Source april 2015

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

ELECTIONS 2015 EDITION

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EDITOR’SLETTER Charlotte Dyett Sports & Societies Editor

Ellis Ajoku World Updates Editor

Kyle Knappett Entertainment Editor

Sheereen Nabi - Editor in Chief Hi Everyone, Welcome to our final issue of Source for this academic year. Hopefully you all like the change from the newspaper to a magazine; we wanted to inject something fresh into the way Source keeps everyone updated on the latest happenings around campus.

With exams around the corner, the pressure is on and stress levels are rising; particularly for those of us in final year. That being said now is the chance to make the most of your time left at university before going home for summer (or for good if you are graduating).

The atmosphere around campus has changed recently, but students have rallied together to raise awareness for missing student Ozi. All we ask is that he returns safely, if you have any information that can help to find him, please contact 101 or come and visit the Students’ Union Advice Centre in the Hub. In light of such a devastating situation, one positive can be taken, that our students can be counted upon to unite when really needed. Part of the experience of being a student is coming together with people from all walks of life.

Speaking of making the most of your experience here, writing this is a bitter sweet experience. I’m really glad to have been a part of Source this year, but wish I’d joined earlier. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from my three years at university it is never be afraid to try new

Special thanks to Isobel Hudson for all her assistance things. I’ve always had an interest in writing but never pursued it until now. What started off something to boost my profile and show employers a different side of me has now led me to considering this as more than just a hobby. What I’m trying to say is, it is ok to not fully know what you are doing after graduating, or to consider a career in something completely unrelated to your degree (two concepts I’m still justifying to myself!). We learn and develop throughout our lives, so you may have come into your degree with one plan in mind, and leave with one that is completely different.

Make the most of the opportunities around you as so many of these won’t come around again. University isn’t just about getting a qualification at the end of it; you are offered many more experiences along the way.

Treasure every moment, as it is these carefree days you’ll reminisce about in the future. On that note, it’s time to sign off.

Ps: If you fancy yourself as a budding writer or want to share something with your fellow students, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to get in touch with your weird and wonderful stories. Who knows you might find yourself on the front page of our next issue or on our brand new website, soon to be released! Watch this space…

Sourcenewspaper@outlook.com

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SABB UPDATE Enobong Inyang Activities Officer

CUSU Elections: During the spring elections, I met with several students to discuss the importance of standing for CUSU elections and taking up the elected roles.

Varsity: Varsity went well, unfortunately we lost to Warwick, but it ended on a positive note with lots of Coventry University Students showing their support to #TeamCoventry.

Societies: I have been providing support and attending societies’ events and meeting sessions. To ensure more awareness of societies activities and events are known by students across the whole university, I have been promoting societies via ‘Societies Spotlight’. This platform showcases societies on campus and it has been ongoing for over 5 months now.

Student Volunteering Week: I worked with the Student Volunteering Team and the CUSU Volunteering Outreach group to promote the Student Volunteering Week. It was very successful as we had over 265 students who took part in micro volunteering and much more. This took place during the 23rd – 27th of February and was a great success.

World Autism Awareness Week: I have been in meetings, planning towards World Autism Awareness Week. We are looking at producing a video to celebrate the positive impact and success of students with Autism.

Societies Election: Elections training sessions were delivered to societies, showing them the right way of conducting their officials election and also creating a good handover process for newly elected officials.

One World Week: One world week was a big success this year, with many students getting involved with the daily events and activities, such as the football tournament, Cultural societies showcase, food fair and cycle the globe with RAG society etc.

Coventry University quiz team

Quiz of the Year: We had a quiz competition amongst universities in the West Midlands; Birmingham City University, Coventry University, Warwick University, University of Birmingham and University of Wolverhampton. The University of Birmingham were crowned winners at the end of the event!

One World Campaign team cycle the globe

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SABB UPDATE Ephraim Enoidem Representation & Welfare Officer

Reps Publicity: CUSU has one of the best representation systems in the country. How much students are engaged with it, from the classroom level, is determined by the publicity of this system. One of the things I have introduced is Senior Reps Banners across all faculties to ensure students know who their representatives at departmental levels, faculty levels and university levels are.

Reps Conference Restructure: This year I have restructured the reps conference to make it more engaging between staff and students.

Before, the set up allowed students to fire questions to staff. What we have now is students have grouped themed discussions, where students and staff come up with suggestions of possible solutions both parties can work on, which reflects the partnership the reps system is designed for.

Halls reps publicity: The staff have been very helpful in designing this and ensuring that they are placed in strategic locations in halls, to ensure residents are familiar with the faces and contact details of their halls reps.

Community engagement and representation: This is an aspect that has had little or no focus on for some time, other than the volunteering scheme we have at CUSU. Starting with the community reps introduction, I had also asked for this to be included in our strategy and funding plan. The university has responded positively with some funding, the union will be recruiting a staff member for this and the tenants union will work in partnership to create a long term presence of students positively in the community.

I have been working closely with the advice centre manager on the tenants union, be a good neighbour.

I will also be pushing to get good practices and inject into our union with the view to better the steps the union and the university is putting in place for good relationship between students and the community.

I have also started working on a community football league that will bring students from colleges, university and other parts of the community together to have fun and learn from each other.

Guarantor scheme: The university is currently working with a couple of providers to ensure this can be delivered and I am steadily pushing for it to be implemented soon.

QAA: The university hosted Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency auditors during the first week of February. Students were also involved in the review process as the auditors were keen to hear the students’ perspectives. One of the points I picked up during the audit process is that we as a union, do not celebrate our success enough, hence students do not really recognise what contributions and impact the union has on their academics and welfare.

Late night noise petition and campaign: I had meetings with accommodation managers alongside the Student Union Advice Centre (SUAC) manager. There are clear rules and fines for this only they have not been promoted clearly to students. I will be developing an awareness campaign for this next month.

CUC representation: We now have a paper for the executive committee to look at and adopt if they are happy with it. This means that CUC will be having a more advanced representation system, starting from September 2015, if approved by the executive committee.

Catering contract review The university together with the union is currently reviewing the catering contract provisions and I welcome feedback from councillors and any points they would like to be raised.

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SABB UPDATE Jo Ah Yow Sport & Wellbeing Officer

Hi everyone, I hope this term isn’t treating you too badly with exams and coursework! First of all I would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who took part in the Varsity series; players, coaches, staff members, spectators, volunteers, RAG and everyone else that made this happen. Despite the overall score, I believe that the event was a success and I’m sure most of you will agree. The Ice Hockey finale was unbelievable with over 1500 Coventry spectators in the arena!

After the Varsity series, we went straight into LGBT History month. The LGBTQIA+ society did an amazing job in campaigning to get rid of gender binary forms at Coventry University with over 250 people signing the petition. Well done guys! Some of our football teams also showed their support against homophobia by wearing rainbow laces to their games.

Sporting rainbow laces for LGBT History Month

The BUCS Nationals also took place in February in Sheffield and has been our most successful competition to date; with 107 BUCS points won in Boxing, Judo, Karate, Pole Vault and Shotput.

The CUSU elections have happened, I am really sad that I did not re-run this year but I had to take this decision and start a new chapter. Good luck to Alexa in representing and shaping the student experience.

BUCS Nationals Boxing

Finally, I would like to wish all of you a great Easter holiday and good luck in your assignments, dissertations and exams!

BUCS Nationals Karate

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SABB UPDATE Marvin Nkemdirim Democracy & Campaigns Officer

This year has been really busy at CUSU with lots of campaigns such as, LGBT History Month, One World Week, National Voters Registration Day and The Spring Elections.

One World Week this year started on the 14th February with an All Nations Football Tournament.

The week also included a food fair, cultural societies awareness and a bike ride around the world, an international cookery session via social media and the outstanding annual Chinese New Year celebration, filled with entertainment and 8-course-meal. A big thanks to all who helped organise and run this week.

National Voters Registration Day had over 270 students registering to vote, which was very encouraging. This year some international students are allowed to vote, those from common wealth countries, what better way to have their voices heard and represented than registering and participating to vote!

I also want use this opportunity to say a big thank you to all of you for making my Sabbatical Year a worthwhile experience.

Thanks, BIG M.

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SABB UPDATE Jen Smith Communications & Commercial Officer

I found my passion and niche of working with the student media team, Source, whilst being the Comms Sabb very quickly. With this in mind, I decided to continue this passion and to support them next year through the role of the Student Media Coordinator.

I was very sorry to leave the Sabbatical Team after a great seven months, but I knew what I wanted to do and the job was a great opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. Therefore, fear not, you can still find me in the Hub working alongside Source.

Can’t wait for the next adventure! Hope you’ve all had a great year, have a wicked summer and relax! If you’re interested in joining Source, please don’t hesitate to contact me on ab3292@coventry.ac.uk.

Thanks, Jen

ELECTION RESULTS 2015

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So the votes have been counted and the results are in, but before we reveal your new Sabbatical Officers let’s just check you actually know...

WHAT OUR SABBATICAL OFFICERS (SABBS) DO!

Democracy & campaigns officer:

Representation & welfare officer:

Is the lead on campaigns around campus, works closely with student councillors and runs the Student Elections every year. This position is also responsible for liaising between local, regional and national organisations such as the NUS.

Works closely with Course Reps, Senior Reps, Faculty Chairs, Service reps and Hall Reps to ensure a great student experience in all areas. This role also represents student views at the highest level meetings in the university.

Sports & wellbeing officer:

Communications & commercial officer:

Organises and promotes Varsity, works closely with sports societies and helps their development and promotes health and wellbeing to all students.

Handles all the CUSU finances, organises all Student Union events, is responsible for all communication and events at CUSU and supports the Student Council.

