The Left v Right delusion
We should look beyond the left-right juxtaposition and learn to appreciate the various shades of grey on campus, argues Arthur Krebbers
It’s time to stop worshipping at the high altars of “Rightism” and “Leftism”. Our union is way more complicated than this black-white paradigm would suggest.
Pigeonholing others is an innate part of human nature. We can make sense of our surroundings by clustering them under convenient headings. Even more so in politics, where one can easily get snowed under by the sheer diversity of opinion.
Still, this need not always be healthy. The continual reference towards an omnipresent ‘Right’ and ‘Left’ within the LSE student body is in fact highly corrosive. It seems to suggest that the politically active wing of the SU is near-to polarised between two camps. In doing so, it stifles actual debate about policies and candidates, and encourages the formation and fortification of insular factions.
What’s more, this sense of dualism is far removed from the more colourful reality. There are lots of shades of grey to be found amongst politically active students. In the absence of class-, ethnic or religion-based voting, people tend more and more to pick and mix their preferred policies. Even well-embedded activists who profess a particular ideology can have substantial differences of opinion with their closest comrades.
This becomes all the more clear in cases that transgress the classic left-right split. Several hacks have baptised themselves ‘Blue Green’s (Aqua, if you mix the two correctly). Here, they appear to be following Schwarzenegger’s brand of environmentally-friendly conservatism, appealing to both sides of the spectre. Within the socialist movement there is a core group of orthodox religious voters, who take a highly conservative view on such issues as gay rights and abortion. Then there’s the obvious internal battle of ideas between the social-liberals and the economic “Orange Book” liberals.
There is also the issue of personal and societal perspective. The left-right split is in essence dependent on subjective criteria; everyone will draw the line differently. There are some on campus who believe that opposing Castro’s (autocratic) regime and Hezbollah’s (theocratic) policies automatically brands you an avid right-winger. Others would boot you out of the left camp for arguing for the benefits of free markets or failing to denounce George Bush as “The World’s No 1 Terrorist”. At the opposite end, Thatcherites may accuse you of being an illiberal left winger for favouring progressive taxes or welcoming a public smoking ban.
As well as this, the historical and national roots are of utmost importance. Many radical activists in Soviet satellite states have morphed into conservative populists after the wall fell. Similarly, outspoken ‘laissez faire’ liberals such as Jeremy Bentham were highly progressive in their day and age – but would now be deemed rather reactionary.
Within student politics there is another important distinction to be made. Besides a candidate’s political preferences, his or her methodological views can be equally important. How do they hope to achieve their goals? How will they work with the school? Are they in favour of a consensual approach or a head-on clash?
Let’s not just judge people by what they say, but on how they act and whether they perform. And let’s learn to develop beyond knee-jerk labelling of student activists. Only then will we begin to appreciate the different flavours of political opinion at the LSE and step up the quality of debate.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Society Chairs Newsletter week 3
Dear Society Chairs,
There’s a great buzz across campus – this week it’s Women’s Week and India Week. And next week, look forward to the now famous abbreviations: JAW (Jesus Awareness Week) and DIW (Discover Islam Week).
Here’s a round-up of what’s going on in the union and beyond…
MEDIA / PROMOTIONS
- Media Group:
= The Beaver: e-mail all your event details and event previews (_+ 150 words) to su.societies@lse.ac.uk. Deadline every Friday
= Pulse FM: e-mail Dan Dolan (d.l.dolan@lse.ac.uk) to produce your own free society jingle, promoting an upcoming event
= LooSE TV: Join in on the LooSE Rag Week Film festival. E-mail loose.tv@lse.ac.uk to get involved
- External Media
Speak to the Press Office (pressoffice@lse.ac.uk) who can help you target your event towards outside press.
EVENTS
- Stelios reception
Am working with the Alumni relations office to sort out a special reception for society heads with EasyJet-founder and LSE alumnus Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. More details will be sent out soon…
SU
- RAG Week and Global Week
Send us your plans and will help publicise them around the union!
Global week: e-mail su.societies@lse.ac.uk your plans for Global Week. Also, make sure to apply for special funding from the Global Week fund. go to http://www.lsesu.com/display/lse/Societies and click on societies to download the Global Week Budget Request form.
