Roar! Review of the Year

Sports Review of 2002/03: ‘Kings of London’ Page 22

ROAR’s new Features Editor and News Editor take us through a year of international events Pages 4 & 5

Review of the Year

Review of the Year A YEAR AT KCLSU The year began well for King's College London Students' Union the Spring elections had returned an all-new team of Sabbatical Officers, who had begun to change the image of the Union even before the first term began - never before had so many pictures of the President been seen on the walls of the Macadam Building!

The year's first Student Representative Council got off to a shaky start, but council members soon got the hang of it, resulting in one of the most credible years for student representation that King's has ever seen. November saw the National President of NUS, Mandy Telford, coming to address the SRC, and the Head Honcho himself, KCL Principal Arthur Lucas, came in

January to listen to the views of the assembled students on issues as wideranging as tuition fees and sports grounds, equal opportunities and photocopiers.

In December, an infuriated SRC voted unanimously to oppose the College's attempts to charge a £150 penalty fee for late payment of tuition fees - something which KCLSU has now succeeded in having abolished.

Among the motions your Union has passed this year: a motion to increase the NHS Bursary payments for finalyear medics, a motion to support National No-Smoking Day, a motion for better services at St Thomas' Library, to name but three. The Union has succeeded in its endeavours in many of these areas and more: the College changed its term dates in order to increase the NHS Bursary and the St Thomas' Library is now open later. We are now working with the College on making replacement examinations and academic appeals simpler and fairer, and continue to ensure student views are consulted on the forthcoming Strand Site Redevelopment.

Left to right: David Utting (current President), Chris Piper & Abby Wilson (ex Presidents), and kneeling is David Dunne (President elect) All brought together on election night.

Special full page of Reggie on page 8 & 2002 - 2003 ‘Spotted’ on page 23

In RAW:

Continued on Page 2

Union Anti-Racism Campaign as Voters say NO to BNP 53 000 racially motivated crimes were reported in the 2000/2001 National Crime Survey. According to "Understanding and Responding to Hate Crime" by the Metropolitan Police, there has been a 6 per cent increase in the number of racially motivated incidents following 9/11.

The BNP are an increasing threat to the safety and security of students on campus and have recently made gains in the national political arena.

All students have the right to go through the 'student experience' without fear of intimidation. Racism exists on campus.

Racism attacks not only the individual but also the collective confidence and well-being of minority communities in Britain and on campus. Racism must be eliminated to protect the welfare of all students.

On 25 March the BNP announced that its leader, Nick Griffin, would stand in Oldham's local council elections on 1 May. Griffin said, "Oldham is very important to us and we have stronger support there than anywhere else." Racist attacks increased by 75 per cent in Oldham between April 2001 March 2002, a period of increased BNP activity. Nick Griffin did not win a place on Oldham's council, suggesting to many that their grip in certain areas was greatly exaggerated to increase media interest in them. The BNP contested over a dozen seats in Oldham and stood in 200 seats nationally, compared to 68 last year.

The BNP has a youth section, which targets campuses across Britain. The BNP calls the Nazi Holocaust a 'hoax' and supports 'an all-white Britain'.

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Exam Survival Pullout:

All the best in arts Contains items on revision, stress, from this year exam tactics & contacts for academic Starts on Page 17 advice and representation Page 9

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News - ROAR Review of the Year 2003 ‘A Year in KCLSU’ Continued from Front Page

A similar debate was had in January over the

The War in Iraq has been a hot topic for students across the country, and King's is no exception. A motion was debated at our Council, at the National Union of Students' National Conference, and an Extraordinary General Meeting was called at the end of the Spring term, to discuss KCLSU's response to, and position on, the war. In spite of over 400 people signing a petition, calling for this EGM, only around 80 turned up - not enough for the meeting to make policy, but enough to have a full and frank debate about the issues.

An issue as important as this clearly invokes strong student feeling - over 200 of you have already posted comments on the Students' Union web-forum www.kclsu.org/forum regarding the war. Some, however, took the view that the Students' Union should be concerned only with 'student issues' - and that we couldn't possibly speak for all 17,000 students of King's on an issue as complex and emotive as the war.

‘We can only hope that next year will be as eventful and successful for all of you as it has been for all of us.’ issue of Nestlé products. While the Union does not stock any sweets from the manufacturer, which is notorious for unethical practices in the 3rd World, many of the College's catering outlets stock only Nestlé products.

Once again, the argument arose over whether we should stick to representing students as students, but it was felt that, at the very least, King's students should have the choice of which brand to buy.

December 4th saw one of the biggest student demonstrations in decades. More than 20,000 students from across the country march through London to demand the abolition of tuition fees. Coming just after news of Imperial College's plan to charge up to £10,000 per year in fees, the sense of urgency was palpable. The very same day as the demonstration, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that there would be no increase in up-front tuition fees. This later proved to be a ruse to disguise a government plan to triple tuition fees to £3,000 per year - making them payable after graduation; something which KCLSU, ULU and the NUS are continuing to campaign against at the highest level.

The year ended with a record turnout in the KCLSU elections - an increase of nearly 50% on last year, with 2,500 students turning out to elect the team who will be responsible for running your Union next year.

Competition was tough, but congratulations and good luck to the winners:

Presidential Conflict of Confidence at ULU ULU's fortunes slipped further recently as ULU President, Charlotte Dawkins, was facing serious allegations of failing to do her job. In addition to projected losses of more than £200 000, Charlotte was desperately defending her own position against a vote of No Confidence at ULU Council.

There are ten specific bulleted points in the ULU President's job description and five regulations pertinent to all Sabbatical Officers. The Motion of No Confidence brought by Tuuli Kousa, General Secretary at LSE, and King's own President David Utting, presented Council with complaints on a staggering fourteen separate accounts.

"Holding officers to account is a more intricate process at ULU than at King's," explained KCLSU President, David Utting. "ULU Council requires all Motions of accountability to clearly state in writing the grounds of the complaint, and to include details of the Council Regulations or Union policy alleged to have been breached."

Unusually, the proposer and seconder began by requesting that the motion be downgraded. David requested that the vote be a Motion of Censure, (or a slapon-the-wrists), so as to eliminate the more emotive elements in the motion, but the majority of Council and even the President herself disagreed.

Tuuli and David precisely outlined where they considered Charlotte had failed. The President was absent from ULU Council in March as she was playing football, and chose to highlight the chairs less than exemplary attendance as justification.

"The President shall attend the Small and Specialist Colleges Forum" is a specific bullet point in her job description, but the President had never attended any meeting of the ULU Small and Specialist Colleges Forum. "The President shall

attend meetings of the ULU Medical Committee [MedGroup]" is another specific point in her job description, but the President has only attended one meeting to date of the ULU MedGroup. The ULU President failed to attend the last University Council as there was a drinks reception in the afternoon at City Hall following the London Falling event.

None of the other officers missed the Council. Another point raised by the document was the 31k expenditure by President, prior to consultation with the exec.

The only student media to go to the wire before Council was Imperials "Live!", corroborating evidence that students at IC were not adequately consulted for ULU to pass policy on the proposed IC/UC merger.

With ULU projecting a year-end deficit of more than £205 000, many felt it was time to question the president's leadership and objectivity at ULU this year.

Charlotte spoke for nearly eight minutes and still didn't manage to address all the points. As she sat down Charlotte's supporter, Dan Gibbons, rose to the stage to criticise Tuuli and David for the motion they had brought, which they still view as holding Charlotte to account.

The vote, taken by secret ballot, came back with almost half of Council voting to no-confidence Charlotte, 25 in favour, 28 against and 2 abstentions. “Whilst the motion fell, ULU had seen what it had been missing for quite some years - honesty” said David afterwards.

"Live!" later crowned Tuuli the evening’s 'tightrope walker', whilst similarly complimenting our own President for his elegant oration.

"I think the will of Council last night will have exactly the right effect. I'd rather a vote of No Confidence that just failed

than a censure that just passed," David commented afterwards. “Students of all descriptions will no longer tolerate incompetence or misrepresentation from those they elect and pay for.”

David Dunne Cairisteen Hickey Toby Boon Alexi Duggins Polly Mackwood

President Elect VP Sites & Services VP Student Activities VP Media & Publications VP Education & Representation

As well as all the part-time Executive members, SRC and ULU Council delegates.

We can only hope that next year will be as eventful and successful for all of you as it has been for all of us.

It's been a pleasure serving you, David Lundie VP Education & Representation

‘Union Anti-Racism Campaign as Voters say NO to BNP’ Continued from Front Page The term 'Holocaust' refers to the attempted systematic destruction of Europe's Jewish, black, homosexual, Gypsy and other minority communities; the presence of Holocaust deniers on campus endangers the safety of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, black, LGB, Sikh and all other students who wish to live free from discrimination and abuse.

When asked to comment on the motion Charlotte told ROAR, “Clearly, within any political organisation or body there is scope for difference of opinion and that is to be embraced as part of a healthy democracy. However, any subsequent formalisation of this difference of opinion should be based on fact. With regard to a motion of No Confidence and this particular one relating to my term of office here at ULU, this was not based on any such fact and evidence prevailed to substantiate this point.

At the next meeting of the KCLSU Student Representative Council the Executive will submit a motion to create a no-platform for the BNP. This legislation has come as a result, not only of the recent council elections, but of the Anti-Racism Campaign headed up by the VP Education & Representation, David Lundie, and the Equal Opportunites Officer, Jason Smartt.

“Whilst the entire experience was timeconsuming and personally very absorbing - I am extremely pleased with the result and intend to continue with the remainder of my term of office with the same convictions and beliefs that I have held since becoming a Sabbatical Officer some two years ago, namely those of unfaltering support for the student cause and those specific issues which effect our students here in London.

A different kind of English at Maughan Library

“With a Government intent on financially crippling students, I believe that it is time to put personal differences aside and concentrate on the bigger picture - delivering a better deal for the students of the University of London.”

If you would like to have your say on this and many other matters go to www.kclsu.org/forum and register with your KCL email account address.

David Utting & Ralph Redfern

Awareness and education were the main aims of this campaign. The Executive explained that although the council elections were not taking place in London, racism is nonetheless an important issue that Unions of all kinds must work together to stamp out.

Taking time out from exam revision?

Why not pop along to see new Brit flick Johnny English, which stars one of Kingís Collegeís very own.

No, not a precocious Humanities student, but the newly-converted Maughan Library, which was used as one of many filming locations for scenes in the spy spoof. The movie, currently ranking number two in the UK Box Office listings, behind the X-Men sequel X2 , stars Rowan Atkinson in the lead, along with prominent roles for Natalie Imbruglia and RAW favourite John Malkovich.

Review of the Year 2003 ROAR - News

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ULU: the year so far ULU has had its ups and downs this year. James MacColl, ULU’s VP Welfare & Student Affairs, takes us through ULU’s major campaigns of the year to let you know what they get up to.

The year has been one of intense activity for the University, ULU and the Higher Education sector as a whole. We have had to deal with a proposed merger between two of our largest colleges, proposals to change the University's degree-awarding powers and the threat of top-up fees has become a reality. ULU has worked to get students' views heard on these, and a number of other, issues.

1. Accommodation.

ULU worked closely with the University of

London Accommodation Office to increase the scope and impact of their annual advisory talks. This has worked well and resulted in more than double the usual number of students benefiting from information about finding and living in private accommodation.

ULU has also produced its own advice-guide literature.

ULU also continues to investigate the possibility of setting up an accreditation scheme for private landlords, and continues to campaign against hall privatisation schemes that

damage the widening access agenda and the student experience.

2. Free To Be Me. ULU has developed this liberation and antidiscrimination campaign by organising a fortnight of awareness-raising events across to University - in ULU and the college unions (including King's), which was very successful. The scope of the initiative has also been widened to extend the idea to a community outreach program and includes the four liberation campaigns.

3. Discount scheme.

ULU has won another important discount for its members, the students of the University and its colleges - this time it's for utility bills. A deal has been struck with one of the energy companies, which will allow students to sign up to a special cheap deal on gas and electricity, which should The NUS has submitted its own response to the Government White Paper on Higher Education Funding. What follows is the introduction to their response result in at least a ÂŁ100 per year which serves as an overview of what NUS sees as the major issues of the Paper saving. A mini-pilot has already been successfully run at Royal and their concerns about them Holloway and Queen Mary, and the scheme should be ready to be expanded across the University, The National Union of Students (NUS) represents the interests of over 5 million students in We also welcome some of the principles out- including to King's, at the start post-16 education across the UK. Our work lined by the government such as an end to up- of the next academic year.

