bathimpact Issue 9 by bathimpact

Cheese

stolen

Headphoned

Manager

speaks

perpetrators

bathimpact The University of Bath Students’ Union Newspaper

Monday 28th February 2011

www.bathimpact.com

Thomas Reis

Volume 12 Issue 9

FRESH ROBBED »»Campus supermarket in shock robbery of all things cheesy »»bathimpact and Ctv exclusively witness the night-time drama »»Two purple-clad thieves believed to be the culprits Jamie O’Sullivan bathimpact Reporter

he on campus supermarket Fresh was today left reeling from a break in to its premises in the early hours of Monday morning. Mystery enshrouds the incident as all that was taken was the shop’s cheese supply, whilst money was left untouched. CCTV footage capturing the burglars in action has suspiciously disappeared. It showed them to be entirely clad in purple attire and wearing headphones, leading many to suspect this to be the work of some as yet unknown underground organisation. A note was left in the empty cheese section of the shop by the perpetrators bearing a purple headphone logo and simply read-

ing: “No More Cheese.” The implications of this attack went beyond the cheese aisle, as all products featuring cheese were also removed, including pizzas and the individual slices of cheese from packaged sandwiches. A particularly peculiar trait of the incident is that beyond the extrication of these products and the incriminating camera footage, there appears to be no evidence of any illegal presence. There is no visible sign of a break in and cameras focused on the door show no sign of any intruders entering the premises – they simply appear at the cheese aisle and begin to load the targeted foodstuff into a crate. It is believed that the intention of focusing on cheese carries a

deeper symbolic meaning. A tape recording from an unknown source arrived at the bathimpact Editor’s desk, in which a male voice declares ‘cheesiness’ to be a plague on the University campus and implores with the masses to ‘understand [their] aims’.

Cheese The object stolen by the purple bandits SU President Daniel O’Toole is one such sympathiser and told this reporter the following: “Whilst the tactics of this unknown group are

highly controversial, their message must be heard and immediately adopted. There shall be no more cheese.” O’Toole’s support represents the approach it is believed the University population will be advised to take, as more action from this group is believed to be planned. A spokesman for Fresh outlined how they would be responding to this event, crucially saying that no charges were to be pressed. They believe the actions of the burglars do more good than harm as their intentions are clear and no criminal damage was done. “We will not pursue legal action against the cheese thieves,” said Fresh, “We have received information from those responsible explaining that our product was simply the

physical manifestation of the notion of ‘cheesiness’, something which desperately needs to be eradicated. In light of this, we wholeheartedly support the actions and do not consider ourselves to be victims in any way. We agree with their aims and are honoured to have been involved the promotion.” In a bizarre development, a picture has been released into circulation of two men believed to be the burglars, wearing enigmatically branded t-shirts and holding up cards promoting a website that they believe exemplifies their approach. For any readers who may be interested to learn more about this elusive yet tantalisingly appealing group can track their radical movements on www.1449urb.co.uk.

Presenting No one can shut you up

Social M.I.N.E.

Technology At least you’re clever...

Marketing Socially acceptable bullying

University of Bath Students’ Union

14 4 9 A M

URB

...because you’ve got a face for radio Roadshow Because everyone wants to **** the DJ News Because you can’t listen to bathimpact

Production Making the morons interesting

Music Obviously.

Business views

Comment Page 7

Gaga fashion

Sex sells

bite Page 8-9

bite Page 14

bathimpact The University of Bath Students’ Union Newspaper

Volume 12 Issue 9

Monday 28th February 2011

www.bathimpact.com

Inside bathimpact

Sports fees facts In News and Sport this fortnight we’re getting to the bottom of the sports fees fiasco, telling you the facts and figures on how the changes will affect YOU! Since the announcement of changes there has been both a petition and a survey registering the opinions of students.

Sam Short

To read the results flick to page 3 of News and page 24 of Sport

Referendum passes (just) Kylie Barton bathimpact Reporter

he referendum results announced on Wednesday evening showed overwhelming support for the restructuring of the sabbatical team, further campaigning for social space, issues concerning library computers, and less significant support for membership of the National Union of Students (NUS) and business involvement with course structuring. The proposal put forward by University of Bath Students’ Union (BUSU) board of trustees was on whether the sabbatical position of Vice President Communications should be dropped, and its duties to be redistributed between the other five officers along with a number of other changes to the distribution of responsibilities within the team. It has been five years since the sabbatical team has been restructured, which drove the call for change. “It was a financial burden on students that needed to be eliminated” said SU President, Daniel O’Toole. Out of a total 885 votes, 610 were in favour

of the motion, which ties in with proposals to hire a ‘professional member of staff with the technical skills that an elected sabbatical may not have’. The other four motions were selected from submissions by students by a panel of student members of the Union. The second motion focussed on a continuingly pressing issue that the Students’ Union have been consistently active in pushing for: social space. This is something that the current team of sabbatical officers have already made great progress on, with the opening of the new Student Centre and the possibility of a designated area in the new East building for students to utilise between lectures. The referendum showed that this is still a main concern of students, with 562 out of the 817 students who voted saying ‘yes’ to the need for even more social space. Daniel O’Toole said: “It has already been taken to the Council/Senate/Students’ Union meeting as a prime concern this year, from these results the Students’ Union will continue to lobby for social space. The reality is that 6WS will not be changed back into social space in the

near future. Students have reiterated this issue as a priority.” The President also pointed out that there is a planned second and third phase of building connected to the new student centre, saying: “as no one will be using the sports facilities now we could use that space!” - in jest of course. The third issue raised in the referendum, concerning library computers, suggested an automatic log-out after the computer had been left idle for thirty minutes. This gained tremendous support with 679 out of 832 votes cast in favour. Daniel O’Toole commented: “BUCS (Bath University Computer Services) is going to do it, most people seem happy, if you are not - come and see us”. The result of the NUS query was some what less clear. Even though 448 out of 794 voters showed that they did value the union’s membership to the NUS, a combined total of 364 either abstained or voted against the motion. This has caused concern amongst Union members that the issue was not clearly explained enough for students to make an in-

formed decision. Daniel O’Toole said that he “takes this as an understanding that it is a problem in itself” he went on to say “If it wasn’t for, it was against, and showed there is not an overwhelming support of NUS membership”. He suggested this may be through lack of advertisement on the Union website, and demonstrates a wider issue that needs to be looked in to. The question as to whether BUSU should campaign against the increased involvement of businesses in the curriculum design when it is not in the academic interests of students was raised, and 427 out of 764 students felt that this would be a worthy cause for BUSU take up. For each motion put forth there were a large number of abstentions (from 39 to 196) and a shockingly low turn out of around 6% of the student population. The referendum just met quoracy for the results to be carried through. This demonstrates that the referendum process needs increased promotion, and that communication between the Union and the students isn’t running to best capability.

Rome sweet Rome In international this fortnight there is a piece discussing La Dolce Vita in Rome. Gina Reay unveils all the best kept secrets of the Italian capital. To read the full piece on Italy turn to page 9 of International

Bears in space? In Science this issue contributor Robyn Brooks looks into the potential of using bears and their hibernation talents to save lives and even venture into space. Will Yogi be going galactic? For this and other scientific masterpieces turn to page 12

Censorship in the media In bite this issue the theme is Bad Taste. To start off the debauchery we have Ceri Jenkins’ article on censorship in the media. Should swearing be allowed? How far should freedom of speech be practised? For this and other bad taste pieces flick to page page 2 of bite

Monday 28th February 2011

Editorials

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bathimpact editorials

Editorial Team: Editor-in-Chief Gina Reay editor@bathimpact.com Deputy Editor Hannah Raymont deputy@bathimpact.com Chief Sub-Editor Sam Foxman subeditor@bathimpact.com News Katie Rocker news@bathimpact.com Comment David James opinion@bathimpact.com International Julia Lipowiecka international@bathimpact.com Science Sam Lewtas science@bathimpact.com Sport Joe Dibben sport@bathimpact.com

bite Caroline Leach features@bathimpact.com Rowan Emslie ents@bathimpact.com Publicity Officer Julia Lipowiecka publicity@bathimpact.com Treasurer Rebecca Stagg treasurer@bathimpact.com IT Officer Jack Franklin it@bathimpact.com Secretary Nick Hill secretary@bathimpact.com Advertising Enquires Helen Freeman H.Freeman@bath.ac.uk 01225 386806

bathimpact Students’ Union University of Bath Bath BA2 7AY 01225 38 6151 01225 44 4061

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Sports fee fallout continues T

he University’s decision to impose a £100 fee on students for using its sporting facilities has been met with a rather defeatist response. This reaction is to be expected from a student body increasingly accustomed to an unaccountable university. As we have been repeatedly told, the University has had to make cuts to make it a sustainable institution for the future. Seeing as Bath is one of the last universities in the country to have imposed such a fee on its students, it should perhaps come as no surprise that this decision has been made. But at what

m edia

The opinions expressed in bathimpact are not necessarily those of the bathimpact editors nor of the University of Bath Students’ Union. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is correct and accurate at the time of going to print, the publisher cannot accept any liability for information which is later altered or incorrect. bathimpact as a publication adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Conduct. Please contact them for any information.

University of Bath Students’ Union Printed by Harmsworth Press Ltd.

price? This is something that goes way beyond the confines of any football pitch, swimming pool or tennis court. We all want to have the right to use the world-class facilities that we have on offer here at Bath, so it is fair to accept that some sort of fee should be paid. It would appear, however, that the most damaging aspect of this whole affair so far has not been the introduction of the fee itself, but the complete lack of input students have made (or have been able to make) to the decision-making process. Yes, there was a low turnout at

last week’s sports forum on the matter - but we know that students feel passionate about this issue, and over a thousand have already made their feelings known through the recent surveys and petitions that have been circulated. The surveys conducted have revealed that students feel betrayed by the University and this seems to be the main theme here. It could therefore even be supposed that the reason for that low turnout at sports forum was based on apathy. No one would choose to waste their time at a forum which could not expect to make any impact.

The University continues to expand, with new accommodation built seemingly on an annual basis. If Bath is going to remain a popular institution at the top of the BUCS rankings, then the University absolutely must learn lessons from this. The welfare of students here must be protected, and consultation on issues as integral to student life as the sports fee can surely not be swatted away so easily by those who hold the reins of power. With tuition fees set to potentially treble in the next few years, the University cannot afford to take such an indifferent approach in the future.

choice should never have been presented to students. To have to choose between a system which clearly is not fit for purpose and one which actually works is a simple proposition. It would be difficult to vote against the idea that the Students’ Union should be better run. A more honest question would have been to ask how many representatives we thought we wanted and to present two viable plans for a five or six person team. Is fewer representatives what you really want? Do you think this is the best way for you to be represented? There is no way that the Union could know because it chose not to ask.

It’s disappointing that only six per cent of students voted in the referendum. The publicity around this issue has been uninspiring. Until the result looked unlikely to get enough votes, attempts to campaign and efforts to engage people with this issue were minimal. Barraging students with desperate emails is a poor way to properly have them engage with this important debate. It is an opportunity missed to demonstrate why the Students’ Union can matter and how it can represent students on important issues. These polls present an opportunity for the Students’ Union. Resolving this

internal issue means that their focus can move to more important representational issues. The other polls that have been carried out will help them to continue to do this. Hopefully some lessons will have been learned from this experience. The Union needs to make more sensible decisions about how and when and why they want to know what their membership think. The Union must reengage its apathetic student body. A Union which represents only six per cent of its members and only talks to them about things they barely care about is in trouble. Let’s hope that they recognise that.

Referendum: mixed results

e should be glad that the Union has passed their recent referendum. Financial concerns and an unfair distribution of workloads are neatly resolved with this relatively simple change. Of the choices that were presented to the members, the best outcome was reached. Fewer roles means a saving of money and a transfer of responsibilities to Vice President Community & Diversity should make the SU President and the overstretched Vice President Activities & Development more accountable and better able to work for students. Despite these advantages, this

Coming up in bite bathimpact online

U n i o n

bathimpact

tudents have traditionally never been afraid of getting into debates, of tackling tricky subjects and of making their voices heard. Particularly since the student-led protests of 1968 which took place across Europe and the world, students have made sure that they are engaged in politics and current affairs. Actively thinking about important issues and forming your own opinions are acknowledged as being vital parts of the student experience. Here at bathimpact we aim to continue in this fine tradition. In our pullout section, bite, we have attempted to tackle subjects head-on with an emphasis on in-depth analysis. We’ve already brought you articles about subjects as diverse as the freedom of the internet, Proust’s opinions on time and the importance of religion in Britain. This edition is no different as we tackle the subject of bad taste with a lead article that addresses the issue of censorship. Here, however, I must pause to

remind you of another traditional student trait that some of us might not be so proud of: crudity. From jokes about porn to the often unsavoury results of excessive alcohol consumption, whether you like it or not, if you’re a student you’re surrounded by it. In this issue of bite we’ve attempted to cover both of these bases. So if you enjoy a balanced debate about censorship then you’ll appreciate our lead article, but if you also relish exercising your right to swear then you’ll like it just as much. The same goes for the rest of the issue. From chat-up lines to inappropriate fancy-dress attire and from sex to video-gaming we’ve attempted to encompass all that is conjured up when you hear the words ‘bad taste’. So I’m sorry if any of the articles in this fortnight’s bite offend you. Maybe you could aim to remember that as we wrote them we weren’t just thinking about how crude we could be, we were also upholding an honourable heritage that we feel it is our duty to protect. Or maybe we just like jokes about poo.

t’s exciting times for all at bathimpact right now, as this issue will be the first to have all its articles posted online to our brand new website, which you can find at www.bathimpact.com. We have been working on it for a few weeks now and our IT Officer, Jack Franklin, has finally finished what we’ll hope you’ll agree is a pretty amazing site! Our old site was okay, but as a group we felt we could improve it aesthetically and also the back end system - adding articles was a pain - and as anyone who visited it will know, it was getting completely spammed with comments consistently. We did spend some time trying to sort the old site, but in the end we decided to wipe the slate clean and start again. Our new site runs off different software to the old one, and we have methods in place to prevent the endless spamming experienced previously. From a design point of view the site now uses the bathimpact colours, the two shades of red, and the site de-

sign is cleaner as a whole than the old one. The main article from each issue is highlighted at the top, and down the sides it shows all the recent articles from all our newspaper sections, meaning it’s now very easy for you to find an article to suit you. Every two weeks we will update all the content to match the latest release, but keeping the old ones on the site for the slightly nostalgic amongst you. From now on, we’ll make sure our website is kept up-to-date with all our latest articles. There is also a mobile version of the website which is designed differently, it’s optimised from mobile viewing and as such should be lightning fast to view. Perfect if you need you quick news fix on the bus or even, dare we say, in a lecture. Finally, if you’re interested in helping out maintain the site or enhance it, or you have feedback you wish to tell us, please email it to our IT Officer, Jack at jf332@bath.ac.uk and we will take it all into account.

Monday 28th February 2011

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News

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Frustration over sports fees Katie Rocker News Editor news@bathimpact.com

ver the last few weeks, students have been vocalising their anger over the introduction of the £100 sports fees, with online petitions and surveys being the strongest responses. Despite poor turn out at a forum discussing the fee, students seem passionate about the issue. At the time of going to print, an online petition started by Dan Willis, Chair of the Trampolining club, had 1,305 names to it. When compared with the 800 students that voted in the recent referendum, is an impressive figure, and one that shows the strength of feeling. Willis said to bathimpact, “The fact that so many people have shown their united opinion on this matter goes to show how strong a part of university sport is. Asking for our opinion only to have it disregarded has motivated the need for students to voice their view.” A survey by Jonathon GarnerRichardson, Chair of the Jitsu Club, recieved over 400 responses over 48 hours and had to close, as the hosting site had set a limit on numbers. The results of the survey suggested that half of students who were currently members of sports clubs would not have joined them had there been the £100 fee. Other surveys have suggested even worse percentages. Many students are skeptical about the University’s response to the student opinions raised. A female student attending the Sports Forum stated that her friends hadn’t bothered coming, as they felt that the University would take no notice of student’s views, particularly considering their poor record on the matter thus far. Another

complained that “They didn’t listen to us over tuition fees, they didn’t listen to us about how much we were willing to pay, so why will they listen to us when we say they made the wrong decision?”. One student, Rob Wagner, commented on the Facebook group set up to push the petition: “If the university doesn’t listen to us, we have to attempt to send a message in their language. I know that if they go ahead with the £100 fee I will not be paying it, and I would urge other to do the same - if people want to get exercise they can jog around campus and town, and a group of friends can split money to buy a set of weights that will get them everything they need for a fraction of the University’s exorbitant costs.” Such a stance, however, is unlikely to damage the University’s budget. The structure of this fee means they will not lose out if peo-

It is at this point in the process that our input is really going to matter ple do not pay, but they will gain if it is paid. The Students’ Union, however, recieves no benefits and will lose money through a drop in Sports Association memberships. Despite campaigning against such high fees, it is they (and us) who will bear the brunt of lost revenue, while every person who pays the fee will just be a bonus in the Sports Department’s coffers. There are also fears that any extra income aquired through this fee will only be cancelled out by a corresponding drop in University funding for the Sports Department, although they have ‘provided reassurance’ that this will not happen. bathimpact spoke to Stephen

Those who only use the gym will lose out on the most

Baddeley, Director of Sport for the Department of Sports Development and Recreation, more commonly known as Team Bath. He told bathimpact that the introduction of sports fees was to ‘improve the student experience’, a key aim of the STV. Although this intially seems like a vague reassurance, aimed at placating students, the reality is different. Despite early student consultations apparently being ignored, it is at this point in the process that our input is really going to matter. “We need to demonstrate that what we offer will be worth paying for.” He says that now, students “Need to influence [the use of the fee] and make the best of it.” The £150 thousand revenue (estimated by Chris Clements, Chair of the Sports Exec committee) in the first year, eventually rising to £200£300 thousand a year, will be spent on issues that students consider important. According to Clements’ survey, this is particularly the gym (not included in the student offer) and the condition of the changing rooms. Although the gym is generally raised as a concern for students, bathimpact was reassured that there will be new equipment arriving over the summer, on a lease basis in order to renew all that needs replacing. This coincides with an effective £50 increase in the gym fee, as the joining of the gym will also incur the sports fee - albeit with the £50 discount. Students that use the gym and also do another sport will be better off, but those that only use the gym will suffer. Although the building of new commercial offices and barriers has been considered by many an unnecessary expenditure, it transpires that these have been in the pipeline since long before it was decided to bring in the fee. The offices will bring in a profit, and will not be damaging to the so often referred to ‘student experience’, while the movement of the barriers aims to increase the accessibility of various areas. Overall, although students may protest the introduction of the fees, they are seemingly here to stay. The timing and announcement may have been poorly managed - the lack of detail being a particular problem - but it is now up to the students to ask for what they want. We can only hope that this time, the University and their Sports Department will listen to what students have to say To read more on the sports fees controversy, flick to the back page of Sport.

FAQs:

Will there be a pay as you go scheme? Yes. Actual prices aren’t yet confirmed, but there’s likely to be a discount of about 50% on commercial prices. There may or may not be a cap once £100 has been paid; this will depend on the abilities of the system. How soon will we see changes? Some changes by September / October, more within a fairly short term. What about gym users? They will have to pay £50 on top of the gym fee, but will have no further costs if they want to join clubs. Will University funding be ringfenced? According to the Director of Sport, “it would be a complete breach of faith” if this funding was reduced in light of student contributions. The University has provided reassurance but no solid terms. What sort of benefits can we expect to see? There is a proposed student-only slot over lunch time. There are also likely to be further changes involving faculty availability and priority on a level with commercial users. This is still to be decided by the Sports Association alongside the Sports Department. How will I be able to pay my membership fee? Via the online shop the University is about to launch. This can be done from your own PC, PCs at the Sports Training Village or through the Sales team at the Sports Training Village. Will my club see any of the money? No. It will be going direectly to the Sports Department, rather than the Sports Association that handles clubs. Who actually has to pay? Any student currently paying less than £7000 and who wishes to use the sports facilities.

Student opinions:

Chris Clements: “It’s important we not only voice our opposition but try to get the best we can for students out of the deal while making it clear that there are alternatives available.” Mark Brandt: “The university is damaging its reputation anyway by bringing this fee in.” Sarah Crossley: “We should be encouraged to join our uni sports teams not discouraged by such high rates. Lots of people feel settled into uni by joining sports teams so by putting the fees up would have such a big impact on peoples uni experiences.” Nathan Cooper: “Other universities manage to run smaller facilities that give students priority as well as being free. These universities tend to beat us at my sport.” Laura Brady: “We’re students, we can’t afford £100!” Wendy Clarke: “Sports should be accessible to all not only the ones who could afford it.” Alex Blumfield: “Consultation recommended a much lower amount choose that one.” Sylvia Grice: “Blatent disregard for the results of student consultation is the bigger issue here.” Oliver Hebden: “This fee can only reduce access to the sports facilities for low income students!”

