“You will have to endure a stranger looking at a video of your sister naked” Opinion, p9
Monday 18th January 2010 Volume 11 Issue 8 www.bathimpact.com
impact student
University of Bath student newspaper
Don’t snow on my Parade
Ian Jamieson recieves OBE
Newly retired Professor Ian Jamieson, the University’s former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, has been awarded the OBE “for services to local and national education”. As well as the University, he worked with industry and secondary schools in the area. He also founded the prestigious Journal of Education and Work, of which he was editor for thirteen years.
New bus service from Oldfield Park Last semester you told your Students’ Union you had a problem with the lack of bus services from Upper Oldfield Park. In response to demand, Wessex Connect’s U10 and First’s 8 service started operating on Monday 11th. Check out BathStudent.com for their timetables and route maps.
Government cuts university funding
Bath braves BLIZZARD: students are nowhere to be seen as the University closes due to extreme weather. See centre pages.
Casper Flagg’s body found in River Avon • Death not being treated as suspicious
Police divers have found the body of Bath resident and former Spa student Casper Flagg. Following a tip-off from a group of teenagers who
“Sadly our lovely son’s body has been found in the river. This has brought an end to our tortuous wait.” - Marian and Derek Flagg
spotted something in the river near Twerton, police divers recovered the body at approximately 5pm on
Boxing Day; formal identification was made by his parents soon after. The discovery brings to an end a campaign to find Mr Flagg which began when he failed to attend his mother’s birthday meal on November 29th, having last been seen exiting Moles nightclub early that morning. The extensive campaign involved the internet, local media, a walk retracing his possible route, and posters which could be found as far away as Birmingham and Exeter. The popular Facebook group, which
• Funeral held in Bath Abbey had more than 32,000 members, hosted an emotional tribute from his mother, which read: “We would like to thank all of Casper’s friends
456
Condolence messages were posted on Facebook
who have worked so hard to help to find him and we thank everybody [who] prayed and sent good wishes over the past month... it has given us strength... Casper you have given us great joy over the past 28 years...
that’s something we will always have...” This sentiment was echoed by hundreds of friends, both on the Facebook page, and in a book of remembrance at the Abbey, where his funeral was held on January 8th. The ceremony was led by the Rev Claire Robinson, who described him as “a young man who brought such gentle joy into the lives of his family and many friends”. Following the funeral, which was open to all, a private ceremony was held, and his body was cremated.
In impact this week... Nietzsche
Yeti
Mr T
Science
Arts
Ents
Page 12
Page 16
Page 23
The Government has announced a plan to cut funding for universities by £533 million, a 6.8 percent reduction. Business Secretary Peter Mandelson announced the cuts in a letter to the Higher Education Funding Council, in which he asks universities not to let the cuts affect the quality of teaching or availability of places. Universities taking on too many students will face fines of £3,700 per extra student.
Student Loans Company directors resign
Two of the Student Loans Company’s directors have resigned after a damning report into failures which left tens of thousands of students without loans. In the midst of the crisis, universities had to dispense hundreds of thousands of pounds in ‘emergency funds’ to insolvent students. The company apologised, and said “there are significant lessons to be learned”.
2
www.bathimpact.com/news
Monday 18th January 2010 IMPACT
News
student impact The SU wants is brought to you by... your views Editorial Team Editor Deputy Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Features Editor Science Editor Entertainments Editor Deputy Ents Editor Sport Editor Deputy Sport Editor Online Editor Photo Editor Treasurer Chief Sub-Editor
Tim Leigh editor@bathimpact.com Josie Cox Steve Ramsey news@bathimpact.com Emma Simmons opinion@bathimpact.com Sian Lewis features@bathimpact.com Professor Science science@bathimpact.com Phil Bloomfield ents@bathimpact.com Alex Drake Sean Lightbown sport@bathimpact.com Sam Foxman David Kennaway online@bathimpact.com Peter Pratelli photo@bathimpact.com David Kennaway treasurer@bathimpact.com Katie Rocker
• Chance to influence union policy T he S tudents ’ U n i o n h a s launched this year’s annual Student Opinion Survey, which gives students a chance to set the Union’s agenda. As a direct result of the 2007/8 study, the Union was able to convince the University to provide £5.5 million to build a ‘Student Centre’, which is due to be
30%
response rate to last year’s survey
completed later this year. SU President Daniel O’Toole explained the importance of the survey to impact, using the buses as an example. The creation of an alternative bus service between town and campus was largely the result of a huge organisational effort by the
• Cash prizes
SU, and “the reason the Students’ Union has put so much of its time and resources into [this] is because that’s what the membership (the student body) wants.” What the SU does is largely determined by the wishes of the student body, and the main source of information on this is the annual survey. As O’Toole puts it, “the best way for the students to set and prioritise our agenda is by engaging with us directly and completing important research tools of ours like the Student Opinion Survey (SOS).” For those not yet motivated to complete the survey, all respondents will be included in a prize draw, with a first prize of £200; further cash prizes and a pair of Summer Ball tickets will go to runners up.
01225 38 6151 01225 44 4061 editor@bathimpact.com
Web Twitter
www.bathimpact.com @bathimpact
Address
impact Students’ Union University of Bath Bath BA2 7AY
If you want to write, design, take photos or otherwise contribute to impact get in touch with the Editor, pop into the office in Norwood House level 4, log onto our website (www.bathimpact.com) or come along to a contributors’ meeting every Tuesday 18:15 in 3W3.9.
Students’ Union VP Communications Ben Cole SUcommunications@bath.ac.uk 01225 386679
Advertising
Charity news RAG have just recieved the first termly donation from Wessex Connect, who have arranged with the SU to donate one percent of revenues from the U18 and U10 services to RAG, who pass it on to Dorothy House. The donation was over £75o, and it is hoped more can be raised next term.
£35,000
a m o u n t raised by RAG last year
Just before Christmas, Bath University Motor Cycle Club took part in the annual Santa Bike Ride, an event which raises money for Bristol South West Children’s Hospice. Members
donned festive outfits, primarily Santa costumes, and rode to the Hospice, where they met the children, and donated the £150 they’d raised. The ever-popular RAG week is coming up, and people are being sought to help organise events. The week beginning on February 27th will see, among other things, the Bierkeller, Silent Disco, and various authority figures being ‘gunked’. If you’d like to help with one of these, or have an idea for another event, email ragweek@ bathrag.com, or go to one of their weekly meetings; Tuesday 6.15 in 1 East 3.6.
Enquires Helen Freeman H.Freeman@bath.ac.uk 01225 386806
Information The opinions expressed in impact are not necessarily those of the impact 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. impact as a publication adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Conduct. Please contact them for any information. Printed by www.quotemeprint.com 0845 1300 667
Gown
EU public health legislation is being undermined by the efforts of the tobacco lobby, according to a study co-authored by Doctors Katherine Smith and Gary Fookes from the School of Health. The paper, published in the BMJ, argued that BAT and other cigarette firms are using policies they helped create to weaken smoking control laws.
Motor-Sports Engineering student Jacques Jensen has just completed a highly successful season of karting, winning the Southern Championship, Mancell Raceway’s club championship, and the Shenington Super Prix. Mr Jensen, who took up karting in 2003, won his first junior championship the following year. In 2008 he was personally scouted by Nigel Mansell, and joined his racing team.
As part of AWARE’s Mental Well-Being Campaign members of People & Planet will be giving out free Chai Tea outside of the library, aiming to de-stress students during the exam period. They will also be encouraging passers-by to sit by the lake and take advantage of the tranquil surroundings in order to ease their minds. The event will be taking place on 22nd January around lunchtime.
Contact Details Phone Fax Email
News in brief
Santas: get your motor running and head out on the highway
Heavy snowfall forced the closure of the University on January the 6th, 7th and 8th, in common with several Bath schools. The Library and Fresh remained open, and the Paralympics preparation camp went ahead as planned, albeit with half the expected turnout.
Town
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg visited Bath on the 7th; he spoke in a “town-hall-style event”, in which he took questions from members of the public on topics such as the NHS and the upcoming election. Clegg made headlines last week after dropping several Lib Dem policies on grounds of cost.
Two Bath firefighters have gone to Haiti to help with the relief effort following the devastating seven Mw earthquake which hit the country last Tuesday. Rob Davis and Paul Ingleton are there as representatives of the charity SARAID, which is part of a huge international effort to help the impoverished country recover from the effects of the disaster, which caused massive damage to buildings in the capital Port-auPrince, and the surrounding area, and may have killed up to 50,000 people.
impact
www.bathimpact.com/News
Monday 18th January 2010
Bath Uni: the Noughty years Andrew Bland reviews the Breakwell era so far
Drawing on their vast reserves of pessimism, journalists are describing the ‘Noughties’ as one of the worst decades in history. Perhaps they can be forgiven their hyperbole; after all, it did give us 9/11, a catastrophic civil war in Sudan, unnecessary invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the ‘Credit Crunch’, soaring oil prices, and the gradual realisation that climate change will pose a major problem for future generations. On the bright side, the University of Bath emerged from the decade relatively unscathed, and in fact seems to have become moderately prosperous under the iron leadership of Glynis Breakwell, who joined the University in 2001. Since then, the University has grown significantly, with many new classrooms and accommodation blocks built, as well as the £23 million Sports Training Village.
£1.8m
C o s t o f abandoning the Swindon campus
A campus in Swindon opened in 2000, and became the University’s own Millennium Dome; a white elephant which, after seven years with an expensive shortage of students, was declared “not financially sustainable”, and abandoned; when Swindon Council couldn’t find a use for the empty
building, it was demolished. Alongside this failed expansion there has been far more successful growth, both in the types of courses offered and enrolment levels; there are now over 13,000 students at the University, compared with 9,010 in 2000. Not all Bath residents were comfortable with this development, leading recently to a heated debate in the pages of the Bath Chronicle as to the relative merits of having a large student population. Residents’ letters on the topic
“Not only naive but very dangerous” - The NUS’ view of inviting Nick Griffin to speak at Bath
mixed apparent seriousness with extreme triviality; one concerned reader complained of “being unable to park” and “having to wait longer to queue [sic] in Sainsbury’s”; a serious problem for someone who clearly has so many more important things to do. While increasing in number, the student population has also become more balanced, with the gender ratio edging towards 50:50, and the number of non-UK students, an important indicator of the University’s international repute, rising above one in four. Increasing diversity has been widely welcomed by the largely progressive student
body, with a notable exception in Danny Lake, then a PwE student and Young BNP leader, who in 2007 invited Nick Griffin to speak on campus. This sparked heavy criticism from the national media, anti-fascist protestors, and students, in light of which Griffin was refused permission to visit. A referendum the following year on a ‘No-Platform’ policy, which would ban members of the extreme-right from speaking on campus, was convincingly defeated, a result seen as indicating students’ support for free speech rather than any particular sympathy with such views. Recent economic troubles seem to have taken a toll on employment possibilities, with more students either unemployed or electing to take on further study, in some cases combining study with part time work, perhaps to avoid plunging straight into the currently weak labour market. Some former students landed excellent jobs, though; Justin King was made MD of Sainsbury’s, and Edward Lowassa became Prime Minister of Tanzania. Another alumni, ‘Dr’ Neil Fox, distinguished himself in a different way; attracting much ridicule by arguing, at the request of satirist Chris Morris, that “paedophiles have more genes in common with crabs than they do with you and me... that is scientific
3
News
fact. There’s no real evidence for it, but it is scientific fact”. This embarrassing episode might suggest slipping standards; this seems to be the opinion of the Times Good University Guide, which gradually downgraded the Uni from a high of 4th best in the UK to 13th this year. While this may be fair overall, the decade has seen some excellent achievements by individual staff, with several professors awarded large teaching/ research grants, awards, and in some cases, appointments to professional bodies. Notably, Chris Budd has since 2000 been Chair of Mathematics at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. On the final day of a fairly successful decade, recently retired Pro-Vice Chancellor Ian Jamieson was awarded the OBE in the New Year’s Honours List, though easily the most prestigious
“[For] efforts to build up and disseminate knowledge about man-made climate change.” - The 2007 Nobel
Peace Prize citation
award given to a staff member was the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, which economics professor Anil Markandya shared for his work with the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Any professors who didn’t win the Nobel this decade, try harder next time.
Figures indicate the last year for which information is available, usually the 2008-9 academic year. Sorry if you were expecting a joke in this caption.
Timeline
August 2001 – Glynis Breakwell appointed as new chancellor, leaving the post as Pro-Vice Chancellor of Surrey University which she held for seven years . May 2002 – The Queen visits Campus as part of her Jubilee tour of the UK. November 2002 – Team Bath play in the FA cup, the first student team to do so in over one hundred years. December 2003 – Terry Pratchett is made an honorary Doctor of Literature by the University. In a ceremony the following year, Michael Eavis is made Doctor of Arts
October 2003 - The Sports Training Village opens – the result of a £23 million project funded by Sport England, the Lawn Tennis Association and the University. A few months earlier, Jason Gardner, who had trained on campus, won an Olympic gold in the 100m relay. March 2004 - Alumni Justin King became MD of Sainsbury’s. The next year, former student Edward Lowassa became Prime Minister of Tanzania. He resigned in 2008 over corruption allegations.
May 2004 – Angela BernersWilson, newly ordained as the first female Church of England priest, becomes University Chaplain. October 2006 – Fresh Oriental, a shop specialising in exotic foods, opens on Campus. May 2007 - BNP leader Nick Griffin is barred from speaking on campus following a vote by students on a ‘No-Platform’ policy. October 2007 – Freshers’ week revellers break the world record for most people dressed as Smurfs in one room, with 488, narrowly beating Warwick’s previous record of 451. October 2007 - Professor Anil Markandya, from the Department of Economics, shares the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the IPCC.
impact Monday 18th January 2010
World news round-up Americas Florencia, Colombia: A Colombian governor was found dead on December 23rd, less than 24 hours after being kidnapped. FARC is being blamed for the kidnapping, in which Luis Francisco Cuellar’s house was stormed by ten men, explosives were detonated, and a policeman was killed. This was the fifth time Cuellar had been kidnapped during his political career. Washington DC, USA: The Senate has passed President Obama’s healthcare bill, which proposes to make it compulsory to have health insurance, and offers financial support to help those who cannot afford to. It is expected that the scheme will not add to the US’ budget deficit, with costs being recouped by reducing spending on Medicare, the system which provides health insurance for the elderly. The bill will still need to pass the House of Representatives before Obama can sign it into law. Detroit, USA: A man has been charged with “attempted murder and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction aboard a US plane”. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had explosives sewn into his underwear, which failed to detonate, but did set alight, causing him burns, and requiring a brief hospital stay. Mr Abdulmutallab had studied in the UK, but lived in Yemen, where he was allegedly trained by Al-Quaeda. The Middle-Eastern country has recently been the scene of rebel activity, with security fears prompting several countries to temporarily close their embassies.