NUS Summary Response to the White Paper

includes campaigning and representation and addressing the needs of those in full and parttime further and higher education. We have a diverse range of members, from those who will go on to work in the health service to those who will return to countries of origin and others who will take up lucrative jobs in the private and commercial sectors. We work to ensure that the needs of a diverse range of students are met, taking into account their age, socio-economic background, ethnicity, parental status, disabilities and stages of educational and skills development.

In taking a holistic view of what is needed to address the current issues facing the further and higher education (FHE) sector, NUS aims to support and address the widening participation agenda, ensure the quality of degrees, facilitate the enhancement of students employability to maximise career opportunities and develop citizens who make a positive contribution to society. However, we believe that the crucial factor in reaching our aspirations is funding - if potential students are put off from even applying due to financial considerations, NUS vision is unattainable. In addition, students need the support of competent, rewarded, trained and motivated staff, high quality facilities and access to research to achieve their goals in HE. This White Paper echoes some of our ambitions. It states that success in achieving access to higher education (HE) depends on building aspirations and attainment throughout education, NUS wholeheartedly endorses the principles of HE outreach, pastoral and teaching support and an effective and fair system of student support to enable young people to aspire to HE.

front tuition fees, the introduction of a mainte4. Student hardship. nance grant and maintaining the current interAs we all know, many students est rate on the student loan. find it very hard to make ends However, NUS has a number of concerns within the detail of the White Paper and we have identified a number of potential barriers in accessing HE created by these proposals. In addition, NUS' Annual Conference earlier this month passed a radical policy for education that has no cost implications for students, but would be funded through progressive taxation of high earners and business, reversing previous more moderate positions on funding. We believe this is a direct consequence of government policy, which has exacerbated student hardship and debt to intolerable levels. When passing this policy, NUS members also expressed their anger that the government seemed to be able to raise public money for military action but not for education.

Further to this, NUS is disappointed that the White Paper has not addressed the needs of a diverse base of students, for example more resources to part time undergraduates, post graduates and international students.

We are also concerned that the government is acting upon new proposals within the white paper before the consultation period is over.

We believe that new initiatives are being implemented without full consultation, or rather they are being implemented as a result of lobbying or influence by interest groups.

This speed of change is of concern to NUS, as we would rather have had an open and transparent consultation and assessment before new strategies were finalised or implemented.

meet in London. It is the job of every students' union to give a voice to these problems and campaign for a better deal ULU is no exception, and it has done this with great vigour this year.

ULU has continued to campaign for the London Transport student discount to be extended to include over-ground rail. This has won support from the Greater London Authority, and may be a reality very soon. It is, however, very difficult as there are a number of train operators, all of them private companies, that must be encouraged to work together. The Mayor has also signified that he is looking to increase the discount from a third to a half, and we are working with the Authority to encourage this.

ULU campaigned against the doomed merger between UCL and Imperial, working with both Imperial and UCL Unions, as its governing body decided that the implications on the future of higher education funding, the University, and the student experience at either college were too damaging to dismiss. This campaign, combined with that of the relevant college unions and, notably, of staff members at both

Claire Wren and Rob Davenport, ULU VP Finance and VP Sports out on the NUS National Demo colleges, brought an end to these proposals.

However, the predictions that this plan was instigated in the anticipation that top-up fees were about to be introduced proved fruitful (perhaps accidentally), when the Government's White Paper on the future of higher education was finally unveiled earlier this year. ULU is campaigning for increased London weighting on the student loan and maintenance grant, a larger grant that more students will be eligible for, a realistic (i.e. higher) repayment threshold for fees and loans, and, ideally, to scrap tuition fees and introduce maintenance grants that actually cover maintenance, not just 4 bus tickets.

ULU has written and submitted an exhaustive response to the White Paper, which can be obtained from the President. Throughout the year, ULU has organised government lobbies, debates, protests and talks to further this agenda.

Most recently, ULU has been confronted with plans to alter the way that the University and its Colleges award degrees. ULU has set up a review group to look at the future of the University and consult the student body as to their attitudes to and opinions of the current and planned systems - watch this space.

On the non-campaigns side... EnergyBase opened this year - ULU's health club, membership of which includes use of the swimming pool, gym facilities and various fitness classes. Sports and Societies continue to flourish, even though they have been confronted with severe budget cuts, due to financial difficulties. The London Student newspaper has also survived budget cuts and come out fighting, continuing to be the voice of students across the capital.

For more information, visit ULU or the website: www.ulu.lon.ac.uk

James MacColl ULU VP Welfare & Student Affairs

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News - ROAR Review of the Year 2003

CURRENT AFFAIRS Another academic year is almost over, and what a year it has been. The A Level fiasco, the Foster Flats Scandal, the War in Iraq, the SARS outbreak - so much in only 8 months. It has been the year of University funding controversy, the Blair-Bush love affair and my own personal favourite, Bin Laden’s niece: the popstar. It is hard to believe so much has happened when we’ve been in The Waterfront. So if you’re a hermit, don’t own a telly, haven’t read a paper for 8 months and have no friends - here’s what’s been happening. Alternatively, for those of you who are up to date, relax and reminisce as Jay Mullins takes us through the highs and lows of the year that was 2002 -2003. had announced the deployment of 26,000 soldiers in the Gulf region, close to Britain’s total fighting force. The concurrent military build-up thus placed the unilateral reprieve in its true light. What might otherwise have been a generous period of complacency for Iraq was clearly designed to provide the maximum opportunity for selfincrimination. If America didn’t get their ‘full compliance’, then the six week gap would become a six foot-rope for Saddam–more than enough to hang him.

OCTOBER Arguably, any recent problems that have developed in higher education can be connected in some way to October’s ‘A-level fiasco’, which eventually led to Estelle Morris’ resignation and Calrke’s appointment. Rumours of possible exam manipulation emerged so suddenly that, once more, total tabloid hysteria took hold.

In the initial hubbub, the front-page of The Daily Mail was characteristically understated–"You Cheats", it screamed. Whether or not the paper knew exactly who it was referring to is now, as it was then, a matter of opinion. The same edition continued inside with the headline "Scandal of the Grade Robbers". This really was a scandal about grades rather than marks and, on reflection, most of the press embarrassed themselves by failing to spot the difference between the two. Allegations prevailed that QCA had forced examiners to devalue actual exam scores for public schools, thereby accentuating the perceived success of state education.

In reality, grade boundaries had been raised across the board in line with improving national results, and many state schools ended up joining the lobby for a full re-marking process.

Ultimately, the QCA’s clumsy attempt to ‘maintain standards’ and prevent ‘grade inflation’ proved to be a cock-up, rather than a conspiracy. Confidence in the system was undermined, and both ends of the age spectrum reverted to type. Angst-ridden schoolchildren whined that the world was against them, whilst nostalgic codgers found new justification for the familiar grumble that ‘things were tougher in my day’. Needless to say, Estelle Morris just had to go after that.

Armchair buddies George and Tony relax after a hard day at war started, the perceived value of public discourse seemed to fall dramatically. Mass demonstrations, radio phone-ins and TV debates were still very much in evidence, but in Britain in particular many were transformed into passive–in some cases voracious–news junkies. Some would say that saturation coverage of the push into Iraq, especially on the BBC, fuelled a nation’s morbid curiosity and oversimplified the confusing nature of war. On the other hand, the sheer weight of information and experience that has since been garnered for posterity undercuts any accusations of media-overkill.

Amazing anecdotes, such as John Simpson’s experience of US ‘friendly-fire’ in northern Iraq, made ‘other’ news items appear trivial by comparison. Which brings us onto a very curious affair…

NOVEMBER And then came the six-month news story that needs no introduction. On the 8th November the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1441, which charged inspectors to determine whether Iraq was in "material breach" of weapons regulations. A few day’s later the media’s incessant war of words finally exploded into this very paper. On the issue of invading Iraq, Alex Elmkies and Fatima Gulamhusein respectively championed the ‘for’ and ‘against’ corners.

Elmkies had no doubts about the existence of links between Al-Quaeda and Iraq and Gulamhusein suggested Iraqi trade sanctions should have been lifted unconditionally in order to relieve the starvation of civilians.

These views can still be dealt with in the present tense because they correlate to issue that are still very much up for debate.

Unfortunately, once the real warfare actually

Hans wishes he was elsewhere.

DECEMBER Even in the midst of the Cherie Blair / Peter Foster scandal (more wordy but less fatuous than ‘Cherigate’), the phrase "storm in a newspaper paymaster’s teacup" kept springing to mind. The prospect of proving that Mrs

Blair had used a convicted fraudster to broker some property purchases was enough to send the Tabloids into its latest ‘feeding frenzy’.

What should have been a passing story resulted in a direct confrontation between the governmental and journalistic press machines. As with most ‘clash of the titans’ scenarios, more than a hint of inflation lay at the bottom of it.

"One of the most disastrous spinning operations by Downing Street" was how The Guardian's political correspondent, Nicholas Watt, described the government’s initial attempt to brush off the allegations with a total denial. The failure of this ploy caused short-term damage to the Blairs’ credibility, and sent the papers on a grubby witch hunt for further revelations that simply didn’t exist. In the end, the only true substance amid the froth was Foster’s actual criminality. In September 2000, prior to alleged fraud in Australia, he had been sentenced to 33 months in jail for using forged documents to help fund the launch of a slimming pill.

Fleet Street kept the story alive with piddling discrepancies between various e-mails and press statements, and didn’t let it ‘die’ until Cherie was caught snivelling on camera.

So all that journalistic effort was worth it in the end. We saw another famous person humiliated by the ‘Big Brother’ of the people. A moment to treasure.

In between the family crisis, Mr Blair tried to improve relations with his neighbours…by handing out polite invitations to a war. After meetings with Hans Blix and the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, Blair’s ‘grand tour’ took him, inevitably, back to Washington to see Bush. The two reached a personal agreement to give the weapons inspectors a further six weeks to find WMD, or at least obtain a firm indication of Iraq’s co-operation. Two weeks earlier Geoff Hoon

Meanwhile, political complexities were briefly simplified by an account of all-action espionage. Yet, almost inevitably, it proved to be just another example of the ‘long shadow of fear’ cast by Iraq. After several days of surveillance, American and Spanish forces captured a ship carrying Scud missiles to the Gulf. The suspicion that Saddam had bought the missiles, and thereby broken UN sanctions, was disproved when the Yemen government were revealed as the perfectly legitimate buyers. So, the Blair / Bush (BB) alliance went back to the drawing board to find another pretext for war, and Yemen finally got its impounded merchandise.

However, they might also have received some free words of wisdom: next time your stuff gets lost in the post, check that you used a reputable retailer. No offence, North Korea.

JANUARY As the coup at sea failed, the nitty-gritty of political wrangling went on. The month began with a British naval task force heading for the Gulf, lead by the HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier. Tony Blair responded to mounting pressure within the Council by admitting that Britain and America would be prepared to act against Iraq without a second UN resolution. If the PM was playing for time, then so was Mohammed el-Baradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). His pointed statement that he still needed "a few months" to finish his analysis of Iraqi nuclear plants was partially overshadowed by news from the weapons inspectors.

In the middle of the month they made their first significant discovery: 12 warheads designed to carry chemical weapons.

Arguments waged over whether or not the warheads had been included in a 12,000 page document, submitted by Iraq to the Council way back in December. For a while these apparent cracks in Saddam’s ‘credibility’ seemed to crystallise the possibility of achieving a pro-war resolution. The changing atmosphere was indicated by the discussion of Saudi Arabia’s plans to offer Saddam voluntary exile, effectively a chance to escape.

Review of the Year 2003 ROAR - News

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REVIEW 2002 - 2003 council, the BB alliance decided to ditch their hopes of winning a second resolution and instead stick with the dubious authorisation afforded by 1441. As with all important decisions, Blair made his behind closed doors before returning to London to inform everyone else in an emergency cabinet meeting.

