December 2009

The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Heriot-Watt University or Heriot-Watt University Students Association

Twas the Night Before ExamsTwas the night before exams, when all through the WattNot a student was drinking, not even a drop!The notes were all piled by my laptop with careIn hopes that success would be in the air.

And then, with a whistle the kettle was done:Time for a tea break away from the “fun”As I sipped on my tea and went back to the grind,All of my queries were cleared from my mind!

The papers were turned, the exam had begunThe answers flowed freely, I knew every one!Now done with the paper – no more need to think Let’s head off to the Union, a well-deserved drink.

We danced all around, full of Christmas cheerEnjoying the remainder of a brilliant year.With time being called all the students took flight,“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at the Watt!

Christmas

Heriot-Watt University

Edition

Issue 2

Watt’s inside...

Struggling for present ideas?

Check out p.2 for inspiration!

Four tickets up for grabs to Edinburgh’s famous Hogmanay Street Party on p.12

Did you know that Led Zeppe-lin once played Heriot-Watt?

Find out more on p.15

Go to p.17 to read an exclu-sive interview with Album of the Year winners White Lies

Want to know what’s in store for you in 2010? Your horo-scopes on p.19 reveal all!

Edinburgh’s Weinachtsmarkt, or German Christ-mas Market, is alive and happening on Princes Street until December 24th. Get some Christmas shopping done, taste a delicious banana-choco-late crepe, drink a hot cup of Glühwein or just enjoy the atmosphere!

Open daily: Sun-Wed 10am-8pm, Thu-Sat 10am-10pm, Christmas Eve 10am-8pm.

It’s that time of year again, the time when we all frantically rush to the shops, because we realise those ‘working days to Christmas’ are rapidly slipping through our fingers. It’s the time for giving... and receiving some very interesting presents.

Sometimes we spend minutes, even weeks, searching for the perfect gift for our loved ones, because a mug with a pair of socks in it just doesn’t cut it anymore. But what could we buy for people who have everything, especially on a student budget?

Here are just a few ideas of where to buy:

• The Body Shop and Lush (both on Princes Street) have fabulous ranges at fabulous prices, including adorable gift sets which would definitely be appreciated! • A massage or manicure/pedicure from Serenity in the City, a beauty shop on Castle Street, that offers student deals on Tuesdays. • Boots (everywhere!) has some amazing gift ideas in its 2 for 1 collection, but hit the shops early before all the good stuff runs out! • HMV always has great offers and bargains for CDs, DVDs and games. Posters are also a good idea to cover up those bare walls.

Note: all have plenty of choices for males and females alike.

For those on an even stricter budget, homemade items are always valued! Some of the best gifts come from the heart and cost very little, so why not scour through old pictures and create a scrapbook or a huge photo collage for your best mates? Or even make a CD with all your favourite songs?

Another idea is to organise a Secret Santa between friends and agree to a spending limit. But my favourite idea is this: agree not to buy presents for each other. Instead, use the money on an unforgettable night out with your mates! (Result: photos and music which can

Really, you shouldn’t have...but you did!Kayleigh McSweeney dishes out what’s hot and what’s not on Santa’s list

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then be used in next year’s homemade presents!)

OK, we’ve given out some legitimate suggestions, now here’s a few things to avoid:

• Perfume and aftershave: it may sound like a well meant gift, but it’s so boring and conventional. Live on the wild side and be original. Plus, you may offend people and make them think they have an odour problem! • Clothes and jewellery: it’s almost impossible to find clothes or jewellery that other people like (although if you absolutely know someone’s taste then it can be a great gift). • Underwear: perhaps in the category of clothes, but never acceptable! Guys just don’t want their girlfriends buying it, that’s their mum’s job! And girls don’t want underwear from their boyfriends – what are they really saying?

With a quick bit of research, I discovered some of the best ‘worst presents’ ever! They may sound a little crazy (and most are) but here goes:

•A book on “How to be a Lady” (given to a girl from her boyfriend!!) •A Mars Bar •A box of Brazil Nuts •AIDS – yes, you read correctly! (However, it was a teddy of the aids molecule, not the real thing!) •One of those awful Christmas sweaters given by grandparents •A tray of Halloween cookies •Hair curlers... with hair still wrapped around them! •A gift which you gave to somebody the previous year given back to you!

Note: for those of us unfortunate enough to receive gifts we would rather forget... There’s always eBay!

Christmas is a time for joy, quality time with loved ones and, perhaps above all, peace and goodwill to all men. So what better medium to convey this mix of most pleasant feelings than music, right? Wrong, damn it, wrong! As someone who has worked in a large shop for the last three Christmas periods I feel perfectly justified in my bah humbug-ish rage. I mean, I know its bloody Christmas Noddy, you contemptible curly twat, I just sold my billionth all butter, brandy rich, deep filled mince pie. That happens every day from November until the children, bless ‘em, return to school in early January. Save, perhaps, for the day or two last year when the manageress was away and I hid the CDs in a fit of civil disobedience which was ultimately futile as she returned armed with a new compendium of torture.

This new set of “Christmas classics, both old and new” was a new breed completely. Obviously all the ‘favourites’ were present; from the vaguely sinister Wizard through to the just plain naff of a festive Paul McCartney. However, these songs are so old hat that they can be tuned out in the same way one tunes out the noise made by the car’s engine when on a long journey or the cry of “Big Issue!” when walking through town. Yet, as anyone who’s had a tramp spit on them will testify, mundanity can be easily punctured by a sudden attack upon the senses. For me this came in the form of my favourite Christmas song, the magnificent and heartfelt Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, being raped by none other than the perennial chart bothering, housewives favourite, Ronan Keating. Ronan Keating! A man whose greatest cultural contribution to mankind was Boyzone! His partner in this most heinous crime was Irish folk ‘star’ Moya Brennan, who felt she was above words as rude as ‘faggot’. Incidentally, ‘faggot’ in The Pogues and Moya’s native Ireland (and in Liverpool I’m told) is slang for a lazy person and not a homophobic insult. So there!

