Volume 19, Issue 4 (Feb '18)

February 2017

Vol 19 Issue no 4 .

THE NEW DRUG PROBLEM Have the pressures of Higher Education pushed students past their limits?

Cover artwork: Olly Bailey

AD

3

Editorial

From the Editors’ Desk....

Considerations for our future VC I recently attended a focus group discussing the criteria for selecting the next Vice Chancellor (or election, as some suggested) on February 6th , I was happy to see the faces of the activists that started the protests back in November. Overall, one of the most recurring point put forward was the idea that students were speaking but not really heard; although the outcome of the focus groups will surely be taken into account, I sadly doubt all the grievances expressed will be heard in the conditions for the choice of the new VC. Still, it is nice to see that in the era of free-market and extremely expensive education, some students still care about their student experience. Or perhaps, as someone rightly pointed out, their student interest. Indeed, one suggested point was that senior management has filled the gap university is supposed to fill only through a range of ‘experiences’ that amount to a lot of fun, but little progress towards helping individuals grow into well-rounded citizens.

What I hope this opportunity for change brings about is the possibility to set a standard of VC choice and agenda for the future that will be looked up to as the acceptable benchmark nationally. Concerns expressed about the marketisation of education in general, particularly at Bath, were rightly raised. We see marketisation in multiple forms: the active courting of intrenational students for the extortionate fees they pay, national rankings, and the rise in rents. If the VC crystallises a problem, the eviction of Dame Glynis has also unearthed a heap of latent issues. Overall, the desire for a more honest, transparent, personable and approachable individual to take over the position dominated talks.

The final bone of contention, the infamous pay, sparked a heated debate, with suggestions starting from as little as £75,000, and obviously… no petty expenses covered. There is scope to ingrain a change of culture in changing life at university that is tremendously exciting. The near future will tell be telling, were we able to suceed in creating change from the bottom up?

Victoria Duley, News and Comment Editor

February 2018

Meet the Team

4

Alisha Lobo, Editor-in-Chief

Alisha is a third culture kid who is always in need of coffee, wine, and Sainsbury’s cookies all roughly in equal quantities. She will always be found working in the SU and joyfully attending Happy Hour. Often described by her friends as someone with ‘no political chill’, she can also be campaigning on student policies or arguing about feminism, foreign policy and the Middle East.

Tasha Jokic, Deputy Editor- in- Chief & Online Editor

Tasha is a wannabe hipster who secretly wishes that emo was still a thing. When she’s not banging out articles before a deadline, she can be found banging drums. Her dedication to Moles is so strong she was once mistaken for a club Rep. In her spare time, she has been rumoured to be pursuing a degree. impact-deputy@bath.ac.uk

Siân Maria Morgan, Deputy Editor in Chief & Print Editor

Siân is a half Argentine, half Welsh girl who was born and raised in Cyprus. She is happiest when she has falafel and hummus in each hand. Studying a Masters in International Relations, don’t get her talking about Argentine politics - she’ll never shut up. She loves challenging people’s opinion on vegans through the power of hypnosis/good vegan food. impact-deputy@bath.ac.uk

Naomi Chhatwal, Lifestyle Editor

Naomi is an ‘American’ sounding European studying Sociology. Whilst she believes that she has adapted a British alter ego due to her constant use of words such as “banter” or “peak”, she remains loyal to her international roots. You will probably find her laughing at her own captions, reiterating great quotations or ordering a Starbucks grande soya latte (with an extra shot, of course). impact-lifestyle@bath.ac.uk

Olly Bailey, Design Editor

Olly is a Biochem student who can frequently been seen in Indie rock bands playing sweet, sweet guitar. He is happy to give training on InDesign and answer any and all questions about how the magazine is put together. impact-design@bath.ac.uk

Emilia Pilss, Features Editor

Emilia is a European studying Politics with Economics. A true European soul, she will forever strive to educate her British colleagues about her beloved culture, be it Viennese coffee, Baroque architecture or Beethoven. Despite this loyalty, she has come to truly appreciate English culture having taken particularly well to day drinking, grime music and G&T’s. impact-features@bath.ac.uk

Tito Mogaji-Williams, Publicity and Distribution

Tito is an aspiring dictator but is usually just unforgiving to those who defy him. Constantly wearing earphones, he has been spotted on more than one occasion screaming the lyrics to Get Away by The Internet. He actually dabbles in spoken word and poetry, some of which his Politics lecturers would probably disapprove. impact-publicity@bath.ac.uk

Victoria Duley, News and Comments Editor

Victoria is a French kid who talks a lot (including politics) and to anyone she ever encounters.

She still rides the trolleys in the supermarket and tries to fit in the indie music scene. Her endless curiosity has taken her to quite a few places and she keeps a solid commitment to discoveries. She enjoys economics and politics on the side.

Michael Boniface, Sport Editor

impact-news@bath.ac.uk

Michael is a sports-mad, bargain-hungry guy who simply loves cloudy apple juice. Not one to watch a film three times or keep going back to the same cafe, he likes to explore the slightly odder sights of Bath. Big fan of groovy tunes. impact-sports@bath.ac.uk February 2018 October 2017

5

What’s In this Issue?

Cover Story - Bath Time Investigates:

Study Drugs on Campus Seb Ward Pages: 10 - 11

In the Lifestyle section, Connie Hogg tells us why Verona should be the next desitnation you travel to.

Pexels

What else?

Memes of the month - pg7 International Feature - Arabic - pg 19 Concussion in sport: Is enough being done to protect players? -p33

Debate: Does technology make us lonely? pg 21-22

Photo Essay By John Martin- Havana - A City Locked in Time? pg 10-11

October 2017 February 2018

News & Comment

6

What’s On? Live Music at the Bell Inn A lively pub and music venue that’s a favourite with locals.

Live music nights are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays and range from jazz and blues, as well as open mic nights and live DJs at the weekends.

Bath Bachfest 2018

MachoCarioca

Quote of the Month

22 Feb 2018 - 24 Feb 2018 The annual Bath Bachfest, now in its seventh year, is a delightful fixture in the Georgian city’s annual calendar, celebrating the music of J S Bach and his contemporaries.

Bath Half Marathon 2018 On the 4th of March 2018, the Bath Half marathon will be taking place once again.

The largest sporting and community event in the City with 15,000 runners and 30,000 spectators. Make sure you go down and support everyone taking part! And if you are running this year good luck!

February 2018

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.

As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.

- Steve Jobs

7

News & Comment

Memes of the Month

Memeversity of Bath

Memeversity of Bath February 2018

AD

Monday MADNESS

COLLECTION DEAL

ANY SIZE PIZZA

ANY SIZE PIZZA

only

only

£8.99 £9.99 AVAILABLE MONDAY ONLY

ADD A SIDE ORDER FOR DELIVERY

From the menu or create your own up to 4 toppings.

Premium crusts and bases charged as extra.

Minimum delivery spend £9.99.

Offer expires 27/08/2017.

From the menu or create your own up to 4 toppings.

Premium crusts and bases charged as extra.

Offer expires 27/08/2017.

9

DISCOUNT DEAL

DOUBLE DEAL

50% OFF

ANY 2 PIZZAS

at regular price d £30 or more en sp u yo n he w minos.co.uk

.do online at www

ENTER CODE AT THE CHECKOUT

£20

only

NJMEFZJK

ANY ADDITIONAL PIZZAS £10 EACH

Excludes drinks, dips, ice cream, 14 & 21 piece chicken portions and chicken combos. Minimum spend must be reached without excluded items in basket. Offer expires 27/08/2017.

From the menu or create your own up to 4 toppings.

Premium crusts and bases charged as extra.

Offer expires 27/08/2017.

TO RECEIVE OUR VERY BEST DEALS PUSHED STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE 3 SIMPLE STEPS:1. Text BATH to 78866 2. Click the download link that appears in the returned Text message 3. When prompted, click “ADD” to install our Apple Wallet Deals Pass onto your phone (*) (*) Android phone users only: Please note that after clicking the download link in step 2 above, you will be redirected to a landing page that will prompt you to install the free Google Play App “Pass Wallet” and our Deals Pass will be automatically added to Pass Wallet when it is opened for the first time after installation.

ADD THE PASS & SHARE THE SAVINGS

9

News & Comment

Cape Town’s countdown to Day Zero Vinish Parmar

Wikimedia commons, Wegmann

Danie van der Merwe

Cape Town is sitting on a ticking time bomb. The city is counting down to Day Zero – the point in April when the water levels in reservoirs fall to 13.5%. It is currently double that, with residents limited to 50 litres of water per day, a third of what they are used to. A three-year drought brought South Africa’s political capital to this crippling position. Hotels have removed plug holes forcing guests to shower, toilets are sometimes flushed once a day and an interactive map exposes households in breach of their limits.

This sobering reality is the consequence of a ‘one-in- three hundred year’ freak of nature, according to the Future Water Institute of Cape Town. Such a sustained drought is the workings of global warming but its effects are being exacerbated by the slow action of the local council.

Unexpectedly high water retention in the dams before the drought meant desalination projects and borehole drilling were delayed, leaving this corner of south west Africa ill-equipped for the water shortage, weighing heavily on aging infrastructure.

Irene Petrou, a Masters student at the University of Bath, is experiencing the effects first hand. “Daily life has pretty much been turned upside down,” she said. “We have to be continuously conscious of our consumption. But that message doesn’t seem to apply to everyone,” she explains, alluding to the affluent neighbourhoods where swimming pools remain filled and gardens irrigated and verdant.

This has been a bone of contention between Capetonians, creating a wider divide between the rich and poor. The opulence of city’s upscale suburbs is maintained at the expense of three quarter of the city’s 4 million population living in informal settlements, who use less than 5% of the city’s water supply. But come Day Zero, these disparities will mean nothing as piped water is shut off and people queue to collect their 25 litre individual rations.

Water supply will be cut off to a million homes, nearly three quarters of the city. The armed military presence will pacify a restless population, but other fears persist. Collapsing levels Gareth Jennings of hygiene will breed disease and accelerate the possibility of cholera outbreaks. Strained government resources will be diverted where necessary, stretching the budget thin and with it the government’s options. For now, Cape Town relies on the responsibility of its residents, as they endure the excruciating wait for the autumnal rains, expected in May.

17th September 2017

February 2018

Photo Essay

10

A City Locked in Time Photo Essay By John Martin Havana is a city torn between the beauty of its roots and the ravages of time. It’s not hard to see where Hemingway found inspiration, beyond just in the rum. Yet, beneath the colourful exteriors and playful culture of Old Havana, lies infrastructure as aged as the architecture, a city desperate for direction.

11

Photo Essay

12

Investigation

The New Drug Problem

By Seb Ward ‘My morning consisted of setting an alarm for 9, taking the tablet and going to bed for 30 mins. Once it kicked in I’d get up and shower and have a coffee. In the shower I’d instantly feel it, like I was so wired’. That’s the daily routine of one Management student who took Modafinil, or the ‘Limitless Pill’, for a solid 2 weeks during exams. He’s just one of a growing number of students turning towards ‘study drugs’ to aid them with their studies.

The colloquial term, ‘study drugs’, is used to refer to drugs that have cognitive enhancing effects, the most popular being Modafinil and Ritalin. Despite being introduced in the early 1900s, these ‘study drugs’, also referred to as ‘nootropics’, have recently seen a spike in usage. Whilst students used to take a variety of narcotics to get high, it seems they are now taking drugs to get smart.

