The National Student February 09

THE NATIONAL

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Art-rockers return Interview

magazine

February 2009

FRANZ FERDINAND

Falling recruitment targets make it harder for graduates to find work

Gaza protests hit campuses Students across the UK joined a series of demonstrations in January condemning Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip. In Glasgow an estimated 4,000 people marched through the city centre on January 17 in a demonstration organised by the Stop the War coalition, and supported by various other groups. The rally was addressed by speakers from all of the main political parties with the exception of the Conservatives. Continued on page 7

Carnage UK - an apology In our November 2008 edition we published an article which misreported events which took place at a Carnage UK fancy dress night held in Swansea on Sunday 19 October 2008. We apologise for this and would like to make it clear that this closely supervised event ran smoothly under the supervision of door staff and 50 addition stewards supplied by the organisers. The vast majority of the 1,700 participants behaved very well and we acknowledge that, far from descending into a “mass brawl” as we alleged, the true position is that three participants were cautioned from minor public order offences at the end of a happy and fun night out.

Tough year for grads A tougher jobs market will make this one of the worst years to graduate for two decades, suggests a survey of leading employers. The survey of 100 firms by High Fliers Research found that recruitment targets had been cut by 17% for this year. The financial sector in particular had been hit by the economic downturn, with 47% fewer graduate entry jobs. “Swinging cuts” in recruitment after years of a strong jobs market, makes this year a bad time to graduate. Martin Birchall, managing director of market research company, High Fliers Research, said, “There is understandable

panic on campus that this is shaping up to be one of the worst years of the last two decades to be graduating from university.” “Not only have vacancies been reduced substantially for those finishing university in 2009, but it is now clear that many of last year’s entry-level jobs did not materialise either, leaving many graduates from the class of 2008 out of work too,” he added. However, there is positive news from the public sector which has seen a 51% increase in graduate positions since 2007. This situation changes the recent trend in the graduate job market where an expanding market saw many employers struggling to find qualified

graduates to fill the positions. A survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) last year showed that graduate unemployment was at its lowest for five years. That report showed that graduate recruiters appeared to be “weathering the storm” of the credit crunch. But the latest survey seems to suggest that long-term economic uncertainty is now seriously affecting the jobs market. It claims that half of leading employers are lowering recruitment targets - and that compared with 2007 this will mean a 6.7% reduction in jobs available. The research suggests that the biggest reductions in jobs

will be in investment banking, retailing, accountancy and engineering. Recently the government announced plans to help struggling graduates by offering them three-month paid internships to help them gain work experience. A spokesman for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills said: “We recognise that graduates are not immune from the effects of the economic downturn, which is why we are developing real help and support, talking to major employers about ensuring graduates get experience of work and a chance to show what they can do.”

The National Student, February 2009

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2 The National Student welcomes contributions. The National Student works closely with student publications across the UK. We are happy to accept news, comment, features, and reviews on any subject. Contact us at: The National Student PO Box 7731 Derby DE1 0RW or email: editor@ thenationalstudent.co.uk or phone: 0845 46 300 46 The National Student is the independent, monthy newspaper for higher education students in the UK. Published by Defender Newspapers, PO Box 7731 Derby DE1 0RW © 2008 All content is the copyright of Defender Newspapers unless otherwise stated thenationalstudent.co.uk

Hoon admits to private tuition Cabinet minister Geoff Hoon admitted last month that he used a private tutoring company to help his teenage daughter’s Oxbridge application. The Transport Secretary and former Minister of Defence confirmed that he took his daughter to a presentation by Oxbridge Applications, a private company which charges up to £3,000 for the coaching of an individual student. He would not comment on whether he had paid for tuition. Oxbridge Applications claims that applicants who receive its help are almost twice as likely to be offered a place at Oxford or Cambridge. Families who pay the £3,000 charge give their child a 47% chance of admissions success, compared to the average of 26%, according to the company’s website. Hoon attended an ‘Interview Preparation Day’ along with his daughter, held at a private school in

by Theo Merz

the West Midlands. His decision came to media attention when the father of another applicant noticed him at the meeting and wrote on the political website Guido Fawkes. “‘As I waited for my son in the foyer, I was surprised to see Geoff Hoon sitting a couple of seats away from me. Labour Minister gives offspring an unfair advantage in applying to top university? Surely not!” he wrote. The minister’s daughter attended a comprehensive school in Nottingham, and is currently on a gap year. Hoon himself was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, after having attended a private school on a scholarship. Tories are now accusing the government of double standards following Gordon Brown’s proposed laws to increase social mobility and stop middle-

Mullan will not be replaced

Geoff Hoon

class parents giving their children an ‘unfair advantage’ in education and the workplace. “Time and time again we see double standards from Ministers. They want to change the rules to make it tougher for everyone else while enjoying all the perks for themselves and their families,” said Tory spokesman Chris Grayling.

New Labour has a history of MPs paying for their children’s education or tuition. In 2003 it was revealed that MP Diane Abbot had sent her son to a £10,000-a-year private school, a decision she later described as ‘indefensible”, while in 2007 ex-education minister Ruth Kelly admitted enrolling her child in a £15,000-a-year prep school.

Comment on this month’s news at thenationalstudent.co.uk

Removed Kings College London Student Union President Chris Mullan will not be replaced. The union confirmed that his post will be shared by the remaining vice presidents until September, when a new president will take office. As previously reported in The National Student Mullan was sacked after making allegedly racist comments at an NUS training event in August last year. Mullan was cleared of racism by the NUS but was later removed from the post by a union board of trustees.

The National Student, February 2009

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News in brief

MP calls dyslexia a ‘fiction’

A Labour MP came under fire last month after claiming dyslexia is a myth created to cover up poor teaching. Backbencher Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley, described the condition as a “cruel fiction” that should be consigned to the “dustbin of history”. He believes that the reason some people can’t read and write properly is because the wrong teaching techniques. But dyslexia is a very real problem for the 6 million sufferers in the UK, says charity Dyslexia Action. Stringer made the comments in a column for the website Manchester Confidential. Chief executive of Dyslexia Action Shirley Cramer said, “Once again dyslexia seems to be making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.” “It is frustrating that the focus should be on whether dyslexia exists or not, when there is so much evidence to support that it does.”

Virginity bid reaches £2.5 million A US student has received a bid of £2.5million after putting her virginity up for auction. Bidding for a one-night stand with 22-year-old Natalie Dylan rose from offers of £162,000 which were made when the auction started last September. Dylan is using the auction to pay for a master’s degree in Family and Marriage therapy. Dylan said she has so far received offers from “weirdos”, “those who get really graphically sexual about what they want to do to me” and “lots of polite requests from rich businessmen”.

Oxford University won the World Universities Debating Championships, held in Cork, Ireland last month. James Dray and Will Jones beat 304 other competing teams to win the prestigious Sam Maguire trophy.

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Yes vote on radical NUS reform The radical NUS reform proposals that have split student opinion were passed at an Extraordinary Conference last month. The reforms were ratified shortly after proceedings were disrupted when students protesting against the situation in Gaza occupied the stage. NUS say that this overhaul in how it is run will modernise the union to more effectively represent students’ in a much-changed education sector. The last time the NUS saw major reform was in 1980. Speaking after the vote NUS president, Wes Streeting, said: “I’m ecstatic. The gravity of the decision taken today is without doubt the biggest shake up of NUS’s democracy and status in its history.” He claimed that “about 90%” voted for ratification, although it had not been possible to count the vote because of the disruption on the floor. The changes will reduce the influence of hard left and other minority groups who fought hard against the reform plan, but will increase the number of representatives on the

union’s governing body. Under the proposals, the organisation will be run by a national executive council and a board of trustees. The council will act as the NUS’s political leadership, setting the union’s policy, priorities and campaigns. The board, including student representatives, will help manage the NUS’s finances and advise the council. However, the council will be able to refer decisions it disagrees with back to the board, and even dismiss individual members – or the entire board – in extreme circumstances. Critics of the reforms argued that the changes would be “gutting the union’s democracy” providing less of a voice to normal student members. They say that the reforms change the NUS from a union into a professional lobbying group which is entrenched in the mainstream political system rather than fighting it in the interest of students. On opposition at the conference Wes Streeting said, “People were taken aback by the poor quality of opposition arguments.” “It was critical to get

Wes Streeting

reform so we can focus on being a campaigning organisation. Opponents beware,” he added. The reforms have been opposed by black and LGBT students who have criticised the rushing through of reforms without an impact assessment being carried out to ascertain how the changes will affect students within their groups. However, the plans have been supported by students who are part of women’s and disabled student campaigns. The reform process began two years ago, and initial proposals were rejected in a vote at the union’s Annual Conference in April last year. A further attempt was