The

2015/2016 team revealed

Activities officer: Promotes and encourages students to be more active in joining societies and applying for volunteering roles and is responsible for the development of inter and multifaith activities and representation within the university.

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Elections INTROD STAND

VOTE

CHANGE

2015/16

FACULTY CHAIRS BES Faculty Chair: Naomi MG Smith HLS Faculty Chair: Attiq Ur Rehman EC Faculty Chair: Jordan Liu

Democracy and Campaigns Officer: Ephraim Enoidem

Activities Officer: Gabriela Rotaru

CSAD Faculty Chair: Emmanuel Johnson

“My promises: a University rent guarantor scheme, abolishing library fines, more flexible tuition fees payment plan and increased accessibility of university facilities to college students.”

“I want to make the best use of my previous knowledge and experience to help societies grow and really put a mark in societies’ evolution at Coventry Uni.”

CUC College Chair: Alex Cairns

What changes do you hope to bring about?

“I would like to set up a connection between our societies and societies from other universities and also improve the volunteering platform”

Candidates are quizzed on their policies at Question Time

“We are elected by student If you have any general enqu

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DUCING YOUR NEW SABB TEAM!

by Raisa Ismail

Communications and Commercial Officer: Enobong Inyang

Representation and Welfare Officer: Adebowale Adebiyi

Sports and Wellbeing Officer: Alexa Thiel

“I will work towards promoting all of the departments, its services and activities across campus”

“I will relentlessly pursue issues that pertain not only to the welfare, socio-wellbeing or academics of students, but also on other areas that students need a voice.”

“I will promote access to student support, increase coverage and recognition of CU sport, improve access to equipment and facilities and support the student voice”

How would you describe your time at the university?

What positive changes to do you wish to bring about?

“It’s been awesome so far, it’s been really great”

“There’s so many things I’d like to work on, predominantly my aim is to bring us all together as one Coventry

What makes you a good fit for this role?

“I put students first. I am someone who is passionate about student development”

ts for students so come and find us on the 1st floor in the Hub. uiries, questions or just fancy a chat, you know where we are.”

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WHERE DO WE STAND WITH CUSU?

By Sheereen Nabi

I

n light of recent events and the spring elections, there’s no denying the tensions are rising between Coventry University Student Union (CUSU) and the students. Whilst some students are feeling a little deflated as to how much the union cares for our welfare, others are talking to external platforms to vent their frustrations openly.

•

•

This poses the question as to where the SU’s priorities lie, are the interests of us students taking a back seat to promoting the university in the best way possible?

Firstly there are a few points that students may not know, but will find beneficial to both this article and generally for their time here at university:

‘CUSU is a democratic, student-led organisation, run by students, for students. We are here to offer you support, and represent you’ this quote is taken directly from the CUSU website and students sometimes forget this. If you have an issue with the SU take it up with them. Of course there are policies and procedures to go through, but unlike Coventry University there should be less formality as this is a student led body so essentially everyone is in the same position and there is less of a hierarchy of power.

You can do this by contacting a Sabbatical Officer, all of their contact details are on the cusu.org website.

CUSU is a separate body from Coventry University - think of it like a trade union. They work alongside the employers and together create a better experience for us students. (This is why we don’t have student nights in Square One- the university own that space and will hire it out to the SU at the same price they hire it out to every other body... which is pretty pricey!)

• Not happy with the quality of the Sabbatical Officer’s work? Sort it - it only takes a number of students to raise causes of concern at Student Council and they can be voted out of positon with a ‘no confidence’ motion.

STUDENTS REALISE HOW MUCH POWER YOU HAVE! YOU HAVE VOTED THEM IN; THEY SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT BY YOU. In order for the SU to balance student’s well-being with the university’s reputation, there will inevitably be conflicts of interest where one must be prioritised.

How far is too far though? Some argue that raising awareness of serious welfare and safety issues such as assaults, theft and missing persons are more important than the potential negative PR impact of the university and CUSU. Yes the education provided is of high importance but basic safety should be put before anything else. Many students complained on the Facebook page ‘Spotted: Coventry University’ about both the university’s and CUSU’s lack of awareness they raised for recent missing student, Ozi. It was over a month before any large scale action was taken, which has infuriated students. With over 8,000 likes, this Facebook page appears to the most common way to reach out to our fellow university community in an informal way.

So why are students taking to other platforms to voice their views as oppose to using CUSU? In an ideal situation, our SU would give students the

chance to share their opinions without the fear of repercussions. Discussions over elections, lecturers and whatever else students feel the need to vent about may take place on CUSU discussion boards or Facebook if students had more faith that the union could support our needs.

The anonymity of the Spotted CU page makes it ideal as students are able to openly express themselves with little repercussions. If content is found to be offensive, a message can be sent to the page admins asking them to remove the post in question – nothing is taken to the university staff and things remain strictly between us, the students. CUSU may want to consider becoming more student orientated in this sense; so people remember the SU is established by us, meaning we have virtually all the power in its running. Unlike the formal structure of the university itself, we can bring about these changes, so maybe it’s time to stop moaning and take action directly with the Sabbatical Team, Faculty Chairs and Student Councillors to ensure you get what YOU want.

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WHAT I LEARNT ABOUT THE ELECTIONS THIS YEAR, AS A CANDIDATE (NO ONE REALLY CARED)

By Luke Beasley

S

o another year of student elections at Coventry University Students’ Union (CUSU) goes by. As a candidate in the elections running for the Communications and Commercial Officer role, I began noticing some real problems with how the student elections were being run.

I got asked a lot of questions whilst I was campaigning. Some questions ranged from what are you going to do for me? To simply asking me how do I vote? But the question I got asked the most was ‘what is a sabbatical officer?’

At first I didn’t really know myself. I was a guy really engaged in student media and also a keen member of the Rugby Union society and I felt that sports didn’t really get enough coverage around the university and I felt I could change this. Whilst researching I realised that societies didn’t either.

If you haven’t guessed already, I really wanted to improve student media around campus. Obviously, this wasn’t the only thing the role had entailed for me. I’d be looking after finances, running and publicising events and encouraging interaction between the SU and the students. I was looking forward to changing things for the benefit of all students at the university.

That was until I began campaigning. I took my £10 printing budget and began handing out flyers and to my surprise, I began noticing a disturbing trend.

Not many people actually cared...

I spent all my time saying, “vote for me” without much luck due to complete apathy from students who weren’t interested.

Three candidates did the exact same thing but with their own society who elected two of them in previous years.

My friends told me straight, they either didn’t read any of the manifestos or they only read mine and disregarded the others.

Now here’s where the problem lies: Hypothetically speaking if you are an established member of a society with over 600 people all of whom are demanding that you vote for them. They will reach a larger portion of students who support them and cast a vote in their favour and I applaud these people, using their connections wisely but surely the elections are about the best person for the job as oppose to a popularity contest? This way, students’ can be confident in their Sabb team and actually know what is going on. To put this into perspective, one person I spoke to today didn’t even know the elections had taken place. To humour you further, one of the candidates for the role for the Communications and Commercial Officer was not even aware that student media existed at Coventry University.

“the question I got asked the most was ‘what is a sabbatical officer?’”

As someone that could potentially help students, you’d think people would be really engaged with helping to change their Students’ Union (SU), especially as there has been a lot of criticism towards the current sabbatical officers for ‘not really having a clue what they’re doing’.

It was also surprising that no one wanted to discuss my manifesto with me. From this point on, I was relying solely on my friends in other sports and societies to spread the word and hoped to god that they actually voted for me.

I was very thankful for this support but it highlighted a large problem in the way SU elections are run. There wasn’t any reaching out with large scale policies, no speaking to people about what I would do. I was just saying, “vote for me” and this is all the other candidates were doing as well.

When the results were announced, I couldn’t help but think that the process didn’t make any sense. It wasn’t until I saw a heavily criticised candidate, go on to win his desired position that I realised the truth behind the elections.

Student elections focus mainly on who can pester the most of their friends into voting for them and with voter turnout so poor this year (only 1200 out of 22000 students voted in my category), it’s understandable that winners are often people who had received large proportions of votes in previous elections.

Not a lot can be done to encourage students to become involved in the SU, many students at Coventry University just aren’t interested anymore and with the closure of Hush, faith in the SU has been further lowered.

I sincerely hope something can be done by the people in the Sabbatical roles to encourage students to become more involved in the SU but truthfully, unless there are huge structural changes, I don’t think this will change any time soon.

This poses the ultimate question: do you, as a student, actually care about your SU? Or view it simply as a product of the university, which seems to be failing you more and more with each passing year? Personally I think the full time employees do a fantastic job, but I question whether the Sabbatical Officers in charge are really the best people to be advocates for all students’.

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Coventry Blaze’s Fight to the End

By Charlotte Dyett Although Coventry’s elite ice hockey team only find themselves in the bottom half of the league table, Coventry Blaze are not giving up yet, as they are currently on a six game winning streak.

The team presently find themselves in the same position they finished with at the end of last year’s season, which was 6th, but they have a real chance of improving that with upcoming fixtures of other midtable teams.

The team experienced disappointment towards the end of February when their chances of getting to the Challenge Cup Final was denied by Cardiff Devils.

After the game, manager Chuck Weber said they would focus on the league, which seems to be paying off.

CAN TONY MOWBRAY HELP COVENTRY CITY FC STOP FEELING SO BLUE?

By Charlotte Dyett It has been a pretty bleak season for local Coventry City Football Club, who currently finds themselves 20th in the Sky Bet League 1 Table. After a disappointing start, including being knocked out both the FA Cup and League Cup in the first round, the final leg of the season does not look much more promising.

With only eight wins all season, Steven Pressley was sacked in February on his 100th game as manager for the club. Now, former Middlesbrough boss, Tony Mowbray, has been brought in to help the sky blues start winning.

But is it too late in the season to notice a difference?

