The Gaudie 29th September 2021

The truth about toxic positivity Vaccine passports: the good and bad New indie releases Air. An unlikely killer. iV magazine inside Opine Newspaper p.12 Features Newspaper p.7 Science & Environment Newspaper p.9 Gaming & Tech IV p.9 Over £500,000 spent by University on senior recruitment fees since 2017 Expenditure included agency fees and advertising costs for recruitment on 16 occasions Between May 2017 and June 2021, the University of Aberdeen (UoA) spent over half a million pounds on senior recruitment services provided by private consultancy firm Saxton Bampfylde. £499,000 was spent on agency fees and another £33,000 went into advertising costs, equating to over £532,000. The information was obtained by The Gaudie through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request this summer. Since May 2017, Saxton Bampfylde has provided recruitment services to the University on 16 seperate occasions. These have included recruitment for two senior governors (most recently Julie Ashworth), independent members of court, a Clinical Chair in Oncology and various other roles. (Full list on gaudie.co.uk/news). The costs were divided into two categories, ‘agency fees’ and ‘advertising costs’ with the former accounting for most of the expenditure. The recruitment for the positions of Director of External Relations and Director of Advancement were the costliest, with Saxton Bampfylde charging £42,240 per position in agency fees. The least costly role advertised was for Vice-Principal – Regional Engagement & Regional Recovery (£8,400 in agency fees), however, it was still being advertised when the FoI request was submitted in June 2021. At the time, Professor Richard Wells had been appointed to the position on an interim basis while Saxton Bamfylde was recruiting for the role. However, three months later Wells is still listed on the University website as holding that position. The Gaudie asked the University whether it considered the large sums used to have provided value for money and whether it might not have used a local or cheaper alternative. Speaking to The Gaudie, a University spokesperson said: “The University is committed to investment in its staff to help fulfil our strategic ambitions, and this includes the appointment of highquality candidates to senior roles within the organisation. “The appointment of recruitment consultants add value for roles where normal advertising processes are likely to generate a limited pool of applicants, and we use a sector-wide procurement framework that ensures efficiency savings are made.” Saxton Bampfylde was also contacted for comment. The “executive consultancy firm” which has offices in London and Edinburgh describes itself as “the leading search and leadership advisory firm for values.” Other positions advertised on their website range from Bursar at the Cambridge Union to previously having advertised the position of Director General of Britain’s foreign intelligence service, MI6. by Anttoni James Numminen Photo courtesy of Aedan Brennan Streaming power and lockdown favourites at the 73rd Primetime Emmys On Sunday night, The Handmaid’s Tale had the most Emmy award losses ever in a single year, with 21 nominations lost. In 2017, however, the Hulu show was breaking a different record as the first streaming show to win the award for Outstanding Drama Series. Four years later, that win has led to streaming and limited series dominating the nominations at the awards and a night of big wins for nearly all major streaming platforms. Full story on IV page 2-3 by Zoe Kokka

30.10.19 Note from the Editor: p.2 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF ([email protected]) Anttoni James Numminem Amy Smith NEWS ([email protected]) EDITOR: Mireia Jimenez DEPUTY EDITOR: Olivia Mackenzie Smith FEATURES ([email protected]) EDITOR: Zsófia Kiszely DEPUTY EDITOR: Skye MacDonald INTERNATIONAL ([email protected]) EDITOR: Istvan Peter Miskolczy DEPUTY EDITOR: Ivan Kanev SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT ([email protected]) EDITOR: Holly Ferguson DEPUTY EDITOR: Sam Johnson OPINE ([email protected]) EDITOR: Aidan Bridgeman SATIRE ([email protected]) EDITOR: Ruairidh Macdonald SPORTS ([email protected]) EDITOR: Alessandra Puglisi Editorial Team HEAD OF PRODUCTION ([email protected]) Mathilde Communal PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Julie Toft Carlsen Theodore Williamson Amy Smith COPY EDITORS Ava Lindberg Arianna Ferioli Judit Garab Paula Becka SOCIAL MEDIA Charlotte Hill Mena Collin Aedan Brennan PHOTOGRAPHER Aedan Brennan PODCAST HOST Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco 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. Fight club: Quarrel between nightclubs leads to split Friday nightlife in Aberdeen changes radically as Vanity Fridays ends relationship with ATIK A split has occurred between two popular Aberdeen nightclubs, ATIK and Vanity. Sources within Vanity have claimed that ATIK, previously known as Institute, gave them only hours of notice before their event on Friday 10 September, forcing them to move to another venue. One source also showed The Gaudie screenshots of messages which appear to show how Vanity employees were soon approached with enhanced job offers from ATIK so they would leave Vanity’s team. Deltic Group owned nightclub ATIK subsequently created their own event “Thirsty Fridays” that same night, while Vanity moved to a new venue in town, Babylon. Their new venue will offer Hip-Hop and R&B beats as it did before in their previous location. However, ATIK’s management has strongly denied claims it forced out Vanity, saying that the “working relationship became untenable for numerous reasons.” Ruth Jones, ATIK’s General Manager said in a statement: “Our business works closely with students and Vanity's short-sighted views were not aligned with our long-term ones, whereby we want to offer our guests the best value and experience. “We want to be able to offer our student guests the opportunity to work with us for their events, on any night we trade, and this was not possible on Fridays.” On the issue of creating a new event that night, Jones said: “Vanity were openly discussing their intention to move venues, and so we were left in a position where we had to make a snap decision to remove the night from our venue - this was the best decision, not only for our business but for our guests.” However, Vanity’s General Manager Damir Rajic described the situation in different terms. “Being kicked out of our home after 7 loyal years was hard to take, but we fought through adversity and in the process, with our new partners at PB Devco, we will deliver a brand-new clubbing experience for Aberdeen. We couldn’t be prouder of that.” “Our partners here at PB Devco have been incredibly accommodating. When we identified the issue of capacity with Babylon, we got to talking about College bar. Quickly landing on the idea of extending the College bar license to 3am on weekends and installing a brand-new dancefloor and nightclub lighting rig. “This means we now have two rooms of music and two incredible options for Vanity customers to enjoy! ATIK’s Jones added that “we had no intention of getting involved in 'club wars'” while emphasising that there was no truth in claims the club was ‘closed’. “As I say, we are not interested in getting involved in a public argument, however, I also believe it would be unfair for a onesided article to be published.” by Mireia Jimenez Photo courtesy of Aedan Brennan The ink smudges on your hand and the fear of getting paper cuts must mean one thing: after a year of purely being digital, The Gaudie is back to being a physical newspaper. In an age where everything is going digital, from the music we listen to, the movies we watch, and even to our university lectures, there is something still so special about physical media. Call me old-fashioned, but there is nothing more exciting to me than seeing shelves filled with books and BluRays, telling a story about who the collector is and showcasing their personality. Whilst there is convenience within the digital format, I actively look for ways to have a physical interaction with the world around me. Considering the struggles we have all had to face over the past year and a half, technology has played a huge part in staying connected. Our previous Editors-in-Chief have done a wonderful job keeping everyone at the university informed and producing four papers for you all to view at the comfort of your home, all on our online hosting platform. Of course, this is something that will continue to happen for many years to come as we all embrace online access. However, as we all get ready to come back to campus and get back into classrooms, nothing excites me more than being able to walk around and seeing people pick up a physical copy of The Gaudie. If you have picked up a copy of the paper from one of our boxes around campus, whether you are reading it on a lunch break or on the bus home, thank you. The Gaudie has had a physical place within the university for nearly 90 years now, and I am excited to be able to continue that tradition and to see copies floating around the campus. “Being kicked out of our home after 7 loyal years was hard to take, but we fought through adversity and in the process, with our new partners at PB Devco, we will deliver a brand-new clubbing experience for Aberdeen."

p.4 30.10.19 On Wednesday 22nd of September twenty students of the University of Aberdeen gathered on Elphinstone Lawn creating over 50 colourful cards and messages of good cheer for the recently arrived Afghan families who fled from the new Taliban regime. The event was organised by Just Love Aberdeen, a Christian social justice student organisation which meets on the University campus. The group’s co-president, Holly Brow, stated that Just Love wanted the event to help ‘build community while serving others.‘ Second year student Gabby Shoemaker added that the event was a ‘creative way to express ourselves and welcome people [to Aberdeen].’ The completed cards will be distributed to the 100 Afghan men, women, and children who are currently waiting to be resettled throughout the Granite City. Similar events in support of Aberdeen’s newest citizens are planned for early October, with a large rally organised by the Aberdeen Multicultural Centre to be held outside Marischal College on October 9th. Students welcome Afghan families with cards of cheer by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco Aberdonians welcome Afghan refugees after resettlement plans in Aberdeen were announced last month Following new advice from the Scottish Government regarding social distancing and in-person meetings, the University is overseeing a gradual return of in-person tutorials and meetings. Vice-Principal of Education Professor Ruth Taylor said that despite the difficulties UoA had faced over the course of the pandemic, it had ‘pulled together as a strong and supportive university community’ and the wellbeing of students continued to be a priority as it looked forward to a return to campus. “We have worked hard to prepare for the coming first half-session, with a focus on on-campus delivery with safety measures in place, in line with Scottish Government guidance.” She also informed of how the Scottish Government has created a Covid Safety on Campus E-Learning resource to “help you understand how to keep yourself and others safe as we get back to enjoying the on-campus experience we have missed so much.”. Matthew Hamilton, a second-year music student, said: “Hopefully the worst of the pandemic is behind us and we can slowly get closer and closer to fully relaxed restrictions and we can enjoy the social aspect of uni life again”. The return of in-person teaching has had a clear impact on some students. A 2nd-year neuroscience and biology student remarked that: “Returning to classes is so integral to university life. It’s not only a means to ensure high-quality learning, I feel it will be the standout moment in my life when I begin to feel like a member of something again, like an actual human being”. Despite the increase in on-campus activity, a significant part of teaching remains online with pre-recorded lectures and virtual meetings. On-campus classes to return The new academic year at the University of Aberdeen will see a more blended approach to teaching in the pandemic “Hopefully the worst of the pandemic is behind us and we can slowly get closer and closer to fully relaxed restrictions and we can enjoy the social aspect of uni life again”. “We have worked hard to prepare for the coming first half-session, with a focus on on-campus delivery with safety measures in place, in line with Scottish Government guidance.” Photo courtesy of Aedan Brennan The completed cards will be distributed to the 100 Afghan men, women, and children who are currently waiting to be resettled throughout the Granite City. Photo courtesy of Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco

30.10.19 p.5 On Tuesday 21 September, their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Rothesay attended the official opening ceremony of Aberdeen Art Gallery. The £34.6m four-year redevelopment of the gallery was completed in 2019 but was not officially opened until this month. Aberdeen Art Gallery is home to one of the finest collections in the UK. Spanning over 700 years, the Collection of National Significance includes works by important Scottish artists, designers and makers such as Henry Raeburn, Joan Eardley, Samuel Peploe, Rachel McLean, Bill Gibb and James Cromar Watt, as well as nationally and internationally acclaimed artists including Barbara Hepworth, Francis Bacon, Tracey Emin and Claude Monet. The royals were welcomed by school children from Robert Gordon College and were guided around the gallery by Lord Provost Barney Crockett. Other local dignitaries and guests were also present, including council leader Jenny Laing, some veterans and members of the media. The Duchess, who is Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, appeared to be in good spirits, joking and chatting with staff and school children. Earlier this year a poll conducted by The Gaudie on the royal’s position as Chancellor gained national attention after it showed over 70 per cent of those surveyed said they did not think Her Royal Highness (HRH) should remain in her role at the University. Royals open Aberdeen Art Gallery HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Rothesay attended the official opening ceremony by Darius Jedburgh The £34.6m four-year redevelopment of the gallery was completed in 2019 but was not officially opened until this month. Photo courtesy of Anttoni James Numminen Earlier this year a poll conducted by The Gaudie on the royal’s position as Chancellor gained national attention after it showed over 70 per cent of those surveyed said they did not think Her Royal Highness (HRH) should remain in her role at the University. The Turing Scheme was set up by the UK Government to fund exchanges and university placements across the globe. Educational institutions, including the University of Aberdeen, can now apply to cover their students’ expenses. When asked about the new programme and how it differed from Erasmus, Go Abroad manager at the University of Aberdeen Louise Stratton responded that “ While Erasmus was a broad international framework encompassing a range of collaborative activities, the Turing Scheme focuses on outward student mobility. "The Turing Scheme provides funding to enable students at UK universities, colleges and schools to spend one to twelve months abroad undertaking study or work-based activities [...]” “The key benefit of the Turing Scheme is to widen access to funded international experiences, particularly for destinations outside of Europe and for shorter durations.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the Turing Scheme as “a truly global programme with every country in the world eligible to partner with UK universities, schools and colleges”, while Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has urged “universities, schools and colleges from all corners of the UK to start their applications.” However, many critics have expressed concern over the government’s decision to pull out of Erasmus, rejecting an offer to continue even after leaving the EU. A statement released by The National Union of Students says that the loss of Erasmus will impact international opportunities for students, with the President Zamzam Ibrahim saying the decision is “reckless” and an example of how “students are being used as pawns in politicians’ games”. Turing Scheme to Cover Studies Abroad A new scheme has been set up to provide opportunities to study abroad as UK universities prepare to leave Erasmus post-Brexit by Olivia Mackenzie Smith Although the UK is planning to withdraw from Erasmus, the programme will continue until all current projects are completed in May 2023. Photo courtesy of Anttoni James Numminen Photo courtesy of Yuya Hata via Unsplash

