The Bournemouth Rock – Issue 7 by Bournemouth Rock

Spike in spiking

More than 200 freshers say that they had their drinks spiked during the period of Freshers’ Fortnight CHARLOTTE DART

Tazz Gault

NEWS EDITOR More than 200 students from Bournemouth University say that their drinks were spiked during this years Freshers’ fortnight.

Bournemouth’s drug and alcohol advice team who were at the university’s Freshers’ Fair to warn students about harmful drinking, say numerous students approached them to say that they thought that their drinks had been spiked in the past two weeks in Bournemouth bars. The university has been made

FEATURES

aware of these claims but has not yet received any direct contact with students who have experienced this. “The drink spiking claims from the start of the new academic year has come from anecdotal evidence, but is very concerning. We have no record of students reporting such incidents to the Students’ Union,

but if we did, we would take them very seriously,” said Louise Bryant, President of the Student Union. “We direct our students to the Bournemouth University student portal, which has tips on personal safety, including when on nights out.” Continued on page 3

SPORT

BOOB TALK

EXCLUSIVE

Page 18

Page 39

Breast cancer charities and the gaps in the awareness market

Meet The Rock’s new columnist: AFCB’s Richard Hughes

US Election

BU Special Coverage Drew Sleep

DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR On November 6th the United States of America will be the focal point of the planet as it votes to determine its new President. Candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are in a political battle for the Oval Office which is currently too close to call. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have been campaigning hard to win the trust of the 50 states. In order to be president, Obama or Romney need to secure 270 votes across the USA, with each state worth a certain amount of votes depending on its population. Certain states, such as California, are a sure vote for the Democrats giving Obama 55 votes, whereas Texas are set for Republican giving Romney 38 votes. Approximately 110 votes are up for grabs from unsure states, meaning this election could swing either way. Over the past few months the two candidates have clashed in fierce debates in order to win over the trust of Americans. Recent polls show that both Romney and Obama are running almost neck and neck in the battle for the President’s office. Bournemouth University’s Media School will be broadcasting their own election coverage in the lead up and on the Election Day itself. Teaming up with the University of Massachusetts, the School will be broadcasting its coverage for the world to see.

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Thursday 25 October 2012

| The Rock

University up in league tables Alesia Robertson THURSDAY OCTOBER 25, 2012

News

Big issue’s big sandcastle build

Opinion

US election: Everything to play for

Features

Taming The Midnight Beast

Sport

Getting kids back on track

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If Osborne can't take advantage of advance fares, how on earth can he plan a national budget? @plashingvole

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In recent years Bournemouth University has steadily climbed up the university league tables. The university is now ranked at number 42 by the Guardian University Guide where in 2006 it resided at 80. The institution sells itself on factors such as its employability, its innovation and its diversity, the latter of which is due to the large body of international students and the multiple leading schools and courses. The School of Tourism is known for its expertise in research. The English Higher Education

Funding Council judged the university as a “centre of excellence in media practice”. The university has been known for its flagship animation and other courses as part of the Media School. This includes the Computer Animation degree which has world leading excellence in computer animation development, and Media School is home to the UK’s National Centre for Computer Animation. Dr Susan Eccles, Head of Education in Media said: “The way I was taught in 1990 is very different to the way I need to teach in 2012. “Here we manage to keep up to date with our professions, with our research and with the most effective way of teaching our students.” Dr Eccles said: “Now, the number of staff who are engaged in scholarly activities and staff qualified with

doctorates have increased. “I have never worked in any other university where the staff have cared so much about their students.” The University is also known for its research facilities and library. Karen Fowler-Watt, associate Dean in Journalism and Communication and former journalist for the BBC, said: “Research leads to a really high quality education, in which students are learning from learners.” In addition, the university offers many work and placement opportunities for the students during their study time as the course have close industry links. They have been designed to give students every opportunity of success in the future as well as a strong fusion between its academics and professionals in the outside world. This has been seen in the last

five years. Dr Eccles said: “We succeed by ensuring our academic staff are constantly both doing academic research and engaging with partners within industry.” The university stands out in the league tables as it embraces innovation and change. Fowler-Watt summarised this by saying: “People here don’t say ‘Oh don’t know about that,’. They’ll say ‘Yeah, let’s give it a go.” This year BU will be celebrating its 20th birthday of university status. The institute recived it’s university status in 1992. The university offers over 782 courses and has awarded honorary doctorates to notable people such as travel writer Bill Bryson, Blur bassist Alex James, fantasy author Ian livingstone and actor Martin Clunes.

Animation success goes global Julia Denni

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The humorous short film ‘Almighty Doodles’, directed by Simone Giampaolo, made it big this summer on the international stage by winning two awards. The short film swept up the Jury Award at the established FilmOneFest 2012 in the United States. It then went on to win the Audience Award at the One Minute Film and Video Festival of Aarau in Switzerland 2012. Giampaolo teamed up with fellow students from the Computer Animation Arts course including Danit Klibansky, Rochelle Flynn, Jack Carrington, Rob Stratton and Audio Technology students Andrei Leskovsky and Asha Blatherwick to produce the short film. The animation video explores an alternative approach to human beings being created by the ‘hand of God’. The story takes place in ‘God’s studio in heaven’, where he is working at his desk, selecting one by one the creatures he will bring to life and allow on Earth. The creatures, which are represented as simple sketches on pieces of paper, need his approval to come to life, but can also be rejected by ‘God’s holy stamp’. The project, which started as a simple university assignment, showcased the talents of Bournemouth University students. One student said: “We manage to show people our short films overseas and I think it is a good thing that our university assignments can be screened abroad. It shows the quality of work we are doing here.”

The story takes place in ‘God’s studio’ as he selects creatures to bring to life The short film took the team four months to produce whilst juggling with other assignments. They said: “We had to put this project aside and then work on it again once we had more time because our course is quite intense. “After a brainstorming week whilst locked in my room, I came up with this idea, which is not blasphemous, but it makes fun of the traditional way in which human kind was created in the Bible.” The team presented a variety of sketches, exploring the characters

and environments in which they would evolve, as well as a black and white animated draft of the short film, to their tutors before the idea was selected. “In general, I like making short films that are comedic with kind of a moral at the end, combining both the fun side and a little bit of teaching if it’s possible,” added Giampaolo. “The short film had very good critics in both festivals, which is now pushing me to enter more competitions and try in the UK.” The director-to-be, who first had a

SIMONE GIAMPAOLO

passion for comic books, specifically choose the animation course for the future prospects the industry has to offer. “The giant statue of Sulley from from the Pixar film Monsters Inc. at the entrance of the Media School is like a reminder of our aim as Animation students. It is really quite inspiring.”

You can watch Almighty Doodles on Vimeo

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The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

Spiked, not stirred Tazz Gault

NEWS EDITOR Continued from page 1 Bournemouth Borough Council has arranged a meeting this week to discuss the issue raised. “We have previously run awareness campaigns and bought hundreds of stoppers to put into bottles, but in this meeting we want to discuss the next step,” said Sian Jenkins, Community Safety Manager at Bournemouth Borough Council. “Unfortunately we do not have funds like those we have had before, but we are aware of the concerns and we want to look for the reality. We do actually run tests to see if the drinks are actually spiked. “We hope to organise some more awareness campaigns to help increase the safety of young people at night.” Jenkins is also heavily involved in the Safe Bus that has just been refurbished, which is run by a group of volunteers to support those intoxicated and in danger on nights out. Donated by Yellow Buses, the new bus has facilities including a treatment room and running water. The Safe Bus is positioned on Horseshoe Common on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm to 3am to help those in need. One 20-year-old student who wishes to remain anonymous had her drink spiked in Bournemouth

last week. She said: “I was going out for my friend’s birthday and there were rumours that someone was on drugs and was completely out of it. “At around 2 or 3am I remember my friend asking me where I had gotten my drink from as I had only been drinking wine, and not what I now had in my hand. “All I can remember is that someone passed me that drink. “After that, I remember very little. My friend had to hold me and walk me home. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t see where I was or who I was with and I was shaking. It was petrifying as I am normally so in control of myself - it made me feel so upset and very angry.” The most common reasons behind those wanting to spike a drink are for amusement, theft, or sexual assault and rape. Drink spiking is illegal, whether an attack or assault has been carried out or not. It can result in a maximum punishment of ten years in prison, but if assault, rape or robbery is also committed, the sentence can be even higher. Date rape drugs are the most commonly used when spiking drinks because they are depressants. They work by slowing down your nervous system, dulling your responses and instincts which then affect your memory. It takes just 20 minutes for them to kick in. Bars in Bournemouth say they do all they can to prevent such incidences from happening. One bar worker said: “If we notice a drink on the side that has gone flat and been there for a while, we will take it away to avoid anything like this happening.

Hectic nightclubs during Freshers saw a huge rise in the number of spiked drinks SOPHIE OUTEN “We also have awareness posters dotted around the bar, and if anyone seems in danger we would do our best to ensure they get home safe.” The NHS recommends that if you think your drink has been spiked, you must tell someone you trust, go to A&E, report to the police as soon as possible, and to seek medical assistance if you have been sexually assaulted. Lindley Owen, Consultant in Public Health for the NHS in Bournemouth and Poole said:

“We are currently on a fact finding mission and we need to find hard evidence, but this has not been forthcoming yet. “We want to urge students to take precautions, to drink from a bottle rather than a glass, and to not leave their drinks unattended. “Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, but in moderation is a social lubricant and we understand that – we aren’t saying that every student drinks recklessly. In fact, reckless drinking is declining, as is the use

of dangerous drugs. It seems that each generation is more switched on and intelligent than the one before.” A report in 2009 showed that over the last decade there has been a decline in the prevalence of drinking. The greatest change has been noticed in young adults ages 16 to 24 and 25 to 44.

For more information on how to keep safe at night, visit the University’s website

Bournemouth students’ secret shame Tayla Woodard

‘Bournemouth Uni Confessions’ Facebook page has seen students anonymously offloading their deepest darkest antics from their time in Bournemouth. The page has sparked widespread discussion on campus and Facebook and has received a lot of traffic, with over 1000 ‘likes’ just five days after its creation. Bournemouth is the latest university to copy the nationally trending idea, joining Southampton, Canterbury and Cardiff. Many of the crude confessions revolve around nights out in Bournemouth’s most

popular student nightclubs and the mishaps that follow. The page has received over 50 confessions so far and even the creator, who wishes to remain anonymous, has doubts over the legitimacy of some of them: The creator said: “I think a lot of the stories are true with some being totally false, just made as a joke for one of their friends. I’m not surprised at how horrific some of them are, as we all know from reading the stories that this stuff actually happens!” The page is showing similar popularity to last term’s ‘Bournemouth memes’ page. However, the creator has high hopes for the future of the page: “Hopefully most of the uni will be signed up to the page. The rise of this page will keep on growing, due to students always wanting to know dirty, naughty secrets. It’s human nature.”

Confession pages have become a nationwide trend where students reveal their secrets FACEBOOK

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Thursday 25 October 2012| The Rock

Bournemouth (not quite) king of the castles Editorial Team Editor in Chief Julia Denni MD Drew Hollinshead News Editor Tazz Gault Deputy NE Drew Sleep Opinion Editor Oliver Hill Features Editor Vikki Hutton Assistant FE George Underwood Sports Editor Jonny Byrne Deputy SE Tom Bennett Deputy SE Jasper Taylor Assistant SE Ash Hover Chief Sub Maisie Buchan Assistant Chief Sub Will Richards Head of Design N Briana Millett Head of Design O Shanae Staple Head of Design F Carrie Mok Head of Design S Rachel Currie Brand Designer Tom Allison Letters to the editor must be signed (including the course of Bournemouth University students, the working title and school for staff members, company name, or home address for individuals outside BU). Prior to the publication, letters will be verified for authencity by the editor. Anonymous letters will not be published. The editor reserves the right to edit all letters in regard to libel law, length, taste, grammar and punctuation.

Letters to the editor: jdennirocks@gmail.com

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Some of the sandcastles did not meet the correct size requirements to beat the current Guinness World Record CHARLOTTE DART

Roxy Watson Bournemouth’s attempt to beat the world record for the amount of sandcastles built in one hour has failed by a mere five. Despite a great turnout, the attempt, which took place on Saturday October 13th, saw over two hundred people gather on Bournemouth beach to try and build more than 683 sandcastles. Unfortunately, just 678 were verified as meeting the requirements of being 2ft wide and 2ft tall with four turrets each. The Big Castle Build was organised to celebrate The Big Issue’s 21st Anniversary. “We got very close to breaking it. People built an incredible amount of sandcastles and it was stunning to watch and be a part of,” said Stephen Robertson, Chief Executive of the Big Issue Foundation. Despite the disappointing result, Robertson is still pleased that the event will help raise awareness. “The point of the event, as well as being a bit of fun, was to spread the word and raise awareness about Big Issue Vendors. A lot of people do not understand that the vendors have to spend their own money on the magazines. The whole idea is they become economically active.” He added: “I hoped it would give the vendors a sense of community as people on the street often suffer with loneliness.” The Big Issue Foundation was

founded in 1991 and supports homeless people with health, financial, housing and aspirational issues, helping them on their journey away from the street. The charity relies on involvement from the public and following the event Robetson urged the crowd to “spread the word”, sharing their photos and stories from the day. He also told those participating that “everybody can get involved and hold their own Big Issue event, whether that be a party or a recordbreaking attempt.” As well having an aim to beat the sandcastle record next year, the foundation is holding a sponsored Knitathon on the November 17th. ‘The Big Knitathon’ intends to have the largest amount of people knitting simultaneously with the intention of securing a world record. There will be many Knitathon parties based around the country for people to attend, and everybody is welcome to host their own. Robertson reminds participants that: “All world record attempts must be recorded. This is to assure no cheating is going on.” The money raised by the events will go towards helping provide semi-permanent housing, access to training and employment opportunities, substance misuse treatment, and to support reestablishing family networks. Research carried out by the foundation shows that £150 is the average amount of money needed for a positive outcome for a person in need.

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The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

Gang terrorise residents

Criminals have been knocking on people’s doors and threatening to steal the cars of residents in the Winton area

Tazz Gault

NEWS EDITOR A group of door-to-door salesmen have worried residents from the Winton and Charminster area with their unusual sales technique. Some have arrived in pairs, and others on their own, carrying a bag full of cleaning products, ironing board covers and kitchen utensils to sell to customers. Concern was raised when these men refused to leave a number

of properties when told that the resident was not interested in purchasing any goods. “He put his foot in the door and wouldn’t let me close it,” said Rosie Sluman, 20, from Charminster. “He told me that he had been ‘a naughty boy’ and that I must buy something from him for him to leave. “It really did scare me, but I didn’t want him to realise. Everything inside his bag looked like they were stolen and there was something about him that made me feel uneasy.” Police have said that over the last few weeks they have received many calls

from worried locals over these visits, but they have yet to be tracked down. Reports have shown that when these men leave the properties, they allegedly threaten to steal the owner’s cars. “He said that I should buy something from him as that would be better than stealing our cars,” said Rosie, who currently lives with other students at the University. Another Winton resident who experienced this visit but asked to remain anonymous, said that the men seemed ‘suspicious’. “It took a lot to get him to leave

SCOTT CRAIG

my front door. I can imagine these sorts of calls could really scare some people, especially as they said they would steal my car.” Dorset Police have stated that writing down the serial numbers of your bikes and electrical equipment is vital in keeping your belongings safe. Without this, it is virtually impossible to track down your personal possessions. If you experience anything similar to that described in this article, contact 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Battle of the halls rages on at Chilli White Drew Sleep

DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR Chilli White hosted the popular Hall Wars event after the Students’ Union at Bournemouth University (SUBU) decided against it. The event had been hosted at The Old Firestation annually until SUBU decided last year to stop holding the night out. Although the nights were successful, SUBU decided to

disassociate itself from the event due to reported bad behaviour on the night. The Hall Wars event encourages students from all of Bournemouth University’s different halls of residence to attend in order to take part in competitions. The winners win a trophy as well as recieving massive pride for their home hall. Alan Dove, Commercial Manager for the Students Union, said: “Some people were going to the event to have fun, but some people had their own agendas to just behave

in ways that we thought were just totally unacceptable. “The union was not happy with the direction the Hall Wars event was going in, and we came to a decision last year to stop hosting Hall Wars from this academic year onwards.” The event is now hosted by Chilli White, a club in Bournemouth, and was devised by events organiser Voovents. A spokesman from Voovents said: “It was successful and things went really well. No trouble was reported during the night.”

Frontline Exhibited

The personal accounts of over 400 front line soldiers from Afghanistan will be showcased in the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum in Bournemouth this Autumn. The exhibition, entitled ‘In our own words: soldiers’ thoughts from Afghanistan’, was compiled by war artist Derek Eland, who asked service men and women to record their feelings about life in camp, being away from home and how they dealt with the daily threat of death. The exhibition stands amongst the works of previous war artists and displays 400 cards written by soldiers from The Irish Guards, The Royal Irish Regiment and The Parachute Regiment. The display also includes a ‘diary room’ where visitors can write replies to the accounts. Eland said: “I wasn’t interested in seeing things in Afghanistan and then creating artworks back in my studio in the UK. I wanted to create art which was immediate, raw and, above all, honest. I was driven by a need to help create a unique self-portrait of what it is like to be human in this extraordinary place.” Councillor Lawrence Williams, Cabinet Member for Corporate Policy Implementation at Bournemouth Borough Council, said: “This is incredibly timely in the run up to the planned withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2014.”