Despite a rebellion consisting of almost all the Lib Dems and a massive 139 Labour MPs, staunch Conservative support ensured a sufficiently respectable parliamentary platform for ‘Blair’s War’.

FEBRUARY The farce of the month was provided by the Conservative Party. As various quarters claimed that Blair had ‘lost the plot’, Duncan-Smith and co. underlined their commitment to in-fighting like never before by appearing to publicly scrap their ‘modernising’ objectives. Mark MacGregor, one of the supposed new-thinkers, resigned because of his allegiances to Michael Portillo while rumours circled that party chairman Theresa May was about to be sacked. Her calls for the party to become more ‘inclusive’ may have annoyed some of her colleagues, although probably not as much as her under whelmingly ‘wild’ choice in tiger-print shoes.

It was also around this time that papers came up with a new name for the leader: IDS. Kind of dehumanising, don’t you think? It conjures up images of deadly viruses, computer programs or alien life-forms. In fact it’s perfect.

Maybe it’s time he made that deed poll.

While one lot of Cs were falling apart, Ken Livingstone was busy organising another.

His CCC (controversial congestion charge) was finally implemented in central London, resulting in a 20% fall in traffic over the first fortnight. Those drivers who simply expected more expensive jams were pleasantly surprised by the reduction, in spite of the fact that the inauguration had been conveniently timed to coincide with the generallyquieter school half-term. And the completion of most major roadworks. Public

Ken feels a little congested attention was anyhow focussed elsewhere.

Two days before the launch of this new but essentially minor ‘stealth tax’, Britain’s biggest ever anti-war demonstration took centre-stage in London. Good news for the mayor, small mercy for the PM! On Saturday the 15th as many as two million people converged on Hyde Park to rally against the growing possibility of military action. Quite apart from the usual suspects who turned up (Tony Benn, Rev. Jesse Jackson and our ubiquitous mayor), the media were keen to highlight the unusual involvement of the ‘moderate’ family unit–children, parents, even grandparents. And what of the contribution made by London students? Well, in the sobering wake of the march Sarah Keenlyside seemed to sum up the feeling of many in Roar: ‘all we can do is sit back and watch events unfold on the world stage whether the main players listened to our heckling or not’.

2 million march against Blair’s War The 121 Labour MPs who voted against military action on the 26th February probably felt just as helpless. The sheer scale of the rebellion reflected the broad opposition of the British public to an unauthorised attack. Eleven days earlier, Blix’s eagerly awaited report to the Security Council had put an unexpectedly positive slant on the progress of inspections, further strengthening Franco-German calls for total commitment to UN-led mediation.

MARCH ‘Diplomatic endgame’–that was the catch phrase that dominated the first half of March.

The triumvirate of France, Germany and Russia indicated they would collectively veto any new resolution in favour of military action, effectively crushing B&B’s hope of bloodless regime-change. The increasing polarity of agendas was reflected in the tone of Hans Blix’s final designated inspections report. His tentative confidence of three weeks ago was replaced with a noticeably ambivalent view of Iraqi compliance.

Whether Blix just wanted to wash his hands of the situation or present his findings with exacting and unhelpful objectivity, the report favoured neither faction and resolved nothing.

Back at home, raised voices among the backbenchers finally spread to the cabinet, and Tony Blair’s ‘inner sanctum’ was exposed by various threats of resignation. During an interview for Radio Four, Clare Short’s own generous offer was accompanied by her criticism of the government’s "reckless" foreign policy. Reportedly asked to stay on until the next cabinet reshuffle, Short must have been seen as a potential martyr, unlike Robin Cook, who was allowed to bow out with all the dignity that befitted him. In his final speech as Leader of the House of Commons he summarised his commendable reasons for leaving: "We should not be following America blindly, we should be following Europe…but not blindly, obviously". Ok, so maybe I made that up but, all the same, they were truly ‘gnomic’ words.

As time progressed, the two halves of the Security Council seemed less and less on speaking terms. Whilst Chirac loudly proclaimed his own liberal conscientiousness and, incidentally, his right to veto, the warmongers decamped to the Azores to discuss private battle plans. With Spain and Bulgaria providing their only cast-iron support in the

On the 20th, three days after the arms inspectors stopped twisting themselves in knots and simply evacuated, American missiles began raining down on Baghdad, paving the way for coalition ground troops to enter Iraq from the south. Thus, it just goes to show that when the chips are down, you can always rely on good ‘ol IDS: surrogate cabinet spokesman and chief whip of Labour’s bluer satellite branch. During the Iraq conflict he was the PM’s pillar of strength, a brother-in arms…On second thoughts, IDS doesn’t really need the praise. As he well knows, while it’s often nice to feel needed by others, your level of job satisfaction really depends on what you put into it!

One curio that emerged among these titanic events was the simultaneous was last month’s startling news that Osama Bin Laden’s niece, Waffa, was planning to become a popstar. The tabloids revealed that she had been working on a demo tape and was reportedly seeking advice from Wyclef Jean, the rap artist. So, success may be a nailed-on certainty, but would ‘uncle’ approve? Well, Waffa’s westernised lifestyle-she now lives in London, drinks, smokes and goes clubbing-means that there was never much love lost between them. She was living in New York on 11th September, less than a mile from the World Trade Centre, and yet he never called to make sure she was safe. In his defence, he probably had a lot to think about at the time.

APRIL By the 9th April, days after the fall of Basra, US forces were probing central Baghdad with impunity. The televised destruction of a single symbolic statue, and the capture of Kirkuk and Mosul in the north by joint US / Kurdish forces set a neat seal on a conflict that, on reflection, was accomplished with terrifying speed. It took just three weeks. Naturally, the political aftermath will take Jay Garner and co. a little longer to sort out. But why worry about that?

The papers have done with Iraq now, let’s move onto the next big thing. Luckily enough, the axis of evil keeps sprouting new heads, as soon as you cut off one it’s replaced by another. Having said that, I don’t see why they can’t all rise up and threaten world security at the same time–much simpler and far more convenient. Anyhow, this time it seems to be North Korea’s turn.

During recent three-way talks with the US and China in Beijing, North Korea admitted for the first time that it possessed a nuclear device. This ‘bombshell’ represent-

ed the end product of North Korea’s reactivated nuclear programme, which also resulted in the expulsion of IAEA inspectors from the country. The reprocessing of old fuel rods into weapons-grade plutonium at a plant in Yongbyon could mean a number of things for international relations. First, because North Korea is virtually bankrupt, the material could be used to blackmail America into re-opening old sources of financial aid.

What’s left of the economy was hit badly by the punitive withdrawal of US oil shipments last year, and this in turn has created a pressing domestic need for nuclear power. At least that’s what the Korean leader Kim Jong-il says.

However, it is impossible to rule out the ‘worst case scenario’, that the country has turned terrorist.

Because North Korea never really had anything worth exporting it became an established arms dealer, and it is this tendency to proliferate weapons that provides the greatest cause for concern. Selling scud missiles to Yemen is one thing, but plutonium would be quite another.

SARS terror sweeps the World Two other dangerous imports to emerge from the Orient in April were SARS and the ‘Yoball’. While it might seem distastefully flippant to mention both in the same breath, they have more in common than would be expected. Both have killed only a couple of people in Britain, and both went largely unnoticed until things in Iraq settled down. In fact, China experienced its first cases of SARS way back in November, and five million Yoballs found their way onto our high streets before a ban was eventually enforced.

At almost the same time the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified Beijing, Hong Kong and Toronto as places dangerous to visit. The mayor of Toronto, Mel Lastman, memorably complained about the economic damage caused by the blacklisting of his city.

To some extent he had a point. Whilst vast tracts of provincial China–in particular the Guandong and Shanxi regions–had sustained roughly 2,400 cases and 110 deaths by the 25th April, Toronto had a measly 16 fatalities.

Yet, as they say, ‘public perception’ is half of everything. Which is why I fervently hope that by the time the summer holidays arrive, Chinese takeaway will be have regained its place in the diets of middle Britain. Of course, for confidence to be restored we first need to know exactly why SARS started in the first place. I’ve just had a great idea–perhaps a terrorist conspiracy?...

6

News - ROAR Review of the Year 2003

Looking Ahead to the New Academic Year

Danger! Danger!

High Octane (High) Octane is a new monthly event to be held in Tutu's, serving up the very finest in alternative music, including musical styles as diverse as hip-hop, numetal, grunge and good old-fashioned rock! Each month you can expect to hear the very latest alternative tunes as well as some classics from days gone. Playing music from the likes of Audioslave, QOTSA, Beastie Boys, Prodigy, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Deftones, Hole, Cypress Hill, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, as well as some classics from Guns 'n' Roses, Faith No More, Iron Maiden to name but a few, this night will be the ultimate alternative party. The launch party will feature a special guest radio rock DJ alongside our residents.

Featuring a range of special drinks promotions, on top of KCLSU's already bargain bar prices, (High) Octane is the long overdue solution of where to go out in London for something more alternative, and not pay the earth for admission or drinks prices. As well as reduced admission prices for students, (High) Octane is open to members of the public, who will be able to experience our first rate venue, with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.

If anyone is interested in DJing at (High) Octane, joining the PR team, or generally helping out please e-mail octane@kclsu.org.

Spit Redevelopment Boosted by Alumni Development Fund As the Summer approaches KCLSU looks ready to embark on a major rejuvenation of their services at Guy's Campus. At the centre of the development is the refitting of The Spit, a space that has remained dormant for the duration of this academic year. The College had previously rented the space out to private catering contractors.

The Students' Union has been pursuing use of The Spit all year as the implications for Boland House (the SU building at Guy's Campus) are massive.

Editorial Team

SE 1 Editor John O’Callaghan

VP Media & Publications (Editor) Ralph Redfern vpmedpub@kclsu.org

roarsocieties@hotmail.com

Assistant Editor Alexi Duggins itsallrocknroll@hotmail.com

Lifestyle Editor Angela Strachan angelic_83@hotmail.com

Features Editors Sopie Mansell sophie.mansell@kcl.ac.uk

It is believed that the refurbishment of The Spit will not only create an attractive social and study space for students, but also make Guy's Supplies more accessible and free up space elsewhere to allow Boland House to become a Student Activities centre.

The volunteering section of Student Activities will gain its own office while the Coffee Lounge and Shop space will become bookable areas for Clubs and Societies.

Money from the Alumni Development Fund has contributed to this development. The sum of £15,000 has been granted allowing the Student Union to go ahead with its full redevelopment program.

Rupal Mehta Assistant News Editor Elliott Linger elliott.linger@kcl.ac.uk

Events Editor Katy Georgiou Film Editor Abu Ali Music Editor Chryselle Pathmanthan bpat@btinternet.com

Societies Editor Siobhan Clibbens

Fashion Editor Lydia Morgan lydia.morgan@kcl.ac.uk Deadline Editors Sophie Mansell Sarah Phillips Siobhan Clibbens Cartoonist Matthew Plummer

The opinions expressed in ROAR are not necessarily those of the Union.

ROAR would like to thank Rachel Dipper, Kaye Holland, Rupal Mehta, John O’Callaghan, Trinh Hoang, Samantha Hulston, Alysen Miller, Lindsay Edsall & Katy Georgiou who have all left the ROAR team this year.

Review of the Year 2003 ROAR - News 7

S o c i e t i e s GKT Surgical Society - A Voyage of Discovery From strength to strength, over the past 18 months the Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Surgical Society has matured and grown into one of the most popular societies present today.

With over 270 members, the GKT Surgical Society is now the largest surgical society in the country and the largest society in KCLSU. The society is run by students from all the year groups at GKT, and has an elite executive committee comprising Professor Benjamin, Professor Catto, Professor Williams, Professor Burnand, Professor Gleeson and Professor Standring.

It is backed by the Royal College of Surgeons of England and has established links with the Section of Surgery at the Royal Society of Medicine, the Cheseldon Society, a broad network of consultants from across the GKT Trust and a variety of sponsors.

