Epigram Issue 381 by Epigram

The new Labour government revealed their budget back in October. Here’s exactly how it’s going to a ect students like you.

Otto Proctor News Sub-Editor

Day-to-day impacts on student ﬁnances

Students working part-time alongside their studies will see a 6.71% rise in minimum wage to £12.21 per hour, for those aged 21 or older. For 18 to 20-year-olds, the minimum wage will rise from £8.60 to £10 an hour. Labour’s plan to move towards a single adult rate is central to their promise of delivering a “genuine living wage for working people”. For students working to cover living costs alongside their studies, this rise could ease pressures amidst rising rents and living costs.

A more eye-catching headline of the budget announcement regards Labour’s cut on draught beer tax by 1.7%, leading to a likely 1p price fall. This is accompanied by an increased tax on non-draught beers in line with inﬂation. While the cut may appeal to students who are regular pubgoers, the impact of a penny-perpint decrease is modest, especially with other living costs climbing. Thus, it is unlikely that students will feel increasingly well-o regarding their beer consumption. The Autumn Budget has also set out

taxes on vaping and smoking. Vape liquid will be taxed at £2.20 per 10ml, from October 2026. Tobacco taxes will rise by 2% above inﬂation, and tax on hand-rolling tobacco will increase by 10% above inﬂation, both with immediate e ect. Reeves stated that these taxes will “maintain the incentive to give up smoking”, adding that “these measures will raise nearly £1bn a year”. These tax hikes have been scrutinised, with the new Labour government being criticised as a ‘Nanny State’, particularly after the proposed ban of disposable vapes on June 1, 2025. That said, for many Bristol students, these taxes represent an unwelcome increase to their costs.

Public services bo ost

A more positive outlook for Bristol students regards a pledge of £300 million of investment in higher education, part of a 19% increase in education spending. Labour is looking to build a more secure future for the UK higher education sector amidst ﬁnancial instability.

Graduate employment and future outlook

The employer’s national insurance rate has been increased by 1.2

percentage points to 15%. Higher national insurance rates may impact graduate job prospects, with experts predicting businesses will feel the squeeze. For those nearing graduation, the increased national insurance burden on employers might tighten the job market, impacting the availability and quality of entry-level roles.

The UK job market’s future remains uncertain, contingent on how well Reeves’ public investment and increased borrowing translate to broader economic outcomes. Despite projections of short-term boosts to the economy, forecasts from the O ce for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and Resolution Foundation suggest that the shortterm growth may fade over time. As students look to the future, lack of clarity on job markets and projected slowdowns in growth could make securing stable employment more of a challenge.

doubtedly mixed. While immediate beneﬁts may be seen in public services and wages, the longer-term e ects on graduate employment remain uncertain.

The outlook for students is un-

The immediate increases in tobacco costs are likely to be felt by many students, although the tax on vape

Photo courtesy of: Annie McNamee

liquid won’t take e ect for another two years. And, disappointingly, the purported cuts to draught beer tax are unlikely to a ect the often ludicrous pint prices in Bristol.

Annie McNamee Co-Editor-in-Chief

This morning, something terrible happened. I woke up, as I do most mornings, got out of bed and began to get dressed and then – I saw it. My breath appeared in front of me, a damned ghost rising and disappearing into the damp walls of my room, taunting me, reminding me that there’s no more denying it: winter has come.

November and December are notoriously miserable for students. If you haven’t got exams, you’ve got backto-back-to-back deadlines, coming at you like beige, academic missiles. It’s freezing, heating is expensive, and for those poor souls trapped in retail or hospitality, it’s the time of year where customers decide it’s actually okay to shout at minimum-wage sta members. You’re broke and tired from buying presents for the four di erent Secret Santa’s you’re a part of, and your landlord won’t do anything about the growing mass of mould in the bathroom. It’s so big you’ve given it a name. It’s basically part of the family now.

There are tips and tricks you can employ to better manage your life this time of year – many of which can be found between these pages – but there is no silver bullet that can cure the ills of winter at university. Now in my fourth year, I can say with conﬁdence that the only way out of this period is through. Vitamin D is helpful, and maintaining a steady supply of piping hot tea will warm you up, but the horrors (cold hands and essay deadlines) persist nonetheless.

As our most astute readers will already have gathered, the stress of the season has caught up to me. I write this from Senate House, in between a three hour long workshop and a shift at work. It’s a busy, busy time, but do allow us to take your mind o things for a few minutes

Annie McNamee and Amaan Ali Co-Editors-in-Chief

as you ﬂick through this paper.

This is our fourth edition of Epigram this academic year, and being that it takes up a large portion of my life, I’ve learned a lot about Bristol and its student body. I’ve heard perspectives from people who, despite sharing a campus with me, live completely di erent lives, and experience the same streets in di erent ways.

I’ve discovered just how many societies are doing cool things, and how many people are devoting their time to making them run. I’ve been able to keep up to date with university related news, and read interviews with household names and Bristol icons (Sandwich Sandwich, looking at you).

of what we’ve achieved, but we couldn’t have done any of it without you, the writers, and, you, the readers. We are completely by and for students, as we have been for three decades now, and I truly do think the work produced by our talented writers is valuable and important.

"I've heard perspectives from people who, despite sharing a campus with me, live completely di erent lives, and experience the same streets in di erent ways."

It’s rubbish being a student in winter, but there are always silver linings. If you have read a single Epigram article this year, whether out of interest or just to distract yourself, thank you, and if you’ve written any, thank you even more. My silver lining, as I return to my freezing hovel to watch my breath evaporate before my eyes, is to watch this paper come to life every month. I hope it is also able to bring some warmth to you.

Epigram turned 35 this year. As we approach the end of 2024 and I begin to look back on the year we’ve had as a paper, I’m pretty proud

Thanks for a wonderful year. Here’s to 35 more!

Want to write for us?

epigram.org.uk/get-involved/

Editorial

Co-Editors-in-Chief: Amaan Ali and Annie McNamee

Deputy Editors: Soﬁa Webster and Will Standring News

Co-Editors: Josie Hodgson and Maud Humphries

Co-Deputy Editors: Rhiannon Jenkins and Beatrice Learmouth

Investigations Editor: Will White and Soﬁa Lambis Subeditors: Otto Proctor and Cerys Larsen

Opinion

Editor: Karen Mends

Co-Deputy Editors: Alex Creighton and Hannah Moser Subeditors: Ellen Jones and Riana McConochie

Features

Editor: Nel Roden

Co-Deputy Editors: Jessica Cohen and Daisy Yates

Investigative Correspondent: Benedict Chester Subeditors: Reuben Kerbes and Illona Ho man Arts

Editor: Bruno Bridger

Co-Deputy Editors: Elizabeth Abbott and Ella Heathcote

Culture Editors: Anushka Dongare and Natalia Dewhurst Correspondents: Patrick Chandler and Julia Anna Masluszczak Subeditors: Eve Davies and Bobbi Carsley

Film & TV

Editor: Max Bradley-Cole

Co-Deputy Editors: Meadow Wattret and Chien Wen Sow

Subeditors: Nadiya Jackson and Marianne Chatburn

Music

Editor: Benji Chapman

Co-Deputy Editors: Aditi Hrisheekesh and Megan Foulk Subeditors: Amelie Peters and Sophie Scannell

Sci-Tech & Gaming

Editor: Corin Hadley

Deputy EditorsW: Miles Gilroy and James Lewis

Subeditor: Ellie Barnes Head Researcher: Harrison Phillips

Sport

Editor: Faniki Deche

Deputy Editors: Sean Lawrenson and Adam Mountain

Design

Lead Designer: Julia Mullins

Resident Designer: Alexandra Hill

Business

Managing Director (President): Livy Naylor

Deputy Director (Vice-President): Angelica Singh

Finance Director (Treasurer): Ella Mason

Marketing Director (Social Secretary): Claudia Tipper

Ads & Sales Director: Anika Sharma

Media Ethics & EDI O cer: Lily Wheeler

Head of Technology: Dhillon Thurairatnam

Social Media

Social Media Manager: Charlotte Kyle

Deputy Social Media Manager: Eleni

Photo courtesy of: Harvey Belchamber

Student Council passes all motions !

Motions:

5.Adjusting

6.Proposition for the SU to support the

7. Accessibility for Students with Disabilities at the University of Bristol

8.End All Forced Swimming Experiments at the University

9. Easier Access to Support Services for International Students

On the 14th Novemeber the ﬁrst SU student council votes of the 24/25 year were held.

Soﬁa Lambis News Investigations

StudentCouncil is Bristol SU’s main representative forum and gives students a platform to make their voices heard. It can help create policies which direct the SU O cers’ focus. Course reps, faculty reps, network chairs, society presidents, volunteering project co-ordinators and club captains voted on motions proposed by their peers. They had the option to vote in favour of, against or to abstain from the motion.

One attendee expressed that the Student Council was an opportunity ‘to vote on what really matters in the SU [...] It’s

amazing that us as students are able to contribute to the University and the SU’s running in that way.’

Speaking to Epigram Tamryn Nicol, who proposed the motion for the SU to support the Divest Borders campaign and is campaigns coordinator for the University’s Student

Action for Refugees Society said: ‘This decision reﬂects the voices of students who have repeatedly called for ethical investment practices, ensuring that the university’s values truly represent the interests of our community. We look forward to working closely with university leadership to bring about these necessary changes.'

Students also heard from their SU Full-Time O cers about what is being done to improve the student experience. International Students’ Week and collaborations with Bristol Institute of Learning and Teaching into research around assessment feedback were among the things mentioned.

Donald Trump back in power: how will Bristol students react?

Anna Johnson reports on University of Bristol students' feelings about Donald Trump'sre-electionimminent as President of the United States.

Anna Johnson

Fourth Year English and French

The results of the American presidential election were announced in the early hours of the 6th November.

Though Harris was ahead among Hispanic voters, support for Trump has risen since 2020 in this category, up 18 points among male Latino voters. This is one of the most ethnically diverse Republican coalitions seen in decades.

Trump’s policies surrounding women have also painted a daunting landscape in the realm of reproductive rights, which has already been cracked down on this year - as of August, 17 states have outlawed nearly all abortions.

In the Bristol student community, the topics of recent political controversies have often been in paradox with the new president’s policies. In October, a prolife protest group confronted students outside Beacon House stirring anger and frustration.

Earlier, in August, during the farright riots, a mass counter-protest saw thousands gather in the centre of Bristol against the threat of violence toward immigrants.

In this vein, shortly after the election results were conﬁrmed, posters

appeared outside Senate House proclaiming, ‘F*ck Trump: Why the democrats lost and how we can ﬁght.’ The poster included details of a spontaneous meeting set by the Socialist Worker Student Society.

The Student Socialist Party organised an emergency demo on the same day in the city centre, calling on students to gather in the city centre with an Instagram post: ‘We’re calling students to gather to say loudly F*ck Trump, abortion rights now, refugees are welcome here, freedom for Palestine, system change not climate change, and no to war!’

The Socialist Workers Party also encouraged protests, stating on social media: ‘Trump’s victory will mean a rise in the conﬁdence of the far right, both in the US and the UK. We need to be

on the streets to oppose this.’

As Trump’s return to presidency raises alarm bells for minority groups globally, students in

Bristol and beyond are reminded of the urgency to keep informed and politically engaged.

photo courtesy of: Soﬁa Lambis

photo courtesy of: Anna Johnson

From 11 to 2pm on the 2nd of theNovember, Extinction Rebellion(ER) protested outside the Tokio Marine branch in Clifton Village.

Mihai Rosca Second Year Politics and Philosophy

The protest consisted of about 40 ER activists, seemingly led by Mel Clarke from Bath.

Speaking to Mel, the reason for

protesting was that Tokio Marine along with other corporations insure new fossil fuels projects around the world, for example oil ﬁelds and mining for coal.

She said that like all projects, fossil fuels need insurance, and because companies like Tokio Marine provide it, it is enabling fossil fuels companies to keep burning fossils making the world hotter.

