Volume 21, Issue 3 (Dec '19)

VOLUME 21 / ISSUE 3 / DEC 2019 / FREE 1 December Bath Time Design.indd 1

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Dearest readers of Bath Time, Firstly, I would like to thank you for picking up this magazine and taking the time to give it a read. As Deputy Print Editor, not only does this publication keep my position alive, it also helps to keep the student voice alive, something I am very passionate about.

I have been part of Bath Time for three years now, writing on a range of topics spanning from loneliness at university to the prevalence of study drugs. Whilst I still love writing, being in an editorial role has been a privilege and a pleasure. It has been amazing to get so much closer to the student pulse and the matters that mean the most to you; lobbying the University where necessary, but also celebrating success.

Unless you have been spending all your time in the library, you have probably noticed the small wooden huts and influx of tourists into the city centre, which can only mean one thing… IT’S CHRISTMAS! I’m sure you’re thinking the same thing as me: where has the year gone?! It feels as though I blinked and our first term at university is nearly over. Whilst the holiday season can bring a lot of festivity and fun, it also means looming deadlines and cramming revision. For many, this can lead to high levels of stress and anxiety. If you feel as though that maybe you, I would recommend having a read of the Mindfulness piece, which can be found on page 25.

I have managed to get this far without mentioning it, but I would be doing this magazine and all of you a disservice if I didn’t say a few words about that all-important political process taking place on 12th December: the general election. The campaigns are well under way and scrutiny of each leader has been fierce. Nonetheless, behind all the political jargon it can be difficult to decipher what each candidate actually stands for. Consequently, we’ve made it our mission to outline what each runner in the Bath constituency hopes to achieve in a simple and digestible way. We’ve been able to interview members from each party, so that you can be assured what we write is straight from the horse’s mouth. Some answers were predictable, others were out of this world… quite literally.

There is no doubt that this election is an important one, especially with the Brexit debate still ongoing. The spike in voter registration for those under 35 is testament to this and shows that our generation truly care about the outcome. On the lead up to the 12th December, make sure you do your research and look at the hard facts that are buried beneath media bias and political skew. However, whichever way you end up voting, please make sure you go out and do it.

On a less serious note, from all of us at Bath Time, we wish you a very, merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Meet The Team Genevieve Redgrave Editor-in-Chief

If you can’t find Genevieve she’s probably somewhere applying yet another coat of red lipstick, playing the saxophone (badly), or trying her very best to explain that she’s definitely from London despite her Kent postcode. In her final year of Politics and International Relations, to keep her happy it’s best if you don’t mention the B word to her, unless you mean Beyoncé or Bake off and if all else fails she can always be talked round with a good veggie curry and a lukewarm cup of tea.

Seb Porteous Ward

Eloise Sacares

Seb is a final year Politics and IR student, who is yet to come to terms with the fact he’s no longer a fresher. When he’s not napping in lectures, Seb can be found working on the door or working the dance floor in most of Bath’s clubs.

Elle is our Online Deputy Editor, despite her only IT experience being from 5 failed ‘lifestyle’ blogs in her teenage years. Nowadays, she is known as Elle, inspired by the fierce determination of Elle Woods, studies Politics, and spends most of her time drinking 4W coffee or at Mandy’s karaoke.

Harry Bridge

Emily Godon

Hi there, I’m Harry and I’m going to be News and Comment Editor for the paper this year. I lived in China and Singapore and like politics and economics way too much for a normal person. I’m looking forward to reading everything you write about the crazy world we live in!

Can’t find Emily? Head to the Edge Cafe.

If she’s not sipping *decaf* coffee while studying more modules than she should be, she’s probably filling her time with sport...without actually doing a sport. If you didn’t know she’s from Kent, halfFrench and has a fringe, she’ll tell you in-between the gossip.

Élie Breton Des Loÿs

Nicole Allen

Elie is our token European editor who loves writing reviews and watching movies. So much so that this year alone he has seen over a hundred of them and keeps watching obscure indie films. Elie studies Politics and Spanish and drinks at least thirty cups of tea a day.

Nicole is a final year Sport and Exercise Science student who likes to think she is edgier than a dodecahedron. A fun fact about Nicole is that she started university with a boyfriend but is ending it with a girlfriend - she’s like Hannah Montana, getting the best of both worlds.

Chloë Coules

Emily Johnstone

As a Psychology student, Chloe is learning to understand the inner workings of people’s minds. However, she is still yet to figure out why anyone would use comic sans. When she isn’t analysing the world around her, she enjoys ranting about climate change and naming her future dogs.

Emily is a final year Psychology student.

By now, she was hoping to have mind reading abilities but the only treatment she’s good at is retail therapy. She’s the resident snack queen and is never too far away from a Jaffa cake. She’s obsessed with dogs and can’t wait for the day that puppies can distribute Bath Time.

Deputy Editor (Print)

News and Comment Editor

Lifestyle Editor

Design Editor

Deputy Editor (online)

Features Editor

Sport Editor

Publicity and Distribution Officer

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Contents

Cover Story Pages 6-11 The Election Lifestyle 26 The Chaotic Life 34 Awards of the Year 36 Best Christmas Songs 37 Christmas Traditions 44 Erotica 45 Horoscopes

Illustration by Caitlin Benson

Features

News & Comment

12 Female Empowerment 15 Prison Reform 16 Year Abroad Column 17 Final Year Column 21 4-Day Working Week 22 Green Strategy 25 Mindfulness 30 Pariaher Column 33 Science Column

18 Did Epstein kill himself?

19 Anti-Royals 24 The Promised Forests 28 Impeachment 29 Xingyiang 31 Bolivia 32 Predation of the Clergy 47 Whats On

Sport 27 This Girl Can 40 Saracens 41 Initiations 43 Sports Quiz

Female Empowerment 12-13

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Election Special: Meet the Candidates

By Genevieve Redgrave, Emily Johnstone, and Seb Ward Front Cover Design by Elena Oliinyk Back Cover Design by @elvenflower This is part of a wider online series. Head to unibathtime.com to read the full interviews Some answers have been edited for legible clarity.

It seems more-so than ever that politics is increasingly difficult to ignore. Even those vehemently apolitical are beginning to realise the valuable opportunity of getting involved. Historically, the student voice is one of great importance to the electorate and wields the power to swing any seat. Campus constituencies, including Bath, can significantly influence the balance of power.

The election has not been without controversy, with significant concern expressed over the Government’s decision to host the first Christmas election since 1923.

The scheduled date of December 12th comes just at the end of the semester for hundreds of campuses across the nation. This means that students heading home for Christmas could find themselves in a logistical nightmare and be unable to vote. Could this have been a tactic to deter the traditionally liberal student body from voting or a last resort from a Prime Minister attempting to pass one of the most turbulent bills in history?

In spite of this, the 2019 election has seen a surge in new voter registration. According to The Guardian, over three million people have applied to join the electoral roll, with one-third being under 25. One look at Twitter also shows the high level of engagement from young voters who are determined to share their voice. More people than ever seem to be engaging in much-needed debate. However, social media can become an online echo chamber, stifling important debate and diversity of opinion. So, when the votes come rolling in on election night, they can soon become a shock to those whose online following have all been preaching to the choir. With this in mind, it becomes even more important for all young voters to hear a va

riety of opinions, even those you may not agree with!

With the General Election imminent, it’s almost impossible to see through the dominance of Brexit.

It seems you can’t go two minutes without someone bringing up the dreaded B-word, especially when turning on the TV. With food bank use at an all-time high, rents soaring for student renters and a climate emergency declared by the European Parliament, there rightfully needs to be a discussion of wider issues.

To help you to see beyond Brexit, Bath Time are bringing you a guide of the promises, plans and policies of party parliamentary candidates in Bath. If you’re unsure of who to vote for, you’ve come to the right place!

Candidates of all political persuasions have spoken to Bath Time, including Annabel Tall who is representing the Conservatives, the Brexit Party’s Jimi Ogunnusi, the Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse, Labour’s Mike Davies and Bill Blockhead who is an independent candidate. This special printed edition will bring you the highlights from the interviews which you can read in full online, so read on for our low-down of all things General Election

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Wera Hobhouse

Interview by Henry Robinson Wera Hobhouse, originally from Hanover in Germany, is the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, winning her seat in the 2017 General Election. Since being elected she has been chosen as the Lib Dem Spokesperson for the Environment, Food and Climate Emergency and her Private Members’ Bill ultimately led to upskirting becoming an illegal offence Given the controversy around tuition fees how can you reassure those students that are unsure after that 2010 promise?

Yes, I mean of course this has been dogging up our party for such a long time. I think we have learned many lessons and we have also apologised many times for why we ended up in that situation. And yes, I think as a party one always has to prove oneself afresh and look back at what has been done in the past four years and what the Lib Dems have said and done.

In the end, I hope that young people can look at our party now as a new party, our membership is new and there is hardly anybody left whose actually been a part of the coalition government. We have had MPs joining us from other parties and we are a growing movement. We are in many ways a different party, albeit with the same principles and values that we’ve held for many decades. In politics, what you believe and what you deliver should be the same. But in the realities of politics, particularly in this country where it’s first past the post, the Lib Dems are somewhat squeezed out and stuck in the middle as a third party.

It sometimes makes it very difficult to explain to people when and why you couldn’t get your pure vision of what you wanted through. In 2010, it was clear that we were stuck as a smaller partner with a bigger coalition partner and for that reason - the question of whether we go into coalition again - we have obviously burned our fingers as a party and we will be very reluctant to go into similar arrangements again.

we know with medical cannabis. The whole campaign comes from the fact that cannabis used in a particular and safe way can have beneficial aspects. It only becomes an issue when it is overdosed and used too much. By legalising it, you can control much better what you actually use. All programmes in all countries where cannabis is legalised points to the fact that it vastly increases health benefits and outcomes for users.

If you win your seat again, what is your main priority for Bath?

It’s absolutely addressing the climate crisis in conjunction with local colleagues who have declared a climate emergency. So, how do we actually get to net zero as soon as possible locally? That cannot happen without national action. The interaction between me as a Bath representative and as a local councillor, plus engaging with the people of Bath, to find out how we get to net zero as soon as possible.

What’s your favourite thing about Bath?

My favourite thing is always people. It’s meeting many different people, organisations and events. There is so much going on in Bath and it is very diverse. I love the city because I think it is open, tolerant and inclusive.

The spirit of the city is reflected in everything you can do here.

Legalisation of cannabis – how can you mitigate negative effects on mental health?

The thing is, when something becomes illegal, you ultimately start to get criminal activity and illegal use of a drug which could also have positive effects, like

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This is part of a wider online series. Head to unibathtime.com to read the full interviews Some answers have been edited for legible clarity.

Jimi Ogunnusi

Interview by Genevieve Redgrave Jimi Ogunnusi is currently a lecturer in leadership strategy and organisational behaviour at the University of the West of England as well as head of his own consultancy business. Following the Brexit vote and what he calls three years of back and forth and the mainstream parties finding ways to block the vote, he got into politics, ultimately leading to him running to become a London MEP and now Bath’s MP for the Brexit Party. He believes that the current issues in the country cannot be solved without leaving the European Union which is a top priority. To find out more about his views on Brexit, read the extended interview online.

His 3 reasons why you should vote for him: 1. We need to honour the referendum across all parties and as part of our culture. If you don’t, you open Pandora’s Box and that’s what’s happening now where anything goes.

2. We should be absolutely independent but that doesn’t mean that we can’t trade. We currently buy more from the EU than they buy from us and if they think it’s in their interest, they will give us a good free trade deal.

3. I think the interest rates on tuition fees should be zero, both future and historic interest debt should be wiped. If education is paid for, it is an investment but don’t charge people ridiculous interest rates – zero percent is fair. Don’t give students more unfairness, more grief.

EU agenda is which is basically an Empire, a superstate.

Your ‘contract for the people’ states that the Brexit Party would like to remove the 50% target for Higher Education, can you expand upon the reasons behind this proposal?

When students go to university, that actually want to go to university, and you put a figure on it, it sets a target. Under the Labour Government they actually put a target of people going to university and I’ve seen that there’s some really odd degrees. Numbers should be targeted for recruitment, for a certain type of graduate.

