The New YearSki TripIndependence

January 2014

We’re Back

The Homecoming Issue

G-YouGlasgow

UniversityUnion’s

OffIcial Magazine

1Like us: facebook.com/guuaye

Happy new year !A Word From The Editor...

Hello everyone!

You will have noticed, with our new name and new design, that Glasgow University Union’s official magazine has had a serious makeover during the holidays. We’re incredibly excited about it but we want to know what you think. Tweet us @guuimagazine to let us know. Until we get everything updated you will still be able to find us at the same online haunts (see below).

So read on about Homecoming Scotland, predictions for the political year ahead, some advice about New Year’s resolutions and the latest chat about the Scottish music scene. I hope you enjoy the very first edition of G-You.

Claire FlynnEditor-In-ChiefGUU Convener Of Libraries

The Editorial Team:Editor-In-Chief: Claire Flynn

Features Editor: Harriet Johnston

Politics Editor: Kathryn Stevenson

Lifestyle Editor: Kirsty McKenzie

Culture Editor: Kate Whitaker

Column Editor: Lucy Keown

Sports Editor(GUSA Publicity Convenor): Stuart Morrison

Design and Photography Editor: Romain Ricchi

Sponsorship and Advertising: Joseph Meaden

Our Contributors:Joseph SutherlandKirsty McKenzieHarriet JohnstonKathryn StevensonRebecca RichardsonRebecca CorbettRomain Ricchi

Huw ClarkeJenny GilvearLucy KeownStuart LawAli CooperThe International Society Committee

If you’d like to contribute to the magazine in any way (editorially, writing or photography) e-mail:

libraries@guu.co.uk

The opinions expressed in this publication do not represent those of Glasgow University Union.

Find us online:guuimagazine.wordpress.com

issuu.com/guuimagazine

Contents2. From The Board - Joseph Sutherland, Convener Of Games3. The Hotlist4. Features- Homecoming Scotland6. Politics- Political Predictions For 20147. Politics- Shrinking Britain For A Better Scotland?8. Lifestyle- Resolutions: Make Them, Break Them... Fake Them? 9. Lifestyle- Fun And Games10. Culture- The Music Brewery11. Culture- Glasgow International12. Column- Erasmust! & Piste Off13. Column- Sandy Says14. Sport- New Year, New Sport15. Sport- GUSSC Does 24Tignes16. Clubs & Societies- The International society

2

G-YouR

From The BoardBoard

-Joseph Sutherland GUU Games Convener

games@guu.co.ukHello Glasgow!

First of all a very happy new year and I hope your hol-idays were as good as mine! My name is Joe and I am the Convener of Games here at GUU. I’m writing this article to tell you as much as I can to get you psyched for the Games Committee’s MONTH OF GAMES in February! This is going to be my third Month of Games and I’m more excited than ever to be organis-ing it. I’m going to be doing my best with my commit-tee to make it bigger and better than ever!

Here’s a quick rundown of all the different events for you. Quiz Extravaganza: Just imagine your average Monday night Beer Bar pub quiz but bigger!If you’re a demon with a cue then our separate Pool and Snooker Competitions are the ones for you. With prizes to be won there’s also the chance to get your name in that lovely gold leaf. Fancy yourself as the next Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor or just love the look of the darts comps on the TV? Then come to our own Darts Competition and swallow up the amazing atmosphere with lots of spectating and a huge event! Get your Poker face on with your chance to win big with GU’s poker society where things will be heating up across the green felt and stacks of chips!

Now for the big three! The jewels of our Crown:1. Dodgeball! You’ve all seen the movie, everyone knows the quotes, but this is your chance to throw some balls! Teams of 5 take to our very own Debates Chamber Dodgeball field in an incredibly tense knockout tournament! Great for spectators.2. Iron Stomach! Most certainly not for the faint hearted competitors but it is one not to be missed. The prizes for the winner don’t compare to the respect they will receive across campus. It is also great for spectating!3. B.A.D.G.E! For those of you that don’t know this stands for Big All Day Games Event! A mash of everything crammed into the most exciting day ever! This event is tons of fun with huge prizes at stake!

And then we have our final event! On the day before the GUU elections we have our ‘End of Month Party’. It’s an incredible selection of different events offering chances to get your name up on the gold leaf boards of our Beer Bar and if you’re unsure what I’m talking about then head down for a quick pint and have a look.

For a rundown of all our events, dates, times and locations keep your eyes on our social media. The flyers and posters will also be hitting campus shortly to keep you up to date.

So there is just one last thing to be said…Glasgow!!! Are you ready???Contenders!!! Are you ready???Let’s count them down in 3, 2, 1 ….. See you all in February!

3Follow us: twitter.com/guuimagazine

The HotlistG-Your Hotlist

-Kirsty McKenzie

2013: It was the year that Kim lost the pounds and Kanye lost his mind but what is hot and what is blatantly not for 2014?

Beyoncé- The surprise album! The ticket stampede! If you are still wondering what all the fuss is about, I can tell you now you haven’t lived until you’ve drank 5 rum and cokes and felt the baseline of Crazy in Love run through every fibre of your being.