Originally created by the French chemist Michel Jouvet in the late 1970s, Modafinil has been available in France since 1994, under the name Modiodal, and in the US since 1998 as Provigil. It was later approved by the UK in 2002. It’s largely used to treat narcolepsy or for sufferers of shift work sleep disorder, and has been introduced to special parts of the US Air Force to help with missions.

My morning consisted of setting an alarm for 9, taking the tablet and going to bed for 30 minsutes. Once it kicked in I’d get up and shower and have a coffee.

In the shower,I’d instantly feel it, like I was so wired’ The main mechanism of Modafinil is to alter the levels of orexin in our body, a hormone that regulates our sleep. Those who suffer from narcolepsy have a lack of orexin. Modafinil works to counter this. It also increases the histamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate and dopamine in the brain, all of which promote wakefulness.

However, narcolepsy is not the reason a lot of students use, or have heard, of this prescription drug. All the neurological molecules mentioned also help improve concentration, shortterm memory and brain plasticity (the ability the brain has to change). It is for these reasons students use Modafinil during exams, and often compare it to the ‘Limitless pill’, borrowing the term from the film, ‘Limitless’.

Ritalin, synthesised in 1944 by the chemist Leandro Panizzon in Switzerland, was introduced into the US market in 1956 and first used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the 1960s. Also known as Methylphenidate, Ritalin similarly increases the levels of dopamine in the brain.

It is thought that sufferers of ADHD have too many dopamine transporters, which our brain uses to reduce dopamine levels; Ritalin is used to block these transporters. Whilst dopamine heightens our feeling of pleasure, it also increases short-term memory and concentration. There is no surprise then, that stu-

dents without ADHD have found a use for this medication during exam period when the need to focus is essential. 1 x 200mg tablet in the morning, sleep for an hour, wake up and you can focus for the rest of the day.

That seems to be the daily routine for students that use Modafinil, or similar study drugs. Describing the feeling to be similar to a ‘really, really intense coffee’ one student claimed that whilst the medication was working, he’d ‘feel incredible’, which he believed was most likely due to the ‘huge dopamine rush’. Another student, studying politics, told me that he’d sit down at his desk at 6:05am and ‘work head down for 4-5 hours’ and in that time, he’d be a ‘bloody machine’.

But, all is not ideal as it appears. One of the main side effects cited by a second-year student came in the form of ‘bad mood swings’. One student spoke about the insomnia that came with taking these ‘smart drugs’. Although his body could rest, he struggled to become fully unconscious, it was like ‘trying to sleep on a plane or in a car. You drift in and out but never properly sleep’.

A fresher also stated that her consumption of Ritalin made her ‘so tired’ it made her ‘an emotional wreck’. This could be explained by the extreme changes in the levels of dopamine and serotonin that the brain experiences whilst taking this medication. Due to the brain becoming unusually alert, some students found that they became paranoid.

A Sociology student spoke about how it made him feel ‘on edge’ all the time, always aware of what was going on.

Similarly, a student in her first year told me that she felt ‘very anxious’ because her mind was ‘always ticking away’. Sources have also described a significant loss of appetite. One student I interviewed said that she ended up becoming ‘sick, very dehydrated and achey’, presumably because of the lack of nutrients and vitamins being consumed.

Many students that take these ‘nootropics’- a term coined by the Romanian chemist Corneliu E. Giurgea meaning ‘mind-affecting’- start to feel antisocial as they simply want to focus on one thing, and that tends to be their studies. This could be linked to the dopamine rush and the consequent feeling of reward you get when studying. A Masters student said he felt like ‘social interactions didn’t matter, and they were a waste of my time… I felt more isolated. I would

February 2018

Pexels

13

Investigation

Taking Over Campus avoid conversations and just keep it to small talk, trying to bore people off with the amount of work I have and go into specifics’.

Likewise, one student ‘didn’t want to talk to anyone’ because she ‘just wanted to focus’. However, when put in a social situation, one Sports and Social Sciences student found it ‘difficult’ as he was ‘overthinking’ what he was saying.

Many argue that the use of these cognitive enhancers, whilst being a health risk, is also fundamentally unethical.

However, the main concern scientists and doctors have is that there have been no long-term studies on the use of these drugs on individuals who have not been prescribed this medication. Although in the short- term these drugs may seem very useful, whilst at university our brains are still developing. Using drugs such as these could damage or inhibit this development in ways that are currently unknown to us. Professor Tim Hales, the head of neuroscience at Dundee University concurred with this, stating: ‘In the short term some of these drugs may not be harmful, but we don’t know about their potentially harmful cumulative effects. Different students will respond differently, particularly when taking other medication, alcohol or recreational drugs at the same time.’

Often there are questions and significant hurdles that arise when sourcing study drugs. Under the obvious impression that the only way to access these drugs would be through buying them from someone who suffered from ADHD, ADD or narcolepsy. Indeed, there are those that use this method: one of my sources explained how he only used his medication during the exam period, selling any surplus that remained.

Despite the fact that selling prescription drugs is a criminal offence, he explained that the chances of being caught were so low he was unbothered. He went on to say that the authorities find it hard to track and they’re likely to focus their attention on the recreational Class A and B drugs that are dealt, such as MDMA, cocaine and marijuana. After writing to the police force on this matter, they were unable to give me a figure on the quantity of medical drugs seized in comparison to Class A and B drugs as ‘there is no obligation for the constabulary to create information to satisfy a request’.

However, it seems that the easiest and most legitimate way to get hold of these drugs is online. To my surprise, when typing ‘Modafinil’ into Google, the second hit is a website selling the drug. Costing just £29.49 for 10 x 200mg tablets, the website boasts ‘next day delivery’ and ‘discreet packaging’. After speaking to a Biology student at the University, she said that you ‘google the symptoms’ and then ‘pretend to have one of the illnesses.’ She then went on to say how ‘easy’ it is to subsequently get a legitimate, online prescription for the medication. Not only that, but on ‘Black Friday’ she was offered 20% off from her next purchase of Modafinil. These websites seem to be actively encouraging the purchase of these drugs, despite having false information in some cases.

It appears to be quite easy to illegally access recreation-

al drugs using the dark web. Students were able to legally buy ‘smart drugs’ by filling out an online form with fabricated answers and getting a prescription. Because of this, I contacted the General Medical Council (GMC) whose purpose is ‘to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public’ by controlling which medical practitioners are on the register. They stated that a doctor using remote (online) prescriptions must have ‘adequate knowledge of the patient’s health, and are satisfied that the medicines serve the patient’s needs’. I challenged this statement as students without narcolepsy or ADD/ADHD can get hold of Modafinil and Ritalin, surely the doctors do

One can draw the conclusion that there is no official body regulating the purchase of these drugs online, and is the case with so much these days, ‘Generation X’ and the Internet seem to be one step ahead of any formal control.

February2017 2018 17th September

not have ‘adequate knowledge’?

In response to this query, I was directed by the GMC to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a body that regulates medicines in the UK. MHRA then told me to contact the General Pharmaceutical Council who were unable to give me a response as it is not within their ‘remit’. Eventually, one can draw the conclusion that there is no official body regulating the purchase of these drugs online, and as is the case with so much these days, ‘Generation X’ and the Internet seem to be one step ahead of any formal control.

Many argue that the use of these cognitive enhancers, whilst being a health risk, is also fundamentally unethical. Those who oppose the use of ‘study drugs’ for ethical reasons argue that they are a form of cheating. It gives the person using them an unfair advantage as the work they do is not a natural product of the brain, but instead a product of the medication. In sport, the use of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs are prohibited, should mind-altering drugs such as Modafinil and Ritalin not also be banned?

14

Investigation

Given that this is a contentious issue, there is no surprise that there are those who wholeheartedly support the use of ‘study drugs’, and potentially see it as the future in education. They counter the previous argument by claiming that people already have the opportunity to gain an unfair advantage through the use of private tutors, private education and legal substances such as caffeine. In terms of the cost of these products, if they became more readily available, free market economics suggests the price would drop. Some advocates of ‘study drugs’ turn to the revolutionary invention of the computer, and the effect it had on productivity. In line with this argument, they claim that cognitive enhancing medication could likewise revolutionise productivity and we should not be afraid of them.

In spite of obvious health risks why, when asked, did all the students I interviewed say they would take ‘study drugs’ again? Could it be because we now live in a generally more narcotised society? Whilst this may be the case, I believe the real reason lies in the pressure university students are now under. A report conducted by the UPP found that 48% of males and 67% of females find the stress of studying at university difficult to cope with. An article by the Telegraph then goes on to suggest that this academic stress is a contributing factor to students committing suicide. The article cites an inquiry from

A report conducted by the UPP found that 48% of males and 67% of females find the stress of studying at university difficult to cope with the University of Manchester which uncovered some worrying statistics: ‘the study, which analysed evidence heard at suicide inquests, found 63 of the 145 (43 per cent) suicide victims examined from 2014-15 were experiencing academic pressure before their death’. With all this stress, is it surprising that students are turning to ‘study drugs’?

When going to a top university, such as Bath, this stress stems from the expectation to take part in sports and extra-curricular activities, potentially getting a job, going out and getting drunk, having a social life, whilst simultaneously getting a decent grade in our studies. As the statistics show, all this pressure mounds as exams loom, especially now that there is such high competition for employment and initially, all the employer sees is a bit of paper with your exam result, titled ‘CV’.

For some students, there is a feeling that the only way they are able to work harder and play harder is by taking prescription medication. One Sociology student told me, ‘I genuinely reckon I wouldn’t have got a 2:1 without it [Modafinil]’.

‘Study drugs’ do not seem to be the solution to the highly competitive, pressurised society we live in, but a symptom. In many ways, this article has raised more questions than it has answered, potentially the most important two being: how do we stop these drugs being so readily available, and are students using these drugs because they want to, or because they feel they need to? As the use of these cognitive enhancers increases year on year, more varieties of these drugs become available, and the word spreads about how easily accessible they are, it is imperative that these questions are answered. Yet institutions do not know how to combat the use of ‘study drugs’ and they do not seem to be answering these questions: they need to be February 2018

more proactive.

Given that this is an issue regarding student health, I contacted the University Medical Centre multiple times.

However, after repeated requests for a response, Bath Time received no reply.

Bath Time also contacted the University of Bath, who gave this statement: ‘The University does not support the un-prescribed use of so-called ‘study drugs’. Any student who has concerns about drug use, or any other issue, is encouraged to seek confidential help from the University’s Wellbeing Service. Drop-in is available every day at the Student Services Centre in 4 West – no appointment is needed.

The University of Bath takes the health and well-being of its students extremely seriously and works closely with its Students’ Union to ensure there are a wide range of services and advice for students including counselling, mental health support, comprehensive pastoral care, disability support and hardship funding advice.’

Ben Palmer, SU Community Offiver for The Student’s Union likewise gave a statement: ‘The SU strongly advises any students considering the use of ‘study drugs’ to come and talk to us in The SU Advice and Support Centre or to go to the Wellbeing Team in Student Services. We advise that students seriously consider the implications of using ‘study drugs’ from both an ethical perspective and in relation to the potential impacts on personal health and wellbeing.

The SU understands that university can be demanding on your time and mental health and therefore we suggest that students feeling overwhelmed or pressured to use ‘study drugs’ should make use of the services available on campus. Services can include talking to staff at the SU Advice and Support Centre or at the University Student Services (Mental Health and Counselling Service and the Wellbeing Team).

Evidence shows that there are many side effects and potential fatal risk to using any medication that has not been prescribed to you by a doctor and The SU strongly advises that this is not a risk worth taking.’

