TIfic BcftvGi* The Newspaper of the tSE SU First Published 5 May 1i>49 tssu& number SSI Exckisivel Howard . . . _ . , ^ Wheatus interview m Davies speaks to . „ T-, ™ 1 U.dfl« rctut lo /ne Beaver, centre pages How much stuff can you blag? Find out page 7 Canvas at Crush Queue backs up to Aldwych Mark Power News Editor Freshers' first experience of the LSE SU's flagship entertainments night was a hectic one with Crush crushed filled to capacity and many turned away at the door in disappointment. The crush occurred after record levels of society sign-ups at Freshers' Eayre and the highest number of student registrations for the new academic year. With the school expanding year upon year, the increased numbers of new arrivals have already put strained facilities under more intense pressure. Inside the venue, crowds for the bar and cloakroom facilities, as well as a tepid and sweaty atmosphere, meant that crush lived up to its famed reputation as London's most popular student union night. Speaking to The Beaver, LSE SU Entertainments Officer Jimmy Baker was pleased with the turn out but concerned that many LSE students missed out on the magic. Mr Baker advised dedicated crush goers to arrive early next week in order to avoid disappointment as turn-out is expected to be high for the next few weeks with large queues after 10 p.m. the norm. The keys to the crushing popularity of the night, according to the many revellers, are cheap drinks and the relaxed, fun atmosphere, in contrast to the many expensive and stressful options on the Friday and Saturday London night scene. The SU Sabbatical team made full use of the large crowd of waiting people by promoting their opposition to the proposed top-up fees expected to be debated in the new session of parliament. LSE SU General Secretary, Elliot Simmons, SU Education Will I ever get in? Queue for Crush fills Houghton Street and Welfare Officer, Rowan Harvey, and SU Treasurer, Jo Kibble, were hard at work canvassing and obtaining signatures on post cards to send to government ministers voicing student opposition to the legislation. Mr Simmons expressed his delight at the enthusiastic response the campaign received over the course of Freshers' week. Speaking to The Beaver he stressed the importance of raising the profile of the campaign in order to ensure a large turn out on the anti top-up fees march scheduled for October 26th. With more campaigning planned, the Union is gearing itself up for massive opposition to the top-up fees proposals running throughout this term. With Prime Minister, Tony Blair, digging his heels in at party con- ference last week, and a 1 back bench revolt looming on the not-so-distant horizon, the fight looks set to be messy and acrimonious. Jo and Elliot Canvas Crush LSE Careers Showcase Wednesday, October 8*^ 6.30pm, Deutsche Bank Visit www.db.com/careers for details More Homes for Students Mark Power News Editor Changes to the way the accommodation office handles new arrivals have resulted in impressively improved provision for student accommodation compared with last years unexpected disaster. The main improvement has been the opening of the new Private Housing Help Centre in the basement of High Holbom residence. The centre has been open throughout the arrival period, helping students obtain private accommodation as needed. London. Accommodation office manager, Paul Trivett, estimates that by the end of the freshers' period everyone "will have had at least one option for permanent housing." He went on to say that there also very few people with problems, estimating that there were "only a handful of cases that I am seriously concerned about, and those are mostly yet to arrive." The improvement in provision follows a determined effort by Mr Trivett and his office to be better prepared for the annual influx of students, which caught them out last year. In 2002 The Beaver reported in its 3rd October is^eThis is Citigroup. Apply online at Citigroup.com Meet us at the LSE Banking & Finance Fair on Monday 13 October. Our Company Presentation is on Wednesday 15 October at Citigroup Centre, Canary Wharf at 18:30. To sign up for our presentation email your name to campus.queries@citigroup.com stating "LSE presentation" in the title of your email. This year, he's working on four global accounts in three different time zones. In his first year at the Citigroup International Sales Desk, Martin has already worked on accounts in Sydney, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires. He believes this could only have happened at Citigroup. With a business model that has transformed the industry, Citigroup recruits ambitious, highly talented people and allows them to find their own path to their potential. To find out more, go to Cltigroup.com. citigroupj © 2003 Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Member SIPC. CITIGROUP and the Umbrella Device are trademarks and service marks of Citicorp or its affiliates and are used and registered throughout the world. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Citibank are affiliated companies under the common control of Citigroup. Citibank and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are equal opportunity employers M/F/D/V. Names and images do not reflect actual employees of Citigroup, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or Citibank. Page 4 Tell Tony NO! Jo Kibble SU Treasiirer_ Anyone who came to Freshers Jkyre or queued for Crush last Friday will know about our postcards against top-up fees. The response from students so far has been fantastic, with nearly 1,000 postcards signed and ready to be taken to Downing Street. The strength of feeling of LSE students on this subject quickly became apparent to us last week and this is hardly surprising. The proposals would allow UK and EU undergraduate students to be charged up to £3,000 per year for their courses, closing the door to Higher Education for vast swathes of society. Differential fees will lead to the ghettoisation of institutions and courses, with one level of resources and teaching quality for the rich and another for the poor Student debt will rocket and with it levels of student poverty and hardship. If you believe that access to Higher Education should be based on academic ability and not on ability to pay, make sure you sign a postcard. The Students' Union Executive will be distributing them at all major events in the coming weeks -signing one will take just a few seconds of your time but could make the difference between attending university or not for future generations. However, the postcard campaign is just one of many ways to campaign against top-up fees. If you would like to get involved in the Students' Union 'Don't Price Students Out' campaign, or want to be kept informed about the NUS National Demonstration on October 26th, please email the campaign convenor at su.treasurer@lse.ac.uk. verDjeivs Union General Meeting Returns - see you there Elliot Simmons SU General Secretary One of the things that makes LSE Students' Union famous is the high level of democratic participation amongst our members, exemplified by the Union General Meeting. The UGM is unique, as it is the only weekly students' union meeting in the Country. But what is the UGM? The UGM iis the sovereign decision making body of the Union; a weekly meeting iri which all students can participate in Union life. It gives every student the chance to hold the Executive Committee of the SU to account, but more importantly it is the time when the Union debates the policies it wishes to pursue. Debates encompass campus-level, national and international issues, and views from across the political spectrum are all represented. In this way it allows the students to choose the direction of their Union and govern Union policy in the most democratic way possible. The Director of the School traditionally makes two appearances to answer your questions during the year, as do sabbaticals from the NUS and ULU. With great speeches, heckling, the balcony boys and paper missiles flying around . on a weekly basis, the UGM is definitely worth a try. It is held every Thursday at 1pm in the Old Theatre. Union policy has ensured that no student has classes or lectures at this time, so there really is no excuse to miss out on this truly unique event so central to student life at the LSE. There is definitely something for everyone. Memorable UGMs have included motions on: opposing the war on Iraq, campaigning against the introduction of top-up fees, improving facilities for disabled students and asking for sheeshas in the Shaw library. Just about anything goes, as long as its approved by the Constitution and Steering Committee, so if you don't like something, try and change it - just be prepared to argue your case for two minutes. So, in conclusion, come to the UGM, because you haven't had the fiill LSE experience otherwise. See you there, Thursdays 1pm in the Old Theatre. And remember to use your vote! The fun has only just begun... societies await Will Macfarlane Societies Officer Freshers' Fayre 2003 was a record-breaking success last week. The largest ever number of LSESU societies obtained the greatest number of membership sign-ups in the history of the Students' Union's showcase event. So where do we all go from here? Well, to all those of you who are new to these parts and many of you who aren't, the Fayre was just for starters. This week the LSESU holds its first weekly UGM (1pm Thursday, Old Theatre), the AU sets the ball rolling as only it can, and the LSESU societies begin their year of activities with their AGMs and, in most cases, new committee elections. Signing-up and finding out about what's going on last week was only the beginning; the time to get involved in your Union and its societies starts now. Every week this year. Union societies both new and old, small and large, will offer a huge range of diverse events and activities; from the purely entertaining to the campaigning and thought-provoking -LSESU societies cater for all. Every week those events will be listed here in The Beaver by the Societies Officer in a section devoted to showcasing forthcoming society activities and