Hack Attack’s Gossip Queen Calls it Quits

After a long period of quiet, Hack Attack burst to life today with a dozen new posts. While some were a few measly lines, we did get pointed towards an amusing interview on BBC1 in the Three Tuns and a parting shot against Howard Davies’ drafting skills, as well as a few characteristically insider tidbits, it turns out that these enthusiastic posts were more like death throes: The Queen has abdicated.

The Observer knows that the identity of said Gossip Queen is something of an open secret, but we won’t spoil it for those of you in the dark – suffice to say the Queen’s blogging activity has been curtailed as a result of SU election rules (you may recall that the Returning Officer fastidiously monitors the various LSE blogs). Nevertheless, we regret her passing and wish her well in future endeavours – may she abuse all comers equally and viciously. In her place we are told we will find one Feather Hustler. All we can say is bonne chance – and drop us a line!

Any Divestment Fallout in MSM?

Shortly after last weeks vote to divest from Israel, the Palestinian Society’s website put up a press release that was carried on numerous websites and blogs. The response from British press has been rather muted, however. The school itself emailed a brief message to students and staff which presented the motion as a policy of the Students Union alone, and also honored the students right to debate and pass motions on issues like this. It also said, however, “It is not the practice of the School to take political positions, unless its own policies and practices are at issue. We are already developing a detailed policy on socially-responsible investment.”

So far, any debate on the significance of the motion passing has been mostly relegated to the blogosphere, where some pages have rather involved conversations going on in the comments.  Still, a lot of the outside commentters haven’t got a lot of context of the ongoing debate that has been taking place over the past term, and of course the PalSoc’s press release is a bit disingenuous in declaring “resounding” support for the measure, given the internal politics of this motion which are all to obvious from the inside, if absent for outside observers.

Of course, it’s fair enough that the press release would take advantage of the “six to one” margin of victory they achieved, and why should they mention that the Jewish and Israeli student societies boycotted the vote, or that fewer students voted in this UGM than did in the previous vote? The only real question is why those societies opposing the motion decided to concede the vote and hand these media opportunities away instead of fighting hard against them and hoping to pull off another victory.

What’s On

The world appears to have caught an environmental bug of late, with people seemingly more concerned with their carbon footprint and food miles. So are we greening, or just green-washing? Bring your questions to put to several MPs who are involved in Environmental policy and James Lloyd, campaigns manager for People & Planet, in an event to coincide with National Go Green Week.

When, Where: Tonight, 6pm in D502 (Clement House)

With a continued nervous focus on China in Western media (from the Olympics to satellite busting technology), it may well be useful to think about the consequences of Taiwan’s recent elections which were seen by some as a rejection of the provocative stance the previous government had taken against the mainland. The Chinese Student and Scholar Association and the Taiwan Student Society are hosting a discussion with Professor Chris Hughes.

When, Where: Tuesday, 6pm in G108 (20 Kingsway)

Far be it for me to suggest that many LSE students will be moving on into a career in the City, but in case that may not be true, the Careers Service office is holding an NGO and Charity fair. Participating charities include the British Youth Council, PETA and Reprieve. Students need to sign up for a place on this Career Services page (requires login).

When, Where: Thursday, 6:30pm in the Atrium (Old Building)