This makes insurance companies the “Achilles heel” of the fossil fuels industry - without insurance, fossil fuels projects can’t go ahead.

Mel also informed us of the

FLASH NEWS

Co-Editors Deputy Editor News Investigations Subeditors Maud Humphries and Josie Hodgson Bea Learmouth and Rhiannon Jenkins

Will White and Soﬁa Lambis ......................Otto Proctor and Cerys Larsen

Extinction Rebellion protest in Clifton Village

success ER had with getting Zurich Insurance, the previously 6th biggest insurer of fossil fuels to stop insuring fossil fuels projects after a week of protests.

They want to do the same with Tokio Marine. They hope that by holding demonstrations at their di erent branches in Bristol, London, Manchester and Birmingham they can spread the word of what’s happening to the public in order to use public pressure to get Tokio Marine to stop insuring fossil fuels.

Mel got involved with ER after she watched a ER protest on TV in 2019. She became convinced of their message and later went to one of their meetings.

Apart from the usual banners, there was also lines of children's clothes that were put out to dry around the demonstration.

Asking about the lines of children’s clothing, Mel explains that their work is for the children. She is a Grandmother of three who says, with tears in her eyes, that she is “so sad to think about the world that they could inherit”

“In Britain we’re so lucky, we’re so fortunate, and one of the reasons is that we have a history campaigning for rights and privileges that I now beneﬁt from. And I feel I have a duty to be out on the streets, campaigning

for a future for my grandchildren”.

“There’s no other reason, no proﬁt motive, no other reason than concern for the future, we want to avoid another situation like Valencia.”

Mel is hopeful about the future. She thinks ER will be successful in pressuring Tokio Marine and the other insurance companies in changing their ways because they were successful with Zurichshowing progress is possible.

However, a student at the protest displayed less optimism:

"I admire their sense of responsibility in wanting to create a safer future for younger

The Bristol activists sabotaging illegal fox hunts

Soﬁa Lambis, News Investigations Editor

A member of Bristol Hunt Sabs says that hunters exploit loopholes in the law to continue hunting the animals.

generations. However, I remain skeptical about how impactful this protest can be, and I wonder whether Tokio Marine is even in a position to bar its parent company from ensuring oil projects".

She is also hopeful because she thinks we’ve reached a “tipping point”.

She thinks we’re at that point in time when enough people know about climate change and that enough people want to put a stop to it that it’s just a small matter of time before change comes about - it’s simply bound to happen.

She encourages all people to spread the word and get involved.

photo courtesy of: Charles Gunter

photo courtesy of: Anonymous

Photos courtesy of: Mihai Rosca

Opinion

Myanmar in Misery: Read and Tremble

Editor's Choice:

This testimony from “K” is as raw as it is powerful and gives a deeply personal glimpse into the chaos and heartbreak of life in Myanmar. K’s words humanize a crisis that is far too often reduced to ﬂeeting headlines and reveal the resilience and despair of a people ﬁghting to survive.

What makes this piece unforgettable is its honesty. K’s reﬂections on fear, loss, and Western indi erence hit hard, challenging us to care more deeply and act more urgently. This isn’t just a story; it’s a call to listen, to empathize, and to stand in solidarity.

The following is the raw and unedited testimony of K, my dear Burmese friend whom I met through a mutual friend in ﬁrstyear. I want to share his story to help inform others of what’s happening in countries like Myanmar. I trust that the wider issues and the moral lessons will make themselves obvious to the reader without my spelling them out. His testimony speaks for itself.

As a brief disclaimer: Some readers may ﬁnd the following upsetting.

“Just put my name as K. The current state of my country, Myanmar, is both heartbreaking and terrifying. Our country had only just began building hope for a peaceful and fruitful future when the 2021 military coup occurred and shattered any such dream. Since then, Myanmar has been in chaos, with violence and corruption reaching unimaginable levels. Administrative government o cers and tra c police alike are contributing to the turmoil. I've been forced to make

decisions I never thought I would face, and every day is a ﬁght to survive both physically and mentally. Those privileged enough to live in urban cities are able to go about their daily lives as normal. Yet, the other half of the country is in a civil war where the military is committing some of the most atrocious and cruel acts ever recorded. The civil war has been going on since we got independence from the British in 1948. In the rural regions, children are being killed at school due to the air strikes. Women are being violated. People are getting massacred. Villages are being burnt. People must ﬂee. It is a living hell.

The conﬂict feels like it's swallowed not only my life but that of everyone else living here.

of their futures. Friends I used to see regularly are now distant ﬁgures, scattered across countries or even continents, trying to rebuild their lives in places that feel alien to them. The decisions I have had to make have never been easy—whether to leave the country or stay and ﬁght for what we once had.

but it’s the reality I face every day.

On a personal level, the coup has disrupted everything. My family, like so many others, has been torn apart. Some have ﬂed to neighbouring countries seeking safety, while others have stayed, unsure

Emotionally, the situation feels like a living nightmare, and it is a textbook dystopia for us. There’s fear, of course—fear of arrest, fear of being targeted, fear of losing loved ones. But there’s also a deep, growing sense of helplessness. Seeing people around me struggle to make ends meet and watching as corruption spreads like wildﬁre, has made me question my own values and how I can contribute to change the narrative. This isn't the future I imagined,

Some of my plans have been put on hold and others have had to be abandoned entirely

My friends and family have experienced similar heartbreak. Some have become vocal advocates for change, putting themselves at great risk. They have chosen to join the People’s Defence Force to ﬁght the military back and are also living in camps to help refugees and soldiers provide medical aid and rations, etc. Alternatively, others have succumbed to the pressure, and have chosen to remain silent and continue to work at government o ces and attend schools that are operated by the military followers. The constant fear of being surveilled, whether through our phones or in the streets, has affected how we communicate, how we act, and even how we think. The weight of this oppression lingers over every aspect of life—education, work, and social gatherings. It’s like the world is watching us burn, and no one is stepping in to help.

For me, the future feels uncertain. I once thought I knew the path I was on, but now, everything is unpredictable. It’s di cult to see beyond the turmoil, and even though I try to stay hopeful, my optimism feels like a thin thread that could snap at any moment.

Growing up, I rarely heard Myanmar discussed in Western media outlets. Whenever or wherever I introduce myself and where I am from, most people don't even know of its existence. It’s only when things turned truly dire—when people were being burned alive, when mass protests erupted—that Myanmar appeared on the global stage. But even then, it was brief, and Western attention moved on quickly to the next crisis. Many people in

the West don’t truly grasp what’s happening here; they only see the headlines without understanding the depth of the su ering.

I wish Western media would show more consistent interest in our plight. The occasional news story isn’t enough. Myanmar’s people need global pressure on the military regime, and the West has the power to help. I’d like to see change in the form of—more awareness, more advocacy, more action. If people knew the real stories of those who have lost everything, I believe it would lead to greater global solidarity.

I had the chance to experience Western culture after coming to the UK, and while I appreciated the freedoms and opportunities that people there seem to take for granted, it made me realise just how di erent life is in Myanmar. I admired the ability to speak freely, to protest without fearing for one’s life. However, I also noticed how detached many people were from global issues, including ours. It’s a big contrast to the urgency we live with every day.

I can't help but feel that the struggles of our country are often forgotten and overshadowed by more "pressing" global issues

As for now, my loved ones and I are existing and surviving, but that’s all we can really say—surviving. We move cautiously, always looking over our shoulders. Some days are better than others, but the uncertainty never leaves. We try to stay connected with those who’ve ﬂed, but it’s di cult. The constant power cuts, the lack of internet, and the risk of surveillance make communication a challenge.

Still, we hold on to hope. Perhaps one day, things will change, but for now, we do what we can to live in a world that feels like it’s crumbling beneath our feet.”

Mihai Rosca, Second Year, Politics and Philosophy

Editor Deputy Editor Deputy Editor

Subeditor

Mends

Creighton

Moser

McConochie

Jones

Getting through Christmas when it isn’t as ‘merry’ as you feel it should be.

The Holiday's may not be as cheerful as we'e led to believe, a look into the darker side of Christmas

Lucy Illet, First Year, Politics and Philosophy

Christmas isn’t always as ‘merry’ as it may seem. My mum and sister died a year apart—let’s start with that. One year I loved Christmas, the next year I liked it, but by the year after too much had changed, and I struggled to ﬁnd joy in the holiday season. The expectation of celebrating together is a lovely thought, but also disheartening for some, and a little naïve.

The year after my sister died, being in my house during Christmas was like living with people who each spoke a di erent language. We struggled to communicate, and unlike the rest of my fami-

ly, I struggled to pretend it was a joyous time. We were six people around a turkey, and a few years later we were four—overwhelmed by loss, surrounded by lights and tinsel, angels and stars.

So, I don’t like Christmas. A few years ago, admittedly before I’d healed a little, I found being told— not wished, but told—‘Merry Christmas’ o ensive. I resent the idea that I’m a Grinch or a Scrooge, when really I’m just a griever.

I love the lights and the colours, the warmth in a cold space. But Christmas, for many, is a reminder; it magnifies feelings of loss, loneliness and financial strain. At my worst times, I wished people who knew the story of the past few years had reached out, but I was juggling that selfish and completely understandable grief, with the knowledge that others enjoy Christmas, and don’t want to think about what was—as I saw it—

the sob story that was my family.

Christmas is also a consumer-driven event, something which I always massively disliked anyway. Like within the ‘rainbow capitalism’ of companies using the pride ﬂag during June, few corporations use the extra revenue to help where they can—though Lidl, B&M Bargains, and The Entertainer are some of those companies that have teamed up with various charities, or founded their own, to provide a joyous Christmas for those in need.

The average household spends £1,150 on Christmas, according to Credit Union

buy a meal for someone in poverty for just £13. Christmas is an expensive time for everyone, but if you can live without that one extra treat, or pick a night in with friends rather than a dinner out, that money could go to making the season a little easier for someone in need—for instance, through donating to the Bristol-based charity inHope’s ‘Big Give’ challenge.

According to Mental Health UK, 74% of people surveyed experienced ‘loneliness and isolation’ during the festive period. So to the 74% percent, who might not be counting down the days on their advent calendar come December 1st, you’re not alone.

It’s no secret that the ongoing costof-living crisis means more families struggle through the Christmas period, trying to a ord gifts for their children, a full meal, and the decorations to go with it—those pleasantries which for other people make Christmas, Christmas. Lots of foodbanks run ‘Christmas Dinner campaigns’, where you can

The Salvation Army runs a present appeal which distributed 76,000 gifts to children of all ages last Christmas, while other campaigns include Cash for Kids’ ‘Mission Christmas’, Lidl’s toy bank, and Action for Children’s ‘Secret Santa’ appeal. It’s also worth ﬁnding out what your local church does to aid struggling communities during Christmas, religious or not.

If I took anything from my dicult Christmases, it’s that even in the darkest times, I wasn’t alone.

The death of the cinema is all our fault

The ﬁlm industry is becoming less and less exciting, how are we contributing to this dying art?

Johnny Harrison, Fourth Year, Russian and Politics

Co-working spaces. Casinos.

Pubs. O ces. These are just a few of the many businesses that occupy the buildings of former cinemas on the UK’s ailing high streets. British movie theatres are closing down left, right and centre, turning what used to be an accessible and culturally enriching activity into an overpriced last-resort date idea - or simply a way of keeping the kids quiet for a couple of hours.

But it’s not just cinemas themselves that are dying; it’s the essence of the ﬁlm industry itself.

With fewer people going to theatres, production houses are increasingly unwilling to take risks with the ﬂicks they produce. However, there is one unusual genre that continues to churn out box o ce hits year after year: horror. The thrill of a jump scare on a massive screen with surround sound is hard to replicate from your own sofa, perhaps one of the reasons why series like Scream refuse to kick the bucket. Yet, it’s not adrenaline that holds the key to cinema’s revival. In my view, another chemical, dopamine, might be the real driver.

