and go, a successful royal family creates a sense of human continuity at the heart of a society. And yet, the recent revelations of the ongoing devastation from Covid-19, the economic fallout of Brexit, and the allegations of sincere inhumanity that were brought to the forefront during Meghan and Harry’s interview have, in turn, spotlighted the cracks in the British monarchy. Is it any wonder that Britons are left questioning whether the institution is becoming an outdated relic? Admittedly, the Queen has served the country admirably throughout her almost 70-year reign, which explains why the majority of British subjects still support her being a political figurehead. That being said, Statista reveals that only 42% of 18-24 year olds feel that way, hinting that the institution is lacking in accommodating modern paradigms. There is a further irony in that working-class citizens believe that they can truly be represented by birth-given power and wealth. When we break it down, the role of the British monarchy remains primarily ceremonial, since it no longer fulfils any political or executive roles, despite the Queen meeting regularly with the PM and being briefed on matters of national importance. The long-standing argument that the royal family brings political stability to Britain battles for relevance if the duties of the monarchy can be transferred to somebody who can theoretically represent the ideas of the public. There’s further concern for British taxpayers about the increasing cost of the family, 41% up from 2018-9 to be exact. Upon weighing the value placed on the benefits of travel/tourism, pensions, and security, can the $82+ million used annually to support the family continue to be justified? The recurring argument that the royal family bring tourism to the UK becomes incredibly trivial when they’re costing us more than they’re bringing in. The British Monarchy failing to represent a country that is deeply divided—and instinctively oppressed to discuss its role and relevance in modern times—creates an urgent need for reform. This was reaffirmed by Harry’s comment in the Oprah interview in which he claimed that his brother and father remain trapped within the system. On the Queen’s golden wedding anniversary, she too implied that bringing the monarchy closer to the British people would be an ideal approach, since the elected government and hereditary monarchy are complementary institutions. Should the monarchy downsize, it would not only become more tolerable, but would cost significantly less. Additionally, the idea of patriotism being preserved and existing independently of a head of state has been demonstrated as viable by many other countries for decades, and therefore becomes an appealing alternative for the UK. Ultimately, the argument about what kind of monarchy we want to have is really an argument about what kind of society we want to live in. Perhaps it’s finally time Britain ought to mature as a democracy and move into a world that is truly post-empire. Is it time to abolish the British monarchy? A symbol of solidarity or an outdated relic? by Megan Haf Donoher Photo courtesy of James West via Flickr Photo courtesy of Jimmy Harris via Flickr

30.10.19 p.15 DISCLAIMER All opinions expressed in the satire section are written primarily for the sake of comic value and therefore do not necessarily represent the honest views held by the author, The Gaudie, AUSA, or Announcements that the lockdown in Scotland is set to begin being lifted in the next few months have been met with celebration/dread as the date fast approaches that socialising will be a real possibility for millions of people. Last week marks the anniversary of the UK entering a national lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This included restrictions on hospitality, non-essential retail and socialising between individuals. During that time there has been a huge shift away from in-person learning and working and a move to online and remote methods. This has also caused significant lifestyle changes for staff and students who have struggled/prospered in what has been called "The New Normal". These changes have allowed staff and students greater flexibility in their working habits. Some of the changes reported have been the result of depression/enjoyment due to the lack of social enforcement, causing some to spend most of the day in their pyjamas, or in bed. In terms of home visits and travel, many students are delighted/disgusted at the prospect of no longer being restricted/ excused from seeing close family during holiday breaks. It is expected that by the summer restrictions should have eased to allow mixing between households across the country again. Another significant change on the horizon is the ability for students to seek romantic partners with greater ease. Since the beginning of lockdown, the only option has been for two individuals to designate each other their non-cohabiting partners, a significant commitment/thinly veiled excuse to allow close contact. Jubilation / Disappointment over lockdown end by A Concerned Bystander Photo courtesy of Richard Townshend via Wikimedia The introduction of a new law in England criminalising protests that cause "disruption" or "serious annoyance" carrying a possible sentence of 10 years in prison have been met with "strong criticism". As well as attempts to undermine disruptive protests, The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill contains a raft of measures, like increased sentences for certain crimes like the murder of the children and sexual offences. In the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard in which the Home Secretary, Priti Patel claimed that the Bill was important in expanding protections of women despite the Bill not containing the word women. However, the increased sentences will likely have a significant impact on the 2% of rapes in England and Wales that result in a conviction — this number has been in decline. As a compromise, the bill does offer protection to statues and other non-animate objects, 7% of which are of women. Asylum In response to an increase in people seeking asylum in the OK, the Home Secretary has also announced that she is considering moving asylum processing to more remote areas of the UK, such as Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, or possibly further afield if need be. This move comes alongside the announcement that the route to claiming asylum will be made more difficult for individuals who arrive in the UK using an illegal method, such as by boat across the English channel. This has disappointed some supporters of asylum seekers who see the exact mode of transport used by those fleeing war, persecution, and violence to be somewhat of a secondary factor. Changes to asylum policy also come after remarks made by the Home Secretary last year, where she told the Conservative Party Conference that the greatest threats to safety in the UK were solicitors representing asylum seekers in court cases, specifically blaming "Lefty Lawyers" and "Do Gooders". Policing and Crime Bill by Harrold Saxton Photo courtesy of Ross Parker/SNS group