Africa
Europe Paris, France: a court has ordered Google to pay 300,000 euros to Hervé de la Martinière, a French publisher which claimed that ‘Google Books’ represented “massive copyright infringement”. Google Books makes the full text of books searchable online, but users
www.bathimpact.com/News
News
can only access a small portion of this. However, this was still judged a breach of France’s copyright laws by the court, which concluded that Google “committed acts of breach of copyright, which are of harm to the publishers”. France has recently been considering a tax on the advertising revenues of internet search engines, dubbed a ‘Google
Tax’; revenues would be used to fight piracy by subsidising legal alternatives. Vatican City, The Vatican: The Pope was assaulted during the traditional Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. A female assailant jumped over a barrier, ran at the Pope, knocking him over, and
Copenhagen Conference ends in disappointment • Countries pledge to cut emissions • Final agreement is not legally binding Last month saw the much hyped UN Climate Change Conference. After a tense few days of talks, an agreement was eventually reached; countries would try to cut emissions by a specified percentage, different for each country. However, the agreement is not legally binding, and has not been agreed by all countries. A walkout was staged midway through by a group of African nations who were displeased at the lack of progress towards binding emissions targets. The previous agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, is legally binding, and the group feared it could be replaced by a
2C o
the agreed maximum acceptable rise in global temperatures
non-binding treaty in Copenhagen. Their fears appear to have been realised. Amid serious tensions in the talks, which, in the final days were widely reported to have been “in disarray”, an agreement was reached committing countries to attempt to prevent a global temperature rise of any more than two degrees. This was to be achieved by emissions cuts,
though it is not yet clear how many of the 192 participating nations have agreed to it. Whatever the figure, the agreement is advisory rather than compulsory, and the final text doesn’t set a date by which a legally binding agreement should be reached , so many of the countries which will be most affected by climate change have left disappointed. This would sum up the general mood at the end of the talks; nations played the blame game, with EU countries, the US and China being frequent targets of criticism. The head of the G77 group of poor countries, Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, caused controversy on this front, by claiming the deal “is asking Africa to sign a suicide pact, an incineration pact in order to maintain the economic dependence of a few countries. It’s a solution based on values that funnelled six million people in Europe into furnaces.” Tuvalu’s chief negotiator, Ian Fry, was almost as outspoken, managing to stall talks twice, and saying of the eventual agreement that “It looks like we are being offered 30 pieces of silver to betray our people and our future.” He
was referring to the part of the deal which promised $10bn a year to help poor countries deal with climate change; the amount is set to rise to $100bn a year by 2020. This offer was seen by some as a way to keep poor countries happy, and pacify those demanding a more concrete agreement on emissions cuts. Other representatives were more positive following the talks, with Chinese representative Xie Zhenhua saying “everyone should be happy”, and Barack Obama adding that “we have come a long way, but have much further to go.” Despite these traces of optimism, the conclusion of the talks was met by general disappointment
$30bn
the annual aid poor countries will recieve to help fight climate change by world leaders, the media, and pressure groups, despite official insistence that the agreement was ‘meaningful’; people are already looking forward to the next climate summit, to be held in Mexico this December, where, it is hoped, a binding agreement can be reached.
Conakry, Guinea: President Obama has imposed temporary trade sanctions on several African states deemed to be undemocratic or unfree. Guinea, Madagascar and Niger will all face reduced trade with the US for a one year period. Guinea faces particular instability at the moment, following an assassination attempt on President Moussa Dadis Camara, who stands accused of committing mass-murder at a prodemocracy rally in September. Blantyre, Malawi: A gay couple have been arrested and charged with public indecency for marrying. Their bail appeal has been denied. If convicted, they face a minimum of fourteen years inprisonment. The BBC recently faced criticism in its dealing with anti-homosexuality laws in Uganda by hosting an online debate asking “Should homosexuals face execution?”.
5
Agreed emissions CUTS: the darker grey indicates the percentage cut to be made by 2020, from the level stated
injuring a nearby Cardinal. The assailant, Susanna Maiolo, has a history of mental disturbances, and had apparently attempted the same thing the previous year. The Pope escaped unharmed, and was able to give his Christmas address as normal.
Asia
Qom, Iran: Iranian reformist cleric Ayatollah Montazeri has died aged 87. A leader of Iran’s 1979 revolution, he became unpopular after calling for reforms and exposing corruption. He suggested political parties should be legalised and criticised the fatwa on Salman Rushdie. He spent six years under house arrest, having spoken out against Ayatollah Khamenei, and, in his later life, was a severe critic of the Ahmedinejad government, particularly its nuclear and economic policies, and perceived rigging of the 2009 election. He is regarded as something of a hero by Iran’s popular reformist movement, which has grown to be “the biggest challenge to the government since the 1979 Islamic revolution”, according to the BBC.
Beijing, China: Liu Xiaobo, one of China’s most prominent dissidents, has been sentenced to eleven years imprisonment for “subversion of government”, after he started a petition which demanded human rights improvement, including an end to the subversion law. Liu’s sentence, passed on Christmas Day, was widely condemned by governments and human rights groups. He previously served 20 months in prison for his part in the Tiananmen Square protests.
Kabul, Afghanistan: President Hamid Karzai suffered an embarrassing loss when his Parliament voted against seventeen of his twenty-four nominees for cabinet positions. Mr Karzai has struggled to rule the beleaguered country since the disputed Presidential elections in August, in which international observers found “clear and convincing evidence of fraud”. This is another setback for a presidency described variously as corrupt, nepotistic and incompetent.
Kotte, Sri Lanka: A video apparently showing members of the Sri Lankan military shooting prisoners, which surfaced in September, has been confirmed authentic following a lengthy investigation by the UN. The footage was allegedly taken last January, near the end of a 25 year civil war between the military and rebel group Tamil Tigers. UN human rights investigator Philip Alston called for an investigation into war crimes by both sides, due to a “persistent flow” of such allegations. The Sri Lankan government has claimed the video is fake, though it is well known many civilians died during the war.
6
www.bathimpact.com/features
Monday 18th January 2010 IMPACT
Features
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Run away from the revision blues with a dip in the culinary sea we present this fortnight - Our resident cooking queens Elinor and Charlotte see whether FishWorks, and make tasty pesto salmon instead of doing their work. Good girls.
The Fissue
By Elinor Huggett and Charlotte McCulloch
FishWorks - Review When my mother came to visit in the last few weeks of term, I thought it an excellent opportunity to sample the fishy delights of FishWorks, on Green Street. I had heard many a good thing about this very small (3 strong) chain of seafood emporiums, and although I am definitely no connoisseur of the fruits of our oceans, I do really love a good piece of fish. The hour of our visit coincided with some of the heaviest rain I have seen in Bath this year, and so we ended up practically swimming to the restaurant: fitting, given the venue’s theme. We had requested an upstairs table, as the downstairs dining room is rather small, and I feared that its proximity to the fishmonger’s shop which is part of the business may render the whole dining experience somewhat less pleasant. This desire was fulfilled with no fuss whatsoever, and we were not bothered by the smell of fish. At FishWorks, the menu is not extensive, but consists of carefully thought out and selected dishes. There are vegetarian and meat options available for anyone who doesn’t eat fish (although their presence in a restaurant with such a name is a bit of a mystery). We
shared a Greek Salad to start; for our mains, we both went for the Fishworks Fishcakes, and shared a side of fireroasted Mediterranean vegetables. I settled on a classic creme brulee for dessert, while Mummy Huggett chose the lemon tart. We each accompanied our meal with a glass of the house white wine, which was a reasonable wine for a reasonable price. The choice of starter was, in retrospect, slightly odd, and not necessarily appropriate: although it was delicious, we could have done with something heartier! This was a good thing, given that despite our cosy upstairs table, the door of the room opened onto a stairwell which in turn opened onto the street, and we therefore had frequent icy gusts as this door was opened by the waiting staff. However, our desserts were as good as the fishcakes, and we left on the full side of satisfied. Overall, I enjoyed the experience of dining at FishWorks. The food was good and not expensive, and the staff were charming and helpful. I’m not convinced I made the best choices possible in what I ate, so would like to go back; however, I would certainly want to sit further away from that door!
Horoscope Madame Soufflé Greetings from the heavens my star children. I am Madame Soufflé and I will traverse the astral planes in order to guide you through the year. Fear not; for Madame Souffle will guide you through the darkest patches. Capricorn (22 December-20 January): Are you paying too much for your car insurance? Well, Mr McVeigh, you brought it on yourself. Aquarius (21 January-19 February): In the wise words of Cate Blanchett, “there’s a lot of antiSemitism, and it’s not just against the Jewish”. Pisces (20 February-20 March): This is a time when your family needs you more than ever; you’ve got the only key to the basement, and they’re running out of oxygen. Aries (21 March-20 April): You need to engage your brain before you open your mouth; that’s how the nervous system works. Taurus (21 April-21 May): Put a positive spin on things when writing a CV: your rape conviction shows ‘persistence’ and ‘determination’ - be sure to mention that you had to dig her up first. Gemini (22 May-21 June): Expect bad luck this month, as Mars has just
There’s something fishy about this recipe...
Students and employees of Bath, I hope that all you passed an enjoyable and relaxing holiday and that the festivities were so good you don’t remember them. Before I begin this article (AKA revision procrastination), I have a confession to make. In a previous article, I stated that I was vegetarian. This is not strictly true and the following comment will probably spark the ubiquitous: “what constitutes a vegetarian” debate. I am a pescatarian, meaning I eat seafood. Predominantly due to my mother’s refusal to cook for me in any other circumstances, but also because it was the easiest manner in which I could obtain any semblance of essential oils. There is a distinct positive correlation between Omega 3 fats found in fish oil consumption and memory improvement, which makes it the perfect revision dish! Furthermore,
Libra (22 September-22 October): This week’s theme: ok computer. Next week’s: maybe, fax machine. The week after: no, dictophone, I’m not ready for that kind of relationship. Scorpio (23 October-21 November): This week you’ll suffer impaired judgement, and you can quote me on that in a court of law.
The most amazing thing about this
* No, I a m n o t b e i n g p a i d commission by Sainsbury’s...
EPisode 8: In which I have a proper case of the Heebie-Jeebies.
Cancer (22 June-22 July): You can look forward to some good reminiscing this year
Virgo (23 August-21 September): You always regret the things you didn’t do more than those you did. Just yesterday, Albert Speer told me he wishes he’d done more waterskiing.
Ingredients: Green pesto Salmon fillets (catching them yourself - optional) Salt and Pepper to taste 1 tbs. pine nuts 1 small clove garlic, finely chopped 2 tbs olive oil – (HINT: for extra taste buy Sainsbury’s Sun dried tomatoes* and use the oil from that) Parmesan cheese Stale bread crumbs
recipe is that you can use up stale bread, a commonly found item in student houses. Crumble the bread into a bowl, try and make the pieces reasonably fine. Use a blender if you are lucky enough to own one. Next add the oil, garlic, pesto and parmesan and a bit of salt and pepper and mix it up baby. Keep a few bread crumbs back to sprinkle over the top. Once you have a thick, spreadable paste, you have done most of the knuckle work. Pre-heat the oven to 400°F. Take the salmon fillet and stick it on some tin foil. Drizzle a tiny bit of oil over the top and spread about a 1/4-inch layer of pesto sauce over the top of each fillet. Fold the sides of the tin foil to meet at the top then seal, it should look a bit like a metal Cornish pasty. Bake until the salmon is cooked and the topping is lightly browned, approx. 10 to 15 min. Serve with buttered baby potatoes and peas / any other vegetables you like really. For an exciting (not really) twist, stick tomatoes on the top. On that note, and with my humblest apologies, I leave you with an awful fish joke: What do you call a fish with no eyes? Fsh.
The Chronicles of Siânia
passed into your house, and is about to sleep with your wife.
Leo (23 July-22 August): This week, you’ll want to be in control, but really it’s much easier to empty the cash register and hope the nasty man with a gun goes away.
it has been proven, among other things, to improve learning ability, decrease the risk of heart attack and strokes, keep the scalp and skin in good condition, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of obesity and certain cancers. Personally, I think the health benefits far outweigh any condescending dietary criticisms! I digress. The following recipe is one of my signature dishes and all time favourites, and I often make it when I am trying to show off to guests. The resulting cacophony of flavours surprises even the most cynical of chefs and ensures all parties leave satisfied. It’s ridiculously simple and the results are, to quote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, “truly scrumptious”.
Sian Lewis Features Editor features@bathimpact.com “Should I write to my poor fellow young examinating minions about the honest hardships of revision?” I asked myself. Then I realised that if I thought for another second about any kind of assessment ever, I would pass out with boredom and crack my head on my keyboard. So instead I am going to instruct you all on the all-powerful bowelcontrolling emotion that is fear (strongly linked to exams of any kind, in my experience). I am scared by a long long list of things - The dark (this is because of terribly-adult-horror-for-sucha-young-audience TV program ‘Are You Afraid Of The Dark?’. I’m an 8-year old child, of course I’m bloody afraid of the dark), glass lifts
in which you can see through the floor, and metal tape measures (not really, I’m not that mad. Sub-Editor Katie is.) But what I really hate is watching scary films of any kind. I can just about cope with the ‘Scream’ genre since the masked baddie is a real person who can concievably be maimed and killed, but anything involving dead clowns, dead children, dead Victorian children, possessed houses/spaceships/young girls in nightdresses, the verbs slashing or splattering, the undead feeding on the living and extreme gore scares the pants off me and ensures that I can’t sleep with my light off for a month without picturing the Grady twins from The Shining standing over my bed with pitchforks. Why do people enjoy scary films? Why? From the small handful I’ve been forced to watch (always by boys claiming such movies are a.) cinematic masterpieces and therefore essential for my cultural education and b.) not even slightly terrifying, don’t be such a girl. I’m not falling for that bullshit again, let me tell you.), I have gleaned this much useful information to ensure my happiness in future life: 1. To kill a zombie cut off its head. 2. When you think
you have killed a monster and said monster is lying on the floor, and you want to check, it’s NOT DEAD, run for the hills. 3. Don’t own a house with a cellar or an attic in it. 4. Oh no wait, that’s it. I understand other kinds of fear. I can go to job interviews, I can go on rollercoasters, I’ve jumped out of a plane and not died. During the last one I came incredibly close to simultaneously peeing my pants and throwing up down my bright orange jumpsuit, but hey. Sometimes experiences are scary and you work through the terror to a constructive end (like the blessed, blessed ground when falling out of a plane). Sometimes experiences are scary and the adrenaline gets you high. Sometimes you just don’t feel scared like normal people and do thinks like tightrope walking between the Twin Towers or jumping Parkour style over train tracks. If you are the last then you are an idiot and if you die it’s your own damn fault. I am just one of those people who doesn’t get a kick out of watching entrails be splattered on trees (unreasonable on my part, I know). If you are that’s fine, but please leave me alone with Juno while you enjoy cowering behind the sofa.
www.bathimpact.com/features
impact Monday 18th January 2010
7
Features
Speed Dating on the super-sexy South West trains
Our anonymous relationship-ly challenged contributor has a close encounter of the female kind while doing the locomotion.
Ah, so she’s from Bristol University. She has a funny habit of curling her feet up and resting them on the side. That’s weird and incredibly irritating as her constantly shifting leg movements and strange grunts are distracting you from learning about God’s Will and the Yugoslav nation. The train’s stopped. She’s tapping you on the shoulder. Wait. She’s. Tapping. You. On. The. Shoulder. Unplug one headphone, look interrupted, yet friendly. If that’s possible. No, that’s not right, you just look like you’re suffering from haemorrhoids. Quick, just smile instead. Why has the train stopped, she’s asking. Damned if I know. Think of something funny: Rail privatisation. Fuck’s sake, now you just look like a smartarse who spends his weekends in a dirty raincoat standing at level crossings. She’s studying medicine, says her careworn textbook. Why the hell would she care about privatisation in the least? Well, at least she’s smiling.
Better remove the other headphone, don’t want her to think she’s actually annoyed you. I mean, you’re really quite glad that someone has actually initiated conversation with you, especially as you feel idiotic for falling asleep at the station and missing your train. She has really nice shoes. Stop looking at her feet before she thinks you have a fetish or a crick neck, or both. She says she’s hungry. Resist the urge to say ‘bite me’. Resist it. Make a joke about train food being awful. Easy ground. Non-contentious. Like Jim Davidson on Big Break when no-one knew he was a racist. Not like a fucking rail privatisation joke. God, to have a sausage roll in your bag now.
Thank god you didn’t say that aloud. It’s the kind of innuendo which requires tested ground. She’s leaving. Where’s she going? You didn’t actually say that thing about the sausage roll did you?