They know that releasing the 109th installation of the Fast and Furious series or a sequel to some shitty superhero franchise is a sureﬁre way of getting bums on the seats as opposed to anything innovate.

Not to sound like my mum, but that ‘bloody phone’ might be at the core of the ongoing struggles of the ﬁlm industry. The fact of the matter is that our attention spans are

not what they used to be. For many people, young and old, the thought of focusing on a single screen for nearly two hours without any distraction is daunting. There’s no surprise that streaming services are booming – people seem to be constantly discussing the latest episode of Succession, Foundation, Invasion, or whatever other show ending in -ion. Episodes are short, and the ability to enjoy them at home or on the go means that people can swipe through TikTok whilst half-watching Netﬂix, also known as my teenage brother’s favourite pastime. Social media seems to have caught onto the preference for splitting entertainment into bite-size instalments. On Instagram, some accounts slice

feature-length ﬁlms into 60-second snippets, layering them over Subway Surfers gameplay to keep viewers engaged and cater to our ever-shrinking attention spans. Yes, that is an actual thing.

Ultimately, it’s in the hands of the youth to provide life support to an industry that is in critical condition. We have a sociocultural responsibility to turn o Netﬂix, hoist our-

selves up from our sofas and head to the silver screen, whether it’s to enjoy a multi-million-dollar Christopher Nolan historical thriller or a low-budget Japanese arthouse romance. Bristol has a wealth of cultural hubs; just head along to Watershed if you have a spare evening. I promise you won’t regret it. The future of ﬁlm depends on you. Or just watch the next assembly-line Marvel epic. Live and let live, right?

Image courtesy of: Ellen Jones

Editor

Deputy Editor

Subeditor

Mends

Creighton

Moser

McConochie

Jones

Trillion-Dollar Baby: Can Being that Rich Ever be Ethical?

A riveting piece analysing the unfair advantage the mega- rich have over the world

We are continuously exposed to the false rhetoric of extreme a uence acquired through diligence and hard work, an expression of the familiar ‘American Dream’ which has expanded to infect the rest of the world. Whilst there are no trillionaires in the world currently, multi-billionaires, like Elon Musk, with a net worth of $263.8 billion (Top 10 Richest People In The World (November 2024), are creeping dangerously close. Firstly, we have to question: Can the wealth level of billionaire behemoths such as Elon Musk and

Je Bezos be credited to legitimate hard work? Wealth of this magnitude is more often than not at least partially inherited; or then ‘earned’ through shameless labour exploitation, so the gullible belief that this money is rightfully possessed through ‘hard labour’ is at best unconvincing. Wealth claimed through the exploitation of workers is far too common of an issue, for example, during COVID-19, when Je Bezos made capital by severely underpaying his warehouse and delivery workers, putting their health at risk for proﬁt (Amazon ﬁght with workers: 'You're a cog in the system' - BBC News). So, can wealth really be accumulated through a ‘fair market’ if the market is intrinsically unfair and fraudulent?

'The Financial Times reported in 2023 that $151bn was passed on to 53' heirs' (Billionaires amass more through inheritance than wealth creation says UBS

If the ethics of multi-billionaires are already compromised, reaching a trillionaire status would most certainly not be ethical either. What is particularly harrowing, however, is how these billionaires view raising wages as so unreasonable. After all, how would they maintain their billionaire status if they paid their employees more than £11.44 an hour? There is simply no ethical defence for these billionaires’ ‘spontaneous deprivation’. To add salt to the wound, the super-rich are celebrated by magazines such as Forbes, continuously praised despite their shocking lack of empathy. The gloriﬁcation of billionaires in the media furthers apathy, promoting a self-serving mindset to the general population,

inducing moral degradation and a lack of concern for basic ethics.

Their unfair edge in policymaking makes their impact on our lives more prevalent than we even realise. A contemporary example would be Elon Musk’s furious endorsement of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, where he ‘announced that he would give away one million each day to registered voters in battleground states’ if they

vote for Trump (Elon Musk’s daily $1 million giveaway to registered voters could be illegal, experts say | CNN Politics). Despite the illegal nature of this, the notion that it is even possible to manipulate social change with cold, hard cash is terrifying – can we conﬁdently trust those in positions of power won’t be corrupted? We might as well ask ourselves: is it ethical for loaded tyrants to have practically complete authority over our social welfare?

Never mix business with pleasure: student-sta relationships at the University of Bristol.

A piece delving into the ethics of unconventional university relationships. Can relationships,student-professor ever be justiﬁed?

Thea Pilch

There is an alluring appeal to o ce rendezvous and co ee dates, a sexually charged relationship borne out of mutual interest for the Napoleonic wars, or, perhaps tectonic plates. I wouldn’t consider it a stretch to assert that a lot of us have allowed our minds to wonder about certain lecturers. However, in a post #MeToo world, one where stories of grooming and exploitation are all too

familiar, the debate around the prohibition of student-sta relationships reigns. This article will posit that Bristol should outright ban relationships between students and sta when there is a direct teaching relationship.

Bristol has yet to completely prohibit sexual and romantic relationships between sta and students. In the ‘Sexual Misconduct and Personal Relationships Guidance’, such relationships are ‘strongly discouraged’ as Bristol acknowledges that they risk ‘compromising the trust and conﬁdence that underpins the learning experience and may negatively impact on the student’s educational development.’

The university does not, however, condemn such relationships and sets out the measures that are to be taken if such relationships do occur. These include both the student and sta member declaring the relationship to their head of sta and academic advisor, respectively. It appears Bristol adopts a realist approach to relationships, accepting

that with a student body of 32,000, such relationships are almost inevitable. Perhaps it does not wish to impose too far a draconian approach to policing what students can and can’t do. However, if Bristol wishes to maintain its integrity as a world-renowned university, it should prohibit such relationships.

In the spring of 2024, The University and College Union (UCU) in Bristol called for the university to update its policy and completely ban intimate relationships between students and sta . They welcomed the University College London’s (UCL) stance of completely banning such relationships when there is a direct teaching relationship between the student and the sta member.

should form close and friendly relationships. The author harks back to the 1970s/1980s when it was not uncommon for university teaching sta to invite undergraduates to their homes to discuss topics over a bottle of red or meet for ‘innocent’ co ees on Sunday mornings.

The anonymous writer argued that 'the mollycoddling of students at university is reaching an excessive level.'

On both sides of the debate lie arguments of safety, dignity and liberty. An article published by the Guardian in 2015 saw an anonymous academic argue that students and sta

I do accept that there could be exceptions if there are no academic or supervision relationships between the student and member of sta , for the arguments above would perhaps not apply. However, if Bristol seeks to protect its culture as an institution that prises serious academic pursuits above all else, As well as centre itself in a world that is aware of the real risks of grooming, exploitation and, sexual misgivings, romantic relationships between sta and students ought to be banned.

Ultimately, what does Bristol owe its students? High-quality teaching, not Ezra/Aria love a airs.

Second Year, History

Lilja Nasser, Second Year, English

Photo courtesy of Alexander Grey on Unsplash

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Jess Cohen

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Features

‘Doctors aren’t listening to us’: Decolonising medicine at Bristol and confronting medical racism

Editor's Choice:

Zaina Odubeko

Third Year, Philosophy and Politics

For November’s Editor’s Choice, I’ve selected Zaina Odubeko’s brilliantly crafted article on decolonising medicine at Bristol, a thought-provoking exploration of a critical question: How are marginalised groups supposed to trust a healthcare system that is inherently biased against them? Zaina speaks with the lead coordinator of DBMS, delving into the group's mission and the changes they aim to achieve. This article stood out not only for its exceptional depth and thorough research but also for its focus on amplifying a topic that is too often overlooked. As Zaina aptly puts it: 'Challenging inequality within medicine begins exactly where we are’ — so read, reﬂect, and carry the lessons of this piece forward with you.

How are we supposed to put our lives in the care of a healthcare system innately biased against us? ‘Decolonising Biomedical Sciences’ at the University of Bristol is working to create a system that everyone can rely on. How Racism is Making Us Ill, reads the title of Layla Liverpool’s 2024 book on racial discrimination in medicine. Inspired by the stark racial disparities in COVID diagnoses and outcomes, Liverpool investigates how the healthcare system is fatally failing its minority ethnic patients. The current state of global healthcare has meant that BAME patients are putting their lives in the hands of a system that is not listening. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have a life expectancy seven to eight years less than other Australians. They are 2.7

times more likely to su er from a fatal disease than non-indigenous Australians. Minority communities with lower socio-economic status are most a ected. However, at times, this issue transcends social and class boundaries. Liverpool tells the story of world-renowned tennis player Serena Williams, who nearly died in childbirth. Liverpool echoes Williams’ remark, that ‘doctors aren’t listening to us.’ ‘Decolonising Biomedical Sciences Bristol’ (DBMS) aims to force people to listen at every level and role within healthcare. Disparities are also embedded in the research that informs medical practitioners. For example, the

'DBMS aims to force people to listen at every level and role within healthcare'

existence of racial adjustment criteria contributes to misdiagnosis. Guidelines instruct practitioners to adjust blood test results depending on the race of the patient, meaning they are/are not indicative of di erent health issues. The physiological evidence to support these adjustments is unclear. A 2021 study in the US found issues with the application of racial adjustments to kidney test results. As a result, kidney disease is missed in black patients, who are over 3 times more likely to go into kidney failure and wait longer on average for a transplant than white patients. These unequal outcomes have been institutionalised by guidelines provided by major organisations, such as the Centre for Disease Control in the USA.

Expanding knowledge is key to medicine, yet when it comes to black and brown patients, outdated and unsubstantiated practices go unchallenged.

'Decolonisation of healthcare, including how its research is conducted, is crucial to building trust'

DBMS takes crucial steps toward remedying clinical, research and epistemic injustices in medicine. This begins in the institutions that are producing the next generation of doctors, including the University of Bristol. DBMS is bringing a direct challenge to the university’s curriculum by placing marginalised stories and voices at the centre of the medical narratives.

Jazzy Charap, a third-year Biomedical Sciences student, and lead coordinator at DBMS told Epigram about her experiences with the current curriculum.

'The Biomedical Sciences curriculum is rich in scientiﬁc knowledge and innovation but lacks fundamental contextual understanding… Decolonisation of healthcare, including how its research is

conducted, is crucial to building trust, understanding, reliability of results, and e ective change.' Jazzy expressed frustration at the silences in the curriculum regarding major injustices, such as the exploitation of Henrietta Lacks in the production of the polio vaccine and the mistreatment of Cuban women in contraceptive trials in the 1950s. These groundbreaking studies have founded our modern understanding and practice of medicine. At the University of Bristol, which has deep colonial roots, Jazzy emphasised the particular urgency of decolonising our curricula. On the 9th of October, DBMS hosted a launch event with an evening of talks and activities. Four academic speakers discussed the legacy of colonialism and inequality on global health. Dr Jo Hartland and Dr Nazanin Rassa explored the practice of state necro-politics toward queer men in the late 20th century and through the environmental exploitation of powerless communities. Professor Helen Lambert discussed the provision of antibiotics through the lens of exploitation, culture, and poverty. Dr Nilu Ahmed explained the psychological impacts and importance of decolonising work.