30.10.19 TRIGGER WARNING this article contains mentions of sexual abuse. p.16 “I just signed your death warrant,” the chilling words of Judge Rosemarie Aquilina boomed in a Michigan courtroom in January 2018 when she sentenced Larry Nassar, the 56-year-old former U.S. Gymnastics physician, to what was essentially a life sentence in prison. Nassar was accused of sexually abusing more than 250 athletes over two decades, dating back as far as 1992, in what is today known as the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal. Nassar has been named in several lawsuits filed by athletes who accused him of sexually abusing them under the pretence of medical treatment for more than 14 years. The Indianapolis Star, a daily newspaper based in Indianapolis, was the first newspaper to report the news and continued to follow the investigation for more than nine months. The first woman to publicly accuse him in 2016 and allow the IndyStar to use her name was Rachael Denhollander, a former gymnast. Denhollander was only 15-year old when Nassar abused her and she was 32 when she finally found the strength to come forward and tell her story. Rachael Denhollander’s confession was the first one to have a massive impact on the public. However, at least seven other women accused Nassar of sexual abuse over a twenty-year period before Denhollander, and had been left unheard. The investigation of the Indianapolis Star revealed that Nassar had not been the first coach to be accused of committing abuses and getting away with it for a long period of time. It was found out, in fact, that USAG mostly helped to cover sexual misconduct by using a system that relocated predatory coaches from one gym to the other and allowing them to remain undetected. USAG has also been known for dismissing the warnings about coaches on several occasions since the early 1990s. Following a lawsuit in 2013, USAG officials admitted that allegations of sexual abuse were routinely dismissed as hearsay unless they came directly from a victim or victim's parent in a written report. Marisa Kwiatkowski, an investigative reporter working for the Indianapolis Star and at the forefront of the case, requested to the court the documents regarding the case of William McCabe, a Georgia coach who was convicted of child abuse in 2006. A few years prior, USAG had already received multiple complaints against McCabe from athletes to gym owners but dismissed the allegations and allowed McCabe to keep coaching for the next seven years. In 2006, McCabe pleaded guilty to federal charges of sexual exploitation of children and making false statements. He is now serving a 30-year sentence in prison. However, it quickly became clear that McCabe was only the tip of the iceberg. The documents requested by Kwiatkowski showed how USAG had dealt with previous cases concerning various sexual misconduct allegations that were made against coaches over a 10-year period from 1996 to 2006. The documents disclosed that at least 54 coaches had been accused of sexual abuse. In most cases the allegation had been dismissed; in one occasion a regional chairman even spoke in support of the sexual offenders, asking the USAG president to allow the coaches to keep their membership and continue with their careers. Since then, USAG has stated that 37 of the 54 coaches named in the documents have been permanently banned from the sport. But the worst was yet to come. Following the accusations of Rachael Denhollander, over 250 women and young girls came forward to confess the abuses perpetrated by Nassar over the years, most of them were minors when the events occurred. Nassar was a licensed osteopathic physician and, additionally to his role of national team doctor for USAG, he was a faculty member at the Michigan State University running a clinic and gymnastic club there. Despite claiming that he had retired from his role within USAG, it was later confirmed that USAG had actually fired Nassar in 2015 after some athletes expressed “concerns” regarding his behaviour. The University of Michigan also fired Nassar in September 2016, the same month in which Rachael Denhollander publicly accused him of sexual abuse for the first time. In February 2017, the American television news magazine 60 Minutes interviewed former gymnasts and Olympians Jeanette Antolin, Jessica Howard and Jamie Dantzscher. During the interview, each of the women also accused Larry Nassar and confessed that many of the abuses had occurred at the Károlyi Ranch. The Károlyi Ranch was the official facility where the USA women’s national gymnastics team trained, and it was run by married couple Béla and Márta Károlyi. The ranch was also officially recognized by USAG as the Olympic training facility for the group of gymnasts who were “We are now a force and you are nothing.” - Inside the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal by Alessandra Puglisi How athletes stood up to their abuser in historical trial set to compete at the following Olympics. The ranch was located in Walker County, Texas, an isolated location that made it difficult to reach and be connected with the outside world. Parents were also strictly forbidden to visit the Ranch while training took place. Antolin, Howard and Dantzscher told 60 Minutes that the atmosphere at the ranch was one of fear and the environment was often emotionally abusive. Furthermore, they accused the Károlyis of knowing what Larry Nassar was doing to the athletes but turned a blind eye on it. In January 2018, while Nassar’s trial was still on going, USAG terminated the lease for the Károlyi Ranch. Later that month, the ranch announced its permanent closure on the website, and the criminal investigation was passed to the Texas Rangers Division. Between 2017 and 2018, a big number of athletes came forward to testify against Nassar at the trial, many of them had been part of various national and the Olympic teams through the years. Amongst them were Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols, McKayla Maroney, Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber, Sabrina Vega, Madison Kocian, and Kyla Ross. It was also revealed that Sarah Jantzi, which was Maggie Nichols’ coach at the time, had overheard Nichols talking to fellow athletes Aly Raisman and Alyssa Baumann about the concerning practices that Larry Nassar performed on her. Both Raisman and Baumann said that Nassar had done the same things to them, but did not realize until later that he was disguising sexual abuse under medical practice. Following the conversation, Sarah Jantzi immediately alerted Nichols’ parents and reported Nassar to USAG in 2015, but the allegations were dismissed at the time. The 24th of January 2018, Judge Aquilina sentenced Larry Nassar to prison for 40 to 175 years. In a week-long sentencing hearing, more than 150 women stood up and spoke out in a Michigan courtroom telling the whole world their story. “Larry, you do realize now that we — this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time — are now a force, and you are nothing.” Aly Raisman’s words resonated powerfully. Raisman had already previously attacked USAG for their poor handling of the situation regarding the scandal, “Whether or not he did it to a gymnast, they still knew him. Even if he didn’t do it to you, it’s still the trauma and the anxiety of wondering what could have happened. I think that needs to be addressed.” She stressed that everyone in the sport matters in the same way, “It doesn’t matter if you’re the Olympic champion or you’re an eight-year-old that goes to gymnastics wherever you are in the US. Every single kid is important and I want USA Gymnastics to do a better job with that.” Raisman added how crucial it was for USAG to create a safe program that promoted change and to contact all the families of the athletes that came forward to offer help. Investigations continued after Nassar’s trial, which led to the resignation of the entire board of USAG in 2018, including former president Steve Penny. In 2019, USAG appointed Li Li Leung as the new president and CEO. She was the fourth person to be hired for that role after Steve Penny, Kerry Perry and Mary Bono all resigned. Leung said that she hopes to use her experience — most notably as the vice-president of the NBA — in sports and business to create a safe environment for athletes to thrive in. “Like everyone, I was upset and angry to learn about the abuse and the institutions that let the athletes down. I admire the courage and strength of the survivors.” Leung said, as she vowed to make it a priority to see that athletes’ claims are heard and resolved. Photo courtesy of Senate Democrats via Creative Commons