The Sky Blues have only won one game in their past five, and with some tough fixtures ahead, including top of the table Bristol City, it doesn’t look promising.

Although they are out of the relegation zone, I think they will struggle to beat last year’s end result of 18th. Although the fans have started attending home games again, it doesn’t look like returning to the Ricoh has brought the team much luck.

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They’ve Got The Eye Of The Tiger: CU Boxing Club

By Charlotte Dyett

I

f recent disappointments at Varsity have made you question your faith in sport at our university, then all I can say is don’t give up too soon! Coming out of nowhere and now being at the top, Coventry University Boxing Club is not only the highest point scorer within the university, but also recently won the team cup at the BUCS championships.

Equally, the only other female competitor, Vickie Lewis, also had a tough journey to gold. She actually lost her semi-final fight to a girl who was later disqualified for not stating she was a kickboxing world champion. That meant Vickie was back in the mix, and after disappointment in the semi-finals, she found her success in the final by taking the gold medal.

The club have experienced a few dry years of enduring little success following the departure of their head coach, but now are swinging back stronger than ever! An empty trophy cabinet resulted in them losing all their funding from the university, but this wasn’t enough to discourage our boxers. Presently, the boxers fund everything themselves, from hiring a training venue to transport and accommodation at competitions, but hopefully this is all about to change.

All this success has been achieved by a lot of hard work.

Unlike most other sports clubs at the university, the boxing club don’t socialise outside their training sessions.

They’ve been training hard since September, and have to thank head coach Shiny Singh who has changed the whole layout of how the club has been run.

After coming away with nothing at last year’s BUCS, the team really turned it around this year…

Winning four gold and one bronze medal, it’s no wonder they were awarded the team cup. They also boast a regional champion, Carlos, who is currently yet to be beaten with eight fights and eight wins, and some even ending in a knock out. He is also the first university student to ever hold a central England boxing belt!

Shiny is over the moon at how well the club is doing: “I think the club has done really well, we won nothing last year, so to come from that to winning four gold and a bronze medal, and winning the team cup for most points and medals at BUCS across all the universities that entered. We’ve also won the most points compared with any other sport at Coventry University” He also went on to say: “At one point 2 years ago, they were considering shutting down the club completely because of no funding or support. This year we have run it as a business plan, all modelled by members’ fees, moving away from the university. At the moment, the boxers have funded everything we’ve done this year, travel to events, accommodation etc.”

(From L-R) Coach Shiny, Carlos, Vickie, Natasha and coach Nigel. Reece also won gold, but unfortunately is not pictured.

If you think it’s just the boys going hard, then you are very wrong! The club captain, Natasha Hobbs, is a former kickboxing world, European and National Champion.

Natasha loves being Captain: “It’s great being the club captain and the fact that I’m a girl as well, all the guys respect me”. And there’s no reason why they shouldn’t respect her since she’s winning. Natasha is one of only two girls in the top training session, and they both won gold medals at BUCS. Although, it’s fair to say neither of them had an easy road to success. Natasha was actually 3kg overweight on the weekend of the competition, and while I struggle to budge that kind of weight in a month, Natasha managed to shed it in three hours of hard working out! Then to her surprise, she found out she had a fight that day! Despite her intense fitness session prior, she still came out on top taking the gold medal.

Now Shiny’s main goal is to bring the club back to its former glory, which you could argue he’s already done!

The club are now looking forward to the next big event the ABA nationals.

Shiny tells me: “It’s the first time boxers from the uni will compete in the ABA competition. We’ve put the club on the map not just in the uni but also within Boxing. A lot of clubs have been speaking highly about what we’ve done”.

Well done guys, you’ve done us all proud!

16 Source L to R: Men’s Second Goal scorer Sean Nicholson, Coach Michael Akinle, Ashley Firth

VARSITY 2015 SPOTLIGHT

MEN’S FOOTBALL

by Ellis Ajoku

It was all jubilation on the bus ride back home from Warwick University following the victories of the Men’s (First, Second and Third) Teams.

The first half of the Men’s Third team was a sloppy affair, but the team managed to score a goal before half-time despite the whipping winds sweeping through the pitch. Goals from Jacob Leighton, James Parkinson and assists from Daniel Smith ensured that Coventry found its way to the lead, with goalkeeper James Stone seeming not affected by the two goals conceded earlier and managed to keep the opposition strike force at bay. The status quo was maintained and they played to the whistle, sealing the win at 3-2.

“We are undefeated in the league and we proved that point today when we came out,” Tom Broome, the Men’s Third captain said.

“We kept putting in the energy and we kept pressing them throughout the whole game and we are the team to beat in the league at the moment. Everyone wants to beat us.”

Coming from a loss in their previous game just six minutes before the end of the encounter, the Coventry Men’s Second got off to a flier against their Warwick counterparts, going one nil up before halftime.

Sean Nicholson then scored in the 70th minute after a mazy run and a subsequent shimmy, wrong-footing the defence before slotting the ball home with a strike that was pulled out of the top drawer. The Warwick team was held off for the rest of the game, making the final score 2-0.

After the game, a visibly giddy coach Michael Akinle who has never lost any Varsity game as gaffer, said: “They gave their all on the pitch today, I’m so proud of them. Bearing in mind that our opponents today are a league above us and top of that league also, it shows

that once it comes down to eleven against eleven, my boys are top quality. So it’s a great day for us all.”

Sean remarked that his team had proved to be no pushovers and were still in with a shout of winning the league if they played the same way throughout the season.

Later in the day, the Men’s Third game took centre stage and at the start it appeared to be that Warwick held all the aces, playing at home and having the crowd cheering them on. However after a drab first half where chances were few and far between, a halftime roasting provided Coventry the spark and the team was back to their fire breathing ways.

As news of the victories of the Second and Third teams filtered in just before the start of the second half, it became a one-way traffic as several shots were taken at the Warwick target and wingers supplying width to the gameplay of the Magenta men. The defence played their part as Coventry ran riot against the opposing defence and starting with a penalty, three goals were scored in quick succession. The rest of the game was a secure stretch as the game was already in the bag and after 93 minutes, the man in the middle brought the game to an end and rapturous scenes of celebration followed.

Team captain, Adam Moss expressed his confidence in all the strikers, stating that the team played as one and he knew that the goals were going to come in sooner than later.

He then went on to say that: “The first half was a bit sloppy and we didn’t get going but the second half was brilliant. We deserved the win!”

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY & COVENTRY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION PRESENT

THE

2015 sunday 10th MAY RICOH ARENA, COVENTRY CELEBRATING AND RECOGNISING THE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR STUDENTS AND COACHES

V

TICKETS ONLY £30

arsity is a brilliant opportunity as a spectator, to watch a sport you may have been previously unfamiliar with. With so many sports to choose from, I attended the Water Polo to show my support for the Magenta Army!

DRINKS RECEPTION: 6.30PM GUESTS WILL BE SEATED: 7.00PM THIS IS STRICTLY A BLACK TIE EVENT

Spirits were high as we gave a hard battle, however it seemed that today was not a day for a Coventry win.

As soon as the game began Coventry showed a lot of effort and fought hard throughout, but the first goal to Warwick was scored just over 3 minutes into the game. This signified the progress of the rest of the game, as Warwick slammed in goalINFORMATION after goal. They FOR MORE VISIT: WWW.CUSU.ORG had a very strong attack that made for an extremely TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM CUSU RECEPTION tough fight for us. Despite this, our goalkeeper still managed to save numerous shots and we managed to score one goal!

The final score was 19-1 to Warwick. While this may seem like a dreadful result, our team really did pack a punch against Warwick. I thoroughly enjoyed attending my first Water Polo game. It proved to be an intensive game with so many aspects to consider all at once. I applaud Coventry for continuing to put in an effort when spirits were bound to be low. I’m sure we’ll thrash Warwick next year!

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Everything I must say about ‘Whisper If I Forget’ and its Turkish Writer/Director Çağan Irmak

By Christine Ong

T

he Middle East Film Festival, organised by Culturae Mundi and Linguae Mundi, was held at Coventry University last month. Sponsored by the Turkish Airlines, it was a three-day festivity celebrating Middle Eastern culture through food and cinema. Not to mention the opportunity to win a once in a lifetime trip to Turkey. The festival was truly an eye-opening experience for me that changed my perception of Turkish culture forever.

My personal highlight was the premiere of the film Whisper if I Forget (2014) introduced by its very own writer and director Çağan Irmak. After watching the film, I spoke with him and will admit that he is a really cool guy who has certainly gained a new fan!

Deeply-Felt Film Review (Spoiler alert!)

Let’s start at the beginning... Hatice, a woman with Alzheimers disease, returns to her hometown where her older sister, Hanife, greets her with burning resentment. Hanife blames Hatice for ruining her life when Hatice ran away with Tarik, and became a famous pop star while Hanife took on the burden of looking after her family.

Right from the first minute of the film, Çağan Imrak established this powerful, indestructible anger. The script was beautiful and poetic, particularly when conveyed through Hanife’s inner thoughts.

This furthered the audience experience because spoken words do not often encapsulate the whole of our emotions. The film developed with a stunning and emotionally captivating mix of romance, humour, wit and powerful depiction of family ties (especially sisterhood).

Romance and rivalry commenced when the film cuts back to the time in the 1970s when the girls were in their youth. Their lives changed forever when Tarik entered the picture: Hanife loves Tarik, but he loves the fun one, Hatice. It was a typical cliché, but told uniquely.

The contradictions between the characters, Hanife the gracious older sister and Hatice the free-spirited younger sibling set free by Tarik, was crucial in building to the climax of the story. The sisters were opposites but had the same flaw. They both had their own dark desires. As Hatice expresses her side of the story, viewers begin to neutralise their judgements from seeing Hanife as the victim, to sympathising with the naive teenager Hatice, forgotten by her family in the big city of Istanbul. This clearly struck a chord with the viewers’ deepest most intimate feelings and left half of us in Square One cinema with teary eyes.

