Happening Around BL: 2023
Neurosurgery Conference
Barts and The London Neuroscience Society presents their annual National Conference taking place on Saturday the 11th of March (9am - 5pm): The zombie brain, controversies in neuroscience. Join us for a day of exciting talks by keynote speakers from the fields of Neurosurgery, Neurology and Neuroscience to learn more about the "grey matter" in ambiguous areas in neuroscience. On top of learning you will also have the opportunity to participate in exciting interactive workshops, discussing cases of rare brain pathologies and practicing your neurosurgical skills. Follow our socials for more information and tickets!
BL Boat Club
BL Boat Club started the ‘22/23 season by moving into a new indoor bay at ULBH. This upgrade has been a tremendous boost to Club morale and will ensure our beloved fleet is sheltered from the harsh elements. In November, our Novice Men were the fasted MN8 at the UH Autumn Regatta, while our Senior Men’s IV finished second after being narrowly beaten by KCL. We also raced at the Fours and Quintin Head (as part of a composite crew). Preparation is underway for UH Head and UH Bumps, and we’re training hard to represent BL in the UHBC ’23 Henley Campaign.
We’ve enjoyed a record year of fundraising – our Rowathons in 2022 raised a total of £3,499 for LAA and The Forward Trust. We’re looking forward to our 2023 LAA Rowathon in March and winning the ’23 RAG Cup! The Club has also been hard at work raising money for a new Women’s 8+, which has seen us streamline our fleet, reduce expenditure, and seek grant funding.
These developments come amidst QM’s assault on BL identity. We’re working to consolidate our Club Archives. We believe that this will help immortalize the identity of BL, ensuring that future BL students will be reminded and proud of BL’s rich heritage and strong identity.
Drag Show
By Gaia Frayed
What a drag show! Like every year because it’s so unlike any other year, this year’s unique spread raised over a grand and a half for chosen charity Positive East as well as raising hearts and spirits all round. Between Robson in reading glasses and performers needing glasses (one or two runway walks ended up being advertisements for specsavers) there were so many iconic and memorable moments.
On a more serious note, this year we asked people at the end of Fridays performance to look around and take note of who was in that room. You know who you are! LGBT+ safe spaces at universities are still rare. For me, the drag show has been life changing in helping me understanding shame, my internalised homophobia and growing to love myself over my time at Barts. Therefore, a very personal thank you to all who came and made that amazing space for all of us.
We make the safe space at Barts together, for all of those not able to speak up, come out or show up. Discrimination towards the LGBT+ community at Barts still affects almost all of us. I know people who hide their truth some or a lot of the time, and I’m sure you do too. Hiding because of discrimination from family, a religious group, workmates or even those you consider friends. I might even suggest that instead of calling out, next time we see this in action, help make every space at Barts as amazing and safe as the drag show by ‘calling in’ an exercising those ally muscles. Subverting the title of one of my favourite series, please don’t be afraid to say “it’s not a sin” to be born this way - cos it ain’t!
Well done again to all this years kings and queens and special congratulations to winners of Wednesday and Friday respectively Antiantiseptica and Frieda Willy. Slay away and see you next year folks!
Want to be featured in this section? We’ll be sending out a form to student groups before the next issue comes out so keep an eye out!