p.6 30.10.19 Wild swimming in Aberdeen A short trip to another world by Daniel Hesp Swimming has always been a huge part of my life. Literally I remember my first time in a swimming lesson asking the coach if I could control the water with my mind, learning with everyone else. Growing up, I used to swim 6 times a week for up to 3.5 hours a day – it became an obsession that relegated everything else to ‘secondary to swimming.’ If humans could be separated into water and land animals, I was definitely in the first category – some kind of fish. Later on, it even influenced where I moved to uni. Being near a beach, with the opportunity to dive into the sea whenever I felt like it was a huge plus for me, and something that I frequently brought up in freshers’ week when the conversation moved from ‘what are you studying?’ to ‘why Aberdeen?’ It was something that certainly hooked me. I’ve taken the opportunity whenever I could to swim both in and outdoors in Aberdeen, so when my newly ordered wetsuit came, I immediately wanted to try it out. As excuses go it was a good one and so my friend and I found ourselves early one morning driving down past the stadium and pulling up to the gateway of the promenade (we all know the one). I remember it being a chilly morning, one of the ones where your first thought when going outside is ‘absolutely not.’ But we were there, we’d broken past the barrier, and weren’t letting wind stop us. The clouds above looked like a steel suit of armour, encouraging us to don our own battle gear and do war with the elements. First impressions when walking out of that beach tunnel and onto the promenade are always memorable. The expanse of sea and sky are magnified by the closeness of the dark tunnel. Walking out always makes me feel childlike, any trepidation momentarily dispelled. Although I have seen the Aberdeen waves batter the beach in front of me with some force in the past, on this particular day the tide is low, and the waves are relatively subdued. I look to my friend, “definitely doable.” Although I mentioned swimming from an early age, swimming in the sea is different. The salt, swell, and caw of seagulls combine to remind you of the primal nature of the water in front of you. That said, psyching yourself up to actually get in the water is common between the North Atlantic and the chlorinated, temp-regulated pool - at a certain point you just need to say screw it. Therefore, a sprint and run technique is the only acceptable way to start, no toe-dipping. Once the first shock is over, the smaller waves hurdled, I looked over to my friend. The run combined with the cold-water shock shortens our ragged breathing, but the endorphins are beginning to override the earlier reservations. We are completely in the moment. To celebrate our success, we duck our heads under the waves – obscuring the cackling seagulls and our own elated whoops. I find myself trying to keep my head under for a few seconds longer than is strictly necessary as the brain freeze sets in just to see if I can. As we make our way out to the edge of the groynes, occasionally floating on our backs, our attention shifts from the immediacy of avoiding the crashing waves, to the sea and sky around us. What once was an intimidating impression of chilling sea spray and breeze has become more familiar, even comforting as we get used to the environment. It’s one of the curiosities of wearing a wetsuit that the design requires water to keep you warm. Counter-intuitively, the more you throw yourself into the surf, the warmer you become. I see reflections of this in my own life. As a 4th year student, I am beginning to think about the next steps in my career, and leaving the relatively dry land of university to plunge into the sometimes inhospitable career pool is an intimidating thing, the wind is biting and the swell suffocating. However, lying on my back, drinking in the sky above and the sea surrounding me, I realise that I’m already there, reaping the rewards for the short spell of discomfort. Lying there, I’m reminded of a quote from Russian swimmer, Alexandr Popov, that has stuck with me: “The water is your friend…you don’t have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water, and it will help you move.” I’ve always taken this literally as it related to me and my swimming technique. But I can see it’s applicability to other parts of my life. Fighting implies the use of unnecessary energy. I’m loving the feeling of weightlessness and enjoyment in the sea, and if I can try to emulate this elsewhere, I can remove pointless stress and worry and ultimately live a more enjoyable, efficient life. This is wild swimming to me. After a time spent in the sea, we begin to make our way back to shore. Looking back towards land, at the men and women standing on the promenade, their faces scrunched against the wind. They eye the unusual aquatic animals standing and striding through the shallows. To me, we are travellers from an exotic land, strangers that come in peace. Drying off and heading back to the car, we’re leaving the sea behind for now. But, in a very tangible and intimate sense, the sea will remain with us until the next time we want to experience another world for a while. The salt, swell, and caw of seagulls combine to remind you of the primal nature of the water in front of you. As a 4th year student, I am beginning to think about the next steps in my career, and leaving the relatively dry land of university to plunge into the sometimes inhospitable career pool is an intimidating thing, the wind is biting and the swell suffocating. Photo courtesy of Amy Smith Photo courtesy of Daniel Hesp

30.10.19 p.7 Vaccine passports: the good and bad A look at Aberdeen Uni students’ take on the ‘vaccine passport’ system by Skye MacDonald On the 1st of October, the Scottish Government is bringing in the so-called ‘vaccine passport’ scheme: a system where you have to prove your double vaccination status to have entry into large events or nightclubs. According to the BBC, this scheme is to “allow events to go ahead despite surging cases of Covid-19, to avoid re-imposing wider restrictions, and to encourage the uptake of the vaccine in younger people.” The system was voted in by MPs and will exclude those who have medical reasons to not be fully vaccinated. However, those who have opted not to take the Covid-19 vaccination will not be allowed access to events, where, for example, there are more than 500 unseated people indoors. While the vaccination passports are seen as another step forward into a post-pandemic normality, we can argue that questions of human freedom to choose vaccination status also arise. Curious to find out what students at Aberdeen University think, I released a Google form in which 28 people responded. Out of the 28 people who filled in the survey, 25 were double dosed, two were single dosed and one person unvaccinated. The first question I asked concerning the passport system was whether the person agreed with it or not. The results revealed 12 people voting yes, and equally, 12 saying “to an extent”, three answering with no and one being unsure. Further on, I asked for overall thoughts on the vaccination passport and how it affects them. While there were a lot of positive responses - particularly to do with feeling more reassured in large events - one point, which was highlighted multiple times, was the lack of having to show a negative covid test before the events. One person wrote: “I would be more comfortable at large events and crowds if I knew everyone attending is either vaccinated or has recently been tested.” This is an important point as, in line with what another response said, Covid still spreads despite being vaccinated. One person argued that they think the passport scheme will be an incentive for people to get the vaccine, but it will make the ones who won't even angrier, and it will cause a great and maybe even aggressive divide. This leads to the next poll, where I asked whether people believed the vaccine passport to be a form of discrimination. To this, 15 people said no, ten said to an extent, two said yes and one was unsure. Someone wrote: “If the ‘pass’ wasn't just about your vaccination status, but could be substituted with tests, e.g., 24/48 hours before the event you are attending, I think it would be less discriminating. It could be seen as more of a precaution, since the virus is still here and circulating, while respecting people's freedom of choice when it comes to vaccination.” When it comes to attending large events, 15 people said that they are more inclined to do so because of the vaccination passports, while nine said maybe and four said no. We could argue that this emphasises that the vaccine passports are somewhat of a good incentive for aspects of normality to resume. However, from the comments made, it has been signified greatly that many students see a negative test result for Covid-19 pre-event as a better form of controlling the virus. Overall, the opinions on the vaccine passport system were pretty varied amongst the students who took the poll, signifying that, like other parts of the pandemic, the systems can be experimental, and it is not until they are enforced that we shall see whether they work or not. “If the ‘pass’ wasn't just about your vaccination status, but could be substituted with tests, e.g., 24/48 hours before the event you are attending, I think it would be less discriminating. It could be seen as more of a precaution, since the virus is still here and circulating, while respecting people's freedom of choice when it comes to vaccination.” Getting back to what once was known as social life Tipping my toes in the new-old by Zsófia Kiszely I know talking about Covid is getting a little boring now; however, with Covid restrictions easing more and more, large events are taking place. So I thought it would be worthwhile to share my experience of a concert from a couple of weeks ago. Originally, I wasn’t planning on attending a concert at all until next year, but my best friend travelled from England to Scotland to see her favourite band and had a spare ticket, so to spend time together - which we are only able to do once or twice a year - I decided the night before the event to drive down to Glasgow and meet her. Probably like most of us, I have not been to a large event in nearly two years now, therefore needless to say that being surrounded by so many people was quite a shock. Obviously, Covid-19 is certainly still a part of our lives which meant there were rules to follow. Everyone from the audience had to have a lateral flow test done within 48 hours of the concert in order to gain entry to the event. One rule that I missed having is the wearing of face coverings. There were hundreds of people, no social distancing and I was okay for a while. It felt like old days, having fun with friends. I have always been a little anxious in crowds, but what I felt there after about an hour I did not expect. I think being in lockdown so many times for so long and keeping our distances from other people have certainly altered our perception of what is normal or acceptable when out and around people. And, of course, everyone has different feelings about what feels safe and what does not. For me, the breaking point came after standing in a crowd (which I have not done in such a long time) and my anxiety kicked in. Suddenly, my brain rang the Covid alarm bell and all these thoughts came rushing about contracting the virus there, and then spreading it at my work, and to my friends and family. That’s when I had to leave that place. I had to go and get some fresh air. Some people will say that I should have never gone, and large events should not be happening yet - and some part of me might even agree - but if not now, then when are we going to start living a somewhat normal life again? I believe that the introduction of vaccine passports might bring some ease to some people - including myself - but how can we be ever sure whether the person standing next to us is spreading the virus at that exact moment? The moral of my story would be that you should do what feels safe and acceptable to you (following local guidance at the same time, of course). It felt safe and normal to me to go and enjoy a concert surrounded by my friends, but when I started to feel uneased, I realised this might have been too quick for me. Probably like most of us, I have not been to a large event in nearly two years now, therefore needless to say that being surrounded by so many people was quite a shock. For me, the breaking point came after standing in a crowd (which I have not done in such a long time) and my anxiety kicked in. Suddenly, my brain rang the Covid alarm bell and all these thoughts came rushing about contracting the virus there, and then spreading it at my work, and to my friends and family. Photo courtesy of Pexels via Pixabay Graphic courtesy of Tumisu via Pixabay