Irony of ‘The Celebrity’ The part where a subtle, sarcastic reference towards how celebrities are constructed through publicity and how words are spoon-fed to them, was smoothly placed and made me chuckle. This was when Hatice argues with Tarik and says: “I crawled my way to the top…” and Tarik responds with: “Now you actually believe everything they had you memorise”. In a world obsessed with celebrity culture this couldn’t be truer today.

At this point, Hatice’s name is changed to Ayperi (her famous pop star name) and Tarik becomes a troubled artist because he feels Ayperi is having an affair with another man in their trio-band, Erhan. Tarik dies and the band ends with him. Erhan also cannot fill the gap in Ayperi’s heart and struggles to deal with this. Ayperi is unable to sell any more records too because while her singing talents are extraordinary, her lyric composition is not. The biggest part of her success blossomed after she stole her sister’s poetry diary and used it for her songs in her early fame. This was an essential part of the story because it made the audience feel a burning anger as Hanife took care of his sick parents, while Hatice had the time of her life using Hanife’s soulful compositions. But this anger was later conquered by sisterhood, and told an unconditional power of family love.

Source 19 The Part Where It was Impossible to Keep Your Cool Approaching the end of the film, present day Ayperi starts to get sick, and each day gets worse. She often finds herself lost in her memories, hallucinating the past, mumbling empty words and drifting off to danger.

Hanife’s indestructible anger (established at the very start) starts to break as she chases Hatice into the street and says: “Your home is here my sister…I will take care of you…We will spend the rest of the days doing things we didn’t do”. This was the part that touched me to my bones. It left me completely wrecked in tears (and most people in the cinema) ...and I don’t even have a sister! It was simply because I felt Irmak’s story and for a second I imagined I had a sister. It was impossible to keep your cool (some in different ways entirely- the guy sat next to me was hysterical after seeing me cry, but I have no regrets!)

the last time at her tribute concert supported by young music artists. But due to her Alzheimer’s disease, she is unable to remember the lyrics and asks her big sister to sing beside her in front of millions. She then requests: ‘Whisper if I forget’.

If you asked me to summarise this film in one word I would say ‘surprise’. Before this, Turkish filmography never crossed my mind, ever. And it saddens me that I have missed out on this all of my life. It is the type of surprise that people are often afraid of because we don’t know what to expect. It’s sad to think that we don’t truly experience enough of the marvellous things that life has to offers us. I had a moment of selfactualisation recently, and now want to be surprised all the time. This means always taking chances and being spontaneous to embrace the treasures the world has to offer.

The final scene gave the characters a sense of closure in the most beautiful way, Ayperi is asked to sing for

Irmak, excited for the

film to start (centre)

Irmak

on set

A quick look into what meeting a talented director was like, right after watching his film!

I feel obliged to tell you what it was like because people don’t get to see or hear enough about the world’s talents!

I’d never heard of Çağan Irmak before the festival, but watching the film both written and directed by him was all it took to see through his wonderful brain and character. Meeting him felt like meeting a human form of passion, inspiration, compassion, and life. I was so overwhelmed that my thoughts were set to burst, but nothing formed into words. Before this day I never understood the concept of being speechless, surely if you’ve got something to say, you’ll say it. For me, it was his presence and the element of surprise, by how amazing the film was, that intensified it all. It was an overwhelming situation; I could not say any of the things I wanted to! It was ironic as I had a lot of thoughts and feelings about the film to share. Regrettably speaking, writing this piece has helped satisfy my soul and share everything I wanted to say on the day.

Overall, During Irmak’s visit in Coventry University, he appeared to be humble, despite all his successes. There was not a hint of superiority in his presence to make others feel like he was better; he was a real person in touch with the moment and people around him as portrayed in the inspirational ‘Whisper if I forget’.

20 Source

GRADUATE JOBS:

What can you do to better your chances?

By Mandeep Sagoo

A

fter graduating, many students feel the pressure of finding a job, making it a stressful experience. I am already anxious at the thought of securing that job I’ve always wanted, which is ironic really. It doesn’t help that recent graduate employment figures from the High Education Career Service Unit suggest graduate unemployment is falling.

like to challenge you and discover what you really enjoy. Keep aside any archetypes of the role you are applying for, as you may have already created in your head who this employer could be looking for. Of course, you need to fill in the job requirements, but it can often cover your true self. Employers need to take risks and employ those who encompass qualifications as well as their personality.

So what can we do to get ahead of the competition?

Although it may not be practical, like Alfred, to stand at a train station amongst the onslaught of angry commuters, keeping your hope and using your initiative shows it can really work.

This leads me on to nepotism... Do take advantage if you have family members or friends already in your desired field.

It is often a valuable way for you to enter the market. It’s all about forging new relationships and building connections with existing contacts.

The first thing I would suggest is to gain as much experience as you can (yes we’ve heard this before but honestly it’s the key!) whether that is volunteering, work placements, or shadowing.

Getting the appropriate work experience, even if it’s unpaid, will guide you in the right direction, allowing you to make an informed choice in your career. It provides you with skills such as using your initiative, time management and teamwork – the valuable, transferable skills that are learnt by doing instead of listening. As for many jobs, I believe qualifications are only half of what is really required.

You have probably heard about Alfred Ajani, a marketing graduate from Coventry University. He stood outside Waterloo station in London with a sign in an attempt to be spotted by an employer; an employer who took his details, fortunately contacted him. He now works as a Marketing, PR and Projects Manager.

Thinking outside the box can really get you a job. Succeeding this, Alfred is now hiring graduates!

Secondly, being you is vital. Know your own abilities and what you can succeed in. That means building a character and personality that will put you aside from the rest. Employers

So, if the thought of securing a job looms ever closer, relax and remember while you’re at University, you have the opportunity to build experience and do some volunteering to add to your CV. It is important to note you won’t get your dream job straight away; coping with rejection will help with perseverance overtime.

Remember practice makes perfect!

Source 21

The Big Debate

SHOULD THE FOCUS OF EDUCATION BE ON GRADES OR LEARNING?

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ith exams just around the corner tensions are high in Source HQ, creating some interesting views surrounding our education system...

GRADES

Ellis Ajoku

I

t is clear that students learn at different paces but implementing an academic grading system helps to reduce complacency, and high scores show a sense of achievement.

Grades are a strong indicator of previous performance and have proven to be a good way of motivating students. The steps taken to achieve high grades usually involve having to learn information which usually requires time and effort.

This is a sign that the individual is willing to commit to a task from start to finish. Discipline and responsibility are formed whilst doing hard work to obtain good results. This applies to the workplace, you might be a bit sceptical if you know that you are receiving a service from a professional, who did not academically excel at university.

Good grades also mean that the student has been tested on their subject area and can apply this knowledge well.

Employers can use these grades to easily differentiate between varying candidates to ensure they hire the highest performing graduates. Grades become essential to a prospective employer as graduates often have little real world work experience compared to other applicants.

Trying to estimate the amount of learning a student has committed to can sometimes be very difficult to measure.

However as the job market is increasingly competitive, anything to get that initial foot in the door is a boost. For some students from deprived backgrounds opportunities may come their way in the form of scholarships and grants, often awarded for outstanding academic ability. Therefore emphasis is placed on achieving high marks to open more doors for them.

Emphasis on grades serves the purpose of making students understand that there isn’t always someone looking out for them outside of their education provider. In the real world a person’s skills may initially be validated using their grades.

Rightly or wrongly so, employers are more likely to employ someone with a better degree classification, this is a fact.

Grades are the benchmark for performance across the board.

For any institution of learning, having a larger proportion of students who achieve high grades helps to improve its’ status in the league tables. Furthermore, increased enrolment and revenue are usually a result of this.

Achieving high scores does not always mean you have to compromise your learning experience. If you are truly passionate about a subject you should be able to perform well and enjoy this learning experience at the same time.

LEARNING

Sheereen Nabi

T

he whole point of education is simply to educate. Isn’t that what we all hope to gain from our degree, new knowledge and skills? Surely we are paying to receive more than a sheet of paper listing a degree classification at the end of these three or four years?

Despite my strong view I can’t help but think I would have enjoyed my time at university more if there was less pressure to achieve high marks and more focus on the learning experience. From the very first lecture of a new module, we all want to know what topics we will be assessed on, which essentially means any topics that won’t be included in coursework/examinations are deemed as unimportant and thus disregarded. This promotes a skewed view that grades prevail, over an understanding of the subject. Far too often I’ve been told to simply memorise something parrot-fashion for an exam, even if I don’t understand it. The irony in this is that employers are looking for someone with a true knowledge and understanding, as opposed to someone who has simply been spoon-fed information. So grades aren’t everything. This may explain those people that shine academically but appear to have no common sense whatsoever.

This ethos encourages an unhealthy mind-set to those students who are not academically inclined, but still have a love of learning. This is particularly so for younger teenagers who don’t often see the flaws in the education system, and blame themselves for not achieving the top marks. Thus, they are therefore unable to further study a subject they may be passionate about. In the same way, there is a strong focus on extracurricular activities to ‘boost your CV’ - as opposed to doing something just because you enjoy it, adding to the pressure to become the perfect candidate rather than being yourself.

I’m not saying grades should be ignored completely; these help to distinguish those who excel academically. We, as students, have more to offer than a grade. This does not define us. The next time you find yourself cramming for an exam, just remember why exactly you are here; not just to gain a degree classification but to further your curiosity and absorb new information and knowledge, bringing you a sense of satisfaction that a simple number or letter could never bring.

