The Beaver- #931 (24 January 2024) by The Beaver

Issue 931 | WT Week 2

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Making sense of LSE since 1949

LSE’s new Economics curriculum, examined

Newly created streams change the structure of courses in the department, page 8

by Sheila Mutua, Review Editor. Photo sourced from LSE.

NEWS

FEATURES

OPINION

Complaints from student residents at Lilian Knowles House

Fostering sustainability and community with the LSESU Charity Shop

New year, new me: Re-examining New Year’s resolutions

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Issue 931 | WT Week 2

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Executive Editor Alan Nemirovski executive.beaver@lsesu.org Managing Editor Eugenia Brotons Batista managing.beaver@lsesu.org Flipside Editor Sana Agarwal editor.flipside@lsesu.org Frontside Editor Vanessa Huang editor.beaver@lsesu.org Multimedia Editor Claire Yubin Oh multimedia.beaver@lsesu.org News Editors Iraz Akkus Chenoa Colaco Features Editors Liza Chernobay Amadea Hofmann Opinion Editors Honour Astill Kieran Hurwood Part B Editors Emma Do Julietta Gramigni Review Editors Christina Jiang Sheila Mutua Social Editors Rhea Jethwa Kaviesh Kinger Sports Editors Robert Khandzhyan Matt Sudlow Beaver Sound Editors Kate Banner Laila Gauhar Illustrations Editors Francesca Corno Mithalina Taib Photography Editors Ben Chen Angus Timmons Videography Editors Lamisa Chowdhury Valerie Schwane Torres Rebecca Stanton Website Editors Hila Davies Christine van Voorst Social Media Editors Emma Gallagher Fay Qian

On moral attention Eugenia Brotons Batista Managing Editor

he festive season lends itself to conspicuous consumption and other excesses, but giving and charitability are also core activities. Although it may seem like good intentions are sufficient, one’s choice of cause and charity when donating are especially important. Given recent political events, one cause seems to stand out above others: humanitarian aid for victims of war. However, if one views all human lives as worthy of equal moral consideration, choosing where to donate and direct one’s moral attention requires careful thought. Two assumptions underpin this discussion. First, that every life is of equal moral significance; so a person’s death from armed conflict is equally morally bad as a per-

son’s death from a different cause, such as malaria or other preventable diseases. The idea is that we cannot attribute higher moral value to some lives rather than others because they differ in cause of death. Second, that what is of equal moral significance deserves equal amount of attention: i.e., if I believe that a life lost to malaria is equally as bad as a life lost in armed conflict, then I should pay equal amounts of moral attention to each. Given this information, what is morally required of us? If we believe that all human lives are of equal moral value, what does this imply for our attention and efforts? It would seem that those who rally for the cessation of armed conflict, should be at least equally willing to rally for aid for preventing diseases like malaria. It would seem that those who donate to humanitarian aid for con-

flict-ridden areas, should be at least equally willing to donate to malaria prevention. This is required if our moral attention is to be commensurate with equal moral consideration for all lives. Examining the data on deaths, in the last 100 days, deaths from malaria were seven-fold those from armed conflict in the middle east; given this, perhaps malaria deserves seven times the amount of moral attention. If one is to abide by moral equality, it seems that no death should be viewed as less worthy, no matter how common or pervasive its cause. The one thing I ask of readers is to reflect and evaluate: where are you directing your moral efforts and attention? If you believe in equal moral consideration for all lives, are your attention and efforts commensurate?

Film recommendations no one asked for, Vanessa Huang part 2 Frontisde Editor Tótem (2023): childhood grief is the fulcrum here, as we witness in real-time a shattering of youthful optimism. There’s a loneliness that seems unique to our early years – with pain destined to remain unspoken, and feelings so big that words seem out of reach. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) because they don’t make musicals like this anymore. Unless you’re Damien Chazelle and your second film, La La Land, is made almost entirely as a paean to this era – and this specific film. And because beneath the vibrant technicolour and visual bombast lies a melancholic tale of love, loss, and the roads not taken.

Sword of Trust (2019) because none other than writer and director Lynn Shelton, queen of mumblecore, seems to observe as astutely the human condition – doing so through freewheeling and improvised dialogue between an unlikely team of four trying to sell a Civil War-era sword. PlayTime (1967) as masterfully orchestrated satire, spotlighting the steadily impersonal nature of a society undergoing rapid technological advancement. And the interplay between loneliness and absurdity is perhaps the best way to do it – each chuckle leaving behind a lingering uneasiness.

Blindspotting (2018) for bristling cinema beyond the bounds of genre, simultaneously a pulsing thriller and a buddy comedy, employing verse and heightened language to probe lived experiences of racism and gentrification. The Passengers of the Night (2022) because in this low-conflict, slice-oflife portrait of 1980s Paris, it’s really the soothing tones of late-night radio that take centre stage. After-hours dialogue always feels more intimate, a lullaby of sorts to soundtrack this tender narrative.

Any opinions expressed herein are those of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the LSE Students’ Union or Beaver Editorial Staff. The Beaver is issued under a Creative Commons license. Attribution necessary. Printed at Iliffe Print, Cambridge. Room 2.02 Saw Swee Hock Student Centre LSE Students’ Union London WC2A 2AE 020 7955 6705

NEWS

News Editors Iraz Akkus Chenoa Colaco news.beaver@lsesu.org

Immigration policy changes predicted to significantly impact international students The Beaver Newsroom

n 4 December 2023, the Home Secretary announced a series of measures intended to deliver the largest ever reduction in legal net migration to Britain, expected to have significant effects on international student migration. Addressing the House of Commons, James Cleverly committed to several changes, including raising the minimum salary threshold for immigrants and banning most overseas students from bringing their families. The government also intends to review the student Graduate visa to ensure it “works in the best interests of the UK”, estimating that these combined measures will reduce annual legal net migration by 300,000 people.

kind of achievement in your course”. He also stated that the committee would investigate restricting Graduate visas to specific institutions or degrees. While no final decision on the Graduate visa has been taken yet, the government has confirmed changes to other settlement routes. Overseas students will now be required to reach a salary threshold of £38,700 for a Skilled Workers visa. LSE – with a 70% international student body – estimates that the median salary for their students 15 months after graduating is £34,250, though this can heavily vary

by degree. This new threshold has been set intentionally high to prevent immigration undercutting salaries of British citizens, though it will not apply retrospectively to those who already hold a visa. New announcements already pose significant distress for overseas students with future plans – and, in some cases, British citizens hoping to settle with partners that they may have met at university. One student remarks that while they were planning to stay in the UK, their plans are “in shambles” due to the new

The Chairman of the Migration Advisory Committee – responsible for conducting the Graduate visa’s review – suggested that the committee would explore options such as requiring students to “achieve a certain grade or certain

policies and raised salaries. “My [graduate] job no longer meets the requirements which makes me so worried for the future”, they said.

Polling suggests that the electorate would be keen for the government to go further, with only 25% supporting the current Graduate visa scheme.

There has been widespread concern about current levels of immigration posing strains on the British state. Although most foreign nationals pay a surcharge to access the NHS, the Home Secretary argued that “people are understandably worried about housing, GP appointments, school places and access to other public services”.

An LSE Spokesperson has said: “International students make an enormous contribution to the UK’s economy, society and cultural life. At LSE we are proud of our global connections and the benefits they bring to our students, staff and to London more generally.

Public confidence over immigration policy has also significantly waned after repeated failures to reduce immigration to the “tens of thousands”, inline with government manifesto commitments since 2010. Official figures estimate that a record-high of 745,000 people immigrated to Britain last year. These new measures represent the most serious attempt to deliver on the government’s long-standing commitments, and therefore generally command strong public support.

“The School continues to work closely with our partners such as UUK, the Russell Group and the Mayor of London to make the case for international students, and help create positive policies on student migration. We also make our own representations to relevant bodies, such as the Migration Advisory Committee and the Home Office. “In addition to high level submissions, LSE staff work with UKVI and others to try and make sure the application process is as user-friendly as possible, and to challenge any new policies which will disadvantage our students.”

Intersectional Feminist Society puts forward motion to change name to ‘Feminism Society’ Saira Afzal Contributing Writer

SESU’s Intersectional Feminist Society have brought forward a motion to change the society name to ‘Feminism Society’, removing the word ‘Intersectional’. According to the society’s Instagram post on 21 November 2023, the change aims to broaden the society’s appeal. The society encouraged members to cast their vote via an online form, either for or against the change. The motion stressed that the

proposed name change does not intend to remove intersectional values from the society, but instead bring together all branches of feminism without excluding those who don’t identify with the “intersectional” label. The society clarifies that they remain “a place of inclusion and learning about intersectionality” and intend to host a wider variety of feminist speakers to “encourage inclusive debate and discourse”. The Beaver reached out to the President of Intersectional Feminist Society, Aurelia, who described the “dwindling” turnout at last year’s events,

which is why this year’s committee investigated potential reasons for low attendance. She explained: “One common theme we heard in feedback was that some felt intimidated because they had never come across the theory of intersectional feminism before.”. While committee members are strongly committed to promoting intersectional feminism, they “[understood] that many people, especially nonnative English speakers may consider themselves feminist, but aren’t deeply engaged with gender theory.” Thus, the committee decided to bring forward a

motion to change the name of the society to ‘Feminism Society’. Aurelia added: “(...) so far, [we] have received almost unanimous support from the members who’ve voted.” Current society members have expressed their thoughts on the motion. One student described themselves as “proname change”, maintaining that the society “will be able to cater to ALL feminists at LSE, uniting us together while still being intersectional at our core.” They added that feminists should all be working towards a common goal: “total equality and the dismantling

of the patriarchy. Feminist subdivisions only weaken our collective power.” Another student felt “sad” to see Intersectional Feminist Society change their name as “having intersectional in the name made the society seem like a beacon of inclusivity.” They added: “While the ethics of the society shall not change, I’m not sure new members will feel quite as confident in the society’s inclusive credentials upon joining.”

NEWS

Lilian Knowles House faces numerous student complaints Cameron Baillie Senior Staff Writer Photograph sourced from LSE

tudent residents have complained both publicly and privately to The Beaver of serious mismanagement issues at Lilian Knowles House (LKH). The postgraduate-only hall of residence, located in Spitalfields, is managed by third-party contractor Sanctuary Students; it houses around 360 students exclusively from LSE. Juliet* shared concerns with The Beaver on the cleaning staff ’s unauthorised entry into their bedroom in November. Juliet questioned the cleaner, who claimed that management permits them room access to use residents’ toilets while

working. There are public toilets on the LKH premises. Juliet also found the staff member going through belongings. When questioned by Juliet, the staff member responded that she was two months pregnant and needed sanitary pads, which were reportedly visible elsewhere. The staff member has since been fired, The Beaver is told. Other students also contacted The Beaver sharing suspicions of similarly unauthorised bedroom entry, citing lifted toilet seats, rogue tissues, and rearranged drawer contents. The Beaver is told that there have been unrequited calls for an official response into questions raised with management by residents, as to which or how many contractor employees

have access to bedrooms, at what times, and for what reasons. Another two residents reported being locked out from their bedrooms in the early hours of 7 January, right before exams. Resident MSc Psychology of Economic Life student Kamana shared that, not for the first time, she reported to a member of reception staff “who didn’t seem bothered at all when [she] told him … [and] waited [until] he reached an appropriate time on his show to pause and pay attention”. Kamana was offered a faulty keycard; reception staff eventually proposed she wedge the door open as a solution. The entire ordeal lasted around 40 minutes out of an “already exhausting evening” after studying, running past 3am. Sonia* also contacted The Beaver to share her experience in late October of reporting bed bugs at LKH. After noticing frequent bites and finding bed bugs, Sonia and her flatmates reported them to management. Only long after the initial reports were pest control contacted and bed bugs found in Sonia’s suitcase. She was de-

nied any direct contact with pest control and due to poor communications, disposed of three suitcases valuing “around 250 euros”. Extermination was two weeks after the original complaints, following multiple email interactions. Another student from LKH, Camille*, complained publicly, criticising management for repeated failures of cleaning services in kitchens, a problem reportedly shared by multiple flats. Although students do not take issue with cleaning themselves, they emphasised being disquieted about paying for unreceived services. Students also faced flooding in the basement floor of C-Block on 16 October. When MSc International Management & Public Policy student Solenn reported that this was the sixth plumbing incident that month, the head manager replied that “they’re all separate” issues and that “it’s an old building”. Management reportedly “don’t do” compensation by reducing rent; students instead received laundry credits. More flooding footage was shared with The Beaver on 26 November, with water coming through B-Block light fittings

at LKH, flooding the flat corridor. Another resident, Hari*, reported being without electricity over the weekend of 15 to 17 December due to flooding. A manager also reportedly called a maintenance worker “uneducated” and “incompetent” on 28 October. Weekend staff are reportedly frustrated that management neglect adequate checks before moving new students in. Staff complained to residents that management “just don’t care” and maintenance is left to “deal with it later”, The Beaver is told. Job-search website Indeed has markedly low ratings for job satisfaction at Sanctuary, with lowest-rating reviews for management. They include ‘toxic environment’ and unsupportive management, with cleaners feeling disrespected and underpaid for labour-intensive hours. Residents have voiced sympathies with apparently overworked staff. Other students contacted The Beaver to amplify positive experiences at LKH, alongside an unfortunate minority’s negative experiences. *Names have been changed to preserve anonymity.