Back to The Great Serb Project. That’s better. Forget about her. She wasn’t even that cute anyway, and it’s not like you haven’t had sex in eighteen months. Stop lying to yourself as well.
easyJet: Come on Let’s (try to) Fly! Josie Cox Deputy Editor editor@bathimpact.com
of compassion would be horrible at any time but is particularly so at Christmas when people are desperate to join their loved
But not only angry mobs of disappointed passengers are proving to be a thorn in the side of CEO Andy Harrison’s
Here’s a question for you: What’s cheap, orange and chronically annoying? No, not that carrot you used to give your snow man a nose (it can’t help looking phallic)… easyJet. Founded in 1995, the orange giant may be the biggest passenger-carrier in the UK serving 387 routes 104 European and North African airports - but it has certainly caused more than a handful of headaches over the past weeks. As temperatures in England and mainland Europe plummeted below freezing just before Christmas, so did easyJet’s ability t o cope with f r o z e n e n g i n e s , icy runways, bad visibility and sporadic flurries of snow. Alone on December 22 - one of the first days of extraordinary weather conditions - easyJet reported cancellation of 150 flights leaving thousands of furious passengers stranded at major airports just days before Christmas. “That lack
ones,” one distraught woman whose flight to Switzerland was cancelled told national media. To make the situation worse, the low-budget airline operates a policy whereby it does not announce the flight cancellations over a loudspeaker, but leaves it up to airline or airport representatives to shout out the news over the grumbles of the hundred-strong crowd. Fortunately for my stringent revision and assessment plan, my flight from Berlin to Bristol was not cancelled last Monday. When I checked in, I was pleasantly surprised when the friendly orange-clad trolley-dolly told me that there were no delays. Wishful thinking I later realized. After an hour’s delay in the departure lounge and another 90 minute wait on the tarmac, I finally arrived in Bristol just before 1 am. Almost two and a half hours later than scheduled.
Ryanair rival. The snow and ice has seemingly soured relations between Gatwick Airport and easyJet. easyJet says it is “disappointed” the airport in West Sussex is operating far below capacity while claiming to be fully open, for which the airlines are being blamed. In the nine years since opening its Gatwick base, London’s second largest international airport has become easyJet’s largest hub. Much to the relief of airline staff, tourists and students desperate to avoid having to file for mitigating circumstances, conditions seem to be improving and problems thawing. At the time of writing this article most flights were going ahead as scheduled with only minor delays on certain routes. Perhaps easyJet can breath a little easier after a near month of mayhem. Weathercast for the days to come? Snow snow snow. Good luck to them.
Ah, she’s back. Look unimpressed. She has a coffee. And a sandwich. And the train’s moving. Quip about her making the train move with whatever she’s done. Only mumbled because it’s not a very good quip, and even worse when you have to repeat it louder. Still, it’s better than rail privatisation. You’re on an upward curve. She says something about spending all her worldly money. That’s an unnecessarily overwrought phrase: is she trying to stimulate conversation? Respiratory diseases do look pretty boring. Maybe she’s impressed by your heavy looking tomes. On the other hand probably not. Right, time to stare into the abyss: ask her what she studies and where. This is nice. You’re talking nonsenses with a cute girl whose name you don’t even
know yet. You’re better than Isaac Hayes, Heffner and Peter Stringfellow rolled into one. Smooth. You know what will really impress her though: whip out your phone and make an impressive sounding phonecall to your friend you’re meeting later: Oh yeah, you know, I’d like to be on time, but First Great Western seem to have other ideas. What is it with you and rail jokes today? S tupid stupid stupid. She’s talking about bad coffee. Badly. Your stop is next. Damn, you could have slipped your number in her coat pocket when she was gone or asked her to take a romantic walk along the train. On second thoughts, that last one is plain ridiculous. No, cut your losses, wish her all the best and make your way outwards. Step onto the platform. See her curled up and don’t knock on the window like a creep. Yeah, don’t. It’s not like you haven’t had sex in eighteen months. You idiot.
Goodbye Windows! Secret contributor Felix thinks alternatives to Microsoft are gaining critical momentum. Predicting the future of computing is mug’s game. History abounds with examples: Bill Gates famously once said he couldn’t imagine anyone needing more than 64MB of RAM. The only seemingly accurate prediction we have is Moore’s law, that the size of semiconductors would halve every year, effectively increasing processing speed exponentially. Yet even that rule looks set to break, as fundamental physical limits on semiconductor size are fast bearing down on manufacturers. A prediction which would have been easy to make back in 2001 was that the future of desktops belonged to Microsoft. Their old enemy Apple was slowly rotting, Linux remained a hobby for basement geeks and certain bits of Microsoft software were so
where we are now, enjoying the first credible choice of operating systems for a generation. Macs are enjoying a revival on the back of iPod and iPhone success, whereas 2009 is the first year that computers with Linux already installed have become widely available, at least for netbooks. The release of Ubuntu 9.10 was, unusually, a major tech news story. The market share of all things not-Microsoft is growing, and noticeably. To keep this in perspective, remember that Microsoft still rule the roost; before even a full month on sale, Windows 7 had surpassed Snow Leopard and Ubuntu in market share. But the ball is rolling. Alternative operating systems are no longer daunting or unheard of, and with the painful Vista transition still
ubiquitous that the development teams were disbanded (for example, IE). In the Windows desert, it seemed unlikely that any others could survive, much less stay competitive. Yet that’s
fresh in people’s memories, computer users are open to new ideas. At risk of making yet another bad prediction: this year will be the best that Macs and Linux have ever had.
8
www.bathimpact.com/opinion
Monday 18th January 2010
Opinion
IMPACT
Jack Wills: love it or loathe it? Nick Carraway Opinion Contributor Most people reading this will probably be familiar with the clothing label Jack Wills already, and undoubtedly some of you may have acquired an opinion on it during your time at university; it is, after all, a particularly difficult brand to miss when in Bath, and one that often provokes strong feelings in people. Jack Wills’ clothing and marketing tends to carry a public school appearance and ideology, and often carries a price tag to match. As such, it frequently draws high levels of criticism from people who feel
Jack Wills is worn as a badge that displays the wearer’s snobbery and sense of social superiority and exclusivity. More often than not, however, this line of argument can tend to reveal some rather different underlying feelings, ones which can create an unbelievable divide within a group of mixed financial or social background. The most common inference made by non-Jack Wills wearers is that someone who does buy Jack Wills is a ‘Rah’ (a preppy, privately schooled individual who engages in the lifestyle and activities typically associated with the upper-middle classes); this labelling of a Jack Wills
wearer as a ‘Rah’ inevitably leads to the discussion of what exactly it is that constitutes a ‘Rah’ in the first place, and this is where opinions can sometimes take a nastier turn. I have quite regularly heard people reduce all Jack Wills wearers to the same stereotype, that of someone who comes from the sort of privileged background that can be best reflected as a ‘buy me a pony, Daddy’ upbringing, and this can often lead to the deriding of people who live such lifestyles. Herein lies the problem, as this line of thinking leads to the ‘Jack Wills Debate’ defining people based purely upon their upbringing, and dividing them
as such. I went to a state school and have perfectly regular parents, yet some of the opinions and damning judgements I hear aired in conversations about Jack Wills are ones that can also be applied to me, which as such can lead me to feel highly uncomfortable around my peers. Many of these relate purely to the amount of money my family has – whilst my father isn’t a City banker, our family income is enough that whenever I hear accusations being aimed at ‘posh’, ‘spoilt’ people I can’t help but feel like I am being included in these categories, and as such I can feel distanced from those voicing these opinions, despite the fact that we may get on well and have a lot in common. It is also highly depressing to know that if I were to ever see something in Jack Wills that I liked the look of, then buying it would lead some people around me to mercilessly mock or criticise me for it, despite the fact that it’s just a brand of clothing. Such criticism being rooted in the financial background of those involved only makes the situation doubly depressing, as it is essentially reverse-snobbery at its strongest, with financial security turned into some sort of disgusting crime to be derided. Even worse is
the fact that such feelings bubble to the surface frequently enough as to cause frictions and division, a problem that is particularly unfortunate when you remember that as students our financial situation is determined by our parents, not by us – as such, there is absolutely nothing any of us can do to change this part of our life. In this day and age, when we’re able to ignore differences in race, gender and age so successfully, how come some of us struggle so much to overlook people’s financial differences, differences which have just as little effect as any others?
Why eating five a day is bad for you and farting is healthy Deputy Editor Josie Cox argues that New Year’s resolutions are not only pointless but also have dangerous side effects for your health Give up smoking, lose weight, study more, drink less, eat five a day, go greener, read more books, stop swearing... the list goes on and on and on, and to be honest, most New Year’s resolutions aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. And I’m far from being the only one of that opinion. No less than Mark Twain has written of New Year’s resolutions: “Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as
usual. Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink, and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever.” Get it? A number of psychologists have concluded that most New Year’s resolutions aren’t worth making in the first place, simply because of the slim to non-existent probability of them actually being stuck to. Most are made in response to something negative - a habit or situation that the person wants to change or end. And therein lies the problem: it’s hard to develop momentum from a negative response. It is always easier to move toward something rather than away from something. In other words, it’s easier to become bad than to become good. The worst thing you can do, according to experts, is make resolutions at the last minute. These
will almost always backfire. “If you do it on the spur of the moment, it probably doesn’t mean that much to you, and you won’t give it your all. Failing to achieve your ambitions is often psychologically harmful because it can rob people of a sense of self control,” psychologist Richard Wiseman, at the University of Hertfordshire, told the Guardian newspaper. Robbing people of a sense of self control? That sounds scary. So herewith I challenge you ladies and gentlemen: Give up exercising (it just makes you sweat like a pig and resemble a tomato), eat chocolate to your heart’s content, gain ten pounds, swear like a trooper, smoke anything you like, lose your keys and wallet every day, flirt with the waiter/waitress while on first dates, max out credit cards, forget anniversaries, birthdays and Valentine’s Day, burp, fart and live on junk food! At least you won’t lose a sense of having self control. Happy New Year! You know it will be.
impact
www.bathimpact.com/opinion
Monday 18th January 2010
9
Opinion
Compulsory nudity in airports
Laurence Whitaker argues that introducing ‘body scanners’ to UK airports is going a few steps too far in the name of security So the first bit of news to greet me in 2010 was a message inciting fear and discrimination. Barack Obama, last decade’s orator of hope and change, has now not only failed to close Guantanamo Bay but has decided to implement full image body scanners at US airports. And true to form the sheepish Brown has thoughtlessly followed suit, saying on New Year’s day that he will now introduce these scanners at UK airports. Now, should I pick on the failure of Obama to live up to the great ideal he presented us with, or should it be Brown’s sheepish unquestioning following of haloed America, or should it be the indoctrination that has continued to create a climate of fear in this new decade, or should it be the privacy infringing unacceptableness of this new technology, or should it be the apathetic acceptance from society that I choose to pick on? Well, much as I’d love to scream and debate each of those issues, this column’s only big enough to
let me briefly touch on the final two. So let me set out the issues I have with body scanners. For anyone who was comatose through ove rind ulge nce or e xhausted through over-revising and missed the news, let me explain what these new scanners are. They are to be introduced at airports and used in much the same way as metal detectors. They will reveal a video image of your naked body as you walk through them, stripping away clothes and underwear until all that is left is an image of your nude body. This will within a short period of time be a compulsory process for every man, woman and child wanting to fly. So if your family want to take a vacation and you have a little sister you will have to endure a stranger looking at a video of your sister naked. And then it is almost certain that these images will be recorded, and judging by this administration’s track record they will then be mislaid and fall into the hands of unknown shady figures. So you might say that this is fine
if it stops us getting blown up by terrorists. Wrong. These scanners would not have prevented any previous terrorist attacks, nor will they prevent future attacks because as soon as a defence is developed a new weapon is developed to get past that defence. Aside from this, planes are by far the safest form of transportation; no one seems to have considered
the threat of a terrorist attack on the rail network. Then there is the unacceptable discrimination. In Islamic culture a woman must conceal her body when in public, they are now being told that to fly on a plane they must reveal their naked body to a stranger. So in effect this technology is a way to prevent Muslim women from flying.
Also, this process will force those suffering from disabilities to reveal that disability to a stranger in a public place unnecessarily, perhaps someone requiring an indwelling catheter or simply someone suffering from cysts which they normally cover up. All in all this is a disgusting invasion of privacy. But what angers me and saddens me the most is not Brown’s decision to implement it but the nation’s response. Beyond a few quiet murmurings from people like myself there is nothing. Just a silent unquestioning apathetic acceptance. Wake up! What is it going to take to get people to wake up, protest and say no? How long are we all going to just accept and accept and accept until we have no civil liberties with which to say no? Every single person in this country has a voice; use it, say no to discrimination, say no to the invasion of civil liberties, say no the climate of fear, say no to my ramblings if you like but for humanity’s sake learn to speak up!
Relax! They’re only exams after all A particularly chilled out contributor (who prefers to remain anonymous for professional reasons) wonders why we all get so worked up about exams. I love this time of year - not only are lectures cancelled, but the finances are usually in a less than dire state, enabling the purchase of much alcohol-based refreshment. Occasionally, the weather even chips in by precluding any activity that involves going further than your local/offie. All in all, it seems to me that this time of year has a lot going for it, yet is cruelly wronged by the student body. The reason? The all-consuming exam fever that turns the most dedicated sauce monkey into a pillar of the Mormon community. I want to put just one question to the people currently not taking full advantage of all that this period offers – why the f**k not? The thing about exams is, if you have paid attention in lectures, the exams pretty much write themselves. Most people at this University have enough intellect t o be able to f o r m c o h e r e n t , analytical arguments without too much difficulty, and yet feel compelled to spend weeks and weeks in the library. Which leads me to my next point: how much of people’s time in the library is actually spent constructively? A quick glance around the library computers reveals a high
percentage appear to be dedicated to one particular site. To say that this site is not renowned for being conducive to academic study is similar to saying that bears defecate in wooded areas. This is the point that really entertains me. Instead of staying calm, giving yourself plenty of relaxation time, and then knuckling down when it really matters, people seem desperate to pretend to themselves that they are revising hard for weeks and weeks, when in fact all they are doing is extending their circle of people they will never talk to on Facebook. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as game for a bit of self-deception as the next person, but when you are legally an adult, willingly getting yourself into thousands of pounds worth of debt, don’t claim to have been working when you haven’t. Frankly, it’s a little bit pathetic, and especially annoying if you then act like you’re better than your housemate who happens to have a more sensible approach to life. The argument concerning exams admittedly works better on ESML students, as opposed to other departments, where more information is required before
one can attempt to answer exam questions. Please do not run away with the idea that I am dismissing the worth of an ESML degree, it is as valid as any other, but these exams, I believe, reward general subject knowledge more, and learning by rote less, compared to other departments. This is wholly correct, in my view, and means many of the arguments directed against modern day education, that it is far too narrowly focused with too much emphasis on learning by rote, are not valid for ESML graduates. Many people, when reading this article, are likely to brand me an arrogant, lazy inebriate with no interest in my future success. Whilst this may be accurate to a certain degree, and whilst my arguments deliberately go too far in the direction of vice-ridden anarchy, I honestly think that it is more beneficial to everyone if people just calm down. Take a second to realise that the amount of work you have to do is eminently feasible, and take the chance to release the tension once in a while. Trust me, the exams will go better, and you’ll be a much happier person for these few weeks.
10
www.bathimpact.com/opinion
Monday 18th January 2010
Opinion
IMPACT
Snow Problem?