allowing societies to make any special announcements they request. Please support your SU societies by staying as actively involved as you can and keeping up to date with what they're up to in The Beaver. Following on from the record-breaking beginnings of last week this should be a hugely successful and enjoyable year for all, with the SU continuing to increase its support to societies through the continuation of the annual Society Awards and the introduction by SU Treasurer Jo Kibble of a second budget round in the Lent Term for successful and active groups. So for now, please get involved and be part of the continuing success of LSESU societies. Society Committees, To advertise your events each week and make special announcements in the Society Listings section of The Beaver please contact the Societies Officer at w.d.macfarlane@lse.ac.uk. Your Welfare Found your feet? We have a few handy hints to help you make the most of the year ahead. Study Skills LSE offers a series of free lectures, and follow-up practical/clinic sessions on different aspects of study and learning. If you want to make sure your study techniques won't let you dowm check out http://leaming.lse.ac.uk/studyskills. The sessions cover everything from effective reading and note taking to structuring essays and exam technique and could help stop you from getting snowed under later in the year. Language Centre The LSE has its very own language centre on the 7 th Floor of Claire Market Building They offer a wide range of modem languages as well as mnning free English support classes. They also offer additional services such as proofreading, translation and document authentication. To see if they can help you visit http://wvrw.lse.ac.uk/Depts/lan-guage. Lt and NUS cards Don't forget to pick up your London Transport and NUS / discount cards from the ; Societies Room next to the Underground Bar. The LT card gives you a third off public transport in London and the NUS card can save you money on entertainment, fashion, food, travel and much more. Course Packs SU coiirse packs are now ready to order from the SU Copy Shop on the Mezzanine level of the Quad. 10 departments have agreed to participate in the scheme, and a full list of available packs is online at www.lse.ac.uk/union. The packs consist of the core readings for each course^ and cost less than if you® were to do the photo-J copying yourself in the" library, so save yourself time and effort and see if your courses are covered. Course Reps This is the time of year when departments should start thinking about electing their Course Representatives. Course Reps play a vital role in collecting students' feedback and ensuring the School uses it to make constructive changes to departments and the way they teach. Some departments are better than others at electing Course Reps and, sadly, some courses can end ' up without a representative at all. Don't be shy - If you want to get involved step forward and nominate yourself. Also, don't worry about leaning on your department to make sure they elect their Reps properly as you and your fellow students may loose out if you don't. For more information about the The Libraiy roles and responsibilities of Course Reps contact the Education and Welfare Sabbatical at su.edwelfare@lse.ac.uk. Societies If you didn't manage to sign up to a society or club at Freshers F^yre it's not too late. Either look up their details at www.lse.ac.uk/union or leave a message for them at SU reception on the ground floor of the East Building. With the onset of courses you may find it useful to check out the Library website for new arrivals with details of all their services and how to use them at www. Ise. ac .uk/library/induction Your Finances Don't forget to pay your fees! Check out www.lse.ac.uk/collections/financeDivisi on for details of paying online to cut the queues at the Student Services Centre. The Finance Office are friendly and helpful so if you are having problems let them know as soon as pos- ' sible and they will help you sort it out. Their website also has i details of loans and financial aid that may prove useful. Living in London can be very expensive. We would suggest that all students draw up a budget for the year taking into account all their income and expenditure. It's the only way to spot if you are starting to overspend. It may sound dull, and to be honest it probably will be, but it is far less stressful than trying to dig yourself out of a financial hole at a later stage. Don't succumb to tempting offers, choose your bank carefully, and be honest with them. If you do have cashflow problems, they may be willing to help in the short term: don't just ignore their attempts to contact you - the cost for doing so could be high. If you're an international student, some banks may try to place unfair restrictions on you, such as demanding a minimum balance. For a comparison of the different offers at the major banks, see www.support41eam-ing.org.uk which is also a good source of advice on other finance-related issues. Your bank may offer you a fee-free credit card, but the interest rates will still be sky-high. Unless you really trust yoxir-self, steer clear from these tempting pieces of plastic, which are one of the biggest causes of student debt in the UK. The same goes for store cards and mail order catalogues (their interest rates are often higher than general credit cards). If what you're buying is absolutely essential, build repayments into your monthly budget, and keep up with them to avoid paying extra interest. ' Don't "retreat". However bad things get financially, ignoring the problem will never make it go away. In the case of banks, failure to keep in contact could : result in expensive charges. Don't panic. Even if you've reached crisis point, there's probably something that can be done. Contact the Students' Union Advice Centre in E297 open 10:30-4:00 during September and term time, or e-mail su.advice-centre@lse.ac.uk for advice on what to do next. l'l [v jf n; iai i:r uj 0 n .oi si ito V JC C'. J .>1 ) I ^ I I M f , c f' J 4", The Beaver • Tuesday7th Qctx>faer '2003'...................-..........................................^...............Page 12 blink Politics Every year, thousands of offenders complete their sentences and return to relatively normal live£ But for the most serious offenders, should the public have a right to know their whereabouts? TRUTH or DARE Cartoon reproduced with the kind permission of Steve BeiL • Olivia Mantle The horrific abduction and miirder of the young schoolgirl Sarah Payne in July 2000 shocked the British nation in a way scarcely seen in recent years. The anger and frustration felt by a vulnerable public, egged on by frantic coverage and targeted anti-paedophile campaigns by certain sections of the tabloid press, led to unprecedented violence and vigilante-style attacks against previously-convicted and freed sex offenders. Their names and addresses had been revealed by a Simday newspaper. This anger was heightened further still when it transpired that the man foimd guilty of Sarah's murder, Roy Whiting, was himself a convicted paedophile, having previously served a prison sentence for a similar offence. His name was on the Sex Offenders' Register, as is common practice for criminals foimd guilty of such crimes. The Sarah Payne case prompted widespread clamour, for the Register, and other similar lists, to be made public. This would mean that anyone could check the address and record of any person convicted of such crimes, which for the moment are at the exclusive disposal of the police and government workers, and only to those above a certain grade of authority. Registered paedophiles and sex offenders in the USA, however, are put onto a database that any member of the public can consult^ and frequently do so to verify their area and the supposed safety of their families. This became law in 1997 after the death of Megan Kanka in circumstances very similar to those of the death of Sarah Pajnie. On the one hand, it has meant that families feel they are more able to protect their loved ones from known criminals. On the other, it signifies a. breakdown in society's belief of reform and the faith.it has in its criminal institutions; if a certain type of criminal is forever tarnished with a black mark, it reveals an underlying sentiment that the prison and reform institutions do not fulfil their purpose. More importantly though, it begs the question as to whether the public should have a right to know at all. This debate also affects ministries and the government. Consider for instance the Hutton enquiry. A great volimie of the evidence questioned had origins in MI6 intelligence, which was passed from ministry to government without the knowledge of the public. This is the way information has always been dealt with, and a situation which is seldom thought to be at fault. The reality is that there exists information that the public does not need to know, either because of the possible consequences or its inability to deal with such information. It is safer to pass it through specialist professionals to the relevant government body that then in turn consults professionals in each field in order to make an informed decision and act as necessary. Without these expert resources on which to make a judgement or form an opinion the ministers would be lost, and this is the situation the rest of the population invariably finds itself in with regard to convicted criminals. Lists such as the Sex Offenders' Register exist and are used by the police and the intelligence services. These bodies, like goverrunent departments, have the necessary tools to be able to use the information effectively when they believe an individual may be a risk to the com-mimity or an incident has taken place. But they are also able to look at the person objectively and assess each situation in its own distinct context. Others, who are not trained to do so, are less likely to be able to do so. The example of the killers of Jamie Bulger is a case in point. They were released from juvenile detention centres ill 2002 amidst general hysteria and indignation about their being given new identities