Let’s not base it on a number. We want to actually recruit more doctors, base it on what is needed in terms of skill sets.

In Bath, we have a significant issue with the cost of student housing as one of the most expensive student places to live outside of London. If you were elected as MP for Bath, what would you propose to challenge this?

I’ve heard it probably eight out of 10 times that we should limit the number of student houses in Bath and I am completely opposed to that. Students haven’t got horns, they haven’t got two heads, they are somebody’s child. I don’t think that students should be left to the mercy of private landlords because it is expensive. The University has to find a way to build more houses or get access to more accommodation from the private sector at a more reasonable rate. For international students, who are paying more, when it comes to living expenses, there is no discrimination and a large portion of that is housing. For me, I don’t even think twice about it. If you have a debate about the economics, whether international or UK, students are bringing in sales revenue into Bath. We’re talking millions. For me, it’s not even about winning votes, it’s just absurd.

In the Brexit campaign there was a lot of misinformation on both sides, how can the vote be trusted?

In campaigning, you can get 100 accountants who will come up with, dependent on the principles they use, different balance sheets. There were things that were said on either side that could be construed in different ways. But the average person doesn’t know the implications of staying in the European Union and what the

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Bill Blockhead

Interview by Genevieve Redgrave Bill Blockhead is an independent protest candidate running for the Bath constituency. He explained that he got into politics when he noticed the lack of political diversity in our country and thought that the ‘many ideas in my impressive blockhead offered a different way forward…I wanted to play the game’ His 3 reasons why you should vote for him: Here’s three questions instead to help Bath students not to vote for Bill Blockhead 1, Am I playing a game?

2 Am I to be trusted?

3 Do I answer your questions?

Are there any other blockheads in politics?

Hmmmm.. where do I start with that one?! Takes one to know one..

Your slogan is ‘Don’t vote for Bill, he’s a Blockhead’, is this a political game of reverse psychology to actually get people to vote for you?

It’s all games..politics is the biggest game show on earth!

DON’T VOTE FOR BILL...OR DO...

At the minute, the question really is “leave or remain” but you actually want us to leave something much bigger which is the solar system by 2028. Can you tell us a bit more about that? And how you actually think we’d leave?

The UK land mass including Northern Ireland will be loaded onto titanium stilts . Super massive rockets fuelled by specially fermented guinea pig (or alternative small rodent) poo will launch the landmass out of the solar system. Why not leave it all behind?

The leavers get the chance to do Brexit and some, the remainers can jump off the stilts if they can get a visa to remain in Europe.

What would Bath be like after we leave the solar system ?

Bath would be in a different bubble. The same tourists over and over again, just imagine that

prescription..How is this going to be funded?

Are you going to make guinea pig farms? Do you also get free vet care?

Furry animals on prescription will be funded by selling the Royal Family and a couple of top Premiership football teams to the highest bidder.

Small Rodent welfare is my priority..Any breeding programs and housing for guinea pigs and small rodents will be of the highest quality ..using the casings of disarmed nuclear weapons as rodent runs ..there will be high quality sawdust, vegetables and feed and the latest in rodent wheels and tunnels designed by Oxbridge postgraduates.

Free vet care funded by the Police .

Your proposed plan to dig up London Road, who is going to design and maintain this garden? Is it not dangerous for citizens to have a wild growth on their doorstep? Once we leave the solar system is there a chance that all of these plants would die without any oxygen?

Gary the famous giant gerbil will design the gardens.

A co operative will be set up to maintain them led by students from the University of Bath. wild growths are forbidden, they are dangerous.

Everything survives in the (privileged) Bath bubble post leaving the solar system.

Your impressive idea to reintroduce trams back to Bath built from strawberry jelly and gingerbread men...is this going to be made at local bakers from Bath or will it be imported? Will there be gingerbread women or is gender equality not a big issue for you?

A consortium of local bakers will be responsible for the baking of gingerbread products and primary school children will provide the jelly with sprinkles. I am currently in discussion for a gingerbread personage design to avoid gingerbread gender stereotyping ..I stand for equality across all the genders..

What are you planning to do about affordable housing crisis in Bath?

All housing will be affordable once the UK has left the solar system.

Your mental health strategy which is very important for students, is to give furry animals on

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This is part of a wider online series. Head to unibathtime.com to read the full interviews Some answers have been edited for legible clarity.

Annabel Tall

Interview by Genevieve Redgrave Annabel Tall is Bath’s Conservative candidate who previously worked as a chartered engineer before first getting into politics twenty years ago, when she noticed the imperfections in public services following the birth of her son with disabilities. Since then she has worked her way up to district councillor, working with the Down Syndrome Association and national charities to make local services more accessible.

Her 3 reasons for why you should vote for her: For everybody’s future, we’ve got to move on with Brexit. Get the elephant off the table so we can move on to things that matter. For student’s futures I want our democratic process to still be here and still work.

We’re going to keep the economy growing. I’m a Conservative and our economic policies are working.

I want the economy to grow because I want them to have jobs and earn good incomes.

It is vitally important to get a Conservative government to carry on with our environmental policies.

BONUS: to start bringing everyone together again which is really the first reason. Settle the argument, move on, bring up everyone together.

How would the Conservatives attempt to bring the country together again after such divisive politics?

The absolute priority for me is democracy and to get the deal done because the foundation of our democratic system is that the minority accept the views of the majority; whether they like it or not, whether it makes economic sense. Now that we’ve got a deal, nearly everybody is on the same page. It is a compromise but even the EU like it and it is perfectly workable. I personally think it is a good deal. We’ve got to get it passed and then, once it’s done, you can start pulling people back together again because the first stage of pulling together is, in fact, compromise. The people in the middle are growing with either side [revoking article 50 and dropping out of Europe] are shrinking,

because I think people are coming together on it.

The Conservative manifesto states that they will ‘look into’ tuition interest rates, this is quite vague?

There is a report out looking into concerns of students whose parents are unwilling to pay, and concerns about the actual interest rates, and it is all being reviewed. It would have been dealt with by now but it hasn’t because of [Brexit]. So the only thing I’ll say about that is you haven’t seen anything yet because it hasn’t come through the system but it is being done.

Whenever I talk to students they just want me to write [tuition interest rates] off and stop them, but I personally see tuition fees as a tax. That’s why it’s not a debt, it’s an advance tax because you’ve got to fund it somehow and where does the money come from? Either the person going on the course pays it back through taxation or everybody pays for it. The fact that we have had tuition fees has allowed us to massively expand, there’s currently 2.34 million students and when I went, there was nothing like that. It’s massively expanded the availability of further education to people who would have never been able to go before.

How would you tackle affordable student housing in Bath?

There’s a lack of housing across the country so obviously building more housing is one of the solutions.

From my point of view, any sort of housing helps because everyone shuffles around. If we built more student housing in Bath, which lots of residents grumble about. I think that’s a good thing because then students are going to be moving out of HMOs [Houses of Multiple Occupancy] and then that frees them up for other people to live in. If there’s more accommodation generally then prices fall. About 10 to 15 years ago, all the students wanted to live in the city but now they all want to live on campus because they don’t want to be going up and down on buses - the environmental concern. The University had no need to build more on campus because it would be half full but I think we’re going to see a change in that.

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Mike Davies

Interview by Genevieve Redgrave Mike Davies joined the Labour Party when he was a teenager before becoming a councillor for Ashley ward in Bristol and working for Thangham Debbonaire MP for Bristol West. He says that he wanted to get involved in politics because he wants to be a part of changing the misery and inequality he sees across the country.

His 3 reasons for why you should vote for him: We will end austerity and rebuild our public services to tackle poverty Labour will tackle climate change with the Green Industrial Revolution We will deliver the final say referendum in order to try to bring our country together again and Brexit resolved Is it actually realistic that if Labour got a majority government and went back to Brussels after three years of failed negotiations they would actually be able to get a new deal?

I think we can and I know that Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn have been negotiating and talking to our counterparts in the European Union for the last few years. So it’s not without foundation that we say we can negotiate a new deal, as I think we have reason to believe we can. I think the EU will want a deal that protects workers rights, environmental protection, consumer rights, jobs and industry because that benefits them as well as us. I should say of course that the deal will be put to a referendum so we’ll secure a six month extension and we’ll negotiate a new deal and complete the referendum process and then deliver the result of that referendum.

you know, Jeremy’s tried very hard to send a message that anti-semitism is completely unacceptable in the Labour Party. So, you know, we are trying to address the issue. And of course, more needs to be done. We’re working on that.

Since the rise in tuition fees, more students have gone to university than ever before, is eradicating tuition fees risking this growth at all?

We have a bold left wing socialist platform in this election. I’m one of the tenants that education should be a right not a privilege. We have a national education service being proposed in this manifesto so not only will we have free tuition fees, but we will have free right to lifelong learning, so people can get an education at later stages in life, they can train to change careers. We think that’s very important. So I’m very proud of our tuition fees policy. I think that we can make it work as long as the Higher Education sector gets adequate funding.

Is this just for new students or wiping previous debt?

In my understanding, it’s just new students Are there any proposals to eradicate interest rates?

I think that’s definitely something we can look at. I don’t know the policy in enough detail, but you know, students were told interest rates would match inflation and then they change the system which I think is incredibly unfair.

What would you say to our Jewish students who are concerned about voting Labour due to the claims that anti-semitism has not been addressed properly?

I think that we have to listen to Jewish communities and we shouldn’t deny their experiences. There have been cases of anti-semitism in the Labour Party and we’ve taken action to try to address that, to try to speed up the process of expelling members. We’ve launched some educational materials to try to educate members about what anti-semitism looks like and,

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What should female empowerment at the University of Bath look like?

By Gemma Barnett

It is a cliché and a misconception, but nonetheless one that is often thrown around (mostly by men -sorry), that “women and men are equal, so why do we need feminism?”. It’s true that in the UK legally, women today have formal equality with men; we have equal rights to vote, gender pay discrimination is illegal, women that enter marriage are no longer the property of their husbands. Even Yorkie bars are no longer “not for women”; so arguably what more is there for feminist movements to fight for?

Taking this national context onto a campus level, whilst of course men and women enjoy formal equality on campus, and student population is almost equal among genders, the University of Bath feels like a much more ‘masculine’ than a ‘feminine’ environment.

This can be attributed to the prevalence of sports and sciences, which are stereotypically male dominated and masculine areas. And although masculine does not of course equate to male and vice versa, because masculinity is performed mostly by men and femininity by women, the masculine environment at university definitely helps reinforce a gendered hierarchy and positioning the male, and more specifically the straight white male, viewpoint as the norm.

“the masculine environment at university definitely helps reinforce a gendered hierarchy and positioning the male, and more specifically the straight white male, viewpoint as the norm” The problem that remains however, as highlighted by second wave feminist movements in the 1960s and 70s, women need to be emancipated socially from patriarchal constraints that had been embedded into society and were therefore more subtle and harder to identify.

They called for policies such as housework being paid equal work to that in the public sphere, an end to the sexual exploitation of women through pornography and the sex work industry, free and equal access to abortions, and free childcare, among others. In addition, they called for the recognition of intersectionality (examining overlapping systems of oppression and discrimination which women are subject to due to ethnicity, sexuality and economic background). In addition, essentially, the crux of the women’s liberation movement was to encourage women to recognize how seemingly ‘ungendered’ issues systematically disadvantage women over men.

For example, from experiences of my friends or Bath Time’s sexual misconduct study, the University’s Complaints committee has poorly handled cases of sexual assault, the actions – or lack thereof – taken by the university in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of victims hugely undermines the gravity of sexual assault. More broadly, it completely invalidates women’s lived experiences, given that 92% of sexual assault victims are female. More widely, sexual harassment within university clubs is something that every female student I have met at Bath (or any other university) has experienced; whether it is being inappropriately touched or grinded on when dancing without consent, having a drink spiked, being persistently harassed by someone after expressly saying no, or LGBT women being fetishized by other male students through overt staring or cheering while having an intimate moment with another woman.

