The Beaver »^Newspaper^HheTsrsl7'*"^P*'''''^FirnTubnshed[o5Ma7'i9^ Christmas shopping with a conscience blink, page 12 Briefing 'Private' Society LSE students were last week bombarded with junk e-mail from 'The Private Society', a previously unheard of group appearing to be affiliated to the LSE. The LSE SU swiftly moved to distance themselves from the organisation after numerous complaints from irritated students. News page 2 SU website delay LSE Students' Union Communications Officer Khurshid 'K' F^izullaev this week missed his own deadline for the launch of the new SU website. Fkizullaev cited problems with the requests made of OnCampusUK, the independent website designers, by the SU as the cause of delays. News page 3 Garrick opens The LSE's newest catering outlet, the LSE Garrick opened for business this week despite numerous setbacks over the past few months. News page 5 Polar Express Film editor tries to flirt with Tom Hanks and discovers all about reflective diamonds, and the "pain and suffering" involved in creating the new Christmas animation film. The Polar Express. B:art page 21 Underdog triumph Last week saw the underdogs of LSE Sport triumph over their supposedly superior contemporaries. The Football Thirds lost to the Fourth team, and the Champagne Sevenths beat the Sixth team. In Netball, the Fifth Team beat the Fourth team. Sports pages 27-32 The world's greatest contemporary photographer B:art, page 25 blink covers World AIDS week, pages 10-11 Deficit strangles SU budget Prashant Rao Executive Editor The Students' Union budget is nearly £100,000 in deficit and the cash reserves have been severely depleted following the expensive refurbishment of the Three Tuns bar. The budget, set to be put forward to the Annual Budget Meeting (ABM) on Thursday, was approved by the Finance & Services Committee last week and indicates a deficit of £98,749, as against a projected deficit of £96,505. According to LSE Students' Union Treasurer Gareth Carter, "Though growth is visible, stringent financial management is still necessary in order to cover our costs, provide for resources, and little-by-little replenish our reserves." With costs for the Three Tuns now ranging between £825,000 and £900,000, as opposed to previous estimates of £500,000 from Carter's predecessor, Jo Kibble, an 'unexpected' £80,000 in increased expenditure had to be accounted for. The £80,000 was made up of the increase in the cost of depreciation for Union assets spread over three years, and the unexpected increase in sabbatical wages early in the year from £22,053 to £24,680. Carter covered the unanticipated rise by dipping into the SU's reserves and. from the increased proportional revenue from the Union's trading services. Asked whether he felt the budgetary process had been handcuffed by the major investment in the TYins, Carter commented, "On the contraiy, I feel that the amount invested in the Tuns was necessary to create an entertainments venue that will, in the long run, prove to be a significant source of revenue for the Union. "I have no desire to attribute blame for our current financial situation upon previous administrations." Cuts to the campaigns budget, which was decreased by 71 per- cent, have drawn criticism from some observers, but Carter defended the decision by saying the difference was "given directly to the Communications Sabbatical since his role is directly related to that which the campaigns budget is traditionally spent on." The Union's financial problems have been further compounded by the losses accrued by the Great Dover Street bar. The bar lost more than £25,000 last year, has already lost £10,548 in the past five months, and is projected to lose approximately £27,000 this financial year. Speaking to The Beaver, Carter said that he was, "liaising closely with the representative from the housing association who runs Great Dover Street, as well as with the current Warden and Hall Committee President. "We have several solutions that the Union has brought to the table, and whilst I am slightly worried that it is taking some time to reach a conclusion that will best benefit both the Union and GDS residents, I am confident we will reach a conclusion before the start of next term," he said. There have also been concerns over the fact that the SU may have missed an opportunity to bridge some of the gap by serving food in the TVins. An eight week delay has meant that the Tuns will now serve food after the opening of the LSE Garrick. Carter commented, "It is unfortunate and frustrating that we have not yet been able to begin full-time catering, but I believe that when we do we wiU see a fair increase in revenue." Responding to questions as to whether the LSE Garrick would affect food revenue in the Hins, Carter said: "The opening of the Garrick has not reduced the numbers of people eating Benjy's, Wright's Bar or Subway food in the Tuns. continued on page 2 Carter defends budget, page 6 Editorial Comment, page 7 New call for vote on NUS Chris Heathcote News Editor NUS National President Mandy Telford faces the UGM. Photo: Mark Donahue LSE students will be asked in a cross-campus referendum if they want to remain a member of the National Union of Students (NUS), after a motion was passed at the Union General Meeting (UGM). Members of the Students' Union (SU) Executive will now mandated to collect the 375 signatures necessary to trigger the vote, which will ask every member of the Union if the LSE SU should continue to be a member of the NUS. The motion was proposed by James Eyton and seconded by Ahmad Khokher, and passed the UGM with a clear majority. continued on page 2 Kat Fletcher at UGM, page 3 Op-Ed, page 6 Editorial Comment, page 7 News The Beaver 30 November 2004 Budget Continued from page 1 "If we can replace that provision with food from the Underground then I don't see the Garrick's opening as having any unduly detrimental affects on the Union." Many observers have raised concerns as to the long-term financial viability of the Union, concerns Carter was quick to dismiss, saying that while in the short-term, the biggest area of concern for the SU is that overall expenditure is too high, "providing we maintain stringent budgetary management to avoid a liquidity problem, our reserve situation should not be a problem." "So long as we have ready cash then this Union can function, as having a vast reserve is not something that is strictly necessary for the day-to-day running of the SU," he added. He went on to say, "We are rebuilding our cash reserves, and expect to be putting around £80,000 back in this year." Exclusively for everyone: The Private Society Simon Chignell LSE students were last week bombarded with junk e-mail from 'The Private Society', a previously unheard of group appearing to be affiliated to the LSE. The LSE SU swiftly moved to distance themselves from the organisation, which claimed to offer a website for "us high achievers to network amongst ourselves in order to engender the most goodwill in our deliberating [sic.] as LSE students." Earlier this week the anonymous sender, who had no official connexion with the LSE contacted students using the LSE Directory, asking them to join "the discreet private networking club for LSE students only." Students on the directory received at least three emails asking them to sign up at the XTQ website on Tuesday. Further e-mails from the address were blocked after IT services were alerted. LSE is not the first university that has been targeted by the XTQ website. Earlier this year, Macquarie University in the US reported that its students had been sent an email telling them that they were obliged to sign up again sent from a bogus email address. Other ' US universities, including Georgia State, Oregon State and Pacific University were also asked to sign up to this "exclusive club" on internet forums. In an e-mail to The Beaver, the creator of the website, who described himself as "a business student at an Ivy League institution" and claimed that the Private Society had "generated quite a buzz on the LSE campus". He described the society as "a connectivity medium geared specifically towards university students." In an initial email the LSE was described as "the preeminent school in the cosmos for the study of business." Neshwa Boukhari, who was one of the first to reply to the first email told the anonymous sender to be less pretentious. Her comments were repeated in an email forwarded by 'The Private Society to the whole mailing list, something that was later apologized for. Boukhari was reportedly even offered "a gift from an internet store" to compensate for the publication of her comments. Head of LSE Web Services Stephen Emmott admitted that the email addresses section of the website appeared to have been "harvested" and said "this is the risk associated with publishing this information but it is a service students want and it is opt-in." He confirmed that he "attempted to submit a complaint to GMail but sadly they provide no route through which reports of misuse can be submitted publicly." SU Communications Officer Khurshid "K" Paizullaev said that such "spam" email abuse could discouraged students from leav- ing their details on the online directory, but said that students were "mature enough to make their own decision" on joining the website list. He also revealed plans for a similar services to be run on the unfinished SU website "I can disclose that I am working on creating forums in the new website in forms of Bulletin boards, requiring an LSE email address." The XTQ site, which states in its terms of use that the "use of the website...for the purpose of sending unsolicited email" could result in legal action, initially invoked a response from LSE students through the "high pretension" of its e-mails, described by many as "ridiculous" and "pompous". The 'Private Society' went on two send two further emails in the same day as its first, one responding to initial complaints and the second apologising for the publication of students' Tuns food suspended Rob Parker An architectural oversight has caused further delays to the introduction of the new catering service in the Three Tuns. As part of the refit of the venue over the summer, a kitchen was installed and a menu of pizzas, burgers, chips and several specialty meals was anticipated. Staff were expecting to begin selling food at the beginning of last week, but had to cancel plans when it was discovered that a smoke detector had been installed directly above the main oven. Cooking has been suspended until the detector is relocated. Meals are not now expected to be served until later this week at the earliest. Students were supposed to be able to buy food in the T\ms from the start of term, but a series of mishaps, including the delayed delivery of the 'fat-free fryer,' has postponed the launch of the service. It was not until last week that everjrthing was in place to begin cooking food. Gareth Carter, the Students' Union Treasurer, faced criticism at the Union General Meeting (UGM) over the eight-week delay. Speaking to The Beaver, Carter said, "People have been waiting for eight weeks for food to be served at the Hins. I'm sure they can wait another three days." Students will have to wait and see if food can be served this time. Carter has already missed previous targets that aimed to have food available at the begirming of this term. The outcome of this latest setback remains to be seen, although Carter insisted that the delay in serving food will not impact on the budget, due to be delivered at this week's UGM. He added that drink sales were already up in the Tuns this term following the refurbishment. The New Tuns, which had aimed to start serving food this term / Photo: Mark Donahue NUS disaffiliation, continued from page 1 Nobody speaking against it and was timed to coincide with a visit to the meeting by NUS National President, Kat Fletcher. The fact that Fletcher did not stay to listen to the debate attracted some criticism from UGM-attendees, though she insisted to The Beaver that she had been forced to leave for a function in Sheffield. Because the motion did not explicitly express a preference either for or against membership it found support from across the audience. The LSE SU pays £14,380 a year in fees for membership, conferences and training and joins around 750 other constituent members (CMs) as part of the organisation. However, over the last few years there has been questions over the future of the NUS since earlier this term, NUS National Treasurer Martin Ings warned that the organisation would be bankrupt within five years due to shrinking contributions from the membership colleges and financial mismanagement by his predecessors. The current NUS National Executive Council (NEC) has pushed through a number of unpopular reforms in a bid to save money, which has led to delegation sizes being decreased and relocating their head offices out of London to Manchester. Several colleges, such as Edinburgh, Southampton and Imperial College in London have already left and UCL has threatened to do the same if more changes are not made. At the LSE, the services branch of the national body, NUSSL, has drawn criticism for trying to force its wiU upon the Union's shop in the Quad. The Beaver reported two weeks ago that NUSSL had tried to pressure the shop management to stock products such as children's colouring books against their wishes. Khokher told The Beaver that he decided to propose a referendum because "the affiliation affects the SU as a whole, a refer-endimi is the best action to take." Eyton added that he thought the NUS was "completely inefficient" and that by remaining a member, the LSE SU was "pouring almost £15,000 down a £1.2 miUion hole." Some are already concerned that the petitioning of such a large number of students could take many weeks. LSE SU General Secretary said on PuLSE radio last Friday that he may instead push to have a vote at the UGM in week 10, which, with a two-thirds majority, could call for a referendum and avoid the need to collect signatures. This is not the first time the Union has considered leaving the NUS. A previous referendum took place asking the same question at the time of the Lent term elections in 2003. The results then were 75 percent in favour of leaving the NUS to 25 percent against. Macfarlane told PuLSE News that although the earlier vote was convincing, the majority was not as large as many had predicted. He added that the current climate of feeling towards the NUS was such that the result this time could not be predicted. He commented; "though I have my own opinions, it is important that the students get to decide on this issue." Analysts disagree over what the likely effect would be on the Union if LSE students did decide to leave the NUS. When Imperial left the organisation it was worried that bar prices could increase. In fact this has not happened, though some have suggested that this is because officials have made a special effort not to raise them in order to prove the predictions wrong. Asked about the possible effect of disaffiliation on the LSE SU, Treasurer Gareth Carter assured The Beaver that beer prices would not necessarily increase. The LSE's departure from NUS would not necessarily be final, but is likely that a spate of disaffilliations from the organisation could provoke its collapse, prompting questions as to what sort of student movement would exist to replace it and represent UK students. To contact The Beaver Hev\!S team, email thebeaver.news@lse.ac.uk The Beaver 30 November 2004 News Fletcher defiant; NUS slated at UGM Sam Jones News Editor NUS National President Kat Fletcher was received by a hostile audience at the Union General Meeting last Thursday. Fletcher later told The Beaver that she was "very pleased to have been invited to speak at the LSE student [sic.] council" but was nonetheless perturbed by what she described as a "culture of missile throwing, heckling and general disruption...that was not necessarily conducive to informing students of the issues which affect them." Elected at the annual conference in April, Fletcher told last week's UGM that she had "stood on a radical platform" but had discovered over the past few months that "reforms would need to be even more radical in order to turn the NUS around." She defended her electoral commitment to transform the beleaguered NUS, which has continued to draw fire from critics in recent weeks as a result of controversial proposals to pull itself out of debt. The NUS currently runs an annual deficit of around £500,000 and already faces an overdraft of NUS President Kat Fletcher, waiting to speak at Thursday's UGM / Photo: Mark Donahue £1.2 million of the confer-NUS approximately pounds. Under clause three recent extra-ordinary ence's main motion National Treasurer Martin Ings proposed to "research the viability of the NUS card and other options as a source of revenue." Ings warned that without such changes the union would be bankrupt within a matter of years. The motion was eventually passed by the NUS conference in its entirety despite a submission for the striking of clause three proposed by LSE NUS delegate Mark Power. Fletcher, however, denied her complicity in the £10 card charge proposal. Distancing herself, Fletcher told those assembled at the UGM that the card charges had been pushed forward by members of NUS Services Limited (NUSSL) and "had not been discussed by the National Executive Committee (NEC)" adding that she "doubted the proposals would ever be agreed upon conference anyway". However, as The Beaver later discovered, Fletcher was implicit- ly involved in extensive discussions held by the NEC concerning the contentious card issue well before November's extra-ordi-nary conference. As one NEC insider disclosed, Fletcher had herself agreed to the proposals before they were put to the NUS delegates. Fletcher too refuted accusations levelled at the UGM that she and the NEC had failed to effectively tackle issues of concern to International Students. She cited the apparent success of the recently published International Students Survey and the possibility of an upcoming NUS campaign against government increases to visa charges. But critics assailed the tiny size of the survey's 324 student 'Technical difficulties" delay website launch Nastaran Tavakoli-Far LSE SU Communications Officer Khurshid 'K' Faizullaev has missed his own deadline to launch the new LSESU website. In his report to the UGM, Faizullaev told the Union that the website was scheduled to be imveiled last Monday. Indeed, as recently as two weeks ago he insisted that he was "still on track" to meet the deadline. However, due to 'technical difficulties' the launch of the site is to be delayed by at least a week. Even after it is launched, the new site wiU co-exist with the old one until Christmas to give time for feedback and the transfer to be completed. In particular, society websites will need to be relocated. In his defence, Faizullaev said that the target had only ever been intended as "preliminary" adding that he would keep the old site running because "you shouldn't destroy your old house before building a new one." The new website has been created with the assistance of website provider OnCampusUK which is responsible for the design and technical assistance given to the websites of 51 Students' Unions' within the UK. In addition, the design of the site has been developed with the help of two qualified LSE students who have undertaken the task voluntarily. So far, over half the content of the site has been written. Each Officer will be directly responsible for their material with Faizullaev overseeing the website as a whole. "In reality what is happening is I am delegating," he said. According to the Communications Officer, the main reason given for the recent setback in the launch of the new website is the complex design proposed. OnCampusUK, who are well known for their fairly homogenous website designs, had predicted a simple design. It was realised last Friday that to meet the SU' requirements would take a little longer. When asked whether it would have been possible for LSE students to be paid to design the entire site themselves without the need to be involved with OnCampusUK, Faizullaev said that this would prove to be very expensive and that the technical upkeep of the site would then also have to be done by LSE students. Despite the launch being pushed back again, SU General Secretary Will Macfarlane told The Beaver that the site was looking good and that he would "rather have a quality product which will serve the Union for much time." One other unnamed Union Executive Officer was less enthusiastic: "I'm glad the website is finally getting there. Perhaps if K had spent more time working on this rather than the Entente Cordiale, it would have been done sooner." Regarding advertising, Faizullaev said that three advertising spaces will be available per page with the adverts being chosen by OnCampusUK. However, the SU will be able to control local advertisers, provided that the businesses have an address local to the LSE and that it is included in the advertisement. It is also hoped that there will be sponsorship of the various pages. The AU in particular remain very keen to use their current sponsor's details in the website's sports sections. High hopes have been pinned on the Communications Officer's ability to drum up advertising revenue for the Union. Some had sample and targeted Fletcher for not supporting the appointment of an NUS International Students Officer last year. NUS insiders too criticising the late reaction of the NUS to government proposals to increase visa charges and potentially deter international students. Fletcher remained defiant throughout, and continued to defend her commitment to reform, despite "numerous setbacks" Fletcher left, however, before a motion calling for a referendum on the LSE's membership of NUS was discussed and then passed. Indeed, pending the outcome of the referendum, Fletcher's visit to the UGM could be the last paid to LSE by an NUS President. even suggested that the job could be self-financing, but Faizullaev was more modest. Asked if he was hoping to raise more in advertising than previous years he replied; "definitely". One scheme, 'Headporter', established for the old website involved students signing up for a texting scheme, was said to have raised just £30 for the Union over the past three years. Although the new website will not feature a texting service, FkizuUaev was confident he could do better; "£30 is not hard to beat," he said. However, at last week's UGM, P^izullaev's motion to ban unethical advertising on the SU website failed to gain a majority. Theoretically, any advert, from even the most undesirable company could now be posted on the SU website, since a list of banned organisations cannot be compiled. FkizuUaev suggested that the motion may be resubmitted to the UGM in the future: "I may wait until the next cock-up, or when Nestle get an advert to resubmit the motion - once the consequences arising from this defeat become apparent." Union Jack Jack was pleasantly surprised by this week's UGM. For the second week in a row, things ran smoothly, motions were discussed and the holy grail of a full 60 minutes of UGM-action was almost reached. Jack has previously pointed out the similarities between the UGM and his sex life with Mrs Jack. However, Jack can only wish he could last for a full hour two weeks in a row. If he could, Mrs Jack would be as happy as a Barham in a quorum count. The assembled throngs were treated to an appearance by Miss Kat Fletcher, NUS President. Despite her attempt to win over the crowd by saying she had "Heard a lot about this student council meeting"(sic), it was clear to Jack that this was one Kat that was caught in the headlights. The design on her shirt reminded Jack of the patterns he sees when he rubs his eyes too hard, and Jack is saddened by the thought that the NUS cannot stretch their already constrained budget to buying their president something decent to wear. On the issue of the NUS's debt, this Cat followed the procedure laid down by the venerable Ming the Merciless in his SU Treasurer election campaign -lay the blame at the feet of the previous administration. Jack fears for whatever wretched constituency