p.8 30.10.19 Parental differences in letting children roam explain adult differences in spatial navigation ability The Nature/Nurture debate is one that is commonly debated in university classes across fields of genetics, neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and philosophy. The macro answer is of course both. There are large influences of genetics on who someone is, for example 70% of variability in BMI is related to genetics, a whole host of life changing conditions and identities are wholly or partially determined by genetics. Nurture or environmental factors play a large role too, without the necessary inputs by a critical-age (around seven) humans are unable to learn language properly and environmental differences in upbringing and education have massive impacts throughout individuals’ lives. Furthermore, these concepts interact in fields such as epigenetics where environment causes changes in gene expression and genes cause individuals to seek/create certain environments. Often when individual/group differences are identified, a debate ensues as to the proportional cause of said difference. These are sometimes genetic, for example color blindness is a Y-chromosome-linked condition being much more frequent in men. Inversely tetrachromacy, enhanced color vision occurs only for those with two X-chromosomes. Sometimes they are environmental such as cultural practices around perceived gender and gender roles. Other times underlying factors are unclear and debated such as Autism which is heavily genetically influenced, yet the much higher number of diagnosed males may be at least partially due to environmental factors, differing presentation, and perception of autistic traits in accordance with gendered expectations leading to under-diagnosis of autism in women. One gender difference that has been consistently observed and - until recently - was deeply divisive as to its etiology, was differences in spatial reasoning and navigation. Those who identified as male tended to be able to navigate further, pause/ backtrack less, utilise cardinal directions over temporary landmarks, utilise spatial reasoning, and reach intended goals more successfully. Many explanations were proposed for this including innate advantages and differences in how men and women think with regards to navigation. However, these were not well supported as when women were trained to use effective strategies or given repeated practice the differences disappeared. Those who suspected the nurture side might be more at play here then started investigating predictive factors relating to upbringing and gendered experience. Several recent studies published by scientists in the field, such as Lawton and Kallai, identified and replicated that, as children, boys are given much more freedom to navigate themselves than girls are. The strongest predictor for adult navigational ability was how far away from home boys/ girls were allowed to travel independently. Boys were socialized to learn these skills through traveling farther from home without adult supervision as parents felt safer letting boys navigate the world then girls. The gender difference then disappears either through training or through matching and comparing men/women who were given similar distance to roam away from home. Solving the mystery of why this difference exists and how gendered differences in upbringing can lead to differing psychological measures in adulthood. Wayfaring is an important skill and predictive of measures such as special reasoning ability in adulthood. Therefore, it is important to ensure all children are given the opportunity to develop these abilities. There are also generational and geographical differences here with kids being given less opportunities to explore especially if they live in towns which may lead to further decreases in wayfaring abilities, that or a generation that will have to navigate about looking at their maps on their phones, unless we let them roam. by Sam Johnson New studies suggest environmental root cause for long debated gender-differences in wayfaring abilities The University of Bath is developing a new, revolutionary device to provide people suffering from neurological conditions a way to communicate. Earswitch is assistive computer technology, which works using the tensor tympani muscle, a tiny muscle hidden in your ear. The headset, that is in the ear, is then connected to a keyboard, allowing people to type out what they desire to say. Neurological conditions can weaken, damage, or paralyze a person’s ability to speak as they lose the ability to control the tongue, lips or voice box. This causes the individual’s speech to become faint or slurred, and that ability can even be lost. Current assistive applications range from non-electronic tools like word pointer boards to text-to-speech devices. GP Dr Nick Gompertz is leading the research alongside the university. He said his motivation for the device came from practicing as a GP and, over the years, he has witnessed people become unable to use currently available assistive keyboards as their condition progressed, losing their ability to communicate altogether. He stated, “I have always been aware of the ability to tense a muscle in my ear and so wondered if it could be used to control these communication devices.” He picked up the research project after buying different electronic parts off the internet, and now, with the help of his team and funding from the National Institute for Health Research, he has developed the prototype. The current model is a silicone earpiece holding a camera, which then picks up the movement of the muscle when intentionally used. This is then connected to a keyboard, which works through a sequence, scanning rows then groups of letters, which are then chosen when the camera detects an ‘ear click’ – a tensing of the muscle – therefore, providing a mode of communication. This type of technology has been used before, famously by Steven Hawking. His assistive device relied on a muscle in his cheek, which was then linked to a keyboard. However, many with late stages of Motor Neuron Disease (MND) or those suffering from ‘locked in’ syndrome, due to strokes, do not have the ability to use the same muscle. This is a key aspect of the new device: that the muscle in the ear is still able to be controlled by individuals that suffer from these conditions – unlike other assistive devices that can currently be used to a certain point but once the condition degenerates further, they are no longer usable. Dr Brian Dickie from the MND Association said, “It appears that the tensor tympani muscle may remain functional even in advanced stages of MND, so the Earswitch may offer a completely new opportunity to give people with MND greater control over how they communicate, how they can control their environment – ultimately the way they choose to live their lives.” The Earswitch should stop one of the many restrictions people suffering from neurological conditions face – the ability to talk. Additionally, there is a possibility that the use of this technology will go further than just to help those neurological conditions. The technology could be used, as Gompertz discusses, for other assistive functions such as answering calls or changing the song you’re listening to on your phone. However, there is one potential limitation to the device which is that not every person can intentionally move their tensor tympani muscle. This would not render the device unsuitable entirely, but may make it only available to people that can control that muscle or more difficult for people who will need to learn how to. For now, Earswitch is waiting to start trials in the next year and are currently doing an online survey to gage what proportion of the population can use the tensor tympani muscle. This you can find on the Earswitch website. Once fully available, the Earswitch device will surely be life-changing to many. It will provide new opportunities for people, who are already suffering from neurological conditions, making it possible for them to communicate with their loved ones and take more control of their life. Dr Gompertz and his team truly are creating a revolutionary technological device. Did you hear that? An ear controlled computer A new computer device that is controlled by a small ear muscle is being developed for individuals with neurological conditions to allow them to communicate by Georgia Coull Photo courtesy of Ali Elliot via Unsplash Dr Brian Dickie from the MND Association said, “It appears that the tensor tympani muscle may remain functional even in advanced stages of MND, so the Earswitch may offer a completely new opportunity to give people with MND greater control over how they communicate, how they can control their environment – ultimately the way they choose to live their lives.”

30.10.19 p.3 Freshers Fayre was held in a marquee at Kings Pitches between the 21st and 22nd of September, where students enjoyed discount vouchers for bars and free pizza. It has been a hard 18 months especially for many societies that involve physical contact, many of which were present in the event. The activities showcased the clubs and societies here at the university including The Gaudie. Japanese society member Mai commented how “it was an excellent opportunity to talk to people about joining societies and the events coming up.” In addition, the university hosted a picnic at the Cruickshank botanical gardens on Wednesday 22nd September, as well as a Freshers Quiz. A second year student said about the picnic that “in person events have made it easier to meet and socialise.” According to second-year student Jakub, the freshers quiz on Monday the events are “especially good to get to know each other, the university has helped create events where students are in situations they wouldn’t otherwise be in to socialise outside of degrees and societies.” Freshers Fair 2021: students back to campus after long Coronavirus hiatus The first events took place all over campus on September 20th by Evelyn Bayerlein Photo courtesy of Aedan Brennan Following approval from China’s Ministry of Education, the three undergraduate courses of BSc Artificial Intelligence, BSc Computing Science, and BSc Computing Management and Information Systems will be offered, starting September 2021. Undergraduates will perform the four years of their degree in China and will be taught by staff from both universities. Joint Undergraduate programmes were already in place for SCNU students in Aberdeen, for instance, in Finance, Real Estate and Computing Science, and Aberdeen University staff also has had the opportunity to teach at SCNU in the past. Professor Alan Speight, Vice-Principal for Global Student Recruitment at the University of Aberdeen, said: “Data and Artificial Intelligence is one of the University’s key interdisciplinary research challenges in our Aberdeen 2040 strategy, which was launched last year to mark our 525th anniversary.” “The Joint Institute will align directly with our objectives in this important field. It will support the University's international ambitions to expand our networks and partnerships, as well as extending the reach of our teaching and research globally”. Undergraduates will perform the four years of their degree in China and will be taught by staff from both universities. The activities showcased the clubs and societies here at the university including The Gaudie. University of Aberdeen creates new Institute in partnership with South China Normal University (SCNU) The Institute will specialise in data science and artificial intelligence Photo courtesy of Evelyn Bayerlein by Evelyn Bayerlein

arts culture fashion lifestyle food i gaming V technology Reaction to the 2021 Emmys A look back at The Last of Us: Part II Arts p.2-3 Gaming and Tech p.9 A new gossip column launched Life and Style p.12

p. 2 Streaming Lockdown Favour73rd Primetifacebook/thegaudie | @thegaudie | gaudie.co.uk What do you mean I now have to wear clothes To attend my uni classes? With love, Team iV Editors Anttoni James Numminen Amy Smith IV Editors ARTS ([email protected]) Editor - Rory Buccheri Deputy Editors - Miles Stebens - Ida Sofie Eltang Wengler - Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti LIFE AND STYLE ([email protected]) Editor - Kendra Clark Deputy Editor - Kathryn Ritchie GAMING AND TECH ([email protected]) Editor - Graeme Sutherland Production Mathilde Communal Julie Toft Carlsen Amy Smith Theodore Williamson Copy Editors Ava Lindberg Arianna Ferioli Judit Garab Paula Becka Front page Mathilde Communal iV Streaming Lockdown Favour73rd PrimetiOn Sunday night, The Handmaid’s Tale had the most Emmy award losses ever in a single year, with 21 nominations lost. In 2017, however, the Hulu show was breaking a different record as the first streaming show to win the award for Outstanding Drama Series. Four years later, that win has led to streaming and limited series dominating the nominations at the awards and a night of big wins for nearly all major streaming platforms. The ceremony was a reminder of a lot of the media that defined the past year: nominees included the limited series that took turns ruling public consciousness over lockdown (The Queen’s Gambit, WandaVision, The Mandalorian), Stephen Colbert for his US election night coverage, Bo Burnham, Dolly Parton, and the Weeknd for his Super Bowl Halftime show – with Disney+ even getting an award for the Hamilton professional recording. The category of Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series was perhaps the most competitive of the night: The Queen’s Gambit won the award over I May Destroy You, WandaVision, The Underground Railroad and Mare of Easttown. The interest in the category clearly did not go unnoticed, as the award was also presented last, the spot usually given to Outstanding Drama Series in previous years. The list of nominees was the same for many of the Limited Series categories, with three acting awards going to Mare of Easttown – including Lead Actress for Kate Winslet, who was thanked by co-star and fellow winner Evan Peters for being Kate Winslet – and Outstanding Writing going to Michaela Coel for I May Destroy You in a historic win. Apple TV+ had a predictably great night with Ted Lasso, whose twenty Emmy nods set a record for most first-time nominations as a comedy series – a record previously held by none other than Glee. The series eliminated the competition in Outstanding Comedy Series, which was largely a battle of the streaming services (you might remember that Emily in Paris was nominated; unfortunately, no wins there). Ted Lasso also dominated the comedy acting categories. With a stunning seven members of the cast being nominated, the show ended up with three out of four acting awards: Jason Sudeikis took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, while castmates Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham swept the Supporting acting categories. The Outstanding Made for Television Movie category might by Zoe Kokka

p. 3 Power and rites at the ime Emmys arts | emmys Power and rites at the ime Emmys sound like it would be particularly relevant in this year of streaming wins. However, as companies such as Netflix become increasingly interested in establishing their prestige in film and competing at the Golden Globes and Oscars, their films – Malcolm & Marie, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, whichever Kissing Booth sequel was eligible – become disqualified in the TV movie category. The award thus went to Dolly Parton for Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square. I will personally be rewatching it as soon as it’s socially acceptable, meaning on November 1st. While the increasing acceptance of streaming content into Hollywood institutions like the Emmys is seen as a step forward for accessibility in film and TV, the Television Academy has been slow to catch up in other ways. The diverse slate of nominees in various categories was celebrated when nominations were announced in July, leading to a certain level of disappointment as all winners in the acting categories were White. The Television Academy is far from the only awarding body to face this type of sentiment. Earlier this year, the Grammys received similar criticism for often gaining viewership and notoriety by nominating Black artists, but rarely following through with the actual honour of the award. In last Sunday’s ceremony, three shows (The Crown, Ted Lasso, Mare of Easttown) received nearly all of the acting awards. And sweeps like that of The Crown (seven wins) are often predicted for at least one program every awards season, prompting some to wonder whether Emmy voters stop after watching a few of the nominees – and if that is the case, whether less recognizable series with more diverse casts even have a fighting chance.

p. 4 arts | music Moving on from her 2004 debut album The Milk-Eyed Mender, American songwriter and harpist Joanna Newsom embarks on a fable of colossal magnitudes in her sophomore album titled Ys. Released in 2006, Ys (which derives from an old French myth surrounding the flooding of a city) stepped away from the rather idyllic storytelling of her previous album. Accompanying the familiar harp and voice is an orchestra conducted by Van Dyke Parks, best known for his work with Brian Owens and the Beach Boys. Through this collaboration, Newsom introduces listeners to an intense new sound that traverses the shadowed matters of life – grief, sorrow, infidelity, and myth. The ferocious wave of this album demands to be listened to with close attention, as each sound and word creates the tapestry of Newsom’s intended story. Produced after the death of the artist’s close childhood friend, to whom the album is dedicated, it is no wonder that the listener is left with existential melancholy by the finale. With just five songs, the penultimate lasting for 17 minutes, Newsom reminds us that this endeavour is not a light one, and the stories she must tell come with difficult undercurrents. From the opener, ‘Emily’, an ode to her sister, through to the mythology that surrounds lovers in ‘Monkey & Bear’, to earth-shattering cries of grief in its finale, ‘Cosmia’: Ys becomes a howl for the human experience and beyond. Whimsical and fairylike are unwelcomed terms for this record, and rightfully so. Ys is no fairy-tale but an Epic. Each song is a stunning labyrinthine of emotion and showcases a titanic power of artistry. Allow yourself to take Newsom’s hand and be guided into this world. You will never want to leave. by Jordan Stead Ys - Joanna Newsom (2006) Many moons have passed since Southampton-born band Creeper dropped their iconic debut album, Eternity, In Your Arms (2017), leaving the pop-rock scene bound and speechless. Exactly 10 years too late for the boom of emo music (we remember those times when My Chemical Romance became the cool anthem of the uncool kids), Creeper brought a breath of fresh, goth air into the alleyways of commercial pop-rock. They simply did it like no one else. And, what’s more, they did it on a UK stage, far away from Universal Music US, far away from where the other rock bands (screamo, hardcore, emo rock) were experimenting and selling their records. But the American temptation arrives for them all in the end, and the new album American Noir (2021) is proof of that tragedy. The first track, ‘Midnight Militia,’ kicks off with a spoken storytelling, introducing us to the track-by-track rock saga the band is going for. The sung story follows the alien character Roe, who (spoilers!) meets their death at the end of the album. Perhaps there is a bit too much flirting with the American dream on behalf of the band, explicit in tracks like ‘America At Night’: She's Coca-Cola red / And I'm Pepsi-Cola blue / In the land of the free / I'm a prisoner for you. When all hope seems lost, a song like ‘Midnight’ still breathes true Creeper – perhaps even a bit of Sundara Karma, with charming vocal twists and turns by leader singer Will Gould. It reminds us of the good old days in which Creeper were astonishing, and not just above average. At the end of the LP, I am left with a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Creeper have strayed far from their enchanting, original music of LP Eternity and EP Creeper, both conceived when, for the band, there was no stardom in sight. American Noir - Creeper (2021) by Toma Klusaite

