Volume 20, Issue 2 (Nov '18)

Top 5 Day Trips Outside of Bath, p. 9 5 Weeks In, p. 10 Clean Air Project, p. 20 Cancel Culture Needs to be CANCELLED, p. 30

SPORTS: BUS MAYHEM: INITIATING CHANGE Can’t get a first without

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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

At the Bath Time of f ice, we’ve been really happy to see you enjoying our f irst issue, and this has kept us going through the frosty mornings and chilly nights that were required to make a second one.

Dear readers,

W

e’re in the thick of it now. As our fingers go numb with the cold wait for the bus and we star t to crave roasts we’re not capable of making; it’s clear summer is over. Deadlines are quickly approaching and the workload is piling up. There are murmurs of Christmas, but we’re yet to see the lights, hear the music, or sip mulled wine round the markets. The Christmas spirit is not yet here to help us endure the cold, but it will come soon.

It’s easy to get swamped by the University workload and lifestyle and thus it’s vital we all take a break now and then. S o, as many are at this time of year, I headed home for a weekend in October. Mostly for some veg and central heating, but also to take a step back from placement planning, degree work, and putting together this magazine.

I managed to get rid of the last remnants of freshers’ f lu, and put ever ything into perspective. Alongside the editing team, we have our sights set on how we want to produce a magazine that continues to prompt the diff icult discussions, that continues to hold organisations to account, and that makes us all smile now and then.

This issue puts the spotlight on campus’ spor ting community ; initiations was something we knew we would cover from the summer and the need for a discussion around this was made clear at the Rec r ugby game that saw rugby club members chanting classist comments. There are obvious cultural problems within spor t, however, from what we have uncovered, these issues are seeing clear gradual improvement thanks to the ef for ts of many members of that community and the SU’s inter vention.

Regardless, as it stands, some refuse to see an issue with the often witnessed domineering behaviour. S ome label covering freshers in f lour, egg and ketchup, shouting commands, and enforcing eating punishments as minor events..

We also have some top quality lifestyle ar ticles from our now regular columnists.

Eloise, our resident f resher, who’s giving us an update of her antics over the last few weeks. We also have Greg, a Bite Editor from days gone by, with a fictional spoof of a fresher’s arrival weekend. Our news writers have put together a new ‘Is This News? ’ section, telling tales of swans getting stuck on rooftops and the catf ishing of ISIS. Once again, we have something for ever yone, please do enjoy!

Glen McAlpine Editor-in-Chief

November 2018 3

MEET THE COMMITTEE

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CONTENTS PAGE November 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY

COVER STORY

6

41

Sports: Initiating Change

by Emily Johnstone & Millie Gibson

NEWS & COMMENT

FEATURES

LIFESTYLE

19

34

9 10

Bathwick Hill Care Home Shut Down

by Felix Keane

20 23

Clean Air Project

by Tom Langer

Brazil’s New FarRight President

by Magdalena Rojas

25

Kim Jong Un invites the Pope

36

38

People’s Vote March Debate

by Stefan Garcia Gender at the University of Bath

by Darcey Stickley Understanding Somalia

by Ruqia Osman

Top 5 Day Trips

by Holly Hughes

15

5 Weeks In

by Eloise Sacares Trust Her, She’s a Doctor

by Mohammad Lone

by Genevieve Redgrave

November 2018 5

COVER STORY

SPORTS: INITIATING CHANGE

By Emily Johnstone & Millie Gibson

A

nother year, another bunch of freshers, another round of ‘initiations’. So far this year sports’ ‘Welcome Socials’ have been incredibly welcoming and nothing less. Meanwhile, underground ‘initiations’ included far more outrageous and controversial events. The particular culture that enables these events was highlighted on the 17th of October at the BUCS Super Rugby game. Obscene chants from members of the University of Bath Rugby Club towards their Leeds Beckett opposition - ‘F*** Off to Your Council Homes’- set a poor tone for the year ahead. The footage, which can be found on the Bath Time website, has been criticised by Rugby Club Chair Josh Rodgers and SU Sports Officer Andy Galloway as “disappointing” and unrepresentative of the values of the SU and the University. The groupthink mentality displayed in these chants are commonplace in the underground sports initiations across campus.

Despite SU intervention to ban ‘initiation’ ceremonies, extreme behaviour and challenges are still the norm among many sports clubs. On just one cold Wednesday evening earlier this term, there were numerous initiations clearly visible on campus involving nasty eating challenges, freshers coerced into crawling on their hands and knees, and drinking challenges involving buckets of alcohol and funnels of milk. The common factor among such events is often a hierarchy whereby returners dictate the rules and punishments to “inferior” freshers.

Some participants have said this creates a sense of intimidation rather than integration in their teams.

At the Cheerleading ‘initiation’ a bystander reported “freshers being dominated” and commanded assertively by older students. Events included freshers having their faces covered in a combination of alcohol and flour and people were taking photos of the team in various sex positions as well as them doing a variation of the human centipede. Similarly at football initiations in Oldfield Park an observer

6 BATHTIME

reported seeing “several footballers in speedos bent over doggy style and covered in dirt”.

As of this year, the SU Sport Executive Committee has introduced Welfare & Inclusivity Officers to every sporting committee. While the effects are seemingly varied between sports, gradual change is being made. One Welfare & Inclusivity Officer commented to Bath Time, “my role includes ensuring that all new members of the club feel welcomed rather than intimidated. A culture of fear and exclusion benefits no-one, and so this year our club made a conscious effort to make sure that no individual was forced to participate in any activity they didn’t feel comfortable with”.

At some clubs, official ‘welcome socials’ involve nothing more harmful than a talent show competition.

Indeed, for one hockey fresher, entertaining the club with a rendition of Adele was part of their initiation.

A few self-conscious lines of ‘Hello’ might be considered as a team building exercise because putting one’s individual ego aside can be important for a cohesive, winning team.

However, the Student Union’s introduction of the 2015 ‘Counter the Culture’ campaign highlights grave issues that arise when ‘Welcome Socials’ cross the line to becoming traditional ‘initiations’. After 2000 responses to the SU’s lad culture survey from the student body, the campaign pledged to tackle key factors of pack mentality and heavy alcohol consumption rife amongst student societies and sports clubs.

The SU have also put Welfare and Inclusivity Officers into place, and

COVER STORY now require ‘Welcome Social’ forms to be submitted 7 days prior to an event, with disciplinary consequences for those who do not comply with agreed arrangements. With best efforts being made to reduce peer pressure, the cycle of initiations may not have died out just yet but appears to be reducing in prevalence.

An anonymous member of the University of Bath Association Football and Futsal Club recalled their ‘lifeguard and swimmers’ welcome social at Green Park Station in 2016. With freshers dressed in “nothing but a pair of speedos and a swimming cap”, they were taken through a series of challenges and encouraged to participate in “repeated physical exercises, chasing after girls and downing all sorts afterwards”. Similar drinking pressure is reported in previous tennis and netball initiations that occured in 2016, where freshers were requested to “bring their taste buds along” and endure a mixture of drinking and eating challenges.

This often resulted in new club members being “sick and not remembering much after”.

This brings to question where do we draw the line?

Joining a club and meeting new people should be fun but at what point does being welcomed into a society go too far? For a fresher who wishes to remain anonymous, the pressure to participate in a series of initiation challenges resulted in them quitting their sports team all together. After a failed attempt to complete a list of requests including “stealing bras, eating bonsai tree fertiliser and stealing a tree,” the new club member was ordered by their team to down a “dirty pint containing all sorts which included the fertiliser.” Perhaps it is time for all students to call last orders on initiations that drive players away.

Every year, numerous stories of initiations gone horribly wrong emerge nationally. Extreme cases at other universities in the past, as reported by The Mirror,

involved carrots being inserted into players and them being blindfolded and urinated on. The Rugby Football Union estimated that 10,000 school leavers in 2016 stopped playing rugby as of October 2017, and while some will always stop when they hit 18, there is a concern that the extreme rugby culture is driving fans of the game away. If not actively curbed, these night-outs can escalate to radical lengths quite easily. A mix of peer pressure and eagerness among freshers to feel validated in a social group fosters a fresher-senior relationship based on intimidation. Incidents from initiations are often held against members through the year. This also raises concerns of how weighty athletic merit is while recruiting newcomers.

In response to these events, SU Sports Officer, Andrew Galloway, commented: “Initiations in sports clubs are a national issue and with 49 clubs at Bath, it’s no surprise that on occasion, behavior can cross the line. Over the past few years the SU has worked with our clubs to try to foster an environment where new members are welcomed in a way that is enjoyable for everyone involved. We require all clubs to submit a welcome social document outlining their plans for the event, showing that they’ve read and understood the rules and expectations in place. I also sent out a welcome email to all our new club members explaining the systems in place for anyone to report experiences that made them feel uncomfortable. One of these options is the Welfare and Inclusivity Officers who are now a core position on club committees which has been a really positive step in effecting change. Many clubs are making progress in changing the culture within their own clubs which is great to see, this is demonstrated through a record number (30) of sports clubs signing up to the Inclusivity Award. I’m sure there will always be individuals who cause issues but it is important to understand that the SU has structures in place to both prevent and deal with these issues when they arise.”

Initiation occurring on campus November 2018 7

LIFESTYLE

Review

RAISING THE BAR + BLOCK

By Nicola Jennings Often overshadowed by Bath Brew House and Spoons, Bar + Block may not be the obvious student choice on James St W. But on gloomy winter nights, the warm-hearted service, easy-going ambience and string of 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor are enough to make this restaurant most inviting.

My dad and I were excited to be catching up after several weeks of term and our moods were further lifted as we were escorted through Bar + Block’s trendy yet understated interior, wood panelling and copper lighting balancing homely with chic. Having worked in a restaurant which offloaded industrial portions of bread to guests as they were seated, it was a pleasant surprise to be greeted with complimentary popcorn. Dad and I have eternally debated over which popcorn should triumph, sweet or salty, but on this occasion we could agree that the (homemade) beef dripping variety Bar & Block offered was a dark horse – a real tangy treat.

Our second pleasant surprise of the evening was the price of drinks. We had Mai Tais which only cost £3.50 thanks to the half price offer* and it was a delight to receive a cocktail that wasn’t simply an elaborate glass of ice. The splash of spirit mixed in with vibrant juices was generous and by this point our own spirits were on top form.

Our highly knowledgeable (although not overbearing) waitress recommended the Spiral Cut Fillet for main course and approved of our choice to go medium rare – from waitressing experience, chefs tend to roll their eyes at requests for steak cooked any more. The cut of meat marinated in garlic and parsley was beautifully succulent, made even tastier by the side of piquant

8 BATHTIME

peppercorn sauce. The chefs had the clever insight to use samphire for saltiness instead of, well, salt, and this added colour and class. Bar + Block tempts you with the words of which every student dreams when choosing the number of ounces– ‘You can have as much as you want’- and teases you with the lavish range of side sauces.

Without a doubt, though, the halloumi fries were the showstopper of the evening. I was reluctant to go for them, not only to avoid living up to the teenage girl stereotype but also because they’re commonly rubbery, bland and meagre in portion. This helping was quite the opposite: soft, flavoursome and seemingly bottomless, with a crispy exterior to leave you craving ‘just one more’. Do not hesitate to upgrade to these from the standard side of chunky chips or house salad.

Our cheese extravaganza continued into dessert, this time in the form of a Lemon and Clementine Cheesecake. Cheesecake tends to be a reliable dessert and this one didn’t disappoint, but in future I would definitely succumb to the dreamy-looking Chocolate Churros Sundae. The table next to us went for this and we couldn’t help repeatedly glancing over in longing admiration.

Bar + Block may not be a casual option forf students but it is certainly a location to keep in mind for when parents and family friends are visiting (and paying). Winter is coming but the food here is enough to warm the soul.

Keep an eye out for the Sunday Roasts and Christmas Menus too. *Monday to Thursday 5-7pm

Photo Credit: Nicola Jennings

For starters we opted for the vegetarian Trio of Dips (Hummus, Mixed Tomato Salsa and Carrot and Harissa Dip served with a Tortilla) and couldn’t resist the Smoked Salmon with Flatbread. Both were reasonable portions but still light. It was tricky to decide whether the flavours were subtle or underwhelming but either way these dishes were an enticing way to open the meal.

Lifestyle Editor Nicola Jennings was invited to try out the mouth-watering cuisine of Bar + Block Steakhouse.

Photo Credits: 1. Wikipedia, 2. VIsitBristol.co.uk, 3. VisitWiltshire.co.uk, 4. Cotswold Journeys, 5. VisitExeter.com

LIFESTYLE

1. SALISBURY Known as ‘the city in the countryside’, Salisbury is a place for all those seeking a calmer city experience.