Monday 28th February 2011

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News

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Bath students to run in local election A Rebecca Stagg News reporter s the town council elections come closer, two Bath students have announced their candidacy for local wards. Anthony Masters (Conservative) and Hadleigh Roberts (Labour) have recently revealed

that they will stand for election in the respective wards of Kingsmead and Westmoreland. Masters, a Maths PhD student spoke to bathimpact about his interest in politics, telling us, “I’m very interested in Bath. I’ve been here for five years now; I love this city and I want to make it better.”

Anthony Masters, running for Kindsmead ward

Careers on campus

animals. Firms including Land Rover, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Accenture and UniLever have been advertising their graduate and internship programs to students for the last few months, and as many students receive their results over the coming days, they will be focussing more and more on what they want to do after they leave University. For more information on careers, either for year-long placements, summer internships or for post-graduate opportunities, go to the Careers Advisory Service, (Norwood House 2.7) or access their website, www.bath.ac.uk/ careers/ PWC

s we move into the third week of semester two, the presence of companies around campus has kicked up a gear. Especially for those students looking for placements or graduate jobs, these companies are a constant reminder of the wide opportunities available in the job market. Despite the struggling economy, firms are competing with each other to get the attention of students, with the majority offering not only leaflets on the company but also free gifts ranging from packets of sweets or popcorn to heart shaped balloons on Valentine’s Day (see below) and balloon

PwC on campus on Valentine’s Day

When asked how he would tackle a hostile student crowd as a Conservative candidate Masters said, “It’s wrong to caricature students as one policy voters, even though the fees were a high priority, there are other issues.” He said that, if elected, he would aim to tackle problems such as the state of the ward’s roads and to represent all members of the constituency on a wide range of local issues. Kingsmead includes the University accommodation of John Wood and other houses which are often let to students. Hadleigh Roberts, a final year undergraduate Modern Languages and European Studies student, told the paper, “I’ve been politically active on the Left for a number of years now, using my blog and website to encourage debate. Friends and certain members of the [Bath Labour] Party encouraged me to stand, thinking I could do a good job if I was elect-

ed.” Roberts, who has been heavily involved in the Labour Society for most of his time at university, told bathimpact that he felt ‘town and gown’ relations were impor-

Hadleigh Roberts

tant to his decision to run: “What better way to link town and gown, but to have a student-age councillor who has experienced first hand the problems that both students and residents alike face.” The Westmoreland ward, where many students reside, encompasses the western half of Oldfield Park. The elections, which will take place on 5 May, will elect councilors to represent the 37 wards of Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) for four years. Candidates will be announced in April when campaigning will begin. Councillors represent constituents on a local level, making decisions on issues such as school education, public libraries, waste removal, roads and town planning. Voters must register to vote and more details on registration will be provided nearer the time. Students can register to vote in the town where they live, as well as their home town.

Christian Union flash mob on Parade Caroline Leach bite editor features@bathimpact.com

n Monday 21st February, Parade became home to a musical flash mob, of the style seen in recent adverts for the phone network T-Mobile. The flash mob, organised by members of the University of Bath’s Christian Union, was intended to publicise a week of events being run by the Christian Union. Around 30-40 people are estimated to have taken part in the pre-choreographed dance routine which took place in the break be-

tween lectures at around 1.05. The mob, termed ‘Flash Mob Worship’ by the participants, was begun by a breakdancing Ryan Palmer, a first-year Maths undergraduate who also choreographed the routine. As the beats of ‘4 Points’ by thebandwithnoname blasted out over Parade, more and more people joined the performance. A crowd gathered to watch as the ranks of dancers swelled to cover the area in front of the library. Passers-by seemed to appreciate the surprise performance, which has its roots in a London-

Christian Union members dancing on Parade

based movement whose intention is to encourage the frequent occurrence of similar Christian worship-based events in the capital. The ‘flash mob’ itself is a world-wide phenomenon alleged to have formally begun in 2003, although its predecessor, the ‘smart mob’, has been occurring regularly across the globe since the late nineties. Perhaps surprisingly, this is not the first time that the city of Bath has been party to a flash mob. In April 2008 200 people froze like statues in front of the Abbey for 5 minutes before disappearing in to the crowd.

Monday 28th February 2011

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espite a cautious response from students and staff, the University is confident that the new East building will be ready for the opening in the next academic year. The building, which cost the University approximately £17.5 million, has been a work in process for years and as it nears completion several groups have been shown around it. Concern over the interior of the building - including the size of some of the lecture theatres - was quickly put to rest when bathimpact spoke to the Students’ Union Vice President for Education, Matt Benka. The smallest lecture rooms - with very few seats and floorspace, but two projectors - will primarily be used for instructing lecturers on how to use high tech equipment, a solution to that is sure to be met with relief by frustrated students. One maths student complained that, “at the start of every semester, we have to wait for our lecturers to mess around

with the technology before we can start, it’s annoying”. Although each of these small rooms has the standard two projectors, this has not been at any extra cost to the university, instead being covered by the contractors. The building looks ‘fantastic from the outside’ but is ‘not yet perfect’ on the inside, according to one student. However, bathimpact were assured that although there were ‘issues to be addressed’, they were all teething problems, as with any new building, and would be sorted in plenty of time for the introduction of students and academics next semester. The building houses the largest lecture theatre on campus, which will hopefully lead to fewer early morning and late lectures as the largest groups of students - particularly first years, which have the greatest number of students per lecture - will have a greater variety of lecture theatres available to them than just University Hall. There are also a number of smaller

lecture theatres that will be available to students. Alongside lecture theatres, there are also Clinical Psychology laboratories in order to accommodate the introduction of a Clinical Psychology Doctorate. They may also make use of the smallest lecture theatures, as they are able to utilise both notes and film footage on the double screens, without taking up space assigned to students. The building will also be used for offices as different departments around campus are renovated, the first of these being Computer Science. The final verdict will, of course, lie with the students. As long as it all goes to plan, however, the sheer amount of technology in this new building alongside its design, which is “far ahead of any of the older buildings,” as well as the increased number of lecture theatres that are desperately needed, are expected to be a huge asset to the campus.

David James

New East building is nearing completion

The interior of the new East building

Monday 28th February 2011

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Comment

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What’s your issue with the Big Issue? bathimpact contributor Hazell Moore explains the foundings behind one of the UK’s most popular magazines ments over a charity. You never hear people bad mouthing Oxfam for its work, but if anything The Big Issue offers a better mantra for successful charity work- “a hand up, not a hand down.” The Big Issue sell magazines to homeless and vulnerably housed people for £1,

£1

Profit from each sold copy of The Big Issue

Celebrities who have appeared on The Big Issue’s front cover include HRH Prince William, Richard Branson and Russell Brand

t’s a front for begging. Those selling the magazine are so annoying always asking people if they want a Big Issue magazine. Go get a proper job. All those that sell are just addicted to drugs any-

way, what’s the point in my money going to that? It’s easy to get a job. It’s a lifestyle choice. These are many misconceptions of The Big Issue, and never have I heard such negative com-

which they sell to the public for £2, therefore making a pound profit off each magazine sold. It helps homeless people to help themselves. And to some people’s surprise, it is the 9th most popular magazine in the country, making it have a higher readership than Zoo, NME and TimeOut. Many believe that those selling the magazine are addicted to drugs, but I can say from firsthand experience there are many vendors in Bath that are drug-free and refuse to descend into that world (despite it being so easy to). Not only that, but many refuse benefits from the government, which is more than you can say for so many people in Britain. The vendors in Bath are making an active stand against the misconceptions many people have over homelessness and I join you to listen to their stories. Many say that it is easy to get a job, but they do not understand how not having an address can complicate so many things that we

take for granted. Those that are homeless are mugged, raped and abused more than any other social group in the UK, this means that many have no longer got important documents such as birth certificates and passports. Without just one of these things a person cannot get a job. Without an address, you cannot get a bank account, where a job would pay your money into, or rent for private accommodation would come out of. You cannot get a new passport or driving licence without an address. By not having a form of identity it decreases the chance of obtaining a job due to visa complications. This is just one case of a vicious circle that homeless people find. Those that claim The Big Issue is not a proper job should spend a day in the life of one of the vendors. This

“

[The Big Issue has] a higher readership than Zoo, NME and Timeout

”

is precisely what the Mayor of Bath did in October 2010, and he was faced with many of his colleagues walking straight past him as they avoid eye contact from a person wearing a red Big Issue jacket. Constantly vendors are regarded with disgust as they try to legitimately earn an income. Selling The Big Issue is the first step towards getting

their lives back on track; they are not taking the easy option of petty crime. Instead they are standing in public, displaying their misfortunes on their chest, and trying to earn an income like everybody in the world. The majority of the time

“

Constantly vendors are regarded with disgust as they try to legitimately earn an income

”

they are not even graced with a ‘No, thank you’ because people think selfishly that they are being bothered by this person. Vendors stand there with confidence and indifference to negative comments from the public. Selling the magazine is a proper job; you can gain an NVQ in Customer Services from selling the magazine - which a few vendors in Bath are doing at the moment. The Big Issue offers them aspirations, looks after their health, and budgeting skills, through focus weeks such as Sales and Money Week (starting on the 28th of March). They are polite, friendly and approachable, but people are put off by their exteriors. I am in my third year and I have lived in the ‘Bath Bubble’ for too long. Getting to know my local Big Issue sellers has helped me to see Bath as a community and a city that I want to help through the maxim of “a hand up, not a hand down”.

How can you believe? In a world with countless scientific discoveries happening everyday, does faith even have a role anymore? Joe Costas Batlle bathimpact Contributor

s there another life after death? Is there a god? A mile-long list of these complex questions could rapidly be elaborated, however, what interests me are not so much the inquiries themselves but how people tackle them. That is, are people happy to accept uncertainty and state ‘I don’t know - but maybe one day science will come up

with an answer’ or, effectively, take the religious route and make up a story built upon no logical foundation? Let us take death, for instance. How can religious individuals claim to know about the afterlife (or even guarantee that there is one) without any evidence? This assertive attitude confuses me namely because I cannot understand how one can give a detailed description of place they have never been to, let alone

seen! Granted, there have been cases where someone was declared clinically dead and managed to ‘come back to life’, alleging to have seen a white tunnel (or something similar). For some reason, these individual’s tales are promptly believed whilst another stating he’s sighted aliens is unquestionably shunned. Is this not essentially being prejudiced by paying more attention to one proof-less story than another? More importantly, what is

at the heart of the discrimination between these unverifiable statements? Faith. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as a “strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof”. Or, as Bill Maher puts it, “faith means making a virtue out of not thinking”. So why is faith a good thing? Why is it fine to believe something for which there is no evidence? Furthermore, how can

a ‘believer’ argue rationally about certain matters and then resort to faith in others? Where do they draw the line? For example, could they logically argue why there is more evidence-based truth in the bible than there is in Jack and the Beanstalk? In fact, when they were children, could they really tell a part the ‘miracle’ of Jesus’ food multiplying from the ‘miracle’ of Jack’s (stolen) hen laying golden eggs? Continued on Page 8

Monday 28th February 2011

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NHS plc: please don’t hurt me The government can’t shorten waiting lists by simply using a smaller font Anne Teak bathimpact Contributor

could pluck benefits right from the free market’s invisible hand. We can choose most other goods we purchase, why can’t we choose which doctor we want or where we want to be treated? The sheer efficiency of hospitals and the quality of service they provide will also in-

know what you’re all thinking. Capitalist pig. Tory scum. Despicable profiteer. If you are one of the frizzy-haired, irritating, vegetarian, People & Planet members that champion social justice ahead of personal hygiene, you will probably hate me for even giving it a public presence. But despite the high probability of me being lynched at dawn, I’m going to use my trump card of free speech and say it; I think we should privatise the NHS. In the last issue of bathimpact, my fellow contributor Simon O’Kane conducted a thorough critique of Government policy and stated that the newly announced NHS reforms, that include abolishing middle management tiers and letting doctors run the health service instead, were a step in the wrong direction. Well I’m sorry Simon, but I would argue that they don’t go far enough. Last week figures were released that showed ‘binge drinking’ to cost the A&E departments in NHS hospitals a staggering £3.8bn a year. The home secretary Theresa May also stated that she had “five measures” that she would take to prevent alcohol abuse. I don’t think that will be enough Theresa, I have more than that at pre-lash. Currently the NHS costs the government £75bn a year, not includ-

“

Privatising the NHS could improve the welfare of society rather than detract from it.

”

ing the spiralling cost of public sector pensions and insuring British tourists against injuries abroad. For your cool £75bn you can buy a place on the 126-day surgery waiting list and small bout of MRSA at

£350bn

Potential revenue from selling the NHS

your nearest convenient hospital. You might even feel a little better after visiting your GP, but there are certainly no guarantees. Thus, considering the NHS had to pay out over £90million in compensation over clinical negligence claims last year alone, you have to admit

that the NHS cannot run a quality health care system. Before you reach for the kitchen knife and begin planning my brutal assassination, please at least consider the upside to the wholesale privatisation of the NHS. The sale could generate £250-£350 billion in much needed revenue for the UK, which in itself could buy bucket-loads of wind turbines, baby incubators and meals-onwheels for the elderly. I’m sure if you ask nicely Call-Me-Dave Cameron and his pet terrier Nick Clegg might even halt the tuition fee rise. Privatising the NHS could improve the welfare of society rather than detract from it. If at this point you are still

day-dreaming about killing me in a drive-by shooting, please stop because I haven’t forgotten about lower income patients. In America losing your job can not only leave you with no income; it can also put you in the precarious position of becoming ill and not being able to afford treatment. Why can’t the British government just appoint itself the monopoly provider of health insurance? Whilst providing cover for the general public, it could also use its not-for-profit status to subsidise healthcare for those less fortunate in society. There is hardly a big capital outlay for such a business (insurance companies simply require annoying taglines, not expensive factories) and consumers

crease. Waiting lists will plummet and the cluttered bureaucracy of the NHS will disappear overnight. The productive… sorry I mean private, sector can operate at a higher level with fewer costs and without a grossly over-inflated public sector pension scheme. I hope by now you have calmed to the originally shocking idea of the British health system becoming NHS plc. and any ideas of beheading me on the internet have slowly disappeared. However if you do still have that burning desire to set my house alight, you have to admit that it is quite ironic; If I am whisked to A&E with a life-threatening injury, there is a much higher probability that I die in hospital under the current system than if the NHS was actually privatised.

Continued from page 7 If the concept of faith over rationality already troubles me, faith in god does so even more. Why do people thank God when they win and don’t mention his name when they lose? ‘Thank God they survived!’ is readily tossed around but I am still waiting to hear ‘damn God for causing that tsunami!’ Moreover, if we are all God’s children and he loves

12%

of the world population are agnostic

us all equally, how come he thinks some should have food and others should not? What makes, say, people in Africa not deserve to have the basic need of nourishment covered? If a father of three nowadays took the same approach and decided he would only feed two of his kids and effectively let the third starve, a jail

Even the Pope argued that Pastor Terry Jones’ ‘Burn a Koran’ day hardly cited the Christian value of forgiveness sentence would be the least of his problems. Before starting to draw towards an end, let us look at communication with god: prayer. Why is it acceptable for people to talk to god whereas dialogue with any other invisible friend is labelled as being crazy? There is no evidence in either case of ‘anyone’ listening! Taking a leaf out of George

Carlin’s book now, I am going to play devil’s advocate and assume there is a god and, as ‘believers’ say, he has a divine plan. It is probably safe to say it’s a plan which took him a while to figure out and he thinks is quite good. So then what happens if you pray for something that goes against the divine plan? You won’t get your way; otherwise, what is the point of

Prof. Albert Einstein was an agnostic, stating there must be a ‘divine hand’ behind science’s unexplained phenomena being god if anyone’s prayer can ruin your plan? So when people don’t get what they asked for, what do they say? “It’s God’s will”. Well, if it is always going to be God’s will regardless of what you wished, what is the point of praying in the first place? Therefore, my stance on the existence of god is quite simply that I do not know. I cannot prove or disprove

it. Nobody can (at least, yet). What makes me uncomfortable is the groundless and speculative certainty of people who advocate for or against god’s reality. Oh, and on a final note, simply because millions of people believe in something does not imply they must be right. After all, everyone used to be adamant sure that the Earth was flat, didn’t they?

Monday 28th February 2011

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The King’s Breach

Elias Nosrati bathimpact Contributor inner of the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award and seven BAFTAs, nominated for twelve Academy Awards and seven Golden Globes – The King’s Speech hasn’t done too badly in the world of cinema. But in the world of political history, it represents a formidable failure. Colin Firth’s much praised portrayal of Prince Albert, Duke of York, constitutes the crux of the plot: we see a simple, proud yet humane royal torn by anxiety, struggling against his speech disorder. The spectator cannot help but sympathize with the main character through numerous sequences of convulsive agony and depression which the poor chap repeatedly undergoes. Constantly supported by a gentle and loving wife and aided by an academically unqualified yet highly charismatic mentor in Lionel Logue, the Prince overcomes

the harsh reality of royal responsibilities and delivers an impeccable speech at the outbreak of the Second World War, a speech to which even Winston Churchill needs express his admiration. Leaving the cinema, the spectator is left with the feeling that royals are just like ordinary people, facing the same everyday difficulties, haunted by similar anxieties and carrying the same human flaws that characterize us all. It is almost sentimentally heart-warming to think about.

ficulty of the Duke of York to overcome his stuttering emanates from

In the world of political history [the film] represents a formidable failure

BAFTAs were awarded to the makers of The King’s Speech

Nevertheless, the insidious ‘humanism’ that permeates the plot serves to tarnish a blood-stained political setting whose explicitness would hardly have allowed for sentimental day-dreaming. The film neatly precludes the disclosure of British foreign policy not only in

relation to Hitler’s rise to political dominance but also to the colonial enterprise pursued by Great Britain at the time. The reduction of the historical setting to the mere dif-

a comprehensive touch of British narcissism and perhaps even that of pure political propaganda. Neville Chamberlain’s political flirting with Hitler - a policy ever since known as ‘appeasement - is readily swept under the carpet of history, apparently not deemed sufficiently important to make the film script. After all, what beats a Duke’s stuttering? The declaration of war on Germany was not only made on behalf of Great Britain but also on that of all of Britain’s colonies. Taking the Indian Empire as an example, close to one million Indians were to be painfully afflicted by Britain’s changing of political love partner. The King’s Speech, however, somehow manages to surpass the fact

that the twentieth century was the most murderous century in human history, universally blood-tainted hands being replaced by the internal struggles and existential conflicts of a handsome prince and those of the British royal family. Deep inside, they are benevolent, generous human beings who want the best for everyone. Indeed, the British royal family is one to be admired and heartily attached to. Surely, political conflict is outside their existential domain and surely King George VI cannot have been aware of Britain’s imperial role and diplomatic proximity with Nazism. In the words of a friend: if Princess Diana’s atrocious destiny could have been incorporated into the script, her car accident would surely have been the result of her irrepressible impatience to get to the local disability centre, where her royal magnanimity would have served its full purpose. What a shame the tainting of historical truth couldn’t have been extended any further.

International

There is no place like Rome Gina Reay bathimpact Editor-in-Chief

ome, like Italy, is sensationally fragmented. Walking around Italy’s capital is like walking through hundreds of little villages, all in very close proximity to one another. Each section of the city relishes a different style of architecture, contrasting colours and smells, various types of people, flavours of food and social vibrancy. Rome may not have been built in a day, and it certainly wasn’t explored in one either! I spent five months in this incredibly city and yet I still find myself regretting not having stayed longer! Forget taxis and metros, there is no better way to unearth Rome’s Italian magic than on foot. Even on the short walk from the Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain, one can uncover a number of precious churches, extraordinary buildings and beautiful boutiques that will attract even the most unobservant of visitors. Don’t worry about directions, getting lost along the backstreets of the historic centre Trastevere could be the unforgettable experience of a lifetime. With hundreds of restaurants

boasting authentic Roman cuisine one can hardly go wrong choosing a trattoria for an indulgent pause. Roman locals like to enjoy life, taking long breaks for lunch and spending time with loved ones, before long I couldn’t help but adopt the lazy, hedonistic attitude of the Italian culture myself, which contrasted so

“

Rome may not have been built in a day, and it certainly wasn’t explored in one either!