and, essentially, new lives; the argument being that the toddler that had so brutally killed had not been given the same opportunity that they were now being offered. But in a society which does not believe in capital punishment, and therefore accepts that "an eye for an eye" is not always the best course of action, such arguments are empty. Surely it would be more worthwhile to consider the success our institutions achieve in a great nimiber of cases in reforming criminals, rather than letting tribal laws dictate the level of retribution society should wreak upon the criminal. Had the Bulger killers' whereabouts been made public, they would have been killed by an angry mob of have-a-go heroes within days of their release. As it is, they are able to start afresh, after having spent most of their childhoods and all of their adolescence in institutions which have educated them and aimed to ensure that they will not offend again. We live in a society where, at the moment, there is a culture of knowledge, and ministers, celebrities and newspapers alike all feel the need to expose the whole truth as often as possible. Of course, all too often these "truth" takes on the spin that politicians, PR gurus and tabloid editors wish to put on it. It is a false sense of the truth, glossed over so that the public will see what is desired of them to see. This is not a luxury that the common criminal can afford. Sex registers do not carry an appendix saying:"Bill Rogers, one case of sexual harassment, but has now seen the error of his ways and wouldn't dream of doing it again." The image that the public would get if these registers were available would be that all criminals that have served their time are just waiting to be released in order to re-offend, probably in worse circumstances. Past experiences show that most often, this is simply not the case.: Surely after all the games of truth and its many variants that goveniments of the past decades have playied, the public would realise that the "truth" is never what you would expect it to be, and more importantly, that at times it is best simply not to know at all. It is better for aU involved, - criminals, victims and bystanders alike - to leave the professionals to consider the consequences of such types of information. They need to do so without the reactions and often misplaced passion of Mr Joe Public, who on his own may be of no threat, biat in a crowd can be a dangerous force indeed. Olivia Mantle is a second year International Relations student. The man found guilty of Sarah Payne's murder, Roy Whiting, was himself a convicted paedophile on the Sex Offenders' Register. The case prompted widespread clamour for it and other similar lists to be made public' The Beaver Tuesday 7th October 2003 Page 13 blink Features Masonry Matthew Sinclair Blue signs in Philadelphia usually feature tourist directions to lots of places with the word "Independence" in their title. Independence Hall, National Historical Park and various other sites contain few surprises but plenty of history. "Masonic Temple" shocked me a little. With my usual lack of planning I had no more pressing engagements than tracking this temple down. It was not hard to find. A cathedral-like building opposite City Hall that I had passed on my way from the train station to the hotel seemed like a strange site for a 'secret' society- Luck substituted itself for planning and I arrived shortly before a tour was due to begin. Within minutes I was being guided around the tour by a moustached stereotype of respectable Middle America along with bemused Russians and a German who looked like a bible salesman with satahical hair: shoulder length and slick. I knew very little about the Masons befor^'^my tour; somewhere between the Simpsons' Stonecutters and a character whose name I can't remember from War and Peace. I was rapidly educat&d. Fourteen presidents were Masons, they seem to see King Solomon as their spiritual father, have more rules and intricate little traditions than the most anal of parliaments and describe themselves as being chiefly focussed on charitable work. The tour progressed. I learned that the German bible salesman was actually a Mason. The interior of the temple was stunning. Seven giant meeting rooms, each decorated like a palace, formed the impressive core of a labyrinthine building that we were told was filled with passages, moving walls and the like. If you were looking to hide something away the building would suit your needs well. I noticed a banner in the antechamber to one of the meeting rooms that thickened the plot agreeably. With some knowledge of the history of the Knights Templar, to see a banner proclaiming their Pennsylvania branch made no sense. Shortly after the destruction of the Crusader presence in the Holy Land, back in medieval days, the Knights Templar were purged; under torture they confessed to buggery, treason and even atheism. The organization was completely destroyed and it seemed unlike the Masons to sanction a body not based on centuries of arcane tradition. When I asked about this I was told that the new Templars were a "continuation of the story". No more details could be extracted from my guide who pleaded that he was "just a card carrying member". This was quite a story to continue. The Knights Templar was not just any order of knights but had the specific task of hurting infidels. They were created to "defend the Holy Land". To be honest I'm a little disappointed in the Israel-Palestine conspiracy theorists. They all shout and scream about the Jewish lobby, campaign donations and other political influences while remaining silent on a body resurrecting the "story" of wandering down to Palestine, killing as many Muslims as you can find then building a bloody great castle. It's entirely possible that my rampant speculation is building a house of cards but I think my explanation of the Masons makes a little more sense than their own description of "the world's largest fraternal organization" that does charitable work. I fail to see why charitable, elderly frat boys need a fancier base than the Pope. They can donate to Greenpeace and spank each other in the comfort of their own homes. An international conspiracy on the other hand...that needs a headquarters... Matthew Sinclair is a second year undergraduate studying Economics and Economic History. The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia - the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania P.S. They could also have kidnapped Elvis. All of the tunnels and moving walls in the Temple have to hide something. Clearly the Masons became jealous of others also hearing the King. Therefore they have him locked up in a tunnel somewhere under Philadelphia. Elvis isn't dead. The Masons hid him. Advertisement Central Catering Services Our catering facilities offer a wide range of foods, drinks and services together with the opportunity to socialise with friends and colleagues. You need never go off campus to satisfy your hunger or thirst! Brunch Bowl: Old Building 4th Floor Term: Monday-Friday 9am-7.30pm; Vacation: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm Huge selection of hot and cold foods and drinks available all day long in a buzzy atmosphere. Breakfasts: excellent value hot breakfast and healthy options. Lunch: International dishes; pizzas; filled jacket potatoes; pasta; stir-fry cooked to order; fish and chips; self-help salad bar; lots of vegetarian choices - stir- fry, fish and chips and salad bar available all afternoon during term. Supper in Term: an ever-changing choice of hot dishes and snacks, salad bar. All day: Hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, salads, snacks, yoghurts etc. All food and drinks available for eat-in or take-away. Robinson Room: Old Building 3rd Floor Term: Monday-Friday 12noon-2.30pm Relaxed atmosphere with an emphasis on quality home cooked dishes, soups, fresh vegetables and i^fads. The menu changes daily and includes organic and vegetarian choices. The desserts are to die for. Cafe Pepe: Clement House 3rd Floor Term: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9.30am-6pm; Wednesday, Friday 9.30*5pm. Coffee Bar where pastries are freshly baked and panninis are toasted especially for you. There's also sandwiches, hot soup, fresh juices, soft drinks, cappuccino, espresso and regular coffee with a choice of coffee beans. * Plaza Cafe: John Watkins Plaza ^ . Term: Monday-Friday 9am to 9pm; Saturday-Sunday 11am to 5pm. Vacation; 9am to 6pm Monday-Frtday. Ideally located for the Library, this new cafe features high quality Fair Trade coffees, teas and snacks. Hiere's a selection of sandwiches and baguettes, hot soup, cookies, muffins, cold drinks and mineral water. Beavers Retreat Bar: Old Building 4th Floor Term time: Monday-Friday 12noon-2.30pm; 5pm-9pm. Vacation: Monday-Friday 12noon-2pm; 5pm-7pm A traditional pub with a modern touch. There's a great selection of cask conditioned, keg and bottled beers as well as spirits, wines and soft drinks. There's an open fire for chilly winter evenings and a sun terrace for warm summer days. A great place to socialise. Staff Dining Room (SCR members only): 5th Floor Old Building The Staff Dining Room and Coffee Bar is open to all members of staff who choose to become members of the Senior Common Room. Coffee Bar: Monday to Friday 10am - 4.30pm. Speciality coffees include cafetiere, cappuccino, espresso, latte plus traditional, speciality and herbal teas. A selection of alcoholic and soft drinks is also available. Dining Room: Monday to Friday 12.30 - 2pm. Daily changing menu includes a choice of high quality meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, fresh vegetables and soup, salads and desserts. Special Event Catering: A variety of special catering services are available for conferences, business meetings, parties and private dining. Please contact the Catering Services Office ext 7222 or visit the catering section of the LSE website. rfee Beaver Tuesday 7th October 2003 . . . .. Page 14^ blink Features So just who is this former securities regulator who now sits in the LSE Director's office, and what are his plans for the