So that was it, Christmas was ruined. Until I started thinking... I do this every year. I revel in this, the one time of the year where my hatred for organised, enforced fun makes me ‘cool’ rather than just the miserable sod it makes me the other 364 days of the year. The reason I do this every year though is because, every year, someone comes up with a new and unpleasant way of

Does he know it’s Christmas? Ralph Moustache spreads some holiday cheer

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making me loathe the idea of goodwill towards my fellow man. This may come in the form of someone destroying a classic, here’s to you Alexandra Burke, or the latest slice of manufactured crap trundled off the X-Factor conveyor belt. Occasionally it’s worse than either of these when you get ‘humorous’ entries like Mr. Blobby’s 1993 effort, ‘Mr. Blobby’. And before you write in Mum, I would have you roast the beloved family dog, Ben, to eat with the roasties, parsnips and those wee sausages wrapped in bacon on Christmas day, before I’d admit to having owned that song on cassette.

Importantly I don’t dislike all Christmas songs, far from it. In fact, I can think of at least another three that I’d describe as good: Jona Lewie’s ‘Stop the Cavalry’, ‘A spaceman came travelling’ by Chris De Burgh and ‘I believe in Father Christmas’ by Greg Lake. I also quite like the 1979 Christmas number one, ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)’ by Pink Floyd, but you don’t tend to see that on Now Smash Hits Greatest Christmas Songs in the World Ever 42. I think what I’m trying to say is that I do like Christmas songs deep down. Just as long as they’ve got absolutely nothing to do with Christmas.

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for our own Varsity Match, what Heriot-Watt footballer, rugby or hockey player does not savour a victory over Edinburgh University above all else?

Of course, the true wonder of sport is that once one gets out on the playing field, all other worries fade away for the duration. Coursework deadlines get lost in the fact that, for a few hours at least, football, or rugby, or athletics, is the most important thing on earth. An escape, such as that which sport offers, is essential to the success of a student. No one can think about en-gineering or economics for twelve hours per day, nor, I hope, would they want to. A healthy balance between academics, and the rest of one’s life, is the key ingredi-ent to a happy and healthy student, and, by extension, a successful University.

Though our campuses are divided both geographically and culturally, through sport we can see there is more that unites us than divides us. The desire to achieve fulfilment, be that through sports or other means, is common to us both. Well done to our cricket champi-ons, we wish you every success in the future.

To find out more about what Heriot-Watt looks like in Dubai, visit their website at www.hw.ac.uk/dubai/ or email dubaienquiries@hw.ac.uk

Heriot-Watt Campuses United by SportPaul Murphy reports on Dubai’s exciting cricket win

Heriot-Watt became the first overseas University to establish a campus at Academic City, following an invitation to help meet the market demands of a rapidly growing economy. The portfolio of courses offered by Heriot-Watt in Dubai continues to expand rapidly, and perhaps one day it will even outgrow its Scottish sibling.

Not, however, content to excel academically, sports teams at the Dubai Campus have also started to win plaudits for the University. The University Cricket Team has recently won the prestigious Preston cup, in a thrilling final against the American University of Sharja. The cricket enthusiasts among you will realise just how closely fought it was when I tell you that the 20/20 game was decided by sudden death, after both the game, and a subsequent bowl-off, had ended all square. The game was attended by, among others, new University Principal and Vice-Chancellor Profes-sor Steve Chapman, Peter Wilson, the University Sec-retary, and Professor Brian Smart, Head of the Dubai campus. Well done to all involved.

The importance of strength on the sports field to the wider success of a University cannot be underesti-mated. Top rowers come to Oxford and Cambridge Universities every year in the hope of taking part in the ancient and prestigious Boat Race. As is the case with all of the noblest sporting traditions, the desire to win is born from a want to excel both personally and as part of a team, and not for financial gain. Similarly

When most of us think of Heriot-Watt, we think about the 7,000 of us based at the various campuses around Scotland, but we perhaps forget about the 10,000 or so students studying under and postgraduate Heriot-Watt degrees in over 150 coun-tries worldwide, making us truly Scotland’s International University.

Our largest contingent of students studying abroad is based at a purpose built cam-pus in Academic City, Dubai.

Dubai cricket players celebrate their win

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In Spring 2003, three young American filmmakers were journeying through Uganda in search of a story worth documenting. They found horror, but also inspiration; presently, the charity Invisible Children was formed. It was a decision taken in response to one of Africa’s longest running wars. For 23 years a rebel army, the LDA (Lord’s Resistance Army), has been engaged in conflict with the Ugandan government, wreaking ravaging effects upon the populace of Northern Uganda. For an entire generation unremitting conflict and what the UN describes as “appalling brutalities” has been the basis of daily life, and, for many, has lead to their premature deaths. Child soldiering accounts for an estimated 90% of those active in the LDA’s ranks. Some of these children are as young as eight. Almost all have been victims of abductions, indoctrinated and then forced into conflict.

Invisible Children seeks to create and promote awareness of the plight of the children in the area: to “transform apathy into activism”. Aid is not given in the form of a ‘sticking plaster’ - donation of clothes, shoes, blankets, etc.- but via methods which create deeper, societal and attitudinal changes. The focus is on education and empowerment in those communities affected, enabling children to provide for themselves and their country a future of their own creation.

Charity begins on campus: Invisible ChildrenNeale Harper explains what it is and how to help

This year Heriot-Watt has adopted Invisible Children as one of three charities it aims to raise support for, meaning a proud (read: generous and ample) donation, through RAG. Participatory events ruminating in the pipeline include a Las Vegas Night, being run in conjunction with the Poker Society, and screenings of films the hard working team behind Invisible Children have released to promote awareness, scheduled for showings during the Edinburgh-wide RAG week in February. Heriot-Watt has set its sights high with their newest project called Target 50, aiming to get at least 50% of the student population involved in volunteering, be it on or off campus, short or long term.

For further information on Invisible Children and all other charities Heriot-Watt is involved with, and details on how to get involved, please email: charities@hwusa.org or join the Facebook group, ‘HWUSA RAG’. If you would like to take part in the Target 50 movement, join the ‘Target 50’ Facebook group or email Lizzie at e.m.brough@hw.ac.uk to find out more about what volunteer opportunities are tailored best to you.

Let yourself down?Keep one resolution this year...

Volunteer!

Check out the Volunteer Fayre in the Union on Thursday, 21st January from 10am-3pm to get involved.

Jake banged open the door, and fell into the brightly lit corridor of the Linlithgow Halls. Behind him, the fire was consuming everything in his room: the desk, the chair, the bed, even the floor was engulfed in flames.