RAG week: e-mail c.s.cheriyan@lse.ac.uk your plans for RAG Week
- Paper throwing
A message from Environment and Ethics Office Aled Fisher (su.environment@lse.ac.uk):
LSESU Societies are currently allowed to poster on Houghton Street and within the SU buildings without restrictions. This creates two problems. Firstly, the posters are extremely unsightly. Secondly, and more importantly, the shear volume of posters is often ignored by students, and therefore the amount of postering is becoming increasingly irrelevant and wasteful.
For a while now, many people have spoken about putting some restrictions on postering. I am now looking to start this process by consulting societies, students, staff and others, so that we can bring a motion before the UGM and change SU policy.
One proposal mentioned placing notice boards at key points on Houghton Street and within the SU buildings, allowing one poster per society per board. This would significantly reduce paper use and provide central points where students could go to find out about societies and their events, thus improving publicity and promotion of societies. Postering around or outside or noticeboards would be prohibited, while electronic forms of promotion would be encouraged for societies who naturally want to get large coverage for their events. The policy would be enforced by the SU; at the same time, LSE staff and security would not be allowed to remove posters (as they are at the moment).
This is just one idea currently being promoted. Please email me on su.environment@lse.ac.uk with your feelings, comments, ideas and questions. Hopefully, we can come to a consensus decision that reduces paper user while allowing societies to fully publicise their fantastic events!
That’s all for this week.
Arthur Krebbers
Societies Officer
su.societies@lse.ac.uk
www.lsesu.com/whatson
There’s a great buzz across campus – this week it’s Women’s Week and India Week. And next week, look forward to the now famous abbreviations: JAW (Jesus Awareness Week) and DIW (Discover Islam Week).
Here’s a round-up of what’s going on in the union and beyond…
MEDIA / PROMOTIONS
- Media Group:
= The Beaver: e-mail all your event details and event previews (_+ 150 words) to su.societies@lse.ac.uk. Deadline every Friday
= Pulse FM: e-mail Dan Dolan (d.l.dolan@lse.ac.uk) to produce your own free society jingle, promoting an upcoming event
= LooSE TV: Join in on the LooSE Rag Week Film festival. E-mail loose.tv@lse.ac.uk to get involved
- External Media
Speak to the Press Office (pressoffice@lse.ac.uk) who can help you target your event towards outside press.
EVENTS
- Stelios reception
Am working with the Alumni relations office to sort out a special reception for society heads with EasyJet-founder and LSE alumnus Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. More details will be sent out soon…
SU
- RAG Week and Global Week
Send us your plans and will help publicise them around the union!
Global week: e-mail su.societies@lse.ac.uk your plans for Global Week. Also, make sure to apply for special funding from the Global Week fund. go to http://www.lsesu.com/display/lse/Societies and click on societies to download the Global Week Budget Request form.
RAG week: e-mail c.s.cheriyan@lse.ac.uk your plans for RAG Week
- Paper throwing
A message from Environment and Ethics Office Aled Fisher (su.environment@lse.ac.uk):
LSESU Societies are currently allowed to poster on Houghton Street and within the SU buildings without restrictions. This creates two problems. Firstly, the posters are extremely unsightly. Secondly, and more importantly, the shear volume of posters is often ignored by students, and therefore the amount of postering is becoming increasingly irrelevant and wasteful.
For a while now, many people have spoken about putting some restrictions on postering. I am now looking to start this process by consulting societies, students, staff and others, so that we can bring a motion before the UGM and change SU policy.
One proposal mentioned placing notice boards at key points on Houghton Street and within the SU buildings, allowing one poster per society per board. This would significantly reduce paper use and provide central points where students could go to find out about societies and their events, thus improving publicity and promotion of societies. Postering around or outside or noticeboards would be prohibited, while electronic forms of promotion would be encouraged for societies who naturally want to get large coverage for their events. The policy would be enforced by the SU; at the same time, LSE staff and security would not be allowed to remove posters (as they are at the moment).
This is just one idea currently being promoted. Please email me on su.environment@lse.ac.uk with your feelings, comments, ideas and questions. Hopefully, we can come to a consensus decision that reduces paper user while allowing societies to fully publicise their fantastic events!