London welcomes the Year of the Dragon Iraz Akkus News Editor

the displays.

n 10 February Lunar New Year celebrations will commence, marking the end of the year of the Water Rabbit and welcoming the year of the Wood Dragon. The celebrations will go ahead on Sunday 11 February, organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA).

On the day, one can expect to see the annual Chinese New Year parade which is set to begin in Charing Cross Road and make its way through Shaftesbury Avenue in Chinatown. During the parade, colourful floats, with more than 50 teams taking part, firecrackers, speeches, and the Lions’ Eye-Dotting ceremony will take place.

Starting as a small community event run by the LCCA, in the last two decades London’s Chinese New Years celebrations have become a popular calendar event, attracting thousands of people every year to

Chinatown spearheads the hotspot for colourful decorations and festive mood. It is also the perfect location to try some authentic Chinese New Year meals and festive food. When attending, red is tradi-

tionally worn as this is considered the key colour of the Lunar Year and is believed to bring good luck for the following year.

This is expected to include traditional dragon and flying lion dances, with vibrant displays of Chinese dancing, martial arts displays and music shows.

Across various locations in central London, such as Trafalgar Square, there are further stage performances planned.

In previous years, Shaftesbury Avenue has hosted a talent and community zone where upand-coming British Chinese

artists have a platform to perform, ranging from music to comedy. Leicester Square also becomes an interactive creative space where traditional activities like calligraphy, Chinese music and trying on traditional outfits are planned. Other events taking place to keep in mind to celebrate the occasion or learn about the significance of the Chinese New Year will be happening across London. Some popular places include the Science Museum in South Kensington which will display a one-off exhibition on the history of timekeeping with New Years arts and crafts and dances.

NEWS

RAG Week Annual Timeline - 5th-11th February 5-a-side Charity Football Match Bakesale LGBTQ+ Quiz Charity Pieing Stall Charity Fashion Show Flea Market Dance Workshop Law Society Pro Bono Charity Run

Students campaign for creative spaces on campus Joey Zhang Contributing Writer

petition to open a dedicated art space on campus has gained widespread support from creatives at LSE: amassing approximately 200 signatures from students and staff thus far. The petition comes in reaction to an absence of suitable venues with adequate facilities for art production at the university’s campus. Creatives have been resorting to randomly assigned, poorly equipped classrooms for such purposes. The request to gauge demand for an art space was put forth by Nancy Baltouna of LSE’s Space Planning Team. In response, Danny Wills, co-chair of the LSESU Creative Network, started the petition in October 2023. He writes that the lack of a permanent art space on campus has “stifled any opportunity for creative activity or community at the university,”; he appealed to LSE’s creatives for support to show real demand for this space. April Ji, President of the LSESU Crafts Society and Secretary of LSESU Visual Arts, comments on the inadequacy of existing

venues in supporting art production; she explains that “we cannot accommodate bulky art supplies like sewing machine, easels or printing press, which puts a limit on the activities we can conduct.” Simple facilities like sinks and storage spaces are also missing from most classrooms, making art events less likely to occur and potentially destructive for existing facilities. The pursuit of a dedcated art space was spearheaded by Dr. Savvas Verdis, a senior educator at LSE. Motivated by his personal large scale art project, he wishes to reintroduce

a shared art space on campus that can be used by both students and staff — a facility that had been available 20 years ago. Understanding that an art space may not be a core priority, Dr. Verdis, alongside other LSE creative representatives, have been in regular contact with the LSE Estates team to secure excess spaces in basements and storage areas. The issue of inadequate spaces for artists at LSE extends beyond visual artists and crafters. A member of the LSESU Drama Society commented that due to competition for spacious venues, they have to

“do the majority of (their) rehearsals in classrooms with minimal space to move about”, and performance venues are “not a blank canvas, so (sets) always looks a bit off and very amateur, which is a shame.” Nancy Baltouna recommended that LSE creatives provide greater detail on the demand and requirements for the art space to build a compelling case for approval by the Estates Management Board (EMB). The LSESU Creative Network has since been expanding the scale of involvement for this project. They’ve engaged with representatives of creative

communities to connect students, staff, and the Students’ Union with the EMB, in hopes of making this art space a reality. An LSE spokesperson commented, “Although as a social science institution we do not teach arts or music at LSE, we have a vibrant cultural side and fully support and encourage students to pursue an interest in the arts. LSE is located in a high rent area with limited space but we have many areas that can be used for the arts including an arts rehearsal space and a music practice room in the Marshall Building. “Some of the activities available around campus include arts exhibitions hosted in the Atrium Gallery, lunchtime concerts, the LSE choir and orchestra, photo competitions, and LSE Chill, a free performance night hosted by LSE Arts for poets, comedians, musicians and other performers. “We welcome initiatives from students to help facilitate creative activities on campus and employ an LSE Arts Assistant who is keen to engage with the LSESU on arts related activities.”

FEATURES

Features Editors Liza Chernobay Amadea Hofmann features.beaver@lsesu.org

Fostering sustainability and community: In conversation with the LSESU Charity Shop Oona de Car valho Staff Writer Photographed by B en Chen

n March 2023, the LSESU Charity Shop opened its doors on 31 Portugal Street, transforming an empty and hidden space into a vibrant and colourful second-hand clothing shop. Brimming with one-of-a-kind fashion pieces, quirky decorations, and ambient music, the shop has quickly become an integral part of the LSE campus. The Charity Shop is completely student-led, from the initial concept to its daily operations. I sat down with Ash Purohit, a third-year BSc Management student and Head of RAG Volunteers, to learn about how this project came to fruition and discuss future plans for the shop. The LSESU Charity Shop was born from a collaboration between RAG and the Sustainable Futures Society, as both groups were inspired to reduce fast fashion and promote more ethical consumption. Ash reflects on the impacts of fast fashion, sharing that “only one percent of all produced clothing gets recycled or reused,

which is ridiculous. I mean, it’s crazy. Also, the amount of clothes we currently have on the planet could last for six generations. We don’t need to keep buying clothes”. Opening a second-hand shop on the LSE campus was a way to promote sustainable fashion whilst also supporting RAG’s charity partners, who receive all of the profits. As Ash notes, the Charity Shop “managed to do those two things together, which has just been the dream really”. The Charity Shop itself is divided into two main sections. The right-hand side of the store is dedicated to vintage pieces,

“The amount of clothes we currently have on the planet could last for six generations. We don’t need to keep bying clothes.” which have been curated by a vintage wholesaler based in Italy. Meanwhile, the clothes donated by students and faculty can be found on the left. The shop receives a substantial amount of donations every week, with students regularly coming in with large bags of

clothes to donate. “It’s great that people feel like they can just come into the shop and just leave their clothes there,” Ash says.“We have a wedding dress in the shop right now. I’m just waiting for someone to buy that. We have so many cool things in there.”

The Charity Shop team also curates their clothing selection to cater for student events. From purple-coloured pieces to support the HandsOff x Sway collaboration, to sparkly dresses and heels for RAG’s Casino Night, the Charity Shop’s themed racks make shopping for university events accessible, sustainable, and fun. Sheila Mutua, a third-year BSc Politics and Economics student and avid thrifter, shares that she was excited to check out the shop after seeing their social media promotion videos. “They had a good range of stuff. I found this one black baby-tee that I liked that was really my vibe… I pop in every now and again,” she says. Ash also discusses how it has been great seeing students want to get involved with the shop. There are currently 20 active volunteers, who manage the store from 12-4 pm. I spoke with Mahliqa Ali, a second-year BSc Social Anthropology student, who has recently started volunteering for the Charity Shop. It was her love for thrifting, says Mahliqa, that got her initially involved: “I really like charity shopping and I’m obsessed with Depop and vintage. Hav-

ing that on campus and also raising money for RAG is a really cool thing”. Volunteering has also allowed her to interact with new people and make friends –one of her favourite things about the work shifts. “There’s definitely a sense of community [here]”. Building and fostering community, Ash elaborates, is one of their main goals for the Charity Shop. “We’re having socials, we’re having events, we’re doing collaborations. We’re planning on hosting an open mic night at the shop which will be great fun. Things like that will make it more than just a shop. It’ll make it part of LSE and a part of the community.” The LSESU Charity Shop captures how local projects can be drivers for change. The shop has not only been successful in promoting sustainable fashion choices amongst the student body, but it is also creating a new community space on campus, where students can socialise and find a greater sense of belonging and purpose. As Ash concludes, “it’s one of the greatest projects to be a part of during my time at LSE. And I feel like I really made an impact…I just hope that [it] carries on in the future.”

FEATURES 7

Uncovering the Union: An elusive Summer Ball and the obstacles facing LSESU events Honour Astill Opinion Editor Illustrated by Francesca Corno

This is the third article in the “Uncovering the Union” series, a series investigating the inner workings of the LSE Students’ Union.

n 4 November 2022, the LSESU General Secretary Tilly Mason announced that she “presented the LSE Summer Ball to members of LSE staff, which we’re still working through, […] but it’s looking good!” Another statement followed a month later, mentioning “good progress … with hopefully more updates and the start of a marketing campaign in the new year.” But another update on the Summer Ball didn’t come until the sabbatical officers’ final email of Lent Term 2023 – more than six months after the previous email regarding the Summer Ball. In the email, Activities and Development Officer Romane Branthomme explained that she “tried to revive the Summer Ball project.” Though it was no longer going to happen at the end of term, Romane said that “LSE has agreed to put aside a pot of money to make it happen in the Summer [of] 2024, so my fingers will be crossed for those of you who will still be there then.”

officers’ tenure. In 2017, a Geography with Economics student William Stein created a Change.org petition with a group of dedicated campaigners to demonstrate demand for the Summer Ball, gathering over 1,000 signatures over a year. In 2018, the group proposed and passed a Union General Meeting (UGM) Motion with 390 votes in favour. It’s hard to overstate how much of a phenomenon the Summer Ball was at the time. Touted as a panacea to all of LSE’s problems, the UGM Motion promised to tackle “a sense of loneliness among LSE students” in light of the School’s low student satisfaction scores. Due to the efforts of then-General Secretary Zulum Elumogo, the Summer Ball was set in motion: the date was agreed for 13 June 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted those plans, but the SU announced via Facebook that the Ball would be back in 2021. But Summer 2021 also came and went with no Ball in sight.