school? Our editor climbed the stairs of Tower One to find out. Ibrahim Rasheed Executive Editor Most of your predecessors got into the job coming straight from the world of acade-mia, whereas you have done so after a long stint in the City of London. How do you think this will affect the approach you take to the job? Of course, not all of my predecessors have done that. I mean Lord Dahrendorf came here from the European Commission, which is in some ways not that dissimilar a job. I think it was possibly a brave decision by the school to go for someone outside as most of the universities in this coxmtry have academic heads. However, I regard myself as someone who is, one, a fairly experienced chief executive, and I have been a chief executive now for sixteen years in different organizations. This is my fifth organization. Also, I have retained an interest in most of the subjects that the LSE is offering. Not absolutely all, because I cannot claim to be a mathematician or statistician, but in all the areas of public policy, I have been engaged in those throughout my career one way or another. Usually in government, in the applied side if you like. I am a historian by training. I worked in the Foreign Office and I have retained an interest in international relations. Then in the City dealing with accounting and finance. Management and finance are things which interest me. So although I clearly do not come from the academic world I have always been someone who has retained an engagement with the academic world as in evidence by the fact that I continue to review books, often academic books. In fact, I reviewed Nick Barr's book about eighteen months ago, (laughs) quite favourably fortunately! So, I don't regard myself as someone who has come from completely outside, although I have been engaged in academic thinking So there was no real intimidation in succeeding someone who is, and I am quoting the LSE website here, "the most widely cited contemporary sociologist in the world"? Well, I think that I have a lot to prove because I don't come with that type of academic record but I think that is a different point from saying I feel intimidated by it. I don't feel intimidated. I am not easily intimidated actually. I think I have different kinds of strengths, and I think the job of director will be done in a different type of way. I won't be making sociology lectures while I am here, but I think I have a lot of experience in management, which is part of the school. I admire Tony quite a lot and I have read quite a lot of his stuff, but when the school hired me, I presume that they didn't think they were hiring an academic sociologist. If they did think that they have got a bit of a problem. (Laughs) I assvime that what they wanted was a professional manager. Freshers and returning students were greeted at the start of the year with industrial action. The school's administration has been criticized by the unions on strike for being a bit condescending and refusing to have negotiated. I understand that you have met with the unions. Do you plan to continue negotiations until you have reached a settlement for the pay dispute? Yes, I have met with the unions and have had a useful meeting, at least from my point of view and I hope they find it useful as well. It allowed me to imder-stand what their real concerns were. I find it rather unfortunate actually, because it has been a very long ruiming dispute, and in the sense that London weighting has not been adjusted for a very long time, government has stopped giving universities an allocation for London weighting and different xmiversities in London have adopted lots of different policies to deal with that. Some have agreed to a small increase in London weighting and others, such as the LSE, have focused on particular low pay problems. What is happening now is that there is a meeting of the University of London as a whole on Thursday 2nd October to decide whether there should be a collective negotiation on behalf of all the London imiversities or not. If there is, then we will take part in a collective negotiation and there will be a London wide resolution of this one way or another. If not, then we will have to deal with the issue ourselves. I don't think the director should be involved in the details of day to day pay negotiations. I think the director should have direct negotiations with the imions from time to time. That has not happened in the past but it will happen in the future. I have made that clear to the unions last week, and there will be a forum for the director to meet the unions to discuss general issues of concern to the school, recognizing that individual negotiations on particular parts of the pay scale will be dealt with via the staff. Another concern of students is the plan to introduce top-up fees. It is felt that this may discourage students from low income backgrounds from going to imiversity. Do you share their concerns? I share their concerns, but I think I reach a somewhat different conclusion. First of all, I think that some means of getting extra finance for higher education is crucial. Academic salaries have been reduced year after year. London weighting is a sub-set of a more general problem of more pay in higher education. The only current offer on the table from the government is to put in more money by charging higher fees. I think it would be very curious if the school would not want to get that extra money. Another question is: are the government producing a scheme which will have damaging effects on access? I think the way it is currently devised is faulty in some respects. Some students who will be getting less support than they will now at the poorer end of income distribution, if an additional £3000 pounds is charged, they will get partial revision, they will get maintenance grants reinstated but they will still be about £875 worse off than they are now. I The Beaver Tuesday 7th Octobei* 2003. blink Features Page 15 Taking into account that I think the government has got it wrong on support for poorer students, I personally would be prepared to go forward with loans and fees.' 'You don't sit down and say that over the course of your lifetime you will pay £850,000 in tax. You don't go throw yourself off Blackfriars Bridge at that prospect.' 'The government are not taking into account the additional cost of living in London in the maintenance loans, so that should go up.' think that gap should be bridged and I think that that should be bridged by additional maintenance support, but that could be generated by additional income universities could generate by charging higher fees. So, if that is done, then I think that this is an acceptable way forward. Now, there are some people who say that it will put people off. I respect that argimient. It is actually very difficult to resolve it because it is based on behavioural assumptions. It is based on some people saying "I think people will be put off by the prospect of higher debt." Other people say that that shouldn't be a problem because people will be paying nothing up-front. They wiU only pay that debt back if they get paid a higher salary. You don't sit down and say that over the course of your lifetime you will pay £850,000 in tax. Now that is a debt, I tell you. You don't go throw yourself off Blackfriars Bridge at that prospect because you know that somehow you will earn the money to pay that. So the question is how you can communicate this to people in such a way that it is not off putting. The new vice-chancellor of Cambridge made an interesting point, because she comes from Yale or Princeton... well, whichever it is, I think it is Yale. She said that Yale had what is described in America as a needs blind admission policy. You admit them on academic basis and then open the book and find out how much additional support they need and then take that into account. Yet they still found it difficult to attract applicants from lower income background. She says that the problem was nothing to do with finance but to do with communities where people say, "Oh we don't go to university from round here" or "Yale is not a place for us" which is a much more cultural factor rather than simply a financial factor. If they don't have the money then they will get paid, but still they don't apply. So, I am not sure that the participation agenda, and the fees agenda are quite so intimately linked as some people argue, but I think we need different types of policies to develop access which can run alongside a policy of 'those who can, pay more'. So, taking into account the fact that I think the government has got it wrong on support for poorer students , I personally would be prepared to go forward with loans and fees. But I do think people need to look very carefully at the impact, so I do not share the views of those who say we need to go straight to £10,000 or whatever, because you need to monitor the behavioural impact very carefully. Other arguments are based on assumptions of what people will do, and I think you need to monitor that very carefully. Do you think the reason why people are put off from going to universities likel^le is because they feel it's not a place for them? Do you think LSE needs to do something about its marketing strategy to improve access? Well, the school has been doing things like a Saturday school programme for schools in east London. The Schwartz Review is opening up a series of questions about how access should be broadened and how universities' admissions policies shovild be developed and we are participating actively in that debate. We have been sent a series of questions from Schwartz. We are looking into that and the academic registrar is consulting people in the school. There are quite a few academics here who worked on the stuff. So, it may well be that we need to change our approach. I would say that the LSE have already been quite innovative in finding out ways of trying to reach out to schools from whom they do not get applications at the moment. Will the LSE seek to charge the full three thousand pounds and will differential fees be introduced? Don't know on the first question. On the second question, in