Struggling to his feet, Jake scanned the corridor, searching for the red box with the switch that would call the fire brigade and save everybody’s lives. He spotted one right at the very end of the corridor and sprinted towards the switch, one hand extended to reach it... When suddenly, he tripped and fell to the ground.

“So, it’s you who’s setting the fire alarms off! I should have known...” said a cold, deep male voice from behind him.

Jake didn’t pay much attention to the voice. His mind was focused on that red switchbox. He tried to stand up – and almost succeeded – but then two black gloves grabbed his shoulders and shoved him backwards, further away from his objective. Jake almost lost his balance, but at the last moment he managed to regain his footing, and looked up to face his attacker.

At first, he didn’t see anyone in the Linlithgow corridor. The only sign of someone else’s presence was a shadow on the wall, but he couldn’t figure out where the man had gone. Then the shadow moved; Jake realized that the man was the shadow. To be exact, he was hiding inside it, and was now emerging from the shadow as if he were coming out of water. He was a strange, bald man dressed like a businessman, with black clothes and gloves, and sunglasses over his eyes. A small, silver cross was hanging from his neck. Jake couldn’t figure out just who this man was, but the look on the man’s face was purposeful and determined.

“Listen, sir, I don’t know who you are, or what you have against me, but there’s a fire in my room...”

“...and you would like to set off the fire alarm, so that you can save them,” concluded the man. “How noble of you. Pity you keep doing it when no fire is around, causing unnecessary distress upon the living. You have outlived your duty, you are no longer needed here.”

Jake stared incredulously at the man. What was he talking about? How couldn’t he see that there was a fire in his room? Looking behind him, he saw that the flames were starting to invade the corridor, and were slowly creeping towards him. He turned back towards the man, and desperately pleaded, “please, sir, we need to stop the fire! Let me pass, so that I can save them!”

“Save them from a fire that’s only in your mind? I am sorry, but you will have to pass over my dead body.”

“Then if that’s what it takes...” said Jake, and without thinking, he threw a punch straight at the man’s face.

The bald man waited right until the last moment, and then he simply moved his head out of the way. With its intended target gone, the fist just kept going, and the momentum of it brought Jake off balance. Before he could even have time to react, the man brought one hand on his chin, the other behind his back, and he slammed Jake against the wall.

“Ouch! Get off me!” shouted Jake. The bald man simply ignored him, and simply stared at him, while the fire was progressively burning the floor. Getting closer and closer. “Please, let me go of me, before the fire gets to us!”

“I take it that you are afraid of fire?” asked the man, with a sly smile.

“YES! Now get your hands off me!”

“Do you know what they say about fears?” The man asked again, his smile getting wider. Before Jake had the chance to reply to that question, the man spun him around, so that he was facing the oncoming fire. His grip was so strong,

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The Guardian Angel A short story by Robert Bianchini

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he couldn’t free himself. “What are you...” he was about to say, but the man interrupted him. “They say that if you want to defeat them, you have to face them. Now has come the time to face them!” And he pushed Jake into the fire.

Disbelief turned into sheer terror, and terror turned into a deafening scream, as Jake’s clothes started to catch fire. He could already feel the heat on his body, and the fire starting to burn his flesh. Sensing his doom was close at hand, he closed his eyes, hoping that death would come swiftly...

And then the burning stopped. The cracking sounds made by the burning materials vanished, as if they were never there in the first place. Jake slowly opened his eyes, and saw that the fire had completely vanished. Amazed, Jake turned back towards the bald man, who was adjusting his sunglasses. “How... how did you do that?”

“Oh, it’s simple, really.” the man explained. “The fire is an illusion, which triggers you to set off the fire alarm. Throwing you in the fire was the only way to break the cycle.”

“What do you mean by an illusion? And what is this about a cycle?”

“The illusion can be sparked by a ghost. Probably someone who died in a fire here many years ago, who’s come back so that he can ‘protect’ people from the thing that has killed him. Unfortunately sometimes something happens that makes him see fires when there are not, setting off unnecessary fire alarms and disturbing the peace. This is why I was called to deal with it. Now, if you will excuse me, my job here is done.” And with that, he turned to leave.

“Wait!” said Jake, and the man turned to face him. “Look, I don’t understand what you said, or what has just happened here, but... Thanks, I guess.”

The man smiled. “It’s been a pleasure being your guardian angel for tonight.” And with that, he went through the door, and left.

It is that time of year again! A time when fulfilled wishes are prettily wrapped up small enough to fit under a decorated tree. A time when tinsel foil, coloured lights, glitters and other garish items (which have been known to induce nausea in some) are acceptable for decorating en masse. A time for chestnuts roasting on an open fire with Jack Frost nipping at your nose. A time for mistletoe, holly and evergreen trees to be given a special place in our homes. A time for spending above our means without even having to justify our wastefulness because the season is reason enough. And if you live in the tropics, like my home country Trinidad and Tobago, then it is a time to suspend all reason while trying to believe that a fat jolly man -in a suit that is impractical for your equatorial climate- will fly down your imaginary chimneys and barter good behaviour, milk and cookies for gifts. Christmas is here once again! The pleasure and the burden sat on my shoulders to ‘look beyond the tinsel and decorations’ to the true reason for the Christmas season. At this point I am tempted to insert a reference from Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s ‘Christ Climbed Down’, but with objectivity in mind, the internet was scoured and an interview session held with the university chaplain as well as several impromptu discussions with people on campus. The history of the 25th of December as the recognized date for the celebration of Christmas proved to be a controversial one. An Ancient Roman winter festival called Saturnalia was celebrated from the 17th to 25th of December in not so recent history and it is alleged that the date for Christmas was chosen to be convenient because it coincided with the celebration of this celebration. According to the University Chaplain, Alistair Donald, the date is irrelevant in light of the significance of the celebration of Christmas. ‘Christmas presents a great opportunity of looking afresh to the person of Jesus Christ’. It is a celebration of His miraculous birth by Immaculate Conception and all the repercussions of it. Jesus Christ: a historical figure to some, the epitome of perfection to others. According to Him: a Saviour to all, born in the most humble of circumstances without pomp and pageantry and could serve as a lesson and inspiration to us even over 2 millennia after the event. But thoroughly explore the reason for the season in 450 words? Impossible! Maybe it’s given you a taster, an interest to do some research of your own. The shops make quite a big deal about Christmas, and the Holy Bible makes just as big a deal of Jesus’ birth. Accounts are given in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke… check them out!8

Reason for the Seasonby Asha J. Sheppard

Are you generous? We are asked this question almost all the time, in the most varied of ways and with an even wider range of subjects. In fact, it is not a question but rather an invitation. One is asked to be generous with his fellow man: with the homeless, the unfortunate, the young, the old, for the greater good and countless other causes.