”

heavily to the stressful frenzy of life back home that I’d grown so used to. An Italian friend of mine recommended the tiny eatery Zi Umberto situated on the wonderfully animated Piazza della Malva in Trastevere. Defeatist as it may be, I have since condemned myself to believing that my taste buds will never be as satisfied as they were that night! During this monumental eating experience, I daringly sampled the roman speciality of Fiori di Zucca, fried courgette flowers with mozzarella and anchovies. These strange hors

d’oeuvres melted on my tongue, teasing my appetite sufficiently for the hearty Spaghetti Carbonara and luxurious chocolate Panna Cotta that followed. I can’t explain the amount of times my mind has wandered towards that Carbonara since my return. Despite what stereotype dictates, Italy isn’t just about pasta and pizza. Rome is overflowing with cultural attractions, when you head to the Piazza San Pietro, the Trevi Fountain or the Colloseum, look around you at all the open mouths, listening to the gasps of surprise. However, for an escape from the usual touristic delights, I ventured to another recommended Roman secret. Orange Park, as my friend called it as a child, truly encapsulates la dolce vita. Located at the top of the Aventine Hill next to the infamous Knights of Malta Keyhole, this garden of Orange trees overlooks the whole of the majestic city of Rome. Lying amongst the lovers, enjoying the hot Italian sun and a picnic of gorgeous meat was the perfect end to my days getting lost in the breathtaking, mouth-watering and wonderfully varied city of Rome.

Monday 28th February 2011

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Colombian Week Travel Bug - Plymouth Liza Ordonez bathimpact Contributor

olombia might seem to many an unknown country somewhere in South America. To other people it represents, coffee and cocaine, but to others it is much more than that. Last week, BATLAM – Bath Latin American Network, organized a week of events on Colombia. The week presented an opportunity to discuss various issues regarding the Latin American country and learn more about its economic, social and cultural makeup. The event was a great success and generated interest far beyond the expectations of the organizers, signalling the growing interest of the public in Latin America, as well

On Wednesday, a controversial talk by Oscar Guardiola, and his recently published book, What if Latin America Ruled the World caught the attention of many students and members of staff. It was a talk that opened questions about the world’s power relations, the international structure and the way in which we have wrongly perceived them. Daniel Huaman, 2nd Year Economics & International Development student, greatly enjoyed the event, commenting: “the talk was very informative and offered an original and unique perspective on the position of Latin America within the global context of power relations. It was definitely not something you read in course textbooks or hear in everyday lectures.”

The Colombian Ambassador promotes the country’s progress as the important role it has come Moving away from politics, to play on the world’s political and Thursday afternoon was directed economic stage. Dr Gian Luca Gar- by the economic growth and indusdini, Lecturer in International Re- try development in Colombia and lations and Latin American Politics Latin America. It was also a day to and Coordinator of the Bath Latin discover a new tourism destination; American Network, commented on a place for the eco-lovers as well as the organization of the week: “The those wanting beaches and sun. organisation was absolutely perfect: On the cultural side, two Colomon the one hand this demonstrates bian films were screened, La Esthe quality of our students not only trategia del Caracol [The strategy of in terms of academic potential but the Snail] and Los Viajes del Viento also organisational skills; on the [The Wind Journeys]. Both showed other it shows that Latin Americans different parts and realities of Coare very good organisers too, defying lombia. The former, a comedy set in all stereotypes.” the capital city, Bogota, exposed the The event started with a talk by struggle of the lower class against the Colombian Ambassador to the the powerful elite in the 1980’s. The UK, who surprised many with the latter was a drama that presented success of Colombian democracy the culture of the people from the and its ability to overcome what a Caribbean coast. It was a visually decade ago seemed to be a failing attractive film with extraordinary state. Due to the large amount of photography. interest of the audience he agreed Finally, Friday ended with a talk to stay for an informal question & by one of the editors of The Econoanswer session, where he clarified mist Intelligence Unit. He placed questions and was open to debate. Colombia in perspective to Latin Dr Gardini said of the talk: “Am- America and the world; its future bassador Rodriguez Munera well prospects and challenges, giving a captured the evolution of Colombia, very positive overview of what to from a conflict-torn country to a ris- many was no longer an unknown ing star in Latin America, echoing exotic place in the southern hemithe progress of the entire region.” sphere.

Chris Wotton Foreign Correspondent

In parts not the UK’s most attractive city, thanks largely to obliteration during World War Two, Plymouth has plenty to give once you start to dig below the surface. Reach it in as little as two hours and twenty minutes by direct train from Bath - if you set off early enough you could even make this a day trip. For a more comfortable pace and to squeeze in everything on offer, give yourself at least an overnight stay. Getting there The 8.57am train from Bath Spa will land you in Plymouth at 11.17am - just in time for a bite to eat. A short stroll through the city centre and to the Barbican area, offering the best feel for old Plymouth, brings you to Cap’n Jaspers (Monday to Saturday 7.30ammidnight, Sunday 8am-midnight; www.capn-jaspers.co.uk), burger bar and all-round Plymouth institution. Don’t expect fine dining - instead, a fairground-style van turfing out damn good, reasonably priced burgers in all manner of varieties. The only seating is on benches out in the open air, teaspoons are chained to the counter to save them from thieves, napkins come in the form of kitchen roll sheets and there’s a 20p deposit payable on all mugs. Have a shot at the ‘half a yard of hot dog’ (£3.95), stuffed with two sausages. Refuelled, stay on in the Barbican area and take a snap of the Mayflower Steps, the point from which the Pilgrim Fathers left the UK to found New England’s first permanent colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620, leading to the foundation of modern-day America. These aren’t the original steps, but with the help of plaques around and about, you can retrace Plymouth’s history through the centuries. Just behind, interactive exhibits at the Plymouth Mayflower museum (November to March: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm; April to October: Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm; admission £2; www.plymouth.gov.uk) explore the city’s history, including an unrestrained look at its role in the slave trade. Leave time for a walk up the 93 steps of Smeaton’s Tower on the Hoe, a former lighthouse moved inland over 120 years ago - you’ll be rewarded with stunning views in every direction. If you’re feeling brave, a dip in the restored art deco open-air Tinside Lido right next to the sea at Plymouth Sound and dating from the 1930’s, is something you won’t forget in a hurry. Open late May to early September (Monday to Friday 12-6pm, weekends 10am-6pm; admission £3.65)

Museum Time Warm up with a coffee and sticky toffee pudding, along with free wi-fi, at Café Incognito (daily 8am-8pm, 01752 265 999) on North Hill – then, back in the city centre, tackle some more local history at the City Museum & Art Gallery (Tuesday to Friday 10am-5.30pm, Saturday and bank holiday Mondays 10am-5pm; admission free; 01752 304 774; www.plymouth.gov.uk). As well as a range of temporary exhibitions, nine permanent galleries feature objects from maritime history, as well as world cultures, fine art and archeology. The historic Merchant’s House (open April to September, Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm; admission £1.40; 01752 304 774; www.plymouth.gov. uk) is packed with rooms themed on Victorian Plymouth, the Blitz, a recreated Edwardian pharmacy and more, while a tour of the Plymouth Gin Distillery (Monday to Saturday 10.30am4.30pm, Sunday 11.30am-3.30pm; tours £6; 01752 665 292; www.plymouthgin.com), where the spirit has been brewed since 1793, gives you another take on the city a chance to sample in the medieval bar.

The National Marine Aquarium (November to March 10am-5pm, April to October 10am-6pm; admission £11.50; 01752 220 084; www.national-aquarium.co.uk) has enough walk through tanks and stunning aquatic displays to while away an afternoon. You’re also guaranteed a cultured evening at the Plymouth Arts Centre (Tuesday to Saturday 10am-8.30pm, Sunday 4-8.30pm; 01752 206 114; www.plymouthartscentre.org), which packs in galleries and exhibitions, an independent cinema and vegetarian café The Green Room (opens 11am Tuesday to Saturday, closed Sunday).

Out at night Of an evening, fill up at Barbican Kitchen, the brasserie arm of famous Plymouth chefs the Tanner brothers, whose fine-dining Tanners Restaurant (lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday; 01752 252 001; www.tannersrestaurant.com) is the real draw card for foodies here but has the price tags to match. Barbican Kitchen (lunch and dinner seven days a week; 01752 604 448; www.barbicankitchen.com) is far more affordable, with spruced-up British and French dishes (plus a few surprises); think honest steaks, sexy burgers and chicken liver parfait with pear and apple chutney. The fresh seafood at Platters (daily 11.30am-11pm; 01752 227 262; www.platters-restaurant. co.uk) is very well regarded, including locally caught bass.

For a few drinks and something light to eat, the slightly out-of-town Carpe Diem (Tuesday to Saturday midday until late; 01752 252 942; www.carpediemnh.co.uk) boasts a mouth-watering and innovative menu of tapas-style dishes including double stuffed mushrooms, Vietnamese fish cakes, Indonesian chicken skewers, grilled halloumi and raw beef carpaccio. Quayside Bar Rakuda (01752 221 155; www.barbicanleisurebars.com) has cocktails and tapas. For something rougher round the edges, the Dolphin (01752 660 876) on the Barbican should fit the bill.

Monday 28th February 2011

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Auf Wiedersehen Munich - Hallo Berlin Foreign Correspondent Laura Craine bids farewell to Munich, and sets of for Berlin in the next chapter of her German adventure.

t comes as quite a shock to realise that I’m entering my last week in Munich and soon heading for the bright lights and big city of Berlin. I know I’ll miss the big parks, beautiful opera houses and borderline rude pedestrians who I swear try and push you off your bike if they feel you use the bell with a bit too much joie de vivre. I’ll also (surprisingly) miss the 9-to-5 (or in my case 10-to-4) working life and the economic benefits that accompany it. As any proper student knows, everything is last minute, and trying to do things while you have the chance before it’s too late is no exception. I realised about a month ago that it was coming to the end of me being smack-bang in the middle of Europe with a fantastic train network at my disposal and endless amounts of time (well, two days a week) to have a look around. Since this epiphany, I’ve spent a Slivovitz-fuelled weekend in Prague, have snowboarded down from the highest

point in Germany and have sung ‘The Hills are Alive’ from on top of the Salzburg mountains where The Sound of Music was filmed (admittedly less cool, but I’d feel judged if my third story was also alcohol-related). As much as placement year is a great opportunity to see more of ‘the continent’ than just where

you’re based, it’s the weekends we spend bumming around Munich that are probably the most fun and least well-remembered. As well as seeing the sites a new city has to offer and visiting the theatres and ballets (yes, I have actually done these things), you meet the most interesting people living and working in another country.

I’ve met diplomats, US-marines, had to chase off Italian coke dealers and deal with drunken English tourists and am proud to say, I’ve become somewhat of an expert in the latter. You also have to adjust to the customs of a new country. Once I moved to England, I became very used to doors being opened for

me (the English gentleman is not dead) but that doesn’t happen as much here and has resulted in me so far stubbing a toe and once getting hit in the face by a swinging door. Tipping here is not just expected but pretty much enforced. If you don’t tell a waiter how much you want to give him (it sounds really bad when he says “that’ll be 12euro” and you repeat “12euro”) and if you give him 15 and don’t say anything, he’ll take to mean he’s just been given a three euro tip. I’m not stingy or anything but I have walked out of a bar having paid a third of what I spent in tips. I don’t know what to expect when I once again become a student, only this time, in the very big, very un-Bath Berlin. I expect certain things will stay the same (the language, for one) but I assume I will suddenly have more time and less money. I guess this means it’s back to the drawing board for the next month to figure out cheap procrastination methods for the Erasmus student. Stay tuned.

German Elections: no surprises here Recent election results show Germany’s will to move towards the centreleft is stronger than predicted - Sarya Ricke invetigates

erman elections kicked off to a brilliant start for the Social Democratic Party in Hamburg on the afternoon of 20 February. The opposition party have regained their power in the Northern Province and Olaf Scholz, the elected mayor, intends to govern Hamburg “correctly”. Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democratic Party on the other hand enter the elections at an expected yet depressing low. The Social Democrats gained an impressive 48.3% of votes and hence the absolute majority and left the governing party, the Christian Democrats flailing behind with 21.9% of votes, a percentage even lower than expected. The former mayor of Hamburg, Christian Democrat Christoph Ahlhaus, leaves office with the reputation of being the mayor, who governed for the shortest term in Hamburg, retaining power for only three months. Furthermore this result of such minor support is the lowest number of votes that the Christian Democratic Party has gained since post-war elections, the lowest be-

fore being 25.1% in 1993. After Ole von Beust stepped down from office last July, tensions rose between the then-governing coalition of the Christian Democratic Party and the Greens

“

The Social Democrats’ win in Hamburg is a positive sign of the movement towards a leftist ideology in Germany

”

which lead to its demise and subsequently allowed the opposing party to gain full support. German politics student, Joseph Wignall, believes that “the reason of the Christian Democratic Party’s collapse in Hamburg was mainly due to Ole von Beust’s decision to stand down. This then paved the way for opponents to take control, piling pressure on Angela Merkel’s government.” Although even the Christian Democrats expected Hamburg to return into the hands of the Social Democrats, no one expected an absolute majority that would give them the opportunity to govern coalition-free.

The Greens were prepared to propose the formation of a coalition again with its natural partner, the Social Democratic Party, however their seats in parliament are no longer of importance to the party of Olaf Scholz which will now govern alone and the Greens will now be left to form the opposition with their previous critical partners, the Christian Democrats. But why was this one of the crucial elections? Germany is presently governed by a coalition of Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats and the Liberal Democratic Party. A combination of the failure of this union to fulfil their promises and the continuous disagreement between the two quite politically-opposing parties has led to a loss of credibility and the general desire of the German people to switch back to a Social Democratic government. The Liberals promised to induce tax reductions and increase social benefits, two pledges that the Christian Democrats were sure not to agree to in times of economic crisis. Hamburg’s change to a centralleft party is the first indication that

the general consensus is a wish for change in the way that the country is run. Politics and International Relations Student, Tomos Evans, has a clear opinion on Germany’s new movement. “The Social Democrats’ win in Hamburg is a positive sign of the movement towards a leftist ideology in Germany and across Europe. It is a move away from the austerity measures imposed by a conservative government.” However a further and more important election is to be held in the

coming weeks in Baden-Württemberg, a federal state known to support the Christian Democrats through and through. Nevertheless, will even the party’s main supporters cease to vote for a conservative political direction and thus choose a breath of fresh air? “Angie’s” post is evidently secure, but a decrease in collaboration in the Bundestag would result in a struggle for Europe’s most powerful woman and consequently prevent the methods of change that she claimed will retain Germany’s sovereignty.

Political cleavages leading to Merkel’s demise?

Monday 28th February 2011

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Science

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Antilasers, the stuff of fiction? Plans for UK clocks MPs at war against animal testing Lucy Saunders explains the coolest form of light... but in reverse to go ahead T

until this February that the antilaser became a reality with results being published in this month’s issue of the magazine, Science.

team of scientists from Yale University, USA, have invented the world’s first anti-laser, 50 years after the initial

Anti-lasers are no longer a fantasy discovery of the laser by Theodore Maiman at the Hughes Research Laboratories, Malibu, USA. Rumblings about such a device were first heard back in August after a team at Yale University, led by A. Douglas Stone, working on the development of the theory behind laser design, published a study on non-traditional devices. It wasn’t

So what is an anti-laser and how does it work? Laser stands for Light Ampliflication by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, doing exactly what it says, emitting radiation as an amplified beam of light. An anti-laser, as you’d expect, is the converse, something that stops this emission or leads to the emission being cancelled out. Sounding

very Doctor Who and James Bond, this laser however won’t help you in any situation involving yourself being targeted by a high energy laser beam. Instead, in this system, incoming beams of light in the form of waves are made to interfere in such a way that they cancel out, and the laser emission is lost. Light energy is converted to heat, so for those with the earlier problem, the laser can be stopped but with the result of heat energy (hot)! Its design is based around the use of silicon semi conductors, which absorb 99% of light, leading to its alternative name of a coherent perfect absorber (CPA). It works by focusing two laser beams with a specific frequency into a cavity containing a silicon wafer. As the laser beams hit the silicon they are aligned causing them to be trapped within the cavity, bouncing back and forth until they become absorbed and their light energy transformed to heat. This device therefore presents a control of absorption in systems and its absence or presence allows absorption to be turned on or off. And why are the anti-laser systems so special? Those in the race to building the next-generation of super computers can tell you. Implementation of these sys-

tems in computers, in the form of optical switches allowing a particular wavelength of light to be absorbed, resulting in the improved processing speeds as desired by computing giants like IBM and Intel who are keen to remain at the top of their game. The silicon basis of this new device is not something new, where this material is already commonly used in computing. This technology is therefore not only potentially very useful, but also very accessible, especially compared to the expensive and rare gallium arsenic material traditionally used in to-

day’s phototonic (light absorbing) components. Anti-lasers are not only seen as the new thing in the computing world; as the technology may also have a use in radiology, as radiation targeting cancer cells may be turned off before the tissue is overloaded to the point that good cells are affected too. Featured by the BBC and one of the most popular articles of the Engineer online in February, the story of this new technology is clearly something to keep any eye on. Those wanting more information should check out either sites or the home of the discovery, Yale University.

Unlocking the secrets of hibernating bears could save thousands of lives and allow deep space travel

cientists have discovered that black bears slow down their metabolic rate by 75 % to survive half a year in hibernation without food or water. At the same time they slow their heart rate dramatically from 55 beats per minute to just 14, sometimes leaving gaps of 20 seconds between beats It is the first time North American black bears have been monitored throughout their seven-month long winter hibernation and the results have astonished experts. The findings could help develop ways to slow down patients' metabolism while waiting for life-saving treatment and could even pave the way for long distance space travel using hibernation pods reminiscent of science-fiction movies like Planet of the Apes and Alien. The research was carried out on 5

may still carry genes that help our bodies slow down for long periods. Understanding the genetic and molecular basis for this protection, and the mechanisms involved in reduc-

ing metabolic demand in tissues could help develop new therapies and medicines to use on humans. If the mechanism can be replicated in humans, then the vital win-

dow for treating sufferers of stroke, heart attack or severe trauma could be significantly extended or even put into a type of suspended animations until they receive medical care.

overnment ministers are pushing through plans to bring clocks forward an extra hour to provide longer evenings. It is thought that the longer summer evenings would increase tourism and bring potentially billions of pounds to the economy. British Summer Time (BST) was first established in 1916 by William Willett in a bid to use daylight more effectively. In the Second World War, Britain was moved forward an extra hour to provide more hours in the ‘day’ for farmers, etc. In 1939 the clocks were not taken back in the winter, but were then additionally brought forward in the summer as usual, causing “British Double Summer Time” (GMT + 2). A study into the effects of an extra hour was undertaken in 1968-71, with results showing a significant increase in casualties in the morning, but a significant decrease in casualties at night. The extra hour will bring the UK in line with most of Western Europe; instead of the sun rising at 7:12am and setting at 17:33pm, the sun would rise at 8:12am and set at 18:33pm. Longer summer evenings would undoubtedly be welcomed, as when the sun is shining and the weather hot, Britain can be a country like no other. Sporting teams, for example, would appreciate an extra hour of light

“

Albino rabbits tend to be used in draize and eye irritancy tests, due to their sensitivity. when training in the evenings. Economic factors, a reduction of energy usage and greenhouse gas

“

The extra hour will bring the UK in line with most of Western Europe

”

emissions have also been cited as key reasons for the time change.

Cambridge University

Robyn Brook bathimpact Contributor

black bears captured by Alaskan state officials when they wandered too close to towns. Radio transmitters were implanted to monitor heart rate, body temperature and muscle activity. Measuring oxygen levels in their blood showed that the bears slowed down the rate they convert food to energy (metabolic rates) by 75% during hibernation. The reduced metabolism allows them to survive on the fat they store up in the summer and autumn. During the winter, bears spend five to seven months hibernating, with no food, water, exercise or toilet activities yet, in spring, they emerge in immaculate condition. Their metabolic rates are initially weary but within three weeks their bodies return to normal without suffering losses in muscle and bone mass, consequences that would be expected in humans over such a long time of immobility and disuse. Since hibernation is common in mammals, it’s possible that humans

Jess Bean isn’t as mad as a hatter, she explains how MPs are planning to change time... forever

Don’t forget your teddy bear when you go for that extra-long sleep

hinking of buying perfume, makeup or aftershave as a little treat for that special person in the mirror? Well wait a darned minute and take a sneaky peak at the label. Does it have a ‘leaping bunny’ logo? No? After reading this article, you may well want to put it back on the shelf. Most of us may be aware that the ban on animal testing for cosmetic production has been enforced in the EU since March 2009, but unfortunately this practise continues elsewhere in the world. But why was this ban introduced? Testing products on animals means that any potential dangers cosmetics could pose to humans can be spotted before being distributed to stores. We’ve all heard

This lot are going to be confused when it gets to solstice

The major cause for concern, however, is the darker summer mornings. Fears raised especially in Scotland and the north of England (where hours of sunlight are less than in the south) are that less light in the mornings, especially at rush hour would cause an increase in traffic accidents. The effects of a change in light exposure on the body are varied and complex. On the one hand, more light causes decreases in cases of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and a higher vitamin D uptake. More light in the evening also provides more time for afternoon exercise. On the other hand, more sun exposure can increase cases of skin cancer through overexposure. There is also evidence that suggests daylight saving disrupts sleep patterns and quality, as well as your circadian rhythm (a cycle of biochemical, physiological or behavioural processes that are altered to a large extent by light). It may take weeks to fully adjust. The Daylight Saving Bill 20102011 has been propositioned by Conservative MP Rebecca Harris in a bid to make the government consider time changes. If the government found significant beneficial evidence for a time change the Bill would mean a trial in the UK would take place. For the time being however, BST is still running as usual. This year, clocks go forward at 1am on the 27th March.