p. 5 arts | netflix S ome might think there isn’t much going on behind an English department. And, if there is, it isn’t worth paying attention to. Landing on Netflix and scoring millions of viewers after one week, The Chair (2021) is here to prove them wrong. Starring a dazzling and mind-numbingly talented Sandra Oh, the new Netflix show brings a real ideological mind-battle to the public by showing the controversies and power dynamics behind the English department at Pembroke. This fictional school is struggling with enrolments for English classes, yet it stubbornly holds on to outdated methods and values. What this show exposes, in its brilliant dramatization of teachers’ lives, is a set of problems that are plaguing many colleges and universities both in the States and in Europe. There is the constant struggle to uphold critical thinking, the debates on what free speech is and should be, as well as the constant battle for nonWhite, non-privileged scholars not only to rise to the top, but to even be offered any stable job. The unsettling truth this show presents is weaved into the lives of each character: Ji-Yoon (Sandra Oh), the first woman of colour chair of the department, Bill Dobson ( Jay Duplass), a beloved professor whose students turn on him, and Joan Hambling (Holland Taylor), one of the ‘dinosaurs’ of the department who refuses to retire. Dr Hambling in particular is a thrilling character, echoing the struggles of women in academia in the ‘80s and embodying, with her career, the inequalities still persisting in maledominated environments. Similarly, young scholar Yan (Nana Mensah) embodies the struggles academia presents to talented, young, Black scholars whose bright future is often tampered with by privileged mammoths who got in positions of power and accumulated wealth, as she herself highlights, on the back of cotton-pickers, sugar trade, and slavery. Like the white whale featuring extensively in Pembroke’s classes about Melville, these themes are too big to be captured in six short episodes. The key to navigate the huge themes tackled in this short drama comes from the mouth of professor Dobson, suggesting that ‘the text is a living thing’ and that accessing it is just the beginning of thought and, consequently, of change. There are many elements of the show that are worth highlighting but, just like with a good book, you would miss out on the real experience if you did not consume it in its entirety. The Chair (2021) by Rory Buccheri I t’s the start of a new academic year and what better way to inaugurate it than by watching the new season of multi-million streaming hit Sex Education? This is a show we have showered in compliments before: I believe the words ground-breaking and refreshing were mentioned, even before the new seasons aired. The third season (now streaming on Netflix) does everything to confirm that diagnosis. Season 3 of Sex Education sees Moordale school rising from the ashes of sex school and truly becoming a Sex School in proud capitals. The feat of pleasing the audience was a hard one, especially with a fanbase divided between loving and hating the Adam-Eric pair and the troubled past of the RahimEric relationship. The writing of the last season wasn’t kind on main characters either, throwing Dr Milburne (Otis’ mom) into a thunderstorm, putting Isaac in the selfish, manipulative seat, and, finally, condemning Otis for the same crime. I believe the new eight episodes have done much to redeem these three characters, Otis in particular, by putting him in a timeline of character growth and staying true to his feelings. Without spoiling any further, I think this new season has kept its promises, especially in terms of character development and big choral scenes. If, in fact, there is one remarkable feature of this new instalment it is that all Moordale students finally come together to fight the same fight and contrast the same enemy. This choral moment gives the show an occasion to project out into the real world and address UK schools, advocating for sex positivity in the curriculum. Much can be said about new headteacher Hope, the villain of the piece: not exactly stock-type, but also not as nuanced as an irresistible villain should be. However, we get a chance to get some insight into her personal struggles, and the few lines she exchanges with Otis at the end, about how her generation (in their 30s) would deal with things differently, make an insightful and clever statement on the millennial-gen X generational strife. Sex Education has gained a solid reputation by giving voice and screen time to stories that haven’t made it into mainstream media yet. Season 2 saw an asexual character in the foreground and used Adam’s complex story to give bisexuality a stage. Finally, in season 3, we get to see non-binary and transgender characters: not just interacting in the background, but stepping into the foreground. The scene of the binding, of the passing of this object that makes Layla ‘glow’ (in Cal’s own words), is a master scene, full of lyrical beauty, camaraderie and, finally, representation. Honest, unassuming, truthful representation of a slice of the everyday for a trans character. If the scene of the bus (‘it’s just a stupid bus’) in season 2 went viral right after the finale aired, this scene equally deserves to make it to the top. It is a breath-taking moment. The new season may lack those grand scenes that season 2 gave us, but it does not fail on the small gestures or the little steps that a good transitional season should have. Most importantly, it does not fail at one crucial thing: to magnify the personal and make it political. To quote another amazing queer show: I am not just a me, I am also a we; Sex Education has just accomplished that. Sex Education - season three (2021) by Rory Buccheri

p. 6 arts | reunion by Dimitra Karagiannopoulou Friends Reunion: The One Where They Get Back Together S eventeen years after completing one of the most successful American TV series, the well-known cast of Friends all returned for a special episode. Just as any reunion in real life can be uncomfortable, enjoyable, sad, and humorous, so was the reunion that aired in late May of the most famous of all friends in TV history. Some things succeeded in moving us, while others seemed a little out of order. But, let’s begin from the start. Firstly, I am still undecided as to whether I’m glad the special episode wasn’t a regular episode, in which we would watch the continuation of the story of our beloved characters. Instead, it was essentially a get-together full of memories, revelations about the casting of the actors, and the current relationships between them. At the moment, I think I prefer how the episode turned out, as the bittersweet ending to the series years ago was the best conclusion, and more often than not, it is better to leave certain things to the viewer’s imagination. Yet, as a fervent fan of the series, I will dare admit that I would have preferred our favourite friends to discuss themselves on the set of the original show, perhaps instead of having a host ask them questions. James Corden as host seemed a little out of place to me as he often seemed to overshadow, rather than highlight, the main protagonists of the series. If it were hosted by another former member of the show, (for example, like Paul Rudd, who had a recurring role as Mike, Phoebe’s husband) the conversation could possibly have maintained a familial warmth, rather than being reminiscent of an interview on a talk show. On the other hand, it was a particularly exciting time to witness how each of our much-loved actors were moved when they revisited the Friends set, which had been their home for a decade. Reviving scenes from the series, watching old funny clips together, and recounting hilarious anecdotes (especially the one about the cheat sheet required for mis-remembered lines) were all elements of the reunion that truly made it worthwhile. I personally found that telling the story of how each actor was chosen for each role, and how easy or difficult it was for producers to find what they were looking for was particularly interesting. What surprised me, however, is the series of celebrity guest appearances who expressed their love for the series, how much it affected them, and what it taught them about themselves, while people who participated in the series in the ten years it was shown were hardly mentioned at all. For the fashion show that followed in the end, I’ll let my silence speak for itself. Either way, Friends will always be one of my favourite shows, and while I might take a break from it for now, I’ll always come back, because they’ll be there for me.

p. 7 arts | retrospective photo courtesy of Sophie Dulac Stand by Me (1986) by Dimitra Karagiannopoulou Every time I promise myself that I will not cry and every time... I cry! For everyone there is this one film, which, although you know the end, you cannot fail to watch again and which evokes exactly the same feelings of joy and sadness as it did the first time. In my case, this film is Stand by Me. Based on Stephen King’s novella The Body, Rob Reiner’s film, received its title from Ben E. King’s song of the same name, which is played during the end credits. The film tells the adventure of four children in the summer of 1959 in a small Oregon town called Castle Rock. The four friends embark on a journey to discover the body of a missing child in their quest to become heroes. Within 48 hours, they pass green areas of Oregon, train lines, lakes filled with leeches and vast meadows until they find the child’s corpse. Throughout the journey, there is no shortage of teasing and discussions about ‘burning’ issues, such as whether Goofy is a dog or not, but they also confess their fears and worries – well-kept secrets that only good friends can understand. Somewhere between the rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia of the 50s and the dark innocence of the 80s, Reiner, in his third directorial attempt, succeeds in a masterful way to capture the sense of childlike I won’t cry, I won’t cry, no, I won’t shed a tear Just as long as you stand, stand by me purity, loss, and stigma that a small provincial town can bring. The performances of the lead cast are truly exceptional, with Phoenix turning into a teenage idol overnight. He portrays Chris, the leader of the gang, whose future in illegality is predetermined and he knows it himself. However, he still desperately wants to escape from Castle Rock and go to a place where no one knows him. Equally wonderfully emotionally raw is Wheaton’s performance as Gordi, who is trying to overcome his brother’s sudden death and the indifference of his parents. Special mention should also be made of Kiefer Sutherland, who plays the hardened leader of a gang of older children fighting over who will find the child’s corpse first. At the same time, the music of the film, with well-known songs of the 50s and the beloved all time classic Stand By Me, transports us from childhood carefreeness to the abominable truth of an adulthood made from the remnants of a childhood that ends abruptly once you feel ready to overcome your fears. Stand by Me is a great and authentic coming-of-age drama film. A movie that both romanticises and demystifies the past. A film that reminds us of the friends we met over the

p. 8 arts | movies Chinese director Chloé Zhao’s third feature film, Nomadland, this year’s winner of the Oscar for Best Picture, is a well-crafted melancholic poem to the nomad community of the American West. Starring the remarkable Frances McDormand, who deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Fern, and featuring real-life nomads Linda May, Charlene Swankie and Bob Wells, the insightful drama draws attention to the definition of home and the ever-changing nature of life. Based on Jessica Bruder’s 2017 nonfiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, the film focuses on a middle-aged woman, Fern (McDormand), who starts a new life and becomes a modern-day nomad after her husband dies and she loses her job at a gypsum plant in the Great Recession. Living in a van and working temporary jobs, she considers herself to be “houseless” rather than “homeless.” Her friend and co-worker, Linda (Linda May), introduces Fern to the nomad community of the American West through which the woman makes new connections and gradually learns road survival skills such as changing a flat tire. Through shared experiences, she grows close with Swankie (Charlene Swankie), a fellow van-dweller who has terminal cancer, and Dave, a nomad who develops feelings for Fern and whom she encourages to finally reunite with his family. Despite being sombre and melancholic, the film radiates positivity by showing genuine connections between the characters who look out for each other. It may seem that by foregrounding this aspect, Zhao neglects the inevitable negative sides of van life. However, this was the filmmaker’s intention. Becoming the first woman of colour and the second woman in the history of the Oscars to win the award for Best Director, during her acceptance speech she said, ‘I have always found goodness in the people I met, everywhere I went in the world.’ The kindness and authenticity of people is a very significant facet of the film. The theme of grief, loss, and mortality is one of the strongest aspects of Nomadland. In part, the film is namely about dealing with losses, healing, and accepting life as it is. Just like many other nomads, Fern chooses the van dweller’s life after losing everything. She is grieving her husband, and the balance between solitude and togetherness is helping her to cope. By telling the untold stories of personal losses, Zhao seems to be emphasising the fact that we all experience similar challenges and are thus connected. Even though nomads are bound to constantly lose something, Nomadland shows that it is necessary to find a way to recover and to enjoy life to the fullest. The outstanding performances of the cast, the breathtaking landscapes of the American West, the unobtrusive camerawork, and the Italian pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi’s hauntingly beautiful soundtrack perfectly fit the poetic atmosphere of the film. The audience is instantly immersed in the unpredictable and uncertain yet extraordinary van dwellers life. Overall, despite feeling a bit too episodic at times and having no climax, Nomadland is a visually beautiful, well-acted film that touches upon the fleeting nature of life and our interconnectedness, making it an excellent choice for a calm evening. Nomadland (2021) by Toma Klusaite Limbo (2021) by Ava Bratejka Lindberg The heartbreakingly beautiful film Limbo sets a new standard for discussing political issues through the medium of film. Finding the perfect balance between the tragic fates of many asylum seekers in the UK and the ability to find comedy in the small stuff, Ben Sharrock’s Limbo makes a perfect commentary on the way we treat refugees. The film’s cinematography, with its long, static shots of beautiful, remote Scottish nature only enhances the feeling of being stuck in, well, limbo. It’s a story that takes patience, but never gets boring; a story that will make you cry of laughter and sorrow. Sharrock has managed to find beauty in the tragic and has told a story that will stay with this reviewer for a very long time. The experience was of course enhanced by the fact that I got to walk into the warm embrace of Belmont Filmhouse to experience it.