But a less likely question is: why are we generous?

Questioning good intentions is not the most customary action; we are, therefore, unlikely to hear such a question. However, it is still an interesting one.

There are two main forces that drive generosity in society: compassion and self satisfaction. The effect of these two kinds of generosity has almost the same effect, helping those who are unfortunate and raising awareness throughout society.

The sole difference is that the adept of the second kind are somewhat addicted to obnoxious press conferences, prizes, paparazzi coverage, fame and glory. Such behaviour is perfectly acceptable because although money can’t buy happiness, it can surely buy one’s peace of mind!

However, another kind of ‘generosity’ exists which fits into neither of these categories. This is the enforced generosity of the extremist. The sort of generosity that acts for the ‘greater good’ without thought for the people that such ‘generosity’ affects. This is that of those who think they know best, and aren’t afraid to make sure everyone knows it. This kind of generosity can be explained best by the following anecdote:

Two guards were patrolling at night and one of the guards told a man to halt. The man started running and the guard shot him. The other guard asked, “why did you shoot him?” He replied, “curfew”. “But curfew doesn’t start for another hour!”“That’s okay, he’s my friend. I knew he wouldn’t make it.”

Isn’t it great to have generous people to make decisions for us...

Generosityby Samuel Amaral

Well, the short answer to this question is both yes and no... But we are going to give you the full story, too.

Decades ago, if you walked around any major Chinese city, you probably wouldn’t have seen many signs of Christmas. This is because atheist and communist ideology still had a powerful hold on the citizens. However, the country once dominated by Confucianism and Buddhism, has drastically changed in 30 years. According to the latest official statistics, there are approximately 14 million Christians in China: 10 million Protestants and 4 million Catholics.

So if you were to visit the same Chinese cities again in December, you’d see signs of Christmas everywhere you looked, with large Christmas trees erected in shopping plazas, hotels and in other public places. One can find Santa, his reindeer, and snowmen decorating shop windows, as well as tinsel and reminders of Christmas everywhere in the city. Even clerks and staff greet customers in Santa hats.

For Christians, popular Christmas carols have been translated into Chinese, bringing new meaning to the songs of the season; Christmas services and Midnight Mass are such important events that some churches require tickets to attend. When space is no longer available, those who can’t enter the service watch from large outdoor monitors, enduring the freezing weather.

Many Chinese youths love the festivities even if they aren’t Christians. They celebrate Christmas only for fun, regarding it as a day of rejoicing without much acknowledgement of the religious connotation of the festival. Instead of spending time with family members celebrating in the traditional fashion, they choose to have a pleasant, merry night out with friends.

China’s acceptance of the Christmas holiday is ever widening. Take last Christmas day for instance, where in Beijing a local magazine chose a Santa of the Year; in Shanghai, 40 million text messages were sent on Christmas Eve, six times the daily flow; the city of Harbin, on the edge of chilly Siberia, built a 78 foot high Santa ice sculpture, what organisers called the largest

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in the world; a policeman in Xi’an said that about 100 thousand citizens joined the carnival in the city centre on Christmas Eve.

Is Christmas celebrated in China?Yang Lin sheds some light on another culture’s festivities

However, it has never been easy to introduce something non-native to this ancient country. Chinese traditionalists and a good number of academics deplore the impact made by western holidays. In 2007, 10 students, all from elite universities, posted their views on an internet website, stating that the government was to blame for failing to maintain its traditions, and criticised business owners for manipulating this opportunity to boost sales. But since Chinese young people have enthusiastically embraced Western celebrations like Christmas and Valentine’s Day, these boycotts were unlikely to receive much support.

Harbin’s 78 foot high Santa ice sculpture

Spending a year abroad in Europe certainly has numerous advantages. Not only do you get a chance to totally immerse yourself in a different language, culture and way of life, but there are also many opportunities to travel and see other places.

When I first came to France, I was advised to buy a 12-25 Card which gives young people substantial reductions on train fares. For my most recent trip, I ventured to Geneva, Switzerland, to visit one of my classmates from Heriot-Watt who is spending her first Erasmus semester in this beautiful city. I was very excited to see the 2nd Headquarters of the United Nations, as well as the stunning views of the Alps and the famous Lake Geneva.

As my trip straddled Friday 13th, it was expected to be most eventful. A traditional Swiss meal of cheese fondue watered down with a glass of flavourful wine began our evening. In the true fashion of an Erasmus student my friend and I took lots of pictures wanting to capture the Swiss experience! The dinner was followed by a dessert at the ubiquitous McDonald’s. Having survived the ominous ‘Friday the 13th’ seemingly unscathed, we returned to the halls only to discover that I had lost my beloved camera.

I was devastated. I mentally retraced my steps. Had I left it at the restaurant? Maybe at McDonald’s? TrustyGoogle provided the restaurant’s number. Phoning them we hoped for the best, but they hadn’t seen any camera. Oh dear. Next to try calling McDonald’s, and from the

Denis the Italian Policemanby Claire Lucia Grant

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look on my friend’s face, she thought that the camera had been stolen there. Their only advice was to return the following morning.

Bright and early, with fingers crossed, we hurried back to McDonald’s. No camera. They just suggested we report it to the police. The policemen were relaxed and uncommonly chatty and friendly, promising to make every effort to find my beloved camera. Only slightly comforted by their promise, we thought we would go into the restaurant just to double check. My friend and I had almost lost hope – the camera seemed as good as gone, fallen victim to ‘Friday the 13th’ bad luck. But as soon as we walked in the restaurant, the waitress recognised us and came rushing towards us with the camera!

Relieved and excited, we then thought it would be best to go back to the police to let them know we had found it. On the way there, I checked my phone. 1 new message: “Your blonde friend (with terrible accent) is really charming. Kiss her from me! :) Denis – the Italian policeman.” We could not believe it! When we arrived at the station, the policeman had a big smile on his face, “have you come for the SMS?” he asked. Maybe Friday the 13th isn’t so bad after all!