Hazell Moore argues that the dangerous, awkward snow is a right pain in the bum whilst Emma Simmons defends our white fluffy friend. Hazell Moore Opinion Contributor I’m one of those people that just loves this time of year with Christmas, New Year and the giving of presents, but despite this I find it impossible to get excited about snow. I find it even more difficult to understand the excitement of other people for it. Sure, I can maybe understand for the first half an hour, that snowball fights and snow angels all have their novelty. But after that initial half an hour, you’re left feeling nothing but wet and very cold. You can’t go out because none of the buses are running, and you soon realise you have no food in your house. How can that conjure up excitement? When the snow comes, I feel like I’m on a desert island, but painfully less glamorous. I find it depressing and boring and I don’t understand why nobody else shares my sentiments. With snow setting in for a third week, when will people’s excitement die? I’m not trying to rain on their
parade (well, okay, maybe a little all your excitement is draining me), but let’s think of the actual severity of all this snow. Cars are crashing, people are dying and let’s face it; this is evidence of global warming! And it angers me when I hear comments like ‘yes, but we’ll get warmer summers’. I find it hard to understand people’s apathy within this whole situation. Worst of all, we’ve got the resources to deal with severe weather conditions, but there is no focus upon those countries that don’t. I turned on the television to watch the news the other day and I was dealt with half an hour of news reports about the snow - that’s half the programme! There was a fifteen minute report about how Fife local council has run out of grit. There are more important issues right now that don’t involve salt, snow or severe weather conditions. Where are the reports about the situation in Sudan, the corruption in China or the attacks in Kuala Lumpur? I find it saddening that all it takes is a bit of snow and our country is distracted from reality. This is global warming at its beginning, and the thing is we’re being least affected by the results of it all. Global warming has created famines in Uganda and floods in Bangladesh, it affects the whole world. So sure, get excited about the snow, but I hope you realise that there are more severe implications of this natural warning sign than shortages of grit.
Emma Simmons Opinion Editor opinion@bathimpact.com I am of the opinion that the snow has been getting an unfair amount of bad press in recent weeks and therefore I think that it is time that someone stepped in to defend it. Ok, so it may have been partially responsible for a couple of little car crashes and it may have caused a small interruption to the UK economy but on my list of pros and cons of the snow, there is one side which is much much longer (and it’s the pro side by the way). First and foremost, the snow creates happiness, and happiness keeps people young, and being young means you are healthy. Can something which makes people happy and healthy really be a ‘bad thing’? I think not. ‘How does it create this happiness?’ I hear you ask. Well that is all down to ‘Snow Days’. Snow is an important component of a ‘Snow Day’ and ‘Snow Days’ are one of the few things which can get everybody a day off school/work/university to go and play instead. Everybody likes to play and therefore ‘Snow Days’ are indisputably great. Nobody, not even one person in this whole wide world, would rather be at work, sat at their desk, than out in the snow hurtling down a steep hill at 20 miles per hour towards a barbed wire fence on nothing but a small piece of plastic with nothing even resembling brakes. Perhaps the thing about the recent
snowfall which brings me most joy is that for a few days it enabled young people across the country to hope (even if just for a few days) that their exams would be cancelled. We’ve all sat exams at one point or another and so are perfectly aware of how great it would be to have that tiny scrap of hope that they may actually get cancelled. I’ve hoped for that in the middle of June, when there really was no likelihood of them actually being cancelled, so imagine how these young people must have felt whilst watching real-life BBC reporters say the words: ‘Science exams may have to be postponed’. The feeling must have been fantastic, and in a world where young people are faced with gun crime, internet bullying and Mona the Vampire, who are we to say that we
would rather they were denied this small bit of true happiness? Another reason for my advocacy of the snow is that lovers of skiing, snowboarding, sledging and snowball fights have, for once, been able to enjoy their hobbies without having to travel to foreign country to do so. The people of England are able to bike ride, paint and sing in England all year round, but just because this minority of people have the misfortune of being born with a love of skiing or sledging they are unable to enjoy their hobby on a regular basis. It sounds very much like discrimination to me, and therefore I for one will not begrudge them a few flakes of snow once a year. These people deserve the chance to go snowboarding on Widcombe Hill or skiing in the University amphitheatre, in fact I would go so far as to say that they are entitled to these few days of snow once a year. Then for the other 360 days of the year, you cyclists can ride up and down the hills as much as you like. Essentially English weather tends to be monotonously bleak and boring; for the vast majority of the year we have weather which is distinctly average, so a few days of snow a year gives us something different and a nice photo or two for the family album if nothing else. So stop moaning about your wet feet, get your wellies on and get out and enjoy it, come next week it’ll be back to ‘cloudy with spots of rain’.
What do New Year, birthdays and CVs have in common? This week our young fresher with old-fashioned views argues that when reminiscing about the past and looking forward to the future we mustn’t forget about the present I believe that the answer is that they all have the ability to link the past to the future with no regard for the present. A new year began and I recalled memorable events of the past year: the inauguration of Obama, the plane landing on the Hudson, and then I thought forward to what might come in the future: the end of the stagnant Brown administration, the end of the Credit Crunch. My birthday came around and I recalled the triumphs of my past year; the adventure of a gap year in Africa, the joy of meeting new people who’ve become central to my life. Then I looked on to what might actualise itself in the coming year, maybe I’d write
my much spoken of book at last, or maybe I really would get it together and lead my also much spoken of revolution. Then in the same two weeks I updated my CV, looking back over what I’d achieved with my life so far and thinking how best to write it up in order to make the most of my working life to come. Whilst doing so I couldn’t help feeling a melancholy at the transiency of all these achievements, as even by the age of nineteen the things I’d been so proud of and had meant so much previously silently slipped off the bottom of my CV. Their meaning and significance in itself no less than ever before but in some inexplicable way the
passage of time just stole away their relevance and their intensity. Just as a few years after the ending of a relationship that oh so significant other becomes an unspoken of ghost so the jobs and hobbies of my past have drifted away. I don’t wish to complain about this; just to argue that because something no longer gets talked about or no longer makes it onto your CV doesn’t mean that it’s any less important, any less of an achievement, or any less of a crucial part of who you are. It’s the paradox of bettering ourselves that in the process of progress we always forget what already made us so good.
impact
www.bathimpact.com/science
Monday 18th January 2010
Shock: people are egotistical Gilbert Rancid drones on If Christianity gave out fatwas, Nietzsche certainly would have picked one up for his claim that “there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross.” While Dawkins might go all ‘Joss Ackland’s spunky backpack’ over the quote because it’s slamming religion, I like it for the realization that people mainly worship themselves. Freud, who ripped off Nietzsche’s ideas, theorised that the mind was constantly at work to protect the ego, exaggerating one’s successes, minimising one’s failures and misdeeds, and interpreting all sensory input in a way which best serves the need of the ego. Recently, scientists (who no doubt secretly fancy their mums) are warming to Freud’s theory, and a fair amount of evidence is amassing in its favour.
‘Ponce on the heath’ Around 95 percent of people believe they are better than average drivers. They manage this by clever interpretation: there are several aspects to driving; cornering, parking, not plunging into a river at the request of your Satnav, etc; drivers’ brains, without their consent, exaggerate the importance of those aspects they are good at, and ignore the bad, as well as selectively using evidence. When one skilfully negotiates a corner at 100mph, they will see it as proof they are supreme; however, crashing into a lamp-post at 100 mph is, of course, the fault of the lamp-post, the car, or a passing jumbo jet which created an unexpected gravitational effect. This is known as “beneffectance”, accepting responsibility for successes, and delegating blame for failures to others or to bad luck. Again Nietzsche was ahead of the game, writing that “no victor believes in chance”. People are great at passing the buck, as these quotes from geunine accident reports
“A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.”
reveal: Self-serving mental biases have been demonstrated again and again in experimental settings; in one particularly interesting case, people were put in pairs and set tasks; if told afterwards they had done well, they took the credit, if given negative feedback they blamed the partner. In cases in which the feedback was average, they claimed it was due to a combination of their skill and their partner’s incompetence. People have too much confidence in their own knowledge and judgements: one experiment gave subjects questions, and asked them to estimate a range of values within which they are 98 percent confident the answer lies, (i.e. I am 98% confident that the number of baths Adolphe I
remember all the sociable things they’d done, and, as a result, rated themselves as more outgoing. ‘Shatner’s Bassoon’ This isn’t a pretty picture. But before you enter a fit of despair and cry all of the water out of your body, or throw up your own pelvis bone, just remember
pretty useful error. More details of these studies, and further reasons why people are just shit, can be found in Cordelia Fine’s excellent book A Mind of its Own.
“The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.” it’s not all bad; the only group who don’t suffer these delusions are the clinically depressed, so it’s actually a
Super-ego: it’s no longer legal to print an article about egotism without an accompanying picture of Piers Moron.
Professor Science Nietzsche: ‘‘I did that,’ says my memory. ‘I could not have done that,’ says my pride, and remains adamant. At last, memory yields.’’ of Luxembourg took in his life was between 500 and 50,000). The result, if people accurately estimate their own knowledge, should have been that 2 percent of estimates were wrong. The actual figure was almost 45 percent. In a revealing experiment, some people were sold $1 lottery tickets with random numbers on, and others got to pick their numbers. When asked to sell the tickets back, the people with random numbers set a selling price of $1.96, choosers would only sell for $8.67, having convinced themselves that, being so clever, they’d probably picked the right numbers. The ego’s distortion is also one of the biggest causes of human irrationality;
“I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way.” our ability to think logically is corrupted by the need to see oneself in a positive light. When people given intelligence tests were told randomly that they had done either well or badly, and given arguments on the effectiveness of IQ tests at measuring intelligence, ‘low IQ’ subjects found it a less convincing measure than ‘high IQ’ subjects. As well as interfering with one’s perception and logic, the ego likes to play with our memories; we remember the good things we’ve done and forget the bad, and remember past events in a way which casts us in a good light. In one experiment, people were given a quiz, and, when informed of the answers several days later, remembered getting more right than they actually did. When some Princeton students were told that extroverts are more successful, and others were told the opposite, you can guess which group found it easier to
“The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.”
Professor: I had a lonely childhood. I remember one particular incident when I was eight and waiting for my mother at the train station... get to the point how did Derren Brown stick people to their seats? During his show ‘How to Control the Nation’, Brown admitted that the film he showed “doesn’t contain anything that would affect your brain or control you [and] there are no subliminal messages in it.” Thus it must have used some other method. Part of the explanation is fairly simple; he told people to adopt, for ‘safety’, a laid back posture which makes it harder to get up. As well as this, though, he cleverly primed his audience using psychology. As you might gather from Mr Rancid’s article, the ego’s fairly powerful. As it holds such control over the mind, and this is where the keys to the body are kept, it’s only logical that the ego might be able to influence the movement of the body, specifically, to stop it moving. It may be this is how Derren Brown ‘controlled the nation’; he created a situation in which the ego had great motivation to paralyze the body: while introducing the video, he said “The film won’t stick all of you, but it will stick
those of you who are open to it, to allow it to work, those of you who have a wellbalanced, bright, creative personality.” If not, he claimed, it’s a complete waste of your time. Now, people tend to think that they are well-balanced, bright, creative, and not prone to wasting their time. Thus, in order to keep this impression, the brain would have to ensure its owner doesn’t get up, so just persuades the body to stay put. I hope you find this explanation convincing and not speculative at all; this would be the likely reaction of a smart, generous person with little or no bodily flea-infestation. So how did he predict the lottery? He didn’t. The crucial part of the word is ‘pre’. He said the outcome after it happened, which isn’t nearly as impressive, almost anyone can do it.
Science
News
Perv of the week: an unidentified man who, while shopping in a Plymouth Co-op, repeatedly bent down behind a shelf stacker and sniffed his posterior.
Runner up: Former Preesall and Knott End Mayor Ian Stafford, who pleaded guilty to burglary, having been caught by a hidden camera “walking into the woman’s bedroom, rifling through her drawers [!], and selecting a pair of knickers he wanted to wear... [he] then performed a sex act before leaving.”
Tarantino thriller award: The Mail, for the scoop that “Katie Price and Peter Andre go head-to-head over children’s Christmas haircuts”.
Runner up: The Mail again, fascinating readers with details of Kerry Katona’s trip to Tesco on January 2nd. The article was penned by none other than Georgina Littlejohn, daughter of the famous Richard, also an employee of the paper. The younger Littlejohn was also responsible for the Katie Price haircuts story, and a story about Van Morrison which was later revealed to be totally untrue.
Bad pun award: The Daily Mail, for “Brrrangelina: Jolie and Pitt wrap up their kids in New York as temperatures fall to -5C”. A cynic might suggest that the scoop ‘parents wrap their children up when it’s cold’ is also deserving of the Tarantino thriller award.
Runner up: the BBC, for the assertion that iPlayer is “making christmas unchristmissable”.
DERREN BROWN: what are you saying about me?
Puzzle Corner This week - Andrew Stables, Dept. Of Education “Individual words and sounds not contextualised within utterances make no sense (this of itself problematises the issue of what constitutes a linguistic datum), and utterances make sense only within discourse practices (Fairclough, 1989, 1995). Ultimately, the relationship of signifier (the word) to signified (the concept) and referent (the ‘thing’) remains unverifiable, so the mathematical laws derived from, and applied to, the study of the physical world that govern positivist research cannot safely be held to apply to utterances (Culler, 1976). In the light of this confusion about the validity of utterances as data, and the problems in construing sets of utterances, or locating sets of meanings, as phenomena, qualitative data may more fruitfully be thought of as phenomenographic or perspectival fragments: pieces of expressed or
xx
described experience... One can generalise from patterns contructed [sic] out of phenomenographic fragments, but such generalisations can relate only to practices in discursive space and not to anything ‘real’ that operates according to the laws of space and time.” This is from the gripping paper ‘School as Imagined Community in Discursive Space: a perspective on the school effectiveness debate’. Last week’s solution: Well done Tachycardia Plod, who understood that Stefan Maier was actually saying “Analytic analysis is the best kind of analysis, and is far superior to nonanalytic analysis, which essentially involves dressing up like Patrick Henry and dancing around a sweaty cardigan until the answer pops into your head.”
It’s not them, it’s you award: scientists claimed that there is no such thing as a ‘G-spot’, perhaps in an attempt to excuse the reputation of scientists as sexually inept beings. For a better explanation, they could have referred to the other big scientific announcement of the year; that pi has now been calculated to 2.7 trillion digits. Piers ‘Morgan’ Moron award: Congratulations to the amateur hypnotist who “accidentally put himself into a trance for five hours after practising in front of a mirror.” Expert of the week: After a man committed a sexual assault while “dressed as a pirate and ...wearing a wig described as ‘Tina Turner/Rod Stewart’ style”, Detective Inspector Joanna Dent spoke to the press, reassuring them that “incidents like this are very rare” Runner up: The Telegraph’s report on a football highlights show broadcast on Welsh channel S4C. The programme which attracted zero viewers, which, the Torygraph helpfully points out, “was the lowest TV viewing figure in the history of the Welsh TV company”. Thanks for clearing that up.
Buy
Offers from Wednesday 20th January - Tuesday 9th February
2 for £8
Buy 2 for £1 Buy 2 for £4
Buy 2 for £1
Special Buy £1 Special Buy £2
Open 7:30am-10pm 9am-7pm (Sat./Sun.)