principle, I think it is right to give universities the ability to charge differential fees. But where we are at the moment on this, as far as the whole school is concerned, is that there is certainly a wide range of views on this. The Students' Union has declared itself to be against this. Some of the imions have declared themselves against. On the faculty you will find as many opinions as there are people, and possibly more. There are some people, like Nick Barr, who has been one of the intellectual originators of this idea, and a lot of people who don't like it. So, I am not pretending that there is one School view on this. Furthermore, I do not think that it is likely that there will be one school view on this. Eventually Parliament will have to make up its mind and I believe they should be able to hear a diverse range of views. I am not going to pretend that the fact that I am generally in favour of the qualifications I have given commits the LSE. I do not think it should. Now, if the policy goes through, then of course the school will have to reach a collective view on whether it takes advantage of it or not. That will be a tricky set of decisions. We certainly haven't reached that decision yet. We have certainly not decided. I am surprised that some universities appear to have done that. We have not decided what we will charge if we were given the freedom to do so because, one, we will need to see the final terms of it and two, we will need to do some work on how we will use that money best in terms of access. We will look at that on a case by case basis. There are some cours- es here where the demand is so strong and they do not seem to be particularly price sensitive, where the case for moving onto a higher fee will be very strong. There are others where the case will be less strong and the market will not be able to bare that. But we have not decided yet. Of equal concern to students is accommodation. As it stands, living in London is a lot more expensive than it is anywhere else in the country. One of the budget halls here is going to be closed down next year, be refurbished and run thereafter as a private finance initiative. It is inevitable that the rents will rise. Do you think this is justified? Well, I haven't actually been involved in this decision. This is, after all, my first official day. (Laughs) The school has a balancing act of sorts between the amounts of accommodation that it can get hold of and the price. If we wanted to keep the price down to £75 or £80 per week, then we would not have very much accommodation. The question you have to look at is: what would people's alternative be? Would people be able to find accommodation of a similar quality and similar distance at a lower price? Elliot Simmons has talked to me about this. What he says is one of the big concerns is, some people get put into accommodation that is more expensive than they want. We need to look into the allocation policy because if people do not want the higher quality accommodation and there are other people who would, then we must make svure that we get the allocation right. But over all, the economics... you are not allowed to cross-subsidise student accommodation from other parts of the school budget. We try to do the toughest deals we can, but the outcome is what the outcome is, really. Is it better to have additional continued on page 16 Is e 16 The Beaver Tuesday 7th October 2003 Features Howard Davies discusses his career, his plans for the LSE and his love affair with Manchester City continued from page 15 accommodation that costs up to £100 per week or is it just better not to do it? So far the school has made the right decision which is to try and expand the number of places that are available. Of course the other side of the coin is whether the maintenance support, either grants or loan in London is high enough. There we have made representations to the government to say that they are not taking into account the additional cost of living in London in maintenance loans and that that should go up. The LSE is a constituent college of the University of London. LSE students are increasingly having little or no contact with the federal university. Do you feel that there is any merit in this arrangement? Also, is there any chance that we may try and go it alone by applying for LSE degree awarding powers? At the moment, as I understand it, we do get some benefits from membership of the University of London. We have access to some University of London accommodation. There is also an external programme which generates some money for the LSE. However, I agree that it is not a particularly close link for most LSE students. We are looking at the external programme to see whether that makes sense. At the moment we do not have any plans to disengage, which would be quite a major step. It is not a huge part of the school's life and we feel that what we should be doing is negotiating the original components of the relationship to ensure that the LSE gets the best deal, but not throwing the whole thing in the air You have served at a variety of public institutions in your career. Almost all the jobs have been quite short, so consequently you have gained a reputation for taking up a challenge, achieving your aims, and then moving on. The LSE appointment is also relatively short term. Do you plan to instil any radical changes in the time you are here as you have done in some of your previous jobs? Well, I feel that it is slightly unfair...at the Audit Commission I had a three year contract which I extended and did five years. The CBI, I did have a five year contract but the government pulled me out of it to be deputy governor of the Bank of England, because my predecessor misbehaved on the carpet of his office with a journalist, which gained the reputation of being the 'bonk of England', which the Daily Mirror...the Sunday Mirror...used as a headline. Then at the Bank, the job just changed under me because the government decided to create the FSA. In fact I was the longest serving securities regulator in the world, by a long way, actually (laughs). These are high turnover occupations. Very risky occupations I have to say. You have seen what has happened at the SEC. They had three chairmen in a year. I personally feel that the reputation I have for changing jobs is a bit erroneous actually. In fact, I have not been particularly restless. As far as the LSE is concerned, it is a five year contract which could be extended. My instinct is that the LSE is the kind of commimity which places a high value on democracy and consultation and consensus. Therefore it is not the type of place which expects to appoint a director r r 'I go with the fanzine people to Manchester City games. But I am just a fan. I go and sit at the City end of Maine Road.' ¦ who is going to say 'Well, we have been going this way, but actually we are going to go that way and we are going to become a medical school'. It is not that sort of place. Indeed, the overall strategy that was worked on last year was a good strategy. But, I think it could be sharpened up in some places. I think the school has a long wish list of things it would like to do. Maybe there should be a clearer prioriti-sation of what we want to do. I think that the school could increase its engagement with the business commimity. At the moment the school is seen as being the preferred supplier by the government. Anything the government wants to look into in the public policy area... the LSE is always on the list of advisors on research projects. In business that is not the case. In the city, some people think of the LSE as a place which is a source of good ideas and a good place of training, but a lot of people have no image of it at aU. Indeed when I announced that I was moving to the LSE, a lot of people thought I was going to the stock exchange. And so I think the school could benefit from raising its profile in the business community. When you take a look at what we do, a lot of it is quite relevant to the business community. I am not just talking about the management courses. I am talking about the work the school does on globalisation, of social trends, etc. is relevant to business. Some businesses imder-stand that. BP fimded the globalisation programme for several years because they wanted their managers, who were operating internationally, to understand the way the world worked and they thought the LSE was a great place to come to. They were not coming here for expertise on oil exploration or anything like that. They were coming here to understand geopolitical trends. But if you look, there are not many businesses that think that and I think that we could raise our profile. So, I have a number of particular ambitions in things that I think the school could do better in. But, overall I recognise that this is not a 'turnaround' appointment where the school is in trouble and needs someone to rescue it. It is doing well: second in the league for research, it is hugely popular on applicants. There are fourteen applicants per place. A completely different kind of problem with regard to access from Oxbridge which get 3.5 applicants per place. We have not got that same obstacle here. So, there are a lot of great things about it. I think it is a question of sharpening things up, raising our profile in certain areas, making some difficult prioriti-sation decisions rather than a radical new strategy. Your predecessor made an annual visit to the Union General Meeting. Do you plan on doing so yourself? No. I think I am doing two this year (laughs). I certainly am coming, but I have a feeling that there are two booked in the diary. Elliot didn't tell me, but he implied that Tony Giddens did two. Perhaps I have been conned here. Just to look at the future now. You are known to be an avid Manchester City fan. One commentator said that if you were to cut yourself, blue blood would gush from the wound. You wej-^ecently linked with a possible move there as chairman. Do you see any involvement with the club in the future? No. This is always coming up. Whenever City lose a chairman, there are stories to the effect that I should be chairman. Indeed