That’s all for this week.
Arthur Krebbers
Societies Officer
su.societies@lse.ac.uk
www.lsesu.com/whatson
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
society chairs newsletter - week 2
Dear Society Chairs,
As I’m sitting here, the rain is falling down in buckets and the temperature appears in a free-fall. It’s good to be have that typical, touristy London weather again…
The Beaver listings page
As of this week, The Beaver has added an extra ‘preview’ page to the listings page.
We’ll need your help to continue fill this page with more society news!
You can help in the following ways:
- Write a preview of an upcoming society event! A preview is a 150 word piece of text explaining more about the event (who is it for, how much does it cost, how frequently is it helpd? etc.). Really try and sell it to the readers: why should they attend?
NB: Deadline for next week’s previews is this Friday. Please send them to me at su.societies@lse.ac.uk
- As always, you can send me details of upcoming events (deadline also every Friday). As the Beaver will be adding pictures, you from now on also send me photos you’ve made.
NB: Please don’t send me huge picture files, but a link to the file on internet/facebook etc.
Joint Events
For those of you who are interested in doing Joint Events with one or more other societies, I’d like to remind you of the existence of the Joint Events Budget request form: http://www.lsesu.com/download/attachments/14832/jointeventsbudgetrequestform.doc?version=1. By filling in this form and getting your society treasurer to sign it, you can apply for additional funding from special union money solely available for joint events.
Room bookings: how to Cancel…
Gradually, as term progresses, you’ll find more and more rooms get clogged up. This can be very discouraging, especially if you want to host a new event at relatively short notice. To avoid this from happening, it’s essential that you CANCEL any unwanted bookings. This will free up space for others.
Cancelling is really easy: just go to LSE For You, Room Bookings, and select ‘Cancel’ next to the booking you wish to cancel. Piece of cake!
Office Hour: Friday 1-2pm in the Quad
If you have anything you’d like to discuss face to face with me, then please do attend my office hour every Friday from 1-2pm in the Quad. Feel free to e-mail me beforehand with issues you’d like to discuss, so I’m prepared.
That’s it all – good luck with all your events and look forward to hearing from you!
Arthur Krebbers
Societies Officer
su.societies@lse.ac.uk
www.lsesu.com/whatson
As I’m sitting here, the rain is falling down in buckets and the temperature appears in a free-fall. It’s good to be have that typical, touristy London weather again…
The Beaver listings page
As of this week, The Beaver has added an extra ‘preview’ page to the listings page.
We’ll need your help to continue fill this page with more society news!
You can help in the following ways:
- Write a preview of an upcoming society event! A preview is a 150 word piece of text explaining more about the event (who is it for, how much does it cost, how frequently is it helpd? etc.). Really try and sell it to the readers: why should they attend?
NB: Deadline for next week’s previews is this Friday. Please send them to me at su.societies@lse.ac.uk
- As always, you can send me details of upcoming events (deadline also every Friday). As the Beaver will be adding pictures, you from now on also send me photos you’ve made.
NB: Please don’t send me huge picture files, but a link to the file on internet/facebook etc.
Joint Events
For those of you who are interested in doing Joint Events with one or more other societies, I’d like to remind you of the existence of the Joint Events Budget request form: http://www.lsesu.com/download/attachments/14832/jointeventsbudgetrequestform.doc?version=1. By filling in this form and getting your society treasurer to sign it, you can apply for additional funding from special union money solely available for joint events.
Room bookings: how to Cancel…
Gradually, as term progresses, you’ll find more and more rooms get clogged up. This can be very discouraging, especially if you want to host a new event at relatively short notice. To avoid this from happening, it’s essential that you CANCEL any unwanted bookings. This will free up space for others.
Cancelling is really easy: just go to LSE For You, Room Bookings, and select ‘Cancel’ next to the booking you wish to cancel. Piece of cake!
Office Hour: Friday 1-2pm in the Quad
If you have anything you’d like to discuss face to face with me, then please do attend my office hour every Friday from 1-2pm in the Quad. Feel free to e-mail me beforehand with issues you’d like to discuss, so I’m prepared.