”

horror stories of dangerous cosmetic ingredients dodging regulations and causing serious allergic reactions, horrific disfigurements and even death. The cosmetic companies complain that there are few alterna-

tive ways to carry out the tests. With animals, it is possible to observe the effects of chemicals on living cells and entire body systems. After all, it’s just not possible to see the same effects on robots and cadavers. Yet there is a plethora of campaigns against animal testing. They claim that the animals forced to take part in the experiments suffer a great deal, merely to feed our vanity. Some types of animal are subjected to more than one type of testing. Albino rabbits tend to be used in draize and eye irritancy tests, due to their high sensitivity. The former test involves swabbing patches of the cosmetic on the rabbits’ skins to determine dermal irritation. The latter is self explanatory. Whilst animal testing is banned in the UK and Europe, cosmetics that have been tested in this way elsewhere are still available to buy on our high streets. Over 100 MPs and numerous celebrities including supermodel Jodie Kidd and designer Meg Matthews have therefore shown their support to the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection’s (BUAV) ‘No Cruel Cosmetics’ campaign. It hopes to encourage an EU ban on the sale of animaltested products in 2013. Until then, try to keep an eye out for the ‘leaping bunny’ logo or maybe it’ll leave a bad taste in your mouth too.

The Body Shop has never tested their products on animals

An advertisement from the ‘Flacons’ anti-animal testing campaign

Monday 28th February 2011

bathimpact bathimpact

Science

www.bathimpact.com www.bathimpact.com

Antilasers, the stuff of fiction? Plans for UK clocks MPs at war against animal testing Lucy Saunders explains the coolest form of light... but in reverse to go ahead T

until this February that the antilaser became a reality with results being published in this month’s issue of the magazine, Science.

team of scientists from Yale University, USA, have invented the world’s first anti-laser, 50 years after the initial

Unlocking the secrets of hibernating bears could save thousands of lives and allow deep space travel

may still carry genes that help our bodies slow down for long periods. Understanding the genetic and molecular basis for this protection, and the mechanisms involved in reduc-

ing metabolic demand in tissues could help develop new therapies and medicines to use on humans. If the mechanism can be replicated in humans, then the vital win-

dow for treating sufferers of stroke, heart attack or severe trauma could be significantly extended or even put into a type of suspended animations until they receive medical care.

“

Albino rabbits tend to be used in draize and eye irritancy tests, due to their sensitivity. when training in the evenings. Economic factors, a reduction of energy usage and greenhouse gas

“

The extra hour will bring the UK in line with most of Western Europe

”

emissions have also been cited as key reasons for the time change.

Cambridge University

Robyn Brook bathimpact Contributor

Jess Bean isn’t as mad as a hatter, she explains how MPs are planning to change time... forever

Don’t forget your teddy bear when you go for that extra-long sleep

This lot are going to be confused when it gets to solstice

”

The Body Shop has never tested their products on animals

An advertisement from the ‘Flacons’ anti-animal testing campaign

Monday 28th February 2011

bathimpact

Science

www.bathimpact.com

Space weather is hotting up! Declan Perry bathimpact contributor

ur favourite star, the Sun, is currently waking from an 11 year slumber. In terms of solar flare activity, the Sun is just coming out of its quietest period for 50 years. It is predicted that the risk of solar emissions will increase until it reaches its peak it 2013. A solar flare is an explosion on the surface of the sun that can release up to 6 × 1025 joules of energy (a fair bit!). It can

also release X-ray and UV radiation which can disrupt long range radio communication, and radar devices on earth. As a society, we are now so reliant on communication technology such as GPS tracking that we are more vulnerable to solar emissions than ever before. Senior government advisors have predicted that solar flares have the potential to cause trillions of pounds worth of damage. This was summed up by the government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor John Beddington: "Space weather has to be taken seriously. We've had a relatively quiet period of space weather and we expect that quiet period to end," Professor John told the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington. "At the same time, over that period the potential vulnerability of our systems has increased dramatically, whether it is the smart grid in our electricity system or the ubiquitous use of GPS sys-

tems," he said. Although most of you will not have noticed, last week the strongest solar flare for 4 years reached Earth. According to Jane Lubchenco, the head of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it had severe effects on society’s infrastructure even though the flare was relatively small. Airlines re-routed flights away from polar regions, anticipating the possibility that their radio communications would not be op-

erable. Furthermore, communications problems were reported on flights from Hawaii to southern California and the flare disrupted communications in parts of the western Pacific region and Asia. "Clearly this is something we need to take seriously. That particular event was not a very serious one, but as we enter a period of higher solar activity it is reasonable to expect more and more events and they may vary in magnitude," she said. So what can be done to reduce the threat of solar storms? It is of great concern how little warning the world receives before a solar flare may hit. Thomas Bogdan, director of the Space Weather Prediction Centre in Boulder, Colorado, has explained that, at present, the only means of assessing the magnitude of a solar flare before it reaches earth is a 14 year old warning satellite. Any storm coming from the Sun passes over that spacecraft only 20 minutes before it hits Earth. What can be done in 20 minutes? Not only is the warn-

ing exceptionally late, the reliability of the warning system has been questioned: "The trouble is, it's 14 years old and what keeps me awake at night is worrying about whether that satellite would be running next morning when I get up," Mr Bogdan said. Other attempts to increase our understanding of solar emissions include space exploration projects such as the Hinode craft, originally called Solar B. This space craft was

launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in September 2006 to observe solar flares in more precise detail. Its instrumentation, supplied by an international collaboration including Norway, the U.K., the U.S., and Africa focuses on the powerful magnetic fields thought to be the source of solar flares. Such studies shed light on the causes of such activity, possibly helping to forecast future flares and thus minimizing their dangerous effects on communication systems. It is clear that solar flares pose a very real threat to the infrastructure of our society, and this must be taken seriously. As Professor John Beddington put, “What is absolutely critical is that we do have to take space weather seriously. This is an international issue and it is international collaboration that is how we are going to deal with it.” Time will tell how the world deals with the oncoming threat of solar flares. Remember, you can’t always trust your TomTom!

New gene discovery gives hope to thousands of breast cancer sufferers Jess Bean bathimpact contributor

key gene thought to be overactive in around 1 in 12 breast cancer patients has been discovered by researchers at Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Research Institute and the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver. ZNF703 is the first oncogene (a gene with the potential to cause cancer) of its kind to be discovered in 5 years. The news comes in the wake of recent figures published by Cancer Research UK showing that a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer has risen from 1 in 9 (1999) to 1 in 8 (2011). 1 in 3 people are now thought to develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. ZNF703 is commonly found in Luminal B breast cancer and is thought to cause overactive cell growth through the disruption of normal growth pathways. Scientists looked at regions of chromosome 8 that, for a number of years, had been known to be linked to breast cancer. It is only now, with advances in genetic research and technology, that the specific gene has been pinpointed. It was found that ZNF703 expression results in the activation of stem cell-related gene expression, leading to an increase in cancer stem cells. Moreover, the team showed that ZNF703 is additionally implicated in the regulation of ER and the E2F1 transcription factor. In two patients ZNF703 was the only gene shown to be overactive. The identification of the

ZNF703 has unlocked the development of potential drug molecules that can directly target the gene. This provides a drug therapy that is specific to each patient.

Risk of developing breast cancer has risen from 1 in 9 (1999) to 1 in 8 (2011) The controversial breast cancer drug Herceptin (Trastuzumab) is a good example of a drug developed to counter a single gene mutation. Herceptin is effective against the overactive HER2 receptor (another common cause of breast cancer), as it binds to the receptor and slows cell proliferation. Scientists discovered the gene and were then able to formulate a drug that targeted this specific gene. Instead of a totally destructive treatment such as chemotherapy, which is very vague and causes surrounding damage to tissue, this drug can be used as an alternative treatment. The discovery of ZNF703 potentially gives hope to thousands of breast cancer sufferers anticipating the announcement of a new Herceptin (albeit without the vast cost issues). It marks another turning point in the way in which cancer treatment is being revolutionised through gene therapy.

Monday 28th February 2011

bathimpact

Sabbs’ Corner

Life as a Sabb

With Sabb nominations looming, SU President Daniel ‘Dot’ O’Toole reveals what it’s really like to be a Sabb

“

Do you think being a Sabb this year has helped your personal development?

It would be impossible, in this brief interview, to cover the personal development experiences I have gained being a Sabbatical Officer over the past couple of years. What I can tell you is I’ve had excellent first-hand experience of so many interesting and exciting aspects of working life. I feel I have really developed all those ‘key transferable skills’ that are often drilled into you in preparation for any future job interviews, and have real working examples of where and when I last used them! I would say that… being the President of a nationally acclaimed and recognised membership organisation, and therefore the Chair of the Board of Trustees, in control, and ultimately responsible, of a budget of over £1.2M, representing and supporting over 14,000 students annually, putting them at the heart of over 80 societies, 49 sports clubs and numerous other activities and development opportunities… , I have been fortunate. I have had two years in the role, but I would say that I learned more in one year as SU President, than I had learned throughout my time studying at University.

”

“

I panic when I don’t get stuff done. What is the work load like?

Well… I won’t lie. The work load is massive. The responsibility you sign up to is equivalent to that of a job with a pretty high salary – shame you don’t get it! I often tell people that “being a Sabb isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle” and unfortunately I have had difficulties over my Sabb career with balancing life and work. It really is hard; you have meetings throughout the day, the menial day-to-day tasks of replying to emails and drafting the next day’s plans are left to start at 5pm. Sometimes I’m in the office until 8pm, sometimes 11pm and sometimes even later. The point is that you will do as much work as you feel is necessary. If you are passionate about the job, which you will need to be if you’re thinking of standing, you will do what you think is best. Bottom line is - it’s hard work. It’s a challenge and that means you will develop personally. You are also enhancing the lives of students at the same time, making the whole thing worthwhile!

”

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Feel strongly about something? Get campaigning!

ampaigning is something the Students’ Union does all the time; from big things like tuition fees, sports charges and feedback on assessments; to smaller awareness-raising activities under the Think brand and through the Student Community Partnership. Whilst all of this activity is great, and some achieves big wins for students (we must be frank, others don’t), there is a whole other side to Students’ Union campaigning that is equally important: student led campaigns.

People & Planet are promoting part-time carnivorism, an option for all of us who can’t resist the lure of the occasional steak. Let’s start small. This Friday (4th March) there’s going to be a day of awareness-raising events to highlight issues faced by disabled students. These events include a group of students becoming wheelchairbound to raise money for local disability charities; a series of fun challenges that anyone can take part in by going to the Student Centre, followed by an interview from one student about her experiences as a disabled student at the University of Bath. All of these events have been spearheaded by a single student’s desire to draw our attention to these issues. There are plenty of other examples of course, and nowhere near enough space to talk about them all. RAG week is coming up, and perhaps because RAG is so established, the events they run are very successful because the students involved are having so much fun, it might be easy to forget that all of their success is achieved by the efforts of individual students coming together and volunteering their toil, sweat and tears (but hopefully not blood!).

“

What was campaigning like? You looked like you enjoyed it last year.

Campaigning is so much fun! If you enjoy talking to people then campaigning is going to be right up your street, because it gives you a good excuse to do exactly that. I had two shots at it, and like most people I’ve talked to who have had similar experiences; whether you win or lose, organising a team of people who will support you and your campaign for a long week is something that you’ll never forget! If you’re thinking of running (I recommend it!) my advice to you would be; be creative, abide by the rules, and do something bold that people will instantly know is ‘you’.

”

“

I don’t know much about the nitty gritty stuff in the union. I am a member of societies and stuff, but that is about it. Won’t I need more experience? I was, what the Union has always called, one of the ‘silent majority’. These are perhaps more of the typical students at Bath, unfortunately less involved in the Union, but still getting involved in activities like Sports and Socs. There is a small minority of students who are really active in the Union (often called ‘unionhacks’!). When I first ran for President I was arguably up against two very talented presidential candidates, who were within this minority group of active students. They knew a lot about the Union and it did intimidate me when I found out how involved they really were. The only Union experience I had prior to running in the election was the rugby club and being the Chair of WelshSoc for 2years (Go WelshSoc!). Other than that, I just felt I’d be good at the job. Don’t feel that you need a lot of experience. If you are a student who is intelligent enough to pick things up quickly, good with people and feel like you want to be a part of an SU that exists to make Bath a better place for students, then what’s stopping you? All this whilst sculpting your CV so that it ‘shines above all others’?! Well, make sure you run in the Sabbatical Elections ‘11! Also, feel free to get in touch with me at SUpresident@bath.ac.uk or alternatively, like any of the Sabbs, swing by our offices (we have an open door policy).

”

Finally I’d like to mention one other example, and that’s the combined work of the societies People & Planet and Engineers Without Borders on Global Future 2011, a week in April dedicated to all things green and ethical. Engineers Without Borders have been working tirelessly to build a wind turbine on campus, and People & Planet are promoting part-time carnivorism, an option for all of us who might not like the environmental impacts of meat-eating but can’t resist the lure of the occasional steak. The week promises a slew of fun but also deeply informative events, so look out for Global Future 2011 when it comes around. Like the two examples above, this is a great example of the efforts of small groups of students working to make a difference. The Students’ Union is here to campaign on the things you want, but it’s also here to help you campaign on those things too. So if there’s something you really believe in, come and talk to us, because not only might you make a difference, but you might gain great experiences and have a great time whilst doing so.

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publicity@bathimpact.com get involved bathimpact contributors meetings: Tuesday 1st March & Tuesday 15th March 18:15 in 6E 2.1, see you there!

Monday 28th February 2011

Volunteering Duke of Edinburgh hits the Brecon Beacons

e had glorious weather for this year’s expedition to Brecon. We had an early start and had run through all the last minute navigation practice by 9.30, and then the participants were off, under the watchful eye of a nosy heron. A little exploring took us helpers to the Ystradfellte valley, the waterfall had partially frozen and icicles hung off every surface. Adam went behind the waterfall to take photos. The second day was a long ridge walk, from Talybont Reservoir to Cribben. Everyone did really well coming down the steep, rocky footpath, combating vertigo using fantastic teamwork. We squeezed some night navigation in, the clear skies gave us an amazing view of Orion, the Seven Sisters Constellation and Jupiter.

On the last day we made a big push to peak Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales at 886m. We even beat all the army boys up there. We then finished with a nice meander by the reservoirs in the afternoon. Big congratulations to Boris, Irina, James, and Navraj for completing their first Gold Practice Expedition!

Students: they ain’t all that bad really...

s students we tend to get a bad rep, but this national campaign aims to help change that by recognising all the fantastic work done by student volunteers. With the major theme of the year as “town and gown relations”, and 2011 the national “year of the volunteer”, it seemed only appropriate that this year, student volunteer week at Bath went that extra mile. With daily events for everyone to get involved in it’s been a great week for student volunteers. One local charity, Julian House, has had volunteers helping in their shop all week, a great experience for everyone involved. On Wednesday, the careers service held a session on “how to sell your volunteering”, to help volunteers understand how much employers value volunteers’ experience and how to make it look fantastic on a CV. This was followed by the volunteer fair on Thursday. You may have seen it in the shiny new Student Centre with stalls from our University Volunteering Groups as well as local charities from a variety of areas. Hopefully you took a few minutes to look and find out about some of the fantastic work going on in the local community around you. Thursday night was the date of the rearranged RAG sleepout, after the pesky snow had postponed it from November. A rather chilly night was

had by all, made all the more bearable by some pizza and wonderful entertainment. On Saturday, we got all environmental and helped at the Sirius Woods conservation project, one of Student Community Action’s volunteering projects. Volunteers got involved with scrub clearance, stake replacement and working on hedgerows: green fingers to be found all round. Sunday was a volunteer party of a rather strange kind: it was a bag packing party! Many volunteers descended on Sainsburys during the day to help pack busy shoppers’ bags, all with the aim of raising money for the Romania Aid Project, organised through SCA. The Romania Aid Trip is a fantastic yearly event in which volunteers travel to Romania to work in Orphanages in a small town called Comenesti. This is an amazing opportunity which anyone at the University who can do so should look to take; you’ll be sure to find it an eye-opening and moving experience. Every penny raised goes to the charities that run the orphanages. All in all, student volunteer week 2011 was amazing! Lots of fun was had by all, and the profile of student volunteers in our community has been raised in a very positive way. Congratulations to all of you who are student volunteers, it’s a really worthwhile thing to do.

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RAG Week 2011: the best RAG event ever?

RAG’s annual fundraising bonanza could possibly be the most philanthropic(and fun)seven days of your life! Naomi Mackrill, Volunteering Publicity Officer, fills us in...

AG week is one of the highlights of the volunteering calendar at Bath and that trend is set to continue this year with some fantastic events planned. In 2010, RAG week raised an astonishing total of over £3000 for local charities, something of a feat considering all the events are organised, run and supported by students! 2011 will see many of your favourite events returning in hope of smashing that total. The wonderful raggies have been working away over ISB and the start of term and are looking to banish your mid-term blues. The Bierkeller on Monday 7 March is the ONLY way to start! A guaranteed sell-out, you can chose from three sittings - 7.30, 8.30 and 9.30, and you can go to one, two, or, for the very brave, all three! With some wonderful volunteers bringing your drinks to you, all you have to do is drink, dance and sing along to the Bavarian band. Once you’ve recovered, get your thinking caps on, closely followed by your headphones because, yes, you’ve guessed it, it’s the RAG Pub Quiz followed by the Silent Disco. Make sure you get to the quiz early: last year the whole SU was raided to find enough chairs for everyone. It starts at 7.30 and you can find it in Elements. So, what to do to celebrate your inevitable success in the quiz? Head on over to the Silent Disco from 10pm where you can be guaranteed that everyone will hear you shout about your triumphant win! If you haven’t been to a Silent Disco yet, I definitely recommend it as a “must-have” university experience, as those of you that went in Freshers’ Week will, I’m sure, agree. Wednesday is full of a whole new set of treats for the soul. From 10-2, you can find a jumble sale on parade, so come along and donate clothes that don’t quite fit anymore and grab yourself a bargain. Last year there were some designer goodies up for grabs so definitely worth a look. Ann, your Vice President Activities and Development would also like to say that something will be happening on parade at 12.10. “It’s going to be awesome...but cannot remember what it will be? Oh wait it’s a surprise!” So make sure you are there for that! This is followed by the Arts Variety Show featuring a wide range of your very talented counterparts. Starting after 8pm (TBC) in the Arts Lecture Thea-

Pints at the ready for Bierkeller

Our SU President gets gunked

Bath RAG basking in the sun whilst fundraising on the Parade tre, witness some talented individuals brave enough to get up on stage. If this still isn’t enough then make sure you head down to Speed Dating in Elements on Thursday to see if that special someone is waiting there for you, 7-9 in Elements. Friday is the final day of, what I’m sure you’ll agree, is a rather epic RAG week! My favourite event of the week is happening at noon on Parade – it’s Gunk-A-Sabb! Will you be donating money to save the Sabbs from the worst bucket of Gunk, or bidding to be the one to do the gunking?! Just make sure you side-step any gunk-covered Sabbs afterwards when they come looking for a bear hug. “Surely we’ve covered everything already?” I hear you say? Not at all! Friday afternoon (my favourite time of the week) holds

the auction of promises. From 4-7 in Elements you have the opportunity to bag yourself some highly limited opportunity promises. Past years have seen people offering taxi journeys, washing services and sushi lessons. Finally, we have a mystery club night on Friday to round up a truly fantastic week. RAG do some really fantastic work and all the money raised this week will go to Dorothy House, so every penny you give to RAG goes to this fantastic cause. Make sure you look out for the Raggies on Parade leading up to RAG week or head to the Volunteer Centre in the 1 East level 3 on the SU corridor to get your tickets for these events and, more importantly, enjoy them! For more information visit www. bathstudent.com/ragweek

Monday 28th February 2011

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Societies & Arts

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Activity Awards ahoy

he University of Bath Student's Union Activity Awards form the pinnacle of the year for the 100+ activity groups in the SU. The Arts, Societies, Volunteering and Media areas are all recognised for excellent events and exceptional performance across the academic year. New for this year will be awards for Student Groups such as the Global Group, LGBT, International Student Association and Mature Students. Talented individuals are also awarded for outstanding contributions in their areas. There is a long nomination process in place for each award to ensure that the groups short-listed and those that win are the most deserving of the prestige. There are a total of 15 existing awards in addition to new ones this year presented to honour the achievement of all of the student-run groups involving several thousand students each year.