p. 9 gaming and tech | indie New Indie Releases A quick look at the indie games we can’t wait to play this month by Graeme Sutherland Sable S able presents a world that players can explore for its own sake, with a beautiful Moebius-inspired art style and desert landscape. This title seems to be very much in the vein of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with progression being driven more by quiet exploration through a gorgeous world than by the dramatic crescendos of an on-rails action title. In fact, there are no combat encounters in the entire game, with the emphasis being solely on puzzles and adventuring. Developers Shedworks say that the emotions they centred the experience around are ‘curiosity, wonder, and existential loneliness.’ If this sounds like something that would appeal to you, then you can pick Sable up on Xbox and PC now. SkateBIRD This is one of those games that will win people over on the title alone. SkateBIRD presents the long-awaited collision between Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and the avian world. If you’ve ever wanted to skate around an office as a pigeon while grinding on pencils and flapping over staplers, there seems to be a fairly high chance this game will meet your needs. Glass Bottom Games seem to have imbued this title with an intoxicating amount of charm, and have included a host of lovely customisable options, including a range of bird species, glasses and hats for them to wear. You can pick it up now on Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch. Eastward Eastward is a playful action-rpg in the vein of 90’s classics like Earthbound and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It tells the story of Sam and John — two survivors in a post-apocalyptic world who journey to the surface after being exiled from their underground mining community. Pixwil have evidently developed Eastward on a foundation of whimsicality, with puzzles and combat being largely dependent on the use of John’s frying pan and Sam’s psychic abilities. This looks like it will be a lot of fun, with richly detailed scenery that brings the world to life. You can grab Eastward now on PC and Nintendo Switch. photos courtesy of Sable Press Kit, SkateBIRD Press Kit, Eastward Press Kit

p. 10 gaming and tech | retrospective When I reflect on my experiences with The Last of Us Part II, I think the reason I loved it so much might be part of the reason it continues to receive bitter hatred from the gaming community: the entire experience is built around painful reflection. When Ellie or Abby kill an enemy, for example, the victim doesn’t just feel like a lifeless avatar, and I’m compelled to consider the morality of their violence. For me, the result of this was not just more consideration about the decisions they made, but the disturbing sensation that I was somewhat complicit in their brutality. The game frequently put me in situations like this where I had to engage more consciously with the unforgiving world and its characters. Personally, I thought this was a stroke of genius, but for many, it didn’t work, and they were dragged through a narrative they despised. Video games are largely about giving control to the player, with freedom-ofchoice becoming an increasingly raised talking point on the release of any given triple-A, single-player title. But Part II is an exercise in limiting this control and forcing the player into uncomfortable territory. Joel, the beloved antihero of the previous game, is brutally murdered while Ellie and the player lie helpless. The narrative twists into a revenge plot that the player can empathise with, yet they are forced to commit extremely violent acts while being taken through painful decisions they have no control over. This culminates in a shift of perspective where the player is thrust into the character of Abby — the alleged villain they spend most of the game hunting. The player really has no choice but to consciously empathise with Abby or uselessly fight against the tide and resent the game for putting them in an unwanted position. Of course, this wasn’t the only reason the negative response to the game was so overpowering. For one thing, the title received significant backlash upon release due to its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters and themes, arguably because these themes are rarely included in mainstream video games, therefore allowing the formation (and normalisation) of homophobic gaming communities. Additionally, while certainly not representative of all negative reviews, the bigotry that was present in many critical responses is emblematic of a larger gaming community that permits a culture of excessive entitlement and intolerance — a community that is undoubtedly the source of the death threats received by Laura Bailey, the voice actor who played Abby. In less severe cases, this community can also be attributed to the fact that the game hit its lowest Metacritic audience score the day after its release — far before anyone can be reasonably expected to complete a 25-hour story. This response is entirely unreasonable, because while The Last of Us Part II contains a challenging narrative, it is undeniably thematically appropriate for the series. The first game begins with the murder of Joel’s daughter, a brutal tragedy that essentially mirrors the death of Joel in Part II. While Joel’s death was arguably more effective due to his presence as the first game’s protagonist, this fits very neatly into the unforgiving world that the games establish. The difference, however, is that while The Last of Us portrays a growing relationship between Joel and Ellie that offers an ounce of hope in its brutal landscape, Part II subverts this through a more painful narrative about grief and forgiveness. This kind of story is unusual in mainstream video games, and players of triple-A titles are rarely asked to engage with narratives in the same way: what other title demands the player to empathise with the alleged villain while they actively grieve with the character seeking revenge? Outrage at a request like this has to be expected, but it’s not a symptom of a badly designed game, but an ambitious narrative that challenges its audience in unusual ways. Ultimately, the vicious reaction the game is continuing to receive over a year after its release is less about the quality of the title and more about the subverted expectations of a gaming community that is more familiar with fan-service than experimental narratives. Part II remains amazing to me because of how it serves as a reminder of what stories in video games have the potential to do. No other medium can drag a viewer to unwanted extremes and force them to reflect on them quite like one that puts you in a character’s shoes and gives you a controller. It’s definitely not for everyone and I think that’s okay, but it makes me excited about the various possibilities this medium has when developers have the means to experiment with their stories. by Graeme Sutherland Reflecting on The Last of Us Part II photos courtesy of The Last of Us Part II Press Kit Reflecting on The Last of Us Part II

p. 11 life and style | fashion From someone who dresses like Adam Sandler in the early 2000’s by Kathryn Ritchie I f you are on social media and haven’t been living under a rock, then you will probably be aware that the Met Gala was recently held on the 13th of September 2021. The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event, which raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York, with the event playing host to a plethora of stars for the evening with each seat costing a whopping £30,000. This year’s theme was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”, with the event being co-chaired by actor Timothée Chalamet, tennis professional Naomi Osaka, poet Amanda Gorman, and singer Billie Eilish. Every year the Gala has a different theme, with the attendees dressing in correspondence with said theme. Compared to previous years, the correlation between the outfits and the theme is not particularly obvious; many people have taken to social media to voice their distaste, with many comparing it to the 2018 Met Gala’s theme, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” and how the outfits in 2018 were executed to a much better standard. One of the most spoken about dresses was worn by congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Politics and fashion typically merge through the cut or colour of the pieces, with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s dress paying homage to the suffragettes with its white colour and typically masculine tuxedo detailing, designed by Aurora James, who is the creative director of Brother Vellies. James started the 15% Pledge in 2020, which is an initiative which called for retailers in the United States to ensure that 15% of their shelf space is occupied by products produced by black-owned businesses, which has resulted in $10bn going towards black-owned businesses. Printed on the back of the dress in bold red letters was the message, “Tax the Rich”, displaying a clear political message from AOC. However, AOC’s choice of event to wear such a dress was questionable. Vanessa Friedman, the New York Times’ fashion editor tweeted, “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attending the $35,000-a-ticket #MetGala in a Brother Vellies gown blaring ‘Tax the Rich’ is a complicated proposition.” With many weird and wonderful looks displayed on the carpet, one which I loved but I’m still confused by is Frank Ocean’s. The singer’s outfit itself was very simple; he wouldn’t look out of place if he wore it to the off-license on his way home. However, his chosen accessory is what delights but severely baffles me: a green mechanical baby. The baby, whose name is Cole, wore a funky patterned onesie, with his lime green skin matching Ocean’s dyed hair. The baby was able to move of its own accord, turning to face the photographers, but the significance of the baby in regard to the “American Independence” theme is unclear; although, if Ocean just wanted to pay homage to the Disney Pixar 2001 cinematic masterpiece Shrek, I would not be mad about it. Along similar lines to Ocean’s Shrek baby, another look I can get behind was Kim Kardashian West’s. The reality star wore a look by Balenciaga where she was completely covered by black material, with some debating whether or not it was actually Kim Kardashian West under it. The look was designed by her ex-husband Kanye West, causing speculation as to whether the two will reunite in the future. West’s design generated a lot of talk and memes on social media, with my two favourites being Kim tagging her makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic, for credit for his work, despite her face being completely covered by black material so his work was not on show for the entire night, and the likening of her look to that of the dementors from Harry Potter. My favourite look of the night has to be the three worn by Lil Nas X. The rapper made his debut at the event in style, shedding layers to create three different looks. His three looks were all Versace, with his first look being a very regal, gold cape, which when discarded revealed essentially a gold suit of armour, kind of like a medieval power ranger, which I can appreciate. His final look was a skin-tight, diamond-studded catsuit. The Met Gala played host to such a wide variety of looks, some absolutely sensational and some very questionable. However, I was left disappointed at the lack of Adam Sandler donning his usual oversized plain t-shirt and basketball shorts, as that is, as we all know, the real height of American fashion. Met Gala observations photo courtesy of Creative Commons

p. 12 Over the past five years I have worked in cafes, restaurants, and juice bars all across Aberdeenshire and I have learnt the tricks of the trade, some of which customers would be disgusted at. I’m not saying all cafes, restaurants and bars do the things I mention in this article, but instead I am just sharing my experience working in minimum wage food work and the things I was told to do. I worked in a juice bar for a year and a half where the catchphrase of the workplace was “minimum wage, minimum effort” and the things we would do never reflected anything but this. In fact, many times I would be working when it wasn’t busy, just tidying up and deep cleaning the place when I would be reminded by my coworkers “minimum wage, minimum effort. You don’t get paid enough or treated well enough to be doing that.” And they were right. So we would sit back until a customer came, or if we were really bored, leave the shop completely to go shopping or get lunch. Eventually I began to internalise this value once I realised that even if I did deep clean the place, my efforts were not even recognised let alone rewarded. Another way the managers would treat us with a lack of disrespect was with the issue of cover. I used to get made to feel bad if I couldn’t cover. One time I had worked a 35 hour week (my contract was 12) which happened to be a week that two essays were due for me so I was stressed out of my mind. When I told them I couldn’t possibly cover any more shifts, I was made to feel bad and that I should cover to help out my co-workers who I was friends with. This week was so awful for me that I even had to get an extension for one of my essays because I was so stressed. We were expected to drop everything for our job, even though they treated us badly and we got paid minimum wage. If we were especially busy that day and understaffed, which we regularly were, often we would say we were out of things in hope that you would either walk away, or choose something off the menu which was simpler to make. Or sometimes we would do the opposite, and if you ordered something that we actually didn’t have stocked, we would just make the drink without it, even if it was a key ingredient. Regularly customers would kick up a fuss if we didn’t have strawberries or something, which if anything just made us care less. I think sometimes that customers forget that we are making something you consume, so it’s best not to wind us up. Our managers treated us with enough disrespect that when customers began to do so, the job became a lot harder. We used to joke that upstairs in the stock room there would be at least 10 breakdowns a week by us, which was sadly true. Whilst our job was simply to make smoothies, so much more came with it and the unhappiness we had with our pay and the way we were treated reflected onto the environment of our shop. It was a negative place to be and a lot of the time, especially if working a busy 8 hour shift alone, we were on the verge of tears from start to finish. So if a customer snapped at us or spoke rudely to us it was enough to push us over into an exhausted, tired and angry breakdown. If however, customers made an effort to treat us like human beings, we would return this favour by making their drinks the best that we possibly could, which was something we genuinely loved to do for people. Even making small talk with us and asking how our day was, made such a difference to the constant flow of rude, snappy customers who saw us as nothing more than unhappy workers. I could write a million examples that customers said to me and my employees that made us angry, upset and extremely uncomfortable. A man shouted at me and called me a ‘stupid b****’ for not having lids. A woman yelled at my pregnant coworker for being too slow. A middle aged man made sexual jokes to my 15 year old coworker. As two men walked off with their drinks, they commented on how I looked in leggings. A man stormed off in a fury and swore at us as we told him we were out of strawberries. These things happened to us daily and it made us angry, yet we were being told to be grateful for our jobs during lockdown, even though all of our furlough pay was noticeably under 80% of our regular wages. After working in the food industry for five years for different companies across Aberdeenshire, I beg you to ask your workers how their day is going or leave them a tip. Be patient with them. You never know how much they hate their jobs, how many shifts they’ve worked that week, how long or hard their shift has been or how other customers have treated them. Being kind to people can go further than you know, especially in rough workplaces like these. life and style | gossip New drama column for the Gaudie Life and Style! by anonymous Exposing the food industry and their workers Photo courtesy of StockSnap via Pixabay Gaudie Gossip

30.10.19 p.9 As many of us know, air pollution is caused from the burning of fossil fuels into the atmosphere, releasing gases and chemicals into the air. However, what is sometimes not realised is the real and dangerous effects it has on our health. Often when we think about air pollution, we think about the climate, but new research has shown that air pollution causes premature deaths, cutting two years off your life. New research from the World Health Organisation has found that an estimated 8.7 million people suffer an early death each year from air pollution. The Global Air Quality Guidelines have shown that human health has started to be negatively impacted by air pollution in lower concentrated areas than previously expected. This new information is especially concerning to lower income countries as their economy often relies on the use of fossil fuels. This results in citizens of lower income countries suffering up to six years of their life compared to a global average of two years. Additionally, it has been found that nine out of ten people breathe air that is over the safe levels classed by the WHO. This shows the seriousness of the situation the population faces, as air pollution is described as a greater killer than HIV/Aids and poses a greater risk to human health than personal lifestyle choices, such as smoking and a poor diet. Tiny particles called PM2.5s are easily inhaled and, therefore, work their way into the body, causing health problems such as heart disease and strokes in adults, but can cause reduced lung growth and aggravated asthma in children. The WHO aims to decrease the concentration of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide as well as other harmful chemicals to a level, which is deemed to be safe in the air, by half. It is their bid to save millions of lives globally but especially to countries with the highest levels of air pollution. The Air Quality Guidelines are set out in a step by step style so that countries, that are likely to find lowering their levels of air pollution difficult, should find it easier to hit one target after another. The importance of this is that despite the new limits being set, they are still not actually ‘safe’. There have been some improvements and measures taken to create cleaner air that have worked, but they have not been successful enough to stop or even limit the concentration of air pollution. As stated by the WHO “air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, alongside climate change.” The aim of the new, lower air quality guidelines is for countries to focus on getting levels of air pollution to that standard; even if it is not ‘safe’ it will be extremely beneficial to the overall health of the population. After not being updated for sixteen years, the guidelines have shown the urgency of the current situation we face. As stated by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, “We know the magnitude of the problem and we know how to solve it. These updated guidelines give policy-makers solid evidence and the necessary tool to tackle this long-term health burden.” The likelihood of success in meeting these targets therefore relies on the compliance and effectiveness of the individual countries’ strategies. The WHO guidelines are not legally binding, but provide direction to policy-makers, which will hopefully encourage and aid their efforts. So where does the UK stand? Previous strategies to reduce air pollution have been successful; in 2019, the levels of nitrogen oxide were at their lowest since records began, falling by 32% since 2010. Additionally, the UK came 92nd out of 106 countries which were measured for having the worst air quality in 2020, with Christchurch being the most polluted city. Bangladesh was the country in first place, suffering the worst air pollution. The UK’s current efforts to tackle air pollution include a £3.8 billion plan to target nitrogen dioxide levels around roads and the Clean Air Strategy, which legally binds the government to keep to reduced emission targets. Thus, there have already been effective previous efforts the UK government has made to set targets, trying to cap air pollution. As predicted by the WHO, around 80% of deaths related to air pollution could be prevented if the levels of air pollution met the guidelines. While there is no doubt that this would be successful and would improve the population’s health, there is a slight concern that countries’ individual efforts and successes will cause problems for the effectiveness of the plan. Yet, the timing of these new guidelines could not be more necessary as millions of people should not be suffering from a premature death due to air pollution, and if the WHO is able to support struggling countries and there is a push for air pollution levels to decrease, then this should limit the effect air pollution has on our health. Air. An unlikely killer. by Holly Ferguson The World Health Organisation has cut its recommended air pollution levels in half as air pollution has been discovered to be at record levels, causing millions of premature deaths As predicted by the WHO, around 80% of deaths related to air pollution could be prevented if the levels of air pollution met with the guidelines. As stated by the WHO “air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, alongside climate change.” Photo courtesy of Amir Hosseini via Unsplash