Claire is in her third year of Interpreting and Translating in the Languages Department at Heriot-Watt. If you have any questions, email her at clg4@hw.ac.uk

Heriot-Watt students on Erasmus tell of their experiences abroad!

Letters From Abroad

Having spent the summer months eagerly anticipating my year abroad, not only have I finally arrived at my destination; I have survived living in Germany for two entire months. And what a learning curve those two months have been! Now, I believe that you can never be fully prepared for life in a foreign country, no matter how similar the culture appears to be to your own. Living abroad is, and should be, a leap into the unknown - this is the reason why so many students describe the Erasmus experience as one of the best of their lives! You are forced out of your comfort-zone, which can only be good thing.

To be precise, I am living in Bamberg, a lovely city in North Bavaria, or “Oberfranken” as its citizens would say. It is a truly beautiful place; Medieval buildings tower over you in the Old Town, while there is no shortage of parks and woodland to explore during a lazy afternoon... or perhaps you would prefer a cool, crisp German beer? Well, Bamberg is host to no less than nine historic breweries in the city, with many, many more in the surrounding area. It is indeed the perfect student setting! One of the unique beers brewed in Bamberg is Rauchbier, or smoked beer. There is a distinct taste of bacon, which seems to make it the Marmite of the beer world amongst the international students. Personally, I love a good glass of Rauchbier... just make it a small one, please.

In the past two months, not only have I learned to love Rauchbier, I have learned to appreciate the small day-to-day occurrences that I would otherwise take for granted. Successfully holding a conversation albeit short over the phone with a German. Freely speaking

to a classmate, without thinking too much about what I want to say, or whether I will make an epic grammatical mistake. Using German public transport, ordering in a café, navigating myself around a supermarket without the aid of a dictionary. These tiny triumphs mean the world to me: through making mistakes and perhaps even embarrassing myself at times, I learn.

I cannot recommend living and studying abroad enough. To a future Erasmus student, I would advise reading up on your future host city, but do not think this will prepare you entirely. Apply for scholarships, such as the Stevenson Scholarship and the British Chambers of Commerce in Germany Scholarship to help finance your year abroad. Think about accommodation choices now – I found that a furnished flat is incredibly hard to come by in Bamberg, so heed this advice! Do you know the price of living in your host country? Petrol is more expensive here, while milk is much cheaper. Do not worry about subject choices; you, like everybody else, will most probably change them. Realise that you may have the opportunity to study a subject not offered at Heriot-Watt. Prepare to feel stressed out to the max, and frustrated that you cannot express yourself... and then get over it. You will not be ostracised if you accidentally use the past tense instead of the 3rd person present. You and fellow Erasmus students will learn that progress in the foreign language often creeps up on you, too gradual to be noticed. So relax. And then go party!

Alison is in her third year of Interpreting and Translating in the Languages Department at Heriot-Watt. If you have any questions, email her at as235@hw.ac.uk

Smoked beer, anyone?by Alison K. Steele

Heriot-Watt students on Erasmus tell of their experiences abroad!

Letters From Abroad

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The name:There are many possibilities of where the name originated from, including the Flemish word (many of which have come into Scots) “hoog min dag” meaning “great love day”, but the most common belief is that it comes from the French “Homme est né” (Man is born) or from 16th century Old French “aguillanneuf” which is either a gift given at New Year, a children’s cry for such a gift or New Year’s Eve itself.

Customs and traditions:Depending on the region, there are many different traditions associated with Hogmanay, ranging from things as bizarre as fireball swinging in the Northeast coast to baking special cakes in St. Andrews. Some of the more common customs are to clean the house and rid yourself of all debts before the New Year commences, this is known as ‘redding’. There is also the common belief that the first person to cross the threshold after the stroke of midnight should be a dark-haired male,

Hogmanay: its origins and odd traditionsKayleigh McSweeney explains it all

often with a symbolic gift such as coal, shortbread or whisky intended to bring luck to the householder.

Fireworks, festivals and huge street parties, along with the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol are also seen throughout all of Scotland, with some of the more popular being in Edinburgh where thousands of tourists flock to the city.

When the clock strikes midnight, everybody gathers in a circle and links arms singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ as a way to welcome the New Year.

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”

Win tickets to Edinburgh’s famous Street Party!One lucky winner plus three friends: will it be you?

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, the greatest celebration of New Year in the world, promises a heavy mix of music, dance, theatre, conversation and fireworks throughout the city centre, both indoors and out.

Now in its 17th year, the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party welcomes 80,000 revellers from around the world to the ‘Home of Hogmanay’. With three live music stages featuring headliners The Enemy alongside an unmissable mix of artists from DJ headliner Mylo with special guest sets from Snow Patrol and Belle & Sebastian to the home grown indie talents of Frightened Rabbit and We Were Promised Jetpacks. Throw in one of the world’s largest New Year fireworks displays and a host of surprises and you have the ultimate Edinburgh’s Hogmanay experi-ence.

For full Edinburgh’s Hogmanay programme details, ticket information and to register for updates visit: www.edinburghshogmanay.com

Thanks to the lovely people at Unique Events, the Watt will draw from correct crossword puzzle entries handed in to the Union reception and give one winner 4 tickets to Edinburgh’s Street Party! Find the crossword on p.18 and get solving!

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Before beginning the New Year’s Eve celebrations, I decide to go to my bedroom for one last important thing: to write my New Year resolutions! I sit down at my desk, pick up a sheet of paper, and frantically search for a pen. As fate would have it, I uncover my resolutions from last year. Maybe having a look at my past resolutions will be useful, I think, staring at the tarnished sheet of paper. This is what I find:

1 - Get into shape by the end of the year: I look down at my bulging belly and weak arms, and write a big FAIL

2- Stop smoking: That reminds me, I need to pick up some more cigarettes... FAIL

3- Write a book: I don’t even have a decent title yet! FAIL

4- Get a girlfriend: Unless you can call being dumped after two dates a girlfriend, FAIL

5- Get my degree: Hmm I really should start studying... FAIL

We all try and make them every year, and most of us succeed in putting together some list of near impossible feats, most of which we inevitably fail to complete. So why do resolutions fail so often? Are we only saying we’ll lose weight to make ourselves feel better about eating enough food over Christmas to feed a small dog for a year, or do we really believe we’re going to succeed this time? I think it’s more a thing of tradition, similar to a big Christmas family meal or Santa putting presents under the tree. We did it every year when we were young and we still do it now.

