Epigram 350

Debate: tuition fee reductions?

Spooky stories!

Bereavement support for BAME families

Our editors discuss whether requesting reductions in tuituon fees this year is reasonable

Eerie essays, horrible histories and murderous memoirs to keep you entertained this halloween

Study launched by university researchers into how families have been affected by bereavement during the pandemic

Page 15

Page 22

Page 28

epigram est. 1988

The University of Bristol’s Independent Student Newspaper Fortnightly | 27 October 2020 | Issue 350

Cases of COVID-19 at the University surpass 1,000 Edward Deacon SciTech Digital Editor

S

Bristol freshers undertaking largest university rent strike in UK history Teddy Coward Co-Editor-in-Chief

S

ince Saturday, 24 October, the rent strike, led by Bristol, Cut the Rent, has been taking place in protest against the University’s handling of freshers placed into quarantine, in their effort to minimise the spread of coronavirus.

The strikers are withholding payment until a number of demands are met, including a 30 per cent reduc-

www.epigram.org.uk

tion for those who choose to stay in their accommodation for the year.

To date, the rent strike has grown to over 1300 signups, approximately one in four first year students, though it remains unclear exactly how many have refused to pay.

With a median average rent payment of £151 a week for halls of residence at Bristol, the University may incur a potential £2.17 million cost.

Support for the strike has surged since organisers first announced

it on Wednesday 14 October, with a number of students voicing their dissent against being placed into lockdown in their halls of residence.

Students have been especially vocal over the University’s provision of food boxes, the mental health implications of being in isolation, and the move to online learning for those forced to self-isolate, all whilst paying the same amount in rent.

Strikers have expressed discontent that the move to place students into

EpigramPaper

quarantine also isn’t working to prevent the spread of coronavirus, with 1296 students having tested positive as of Monday 26 October, according to the University’s data.

In a recent statement, strike organisers said: ‘The University are following a public health agenda, but, as cases continue to rise, they are not considering the fact that housing issues are health issues when you have nobody to support you.

Continued on page three...

@EpigramPaper

ince the return of students at the start of the new academic year, Bristol has seen a sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 cases – between the start of Freshers’ Week on 28 September and 25 October, a 176 per cent increase was seen in the city.

The University of Bristol reported yesterday, Monday 26 October that 1,296 students tested positive for COVID-19, representing a 230 per cent growth since the date cases were first reported on 12 October.

The University’s figures rely on students and staff self-reporting their positive diagnoses of the virus, which is carried out via an online form on the university’s portal.

A comparison of the number of new cases in Bristol as a whole, to the number of new cases for Bristol University students over the twoweek period between the 12 to the 25 October, highlights some stark truths.

During this period, students accounted for 42 per cent of new COVID-19 cases in Bristol.

Their fraction of the total number of cases in the city jumped from 13 per cent to 24 per cent.

This is despite the student population making up only around 6 per cent of the city’s population – seven times less than the number of new cases they accounted for.

Continued on page three...

@epigrampaper_

Editorial

Co-Editor-in-Chief Co-Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editor Deputy Digital Editor The Croft Editor

editor@epigram.org.uk

Write for Epigram: ‘Our greatest function is to deliver you the transparency you seek' It’s not often you can lay claim to something as being ‘the largest in UK history’ – a hyperbole any editor will leap at when given the chance. Yet such are the times, and such is the forceful, vociferous energy of Bristol students, that the phrase is splashed across this issue. (I’ll spare you and refrain from using the word ‘unprecedented’).

Bristol is no stranger to protest. Indeed, the momentum of student-led action that occurred over the summer seems to have spilled over into the beginning of term. It’s little surprise that on the same day as some 1300 students declared they wouldn’t pay rent in response to the University’s handling of quarantines, Bristol students also gathered on College Green to demand an end to the police brutality of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Nigeria; we are, after all, an outward-looking group who demand change not just for ourselves, but for others.

As your student paper, lines can occasionally blur between neutrally reporting and supporting your interests. Yet ultimately, our greatest function is to deliver you the transparency you seek.

In a pandemic, when we students are having to make decisions not just about our courses and subjects, but our health and wellbeing at a time like no other, facts and information help. And that is what we will continue to provide.

I’m immensely proud of this, our first exclusively digitised, issue. The first was a milestone, in having the Epigram team produce it remotely; the second shows we can continue to operate despite the situation, and even improve, as many sections will show you over the forthcoming pages.

Our other issue (if you don’t pardon the pun), is reaching you: the Bristol student. As with all University societies, we certainly

have it in us to turn inward and produce this paper only amongst ourselves. That is: to have one predominant voice and perspective.

With less than a week to go until the end of Black History Month, we at Epigram can all remind ourselves that without the perspectives of students from all backgrounds and walks of life, we’re only a few editorial steps away from contracting into a narrow journal. There is simply no use in that to anyone – not even the narrow audience who writes it.

As Robin, my delightful Co-Editor, has coined it, our approach is one of ‘Bristolisation’; to represent the voices of all students here at this unique University, from the wavy-garmed freshers to the political activists. This is our aim for the year, not just a passing commitment for one month.

To do that, I need a small favour. Get in touch. Write for us.

