Will You be applying for US universities, Lollipop?

As usual my sister, Lollipop is more interested in celeb gossip then current affairs as she insists that the slating of Cher Lloyd’s leaked music is headline news. “It’s all over the Daily Mail’s website sis. So how can you say it’s not headline news?”

“Its just mere TV gossip, Lollipop and has nothing to do with current affairs.”

“Well Twitter begs to differ. You should see some of Cher’s latest updates.”

“I don’t care Lollipop and neither should you. Instead you should be more interested in the Guardian’s story on the sharp rise in UK students applying for American Ivy league universities.”

“Why should I be more interested in that? I’m not even thinking about university. I’m thinking about my GCSEs.”

“Exactly,” I say. Since May my sister has been more obsessed about her GCSEs than she is about Justin Bieber. She’s become a bookworm.  So it seems blatantly obvious at the moment that she will be heading to university in the future. However whether she’ll be studying in the UK or the US is up for debate.

Figures obtained by the Guardian from seven prestigious US institutions show that hundreds more British students are following in the footsteps of the Harry Potter star Emma Watson to further their education at elite US universities.

The primary target appears to be Harvard, which has received 500 applications from UK students for undergraduate courses this autumn, a jump of more than a third on last year. British enrolments at Yale and Princeton, also Ivy League institutions, have doubled in five years.

If the figures continue to rise my Lollipop could be heading overseas. Tuition fees are still huge though. The cost of studying at an Ivy League university for a UK student can reach £37,000 ($60,000) a year. Most undergraduate courses last four years. Fees at state-funded universities are substantially lower, but it can be difficult to obtain a place without US citizenship.

Head of the advisory service at the US–UK Fulbright Commission, Lauren Welch encourages educational exchanges between UK and US students and believes that many US universities and colleges see this year as “an unprecedented opportunity to enlist British students”.

“They know tuition fees are increasing threefold and that places for UK pupils will be capped. They want to make students aware of the American alternative.”

US dramas like Gossip Girl and 90210 have definitely made my Lollipop aware of the “American alternative.” But with such costly fees my sister won’t be going anywhere. Many believe only the rich, like Harry Potter star, Emma Watson, can afford to travel overseas and study.  Yet King’s College school is holding a conference – the American Dream – this September for headteachers and pupils to discuss applying to US universities, which suggests a growing interest in studying in America. Plus, by the time my Lollipop is ready to make decisions about her higher education tuition fees in the UK may have risen so much that there might not be a great difference in costs between the two institutions.

Whatever her financial situation, my Lollipop is definitely interested in going to the US. “I would get to see Justin Bieber!”

“You would also get to major in English literature.”

“Who cares? Do you think Justin will go to university?”

What were you doing this Remembrance Day Lollipop?

As I flick through the pages of The I newspaper and quickly glance at the main headline proclaiming Harry Potter as “the great British success story,” I skip the main news story. As an avid fan of JK Rowling’s whimsical wizarding world I have clearly read all there is to read about the upcoming film and have exhausted my sister Lollipop with every aspect of the final book who is totally uninterested in the spellbinding novel.  “You are a Potter lover sis, which is quite shameful when you are 21 years old.”

“Says the true Belieber fan in front of me,” I retort and wonder if Lollipop has ever heard of the phrase, “pot calling the kettle black.”

“The girl that plays Hermione looks nice,”

“What, Emma Watson? Yeah her outfit is apparently, “a distinct departure from the demure dresses she has worn at previous Potter premieres.”

“Topped off with a Remembrance day poppy,”

“What are you on about Lollipop?”

“The night of the premiere was on Remembrance day so they are all wearing poppies silly.”

Lollipop’s acknowledgement of the poppy wearing fashion and the event that is commemorated by Commonwealth countries to remember the sacrifices made by the armed forces and civilians during periods of war, reminds me not just of the two minutes most spared to recall the official end of World War One. It also reminds me of the Muslim extremists who publicly marred the emotional events in Kensington, London.  They jeered and chanted “British soldiers’ burn in hell” as they burnt a giant poppy and protested against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Hours after it was aired on national news programmes dozens of Facebook pages soon appeared.  Currently, “Deport the Muslims who ruined Remembrance Day” has the most likes. I show it to Lollipop who is slightly shocked by the remarks and comments scattered across the site. The last one that was published reads, “if it was not for all these people who died for this country in past and future wars to give us freedom of speech in this country to let these c****s come over here and sponge our benefits if Hitler had won the war they would not be allowed to come to this country they would be shot or gassed,”

“Wow that is harsh sis, I mean how many Muslim extremists were involved?”  

“30, or around that number,”

“Well the page does clearly note, “Just to clear this up, this page is aimed at the select few who disrespected our country’s special event and not all the Muslim believers, and by saying, “deport the Muslims who ruined 2010 Remembrance Day,” I mean the extremists who protested.” But the page is still quite discriminating.”