But the question remains: what happened in those six months?

In order to fill in some of the gaps, Romane, who was tasked with implementing the Summer Ball in 2023, spoke to The Beaver. Upon her election, Romane successfully convinced LSE to continue supporting the Summer Ball. Initially, the initiative enjoyed support from both the Student Union and LSE. Over time, however, the working team felt that LSE’s enthusiasm vis-à-vis supporting the Summer Ball began to falter.

The concept of an LSE Summer Ball long precluded the

Several issues quickly became evident to the working team.

The personnel LSE sent were not equipped to support such a large undertaking, and the 2020 plans were rudimentary and no longer feasible. The proposed budget and original ticket price of £60 would not cover the costs, due to recent inflation. Despite these challenges, LSE refused the LSESU request to contribute more funding, remaining steadfast in only agreeing to match the Union’s contribution – despite vast differences in each organisation’s funds.

vice, as a Sabb team we decided against a 23/24 Summer Ball due to a lack of available funds. “However, we are working to improve the financial position of the SU as we look forward to the next business cycle. I truly hope that there will be enough available funds for a Summer

“I truly hope that there will be enough available funds for a Summer Ball in the not too distant future,” said Chris Adewoye.

“By February 2023,” Romane said, “it was clear the project was not going to go ahead.”

Ball in the not too distant future, and I am currently working to make that happen.”

Romane conceded that there was a good case for postponing the Summer Ball during her tenure. Besides being financially and logistically untenable within the short time frame Romane had to organise it, it came down to an “issue of priorities.” It would have been a huge investment at a time when demand for the Summer Ball was not as virulent. Romane noted that “if such a hyped-up event goes terribly, that makes the SU look extremely bad.”

Evidently, while sabbatical officers enjoy discretion in their ability to pursue policy agendas, they are constrained by limitations in resources, manpower, and cooperation. This stands in stark contrast with the lofty expectations placed upon them: both self-imposed, through campaign promises curated to appeal to student voters, and externally imposed through referenda.

Regarding the Union’s lack of updates, Romane’s explanation was that for a small and stretched team, the officers have to be selective in what they choose to communicate and how. As for today, the Summer Ball policy was again passed, and will not expire until 2025, following a referendum proposed by Emma Somos, a Sociology student. According to the policy brief, the current Activities and Communities Officer, Chris Adewoye, is “responsible for implementing this policy ... leading an SU project team this term to make it happen.” Chris told The Beaver: “Having reviewed our in-year financial position and taken board ad-

within the organisation, or through insufficient support from the School. Cooperation with the LSE on the Summer Ball was a rare occasion, as Romane said that ‘‘it’s not often [that the LSESU has] partnership projects with LSE’s management.”

Structural factors, such as the officers’ short one-year tenures, result in a high level of turnover and a lack of institutional memory. Though there is an extensive handover process during transitions, the officers’ individual discretion and preferences can lead to discontinuity in policy. These limitations are further exacerbated by the small team size and limited resources and expertise at their disposal. For instance, according to Romane, organising the Summer Ball necessitated hiring an external events company, since fulfilling the Summer Ball mandate “[required] expertise that the SU just didn’t have.” Even in the best of times, sabbatical officers face intrinsic limitations to their ability to effectuate policy, whether through veto-points from

But under conditions of limited resources and a small team, sabbatical officers have to be strategic with the time and effort they invest in implementing policy. As the case of the Summer Ball demonstrates, fulfilling certain goals can become challenging when the student body’s energy behind a mandate wanes. Without regular updates, students are unable to assess whether the sabbatical officers live up to their mandate. However, as seen with the Summer Ball, full transparency is sometimes sidelined in favour of competing, immediate priorities. “Communication to students is tricky, because there are so many different ways of communicating and with quite a small team,” Romane opined. The case of the Summer Ball encapsulates many of the tensions present in the LSESU’s nascent democracy. But despite structural issues, such as limited institutional continuity and sabbatical officers’ constraints, students managed to push for the LSESU to repeatedly commit to a highly in-demand policy. As it stands, we may have to wait yet another year to see if the Summer Ball will materialise.

FEATURES

Economics at LSE: caught in the current of the quantitative stream Sheila Mutua Review Editor Illustrated by Mithalina Taib

ust over two years ago, the LSE Department of Economics launched their brand-new Economics curriculum which fundamentally transformed the course structure. Previously, all Economics students participated in a universal Economics curriculum, whereby the number of core modules required would vary depending on degree programme. Under the new course design, BSc Economics students, Joint Honours students, and students from other degree programmes all follow separate curriculums. Professor Dimitra Petropoulou, the former BSc Programme Director and Microeconomics II (EC2A3) lecturer, has dubbed them the three different “streams” of undergraduate economics. There is the “mathematically rigorous” single honours stream (EC…1), the more conceptual “qualitative stream” (EC…5) for non-economics undergraduate programmes, and the somewhat problematic “quantitative stream” (EC…3) designed for joint honours Economics students. Originally, first-year Economics was what Microeconomics I (EC1A3) lecturer, Professor Ronny Razin, describes as a “vanilla version” of economics, which would then progress into a more in-depth study of the same topics in second year. He argues that the initial way economics was taught at the LSE was “just a repetition and a bit of a waste.” Therefore, second-year content was transferred to first-year courses so that students “start running before they can walk.” Exam performance in Macroeconomics I (EC1B3) was unexpectedly and alarmingly low, with 81.2% of students achieving a 2:2 or below - 23.7% higher than the previous year.

Given the low proportion of students submitting problem sets, current BSc Programme Director and EC1B3 lecturer, Professor Antonio Mele, supposed that many were simply not doing them. Many transcripts revealed that students found it difficult to demonstrate a basic understanding of the central models in the course, which he thinks might be a result of low engagement. Alice*, a second-year Politics and Economics student, who was disappointed with her EC1B3 result, told The Beaver that she “used every resource [she] possibly could” but the problem sets and practice papers were not sufficient preparation for the exam paper she was presented with. Conversely, a second-year Maths and Economics student Eugene shared that he found the content of the first-year modules “quite interesting”, and was able to achieve a firstclass mark in the exam – one of 28 students to do so in a cohort of 606. Professor Mele believed that they had created an easier exam than in the previous year and initially struggled to understand why students found it difficult. “There was an issue with students mostly trying to memorise stuff from the lectures… they are not able to reason, they just follow patterns.” Petropoulou’s instinct is that students care about the exam, but struggle to prepare in the “optimal” way. The lecturers agreed that the department could do more to improve students’ study skills by collaborating with LSE LIFE. Nevertheless, the department’s most important long-term goal is to transition Economics students away from exam-oriented study towards deeper engagement with the course, beyond problem sets and including more multidisciplinarity. “The aspirations of joint hon-

ours students can be quite varied,” notes Petropoulou, and the ultimate question was “how do you design something that is of interest, useful, and challenges them?” This sentiment manifests in the greater exploration of social and political issues during the course, complimented by a new approach to coursework. The department wants to “break the linearity” of undergraduate economics, said Professor Razin, by challenging students to answer the “bigger questions”. According to Eugene, the coursework tasks “expand your insight a bit more than the course itself, so you’re not just consuming information but also trying to extend it.” Nonetheless, they do little to improve exam performance. Professor Mele observed various levels of effort with the coursework

have to understand things like regression tables.” Substituting depth from other branches into Econometrics “should make you a better all-rounder, right?” said Dimitra. Some students felt that depth had not been substituted, but rather condensed into a smaller unit, particularly with Macroeconomics II (EC2B3). One student provided their “honest feedback” in the course Piazza forum ahead of the summer exam: “this course was definitely much harder, less manageable, and more confusing than EC1B3 (or any course at LSE that I have taken).” Another student responded in complete agreement, writing that the course became “a memory game of various models rather than providing a basis of understanding that can be applied.”

cepts for the first time. One student responded to their comment claiming that their experience “may be somewhat attributable to you having been introduced to various concepts already, a luxury the majority haven’t been afforded.” Some began to speculate that the anonymous thirdyear student was not a student at all. Student dissatisfaction with the abundance of content in EC2B3 was compounded by the EC2A3 exam being pushed to the Summer instead of the January exam period – a situation which second-year students are facing again this academic year. The students emphasised that they do not take issue with the nature of the content itself, but implore the Economics department to “reconsider what it expects from students on joint degrees” and “find the right balance between academic rigour and sheer absurdity.” Ultimately, this is just the beginning of a long-term project. The new modules are still unfinished products, and the department itself is still navigating their methods and expectations.

task in Macroeconomics I. Some appeared to “enjoy the experience” – one memorable group of students wrote a rap for their video project – while others seemed to make little effort to understand the task at hand. In Year Two, both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics have been reduced from two units to one unit for the ‘quantitative stream’, making room for one compulsory unit of Econometrics for joint honours students. Previously, they could opt out of one of the three. “The theme was that most of them chose Micro and Macro,” says Petropoulou, “and it became very difficult for them to select into thirdyear [economics] options with applications where they would

This post evolved into a thread, as others voiced their complaints about the density of the content, the lack of clarity in lectures, and similarly unhelpful problem set solutions. On the other hand, an anonymous third-year student who had only previously taken the old first-year economics course (EC102), suggested that the material was “coherently linked” and “manageable.” Their comment was followed with a list of the topics in EC2B3 that had already been covered in EC102. However, due to the course redesign, these topics were not covered in EC1B3, meaning that most second-year students were learning these con-

Moreover, the current thirdyear students commenced their studies in the midst of the pandemic, “which makes comparing cohorts very difficult for us right now,” says Prof. Razin. “I think this is a weird time in our lives, and it just makes our learning process harder.” While the department hopes to collect “better data” in the next few years, it will be too little too late for our graduating joint honours students - the first test subjects in the Phase I trials of the quantitative stream. *Names have been changed to preserve anonymity.

OPINION

Opinion Editors Honour Astill Kieran Hurwood opinion.beaver@lsesu.org

The ChatGPT dilemma: A symptom of flawed educational goals Vanessa Huang Frontside Editor

ollowing the boom in generative AI development in 2022 and 2023, the AI chatbot ChatGPT can now write essays to a surprisingly accurate standard, a development that has sent educators and columnists alike into a frenzy. Alarmists warn of the peril that lies ahead for existing assessment methods - their knee-jerk response is a further tightening of the reins, deploying AI-detection software and returning to closed-book examinations as a default. Techno-optimists, on the other hand, are happy to embrace AI as an educational tool that will form the next stage of the academic sector’s evolution. What both of these perspec-

tives miss is that the fertile ground for academic dishonesty by way of ChatGPT is of our own doing. Philosopher Douglas Yacek, invoking Agnes Callard’s theory of aspiration, characterises modern education as “one-dimensional” for its rigid focus on “preparation for the future.” School is framed as a stepping stone for university, just as university is a stepping stone for employment. Modern pedagogy accordingly hinges on assessment objectives, improving performance, and providing students with skills that will equip them for survival in the ‘real world.’ If you hit all the prescribed outcomes, you’ll have all the tools necessary for success, defined by “maximally lucrative and socially respected occupations,” as Yacek puts it.

Education has become an exercise in constantly looking ahead towards some indeterminate point for fulfilment, while the here and now is concerned with uniform outcomes that students must all strive towards. It’s no use setting off on an exciting quest for knowledge if you don’t know where you’ll go or what you’ll find; your time would be better spent racing towards the end goal you’ve been set ahead of time. If a tool like ChatGPT comes along and promises to get you from point A to point B with less time and effort, even better.

ply finding new ways to work within the established ethos of education where outcomes reign supreme – and it’s no wonder they’re choosing to sidestep the banality of working towards goals they’ve had imposed on them. The current model of education robs students of agency

and crushes any semblance of passion, all for the promise of success further down the line. Unless we learn to value education for its own sake and not as an intermediary step to academic or career progression, the allure of shortcuts and workarounds – like generative AI – will only grow increasingly difficult to resist.

