ISA Newsletter Double Feature

February 1st, 2015

Editor’s Note: This edition of the ISA newsletter will be my last. March 1st onward, another volunteer will most likely take over for the duration of the Spring semester. I want to thank the whole team (Maris, Kamran, Marie, Jackie and Ewa), who took a leap of faith by entrusting me with a platform to express myself on ISA’s behalf. And, of course, my thanks to ISA for an amazing, instructive journey. I would have never known, when I joined in early 2014, that KFC is a popular Christmas destination in Japan, or that there are 443 named islands in Denmark (sorry, Quiz night fever talking). On a more serious note: formalities will not change. Newsletters still come out once a month, the 1st, keeping you up to date on anything relevant to you (supposedly, a CBS student with an interest in internationalization and culture). The platform and format will remain the same. As such, I suggest you keep on reading. And if you personally wish to contribute to ISA by means of the newsletter, organizing and planning fun activities for intl. and Danish students (namely IEW’s, quiz nights, intl. dinners), or simply meet an awesome network of people, I highly recommend you express your interest. Feel free to become a volunteer by contacting us at isa@cbs.dk. And most important of all, enjoy this edition of the ISA newsletter ! Karl-Henrik Smith, CBS

Our first article looks at the

role of satire, and takes the

position that it undermines

constructive argumentation

and discourse.

Index 2-3

5-6

4

The following article examines

the nature of ‘nerdiness’ and

how the term has been

redefined as something other

than only intelligence.

7-10 Back-to-back CBSLife articles:

from a thorough investigation

of CBS character count to a

study of wealth distribution.

14 The official ISA calendar for all

upcoming events in February.

Our exchange correspondent

delves into life at McGill in

Montreal, Canada.

ISA member Rafał provides

some travelling suggestions

for Eastern Europe as well as

affordable flight options.

11-12

2 ISA Newsletter

Only fitting that the topic of freedom of speech should apply to a newspaper’s first article, we present you another opinion - the role of satire in public discourse and whether or not its

contributions to society outweigh the harms it might potentially cause.

1

Satire and Public Reason

In the advent of the tragic events

in France, willingness to discuss and

debate the limits of speech, or the

absence thereof, has been

renewed. Needless to say, the

Charlie Hebdo case is replete with

controversies and difficult

questions. I find the current debate

raising a false dichotomy between

either a) repudiating or

denouncing the atrocities

committed by the terrorists, in

effect supporting the proliferation

and unbridled propagation of

freedom of speech, or b)

pronounce how unpalatable we

find the satirical comics, and why

this translates into limitations on

speech. Admittedly, many people

have seen past this gross

misleading bifurcation, which has

led them to the conclusion that the

current issue in question is far more

variegated; we agree that

producing satiric portrayals of

religious figures with the sole intent

of provoking or offending a group

of people is undoubtedly wrong,

and yet we should not impose any

legal limitations on the freedom of

speech on the grounds of moral

principles. Why are these

distinctions important and on what

grounds can we reconcile them?

2

Current discussions concerning the

scope of freedom of speech should

not be about the absolute freedom

to express whatever you want,

because no such right exists, but

instead to address the proper

objects of censoring. Drawing from

the Public Order Act (POA) of the

United Kingdom, expressing hatred

towards religious, ethnic or social

minorities, making use of threatening

or abusive speech, or inciting

people to violence are all criminal

offenses punishable by fine or

imprisonment. A common

denominator among all these

offenses is how they all pertain to

harmful speech acts that can

emotionally or physically injure the

victims in question – therefore, in

order to establish and maintain

social order, certain speech acts are

to be avoided to protect its citizen,

especially for those who are

vulnerable. Yet, freedom of speech

is of paramount importance, and

indispensable for democracy,

because it enables individuals to

deliberate, express and share their

convictions openly without fear of

being persecuted or injured by

dissenting minds – it is the

precondition for personal and

societal development, without

which our lives would be dictated

Words of Wisdom (W.o.W) are an

ongoing monthly sharing of some of

Copenhagen’s best quotes pertaining

to perspectives on internationalization

in Denmark.

Question: What movie character do

you most identify with?

“Carl from Up. I make huge and bold

plans for my future, and months will

have passed before I realize I didn’t

even get started.” – Fatima Al-Essa,

25, Qatar

“Lennie from Of Mice and Men. I’ve

got an idiotic, but lovable friend that’s

holding me back. Can’t fix stupid.” –

George Nygaard, 27, Finland

“Terminator from Terminator. He’s the

most misunderstood character of any

modern film.” – José Rodriguez, 21, El

Salvador

W.o.W

In this article, our regular correspondent Alexander Chen examines the impact of satire on discourse in the public sphere, and (in light of recent events) whether or not it provides positive externalities for public reason.