Discussions such as this are crucial, they give a voice to stories that are silenced and provide the grounds for meaningful change. DBMS’ work goes beyond this to include indigenous practices that have been persecuted and marginalised. Western medicine’s quest for dominance has not just produced racial inequality in its administration; it has committed acts of epistemic violence

'Centuries-old practices have been discredited [...] knowledge has been lost'

against diverse indigenous medicines. Centuries-old practices have been discredited and discriminated against, and community knowledge has been lost. In places which do embrace traditional healing, healthcare provision has improved. DBMS shines a light on these practices and overlooked medical innovation worldwide. At the launch event, this was visualised on an interactive map of ‘Scientists across continents’, which focused on medical discovery from a non-Western perspective. We hope to show that healthcare benefits immensely from platforming diversity and supporting innovation outside of the West. Following our launch, DBMS is running sessions at the University to ‘decolonise’ specific areas of global medicine, such as sexual health, pharmaceuticals, and medical history. The sessions will take place between February and May 2025. Decolonising spaces should be honest, incisive, and, at times, di cult. However, feeling listened to and comfortable to speak without judgment is equally important. DBMS aims to create an environment in which students feel secure contributing. Our decolonising goal is intimately connected to creativity. Students can feel comfortable expressing themselves in di erent ways by encouraging creative outputs, such as writing, painting, and filming. We want to emphasise that whatever students may take away from these workshops is personal and always valuable. As students in higher education institutions, we are uniquely positioned to interrogate research and teaching and prevent the dissemination of harmful information. Challenging inequality within medicine begins exactly where we are.

photo courtesy of: Jess Cohen

Features

Balancing exam stress with holiday cheer: An Epigram guide

Sean Lawrenson

o ers a guide to exambalancing stress with holiday cheer

Sean Lawrenson

Deputy Sports Editor

AsDecember rapidly approaches, the growing stresses that come with the exam period may start to have an e ect. With Christmas being right around the corner, it might not feel immediately comforting as deadlines stack up, but it is still possible to balance your workload with the many opportunities

that the Christmas period o ers. Taking time to socialise and explore Bristol during the Christmas season can help ease pre-exam nerves and provide a much-needed break. Bristol has a vast number of activities taking place over the next month that should get you feeling festive without taking up too much of your time in the process. A great option is to visit Bristol’s Christmas Market in Broadmead, which o ers a host of festive attractions to explore. Taking place until the 23rd of December, the market includes bars and food stalls all along Broadmead strip. From sweets stalls to locally sourced cheeses, the market is a great option for anyone looking to get those Christmas presents in early, or for those who just fancy a look around. Local musicians will also be dotted up and down the strip to provide the necessary festive tunes. Taking time away from your studies is not just a nice thought or sentiment, it’s vital. Studies have shown that working for seven days a week, even for as little as four hours a day, can exhaust the body

physically and put someone under considerable mental strain. By now, it has been well established that the best way to study is in thirty-minute increments separated into 25 minutes on, and 5 minutes o – this is commonly known as the Pomodoro method. It is thought that 85 per cent of what you read after that twenty-ﬁve minute period will be lost, so allowing yourself that break to process information is necessary. Also, it is generally considered best practice to separate the spaces in which you work and have your break. Simply standing up and going outside for those ﬁve minutes helps create a conscious barrier between work and rest, enabling you to feel more focused when it is time to resume. Equally important as determining the best way to master your breaks is knowing how to tailor your study sessions to what works best for you. Visual learners, for example, learn best when their surrounding envi-

'the best way to master your breaks is knowing how to tailor your study sessions'

ronment is clean, typically finding it harder to focus when distractions lie over their desks. If you are more of an auditory learner, discussing what you have been revising with a flatmate or someone on your course can be greatly beneficial. Why not revise by listening back to lectures or, even better, record yourself talking about your notes? Kinesthetic – or tactile learners – are found to focus best when they move whilst revising; whether that be pacing, or even the simple act of chewing gum, movement can help ground your focus for a long study session. With the right approach and enough festive respites, it is possible to endure this di cult period at university so as to succeed without sacrificing your sanity. As clichéd as it may sound, there truly is light at the end of this exam-laden tunnel.

Do I deserve this?: Impostor syndrome at the University of Bristol

Imagine walking into a room where everyone seems smarter, more conﬁdent, and just a bit more capable than you. Your shoulders tense; your inner critic has you convinced that sooner or later, someone will ‘unmask’ you as a fraud. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone, this is the psychological phenomenon known as Impostor Syndrome (IS). IS is characterised by ‘a belief that one is not actually intelligent or accomplished, despite objective

‘Everyone else seems to skate by with less stress and work’

evidence of success, but rather has fooled others and is therefore vulnerable to discovery as a fraud.’ For many, university life can amplify these feelings. Stepping into a new environment, facing high academic expectations, and trying to carve a place among high-achieving peers can make impostor syndrome feel unavoidable. It can feel particularly intense at Russell Group universities, where the competition and prestige create a perfect storm for self-doubt. Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, who ﬁrst coined the term ‘impostor syndrome’ in 1978, attributed this experience to the tendency of individuals to dis-

miss their accomplishments as luck rather than ability. When students believe they got into university by chance or because they ‘fooled’ someone into thinking they were smart, it creates an ongoing fear of exposure as an impostor. This is why addressing IS early, in schools and ﬁrst-year university seminars, is so crucial: these pervasive feelings have a powerful impact on students’ well-being and ability to thrive in academic and social settings. The reputation of Russell Group universities means they attract those looking for academic rigour and the opportunities this may unlock in the future. The students who strive to attend such universities are often motivated by the security, success, and networking it can give them in the future. But once you’re here, the reality can be overwhelming.

To understand how these feelings manifest in real life, Epigram spoke to students across the university. Their stories reveal the many faces of IS and the unique ways it inﬁltrates their academic and social experiences. One student shared that coming from a state school background, he felt he had ‘earned’ his spot through sheer hard work,

whereas many of his new peers from private schools seemed to achieve high grades e ortlessly. He disclosed that he regularly questioned his place at Bristol, compared to the nonchalance, apparent ease, and conﬁdence of those more ‘privileged’ than him... To read more, go to Epigram.co.uk

photo courtesy of: Harriett Sanderson

Olivia Howard Third Year, Geography

Olivia Howard

behindtheinvestigatespsychology syndromeimpostor

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‘It’s

just too complicated’: Navigating family tensions during the holidays

While many students excitedly await the winter break and the home comforts it brings, others ﬁnd this period increasingly stressful due to strained relationships with family. For decades, the winter/Christmas break has been presented by the media as a period marked by joy, cheer and the coming together of families. However, this picture-perfect family life is far from a reality for many, and such false expectations can make the winter break

Hunter

As we approach the darker months of the year, and the sun is setting earlier and earlier, many students may start to experi-

an extremely lonely time for those with complicated home lives. There could be a wide range of reasons as to why family relationships are strained; perhaps the breakdown of a marriage has caused a divide within your family, or the passing of a loved one whose absence is heightened during the holiday period. For second-year student Katie, her parents’ contentious divorce

'the winter break can be extremely challenging for those who haven’t got secure family relationships'

and the upcoming anniversary of her grandfather’s passing make the winter break particularly difﬁcult and ﬁlls her with ‘dread.’

When asked how she spends her time during the winter break, she responded: ‘I try not to be with my

family as much as I can over the winter break apart from Christmas day because it’s just too complicated.’

‘I feel guilty about who to split my time between,’ she continued, ‘all of my cousins and extended family are at my mum’s, but my dad doesn’t have any other family, it is only him. His birthday is also on Christmas day, which makes it really, really di cult if I do not spend my time with him.’

During her interview, Katie explained one of the measures she takes to help her mental health in the winter break: ‘Staying away from social media and not looking at other people's families and Christmas really helps me.’ In today’s society, students are exposed to the false realities posted on social media which during the winter break perpetuates images of the perfect family life, whether that be the truth or not. In fact, a study exe-

cuted by CNBC found an increasing correlation between social media usage and feelings of loneliness.

In a time renowned for family bonding, the winter break can be extremely challenging for those who haven’t got secure family relationships. It is important to prioritise mental well-being during this

period by setting boundaries and removing yourself from toxic environments where possible. If you know someone who might feel isolated during the winter break, reaching out to them can foster a sense of connection and inclusion, helping everyone feel valued and supported.

Tackling Seasonal Blues

ence a change in mood – perhaps feeling down, sad, or anxious. These shifts might cause energy levels to decrease, which makes concentrating di cult. For students, the added stress of academic pressures, paired with the encroaching darkness and cold, can feel quite overwhelming. While many factors can contribute to these feelings, the seasonal change is a signiﬁcant one. In extreme cases, seasonal mood changes can be diagnosed as season-

al a ective disorder (SAD). A type of depression that occurs on a seasonal pattern. For those who already struggle with mental illnesses, such as depression or bipolar, seasonal a ective disorder is more common. One of the causes of these emotional changes is the reduction of sunlight during the day. Exposure to sunlight increases the production of serotonin, our ‘feel-good chemical’ that balances our mood, meaning that when there is less sunlight, our

mood will change. Your sleep may also be a ected by the season ahead. Melatonin, the hormone that controls sleep, is produced more when there is less sunlight, leading us to feel more tired than usual. All of which can add to our seasonal blues. During an interview with a senior tutor, Epigram asked what tips he had for students who feel a ected by SAD, and he did not hesitate when recommending well-being services. ‘I know that [well-being services] do support students with SAD, and they have resources and techniques to support them’. In extreme cases, for the students who think they have Seasonal A ective Disorder, the senior tutor recommends reaching out to your GP. He also emphasised the importance of keeping a routine, ‘Consolidation week is coming up; I would advise [students to] continue their routine. Some students like having a 9-5, and working and having breaks in-between that time. Some work better in the evening, whilst having breaks and gaps away from the screen’. When Epigram asked other students what they and their friends do to attempt to keep their mood up,

answers varied. For some, it’s about keeping up with their daily lives: ‘Sometimes just keeping a routine helps’. For others,‘finding fun indoor replacements for outdoor activities’ like having a household movie and hot chocolate night, is essential. Several students shared that being around others is what helps them most. One student explained that ‘making the e ort to reach out to people helps, both from home and from uni’. Another student found studying with friends particularly beneficial, noting that ‘Studying together with friends or classmates is so much better than sitting alone in my room or library’. As we enter the winter months many students may find it tougher and more challenging. It is essential to remember that these emotions are natural and not always within personal control, around 2 million people in the UK experience seasonal a ective disorder every year – you are not alone. Whether through quality time with friends, help from well-being services, or taking a walk in the park, looking after your mental health is crucial during these darker periods.

photo courtesy of: Ilona Ho mann

Katy Hobbs Second Year, English and History

Katy Hobbs explores the di culty of family tensions during the festive period

photo courtesy of: Ilona Ho mann

Hunter Grasdal Third Year, Liberal Arts

Grasdal shares some tips on how to stay bright through the darker days

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Arts

Rinko Kawauchi: At the Edge of the Everyday World, on at The Arnolﬁni

Elizabeth Abbott, Co-Deputy Arts Editor

Editor's Choice:

Internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Kawauchi strives to recognise the beauty in the mundane through her new exhibition: At the Edge of the Everyday World. The exhibition is on until the 16th February.

Internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Kawauchi strives to recognise the beauty in the mundane through her new exhibition: At the Edge of the Everyday World. Created in collaboration with The Bristol Photo Festival, it is her ﬁrst major UK exhibition since 2006

She asks visitors to look for the similarities between the serene natural world and our time peaceful spent in our homes, following rhythms of flowing rivers, swaying trees alongside gentle domestic scenes, to comment on ‘humanity’s fragile links to the universe and ecology.’ Kawauchi meticulously captures moments of wonder in the in-between. She focuses on the middle of events which we’d usually look to the beginning or end of. For example, we see a flower mid-bloom, a baby with the umbilical cord still attached, and a leaf falling through the air before it hits the water below. Whilst these shots are calm and still, we can predict the dynamism occurring prior and post to the point at which she captures the images. A photograph of fish in a bag injects colour into the white wall behind it. Although the bag on the

table is still, with a static white slab covering half of the image, we can imagine the ﬁsh furiously wriggling about. Kawauchi cleverly plays with the duality of free movement to comment on the beauty of quiet dormancy alongside the potential for vibrant action. Another duality presented in her work is her balancing of the individual and the collective. Whilst most of the images’ subjects are individual objects or living creatures, we, the viewers, have a collective idea of what these subjects represent because the subjects appeal to universal experiences. We all know of the beauty of sunlight falling through woodland and a delicious half-eaten apple. Through her steady focus on one subject, she is creating a wider discussion which everyone can get involved with.