Steeped in history, the focal point is the famous Salisbury Cathedral; not only owning the tallest spire in country, but also the best preserved 1215 Magna Carta.

If you’d rather spend the day shopping, Salisbury also plays host to all your favourite high-street retailers as well as countless independent shops. Keep an eye out for the traditional Charter Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the year. If you fancy a Christmas market away from Bath (and one that runs a little closer to Christmas itself), the Salisbury Christmas Market is from 23rd November to 22nd December this year.

Avebury and its outskirts are host to some outstanding Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial sites. Home to the largest stone circle in the world, this World Heritage Site is ideal for anyone wanting a real taste of the past. To experience more recent history, I would recommend visiting to Avebury Manor, where you can stop to play snooker in the Billiards room. Afternoon tea (and other food) is available in the library as well.

4. LACOCK For all you avid Harry Potter fans like myself, this is the place to visit. Lacock Abbey was the set for several scenes in the classrooms and corridors of Hogwarts (have a look on YouTube) and is also rumoured to feature in ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’. The Abbey grounds are definitely worth a visit, especially in the autumn months. Within the village 2. BANKSY WALKING TOUR, BRISTOL Along the nearby streets of Bristol, you can (almost) take you can visit the home of the Potters (the streets of the same steps as the world-renowned street artist Bank- ‘Budleigh Babbleton’) and the house in the following sequence in which Slughorn is hidden. Lacock offers sy, to view some of his most iconic designs. To navigate plenty of local pubs and cafes too. you can either download the Bansky Bristol Trail app (available on Android and iOS), or a number of maps 5. EXETER QUAYSIDE available on wandereroftheworld.co.uk/banksy-walkIf you’re someone seeking a more active day out, ing-tours-bristol/. I’d recommend the 3-mile central tour, which takes you down to the beautiful harbourside, then it’s worth making the longer trip to the banks of the River Exe. The area is packed with independent as well. Here you can grab something to eat from the restaurants and cafés and a wonderful collection of many restaurants, my top pick would be Za Za Bazaar, shops selling finely crafted local produce (perfect for a buffet style restaurant offering every kind of cuisine, Christmas gifts!) What makes the quayside so unique from Asian to Italian. from anywhere else in the South West is that you can explore the river in more than one way… if you fancy 3. AVEBURY some exercise you can hire a bike or canoe!

One for those who want to escape the city, the village of November 2018 9

LIFESTYLE Photo Credit: bath.ac.uk

5 WEEKS IN

By Eloise Sacares

Since arriving here 5 weeks ago, I’ve managed to lose my jacket, reusable water bottle, 2 calculators and a pumpkin. The only one I’ve managed to find is obviously the most useful: the pumpkin.

My first month in Bath has been a blur of ‘I’m-tootired-for-this’ lectures, hazy nights out, and bonding with people over recognizing them but having no idea where from. Freshers’ gave us not just flu that seems to have lasted an entire month, but also cases of chest problems and viral eye infections. It turned a drunk 20p bet into me permanently dying my flat mate’s hair pink and left friends dragged along their hallway floors to bed. I won’t say I miss the days where a random guy would ask me to tie up his toga directly after hitting me in the face, but with lecturers starting to talk about essay titles and citations, it does seem like a simpler time.

Living alone can be tough. At home I always have my mum, dad, or sister around for when my anxiety disorder plays up; suddenly having to create a brand-new support network can feel overwhelming. I’ve found the trick is to spend as much time away from my room as possible, so I’ve done the classic first year move of joining about 20 societies and then realizing there’s no way I can possibly fit them all in. But as most of those I’ve truly committed to seem to spend more time chatting in Happy Hour or going to Monday Night Bridge than doing actual intellectual society things, I think I’ll be alright.

Living on campus you see some weird and wonderful things: the walk back from the Veggie

10 BATHTIME

Weekly Meal on a Wednesday evening is entertainment in itself. As sports initiations fill the benches outside CB and people already in their Score costumes wander the parade, you don’t think twice about seeing students dressed as cows, horses, leaves and minions. While the bus crisis may have improved, one 30 minute wait saw a girl decide out of sheer boredom to climb the Rossiter Road bus stop, to a surprisingly high degree of success.

Some of us may already be in our overdrafts - one guy got through his whole student loan in Freshers’ Week alone. Others have resorted to stealing: one flat acquired 20 bottles of washing up liquid as they made their way around pre-drinks and one person is still pretending to be a vegan so that they can steal their flatmate’s chicken without suspicion.

There are so many things I’ve done since being here that I would have never imagined, especially getting myself a column in Bath Time within a month. However, as a wise second year told me, the thing about university is that you just have to put your name down for things and there’s a higher chance you’ll get them than you might think. Then even if you don’t, you’ve still tried something out.

I may have failed to get into Aquapella or attend more than one yoga session despite paying the membership, but at least I’ve added to the collection of friendly faces to bump into around campus.

I may miss the regularity of London buses, having a dishwasher and not having to do laundry, but I’m getting used to being in a constant state of illness and sleep deprivation. Bath may just be starting to feel like home.

LIFESTYLE

EAT THAT: TOP TIPS FOR

By Genevieve Redgrave

1. Look for healthy snacks/alternatives. In fear of accidentally sounding like the love-child of Jamie Oliver and Gracefit, sugar is where most of us slip up, sometimes in ways we don’t even think about.

It’s all about conscious choices and choosing agave nectar instead of half a cup of sugar in the essay-induced 2am caffeine break or sugar-free sprite for that litre of vodka over the weekend, is a step in the right direction. Life’s all about balance and trust me when I say that cutting out entire food sections out of your diet leads to many pain-au-chocolat purges a week before exam season. No one is saying to stop the snacks in the library, (they’re the only things that keep us going) but keep an eye on the label and go for a healthier alternative because at least that way, no one else is going to steal the packet when you go for a toilet break.

2. Make sure that you eat breakfast, no matter how much time you think that you don’t have. Rolling out of bed and getting straight in the U1 queue might seem like the most efficient morning routine, but when it hits 11am, you’re still in the U1 queue and you’re dying of starvation, what you choose is unlikely to be the healthiest. I’m not expecting an insta-perfect grain bowl with a side of avocado toast but having a quick bowl of cereal before leaving or grabbing a piece of fruit for the journey is going to stop the sugar cravings – at least for maybe an hour.

3. Shop efficiently. Healthy food can be expensive and unless student finance has been extremely kind

to you, no one has the budget to be shopping at the organic Waitrose range, but this doesn’t mean that you still can’t eat well. The ultimate go-to is the fruit and veg market down the side of M&S on a Wednesday and Sunday where you can get all that you’d need at a cut of the price from the supermarket. But Sunday morning is rarely hangover-friendly, so when you’d rather avoid a loud and somewhat dubious Cockney accent shouting the latest potato deals, then Lidl and Morrison’s have got you covered. Both supermarkets lead the way in cheap but actually fresh produce and the latter’s ‘wonky veg’ range gives you veg that might not be the best on the eye, but definitely the best on budget.

4. Make your food in batches. Let’s be honest here, the main reason people don’t eat well at university is through pure lack of effort. Cooking is boring and no one wants to waste their time slaving over a crowded (and slightly dirty) kitchen stove to make a meal for just yourself. The best way to get round it? Make massive portions of one dish that will keep you stocked up for days that way, it’s only effort a few times a week. Eating well doesn’t have to mean salads for dinner, but eating a solid portion of a home-cooked meal is miles ahead of a microwaveable tikka masala. There’s nothing you’re going to be more thankful for than having an actual dinner that you just need to warm up when it’s 7:10 and 8 is late.

Being able to bring lunch up to campus is a lifesaver for your budget as well, because a £5 trip to Little Fresh becomes £100 down the drain before you’ve even checked your account to realise.

Good eating and good for your finances, the only negative is trying to stop yourself eating four portions in one.

November 2018 11

Photo Credits: unsplash.com

If you asked any of my flat mates from first year why my room became the social hub, I’m sure they would unanimously agree it was due to one singular fact: snacks. I was a one-woman corner shop, with Costco’s finest supply of Aero, Dorito’s and Kit Kats - you name it and I had it stashed under my desk ready to distribute. This was a common theme throughout my food cupboards and it was truly a miracle if a vegetable fell into my dinner. Then suddenly, around Christmas last year, I decided what I was doing just wasn’t healthy anymore, so I undertook a questionable diet that may have potentially done more harm than good but with the (many) mistakes under my belt, I’m now in a position to give the ultimate steps to healthy eating at university.

A HEALTHY STUDENT DIET

LIFESTYLE

Agony Aunt Don’t stress - it’s really not rocket science. It’s barely even as complicated as a rocket salad you might order.

Being yourself is most important! Yes, it’s a good idea to show the best version of yourself but worrying about trying to make an impression is a recipe for disaster. It might sound simple but ask questions and take the time to listen to your date; it eases pressure on you. Don’t struggle for conversation topics – be interested in the world. Knowing what films are out and what stories are in the headlines might prevent too many awkward silences. Lunch might be a safe option for a first date as it’s easier to end. Essentially, going on a date is like meeting someone, except you hope to maybe sneak in a kiss at some point. A good date will lead to another and a bad one will leave you with a funny anecdote. Be confident and stay true to yourself.

My clingy friend is like a limpet and I’m sick of dragging her around with me to everything. She won’t do anything alone. I really like our friendship but sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe without her asking where I’m going and who I’m seeing.

Whilst you both might be friends, you are also adults with different connections to make and separate lives to live. It’s important to still make time for just you and her to hang out. But it’s equally just as important to tell her that she can’t depend on you to organise everything for her. As simple as it sounds, honesty is the best policy. There is nothing wrong with you wanting to do things separately. If you enjoy doing your own things, you need to tell her that. But, you should keep in mind that there may be a reason for her constant clinginess and you owe it to your friendship to find out why.

Photo Credits: unsplash.com

I’m feeling a bit out of practice and haven’t been on a first date in ages. Do you have any advice on what to do and what not to do on a food date?

I’ve made friends outside of my flat which means that I don’t spend much time with my flatmates who are all quite close. The problem is that they can be really loud late at night. Fair enough on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays but when I have a lecture in the morning, it’s so annoying!

How do I tell them without making things awkward?

Essential to student life is communication and respect. If your flatmates are regularly keeping you up at night, speak to them and explain how you feel.

To help avoid potential awkwardness, try to find a compromise together. Perhaps ask that loud music is turned down after a certain time or that late night antics are kept out of the corridor. Bringing it up may be better than suffering in silence. It may also offer you the opportunity to get to know your flatmates better if you’re not spending as much time with them. If you’ve not spoken to them much before, they might not even realise that you have such an early start. If you really struggle to find a way to meet in the middle, you can always get in touch with an Accommodation Leader to help resolve the issue. Just remember, you’re living with your flatmates for a whole year, it really helps if you can get along so be prepared to compromise.

With love,

If you have any questions for Beatrice, please send an email to su-bathtime-lifestyle@bath.ac.uk

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LIFESTYLE

TRY THIS AT HOME:

Transforming Your Second Year House

By Chloé Granger Picture this: you no longer live in your cosy, clean university halls, you had to choose your second-year flatmates extremely early on (any regrets?) and you all picked rooms either on a price basis or you drew out of a hat. Does any of this sound familiar? Welcome to second year, my friends.

Moving into your second-year accommodation can be daunting. However, it should be less scary than first year as (hopefully) you know your flatmates better and you’ve landed a room you’re happy with. It’s no surprise that décor in every room will be rather on the bare side, with only necessities filling the space. That now leaves you with the glorious task of customising it yourself; the inner interior designer in you will be thrilled.

Here are a few tips you can follow on how to cheer up your second-year house and turn it into a real living space.

2. FAIRY LIGHTS & LIGHTBOXES This goes for your shared living area and your own bedroom. If you have a fireplace or any form of ledge to drape these along, it would add something extra to your nights in. Lightboxes are also pretty fantastic as you can customise what they say depending on the occasion. It’s genuinely little additions like these that can really brighten up the place (excuse the pun) and make it seem more like a home.

3. PHOTOS Pretty evidently, it’s necessary to have some form of visual ex-

4. BATH MATS To some, this may seem like a no-brainer, but for me, investing in a bath mat wasn’t up for debate.

Not only do they serve a practical, but they can cheer up your otherwise bland and dull bathroom.

Primark sell some vibrant ones, or even T K Maxx may sell some more upmarket labels but at a fraction of the price. It will make a genuine difference to your bathroom if you’ve got a pop of colour on the floor. Try getting a unique shape too, if you want to be a little different.

5. DECORATE YOUR SOFAS Whether you invest in some sofa covers (our landlord did this for us and chose a hideous pattern, so make sure you have a say!) or you simply add some pillows and a fluffy throw, this will be a much more attractive scene than just plain, boring sofas that don’t look very inviting to sit on. Whether you’re having a night in or you’re pre-ing before your night go out, having comfortable and aesthetically pleasing sofas will subconsciously make you feel a little more cheerful inside.