This is why claims that ChatGPT would facilitate the undoing of the very foundations of education seem particularly misguided. If anything, students are sim-

The right to protest: An essential feature of democracy Imani Adesanya Contributing Writer Illustrated by Chiara Guigou

ecent comments made by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman have brought concerns about civil liberties to the forefront of the political debate. Following the escalated tensions between Israel and Hamas, former Home Secretary Suel-

la Braverman has branded pro-Palestinian demonstrations as ‘hate marches’ which should be banned, despite being largely peaceful. This has ignited concerns among freedom of expression advocates as it diminishes the democratic right to protest. These comments, coupled with the passage of the highly controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Act 2022, have damaging consequences for our democracy. By limiting and restricting protests, fundamental democratic rights are being eroded. This is because citizens are being deprived of their voice which has negative implications for the accountability of government. The passage of this bill ultimately meant that police powers were extended such that they could now stop protests if they believed them to cause “more than minor disruption to the life of the communit y”. These political developments call into question Britain’s status as a liberal democracy by eroding freedom of association and speech. Britain is a liberal democracy - a state characterised by free and fair

elections, and the recognition of individual rights and freedoms. Political officials are elected when citizens vote with an aim to represent the views and interests of the electorate in parliament. But not everyone in society has the right to vote and even those who do may be apathetic towards elections. Voter turnout in the UK since the 1990s has been on a steady decline. In the 2019 general election 67.3% of the electorate turned out to vote whereas in the 1992 election voter turnout was 77.7%. Whilst on the surface this suggests that there is a participation crisis in the UK, claims of a participation crisis can be said to be exaggerated as these statistics taken alone do not consider the growth of other forms of political participation such as protests. The rise of social media has meant that it has become easier for people to organise protests and mobilise around a specific issue. For example, it is through social media that many people were made aware of when and where the protests for Palestine would be taking place.

Rather than being seen as an evolution of participation, however, one could suggest that the rise of social media has instead led to increased political engagement. Ultimately, electoral turnout remains the most important indicator of participation. Nevertheless, protests remain a significant tool of political power because they are accessible to people of all ages, unlike elections. Therefore, the digital and protest-based revolution must be viewed in tandem with the fact that the voting age in the UK is 18. Protests are not exclusive to people of a certain age and so allow young people to become more politically engaged and informed for the first time. However, the recent threats to the right to protest limit participation, and restrict young people’s ability to actively engage in politics. For example, at the end of 2022 there were at least 54 people in prison for taking part in protests. This trend continued in 2023 as in October, more than 60 climate activists were arrested in London under the new anti-protest

OPINION

laws. Despite this, it is important that people continue to exercise their right to protest and not succumb to the attempts by the government to silence them. The importance of protest can be seen in the success of groups such as Extinction Rebellion, who have been able to keep climate change and global warming at the forefront of political debate.

Protests provide an avenue for citizens to voice and express their political beliefs, particularly if they feel like they are not being adequately represented by officials in Parliament. This tends to be the case in the UK because the UK uses the Single Member District Plurality (SMDP) which is a disproportionate voting system. This produces elec-

toral outcomes where minor parties are under-represented and larger parties such as the Labour and Conservatives are over-represented. Protests offer people another mechanism through which they can express their political dissatisfaction and rather than relying on an MP to act on their behalf, they can take action themselves and force those in power

to implement change.

ed’ away through aesthetically impressive climate covenants and performative handshakes.

could repeat itself. Much like the performative acts of government through climate summits and evident disregard for past offences through wrongful deportations of violated citizens, it seems that there is a trap one can fall into: thinking that being outspoken alleviates the need to take proactive action to rectify misdeeds. The uncomfortable truth here is that mistakes get made and real people suffer real consequences, regardless of whether or not individuals or governments are willing to take responsibility. The enduring effects of these unresolved mistakes taint relationships with others and with oneself. The incentive to be brutally honest with yourself tends to be quite wavering, but once the initial discomfort is endured, the result is a liberating opportunity to hold yourself to a standard that you would expect of others. I found Kathy Capirno’s Forbes article particularly pertinent, as she states that it is “often painful to see ourselves the way we really are versus the fake, veneered version of ourselves that we try to put forward for the world to see.”

Despite increased police powers and comments made by the former Home Secretary, people have continued to take to the streets in huge numbers to show their solidarity with Palestine and demand a ceasefire. Many of the protests have garnered hundreds of thousands of attendees, possibly making

them some of the largest protests in British political history if organiser estimates are correct. Protests will therefore continue to be a powerful tool utilised by citizens to raise awareness of political issues, make their voices heard and hold governments to account for their action or inaction.

New Year, New Me? Eva Inasu Contributing Writer Illustrated by Paavas Bansal

notice that the urge to erase past mistakes becomes all the more tempting as we enter the new year. Time and time again, I see the recurring sentiment: the need to have a clean slate in order to progress. As if being an untainted, new born baby is the ideal state, we are force fed this notion of the perfectionist’s dream, where we are presented the opportunity to nonchalantly ignore all the ‘sins’ of 2023 and move forward with a clear conscience. The reality is we all have aspects of our past that we would rather bury deep down, but does this allow for progress, or fill us with an unrealistic sense of self-gratification? Maybe it’s not a question of deserving forgiveness, but rather, of the best way to go about developing, without ignoring the impacts of our not-so-finest past decisions Clearly, self-flagellation amounts to little; however, there is surely a balance where we, along with the rest of society, are able to simultaneously hold ourselves accountable and give ourselves enough respite from futile self-loathing. Amongst the hum of New Year’s resolutions and the promise of a fresh year, it may seem counter-productive to dwell on the past; but I would say that the level of rejected accountability I have seen both globally and on a personal level compels me to invite everyone to rethink what this new year brings about. When considering both institutions and individuals, the power to self-reflect and regulate is so

open, so why not grab it while we still have the chance? Gobally I think the importance of accountability shines through, as well as our evident lack thereof. Starting with climate change, everyone’s favourite source of universal guilt: what we as a society have done with the ever-loving mother nature is abhorrent. We have stripped and abused everything she had to offer us. From the moment we began to value production over environmental harmony, we began a journey towards ecological demise, a fact we are increasingly being made aware of through increased temperatures and abnormal weather events. I am compelled to acknowledge that not only have some parts of the world contributed more to this misuse, but the repercussions are now felt most severely by those who, historically-speaking, are not responsible for environmental damage. Better yet, the wishy-washy promises of support made by countries such as Britain, who are to blame for instigating the misuse, have been insultingly insufficient, as noted at the 2023 African Climate Summit. Especially with COP28 having taken place, these grandiose public conventions and seductive government promises seem to depict a lacking genuine sense of acceptance for our crimes against the earth. Almost as though this façade of deep concern for environmental issues mitigates the need to commit to an uncomfortable transition away from our dearest finite resources. Almost as though the past seed-sowing of environmental destruction can be ‘clean-slat-

Similar instances have occurred specifically in Britain, such as the Windrush scandal. This perfectly illustrates that despite the role that Britain played in the slave trade, and the supposed disgust we as a nation feel about it, there remains a pervasive, underlying sense of lack of genuine accountability. A lingering, unresolved acceptance of Britain’s revolting involvement in the slave trade evidently manifests itself in the government’s immigration department and renders children of the Windrush generation ‘illegal’ residents in Britain. Just like the response to the climate crisis, it seems that vulnerable countries and individuals are subjected to the repercussions of wrongdoings on a disproportionate level. On a more personal level, I reflect on my interactions with this ‘clean-slate’ phenomenon. More specifically, my friendships with supposed ‘feminists’ who made it their life’s mission to criticise others for wrongdoings despite having an unresolved history of shameful behaviour themselves. The inconvenience of holding oneself accountable seems to have left some of my dearest friends desperate to fill the void of moral superiority through belittlement of others. But a quick glance in the mirror would have highlighted their hypocrisy. Furthermore, I saw lingering effects manifest in those individuals in significant ways, through unhealthy coping mechanisms, as well as a constant fear that history

Both in personal life and the world, we seem to convince ourselves that we have ‘come to terms’ with our transgressions. We happily skip along to the next fresh, clean slate, where we may be disappointed to find that the same principles that led us to make the initial mistake come creeping back

in. I would say that most ideas pushed towards us with the agenda to provide

shiny, dazzling ‘hope’, merely paint over our mouldy past mistakes, leaving ample room for that fungus to leech into what we hoped would remain perfect and untainted. The prospect of New Year’s “resolutions” ought to rely on the multi-dimensioned definition of ‘resolution’, including the promise you make to yourself and the act of solving a problem of difficulty. When considering how both these definitions fit, it seems that they reinforce the interconnected relationship of bettering yourself, and going about it in a way that directly tackles less desirable past deeds that need resolving, not simply deciding what reality you would like to craft as a quick-fix. Without the step to wholly embrace the very pasts that haunt us, we fail to allow ourselves to embody the true notion of resolution. So a happy 2024 to you all, I hope this year brings you plenty of time to grow, time to look forwards, but also, crucially, keep introspectively glancing back.

OPINION 11

Beyond the brochures: How tourism perpetuates inequality Luke Killian Contributing Writer Illustrated by Francesca Corno

overnments all over the world, especially in developing countries, promote tourism and frame it as a rescuer of the local economy – to bring people out of poverty. For example, deputy tourism minister of South Africa, Fish Mahahlela, remarked that the tourism sector in South Africa “provides young and old with multiple employment and entrepreneurial opportunities to transform their lives and communities.” While it is true that tourism brings money into the local economy, the gains are often unevenly distributed. There is a misguided belief that tends to legitimise the tourism industry in many places, even justifying hyper-tourism . A tourist expressed this sentiment while I was onboard a crammed train en route to Venice a couple of years ago: “the money coming from tourism can be used to conserve the city’s historical infrastructure”, he explained to his son as he sat on the floor of the train (there were no seats left). ‘Commercialisation for conservation’ has become a popular notion in the tourism industry, and it’s not just limited to nature destinations, where this idea first originated. Many popular destinations try to flout that tourism is helping them solve a socio-economic problem. That tourist on the train to Venice wasn’t entirely wrong: this idea can work if properly managed, but this is not the case in most places, and certainly not in Venice itself. Tourism has clearly weakened the power of Venetian locals and eroded their liberties. In The Overwhelmed City, Bertocchi and Visentin say of tourism in Venice: “the pressure of tourism – with its economic power – modifies spaces, alters facilities, and blocks infrastructure.” They

are referring to what has been happening in Venice: shops catering towards tourists increase in numbers; and goods and services which are essential for residents, dwindle. This has made Venice ever more difficult to live in, especially affecting vulnerable residents who have to travel further to access crucial services such as hospitals or schools. According to research on accommodation in Venice, the number of beds in Venice has grown from 8,249 in 2009 to 49,260 in 2019 (497% growth). This expansion of accommodation availability for tourists has served to cordon off access to housing for locals due to