The Death of the Snap Back- Thank God the winter weather forces everyone into the humble bobble hat -Snap Backs make everyone look like an underage Irish club promoter.

Boozelimia- A desperate, insatiable hunger that comes over you after too many Pints of Fun. Whether it’s eating your body weight in the party’s canapés or returning home with a suspicious looking kebab, boozelima is a regret instantly forgotten and, in your drunken mind, 100% calorie free. Hits the Freshers particularly hard- I once came home and ate an entire ice cream tub filled with chilli con carne and then polished of a flatmate’s sandwich. Didn’t count.

Rent-a-Rapper- New Year means it’s time for every subpar singer to release a generic party jam featuring a well-known rapper who has never released their own single. Flo Rida has mastered the craft of coming into a song at 2 mins 30 so well, you have to wonder if he is offering mates rates to Ke$ha and co.

30, 60- They look young and pert from behind but the front is a late-in-life car crash. Causing particularly confusing and conflicting emotions when perving at the gym and/or bar.

Instabad- In the deepest, darkest corners of Instagram, hidden amongst food porn and party envy, lurks the instagremlin. Also known as an instahag, this rare creature bucks the flattering filters and shares selfie snaps that would make mrpimpgoodgame* shudder.

Text Back Tension- something that would never work in real life (imagine staring blankly at someone for 1 hour and 3 mins when they ask you how you are) but necessary game playing for hard-core flirts and Tinder heavyweights.

Weekend Clubbing- Minor league footballers, the scent of fake tan in the air and where the champagne is warm and cheap - it can only be Kokomo on a Saturday night.

*if you don’t know who this guy is look him up IMMEDIATELY

4

G-YouR Features

HOMECOMING SCOTLAND-Harriet Johnston

This year for Scotland is shaping up to be very exciting. Could there possibly be a better time to be in the tartan state than the year of Homecoming Scotland!? A celebration of all things Scottish!? I think not. The last Homecoming occurred in 2009 and was incredibly successful, with a variety of events occurring across the entire country. Events differ from golf to whisky based ones to simply looking at ways to sustain the beautiful Scottish wildlife. So it’s time to get patriotic and take advantage of the great country we’re all blessed enough to live in.

SportPost Andy Murray’s Wimbledon win 2013 (let’s all revel in that moment once more shall we) 2014 is THE year for sport in Scotland. It couldn’t come at a better time could it? We’re hosting two of the most prestigious events in the whole sporting calendar. Of course, there’s plenty that you can get involved with on a separate note – hundreds of miles of walking trails and paths, Tweedlove bike Festival, for those of us who prefer to get about on two wheels, or, of course, the option of attempting to run twenty miles along with thousands of other mad people in Edinburgh or Loch Ness.

‘2014 is THE year for sport in Scotland.’

In September Gleneagles will host the fortieth Ryder Cup but an entertaining opening night will be held right here in Glasgow, featuring a host of stars from both sides of the pond. It is the first time in more than four decades and only the second time EVER the event has been held in Scotland. So if golf is your speciality then it will be an absolute treat.

Also make sure to sit back and watch other people play incredible sports alongside a thistle called Clyde, when The Commonwealth Games kicks off in Glasgow

between the 23rd of July and the 3rd of August. Our streets will be filled with athletes from all over the

globe competing in this incredible event. Seventeen sports will be played across eleven days of intense competition and if you are lucky enough to nab some tickets it’ll be something you’ll never forget.

WildlifeWhether culture or wildlife be your thing, this whole

year, as part of Homecoming Scotland, the whole country will be illuminated with

events. So let’s have a wee look at the options for those nature lovers among us. The new 100 mile Muir Way, named after the Scot who was the founding father of the first National Park system, officially opens this year and stretches 100 miles from Dunbar

to Helensburgh. If the weather holds out it should provide

some beautiful countryside to explore. And of course, with festivals throughout the year, it’s a great

opportunity to head up to the Northern Isles,

with their unique nature trails and boat trips.

Culture On the more cultural side of things, and for those of us who would rather not get our feet so muddy, there is a plethora of events happening across the country in the major cities and, of course, in our very home city. A huge event happening this January is ‘The Big Burns Supper’, a three day long celebration held at various locations in Dumfries which includes everything from cabaret to a carnival to live music. At the very heart of the festival is the magical Spiegeltent which is a large 1920s-style mirrored tent where audiences can enjoy music, cabaret, shows and even a roller disco. Events will be held throughout the town, as well as on the streets themselves, as the Homecoming Carnival rolls up for the first time ever. An estimated 2,000 people are expected to take part in a lantern lit procession on the final night of the festival to celebrate the great Robbie Burns.

5Like us: facebook.com/guuaye

Also this month is the brilliant Celtic Connections, which fuses together traditional and world music in exceptional venues around Glasgow. Last year, I have to admit, the Celtic Connections event I went to at The Arches involved whistles and bagpipes and electronics… it is, without a doubt, one of the best night outs I’ve ever had at uni. Drag your friends away from the stench of Viper and head over to something a little more cultural – I promise it’ll be great.