Porn joke DJs sacked Two student DJs have been sacked after a joke about Des O’Connor’s daughter backfired. Lewis Grewcock and Sam Foster, both final year politics students, joked that Kristina O’Connor had acted in pornographic films and have become the focus of a media backlash. The ill-advised quip was

broadcast on the satirical Sanctuary Radio Hour show on the Birmingham University station Burn FM earlier this month and came to national attention following a report in the Daily Mail, spreading to many other titles including the Telegraph, the Sun and the Metro. Kirstina and her father

have both dismissed the comments as ‘puerile nonsense’. The DJ duo lost their slot after the station’s student committee decided to remove them from the airwaves. No formal action was taken by the University, but the Mail contacted them to pressurise them to take further action. In response to the Mail’s

made in November with revised plans taking into consideration criticisms voiced at conference. Other changes include the introduction of postgraduate representatives and provision for a national ballot of student unions between conferences. This will prevent the national executive from taking policy decisions or launching campaigns without consulting the membership. Student unions will also have the power to trigger a ballot if they disagreed with decisions. Streeting explained, “That means that whoever is leading the NUS will be more grounded in the membership, rather than enquiry a University spokesman said, “We take allegations of this nature very seriously. The investigation is still ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.” O’Connor had featured in student newspaper Redbrick to promote her fashion website. The article was discussed by the DJs which led to the lewd joke being made. One student told the Mail,

taking decisions in spite of the membership.” Minority groups will still have a voice through “zone committees” made up of students with a particular political interest and will be used to hold NUS vicepresidents to account. Supporters say that this will allow special interest groups to dip in and out of policy areas, instead of having to spend a specific five days at the annual conference which has been abolished under the reforms. Zone committees will not be able to make policy decisions, but will be able to contribute evidence to the NUS executive council about policies for discussion at annual conference.

“I think they might have been inspired by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand’s infamous remarks on their show, but all they were doing was upsetting people and making outrageous comments for shock value.” Grewcock defended the joke, saying: “Ours was a satirical show that poked fun at the way student news was presented in student media and we hoped that our listeners would not take our comments literally.”

The National Student, February 2009

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Oxford loses £100m in credit crunch Oxford University has revealed that it has lost more than £100 million as a result of the global economic recession. Over the course of the past year investments in the University have fallen from £689 million to £593 million. The University’s financial statement was published on January 12. It covered the period July 2007 to July 2008 and exposed what the University has described as a “relatively modest decline” of 5.1%, from £688.6m to £653.5m. However, an additional note covering the period up to October 2008 was also included “in order to meet interest in the impact of the more recent global financial downturn”. This note shows that the decline from July 2007 to October 2008 is much larger. It has fallen 14%, to £592.5m. These figures do not cover the losses sustained by the individual colleges, or the £30 million in savings that have remained frozen in Icelandic bank accounts since the Icelandic banking collapse last October. It is as of yet uncertain whether this will be returned to the University. A spokesperson commented that, “We’re still looking into whether that is lost money or not” However, a University statement stressed the need to “put the drop in context” and compare it to the losses sustained by the rest of Britain’s equity market. They said, “to put the drop in context, the average UK equity market fall from its

peak has been in the order of 40%. Endowment returns account for just 4.5% of the University’s overall income, so Oxford is much less exposed than many institutions to falls in equity markets.” Another spokesperson also stressed the need to remember that Oxford has revealed more information than many other institutions. “If Oxford is going to be compared to other institutions, it is necessary to remember that we have actually given out more information than a lot of universities. Most have only produced financial statements that end earlier in the year, whereas ours goes up to October,” he said. “For example, if you compare our losses against what Cambridge lost, they have lost something in the region of 80 million over the period from July 2007-July 2008. We have lost slightly more than that but over a longer period.” These setbacks come after Oxford embarked on a massive campaign for funding last year. This aimed to raise £1.25 billion to help the University compete with wealthy American rivals. Among the projects university administrators hoped to fund were the development of the old Radcliffe Infirmary site and new buildings for the Bodleian. At the time, University Vice-Chancellor John Hood stressed the importance of the drive for funding. He told his team that they “must

by Laura Criddle

significantly increase the University’s endowment.” The University was unable to offer the precise amount of money raised to date, but a spokesman claimed that the campaign was “still going well”. However, he declined to predict the effects that the economic downturn might have on the campaign’s future. Research funding may be another victim of the credit crunch. A University statement declared that, “we are also alert to the fact that over the longer term the global downturn may well affect Oxford’s other sources of income, such as external research funding. Again, we will be monitoring the situation closely.” As a result of the economic and funding downturn a push for an increase in the tuition fees may be made. Last October, Oxford ViceChancellor John Hood stated that the “grave deficit” in the University’s accounts meant that a rise in top-up fees is “inevitable” if the quality of an Oxford education is to be maintained. He was supported by Malcolm Grant, chairman of the Russell Group, who expressed support for the removal of the £3,000 cap on tuition top-up fees after a review in three years time. The Government is about to begin reviewing whether the cap on student fees should be lifted to enable universities to charge “USstyle” fees of up to £20,000 a year.

Calling funny students Do you think you’re funny? If the answer’s yes, it may be time to put your funny where your mouth is! Applications for this year’s Chortle Student Comedy Award are now open. To be in with a chance of winning the top prize of £1,000 you have to be enrolled in tertiary education and have at least five minutes of original comedy material. So far eight heats have been announced around the country, with the winner of each going on to a final this summer, where the winner will be chosen by a panel of leading comedy industry insiders and gain an unbeatable boost to their comedy

Jake Heal

career. The runner-up will receive £250. Previous winners have included circuit stalwart Lloyd Langford, Nathan Caton, who recently made his own show for Paramount Comedy, and Tom Deacon, now the face of the BBC’s Switch Live. Chortle editor Steve Bennett said, “In the six

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years we’re been running this competition, it has uncovered some fine comedy talent, who’ve gained some vital early exposure – not to mention much-needed cash – early in their career.” Last year’s winner, Jack Heal, from Warwick University, said, “Winning the competition was a great experience. I learnt a lot from performing in such a big venue and the nerves were certainly worth the feeling I had afterwards. The final was hotly contested and I was up against some brilliant acts. ” Entries close on February 9. chortle.co.uk/student09

University of Winchester student Ed Mercer is to run the London Marathon to raise money for Spinal Research. Mercer will endure the 26.2 race to hit his fundraising target of £1,500 for the charity. His grandmother, Gwen, suffered a spinal stroke, in September of last year and now faces a daily fight for her life and needs 24-hour care. You can sponsor Ed by visiting his online fundraising page on justgiving.com/edmercer

The National Student, February 2009

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Labour abandons 50% inclusion target as it can’t afford to pay promised student support

Cash-strapped government announces uni-number cap The recession has forced Labour to temporarily abandon their target of getting 50% of young people involved in higher education. Last month ministers warned that universities who enrol too many students will face severe penalties. The move comes with ministers admitting the government can’t afford to pay the financial support it has promised students because of a higher than expected increase in enrolment numbers. John Denham, the universities secretary, taking into account a predicted further rise in 2009, has made a clear threat to the HE sector. In his annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England he demanded that over-recruitment by institutions is minimised or “preferably eliminated”

next year. Universities are urged to stick to recruitment quotas set by the funding council. Previously they were able to over-recruit without any serious consequences. “Any over-recruitment in the coming year could result in a transfer of Hefce grant back to this department in that or future years, in order to meet the consequent unanticipated student support costs,” the letter said. He said that universities will not be able to take in any additional student numbers in 2009-10, nor plan for any in 2010-11 at this stage. The government is reducing Hefce’s funding by £19m accordingly. Students can get £3,145 from the government to cover their tuition fees and up to £6,475 in loans to pay for accommodation and living costs. After student

numbers rose by 7% the Government admitted in October that they had miscalculated the cost of student financial support. The letter set out an overall 3.2% funding increase to the sector for teaching and 4.5% for research, though this includes bringing forward £220m in capital spending. Diana Warwick, chief executive of vice-

chancellors’ group Universities UK, told the Guardian: “We note with concern the decision regarding additional student numbers for both 2009-2010 and 20102011.” “Recent Ucas figures show that demand for the excellent higher education provided in the UK is buoyant. There is a danger in placing limits on growth — UUK believes

strongly that the UK’s knowledge-based economy needs more, not fewer, graduates — and we urge the government to discuss the impact of this and future decisions with the sector.” “We fully support the secretary of state’s longterm strategic goals and the priorities he has outlined for the coming year. We are pleased with the recognition of the key role that universities have in achieving the UK’s economic recovery; we are doing our part in this area and stand ready to do more. Universities are businesses in their own right and are themselves facing the effects of the economic downturn,” she added. NUS president Wes Streeting, said increased funding in future years was essential to allow people to enter higher education and gain new

skills. “We are concerned, however, that the welcome expansion of higher education has been curtailed this year and that decisions about additional places in future years have been put on hold.” David Willetts, Conservative higher education spokesman, said additional places between now and 2010 had been halved and it was now impossible for the government to reach its 50% target. “These figures will come as a shock to sixth formers taking A-levels and diplomas, to people who want to upskill during the recession and to employers needing higher skills. We cannot hope to emerge from the recession in a competitive state until there is a clearer strategy for higher-level skills,” he said.