Resolutions tend to fall into two main categories. The first is self-improvement, which includes the resolutions about health and bettering yourself as a person. The other category has to do with achieving something great and making yourself feel good through things like charity work. These can also be pretty unrealistic as well, like moving to Uganda to volunteer in an orphanage or going skydiving despite your lifelong fear of heights. In the end people tend to have a mixture of things from both of these categories.

Some of the more common ones to do with self-improvement include quitting smoking or losing a bit of weight and getting in shape. They just don’t work if your heart is not in it. You won’t stop smoking if you don’t really want to, and if you couldn’t be bothered losing weight anytime in the last year what is going to make you start now? The only way to truly succeed at self-improvement resolutions is if you have the will power and serious urge to. If you don’t want to stay away from things such as cigarettes, or tasty donuts (the fluffy ones, with pink icing and sprinkles), then you won’t. Your expectations shouldn’t be too high: whilst losing 4 stone in 6 weeks is an admirable target, it just isn’t going to happen.

Now, when it comes to New Year’s resolutions having to do with personal achievements most people tend to go overboard. Some of them are just plain stupid and lack any kind of clear thought, like climbing Mount Everest or running a marathon. Unless you’re a keen climber or runner there’s no way you’re going to get anywhere close to achieving goals like this. You have to make resolutions that you know you can accomplish and can make the time and effort to complete them.

Odds are you won’t succeed at every one of your resolutions, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try! Part of writing down or planning out some things that you’d like to do is the fact that it gives you an aim, something to work towards. Even if you end up completing none of them, as long as you have tried and come close to doing them, then it is not a failure. With this in mind, when writing resolutions you should remember to do a few things: for starters, don’t be unreasonable in what you expect to achieve. Sure, you can put a few ludicrously insane ideas on your list, but you should also write a few realistic resolutions that you know you can accomplish. Most of all, you should not take them too seriously – even if you don’t achieve all of them it doesn’t mean that your entire year is a failure! You should enjoy writing your resolutions and be able to look back and smile at them at the end of the year.

New Years Resolutionsby Mike Ross

I continued down the list and found, to my despair, that I had not accomplished any of my projected goals.But then my eyes reached the end of the list, the last resolution read:

50- If I fail to fulfill this year’s resolutions, I will NEVER again write New Year’s resolutions!

Well, at least I succeeded at one out of 50!

Resolutions Parodyby Samuel Amaral

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So, are you excited?I’m so excited but also so nervous!!

What kind of preparation has been done for Cin-derella Ballroom Blitz?We have had rehearsals Monday and Wednesday nights from 6 until 9 or 10, but with the Panto fast ap-proaching it is becoming a lot more intense. Basically, it’s constantly running over the lines, the dances and the songs, finalising everything now. It all started about 10 weeks ago and is coming together really well.

How did you land the lead as Cinderella?I didn’t actually think I had got the part. I thought the audition went really badly, so I wasn’t expecting a callback! I had to do a scene with Buttons and put on a whiney voice (she laughs and does an impression of it). Also, when I went in for the audition my nerves just took over, and then on top of that I was embarrassed because I realised that I knew one of the judges, so the pressure was really on! I was supposed to sing ‘It’s all about you’ by McFly but I didn’t know the song so had to pick another one. It was so nerve-wracking.

How did you get into acting?I haven’t really done much acting before. I studied GCSE Drama so in class we had to do some small plays, but nothing on this scale. I really wanted to do the Panto last year when I saw it advertised but I didn’t

Behind the stage with Karen McNeiceCinderella gives Kayleigh McSweeney the inside scoop before the Panto performance

get involved in time so I jumped at the chance this year, especially when I found out it was Cinderella. I was so excited!

Who would you describe as being your inspira-tions in the acting world?Mary Kate and Ashley, Amanda Bynes and the majority of the High School Musical cast. (She also mentions Johnny Depp, however with the childish giggle that follows I am led to believe that it is somehow more a crush!)

What is your favourite part of the Pantomime?The bits I’m not in! (She is all too modest.) I really like the scenes with Prince Charming and Dandini, they are hilarious together.

So Karen, do you have any hot kissing scenes with the lovely Prince Charming?Well, I kiss both Charming and Buttons!! (Karen does have a boyfriend, so she isn’t as excited as most girls would be about this!) There are quite a few kissing scenes throughout the pantomime though, and not just between me and Prince Charming!

What have you learned from doing ‘Cinderella’?I learnt not to care what people think of you, you’re just acting, so have fun with it and enjoy yourself!

Above: all crowd around to read Charming’s invitation to the ball

Below: Charming’s favourite pastime, poking Dandini with a stick

Above: the two lovebirds, Cinders and Buttons, together at last!

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The dearly beloved Cinderella classic was taken to a whole new level in the recent Drama Society Panto. The Drama Society was only established two years ago but they have made their presence known this year with three sold out performances!

Comedy ran through and through, from the top of ugly stepsister Rancina’s hot pink wig down to the soles of Cinders’ bare feet, pausing only for the interval. The performance proved thoroughly entertaining, particularly Prince Charming’s dance “I get all the girls” in which he lived up to the song’s title (and enjoyed it far too much!). His excuse? He was in search of a bride. Then along came Cinders and it seemed a happily ever after was about to befall the two... But in a crazy turn of events Charming’s actual intentions were discovered (to have

Cinderella Ballroom Blitz Reviewby Ani Deal

Cinders killed!), and she and Buttons (her best friend in the whole wide world) realised their true love and the royal wedding was called off.

This seemingly simple fairy tale was packed with side-splitting characters – the ghetto King, the fashionable fairy godfathers, the horrendously ugly stepsisters, the terrifying stepmother, Charming’s obliging butler, his demanding girlfriend, and a curious Postman, along with the lead roles – all played by a fantastic cast, with a chorus and live musicians to top it all off.

The Drama Society are already looking towards organising something for next semester, so stay tuned and make sure you buy your ticket early... you won’t be disappointed!

Believe it or not, the pioneering heavy metal band Led Zeppelin paid Heriot-Watt a visit on February 17th, 1970. As part of their 5th UK tour between January 7th and February 17th, 1970, the band visited cities across the nation including Birmingham, Bristol, London, Portsmouth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Sheffield, Leeds and Edinburgh. Led Zeppelin’s last stop was Edinburgh, where Heriot-Watt University collaborated with Usher Hall on Lothian Road for what went down as a milestone for our university. The playlist most likely included their classic hits Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, and Dazed and Confused, to name only a few!