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Media arguably plays a huge role in setting a norm for how women should perceive situations when harassment or overt sexism takes place. For example, any advance in a film or TV show by a man to a woman, regardless of whether she initiated it or not, is often encouraged to be interpreted as an objectively positive experience, with the implication that validation from a man is the ultimate goal for every woman. But, if norms go unquestioned, it becomes difficult to identify that there is in fact a power imbalance that is being enacted, although it is not as overt. These examples hopefully demonstrate that regardless of formal equality, there is a great disparity between the way male and female students are treated on campus; therefore, analysis and action need to extend beyond what merely exists on paper.

sumptions that women are more caring and nurturing.

For women at the University of Bath, female empowerment should firstly look at gaining awareness of the gendered nature of everyday behaviours and norms, and then seeing how they are reflected in our education system, social situations and institutions such as universities. There is incredible feminist literature available in the University Library, however educating yourself about feminism can come from YouTube channels, news articles or even Instagram accounts.

Secondly, it is also looking to activism and change beyond our own individual lived experiences. Whilst I feel very fortunate that Bath, including the University, is a much safer environment than most university cities, it can sometimes feel like issues of sexism, homophobia, racism and classism are overlooked because of this; that these issues become diluted among the predominantly white, straight, middle class demographic of Bath.

Finally, to quote a poster from the Women’s Liberation movement,which I feel sums up how awareness is key to female empowerment: ‘Sisters, question every aspect of our lives’.

Empowerment above anything should look active; it does not matter how big or small, whether that is volunteering at a woman’s shelter, or buying a cake for a bake sale that supports a women’s charity. It also should not only be about questioning your own situation but also acting on behalf of women that do not enjoy your privileges. I would encourage everyone to support striking staff this week by not crossing the picket line and attending the Teach Out sessions at the Bell Inn that are happening every day 2-7; they are a great way to support your lecturers and specifically female lecturers as well, as their demands have highlighted really well the inequalities female staff in particular face by current UUK policy.

(For any of you interested in feminism and/ or discussions about gender, Feminism & Gender Equality group runs discussion sessions on different topics every Monday 18:30-20:30 in CB 3.9!!)

It is extremely encouraging that the student body have voted for the SU to support the upcoming UCU strikes, partially through the fact that there seems to be a wider understanding of what University staff are sacrificing to withhold work for over a week, and this also has gendered implications too. Although the main focus of the strikes is arguably pension reform, also among the demands are a closing of the gender pay gap and BME pay gap among academic staff, and an acknowledgment of the extra workloads staff are undertaking. An example of this is the pastoral care to students that predominantly female staff are undertaking without extra pay, because of the gendered as-

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UK prisons – An offence to taxpayers

By Freddy Campbell

strategies is that the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto places great emphasis on supporting prisoners once they leave. This is through funding in the new community, ensuring that they have accommodation and employment, and allowing them to keep irrelevant and minor convictions from their past hidden.

With the current election campaign underway, crime and punishment is set to be a key area of focus and one that can notably differentiate the parties.

Prisons in particular are struggling and overcrowded, and reoffending has become a stain on our society. In 2016 a government report found that almost half of prisoners reoffend within a year of release, costing taxpayers up to £15 billion a year. The UK could save up to £1 billion if merely 1,800 prisoners were supported away from reoffending.

The blame lies directly with the chronic lack of funding of the prison system. The Justice Committee described it last month as a situation of ‘crisis’ and outlined ‘the appalling condition of much of the current prison estate’ which in their opinion does not establish a sufficient environment for rehabilitation. This week, parties have begun to outline their manifestos, marking our first look at how they are aiming to confront the issue.

Labour plans to recruit 3,000 more prison officers and attract a higher calibre of employee by lifting the public sector pay cap. Similarly, the Liberal Democrats wish to recruit another 2,000 officers and improve their training and career opportunities. Both want to reduce the number of people in prison by focussing on mental health and drug rehabilitation services, and also providing alternatives for minor sentences.

Conversely, the Conservatives are planning to expand prisons and create 10,000 new prison places. They also want to scrap a current deal that replaces short sentences with community punishments and they plan to lock up violent criminals for longer.

This is clearly an attempt to portray the image of the Conservatives as the ‘law and order party’, and has been likened to a move back to the 1980s. Whilst Labour and Liberal Democrats policies appear to be those that would be more effective in reducing reoffending, there are many who are sceptical about the reality of them being implemented, or these parties even getting anywhere near power at all, and so more direct grassroots efforts are being championed.

One interesting example of this that may be of interest to students is a non-profit organisation called Unlocked Graduates. Their two-year leadership development programme aims to tackle the problem of reoffending by training students as prison officers, whilst they complete a fully-funded master’s degree in leadership and custodial environments. It has been voted in the Times Top 100 Graduate Schemes and for anyone interested - applications are currently open and rolling.

Whatever the outcome, radical changes need to be made and the strongest options seem to be sitting outside the current government’s plans. However, given Boris Johnson’s current strong polling, it is most likely that these options will be overlooked.

“radical changes need to be made”

The only clear difference between these two parties’

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Life on a Year Abroad Darcey Stickley is a Spanish & Politics student currently on her year abroad. Between talking too fast and being late to everything, she enjoys reading, listening to the Off Menu podcast and reminding everyone that Cambridge is better than Oxford, especially when it comes to rowing.

November proved to be another interesting month.

Starting with travel, this month we went to Lima, Peru.

The capital city is full of colour, lights and, despite having visited some of its neighbouring countries, is nothing like what I’ve seen before. There are a remarkable number of casinos and the Peruvian sol makes you think you’re the richest person in the world, so while that doesn’t mean we gambled, it did mean we bought an awful lot of food for a very small price. We visited the usual squares and cathedrals, but what really stood out to us was the Magic Circuit Light Show and the brilliant vegan food at Seitan Urban Bistro. If you can make it a trip, go for the tourism, and stay for the good food and huge fountains.

As nice as the holiday was, Chile stayed active in fighting for their democracy. During these last few weeks, our campus became a target - the army came to the gates to fire hoses and shoot rubber bullets at students.

More recently, a video circulated showing a soldier talking to the San Joaquin campus from an army vehicle saying “Hi kids, how’s it going? The skunk says hello, pleasure to meet you and hope you have a good time” before spraying students with tear gas. This is just a fraction of what’s happening in Chile, yet as we surpass the one month ‘anniversary’ of the protests, the political activity hasn’t slowed down at all.

As ever, for all the fun I’ve been having, it would be incredibly dismissive to ignore what’s happening in Chile while I’m gallivanting elsewhere. Follow local grassroots accounts like @rei_chile & @piensaprensa to be updated on local stories and opinions in real time. #ChileDesperto

Spanish translation: Noviembre resultó ser otro mes interesante.

Con respecto a los viajes, fuimos a Lima, Perú. La ciudad está llena de color, luces y, a pesar de haber visitado otras ciudades en los países cercanos, no es nada parecido a lo que he visto antes. Además, hay muchos casinos y el sol peruviano te hace sentir como si fuera la persona más rica en el mundo -eso no significa que hemos estado apostando, pero sí nos permitió comprar mucha comida por un precio minúsculo-. Visitamos las plazas y catedrales usuales, pero lo que más nos llamó la atención fue el Circuito Mágico del Agua y la increible comida vegana de Seitan Urban Bistro. Si puedes ir a Lima, ve por el turismo y quédate para la exquisita comida y las hermosas grandes fuentes.

Mientras que disfruté mucho en Lima, Chile seguía luchando por su democracia. Durante estas últimas semanas, nuestro campus se volvió un punto de ataque.

Más de una vez, los carabineros hicieron dispersar a los estudiantes con la manguera y balas de goma. Más recientemente, hubo un vídeo de un vehículo del ejército en la entrada principal del campus San Joaquín con un soldado saludando a los estudiantes diciendo: “Hola jovenes, ¿como estan? Los saluda el zorrillo, mucho gusto y que lo pasen muy bien.” antes de tirar gas lacrimógeno a los manifestantes. Eso es solo una fracción de lo que está pasando en Chile, y mientras que cumplimos el ‘aniversario’ de un mes de protestas, la actividad política no se desalacera para nada.

Como siempre, estoy pasándolo bien pero sería despreciativo ignorar lo que ocurre acá mientras que yo ‘callejeo’ en otro lugar. Sigue cuentas locales como @ piensaprensa & @rei_chile para estar actualizado/a sobre las historias y opiniones locales en tiempo real. #ChileDesperto

Spanish Edited by Frelsy Espinoza 16 December Bath Time Design.indd 16

30/11/2019 21:56:40

Final Thoughts: Now is the chance to do what you love

By Jordan Edwards

In Final Thoughts, I reflect on the lessons I’ve learned during my time at University, as I prepare to graduate.

meeting new people; be it a sport, society or SU group, these are opportunities you will not be able to seize after graduation.

My first birthday in Bath was one of the most miserable days of my life. It was beginning to appear as though I despised my course and I hadn’t made many friends, despite the fact that throughout college and school I had gotten to know almost everyone.

I will always have a personal bias towards Volleyball and University Radio Bath. My best friends have come from both of these groups and I honestly believe I have been moulded into the person I am today by the amazing people I have met doing these activities.

Most importantly, neither were an activity I had ever thought about, let alone tried, previously to attending Bath. Being a member has allowed me to meet a broad and diverse set of people, creating bonds with those that I would never have met had I not signed up.

I spent my 19th at the Plug Quiz, with only two of my flatmates, before Facetiming my Mum and my sister, who were both living it up in Munich where my sister was studying abroad. Although I now run the Plug Quiz, that day was one of the most tedious and heart-breaking days I had ever experienced. It was the loneliest I’d ever felt, which made me alienate myself from everyone further.

Fast forward three years, and next month I will share my third birthday party in a row with my good mate Sam; it’ll be the end of a trilogy of awesome birthday parties with my closest mates by my side. When I look back at that first birthday in Bath now, I’m laughing.

What made the difference? A couple of things, actually.

Firstly, it goes without saying that putting yourself out there and exuding confidence is the most certain way to get to know new people and make new friends. The only problem there is if you lack the confidence in the first place it is highly unlikely you will wake up one day with it restored – even as someone who was unbelievably confident throughout high school, University cowered me.

“even as someone who was unbelievably confident throughout high school, University cowered me” I can only conclude that my confidence returned from my joining of societies. Getting stuck into scenarios where everyone tends to be nervous (and a committee exists which have welcoming) is the best way to start

“I honestly believe I have been moulded into the person I am today by the amazing people I have met doing these activities” I’m back to my old confident self and feeling less lame than I used to. Having been told that University years are the best of your life, I was particularly worried when I arrived to find that I was not enjoying it at all.

Now in my final year, having done the things I’ve done, I feel poignant at the thought of leaving.

Reflecting on this final thought, I can only say that if you’re lacking confidence, it is worth putting yourself in potentially tough scenarios to meet new people.

Had I not got stuck into what the University have to offer, I would still be as lonely as I was back then.

This is even more vital given that University is perhaps the final period of life where you can do the extra-curricular activities you love and have the freedom to discover a new hobby before entering the duller world of full-time work. If you’re dead-set on completing your degree, make the most of the time you have here.

Bath has incredible resources and facilities; make the most of your £9,000-a-year and use them.

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30/11/2019 21:56:40

Did Jeffrey Epstein kill himself?

By Tom Marssan

There’s probably no more popular or ubiquitous conspiracy theory than the one that has emerged as a result of Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent suicide. The internet is awash with viral videos, memes and social media posts all repeating the same phrase: Jeffrey Epstein didn’t kill himself. Amazingly, in a recent poll by Rasmussen only 29% of people asked believed Epstein had committed suicide while 45% believed he had been murdered.

Even Donald Trump retweeted a popular conspiracy theorist implying the Clintons had arranged Epstein’s death.

“Even Donald Trump retweeted a popular conspiracy theorist implying the Clintons had arranged Epstein’s death.”

Beyond the realm of conspiracy theories however, there do seem to be very real questions needing answers surrounding the well-connected financier’s death. These questions are the subject of several different official investigations. But what exactly did happen and why do people believe these omnipresent conspiracy theories?