Reach out. We’re here and will gladly listen. If you have a story or an issue that concerns you, we have a dedicated news team who’d be eager to listen. If you’re a STEM student and working on a project you love, our SciTech section want to hear. If you’re a lover of music, film, and the arts, the cultural connoisseurs those corresponding sections will gladly have a chat (and, no doubt, engage in an artistic debate). For the sports lovers, with a seeming void for much of the physical contact you’re used to at the moment, send a message to Epigram Sport.

And, to the freshers who never expected your opening weeks of university to be like this, editorial neutrality aside, I understand it’s a tough time. Likewise, feel free to reach out – whether you want to write an article or not.

We are, after all, your student paper.

Epigram is the independent student newspaper of the University of Bristol. The views expressed in this publication are not those of the University or the Students’ Union. The design, text and photographs are copyright of Epigram and its individual contributors and may not be reproduced without permission.

Printed by: Newsquest Media Group, 4th Floor, Queens House, 55/56 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LJ

Each section of the newspaper has a Facebook group where editors post commissions.

You can also join our Creatives group where we commission artwork, poetry and illustration.

For more information email:

COVID-19 on campus: what are the rules this term?

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit epigram.org.uk/coronavirus

Face coverings

Students have been issued with masks and visors, both of which need to be worn for face-to-face teaching.

Masks are also required for other indoor spaces.

Libraries

Study spaces need to be booked in advance online and each student is limited to four hours of study time per week. Students can still browse the shelves for books freely.

getinvolved.epigram@ gmail.com

Subeditors Chief Proofreader Marianthi Baklava News Megan Evans Features Flossie Palmer Opinion Joe Marshall Film&TV Layla Nathan Arts Stephanie Kelly Music Lauren Paddison SciTech Sarah Dalton Puzzles ‘Susan Doku' Sport James Dowden Correspondents and Contributers Climate Correspondent Billy Stockwell BAME Correspondent Tia Bahia SU Correspondent Eve Bentley-Hussey Investigations Correspondents Louie Bell, Guy Taylor, Holly Beaumont, Lily Farrant Features Collumnist Fergal Maguire Opinion Collumnist Lowri Lewis Arts Critic Bamidele Madamidola Business Team Managing Director Edward Fraser Deputy Director Maggie Knox Head of Marketing Olivia Tapper Head of Finance Maduka Karunatilaka Head of Ads and Sales Joshua Ang Head of Alumni Anthony Duncalf

Robin Connolly Teddy Coward Georgiana Scott Siavash Minoukadeh Orin Carlin

Living Circles

Freshers have been placed in 'living circles' in their halls. Students will not be allowed to have anyone outside their circle in their halls but can meet them elsewhere with social distancing.

Testing

A walk-through testing centre has been opened on campus. Located in the Victoria Rooms, students experiencing symptoms can book a slot through the government website. Mailorder tests can also be booked.

Fines

Students who are found in breach of COVID guidelines could face fines of up to £800 each. Other disciplinary action, such as suspension, may also be taken.

Clarifications & Corrections Epigram strives to be as accurate and impartial on student news as possible. However, should you wish to raise any editorial, commercial or legal issues please email editor@epigram.org.uk with the problem, addressed to the Editors-in-Chief.

Please be sure to include the issue number and article headline if the article was in print, or the URL if the article was online. We endeavour to correct any inaccuracies as soon as they are raised with us.

News

Editor Filiz Gurer Digital Editor Emilie Robinson Deputy Editor Molly Pipe

Got a story for the newsteam? Email newsteam.epigram@gmail.com

1,300 University of Bristol students signup to ‘Bristol, Cut the Rent' rent strike • Demands include a 30 per cent reduction in rent, no repercussions for rent strikers and deposit refunds for those who wish to move out of halls

Teddy Coward Co-Editor-in-Chief

Continued from front page...

‘Their statements are entirely inconsistent with the experience of over a thousand students now who feel cheated or have had problems accessing adequate food, sanitary products, the outdoors and mental health services, or have been subject to arbitrary security intimidation. By not dealing with the legitimate concerns of students, the University is not fulfilling its duty of care.’

Josefina Nagler Gomez, a first year Law student taking part in the strike, told Epigram she is doing so ‘because students feel like we’re not being looked after, because we don’t feel safe studying here, even though we were told there’d be a plan that would enable us to come here, be safe and be able to take part in ‘blended learning’.

‘And it’s not happening. It’s not plausible for the University to continue to tell that lie because so many people are getting sick.

‘It doesn’t feel like anybody has any clear idea what’s going on. And that’s incredibly dangerous because you’re putting the general public at risk, as well as University students.’

Students have also reported on the difficulty of being placed into quarantine with flatmates who many have only known for a matter of weeks, with one student telling Epigram of their ‘incredibly difficult’ self-isolation period.

‘My flat went into isolation in the second week,’ they said, ‘so I lived with six people for a week, then had to spend every waking moment with them until I was allowed outside again. If you have social anxiety, or any kind of anxiety, you just feel incredibly lonely because it’s so intimate, so fast, with people you have little to no understanding of.’

Oliver Bullbrook, meanwhile, a first-year English student and one of the four representatives from Bristol, Cut the Rent who met with University management in showdown talks on Monday 26 October, reiterated he was striking ‘because of the failure of the University to make sure their student body is safe during COVID’.