3 ISA Newsletter

by statically held beliefs. When people present views that deviate from the norm, we are inspired

to question and challenge our established beliefs about the world. Religions, especially in recent

times, have become a growing object of critical scrutiny, often concerning the moral precepts

that underpin their teachings and ideologies. The criticism forces religious people to reflect upon

their long-established beliefs and to ascertain whether they are indeed tenable – if not, people

might, out of intellectual honesty, adjust their beliefs and values with respect to a certain areas.

In sum, freedom of speech and dissent inspires change and

progress, hence the importance of safeguarding it within the

context of a liberal democracy. The satire that is associated with

Charlie Hebdo, however, inspires the wrong type of laughter that undermines critical thinking

and public reason, insofar as its criticism relies on ridiculing rather than enlightening the area

of controversy. It undermines public reason because it draws the public away from the

actual problems about religious dogma and discourages the general public in having a

rational discourse. Of course, this is not to say that all forms of satirical comics, hence I have

referred to Charlie Hebdo, endangers public reason, because in some moderate forms, and

if done well, satire can indeed be very effective to highlight the injustices that afflict our

shared existence. In my opinion, forbearing yourself from publishing tasteless comics, which

serve no other purposes than provoking, is not symptomatic of intellectual cowardice – it is rather an act of prudence.

Once again, to reiterate, this is not to say that religions should not be critically scrutinized – quite the contrary, as everything

is the proper object of criticism. In other words, I am not Charlie; on the other hand, I am a defender of freedom of speech.

© Alexander Chen

CBS Career Fair

The annual CBS Career Fair will take place on February 4th, 2015. From 10:00 to 16:00, it will feature a broad range of companies from around Denmark and the world, to help and inspire students with regards to their future careers. This year, the Career Fair is starting with a brand new activity: seminars. Following a 10:30 presentation entitled “Career Fair warm-up” (anticipate meeting companies and optimizing your experience), will be held in SPs16 company presentations, one of the largest successes from past fairs. CBS’ e-campus states the objectives as follows: “Make the most of the fair by researching the companies and organizations of your interest. Your own preparations will [create] an ideal opportunity to build relationships in the corporate world. You can ask the company representatives about company culture, graduate programs, project partnerships, internships, student jobs, etc. Get the information straight from the source!” And don’t forget, there is an entry ticket: registration and nametag. Remember these at all times. As noted on the promotional page, the career fair will feature the following: * CV check, with help from career counselors. * CV photo by a professional photographers * Company presentations, including folders with company information. * Career seminars. So go ahead: learn, find your match, and discover inspiration for your future! © Karl-Henrik Smith

4 ISA Newsletter

Living McGill

Although – 20-degree weather (C˚) does not seam attractive, McGill yet still

manages to attract a significant number of International Students from all

around the world. I myself am a French-American second year student and can

attest to the fact that McGill is the point in which the lines of North America and

Europe intersect.

Montreal is an extremely fun city. With endless numbers of festivals (Igloofest,

Picnik Electronik, Ile Sonik, Francopholie etc.. ) clubs, concerts and bars, it is a

city which is geared towards a strong student culture.

Another massive advantage of McGill University is its location. It is unique in

comparison to most college campuses in the world because it is located in

downtown Montreal, next to everything, so there are virtually endless options for

eating, shopping and entertainment.

My first year was a legendary experience. McGill’s Residences are top quality,

and I had the experience in being in the nicest room (a large double) in the nicest residence, La Citadelle, which was

previously a 3 star hotel converted to McGill student housing. There, I met countless friends, from various places ranging

from Brazil to Pakistan, to even Trinidad and Tobago. Fun and work had become a routine in our lives.

My second year is going very smoothly. Rent in Montreal is very cheap; hence, it is possible to find very nice apartments

near the main Campus. There are many adventures that I have had and there will be plenty more to come.

Naturally no place is perfect and McGill has a couple downsides. The freezing cold is a major factor, as during the winter, it

can take a toll on one’s morale. People are always a little less joyful and motivation can become a scarce resource. Since

during the winter, temperatures average nearly – 20 C˚, it is nearly impossible to go outside. The second downside, and this

might be only from my personal experience, but academics are very hard. As many classes base grades of a curve, it might

be harder to obtain a strong

GPA, as opposed to grading

systems in most American or

European universities, which

do so on a scale.