'all these individual shots work together to create a network of bright images like those you might expect in a sequence of pictures ﬂashing before your eyes in a near-death experience.'

Kawauchi emphasizes the importance of light in bringing attention to the ubiquitous nature of life. The clearest example of this in the exhibition is the light shining down on the heads of two children, fo-

cusing our gaze on their intimate enfold. All these individual shots work together to create a network of bright images like those you might expect in a sequence of pictures flashing before your eyes in a near-death experience. The photos feel intrinsic to our humanity; things we don’t always notice until we see the light shining on them, but that are forever at the back of our mind. Despite the punchy impression of the unadorned photographs, I found that the upper floor might have been more impactful if the photographs were drawn together in a more obvious manner. It seemed that the commonality between the images was their origins being in rural Iceland. Kawauchi’s other work was made all the more personal when she included poems and short writing pieces in her photography books, and the reasoning behind stringing together the Icelandic photos in the exhibition could have been made clearer. The positioning of the photography books at the end of the first floor

allowed a great reflection on what had come before. The structure of the exhibition on the ground floor allowed for a flowing movement between the photographs which felt like you were on a journey through a life, but the first floor hanging

'Kawauchi’s work serves as a brilliant reminder to keep a keen eye on the kind, loving sources of light in the world, and the brilliant things they illuminate for us.'

photographs dotted about added to the disjointedness of it. Kawauchi’s work serves as a brilliant reminder to keep a keen eye on the kind, loving sources of light in the world, and the brilliant things they illuminate for us.

photo courtesy of: Elizabeth Abbott

Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Abbott

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Arts Commisoner

What does the Government's Autumn Budget mean for the Arts?

The new Government Budget suggest a new future for the arts

Ella Heathcote Arts Co-Deputy Editor

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the new Labour budget yesterday, raising taxes by £40 billion in order to fund the planned 1.5% increase in government spending.

The Chancellor announced a budget increase of 2.6% from 2023/24 to 2025/26 for the De-

Review: Bristol Alumni Double Bill at Circomedia–The Cycle & The Beauty of Being Herd

By Karen Mends, Opinion Editor and Alex Creighton, Deputy Opinion Editor

In 40 short minutes, Liz Fairnell

together a compelling narrative.

partment for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS), meaning an overall budget of £2.3bn for 2025/26.

It has been conﬁrmed that the increased budget will be used to increase funding for institutions such as the National Museums and Galleries, the expansion of the Creative careers Program, as well as seeing the allocation of additional funding for a series of commemorative events to celebrate VE AND VJ Day as well as to commemorate the lives lost in the Covid-19 Pandemic. Alongside this, it will also oversee an increased investment of £9 Million in community facilities, as well as in the development of the UK'S Paralympic and Olympic programmes While the increase in investment is more than welcome after decades of decline in arts funding in the UK, there has been discussion from museum and gallery leaders that the budget increase may not be enough to pull these institutions out of the dire ﬁnancial situations they are

Review: Moments @ Tobacco Factory

By Isobel Edwards, News Reporter

On 22nd and 23rd October, Tobacco Factory hosted three performances of Theatre Re’s Moments. The play explores a myriad of themes: time, loss, aging, parenthood, grief, connection and youth.

currently in, a particular worry for many civic museums which are currently on the verge of bankruptcy.

' there has been discussion from museum and gallery leaders that the budget increase may not be enough'

The rise in National Minimum Wage and the increase in employer National Insurance contributions will al so increase costs for museums and galleries, putting more pressure on these already burdened organisations.

It seems that the tax relief programme for museums, galleries, theatres and orchestras - ﬁrst proposed in Jeremy Hunt's 2024 budget - will

Review: MTB's Showcase 2024

By Annie McNamee, Co-Editor-inChief

This is the ninth year of MTB's Showcase, and it's as polished, fun, and joyful as ever.

probably remain for the new year. The increase in the arts budget is, of course, a positive change, but whether it will be enough to restore the UK’s culture and arts scene remains to be seen.

'The rise in National Minimum Wage and the increase in employer National Insurance contributions will also increase costs for museums and galleries, putting more pressure on these already burdened organisations'

Film & TV

In Defence Of: The Christmas Romcom

Editor's Choice:

The Film and TV section runs a monthly series titled Polarising Pictures. It's an opportunity to defend the indefensible, to slate ﬁlms that are widely adored, or champion ﬁlms that are constantly overlooked. This month, I've tasked one of our writers with defending the Christmas rom-com. Why is it held in such low regard, and could there be space in our hearts for a little cringy Christmas cheer?

As Christmas finally rears its delightful, capitalist head, there is no doubt that your streaming recommendations will be inundated with the cultural staple of the Christmas romantic comedy. The narrative of most of these films follows some iteration of this: Big-City-Girl hates her big city life but is bound to the city by her unquenchable thirst to pursue her career. Big-City-Girl, for whatever reason, is compelled to go to an extremely festive small town, in which Big-City-Girl meets SmallTown-Boy (extra points if he’s royalty) and begins to realise there’s more to life than her soulless, corporate existence back home. Insert a third act breakup, perhaps an identity reveal for dramatic e ect, and in the end, they all make snow angels and live happily ever after. Presumably in Christmas-limbo all year, until December rolls around and Netflix can release a sequel.

These movies have long been regarded as lazy, formulaic cash-grabs, but I have taken

it upon myself to defend the Christmas Romcom's continued importance in the cannon.

My introduction to the Christmas rom-com was slightly o kilter. As my mum put Love, Actually on the telly again I paid little to no attention because between the ages of four and ten I had exactly one interest, Barbie. Speciﬁcally, the Barbie animated movies. I personally have only two Christmas classics, Barbie in a Christmas Carol, and Barbie: A Perfect Christmas. Though these aren’t featured in most people’s yearly rewatches, I think they provide an excellent framework to help understand the key features that make the Christmas romcom such a successful genre.

I have taken it upon myself to defend the Christmas Romcom's continued importance in the cannon.

though there’s an age gap, both genres almost exclusively cater to a female audience. It’s a long running joke that not a single Barbie movie passes the reverse Bechdel test. The films know what they are and they don’t waste time developing male characters, or belittling their female ones. And as girls grow into women, the films we watch may mature but these themes remain the same. It is di cult to find media that exclusively caters to women the way these films do, and when you do, it is treated with little respect from the zeitgeist.

The reason I draw this parallel boils down to the similarities they share in their target audience, al-

This is ironic, because the romantic comedy has and always will be central to our culture, with most classic stories that have stood the test of time being romances. There is a reason we are still adapting Shakespeare’s romcoms into modern iterations à la She’s The Man and 10 Things I Hate About You. A good story, no matter when it was written, resonates with an audience. So why then, is a genre that has such solid, classical roots treated with so little respect

Could it be… dun dun dun… MISOGYNY? Media that caters to women is frequently disregarded as unambitious and given little funding despite the fact that it can turn a massive profit. The issue is systemic, with men making up 76% of directors, writers, editors and cinematographers working on successful projects, it is no surprise that women as an audience are forgotten. So why, in an industry driven by the profit margin, is the success of the Christmas romcom so easily overlooked? Why do esteemed directors not haul their eggs (wrong season?) into the Christmas basket and reap the rewards? We’ve seen it happen, The Holdovers, was nominated for five Oscars, and although not strictly a romcom, it is a heartful Christmas Dramedy with a tear-jerking romantic subplot (does any of this sound familiar?)

In the months of November and December, Hallmark ranks as the

number 1 network among women ages 18-54. This demographic is incredibly advertising friendly. This means that though their movies are relatively cheap to produce, with an average budget of $2 million, they bring in a proﬁt of more than $350 million in just ad revenue. That’s a third of their annual ad revenue from just the Christmas season. If we’re being crass, if the point of movies is to tell a story that resonates with an audience, whilst winning awards and making shedloads of money. So, why do directors and production companies not see this incredible source of potential? And more importantly, why is there such a reluctance for the male audience to engage with the Christmas romcom. Men, why do you roll your eyes at what women love? Maybe

sit down and give The Holiday a go and see if it is as horrifying as you believe, you might just fall in love.

So why then, is a genre that has such solid, classical roots treated with so little respect?

Ultimately, women are not watching these ﬁlms in their millions for the groundbreaking plot devices and cinematography. Women simply want to engage in a fun, heartfelt genre that for once actually caters to them. There is far more societal hostility towards fans of romcoms than say, the male-centric superhero movie, despite the greater critical acclaim many of the former possess. So, next time you go to roll your eyes at another iteration of ‘Finding Love on my Dead Dad’s Christmas Tree Farm’, question if you would be such a harsh critic if a di erent audience were intended.

Abbie Holmes Second Year, English Literature

photo courtesy of: IMDb

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Exploring the Forbidden Worlds Film Festival

This year’s festival not only showcased classic features but also spotlighted emerging filmmakers by including short films. The organisers shared that “Supporting local talent is key, especially student filmmakers."

Amaan Ali

Co-Editor-In-Chief Edward Boileau

Third Year, Computer Science

Bristol’s Forbidden Worlds Film Festival returned this year with a spine-chilling theme: Stranger Danger. This festival o ered a collection of cult horror classics and lesser-known gems that drew on the fear of mysterious ﬁgures and unsettling encounters to leave the whole audience wondering which of the strangers they’re sitting next to is really a crazed psychopath.

This year, we had the chance to interview the festival's organisers, and they shared the inspiration behind this year's theme. "We long knew that we wanted to screen The Hitcher as part of our line-up,"

they explained, "and with that in place, we brainstormed a theme to set this year apart. The ‘Stranger Danger’ theme really connected to the fears that were prevalent in the 70s and 80s with Public Service Announcements about the dangers of strangers and hitchhikers. Films like When a Stranger Calls rarely get shown on the big screen, so we thought it would be an interesting angle to program around."

Curating the line-up, however, was no easy task. "We wanted to choose ﬁlms that would appeal to di erent audiences, especially students and younger generations," they added. For example, I Know What You Did Last Summer was selected to appeal to Gen-Zs who might never have seen this iconic '90s slasher in theatres before.

They also included international titles like Cure, which had never been theatrically released in the UK, to ensure a diverse selection. This year’s festival not only showcased classic features but also spotlighted emerging filmmakers by including short films. The organisers shared that “Supporting local talent is key, especially student filmmak-

Flick Picks: Must-See Christmas Films

While You Were Sleeping.

Jon Turteltaub

If you're in the mood for a cozy romance set in the chilly, but bright Chicago December, look no further than this Sandra Bullock rom-com. This is the time of year when suspending our disbelief for the sake of happy endings is the only option. Just embrace this feel-good movie and you'll feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Lindsay Shimizu Second Year, English

Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas - Community.

D uke Johnson

Being a massive Community fan, I watch this special every year, but you do not need to know the show to enjoy watching twenty minutes of funny, eccentric, and heartwarming TV. Who knew a Christmas episode with wizards and pterodactyls could mean so much to me?

Rent.

ers." This aspect of the festival reﬂects their dedication to fostering new voices in horror while ensuring the festival remains engaging and fresh for returning audiences. Two that stood out to us were Stop Dead by Emily Greenwood and The Babka by Michael Jenkins.

Stop Dead follows two police ofﬁcers who try to help a girl being stalked by an unseen force that kills you if you stop moving. The ﬁlm was created as a proof of concept for Greenwood's feature-length horror The Still Man, and whilst the idea was simple, the jump scares were well-executed and had us and the rest of the

audience on edge throughout.

The Babka, set at a Halloween rave, explores a deadly game inspired by Polish folklore. We thought the film e ectively created a vivid atmosphere through good sound design and cinematography. It was Jenkins’ first horror film and was acted by students from the Bristol School of Acting, whose excellent performance left viewers haunted by the film’s eerie, folklore-inspired premise.