p.10 30.10.19 Russian ambitions in the Arctic: Opportunity to become a regional power or an ill-advised investment? Warming Arctic waters bring new incentives for commercial projects and Great-Power confrontations by Simona Tarpova The current geopolitical situation in the Arctic is unprecedented. While polar ice caps melt rapidly (pressuring some states in the region to secure their borders), Russia and international energy companies see climate change as an economic opportunity. The strategic advantage offered by the Arctic, however, is not a new undertaking for Russian leaders. Amid the Cold War, the Soviet Union invested in transforming the region into a military hub by allocating millions of Russians to develop towns and infrastructures. However, as the USSR collapsed, the projects were abandoned because the Arctic fell out of Kremlin’s favour. The Arctic Circle’s Alternating Dynamics Fast forward a few decades, global warming has enabled Russia to rediscover the region’s potential. According to NASA, around 13% of Arctic ice melts every ten years. In 2018, the ice mass was 42% less than in 1980. As a result, the Northern Sea Route (NSR), stretching from Murmansk to the Bering Strait, has emerged as a short alternative to the traditional world shipping route – the Suez Canal. The increasing value of the region has incentivised neighbouring states to expand their territorial claims. The Lomonosov Ridge is an example of overlapping claims between Russia, Canada, and Denmark – all considered ‘Artic states’. In total, eight countries are recognised as such, with the continental shelves of five of them – Russia, the United States, Canada, Norway, Denmark – already expanding into the Arctic circle. As per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, signatories can claim an extension of their continental shelves based on scientific proof. If granted, such a continuation of a state’s territory would extend its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – an area of 200 nautical miles from the coast into the ocean. States have full right to exploit resources within the distance of their EEZ. Russia has capitalised on enlarging its north maritime borders. The country has submitted several claims to the UN, requesting additional 1.2 million square kilometres. The Federation even proposed amendments to the UN definition of the continental shelf ’s limits to substantiate the claims. Additionally, the Kremlin aims to showcase its resolve to dominate the Arctic to the world. In 2007, Russia planted the national flag at the North Pole’s bottom. Images and recordings from the event were broadcasted globally. This symbolic action warned other claimants that Russia would safeguard its influence in the Arctic. The country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, has on numerous occasions asserted these intentions. Prior to an Arctic Council meeting, he noted that ‘it has been absolutely clear… that this is our territory, this is our land.’ In fact, Russia has a solid foundation behind its claims. The Russian Federation has the longest coastline and the biggest population – calculated to be around 2 million, half of the Arctic inhabitants. Such arguments have also been part of President Vladimir Putin’s narrative, whose mandate has focused on restoring Russia’s greatness. After Western sanctions upon the annexation of Crimea and the military conflict in Donbas, Putin adopted a more assertive approach in the Arctic. The Kremlin’s actions clearly intend to establish Russia as a political, military, and economic regional power. High Stakes With the increasing significance of the region, Moscow endeavours to secure its presence. On the one hand, Russia welcomes new economic opportunities, such as resource exploitation and the development of trade routes. On the other hand, the country seeks to protect its borders and challenge rival claims. The abundance of natural resources in the region – hydrocarbons, minerals, precious metals, and fish – could expand the Russian economy and attract foreign investment. Estimates indicate that approximately 13% and 30% of the world’s undiscovered oil and gas, respectively, can be found in the Arctic Ocean. One-third of Russia’s fish supply is already sourced from the region. Other valuable resources include diamonds, gold, and platinum. The shipment routes’ expansion would allow Russia not only to increase its influence over Europe and Asia but also to collect passage fees. The NSR is met with great demand, especially from Asia. This maritime route reduces the length of the journey between East Asia and Northern Europe by around 13 days, saving immense fuel costs. Although the Kremlin considers this route a ‘national transport artery’, the international community deems it universal. In the past, cold climate protected Russia’s Arctic borders. The naturally created fortress of ice made the north frontier impenetrable. As global warming intensifies, the country must build capacities to secure its vast oil and gas resources and nuclear forces in the north. The Federation is also invested in defending claims over the Arctic waters. The primary rationale being Putin’s ambition to challenge the US and establish Russia as a leading global power. A Multi-Layered Strategy Moscow has adopted a holistic approach to achieve the desired objectives relying on both soft and hard power instruments. Last year, the government introduced a $300 billion programme that aims to attract investment in the Russian Arctic. As part of the initiative, authorities offer tax breaks for Western companies interested in energy undertakings. The project also covers the development of infrastructure, pipelines, and the mining industry. The goal is to utilise these businesses’ funds and technologies as well as increase Russia’s leverage vis-àvis Western governments. The Kremlin is hoping that the business lobby will influence foreign leaders’ decision making. Additionally, investments are to help Russia resettle the region. New towns, roads, and opportunities to earn a living would incentivise Russians to relocate. The effective occupation would, therefore, strengthen the Federation’s territorial claims. Asian countries, e.g., China and South Korea, have recognised the NSR as a shorter and cheaper passage. The former has already demonstrated a strong interest in SinoRussian collaboration in the far north. For instance, the East Asian state poured significant capital into liquefied natural gas and other hydrocarbon enterprises. China has also expressed interest in connecting the NSR with the Belt and Road initiative and referred to the Arctic route as Polar Silk Road. Nevertheless, commercial ships cannot access the frozen NSR waters on their own. Icebreakers are an essential element to securing a safe passage through the northern ocean. Understanding this, Russia has modernised and expanded its corresponding fleet. Unparalleled worldwide, it contains over 40 vessels, including nuclear-powered ones. Cargo ships that cross the NSR would need to pay for the respective service. Another purpose of the icebreakers is to support military operations – escort naval forces, monitor activity within the region, and provide warfare equipment. Accordingly, in addition to finding alliances and economic partnerships, the Federation has focused on military advancement. Specifically, Russians are reopening over 30 abandoned Soviet bases, upgrading their naval and air powers, radars, and missile systems. Their strategy is based on the concept of bastion defence, utilised during the Cold War. The approach entails securing a large area where Russian forces can operate freely and efficiently. The Northern Fleet is responsible for patrolling the perimeter, guarding the nuclear arsenal, and blocking the lines of communication of NATO forces. The military has a clear purpose – to protect resources and claims and strengthen Russia’s regional position. The country has ensured media coverage over its new capacities and threatened to use them if ships pass through the NSR without its permission. Many of Moscow’s actions intent to send NATO members a message – Russia has found a new place for power competition and aims to dominate it. The Risks Involved The Russian plan is ambitious; the implementation strategy is unambiguous; however, the government lacks the resources to fulfil it. Satellite images reveal that the country undertakes only high priority projects. An example of such precedence is the Alexandra Land base, which would allow Russia to restrict NATO’s access into the Arctic in case of a conflict. Extensive new maritime and road infrastructures are required to utilise the region’s economic potential, and it would be costly to develop such logistical capacities. The icebreakers are a crucial tool to sustain commercial activity in the area, yet the cost of each amounts to over $1 billion. Russia has capitalised on enlarging its north maritime borders. The country has submitted several claims to the UN, requesting additional 1.2 million square kilometres. Russia has modernised and expanded its corresponding fleet. Unparalleled worldwide, it contains over 40 vessels, including nuclearpowered ones. The military has a clear purpose – to protect resources and claims and strengthen Russia’s regional position. Photo courtesy of Norman Einstein licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

30.10.19 p.11 Indonesian President Joko Widodo and top officials found guilty of climate negligence A case brought forward by 32 citizens found the Government of Indonesia failing to act on chronic air pollution Two years ago, thirty-two residents of Jakarta filed a civil lawsuit against their government (which included the president, several ministers, and local leaders). They demanded action from the authorities to tackle the worsening air pollution in the capital Jakarta. Now the trial outcome saw the court rule that the Indonesian Government had failed to comply with the law and fulfil citizens' rights to clean air. Complainants argued – backed up by scientific research – that the government's negligence regarding reducing carbon pollution often causes an increase in asthma as well as respiratory and heart diseases. With that, the life expectancy of Jakarta's population (exceeding 30 million people, including its surroundings) is potentially reduced. According to IQAir's World Air Quality 2020 report, Jakarta and its surroundings have one of the worst levels of air pollution in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the "Particular Matter 2.5" (PM2.5) metric averaged 49.4 µg/m³ in the capital of Indonesia in the year 2019 – at the time when residents decided to take this issue further to court. PM2.5 is an indicator of microscopic particles with less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter in the air. These are – according to the WHO – mainly consisting of "sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust, and water" and able to "penetrate the lung barrier and enter the blood system". Jakarta's 2019 reading put the metropolis into the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' category, with an agglomeration town even having the more dangerous "unhealthy" classification. There are multiple reasons for this dramatic and dangerous increase in air pollution in Jakarta, including the metropolis' rapid urbanisation and the power plants nearby that are coal-powered, which help fuel the economy of the capitals' citizens. To remedy the damage and to bring air pollution under control, the Government was ordered to create – alongside other strategies – a national ambient air quality standard. By adopting this plan, the authorities would protect human well-being more than before. With COP26 just weeks away, it begs the question: have the world's richest countries ignored those who rely on their help to reach their own climate target? The Indonesian Government has neglected its people, but it could be argued that it is not entirely its fault. In the aftermath of the pandemic and the start of a new tax year, the UK Government announced the slashing of its aid budget by 0.5 per cent, which amounts to 4 billion pounds – money that would have gone to countries like Indonesia and helped them move away from coal power or find greener ways to meet the needs of their growing population. However, in a year defined by the coronavirus and the race to vaccinate, there has been a sense of prioritisation in the world's countries amongst different projects and initiatives. Indonesia, such as many other countries, prioritised the fight against the pandemic. Yes, the Government failed its citizens, but with less external help concerning air pollution arriving, the odds were to some extent against it. Photo courtesy of Sopan Sopian via Pixabay by Theodore Williamson (CONTINUED) There are a lot of uncertainties behind Russian investments. At the moment, all infrastructures are susceptible to the cold conditions and effects of climate change. Revenues from ships passing through the NSR are unstable since the road is open merely throughout the summer. Current investments are vulnerable to environmental conditions. Transportation accidents and obstacles occur regularly – just one in five ships succeed in crossing the NSR. The harsh and unpredicted climate hinders the efforts of the Federation to resettle the region. Population declines whilst primary food sources such as fish and marine mammals migrate north to escape warm waters. The rest of the Russians find few incentives to relocate to the Arctic at present. Moreover, it will be long before grandiose hydrocarbon projects are materialised. Companies are reluctant to invest in fear that energy prices and demand in the future could not account for the costly endeavours. Other reasons that deter businesses and states, including China, from cooperating with Russia is the prospect of extended EU and US sanctions and the limited economic capacities of the country. United States’ restrictions have already prevented Western energy firms from operating in the Russian Arctic. Additionally, the US leads NATO exercises and capacity building in the region. Upon a Russian-Chinese joint military training held in 2018 involving around 300,000 troops, NATO demonstrated a capacity to respond. The alliance prepared for a scenario in which Norway has been attacked. The activity involved 50,000 troops and 10,000 vehicles from 31 nations. The operation was carried close to the Federation’s borders and was a response to its growing assertiveness. In addition to the joint exercise, NATO Arctic states significantly increased their naval military and surveillance capacities. Despite NATO’s reaction, the Kremlin is determined to defend what, in its view, are rightful claims. New economic opportunities open the path towards cooperation. However, competition for power could lead to a conflict. Russia’s military build-up and a consecutive security dilemma drive the rest of the Arctic states to prepare more offensive approaches. A confrontation of this scale would be a zero-sum game. One ought to ask – are the benefits of controlling the Arctic proportional to the costs? According to IQAir's World Air Quality 2020 report, Jakarta and its surroundings have one of the worst levels of air pollution in Southeast Asia. With COP26 just weeks away, it begs the question: have the world's richest countries ignored those who rely on their help to reach their own climate target? The Russian icebreaker, Kapitan Dranitsyn, escorts cargo ships throughout the Northern Sea Route, supports research expeditions, and offers tourist cruises. Photo courtesy of David Mark via Pixabay