Editor’s note: This article was originally first published online on Bath Time’s website www.unibathtime.co.uk

February 2018

11

Investigation

February 2018

News & Comment

15

Irish Abortion Ban

By Genevieve Redgrave The NHS regularly performs free abortions for millions of women in the UK, yet for many Irish women, coming to England is the only way in which this can be performed. A 1983 referendum on this issue which, with a 67% endorsement, entrenched a ban on abortion in Ireland up until this day. Regardless of cases of rape, incest, foetal abnormality or even essential to save the woman’s life, the Constitution’s 8th amendment ensures the equal right to life of the unborn child.

Illegal practices have been running for years, in-

cluding botched pills and black-market operations, endangering women’s lives. Women are currently campaigning not only to repeal the 8th but legalise abortion up until 12 weeks. But has Ireland’s society changed substantially enough since 1983, to make this move towards progress?

Ireland, with a largely Catholic population, has historically been a conservative country, entrenching the views of the Church into their own society’s practices. But as scandal upon scandal of child and sexual abuse has rocked the Roman Catholic Church, younger generations have strayed from the message from The Vatican, paving a new way for power-politics. The Church just doesn’t have the same power that it did in 1983 and views are finally beginning to change in the country. This has been personified in the election of Varadkar, the first openly gay man to take office as leader of the Daíl, a feat that seemed unachievable in Ireland up until modern history. And so, if not now for abortion, then when? Times are changing and views are finally becoming more open, isn’t it a perfect environment for the repeal of the 8th? Yet, the UK knows better than anyone that referendums don’t tend to go the way most suspect, revealing hidden opinions of the mass. So it can only be hoped that in 2018, and the wake of the #metoo movement, the people of Ireland decide to move forward in their decisions for female freedom rather than taking the oh- so- familiar giant step back.

Boring is out, Bingo is in

By Tom Knight

For every student at Bath there comes a distinct moment during our time here which will prove to be an important turning point in our social lives.

It normally comes at about 1.30am on the dancefloor of Bridge on a hastily-organised and poorly attended night out, right after guzzling two double vodka and cokes slightly faster than you intended. You lean over to your one remaining friend (the other two have disappeared) and shout in their ear, “I…I... think I might head home” and wait for a response.

They don’t hear you, and after another attempt you give up entirely and stumble out into the fresh air, guided towards the U1 stop by a subconscious part of your brain which specifically exists to get you home in situations such as this. Whilst it takes care of moving your legs and keeping yourself upright, your mind is free to try and summarise the night. Suddenly, time stops still and you try to comprehend a terrifying fact; not one part of your night was enjoyable. From the low-key predrinks in your kitchen, to the long queue and inside to the expen-

sive entry fee and drinks, there was no single element which was fun. The alcohol and dancing has numbed you, but has not led to the world of excitement and spontaneity it once did. In a word, it was boring.

The arrival of Bingo Lingo in Bath has heralded a new age in the already burgeoning market for quirky nightlife to combat the ‘boredof-these-nightclubs’ syndrome. Once we realise that drinking for the sheer sake of it has lost its shine, the search for innovative ways to improve our nights out truly gets under way. Bingo Lingo is the perfect example of this trend; an antiquated activity given new life for the young masses by the infusion of alcohol and loud music.

Historically this kind of rebranding has been the preserve of sports; Darts and Twenty20 Cricket have been built almost entirely on the premise of elevating drinking to the point where it’s almost a prerequisite for engaging in the live event. Hot on their heels are the endless nightclub events with that something extra to give

February 2018

16

News & Comment

the night a deeper meaning; ball bits, bouncy castles, inflatables, clothing giveaways and the infinite [insert ironic celebrity] appreciation nights. Finally comes the tsunami of Ladbible videos promoting activates which have inexplicably been given a competitive advantage simply by the introduction of alcohol. Whilst the ‘Gin Lovers Spa’ and ‘Wine Knitting appeal to me, personally I would like to see this trend go even further; ‘Tequila Falconry’ or ‘Cello with Ouzo’ seem like more ambitious attempts at alcoholic anarchy.

You may be expecting me to raise the sceptre of sanctimonious disapproval over this merry business and declare it harmful to our health and ability to socialise without intoxication. I actually believe the opposite; I want to see even more activities designed specifically for this growing market segment to break the tyranny of dull and unimaginative nightlife.

With overall alcohol consumption amongst our age group falling rapidly, I am pleased to see our boozing energies are being channelled into more worthwhile purposes than simply dragging ourselves into underwhelming cellars where the sweat condenses on the ceiling. At its heart, drinking is like most other human activity; what we truly crave above all is a sense of purpose. The new generation of activities provides us with just that, counteracting the boredom and demanding more excitement in exchange for our hard-earned overdrafts. So, whether it’s for Bingo or Barry Chuckle, long may this trend continue.

Not the bingo you’re thinking of

The Fight Against the Right Harry Bridge

The world, and the United States to a greater extent, is currently undergoing a pendulum swing in the faLadyGreek vour of political ‘correctness’.

Understandably, individuals following ideologies from the left of the political spectrum are pushing back at sexism, racism and prejudice. However, some recent act of hypocrisy has shown some otherwise well-intentioned unwillingness from Left wingers’ to acknowledge opinions that differ from theirs.

One such act was recently perpetrated against Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Conservative MP. After arriving at an event at UWE Bristol he faced masked individuals shouting obscenities while making no substantial points in an attempt to prevent him from speaking.

Joshua Connor, a failed Students’ Union presidential candidate at the university and a self-proclaimed socialist, led this tirade. As an ideology, socialism attempts to allow for both equal opportunity and equal outcome, the former being beneficial for everyone but the latter being logically and morally flawed, in my opinion.

I wish to make it clear that it is not all socialists that are proponents of shutting down the voices of their opposition. Just as it is not all neo-classical liberals. Yet, many following these ideologies are preventing others from sharing their views. This is neither equal opportunity nor outcome, this is a negative aspect of fascism. The irony of which is not lost. Furthermore, the term ‘liberals’ is often used to describe those involved in this phenomenon.

This is a grave mischaracterisation. What is happening is the opposite of liberalism. Free speech and debate, even if hurtful or confronting, are incredibly important in our democracy and society in general. It gives a voice to every individual and allows for equal importance while facilitating important exchange. By attacking this right, people damage their own messages. Why not debate them? By using force to keep people quiet, the only possible outcome is the de-legitimisation of the very message of those who try to crackdown on freedom of speech.

Although I do not think Rees-Mogg exemplifies this, if he did, I would urge those who think he should not have a platform to prove it and challenge his views directly.

17th September February2017 2018

AD

Monday MADNESS

COLLECTION DEAL

ANY SIZE PIZZA

ANY SIZE PIZZA

only

only

£8.99 £9.99 AVAILABLE MONDAY ONLY

ADD A SIDE ORDER FOR DELIVERY

From the menu or create your own up to 4 toppings.

Premium crusts and bases charged as extra.

Minimum delivery spend £9.99.

Offer expires 27/08/2017.

From the menu or create your own up to 4 toppings.

Premium crusts and bases charged as extra.

Offer expires 27/08/2017.

DISCOUNT DEAL

DOUBLE DEAL

50% OFF

ANY 2 PIZZAS

at regular price d £30 or more en sp u yo n he w minos.co.uk

.do online at www

ENTER CODE AT THE CHECKOUT

£20

only

NJMEFZJK

ANY ADDITIONAL PIZZAS £10 EACH

Excludes drinks, dips, ice cream, 14 & 21 piece chicken portions and chicken combos. Minimum spend must be reached without excluded items in basket. Offer expires 27/08/2017.

From the menu or create your own up to 4 toppings.

Premium crusts and bases charged as extra.

Offer expires 27/08/2017.

TO RECEIVE OUR VERY BEST DEALS PUSHED STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE 3 SIMPLE STEPS:1. Text BATH to 78866 2. Click the download link that appears in the returned Text message 3. When prompted, click “ADD” to install our Apple Wallet Deals Pass onto your phone (*) (*) Android phone users only: Please note that after clicking the download link in step 2 above, you will be redirected to a landing page that will prompt you to install the free Google Play App “Pass Wallet” and our Deals Pass will be automatically added to Pass Wallet when it is opened for the first time after installation.

ADD THE PASS & SHARE THE SAVINGS

18

Features

News & Comment

“Democracy is in Crisis” Says Freedom House Report

The Pursuit of Happiness

By Nidhi Arun - Columnist

I

t’s a bit strange to live in a country that is among the Top 20 happiest in the world. A country whose favourite type of small talk begins with Brexit and ends with ski holidays. Where we eat mashed potatoes for breakfast and curse Tory MPs during lunch. The UK may be relatively content but we’re nowhere close to our Nordic cousins.

Norway and Denmark emerged at the top in UN’s World Happiness Report. What are they so happy about?

Go ahead, you can blurt out “a generous social security system” or “insulation from the volatile boom and bust cycle”. Although, Norwegians spend so much of their time hibernating indoors that they easily forget the route to their local pub!

Meanwhile, in Britain we’ve got a new minister for loneliness. Our satisfaction points have dropped since 2000.

Evidently, income and health are only clinically identified symptoms for happiness. To feel secure, people need to have someone to count on. A Daily Mail headline even claimed that loneliness is more dangerous than smoking 15 cigarettes a day (valid at reader’s discretion). It is essential that people feel others care for them. This reliability may also set up a trap of mutual obligations and an encroachment on one’s freedom. Care and freedom are both such vital features of well-being, yet so conflicting. The question begs: Can we ever truly be happy?

Last year seemed like a prelude to some dystopia. But at the very least we have started to recognize it.

The good news is that the world is still spinning. It’s spinning with happier gay people in Australia and more dogs as ring-bearers. It spins with a Jordan where victims are no longer forced to marry their rapists and a Saudi Arabia that has women behind the wheel.

The world continues to spin but now with startling awareness of the number of #metoo stories out there. It isn’t spinning faster but only with a little less baggage, and that’s a victory of sorts. My only hope from 2018 is for it to give us more reasons to celebrate the positives than the absence of negatives.

February 2018

16

By Félix Keane

T

here is something comforting in exiting the cinema after watching a WWII film, in the warm belief of stepping out into a world which is getting freer by the day. The big picture is not so positive, however: 2017 was the twelfth consecutive year of decline in freedom globally, according to the annual Freedom House report.

Freedom House, a non-profit and non-partisan organisation funded by the U.S. government, has been evaluating the effects of political trends on individual freedom since the 1950s. Reflecting on a year of stronger authoritarian leaders, struggling democracies and a drastic turn in US rhetoric, it states that 71 countries suffered net declines in political rights and civil liberties in 2017, with only 35 registering improvements: less than half of countries were then actually considered “free”.

“Democracy’s basic tenets - including guarantees of free and fair elections, the rights of minorities, freedom of the press, and the rule of law - are under siege around the world” stressed the Freedom House president.

This is probably best embodied in the Trump administration, or rather, in the long list of actions which directly undermine these principles: violations of basic ethical standards, such as the appointment of Trump family members as senior advisers, growing evidence of Russian interference, and the absence of a response by Trump to either condemn or prevent future election

February 2018

Wallula

meddling. There is also a new lack of transparency, through Trump’s refusal to produce his tax reports, repeated attacks on the press and the judiciary and decision-making is lacking the input of relevant agencies.

The list goes on. Although U.S. institutions have remained resilient in the face of Trump’s attacks, they are inevitably left weakened. Freedom House stated that “the U.S. experienced faster erosion of America’s own democratic standards than at any other time in memory”.