For a more in depth look at the ﬁlms screened at the festival, read the full article at epigram.org.uk

Chris Columbus

Christmastime isn’t all love, joy, and peace on Earth even though we wish it was. The ﬁlm version of Jonathan Larson’s musical masterpiece is a great choice when you ﬁnd yourself angry or upset even during 'the most wonderful time of the year.' The music alone makes this a story worth watching!

A Charlie Brown Christmas. Bill Melendez

Depressed by the incessant commericalism surrounding him, Charlie Brown and Co. search for a deeper meaning to Christmas. As an American, this is a non-negotiable watch in my house every Christmas, but I don’t think the Peanuts are as popular in the UK. That’s gotta change. Good grief, you guys.

photo of Stop Dead courtesy of: IMDb

photo courtesy of: forbiddenworldsﬁlmfestival.co.uk

music

'Don't ask, don't get': Issue One of Negativland goes to print

tor-in-Chief, and recent graduate of the University of Bristol, Kate Je rie has written extensively for several local publications such as the Bristol Gig Guide and Epigram. Alongside Creative Director and third-year physics student Kirkland Childs, the two decided one day that the only way to start covering the gigs they really wanted to was to start their own publication.

The four creative minds behind Negativland wanted to start a publication to find out more about what united the new bands coming out of the UK and Ireland beyond simply the catch-all term of 'post-punk'. Beginning in Paris and Sweden over Summer 2023, the magazine’s eighteen-month creation process ended with a triumphant launch party of the publication's first issue in September 2024. Epigram spoke to three of its co-founders to discover how the first edition went from first draft to print. Beginning her writing career aged fifteen, Negativland's Edi-

'Me and Kirkland are from Brighton, but there's something really di erent about Bristol.'

With the addition of local graduates Grace Warry and Isaac Stubbings, the four formed a collective that sought to marry their abilities in photography and writing. United by a desire to escape creative limitations, the group examined their favourite post-punk bands and decided to try and ﬁnd out a more speciﬁc categorisation for what united them beyond the catch-all label.

With the freedom to contact artists at their own behest, Negativland’s team were incensed by the prospect of carrying out bucket-list interviews in a publication of

their own. Isaac, previously an inhouse photographer at The Fleece, stated in a conversation with Epigram that 'it (Negativland) gives us access to people and shoots we wouldn't have had access to'.

'For the Getdown Services shoot we got to Bristol Boxing Gym at 7:30, and I had ﬁnished work at 18:30 the night before', detailed Isaac: ‘We borrowed a friend's boxing gloves for it and left them in the gym by accident.' This process was one of the ﬁrst of many epiphanic moments for the members, who realised that they - somewhat dangerously - now had complete creative control over the project.

This inventiveness spurred the team to take increased risks creatively and strategically. Kirkland described how after driving Isaac and Kate to Haldern, for example, he underwent the tenhour drive from Haldern Pop Festival alone as the only member of the team who could drive.

'Focussing exclusively on a physically printed edition for Issue One allowed members of Negativland to prioritise quality over quantity.'

Despite hardships though, the trip was worth it. Success when covering acts there inspired the team to continue and interview some of the artists that will make up Issue Two's pages; following the likes of Yard Act, Amyl and The Sni ers, and Gilla Band who graced the preceding issue. While they found their footing abroad, Isaac recognised how launching the magazine in Bristol made its creation signiﬁcantly easier thanks to its collaborative spirit. 'Me and Kirkland are from Brighton, but there's something really di erent about Bristol. There's a much larger range of creatives.' Kirkland added in unison that 'Everyone is very willing to lend a hand'. Local organisations such as Plaster Creative Communications, among a host of local photographers, were central to the development of the magazine from its conceptualisation to distribution.

'With a lot of magazines, there's a lot of overstretching', commented Kirkland. Focussing exclusively on a physically printed edition for Issue One allowed members of Negativland to prioritise quality over quantity, with the result consequently feeling more meaningful and lasting. He added, 'I know that I'll always have my copy of the mag, and people will keep theirs: all the photos I've ever taken are kept in one massive ring binder'. This strong sense of physicality lends itself to the visual qualities of the magazine, as Kirkland and Isaac described how the ﬁrst copy was heavily inspired by the photo books they produced during their photography careers. More than this, however, the magazine was thematically guided by an investigation into British music. 'The idea isn't for it to be a post-

'If the success of Negativland suggests anything however, it's that there is still an appetite for socially conscious and meaningful print media.'

punk magazine', Kate stated. 'I'm not sure we've quite got down to the root of what brings these bands together, but there is something there. There are a lot of people who you didn't think would be interested in these bands, but they are'. A broader fascination with the guiding threads of Irish and British music has led the magazine to try and better clarify the term 'post-punk'. As older post-punk bands such as The Fall and contemporary groups like Gilla Band seem to be sweepingly placed into the same genre, the suggestion that post-punk is potentially becoming somewhat nebulous is certainly a topical one. This sense of cultural excess falls against the backdrop of Kate's statement in support of 'Gen-Zers who have grown up on a constant diet of media, from every angle' With music, entertainment, and reading material becoming incessantly expanded, the team shared how the physical aspects of the magazine gave it an intimate and immediate feeling that is becoming increasingly inaccessible in an overwhelming digital era. If the success of Negativland suggests anything however, it's that there is still an appetite for socially conscious and meaningful print media. The project required diligence and sacriﬁce that stuck to this goal, and eventually paid o , thanks to the team’s commitment even with busy university schedules. Sharing his highlights from creating the magazine, Kirkland discussed how his Physics tutor bought a copy of the magazine, despite initially warning him from spending too much time devoted to the magazine. Ultimately, though the group had to juggle university commitments and writing, their e orts paid o and even ended up exceeding expectations. 'By the end of my third year, I was mainly doing this,' said Kate, who concluded by saying, 'Don't ask, don’t get. Try your luck.

photo courtesy of: Mia Bruer (@airsbreath on Instagram)

photo courtesy of: Kate Je rie

Benji Chapman Music Editor The magazine founded by University of Bristol students was launched in September 2024

Editor

Co-Deputy Editor

Subeditor

Benji Chapman

Aditi Hrisheekesh

Megan Foulk

Amelie Peters

Sophie Scannell

Motion set to close after twenty-one years

Motion's impending loss is set to make devastating blow to Bristol.

In a saddening statement released yesterday, managing director Daniel Deeks announced the closure of Motion. One of Bristol's most renowned nightclubs and music venues in Bristol, playing host to huge names such as Black Country New Road, The Chemical Brothers and Bob Vylan, the venue is set to close July 2025.Initially opening in 2003 as a Skatepark called SK8 & Ride, the venue was then transformed in late 2007 to accommodate a wider array of events. Transforming into what electronic music magazine DJ Mag voted as one of the Uk's top 100 clubs. In a heartfelt email

'Motion's closure announcement follows that of Gravity early last year and 395, both hubs for Bristol's growing nightlife. '

to all those on the Motion's mailing list, Deeks went on to explain the 'impending lease expiration' as the cause for the closure. Due to the uncertainty of the economic and regulation changes in the sector, it is becoming ever more di cult for venues supporting the Uk's nightlife to stay open. Motion's closure announcement follows that of Gravity early last year and 395, both hubs for Bristol's growing nightlife. Gravity cited both ﬁnancial struggles and the landlord's decision to repurpose the premises as reasons for closure. There seems to be a trend of redevelopment of cultural nightlife properties in Bristol, setting an uncertain and somewhat damming prospect for the future of nightlife within the city. As reported by the Night Time Industries Associatio (NTIA), the latest statistics on club

'There seems to be a trend of redevelopment of cultural nightlife properties in Bristol, setting an uncertain and somewhat damming prospect'

closures suggest that between June 2020 to June 2024, the industry has seen roughly around four hundred and eighty nightclubs close, with sixty-ﬁve closing this year alone.The numbers themselves indicate a desperate need for intervention and support in the sector. The NTIA have called for 'immediate government action' siting a broader crisis across the 'UK's nighttime cultural economy' and are currently in the process of requesting business rate relief in the autumn budget. In an attempt to keep the doors of motion open, the team 'conducted an extensive pre-application process' with Bristol city council, receiving a collectively positive review of the plan. This idea was o ered as a viable solution by Motion's landlords and still holds a level of sway on the

'The loss of the venue will have a striking blow on the vibrancy of the city's nightlife.'

basis that the venue continues to be a considerable economic asset to the city. The plan involved the implementation of a more extensive use of the property, developing the unused space upstairs into a ordable creative spaces. As it currently stands, Motion is a gradetwo listed industrial warehouse, meaning the building is considered to be of signiﬁcant cultural interest and therefore there is a founda-

An Exam Anxiety Playlist

The Secret of Us

This entire album has basically transformed me from casual fan to superfan of Gracie Abrams; every song feels like a hit. The ones I feel have the biggest “relatability” factor are The Secret of Us’ two singles, ‘Risk’ and ‘Close to You. Essentially, the two songs, aside from being complete bangers, epitomise what it’s like to have a crush as a student or young adult. I really enjoy Gracie’s playing on the idea of not really knowing someone properly but still feeling extremely drawn to that person, it feels quintessentially student-y given the amount of people you run into and develop a dumb crush on. might like you back.

Lizzy McAlpine Give Me A Minute

In a similar vein, Lizzy Mcalpine’s ‘Pancakes for Dinner’ is another song about the anxious uncertainty about the reciprocity of someone else’s romantic feelings that I love. It’s entirely possible it’s only me who relates to this situation, but hey, that’s ﬁne. Interestingly, Lizzy said in an interview she no longer likes pancakes for dinner (the song. not the meal.) Another Lizzy Mcalpine song that partly ﬁts this mould is ‘Ceilings’, by far her most successful song. Ceilings, however, goes further and turns daydreaming and wishing into full-blown hallucination, imagining a loving relationship.

Charli XCX Brat

And ending on a more positive note, these two last artists are probably the shot of conﬁdence boost a socially anxious person needs in the morning (I’m sure there’s a Spotify mix with these two just waiting for you).

Conﬁdence is a complete fake-it-till-youmake-it quest, one that I have not managed to master at all, but the 2-4 minute escapism the songs on Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess and Charli XCX’s summer-deﬁning Brat is enough to spark you into life for that 9am (or, at least, it does for me).

‘Guess’ is a racy, hyper conﬁdent ride and a total earworm: pure self-loving pop fun.

tion for warrants of preservation. For the past twenty-one years, Motion has been a proud feature of Bristol's cultural and social hub. The loss of the venue will have a striking blow on the vibrancy of the city's nightlife. Deeks concluded with a somewhat positive message, suggesting there are 'several potential pathways forwards', but that it would heavily rely on community support and Bristol learning to 'better appreciate and protect (its) cultural' venues.

Chappel Roan

The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess

Meanwhile, ‘Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl’- one of Chappell Roan’s more underrated songs - given the success of songs like ‘HOT TO GO!', ‘Red Wine Supernova’, and most recently ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ is overwhelming sapphic pop delirium. I wouldn’t say I listen to either of these artists for a swooning emotional experience, but I couldn’t recommend any others more for morning energy motivation. Or for clubbing, even though I’m not a massive fan of clubbing. Hell, Brat even has a song called ‘Club Classics’ on it.

Amelie Peters Music Subeditor

Gracie Abrams

photo courtesy of: Chris Cowley

George Leggett

Skyrim: 13 years on I'm still captivated

By Harry Mayes Research Technician, Neuroscience

Only a select few titles have been able to maintain their long-standing player count and cultural relevance for as long as Skyrim has. Even against games with the backing of huge franchise names, such as Hogwarts Legacy and the numerous releases under the Batman brand, Skyrim’s 13 years of relevance has rarely been matched. What is it about this single-player fantasy world that has kept players coming back for more?