See page 26 for more on the exhibition interview with Derek Eland

Shooting school for the blind A new shooting school for the blind has opened near Wimborne. Canford School has modified their grounds to accommodate the blind and partially impaired so they can also enjoy competitive sports. Ray Gunning, the man behind the idea, set this up as his daughter, Laura, has been blind for 3 years. “We hope to have the club running every Tuesday and Thursday to provide those who are blind with a chance to take part in the sport,” said Craig Risbey, a senior helper at the shooting school. “Ray Gunning is the man behind this and he has been truly fantastic, an absolutely amazing man.” The guns use an audio signal that rises in pitch as the point of the gun’s aim gets closer to the target centre. Light is reflected from the target and picked up by a telescope-like sensor that converts this to sound. The project is supported by the Dorset Blind Association and funded by Talbot Village Trust.

6 US Election Special President’s first term Oscar Tollast

Obama, Obama, Obama. Yes we can. Hope. Change. Can you remember the optimism surrounding his 2008 presidential election campaign? Americans – along with most of the world – rallied around the former senator of Illinois, believing this one man could solve the country’s problems. Well, he tried to, and, to an extent, did solve some of them in his first term. Disappointed voters, however, wanted so much more. Is he solely responsible for this problem? In short, no. Working with Congress has proved troublesome, particularly with the Republican controlled House of Representatives. Obama’s supporters are not completely responsible for all this, but they don’t escape criticism for expectations that were probably too high. A common factor existing among criticisms of Obama is a lack of communication. Other writers may describe him as the greatest orator of his generation, but Obama hasn’t been able to get his level of success across to voters. Despite removing troops from Iraq, ending ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’, rescuing the banking and auto sectors and achieving health care reform, the word ‘disappointing’ is often used to describe his first term. The taking out of Osama bin Laden has been used as a metaphorical election bumper sticker for the campaign, which, whilst morbid, highlights Obama’s commitment to his role as commander-in-chief. A senior State Department official reportedly said: “The war on terror is over.” Whilst the war on a concept may have ended, though, there are still troops in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, Obama has taken appropriate measures concerning the US’ handling of the relationship between Iran and Israel, thus far preventing a serious conflict. He’s had a considerable amount of help from his Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, who is heavily tipped to be the Democrat Party’s next presidential candidate. Providing a first term report card on Obama, Roman Gerodimos, a senior Global Current Affairs lecturer at Bournemouth University, said that despite facing the worst economic situation since the Great Depression and a hostile congress, Obama has pushed through reasonable reforms concerning Wall Street, healthcare and nuclear proliferation. Gerodimos added: “Politically, he just doesn’t seem to have managed to appear strong. It seems like he has not found himself yet.”

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

Social media: another electoral swing state Will Richards

Obama has used Social media extensively

JASMINE SHADDOCK

Nothing in the world can really happen any more without social media being the first to snap it up and transmit it to millions via hashtags and trending topics. The upcoming US Election, being the biggest political event of the year, is of course entrenched in social media and, as both presidential candidates’ extensive use of it has shown, they know how vital it can be. In Barack Obama’s election victory year of 2008, Twitter was just starting out and Facebook had around 100 million members. Now, however, the former is approaching a quarter of a billion members, and the latter has very recently topped the one billion user mark. Some may doubt its credibility as a news source, but whatever the candidates post on Facebook or Twitter will be seen and reacted to by as many if not more people than the evening news can reach. Competitions offer prizes such as a chance to watch the next debate live with the Romney/Ryan team. The pictures of the Obama’s in their family home plastered over Facebook attempt to show the human qualities within these often

faceless politicians. This is much more effectively done through social media than behind a microphone in a conference hall. The battle of the heart, not the mind, then, could potentially be won in this arena. Social media is integral as ever in the reporting of the election by media outlets worldwide. Bournemouth University’s own Media School are producing a live broadcast throughout election night, and linking up with the University of Massachusetts for a trans-atlantic torrent of election night coverage. TV and radio packages prepared by students in the run-up to election night, and live broadcasts are providing the bulk of the material the university will be transmitting. Social media will be a vital tool in getting instant, brief and to the point information out to the world on the night. Lecturers Mat Charles and Ann Luce are heading up the night of broadcasting, with journalism student Oscar Tollast heading up the student-led part of things. Facebook and Twitter have been dubbed the ‘one presidential swing state’, and shows that, although many millions of Americans have made up their voting minds, the undecided few might just be persuaded by an inspirational Facebook post or a tweet that really hits them. It’s more important than you think.

Candidates: ‘Ask us anything’ Drew Sleep

DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR This year, presidential candidates have been utilising the social news and cat enthusiast website ‘reddit’ for live Q and A sessions. Barack Obama set this trend and surprised many at the end of August by hosting an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on the website. This paved the way for other candidates such as Gary Johnson, the candidate for the Libertarian party and the Green Party’s Jill Stein. Obama’s AMA was short but the President answered ten questions over various topics from the USA’s space program, to his own favourite basketball player. Half an hour after starting, Obama declared that he would be leaving to travel back to Washington in time for dinner. The President praised his reddit experience by saying: “This is an example of how technology and the internet can empower the sorts of

conversations that strengthen our democracy in the long run.” Romney, however, opened up to the internet, encouraging people to ask him questions on the Yahoo answers website, five months before Obama’s reddit appearance. He has yet to host an AMA, despite the website’s community calling for one. The session was not live and the questions asked were selected and posed to Romney by ABC’s Diane Sawyer in an exclusive interview. The session drew in over 5000 questions, which were mainly focused on his Mormonism and his personal wealth. A number of internet trolls also targeted Romney with obscure questions such as: “Are we being controlled by telepathic ducks in the future?” Romney’s ABC’s interview with Diane Sawyer ultimately did not feature many questions from the Yahoo website. Third party candidates, such as Jill Stein of the Green Party and Gary Johnson of the Libertarian party, have also hosted their own AMA sessions in order to connect with

the internet community. Libertarian Gary Johnson appears to be a reddit enthusiast, hosting multiple AMAs in an attempt to connect with the internet. Now we are edging into the final moments of the election campaigns, it is highly unlikely any of the candidates will host another AMA session for the election this year. The huge popularity of the Reddit website as well as the warm reception of the candidate’s AMAs, demonstrates that the internet is ready and willing to take part in live Q and A’s. It would be wise for political parties to take note, as this will prove to be a valuable tool for them in the future.

US Election Special 7

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

‘No matter which country you are in, you will be impacted one way or another’ Joseph Kent

David Cameron and Barack Obama during the Presidents visit to the UK in May, 2011 MEDILL DC

Throughout the night of November 6th, the UK media will be focused on events across the Atlantic. BBC News, Sky News, and even Bournemouth University’s Media School will be among those national broadcasters providing live coverage of the US election, when the race for presidency reaches its hectic climax. However, it is fair to question the actual importance of another nation’s presidential election to Great Britain. How relevant is the US election to us as a foreign nation? “No matter which country you are in, you will be impacted on in one way or another,” says Tim Knight, of public affairs specialists PLMR Ltd. Knight has flown to America to assist in the Democratic campaign in the state of Virginia. As the most politically powerful figurehead on the planet, the President of the United States has sizeable influence and cultural emphasis on foreign governments. “If you’re talking about leadership styles, the influence is quite significant,” says Knight. “[presidents] like Obama or Bill Clinton have a rockstar-like popularity, so when they visit the UK, the prime minister often seeks to associate themselves with them and hopefully get some of that stardust. “If you’re talking about political influence on the UK, obviously the office of the President of the United States is the head of the world’s largest superpower – although perhaps this

state has declined over the past few years with the rise of China.” Knight explains Obama’s presidency is “far less influential on the UK than his predecessors”, particularly in matters of military co-operation. The previous three presidents called upon Britain to join America in NATO wars, whereas Obama has not, having seen to be “far less aggressive in his use of American military power”. Although Knight suggests a victory for the Republicans could see an increase of UK participation in future US military operations, such a proposal could place the British government in jeopardy. In particular after the public backlash against Tony Blair’s alleged “blind following” of George Bush’s policies in the Middle East and war in Iraq. “If the US supports the Israeli strike on Iran, which is a possibility, and certainly if Romney wins the election, it is likely, they would request UK involvement.” In that sense, the outcome on Wednesday, November 7th could determine much for David Cameron’s government, not excluding his own bid for re-election in 2015. For now, however, the crucial Obama-Cameron relationship remains agreeable. In brief, while relations between Great Britain and the United States may not be as close as they once were, the alliance between our two nations is still one of the world’s strongest diplomatic ties, therefore the outcome of the presidential election will have strong and decisive influence on the UK.

TV host shares election experiences Chris Fay Stephen Sackur, host of BBC’s HARDtalk, was the BBC’s Washington Correspondent from July 1997 to 2002, during which he covered the 2000 US Presidential Elections and has interviewed Presidents George W Bush and Bill Clinton. Sakur spoke to The Rock about the importance of American Politics gobally. He said: “Despite the rise of China, the United States remains the most important economic and strategic power in the world. “For those reasons, if nothing else, we of course really have to care about who is making policy sitting in the White House in

Washington DC.” This year’s presidential election is rapidly approaching, and with it comes the ceremonial fan fair and media circus of the election cycle. It will be the 57th quadrennial presidential election. The two main candidates, Barrack Obama and Mitt Romney, represent two opposing views in US politics, differing primarily on economic and foreign policy. Obama the incumbent, must fight to keep his position as arguably the most powerful man in the world in a race that promises to be one amongst the most exciting to date. “It’s a very different system of politics. An awful lot of symbolic power is invested in the presidency and the president.” The United States presidential election is a political event unlike any other. No other nation’s

democratic process attracts anything near the excitement, aggression, venom and enthusiasm of this hardfought and ambitious race. “The president is the closest thing the US have to royalty, so not only have you got the play out of ideological politics as you have in our elections, but you have a greater sense of personality politics as well.” The election is not just an event for Americans, though it is a domestic political event. The race is covered by nearly every major media outlet globally and dominates the headlines and home pages of news agencies and social news sites worldwide. “You have to put on a big event to get peoples attention.” Already both camps have had their share drama and controversy, and with weeks to go this election is still anyones race to win.

Mitt Romney goes head to head with Obama

DREAMSTIME

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The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

Study shows unhealthy students Tazz Gault

NEWS EDITOR New statistics from Bupa have shown that only 18% of students eat the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day. Healthcare specialist Bupa has released a new infographic which revealed some shocking statistics on the health of students. One third of students haven’t visited the dentist since starting university, and only 51% have had an eye test. The survey also revealed that many students are unable to prioritise their health due to money issues and sticking to a budget. Of those asked, 41% said that they would have to ask their parents to pay if they had to fork out for a dentist bill, and 36% admitted that they would need to sacrifice books, food, clothing or a night out if they had to pay for an essential pair of glasses. Mental health issues and statistics also arose within the survey, showing that one in four students have experienced anxiety in the last year. 40% claimed that they would appreciate a chance to speak to someone for support, as one fifth said they have experienced depression in the last year.

“I used the counselling service in my first year when I was having problems with my housemates. It’s a big change to go from living at home your whole life to suddenly being on your own with a group of strangers,” said Zoe Altham, 20, studying Physiotherapy at Liverpool University. “There’s a lot of stigma around asking for help, but I don’t think people realise quite how many people are feeling the same.” Bournemouth University does run a free service for those who feel they need counselling. “We do have SUBU advice centre which is separate to the university and free for students. Those having stress and anxiety problems are more than welcome to go and talk to them,” said Ruby Limbrick, Vice President of Campaigns at the university. The statistics also highlighted the amount of exercise students take part in. Just 53% said that they have done over an hour’s worth of exercise in the past week, when the recommended amount is 30 minutes five times a week. The Government clarifies that this does not have to be all at once, and can be in short bursts as part of lifestyle, such as walking. “I would encourage students to use more of the sporting facilities at BU. We have a refurbished gym so that students keep themselves fit,” said Limbrick.

Only 18% of students eat the recommended five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day

SCOTT CRAIG

SUBU defends high shop prices Sam Williams

The store pays more for stock than larger chains so prices remain higher than most

SCOTT CRAIG

Bournemouth University’s Student Union Shop charges more for everyday essentials than Waitrose supermarkets, but student representatives have defended the shops high prices. In our first edition back in December 2011, The Rock reported that the prices in the student union shop were higher than at the chain, and figures show that little has changed in the last year. A 500ml bottle of Evian still water costs 60p at the Student Shop, but only 51p at Waitrose. A Monster energy drink is 21p cheaper in Waitrose. The supermarket stocks a large range of sandwiches and wraps that are mostly cheaper than those in the Student Shop. Many students complain about the prices in the shop, but still continue to buy expensive snacks and drinks in between lectures and at lunch. Harriet Fortune, a student at Bournemouth University, explained her issue with the shop. “I don’t like buying lunch from the student

shop as it’s quite expensive, but when I’ve got a long day of lectures or lots of work to do it’s the only option as it’s in a good and convenient location.” Ruby Limbrick, Bournemouth University’s Vice President of Campaigns, explained why the student shop cannot lower its prices. “Waitrose is a big supermarket and so can buy in bulk which decreases the cost of their prices. The Student Shop also buys in bulk but not nearly on the same scale. This means that large supermarkets can charge less as they are paying less.” All profits made by the student shop are put towards improving the services and experiences available for students at Bournemouth University. Money raised goes towards a variety of activities and developments for students, such as clubs, societies and the student radio station. “We want to be as friendly as possible to students and it is definitely a student shop. It is not just a shop located on campus. “It’s convenient, the shop offers everything a student could need while they are at university, and at the same time it gives back to the students who use it.”

news 11

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

Window display is the ‘breast’ ever A Bournemouth florist has caught the eyes of the locals with its unusual window display. The ‘Flowers at 166’ florist in Charminster has produced a beautiful pink flower bra to raise awareness for Breast Cancer Care. Sarah Patient, the owner, explained the reason behind the display. She said: “We had a very good customer who sadly died in her early 40s and left behind a husband and beautiful daughters. “We were thinking of doing something for charity and she sprung to mind straight away.” Queen’s Park councillor, Mark Anderson, said: “In the last couple of years Charminister has been good at building the community, especially after the set up of the trading community. Before, there was a guy with a barrow that used to clear the road. Now there is this display.” He added: “It is the little things that make life nicer.” Ten percent of the bouquet’s cost will go to the charity during the month and although the special flower bunch was only launched on September 29th, the shop has already had lots of interest. Patient said: “The reaction has been phenomenal. “It’s such a busy street and even if one person is prompted by the display to go and get checked it would be worth it.” Sarah Ward, 28, has been working at the shop for four years. She said: “I think the display is absolutely brilliant. We are well known for our window displays in Bournemouth and it is for a really lovely cause.”

‘Think Pink’ for breast cancer awareness month Jasmin Barrass

Becky Taylor is one of the store’s bra fitters

JASMIN BARRASS

October marks breast cancer awareness month and Debenhams Bournemouth is going the extra mile to show its support. Every year the company donates thousands of pounds to breakthrough breast cancer from sales throughout the store. Samuel Hill, Sales manager for the Lingerie department at the Bournemouth store, said: “We are donating 50p from every bra sold and 25% of sales on a range of items is going to the charity. “All of our bra fit specialists are extremely passionate about raising money for such a good cause and have all bought our Think Pink charity t-shirts to show their support. “Every woman who gets their bra fitted by the staff will also receive a free pink cupcake!” The store is hoping that by encouraging women to get themselves fitted they will raise even further awareness for breast cancer. The bra fiting experts at the store are all fully trained and able to give advice on both good fitting bras as well as checking for cancer. Becky Taylor, is one of the shop’s bra fitters. She explained why it is important to get yourself fitted.

“The main reason any woman should get fitted is comfort, seven out of ten women are wearing the wrong size bra and this is the main reason for most people’s discomfort. “Although breast cancer is not associated with wearing the wrong size bra, by wearing the correct size you will be fully aware of what is comfortable and normal in regards to your breasts. “By having this knowledge you will be able to recognise any changes in the breast more easily.” Becky thinks the campaign is going well and has found lots of women have been coming to her to get fitted. “We’ve had a big response to the campaign. Even though ‘Think Pink’ isn’t as big as some other breast cancer campaigns, people are still really pleased to see some of their money go to charity. “I think it’s really important for large retailers such as Debenhams to show their support for such charities. “Retailers have a large influence and by putting the message out there, whether it be on TV, online or in-store, that message reaches the customer whether they realise it or not.” Breast cancer affects approximately one in nine women in the UK.

Visit www.breakthrough.org.uk to find out more on the facts about breast cancer

‘Tea and Talk’ initiative to tackle mental health Vikki Hutton

FEATURES EDITOR A Dorset Mental Health Forum initiative has been awarded a £40,000 grant from Time to Change to pilot a new scheme across the county. Tea and Talk, developed by Mental Health Nurse Helen Hutchings, won the investment in a bid against 400 others. The scheme revolves around one hour workshops where people can discuss mental health issues over tea and cakes. Helen, a Bi-Polar disorder sufferer with previous experiences of psychosis, said she developed the initiative to help create mentally healthier communities, so more people could “understand the value of conversation and relationship in supporting both their own and the mental health of others”. As part of a week-long programme of events run by Bournemouth University marking World Mental Health Day last week, she was joined by Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change – England’s biggest campaign to end

stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health problems. “It sounds odd to say ‘Happy World Mental Health day’” Sue said, “but this is about celebrating all of the achievements.” Since Time to Change began its campaigning five years ago, as a product of MIND and Rethink Mental Illness, it has recorded more responsible press coverage of mental health issues and a 2.4% improvement in public attitudes towards the issue. Speaking alongside Sue at the conference was Jonathan Walsh of Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, as well as Jim Andrews, Chief Operating Officer at Bournemouth University, Becky Aldrige of Dorset Mental Health Forum and James Barton, Director of Pan Dorset Mental Health Services. The university’s later coverage – co-ordinated by Equality and Diversity Advisor Dr James Palfreman-Kay – included ‘Dispelling the myths of self-harm’, featuring a first-person account from staff member Angela Warren, and ‘What’s in a name; labelling and stigma in mental health’, by Dr Ciaran Newell, a specialist nurse in eating disorders.