Intern plan for graduates Graduate students struggling to find employment may be offered a paid internship for three months under new Government proposals. Ministers announced the plans in an attempt to prevent graduates joining the ranks of the growing number of unemployed in the UK. They have been holding talks with employers to try and find a solution to the problem. Four top firms, including Barclays and Microsoft, will take on some of this year’s 300,000 graduates. The National Internship Scheme, as it has been provisionally named, is intended to improve the skills of graduates who cannot find work by offering them experience in a field related to their degree. If they make a good impression, it could potentially lead to full-time work. Graduates will only be paid a slightly higher rate than they would get from

undergraduate grants and loans. Labour’s campaign to increase the number of young people going into higher education to 50% is not slowing with 77.3% (413,430) of UCAS applicants for 2007 entry being accepted. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the number of Higher Education students in the UK has risen from 2,522,035 in 2005/06 to 2,540,115 in 2006/07. Universities Secretary John Denham is in charge of the plans for the scheme: “These are the children of the baby-boomers. They will be a very big group. What do we do with them? We can’t just leave people to fend for themselves.” “At the end, they will be more employable, and some of them will get jobs. Employers won’t want to let good people go.” Although applauding the need to address the situation, the Conservatives say the plans are not enough.

Shadow Skills Secretary David Willetts said: “A small number of businesses taking on graduate interns is welcome but this does not match the scale of the crisis facing young people trying to find jobs. “That is why we have proposed focusing more than £500m in the ‘train-to-gain’ program, on helping young people get apprenticeships and worthwhile job opportunities.” Jonathan Culley, Employability Adviser at the University of Stirling, says it is too early to assess the impact of the scheme when so little information has been released. He said, “It’s certainly good news that the government has recognised there is a problem and that work experience is vital to securing a graduate job. What I’m slightly concerned about is that the companies involved already offer internships for undergraduates and these new ones may be

offered instead of, rather than as well as the existing schemes.” The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services in Scotland (AGCAS) is encouraging students to remain determined. “Contrary to recent claims, employers are still recruiting graduates. Most of the recent media reporting of graduate employment prospects has focused relentlessly on the most negative news.” “But we know that many companies and sectors in Scotland are currently

John Denham

still actively recruiting graduates. “ They offer clear advice to all students: “If you are looking for a job, keep looking - redouble your efforts even. This is not the time to back away from the job market! For those with the right skills, there are opportunities on offer. For those who don’t get the job they want, try for jobs that will help maintain and/or develop

by Pamela Lawn

your skills so that when things improve, you will have a good skill set to offer employers. “ These plans were announced just days after another 1,200 people were made redundant at Marks & Spencer and 850 at Adams, the children’s clothes chain.

The National Student, February 2009

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London uni under threat Leeds bottled water ban The future of London Metropolitan University is in doubt as it faces the repayment of over £50million after an audit found ‘incorrect data’ on students, say MPs. The University says that this puts more than 300 jobs at risk, and will mean ‘unprecedented cuts’ that may force course closures. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) says the deduction of income comes after an audit showing inaccurate reporting on drop-out rates. It is thought that there will be further cases of such “gotcha audits” at universities. Hefce found discrepancies in the figures showing the number of students who had not completed courses. The “incorrect data” meant that there had been “substantial overfunding” of London Metropolitan since 2005. MPs said that the

university faces the loss of £56m, an £18m reduction in teaching budgets and £38m in claw-backs for previous years in an early day motion. The motion before the House of Commons said, “This scale of cuts throws the future viability of the university into doubt at a time when education and training are vital to the capital’s economic health.” Hefce says that there are negotiations over a repayment schedule, with a meeting set for next month. The University and College Union and the National Union of Students held a protest outside a meeting of governors at the campus on January 28. It is believed that there are other institutions which will face a loss of income or repayments from previous years following audit checks by Hefce. Kingston University is

among other institutions facing repayments. It says that after an audit the figure for students not completing courses was adjusted from 6.4% to 8.6%, which will mean losing £500,000. London regional official for the University and College Union, Barry Jones, says that the funding problem could threaten one in five staff and said the union is seeking an explanation from the university authorities into what caused the problem. The loss of more than 300 posts could affect the jobs of up to 500 staff he says. A Hefce spokesman says that the details of any other universities which will have to make repayments will not be known until March. He also rejected suggestions of unfairness, saying that the rules on completing courses had not been changed and that they had to be applied consistently.

So the news is out and now everyone knows, that includes the parents who were slightly flummoxed to receive an email saying their second son is astride a girl called Doris and chugging across the world at a snail’s pace... - Our roaming writer, Nathan Millward heads home - page 15

Students at Leeds University have voted to ban bottled water from campus bars, shops and cafes. But whilst the decision is environmentally sound, it will sacrifice annual profits of £32,000. A referendum which saw 4,000 students vote to phase out the product by the end of next year to allow campus stores to factor in the loss of revenue. Union outlets sold 200,000 bottles of still water last year. In the last decade national sales of bottled water have risen dramatically with them now accounting for 5% of all drinks purchased. Tom Salmon Marketing Manager at Leeds University Union said, “It’s a measure of concern about the environment, putting sustainability before profit.” “We’ve got to pull bottled water off the shelves by 2010 and bring in new lines of affordable, reusable water bottles instead,” he added.

As part of the initiative the union will install free drinking fountains on the main campus and at residences and blocks of student flats. A campaign will be launched to promote tap water along the lines of the region’s successful promotion three years ago, with the slogan, “Yorkshire water – ask for it by name”. The ban, the first of its kind at a British University, has been criticised by the Hydration Council who called it “a shame, removing the right to choose”. This new move follows a similar ban on plastic bags at union outlets last year. Students now get paper bags or reusable cotton carriers instead. Salmon explained that the move has been acknowledged Leeds University authorities and it is being discussed with them. “There are no plans at the moment to press for the ban to apply to other university outlets apart

from ours, but the union executive will be meeting the vice-chancellor shortly and they are certain to discuss it,” he said. A spokesman for the university, which has a range of bottled water supply contracts, says, “It’s pleasing that our students are taking practical steps to address issues of environmental sustainability. The university will give consideration to this issue in due course.”

The National Student, February 2009

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Oxford Union invites porn baron to speak

This year’s team from Exeter University has set a record for the lowest score on University Challenge since the series was revived with Jeremy Paxman in 1994. Exeter went out with only 15 points in the quarter final, while Corpus Christi College, Oxford, scored 350. Exeter’s captain Richard Stearn said his opponents had simply had faster fingers.

Row over ‘pikey’ remarks Bristol University Men’s Hockey Club has been involved in a row over the use of racist language in team emails, reported Epigram. A number of students of mixed-race and romanigypsy descent were offended by the use of the word ‘pikey’ in a series of emails sent to team members in November. After an initial use of the term, a complaint was sent to the team and an apology was made. But the term was used again in further internal emails, as a nickname of a

member of the team. The member of the team responsible for the emails was suspended for two weeks. The situation escalated after an altercation outside the University’s Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health whereby tensions flared between two students over the wearing of a hooded-top with the derogatory term printed across it. Deputy Director of Sport Simon Hinks and Athletic Union Chair Dan Hewer later warned the team over their conduct.

The porn mogul responsible for magazines such as Hustler and Barely Legal is to speak at the Oxford Union. However, the invitation has caused controversy. Women’s groups have previously accused Larry Flynt of exploitation. His eponymous publishing house produces hardcore pornography and adult films, in addition to operating a chain of strip clubs. The choice of Flynt comes after accusations that the Union was “dumbing down” its choice of speakers and relying too heavily on celebrities - at the expense of intellectual heavyweights. The Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Winston Churchill have previously visited the society. One female first year student said, “We’re sending out the wrong message by inviting a sexist, exploitative person. He’s a symbol that women should stand against.” But OUSU Vice President for Women, Rachel Cummings, refused to comment on Mr. Flynt’s invitation, citing her organisation’s ties to the Union. President of the Oxford

by James Waterson

Larry Flynt

Union, Charlie Holt, defended the decision to invite Flynt, saying that he “has led a fascinating life, and one that the Union believes will be of interest to its members.”