Pancake 49p Co-op & Batter Mix
Buy 2 for £2
Buy 2 for 75p
16
www.bathimpact.com
Arts New Year’s Greetings
Anne Howell Arts Officer So… it is now 2010... the Noughties are over and we have lots of fantastic arts stuff to get you going into this new and very exciting decade! Seeing as this is the exam issue I’m going to get you all excited for our awesome combined arts societies social. We are all going to go on a fun-filled escapade to the Bath Cider Festival. YEAH YEAH YEAH! Check out the Facebook event called “Arts Socs to the Cider Festival” for all the information and how to get hold of those all important tickets. Arts Socs will be meeting at 7pm in the Huntsman, then heading to the Cider Festival on the evening of Friday 12th February. It will be a fantastic evening where we can get to know people from all of the different
societies, from Chaos and Photosoc to BUSMS and BUFS. There will be lots of fun to be had; everyone that is a member of an arts society is welcome, so sign up online. Over the last semester I have been liaising with the Chair of the BathKapsovar twinning association. Kapsovar is a lovely little place in Hungary and already has wellestablished artistic connections with Bath. This semester we will be trying to form some proper links with the Hungarian town, so keep a look out for all that exciting stuff and find out how you as an arts society member can get involved. Work will also continue on improving room bookings, arts society publicity and the procedures that will be in place during the construction of the new arts complex. Keep your eyes peeled too for what is set to be an incredible Arts Extravaganza later on in the semester; it’ll be a fun-filled afternoon chilling by the lake! Anyhow, I must get back to revision, hope all exams and coursework projects go well and you all have an awesome inter-semester break! As usual, if you have any questions send the exec an email at socs-exec-arts@lists.bath.ac.uk. Ann xx
Film society interview Ann Howell talks to chair William Ainsworth Hey, so tell us all about BUFS! What is it? What do you do? BUFS is the official Bath University Film society; we put on weekly film showings in one of the lecture halls on campus so that Bath students have the opportunity to see films as they were meant to be seen, on the big screen. We also have occasional special events such as film marathons, social outings and our end of semester film quiz.
BUFS is a fairly new society, can you tell us about the process of being affiliated? Are you glad you did it? Becoming affiliated was actually a lot easier than we thought it would be, all the information needed to start a society is available on BathStudent.com, and as long as the society fulfils the guidelines laid down by the University, all that is required is for you to fill out a couple of forms and attend a short meeting. Being affiliated makes it a lot easier to organise events both off and on campus and we’re definitely glad we did it. What type of films does the society show? We like to show a wide variety of films, from obscure indie films to the biggest blockbuster releases, however we also listen to the suggestions of our members and show the films that they recommend.
What is the best part about being part of BUFS? Obviously the best bit is getting to watch a free film every week of the year! To sign up only costs £4, which is cheaper than one trip out to the cinema. As well as this, you get the chance to meet a whole bunch of new people. The social aspect of the society is great, everyone gets to know each other and we usually go down to Parade after the film. What have you got planned for the new semester? We’ll be continuing our Thursday night film showings, details of which can be found on our page on BathStudent.com, the site is updated weekly with information on any film showings or special events that we’ve got coming up. We’re also going to be attempting to organise trips to opening night showings of newly released films and maybe even a film premiere. How can people get involved? Anyone who wants to get involved in BUFS can pop along to one of our weekly film showings on Thursday evening in 5W2.3; doors open at 7:30pm. We invite anybody who wants to get involved to come and have a chat with us at one of these showings or afterwards where we can usually be found in Parade bar.
Monday 18th January 2010
IMPACT
Interview with a cross-species-dresser Ann Howell talks to Greg Rogers from BLADES Can you explain to everyone what BLADES is? BLADES (Bath Live Action Dramatic Encounters Society) is the Live Action Roleplay (LARP) society here at Bath. For those of you who have never heard of the term let me explain; when we go out each player takes on an identity, a character who they play during that day’s events. The characters are put through a game which is created by a Games Master (GM) with a plot to it and you act your character through that plot line; resolving any situations that arise entirely as the character would. This should sound familiar to people who have played other role-playing games such as the tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons or the video game World of Warcraft. However, instead of sitting around a table or at a computer monitor, we go outside and play out the adventure in real time and in costume. This includes having actual fights to resolve conflicts using safe (latex and foam) weapons and a rules system. This allows for a more real experience, letting players completely integrate themselves into the game world. In this respect it is far closer to a form of improvisational theatre, with the most realistic stage fighting imaginable, than a roleplaying game. How do you decide on the character you want to be and what happens if they die? I don’t know how other people decide what character they want to play, I’m sure everyone has their own methods, but I can tell you mine. I think of a character concept, I create this character in my mind: their appearance, mannerisms, style of combat, etc. Then I test these by asking myself some questions and trying to answer them in character. Only when I think I know the character to reasonable extent do I look to the rules and see what fits that character best (or these days have been thinking this and that fits him without having to look it
up) and begin to build them in terms of game mechanics, making sure I never lose sight of who it is I’m making. Combat is an important aspect of our regular games and characters do get hurt and sometimes killed, however it is also a fantasy setting, so they can be healed miraculously and even resurrected from the dead. To make sure character death is still something to fear and avoid as a player, characters only have the strength of spirit to be resurrected a certain number of times. When a character has died too many times to be resurrected they are permanently dead and can no longer be played, this has happened around a dozen times in our club’s history, to avoid this some characters retire to a quiet life away from it all when they are approaching their limit for being resurrected. I can’t say I blame them. Where do you get all your awesome costumes from? Do you have a budget for them? Costumes are one of the highlights of LARP for some people; it is what people will see of your character and the best way to get across to others who they are, or at least how they want to be perceived by the world at large. We find costume in many places ranging from the obvious, such as costume shops and charity shops, to that source of everything weird and wonderful known as the internet. Also, some of our members more skilled with a needle and thread (or at metal, or leather working) make pieces of costume for themselves and others, usually at extremely reasonable rates. Unfortunately we don’t have a budget for personal costume other than the bank of mum and dad or those kindly people at the Student Loans Company, but we’re more than willing to show you which charity/second hand shops are best. We also have a large core of older members with jobs and several years accumulating awesome LARP gear who are more than willing to lend or sell on armour or costume items.
What is the favourite character you have ever played and why? I’ve got to say my favourite character is the one I play this year, a simple blacksmith; stoic and just but largely ignorant of the world outside of his isolated rural community and the skills associated. He’s good for working metal, churning butter and perhaps brewing a wicked mead but very little else, for now. I like this character for several reasons, I guess what I like most about him is the opportunities for this sheltered, backwards (even by game standards) guy to develop and evolve in so many different directions, I don’t know where this year is going to take him, or how it’s going to change him, but I can’t wait to find out!
When and where do you meet? We meet every Sunday at the bus shelter in East car park at 11:00 am ready to “time in” and begin the game at 12:00 for our regular games in a high-fantasy setting. However, keep an eye out on the BLADES BathStudent. com page for information on one-off games that we might hold in the future in a vast variety of settings, such as the game last year run with BUTTS, the table top society, in a setting based on H.P. Lovecraft’s Call of Cthulu.
If I want to get involved what do I do? Come along to an event: if you turn up on Sunday, we’ll show you how to fight safely and give you a taste of the action and excitement that is what our regular games are all about. Or, if you’re not a fan of high-fantasy then keep an eye on our BathStudent.com page for other events we have planned (in the loosest sense of the word) for the coming semester. We’re always looking for new members and eager to try new things, so if there is a setting you want to play (or even better are willing to have a go at running!) then let us know and we’ll try and drum up enough interest to make it happen.
impact
www.bathimpact.com
Monday 18th January 2010
Media/Societies
Zap A new year
Reggae chartbusters, the revival selection and the Reggae Top 10, this is one show not to be missed. Tune in to listen every Monday at www.1449urb.co.uk
CTV news
URB are seeking two enthusiastic members to join the committee and get stuck in with the team. We are currently looking for a new Treasurer and Secretary. For descriptions of what the roles entail and how to apply for them email urb-manager@bath.ac.uk
Happy New Year! 2010 marks the beginning of a new chapter in CTV history: we have loads of new interesting projects in the pipeline, spanning every possible category. The news segment will continue and will be improved thanks to a proposed collaboration with impact and URB. Other projects include light entertainment series, live band sessions, sports coverage and event coverage.
Get involved with Bath RAG!
Student Sudoku created by Katie Rocker
The exam period is never anyone’s favourite time of year but there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of Refresh Week! After the exam stress and being rejuvenated by the inter semester break, the Students’ Union is giving everyone the chance to relive the fun of Freshers’ Week and be reminded of what the SU has to offer. URB will be in Elements on the Thursday between 12 and 4 so pop along and find out what we’ve got planned for the rest of the year and how you can get involved in it!
FEATURED SHOW: Roots Fusion with Tim Hollis Mondays 7-9pm URB’s most dedicated presenter, Tim Hollis, delivers two hours of the best in quality Reggae. Featuring new single and album releases from the UK, Jamaica, the USA and Europe, current tunes,
URB elections
Hanna Wade and Steph Moodie give us a history lesson Whether you want to organise an event, help collect at raids, advice on developing your own fundraising ideas, or just to meet new people, Bath Rag will offer support and guidance to help you get the most out of your volunteering experience! We’ll show you the ropes and get you experienced with planning and organising charity events, whilst of course having fun! But a lot of you will want to know what RAG actually is? RAG Chair Steph Moodie thinks that it can be summed up in a quote that she read on our UK RAG forum which simply said “the thing that combines us all is that we all want to raise more money for charity. Oh, and the pub!” I have heard many stories of the naming of RAG and to be honest, I can’t tell you which is correct because chances are they all have a little to do with it! Conveniently it provides us with the acronym “Raising And Giving”, which is the simplest way to describe what we do. But originally in the Victorian times, students would collect rags to clothe the poor, hence the term “RAG”. Another suggestion is that the verb “rag” means to pester someone, and RAG collectors would do so to make them donate to charity. However, I rather like my dictionary’s definition: “rag - verb: to tease or play jokes on. Noun a prank, especially one played by students.” Another tradition we have continued today....! RAG was originally born out of a rivalry between University College London and King’s College London, where alongside sports it provided
17
another outlet for competition as well as raising money for charity. Student RAGs became popular in the late nineteenth century and often involved cross-dressing.... well, some things haven’t changed! Social activities amongst students in the late nineteenth century were considered ‘serious and worthy’; however, it was students in RAG that started to change
Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without
In addition to our projects, CTV is also at the disposal of others: we are currently working with the Alumni Office and have in the past worked with art societies (Show in a Week) and even followed our students to Cologne to document the Social Entrepreneurship Conference. So if you’d like us to cover an event, send an email to ctv-manager@bath.ac.uk. If you creative people have any ideas or suggestions, or perhaps, just wanted to give us a hand, feel free to join us through BathStudent.com. We need you!
guessing. Enter digits from one to nine into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, and every 3x3 square. Enjoy this one, it’s compulsory.
this by creating events which mimicked official events. By the 1920s RAGs were organising kidnappings (although mostly of rival mascots), and collections for charity whilst dressed in crazy costumes, now known as Raids, one of the traditions that is still carried out today (they provide a great opportunity to get out of Bath and see other towns ...and go
blind willie MCTELL: founded a RAG in Georgia, or something.
shopping!) Since those days RAG now has a presence in most universities, and even some schools and colleges, and the competition is still around, whether this is having the highest collection total at a Megaraid (a street collection where lots of different RAGs join in), playing the best prank or winning an award at the National RAG Conference. I feel this is an appropriate time to mention that your very own Bath RAG currently holds the award for Best Large-scale RAG Event for our annual University Fireworks! RAG’s main aim is to raise money for charity, but we want to make it fun, so that is just what we do! Here at RAG HQ (often referred to as the RAG Office in the SU corridor 1E level 3) we are constantly planning
out new and exciting events for everyone to get involved in! As well as RAG week, coming up between 27th February and 6th March, our more well-known events include the University’s Family Fireworks, which you may have seen in November, the Sleepout, the Paris Hitch in April and the Duck Race at the Weir on May Bank Holiday. So if you want to help us put the fun into fundraising, do some volunteering and fundraising and make yourself stand out on your CV, then get involved! Our weekly meetings are on Tuesdays at 18.15 starting from the first week of Semester 2 so come along, meet some cool people and find out what we are all about!
impact
www.bathimpact.com
Monday 18th January 2010
Why I wanted to be a SABB
VP Sport James ‘Santa’ Christmas explains his motivation
I first encountered sabbaticals in my first year at Bath in 2004. The then SU President Martyn Essery lived in my halls and also was a member of the hockey club which I had joined. Straight away I got a very vague idea that such sabbatical positions existed. I have to admit I do not remember seeing any sabbs during my Freshers’ Week but then that probably had more to do with my lack of sobriety than that they weren’t around! In the second semester of my first year I was asked to be on the campaign team for future VP Sport Matt Rayner. Though I didn’t quite grasp the role that he was aiming to get I did make sure I read his manifesto and I did agree with some of his aims - though I’d
never thought about them before. Those ever present points such as improvement of communications and relations between the SA and the Sports Department. Even as a first year I could see this could be bettered. Also the aim to lobby the University for extra funding to allow more students to compete in what was then BUSA in order to be able to represent the University. Even with my limited experience of BUSA I was all for giving the same opportunity to more students. Ever since then I was aware of the position and little of what it entailed. My familiarity of the role grew a little in my second year as I watched Matt Rayner in the role and as a team captain got an insight into how the SA worked and the democracy within clubs. He always seemed to be enjoying himself in or out of work; something that really stuck in my mind. The following year I was away from Bath on placement before returning in my 4th year as Chair of the hockey club. Throughout the year I got to know the current incumbent Rich Howell and through constant contact with the SA office and SA meetings got to know more of the way the SA worked. At Christmas, after a manic
term filled with hockey club tasks and a little bit of studying, I took a breather and realised just how much I was enjoying being a club Chair and that it was due to two things. The first was that I enjoyed helping people and as a Chairman I was helping club members on an almost daily basis. The second was that the role revolved around something which I knew and enjoyed. Because the role naturally centred on hockey I enjoyed all the aspects of the job (organisation, communication, leadership, teamwork etc) regardless of what they were. Finances was something I found dull, but when they became finances of the club I was passionate about they suddenly became interesting. I made my final decision to go for the role after speaking to Rich Howell during the January exams. He really sold the role to me and explained that it was very similar to being the Chair of a club but instead of helping one club VP Sport helped all clubs and with the added bonus of being full time and outside your studies. This really did light my enthusiasm for the role and for all sports, which only increased when I started. Now I find that two years on it is still alight and burning strong.
Sabbs’ Corner
Use a USB Stick? Revision tips
from the SABBS
Daniel ‘Dot’ O’Toole SU President SUpresident@bath.ac.uk THE CHANCES are... you do! You may even own more than one. The convenience of saving your work on one of these very portable little gizmos have made the USB Flash Drive very popular in this day and age. Gone are the days of the floppy disk drive and the CD-ROM (thankfully!). Ever-growing in popularity and capacity, and evershrinking in size and cost, these devices are the now and the future. Some people decide to use these to transport big pieces of work from one PC to another. A lesson I learned last year, the hard way, was that big pieces of important work like a dissertation, literature project or thesis, should always be backed up on at least one PC and another external hard drive that is kept in a safe place! When I lost my USB stick, I managed to lose several pages of my project last year that wasn’t backed up. This was a major setback for me. Even though the work was fresh in my mind and I was able to rewrite the pages I lost fairly swiftly, I lost one of the most important and valuable resources of all... time!
Keeping a healthy lifestyle can help with revision James ‘Santa’ Christmas VP Sport SUsport@bath.ac.uk As exam time approaches and the stress begins here are a few tips on how to lead a healthy lifestyle which may also contribute to better revision and improved performance in exams. First of all eat healthily: Nothing fishy about this. The essential omega-3 fatty acid in oily fish such as salmon and tuna helps your brain to function properly. A regular portion of fish in your diet can increase your brain power in terms of concentration and intelligence - perfect for exam time. Make sure you get up early enough to have a decent breakfast. This will give you good energy levels throughout the day and enable you to last longer when pulling a long session in the library. Cereals are good because they are high in Vitamin B or alternatively try something high in protein like scrambled eggs.