For more information on nomination criteria, previous award winners and to nominate a society or individual please visit www.bathstudent.com/ socs/activities/2011 Closing date for nominations is Monday 14 March. All events between 25 March 2010 and 14 March 2011 can be nominated for an award. So, what are you waiting for? Get nominating today and give your society or someone you know the chance to be recognized for being amazing! Good luck.! For more information please contact Activities Awards Working Group Chair Boris (thbb20@bath.ac.uk).

Ann’s Activities News Lots of Weeks going on! After a crazy week for Student Volunteer Week last week this week is a bit of a recouperation period in time for RAG week next week! Wow! What a mouthful and a lot of weeks going on! Student Volunteer Week was definitely a success with lots of students packing bags, helping out in Julian House, Sleeping on Parade and attending the Volunteer Fair. It seems that the Backstage Country Pub Tour take 2 went ahead without much gossip on 18 February. Congratulations to all that took part in the Choral and Orchestral Recital; it was a very splendid evening with many extremely talented performers taking to the stage. On Friday, I had the pleasure of enjoying the BUST (Bath University Student Theatre) performance of Pygmalion in the Mission Theatre. Starring Cara Ballingall as the delightful Eliza Doolittle and directed by Putu Khorisantono, this play was a real treat for everyone that saw it. As a Crew Member for Gravity Vomit’s third annual juggling convention, Upchuck this weekend I had lots of fun making Bacon Butties for everyone and dealing with food signs. The show was fantastic once again and fea-

On your marks, get set...because Maccy D’s is about to close... tured some spectacular hula-hooping and the Grenadines act of awesomeness once again. Well done to GV for their incredible promotion and flyering leading up to the event. Lots of running (around…) Ok so apparently the Bath half marathon is in like one week! eeeek! so I think I’ll do a bit of running! A little bit scared I have to admit but hopefully all the Sabbs will raise a lot of money! Please sponsor us through our Just Giving Accounts - you can find these on Facebook or by googling “Just Giving” and finding us on there. After the debate on the Faulkland Islands that I attended before Christmas with the Model United Nations Society I am looking forward to taking part in their Bath Conference in 3 East

this coming weekend. I can’t wait for the next Cath Soc Ceilidh on Saturday where everyone dances like crazy and enjoys some lovely food in Claverton Down Community Hall. Also this week I shall be enjoying my first PSA experience at their annual Ball in the Assembly Rooms - best of luck to everyone as they prepare for the event. Today I have been finalising the details of the RAG week Surprise! 1210 on Wednesday 9th March (RAG DAY!!!) there will be something happening on Parade…can’t say what but be there to find out. Also that week is the Bierkeller on Monday in Elements, the Silent Disco and the Arts Variety Show. The Sabbs will be performing a special dance so make sure your there not to miss out. That reminds me...I must go and choreograph something! Please donate lots of money to your Sabbs throughout the week because at the end of the week there will be a bid to gunk each of us! The gunk will be made up of PitStop left overs probably…so if you see us covered in baked beans then that’s what has happened. Have fun and Activities love, Ann

ChaOtic! Pom-pom power! Explain your Society: BHIG T F he black tie ChaOS Recital was a roaring success with over 80 people coming to enjoy the display of talent in ChaOS. The evening was kicked off with a lovely duet from Ed Law and George Lyon, who usually sing with the Barbers. Adam Majdanski followed playing Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu with fastest moving fingers ever seen! And a quartet of mechanical engineering saxophones changed the mood with the Toy Story Theme. The first half was closed by the fiendishly difficult “Scene de Ballet” played on Violin by Peter Massey. The interval with cheese and wine was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The second half matched the first with the evening beautifully concluded by Kate Petty playing the harp which no-one could be expected to follow! The entire evening was perfect and Steve Baldwin’s insightful interludes between pieces will always be remembered!

or the first time in the society’s history, the Bath Jets took three squads to the Winter Wonderland cheerleading competition held in December. The competition is held annually at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre and is open to a whole variety of squads, not just university based teams. The squad began training for competition in October, with three routines being organised. As there were 38 members taking part, the routines required a significant amount of time to choreograph and learn. Preparation had to be fitted around standard training and required momentous dedication to achieve the high standards obligatory to perform at this level of competition. Returning members of the unit competed in Senior Open Level 3 Cheer category. This combines all elements of cheerleading - jumps, stunting and dance - into a 2 and a half-minute routine set to music. This was one of the largest categories at the competition and all the girls were very pleased to be awarded a fifth place trophy which is the best the squad has achieved at this level. The new members to the squad this year had the opportunity to enter into the Senior Open Pom Dance category – the first time the team has entered this type of contest. These routines are entirely composed of dance

and must include lots of differing elements, including but not limited to jumps, turns and kicks. There was a towering level of competition with the best squads in the country participating, with the aim to be in the upper echelon come the end of the show. The girls performed prodigiously well and claimed second place in a very cut-throat field. Five of the senior members of the squad also competed in the level 3 group stunt. This involves a minute and a half of continual stunting, demanding the most out the competitors physically and mentally. Having trained hard for the past few months, the team were rewarded with a 1st place finish in the field. The cheerleaders will go into their February and Easter competitions full of enthusiasm and confidence, expecting to come away with even more trophies next time.

by Calvin Lau

Founded in 2009, the Business & Humanities Interest Group aims to increase Bath students’ interest and employability in the business and humanity fields. Throughout the previous two years, our society has built up strong connections with the industry. Our partner firms include Barclays Capital, Bloomberg, SEO London, Hudson and eFinancialCareers. We are now planning the following two events: 1. A business conference with FT100 companies We are going to invite some FT100 companies to our campus for a business conference. They will address to us how the recent crisis has changed their business model and thoughts. We are aiming to hold this event in March. Exact details will be revealed as soon as we have confirmed with the FT100 companies. Drink reception will be provided. 2. A tour to Scotland Scotland is an elegant place, and is the home for many important figures in British history. (I can name William Wallace, Adam Smith and Tony Blair in two seconds. I am sure that you can think of much more). We are going to organise a cultural tour to Edinburgh in March. Details can be found on our website.

Suited and booted: Don’t forget your business socks

Bath Cheerleaders in action

P.S. Please join us through bathstudent.com in order to enjoy privileged admissions and discounts for the above events Enquiries: ywcl20@bath.ac.uk Website: www.bathstudent.com/socs/societies/BathBH

Monday 28th February 2011

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England expects Ryan Skinner bathimpact Reporter

ngland will go in to the Cricket World Cup in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with what they will feel to be their best chance at winning since 1990. They have in the last twelve months won the World T20 in the Caribbean and retained the Ashes in Australia with a great deal of aplomb; a very successful 2010 indeed. Howver, while they may have been one of the favourites at the turn of the year, a crushing 6-1 defeat on Australian soil in the Commonwealth Bank ODI series has seriously dented their confidence and lengthened their odds for the forthcoming tournament. Added to that is a list of injuries that has tested the strength of the massage table and England’s chances look increasingly slim; India and Sri Lanka are the pretournament favourites and Australia and South Africa have a better chance than England in my mind too. England’s main strength lies in the bowling department; Broad, Anderson and Swann are all world class players who would get in any international side. The potency and accuracy they bring should allow England to restrict opponents to sub-par scores. Ajmal Shahzad may be a joker in their pack too, his reverse swing should suit the conditions perfectly. He will be fighting Tim Bresnan for the fourth bowling spot, while the remainder of the overs will be bowled by Collingwood, Bopara and Trott, as doubts creep in about Michael Yardy as an all-rounder on the international stage, and even more doubts creep in about the brittle nature of England’s batting. The loss of Eoin Morgan has weakened an already fragile batting line up

even further, and England will need to bat deep to compensate and be in with a chance of posting large enough totals. Large amounts of pressure will rest on Kevin Pietersen’s shoulders; as England’s only world-class batsman he is desperately required to perform consistently on the flat turning decks of the sub-continent on which England sides have traditionally struggled to score quickly. The nature of the conditions and the ability of England to adapt to them will ultimately determine how far they progress in the lengthy tournament. Undeniably a top side on home soil, batting and the conservative nature of Strauss’ captaincy have been a worry away from home of late. If these issues aren’t resolved England will not win, but the tournament does last two months, so they do have a lot of time to work through them and adapt if nothing else. The guidance of Andy Flower and the skill of England in the field should lead to the semi-finals in my view, but sadly I cannot see them going any further; the smart money is on India.

Football gone mad Michael Geggus bathimpact Reporter

ow can we possibly understand? I for one have been left completely bewildered by the events that took place on January 31st. As the football season hits the final straight and the Premier League looks set for a grandstand finish, we look back on the madness that unfolded in the transfer window. The January transfer window was, simply put, stunning. As Andy Carroll sealed his £35 million move to Liverpool and

There are high hopes for England in the Cricket World Cup.

Liverpool recently paid £35 million for Andy Carroll - has the world gone mad? Fernando Torres headed to Chelsea for a cool £50 million, we as supporters of the beautiful game were left to catch our breath and wonder what happened to the sport for the masses and the people. January finally confirmed and highlighted to us, the fans, that football exists as its own entity, devoid of emotion and seemingly unaffected by financial restrictions and a worldwide recession. No longer can footballers be classed as men of the people. No longer do footballers have any affiliation or real affection to their clubs. When Fernando Torres heard that Chelsea were willing to rescue him from the doldrums and chaos that has shrouded Liverpool this season, he already had in mind a nice colonial townhouse on King’s Road. Despite the esteem and adoration that Liverpudlians held for him, he made it clear that he wanted out of Anfield and any love for him was suddenly gone. Despite, the £50 million windfall that cushioned the loss of arguably the Premier League’s most prolific goalscorer, Liverpool and their fans were devastated to lose their most valuable asset. Although, Torres’ resume is highly impressive and he is undoubtedly proven at the highest level, it has been well over a year since he was producing and showing his quality week in week out. Injuries have restricted his performances, yet Chelsea were willing to break the British transfer record to capture their man. An astronomical sum of money and too much for Liverpool to turn down. With Torres having departed for Stamford Bridge, Liverpool pursued Newcastle’s own number nine, Andy Carroll. For a man with fewer than six months in the top flight and one international cap to

his name, £35 million was handed over to prise him away from Tyneside. Madness doesn’t quite sum it up. The landscape of British football had just changed. As Deloitte reported, “the total January spend by Premier League clubs came to a total of £225 million.” As an ardent football fan I was left to reflect on what had occurred and I wondered if there was a good deal amongst the chaos. Although only time will tell, the inordinate amount of money spent in the transfer window means that there must be a significant return and success achieved for this investment. The pressure on Torres and Carroll is now on and they will be required to produce as football across Europe and the World reflects on the excessive spending of the Premier League and hastens to wonder whether this type of outlay will become the norm. However, judging Torres by his first two performances for Chelsea and Carroll having not even stepped foot on a football pitch since his move due to injury, the immediate return required by both Chelsea and Liverpool, may have to wait a little while longer yet.

Bath Rugby on the up? Jack Penrose bathimpact Reporter

ast year I wrote an article on Bath’s mixed form on the pitch. Well, it appears that they have indeed started to buck up their ideas and have enjoyed a recent renaissance, exemplified by a 38-3 rout of Northampton over the weekend. Bath now lie in sixth, and the victory over the Saints (including

a Banahan hat-trick) was their fourth consecutive Premiership win. It is worth noting that Bath are now out of the Heineken cup and did not qualify for the second tier Challenge cup. This has obviously allowed them to concentrate more fully on pushing for European honours next year. They have certainly proved a formidable force in the past few weeks, and only lose Banahan, Wilson and Hape to England for the Six Nations (unlike Northampton, who have lost nearly half their team). Bath’s improved fortunes on the pitch are almost as impressive off it. They are planning to move permanently out to a new site in Farleigh Hungerford, with new and improved training facilities and state of the art physiotherapy clinics and pitches, it promises to be quite the base camp for the city’s pride and joy. There are also plans to unveil a brand new stadium, all bankrolled by millionaire Bruce Craig. So, if you are stuck on what to do on a weekend, why not try and watch a game at the Rec, before they move from the historic ground. I went for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and immensely enjoyed it. If you can’t make first team games, then why not try the ‘A’ league games on Monday nights? It’s free entry for students; often broadcasting some exceptional, young, talented players, and some great student offers. The two remaining home games are against Saracens on 28 March and against Harlequins on the 11th April. The clubhouse is also open for big-screen viewings of the Six Nations games also with deals for students. I, for one, am hoping that Bath can push for a strong finish to what has been a mixed season so far.

Monday 28th February 2011

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Bath survive Hereford scare to go second »»FA National Futsal League, Midlands Division: Hereford 4-7 Team Bath Joe Dibben bathimpact Sports Editor

n Ian Parkes hat-trick helped Team Bath to a 7-4 win over Hereford at thePoint4 last Sunday, a well-earned win after having been 3-1 down at one point in the first half. The win puts Bath up into a national playoff position in the FA Futsal League Midlands Division. Bath started slowly, and goalkeeper Brendan Dix had to be sharp to turn over Patrik Maursky’s effort after three minutes. Somewhat against the run of play though, the visitors took the lead as Kitson picked out Ingram at the back post from a corner routine to give Bath the lead on four minutes. Hereford quickly replied though on seven minutes, as Moreira cut the ball back from the right-hand side for captain Matthew Davies to equalise. Kitson’s side were still finding it hard to keep the ball for prolonged periods, and this encouraged their hosts further. They deservedly took the lead on 16 minutes, as a smart

one-two between Frantisek Beke and Marian Zima resulted in the former slotting the ball past Dix to give Hereford a 2-1 lead. Bath were further rocked just a minute later, as Beke was given enough time to turn and fire past Dix to make the score 3-1. Hereford could have done with holding their two-goal lead until the break against their in-form opponents, but were unable to do soKitson set up Parkes to reduce the deficit within a minute of conceding. Bath came out with much more purpose in the second half, and got the equaliser on 24 minutes, as Gardiner flicked the ball past Hereford keeper James Sweetman for the onrushing Parkes to prod the visitors back onto level terms. Within sixty seconds Parkes had completed his hat-trick, as he robbed Moreira from the restart to slam Bath into a 4-3 lead. Once more though, a poor piece of defending undid Team Bath on 30 minutes, Maursky capitalising to equalise for Hereford for the second

time in the game. Hereford, however, were starting to tire, and Bath were looking increasingly threatening on the counter-attack, and the pacy Rob Yilmaz was starting to cause real problems. Sure enough, Yilmaz was able to pick the ball up from his own half on 34 minutes, breaking into the Hereford half before deceiving Sweetman with an accomplished finish to put Bath 5-4 up. Hereford couldn’t cope with the speed at which their opponents moved up the field, and as spaces began to open up in the hosts’ defence, Bath too full advantage- Kitson scored his fifth league of the season on 37 minutes to make it 6-4, before Yilmaz got his second of the game on 38 minutes to make the game safe at 7-4. Bath’s experience and decisionmaking on the court in the second half proved to be key, as they dug themselves out of what could have been a difficult situation. Ultimately, the class of Kitson’s side shone through, and the side proved exactly

penter. Team Bath Futsal Club: Lima, Ingram, Kitson, Parkes, Yilmaz, Eagles, Gardiner, Bourdin, Dix.

why they are playoff candidates this season. A three week break from the FA Futsal League now follows, before Bath entertain Loughborough at the Founders Hall on Sunday 6th March.

Goals: 0-1 Ingram (4), 1-1 Davies (7), 2-1 Beke (16), 3-1 Beke (17), 3-2 Parkes (17), 3-3 Parkes (24), 4-3 Parkes (24), 4-4 Maursky (30), 5-4 Yilmaz (34), 6-4 Kitson (37), 7-4 Yilmaz (38).

Hereford Futsal Club: Sweetman, Zima, Moreira, Chambers, Davies, Maursky, Beke, Turner, Car-

FA FUTSAL LEAGUE MIDLANDS DIVISION W D

GF GA

Pts

Team United Birmingham 7

TEAM BATH

Chippenham

Loughborough University

Hereford

Team Newbury

Cardiff Cymru

Remaining Team Bath fixtures: 06/03- TEAM BATH v Loughborough University, 13/03- TEAM BATH v Hereford, 27/03- TEAM BATH v Team United Birmingham, 03/04- Chippenham v TEAM BATH, 08/05TEAM BATH v Team Newbury, 15/05- Cardiff Cymru v TEAM BATH

Snowy conditions take Bath Snowsports to the top Lucy Saunders bathimpact Reporter

Boxing night on campus The STV at the University of Bath will be holding yet another top quality night of boxing on March 14th, as

Bath’s most talented fighters take on some of some the country’s best. See the above poster for more details.

ith the December snowfall forcing cancellation of the King’s Ski Racing Championships for both the Northern and Southern leagues, all eyes were to the West, to Pontypool, Wales, where the best in the west were making the most of the snowy conditions, with some top quality performances to boot. Five mixed teams in total were entered by Bathsnowsports, three ski teams and two board teams, to compete in the dual downhill slalom of the Kings third round races. Those racing faced a tougher course than usual, with a wider set up requiring bigger turns and greater control in an attempt by officials to slow racers down in the slippery conditions. Rising to the challenge, Bath upped the ante on the top spot. Ski team Bath 1sts won four out of five of their races, including a knock out for the third position, placing them fourth overall in the league just two points behind leaders Cardiff 1sts. Following closely behind were skiers from Bath 2nds, who won two out of three of their qualifying races including a battle for seventh place, which they success-

Bathsnowsports were recently in action in Pontypool, Wales. fully grabbed from the clutches of UWE 2nds. Bath’s third team also had a successful set of races, successfully getting through their first set and finishing 12th overall, after being knocked out by fellow team mates Bath 2nds. Bath also entered a ladies team who finished fifth on the day placing them seventh out of nine teams overall. Bath boarders, teams one and two, also did the University proud on the dendex. Outstanding efforts were seen from both teams, in particular racer Ross Boulton who, immediately after finishing

racing for the 1sts was back on the lift for another go with Bath 2nds. The boarders from teams one and two finished second and third on the day, placing Bath 1sts third overall in the Western league and Bath 2nds, after just one King’s competition, sixth out of nine teams. The fourth round of Kings races sees Bathsnowsports back at Pontypool in February. Whether Bath continue their success may be trip dependent and the fine line between well practiced or just tired out ski legs.

Monday 28th February 2011

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www.bathimpact.com RESULTS- (9/2/2011): Group A- Natural Sciences 4, Physics 1. BUMS 2, Chemical Engineering 0. MoLES 3, Management 1. Architecture 1, Economics 4. Group B- Team Maths 0, Mechanical Engineering 2. Biology 11, Computer Sciences 0. FIXTURES- (2/3/2011): Group A- Physics v Architecture, Economics v Natural Sciences, MoLES v BUMS, Management v Sports Science. Group B- Computer Sciences v Electrical Engineering, Pharmacy v Biology. (9/3/2011): Group A- Natural Sciences v MoLES, Archictecture v Management, Chemical Engineering v Economics, Sports Science v BUMS. Group B- Mechanical Engineering v Coach Education, Chemistry v Team Maths.