Overall, McGill and Montreal

are both fascinating and I

strongly encourage any

student to experience it - but

not during the winter! !

© Benjamin Bellman

In the following article, our exchange correspondent Benjamin Bellman delves into what makes McGill an optimal decision for exchange. He talks about possibilities and speaks from his own, personal experiences.

Watch out for potential bias.

5 ISA Newsletter

Talk Nerdy To Me

According to Channing Tatum, “everyone’s a nerd inside”. Does this hold true?

As CBS students, we all have that ‘geek factor’ inside us, something that

pushes us to our limits and encourages us to jump off the cliff in our search to

improve. Of course, we enjoy the power of knowledge, but we also constantly

strive at succeeding and providing the most knowledgeable image of

ourselves, whatever the interaction. Don’t you don’t feel a pinch of vanity

whenever you’re talking to someone and mention you study at Copenhagen

Business School? Doesn’t that make you feel smart, educated, and intelligent?

And, at any specific point in time, doesn’t it make you feel nerdy? This brings

me to the essential point of this monologue: What is the meaning of being

nerdy nowadays?

Four-letter word, six-letter income

The Oxford Dictionary assesses nerds as “foolish or contemptible people who

lack social skills or are boring and studious”. I disagree. To me, this definition is

far from an honest description of what bright people we (the nerdy CBS’ers)

are. On the other side, the Urban dictionary defines the nerd as “one who

doesn’t conform to society’s beliefs (..) highly intelligent”. This one definitely

works better. Aren’t we all

rebels, trying to make the

world a better place?

Historically speaking, the

first documented appearance of the word “nerd” is as the name of a

creature in Dr. Seuss’s 1950’s book, If I ran the Zoo, in which the narrator

states his desire to collect a “nerkle, a nerd and a seersucker” for his

imaginary zoo. By the early 1960’s, the term was used not only in

America, but also gained ground in Scotland and South Africa. Despite

the fact that early on, the term nerd was a stereotype that reflected the social and physical awkwardness unfairly

associated to smarter people, the etymology of the word now has changed due to the rise of the Silicon Valley and the

American computer industry (thank you, Zuckerberg). Nowadays, being a nerd is associated with high intelligence, respect,

diverse interests, and (why not) high salaries.

Continued on next page.

On the 11th and 12th of February (and

coming to theaters near you), the 14th

and current Dalai Lama will speak at

Bella Center. A Tibetan Buddhist, His

Holiness will provide insight regarding

how to develop inner strength, utilize

our mental potential to its fullest, and

train the mind.

Tickets can be bought from this link:

https://www.billetlugen.dk/da/event/

dalai-lama

“The Dalai Lama often points out that

mental strength and inner peace

grows out of our ability to have

compassion and feel unity with others.

We all experience problems as well as

disturbing emotions in our daily lives.

Such feelings are often perceived as

negative, but also as potential,” -

Association for Dalai Lama visit, CPH

2015

“Historically speaking, the first documented appearance of the word “nerd” is as the name of a

creature in Dr. Seuss’s 1950s book, If I ran the Zoo, in which the narrator

states his desire to collect a “nerkle, a nerd and a seersucker” for his

imaginary zoo.”

The Dalai Lama comes to Copenhagen

There is a high probability you’ve heard the term “nerd” before. In the midst of many interpretations, here’s another.

According to Alina, this term represents (aside from intelligence) those individuals who don’t conform to society’s categorical imperatives. Let’s find out why.

6 ISA Newsletter

Bringing fab to the lab

Let’s discuss business now: how do you recognize a nerd at CBS? Unlike the past, where

nerds were associated with bad hair, acne, clothes that don’t fit and a low sense of fashion,

the postmodern nerd is a highly appreciated fashion trend. So let’s experiment. Take a 5-

minute break, should you be at Solbjerg Plads, Kilen, or Dalgas Have (since no one attends

PCH), and reflect upon the attitude of those around you. You should see students suited-up;

wearing perfectly ironed shirts, beautiful ties and freshly polished shoes. Maybe trendy jeans

and colored jackets. Or, perhaps, all black (the Scandinavian trend establishment). Their hair looks perfectly natural

(despite the fact that, and I assure you, they spent some time making it look like that), while girls’ make up is almost invisible

(don’t we all know the beauty tricks that make us look natural). Still, the style and attention to detail that defines their nerdy

attitude is represented by glasses (a symbol of intelligence), diverse knowledge and ultimately, high aptitudes of

succeeding no matter the situation. What are your results?

