features
Helen Nicholls, Comparative Literature MA It hit home that I needed to get out more, when the library staff began to say, ‘see you tomorrow,’ as I left the library every day during winter break. This was the reality for many of us. Now as the new term gets underway,
features
Leila Campagna, BA International Relations Valentine’s Day can feel bleak when you do not have a romantic partner, but it does not have to be. At its core, it is a celebration of love in all its forms. That includes romantic, platonic, familial, and self-love. If you are
Opinion
Jannah Kamaly, BA International Relations and History From school corridors to the streets of Britain, the hijab continues to be an object of contestation. More often than not, oppression is the first word that comes to mind. However, for many young Muslim girls, it is not the hijab that restricts
Opinion
Kristi Greenwood, Contributing Designer, BA Japanese December finished with a ‘performative male contest’ at SOAS, with individuals taking to the stage in ‘I hate period cramps’ hoodies, ‘reading’ feminist literature, and Labubus hung on carabiners. The contest was a huge hit with SOASasians, platforming the Queersoc and Feminist society, the
Opinion
Zaid Altikriti, Sabbatical Officer- Welfare & Liberation Space has always been a valuable commodity at SOAS. Accommodating a student population of 6000 in a small campus comes with challenges. Over my time at SOAS, however, a series of decisions have been made regarding these spaces that leave me asking myself:
culture
Marthe Knutsen, MA African Studies ‘Imagine it took a single streamer to go to Africa and show you guys the propaganda you have been fed,’ said @Kwm_Pwr, a Ugandan-Ghanaian TikTok creator, responding to IShowSpeed’s Africa tour. ‘And the internet is free’ he added. In January, the 21-
culture
Sia Madden, BA Politics and Africa and Black Diaspora The it-girls of the digital void are cracking open a cold one, so to speak. They’re having what they call a ‘fridge cig.’ But they’re not actually drinking or smoking. Their vice is something else completely. They’re
culture
Melina Tavakoli Moghaddam, Sub-Editor, BA Politics and International Relations with a Year Abroad ***Spoilers ahead! The cast and crew of the hit Canadian TV show Heated Rivalry had a small budget and a dream when heading into filming the adaptation of Rachel Reid’s book series, Game Changers. With
Columns
Dear Readers of the Spirit, It’s been interesting to see who has been linked to the Epstein files, and frankly incredibly disturbing. We all knew Trump was involved, despite the previously redacted version that was provided to us, but its ties to almost everyone within the political establishment really
culture
Midnight Adams, MSc Humanitarianism, Aid & Conflict Sinners has been an awards favourite with audiences and critics alike since its release in April 2025. In a year packed with high-profile releases, Sinners has remained the dominant choice for awards season, sweeping the board at the Critics’ Choice, Music City
culture
Elfi Eden, BA International Relations and Africa and Black Diaspora The beginning of 2026 means two things: exam deadlines are out of sight, and the Awards season has begun! The 2023 SAG strikes’ influence is over, meaning the movie pipeline is fully unblocked, which allowed 2025 to be a massive
International News
Salsabeel Yasir, BA History and International Relations While Gaza faces mass starvation, continued bombardment, and constant displacement despite a supposed ceasefire, a neo-colonial governing structure has emerged to oversee its ‘reconstruction.’ This has been designed by many of the same Western political and corporate elites who denied or downplayed