features
By Fiona Munro, Ba Development and African Studies The Head of the River Race March 29 For the more athletically-oriented SOASians, this is a sporting extravaganza. The Head of the River Race takes place every spring when a staggering 400 crews from all over the globe take to the Thames
Documentary
By Beth Jellicoe “Siddharth” is based on the true story of a boy who went missing, and it made me angry. Furious, even. This film makes no promises, and gives no easy answers. I don’t need to bang on about my relationship to India or the stories of the
features
The Human Rights Watch Film Festival (HRWFF) is underway at the Ritzy Picturehouse, from March 18th to the 28th. One of its nights was dedicated to student-made documentaries, and the SOAS Spirit was there. By Paloma Rao This event, created in association with the Human Rights Watch Film Festival and
features
Jonathan Glazer’s sci-fi thriller “Under The Skin” is being celebrated as “astonishing”, “unforgettable” and a “masterpiece”. Is that really true? The SOAS Spirit had a look. By Dorina Marlen Heller I am not going to pretend that this film made any sense to me while watching it, or that
features
The SOAS alumni column seeks to track down what the alumni are doing after they graduated from SOAS and tries to elicit crucial advice on how to survive in the “real world”. This issue we interview Dr Hongxing Zhang who works as a Senior Curator at the V&A
features
There is a treasure right opposite from our beloved uni. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts puts on great plays; if you haven’t seen one yet, go check it out and follow the first steps on stage of the next Joan Collins or Anthony Hopkins. By Dorina Marlen Heller
News
By Simon Popay MSc Development Studies The campaign to end SOAS’ investment in fossil fuel companies took a big step forward last week as campaigners met with the School’s finance team. The finance team agreed to discuss the possibility of divestment with the School’s Investment Advisory Panel at
features
Our guide to being the coolest kid on the block The most fulfilling part of your university experience is often to be found in dialogue with your peers, and nowhere are you fulfilled more thoroughly than here at SOAS. This dialogue is given a formal, structured and (above all) compulsory
News
Haani Mazari, BA Politics and History Fractional staff and the lecturers in The Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) are continuing to take separate action, both in hopes of receiving increased pay. The group ‘Fractionals for Fair Play’ are called upon Fractional staff members to adhere strictly to their contracted working
News
Tom King, BA Politics Research published by the Fractionals for Fair Play campaign has revealed “shocking” findings about the working conditions of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and Senior Teaching Fellows (STFs). The campaign conducted a survey of SOAS 94 staff working on fractional contracts and compared the number of hours
Opinion
By Mohammad Tahboub, BA Poltics and Law The aims of both the Justice for Cleaners and lecturers campaigns are legitimate and it is their right to fight for equality and a higher standard of life and in no doubt the majority of students support this. However, it’s time that
Books
By Beth Jellicoe Where do I start? “Orange Trees” is simply exquisite: a tale that understands the complexities of families, the way war and imperialism rip through not only nations but individual hearts, lives and relationships. Raised in Britain and Canada as a third culture child (with an Iraqi father