© Alina Bocaleana

On Sunday February 1st, the annual, sensationalist Super Bowl premiered. For

those unaware of the implications of such an event, don’t fret. This box will

teach you about the second most watched sporting event worldwide.

The Super Bowl XLIX (forty-nine, for the illiterate or roman numeral impaired) is the yearly final game of American Football,

watched by over 100 million people around the US. This sport, loathed by many Europeans for its sheer name (“Football? Ah,

you mean Handegg.”), has nevertheless proved an interesting case theory due to its economic and political impact. Many

politicians take sides or state their predictions; Rufus Gifford, American ambassador to Denmark, featured on the Facebook

page of the U.S. Embassy in Denmark rooting for the Patriots.

This year, the two teams competing for the win are the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. This follows a semi-

controversial period during which the Patriots were accused of having deflated their footballs when playing against the

Colts - ever since, this has become known as ‘Deflategate’. Most predictions saw the Patriots winning, and as the night ran

its course they proved correct: the final score was 28-24.

However, the super bowl is never (only) about the game. Two things stand out. In increasing order of importance:

- The Halftime show: Michael Jackson. Diana Ross. Stevie Wonder. U2. The list of performers at the halftime show is too large

to count, but high enough to make any newcomer understand how important it is. While the players are somewhere in the

background, skulking over their losses or celebrating their wins, motivated or not, the audience needs something to enjoy.

Musicians, performers, directors all come together to create an unforgettable (sometimes over-the-top) experience. All the

while, the people at Pepsi - the sponsors - are very happy.

- The advertisements. Even if you don’t know the rules of American

football, you’re likely still very much aware of the importance of

the famous Super Bowl ads. Often spurring creativity and humor, at

times drama and angst, or sometimes just plain stupidity, the Super

Bowl commercials take up more time than the actual game and

spots can cost millions of dollars. In 2014, Radio Shack had a great

one… just don’t GoDaddy.

© Karl-Henrik Smith

Super Bowl XLIX

7 ISA Newsletter

Why 2275?

You are probably familiar with the requirements for academic papers at

CBS. They outline very specifically what you can and can’t do in your essay.

One of the more exact requirements is that essay pages MUST have an

average of 2275 characters. Both University of Copenhagen and RUC have

a requirement of 2400 characters per page, so how did CBS come to this

weird number? I decided to find out.

The most obvious explanation would be that it coincides with the page sizes

for a specific font. They would match the requirements they expected to

use. I copied a text that I thought the study board would approve of (an

article written by Michael Porter) into Microsoft Word. Then I cycled through

a list of fonts using size 12 and 1.5 line spacing. I discovered a few interesting

things. Mainly, that there are way too many fonts.

Chaparral about that bass

Oddly, the font that actually gave 2275 characters per page was

Chaparral Pro. Don’t feel bad if you have never heard of it, neither has the

rest of the world. It’s a font named after a biome in California, which Adobe

describes it as “accessible and friendly.”

Other than the dead on winner, I mostly

included the more common fonts. The

typographical equivalent of wearing a suit

and tie, Times New Roman, placed

admirably in third. You would expect it to be

the font of choice, but it’s a little too small.

Likewise, if you ever need to cram a lot of

characters into a page you should really

get to know Garamond. It is one of the most

compact typefaces out there. On the other

hand, if you need another reason to hate

Comic Sans (the font equivalent of 30kr

wine) it’s the most space consuming of the

fonts on the list.

But why?

Evidently, a lot of planning and careful

reasoning has gone into the process of

choosing the character limit of 2275. So why

Chaparral Pro? If this is the only font that

corresponds to CBS’ very specific character

limit, perhaps there is something special

about Chaparral, a reason why they chose

it. Is it because the letters can be

rearranged to spell “ALPHA COP, RARR!”

which sounds like something an angry

policeman might yell at a protester? Is it

because the font combines the legibility of

slab serif designs popularized in the 19th

century with the grace of 16th-century

roman book lettering? The world may never

know.

The following are two back-to-back CBS Life articles. The first, by Pierce Ricketts, Why 2275?, investigates the reasons behind CBS’

stringent rules on using 2275 characters per page on hand-in assignments. The second, an extract from Alexander Chen’s The

Piketty Problem, examines the topic of distribution of wealth through two normative arguments. For more, visit cbslife.dk.