arts culture fashion lifestyle food gaming iV technology Ranking the 2021 Oscars Best Picture contenders R anking ever y Elder Scrolls game from best to worst Arts p.6-7 Gaming and Tech p.11 10 tips to prepare for online exams Life and Style p.12-13 hey martin parel!!!!

p. 2 facebook/thegaudie | @thegaudie | gaudie.co.uk I t is all turning to vinegar. Can you tell? With your BLT, have some crisps, wait! I see a seagull. Hide? Run? Confront. You like vinegar. With love, Team iV Editors Emilia Nuotio Rosie Benny IV Editors ARTS ([email protected]) Editor - Rory Buccheri Deputy Editors - Amy Smith - Miles Stebens LIFE AND STYLE ([email protected]) Editor - Kendra Clark GAMING AND TECH ([email protected]) Editor - Nidhiyaa Anagananthan Production Mathilde Communal Copy Editors Jenna Fults Amy Smith Emilia Nuotio Front page Mathilde Communal iV WandaVision (2021One of their most unique p r o d u c t i o n s y e t , WandaVision is Marvel’s newest addition to their Cinematic Universe and the first title in their Disney+ Originals line-up. After the character Vision died in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), fans were confused how this hero could have any more stories in the MCU. In WandaVision, Wanda Maximoff, an enhanced person who got her superpowers from an extraterrestrial source as the result of Neo-Nazi experimentation, has seemingly created a parallel universe where she and Vision lead happy lives as husband and wife. Here’s the thing, though: Wanda and Vision are living inside a 1950s sitcom. Complete with corsets, hoop skirts and household panic when dinner with the boss doesn’t go to plan. Also, their sitcom is being broadcast, attracting government agencies to set up a base camp outside the quaint little New Jersey town that Wanda has hijacked as the soundstage for her sitcom. Things only get weirder from there. The first episode of the show is a marvel (no pun intended). Careful attention has been paid to make every detail as historically accurate as possible, down to filming the episode in front of a live studio audience. Shot on film under the glaring heat of studio lighting, necessary for the cameras to pick up details in the shot, the actors shot the entire episode in one go to capture the natural reactions of the audience. The writing and mise-enscene form the perfect framework for the over-the-top and excellent acting performances, with the added elements of a superhuman and a super-intelligent AI creature made from a nearly indestructible metal. Just like they did in the 50s. WandaVision moves through the decades with each episode, filling the screen with pop culture references from shows like I Dream of Jeanie, The Brady Bunch, Full House and Modern Family. A parallel storyline follows the efforts of the agents outside Wanda’s bubble as they try to understand what’s happening and how to save the people that Wanda has trapped inside her sitcom. The show contrasts the joyful and superficial sitcoms with an underlying tension, creating the sense that things aren’t quite what they seem as Wanda’s illusion slowly starts to come apart. Eventually, the story moves into a more classic MCU style, something which has divided critics. Some may argue that this breaks the Hollywood magic that makes WandaVision a breath of fresh air, while others highlight that a Marvel production looking like a Marvel production shouldn’t come as a surprise. Focusing on the storyline, WandaVision is an exploration of how grief and trauma affects a superhero losing the one she loves. It creates a depth to Wanda’s by Julie Toft Carlsen photos courtesy of Disney+

p. 3 review review arts | marvel 1) character that is seldom seen in superhero films, highlighting the true strength of the MCU in its capacity for character development through the long-form narratives created over multiple films and TV episodes. The show’s greatest weakness, though, is its requirement to develop characters and plotlines for future MCU projects, which are frankly irrelevant to WandaVision. Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany and Kathryn Hahn are outstanding and bring so much life and credibility to their larger-than-life characters. The show reinvents itself with every episode, keeping viewers on their toes and creates an innovative and hig hly enjoyable b l e n d o f Hollywood sitcoms and classic MCU. review review

p. 4 arts | creative writing Waterfalls and you, sitting on a rock, smiling, laughing, playing with your feet – purpleish hue freezing on your lips yesterday’s smile of all good memories, jumping, flowing like the stream of water you look at. Just a glance Too happy, too absorbed! Too gleeful, carefree… selfish to realise: Look at me, I am down here, miles away from you gasping, holding on to nothing. Water flows, rushes, bites and punches until the current does me in. Waterfalls and you watched me die. Waterfalls and you by Rory Buccheri photo courtesy of B. Fickeinsen via Unsplash

p. 5 arts | creative writing by Julie Toft Carlsen I start And again, And again, Once more, Over here many things in a day, or an hour, I’m reminded of what it’s like not to know myself, the anger floods me and I must parent myself, which isn’t my fault yet to always have known that I’m not who I thought I was, I do not see a before or an after, there is only now, and I must be punished, for I have failed deep breaths pull me toward the ground let me explain my worries were shrugged off, I talked too much I drown in oceans, until I remember that I know how to ride the waves, I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult because no one ever listened I do not feel at home in here What’s for dinner? I’ve had to learn. Tuesday