“Whatever your views on the questions of pornography, public decency laws and censorship, the talk should be an interesting one.” This view was supported

by Union member Ross Evans, who argued that “it’s fair to give anyone a chance to speak at the Union and to give them the chance to support their views.” Flynt has always courted publicity for his enterprises and as a campaigner for freedom of speech. He recently applied to the U.S. government for financial aid to bailout the pornography industry during the credit crunch and hired a Sarah Palin look-alike for a pornographic film entitled Who’s Nailin’ Palin. His battles against censorship were dramatised in the Hollywood film The People vs. Larry Flynt. He was first prosecuted on obscenity and organised crime charges in 1976 by a local anti-pornography committee. He was sentenced to between seven to 25 years, although he only served six days as the sentence was overturned on a technicality. He has recently sued his two nephews, Jimmy and Dustin Flynt, for producing what he considers inferior pornography and threatening to damage his reputation.

Maddy costume condemned Matthew Lewis, a Queen Mary, University of London student and the former Chairman of the Staffordshire Conservative Future (CF) group has had his actions condemned by Kate and Gerry McCann as “offensive beyond almost belief” after dressing up as Madeline McCann at a New Year’s party. Lewis posted comments on Facebook ahead of a New Years “bad taste party” saying he was looking for a blonde wig, “pink pyjamas, a teddy bear and a vial of fake blood” to imitate Madeline nicknamed Maddy. Maddy disappeared during a family holiday in the Portuguese of Praia da Luz in 2007 when she was three. She is still missing. Michael Rock, the National Chairman for Conservative Future said: “The person concerned made a serious error of judgement, behaving in a completely unacceptable

manner that was both shocking and offensive. There is clearly no place for this in the Party. We should all remember that actions have consequences. Representing the Party, at any level, is a privilege and a great responsibility.” It is believed that resigned Lewis from CF a month before the incident occurred in protest of internal reforms. He was photographed alongside David Cameron last year when campaigning for the Crewe and Nantwich byelection. Lewis released a statement in January apologising to Kate and Gerry McCann for any upset he had caused. “I unreservedly apologise to Mr and Mrs McCann for my actions. I completely regret my behaviour that night and since, and cannot express how sorry I am for the incredible hurt I have caused.”

by Pamela Lawn

He continued, “Whilst my actions were not meant to be malicious, I fully understand the pain they have brought.” Despite this public apology, a Facebook exchange on New Year’s Day between himself and Felicity Cox, an employee of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and a member of the

Conservative party, showed little sign of remorse for his actions. Lewis wrote; “There was a brief moment where I thought I’d gone too far with elements of the costume, but it was okay. Someone else was Baby P.” Cox replied, “Oh My God! Now Baby P really is sick! What was the costume like?

I know I shall regret saying this but I can’t wait to see the photos!” Lewis then said, “I’ll tell you another time! There may not be photos, I don’t think anyone wants to risk being associated with them” Cox ended the coversation, “I am quite glad about that, I would hate to have to end our friendship when I become an MP because you had pulled a Prince Harry!!!.” Cox has been temporarily excluded from the Conservative party. Richard Lowe, an elected City ward representative on the new Cheshire West and Chester Council has also stepped down following involvement in the Facebook conversation. He is now sitting as an independent after responding to Lewis’ costume choice by saying:

“Is this a cunning (Baldrick style) plan to obtain the reward money? Room for one more?” Clarence Mitchell, a spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann said the couple would be greatly hurt by the student’s joke. “It is a complete disgrace that Madeleine’s name and image should be made fun of in this way.” James Cole, a recent graduate of Hertfordshire University in London and a member of a Facebook group set up in protest of Lewis’ actions, says the behaviour of the former Chairman was “insensitive and deeply unfunny.” “People use the word mistake too much and use it as a way to explain appalling behaviour.” “It was not a mistake; he didn’t pick up the wrong costume at the fancy dress shop did he? He didn’t fall and trip into the outfit did he?”

The National Student, February 2009

NEWS

8

Caught on camera:

Enraging the Guard The moment a guard outside St James’ Palace lost his cool and attacked an Oxford student who was mimicking his marching actions was caught on film. The Guardsman lunged at Nick Ibarra , clipping him around the head and aiming a kick at him. Guards are not supposed to leave their post unless there is a threat to a member of the Royal Family. The guard now faces disciplinary action from his superiors for the assault which was captured by Ibarra’s friend Suzanne Cadosh. Ibarra, a Columbian student studying at Oxford University also claims he was pushed away by the guard, who used his SA-80 semi-automatic rifle while letting out a “furious roar.” At this point it is said that Cadosh was so frightened she had stopped filming. “I felt this huge hand on my collar and managed to

avoid a boot up the backside but he was growling-like a bear,” said Ibarra. “I was worried because he had a bayonet on his gun and didn’t want that going somewhere painful. He pushed me away with the gun and I just ran for it.” Ms Cadosch said, “I just thought “Oh My God, he’s got a gun and he’s going for Nick”. He grabbed him and tried to boot him.” “You often see people pulling faces at the guards and marching along with them but obviously this soldier didn’t find it funny. In hindsight I can understand the soldier losing his cool but it was very frightening.” A fellow guard said, “You can understand him wanting to put a hobnailed size 12 up the guy’s backside for taking the piss.” “But he will be in hot water for losing his cool when he should have ignored it.”

The National Student, February 2009

NEWS

9

Students protest Israeli action in Gaza

Buildings occupied at 16 universities in protests against Israeli military action against Palestine Continued from front page Barrie Levine, a member of ‘Scottish Jews for a Just Peace’, described his reasons for protesting. “The collective punishment of the Palestinian population, first through the siege of Gaza and now through large-scale military attack in dense urban areas, is a brutal action that flies in the face of international humanitarian law - and of Jewish law,” he said. Student occupations spread from the capital to encompass 16 university campuses starting at King’s College London and the London School of Economics (LSE), then outwards to Sussex, Warwick, Newcastle, Oxford, Essex, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan, Bristol, Nottingham, Salford, and Kingston. In Sussex, students occupied the arts lecture theatre 24 hours a day following a meeting with a controversial British Palestinian academic, Azzam Tamimi.

Simon Englert, 19, a second-year English literature and drama student, a member of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and one of the instigators of the 100strong occupation, told the Guardian, “It’s important for universities to take a stand on this. We are told in history about the central role that students play in defending causes. So that is what we are doing today,” he says. “We invited LSE students along to our meeting and they helped to inspire this action.” The occupiers issued the university with six demands including the issuing of a statement condemning the “atrocities perpetrated by Israel in the Gaza Strip” and calling on it to disinvest from ‘companies complicit in human rights abuses’”. Internet facilities were used at night to contact groups in the West Bank, with protestors hoping to get through to Gaza. In Oxford 80 students barricaded themselves in the Bodleian library

in a protest that lasted six hours until protestors felt their demands had been met. Cherwell reported that police entered the building and led away Omar Alshehabi, President of the Oxford University Arabic Society. Alshehabi was warned that the group were committing an aggravated trespass. Police requested that he inform those inside that there was a possibility they could be arrested. On hearing the police message one of the protestors shouted that the police ‘can’t arrest all of us!’ All the occupying students have issued similar demands: a statement from their vicechancellor condemning the Israeli bombing of Gaza; severing university investment or links with companies supplying equipment used in the conflict; sending surplus computers and books to students in Gaza; scholarships for Gazan students – and no repercussions for their activism.

In London rioting broke out after demonstrators marched from Hyde Park to the Israeli embassy building. Shops were vandalised and protesters threw projectiles at police lines. Twenty-four arrests were made during the London demonstration, where five police officers and numerous protestors were injured. In a statement NUS President Wes Streeting said, “Like so many other people, I watched with mounting horror and dismay at the images broadcast from the Middle East in the wake of escalating violence between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Already hundreds have died and thousands more have fled their homes: the latest sorry chapter in a long and bloody conflict that has brought catastrophe after catastrophe for the people in the region.” “I think Oxfam had it about right when it said ‘the time for kid glove diplomacy has gone’ and called for an ‘immediate and lasting ceasefire’.