Solent dump Gladiators out of the BUCS Cup »»Bath Gladiators 57-79 Southampton Solent

Ioannis Costas bathimpact Reporter

he Gladiators’ season ended prematurely after being knocked out from the BUCS Cup by a solid Southampton Solent performance. The home squad’s start could not have been better as Marc Rovira converted back-to-back three point shots, however, Bath’s difficulty early on to effectively attack Solent’s 2-3 and 3-2 zone would eventually prove to be their downfall. At about the same time as the five minute mark revealed a tight 8-9 score, Southampton’s point guard caught fire as he sunk a seemingly endless volley of shots in what undoubtedly must have been his most accurate display of the year. Even though Bath tried to claw their way back into the game (after starting the second quarter down by 14-22), Southampton kept reaping the rewards of their style of play. By forcing the Gladiators to either turn the ball over or take a long jump shot, the visitors would then run counter attacks, often culminating in a basket or a trip to the free throw line. Despite Tomtom’s attempts to pull the team back into the match and García’s low post scoring, Solent sat on a 26-45 score line at half time. After the break the home team

returned to the court unwilling to give up, ready to fight against the 19 point difference. The defensive intensity soared as Bath crashed the boards whilst a combination of improved movement and passing led to easier scoring opportunities. With 5:11 left in the third and the scoreboard at 32-55, Coach Tony called a time out. The team’s reaction to it, bolstered by Wybe Blankvoort’s endless supply of hustle and energy, resulted in the squad’s best run in the game: they conceded only 3 points and netted 10 in five minutes. As the fourth quarter began counting down, the Gladiators found themselves having to contend with a 16-point deficit and their top scoring big man García on 4 fouls. In spite of rotating their squad for the final push, the home team was incapable of reducing the difference by more than 15, resulting in a 57-79 loss. Sadly, with it, came the conclusion of the season for a group of players whose talent transcends the deceptive score. University of Bath Gladiators: Tom Janicot, Matt Blair, Wybe Blankvoort, Ashley Priddey, Marc Rovira, Nick Hart, Tom Parker, Constantino Patinios, Enrique García, Ed Kirwan, Owen Wilkins, Mike Bridge, Maciej Konopa, Charles Saylan, Chris Jones, Alberto Pascual.

Group A

W D

GF GA

Pts

MoLES

Economics

Management

BUMS

Chem. Eng

Nat. Sciences

Sports Science

Architecture

Physics

Group B

W D

Pts

Team Maths

Coach Ed.

Chemistry

Mech. Eng

Biology

Pharmacy

Comp. Sci

IDFC: MoLES do the business on Management

»»MoLES 3-1 Management David Jennings bathimpact Reporter

oLES vs. Management was another example of exciting IDFC football produced from two of the tournament’s impressive teams so far this season, despite the small pitch. The ‘winter break’ and recent drought of IDFC football did not ultimately prove to be a hindrance for a strong MoLES side in this closely fought fixture against strong opposition. The two halves seemed to belong to different games as MoLEs dominated the first and Management controlled the second. In the first, it took MoLES just 6 minutes to take the lead as a super in-swinging corner from Vice Captain Ben Lambert found Ben Freeman at the back post to powerfully head the ball into the net. Goals from Rob Ferry and Ben Lambert took the tally to three at half time. Ferry’s tireless efforts were paid off as he dispossessed the Management centre-back and fired the ball past the helpless goalkeeper on 21 minutes and Lambert’s finish just before half-time came from a wick-

ed deflection in the box after a shot from 20 yards, once again giving the opposition keeper no chance. Management stepped up their performance after half time and restricted their opposition to all but a handful of half chances. MoLES back four performed brilliantly to thwart much of Management’s forward play. Nevertheless, Management would score a consolation goal fifteen minutes from time. A dangerous cross caused confusion between goalkeeper and defence, which hashed a clearance to the feet of Alex Jarman who coolly smashed the ball into the back of the MoLES net. It finished 3-1, with MoLES maintaining their lead at the top of group A and Management, despite dropping points, looking promising for a playoff place. A special mention goes to referee who controlled the game well, letting it flow smoothly. Fancy refereeing in the IDFC for £17.50 per game? Contact Patrick Balling (pb318@bath.ac.uk). To get your report featured in bathimpact, please get in touch with Joe Dibben (jcd22@bath. ac.uk).

Jamieson leads the way for Bath University of Bath student and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Michael Jamieson led the way as Bath finished as runners-up at the British Universities and Colleges Sport long course swimming championships. Jamieson completed a breaststroke double with success in the 100m and 200m events. Elsewhere at the Championships, Jess Dickons won the 200m butterfly title, while Calum Jarvis was second in the 100m and 200m backstroke and Charlie Barnes finished second in the womens 100m and 200m breaststroke.

Bath’s Michael Jamieson

Netballers record emphatic win Team Bath’s netball team bounced back from a narrow 42-41 defeat against Hertfordshire Mavericks in the Fiat Superleague to thump Leeds Carnegie 69-33 at the STV last Monday night. In a very one-sided encounter in front of the Sky Sports cameras, Team Bath captain Pamela Cookey came away with an impressive haul of 40 goals from 44 attempts. Bath have won four of their five opening games and are next in action on February 26th at home to Glasgow Wildcats.

Murray excels at BUCS indoors Kim Murray won gold in the long jump to help the University of Bath women’s team to fourth place overall at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Indoor Athletics Championships. Murray was joined on the podium by second-placed Civil Engineering student Hannah Lewis. The University of Bath men’s team finished fifth overall in the event, held at Sheffield, with Pharmacy student James Groocock’s silver medal in the long jump the highlight.

impactsport Monday 28th February 2011

Bath Rugby’s resounding form continues Comments, p21

Students speak out in force against sports top-up fee

»»Survey suggests that sports participation will dip as a result of the £100 sports fee »»85% of students say that they will look elsewhere for facilities Joe Dibben bathimpact Sports Editor

t least 400 University of Bath students have voiced their opinions on the University’s decision to implement a £100 sports fee in an online survey conducted on bathstudent.com. The survey on the sports fee, which will apply to those wanting to use sports and recreational facilities on campus as of next year, has suggested that participation in sports clubs at the University could be heavily hit. A whopping 62% of students said that they would ‘not have joined their sports club this year if the £100 fee had been active’, while 85% said that they would be ‘actively searching for cheaper alternatives away from campus, such as external sports clubs or gym memberships’. There was, however, some support for the University’s plans for a student-only between 12 and 2 pm, in which commercial bookings wouldn’t be allowed - 27% believed that it was a ‘good’ idea with 46% saying that it was a good idea, but should be at a different time. Perhaps the most damning statistic for the University to consider though is the impression that students now have as regards to whether they perceive the university itself as caring for their welfare. With reference to the £25 cap for sports fees that students had proposed a couple of months ago in a previous survey, 80% of students believed that the University ‘doesn’t care’ about their opinion as students. This is particularly noticeable after the overall student satisfaction rate at Bath dropped once more in the National Student Survey in 2010. It is thought that the fee will be damaging to smaller clubs in particular, who are more dependent on the casual participation of a smaller pool of members to keep their clubs going. One such club is the university’s Jitsu club. Its chairman, Jonathon Garner-

Inside impactsport Bath Snowsports in action Bath’s skiiers and snowboarders were in recent action in a regional universities competition in Pontypool, Wales, with some extremely promising results. See page 22 to read more about how they got on

Bath Gladiators knocked out The University of Bath’s basketball team, the Bath Gladiators, were knocked out of the BUCS Cup competiton after a 79-57 reverse at home to Southampton Solent. The result means that the Gladiators’ season has come to a premature end. See page 23 for Ioannis Costas’ full match report

The Sports Training Village has been running at a loss in recent years. Richardson, was clearly concerned for the future of his club: “It concerns me greatly as Jitsu Chair to see that the club which I’ve spent the last three years putting a lot of time and effort into supporting - a club which has grown three times larger than it was three years ago, emerging as a sport that wins valuable BUCS points could get dashed by this £100 sports fee. “It would sadden me and others who have put as much time into our club greatly, and it would be a huge shame for the university to lose a club like us. I know we aren’t the only small club out there but there are so many new and interesting sports that people just won’t commit to because of this fee.” The fee would bring Bath, which is the only university in the country which doesn’t charge for its facilities, in line with the likes of Loughborough and Leeds Met (first and second in the 2009/10 BUCS table respectively), where annual access to facilities can cost up to £400. The drive for this proposal comes after it was revealed

that the STV has been running at a deficit, despite having made savings of around £600,000 in the last year. It is hoped that the plan will raise around £350,000 per year until the

new tuition fee structure comes in. Sports Association figures make this number seem unrealistic even if the survey results overstate the fall in participation.

THE SPORTS FEE SURVEY- THE FACTS AND FIGURES YOU NEED TO KNOW

£100 62% 85% 80% 73% £350,000 4th

...the fee that will be imposed on students wishing to use the University’s sports facilities (as of next year)

...of students said that they wouldn’t have joined their sports club this year if the £100 sports fee had been active ...of students said that they would be actively looking for cheaper alternatives

...of students who didn’t think that the university didn’t care about their opinion (with reference to the proposed £25 cap) ...of students thought that the proposed student slot between 12-2pm (where commercial bookings won’t be allowed) was a good idea (though 46% said that it should be at a different time) ...the estimated revenue as a result of the implementation of the sports fee

...the University of Bath’s position in the 2009/10 BUCS league table (Bath is currently 2nd in the 2010/11 table)

Your sports comments Check out the latest news and views- topics this week include the England’s chances at the Cricket World Cup and Andy Carroll’s £35 million transfer to Liverpool. Go to page 21 and see what you think

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Monday 28th February

Monday 28th February 2011

EDITORIAL

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Welcome to the fifth issue of bite. Our theme this fortnight is Bad Taste. So we’ve turned to the dark side of popular culture in order to offer you the jewels we found in its murky depths. Our lead article this issue tackles censorship and more specifically the issue of swearing. Just how far is too far in our increasingly laissez-faire society? We’ve also gone a bit BBC with a public service announcement taking on chat-up lines, so all you men out there, take note! Excitingly, this issue brings us a brand new columnist in the shape of Sam Lawes, a placement student working with the AV Campaign in the South-West. Hear his thoughts on page 5. We’ve also got our usual street style, puzzles and Never Ever for your viewing pleasure. This fortnight our sex columnist discusses whether there is anything left in the world of consensual sex which could be viewed as being in bad taste. If you like what you see or fancy writing for us yourself then please get in touch; either by using the email addresses on the left or by coming along to one of our contributors’ meetings which take place fortnightly. Search for bathimpact on Facebook or Twitter for more information.

Contents Features Swearing, how far should we go? Pages 2 & 3 Valentine’s Day: the aftermath. Page 4 AV positive: adventures of a placement student. Page 5 Never have I ever.... said no to sexual experimentation. Page 5

The Guide Upcoming gigs, comedy, films and exhibitions near you.Page 7

Fashion Bath Style - Our photographer documents Parade’s style mavericks. Pages 8 & 9 The fashion industry: bad taste or brilliant fun? Discuss. Page 8

Film When bad things go good. Page 10

Music Metalheads and murder. Page 11 Diaries of a pop-aholic and your guilty secrets. Page 12 Have sex and sexism taken over music videos? Page 14

Forgotten artists The Picassos of our time. Page 13

Puzzles Crosswords, brainteasers and cartoons. Page 16

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Swearing, how far should we go? M

edia censorship is an ongoing cause of heated debate across the world, and it provokes startlingly fierce reactions from both the ‘for’ and ‘against’ camps. There is, however, a smaller facet of this debate which is not explored as frequently: swearing. In an age where free speech is touted as a mark of democracy and individual freedom, is it not about time we removed the asterisks and prepared ourselves for some full-frontal vowels and consonants? Those who stake their mark in the pro-censorship camp claim that it is an issue of common public decency, which risks setting a bad example to all if we ignore it. Admittedly, it seems not uncommon now to pass a group of schoolchildren in the street whose language would make a sailor blush. The media has always been a tool of influence – and in an odd way, one of conformity. Through its blasé use of foul language, it could be argued that the media is not educating or broadening anyone’s social awareness but instead merely contributing to an increasing paucity of language. Critics lament the death of polite society, blaming the prevalent fashion of vulgarity we see today for its decline. Conversely, anti-censorship campaigners argue that the right to express one’s thoughts and to communicate through whatever vocabulary they so wish affirms the freedom of every member of society. The act of censorship calls into question our right to choose – why should we not be able to read a book, or enjoy a television programme, or hear a word just because the government says so? They argue that although it is unfortunate that certain groups or media produce harmful or offensive content, it is still the duty of society and government to protect these forms of expression as they would any other. After all, if you start censoring some things, where do you draw the line? Why not censor everything? As for the use of asterisks in print, or bleeps in audio, some even argue that they draw more attention to the swearing than if the words were left uncensored. The discussion surrounding what is considered ‘appropriate’ in the media is not a new one. Take, for example, D. H. Lawrence’s classic novel, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, first published in 1928. The book, which tells the story of an adulterous love affair, used such sexually explicit language for the time that it was outright banned in the United Kingdom, forcing Lawrence to have it published in Florence - where it immediately sold out. Amazingly, it could not be published openly in the United Kingdom until 1960, after a series of court trials which eventually saw it published on the basis of ‘redeeming social importance’. Similarly, James Joyce’s Ulysses and Radclyffe Hall’s Well of Loneliness were both challenged by British courts before they were published, and J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, now an A-Level English staple text, was the target of protests from the religious community. More recently, 2005 saw the publication of the controversial Danish Jyllands-Posten newspaper’s Muhammad cartoons. Stated to be an attempt to contribute to the debate regarding criticism of Islam and self-censorship, most of the 12 editorial cartoons depicted the Islamic prophet - a move that outraged much of the Muslim community, which generally forbids any pictorial representation of Muhammad due to issues of idolatry. Critics of the cartoons called them unnecessarily antagonistic, racist and islamophobic, and denounced them as a manifestation of Western ignorance. Supporters, on the other hand, said that the cartoons illustrated an important issue in a period of ‘Islamic terrorism’, and were an essential exercise of the right to free speech. They also argued that they were not discriminatory, as unflattering cartoons about other religions are frequently printed. Whatever one’s feelings about the controversy, its consequences were undeniable; protests across the Muslim world, Danish embassies in the Middle East being attacked and death threats to the artist. In fact, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen described the controversy as “Denmark’s worst international crisis since World War II”. That said, censorship rows are not just an aspect of divided historical, traditional or religious culture. In fact, two cultures usually deemed nearly identical can react in astonishingly different ways and when it comes to divisive issues of common decency and bad influences in recent times, who could forget the BAFTA winning Channel 4 British teen drama, Skins? For those who haven’t watched it, the show follows a group of Bristolian teenagers through their two years in sixth form, depicting the highs and lows of teenage life. With controversial storylines such as dysfunctional families, mental illness, eating disorders, sexual orientation, identity issues and copious amounts of drug abuse, one

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might not expect it to have received such a tide of prizes and acclamations here in the UK – even razor-tongued TV critic Charlie Brooker gave the programme a positive review. It must have been with some confidence then that the producers shipped the Skins concept to the USA’s MTV, expecting it to be as big a hit there as it was here. Not so however, as accusations were levelled at the show for promoting ‘child pornography’ (of the six cast members, half of them are considered under the age of consent in the US), resulting in big brand companies such as Mars, General Motors, Foot Locker and L’Oréal opting to pull their advertising from the programme. Nonetheless, MTV stood by its decision to air the show, stating that Skins addresses “real-world issues” teenagers are confronted with on a daily basis, and in a “frank” way. Whilst it may, however, be easier to acknowledge the cultural importance of storylines that challenge social norms, what of the age-old question of swearing? For the last 40 years, an invisible wall has been placed between television schedules; on the one, prenine o’clock side there lies family-friendly entertainment which offers little in the way of shocking or offensive content (unless, of course, you include Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen’s taste in shirts). But as soon as the clock strikes nine, there is unleashed a tidal wave of chefs, comedians and chat show hosts swearing away with lavish abandon. So prevalent has this culture of profanities become, that entire media careers are built upon it. After all, where would Gordon Ramsay be without his trademark lashings of fucks? Or comedian Frankie Boyle, who seems to delight in using the ‘ultimate’ swearword, c**t, frequently as a tool to shock and provoke audiences. In recent years however there appears to have been a reversal of opinions with the tide turning against the use of profanities and vulgarities in mainstream media. Campaign groups such as ‘Media Watch’ and other pressure groups have mounted crusades against ‘immoral’ media, and the public seem to be getting tired of gratuitous vulgarities and profanities. Even the nation’s hero Jamie Oliver gave a public apology after a wave of

complaints following his use of the word ‘f**king’. He used it so prevalently that in one five minute section of his show he managed to say it six times. This leads us on to yet another issue of swearing – why are some words considered more offensive than others? What is it about some words that make them more repellent than others, and – as a side note - why do British swear words appear to focus obsessively on genitals? It is undeniable that there are different grades of offensiveness assigned to swearwords; the number one culprit, of course, being c**t, followed by words such as f**k, sh*t, tw*t and w**ker, all the way down to such slapstick exclamations as ‘flipping Nora!’, to which even my own mother cannot take offence. A survey by the Broadcasting Standards Authority in New Zealand found that for most viewers or listeners the time of day had a big effect on whether swearing was acceptable. As already mentioned, the severity of the words had a big effect on their acceptability with ‘c**t’ and ‘mother f**ker’ taking the top spots, whilst ‘bugger’ was seen as the least offensive, with only 11% of those surveyed stating that they thought it unacceptable in any broadcast. The survey was last done in 1999 and interestingly enough in that time most words had become more acceptable to those surveyed, with 19% more of those surveyed finding ‘f**k’ acceptable for certain broadcasts. So what does the future hold for asterisks and bleeps? It seems that rather than viewing the argument as simply black and white (all censored or nothing censored) we should be considering the way in which they are used. Swearing can be bloody brilliant for conveying emotion – it is the human’s version of the growl, an inbuilt bark of surprise, anger or despair. Swear words can express elation or desolation in a way that a novel’s lengthy prose struggles to capture at all. Issues viewed as ‘bad taste’ or as controversial can lead to greater social awareness and understanding, for the betterment of global society. Whilst some may argue that they are ‘only words’, one cannot deny their power, and it is because of this that they should be treasured, not feared.

The accepted classic was banned in Britain till the 1960s

Frankie Boyle has courted controversy by his gratuitous use of swearing on television

Protests after the publication of cartoons depicting Muhammad

Monday 28th February 2011

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Valentine’s Day: the aftermath Written by Faizah Rafique

hilst cruising down Widcombe Hill, on my way home from another trying day at uni, it seemed the radio stations were against me. The DJ , who had up until now been playing cheesy love songs, despite it being Tuesday and Valentine’s Day being far behind us, had decided to completely spoil my drive by playing Britney Spears’ new-ish single “Hold It Against Me”. In an attempt to give the world one last chance at righting itself, I began listening to the song, hoping that Britney had not let me down once again. I know what you’re thinking; my sole happiness on this day was now fully reliant on how good a Britney Spears song could be. FML, right? I’m sorry I can’t inform you of good news. Seconds later, I furiously stabbed the power button on my radio in complete and utter disgust. The lines: “ You. Feel. Like paradise. And I need a vacation tonight” quite literally, nearly killed me. First and foremost what a load of tosh! How cheesy and lame have lyrics become nowadays that we find people singing along to this trash and actually boogying to it too. Has the world lost its mind? Tracks like this now reach the top 10 and sometimes even hit number 1, because we allow such heinous music to abuse our ears. And secondly, what a cheesy chat up line! If someone approached me, and used that line, I, personally, would laugh in the poor blokes face and walk away to continue my night somewhere else. After the disappointment of Kiss 100 left me driving home in silence, I began reminiscing over the worst chat up lines that I have ever heard or have ever had to endure myself. Firstly there are the ones that are so lame/ cute they make you laugh, then there are the crude ones, the ‘just no’ ones, then the desperate ones and, finally, the pretty darn standard and unoriginal ones too. I get it guys, when you meet a girl and feel like you need to break the ice, it’s a bit nerve-wracking. But seriously, if she’s standing at the bar with her friends, just go and strike up a normal conversation. For example, you could start by talking about how slow the service is. Or if you’ve not seen her around before, ask her if she comes here often and start a conversation that way instead. Please guys; all we want is a bit of sincerity. Show a bit of interest and you’ll find yourself three steps further than if you’d opened with a cheesy gimmick or just been a lad by saying: “grab your coat, you’ve pulled”. It’s just not tasteful. You may get lad points, but by saying a line so cheesy you’ll probably just earn a look of disgust or, depending on which line you use, a sharp slap round the face. These lines would ruin any girl’s night out, let alone the single girl’s night out on Valentine’s Day. Oh the shame! First you have to put up with all your coupled friends being all cheesy and loved up. So you try and make up for it with what you hope will be an amazing night out. Instead you have to put up with disgusting, misogynistic, crap-heads being crude. I admit that most people are out on the pull on this night, but if you try and keep some self-respect, some class and a bit of style and elegance it will take you much further. And hopefully you won’t leave us girls scarred by the impudence of the male species.