is eventually landed with Miss Fletcher, and hopes it is a small northern one, possibly with mass unemployment, with which she can do little harm. Jack is suspicious of Mng the Merciless - despite his seemingly flawless Jock background of being captain of some team or other, he appears to be harbouring a secret desire to become the Beaver Theatre Editor. For ex^ple - he continually wears velvet jackets, sports facial hair that hasn't been fashionable since the fall of the Weimar Eepublic and is a member of the LSE Wine Advisory Board. Jack fully expects Mr Carter to be sporting a silk neckerchief when Budget Week comes round. Olivia Mental proposed a seemingly innocuous motion regarding the provision of free condoms at Crush. Like a sleeping dog awoken by the smell of a Simday roast, the mention of anything sexual provoked a response from Oliver Hanson. "But what if someone tries to put a little prick in the condoms?" was the cry from a worried UGM-goer. Jack's response is simple -just don't give Oliver any. News The Beaver 30 November 2004 Library survey to test set-text compromise Kheng Soon Lim T The Library will ask its users for feedback. / Photo: Mark Donahue. I he Library and LSE SU are collaborating on a survey which is being conducted in response to controversy generated by the shortening of the set text loan period earlier this year. The decision to conduct the survey was made during the recent Library User Committee meeting this month. At the meeting, library officials met with Will Macfarlane, LSE SU General Secretary and Sian Errington, LSE Student Union Education and Welfare Officer. The survey focuses mainly on the revised set text loan period but also covers the Course Collection. The results of the survey will be used to make recommendations to the next Library User Committee in February. At present, students are only allowed to borrow set texts from the LSE Course Collection for four hours, compared to 24 hours last year. Other texts in the Course Collection have three-day and one-week loans. The decision was made in order to make set texts more available to students, after complaints last year about their scarcity, but angered the Students' Union, which was left out of the consultation process. The LSE Library usually runs an annual student satisfaction survey eveiy March but decided that an interim survey was necessary in light of the numerous complaints. The survey was written by Macfarlane. Speaking to The Beaver, he explained that the decision to conduct the survey was made partly in view of the excellent outcome of last year's library opening hours survey, which led to the 24 hour Library scheme during exam time. Macfarlane hoped that as many students as possible would respond to the survey. The changes to the set text loan times has prompted many students to complain that the four hour period was too short and that too much paper has been wasted in photocopying set texts. Others, however, commented that it has become much easier to find books in the Library this year. Students with disabilities who are entitled to free photocopying facilities and students who spend their entire day on campus have also generally found the shortening of the loan period a good idea. Other complaints have centred on the conversion of the print stations from a card-based system to an electronic one. Many students claimed to have lost their money after library printers ran out of paper but still charged money from their electronic accounts. Both the library and the SU hope that the results of the survey will allow the library to better understand the opinions of LSE students regarding library loans. Bursaries settlement agreed as generous Dharini Nagarajan Proposals for an LSE Bursary and Scholarships scheme formulated by the LSE Scholarships group earlier this term has been approved by the School Council. The Scholarships Group, comprising Dr. Ray Richardson, Professor Christine Whitehead, Professor Rob Baldwin and for the first time the LSE SU General Secretary, Will Macfarlane, finalised proposals before the APRC on the 26th October. The proposals then had to undergo the formal procedure of discussion at the Academic Board, before recommendations were submitted to the Council, the School's most powerful deci-sion-making body. From the income that the School expects to receive as of 2006 from the top-up fees scheme, which stands at around £4million per annum, the Academic Board recommended that the School should aim to spend around £1.35 million a year on student support. The scheme is composed of three separate elements; an automatic income related bursary; additional non-bursary financial support and finally, the underwriting of a series of widening participation (WP) activities to ensure that the School continues to raise aspirations amongst disadvantaged students. The School's decision falls in line with requirements set out by the Office for Fkir Access (OFFA), which stipulate that a minimum of £300 per armum must be allocated to the poorest students. In addition to the bursary scheme, the Scholarship Group has recommended that the School devote £56,000 to support the Job Shop and Student Mentoring. Speaking to The Beaver, Will Macfarlane, LSE SU General Secretary, said, "I am very pleased with the elements of the Access Agreement that we have put together over the last few months, especially the automatic, income-related bursaries scheme which will see a large number of LSE undergraduates receive cash support during their studies here from the School". However, Macfarlane did feel that a greater proportion of monies should have been allocated to the automatic bursary scheme, though he was of the opinion that the 26 percent top-up fee income was indeed a generous and nationally competitive figure. Macfarlane added that he was pleased to see the inclusion of the additional discretionary bursaries and hardship funds. He finished by saying that he also hoped that the SU sabbatical officers would be able to continue working closely with the school on the scholarship and bursary schemes. UK's most unpopular Chancellor popular at LSE Alexander George Norman Lamont, Chancellor of the Exchequer under John Major from 1990 to 1993, spoke about the events of 'Black Wednesday' in a lecture entitled 'Out of the Ashes' last week. It was the latest in a series if five entitled; The Chancellors Reflect and organised by the Events and Conferences Office at the School. Lamont is best remembered for being Chancellor on Wednesday September 16th 1992, the day the pound was devalued, interest rates hit 15 percent, Britain lost billions of pounds on its reserves and the goverrunent suspended Britain's membership of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). In one of several lighter comments in the lecture Lamont said the only correct economic forecast he received from his chief economic adviser on his first day as Chancellor was that he would soon become the most unpopular man in Britain. Lord Lamont jovially referred to attacks from the media by recalling a favourite image in The Sun newspaper was to compare Lamont and the then England football manager, Graham Taylor, as turnips and potatoes. However, predictably much of Lord Lamont's lecture featured on the ERM. He claimed that British membership at that time was advantageous because higher interest rates helped reduce inflation to below 2 percent in 1993. He also stressed that Britain was right to leave when it did. He said this was because the inherent problem with the ERM was that the British economy had to converge with the German one and in effect Britain gave up its right to set its own interest rates and inflation rate. Lamont, who is against joining the euro, also pointed out how the ERM provoked a "European-scale crisis" as eight countries altogether had their currencies devalued or floated. He also spoke of two of the best-known budgets in recent history, in 1992 and 1993. The first one, he admitted, was Norman Lamont became infamous for the 'BlacK ^Veanesday' meltdovm. / Photo: Mark Donahue. not a great budget economically, but it helped the Conservatives win that year's election. This prompted Chris Giles from The Financial Times to ask whether it would have been better for the Conservatives to lose the 1992 election so that Labour would have been blamed for 'Black Wednesday'. Lord Lamont replied that parties do not choose which elections to win or lose. He continued to describe the 1993 budget as the best he worked on. Tough decisions , including raising tax and VAT on fuel, were needed he said. But, it was too much for the Conservative Party and Lamont left the Treasury soon after. Defending his record, Lamont insisted the decisions he took after 'Black Wednesday' and in the following budgets, helped Britain achieve the economic prosperity later on. Lamont introduced setting and meeting an inflation target, and working with the Bank of England to achieve it. He proposed the idea of the Bank's independence, which then Prime Minister John Major rejected. Keimeth Clarke concluded the series yesterday. A detailed report wiU appear in next week's edition. The Beaver 30 November 2004 Garrick cafeteria opens for business Brief News Be aware of AIDS Nastaran Tavakoli-Far The new LSE Garrick cafeteria opened last week in the former site of the Columbia Bar. Serving both hot and cold snacks and meals, the Garrick is the latest addition to the LSE's on-campus catering facilities and replaces the Robinson Room which used to be situated in the Old Building and closed at the end of the last term. Commencing business to students and LSE staff last Monday, the Garrick eventually met its revised opening date following the collapse of the roof and problems with the lift. The final cost of the Garrick is not yet clear though at least £1.4 million has been spent, £1 million of this being donated by LSE alumni Mario Francescotti with the remainder paid for by the School. Along with the Brunch Bowl, there are now two outlets for hot meals on campus. Cooked food is provided in the basement of the Garrick with the ground floor serving cold meals, snacks and a wide range of hot drinks including ten different types of tea. However, with no signs indicating the stairs to the lower floor or to clarify what is served on which floor there has already been some confusion. Concern has also been raised over the provision of free drinking water and disabled access to Formerly the Colombia Bar, the Garrick began serving food last week. / Photo: Mark Donahue. the basement level, both of which are legal obligations. At present, no water fountains providing it are installed in the LSE Garrick. Some members of staff have said that they are willing to provide tap water to students who request it whilst others have pointed only to the bottled mineral water on sale. According to the LSE press office there are plans to install a water cooler after feedback from students. Disabled access was an issue raised at the last UGM by Lizzie Fison, a wheelchair user herself. Acting chair of Students With Disabilities society Neshwa Boukhari has said "I am bemused as to why, with all the design and foresight that has marked it's refurbishment, this simple issue of inclusivity has been so austerely neglected." Hazel Mowbray, the SU Students With Disabilities Officer agreed and added that there were a number of issues with the Garrick. A lift is currently available in the Garrick, but the shaft is too narrow to be accessible by the disabled. There are plans to install a Lift in the summer of next year, however, the School cannot do this until the tenants from the second floor of the building move out since the work would be too noisy. In the meantime, staff say that they are happy to carry food upstairs from the basement for any disabled customers and the School has been asked to display signage to indicate this. EasyAlumnus Stelios revisits his former haunts Stephanie Khaw Founder of easyJet and former student at the LSE, Stellious Haji-Ioannou spoke on "Serial Entrepreneurship, a job or an addiction?" in a public lecture organised by LSE's Hellenic Observatory on Wednesday. Graduating with a BSc in Economics, he founded a shipping company, Stelmar Tankers i» 1992. Handing the reins of tke company to a hired manager, Haji-Ioannou set up easyJet in 1995. The easyJet idea came from an American company. Southwest Airlines. Haji-Ioannou took advantage of the deregulation of the European airline industry and rapid growth of Internet usage to create a low-cost, "no frills", point-to-point airline. Haji-Ioannou emphasised heavily on the importance of product branding. Easyjet, being a small company, obtained a sort of brand equity when it began to be considered as competition by nati«ial icon, British Airways. To date, the easyGroup has 12 braiad extensions; these include easyJet, easyCar, easyMoney, easyBus and easyCinema. He spoke briefly on easyGroup's latest venture, easy4men, a joint effort with Boots to sell toiletries to the no-nonsense man. "I believe I'm getting a head start by starting with a brand that's already been established. I don't have to wait for the brand to build up again and don't need to spend as much on advertising." The Greek-bom LSE Alumnus named Sir Richard Branson (^^gin Group), Michael Dell (PC company Dell); Jack Welsh (former chairman of General Electric) as weU as Fred Deluca (co-founder of Subway Sandwiches) as his role models. He also mentioned admiration for Ingvar Kamprad, founder of furniture giant IKEA for his humility. "He's a billionaire and yet he flys easyJet," he said to the crowd's laughter. Some members of the audience were curious to know if there were plans of opening an easyCinema in London. Haji-Ioannou promptly replied that easyGroup was on the verge of buying a cinema in Nottinghill but was tnmiped by an evangelical church. "You can't argue with God," he said. When asked about how valuable his education at the LSE had been, Haji-Ioannou's advice to students was to not 'do a Bill Gates'. He acknowledged that his university education gave him the discipline and theoretical economic knowledge needed to manage his business. Where there's smoke, there's Passfield Ben Chapman The Fire Brigade were called again to Passfield hall last week, for the second time in as many weeks, when smoke was reported to have been seen inside a student bathroom. Like the earlier fire, the latest incident was also believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette left in a litter bin. The cause was a relatively minor but nevertheless smouldering fire. The fire did not set off the hall's automatic alarm system, as insufficient amounts of smoke reached the detector in the corridor. Smoke detectors are not fitted inside bathrooms, as they would be sensitive to steam from the showers. Instead, the haU reception had to soimd the alarm and the annex was evacuated. The Fire Brigade put out the fire with a standard extinguisher. Damage was limited to the inside of a plastic swing bin and the bathroom remains open for use. Serious concerns over fire procedure at Passfield were last week expressed following comments from the Fire Brigade that staff at the hall had not acted correctly when informed of the earlier kitchen fire. Dr Bradley Franks, the Warden at Passfield, has sent an email to all residents urging them to take more care in disposing of cigarettes in the hall. He warned of the "serious and potentially dangerous consequences of such carelessness." The proximity of the two incidents, with seemingly the same cause, has however raised questions over the policy of permitting smoking across LSE residences. LSE SU Residences Officer Rishi Madlani said: "The Residences Division, with student consultation, has been working on a new more suitable smoking policy over the past two years. "Smoking at Great Dover Street was banned this year on a trial basis as part of this new policy and following its success it is highly likely that this ban will stay in place and perhaps be extended to other halls of residences." With specific regard to Passfield, Franks said: "We intend to hold a ballot to assess opinion on this matter." Aids Awareness week kicked off yesterday with the opening of the Pepaids Zambian Orphanage photograph exhibition in the Underground Bar. Today a panel will debate whether students can make an impact in the global AIDS fight. Tomorrow is World AIDS Day and a vigil will be held on Houghton Street at 3 pm. On Thursday a film demonstrating the AIDS effect on women will be shown, later followed by a 'condom and candy' party. TTie week will conclude with a red themed Crush, but all through the week a stall vrill operate in Houghton Street. Chris Heatheote Award of MATRIX The LSE Student Services Centre Advice and Reception Team have been awarded MATRIX accreditation for high customer service. The presenta-'; tion followed two days of inter-j views. The LSE is one of the first UK administration based teams? to have been recognised with this award. Jame$Upsher SliCCfSf Ilie LSE SU Debate l%am reached the semi-finals of the John Smith memorial mace, Europe's oldest debating compe-; tition. It featured 150 teams and previous winners include Donald Dewar and Charles Kennedy former Labour leader John Smith. The LSE team reached 8th place. Matt Sinclair, and Aii Dewji debated the motions such as "This house would attempt to exterminate invasive non-^native species.",-" irrs Simon •• • Google schdla^ internet search engine, has launch^ a new academic service cafled Google Scholar. It will seek out theses, books, technical reports, Journals and traditional publications and rank results by relevance rather than by a number of 'hits'. Scholar will find results from both free and subscription websites and will also locate references to works in other articles, and identify libraries in the UK : where they can be obtained. Bob Parher Survey on way A National Student Survey (NSS) will be held during the next term to question final-year students. The survey will be set up as a user-friendly question-' naire and will contain questions covering teaching quality, assessment and feedback, academic support, organisation and management, learning resources, and personal development. Students will be required to choose between five options which range between definite agreement and strong disapproval. Shams Sooltangos 6 Comment & Analysis Politics for students Students' Union Treasurer Gareth Carter defends this year's budget before the Union General Meeting on Thursday. This Thursday at the UGM I will present the Students' Union Budget for 2004/05. The account will show that we are on target to meet our budgeted deficit of around £97,000. Despite many unforeseen areas of increased expenditure, the fact that we will still remain within touching distance of our budget is testament to the steady growth of our trading services, and prudent financial management of our outgoings. Yet we must continue to grow. Unions up and down the country are beginning to feel the financial strain of increased off-campus competition, lower disposable student income and key shifts in the demography of students' unions, and we are no exception. The challenges to the LSE Students' Union are, if anything, greater than those faced by most other Unions. Problems unique to our location, reputation, student make-up and size ensure that the financial strains we face necessitate tight budgetary management and a 'softly, softly' approach to growth. Despite our continued deficit I will not turn from my commitment to increased funding for student welfare. One of the key areas of our expenditure relates to the Students' Union Advice Centre, and I am proud to inform you that we have spent an extra £8,000 on Student Support Funds and have witnessed a 2.01% rise in Advice Centre funding overall. The work of the Union Advice Centre is of enormous value to each student and is a provision that I feel is absolutely vital in filling the gaps in pastoral care the LSE otherwise suffers from. It would be catastrophic for the Union to discontinue its generous funding of societies, of the Advice Centre, of the Athletics Union, of The Beaver, The Script and PuLSE and of the various trading services that we enjoy. The experience of each LSE student is only enhanced by the existence of a vibrant society scene, of quality welfare provision and of extra-curricular opportunities. The key is to continue to provide these services but to manage these outgoings closely, and improve the efficiency of their financial running, and that is what this Sabbatical administration is committed to doing through continued fine-tuning of the society budgetary allocation mechanisms of the Finance and Services Committee, through frequent consultations with Advice Centre staff and through ongoing review of the management structure and staffing ratios of our trading services. Massive budget increases in individual areas are not things you will see in this budget as I do not believe that simply throwing money at a problem makes it go away. Witness Great Dover Street. Our anticipated loss on Great Dover Street is akin to that which it was last year - at around £25,000. As Treasurer, I cannot in all conscience allow this state of affairs to continue - a state of affairs where our overall deficit is being augmented by continuing losses in Great Dover Street, where money that could potentially be going to Student Support Funds or to societies is being used to finance the debts of the Great Dover Street bar. It is important to me that we continue to provide GDS residents with an entertainments venue, but we must agree that this is to be on a smaller scale, with fewer outgoings on staffing and stock purchases. I have been liaising with the relevant people about this and I wish to have a solution in place for the beginning of next term. This process will rely on the co-operation of all concerned, and I hope that students will appreciate the urgency and severity of this situation, and the financial constraints behind this process. This was always to be a period of consolidation for the Students' Union. Our massive expenditure over the Summer ran down our cash reserves and left us little room for manoeuvre in many areas of this year's budget. This year the main focus of the financial division of the Students' Union wiU be to work within these constraints to create a legacy that will lead to ever-increas-ing growth for our successors, and to begin to slowly build up our reserves. It will not be easy. The full costs of the lYins refurbishment are not yet apparent, and the block grant submission to the School yet to be made or approved, but I assure you that the best efforts of many people are focussed on these goals. It will not be quick, but I believe this budget to be the first step in the rest of this journey of redevelopment for the London School of Economics Students' Union. Is the NUS relevant? Ahmad Khoker questions the relevance of the NUS to LSE students. I'm one of the best procrasti-nators you will find on this planet. Really. There is veiy little I have been known not to do in order to escape 'that' assignment due 'fairly soon'. I watch TV; chat with a friend; read something completely irrelevant; ask silly people sillier questions etc. So in one such silly, procasti-natory moods I asked a silly person a silly question, "So what's the NUS done for you lately?" And he answered "I dunno". Now, though the answer itself didn't surprise me, the fact that I couldn't create a counter argument (silly or otherwise) did. Which left me wondering, what has the NUS done for me lately? I'U be honest with you. When I came to London last year, the 'student benefits' were raised to an almost mythical level in my mind (yes, I was naive, but hear me out). Initially, they did have somewhat of a novelty value: cheap cinema tickets, the hope that one might get concessions at some random social event or the other etc. But the realisation soon hit: that was it, the NUS provided ways to save a few quid here and there, and not even on a day to ............................ If these were the good ol' days- day items. For any given budget, this 'grand' scheme probably means that you can watch one film for 'free' for every five you go to see. I don't know about you, but I think Orange Wednesdays are a better deal. Of course the next logical question would be what would I want from a body claiming to represent the welfare for students? Well, counselling services, social events, a platform to voice concerns, ways to make my life at university easier, cheap(ish) food, cheap(ish)er booze, etc. You see what I'm getting at - things our SU makes every effort to provide us with. Hence the issue becomes, why should I want to subscribe and affiliate myself with some redundant organization, firstly, since it provides me with nothing tangible; and secondly, because my own SU provides me with everything I would really need? Furthermore, after spending money on defunct projects which don't really benefit students (and don't at all benefit international students), being heavily in debt (£1.2m as announced by the NUS The BSavfeP 30 November 2004 The Beaver 2nd Floor, East Building LSE Students' Union London WC2A2AE email: thebeaver@lse.ac.uk EXECUTIVE EDITOR Prashant Rao MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Sinclair BUSINESS MANAGER Olivia Mantle NEWS EDITORS Ciiris Heathcote; Sam Jones BUNK EDITORS Tracy Alloway; James Upsher B:ART EDITOR Carolina Bunting , SPORTS EDITORS Louise Hastie; Paul McAleavey FltM EDITORS Sarah Coughtrie; Dani Ismail MUSIC EDITORS Matt Boys; Ben Howarth LITERARY EDITOR ion M«rte» THEATRE EDITOR Saalim Chowdhury president at the last UGM) and having most of it's large scale advertising over the last few months focused on Apple's new line of products, the NUS now plans to charge us for it's ID cards. To be more precise, charge us £10 for its ID cards. Are you incentivised to pay yet? But I digress; I wasn't going to get into a rant on the bad plans of the NUS - this publication doesn't quite have enough space. The point for today was just to make you think about that innocuous not-so-silly question: What has the NUS done for you lately? That is of course excluding taking money, in the name of your university and spending it badly. And if you're an international student, let's modify that question...what has the NUS done for you, ever? Nothing. Or let's be charitable -not much. So why do we, the intelligent, free thinking students at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science still persist in supporting an institution which doesn't, in any way, benefit us? Give that a little bit of thought when you don't want to work on your essay. VISUAL ARTS EDITOR : Caroline Bray: ABOUTEDITOR Joanne Lancaster EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Simon Chigneil; Milce Fauconnier-Bank THE COLLECTIVE James Allen, Alison Ball, Hestor Barsham, Jay Bassan, Morwenna Bennett, Matthias Benzer, Jeff Berman, Sian Beynon, Ruby Bhavra, Alison Biease, Neshwa Boukhari, Jess Brammar, Kate Burke, Ed Calow, Gareth Carter.Ben Chapman, Brian Choudhary, Sal Chowdhury, Joanna Clarke, Simon Cliff, Dave Cole, Naomi Colvin, Chloe Cook, Owen Coughlan, Jon de Keyser, Kanan Dhru, Laura Dollin, Mark Donahue, Jan Duesing, Sian Errington, James Eyton, Daniel Freedman, Juli Gan, Vishna Gandhi, Alex George, Alex Goddard, Ceri Griffiths, Steve Gummer, Nazir Hussain, Nawaz Imam, Stacy-Marie Ishmael, Irina Janakievska, Tom Jenkins, Angus Muiready-Jones, Laurence Kavanagh, Stefanie Khaw, Joel Kenrick, Paul Kirby, Khalyani Kumaran, Aeden Lake, Adrian Li, Kheng Lim, Van Lim, Elaine Londesborough, Will Macfarlane, Kim Mandeng, John McDermott, James Meadway, Amy Morgan, Mala Nangia, Samantha Nicklin, Justin Nolan, Trina O'Driscoll, Neel Patel, Eliot Pollak, Mark Power, Adam Quinn, Saima Qureshi, Loretta Reehill, Simon Rees, Matt Rushworth, Noam Schimmel, Olivia Schofield, Ja! Shah, Marta Skundric, Elliot Simmons, Kristin Solberg, Nick Spurrell, Jimmy Tam, Nastaran Tavakoii-Far, Sarah Taylor, Chenai Tucker, Natalie Vassiiouthis, Alykhan Velshi, Alex Vincenti, EHie Vyras, Greta Wade, Jane Wakiwaka, Claudia Whitcomb, Matt Wiilgress, Ruksana Zaman PRINTED BY THE NORTHCLIFFE PRESS If you have written three or more articles for The Beaver and your name does not appear in the Collective, please email thebeaver@lse.ac.uk and you will be added to the list in next week's paper. The Beaver is available in alternative formats. The BeavOT 30 November 2004 Comment Sc Analysfs The Beavei* Comment NUS needs us Kat Fletcher's poor performance at the UGM last week was indicative of two things: major Union sabbatical officers struggle at the 'LSE Council'; and the fact that Fletcher was defending and indefensible Union. Fletcher's refusal to answer questions regarding the appalling state of the NUS International Students' campaign was disappointing, to say the least: she passed the buck to the Union's International Students' Officer because the campaign itself was nominal. The nationwide International Students' Survey which the NUS ran had a grand total of 324 respondents; the LSE, by contrast, has more than 4,000 international students. She came to the LSE to speak for the NUS; the UGM was not convinced. How could she stand up for the NUS, though? It is a Union in crisis, with mounting debt and of increasing irrelevance to students. Fletcher told us that the NUS has an overdraft of £1.2 million and yearly debt in the range of £500,000. Kat Fletcher was never more correct than when she spoke of the radical reform needed for NUS, and in a Union renowned for its hard left-wing tilt, that is saying something. That is not to say that the NUS is a wholly incompetent organisation: its campaign to stop top-up fees, while not a success in the simplest of terms nor relevant to the majority of LSE students, did reduce an in-built Labour , majority of 168 to just five. Could that have been co-ordinated in any other way? Probably not. Where does that leave the LSE, then? This newspaper has argued before that the NUS does not truly represent our interests because we are a unique university in this country, majority postgraduate and international. That being said, the NUS does still provide a forum for us to voice our concerns, and our position on various issues of student concern, such as that of increasing visa renewal charges, can only be enhanced by being party to a campaign that claims to be representative of more than five million students. In the eyes of this newspaper, another problem lies with NUS Services Limited (NUSSL), which has caused the Union much grief in the past and continues to do so. Leaving NUSSL would not affect our membership to the NUS, but would provide the Shop with a wider range of products at similar prices were they to join an alternative buying consortium. While the Union would not reap much of a financial windfall from selling its shares in NUSSL, it would give the Shop more choice in the products it sells. The Beaver, then, supports the motion passed at last week's UGM and the following motion scheduled for week 10 - the final choice lies with our readers and we encourage you to vote in the referendum scheduled for week eight of Lent term. It is time for the discussion on NUS to move out of hack circles and into the wider student body. In the red Gareth Carter, the SU Treasurer, submits his budget to the ABM this Thursday. His submissions are markedly different from those of his predecessor, Jo Kibble, for one major reason: where Kibble attempted to expand the Union's services and potentially put the SU's finances in peril as this newspaper pointed out in an editorial at this time last year, Carter has made some hard decisions to cut services which Kibble claimed to have made. This should not- take away from the actual fact, however, that the Union is nearly £100,000 in deficit, and the capital reserves have been severely depleted by a massive overspend on the Three TUns. At some point, either he or his successor will have to cut Union services in a major way otherwise we will simply fall further into financial crisis. He claims that the budget is balanced because the Union has, for the most part, met Kibble's expectations. While he submits a budget to the ABM with a bottom line of £98,749 in the red. Kibble predicted a deficit of £96,505. In effect, he argues he has met the target set of him. Carter claims that the Union will partly replenish its reserves at the end of this year, thanks to increased revenue from the Union's bars. For the sake of the SU, let us hope he is right. Bursaries for all The School's new bursaries scheme is very much a step in the right direction, though it will not completely bridge the funding gap for students going to university in London. It would have been easy for the School to focus on large, headline-grabbing, bursaries but the decision to spread available funds a little more thinly will lead to real benefits for a larger number of students. Letters to the Editor The Beai^er offers all readers the right to reply to anything that appears in the paper. Letters should be sent to thebeaver.editor@lse.ac.uk, and should be no longer than 250 words. Letters may be edited prior to publication. The deadline for submission is 3pm on the Sunday prior to publication. Dear Sir, The recent fire in Passfield Hall, caused by a student's carelessly discarded cigarette, was a minor one in which no resident was hurt or, we believe, seriously endangered. The fire constituted a smouldering plastic refuse bin in a location behind a one hour fire rated door. The issues raised by the article in last week's issue of The Beaver are, however, important ones, to which all Passfield and Residential Services staff are giving their urgent attention. Nevertheless, we regret the sensational tone of the article, which can only create unnecessary distress for residents and give a misleading impression as to fire safety standards in LSE halls. The first general comment to make is that the article's major source is both limited and inaccurate. The comments of the Fire Officer are strongly disputed and will be taken up with the station in question. The significant inaccuracy in the piece is that the alarm was not set off by the brigade but by Bradley Pranks, warden of Passfield Hall. We therefore totally refute the version of events issued by the Fire Brigade. Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest the fire alarm was malfunctioning and this was presented in full to The Beaver. A complete system check commissioned by David Tymms (not demanded by the fire brigade as the article states) indicated that all heat and smoke devices were working satisfactorily. Essentially, there was insufficient heat to activate the device in the kitchen and insufficient smoke to activate the device in the corridor, though the latter did detect the presence of smoke exactly 60 seconds after the manual point had been activated by Dr Franks. Notwithstanding these points, it is clear that a lapse in procedure did take place. It is, however, important to note that the procedure that requires tightening up relates only to instances where fires are discovered prior to the automatic system running into full alarm. A second small fire in a bathroom this week, also caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette, resulted in staff activating the alarm instantly as per procedure. The resident discovering the fire failed to do this (as did the resident who discovered the first fire), so all students in HaU have been reminded of the correct course of action. The related urgent issue to address is that of smoking in halls and paper is being prepared for the next Residents Users Group, recommending smoking be banned from most parts of LSE student residences. In summary, it is vital in the aftermath of any fire that we do not exaggerate the dangers to which residents were exposed and create unnecessary distress. We believe your article and editorial did this. Passfield has many faults but it does have a fully addressable fire alarm system and a fire certificate that permits hotel use (i.e., a more onerous standard of fire safety than for standard residential blocks). This is not to downplay the seriousness of the issues that arose and standards will be tightened and reviewed on receipt of the Fire Officer's report. David lymms Director of Residential and Catering Services Bradley Franks Warden, Passfield Hall Dear Sir, I was the defeated candidate for the ULU Presidency (incidentally an election with a turnout of under one-half of a percent) and stood on a clear platform of reform of the union and scrapping the ULU membership card system. I argued that the requirement to posses a card (they were hard to get by ordinary students) together with the fact that they could be distributed without identity checks or verifications by coUege SU sabbaticals (who co-incidentally stand for ULU positions) meant that a card only election was undemocratic. My candidacy, although coming second out of three, was pointless of course, because the electorate was not and is not ordinary students (like I was) but instead those few souls who were interested enough in the seemingly useless ULU, had got a card and effectively elected themselves or their friends to the Exec. None of the present Exec supported the idea of scrapping ID cards during the hustings, including the only candidate for VP Finance who now proposes this scheme (was this perhaps because the current system helped their electoral chances?). ULU shouldn't wait until 2006 to abandon the ID cards, it should scrap them now and urgently try and provide a service for the majority of UL students who haven't the foggiest idea who or what ULU is, or that the average funding for this daft union is £10 per student. Most people I met during the campaign, would rather have a tenner to spend on beer. Benjamin Cohen King's College, London (2001-4) Dear Sir, I read with surprise last week's letter by LSE SU Anti-Racism Officer Fiarhan Islam, attacking Matt Sinclair's "tongue in cheek" column for being contrary to the Union's goal of not "unsettling and intimidating" minorities, and of promoting "racial equality and diversity" on campus. Is this the same Mr. Islam who, as reported in the previous week's issue of The Beaver, criticised LSE SU Treasurer Gareth Carter for asking a society to take down a banner displayed on Houghton Street that called for "victory to the intifada"? Mr Carter of course was rightly worried that the banner was inciting "racial violence" and offending a "large section of the LSE student demography." Mr. Islam, however, told The Beaver that while the banner carries "unfortunate connotations," -quite an understatement for a sign effectively calling for the murder of Jews - he believes the banner should have remained. Now either Mr. Islam suddenly in the space of a week reinterpreted his job description, or - as it increasingly seems to me - he is selective in which minority groups he is concerned about. May I remind Mr. Islam the Anti-Racism Officer should seek to look after the welfare of all religious groups and minorities, not just his own. Daniel Freedman Dear Sir, The UGM has always been a great source of humour, banter and the serious discussion of politics, a great asset which makes the LSE Union unique. Which other university provides a weekly forum for all students to attend to discuss wide-ranging issues from the coup in Equitorial Guniea to the provision of condoms at Crush in the space of an hour? Hopefully, after the concerns raised at this week's UGM about the lack of promotional posters for the event since the 11 November, including for important UGMs with the President of NUS coming to speak and the election of SU Honorary President, the Communication's Officer 'K' will endeavour to better promote and advertise the UGM before it becomes irrelevant, because if nothing else, the UGM is an entertaining experience. Aima Ngo Dear Sir, I find the continuing coverage of Passfield HaU in your paper fascinating. As a former resident, a former committee member and a former employee, I can confirm that the HaU is a fabulous place to live whilst at LSE, the buildings' decrepid state notwithstanding. I can also confirm that it is run by enthusiastic, extremely-committed and more-than-competent staff with a very experienced warden and very active pair of sub-wardens, despite what last week's unbalanced coverage suggests. I sometimes despair that Passfield gains such a disproportionate amoimt of attention within the LSE and the SU. There are newsworthy and exciting activities at aU halls of residence as well as Passfield. Perhaps your publication and the Students' Union could pay attention to these in the coming weeks as opposed to overblowing events purely because they are at the infamous Passfield? In a personal capacity. Win Macfarlane General Secretary, LSE SU 8 blink The Beaver 30 November 2004 Features Features Correspondent: Steve Gummer blink Editors: Tracy Alloway & James Upsher Features Treasurer does it for money "...LSE students are landed with a reputation they simply do not deserve." pg.8 Broad Education "Only some of us at the LSE are aware that there is a life beyond studying." pg.9 World AIDS week: time to take action "Globally there are 40 million people living with AIDS and 20 million have died..." pg.10- n Lift the label "...will we keep on shopping silently?" pg. 12 Business Russia's Yukos stolen by the state "Foreign investors and the international community should be deeple concerned about Putin's treatment of property rights..." pg. 13 Law International law and Falluja "Why the histrionics at the death of an Iraqi insurgent?" pg. 14 Politics A Culture of Fear? "Why the histrionics at the death of an Iraqi insurgent?" pg. 15 Patient Choice? A Hidden Agenda "What patient choice actually is at the moment...is the undermining of the fundamental NHS principles...?" pg. 16 International Country Fact File: Kenya pg. 17 Treasurer does it for money LSE Students' Union Treasurer, Gareth Carter, refutes an earlier blink article claiming that LSE students are 'asexual.' Well-intentioned though she may be, Mala Nangla's descriptions of the Students' Union are woefully distorted and embarrassingly condescending. Crush has existed for many, many years and has gone from strength-to-strength playing on the timeless idea that placing boys and girls together in a situation where alcohol is readily available makes for a good night for all concerned. There is no higher ideal behind Crush and there is no deeper explanation to its appeal. There is, firstly, little virtue in analysing the sociopathic tendencies of Crush-goers. It may be true that, shockingly, there are incidents of overt flirting in the venue, but from experience I can say that most people are acting not with any structured reasoning in their minds, but are more likely being driven by the lowest primal instincts - perhaps the only faculty still remaining past ten o'clock. 'I personally have heard of friends of friends who have, at some time during their tenure at LSE, actually had sex.' students must do to shed themselves of this social stigma. It would seem that, short of 30 or 40 students a day actively copulating on Houghton Street, LSE students are landed with a reputation they simply do not deserve. Nangla's earlier speculation that 'LSE boys are too serious [for sex]' and lack the imagination or ambition to fornicate is baseless and I can assure her that there are a wealth of all-too-willing AUers who would be quite happy to prove her (and, after eight pints, anybody else) wrong. To lay the blame for an apparent lack of sex squarely at the door of the male LSE pop- UGM Chair, the activities of a high proportion of AU Barrel goers in disabled-access bathrooms and the clamorous demand for free condoms in the Union's entertainment venues. Admittedly we cannot take a red-blooded sexual animal like James Eyton as the average LSE male, and neither can we assume that Nangla's open craving for sexual action is a standard desire from every single LSE female, but to draw the conclusion that they are very much the exception is wrong. Ultimately we are left with a very unsatisfying answer; despite the average I would tend to disagree with Nangla's welcoming attitude towards any 'local City boys' who happen into our venues. As if being too inebriated to stand, dribbling into your beer, and having the dr^s-sense of a four-year-old wasn't enough of a handicap, the increased competition from people who have more money than sense and the lecherous instincts of Gary Glitter is not something I personally welcome. Crush is a student night, and to have the unique feel of the event diluted by the presence of too many investment bankers is something that should be prevented. On the wider issue, the view, howsoever it was formulated, that LSE can at any point be 'asexual' leads one to wonder what occurs in other institutions. Whilst it is clear that three years at Anglia Polytechnic University is worth so httle that spending that time attempting to bed all and sundry is positively sensible, I do doubt that King's or UCL students are any more njrmphomaniacal or sexually voracious than those at the LSE. It may shock and appall younger readers but I personally have heard of friends of friends who have, at some time during their tenure at LSE, actually had sex. These rumours are unsubstantiated of course, but they provide at least some refutation of the idea of an asexual LSE. One wonders what LSE Gareth happily misunderstood the concept of a nudist beach. Graphic: Tracy Alloway ulation is unfair. Even the most puritanical, nursery-school biology teacher would agree that for any meaningful sexual activity to take place there should ideally be a second person involved, if not a third or a fourth to make it interesting, and maybe any blame should be apportioned a little more fairly across the gender-divide than Nangla suggests. Whilst LSE students' introductory chat-up lines may revolve a little more around careers and economics than those of the 'do you have any Welsh in you? etc' ilk, one should not simply assume that sex is at any point off the agenda or even that it takes a lower priority than accountancy in the hearts and loins of any LSE student. As evidence I would cite the burning looks of desire James Ejrton flashes at our LSE students' tumultuous desire to be unique, our sexual impulses are not too dissimilar to those of other students. Where Nangla's argument falls down is her determination to focus on the nature of our students, proclaiming them to have had sex 'quashed from their minds by aca-demia', whereas her argument may be better served were she to ponder the student condition; that is, what role do our location, our surroundings and our influences at the LSE play in having this unfair assessment of our sexual prowess levied on us? Nangla may find a visit to the AU Barrel this Friday enlightening, and one hopes that, until the next time two football players take a passing fancy to a willing girl, this is the final word in the debate over sex and the LSESU. ................................................. DhnK managsment Thinking about writing for blink? blink welcomes articles from all LSE students. Articles should be around 800-1000 words in length. Please include your name, department and year. Send articles to: thebeaver.blink@lse.ac.uk Blink is currently looking for articles on travel, the future of music and technology. We are also eager to publish your photos with our stories. Send photo submissions to beavergraphics#gmaii.com The Beaver 30 November 2004 blink 9 Features Features Correspondent: Steve Gummer Talking 'bout our education Kheng Soon Urn sees a need for some LSE students to expand their horizons. Every now and then, the Singapore broadsheet newspaper, the Straits Times publishes an Article about some Chinese prodigy who furthers his or her education in the West. The article will always go along these lines: "Miss Chee Pai from the town of Lan Chiao in Central China has amazed Oxford University by scoring full marks in her Mathematics finals. According to her colleagues at Trinity College, Miss Chee is an amazingly hardworking student who studies late into the night, even resorting to studying in the toilets in order not to disturb her room-mate. She sleeps two hours a night and has refused to be distracted by the bountiful social activities Oxford has to offer, [i.e. she has no social life - my interpretation] Speaking to the Telegraph via an interpreter (for despite having spent three years in the UK, Miss Chee still cannot speak English), Chee Pai said that nothing would detract her from her aim of getting a job at an investment bank in Shanghai." Chinese people are generally perceived as placing great emphasis on education and this is true to a certain extent. Where this statement breaks down is the point at which one starts to enquire the true meaning of the word 'education'. Fkithful readers of my opinion pieces will now be aware of the fact that my stint at Winchester radically transformed my mindset in many ways, one of these being the way I view my education in the UK. Far from seeing educational achievement as merely a series of subjects, modules and marks, my alma mater taught me to have a more holistic viewpoint towards the issue of education. A term commonly thrown round by dons and students at Winchester was the phrase, 'a broad education.' We were taught that education learnt from a textbook, though important was, merely one layer of a multi-faceted approach towards education as a whole. In accordance with this principle, all students had to attend a subject called 'Div' five hours a week. The subject matter of 'Div' was left entirely up to the don in charge, but it was generally humanities-based, and was essentially the don's interests. In my final year at Winchester for instance, our don was a 31- 'I was extremely disappointed to experience first hand the self segregation between different ethnic groups at the LSE.' year-old lady who formerly worked as the Governor of Brixton Prison. Her lessons dealt mainly with crime and punishment in the UK and issues of social deprivation, with a bit of Dickens and Paul Auster thrown in, as well as a crash course in art history. 