there was a fanzine campaign this time. The reason for that is, one, thei^ aren't many famous Manchester City fans but also because I know the fanzine people. I go with them to the games. But I am just a fan. One of the reasons they say they would like to see me in the chair is because I do not go and sit in the Director's Box. I go and sit at the City end of Maine Road. But I have no interest in terms of managing. Supporting football is the irrational part of my life. The point is, I have no responsibility for this. I can go and cheer and shout abuse as I see fit. So I am quite uninterested in football finances and management. I just like to watch the game. It's a tribal thing as far as I am concerned. There is absolutely no chance that I should be the chairman of Manchester City. Absolutely none. Even if it is offered to me, which it will not be. Also, these days you need to have several million pounds to be chairman. What does the future hold for Howard Davies? I do not know. I cannot see being beyond here for quite a few years yet. I am really looking forward to it. It is a very exciting, intellectual future at the LSE. Every possible thing that I am interested in is going on in this school. Plnancial regulation is interesting in a certain sort of way, though my wife goes crazy whenever I talk about it. But its not the same as the range of subjects which the school has to offer. Howard Davies took over as Director of LSE on 1st October. Ibrahim Rasheed is a third year undergraduate studying Economic History. H <; ¦ f f i-1 y t / t y " < Page 17 ? I < c C- ¦ The Beaver ' Tuesday 7th October 2003 Features -M :f .m * r Ibrahim Rasheed Executive Editor Never underestimate the determination of a quiet man", Iain Duncan Smith told his. colleagues in the Conservative Party. Determined he may be, but what is certain is that the party stays as quiet as ever. Ever since being obliterated and cast into the electoral abyss in May 1997, the Conservatives have not looked like a serious opposition, never mind a potential party of government. Yet slog away they do, trying to build up their profile and restore any semblance of trust they once had amongst the electorate. Having come third in the Brent East by-election, it is inevitable that there will be calls for a change in strategy to raise their prospects at the next general election. But it is not just the Tory party that has suffered. The turnout in Brent East was abysmally low. One explanation as to why Labour was defeated by the Liberal Democrats rests on the belief that many Labour voters, disillusioned by war in Iraq, stayed at home on election day. Others claim that thosei who switched to voting for the Lib Dems from Laibour did so as a protest and not because Of any belief in core Liberal Democrat values. Disillusion exists not just because of the Iraq war. The problem has existed for a very long time and people are getting increasingly switched off in terms of poUtical activity. This is especially the case with young people. Many believe that it. is no longer necessary to be involved in a party political system which is quite alien to them. They believe it has little or no effect on their daily lives. Anyone with even a vague understanding of British politics wiU know that it is next to impossible to work in it outside the party political system. Taking a look at the Freshers' Eayre at LSE last week, it is clear that party politics is not entirely dead, at least for a small hardcore. Stalls were set out for all three major political IN THE UNION That's the political kind, by the way. In an era of unprecedented apathy, how well did the LSE's political societies get on during Freshers' Fayre ? parties as well as for two socialist ones. Is political interest just limited to those freakish anoraks already involved? Or were many freshers persuaded to join the world of hackdom? Scurrying up and down the stairs of Clement House trying to evenly divide my time between the different party stalls was a frustrating experience. This was mainly because they hardly attracted much attention, making it extremely dif-. ficult to nab someone to interview who had just signed up at one of the stalls. Trying to understand the cause of this is not that difficult. Maybe people figured than an 'Ace' card was more useful than a : Lib Dem membership card. Maybe fresh-i ers thought it more important to get E-'d i up with the 'Psy Trance' crew than to I spend an afternoon listening to Anne 1 Widdecombe bang on about asylvim seek-i ers. In order to pass the time I thought it i might be an idea to have a chat with the ; dedicated souls manning the stalls. To ; Labour Students first. Dave Cole is very ; proud of the fimky PowerPoint presenta-! tion displayed on his laptop. In this age I of spin even the amateurs have got their I presentation skills finely honed. So what I do the Labour Students stand for? ' "We are affiliated to the Labour party just like trade unions. We campaign for things that are important for students. We are heavily involved in campaigns for ¦equality and social justice", says Cole. How does the Labour party essentially differ from the others? "Laboiu: is the party that is most connoted to public services. Obviously this is backed up by the link to trade unions." If the Labour party feels so close to trade unions why have you set up stall here by entering a building that is being picketed by UNISON and the AUT? "I did not cross a picket line". Huh? "In the interests of students who wanted to join the Labour Club I came in through an alternative entrance that was not being picketed." Who says the Labour party doesn't know the meaning of compromise? Soon my patience is rewarded. A student signs up for the Labour club. Roberto is a postgraduate from Switzerland. I ask him why he joins the club and he replies that the primary reason was to get involved in forums to debate ideas. F^ir enough, but what of the war? Was he against it? "I think the war was bad", he replies. "But that is only one aspect of the party. They seek to combine social values with a market economy." This is exactly the tj^e of image that Tony Blair has built and it not only has the British electorate hooked, but left-wingers in continental Europe seem to see something they identify with as well. Next stop, the Lib Dems. Their stall is perhaps the most colourfuUy decorated of the lot. Party headquarters had clearly forked out big time in order to capitalise on the Brent East win. In addition to Ut-erature on issues of immediate importance like top-up fees and housing, the Liberal Democrats have curiously focused a lot of attention on drugs. Postcards with "Prohibition isn't working" and "Weed, legalise it" are prominently displayed. The party was accused of fighting a cynical campaign in Brent East. Is this a cunning attempt to divert attention from the fact that the Liberal Democrats tend to sit on the sit on the fence on most issues? A Masters student I spoke to did not seem to think so. "I like the Lib Dems' environmental and anti-discrimination policies. I also like their drug policy", she says. The Liberal Democrats clearly have gone for a more leftist approach than Labour nationally and this is represented on campus quite effectively. An American General Course student studying the literature tells me that they appear to be far to the left of the Democrats. It remains to be seen whether the Liberal Democrats will survive, or even profit from, this leftward swing. The Conservative stall is hard to miss. And it's not just to do with the massive blue poster behind it. "You can spot them a mile away", says Paul Beaimiont, a first year student. "It's the v-neck jumpers and the stench of Old Spice." A bit harsh perhaps. I ask Jordan HoweUs, who is handing out Conservative leaflets, whether there is any real difference between his party and Labour any more. "The Tories champion the individual. Labour interferes much more with individual rights." The Tory faithful seem to be sticking to the good old values. But are they pleased with how they are doing nationally? One student, now in her fourth year at thS**^ LSE, confessed that she was disappointed with the direction the party is heading towards. "They are getting worse. They do not seem to be going anywhere." She also raUs against her local constituency party. "They are not really concerned with ideology. They are cynically exploiting votes, especially with regard to councils." It is definitely refreshiiig to talk to someone so principled, but maybe her view of politics is a bit too idealistic. It is not only in local constituencies that dirty tricks are rife. I notice a stu=^ dent surrounded by Conservative Future activists as she registers with them. She wanders off in a hurry while the hacks look rather pleased with themselves. Curiosity aroused, I run after her and inquire as to her reasons for joining. A clearly exasperated Cherena said, "The guy kept bugging me. I didn't have any money but he kept bugging me so I joined without paying the fee. I am not going to go to the meetings or anything. I'm more Labour really." Is this the way forward in politics? Perhaps Iain Duncan Smith-ought to visit the next LSE Conservative Future meeting and pick up a few hints. f Beaver Tuesday 7th October 2003 CCOS xaiJoljC) ."irV /libiisuT lo /xioC b:art edited by Justin Noian lundun stoodent nick all our ideas. EDITORIAL By the time you read this, many of you avid b:art readers will have taken the plunge, signed up at freshers fair, and gone to our first collective meeting to meet and greet our lovely editorial staff. To those who are about to write I salute you. For those who didn't sign up, but still want to contribute, merely mail me at JJ.Noian@ise.ac.uK or or^e of the editors. You'll find our section is of a broad enough scope to accomodate anyone. Though if nob jokes and puerile humour is more to your taste, Beaver Sports can be contacted on G.H.Carter@ise.ac.uk or Vyras@lse.ac.uk. Freshers week was of course very interesting, and t managed to go to most events. Indeed if you didn't see me hassling freshers at Blast Off on Tuesday, or dancing maniacally at Yacht Club on Wednesday, you probably saw