p.12 30.10.19 I t could be worse, right? Just stay optimistic. Happiness is a choice. Look on the bright side. People have it so much worse. At least you’ve got… blah blah blah. That’s quite enough. How about… It’s shameful. It causes guilt. It represses authentic human emotion. It prevents growth. And yet, we all do it as a way to suppress and avoid challenging circumstances. One concern that has arisen as a consequence of the pandemic is the idea of toxic positivity, specifically that people should strive to be grateful for what they do have and not what they don’t or what they have lost. Toxic positivity takes positive thinking to an overgeneralised extreme while minimising emotions that aren’t wholly optimistic. While cultures such as these are well-intentioned and not meant to be hurtful, they ultimately undermine the intensity or difficulty of the situation a person may be going through. It creates feelings of disillusionment and guilt, which can only worsen someone’s circumstances. The idea that a person is assumed to remain positive despite being in an emotionally challenging situation is toxic. Happiness being compulsively pushed enforces the idea that authentic human emotions that aren’t considered inherently good must be the opposite, and have no place to be valued or considered seriously. Such attitudes deny self-compassion and the space for challenging circumstances to be addressed with the sensitivity they require. The minimisation and invalidation of the human experience consequently silences those who are struggling, resulting in feelings of anger, denial, and jealousy. This monochromatic mindset is the basis for being a transmitter of toxic positivity, and it’s something that we’ve all contributed to without realising the consequences. Whether it’s intentional or not, it remains essential to set healthy boundaries with anyone who is easily and consistently dismissive of your thoughts and experiences. Signs of toxic positivity may include being too proactive whereby you’re dismissing emotion by overloading your schedule and keeping busy, comparing someone’s experience to something much worse in order to belittle their situation, shaming people for expressing an emotion that isn’t ‘positive,’ and experiencing intense feelings of guilt for sharing your concerns. Such difficulty avoiding distressing thoughts has been recognised by many psychological studies as something that denying our feelings can lead to. Living our lives inauthentically can further contribute to a loss of connection with ourselves and the people around us. It’s important that such behaviour is recognised in society in our everyday practices. Instead of stating that failure isn’t an option, view failure as a part of growth and success. Acknowledge that everyone’s abilities and limitations are different and that is okay as opposed to ‘if I can do it, so can you’. By alternatively noting that somebody is in need of support and to be heard and not in need of toxic reinforcement that supposedly ‘it could be worse’, there is a much greater chance of dealing with the root of the situation at hand. It’s okay to embrace every triumph without invalidating the challenges of life. Give yourself permission to be realistic about your circumstances. The truth about toxic positivity by Megan Haf Donoher And why we’re all guilty of practicing it. Living our lives inauthentically can further contribute to a loss of connection with ourselves and the people around us. Lie Island Producing more lies than couples on Love Island. For a show built on dysfunctional relationships, Love Island 2021 has taken the cake. The show historically has tormented and emotionally abused its contestants, but in recent years has adopted a ‘Be Kind’ slogan. Frankly, this slogan is a slap in the face to everyone who demanded change. It’s a slap in the face to previous and recent contestants who the show has actively tried to harm. And more than anything, it is downright offensive to those the show has lost to suicide. Caroline Flack, Sophie Gradon and her partner Aaron Armstrong, and Mike Thalassitis. ‘Be Kind’, as a message, has good intentions, but only when not spouted by a show that flaunts its duty of care to its contestants in favour of ‘good television’. Love Island 2021 has been nothing but misogyny and anti-blackness. Honestly, it has been nothing short of trauma porn. Firstly, let’s talk diversity. For a show that claims to be ‘diversifying’ its cast, it looked the same as every other year: mostly white, mostly thin, mostly straight, all cis, all but one able-bodied… oh, and there was a literal racist. You cannot claim you are diversifying your cast when it still presents the unattainable beauty standards as if they represent the country as a whole. They added more curvier women and more people of colour, but actively sabotaged these cast members by not casting people who would couple up with them. At one stage in this series, every single man on the show said his type was blonde-haired and blue-eyed. If you won’t cast people with diverse tastes, why cast diverse people at all? Oh yeah, it’s because it is all performative. By casting men with the same type, Love Island actively undermines the women of colour in the cast and, thus, creates trauma porn as millions tune in every night to watch them suffer and hurt time and time again. Every year in the first coupling, the last girl picked is always black. Not to mention, Kaz, a black woman, was made to go on a date with a white man who said the N-word on his Instagram and it was still up when he went on the show. And he wasn’t even kicked off. Who is doing background checks on this show? In this series just gone, until the end of Casa Amor, every single traumatic or dramatic moment was at the expense of a woman. Every. Single. Time. The boys chose at almost every recoupling, there were more female bombshells than male ones, making the women fight more than the men; the producers manipulated the girls’ fears and traumas into traumatic moments for them. Love Island famously canned its Lie Detector Test challenge for the mental health of the contestants, but still sent the girls a deliberately misleading postcard to prey on the already present insecurities of the girls? They made Millie rehash the trauma of her ex cheating on her during a Lad’s Holiday by blindsiding her to Liam’s actions. The boys this year showed a disregard for the girls, that is honestly disgusting to see, and are still being rewarded with bombshell after bombshell. Love Island is a parasite of misogyny and anti-blackness and is a disgusting and offensive view into what ITV consider television. They profit off the suffering of their contestants, primarily the women of colour, and expect viewers to take up the mantle of protecting the mental health of the cast. The show consistently ignores its responsibility to do better and, during the summer, broadcasted its trauma porn six nights a week. by Anonymous Photo courtesy of Kevin Dooley via Flickr By casting men with the same type, Love Island actively undermines the women of colour in the cast and, thus, creates trauma porn as millions tune in every night to watch them suffer and hurt time and time again. Photo courtesy of Axel Kristinsson

30.10.19 p.13 No time for a female Bond Let’s rewind. Daniel Craig does not hate women. With the highly anticipated No Time to Die being released later this month, the leading role has been a disputed topic in the media once again. The iconic 007 character was first created in the early 1950s, featuring in the thriller Casino Royale, and has since been played by numerous familiar faces who have, in turn, made it their own. Therefore, it is no surprise that there has been much speculation as to who will carry the title once Daniel Craig marks his final farewell. As with most historical fictional characters that have survived the times and changing social attitudes, audiences are expecting such roles and figures to evolve too. While Jodie Whittaker graced our screens as the 13th Doctor in 2017, many are left questioning whether this is the right time for a female Bond to take over the much loved role. The hot topic has evoked and stirred several mixed opinions, and Craig himself recently offered his thoughts on the matter. Speaking to Radio Times print magazine, Craig states that ‘there should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour. Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?’ Naturally, this response caught the eye of the media and it was quickly assumed that the actor is against a woman taking the role. In reality, this alternate perspective offers a new insight in which the film industry ought to stop gender swapping existing franchises and instead should focus on producing higher quality and gender inclusive roles. While having a historic character such as Bond being attached to a leading woman would be revolutionary to some, is this really the right approach when Hollywood thrives off of existing brands and their marketability to fulfil so-called current trends? In a 2020 interview with Variety, Barbara Broccoli agreeably expressed that ‘I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that’. The fact is, we are living in a time where the industry is actually giving the audience what they want, and not what they think the audience wants. Granted, underrepresented groups of people in established roles are necessary for change. And yet, a character such as 007 cannot be successfully created from scratch overnight. Supposedly, one of the concerns is that the Bond series has only one main character, leaving everybody else, in particular the Bond women, as disposable. Perhaps instead of turning ‘male characters’ into ‘female characters’ for diversity, we should be writing and creating strong and original female leading roles to begin with. Hollywood, are you ready for that conversation? by Megan Haf Donoher ‘I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that’. Photo courtesy of Glyn Lowe Perhaps instead of turning ‘male characters’ into ‘female characters’ for diversity, we should be writing and creating strong and original female leading roles to begin with. As this seemingly omnipresent virus continues to ravage the globe, I suggest it has inadvertently ravaged our minds as well. How else would one explain the need to ‘decolonise’ some plants, persecute a student for pointing out the biological differences between men and women or as happened at our university, ban a student from the Union for saying ‘Rule Britannia’? Or perhaps it is down to the arrival of what Douglas Murray refers to as a new ‘foundation of morality’ seen in much of Western culture. Murray comments that historically if one wanted to seem a good and ethical person there were certain things that were expected of you, often based on Judeo-Christian belief such as charity, forgiveness, and many others. He argues that within the last 10-15 years this has switched from tenets such as forgiveness or giving to the hounding of university lecturers out of their jobs or cancelling people online simply for having an opposing view of this new so called woke culture. Whether it is an unknown symptom of long covid rotting societies brain or a new Western culture establishing itself, it appears to be replacing one of the longest liberal schools of thought, socialism. Instead, it seems to emulate Xi Jinping’s goal of complete control over our minds. The Tories have now been in power for eleven years while the Labour Party continue to bleed staunch Labour heartlands like Hartlepool and Tees Valley as they did earlier this year. Why is this you may be asking yourself ? Well, as the period that Labour remains ostracised from power increases so does the apparent need to take issue with almost anything including racist cooking. If you’re not Caribbean you shan’t make Caribbean chicken if you happen to be Scottish you can’t make a Biryani because that is cultural appropriation and, thus, you must be stealing another’s culture. So, all you students be aware, while you tuck into your discounted dominos during freshers, you’re stealing Napolitano culture. Here I think is where part of Labour’s problems stem; they have lost their voter base. Traditional Labour supporters don’t want to be told they are racist if they have braided their hair, as happened with Adele. They want a party that will support them and their county. However, Jeremy Corbyn’s party only seemed set on ‘depicting Britain as irretrievably racist, patriarchal and uniquely flawed,’ so states The Telegraph. This belief still seems to be held by much of the Labour elite to this day and, thus, have entirely alienated its traditional voter base; now they seem to rely on the socially liberal urban vote. The issue has become so bad that former Labour leader Tony Blair comments that the ‘party is being defined by the ''woke'' Left’. Now you see lifelong labour supporters defecting to the Tories, a notion unthinkable to many, but this nonsensical interpretation of society is pushing people away. This isn’t surprising when society tries to change what is real and to what is fantastical. Soon enough 2+2 will indeed equal 5. Has socialism been killed by wokeism? A new Western morality opposed by the Red Wall by Marcus Wadland The issue has become so bad that former Labour leader Tony Blair comments that the ‘party is being defined by the ''woke'' Left’. Photo courtesy of Digital Cat via Flickr Here I think is where part of Labour’s problems stem; they have lost their voter base.