22 Source

Life on Mars

by Sheereen Nabi

T

he Mars One project is set to be the next giant leap for mankind. When Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon, it was unimaginable to think that technology would allow us to colonise another planet a mere fifty years later. This is exactly what the Mars One project aims to do.

From over 200,000 applicants, candidates were selected from all over the world to form the Mars 100 shortlist.

Together they will train intensively for the next decade to prepare for the trip of a lifetime (literally). We spoke to Maggie Lieu, one of only five Brits to be selected, and Coventry’s very own, to discuss the prospect of joining the ultimate space crew and adjusting to life on Mars.

Sheereen: Firstly, what a fantastic achievement, reaching the top 100. Can you tell us more about the Mars One project?

Maggie: The idea is that we will be sent to Mars in ten years’ time to create a society that is independent of the resources on earth. We will grow our own food, find resources to build things, and hopefully advance the technology around renewable energy such as solar panels and the recycling of water and waste. It’s a one-way journey because there’s no infrastructure to get us back.

Also it would cost a lot more to bring us back to earth, as you’d have to transport fuel up to space, and this project is privately funded.

S: Wow! A one way trip.. How do you feel about the prospect of never coming home?

M: At the moment it hasn’t really sunk in as it won’t happen for a long time. Through my studies I’ve learnt missions get delayed all the time and funding can be an issue too. Everything feels surreal, even making it to this stage of the process.

S: What made you want to apply?

M: I’ve been interested in space all my life. I’m currently studying a PHD in Astrophysics at the University of Birmingham, having studied my undergraduate degree in Space Science in Kent and UCLA (Los Angeles), I honestly

didn’t think I’d get this opportunity though especially at such a young age, I’m only 24!

S: How do your family and friends feel? Are your parents worried?

M: Surprisingly my parents are fine, when I told my mum she didn’t believe me for a while until the project started to get very big in the media. She thinks I will change my mind at some point about actually going.

S: Ten years of training sounds intense! What will it involve?

M: We train in groups of four as they will send a group to Mars every two years. At the moment we are doing team building exercises to get to know each other. Then we will spend time in simulation units built in the artic and the desert, so it will be as though we are on Mars. This will help us deal with isolation and we will practice wearing our space suits, we will basically be confined to a small space so we learn to rely on ourselves. There will also be a time delay when we communicate with people ‘back on earth’ so it will give us a good idea about what to expect.

The last part of the training is technical. There will be no repairmen, doctors or farmers so we need to learn all those skills, for example if someone becomes ill we will diagnose ourselves. We grow our own food, even things like our toilet breaking, we have to be complete independent and solve any problems that arise. It will be the most difficult for the first crew who go, they will have

Source 23 no one else to help them.

yourself there?

S: What do you think is the biggest challenge you’ll face in the training, or whilst you’re there?

M: There will be 24/7 coverage of earth, internet access, thanks to a satellite being launched into space in 2018. We will be doing experiments too, exploring Mars and believe it or not, lots of exercise!

M: Maybe working with the same three people for a decade, I usually get along with people but things could get awkward if there are any personalities that clash.

Saying goodbye to family and friends will be hard, but it’s such a long time away.

S: What do you hope to gain from your experience if you get selected to go out to Mars?

M: Everything will be recorded right from training to the life there. Seeing our progress through the ten years to the journey and what actually happens on Mars will be interesting for everyone to witness. Think of it as an outer space edition of Big Brother! There’s so much more to it though. The Mars 100 come from all over the globe so who knows what will happen out there, maybe the inhabitants will develop their own language.

S: Essentially you guys may create your own culture…

M: Yes definitely, no one’s really monitored how a society progress, so having everything documented will advance the understanding of other subjects such as sociology and the psychology behind the way humans interact and develop together.

S: Where will you be living?

M: The transporting compound on the way there is only 20x20 metres size. This will be zero gravity. On Mars our living compound is 50x50 metres, sort of like a house. There will be plant room, bedroom, a workspace area. Another room will be covered in soil to protect us from radiation, in the same way a magnetic field protects us on earth.

We can leave the compound to explore too, but the pressure is so low that our blood would boil, so we use special space suits for protection and oxygen. It’s all very exciting; scientists think if there is life on Mars it will be below the surface as Martian soil is toxic. We’ve never carried out transport drills because they are too heavy but now we have man power to dig deep.

S: Which makes perfect sense as you’ll have more than enough time for digging. Speaking of free time: how will you entertain

The journey to Mars takes six to nine months. Spending this long without gravity will mean there’s less pressure on the heart as blood is flowing freely around the body. This causes the muscles and bones to weaken. I’ve heard that some of the guys who go up to the international space station do six hours of exercise every day to keep their bodies fit. Despite all this, some still come back to earth and can’t walk for a while. On Mars it should be easier as the gravity is one third of earth’s… meaning we can jump three times higher than normal!

S: So what will happen if you decide you don’t want to go?

M: Well we start training this year. If one of us drops out the whole group has to start from scratch with our new team member. In terms of returning whilst on Mars, this hasn’t been figured out yet - your bones would be crushed on the impact of entering earth because they are so brittle from spending so long travelling in zero gravity, and the time on Mars itself. NASA is looking into a 2034 return to Mars mission, so there may be some potential to come back in the distant future.

S: Sounds like you’ve got lots of exciting times ahead.

What has been your biggest positive so far?

M: I never expected to get this far, so that was an amazing achievement in itself. The project has generated so much media attention; I’ve been interviewed for TV and newspapers around the word! People are now recognising me on the street, and wishing me good luck which is a bit unreal. A personal highlight for me is that more children are now interested in science, I really enjoy going into schools and giving presentations; younger pupils especially are so curious and come out with the best questions, for example: ‘what will you do if you see an alien?’ A head teacher recently told me that it was nice to see more female role models in science, which meant a lot.

Even if I don’t get any further, this has been a great accomplishment. I’m still a student so relatable to most people. For the older generation there has been defining moments relating to space such as when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon. We haven’t got to experience a celebration like that, so for the younger generation especially this is could be something really special. Things that stand out to me whilst growing up, where I remember exactly what was happening at the time, are Princess Diana’s death and the Twin Tower bombings, it would be nice to a positive defining moment.

Concept art for the colony that the crew will be living in

24 Source

THE CICADA 3301 INTERNET MYSTERY

by Ellis Ajoku

T

he Cicada 3301 puzzle is here again and its message to indicate its commencement this year reads “Hello. Epiphany is upon you. Your pilgrimage has begun. Enlightenment awaits. Good luck. 3301.”

Cicada 3301 is the name of the supposed organization that has posted puzzles that have been said to be recruitment tests for cryptanalysts. Due to its congruous nature with intelligence agencies recruitment schemes, there have been speculations that it is being used by them as well as by global banks with takeover ambitions, and even criminal networks looking for new individuals to join their ranks.

It first appeared on 4th of January 2012 and in the following year, January 5. The 2014 puzzle requires skills from different facets of digital communications, book ciphers, cryptography and steganography to ancient Mayan numerology. Knowledge of the deep web is also at its core.

There has been no confirmation of its completion from the organising body as no one can even tell who 3301 is? What were their goals? How did they start?

What is the promise of enlightenment at the end all about?

It is possible that they have no official affiliation with any one government or military. They have been suggested to be a bored academic doing some sort of social media experiment, trolls or possibly a global game.

An anonymous person posted a mysterious confessional, “I was part of what you call 3301/Cicada for more than a decade,” the anonymous author wrote, “and I’m here to warn you: Stay away.”

GPS trails, while seeking its solution have led to locations in Australia, France, USA, South Korea, and Poland, homes to some of the world’s best hackersecurity types. A couple of former seekers have come out to the public to narrate their stories and give advice to the current problem solvers.

Joel Eriksson is one of the few known people to have actually solved the first online challenge.

“Try to solve as much as possible of the earlier puzzles by yourself rather than just reading through a write-up. For parts you do read, make sure you understand each step completely and try to think about how you would have arrived at the same conclusions by yourself.”

“Last but not least, enjoy the ride,” he counsels.

Source 25

WASTE MENACE ON MOUNT EVEREST RAISES HEALTH CONCERNS

by Ellis Ajoku

Pollution on the world’s highest peak is causing a fear of dire consequences.

Large amounts of rubbish and human waste collected over the years, since the first tourists reached the top of the 8,848m high Mount Everest, has caused a bad stench hanging around the area. Human excrement is a bigger problem than the oxygen bottles, torn tents, broken ladders, and cans or wrappers teams left behind, said Ang Tshering, the head of Nepal’s non-governmental mountaineering association.

“It is a health hazard and the issue needs to be addressed,” he said.

To release the chocolate hostages, holes are usually dug or it is done behind rocks and even in the open. Laws have been introduced recently with a stipulated £2,700 fine for climbers who do not return to the take off base camp with around 8kg of rubbish, an amount estimated to be generated by each climber per climbing round.

Also beginning from this year, officials will be delegated to the base camps to keep check on how climbers handle waste. There are waste storage and toilet facilities at the base camps situated at the lower ranges, but no toilets at the higher camps. 15,000 kg of trash has been cleared since 2008 by expeditions, but there are no numbers for the amount of rubbish left behind.

Nepal’s spring mountaineering season usually runs from the first week of March until May and starting from this current season, government assigned officials will be at the base camp to keep watch on waste issues.

26 Source

The Big Comfy Bookshop

By Kritika David

S

ource were invited to an exclusive ‘Meet the Authors’ event that took place in ‘The Big Comfy Bookshop’. Located in the newly opened Fargo Village, the bookshop has a distinctly vintage theme of a traditional bookshop as oppose to the kind of generic high street chains of book stores. With comfy chairs and a café selling treats such as cakes, coffee, hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows this is the perfect setting for avid readers to escape into their favourite book.