The first major event that took place was an amusing and eye-opening account of ‘Famous Operations’, given by the patron of the society, Professor Harold Ellis. This was closely followed by a range of talks and events on topics

as diverse as; ‘54 years in the NHS’ ‘Surgical Dilemmas at the Beginning of Life’, ‘Robotic Surgery... is it the Future?’ and ‘Global Possibilities in the Surgical Career’ given by esteemed speakers such as Professor Spitz, Professor Nicolaides, Professor Davies and Mr Kaplan. Furthermore one of our meetings was chaired by Sir Barry Jackson, President of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Students interested in joining the society can find further information at www.gktsurgicalsociety.com.

Nikita Kanani

Not only does the society promote the “art and science” of surgery, but it also helps to support medical students considering a career in surgery with workshops on Public Speaking and Careers in Surgery from the likes of Mr David Dunne (KCLSU President Elect) and Mr Robert Hughes, from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. We have also held a variety of successful social events and plan many more.

Upcoming events include; tours of the Old Operating Theatre, a debate entitled “This house believes that the teaching of surgery has no place in the undergraduate curriculum”, xenotransplantation, Tommorow’s GMC, more public speaking workshops and careers

Dramatic Reflections on 2002 - 2003 After the final bows of the Into The Woods cast were taken this March, I immediately repaired to The Rose with my good friend Milky Underwood, feeling quite elated. “Old boy, what a simply marvellous production. I must compliment the director, a certain Cara Rodway, upon our next encounter. Indeed, I raise my glass to the whole society!” (said I, raising glass). But my friend was much less convinced... “Musicals are for the hoi polloi! If it’s not The Players I don’t want to know about it! I shall hold out for The Crucible, you crass persuader, for if it is half as good as Romeo & Juliet was, I shall be a very happy camper! Now I will not say this again, I have never, do not, and will never like musicals.”

Arms folded, he sat down triumphantly, and returned his attention to the wireless. I raised an eyebrow. “But you liked Moulin Rouge?”

“Of course. Loved it. Bought my wife the soundtrack actually. But that’s not a musical, you cheeky marauder!”

events. We are currently planning talks on volunteering and on surgical subspecialities, including Mercy Ships, plastic surgery, heart defects, trauma surgery, sex-change operations, a cheese and wine social event with the Consultants, and a full range of social events.

This sent the funky moped of my mind in to motion. Why, these days, do so many people not like musicals? Well, there are many reasons. Film musicals are not helped by the fact that there was an explosion of them in the 50s, when Hollywood churned out about a million musical films a month. They were written by men with typewriters for mouths and guitar strings for fingers. Stars like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra had it written into their contracts that they were to do three or four films a year, the film completely inconsequential, so long as the star got the girl and left enough money in the budget for the director to get a taxi home at the end. In other words, a load of old shit was produced, giving musicals bad names and an apparently perpetual ‘datedness’, which is why we no longer give the good ones from that era the time of day. And which is why people like Underwood don’t think of modern film musicals as musicals, because they’re actually very good.

The notion that an idea can only be communicated credibly using only actors and dialogue, and not by combining the dialogue, with the best of song, music, and dance, to even emphasise the argument further... Madness.

We’re not talking just the big old emotional rollercoasters like The Sound of Music, Gone With The Wind etc. There’s Singing In The Rain, for example. Not just a film with great songs and one of the funniest dance sequences ever, but it’s probably the most scathing satire on the film industry and the nature of stardom that I’ve ever seen. Why, even the KCMTS production we eventually saw of Into The Woods managed to convey alternate examinations of sexual maturity in to

KCL Breakin’ Breakdancing is one of KCLSU ‘s newest societies, but warrant an honourable mention in this, the Review Issue, for their valiant efforts for RAG - breakdancing on the solid concrete of Covent Garden with only Morris Dancing music as accompaniment (their stereo broke down); and performing at the GKT charity fashion show, DanceSoc show and at the Hip Hop society open mike night.

KCL Breakin’ already meet three times a week, with a professional from Umbago teaching roughly every fortnight. If they recieve enough funding, they plan a trip to Newcastle for the University Breakdancing Games, probably as spectators.

If you are interested in joining or want to learn more, you can get in touch via email: kcl_breakin@yahoo.co.uk or mobile: 07810 511734. with help from Anna Richardson

an action-packed couple of hours. Could even be said to counterpoint The Rocky Horror Picture Show, for its exploration of sexual identity against crazy old O’Brien’s idealistic deconstructing of boundaries. Guys and Dolls, last term also, could be said to be more than a glamorous romp through the gangster-riddled New York of yesteryear.

Indeed, a tale of sin, redemption, sin, romance, temptation and further sinning.

The cast were again remarkable, and I dare say there was not a male soul in the audience who failed to succumb to the charms of the leading ladies, particularly the effervescent Poppy Aza-Selinger. She picked up my heart and played with it like putty, but alas, it has been brought to my attention that she has recently become engaged and is due to be married next year. What a very lucky man.

Anyway, we drift. So, musicals are far from void of ulterior meanings or motives. The difference is of course, that musicals aren’t too concerned with wearing it on their sleeve or gaining credibility with “whiskey-neat” crew.

And so they shouldn’t, there’s plenty of stuff around these days that’s trying to be clever.

I’m pretty sure that’s what killed indie music.

Either that or Travis. The best thing about musicals is that it’s not just poetry alone, or in fact drama, it’s all of this, with music, with dance, and when you combine the very best of these art forms, when it goes right, it appeals to not just to the mind, but all of the senses as well, as those who saw the shows would testify. And furthermore, I cannot think of any other art form that achieves this exquisite concoction, and if you can, contact me immediately.

“Not that they are always done right. Last year I saw some fashionable young spud from Emmerdale or something in My Fair Lady.

Halfway through a song she exclaimed, “I ‘ave to go, I’ve left mee knickaas at thaa bus

stop...” And never came back. Indeed, the West End these days seems to opt for TV stars with minimal stage experience or singing ability, simply to get bums on seats (Beppe in Chicago anyone?) But they’re not all like that.

For example, I recently escorted a small company of rather gorgeous young ladies to see Our House at the Cambridge Theatre. A fascinating story which splits into a twin narrative, to best examine the concept of destiny and the consequences of spontaneous choice. The two young stars (Michael Jibson and Julia Gay) did the job to perfection and I don’t mind telling you that quite frankly, old Rickenbacker here did shed a sly tear at the end motif. Go see it, you’ll see what I mean.

These days, we’re getting musical films that are done properly because time, money and talent goes in to it. But they’re only ever as good as some of the best that were done ‘in the golden era’, so watch them too. And yes, a lot of the West End Musicals do have people like Gaby Roslin in, but some are brilliant, so see them too. And last but not least, we have the wonderfully reliable King’s College Musical Theatre Society, which improves with every show.

With best wishes to all in the KCMTS, and much love to all who enjoyed our shows.

Adam Rickenbacker

8

Reggie - ROAR Review of the Year 2003

ROAR - Exam Stress Pullout

9

Surviving the Exams Pullout Guide to getting through the exam period If you are concerned about your exams, then look around because so is everyone else. This four page pullout sets out how to get through your exams, dealing with everything from preparation and revision to stress and illness. Much of this information is just as important after your exams as it is before and during them.

The examination term is now upon us. For many, this is the first set of assessments they will have done at University level, for others, even more dauntingly, this will be the last.

Prioritising urgent, important things first, and not getting swamped by trivial things can help your revision. David Lundie, Vice-President Education & Representation commented: “Of course exams are important. As a student, I know how stressful this time of year can be. The important thing is to know what works for you, studying in a group or on your own, at home or in the library, with or without a computer, in long sessions or with regular breaks. The important thing is to be able to start your revision, and know that you are making progress.

David Lundie, who is also Academic Caseworker at the Students' Union. He can help with any disputes from problems in halls to plagiarism.

Unfortunately, appealing against a grade isn't just a case of saying “they gave me the wrong grade”. You need to prove one of two things - extenuating circumstances or maladministration.

Extenuating Circumstances if there was some reason, i.e. illness or bereavement, that you were not at your best on the day of an exam, or some reason you could not undertake coursework to the best of your ability.

Maladministration - if the College have not followed the proper procedures in marking the work or dealing with you as a student. This can include failure to give you the same lectures/tutorials as other students, failure to advertise the deadlines/dates of exams properly, or failure to add up marks properly. For more information, you can download the Academic Regulations here: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/./kis/college/registry/top.html

“You can test your abilities by doing past papers from your subject, which, in most cases, are available in the libraries.

Make sure the course content hasn't changed since that paper was written, or you could end up worrying unnecessarily. Just remember, life is more important that exams, and staying sane is more important than writing the perfect essay.” If you really feel that the College is David can be contacted by etreating you unfairly, go to see mail on david.lundie@kclsu.org or by phoning 020 7848 1542, or come in to the Resources Centre at the Strand or Guys (Waterloo on a Wednesday lunchtime only).

Wellbeing General stress management is an important part of student life. It is often easy to exaggerate the negatives in a situation and ignore the positives, or to expect everything to go badly because of one negative experience. Try to see the partial successes in even the worst failure, and look at how to improve things.

The most important thing is to be realistic. If you set yourself an unachievable study schedule, you'll never stick to it. Break down tasks into manageable stages, and concentrate on starting, rather than finishing them. Stop when necessary to absorb information to stop panic and overload. If you really feel things getting on top of you, there's no shame in talking to someone you can trust about it.

College Welfare: 020 7848 6858 020 7848 2530 welfare@kcl.ac.uk College Counselling: 020 7848 2613 counselling@kcl.ac.uk Examinations Office: 020 7848 3374 fran.brogan@kcl.ac.uk Academic Caseworker: 020 7848 1542 david.lundie@kclsu.org London Nightline: 020 7631 0101 www.nightline.org.uk MIND - Mental Health: 020 8519 2122 www.mind.org.uk

The Samaritans: 08457 909090 www.samaritans.org.uk Depression Alliance: 020 7633 0557 www.depressionalliance.org Relaxation techniques such as meditation - sitting quietly and emptying the mind, can help. Relaxation doesn't need to be a conscious effort though. Often the most important thing is to stay involved in activities outside your studies. “The fun I have had over the last three years has been part of my extra-curricular activity rather than the lecture theatre and it was this kind of outside involvement that I wanted to promote. King's students should all have the opportunity to involve themselves in our clubs, societies or other activities. In doing so they find a wider circle of mates, gain transferable skills and a fatter CV" commented Sarah Campbell, VP Student Activities. Just meeting some friends for a drink or a movie can be the best way of relieving stress.

Join a Union Society or Sports Club - a whole list of them is available at www.kclsu.org/activities/activities.php

or just ask at the Student Resources Centre at the Strand, or Boland House Admin Office at Guy’s.

10

Feature - ROAR Review of the Year 2003

AT THE EXAMINATION Keywords Before you go in... don't discuss problems, prospects and anxieties outside the door.

When you sit down... * listen to any special instructions from the invigilator concerning your paper * check that you have the right paper * check the instructions to candidates (the rubric) printed on the front page: - How many questions to be answered?

- Separate answer books?

- Any compulsory questions? * Write your candidate number on the answer books * Read RIGHT THROUGH the paper * Consider what each question is really asking: look for keywords and phrases as clues * Budget your time: how long for each question or part-question? * How are the marks allotted to parts of a question? * Choose which questions to answer: - any compulsory questions, - then your best (or second best?)

When you start a question... * Read it again and make sure you understand what is asked * Make an OUTLINE PLAN of the answer

- main points in order - important details - time allocation to each part * Remember that it is easier to get the first ten marks for a question than the second ten, so * Don't forget to include all the relevant points which could get you those first ten marks.

Look for keywords such as these in the question - they tell you the type of answer expected Account - give a good explanation for something with reference to the facts

Assess - evaluate or judge the importance of something * Use a clear pen or biro - no pale Comment - write short paragraphs explaining your own observations or colours please * Write in essay form unless told oth- criticisms erwise * Don't waste time by re-writing the Compare - examine one thing question out at the top of your answer against another to point out similari* Cross out wrong text neatly - do not ties or differences waste time with Tippex * Use an annotated diagram where Contrast - emphasise the differpossible because "a picture is worth a ences between opposite or different things thousand words" * Write in a simple style and KEEP TO THE POINT - "waffle" does not Criticise - give your judgements on impress the Examiner - only annoys! the good or bad qualities of the topic * Keep your writing legible - you don't and support your statements with have to write a thesis for each answer evidence - keep it short - about 3 sides for a Define - explain the exact meaning typical answer * Check back on your plan - are you of the term or word spending too much time on one Describe - give a full account of the point? * Don't be tempted to spend longer than planned on the answer * If you run short of time tell the examiner you are going to use note form When you write your answer...