Dorset mental health services, NHS and Time to Change back ‘Tea and Talk’

JAMES PALFREMAN-KAY

12 opinion

OPINION

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

Editorial The rise of the Basque Country

Julia Denni

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After decades of fighting for independence and a history of terrorism, a small slice of Northern Spain known as the Basque Country is booming despite the ongoing economic crisis. As a French woman, I understand you English types may never have heard of this funny foreign place before, but then you also think the whole world should speak your native language. The Basque Country, or ‘Euskadi’,

has a positive export balance and a tax system France could only dream of, which has helped deflect the severe waves of recession that are currently ripping through Spain. About a year ago, the separatist group ETA announced through a press release “the permanent cessation of its armed actions”. The regional elections campaign thus took place for the first time since the return of democracy, without the threat of attack. As this issue goes to print, only a few days away from the regional elections, the question of independence reappears and even though the ETA has ceased the militant battle, the divisions still persist. Madrid is already under pressure from the independent group of the Convergencia I Unio in Catalonia and doesn’t need the results of these upcoming elections to tip the balance ever further towards

devolved power. The situation is not as grim in Euskadi as it is in the rest of the country. Housing subsidies, scholarships and regional job seekers allowance are more generous here than elsewhere. The Basque Country spends 773€ a year per person. The unemployment rate is the lowest in the country and half the overall Spanish average. As for GDP, it stood at 31,288€ per head in 2011, the highest level in the country. That’s a pretty impressive set of figures for an area the size of Linconshire. The regional government raised the research investments to 37% in the Basque Country. Not that impressive until you realise that health and education budgets have not been sacrificed to do this, whereas in Spain they have been cut by a quarter. In times of economic crisis and gloomy prospects in Europe some

areas seem to be lifting their heads out of the water. A decade ago, everyone was focused on the promising future of the European Union. But a few years on, the mist of disillusion has set in, resulting in regions like the Basque Country lurching towards full on devolution. Our minds have flipped from viewing the world as our neighbour to looking after number one - just as Scotland and, to a lesser extent Wales - are becoming more and more independent. As European citizens are we ready to adopt an ‘every man for hiself’ attitude and dump our neighbours to protect our own countries, fully knowing that they wouldn’t survive without us? Just as the Greeks would be infinitely worse off without the EU and the numerous bailouts that it recieved, the Spanish economy would probably be in even deeper trouble had it not been for Euskadi.

US election too close to call Aaron Golightly COLUMNIST

Halloween

It promotes bad manners and paedophillia

Tweet beat

“

Romney's America is one of more terrfying prospects I could possibly imagine. I urge you all to take a closer look at who this man is.

ohillrocks@gmail.com

“

@adam levine

In theory it should not be possible for a leader as charismatic as Barack Obama to lose an election. Not since the days of Bill Clinton have the Democrats, nor indeed the electorate, seen a candidate ooze so much magnetism and charm. In 2008 Obama won states that had never been considered as winnable by his party such as Virginia and Indiana, both of which voted to return a Democrat to the White House for the first time since the 1964 election. In 2012 both states are back in play. Polling predicts a dead heat in Virginia and Indiana is set once more to be a ‘Grand Old Party’ stronghold as they currently lead in the state. Obama’s opponent in this election is 65 year old Governor of Massachusetts - Mitt Romney. The son of an actress once offered a $50,000 MGM contract, Romney doesn’t appear to have inherited any of his mother’s performance talents. During the Republican debates reporter John Whitesides witnessed that Romney appeared “stiff and awkward”. With only 36% of Americans believing the country is headed in the right direction, the door has swung wide-open for this unimpressive businessman to seize control of the White House on November 6th. Recently a secretly recorded address to party donors caught Romney accusing 47% of Americans of being too dependent on

government subsidies to consider voting for anyone else other than Obama. This then lead to a hastily arranged 10pm press conference at which the Governor attempted awkwardly and unconvincingly to backtrack. Left-wing media outlets in the US have attacked Romney for ‘flipflopping’ on various issues from health care to abortion. However, with growth figures continually being revised downward, it has almost become irrelevant what Romney says or doesn’t say on any matter. This will be a referendum on Obama’s handling of the debt crisis. When the President was sworn in, the yearly national deficit stood at $1.3tn and despite his pledge to half this figure over the duration of the four-year term, it still exceeds $1tn. More than half of voters expect this figure to rise if Obama is re-elected in November. Romney boasts that he would limit government spending to just 20% of GDP, and almost the same number of Americans who think the national debt will increase under Obama, have faith in Romney to deliver on his pledge. Four years ago it would have seemed inconceivable that the tidal wave of optimism that swept Obama to power could have been all for a measly one term presidency, something not seen since Bush senior, sandwiched between the falling dynasty of Reagan and the rising sun of the Clinton Empire. Just 3% separated the two candidates in the latest national polls before the first presidential debate. Neither candidate can afford any more slip ups and it’s likely that the victor will be the poltician who makes the fewest errors.

The US will elect its President on November 6th

SAM MATTACOTT

opinion 13

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

The true horrors of Halloween Oliver Hill

OPINIONS EDITOR

The concept of dressing up as scary beings orginated in Celtic Scotland

JULIET BELASYE-SMITH

I’m a fairly busy soul these days, so I love the idea of holidays that make us rest and bring us closer to our nearest and dearest. I’m talking New Year’s Eve, bonfire night and my most coveted of all, Christmas. In fact there’s only one annual holiday in all the 365 days that I simply cannot stand and that’s Halloween. I think it’s ridiculous, rude and promotes paedophilia. Before I delve into that can of worms I’d like to say a word or two on how we came to suffer this demonic, ghastly day. As we know, Scotland is reknowned for providing the world with many horrible things that none of us want - haggis, skirts for men and Alex Salmond to name a few. Because of this, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that Halloween is said to have been invented by the Scottish - as well as the Irish - around the time that Jesus Christ was away in the manger. Much like one of my lecturers last year, the Scots believed in fairies and got it into their heads that on the evening of the October 31st spirits of the dead would roam around looking for people to possess. To stop a ghoul attacking them, they cunningly disguised themselves as these scary beings, which is strange and quite imaginative seeing as they don’t actually exist. The rest, as they say, is history, and the whole silly escapade got exaggerated to the extent where we now have special edition ‘spooky chocolate mini rolls’ and slutty nurses among other things. Speaking

of which, what the hell does a seductive NHS worker have to do with an ancient Celtic tradition? My point on Halloween being ridiculous has been well and truly proven here, I feel. I also don’t like this holiday because I think it’s rude for snotty children dressed as Dracula to run around knocking on strangers’ doors demanding sweets, else they will somehow ‘trick’ them. A few years ago the neighbours’ kids came to my door doing just this and I told them I would like to opt for the trick. They were quite young and I was keen to see what they would do to punish my defiance. What they did was cry so I dished out some chocolate to cheer them all up. I was always taught to say please and thank you when I was a boy rather than bark demands at someone if I wanted something. Now I realise that statement makes me sound like a text book ‘goodietwo-shoes’ little boy, and I wasn’t. However, that’s better than being an evil brat that needs a good smack, not that you can do that any more. Saying that I’ve just finished being the pushy editor of a rather hectic radio news day, so it’s funny how you discard rules learnt when you were small. Let’s just say rudeness is for grownups that have a tight deadline and not for minors who want candy. Finally, and what seems to be most controversially, I argue that Halloween is essentially bait for paedophiles. I can’t think of any other thing that parents allow their children to participate in which puts underage kids, sweets and creepy strangers together. Not unless you count that dodgy Father Christmas at your local garden centre asking if you want to sit on his knee that is.

Sky’s Burley puts ego ahead of the story Ryan Burrows Being a journalist in the middle of a breaking news story is tough. It requires the courage to remain open-minded, thoughtful and tactful in terms of relaying information that is hard to pin down in terms of accuracy or sensitivity. The April Jones case was an ideal example of how hard it is to judge a developing story and how some reporters failed so spectacularly at it. One of these reporters was Kay Burley of Sky News. Already infamous in the media for her on-air gaffes, the Jones

story allowed her to add another cringe-worthy spectacle to the list. While presenting on the streets of Machynlleth, she chose to break the sensitive news that April Jones’ disappearance was to be treated as a murder case with the attitude of a hyperactive playground gossiper. It’s hard to imagine a more inappropriate and embarassing display of journalism. The story was relayed to shocked and distressed locals, some of whom were hearing the news for the first time, in a tactless manner. While the response of many was one of horror and disgust, there have been some who have leapt to her defence, arguing the case that the details were fresh enough to present problems for any reporter. This was true to an extent, but

surely this would encourage a reporter to be extra cautious and tread even more carefully than usual. This isn’t the first time this has happened on air, so why is it that Burley finds herself seemingly unable to manage in a live news situation without ending up in the centre of a storm? It can’t be an issue of inexperience. Kay Burley has been at Sky News since its introduction to British television in 1989, and before that worked for a long time in both local television and newspapers. In short, she has more than enough experience to recognise how to handle delicate situations like these. Burley’s problem is, to my mind, one that is suffered by quite a few too many professionals in

the business - that the news being reported comes second to the reporter’s own ego. Part of the modern day twist of news reporting and presenting is that it has been converted into a whole new form of theatre. Newscasters like to ham it up, reporters like to present their news stories as if they’re the best things since sliced bread. While this method may attract viewers, the rise in sensationalism and manufactured emotional drama makes reporting a lot more dangerous. It also draws a lot away from the less covered parts of the news - namely, the facts. I’m not saying we should go back to the days of newsreaders as stern, serious automatons. Part of the thrill of modern news broadcasting comes

from the ability to interest and excite the audience as well as to inform. Providing entertainment is almost always required nowadays. I also understand that pretty much all high-ranking news presenters and correspondents need to have an attention-grabbing style to inject a bit of personality into what they are talking about. In a way, they create their own brand to ensure that they set themselves apart from the journalistic pack. It would surely be better to allow talent for reporting and presenting, rather than talent for self- publicising and narcissistic behaviour, to be represented in the way we get our information today. I feel this would at least go some way to restoring journalism’s tarnished image.

opinion 15

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

Vs Stoptober helps smokers kick the habit Drew Hollinshead

Josie Pymm

Stoptober is nearly over, and Movember waits patiently, but has the NHS’s smoking campaign been successful? The NHS advert tells of the benefits of quitting, such as how your clothes will smell fresher, your hair will smell good and you’ll be able to smell the wonderful scents in life, and of course have more cash to spend. So the question is, has it worked? When I first saw the advert on TV, it made me want to quit smoking. However, I haven’t given up smoking completely. Instead I have cut down significantly and instead of buying 20 cigarettes a day (if not more), I have limited myself to ten cigarettes a day. You may read this thinking, ‘but you’re still smoking’. If you do think that I ask you whether or not you yourself are a smoker? The majority of you that think that won’t be smokers, or even a ‘social smoker’. I genuinely believe that campaigns like this one are helpful, whether smokers cut-down the amount they smoke or quit the dirty habit, progress is being made. Stoptober has also inadvertently appealed to people that smoke marijuana. A friend of mine has taken up quitting smoking during Stoptober. That’s quitting smoking the class B drug, rather than your average pack of Mayfairs. This is something that I believe is truly great. For someone to have a different response to the campaign is brilliant. Stoptober has persuaded many people to give up smoking without using the same old ‘you will die if you smoke’ campaign, and that’s the best way to do it.

Stoptober encourages smokers to quit for a month in the hope they will see the benefits VJERAN LISJAK

The Stoptober campaign gave the impression that 28 days of no smoking would lead to permanent quitting. I’m sure the packs and reports you receive are useful, if you don’t mind being contacted on your mobile by the NHS on the regular but let’s be honest, who wants that. Also, the ad campaign seems a bit odd, particularly the giant Babybel with ‘STOP’ printed on one side that’s been rolling around our television screens. Personally, I doubt a lot of smokers will reach the finish of this 28 day cold turkey treatment. In fact, research has shown that less than a fifth of the 54% of UK smokers who are actually aware of the campaign intend to quit this month. Having smoked for four years and starting at a young age, I can assure you that the majority of young smokers, particularly teenagers, do not have a chemical addiction. Many smokers have an addiction to the social situation smoking brings about. This may sound ridiculous, but how many times have you left the house for a night out without your lighter? The perfect, innocent opening line to spur on conversation is, without a doubt, “Have you got a light?” Trust me, I have fallen for it many a time. As a former smoker and having not smoked for two years, I can safely say that there will always be the temptation to smoke, whether you’ve quit for 28 days or 280 days. Usually when you’re sat outside your local pub at the end of a long week, with your mates at your side and a refreshing pint in your hand.

crawlies, mouldy carpets and uncommunicative landlords are your thing, no doubt will you find yourself at home in one of many student houses located here in sunny Bournemouth. The thought alone of being stuck in one of these situations above is bound to be enough to make any sane tenant shudder. Yet, unbelievably, one group of students were unlucky enough to have endured all three of these nightmarish scenarios when moving into their new house. After the students received a visit from pest control on discovering some unwanted guests already living in their sofa and bedroom mattresses, the unknowing students probably thought they had experienced all the horrors their new property had to offer. Yet, with the

open vents (designed for a nonexistent tumble-dryer) large enough to fit a generously sized rat through were cleverly placed in the same room as a heater. However, our landlady’s first suggestion of covering the vents with masking tape unfortunately did nothing to soothe our worries of a dilemma concerning either a mammoth heating bill, or an igloo of a house. We all recognise that student houses are not five star hotels, but like any other tenant, university students should not have to endure absolute hell holes of houses at ridiculously unsuited prices. Students, if need be, hassle your landlords. If you don’t then you need to be prepared to cope with the rather uncomfortable and incovienient consequences.

What estate agents don’t tell you Adele Couchman COLUMNIST

It’s fact; the cost of student accommodation is rising. While the hefty price of student digs may come as little surprise to many readers, the sorry state of their new home will. Understandably, many of you will no doubt expect swanky halls of residence or tip-top student housing to go hand in hand with that increasingly large sum putting you out of pocket every month. If you do (worryingly) find yourself categorised with this unsuspecting lot, I sincerely hope you reconsider your thoughts once finished with this article. If an infestation of creepy

newly acquired knowledge of the landlord not having stepped foot in the rented house for more than three years, a fungi growing carpet was therefore no shocking feature within this particular humble abode. If discovering a carpet saturated in damp upon arrival at your new property is not enough to alarm you, fear not. Unfortunately, the encounter of damp my housemates and I experienced seems to indeed outshine the mould infested carpet. Naively, us unsuspecting lot assumed we’d dodged the various demon landlords of Bournemouth by going through a recommended letting service, boasting to be driven in assisting students finding good quality housing at an affordable price. Yet, despite this comforting statement, an ill-fated housemate

of mine found that damp had not only spread itself in and around her room, but on her belongings too. A shoe festering in mould as a result of a damp ridden bedroom may seem slightly humorous, but is certainly no laughing matter. Damp in housing poses a serious health issue, being particularly dangerous for asthma sufferers and posing the risk of respiratory problems. Unsurprisingly, a mouldy pair of shoes is certainly not the only shining example to rain on BU’s parade when it comes to their mission in finding students “a safe place to live”. Alongside discovering hairs of the tenants who previously resided in our house, many other surprise features were still yet to be discovered within this ‘quality’ property. Much to our delight, two

opinion 16

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

Protest is pointless Josie Pymm

Following the recent trial resulting in Abu Hamza’s extradition, there have been some rather controversial debates regarding our country’s immigration laws and policies on extradition. Hamza’s lawyers had to postpone his extradition trial under claims that his health was deteriorating. The powers that be disagreed. For the average citizen, the opinion appears to be that Abu Hamza is, frankly, not a very nice person. Following that fairly loose statement, it seems to get a bit hazy. There are the odd few, unfortunately, that in my opinion are merely feeding the ego of said nasty people like Hamza. Prime examples of which are the protestors outside the High Court. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t actually support either side of the argument. My complaint stems from a theory that if there were no supporters of Abu Hamza’s views, he’d just be one mad pirate wandering the streets without a crew. If protesting didn’t exist, I’m

sure we’d have a calmer life. This may sound hypocritical, however my protest is being performed from my sofa with a belly full of lasagne and watching television. I have no plans to stand in the cold annoying commuters for a cause that will remain unaffected and will soon fade into Facebook history (Kony 2012 anyone?). Before this begins to sound like the rant of a cynical, lazy student with no political passions, I assure you I have considered protesting. For example, I did care when the university fees were rising. I was aware that clogging up the streets of London was going to achieve nothing but extra traffic though, and London has enough of that. I admit, Protests can be extremely successful too. We now have equal rights for women, but how much more can we achieve by standing outside and shouting? The issue surrounding whether or not extradition is a fair punishment will probably never be resolved. My personal opinion is that I assume anyone found breaking the laws of this country will be punished accordingly, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. Unfortunately, when religion is involved in any debate, there will always be protesters on both sides. Unless we all agree on the same higher power, which isn’t likely.