The event began with several of the authors reading extracts of their literature. This included novels, short stories and poetry. They later mingled amongst the audience and we could ask them more personal questions. To look like a fancy book reviewer, I disguised myself as a common harmless citizen. From amongst the authors a few in particular stood out…

in the story is something for you to find out. This is the part where you run to grab a copy! But whatever happened in that story, I did not see it coming.

‘A Facebook Rant’ is literally a Facebook rant. Here’s an extract to help me justify this claim – “People of Facebook, listen and take heed, Some things are better left off the newsfeed.

Moaning and ranting, bragging and boasting, None are attractive when you are posting.

As for the attention-seeking masses, You can shove your status up your asses.” ….

“Stop posting photos using the Instagram App, They may be in sepia but they still look crap.

Time to log out: Facebook is making me bitter, Maybe it’s time I just signed up to Twitter.”

When speaking to AA Abbott, author of ‘After the Interview’ I discovered she had chosen to publish her work under this pseudonym as oppose to her real name Helen. The reason being that she wanted to give her readers the impression of a tall handsome author…

Ooooh mysterious! This tied in well with the extract read from her thriller novel which was full of suspense leaving the audience wanting more. I’ll leave you a line taken from the blurb… ‘We’ve all made mistakes at job interviews, but what happens when the tables are turned? Andrew, rejected for his dream job, finally takes his revenge.’

So I hope that last stanza wasn’t for me. Posting photos via Instagram: Oh boy! Guilty as charged!

This is the type of book I would have on my bedside table, so that I could read it over and over and over again when I am trying to easy myself after a long day. Halfway through, I forgot about the notes and found myself just listening to Simon as he captivated the audience with extracts from his book. He read it so passionately that his words painted itself in our heads whilst letting our imagination run free. This attribute got me to thoroughly review his book. How could a few words possibly grip me in five minutes? – It was entirely Simon’s passion and enthusiasm.

Another favourite from the night’s readings was ‘Breadcrumbs’ by Simon Fairbanks. This contained twenty-one short stories integrating a little bit of horror, humour and fantasy that bring together a fantastic collection. My personal favourite is the story ‘Munchkin’. As cute as it sounds, it’s an eerie story about a little girl and her dad. What happens

Breadcrumbs is my favourite collection of short stories so far! I’ve enjoyed reading every word and I’ve read this book twice now. This is coming from a girl who is very picky in life -Take my word for it! Plus, Simon adorably dedicates this book to his wife Laura who – in his words – let him sneak off to write these things. Major Aww!

Source 27

Ten Authors, One Story - REALITY TV MEETS YOUR NOT SO AVERAGE NOVEL!

By Sheereen Nabi

W

hat initially started off as a unique experiment has produced one of the most interesting novel concepts to date. Would it be possible to take ten writers from around the world, give them each a different character and co-write a novel detailing a single story, whilst only interacting with each other online? Source were invited to the book launch of ‘Circ - Ten to One’ to find out how this project evolved from a single idea to a successful narrative.

With the spectacular rise in reality TV over the last decade, Iain Grant, Founder and Editor of Circ, decided to host a global writing competition using the X Factor as his inspiration. He set out to find ten people who would together write the first chapter of the novel from each of their characters’ perspectives.

The initial plot being ‘an old man has a secret ‘.

As each chapter progressed an expert judging panel would eliminate one writer by killing off their character. The final three were competing for both the judge’s vote and an online public vote to determine who would write the final chapter and become the true star of the story.

Half of th e Co-auth ors of Cir first time c, they had met each for some the other in person!

from Mungo the washed up alcoholic clown, to Sean an ex-cult member, so arguments were inevitable.

Sometimes writers wanted to take their characters off in different directions which would then impact the others. They were all equally part of the process as once someone was eliminated from the competition they joined the judging panel.

What has been one and a half years in the making proved be a success when the novel was published, particularly for those whom Circ was the first novel they had ever written. Simon Fairbanks, winner of the competition was granted the honour of writing the finale, he told us that: ‘this project gave him the confidence to pursue his aspirations as a writer’.

This was an ideal starting point as he was able to use some of the more experienced co-authors to guide him along the way and being able to write the chapter was the ultimate prize. Following this, Simon has released his own novel ‘The Sheriff’. What an achievement, a big well done on behalf of all of us at your ex-employers – Coventry University!

With writers from across the world including Brazil, America and Britain, it was no mean feat for Iain to edit all the content producing a story that flowed consistently all the way through. In an exclusive chat he mentioned how lucky he felt that all the writers got on well, with only minimum arguments! There was a range of characters each with different voices,

th swer Session wi

Question and An

the Panel.

After a fascinating evening getting to know more about Circ, I got stuck into a book to see if the hype has lived up to expectations. Initially as the book began it was a little confusing keeping up with so many characters, often I wouldn’t realise a new voice was talking so I’d have to go back and reread. Once the plot developed, this worked in the readers favour as events unfolded and were told through different perspectives. The interplay between characters was very clever as readers saw strong personalities of the characters and the writing style of each adopted by each author. This further added to the suspense and interplay between narrators, from Sabina the sword swallowing artist, to Bobby the local gangster. As for the old man’s secret… that’s something you’ll have to read to find out. I won’t spoil the story, but be ready for surprising twists along the way!

28 Source

My experience as a member of Coventry Musical Theatre Society

By Kieran Raza

O

ne of my priorities when starting Coventry University was to join a society. Having a brilliant Students’ Union and countless opportunities to take up a new skill and meet new people, I thought it would be a complete waste to not get stuck in. Walking around the societies fair there were all sorts of things that caught my eye, but the one that stood out was the Coventry Musical Theatre Society (MTS). I hadn’t been a member of a group for a few years now and deeply regretted it, so I was ready and eager to get stuck in again at university.

The members of the society are very diverse. There are many theatre students but also some students participate who are from all sorts of different courses; which I found very interesting as I got to meet people that I might not have gotten to know otherwise.

The society is accepting of anyone with any level of experience and everyone is so kind and encouraging of one another. While major roles are assigned via audition, everyone is included in the show so even if you don’t have a big part you’ll still have a brilliant experience. In the first term we put on a musical showcase that had songs from a range of different musicals such as Les Miserables, Hairspray, The Book of Mormon, Mama Mia, Rent and many more.

All the numbers were accompanied by fast paced and energetic dances that made for a big production.

Everyone has a vital part as we all work together to

put on the highest standard show possible.

Joining the musical theatre society is one of the best decisions I have made during my time at university.

I’ve made some of my best friends through it and it’s been inspiring to work with such a talented and energetic group of people. The artistic and musical directors and choreographers work together so well to produce a high standard show that is entertaining and brilliant.

We are currently working on the next show, which will be Loserville… A cheesy and hilarious production put together with the more alternative pop punk music by Justin Bourne of the former band, Busted. It’s about the character Michael Dork, a teenage geek genius with ideas that could change the world. The songs are catchy, the laughs come quick and fast and the dances are huge and full of energy. The dates of the show are the 20th-22nd of May, with ticket and venue details to be confirmed.

If anyone is considering joining MTS I would strongly recommend it. It’s done brilliant things to help boost my confidence and make friends with some of the best people around campus!

Spooky Wagons L

ast month Spooky Wagons proudly launched their EP ‘In Colour’ at the Tin Music and Arts in Coventry. Family, friends and fans came together to support Spooky Wagons at their intimate gig which was filled with fun, laughter and banter.

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by Kritika David

The band consists of five very talented Coventry University Alumni who met through the Musical Theatre Society. They established Spooky Wagons on a drunken promise made between Nathan and Terence, which has now led to a 4 song EP with tracks: Rock and a Hard Place, Mama, Paint the Town and Daily Grind.

Their greatest hit is ‘Keep my Heart’ which is a personal favourite of many! Their mix of influences come from the likes of Mumford and Sons, Ray Charles, Young the Giant and Jamiroquai which brings them to their defined genre of Folk Indie Pop. I first got to know the band during the Christmas Lights turn on where Alan and Nathan posed for a cheeky picture with my friend and me. Now, I see myself amongst those who absolutely adore these guys. (Plus, they’re my best friends or at least I’ve convinced myself of this!)

Also, a big shout out to Terence (and his moustache) who still continued to play the guitar, although he slit his thumb halfway through the gig! What a brave boy!

I would have thrown a hissy-fit.

Alan The Keyboard Prodder

Nathan Lead Singer who loves singing (DUH)

Studied: Accountancy

Studied: Theatre and Professional Practice

Random Fact: According to Alan, he is the only person in the world with his name- Alan Taemur. (You can look it up, that’s what I did anyway and am still in denial!)

Random Fact: He once constructed the torso of a life sized puppet. Not sure what to say about that really!

WHO’S WHO

Daniel Who likes to call himself the DrumWhacker (His words not mine)

Seb Bass Guitarist

Terence Guitar

Studied: Geography

Studied: Civil Engineering

Studied: Music Performance

Random Fact: His drive behind performing in the band was that he looked up at musicians and wanted the sense of achievement they had. This being said, he did play through a gig with his amp switched off!

Random fact: Dan describes him as a ‘Borderline Rowdy’, not sure if it is the moustache Terence has recently grown out that inspired Dan’s words, but he’s a rowdy apparently!

Random fact: He’s a church organist. Now that’s cool!

You can find out more about them on: Facebook: Spooky Wagons • Website: www.spookywagons.com

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Interview with Saint Raymond

By Zain Luke Ali

B

ritish singer-songwriter Callum Burrows, AKA Saint Raymond is really making a name for himself on the UK music scene at the moment. He has supported the likes of Ed Sheeran and Haim, covered the festival scene and secured iTunes Single of the Week… all before reaching his 20th birthday!