'Div' was a non-examined subject but many of us took it seriously nonetheless, and although the majority of us complained that Div hours could be better spent doing more 'productive' things, all of us were aware that this subject played an 'One can gain a great deal by mixing with people of different backgrounds and in the process, obtaining a broader education.' important role in instilling the importance of a 'broader education' in our minds. Although Winchester tried its very best to give us a more rounded view of life, it had its limits. The majority of students at Winchester were white Anglo-Celtic Protestant upper middle-class males, albeit with a broader range of political opinions than one would think, and even the non-white kids were heavily assimilated into white English culture. There was absolutely no racial cliqueness though, which is extremely rare for an English public school these days (In my cousin's school, Epsom College, the Hong Kongers, Malaysians, Indians, Koreans and whites would sit at separate tables during lunch, which in hindsight sounds a lot like the Brunch Bowl. The Hong Kongers would jabber loudly in Cantonese and drown out the voices of everyone else, leading to the overall effect of the atmosphere in the cafeteria resembling a coffee shop in Hong Kong. It was a crap school anyway.) Sorry, I digress. Back to my original point, as I mentioned, Winchester College, despite its efforts was simply not reflective of life in 21st century UK and it was quite a shock to the system to arrive at my first lecture at the LSE and realise that half the students were either non-white, non-male, non-Christian, non-upper middle class or a combination of these categories. Although I had been expecting it, I was extremely disappointed to experience first hand the self segregation between different ethnic groups at the LSE. The great majority of my lectures were held at the Peacock Theatre and identifying racial cliques soon became a past-time of mine. There would invariably be a couple of rows of Singapore scholarship students seated with their heads buried in their lecture notes, furiously scribbling away. There would also be the ubiquitous Hong Kong students, slaves to the latest fashions from the exotic, erotic East, often late because they had spent hours beautifying their Japanese pop-star influenced hairstyles. I once had the misfortune of sitting at the upper deck of the Peacock Theatre amongst thirty British Asians who insisted on jabbering loudly throughout the lecture ("Shaheen pulled a really fit guy last night but he was a goreh and her parents will kill her.") One can gain a great deal by mixing with people of different backgrounds and in the process, obtaining a broader education. Angel Leung of Repulse Bay, Hong Kong and Mervyn Pang of Taman Pelacur, Malaysia may end up with Firsts in their respective subjects but if they stick to their little group throughout their three years at the LSE, are they more educated in a meaningful sense? On a separate note, whenever I'm back home and I mention that I'm from the LSE, people will invariably say two things. The first is: "Oh, there are plenty of Chinese people there. You'll never feel lonely." The second is: "Oh, it must be extremely political." 'Only some of us at the LSE are aware that there is a life beyond studying.' There are two types of students at the LSE: the first is interested in school politics, national politics and world affairs. The first attends public lectures and debates, gets involved with the Students' Union and generally immerses themselves in life round the campus. The second is unable to name the Students' Union's General Secretary and is merely interested in obtaining set texts before they nm out. In response to the second statement in the above paragraph, I would answer: "Only some of us are political. Only some of us at the LSE partake in any activities around the campus that don't involve academic work. Only some of us at the LSE are aware that there is a life beyond studying. Only some of us at the LSE are interested in getting a broader education." _: 10 blink The Beaver 30 November 2004 Features Features Correspondent: Steve Gummer Musings I I Bring baclctlie old economists Matthew Sinclair The New Economics Foundation are terribly clever. They have managed to sidestep the usual left-wing pressure group trap of sharing an intellectual standard with the brown tree snake by inserting the word 'economics' into their title. With the public therefore assured that they are a serious academic body the New Economics Foundation is able to return to traditional pursuits like concocting overbearing policy proposals, drivelling inanely about social justice and inventing their own measures for human progress when existing ones don't deliver the right "we hate Thatcher" message. In their study of social progress they invented a Measure of Domestic Progress that conveniently found that society was at its best in the 1970s; when everyone was poor and Socialist. "F^cts" used to support this conclusion included a "fourfold increase in the costs of family breakdown"; how this was measured ("I think I've experienced one-point four family breakdowns") or weighted ("how much was my family breakdown worth?") boggles the mind. Another piece of evidence was the thirteen-fold increase in crime; this statistic makes no sense and no explanation is offered in the report. The latest policy from the foundation is taken seriously by the Guardian and cover story for the New Statesman. They propose putting safety-warning labels on Sports Utility Vehicles in an imitation of the Chief Medical Officer's message to smokers. Disturbingly, what initially looks like a joke is argued through with all the force of those who would prefer a ban; people who drive these dreadful vehicles are obviously so spectacularly evil that they should be forced to identify themselves and face the public's wrath as well as being constantly reminded of their own sinful natures. If you don't trust people to make their own decisions then you used to try and ban things. Unfortunately unscrupulous liberals and their endless quoting of John Stuart Mill made this difficult. Now nanny-staters argue for labelling things. These labels are starting to form an unpleasant background hiss to our daily lives. A constant puritan lecture offered to those of us who eat the wrong food, do the wrong amount of exercise, drive the vin-ong car, become addicted to the wrong drug or maintain unsavoury private lives A little peace and quiet would be welcome. Putting numbers to your conclusions adds gravitas even if those numbers are only loosely based around facts. This is a questionable rhetorical technique; it's a laughable approach to running a think-tank. The New Economics Foundation tells us that "every society clings to a myth by which it lives; ours is the myth of economic progress"; theirs is that they're economists. World AIDS Week: AIDS has become a global epidemic that requires desperate action. Danielle Kaczynski takes a look at the World Health Organization's newest initiative against the disease. HIV/AIDS screams in numbers. Globally, there are 40 million people living with AIDS, and 20 million have died since the start of the epidemic in 1981 (UNAIDS, 2004). Medication, in the form of antiretro-viral therapy (ART) is desperately needed. While this problem has hit all nations, it has hit developing and transitional communities the hardest, with six million needing immediate treatment. It is often easy for the developed international community to turn a blind eye and to feign ignorance of distant adversity. Most issues do not cross borders; developing nations in need may call out for help and aid, but their voices grow increasingly quiet as the space between their issues and those who could most help grows wider and dissolves in the oceans. With HIV/AIDS, the developed world is faced with an issue that it cannot consciously ignore as it has come to our own doorsteps. HIV/AIDS has been more efEectively dealt with in developed countries. In the 1980s its emergence was explosive. The disease created stigma before science could find cause, and it seemed to be killing dis-criminately. However, the strong voice of gay activism helped the problem gain face and find sources for funding, well-integrated health systems, technological advance and medication. Developing and transitional societies are in a more desperate situation. While the virus spreads rapidly, the scope of internal aid that these countries are able to provide is not as far-reaching. Economic and political instabilities that characterize some of these regions have sometimes been detrimental to the implementation of aid policies and programs that would help those most in need. Additionally, a lack of knowledge of how to cope with a complex medical emergency such as HIV/AIDS has left many countries without answers. Desperately needed are education, social aid, and medication through effec- tive systems of equitable distribution. The situation is often complicated by governments that would like to see domestic solutions implemented. This goal of strong national policy is a positive step, but it can be confounded by political leaders that act against the face of rational science. While it has become medically accepted fact that antiretrovirals prolong life and reduce transmissions. President Mbeki of South Africa stiU critiques the certainty of the statement, and has been quoted by the Journal of African Studies as saying that "science does not have enough answers to deal with this question." It is these issues and a confluence of other factors that impose the necessity of international humanitarian aid. On World AIDS Day 1993, the World Health Organization (WHO) in association with UNAIDS (an umbrella organization including UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO, and the World Bank) revealed their 3 by 5 programme. In an effort to provide universal antiretroviral therapy to those countries most in need, WHO and UNAIDS has set an ambitious goal. That is to treat three million people with HIV and AIDS by 2005. Specifically, the initiative aims to distribute antiretrovirals to these three million in 50 developing countries. The 3 by 5 initiative focuses on the distribution of ART because of its efficacy: they have been proven to reduce transmission and prolong lives. Coimtries that can afford the therapy have seen a 70 percent decrease in deaths. Significantly, ART can change the status of AIDS from a death sentence to a chronic disease. ART can also help to change the way people think about HIV/AIDS. ART is also now more affordable; the implementation of these drugs will reduce health costs and improve quality of life. The 3 by 5 initiative aims to make ART's accessible to all. The focus of the 3 by 5 project will be on five major areas: simplified, standardized tools to deliver ART; a new service to ensure an effective, reliable supply of medicines and diagnostics; rapid identification, dissemination and application of new knowledge; urgent, sustained support for countries; and global leadership, strong partnership and advocacy. These targets, when initiated, will make Adult prevalence rate ¦¦ 15,0%-36.0% BBS 5,0% - 15.0% 1.0%-5.0% 0,5% - 1.0% I-1 0,1% - 0,5% I-1 0.0% - 0.1% rr-n Not available World wide HIV prevalence rates in adults at the end of 1999. «w Mrmy The Beaver 30 November 2004 blink jm wm- 11 Features Features Correspondent: Steve Gummer time to take action - AIDS was declared a development crisis by the World Bank in 2000. It is estimated that per capita growth in half of the couu' tries in sub-Saharan Africa is falling by 0.5%-1.2% each year as a direct result of AIDS. - By 2010, per capita GDP in some of the hardest-hit countries may drop by 8% and per capita consumption may fall even farther. - Health care systems in many countries are overwhelmed by a growing number of HIV/AIDS patients. Studies forecast that health care costs in hardest hit countries may increase tenfold over the next several years as a result of the epidemic. HIV/AIDS overburdens social systems and hinders educational development. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, the disease is claiming the lives of thousands of teachers and leading to school closures. Source: UnAids all the difference to those whose lives have been impacted by HIV/AIDS. However, distributing aid to the regions that need it is not an easy process. The WHO, the 50 countries in question, and other partners face the difficulty of training 100,000 health care workers, building health care infrastructures and systems and instilling realistic standards. And almost above all else, they face a funding gap of US$5.5 billion dollars. The 3 by 5 Partnership Group has been formed to call upon the aid of other organ- 'As a member of a larger intellectual community, do what you can to educate yourself on matters of global Importance; there Is not one of us who should be in the dark about HIV/AIDS; izations. All those involved have been active and committed to increasing ARTs in countries that cannot afford them. NGOs, community-based organizations, trade unions and other organizations are pooling their efforts to see that the goals set out by the initiative are achieved. While HIV/AIDS is a problem in many parts of the developing world, 90 percent of the problem is focused in 34 high-bur-den countries. Many countries have also independently appealed for assistance since the program has been started. These include, from an extensive list: Armenia, Egypt, India, Poland, South Africa, Sudan, Thailand, Uganda, and Ethiopia. The WHO website includes updates from 26 countries on their status and progress under the 3 by 5 initiative. While the project is having a positive affect, the funding gaps, lack of resources and lack of infrastructure in the countries being targeted makes reaching the goal by the projected date of 2005 seem difficult. It is clear that funding needs to come, and quickly, so that the momentum the project has built does not dissipate, and so that those who are targeted for aid get the assistance they so greatly need. Angus Deayton, the former host of "Have I Got News For You," in a talk given on the 26 of November, raised an important point: will the generations of tomorrow-judge us on our actions (or inactions) of today? The answer: most definitely. We have entire faculties of education that are based around analyzing the intricacies of issues of this magnitude. International assistance in the form of funds and aid is desperately needed. Governments worldwide need to show empathy and offer financial aid to the cause; a problem they should understand as it also hits those in their own communities. Your action as a student is also needed. As a member of a larger intellectual community, do what you can to educate yourself on matters of global importance; there is not one of us who should be in the dark about HIV/AIDS. Take advantage of the information that will be provided to you this week and learn what you can, and then, with that information, ask yourself what you are capable of doing. It is probably more than you think. V V ^ C E World AIDS week kicks off on the first of December. More than 45 million people worldwide are infected with HIV, 95% of whom live in developing countries. In 2002, approximately five million peo pie were newly infected with the virus. - HIV/AIDS has killed more than 20 million people worldwide. 3.1 million people died of AIDS-related causes in 2002. - AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa and the fourth-leading cause of death worldwide. - In 2003, about 3 million people died of AIDS, three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Another 5 million were newly infected. o Aids kills nearly 6,000 people each day in Africa - more than wars, famines and floods Source; BBC News Online The Right Approach J'accuse Daniel Freedman The image that perhaps best captures the second Intifada is that of the young Palestinian boy, Mohammed al-Durra, hiding behind his father from gunfire. Who can forget the terror on his face as the reporter intoned: "one more volley and the kid will be dead?" Tragic. Or it would be if it were true and not a made-for-tv set-up. As Stephane Juffa reported in Friday's (Nov. 26) Wall Street Journal Europe, the film was "one of the greatest media manipulations the world has ever seen," and is: "beyond any reasonable doubt, pure fiction." For a start, as Mr. Juffa reminds readers, the film itself provided no evidence of a killing. No soldiers, no guns, no wounds, no blood - nothing of the sort - are seen. The only source of information on what actually happened was the voice-over by a reporter from the French TV channel France 2. Next, civilian physicist Nahum Shahaf demonstrated that it was scientifically impossible for Israeli troops to have shot at the boy from their position. Rather the shots had to have come from behind, or next to, the cameraman. In other words, it was staged. And going through the film slow-motion in the comer he discovered the cameraman giving a "take-two" signal. Mr. Juffa's own investigation found more evidence of fraud. For example, the France 2 reporters claimed the killing occurred at 3.00pm. But Palestinian doctors testified Mohammed's lifeless body came to them in the hospital before 1.00pm. So at the time he was supposedly getting shot, he had already been dead for two hours. At the time, one of the Prance 2 cameramen testified that they had spent "about 27 minutes photographing the incident." For a long time France 2 refused to release this tape. After being pressured to release it they told investigators that their cameraman had "retracted his testimony," and no tape of the actual killing exists. So their witness to the "killing," in fact the only witness, admitted he lied. Shocking, yes. Surprising, no. Remember Jenin? After a series of devastating suicide bombings, Israel sent its troops to take out the terrorists' base in Jenin. The Palestinians, led by Saeb Erekat, accused Israel of massacring Palestinians, with Erekat claiming over 500 had been killed. The BBC et al., like well-trained sheep, automatically printed these claims as facts. In reality there was no massacre. The UN and Human Rights Watch finally put the dead at: 26 terrorists, 26 civilians, and 23 Israeli soldiers. Even Erekat eventually admitted he had made "a mistake," and BBC and co. retracted their claims. Winston Churchill famously said: "A lie gets half way round the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." When against Israel, and aided by the media and the left - a lie gets round the world and back before the truth even has a chance to get one foot in its pants. 12 I fl ¦ blink iDeiils ^ larluding aUrgtd tax I ~i iHcluaing i»n«lt>- Ann, ¦_ I tolUtrs rcn ; RUMian induMiTi' artragr laxtt pei'bat'i-el IS.5 7.0 6.0 2000 2001 2002 2003(E) tndtKtiy a\reragc: 5 largest Russian compaiics in 09 & Gas setter, oxcluding YUKOS 'It seems that there is little future for the company that began life in Tomsk, long before it went on to be the darling of the West as a transparent, modern and efficient ambassador of Russian business.' alone is unlawful as Russian law demands that non-core assets be auctioned first to settle tax claims, the annoimcement that bidding will begin at $8.65 billion is shameful. It puts an end to any argument that the claims against Yukos were anything but political retribution. Some of us were easily persuaded by the idea that the pursuit of Yukos was righting historical wrongs and this was the beginning of a re-distribution of property rights and wealth to those who need it most, the Russian people. However, given that the auction will begin at just $8.65 bn after an official government commissioned audit valued Yuganskneftegas at a minimum of $14 bn goes to show that Russia has made little progress under Putin with regard to respect of private property rights. Those who should be concerned most about these events are the Russian people, foreign governments and Western investors. The Russian people have no love for Yukos, the company which they regard as stealing their assets and the nation's wealth in the beginning. Foreign government do not wish to criticise Moscow because they would like to maintain the foundations of a delicate alliance with Russia on issues such as terrorism. That leaves Western investors. Western investors have not been united in condemnation of government expropriation of Yukos assets because they cling to the hope that it is an isolated case, that their investments in BP/TNK, Norilsk Nickel, Sibneft and others are safe - or so they think. This is imtrue and history has shown us why. Like the management of Yukos this week, so many before them have been driven from Russia by the state for fear of their safety and security. Media tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky supported opposition candidates to Putin in 2000 and used his media outlets to do so. However, since then his NTV empire has been expropriated by the state and he has been chased by the Russian authorities on charges of corruption and arrested on an international warrant and detained in both Spain and Greece. Boris Berezovsky used his ORT television network to support Putin in 2000 but then disagreed with his hard line over Chechnya. Shortly afterwards he fled Russia and was granted asylum in the UK. As for his ORT television network, this now belongs to the state too. The case against Yukos is not isolated at all. Foreign investors and the international community should be deeply concerned about Putin's treatment of property rights in Russia. The selective application of the rule of law and the victimisation of Yukos is one of the most astonishing business events in Russia since the 1998 financial crisis. No doubt that the newly merged Gazprom and Rosneft will be the lucky bidders for Yuganskneftegas and I am willing to speculate that they wiU pay little above the starting price like so many auctions in the 1990s. What then for Yukos? With its main production unit auctioned off and its senior executives hiding in London, it seems that there is little future for the company that began life in Tomsk, long before it went on to be the darling of the West as a transparent, modern and efficient ambassador of Russian business. However, this is Russia and history has also shown us that anything can happen. V4 • I blink The Beaver 30 November 2004 Law Law Correspondent: Alykhan Velshi International law and Fallujah Alykhan Velshi explains that in Fallujah, it's not the Americans who are war criminals. .v-»sa; Why the histrionics at the death of an Iraqi insurgent? Images of a Marine shooting a Mujahideen corpse that was not exactly lifeless have been on a perpetual loop on Aljazeera and most other media outlets. Fleet Street editors, as ever, have been hot and bothered, their dresses blowing windily over their heads; which is as good a time as any, I think, for The Beaver to offer a sober analysis of the legal issues involved. 