Robyn Montague COLUMNIST

Protesting in London only achieves extra traffic

NIGHTFALL404

I’m a language salvanist

Perhaps road workers need to invest in a dictionary NICOBOBINUS

Sinead Lambe

Call me a prescriptivist but I find it an inevitable impossibility to comprehend the reasoning behind the way youths today communicate in such a profound manner. Experiencing first-hand the ills of modern language is a prominent

occurrence for me as I walk past children on their way to school. Day-after-day I am subjected to the woeful language that is deemed perfectly acceptable to the young. To me it is as important to write and speak in Standard English as it is to be able to read, write and speak in the first place. Why waste time with this rigmarole of teaching grammar just for it to be mocked and incorrectly applied. I have seen shop signs claiming that “purchised” sale

Apple loses its way but will recover

goods cannot be refunded and heard children replacing “for sure” with “fo sho”. I hasten to add that this incoherent communication extends further than just spoken examples and the odd misspelling in advertising - the utmost naivety is taking form in the next generation’s written language. Online messaging and texting are brainwashing youths into finding it perfectly acceptable to replace correctly spelt words with jumbles of letters resembling nothing but ignorance. A study at the University of Sheffield found that 17% of 16 to 19 year olds are functionally illiterate equating to 1 in 5 teenagers being illiterate when they leave school. Unashamedly, it is easy to point the blame at the accessibility to technology our youngsters have, but there is an obvious lack of suitable teaching from the beginning. If our children are being trained by the inadequately trained and ignorance is breeding ignorance, then what hope do we have of preserving the English language in all its glory? The much more likely outcome is that we will breed a generation of robots with no regard for correct

communication, interacting in what can only be referred to as shoddy, illiterate lingo. The underlying factor is nonstandard speech which is so prominent within the young it is starting to impact their education. The evidence of this came when a 13-year-old Scottish schoolgirl handed in an essay written completely in text message shorthand, much to the bewilderment of her teacher. To what extent can this be regarded as progress when the illiterate of today are making a mockery of the language whilst travelling backward? Times are moving fast and the ways in which people communicate are becoming more technological, but the drastic lack of coherent education setting the blueprint for adolescence has got to worry you. David Crystal, a descriptivist writer, argues “youths now can be enthused about their native languages and language diversity’. Well to me there is a difference between diversity within language and preposterous youth speak, but then again I am just a language ‘salvanist’.

Since the ‘failure to launch’ drama surrounding the new iPhone 5 as a sleeker, faster and cooler phone, people are questioning if Apple have bitten off more than it can chew. I disagree. Technology has become a part of our everyday lives and I think we’re expecting too much too soon. As with all great innovators, Apple thinks outside of the box and trys something new once in a while. Sometimes it doesn’t pay off but it’s a simple case of ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.’ The new 3-D mapping system has caused a lot of techno twits to complain that the company is slacking. Google and Apple aren’t the best of buds which is why they chose to install their own replacement maps app. Yes, it’s not brilliant and looks as if cars are melting into tarmac but Chief Executive Tim Cook has issued several apology appeals in response. On a positive note the new iPhone is thin, fast and fashionable unlike its Samsung Galaxy S3 counterpart, which looks like it’s dosed up on steroids to play with the big boys. But bigger isn’t always better. Even with the Samsung Galaxy reigning supreme on the uSwitch leader board, the iPhone 5 is a close second despite the bad press. Cook has even recommended that iPhone 5 owners install rival software as a quick fix. So if they’re getting to the core of the problem what’s the issue? If Android and Blackberry see this as a bite into Apple’s customers, they’ll only get a toothache from the tough skin of the company’s followers.

opinion 17

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

Protest is pointless Josie Pymm

Robyn Montague COLUMNIST

Protesting in London only achieves extra traffic

NIGHTFALL404

I’m a language salvanist

Perhaps road workers need to invest in a dictionary NICOBOBINUS

Sinead Lambe

Apple loses its way but will recover

So you think pink is not your colour ? Thursday 25th October 2012 | The Rock

FEATURES

18 features

A “woman’s disease”. That’s how Harvey Singer described his illness when he found out in October 2008 that he had breast cancer. Now along with his sister, Vicki, who also suffers from the disease, he’s the face of his own charity – “HIS” – to raise awareness of Breast Cancer being non-gender specific

Giulia Rodilossi

Time to change

Fighting mental health stigma

20 War art

From the hearts of our soldiers

The reality is that the majority of people associate breast cancer solely with women, and very few understand that it affects men too. The male figures may be far short of the female statistics for diagnosis, but the lack of awareness means that even if the percentage of men diagnosed with breast cancer is smaller, it is often more fatal for the larger majority of them. The organisation’s website and blog is full of useful information about understanding why and how male breast cancer affects men’s lives. Unfortunately, HIS realises that not even oncologists and physicians are always aware of male breast cancer. That’s why it’s important to be sure to notice every little change the body may have; it could be a response to this particular disease. Every year almost 400 men in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer. Most cases are identified in older men (60-70 years old), but the disease may start at any age. The percentage of risk for all ages is approximately one in 1,000. It can seem like small numbers, but as Singer says: “There are huge obstacles being a

NUMBPHOTO

vhuttonrocks@gmail.com

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to find out which of the two you may be affected by with a simple mammography. Gynecomastia is the most frequent condition affecting men, with estimations that about 64% of men suffer from gynecomastia at some point in their life. It might be caused by a series of previous conditions such as history of liver problems and heart problems; medications and drugs can also be a cause. Luckily, it’s highly curable. Breast cancer, on the other hand, is a lifethreatening disease which feeds off oestragen and progesterone cells and potentially takes over primary organs. Another common misconception is to think that only women have oestragen cells. Even though the two genders produce different levels of oestragen, men have these cells as well, and that’s exactly what the disease is looking for. Since the percentage of women suffering from breast cancer is significantly higher, much research has been done into the female

One of the main reasons for lower survival rates is the lack of research and studies involving men

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How to check your chest

man with a ‘woman’s disease’, and it goes beyond the normal stress and tribulations that consume all cancer patients.” Aside from having to deal with tests and a medical system mainly designed for women, Singer had to face several social obstacles. “I do have some ‘so called friends’ who found it comical or humorous and may consider me less of a man, but from day one, I have never viewed my disease as anything more than a life threatening, life changing event. In fact I talk about it and continue to talk about it with anyone involved with me on a personal level.” As such, along with working for prevention and dealing with the obvious physical illness, considering the psychological side of the condition is very important for “HIS” breast cancer. Most male breast cancer cases tend to be benign. The most common breast condition for men is called ‘gynecomastia’, which involves abnormal enlargement of the male breast. It is often very painful. On the opposite side, male breast cancer is often described as a painless, discreet, breast mass. It is very easy

Step 1 Begin by standing in front of a mirror with your arms on your hips to tighten your chest muscles and inspect yourself. Keep an eye out for any changes such as dimpling, swelling and areas around the nipple. Raise your arms above your head and continue to examine your breast and armpit areas.

Step 2 Move around the breast in a circular motion with the fingertips. You can perform this in either an up and down method, a circular or a wedge pattern, but try to be consistent using the same method each time. In addition, check the nipple area for any discharge. Complete on both sides.

version of the disease. However, there are not enough men with breast cancer for researchers to fully understand how the disease spreads and works inside a male body. These are all obstacles to those men who are affected by breast cancer. “One of the main reasons the survival rates for men with breast cancer are lower than women is the fact that men don’t see the warning signs or ignore them, and men are not able to be regularly screened,” says Singer. “The other main reason for lower survival rates, in my opinion, is the lack of research and studies involving men.” October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month sees HIS double its efforts and focus on prevention. On the website there are all types of tips about making powerful food choices, the right exercises and even meditation. There is also a medical advisory board with professionals ready to answer, review and supply information. Since the organisation was created, many men found courage and support through sharing their personal experiences and reading what others have been through. ‘HIS Breast Cancer Awareness’ is a powerful outlet for those who feel stigmatized by society and by their own misconceptions. Prevention can save your life. It’s up to you. hisbreastcancer.org

Step 3 You can also examine your chest lying down. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and bend your right arm over your head. Then with your left hand’s fingertips, begin checking by pressing all areas of the breast and armpit. Move the pillow to under your left shoulder and repeat the same process.

features 19

The Rock | Thursday 25th October 2012

The nation may be glowing magenta for Breast Cancer Awareness month, but this is not just a women’s issue. Meet the charities trying to reach out to the gaps in the awareness market, so that both men and young people take the message on board. CoppaFeel!’s founder, Kristin Hallenga, was 23 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the eight months and two misdiagnoses it took to get it identified, it had spread to her spine. What began as a campaign to prevent others going through this ordeal is now a successful charity educating young people about the need to be Breast Cancer aware

Fran Tatman

In recent years, CoppaFeel! has gone all grass-roots, mobilising an army of students to spread its message to young people across the country. The Student Boob Teams, dressed in big smiles and giant strap-on nipples (you can’t miss the point they are making), are the next generation of awareness advocates. Joined on their training days by CoppaFeel! patron Fearne Cotton – just one of the charity’s famous friends – the girls and guys are on a mission to educate their peers. Alice Ryland is the Student Boob Team Leader at Bournemouth University. “My role is to organise a team of helpers in activities and events at Bournemouth University to help raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and generally just to spread boob love around campus! “The boob team’s goals involve getting people signed up to the newsletter and monthly boob check text message service, whilst raising awareness through activities such as bake sales. “We want to plan a tournament of ‘Boob Ball,’ like dodge ball but with boobs instead! We also hope to attend club nights armed with the infamous CoppaFeel! stickers, run around university dressed as boobs and organise various sponsored activities.” Alice hopes that the Bournemouth team will be able to recreate the success the campaign has had nation-wide in gaining support. At the top level, Boob HQ have recruited famous faces as CoppaFeel! advocates. “I think the celebrity support certainly helps the message to reach young people and students,” Alice says. CoppaFeel! has both Fearne Cotton and Dermot O’Leary as its patrons, with no end to the list of celebrities keen to support the cause.

Fearne Cotton, patron of the charity, joins Student Boob Teams members for a game of Boob Ball COPPAFEEL! Everyone from Dawn Porter to Ed Sheeran and Newton Faulkner are proud to be spotted copping a feel for Breast Cancer awareness. For Alice, these famous faces help to further the charity’s message. “The celebrities involved are ones who young people tend to look up to for advice and inspiration so hopefully this really helps the message hit home.” Sarah Magee, Student Boob Team Manager at ‘Boob HQ’ in London, agrees. “Because our target audience is 18-30, celebrities really help with the publicity. “Some people may think that’s bad but ultimately if it is getting our message out there and to the right age group, it can only be a good thing.” Some celebrity stunts in honour of CoppaFeel! have caused controversy before now – Mel B’s sensual topless photo for Cosmopolitan magazine (which showed her husband holding her boobs) angered critics who considered it a sexualisation of the

issue. The editor of Cosmopolitan at the time, Louise Court, responded in an article for the Daily Mail, saying the image was never intended to

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Everyone from Dawn Porter to Ed Sheeran and Newton Faulkner are proud to be spotted copping a feel for Breast Cancer awareness

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be disrespectful to women battling breast cancer, or to those who had lost loved ones to the disease. CoppaFeel! and Cosmopolitan had wanted to make clear that partners are often the ones to discover the warning signs of breast cancer.

It was founder Kris’ idea to shoot the image in the style of an iconic Rolling Stone cover, of the same nature, featuring Janet Jackson. In Louise’s piece for the Daily Mail, Kristen said: “Getting your partner to help isn’t only fun but potentially life-saving. Sexy or not sexy, this awareness and education can prompt another young woman to start checking her breasts. “Telling young women about the dark days of chemotherapy is not going to persuade my generation to check their breasts. If anything, it will scare them into doing nothing – and the fear of this disease must be stamped out or many young women will be diagnosed too late, as I was.” Some of the most surprising feedback that Sarah gets from the Student Boob Team at university fresher’s fairs echoes Kristin concern that many young girls say they are worried about checking their breasts for fear of the worst. Sarah says: “We want to lower the scare factor of breast cancer so we

can get everyone talking about their boobs and checking them regularly. It shouldn’t be something you’re worried about doing, you could be scared of something that potentially isn’t even there, but it’s so important to check.” Awareness is gradually being raised, and the student boob teams – though relatively new – are a big part of that. In the last 12 months CoppaFeel’s presence in universities has grown hugely, from 17 boob teams last year to 36 in 2012. The charity’s work extends far beyond the walls of higher education though. Aside from all their swanky celebrity-studded campaigning, the Boob Team are busy spreading the message nationwide through other means. Hundreds of supporters across the country are getting involved, whether it’s events like ‘Baking for Baps,’ ‘Bikin’ for Boobies’ or ‘Jogging for Jugs’ – CoppaFeel! is inspiring positive action. At the moment the charity is focusing its mighty efforts on making checking your boobs part of everybody’s daily routine. It’s the thinking behind their cheeky new campaign launched in student bathrooms nationwide this summer: ‘CoppaFeel! in the shower.’ Sarah says: “Ultimately if you’re aware of what you’re body feels like, then you can go and get it checked out if you feel a difference… that’s all we’re trying to get across.” And as far as that ‘any excuse for a party’ reasoning that us young’uns hold so dear, CoppaFeel! is definitely on the same page. This summer saw the third annual Festifeel, a festival all about boobs with the likes of Noah and the Whale performing, raising over £10,000. CoppaFeel! speak our language, and their message is clear. Wherever young people flock, at festivals, on campus or in coffee houses, there are boob team members demanding that you cop a feel, all for a good cause. www.coppafeel.org

20 features

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

A cuppa of utmost importance

A problem shared is a problem halved, or so they say. The question is: who has the biggest problem with mental health? In Dorset, a new scheme is asking exactly that, sparking a social conversation that is way overdue Vikki Hutton Features Editor Tea and Talk… it’s a simple enough concept, a little idea which sidesteps small talk. So why don’t we do that more often, why don’t we take the opportunities to talk about the things that really matter? Because if you think about it, when we’re not grabbing a cup on the go or catching up in the two minutes we make for each-other when we cross paths in the street, we actually have the chance to spend some time really getting to the heart of these things. It’s easier not to. That’s probably the simple answer in a lot of cases. Whether we’re the sort to share our feelings or keep them firmly tucked away behind our stiff upper lip, there are a lot of things that we take for granted as issues we don’t need to engage in. Sometimes it’s because of our lack of understanding, or shyness about asking questions, or because we don’t want to take ourselves out of our comfort zone, but, in my opinion, none of those reasons, though human nature, are quite good enough to justify avoiding an issue that matters. I will go ahead and put my neck on the line here and say that this cup of tea, effectively orchestrated for me by the people of Time to Change and Dorset Mental Health Trust to mark World Mental Health Day on October 10, was the most important Earl Grey I’ve ever been presented with. Under no other circumstances can I imagine that you might be treated to such honesty with your elevensies. I didn’t even do any of the talking, but therein lies the genius of the scheme. A spot of tea is a shared experience – it’s as much about listening as anything else. I listened, and I learned. It’s very sobering to hear someone talk frankly and straightfaced about serious encounters with mental illness. In this instance, I watched along with an entire room full of people as a bubbly, professional woman began the afternoon’s talks by sharing her past experiences with psychosis. A week later, covering a similar event, I listened as an inconspicuous woman at the table next to me stood up and spoke quite matter-of-factly about her

history of schizophrenia. It was an odd thing to listen to. A part of me sensed that I should be feeling really socially awkward about this, but the bigger part of me was appreciating how normal it was allowed to seem in the context of Tea and Talk. Then I realised that, actually, this is how it should always be, because it’s not just one in four people in that room who suffer from mental health problems, it’s one in four people in every room.

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I watched as a bubbly, professional woman began the afternoon’s talks by sharing her past experiences with psychosis

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They left no time for small talk, and having learned from that, neither will I now. The simple fact is that we owe it to each-other to talk about this, because it is an issue that affects us all. If you’re willing enough to be open to listening, then anyone with mental health problems can count themselves lucky to have you to talk to. But it goes both ways. If anyone you know (and you do know them, it’s just whether you know this about them or not) is willing to talk to you about their mental health problem, count yourself lucky because it’s a real opportunity to learn and to grow. I see it as a test of our mettle, as individuals, about the lengths of our sympathy for others, as well as an indicator as to how willing we are to acknowledge our own vulnerability. One in four people will experience mental health problems. Is it easier to shut that statistic away than admit how it could one day, or in fact already, apply to us? Ignorance is not the answer. The more you listen, learn, and understand about life with mental health problems, the clearer you see the individuals who have been brave enough to open up about them. It will challenge your own perceptions about mental health and you’ll never take another good

mental health day for granted. As far as equality goes, it goes without saying that we owe that to each-other, and Time to Change is working away to tackle the prejudices that still exist not only socially, but legally as well. From the facts that show that nearly three in four young people fear the reactions of their friends when talking about their mental health problems, to the legislation which still prevents anyone who has been sectioned for a mental health issue from ever serving as a judge, juror or school governor, regardless of their recovery since. If you put it in a historical context, thinking about how similar limitations and stigmas were attached to black people, women, people with learning difficulties and homosexuals – sectors of society discriminated against for being exactly the person that they are – you appreciate the urgency with which the attitudes towards mental health need to be addressed. Would changes in those earlier issues have occurred without a shift in the local, national, and global consciousness? Surely that is evidence enough that the things that we talk about, engage in, learn from and grow to understand do make a difference. We’re all human, and we have proven before now that we can embrace our differences and celebrate the extraordinary from any walk of life. It may feel easy to ignore an issue like this, as easy as something so simple like putting the kettle on. In this case, only one of those actions has the potential to actually change anything. It’s a big ask for the humble cuppa, but it’s necessary.