When you have finished answering all your questions: * Try to check through all your answers for silly mistakes * DON'T be tempted to discuss your answers after the exam - forget about it and concentrate on the next exam.

USEFUL STUFF ON STUDY GKT Learning Handbook by Mary Hearns - available at the following URL http://www.kcl.ac.uk/teares/gktvc/v c/medical/year1/coursebooks/20022003/MBBSBDSLearningHandbook 2002.pdf

topic or a detailed description Discuss - consider something from different points of view - for and against, etc.

Evaluate - calculate or judge the value Explain - give reasons for something so that it is clearly understood Illustrate - explain using examples or pictures Interpret - use your own ideas to explain the data presented Justify - show good reasons for decisions or conclusions Outline - give the main features of the topic - no great detail Show - prove something or give a convincing explanation Summarise - give a brief, relevant account of the main points; no details or examples

Look for other keywords which tell you the subject of the question.

12

Exam Stress Pullout - ROAR

FEELING STRESSED ...?

Has exam revision left you stressed & distressed?

Help yourself survive the burden of brainwork with Dr Dave's stress test.

Begin by answering the six questions in Part One: 1. Since starting my revision I find it harder to fall a sleep at night a. Agree. I toss and turn for ages b. Sometimes happens, especially if I have been revising late c. Disagree. I go out like a light the moment my head touches the pillow.

2. I am more irritable now than when I started my revision a. Agree. I feel grumpy from dawn to dusk b. I only lash out occasionally c. Disagree. I am always sweetness and light.

3. Since starting my revision I: a. Can hardly touch my food b. My appetite is unchanged c. I eat like a horse.

4. The effect of revision on my sex life has been: a. I want to do it all the time b. Negligible! c. What is a sex life?

5 Thinking about all the information I have to remember I: a. Stay calm and unconcerned b. Have an occasional panic c. Climb up the wall screaming in terror

Stress is part of everyday life. Moderate levels can improve performance but with exams just round the corner campus stress levels are rising and for some of us this will be reflected in the grades that do the opposite...!

Not sleeping properly, feeling nervous all the time, forgetting important things and generally lacking motivation are just some of the typical symptoms. You'd have to be a Tibetan monk not to ever experience stress but there are ways of avoiding that feeling that makes you want to pull your hair out.

At exam time, and during the revision period leading up to it, it's important to get a grip on stress - to manage it, as the experts would say. And the best way to start doing that is to isolate the factors that stress you out. Everyone is different but according to top psychologist and stress-guru Dr David Lewis there are three main student stressors.

Fear of not having enough time to complete your revision can be solved as simply as devising a timetable and sticking to it. A plan, a structure covering everything can be revised. Allocate short bursts of time to each subject area and take a break between each burst. After three bursts take a longer break. This pacing yourself will leave you less stressed.

Data overload is probably inevitable bearing in mind the amount of information to be revised for each exam. But you can minimise your tension by studying from only one or two books at a time, summarising notes onto cards and then revising from these.

The ultimate student stressor, according to Dr Lewis, is fatigue stress. Stress can cause sleepless nights. Sleepless nights leave you knackered. Being knackered makes it easier to put off the work and nip down for a pint instead. Break the cycle early, get plenty of sleep and when you are revising into the night - as you inevitably will be - manage and combat your fatigue. Caffeine drinks, says Dr Lewis, pep you up mentally, making it easier to concentrate.

Coffee isn't everyone's cup of tea (!).

Even if you like the taste you might not like the toxins and tarry oils it contains.

Red Bull, the stimulation drink, seems to have been designed with student life in mind. Not only does it contain an untainted caffeine hit - about the same per can as a cuppa - but it also delivers functional amino acids which help the body detoxify.

It gives you an energy boost - mentally and physically - but do yourselves a favour. Don't drink it just before bed and leave at least 30 minutes to relax between closing your books and shutting your eyes.

Dr Dave a.k.a Dr David Lewis With more than 30 best-selling books behind him, Dr Dave (a.k.a Dr David Lewis BSc(Hons), DPhil, FISMA, FINSDT.C. Psycol...phew!) is an award-winning psychologist of the highest order.

Formerly a journalist, his research into human performance and stress has been featured in numerous TV programmes worldwide, and BBC's QED series once devoted an entire show to his work.

Much of Dr Dave's work has focused on stress and stress management for young people and students - hence his expertise in preparing this self-help stress test for you on the other side if the page

6 Since starting to revise I find: a. I am able to concentrate as well as before b. I sometimes find my mind wandering c. Sorry, what was the question again?

Part Two: Now glance at the picture opposite for exactly 5 seconds, cover it up and test your memory of the picture by answering the questions below. Check your responses by glancing back at the picture.

1. How many ways does the student have of telling the time? a. One b. Two c. Three d. Four 2. Anything odd about this student's time keeping? If so, what? (a) Nothing odd (b) Odd thing is............

3. What time is showing on the wall clock? a. 02.00 b. 00.00 c. 01.30 d. 11.30 e. 01.00 4. How many books are on the table? a. 4 b. 6 c. 8 d. 12

e. 20 ...AND THE SCORES ON THE DOORS...

5. Which of the following is NOT a title of one of those books? a. Statistics b. Biochemistry c. Calculus d. Mathematics e. Physics

Scoring Part One Give yourself 1 point for each (a); 2 for each (b) and 3 for each (c)

Scoring Part Two The first part of the test looked at several aspects of revision stress. Now see just how susceptible you really are...

Stressor #1 - Time Pressures

6. Are there any other books in the room? a. No b. Yes, stacked on floor c. Yes, on a shelf 7. How many stars in the sky? a. None, it is daylight! b. None, only the moon c. Six d. Three e. Two 8. How many coffee mugs are on the table? a. None b. Two c. Three d. Six 9. The student looks? a. Full of energy and ready to run a marathon b. As knackered as I do after a good night out c. Tired but alert.

rectly, you could be stressed by the amount of information to be revised.

The Cure - Revise with only one, or at the most two books on your desk. Summarise notes onto cards and study from these.

Your Score 6 - 9: Stress levels are normal. You seem to be surviving revising. But watch out for a sudden stress surge as exam deadlines creep closer.

10 - 14: Stress levels are rising. Could be revision pressures are getting to you.

Check out likely causes with the picture test results that follow.

15 - 18: Your stress levels are high, and this could be making revising far harder than necessary. Check likely causes by...scoring the picture test:

If you were able to answer 2 or more of questions 1 - 3 correctly, fear of not having sufficient time to complete your revision could be causing you stress.

The Cure - Devise a timetable covering all subjects to be revised. Use a large sheet of paper. Allocate 20 minutes per topic.

Then take a 5-minute break. Leave your desk during this break. After three 20minute study sessions, take a 15-minute break. Pace yourself in this way and you will be less stressed by time pressures.

Stressor #2 - Data Overload If you answered 2 of questions 4 - 6 cor-

Stressor #3 - Fatigue Stress If you answered 2 of questions 7-9 correctly, fatigue could well be adding to your stress.

The Cure - Caffeine drinks (such as coffee and Red Bull Stimulation) pep you up mentally, making it easier to concentrate.

Never revise right up to bedtime. Leave at least 30 minutes between closing your books and shutting your eyes.

ROAR - Exam Stress Pullout

13

Essential Tips for Revision - Don't leave it untill the last minute, plan your study.

- Take regular breaks.

- Keep your revision centred on the most relevant points for your essay or exam.

- Practice answering exam questions in a timed mock-exam environment.

- Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the exam hall, double check the time, date and location of the exam, and have everything you need with you.

- Coffee can be a great way to extend evening revision sessions but make sure you get a good night’s sleep before your exams

A Modern Way Of Letting Go Although it may seem a strange subject to bring up in this guide, the issue of self-harm is an important one to bear in mind as the pressures of exams come to bear. Peter, a student from King’s, writes here about his experiences in the hope that others will learn from them. Look out for your friends and fellow students at this stressful time and throughout the rest of your university career.

As the phrase goes, there are lies, damned lies, and then there are statistics. Well, I believe it's about time that statement this was put to the test. A few samples: * In the past 30 years, the suicide rate in Canada has increased by 300%, and suicide is now the second biggest cause of death in the country. * On average there are around 400 instances of deliberate self-injury in the UK daily. * One in ten people have used or will use anti-depressants at some point in their life. If this is applied to KCL this would equate to approximately 1,800 people.

These statistics are alarming to say the least. However, these are only statistics. They do not apply to real people, or at least that is what some portions of society would have you

believe. That people who are driven to such thoughts, feelings and actions have something wrong with them, that they are 'freaks', or even insane. To say that this narrow-minded view is wrong would be something of an understatement. This article may offend, or upset some, but this is an issue that needs to be addressed and brought to the nation's attention, rather then buried away, hidden from view and discussion, becoming a taboo in our society. In a reversal to the 'Great British' tradition of a stiff upper lip and reserved dignity, I will tell you an individual's story, or rather part of it, the individual wishes to remain anonymous, but I was put in contact with them via the medical centre at the Strand. At that point decide for yourself whether or not this is a problem that needs to be redressed.

The first time I self-harmed was just after my 17th Birthday. I was arguing constantly with my parents over my future, my college work, and the amount of alcohol I drank. I was having a hard time of it at college. I felt isolated, like there was no one who I could talk to about the way I felt, this pressure just got greater and greater as I slowly bottled it up. I was not able to be the person I wanted and just got more and more frustrated with life. All the confidence and everything that made me complete slowly evaporated. Life just became one big void of anger and upset.

When I thought the house was empty, I went downstairs to the kitchen and got a knife. I did not know why at the time, and still do not.

I decided to just try and release some of the pressure, some of my anger.

When I got angry with everyone else,

they just got angry back, this in turn made me more angry, so I figured it would just be best for everyone if I took it out on myself. At this point I started to run on automatic, I just started to grind away with the knife at the top of my arm, I could feel pain straight away, but it did not hurt like I thought it should, or ought to. Then I just forced it in, a quick slash and blood started to trickle out. I felt really dirty, just some kind of clichĂŠ screwed-up teenager, but at the same time a greater feeling of relief came over me. I thought I had got away with it, that no one knew my guilty secret, I had gone for the top of my arm as I did not want anyone else to know. I looked over my shoulder and my little sister had seen everything. She froze, my relief just turned to greater self-loathing at what I had done.

Continued over the page

ROAR - Exam Stress Pullout

acknowledge, or properly care for those whom it has maligned, outcast and ultimately failed. In short this is a problem caused by society, the way in which in our society if an individual is not accepted they are cast aside, ignored and left to their own devices.

As shown by the Columbine massacre and other school shootings where sidelined and rejected students have their revenge in the worst way possible.

Continued from page 13 It soon became a cycle, like a junkie's need for a fix. The times where I cut myself made me feel worse, but for the minutes and seconds after I went through with the act, I felt for a short time, better. It slowly, however, overtook my life. I would be in a class and these thoughts of harming would come into my head, and there'd be no way of escaping.

Occasionally I had to go off the toilet and punch myself. It was the only way I could remove the guilt. The thoughts that I was a failure, a waste of space, the cause of all mine and my family's problems overcame me.

The cycles just got worse and worse until it got to the point where I couldn't stand to look at myself in the mirror. I was that ashamed of myself, what I had become. I had a knife in my room at all times. Eventually my Mum figured out what was going on and my guilt got worse. At first she denied the problem existed, not in her house, not her son! But this subsided and she's helping me through life. I'm currently on anti-depressants. I have good days and bad, like everyone else, but when a day is bad, then the whole world knows about it. I haven't hurt myself in over nine months, although there have been times where I have been tempted, or at the very least thought about it. It's taking time, but I have a willing determination to get over it.

There are however some myths surrounding self-harm that need to be cleared up, as it is still a strong taboo in mainstream society. I would imagine that around half the people who read this headline are no longer reading this article as this is a subject that most tend to either pretend does not exist, or treat contemptuously due to a lack of knowledge, understanding, or maybe even fear.