'International law cuts both ways; it is not only a proxy for whinging anti-Americanism.' The legality of the Marine's execution-style, err, execution has provoked a fieiy debate about the applicability of international law to the battle in F^llujah. The emerging consensus, though, is that the insurgent did not qualify for protection under the Geneva Conventions or the laws of war. The Iraqi insurgent forfeited protection under international law when he violated the Fourth Geneva Convention; not once, not twice, not thrice, but four times - by, firstly, fighting out of uniform - Article 44(7); secondly, using a place of worship for military purposes - Article 53a and Article 85(4)d; thirdly, feigning an incapacitation by wounds or sickness - Article 37(l)b; and fovirthly, feigning civilian, non-combatant status - Article 37(l)d. All of these violations, incidentally, are war crimes; so we should all be thankful the war criminal has been removed from the battlefield. To the extent that insurgents violate the laws of war as a matter of course - and they do - they cannot simultaneously benefit from its protections. International law accords rights to soldiers who abide by its provisions, partly as a way of encouraging combatants to respect the laws of war International law cuts both ways; it is not only a proxy for whinging anti-Americanism, but can be applied equally -and, in fact, more readily - to America's opponents. The Not-In-My-Name crow3, however, have no use for international law when it does not suit their purposes. With respect to international law, the anti-war left are in many ways similar to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi: both lack legs to stand on. So, instead of relying on legal arguments, the peacenik crowd have accused a Marine of moral wrongdoing for killing an unarmed insurgent. Examined in context, however, the Marine's actions were completely understandable, and, what's more, morally justifiable. Consider this news story from November 20, as reported by Central Command, "Marines from the 1st Marine Division shot and killed an insurgent who while faking death opened fire on marines conducting a security and clearing patrol through the streets." Playing dead isn't just a trick you teach your dog, it seems, it's also a tactic used by Iraqi insurgents. Given the willingness of the '-.V mujahideen to feign death or injury, only to self-detonate when convenient, the Marine exercised good judgment in killing the would-be suicide-bomber. Had he hesitated and given the insurgent the benefit of a doubt, he may have suffered the fate of Lance Corporal Ian Malone and Piper Christian Muzvuru, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, both of whom were killed by an Iraqi insurgent who shot them after pretending to be dead. Even Kevin Sites, the journalist who videotaped the Marine shooting the unarmed insurgent, had this to say: "the marine could legitimately believe the man pose[d] some kind of danger" The Marine's response, in context, was proportionate, necessary and fully justified. The insurgents in Fallujah have wrought havoc on the entire country, tum- '...instead of relying on legal arguments, the peacenik crowd have accused a Marine of moral wrongdoing for killing an unarmed insurgent.' ing this rebel-stronghold into an economic basket case and creating a haven for for-eign-born terrorists. As a result, according to "media reports, the residents of Fallujah who fled- in advance of the Marine operation, haye demonstrated their gratefulness by reaving warm blankets for Marines along, vifith notes inviting the so^iers to sleep in'their homes. Anyways, back to my initial qQestion: why the histrionics at the death of a terrorist? Or, to be more precise, why are the Not-In-My-Name crowd shrieking in self-righteous indignation when a Marine kills an Iraqi insurgent who is pretending to be dead, but are positively insouciant when an Iraqi soldier feigning death opens fire on Marines? Maybe President Bush was on to something when he said, "you're either with us or you're with the terrorists." 'The Iraqi insurgent forfeited protection under international law when he violated the Fourth Geneva Convention; not once, not twice, not thrice, but four times.' The Beaver 30 November 2004 blink 15 Politics The Labour government used last week's Queen's Speech to lay out their plans for the coming year's legislative programme. Much of their proposed programme focuses on crime and terrorism. Critics have claimed that Tony Blair is attempting to stir up people's fears so as to win support at next year's general election. But the reality may be something far worse: Britain may be seeing an attempt to create a 'culture of fear'. The policies aired in the Queen's Speech included proposals to take away the right to trial by jury in terror cases, introduce compulsory ID cards, expand police powers to test for drug use, create a 'British FBI', and introduce on the spot fines to tackle 'yob culture'. The government claims that all of this is a proper response to public concern about security issues. Leader of the House of Commons, Peter Hain, went further and told television viewers that Labour was the party that could best protect them from the threat of terrorism. This behaviour was widely condemned by Labour's critics who accused the Party of trying to exaggerate the dangers people really face and of exploiting fears over security for electoral gain. The Conservative Party in particular took the moral high ground and condemned Labour's use of fear as an electoral strategy. At they same time, the Conservatives affirmed that only they could deal with the threat posed by asylum seekers. Terror was a key issue in both the US and Australian elections and helped George Bush and John Howard secure reelection. The use of fear as an electoral strategy is nothing new, but the actions of the Prime Minister may have more dangerous implications for the British public. By stirring up fear of terrorism and crime, the government, with the help of certain sections of the media, may be attempting to not only to find an excuse to curtail our civil liberties, but also to distract the public's attention away from issues of poverty, inequality and public service provision. Tony Biair is attempting to stir up people's fears so as to win support at next year's general election.' Fbrmer US President Ronald Reagan was one of those world leaders most successful at playing the fear game. During a period of detente, Reagan was able to restart the Cold War and escalate the nuclear race. As part of this effort, he claimed that small left-wing countries in South America posed a major threat to the existence of the United States. He declared a state of emergency in response to the threat posed by the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua, and was condemned for unlawful use of force by the World Court for backing a paramilitary group called the Contras who waged a bloody war on the people of l^icaragua. He also tried to claim that the AineriCan invasiob of the small islapd of Gretiada was a major military victory in America's struggle for security. If all of this were insufficient to scare the US population, Reagan also declared the first War on Terrorism, leading to US military intervention in the Middle East, a model George Bush Junior is following today. In Reagan's case the War on Terror led to the bombing of Libya, as well as an increase in support for Israel who were then carrying out a brutal occupation of Lebanon. Reagan also declared a War on Drugs, and the country saw a huge rise in the fear of drug related crime, if not a rise in actual crimes. By intensely clamping down on drug use, the US Government actually succeeded in lowering the use of soft drugs, and creating a significant increase in the use of 'harder' drugs, which are more difficult to detect and therefore less likely to lead to imprisonment. The War on Drugs also saw the start of a process that today sees large swathes of America's poorer ethnic groups imprisoned, particularly African-American males, who make up a large proportion of what is now the largest prison population in the world. The drug war also led to a marked escalation of the civil war in Colombia, so that by the 1990s it was the site of some of the worst human rights abuses in the world. All of these actions served to distract the US public from Reagan's domestic policies. Ronald Reagan presided over a sharp rise in inequality. While profits of big business soared, much of the population was pushed into poverty. Wages fell in real terms for large sectors of the US population, and there was a surge in homelessness and unemployment. Despite these problems Reagan actually dismantled many of the programmes that had been in place since FDR's New Deal to relieve poverty. Reagan basically exaggerated and exploited peoples fears to get away with his attack on the Living standards of large sections of the American population. The situation today in America is, if anything, even worse. Prominent American commentators on the US media and government such as Noam Chomsky claim that today America is one of the most fearful places in the world. In the run up to the war on Iraq the people of America were the only ones who actually believed that Saddam Hussein was a threat to them (apart from Iraqis of course). While some in other countries believed overthrowing Saddam may have been the right thing to do for humanitarian reasons, only in the US did a majority of people think Iraq was a real military threat. Even Kuwait, invaded by Saddam in 1990, no longer considered an Iraq devastated by years of sanctions and US bombing to be an immediate threat. Increasingly, in the wake of September 11 the American people have been led from one fear to another. The country is constantly told it is on one level of terror alert or another Americans have also been constantly hearing about the threat posed by Weapons of Mass Destruction. Despite the failure to find WMDs in Iraq, the American people are still hearing that Iran or North 'Increasingly, in the wake of September the 11 the American people have been led from one fear to another.' A culture of fear? Matt Axworthy refuses to be intimidated by politically motivated fearmongering. HOMELAND SECURITY ADYiSORY SYSTEM a lu. J m Only Busfh Can Save You!!! Ig WW- .I..E Mandatory Flag-Waving Xenophobia Democrats are crazy Dembcrats' 'folprated Jihad Korea are a major threat that must be dealt with since they are pursuing WMD programmes. The War on Drugs has also made a come back. This culture of fear has enabled to the US government to distract the population from the fact that an increasing number of them have little or no access to healthcare. Much of the population has seen its living standards fall, and an increasing number of Americans are having to work two or more jobs to enjoy the living standard that one job once provided. The gap between rich and poor is wider than ever. The Bush Regime has also been able to exploit the fear of terror to curtail civil liberties and attack many of the freedoms enshrined in the US constitution. The Patriot Act has allowed an expansion of police powers, over people's. Furthermore, many political prisoners are held in Guantanamo Bay with no legal rights, in many cases allegedly subjected to torture. This then is the model that the British have to look forward to. Already there are signs that we are following this process. Sections of the media are playing On the fears of the British people. One week Asylum Seekers and illegal inmiigrants are threatening our jobs, even though studies show immigration benefits the economy. The next week we are threatened by a new 'yob cultvire' and drug-fuelled crime, even though crime rates have actu- ally been falling for years. Of course the threat of terror is an ever present issue in the British media. Last time terror was a major political issue, with the conflict in the North of Ireland, the UK Government pushed through draconian anti-terror legislation such as taking away the right to trial by jury. This led to many famous miscarriages of justice such as that of the Guilford Four or the Birmingham Six. However, this has not stopped the present government trying to curt^ human: rights in exactly the SJEme way. " Britain is becoming more like America in other ways, with levels of inequality growing undw this Labour government, despite their stated commitment to tackle poverty. The prison population is also growing to record levels, and looks likely to grow.furtber in the vrake of New Labour's pledge ^ get .touj^ TO diiigs. If people do not tecpme ippre, aw^ of tius growing adoption of t^e aspects of, Ariifiriiqan policy, there is no td^g how bad this culture of fear might get. It is crucial that people begin challenging the agenda that politicians are tiying to impose, and not let them hide behind a smokescreen of fesir and ignorance. 16 blink The Beaver 30 November 2004 Politics -0 s toiting time from this point! 22 months " fmm Dimitrios Rovithis maintains that the heavily advertised introduction of patient choice in the NHS, is far away from being an effective solution to the current health care problems. Choice is the new trendy word in the NHS. Academics, politicians, patients, and even some of the NHS staff apparently seem to love this word -each of them for different reasons of course. In fact they all seem to love it so much, that it is always mentioned at least once during press briefings concerning NHS reforms. As the political parties are getting ready for the expected general election next year, politicians have been pushing their visions for 'the health service of the 21®^ century'. And giving more 'choice' to patients is clearly one of them. NHS staff have also given a cautious thimibs up to New Labour and Conservative plans. According to Dr Richard Lewis, a senior member of the British Medical Association in Wales, staff backs the idea of giving patients more choice. "Doctors and managers in the health service are all for patients' choice," he said. And patients seem to agree. A survey of 300,000 patients by the Healthcare Commission during the simmier found that the majority, especially when it came to mental health, wanted more say in their care. 'Patient choice' is part of New Labour plans, and like the ones proposed by the Conservatives, it aims to increase the amount of say patients have in where they are treated. The key difference between the New Labour and Conservative proposals is that the New Labour ones involve more use of the private sector. More particularly, imder New Labour plans NHS managers will 'buy-in' capacity from private hospitals, whereas the Conservatives say that the money wiU follow the patient. But does the complex nature of medicine and structure of the NHS make true choice possible? Some already argue that it is simply another way of hiding NHS failures, whereas some others claim that patient choice is part of a new 'hidden' agenda. 'People are more interested in good quality and reliable health services when they actually need them, than having iilu-sionary "choices'" Although appealing, the idea of patient choice faces substantial problems. The major problem is whether patients can actually exercise that choice. At the moment it is hard for people to work out which hospitals have the best outcomes, simply because there is not enough information available. The only two key sources of information that patients can use are waiting lists and hospital star ratings which are basically hotel-style ratings between zero and three. But according to Professor John Williams, director of informatics at the Royal College of Physicians, "giving choice to patients is a good thing, but it is not clear whether this information is that useful. It is also not in a presentable form that would make sense to a patient. It is going to take a bit of time to get it right." The Healthcare Commission's chairman Professor Sir Ian. Kennedy has also acknowledged that "while there has been a great improvement in communication between NHS staff and their patients there is still much to be done to ensure that patients understand the information they are given and can influence their decisions." The above mentioned problem of lack of information also raises equity concerns. Ensuring easy access to high quality information about health services wiU be essential if we are to see equitable access to choice. The middle class will probably find its way through the new system, but the poor wiU undoubtedly be kept at their local hospital due to their limited access to the information needed to actually exercise their choice. What also remains imanswered is how popular hospitals will ration their services given short term restrictions on capacity. Extra choice will therefore require extra money, particularly to increase capacity. The parties must look again at the future of health care funding if their plans are to become reality. The proposed increasing use of the private sector by the NHS constitutes a fimdamental shift from the current philosophy in health care provision. When considered together with other government policies such as the new Foundation Trusts it reveals the real government agenda, which is the rise of private sector and the switch of the responsibility of health services from the government to the private sector. So, should patient choice be encouraged in health care? One may argue that patient choice is welcome but it has to be real patient choice and not simply the 'choice' of not having your operation or treatment in a local hospital but travelling hundreds of miles for it. 'Health literacy' must also be improved a lot before true choice could be exercised. From my experience, people are more interested in good quality and reliable health services when they actually need them, than having Ulusionary 'choices'. In other words people want things to 'just work'. Personally speaking, I would like a quality ambulance service, to take me to a quality hospital, with quality doctors and nurses to treat me immediately. I doubt that, when I am at a moment of maximum emergency (for example when I £im having a heart attack), I wiU be interested in knowing that there is a two-star hospital available fifty miles away and another three-star one a hundred miles away. Choice in such circumstances is just meaningless. The politicians must also spell out deafly what they mean by giving patients more 'choice'. Does it only refer to hospital care or does it have broader applications (such as treatment using alternative therapies of complementary medicine)? What patient choice actually is at the moment (revealed from both New Labour and Conservatives actions), is the undermining of the fundamental NHS principles of universal coverage and free health care at the point of deliviery and the rise of the private sector. The Beaver 30 November 2004 blink 17 International International Correspondents: Stefanle Khaw and Kristin Solberg ¦ < ? v» The Starting Point Our two subjects share some of their initial knowledge of Kenya Jai Shah was born and bred in Kenya. He talks to Jia Jer from Malaysia about skyscrapers, Hollywood movies and Nobel Prize winners. Stefanie Khaw and Kristin Solberg record the conversation. Bill Gates celebrated the Milleimium on the Kenyan coast. From what we were told he hired a whole beach resort for a few days and flew in with aU of his friends. You can find snow on the equator. You find it on the second highest mountain in Africa: Mount Kenya. Wonderful scenery, friendly people. Must visit if you haven't. Nairobi is the only developing coimtry capital to host the headquarters of a UN oi^anization. UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program) and Habitat are located there. The most famous Kenyan beer is called Tusker. It can be bought in many other countries and cdso right here in London. The two main languages are Swahili and English. Jai's Kenya facts Jia's Kenya "facts" Sports. I love football so I know that Kenya is active in the African cup of nations. It's a relatively peaceful country. I rarely hear of it, compared to the other countries in Africa. Was the English Patient set in Kenya? Where is Kenya and what are its neighbouring countries? Jia; It's in central Africa, isn't it? I have no idea about neighbouring countries. Jai: It's in east Africa and it borders Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. What is its main import? Jia: I guess machinery, microchips, stuff like that. Jai: Oil, as in petroleimi. Jia: You guys import petroleum? Jai: Yes, we don't have einy. And machinery, those are the main ones. And its main export? Jia: Tea. I have Kenyan tea in my house. It's very nice. Strong. I like my tea. Jai: Coffee, tea, toxirism. What is the capital? Jia; Nairobi. Jai: Right. Jia: I'm right? Jai: Yes. If you take away the capital, you take away 50 per cent of Kenya's GDP. What is Kenya's culture like? Jia; Lots of dancing and singing, that's my guess. Jai; There are over 40 different ethnic groups, it's very diverse. 90 percent of them are African, and less than one percent is of foreign descent. Myself, I am third generation Kenyan of Asian decent. And to what extent is it westernised? Jia; There are skyscrapers and English schools. They watch Hollywood shows ai^ there should be a night scene in Nairobi. ¦ Jai: How westernised it is depends oh whether you're in rural or urban areas. If you're in the cities, it's much more westernised. In Nairobi you'll find skyscrapers, the tallest one is about 40 storeys. The capital is very influenced by American culture, music and fashion. You can buy pretty much everything. We have the latest movies, and some of the best cinemas in Africa. When there's a movie coming out in the US, we'll see it within two or three weeks. Is it a rich country? Jia: Well, I would guess since it's one of the bigger countries in Africa it should be rich. Jai: In comparison with other African countries, yes. But internationally, no. What is Kenya's form of governance? Jia: Democracy, more to the right-wing, I would guess. Jai: It's a multiparty democracy, and it's fairly right-wing. Are there any famous people from Kenya? Jia: The President? I'm bad with names. Jai: Yes. Both the first and the third President studied at LSE actually. Then we have the long distance athlete Kip Keino, and a more recent one; Paul Tergat, who's the best marathon runner in recent years. And the Nobel Prize winner this year, Professor Wangari Maathai. Jia: What did he win for? Jai; It's a lady. She got it for her role in environmental protection and promoting human rights in Africa. What kind of sports do they do in Kenya? Jia; Football, cricket, rugby. Jai; Football is the most popular, but athletics are what we're best at. And we actually had two people in the last two winter Olympics. 18 The Beayer 30 November 2004 Your Guide to What's On This Week Entertainment LSE SU Development Students Society and LSE SU Health Policy students 'Can students contribute in the global fight against HIV/AIDS?' Masters students from the Development Studies Institute and the Health Policy programe discuss their research, vocational and personal experiences in their individual contributions to the fight against AIDS around the world 7pm G108 Inter university 'Ghost Recon 2' Tournament The LSE's champions will be playing in the Three Tims, connected to other players Political via the internet (X-Box Live). The winner of this tournament gets £1000... So come down and support your LSE champions! 5.30pm - 7pm The Three Tuns and Underground Bar LSE International Society GLOBAL SHOW AUDITIONS Come to the auditions and show us a few minutes of your act. 3-5pm H102 The Taiwanese Society Will be organising a party in conjunction with the UK Taiwanese Association SUEOCUK. Tickets are at 15 pounds a person. Alternative Entertainments Society Practise session Juggling, balloon modelling, diabolo, poi, yo-yo, devil sticks, and manipulations with fire props 2-3pm Old Gym Salsa Society Classes for all levels 7.30-9.30pm SOUND, Leicester Square LSE SU Debate Society Workshop Improve your public speaking skills in an LSE SU Debate Society session. 