The pretty LAME ones: (might work if executed well, though your chances are pretty slim) -Excuse me are you lost? Heaven is a looooong way from here -That space between your fingers is meant to be filled with mine -Hi, sorry I just wanted to give you the satisfaction of turning me down. So go ahead and say no. -Hey, shall we chat or shall we just keep flirting from a distance? If you get a yes: would you like a drink, then? The CRUDE ones: -How about you sit on my lap and we talk about the first thing that pops up? -Do you want to see something swell? -That dress is quite becoming on you. Then again, if I were on you, I’d be coming too. -Is that a ladder in your stockings or a stairway to heaven? -That dress is nice, it’d look even better crumpled up on my floor.

How do they come up with these things?

The ‘JUST NO’ ones: - You seem like a sweet person. Can I lick you and find out? - I really like your friend. QUICK! Let’s make her jealous. - 1,2,3,4, I declare a tongue war! - Hey baby, you’ve dropped something. My jaw! - Grab your coat, you’ve just pulled babe - Are you free tonight, or will it cost me? The GEEKY ones: - You make my software turn to hardware - How about I show you the exponential growth of my natural log? - How about we add you and me, subtract the clothes, divide the legs and then get multiplying? - You just gave my vector both magnitude and direction. The DESPERATE ones: - I haven’t got long to live, will you be my friend for the time I have left? - Hey, does this drink taste like Rohypnol to you? - Wanna go halvsies on a baby? - If I flip a coin, what are my chances of getting head? - Wanna shag? Alleyway? - I’ll show you mine if you show me yours. - Does my sleeve smell like chloroform to you? - I don’t like your clothes, take them off!

Say What?!

Acceptable Ice breakers: - Hey, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before, do you come here often? - Wow, how long does it take to get a drink? (Wait for an acknowledgement that you are speaking then introduce yourself, ask her what she studies etc) - Hi, sorry, I’m <name>, and you just caught my eye from over there, what’s your name? Follow our columnist’s tips and this might be the reaction you get.

Monday 28th February 2011

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AV Positive: adventures of a placement student Written by Sam Lawes

t was almost the end of the summer, and I was without a placement. This was the small price I’d paid for a month of Punjabi dancing, tiger spotting, pokes from curious children and learning bits of Hindi. On my return, however, my last-minute trip to India had left me not long at all to sort my placement year out. A friend suggested I get involved in the Alternative vote’s Yes campaign. “Yes campaign?” I replied. He quickly explained: after the election last year we were promised a referendum on the way we vote, and that would require campaigns. Now, I am of the opinion that our democracy needs an urgent servicing, so I read up on the proposed system, The Alternative Vote, and I liked it. AV is, essentially, an upgraded version of our current system, First-Past-the-Post. The key change was that MPs would have to seek majority support to be elected. It’s surprising, actually, that in modern Britain this isn’t already the case. The subtle change seemed common-sense, and long overdue. One application later and I was Voluntary Regional Coordinator for Bath and North East Somerset. Snappy. At this point, various different campaign groups were planning their campaigns. The first task for all of us was to build links and to overcome our differences as distinct groups. There were AV supporters and Proportion-

al Representation supporters; there were Labour, Conservative, Green and Lib Dem supporters; there were Greenpeace activists and quieter, leaflet-and-phone-call activists. Being such a diverse group, it was pretty challenging just agreeing on a strategy and a message. Luckily, we managed. The message, to be fair, was ready-made for us: the election had delivered incredibly skewed results. It had proved that the people of Britain were sick of being told that they had little to no choice when it came to voting for a government. A third of people voted for a smaller party anyway. Our rickety old system – which had just about held up when 95% of people voted for one of the big two parties – couldn’t

Follow our columnist as he works on the campaign for fairer votes

deal with the results. It gave us a hung parliament, a tie in Greater Yarmouth which the Labour candidate won by drawing a seven of spades from a pack of cards, and a massive 2/3 of MPs elected with a minority of the votes cast. If we hadn’t all been so appalled, we’d have been delighted. It emerged before long, however, that not many people knew what AV was. I must concede that if I weren’t a Politics student, I might have been a little unsure myself. In fact, if I’m honest, despite being a Politics student, I was a little unsure myself. After reading up on it, however, I realised two important facts: firstly, it is incredibly simple; and secondly, it is not drastically different from our current system. Unfortunately I have also discovered that I am not alone in my ignorance. I have therefore decided to share with you the gossip. It’s only fair. Next week, if you can bear to read my next offering, I will explain to the best of my knowledge the Alternative Vote. If the editors of bathimpact still haven’t had me banned from their office after that, I will spill the beans on some of the goings-on of a referendum campaign. The steamy highs and democratically unacceptable lows. The wars of words and pints in country pubs. The agony and the ecstasy of the campaign for fairer votes.

Never have I ever… said no to sexual experimentation Written by bite’s sex & relationship columnist

hen it comes to sex in the 21st century, is there even such a thing as bad taste? Despite being a nation of prudes, we now live in an openly sexual society where fornication is not a sin and, let’s face it, it’s pretty damn fun. Rihanna’s sex-on-a-plate attitude, for example, has concerned few and turned on many. As students, after watching her perform, we’re ten times more likely to drop our trousers than to pick up a pen and scribe a complaint. Does anything really shock us anymore? The other night, I turned on Channel Four to see a man telling the camera why he was too scared of vaginas to perform cunnilingus on his fiancée, was I shocked? No. Was I amused? Slightly. But this just goes to show how public sex is becoming. Oral sex exists. Pornography exists. Masturbation exists. The G-spot exists (boys, take note). So what should we do this newfound public acceptance of sexual pleasure? Experiment, that’s what! Let’s play dress up!… Experimentation in the bedroom is the one and only way to discover what does and doesn’t turn you on. The more open to experimentation you are, the better the end result will be. There really is no place for insecurity or prudence in sex, so whether you’re on your own or with a partner, you need to lose your inhibitions and be confident. You’re not going to climax if you’re constantly worrying ‘can he see my belly from this angle?’, ‘did I forget to shave my armpits?’ or one of the most common, ‘do I smell?’ You

have to let go and unleash your inner sexual temptress! One of the best ways to do this is through dressing up. Pop to Ann Summers and try on a naughty lingerie set which is the FURTHEST thing from anything you would normally wear, try to go as sexy as you feel comfortable doing. If you’re feeling more daring, why not buy a naughty outfit and experiment with role play? Dressing up is a great way of transporting yourself into a different world, adopting a different personality and losing all anxiety. Ridin’ solo… The best way to begin experimenting is to go solo. The only person who can know what truly turns you on, is you. So start on your own. Self-loving is growing more and more popular as people begin to realise it is not some seedy way of getting off. Masturbation is a way for men and women to explore their own bodies, discovering what they like and don’t like. We all have different tastes, different erogenous zones and even different fetishes. There is no universal rule for how to reach orgasm, you can’t find the directions on Google Maps, you have to discover for yourself and this can take months, even years, or with the help of a Rampant Rabbit… minutes. Popcorn anyone? So, you’ve got your underwear, you’ve found out what pushes your buttons (literally) and you’re on your way to abolishing all the prudish boundaries that you once con-

sidered bad taste. Now what? No sexual being can survive without uncovering the dirty world of sexual audiovisual. Pornography, again, is not just for fat old men to toss off to. Porn can be a fabulous way to gain sexual inspiration or even to ‘prep the oven’ during a lovemaking session. I’m not saying clicking on ‘8 HORNY MEN DESTROY FILTHY TEENAGE SLUT’ is going to be the most romantic viewing experience in the world, but it’s a good way to find out what turns you on. A heterosexual female friend of mine was both delighted and horrified to find that watching girl-on-girl action made her really horny. Experiences like this are nothing to be ashamed of though, unveiling your individual sexual desires is a fun and enlightening experience and should be encouraged and not written off as ‘bad taste’. So you’ve heard all my sordid tips on how to sexualise your life, now go and try them! Remember though, sex doesn’t always have to be filthy, dirty and naughty, I’m not asking you to turn into Rihanna and suddenly present your lover with some whips and chains (unless that excites you, in which case, go for it!). You can have AMAZING sex in a girly bra and pants, with a love-song on in the background and no toys in the room but your stuffed teddy bears. Experimenting is about discovering your body, finding out what you like and then using these findings to maximise your love-making and enhance the frequency of orgasms. So get stuck in, enjoy, and let me know how it goes!

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The Guide

Monday 28th February 2011

Music

Theatre/Comedy

Exhibitions/Film

The Streets - O2 Bristol Academy - 1st March Brummy rapper Mike Skinner brings his monotone, conversational stylings to the O2 Bristol Academy this March. After releasing his so-called final album Computers and Blues, with first single Going Through Hell only reaching 97 in the UK iTunes chart, he’ll no doubt be hitting the road hard this March, aiming to claw back the fans seemingly lost since his last few albums and his noted absence. Expect the final farewell from the 32 year old to be filled with goodbye songs, emotional scenes and significantly less dancing than previous tours. Robyn – 02 Bristol Academy – 4th March Unique, original and with a face like a young Liam Neeson, Robyn took the music world by storm in 2005 with her number one hit With Every Heartbeat. She went on to enjoy worldwide success with her album Robyn and no doubt hoped for great things in the future. Unfortunately, since then her popularity has been rather fluctuant, dipping in and out of the US and UK top 40, residing predominantly in the top ranks of her Swedish homeland chart. Touring her new album Bodytalk till the end of March, this show is something you won’t want to miss if your thing is Swedish dance/pop. If not, why not enjoy something wholly more interesting, like collecting Kinder Egg toys. Devin Townsend - The Fleece, Bristol - 4th March Notorious booze and weed hound Devin Townsend is bringing his four-album series spanning several genres to the Fleece at Bristol this March. Taking two years off to plumb the depths of his soul and wonder exactly why he couldn’t write any music without the power of mild hallucinogens, Devin Townsend decided to pick up his guitar and just write. Since 2008 he has written over 60 songs and identified four themes in which they fit. From the embers of his weed-free cigaretes grew the Devin Townsend Project. Exploring musical genres such as the heavy metal he was known for, along with New Age ambient and tene and quiet vibes, this show is certainly one to check out.

Yes, Prime Minister - Theatre Royal Bath - 28th February to Saturday 5th March First aired in 1980, the hugely successful BBC2 series’ Yes, Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister are firm favourites among the older generations, winning several BAFTAs. Focusing primarily in the private office of the fictional Department for Administrative Affairs in Whitehall, and then 10 Downing street, the show is a satirical look at the various struggles in approving and formulating legislation. Now, following a succesful West End run, the stage adaption of this classic series is coming to Bath. If Morecambe and Wise and the Good Life are the sort of programmes that have you weeping with laughter, then this is the show for you. Micky Flanagan - Colston Hall, Bristol - 10th March Micky Flanagan, the London born stand up comedian, first hit our screens in Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow in 2009 and subsequently in Mock the Week and the Royal Variety Performance. His brilliant observations of human behaviour, particularly the differences between his middle class wife and his working class roots, make for ribcrackingly funny jokes. Look out for his ‘ambience’ routine and the sex plan he has with his wife. This superb comedian is one definitely worth taking the trip to Bristol for. Tell your friends, get them all down to Colston Hall and be prepared to rave about him for weeks afterwards. Russell Kane: Smokescreens and Castles - Komedia, Bath - 10th March This quirky, overly camp comedian is slowly and surely forcing his way into the public’s hearts as he appears on everything from Live at the Apollo and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Now, to Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford and BBC’s Freak Like Me. His performances certainly focus more on the style of his delivery, featuring flamboyant arm waving and carefully constructed strutting, which often masks frequently intelligent and witty comedy. If you’re a fan of stand-up comedy, then Russell Kane is a notch you will most certainly want to add to your bed post.

Paul - Cinemas Everywhere - Showing now It’s been a long wait since the release of Hot Fuzz in 2007, but the final part of the Cornetto trilogy is finally here. Paul concerns the story of two sci-fi geeks who voyage to the UFO heartland of the America. On their way they meet Paul the alien, a resident of a top-secret military base for 60 years. Upon escaping they are chased by any number of agents and miscreants in a hilarity promising caper. Unfortunately the brilliant directing of Edgar Wright and the comic connection between Pegg and Frost is undoubtedly tainted with their foray into Hollywood, as the film features the unwelcome and unusual voice of Seth Rogen as Paul, as well as other irritating nuances. The Adjustment Bureau – Cinemas Everywhere – 4th March Matt Damon has been very busy of late as he continues his push for the most films made in two years. Yet, wherever he goes, whatever he does, he appears permanently labelled with the Bourne role, with descriptions such as ‘Bourne meets Bond’ or ‘Bourne gets explosive’, as though the particular film he’s in is only ever a continuation of a series they can’t hope to match. The same is applied to The Adjustment Bureau, with trailers screaming ‘Bourne meets Inception’ shamefully hanging on the coat tails of bigger and better films. Yet the jury is still waiting for his latest flick, to see if, this time, it’s worthy of the Bourne association. Unknown – Cinemas Everywhere – Showing now Liam Neeson had a break from his increasingly aging roles as protagonists’ mentors with his 2008 hit Taken, showing that he could, in fact, run with the big guys. Seemingly directors and casting agents have sat up and taken note, thrusting him into the role of a man who wakes up from a coma to find that his entire life has been replaced and no one knows who he is, including his wife. He races to find out the truth with the help of a young woman he meets. If it’s anything like Taken, expect a barrage of increasing destruction where he ends the film without suffering even the smallest of scratches.

Monday 28th February 2011

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Monday 28th February 2011

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Fashion: Our photographer meets some interesting characters www.bathimpact.com www.bathimpact.com

Photos and interviews by Harriet Tangney

Aisa Nastee

Lexx Diggler – on a break from our front cover photo shoot

Britanee Love

Mike Hunt

Where are you going out to tonight? Oceana, Brizzle, it’s real cool ya! Can’t wait to get on the pull! What do you want to do after uni? Well I’m on the waiting list to go on Take Me Out...

Are you enjoying the shoot? Yeah, I’m loving trying to get inside the mind of one of those inflatable sex dolls. The thoughts I’ve been getting are… well let’s just say “interesting” Well you’re certainly looking fab. Thanks, I might bear in mind some of these beauty tips for the next time I’m going out!

Describe your style. I don’t think I have a defined style, I love an ecclectic mix, lets me express myself Where do you shop? Shop? Oh no I would never use one of those

So, what are you up to this evening? Just some coursework and chilling out with a book Not hanging out with your friends? No, just feel like some me-time..

Fashion debate: For and against Written by Harriet Tangney

Lady Gaga: fashion icon or fashion disaster?

Firstly, why not love fashion? It’s pretty much impossible to avoid. Unless you’re a nudist. And if you’re not, I don’t want to hear any of this “I hate fashion, I just wear what I want!” because don’t you see? That is fashion! You’re trying to make a conscious decision to be individual, but by buying clothes, you are still contributing to the fashion industry. Yep, that thing that you just said you hated. I think of fashion as much less constraining than it is made out to be. It’s thought to be a big book of rules about what to wear and how to wear it, but really, think about most of the famous fashion icons of the last few decades and how they dressed. They were famous for making their own rules; a modern example of this being Lady Gaga. She may be controversial, but the way in which she approaches fashion is brave. Every day is a performance to her, and the fashion industry is grateful for it. Fashion, in the end, is a form of artistic expression, one which everybody uses. Clothes have more impact than people like to admit so you project the person you want to be seen as through your appearance. Fashion is also intrinsically linked with various teenage subcultures and musical fads, cementing its huge role in pop culture history. It defines and challenges age groups, races and classes. We all know there are some issues with the idea of beauty in the fashion industry, (i.e. unhealthy models and their influence over the public) but what about the ways in which fashion changes people’s perception of beauty continuously as well as maintaining it? It does this by seeing fashion in more the way that an artist does, such as in the way the late Alexander McQueen was constantly surprising the fashion world with his creativity. So before you judge the fashion industry as shallow and obsessed with youth, step back and consider it as an accessible form of artistic expression, much more than some modern art. Don’t get confused between high street trends and clothes made by teams of designers; artists. Remember also that some runway shows are not just narcissistic, skinny models prancing about in pretty dresses but a performance. High fashion exists to spur on originality, and is only shallow in the way that you think about it. Fashion, I’ll admit, is an absurd concept, but it fascinates everyone and causes some much needed outrage in the world.

Written by Mark Brandt

Fashion is fake; and the main factor driving this opinion is that it destroys individuality. It suggests that you can’t wear what you want, but what a few influential figures tell you to want. These people allegedly have the power to decide which colour-scheme is “in” for a particular season in a particular year, which, if you think about it, is just bizarre. The advice dispensed by a myriad of contradictory sources is a mixture of absurdity and common sense. I already know that light green and red clash in a way that shames traffic lights, but to be told in no uncertain terms that “brown is the new black” is like telling a rose that it’s now a carnation. Not to mention the idea of “vintage” and “retro”, which sounds more like “digging-in-the-wardrobe”. Another point to consider: has anybody else noticed that 90% of the advice dispensed is exclusively directed at women? There is a definite element of sexism here. Naturally, some men care about their appearance as much as women, but are they going to be looking for solutions to cover stretch marks? Another aspect of fashion which unnerves me is the effect that models have on certain people’s mindsets. They see a rake-thin female or an abs-hardened male and treat them as a role model for their own looks, using one of many fad diets or exercise regimes to squeeze into the “right” size dress or jeans. They see a certain dress-size as a goal to fit into (as close to zero as possible, of course), and yet where are the origins of this obsession with branding? A Ted Baker suit, a Versace dress, Jack Wills pyjamas, anything with a name on it seems to sell like Calvin Klein hotcakes. Finally, I come to the biggest waste of materials: high fashion, with catwalk models that would fit in better at a sci-fi convention, decked out in ridiculous clothing that nobody other than Lady Gaga would think twice about wearing. Can anyone convince me that the thousands of threads and who-knows-what-else that have gone into these clothes have been put to good use? It’s a strange irony that most of this “fashion” simply amounts to extremely bad taste. I know that I’m not going to change the mind of those who are completely ingrained in the fashion industry, but to anyone else who may be reading: Take your own individualism back and wear what you want. I’m sure you’ll look great.

Alexander McQueen couture: art or a ridiculous waste of money?

Monday 28th February 2011

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Monday 28th February 2011

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Fashion: Our photographer meets some interesting characters www.bathimpact.com www.bathimpact.com

Photos and interviews by Harriet Tangney

Aisa Nastee

Lexx Diggler – on a break from our front cover photo shoot

Britanee Love

Mike Hunt

Where are you going out to tonight? Oceana, Brizzle, it’s real cool ya! Can’t wait to get on the pull! What do you want to do after uni? Well I’m on the waiting list to go on Take Me Out...

Describe your style. I don’t think I have a defined style, I love an ecclectic mix, lets me express myself Where do you shop? Shop? Oh no I would never use one of those

So, what are you up to this evening? Just some coursework and chilling out with a book Not hanging out with your friends? No, just feel like some me-time..

Fashion debate: For and against Written by Harriet Tangney

Lady Gaga: fashion icon or fashion disaster?

Written by Mark Brandt

Alexander McQueen couture: art or a ridiculous waste of money?

Monday 28th February 2011

Film:

When

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Bad

Things

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Good

Written by Esther Osarfo-Mensah

Birdemic - Shock and Terror. An apocalyptic romantic thriller, if such a genre exists

Roger Corman’s 1955 B-movie Classic; The Swamp Women

hree out of many, many ways that great B-movies can be described are “bad dialogue”, “nonsensical plot” and “wooden acting”. A normal viewer would change the channel in disgust or close their browser window in sorrow. A hardcore fan, however, would simply grin and chuck another fistful of popcorn into their mouth. Why is there such a drastic split in opinions? Should such rubbish films even be allowed to grace the internet? YouTube, meet World. World, this is YouTube. Now guys, come see an old friend... B-movie. These introductions changed the way the normal person accessed B-movie culture forever. First brought about in the 1920s, B-movies were only known as the lesser-advertised films, shown in smaller print in a double feature, next to an advertisement for a huge Hollywood blockbuster. The B-movies were mostly horrors and science-fiction, produced on a very low budget... and, quite frankly, it showed. Some were intentionally bad, with continuity errors littering every scene, distressingly poor special effects where strings and Sellotape could be clearly seen and acting so unbelievably dire you couldn’t help but wonder if you were on the new series of Candid Camera. Yet no matter how unpleasant the movies were from a critical point of view, they attracted a huge cult following. The main players in the game were, and still are, seen as heroes. One of these is Roger Corman, a.k.a. the King of the B-movies. He is famous in such circles for his ability to shoot films insanely quickly - it has been claimed that he filmed the Little Shop of Horrors in fewer than three days. Genius or madman? Sometimes there simply isn’t any difference. Corman also brought to life a large number of unsettling Edgar Allan Poe stories, such as The House of Usher and The Raven. All could have been so much better. Yet all have been celebrated as classics of the B-movie genre. Another master of the B-movies was Ed Wood. His contribution to the film industry was through various roles; as screenwriter, director, producer, actor, author, and editor, sometimes all at the same time. His claim to fame was the astronomical number of really rather basic errors spanning each movie. In one, Plan 9 from Outer Space (1958), there are reputed to be 73 mistakes, although it would not be at all surprising if the actual number is far higher. The film made such an impact on the B-movie scene that it won the Worst Film Ever by the Golden Turkey Awards. Feeling curious? The entire film can be seen on the wonderful world of YouTube. YouTube has become a fantastic platform for the advertisement of such movies today. Examples of films that have become well known due to the video sharing site include the above Mega Piranha, Robogeisha, Birdemic – Shock and Terror, and Who Killed Captain Alex? (Appparently Uganda’s very first movie production). After watching the trailers for these films, it can be safely said that your life will never, ever be the same again. That’s not to say that YouTube is the only way that the existence of certain B-movies has become incredibly popular in certain circles. The Room is a definite cult classic, and that had a big following way before Steve Chen and Chad Hurley had even got an internet connection. Today it only gains in popularity, as it is partly helped by a hugely well-liked internet game that was created by a fan and based on the film. Bestowed with the same name, the game introduced thousands of gamers to the movie. Thanks to the medium of the internet, B-movies will probably never die. So if you’re thinking of settling in tonight to watch a drama on BBC iPlayer, steal a DVD from a housemate or play solitaire on your laptop, think about how much more fun it would be to forget taste for one night and laugh heartily at a film so awful it comes right back round again to good.