This summer you can celebrate the great Scottish play, matched perfectly with Homecoming at the inaugural Findhorn Bay Arts Festival. They will be ‘Bringing Home Macbeth’ and celebrating both the myth and reality of the old play. There will be a performance outdoors (let’s hope the miracle Scottish summer of 2013 continues again this year) at Brodie Castle between the 24th and the 28th of September.

HistoryIf you’re feeling particularly intrigued about your family history and just how Scottish your relatives are, there are various clan gatherings throughout the summer

at various locations, depending on your surname (be it Bruce or Lachlan or Urquhart). You can investigate more about your clan gathering here http://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/homecoming-scotland-2014/clan-gatherings .

Finally, another great one for the history buffs occurs in June and is the re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn which will be held at the original site where Robert the Bruce famously led the charge against the English army.

I think you’re getting the picture: that this year, whatever you’re interested in, Scotland has it for you. Take the great opportunity we all have of living in the best city in the country and go to as many events as you can. The whole principle of the event is that ‘Scotland welcomes you’, placing Scotland on centre stage once again as a dynamic and creative nation.

6

G-YouR

Political predictions For 2014Politics

-Kathryn Stevenson

David Cameron’s New Year’s message may have left us slightly apprehensive towards a ‘fragile’ economic recovery, however, 2014 promises to stimulate our dogmatic, cultural and international interests.

As 2014 brings with it the twelfth celebration of the International Year of the Family, we start our year with the UN declaring an international year of crystallography, of family farming and of small-island developing states. 2014 marks the centennial of the birth of X-ray crystallography, a branch of science concerned with the structure and property of crystals. Although this seemingly unusual project, it directs our focus to UN’s domestic agenda attempting to stimulate the economy at a local level.

February will see Janet Yellen becomes the first female chairman of America’s Federal Reserve. Yellen seeks to continue her work on tackling high unemployment, stating “while we have made progress, we have further to go”. She will join her friend Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund. Obama’s appointments see a female majority governing the global economy from all angles. The appointments should satisfy Debbie Walsh, the director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University who claimed “there’s room for improvement, and we’ve seen some missed opportunities.” 2014 seems like the year of the female for the Obama administration with Samantha Power as ambassador to the United Nations and  Susan E. Rice  as national security adviser. Future female appointments in 2014 to high-level positions may see Obama compete for the historic high achieved by the Clinton administration.

‘Future female appointments in 2014 to high-level positions may

see Obama compete for the historic high achieved by the Clinton

administration.’ From the 23rd of July until the 3rd of August Glasgow will host the XX Commonwealth games. We will see 6,500 athletes from 70 countries will complete in 17 sports over 11 days. Despite recent protests over the ATOS benefit cuts, the warm up for the Games have

provoked excitement in Glaswegians. Especially with so many of our own University of Glasgow students volunteering at events, the build-up should be felt throughout the University campus. The games will not only produce a memorable legacy for the city but have also generated 1,044 new jobs. Shona Robinson, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport claims “As well as bringing an international sporting spectacle to Scotland, hosting the Commonwealth Games is a tremendous opportunity to create new jobs and boost our economy.”

‘Shona Robinson, Minister for Commonwealth Games and

Sport claims “As well as bringing an international sporting

spectacle to Scotland, hosting the Commonwealth Games is a

tremendous opportunity to create new jobs and boost our economy.”’

2014 is a year that has been greatly anticipated for the people of Scotland as we finally head into the year of the Scottish Referendum. The 18TH of September approaches with haste as Better Together, pro-union and Yes Scotland, pro-independence, enter 2014 campaigning more vigorously than ever. Deputy First Minister and Yes Scotland Advisory Board member Nicola Sturgeon said that this year’s referendum is “not between change and no change” and asked people in Scotland to consider the consequences of a no vote. Her plea appeals the recent YouGov poll where 32 per cent rejected independence but wanted more devolution. The YouGov poll of 1,073 Scottish adults found 29 per cent supported remaining in the UK with the current powers devolved to Holyrood. The poll was published by the Better Together campaign, placing them in an optimistic position entering the New Year. Blair McDougall, the Better Together campaign’s director, responded to the results of the poll, “the choice we face in September is between continuing the success of devolution as part of the wider UK or giving up on devolution and going it alone.” The poll may reflect public opinion but with eight months of campaigning still to go, September may yet bring about some unexpected results.

7Follow us: twitter.com/guuimagazine

Shrinking Britain for a Better Scotland?

-Rebecca Richardson

Little Britain is potentially going to get a whole lot smaller if the vote on independence swings in the favour of the Yes camp, yet the further south from Holyrood one goes the less concerning this major downsizing of the UK seems to be to its residents. So why the apathy? For many people in the UK the prospect of Scottish independence is an entirely detached issue. A laissez faire attitude to the whole debate is easy to maintain when the outcome doesn’t appear particularly damning to you either way. However, there is definitely a cosy yet possibly skewed tone of British nationalism that can be felt both north and south of the border.

This is not necessarily something that those who want to remain in UK have sought to utilise as part of the Better Together campaign. The reasons for this can be seen in variation, many parties and political causes have sought to latch onto to the concept of British nationalism in the past. Often the vision expressed is one more akin to an xenophobic attempt to swing voters concerned with immigration to vote for their party, rather than a genuine campaign rooted in relevant British concerns. Whatever that may mean, I doubt they can be prescribed by any politician. Nevertheless, as a result of such tendencies, sentiments of British nationalism are arguably no longer a political force to be reckoned with when compared to those of Scottish.