Last month, the talented teenager was all over the country on his UK headline tour, stopping off at The Institute in Birmingham for the Midlands leg of the tour. We had the chance to get to know him a little bit better and find out how life in the fast lane is going: Zain: Before we jump in, let’s explain that name.

Where did Saint Raymond come from, because your name is actually Callum Burrows isn’t it?

Saint Raymond: Yeah that’s right. So the Saint part is to do with a place back home in Nottingham and Raymond was my granddads name so it’s kind of a pick of the hat thing.

Z: So what’s the music scene like in Nottingham then?

SR: In the last couple of years it’s really started taking off. With the rise of Jake Bugg, Dog is Dead and Amber Run, there’s a good vibrant scene at the minute. I think the good thing about Nottingham is that everyone is really supportive of each other there too. Not to mention my family and friends, it’s nice having a place to go when I want to escape the madness of London!

Z: These last few years have been a bit of a whirlwind for you! How is everything going for you right now?

SR: It’s been crazy to be honest, last year has been unbelievable. Going on tour with Ed Sheeran was

amazing. So much has happened and there’s still much more to come. Christmas time gave me the chance to sit back and reflect on everything that has happened.

Z: Does it feel surreal rushing onto the UK music scene at the age of 18? …The press were already saying we could expect big things from you.

SR: Yes it’s still a bit weird. The praise is amazing but I’ve always tried to put it to one side. If you start focusing on praise too much, you take your eye of the ball. I’ve always tried to concentrate on the music which is the most important thing.

Z: Even so, you’ve already done a lot and you’ve been received so well by the country. A couple of your records have even received Zane Lowe’s ‘Hottest Record’ status. You must be pretty chuffed?

SR: Of course! You always hope those kinds of things are going to happen so it’s a bit surreal when they actually do. There are so many artists that I’ve heard about through Zane Lowe, so to become one of those artists myself, is amazing.

Z: Towards the end of last year you were supporting Ed Sheeran on his Multiply Tour. I’m very jealous of that I must say, how was it?

SR: Amazing. It was kind of a once in a lifetime opportunity, especially playing the 02 Arena four times! Ed is such a good guy to learn from too, he’s so humble and down to earth. I was definitely inspired by Ed’s story from an early age. From about 15/16 I admired his whole sofa surfing life whilst he tried to make the music. It inspired me to have a go and not be scared. In fact, we’ve talked about doing collaboration. The schedules are crazy at the moment but as soon as it dies down we’ll try to get in the

Source 31 studio together!

what people should hope for, a good party!

Z: Ed’s tour was the first time I saw you. But I found that I already knew your music but just didn’t know much about you! I was a big fan from then on.

Z: It should be said that you’ve done all this and haven’t even released an album yet?

SR: Hahaha.

SR: Someone mentioned that to me the other day and blew my mind a bit. If anything, it shows the power of the internet, social media and BBC Introducing – all of these different outlets that are helping people to listen to music when they might not have heard it until an album came out. So yeah, it’s an exciting time.

Z: Speaking of touring, you’ve done a few headline tours before, what’s significant about this current one?

Z: Absolutely. You recently announced that you are working on your debut album with the producer Jacknife Lee. Tell us a bit more?

SR: There are a couple of things for me. One of them is the hometown show in Nottingham is at Rock City, a venue I’ve been going to for about 5 years and I’ve always wanted to headline. There’s something amazing about returning there and it’s sold out which is a bonus.

SR: He is a guy who produced artists such as U2, Bloc Party, Two Door Cinema Club, Snow Patrol – so a stupidly good CV! On meeting Jack, I was fascinated by him as a person. I’m finalising the record we made in in LA at the moment and am very excited to get it out.

The whole tour being sold out is awesome too! It still blows my mind that people are buying tickets all over the country. Six months ago, I played a headline show in Dublin and about 40 people were there, now this!

This progress keeps me going as an artist, knowing people are really interested in the music makes me more determined to succeed.

Z: We can expect something special then?

SR: Ahh amazing!

Z: I think I even tweeted you. You didn’t tweet back…

Z: So what can people expect from a Saint Raymond show?

SR: My live band and I have a lot of fun. I always want to bring that festival vibe to a live show, it’s just a party and people should dance and let go. Yes that’s

SR: I think the EPs have been a stepping stone towards the album and the sound I’ve developed, but there won’t be any limitations on the album. I’ve always tried to encapsulate the live show into the record which can be a hard thing but that’s what the plan is. Hoping for a summer release date so watch this space!

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JAWS: Gig Review

by Courtney Heron

I

ndie Pop Rock band JAWS are definitely the ones to watch. Hailing from Birmingham, the band is clearly influenced by the B-Town scene, touring with other Birmingham based bands such as Peace.

The band played at the Institute in Birmingham recently, and I was also lucky enough to see them during their London show at the nightclub Heaven.

They started off the show with an interesting entrance, coming onto the stage to ‘In Paris’ by Kanye West and Jay Z, hyping up the already energetic crowd.

The lights go dark and ‘Donut’ plays: one of the band’s first ever songs. The twang of guitars and the happy-go-lucky tune is at odds with the selfdeprecating lyrics. Another classic from their first EP, ‘Surround You’, has a familiar aggressive synth-driven beat, causing the audience to chant the opening of the song. The chorus falls into dreamy indie at its finest with an underlying dance-pop theme, and from their album, they played the single ‘Swim’. The start to the song can only be described as the sound of raindrops - if rain had a synth sound. The chilled vocals from the band’s frontman, Connor Schofield, make this a perfect lazy-day listen.

Even though the band’s debut album has been out for less than a year, JAWS lets us know they’ve been hard at work in the studio, making new music. So much so, that they then continued to play us two more new songs, the first being ‘Bad Company’, which sounded very unlike a typical JAWS song. This confused the crowd momentarily as it was rather slow without their trademark synth sound. The second was ‘Simplicity’, very bass driven – a perfect easy-listening track, and had the crowd nodding and swaying in time.

To bring the night to an end, JAWS played ‘Be Slowly’, their album’s title song. It is even more furiously upbeat and guitar-driven than previously heard tracks, with synth sounds taking a backseat for this one. The last song of the night was a crowd favourite ‘Gold’, a mix of hard-hitting guitars and building drumbeats.

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The Ellipsis

by Kritika David

‘The Ellipsis’, what a fantastic name for a band! Let’s start with the reason behind the name of the band, shall we? No, band members first? Alright then!

The Ellipsis consist of four members, they are: Henry Bristow – Lead singer, guitarist and lyricist John Connearn – Lead guitarist and vocals Harry Green – Bass guitarist and vocals Ben Eardley – Drums and vocals.

Is it just me or are you also swooned by the fact that all four of them can sing? I met this band at the Tin in Coventry, they were one of the supporting acts for Spooky Wagons. Ah Spooky Wagons – who are they you may wonder? Then you need to read the article on them. (One article does not do justice to two awesome bands!)

The Ellipsis is best known for its rock music with tweaks of progressive, punk and electronic rock. Their songs are initially indie-styled acoustic tunes inspired by personal stories. (Henry writes the songs when he’s getting over a heart-break so he’s like the Taylor Swift of their band!). This versatile sound works in their favour as they perform both rock and acoustic versions of the same song equally well.

As to their name: An ellipsis is the omission from speech or writing of a word or words that are superfluous or able to be understood from contextual clues (Thanks Google but I’ll take a look at John’s explanation of it!). According to John: “An ellipsis is used to show an omission and essentially a gap, it feels right to us that music should fill the gap,” and Harry finds it really cool how the word ‘The’ put before any other word gives a slight suspense or a twitch of anticipation. Thus, ‘The Ellipsis’ not just Ellipsis, but The… Ellipsis!

Speaking of performing, you should see these guys perform, with cheeky smiles and sly comments tossed around on stage, they’ve given us the ultimate experience of band-banter!

John and Harry both have offers from Coventry University and are potential September ’15 Freshers.

Watch out lads and ladies! Wink!

A FEW FUN FACTS: • On Valentine’s Day last year, Henry got a tattoo of his pet duck named Donald on his ribs.

How romantic. (Donald Duck - So original, Henry!)

•

John and Harry are both lefthanders. (Woo High five – Lefties Unite!) John plays the guitar right-handed; while Harry plays the guitar left-handed yet skilfully plays the right-handed bass upside down.

• Ben loves the texture of receipt papers and could scrunch them up for hours. (Whatever makes you happy Ben) This band has an incredible story as to how they got together. But that’s for another day!

Or you could just ask them on –

Facebook: ‘The Ellipsis’ Twitter: @TheEllipsisUK Website: www.theellipsis.co.uk

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The 2015 Festival Guide Dot 2 Dot Festival

Fancy a festival without the messy part? Well, the Dot-To-Dot festival is just the thing for all you city slickers who don’t fancy slumming it in the mud, but want just as much live music and fun as anyone else during this festival season.

Dot-to-Dot festival has been voted the UK’s best metropolitan festival, and hits Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham. The Dot-To-Dot festival is set in the heart of these cities with acts dotted (no pun intended) around various venues all within a reasonable walking distance of each other.

At just £20, you get to enjoy amazing acts without burning a hole in your pocket. Dot-to-Dot festival is known for picking the best future acts in indie, electro and alternative music, with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding all performing at the unique event.

If you want to stay ahead of the game and impress your friends with your sparkling music knowledge, or simply want to try something new, this is definitely a festival worth checking out. There is always the risk of having some of your favourite acts playing at the same time so it’s up to you to toss a coin, put it to a vote or (what I tend to do) run between both sets like a headless chicken in a vain attempt to watch both! I would not recommend this though as most of the venues at the Dot-To-Dot festival have a limited capacity and fill up fast. You don’t want to be hanging around outside waiting for someone to leave so you can get in. Best to get there early and find a good spot (far out of reach from the unpredictable British weather!)

by Courtn

V Festival If chart music is more your thing, then V fest is the way to go! Filled with acts we all know and love, this is perfect for soaking up that typical summer atmosphere. The festival takes place on two sites from the 22nd to the 23rd of August, which is located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in

V Festival

Is chart music your thing?