Helen Hutchings and Sue Baker at Tea and Talk JAMES PALFREMAN-KAY

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The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

On their latest venture

We’re going to test if we can really shift the attitudes of young people without mental health problems towards people with mental health problems. That’s exactly what we’ve been doing with adults – and we’re a long way off having completed the job, as you can imagine, Time to Change is on a long old mission! Our new programme, which is being piloted in Birmingham and the West Midlands, is for 14-18 year olds. We have a new three minute film aimed at that audience and tested with them, called Stand Up Kid. You can see it on the website – most people end up in tears. It’s not a national campaign yet, it will have to wait until after we pilot it to see if things are effective as we want them to be. But it’s got to be directed at younger generations so that they don’t have to go through the awful silence around these issues.

On young people and mental health

One in ten young people experience a mental health problem. We spent a lot of time doing research on young people with and without mental health problems before we even developed anything. What we found is that actually they are a lot less stigmatising and more open minded. In time, people tend to get more limited in their understanding of the issue and less tolerant, more discriminatory – we know there’s an opportunity there to address that. We understand that it’s not necessarily their peers that are causing their stigma and discrimination towards the issue of mental health, but the adults around them. So whether our audience is really the young people or, in fact, their teachers, parents – anybody who has an impact on their lives – there’s definitely a lot we can do to help change attitudes.

On famous faces and mental health advocates

I loved Stephen Fry’s tweet for World Mental Health Day (October 10th), #ProudToBeMad! He and Ruby Wax are big celebrity advocates, I know that Ruby has made it a huge focus of her life which is really helpful to the campaign – she still calls herself the pin-up girl for depression – that’s how she starts her comedy shows! We recently partnered with Channel 4 for a series of programmes profiling mental health problems, and one of the stories from that which really stood out for me was Alistair Campbell’s. The way he talks so explicitly about his breakdown without the worry – because he had already been supported by Tony Blair when they were working together and the detail he went into was remarkable. He was that confident to share it and I think that was quite a huge contribution to anti-stigma work. He’s continued to be very active ever since and is a very articulate supporter of ours. We now need to get ambassadors who will reach an even wider range of young people from a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds. We’re working on that – it’s quite hard to get people to speak out.

Time to Change has a big task on its hands. Its mission is to get the public talking about mental health in a bid to end stigma and discrimination, and as Director Sue Baker tells Vikki Hutton, so far, it’s working. But there’s far more to be done.

Stats on Mental Health

22 the average age of onset of psychotic symptoms

Nine out of ten people with mental health problems experience stigma and discrimination

Chances are you probably work with someone with a mental illness

one in four Only

employers said that they would knowingly employ someone with a history of mental illness

More than

one in four

people with severe mental illness report being shunned when seeking help

44% of

people with mental health problems report discrimination from GPs

#WorldMentalHealthDay @stephenfry It’s #worldmentalhealthday today - thinking of everyone with problems. Let’s at least start by addressing the stigma #proudtobemad I’ve been there. Many have. Only openness and awareness and talking about it can help. #SuicideAwarenessDay @rubywax For those unwell lets call it mental illness day @paulscates No more hiding for Mr Scates... It’s time to stand up and be counted. There’s no shame and I’m no longer afraid

@campbellclaret ‘everybody gets depressed’ says @indiaknight What? Like ‘everybody gets cancer?’ Everybody gets fed up. That is not depression

When the press get it wrong

We have a platform to address issues that aren’t being dealt with properly, and we try and do that in a supportive way. Take India Knight’s recent column in the Sunday Times for example. It was wrong for her to say that there is no stigma around depression and to try and silence ‘misery lit’, by suggesting that celebrities who are speaking out ought not to be cashing in on it. If one person with a profile talks about mental health, it will help hundreds and thousands of people to talk about it. The press is not always intentionally negative, it’s often just misguided or ill informed. But we do have to challenge it because that sort of stuff can do a lot of damage, it can silence a lot of other people with high profiles who were thinking of speaking out because of all the hard work everybody else has done.

To the next generation of journalists

Be responsible, be accurate, don’t reinforce negative stereotypes and don’t be lazy – look into the issue. You don’t have to be a mental health expert to be aware that some words are offensive. We stress that it’s important to avoid the pitfalls of really obvious stereotypes which automatically link mental illness with violence. We have seen an improvement in media reporting where there’s more anti-stigmatising stories featuring people with real-life experience. More coverage of those issues means we are getting a better balance. We know that we have got to work with journalists to ensure responsible coverage of these issues. We can help with really useful tools which make it easy to get it right. When we see good practice in the press, and there is a lot of that out there, we like to highlight it. We have seen a lot of great features in health collumns and magazines lately. Obviously, news journalists are under a lot of pressure, and they cover crime as well as disasters and tragedies. I think our news generally can be very negative! With features you can get into a bit more detail and you can usually interview someone with lived experience. News reporting has got better – it is less stereotypical and there’s less use of words like ‘psycho’ and ‘nutter’ and ‘crazed’ and ‘loony’, and more thoughtful reporting whatever the events are. But we’ve still got work to do.

On support from the government

David Cameron and Nick Clegg have both been really supportive of our cause. Mental health is not a political issue, all parties need to back it. They can back bills and push through laws that will help us on our way to ruling out discrimination for future generations and for everyone. Currently there’s a motion to overturn legislation which dictates that no person who has been sectioned can go on to serve as a judge, juror or school governor. It’s great that we have MPs on our side across all parties.

22 features

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

makes its comeback As Facebook, the world’s most successful social network, celebrates 1 billion monthly users, a former front-runner is planning its relaunch. Can new co-owner Justin Timberlake bring MySpace back? Joanne Ball brushes the dust off her old account to see if it’s worth saving If you want my opinion, MySpace was over by 2008, if not earlier. Technically speaking, it reached its peak in 2008 with 75.9 million unique visitors in the US alone, but within 12 months it would begin its decline into the dark shadows cast by the success of its most compelling social network rival to date: Facebook. In the wake of the new alphanetwork, MySpace was sold to the Murdoch empire, and the precious users that stayed loyal faced a dashboard of increasingly frequent cyber tumbleweed. In 2011, it was sold on to Specific Media at a major loss. Meanwhile, Facebook continues to excel, celebrating 1 billion monthly users just this month.

Is it too little, too late?

For most of us wandering down a MySpace memory lane, there is little else to greet us but albums of our sixteen-year-old selves shooting profile pictures from a top-down angle, picture edits which through

older eyes now look juvenile and silly, and a waft of nostalgia as you realise how few of your ‘top friends’ you are still in contact with. Signing back into my account, I’m entering a virtual ghost town. The only sign of life is from the few posts on my dashboard that have come from users synching MySpace with their other social network accounts - every single one is subtitled with “from Twitter”. Scrolling down, there remain the famous last words of so many former MySpace fans – the “I’m using Facebook so much more now, come find me on there” posts – the death sentence for MySpace back then. There are only remnants of my old account – the song I used, my old profile picture, the quote alongside it. Of the more recent messages that are displayed on my page, the majority belong to the profile of Darren Shan, author of popular horror and fantasy books. Was he the sole survivor of my MySpace friends? It’s ironic that I thought

to tweet him for the answer, and perhaps quite telling that he replied the same way. “For me, MySpace became a mess, of interest only to musicians. I was a big supporter, but was forced to move on. It’s history for me. I’ll be focusing on Twitter and Facebook

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There’s a waft of nostalgia as you realise how few of your ‘top friends’ you are still in contact with

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for the time being.” I can’t help but think he hits the nail on the head when it comes to musicians. By the time that Facebook was really taking

off, what was left of MySpace had become an online hub for the music community. It was this unique selling point that allowed it to retain a place in the social media tables, and it’s the very thing that could be its saving grace this time around, as singer Justin Timberlake aims to relaunch the site with the focus squarely on artists and their music.

while Spotify has become a hub for more established musicians to share their work online. It may be Apple’s attempt, though, to fill the networking niche for musicians that has the potential to be a real game-changer now. With Ping going under at the end of last month, could MySpace reap the benefits?

Music to their ears?

Friend request: Accept?

Talking to local bands, who could arguably benefit most from MySpace’s new-found music mindset, the response was decidedly indifferent. “We’ll make a page but we’re not sure anyone will care!” say Southampton-based Natives, while Feels Like Home echo their thoughts. “It will depend on its popularity not just for fans but for other bands. It is a free platform so we will most likely use it.” Poole’s Sounds Like Adam is slightly more positive, arguing that: “MySpace will always have been the biggest breakthrough in connecting artists more directly with their fans. But the issue about their comeback is that there are already quite a few sites now targeting musicians.”

Stiff competition

Bandcamp, for example, has a more grassroots look than the one MySpace seems to be aiming for, but it works. There are no gimmicks, nothing to attract users except a platform to “Discover amazing music and directly support the artists who make it”. Reverbnation is also a frontrunner for the unsigned artist scene,

It’s like meeting MySpace all over again, and in many ways it has come back stronger. It’s made allies of its competitors now that your account can be fully integrated with your other social networks profiles, such as Facebook, but, in doing so, has it shot itself in the foot? If MySpace is just another platform to post online what we would post on Facebook or Twitter anyway, then what’s really in it for the users? Then again, a saturated social network market would have been the same obstacle faced by some of the most popular movements today. From Pinterest to Instagram, there’s no sign that our desire to share online is decreasing. As far as MySpace goes, I can’t imagine myself logging on all too often. In a way, I hope that I’m proved wrong - it was such a significant part of my teen years that I’d like to think it had a place in the online future. With the date for the official re-launch under the lock and key of Specific Media and Justin Timberlake, we can only sit refreshing this page in social networking history to see if it will make the cut this time around.

MySpace has moved its focus from socialisation to music

MYSPACE

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The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

Backstage with the Beast Tal Dekel Nick Reilly

MBC PR

Outside Bournemouth Academy, the doors haven’t even opened but the Midnight Beast fans, largely comprising of teenage girls, have formed a small legion snaking steadily down Boscombe High Street. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the venue is playing host to an act such as the Jonas Brothers, who Stefan, the band’s curly haired heartthrob, jokingly hails as “pretty ground breaking”. Yet, whilst the Jonas Brothers are architects of record executives, The Midnight Beast wouldn’t be selling out nationwide venues if it weren’t for their social media presence on sites such as YouTube, where it all began for the band with their “Tik-Tok” parody now boasting nearly 14 million views. It’s also a key way for the group to keep in contact with their fans, as Stefan explained. “Twitter is incredible, our Facebook is great, but for actual interaction, Twitter is always better.” Stefan reveals the bands ritual to hype them ahead of a gig is to play their guiltiest pleasures, Papa Roach, Sum 41 and Linkin Park, “we jump around to all of that stuff, nothing cool.” Two out of the three Beasts (Dru and Ashley), are in agreement that Blink-182 are the best band ever. Dru grew up listening to the pop-punk trio and taking the boisterous

Blink-182 mantra to heart, “I got into them when I got into playing drums and it was then that I realised you could have a career d*cking around in a band.” Which naturally leads to the building rumours of the band being tattooed on stage. Dru explained that after news of Lady Gaga being inked mid-show, he wanted to do one better. “She didn’t do it when she was singing, and so I will do it when I’m mid-rapping.” The current art ideas settled with portraits of Stefan and Ashley on each of his palms. Their stage isn’t unfamiliar with odd props, as well as the rock’n’roll expected fan girl bras thrown; The Midnight Beast fans regularly fling lube, condoms and Twixes, “Twixes in particular as an ode to a verse in our song ‘Daddy’, but they have nearly knocked out our drummer”. It wasn’t always like this though, long before the success of the Beast, Dru worked in the less than glamorous surroundings of Homebase, something that he’s only too willing to describe as a “s**t job”, although one that was definitely

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improved by his sense of inventiveness. “I managed to create a little dossing area, where I unscrewed a vent in a wall in the store cupboard. It led to behind the shelves, we’d set up a bed in there and would just sit for hours. The people were awesome, but I just did f**k all, I don’t know how I lasted for 6-slash-7 years.” Upon hearing this, Stefan quickly questions whether it was a “sex den” and it’s this sense of tongue in cheek humour that perfectly sums up what the band are all about. Their tik-tok video cheekily referenced their love of then US VP candidate Sarah Palin and although she’s not as powerful nowadays, the boys are very much still in love as Ashley tells us “she’s still got those t*ts baby”, although Stefan is quick to add that he thinks she was “a bit hotter when running for president”. America looks like the next place to experience the beast too, with their current ‘I kicked a tour in the face tour’ allowing the band to

I got into Blink-182 when I started playing drums and realised you could have a career d*cking around in a band

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experience stateside gigging for the first time, with dates scheduled in both LA and New York. It’ll be the next challenge for the band after successfully conquering Europe, although Ashley Horne is under no delusions of grandeur. “We’ve been to the States before, but never as a band. Our fan base in the States is quite spread out, so we haven’t been able to go out and start attacking New York just yet.” If we know Americans like we think we do, they’ll fall head over heels for the infectious eccentricity of the Beast, that’s always retained a unique sense of Britishness. And if it isn’t the Britishness they fall for, it will definitely be the band’s addictively playful personalities. When asked about their most prized possession on tour Stefan and Dru swipe out a high-tec backpack, kitted-out with Nintendo games, including Mario Cart 7 and Ocarina of Time, alongside graphic novels, whereas Ashley reels off his near out-of-hand shopping addiction, his collection of 30 vest tops, “It’s not even summer!” he adds. After the tour, the future looks bright for the beast. Stefan speaks of plans for another album, as well as another series of their self-titled TV show. They’re grounded, talented and they’ve worked their way to cult hero status without the help of any major talent moguls. It’s safe to say that the beast will be around for a long time after midnight.

Questions

from the fans

Loads of fans asked ‘will you marry me?’ so, will you? Stefan: All of them, all of us will marry all of them. Dru: Mormon Style

Stefan, how do you keep your hair so massive?

Stefan: I keep it so perfectly massive with Black and White wax. It smells good and it gives it massive volume. Sometimes I use a hair clip to keep my hat on.

Who are your favourite bands?

Ash: Like Dru, my favourite band is Blink-182, but I started ten years too late, I think it was about two years ago, they are f**king awesome. I’ve caught up and listened to everything, I have their entire discography, the best songs are Anthem part 1 & Anthem part 2 Stefan: “My favourite band is Glassjaw, I got into them when I was 11 and got this mix CD and all the heavier bands at that same time were either wearing masks or dressing a particular way and they kind of proved that image isn’t everything, because they all looked like nerdy guys and I really admired that they weren’t trying to fall into any category.”

24 features

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

Photographer of the Fortnight Megan Reid

My interest in photography started when I was fairly young, but it really took off when I began my A Levels and realised that I had an eye for taking photos. I started off using a film camera in and then gradually started shooting in digital, where my

projects then allowed me to display who I am as a photographer and develop a personal style. I have since had some wonderful opportunities, such as travelling to different parts of the globe, documenting my journey with my camera, which

comes everywhere with me! At the moment I am an Intern in the photography department at Alton College, assisting teachers and students with photography. I am also applying to magazines and newspapers in the hope of becoming

a portrait photographer, preferably in the fashion and styling part of the industry. I enjoy shooting fashion, architecture and documentary photography and I am in the process of building a website and creating a blog for my work.

focus is on her. If you direct your eye outwards, though, you realise that there is space and people around this woman, she is not alone, she is part of a group of like-minded people who enjoy spending time with each other. This is precisely why we want to document this local group: because they are part of our community and deserve to not be overshadowed because they have a hearing

impairment. We ourselves spend hours working and talking to these people and actually learning how they communicate with each other. My three peers and I collated a selection of all our photographs into an exhibition at the Allen Gallery in Alton, where not only could the people of Alton visit and look at the photographs, but the ‘hard of hearing’ group managed to come and visit for themselves; I’m pleased to say they loved it.

One that I treasure

This photograph means a lot to me as it was my first photograph that got recognition publicly. This was taken on a trip to Cuba in February 2010, and was later shown in a local art gallery in Alton called the Allen Gallery. It was a great feeling to see my own work in a public place for people to enjoy.

An early photograph This was one of the first photographs that I took in A Level photography and it was when I found my style and love for the subject. It was the first part of the Passions and Obsessions project, where my theme was fashion. I took inspiration from shoe designer Christian Louboutin. His design of Louboutin’s red soles are so distinctive and are recognised

everywhere. Furthermore, I began to think that, possibly, women become so ‘obsessed’ with shoes that they would die in them. I decided that this was a strong concept and something different. I created a cold scene, like a morgue, in a studio and painted my model’s feet red to create Louboutins’ red sole effect. To get my point across I made the reference “Louboutins till I die!”; almost like someone’s last words.

One that inspires me This photo is part of the ‘Wisdom Project’, where we documented Alton’s local ‘hard of hearing group’. The group is a place where elderly people who are either deaf or partially deaf can socialise and learn how to communicate in the outside world. The photograph is so inspiring, as your immediate thought is of a lonely, elderly lady as the main

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

My Favourite Photograph I took this photograph as one of my finals in my last year of A Level photography. My brief was Passions and Obsessions, and my passion and obsession is fashion, particularly 1920’s and 1940’s. This was based on the 20’s era and was one of my highest graded pieces of work. I tried to re-create the 20’s atmosphere using black and white as it also went with a 40’s style photograph that I took in a Land Girls theme.