The band was originally booked for February 7th (see ticket on right), but was postponed 10 days due to a minor car accident in which vocalist Robert Plant sustained some facial injuries. Rolling Stone Magazine regards Led Zeppelin as “unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history”. Heriot-Watt is lucky to have such a musical giant as part of its past!

Images: Above: Led Zeppelin in 1968. From left to right: John Bonham, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul JonesRight: a ticket to the Led Zeppelin concert with the original concert date, February 7th

You think you know our Uni... Led Zeppelin’s 1970 Tour stops at Heriot-Wattby Yang Lin

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10. Grizzly Bear – VeckatimestStand out track – Ready, AbleThe third L.P. from the Brooklyn four piece is a beautifully unorthodox bit of psyche-pop.

9. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked VulturesStand out track – ElephantsJoshua Homme III, Sir David Grohl of Foo and some old geezer called John Paul Jones come together to make some of the most driven, riff-based songs of the decade, let alone the year.

8. Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3Stand out track – D.O.A (Death of Auto-tune)To paraphrase the man himself, he’s a multi-millionaire and somehow still the most credible rapper out there. The Blueprint 3 does nothing but reinforce that sentiment.

7. Doves – Kingdom of RustStand out track – Kingdom of RustAnother brilliant album from a consistently good, yet consistently overlooked band. One of those recognise-but-not-realise sort of bands narrowly miss out on another number one album, this one peaking at number two.

6. Florence and the Machine – LungsStand out track – Hurricane DrunkOne of the real phenomena of 2009, Florence and her machine announced their presence on the scene with the punchy ‘Kiss with a fist’ and

Top 10 Albums of 2009by Alistair Reid

went from strength to strength selling out venues across the land.

5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s BlitzStand out track – Dull LifeKaren O and co stormed back into the consciousness with the long awaited follow up to 2006’s ‘Show your bones’. This album cements Nick Zinner’s place in history as one the most innovative guitarists of the noughties.

4. The Dead Weather – WhorehoundStand out track – Just Can’t WinThe creative machine that is Jack White keeps on rolling with this latest project, featuring the White Stripes man on drums and occasional vocals. While lead singing duties are more than covered by the brilliant Alison Mosshart, this has White fingerprints all over it.

3. Manic Street Preachers – Journal for Plague LoversStand out track – Jackie Collins Existential Question TimeLyrics by Richey JamesEdwards.

2. John Frusciante – The EmpyreanStand out track – CentralThe Chilli Peppers’ man goes solo for the tenth time with devastating results.This album proves there is more to Frusciante than just superlative control over a guitar, with searching lyrics and masses of strings, these ten songs confirm him as a composer extraordinaire.

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Alistair Reid: It’s been almost a year since your debut album To Lose My Life was released, what have been the highlights of the year for you?Charles Cave: There are too many highlights to pick from. I think for me I feel the whole year is starting to blend into one great achievement. There have been so many great shows and experiences but the overall victory is starting to become apparent from the love and support we have been receiving on our current European and U.K. tour. There’s nothing better in life than a struggle when you’ve finished and can feel proud of yourself. AR: Out of all shows you’ve played this year, which crowd gave you the best reception?CC: I couldn’t say. I mean, a crowd in Athens or Bucharest isn’t going to be as enthusiastic as an audience in Glasgow or Manchester because they wouldn’t have seen us before or be as familiar with our songs. But that doesn’t mean to say they’re not an amazing crowd for even standing and listening to what we do. I would say that recently Toronto, Canada, gave us a pretty spectacular reception. There was a lot of pent up aggression coming out and it felt like the people on the balcony were playing Pooh-sticks with crowd-surfers.

AR: Which was been your favourite gig of the year to play?CC: I think our show last week (19th November) in Brixton Academy, London was a life changing evening for us.

AR: Which album would you pick as your favourite of the past twelve months?CC: Califone - All my Friends are Funeral Singers

AR: What are you looking forward to in the coming year?CC: I’m looking forward to our two shows in Russia in February and then the few European shows we are going to do. But mainly I can’t wait to get writing again, I’m so, so excited about having the opportunity to work with my best friends in the studio making new songs.

AR: Finally, when can we expect the ‘difficult’ second album!?CC: When it is ready. And it won’t be difficult. It’s going to be magical.

Alistair Reid asks Charles Cave, bassist for White Lies – the Watt’s pick for Best Album of the Year – a few questions:

1. White Lies – To Lose My Life...Stand out track – E.S.T.

With the best album of this year, and contender for one of the best debut albums of the last ten years, this trio have made a name for themselves as one of the most life affirming live acts touring today. While lazy journalists have them dubbed as the English Interpol or the 21st century Joy Division, these West London boys have quietly and unassumingly carved themselves a reputation as much more than just another set of gloom mongers. Miss out on them at your peril.

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Across3. Troll the ancient _________ carol (8)4. He will hurry down your chimney if you are good (5)7. Will you be lucky under it this Christmas? (9)9. A gift brought over moors and mountains (5)10. Community intolerant of red noses (8)

Down1. This football move is also a nut (6)2. Edinburgh’s contribution to German Christmas (14)5. Mini Christmas temps (5)6. Stir this winter wine with your cinnamon stick (6)8. Gets a good stuffing on Christmas Eve (6)

Name: ___________________________________Email address: _____________________________Phone number: ____________________________

Fun Page by Natasha Mann

OVERHEARD... ...on Campus

“I am three ounces taller than you.”

“The chicken is really sensitive; you can’t take it to the zoo without a receipt.”

Ever overheard something at Uni so ridiculously stupid that you’ve laughed out loud? Well, we want to hear about it. Email us at watt.editor@gmail.com

“Is there any drink that rhymes with ‘campus’?”

Christmas Crossword

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Hand in a completed crossword puzzle to the Union reception for your chance to win four tickets to the Hogmanay Street Party!

Aries (Mar 21st-Apr 19th):Be strong in 2010: you will soon see that facing things is much better than sweeping them under the carpet.

Taurus (Apr 20th-May 20th):Stick to your New Year’s resolution as it will prove to be invaluable and you will soon reap the rewards.

Gemini (May 21st- June 21st): It’s time to do something you have always wanted to do. The opportunity is there but you need to bite the bullet.