Firstly, what motivates an individual to self-harm is a source of many misconceptions and misunderstandings, which if acted upon can make problems worse for those suffering, not better. Many believe that current popular culture, with the increasing popularity of 'nu-metal' is to blame, or that the original instance of an individual self-harming is what triggers the surrounding problems. This is not the root of the problem, only a symptom. This is a fact commonly confused by society. It is a comfort for many that those in the public eye, those whom they look up to have suffered from,

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Each person who self-harms may have a different reason, but academic pressure is often one of them. or indeed still suffer from problems, yet continue to live a functional and successful life. Indeed, one could go as far to say it is a form of group therapy. Through group therapy an individual's problems are lessened when they share experiences with others and are able to realise that they are not alone in how they feel. When musicians do this on large-scale, such as Jonathon Davies, Layne Staley, Kurt Cobain and Corey Taylor to name but a few, the music can have an effect of making the depressed individual feel as though they are not alone.

However self-harm is not caused by contemporary popular culture. It is an occurrence among those of all ages, cultures, races. Self-harm is more predominant among young women then it is men. Studies have confirmed that self-harm is not the product of any form of popular movement, it is merely a way that is used to express self-loathing or depression of the worst possible kind. A study by Solomon and Farrand from 1996 has uncovered other possible motivations for those who self-injure.

These include: dealing with feelings of extreme emotion, easing tension, coping with feelings of alienation, communicating to others the gravity of inner turmoil, a need for support, punishing oneself as a result of perceived faults and weaknesses, as well as a means of expressing deep anger or frustration. These are not my words, heresy or any form of myth but the findings of psychological experts. For many, self-harm is a way of releasing the pain and suffering that they feel within their own life, it may even be a cry for help a personal, or maybe even public acknowledgement of the problems that they are facing, and indeed are attempting to slowly overcome them.

Self-harm is also the alternative for many to suicide: “Self-mutilation is distinct from sui-

cide. Major reviews have upheld this distinction - the basic understanding is that a person who truly attempts suicide seeks to end all feelings whereas a person who self-mutilates seeks to feel better” (Dr. Armando Favazza) Unsurprisingly there is willingness amongst those in society to shy away from this problem, and least of all accept any of the blame for it.

Instead, music, rock culture, fame and martyrdom are blamed for the suicidal deaths of high profile celebrities. For example, the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious from, both from drug overdoses. In more recent times we have

‘Studies have confirmed that self-harm is not the product of any form of popular movement, it is merely a way that is used to express self-loathing or depression of the worst possible kind.’ known the suicides of Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richie Manic, Feeder drummer John Lee, INXS singer Michael Hutchence and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who proclaimed in a song the lyric 'I'd rather be dead than cool'. They are seen as disaffected poster boys for the masses, a romanticised tragedy of lost youth and talent, as portrayed by modern popular culture. This is easier for society to accept and deal with than the causes outlined previously. Just as gun-culture is not a reflection of urban and hip-hop music, but the music is a reflection of real life, the same can be said of selfmutilation. Society refuses to

What society needs now is for us to listen, not assume, for us to be alert, not ignorant, to be caring not dismissive. If not, these feelings will become more pronounced, with more terrible consequences each time. It is time for us as friends, as family, nay as human beings to look out for the signs of anyone feeling this way and do all in our power to help and comfort them. As suffering in silence will only make the problems worse. If you, or anyone you know has committed, or has considered acts of selfinjury as a way to escape problems there are places, here at King's where you can go.

Firstly, try the KCL Counselling service, their website is below where you can find details of the nearest site to attend, as well as a self-referral form for counselling.

‘You will only be yourself When you can never be yourself And you will only be yourself When you understand what you know How long, will we go on with a modern way of letting go, tell me how long will we go on with the modern way of letting go?'

From Idlewild's 'A modern way of letting go' Words by Roddy Woomble. Music by Idlewild. Published by Deceptive Music Ltd / EMI Music Publishing Ltd If talking to someone in person is too much, then try the Samaritans on: 08457 90 90 90, or www.samaritans.org.uk www.leeds.ac.uk/ahead4health/inde x.htm is also very good Other websites that may be of help: www.palace.net/~llama/psych/injury. html www.selfharm.org.uk/support.htm www.rcpsych.ac.uk/info/mhgu/newm hgu30.htm www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/admsup/stuser /counselling.html Peter Rendelle

Review of the Year 2003 ROAR - Raw

Raw - The Arts Section

A Year in:

Raw

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Raw Music - ROAR Review of the Year 2003

Music RAW writers take a look back at the best that the last eight months has had to offer, from indie to hip-hop to rock. And here’s our definitive top ten. Go listen and enjoy!

SINGLES

any other track from ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’.

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - MACHINE Loud, brash and just a tad nihilistic, Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is the hardcore fashionista’s latest style icon.

But don’t let this put you off. Ignore the trendies down Hoxton way- it’s not all about image, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ heady brand of sleazy thrash metal isn’t some passing fad. We think that this band’s here to stay, so turn it up and writhe away.

7. Idlewild - A MODERN WAY OF LETTING GO Scottish indie-heroes, Idlewild, may have lost their way somewhat in recent months, but this single is a welcome return to form. With its fine guitar hooks and vigorous refrain, this is a short, sharp wake-up call of a track, possessing all that urgency and vitality we expect of them.

9. Goldfrapp - TRAIN The first track to be taken off Goldfrapp’s latest EP, ‘Black Cherry’, this might shock some fans into submission. It’s a far cry from the cosmic, ambient bliss of tracks from ‘Felt Mountain’, but new direction isn’t a bad thing when the quality’s this good. Alison Goldfrapp’s lush, jazz- tinged vocals really come into their own here, where the sultriest of vocals tease over a pulsating, retro, electronic beat.

8. Coldplay - CLOCKS This is one of the best Coldplay tracks to date, a mixture of the quiet,forlorn charm of ‘Shiver’ and the “hit quality” of ‘Yellow’.

A simple, unrelenting piano riff carries this beautiful song through, as Chris Martin’s voice soars above and beyond

ALBUMS 10. EVAN DANDO- Baby, I’m Bored This year was the year of the American singer/songwriter implosion, with album releases from artists such as Brendan Benson, Ryan Adams and Evan Dando.

This is the first studio recording from former Lemonheads frontman, and it’s a welcome return to form. ‘Baby I’m Bored’ is a laid-back, alt-country affair, a poppy yet insouciant showcase of this newlyreformed talent.

9..ATHLETE- Vehicles and Animals Deptford’s finest, ‘Athlete’ deliver bright, light indie with a twist, on this, their impressive debut LP. ‘Vehicles and Animals’ is a great working of jaunty electronic effects, quirky lyrics and a sweet and genuine optimism. Catchy compositions such as ‘Westside’ and ‘El Salvador’ each have their own charming idosyncracies, and makes this one of the breeziest and quirkiest albums of the year so far.

8. SIGUR ROS - ( ) This second release from mysterious lofi Icelandic duo, Sigur Ros, is chillout music in the most ethereal sense of the word. Cue connotations with glaciers, glistening pure snow, fluffy white clouds you get the picture. Their minimalist, avant-garde philosophy is taken so far that not one song is titled on this untitled album. Pretentious?? Who knows. Either way, when you’re hungover, you’ll find no

6. Placebo - THE BITTER END Placebo have grown up, but does this mean they’ve lost all that sharp,firebrand temperament? If this single’s anything to go by, we can rest assured. Age has only meant that they’re resonating a tighter, more controlled sound, with less of the arrogance to boot. Trademark intensity is maintained by edgy guitars and a vital, infectious riff.

5.. Queens of the Stone Age - GO WITH THE FLOW One of the best tracks from one of the finest albums of last year, ‘Songs for the deaf’. QOTSA go from strength to strength, ignoring trends in garage rock, prog rock, punk rock and the rest, more content with belting out pure, unadulterated, exceptional rock. ‘Go with the flow’ with its impeccable drums, swirling better a cure.

7. MISSY ELLIOT- Under Construction When it comes to sassy hip-hop production, Missy Elliot could teach her onetrick pony counterparts a thing or two.

She’s not afraid to experiment with different styles and sounds, and doesn’t stick to the same formula too long. This album fuses old-skool tricks of the trade, such as 80s-style scratching, reversing and sliding, with more contemporary effects you’re bound to be hearing elsewhere very soon. For crazy hip-hop floor -fillers, this lady definitely knows how to “work it”.

5. FOO FIGHTERS - One by One A collection of sensitive melodic rock ballads, such as ‘Tired of You’ and ‘Overdrive’ are met with more edgy, arena-filling classics such as ‘All my life’ and ‘Low’. It’s their fourth release, and they have done better, but compared with other bands, this album has enough charm and credibility to still prove a winner.

6. ZWAN - Mary Star of the Sea The record where Billy Corgan twinkles with joy. Zwan, a collaboration of various ex-members of Skunk, A Perfect Circle, Slint, and the Smashing Pumpkins, is clearly Corgan’s baby. Here is a collection of fine tunes and great musicianship, a few reflecting the Pumpkins’ legacy, the majority treading a brand new tack.

Various TV appearances with Billy Corgan grinning from ear to ear may be a bizarre and scary sight, and lines like

melody, infectious chorus and heavy, insistent riffs commands you to simply play it loud and play it proud.

4. The Roots - THE SEED The sublime first single to be taken from the Roots’ latest offering, ‘Phrenology’.

Here, the flavour is very much underpinned by jazz and old-skool soul. The smooth soul singing of guest vocalist, Cody Chesnutt, effortlessly complements the hard rhymes of Black Thought.

Classy, sexy and laid-back, this is cutting-edge hip-hop at its best.

3. Radiohead- THERE THERE Radiohead are back, and are we glad to see them. More guitar-based and melodic than of late, this track should please fans of Radiohead circa ‘The Bends’ and ‘OK Computer’. Thom Yorke’s erudite vocals glide, as the steady guitar riff picks up and percussion crescendos.

The song’s success lies in its agile chordwork and Radiohead’s mastery of layering and harmony and, well, pretty much everything.

2. Blur - OUT OF TIME When they said they were recording in Morocco, we hoped this wasn’t just another one of Damon’s pretentious, artsy side-projects gone too far. But, with ‘Out of Time’ worries can subside, as the effects are stunning. Melancholy perme‘There’s no place I could be without you’ just plain shocking coming from the same man who fronted sublime, angstfilled songs such as ‘Mayonnaise’ - but somehow it works.

4. THE ROOTS - Phrenology Philadelphia’s ‘The Roots’, returned this year with their much-anticipated fifth studio album, ‘Phrenology’. Widely acclaimed as the greatest live hip-hop band around, the exuberance of their live shows isn’t lost on record. Perhaps it’s that venerable fusion of jazz and rock guitars, bass and drums, with more traditional DJing, rapping and inventive sampling which sets them so widely apart.

‘Phrenology’ is a mixture of old-skool soul, jazz and rap, and includes collaborations with Jill Scott, Nelly Furtado, Musiq, amongst others.

3. BECK - Sea Change Alt-pop troubadour, Beck, made a shimmering return this year, with this, his seventh studio recording. ‘Sea Change’ is largely an acoustic affair, and harks back to the spirit of 90s classic ‘Mutations’. A marked exit from the cheeky, funky, disco-inspired nuances of ‘Midnight Vultures’, this album is understated, brooding, melancholic and a testament to Beck’s musical ingenuity and ability to consistently reinvent himself.

2. COLDPLAY - A Rush of Blood to the Head It’s hard to believe that Chris Martin and co. were students down the road at UCL

ates over a subtle, string-laden melody and Damon’s wistful, reflective lyricism is only too fitting. Moroccan percussion and strings add an extra dimension. On a par with ‘This is a Low’ and ‘The Universal’, this is one of the best of the mellow tracks, or in fact of any of the singles Blur have released.

1. The Streets - DON’T MUG YOURSELF So, here we have it. The RAW Single of the Year 2002/3’ goes to the brilliant Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, for his cracking, cockney musings in ‘Don’t Mug Yourself’. Taken from The Streets’ landmark debut album of last year, ‘Original Pirate Material’ (incidentally, he was robbed of the Mercury Music Prize), it’s one of the livelier slabs of Mike Skinner’s irrepressible verbal diatribe. Set in a “greasy spoon cafeteria”, this one sees Mike hilariously being cautioned by his mates about last night’s date (“I know you can’t stop thinkin’ of her/Just don’t mug yourself, don’t mug yourself”).