But the conflict shows no signs of ending as rockets continue to be fired into Israeli towns and the Israeli government continues its raids and an increasing military build up along the border with the Gaza strip.” “I’ve put a statement on the NUS website condemning the violence and its impact on innocent people in the region. I know there are many students who wish us to go further. I know there are many students who would rather we didn’t. If we’re honest, I would hazard a guess that the majority of our members would rather we said nothing at all about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” “The bottom line for me is that we should express solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian students who strive for peace, not least some of our members are from Israel and Palestine and will have been directly affected by recent events. Some may want NUS to put out a more partisan line, but NUS is supposed to be a

union for all students and no international issue arouses as much passion and division amongst students as the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.” “Students will – and should be able to – make their own views and voices heard about the conflict in the Middle East, but we shouldn’t pretend that NUS can speak with one voice on the complexities of this conflict,” he added. At the LSE occupation, veteran campaigner and politician Tony Benn told students: “I don’t believe in protesting, because that looks like you’ve lost the battle and don’t like it. I believe in making demands. This is more important than you realise at the moment, but when people get together and do something, that’s when history is changed.” On January 17, Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire and, the following day, Hamas agreed to a ceasefire on the condition that all Israeli soldiers leave Gaza.

The National Student, February 2009

FEATURE

11

The lowdown: Graduate Gloom This year looks set to be a gloomy one for graduates in the UK, with the storm-clouds of recession raining down on the job-market. In fact research suggests that 2009 is going to be the worst time to graduate for two decades.

But what is it that is making the situation so bad? The National Student takes a look at the key issues that face final year students about to step into the world of work: What’s the situation? Recent research from High Fliers Research, found that 100 top UK firms have cut recruitment targets by 17% for this year due to the worsening economic climate. Times are definitely hard says Chief executive of Graduate Prospects and Higher Education Careers Services Unit, Mike Hill, but he added that graduates have faced difficult times before most recently the collapse of the dot-com boom in 2002/03. The long-term trend in graduate-level employment has been one of growth, with employment rates growing generally over the past 30 years. However, there were difficult times in the early 1980s, ‘90s and in 2002/3, according to Graduate Prospects, the commercial arm of Hecsu. Hill reassured graduates, “Graduates should not panic. There are lots of jobs out there, but they will be harder to get because more people will be going for them.” “There are more jobs for graduates now than there were 10 years ago. The overall trend is up but there have always been ups and downs,” he said. “A great many of those who graduated in the difficult times of 2002/3 have prospered. The proportion of graduates who go to the blue chip companies is only about 10%. The rest go

out into other areas of the economy,” he added. Which job areas will be most affected? Not surprisingly the financial sector felt the burn of the financial crisis immediately, with graduate recruitment in that area expected to halve this month, according to the High Fliers research. Despite being a key growth area for graduates in recent years, along with business, overall only 9% of graduates in 2007 went into these sectors. The last published annual report on where graduates find work from the same year, found that these areas along with personnel and recruitment saw the largest increases in graduate positions. The proportion going into the public sector, seen as a safer haven in recessionary times, is greater. A total of 13.5% of graduates from that year went into health and nearly 7% into education. 9.2% went to work as managers in commerce, industry and the public sectors. What can you do to improve your chances? Much of the careers advice you’ll receive may seem a little obvious or even patronising, but sometimes this advice really is worth taking onboard. The key advice for riding out this gloomy job-period

coming from careers experts is to take advice and to broaden your horizons. Mike Hill, the chief executive of the Higher Education Careers Services (Hecsu) says: “There are hundreds of different professions. People need to cast their nets wider, look at professions related to their field and take careers advice”. Every university has their own careers service, and the best recommendation is to make a visit to your careers advisors to discuss your post graduation options. Top tips from careers services include: • Take advice • Broaden your horizons to related professions • Consider paid or unpaid work experience • Do not be too proud to use contacts to get a first break • Do not be too proud to take a job you think may be beneath you • Be imaginative • Consider setting up

your own business Graduates are also being advised to consider looking at opportunities overseas. Expectations should also be lowered and experience in relevant fields should be actively sought before finishing university. This should show you are serious about a particular job. As an example, a graduate could get a job in a finance department rather than on a graduate accountancy scheme - and then keep applying for graduate schemes. What are the Government doing to help? Ministers have announced a scheme offering some graduates who have failed to find jobs paid internships at top firms including Barclays and Microsoft. Universities Secretary John Denham is drawing up the plans. The aim is that internships will at least improve graduates’

skills and experience and may in some cases lead to full-time work. Are all businesses cutting back on graduate recruits? Many individual recruiters are continuing with their graduate recruitment programmes. Lloyds TSB is one of those saying it will recruit just as many graduates this year as it did last year. Jonathan Mayes, the company’s head graduate recruitment manager, said: “We are taking the long-term view and believe in graduate recruitment because we are building our future leaders. It is a long-term investment.” How many current graduates are still unemployed? According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) 5.5% of people who graduated in 2007, the last year for which figures are available, were believed to

be unemployed six months later. However, it is unclear as to how many graduates were working in the chosen sectors. What do the NUS say? NUS is warning graduates that it will be difficult to get a job. President Wes Streeting said, “We’re all very acutely aware that the picture facing this year’s graduates is very bleak.” “Our advice to students has been to start looking for jobs much earlier, to do their research and to recognise that it’s going to be quite hard.” “We’re also working with government and talking to businesses - we welcome the government’s announcement of a potential graduate internship scheme which, by no means perfect, is at least doing something to tackle the picture facing graduates, and equipping them for what will be a very rough ride.”

More features and comment at thenationalstudent.co.uk

The National Student, February 2009

FEATURE

12

The truth about self-harm

by Rebecca Whitefoot

S

elf-harmers are attention seeking, manipulative teenagers. Self-harmers are suicidal. Self-harmers are Goths. Self-harmers can stop if they wanted to. Self-harm is when you cut your skin with a knife. Myth. Myth. Myth. Myth! How have we ended up getting it so wrong when it comes to sorting out selfharm fact from self-harm fiction? Self-harm has a stigma that won’t budge. This is largely due to a lack of education and information available in schools and the NHS. In the Samaritans report ‘Youth Matters- A Cry for Help’ 43% of young people knew someone who

has self-harmed but onein-four didn’t know what to say to a friend who was self-harming. We have the highest level of self-harm in Europe. Around 25,000 1125 year olds are admitted to Accident and Emergency each year in England because of self-harming. Of course this number is nowhere near the actual amount of people who selfharm because many people will administer first aid at home or never seek help. Statistics show a worrying imbalance. An estimated one in twelve young adults has cut themselves, a massive percentage, and yet education on prevention, support and recovery of

self-harm just isn’t there. In the same report by the Samaritans 41% of young people believed that selfharm was selfish and 55% of people thought it was stupid. It’s time we got informed about an issue, which can wreak havoc on an individual’s life, influencing everything from what they wear, to the relationships they have. We need to ask ourselves why there is such a large problem in the UK. The motivations and methods used differ from one person to the next. Self harm can be defined as burning; scalding; stabbing; banging heads and other body parts against the walls; hair pulling; biting; breaking bones; jumping

from heights or in front of vehicles; and swallowing or inserting objects. Self-harmers may also overdose with medicine(s) or poisonous substances. This is called Self-poisoning. There is no ‘type’ of person that self harms. The onset can start at seven years old or at fifty years old. And there is no definitive reason why a person begins. One reason may be the individual feels issues in their life are out of control. The act of self-harming can give that person a sense of control. They may be suffering with feelings of loneliness; isolation; stress and frustration. They may be battling with low self-esteem and poor body

image. Work pressures, money worries and cultural and racial difficulties can all contribute. As do relationship problems, drug and alcohol abuse, family breakdowns, bullying or bereavement. One misconception, which needs to be dissolved, is that people who self-harm are trying to kill themselves. This is rarely the case as Frances McCann, a senior mental health practitioner explains, “There’s a big difference between someone saying they self-harm when they feel angry and a young person saying that they can’t go on any more and want to end everything”. The truth is the intention to commit suicide is only

present in 15% of people. Self- harmers may harm to release and regulate their emotions. When the pressures of life become too high self-harm becomes a safety valve- a way of relieving built up tension. In an inquiry into self-harm published in ‘The Truth Hurts report’, a ‘National Inquiry into Self Harm among young people’, one recipient said, “I don’t deal with daily stress well, so when extra events occur however big or small, my tension levels rise, resulting in my needing a ‘release’. Self harm has proven to be most successful in this”. The report found that after self-harming the person might feel calmer and more focused.