To begin with, the facts: on 10 August 2019, Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell in Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York. The New York City Chief Medical Examiner later ruled his death a suicide by hanging. Once you start examining even the most basic details surrounding his death this version does appear to be at the very least, a level of unparalleled institutional incompetence and at most, clear evidence of foul play.

Firstly, despite having made a suicide attempt just 2 weeks before, Epstein was taken off the suicide watch list, removing the requirement for constant supervision. Secondly, the day before his death, Epstein’s cellmate was transferred out of the cell and he was left in there alone. Thirdly, the two cameras, both outside,

and in the corridor leading to his cell, coincidentally malfunctioned during the 8 hours that Epstein was unaccounted for. Fourthly, the guards charged with supervising Epstein were apparently asleep for 3 hours just fifteen feet away from his cell, despite clear instructions to regularly check on him. These guards have since been charged with falsifying records and conspiracy. Finally, in the report by former NYC Chief Medical Examiner Michael Baden, who observed the autopsy and was hired by Epstein’s brother to investigate the situation; stated that it appeared Epstein’s Hyoid bone was broken, which is more consistent with homicidal strangulation than suicidal hanging.

Taken individually these facts can perhaps be explained by systemic incompetence and procedural failures, giving him the opportunity to kill himself.

However when taken holistically it’s almost impossible to see them as coincidental, especially in the context of the powerful people implicated in his case. It seems either Epstein was murdered, or the conditions were created for him to take his own life. Hopefully, investigations will show if other parties were involved and those connected to Epstein and his despicable crimes will be held to account. While Epstein’s victims may have been robbed of the opportunity to hold the man himself to account, we can only hope that out of this, the case will continue and that other perpetrators and associates will eventually face the justice they deserve.

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30/11/2019 21:56:41

Royalty as ‘unbecoming’ of a modern democracy?

By Esme Trevelyan

Ah the Monarchy – an age-old institution that for many instils a sense of national pride, strength and unity. But in the wake of the exposé of Prince Andrew’s friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffery Epstein and the accusations of sexual assault against him, is the Royal Family really all it’s cracked up to be, or is this just the latest in a long line of abuse-of-power scandals?

At its core, the monarchy is categorically undemocratic. The British public has no choice in who sits on the throne. Even the royals themselves don’t get much of a choice in how their life pans out – the simple act of being born decides it all. The monarchy is a bastion of hereditary privilege, wealth and power; the royals have done nothing to earn their place at the head of the state except share some DNA.

“The monarchy is a bastion of hereditary privilege, wealth and power; the royals have done nothing to earn their place at the head of the state except share some DNA.” However, Prince Andrew isn’t the only royal to take full advantage of his power. The Queen and Prince Charles can veto bills that affect their interests in a process distinct from Royal Assent; bills that might affect their “hereditary revenues, personal property or other interests” need to have their consent before being debated, and Whitehall papers show that at least 39 bills have been subject to this process. Prince Charles has also been known to abuse his position and seek to influence government ministers, through writing his own letters or his links to pressure groups. The release of Charles’ letters to ministers under Freedom of Information laws have been vetoed, for fear they might damage his role as a future monarch. In fact, the royal family are exempt from Freedom of Information laws, meaning that unlike politicians or civil servants, they can go about their public roles in secrecy, without any

official scrutiny.

Then comes the matter of accountability. Since we don’t vote them in, we can’t hold them to account at the ballot box. There really is nothing tangible to stop them abusing their privilege and very little to prevent them wasting taxpayer money – other than the fear of their actions being considered ‘unbecoming’ *sweats profusely*.

Of course, the strongest defence of the monarchy is how much money they bring in. Although it would be impossible to ever quantify how much the royals actually bring in against how much they cost (£369 million for a palace refurbishment and £32 million for a royal wedding), there is no doubt that the Queen brings in the tourist pound. But the royals still cost a lot of money, and they still sit on a huge amount of wealth. There is something very uncomfortable about watching members of the royal family parade through areas rife with poverty in a golden carriage, even if onlookers have spent £5 on a flag at the local souvenir shop to wave.

Prince Andrew’s recent scandal is really the tip of a scandal-riddled iceberg, poised to sink the ship of hereditary privilege and unearned, undemocratic power.

The monarchy really is very ‘unbecoming’ of a modern democracy.

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Four-day working week: silly suggestion or productivity booster?

By Tom Marsan

work-life balance. Numerous studies have found similar results, such as the Harvard Business Review, which found that a six-hour day actually increased productivity compared to an eight-hour one.

Across the nation, Brexit-bored ears pricked up when Labour announced in their manifesto that if elected on December 12th, they would reduce the average full-time working week to 32 hours, while maintaining salaries, over the course of the next decade. It’s not yet clear how a 32-hour week could manifest in practice, whether that would mean four eight hour working days, or the possibility of still working Monday to Friday with shorter days.

The Conservatives have criticised some pitfalls in this crowd-pleasing election promise. For starters, they’ve accused the proposal of making a huge loss to the economy, since employers would be required to hire more staff to fill inevitable gaps in their workforce. They’ve also emphasised that a four-day week would be completely impractical for our already overstretched public services, including the NHS. And of course, a four-day week never works for everyone.

Hospitality and leisure industries (which typically hire younger people, often on zero-hours contracts) would see an increase to their peak hours by 50% if the weekend were increased from two to three days.

However, an increasing body of research leans in Labour’s favour on this matter. Microsoft recently trialled a four-day working week throughout the month of August in their Japan offices - a resounding success.

Not only were employees happier and less stressed, but their overall productivity increased by 40%. The four-day week forced workers to become more efficient with their time, and as a result they reported a better

As students, we are lucky to often have plenty of free hours in a week, outside of lectures or classes, to plan our time as we want. But in a few short years, once out into the big bad world of work, the pressures of adulting alongside a full-time job will soon mount up.

A four-day week could open up a significant pocket of time for employees to pursue hobbies, get outside, learn a new skill, or nurture friendships and relationships. “We should work to live, not live to work,’’ said Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, when he announced the promise in September. Indeed, research concludes that lower stress levels not only lead to a better quality of life, but also a longer life. This is particularly relevant when we consider that graduates of our generation will be expected to keep working until we’re 70, or perhaps even 75. A more efficient, less frantic working week would certainly give us some much-needed stamina if we’re going to be working 10 years longer than our parents’ generation.

“A more efficient, less frantic working week would certainly give us some much-needed stamina if we’re going to be working 10 years longer than our parents’ generation.”

So perhaps the solution to our stress epidemic is not necessarily to slash working hours by a fifth overnight, but to take a more flexible approach to our working lives. Increasingly large bodies of research and HR policies are starting to recognise the importance of more flexible working hours, especially for carers or those who suffer health complications. While Labour’s promise is certainly eye-catching… it remains to see what will come of it after December 12th.

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Amnesty and P&P Statement on SU Climate paper We would like to state our support for the paper submitted by the Students Union to the C/S/SU committee of the university. The paper sets out demands of students for the university to do more to address the climate crisis and we endorse those demands. The Amnesty Society and People and Planet Society worked collaboratively to create the demands with the Students Union Activities Officer, Francesco Masala, and the demands represent a wide cross-section of the University of Bath student body.

We are pleased that the Students Union has recognised the urgency of the Climate Crisis and included a demand to have the University of Bath achieve climate neutrality by 2030. The climate crisis is already having a devastating impact on fundamental rights globally with rights such as the right to housing, right to life, right to health and many others affected. Immediate action by institutions such as the University of Bath is required.

The paper does recognise positive steps that the University has taken in recent years and we also praise those efforts. These efforts included the ‘Leave No Trace’ scheme to reduce single-use coffee cup usage and the 100% green renewable electricity supply used by the University.

However, transparency of University activity is a persistent worry. For instance, the Carbon Management Group which decides University policy on sustainability has not published minutes since May 2018. As well as the demands in the paper, we believe that the University should open up structures such as these to student and staff groups, giving them a real stake in University policy to address the Climate Crisis. Additionally, on the theme of transparency, the Students Union should push for the University to publish statistics on airmiles taken by staff and academics. Addressing the Climate Crisis is not just about reducing carbon emissions, it requires structural change including changing the way we operate such as flying less or not at all.

Furthermore, the Students Union itself needs to recognize the Climate and Ecological Crisis as a top priority by declaring a Climate Emergency and committing to carbon neutrality by the year 2025. It needs to communicate this priority to students and allow the student body to make changes towards this target and beyond.

The paper we believe is a good platform from which to build. It can be improved, student demands are likely increase and the Students Union should be aware of this. For instance, we would like the University to declare a climate emergency, a measure which the Bath and North East Somerset Council has already taken.

We therefore encourage student groups to back this paper and pressure the university to implement the demands set out.

University of Bath Amnesty Society Bath People & Planet Society

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Recommendations for the University set out in the Climate paper by the CSSU Recommendations by the Students’ Union 1. For the University to pledge Carbon Neutrality by 2030, both including research and without research as separate targets.

2. For the University to commit to achieving as low embodied carbon in new builds as possible and to aim for net-zero emissions during use of the building.

3. To embed sustainability in the curriculum of all University courses.

4. For the University to review its investment practices to take into account any links to funding the fossil fuel industry.

5. For the University to review its relationship with Barclays due to its continuous involvement in the fossil fuel industry.

6. For the University to commit further staff resources specifically focused on sustainability.

7. For the University to include the climate crisis and its environmental impact as a core component in its new strategy, and regularly report to C/S/SU on actions undertaken.

Recommendations by People and Planet 1. For the University to commit to being neutral 2. For the University to create a carbon neutral strategy that will include the actions the University is undertaking to meet this pledge and is reported up to CSSU regularly 3. For professional and academic departments to be incorporated in the carbon neutral strategy 4. To publish its actions and progress on the University website

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30/11/2019 21:56:46

The Promised Forest

By Tom Langer

As the electorate becomes increasingly aware of the menace of climate change, the issue becomes more central to each of the major parties’ election strategy.

A detailed look at the various environmental commitments would take the entire paper so here is a brief word on two of the headlines:

Trees

The Conservatives have promised to plant an average of 30 million trees a year, despite this being more than double the number planted any year in the last 9 years of Conservative Government. By comparison, the Liberal Democrats have pledged 60 million a year over the same time period and the Green party have promised an average of 70 million a year until 2030. Labour has committed to “an ambitious programme of tree planting, with both forestry and native woodland species” and Nigel Farage of the Brexit Party has said “The UK should spearhead a global initiative at the UN to plant billions of trees around the world”. Experts say a huge tree-planting programme will be required for the UK to meet its environmental targets, so these commitments are necessary. But any tree planting plan on this sort of scale necessitates complex conversations about compensating landowners, re-evaluating the use of land used in farming and the preservation of existing ecosystems. So, whoever wins the election, expect this to be complicated.

sustainable energy sources will count for 80% of our total energy production by 2030 and 100% by 2045, by increasing the UK’s wind and solar energy production.

They do not declare themselves either for or against nuclear power in their manifesto, but have previously questioned its role in the future of electricity generation. The Conservatives have pledged to uphold the current government target of net-zero by 2050 with a focus on offshore wind and have expressed support for nuclear power. The Green Party says they would achieve net zero by 2030, while prohibiting the further construction of nuclear power stations. Obviously, the more ambitious the policy, the more daunting the financial and technical obstacles become, but every voter must then weigh this up against the cost of failing to act.

Despite the long road ahead, it is encouraging to see climate change becoming a key battleground of this election. We must hope that these promises are remembered however the election goes and see it as our duty to raise hell if they are not.

“We must hope that these promises are remembered however the election goes and see it as our duty to raise hell if they are not.”

Sustainable Energy

The main differences between parties on this issue is how soon they envisage the UK becoming carbon neutral and the combination of energy generation methods required to do that. The exception is the Brexit party which has not yet made a commitment to net-zero. The Labour party have set the target of producing 90% of electricity from renewable and low-carbon sources by 2030 with a further commitment to reach net zero by the 2030s. This will be accomplished by a considerable expansion of wind and solar infrastructure alongside supporting new UK nuclear power stations. Similarly, the Liberal Democrats promise

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30/11/2019 21:56:48

Declutter your mind

By Jordan Edwards

Let’s face it, for almost all of us who are incapable of taking exams or completing coursework without any revision at all, there will come a time over this Christmas period where all seems lost and the stress will make you want to tear your hair out.