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26 features

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

“I wanted to show what it’s like being human in that place” He might not be a soldier anymore, but artist Derek Eland hasn’t left the frontline behind. His new exhibition aims to put aside the politics and focus on the people behind the war

Helen Winter “In terms of war art” Derek Eland explains, “artists like to do a new take on things. All art has to have meaning. I wanted to do something incredibly meaningful and powerful and to change others’ perception of these people. The exhibition shows young men, women, Afghan and British soldiers and mostly, they’re just surviving.” Former paratrooper Eland is a modern war artist, bringing to life art from the frontline in the form of photos and letters which he describes as ‘raw and honest’. The doors to his exhibition, ‘In our Own words: Soldiers thoughts from Afghanistan’ – described as ‘groundbreaking’ by the Independent – opened at the Russel-Cotes Art Gallery and

Museum on October 5th. It will run until March 2013, bringing the stories of our soldiers in the Middle East direct to our doorstep. The walls of the exhibition room are decorated with canvases of war time images, as a result of Eland’s photography. Some of the photos pull you away from the stereotypical war scene, with one showing a group of soldiers smoking and laughing, and another of a female soldier stroking a dog within the base. Taking a further glance around the room, his ‘just surviving’ notion hits home. Between the photos are small television screens and a single pair of headphones. One of these videos, titled ‘Bahadar Night Attack’ and filmed by Eland himself, draws you into a pitch black scene, until you are bombarded by the repetitive flash and shots of guns and shouting from other troops, giving a very realistic, first hand glance of life on the frontline and showcasing Eland’s

focus on the experiences of the soldiers themslevs. Opposite this screen is a display case showing the uniform worn

“

The photos pull you away from the stereotypical war scene

”

by Eland during the project, with blue outfits worn by war artists, the press and diplomats. On the armour, scrawled in permanent marker is Eland’s blood type, ‘AB+’,

a necessity when another ‘day in the office’ could involve being shot at or targeted by grenades. In response to finding inspiration amongst the dangers of the frontline, Eland admits that his previous military experience “helped in these isolated places”. The key part of the exhibition is in fact nothing more than a small box labelled ‘The Diary Room’, a tight space of three walls plastered with letters written by troops in Afghanistan. “I wanted to do something that was less about politics and more about the people,” says Eland. “There are lots of people out there going through lots of stress. I wanted to show what it’s like being human in that place and I wanted to do it in the most personal way possible.” In an age of expressing our inner thoughts in 140 characters or less, Eland felt that it was necessary to dig a little deeper. He turned to the letters from the trenches of World

War 1 for inspiration.“The use of digital media dominates our lives now, I wanted to go back to a note handwritten at the time.’” The three walls of The Diary Room show postcard-sized letters telling stories from soldiers and medics on the frontline, each one varying from one to the next. One simply says, “I miss home - never again”. Another reads “It’s hard to explain the thought in your head after rounds have landed inches from your feet,” and elsewhere, in big writing, “It’s the honesty of these stories that makes them important”. Together, they create the atmosphere of loss and brutal honesty which Eland intended to with his exhibition. Marine Dave Coleman, now twenty, was nineteen when he did his tour in Afghanistan. In response to the exhibition, he admits that at first, he would have considered such letters private. “I don’t think I’d want strangers

features 27

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

reading the letters I wrote, especially during the bad times, they are quite personal and private, and for people to gain an opinion or to pass judgement off one letter isn’t completely accurate because they won’t know the full story.” That’s exactly the obstacle Eland hopes to overcome by showcasing snippets of the soldiers’ experiences. Reading through the mounds of letters, it’s not emotion that’s a prevalent theme. An odd pattern seems to appear with most messages managing a certain light-hearted tone. One letter tells the story of coming in to constant contact and firing from Taliban fighters, ending in “Ha, mega!” For Coleman, humour was a big part of his Afghanistan experience, and a prevelant theme amongst his friends there. When he was hit by a grenade in the first week of tour, Coleman remembers: “We were laughing and joking and the lads were taking

photos...the sense of humour is a very weird thing, but we feel if you can laugh about something it’s not very scary...so we laugh about everything.” Capturing this more human side of his subjects was a major aim for Eland during his project. “In some of the patrol places I would only have half an hour. I think they heard a war artist was coming and were expecting paints and easel, but I turned up with postcards saying, ‘It’s your story that I want.’ I was a bit worried that it wouldn’t match up with the macho culture in the military, but I quickly realised that they just got on with it. They would crouch down in the sand and write their entries there and then... It revealed an intimacy which I found moving, and it added to their selfportraits.” The ‘diary room’ as it’s shown in the Russel-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, is a complete reconstruction of the walls which

were used in Afghanistan. The three walls represent three different regiments, with the name of each etched above them. Every letter

“

One letter simply says, “I miss home - never again”

”

has been carefully replaced, as they were by the troops in their bases when originally stuck on the ‘diary board’ in the exhibition. In the time it took for the transition to the UK to happen, some of the stories had

become a soldier’s last words. On some of the cards the names have been blackened out. Eland explains that these were the men and women who were injured. Names of those who went on to lose their lives before the exhibition reached Bournemouth have not been blacked out, but their families have given permission for them to feature. It’s a poignant aspect of the exhibition that is perhaps one element of war visitors are more engaged with. But Eland wants to tell the whole story, and he wants to hear the response. “I wanted to keep the project alive and, in a way, have a project within a project,” he says, explaining the interactive element of the exhibition which allows visitors to share their own thoughts in a similar style by posting letters on a wall. “I’m interested in what people think. For an artist, I think it’s important to get a reaction, to have people write their thoughts down and stick it on

a wall as a self-perpetuated, socially engaged art.” This is unusual for the average citizen, who can easily step back from the reality of war by the switch of a button on a television, the flick of a page in a newspaper or just a simple click on the web. “When people read these things,” Eland elaborates, “they can feel upset, or positive and negative thoughts and it’s important to express what’s in their heads.” The exhibition is presented as an unrestricted, personal and interactive insight into the life of soldiers on the frontline. It’s agonisingly close to feeling like the ‘last chapter’ of their involvement in the war, with troops beginning to withdraw as early as 2014. Until we can hear from them ourselves, though, Eland’s messages from these extraordinary people are bringing an important message back home, not through news readers or papers or documentaries, but straight from a soldier’s thoughts, to ink on a page.

FASHION MUSIC CULTURE LIFESTYLE

ISSUE 1 IS OUT NOW www.pebblezine.com

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SPORT

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

London’s Olympic legacy

Jonny Byrne

SPORTS EDITOR I was born and raised in London and for the first time in my life I am truly proud of that fact. This summer saw the world’s greatest sporting event grace my fair city and we managed to show the world we’re not just a riot starting, knife wielding, gun crime hotspot;

Bobcats

Meet BU’s newest squad

we showed the world that we are a centre of culture and class. The legacy that London 2012 has created for future generations will only be truly realised years from now, but this will be remembered as the summer that Britain reclaimed its greatness. Team GB will have inspired a generation of children to emmulate our Olympic heroes. Not only that, but sporting venues will receive more attention and therefore funding because of our newfound awareness of our nation’s sporting ability. There really is a sense of pride in the air across the UK and I believe that it is here to stay. Forget the naysayers who claim the feeling won’t last; we were there when the legacy was born.

Ash Hover

ASSISTANT SPORTS ED. In complete contrast, I’m not a London boy, and as much as I love the capital, I’m afraid to say I see little of a London legacy. The transformation of East-London is certainly worthy of a slot on Extreme Makeover, but how much does that affect me? And everyone else outside of London as a matter of fact. And what’s this I hear about Leyton (or is it ‘London’ Orient

yet?) still wanting to move into the Olympic Stadium. I’m not going to lie, I watched nearly every moment of the games, and have re-lived them countless times on YouTube. From Mo Farah’s ‘mobot’ to Bolt’s blinding speed, to the priceless punditry of Colin Jackson and Denise Lewis. It was great while it lasted, but life moves on. After all the excitement of the Games, how many of you honestly knew Farah returned to the track at the end of August in the Diamond League? No, me neither. Going out on a limb, I suppose I could say there’s a slight wiff of cycling legacy floating in the air, certainly after dominating two Olympic games in a row, but with all the doping allegations surrounding the sport, who knows what might be uncovered behind Team GB doors. Legacy, what legacy?

Future Wiggins in Winton?

Howe

Fans’ favourite makes return

Following on from the success stories of Sir Chris Hoy, Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins, The Rock assesses what’s on the cycling circuit in Bournemouth Ben Fisher Joe Nerssessian

jonnybyrnerocks@gmail.com

A hugely memorable period for British cycling, stemming from the Beijing and London Olympics, has led to soaring interest in the sport from local youngsters. The newly-built Velodrome, adjacent to both Winton College and Glenmoor School, has established itself as a cycling hub within Dorset. The track, which cost £850,000, is located within a one mile radius of seven schools, reaching more than 2000 pupils. Facility manager, Alan McRae, expressed his delight at the results already visible. “I couldn’t have foreseen such interest when initially lodging planning for the Velodrome in 2006. I fought tooth and nail to get this facility, in the correct location, and I still have to pinch myself.”

His eagerness and passion for the sport is clear as he expands on the impact on “getting into the heart of the local community”. “In the summer wall-to-wall interest from local kids led to the volunteers just about being able to cope with the numbers. We were bracing ourselves for a step-up in interest over the summer.” Despite the winter fast approaching, and with track conditions unsuitable for regular training on the track, it is evident the youngsters are just as keen indoors, as several pedal away frantically behind McRae. The venue, co-funded by British Cycling and Sport England, is run by Bournemouth Arrow Cycling Club, and they have linked up with local schools to offer expert coaching and to implement the sport into the local school’s curriculum. Headteacher Ben Parnell is over the moon with the effect that the move has had, leading to the afterschool club being capped at 30

participants. Since the games in Beijing, cycling has distinguished itself as something other than a recreational sport, with soaring interest. “Politically, Beijing changed everything. I didn’t envisage cycling ever Top: cyclists in action on the track; above: one of the new bikes being used to train the future stars being at this stage BOURNEMOUTHCYCLINGCLUB as a national sport. It was becoming marginalised but now we are getting coaching was tiring but fun”, before people to believe they can succeed”. commenting how, “track cycling is Dave Gilham, who coaches at the different to just mountain biking centre, held a post-Olympic event with mates”. Jack, 12, claims he is at the Velodrome, which hosted 200 “fitter from the experience”. seven to sixteen year olds. The future of British cycling may “They completed 20 minute come from the development scheme sessions out on the track and got a McRae has built up, and he feels the taste of the sport.” potential is huge for Bournemouth Five of the youngsters took part in youngsters. a specialist training session, which “Everybody has a bike, so they can left them enthused despite the pretend to be Bradley Wiggins if they tough workout. Sam, 14, said: “The want.”

30 sport Ash Hover takes a look at this month’s sporting champ and chump This issue’s sporting winner goes to the one and only Eddie Howe. Despite what many people see as ‘taking a step back’ in his career after swapping Championship side Burnley for League 1 AFC Bournemouth, Eddie has returned a club legend. Howe featured over 250 times as a Cherries player, before turning his hand to management and saving AFCB from certain relegation from the football league in 2009, overturning a staggering 17 point deficit in the process. As if that wasn’t enough, he secured promotion to League One the following season despite a transfer embargo in place. He even turned down an approach from Championship side Peterborough United before eventually leaving to take the reigns at Turf Moor. Special mention to Emile Heskey too, who is setting the A-League alight! Call him up Woy.

WINNER

LOSER Lance Armstrong is by far this week’s biggest loser, and not just on a sporting scale, on a social scale too. In last week’s edition of ‘Only in America’ CNN’s Piers Morgan belittled the once American-hero further by adding to Armstrong’s famous quote: “it’s not about the bike… he was right, it’s about the amount of dope blood injected into his body”. Not only has the man been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, but he’s now lost a major endorsement deal with Nike, and he stepped down as the Chairman of the cancer charity he founded 15 years ago. Despite proclaiming his innocence numerous times, several dozen are now seen to have valuable evidence against the cancer survivor, who once won the public’s hearts with his never say die attitude. The history books can’t be entirely re-written, and to some, Lance Armstrong will remain an American hero. To a huge majority, though, he will now be forever labelled as the fraud who masterminded possibly the greatest drugs scandal in sporting history. On yer bike, Lance.

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

Keeping up appearances Jasper Taylor

DEPUTY SPORTS ED.

Amongst the frenzied sporting success of this summer, the England women’s football squad’s achievements might have slipped under the gold-plated radar. They successfully qualified for the 2013 European Championships, topping a group that contained a strong Holland outfit without losing once along the way. Integral to their emphatic qualifying was shot-stopper Karen Bardsley, who didn’t concede any goals whatsoever. It’s this type of form that has seen her cement a place in the highly talented squad, which features a trio of exceptional goalkeepers. The Rock caught up with Bardsley to discuss club football, life as a keeper and plans for the future. One unusual thing about Bardsley is that she plays her club football in Sweden for Linkopings, and has never played for an English team, meaning she is shrouded in the same mysteriousness as the likes of Owen Hargreaves in the early 2000s. We tend to write off the English players plying their trade abroad, but Bardsley would advise moving further afield. “I definitely think the more experiences a player has, the better. Not only does it expose players to more coaching and playing styles, it presents situations that test players both mentally and physically. I think

it has benefited my game, I have coach is trained differently from the picked up a lot along the way.” other.” When asked why she hasn’t Women’s football in general played in England she simply is often negatively judged and replies, “No one ever officially goalkeepers seem to bear the brunt asked.” This is perhaps surprising, of these naive attitudes. “They’re as Bardsley is gradually overtaking becoming less prevalent Rachel Brown and becoming the but women’s football needs outright England number one. If any to keep developing good offer did surface, would she consider goalkeepers in order to put it? “Hard to say. I suppose it would these preconceptions to rest. take the right set of circumstances.” Most of all I just want to play as That hardly sounds convincing. long as the game is still fun and Mind you, why would she come help women’s football gain the over to England when she is respect it deserves.” playing in the far better organised Hopefully this summer gone, and competitive Swedish league? with the qualification for next Bardsley was born in America and, if year’s Euros and Team GB’s the professional league in the States ascent to the quarter finals, will can sort out its issues, you’d think go some way towards furthering she would be better off moving back the positive bubble that is over there than coming to England. slowly encompassing the nation American goalkeepers are towards the female version of typically the best players produced the beautiful game. in the country. You only have to look An interview with an at the Premier League stalwarts of English goalkeeper wouldn’t Brad Friedel and Tim Howard to be complete though without see this. They focus more on their mentioning a penalty shootpositional play and commandment out. “I don’t look forward to of the box than their European counterparts. Bardsley had a breadth of different ports of knowledge to help in her training early on. “When I was younger I had a lot of coaches from a lot of different countries and schools of Bardsley with Team GB, above, guarding the net thought. Everyone who has a different for her old club Sky Blue FC, right JON CANDY

them but they are pretty fun for goalkeepers, especially because for once the pressure is off of us.” Bardsley should feel at home at the 2013 Euros, which will be played in Sweden.

Heavy Price to pay Hooligans blemish for veteran Harrison the beautiful game Jordan Key

“I’m in the best shape of my life.” This old familiar rally cry came from Audley Harrison before his fight for the British heavyweight titles. Unfortunately a primed 40 year old A-Force was no match for much publicized David Price, who shipped out a gruelling barrage and rendered the 2000 Gold medal winning Sydney Olympian unconscious. The British Champ, himself a bronze medallist at the Beijing games, was in ominous form taking his record to 14 wins, with 12 by knockout and no losses. Many had written off the old veteran after a lacklustre

showdown with David Haye in 2010, and it seems that it should be time for him to retire, losing this bout in 82 seconds. Sadly Harrison hasn’t decided publicly if he will hang up his gloves, but many realise there is nothing else for him to prove. He’s won the Gold medal, British and European titles and was challenging for Haye’s ‘world’ belt. Although he promised so much early in his career, and let a lot of people down, he has made a livelihood many fighters would be jealous of. The excitement didn’t finish inside the ring as the UK Heavyweight scene kicked off over Twitter. Tyson Fury, Price’s domestic rival, called the champion out live on Channel 5 and then unleashed a tirade of abuse via 140 characters. Price announced he will be fighting Matt Skelton in early December.

Craig Rodhouse

We thought the dark days of football hooliganism were a distant memory but the ugly side of the beautiful game reared its head again last week. Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was assaulted by a Leeds supporter in the aftermath of Michael Tonge’s late equaliser at Hillsborough last Friday. But despite the attack being the first of its kind in many years in English football, incidents of this nature aren’t completely unfamiliar in the sport. Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Peter Enkleman was taunted and

slapped by a Birmingham supporter in 2002 after the Finnish keeper scored an own-goal in the Midlands derby. Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte was slide tackled by a supporter that had run onto the field during an FA Cup replay against fierce rivals Sunderland earlier this year. But the most violent attack from a supporter came across the border in Scotland during a game between Celtic and Hearts in 2011. A Hearts fan ran from the stand towards the dugout before punching Celtic manager Neil Lennon in the head after a goal from striker Gary Hooper. Kirkland’s attacker, 21-year-old Aaron Cawley, was jailed for 16 weeks on Monday, a stern warning to other have-a-go hardmen.

sport 31

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

Devil's Advocate

Bunch of dopes Jasper Taylor

DEPUTY SPORTS ED.

1993

He was signed to the McLaren Driver Development Support Programme and, at only 13, became the youngest 1998 ever driver to be contracted by a Formula One team. He was signed to the McLaren Driver Development Support Programme and, 2000 at only 13, became the youngest ever driver to be contracted by a Formula One team. The following year he moved up to Formula Renault, but his first outing in a proper car didn’t go as planned. He crashed 2001 out after three laps but went on to become champion after ten race wins. In 2004, Hamilton moved to the Formula Three Euroseries, and had his first McLaren F1 test run in December of that year. Graduated to F1 after winning the GP2 title at his first attempt, along with Fernando Alonso.