Photo Credit: unsplash.com

1. BEANBAGS When it comes to living rooms in student houses, beanbags are probably the greatest invention known to man. Having these dotted around the living room will create an inviting, truly snug space that will encourage everyone to hang out together. If you have some form of cubby or cosy landing, bringing these out here for movie nights or even for some games (drinking or not) would shake things up a little and give you a change of scenery from being in the living room all the time.

citement going on. An endearing idea would be to blu-tac photos to your living room wall, or any other communal area, to form a sort of collage. This adds fun, identity and reasons to laugh as you will constantly be looking back at them and reliving past memories you’ve made together. This goes for your own space too; having pictures of your home friends, family or even pets will make you smile and look back on all the fun you’ve had, especially if you’re feeling slightly homesick; it’s a great way to cheer yourself up.

LIFESTYLE

Review

F I RST M AN W I L L L E AV E YOU M OON -E Y E D Photo Credit: NASA, public domain

By Élie Breton de Löys When people say that First Man has to be seen on the biggest screen possible, it isn’t an understatement. Rarely has a movie been so immersive and breath-taking. It’s easy to assume that First Man will be another drama about an American hero but, if anything, it is not a movie about space and is instead a movie about overcoming grief. Only a brilliant director like Damien Chazelle could shine new light on the reality behind the first trip to the Moon.

The movie plays out as an intimate drama, more focused on the lives of the Armstrong family than the actual mission. Ryan Gosling portrays a heartbroken pilot trying to overcome the death of his daughter Karen while his wife (Claire Foy), deals with the possibility that her husband may never return. The intense family drama throughout makes us think about how costly going to the Moon was, in terms of money and of lives. Credit has to be given to Gosling and Foy for their incredible performances that emphasise the sad reality of the astronauts’ lives at home. The emotion, especially in the last part of the movie, is heartbreaking as we realise that Armstrong had to literally go to space to cope with the problems he had on Earth.

On the technical side, the space sequences are simply amazing, whether it be Armstrong’s flight aboard the X-15, the Gemini 8 tests or the Apollo

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11 launch. Inside the shuttle, Chazelle makes the tension highly real and immersive and, watching the film on an IMAX screen,I was on the edge of my seat. This tour de force is partially due to the fact that no green screen was used during the filming, making the action as realistic as possible.

The historical atmosphere also stands out as Chazelle manages to make the spectator aware of the critical situation in the 1960s: the symbolic fight between the U.S. and U.S.S.R, forcing NASA to work harder than ever, but more importantly the protest at home as many believed that the money spent on the programme had better uses elsewhere.

One cannot discuss the movie without mentioning the incredible soundtrack. Justin Hurwitz has created a thrilling score, probably one of the best of 2018.

If you’re a movie fan, or simply enjoy good music, I cannot stress enough how much you need to listen to First Man’s beautifully intense and emotional soundtrack.

Whether it is about jazz, the difficulties of being an actress or an intimate look at an American hero, Damien Chazelle confirms his status of genius director. He lands a movie that not only takes a fresh look at the race for space exploration but also manages to dive into the minds of those who risked their lives for America’s greatness. First Man isn’t just a movie, it’s an odyssey for the ages.

LIFESTYLE

Review

TRUST HER, SHE’S A DOCTOR

By Mohammad Mubashir Lone

M

uch like the title of her debut episode, ‘The Woman Who Fell to Earth’, suggests, the Broadchurch star was thrust into the spotlight as Doctor Who began its 11th series. Though news of her succeeding the decidedly older, more Scottish and more male Peter Capaldi had broken over a year ago, no one quite knew what to expect from Jodie Whittaker. In fact, no one knew what to expect from Doctor Who in general- this new series sees not just a new Doctor, but a new showrunner in Chris Chibnall, also of Broadchurch fame.

Despite the outburst of conflicting views surrounding the Doctor becoming female (as if Brexit wasn’t enough to split the country!), there was surprisingly little fanfare around this in the series 11 opener, beyond the title and some offhand remarks from the Doctor. This was refreshing, and a mark of Whittaker’s skill that her being female is soon forgotten as the episode progresses.

All the buzz surrounding Whittaker’s debut allows the episode’s poor story to be swept under the rug.

Chibnall demonstrates what he does best- crafting personalities and tender moments of emotion. But his first villain, the trypophobia-triggering Tzim-Sha (underwhelmingly pronounced ‘Tim Shaw’) fails to lend any significant stakes to the plot, bar perhaps one scene when he confronts a drunk Northerner throwing bits of doner kebab at him.

‘The Woman Who Fell to Earth’ is a misunderstood story. It pays no reverence to the show’s past, because it actually resets it; creating a climbing on point for new viewers. And while the plot and villain had their foibles, neither of these were meant to be the stars of this first episode. Rather, their function was to provide a stage for Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and her cabal of 3 to establish themselves.

“Right now, I’m a stranger to myself… I’ll be fine.

In the end. Hopefully.” Here’s to the hoping the 13th Doctor will prove herself right.

Photo Credits: Ludoenix, Gage Skidmore /Wikimedia Commons

It would be an understatement to say that Capaldi’s 12th Doctor set a high bar. He held a superb level of gravitas, with a twist of the quirkiness that makes the Doctor so likeable.

Not much is explored of Gill’s character Yasmin Khan, but Cole and Walsh’s dynamic, as a dyspraxic young man and a step-grandfather he has yet to fully accept, proves convincing and immersive. The 13th Doctor’s intermediation between these two is trademark Doctor.

Despite this, seeing Jodie Whittaker’s approach to the iconic Time Lord in this episode is truly invigorating and promises good things for the show’s future. “We can honour who we’ve been, and choose who we want to be next”, the 13th Doctor ponders in her new broad Yorkshire accent. Whittaker’s Doctor lives up to this, as she displays her own fizz and eccentricities, with an underlying essence of Doctors’ past.

Particularly interesting is Whittaker’s Doctor dynamic with her 3 new companions, played by Mandip Gill, Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh (yes, that one).

November 2018 15

LIFESTYLE

BATHTIME

Book Club THE WHITE BOOK (2018), Han Kang

Straddling the border between prose and poetry, The White Book is a heart-breaking examination of loss through the lens of everything white

by Robert Brett

T

he phenomenal success of her 2015 novel The Vegetarian hasn’t stopped Han Kang from experimenting.

From the first page of her newest release it’s clear that the author wanted to try something different, and the effect is mesmerising. The book begins with a list of white things – snow, rice-cakes, the moon- and it takes the reader on an unpredictable journey from there. A meditation on the beauty of falling snow quickly becomes an honest look at loss.

From crisp white sheets to the piercing light of stars, the novel flows naturally from each piece to the next. On the third poem, we first learn what the book is really about – Han Kang’s older sister, who lived for only two hours. The book then progresses to inspect every facet of that loss – how do you deal with losing somebody you’ll never meet? How do you accept that her death allowed you to be born?

Though there is a consistent narrative, the book is structured as a series of titled free-form poems. This takes the emphasis away from storytelling and gives Kang a platform to delve into the emotions of her characters, unravelling their nuance and complexity in the process.

The book also contains a series of ambiguous black and white photographs that drew me in ever further. It’s hard to tell what’s going on – in

16 BATHTIME

keeping with the writing. Nothing is explicit. On the surface, The White Book is novel about loss, but it’s so much more than that. It captures the strangeness of the human condition, the uncertainty with which we all live. As it travels from place to place, skipping ahead and drawing back through time, it maintains enough consistency to call itself a novel, but it never feels restrained by its underlying plot.

It’s impossible to review this novel without giving due credit to the translator, Deborah Smith. Though originally written in Korean, you’d never know. And I suppose that’s the job of a good translator. Her use of language is deft and precise, and I couldn’t find a word out of place.

Everything just fits together.

I think a lot of people would shy away from reading a poetry book, and I understand why. Poetry can be inaccessible and pretentious.

Having said that, The White Book is neither of those things. It is grounded, relatable, and all the more accessible for its format. If you’ve never liked poetry, don’t count this book out.

The White Book is the most original and moving novel I’ve read this year. It’s right at the interface of prose and poetry, never feeling like too much of either.

You can pick up a copy of The White Book in Toppings for £8.99.

LIFESTYLE

BUST: THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS

By Darcey Stickley hen tired and tipsy students piled into the Weston Studio on 19th, we weren’t sure what to expect. What was waiting for us was a trip back to 18th century Italy.

Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters is a commedia dell’arte set in Venice, about the day a servant, Truffaldino, tries to serve two masters at the same time.

The twist? One of his masters, Federigo, is actually his sister, Beatrice, while the other master, Florindo, is Beatrice’s ex-lover. Think Love Island meets Downton Abbey.

As a side to this confusion, there’s more: the Harlequins, gibberish-speaking and hopelessly clumsy, are a threepeople ensemble to provide inter-scene intervals.

Their entertainment USP was slapstick comedy, while, on practical terms, their inter-scene action made for smooth prop changes while their décor scene was nothing short of a medieval Home Under The Hammer.

Now, I expected both exaggeration and mildly serious acting. When the lights fell, I realised I was going to get

The servant himself: full of charisma and cockney wit, Truffaldino was brilliant onstage, helped by the fact he was the only one allowed to swear. His main characteristic was hunger: perpetually famished, when he was able to eat, he made the ordeal overtly sexual. If that doesn’t describe a student diet, I don’t know what will.

A fun and necessary departure away from normality, BUST’s latest play was a joy to watch and a delight to review.

S E E YO U L AT E R , K R AT E R

By Glen McAlpine

N

eed an escape from University? Want a giggle after a week of 9.15s? Look elsewhere. Komedia’s Krater comedy club may provide a rare chuckle, but you’ll leave pacing it back to your comfortable student bubble.

The event isn’t known for attracting a student audience.

With auditorium tickets priced at £20, the room seemed well-populated with stag dos, hen parties and many nearing retirement. Hope was found in the £9 student ticket and the £3 pints.

The regular compère began with presumably the standard routine, then proceeded to pick on a young husbandto-be, which had us chuckling; our optimism was high.

The first comedian engaged well with the audience - the style wasn’t groundbreaking, but they walked the tightrope of risqué comments and not being disgusting well.

Following the first act, we discussed our expectations.

We hoped for more range; we’d heard the boundaries of political correctness pushed (which were pushed well)

but variety was welcome. Some ethnic diversity on the stage? Maybe. A comedienne? Surely! There are still two more acts - how naive.

The following acts made some disgusting comments, prompting laughter from only those who’d had so many £3 pints they had lost all focus. Some of the comments were on racial and national differences, joking about adopting a “black kid” and how admirable it was that larger British women wear few clothes on nights out.

Meanwhile, the other decided to launch his set with Jobcentre jokes. The room giggled occasionally, seemingly out of relief at a punchline that wasn’t uncomfortably outrageous.

Krater changes comedians each time, so this might not always be the standard. Had the quality of the first act been maintained, this would be a very different review.

However, the cheap, distasteful humour that dominated the second half means we’re not willing to risk going again.

November 2018 17

Photo Credit: Hugh Wren

W

a lot more of one than the other. Not a bad thing, either: this play is based around a farcical 24 hours in Europe’s aristocracy. How often does your servant put you in the same inn as your lost lover, get your stuff mixed up with theirs and then you find a diary of letters about you in your own trunk? Freaky Friday stuff.

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NEWS & COMMENT

CARE HOME SHUTS DOWN ON BATHWICK HILL WE HAVE OUR ROLE TO PLAY

By Felix Keane

I

f you take the U1 back to town, you’ll probably have spotted a white sign halfway down Bathwick hill which reads “The Salvation Army- Smallcombe House”. Hidden a bit below was a care home for 32 elderly men and women, until it was shut down this autumn. An inspection found the home unsafe, ineffective and uncaring. Following the report, the Salvation Army and the council agreed to terminate the contract, thus relocating the 32 residents elsewhere.

This is not a local issue: in the UK, new research showed abuse cases in 91 out of 92 care homes, most commonly relating to forms of neglect, such as elderly people waiting hours to receive care, go to the toilet, or eat. The findings notably confirmed a widespread problem in Britain: these behaviours relate to staff burnout, suggesting carers are under constant pressure and unable to provide the level of care they would like to offer.

The organisational reality of the sector is that care has become task-focused because of a chronically underfunded social care system. Carers have a certain number of hours to dress, feed or wash a certain number of people. How can a single carer dress thirty residents in one morning, gently, with a smile and reassuring words every time? How scary must it be for a person with dementia to be

handled every morning, by someone who has another twenty-nine people to dress?