He added there was major confusion among students and ‘not enough communication over what it means to self-isolate’, which in turn has led to lots of people ‘who aren’t going to follow the rules because they don’t know what they are.

‘And in turn, because of that,’ he continued, ‘people will need to break the rules, to get food, to get exercise to see the sun, then the cases in the University are going to start bleeding out into the wider community.

So it’s not just the failure to protect us. It’s also a failure to care for, and to appreciate, its role in protecting the wider Bristol community.

Oliver also emphasised that the demand for cheaper rent is also a response to students who are financially impacted by the lockdowns.

‘We don’t have the opportunities to get work. If you have to lockdown for two weeks at any point, what job is going to want to take you? That’s going to happen for a lot of students that are having to depend on a Maintenance Loan, which doesn’t fulfil all their needs. So 30% off is still a student’s wellbeing: it makes sure the students who need work but can’t get it aren’t having to choose between rent and food.’

The full list of demands being made by the rent strikers, includes: • No repercussion for rent strikers • 30 per cent cut of the rent for the whole year for those who decide to stay in halls • No-penalty contract releases and deposit refunds for anyone who wishes to move out of halls The group are also calling for ‘more of the University in terms of their response to students in isola-

tion’, and are demanding that: • Students in locked down halls be guaranteed at least 1 hour of time in outside communal halls spaces • Food boxes to be delivered to flats • Regular mental health check-ins twice a week with each flat by Resilife • Full transparency on the powers, role and actions of any security staff enforcing lockdown in halls On Friday, 23 October, organisers of the strike hand-delivered these to University management at Beacon House.

The group were joined by Undergraduate Education Officer David Ion and Student Living Officer Ruth Day of Bristol University’s Students’ Union, who have pledged their support for the action.

Ruth emphasised the SU ‘fully supported [the] student’s right to organise a strike’ and ‘wanted to lift their voices up’.

In response, the University has said it ‘fully acknowledges how stressful and challenging the current situation is.

‘Students who withhold their rent will suffer no detriment to their educational progress, however we will ultimately have to follow our standard debt collection procedure as per our tenancy agreement.’

They have stressed that those who are self-isolating are provided with

cleaning supplies, laundry services and free food boxes, saying it has ‘been as flexible as possible and [we] believe we’ve gone above and beyond to provide support.

‘We do not make a profit from student rent and all accommodation fees are used for operating, maintaining, and improving the residences. This includes 24/7 pastoral and wellbeing support.’

With regards to the impact on teaching, the University said it was doing its ‘utmost to ensure students can continue with their education in the safest environment possible in what are unprecedented times.

‘We have always been clear about our plan to offer a blend of online and in-person teaching. This blended learning provision has been created to ensure students can still continue with their studies online if they are self-isolating or choose not to come to Bristol.

‘Students who aren’t having to self-isolate are still able to attend face-to-face learning and move around freely within Government guidelines.

‘We welcome further discussions with representatives from Cut the Rent and Bristol Students’ Union, but this is an issue that is affecting all universities at the moment and our actions are guided by Public Health England and the authorities to limit the spread of coronavirus.’

Number of Bristol University COVID-19 cases six times higher than the South West region

SciTech Digital Editor

Continued from front page...

Bristol had a 74 per cent increase in total number of cases in this two week period: a disparate figure compared to the 236 per cent increase seen by people at the University – a number over three times higher.

The increase in Bristol throughout this period is almost twice of that compared to the whole region of the South West, which saw a 38 per cent increase in the total number of cases.

New COVID-19 cases 300 250

New student cases New cases across Bristol 28 September: start of Freshers’ Week

200 150 100 50 0 14 Sep

21 Sep

28 Sep

5 Oct

12 Oct

19 Oct

26 Oct

Date Data: Public Health England & University of Bristol

Epigram / Edward Deacon and Siavash Minoukadeh

Edward Deacon

This is dwarfed by the number of University cases, which is six times higher compared to the region.

Considering the specific geographical areas of Bristol, the largest number of cases scaled by population size (in the seven days prior to 23 October) were seen in Stoke Bishop with 11.8 cases per 1000 people and the City Centre with 7.1 per 1000. These are areas with high populations, but pertinently for Stoke Bishop, a large student population density.

These hotspots are in the same areas where lockdowns were seen in halls of residence: the Courtrooms in the City Centre and Hiatt Baker N Block in Stoke Bishop.

Regions popular with students for private housing, namely Redland, Clifton East and Cotham have also seen case numbers rise more rapidly than in other parts of the city.

New daily cases

• As of 26 October, 1,296 students tested positive for COVID-19, a 230 per cent growth over a fortnight

4 News

epigram 27.10.2020

Staff concerned over in-person teaching speak out about university's response • Members of academic staff have expressed concern about the safety of inperson teaching, with some calling for a move to online only Filiz Gurer News Editor

A

cademic staff have expressed strong feelings in favour of moving all teaching online, to protect students, staff and the wider Bristol community from Covid and to maximise learning quality.

Although some students have been calling for increased face-to-face teaching, lecturers' primary reason for their opposite view is concern for students’ and staff safety, ‘not because lecturers prefer teaching online,' one lecturer told Epigram, ‘but because we have collegiate responsibilities towards the welfare of students, colleagues, our friends and families, and indeed to the rest of Bristol’s population.’