me at Freshers fair on Thursday morning where 1 must con- fess to being extremely hungovei; its a @)0d job alt my people did arti admirable job of getting hungry young freshers to sign up. Simon, Danij Dalia, IMeii and Jasmin I salute you, 4 Next week we should have new Fine Arts and Theatre people^ installed and we will be also be looking for Food and Drink, and Clubbfr|| contributors. So if like eating, drinking, and raving {thats 90 % of us) then get in touch with me at the usual address. . :j By the way, I was the one dancing round the cheese room at Yacht Club with two straws up my nose. It may have looked silty, but I'm sur« you'll agree it had a certain artistic merit to it Take it Easy. Wheatus mania Neil goes Wheatus nnental! He bags a copy of their latest albunn, meets up with them and catches the live show, all in the space of a day. Quite the overload... O It's an odd place Kings Cross Scala at 3 in the afternoon. It resembles an empty school hall rather then an established concert venue. It's particularly odd on this day as it's here I meet "geek rock" group ^ Wheatus, currently in the midst of a two week tour of England and here for ; the London show. I meet up with lead singer Brendan, sister Liz who pro-jvides backing vocals, and recently recruited keyboard player Shannon Brendan's manner surprises me a little from the outset. Going on the content^® J;]] cartoon vocal style, I had envisaged a Soluble joker of a fellow. In actual fact, : he and his sister turn out to be quite;^^^^K|^. : ^the opposite. Brendan thinks pensivelyi^^K^* r | about each question put to him, and, | after sufficient reflective pauses, < returns succinct and thorough answers. .I'm surprised to learn that they pro-^^^R i 'duced their new album "Hand Over Your * ^ Loved Ones" by themselves, in Brendan's Long Island apartment. Their view on people downloading the new album for free Is passive; they are, apparently, "cool with it". They resent a lot of Britain's music journalism for its need to be sensationalist. NME in particular is cited for hyping groups up, shortly before knocking them down the minute they become : popular. "They expose up and coming bands too quickly", Brendan :; explains, a tad bitter perhaps that Wheatus have turned out to be one of them. Maybe it's a reflection of the current music scene, offers Shannon; ; People aren't as passionate about music as they once were - the press have to stir up interest to support the industry It's clear after this relaxed ; opening to the interview that Wheatus have views and astute ones at that. I begin therefore to believe that Wheatus are a band that are very aware. Aware of themselves as people and aware of what they, as a band, are all about. They make music that people find fun. And they enjoy making and playing it. They don't care how "pop" it gets labelled. All that word means, after all, is just that - popular. I discover that they are in fact immensely ; proud of their big hit "Teenage Dirt Bag", something I'm initially tentative :;to ask about. At the gig later that evening, they drag at least 30 people / : ; up on stage and perform an extended version of it. They are happy to have J ; composed music which is accessible on such a large scale. And why indeed shouldn't they be, I ponder? :?i Yes. Wheatus are fun fun fun I decide. They're serious people, quite the C-dry little lot in fact, but the music they want to seriously make is fun. ¦ Brendan's singing voice you realise is entirely put on. This is confirmed when, at the gig, the group cover an AC/DC song. Brendan's manages to Imitate AC/DC vocalist Dave Evans down to a T. In concert they have dancing girls on stage, wiggling about in an attempt to spread the spirit of string free pleasure. They love the Darkness it emerges, a band who I : start to think are a bit like them. And in the album's sleeve notes they give ' thanks to Robbie Williams, Kylie, and the Sugar Babes amongst more predictable mentions (QOTSA, JJ72 and the like). They never drink before going on stage. Even during the gig itself, the most alcohol that gets supped is a sly swig of whiskey When a member of the audience attempts a stage dive, Brendan snarls: "That's a great way to hurt somebody You try that again and I'll wrap my guitar around your neck". Coming from such an undernourished little chappy, such a remark is a little comical. But there's no doubt that he means it; Music's just about fun, no one should spill blood over it. This sense of fun is reflected in their music as well. They come on to a crazy big band record and leave to the theme tune from Dallas. Deep into second single "Little Respect" they succinctly switch into a jazz number for 20 seconds before returning to the main song. Everyone breaks into a little grin. Clever stuff. And fun of course too. On top of songs from their first album, Shannon plays lively keyboard riffs which adds a cheeky edge to them. This group, I reflect, have the energy of abundant punk pop groups like Blink 182, but decide to take themselves with a refreshing pinch of salt. They are carefree. I begin, contrary to expectations earlier in the day, to warm to the group. Carefree. Yum yum. I could do with a bit of that. But a sense of foreboding begins to dawn on me as I put the CD on and prepare to forget all things bad and bounce around for a bit; I start to become dissillusioned. It slowly hits me that Wheatus aren't actually the light-hearted song writers I'd made them out to be. In fact, their songs verge on the dark and brooding side. The new album, for all its ironic anecdotes and brash lyrics - the repeated line: "My balls are bigger than a dynamite satchel of pain" a deft example - contains a lot of emotional stuff. It's at this point that I struggle to grasp what this band really is about. What are they trying to do here? Are they, despite seeming such an introspective group, even sure themselves? It would be a far cry from . truth to claim that any of their songs¦P' sound dark on the surface. Yet delve a lit-iT, JRL " tie deeper and you find some shocking Qy content. Amongst other dismal jolts Iife has to offer, we are presented here with: ~ loss of love ("I'm better off alone and freei^V 5 cos no one can put up with me. And your !\\| mom don't like me either. Now I don't\\ t f- . ^ have to meet her"), adultery ("Just tell me'^h i his name, Just tell me you didn't get laid ; '¦ vK in our bedroom. And was it the same?"), N-lj;' / ~ insecurity ("OK so I'm a jerk and I'm a weirdo and even if I'm lucky I'll amount to zero") and violence (an account of the time Brendan, on mushrooms in Amsterdam, got chased out of a bar by "pissed drunk and raging" English hooligans). Brendan admits that the album is very personal. The songs for it were written while the group were on tour in Autumn last year, a time when he split up with his fiance. It was this event which spawned ideas for the new songs and their subject matter. I admitedly didn't, in our chat, quite realise what an impact this had made to a band known for its exuberant music. As 1 leave the Scala, there's a group of girlys in their early teens, hoping for a glimpse of the band they idolise. During the gig, everyone smiles and dances to the songs which are seemingly cheery numbers, a simple bit of merriment. I'm a confused man. They seemed so clued. They didn't seem to be hedonists, true, but they seemed to make music for them at least. The gig seems to confirm this. But then you examine the lyric booklet just to be able to sing along, you listen a little closer, and you expose the truth; This is a band who not only have serious issues but attempt to sing about them as well. Strange stuff. NEILGARRETT The 3eaver Tuesday 7th October 2003 f- ii I ( V ¦ I I y A r i f I * P^-^e X9 ................... .........______ __ ..___________________________ ___________________________ —' --- EAST WIST 01 VAIsr ORCHESTRA PAUL KIRBY checks out one of the more interesting musical projects to emerge from the Middle East. I was drawn to see the East-West Divan Orchestra not out of a deep love for classical music [a love I cannot say that I with nnusicians from Israel. While the project is not overtly political [it is about the music which transcends such divides] it has political implications -and for once in the great slagging-match over all things Middle-Eastern the implications are constructive. And watching the Orchestra I found it impossible to tell who was Israeli and who was Arab - and why should I have been? There were none of those barriers here tonight, just great musicians powering their way through Beethoven's Eroica and Mozart's Concerto for Three Pianos. But for me, hearing all these pieces for the first time, it was Schubert's Unfinished Symphony that real- ly moved me with its sweeping emotions and rhythmic shifts. I was surprised to find ^ myself holding my breath for' ; fear of disturbing the Orchestra - v \ who somehow' managed to -"^1 sound both forceful.and fragile..^^;'.' A cough from the'audience, was ;. ..