The problem is multi-faceted: there is of course the question of funding, and most parties agree the government should act with investment and reform. That a carer should be paid £21,000 to deliver such level of emotional and physical support is unfair- but it is also very convenient. Indeed, if our elders had the physical ability to assemble, no doubt would a movement of protest have already swept the country, arguing human dignity is being violated on an industrial scale in Britain’s care homes.

In an age of glamour and youth however, we prefer to look away. Generations are disconnected, comments like “old people are gross” pass as acceptable.

It’s as though, from retirement, our elders have nothing left to contribute to society, other than their money. This problem is not only a question of funding but of public awareness. Everyone benefits from a fairer society for our elders, sooner or later.

I once met a carer for an elderly woman who lived secluded in a small apartment. After the woman died, she told me: “I wish, one day, that I’ll have someone to take care of me like I took care of her”.

It would do us good to think a bit more like that.

WHAT THE INSPECTORS OF SMALLCOMBE HOUSE FOUND • Overflowing clinical waste bags and a soiled incontinence pad.

• Poorly trained staff lacking empathy.

• Strong unpleasant odour on common area and rooms.

• Dirty equipment.

• Inefficient and unresponsive management.

FINDINGS OF THE UCL SURVEY OF CARERS 99% of care homes surveyed had reported abuse and neglect.

1/5 said residents were not given enough time for food.

5% reported verbal abuse.

1% reported physical abuse.

1/4 reported making residents wait for care.

November 2018 19

NEWS & COMMENT

THE CLEAN AIR PROJECT BEHIND U1 ROUTE CHANGES Council preparing a Clean Air Zone in the city centre by 2011

Photo Credits: Bath Time, unsplash.com

vulnerable groups such as disabled drivers. Additionally, non-conforming lorries, coaches and buses will face a £100 charge for every day in which they drive inside the zone.

Some First buses are too polluting

New charges would be brought into place for certain vehicles

By Tom Langer

T

he Bath Clean Air zone is a proposal which could be implemented by the end of 2020 by the Bath and North East Somerset Council. Its stated aim is to improve local air quality and reduce exhaust emissions, as Bath is currently one of sixty one UK towns and cities with illegally high levels of Nitrogen Dioxide.

“Bath is 1 of 61 UK towns and cities with illegally high levels of Nitrogen Dioxide.”

From £9 to £100 charge per day Drivers of certain petrol and Diesel cars will be charged £9 for every day they drive within the clean air zone, which roughly stretches around Queens Square to encompass Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent and North Parade. City residents who drive cars that fail to meet the required environmental standards will be among the hardest hit by this policy and a discount for city residents was considered. However, modelling suggested that a blanket discount would render the policy too ineffective to meet the legal environmental requirements that have precipitated it. Instead, the council is proposing several exemptions from the charges to protect some

20 BATHTIME

This project for better air quality notably motivated the (now surely world-famous) changes to the U1 bus route at the start of term. The core 8 U1 double decker buses do have Euro-6 standard diesel engines and, as such, are exempt from the fine. However, in peak times another 17 buses can run, which use the more polluting Euro 2 and Euro 3 engines. According to the Council’s cabinet member for transport, Mark Shelford, “Most of the buses operating on service U1 at the start of the year were new double-deckers” but “First have been operating more articulated buses in recent months”. It seems that First Bus were in the process of re-organising their fleet of buses when (in April) the Council first unveiled plans to combat poor standards of air quality.

The changes to the bus route were the fallout of these conflicting objectives.

This policy follows the national trend of increased environmental awareness. The £12 million it is expected to raise in 2021 would be used to fund green infrastructure, such as the provision of electric vehicle charging points. This project seems to be motivated entirely by a desire to improve environment and the quality of life, though it is likely that the government’s threat of fining the Council if air quality did not improve by 2021 has provided a strong impetus.

NEWS & COMMENT

IS THIS...

NEWS? Photo Credits: unsplash.com

3 CHECHEN WOMEN CATFISH ISIS TO GET TRAVEL MONEY Three Chechen women saw an opportunity to get some travel money when they saw ISIS were offering money for prospective “jihadi brides”.

Once ISIS had sent them almost $2,000, they simply blocked them from all of their social media accounts…

They were then caught by the Chechen police and faced charges of fraud, which could lead to a maximum sentence of six years in jail. Still, these three women were celebrated all over the Internet: as shown by an online Telegraph poll, 89% of about 4,500 voters think they should face no charges as they “ripped off terrorists”. Some on Twitter even suggested that they deserved medals for one of the most surprising catfishing stories.

SWAN “STUCK” ON BATH SHOP ROOF FLIES AWAY AS FIRE CREW AND RSPCA DISPATCHED

The terrified swan. Photo from @thattinycat on Twitter

A fire engine of the Avon Fire and Rescue Service was called at Pulteney Bridge on 15th October because a woman spotted a swan on a roof. It was thought that the swan was unable to run up and fly off, even though it was on top of a building. The fire crew was concerned that the swan would panic and hurt itself if they came close, so they called the RSPCA (animal welfare). However, when both parties returned to Pulteney Bridge, the swan had flown off. Because, you know, it’s a bird.

1,550-YEAR-OLD ‘VAMPIRE CHILD’ BURIAL DISCOVERED IN ITALY The skeleton of a child was discovered with a large rock in its mouth in Lugano, Italy. A team of researchers from the University of Arizona said that this was probably to avoid the child from “rising” from the dead and contaminating others, according to contemporary folklore. The cemetery was built in the 5th century during an outbreak of Malaria and researchers are saying that Romans were not hesitant to use witchcraft to prevent ‘evil’ from spreading. Other skeletons were discovered, including a little girl whose hands and feet were pinned down with rocks and remains of sacrificed puppies. Creepy.

November 2018 21

NEWS & COMMENT

By Adam Knowles

J

ust what on earth is happening at Real Madrid?

This is the question that every Spanish football fan is currently asking themselves after the European Champions slumped to their fifth consecutive fixture without a win as they suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Levante this Saturday (20th October).

‘Los Blancos’ started the La Liga season in typically victorious fashion by picking up 13 out of a possible 15 points from their opening 5 games. The memory of Cristiano Ronaldo (now plying his trade in Italyww) was beginning to fade into nothing more than sentimental history as the Madrid side scored in all of their 5 opening league games, as well as in their 3-0 home win to Roma in the Champions League. However, a terrible first half performance in the south of Spain against Sevilla at the end of September set the tone for an ensuing month that can only be described as catastrophic.

Marcelo’s 72nd minute consolation this weekend put an end to the longest goal drought in the club’s history, which unfathomably managed to drag out to 481 minutes. All of a sudden, the thoughts of ‘Who needs Ronaldo?’ were completely renounced and the spectre of the Portuguese phenomenon who scored 450 goals for the club in only 438 appearances, looms ever more ominously over the man who decided to sell the 5 time Ballon D’Or winner to Juventus for €100m this summer.

Florentino Pérez’s decision to sell the club’s most

22 BATHTIME

famous galáctico, who was instrumental in the successful attainment and subsequent retention of the Champions League these past three years, has been heavily scrutinised by many. The club President contemplating his decision to employ the services of manager Julen Lopetegui as the Basque coach has also come under much criticism from the unforgiving Madrid faithful, following a recent string of unsatisfactory results.

According to Captain Sergio Ramos, the manager still has the support of the Real Madrid dressing room; however, whether Lopetegui remains as manager at the time of publishing this article will depend enormously on the outcome of the Champions League fixture against Plzen on Tuesday and, more importantly, the invariably mouth-watering El Clásico on the 28th of October. The team from the Spanish capital will be lifted at the prospect of a Barcelona side without Lionel Messi, who has been ruled out through injury. Nonetheless, failure to put out a competitive display at the Camp Nou will almost certainly spell the end for Lopetegui’s reign at Europe’s most successful club.

Photo Credits: uggboy, Екатерина Лаут

FIRING BLANCOS What’s up with the Real?

NEWS & COMMENT

NEW FAR-RIGHT TURN FOR BRAZIL AS JAIR BOLSONARO ELECTED

O

n 28th October Jair Bolsonaro was elected in the Brazilian ballotage for presidency with more than 55% of the total votes, winning in 16 of the 27 states. After several impeachments, political corruption revelations and imprisonments of political leaders, there has been massive dissatisfaction with the leftist political culture that has been in crescendo. Bolsonaro’s win can be considered the most dramatic turn towards far right in the continent since the military dictatorship’s era.

The newly elected president is an ex-soldier who dedicated 17 years of his life to the army. After this, he entered politics and became a member of the Chamber of Deputies in 1991. His military upbringing certainly shapes his frame of mind, as he places hierarchy and discipline above other morals. Many of his declarations throughout the recent political campaign invoke armed forces to be the source of control in desperate times, as well as to ensure the constitution is respected.

Bolsonaro does not fall short of

controversies. Impact on the economy are expected to be severe due to his ideas regarding the establishment of targets for the dollar, inflation and interest rates, to list a few. This has caused scepticism in the international economic sphere as a free-floating Real (the Brazilian currency) is considered to the one of the causes of Brazil’s stability, as it is shock-absorbant. He plans to stop fiscal spending, giving autonomy to the central bank and allow petrol prices to follow market behaviour. Plans to drift away from the Mercosur have also been prowling, but nothing is concrete yet.

Bolsonaro also plans to add conservative social views to this economic setting. His polemic declarations regarding women, gays, and black people have been shared all over the internet and have set a fear of social backwardness within minority groups.

Truth be told, not everything claimed during political campaigns translates into actions when a candidate is elected.

Speculation and uncertainty about how the biggest country is South America will proceed are at their highest; it also remains to be seen how neighbouring countries will react to this new government.

November 2018 23

Photo Credits: Janine Moraes/Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, Victor Moriyama

By Magdalena Rojas

NEWS & COMMENT

COMMENT

What we’re taught by black resistance leaders Photo Credit: Public Domain

This is an intentional and important change to an interpretation of his life.

This has been done to remove legitimacy from methods of protests that involve civil disobedience and violence in self-defence. This creates a false idea that significant social change can come about with c​ alm and civil discourse​, or through voting, while delegitimising resistance groups fighting for their rights.

Similar transformations can be seen in other resistance leaders. Martin LuMartin Luther King’s mugshot as he was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, for protesting. ther King is universally lauded for his

By Mauricio Fortuna advancements in civil rights, but many weren’t supportive of him at the time. In the past the FBI Though Nelson Mandela is today remembered as a treated him as an enemy of the state, even attemptsymbol of peace and conciliation, a look at how he ing to convince him to commit suicide. Again, his acquired that image reveals much about false narrasocialist ​views are ignored​. His marches, often distives. He was a controversial figure, Thatcher called ruptive and aggressive enough to warrant ​arrests,​ the A ​ frican National Convention a terrorist organiare shown as ​serene and peaceful​. His message of zation​, Reagan actively worked against him, and he unity and non-violence became one of advocation was on a US terrorist watch list until 2008. of total civility and lack of conflict. King knew that real political change had to be fought for, even These leaders and many other governments disapwithout violence, and wasn’t won with neither ​calm proved of Mandela because of his extreme methods discussions​nor presence at a ballot box. of action to undermine the incumbent apartheid government. Following a massacre of peaceful Governments and media actively distort the image protesters by the police, the ANC realized that of militant leaders in history, as they are powerwhen met with indiscriminate violence, non-violent ful inspirations of how individuals hold power to movements had to react accordingly. Their armed create change. Sometimes this is done by whitewing staged several bombings against the apartwashing movements’ values and struggles, as with heid government. They sought to minimize civilian Mandela and King. Other times this is done by deaths, but those still occurred. Mandela preached omitting key militant movements, such as the the message of love, peace and unity that is attached Black Panthers from history lessons. The reason for to his modern image but could only reach a position this is clear: governments don’t want to encourage to do that after a long and brutal fight. the public to undertake aggressive, militant and disruptive action. This is the only way change can The narrative of Mandela’s struggle has been stercome about, through the public rendering power ilised and whitewashed, a notable example of that unto themselves. This doesn’t mean violence; it can being is that his socialist views go largely unmenmean strikes, protests, marches and more. Change tioned. His crime has gone from ‘bombings’ to ‘​ never comes from ‘civility’ or voting. Every right sabotage​’, a word which removes the necessary we have today came from struggle, fight, and disbrutality of his actions. His struggle is implied to ruption. Direct action is the ultimate expression of be an uncontroversial fight against an oppressive democracy. government.

24 BATHTIME

NEWS & COMMENT

With 75,000 North Korean Christians held in camps,

SHOULD THE POPE ACCEPT KIM JONG UN’S INVITATION? Photo Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

By Genevieve Redgrave

O

n Thursday 18th October, it was announced that dictator Kim Jong Un has invited Pope Francis to visit the secret state later this year, amid a string of olive branch offerings to the international community. The invitation came through South Korean leader Moon Jae-In whilst he visited the Vatican, explaining that his North Korean counterpart would like a visit from the Catholic head. Yet as Mr Kim continues to persecute Christians domestically, would a visit by the Pope himself legitimise this brutal regime, or would it facilitate peace in the peninsula?