At the other end of the spectrum British nationalism is something that has become somewhat kitsch and twee, often clumsily manifesting itself in the form of a nice mug with the queen’s face on it or various other miscellaneous objects found gathered in gifts shops of Britain’s more popular tourist destinations. Salmond, wisely, has sought to shake similar stereotyping of

Scottish nationalism in the Yes campaign. So rather than tartan placards conveying cries of “freedom!” the Yes campaign has sought an image of modernity expressed by a desire to build connections with Europe and leave behind all this supposed British tweeness and incompetence.

Counting down to the referendum, this modern view of Scotland appears to be gaining further momentum. Yet, with the release of the 600 word White Paper on Independence from the SNP, the momentum of the Yes campaign was forced to come to a temporary stasis of muddied confusion. The overhaul of Scottish politics that many were expecting appears unexpectedly timid on paper. It turns out that Salmond wants to keep many of those old familiar British favorites such as the Monarchy and the pound. So rather than out with the old and in with the new, Salmond’s vision for a new Scotland seems somewhat in limbo between the desire to forge a new culture and the fear of entirely losing an old identity.

Many must be left wondering which way to look and it is this confusion which has left leader of the Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, warning of the dangers of complacency, viewing independence as a risk that needn’t be taken. Going into 2014 the imminence of the referendum cannot be escaped and it is essential that voters make an informed and rational decision one way or the other. If not, many may miss a valuable opportunity to steer Scotland and the UK’s future in their chosen direction. So ultimately the question of the year is which side of the debate will you look to for answers?

8

G-YouRResolutions: make them, break

them... fake them?

Lifestyle

-Rebecca Corbett

New Year’s Resolutions 2013 (See 2012 resolutions.)

1. Drink less and stop being hungover in lectures.

2. Never buy another sharing packet of crisps just for myself.

3. Stop biting my nails.

4th January 2014, nails short and bitten, nursing my hangover from New Year’s Eve three days ago and eating a sharing packet of crisps, with no intention of sharing them. (Apart from perhaps one to make me feel a bit less guilty.) Someone asks the seasoned question: ‘So what’s your New Year’s resolution?’(Oh dear.)

New Year’s resolutions - those infamous promises you make to yourself every January with every intention in the world that they will become a reality. A professor at the University of Bristol did a study which showed that 88% of New Year’s resolutions failed. This doesn’t exactly bode well for us does it?

Christmas is over and you are going into the New Year with goals to become fitter, healthier and whatever else you believe makes you a better person.The end of Christmas and the start of the New Year is noticeable everywhere; healthy food makes its way to the front of the supermarket and instead of sequinned dresses at the front of the shops you are met with sports leggings and water bottles. (Let the fun begin!)

Everywhere is willing you to be healthier in the New Year. Book shops welcome you in with titles such as: ‘365 Days of Serenity’, ‘The New Lean for Life’, ‘The Cosmo bikini diet’ and my personal favourite, the ‘Super Shred Diet’. New Year’s resolutions are not just for women, they are pushing men too. In 2014, these men, will follow the ‘super shred diet’ and become a human version of the hulk. (Perhaps without the green?)

By February, the two day hangover has kicked in and the promise to go to the gym every other day had been

replaced by a rather large bag of crisps. (The walk to Rajous’ counts as exercise doesn’t it?)

No wonder February is officially the most depressed month of the year. The New Year’s resolution has packed in and you are left with a supposedly failed year. Somehow I feel we are all being a bit harsh on ourselves. Maybe we just chose the wrong New Year’s resolutions?

These goals of becoming fitter, healthier, less stressed and the list goes on always seems to be a bit of a chore. One extra trip to the gym, one less cake ordered with coffee, a desire to put skinny in front of everything; skinny-muffin, skinny-latte - again the list continues.

2014 for me is going to be the year where I try to enjoy my New Year’s Resolution. The overhanging goal (not the overhang over the post-Christmas belly) of the year hasn’t worked for the last 10 years so why not choose something I actually might enjoy doing? Not exactly rocket science is it?

If Plan A, a realistic new year’s resolution fails, turn to Plan B* .

*Plan B: 2014 will be best year of your life, you will be drawn to choose salad, the morning run will be brisk and refreshing and leave you revitalized and at one with the world, the gym will be your second home and the snooze button on your alarm will never be used. In 2014, you will reject boring outfits and instead will look like you simply fell out of a magazine shoot every morning. In 2014 you will be the best person you could ever be.

9Like us: facebook.com/guuaye

Fun and Games-Kirsty McKenzie

I like to do it with the blonde… but only on Friday nights. Every Tuesday and Thursday I do it with the tall brunette who has great legs. Wednesdays are when I see the petite redhead- she really makes me sweat. In fact I’ve been getting hot and sweaty with all of them for over four months now. I don’t know their names and I don’t think they mind that I see other people.

I am talking, of course, about my fling with fitness classes.