Fortunately, there is a sure way of preventing or at least alleviating that stress before it happens. A formula which will help you relax, feel happier and retain your focus. That formula is mindfulness, a way of making you feel, think and be in the moment, whatever you’re doing.

The positive effects of this are underestimated. What people (particularly students) do not realise is that we are far too swept off our feet, occupied in every waking moment, to truly take time out for ourselves. This is what practising mindfulness aims to make you do.

Studies have found that practising mindfulness over long periods can cause the amygdala to contract; this is the area of the brain which is most susceptible to stress. Furthermore, these studies also suggest that the practise of mindfulness increases the number of active genes, supporting your body’s fight against illnesses and serious disorders. It’s not a flowery, hippy thing to be doing – it really works and should be a part of everyone’s routine.

Mindfulness comes in various forms; perhaps the most popular is meditation, however yoga and colouring books are other activities also often considered.

Mindfulness meditation itself is perfectly simple; it involves sitting in a comfortable space, focussing on your breathing and the feelings within your body. If an hour of yoga takes up too much in your schedule, setting aside 10 minutes a day for meditation can cause drastic positive changes to your mind. It can be hard to do initially, however over time you will begin to feel where it makes a difference in your life. I would recommend Headspace as the best of all apps for meditation, however it is just as easy to find meditation exercises

through YouTube.

If even 10 minutes is a push, there are simpler ways to practise mindfulness. Pay closer attention to your surroundings, ditching music in earphones and the distractions of social media. Notice the little things; the taste of the food and drink you consume and how the sensations in your body feel throughout the day.

Change the seat you sit in at the library or in lectures, go somewhere new for lunch or do something differently rather than sticking to the same boring routine.

Change the route you walk home for a change of scenery. Try and head out walking in the evenings if you’re procrastinating too much.

There are so many different ways to practise mindfulness, and by doing so you can put a preventative measure in place to avoid heightening your stress levels over the coming Christmas period. Personally, I’ve always found that doing so always helps me feel more confident in myself, less lonely and boosts my mood.

Alongside all of these benefits, it will also do wonders for your sleep. If you can put aside a time of day to try it, you’ll never look back.

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30/11/2019 21:56:49

The Chaotic Life of Being on the Committee

By Eloise Sacares

Last year, I wrote a column about the regrets and mistakes I’d made in my time as a fresher. In the final issue, I summed it up with all the lessons I had learnt, thinking that next year I’d be all clued up and ready to take on the roles of Bath Time Deputy Editor and LGBT+ Campaigns Officer. That did not turn out to be the case. I still have tough days and make a lot of blunders, but I truly love volunteering for the SU, and I’m going to share the ups and downs of it with you.

I am one of the people who loves doing a hundred things at once; I feel on top of the world as I run Pumpkin Spice Latte fueled - from the SU, to lectures and then 4W café to get some actual work done (and maybe back again when I realise I’ve forgotten to lock the Bath Time Office). I don’t know if it’s a Generation Z thing, but background chatter and the interruption of a hundred emails actually helps to keep my brain going and focus tight. However, while my mental health is generally better this year, developing a chronic illness has made this hectic life more difficult, and it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly letting people down when you can’t make things because of flare-ups.

“developing a chronic illness has made this hectic life more difficult, and it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly letting people down when you can’t make things because of flareups” My life in general has changed a lot this year; changing friendships, a much greater workload, ending a relationship and starting a new one (albeit with the same name), and living with new flatmates. Some changes have been tough, but I’m hoping to continue to learn that things change so you can make way for other things that are right for you at that time. And as a tip to freshers - I would 100% recommend living with

someone on Baking Soc committee, because finding a ‘Please Eat’ post-it on top of leftover baked goods in your kitchen is possibly the best remedy for any bad day.

My ability to stand up and talk to a room in my campaigning work means people now generally perceive me as confident and self-assured - however, my professionalism only goes so far. I’ve realized that I am just a chaotic person, and always will be. Though I’ve learnt to control this to an extent, so that I can stop myself slipping into depressive habits, I will never live up to the perfectly put together Virgo trope, and that’s okay.

While it’s a little embarrassing having to get your Uber driver to stamp on the rape alarm you managed to break, or deciding to open up a condom in the Plug in front of the girl you liked, or having five strangers yelling love life advice at you in a club bathroom because you can’t keep your mouth shut, things will generally either work out for the best in the end, or you’ll have a funny story to tell.

As for the future, I have exciting things planned for my time with Bath SU. I don’t know whether they’ll become a reality, but what I do know for now is that I love being a journalist, I love helping to run the incredible community that is Bath LGBT+, and I love feeling like I could be making some kind of a difference, or at least getting myself on the ladder to make one in the future.

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30/11/2019 21:56:50

This Girl Can - or Can She?

By Shauna Dubler

Sport England is bringing back its hugely successful ‘This Girl Can’ campaign and everyone is getting involved. Launched in 2015, the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign has persuaded nearly three million women and girls to become more active. The campaign aims to get women and girls moving, regardless of shape, size and ability and in a space free from judgement. Following criticism from the previous adverts, Sport England aimed to broaden the appeal by demonstrating that there is no ‘right’ way to get active, any movement is good movement. On campus, sports clubs are inviting women to come to taster sessions to find a team that suits them.

Following the resounding success of the Women’s football World Cup this summer, England has seen the number of women taking up sports skyrocket. The FA has counted 605 new girls’ youth football teams and 260 new women’s clubs registered to play for the start of this season. Clubs, brands, universities and companies continue to promote equality in sport, yet women still continue to face a number of barriers that are virtually non-existent for men. Professional athletes continuously deal with sexism, pay-gaps and discrimination; but inequality in sport trickles down to all levels, even grassroots.

hiring out external facilities to train on. So while a 3G pitch would provide a solution in the long-term, short-term progress could be made at the hand of the University.

As the #PitchPlease campaign gains momentum on campus, no one is discussing the detrimental impact the lack of space is having on promoting women in sport. It is not just about football, no new BUCS teams are being allocated at the end of this year resulting in more and more women being turned away from teams.

The demand is so high that trials forced clubs to turn away hundreds of girls with no development teams to fall back on. Moreover, the SU increased club membership fees from £30 to £35 last year for annual club membership in order to cover the cost of BUCS teams, meaning that not only can the University not accommodate more competitive teams, but the development squads are helping to fund a league that they are not a part of.

So, this girl can? No, she can’t, not without the pitch space, the funds and the support of the University.

Football clubs around the country are struggling to meet the growing demand created by female teams due to lack of pitch space and training material. Historically, the FA banned women from using accredited grounds and now they are forced to play catch up with the well-established men’s teams for training space.

This problem hits close to home with the University’s female football team also falling victim. The University’s Football committee is struggling to cope with a growing demand. With a 50-woman squad and no promise of a third BUCS team in the foreseeable future, it’s not hard to imagine a drop in the numbers and World Cup inspired enthusiasm. And this problem is not without solutions; other universities across the country are accommodating women in sport through

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30/11/2019 21:56:51

A Tyrant for the Masses

By Nele Gewart

Revelations of a whistleblower’s formal complaint over a secured phone call made between the US President and Ukrainian President Zelensky have triggered a new wave of Democratic efforts towards the impeachment of US President Donald Trump.

Hearings in Congress have highlighted the fact that the call took place just days after Trump put £316m of military aid to the Ukraine on hold. Democrats argue that this was aimed to pressure the Ukrainian government into investigating discredited corruption allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. With Biden being the top Democratic presidential candidate for the 2020 election and arguably Trump’s toughest opponent in the race, such allegations could have serious implications for the 2020 elections.

To clarify, impeachment does not necessarily result in a sitting President’s removal from office. Impeachment is the adoption of charges by the House, leading to a trial in the Senate. Accordingly, even if the House were to find Trump guilty, the Senate would still require a two-thirds majority vote to remove him from office.

According to Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution, grounds for impeachment are treason, bribery and “other high crimes and misdemeanors”, however, these terms lack an actual legal definition. Most common interpretations of this language agree that the impeachment process does not require a serious crime to be enacted, but merely evidence of a meaningful and severe pattern of misconduct deemed by Congress as necessitating an impeachment probe.

Such radical action has only been undertaken twice in US history; the impeachments of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton (Richard Nixon avoided near-certain impeachment through resignation). Given impeachment’s rather exceptional history, how likely is Trump to be impeached?

Senate Republicans to avoid a two-thirds vote and acquit Trump of his crimes. In a Senate dominated by a 53-strong Republican majority, few expect a full 20 senators to defect and openly defenestrate him so close to the 2020 election. It speaks volumes to the state of American political polarisation that this fact will likely remain the case regardless of what the impeachment probe might reveal.

The most significant outcome of Democrats pushing for impeachment on such slim charges could lie within the consequences for American politics itself. Democratic efforts are currently focused on publicizing a probably unsuccessful impeachment probe, paving the way for Trump to revel in his success. Democrats have built the groundwork for Trump to accuse them of wasting taxpayer money and served him the platform to popularize this opinion on a silver platter during elections.

James Bryce speculated in the 1880s: “A bold President who knew himself to be supported by a majority in the country, might be tempted to override the law. He might be a tyrant, not against the masses, but with the masses.”

This certainly holds true for this Impeachment Inquiry, which may just create such a tyrant for the masses, made bold by success over his opponents.

Realistically, the odds are low. It would take just 34

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30/11/2019 21:56:53

Behind closed doors in Xinjiang

By Muhammad Ali Rizvi

Despite the New York Times article making rounds on the internet with leaked Chinese government documents, supporters of President Xi Jinping’s government outweigh its naysayers. The leaked document details communications between President Xi Jinping and administrators of Uyghur Muslims Concentration Camps.

In 2014, the Chinese government had established ‘re-education’ camps for Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. After denying their existence until 2018, the Government legalized and justified these camps as their efforts to counter terrorism and maintain stability in the region. It has been estimated that there are between 1 and 3 million people illegally detained in these camps. Satellite imagery has shown that these ‘vocational training centres’ look more like detention centres. Escapees have narrated the unspeakable tortures that they have experienced or witnessed.

The New York Times article quoted Xi Jinping’s inhumane ideas about the camp. But more importantly, it exposed the repercussions for those who sympathized with the detainees; one Communist Party official who refused to be harsher and freed many detainees was removed from his post.

“Not only does it deprive them of the freedom to practice their beliefs, but it deprives them of their ability to exist as autonomous individuals free from state control” Videos have circulated online of the camps and what is clear is not only that this is inhumane, but it will not work. Force and coercion have never worked in changing beliefs, and in-fact often strengthen them as we have seen throughout the Middle East in the wake of Western imperialist influences.

China further hurts Communist ideas globally by intertwining its authoritarian regime with political belief. However, if we were to turn around, of the 54 countries that recently signed a letter in support of the Chinese Government in its efforts to counter terrorism, many are capitalist democracies. In fact, flag-bearers of the Muslim world, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan have all expressed support. Albeit, it is important to make note of how all these countries, one way or another, are dependent on economic benefits provided by China. Similarly, we have seen the likes of Lebron James defend this affront to human decency.

So perhaps, money is the biggest religion of all.

I’d argue that this crackdown on ethnic minorities, specifically Uyghur Muslims, is not an attempt to combat terrorism, but rather religion. It would appear that the Communist Party of China wants to ensure that it does not face the same fate as the Soviet Union by letting any strong ideologies prevail. Forcing people to eat pork, drink alcohol and sing national songs does not help combat terrorism, but rather deprives them of their freedom. Not only does it deprive them of the freedom to practice their beliefs, but it deprives them of their ability to exist as autonomous individuals free from state control.