It comes as no surprise that North Korea leads the way in repression of its own people, and violence against the Christian minority is merely another notch in its belt. For 16 consecutive years the dynasty has topped the list of an Open Doors investigation of 50 worst states for Christian persecution, with an estimated 75,000 of the 300,000 Christian population in hard labour camps across the nation.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution; yet places of worship for any other deity than the Kim family are far removed, as even prayer in the confines of private homes is cracked down upon.

Religious ‘freedom’ is only freedom until it undermines the regime. This has led to trouble for many visitors to North Korea, including Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim who was jailed for nearly three years after he was accused and later found guilty of using religion to ‘overthrow the regime’.

The meeting with Donald Trump has been hailed a historic milestone towards North Korea making peace with the international system. For many, this seems to be coming to fruition, with limited nuclear tests and a noticeable lack of ‘Rocket Man’ jokes from the Oval office. But can Pope Francis, supposed beacon of Christian peace, look at the closed nation and hail it as a hopeful one?

The Pope has continued to outline his support for peace in the region, allegedly telling Mr Moon to ‘not stop, move forward. Do not be afraid.’ Already planning a historic trip to Japan later in the year, the Pope has received a request from Chinese bishops to visit their nation amid improved relations with their state. With that in mind, now seems a better time than any to make the journey to North Korea.

A trip across Asia which once shunned the Catholic figurehead could signify a trajectory that nobody could have predicted, one of peace and religious freedom internationally, or, potentially, just one of fraudulent attempts of diplomacy.

Serious attempts of peace rarely come with continued domestic repression, and optimistic speeches from an overseas leader are unlikely to garner much freedom for North Korean citizens, regardless of their religion. This is a fact that the Catholic Church knows.

Yet critics have not been kind to the Church either, and with waves of sexual assault, paedophilia and even murder accusations free-flowing from the doors of churches around the globe, their popularity continues to dwindle. As their historic bases fade, it would not be overly presumptuous to look at this trip as a joint effort to prove just how peaceful they can be. So, peaceful prosperity or precarious mirage of openness?

November 2018 25

NEWS & COMMENT

3 ways Italy is clashing with the EU There is much talk about the weakening of the EU and the rise of populism. What does this mean concretely? Lucie Landon, head of the student-led policy incubator European Horizons Bath, sums up 3 ways in which Italy is clashing with the European Union.

Italy wants relief by borrowing more- Brussels says no.

On 27th September, the Italian government announced they wanted to raise the budget deficit to 2,4% of the GDP for the upcoming years, which means the government would Deputy PM Luigi Di Maio, one of the faces of be borrowing more this new basic income for the unemployed to give Italians some relief. Luigi Di Maio, the new Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Social Policies celebrated this victory at the balcony of the Chigi Palace in Rome in front of hundreds of Italians gathered for the occasion. During the campaign, this new figure of Italian politics promised a minimum basic income for all unemployed Italians of 780€, a measure that alone weighs $10 billion in the new Italian budget.

Italy could join forces with other populist leaders in 2019 elections.

The European Commission expressed explicit concerns toward the easing of fiscal rules implemented after the 2008 crisis. Increasing the Italian deficit is tantamount to endangering the entire euro area: because Italy is one of the founding members of the European Union, the symbolic value of having the country play with the constraints set by the European Union means opening the door to further abuses by other European members. The commission has since rejected Italy’s draft budget in a move to force the Italian government to rein in its spending.

On migration issues, the leader of the Northern League and new Minister of the Interior, Matteo Salvini, made himself known as a public figure through his hostility towards migration. The other key member of the coalition, Di Maio, announced on 10th June the closure of Italian ports to humanitarian vessels, such as the Aquarius. Additionally, in September 2018, he declared a ‘security decree’ rollout, aiming to reduce public spend-

The European Parliament has asked Italy to reconsider its budget

An emergence of a coalition between the Italian, Hungarian and Austrian leaders is likely in preparation for the 2019 European elections. It will aim to represent a right-wing line within the European Parliament focused on cultural and identity issues.

Italy wants a redistribution of migrants in the EU.

Photo Credits: Mattia Luigi Nappi, David Iliff. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0, Christopher Czermak

By Lucie Landon

NEWS & COMMENT ing on asylum seekers. Those migration issues also affect the already tense relationship between Brussels and Italy, as the Italian government has previously threatened not to contribute to the European budget if an agreement is not reached on the redistribution of migrants with the EU. Despite this situation, the popularity of Salvini has been rising ever since the election, cement-

ing him as one of the new key leaders embodying the identitarian closure currently sweeping through Europe.

Interested in European Politics? European Horizons Bath is a student-led policy incubator which offers talks and international events. Find out more at facebook.com/europeanhorizonsbath/

The hero who stopped Hitler’s atomic plan dies at 99

By Athénaïs Mangin

T

Photo Credits: Charles Levy - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

he name of Joachim Rønneberg might not ring a bell to a lot of people, yet this Norwegian man, who died on 21st October at the age of 99, led a top-secret resistance raid against the Vemork plant (50 miles west of Oslo). Back then, it was the only one that could produce significant amounts of heavy water, an essential part of nuclear weapons.

With five other men under his command, the 23-year-old sabotage-and-demolition instructor led “Operation Gunnerside” the night of 27th February 1943. They successfully destroyed the entire inventory of heavy water that the Germans produced during their occupation of Norway, as well as the entire heavy-water section of the plant. They then made a 250-mile ski trek to the east to cross the frontier into neutral Sweden.

Rønneberg only started talking about what he achieved in the 1970s, as he realised he was “part of history” and that “people must realise that peace and freedom have to be fought for every day”. When he talked about this perilous mission, he described it as “a gang of friends doing a job together”, before adding with a smile that it was “the best skiing weekend I have ever had”. A statue of him can now be found in Alesund, Norway, unveiled by Princess Astrid for his 95th birthday in 2014.

November 2018 27

NEWS & COMMENT

Photo Credits: Michael Vadon, www.kremlin.ru

Trump withdraws from arms treaty with RussiaEveryone for themselves INF is a logical progression of his and the administration’s efforts to disentangle themselves from the shackles of international treaties or renegotiating on their own terms. Indeed, this is the embodiment of ‘America First’.

Withdrawing will legitimise Russian efforts to pursue further armament of shorter-range missiles, heightening tensions in Europe where NATO defence features low on Trump’s agenda. Where Trump is distracted by bigger diplomatic prizes in the Middle and Far East, European leaders may be Bolton, Trump’s security advisor, recommended to leave the treaty. forced to buffer against increasing Russian capabilities on NATO targets. Meanwhile, it remains to be

By Lewis Boulton seen how this will affect efforts to renegotiate with Iran and North Korea; as The Atlantic’s Uri Friede should have seen it coming: after all, Presiman points out, Trump has demonstrated himself dent Trump’s accusation of Russian infringeas a ‘deal breaker’, but not yet a ‘deal maker’, and ment in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces the US is far from establishing satisfactory controls (INF) treaty last week follows a long list of comover hostile military activities. His ease at leaving plaints, ranging from Iran to securing NATO defence, the table cannot inspire confidence in a balanced all in the name of unfair expectations on the US. To compromise.

Trump’s credit, allegations of Russian infringement on the development of medium-range missiles preWith the President demonstrating previous indifdate him: Obama’s administration accused the Kremference to the idea of nations such as Japan and lin of deploying such missiles in 2014, with Trump Saudi Arabia pursuing nuclear capabilities in place putting sanctions on the regime in 2017. Russia of US military presence, Trump’s preference seems asserts that they do not compromise the treaty, but it to be ‘every nation for themselves’. If it does come does allow for much faster deployment times for atto a splintering of the ‘Western Alliance’, an ‘Us tacking European targets. Meanwhile, America fears First’ policy in security and defence may transform being outpaced against other belligerent powers. itself from a minority desire

W

It is likely, however, that the US’s attention has turned to China’s absence from such a treaty; withdrawing would allow both Russia and the US to openly counteract unchecked Chinese armament. Much of this policy is indebted to John Bolton, Trump’s National Security Advisor. Previously penning an op-ed (paywall) against the treaty in 2011 and assisting in the withdrawal of a similar US-Russian treaty in 2002, Bolton has since advocated US withdrawal from the US-European Iran agreement. Withdrawing from the

28 BATHTIME

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FEATURES

CANCEL CULTURE NEEDS TO BE CANCELLED

By Tito Mogaji-Williams

W

hen they came for all straight, white, middle-class men – I said patriarchy, imperialism, classism and oppression justifies resistance and the cancellation of the elite for their unethical behaviour.

When they came for the Soundcloud (XXXTentacion, Kodak Black, 6ix9ine) rappers, I said that lot are all bloody weird, so whilst I will not slander some of their admittedly great music, sexual abuse, colourism, domestic violence are all absolutely reprehensible so let the cancellation bell ring.

When they came for basically every popular urban UK artist – I thought if we don’t critique our own communities then we are hypocrites. But it’s starting to get a bit much.

Then the other day, Brother Nature – the Mexican 19 year old who came to fame chronicling his funny adventures with deer, squirrels and all kinds of lovable animals – was cancelled for problematic tweets from 2012.

This is where I draw a line. This is not because of any particular loyalty to this deer whisperer fellow (Canela is far cuter) but because cancellation culture has long overstayed its welcome in any reasonable progressive movement.

Cancel culture is the process of withholding support morally, financially and/or digitally for people who stray into the “problematic” category. If your old dodgy tweets are unearthed, like in the case of celebrity Maya Jama, then you will face punishment in the form of being #cancelled. The resulting uproar around your ugly views serve to reprimand those who defy our acceptable social norms and cause offense, if not harm, to society’s most vulnerable constituencies.

Women have continually been a punching bag in our patriarchal society, which has ignited backlash in the form of the #MeToo

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movement. Colourism, of which all genders have been targeted, has ridden the coattails of patriarchy to introduce an additional pernicious dimension for women of colour. These are just two of the popular oppressions that many find themselves victims of. White supremacy has been a virulent genocidal disease throughout history that has caused untold misery, conquest, pillaging and abuse. Alongside homophobia, the often-dismissed classism and other violent ideologies, it is no wonder that so many marginalized groups have risen up in protest to those who would continue to uphold such views in 2018.

Cancellation culture and its mother, political correctness, arise from the recent power of the oppressed to dictate the acceptable discourse and behaviours of those who have historically held power. But in its frantic effort to rid society of undesirable views and unwillingness to compromise, cancellation culture has become unforgiving, uncomfortable and uncontrollable.

When Brother Nature (Kelvin Peña) is being cancelled for stupid tweets made at the age of 13 he since apologized for, (admittedly some are horrific, praising the KKK, Hitler, Nazis and advocating violence against women) are we saying that growth is impossible? Are we saying to all the people who weren’t lucky enough to be born woke, with a clinical understanding of white supremacy, patriarchy, homophobia, the dynamics of all structural oppressions and the maturity/self-control to uphold these views at all times, to get lost? That no ignorance whatsoever is welcome in the new world of social justice?

That ain’t it. People make mistakes, learn, grow and do become better. We have to give second chances, we have to consider context and we have to allow ignorance to wither away with time. Of course, the violence and harm caused by aggressive ideologies should not be tolerated, but neither still should permanent social ostracism for some of the diverging views that different people of different backgrounds at different stages of their life hold. I know you have said stupid things either out loud or maybe you were dumb enough to put them online. I know I have. Everyone has. If you personally are pure of heart and deed, can you say the same for all your friends and relatives? Even the most well-intentioned person has to learn to do better and be better.

Wokeness does not arrive overnight, and certainly not for all people at the same time.

Let’s cancel cancelling people. Accountability is not the same as intolerance.

FEATURES

CANADA ANTICIPATES HIGH-FLYING OUTCOMES FROM CANNABIS LEGISLATION

By Magdalena Rojas Last month Canada became the second country in the world to legalise marijuana, following Uruguay who pioneered in the issue at the end of 2013. As of 17th October, the farming, cultivation, and selling of cannabis is legal across the country. Despite a number of opponents, the measure is largely supported by the masses. Execution of the bill will undoubtedly bring along a series of social and economic implications.

Studies have shown that Canadians are recurrent consumers of hedonic weed. Newer generations are increasingly keen on consuming cannabis and at least one third of the youth are active consumers. More than 40% of the general population have ‘tried it at least once’ or are avid consumers. If a considerable portion of the population is already acquainted with the herb, what would legalisation mean for the society as a whole? Is it possible to think that, realistically, there will be no social consequences?