The National Student, February 2009

FEATURE

“It sounds awful but I felt I was a nicer person when I cut… balanced, normal”. Self-harm can be an act of punishment in response to feelings of deep-rooted guilt and shame. The pain of a cut can temporally divert the individual’s attention away from inner mental turmoil. Sometimes it can feel like the blood is taking away all of the bad feelings away. Some people said that self-harming made them feel reconnected with reality, “Sometimes when I felt numb and empty, scratching myself helped me to feel emotions again. It brought me back to life again”. Self-harmers can go to great lengths to conceal their wounds, such as wearing long sleeved tops or tights in sweltering conditions. However, if the wounds are on show some people see this as ‘attention seeking’. This is yet another myth that must be banished. Self-harmers find it immensely challenging to talk about their feelings of unhappiness and so they

13 show their wounds, as they feel this is their only way of communicating to other people how they’re feeling inside and that they need help. As one self-harmer said, “If someone’s crying for help, bloody well give them it, don’t stand there and judge the way in which they are asking for it.” The inquiry also found that young people have been met with ridicule and hostility when they turned to professionals for help and that GP’s are not sure how to approach the issue directly. Many selfharmers have had negative experiences when attending A and E. “A and E isn’t usually a positive experience. The last time I had a blood transfusion the consultant said I was wasting blood... The consultants I do see there act as if to say, ‘Not you again’” Many self-harmers will hide their self-harm from their family and friends because they are worried about the potential emotional impact. They fear their friends will view them differently once they’ve discussed their problems and in some instances, this is a reality. Why are we, as

a society, so worried about ‘burdening’ people with our problems? Why don’t we talk more? A self-harmer can feel guilt, shame and embarrassment about what they do to themselves. But why should selfharmers feel what they do is shameful or dirty when we accept eating disorders, alcoholism and drug abuse as serious mental conditions that require professional support and guidance? I spoke to a group of students at Winchester University about why they think the UK has such a high level of self-harm and why self-harm still holds a negative stigma. One student I spoke to said, ‘I avoid discussing self harm because I’m afraid that I could be talking to somebody who is in fact a self harmer,’ and that ‘it’s the act of inflicting injury on yourself that is still so taboo.’ She went on to explain that self-harm was so prevalent in our society but shrouded in secrecy. She said this meant that a friend might be a self-harmer or have self harmed and she wouldn’t know. She said

that ‘alcoholism is more accepted than self-harm’ and that there are services such as ‘Talk To Frank’ in which you can educate yourself about drugs, but there is no such service for self-harm. Because of this lack of information self-harmers who disclose their problem to their family and friends are often met with silence. The family and friends don’t know how to respond since they are not educated on the subject. Another student said that the “go, go, go” work culture and fast-paced lifestyle of England makes people stressed and tense. Self-harm becomes an outlet for this tension. We need to slow down and ease off the pressures, they suggested. Another student said in our “hectic” society “no one has a chance to talk about their problems and people keep what they feel inside.” Another student said we have adopted an “American culture” in which everyone must be perfect and beautiful. Self-harm is an ugly blotch on this ideology and is therefore met with

disapproval and disgust. She said we have put too high an expectation on ourselves and so when we can’t cope in life we feel like we have failed. She said that films have a lot to answer to for self-harm stereotypes. They do not portray selfharm in a realistic way, and often characters who self harm will be ‘Goth’s’ or ‘stunningly beautiful teenagers’ that glamorise the subject. Thankfully steps are being made to get self-harm out there. A web site, The Site, has recently launched a self-harm section, which is a fantastic resource for anyone affected by selfharm. Go to thesite.org/ selfharm to find detailed information on the subject through podcasts, video, written articles, real-life stories and case studies. The self-harm resource has been created by 42nd Street, Depaul UK and YouthNet (the charity with runs The Site), in response to the National Inquiry into self-harm. Vera Martins, Director of 42nd Street said, “Self harm is often misunderstood and frequently caricatured as attention-seeking on the part of those young people who do it. But for many

young people self harm is a response to - even a way of managing - deep seated emotional distress and pain.” For some people selfharm becomes an addictive cycle, a method of coping with the realities of our stressful, unpredictable lives. Breaking the cycle is tough, as the self-harmer will have to learn to go through the motions of hurt, anger, stress and grief without using that coping method. Selfharmers need the support and understanding of those around them. We all have our own coping methods. Some of us smoke, some of us drink, some of us exercise and some of us grab for a bar of chocolate. Judging one persons coping method to another’s does not help. Getting to the bottom of why we need a coping mechanism in the first place is key. You can discover this by chatting to family, friends, going onto The Site discussion board or going to a councillor. Talking about self-harm, and informing yourself about it is the direction we all need take to change the status of this stigma.

The National Student, February 2009

FEATURE

14

Rach Kirk - St Vincent College I’m Rach Kirk (18), I did the 21 day Southern Sun trek last summer which was awesome! Washington and Las Vegas were definitely my best cities, amazing to be in. However I did love going off the beaten track as well, hitting route 66 and horse riding at a ranch, but I reckon the best experience by far had to be the Grand Canyon Helicopter ride! Still can’t believe those views. Josh our tour leader certainly made it a memorable time…providing many a laughs and conversation on the drives.

Angela Park – Robert Gordan University, Aberdeen

Travelling ‘Trek Style’

What to expect on the 21 day Cross Country BLT! ......The most amazing nightlife ever in New Orleans; Monument Valley will deffo be a highlight too! Stayin’ in the middle of the desert was amazing, and dancing and singing with the Navajo Indians was great fun! Sipping Champagne in a limo heading down the strip in Vegas is pretty cool too! San Diego has amazing beaches and is great for a bit of surfing! And when at the Grand Canyon be sure to get up early to see the canyon at sunrise, its one of the best sights ever! It’s a really good trip with so many highlights! I think it’s worth every penny!

For more information or to order a brochure, call our helpful reservations staff on: 0800 988 80 89

Travel ‘Trek Style’ with TrekAmerica and say goodbye to university and hello to the open road. With loads of big hitting cities and incredible national parks, North America offers countless opportunities to get off the beaten track for the ultimate in fun, freedom and adventure. But don’t just take our word for it - check out what some of our passengers have to say… Sain O’Hagan – Liverpool University

Dee Chadwick – Durham University

I’m Sian, aged 20 and I went on a 35 day Transcontinental South tour with TrekAmerica last year. I went to so many cool places it’s impossible to choose a favourite place, but some of the highlights would be New York City, Washington DC, Key West, New Orleans, Colorado, Zion and Arches National Parks, Las Vegas and LA. 4th July (Independence Day) was spent in Key West which was crazy, so many fireworks, and I spotted Paris Hilton in Macy’s Las Vegas! I loved every second of it -the road, the places, the people, I couldn’t ask for a more enjoyable way to spend my summer, and I want to go again this year.

My name is Dee, I’m 21, and I went on a Trek America tour in September 2006. It was the three week Southern Sun trip from LA to New York and because there were two groups leaving on the same dates, all 22 of us travelled together on the same route with our 2 amazing tour leaders. They were a lot of fun and the trip just wouldn’t have been the same without them. Favourite city had to be Las Vegas...lots of drinking and partying so it was a great place to get to know each other! Favourite National Park was the Grand Canyon... one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been and the helicopter trip was amazing!

YOUR PAPER NEEDS YOU! The National Student is your paper and needs your help! We are always looking for contributors to write news, views, features and reviews. To get involved email

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The National Student, February 2009

FEATURE

15

A Traveller’s Tale Last time we caught up with our man Down Under he had a decision to make, he could either take a job and stay in Australia with the woman we’ve fondly come to know as the Wrecking Ball, or he could hop on his motorbike and start the long ride home. We didn’t hear from him for a while, then out of the blue we received this...