Hooked on their every word, your thoughts suspended in the insistent, jaunty bass line, this track will have you fixed from the very first listen, and will stay with you throughout the day.

The perfect soundtrack to your late-night kebab. Believe.

Chryselle Pathmantathan only a few years back. They’ve now sold zillions of records, played packed arenas, Chris has managed to pull Hollywood A-list, the list goes on. And it was this album which cemented their commercial success. Follow-up to the brilliant ‘Parachutes’, the album saw the boys delve deeper into their sensitive, beguiling souls, revealing a tighter musicianship and a more refined sound. A fine brand of music, of longing, of love, and of loss.

1. BLUR - Think Tank The departure of Graham Coxon was a sad day for Blur fans the world over. With such a fundament element of Blur now gone, fans waited anxiously. For the remaining members of Blur, the pressure to deliver something special was even greater. With ‘Think Tank’, Damon, Alex and Dave have delivered. Tracks such as the beautiful ‘Sweet Song’, or the ‘Song 2’-tinged explosion of crazy, indie madness on ‘We’ve got a file on you’ have their place among Blur’s best. Although it may not be their finest record to date, and Graham’s absence is felt (one-time appearance on ‘Battery in your leg’ once again demonstrating his soaring guitar capabilites) it still does more than anything in the music industry at the moment. Above all, ’Think Tank’ provides further evidence of a natural progression in Blur that other bands could only wish to emulate.

Chryselle Pathmanathan

Review of the Year 2003 ROAR - Raw Film

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FILM Retrospective: 2002/2003 A very good if not spectacular year for cinema has amongst its highlights a brilliant directorial debut from George Clooney, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind being his biting satire on a society obsessed with television; Robin Williams a.k.a. Patch Adams becoming decidedly evil in Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia and Mark Romanek’s One Hour Photo respectively, and of course the eagerly anticipated Two Towers. And all this without even including what was by a country mile the best film of the year, Joe Carnahanís Narc.

Here at the Roar film section we are nothing if not selective and the films reviewed over the course of the year provide a great opportunity to disagree with the editor’s choice. Roman Polanski’s The Pianist, with its prominent success at the Poignant terror: The Pianist Oscars, will no doubt be a favourite amongst most people.

But it may not have escaped notice that this humble editor gave it three/four stars. It wasn’t a conscious decision to court controversy; just a feeling that whilst The Pianist clearly was a most effective piece of cinema, especially in the way it cap18 tured on an individual level, events of universal resonance, the camera’s tone of emotional detachment did it a mild dis- Director: Joe Carnahan Starring: Jason Patric Ray Liotta service.

Obssesed: Malkovich in The Dancer Upstairs

FILM OF THE YEAR: (Feb 2003) Narc

Other gems included Richard Kelly’s fantastically dark homage to Lynch, Donnie Darko and, wait for it: Gangs of New York. At the risk of incurring the wrath of nearly every Roar critic, Scorsese’s mock epic was a manic obsession, beautifully realised. The construction of the film mirrored the chaotic nature of its content; it didn’t pretend to be organised, just a glorious mess. Films that were equally good this year but could not unfortunately be incorporated into our awkward schedule were Steven Soderbergh’s remake of Solaris and Stephen Frears’s Dirty, Pretty, Things, a dark foray into the shady world of immigrant exploitation in London’s slums and tenements.

Amongst all the wheat there is bound to be some chaff however. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Maid in Manhattan and Just Married are all great candidates for some of the worst films of the year. But what really necessitated a strong anti-depressant after viewing was the truly awful Red Dragon (sorry Bhushan!), an attempt to remake Manhunter with none of the latter’s menace, panache or substance. A resounding example of standardised Hollywood rubbish. Which brings us to the Oscars. Usually an excuse for Hollywood to over indulge itself, the ceremony was appropriately sombre given the political situation. The glitterati grew a conscience and in the circumstances The Pianist was perhaps a worthy winner out of the usual contenders, which merely constituted industry sycophantism rather than an acknowledgement of good cinema.

That just about finishes the retrospective but what of forth coming attractions, especially over the summer? It looks rather gloomy unfortunately. With Bush jr. using cinema in the same way as Ronald Reagan did, films such as Rambo 4 and the next instalment of Die Hard are to be avoided, unless one is looking for a barrel of laughs in the promotion of dubious ideology. There are considerable chinks of light though. Look out for John Malkovich’s The Dancer Upstairs; James Mangold’s Identity; James Foley’s Confidence; Bryan Singer’s X-Men 2, and of course the Wachowski Bros’ Matrix:: Reloaded. Until then, happy viewing!

Narc covers narrative territory that has been well trodden in the past. One recognises in a flash the duo of cops, the botched drug investigation and the ambiguous character types. But this is where any similarity ends. Carnahan has worked within existing generic conventions to produce a fullfrontal cinematic assault on the senses. This film leaves a marked imprint on the memory that transcends any clichés that it could easily have conformed to in terms of style and content.

Addicted: Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) in Narc Narc is more than just an account of Nick Tellis’s (Patric) attempt to uncover the truth behind the brutal murder of cop Michael Calvess, it is a striking insight into his mind. As a study of the moral dilemmas facing one man, it asks wider questions about his position within the world, and from beginning to brutal end, it exposes the audience to this anguish. Tellis’s character occupies no middle ground. Throughout the film he is framed at a low angle in medium shot, and exists only in between brightly lit or extremely dark exteriors and interiors.

He has occupied both moral positions, both worlds, and is comfortable in neither.

The audience find it just as hard to reconcile the stedi-cam induced, violent opening, a culmination of his undercover operations, with the slow, languid panning of his home life. To this effect the film’s narrative concentrates less on Telliss’s past and more on how the solving of the case could provide a sort of morbid closure for him. His obvious dalliance with the world of drugs he investigated is never more than a surface presence, recalled in dynamically edited shots, juxtaposed discontinuously with images of the beleaguered cop cutting a forlorn figure in the metallic Detroit wastelands.

Here he is always in long shot, compounding his dilemma, his inability to strike a weary compromise between a shadowy underworld and a tense home life. Far from being diametrically opposed, Henry Oak’s (Liotta) character is a doppelganger. His explosive, as oppose to Telliss’s more minimalist, approach crosses over ambiguously, until all difference is quashed.

Oak is part of Telliss’s uncertainty about the case, about himself, beautifully expressed by frenetic montages of the latter attempting to piece together exactly what did happen, to the point where the degree of repetition leaves the viewers themselves gasping for breath, and doubting the denouement.

But this is the point, such is the human condition; this man finds himself in a bleak spiral, occupying an underworld in which he is at once detached and involved. The best film of the year is already here.

Narc is a breathtaking, visually enriching study of human nature. It is the best movie of its kind for over a decade, certainly since Michael Mann’s Manhunter and is all the more startling for being merely Carnahan’s second feature. The only film in a long time to have justified the exorbitant, extortionate, West End entrance fee.

*****/5 Abu Ali

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Raw Events - ROAR Review of the Year 2003

Events Best KCLSU Event Of The Year the new later license now extended to 2:30am means you are getting even more value for money.

Drum ‘n’ Bass Night - IN AT THE DARK END The year started with Drum ‘n’ Bass poorly represented at King's. Now at its end, this is certainly not the case. This revolution has largely been brought about by a collective of like-minded students and friends spreading at the word from the Guy's campus. Headed by the enigmatic Oliver Blocker, who personally bore most of the risk, and put in the kind of hours that rightfully no third year medic should have, In At The Dark End has produced some of the best musical events at King's this year.

Inverse hosted the first of these dark and dirty nights way back on Nov 7th, but for those who were there it seems like only yesterday.

MC Reaper, and MC Rage and DJ Vision in particular were given the stage to show their considerable talents, as the party got into full swing. However much to Ollie Blocker's surprise, judgment by the amount and quality of mix tapes there were other MCs and DJs at King's waiting to stake their claim. Therein lies In At The Dark Ends strength. The rise of D ‘n’ B affecting the mainstream has led to many of London's bars and clubs churning out the same homogenous watered-down tunz, at far from watered-down prices. The societies members plugged support outside Fabric and other such establishments secure in the knowledge their society could offer the original art, with a music policy, controlled by those who actually participate in the night.

The bar had been set, but was raised on a bitter Friday in January, where 330 people braved the caustic air to make it to Inverse. As spring temperatures increased so did the quality

of these nights, as March saw the best night the Dark End crew put on all year. The abiding memory of those concerned was the vibe at 2am where people were still dancing and partying in a way had Inverse had seldom seen.

Although this is technically “A Best of the Year” edition, it would be unfair not to note at from In At The Dark End the best is yet to come. Big nights are guaranteed on May 16th and June 7th. MC 1G is leaving the mundane world of Human Biology to spend a year on a radio station honing his already tight skills, so catch him now on the state-of-the-art sound systemthat should be in place provided it can be procured from the Medical Society at a reasonable price. 1G is not the only professional quality artist involved in these nights. DJ Dissector is involved in production and is making new material, whilst Pixie Liz of Def Effects is coming back especially for the nights. At £4 you should certainly judge for yourself, and

The ultimate goal of the society is the formation of SE London Drum ‘n’ Bass collective. There is already a big following at Southbank who are regulars; in fact they work closely with In At The Dark End on their own nights. UCL, LSE, and Imperial are also represented. The 44,000 students at King's surely can be relied upon to support top quality events at their own College. I'll leave you with words from the Societies Head when talking about the now monthly events: “It's my idea of the perfect Drum ‘n’ Bass night.” Is it yours? Why not find out?

Want to get involved in Drum 'n’ Bass next year?

If you want to get involved, including using any mix tapes you might have made, information can be found in the following places: website: email:

www.inatthedarkend.com oliverblocker@kcl.ac.uk

or visit

http://www.kclsu.org

On Stage and Elsewhere This is the Disney musical of the Disney movie (Disney having borrowed large chunks from Shakespeare's Hamlet).

Benevolent and noble king Mufasa is murdered by his wicked brother Scar, whose sin is later avenged by Mufasa's son and heir to the throne - Simba. Along the way we meet many memorable characters like Zazu, the flatulent warthog Pumbaa, Timon and Nala - the lioness from Simba's childhood who successfully persuades Simba to do battle with his own inner demons and take his rightful place as King.

This is a magical show of African fantasy; a triumph of the imagination. The African animals are represented on stage by an array of masks and puppets and bodysuits and the actors bodies become a mass of vibrating flesh. Designer Julie Taymor's imagination clearly knows no bounds. The set is astounding; the opening scene especially so. Visually a whole jungle is spectacularly recreated before our eyes through devices such as a rotating stage.

Definite Hit for the summer!

Remember that The Lion King is offering students holding a valid NUS card the opportunity to see the West End's number one show on Wednesday matinee and evening performance for £15, until the end of June 2003, so make the most of this offer this summer! The tickets are available from the Box Office from 10am on the day of the performance, are limited to two tickets per student and are subject to availability.

And if that hasn’t convinced you, here’s Kaye Holland’s review of the show, written in March of this year: Cast aside any preconceptions of musicals that you might have and go and see this show! When a show becomes the subject of so much hype, you can't help but feel that it will fall flat in performance. Amazingly however, The Lion King lives up to all its hype - and more!

The stunning score is eerily effective; a curious multi-cultural mix. The score is a blend of evocatively rich African harmonies and the popular culture British songs of Tim Rice and Elton John such as ‘Circle of Life’ and ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’. There are some strong solo performances particularly from the evil Scar - yet the stars of the show are the ensemble as a whole, from the pride of lionesses and the pack of hyenas to the two excellent giraffes (actors on stilts) all of whom sing and dance their hearts out with such infectious raw energy and enthusiasm. Featuring the powerful rhythms and sounds of tribal music, unique choreography and the like, the show punches and kicks with the spirit of Africa.

As for criticisms? Sorry folks, there are none! This is musical theatre at its best. It's innovative, inventive and ultimately fabulously fresh. A sumptuous feast for your eyes and ears; musicals don't come any better than this. Essentially this show radiates warmth and will leave you feeling so uplifted that your heart will be humming for weeks afterwards. Miss it - miss out!