That’s it all – good luck with all your events and look forward to hearing from you!
Arthur Krebbers
Societies Officer
su.societies@lse.ac.uk
www.lsesu.com/whatson
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Societies Newsletter Week 1 Lent Term
Dear Society Chairs,
Happy New Year! Hope you all had a relaxing holiday and are ready for another buzzing term, full of society activities. Also hope you all made some wise new year’s resolutions and haven’t broken them as of yet…
The Beaver listings page: get involved!
The Beaver will be adding an extra listings page as of next week’s issue. We’ll need your help to fill this page with more society news!
You can help in the following ways:
- Write a preview of an upcoming society event! A preview is a 150 word piece of text explaining more about the event (who is it for, how much does it cost, how frequently is it helpd? etc.). Really try and sell it to the readers: why should they attend?NB: Deadline for next week’s previews is this Friday. Please send them to me at su.societies@lse.ac.uk
- As always, you can send me details of upcoming events (deadline also every Friday). As the Beaver will be adding pictures, you from now on also send me photos you’ve made. NB: Please don’t send me huge picture files, but a link to the file on internet/facebook etc.
New LSESU website
The LSESU has just moved to a new website. Check out www.lsesu.com to see the new design. Because of this, all technical glitches have to be fixed and it may take a while before you can regain access to your society part. Please have patience and – if you have any queries – contact SU communications officer on su.comms@lse.ac.uk.
Room bookings: how to Cancel…
Gradually, as term progresses, you’ll find more and more rooms get clogged up. This can be very discouraging, especially if you want to host a new event at relatively short notice. To avoid this from happening, it’s essential that you CANCEL any unwanted bookings. This will free up space for others.
Cancelling is really easy: just go to LSE For You, Room Bookings, and select ‘Cancel’ next to the booking you wish to cancel. Piece of cake!
Office Hour: Friday 1-2pm in the Quad
If you have anything you’d like to discuss face to face with me, then please do attend my office hour every Friday from 1-2pm in the Quad. Feel free to e-mail me beforehand with issues you’d like to discuss, so I’m prepared.
Arthur Krebbers
Societies Officer
su.societies@lse.ac.uk
www.lsesu.com/whatson
Happy New Year! Hope you all had a relaxing holiday and are ready for another buzzing term, full of society activities. Also hope you all made some wise new year’s resolutions and haven’t broken them as of yet…
The Beaver listings page: get involved!
The Beaver will be adding an extra listings page as of next week’s issue. We’ll need your help to fill this page with more society news!
You can help in the following ways:
- Write a preview of an upcoming society event! A preview is a 150 word piece of text explaining more about the event (who is it for, how much does it cost, how frequently is it helpd? etc.). Really try and sell it to the readers: why should they attend?NB: Deadline for next week’s previews is this Friday. Please send them to me at su.societies@lse.ac.uk
- As always, you can send me details of upcoming events (deadline also every Friday). As the Beaver will be adding pictures, you from now on also send me photos you’ve made. NB: Please don’t send me huge picture files, but a link to the file on internet/facebook etc.
New LSESU website
The LSESU has just moved to a new website. Check out www.lsesu.com to see the new design. Because of this, all technical glitches have to be fixed and it may take a while before you can regain access to your society part. Please have patience and – if you have any queries – contact SU communications officer on su.comms@lse.ac.uk.
Room bookings: how to Cancel…
Gradually, as term progresses, you’ll find more and more rooms get clogged up. This can be very discouraging, especially if you want to host a new event at relatively short notice. To avoid this from happening, it’s essential that you CANCEL any unwanted bookings. This will free up space for others.
Cancelling is really easy: just go to LSE For You, Room Bookings, and select ‘Cancel’ next to the booking you wish to cancel. Piece of cake!
Office Hour: Friday 1-2pm in the Quad
If you have anything you’d like to discuss face to face with me, then please do attend my office hour every Friday from 1-2pm in the Quad. Feel free to e-mail me beforehand with issues you’d like to discuss, so I’m prepared.
Arthur Krebbers
Societies Officer
su.societies@lse.ac.uk
www.lsesu.com/whatson
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