“One of the more exact requirements is that essay

pages MUST have an average of 2275 characters [or below]. Both University of Copenhagen and RUC have a requirement of

2400 characters per page, so how did CBS come to this weird number? I decided to find out.”

8 ISA Newsletter

· 2275 Cuitlahuac - a main-belt asteroid discovered, June

16th, 1979.

· 2275 bureaucrats – the number of staff it took to decide

on a character limit for CBS essays.

· 22.75 years – average life expectancy of a factory

worker in Britain during the Industrial Revolution.

· 2275 pants – the number of pants it would require to

clothe 4550 legs.

· 2275 roads – the number of roads a man must walk

down, before you can call him a man.

The only thing we can know for sure, is that the study

board has a profound love for Chapparal Pro, and that it

wants the entirety of CBS to use it in their essays. Either that,

or the character limit is an unnecessary bureaucratic

obstacle that adds no value to the educational process.

Although, would they really set an arbitrary extremely

specific limit on essays without doing the research that I

could accomplish in half an hour? Let’s not be ridiculous.

© Pierce Ricketts

With that being said, here is a list of our best suggestions as

to why 2275 could have been chosen:

· 2275 kilometers – the distance between Copenhagen,

Denmark and Volgagrad, Russia.

· 2275 metric tons – the weight of the James Baines, a

wooden sailing ship from the 19th century.

· Nokia 2275 – the model number of a mobile phone from

the 1990′s.

· 2, 2, 7, 5 in Latin – kind of sounds like, “Tu, tu, semper fi,”

which translates to, “You, you, always faithful.”

· 2275 feet – altitude of Signal the Botrange, Belgium, the

highest point in all of Belgium.

· Title 42 US Code §2275 – US legislature stating that:

“Whoever, with intent to injure the United States or with

intent to secure an advantage to any foreign nation,

acquires, or attempts or conspires to acquire any

document, writing, sketch, photograph, plan, model,

instrument, appliance, note, or information involving or

incorporating Restricted Data, shall upon conviction

thereof, be punished by imprisonment for life, or by

imprisonment for any term of years or a fine of not more

than $100,000 or both.” I think we all know what that

means.

· 2275 angry hamsters – the number of trained rodents it

would take to kill an adult bear (citation needed; image

provided below).

· “MMCCLXXV” – the Roman numeral for 2275, which,

when pronounced out loud, sounds a bit like Xhosa, which

is a sweet language.

"With a conversational, yet straightforward tone, we guarantee that after reading our blend of insightful commentary and reporting, you’ll be pretty damn prepared to make the most of your time at CBS. We are always open to feedback from our loyal readers!” – CBS Life mission statement

CBS Life defines itself as “CBS’ student blog, written for students, by students.” Their aim is to report news both on and off campus, and they explore a wide variety of topics. From student politics to the best bakery in Copenhagen, there is something to accommodate all tastes. Not to mention that you can find one of our articles on their blog at least once a month!

9 ISA Newsletter

we should be transformed into the productive assets of the

state. Not only is this in clear violation with liberalism (which

is why Rawls did not draw this radical conclusion, but

instead talks about entitlements) but also demeaning of

human life itself; it deprives us from autonomy,

responsibility and dignity. On the other hand, it does afford

us with justification, according to which we have a shared

responsibility in society for one another, insofar as our

social condition is the product of our place in society – we

live in cooperation with each other with a view to gain

mutual benefits.

When I say shared responsibility, I am not suggesting that

there has to be perfect equality among all people; no, it

merely provides us with the normative grounds on which

we can legitimately promote greater equality in society,

which furthermore encourages us to address the

misfortune of the least-advantaged. Insofar as the top 1%

of the wealthiest in the US possesses more than 80% of all

financial assets, we have reason to question our

distributive system in society; and, as Piketty suggests, it

might be inevitable unless we tax people more –

especially on inheritance.