Although illegal weed is rife in Canada, legalisation will without a doubt bring about social changes.

Cannabis legalisation implies that the black market in which all illegal transactions take place will lose value. As the new law supports transactions of marijuana, it is pointless for smugglers to continue. This is socially constructive as safety in consumption will now be guarded by the new law.

Photo Credits: unsplas.com, graphics: Diego Torres

Moreover, the measure will shift opinions, perceptions and attitudes towards the herb. The government’s stance of acceptance is prone to shape sentiments amongst the population as a whole. After the law’s announcement, newspapers, universities and other institutions have introduced cannabis experts into their teams to create awareness about its business, consumption and retail. Because of this and other important factors, stigma against weed consumption is moving towards extinction.

In economic terms, the market for recreational cannabis has been estimated to be $5 billion. Just on its

own, this is a considerable sum, capable of driving the Canadian economy further. Also, development of the market entails job openings which will also have a positive impact in terms of decreasing unemployment. Considering 1g of weed would cost between $6 and $10 (£4.60-£7.66) + $1 tax (£0.58), the government will receive significant revenue from cannabis-related transactions which can be effectively redistributed.

Weed legalisation will also open doors to the multimillion-dollar medicinal cannabis industry. This entertains the idea that big companies’ experts on the subject will settle in national territory, enhancing economic productivity. An example of this is Tweed, a company based in Ontario which has already piled up $500 million on marijuana-based revenue.

Tweed’s shares have experienced a sustained increase since September when the legalisation was predicted, so it’s clear financial markets can and will be hugely benefited.

The last economic aspect to consider is that cannabis legalisation will allow for adjacent markets such as marijuana coffee shops and bars to be created. Due to the ever growing popularity of Amsterdam’s coffee shops, it’s evident this will enhance economic activity for locals as the novelty of the issue will attract international tourists.

In a year’s time, it will be possible to evaluate the case with factual data and concretely determine if the prime minister’s initiative progressed as anticipated.

Overall, however, significant positive economic implications can be expected from the legislation.

November 2018 31

FEATURES

Like a Moth to a PlusZap 16 ZE121 Aluminium 16-Watt Insect Killer you will know that winged aphids are less fecund than wingless ones of the same species. In transo, Darwin’s idea of biology is that life evolves lation, your essay can only be so good because as the better environmental suitors of a variety with tomorrow’s deadline looming, five Red Bulls are repeatedly selected – only they get to survive only do so much. and pass on their genes. The consequence of all this? Eventually you get some pretty groovy Thirdly, it is impossible for evolution to be prepopulations. However, just how groovy can often pared for every eventuality because organisms be misconceived - couldn’t you argue that, by this adapt to a statistical average. Just like an unusualargument, organisms become perfect? Hold that ly deceptive tree branch can still catch a monkey thought. out, I can’t write a perfect essay because I can’t exactly predict the sequence of my forgetting of Personally this current period is the time of essay notes, books and brain. writing and I’ll admit I have a rather assertive accumulation of assignments to be dealing with.

If you struggle with perfectionism, consider this Now this is a problem because I, like many stufinal point. Organisms are imperfect because dents, dream of each piece being perfect. Again, they are constrained by natural laws, but in obeyhold that thought. ing these laws so devoutly, does that not make them perfect?

An extreme adaptationist would be one to assume that through natural selection, all aspects This article was inspired by Richard Dawkins’s The of an organism – morphological, physiological Extended Phenotype and behavioural – are always the best solutions to problems. If you think like that good for you - at least you’re thinking - but you’re also emphatically wrong. Reflecting on the two thoughts you’re supposed to be holding, there are no perfect organisms and there are no perfect essays. Allow me to explain this with three concepts, starting with the time-lag effect.

By Tom Reynoldson

S

Secondly, evolutionary perfection is limited by both costs and materials. The biologists amongst

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Photo Credits: Larissa/Flickr, Fir0002/Wikimedia Commons

Most often an organism we observe has passed its sell-by-date, being built by genes selected at a different time. Take the example of moth self-immolation: before, candles small sources of light acted as celestial compasses or escape markers, now, unfortunately, not so much. Of course, the time-lag effect of essay writing is all too well known to us students (if you’ve never procrastinated in your life I need you in mine).

FEATURES

Significant developments in “Blank-Slate” AI that learns without any human intervention

By Robert Brett

I

n 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue chess playing computer beat the world champion. Until then, the scientific community were convinced that this was impossible, or at least reserved for some unknowable future.

This was a pivotal moment and it changed what we considered possible. Deep Blue managed to achieve its victory by processing data from millions of other matches.

Fast forward a couple of decades and in January 2016, Google’s artificial intelligence development company Deepmind announced that their AI AlphaGo had beaten the world champion of Go, an ancient Chinese board game that’s substantially more complex than chess. This was something considered impossible for at least a decade until it happened at their London offices. The world of computing was stunned.

AlphaGo relied on the moves of millions of Go matches, in the same way Deep Blue mined the data of chess champions in order to learn how to win. But a recent development by the Deepmind team has stretched the realm of possibility in an unthinkable way.

What are the implications of this? Well – in forty days a computer has learnt more than the cumulative experience of countless masters playing millions of matches. It has also taught itself all of this – with no interference from any human being. And that is as terrifying as it is incredible.

Before you go and start preaching about the impending robot apocalypse take a second to breathe.

This could be incredible. If AI can learn more about a board game than the sum total of humanity, then imagine the advances in medicine. The Deepmind team are currently using AI to investigate protein folding – a biological process that if goes wrong can cause Alzheimer’s. And the thing is, Go is a game about finding patterns. Loosely defined, that’s kind of what science is. Finding patterns in the world.

Nonetheless, it is terrifying to think of humans becoming redundant. The social and political implications of this sort of development need considering sooner rather than later. Despite this, I couldn’t be more excited to see where this leads. Super-intelligent robots? Cures for cancer? Friendships with non-human intelligences? It’s weird. But it’s happening, and it could be a blessing for all of us, even if we do end up feeling somewhat insecure as a result.

Photo Credit: Hana Chramostova

AlphaGo Zero is the successor to 2016’s original program. It relies on tabula rasa, or blank slate learning.

It started knowing nothing apart from the rules of the game, and in 40 days had managed to attain a superhuman skill level. It works by using neural networks, which are computer systems modelled on the human brain.

Neural networks learn from experience – trialling different approaches and finding out what works. AlphaGo Zero played against itself millions of times over the course of forty days – quickly exceeding the original AlphaGo program’s capabilities. Despite the fact that the original was loaded with data from millions of games between human masters.

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FEATURES

REPORT: STUDENTS DOMINATE PEOPLE’S VOTE MARCH

By Stefan Garcia

D

espite being less than six months away from officially ‘Brexiting’ there were many who were not content with the current political climate in Westminster. On October 20th, the notorious ‘Forgotten 48%’ marched to Parliament to demand a final say on the terms of the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal, including an option to remain within the European Union.

Leaving out the Iraq War and Donald Trump demonstrations, London has never been busier. At the heart of the day’s protest were students, thousands of whom demanded to have their voices heard on the basis that this deal was going to affect their futures the most. Many students who wished to work in the EU felt their plans may be jeopardized by something they didn’t vote for.

However, it is not only British students who will struggle to adapt to a post-Brexit UK. Thousands of EU citizens descend upon Bath alone each year in search of work, education or even just a good holiday. What will a post-Brexit future hold for them? We spoke to Zoe, a French National studying at Bath, who said she was extremely unsure of her future in

the UK and whether or not she will be able to live and work in the country she loved so much. Another Bath resident and Cardiff University student, Abi, explained her unabashed motivation for attending the March: “75% of young people did not vote for Brexit, I therefore feel a sense of responsibility to march for my fellow youths”.

The Bath contingency was headed by SU President Eve Alcock, who is an active spokesperson for ‘For Future’s Sake’, a student-led anti Brexit campaign. There were also some bigger names that took to stage on the day, including author Alistair Campbell and celebrity chef Delia Smith. Bath Time spoke to Delia Smith who was very vocal about the People’s Vote campaign, saying: “If we are going to make the UK a better place, we will need cooperation between countries”. Upon being asked what the worst thing about Brexit was for her, Smith said “I am proud to be English and without losing that identity, I feel emotionally attached to Europe.

I shall be very hurt [when we leave]” The People’s Vote March added a new dimension to the Brexit dispute.

Debate: Should the SU be backing the people’s vote on the basis of the student Brexit vote?

T

he ubiquitous conversation on Brexit has brought to the forefront many diverse voices. All of these voices want a different thing from a deal which is likely to shape political and international discourse for decades to come. On one hand is the question of what the dominant view is on the issue while on the other hand there widespread is concern for the ‘sovereignty’ of the United Kingdom. These are difficult decisions, especially considering the looming debate on how to determine what people want while maintaining the sanctity of democracy. On the back of the SU officially leading a student group in the People’s March protest in London late last month, Bath Time raised the question of whether or not the SU should support the People’s Vote based on the Student Brexit vote. Following are the opinions of two contributors:

Stefan Garcia (For):

Brexit. What a mess. Despite being just five months away from leaving the European Union, the British people are still being kept in the dark, unaware of what is to come. Take the issue of higher education, for example. What will happen to EU nationals studying and teaching in the UK? No one knows. Can universities continue to fund significant research without EU support? No one knows. So, how does Brexit actually

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support universities such as ours? It doesn’t. This is why I support our SU in associating itself with a People’s Vote on Theresa May’s final Brexit deal, for it would be a disaster for universities, students and lecturers up and down this United Kingdom. Ending free movement of people, as Theresa May intends to do, will diminish the amount of EU citizens wanting to study, lecture and ultimately contribute to this society. Such a situation, united to the exclusion of EU funding would have a

FEATURES detrimental effect on exchange programmes and the quality of teaching and research collaboration.

Lawrence Desroseus (Against):

The Brexit referendum was won by the 52% of people who believed that leaving the EU was the best thing for them and this country. It is true that this was a narrow win for those who voted leave, but it remains that the question was put to the people, and the majority chose to leave. To backtrack on this result would be to further test people’s trust in the democratic system.

88% of Bath students did vote for the SU to back the remain campaign back in 2016, which is admittedly a very decisive result. However, to back a second referendum and backtrack on a democratic result is an entirely different issue, and this result cannot be applied to supporting this.

Stefan Garcia (For):

A people’s vote would be on the terms of the Brexit deal, not another in/out referendum on EU membership. This, I believe, is vital for we did not have all of the facts during the referendum period. Facts such as no £350 million per week for the NHS through the Brexit dividend, a £39 billion divorce fee and numerous businesses fleeing in search of stability in Europe.

This, in my opinion, is not what the electorate voted for in 2016. In addition, as mentioned previously, has the capacity to affect funding for universities across the country, meaning that students would suffer.

Lawrence Desroseus (Against):

The specifics of a second referendum have not been decided as it has not been decided that there will be one, there is further debate as to what this will look like amongst the groups asking for one. The referendum

was misinformed, fuelled by two campaigns who did not fully understand their purpose or aims. The fact remains that the British people voted to leave the EU. To go back on the outcome of this vote is to betray the little trust the British people had left in the political system. Similarly, if the SU begins facilitating buses to London to support various campaigns the student body did not explicitly support, trust in the SU as a democratic body will be damaged.

Stefan Garcia (For):

The purpose of a Students Union is to represent the views of all higher education students. Supporting a people’s vote like our SU is doing does exactly that. In the 2016 referendum, 85% of students at university voted to remain. Out of the 15% who voted to leave, 17% of those would now vote to remain. Therefore, it is in the interests of the vast majority of university students to have a people’s vote. Interests which involve working in Paris, or interrailing across Eastern Europe, stress free. Such opportunities, along with a prosperous, more secure future is why I support our SU’s decision to support a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.‘

Lawrence Desroseus (Against):

The SU facilitated a coach trip to London to support a rally that it had not gained explicit student support on.

Referendums from two years ago and national polls can be extended to suggest the vast majority of students would prefer to stay in the EU, myself included, but those students do not necessarily agree that a second referendum is the best thing for the country. The rise in hostility and hate crime created by the previous election is not worth risking again, not to mention the financial cost to the taxpayer, or the fact that repeating a referendum, with minor details changed or not, would appear to the majority of the population to be an attack on democracy.

Photo Credits: Stefan Garcia

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FEATURES

GENDER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BATH

By Darcey Stickley

T

he University of Bath is well-known for academic excellence, being impressively sporty and having largely modern facilities. Something it is not, however, is representative.

A Freedom of information request put in by Bath Time confirmed the gender imbalance we suspected in certain courses as follows. Historically, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses have lacked an even split of sexes. University could be a little late to be looking at gender-based distribution, but, as it is one of the endpoints of education, we looked to see how Bath fares as well as the effects of an arguably gendered education. The best way to do this was to set out and speak to the women of influence on our very own campus.