Trump’s mixed record on promoting democracy and freedom overseas, through his open admiration for authoritarian figures like Putin, has likely emboldened repressive regimes. Sarah Repucci, who oversees Freedom House reports, stated that the global downward trend was worrying, and that she didn’t see it reversing easily. She warned that the lack of a clear stance on democracy and freedom from the U.S. allowed China and Russia to take advantage and further repression at home, as well as extend influence abroad.

Is democracy dying? The error is rather to view democracy as universally triumphant, and 2017 shows democracy is much more fragile than liberals assume. While democracy has a lot going for it (millions of South Koreans aren’t trying to flee to the North), there is no natural upwards trend towards freedom.

Democracy and freedom must not be taken for granted but renewed and reinvigorated.

19

International News Feature & Comment

International Feature ‫المهرج‬

By Mark Mikhail

،‫ وباقتراب انتخابات رئاسية ترجع مصر الى ما قبل الثورة وقتما كان هناك مرشح واحد ال غير‬،‫في ظل ظروف مصر الحالية‬ ‫ بدأ مشواره كاعالمي على موقع التواصل‬،‫ بعد ممارسته الطب لعدة سنوات‬.‫يعجز العقل عن تناسي “االراجوز” باسم يوسف‬ ‫ االجتماعي‬YouTube ‫ انتقل بعد ذلك الى‬.‫حيث كان يقدم برنامجه من شقته وهو مرتاح في بيجامته بامكانيات متواضعة‬ OnTV ‫ التي‬٢٠١١ ‫ لمع باسم يوسف في تغطيته النتخابات الرءاسة لسنة‬.‫وعمل مع عدد من االعالميين ابرزهم يسري فودة‬ ‫ بعد نجاحه‬.‫ يناير حين كان هناك عددا ال بأس به من المرشحين وان كان بعضهم غير صالح لرءاسة نادي حتى‬٢٥ ‫تبعت ثورة‬ ‫ في‬OnTV، ‫ الى عدة قنوات حتى استقر في‬،‫ برانمج البرنامج‬،‫ انتقل باسم ببرنامجه‬MBC .‫مصر بعد عدة قضايا وتهديدات‬ ‫ فبعد عدد قليل من‬،‫الجدير بالذكر انه لم يمنع الال تحت رءاسة السيسي بالرغم من محاوالت مرسي العديدة لمنعه او تشويشه‬ ‫ منع البرنامج‬،‫الحلقات التي سخر فيها من السيسي وبعد تخوفه من ان يرجعنا حكم السيسي وتصرف الشعب الى عصر مبارك‬ ‫ رجع بنا الزمن الى انتخابات رءاسية ليس فيها غير مرشح واحد فقط‬،‫ ثم بعد ذلك بثالث سنين فقط‬،‫من العرض‬

What Happens Next? The End In Egypt’s current state, and as the presidential election draws closer, sending Egypt to a time before the revolution, when there was only one candidate, the mind cannot forget the “clown” Bassem Youssef.

After practicing medicine for several years, he began his career in media on the YouTube where he presented his program from his apartment in his pyjamas with very modest equipment. He then moved to OnTV and worked with a number of journalists, most notably Yusri Fouda. Bassem Youssef covered the 2012 presidential election that followed the January 25 revolution when there were quite a few candidates (though some were not even suitable to lead a club). After his success on OnTV, Bassem moved with his program, “Bernameg Al-Bernameg”, to several channels until he settled in MBC Masr after several lawsuits and threats. It is worth mentioning that he was only stopped under Sisi’s presidency despite many attempts by Morsi to stop or disturb his program. After a few episodes in which he ridiculed Sisi and after announcing his fears that the rule of Sisi and the citizens’ behaviours would return Egypt to the Mubarak era, the program was stopped. And only after three years, we’re back to elections with only one candidate.

February 2018

october 2017

17

Features

Feature

ad

December 2017

18

21

Debate

DEBATE Does technology make us lonely?

YES

By Tom Langer

NO

By Harry Bride

It is undeniably true that social media is a great gateway to the wider world and has the potential to provide and sustain connections that might not exist otherwise. But the inevitable result of this phenomenon is an overwhelming exposure to the lives and experiences of others. When forced into this permanent comparison with the airbrushed and carefully presented windows into others’ lives, almost inevitably showing the subject as having many friends or implying their popularity, it can be hard not to feel contrastingly isolated. The remedy to the loneliness is of course to seek out human contact and social media arguably makes finding a friend to talk to easier but written correspondence is no substitute for face-to-face interaction. Emojis fall pitifully short of a genuine emotional response, “Haha” is not even close to parity with a spontaneous fit of laughter and even the most beautifully constructed sentences cannot convey the emphasis, tone or expression that warm the heart in spoken conversation. And now, all too often, these increasingly infrequent interactions in the physical world are corrupted by the omnipresent exigency to pay more attention

Technology does not make us lonely, we just continue to make each other lonely. Technology is providing a new platform for connectivity and this can involve an overwhelming exposure to others (can this be loneliness really?). However, it is not as if we as individuals aren’t equipped to deal with the issues that come. Someone on their phone at dinner? Tell them to turn it off.

Feel isolated by someone’s Facebook page? Unfollow it. Technology is a tool for personal use and freedom. A tool that can be used with free will, to seek out or even avoid human interaction. Social media allows us to sustain contact with anyone, anywhere. As an international kid, I’d be far lonelier without. The issue of texting not being the same as an in-person conversation is one I identify with strongly, however this does not result in loneliness. People don’t text instead of meeting. They text when they cannot meet. Technology provides a new platform for sociability and humanity and we aren’t entirely used to it yet. But all it is, is a tool used by mankind. We are the users and abusers of this technology and can be blamed for any isolation

Thijs Paanakker February 2018

22

News & Comment Features

Debate

16 20

Loneliness is a feeling of sadness caused by a perceived lack of company. There is no equation for it. No simple inverse proportionality law to relate it to a quantity of friends and acquaintances.

Some people, however isolated, never feel lonely and some, even socialites, always feel forsaken.

For most of us, loneliness is part of a delicate mental balance and even telling someone to pay attention to you rather than their phone could undermine the fragile sense of connection that keeps us from feeling unwanted. Technology does make friendship over great distances easier, but it is often the lack of immediate personal contact that causes loneliness and technology can certainly exacerbate this. My fear is not people texting when they cannot meet, but rather people believing that they must make do with impersonal communication whilst neglecting the natural and insatiable need for direct human contact. In the argument that we must be blamed for the isolation caused by technology I hear the same questionable logic as in “guns don’t kill people, people kill people”. Just because it is a tool of our own makwwwing, does not mean the menace it poses to

There is an equation for it so to speak. This being a complex subjective perception based on social surroundings. Some people will of course feel lonely in crowds of people, others always content with little to nothing. What is important to understand is that people do not have to ‘make do’ with anything. Technology provides an opportunity to explore new forms of connection, it does not diminish others by doing so and if telling someone to get off their phones threatens an individual’s delicate mental balance I fear they may have larger issues at hand. I do not believe that people think they must make do with impersonal communication because of technology. One may choose whether to take this route, if they don’t have the choice then it’s far better than nothing. Technology actually facilitates further personal connection. Many a couple has met through a dating app while many a friend has been made through an online game. The variable with technology and guns is how people use them. Any ‘menace’ caused by someone using technology is simply unequivocal to one caused by a deadly weapon. How technology is used may occasionally be an issue, technology itself is not.

Just because an individual’s mental well-being is delicate does not mean that it lacks either importance or value, and I would like to think such a tiny sacrifice as ignoring your phone for the duration of a conversation would be willingly made for the sake of a friend’s self-esteem and peace of mind. I don’t believe more social interactions necessarily equates to less loneliness. For every couple that met on a dating site or friendship facilitated by technology there is an instance of cyber bullying (a staggering “52% of young people report being cyber bullied” according to Nobullying.com ) or an abusive online behaviour. I’m sure nobody needs to be reminded of the crippling impact such influences can have on gregariousness and therefore loneliness later in life. Finally, whilst it was not my intention to compare the relative harm of technology and firearms, I believe the analogy still serves to highlight a key point. The fact that technology is not an instrument specifically designed to damage a person’s self-esteem or drive them from personal connections, does not excuse it from the isolation and loneliness it has caused, or us of our duty to limit these

Of course, however I do not think one would be amiss to state that such an individual should not be placed in a safe space for their lifetime. There are challenges in life and as you said, a tiny sacrifice on behalf of the challenged individual can be enough to avoid issues surrounding technology. While a similarly small sacrifice will fail to save you from issues a gun may provide. Every humanistic problem shown through the lens of technology is a problem that exists in some form without. Cyberbullying is just as reprehensible as traditional bullying, yet in the US it has affected 9% of students while traditional bullying, 28% (according to stopbullying. gov). Although still significant I would argue that those bullied traditionally constitute almost the entirety of those bullied online. Those who possess a delicate mental state are more than likely to be affected whether technology is involved or not. It is incredibly important not to February 2018 overstate technologies role in actions taken by humans. A different medium is used and there should be no diminished responsibility for individuals involved. Teach people what is right and February 2018

20

Features

ad

October 2017

17th December September 2017 2017

Photo credits: stephan

24

Features

18

No Reagonomics: Trump’s New Tax Plan Arthur Lanos

I

t’s been roughly a year that Donald J. Trump has been elected president and one of his campaign promises, an overhaul of the US tax system, is still to be passed. Luckily (or not so much), the Republicans recently presented the Tax Cuts and Jobs, a legislation they hope to pass before Christmas. This however is unlikely as an orderly opposition is preparing to fight on every item of the bill.

The plan, as it stands now, is forecasted to increase US debt by $1.4tn according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, raising further concerns on both sides of the political spectrum about the already explosive path of US national debt.

As a result, Senate Republicans have proposed an alternative tax plan and will amend the current one accordingly when the issue is picked up by the Senate.

The current bill, proposed by the House of Representatives and backed

by Trump is heavily weighted toward businesses, which would receive about $1tn in net cuts. The major proposal is the reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%, which is symbolic more than anything else. Although the US has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, the majority of large companies generally don’t pay more than 15%, thanks to loopholes and very good tax lawyers. It is also unlikely to have the intended affect of benefiting workers through higher wages: most believe that corporate tax cuts will go to high-earning investors. On the other hand, Trump’s proposal to lower the corporate tax rate for small businesses to 25%, is very good news for these firms which represent 99.7% of US employer companies.

Lastly, on the corporate sector the bill aims to encourage US companies which hold cash offshore, in other countries, to repatriate it through the instauration of a one time 12% tax on liquid assets held overseas (instead of the full 35%). Indeed, Republicans believe that if at least some of the $2.6tn of foreign cash held by firms is sent back to the US, it would be used for investment and job creation.

However, as smart as it might look, it is a wrong move, as it entices companies to keep their foreign earnings offshore until another tax holiday is passed by a future government. Moreover, in 2004, the Bush

administration did the same and most of the cash repatriated went to shareholders rather than being used to hire employees and boosting the economy.

While Trump’s plan will mainly benefit the rich, contrary to what he lead his electorate to believe, some of its measure may lead to more equitable distrbution of wealth. Indeed, the Tax Policy Center estimates that about 25% of the benefits of the tax cuts would be seen by the bottom 80% of the American economy, but another 25% would benefit the top 0.1%. The proposal will double the real estate tax exemption from $5.5m to roughly $11m, essentially meaning wealthy families will be able to avoid paying taxes on large inheritances. It also eliminates the alternative minimum tax, which exclusively benefits households with incomes over $200,000.