p. 6 The nominees for the 2021 Academy Awards have been revealed and a total of eight films have been selected to contend for the Best Picture award. Unfortunately, there are only a few of the contenders that can be watched now in the UK, and whilst there are a couple of contenders that are releasing in April, the rest will not release until after the awards. However, I have been fortunate enough to be given access to every Best Picture contender, and I will be ranking the eight films, as well as telling you where and when you will be able to access them. This ranking is not what I predict will win, nor necessarily what the most technically strong films are; this is simply down to my favourites. I also want to note that I would score every film at least 4/5, so even the last place is very strong this year. 1. Promising Young Woman I cannot wait for UK audiences to see this one, and this is a film I really want to see in the cinemas. It is hard to believe that this is a directorial feature debut from Emerald Fennell, as the direction is so sharp and the film takes us on this incredible story from start to finish. As much as I love the other films nominated this year, this one had the strongest impact on me, and is the one I know I’ll watch again and again. Available on Sky Cinemas and NOW TV from April 16th. 2. The Trial of the Chicago 7 In what may seem like a controversial opinion in this year’s race, I loved watching Sorkin’s work in the cinema and was enthralled by the story he told. The cast gives everything here, and the editing helps bring this world to life. There are scenes here that I will simply never forget. Available now on Netflix. 3. Minari This is such a beautiful story, and one that is semi-autobiographical for director Lee Isaac Chung. It is hard not to fall in love with these characters, the warmth of the story, and the way this film has been told. Available on-demand from April 2nd. 4. Nomadland This is the frontrunner to win the Best Picture award, and I will be incredibly happy if it does win. This is a film that the Academy doesn’t usually draw towards, but director Chloé Zhao made it work in a way no other director could have. It is an honour to see her win across the board and to see women succeed. Available on Disney+ from April 30th. 5. Sound of Metal I worried that Sound of Metal would be left out of the Oscar conversation, and yet it thoroughly deserves the nominations it got. This is a story that is so well told and gives a voice to those that still feel left out, and I hope it sparks a conversation for the need of closed captions and awareness for the deaf community within the industry. Available on Amazon Prime from April 12th. 6. Judas and the Black Messiah This is a film that I got the honour of seeing and reviewing as part of the Sundance Film Festival, but this is another film that I feel will have so much impact on the big screen. The only nominee I have watched numerous times so far, there is so much power within this story and I just hope Supporting AAvailable n7. The Fath Out ofnominee lhere, this the one I flike I need revisit. Tstory does fully explainthe final momtle details indesign, and ethis narrativeand I think aboost it up onRelease dat8. Mank Even thoumy list, therappreciate wDavid Finchhave some pacing, but thand editing bperiod to lifeone worth telAvailable narts | awards by Amy Smith Ranking the 2021 Best Picture contephoto courtesy of ncolnblues licensed under

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p. 8 arts | reviews Mank is a film that makes you want to watch Citizen Kane, not the making of it. David Fincher’s film, adapted from his late father’s screenplay, is a sumptuous looking spectacle that dives into the up-and-coming golden era of Hollywood, but sadly lacks the lasting impact of the film it depicts. This may be unfair, as Citizen Kane is regarded as one of the finest pieces of Western cinema ever produced, yet such baggage seems to weigh down Fincher’s film, which seems at best to fall into the doldrums of ‘a decent flick’. The Oscar-nominated film tells the tale of Herman Mankiewicz, a writer intent on drinking himself into a stupor, who also creates masterful work. We begin with Hermie bedridden and broke, abandoned by Hollywood and left with a final chance, to write a screenplay for a little-known young director, Orson Welles. Fincher jumps from the downtrodden Mankiewicz to flashbacks with Herman’s earlier ordeals with Hollywood. From here, the narrative entwines political plots and corrupt cinematic movie moguls to create a fantastical storm that underpins the creation of Orson Welles’ most notorious film. To his credit, Fincher creates a film so witty and charming that Mank could’ve come out in the 30s and I wouldn’t bat an eye. This is aided by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score, which ties together Fincher’s excellent visuals and script to paint a perfect picture of the talkies. Gary Oldman as Mankiewicz is excellent, exceptionally capturing the writer’s wit juxtaposed with his utter dependence on alcohol. I didn’t know whether to honour the man’s evident genius or slap him for his utter neglect of his ‘poor Sara’, played by Tuppence Middleton. Amanda Seyfried’s depiction of Marion Davies was beautifully constructed and her chemistry with Gary Oldman was close to stealing the show. However, Charles Dance’s performance was utterly mesmeric. Dance embodies William Randolph Hearst and one scene with a drunken Mank sent shivers down my spine. Fincher gets a lot right, but Mank does not leave me in deep contemplation — rather, it left me confused. At points, I found it hard to keep up with the plot, and in the end, it cemented my opinion that I should just watch the real deal. A film depicting the making of a film is doomed to search for a hidden narrative that justifies its creation. Mank seems to lean on the credentials of Citizen Kane and crams political spectacle in to exaggerate the tale. For me, the problem is that Mank is good but Citizen Kane will always be seen as great. Thus Fincher is fighting an upward battle, as Mank will always be evaluated in opposition to its subject matter. Mank (2020) by Aedan Brennan Pieces of a Woman, one of the 2021 Oscar nominations, is an inspiring and honest movie which tells the story of how Martha (Vanessa Kirby), a strong, young, working woman and her partner Sean (Shia LaBoeuf ) survive, cope, and continue on with life after a difficult home birth which ends in tragedy. We see their relationship deteriorate and eventually collapse while previously established tensions with Martha’s family escalate. The film is a sombre one and, without a doubt, will leave many viewers in tears. It is also eminently raw, yet intimate. Stripped back to the basics, it creates a realistic atmosphere in which the story is told. Neither the birth, nor the aftermath and trauma are romanticised in the slightest. They are underlined by the skilful camerawork and soundtrack, which emphasise the characters’ lived reality. Vanessa Kirby, known for her portrayal of the young Princess Margaret in The Crown, delivers an outstanding performance in Pieces of a Woman, her first lead role. She characterizes Martha with such sincerity and honesty that it draws you into her recent traumatic experience as if you were a fly on the wall. There is no wonder as to why she has been nominated for Best Actress. However, I did find Pieces of a Woman difficult to get into as it is a long film which moves relatively slowly. Still, I did really enjoy it and found it eye-opening to the struggles mothers who have lost a child face. Martha does finally get her happy ending (which I will not spoil) which moved me to tears of joy. Pieces of a Woman and Vanessa Kirby ver y mu c h deserve th is Oscar nomination for the beautifully intimate and candid film they have created. Pieces of a Woman (2020) by Kathleen Langan

