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November 1985
Posted On November 30, 1985 by onolan1
The November 1985 issues of Student are now live! This month: famine relief underpants party revealed to be a hoax; University urged to boycott South Africa; Scottish Mining Museum opens. Read more below…
7 November 1985: An Undergarment Hoax
- An advert in the previous issue inviting students to an underpants party to raise money for Famine Relief in Africa is revealed as a hoax, along with much outrage from those who turned up sporting just their underwear…
- Female contraception makes the headline as controversial anti-pill campaigner Victoria Gillick pulls out of debate at Edinburgh University.
- Liz Lochhead, at the time writer in residence at Edinburgh University, inspires another piece looking at Scottishness and Feminism
Read the full issue
14 November 1985: Communists fight Conservatives
- Heading this week’s issue was the great success of the Leukaemia Appeal, students traveled to Biggar to personally present the £1,500 cheque to Ian Botham.
- Edinburgh Professor John Erickson, Head of the Department for Defence Studies, was selected by the BBC to act as a specialist advisor for their coverage of the Geneva Summit.
- A political debate between the Revolutionary Communist Party and the Federation of Conservative Students escalated to the point where police were called to the Chaplaincy.
Read the full issue
21 November 1985: Apartheid Boycotts in EUSA shops
- Students call to remove more products of South Africa from university shop, the oranges seem to have caused particular uproar!
- What’s up, Chuck? Student visits a lecture given by Chuck Jones creator of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
- Norman MacCaig, Scotland’s foremost poet at the time, celebrates his 75th birthday in this issue, with some philosophical insights on the writing of poetry and the poets “role” in society.
- Donald Trelford, previous editor of the Observer, gave the Kenneth Allsop Memorial Lecture. Trelford has since become famous for something else – being, at the age of 76 and 6 months, the oldest new father.
Read the full issue
28 November 1985: Miners and Monarchs in the spotlight
- Victoria Gillick is forced to take another bitter pill as police were called to escort her to a debate at Edinburgh University.
- André Brink, prominent South African author, was interviewed by Student after giving a lecture on “Writers in a Closed Society.”
- The Scottish Mining Museum plunges into industrial history with the opening of the Lady Victoria Colliery. The museum will focus on the Victorian era and the human experience of the miners.
- “Defence of the Realm” premiered in Edinburgh this month, Student interviewed the executive producer, producer and one of the stars asking how closely the film mirrors contemporary Britain.
Read the full issue
October 1985
Posted On October 31, 1985 by Gavin Willshaw
2 October 1985: Fresh Fruit!
- In a ‘Freshers’ Guide’, new students are advised how best to survive the year ahead, including detailed information on societies, pubs, arts, movies and sports, as well as a guide to the best clubs in Edinburgh.
- Editors of Student take readers behind the scenes to reveal how the paper is put together every week.
- Some of the challenges women are likely to face at University are discussed.
9 October 1985: His Royal Highness
- In an extensive interview with HRH Prince Philip, the then Chancellor of Edinburgh University outlines his views on the post war effect on the University. A curious snippet indicates that in the early 1980s Prince Philip would have been the people’s choice as President if the UK had become a Republic!
- A highly notable exhibition of the Emperor’s Warriors (Terracotta Army) comes to Edinburgh’s City Art Centre, with queues stretching along Market Street and up Cockburn Street!
17 October 1985: Protest!
- The theme of Apartheid features strongly in this issue, however not necessarily in the way you might expect. The front page contains an article on an Anti-Apartheid March recently held in Edinburgh. However, later in the issue we have an article complaining about the sale of South African paper clips in EUSA shop, and a particularly outraged letter about the inclusion of a ‘Special Anti-Apartheid Crossword’ in the paper Midweek.
- Another equally harrowing article was an eyewitness account from Edinburgh student, James Greenwood, of the earthquake in Mexico City.
24 October 1985: The belles of St Leonards
- St Leonard’s Hall is revealed as the venue of choice for the reunion of the infamous St Trinian’s Old Girls.
- An Edinburgh student experiences the bright lights and cameras of the world of television.
- Philip Cullum describes his experience of participating in Channel Four’s Comment.
- At the EUSA General Meeting, a proposal to ban the sale of alcohol from all the Student’s Association House is proposed!
31 October 1985: General Meeting – picking up the pieces
- The Edinburgh Leukaemia Appeal in conjunction with the Leukaemia Road Runners Celebrity Walk with Ian Botham as a key fund raiser.
- In an interview with Student, Jimmy Boyle, who was convicted of murder in 1967, talks about his artist career after his release.
- The newly established Edinburgh International Film Festival gets set for its second run.
December 1984
Posted On December 31, 1984 by Gavin Willshaw
6 December 1984: Fight to the Finish
- Citizen Smith- the way ahead: Last month, John Smith, Member of Parliament for Monklands East, was promoted to being Shadow Spokesperson for Trade and Industry (opposite Norman Tebbit).
- In the front line: ‘The Ivy League’, now based in West Nicolson Street, has won something of a reputation for itself on the Edinburgh fashion scene.
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Students’ rally brings London to a halt : Having expected 3,000 at most, the NUS organisers were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers, as more and more students arrived at the South Bank Complex in a seemingly unending stream.