p.14 30.10.19 I s it any surprise that once again Boris Johnson is playing to his crowd? I suppose it makes sense. The Conservative government hasn't exactly given the elderly much of a break over the past year or so, what with the triple pension lock being suspended and the coronavirus pandemic. It hasn’t been easy-going. Will a patchwork, cobbled-together health and care recovery plan suffice? Well, there’s no time for deliberation anyway! Johnson, with a cabinet reshuffle having just taken place, ensured no frontbenchers spoke up or risked their necks. Creating divisions even within his own party between ‘realists’ and ‘high Tories’, the UK Prime Minister has filed for an unjustifiable warrant to charge the pockets of the working class by increasing the rate of National Insurance. Contributions and dividends tax will both rise by 1.25%. Perhaps this is a way of resolving himself of guilt, however. That’s because with this tax hike Johnson has admitted many, many NHS failings, fundamental ones at that. Not that it should resolve him of guilt, but in this age of constantly being bombarded with news and opinion from every angle, any politician that apparently speaks some ‘truth’ is held in high regard. Even if, as is most often the case with the Tories, they’re nothing but the enemy to everyone except their rich pals. It comes from a backlog of NHS doctor appointments, now planned to skyrocket as restrictions ease, as well as a general need for an established care service (ideally free at the point of use) with the UK’s ageing population. Initially, it seems like the opposite of a conservative thing to do; tax rises generally aren’t considered ‘small government’ if you follow that understanding. But this levy on the working class is a classic conservative tactic. Another puzzle piece of fascism. You’ll note as well, the ones who will be benefiting from this new funding the most are the homeowners and wealth-hoarders, generally speaking. We may see adverts on TV of pensioners freezing in cold homes, but turns out they are, in fact, the second wealthiest group in the UK—far more likely to be millionaires. Perhaps the fact that we see many of the elderly as being poor-off says more about the state of the UK than anything else. Of course, let’s not forget Johnson’s new universal credit cut of £20, which will push an estimated 800,000 people into poverty, further squeezing the very worst-off in society. It’s disgusting how those at the top in power don’t understand how much that amount of money is worth to some people. Not only are gas prices also set to rise, but so are food prices, what with the shelves being empty from Brexit. It’s not all doom and gloom, though: inflation is set only to rise by 4%! Obvious sarcasm is obvious, I’d hope. Analysis requested by the Liberal Democrats has found that this tax hike will result in NHS staff and care workers being presented with a £900 tax bill, according to the Guardian. What about the money we have supposedly saved from the EU? How about introducing progressive, not regressive, income taxation? Wealth taxes? Labour is looking into closing a loophole in private equity tax avoidance too. The Tories shouldn’t exactly be short on ideas for crowdfunding. Yet, they’re going after working people once again by using a system not understood by everyone to try and please their core voters who they, time and time again, stab in the back. This national insurance rise is another tax on the working class by Aidan Bridgeman Boris Johnson’s care levy won’t make up for the damage caused—it’ll generate more Last week, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia signed off on a brand-new security and defence pact titled ‘AUKUS’ with the surface goal of shipping off a bunch of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. Not said to be a proliferation of nuclear weapons, however, but the deal certainly doesn’t give off a peaceful aura. You’d think this aspect would grab the headlines, but no. Instead, much of the attention has been directed at France and to a lesser extent the wider EU. On the 17th of September France recalled its ambassadors in Australia and the US back to France in protest. The plans for AUKUS go against an agreement made between France and the Asia-Pacific region for a previous submarine deal with Australia worth €56 billion; the new AUKUS deal is set to cancel that completely. The EU has sided with France, though quietly, in a move that further pushes the UK away from the continent—first politically, in recent days somewhat culturally, and now in terms of security and defence. Potentially worsening Franco-British relations are hardly even on the table, yet this is all that’s being focused on. There is a global stage show playing out here, one which involves international power balances and the stability of many regions. What this deal is, in reality, a dangerous provocation. One that the UK media is conveniently turning a blind eye to because it involves China—a supposed enemy. And France—a supposed ally? Of course, nothing in the AUKUS talks says this directly, but with a growing Chinese military presence, such as aggression in the South China Sea and other political propaganda abroad, it couldn’t be clearer what this deal is trying to set out to do. Equally, it fits perfectly into Johnson’s plan to build a ‘Global Britain’ distant from Europe. A US lite. The past few years have seen many provocations by Trump (including Mark Milley’s recent comments about Trump threatening China with nuclear strikes were it not for intervention from aides, and also trade wars to a lesser degree), ones that haven’t ceased under Biden. Australia has been in hot water with China as of late too, calling for an international investigation into the causes of Covid-19, with what goal in mind other than provocation I’m not sure. The UK is not without blame either. The aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth had its maiden voyage right through the South China Sea. Simply diplomatic theatre or not, you don’t settle any nerves by pulling a stunt like that. Chinese experts have claimed through the Global Times (admittedly not the most non-confrontational outlet itself ) that their domestic military is not happy with this pact. They seem certain in their knowledge that these submarines would be more than capable of carrying nuclear weapons sent over from London or Washington if needed. This makes Australia the first target for a potentially furious China in the future. Chinese officials themselves have confirmed concerns about peace and heightened tensions around military arms in wake of this pact. Even Theresa May questioned the Prime Minister on the intentions of AUKUS, asking if Britain would ever intervene in a potential conflict. Johnson had no answer. It’s clear that imperialism hasn’t worked, especially those under the disguise of ‘humanitarian intervention’. The US and UK both. Have we already forgot about Afghanistan? Johnson continues to act cute towards the French situation; there’s no doubt in my mind he knew that if he recited some French on camera it would be all over the papers and the BBC. Probably even in France, and so too the US and Australia. A perfect distraction away from any case against AUKUS. There’s standing up for international order, and then there’s needless military provocation in an already unstable world with almost certain nuclear capabilities. China is not the only concern here. This will set a precedent for other countries to develop nuclear technology, and it will solidify the view that ‘if there’s no domestic civil nuclear industry, ones in the sea don’t count as nuclear proliferation!’ The UK media are missing out on the bigger picture here. This dangerous flex of hard power is being overshadowed by winding up the French for fun. Hating on the French for fun Macron’s submarine spat is blinding the UK media to the dangers of AUKUS by Christie Edward James Photo courtesy of Scottish Government via Flickr Analysis requested by the Liberal Democrats has found that this tax hike will result in NHS staff and care workers being presented with a £900 tax bill, according to the Guardian. There is a global stage show playing out here, one which involves international power balances and the stability of many regions. Chinese officials themselves have confirmed concerns about peace and heightened tensions around military arms in wake of this pact.

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 any company which advertises in The Gaudie. Throughout the last year, swathes of students across the county were imprisoned in their extortionate shoe boxes or “halls”, as the University likes to refer to them, for months on end. Locked up without trial and sent to the local gulag called Hillhead, their enduring sentence seemingly everlasting as the constant threat of severe reprisal from the camp guards loomed. In some cases, such as the ones seen in Manchester, students sought to emulate Inspector Javert in an outright rebellion to tear down the barricades set up outside their accommodation. Sadly, this attempted coup d’état was quickly quashed much like Hong Kong’s plea for democracy. Fortunately, times have changed, the Berlin Wall has fallen and thankfully we can now go about our daily business as normal. However, the omnipresent eye of Big Brother continues to loom within the Track and Trace system. Sadly, the dream of a student utopia is not yet here, as in recent weeks, the rate of new coronavirus infections has been rising at a worrying rate, supposedly because of reopening the schools. Thus, comrade Nicola has decided to channel her best impression of an East German border guard. To help quell the spread of the virus, it has recently been announced that students will have to “show them your papers” as it were, specifically in the form of a vaccine passport to gain entry into a nightclub. Now, if this prevents the closure of further hospitality and allows society to function in a vaguely normal manner then I’m all for it. However, I fear this attempt to stop the spread of COVID among students may be as futile as the attempt to stop the spread of fresher’s flu and other diseases during welcome week! However, there may still be hope in the form of local raver The Right Honourable Michael Gove. He will no doubt be at hand to save the day, as cutting shapes in Aberdeen nightclubs will undoubtedly deter local club goers, as they are sure to question the sanity of such a perilous decision, much like Brexit. So, if at the end of the day all is lost, we can definitely all head to Govey’s for a messy afters and the taxi’s on him! The Plight of the Student by Marcus Wadland Boris Johnson on gas price shock: Some of you may die, but that’s a sacrif ice I’m willing to make Security at ATIK seen here preparing their vaccine checkpoint for Welcome Week Boris Johnson, seen here remembering that hand sanitiser is flammable and getting an amazing idea Photo courtesy of ResoluteSupportMedia However, there may still be hope in the form of local raver The Right Honourable Michael Gove. Boris Johnson has had to stop watching the “inspirational” Lord Farquaad scenes in Shrek and come out to speak directly to the public about their concerns regarding the rising gas prices and the cut to universal credit coming soon. When asked directly, the Prime Minister said that he “doesn’t believe that people will be short of food this winter”, probably having asked a diverse room of his cabinet and other government employees before coming to that conclusion. In a masterclass of political outreach, Mr Johnson said that, while food might be scarce this winter, employment is on the rise as are wages. This will be useful, as having more money in your pocket is the first step in going to the supermarket and not being able to find any food. During a debate in the Commons, Boris Johnson said that “rather than raising people's taxes to put more money into benefits, we want to see companies paying their workers more”, which has never been done before and will most definitely work. He continued by asking the Commons why “everyone was so cold and then could still be banging on about global warming?”, a question presumed to be a joke but he was genuinely looking for an answer. When questioned on the repercussions to those dependent on the now cut universal credit, as they are unable to be employed, the Prime Minister appeared to be possessed by the spirit of Margaret Thatcher and started muttering something about how the market will take care of everything and how hot hell is before running out the room screaming that poor people grossed her out. With news that no one will be short of food this winter, food bank volunteers across the United Kingdom decided to pack up shop and take back all the food going to those people who are not short of food. Even with foodbank use increasing by 128% this time five years ago according to the Trussell Trust, the Prime Minister is always right and there must have been a mistake on the food banks’ end. Fortunately, the crisis will most likely be resolved by the government, as the older population are more dependent on heating, and they are the only ones that vote for him so he will have to dust off his empathy cap and eventually do something about it, at least before they all freeze to death and can’t fill out a poll card. by Harrold Saxton Photo courtesy of UK Prime Minister Photo courtesy of EV via Unsplash

p.16 30.10.19 Scotland secures the World Cup of Darts for the second time Peter Wright and John Henderson defeated Austria’s Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez 3-1 in Jena, Germany Two years after the success of Peter Wright and Gary Anderson, Scotland has won the PDC World Cup of Darts for the second time on the night of the 12th of September. This year, the ‘Snakebite’ teamed up with ‘Highlander’ John Henderson (born in Aberdeen) in Jena, Germany to successfully claim what became the first major PDC title for Henderson. World Darts Champion of 2020, ‘Snakebite’ Peter Wright, has claimed this title for the second time in his career. Scotland won the final 3 to 1 by reaching 3 points first – with each point gained by reaching 4 legs first against their opponents. At first, Austria was leading 1-0 upon Suljovic winning the first game over Wright, whose famous hairstyle depicted the colours of the Scottish flag yet again. However, the next three games have each been won by Scotland, who thus set the final result of 3-1. Each Scottish player was in tears on stage after winning the tournament, with Henderson saying that winning this title “means everything” to him. “It's a team game, but he's a legend. I've got to thank Peter for everything he's done this week and all the advice,” the Highlander added. “We had the hardest draw, but John helped to carry me through,” Peter Wright also said. Indeed, Scotland had to defend the reigning world champion, Gerwyn Price, and the reigning Darts Premier League champion, Jonny Clayton, in the semi-finals and threetime world champion, Michael Van Gerwen, and Dirk van Duijvenbode in the quarter finals. Austrian Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez reached the final by overcoming Brendan Dolan and Daryl Gurney of Northern Ireland in the quarter, and James Wade and Dave Chisnall of England in the semi-final. With this result, the Scottish players received a winner’s share of 70.000 pounds. The fabulous performance of all four darts players will enable them to take part in the Grand Slam of Darts, starting in two months in Wolverhampton. Two unforgettable nights. A remarkable feat achieved only by a few before. Volleyball is a spectacular sport, and September has been a great month for both the women's and men’s Italvolley teams. With the shadow of Tokyo 2020 still looming in the background, the European Volleyball Championship (EuroVolley 2021) opened its doors, ready to welcome another month of competition. For Italy in particular, this was a great opportunity to forget the disastrous outcome of Tokyo 2020 and focus on the next steps ahead. And focus they did. The EuroVolley 2021 started with the women’s tournament, and Davide Mazzanti’s team arrived with an incredible hunger and eagerness to prove to the world that there was not going to be a repeat of Tokyo 2020. After coming out of the group stage on top with five victories out of five, Italy looked in splendid form with the incredible duo of Paola Ogechi Egonu and Elena Pietrini dominating the court. The quarterfinals saw Russia victorious against Belarus in the Round of 16 and Italy in a match that lasted no more than an hour. So little time was needed for Mazzanti’s team to secure the semi-finals pass with a clear 3-0. Unforgivable was also the treatment that Italy reserved to their opponents of the Netherlands in the semi-finals with a sound defeat for 3-1 and an outstanding performance from Cristina Chirichella, Anna Danesi and Paola Egonu. The big moment everyone was waiting for though, arrived on the 4th of September with the final match against Serbia. The Serbian team had performed brilliantly during the Olympics, conquering a bronze medal behind Brazil and the USA, and had kept the spark going throughout the entire European tournament. Coming out first place in Pool A, Serbia defeated Hungary, France and Turkey before arriving in the final against Italy. After losing the first set 26-24, Italy rolled up their sleeves and put on a show in front of the 20.565 spectators inside Stark Arena in Belgrade. Tijana Bošković’s 20 points were no match against the 13 of Elena Pietrini, 20 from captain Miriam Sylla and 29 from Paola Egonu (awarded Best Player of the tournament). After 12 years from the last final and the last gold, the Azzurre have succeeded in the maximum feat and are back on the top of the podium. Equally impressive was the victory of the men’s Italvolley team on the 19th of September, lifting the cup after a terrific European tournament. After the disappointing adventure of Tokyo 2020, the Italian roster lost precious Osmany Juantorena, Massimo Colaci, and the head coach, Gianlorenzo Blengini. It was no easy feat then, for the new CT, Ferdinando De Giorgi, to cook up a team that could succeed in spite of everything. But De Giorgi knew exactly where to look. With Captain Ivan Zaytsev out of the tournament with an injury, the responsibility to guide the team fell on Simone Giannelli’s shoulders. De Giorgi pointed his fingers to a young and promising team, with two Olympics surprises in Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia respectively 19 and 21 years old. Filling Colaci’s shoes was perhaps the most difficult decision to make, but 25-year-old Fabio Balaso stepped up and secured the position. With both Zaytsev and Luca Vettori out, De Giorgi made another daring choice by betting on Giulio Pinali and Yuri Romanò as opposite hitters. This young Italian team came undefeated and at the top of Pool B, then defeating Latvia in the Round of 16, Germany in the quarterfinals and Serbia in the semi-finals, conceding only 3 sets in the entire tournament up until that point. The thrilling final against Slovenia proved to be a difficult match, with Italy struggling to catch up with their opponents at first. De Giorgi’s team battled one point after the other and won 15-11 in the fifth set (or tiebreak). Guided by the calm expertise of Giannelli, the team thrived, with the decisive hands of Michieletto and Romanò in the last set. With utmost joy, De Giorgi’s decisions paid off, and Italy raised the European trophy for the first time after 16 years, joining the women’s team on top of Europe. A (late) Italian Summer How Italvolley fought back disastrous Tokyo 2020 result and became Champions of Europe. by Alessandra Puglisi by Isti Miskolczy The fabulous performance of all four darts players will enable them to take part in the Grand Slam of Darts, starting in two months in Wolverhampton. Photo courtesy of Osvaldo Telese via Creative Commons Photo Courtesy of Kais Bodensieck/PDC Europe