p. 9 arts | reviews Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak are a duo made in heaven. At first, I worried the two would overpower each other, with them both mastering similar genres of soul-funk and pop. Yet they certainly don’t clash — quite the opposite: they create a track so blissful that it might just transport you to a time where you didn’t have to worry about forgetting your PPE. The track starts with an exuberantly lavish style that carries on throughout. With its mix of gospel and soul elements, the song oozes class and pizazz. You instantly feel your feet tapping and find yourself swaying to the tones. Anderson Paak underscores this with his cheeky and effortlessly sexy lyrics, which put a modern twist to a song that harks back to bygone golden eras. What elevates this track to new heights, however, is Bruno Mars: his vocals, entwined with the layers of funk and idyllic chords, make you stand up and dance. In my case, with the window wide open so the world can see. When writing this review, I had this song playing on repeat: not once did I get bored; not once did I double guess my total devotion to this dynamic duo’s creation. This song will effortlessly brighten your day, and I feel we all need that in our lives right now. Leave The Door Open by Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak by Aedan Brennan The events of Alan Gillespie’s debut novel, The Mash House, are centred on an isolated fictional village in the Scottish Highlands. In this place called Cullrothes, the changeable nature of Scottish rural weather is as complex as the characters who live there. What’s impressive is Gillespie’s rich portrayal of these characters, all of different ages and at different stages of life. Amongst them, there’s a 16 year old girl grappling with the trials and tribulations of teenage life, an old man nearing the end of his life, a middleaged couple who own the local distillery (and apparently the whole town), an anonymous American investor who goes by the nom de plume of Johnny CocaCola (guess what he sells), and finally a young couple who have just moved to Cullrothes. All of these characters bear the tiresome burden of the village’s secrets — and there are lots. The skilful weaving of narratives enhances the intriguing plot as well as adding depth to the characters’ individual stories. With the title as a nod to the whisky distillation process, it’s not surprising that this drink features in almost every chapter. The novel’s tagline promises secrets, death and malt whisky, all of which are delivered. The plot entangles an intricate web of illicit affairs, dodgy deals, manslaughters and murders. What begins as a missing cat and a missing son soon turns into a long list of crimes, giving you chills that only the smooth burn of whisky could cure. Alan Gillespie, an emerging author, establishes a distinct authorial tone no doubt inspired by tartan noir. Cullrothes may be a fictional village but readers can expect to be completely transported to this corrupt little place as a result of the powerful descriptive language that appeals to all the senses. What really shines through is that there is a striking presence of the gothic landscapes of old classics such as Dracula, which is an appreciated blend of past and present literature. A gripping portrayal of power, fear and family ties, Gillespie’s writing is real and raw. Some parts will have you in a state of shock and some parts will have you in tears (if you’re an emotional wreck like me, that is). The book’s publishers, Unbound, are a crowdfunding publishing company who uses the innovative approach of putting the crowd in control. The Mash House is to an avid reader what a good malt is to a whisky connoisseur. My only complaint is that the book finished with Chapter 99 instead of 100, but that’s my own problem. The Mash House will be released early May 2021, available in all good bookstores and online. The Mash House by Alan Gillespie by Georgia-May Drennan