Some lecturers have called for teaching to be moved online ‘in or-

der to prevent further spreading of the virus in Bristol and to ensure the best possible delivery of education to the whole of the student body.’

On the risk to students of face-toface teaching, a member of academic staff from History emphasised that ‘a lot of people are assuming that students are all young and healthy, and therefore not at severe risk. But of course, that’s not true... Even healthy young people can suffer for many months with ‘long COVID’. If 1 in 20 people are likely to get this, based on the evidence from the Covid Symptom Study, that would already be 50 of the students who have tested positive so far.’

Another lecturer, who wished to remain anonymous, strongly refuted any suggestion that ‘staff don’t care about the educational experience we facilitate for students.’

‘I have never known staff work so hard, for so long - to extend, expand and create meaningful learning with our students.’

‘It’s worth emphasising we are with students and supporting students every single day.’

A member of academic staff from Geographical Sciences added: ‘students have been invited back to campus on a factitious prospectus,’

and another felt that the University ‘has been dishonest with students, staff and the local population of Bristol.’

Lecturers also referred to the risk of face-to-face teaching to academic staff because of their older age, possibility of other health conditions and ‘complications that the University’s approach has not accommodated, such as childcare [and] vulnerable household members.’

Lecturers pointed out that moving all teaching online had been officially recommended by SAGE on 21 September.

Some also noted that in the daily Covid case numbers published by the University ‘on-campus’ means only within the preceding 72 hours and doesn't count if they had been on campus more than three days earlier.

The University’s position is that it worked hard over the summer and is following all government guidelines to ensure Covid safety in the classroom so it ‘can provide students with the best possible teaching, learning and support.’

Academic staff also asserted that moving all teaching online would maximise the quality of learning, with one commenting that face-toface teaching under Covid mitiga-

tions is less than satisfactory with ‘masks and visors and students not facing each other. There can be much better discussion in online seminars.

Many students will recognise how hard it has been to do ‘face-to-face’ teaching when those faces are covered by masks and visors.’

The blended learning promised to students over the summer is described by one lecturer as ‘a vacuous concept at best’, whilst another says ‘blended learning in Social Science subjects is not working’ adding that it is unfeasible to offer every unit ‘both online and face-to-face in any given week as it would require an immense administrative effort that cannot be put on already overworked lecturers and administrators.’

As well as allowing for higher quality learning, some lecturers say online teaching is more inclusive because students who are isolating or do not feel safe to attend face-toface teaching can participate.

Lecturers also described a perceived lack of consultation and involvement with staff and spoke of the pursuit of blended learning ‘in the face of widespread calls from colleagues and the UCU to move all learning activities online.’

Referring to the divergence by the

University from the SAGE guidance of 21 September, one lecturer said, ‘it is particularly painful to see the University brag about its Covid research whilst going against evidence from such research.’

One academic staff members criticised the University’s unquestioning acceptance of some government directives on Covid safety, even when this went against SAGE advice.

Lecturers’ responses also conveyed a sense of the stress they are working under at present; ‘the huge amount of work’ required over the summer to prepare online teaching meant that ‘many of us started the new academic year exhausted,’ one lecturer said.

The University has said it ‘acknowledges this is a difficult and unprecedent time for everyone and know that some staff and students will have specific and individual concerns' They added: ‘we take the health and wellbeing of our staff extremely seriously. If colleagues have any outstanding concerns, they should contact their line manager’ and that ‘staff with underlying health conditions who are unable to continue to work from home have been asked to contact their line manager to discuss their individual circumstances.’

Bristol UCU registers a Failure to Agree with the University

Filiz Gurer News Editor

O

n 20 October the Executive Committee of Bristol UCU met and decided to register a formal notice known as a Failure

to Agree, against the University.

This is the latest step in the ongoing dispute between the UCU and the University of Bristol over the issue of in-person teaching.

The UCU has been calling since 28 September for an immediate transition to online learning where practically possible. The motion passed at the Bristol UCU’s Emergency General Meeting also called for staff to be allowed to teach online, if they do not feel safe with in-person teaching.

The University had responded to this on 7 October in a four-page written letter, which included the signature of Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Judith Squires. They emphasized ‘that if any rooms are not felt to be an acceptable teaching space by teaching staff, [staff] can raise their concerns locally and the space will be looked at.'

The letter signalled the Universi-

ty’s effective rejection of the UCU branch’s demands, arguing that the University has mitigations in place to ensure the safety of staff and students.

Following this latest Failure to Agree Notice, Bristol UCU will now consult with its members over whether to declare a formal dispute with the University.

Announcing its latest decision on Twitter, Bristol UCU said: ‘while wel-

coming [The University of Bristol's] move to provide daily COVID-19 stats & to adopt a more expansive view of individual risk assessments, Officers & Exec feel that it is now up to branch members to decide whether to call a dispute based on the University’s current intransigence.'

This latest move from the UCU comes amidst rising Covid case numbers at Bristol University, where almost 1,300 students and 36 staff members have tested positive for Covid to date.

Epigram / Filiz Gurer

• The UCU's Bristol branch are considering industrial action because of inperson teaching

News 5

epigram 27.10.2020

•

Students are divided over the issue of inperson teaching, with many voicing their disappointment over not receiving the inperson teaching that they thought they would.

Disparities between Schools will see some English students receiving three in-person contact hours a week, whilst some Sociology and Mechanical Engineering students will have only one or two in-person contact hours for the entire semester.