Iron out the problems. Iron is essential for you to be able to concentrate for long periods, without it your mind will begin
to wander and the efficiency of your revision will suffer. If you’re struggling with your concentration try boosting your iron with red meats, eggs or leafy green veg such as broccoli. Have 5-a-day. Fruit and veg provide you with important minerals and vitamins which can increase brain power and memory.
for another day of revision If you plan to exercise during exams then take advantage of the free sports facilities on campus: Squash - although the courts will be out of action during exam hours they will be available for use between and after exams. Please note they are not bookable for the exam period. Tennis - if courts are available in the STV at the beginning of the hour then you can use them for free. Badminton - The Founders Hall will be out of action due to exams but the STV will operate as normal. Courts can be booked for free on the day you wish to play. Ring
Remember that you need a range of vitamins and minerals so try to have at least 5 different types of fruit and veg a day. Remember fruit juice or smoothies count towards this total so think about having juice instead of that fizzy drink. Secondly, you can get some regular exercise: Everyone needs to take breaks when they revise or the efficiency of their revision decreases. Why not plan your breaks and instead of watching TV do some exercise. This can increase the body’s level of endorphins which can reduce pain and induce a sense of wellbeing. This leads to an overall improvement of mood and energy levels, essential when there’s revision to be done. Exercise will also help you get to sleep at night and recharge your batteries ready
reception to book on 01225 386339 Swimming - the 50m pool is available for lengths swimming for the majority of the STV opening hours. Pick up a timetable from STV reception. Football - if the astroturfs ever thaw then these are also available for use on the hour if there are no prior bookings. Remember, with your SA card you can borrow tennis, squash and badminton rackets for free. Good luck to all in the exams!
19
Dot, Chemistry
I am a people person! I enjoy being around people and I feel there’s only so much revision I can do on my own, shut off from the world with my head in a book. One thing I really like to do is meet up with likeminded course-mates and hold group discussions. In these groups make use of the chalk/white board facilities available and go through past paper questions. It’s amazing what tips you will pick up working together.
Ben, Computer Science
I’ve always found it hard to concentrate with people talking around me, but I’m worse with silence so I listen to music when I read or revise. Every now and then I’d catch myself listening too much to the words. My solution to this was listening to classical music. It focused me perfectly on what I was reading and enabled me to work in almost any surroudning; in went the headphones, up went the volume and I was in my own world.
Rich, Maths
Have regular breaks - I liked to have 45 minutes work followed by 15 minutes break. Staying in a routine also helps, as you will become accustomed to when you should be working, and when you should be playing, get plenty of sleep each night, and don’t stay up until stupid o’clock in the morning revising. Your brain won’t take anything in if you’re too tired.
Santa, Natural Sciences 4gb £14.49 in the SU Shop I recently received a message from Security informing me that the number of lost USB Flash Drives in the ‘lost and found’ is continuously increasing. Security realise that these devices could be holding important information, and always check them to see if they can help anybody out by returning them. The problem is they have over 50 for this semester which contain no names/contact details. Can I recommend to all students that they keep a small document on the drive that’s called, “IF FOUND”. In this document you can put your name, email address, and even telephone number. This is a classic case of you helping us to help you. I hope you all back your work up, and that nobody loses any drives over the next few weeks... but be prepared for accidents and tired mistakes - add your contact details to the drive! Finally, I want to wish you all, on behalf of the Sabbatical Team and the Students’ Union, the very best of luck in any assignments you still need to hand in, and any exams you have over the next couple of weeks.
I have always tried to maintain a healty lifestyle during exam periods. This has helped me with my concentraton levels and ability to take information in. For more information and tips on how this can help read my article on the left.
George, Physics Go over past papers; even if you don’t manage to cover all the notes, make sure you look at previous exams in order to have a reasonable expectation of what may come up in yours. By revising past paper questions you force yourself to go over specific material in detail and learn how to put it into practice by answering a question.
Scarlett, IMML (French)
One way I revise is to learn chunks of information for an hour or so, and then write out what I remember on a plain piece of paper. I find this method quite useful, as once you’ve copied out all the information that you can remember you instantly know which bits you need to revise more thoroughly.
Want to ask the sabbs a question? Email sabbs@bath.ac.uk
impact
www.bathimpact.com
Monday 18th January 2010
21
International
Notes by a marmite-eating, button-loving, teetotal alien Josie Cox Deputy Editor If you type “What does it mean to be an international student?” into Google, the first search result that pops up explains that becoming an international student actually means “throwing a rock in the calm waters in your life.” The subsequent 46 million odd results are strongly dominated by tuition fees, anecdotes about visa problems and a range of documents about immigration programmes. Is this really it? When I moved to the UK as an international student almost four years ago, I was not confused by tuition fees. Visa problems never occurred and migration was a term that I primarily associated with birds. And all that malarkey about throwing a rock in the calm waters in my life? Well perhaps there is
an ounce of truth to that, but who wants their life to be a stagnant murky puddle anyway? I have a British name but strictly speaking I am an international student. I was born and raised in Switzerland by a Czech mother and British father. I had never lived abroad before starting university, but aside from taking some time to understand the concepts of things like Cuppa Soup, Ready Steady Cook and Top Gear I can’t claim that I suffered much of an alien syndrome. I had to get used to shops being open on Sundays, smoking being banned in public places, and recycling not being adhered to religiously, but apart from that the culture shock was rather moderate. Cats still meowed, dogs still barked and ducks still quacked. But there is one thing worth a mention: drinking.
Even Wikipedia sympathizes with my surprise: “While being drunk in mainland Europe is widely viewed as being socially
unacceptable, in the UK the reverse is true in many social circles. Particularly amongst young adults, there is often a certain degree of
peer pressure to get drunk during a night out.” I don’t drink alcohol. I just don’t. I can’t handle it and drinking turns me into a sobbing bundle of mess or a hysteric freak. Two looks that I am told don’t do me justice. Here in the UK, I get the impression that abstinence always has to have a good reason: being on antibiotics, alcoholism running in the family, religious beliefs. In Europe on the other hand, drinking is not a life style choice the way it is in Britain. So what I’ve learned is that every rose does indeed have its thorns. I’m not a geek and I’m not a prude. I can chill out and I can relax. I don’t drink but I do like Marmite. I hate Pop Idol but could kill for some Cadbury’s chocolate buttons. In other words, I may be an international student but I’m also a bog standard average Brit. Cheers.
International Students?
We need you!
Tell us about what your experiences have been like as an international student at Bath University. Don’t fancy writing in English? No problem! We’re keen to have articles in all different languages. Just write to editor@bathimpact.com or come along to our meetings on Tuesdays at 18.15 in 3W 3.9
22
www.bathimpact.com/ents
Monday 18th January 2010
Entertainments
IMPACT
Ents Editor Philip Bloomfield trawls the Muddy Waters of the internet for the new sounds of a new year...
Jay Electronica Jay has been buzzing around for two years now, garnering accolades from left, right and centre for his extremely left-field take on hip hop, but with his first proper release due out in 2010, this could be his year. The man married to Erykah Badu has an unconventional attitude to releasing music: most of his output consists of ‘leaked’ demo tapes and tracks that appear and then disappear from his MySpace pages. But given that he’s produced for Nas, and is turning heads from Questlove, to Mos Def to Talib Kweli, we’re hoping that his ‘multimedia release’ debut provides a little more flesh to add to those bones. In the meantime, download his free mixtape Act 1- Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge).
Joy Orbison: Roy-lly good. Joy Orbison We don’t know much about dance music. It’s sort of thumping beats and stuff, isn’t it? Anyway, a cluedup friend of ours sent us a link to this Joy Orbison track called ‘Hyph Mngo’ or something and it sounds absolutely cavernous. There’s this bit where he’s looped some odd vocal phrases that sound a bit like UK garage over and over, then he’s taken some skittering dubstep beats and laced them with space age synths and it all sounds absolutely fantastic. But we don’t know anything about dance music, so just ignore us and listen to everyone else saying that he’s the next big thing, ok?
The Trailer
The rum diary: I have a mancrush on both Hunter and Amber.
As is traditionally the case with the arrival of a new year, it’s time to bid farewell to the highlights of yesteryear and focus on hyping up anything of remote interest in the upcoming year. impact’s task in question is to gaze into our murky cinematic crystal ball and predict what will get you flocking through cinema turnstiles in 2010. In what comes as shocking industry news, the forthcoming year will mainly focus on sequels and remakes as the suits in the studios find it to be the only way to guarantee cinematic success (read: money). We’ll ignore the fact that they’ve been doing this for the best part of the last decade and focus on what we consider to be this year’s hotly anticipated films. Let the show begin! This year’s very early releases will be those vying for last minute Oscar nods, so if that’s your cup of tea be sure to catch Up in the Air with the dreamy George Clooney delivering his best performance yet. It’s directed by Jason Reitman of Juno fame, and focuses on Oscar friendly subjects like relationships, loneliness, and general pondering of human existence.
To kick off the big blockbuster releases in March is Tim Burton’s vision of Alice in Wonderland, complete with his distinct wacky style and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Depp playing an oddball character in a Burton fantasy film? It’s nice to see that they’re breaking away from the norm… Continuing in Johnny Depp events is The Rum Diary, which is an adaptation of the iconic Hunter S. Thompson novel about an itinerant journalist who tires of New York and travels to Puerto Rico. He drinks rum by the gallon and meets Amber Heard who is probably topless for no reason throughout the film. Win-win situation if you ask us! Screaming teenage girls will be wetting themselves come late springtime, when Sex and the City 2 marks its return to our screens amid a lot of annoying hype. I warn you now boys so you can get your excuses ready – possibly something related to the fact that the awesome Iron Man 2 is incidentally released around the same time. Shortly afterwards, both Angelina
Delphic If there’s one band we’d tip for bigger things this year, then it’s Delphic. Insofar as crossover appeal goes, these Mancunians are streets ahead of anyone else. New album Acolyte promises to be the first major release of 2010, and their mix of swooning synths, stuttering drums and glitchy sounding beats should turn plenty of ears. Check out the anthemic New Order-isms of ‘Clarion Call’ for a better idea of what 2010 in TV soundtracks is likely to sound like.
Gold Panda Now for one we really like: Gold Panda is a UK based producer whose tracks sound like warped tapes that have been left out in the sun too long. Slotting in nicely with the latest trend for warm-sounding, loose electronica, his track ‘Quitter’s Raga’ soundtracked our summer 2009. Here’s hoping a full album can soundtrack this summer.
M a y y o r s : Boris Johnson’s really let himself go over Christmas
Ellie: For her, every cloud has a Gould lining. We’ll get our coat.
Delphic: The New World Order Esben and the Witch Channelling equal parts Portishead and Swans makes this Brighton three-piece a strong contender for underground act of 2010. They’ve already gained plaudits from fellow darkwavers The XX, so maybe a little sorcery could see them reach the same giddy heights.
Ellie Goulding Another name that we just can’t seem to block off the radar: Ellie Goulding seems set to be this year’s La Roux and Florence & the Machine combined. Her edgy take on pop music incorporates influences such as Stevie Nicks, Bjork and Nick Cave. We’re not entirely sure that we hear all that in breakthrough single ‘Under the Sheets’, but what we do hear is festival crowds singing along to her every word.
Mayyors Normally, we try to keep our more off-the-wall recommendations out of these type of features, but Mayyors were literally biting at our ankles. We couldn’t get a moment’s sleep unless we elected to crowbar them into this list somehow. Mayyors are a disgustingly scuzzy punk band who sound like they’re continuously climbing up the studio walls. Why on earth that would ever make them worth tipping is beyond us, but if you want something loud, puerile and filthily detuned, there’s very little out there that’s better. Check out the video to ‘White Jeep’ for more info.
Our intrepid correspondents take a look at what cinema’s coming up in 2010. Rowan Emslie, Luke Walsh, Jen Wallace and Alex Drake are those in charge of the fast forward button this time round... Jolie and Megan Fox (now I’ve got your attention!) take time out of their ‘who’s got the biggest lips’ competition to feature in two respective bigbudget releases. In Salt, Ms. Jolie plays a Tomb Raider-esque heroine specializing in kicking ass whilst the foxy Megan joins bounty hunter Josh Brolin and John Malkovich in the wild-west as they try to win the Civil War in the exciting looking Jonah Hex. Otherwise, the massive summer blockbusters include a Robin Hood remake with Robin played by Russell Crowe as he tries to top his Gladiator performance with help of the only director who can put up with him - Ridley Scott. Then fresh off a little low budget film called The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan returns with an exciting sci-fi thriller called Inception featuring a blockbuster cast of Leo DiCaprio and Ellen Page amongst others. Rounding off the summer will be Spider Man 4 and Shrek 4 but they will have nothing on the overwhelming hysteria created by the final movie in
the Twilight series: Eclipse! Who will Bella choose? We’re team Edward if anyone cares! If this is all too mainstream for your liking and foreign cinema turns you on, be sure to catch Fela directed by the one and only Steve McQueen. The vibrant biopic is based on Fela Kuti, one of the most admired artistic icons of the last century. Apart from his role as the godfather of Afro-beat music he was a staunch figure of dissent for the brutal and corrupt regimes of his homeland Nigeria and other African nations. He used to employ over 90 people in his band so as to help his fellow Nigerian musicians as they wrote songs condemning the government and military. But if that’s too serious and you love the good old days of hand-drawn animation, look no further than Toy Story 3-D. Not only is this the next in the insanely popular Pixar series but it will also follow Avatar’s steps in being produced in beautiful 3D. To counter this, Disney has The Princess and the Frog featuring - shock horror, look how far we’ve come - a black
Jonah hex: Killed the whale before it finished swallowing him.
princess as the lead. The typical fairytale story is flipped when a normal girl kisses a frog prince, but instead of turning him back and undoing a wicked witch’s spell, she turns into a frog too. It’s set in the French quarter of New Orleans and features songs by Randy Newman. Finally, the most anticipated movie of the year in the impact office (yep, we said it!) is going to be Kick Ass. Based on an ultra-violent comic book by Mark Miller, it’s about a random teenager who decides to dress up like a real super-hero and proceeds to beat the crap out of his town’s baddies. Considering he’s got no super powers he often fails but manages to inspire a host of others to do like him. Be sure to find the trailer on YouTube to witness the hilarious ad explicit results in all their glory. Oh yeah, and apparently some movie called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released before year-end. But you probably already knew that. Enjoy!
Fela kuti: 20th Century Man
impact
www.bathimpact.com/ents
Monday 18th January 2010
The Good We’re not really sure if this is good or not, but it’s certainly bizarre enough to merit inclusion under the good. 81 year old actor Christopher Lee (Best known for playing the evil wizard who’s not Gandalf in Lord of the Rings) has announced in an interview that he intends to release an album of symphonic metal using Charlemagne’s life story as a backdrop. Times like this re-affirm our belief in reality and consciousness, because you just couldn’t dream this shit up if you tried.
It’s been a particularly bad few months for musician deaths: it is with a similar amount of sadness that we inform you of the death of lo-fi songwriter extraordinaire Vic Chestnutt aged just 45. We don’t have the room to do Vic justice, but the Athens singer-songwriter’s twisted take on life following a car accident that left him paraplegic saw many through tough times with a smile. Rest in peace.
The Bad
Christopher Lee: Heavy metal, soft vampire core.
And just when we thought it was safe to go back on the internet, the trailer for the new A-Team film wormed it’s way through the fibre optics and onto our screens. If you want to see how a jet fighter, a cargo plane, a parachute and a tank connived to leave our Ents Editor slacker jawed than Cletus the slack jawed yokel, you’ll want to head to this link now. http://tinyurl. com/a-teamimpact
It is with a great deal of sadness that impact reports the death of Memphis garage punk Jay Reatard. Jay was a wonderful, energetic and talented musician, with three fantastic albums under his belt who we had the privilege of seeing several times. Jay passed away in his sleep aged just 29. We’re not religious people, but we hope for his sake there’s a better place after this world. Do his family a favour and pick up one of his records next time you see one in store.