When I came to uni I signed up for everything that GUSA had to offer - hockey, tennis, squash, cheerleading and even Shorinji Kempo (whatever that is). But despite having fun and meeting great people, nothing ever stuck. I found myself making excuses to miss training. I lacked motivation and dedication and finally, after scoring an own goal in hockey, I knew it was time to break up with team sports.

While my competitive nature still needed an outlet, the gym and I have never got on just the two of us - I resented and resisted it in equal measures. It was too busy, too boring, and, quite frankly, I had no idea what to do.

But like someone losing all hope and desperately signing up to match.com, I began to sign up to gym classes. We were a perfect match. Surrounded by similar minded and similarly sweaty people, I felt competitive but not pressured. I worked hard for an hour and I left happy, tired and toned. There were no tantrums or teammates and I loved it.

The love affair began with Super Circuits. I started going with a group of friends at least once a week in first year. Four years on we still return from classes elated, thighs burning and enthusiastically re-enact the toughest exercises for our flatmates to see. Sometimes I can’t sit down the next day.

My most stable relationship, however, is with Total Body Workout - squatting, jumping and planking along to The Wanted is so much fun I forget that I’m exercising. I get jealous when my friend goes without me.

Bikram is the bad boy of workout classes. The kind you scream abuse at (in your head, obviously, out loud would not be Zen) but can’t help going back to. The first thing you should know about Bikram is that he is a sadist. For 90 sweaty minutes you will contort your body into over 30 different positions: most of them unnatural- all of them painful. The class is outrageously hot- instead of finding my ‘inner self ’ I believed I was, in fact, coming to the end of my life. Whether I was in a state of ‘Zen’ or unconsciousness for the first few classes was not quite clear but after the 3rd time I was hooked... I went every day for 20 days. I was calmer, thinner and ridiculously toned. You might dismiss it as hippy rubbish - but don’t. I am a very cynical person but after a 3 month membership I felt calmer than the Dalai Lama.

When I return home to my parents my fitness class obsession continues. My mum is even more competitive than me, so out of sheer rivalry I begrudgingly roll out of bed to join her at Spin Class. It makes you feel like you are vomiting out your ears and you may start to see stars halfway through but stationary cycling to Top 40 hits has never felt so good. The class is taken by a spritely 40 plus woman who yells motivation about “blitzing the mince pies” all

year round and sings along in a Britney style through her mic missing every note.

To me, the best part of exercise is always the trainers- they are the ones that keep me coming back, keep me motivated and, most importantly, keep me laughing even when I’m so tired I can barely walk out the class.

So if you need some fitness inspiration without the away games and violent competition - try out a fitness class. Mixing it up means you won’t fall into a dull routine making your muscles lazy and your mind wander. In fact you might really start to like it.

Right now, I’m pretty committed to Total Body Workout. Just before Christmas I was given a chocolate and a high five on my way out the class. I think it might be love.

10

G-YouR

The Music BreweryCulture

The Youth and Young during Fresher’s Week

-Romain Ricchi

Scotland has always been a bit of a music brewer and has contributed much to contemporary music in recent decades. New local bands meet worldwide superstars in our country and there is no doubt why UNESCO awarded the title of City of Music to Glasgow in 2008. Scotland produces a wide range of styles from hard rock to folk, from electronic to post-rock. Some Scottish bands battle their way on to the world stage but many remain famous only locally.

The current music scene is full of diversity. With the Daft Friday frenzy only a month behind us, CHVRCHES is the best example of the young, talented and dynamic music scene. The electric beats spread in the debate chamber under this December night sky blew our minds. Drifting towards some rock and alternative music, Twin Atlantic make you realise at light-speed that the Scottish accent sounds great with their raw, rasping melodies. Going towards a more relaxed type of music, there is the modern Scottish Folk genre with Frightened Rabbit taking the lead. This popular act has spread their acoustic cheerfulness from Scotland to the USA and their songs make you feel at home anywhere you listen to them. In the same path, as hidden gems, we find The Youth and Young and Dante who both played during Freshers’ week this year. Last but not least, standing at the top of the post-rock scene is Mogwai. This Glaswegian band is recognised all over the world as one of the top post-rock bands, playing messy, but experimental, melodious music.

The bands from Scotland do not all have the same luck with fame on the music scene. Basing the divide on my

experience as a foreigner now living in Scotland, I only knew a few of the outstanding local music

names before I arrived in Glasgow. Franz Ferdinand became famous worldwide with ‘Take Me Out’ and the lead singer Alex Kapranos is now an ambassador for the Glasgow UNESCO City of Music. Biffy Clyro was one of my first discoveries here thanks to my flatmate’s unrestricted admiration for them and they quickly become a dominant feature on my Ipod. The majority of the Scottish bands were a delightful addition to my music taste even when they were completely unknown beyond the border. What I feel when attending a gig of

a lesser known local band is a welcoming atmosphere which could not be found anywhere else other than the small venues found here. It’s intimate, warm and, most of all, Scottish.