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I’m with Stupid: The UoB Superiority Complex The rivalry between University of Bath and Bath Spa is as long standing as our love of the ducks or hatred of the Quads. A source of prolific meme-making, and not-so inventive chants, this divide is quintessential to our university identity. This is especially apparent when we venture into town for a night out, with late night takeaway spots becoming territory (long live Taka Taka), and the anti-Spa songs on the U1 leaving everyone with ringing ears.

University rivalries can have some benefits. Research has found that rivalry increases motivation and performance. Whilst its highly unlikely that a bit of healthy competition with Bath Spa students will get you that first, it certainly isn’t hurting. But there are some downsides to rivalry in that rivalry increases unsporting and unethical behaviour. I spoke to a few Bath Spa students to figure out if they are even aware of the divide. Whilst all of them knew about it, the vibe I got is that it’s pretty one sided. They don’t engage with it, and it’s not a part of their culture in the same way. So if they aren’t getting involved, why do we care so much?

Speak to any Uni of Bath student about why they don’t like Spa students and they will tell you they are stupid or inferior in some way. Is this actually true, or are we just trying to not feel like Oxbridge-rejects? On the surface, it’s hard not to feel like we are on another level when Bath grads are some of the most employable and successful, and recent research published by the BBC has found that male Bath Spa graduates make less on average than people without degrees. But when you actually think about it there are a lot of more nuanced and logical explanations for this than a difference in intelligence. Bath Spa doesn’t even offer the same subjects as us, and the subjects they do offer are largely arts-based: of course the entry requirements are going to be lower – no one cares about what grades you got

when you audition for a role or have your work shown in a gallery. It’s not a surprise that their graduates earn less either – if you’re not struggling are you even an artist? Its clear that the root of our superiority complex is thinking we are smarter than them (see the classic chant “if you can’t spell uni go to Spa”), but if this isn’t strictly true, why do we insist that we are so much better?

“Its clear that the root of our superiority complex is thinking we are smarter than them (see the classic chant “if you can’t spell uni go to Spa”), but if this isn’t strictly true, why do we insist that we are so much better?”

According to Psychology, the main cause of superiority complexes is the need to overcome an inferiority complex. This suggests that the divide between our universities is nothing to do with Spa and everything to do with us feeling inferior. Whether it’s Russell group universities thinking they are better than us, or people having never got over their bruised egos from the Oxbridge rejections, we need to feel smarter than Spa so we don’t feel stupid ourselves. It’s kind of sad when you look at it that way, and it is really testament to the toxic nature of competition instilled in us in schools and university applications. When it comes down to it, we are all going to leave with a degree, and that’s something to be proud of, regardless of where you got it.

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From longest running President, to a running President

By Chloe Bester President Morales resigned on the 10th of November 2019 following disputes regarding the legitimacy of Bolivia’s October elections. The Organisation of American States (OAS) found significant irregularities by the Electoral Commission, including forged records.

Morales was willing to call for new elections but was instead urged by the Chief of Armed Forces to resign indefinitely after the upsurge of protests threatening national stability. Morales has found asylum in Mexico.

“The Organisation of American States (OAS) found significant irregularities by the Electoral Commission, including forged records.”

Following a succession of resignations from the Vice-President, the Leader of the Senate and the Leader of the Chamber of Deputies, Jeanine Áñez assumed the position of interim leader. Áñez’ only responsibilities are to establish a transition cabinet, that will govern until Áñez has completed her second responsibility: calling elections within the next 3 months. Áñez aims to conduct the elections before the 22nd of January 2020, as this is when Morales’ previous term expires.

However, it is not just the electoral procedure that is being questioned, but also the legality of Morales’ 2020 presidency campaign. Evo Morales, leader of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, has had a bicameral majority in Assembly since 2006. However, in the 2009 constitution under Article 168, presidents are limited to one re-election. Admittedly, MAS’ first election in 2006 is irrelevant to the 10-year capping, as this was prior to the two-term limit being introduced in 2009, but the article does deem Morales’ 2020 presidency illegal. In spite of this, the Supreme Tribunal Justice ruled in December 2017 that all public offices would have no term limits, allowing Morales to run for

presidency in 2019. What does this say about constitutional unanimity?

“However, it is not just the electoral procedure that is being questioned, but also the legality of Morales’ 2020 presidency campaign.”

Antithetical to the claim that Morales’ resignation was in the interest of peace, MAS supporters are decrying recent events as a military coup. Protestors are predominantly of indigenous ethnicity. Prior to Morales, their rights were not recognised, despite their majority demographic within the country. These protestors anticipate a return to previous parliamentary conditions under which they were not adequately recognised.

Although, there may be more to their dread, with some of these protestors being coca growers. Coca is the raw material used in cocaine and happens to be an important sector in Bolivia; it is the only source of income for some poor farmers. Morales regulated the trade of coca, despite international pressure to counter the practice. This was rationalized in the interest of using coca for religious and cultural purposes. Áñez has expressed no intention of continuing this.

Protestors are not alone in their condemnation of the interim government. As Morales was party of the 2000’s Pink Tide, which saw left-wing leaders gain governance across South America, Morales’ regional left allies, like Venezuela, identify the recent acts in Bolivia as a coup too. Consequently, Áñez has broken ties with Venezuela to signify a symbolic and literal distancing from Morales’ allies. Yet, Áñez is favoured in the international arena over Morales, with both the US and Brazil deeming Morales’ resignation a precautionary measure to preserve democratic order in Bolivia.

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30/11/2019 21:56:55

Predation within the Clergy

By Ben Reid

A disturbing scandal over purported sexual abuse at the heart of Catholicism multiplies, as three more former papal altar boys allege molestation at the hands of priests in the Vatican. In the latest investigation by Le Iene, an Italian TV programme, fresh accusations of abuse are directed at the Vatican’s Youth Seminary, dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.

This comes only two months after the Vatican declared it would seek the prosecution of Father Gabriele Martinelli for the abuse of several altar boys at the St Pius X youth seminary during 2012. Whilst the innumerable instances of clerical abuse have been historically distanced from the papacy, these occurrences at the religious headquarters only affirm the pervasion of sexual abuse in the Catholic institution.

Yet repeated papal apologetics suggest both the rejection of the subject as distinctly Catholic, and a refusal to accept responsibility. As Pope John Paull II claimed in the 1990s, abusive clerics were simply a “few bad apples”, and the ostensibly progressive Pope Francis, hailed for his heads on approach to paedophilia, recently attested this denial of Catholicism’ relevance, determining that such egregious abuse “is a human problem”.

Whilst secular culture often protects religion and pressures the aversion of contentious discussion regarding matters of faith, the ongoing and long-standing history of sexual abuse in the Catholic establishment obligates us to scrutinise it. And, indeed, its perpetual existence suggests it is rooted in something core to the Catholic Church.

irrepressible natural urge - is ‘intrinsically and gravely disordered”. More broadly, the Church teaches the sinful nature of all extra-marital sexual expression, and enforces repentance if one transgresses.

For clerics, the public policy is one of absolute celibacy, including the prohibition of marriage (the expression of intimate human connection). This protracted form of sexual repression and innocence among adult men, especially given its external imposition, is certainly against all natural instincts. In tandem with a uniquely afforded position of trust and power with impressionable children, one should certainly question its corrosive implications.

Whilst links between unnatural sexual suppression and child abuse are not concrete, the history of cover-ups and protection given to guilty offenders unearths something more insidious within the Church.

For far too long, the Church’s concern has been with protection of members and reputations as opposed to those who suffered at the hands of perpetrators. Frustratingly, uncovering the account of assistance within the Catholic hierarchy is difficult from the outside.

Whilst the Church has somewhat begun the long path to redemption, beginning with Pope Francis’ meeting addressing clerical abuse, far greater accountability and transparency is required to renew the Church’s tarnished image.

As a distinctly sexual matter, it is only right to question doctrinal teachings on the matters of sex. Biblical doctrine, enforced by the Catholic Church, legislates over all things sexual, and is certainly at the core of sexual repression within the tradition. For example, one can only imagine the psychological harm done to children taught that masturbation - an instinctive and

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The Science Column Something Strange in the Martian Air Over the last few years, the Martian atmosphere has been scrutinised, with unexplained fluctuations in the concentration of Methane being especially closely watched. To this day, we are still unsure of the reasons behind the seasonal changes, and now, thanks to recent data from the Curiosity rover, this phenomenon has become even more interesting.

Now, variations in the concentration of Oxygen have also been observed, with the amount of Oxygen in the atmosphere rising by 30% in the Spring and Summer.

Seasonal changes in gas concentrations aren’t unusual in and of themselves (the levels of Carbon Dioxide, Argon and Nitrogen all follow predictable patterns), but the mechanism(s) that explain this change is/are currently unknown in the case of Oxygen. Oxygen molecules can be formed as the sun heats C02 and water vapour in the atmosphere, but there is not enough water vapour on the planet to produce the scale of increase we observed. Similarly, it is known that it is possible for Oxygen molecules to be broken up by solar radiation, but this process takes too long to explain the rapid decreases.

The Bloodhound Bloodhound, the latest vehicle in the long line of land speed racers, has just finished its high-speed trials in the South African desert. Powered by an EJ200 Eurofighter jet engine, Bloodhound reached its highest speed yet of 628 mph, making it only the 7th land vehicle to achieve such a speed.

The Bloodhound team hope to go on to beat the all-time land speed record of 763 mph, set by Thrust SSC in 1997. They hope this can be accomplished by replacing the jet engine with a rocket, to provide the additional propulsion required to break the sound barrier. The Norwegian aerospace company, Nammo, has already said it is willing to provide the rocket but, perhaps unsurprisingly, the next challenge will be one of finance rather than engineering. Having been saved from bankruptcy in late 2018 by Ian Warhurst, the company will need further investment to keep the dream of a 1000mph car alive.

The most probable explanation of this mystery is the existence of some hereto unknown, chemical or physical store of oxygen that is periodically exchanged with the air in the atmosphere. A less likely (but more fun) answer, is that some form of life is behind both the changes in methane and oxygen. Whatever the answer, this is one new puzzle on the list for those planning future missions to our nearest neighbour.

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2019’s Bath Time Awards

By Elie Breton

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s this time of the year again: the award season! 2019 was a wonderful cinematic year to say the least. Cinema took us at the edge of our solar system, in the rich neighbourhoods of Korea, on the racing tracks of Le Mans or even in 1944’s Germany.

Cinema is a big part of my life, so much so that this year alone I have watched over 130 films. While you don’t have to take my word for gospel, here are a few films that I strongly recommend to you.

Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2019’s Bath Time Awards:

Best Animated Film: Minuscule 2

least for Awkwafina’s groundbreaking role.

Best Comedy: Booksmart Runner-up: Jojo Rabbit

Unfortunately this is a comedy that no one saw coming. Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut is simply a treat and probably features some of the most relatable characters in recent years. It is funny extremely touching, and genuinely empowering thanks to its promising cast. Don’t you dare miss it!

Best LGBT+ Film: Portrait of the Young Lady on Fire

Runner-up: The LEGO Movie 2

Runner-up: Matthias & Maxime

If you haven’t heard of Minuscule 2, do not worry, it is a rather obscure film that tells the crazy story of an ant’s adventure across the globe. Although it might sound childish, I strongly recommend you renew with your inner child through the poetic journey that this masterpiece offers.

It is no surprise that this French period film caused a bit of an uproar at the Cannes Film Festival as it is one of the best romantic film ever! From its very first instants and up to the end credits, you’ll be hooked onto this mysterious and forbidden passion.

Best Sci-Fi Film: Avengers End Game

Runner-up: Us

Runner-up: Ad Astra

21 films. 10 years in the making. $2.797 billion at the box office. 2019 was undeniably Endgame’s year.

Although one can complain about plotholes and unfulfilled promises, it is hard to not be satisfied by this amazing conclusion that brings laughter, tears and a lot of epicness to fans around the globe.

Best Drama: The Farewell Runner-up: Marriage Story

When a movie opens up your eyes on a culture that’s far from our Western values, it is our duty to just sit back and listen. Lulu Wang’s own story (or lie?) will resonate amongst many viewers and has to be seen at

Best Horror Film: Midsommar If one is familiar with Ari Aster’s Hereditary, it will come as no surprise that his new film, that stars the wonderful Florence Pugh, is a new horror tour de force. Don’t trust the beauty of Sweden too much or you’ll find yourself in a rather awful situation...