“Ultimately, the solution will have to be driven by the very political institutions which enabled hyper-tourism in the first tourism. If you walk around Venice, you might notice that many of the stores, restaurants, and hotels are international chains such as Engel & Volkers real estate, KFC, or Radisson hotels; these multinational companies are not locally owned. Normally, the locals are working inside these companies as lower-level staff: facing low pay and precarious working conditions. “It’s less busy in winter so some

high prices. Research on the lived experience of Venetians’ reveals challenges in securing long-term rentals. In one interview, a 34-year-old woman describes her struggle to obtain a rental contract in Venice. When she asked for a contract, the landlords threatened to offer the house to an agency that would rent it out to tourists and earn in a week what they were earning from her in a month. Venice’s tourist appeal has likely led to increased property prices, rendering homeownership unattainable for most locals while catering to a select few. An important point to consider is who benefits from

staff have to leave,” said Stefania, a member of staff who I spoke to in a chain hotel lobby. Over the years of rampant tourism in Venice, many locals have become reliant on the industry for their livelihoods. This serves to reinforce inequality: if locals only know how to earn money in a certain way (in this case serving tourists), they won’t develop the skills and qualifications necessary to demand higher wages in the future. Moreover, because tourism in Venice is such a large indus-

try, and other industries are comparatively smaller, most work will be in tourism; thus, pushing locals to lock themselves into low-paying, precarious jobs over the long term. “I’ve done this my whole life, I can’t see myself doing anything else,” said Pietro, a gondolier who took me on a tour through the Venice canals. Is there an alternative? Is it better than nothing? A professor of international trade spoke in a lecture about how some large companies outsource their labour-intensive work to poorer, cheaper countries: “You may think it’s terribly unfair, but we also have to consider what alternatives these places have. At the moment the i n - vestment they g e t is better than not generating any investment at all.” This logic could be applied to tourism in Venice, and the same question must be asked. The consensus that many tourism scholars have come to, and one that I agree with, is that Venice should develop other industries and diversify, so that locals become less reliant on tourism and its entrapping terms and conditions. It goes without saying that this is easier said than done. Ultimately, the solution will have to be driven by the very political institutions which enabled hyper-tourism in the first place. In Venice, for example, an important law which further sanctioned tourism in the city came from

regional government. Regional law 33/2002 in this instance simplified the bureaucratic process needed to open up new accommodation facilities in Venice. This is, however, not unique to Venice, or to the tourism industry. Trade across countries and in different industries has been facilitated by governments during the last few decades. Dani Rodrik also wrote about the globalisation trend in 2000. Governments in various countries were actively pursuing policies that would earn them market confidence. The consequence of this, he wrote, was that often internal development goals are replaced by government aims to keep market confidence. In other words: countries prioritised bringing in foreign investment over dealing with important domestic problems when deciding on policy. At the end of the day, mass tourism has caused rifts between locals and travellers; one can see examples of pushback against it all over the world. Momentarily returning to Venice, after much protest from anti-cruise ship activists, the city has banned cruise ships from entering the Venice lagoon. In my view, this rift between tourists and locals is not dissimilar to the rifts between people who are pro-globalisation (normally those who have benefitted from the opening up of markets) and those who are anti-globalisation (those whose conditions have deteriorated or not improved from the opening up of markets). Therefore, I argue that the tourism industry is a microcosm of a broader economic trend. Resistance to globalisation will continue so long as states prioritise international trade over internal issues like inequality.

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Pro-Palestine march in London – in pictures Entering the fourth month after the Hamas attacks on southern Israel, pro-Palestine marches in London continues. Protests have taken most weekends in the capital and have been attended by thousands of largely peaceful people. Photography by Ben Chen

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If you like listening to unqualified people talk about fascinating and obscure topics that they definitely should not know so much about, then you’ve come to the right place! In r/nicheinterests, your host Laila chats with enthusiasts about their special interests - ranging from historical events to personal hobbies.

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Calling out all foodies in LSE -- Join Jess to break down all the best eats in London, whether you’re a tourist, new to the city, or a local. Listen for recommendations, crazy stories, and fun tidbits and ramblings! In our most recent episode, Jess is joined by a special guest Sean to break down the best burger in London.

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Join Emma to talk about the realities of navigating your 20s amongst all the pressures, excitements, and chaos of everyday life. A nice and easy chat about the big issues on the mind, trying to figure out how to do your best and feel your best in between it all!

Clerkenwell Economic Review Keen for more academic contents? Have a listen to the Clerkenwell Economic Review podcast to learn about topics such as the UK Austerity policy and national debt.

Like what you hear and want to get involved? Contact sound.beaver@lsesu.org to reach out to our Podcast editors, Kate and Laila, for more information! We also have meetings on Tuesday 2-3pm in the Media Centre (2nd floor SU building).

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SPORT EDITED BY ROBERT KHANDZHYAN AND MATT SUDLOW

Is Streaming ruining Sport?

written by SKYE SLATCHER & illustrated by FRANCESCA CORNO On 14 November, Netflix held its first live-streamed sports event, the Netflix Cup. At Vegas’ Wynn Club, four pairings of F1 drivers and PGA golfers played golf, in what can only be described as a confusing and disjointed event. But despite the nearly three-hour event being so underwhelming, it renewed debate about the future of sports on streaming platforms. There was not a great deal of positive public opinion after the event. The almost unlistenable audio, combined with the seeming confusion of all the competitors about the rules, and the bizarre premises of some holes, all made for an unserious event. But, maybe Netflix does leave with some success - it has established itself as a strong presence in the realm of live sports coverage. This is important. The company is the largest streaming platform and this move to sports marks a big change in their reach. In 2018, the company’s head of business development, Maria Ferras, said that they had no plans to engage in live sports. Five years later, something has changed. A likely explanation is their recent shift towards advertisement, with the CEO calling the growth of their ad business the ‘number one priority’. Sports streaming makes up a big proportion of the advertising industry, so this move is likely an attempt by Netflix to boost revenue and attract new subscribers. It should be noted that currently Netflix does not seem to be close to acquiring any streaming rights, and will likely stick to shows like ‘Full Swing’, ‘Drive to Survive’, and ‘Break Point’. They do, however, have a further live event coming soon, with Nadal and Alcaraz set to face off in The Netflix Slam on 3 March. But some platforms already have extensive live sports coverage, most notably Amazon Prime with Premier League matches and Apple TV with Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball, though these aren’t exclusive rights. This all marks a continuing change in televising sports. The big streaming platforms are grabbing live sports and the impacts of this are varied, for fans and leagues. For most, it means being a fan becomes more expensive. The patchwork of streaming services, all with different streaming rights, could mean a need for several subscriptions to catch all the action. Online streaming platforms also typically have around a one-minute lag, meaning social media or a text from a friend could ruin the thrill. Maybe, though, if leagues and streaming services can strike the right balance and improve their technologies, fan experience could be enhanced, and people across the globe could access games in an unprecedented way. This has already proved important in encouraging teams to promote more social media content, with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.

Apple’s 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference saw Disney CEO Bob Iger discuss the VisionPro. He shared a look at how the mixed-reality headset could revolutionise the sports viewing experience, with multiple angles, detailed stats, and in-depth replays simultaneously. It feels inevitable that this is the way things are going, that soon you will be able to really experience events without being in the stadium. What this means for sports practically remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that sports streaming is changing forever. For teams and organisations going through financial challenges, being bought out by streaming services could resolve some of their issues, as could be seen with MLB’s Diamond Sports (TV rights holder for 11 teams) and Amazon. It could mean that the reach of the sport is wider, and viewers come from around the world. But does this justify the existing fanbase potentially suffering? The licensing agreements might bring profits for leagues and streaming companies, but some argue that the fans should come first. Maybe the legacy media companies will soon be out of the picture when it comes to sports, and we will all be paying £30 per month per streaming platform to watch. It’s hard not to feel a bit of nostalgia for the days of having one TV bundle which had all of your channels on it. To some, cable is outdated and its downfall is welcome, but the impact this will have on sports should not be ignored.

UFC for the martially unartistic written & illustrated by MITHALINA TAIB

The UFC wasn’t always interesting to me. It looked like a lot of hugging on very, very sweaty ground. Why were they hugging? And why for so long? Follow along, and with this extremely basic guide you will be able to analyse the next UFC matches like a pro. What is the UFC? Walking into Tuns, where the martial arts societies had gathered to view UFC 294 on Muay Thai’s invitation, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if a fight broke out in the middle of it. As it turns out, a couple of people exactly 30 years ago had the same question. What’s the most effective martial art? The United Fighting Championship (UFC) was then born - the largest mixed martial arts (MMA) event in the world. MMA is a combination of striking and grappling. Martial arts like Boxing and Muay Thai are striking focused, while Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and Wrestling are grappling-focused. Fighters are typically dominant in one martial art, but have to be versatile and borrow from the others. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. With minimal rules, the clash of styles make for exciting matchups. Some terms: Before we continue, MMA is not UFC. MMA’s a fighting style, and UFC is just one of the many MMA tournaments out there (Bellator, ONE Championship, etc.) Striking is hitting someone with your limbs and joints, while grappling is gripping, grabbing, holding and submitting another with person chokes (fig. 3a) and joint locks (fig. 3b).

What’s in a fight? You get over the general violence and find yourself watching. Congrats! If you’re wondering why there’s so many fights, don’t stress. There are 3 categories - the Main Card, the Preliminary Card, and the Early Prelims. The Early Prelims happen first, followed by the Preliminary Card to build suspense and warm the crowd up, with the most anticipated fights of the night being in the Main Card. You may have noticed that the title of the UFC events have a pair of names behind it, eg. UFC 294: Makhachev vs Volkanovski. This is the very last fight of the night! Typically, this main fight will last for 5 rounds, while the rest last for 3. There’s a couple of ways to win - but as a baby spectator, don’t worry too much and enjoy the ride.

other footballing stars feature to propel their nation to victory. Whilst this tournament is set to be highly competitive and exciting, much of the discourse surrounding it has concerned the supposed inconvenience and disruption it is set to cause for Premier League clubs. For example, Sky Sports have had multiple segments solely discussing which clubs will be most affected.

Do I need to know anything to guess who would win? Contentious but I’ll say it anyways - no. Have the audacity to make some crazy claims, it’s all part of the fun. If you’re asked “Who you got?”, flip a coin in your head and you’re good to go.

There has long been a tension between international and domestic football. For instance, many fans often complain about the frequency of international breaks. However, when it comes to AFCON this tension seems to be exacerbated. Other international tournaments such as the Euros and Copa America tend to happen during the summer - after the domestic season has ended. As a result, these tournaments are not viewed as negatively and are generally more appreciated than AFCON.

Feeling kind of left out … when do I say “ooh” and “aah”? Strikes that land (fig. 1): A solid jab or hook to the face would do it! Or a crumpling body shot. Yikes. Takedowns (fig. 2): Some people hate fights being brought to the floor, but I guarantee it would put your heart in your throat. Submissions (fig. 3): Watching a good rear naked choke (3a) or an armbar (3b) being cranked is enough to make you wince and squirm. You’ll be participating in the collective “ooh” before you even realise it. Do I need to watch all the fights? You could just stay for the Main Card, but there’s plenty of excitement in the Preliminary Card and matches outside of numbered UFC events. Use it to practise your new lingo, get a sense of what’s a good thing to do or what’s a bad thing to do (the “oohs” and “aahs”). Being introduced to the world of fighting via extremely rudimentary BJJ, the grappling parts were always of interest to me. While Diego Lopes is known for his grappling, with that beautiful triangle-armbar on Gavin Tucker in UFC Nashville (a very technical, very fascinating ouch), his fight against Pat Sabatini during UFC 295 was a refreshing contrast - a flurry of stand-up fighting, ending with a ground-and-pound. What now? Get to a watch party! Next up is UFC 298: Volkanovski v Topuria on 17 February. Some things you can mention to demonstrate your vast knowledge would be “Yeah, that was a wicked armbar he cranked in the last one” or a simple “I think he’ll end it with a Makhachev kick”. For an extra thrill I suggest pointing at the screen and yelling “Just stand up!” You’ll kickstart the engines of any UFC fan you plan on going with. Happy watching!