2004

2007

In a stunning debut season, he scored podium finishes in his first nine races. His 07/08 first win coming in the Canadian Grand Prix. Major success would come the following year. At 23, Hamilton became the youngest World Champion in history by a single point.

2008

In 2009, disqualification from fourth place in Australia for misleading race stewards begins a long lasting feud 2009 between Hamilton and the officials. Finished fifth overall in 2011 and was beaten by a team2011 mate for the first time, fellow Brit Jenson Button. This year, has to wait until Canada to score first win. Competitive car but 2012 numerous team mistakes ultimately force Hamilton out.

Signs a deal to drive for Mercedes in 2013.

Sep ‘12

Lewis Hamilton: the story With Lewis Hamilton opting to end his 15 year service to McLaren at the end of the current season, The Rock takes a look at what went wrong for the British driving maestro, and consider what the future could hold for him Ash Hover

ASSISTANT SPORTS ED. Having been on McLaren’s books since the tender age of 13, many were shocked to hear Lewis Hamilton had agreed to leave the team to drive for Mercedes next year. As a ten year old, Hamilton approached then team principal, Ron Dennis, with one thing on his mind.

He said: “I want to race for you one day. I want to race for McLaren.” Seventeen years and 106 races later, no one can deny that Hamilton is a McLaren legend. Since that 2008 title winning year, things seem to have gone downhill for the first time in Hamilton’s career. The Stevenage-born driver has had a rollercoaster few years at McLaren, and has dealt with racist attacks and numerous confrontations with race stewards. Lewis has come a long way since

Quick Facts >> Mercedes raced in 1954 and ’55, picking up two driver titles, but withdrew from the sport amidst the 1955 Le Mans disaster. They didn’t return until becoming an engine supplier to other teams >> Next years’ Mercedes teammates, Hamilton and Rosberg, were also teammates all the way back in 2000, in the Formula A and Formula Super A Championships >> Current 2011/12 constructors title standings: McLaren-284 pts, Mercedes-136 pts

NICKWEBB

Hamilton began karting aged 8, and won the British Karting Championship just two years later.

his reckless days of sloppy overtakes and maneuvers which cost him wins in the past, and it seems that as soon as he matured into a more sensible driver, everything started going against him. Countless accounts of poor pit-stops cost him severely in the opening few races of the season, most notably in Bahrain, where he qualified second on the grid but came home in a meager 8th place come the checkered flag. Hamilton has been let down in numerous other cases by mechanical failures, such as his gearbox failure in Singapore and the rear suspension failure on his last time out in Korea. So who can blame Hamilton for wanting to leave after such a farcical season in his beloved sport? What’s next for the 27-year-old once he completes the switch to Mercedes? A move which many are calling a step backwards. The primarily young Mercedes team have made great progress since buying out Brawn GP in 2009, but one winning race and only three fastest laps in as many years is not quite how champions are created. Improvements have come for the Woking based team, most notably with the design and application of their infamous double-DRS wing system, which so many of the teams campaigned to get banned. Next years drive will definitely be an exciting and tense one, and I haven’t even mentioned whose boots he’s been asked to fill… a certain seven-time world champion!

Lance Armstrong’s fall from grace is difficult to believe. It’s hard to describe the feeling of discovering someone as inspiring and motivational as Armstrong is a fraud. It’s the same crushing emotion you felt when you found out Santa was just a lie that the whole world duped you into believing. Then I took some time to reflect and realised that the most painful thing is the acrimonious subjugation of a legendary character. Armstrong, not Santa. Unsurprisingly, people feel no sympathy towards Armstrong. We seem to forget that doping is a form of drug taking and that it’s addictive. It makes you feel like a better person, like you can achieve more and like you want that feeling to last forever. We should humanise the situation – is this not just a drug user who has a severe drug problem? You’d think, by the way the US Anti-Doping Agency have so proudly announced their findings, that Armstrong was a heroin addict jabbing needles into innocent children’s arms as he signed autographs for them, rather than one of their country’s most prolific sportsmen ever. Sure, he enhanced his body to achieve such greatness but, for example, is a philosopher that smokes a joint to reveal his most profound thoughts not still a philosopher? By the same token, is Armstrong not still a phenomenal cyclist? It’s easy to forget that many, many other cyclists were also doping. Ironically, this made events like the Tour de France an equal playing field for many riders and the only thing doping would do is improve all their performances, as opposed to give them an advantage. So, Armstrong still needed to be the best – he was the king of the dopers. My main disappointment in the glorified persecution is the lack of compassion that has been shown towards the thousands of cancer sufferers he inspired. His story, and his foundation, which has raised over $500million to fight the disease, have been the reason many people affected by cancer have fought it in a positive manner. How utterly horrible must it have been for them to learn so brutally that someone whose story they used to keep battling for their life is a fraud. The fall of a heroic sportsman has never brought so many others down with it. Congratulations to the people who broke that news so gently.

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VARSITY

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

Bobcats optimistic

Touchdown: the Bobcats are kitted out and ready to face the challenge of bringing American Football back to Bournemouth this season FISHER

The captain of the ever-growing Bournemouth University Bobcats brushes aside The Longest Yard and the annual Superbowl in aim of building a legacy Ben Fisher

“I want SportBU to take American Football on as a varsity sport,” stated Josh Edwards, the captain of the Bobcats American Football team. The founder of the side was prompted into creating a team after dislocating his hip playing Rugby and hasn’t looked back since. Edwards isn’t a one-man band, though. “I’m captain and President of the society along with a committee of members, who help me out. I don’t want to get involved with too many things, like some sort of David Brent character, I let the coaches do their own thing. “There are 72 teams in the British Universities American Football League and I was surprised prior to setting up the team that Bournemouth wasn’t one of them. We didn’t enter this year, as it would be pretty pointless. We’d

be underprepared compared with Birmingham, for example, who have a squad of 108 players.” The captain tells me the team is a mixed bag, encapsulating a judo black-belt, a bodybuilder and members from Sweden and Georgia. “Last year we would meet down the beach where a core group of about ten of us would get together. This year, on top of those, I’ve seen another 20 to 25 newbies join the team, which is great. The interest is certainly there and I’m getting 30 people turn up to training. “Fortunately there is no limit to substitutions or a maximum number that is allowed in the squad, so that’s a bonus. It’s only be a good thing, and nobody has dropped out.” Despite Edwards’ eagerness to get involved, there is no competitive schedule for the Bobcats to play in this year. “We have arranged friendlies, and they are friendlies, but we want to go out and win those games. We don’t muck about in training.” “I want us to be competitive in our games, as any captain does. I want us to be organised and ensure

the Bobcats are a real team and community. “We are starting to feel like that real team, and we’re learning about the game more and more. Apart from ‘The Longest Yard’, a lot of people don’t understand the game, and that’s fundamental.” The name ‘Bobcats’ stems from senior side ‘Bournemouth Bobcats’ who re-formed in 2009 after the Bournemouth Buccaneers folded. “We are an associate team of the seniors, and the idea is that we can act as a feeder team, and link between the two teams. It can work both ways. We can borrow some coaches and some of their players can come down and play for us, and vice versa.” The captain holds coach-like discipline and has a desire to instill the right attitude into each member whilst building a legacy at the Bobcats. “I very much believe that, if you don’t train, you won’t get played during the games. It really doesn’t matter if somebody is stupidly quick, if you don’t train, you won’t get played. I’m trying to encourage people to play American Football, it has to be fair.” SportBU were unable to organise funding for this year. Until this year, BUCS, the national governing

body for higher education in the UK, didn’t have American Football in their plans. Their decision was released too late for SportBU and the captain was forced to look elsewhere. “I applied to Sport England, aiming for a grant, of about £6,000. It was a long process, including a 20-page document. We received

a cheque for £5,744 which was fantastic. I wanted just a portion of that and we got it all. That’s paid for training at Meyrick Park as well as buying 25 sets of starter pads.” If you would like to get involved, contact Josh Edwards via subuamericanfootball@ bournemouth.ac.uk.

THAT’S A FACT >> The highest level of American Football in England is the BAFA National League Premier Division >> The highest consumption of pizza in America happens during Superbowl week >> Former president Richard Nixon once offered tactics to a professional American Football team

>> Chicago’s Soldier Field is the oldest ground in the NFL >> Ten different footballs are used in the average American football match >> A 30-second advert costs broadcasters $3.5million during the Superbowl >> The origin and meaning of the 25 stars on the NFL logo is unknown

34 sport

VARSITY

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

League opener sees BU sunk by Southampton Jonny Byrne

SPORTS EDITOR

BU’s Women’s basketball team were given a tough afternoon in their opening fixture of the season against local rivals Southampton University, losing 35-62. The newly formed squad struggled to keep up with the pace of the game and Southampton’s well polished plays. Despite a clear lack of cohesion there were some promising moments from the side that went unbeaten last season to earn promotion. Both teams failed to make the most of their rebounds in the first quarter. It was only Southampton’s slightly better composure when defending that gave their lead, going into the second quarter with the score at 9-11. Southampton seemed to settle into their game during the second quarter, opening up a nine point lead by the end of the first half. They used the width of the court

SPORTBU

VARSITY FIXTURES

WEDNESDAY

OCTOBER

2012

to their advantage and managed to counteract Bournemouth’s long passing and wasted attempts on the basket well, rarely missing shots and rebound chances. Going into the third quarter with the score at 16-25, Bournemouth could have easily let Southampton dominate, but resilience in defence and improved shooting accuracy allowed Bournemouth to lead until the final moments. The quarter ended 14-15 with both teams looking fatigued at the buzzer. Trailing by 10 points and showing real physical exhaustion, Bournemouth were unable to keep up with play in the final quarter losing 5-22. Coach Michaela Tucker praised her team’s valiant performance after the game and looked at the many positives from the match. “It was the first time the girls had played together, so considering that, they really did quite well. “I think the players of the match were Amy and Helen. This was one of Helen’s first games and she worked really hard defensively. She probably had the majority of rebounds off of the backboard.”

GOLF

Bournemouth next play at home on October 31st against Bristol who lost their opening fixture against Cardiff by 33 points. The game will be played at the Talbot Campus Sports Hall at 4pm.

BU Mixed 1st VS Buck’hamshire New Mixed 1st Exeter Uni Mixed 3rd VS BU Mixed 2nd BU Mixed 3rd VS Bath Uni Mixed 1st BU Mixed 4th VS Southampton Uni Mixed 1st

BASKETBALL Cardiff Men’s 1st VS BU Men’s 1st

BU Men’s 2nd VS Bath Uni Men’s 2nd BU Women’s 1st VS Bristol Uni Women’s 1st

above: BU capitalise on some poor marking from the Southampton defence; left: The brand new squad is ready to build on the success of last season VICTORIAHILL

LACROSSE BU Men’s 1st VS Bristol Uni Men’s 2nd

HOCKEY

BU Men’s 1st VS Bath Uni Men’s 2nd Bath Spa Men’s 1st VS BU Men’s 2nd BU Women’s 2nd VS Swansea Uni Women’s 3rd

LACROSSE

Solent Men’s 1st VS BU Men’s 2nd

SQUASH

BU Mens 2nd VS Swansea Uni Men’s 2nd Cardiff Met Uni Men’s 2nd VS BU Men’s 3rd Bath Uni Women’s 2nd VS BU Women’s 2nd

BU Women’s 1st VS Bath Spa Women’s 1st BU Women’s 2nd VS Bath Spa Women’s 2nd

RUGBY BU Men’s 1st VS Plymouth Uni Men’s 1st

FOOTBALL BU Men’s 1st VS Exeter Uni Men’s 1st

NETBALL

Swansea Uni Women’s 1st VS BU Women’s 1st

TENNIS Cardiff Met Men’s 1st VS BU Men’s 1st

BU Men’s 2nd VS Bristol Uni Men’s 1st BU Women’s 1st VS Bristol Uni Women’s 1st BU Women’s 2nd VS Glos. Uni Women’s 1st

VOLLEYBALL BU Men’s 1st VS Bath Uni Men’s 1st BU Women’s 1st VS Bristol Uni Women’s 1st

SportBU look to beat record season

Varsity Results - 17th October 2012 BADMINTON

SPORTS EDITOR

Western 2A

Sport BU’s netball firsts got off to a winning start after battling to a 34-23 victory against Southampton Solent. The match saw the return of Francesca Munns at Wing Attack after being out of action for over two years with a ruptured ligament in her knee. With a new squad for the year the girls took a while to familiarise with each other’s style of play but managed to take the first quarter 10-6. The second quarter saw the girls extend their lead with the defence partnership of Emma Mosley and

BU Men’s 1st

Pts

UWE 1st

BU 1st

Bristol 2nd

Solent Men’s 1st

Western 1A

the Mixed 1 team earning 85 points over the season, more than any other team from the institute. Bournemouth’s cricket teams earned a well-deserved 113 points; an impressive feat considering the university only fielded three teams, all of whom play in the second tier of their respective leagues. Between Bournemouth’s four tennis teams a massive 152 points were won, 16% of their entire total. Bournemouth’s closest rivals, Southampton University finished in 16th, the highest of any south-coast side. Loughborough University topped the league beating the nearest competitors Durham by nearly 2000 points, they lead this season. st

debutant Megan Pleva taking some great interceptions in the circle for the shooters to convert. The penultimate fifteen minutes were a little bit nervy as Solent clawed away at Bournemouth’s lead through their physical style of play. Bournemouth took a slender lead into the last quarter but returned to the court with a new sense of purpose. Captain Louise Cole picked off interceptions in the centre of the court which were calmly converted by the new shooting duo of Clair Priest and Sarah Riddoch. The team’s fitness outshone Solent and allowed them to coast away to a well-deserved victory. Player of the match was awarded to Emma Mosley at Goal Keeper. Bournemouth will take on Bath in their next match.

BU Men’s 1st

Western 2A

BU Men’s 1st

Plymouth Uni Men’s 1st

Pts

Bath 2nd

-1

BU 1st

-1

Soton 2nd

-3

BU Women’s 1st

Western 2A

BASKETBALL

South coast derby win for netball girls Jess Long

HOCKEY

University College Plymouth St Mark & St John Men’s 1st

Jonny Byrne

Bournemouth University have begun their campaign to improve on last season’s British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) league finish. Varsity teams representing the university finished the 2011/12 season on 930.1 points, leaving them a respectable 28th out of 155 institutes. The top 30 finish was Bournemouth’s highest ever and already this season they have started positively, winning 50% of their opening fixtures, despite most squads being renewed. Of the many teams that helped to accumulate Bournemouth’s impressive points total none were more paramount than the Women’s Basketball Squad Michaela Tucker’s team went the entire season unbeaten to win both the Western 2A League and Cup, beating opponents by some staggering score margins along the way. BU’s golf teams gathered a large portion of the total points too, with

sport 35

VARSITY

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

Soton Women’s 1st

Pts

Exeter 3rd

Pts

BU 1st

Exeter 1st

UWE 1st

BU 1st

UCP Marjons

BU Women’s 1st

Western 1A

Soton Women’s 1st

LACROSSE Bristol Uni Men’s 2nd

Western 2A

BU Men’s 1st

Pts

BU 1st

Pts

UExeter 2nd

Swansea 1st

-2

Soton 1st

BU 1st

Bristol 1st

0 -33

FOOTBALL Solent Women’s 1st

Western 2A

BU Women’s 1st

Pts

Exeter 1st

BU 1st

BU 2nd

Glos. Uni Men’s 1st

Western 1A

BU Men’s 1st P

Pts

Bath 2nd

-1

BU 1st

-1

UWE (Hartpury) 2nd

-2

Western 2A

Plymouth Uni Men’s 1st D L GD

BU Men’s 2nd

2 Pts

Plymouth Uni Women’s 1st

Western 2A

BU Women’s 1st

Pts

Royal Agri. 1st

BU 1st

-8

Cardiff Met 1st

-15

NETBALL BU Women’s 1st

Western 2A

Solent Women’s 1st

Pts

Exeter 2nd

-6

BU 1st

-11

Plymouth 1st

RUGBY UNION BU Men’s 1st

Western 2A

Exeter Uni Men’s 3rd

Pts

UCP Marjons 1st

BU 3rd

BU 1st

-34

BU 2nd

-1

UWE 2nd

-63

Solent 1st

-3

BU Men’s 1st

Pts

GOLF Premier South

Cardiff Met Uni Mixed 1st

BU Mixed1st

Pts

BU 1st

UUW Newport 1st

SQUASH

BU 1st

Exeter 4th

Exeter 3rd

BUSC POINTS

TENNIS Premier South

Soton Uni Men’s 2nd

Western 3A

League

Cup

Indiv.