• audible even when everyone on stage was playing at once and - ¦ yet there they were, holding the . ¦ attention of thousands. To see ' I tW-^ ,¦ a Palestinian and an Israeli sit-^^Jftipl^f:"-ting side by side at their pianos,- ¦ weaving notes together, each complimenting the other, adding something to the music by their relationship - it gave the experience a sense of hope. The Orchestra is still new, still young but Barenboim has already said that it 'will only attain its full dimension when it is able to play in all the countries that are represented in its orchestra, which is not the case at present. We cannot go to Israel, to Syria'. Here's to that dream. PAUL KIRBY HOT WATER MUSIC JAZMIN BURGESS catches up with godfathers of all things emo and hardcore.. Wiih the release of 2002's 'Caution', Hot Water Music showed themselves : to be one of the few bands who are talented enough to be able to adapt and ichange their sound into something new, different and exciting whilst still remaining reassuringly familiar On their recent tour of the UK to promote the album, IThe Beaver was able to catch up with drummer George Rebelo and quiz him on such pressing issues like the band's plans for the future, their move to Epitaph and Hot Water Music tattoos. Oh and N*Sync and The Backstreet Boys and exactly how they effect the Florida 'scene'... iThe Beaver (T.B): So, are you enjoying being back in England again? IGeorge Rebeio (6.R): Oh yeah, and our bus is so great - we've been sleeping a flot (laughs). No seriously, the shows have been going really well, we got to go to I Ireland for the first time which was pretty intense. Everybody's been treating us I really well, I'm just really excited to be back in Europe again! T.B: A lot of bands who tour over here often say that the crowds in Europe are pretty different to the US... G.R: Oh for sure - well it differs dramatically sometimes. I mean some cities in America they think they're too cool for school and they don't want to dance and have a good time. But I mean generally, for the most part, you have your good scenes and bad scenes everywhere. T.B: How've you found the average Hot Water Music fan's reaction to 'Caution'? Has it been negative or are they all loving it as much as your older material? G.R: Honestly, its been mixed. I've had people come up to me and tell me it was their favourite record of last year and other people telling me it's shit compared to the other stuff we did. Some people find it boring, but people who get really into the song writing parts of it really dig it. I personally think its our best record, so I don't really care what other people think! (laughs) I mean it's sold more, so it's getting to more people, but some of our hardcore bands don't appreciate it as much - because it's a liitle more catchy, there's a little more harmonies on it and it's a little more together you know. |T.B: a lot of bands regularly cite Hot Water Music as influences - don't you feel iany pressure to always produce music that's critically acclaimed or do you just irise above it all? |G.R: Hmmm, I think honestly the only pressure that we feel is the pressure we I put upon ourselves to write the best music we possibly can. We try not to think |about outside influences or meet expectations of 'Hot Water Music are a certain Itype of band'. The only pressure that affects us is the pressure of not trying to Sput out the same record over and over again. You know, we're always trying to Ichange and do something different. |T.B: So, being so esteemed as 'influences' do you guys still draw from influ-iences yourselves? I^G.R: Oh yeah, everything influences us. We toured with Leatherface a while back Mk and they influenced us a great deal.But yeah, for the most part we do have our own formula and have our own way of doing tilings. We ikinda trust our own tastes and what comes from inside rather than what comes from outside. T.B: Having toured with so many bands, what's the best thing you've learned from another band? G.R: Wow. Um, well when we first started Avail took us out and showed us the ropes. Before then we were kinda naive to touring and they took us in and showed us how people rip you off and what to look for - you know who to trust and who not to. Yeah, I think Avail were our biggest influence as far as us being a band. T.B: People often say there's a distinctive West Coast Sound and a distinctive East Coast Sound, so do you think there's a distinctive Florida sound? G.R: (laughs) I don't know! I don't think so! Gainseville has a kind of distinctive sound i guess. But I mean we have Dashboard Confessional and NSYNC and The Backstreet Boys all coming from Rorida too! So i don't know! (laughs) T.B: (laughing) Okay, so what records are you/the band listening to at the moment? G.R: What's been consuming me is The Beatles' 'White Album', Hot Hot Heat and Spoon 'Girls Can Tell'. Those are like the three things that are constantly spinning in my CD playen I can't wait to see Hot Hot Heat live in fact, that album || completely blew my mind. ii T.B: And finally, what are the band's plans for the rest of the year? G.R: Well, once we get back home we're gonna take six vreeks off. We're then y touring the US in two week stints, just so its easier for us, because we spend so j: much time avray from home. And then we're off to Canada with the bouncing souls. We probably won't break again til the end of November and after that...who knows? JAZMIN BURGESSij (/) CD bleary-eyed ankie>biters gawping at a television oft a Siturday morning. Cartoons can be cool and compelling, intelligent even, as well as being Jolly good fun. Then came the CGI revolution, and of course, the landmark of filmmaking that was Toy Story. But, far from sitting smug on their laurels. John Lasseter and the virtuoso Pixar team have quite literally gone from strength (Toy Story 2) to jaw-dropping strength (Monsters Inc.), turning tbeir attention to toys, bugs, beasts, and now fish. Owning with a mood-setting exposition of tragedy. Finding Nemo starte a^ means to go on; purposeful and action-packed cinema. It follows the journey of a clownfish (who isn't funny) named Marlin (Albert Brooks), and his knockabout sidekick Dory (Ellen Degeneres), the typically mismatched road-movie pairing established early on in double-quick time. And, though * the plot does suffer slightly from character undirdevelopment In the first act, the story soon gains pace with such flair and momentum that you'll soon get swept away with it, and have plenty of belly-trerhbling laughs in the process. Sure, there are the same moral-hugging, feel-good themes that the Disney machine has stuffed down our throats over the years, but with the Pixar crew at the helm, their CG-wizardry and comic flair put the ethics lecture on the back-burner and let you effortlessly marvel at the sub-marine world and its thousands of colourful inhabitants they have so lovingly ^ created. - ^..... i raoemarK i nomas Nevnnans ing gently in an undersell son is truly breathtaking.* tuiii|,^he lead two voices $^ay«d by lesser been enlisted before, whilst the bigger-name a whk3t truly add something extra to the picture the numbers (Willem Dafoe» Eric Bana and GeoffAy.^ush mised to perf€»:tton by their fishy and feathered alter-^bs) As we have come to expect, the Pixar crew keep the big kids entertained with the usual niix of caricature-based in jol^ Ifh attending an anger-mangement self-help group is quite simply g movie homages (look out for a brilliantly overt reference to Tbe Hitchcock's The Birds and Psycho, The Terminator gets a n6d,#Ki; there is a requisite if fleeting reference to Jaws), as well as pie unashamed slapstick. And what a world. Overlayed by a riui inn diaries 'h danny king T " |U9 This book is about a professional hit man, Ian Bridges, who is one of the best in his field. He has all the money he will ever need. He works for an organisation that has utmost faith in his ability to get the job done. There is only one thing missing from his life -somebody to love. He literally pines to find that perfect mate. The only problem is he ends up killing all his prospects for one paranoid and psychotic reason or another. He also has another problem. His victims as well as his dead mother come back to haunt -no, nag him relentlessly after he has done away with them. A hit man with a conscience? Mayhaps...but it's more like a hit man with a running relationship with the nearest psychologist. This book is chockfull with so many laugh out loud jokes and giggles that we forget it is about a cold blooded killer and actually begin to feel sorry for Ian Bridges and his pathetic attempts at finding Ms. Right. Danny King takes you through several of ian's 'jobs' in gruesome detail as well as the hilarious training of another hit man. It's not the blind leading the blind in this case, because Ian could teach The Sopranos a thing or two -or three, but it's still almost painful reading what the teacher has to tell the student. The book is written in such a non threatening and funny way that you can't help but being thoroughly entertained and grossed out all at the same time. Danny King is able to take the most horrific subject and turn it into comic relief. A real master of his craft. Marcia Wellington Two more works of art by Danny King: The Bank Robber Diaries The Burglar Diaries To look forward to: The Pornographer Diaries. Wahey! A group of fringe society misfits tackle a blackmailer and give Miss Marple a run for her money... Author: Debi Alper Publlsher:Weidenfield & Nicholson Date: June 2003 ^rice: £9.99_ A hilarious whodunit set in the backdrop of a netherworld. This novel held my interests on many levels. It showed me a side to humankind that was dark and sinister yet in spite of the negative environment love and a true sense of family prevailed. Woven into all of this is a mystery to die for (some did) that kept me guessing to the end. It allowed me a peek into the dark, disturbing world of s&m, junkies and the otherwise fringe elements of the society. The existence of this world, the author intimates, is a sad result of the abuse and neglect of our children and an intolerance for each others differences. Nirvana is actually the home of an eclectic group of social misfits and the focal point of this interesting tale. They all band together to help Jen, the main character, uncover the iden- tity of her new boss's blackmailer. Jen's boss is Stanley Highshore - a high profile executive and husband of a Tory MP An upstanding member of society, right? ......wrong!!! Good ole Stanley is also known in the underworld as Staple Stan - a man who has a penchant for having his private parts stapled. In a series of comical twists and turns, Jen and her band of misfits were able to reveal the blackmailer's identity, while making other shocking discoveries in the process. Debi Alper's Nirvana Bites is a definite must read for all mystery buffs. Otherwise it's just a good funny/sad/whimsical book for those of us who just like a good read. Marcia Wellington Next up for Debi Alper? Trading Tatiana Interested in writing for the Lit section of ther Beaver? Free books - what more could you possibly need - or want?! Email Dalia at beaverlit@yahoo.co.uk The Beaver Tuesday 7th October 2003 Page 24 b:scene o CD Need some good ideas on what to do: where to eat and go out this week? SARAHWARWICK l