The African Cup of Nations written by IMANI ADESANYA

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicked off on 13 January 2023 in the Ivory Coast, where 24 countries will compete to become the champions of Africa. The final will be on Sunday, February 11th. The competition sees the likes of Mohammed Salah, Victor Osimhen, Mohammed Kudus and many

January to February tends to be a crucial point in the domestic season, with games coming thick and fast. Whilst some fans are happy to see their players representing their nations on the international stage, fans who see football through a European lens see the tournament as an inconvenience.

As international tournaments themselves highlight, not all countries are the same and are instead characterised by unique cultures, values and contexts. AFCON has a tradition of being hosted in the winter. It is specifically because of these different contexts that the tournament is taking place in the middle of the Premier League season. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in June 2023 but this was later changed to January 2024 because of the sweltering summer conditions in the host nation of Ivory Coast. Temperatures in many parts of Africa tend to be well above 40°C during the summer which is too hot for football. This is not too dissimilar from the 2022 World Cup which took place mid-season, during the winter, as it was being hosted in Qatar. The only difference, of course, is that domestic leagues were put on hold. Whilst presently this may be an inconvenience to European football fans, ultimately it is beneficial in the long run as it protects the welfare of players. AFCON is a tournament that should be celebrated and respected, especially by European football fans. The continent produces high quality players, who have been able to establish themselves as some of the best in the world, playing in the best leagues in the world. The tournament represents more than simply a game, because it illustrates that in times of crisis and political unrest, unity can prevail. Despite there being concerns about ongoing domestic unrest in Cameroon, who were the host country, and the worldwide spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the tournament in 2022 was a success. It is a powerful symbol of cohesion and hope - defying stereotypes of the continent. AFCON was first held in 1957, when many African nations were fighting for their independence. During this time and through to the late 20th century, African players and AFCON would have been insignificant to European football fans, as football was not as diverse as it is now. In the opening Premier League season (1992/93) only 0.9% of players were African. Ironically, this is not the case as football has become globalised; in the 2022/23 season, 7% of all players in the Premier League were from Africa. This means that European fans and clubs have a growing interest in African players. AFCON was not created to suit the European football calendar. It is important that fans and the media recognise this and change the discourse surrounding the tournament from one of inconvenience to excitement and opportunity.

SOCIAL EDITED BY RHEA JETHWA AND KAVIESH KINGER

Rising with the sun written by JESSICA -MAY COX & illustrated by FRANCESCA CORNO

Waking up early is definitely not something I am known for. In fact, I tend to go to sleep closer to 5am, a result of staying up all night binge-watching television. It’s hence no surprise that I often feel like the winter days are incredibly short, and my productivity and health takes a noticeable hit the later I wake up, or with the less sleep I get. Desperate to address this habit, I decided to attempt waking up at 5am, every day, for a week. Admittedly, my main influence was the trend on TikTok: “5 to 9 before the 9 to 5.” The idea is to have “me-time” before starting work, including time for self-reflection, exercise, and errands. Now, I don’t have a 9 to 5 job, but for the sake of the experiment I replaced this job with academic work — five days, from 9am to 5pm. What better time to set a new challenge for yourself than the new year? So, perhaps a little recklessly, I set my first 5am alarm for Monday, 1st January. My new year’s celebrations meant I only had about two hours of sleep, which I do not recommend. I started my day with a light breakfast and a walk. Barely anyone was around at that time, bringing me a sense of peace and tranquillity. I also managed to tidy my flat and do some laundry, meaning I wouldn’t have to worry about it late at night. Despite it not being 9am yet, I was already pleased with how productive I had been. In the following days, I (almost) consistently kept up with this routine, and found that my productivity was much better than it would have normally been. I slipped up on Thursday, waking up at 7am instead, probably because my body wanted to catch up on some sleep. Still, it was a considerable improvement on my usual schedule, so I didn’t mind. Whilst I benefited from the solitude of early mornings and making the most of the rare few hours of sunlight the winter has to offer, I noticed a major flaw with this routine. My new bedtime was 9pm, in order to get the optimal 8 hours of sleep, which meant that my social life ceased to exist. Usually, I end my day by talking with my flatmates or watching television with them, but I missed out on this valuable social and wind-down time because of my self-imposed bedtime. After this experiment, I’ve come to admire those who make this their daily routine. Ticking off all my menial chores before starting work massively helped me to stave distractions and focus during the day, and although I usually finished before the deadline of 5pm, I also missed not having to worry about going to bed early. However, the experience has improved my sleep schedule, and has certainly motivated me to at least try and wake up before noon.

Unveiling the SKIMS double standard written by ZOÉ BOCQUILLON

In light of Kim Kardashian’s latest SKIMS campaign, the question of celebrity hypocrisy on climate change resurfaces. In the ad for a new built-in nipple bra, the American fashion mogul explains “The ice sheets are sinking. And I’m not a scientist. But I do believe everyone can use their skill set to do their part.” and “That’s why I’m introducing a brand new bra with a built-in nipple, so no matter how hot it is, you’ll always look cold,” she says, pointing to a diagram. The Black Mirror-like ad has been condemned as nothing more than pure performativity. An obvious comment reminds us of the cyclical hypocrisy: the reason sea levels are rising is due to the fast fashion industry of which SKIMS is not exempt despite its high prices. To deflect this stunt, the brand added a charitable aspect to their product: “In addition to our investment in advancing carbon removal, SKIMS is proud to donate 10% of sales from our SKIMS Ultimate Nipple Bra, as a one-time donation, to 1% For the Planet…”. However, SKIMS is a billion-dollar company, estimated to make 750 million in sales this year alone. It has been accused of greenwashing countless times, the last one being recyclable packaging that was in fact, plastic. The brand also largely uses virgin polyester, a synthetic material that is non-biodegradable and needs on average 342 million barrels of oils every year to be produced. For these reasons, the trademark has the lowest possible score on Good on You, a comprehensive system that rates clothing companies’ ethics and sustainability. The chain also has evidence of unethical production, and the influencer has never publicly disclaimed that her garment workers had fair wages, and a human rights report details that garment workers in Myanmar were forced to work overtime without pay. This violation and lack of transparency highlights the internal and external contradictions between the brand’s advocacy and its actions. It is clear that the image of the brand and its consumption trumps everything else including a commitment to sustainable practices. The general public is tired and angry of celebrities exhibiting their lavish lifestyle and unsustainable practices in their private lives while superficially endorsing certain ideas that affect most people’s everyday lives and have dire consequences. This issue points to a structural inequality that we have accepted as a given, that of a fast-paced consumerist culture that privileges a very small portion of us to the detriment of the majority of us. Public perception of climate change has been tremendously damaged by celebrities’ tone-deaf attempts to lecture the public and simultaneously developing their climate-saviour brand. People are no longer as easily fooled. As one social media user bluntly puts it: “Am I the only one who feels this is dystopian as fuck? Climate change is literally threatening to wipe out our very existence and biodiversity as a whole and yet it’s being used to market nipples? ”. I suggest that SKIMS and celebrity-owned corporations alike, collectively align to use their privilege and financial means to create tangible sustainability goals and products that limit their damage to the environment. They have the means, the time, and the resources. This also entails using recyclable textiles to limit water waste as well as textile waste in reducing production pollution. If you find yourself looking for sustainable and stylish underwear or leisurewear here in the UK then look no further. Here is a non exhaustive list: Organic basics, Brighton lace, Pantee, Peachaus. My personal favourite for sensitive skin is Juliemay Lingerie.

Erik: I’d tell them about what happened at the club “Motel 23” in Chelsea. Soph: I’d tell them about your worst era and how even if you had limited options, you always came back with a story that can only be replied with “wtf.” Paige: I’d tell them how when I was down in the dumps over a high school romance, you did more than just lend me an empathetic ear, but you snapped me out of my emotional slump by highlighting my self-worth. You taught me to dive back into the dating pool and look for someone who truly values me for who I am. And, sure enough, it wasn’t long before I found just that person. There’s no one better to help someone navigate love, kick a dreadful beau to the curb, help snap someone out of a love-induced funk, or remind someone just how fabulous they truly are than you. Nika: I’d tell them your body count.

written by TRISTAN JOSEPH ESPINOZA & illustrated by FRANCESCA CORNO Read While Listening To: Beautiful People by Jessie Ware It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man like myself – a twenty-something queer with decent fashion sense and a good mustache – has been on a lot of first dates. Even worse, far too many bad first dates. Take, for example, the shock across my face as I once realized that my date sitting across from me was in full support of the 6 January US Capitol riots. Or, even scarier, the number of times a series of good dates with one person has always resulted in being asked if I want to be merely “friends-with-benefits.” Yet, despite all of these failed attempts, I’ve still learned how to cross the street without ever looking back, how to keep dancing like no one’s watching, how to embrace change at every era, and most importantly, how to not have three boyfriends all within the span of a year. After attending university in two of the most delicious cities in the world, New York and London, I’ve learned a few things from my 90-plus years of experience app swiping, club hopping, and endlessly searching for my very own “Mr. Big” around every corner. And, unsurprisingly, I’m still single. Through this column, Cosmos & Convos, I aim to explore every facet of what the title suggests: giving you advice as if you were one of my closest friends as I help to answer all your burning questions about navigating the dating scene, new relationships, and love in your twenties. And, all while sipping on my go-to drink of choice – a Cosmopolitan. To highlight my veteran status in this field and how I’ve seen more than seen it all to help you through this winding-journey, I reached out to some of my closest friends and asked them about what experiences of mine would offer you the best advice. Here were their replies: Vivian: I’d tell them about your tarot card reading and the three guys who came after – each who taught you a lesson in either dating, sex, or love – just like the cards predicted. Juling: I’d tell them how you’ve always been vulnerable with everyone, not just people at school but before New York City. You were always thinking about love. And still, your propensity for love is so exciting and apparent; you take care of the people around you like they’re your sons and daughters. Katie: I’d tell them about how you got over your ex. You crossed the street and went along with your life. I knew you were serious by the look on your face. It was nice to see you overcome a huge dating burden and finally be yourself again. Also, an iconic moment was when another ex of yours showed up to your goodbye party and your friends had to escort him out. I still think about that often. Derek: I’d either tell them about how you fell in love in the club and then left your phone in an Uber in the Netherlands, how you love like a drug addict because of your big heart and the Southern in you, or about how you once stunned a Green Beret who served in Afghanistan with your love-life. Cole: I’d tell them about how you got over the love of your life for sure.

So, while there are still many more stories left to come, questions to inevitably answer, and plenty of lovers to meet, there’s only one thing left to say: Where do we begin?

Trying the Winter Capsule Wardrobe as a Shopaholic

written by SAMANTHA LO & illustrated by FRANCESCA CORNO As a self-diagnosed shopaholic, it is no surprise that I find joy in purchasing new clothing items. Opening the &Other Stories sales section on my laptop while I sip a cup of hot chocolate in bed is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of studying. However, I realised this behaviour of mine is unsustainable, not just for the environment but also for my wallet. Looking at the two-digit number on my bank account, I thought, what better time to try out a capsule wardrobe for a month during the holiday season? Everyone’s idea of staple pieces is different, some may feel that they can’t live without their Levi’s, while others opt for trousers way more often than jeans. My version of the capsule wardrobe contains 10 articles of clothing that I already own. Since I mostly own neutral pieces, I was able to mix and match them almost brainlessly. A cardigan can be teamed up perfectly with a pair of jeans or a skirt. On days when I need a bit of oomph to lift my spirits, I reach for a frill-neck purple top for a pop of colour. I changed up the look by adding a belt, wearing a scarf, and switching up my jewellery. At times I found myself struggling to dress more elevated when I needed to, before I learnt to solve the problem creatively. For example, I could let the subtle white lace pattern on my thermal top peek through under a V-neck sweater to add a feminine touch. Gradually, I developed a healthier relationship with shopping. Knowing that I won’t be able to wear those new pieces sitting on my cart before the challenge ends, I was more cautious about whether I wanted to add those pieces to my wardrobe, or if I just enjoyed the thrill of owning something new.