For those who have not yet had the fortune of entering this world, prepare yourself for a 100 percent freeroam RPG (role-playing game). Skyrim takes you on a daring adventure of dragons, magic and werewolves. You play as the long-prophesised ‘Dragonborn’ (or ‘Dovahkiin’ in dragon tongue), on a tumultuous journey to end a mortal threat to the world; a resurrected dragon of the old times, known in the tales as ‘World-Eater’. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll have to navigate the complexities of a civil war and the numerous shady or-

ganisations with skin in the game. Whether you choose to join a group of assassins known as the Dark Brotherhood or take out their leader, become one of the vampire lords or destroy them, you are constantly presented with moral conundrums. These plotlines are all the more e ective and emotionally compelling as their resolutions have long lasting impacts on the state of the in-game world.

If you are familiar with the brutality, political complexity, and sheer grandeur of a world like the Westeros of Game of Thrones, you may already have a good idea of the unpredictability and outlandishness of the narratives that play out in Skyrim.

of the moment, whether I’m ﬁshing in the lake by my manor, or murdering my foes in their sleep and stealing their sweetrolls.

For over a decade Skyrim has retained its player count. Why? you,

'Skyrim takes you on a daring adventure of dragons, magic and werewolves.'

Bethesda also ﬁlls their world with all manner of creatures and characters, some friendly, most less so. Travelling companions, whether intentionally or not, bring humour to otherwise serious scenarios and a sense of friendship in what can sometimes be a solitary world. One quirky, blood-lusting jester named Cicero may join you, bringing with him all manner of comedic and provoking lines to accompany you on your travels. ‘Let’s kill someone!’ inevitably blurted out in a very serious moment, as is Cicero’s way.

In fact, Bethesda Game Studios, the company behind Skyrim, declined an opportunity to develop a game set in the Game of Thrones universe, instead wanting to create their own world.

Full of stunning wildlife, changing seasons, rivers, waterfalls and ice-capped mountains, Skyrim is a truly beautiful place to explore. It is also accompanied by what I would name the best soundtrack in any video game. Composed by Jeremy Soule, the award-winning, orchestral anthems never fail to capture and elevate the essence

Despite being a big part of any playthrough, your companions are unusual in their harmlessness in the world of Skyrim. Tree creatures called Spriggans pester you, the Ebony Warrior humbles you the moment you feel invincible. Skyrim is populated by a panoply of foes, some so stubborn that many a broken controller may be accredited to them.

Along with the decisions you make about your path through the world, players must also choose what skills, areas of combat and magic they advance meaning your character has their own unique developmental journey. Personally, the hilarious results of spells like telekinesis and paralysis, along with my childish fantasies of being a great-wizard like Gandalf, have made it hard for me to opt for becoming anything but a mage. While I’ve always found controlling the elements to be an e ective way of extinguishing my foes, other players might develop into a sneaky pickpocket, able to remove a character’s attire leaving them to walk the streets in naked ridicule. Or perhaps you have a manic obsession with cheese wheels and choose to steal them at every opportunity, ﬁlling your home with every single one in Skyrim. Which-

ever path you take, Skyrim never fails to facilitate and captivate.

While Bethesda did an excellent job, the modding community is without a doubt the fundamental reason Skyrim still draws hundreds of thousands of players today. Modders have, without any ﬁnancial reward, increased the amount of content in this game by at least tenfold over the years. From new spells, to improved combat and, thank the gods, the ability to marry who you want; mods have kept players coming back for more. In a way, it was an early rendition of the popular format we see today in games like Fortnite and Minecraft, which constantly add new content to retain their player counts.

that there now walks a child, who will be nearing his teens, named ‘Dovahkiin’, whose moniker has unlocked a life-time supply of Bethesda games and merchandise.

'players might... remove a character’s attire leaving them to walk the streets in naked ridicule.'

Realising this, in 2016, Bethesda released Skyrim: Special Edition, that gave fans direct access to mods on the game itself, allowing players across all platforms (not just PC) to customize their game and modify the content to their liking. In turn, this has led to Skyrim remaining one of the most popular games of this century, despite all advances in technology since its release nearly thirteen years ago. Such is the cultural reach of Skyrim

A particular idiosyncrasy of Skyrim is its long-standing bugginess. Unlike other completely broken triple-A titles, the bugs in Skyrim somehow do not limit any facet of the immersion or gameplay. No, in fact these bugs add to the game’s charm and ensure your adventure will be entirely unique. Whether it’s an NPC walking o a cli mid-dialogue, or the classic ‘it must have been the wind’ line from an enemy staring directly at you, these undeniably add to the unique charm of the Elder Scrolls universe.

Skyrim o ers players an epic, unique and incredibly captivating adventure across one of the most beautiful landscapes ever seen in a video game. Inﬁnite choices about the path you take, the foes you kill, the friends you make; whether you have played the game 100 times or never before, with mods or without, I can guarantee your path in Skyrim will never have been trodden before.

Photo courtesy of: Deleted User, Skyrim Wiki

Editor

Deputy Editor

.............. Miles Gilroy

James Lewis

Ellie Barnes

Harrison Phillips

Deputy Editor Subeditor Researcher ............ Corin Hadley

A time of good cheer and... lots of waste. A look at the problems and potential solutions.

By Alice Guskov

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And not to be the Grinch but it’s also the most polluting time.

For those who celebrate,

For those who celebrate, Christmas is a nostalgic time with deep historical roots, but its changed signiﬁcantly throughout

From the desk of:

By Corin Hadley SciTech Editor

Plankton are an often-unsung hero of life on earth. They’re descended from the microbes that ﬁrst put oxygen in the atmosphere and now form the bedrock of marine food chains. But, as often seems to be the case, they’re unlikely to be able to keep up with the environmental pressure we’re putting them under.

A research group led by D Rui Ying has been developing a model to better understand how these microscopic algae might respond to changing oceanic conditions. This month they published their ﬁndings. By analysing how plankton populations behaved in response to major environmental changes in the last Ice Age, the team were able to consider how current climate

the years. Christmas as we know it today can be traced to the Victorian period after Prince Albert married Queen Victoria. He popularised the Christmas tree (albeit upside down ones) as well as the tradition of decorating them, and the ﬁrst Christmas cards and crackers were also seen in this era. The Victorians emphasised the importance of family activities at Christmas such as preparing Christmas dinner, giving gifts and playing games together.

I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

The modern world and social media have shifted the way we celebrate Christmas. Capitalism has taken over the festive period by pumping out advertisements to the public as soon as the leaves stop falling o the trees and coming up with new products every year to keep the dopamine levels in our brains up, priming us to spend.

This creates a disproportionate amount of waste for the planet. The waste management compa-

projections might a ect marine life. In the studied period, 21,000 years ago, the plankton were able to relocate from warming oceans to survive. The model’s projections showed that at current and future rates of temperature rise, this mass exodus would not be possible. This result spells doom for vast swathes of the marine ecosystem.

The Paris Agreement laid out plans and commitments to limit the increase in global average temperature. The hard cap was set at 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Despite this, a recent UN report warned of a rise of 3.1°C if governments do not take serious action to reduce carbon emissions.

I’m sure Elon ‘Government E ciency’ Musk has a plan. Not to be a doomer…

of unrecyclable wrapping paper

'Capitalism has taken over the festive period... priming us to spend'

ny Bi a reports that 365,000 km of unrecyclable wrapping paper and 1 billion cards end up in landﬁlls annually. A study conducted at the University of Manchester found that the amount of meat consumed at Christmas produces the same carbon footprint as 6,000 car trips around the globe, with the average turkey Christmas dinner creating a footprint of 20kg of carbon dioxide. In addition, approximately 8 million trees are sent to landﬁlls each year in the UK alone.

consumed at Christmas produces landﬁlls each year in the UK alone.

That being said, the issue of Christmas trees is slightly more nuanced than all bad. While fake Christmas trees can be used again and again, and so prevent people from buying a new tree every year, they are usually made of petroleum-based plastics and metal which are non-biodegradable. Growing real Christmas trees takes approximately 10 years, in which time they use up land that could otherwise facilitate more diverse biomes. On the other hand, these plantations may boost biodiversity on

Editor's Note:

tive period,

brownﬁeld land, helping reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. After the festive period, the trees can be recycled or shredded into wood chippings.

Every day people aren’t the ones contributing most to the climate crisis, but we have power in numbers with which to inﬂuence the companies we buy from. A way to do this is embracing green Christmases, and the WWF has listed some useful tips to practice this. For example, prioritising quality gifts rather than quantity. Reduce your food waste, eat seasonally or swap out some meats for plants. You could make your own unique decorations for your home, or make sure to use LED lights while decorating, which are much better for the environment.

Every day people aren’t the ones

We're nearly at the end of term! One ﬁnal push then we can all go home and get some well needed rest. Eat well, stay warm and look after yourselves as it gets colder - makes the dark nights easier (I'm partly reminding myself).

I've found Alice's article above and this new research out of the Cabot Institute to be a timely reminder about intentionality. Like Alice said, capitalism starts trying to hammer home the importance of having stu this time of year.

At a time when excess and image seem to be more respected than ever, I'm trying to make an e ort to be more modest in my quantity and more generous with my consideration.

Have a good one - Corin

Second Year, Astrophysics

Photo courtesy of: Joey Pilgrim /Unsplash

photo courtesy of: Daniela Schmidt, University of Bristol

Plankton Predictions

Dr Rui Ying et al. Cabot Institute for the Environment, Published in Nature Illustrations courtesy of: Corin Hadley

Sport

The Fighter Bristol 2024

Editor's Choice:

Epigram broke ground on Friday 8th November as we provided in-depth coverage of The Fighter Bristol's latest student boxing night held at the Prospect Building. The event was a massive success for all involved so to wrap it up, here is a summary of the night along with our personal highlights of the event.

This was the ﬁrst time time

The Fighter Bristol had staged their event at the Prospect Building and with hindsight, relocating to this venue was an incredibly shrewd decision. The near 360 degree view of the ring allowed the fans to be close to the action from all angles. Moreover, a massive screen in the background broadcasting the fight as it happened gave the necessary sense of grandeur that definitely heightened the enthusiasm among fighters and excitement among the crowd. Credit also goes to the Bristol Jets, the University's Cheerleading Society for their wonderful performance during the interval to keep fans engaged as they waited for the next round of fights. But of course the atmosphere would be nothing without the fans. Marching in their numbers and fiercely loyal to their supporters, their optimism and energy carried the night.

Top Fights

In no particular order, these are the fights we think were most exciting to watch and displayed the most skills. Of course every fight showcased impressive levels of skill but these three fights stood out.

Harry 'K' O'Donnell's TKO win over Ethan Overend.

Harry was the only person on the night able to get a Technical Knock Out so his clash with Ethan had to feature on this list. The fight consisted of two big guys giving it their all, Harry displayed outstanding footwork and power while Ethan proved his determination by putting up a challenging fight instead of giving up when others would have. Both walked away with blood dripping out of their noses and onto their chests. Respect to both for their courage and fittingly, this was the last fight to wrap up an incredible night.

the ring Maia embraced her brutish, animalistic character, often making faces and howling. She was clearly in the zone from the second she stepped in no one was going to stop her. "Guess I'm too cold with it" could not have been more ﬁtting from Maia post-ﬁght.

George Gkilla's decision win over Rohan Sohata.

"Guess I'm too cold with it" - Maia Brunelli

Maia "The Brute" Brunelli's U.D win over Ella Rainer.

With the University Women's Football Club behind her back, Maia oozed confidence in her clash with Ella. Her superior understanding of range let her remain at a safe distance, waiting to explode back in with a shot like a black panther. Once she got inside she didn't let go, showing no fear to in-fighting, something the other fighters avoided. Throughout her time in

Both men were extremely popular, carrying passionate fanbases, particularly from the University Men's Football Club, along with family but it was George who came out on top. Motivated by his Father and Aunt who drove 3 hours from London to watch his fight, he portrayed pure aggression, driving Rohan into the ropes many times looking to pummel him. Rohan stood firm though. Despite being the only knockdown of the night, he got up in Rocky-fashion and took him to the end answering fire with fire, often catching Gkilla flush on the cheek as he was coming in. An aggressive fight with both sides giving it their all, both sides had good reason to leave with their heads held high.