7pm D209 Entertainment LSE SU Film Society and European Society L'Auberge Espagnole' film screening. The film was nominated for six Cesar Awards (PVench Oscars), including Best Film, Director, Writer, and Supporting Actress 7pm New Theatre Corona Extra & the LSE SU Mexican Society Christmas Fiesta £3 Members £4 Non-members (includes membership). Tickets available on Houghton Street and on the door. 7pm Sol y Luna, 103 Hampstead Road Careers Inter university 'Ghost Recon 2' Tournament The tournament continues. 5.30-7.30pm The Three Tuns and Undergroimd Bar LSE SU Modern Dance Society Free Breakdancing session (open level) l-5pm G1 LSE Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! Society 'About Gaza' film screening. The film's star and director will be available for an aftershow discussion. 7.30pm G1 LSE SU Commerce Society/Accounting and Finance Society Inter Panel Discussion on Contemporary Issues and Careers in Investment Banking with Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Merill Lynch and Deutsche Bank. Email Iseac-cfinsociety@yahoo.com to register. 4-7pm New Theatre LSE SU Maths & Stats Society Homework helping session l-3pm Y115 Entertainment Inter university 'Ghost Recon 2' Tournament The tournament continues. 5.30-8pm The Three Tuns and Underground Bar Careers Political LSE SU Liberty A talk on careers in Human Rights with Sabine Frediani (Liberty Htunan Rights) 6pm A283 LSE SU Christian Union Carol service, free to all. 7-8pm Bloomsbury Baptist Church, Shaftesbury Avenue (opposite High Holbom HaU) LSE SU Modem Dance Society Hip Hop (open level) 6.30-8pm Old Gym (basement of Old Building) LSESU Debate Society Workshop Improve your public speaking skills in an LSESU Debate Society session. 7pm D002 LSE SU Scandinavian Society Christmas dinner afterparty. Tickets £3, on the door. 9.30pm Quad Entertainment LSE SU Students Union Aids and Sexual Health Awareness RED theme CRUSH 7pm-2am Quad LSE SU Modem Dance Society I i] Ballet (open level) 4.30-5.45pm G108 LSE SU Modem Dance Society Contemporary/Jazz (open level) 5.50-7pm G108 Political LSE SU Salsa Society Salsa classes 8-lOpm Ministry of Salsa, Elephant and Castle LSE SU Punjab Society present Bhangra Crush 7pm-2am Underground LSE SU Malaysia Club Darling Mr. London film screening Get your tickets on Houghton Street every weekday from 12-3pm Minimum donation £5, in aid of Oxfam GB 7 pm Old Theatre The Central and Eastern European Development Society (CEEDS) "Ukraine Divided" Panel discussion explaining the recent developments and their backgroimd following the presidential elections 3.30-5pm H103 LSE SU Friends of Palestine The Charade of Peace: Israel/Palestine 2004 a talk by Dr. Dan Pappe 5pm New Theatre Socialist Worker Student Society Forum Noam Chomsky and the Politics of Propaganda 2pm H102 Careers oikosLondon Oil: Who benefits? Get first-hand experience of the negotiations and politics involved in developing a [new oil project. Work with experienced [.professionals from F&C Asset [.Management and BP fContact G.f.abbott^se.ac.uk . P vlfednesday 8tii "Dwember 6-7.30pmDin Political As part of our commitment to those of you who wish to use your Law degree outside of the field, Deloitte invite' you to participate to a discussion on how your legal skills can be applied in the non-law sector. Contact su.soc.law@lse.ac.uk with Deloitte talk as the subject heading Wednesday 8th December 5pm Deloitte offices The Strand Hie CIS society "Tlhe United Nations on trial" debate Monday 6th December - , 6pm D502 i'- ;V.-- ill LSE SU Law Society Deloitte, the UK's fastest growing Professional Services firm invite you to a talk at their offices. ailT The Beaver 30 November 2004 HVai^ Q r 19 B:art Edited by Carolina Bunting Music Eminem's surprise concert page 19 About Trance iVIadness page 26 Comments, questions^ artwork or articles submit to: thebeaver.art@lse.ac.uk The Bandini Quartet by John Fante ionmartea touched by genius THE BANDINI JOHN FANTE- (maimmm A real artist is rarely successful. The passion to exhaust the soul until the final breath on a sheet of paper is the only driving force in his solitary, inhibited, frustrated existence. Nothing, but the comfort of stripping the soul for an individual to discover (even if that is the author himself) justifies the importance of going into tomorrow. Penniless, disappointed, and convinced of failure, does that artist perish, and only history is left to judge whether society has allowed a genius to leave the stage unapplauded. John Fante was one such artist. A rebellious teenager, Fante left his hometown in Colorado, and went to fulfil his dreams in Los Angeles, a city that has been both an inspiration and a devourer throughout his career., Coming from an immigrant background, the America of the post-depression era was hardly the most welcoming of environments. But with a clear, direct, and quite intense style of writing, it didn't take long to make a name for himself... in 1938, at the age of 29, Fante published Wait Until Spring, Bandini. It was his second novel by now, but the first one to be accepted by a publisher. In 1939, Ask the Dust saw the light of day a novel which benefited from an outstanding critical appreciation, and has given him the chance to work with some of the most popular writers of the time. From Orson Welles to Francis Ford Coppola, directors saw a richness of material that guaranteed both commercial and, particularly, artistic success. And yet, Fante was rarely commissioned for A-list productions. Hollywood was to become his cemetery. An inexplicable hunger for money, made him accept almost anything that came his way. And nothing but low-budget productions, which aimed for cheap tears and laughs, would occupy most of his time. Script, after script, failed to show the mastery he was capable of. With the exception of Richard Quine's Full of Live (1957), for which he scooped a nomination for Best Written American Comedy from the Writers Guild of America, the public, and ultimately Fante himself, had given up on his screenplays. Coppola never got to direct an adaptation of The Brotherhood of the Grape, nor Ask the Dust ever saw the light of day as a film, despite having a finalised screenplay by Richard Towne. Disillusionment and, most importantly, diabetes took over his life. But, this exact period was to mark a turn in the quality of his work, this time a positive one. Even after losing his sight by 1978, he still kept writing. Dreams From Bunker Hill, published in 1982, shows his ultimate dedication for the word, when every word, and comma, was dictated to a un understanding wife, who accepted the poverty in exchange for the artistry of John Fante. He died in 1983 at the age of 74. The Road to Los Angeles, his first novel, was finally published in 1985, after Publisher: Canongate Books Release Date: 21 June 2004 List Price: £9.99 Paperback 749 pp. fifty years of rest on dusty shelves. It was up to Charles Bukowsky to revive the interest in his work. Starting with Ask the Dust half a century ago, Bukowsky developed a sacrilegious fascination with Fante's writing. The 'failure' of the post-1939 period ceased to have any impact on his novels and short stories, and the writer was finally given the praise he deserves. The latest publication from Canongate, The Bandini Quartet, is testament to that quality. The Bandini Quartet is the collection of four of his greatest novels: The Road to Los Angeles (1935), Wait Until Spring, Bandini (1938), Ask the Dust (1939) and Dreams From Bunker Hill (1982). Despite the fact that each stands independently, it is worth approaching the book as a complete single work. It is a pseudo-biograph-ical novel, with Arturo Bandini as its protagonist. We watch Bandini growing up in a an Italian immigrant family, and then his struggle into becoming a successful writer in a corrupt, post-depression America. Approaching Fante's work by reading synopses of his novels is rarely recommend-able. Reading Bandini can start at any page. And then line, after line, after line, keeps you stuck to that page, and then the next page, and the next, until the first rays of sun intrude in this timeless euphoria. The simplicity of the prose, its honesty, and its brute realism, take the read- a. ^ '-4. "fi _¦¦¦ ¦ Thought of the week (Two days to go until the report is due at the UGM and the SUTreasurer's work on the budget has come to an untimely halt. Deciding to write a poem instead, this was the result; found scrawled painfully on the walls of the Treasurer's office...) * * * by Gareth Carter My computer's not working, and hence I'm not either but the Sabbs won't accept that, and the UGM neither. The Beaver would love it - I'd be asked to resign (or just donate all my wages like they asked for last time). A vote of no confidence in my ability, and then kicked out of office with no sympathy. But for now IT Services please help me, please do! Or I'll be joining Justin Nolan in the dole queue John and Joyce Fante, 1970 er through the most crude of human emotions. One is easily brought into tears, or into a laughing fit, or a simple appreciation of the passing moment, on every other line. It is a piece of writing that identifies with poetry on a most basic level, and through this, It excels into encapsulating the poetry of humanity. We are a fortunate generation to be able to read his work without making reference to another film-flop. John Fante achieved the recognition he aimed for when he set off to Los Angeles eighty years ago. Dreams do come true, even though reality deceives us. of their presence. Fante said it best in his last passage: "I had seventeen dollars in my wallet. Seventeen dollars and the fear of writing. I sat erect before. the typewriter and blew on my fihgers. Please God, please Knut Hamsun, don't desert me now. I started to write and I wrote: 'The time has come,' the Walrus said, -'; 'To talk of many things: Of shoes - and ships - and sealing w&x'-: Of cabbage^ •: and kings -' I looked at it and wet my lips. It wasn't mine, but what the hell, a man had to start someplace." {Dreams From Bunker Hill) Thank you for starting, John Fante. 20 B:art The Beaver 30 November 2004 Silm edited by Dani Ismail and Sarah Coughtrie Phantom Of The Opera hannahcork listens to the music of the night Director Joel Schumacher Starrring: Gerald Butler, Emmy Russum Release Date: 10th December Running Time: 143 mins Andrew Uoyd Webber's production of M.Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera has enjoyed extraordinary success; from its first performance in 1986, it has run in over 100 cities, in 17 different countries. Given this iegacy, i was anxious to discover whether Warner Bros, could possibly hope to deliver anything more, or even equally deserving of such acclaim. The film's director Joel Schumacher faced an incredible challenge in transitioning the story from its recognised theatrical context to the arguably less participatory medium of film- both Moulin Rouge and Chicago had attempted to do the same with varying success. Set in the decadence of 1870s Paris, the story is essentially one of love, in which the disfigured musical genius, which haunts the catacombs of the opera house, falls hopelessly in love with a young soprano, Christine Daae, whose talents he then attempts to nurture by exerting an almost hypnotic influence over her. Surprisingly, these two main roles in the film have not been occupied by any 'A-list' stars; perhaps reflecting that the film Is a legitimate attempt to do justice to the musical offerings of the story-line rather than merely aiming for a box-office success. Minnie Driver provides a comical interpose as Carlotta, whilst the unlikely, yet dare i say It, talented Jennifer Ellison also makes an appearance. Despite the aesthetic appeal of Gerald Butler who plays the phantom, his vocal talents certainly leave his character's reputation deficient in the film. Had Charlotte Church, whom was originally cited for the part of Christine, actually been cast, the credibility of the phantom In the film would have been completely lost. Instead, eighteen-year-old Emmy Rossum fulfilled the demands of the role with applaudable results; her onscreen poise blending suitably well with the more pungent character of the phantom. The film is certainly less musically-orientated than would be expected, but perhaps this is an upshot of the film as It makes the story more accessible and appealing to a wider audience. Visually, however, the film cannot be disputed nor even compared to Its theatrical rival. From the flamboyant costumes paraded in the masquerade ball finale to the imposing chandelier that dominates the fictitious 'Opera Popuiaire', the viewer is forced to gorge on a rich feast of colour, texture and atmospheric splendour. Combined with the more dramatic and Intense scenes, whether you love or hate musicals, this film is truly mesmerising. **** Discovering Latin America - 3rd Film Festival Last week we introduced you to this prolific festival taking place at cinemas around London. Here's a quick rundown of what's on this week.... Tuesday 30th November, 18.30 Covent Garden Odeon GALA NIGHT Motorcycle Diaries Dir. Walter Salles, Argentina-Chile-Peru-Brazil-US-UK, 2003,128 minutes The highly critically acclaimed stroy of the young Che Guevara's adventures crossing South America by motorcycle In the early 50s. Wednesday 1st December, 17.45 Odeon Panton Street Red Ink Dir: Francisco Lombard!, Peru-Spain, 2000,119 minutes. Red Ink follows a young, talented novelist working on a sensationalist tabloid newspaper. The film follows his trials and tribulations at the hands of his manipulative boss. Saturday 4th December, 1.45 The Ritzy Cinema Ana and the Others DIr: Cellna Murga, Argentina, 2003, 80 minutes Drama following a young woman's first visit to her hometown, running into schoolfriends and old flames. In Your Local Cinema... Surviving Christmas Ben Affleck, in an attempt to inject into his painful career a dose of somethlng-other-than-shit, fails miserably with this lame made-for-TV movie. He actually hires the people living in his childhood home to pretend to be his family for Christmas. He didn't learn from Gigli, and Jersey Girl, that he does in fact suck. Gone With The Wind If any of you have not seen this love story to beat ail love stories, shame on yourselves. Vivien Leigh is beautiful and excellent at the rich bitch gone broke, and Clark Gable as a sweet husband is hard to fathom but endearing to watch. Definitely a classic but it's very very long. The Merchant Of Venice The latest Shakespeare offering stars Al Pacino who pretty much carries the film. A penniless man turns to his friend to help him come up with a dowry to woo the woman he loves. They then turn to the Jewish bastard Pacino who demands a pound of the pauper's flesh as collateral. Milwaukee, Minnesota A mentally challenged man can speak to his fish. Right. In Your Local Blockbuster... Love Actually - Special Christmas Edition Improving enough on this gawdawfui disgrace of a movie to merit a "Special Christmas Edition" is a task so gargantuan it blows the mind. I was naively hoping for something special and daring... perhaps shenanigans resembling Dangermouse's Grey Album, which mixed Jay-Z's Black Album with The Beatles' White Album. If I was Richard Curtis I'd maybe mash-up some Natural Born Killers or Platoon in with the cloying tweeness just for larfs. Since I am not, Amazon says we get "music highlights" and interviews with the director. Stay. Very. Far. Away. Music DVDs I'm positive the boys over the page in Music will agree that The White Stripes: Live Under Blackpool Lights is an essential. If you've seen them live this will have you sweating and getting whipped up In the sexual tension all over again. If not. It will show you what you've been foolish enough to miss. As Neil Young said, its better to burn out than fade away, so The Libertines have also recently released a feature length DVD entitled The Boys In the Band as part of a re-release of their self-titled album. Since I'm still reeling from the official split I'm putting off watching it in case I start crying and never stop. I'm avoiding the presumably putrid Busted - Live - A Ticket for Everyone and Evanescence: Anywhere But Home for similar reasons. The Beaver 30 November 2004 B:art 21 The Polar Express daniismail is subjected to animated Christmas crap Director: Robert Zemeckis Starring: Tom Hanks x4 Running Time: We're guessing 90min Release Date: 3 December Oh good lord, spare me. I suppose it's my fault - if you're going to go see a film solely to get to see the star the next day at the press conference, you can't expect to get doubly blessed with a stellar film. Also, Christmas films suck, in general, and Christmas animated films are so dumb they make me cry. Where is my Christmas spirit, one may ask. Well one may be rebuffed very quickly and snootily. 1 do not believe that at any point in my life 1 thought Santa was a real person. Due to my absent-mindedly Muslim upbringing, Christmas was never a holiday we celebrated, but I like to think I was able minded enough as a wee child to know that fat men couldn't fit down skinny chimneys. I suppose I should get to the point. Tom Hanks 'plays' four characters in The Polar Express (very Austin Powers style), going for barely recognisable roles - a train conductor, Santa, a bum and... an 8-year-old boy. To be honest, I can't say I realised he played the latter till I was told later. I mean, it's not something you'd assume. To be nice, I must mention that the animations were quite startling; the train conductor, whose character is based absolutely on Hanks, without any generation shifts or financial collapse, looks like him to a bloody tee. The kind Israeli correspondent I met after the film was very disparaging of it, complaining about the lack of mouth muscle movement, and the animated eyes being really scary because they didn't move/ squint much or whatever. Like hell it matters, if you ask me. I may be film editor of this prestigious publication, but I like films for superficial reasons and I'll never say otherwise, and won't slate a film because the animated characters' eyes didn't wrinkle and crease as a real person's would. Some movements are so real and seemingly instinctive, it's mind boggling to know that, while yes the 'actors' all carried out the actions that we see on the screen, it has all been translated onto a computer. Honestly, the end result is fascinating, and I suppose if you're a loser, you could watch the film for that reason. I mean, to me, you're also a loser if you go to see it for the Christmas claptrap, but that's me. It's got all the basic poppycock. A non-believer who - guess what, finds reason to believe (but wouldn't it be funny to assume he didn't?); magic and very pretty scenery, made possible by the high tech digital animation used; elves, homoerotic as ever; a girl (according to some, blatantly based on Condoleeza Rice); an enormous Santa with one hundred gazillion gifts; and a happy ending. Sigh. I can't wait to watch Bad Santa. I just don't know what else to say. And, bless him, Tom Hanks is a lovely man with a lovely voice and a lovelier laugh, but if his hopes of this film becoming as household a name as It's A Wonderful Life, we can all place our heads in our hands right now, and sob, for the fact that no, not all people hope that Christmas films will die out. •JU *JU (only because it's a cartoon- if this had been a movie it would have got a 1.2) Interview with Tom Hanks (and otiiers) daniismail's failed attempt to flirt with Tom Hanks Mr Hanks, I wondered what it was like iiaving 150 reflective diamonds placed on your face for the motion capture? Tom Hanks: Well it really hurt when they nailed them in. The tack hammers are very small but the actual tacks them-. selves are very sharp (laughs). I'm joking, they just glue them to your face, you're not even aware they are. They're not just odd little things, they're specially manufactured reflective sensors and each one costs three bucks a piece. They had to be glued on in a very certain particular pattern and they had to test them in order for the computers to read the data. They don't hurt, they don't itch, the only thing you can't do is come up to Bob and half way through say "I don't know Bob," (wipes hand across face in mock thought-fulness) "should we.... Oh gees... Well it looks like we're breaking for lunch!" because they come off very easily and they have to stay there. What the most valuable lesson you learned making the film was? Robert Zemeckis: I have to say when I make these movies it takes me a couple of years to actually understand what I got out of the process of making the movie. I couldn't answer that right now, all the pain and suffering is just too close. How this has actually sort of affected me as a person and as a filmmaker I really won't know for three or four years maybe. Hanks: Make sure you get that quote, 'The Polar Express: Pain and Suffering". If you could put that in the first paragraph of all your stories, that's really what we want. Steve Starkey: Now if you've been on other press conferences with Bob Zemeckis then he probably said the same thing at the end of every movie; "After I get over the pain and suffering". Hanks: Because this movie was about the Christmas Spirit and believing I think the pain was a little bit more painful and the suffering a little bit more insufferable. What is it between the two of you (RZ & TH) that really works? Starkey: If you're on the set with Bob and Tom it's amazing. Nothing is ever said. All they do is they just go out and work. Zemeckis: Here's how it works. Tom'll be doing a scene and I'll say cut and I'll say "Tom maybe you should"... and Tom says "yeah I'll do that". That's how we work together. Like an old married couple. Hanks: We get to resemble each other after a while which is quite scary. We were down in 'Cast Away' and we had this big three page scene, you know it was hot, it was miserable and we were looking at it and I said "Bob, you know can't I just achieve that by looking over there?" And he said "well yeah". So I said "why don't we cut all of this nonsense and I'll look over there and we will have saved three minutes?". 