p. 10 gaming and tech | apps We can continue to preach about lockdown boredom and increased gaming hours. But the truth of the matter is that games have always been addicting. Not when owning a device for gaming is barely a luxury. With the accessibility of smartphones, games easily provide means to ease boredom. Consider this. It’s 2016, and you are sitting in the back of your psych lesson, textbooks carefully lined to hide the brightness of your phone screen and the revealing Pokémon GO logo. When Pokémon GO hit 2016, it was suddenly a lot less embarrassing to play mobile games. Parents were more accepting of games when their usually stay-at-home child shows enthusiasm for playing outside. Since then, the game itself has dropped in popularity, and people think twice before admitting they still play it. It is undeniable how the outlook on mobile games has changed. But Pokémon GO is simply one of the many games that have attracted even the most casual of gamers. I am talking about Fortnite, Stardew Valley, Mario Kart Tour, Minecraft, and yes, also Candy Crush. It’s hard not to talk about Among Us when talking about mobile games. The game was first released in 2018, but it didn’t garner as much attention until the lockdown fever hit Twitch streamers in July 2020. It is a multiplayer mafia-like game that even the most casual of gamers can enjoy. Imagine this: you are a ragtag group of Crewmates with two hidden Imposters wiping you out one by one. You are dragged into solving the mystery of floating bodies in the vast outer space. Yet, you cannot abandon your tasks to keep the ship afloat. Blaring alarms and tense meetings discussing murder and suspicion with your friends (or strangers in public games– beware the mean pre-teens and sketchy people using it as a dating app) make for interesting evenings. It’s all fun and games until someone stabs you in the back, literally. Say you aren’t a “casual” gamer though, and love the weight of a controller in your hand. You may prefer the versatility of your console or your PC and your phone may appear as a downgrade. Yet, it is hard to deny the handiness of a smartphone when away from home. To those of you who enjoy gaming less sporadically, here are ways to improve your lifestyle. After a whole year, Xiaomi comes back with Black Shark 4 and Black Shark 4 Pro. Black Shark phones are devices made specifically for mobile gaming, with their pop-up shoulder buttons and faster refresh rates of 144Hz and a 720Hz sampling rate to boast. For context, gaming monitors have a refresh rate of 120Hz or higher for updating images on screen regularly. Sampling rates can be seen as the number of times a touchscreen can sense input from your finger per second. With higher refresh rates and even higher touch sampling rates, your phone will be able to follow your actions much quicker. iPhones, for example, come with a lower refresh rate and touch sampling rate — 60Hz refresh rates to go with the 120Hz sampling rates that have remained that way since iPhone X. Maybe this is something to consider for those of you interested in purchasing a new phone, whether it is for gaming or not. Black Shark 4’s shoulder buttons are pressure sensitive and the longer battery life makes up the bulkiness of the phone. So, you can already imagine the luxury of gaming monitors fit into a smaller portable device. Except it does not have to be luxury. Xiaomi phones come at affordable prices. You can enjoy the mobility of good specs with the added convenience of a smartphone. So, if your primary use for a smartphone is gaming, then Xiaomi’s Black Shark 4 is the phone for you. If you are like me and use your phone for mainly non-gaming purposes, but enjoy the occasional game or two, then it is better to consider smartphones that are lighter and possibly smaller — smaller smartphones are definitely a luxury these days. Whether it is an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy, there are a plethora of options. Among these, OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro offer a wide range of specs to support both gaming and the usual utilities of a smartphone. It comes with refresh rates of 120Hz and 240Hz touch sampling rate, which is decent for a phone that is not necessarily made for gaming. OnePlus Gaming Triggers are not a bad additional purchase to make for those who enjoy first person shooter games like Call of Duty and PUBG or even racing sims like Grid Autosport. These triggers can be used for any Android and iOS devices as long as their thickness remains less than 11.5mm. Of course, these are just a couple of examples and upgrades you can do to your everyday lifestyle, both in lockdown and few years into the future, where there surely will be a wider range of options. So, when you are down in the dumps and feeling the fangs of boredom but cannot be bothered to boot up your PC or your console, you can always unlock the smartphone that is already glued to your hand. Entertainment and convenience at an affordable price by Nidhiyaa Anagananthan Mobile gaming photos courtesy of iamaliuyar at Pixabay

p. 11 gaming and tech | elder scrolls by Natalia Dec While all opinions are viable, some are just plain wrong, and I am here to prove this to anyone who thinks Oblivion deserves the No. 1 spot. Now, buckle up, because we are away to rank all the Elder Scrolls games, and I do not care for any other opinion but my own. I’ve excluded any non-numbered games or expansion packs purely because attempting to review them would be like herding cats: futile and very prone to making you desire a swift and efficient death. 1. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Taking the top spot, to no one’s surprise—providing they have a smidgeon of good taste—is Morrowind. It is the definition of an oldie but a goodie, and while the graphics may not have aged very beautifully, the ideas, the story, and the soundtrack of the game makes it worth a replay even nineteen years post-release. The setting of the game is unusual in itself, full of misty swamps, fantastical plants and giant insects on stilts, and it is exactly the imagination that went into it which makes the game worth the No. 1 spot. Morrowind is without a doubt not your typical ‘knights with swords saving princesses’ type of fantasy, and, I daresay, was one of the first games not afraid of making its sceneries straight-out bizarre and alien. The story is not straightforward and easy, and you often aren’t aware of when exactly you have achieved a set objective— the game enjoys playing tricks on you and really keeps you on your toes. As deserving of what I think of as the pinnacle of good taste and originality, I am giving it the top spot. 2. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim This should come as even less of a surprise, and I think it is very selfexplanatory. There is no one who hasn’t at least heard of Skyrim or seen a meme, and the game itself has left its mark on the gaming industry. I clearly remember spending hundreds (if not thousands) of hours replaying it over and over again while finding new storylines and places with every replay. For me, the best part of Skyrim is the freedom we get as players—I may want to defeat Alduin, but I may also want to collect troll fat or bone meal or vampire dust, or ignore the world burning and get happily married, and who is to stop me? And, finally: mods. 3. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Oblivion takes the third spot, and while it hurts my heart, it only seems fair. This seems to be many people’s favourite, but in my mind, it always remained as ‘good enough but lacking wow-factor’. Oblivion is a solid game with interesting ideas and game mechanics, but it falls short in terms of story, which is at best generic, and at worst, just plain boring. What gives Oblivion its more interesting and memorable gameplay is the Shivering Isles expansion, but even then, without wanting to spend more money, it is simply a good-but-standard fantasy RPG. 4. Elder Scrolls: Arena After many failed attempts and struggles, I finally managed to play Arena almost two decades after its release. While it hasn’t aged well, and I was quite ready to bash my head against the nearest wall after thirty minutes of gameplay, I could feel the nostalgia and charm a lot of people may have had towards it. For its time, it was truly something new and exciting, and the surprisingly large size of the game world sold me on it instantly. It brought me back to the origins of Elder Scrolls, and while perhaps powered by memories and the obsessiveness of over a decade of playing Bethesda games, it certainly wasn’t a bad experience. 5. Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall Ranking very firmly last is Daggerfall. I forgot this one existed, which should tell you exactly why it takes fifth place. Daggerfall, while hailed as ‘revolutionary’ for its time, simply didn’t seem that impressive to me. It presents a huge playing board and a world larger than Arena, yet it manages to make that world utterly generic and boring. The sheer size of the game prevents it from exploring most of the interesting titbits it left for the players, clearly showing that ‘the bigger the better’ is not always the case. It is not a bad game by any means—I do not think any Elder Scrolls is a complete failure—but it is simply average. Ranking every Elder Scrolls game from best to worst Because exam season is fast-approaching, and we all need a bit of nostalgia to add to the stress photo courtesy of Morrowind press kit at IGDB Ranking every Elder Scrolls game from best to worst