Close Calls

These were the ﬁghts we believed were the closest to call and kept us guessing the victor until the very end.

Max Green and Jacob Browning.

Though Browning won by decision, possibly because he made use of his unbelievable height and reach advantage, it was brilliant how Maximus Decimus was able to close the distance in the early rounds and get some good hits in which hurt Jacob. Max did extremely well and showed good heart by never giving up, a ﬁne trait in a boxer.

Jodie Wellington and Hayley Evans.

This ﬁght was back and forth on

several occasions. Hayley would pressure Jodie by throwing several shots only for Jodie to answer with a clean one and vice versa. It could have gone either way if Jodie didn't ﬁnish slightly stronger and leave an impression.

Maddie Worthington and Lauren Shaw.

Slugfest. Both girls stood in the centre of the ring facing each other for long periods at a time and simply traded hard blows. This ﬁght was extremely fair, both ﬁghters were evenly matched. What may have given Maddie the edge could've been having better accuracy which meant more of her shots got through. Similarly, it could have also been her higher endurance that allowed for better punch-resistance and higher output. But really, it was a hair's di erence!

Overall this was a fantastic experience and we are proud to have covered the event from the sparring sessions to the night itself. Stay tuned for more live coverage in the future and as for the Fighter Bristol, they will be back again.

Remaining Fights

Henry 'The Hammer' Arbiter beat Mehdi Amara by unanimous decision

Lauren 'Lights Out' beat Emma Vuong by decision

Jessica Rabbit beat Kelsey Abellana by unanimous decision

'Knock em Dead' Ned beat Jago Brooks by unanimous decision.

Ballistic' Beth beat Jess McKenzie by decision.

Teddy 'The Bear' Hunt beat Ethan Bradshaw-Price by unanimous decision.

Amy 'The Ace' Garrigan beat Owen by decision.

'KO' Katie beat Suzie Green by decision.

Dan 'The Man' McCourt beat Sam Cottrell by decision on March 7th!

Faniki Deche, Sports Editor

Mihai Rosca, Second Year, Politics and Philosophy

photo courtesy of: Faniki Deche

photo courtesy of: Mihai Rosca

Bristol Bears and UBRFC announce an exciting o partnership.cial

English Literature

In May 2024, Bristol Bears and UBRFC unveiled an o cial strategic partnership aimed at "developing and enhancing elite rugby performance programmes in both the men's and women's game". The formalisation of this partnership, which has already

Editor

Co-Deputy Editor

Deche

Mountain ..............Sean Lawrence

Bristol Bears x UBWRFC: A ROARING Success

created talents like current Bears players Fitz Harding, Ella Lovibond and Simi Pam over the last few years, is a particularly exciting development for the University of Bristol's Women's Rugby Club (UBWRFC), as it demonstrates a tangible pathway to encouraging equality between the two squads.

See how our sports societies come together to raise money for Movember

Featon First Year, English Literature

Men’s mental health is a topic that tends to be disregarded. Since 2003, the Movember charity has been working immensely to change that. Movember is the number one leading men’s mental health charity. Striving to not only improve men’s mental health and prevent suicide but to also tackle prostate and testicular cancer. Overall, the charity has funded 1,250 men’s health projects, across 23 countries. Famously recognised by their signature moustache growing for the calendar month

Historically, women's rugby has faced signiﬁcantly more discrimination than its male counterpart, both on and o the pitch. Ipsos Observer found that almost 3 in 10 adults describe themselves as fans of men's rugby, whilst numbers for women's rugby are less than half of that. Additionally, a study by Monash in 2022 found that 55% of women's rugby players felt that other women are deterred from joining a team due to the negative language surrounding women's rugby.

'We want to see Bristol University students at our [Bristol Bears] games as well.'

stealing hearts worldwide, through her incredible performances in the Paris Olympics and her empowering campaign of #beastbeautybrains online. This campaign, reassuring young girls that you can simultaneously be feminine and a formidable athlete, highlights the exciting cultural shift in the conversation surrounding women's rugby and sport in general.

However, in recent years, women's rugby has been moving from strength to strength, with England Rugby (RFU) announcing a £12 million initiative to grow women's grassroots rugby in April 2024, and the Red Roses (the England Women's team) currently ranked the number 1 team worldwide. This increasing presence is also visible in the media, with athletes like the USA's 7's player Ilona Maher

The partnership with the Bears highlights a "joined-up... shared strategy" to "provide a coherent pathway for those wanting to pursue academic excellence alongside developing a professional rugby career" and ultimately "achieve promotion to the BUCS Super League". Dave Ward, the Head Coach of the Bristol Bears Women positions that "the biggest problem with women's rugby at the moment is young players under the age of twenty three not getting enough rugby minutes", and that

"one of the biggest positives that we've seen from our program" is being able to actively tackle this.

The Super BUCS target comes at an exciting juncture in women's rugby, with BUCS recently unveiling a new Women's BUCS Super Rugby League for 2024/ 25, following the establishment of the Men's Super Rugby League back in 2016, and o ers another chance to continue to raise the standard of women's rugby nationwide.

The excitement surrounding these potential results and developments is evident when we speak to vice captain Lieske Oomen and current Bears and UBWRFC player Jenna De Vera.

"I think it's really going to push the girls at the University of Bristol, and really show what women can do in sport"

See what more they had to say on the Epigram webpage.

Bristol Sport in Movember

of November, Movember have impacted a vast number of male lives, and our sport societies want in on the life-changing action.

Combining forces yet again this year were the Women’s Netball and Men’s Football teams who competed in a charity netball game to raise money for Movember. After su ering defeat to the netball girls last year, the football boys called in the Water polo society to see if they fare any better. Happening

'Movember

is a brilliant charity that we try and aid every year'.

on the 16th of November from 122pm, the three societies faced o in a round-robin tournament where Netball were crowned champions yet again. Paying £3 to compete or donating a sum to watch, this event raised a great amount to charity.

From one court to another, the Basketball Society aims to slamdunk their fundraising this year. The society are growing out their mo’s this month and to encourage donations, the Men’s 1st team will complete shuttle runs for every £10 donated. Willingly putting physical ﬁtness on the line, the Basketball Society means business.

The Rowing Society are taking physicality to a new level by completing a 24-hour row to charity. They continuously rowed two ergs non-stop from 12pm on the 11th to 12pm on the 12th of November. The team had QR codes surrounding their ergs to encourage passers-by to donate. Having already raised an impressive £1921; the rowers are absolutely killing it. For the rest of the month, they will continue to accept donations for the growth of their mo’s.

Rather than letting their physical ﬁtness take a battering, the Volleyball Society have decided to put their physical appearance on the line to entice donations. Coinciding with growing out their mo’s the society is proposing a range of forfeits that will be completed by individu-

al members if they can raise their target. Some members have taken tamer forfeits such as ocean plunges for £900 or body waxing for £500.

Find out about these wacky and creative Movember forfeits on our Epigram webpage

Emma Gri ths Second Year,

photo courtesy of: University of Bristol Women's Rugby Football Club

Ava

photo courtesy of: University of Bristol Netball

Beyond Campus

In Conversation with Grace Campbell

An unapologetically comedic spin on life and... being on heat

Soﬁa Webster Co-Deputy Editor

Grace Campbell is a comedian wellknown for diving right into topics that many comedians shy away from - mental health, feminism, and sex-positivity all in an unapologetically comedic and unique way. Her current tour and biggest one to date, Grace Campbell is on Heat is coming to the Bristol Beacon on Sunday 17 November, so Epigram sat down with Grace in advance of the show to chat about everything from what her new tour is about to particularly challenging stage experiences and her fondest memories of watching stand-up comedy. Speaking to Grace online, her bubbly, energetic personality comes across just as it does on her podcast, on stage or on TV. Speaking to Epigram, Grace recollects on Bristol fondly, having performed many shows in Bristol back in 2019 when she was starting out as a comic and is 'really looking forward to performing this tour in Bristol' at the Beacon, which marks the biggest tour of her career thus far. Alongside performing shows on stage, Campbell is well known

for her lively and unpredictable podcast, Late to the Party, which chats to other comedians about all things partying – the good, bad and chaotically funny - hosting guests from Katherine Ryan to Chicken Shop Date’s Amelia Dimoldenberg. Both Campbell’s tour and podcast perfectly showcase her brazen personality, which she brings to life on stage in this new show, which has received rave reviews from critics and audience members alike. Speaking to Epigram about what her show Grace Campbell is on Heat is about in a nutshell, Grace responded, 'basically, I got a dog and then my dog came on heat, and I was going to originally write a show about that and then I got accidentally pregnant when I got my dog spayed. 'So, I then I ended up having this story of what the show is about – having an abortion, everything I learnt from that and kind of how much it crystallised my relationship with my friends, and it kind of became a show about female friendship.'

Talking about sex positivity on a big stage in a stand-up comedy format is not a common occurrence, and is by no means an easy thing, but Grace shares how she believes 'it is a really good vehicle to talk about these things without coming across as too sincere.

That is why I enjoy talking about these things in a comedy format, as women can get cast aside as being moany, naggy feminists

that take themselves too seriously. 'But what you can do if you’re good at comedy is talk about these topics whilst maintaining a consistent level of comedy, which is a really good way to impact men in my opinion. This show really, I would love loads of men to see it, the show is essentially about what happens when men insist on having unprotected sex with women and why they shouldn’t because they never have to deal with the consequences of having an abortion or

EPIGRAM X OVERHEARD AT UOB

We've paired up with Overheard at UoB to share with you some exclusive quotes from campus. The following are actual things people have said in and around the University of Bristol, not made up caricatures – we promise.

"Horse

"You look like a receptionist at Digs. I mean that as a compliment"

"If I don't get this job I think I'll just go on gap years until I do"

having the repercussions of what that feels like. The abortion topic felt like a good way to talk about these topics and bring in people and not alienate them.' 'I would say it's a show that groups of girls would love to come and watch together, and loads of mums and daughters have been coming as well! It is a show that is kind of like a night out with a crazy friend.' Many people may have initially heard about Grace Campbell through her dad, Alastair Campbell - who co-hosts the popular The Rest is Politics podcast opposite Rory Stewart. Grace recalled being heckled a lot at the start of the career because of her dad, as well as having a particularly memorable moment and her 'biggest challenge on stage' performing comedy in front of Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London) – as well as several of his security sta . 'That was probably my biggest challenge, as it was a really small room, I’d say there was about 50 seats and so I was on stage and there were just loads of security sta standing at the back of the room. It just really sent me quite west and I ended up disassociating for the whole show but no one would have known that I was having a full-blown panic attack for like an hour! Stand-up comedy was not something Campbell had grown up watching, rather she stumbled across it as a career 'kind of all by accident'. Her good friend and fellow comic Sophie Duker introduced her to the industry after recognising her great comic timing.

'I didn’t really know much about it so Sophie took me to a few shows and then I thought I can do this!' 'I had a crazy level of confidence at the start and was really humbled and actually at the start I thought I was way better than I was, and now I probably think I am way worse than I am, because the longer you do it, the more you over-analyse things.' Aside from performing on stage herself, Grace loves to watch her friends’ shows particularly when performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. 'What I tend to do is go and see loads of my friends’ shows over and over again – I have probably seen Dan Wye’s Seayonce 30 times, and I saw Chris Hall every day in Edinburgh. I love seeing my friends live, it is such a cool experience.' Looking to the future, Grace wants to make more films and work on more scripted projects. 'I have actually also just made a short film that is currently doing the rounds at a few festivals at the moment. 'In the new year, I am going to focus on this feature film I am writing, and TV show I am working on and see how that goes! I am also aiming to turn this tour I am currently doing into a TV special at some point next year which is very exciting.' There is something very admirable about Campbell’s unapologetically comedic honesty and her unique way of finding humour in all moments of life whether that be good or bad, and it will be very exciting to see what lies ahead for Campbell after this tour.

Photo courtesy of: Eva Pentel

riding and skiing are actually really useful life skills"