Molly Pipe

Deputy News Editor

S

tudents have expressed disappointment over the lack of in-person teaching they will receive this term, especially in light of the University’s claim it will deliver a mixture of virtual and faceto-face tuition.

Teaching was moved predominantly online as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus among staff and students – a decision which has become more crucial now the pandemic has hit its second wave and case numbers at Bristol University are rising.

Students were told throughout the summer they would be receiving in-person classes via a model of ‘blended learning’.

However, many have now expressed disappointment at the lack of face-to-face teaching their courses offer, with significant disparities

between subjects, modules and year groups.

Some third year English students have reported having three on-campus hours per week (one per module), whilst some Politics students say they have two hours per module for the whole semester. One fourth year Mechanical Engineer said he has no in-person teaching until at least Christmas, with two to three hours of lab work.

Students were given one week's notice of the amount of in-person teaching they would have.

Caitlin Murphy, a third year Sociology student, told Epigram that she has no in-person teaching this semester except for a one-hour optional drop-in session for each of her modules.

This isn't the case for all Sociology students, however. A fellow third year said she has one in-person seminar per module every two months.

A number of students have said they were not aware of just how few contact hours they would have until they saw their timetables, which were released shortly before the start of term.

Advance notice, some have said, may have affected their decision to return to Bristol and pay for rent.

Marina Barats, a second year international student who studies Economics and Politics, told Epigram: ‘This year I was promised blended learning by both the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS) and the School of Economics. Economics delivered.

However, SPAIS didn’t. When we paid the [£19,000] tuition fee, I was under the impression we’d have seminars face-to-face, and lectures

online. During the Welcome Week I found out that the blended learning has come down to two in-person sessions [per module] per term.

‘I feel I have been misled, intentionally or not, but no effort had been made to make it clear what we were signing up for.

‘I am extremely disappointed and outraged about the whole thing.’

A spokesperson from the University said that timetables were only confirmed a week before term began. Timetabling priorities were submitted by Schools at the end of July, which was followed by the five weeks necessary to draw together a mass rota for Bristol's approximate 230 courses. This was succeeded by a two to three week period in which the draft timetables were checked by schools.

Having confirmed the arrangements, however, the University has appeared to be working to increase some in-person teaching, in light of the backlash from students and the Students' Union.

The University spokesperson added: ‘The Pro Vice Chancellor for Education, Tansy Jessop, and Academic Registrar are working with programmes whose hours fall below anticipated levels this teaching block to raise the number of hours as quickly as possible.

‘We are setting a consistent and university-wide minimum of in-person hours for Teaching Block 2.'

This follows Jessop's assertion that she is aiming to increase in-person teaching to three hours a week per student, though exact numbers may vary depending on subject.

Some students have also questioned the logic behind which sub-

Flickr / University of Bristol Alumni and Friends

•

Epigram / Molly Pipe

‘Disappointed’ students given little in-person teaching despite promise of blended learning

jects were given more hours, and which fewer, with some more practical subjects having fewer hours than their theoretical counterparts.

One fourth year Veterinary student said he has two in-person hours a week on average, compared to the three in-person hours that some English students have reported.

First year Rowan Tall, who studies Mechanical Engineering, also expressed frustration at the comparison. ‘I honestly thought there’d be a lot more time spent in labs, especially as an Engineering student,' he said. ‘I thought I would spend a lot of time using equipment.’

Decisions over how to allocate teaching time were made at the school level, the University spokesperson clarified. Schools were advised to offer at least one live online teaching session and one or more pre-recorded sessions per unit, as well as a number of in-person hours decided upon at programme level.

They added: ‘The expectation is of a high-quality digital offer complemented by in-person teaching per student, in small groups.

‘We developed guidance in a rapidly changing context where government advice changed, for example from 2m to 1m+, and without certain knowledge of student numbers, given the volatility of recruitment in the global pandemic, and the additional issues with A-level results.’

The Students' Union, which originally campaigned for an increase of on-campus teaching, has changed its position over the last two weeks.

Undergraduate Education Officer David Ion had previously condemned the timetabling arrangements, telling Epigram on 9 October: ‘This just isn’t acceptable.

‘Students are asking why they’ve been brought back to campus. They were told again and again they’ll be getting blended learning, but some students have no contact hours at

all.’

However, following a sharp rise in cases and concerns over safety, the SU has dropped its previous campaign to increase on-campus teaching in Teaching Block one.

On 22 October, Ion said: ‘The situation has changed rapidly since two weeks ago. With halls going into lockdown [and] cases rising, we’re backing away from asking for immediate more face-to-face teaching for TB1. We think it’s unfair to ask lecturers to go in when they’re at risk.'

He maintained that face-to-face teaching should be spread more equitably across departments next term and said the University must be ‘far more transparent' about the amount of teaching that will be on offer in the Spring semester.

However, some students sounded notes of caution over extending face-to-face teaching.

One individual called for in-person teaching to be scrapped, commenting that students would not have returned to university at all, putting them at greater risk of catching the virus in accommodation blocks, had the University not pushed for on-campus teaching.

Politics second year Joe Marshall said: ‘It's premature to be judging online teaching, especially seminars.

It seems students are convinced it won't be good and aren't inclined to give it much of a chance.