PART B EDITED BY EMMA DO AND JULIETTA GRAMIGNI

Borges’ Labyrinth and Word Experiments

written & illustrated by ZOÉ BOCQUILLON Literature, with its ability to capture the human experience in all its complexity, stands as a powerful force transcending the boundaries of time and space. In the realm of politics where ideologies clash, societies transform, and power structures evolve, literature emerges as a vital path for shaping narratives, questioning authority, and fostering societal introspection. The intersection between literature and politics has profound implications for the way we perceive political landscapes. Argentina, a country rich in cultural diversity, has always been a venue for the subtle dance between politics and literature. A distinct narrative that reflects the nation’s social movements, political upheavals, and historical battles is created at this junction. While Spanish serves as the predominant language, there are works within the Argentinean literary corpus that incorporate other languages such as French, Polish, English, and Yiddish. In the two centuries since the formation of the Argentinean Republic in 1810, this literature has forged a strong tradition. Intellectual generations in Argentina have actively debated and critiqued their predecessors and traditions, with the portrayal of national identity playing a pivotal role in the country’s history. Notably, authors revisit the past to rewrite and reinterpret the overarching narratives of the time. An example is Domingo F. Sarmiento’s 1845 establishment of the motto “Civilisation and b a r b a r i s m ,” which has persisted as a lens through which Argentinian reality is read. The literary practice of rewriting, far from being confined

to an elite with a sophisticated Eurocentric tradition, encompasses a native and non-canonical body of knowledge and forms from its inception. In Argentina, literature is not merely a mirror reflecting societal dynamics; it is a powerful tool wielded by writers to engage with and challenge the political status quo. Figures like Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar used their literary prowess to question authoritarian regimes. Borges’ “Ficciones” stands as a literary marvel that meticulously emphasises its fictional essence. Delving into the intricate nature of storytelling, Borges rejects the idea of making a narrative appear natural, viewing it as a limitation that undermines the artistic potential of fiction. The labyrinth, a recurring motif throughout the stories, serves as a metaphor for the complexity of worlds, human endeavours, and abstract concepts such as time. Borges weaves his tales into labyrinths, mirroring the intricate and convoluted paths of his narratives. The author explores themes such as Freudian interpretations, red enclosures symbolising psychological confinement, and a deep reverence for books, where librarians, in his view, attain a status holier than saints. “Ficciones” delves into philosophical quandaries, decay, strategic games, conspiracies, and explorations of ethnic identities, particularly those within Borges’s ancestry. In essence, his literary masterpiece becomes a multifaceted exploration of fiction’s potential. To understand the interplay between literature and politics in Argentina, one must delve into the historical context that has shaped the nation. From the authoritarian regimes to the waves of social movements, writers found themselves navigating a landscape fraught with political tension. The Perón era, the Dirty War, and subsequent political unrest left an indelible mark on the collective Argentine psyche, influencing the themes that emerged from the pens of its literary figures.

Foolish children, as per Ana María Matute written by ROSIE MONTAGUE & illustrated by JULIETTA GRAMIGNI

TL;DR Life is short, be silly. Ana María Matute’s Los Niños Tontos, published under Franco’s regime, includes 21 fictional micro stories depicting social marginalisation of children due to their behaviour: that of perceived silliness. To be foolish is to be an outcast. In the micro story ‘El Corderito Pascual’ (“The Easter Lamb”), a bullied boy replaces his lack of companions with a farmyard friend… until his father cooks it for dinner. I muse on what Matute can teach us about freedom in times of hardship. In highlighting the odd-onesout, she demonstrates that rebellion can constitute mundane mutiny. To make friends with a lamb is to refute those who say a lamb’s capacity to be loved is less; these actions are a hopeful push against prevailing narratives. The text evades specificity: there are few temporal indicators and incomplete identities. Matute’s infant collective is oppressed en masse by a state-crafted autocracy involving Foucauldian biopolitics. The state manages the population’s well-being by increasing the nation’s productive force – to ‘forge an Imperial Spain’. Franco’s regime enforced biopolitical mechanisms, including the Compulsory Health Insurance (SOE) in 1942, devised as an individual’s obligation to the homeland. Health and safety were for the state, this is reflected in Matute’s refusal to construct a personal context for the children. The people’s purpose was purely productive; to use your body for the care of another was to undercut authority. Matute teaches us quiet rebellion. The children deny the state of their bodies via non-conformity, through means such as refusing to eat chickpeas after being prohibited from having pastries (relatable). However, I am writing this as more than a reading recommendation with a side of jest. We all ought to be more foolish!

An anecdote: I’ve recently developed a repetitive strain injury in my wrist from incessant typing under catastrophic ergonomic conditions. Moving about campus does not allow for a monitor/ mouse/ keyboard set-up of the kind that aligns your corporate chakras. In this way, I have given LSE the optimal functionality of my body. It is gone, for now, in the name of essays and notes (and this article, I suppose). I have been insufficiently foolish, and my conformity has bred pain. For Matute, the foolishness of the children happens under harsh realities. I do not write from similar circumstances, nor do I write to people in them. An adaptation is required. I argue for synthesising her foolishness with happiness: we ought to prioritise health for its value in and of itself. Catering to my LSE-centric audience, exercise is not valuable because of health, which will allow you to work longer hours. Rather, one ought to use their body to its fullest because it is fun, and fun is intrinsically valuable. We may make friends with squirrels in London, and hope nobody cooks them. Run and skip because we can. It may not prevent wrist injury, for typing seems like a non-negotiable (unless one aspires to be the modern world’s persona non grata). However, it is a use of time that Matute would approve, because it serves you. Be silly and do so transparently. It is in all of our interests to be foolish children.

Evolution of Literature in Pakistan in the 20th Century written by JANNAT ASRAR & illustrated by MITHALINA TAIB Pakistan’s literary landscape has been greatly influenced by Urdu poetry. Pakistani poets wrote powerful yet controversial pieces during and after the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent which resulted in censorship, imprisonment, and social isolation. Poets of the time saw bloodshed during the partition and instability after; this is reflected in their work. Their unique perspectives on political upheavals and feminist ideas continue to gain recognition today, and change the course of literary art in Pakistan. As the country goes through different political challenges, it is important to see how and why the poetry that was once hailed as controversial is now accepted. This article explores four writers whose work and resilience is admired, as the country faces similar challenges today. Sadaat Hassan Manto (1912-1955) is one of the first names that comes to mind when talking about controversial post-partition artists. His work was ahead of its time due to his portrayal of the harsh conditions of partition, his social satire, and open criticism of the political system. Manto’s short story Toba Tek Singh is a sardonic play on what unfolded during the 1947 partition of the Indian Subcontinent when people had to flee the land they grew up on. He depicts the violence and injustice that followed the partition, and is one of the very few who talked about these horrors at the time. However, Manto is not the only controversial writer of post-partition Pakistan. Kishwar Naheed (1940 - Present) wrote about gender issues such as social injustice and lack of rights for women. Naheed in We Sinful Women

uses sarcasm to illustrate how the word ‘sinful’ is used to enforce stereotypes on women. The artist writes about how women who dared to speak have been silenced and isolated, while men are praised for sinful acts. Naheed’s exploration of the “sinful woman” also resonates with the broader political context exposed by another renowned Pakistani poet: Habib Jalib. Exploring themes from feminism to capitalist injustice, Habib Jalib’s (1928 - 1993) work expressed his distaste for the authoritarian rulers of Pakistan, who set up a poor framework for future leaders. The title of his poem Dastoor roughly translates to ‘Constitution.’ Jalib wrote about state oppression and revealed the feelings a Pakistani must have been experiencing while under authoritarian rule. He reiterates that he refuses to accept a system that promotes censorship and state violence. By critiquing the constitution, he revolutionised the literature of his time. Dastoor empowered people to speak up about military rule and the ill-treatment of citizens through the constitution. Freedom of speech continues to be curtailed and the people continue to be stifled under the political instability. Nonetheless, these poets allowed the public to speak and think for themselves, when the political and social system did not allow them to practise their basic human rights. Their poetry serves as a reminder to the people struggling today to fight and persevere through the current overwhelming challenges like inflation, an unjust judiciary, and an unstable political system.

REVIEW EDITED BY CHRISTINA JIANG AND SHEILA MUTUA

Paul McCartney’s Photographs, 196364: Eyes of the Storm written and photographed by ARJAN ARENAS

Many will probably be familiar with the kind of tour photos of the band featured here: screaming teenage girls being restrained by police; the boys mucking around on tour buses. More hardcore fans of the Fab Four might recognise a few candid shots of some of the other figures who were instrumental in the band’s story, including manager Brian Epstein, and friend and long-time roadie Mal Evans (who in particular seemed to be cheerfully taking advantage of the glamour of life on tour). However, these photos also document the more humorously surreal aspects of being in the world’s biggest band. You could see a photo of Harrison solemnly posing next to a specially designed bust of himself, or of the camera technician in New York who had to put on a wig and stand in for a poorly Harrison during a live TV performance. Then there’s McCartney’s intimate shots of life at home (including a few self-consciously serious self-portraits), with his then-girlfriend Jane Asher. Elsewhere, a striking photo he took in Washington of the gun and ammunition in a police officer’s holster reflects the wide-eyed young man’s shock at seeing something utterly alien to him back home in England. While most of the photos are in black-and-white, there’s a dash of vibrant ’60s colour towards the end, showing McCartney and co. taking a relaxing break from touring by the sea in Miami. You don’t have to be the biggest Beatles fans to appreciate the photography of Eyes of the Storm. This was a highlight exhibition of the year. Through his photos, McCartney offered a fantastic insight into the band’s meteorically rising star during their early days. It was clearly a wild ride, and luckily, he also found time to stop and savour the sights.

Poor Things FILM written and photographed by SHEILA MUTUA Poor Things is the latest feature from one of Hollywood’s most beloved weirdos, Yorgos Lanthimos, adapted from Alasdair Grey’s novel of the same name. 2023 was a pretty good year for fans of The Beatles. The start of last month saw the much-anticipated release of what was touted as their final song, “Now and Then”, which was written in the 1970s and recorded in parts over the following 20 years, before being completed with a little help from AI. It merges new vocals and instrument-playing from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr with the earlier recorded contributions of their late bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison. It is a technically accomplished and lyrically moving song which served as a fitting coda to the story of arguably the greatest band in history. And as a fan of the Fab Four born three decades after the band broke up, I feel privileged to have seen the release of a new Beatles song in my lifetime. However, amidst all the coverage of “Now and Then”, it’s easy to forget another Beatles-related highlight of the year: namely, an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery of photographs taken by McCartney early on in the band’s heyday. Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm (which ran from 28 June until 1 October) captured a pivotal moment in the band’s career. Taken in glamourous locales on and off tour ranging from London to Paris, New York to Miami, these photos (and its tie-in book, which I’d highly recommend to anyone who missed these photos at the gallery) chart the band’s stratospheric rise from national to international superstars. However, they also provide candid, literal snapshots of the lives of four young men whose lives we see changing irrevocably in those two short months, and who are visually documented adjusting to living in the limelight. McCartney stresses in the book’s introduction that despite having been avidly taking photos since childhood, a hobby he resurrected to document the Beatles going on tour, he was very much an amateur. He pays tribute to some of the professionals from the press who covered the band while touring, notably the veteran Slovak photographer Dezo Hoffmann, who took the bulk of the photos in this collection which weren’t taken by McCartney.