On the other hand, the plan will reduce income tax brackets to just four, down from the eight that exist now. This means that married individuals earning less than $24,000 will not pay any taxes, which roughly doubles the standard deduction for middle-class families (which stands at $12,700 now). However, the top bracket for those earning in excess of $1m will remain unchanged. Whilst it also increases the tax credit available for each parent and non-child dependent from $1,000 to $1,600, it tightens the rules to claim child credit, a measure likely to hurt immigrant parents whose children are born in the US. To conclude, this plan is largely designed to benefit wealthy Americans and large corporations, blunting any impact on consumer demand, which desperately needs to be stimulated, that a coherent tax plan could have had. Indeed, this administration is reminiscent of supply side economics practiced during the Reagan era, when the top tax rate was 70%. No matter how low corporate taxes are set, people and companies will not invest unless there exists demand for their products. This is highly unlikely to happen when most of the tax cuts don’t provide poor and middle class Americans, those who spend the most of their income, with more spending power.

February 2018

Features

25

Casting a Shadow on the #metoo Movement

By Genevieve Redgrave

The Presidents Club

T

here are ladies who lunch and men who meet in secret for charitable galas, but only one of these has been revealed to continuously be sordid affairs, using money and power to intimidate. This is not to say that groups of women can’t be accused of sexualisation, just take a look at any Magic Mike or Fifty Shades of Grey screening and you’ll find a certain level of hysteria. Yet in the wake of the #metoo movement as well as Hollywood unveiling its greatest predators, it’s still deeply disheartening but still significantly unsurprising to hear of the events that unravelled at the now late President’s Club Gala on the 23rd of January.

Hosted by David Walliams and attended by many famous and powerful faces including members of the business and political elite, this may seem like any other celebrity event to raise money for charity. This was until Madison Marriage, a Financial Times Reporter went undercover as one of the 130 hostesses at the event and broke the news of the harassment that many of these women had to experience. Selected on appearance alone and told to wear black underwear to match the short dresses and heels given as uniform, it seemed for many that this wouldn’t be a normal serving job at hand.

Made all the worse when the hostesses’ phones were confiscated and made to sign non-disclosure agreements they were then sent into a room of men who consistently harassed and groped the February 2018

girls, some even going as far as exposing themselves.

Yet whilst horrifying to the public, for the organisers of the male-only event, this was to be expected.

In the initial interviews, the women were told that the attending men could be ‘annoying’ and a full page in a small programme dutifully reminded the men that they should not harass the staff. At the same time though, they encouraged an auction of a private visit to a famous female strip-club and a round of plastic-surgery to ‘add spice to your wife’. It’s no wonder at the start of the event, Jonny Gould took to the stage opening it as the most ‘un-PC event of the year’.

As women march around the world in their millions and vocalise the great injustices they have had to face, it seemed as though the tide was finally beginning to turn. Sexual predators like Weinstein or Larry Nassar were eventually getting their punishment, as the truth of just how deep sexism runs, became clear. But as the events of just last month came to light, are we all just being slightly naïve, wishfully thinking that we’re just around the corner from equality? The Presidents Club is sadly not alone, not in its actions nor in its views and it is painful to watch how swiftly women can recount terrible stories but the lethargic speed of progression. Until harassment changes behind closed doors and injustice is stopped out of morality rather than because they’ve been caught out by the press, the cycle of inequality continues.

26

Photos

Beyond the Destination It’s easy to be so overwhelmed by a destination as to forget the journey that brought you there.

Yet the road to the Grand Canyon is as deserving of your awe as the natural wonder itself, carved through mountains and at times lit by nothing but stars and your headlights Photos By John Martin

Could you be a Student Trainer?

Student trainers are professionally trained to deliver high quality training workshops. As a student trainer, you will have many opportunities to further your personal development and have a real impact.

Apply now: thesubath.com/skills-training Applications close: 23 February

Supported by

Science & Technology

28

Trump in Davos: Business as Usual

By Genevieve Redgrave

A

nother day, yet another Trump news story.

This time, the President jumped on a plane to Switzerland to address world leaders in politics, as well as business, outlining his economic plans and give a judgement on just how well he thinks he’s doing.

You guessed it…never one to self-deprecate, he thinks it’s going pretty well and all thanks to him. With as much enthusiasm as his usual speeches, Trump expanded on the difference that he’s made upon the American economy, blaming his predecessors for negotiating terrible trade deals that have created a rigged system against the United States. But fear not, for the President is of course on his way to ‘make America great again’.

For a President like Donald Trump, this speech was somewhat lacking in shock effect and scandal. With every economic proposal came the usual somewhat irrelevant attack on China and North Korea, this time with added spite to social media bosses. Appealing to the mass fear of his voters, he chastised CEOs of the new technology for failing to root out terrorists. Yet for the majority of his Davos trip, in classic fashion, it revolved around the man himself and

just how much he’s done (yet, weirdly no mention of those golf trips he loves so much).

The business chiefs did little to question his claims, despite the US economy growing at a slower rate than expected, in fact expressing their thanks for his tax cuts of nearly 15%. Yet as Trump continues to make significantly outlandish and off-the-cuff comments about millions around the world, is it right for businesses to forget all of this for a small rise in profits?

It’s capitalism at its finest; replacing morality with a cheque in the bank, but in 2018 is this really the road we should be heading down? Through his divisive rhetoric, Trump belittles millions of workers daily: women, Mexicans, African Americans - the list goes on (and continues to grow as his staff fail to lock him out of his Twitter account). As global corporations praise his work, he degrades whole portions of their workforce and yet many refuse to say a word because of the continued tax cuts he promises. It might put more money in the bank for those at the top, but is it really worth facilitating his outdated messages? It’s time that chief executives start to speak out on his actions in the name of fairness, not business.

Number 10 17th September 2017

Regulation of social media: not if, but how?

By Thomas Knight - Columnist

I

t has not been a good couple of years for the giants of social media. Whilst Twitter’s share price has steadily increased from a low of $14 to $25 a share, and Facebook reported a record profit of $4.3bn in Q4, a steady succession of bad publicity, scandals and shortcomings have driven the reputation of the tech giants into the ground. On the far side of the Atlantic, both Twitter and Facebook have been identified as unwittingly conduits for a massive Russian campaign of misinformation in the run up to the 2016 presidential election; Twitter reported that Russian-linked ‘bot’ accounts retweeted Trump 470,000 times and helped spread far-right propaganda. In the UK, whilst investigations are still ongoing into the involvement of Russia in the EU referendum, the tech giants have instead been facing the rising tide of abuse on social media, resulting in representatives being hauled in to face a committee of MPs. Unsurprisingly, public opinion has followed this trend, with Edelman finding only one in four people trust social media and would like to see more regulation. It therefore would appear at first glance that social media’s growth could be clipped significantly.

Whilst the case for regulation of social media in some capacity has largely been won, there is little expectation that the process will be short or swift.

Regulation of entities and industries this size is akin to financial regulation; it takes both global consensus and careful co-ordination of agencies. Facebook and Twitter have also benefitted from active management of their content, attempting to show that they can police their own websites without official help.

However, they still have lucrative user growth to chase; the decision by Youtube to stop paying producers for controversial content could arguably weaken the entertainment flowing onto the site, and have an impact on user growth and therefore advertising revenues. So, whilst Facebook and Twitter still mostly represent a profitable investment, their tangles with regulation may come to define their business models and earnings in the long term.

ESO/Y. Beletsky October 2017 February 2018

Features

29

South West Got Rhythm!

By Brandon Kam-Cheong

H

ave you ever watched videos of people spinning on their heads or doing insane movements to the beat? Have you ever wondered how and where they do this? The Burban Dance Society is holding “South West Got Rhythm”, an annual break competition, which features some of the biggest names in the “Break-dancing” scene.

The event is a great opportunity, not only for dancers to meet and compete, but also for the public to view what Hip-Hop is all about. There will be Break-dance battles: 3vs3 battles, solo battles and many non-competitive cyphers.

“Breakers” from all over the country will be joining us to compete for a cash prize and the fame

that comes along with it. Among the participants are students from other universities including Warwick University, University of Exeter and many others. The event will also include exclusive performances from Bath University’s very own Burban Dance crew. So, come and enjoy yourselves on the 25th of February at the arts centre, “The Edge”, right here on campus. It’s a major networking opportunity to get to know other dancers, share the dance culture and to meet breakdance societies across the UK. So whether you want to enjoy the culture, support your friends or compete for the glory, the Burban Dance Society looks forward to seeing you there.

Bath Islamic Society, BUIS: Vibrant and Inclusive

By Muhammad Mehood

B

ath University Islamic Society, BUIS, is one of the most diverse and exciting societies on campus. It was created to serve the social, spiritual and academic needs of Muslim students. The result is a vibrant and inclusive society which is based on our mutual beliefs and strengthened by our friendship. We have an enthusiastic committee ready to help you make the most of your Bath student experience.

Everyone is welcome, whether you’re Muslim, interested in Islam or simply looking for a friendly face!

Our newly renovated prayer room is situated in Norwood house level 4.1 with 24/7 access with many thanks to the alumni fund, which helps to facilitate the prayers of the Muslims on campus and also host Friday sermons and jumah prayers on campus. We offer an impressive portfolio of activities on campus such as weekly Bayyinah classes, sporting events in collaboration with the African and Caribbean Society.

Explore Islam Week with some renowned world class speakers.

In semester one, as part of our fundraising campaign for orphans and children in need around the globe, we organised bake sales on campus, climbed mount Snowdon and even had a fundraising dinner in collaboration with other societies from our neighbour universities. In the end we managed to raise nearly £8000 with the help of our volunteers during Charity Week.

This semester, we will be launching our Believe and Do Good campaign, where we will be engaging the youth of Britain through doing acts of good such as donating blood, feeding the homeless, and various other creative acts of good. All of this will be after our highly anticipated trampoline event on the 17th February. So keep your eyes peeled on campus!

The society has a lot of activities for you to get involved in, so get your membership and join us!

Mike Hammerton Burban Society February 2018

ad

Sport

England forced back to their Roots after humliation Down Under

31

Daniel Wiseman

Rocket News

After another calamitous Ashes series Down Under, England now turn their attentions inwards to try and determine what went wrong for a second consecutive annihilation to Australia. From the outset, it was clear to see that with England’s lack of pace in their seam attack, an absence of a frontline spinner and their unreliable middle to lower order, it was going to be a tough task to defeat an Australian side who won the last Ashes series on home soil 5-0. Nevertheless, the thousands of English fans that made their way to Australia were filled with a sense of optimism coming up against an Australian side that were deemed ‘reliant’ on Steve Smith and David Warner…this was not to be the case however and what followed was nothing short of a demolition job.

The first day arrived and on a sunny day in Brisbane excitement filled the stadium. England won the toss and batted first. Despite losing experienced opener Alastair Cook early on, the inexperienced pair of Stoneman and Vince built a steady partnership with the free-flowing Vince looking in brilliant touch. Nothing looked like stopping Vince on his way to a maiden test century for his country before a brilliant piece of fielding from Nathan Lyon ran him out, in what is now regarded as a ‘turning point’ of the series.

England ended up posting a below par score of 302 and even though Australia started off by losing a flurry of quick wickets, the ever-reliant Steve Smith scored a brilliant century to put Australia in a comfortable position. Despite a battling effort from captain Joe Root, England ultimately fell to a comprehensive 10 wicket defeat. After an encouraging couple of sessions on the first day, the manner of the defeat was disappointing and it set the sombre tone for the rest of the series. The Adelaide Oval was the location for the second Test; a fixture that created history by becoming the first ever day-night Ashes Test match. England would go on to lose the game by 120 runs and fall 2-0 behind in the series.