Cancer (June 22nd- July 22nd): Keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Don’t let either rope you into things you can’t possibly do.

Leo (July 23rd - Aug 22nd): Don’t give up! This is a New Year and time to start thinking positively.

Virgo (Aug 23rd - Sept 22nd):Tell that special person your feelings for them this New Year. It will prove to be the best decision you have ever made.

Libra (Sept 23rd - Oct 22nd):You are feeling swamped. Take this New Year as a new leaf and go forward with the confidence you really have.

Scorpio (Oct 23rd - Nov 21st):Keep moving towards that goal – although it seems far away, it is within arms reach. Achieving it will make your 2010 all the better.

Capricorn (Dec 22nd- Jan 19th):Last year brought you many a misfortune. But this year your star is changing: good things are around the corner that will make you realise how special you are.

Aquarius (Jan 20th- Feb 18th):This New Year will bring you luck in love if you stop expecting it. Try something new and you will be surprised.

Pisces (Feb 19th- Mar 20th): This New Year will bring that closure you have long been waiting for. Don’t lose hope.

Sagittarius (Nov 22nd - Dec 21st):

The sun will be shining on you this year: luck will be on your side and things will finally be looking up. Keep an open mind and you might finally find that special someone. Career-wise you are bored, so take a stand, break the mold and apply for that job that you have been eyeing before it’s too late. This year you will be in for a disguised surprise, whether it is a good or a bad one all depends on your attitude. If you join the sport that you have been thinking about then an exciting academic opportunity will present itself.

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Horoscopes by Natasha Mann

SPORT

There is most definitely a ‘work hard, play hard’ ethos amongst members of the Boat Club, made clear by the tired faces and sore heads following Pub Golf and the other recent fundraisers. Howev-er, all their effort has not gone unrewarded, as after the recent Aberdeen and Inverness Head Races, the rowers returned with a trophy and four other victories.

There have been a series of wins for the Heriot-Watt Boat Club as the Novice Girls 4+ came first in Aberdeen in a race against over ten other crews. Furthermore, the Novice Girls 4+, the Novice Boys 4+, and the R2 Men’s 4+ all crossed the line first in their Inverness races. This same race saw the Mixed Novice win not only first but also the tro-phy for being the fastest squad. Their hard work continues before exams and Christmas with the Rutherford Head Race (28/11) and the Glasgow Head Race (5/12), and then the boat club will have a well deserved rest over Christmas before getting back into things in semester two.

ContributorsSamuel Amaral Robert BianchiniNeale HarperKaren JackYang LinKayleigh McSweeneyMike Ross

Want to get involved? Have comments, opinions, or ideas to share? Email Ani Deal at watt.editor@gmail.com with any of the above and contribute to your University’s student paper!

Editor Ani DealSubeditors Alistair Reid Asha J. SheppardSports Editor Paul MurphyFun Page Natasha MannEramus Letters Claire Lucia Grant Alison K. SteeleArtwork Paddy Irvine

Boat ClubKaren Jack reports

Results and TablesFootball – Men’s 1st TeamBUCS Football - Scottish ‘1A’ League

P W D L F A Diff Pts

1 Heriot-Watt University Men’s 1st 8 4 2 2 19 11 8 14

2 University of Glasgow Men’s 1st 8 4 2 2 24 17 7 14

3 University of Stirling Men’s 1st 6 2 3 1 14 14 0 9

4 Edinburgh university Men’s 1st 6 1 2 3 7 13 -6 5

5 University of Strathclyde Men’s 1st 6 1 1 4 10 19 -9 4

Recent Results2nd Dec -Heriot-Watt Men’s 1st 3 - 2 University of Strathclyde Men’s 1st18th Nov - Edinburgh university Men’s 1st 1 - 1 Heriot-Watt University Men’s 1st11th Nov- Heriot-Watt University Men’s 1st 1 - 1 University of Stirling Men’s 1st

P W D L F A Diff Pts

1 University of St Andrews 1st 3 3 0 0 171 65 106 9

2 Heriot-Watt University 1st 4 3 0 1 197 118 79 9

3 University of Stirling 1st 3 2 0 1 146 70 76 6

4 Glasgow Caledonian University 1st 4 1 0 3 132 163 -31 3

5 University of Glasgow 1st 4 0 0 4 50 280 -230 0

Netball – Women’s 1st TeamKukri BUCS Netball – Scottish ‘2A’ League Table

Recent Results:21st Nov - Glasgow Caledonian University 1st 32 - 40 Heriot-Watt University 1st31st Oct - Heriot-Watt University 1st 41 - 42 University of St. Andrews 1st

P W D L F A Diff Pts

1 University of Dundee Women’s 1st 5 4 1 0 18 4 14 13

2 Heriot-Watt University Women’s 1st 3 2 1 0 7 2 5 7

3 University of St Andrews Women’s 1st 3 2 0 1 19 3 16 6

4 Robert Gordon University Women’s 1st 4 1 0 3 9 12 -3 3

5 University of Abertay Women’s 1st 5 0 0 5 1 33 -32 0

Hockey- Women’s 1st TeamPricewaterhouseCoopers BUCS Hockey – Scottish ‘2A’ League

Recent Results:11th Nov - University of Dundee Women’s 1st 0 - 0 Heriot-Watt University Women’s 1st4th Nov - Heriot-Watt University Women’s 1st 3 - 1 Robert Gordon University Women’s 1st

P W D L F A Diff Pts

1 Edinburgh University Men’s 1st 6 5 1 0 206 85 121 16

2 Aberdeen University Men’s 1st 6 5 0 1 201 50 151 15

3 Heriot-Watt University Men’s 1st 6 2 1 3 96 94 2 7

4 University of Dundee Men’s 1st 7 2 0 5 54 198 -144 6

5 University of Stirling Men’s 1st 7 1 0 6 80 210 -130 3

Rugby- Men’s 1st TeamBUCS Rugby Union - Scottish ‘1A’ League

Recent Results:2nd Dec - University of Dundee Men’s 1st 11 - 3 Heriot-Watt University Men’s 1st4th Nov - University of Stirling Men’s 1st 5 - 37 Heriot-Watt University Men’s 1st

All Results and Tables correct at time of Print, all data collected from BUCS Sport.

The Watt is writen and produced by students of Heriot-Watt University. The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Heriot-Watt University or Heriot-Watt University Students Association.

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