Entertainments
...The Ugly
Nu folkie harpie (see what we did there, ‘cause she plays the harp) J o a n n a N e w s o m has decided to release another album, which’ll probably excite some of you. Cheekily entitled Have One On Me, it’s due out February 23rd. Which means that after then, every mixtape we get sent will have some of her nails down a blackboard cat strangling vocals plastered all over it. Yuck. Indie rock poster pretty boys Kings of Leon have launched their own clothing line. Like most of their recent output, Surface to Air mechandise costs more than it’s worth and is a dramatic case of style over actual substance. £316 for a pair of boots isn’t ridiculous, but that money could be better spent on a revolver. And four bullets.
mr t: He gets on a plane, but it’s how he gets off it which is interesting
Oxford prog merchants Youthmovies have decided to call it a day. The much beloved underground act, whose stunning 2005 EP Hurrah Another Year… kickstarted the scene that birthed Foals and Hope of the States, left a statement on their website stating that the split was amicable and that they would be touring one last time before calling it quits. Here’s praying for a west-country date, because we’d love to give them the send off they deserve.
23
Kings of Leon: Target practice before we move on Stephanie Meyer
The Human Centipede: You really don’t want to watch the trailer Disgusting torture porn clip lowlight of the week: We thought what with Hostel and the Saw series people had had enough of horror that makes your stomach turn. Turns out we’re wrong, as new indie horror The Human Centipede (Series One) proves. The plot reads like something from Dr Mengele’s sickest nightmares: a mysterious German kidnaps two American students touring Europe and proceeds to sow them to a Japanese man, to create a human centipede linked via their gastric systems. We’re not posting the clip as it made us gag and cover our eyes, but the worst thing is that it’s title pertains to it being the first of a series. Shudder.
Alex Drake gets down in upper West Soweto Strung out by revision? Hazell Moore has with a bloodsucker of a second album... a rather novel solution to your woes... Vampire Weekend Contra XL Recordings Out Now
In their short two-year existence Vampire Weekend have impressively managed to gather as many fans as they have detractors who’d love the preppy popsters’ second album to fall flat on its face. Their debut amazingly managed to strike a chord with such a wide audience by being both fun and original. Their music appears simple but few have been able to copy their formula during their time off. I had my personal doubts about their follow up album in the lead up to its release but have been pleasantly surprised by the development of these hip New Yorkers. Contra sees Vampire Weekend continue their musical journey in Saharan Africa as the band’s influences in African pop and classical music remain. But what’s immediately apparent is that there is more range to this album than their debut. Even though it’s a ten-track listen the variety of songs is impressive, as they range from ska touches on ‘Diplomat’s Son’ to soaring electro numbers such as ‘White Sky’. Whilst Contra is less immediately catchy compared to its predecessor it’s because the band have matured and more is happening to their music. They have managed to find the right balance between euphoric anthems and more delicate
Vitamin String Quartet Various Out Now (on Spotify!)
Vampire Weekend: Still not as good as A Weekend At Bernie’s and controlled ballads. Ezra Koenig, their lead singer, has grown in confidence and still manages to come up with super lyrics and an abundance of peculiar references. The band have been inspired by keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij’s electronic side project with Discovery by adding synths to their keyboard arrangements and the odd dosage of autotune to Ezra’s vocals. It’s great to see they have grown since their debut and have added touches of new influences but at the same time remained true to their original cause. Vampire Weekend had managed to positively avoid Second Album Syndrome whilst developing and expanding their musical horizons. Contra isn’t as contagiously catchy as their eponymous debut but is full of beautiful baroque pop arrangements and jaunty indie-rock resonating over tribal beats. Their brand of upper west side Soweto remains unchallenged and just as fun as it’s ever been.
With the hustle and bustle of student halls and noisy flat mates, it’s easy to blank out these distractions with music. This is all well and good when you don’t have anything to concentrate on, but with exams looming many are at a loss with music as you find yourself singing along to lyrics. There is a remedy. Vitamin String Quartet does orchestral covers of all your major bands. We’re not just talking your regular Coldplay and Radiohead, Spotify shows covers of Mariah Carey, Plain White Ts, Sonic Youth and A Perfect Circle. I am such a big fan of the Vitamin String Quartet that I’m guaranteed you’ll find something you’re interested in. The Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers have hit my most listened to out of their collection, and I think they add so much more to the original tracks. The songs have so much more depth and volume, with more impact in all the right places. Where a track may reach a natural low, the strings reach it perfectly with subtle smooth tones that just completely relax and calm those pre-exam jitters. The instruments just seem to reach the whole scope of the songs, and add a whole new level to the tracks that
compliment it perfectly. I can’t guarantee such greatness from all two hundred and sixty five albums, but definitely check it out. So for those people desperate to not leave music for three weeks, check these out for all your musical/revision needs.
Sonic Youth and A String Quartet: A potent academic cocktail, by all accounts
Rafael Bonachela & the Sydney Dance Company The Land of Yes and The Land of No ICIA Arts Theatre 7th February, £7 students This February, Barcelona-born choreographer Rafael Bonachela who is known for bridging the divide between high and popular culture will be visiting Bath with his London based company and his first work since taking up the post of Artistic Director of the Sydney Dance Company. The show, which is described as his deepest exploration into the human psyche, the power of imagination and the body’s ability to give physical shape to memory, experience and emotions yet, is a collaboration with composer Ezio Bosso, acclaimed for his work across opera, film and dance as well as writing symphonic and chamber works. Critics of The Land of Yes and The Land of No, which premiered at London’s Southbank Centre back in September 2009, have described it as a work as powerful in its compassion as it is precise in its structure. An evening’s entertainment you’re bound to remember for a long time to come.
24
www.bathimpact.com/ents
Monday 18th January 2010
Entertainments
“Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage”
...and other words of wisdom. Steve Ramsey was laying around wasting valuable air, so we sent him to get some culture. Here’s his jaunty report. Twelfth Night William Shakespeare performed by TheatreSoc 8th December 2009 Asher ‘The Bard’ Roth is regarded as the father of modern literature, and Twelfth Night is one of his more famous plays, containing, among other gems, the now legendary line “time art not wasted, whereupon thou becom’st wasted”. Thus I was surprised that only twenty-five people showed up to see it on the opening night. This could be because of the Snow Ball, but also because I can only count up to twenty-five. It’s certainly a brave decision to take on The Bard, partially because after hundreds of years, his plays have mostly been done to death, but also because he wasn’t the plainest of speakers, and the dialogue isn’t particularly easy to remember or perform, as I found when trying to chant the entire ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy at prop Duncan Bell when he dropped the ball at a recent Bath rugby game. These difficulties were evident; there was a little too much hesitation and stuttering for my taste, giving the impression that performers weren’t entirely sure of their lines. As last
week I managed to forget my age, I feel a little cruel complaining about this, so I should point out that for the most part the mistakes were minor and fairly easy to overlook. The quality of acting ranged from passable to excellent, with Feste the fool’s energetic performance particularly memorable. Lawrence Whitaker as Malvolio was also interesting, particularly when prancing about the stage in yellow tights, which he seemed to enjoy as much as the audience. He delivered
ASHER ROTH: Loveth women, loveth drinking, loveth college (ay).
his lines well, though the combination of convoluted dialogue and Yorkshire accent reminded me a little of John Prescott; (“My position is that I want to make our position clear. The example in Germany is just one example, for example”). One area which I think let the performance down was the costume department, which provided an odd combination of The Rat Pack, jury duty, and prom outfits. This would work in Eastenders but, regrettably, made the 17th century prose feel a bit ridiculous, particularly when a smart-casual Orsino, reclining on a DFS leather sofa, said “If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.” This may sound a little harsh, but this is because I had my critic’s hat on; I actually quite enjoyed the show, and thought it was fairly well done. While perhaps not up to a professional standard, impact can hardly throw out criticism on that front; the show was more than impressive for a group of people who are busy trying to learn about celldivision, the Truman presidency, and the metaphors Hemingway uses to represent balsa wood.
Laurence Whitaker witnesses a 37 minute performance “not just of a poem but of a life and of civilisation.” The Wasteland TS Eliot, performed by Fiona Shaw Wilton’s Music Hall, London Some people had been waiting over ten years in the hope that Shaw would resurrect her emotional dramatisation of Eliot’s revolutionary poem. Allow me to set the scene. The East End of London, the last surviving original music hall, Wilton’s; crumbling plaster, dim light, the smell of mulled wine and the chatter of excited eccentrics, dusty wooden floor boards and then the auditorium, old wooden chairs scattered across the floor towards the high bleak stage then tilting the head to see up, up to the ornate carved ceiling, and shuffling in comes the surprisingly young, eager audience almost afraid of the impending start of the most anticipated event to celebrate the revived Wilton’s 150th birthday. For most of us the excitement was intangible: what were we about to see? Surely not just a poetry reading…the stage gave little clue as just three plain light bulbs hanging on black wire from the ceiling forty feet above lit up a stool and a turned over chair. Never before have I been to a performance where the packed out auditorium is silent with ten minutes until the lights dimmed, the air was heavy, tense, perhaps even nervous. Then the room went black, not just dimmed but pitch black, slow
footsteps shuffled on stage and the fresh hollow cheeks of Shaw’s face were evocatively illuminated. For the next 37 minutes of my life I was gone, drawn into the powerful emotionally charged existence that Shaw briefly gave to Eliot’s words. All his complexity, his obscurity slid away as Shaw’s raw voice and convulsive actions brought a defined meaning to each and every line in turn, perhaps letting out the heartbreaking emotion that Elliot
“Shaw’s raw voice and convulsive actions brought a defined meaning to each and every line in turn, perhaps letting out the heartbreaking emotion that Eliot had concealed beneath layers of intertextuality and metaphor.” had concealed beneath layers of intertextuality and metaphor. At times in the performance Shaw sat upon a stool, lit from beneath her face appeared in stark silhouette vast upon the peeling pastel back stage wall, with each line her face contorted, relaxed, tightened, her voice went from hurried excitement, to bitter shout, from love to hate, remembered joy to utter despair. For me this performance was a chance to tell one interpretation of Eliot’s work, it did not matter if it was the same as mine or even whether it was the same as Eliot’s, but for 37 minutes for everyone in that atmospheric hall
it was the only version not just of a poem but of a life and of civilisation. As the performance ended the stage went black, the applause hesitant at first became crazed, the lights rose and Shaw took a small modest bow and slipped off stage, the applause unrestrained went on, and Shaw was back on stage, the tears of exhaustion rolling down her face to the beat of the clapping hands, each time she returned to the stage her face grew more relieved, more drained…this was what acting, poetry, art itself was all about and I was one of a very lucky few to have witnessed it. An hour later in a nearby East End pub all that emotion and intensity was all but forgotten, but to use Eliot’s own words that evening will surely become a fragment I have shored against my ruins.
Fiona Shaw: said a poem then cried a bit.
IMPACT
Alec McLaurin reviews Avatar, and opens Pandora’s Box... Avatar 3D Dir. James Cameron Out Now
James Cameron is by no means new to success, his previous films Titanic and Terminator smashed box office records, and his new $500 million epic is on the way to doing the same. Avatar is set on an alien planet where man is mining for a valuable mineral, but the ‘locals’ aren’t too happy about it. The immediate reaction you get as you follow the main protagonist around the jungle of Pandora is the beauty and intricacy of the scenery. The meticulous consideration put into each shot and each new alien species is an amazing feat, and although it sometimes looks like Cameron was a bit too keen for the jungle-rave look, he created a world complete to the smallest detail, made possible with some of the best computer graphics ever seen. This sets Avatar out as something special by itself. Add an inter-species love story and a kick ass battle scene, and it equates to nothing less than an epic story. Nevertheless Avatar is a film for the masses and doesn’t try to be something it isn’t. It has something for everyone (action, romance, graphics, aliens…), even including modern day environmentalism into its undertones.
Pandora: Highest number of Eiffel 65 fans in the universe.
It is the embodiment of the produced and crafted Hollywood blockbuster that is made to appeal to a broad range of target markets, and as I’m sure its producers calculated, made to make them a wad of cash. In this way it is a great success, but it is not a great film. The storyline definitely doesn’t bring anything new, basically a sci-fi version of Dances with Wolves, taking away any originality that thinking up a new alien world creates, whilst any script that invents the term ‘unobtanium’ for a precious mineral, isn’t going to be revolutionary is it? Piled high with clichés from the army general pumped with unhealthy levels of testosterone, the CEO indifferent about raping the world, to the ignorant army jarhead turned moral zealot, it doesn’t exactly spell out originality. Avatar is striking and entertaining, it has the thrills and spills needed for a money making machine of a blockbuster, but it is not a good film in the conventional sense.
Circus Tricks We let Sam Foxman out of his cage and sent him to the theatre. Here are the results... Mem Morrison Ringside Bath Guildhall 11th November 2009 Mem Morrison is a performance artist who has been working since 1995 on highly personal pieces. These explore performance as a sort of empowering catharsis and are of varying scales and complexities. His latest show, Ringside, was brought to Bath’s Guildhall by the ICIA. We were herded in a small party “Sadly the meaning disappears somewhere in transmission” to the centre of a large room in the Guildhall where we were lined up - with very little explanation - for a photograph. I knew, at this point, how Tsar Nicholas II must have felt. We were given characters and asked to look into the camera. Following this unusual event, which was not far from the most entertaining part of the experience, the audience were separated from the people they had come with for no apparent reason. Nor did any reason become apparent. This confusing decision had a disorienting effect. One of the great joys of plays, or any sort of art, is to the shared experience. The show was almost entirely narrated by a voice which admitted no cadence fed through uncomfortable headphones. The visual performance did not entirely fit with the words and the show was principally either boring or frustrating, interspersed
with moments of outrageous self indulgence. Occasionally the visual metaphors were appropriate and one scene with a camera was quite entertaining; it was also the only time that the protagonist himself spoke. On the whole it was uninteresting and nonsensical. There was no discernable plot nor was there any clear point and the conclusion, though welcome, had no sense of finality. It is not clear what this show was trying to be. It reminded me somewhat of King Ubu, the celebrated absurdist masterpiece. It failed to engage either as a piece of performance art or as a piece of theatre. A supporting cast offered an occasional pleasant distraction from the main show, and no doubt parts of this production meant a lot to their author. Sadly their meaning disappeared somewhere in the transmission.
NICHOLAS II: Was looking forward to Mem Morrison, and disappointed to be executed instead.
26
www.bathimpact.com/sport
Monday 18th January 2010
Sport
January BUCS fixtures Sean Lightbown Sport Editor sport@bathimpact.com cup action means that whilst most sports have the time off, the Rugby teams are in action over the first week of exams. On Wednesday 20th January, the Men’s second XV travel t o Sou t hamp o n t o p l a y t h e i r counterparts, whilst the Men’s fourths also head down to Hampshire, this time to play University of Winchester fourths. The following week there are a limited number of BUCS cup and league fixtures taking place. The football Men’s firsts and Badminton Men’s seconds fixtures could still be rearranged.