Go see!

Kaye Holland

NEMESIS INFERNO - Launch Day You may think that theme park rides are just for kids, but when you’ve just finished that final exam, and your caffeinefuelled brain is set to explode, what better way to release all that pent-up stress than swooping through 750 metres of suspended track, turning through 360 degree loops, with your best mates laughing/crying by your side?

‘Nemesis Inferno’ is the latest summer ride at Thorpe Park, and inspired by Alton Towers’ legendary ‘Nemesis’, it’s another feet-dangling, suspended rollercoaster affair. As soon as the scary playground music kicks in at the start, you’ll find yourself holding on for dear life, as the ride jerks from side to side, and you’re plunged at a speed of 77km and G-forces of up to 4.5.

Don’t wear slip-ons, do look down, and ignore the ten year olds in front of you in the queue (who seem about as scared by the pending ride as if they were being threatened with free Playstations).

The fear factor’s not that bad once you’re on the ride, it’s the disorientating 360 degree turns that are something else. More exhilarating than gut-wrenching, you’ll definitely want another go.

For more information: www.thorpepark.com Prices: £19.00 (off peak), £23.00 (standard), £25.00 (peak) Chryselle Pathmanathan

Review of the Year 2003 ROAR - SE1

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The Year That Was I am sad to say that this will be my last column for ROAR. I honestly hope that I’ve brought a smile to some of your faces during the course of this year. We didn’t think you cared, you say? Of course I do! Because this has been extremely hard and I’d hate to think that it was all for nothing!

I must say that you are a credit to yourselves; I never had to look too far for SE1 silliness to include here and those of you who have achieved, let alone earned, a mention on this page are too many to mention.

Spud The coveted SE1 prize for the most mentions this year, goes to Matt Blundell.

Freshers out there, keen to emulate their hero, may well ask how they too can climb these heady heights of celebrity. I’m not entirely sure - suspicions suggest that Tommy’s Bar has something to do with it.

You could email matthew.blundell@kcl.ac.uk to find out straight from the horse’s mouth. Matt can come and collect his bumper pack of CDs from the ROAR office.

Another packed year has come to pass for many at GKT and all that remains is the everpresent hurdle of end-of-year exams.

Looking back over the last 10 months, it is clear that a lot has been achieved. So what will remain in our memories from the 2002-2003 academic year? A pick and mix of events that has certainly kept us all occupied, whatever our interests.

At the beginning of the academic year it was announced that undergraduate medical and dental students in year 5 or beyond of their course will have their tuition fees paid and they will also be eligible for a new NHS-funded means-tested bursary scheme. One of the main beneifits being the extension of the bursary to the whole year if more than 45 weeks in all 52 are spent in education.

The establishment in 2002 of the GKT Medical Society saw the start of a new era at GKT. This new society has been responsible for the organisation of social events since its creation. It has provided a committed group of people willing to ensure that we all get the most out of our time at GKT. What was expected to be a transition year for the society, has proved to be very successful, and forging an identity for itself seems to have come naturally.

Presidential Dave Utting came in at a very close second place, putting in a stalwart effort to hold the same number of references. In the face of this tie, the decision came down to the number of pictures each had on the page.

Matt won, somehow managing to appear in more photographs on this page over the course of the year. Well done to the pair of you!

Anyone willing to edit this page from September should contact the VP Media & Publications. It may be particularly suited to those of you entering an intercalated BSc next year as spending time at the Strand is required.

Political drive then captured the hearts and minds of many at the college for the next few months as the fate of part of a teaching hospital was decided.

Block 9. It has been discussed to death I think. For the ostriches amongst you, this plot at St. Thomas’ was sold by the university to the NHS trust for a few million. Not to anyone else for twice as much, as had been suspected at one point.

A much-needed £12,000 was also spent on redeveloping Tommy’s Bar at the beginning of the year. the revamp included a new paint job, furniture, curtains and flooring. The bar was then able to participate fully in the events of Freshers’ Week, RAG, The Christmas Show and the usual Tommy’s frivolities.

Back in November Rhydian Harris, the new RAG President, strangely declared the RAG elections to be the most successful in living memory. One thing that is certainly true, is that the RAG week itself was phenomenally successful, raising in the region of £102,000. An absolutely outstanding achievement! Also included this year was a fashion show at the SE1 club that went down a treat and will no doubt return in future years. The musical, Oliver, at the Greenwood theatre included an 80-strong cast and was performed on three nights a week after RAG. Rhydian has now been elected to the parttime position of Medial & Dental Officer.

The Diwali show, the Xmas show, the Dental Ball, the opening of the Golden Jubilee Wing at KCH, tit and gnad week. All took their part in the 2002-2003 year that was.

Both will be appearing on the next series of “I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!”, along with Victoria Hervey and the guy who trained Bouncer from Neighbours.

Good luck to those of you that have exams coming up. To you all, I say this, keep on enjoying yourselves and striving to make the best of your short time at this university. I hope to see as many of you as possible at the May Ball on the 30th.

The first responsibility of the Medical Society was naturally Freshers’ Week. I still have the wall planner on my pin-board. Did you complete the pubcrawl in one piece, and where were you when Timmy Mallet came to King’s? A start to the year that was certainly memorable.

We saw the demise of the HOP and the rise of Inflam. The creation of WAX and In At The Dark End. Whatever you choose to remember, and whatever you choose to forget, it has been as eventful a year as any I have so far experienced at GKT. John O’Callaghan Matt B: Ecstatic to be a winner

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Sport - ROAR Review of the Year 2003

Sports Review of the Year 2002/3 Now that the hallowed halls of the Macadam Building and Boland House merely echo with the memory of panic-stricken phone calls to captains who have not shown up and the frantic distribution of kit on Wednesdays, the Student Activities Department has taken on a reflective air.

The compiled results stats reveal a mixed (in fact an almost exact 50/50 split) bag of wins and losses. Not overly impressive for a college of almost 20,000 members.

GKT Squash Captain Marie-Claire Braithwaite was delighted to collect her UL Cup winners trophy at the Awards Dinner. Her ladies had also trounced 6 other teams to take the Premiership title.

Not a bad season on reflection!

But what do statistics know? What do they expose of the blood, sweat and tears shed by our sportsmen and women week in week out?

Such endeavours were celebrated in traditional and flamboyant style at the New Connaught Rooms back in March. The Black-Tie and three course meal event was well attended by those in the mood to drink to their success.

The round up of all Colours and Blues recipients was well received by the clubs but the VP Student Activities, Sarah Campbell also wished to highlight the stand out successes of certain clubs.

This was a year when the second teams were really showing the first how to do it.

Colin Foad's KCL Men's Hockey 2 XI stormed to the top of their BUSA division, trampling ten other teams in their wake.

Their promotion jettisons them into a league dominated by big sporting unis such as Brunel and Reading. Having not lost a single game all season, the team must be more than up for next year's challenge.

KCL Men's Rugby 2s must be delighted to be ousting old rivals UCL out of their division but will be relishing the opportunity to face merger rivals GKT. Oli Robinson's men will be pleased to learn that they will also have the chance to repeat the humiliating spanking given to the LSE on Rob Tagg Memorial Day. As the song says, they really did "s*** on the LSE".

Volleyball put pay to years of inaction by swiping the UL Premiership. Suzana Boavida's club is sure to be a brighter star in the future now that they have consolidated their strengths.

KCL Women’s Hockey: Preparing themselves before practice starts also over the moon to have made it so far as well as making the promotion play-offs to reach the Premiership.

Leaving Essex and Bath in their wake, Women's Basketball rolled up to Birmingham in high spirits only to face the might of Oxford. "The standard was really high but we had loads of fun" said star forward Roni Hamilton. "Their whole squad was American so we were playing girls who were simply practising their national game".

So surely we fair better locally? You're damn right we do.

These results may seem scant from a large London institution with almost 70 teams turning out on a weekly basis.

Having attended the annual BUSA dinner and sports round up back in June 2002 I can only say that in comparison to the big guns of Loughborough, Bath, Birmingham et al, King's does look smallfry. Whilst these unis regularly make the top 5 for their BUSA points, King's wallows around the 44th place mark, whilst GKT falls in at 80 out of 122 institutions.

But let's put this into some kind of perspective. We still beat Sports Science unis such as Chester and South Bank in the overall tables. Not bad for a college without its own Sports Hall or Astroturf.

Imagine what we could do with the proper facilities!

Rugby still remains a popular and successful sport for KCL and GKT So surely we fair better locally? You're The likes of Loughborough and Bath must have been rubbing their eyes in disbelief as two King's teams made it onto the bill of two indoor finals this year.

Having made the journey to Birmingham the first team Fencers were disappointed to lose by a miniscule 10 points but were

damn right we do. King's and GKT have played a stormer in the ULU Leagues and Cups throughout the 2002/3 season and have the silverware to prove it.

Producing the Bert Brailsford Sportsman of the Year is no mean feat for any club.

Luke Hodgeson of KCL Men's Football

scooped this, the highest award sports players at King's can get, at this years awards dinner. "We are no longer just the largest club at King's but also the most successful. The medals this year reflect outstanding performance and commitment from all the boys throughout the season", gushed Club President Oli Wilson. And he may not be far wrong.

Last but by no means least, the ladies of KCL Netball. Leaving arch-rivals UCL and GKT trembling in their wake, the Firsts took the Challenge Cup for a second year running in great style against RHUL. Jodi Walsh's girls had already scooped the ÂŁ200 prize for a great turnout on the NUS Demo meaning that their time on and off pitch this year has been one to remember.

The First reign supreme for another season at the top of the ULU League Premiership whilst the Fifth went through to scoop the Vase competition. The Sevenths were denied their glory only on goal difference. Let's hope that next year's President can handle seven sides with such efficiency and success.

Basketball were not going to be deterred after their loss in Birmingham. Both Men's and Women's first teams raced through to cup victory in ULU and the Women were sure not to lost anything else and took the Premiership.

Kit Brogan's men may have found themselves homeless at the beginning of the season but this did nothing to temper the quality of hockey. When Kennington Astroturf backed out in August the prospect of trekking to the ends of the Piccadily Line for matches and training added a sour note to the start of the GKT

Leaving arch-rivals UCL and GKT trembling in their wake, ...

Hockey season. The Men's Firsts were not to be defeated however, and went through to take the UH and UL Cups and the Canterbury Festival whilst their Second team counterparts secured promotion by winning their UL Division. Kit was keen to highlight the teams efforts that went into the success, but also his sensational season in goal!

Netball are looking strong for the New Year Many thanks to all of you who have turned out perhaps 3 times a week to represent King's and GKT. As ambassadors for KCL your efforts and victories are incredibly important. The Executive will now be striving to ensure that College recognise your success and provide adequate provision for sport.

Here's to being crowned King's of London again next year.

Sarah Campbell VP Student Activities

Review of the Year 2003 ROAR - Spotted

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Spotted in 2002-2003 It has been a busy year and there has been so much going on throughtout it. If you were involved in the union it is very likely you made it onto the pages of ‘Spotted’. As usual, if you have been spotted you will win a pair of tickets to either Phase or Wax. To collect them come to the events office on third floor of the Macadam Building and ask for Rob Massy. Have you been Spotted?

Spotted !

Spotted !

Year in Pictures SRC training at Boland House early in the year

Freshers’ Ball: Say Blah!

Rowan Williams visits College in September

Long serving Sports Editor of ROAR Rachel Dipper leaves the team this year

The Sabbatical Officers hand over debt placards to No. 10

‘London Falling’ was a chance to discuss Student

Funding in London, but was overshadowed by the War

The Queen visited the Maughan Library in November: here shown meeting KCLSU Officers David Utting, Ralph Redfern & Sarah Campbell

It’s been a great year, so here’s to many more.

Guy Schofield, 02/03’s Union Chair

‘Into The woods’ was just one of many productions put on by KCLSU societies

The apparently misunderstood Beaujolais event was well attended

Polly Mackwood VP Ed & Rep Elect

These ladies were attending School Disco. Could you guess?

Staff and Officers wait in front of College for the March to reach the Strand.

The NUS National Demo on the 4th of December. Inset top: Sabbatical Officers Sarah and Ralph lead lead the thromg