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A different perspective, however, comes from the Business department, where the Dean of the School of Management, Professor Veronica Hope Hailey has fervently written on the topic. According to her, in order to be a woman in a position of power in 2018, one needs to keep in mind that the companies we see today were built ‘by men for men’. Her way of dealing with this is maintaining a sense of self, which is also fundamental to ushering in a new era of more female representation along with leadership development opportunities. She believes that with this combination of pointers and hope, the future for her daughters will provide a more dynamic workplace intolerant towards biased and unwitting behaviour.

Beth Stevenson, chair of Gender Equality Society, says the situation is tragic. “We preach that women are equal and have access to all these opportunities but it doesn’t translate to real life…jobs are never skills-based because there is still an inherent bias, like the maternity wall.” For her, part of the problem starts early in life, with society and the media referencing certain academic areas as ‘boy subjects’ and ‘girl subjects’.

Her vision for the future? “We’re at a stage where we feel like we can’t do anything right now, but we can do something for the next generation. Undergraduate gender levels in STEM are balancing out but postgrad and lectureship is still overwhelmingly male.” Her suggestions start in the SU: the creation of Women in Stem and Women in Busi-

Photo Credits: unsplash.com, Belle Co /Pexels

Dr Alexia Urrutia, a Genomics specialist and senior academic in the Biology department, says being a female lecturer is a two-sided experience. She started as a student here then returned to teach 11 years ago. On one hand, she confesses she has many a times been the only woman in a meeting room and that Bath has 10% fewer women in the Biology Department than the national average. On the other, despite the aforementioned problem, she recognises the strong support network she has had being a Bath returner and says she never felt discriminated against. Working with the Athena SWAN University Group, “a scheme which recognises excellence in STEM employment in higher education”, has allowed Dr Urrutia to critique Bath both analytically as well as anecdotally. Interestingly, while around 70% of biology students are female, only roughly 20% of lecturers are female. The group have been working on this gap by push-

ing for more female lecturers on shortlists and in the interviewing processes. Dr Urrutia believes that the way forward is to implement policies based on data analyses.

FEATURES ness societies are good starting points because they’re giving voices to women in traditionally male spaces, but the university could encourage more women to go into research alongside.

Putting potential solutions aside, the question that arises is, how has the University already tried to accommodate women? It may sound simplistic, but only shortly after becoming a chartered institution, the University of Bath Childcare Services was established to cater for those affiliated with the University who have dependent children. The Westwood Nursery, for example, is a 48 place nursery which caters for children aged between 6 months to 4 years old, while the Welfare Room in Wessex House provides support for breastfeeding specifically. Overall, their objective is to enhance the attractiveness of the University of Bath as a place to study particularly for people with young children. This might have been enough in 1977, but there are far more students now, half of whom are women. It could be symbolically optimistic to have a childcare centre on campus, but the demand has since risen (and that’s if women with children even feel inclined to come here at all).

Nationally, this issue has been reported on, but it’s not quite at the forefront of academic discussion. The NUS, for example, generally stands for equality and inclusion, but is currently focusing specifically on the impact of violence and objectification towards women students in terms of gender. Additionally, according to the Times’ latest university ranking, 7 out of 8 students gain graduate employment within six months of leaving Bath. Judging by this, it seems that even if Bath doesn’t seem to appeal to women for science, the university itself can and does provide for good careers. Going back to Dr Urrutia, she thinks that part of the reason she does not necessarily feel the brunt of being a ‘minority’ in her own department is because Bath is a relatively new university.

Could this also apply to the issue of gender?

Faculty of Engineering and Design

153 (78%)

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

163 (55%)

Faculty of Science

213 (74%) 75 (62%)

School of Management 0

Another source of concern is a study the University conducted regarding female pessimism. According to research, after studying personal expectations of salaries it was discovered that women were far more likely to underestimate their abilities – and what they should be paid – compared to their male equivalents.

This may not apply to university lecturers necessarily, but it is telling that across the UK, male lecturers dominate lecture halls (70:30). As the study inferred, could this be an issue we should be dealing with from a younger age?

After all, without women in the room for big decisions and important research, everyone loses out. For example, it was only discovered 25 years ago that heart disease manifests itself differently in women than it does in men. If this happened based on a loosely naive assumption, you have to wonder what other information we’re missing out on, both life-threatening and mundane. It is beneficial and uplifting to be taught by someone who looks like you, but it’s even more gratifying to know that your part of the community’s influence is having an impact in our day-to-day lives.

So, what’s to be done? Athena Swan Project works with interview processes, societies develop campaigns to encourage more women in STEM and we have a childcare centre to deal with the more practical elements of being a woman at university. But more importantly we have to actively recognise this Gender imbalance as well as its consequences, and work towards creating a more supportive environment that empathises with workplace challenges a woman might face. As Professor Hailey puts it, “A sense of the absurd, a sense of perspective and a sense of humour are important qualities for any senior manager.” If confidence is where the problem lies, is it time to re-evaluate how we educate our girls and women across the board?

42 (22%) 132 (45%) 75 (26%) 46 (38%) 100

Male

200

300

Female

November 2018 37

FEATURES

International Piece

FAH A M KA S O O M A A L IYA : S I N J I WA R EE R U N D E R S TA N D I N G S O M A L I A : I D E N T I T Y C R I S I S Photo Credit: unsplash.com

With the passage of October, a month that celebrates Black History, this issue’s international feature written by Ruqia Osman captures what it feels like to belong to a minority culture in the UK. This is the English translation of a piece that was originally written in Somali. The full feature can be found online at unibathtime.co.uk

By Ruqia Osman

H

aving fled from my country at a very young age, and growing up in the Netherlands & the UK, I felt very disconnected from Somalia. There was always too much going on for me to get a clear picture of what the situation back there was. Growing up, all I was told was that there was a war and it wasn't safe, and being so preoccupied with living in my enclosed bubble I never thought to enquire or look into this further.

However, the older I got, the more I started to question my identity, especially after moving to the UK and going to University. When coming to university, I met people from all backgrounds who proudly represented their countries and culture. Personally, I was confused as to whether I still identified as being Dutch, British, or whether I identify more as being Somali. The stress I experienced when people asked me where I was from was no joke. I felt as if I didn't fit into any of those boxes, especially when it came to being Somali- how can I claim to be Somali when I have no connections to the motherland and have minimal knowledge about the country? A question I ask myself a lot. And a lot of people in my generation who grew up abroad may feel the same.

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If you asked me a question about Somalia in my first year of University I probably would have pretended not to hear and changed the topic.

What does it mean to be British?

The after effects of Brexit, and the constant expression of dislike towards foreigners/ 'invaders' by extreme right-wing groups and their supporters made me feel extremely unwelcome. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but does this mean you should attack other human beings on the basis of the colour of their skin or their religious beliefs? It's OK to have an opinion and express it, that's your right. However, should you really be harassing others because you do not like how they look? How can you justify verbally abusing young children? How can you call anyone, especially a child a terrorist simply because they wear a hijab or 'look' like they could be Muslim? How can a parent tell their child not to befriend another child because of the melanin in their skin? How can you tell a stranger to 'go back to their own country' and then proceed to make racist remarks when they are only minding their own business? The brutality and the common occurrence of these toxic acts shock me.

The frustrations that came with my identity crisis and not feeling like I fitted in anywhere or even feeling 'at home' after living here in the UK for several years, pushed me to do more research because I realized that the only thing holding me back was myself.

You will never grow and progress if you don't go out of your way to seek more knowledge.

FEATURES

RISING AGAINST ALL ODDS TO WIN

The Nobel Peace Prize t is not insightful to write that war is terrible and devastating for all involved. Missing from the public imagination however – not helped by fiction and some news reporting - is the scope and trauma of sexual violence in armed conflict. While it is mostly men holding the weapons and prominent (again mostly male) politicians that direct them, women and children left behind often endure the harshest violence.

cused on his native DR-Congo: its continuing civil war has claimed around six million lives. As a gynaecologist and trauma surgeon, he has spent twenty years repairing the physical damage and mutilations of women and girls. But he has also spoken to the mental trauma and cultural forces that ostracize victims. In his words, “the shame needs to shift from the victim to the perpetrator.” Uplifting their voices, whatever their bodies have been subjected to, they can recover and mend to live again.

The Nobel Peace Prize committee, this year, have chosen to recognise the efforts of two activists, two champions for women: Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad.

Their focus may be in different parts of the world (Eastern Congo and the Middle East), but each have fought bravely to end the stigmas surrounding rape and the isolation of victims from their own communities.

What may be otherwise lost in the noise of war-time reporting of these conflicts that stretch over decades, they seek to bring attention to combating these unpunished crimes. Mukwege, with the award, hopes that “the world refuses to stand idly in the face of (female) suffering… the real problem is the impunity.”

Nadia Murad (pictured right), 24, is a testament to this. She has worked tirelessly to bring awareness to the plight of the Yazidi people. Her own harrowing story includes being kidnapped and raped by her captors, in her hometown of Kojo in Northern-Iraq, as captured in her memoir The Last Girl. Having since escaped to Germany, via Mosul, she is today a powerful advocate.

With remarkable resilience, she recounts her story amidst its trauma. Addressing the United Nations Security Council in November 2015, she said “my story told honestly and matter-of-factly is the best weapon I have against terrorism… I want to be the last girl in the world with a story like mine.”

Eastern Congo, for its prevalence and intensity, has the worst cases of sexual violence in the world. A 2010 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, found 22% of men and 30% of women experienced conflict-related sexual violence, despite chronic under-reporting due to social stigmas. The long-running Syrian civil war has been the setting for the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century, according to Amnesty International.

Although the ruin and rampage of ISIL is well-known, the Yazidi minority that were besieged in Northern Iraq are less so. They have been subject to massacre, women and girls kept in captivity, and have largely been failed by the international community and its institutions.

As we find ourselves in the #MeToo movement, it is necessary that women’s stories are believed and that powerful men pay for their gender-based harassment and violence. The work of Mukwege and Murad highlights the need for rehabilitation of victims, as they deal with trauma and remain resilient in finding justice.

In the words of Mukwege, we may be “tired of men.. (our) fellow humans for not recognising the suffering and violence against women… ” In the bleakest circumstances of bitter civil war, here are examples of inspiring bravery in this global struggle. May we remember that “women’s rights are human rights”, wherever in the world we find ourselves.

By Adonay Berhe

I

Photo Credits: Claude Truong-Ngoc / Wikimedia Commons, Frank Schwichtenberg (CC)

Denis Mukwege (pictured left), 63, has primarily fo-

November 2018 39

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PHOTOGRAPHY

We asked our committed readers and contributors to send in their favourite photos and here is the masterpiece we selected for this issue:

The Dancing Man at Rest, captured by Tanya Murphy Pictured in this image is the Dancing Man of Camden, who has become a staple tourist attraction in the area. I first saw him while doing a month-long photography project in Camden Locke, London. From talking to a few of the local shop owners, I learned that he is nearly 70 years old, he does not seem to own a shirt and that he dances all day for hours on end. After making multiple trips to Camden over the course of the project, I finally managed to capture this rare image of the Dancing Man at rest.

Passionate about photography? If you, too, would like to submit your favourite photo, send it to su-bathtime-features@bath.ac.uk along with the story behind it.

November 2018 41

LIFESTYLE

Photo Credits: diskdepot.co.uk

T

By Greg Chapman

Sunday 23rd September Finally, the day had arrived. I’d been waiting for this moment ever since results day.

By the time my alarm went off, I’d already been wide awake with excitement, staring at the ceiling for hours.

I rushed downstairs, inhaled two Weetabix in nervous anticipation and picked out an outfit to impress my new flatmates. I put on my tightest Primark polo shirt (the one where you can see my nipples) in preparation for the day. If my Dad has taught me one thing - everybody loves a nipple.

At ten past nine, my pits damp with nervous sweat, my areolas tender from the polo’s severe chafing, Mum, Dad and I piled in the car to make the long journey to Bath.

These were going to be the best years of my life - that’s what everyone had told me. No more homework and school uniform. Bring on Jaegerbombs and sticky floors.

My body was ready.

Once we arrived, it became apparent someone had made an error on my form, because it appears that I had been given a room in a prisoner-of-war camp, rather than student accommodation. After a long argument, a member of staff assured me that ‘Eastwood’ was indeed student accommodation, rather than a prison facility, although I have my suspicions.

I wanted to establish myself as a BNOC right away, so as I carried my boxes to my room, I made sure to flex my biceps the entire way so that everyone could see how bloody massive I am. With this extra-small Primark polo

42 BATHTIME

hey say that you always remember your first. love. Your first naYour first kiss. Your first ked unicycle regular milestone ride. All the s.