Today music can be played on a phone or a computer but to enjoy it properly I still believe it has to be played live. And, luckily, there is a live music venue for everyone in Glasgow. There are a good number of middle sized venues for better known bands to play such as the O2 ABC & the Academy as well as the Barrowlands. But what makes Glasgow so exceptional is the availability of a multitude of bars with their own gig space, where the smaller,

up and coming bands are situated. It is probably in King Tut’s or Nice N Sleazy that you will find tomorrow’s best artists. An advantage of our beloved city is the possibility to go to a different gig every night. If my wallet could speak, it would confirm that... It’s hard to talk about Scottish culture without its music. Scotland has a wide variety of music that will appeal to all tastes. We can only hope that the fantastic music scene available will continue to grow and showcase some of the best talent Scotland has to offer.

11Follow us: twitter.com/guuimagazine

Glasgow International-Huw Clarke

The Glasgow International Festival returns in April 2014, coinciding with celebrations for Homecoming and the imminent Commonwealth Games. While lacking the glamour of the Venice Biennale or the prestige of Manchester’s festival, it is a great chance to experience internationally renowned visual and performance art in multiple venues across the city. The 2014 Festival comes amidst a cultural renaissance for Glasgow, which is reflected in the breadth of this year’s programme. Glasgow’s burgeoning arts scene has been described as the ‘Glasgow miracle’ by Hans-Ulrich Obrist, director at the Serpentine Gallery. Five Turner Prize winners have been from the city, most of them alumni of the famous Transmission gallery on Trongate. The post-industrial landscape and inclement weather of Glasgow may not agree with traditional notions of beauty, but they have provided inspirational for generations of contemporary artists. Below are some selected festival highlights: 

Aleksandra Domanovic: 04 Apr – 21 Apr, GOMA This is the first solo UK exhibition for Domanovic, who grew up in the Former Soviet Republic of Yugoslavia. Her work touches on the effects of Communism and the wars in the Balkans between 1991 and 1999. She is also influenced by her own experience of the rave scene that united young people across former Yugoslavia. Her most famous work ‘Monument to Revolution’ parodies the statues erected across Central and Southern Europe in the 1960s. These modernist works embodied classless, stateless societies and managed to be both neutral and abstract. 

Broth Mix- Open Jar Collective: 07 Apr- 21 Apr, Kinning Park ComplexEffectively a soup kitchen, this project hopes to create a conversation about the food system and its impact on society. Volunteers will be able to help in the conception of a café in the Kinning Park Complex on the Southside. Over three weeks it will hold various gigs and talks. 

Love- Anthea Hamilton and Nicholas Byrne: 04 Apr – 21 Apr, Govanhill BathsA collection of vibrant and colourful inflatable sculptures, drawing influences from popular culture, will inhabit these disused Edwardian baths. This project was a success when first exhibited in Poplar in 2012. 

More information about the festival can be found at: glasgowinternational.org

12

G-YouR Column

Erasmust!-Jenny Gilvear

I’ve been living the Canadian dream at Queen’s University for four months now, and it’s an experience I’d recommend with all my heart; you’ll meet the most amazing people, have all sorts of adventures and probably learn a lot about yourself along the way.

Queen’s was founded by a Scotsman and is, supposedly, modelled on Glasgow University (all the students here think it looks like Hogwarts- it really doesn’t). It’s a university steeped in traditions – some serious, others utterly silly. People burst into the school song with regularity, which, to begin with, took us by surprise. However, before long it all felt like the norm and, since our bewildering first weeks, we’ve found Queen’s has become home.

When studying abroad it’s easy to stay safely within the bubble of other international students but I’ve been lucky enough to find a job on campus and I’ve thrown myself into the drama department here so I’ve been able to make some wonderful Canadian friends. Admittedly it’s probably down to my British accent- they really dig that over here.

So far I’ve been dog-sledding, camped out in the wilderness, skinny-dipped in Lake Ontario, started a spontaneous ceilidh at a Canadian house party, been to ice hockey games, become addicted to peanut butter and learned to drink terrible beer. I’ve travelled to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City and saw in the New Year on Brooklyn Bridge in New York. It’s been brilliant but spending Christmas three thousand miles away makes you really appreciate all you have back home. As much as I love Canada, Glasgow is still very much where the heart is.

Piste Off -Lucy Keown

Ski trip chat is just the best isn’t it? Every year, the really super cool people who travel to the snow-topped mountains of Europe for a week on the slopes come back with the best stories I’ve ever heard. Like ever. In the last few years, GUSSC has brought Glasgow University students to Les Deux Alpes, Val Thorens, and this year to Tignes. Or Twenty-Four-Tignes, as I’ve heard (or more accurately seen all over Facebook) it’s being called. Such a catchy and witty name, am I right?

The problem I have is that all I really want to do when told the skiing escapades of a bunch of my friends and acquaintances, let alone what they got up to on their nights out, is zone out and think of happier times before they thought they were Pros of the Piste and could spend their Christmas holidays, during which some of us had to work (ever heard of the concept, hardship/bank-of-mum-and-dad funded skiiers?), having a really bloody great time all Soop-ed up in France. La Folie Douce-bags.