Despite being indifferent toward Lanthimos’ work, I found myself waiting in anticipation for this film - intrigued by its visual style, dissonant score, and the ever-so-charming Emma Stone. After running to the cinema on opening night, I was met with a grotesque and picturesque exploration of gender, sexuality, and love. And a cute complimentary keyring! It’s an unconventional take on the bildungsroman that follows the first test subject in a dangerous game of playing “God”, led by unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). After Victoria Blessington takes her own life, Godwin brings her back from the dead by replacing her brain with that of her unborn child. She is a woman resurrected but not fully revived: she must navigate life from the very beginning in an adult body as Bella Baxter (Emma Stone). Stone’s wonderfully animated performance is a fascinating portrayal of the journey from adolescence to adulthood. It is well-complemented by Mark Ruffalo as Duncan Wedderburn, a glib lawyer who compels Bella to escape from Godwin’s grasp that is, when you ignore the questionable accent work. The film is a technical feat. The production design is garish but beautifully so, with some of my favourite uses of colour in 2023. The fish eye lens is used generously, creating a voyeuristic

experience as we are also tasked with the surveillance of Dr. Baxter’s experiment. But the real standout is costume designer, Holly Waddington, whose unique silhouettes will definitely garner a lot of attention this awards season. Some have critiqued the story for centering itself on a dated conception of female empowerment through sexual liberation; however, I think that is a slightly unmerciful reading. One might find the sex scenes excessive but I believe that they capture the way in which Bella views sex: a series of repeated experiments designed to help her understand her own body that eventually teaches her more about others’ behaviour and her position as a woman in society. After all, she is her Father’s daughter. Although the film loses some of its sense of wonder toward the end, Lanthimos makes a decent attempt at navigating the area between being alive and feeling alive that science doesn’t seem to explain. And Poor Things is at its best when it is exploring rather than explaining.

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) MUSICAL by OPHELIE LOGE & illustrated by MITHALINA TAIB Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is a real gem of a musical. We embark on a journey which follows Robin (Dujonna Gift) and Dougal (Sam Tutty) across New York City. Dougal, a young Englishman, gets invited to his father’s wedding in New York - a man whom he idealizes, yet has never met. There, he meets Robin, a city-native working as a waitress. They get to know each other while cruising the streets of the Big Apple. Although they come from two very different worlds, both have t o deal with the difficulties of young adulthood and this special meeting helps them navigate those bumps on the road. It is a real feel-good musical: a heartwarming story that is filled with beautiful songs and laughter, with extremely well-written dialogue. The set design is also very creative, as it features a stack of luggage that once opened up, becomes various places such as a wardrobe, a restaurant, or the subway. Gift and Tutty work extraordinarily well together and they succeed in delivering a dynamic,

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off TV by SEBASTIAN CHING & illustrated by SHEILA MUTUA With author Bryan Lee O’Malley, director Edgar Wright, and the entire film cast returning to develop Scott Pilgrim into an animated series, I fully expected Scott Pilgrim Takes Off to be a charming, funny, and heartfelt adaptation of the graphic novels. What I didn’t anticipate was a complete retelling of the story; it struck a perfect chord between originality, hilarity, wry self-awareness, and emotional depth. Diving further into the characters of Scott, Ramona, and her seven evil exes with gusto, the show is a perfect example of how to update and expand upon an established franchise. In addition to standing firmly on its own merits, it also marries the best elements of the original graphic novels and film adaptation, and confidently addresses previous criticisms of both. The experience is made complete with faithful artistic direction, a stellar soundtrack, and a voice cast of A-list actors gleefully letting loose in the sound booth.

The Holdovers FILM

by VANESSA HUANG

Is there anything quite like Christmas? Merriment shields us from the harsh winter. Children revel in Santa and presents; those more aged cherish the rare familial gathering. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – or so they say. Perhaps not for the ‘holdovers’ at Barton Academy, a preppy New England boarding school for boys, with director Alexander Payne placing us here in the winter of 1970. Those with nowhere to go for the holidays are to remain at the school, wandering the cold and draughty halls and awaiting the advent of the new year. Left to this dismal fate are stern and cantankerous history teacher Paul (Paul Giamatti), brooding teen Angus (Dominic Sessa), and school cook Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), bereaved after losing a son in the Vietnam War. Somewhat predictably, our holdovers embark on a series of wintry adventures: field trips, holiday parties, hospital visits. Vulnerabilities are shared; animosity fades. And it’s a well-worn tale: the band of misfits morphing into a found family of sorts. One might say that Payne, known for his irascible misanthropes (Sideways’ Miles Raymond, for one), would never dare be that sentimental. It’s true in one sense – his hallmark offbeat humour is almost imperceptibly suffused with warmth. And yet it’s drippingly sentimental in another, Payne’s retro-inspired flourishes throughout the film an undoubtedly misty-eyed endeavour (“they don’t make them like they used to”). The Holdovers has all the makings of a new festive classic, destined to be replayed around the fireplace with the family. But maybe it’s also for lonely souls during the holidays – a salve for the heartache of a Christmas alone.

WRIGHT’S BAR: a century in the making

interview by SANA AGARWAL photography photography by by BEN CHEN

As each year rolls by, our surroundings change, whether that’s in regard to the graduating batch, the faculty, the pandemic, or restaurants closing due to the cost of living crisis. However, some things remain constant, reminding us of their timelessness. One such place is Wright’s Bar, an independent British-style restaurant silently tucked away adjacent to the Old building, residing in the heart of the LSE campus; it has been on campus for around 100 years. So for this Flipside interview, I thought it was only right to talk to the staff working behind the counter at Wright’s Bar.

s I walked into Wright’s Bar, right before closing hours, I was greeted by Antonio, the manager, and Gian Piero, the chef, with a warm cup of tea and even warmer smiles. Antonio, a humble yet gleeful man, sat down with me at one of the tables after a long day of work. As we started talking, Antonio began to tell me a little more about himself, “I started working here 35 years ago in September of 1994. Honestly, it has been so many years that I can barely remember my life before.” Antonio explained how the permanency of Wright’s bar doesn’t just remain within the premises, but also extends into his own life; it serves as the one constant, through decades of change. As we students struggle to make it to our nine am classes, the staff at Wright’s Bar continue to show up every day, authentically ready to serve us our freshly made sandwiches and their famous burgers. “Every day, I wake up at five AM to get here by six and I leave in the evening,” Antonio shared rather casually. He explained how for him, it is now muscle memory, an everyday routine he has learnt to cherish despite the gloomy winters and the rainy days. “I am from Portugal. I started [in London] as a chef in Leicester Square, and then I ended up here [at LSE]. I have stayed ever since.” Antonio recalled the formative years of his life.“I can’t say this was my calling or my passion. To be honest, it just happened to be the job I got and I needed to make money, but I enjoy it now,” he confessed. His honesty struck me, serving as a reminder that not many have the privilege to choose what they pursue, but rather to make something out of the opportunities that have presented themselves can be equally remarkable and fulfilling. As we dove into the conversation, chef Gian Piero, or Gian, joined us, urging me to sip my tea before it got cold. Gian after cleaning the stove and packing the leftovers, tired from the day, sat down with us. “I am from Italy. I came here one year for a summer experience and decided to stay. I started working here 10 years ago before the pandemic, and I have stayed since.” Gian Piero explained, “I started by making coffee in Italy. I have always been doing a job like this my whole life, so I like to do this job. It is the familiarity [which is great]. I am 56 and at my age, you just want a settled life, [and] this job brings me that.” Gian Piero exchanged a glance with Antonio whilst sharing the comfort Wright’s Bar brings to their lives. Curious to know more about their everyday life, I asked Antonio and Gian about their interaction

with students. “To be honest, I usually only have a couple of minutes to talk. The conversations are not long, but they are reoccurring, [and] people come back. You smile or wave at them, and you serve them, then somebody else walks in and you go about your job,” Gian explained. I quietly recalled every one of my interactions with him prior to this interview. I, a third-year student, have been coming to Wright’s Bar since my first year. I remember almost always being greeted with a smile and occasionally, a joke; one of the few fleeting moments shared between the staff and their customers. “Last week, an old customer came in with his 13-year-old daughter from Japan,” Antonio said. “And he showed her Wright’s Bar — he said: “this is the place I used to come to when I was in college!” Antonio elaborated how, despite the interactions being brief, they stay with people. “Another time, a customer came in with his wife. It is crazy to think about it really, time passes by, you get married, but you are back here at Wright’s Bar.” He sighed as the three of us were enwrapped by the many tales of this place and the people who passed by. At that moment, I ponder to myself how so many of us will carry similar memories with us after we graduate, quietly tucked away, only to spring back up as we one day walk past the LSE campus, older and wiser, caught in a moment of nostalgia. In the face of the pandemic, inflation, and the rising cost of living crisis Wright’s Bar has had to struggle with its share of problems.“It hasn’t always been easy, during Covid, business was hard,” confessed Antonio. [There were fewer] customers, but we made it through.” “We were mostly open, it was frustrating though to wear masks all the time, to have to be so careful with the food and the customers. I am glad we are back to normal,” Gian added. Even if Wright’s Bar may not be a reminder of timelessness or comfort for all, it still serves a purpose for all its customers: being one of the cheapest places to get a coffee or a burger in central London. As I enquired about the amusingly low prices, Antonio exclaimed, “It is shocking how expensive things are these days. Some people might wonder how we survive when the food is cheap, but we are only four staff members, and we sell well.” “It is nice that people can eat here even when they don’t have money, especially for students,” Gian added. When asked about their personal favourites on the menu, Gian quickly responded, “Anything bacon, a sandwich, or a burger, it’s the best.” His

remark, almost infectious, made his love for food clear to me. “I eat everything here. I set the menu many years ago with the help of some other people. [The menu] stays because it is classic,” Antonio expressed. “My daughters come and visit sometimes, one of them works at Metro Bank, it is nice to see them come here too.” Antonio added with a certain sense of satisfaction which is difficult to achieve in today’s world. As we wrapped up the interview, I asked Antonio and Gian Piero for any final remarks. Gian Piero expressed, “The world, it’s not good. Before, I think 10 years ago, people [had] more respect for [other] people. Humanity is [decreasing], we need to be kinder [to others].” He explained how every day, as he travels in the tube, he observes people being consumed by their phones or their own lives, and nobody looks around. “In my time, there was a sense of belonging, [but] it is less now,” Gian added. Although it was a bit of a somber note, as I looked over to Antonio he smiled and said, “That [agreeing with Gian], and also come to Wright’s Bar!,” emphasising the human aspect of the shop that does not exist anywhere else in central London, and perfectly concluding our conversation. As I returned the next day for the Flipside cover photoshoot, I saw a line of people inside Wright’s Bar waiting to be served. Gian and Antonio stepped out soon after for a couple of pictures, rather enthusiastic, whilst I decided to interview a few of the customers. From LSE students (including a friend of mine I bumped into!), to construction workers nearby, to office employees, Wright’s Bar seemed to be a continuous favourite. I met Frank, who was waiting for his regular - an egg and cheese sandwich. He was chatting with Antonio as I joined the conversation, “I work at Westminster Bank and I’ve been coming here for 28 years now. I come in and I chat with him sometimes, he is my friend,” winking at Antonio. Writing this interview wasn’t just as straightforward as a conversation, but rather a series of conversations I enjoyed with the staff members and customers at Wright’s Bar. This, I think, perfectly describes its existence. Wright’s Bar is a place that stays, a little ray of sunshine amidst the chaos of not just LSE and our surroundings, but also of our own lives. If you’re hungry, and it’s almost your lunch time, maybe pay a visit to this hidden gem on campus. I promise you, as you step into Wright’s Bar, you’ll instantly be touched by the camaraderie of its people, and the comfort of its food.

ISSUE 931

WT WEEK 2 2024

REVIEW

PART B

SOCIAL

SPORT

Poor Things

Literature & Pakistan

Cosmos & convos

UFC for noobs

ANTONIO, GIAN PIERO & the legacy of Wright’s Bar