Total

Chichester

375

381

Reading

355

367

Bournemouth

319

364

BU Women’s 1st

Cardiff Met Women’s 1st

Pts

BU 1st

UBath 1st

Hertfordshire

343

355

Bristol 1st

Essex

314

350

36 sport

VARSITY

Volleyball star now BU fresher

Above: Hunter at opening ceremony; right: Dan keeps his eye on the ball HUNTER

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

Jess Long

Team GB Olympian Dan Hunter has come to Bournemouth University to study software engineering. The 22-year-old represented Great Britain in volleyball and hopes to increase participation at SportBU and in the community. The new student told The Rock: “I will be helping the volleyball varsity team get results this year. “There is a massive legacy project that I am involved in at Poole & Bournemouth, giving young athletes a pathway to develop across all sports.” He is still hoping to play at an international level but since the Olympics the future of British volleyball is in doubt after concerns over its funding. Although volleyball met the UK Sports target of one win over the beach and indoor competitions, the jury is still out as other sports eclipsed their achievements. “We are hoping for continued support to keep the sport developing and focus on qualifying for another Olympics. “A lot of players are unsure what to do now. I have an eye on the World University Games in Russia in 2013 but it

depends on the funding.” The interest in every sport at London 2012 was unprecedented, with venues sold out across all events and the spotlight finally on minority sports, including volleyball. Some people may have been overwhelmed with all the sudden interest but Dan and the rest of the men’s volleyball team appeared to take it all in their stride. “We had a much higher profile during the games, which I think we dealt with well. Personally, it helped me reach a level of performance I hadn’t previously played and showing that amongst the world’s best players was a great feeling.” One part of the games that was somewhat shut off from the public was the Olympic Village, a place where the athletes could relax away from the public glare. The village has a reputation for wild parties and romps, but is this all just a myth? Dan was very tight lipped about it, he said: “The village was amazing, we were all looked after very well and it had everything we could possibly need. “It was a surreal feeling walking amongst all of the Team GB athletes, some with their gold medals.” Dan, who plays the specialist defensive position of libero, was born in Poole but has been playing for a Dutch side, so coming to Bournemouth University will feel close to home for someone who will always able to say: “I competed in London 2012.”

Into the deep end The Paralympics and the incredible feat performed by those who compete in disability sport is still fresh in our minds. Jordan Clark a 20-year-old disability swimmer; who with cerebral palsy competes in the s7 category, talks to The Rock about his swimming career

Joanne Ball

After learning to swim when he was little, Jordan was told that due to his cerebral palsy he could only be taken so far. It wasn’t until he was 14 that he joined Deepings Swimming Club, where his younger brother already swam, and his family were heavily involved. The chairman saw potential in Jordan and pestered him until he joined the club. He swam a few sessions a week until fast tracked to the advanced competitive squad, where he swam every morning and frequent

evening sessions, competing in regional, junior, and national competitions. While swimming with his local club, he was already rubbing shoulders with other Paralympics greats, swimming in the same relay team as Sam Hynds in 2008, who, along with his brother, stormed to the podium at London 2012 in the 400 freestyle. Deepings has made a name for itself in disability swimming. Alumni include Rob Weldon, a decorated Paralympic swimmer who competed in Beijing. Since starting at Bournemouth University, he has swam at a local club for Swim Bournemouth and competed in local open meets. In February, Jordan swam at the British University & Colleges Sport (BUCS) long course championships

at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. He got re-classified for this competition, from the s8 to the s7 category. A sportsperson’s classification is based on their range of movement and they monitor this every few years. Jordan told The Rock: “It is nice swimming for the university as part of a unit. Swimming is an independent sport, but in disability swimming, there are rarely more than two of you poolside. So to swim at BUCS, with a whole team in the stands rooting for you, is a lot more fun and spurs you on.” Jordan has an advantage in long course swimming, because his sprint distance omits the need for a turn, which is his weakness. He works with his disability, and over the long straight of a 50m pool can

get to quite a speed, following a dive which he has worked hard recently to perfect. At Ponds Forge, Jordan pulled a new personal best, swimming at 40.39 seconds for his chosen event, the 50m freestyle. This meant he could qualify for the British International Disability Championships, where he shaved less than a quarter of a second off this time. Jordan is studying at Bournemouth with the help of a sporting scholarship. “It’s nice to get the recognition. It shows I’m good at my sport. It helps financially, but I’m proud to be now swimming for the university and that they’re supporting me. “In first year [of studying], I

only swam, I didn’t compete. Swimming helps my body more than most things. It helps my range of movement, and I enjoy it. I can look in the mirror and I like what I see now, or I’m closer to it than I was before I swum.” He will be competing in three weeks at the short course championships, where his goal is to break the personal best of 39 seconds that was set recently at a local open meet. At the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, Jordan will be 24, which, while not particularly old for a swimmer, places him in a much higher age category than many of the competitors seen at London 2012. When asked if he thinks he’s capable of making it, Jordan simply smiled and said “Maybe”.

38 sport

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

A world of sport La Liga

With Madrid enduring a poor start to the season by their expectations, this weekend could see them fall as far as 11 points behind the leaders, and after first laughing at Barca’s defensive crisis, they now have their own to deal with. The Galactico’s face an away trip to Mallorca. Israeli Tomer Hemed, who has scored five goals in seven appearances so far this term, could rattle a defensive outfit which sees no Marcelo, Arbeloa, or Fabio Coentrao, meaning Michael Essien might have to slot in at left-back. At least the team still looks good on paper. Barcelona are in action against midtable Rayo Vallecano, who’ve been leaking more goals than my shower leaks water. Whereas Atletico Madrid welcome second from bottom Osasuna, and with Falcao in rich goalscoring form for both club and country, they will certainly be hoping to pull away from their Madrid rivals.

Cherries games most expensive in league Tom Bennett

DEPUTY SPORTS ED. The BBC have released a survey highlighting AFC Bournemouth as having the most expensive matchday experience in League One. The Price of Football survey takes into consideration the price of a ticket, programme, pie and a cup of tea, of which at the Goldsands Stadium costs £34.30. AFC Bournemouth has the most expensive ‘cheapest’ season tickets outside the top two tiers at £361. The Cherries General Manager Liz Finney told a Bournemouth fanzine: “I think that if you were to compare our season ticket prices for over 65s, under 16s, students and fans with disabilities, you would see a more overall favourable picture. “With regards to single match tickets, we offer a much wider pricing structure in comparison with most other Football League clubs, across seven seperate sections of the ground.

“This offers the customer a wider variety in price, as well as facilities to choose from on match day, and caters for everyone in the cross-section of our supporter base. “Once again our youth, concession and disabled tickets offer exceptional value for money when compared to the rest of League One.” A student ticket at Bournemouth is £10 with an NUS card. The cheapest matchday experience in League One is offered by Sheffield United at £17.20. The survey covered 166 clubs across ten divisions in British football, including the Blue Square Bet Premier and the Women’s Super League. The most expensive football ticket across the survey is Arsenal’s mammoth £126 option, whilst the cheapest is a meager £6 at Montrose. A pie at Kidderminster Harriers costs a pocket-emptying £4. Alloa, Forfar and Albion in the Scottish League offer a pie for a pound cheap as chips. You can pick up a programme at Inverness Caledonian Thistle for 50p whilst Leeds United charge a staggering £4.

Ash Hover examines what’s happening this week across the globe, including what could be a Championship, ending weekend for Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.

PGA Tour You may still be watching repeats of the Ryder Cup on your telly, but the PGA Tour continues nonetheless. Today sees the start of the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia, where a $6.1million purse is up for grabs for the likes of Tiger Woods, Nick Watney and Jason Dufner.

Moto GP The AirAsia Australian GP is the penultimate race in what has been a thrilling Moto GP season. Twotime champion Casey Stoner will be looking to go out with a bang after announcing his retirement at the end of the season, but it doesn’t look like Stoner, or his Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa can catch Jorge Lorenzo, who has been leaving the competition in his tracks this year.

Formula 1 Since Lewis Hamlton’s gearbox failure in Singapore, Sebastian Vettel has led every one of the 145 laps, which has seen the German leapfrog Fernando Alonso in the Drivers’ Championship standings. This weekend Bernie and the gang are at the Buddh International Circuit in India, where Ferrari must up their game or see yet another drivers’ title slip from under their noses. Vettel won here last year, and another victory would make it four in a row and bring him one carwidth closer to that elusive treble championship win. At only 25 years old, I wonder how scared Michael Schumacher’s feeling…

One game and no community Ben Fisher

Jason Roberts’s decision not to don a ‘Kick It Out’ T-Shirt prior to kick-off against Liverpool last weekend was viewed in different ways, ranging from stupendous to brave. It was a hugely controversial decision, but it may just be worth it. Such behaviour could be interpreted as magnifying the issue, which it has done, quite spectacularly. But the issue clearly needs that sort of dramatisation, in order to draw a response from the powers in football. But what message does such action really send about racism in football? It suggests that there is a bigger problem than ever with discrimination in the modern game. Such assumptions could sadly be justified considering the on-going inquiries into racial abuse

towards Marvin Sordell during a Championship clash between Millwall and Bolton Wanderers this month. And if football fans thought it was only something of a journeyman striker in Jason Roberts taking a stance against the transparent work of ‘Kick it Out’, then how wrong they were. The image of England’s most expensive centre-half, Rio Ferdinand, also taking a stand against the anti-racism organisation, along with England international Joleon Lescott, is about as clear is it can get. Harsher penalties and actions need to be witnessed. Ferdinand’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, naturally spoke of his “embarrassment” following Ferdinand’s no-show in terms of supporting the one community, one game organisation. Ferguson had of course told press prior to Manchester United’s game with Stoke City that all of his players would support the campaign. Ferdinand though must share such

embarrassment with Sir Alex, when analysing the racial slur that was directed to his brother, Anton, from ex-England and current Chelsea captain, John Terry. The situation today is farcical. Both Wigan and Swansea decided that they wouldn’t get involved at all, omitting the T-Shirts from any pre-match warm-ups, instead sticking to their normal training wear. Ironically, Luis Suarez, who was suspended for eight-matches after being found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra, wore a T-Shirt in support of the ‘Kick it Out’ campaign. Such a false show does however represent the bravado that the T-Shirts create. The same macho and colossus representation that the likes of Roberts and Ferdinand decided to opt out of. The T-Shirt looks great. Just ask the West Ham United squad who posed for photos, decked out in the ‘Kick it Out’ label, but in reality the fifteen-year old brand is still yet to establish itself.

sport 39

The Rock | Thursday 25 October 2012

A word from

Richard Hughes

‘Eddie will succeed’

The Rock’s newest columnist gives an insight into the start of his second spell at the Cherries at the age of 33.

Steve Fletcher is sure that re-signing Eddie Howe (above) will reinvigorate Bournemouth, who currently sit in the bottom half of the table AFCB

Alex Smith The season was over, the hard work was done and the celebrations were in full swing. But, while the Bournemouth players made their way to the open top bus parade to celebrate promotion to League One, their manager Eddie Howe stood alone. Howe had just masterminded the most unlikely of promotions in his first full season in charge, but was left replaying the final 20 minutes of his side’s defeat at Chesterfield 24 hours earlier over and over in his mind. The Cherries had thrown away a one goal lead to finish the 2009/10 campaign with a defeat at Saltergate, and it was nagging

away at the rookie boss. Steve Fletcher, a former team mate of Howe’s and one of his first signings, could see something was wrong. “Is the game still playing on your mind?” he asked. “It’s the only thing I can think about,” Howe said. The final day defeat was a disappointing note in an extraordinary season for the club, and Howe’s reaction goes some way to explaining how he emerged as one of the country’s brightest young managers. The 34-year-old returned to the south coast earlier this month after a spell in charge of Championship outfit Burnley, and has started planning what he hopes will be the next chapter in his Dean Court success story. Since Howe’s departure in January 2010, two managers have come and

gone, Russian co-owner Maxim Demin’s investment has helped build one of the strongest squads in League One and the supporters’ expectations have soared. And while it may be a very different club to the one he left, those who know the former Portsmouth defender best believe he is more than capable of picking up where he left off. “He’s been away for a couple of years and experienced a lot in that time,” says Fletcher. “He’s worked in the Championship and probably has a different perspective on the game. He’s had a couple of personal issues to deal with too, but it will all make him a stronger person and a better manager. “The club is at the other end of the scale and everything is the opposite

of how it was when he left. It’s a different scenario, but one I’m sure he will thrive in, and Eddie being Eddie he will definitely succeed.” Richard Hughes, who played alongside Howe at Bournemouth and Portsmouth, has been equally impressed by his start to life as a manager. “He had a tough time at Portsmouth and was very unlucky to pick up an injury in the first ten minutes of his first game. It was such a bad injury that he never got back to the level he wanted to, but he has incredible mental strength and made the most of a bad situation,” Hughes explains. “He got his coaching badges early, made a great start to his career as a manager and I expected him to fulfil what he didn’t manage to as a player.”

Silver lining for Cherries duo

Cherries draw Dagenham

Craig Rodhouse

Tom Bennett

AFC Bournemouth forwards Matt Tubbs and Lewis Grabban found themselves adding extra silverware to their trophy cabinets over the weekend. Tubbs was awarded the Cherries’ Player of the Month following an impressive September which saw the striker return to form with two goals and some faultless performances. The 28-year-old’s displays were the shining light in an extremely disappointing month for the Cherries, which saw the side slip towards the foot of the table

and eventually culminated in Paul Groves losing his job. Grabban also found himself amongst the trophies as he was awarded with the League Two Player of the Year award for last season’s goal scoring exploits for Rotherham. The 24-year-old striker scored 18 times for the Millers following a summer move from Brentford and this impressive goalscoring tally, coupled with some fantastic displays, proved to be enough to see him sweep aside the competition to grab the accolade. The former Crystal Palace youngster was snapped up by Groves over the summer and has already scored two goals for the Cherries this season, despite being regularly playing on the wing.

DEPUTY SPORTS ED. AFC Bournemouth have drawn Dagenham and Redbridge in the first round of the FA Cup at the Goldsands Stadium. The draw sees a return to the south coast for goalkeeper Jordan Seabright, who joined the Daggers in the summer following his release from the Cherries. The Daggers have only ever beat AFC Bournemouth on one occasion, a 2010 League Two victory. AFC Bournemouth have beaten Dagenham on five other occasions, the most recent coming in last season’s League Cup as Bournemouth ran out 5-0 winners.

The Cherries were knocked out at the first hurdle last season, losing to Gillingham in a replay following a 3-3 draw at home. The Gills, who are in the division below, won the replay 3-2. Meanwhile, Dorchester Town have landed themselves a home tie against Plymouth Argyle. Phil Simkin’s side overcame Bury Town in the fourth qualifying round on Saturday to book their place in the first round proper. As usual, the draw threw up some interesting pairings with a few giant-killings sure to happen on the weekend of November 3rd/4th. Braintree Town have a home tie against Coventry City and Gloucester City will host Leyton Orient.

Life as a footballer can be unpredictable. The appointment of a new manager, an injury or a good run of form can quickly alter the path of your career. My contractual situation at Portsmouth meant that I was without a club before the start of last season and, while I had a couple of offers to keep on playing, I didn’t feel they were exciting enough to convince me to do so. I had a career that I was happy with, played at a level I could only have dreamt of as a child and visited all the best grounds in the country. So, I opened a restaurant in London with my brother and that was the start of my life after football. Then, this summer, I got a call from Paul Groves, and within a couple of weeks I was a Bournemouth player again, preparing for the new season. I’ve been pretty fortunate with injuries and the longest I had ever been out for was six weeks, but by the time pre-season training came round I had been out of the game completely for just over a year. Trying to get back up to speed and get myself into the team has been one of the biggest challenges of my career. I didn’t know what to expect or how long it would take to adjust to the demands of training and playing week in, week out. While it takes a little bit of time to get your fitness and touch back, the highs and lows that come with the life of a footballer feel more familiar. I experienced the ultimate high the game has to offer when I scored during our win at Yeovil, and then hit the lowest ebb since I’ve been back when I picked up a hamstring injury a couple of weeks ago. While it’s disappointing to be on the sidelines, it’s still a privilege to be back doing what I love. I waited a long time for the right club and the right set of circumstances to tempt me out of retirement. Now, with Eddie Howe in place as manager, I’m looking forward to having some stability and the start of his second reign at Dean Court.

40 sport

Thursday 25 October 2012 | The Rock

Eding for success

I don’t believe it! Strip tease

The dire economic situation in Greece is no secret and football teams are having to find unusual ways to bring in the cash. Voukefalas, an amatuer club from Larissa, have unveiled a new pink kit sponsored by two brothels. “Villa Erotica’’ and “Soula’s House of History’’ have been revealed on the new strip and the players are hoping it will inspire them to play some sexy football, after four straight defeats. Soula Alevridou, the owner of Soula’s House of History (we wonder how much ‘history’ is involved), has pledged over €1,000 to the stuggling club. That’s probably quite a lot of money in Greece. Soula is looking to build on Voukefalas’s shaky midfield and is willing to pledge even more money. On top of that, she’s promised the lads a “special time” at her establishments if they manage to win. If that’s not motivation, I don’t know what is...

Attendance boost at the Goldsands Ben Fisher

The appointment of Howe has been given the thumbs up from fans AFCB

Ash Hover

ASSISTANT SPORTS ED. After a two-year absence, Eddie Howe returned home this month and loyal Cherry fans must’ve wished the 36-year-old had never left the club. In his time away, two managers have been and gone; neither of whom could live up to the Eddie Howe name. After saving AFC Bournemouth from certain relegation in his first year, Howe achieved the unthinkable at the time, earning the Cherries promotion to League One. With a whopping 96 points still

available this season, who’s saying he can’t achieve the unthinkable, once again. There is certainly a new sense of vigour around the Goldsands and a fresh start may be just what AFCB need to kick start their season. The Cherries play Carlise United on Saturday afternoon and will be hoping to record a much needed away win to climb the table.

Turn to page 39 for Steve Fletcher’s view on the hiring of Howe

The return of Eddie Howe continues to see a surge in the number of spectators at the Goldsands Stadium. A total of 6,233 fans attended the 3-1 win at home to top-of-the-table Tranmere, the biggest turnout of the season so far. News that Howe was taking over the reins from Paul Groves before the Cherries’ first home win of the season against Leyton Orient earlier this month saw 5,715 fans through the turnstiles. Prior to Howe’s arrival, the highest attendance was 5,407, at the first home game of the campaign against MK Dons. Figures during a miserable spell under Groves had dropped below the 5,000 mark, but after two home wins on the bounce, things are looking up for the Cherries.

Turn to page 39 for The Rock’s exclusive new columnist