‘It’s important to remember that as much as we can criticise the University, it’s lecturers who’d be putting themselves in danger and contact with the disproportionately high rates of infection in the student community.'

However, health professionals advising the University's COVID-19 response have said that the spread of the virus on campus has been linked ‘almost exclusively’ to accommodation and social behaviours, not teaching spaces.

6 News

epigram 27.10.2020

The seven portraits consist of members of the University who have had significant impact upon the Bristol community and around the world. They are each accompanied by a current or recent staff member or student who is not only making a difference themselves but whose work connects them to the figure they display.

Amongst the inspiring people included in the portraits is Lord Paul Boateng, one of the first three Black

Tia Bahia

BAME Affairs Correspondent

Bristol University / Jessica Augarde Photography

O

n 22 October, portraits in honour of contributions by Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff, students and alumni took their permanent place in the Reception Room of Wills Memorial Building.

The series of photographic portraits were unveiled to celebrate the first anniversary of the Be More Empowered for Success programme run by the University to support BAME groups.

British MPs, and once a Bristol University student.

Speaking on the display, Lord Boateng said: ‘I’m enormously honoured to be featured in these portraits alongside others whose contributions I admire and respect. Bristol, as a University, gave me the best possible start in the study of the law.

‘My hope is that this exhibit will both inspire and challenge an upcoming generation irrespective of racial origin to do more, and to make the demand for a fairer and more inclusive society. This demand is as necessary as ever, for if there is one lesson we all need to take way in Black History Month, it is that power concedes nothing without a demand - it never has and it never will.’

Lord Boateng’s portrait can be seen displayed in the hands of Robiu Salisu, Bristol University’s BAME student inclusion officer.

Salisu explained why he chose to appear with Lord Boateng and said: ‘In my current role at Bristol, I am inspired by Lord Boateng’s journey from activism to creating meaningful change within the British political system and paving the way for the

B

ristol University’s Student’s Union, in collaboration with Bristol Drugs Project, have launched a harm reduction campaign around drug use for the first time in the University’s history.

The campaign, named ‘All About Drugs,’ will begin with activities across a three day period from 28-30 October.

These will include webinars exploring topics such as testing, decriminalization and harm reduction of drugs; panels featuring representatives from groups such as Bristol Drugs Project; and a live Q&A. Not all of the campaign will be virtual, with Bristol Drugs Project hosting stalls by the North Village Transport hub and outside the Hawthorns.

The campaign will continue be-

can to reduce the harms that come with this.’

Alison Golden-Wright, director of Student Health and Inclusion, added: ‘Not only is support important but having accurate and useful advice is essential, which is why this new partnership with Bristol Drugs Project is so important.’

She also claimed a zero-tolerance attitude to drugs is unhelpful as students are discouraged from reaching out for help due to the threat of punishment.

CEO of Bristol Drugs Project, Maggie Teller, said, ‘We’re really excited to be a partner in developing a more open conversation with Bristol’s students about drugs, including alcohol.'

• The first online welcome fair to take place saw an overall decline in visitor numbers.

• The fair is still availabe to view on-demand.

Megan Evans News Subeditor

Bristol Students Union

SU Correspondent

yond the initial three day period of events, with regular drop-in sessions to be made available in the Richmond Building, where students can receive advice, information and a free drug testing kit.

Bristol SU hope to make student support more accessible and reduce the risk of harm of drug use.

Students can access further help around drug use through ‘Be Well, Live Well’ Drug and Alcohol Modules when completing the induction for the University.

Ruth Day, the Student Union Living Officer, has said: ‘This project is long overdue. I think it’s important to recognize that some students will choose to use alcohol and other drugs, so we need to be doing all we

cial equality are at a peak and coincides with Black History Month.

The portrait display was referenced in the panel discussion which the university held on 22 October entitled ‘Towards a Decolonised University’. At this event, Professor Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost of the University spoke of the university’s aim to ‘interrogate rather than hide [their] historical links.'

5000 less students attend virtual welcome fair

Drug harm reduction campaign launched by SU • Bristol SU will collaborate with Bristol Drugs Project for the new initiative Eve Bentley-Hussey

future generations of Black, Asian and minority ethnic politicians.’

Staff members who have been chosen also expressed their awe for those they are featured with.

Olivette Otele, Professor of the History of Slavery at Bristol University is one of the academics to have been photographed. She has been photographed with Dame Pearlette Louisy, Governor General of Saint Lucia from 1997 to 2017, who completed a PhD in the Department of Education at Bristol in 1991.

Professor Otele said: ‘Dame Pearlette was a pioneer and a dedicated educator whose positive impact spans across several decades. It is a privilege to sit beside her portrait.

‘This project is incredibly important and shows that there are many ways to contribute to the questions of representation and equality.’

Other portraits that feature celebrate staff, students and alumni who have led the way in education, the arts economics, politics, activism and social change.

This celebratory display comes at a time where efforts to push for ra-

Bristol Students Union

• The portraits commemorate the first anniversary of the University's Be More Empowered for Success programme • A panel discussion celebrating the launch of the portraits took place last week

Bristol University / Jessica Augarde Photography

Portraits celebrating BAME staff, students and alumni displayed in Wills Memorial Building

T

he University of Bristol Students’ Union reports the attendance of over 8,000 visitors to the entirely virtual welcome fair held on 7 October, as well as 143,000 booth visits.