And yes, while it’s good to learn who slept with who in the bunk bed of their room, and who was ‘Queen of the Narks’ at apres-ski (whatever that means), please think of us little people here. We weren’t there. We really and truly feel bad enough about it already, thanks. And although I’m sure I’m coming across as really apathetic and happy with my week spent alone in my flat with only the mice and mould for company, the truth is I’m pretty jealous. And maybe a tad bitter.So for all you who did Tignes ‘14, please, find it in your heart to shut the fuck up and keep the ski chat to a minimum when amongst those of us who weren’t away with you, did not receive a super cliquey (but actually really nice) bobble hat and have not had the ‘best week of my life’ that you all have. We physically cannot take any more of this talk.

(My Ski Trip Fund 2015 already has a tenner in it.)

With thanks to the several hour long contributions from my lovely flatmates Saoirse Toner and Hannah Brown. Dicks.  

13Like us: facebook.com/guuaye

Sandy Says

For all those with soul-wrenching secrets, burning questions about love, life and why Viper is marketing Pints of Fun, Sandy is here to shed some light on these out of the ordinary aspects of life which sometimes can get us all in a muddle. A veteran at life, Sandy’s motto is ‘Help me to help you’, and with that we welcome our new favourite aunty to tell us what’s what. It’s totally anonymous, totally un-serious and totally legit (ahem)...

Dear Sandy,

I’m really worried about the Scottish referendum coming up. I mean it all seems so real now it’s 2014. So what I’m wondering is will be still be allowed to speak English if Scotland is declared independent? Will the Queen say no to us because we turned our back on her? I was hopeless at languages at school, and it would be very confusing to have to speak Gaelic or something.

Signed, French Was Never My Thing At School

Dear French Was Never My Thing,

I understand it could be a concern, but let’s get smart here. America. New Zealand. Canada. Australia. Ireland. All speak English, all not part of the UK. The Queen isn’t so nasty as to make you speak another language, now is she?

Dear Sandy

Now Christmas is over, I’m starting out 2014 as I mean to go on and being healthy. But what fitness craze do you recommend to help shift the flab? I bought Davina’s workout DVD but my neighbours have been complaining at me thumping about everywhere. Any advice?

Signed, New Year New Me

Dear New Me,

First of all, please stop using the phrase ‘New Year New Me’. Even when it’s sarcastic it’s extremely irritating. I recommend you do whatever exercise you’re most interested in and will fit around your schedule and budget – after all, horse-riding won’t suit everyone. Zumba classes, swimming and yoga are good if you can afford it, but running is very cheap and is probably the best workout of them all. Look up your local newspaper or online for running clubs of all levels, so you’ll be motivated to keep exercising. Try out a few things and see what works best for you! Good luck!

Well thanks for your time Sandy! Remember, if YOU have a problem, Sandy can help you! E-mail her at libraries@guu.co.uk, a totally confidential service for all your agony aunt needs, or tweet her at @guuimagazine. Until next time Sandy.

14

G-YouR

New Year, New SportSport

Stu was lucky enough to see Murray in the flesh after resolving to attend Wimbledon last year.

-Stuart Law

New Year’s resolution? Easy- go to the gym more. Or not.

I think that for about 99% of people that are involved in sport this is usually high up there on their New Year’s resolution list. But I have stopped making this ‘promise’ to myself as I know I won’t keep it. Instead I now say to myself I will try and do one new thing that involves me more with the sporting world.

For most people, they always look at the start of a new year to eat healthier or be more active; basically to continue what they already do but do more of it. Now, this is where I am going to advise you to throw that out the window and just try and do something completely new. When you are at a university such as the University of Glasgow, with all the opportunities that it offers, why not go and try something that takes you out of your comfort zone. Get some high altitude thrills with the Sky Diving club, explore the depths with the Sub Aqua club, try sparring with the Boxing club or even just get out there and go for a run with Hares and Hounds. These are all fantastic ways of staying in shape, creating new friendships and gaining some valuable new skills that you can take with you into later life!

If you don’t want to take part in sport, why not do something like: writing about sport, watching local

fixtures, supporting your University teams or deciding you want to run for GUSA Council? There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with sport through volunteering- be it for a sporting body, a university committee or even by helping out with the local community. You could get involved in sport through gaining a coaching qualification this year in any sport or even by gaining some officiating qualifications.

A few years ago, I had never been to Wimbledon and decided as a resolution that I wanted to go to watch some live tennis- so I did. I was lucky enough to see Mr Murray, Mr Federer and Mr Djokovic in the flesh! Look at the amount of great sporting events that happen throughout the year. In fact there are two big ones happening right on our doorstep in the very near future. You can easily apply for tickets and try and watch some of the greatest athletes on the planet at the Commonwealth Games this summer, or watch Europe try and retain The Ryder Cup. Why not go further afield and look at attending a high profile football or rugby match? The possibilities are endless and all are a great way to get involved in spectator sport.

I hope that everyone can get involved with sport to some extent in 2014, through any means possible, and I wish everyone all the best for the New Year!

15Follow us: twitter.com/guuimagazine

GUSSC Does 24Tignes-Ali Cooper

Warning: You are at SERIOUS RISK of FOMO if you continue to read but did not join fellow GUSSCateers on the club’s largest ever foray to the Alps this January.