YES

Wireless Festival

NO

Is Hip Hop and RnB more your style?

YES

NO

Wireless Festival

If you prefer more RnB and Hip Hop, Wireless is the one for you. Happening in London’s Finsbury Park. The festival takes place from the 3rd to the 5th of July across three nights. Artists in attendance will be Nicki Minaj, Drake and Kendrick Lamar (among others), all surely going to bring the house down. The more urban festival is a rarity here in the UK and it’s nice to see Wireless paving the way for Hip Hop music.

The Secret Garden Party

Calling all art lovers and people who go to festivals for the vibes! The Secret Garden Party might be the thing for you.

Seen as an alternative to the mainstream music festival, it is an annual independent arts and music festival which takes place in Abbots Ripton near Huntingdon on the 23rd-26th July. This location is on the grounds of a Georgian farm house and has

its own lake, river and landscaped gardens making it very picturesque for all you photographers out there.

If you’re looking for somewhere a little bit different to spend your summer then I would certainly suggest heading there.

Not to mention the festival also has an obscure theme that festival goers play into. This year’s theme is ‘Childish Things’, where we are asked to ‘escape the world that wants us to grow-up and explore what we all left behind.’

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ney Heron South Staffordshire. Artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday so you get the best of both no matter which one you attend. The likes of Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora and Sam Smith have all played at V Festival, making it a star-studded event fit for the whole family. The atmosphere is much more relaxed here, compared with Reading and Leeds because diehard fans tend to make more of an appearance there. Plus, the chances of a mosh pit forming are low!

START HERE Are you on a budget?

NO

Dot to Dot Festival

YES

Like a mix of art & music?

YES

Reading & Leeds Festival

NO

The Secret Garden Party

Reading & Leeds Festival

The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place simultaneously on the August bank holiday weekend. Reading Festival, the original and senior of the two, is the world’s oldest popular music festival still in existence. The festival is a host to some big names such as the Arctic Monkeys, Blink 182, Muse, Bastille and many more.

Now, if money is no object and music is your passion then Reading & Leeds are probably right up your street. With eclectic acts varying from rock, indie,

Courtney’s Top Festival Tips •

Always have cash on hand- and keep it in a safe place (tent theft still occurs)

•

Pitch up your tent as early as possible because spaces go FAST

•

Go with the flow- I personally found that when we didn’t particularly plan to see certain acts, it was one of the best days because we enjoyed bands you’ve never heard of. It’s a great way to find new music and spend time with your friends.

•

Get there early, particularly for tent acts, head over about half an hour early because they fill up fast and some have smaller capacities than open fields.

•

Front row is not for the faint hearted- You will be pushed, shoved and in my friends case kicked in the head by a crowd surfer. I still have bruises (but I like to think of them more like battle scars!)

•

Remember the temperature drops at night so pack your warmest pj’s.

•

Just because you want to sleep does not mean the thousands of others sharing the same field do too- pack some ear plugs (I used my headphones) and a sleeping mask to block any noise/light out.

•

Bring some tough shoes, flip flops are not advised as your feet will be stepped on!

dance, punk, metal and alternative genres, there is bound to be something for everyone - not to mention the funfair that takes place every night and the huge array of food and drink vendors dotted around.

I went to Reading festival last year (VIP in fact) and I must say, the whole atmosphere was very relaxed.

There is a real camaraderie I find with festival goers because you’re all there for the same thing, especially when you’re in the midst of a really good set (kudos to the randomers who dive into the mosh pit to help out those who accidently get sucked in, not that I’m talking from experience of course!)

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Say bye to your mainstream Raybans and hello to Funglasses…

Where else can you get away with these without looking like a totally wally?!

I’ve noticed people trying to outdo each other with wacky head wear, maybe the creative amongst you can try making some hats of your own?

With all that dancing, or trying to amongst the crowds of people pressed against the barriers, there won’t be much space for a full size handbag, so rock a cute purse instead.

Show your wild side…

By Veronika Belevic With thousands of people attending festivals this summer, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd.

The way forward is embracing your wild side and unleashing your creativity. These are my favourite picks to help you get into the festival spirit!

Backpacks And don’t forget to grab and pack your backpack. Choose not only a comfortable but also playful design!

Tents No one can imagine a proper festival without a tent. Be creative with your tent and you will always know which one belongs to you, no more getting lost and wandering around the campsite for hours…

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Racism is so last year

By Olivia Williams

models here, hence this job isn’t for me’. The fact that Jourdan Dunne was the first individual black model to grace the cover of British vogue since Naomi Campbell in 2002 says it all. She too has experienced racism, to the point of makeup artists refusing to get her ready because of not having makeup to suit her skin tone. Surely the problem lies with the market not having enough products for women across all ethnic backgrounds opposed to the model herself?

We should be inspiring young girls that they can achieve whatever they want. Everyone wears clothes so the fashion industry cannot deny it’s responsibility to these young women. From 2008-2014 only 3% of models at New York fashion week were African American with a huge 78% being White. It’s not good enough and promotes an unhealthy mind set to girls from different ethnic backgrounds about what they can and cannot achieve.

I

magine going to a job interview and being told that you couldn’t have the job because the company already had a ‘black’ person working for them. I’m sure you’re thinking something like this is unacceptable and wouldn’t happen in today’s society. But this is the sad reality within the fashion industry, where racism is very much still alive.

Black models are still getting told that ‘we already have one black model, we don’t need another’. Black models are not being seen as individuals but just for the colour of their skin. What’s worse is this use of tokenism! Designers using a model from a specific ethnic background simply because the British Fashion Council have asked them to be ‘more diverse’. Now I absolutely love fashion but the industry has a lot to answer to.

For young, impressionable, ethnic minority girls it must seem as if they are not good enough. It has a huge negative effect when they look in a magazine and do not see anyone that represents them. It amounts to the mind-set that, ‘there are no black

The fashion industry is quick to take inspiration from different cultures when designing new collections.

Using textiles and patterns from places like Africa and India. It’s great to see people, designers and consumers appreciating styles that have been around in some countries for decades. What’s important to me is that this fashion is sustainable and fair. If you’re going to buy your fabric from an African market (something that I myself have done) then make sure you are paying the market trader a fair price. I understand that business is about making a profit but it pains me to hear about businesses underpaying for the materials in a foreign country, and then selling their products for extortionate prices back in the western world. Even when the fashion world uses African culture for inspiration, you will be lucky to see a black model, modelling the clothes. You can use our fabrics but we ourselves aren’t good enough to model it?

Luckily there are people out there that are doing something about the lack of equality! The Diversity Coalition promotes more racial diversity in the industry by writing to fashion week directors and asking these questions. What can be considered a huge success is the use of models with physical disabilities in runway shows. Winnie Harlow who has the skin condition vitiligo didn’t let anything stop her from stealing the show at Desigual!

The thing I love most about living in Britain is the amount of different cultures I am surrounded by. If only the fashion world could represent that! We don’t live in the early 1900’s anymore and our fashion needs to represent this and move with the times. But whilst the fashion world likes to stay ahead of the times and showcase next winters trends before we even enter spring, they are years behind when it comes to diversity.

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Day

Attention ladies! This summer wave of the brightest colours should attack your wardrobe! Don’t be afraid to experiment with your look and bring in as many unique designs and patterns as you can.

r Tea m tog eto he fo r a Boh look Rose flower headband £14 Topshop

Sandals

Those Trim Floral Shorts £17.99 and Floral Print Cami £14.99 New Look

nk £35 Ba

re still If you a g about n ri e d n wo y are s – the Kimono p for this to n o still ank r! £11 B summe

elevic

B

by Veronika

ant c ories and vibr

ss catching acce ear only eyePromise to w … ures more advent

Palm Print Jumpsuit £7.50 Bank Colourful skirts

Ju mpsuits, Definite su mmer staple

ck ckpa ic Ba l l a t Me ook Blue 9 New L 9 .

9 1 £ hin g!)

( If f

is n ’t y lo ra l ju st

ou r t

ings earr y s i nd e Da Cut iver Isla R £7

Don’t be afraid to experiment not only with the colours but also with different shapes and structures! A playful skirt will not only cheer up your mood for the rest of the day but will also create an unforgettable and charming outfit!

Crazy design clutches

Add something unique to your look - mix up that pastel outfit with a statement purse!

Source 39 Lace Cupped Cutout Midi Dress £38 ASOS

Pair with a bold shade of lipstick for extra vavavoom Studded Ear Cuff £8.50 Topshop

Subtle yet stylish!

Night

Summer nights aren’t just for the Danny’s and Sandy’s of the world… whether you’ve got a hot date lined up or simply a night out with the girls, you can dress to impress with the latest trends:

Nia Quilted Corner Detail Boxed Clutch Bag £20 Boohoo Platform Shoes: Glitzy

platform shoes, add a bit of sparkle!

£15 Bank

Or really channel the trend with this sequined

Deep V Shift Dress £40 ASOS

colours and

your summer

will definitely

attract

Platform shoes

What can be more important than shoes during those summer nights? If you are going to choose the platform shoe type this season, you will definitely be on top! It is not a secret that they are as comfortable and as wonderful looking at the same time! Pick your lovely pair now and get ready to rock this summer.

Give them the old ‘razzle dazzle’ with this metallic roll

neck dress - £68 Topshop

Don’t forget to take advantage of your NUS Discount Card!

www.cusu.org sourcenewspaper@outlook.com

Coventry Students’ Union, The Hub, 4 Jordan Well, Coventy, CV1 5QT