13 December 1984: We’ve won the batlle… but the war goes on
- Solid support for library work-in
- Steel strikes hard at Sir Keith
- Grant battle goes on
November 1984
Posted On November 30, 1984 by Gavin Willshaw
1 November 1984: Yes, we support the miners
- Miners’ support passed – but no quorum: Four hundred and sixty-eight people turned up at the McEwan Hall on Monday night for the first Association General Meeting of the year to discuss motions in support of a Chilean general strike, and backing the picketing miners here in Britain.
- Rock bottom: The minimum grant, which was halved from £410 to £205 last year, may be scrapped altogether, depending on the outcome of a Cabinet meeting later this month
- This Charming Myth: The Fall’s now long and atrophied roots stretch back over eight years to the blighted backside of England that is Salford
8 November 1984: Matringo winner collects £30!
- The Pride of Lions: After more than eighteen months, U2 returned to Edinburgh in a blaze of glory.
- Lonarch Gathering: Scotland is renowned all over the world for its traditional Highland Gatherings. One of the lesser known but most interesting of these is the Lonarch Highland Gathering and Games in Upper Donside: Student receives a rare insight.
- Mannix, Morrissey, Mondale: This week’s American election, the Smiths, and last term’s SRC elections have something in common. What difference does it make? You may well ask.
15 November 1984: Bilston Glen – state of the strike
- Tory split as Ryland resigns: Many months of internal wrangling and problems within the Executive of the Edinburgh University Conservative Association may well be over with the resignation this week of the President, Andrew Ryland, and three other committee members.
- The state of the strike: The recent SRC General Meeting passed a motion supporting the miners’ strike. The NUM rally last week at the Usher Hall was packed out. Edinburgh District Council donates £5,000 a month to the strike fund. Despite all this, reports in the press have announced a massive drift back to work.
- Ballgowns, bow-ties and booze: Yes, my darlings, the hectic University Social Calendar ground to a halt last Friday to embrace that decadent, capitalist extravaganza, the annual Presidents’ Ball. Student’s very own Dedicated Diarist braved the bank manager’s wrath to report upon the swirl of social luminaries attempting to be private in public.
22 November 1984: Grants – the fight starts here!
- O’Neill goes on trial at AGM: A dramatic annual general meeting is in store next Thursday, following the tabling of a motion at last week’s Committee of Management meeting demanding the dismissal of Union President Hilary O’Neill.
- REM – Caley Palais (p12): REM have a lot to live up to, variously lauded as the best thing to come out of America for years, the saviours of American rock music etc.
- WAR! The fight for education: Where will you be this lunchtime? To coincide with today’s mass rally against the heaviest grant cuts for many years, Student brings you analysis of the situation. Be at the Old College, 1pm, today.
29 November 1984: … and the fight goes on
- Huge turnout for Old College rally: “Education is a right – not a privilege. We must stand up and fight for the right to survive!” That was the clear opinion of all the speakers at last week’s rally in the Old College, which attracted a crowd of 2,000 students.
- Ghostbusters: Hype… Hype… Hooray!: We have been hearing the title song for months now, and the “no ghost” logo is all over the place – Ghostbusters, the most hyped moved of the year, is coming to the UK.
- Edwina Currie: the case for cuts: The Federation of Conservative Students leadership has “one of two funny ideas” – Alan Young talks to the formidable political phenomenon that is Edwina Currie.
October 1984
Posted On October 31, 1984 by Gavin Willshaw
3 October 1984: Lost?
- King’s Buildings: Distant, exotic and mysterious – but what is the truth about this land to the south?
- A load of Pollocks: So what do you need to know about Pollock Halls? It seems a pretty ordinary place. Just what you expected: a desk, a bed, a washbasin, lots of noise and awful food.
- The Library – bookworm’s rest: The Main Library is the largest University library in the country. It is also the largest and marginally least ugly building in George Square.
11 October 1984: Fur coat and no knickers
- A breath of fresh air? 2,300 people attended Freshers’ Week this year – more than ever before. The price had been raised to £8 and freshers seemed determined to get their money’s worth. Almost all daytime events were packed!
- Rangers Heart-broken: Hearts 1 Rangers 0: A crowd of 18,000 came to Tynecastle eager to see Hearts have a go at Rangers’ unbeaten record.
18 October 1984: Scotland: “Still a long way to go”
- Twenty years of Fraser debauchery: At 4pm on Saturday the 17th of October 1964, Fraser House was officially declared open by Lady Nina Fraser, wife of the late Principal. Consequently this week is the 20th birthday of Fraser House.
- Younger’s Tartan Special: George Younger has now been secretary of State for Scotland for over five years and has proved himself a tireless worker for Thatcherlsm north of the border. Bill Williamson talked to him about his past record and his vision of Scotland in the future.
25 October 1984: Library burnt to the ground (well, nearly)
- Library fire: half an hour of high drama. Shortly after eleven o’ clock on Monday morning a cloud of black smoke issuing from the roof of the University’s main library in George Square signalled the start of half an hour of frantic activity in the University environs.
- Tae uphauld the Scots leid. There is more to the Scots language than Oor Wullie, Gordon Jackson, Irn Bru adverts and Clare Grogan. The demise of the Scots language is an age-old historical problem which the Scots Language Society are working against.
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