Twenty eight hours on a bus is never going to be pleas-ant but with some slick organising from Wasteland Ski reps, plenty of freebees and perhaps a wee tipple (or a pint at the Olde Hatte in Huddersfield for bus 6a!) we were soon winding our way up the 2100m to Val Claret. With two of the resort’s nightclubs and quick access onto the slopes this village certainly hit le spot, pro-viding an epic launch-pad for the remaining six days of GUSSC style chaos.

No sooner had we arrived than the first big fluffy flakes of pow pow began to float down. Despite this distraction, GUSSC got their heads down pre-paring the cos-tumes for night one – Tartan and Tees.

After schooling the French on how to wear tartan, GUSSC headed home ready to take on Saturday’s snow. Whilst making the first chair was a challenge for most, some brave GUSSCateers were even spotted in their kilts on piste. Locals were quite right to raise eyebrows at this strange Scottish behaviour: Poma tow + true Scotsman = frostbite where it hurts.

For those who did make it out, day one was a scorch-er. With over 300km of perfectly manicured piste, the

espace killy Tignes / Val d’Isère ski area offers over 150 runs, 9 slalom courses and 2 snow parks. Tignes’ high altitude provided a solid dump of snow and also made a shot at Melting Pot go that wee bit further. Off piste proved to be powtastic with the Saturday night snow-fall leaving many slopes untouched well into the week. One of the coolest things to check out has to be Tignes’ eye of the needle, a huge rock arch carved from the ridge overlooking the resort.

Après ski is what Tignes does best. La Folie Douce is THE party on the piste with it’s euro techno beats regularly drawing in crowds at 3pm. The open air club-bing, dancing and champagne spray-ing brought in weary GUSSCers throughout the trip where there was no shortage of “girls and boys dancing on the floor”. With big names such as Av-icii having graced its DJ booth in the past, La Folie

Douce was undoubtedly the best way to end the day.

GUSSC continued to pull out all the stops for the remaining nights out. With Sunday’s Rave in a Cave, Monday’s Reverse Rappers and Slappers, Tuesday’s bus theme night, Wednesday’s In the Artic and, final-ly, Thursday’s 50 Shades of Beige it was no wonder GUSSC were looking slightly zombiesque by the end of the trip. GUSSC managed to sneak magic carpet into a club, mistakenly sneak into a Frenchman’s room and still get a little skiing done. GUSSC really did kick start 24Tignes!

16

G-YouR

The International societyClubs & Societies

-The International Society Comittee

The Glasgow University International Society (a.k.a ISoc) was founded by students and is run by students and graduates on a voluntary committee. ISoc is, and has always been, one of the most active and popular stu-dent societies. We work very closely with GUU (Glas-gow University Union) and some our weekly events take place in this amazing historic venue. The Internation-al Society is a perfect place for both international and home students to meet lots of new people from all over the world, while making lifelong friends and having an exciting and memorable time during their stay in Glas-gow. We exist to help bring together students through a diverse range of fantastic events and make their time at Glasgow a wonderful experience.

How to join the International Society: It is FREE to join the International Society and ISoc is open to all students and welcomes both home and inter-national students. You can email us your name, matric-ulation number and email address to guinternationals@gmail.com

Once you join ISoc Mailing List, you will be eligible to attend ISoc events and will receive a Weekly Newsletter which gives you updates and information about the up-coming events every week.

Find us on Facebook: The best is to join our group on Facebook, as you can also find out all about ISoc events through our Face-book group by following us on the link below:www.facebook.com/groups/GU.International.Society

The International Society weekly events: Some of the events organised by the International Soci-ety include:

1. Weekend Trips - Every weekend, the International Society organises trips to the most beautiful places in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. ISoc Week-end Trips are affordable, very well-organised, exciting and a fantastic way to make friends and see the best sights theUK has to offer.

2. Pub Nights - This is the most popular event held every Thursday night in Grosvenor Cafe (Bar & Restaurant) in Ashton Lane. It the best way to meet new people from all over the world and catch up with friends, old and new. Free buffet food is always provided on Thursdays and drinks are discounted for ISoc Members. If you are up for more fun, you can also use the private rooms in Grosvenor Cafe and enjoy the Karaoke or Wii.

3. Language Café - Held every Friday in the GUU Read-ing Room. Language Café is a great way to meet people from different cultures, learn about different languages, and enjoy free tea/coffee and cake. You will also enjoy taking part in different activities organised by ISoc Lan-guage Cafe Team including quiz, speed dating, karaoke, language scrabble and jenga.

4. Movie Nights - Held occasionally on Tuesday nights, and are great chances to see movies from different coun-tries, as well as being a nice way to meet new people. After watching the movie, our members usually discuss the movie over a drink in the GUU Beer Bar.

5. ISoc also organises some events occasionally such as Salsa, Scottish Ceilidh Dances, Football Tournaments, and even more...

For more information about other events please check out our website: www.internationalsociety.co.uk

So that’s why every year hundreds of international stu-dents, representing different countries, join the Interna-tional Society and enjoy the best of student life through the fabulous events put on by ISoc.

We are very excited to see you as together we will make this year another fabulous year full of joy, fun and ex-citement. Enjoy your stay in Glasgow, good luck with your studies, but do not miss out on the fun you can have with ISoc when you are in Glasgow.