Traditionally held on Clifton Downs, students instead took to their computers to browse the selection of

societies, clubs and networks the University has to offer.

An interactive online interface allowed visitors to ‘walk’ though stalls with three student groups to a booth, and chat privately to representatives of groups they found interesting.

They were then able to register interest or sign up for ‘Give it a Go’ sessions through the SU website.

The top visited student booth was that of Expeditions Society, Mountaineering Club, and Speleological (Caving) Society.

The last physical welcome fair had a footfall of 13,000, meaning a total decline in attendance of roughly 5,000 people or two thirds to its online counterpart.

The virtual welcome fair is currently accessible on-demand.

News 7

epigram 27.10.2020

Epigram/ Patrick Sullivan

Students receive delayed refunds of their JCR fees

• JCR's have lobbied Resilife to refund students JCR fees • Some students have now received refunds in the way of voucers for Bristol businesses Filiz Gurer

News Editor

S

tudents awaiting to receive back the £50 per head JCR fees collected from them, along with their first rental payment upon their enrolment in 2019, have now been refunded in the way of vouchers for local Brisol businesses.

JCR fees are taken every year from each student living in University Halls of Residence and are intended to form a social fund from which the JCR of each hall then provides social events.

With the shut down of the University in March 2020, the suspension of social events and most students leaving their halls, the refunding of a proportion of these fees to students became an important question.

On contacting the JCR of one hall for further detail, Epigram found that the situation was more complex than a simple refund of part of the £50 fees and that the JCR’s (elected volunteer student bodies) have been involved in a protracted and lone struggle with Resilife to get these fees refunded to students.

The complicating factor is that, according to one JCR, none of the £50 fees collected in October 2019 were transferred from Resilife to the JCR’s by November 2019 as should have occurred and these fees, collectively amounting to thousands of pounds, were held by Resilife until July 2020.

Speaking to a 2019-2020 JCR President, Epigram heard that the social events provided up until the lockdown had been funded from money remaining from the previous academic year. The JCR’s position was that therefore the full £50 per student taken by Resilife, in October 2019 should be returned to students.

Speaking to Epigram, a former JCR

president said they ‘worked from March till July to try and get this money refunded directly via bank transfer to our residents through Resilife, which still technically had all of our money.’

After several meetings and the deferment of any decision until July, the JCR’s were told that Resilife would not refund any money directly to students.

The JCR President we spoke to said: ‘They did not give us a clear reason for this decision at any point.’

In lieu of a direct refund of the fees to students from Resilife, the JCR’s have worked with local businesses to create a voucher system.

JCR members stated they felt Resilife had shown no accountability.

The President of one JCR told Epigram that they had received criticism and blame from some students in some halls over the issue. They pointed out that they ‘have worked on an individual level to ensure that the residents get this money back,’ with ‘minimum help' from Resilife.

‘Resilife would have not given the residents the money back in any form if I hadn’t made the voucher refund happen. They have not taken responsibility for the mistakes they have made and there is no accounta-

bility for the decision to not directly refund the residents.’

Speaking on Resilife’s actions a spokesperson for the University of Bristol said: ‘The transfer of students’ fees to JCRs relies upon each JCR setting up a bank account and there were some delays while this was actioned. We appreciate that due to the delays some students felt their fee was not put to use. Fees for JCRs are collected by the University for the benefit of the halls and are distributed to the hall. This means surpluses are carried over into the next year for the use of that JCR, as set out in the JCR constitutions. Therefore, in any given year, students in halls benefit from fees paid by previous years’ members.

‘JCRs fulfil an important role on campus and make a positive contribution to the student experience.

However, we appreciate they are currently limited in the activities they can offer. This academic year we in the Resilife team are looking forward to working with them, and our Residential Experience Coordinators, to provide a range of different, virtual activities - arguably at a time when it is more important than ever to provide opportunities for community building and making connections.’

Bristol Arms Off Campus campaign launched

Louie Bell

Investigations Correspondent

A

campaign against the University of Bristol’s association with arms companies was launched earlier this month.

On 13 October, ‘Bristol Arms Off Campus’ launched online, campaigning for the University to sever ties with companies such as BAE Systems and Airbus.

BAE Systems, for example, are mongst companies who are the largest suppliers of weapons to armed forces such as the Royal Saudi Air Force.

They have provided the Saudi military with jet fighters, namely the Eurofighter Tornado and Typhoon jet, during the ongoing conflict in Yemen which has seen one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent times.

The campaign launch began with a talk from Kirsten Bayes, a member

of the UK-wide Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT).

Bayes highlighted that the Arms Trade was one of the UK’s largest exports, supplying planes, weapons and ammunition to countries that are currently engaging in conflict that is driving humanitarian crises around the world.

Bristol Arms Off Campus points to the figure of £6.77 million received by the University of Bristol from BAE Systems in 2019 to ‘carry out research.'

Imaging for the campaign featured photoshopped fighter jets in action with the University of Bristol logo pasted on the side.

One member of the campaign, Sophie, criticised the University’s role in encouraging careers with companies involved in humanitarian crises and that 'they should not be presented as viable employment for Bristol students.'

‘So we want to make sure that they're not there and they're not presented as an option.’