But your first da y at university? W onslaught of alc ith the your very first da ohol in Freshers’ week, y at un ive rsity is probably pretty hazy. To re as a naive, fresh mind you of what it’s like -fa ce d little pup walking into the big bad wo a first year studerld of uni life, we asked nt to keep a diary of everything that ha ppened.

With an utter lac k of self-aw did not disappointareness, he .

shirt, I was certain I looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger; form a queue, girls, there’s a new stud on the block. Between my aching biceps and tender nipples, I was close to tears by the time I had moved into my new room.

As I put my last box down, I found myself in a conundrum. I saw Mother, my beloved Mummy, with a single tear rolling down her cheek. I was about to hug her but I could hear the voices of my flatmates in the hallway outside my room. I knew I had to give a tender farewell to show my appreciation for all she’d done for me over the years, but I didn’t want my ‘legend’ status to be ruined by somebody seeing me hug my Mummy on day one. Is there anything more lame than having a loving family? I think not.

I looked at her, blinking through her tears of love and devotion, as she waited for me, to express my love and gratitude. I cleared my throat and muttered, “Cheers for the lift” and shook her hand, as I would have a policeman or nightclub bathroom attendant. Feeling that she might have been expecting more affection, I sweetened the farewell with a cheery “hope traffic’s alright on the way back”.

I don’t know why, but for some reason she looked hurt.

Weird.

The day trickled onwards, the promise of a night out the only thing keeping me going through the long, tedious hours. People tell you about the nights out in Freshers’ week, but they don’t tell you about the social torture of the days that precede them. I didn’t want to be stuck in my new flat, miserably discussing GCSE results with my new mates. On the bright side, I could tell everyone was really impressed with my A* in Latin. I rapped every word of Skepta’s That’s Not Me in Latin - you should have

LIFESTYLE seen their faces! Everyone in the room thought I was very cool, I imagine.

Act like a wasteman? Ego autem non sum!

I only turned 18 last week, so I’ve only had three pints, but I couldn’t wait to get rowdy with the boys and get turnt (even though I’m not sure what several of those words mean). As well as getting boozy, tonight I was keen to find love in the club. Up to this point, I’ve kissed two people: Natasha Hill from Library Club and my Mummy. Tonight presented my first opportunity to really rev my engine and charm a lady - perhaps even reaching three on the kiss chart. Ladykiller!

At long, long last, it was time to go out. I showered, brushed my teeth and slathered Vaseline on my nipples, which looked like two small portions of steak tartare

breath and went over my pre-flirt checklist. Drink in hand? Check. Nipples greased? Check. Biceps tensed?

Double check. Let’s go and make history.

I hit her on the shoulder, sexily, and let the magic commence: “Hello there!” I said, sexily.

“What?” She bellowed, sexily.

“I said hello there, beautiful!” I repeated, sexily.

“Excuse me? It’s really loud” She repeated, the sexual tension almost causing us to pass out.

“My name’s Jack” I informed her, both accurately and sexily.

“You’re gonna have to speak up, mate.” She replied.

Sexily.

Photo Credits: Winnie Liu, Pixabay

Mate. She considers me a mate! I was already halfway to love! It was a strong start, nobody could deny that - with all these sparks flying, I’m surprised we didn’t set the fire alarm off. All I needed to do was find the perfect words to make her mine. But, before I could open my mouth, she leaned in and asked: “Are you at uni? You look just like my younger brother.

He’s just started secondary school.”

Ouch. I needed to bounce back. A strong move that would show her that I was a mature, dangerous man, worthy of her toilet-paper-ketchup-stain approval. I knew what I had to do.

I took her hand, looked her in the eyes, I leaned my head back and downed the Jaegerbomb.

at this point in the day, having been pulverised beyond recognition by the skin-tight Primark polo shirt I’d been proudly wearing. Greased up and ready to strut, I emerged from my bedroom and prepared to put on an exhibition in drinking to leave my housemates with no doubt of my status: the Downer of Drinks, the Snogger of Sweethearts and the Leader of Lads.

Unfortunately, my memory of the club is a little hazy, but I do remember one thing. I fell in love. With my fourth Jagerbomb in my hand, I saw her. She emerged from the bathroom looking angelic. She had a piece of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of her shoe and had ketchup stains on her skirt. Like I said, angelic. This was my chance. I had to go over to talk to her. I took a deep

The world turns black.

I woke up in my bed, alone, and rolled over to see a note, written on a single sheet of toilet paper:

God, uni is great. I wonder where we’re going out tonight.

November 2018 43

LIFESTYLE

EROTICA: Gym with Me

By Peanyle Disfon-Ksion Chastity, a young, ambitious yet innocent young woman explores the intimate pleasures of being a University of Bath student.

Chastity got off the U1 after seven hours of commute and walked to the Sports Training Village on a cold November morning. She walked in, staring down below at the dozens of muscle aliens grunting away in the gym, and the few lost freshers visibly regretting having bought a membership. As she slid her card against the reader, her hand met another.

“Uh, sorry.” said a voice- and he was gone. Chastity had felt something break inside her- that blond hair, those powerful arms. She knew she was supposed to go to cheerleading, but her eyes were on another kind of pompoms. He was stretching on a matt- his tight lycra espousing shapes the poorest biology student could identify. She followed him to the bikes and started running on the treadmill behind him.

Chastity wondered what sport he played, but judging by his tan, she guessed tennis. He got off the bike and suddenly met her gaze, which, for an instant, felt like making it to an 8:15. Where was he from?

What did he do? She got so lost in thought she forgot to run and was catapulted off the treadmill, landing against something soft.

“You alright?” a strong voice said, wrapping his arms around her panting chest. It was him.

SUDOKU Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle by logic and reasoning alone, there is no maths involved.

44 BATHTIME

“I’m Mark”.

“I’m Chastity. I’m really sorry about that. I got so lost in thought…”

“Thinking about me?” he suddenly whispered down her ear. A drip of his sweat fell on her face.

“Oh Mark, I’m so lost in this room full of heavy metal machines and big muscular men. Will you show me how it’s done?”

“I’ll teach you,” he said, grabbing her hands and laying them down onto the thick handles of the rowing machine. “You just go back and forth until you can’t take it anymore”.

And they started to row next to each other, sliding back and forth on the well-lubricated metal. He told her he did rowing, and that he studied Sport Performance. The glass walls of the gym weren’t the only thing steaming up at the idea of knowing how he performed. They were going faster and faster, pulling and pushing.

Finally he said: “I have a car to get to uni.” Chastity let go of the handles and threw her head back in a loud moan of pleasure.

HOROSCOPES

This month for you, Aries, is centred around your relationships. You may find a lot of people are coming to you to show you support this month, which will highlight how good it is to be cooperative with others, no matter how independent you are. A work project will start pulling itself together by the end of this month, so make sure you input as much as you can to achieve your best possible grades!

As the Libra sun enters your zodiac this month, Taurus, you may find that the chaos and stress you’ve been experiencing will start to fade away.

With deadlines fast approaching you should channel this new clarity and focus into creating a regimented structure to how you will approach tackling your assignments. This month is also the perfect time for you to try out a new habit or wellness technique. Think about joining a new society – don’t worry if you think it’s too late – and you may surprise yourself with how well you pick it up.

The beginning of the month will be a very exhilarating week for you as you may have a potential love interest showing hopeful signs, or you have a new-found confidence in finding that special someone. However, before you go full steam ahead with any relationship endeavours, take a step back to analyse the situation and if it’s actually rational to move forward with this person, or if it’s only going to end in tears.

This month is a prime time for you to start collaborating on an exciting project, Libra.

Whether it be that paired assignment or another creative idea, draw on your high motivation levels this month to put all of your effort into making this project one you’re proud of. Be careful not to burn out too fast though, Cancer, as your emotions will be rather volatile this month, but just try to keep them in check and you should sail.

One of the most lively and social months for you, Leo, take this opportunity to organise fun nights out with your friends; perhaps try a location you’ve never been to before to shake things up a little. Organise a fun bar crawl starting from The Canon or even arrange a house party and people will be talking about your event for weeks after, as there is no doubt you can pull it off, Leo.

If you’ve been thinking about bettering your wellness, Virgo, then this month is the perfect time to start. You’ll be feeling much more grounded as the Sun passes through your Libra, which will encourage you to put your new regimen into action. Try eating cleaner or preparing yourself fresh, organic meals (no more microwaving) and you will start to feel much better in yourself because of it. Make sure you keep busy this month, as if you allow too much time to do nothing, you will start to feel restless and agitated, which will disrupt your well-being.

The sun is making its yearly journey through your sign, enabling you to take the reins and prioritise your own needs and desires. Plan for your year ahead by ensuring your notes are done and you have no outstanding work as this will prepare you well for work ahead. You may experience some form of conflict with a colleague or classmate, but if you nip the issue in the bud, you will prevent any hard feelings from manifesting. Always practise trying to be the bigger person, even if you don’t feel your classmate is pulling their weight.

Give yourself a break this month, Scorpio.

Try to take a step back and put your emotional priorities at the forefront of your mind. Stop scrolling mindlessly through your Instagram, switch off and focus on the world around you and you may encounter something wonderful this month. You might meet someone new in the U1 bus queue or in another situation and strike up a really interesting conversation.

If you start to take notice of the world around you, you’ll find yourself surprised, Scorpio.

Forgiveness is something you can exercise this month, Sagittarius, as you may be feeling more drawn to socialising more with people, rather than being fiercely independent. If you’re holding onto a grudge or some form of resentment, try your best to let it go and you will feel like a weight has lifted off your shoulders. You may also find that your relationship with someone will dramatically improve if you learn not to take things too personally sometimes.

Conflict with flatmates or course friends may be getting you worked up, Capricorn. Acting as the peacemaker and trying to be the bigger person in the situation will prevent the situation from manifesting itself further, even if you feel the need to clap back in an argument. Take a break from your social media, put down your phone and stop using it as a sole form of interaction. Go for dinner with your friends in town or organise a movie night in the encourage togetherness and reliance on actual human beings around you to bring you happiness, not people on your phone screen.

Your mind will be open to new possibilities, Aquarius. Whether you’re planning your placement year or any other upcoming experiences, use your undeniable creativity to make these things happen for yourself. Embrace being spontaneous, say yes to that night out offer with your friends, agree to meet a course colleague for a coffee, and you will surprise yourself with the fabulous new relationship you can form just by saying yes!

Reach out to friends or family for support this month, Pisces, as any struggle you may be going through will not be solved on your own. Try not to isolate yourself, keep constant dialogue with your friends about how you’re feeling and make every effort to pull yourself out from any difficulties you’re experiencing this month. Use your introspective feelings to delve into deep research, whether it be for coursework or for another endeavour, start researching early on to inform yourself as best as possible and create a great piece of work. Don’t forget perfect referencing of all your research, though!

November 2018 45

LIFESTYLE

WHAT’S ON Bounce all over cancer

Thursday 15th November The trampoline event, “Bounce All Over Cancer”, will take place from 17.45 to 19.00 on Thursday 15th November. Tickets cost £8.50, of which £4.50 goes towards Cancer Research UK. Tickets are available from event organisers, please check the Facebook page for further details. There are only 75 places available so make sure you get yours sooner rather than later!

Masquerade ball

Sunday 4th December On the 4th of December Societies will take over Guild Hall with their annual Masquerade Ball. Tickets, on sale now, are £17 and include a free drink on arrival. Exciting bands are set to take the stage at this event, however it’s also the SU bar that will be taking centre stage making sure the night is student-budget friendly.

Snow Ball

Monday 5th December, Tuesday 6th December The University’s sports groups will host their Snow Ball across the 5th and 6th of December. Priced at £15 per ticket, this event also includes a free drink on arrival and promises “black tie with a touch of glamour”.

Santa Dash

Saturday 1st December December 1st will see hundreds of student Santa’s race across campus to fundraise for V Team. The event is a very jolly affair, you can sign up for £5, this provides admission to the race and a free Santa suit if you’re within the first 150 people to sign up!

Bath Takes Bristol

Friday 23rd November Hall Reps are taking 250 students to Bristol’s super-club, SWX. Boasting a £300,000 state of the art sound, lighting and laser system, this is one night you won’t want to miss! Tickets are exclusively available to halls residents.

Longleat, Festival of Light

Saturday 24th November Longleat is the no. 1 safari park in the UK and home to over 1000 animals. This Christmas, Longleat will be showcasing its annual Festival of Light. Their magnificent collection of handmade Chinese lanterns will take you on a journey around the world!

46 BATHTIME

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Black tie with a touch more glamour

5 & 6th December The SU Tickets £15 Tickets on sale: SU Sport Members – Monday 12 November 12:00 General Sale – Monday 19 November 12:00 thesubath.com/snowball

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