Michael Walzer: complex equality and dominant goods

Secondly, the communitarian philosopher Michael Walzer

introduces in his book Spheres of Justice (1983) the idea of

complex equality and the existence of so-called dominant

goods. He posits that all goods are deemed to be social

goods which derive their value from a shared

understanding of its social meaning and importance

(notice the resemblance with social constructivism). By

goods, we do not only refer to tangible goods in the

narrow sense we attribute labels to goods and services,

but also avail ourselves of a more inclusive and all-

encompassing conception of ‘goods’, such as rights,

duties, and relationships – anything which mediates our

interaction with each other that are capable of

exchanged or attribution. The uniqueness of his view is that

different goods occupy different spheres of distribution –

all of which are intricately enmeshed. Civil rights are

distributed on the basis of citizenship, which constitutes

one sphere of distribution. Milk and cookies, in contrast,

cannot be appropriated by virtue of your citizenship, but

The Piketty Problem

In the US, since the 1970s, the poorest people have become

even poorer, while the richest have become richer as a

result of the infinitely generous

‘free market’. In a recent

report by Stanford Center on

Poverty and Inequality, the

official poverty ratio has

rounded 15%, which nearly

begs the question if the United

States can remain a land of the free (and home of the

brave). One thing, however, is immediately clear: people

are now free to live in squalid displacement are abounding.

How is all of this a problem and why do we care? I

introduce two normative arguments that I find relevant for

the discussion on equality (or the absence thereof).

John Rawls: Social contingencies and natural fortune

People complain about inequality because some people

benefit, usually portrayed as undeservingly,

disproportionately from the distributive arrangements under

the status quo. John Rawls explores, among other things, in

his book A Theory of Justice (1973), the idea that inequalities

arise from the cumulative effect of prior distribution of

natural assets and social circumstances. These cases are

said to involve brute facts, such as people that are born

with better mental and/or physical faculties than others;

and, how some people are born into more affluent families

than others and, as a consequence of which, have greater

opportunities to realize their goals and ambitions.

In light of this, the influences of social contingencies and

natural fortune should therefore be mitigated. If we take this

argument to its natural conclusion, we could argue that no

one rich and/or privileged actually deservesto enjoy the

goods and riches that follow from his or her success – it so

follows that we should redistribute goods equally, thereby

allowing those who have failed in the lottery of birth to gain

from other people’s good fortune. I suppose to a certain

extent that the underlying premises are correct – but the

putative conclusion need not be accepted. It is true that

we do not really deserve to be born with great mental and

physical fortitude, but this does not mean, by default, that

requires you to pay money – this similarly constitutes another sphere of

distribution that is different from civil rights. Sometimes, nevertheless, these

spheres overlap and interfere with each other, like Venn diagrams, which

results in manifest changes in the functioning thereof.

A good is said to be dominant if it

has access to all other spheres of

distribution; and possibly, such

good, or set of goods, might be

monopolized. The result of the

monopolization of dominant goods

is that it allows people to form a

ruling class, the members of which

stand atop the distributive systems. He says that although no social goods ever

entirely dominate the remaining spectrum of goods, it is still important to

describe this tendency. He suggests that some spheres of distribution ought

not to be accessed by other goods, because they interfere with their

appropriate distributive schemes or subvert the social meanings attached to

the goods per se.

So, what would we consider a dominant good in the 21st century? I judge

money. Another philosopher, Michael Sandel, notes how our contemporary

society has been transformed into a market-based society, in which almost

everything has been commoditized and become accessible with

money. Michael Walzer examines which goods that should not be accessed

or interfered by other spheres of distribution, of which he identifies the

following: political power, civil/human/private rights, access to information,

honor and recognition, job positions and public office, and perhaps even

love? To express these sentiments in the words of Michael Walzer:

“[The problem is] not that some individuals live in fancier apartments than

others, or drive better made cars, or take vacations in more exotic places.

These are conceivably the just rewards of market success. The problem is

that inequality commonly translates into domination and radical deprivation.”

Income inequality is dangerous and undesirable when money is able to gain

access to the political sphere, control the information you receive from the

media, determine your prospects of getting a job, and decide your possibilities

of getting married. In sum, when someone else with money can dictate what

kind of life you are allowed and able to live.

© Alexander Chen

“Income inequality is dangerous and undesirable when money is able to gain

access to the political sphere, control the

information you receive from the media, determine your prospects of getting a job,

and decide your possibilities of getting married.”

ISA Recruiting In mid-February, ISA will be recruiting new members and volunteers. Over the coming days, we will be looking to release general application forms, and having interviews later in the month. This leads to an ISA retreat on February 27th, an all-day event introducing new Ambassadors to what we do at ISA, e.g. activity coordination.

I strongly encourage you to apply! Forms have not yet been released, but you can contact isa@cbs.dk if you have any general questions on what steps to take to help out or become student ambassador for the coming semester.