“Yeah but it is people’s rants and views on this particular debate. The Daily Mail also claims, “Ironically, it was the freedom for which thousands fought that allowed them to stage their demonstration at the stroke of 11am – the exact moment the nation came to a halt at the Cenotaph, across the country, and after parallel services at British bases in Afghanistan.” So it is basically all about liberty and the freedom of speech Lollipop.”

“I understand, but the way people on these pages are retaliating makes them just as bad as the Muslim extremists.”

I analyze the Facebook page and dredge through the incriminating comments and am forced to agree with Lollipop.

Both opposing parties have used their freedom of speech in a discriminating and detrimental manner. If past soldiers and war veterans witnessed the Muslim extremists protests and read the comments I am quite sure they would not support either side. As Remembrance Sunday looms these pages of discontent are still rife and ongoing. One entitled, ““Let’s show these poppy burning bastards how many people want them deported”, has recently been removed. Whether the social networking site removed the page or the creator eradicated it is unknown, however this suggests that perhaps some comments and reports on the matter have gone too far.

“It just adds further to all the racism and terrorism that’s going on at the moment,” argues Lollipop. “Yeah, the recent videos on You Tube showing members of the Al Qaeda encouraging Muslims to use acts of violence and terrorism to show their faith are not helping either.”

“It is pretty severe but these Muslim extremists live here and the fact that they are showing no respect for British and commonwealth customs is disgusting.”

“I agree Lollipop, I agree.”

I also believe that war heroes across the world did not want us to retaliate and use our freedom of speech in this corrupt manner. “Shoot the f*****s  I am sick of the lot of them,” is now the latest retort on the page in a world where freedom of speech is clearly being abused in far too many ways especially during such a commemorative period.

“I would just ignore their protests and listen to Justin Bieber”

Typical Lollipop, Typical!”

Lollipop wants to know people! “Is There Anything, About tonight’s EMAs?

As I lazily flick through The Sunday Times a particular headline that claims, “Gap years won’t spare you fee rises, students warned,” reminds me of the recent stories that have graced the papers this week. Lollipop however is interested in more pressing news and grabs the newspaper off me asking, “Is there anything about tonight’s EMAs? Justin Bieber is not performing because he’s on tour but he is online hosting, whatever that means, so I will still see his gorgeous face!”

“You are so sad! Pass me MY paper.  Do you even know what any of these headlines are about?”

“I do actually! I want to know when the next Harry Potter film is going to be out in cinemas so I am very interested in the, “Magical? It’s more like the Mafia” headline.”

“No Lollipop, I mean the headlines that have occupied the papers this week,” I explain although I am momentarily transfixed by Emma Watson’s radical new statement haircut. I wonder if I would suit such a bold hairstyle. As I decide if a pixie blonde hairdo would compliment my dark skin tone Lollipop replies “what about the gas explosion in Salford, Irlam? I still cannot believe no one got hurt, not even the old woman whose house exploded.”

“Yeah, apparently she’s still in hospital.” The Manchester Evening news commented on the community’s spirit as neighbours suddenly became unlikely heroes. Of course in The Times only a small segment is dedicated to the Salford blast in the News Review as a national newspaper other headlines have taken priority like the rising tuition fees. However which headline is more important to my Lollipop? Early warnings that gap years won’t spare students fee rises in 2012, regional reports on the Salford blast, “or what about Barrack Obama and the Democrat’s  mid term election defeat Lollipop?” As the Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives Obama admitted earlier this week that he needs to do a better job at the White house press conference.

“Well of course whatever is happening in America is important. His actions could affect us and the rest of the world,” explains Lollipop who is absolutely right of course. It was only recently in The I newspaper that Obama was named the 2^nd most powerful man in the world ranked just below Hu Jintao the current paramount leader of the People’s Republic of  China. But should global news take priority in the newspapers and in the news broadcast even though most viewers and readers (Lollipop included) are more outraged by the rising tuition fees and shocked by the Salford Blast. “More attention should be given to national news as hard working families need to know how changes in higher education could affect their children,” states Lollipop. “Yeah it would be refreshing,” I add, “If national news stories were the first to be discussed on TV news broadcasts such as The Channel 4 News instead of an entire half hour dedicated to US political affairs.”

“Yeah after five minutes I got incredibly bored and switched over to the music channels”

“You just don’t understand American politics Lollipop,”

“I do understand, I just don’t care and would rather watch Justin Bieber or hear more about other news stories.” I smirk at my sister and ask “why what would you rather they report about on the news and in the papers?”
“They should report on the EMAs live from the red carpet. I mean it is global news sis.”

Surprisingly to my sister The Sunday Times did not mention the EMAs and instead chose to cover how the clips of Al- Queada preachers were encouraging viewers to commit act of terrorism and violence. They are now scattered all over You Tube amongst all the other music videos and entertainment that will most likely be heralded on tonight’s EMAs. Global news is often deemed to be more important by TV news broadcasts and national papers but at least Lollipop  is aware of other regional and national news events as well as the awards Justin Bieber is up for on tonight’s EMAs.

“Best Male, Best Push Act and Best New Act, Oh God I hope he wins!!”