TEAM
H/A
Competition
OPPOSITION
Badminton M1
A
Premier Men's South
SOUTHAMPTON
Badminton M2
A
Western Conference Men's 1A
BOURNEMOUTH
Basketball M1
A
BUCS CUP
BOURNEMOUTH
Fencing M1
H
Westen Conference Men's 1A
ABERYSTWYTH
Football M1
A
Premier Men's South
HARTPURY
Football M2
A
Western Conference Men's 1A
UWE
Football M3
H
Western Conference Men's 1A
BOURNEMOUTH
Football W1
A
Premier Women's South
BRUNEL
Golf 1
H
Premier South
EXETER
Hockey M1
H
Premier Men's South
LONDON MET 1'S
Hockey W1
H
Premier Women's South
CAMBRIDGE 1'S
Netball 1
H
Premier Women's South
UWE 1'S
Netball 2
H
Western Conference Women's 1A
HARTPURY 1'S
Rugby M1
A
Premier Men's South A
SWANSEA 1'S
Rugby W1
H
Western Conference Women's 1A
BRISTOL
Squash M1
H
Western Conference Men's 1A
UWE
IMPACT
Buccs ladies qualify for national indoor hockey league TeamBath Buccaneers Ladies’ won the West Indoor tournament at the weekend to qualify to play in the Women’s Indoor England Hockey League for the first time. It means Buccs are one of just a handful of clubs to have men’s and ladies’ teams playing in both the England Hockey League outdoor and indoor leagues. Buccs were handed a walkover against West Wilts for their first game in the competition, held on the 9th January at the University of Bath, and then drew 0-0 with indoor specialists Teignmouth. Taunton Vale, who won the tournament two years ago, were next up and continuous solid defending from defensive quartet Rachel Jackson, Rachel Clarke, Zoe Shipperley and Janet Gubbin, goalkeeping from Vicki Green and a goal from Mary Douglas
half way through gave Buccs a 1-0 victory. Buccs only needed a draw against Cheltenham, another handy indoor team, to qualify for the semi-finals but were not content to sit back, instead playing their best hockey so far, linking well up front to win 3-1 with goals coming from Douglas, Heidi Baber and Joey Slade. Buccs’ were rewarded with Firebrands as their opponents in the semis, where Slade bagged her second of the day to give Buccs passage to the final against former National League side Lansdown. Buccs came from behind to defeat Lansdown 2-1 in the final, goals coming from Jess Cremin and Shipperley. Buccs can be proud that they beat off such tough and experienced competition and now hope to do well in the EHL Division 2 South.
Race for the quarter-finals: competition hots up as IDFC group stages reach halfway point GROUP A
Played
W
D
L
+
-
GD
Points
MoLES
5
5
0
0
35
2
33
15
Economics
5
3
1
1
26
5
21
10
Mech. Eng.
5
3
0
2
25
11
14
9
Management
4
2
1
1
16
10
6
7
Sports Science
3
2
0
1
8
6
2
6
Comp. science
4
2
0
2
10
15
-5
6
Physics
4
1
0
3
6
24
-18
3
BUMS
3
0
0
3
6
11
-5
0
Chemistry
5
0
0
5
9
57
-48
0
GROUP B
Played
W
D
L
+
-
GD
Points
Team Maths
4
4
0
0
21
2
19
12
Architecture
4
3
0
1
28
7
21
9
Education
2
2
0
0
17
3
14
6
Pharmacy
1
1
0
0
8
1
7
3
Chem. Eng.
4
1
0
3
12
16
-4
3
Elec. Eng.
4
1
0
3
14
22
-8
3
Biology
2
0
0
2
0
11
-11
0
Nat. Sciences
3
0
0
3
1
39
-38
0
Sean Lightbown Sport Editor sport@bathimpact.com With the jostling for position well under way as we reach the final few furlongs in the IDFC group stages, it is still all to play for in the race to claim a coveted semi-final spot. Postponements have affected both groups, in particular Group B, so teams can look forward to a busy schedule when the competition resumes on 12th February. The fixtures that day will be; Pharmacy v. Architecture, Education v. Team Maths, and Natural Sciences vs. Biology. Team Maths kept themselves top of Group B, and maintained their 100 per cent record as a result, with a 2-1 victory over Chemical Engineering. Both teams played some good football, and the 1-1 scoreline was a fair reflection on both teams. James King slotted home a second half penalty to take all three points for Team Maths. Team Maths are one of four teams to carry through 100 per cent records into 2010; MoLES, Education and Pharmacy also hold this honour. Current table toppers Team Maths (Group B) and MoLES (Group A) will be looking carry on their good form to ensure qualification, and an easier tie in the next round. Competition for the top four positions is as fierce as ever; all teams are still in with a chance o f qu al i f y i ng . G ro u p A s e e s
Economics and and Mech Eng holding second and third place respectively. Management hold forth place, with a game in hand on those above them. Sports Science and Computer Science lie one point below them, just outside the qualifying places and will be itching to make up ground on the leaders with their games in hand. Last year’s IDFC champions BUMS continue to disappoint, losing their three games. A couple of wins however, will see them right back in the mix. Group B is equally tight. Top scorers in the group, Architecture, lie in second place behind Team Maths, three points above thirdplaced Education who have two games in hand. Despite having only played one game, Pharmacy still hold on to fourth place on goal difference, and will hope their games in hand can provide a platform to go on to bigger and better things. Chemical Engineering and Electrical Engineering match Pharmacy on points, and will look to win their remaining four games to give them the best possible chance of qualifying. Competition is equally fierce for the Golden Boot award. It’s a three way MoLES tie for the top spot, with Orlando Pedretti, David Mills and Michael Balling on seven goals each. Just behind is Management’s Simon Holdsworth with six goals, and Education’s Jason Hillis, who has found the net five times.
impact
www.bathimpact.com/sport
Monday 18th January 2010
The Six Nations: it’s all French (or Irish) to us Tim Leigh Editor in Chief editor@bathimpact.com
This side of Christmas, and with memories of the autumn internationals fading from memory (luckily for English and Welsh rugby fans), we can now all turn our attention away from Bath Rugby’s horrific season and consider the upcoming Six Nations campaign. As always, this year’s Six Nations promises to be both exciting and unpredictable, with France and Ireland favourites to win the title, and Wales, Scotland and England more unknown quantities. The Italians, much as I would like to say otherwise, are probably the most predictable, for while Scotland have recently been making progress under the guidance of the much maligned exEngland coach Andy Robinson, Italy sadly seem to be mired in mediocrity. Nick Mallett is a respected coach, and seemed to be making progress when he first took charge of the Azzuri, but stagnation, as so often with the Italian rugby team, has followed. As usual, they will have a very strong pack this year, led by their genuinely world class captain and number eight, Sergio Parisse. However, ongoing problems with their back division and a lack of a reliable fly half mean that they are my firm favourites to finish bottom of the pile again this season. Scotland had an amazing result against the Australians last autumn, but are still not scoring enough tries to be a real threat, and oddly chose to leave one of their genuine threats, Nick Evans, out of the autumn series. The Welsh were on the receiving end of what can only be described as a humiliation by an Aussie side angry after defeat at Edinburgh, and look a shadow of the team that won the Grand Slam in 2008. The return of the outstanding Lee Byrne from injury will certainly improve the balance
Sport
Rudman on form in World Cup, as Bath’s Sydney races to qualify for the Olympics Steve Ballinger TeamBath Press Officer
Luck of THE IRISH: Jonathan Sexton’s inexperience may prove a key weakness for Declan Kidney’s team. of their side, and if Shane Williams finds his form again then they will be side nobody wants to face. I fancy them to do well, if only because they have the best coaching team in the competition in Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards. The Irish look like genuine Grand Slam contenders once again, especially after the showings of their representatives in the Lions tour and a strong display in the autumn internationals. The fact that the talismanic Brian O’Driscoll returned to form in the autumn, with an excellent match-saving try against the Australians, is yet more cause for optimism. However, I would think, if he gets the nod, that the opposition back rows would be looking to target the relatively inexperienced Jonathon Sexton at fly half, and if they have success it is possible that the Irish could be hampered. That said, waiting in the wings is the evergreen Ronan
O’Gara, giving Declan Kidney an easy fall back option. Consistent long term performance and a settled side make the Irish my favourites for the title, but perhaps not the Grand Slam, seeing as they have to travel to Paris. This brings me on to the French, who are, of course, the biggest enigma of the rugby world. Anybody who witnessed the famous 1999 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand knows they are a team it is unwise to write off, and considering they are at home to both Ireland and England, they should be disappointed if they don’t better their performance of third in last season’s competition. The one unknown factor for the French is still their relatively inexperienced coach, Marc Lievremont, who has an unfortunate Rafa Benitez-like tendency of swapping round players for no particular rhyme or reason. As any Liverpool fan will tell you, this is a plan that does not breed success.
Now, only one team left to analyse, the English. I for one am willing to accept that Martin Johnson’s side will be a different proposition with the return of key players such as Delon Armitage and Riki Flutey. The unfortunate injuries to Phil Vickery and Andrew Sheridan, however, could undermine everything, for the backs can’t play without the ball. I am glad that Johnson has gone for a few left field choices in the backs, with players like Chris Ashton, Shontayne Hape and Ben Foden all in form and hopefully will bring a much-needed spark to England’s back line. I think England should be looking to put in consistent performances and will have done well if they come second again, though third appears more likely for a team short on confidence and consistency, particularly if they get off to a slow start and have the added pressure of media abuse to put up with.
impact’s sporting prophecies for 2010
Sean Lightbown lists the sports stories we can expect* for the following year... - “Alex FERGUSON (pictured) declined to comment about his side’s 1-0 defeat in the Champions League final which saw United concede in the eighth minute of stoppage time.” - “Britain’s Andy Murray has won the Wimbledon title to cap off a great run of form.” - “Scotland’s Andy Murray went out in the first round of Wimbledon.” - “The world was stunned last night as an anonymous woman made claims that Tiger Woods did not have extramarital sex with her.”
27
- “The future of darts is in doubt as three of the top five tested positive for anabolic steroids.” - “The Tour de France finished without controversy.” - “Rafa Benitez remained assured fans the run of form was ‘just a blip’ as his side lost 3-1 at home to Scunthorpe in the Championship. -“New Chairman Sheikh Suroor admitted to being a “lifelong fan”, and that it was “his dream to take the club to the top of Europe.” after
completing a multi-million pound takeover of Fleetwood Town.” -“Wayne Rooney lamented that “the individual is defined only by his relationship to the world and to other individuals; he exists only by transcending himself, and his freedom can be achieved only through the freedom of others. He justifies his existence by a movement which, like freedom, springs from his heart but which leads outside of himself.”, after Manchester United lost 1-0 away at Stoke. -“Out-of-retirement Michael Schumacher commented that some
of his younger adversaries ‘drive at reckless speeds’ and ‘just don’t give due consideration to other motorists who use the roads’ during the F1 Championships.” - “Portsmouth have been thrown out of the Premier League due to financial irregularities. The Irish FA have applied to Premier League authorities to install the Irish national side in their place. - “After frustrating bowlers for over a decade, Ricky Ponting has finally been captured by authorities and is due to be released back into the wild.” *maybe
Shelley Rudman, Britain’s Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games silver medallist, continued her impressive form by winning bronze in the sixth round of the 2009/10 Skeleton World Cup at Konigssee in Germany. It took the Sheffield-based athlete’s medal haul for the season to date to three following her silver at Lake Placid in the USA in November and gold at Cessana in Italy last month. Rudman was third after the first of two runs today and made sure of a medal with a strong second run. Her performance in Konigssee was enough to keep her in second place in the overall world rankings. Gold in Konigssee went to Canada’s Mellisa Hollingsworth, who strengthened her position at the top of the world rankings with first place in a new track record. Germany’s Kerstin Szymkowiak took silver. Britain’s Amy Williams finished 12th, despite producing the two quickest starts of the day. Thirteenth after the first run, her second run was the seventh fastest, but she had left herself with too much to do to secure a top-10 finish. She remains fifth in the overall world rankings. In the men’s race, also in Konigssee, Britain’s Kristan Bromley missed out on a medal by just four-hundredths of a second. Double Olympian Bromley was fourth after the first of two runs and ended the day fourth just 0.04 seconds behind bronze medallist Frank Rommel of Germany. Gold went to Latvia’s Martins Dukurs - his third victory of the season. He stretches his lead at the top of the overall world rankings, with another German, Sandro Stielicke, finishing second today. Britain’s Andy Wood came 15th. Meanwhile, British sliders gained further valuable world rankings points - used to allocate qualifying places for the up and coming Winter Olympics in Vancouver and a brace of medals competing in the Intercontinental Cup in Lake Placid, the USA. Ant Sawyer took silver in the men’s race, climbing from fifth after the first of two runs. Team-mate Adam Pengilly finished just outside the medals in fourth, with Chris Type coming joint sixth. Donna Creighton took bronze in the women’s race, with Bath student Sarah Sydney finishing 18th.
sport impact
Six Nations Preview Page 27
Strong showing keeps floorballers’ title hopes alive
rearguard action: ‘Keeper James Knowles and defenders Simon Atkey (centre left) and Tom Snowdon (centre right) try to stop an attack by Warwick 2nds. Bath won the game 5-1. Matthew Sellars Sports Contributor December 13th saw the STV host the most eagerly anticipated tournament so far for the University’s floorball teams. Having secured the tournament at Bath, rather than taking three teams to Gloucester, the turnout for all teams was good and around 40 players in all took part. The first game saw the contest most of the club were waiting for, as the 1st team took on the 2nd team, with the 1st team’s unbeaten record at stake and the 2nds looking to push for 3rd in the league. Both teams were close to full strength, and the game started very evenly, with the firsts having most of the possession but the 2nd team defence holding firm. In something of a shock, it was the 2nds who took the lead after Joe Darcy controlled and volleyed home the opener at the near post. This knocked the first team into action, and they responded with six unanswered goals in the remainder of the period, with goals from Tapani Saarinen, Henri Montin, Jon Soderberg, Jason Brim (2) and
Simon Povey. After this the remainder of the game was a much quieter affair, with the 2nd team scoring the only goal of the second period from James McDermottroe. With the 1st team maintaining possession for large periods at a time, the seconds began to tire in the final 20 minutes. This saw the first team add three further goals in the final period from Jon (2 more) and Rory Hawkins to end the game 9-2. The next team in action was the 3rd team playing against Warwick University 2nds, who had beaten them in their previous outing, but this time revenge was sweet as the 3rds were able to dominate the scoring, moving to a five goal lead after two periods thanks to goals from Dan Goord (2), Pete Warne, Mark Crabtree and captain Stuart Davey. It took 50 minutes before Warwick were able to get the ball past the excellent James Knowles, making his debut in goal, and pulling off a number of excellent saves. The only blot on the sheet was a penalty for Florian Richter for a spectacular but, unfortunately, illegal diving header, which his mitigation of “it was going in!” didn’t save him from two minutes
on the bench. The 2nd team returned to action with a game against the Warwick first team, who were short of players and so had taken the excellent provision of bringing in new players who were better than the ones missing, and were looking to keep up the pressure at the top of the table. The game started slowly, with the score 2-1 to Warwick after the first period, but as the match wore on the more experienced Warwick team were able to take advantage of space behind the Bath defence and steadily accumulated goals leading to a final score of 13-2 to Warwick, with the Bath goals again scored by James McDermottroe and Joe Darcy. After a break for lunch it was the turn of the first team to take on Warwick, in a first plays second clash at the top of Division 1 – the teams only separated by the three points Bath picked up last time the teams met. As they had shown against the 2nd team, Warwick were a very clinical side, and Bath would need to be very alert to minimise the goal threat. The game started well for Bath, with
captain Chris Harrison getting an early goal with a low shot into the corner of the goal. Warwick equalised almost immediately with a breakaway, but further goals from Jani Osterlund and Jon took Bath to a 3-1 lead after the first period. The second period was not one of Bath’s better ones, and they allowed Warwick to turn the 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 advantage with 3 short range goals. A final team talk let everyone know in no uncertain terms what was required, and in the last period they did not disappoint, producing four unanswered goals, three from the
unstoppable Jon Soderberg and the final one from Simon, to leave the first team topping Division 1 with a maximum 18 points and an extended six point lead over Warwick. The final game of the day saw the 3rd team in
action again, this time against Imperial College. Imperial took leads of 2-0 and 3-1, but goals (and memorable celebrations) from Pete Warne and Mark Crabtree squared the game at 3-3. It stayed that way with both teams pushing for a winner until, with 10 seconds left, Imperial grabbed a last-gasp winner from a free hit. This tournament leaves Bath in 3rd place in Division 2 but still well capable of pushing on for the title.
HOLY GOALIE: 3rd team ‘keeper James Knowles after a game.