The third Test took place at Perth’s famous WACA ground in what was the last Test the stadium would ever host. England won the toss and chose to bat first, amassing a total of 403. Dawid October 2017 February 2018

Malan was the standout English batsman, scoring his maiden Test match century, accompanied by Jonny Bairstow who managed to chalk up an impressive century of his own. Despite what many thought was a competitive total, the Australian captain Steve Smith had other ideas. The Aussie talisman went on to score 239 in what was nothing short of a batting masterclass.

He was helped along the way by Mitch Marsh who scored his maiden Test match century as well, departing for a brilliant 181. Australia eventually declared on 662 leaving England 259 behind. Unfortunately for the English batsman they couldn’t even amass the 259 runs to make Australia bat again, eventually being bowled out for 218 and falling to defeat by an innings and 41 runs. They fell behind to an unassailable 3-0 lead, resulting in Australia retaining the Ashes. England would go on to lose the series 4-0 after the fourth Test was washed out at the MCG. That was then followed up by another humiliating innings defeat at the SCG which brought to an end the 2017-18 series.

England’s inability to take 20 wickets in all five Tests was the underlying factor behind such a disappointing Ashes series. It was as if they had learned nothing from their previous humiliation four years prior. A lack of pace in the seam attack led to England becoming one-dimensional, even though fast bowler Mark Wood was with the England Lions preparing for the One Day International series. The lack of a genuine frontline spinner was also evident, with batting all-rounder Moeen Ali failing to take up the mantra.

It wasn’t until the fifth Test that England introduced an out-and-out spinner in Mason Crane, who picked up the worst figures of an English debutant in history despite showing glimmers of hope. England are now in the process of rebuilding and have a lot of work to do if they are to go down under in future series and, at the very least, be competitive. What lies next for the England Test side seems unclear but the development of young English fast bowlers and spinners seems to be, and needs to be, at the forefront of the England Cricket Board’s long-term plans.

32

Sport

Record levels of participation sees netball climb to new heights Megan Elsom and Louise Rose

Team Bath Netball

Whilst most people – like ourselves – will remember our first game of netball being at school, it is much more than that game girls play in PE lessons.

The number of girls participating in the game has reached record numbers and this rise is put down to the success of our national team.

A boom in the growth of the sport is the result of international games finally being shown on mainstream TV, the Superleague becoming bigger each year and the athleticism of professional players now being recognised. With sold-out tickets at England internationals, record membership numbers and the largest ever sponsorship and broadcast deals – netball continues to lead the way in women’s sport.

Combined with the success of England Netball campaigns such as Walking Netball and Back to Netball, offering women opportunities to get involved in the game at a social level, it is not surprising that ‘nearly 30,000 players are pounding the courts across England’.

The next step in the continued growth of the sport will be down to England’s success in April’s Commonwealth Games in Australia, and notably, the 2019 World Cup held in Liverpool, which will provide a real platform for the game on home soil.

Despite netball being the most popular female sport worldwide, the game has never featured in the Olympics. England head coach Tracey Neville has suggested that this is due to the sport’s lack of male players. In recent years, a men’s equivalent – October 2017

‘Nets’ – has gained global recognition which could finally lead to the sport gaining the Olympic seal of approval.

With the growing trend of healthy active lifestyles plastered across social media, netball is a prime example of a sport that can offer a good workout, with lots of variety too. Whether this is jumping or lifting weights in the gym, S&C, interval sessions or the never-ending tactics you can learn from a technical session. Netball brings a new challenge each week; there is always innovative and exciting things to learn and new goals to be set.

The main reason we play netball is not to turn up and play catch each week. It is about the people you meet, the team-mates and friends you see each day. We have met some of our closest friends through netball; they might become the group of people you share a house with at university or go on Wednesday night socials with. You remember the netball girls as the people you whom you hold some of the best memories with.

I recently graduated from university, and whilst I worked hard to complete my studies, netball also played a huge part in the general ‘life lessons’ I gained. I was lucky enough to be offered a new role working within the sport of netball. The ability to make a positive difference, work for something I am passionate about and, most importantly, within a sport that has has so much potential to grow for the future, is hugely exciting.

February 2018

Sport

Concussion in sport: Is enough being done to protect players?

33

Gabriel Naylor-Leyland and Thanushan Varatharajan

The pure physicality of rugby – hard hits, crunching tackles and surging scrummages – is one of the many reasons we love the sport. With the Six Nations in full swing, it is easy for us to sit back and admire the spectacle of massive bodies colliding into one another. While it may seem obvious that this sport can seriously injure our bodies, what often goes unsaid is the potential life-threatening damage inflicted on the brain.

The most common form of head injury is a concussion which results in a temporary loss of brain function. Recent research in English rugby has suggested that concussions account for a quarter of all in-game injuries, and that an average of 3.9 concussions per 1,000 player hours are sustained in the professional game. Put simply, players incur one concussion in every six games. Although this may be accepted as an inevitable part of the sport, these types of injuries can have devastating effects.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a form of neurodegenerative disease caused by multiple head injuries. Although not fully understood, it is believed to manifest itself in the form of dementia, or Parkinson’s disease. The term ‘punch drunk’, coined in the 1920s, referred to the symptoms of repeated head trauma in boxing, which was the first major recognition of the disease. Only recently, however, has the disease attracted enough attention for officiating bodies such as World Rugby to implement measures to protect its athletes.

Current protocol includes the Head Injury Assessment (HIA), a strict pitch-side medical evaluation designed to prevent Second Impact Syndrome. This occurs when a player receives a second blow to the head after returning to the pitch prematurely, aggravating the head trauma, and even proving fatal in extreme cases. The HIA, whilst undoubtedly a forward step in protecting rugby players, has many issues yet to be resolved. It has recently attracted heavy criticism for allowing players, including George North, to return to the field after a loss of consciousness.

Other measures have also been proposed in an attempt to prevent head injuries in the sport.

Leaders from Newcastle University have urged the government to consider banning tackling and October 2017 February 2018

scrummaging from school rugby, claiming that this is likely to reduce and mitigate the risk of injury. However, World Rugby’s rejection of these proposed changes on the grounds that they are not supported by sufficient data underlines the need for more research into the area.

Across the pond, rugby’s counterpart – American football – is a sport equally admired for its brute physicality. Its highest league, the NFL, has for years denied links between heavy contact within the sport and brain damage, including none other than CTE. In fact, since the early 2000s, over 100 former NFL players have been posthumously diagnosed with the disease.

Publicly condemned for disregarding the long-term effects of brain injury, the NFL responded by introducing a concussion protocol in 2009.

Rather than being evaluated pitch-side, players are immediately removed from the field when there are any potential signs of concussion. This perhaps reflects the severity of the issue in American football in comparison to rugby’s HIA. In addition, kickoffs have been made safer, and contact within practices has been limited. Arguably the biggest sign of the NFL admitting the problem, was the ban on helmet-to-helmet hits.

These changes have done little to stem to the vast decline in youth participation of the sport.

Green Bay Packers’ iconic quarterback Brett Favre has openly declared that he would rather his sons played golf over football – a view shared by this year’s Superbowl half-time celebrity act Justin Timberlake and former president Barack Obama. National trends reflect the unease, with the number of students playing American football decreasing by 25,000 last year.

Whilst we have come a long way to change attitudes within contact sport, the hidden issue of head injuries remains. Banning tackling at youth level and introducing more stringent concussion protocols may go some way to protecting players from school to international level. However, as long as rugby and American football remain sports where human-to-human collisions are fundamental and indeed celebrated, they will remain inherently dangerous to those who participate.

Sport

34

A step too VAR? Lyndon Taylor

Sporting News

The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system into English football has divided opinion. One moment the need for VAR is as clear as daylight, the next it’s a ‘shambles’ that’s not suited to the essence of the game. What is it about the system that is causing so much debate?

Even before its inception, debate surrounded the potential use of VAR in football. However, ongoing calls for the need for heightened technology to ensure accurate decision-making in football has led to its eventual introduction.

VAR is already in place in a number of other major European leagues, including Italy’s Serie A and Germany’s Bundesliga. However, the FA Cup third round match between Brighton and Crystal Palace on January 8 saw the first use of VAR in competitive football in England. Despite a quiet showing in its first outing, the system has since been heavily scrutinised following its use in FA Cup and Carabao Cup ties.

A “shambles” The first major controversy came after the decision not to overturn Willian’s yellow card for diving and award a penalty to Chelsea in their FA Cup third-round replay against Norwich, prompting BBC pundit and England legend Alan Shearer to brand the system a “shambles”. Willian appeared to be caught in the area by Norwich defender Timm Klose. However, referee Graham Scott booked Willian for a dive.

Mike Jones, as the designated VAR, was consulted for confirmation but saw no reason to overturn the decision. It is understood that Mike Jones had not seen a super slow-motion replay, which showed the contact. The failure to overturn the decision has thrown into doubt the system’s effectiveness, just 24 hours after a positive display from VAR in correctly overturning Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal in Leicester’s FA Cup win over Fleetwood.

So, what are the issues with VAR? Firstly, there is a lack of clarity to supporters in the stadium when a VAR decision is being made. The October 2017

Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) have argued that the system has resulted in confusion for supporters due to a lack of communication in relaying information to match-goers. The Willian moment exemplifies this; had the decision to book Willian for diving been overturned, how would supporters have been made aware that his yellow card had been rescinded?

Furthermore, the time taken for VAR decisions to be made is problematic. Unlike goal-line technology, which provides an instant decision, VAR does not. Liverpool’s 3-2 FA Cup defeat to West Brom saw a delay of nearly four minutes as the VAR was consulted in the decision to award Liverpool a penalty for a shirt tug on Mohamed Salah. Delays as long as this can arguably kill the atmosphere of a match – a trait the Premier League prides itself on. Furthermore, a number of VAR incidents may lead to hugely extended match time. It was also suggested by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp that the added time, due to VAR, should have been 10 minutes, but due to orders from broadcasters BT Sport, only four minutes were added.

Ultimately, unlike goal-line technology, the decision is still made by a referee external to the on-field action. Yes, the referee can benefit from a replay from every angle, but human error is still possible and decisions will still be debated by players, supporters and pundits. That issue cannot be avoided.

What now for VAR?

It appears clear that technology should be incorporated into football to make decision-making more accurate. After all, why should football be left behind and not embrace the latest technology available in sport? VAR still has much to offer and no doubt its potential will continue to be assessed and debated throughout the rest of the season.

However, refining the system to address the aforementioned issues appears to be critical in ensuring its successful implementation into the game.

February 2018

Lifestyle

36

AD

October February 2018 2017

36

Lifestyle

A Royal Engagement: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to tie the knot

By Sharla Zhang

B

oth countries across the Atlantic had something to celebrate when it was announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got engaged. The pair are set to wed next Spring at Windsor Castle after a year and a half of dating. Following the news, the couple did their first official interview during which they shared how Harry proposed over a very British roast chicken dinner and their first (blind) date in London set up by a mutual friend.

We also got a glimpse at the engagement ring, which Harry designed himself, comprising of two diamonds from Princess Diana’s jewellery collection either side of a larger diamond from Botswana where the couple spent quality time together. The entire interview was adorably sweet as

they held hands throughout and Harry revealed that “all

the stars were aligned” for their relationship.

Meghan is just next on a long list of American women who have captivated the hearts of royalty, most notably Hollywood actress Grace Kelly who married the Prince of Monaco in 1956. For those unfamiliar with Meghan Markle, she is most famous for her role as an ambitious, intelligent and feisty paralegal in the hit US drama series ‘Suits’. Not only does she play a strong woman on screen, Meghan also embodies these characteristics off screen.