'That's great, let's do it!". So we have that kind of collaborative give and take. Zemeckis: Yeah and it's great. Trust me, I do not have this experience with any other actors I work with so there are these scenes with these lines and I'll go into Tom's trailer and I'll say "Well you know Tom, I was thinking do we need thisjine here?" and he'll say "cut it out! Get rid of it!". "What about this line?". "Get rid of it! I don't want to say of this. As a matter of fact Bob, I think we should cut this whole page out." And we do. Anyone interested in writing for beaverfiim? Contact us on thebeaver.art@lse.ac.uii 22 B:art The Beaver 30 November 2004 music edited by Matt Boys and Ben Howarth Rachid Taha nastarantavakoli-far checks out some world music... beating out an Arabic version of 'Rock (whicln Time Out named tlie best world, The Casbati'. His re-workings of North pop, rock and dance album of 2000). On African classics from his 'Diwan' album 'Barra barra' a delicate middle eastern Being a Lyon bred Algerian whose live band includes an electric guitarist next to a classical oud player, Rachid Taha is not your textbook rock star. Listen to Taha's highly innovative records for 3 seconds and you'll see he doesn't deserve to be 'an average rock star'. He's far too good for that. Mixing his native North African rhythms and slinky Arabic melodies with thick pounding electronic beats and filthy sounding electric guitars, Taha has become infamous for making some of the most individual and exciting music of our generation. Add to that his utter disregard for convention, firm stance against racism and criticism of certain traditional North African values and Taha is probably the ultimate misfit. This legend, referred to as everything from a 'guerrillero' (I think that's due to his scruffy appearance . .) to a 'beur Gene Vincent', rocked The Barbican last week. Mounting the stage with his motley crue of a band (guitarist, bassist, drummer, oud player, traditional percussionist and a dude in charge of all random electronic sounds) Taha fired in with his gruff and rusty Tom Waits-esque drawl before saw the entire Barbican crowd twisting and swirling. There were even a few people poggoing during the more daring and modern pieces from 'Made in Medina' riff is slowly layered upon by Taha's deep husk and thick guitar chords before exploding with pounding beats. The traditional 'Bent Sahara' features the most seductive rhythms cleverly sprinkled with heavy chords. Taha's ability to make extremely serious yet undeniably seduc-I tive music is totally bizarre. As bizarre as his ability to mix completely different musical styles into something which sounds thoroughly natural. Then again, this is the guy who is infamous for his DJ sets as a teen where he'd play Kraftwerk followed by Johnny Cash, and then The Clash following with legendary classical Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum. Taha's music is really a celebration of all the beauty that is to be found if one tries hard enough to find it. While often credibility is given to those who 'stay true' to' a scene's roots, Taha stays true to his belief in exciting and special music by not closing his boundaries. One journalist recently said that 'Taha is a punk rock superstar who would conquer the globe if he sang in anything but Arabic'. In this climate of convention for convention's sake, be it due to global terrorism or 'controversial rock stars' who do nothing more than play up to the whole drugged up rock star stereotype and predictable world music artists out to make a speedy penny, Taha is what the music scene needs. Nay, YOU need Taha too. ^ I j^y r Wish you'd seen Eminem at his tiny secret gig last week? Well, you You suck, joncollins went though, and he's gonna tell y'all about it... Eminem is one of the world's biggest music stars, used to playing to crowds of 50,000 or more. Instead, on Saturday night, he played a secret gig in London's 800-capacity Islington Academy as part of the blitzkrieg of promotion he has launched for his new album Encore. The gig was shrouded in secrecy, the venue was only announced the day before and rumours circulated the internet that he would only perform two songs. In fact, he played a blistering seven-song, half-hour set, a powerhouse performance that seemed to linger long after he left the stage. Encore has received mixed reviews but has nonetheless gone straight to number one in the USA and the UK, and Eminem used this gig to run though some of the new material as well as showcase some of the other artists on his Shady Records label. The warm up included DJ Green Lantern and rappers Stat-Quo and Obie Trice but everybody was there to see the star attraction. Eminem strode on stage wearing a camouflage jacket and cap and was greeted by a hysterical crowd. As he launched into the set with anti-Bush song 'Mosh', the shift in gear was immediate and obvious. This was a musical juggernaut at full speed and the force and intensity of his personality and his sheer ability radiated from the stage. Eminem is a controversial figure and it is not hard to dislike his homophobic and misogynistic lyrics, or disregard his bad boy antics as nothing but an ongoing publicity stunt. However none of this changes the fact that he is the world's biggest rap star and live it's not hard to see why. The venue is small and, above a shopping centre, it's hardly glamorous but the sound was razor sharp and the confined space showed off Eminem's verbal dexterity and the forcefulness of his delivery. As he ran through the set he hurled his jacket into the crowd and came' to the front of the stage to engage the fans in the front row. The material from the new album. Encore, sounded good live, but the highlight of the night was 'Lose Yourself, the single from the soundtrack of 8 Mile and one of his best songs. 'How Come?' also sounded great, as did 'Just Lose It', the new single, which he performed as an encore. Then after only a half an hour he led his entourage offstage and the gig was over. It's very rare to get to see a real world star in such a small crowd, a crowd of passionate fans who had queued for hours for tickets and had been patiently pressed up against the front of the stage since the doors opened. It may have been a brief set but it was a brilliant performance and definitely one that the fans who got tickets will never forget. The Beaver 30 November 2004 B:a^ 23 Beach Boys Four more years? Or a band past their sell-by-date? benhowarth gets scared finding out Mike Love strode on stage bedecked in traditional Hawaiian sliirt looking, and dancing, like a white, sexually deviant, Mohammed al-Fayed. Very nervous. Would the Beach Boys of 2004 live up to their glorious past? Could this funny looking man still sing? Thankfully yes, boy could that man sing. Only one truly original member remains, vocalist Mike Love, and to a lesser extent keyboardist/singer Bruce Johnston (who replaced Brian Wilson when touring early in their career). Both men are clearly old enough to be grandparents yet seemingly enthused with boundless energy and perpetual youth. Mike joined this band in 1961, both himself and Bruce announcing onstage they intended to keep touring. "Four more years, four more years," came the cry from the crowd. Whatever the rights and wrongs are over the Mike Love franchise of the Beach Boys name, there in no doubt over their sound. Quite simply they sound great. A backing band of five, seemingly very competent (if a little eager to grab the spotlight) musicians helped the two veterans to recreate their well (and lesser) known songs with impressive tightness, injecting all the energy of the originals. The surreal sight of two old men singing about surfin', crusin' and girls was only matched by a moment this reviewer cannot erase from his mind (despite concerted efforts). Firstly Mike Love chose to 'blast' Justin Timberlike, saying that he and his N*Sync bandmates were no match for the Beach Boys vocal talents. Secondly, to the background sound of gangster rap, he reached inside his Hawaiian shirt and pulled out more bling jewellery than I thought it was possible for one man to carry, before strutting his stuff across the stage. This moment can only truly be compared with watching a favoured grandparent urinate themselves, do you laugh or cry? Either way, it is never referred to again. All the classics were rolled out. Sloop John B, Surfin' USA, and Good Vibrations going down particularly well with the adoring crowd. The band play on, and on, and on completing a 2 and a half hour set with energy to spare, no defibrillators required. London Jazz Festival: jason Campbell sees 'A Celebration of Tony Willianns' As the crowed filed out after the first set, a wild eyed jazz-rock fusion fan declared; "Jack DeJohnette has no respect for the beat!" The concert was a tribute to Tony Williams, drummer for Miles Davis and founder of the pioneering jazz-rock fusion group Lifetime. Williams, who died in 1998, along with organist Larry Young (a.k.a. Kalid Yassin) and guitarist John McLaughlin gave birth to a new genre and helped to revitalize jazz in the late 1960's. The Sunday night show featured former Miles Davis alumni Jack DeJohnette on drums and John Scofield on guitar, along with Larry Goldings on keyboards. This was not traditional acoustic jazz. Rather it was highly amplified and distorted improvised music, mixing the energy of rock with the rigour of jazz. DeJohnette and Scofield played blazing solos on Lifetime numbers such as 'Spectrum' and 'Emergency'. The trio used a variety of digital and sampled effects, showing a desire to continue to push the boundaries of jazz. To these ears, highlights included an amazing interpretation of 'Seven Steps to Heaven' and a beautiful version of the ballad 'I Fall in Love too Easily'. The encore featured a remarkable rendition of a theme from the classic Miles Davis fusion album 'In a Silent Way' with Goldings shining on electric piano and organ. This trio had no respect for the beat, orthodoxy, or convention. They simply produced an amazing sound that did justice to the legacy of Tony Williams. Singles Brian McFadden: Irish Son A small mercy, if you could actually call it that, was the option of listening to the 'Short' or 'Shorter' version of this pitiful excuse for a song. For your information, there was no difference in levels of laughter induced from its poo lyrics. Truly dire. (annango) Lemar: If Tliere's Any Justice An easygoing, unchallenging drivel type of a song. Lemar's crooning is soft and creamy, I like his voice but the song is dull and repetitive and makes me want to push pins into my eyes. No justice for my ears or eyes, then why should there be justice for Lemar...lock him up. (sianbeynon) The Silent League: Breathe The Beatles and Mercury Rev are clear obvious signposts for New Yorkers the Silent League. The success of this song is also its inherent weakness: it is very nice. Too nice in fact, lacking an edge or a bite to it. Too saccharine sweet with little to make is standout. (benhowarth) 69 Corp: Demonseed Ambient electro-pap from a group whose logo is so rubbish, you can't actually read it. Who knows who they are, and frankly, who cares? Massive Attack should change sound completely to distance themselves from this turbid mess. O'onde-keyser) The Radio Dept. - Ewan Like a crescendo reaching into infinity, "Ewan" excites like a bike ride down a hill with consistent drumbeats. Singer Johan seems to be smoking a cigarette on the side, adding to the general faded and dirty character of the song. Expect guitars, keyboards and the occasional piano. These Swedes seem to prefer the backstreet-ambience of their b-side tracks, as the fact that they have been around since 1998 speaks for an intentionally slow musical conquest. (mil lenwolde-selassle) Music Business Offers Bright Career Prospects danleiperlet gives the rundown on the Music Business Society's Q&A session Music producer and songwriter Darius Rustam, a former LSE student, shared advice on how to start a career in the music business at a discussion last Friday organised by the Music Business Society. Rustam said career prospects are looking up as the industry rebounds from several difficult years, but It still takes hard work and some luck to find success. "The music industry can be a little like the lottery," he said. "Every time you say you can't find success that way, you go and find somebody who made it happen." Rustam, who has worked over the past decade in the US and UK music scenes with the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Coco Lee, believes that to get into the business you have to keep networking, carefully research the market and "just jump in" because there are lots of opportunities. "There are a million industries within the industry," said Rustam. "You're going to have a dream and you just have to take it on. If you know somebody in the industry, that can help make it happen." For singers looking for stardom, his advice is not as easy as it sounds: "Sing everywhere you can. Get over the shyness. Be fearless. Be honest with yourself and your interests." Rustam said that, most importantly, those looking to get into the inddfstry should trust what they think is good or bad: "What's a hit? There are a million people running around trying to figure that out. Everybody is always saying 'no, there's no way that could work', and then it's huge the next year." The Music Business Society holds a series of speaker, career and social events to discuss the music business and help members get started in the industry. If you have questions for Rustam, email the society at: Su.Soc.Music-Business@lse.ac.uk. 24 B:art Th0 Beaver 30 November 2004 •WIHS edited by Sadlim Chowdhury The Pink Bits rehanahmed on spastic motion, uprising and a truly powerful performance. 1 wonder what the words 'pink bits' have to do with an uprising in Amritsar circa 1919. I wonder too, of this article's place in the theatrical review section. Great concept, exceptional dramatis personae, mind blowing set design but you walk away feeling its not quite theatre. Call me old fashioned, 1 prefer to know my seat number when walking into a performance.' Instead, I was handed a 'place' without being told where precisely, constantly assured I shall understand once I walked in. The stage is interactive iaod you. are seated-'atribngst the cast on school tables. We come to learn a history lesson -is about to begin with a rather tight wound teacher and her eclectic mixture of students (over-efficient type, the know it all, the chav, the bookworm etcetera). Whilst reading to the class from a textbook, the teacher finds it increasingly difficult to justify the West's historical blunders. The unbearable tension is hard to miss. Bedlam ensues when the topic of an uprising in Indian Punjab (Amritsar, specifically) is approached. Historically illiterate though I am as an Accounting and Finance major, I felt it unusual to dedicate an entire hour of the performance to an event. Tragic though it is, it hardly deserves a place amongst world shattering events. Regardless, the subsequent hour is without a doubt, the most ignited of performance art I have witnessed. The students come to represent a vivi section of the English at the uprising (naturally the chav in charge, ordering the unsuspecting bookworm) and then a break out into spastic motion that J^quite,mercerizing to Watch. ¦ ' The spastic motion lasts for the better part of an hour - at first you feel somewhat lost, wondering if you wandered into the wrong studio (can't be, only Othello's playing), after which you begin to take minor interest towards the bespectacled introvert next to you (looking quite disillusioned at the number of women present) and then it happens...you just, well, comprehend. This is not about Amritsar. This is not about colonialism. This is about the recalcitrant blind being led into warfare by chavs' predecessors. History repeats itself and all that. The set design, which won them a certain Samuel Beckett Trust Award is bedazzling, especially given the miniscule budget they operate with. I was quite low at not having bagged a cheap Phantom of the Opera ticket while loitering about the West End earlier, but this wasn't too shabby an alter- Company: Dimention 4D Venue: Riverside Studios, Hammersmith Ticket Prices: £9-14 Run: Until 4th Dec native. The fact that you feel avant-garde being removed from the Americans at the Phantom as part of their once in a lifetime Europe trip (its Friday so it 'must be Rome...) certainly confers some credibility too. Word of advice as always, do NOT get there early. You might otherwise be forced to wander around Hammersmith waiting for the clock to strike eight. It bore an uncanny resemblance to Detroit, reminding me of an unpleasant exchange semester at Ann Arbor where my only respite was its thriving theatrical scene. Some of the scenes outside the Hammersmith tube on the day reminded me of Superfly (the supreme blaxploitation film for the unlearned amongst you) and as silly as it may sound, thirteen year old 'street' girls in 'Brooklyn' jackets following you can be a scary prospect. Absolutely fantastic play though. It points the way forward for theatre or whatever it purports to be. I just wish I knew what the title 'Pink Bits' meant. If you want to write for reviews or articles for theatre (and more importantly get free theatre tickets) send mall to thebeaver.art@lse.ac.uk with the subject theatre - enthusiasm more important than experience! _ Audtlon notices can be sent to the above address: Deadline Friday i2pm "^3veHIsemenF : H : :^'v£shii[ ley.com/cariirs Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific nvitesYou... MorgaiiStanley INVESTMENT BANKING OPPORTUNITIES IN ASIA PACIFIC We invite interested students to apply for 2005 Summer Analyst positions. For more information on this opportunity, please visit our website: www.morganstanley.com/careers Application submission deadline: December 15, 2004 For inquiries, contact asia.recruit@morganstanley,com Visit and apply online at: www.morganstanley.com/careers Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to workforce diversity. (M/F/D/V) © 2004 Morgan Stanley i9:art The BTeav^ 30 November 2004 about edited by Joanne Lancaster Darey Products launch at Knowwhere, December 17th Massive Matt Darey Products label and album launch party at the capital's hottest underground Trance party. As well as the best nnusic supplied by Matt Darey, Andy Bagguley, Gen-X, Anthony Dean, and welcoming new resident Adam White, expect lots of crazy "Darey Product" antics such as a pantomime cow off its udders (!), DJs dressed as milk men and lots of fun giveaways. Those attending in "darey product"/farm-yard costumes can expect massively reduced admission. Matt Darey has been one of the pioneers of Trance since its early days in 1994 and a major influence on the next Generation of Trance DJs and producers. Since 1998 he has sold well over two million Trance singles and albums and has been responsible for some of the biggest Trance remixes and productions- including classics such as the hits Gamemaster (Lost Tribe), Till I Come (ATB), Not Over Yet (Grace), Wizzards of the Sonic (Westbam), Rise (Gabrielle)- the list is endless. Matt has been headlining the massively successful Euphoria series for five years and has had many UK chart hits including the top ten smash "Beautiful" and "Liberation (Fly like an Angel)". After ten years of bringing quality Trance to clubbers all over the world Matt now celebrates with the launch of his own label Darey Products bringing you the creme de la crfeme of global Trance. Already with an impressive line up of new releases Point Zero (Li Kwan), Possessed (Lost Tribe), 2004 (Liberation) and Ballerina (Adam White). To celebrate a decade at the top of the Trance scene Matt is releasing an album of his favourite tunez: Decade. Matt has already won massive support from Tiesto, Armin Van Buren, Ferry Corsten, Paul Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk & Sasha as well as continued support from UK Radio 1 DJs such as Judge Jules & Dave Pearce giving the new label the seal of approval from the worlds finest in Trance. For over two years, Knowwhere's name had been synonymous with top quality Trance, coupled with one of the smiliest, friendliest atmospheres in the capital's clubbing scene. Its ethos had always been to deliver the very best of the Trance genre, and to make each and every event a night to remember for the most important people to the scene, the clubbers Matt Darey in action themselves. Always popular with the clubbing community, and with a capacity of 1800, The Fridge has recently undergone a major refurbishment, including state of the art lighting and sound refits, redecoration through-out, and the introduction of an entirely new, people-friendly, professional security team. Home to some of London's best Hard Dance nights, Knowwhere's new residency is set to make The Fridge the new home of Trance, making it the hottest venue around for the clubbing community. Knowwhere at The Fridge; 3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH The Fridge 1 Town Hall Parade Brixton Tel; (020) 7326 5100 Admission: £12 IN ADVANCE / £14 concessions / £16 on the door Tickets: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk Times: 10pm-6am Info: 07887 518253 Two pairs of tickets for "Darey Products" launch party are up for grabs! Email thebeaver.art@lse.ac.ui< with the answer to the question: What is the name of Matt Darey's forthcoming aibum? Winners will be chosen at random from all correct answers Fabric graceduffy on why to forget what you've heard about drum and bass and head east For a big night out there's only one choice for me: Farringdon, for the legend that is Fabric. On a Friday you'll be treated to the best Drum and Bass you'll hear in any big club and - if you can drag yourself away - a fine selection of break beats as well as new and classic hip hop (and proper hip hop as well, not the shit you hear at those dire 'hip hop/RnB' nights- playing US pop music and full of posers and wankers). Drum & Bass does still have a bit of a bad reputation and if you go to some of the smaller local nights they can be quite moody, but that's the beauty of Fabric -it's the most attitude-free club I've ever been to. The majority of people there are either dancing their arses off utterly oblivious to everything else or floating around In their own little world grinding their teeth and asking for chewing gum! Entry is usually around £15 and as always it's a good idea to come early, quite often by midnight it's a one out one in policy, but if you know you're going to be late you can always buy your tickets in advance and cut the queuing right down. The club's open till Sam with several rooms available Including a few places to sit and chat or get a breath of fresh air if it all gets a little too much! Drinks are as expensive as you would expect but they're responsible folk at Fabric and in all the (unisex) toilets there have fountains where you can fill up your water bottles - which are worked by a l^ot pump by the way, a lot of people take a long time to figure that one out! All in all it's the perfect big night out, and because it's open till 5am, by the time you've got your coat and collected all the fliers from those poor bastards outside you're just in time for the first tubes! Don't you just love London! Fabric 77a Charterhouse Street LONDON, ECIM 6HJ Nearest tube: farringdon Tel: (020) 7336 8898 The Beaver 30 November 2004 Sports 27 Sevenths edge out the Sixths in the John Kent Cup A Ross Lucas double gives the Sevenths the edge in the Berry lands derby against the Sixths. Paddy dedicates the victory to Dr John Kent. Matt and Paddy LSE Footy 7ths..................2 LSE Footy 6ths..................1 Fortress Berrylands, Surrey Picture the scene: the first day of Fiiesher's week, October 2002. IWo young students, bright and eager, and as fresh faced as Ian Huntley's dream woman, moved into Carr-Saunders hall, reacfy to b^in their glittering academic career at LSE. One boy was from Suffolk, his name was Matthew Bawden. The second boy was from Bdfast, his name was Paul McAleavQi; After two weeks at LSE, tired of most of their contemporaries, Matthew and Paul became friends over a shared admiration of Stella, recreational drugs and petty vandalism. Aided by their friends Wol£man,\Wggy,Van(^ Stocker and Irani, Matthew and Paul proceeded to turn the third floor of Carr-Saimders into a den of iniquity - a land more m debauched than the Motl^f Crue tour bus. But, much like a quick bout of onanism, good things can't last forever The warden of Carr-Saunders, John Kent, made the wise decision to banish Matthew and Paul from the haU. Penniless and barefoot, the boys turned to football as their saviour and embarked upwn careers as Siscth and Seventh team superstars. Fbst forward two-and-a-bit years. Matthew, tutored ly the immoral ways of Silver Anus and Doug Handoncock, has risen to become captain of the LSE 6th team Padtfy has taken the hdm of the Qiampagne Sevenths. Champions of ULU Division 4, the Sevenths are promoted to ULU Division 3, and faced an almighty collision with their friends, the 6th team. In a Champagne Supernova on Wednesday 24th November; 2004, the two "most hated men in Carr-Saunders" (according to a petition done by the Carr Saunders IT adviser Satya) go head to head in the match which is dubbed, in memory of his brave, brave actions - 'The John Kent Cup". Like all the best local derbies, this match started at a frantic pace Petrov and Brcwnie, up fix)nt for the 6ths, were looking dangerous. Ed K-Lo was directing things as usual from midfield for the Sevenths. Matt Warsaw was looking confident in goal for the Sijcths, xmtil the referee bizarrdy gave an indirect free kick inside the Sixths' penally box for a handball. K-Lo struck it as firmly as Gazza strikes Shetyl, and Ross Lucas turned it into the net to send the Sevenths into an early lead. However, spurred on by Fynn's "LSE ball, every time" growl and various insults from Captain Spitx)ast, the Sixths equalised. A long ball from nud-field was expertly lobbed by Brownie over Matt 'The Cat' Brunsdon in the Sevenths goal to draw the scores level. (Fbr those wondering. Matt is known as the cat because he sprays to mark his territory). With the scores level, and with at least five spectators watching this 'seE-out' derby, both sides went aU out for the win. Finn limped out at half time with a nasty arse strain, but the Sixths' defence was holding firm against the LSEFC's top scorer; Ross Lucas. Tfen minutes into the second half, due in part to a mix-up in the Sevenths defence which saw Iqbal (of the 7ths) play a Zidane-esque throvi^ ball for Brownie (of the 6ths), it looked like the Sixths were going to take the lead. However a great save down low by The Cat in the Sevenths goal kq)t the scores levd, and kept Brownie's proud record of missing at least sbc golden chances every game. 