“

I have some news which I thought I should share:

Yesterday I left Sydney on a motorbike. My destination is England. Yup, she doesn’t look much and neither do I, but with a few modifications and a squirt of chain lube she’s ready to run the gauntlet all the way back to the Motherland. My first hurdle is Sydney to Darwin, a distance of 3,000 miles on a bike that even after it’s had its breakfast can’t top 55mph. Half that in a head wind. To add further spice it’s raining up north, and not a drizzle, but a full on monsoon with the roads washed away and crocodiles waiting to swallow silly Englishman on motorbikes. And if it all sounds a bit sudden that’s because last Thursday immigration said I had to be out on January 28. “There will be no more extensions Mr Millward, you’re taking the piss,” said the cheery Indian lady on the desk. So I sat and wondered; I could either fly home at the end of the month and be in the warm bosom of England within a day, or I could go the long

way round and ride home; show that Jedi and his hairy Wookie how it should be done. Of course, as you’re now receiving this email, I chose the latter. And so, with the support of my marvellous other half we spent the next two days packing and planning, modifying and drilling until finally, on Sunday afternoon, I was ready to hightail it up to Darwin. So with two weeks in which to do that I have no time to sight-see or dally, I just need to ride like the wind and try and make the boat that’ll take me and Doris, as the bike has been affectionately named, from Darwin across the waters to East Timor. The big floater leaves on the 27. And if I make it that far only then I shall worry about Indonesia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Iran and Europe. And of course I’m already off to a bad start. Yesterday I had three punctures, the second and third caused by me not repairing the first properly. I wasted five hours and managed only half the miles that I need to do a day. But all is not lost, for on the day I left Sydney I bumped

into Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of the convict nation, in a bookshop. “Mr Rudd, would you mind signing my helmet?” I asked him. And, upside down, he did. I left later that day with government approval and a milk crate on the back to carry my gear. Perfect.” And he was off, us with the promise of sporadic updates of his epic journey across the globe. So on with the story…… Day 3 So the news is out and now everyone knows, that includes the parents who were slightly flummoxed to receive an email saying

I know I should have told them but to be honest I was too chicken in case my mum demanded I came home this

To add further spice it’s raining up north, and not a drizzle, but a full on monsoon with the roads washed away and crocodiles waiting to swallow silly Englishman on motorbikes. their second son is astride a girl called Doris and chugging across the world at a snail’s pace.

minute and I didn’t have the balls to disobey. I’m normally good like that, that’s why this time I kept it under my hat until I was already up the road and past the point of no return. Today I hoped to make up for the puncture delays of yesterday, but to be honest the pace was no nippier. I got up at six, snoozed soundly for another half hour in a rented caravan before springing stiffly out of bed to sort out new inner tubes and repair kits that I used up yesterday. After that a trip to Mcdonalds to abuse their free wi-fi and sip milky tea before hitting the road at an incredible speed. At one point, when a lorry whipped past me and sucked me in to its slipstream, 90km’h became a real achievable dream. Then the lorry sped off into the distant and I was back

down to 75km/h.. Boo. But the bike’s holding up nicely. Of course there’s the mist of oil that blows from the engine, the lights that only occassionally work at night, not to mention the broken spoke and flapping exhaust that singes my leg hairs as I ride along unsure of where I am or what the hell I‘m doing. And to add to that it rained today, as hard as knuckles, and in my combat shorts, Converse high-tops and flimsy black rain mac I was soaked, but you know, also somewhat happy. Because I was on my adventure, making real progress. By brunch I was in Balina, by lunch Byron Bay, and that, if you’ve never heard about it is a hippy beach town where everyone smokes weed in their snorkel and flippers. A great place, so I stayed for a while trying to get images and chatting to a chap named Muirat who promotes clubs for a living. Cool and urbane, he took one look at my bike and laughed. “Is that it?” Yes indeed my friend, that is it. Up the coast I tried to mend my exhaust guard with a plastic tie wrap that melted off the minute I pulled back on to the highway and later, just outside Brisbane, my bottom was so sore from

all the riding I had to take a detour off the highway to buy some talcum powder to try and soothe the chaffing. It didn’t work so now I’m riding a bit queer as a bottle of Johnson and Johnson baby talc bounces around in my milk crate and I balance on one cheek to relieve the pressure until I hop on to the other. Tonight I decided to stop short and stay in Brisbane. I found a hostel and wandered around the city thinking why do people flock to Sydney when this place is so much better. By midnight, after dinner, once again in McDonalds, I went back to my dorm to see which weirdos I’d be sleeping with before making a list and packing for tomorrow. The plan is to head first to Caboolture, a place not far north of Brisbane where a man specialising in the bike I’m riding hangs out. I’ll fit a new rear tyre, ask him to bung up my leak and see if he can teach me how to wield a spanner before I try and make the 600kms trip to Rockhampton. Just checked the transport report. Apparently the road to Darwin will be repaired by the 23. It’s four days ride for where it’s broken to the boat on the 27 so not sure if I’ll make it or not. But here goes….

The National Student, February 2009

SPORT

17

Ear we go again James Davies caught up with boxing legend Evander Holyfield

E

vander Holyfield may not be the “prettiest”, like Muhammad Ali, or the meanest, like Mike Tyson but he is a boxer who epitomises the sport like no other. He has won the World Heavyweight Championship a record four times and is chasing the dream of a fifth title. After being raised in the “ghetto”, Evander recalls his incredible journey, and how his “Momma’s whippings” meant he didn’t end up like Tyson, the man who, infamously, bit off, and spat out, a chunk of his ear, and the ‘animal’ he is about to face once again, in this year’s biggest bout. As I enter the room, after a light knock on the door, he immediately stood up to his full 6’ 3”. Although his imposing height isn’t immediately threatening, his ‘toe to toe’ boxers stance gives him an intimidating air. “I wasn’t always the

biggest, but I was the youngest of nine so I was tough”, he proudly boasts. Despite having millions of dollars in the bank and fame beyond belief, he is no ‘flash Harry’. He credits his mother, Laura Holyfield, for teaching him about Christian values and the honour in being humble. He explained, “My mother was very instrumental, and taught me to respect other people. My brothers and sisters realise had they done more of what my mother had told them to do, they probably would have been successful as well.” Continuing he comments on the differences between him and his most famous opponent, Mike Tyson, “I’m just one woman away, my mother, from being the same as Mike Tyson. My mother said, you go to school, you listen, and you do what that teacher tells you to do. I would’ve

ended up like him had my Momma not been so tough and strong.” The man who’s been called ‘God’s champion’, was never supposed to make anything of his life. He was told over and over again that he was too poor, too inarticulate, and too black to break the grip of poverty and despair. But armed with a strong faith in succeeding, a strong self belief, and a strong jaw, Holyfield defied the odds, and rewrote boxing history, by earning more than $150 million. Living by the philosophy that, ‘no one chooses their start, but everyone can choose their finish’, Holyfield amazingly went from being paid a mere $2.65 an hour for his first job at the age of 17, to an eye watering $34 million, in 1997, to fight Mike Tyson for the second time, which he admits was: “the largest amount ever paid for a single performance in

any field.” Holyfield had knocked out ‘Mad Mike’ in their first fight and was set to do it again, until Tyson infamously bit off and spat out a chunk of his ear. It was found on the bloodied canvas and given back to the champion in an iced plastic bag as he was rushed to hospital. Leaping out of his seat, he explained: “It was painful. I was shocked, because it’s not something you expect.” Strangely this was not the first time he had experienced the pain of being bitten, this event being fairly frequent in his life. “I’ve been bitten a lot of times. I lived in a neighbourhood that if you had to fight somebody, and you were frightened, they would bite you to just get away.” “I didn’t take it as anything other than Mike wanted to get out. He quit,

he didn’t want to fight anymore.” Although Holyfield, won the bout against his raging and disqualified opponent, he is now set for a third encounter with ‘Iron Mike’. He explains, “I realise if I want to be Heavyweight Champion, I have to attract the champions to fight me. If I fight Mike Tyson, I would do that.” Although many boxing insiders, and even Holyfield’s family and friends, believe he should retire, he’s not thinking about calling it quits. “I can’t walk away. I have to retire as undisputed Heavyweight Champion. I know that I am supposed to. I know that I can. It’s a matter of being patient.” The boxer says one secret to his success has been his approach to life. “It’s impossible to be me. But you can be yourself and achieve what I’ve achieved if you listen, follow direction, and not

quit. God made everyone special. You just have to realise how special you are by working hard at what you want to achieve.” After his attempts to become the oldest and first five-time heavyweight champion of the world failed in December, controversially defeated on points by Nikolay Valuev, Holyfield’s future remains uncertain. After the fight in Zurich, Holyfield told reporters that he thought he had ‘done enough to win’ adding; ‘now I will have to go home and think about my future.’ Many admire Holyfield’s determination to keep going, others say his attempts show a weakness in not knowing when to give up. Either way, it is clear that Holyfield will make up his own mind and whatever decision he makes he will always be recognised as one of the greatest boxers of his generation.