At only 11 years old, after seeing a sexist television advert, she wrote letters to Hilary Clinton and the company who created the advert – and got the advert changed. Meghan’s humanitarian work towards gender equality, better education and accessible healthcare will no doubt mean she will be a natural at her new royal role.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s first public appearance last week in Nottingham was warmly welcomed by crowds presenting cards, gifts and well wishes to the couple. Pieces of Meghan’s outfit including her handbag sold out within hours. It is safe to say that just like her future sister-in-law, Meghan will quickly become a global icon.

Glam for the Gram(mys): The 60th Annual Grammy Awards

T

By Chloe Granger

he 60th annual Grammy Awards took place on the 28th January 2018, where all of the celebrity A-Listers flocked in to receive awards and celebrate the talent of their colleagues. Bruno Mars cleared the roster and took home awards for album, record and song of the year, an utterly historic moment as winning this trio of awards is extremely rare. Performances from Kendrick Lamar, Kesha and Rihanna wowed audiences with their powerful messages and fantastic delivery.

All round, the Grammys were a great success.

One potent moment of the Grammys, however, was the performance that Kesha gave alongside a team of other powerful, talented ladies. Donned all in white to mark their solidarity for the the #MeToo movement, they sung their hearts out in Kesha’s song ‘Praying’, an empowering and beautifully emotional song about forgiving her abuser, a topic which is extremely prevalent in Hollywood and therefore all the more compelling to witness at the Grammys.

There was also some controversy that was sparked surrounding Ed Sheeran’s Grammy win for Best Solo Performance.

The nominees were Pink, Lady Gaga, Kesha and Kelly Clarkson. What was noticed about these nominees was that they are all female and naturally, there was much backlash and anger that Ed Sheeran won the category for a song that was about a woman’s body, as opposed to the powerful anthems sung by the other nominees. Fuelling situation further, Sheeran failed to show up to collect his prestigious prize, leaving people to question his no-show. Amid this backlash, people took to social media to share their disappointment.

One wrote: “Still confused as to how @edsheeran won best pop song over @KeshaRose. She literally made a song about overcoming sexual abuse. #GRAMMYs.” CC

While another tweeted: “Naturally, Ed Sheeran wins with a Sia/TLC ripoff over four deserving women who all sang their faces off. #Grammys.”

Although there was much anger and confusion surrounding Sheeran’s Grammy 2018 win, nobody can deny that Shape of You is a great, catchy tune and although his fellow nominees may have been more worthy of the prize, as my mother once told me “It’s not about the winning. It’s the taking part that counts.”

Colby Sharp

February 2018

Lifestyle

37

Book Review

The Muse, by Jessie Burton

****

I

n the wake of her enormously successful debut, ‘The Miniaturist’, Jessie Burton was not left reaping the rewards of success but rather experiencing symptoms normally born from failure: feelings of tremendous self doubt and worthlessness. Yet, drawing on these emotions and allowing them to resonate strongly - and in no way subtly – in her work, Burton delivers a hugely imaginative and insightful tale of isolation and seduction, ambition and introversion in her 2016 novel, The Muse.

The plot pivots on the lives of two young women with extraordinary artistic talents, Odelle Bastien and Olive Schloss. Odelle, originally from Trinidad, has lived in 1960s London for five years and is discovering British culture to be considerably more lacklustre than she anticipated. She becomes employed at the Skelton Gallery by the alluring and impenetrable Marjorie Quick, who helps shape her innate ability to write and also presents the novel’s central mystery: why does Quick become shocked and seemingly haunted as a lost painting is brought to the gallery’s attention?

The journey of the painting stems from the 1930s, where, in the Spanish district of Arazuelo, Olive’s flair for painting is blossoming, unbeknown to her parents. In the midst of the Spanish Civil war, Olive’s sections of ‘The Muse’ bring a real undercurrent of political discontent and Burton’s extensive research into life in this era really shines through.

Whilst the intertwining stories differ in location, time and culture, themes of longing and restraint echo through both. Odelle is treated like an outcast due to her race, Olive is tied up in her mother’s depression. Both suffer from a quality limiting any prospects of artistic breakthrough: being a woman. The two protagonists struggle with their first experiences of love and obsession and from their tales springs an exhilarating climax.

Stylistically, Burton employs some very memorable language, likening the shade of a dress with a ‘dawn mushroom’ and describing skin as ‘taut as boiled eggs’. I find her narrative poignant, if not occasionally a little clumsy, with real insight into what it means and should mean to be an artist of any form. However, at times, the two girls seem to have a kind of reflective wisdom far beyond their years, causing you to question how convincing the story truly is. I mean what kind of a 19-year-old hopes to ‘inch closer to the shining citadel of perfection’ in their mind?

From the point of view of an exhausted student looking for an easy read, the tone could be considered a little frenzied. Nevertheless, I was surprised to find this book a page turner, despite its slow-burning nature and somewhat unusual subject matter.

Review by Nicola Jennings

Gellinger

October 2017 February 20182018 February February 2018

linger

38

Lifestyle

It’s Good to Be Back Mallory Fanton

I

t happened on an overcrowded bus that I waited on for about 25 minutes. It was 8.48 and I was on my way to the world’s most painful 9.15 in the cold, wind, wet and drizzle that has been perpetuating Bath. I was stood up because there were no seats, the bus jerked forward and backwards in a way that makes you feel like every turn might be your literal downfall. I couldn’t see outside, as the windows were covered in condensation because nobody had the presence of mind to crack open a window; apparently we should all be happy to breathe and recycle each other’s oxygen. People coughed and sneezed and for a moment I felt like a poor Irish peasant immigrating to America in the 1920s. The city was clogged with traffic and it felt like we would never make it up to campus. Fresh air and a seat were distant memories from a previous life. We lived on the bus now. We were The Bus People. Every single person who came on seemed to pay with pennies one-at-a-time or wait until their pass loaded on their phone. “Bear with me haha” they’d say, as I felt my sanity slipping by the second.

At that critical point where all that kept me from killing everyone on the bus and then myself was the implicitly-understood silence we were all commiserating in, that’s when I heard it. The distinguished shrill chirp of two girls reconnecting after not seeing one another during ISB. A lot of “aaw”s and “oh my god”s and I couldn’t turn up my music and drown it out because I couldn’t physically access my pocket. And that’s when I heard it.

“Oh my god it’s so good to be back, right?!”

No. Nope. Absolutely not. In what world- in what world is it good to be back at university? I’m about to start my last semester and I would much rather have stayed at home wasting my life away.

Every single thing that I had previously charted as a minor inconvenience in the past has now been exacerbated to the point that the thought of leaving my house to face any of them is enough to make me irrationally angry. Getting to campus on the bus is just one of them. I will say nothing about queuing at peak hours to get back down, except that the queue now goes so far back that pretty soon you’ll be waiting for the bus from your library seat. Everywhere from the SU to the library to 4W Café is crowded. Lime Tree now looks like a Manhattan soup kitchen from the Great Depression.

The fact that this university was once 1st in Student Satisfaction is a fact that continues to baffle me. Have they asked anybody who has ever been to the University Medical Centre, or have these poor souls passed away from untreated illness before they had the chance? This a university where your idea of a nice Friday is spent at Happy Hour waiting up to 30 minutes at the bar and then standing awkwardly with your drink in a circle of your friends in the middle of Plug & Tub. This is a university where the ideal night out is FAME at Komedia or Origins at Moles, both clubs that once burned down- not by accident as previously claimed, but because a brave soul took it upon themselves to set those hellish nightmares alit, I’m sure.

This is a university where the epitome of socializing is sitting by the Lake with a Pimm’s at sundown. This is a university where you make new acquaintances by trying to find your lecture hall in a building you’ve never even heard of before; amidst identical ugly-as-hell structures that you once fiercely defended as your home away from home. This is a university where you and your friends all live in the same neighborhood and see each other all the time. Where your main job is to take an interest and express your opinion on things that matter to you; where eating ice-cream at 11pm on a Monday is both normal and encouraged; where a pint ethically qualifies as ‘lunch’.

In what world is it good to be back at university?

February 2018

39

Lifestyle

Verona in Love

by Connie Hogg

Uwe Aranas

Why Verona should be on your list of places to take your other-half… ...and why February 14th could be the best time to tick it off.

Whether you’re going into 2018 loved up or happily solo, soaking up the romantic city of Verona is a wonderful thing. So with Valentine’s Day approaching, here’s five reasons - that aren’t Juliet’s balcony - why Verona should definitely feature on this year’s travel bucket list.

1. Verona in Love.

Every year, the city pays homage to the day of love with its extended festival, this year running from the 14th to 18th. Cultural events and great cuisine make this the perfect time to schedule your trip and profit from an array of pre-planned dates and discounts. For example, the occasion, visitors will have a discounted admission to Juliet’s house, Juliet’s tomb, the Lamberti Tower and the Galleria d’Arte Moderna. A highlight of the the festival that takes place all over the city’s picturesque streets is the final ‘Love Marathon’, which has the staggering finish point of the Roman Arena.

2. It’s easy (and cheap) to get to.

Flights to Verona can be a real steal. And, considering Valentines Day’s lack of holiday status, you don’t have to compete with the entire population on annual leave. Last minute deals and availabilities could definitely be one to watch out for too (RyanAir is the real bae this Valentines). That said, do be sure not to fall for those deals that seem too good to be true; a five star hotel claiming hostel rates is probably not your wisest choice.

ExposureToday February October 2018 2017

Lifestyle

40

WinterAdrian

3. Shopping.

Whilst no Milan (although Milan can be easily reached via train), Verona has an impressive shopping* scene; great for those last-minute valentines gifts you definitely didn’t forget to buy. Lovers of Italian fashion are spoilt for choice here. Running from the Roman arena to the frescoed-palaces of Piazza delle Erbe, the main shopping drag is the pedestrian-only Via Mazzini. The streets boast labels such as Gucci, Roberto Cavalli and the Fiorucci boutique, Love Only, as well as to-die-for shoes at Fratelli Rossetti, and countless jewellery boutiques specialising in engagement rings (no pressure). For seductive vintage dresses and accessories, check out Cecile on via Salvatore Corte Reggia 9….It’s probably a good thing the flights were so cheap. *Do be sure to keep your money on you and safe at all times when planning a big spending spree, as even the most friendly streets can sadly be victim to pickpockets and bad-intentioned opportunists.

4. The Lakes.

Whilst technically not in Verona, staying in the city means a day-trip to Lake Garda is a definite possibility.

Dreamy crystalline waters surrounded by a sprinkling of colourful and sleepy towns and villages, the lake exudes Italian movie-esque romance (Despite being where Mussolini established the capital of his Italian Social Republic, serving as a nexus for military operations and communications during World War II).

Trains with direct bus links connect the city to these dreamy scenes, however train service is limited going north around Lake Garda, so taking the bus or driving* are your best options if you are headed in that direction. *Check out the FCO’s helpful advice on driving abroad if you plan to road-trip around the lake!

5. The food.

When eating in Verona, you’ll probably realise the plate in front of you is more important than having a partner in the seat opposite. Of course, high quality food is largely a constant across the whole of Italy, but Verona definitely has some gems that are worth trying out: from traditional Michellin-star mains at the 200 years established Ristorantela Fontanina, to vegan and gluten free creations at Ristorante Flora (ft. a heavenly “ti-raw-mi su”). And, if all of the hype of Valentine’s day isn’t sickly sweet enough, satisfy your sugar craving taste buds with a gelato - or two - at one of the city’s many gelaterie artigianali.