11 ISA Newsletter

In the following article, ISA member Rafał provides his two cents for vacationing, taking into account two very important variables: location and price. He gives his own suggestions for tourists wanting to see Eastern Europe,

as well as how to fly there on a budget.

Get away for a while

There comes a time when you check your CBS Calendar, and to

your odd bewilderment you come across a blank space that

screams ‘you are free’. Instead of procrastinating or re-watching

Friends for the hundredth time, why not get away for a couple of

days to one of Eastern European beautiful destinations?

You will ask: who has the money to pay for flight tickets that go in

thousands of DKK? That’s partially true. There is not much choice

when it comes to flying low-cost from Copenhagen Airport.

However, if you look at the map and move your finger across the

Øresund Bridge, you will end up discovering a little Swedish gem

of cheap flying options- Malmo’s airport Sturup. Getting there from Copenhagen takes less than one hour and the ticket

costs 100 DKK - far less than you will be able to save. Sturup offers plenty of flying options, but to make it easier for you I

choose two places you absolutely must see: Budapest and Bucharest.

Budapest is the capital of Hungary and the primate city of the country. It is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the

world by UCityGuides, ranked ‘7th most idyllic place to live in Europe’ by Forbes and is cited in many other ranks and

indexes. Budapest has an extensive bank of World Heritage Sites and is home to plenty of art and music events. It is literally

packed with museums and galleries. Walking the streets of the city, whether it is the Castle District or the Pest side of

Danube, feels like re-living the history of this great metropolis. Besides the incredible cultural heritage of this place, it might

interest you that Budapest has a legendary underground partying scene. Just so you know.

Bucharest is the Romanian capital municipality and “Little Paris” of the Eastern Europe. Although whole districts of the city

were heavily damaged or destroyed during World War II and Nicolae Ceausescu’s program of systematization, the city is still

undeniably elegant and beautiful. In common with Budapest, Bucharest offers the same vast amount of sightseeing sites,

cultural events and again - crème de la crème of Europe’s nightlife. The city’s most prominent landmark the Palace of the

Parliament is the largest Parliament building in the world. However, Bucharest is the kind of city that will not reveal its beauty

and attractions at first sight. You need to dig for them. But once you reach the heart and discover leafy squares (maybe not

this time of year…), crumbled bars and eclectic architecture you will understand what is all the fuss about.

Both destinations are offered by WizzAir and the cost of a ticket usually does not exceed 800 DKK including transport from

Copenhagen to Malmo. Yes, a two-way ticket. To travel cheap and enjoy your stay follow these simple rules:

• Buy your tickets relatively early

Obviously you do not want to wait until a week before the deadline to decide that you go. Having plenty of

experience with WizzAir’s revenue management system I would recommend to buy tickets at least two weeks prior to

the flight. This can save you a considerable amount of money that you can spend later at the site. And believe me

when I say that you can eat a Michelin guide quality three-course dinner in Budapest or Bucharest for 200 DKK.

12 ISA Newsletter

•Do not stay at the hotel- book with Airbnb instead

Airbnb is a platform for people to rent out lodging, Not only it is cheaper than staying at the hotel, but also gives you a

chance to blend in with locals and breath in the spirit of the city. The price for a whole apartment that accommodates from

2-6 people ranges from 300 up to 600 DKK per day for a quality stay. The main advantages are that you can save on eating

out if you cook at the apartment and renting in the city centre costs far less than an average hotel offers.

•Plan your stay with Trip Advisor

I cannot stress out how many times I was in debt to Trip Advisor for saving me from

eating at tourist traps. They are absolutely everywhere. They serve food that is a

complete opposite to the traditional cuisine and in most cases it is more

expensive than the best restaurants. Besides that, Trip Advisor will tell you what

and when to see. You do not want to spend your time wandering around a

museum showing contemporary arts you do not even enjoy.

It still amazes me how often we forget about Eastern Europe while planning

vacation. Especially that for us students minding the budget, it is ridiculously

cheap to have a quality stay in that region. The beauty of these places is

breathtaking and locals always greet you with a smile. Visit Budapest or

Bucharest- you will be surprised how much you have been missing out on seeing

Paris for the third time in a row.

© Rafał Piszczecki

“I cannot stress out how many times I was in debt to Trip Advisor for saving me

from eating at tourist traps. They are absolutely

everywhere. They serve food that is complete opposite to the traditional cuisine and in

most cases it is more expensive than the best

restaurants. Besides that, Trip Advisor will tell you what and

when to see.”

