It is official everybody, we have reached the final SCAN of Michaelmas term. Shortly after sending the final issue off to print, I’ll be kicking back and relaxing… with the masses of coursework and dissertation reading that have been piling up and gathering a fine layer of dust during the last seven weeks of neglect. We’ve had an extremely successful term, not just in terms of the newspaper. Our website is looking snazzier each and every day, we’re doing some amazing live-blogging during the Week 8 JCR elections and we’re looking to the future to find ways of interacting better with you all.
The big news this issue is centred largely (no pun intended) around the new size 16 models unveiled at Debenhams and the problems that the international campuses are facing. It seems at the moment that the media is obsessed with body image and appearances. It’s become a somewhat pressing concern in Lancaster recently thanks to a certain publication that enjoys getting right on everybody’s last nerve. One of our writers, Bryony Seager, put together a fantastic piece which you can find on our website blasting the Daily Mail for their article claiming that students at Lancaster are the vainest in the UK, spending over £1,000 on beauty products a year. I completely agree with her, and also feel the need to ask – where the hell are these people apparently getting the money from?
I’m one of those students whom the government deems too well-off to receive any more than the minimum loan per term. Which is great, if your parents are in a financial position – and are feeling generous enough – to help you out. If I were to spend £1,000 on beauty products, that would be an entire term’s worth of student loan gone – I’m pretty certain that has never happened. It’s not just about the blatant exaggeration either. The Daily Mail deciding to single out students and trying to paint them as stupid, fanciful and completely self-obsessed is the exact type of harmful stereotypes that we students simply do not need, or deserve. Personally, I’m already sick of hearing about how lazy and corrupt we all are – due to all the sex we’re allegedly having and the booze we’re all allegedly guzzling 24/7 – I do not also need to hear that we’re vain now too.
Anyway, rant over. The most important thing about this issue of SCAN is that it’s the final one before Christmas. So, with that in mind, I hope you all have a wonderful last couple of weeks of term and an even better Christmas and New Year. Anyway, rant over. The most important thing about this issue of SCAN is that it’s the final one before Christmas. So, with that in mind, I hope you all have a wonderful last couple of weeks of term and an even better Christmas and New Year. Myself and the SCAN Editorial team will see you all back here in 2014 for Full Time Officer elections, the run-up to Roses, and many other exciting things that I am currently unable to predict Also, even though there’s no paper now until next year – that feels great to say – keep your eyes peeled for online content which we’ll inevitably be writing and publishing throughout the Christmas period. Including our JCR live blogs, which kicked off yesterday with Bowland and will continue until Tuesday evening.
Whatever you’re doing, make the most of your time at home relaxing with your family. Here’s a picture of a chilled out kitten to get you in the spirit of things.