The National Student, February 2009

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18

Langford leads the way as England beat Germany Ben Whitelaw witnesses a young boxer making his name at senior level

Tommy Langford’s debut at the senior level with the England amateur boxing team could not have gone more to plan. The University of Birmingham student put in an impressive and mature performance to come from behind to defeat his German opponent Tairi Bukurim. Before the fight, Langford knew defeat could all but end his opportunity of representing England at the Olympic Games, in 2012. After winning all seven of his fights at England junior level, the pressure was on the Sport and Exercise Science student to prove himself capable of performing as a senior. Such fears were allayed as he convincingly out scored the German 11-5 at the NIA in Birmingham. He can now look forward to representing England again in early 2009. His win was key to the balance of the international

as it crucially drew the teams at 3-3, providing a strong platform from which England were able to win two of the three remaining fights thanks to the likes of Ryan Aston and Antonio Counahan. This meant they secured a 5-4 victory in the team’s first friendly match since the Olympics in Beijing. The victory was more impressive with the knowledge that Langford was due to face a different opponent until a last minute change saw the Hall Green based boxer face Bukurim, the highly technical European silver medallist, instead. Langford’s win and the team’s subsequent victory certainly provided the perfect early present just a week before Christmas and marked the perfect start on the long road towards these young men’s dream, that of the 2012 London Olympics where they hope

to win a medal in front of their home crowd. The first of four Birmingham born boxers to fight on the night, Langford entered the ring to vocal support with some friends from university having travelled back up to Birmingham to be there. His family, who had made the trip up from Bideford in Devon where Tommy now lives, looked on nervously from ringside whilst Frankie Gavin, the World Amateur Boxing champion and a friend from Hall Green, shouted encouragement from the sidelines. The sixth bout in the international, Langford began the first round tentatively as he tried to dominate the middle of the ring, something his teammates had failed to do in the bouts before. The university student managed to muster a flurry to the waist area but

The National Student, February 2009

SPORT

19 and one that saw him in control. With word of the score passed onto Bukurim, the German came out quickly at the start of the third. Langford had to be at his most agile to escape numerous big right handers and was moving well as he found himself penned on the ropes on several occasions. The German’s gung-ho approach afforded Langford the opportunity to pick off his opponent and he suitably did so, first with a massive left round the back and then a series of opportunistic jabs that had Bukurim dazed. This kind of smart boxing from Langford, something a number of the English fighters lacked on the night, saw round three end 8-2. The final round saw Bukurim come out even more strongly, knowing he had nothing to lose. The German dished out two sizeable right hooks to the face in an explosive early onslaught. Langford, for a moment, was forced to be content to weave and run but this ploy paid off as the German began to tire and the Englishman was able to throw the combination punches he is becoming famous for, one left hook visibly hurting

that was not clean and he suffered a strong straight left to the head which saw Langford 1-0 down at the end of the first round, a somewhat undeserved lead for the German. The second round saw Langford increase his work rate as he sought to utilise his lightening hand speed which makes him such a handful. A smart right to Bukurim’s stomach was followed quickly by a piercing right to the head as Langford sought to box on the front foot as instructed by his corner. He took the initiative with two further stinging jabs which had the German running. He showed his left was just as dangerous soon after, exploiting a lapse in Bukurim’s guard and issuing a clever uppercut on the way out of holding. The end of the round saw the score 4-1 to Langford, a significant turnaround

Aston in action

vest. In the meantime, I will get back to training harder than ever in the run up to my next fight for Hall Green sometime in February’.

opponent and not the occasion. ‘I felt I performed in the right manner to be beat the opponent put in front of me, which is all I can do at

‘I felt I performed in the right manner to be beat the opponent put in front of me.’

Tommy Langford

the German. The final score, with little doubt over the winner, was 11-5 to Langford. After the fight, Langford declared himself very happy with the manner of performance. ‘The fight went really well; the only way it could have gone better is if I had stopped

the German. The support and the venue were great and did not faze me at all; in fact, it only served to ensure I boxed the best I could’ Langford explained after the fight. ‘The coaches seemed happy and impressed and I’m confident that my performance will earn me another England

No wonder the Birmingham student was happy. Throughout Langford was the epitome of the phrase ‘box clever’ as he best utilised his hand speed and backed his fleet of foot to get him out of the few tight situations Bukurim forced him into. He even had the discipline to not respond to a somewhat disrespectful wild swing from the German on the final bell. Nothing, it seemed, could cause Langford to lose his cool. That he was only beaten in one round of his debut at the senior level, and only by a solitary point, says much for the maturity of the young man. More impressive than that though was that Langford boxed to his

the end of the day. Maybe I could have worked him out quicker and shown him a little less respect in the first round, but once I settled, it went really well’ he said. That will be something that will come in handy if he makes it into the squad for London 2012 as this performance suggests he might. On the Olympics, Langford said ‘I think about it all the time but its still a long way off and have to remind myself every now that there’s a long way to go. I have got four years to get to the top of my game and won’t stop till I do’. On this evidence, you certainly would not bet against him.

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Great Britain enjoy success in Sydney January was packed with sporting events as student athletes across the country prepared for the year ahead. One of the main attractions of the month took place in a much warmer climate; the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, which ran from 14 to 18 Jan. TeamBath were represented in a number of sports at the festival with arguably the biggest success story coming in the hockey. University of Bath student and TeamBath Buccaneer Lewis Prosser grabbed a dramatic late equaliser for Great Britain in their opening game of the festival. Despite fighting hard in the heat against a tough Malaysian side, Great Britain found themselves 4-3 down with time ebbing away. It was at this point that Prosser, a 19-year-

old Sports Performance student, struck to level the scores with the final hit of the game. It was the Welshman’s first goal for Great Britain and rounded off a comeback that had seen GB trail 4-2 with just three minutes remaining of the contest, which was played out in temperatures of over 35 degrees. “I just concentrated on hitting the ball into the bottom corner,” said midfielder Prosser. “I’m really proud to score my first goal for Great Britain, although I couldn’t breathe with everyone jumping on me to celebrate.” The fact Prosser’s goal came against Malaysia was fitting as Great Britain went onto secure a bronze medal against the same opposition, winning 5-2 in the third place play-off.

Bobby Crutchley, the men’s team coach and former head hockey coach at the University of Bath, said, “I feel a bronze medal is an excellent reward for the hard work the squad has put in and for the improvement they have shown not only since the start of the tournament, but also since coming together last October.” Prosser’s University of Bath colleague, Harriet Pearce, experienced greater success; bringing home gold after the Great Britain women’s side beat Australia 3-2 in the final. Like Prosser, Pearce had a big influence on her team’s performance in Sydney, scoring the equaliser in the final, a goal which took the game into a golden goal period of extra-time where Britain triumphed thanks to a strike from Sophie Bray. Prosser is congratulated after his equaliser

Elsewhere in Sydney, the University of Bath pairing of Jake Sheaf and Adam Smith finished fifth in the beach volleyball competition which took place on Friday 16. The pair won one and lost one of their opening matches at the pool phase of the competition on Thursday before returning to action at Maroubra beach in their final pool game where they went down to the Australian pairing of Patrick Mead and Robert Reeves. Sheaf

Sheaf and Smith in action

and Smith began strongly, claiming the opening set 22-20, but the Aussies recovered to level up by winning the second set 16-21 and then took the decider 11-15. Whilst the pair had missed out on a place in the semis they were determined to end their participation in the festival on a high note in the fifth/sixth place play-off against another Australian pair in the shape of Hamish Moore and Corey Leathart.

Sheaf and Smith, who both study Sports Performance, made sure they had plenty to smile about, winning the contest by two sets to nil, taking the first 21-14 and the second 21-17. The success of Teambath’s students proves once again the impact that student athletes are having at an international level and the importance of university sport when it comes to developing successful British teams.

BUCS championships to be covered by Channel 4 Channel 4, in partnership with British Universities & Colleges Sport, will cover the inaugural BUCS championships to be held in Sheffield from March 11-15. Over 5,500 students will be in Sheffield over those five days to compete in 24 sports across 14 venues. Channel 4’s

presence means that the competitive world of student sport may now get the coverage and publicity which it has been lacking in the past. With plans for London 2012 well under way it is unsurprising that the Channel is specifically interested in the Olympic featured sports. Athletics, badminton, basketball,

boxing, fencing, hockey, judo, swimming, table tennis and volleyball will all be in the spotlight and these sports boast some of the country’s leading athletes including Britain’s fastest woman, Montell Douglas, currently a student at Middlesex University. Douglas was featured in The National Student’s

Olympic special and with this added coverage her name may well be on everyone’s lips in the build up to the London games. Karen Rothery, Chief Executive of British Universities & Colleges Sport is delighted that the championships will be getting the coverage many feel they deserve, “The BUCS Championships is

the highlight of the sporting calendar for thousands of students, so it’s fitting that Channel 4, renowned for producing innovative sports programming will be there to capture the passion and the glory of the competition,” Rothery added “With Channel 4, we hope to take the best of university sport to a much wider audience than ever

before, showing that our student athletes really are the sporting stars of the future.” Channel 4’s Martin Henlan added, “A number of our Olympians have come through the university system so there is every chance that our coverage of the Championships will capture some of the future faces of London 2012.”