'TOth ten minutes to go, a through ball ty Rob Green of the Sevenths set up Ross Lucas. Bearing down on Matt Warsaw like the London to Plymouth express on a level crossing, Ross stroked the ball home to put the Sevenths in the lead. This hotly contested derby match wasn't over yet. The appearance of two naked male streakers didn't distract the Sixths from their hunt for an equaliser Petrov was looking more dangerous than a paedophile in a playground, but stout defending from Mike Hales and Tbddfrey kept him at bay and when the senile referee blew the final whistle, the Sevenths were cde-brating a memorable victory. Dedicating the victory to the man who once told his father "I think your son has a drink problem" Pad(fy seiid"If it wasn't for Dr Kent, Fd probably be on smack by now. This victory is for him". Meet the Fifth Team Meet the stars of the 5th team - including Pink Lady, Dirt, Irt and the Wretched Samadeus. Roly 'G Unit' Symonds Between the sticks we've got Dom Doran. Some so-called football luminaries have claimed that goalkeg)ers onfy get realty good when they're into their 30s. Bollocks! Dom's onfy 20! Unfortunate it's not all sweetness and roses in Doran's worid. It has materialised that the poor bey is possessed of a supematuralty weak bladder; which in recent weeks has forced him to take a piss on a trairL Ihe train home from Berrylands to Waterloo to be precise. Southwest trains would do weE to bar monsters like this from piijlic transport At least we can all rest in peace knowing that Dom is now the lau^iing stock of the aitire civilised worid. At left back we have Stinky Saif UUah. Stinky only showers once a wedc It's no wonder he reeks so much. Ifowever I forgive him his sins against l^^ene, as he is a trufy talented playei; with perhaps the cjuickest feet I have ever seen. Ri^t back and this year's captain Drew Soffler needs no introduction. Of course being a Yank he knows nothing about fcotbaU, but who cares. He goes in hard on the pitch and (so Im told) in the bedroom, and that's what counts. Centre backs Big Ben Hammond and Commie Alex Goddard make up a back four who keep it ti^t on the deck but looser than Abi Htmuss's minge from set-pieces. Into midfield, and we really do have an anbarrassment of riches...if this were a paratympics team Unfortunatefy it isn't and these guys are supposed to be able-bodied. Luther Kisang is a dead-ringer fe>r Gus from Eastenders, and he also models himsdf on a more aggressive version of Roy Keane Gus is onfy happy with his performance if he's hospitalised his opposite number and called each of his team-mates "fucking c***s" at least fiftytimes.Nexttohim is Little Irfanaka Aarish Panctya. Ive never seen a guy huri himself about with such a disgraceful lack of respect for his own pl^^ical well-being. He trufy has the making of a fifth team l^end . Out on the left we have long-ball specialist Charlie Hodges. The most refined member of the team has been a revelation this season; he is a player of dass, vision and panache. Still yet to commit a tadde, let alone a foul thou^ Rounding off the midfield is of course try favourite player ever; the Wretched Samadeus. Contrary to pqpular belief, Samadeus is not actualfy Qitirdy useless on the pitch. In fact, having played a game at ri^t back behind him, I can honestty s^ he is one of the most intelligent, tacticalfy-sophisticated players I have ever played with Not realty, he's crap. Which brin^ us on to the strikers. Wth two goals in god knows how mary games Irt Ladak has a strike rate Errule Hesk^f would be ashamed of. Competition comes in the form of Nima Ordoubadi, a forward so goal-sly he has to ask his friends to approach it while he stands and observes frcm a distance, looking bashful and avdsward TWs is strange because Nima is an extravagant-ty talented footbaUen He reminds me of Maradona, Ginola and Pele all rolled into on^ he's fat, lasy and has to use via-gra. Lucidly one of our strikers has beai finding the back of the net with uncharacteristic r^ularity Step forward Adam "Dirt" Stocken His filthy off field antics m^ include partaking of doppy thirds (or was it fourths) with Joy The Innocent But this deviant behaviour seems to have translated to unprecedented success on the pitch, where he has been raping opposition goals like there's no tomorrow (when of course there is). Just as well because he wears gold Nike boots lite Ronaldo and Drogba and realty deserves a good kicking. Badminton Boys Daniel introduces the stars of LSE Men's Badminton Daniel Wright F[)r as long as anyone can remember; the LSE men's badminton team has been the Leicester Qly of the university badminton league: often too good for the second division but never quite good enou^ to remain in the top flight after achieving promotion. Would this year be ai^f different? The trials followed the usual pattern; 55 p%ers on one court over six hours and I had the unenviable task of assessing than; one that certainty deserved a pint at the end! There were some bri^t moments thou^ (apart from the pint) such as the emergence of the 1994 Peruvian National champion, Miguel, a 29 year old stuctying for a masters in law, along with fellow masters student John, scholarship student Barun, first year Rishab (aU from India) and Sheh2ad, a second year who never got round to playing last year, to add to rryself and Raymond who remained from the promotion campaign We followed our dose 5-3 win over Surr^ with a 6-2 trouncing of UCL. Things were looking even better when we scraped a win against the highty rated Queen Mary. Things seemed too good to be true, and they were! The following week proved to be the most bizarre of the season We were due to play Bournemouth, last year's runners-up. There was a mix up kr communication thou^ \\hich resulted in them arriving two hours late, meaning we onty had time to play two matches (which we lost) before splitting the remaining ones which meant we lost disappointingty 5-3. We got back to winning wsys the following wedc when Surr^ failed to show and followed this up with a 5-3 victory, away at UCL, the worst losers I have ever encountered in my two and a half years here, in our last game before Christmas. So we go into the New Year sitting in third place, having exceeded all rny expectations! Rd^tion is almost irrpossible, whilst third is very possible and second a realistic ambition. Thanks to aU the players who have put us on the brink of history, particularly Mun, Kanishk, Matt and Debasish who have filled in for us when necessary and finalty Barun, who is going back to India following the conpletion of his three month scholarship! 28 Sports The Beaver 30 November 2004 AU Friends, drinking compatriots and all other LSE students who read this section to try and feel party to something more substantial than the library, welcome to Jock's first column of viagra-packed rantings. Jock feels it necessary to point out from the beginning, that this column is a tongue-in-cheek musing on AU debauchery, and that any similarity to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. The focus for this week will be Jock's predictions for Friday's Barrel. The Barrel is sure to be as sweaty as the Berrylands' changing rooms, as saucy as Abi Titmuss, and as unpredictable i and disgusting as the thought of a huge throbbing strap-on and Welsh Moriaty-Lewis. My first bit of foresight concent wom€93's rugby's Molestor Barsham. Last year she showed her 'Beaver' to all unfortunately present on Houghton Street, this year, Jock sees her emanating former hockey star Chrissie Titty with a 'blowing' split to her predictably tiny outfit. Football's liffy and third team Captain 'Nads Joseph will maintain their drunken fagade of hooliganism and stalk their firm favourites - Rugby's Lovely Cocks and Netball's Pamela Schofield. Jock is unsure whether TiJ^ can hack the pace after Wednesday's embarrassing regression to R»dber vomiting in the And who wo^ld shag monkey-boy? A moi% reliable bet for acticai perhaps ia paedo-McJohn or the Maybe they will go instead the way of hockey and stick to their lliie team-bonding of the feoat r*ee will turn into team bfl«tdage. Yes Daily Star Boy has become the new man for Gay ¦Rmes and is likely to fall prey to the whipping of Queen Wishi. Men's rugby will equally be proud of their Gun Club Captain who will fail to hit the target owing to brewer's droop. That is unless Sindy, steaming after seven pints, has enough clouded vision to pvirsue another public schoolboy, watch this space. Jock also awaits the inauguration of Ballsucker junior junior. The headline event will be however the thievery of AU funds resulting from the money-grabbing collusion on the part of the Pirate and the Jazz Jewish com-mimity. So how will AU President Shitters keep control of the contents of his own trousers, let alone the Barrel mayhem? Tune in next week and send any salacious observations to thebeaver. sports@lse.ac .uk ' 72 Hours until the AU Barrel! Louise Hastie and Paul McAleavey, with a little help from their friends, have put together a guide to this Friday's Barrel. The Rough Guide: Politically incorrect, sexist to the extreme, and totally fucked - that will be the state 250 of the LSE's finest sporting superstars this Friday. The annual AU Barrel is back with vengeance, and promises to produce even more legends and urban myths than last year. Costumes have been made, legs have been waxed, and mixed griUs have been made in preparation for the sloppiest day of the year. The new undeigroimd bar wiU take its first real hammering, the floors have been specially waxed with a vomit-resistant surface, 100,000 plastic glasses have been purchased and the History Department is preparing to batten down the hatches as the Barrel gets permission to land. Leam vour Barrel terminology: Fines - The various miscreants of the AU are pimished for their misdemeanours in a specially constructed Kangaroo Court. Boasting a conviction rate more impressive than that of the state of Texas, no-one has ever been found 'not guilty' by the AU jiuy. The pxmishment to be doled out is decided by The Wheel - see below. Ihe Wheel - Much like the Wheel of Fortune, but more like the Wheel dE Misfortune, the Beurd Wheel, or "Bertha" as she is known, is a thing of legend. Where she stops, nobody knows. Will you be asagned to three pints of wine, ordraed to pull one of llie mcaie facially-challenged AU members or wiU you have to down the dreaded Mixed GriE? Only the wheel knows... Mixed Grill - A mixed griU. From Wright's Bar. Blended with gin. You have to drink/eat it. Has been known to reduce grown men to tears. The Barrel Run - Banned from King's for inciting anarchism. Think MUlwaU in Europe, then treble it. Led by the strangely up)-for-it streaker See the next definition: The Streaker - Men's Rugby lack of sexual prowess is put on display for all to see, as a rugby fresher leads the AU hordes around the corridors of LSE (and from table to table in the Brunch Bowl). The Peacock Theatre - Watch the faces of the surprised general course students in their Econ B lecture as the Barrel Rim takes to the Peacock Theatre. Doug Handoncock threw himself off the stage last year, fractured his nose, and after visiting hospital for treatment dressed as a jester, returned for more Barrel action. What a goer. AU Social SecretaiyClauSa Whitcomb has outlined the a^ain part of the Bjirrel: Entrance is from 1 lam, and will cost you a measly £5 with an AU card, and £10 without, so I suggest you remember your AU cards. Those of you who don't have AU cards can stiU get them from G's office in the gym. This gives you free beer, bitter and snakebite until the subsidy runs out. So how would you describe the barrel? Scottish John - "The physiological equivalent of the Fallujah onslaught" Football Club Captain Taffy -"Z xoish I could be in that special place everyday at LSE" Hester AU Secretary - "I can't remember much past 11.30. And that's AM, if you're wondering". Union Jock - "So many drunk women, so little time. Boys, if your cock isn't bbte after the Barrel, you ain't had a good time" We couldn't have put it better ourselves. So get your costumes ready, flex those mixed grills and bring your Uver to the slaughter. Louise & Paul Let's Get it On... Recently a mature student, writing in B;Link, claimed the LSE was about as sexy as an S&M session with Prince Charles so BeaverSports has taken it upon itself to spice up this image with The Barrel Sex Challenge. All you gagging for it postgrads and rampant under-grads now have clear lecture notes to follow this Friday. The Barrel provides the best opportunity for such lewd behaviour because the next day you can blame being absolutely screwed on too many Stellas and 'The Wheel'. Can you beat last year's infamous 'library incident'? Can you turn urban legends of threesomes into LSE truths? Or, wiU you be able to follow the example of Sloppy Pirate, and wake up the next morning with your trousers round your ankles, and not know why? Points are allocated on the basis of how hard (no pun intended) each venue is to pull off (again, no pun intended). The diallei^ is as follows: If, Ifatmi Cmsli in some dark and din^ comer - the b(^s should be so lucky if after that much alcohol a hard on is possible. If you get thirsty mid-way through, a pint of Carling is reasonably priced at £1.60. Two Points 9. Disabled toilets in the East Building - spacious, lots of mirrors and for added enjoyment a shower. One BeaverSports editor enjoyed this sublime venue at last year's Barrel. Three Points 8. Ibe alley at the back of the Tuns - You can give someone a good roasting out here. Boys, be careful not to get your scrotum caught in the bike racks. Four Points 7. The Libraiy - Recommended by Sexy Kate from Women's Rugby as a "particulary shag friendly venue". The archives section was enjoyed by a Third Team footballer last year. Shagging on the spiral staircase is great for thrill-seekers. Just watch out for Security, who'll probably ask you to keep the noise down. Remember - NO EATING OR DRINKING! Eight Points 6. C120 -You could always rig up a web cam for added pleasure. Ten Points 5. Squash Courts - A delightful women's rugby post-grad highly recommends this place, and for all those voyeurs amongst you, yes, there are windows. Fifteen Points 4. Old Theatre Balcony - Charterhouse once used this as a venue but we think it's about time a new wannabe rugby legend - perhaps Ballsucker or BaUsucker's Ballsucker - stamps his mark with his sticky white love piss on the LSE. Twenty Points 3. Bridge- If you've always wanted to join the Mile High Club, take your partner to the bridge between the East Building and the Old Building, where you can join the 4 stories high club. Watching the hacks campaign on Houghton Street reaUy adds a bit of 'zing' to your climax. Fifty Points 2. On stage in the Peacock Theatre during the Econ B lecture - All that talk of 'Theory of the Firm' and 'Pricing Ciuves' wiU really get you and yoin: lover in the mood. Twenty Five Points 1. Howard Davies' Office - Extra points if you wear his Man City scarf. One Hundred Points BeaverSports advocates an active sex life, but remember kids - wrap it in foil before checking her oil! Sian Errington (Stf Education and Welfare Officer - room £299) has increased the arrieunt of condoms available to LSE students especially for Barrel-geers. Remember... No glove. No love. Costume Rumours We've Heard: VMl Aerobics Julia finally put some clothes on and come as the Virgin Mary? Will Fabs pay homage to his white man's cock and come as a member of the KKK? And will Claudia live up to her 'Munchkin'nickname and dress as an Oompa Loompa? NEEDED - BARREL PHOTOGRAPHERS! Next week's BeaverSports wiE be a special Barrel edition, detailing all the deeds that will happen this Friday. If you want to see yourself, yoiir mates and your team in the paper, we need you to email us your photos! This must be done by Saturday 5pm (ie. the day after the Barrel) - we know you'll be feeling like shit but so wiU we. We want loads of kwaUty photos, especially of the Barrel run. Email them to us at thebeaver.sports@lse.ac.uk The Beaver 30 Xovember 2004 Sports 29 Women's Rugby in Catfight! The Sexual Deviants of Brunei University bruise LSE Women's Rugby. Jen 'Brazilian' Bush Brunei............3 Black Eyes LSE........1 Battered Tastie Fortress Berrylands, Surrey We knew the game would be tough, we had faced the Internationals and lost but we were ready to fight them on the beaches. The game started as it would continue; massive hit after contested mall after vicious ruck. Crusher Katy was ready at every moment, despite her little indiscretion later in the game, and Animal was with her every hit of the way. The weird groping/abusing that the filth employed as tactics made Animal 'but kitten in the bedroom' naturally uncomfortable but she pulled through. Ellie 'heartbreaker' Virus was all over the man masquerading as their number 9. The fight was going to be arduous. Sandy dumped, Sharon savaged and Ruth broke them whilst they were down but still they came, they may have been frustrated and studying Travel and Tourism but they stayed. Hester was quick to challenge in the scrums and Laura was down the wing quicker than a non-AU gimp to the library, and with more determination. Berrylands is a fortress and Kay 'short skirt but still solid' and 'what am I doing in the centre, it doesn't rhyme with wonger' Indeg are nothing if not protective, no fat "special" monkey was getting anywhere without some pain - every yard was contested. They were lucky with the score line but both Loves and 'I'm loved' Van were slapping them down in the line outs. Tag team Yvette and Amanda on the wings weren't phased by the streakers (better has been seen, coldness is not an excuse). The sight of naked men was a bit of a shock for the 'come from a weird place' opposition, the only sexual experience they had had previously was being bitch-slapped by there coach with amnesia -do I have a referee qualification? don't I ? Half Time saw the fresh and lovely legs of Nisha and Fern, with Tastie gracefully retiring after being duffed up by Katy. Their substitution was what can only be described as a mountain. The forward play got harder (and bigger!!!) but Anna was still holding strong and stealing balls. The gaps had begun to show in our line and the scrum had had to reshuffle but in the dying minutes we could taste the sweet smell of a truly team try, alas it wasn't meant to be and the girls were ready for drinks and fed up with being abused. They may have won on points but we would never stoop to freaky quasi-sexual manhandling to win a game. They won, we aren't tainted by perversion. Netball vs. The Pikeys LSE Netball 6ths Venture into the land of Burberry Sara Wley Southbank 2ncls..... ......28 LSE Netball 6ths. Sarf Lahndahn Arriving in the dirty sarf of London, the LSE 6ths were faced playing some of the country's biggest pikeys. Their scarily butch players with their shaved eyebrows and Creoles tried to put us off by general intimidation but us brilliant 6ths were tindeterred by this. The game was off to a fabu- lous start with us scoring the 1st goal. The bints didn't know what had hit them. Obviously expecting us to be shite, we were far from it. Our smooth and fast passes meant that most of the time they were stranded on the court looking like twats. However, they eventually started to score, after their brains finally realised why we were there. They soon realised the level of our skill which was far higher than they had anticipated and could never match it, so they then resorted to getting the ball anyway they could without using guns and knives like they're used to. Their blatant punches and shoving were ignored by their biased umpire, who also constantly shouted 'footwork' whenever I attempted to shoot. The score was consistently even, but they started to push for- ward in the lead. With guest players Laura and Libby poached from the 4ths and 5ths keeping the pressure on their shooters, we began to close the gap with some spectacular shots from Steph. Georgie once again fulfilled her role as star centre and allowed the Holbom girls to penetrate their feeble defence. The bints, feeling threatened by our fabulous performance started to play dirtier and dirtier. This general pikey-ish level of playing continued until the final score. Obviously not to make them feel worse that they weren't doing a proper degree , we decided to let them win being the altruistic charitable team that we are. Player of the match has to go to Steph with her amazing goals and general fabulous playing on the court. Table Tennis Sam Nair recounts Table Tennis'excellent adventures Sam 'The Treasurer' Nair LSE Table Tennis..........Hot Other Universities.......Not At long last LSE's forgotten sport, table tennis, has foimd its way into The Beaver, so that you can all learn of the trials and tribulations of the LSE teams. Both the Men's and the Woman's team compete in BUSA and, imsur-prisingly, both look set to proceed into the next stage of the competition, which will see us competing on a national level, rather than just against South Eastern teams. Firstly, the men's team kicked off their campaign with a whitewash victory over Kingston wannabe-university leaving them top of the group level on points with UCL. It was UCL next for the boys, and unfortunately we slipped to our only defeat of the season in a close game in which the score line betrayed the truth. LSE were undone by the UCL first seed, whose dodgy haircut and bandana gave away his mafia ties, who defeated aU four of the LSE team. UCL's other star player was their second seed, who also defeated each of the LSE team, who, sony to say, is a known user of steroids. Fbr LSE, former captain Kee Eng Khor won two matches with feUow third years Hong Wee Lee and Dhiren 'Lehman Brother' Suares winning one each. The real surprise was the performance of yours truly who faUed to win a single match, despite appearing capable of winning three. It was these under performance that led to the 13-4 score line (after the doubles was conceded), which in reality could have been a comfortable 9-8 victory for LSE. Next the men recorded a whitewash win over Gimperial leaving us only needing a win over the very weak Brunei team to guarantee qualification to the next roimd. Despite their close 4-5 defeat away to Southampton, the girls are also in a strong position following a whitewash victory over last year's champions Southbank University and an earlier 5-4 home victory over Southampton already seeing them through to the next stage. Lets hope the teams can continue to perform cind reach the finals at Warwick in March. Harris Lifter Sam LetHnamn l^iscoii Lucas Team of the Week Dam Rustam selects the best players from this week's games. Key: First Team Player Second Team Player Third Team Player Fourth Team Player Fifth Team Player Sixth Team Player Seventh Team Player Tfeamtrf the week; The Fcnirth Tkam- Having alreacfy been written off by everyone including liiar own patents, the fourths went into their game against the thirds with damage limitation on their minds. But Ibmmy O'DriscoR's late free-kick and then Gustov's penally save even closer to the end meant the fourths could enjcy a Wednesday ni^t far a diange. Star of the week; Gaz 'Fishy' Flshlock- A cotple of weeks back the onfy scaring this yjung man did was cn\Afednesdsy ni^ts in Becktcn. But three goals this week irjduding winners against HbUoway and Luton add to an impressive talfy whidi has now seen him grab six in sdx. Sdwdboy