13 ISA Newsletter

Copenhagen Open

CBS Debating Society is once again organizing the Copenhagen Open, this

year on the 27th-29th March! It has successfully organized last year’s Open, and

the event is coming back this year with a bigger scale and better experience.

What is the Copenhagen Open?

The Copenhagen Open is an international debate tournament organized by CBS Debating Society. About 120

international university-level debaters from all over the world travel to Copenhagen to participate in this tournament. The

2014 Open was the first ever university-level international debate tournament in the history of the Kingdom of Denmark,

and it was a successful launch. So this year, it is going to develop it into an annual event by working hard to make it an

even better experience than last year.

What is Debating (and why would anyone willingly debate)?

According to the Oxford Dictionaries, the definition of the word “debate” is “an argument about a particular subject.”

Unlike discussion, debating does not seek a consensus. The rule of the game is to analyze and construct arguments that

are more convincing and well developed than the opposite side.

Debating has been used as an important educational and academic tool in many historical academic environments,

such as in universities in the US, the UK or Germany. On the other hand, university-level debating in Scandinavia is a

relatively new concept, as Scandinavian academic and political discourses focused more on achieving consensus rather

than winning an argument.

However, a few students in CBS with international backgrounds thought debating would be beneficial to university

students in Copenhagen as well, so they established CBS Debating Society in 2013. Debating is beneficial in developing

several important skills for business school students, such as, public speaking, logical and critical thinking, and constructing

solid analysis upon a matter.

CBS Debating Society holds weekly debate practices twice a week, although it is not necessary to attend all practices. It

adopts a British Parliamentary (BP) debating format in its trainings. Not only do they provide debate trainings, but also they

travel together to various international debate tournaments, such as Lund IV, European University Debate Championship

2014 held in Zagreb, Croatia, or World University Debate Championship 2014 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And this

March, they are holding an international debate tournament of its own, Copenhagen Open 2015.

How can someone become part of this awesome event (and why)?

Anyone could participate as a debater or a judge by registering to Copenhagen Open 2015 Facebook Page, or could

simply contact CBS Debating Society to become a volunteer to this event. As a volunteer, you will get to meet and

network with one of the most awesome and intellectual people from all over Europe, and from time to time, get some

free beer as well!

So if you’re interested in joining this debating community and train your critical thinking skills, travel to exciting destinations

and make great friends, feel free to contact CBS Debating Society!

© Jeen Chun

14 ISA Newsletter

About: ISA is made up of two teams, each with separate sub teams. Internationalizing Student Life (ISL): Tasks include arranging Quiz Nights at Café Nexus; arranging the International Lounge - where the Ambassadors answer hands on questions from international students, while at the same time promoting upcoming events and activities; arranging the International Career mobility - seminars ex. "How to get a job in Denmark as an international student" etc.; preparing lectures about culture awareness and company visits.

Danish Cultural Awareness/Immersion (DCAI): Tasks include Peer Advising - help potential and admitted students with questions via Skype, Mail and during Office hours; arrange the Welcome event for the new international students; administration of a couch surfing platform for students to help the newly admitted before they find a place to live; plan trips that provide insight into Danish culture.

Acknowledgments: The ISA newsletter is not a one-person effort. Gratitude and thanks go to the following people on behalf of ISA: Benjamin Bellman, Alina Bocaleana, Jeen Chun, and Rafał Piszczecki. Also, thanks to Alexander Chen and Pierce Ricketts, who wrote the respective CBS Life article.

Editor, Writer, Producer, et cetera: Karl-Henrik Smith.

Calendar 1/2: Super Bowl (Patriots vs. Seahawks)

2/2: Groundhog Day

3/2: CPH 6-day race ends at Ballerup

4/2: All-day CBS Career Fair

5/2: First ISA General Meeting

6/2: Fabric Exhibition (Bella Center)

7/2: Winter Break at Den Blå Planet (Kastrup)

9/2: CPH Dining Week begins (København K)

11/2: Dalai Lama visit

12/2: Lego World 2015 (Bella Center)

14/2: Valentine’s Day

15/2: CPH Dining Week ends (København K)

16/2: President’s Day

17/2: Mardi Gras

18/2: Ash Wednesday

19/2: Chinese New Year

21/2: Lionel Richie performs at Falkoner CH

22/2: CPH Food Fair (Bella Center)

26/2: FwB Apéro (French with Benefits)

27/2: House of Cards (Season 3)

28/2: Lord of the Dance at Falkoner CH

© Karl-Henrik Smith