p. 12 life and style | studying by Kendra Clark We all know that exams are going to be very different this year and for a lot of people, online exams are a completely new concept and slightly intimidating. So there’s a lot of anxiety about these upcoming online exams, probably even more exam anxiety than usual, so I created a list of tips and tricks to help prepare students who are worried about them. This list will especially help the procrastinators out there, as well as first years who have never done university exams before. For first years, you’ve probably done school or college exams and be assured that university exams are actually very similar, so don’t stress too much. Because most exams are online this year, this structure is also new to a lot of people, so remember that you aren’t alone and that thousands of people, including your friends, are going through the same experience as you. So if it does get to be too much, remember that there are a lot of people going through the same situation who will understand if you reach out to them. To make sure you don’t get to that stressful point though, this article will help to brush you up on revision techniques and discover new tips. So consider this guide to preparing for online exams as a checklist to keep yourself right and a way to pass your exams well. Start early i.e. now Getting started is always one of the hardest parts of the revision process, but it’s just like writing an essay. The introduction is the hardest to get started but once you finally do get started and a few hundred words in, it begins to flow and become easier as it does so. This is the same with revision — the first days are always the hardest but once you get into a routine where you know what you are doing it becomes easier to get out of bed and actually revise daily. Right now exams may seem like ages away, but with spring break, the increasingly better weather and the lifting of certain COVID-19 restrictions, these weeks will fly by as we’ll get to do more other than university and working. Also realistically, they’re only a month away, so now is the perfect time to start revising if you want to be prepared. Organise your study space A lot of students have stayed home this semester, and if you’re like me, studying in your childhood bedroom, then I really, really feel for you. The last time I sat at my childhood bedroom desk before this semester was two years ago and I, for one, have definitely outgrown my purple desk covered in butterflies. If you haven’t already cleared and redecorated your study space, then do it as soon as possible. I was lucky enough to get a new desk, which I very much needed, and a few other things like a cork board, new pen pots and some plants that helped make my space nicer; having a nice space to sit and study at really does make a difference. You should try and get rid of any distractions which don’t help to motivate you to study, such as your phone, any consoles or anything else that could take away your attention from your work. Try not to make it too dull though and add some happy photos of friends, pets or the scenery, or even a plant or two. If you are lucky enough to be in Aberdeen at the moment though, the library is literally built to study, so take advantage of it and use it like your own exam hall. Make a study timetable Making a study timetable is one of the most effective ways to ensure that you stay on track and manage to cover all the subjects that you need to cover. To start, list all the topics you need to study for each subject down and from there, assign days to cover a certain topic or topics. If you have enough time, try to cover each topic at least twice and by the time your exams come round you’ll be thanking yourself. Also try to study the hardest topics and ones you struggle most with first to get them out of the way and then you can come back round to them first, so if you don’t manage to study all your topics more than once then at least you’ve done the hardest ones more often. Creating a routine like this is super helpful to make sure you get every topic covered and you can tick them off of your list to stay on track of your progress. It’s also helpful though to leave blank sessions in your study timetable because there may be spontaneous days where you don’t have time to study or something may prevent you from doing so. I try to leave at least one of these a week so that I don’t fall too behind if something does come up that means I can’t study. Know your exams This point is fairly obvious and self explanatory, but make sure you know when your exam is, the structure of your exam and how to access it online. These details will probably be released a week or two before the exams start if they aren’t already out, but if you aren’t sure and your exams are getting closer and closer, check the course guide first or ask a tutor if you still don’t know. Also remember to make sure that your laptop has 10 tips to preparephoto courtesy of Free-Photos via Pixabay 10 tips to prepare