Best Thriller: Knives Out Runner-up: Joker

After the near-perfect Last Jedi, Rian Johnson is back to his roots with the hilarious and twisted Knives Out that uses an amazing cast of Hollywood legends to deliver a powerful / hilarious story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

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Best Film: Parasite

Runner-up: The Irishman Parasite is one of those movies you genuinely cannot miss. The actors, directing, writing and cinematography all serve toward a very necessary, disturbing and global commentary on class. If there is one movie you have to watch in 2019, it has to be Parasite!

Best Director: Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)

Runner-up: Pedro Almodóvar (Dolor y Gloria) When Scorsese announced his intention to direct a three and a half hour long mobster film that would be released on Netflix, people were understandably suspicious. The result however is an instant classic that shows that the man behind Goodfellas still has powerful stories to tell.

Best Actress: Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story)

Runner-up: Florence Pugh (Midsommar) Despite her numerous controversies and inability to change, Scarlett Johansson still had an incredible cinematic year, fighting Thanos or the nazis. However, it is her performance in Marriage Story that marked me.

Here, Johansson plays an actress who seeks a divorce from her husband while trying to find her own voice.

Its raw, relatable and oh so painful.

Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) Runner-up: Adam Driver (Marriage Story)

This was without a doubt 2019’s most expected performance. After Romero, Hamill, Nicholson, Ledger and the awful Leto, the world was eager to find out what Joaquin Phoenix would bring to the role. What we all witnessed was nothing short of an acting masterclass.

Rarely had an actor managed to make a madman so touching. Phoenix’s Joker is set to go down in history!

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30/11/2019 21:56:58

The Top 10 Christmas Songs to Jingle your Bells

By Mitch Thorngate Christmas is just round the corner, and that can only mean one thing and one thing only. Cue the Christmas playlists on Spotify and get yourself in that cheery festive mood that only some classic Christmas hits can bring (or maybe a few extra glasses of your Nan’s sherry).

But what song are you queuing up first? Everyone has their opinion on what the ultimate festive tune truly is; but have no fear, we’re here to set the record straight. #10: Step into Christmas (Elton John) Kicking off our Top 10 is Sir Elton John himself. Often regarded by critics as an extremely unconventional Christmas hit, the song is undeniably catchy and instantly gets you in the mood to start the yuletide season off to the best possible start. #9: Feliz Navidad (Jose Feliciano) Here’s one for our Spanish speaking community at the University of Bath. Feliciano’s soulful guitar strumming might convince you that you’re strolling through the streets of San Juan, but the positive message of a Merry Christmas make this an underrated holiday anthem. #8: Merry Christmas Everyone (Shakin’ Stevens) Sung by Britain’s answer to Elvis, Shakin’ Stevens (or good ol’ Shaky if you ask your mum and dad) tells us what makes Christmas so special to him: lots of singing, partying with your mates, and a cheeky little kiss under the mistletoe. The ultimate guilty pleasure song. #7: Mistletoe and Wine (Cliff Richard) Sir Cliff has a habit of creating some undeniably memorable tunes that even Santa would sway joyously to.

You could argue that the song is a little preachy, but it’s a message that definitely needs to be repeated every year. #6: Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Band Aid) Most people will probably be screaming right now at

Band Aid’s place in this list, but come on – is it really as memorable as you think? Sure, it’s a lovely song with a powerful message and a great ensemble – but the remakes have made this curdle like day-old eggnog. #5: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (Wizzard) I’ve never listened to a song that made sleet sound so interesting. Roy Wood shines in this romp as he professes his wish for Christmas to become a daily occurrence. Pretty sure his tune changed once he got married and had kids. #4: Last Christmas (Wham!)

This was the anthem that cemented George Michael as your mum’s celeb crush in the 80s – and who would blame her? The lyrics of heartbreak and the realisation that love is unforgiving are accompanied by some jaunty synth beats that make this a real toe tapper. #3: Driving Home for Christmas (Chris Rea) As Uncle Bryn from the hit BBC sitcom ‘Gavin and Stacey’ would say – ‘Turn it up Dave, I love Chris Rea’.

This has become a real cult Christmas classic because it’s so relatable. Who hasn’t been stuck in traffic trying to get home to their family? #2: Fairtyale of New York (The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl) The lyrics might be a little insensitive now, but the true grit of this duet make this a song every Brit instinctively knows off by heart. You’ll definitely be belting this out with the locals at your pub on Christmas Eve; isn’t that what Christmas is all about? #1: All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey) It would be downright blasphemy to not put Mariah at number one. The angelic tones of Miss Carey warm the soul and reminds us of how inferior we are to her. The message is a simple one – she clearly has the mind set on one gift for Christmas. What a track!

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The Weird and Wonderful World of Christmas Traditions

By Emily Johnstone With November deadlines feeling like a distant memory, or more like a trauma, the countdown to Christmas is officially on. Don’t fret - there’s still time to shop for presents and enjoy the festive treats inevitably available at this time of year. Mince pie anyone?

Although Santa Claus climbing down the chimney is the image that springs to mind for many of us, Christmas celebrations vary throughout the world. However, some of these traditions may make the Grinches out there very grateful for the tinsel and turkey on offer in the UK. All I want for Christmas is… chicken Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii, or Kentucky for Christmas, has been a widespread Yuletide tradition in Japan since 1974. The ‘party barrel’ phenomenon is unique to Japan, with an estimated 3.6 million families tucking into the Colonel’s chicken during December. Despite being firmly rooted in commercial interests, the idea of celebrating the festive season alongside family and friends doesn’t seem all that distant from the traditional spirit of Christmas.

Krampus The mangled mane and deranged facial features of Krampus are hard to miss in Austria and other European countries. Among a din of cowbell jingles, the ghoulish creatures prowl through the streets searching for onlookers to scare. For many, Santa Claus serves as the carrot whilst Krampus is the stick to encourage good behaviour in children. But beware, the popularity of Krampus is growing, and he’s rumoured to be making his way across the Atlantic once again this festive season.

The residents of Caracas put me to great shame as their streets are filled with a skating congregation of city-dwellers making their way to Church. This tradition has really upped the Christmas ante and easily makes building snowmen look positively dull. Once mass has finished, residents share food, play music and dance which has the spirit of Christmas that many of us know and love: family, food and fun.

Fill your boots On the evening of December 5th, children across Germany leave a shoe outside of their door. Those who have been good will wake to find their shoes filled with sweets and treats left by St. Nickolaus. Children who haven’t been on their best behaviour can expect to find twigs, branches or coal in their shoes.

Tió de Nadal As a widespread Catalonian Christmas tradition, Tió de Nadal is a yule branch with a scatological spin.

Somewhat a cross between a Tamagotchi and piñata, the log is fed festive treats until Christmas day when families gather to beat the log with sticks in order to release its contents. Despite the month-long requirement of caring for the yule log, the Tió de Nadal’s powers only stretch so far – the Tió doesn’t release large presents, but instead defecates treats for the children before being thrown into the fireplace.

Roller-skate Mass Running down the stairs is the most exercise I have ever done (and will ever do) on Christmas morning.

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Too Much Pay From Wray Leaves Sarrie Fans in Dismay

By Nicole Allen

North London giants Saracens Rugby are best known for their tenacity, spirit and irrepressible dominance over rugby union in the English Premiership league.

That was until recently, when this highly reputable character became tainted with a little more notoriety following a nine-month investigation into the club’s business affairs.

Long standing Saracens owner Nigel Wray, who has been involved with the club for over 25 years, has been accused of breaching salary cap restrictions after failure to disclose player payments for the past three seasons. The allegations come after business relationships between Wray and some of the team’s leading players were put under scrutiny. The extent of these co-investments between the owner and some players had not been fully disclosed, calling an independent panel to issue disciplinary action. The charges come with an expensive, season damaging slap on the wrist: a whopping £5.36 million fine and the maximum 35 point deduction - a significant punishment which could ruin any hope of a European Championship place.

“The charges come with an expensive, season damaging slap on the wrist: a whopping £5.36 million fine and the maximum 35 point deduction” Sarrie fans, normally so confident in their title winning side, have been left in disbelief as they watch the reigning champion’s not-so-graceful fall from grace.

A devastating drop from a fighting third place at 13 points (with only a couple points separating them from top of the league side Bristol), to bottom place - where they now sit at a heart dropping -22 points. European championship qualification suddenly feels like a mountain to climb, with an ominous 32 points needed.

But getting to the Euro’s might not feel so much like a priority now, considering to simply survive in the premiership currently requires the Sarries to win 26

points in order to equal 11th place Leicester and avoid relegation. This is unknown territory for Saracens, who have won the Euro’s three times and have five league titles under their belt. Not to mention the level of pedigree present in the team, with the Allianz Park outfit contributing seven players to the England squad, including World Cup stars Billy and Mako Vunipola and captain Owen Farrell.

“This is unknown territory for Saracens, who have won the Euro’s three times and have five league titles under their belt.”

The league is not unfamiliar with clubs pushing monetary boundaries. Fellow Premiership side Harlequins also had to pay up after breaching the £7 million cap by £12,479 last season. The south-west London side were docked 50p per £1 overspent in accordance with competition regulations. This ‘overrun tax’ is characterised by three levels of overspending: clubs who breach the limit have to pay 50p for every £1 overspent up to £49,999.99, £1 for every £1 overspent from £50,000 to £199,999.99 and £3 for every £1 overspent over £200,000. Even though two players can be nominated to be excluded from the cap, Saracens seven-figure fine and maximum point deduction really places a spotlight on the extent to which they’ve broken the rules - making the Harlequins meager £6,239.50 fine seem like pocket money.

It appears the club won’t be taking the opportunity to appeal the decision, with a statement from Wray on the club’s website concluding the process would prove a “costly, time-consuming and destabilising exercise”.

It will be interesting to see how Saracens fare in the league, with 18 games left to try and make a comeback.

As for Wray, it’s an expensive lesson learnt; always pay and display.

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A Good Night of Passage

By Nicole Allen

If you happened to take a leisurely Wednesday evening stroll around the lake on campus recently, you might have noticed something in the air. Could it just be the weather turning? Unlikely.

As various kitchen ingredients soared high above and giant sized rabbits streaked through the dark, it might have felt like you’d stumbled into an Alice and Wonderland cult meeting or that maybe those mushrooms you ate for tea were laced with a little bit more than just your Sainos own brand cream sauce.

So of course, there could only be one explanation: Welcome Socials. A nationwide, honorary rite of passage for any fresher joining a sports club at a university. It should be noted that these are different to the notorious ‘Initiations’ which were banned a few years ago by students’ unions across the country, and haven’t been seen since...

The themes chosen by clubs’ social secretaries ranged far and wide, which made for quite a sight to behold.

For instance, the Volleyball club chose to dress up as Angels and Devils, with one final year member explaining: “the nice, innocent freshers were required to dress up as angels, and us the rest of us as devils, showing how Uni corrupts you”. The Women’s Football club saw a group of enthusiastic mad scientists testing on their fresher subjects to find a cure for the rampant disease ‘sillifresheritis’, with classic symptoms including a persistent craving for Score and an undying thirst for Strongbow Dark Fruits.

“The Women’s Football club saw a group of enthusiastic mad scientists testing on their fresher subjects to find a cure for the rampant disease ‘sillifresheritis’, with classic symptoms including a persistent craving for Score and an undying thirst for Strongbow Dark Fruits.”

Whilst there was huge diversity in the themes and fancy dress between the clubs, what they had in common was a shared interest in welcoming all freshers to 3 or more years of sporting extravaganza. And what better way to welcome them, than through a session of weird and wacky challenges topped off with a (not so) memorable night in Score.

