Soapboxes

Creatively Organised

by Zoe Godden

Despite the immense pressure to do well in third year, most students rejoice at the bliss of having more free hours outside of teaching.

Of course, this extra time is meant for you to actually start prepping for the biggest assignment of your life, but that can be dealt with after a few more nights out and Netflix binges, right?

No matter how many books you take out the Robbo, convincing yourself you’ll spend a weekend making notes and getting some cracking content for your literature review, the reality is that Foucault and Marx end up sat collecting dust on the desk you never actually use for studying. Keep refreshing that extended loan button, we all know you’ll be leaving it until last minute like the rest of us.

They say to make the most out of your dissertation, but to be honest, I’d rather it take up as little of my valuable procrastination time as possible, thanks.

Faith in Diversity

by Louis Vanderlande

Entitlement of any kind should be a thing of the past. No one should receive special treatment or privileges based upon ones faith.

That being said, a prayer room is not an entitlement or a privilege, it’s a space for reflection and communication with your chosen God/Gods. I’m no advocate for religion but I respect others decision to do so. With this respect I feel it is only natural that Newcastle University, which prides itself on its multi-cultural history, should have a space for those wishing to express their faith.

To remove such a thing in the short term due to building issues is an understandable thing. However, to the reduce the space and limit its opening times without any consultation sounds counterproductive to the very ethos this university is trying to represent.

The Islamic society, like any other faith, should have a space on campus that accommodates their needs and not the needs of the university.

Critical Distance

by Bruce Skelton

To simply separate the art from the artist, is the answer posed by some. Which if you can do, must be of great internal relief. Is it acceptable to continuing watching, listening and appreciating the work of the accused? A question of morality, that confuses, divides, and quite frankly, exasperates us. Will I be able to re-watch House of Cards, Baby Driver or Pulp Fiction? Will the enjoyment that they brought be preserved?

On the other hand, maybe there’s no debate to be had. Upon the discovery of wrong doing, the films, television and music should be instantly discarded. A sharp but principled response. For those who are torn however, where does the division lie? If the accused have exploited their positions, does supporting the work not only further the issue… Do we continue watching with a negative tinge?

With the endless scroll streaming services provide, finding new content must surely be a solution.

dissertation faith Film Religion soapbox

Last modified: 21st November 2017