p. 13 life and style | studying e for online exams full battery, a stable connection speed and doesn’t need any updates the night before because you do not want to be stressed about this the morning of your exam. Study smarter, not harder It’s hard to find the way that you study most effectively and what personally works best for you, but once you do know how to study your way, everything becomes a lot easier. Have specific goals when you’re covering your topics and make sure you include counter arguments and important facts instead of just key terms. Once you have finished a topic and at the end of your study session, try testing yourself by rewriting the key points without looking at your notes. A tip that helps me concentrate is to think of studying like a job — you’re there for a reason and you should have a list of certain things that you need to get done that day. Thinking of it like this, will help you to get into a routine that’s easy to follow and hopefully ensure that you’re actually studying in your study sessions rather than drifting off and not taking anything in. Study your way By now you probably know what the best way you specifically study is and how you remember things. But if you don’t or want to try new ways, then the key is to be repetitive. In the form of recordings, flashcards, mind maps, etc, or whatever works best for you, just keep doing it over and over again until you know the key points of your topics. For me, going over lecture notes and highlighting the important parts works best, as I then create a “revision document” that just has the main points that I need to learn and not all the clutter surrounding it. From there, I just rewrite these and speak them out loud over and over until I know them without looking at any notes. University exams and essays also require more than just what’s actually in the lectures, so if you have time try to look at extra readings and available resources that are listed in the course guides. These will help strengthen your arguments for specific points, whereas lectures serve to provide a general overview of the topic. Speak to your tutors I cannot stress enough how much emailing your tutors helps with exam preparation and essays. Before every essay you turn in, it’s definitely worth emailing your tutor your plan and they can tell you what points you’re missing, as well as checking you have a good structure. Most tutors are more than happy to help with essay plans and structures, as well as giving advice for preparing for exams. Tutors are there for a reason and whilst they can’t specifically tell you answers or what’s going to be in the exam, they can definitely lead you in the right direction and give you extra resources that really help with your arguments. If you would rather speak to them one on one, then check the course guide for the list of tutors office hours and email them to say you’d want to meet with them during theirs. Study with friends Wherever you are, find someone to study with! Studying with others can help you to focus and actually motivate you to get up and study if you have arranged to do so with someone else. I always find that I stick to study sessions that I’ve made with others a lot easier because cancelling means you’re letting someone down, so this is a really good way to actually make sure you stick to a study routine. If you’re stuck at home then you can always set up online study groups via FaceTime or Zoom with friends, but there are also multiple study rooms online which you can join. If you want to find these, just google ‘online study rooms’ and a list of virtual study sessions will appear. Know when to take a break Knowing when to take a break is essential when studying for exams and writing essays. Some days studying will come a lot harder than others and that’s okay. During these days you should try to step away from exam preparation and busy yourself with something else like going for a walk, baking, watching a movie, etc, whatever you do to relax. As well as taking days off, taking a break during your study session is important to ensure that you don’t get too overwhelmed and aren’t just cramming everything into your brain. Study sessions lasting between an hour to two hours are usually the most effective to make sure that your mind isn’t wandering off into something else. Take care of yourself Exam season is a really stressful time for students and it can be easy to get lost in the amount of revision you have to do and the stress of results. Taking care of yourself during this time is especially important so that you are at your best for revision sessions. This means getting between 7-9 hours of sleep every night, drinking water and not just RedBull and Monsters, eating healthy snacks and doing activities other than studying too. The best snacks proven to help concentration are healthy snacks like nuts, veggie sticks, berries and bananas, but dark chocolate also helps memory. e for online exams bing bang bong sing bimini bon bouash supremacy cherish even though she is for my flatmate, whom i this is a special message

p. 14 life and style | recipe The first thing to do is to preheat your oven to 140 C (fan) and prepare your baking trays. I used two trays repeatedly and allowed one batch to cool and prepare for the next round, whilst the other baked. To prepare the dough, pour the milk and peanut butter into a large bowl and mix together until you have a runny peanut butter consistency. Sift the baking powder and flour into the bowl and mix well together until blended. If the dough is still a little watery, just add more flour until it’s a dough with the consistency similar to other cookie doughs. Once you can prepare the dough with your hands, bring it out onto a lightly floured surface so it won’t stick. Knead the dough with your hands until it’s smooth and then roll out with a rolling pin. I like to roll them super thin and aim for the dough to be less than 1 cm thickness so I can get as many biscuits as possible out of the dough. My dogs are usually lingering about in the kitchen under my feet at this time, as they know the smell well, and so I like to give them a small piece of dough each to see if they like them so far, which of course they do. Once your dough is rolled to the thickness you want, cut it into shapes using cookie cutters. You can get some dog themed biscuit cutters online in the shape of bones, dogs and paw prints if you want to be really extra, but I just use some small Christmas themed cutters. To make the preparation of these a lot faster, if you aren’t bothered about the presentation of these, just get a knife and cut out some small squares. Place as many biscuits as you can on your prepared baking trays but remember to leave them a centimetre or two apart as you don’t want them to morph together. I bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven or until they are lightly brown, but keep an eye on your first batch, as depending on your ovens temperature and biscuit thickness, they can cook much quicker or need a little longer. Allow them to cool on a wire rack before giving them to your dogs and seeing just how much they love them. Ingredients 250g of wholemeal flour 1 tablespoon of baking powder 275g of unsalted smooth peanut butter 225g of semi-skimmed milk (I use semi-skimmed but any is fine, just make sure they aren’t lactose intolerant!) This easy dog biscuit recipe is the perfect way to treat your pets with something new and fun that really will make your dogs go crazy with excitement. One of my dogs cannot sit still whenever I take out the biscuit tin filled with these and her tail cannot stop wagging with excitement because she loves them so much. Because my dogs love these cookies so much, I have made them a few times with different recipes and believe I’ve managed to make my own one, which they love the most. This recipe is so easy, with only three steps, and your dogs will be begging for you to make them again, and with the ingredients being very few and basic, you won’t be running to the shop for something you shouldn’t already have in your cupboard. For dog lovers who want to give their pups something special, this is 100% the way to go! This recipe bakes about 5 or 6 batches of cookies, but obviously this will depend on how big your cookie cutters and baking trays are. My three dogs are very much different sizes, a lhasa apso, a whippet, and a collie crossed with a German shepherd, and I can confidently say that size does not matter in this case and they all adore these biscuits just the same. Even my lhasa apso, who is rather picky with his treats, never refuses a homemade peanut butter biscuit. This recipe is great if you want to make a ton of biscuits quickly, easily and cheaply. However, if you only have one dog I recommend halving this recipe, as I have three dogs and this lasts just under two weeks for them. However, these Method by Kendra Clark Homemade dog biscuitsphoto courtesy ofClaireDiaz on Pixabay ISTI FOREVER