The night usually begins with non-freshers letting off some degree related steam through pouring various condiments such as flour, ketchup and eggs over the freshers. One French fresher even welcomed more one egg just wasn’t un-oeuf. This is usually followed by funny and light-hearted challenges, with the motivating idea that next year they’ll be the ones setting them. Drinking copious amounts of alcohol no longer takes center stage and freshers are also paired up with a non-fresher buddy to raise any issues with, which ensures everyone is enjoying themselves. Finally, to complete one’s Welcome Social, each fresher must make it to Score. Otherwise they run the risk of being subject to the same torment next year.

“The night usually begins with non-freshers letting off some degree related steam through pouring various condiments [...] over the freshers.”

So if you dare to ask a fresher what challenges they had to complete during their Welcome Social, don’t be surprised to see them shiver a little at remembering the thought of washing out that egg infused shampoo coating their hair. Despite this, the feedback was very positive, with many freshers stating it was one of the funniest nights they’d experienced so far at University.

So if you are met with a shifty silence, just know that what happens at Welcome Social, stays at Welcome Social (partly because no-one can remember much).

If you ever feel uncomfortable about a situation that you were put in during a social please head to the SU support centre.

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Team of the Week

By Nicole Allen

It was time to take to the Astros (also known as The Beach due to containing more sand than artificial grass), as this year’s This Girl Can football tournament kicked off. November 19th saw girls from all different backgrounds, sports and abilities collectively skip lectures in an act of feministic unity to come kick a few footballs around. Praise the Lord for Panopto. For two hours, the tournament was an opportunity to inspire girls to get active and have a go at playing what is classically known as a ‘man’s game’. Not anymore.

The teams were split by degree course where possible, but considering Sport and Exercise Science (SES) and Sport and Social Science (SASS) held many of the football BUCS players, it was only fair that there was a bit of inter-course mixing to find a balance between the semi-pro’s and the girls who had never kicked a football before. This resulted in one team mixed of SES, SASS, Politics Languages and International Studies (PoLIS) students, and the other, Psychology students mixed with Management. We love the collaboration.

As the 5-aside games kicked off, it was clear the rule of handball didn’t quite transcend through the teams, with hockey girl Millie Grant trying to play goalie all over the pitch. That being said, a few eyebrows were raised at how good some of the hockey girls were at football - time to switch sports? PoLIS super keeper Katie Fisher made some excellent saves - it was hard to believe she was usually an outfield player. But it was Psyche and Management who really stole the show, exerting their dominance on the field, with lead striker

Adele Nethercott twisting, turning and dribbling past the whole opposition to bag plenty of goals. This was proceeded with accusations of cheating from the other courses, who claimed that Team Psyche were taking this fun tournament a bit too seriously.

But it was bad news for SES player Phoebe Cox, who managed to injure herself while jumping. It wasn’t obvious exactly what she’d injured, but it was clear was that the Women’s 1’s player wouldn’t be playing in their home game against Portsmouth on Wednesday. Try and explain that one to her coach…

Even though the bibs stank, the girls’ attitudes did not.

Through a sea of red and sweaty faces, the atmosphere was buzzing with enthusiasm. As the final whistle blew, there could only be one winner. Despite accusations of cheating and unsportsmanship, this issue’s Team of the Week goes to winners of the tournament: the notorious Team Psyche and Management. But a huge shoutout to all the girls who turned up - you are all winners! #ThisGirlCan Man of the Match: Katie Fisher - the woman, the myth, the legend. Made some class saves today as goalie for PoLIS, a position she doesn’t usually play. What can we say - this girl’s a keeper.

Dick of the Day: Millie Grant who used her hands more than her feet and gave at least 20 handballs away.

Maybe stick to hockey Millie. If you can’t swing a leg, swing a stick.

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Lets get Quizzical

It’s time to ditch the dumbbells and turn your training to braining. See if your mind is in shape with this issue’s sports quiz:

1. Nicola Adams, the first female boxer to win Olympic gold, retired from boxing recently.

Which of these statements is not true?

Team Bath Walks on Water

Take a look at some of this month’s results:

She used to work as a builder She lost her last fight She has worked as an extra on Emmerdale, Corrie and Eastenders

Hockey MCouples vs Bristol 2’s 2 - 1 LCouples vs Bristol 2’s 1 - 2 Men’s 3’s vs Swansea 2 - 1 Ladies 3’s vs Plymouth 1’s 1 - 2 Men’s 4’s vs Exeter 5’s 3 - 3 Ladies 4’s vs Bournemouth 1’s 2 - 7 Men’s 5’s vs UWE 1’s 2 - 3

2. Lewis Hamilton won his sixth Formula 1 World Championship recently. How many times did Michael Schumacher win the title?

Netball Women’s 4’s vs Bournemouth 79 - 11 Women’s 5’s vs Gloucester 49 - 17

Five Six Seven

Football Men’s 1’s vs Hartpury 1 - 6 Women’s 1’s vs Cardiff 6 - 3 Men’s 2’s vs Southampton 1’s 1 - 1 Women’s 2’s vs Exeter 1’s 3 - 0 Men’s 3’s vs Men’s 4’s 0 - 0

3. Despite being born in Barcelona, Wolves winger Adama Traoré has been approached to play for the Mali National team. Why would he feel in good company in the Mali team?

His dad is the manager There are already two players with the name Adama Traoré Six other Wolves players play in the Mali team

4. Canelo Álvarez knocked out Sergey Kovalev this month to become a four-weight world champion. Which boxer has won world titles in eight different weight divisions?

Floyd Mayweather Manny Pacquiao Nonito Donaire

Volleyball Men’s 1’s vs UWE 2’s 2 - 0 Women’s 1’s vs Cardiff 3 - 0 Water Polo Women’s 1’s vs Cambridge 38 - 5 Handball Men’s 1’s vs Bristol 23 - 14 Women’s 1’s vs Bristol 11 - 21 Rugby Men’s 1’s vs Cardiff 38 - 21 Women’s 1’s vs Bournemouth 40 - 0 Lacrosse Men’s 1’s vs Bristol 4 - 4 Women’s 1’s vs Bristol 15 - 9 Women’s 2’s vs Aberystwyth 29 - 4 You can tell Christmas is around the corner because the Mighty Bath just can’t stop gifting goals. Time for a well deserved Christmas break, ready for the second half of the season!

Answers: 1. She lost her last fight 2. Seven 3. There are already two players with the name Adama Traoré 4.

Manny Pacquiao

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Election Fever Chastity could feel it in the air when she stepped off of the U1. It was like a charge in the air that pricked and caressed the skin. She had felt it building on campus for quite a while now, but with the date fast approaching the tension in the air was reaching near climatic levels. People talked about it heatedly on the bus, posted their anonymous opinions on Confessions of a Sociobath and were so involved in activism they put a political party frame around their profile pictures. It seemed that no matter where Chastity went on campus, she couldn’t avoid thinking about just whose box she was going to put a tick in.

Whilst some people were sick of it already, Chastity loved the thrill of it all. All that debate; the furrowed brows and pointed fingers, it really got her a bit excited. And she couldn’t deny the tingle she got when Jeremy Corbyn took those glasses off and spoke all about how much…he’d like to…protect the NHS. Everyone was charged up, ready to lash out with their parties most recent claim or accusation at the slightest hint of political diversity yet she was just in it for the ride, a casual observer.

Chastity settled into her corner of the second floor and started to work on her coursework. That was until, she heard an alert ricochet across the room, the BBC jingle literal music to her ears. She could see other heads in the room turn immediately from their work to the unfolding political situation. A certain party leader had made yet another fake accusation about their political rival and apparently this was ‘Breaking News’.

Distracting Chastity from her focus definitely wasn’t

usually this easy. Once she set her mind, she usually didn’t stop until she’d finished. She huffed quietly and frowned, maybe this whole electoral farce wasn’t as fun as she had thought.

“It’s crazy he said that isn’t it?” Said the boy next to her.

Chasity turned and nearly gasped. He was gorgeous, with a hint of a young 70s socialist leader about him, how had she missed such a specimen sit down right next to her without noticing?! She must have been too engrossed in her work. Chastity mentally reprimanded herself, her prioritise were all out of whack today.

“Umm yeah, I guess…I’m not that into politics, no one really speaks to me” she replied, caught off guard as she was.

He shrugged and said “Someone told me once that voting is like public transport, it’s rare you get a bus straight to your house, you just get the one going closest”.

Now that made Chastity think. Maybe she should campaign for registering to vote before it’s too late. Either way this Adonis was still looking at her expectantly.

Intelligence looked good on him, she always did love a charged man, even if it was about politics “You’ve given me a lot to think about” she replied “all I know is that I’d hop on your bus any day. Maybe, you could help me fill out my ballot box this Election”

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Horoscopes Aries

December is time for you to take the high ground. Whatever you do, don’t get angry at your flatmate who has messed the kitchen... again. Retreat and stay chill - your busy social life will sparkle in the Christmas festivities.

Cancer

The season of goodwill invites you to not hold those grudges anymore.

Don’t take advantage of karma and play nice... even in those festive family board games you know you are going to play.

Scorpio

Christmas can be a sad time for some people, don’t forget about those who are struggling amid all the festive cheer. Use your compassion and goodwill to share the love this Christmas and help out where you can.

Virgo

Take confidence in yourself woo!

Enjoy the festive period as a bit of ‘me time’. Make those plans and boogie on in to 2020 in style - this self-empowerment looks good on you!

Taurus

Christmas is a great time to reconnect with those school friends you haven’t seen in months. Simple messages and well wishes during the festive period can make you easily reconnect with your past, providing some home comforts.

Leo

The New Year means that you cannot be nostalgic anymore. After all the mince pies, take your tinsel-fuelled energy into 2020 and seek new experiences and take on new challenges!

Capricorn

Gemini

If you have been struggling with your emotions this semester, Christmas and the coming of the New Year provide a great opportunity to assess your feelings and let it goooooo!

Libra

Time to dig in and take a long hard think about what you want to achieve in your life. This clear sense of direction will take you much further towards your dreams... they will become reality!

Aquarius

Two admirers are trying to catch your attention: the potential of your love life is looking positive. To work out what you really want, only from the truth can you be truly happy.

Commit to what you want.

Love, work, and family triangles are making you confused right now.

Secretly though, this puts you in a very strong position. Embrace the experiences around you and profit from the complexity of your social life - it can be positive for you.

Sagittarius

Pisces

Consider the long-term impact of your choices this holiday, and how your actions will affect others. Make good decisions for the better - you will reap the rewards!

Your future lies in your past, Pisces.

Your deep affections will return and comfort you. Perhaps that best turkey dinner, the ultimate Christmas pudding, or your favourite Christmas tree will make a reappearance...

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Puzzle Corner What’s a sheep’s favourite Christmas song?

Fleece Navidad

What do you call a snowman with a six-pack?

An Abdominal Snowman

Who is Santa’s favourite singer?

Elf-is Presley

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What’s On Festival of Light Saturday 7th December 2019

Carol Service Wednesday 11th December 2019

For the Christmas season, Longleat will be showcasing its annual Festival of Light. There will be over 30 acres of handmade Chinese lanterns on show, making it the largest collection of Chinese lanterns in Europe! For £27, your transport and entry to the park and Lord Bath’s stately home will be covered.

The Chamber Choir are hosting an evening of classic Christmas carols to get everyone into the Christmas spirit. The doors of St Mary’s Church will open at 7pm, with choral performances and carols beginning at

Not so Silent Night!

Monday 9th December 2019 The Postgraduate Association are calling on you to relax with a hot chocolate and a mince as they host an Open Mic evening! Tickets are available on Eventbrite and they’re free. If you fancy performing and sharing your talents, you can also sign up on Eventbrite.

Love Actually Screening Monday 9th December 2019

7.30pm.

General Election Thursday 12th December 2019 Now’s your time to have you voice heard – make sure to cast your vote in the General Election! Whether you’re voting at home or in Bath, don’t miss your chance to have your say. Remember - if you’re voting by post the Electoral Office must receive it by 10pm on December 12th 2019.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a screening of Love Actually! Join Bath Minervas at 6.15pm in 8W 2.30 for a free screening of Love Actually. The Committee promises all things cosy with fairy lights and blankets to keep everyone snug. Of course, no film is complete without snacks and popcorn – other treats will also be available to purchase. All proceeds will be donated to VOICES.

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