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Monday 28th February 2011

Music: Metalheads and Murder

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Written by Fabiana Giovanetti

ewer than two months ago I wrote an article for bite defending live music. That aside, I’ve got to admit that, sometimes, watching a concert can be more than disappointing. It all refers to good and bad taste. I’ll begin with some examples you can still get from our beloved YouTube. First, as metalheads may be aware, some metal concerts could easily be mistaken for a spectacle worthy of being part of the Grand Gruignol. I’m not complaining about the outfits and costumes, it’s quite the opposite: some of them are pretty realistic and I admire how people can sing with that amount of heavy armour and makeup on. What I really find disgusting is when blood, animals and violence are involved. No, I’m not talking about the famous (but accidental) episode of Ozzy Osbourne during the Black Sabbath concert in 1982, in which he bit off a bat’s head thinking it was a toy. Neither am I referring to Alice Cooper dealing with fake dead bodies and wearing a straightjacket in 2008. I’m talking about slaughtering animals. Marilyn Manson has been outraging WASPs and animal rights activists for years with his violent onstage antics, ambiguous sexuality and terrible, terrible teeth. It’s not just metal of course; just think about Iggy Pop rubbing peanut butter and raw beef on himself during the Midsummer Rock Festival - supposedly the only time his parents ever saw him perform. A more recent - and more predictable - example would be Lady Gaga. As if one-upping Iggy by actually dressing in a dress made of meat at the MTV Video Music Awards in late 2010 wasn’t enough, Miss Germanotta also sparked fury with a blood-soaked performance in Manchester later that year. Marilyn Manson is probably her set designer. These are just a few examples of a theatrical technique that was born years ago – Artaud’s ‘Theatre of Cruelty’ had gallons of blood way back in the 1920’s – and later became standard practice in the glam-rock superstar era of the 1970’s: the aim being to shock the audience and give them a reason to buy tickets to the show. In the late 60’s The Who started the trend of destroying their instruments at the end of their performances, followed by Jimi Hendrix – who went as far as burning his guitar onstage. Of course, cometh the 1970’s, cometh the ridiculously flamboyant rock group. KISS were the ultimate make-up wearing, firework shooting, tongue waggling spectacle. David Bowie fascinated everybody with his transformations, from androgynous spaceman to androgynous aristocrat. Their concerts were usually full of colours, costumes and effects; they were bands who really took care of the visual aspects of their performances. There’s nothing wrong with that of course, people don’t always want just to listen to somebody playing the guitar, they want to feel that who they’re watching is enjoying themselves, they want to be entertained. Sometimes it’s enough to simply focus on the music, sometimes some glitter and heels can be a welcome introduction. The problem crops up when the singer is trapped into his character and feel that it’s compulsory to act as the fans want him to. Litres of blood, lambs onstage, chains, raw meat; are these what we really need to see in a gig? To be fair, what you enjoy and find acceptable your neighbour perhaps won’t, thus it’s not so easy sometimes to find the limit of the good taste. But we are in the YouTube era, and some resources are unfortunately available for everybody, especially young people. It’s not just about being moralists, a mainstream singer has to bear in mind that he is always in the spotlight. Forty years ago Jim Morrison singing about incest and patricide cost dearly; he was banned for life from the Whisky a Go Go, but now artists need to be more creative to shock and surprise. Is it possible to create a balance between a Liam Gallagher and his I-completely-paged-out performances and Marilyn Manson’s gore and splatterish exhibitions? I think so, I’ve been watching plenty of gigs, which ended up in sweaty people but no blood nor decapitations. I’d just like to applaud Iggy, now the relationship between human torsos and peanut butter doesn’t seem quite so illicit...

Marilyn Manson combines his two loves in concert; performing and ridiculously massive knives.

Contrastingly, bands like Oasis could have maybe done with a little more glitter and smoke machines

Monday 28th February 2011

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Music: Diaries of a Pop-aholic... and your Dirty Secrets www.bathimpact.com

Written by Gina Reay

e all have our little secrets which we’d rather not reveal unless completely necessary. Some of us lick our knives after eating, sit down whilst in the shower or spend ages pulling apart our split ends whilst waiting for a bus. This got me thinking about the world of guilty pleasures and nowhere are these wonderfully horrible personality traits more applicable than in the sector of music. Everyone must have a song, or a musical genre, which they simply love to hate. Like the French and McDonalds, we don’t know why, but we love it and when alone, we indulge in this guilt-full but oh so pleasurable domain. For me, my love-to-hate addiction has, over many years, developed into a love of pop music. I try to be one of the cool kids when it comes to music, listening to indie-vibes or r ‘n’ b melodies and educating myself in the trendy genre of the moment, whatever that may be. A few years ago I would be at my most euphoric in the front row of an awkwardly named Indie band. The Courteeners, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, Babyshambles, Larrikin Love, Towers of London, The Holloways, these bands were my idea of pleasure, funnily enough over half of them have now split up and indie culture seems to be dying out with them. So, I’d be on the front row dressed in the atypical indie-style uniform of a flowery dress, a bobbed haircut and a face of slap that had

Lizzy Roberts First Year, Politics and International Relations I listen to Pirates of the Caribbean when I walk down the road.

Nick Norton First Year, Chemistry A bit of Justin Bieber before I go out to get me pumped and ready to pull.. Melissa Winterbottom First Year, Childhood, Youth and Education Mcfly! and Miley Cirus. It’s embarrassing but I can’t fight it. Jack Franklin First Year, Computer Scientist Glee! Not sure I should admit it, but yeah, why not...

Benjamin Fyson Second Year, Modern Languages If you have Spotify you’ll have ready access to ALL my incriminating Disney favourites Mark Stringer Not From Bath I’m not proud to say I like Adele, but she’s only 21 and her lyrics are insane. Oh yeah, and S-Club 7, but so are theirs!

taken me an hour to apply but looked like I’d just got out of the bath. Sipping my JD and Coke, even though I hate whisky, I finally felt like the healthy image of musical conformism. I was an indie girl, in fact, I was THE indie girl and I was as musically educated as they came. However all this went down the crapper when I turned on MTV one afternoon (massive faux pas for a wannabe indie chick) and had the opposite of a musical epiphany – I watched McFly singing ‘Five colours in her hair’. It was terrible, it was colourful, it was the Beach Boys but with less talent, more hair gel and the lyrical genius of Paris Hilton. But I absolutely bloody loved it. My obsession had begun, an obsession that shattered any illusion I had held about being one of the cool kids. To date, I have every single one of McFly’s albums, I follow the band extensively and, as hard as this is to admit, will be a life-long fan. My fascination grew and I found myself rejecting Dirty Pretty Things and The Kooks, preferring to listen to bubblegum pop by the likes of Britney Spears, Girls Aloud and, of course, my beloved McFly. As my music taste changed I started attending arena tours rather than dingy intimate gigs. I began listening to Radio One and, worst of all, started liking Jo Wiley. It was at this point that I started to realise I had serious pop-induced issues, I was infected and the infection had well and tru-

ly spread and become almost incurable. The problem of my guilty pleasure intensified when I started listening to The Saturdays. Again, I just ‘couldn’t get enough’ of the airhead lyrics, conventional rhythms and the fact that most songs sounded exactly the same. I adored the tragic simplicity of these public school girls/failed S Club Juniors band members. So much so, that the day they released Higher featuring Flo Rida was genuinely one of the happiest of my life, so far (although Kylie Minogue and Taio Cruz teaming up recently could have topped that one). When I heard they were touring, I was one of the first to book a ticket and the memory of seeing them live will be with me forever. I say forever, I mean until the next average, inexperienced girl band enter the limelight (and I have insanely high hopes that The Only Way is Essex’s new four-piece band Lola will make it big). The Saturdays are the female equivalent of The Wanted, a talentless band of male models who I also absolutely adore. I genuinely need to take a serious dose of musical taste, pronto, what is wrong with me? So there we have it. My name is Gina, and I’m a popaholic. At least I’m out in the open now and I can wallow in the ecstasy of taste-less melodies for a long time to come. I may have the musical preferences of a thirteen year-old girl, but I’m proud of it. Not like all you closeted cool people.

Holly Narey First Year, Biology Sometimes I can’t help but love reliving my early teen years with a bit of Blink 182 and MCR Morgane Heyne-Francisci Fourth Year, Modern Languages I Absolutely love listening to cheesy love songs!

Rebecca Jayne Green Fourth Year, Modern Languages The Grease megamix... and in general all show tunes!

Hannah Raymont Fourth Year, Modern Languages Where do I start?! Anything from 80s musicals - Footloose, Flashdance, 90’s tunes from Black Box, Alex Party, Chumbawumba and so on! Simon O’Kane Postgrad Electonic and Electrical Engineering National anthems! I can’t get the Vietnamese one out of my head. Jack Penrose Fourth Year, Modern Languages Boy bands, 00’s girl bands, Journey, Europe and most things from the 80’s. plus a bit of Eminem to keep it steady!

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Monday 28th February 2011

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Forgotten artists: The Picassos of our time

Written by Dave Langdale

he artists that have lived throughout human history are instantly recognisable across the world. Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso are names that would promptly raise images in anyone’s mind’s eye; whether it’s the abstract portraits of Picasso, the melting clocks of Dali or da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Even modern artists, those that elect for mediums other than paintbrushes, are revered and recognised for their work. Artists such as Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg are known for their innovation and intricate balance of plot, character development and music. You would have to travel across the globe to the far reaches of an Amazonian rainforest to find someone who didn’t know who E.T. was, or what a lightsaber is. Yet, if I was to drop such names as Hideo Kojima, Hironobu Sakaguchi, David Cage or Shigeru Miyamoto, the telltale signs of nonplussed mirth would be impossible to hide. Indeed, these brilliantly creative minds of the 21st century are appreciated only by a select community, despite their achievements encompassing more elements than any medium before them. Their creations are not only enjoyed to the point of reverence among their fans, but are also points of discussion for philosophy lectures, literature courses and creative writing seminars. Theirs are works of staggering beauty and genuinely moving narratives, with characters that remain with you years into the future and stories that can span up to 40 hours. If these feats were explained under normal circumstances you would no doubt be excited to the point of teetering orgasm. Yet, when it is ultimately revealed that these artists are figureheads of the video game industry, it is more than likely your interest in this

topic will dwindle faster than a life guarding seminar hosted by Michael Barrymore. The burning question of this article is why? Why are video games treated, by many, with the equivalent distaste of sexually abusing a walrus? Over the last decade the video game industry has increased exponentially, so much so that it is now worth more than the combined income of every other artistic medium; including books, movies, board games and music. The recent November release of Call of Duty: Black Ops prompted sales figures of more than $360 million in both the US and the UK in its first 24 hours, blowing the first-day DVD sales of Avatar out of the water. Previously the realm of corduroy wearing, female-phobic pixelated masturbators, computer games used to be avoided simply for their nerdish affiliations. Yet, with the recent drives in casual gaming and movement based fitness software, their appeal to wider audiences has finally been realised. Even with this influx of casual gamers, however, the real stars of this industry remain relatively underappreciated. Creators of legendary characters such as Mario and Zelda (Miyamoto), Final Fantasy (Sakaguchi) and Metal Gear Solid (Kojima) exist in the background as they face mounting pressure to continually create intricate masterpieces, while being asked to aim at increasingly wider audiences. Maybe the reason for this cult-like following is the vast controversy surrounding gaming. A number of school shootouts, car jackings and muggings by youths in the US have placed blame on games such as Grand Theft Auto, while countless reports in the UK and across Europe profess how damaging frequent gaming can be for your

mental health. Indeed, many of the recent psychological reports into gaming look at the issues of technology addiction, citing instances in South Korea where students have died from starvation after too many hours on World of Warcraft. Maybe the errant label attached to this medium is a simply a bi-product of how adult humans greet the originalities of youth, a fact that can be seen every decade in music, as those in generations past furiously try to hang on to their adolescence by damning anything that threatens to successfully illuminate their age. Or maybe the long held stigma, that anyone who spends more than an acceptable amount of time with a computer game is likely to regress instantaneously into perpetual virginity, is holding the masses back from exploring games other than hugely popular titles like Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty and Fifa, while any new releases are viewed with nervous anticipation as they wait to see which friends will endorse it as an acceptably cool game first. Yet, maybe the sands are shifting. We are now in a generation that has grown up on gaming. Whether it was the moody corridors of Goldeneye on the N64, the light-hearted world of Pokémon on the Gameboy or the uproariously fun Mario Kart on the Gamecube, the majority of people have enjoyed computer games on some level. The next step is to fully acknowledge the brilliance and creativity of the people behind the scenes, to open our arms and bestow the gifts of respect and admiration so readily bequeathed to those in television, literature and film. And with the recent introduction of the GAME BAFTA video game awards, with such nominations as the brilliant Heavy Rain (David Cage), maybe, just maybe, we’re on the right track.

Monday 28th February 2011

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Music:Have sex and sexism taken over music videos? Written by Rebecca Stagg

s it just me, or has daylight porn suddenly become acceptable? Since when have explicitly sexual images of women gyrating against each other in their underwear and making sexy eyes at the camera been considered normal viewing on daytime television? Confused? I’m talking about music videos. From Shakira to Kylie, to Britney to Beyoncé and more recently Lady Gaga and Rihanna – all the big names have, somewhere along the line, produced a video that looks more like something you find on a good youporn hit than what you’d expect to find pre-watershed on mainstream channels. Now, I’m not a particularly prudish person and I accept, and celebrate, the fact that sexual liberty and freedom of expression are core values in today’s modern society. But even the most ‘liberated’ among us must be a little surprised, if not shocked, at some of the content of what is essentially the majority of hip hop and RnB and even some pop music videos. Whereas, in the not -so-distant past, to make it big as a female pop star all you needed was a gimmick, a smile and a half decent voice, à la the Spice Girls, Be*witched et al. Today you’re unlikely to make it without waging war on the boundaries of common decency. Maybe this all sounds a little over-the-top and old fashioned, but I’m not the only one who has noticed the seemingly unstoppable barrage of naked, writhing ladies flooding our music channels. The video to Rihanna’s latest offering, poetically titled ‘S & M’ was considered so inappropriate that it has been banned in the UK, and the BBC even chose to re-name her song after worries that it may be deemed offensive to some. But as we become

ever more open as a society about sex, sexuality and the issues that surround it, is this a natural progression? For a long time women in the entertainment industry played a very limited role. As women’s rights improved and the age of feminism approached, more focus was given to talent and during the 80’s, if she had a voice she was half way to making it; think Annie Lennox, Kate Bush, Tracey Chapman. Today, unless you are conventionally attractive, you stand little chance of even stepping on the ladder – and even if you do you’ll be expected to flash the flesh if you want to keep the audience. There are exceptions; the likes of Adele and Ellie Goulding are great examples of how to make it big and keep your dignity, but the further away from indie pop and towards ‘hip pop’ (you never know, it might catch on.) you go, the raunchier the look gets. And it’s not just in their own videos that the sexy ladies are causing a stir. The phenomenon of the ‘hip hop honey’ is alive and thriving. This rather depressing term refers to the women, evidently very experienced in grinding and bumping and willing to show it, who feature in just about every hip hop video around these days, particularly those made by male artists. Whether it be shaking their bootys off in a club scene or rubbing themselves up and down to the beefed up artist, the honeys and their shiny hot pants are inescapable. However, it would certainly be naïve to presume that this is purely one-sided issue. Many men and women would argue that such videos are merely a display of the sexual freedom that women, as well as men, happily enjoy in the modern age. In fact the BBC recently

aired a rather enlightening documentary entitled ‘Music, Money and Hip Hop Honeys’ in which a young female presenter shadowed the progress of a few ‘honeys’ in order to gain insight into both the drawbacks and the potential personal gains of taking part in what has fast become a popular trend. The documentary revealed that the majority of the women we see in the videos turn up to a venue they hear will be used for a video shoot on the grapevine, only to be plied with alcohol and told to dance for no money. Whilst the exploitation of young women taking part in the making of music videos was plain to see, it was evident that the young ‘honeys’ all consented to taking part and that for some (albeit a minority) the work did lead to a more substantial and, let’s face it, respectable job in the entertainment industry. When you see the success of Amber Rose, who has, since featuring as a ‘honey’ in music videos, become a model, bagged herself a celebrity boyfriend in Kanye West and is now a favourite on the red carpet, it is easy to see the appeal for many young women. And, when you think about it, what’s the difference between going out on a Friday night in a tiny outfit, drinking more than your fair share and dancing like you’re a Beyoncé tribute act and doing something strikingly similar, but in the day time, with the chance of getting a bit of money or extra work out of it? Surely, if this is what the public want to see, then all you’re doing is supplying the public with what they want? Whether you support the liberated over-sexualised cohort or you’d be a fan of a quasi-porn ban, as the lyrics get riskier and the videos more explicit, the trend is showing no signs of letting up.

Stills from Rihanna’s latest video S&M which has been banned in 11 countries worldwide and features her simulating sex with a blow-up doll and sucking on a banana.

Monday 28th February 2011

Puzzle Corner

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Darius G

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Handily placed on the back of bite, ready for your emergency coffee break. This week our crossword is created by James Wilson - hopefully something different from the usual fare. Comics are once again courtesy of bathimpact’s resident artist, Darius G.

Edited by Katie Rocker

Across

Solution for last issue

Darius G

1. Aconite, Monkshood, Potion in Harry Potter (9) 8. Board game (5) 9. Italian volcano (4) 10. What’s located north of campus (4,6) 12. Otherwise (4) 13. Retired but still using title, especially a professor (8) 15. Yak Yeti Yak restau rant nationality (8) 16, 21. 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year (4,5) 18. Kept Covered, eg a present? (5,5) 21. Eye part (4) 23. Vital on Toga Night (6,3)

Down Base Eight (5) Whip (10) Dartboard centre (5,3) Greek nymph (4) River feature, by Pulteney Bridge (4) 7. South Atlantic island (9) 11. Place of study (10) 12. Scottish city (9) 14. Grace, refinement, beauty (8) 17. Proof someone wasn’t at the crimescene (5) 19. Where you might live (4) 20. Boys name, part of Scotland (4)

Brain Teasers 1. How can you throw a ball as hard as you can and have it come back to you, without it bouncing off anything? There is nothing attached to it, and no one else catches or throws it back to you. 2. A square medieval castle on a square island is under siege. All around the castle there is a square moat 10 meters wide. Due to a regrettable miscalculation the raiders have brought footbridges, which are only 9.5 meters long. The invaders cannot abandon their campaign and return empty-handed. How can the assailants resolve their predicament? 3. A Petri dish hosts a healthy colony of bacteria. Once a minute every bacterium divides into two. The colony was founded by a single cell at noon. At exactly 12:43 (43 minutes later) the Petri dish was half full. At what time will the dish be full?

Easy

Darius G

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Hard

1. Throw the ball straight up in the air. 2. Put one foot-bridge over one corner (thus a triangle is created). Then from the middle of this foot-bridge lay another foot-bridge to the edge (corner) of the castle. 3. The dish will be full at 12:44.

Brain Teaser solutions