Now that the fun stuff has convinced you, check out the FCO’s travel advice for the need-to-knows and you’re all set for a romantic italian escapade.

February 2018

eMia

41

Lifestyle

Justin Timberlate to the party? By Genevieve Redgrave

O

n Sunday the 4th of February, The Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 at the world’s biggest game, the Super Bowl. Now, because, absolutely no one knows why it is called that, nor understands or cares about American football on this side of the pond, I look to the most important part of the game – the halftime show.

With regularly over 100 million live viewers, this is potentially the biggest stage on the globe, home to what can only be described as legends. Annually, defining moments in culture are made as millions are spent by the NFL to produce a spectacle, I needn’t remind you of that moment Lady Gaga jumped off the stadium or the horrific moment that we almost saw Beyoncé fall over in 2015.

Yet one moment will forever remain infamous for the way it blacklisted an entire career – when in 2004, Janet Jackson’s nipple was revealed for less than a second by Justin Timberlake. Only the latter has been invited back.

Following a horrific weekend of press for the man himself whereby his new album Man in the Woods was slammed almost universally as well as plans for a holographic duet with the late

Prince were called off, Justin sauntered his way onto the stage. In what looked like a 00s room in a university club, Timberlake started away from the Stadium in a crowded space with dancers in a multitude of mismatched outfits.

This should probably have been a sign of what was to come. Failing to ignite the crowd in the stadium, let alone the millions watching from their sofas with classic hits like Cry me a river, the NSYNC member famed for his talents as a performer lacked the sex appeal that he used to radiate. With his greatest hits medley that lacked any attempt at transitions, it is no wonder that the now famous teenager who was seen on his phone next to Timberlake looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.

Perhaps it was his lack of words in support of Janet all them years ago, which hung over the stadium like an elephant in the room, that left such a bitter taste. How in the year that started by celebrating female bravery and excellence can we be expected to applaud such male mediocrity?

Perhaps whilst he waits for this backlash and storm of criticism to blow over, Justin should go back to being the Man in the Woods?

Max Pixel

Album Review

‘November’

by SiR

The sophomore album from California singer SiR may well have gone under the radar even for avid followers of the American R&B scene.

Overshadowed in the mainstream media by the recent Grammy victories of his Top Dawg label-mates Kendrick Lamar and SZA, November was released in mid-January. The album spawned two singles, which were both released on the same day: “Something Foreign”, which calls on Cali rapper ScHoolboy Q for a verse, and “Something New”, an unlikely collaboration which enlists in the sultry vocal talent of the Cambridge-born singer Etta Bond (best known for her work with February 2018

Labrinth and Wretch 32).

The two artists are the only guests on the album.

November is, in essence, a concept album, which documents a fictional journey through space. The protagonist is guided by a computer with a female voice, not dissimilar to Siri or Alexa, which updates him on his travels and even cracks a few jokes throughout the album. Lyrically, however, November is firmly rooted in real-world experiences: “D’Evils”, which samples the child reggae star Billy Boyo, is a smokers’ anthem, while “Something New” recounts a particularly eventful trip to London. The project explores a plethora of different

By Luke Ballance musical styles: the vocals on “I Know” are heavily laden with auto-tune, while “Never Home” dabbles in rap, in a departure from SiR’s signature soulful tones. Overall, though, each song runs seamlessly into one another, interspersed with the occasional travel update from our virtual companion. The album’s bluesy piano riffs and delicate percussion, consistent to each track, ensure that the listener is truly immersed in SiR’s dream world. While this album may not be the most well-known from the TDE roster in recent months, it’s without a shadow of a doubt one of the strongest.

43

ad

Lifestyle

43

Erotica: The Refreshers Edition

By Vajayjay Jackson

Luke Marrai

coming from. “My name’s like the feeling of being laid Chastity walked around the Les,” the girl said, leading down on satin bedsheets.

Refreshers Fair, trying hardest Chastity over to a particularly Chastity’s heart fluttered: to see if there was something new she could try for the rest could this be the new semes- solitary section of books, “Les B. Anne”. Chastity sensed ter experience she had been of the year. Whilst her first that this was not going to relooking for? She blinked, semester had certainly proved main the silent area for long. momentarily transfixed. She eventful, she wasn’t sure her Before she knew it, Les had shook her head and began student satisfaction was quite already removed Chastity’s walking to the library: a differthe kind that Bath liked to bra and trousers far more advertise. Horse Riding? Not ent kind of chemistry needed deftly than any man ever had. her attention right now. the kind of riding she liked.

“But - I’m straight!” Chastity Hours passed as Chastity Table Top Gaming? Probably not the type of role play- absent-mindedly fingered the gasped, pausing as Les began to move her hands under her corners of her coursework, ing she was used to. BUST trousers like she was flicking her thoughts elsewhere. As She didn’t think she liked through a library catalogue. the evening descended, it was busts – or did she?

Les began to move her head only Chastity still hunched As she begrudgingly went downwards, gripping Chasover the small round tables to pick up a leaflet for stutity’s hips with the tease of dent media, the tenth she’d on level 5 – or so she thought. more. “So is spaghetti, until “I think there’s a different reluctantly grabbed at the it’s wet.” kind of research that needs insistence of the overbearing committee, her hand brushed your attention,” a finger firmly TO BE CONTINUED ... tapped Chastity’s shoulder. against another. She mumShe swivelled round in her bled an apology, but the hand chair, her thoughts initially wavered. drawn to a different kind of “Don’t apologise,” the womlips to where the voice was an’s voice was silky smooth,

October 2017

44

HOROSCOPES

Lifestyle

By Naomi Chhatwal

Aries Mar 20 – Apr 20 Aries: the stars are aligning in your favour this month. Except the exceptional February 28th. You might miss a step, a sign or the love of your life. Whilst the latter seems more drastic, the first might leave more of a mark... on your face... due to a ridiculous fall. So, watch your step.

Taurus Apr 20 – May 21 This month, you are putting the us in TaurUS. The 14th of February will have an unexpected event ligned up for you to find true love.

If you did not read Shakespeare in school, I recommend you brush up on your knowledge: all-consuming, ever-lasting and poetic; you are in for a treat.

Gemini May 21 – Jun 21 You gotta try, Gemini. If you want to sail the sea of adventure, you have to take the steering wheel.

This is a no fear, no foul month.

Achieve, believe, succeed: you can do this, worse things have happened at sea havent they? So take the plunge and just keep swimming: you won’t regret it.

Cancer Jun 21 – Jul 23 Cancer, you feisty little thing you.

When life gives you lemons, DO NOT take another shot of tequila.

Trust me homie, you do not need it. Instead, try a detox vitamin juice with extra shots of goodness to help you through the cold February month. Thank me later.

Leo Jul 23 – Aug 23 Leo, are you ready? The rollercoaster of love awaits. This month will be a whirlwind of emotion, as you are caught in a viscious love triangle. Options: Hide from the problem until it goes away? Or, perhaps, use your math skills to divide your time appropriately...

Virgo Aug 23 – Sep 23 Wake me up, before You Vir-go, go. That’s what your admirer is praying for, so maybe give it a go go you sly little Vir-go go? This is apparently the month of romance, so maybe an adequate time to change your lover ways to reciprocate the waves of emotion that are tossed towards you with a gesture.

Libra Sep 23 – Oct 23 Sandwiched between the past and a potential future, a decision you will be making on the 18th of February will be life-changing. Libra, being the strong and independent character that you are, take charge and make it large: this is your time to reflect, divide and conquer.

Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22 Scorpiooooooh dear. If you have not already chosen to go for that haircut, you might want to reconsider. You will also have an encounter with an old friend, acquaintance or FWB in the next two weeks. Your lucky day will be February 15th. So perhaps, Valentine’s day will come a day late this year. Let’s see.

Sagittarius Nov 22 – Dec 22 Sagittarius, life has not been treating you right, has it? I saw how your last croissant was taken away from you in lime tree. Perhaps, a sign to grab an apple? Everything has opportuni-tree. So does lime tree; an array of choice awaits.

Take matters into your own hands, and turn up that frown upside down.

Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20 Capricorn, better keep an eye out on the new movie releases this month: make use of the corn to your capri and convert it into popcorn. There are queues out the door for your dating life this month and you better dig into those savings, or save yourself.

Your natural being has attracted an army of admirers.

Aquarius Jan 20 – Feb 18 Aquarius, its your month. Here it is, the shiny, bold spotlight. This is your time to sparkle. Dress, act and dance like the disco ball that you are. Remember to take a break and drink plenty of H20, or in your case, Aqua(rius). Your dancing disco ball nature will definitely attract a handsome stranger, so stay hydrated. You will need it.

Pisces Feb 18 – Mar 20 Hello there Pisces. Good news: On the 16th, a handsome stranger will leave their mark on your heart.

My advice? Give him a pisces of yours, and ignite that final semester flame. Now is the time, the time is now. With the cold in bath leaving us frosty and frozen, how nice would it be to curl up next to a bodacious body? Think about it.

February 2018

Veganuary Special: Veganna love this Vegan Lasagne

By Gemma Barnett Whilst as a meat-eater I felt fairly indifferent towards traditional lasagne, this vegan version is not only super-healthy and easy to make, but by far the best vegan recipe I’ve made. Although the cooking is time-consuming, it’s extremely low maintenance so you can pass the time by doing your recommended reading/ crying over your insurmountable student debt/ while waiting for your lasagne to cook. The vegetable’s I’ve used are completely personal to what I like, and genuinely any combination of vegetables works brilliantly.

4 servings

Time: 2 hours (including cooking time)

Ingredients 1 large carrot / 2 medium carrots 1 onion 2 peppers (I used one yellow and one green) 250 g pack of mushrooms (any variety) 1 leek 1 avocado (if you want to embrace your millennial identity) 4 cloves garlic Vegetable/ olive oil Sheets of lasagne

Method • • •

• •

•

Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius Finely chop the garlic and roughly chop all other vegetables into similar sized chunks Spread across a large roasting tin, then season with a lot of salt and pepper and a good drizzle of oil (any will do), then put in the oven for 30-45 minutes, or until all the vegetables are fairly browned Meanwhile, Pour the milk, flour and spread into a large saucepan Turn on the heat to medium and start to whisk the mixture. Keep whisking fast as the spread melts and the mixture comes to the boil – the flour will disappear and the sauce will begin to thicken.

Whisk for another 2 minutes while the sauce bubbles then stir in the cheese until melted. Season well with salt, pepper and nutmeg if you have.

•

• • •

•

1 400g canned chopped tomatoes Salt and pepper Nutmeg (optional) 500ml plant-based milk (I used almond but any will do) 100 g Vegan Cheese (I used Sainsbury’s Cheddar Style) 4 tbsp. plain flour 50g vegetable spread

When the vegetables are done, make the ‘meat’ part of the lasagne with half the vegetables and half the can of chopped tomatoes Follow with enough lasagne sheets to cover the base, then pour on half the cheese sauce Repeat, then cook in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 30-35 minutes If you can wait 10-15 minutes for the cheese and sauce to solidify slightly. Use this time to revel in your continental, super tasty, plant-embracing, animal-loving creation The lasagne will keep for up to a week (and tastes better the longer you leave it), store cover in foil in the fridge until finished.

ENJOY!

Want to write for us?

We’re looking for reporters, writers, photographers and designers, so if you’re interested please contact us!

Facebook: unibathtime Website: www.unibathtime.co.uk Email: impact-editor@bath.ac.uk Office: 1E 3.12