The launch follows a motion passed by Bristol's Student Union in November of 2019 to begin lobbying the University on its ties to the arms trade, and to support it's students from backgrounds where they could

be posisbly be affected by armed conflict.

Khadija Meghrawi, BME Network Chair and member of the campaign said ‘I want to make sure that there is a diverse involvement from the student body.'

‘The whole issue with how our University invests in these companies and has these relationships is that it normalises black and brown

death around the globe as an acceptable cost for revenue, for business, for trade, and we think it’s just unacceptable.’

The University of Bristol’s course website for Aerospace Engineering draws links to the city’s history as a key development site for many companies that the Bristol Arms Off Campus campaign aims to push back against.

Bristol Arms Off Campus

• The newly created group wants the University of Bristol to sever its ties with arms companies

The website boasts that a key development site in Filton ‘continues to be a hub for aircraft manufacturers including Airbus, GKN, MBDA and Rolls-Royce as well as BAe.’ Another member of the campaign said they had challenged representatives from several companies at the University’s most recent Autumn Careers Fair.

‘The aim of that action was to show these companies that their recruiters aren’t welcome here, and that in most universities, students don’t support them.’

When asked about the response from recruiters, the member said they had been met with ‘resounding silence’ or asked to leave.

Khadija pointed out Arms Off Bristol is keen to engage with students from a diverse cohort of disciplines, including engineering.

‘The whole point is that it’s not meant to be excluding anyone, it’s not meant to be a closed off space where you have to be fully informed about this.

It’s just about creating this accessible movement where all you have to believe really, is that these human rights abuses, these war crimes happening around the world, are in fact wrong.’

8 News

epigram 27.10.2020

News in Brief Bristol researchers develop validation technique for Oxford Vaccine Louie Bell

protein to trigger an immune response from the human body.

A team at Bristol, led by Dr David Matthews from the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM) has developed a novel approach to validating that the viral instructions are being correctly transcribed thousands of times and that the spike protein correctly reflects the information that is fed into it.

This exciting new development has potential implications for the way vaccines are fine-tuned to effective immune response in the future.

Dr Matthews said ‘until now, the technology hasn’t been able to provide answers with such clarity, but we now know the vaccine is doing everything we expected and that is only good news in our fight against the illness.’

Strategy to support Bristol’s economic recovery launchedFiliz Gurer

over the next two years to support the immediate challenges being faced by businesses and citizens.

Over 300 city partners have been engaged with to contribute to the strategy that is built around the three pillars of: People and labour markets, Business and Investment and Bristol’s Places.

Speaking on the launch of the strategy, Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, said ‘As Bristol faces the deepest economic depression since the 1930s it is imperative that we work together now to do all we can to keep those working to stay in work, help businesses to stay open, and provide new opportunities for those who are unemployed.’

R

esearchers at the University of Bristol have developed a way of assessing how often and how a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford is copying across and using the genetic instructions provided to it.

The vaccine, co-developed with Astrazeneca, works by altering a common-cold virus from chimpanzees, adding the COVID-specific ‘spike protein’ and transcribing it many times so there is enough spike

A

n urgent strategy has been launched to support the Bristol economy as the city faces its biggest financial depression in recent years. The impact of COVID-19 on businesses has seen Bristol’s unemployment rate more than double to 4.5 per cent from March to August this year, and over 70,000 people in the city have been furloughed.

In the face of this crisis, Bristol City Council plans to allocate £10m,

Bristol ranked

Bristolians urged second most to ‘remember progressive city in from home’ the UK Megan Evans

B

ristol City Council has revised their usual Remembrance Sunday events and encouraged citizens to commemorate at home in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to adhere to government guidelines and ensure safety, the traditional parade at the Cenotaph is no longer taking place.

Instead this year’s Act of Remembrance will take place as part of a pre-recorded service filmed at HMS Flying Fox, Bristol’s Royal Naval Reserve Unit. The recording will be posted to Bristol City Council’s Facebook page at 11am on Remembrance Sunday.

Jos Clark, Lord Mayor of Bristol, commented that ‘Remembrance Sunday remains a hugely important event to be marked in the city.

‘Our priority is to keep our veterans and everyone else safe... and we will work with the Armed Forces to ensure everyone can reflect and remember.

‘The Act of Remembrance is non-religious, making it well-suited for people to “Remember from Home.” We hope people will take the opportunity to pause, reflect and remember those who have given their lives.’

Bristolians are encouraged to pay their respects by, for example: observing the two minutes’ silence from their gardens; having a poppy poster in the window or watching the service on social media.

A

Emilie Robinson

new study by Bankrate revealed Bath to be the United Kingdom’s most progressive city, followed closely by Bristol.

Factors considered in the rating were recycling rates, ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) registrations, women in local government, gender pay gaps, vegan/vegetarian restaurants, progressive search trends and voter turnout.

With the highest possible score being 35, Bristol scored 25.2, coming closely behind Bath, which scored 25.4.

Progressive terms monitored for in search trends included, LGBTQ+ rights, fair trade, protest, feminism and climate change, amongst others.

Bristolians recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours

B

Filiz Gurer

ristolians including Roy Hackett, Daryn Carter, and the University of Bristol’s own Professor Lucy Yardley have received awards in the Queen’s birthday honours, announced earlier this month.

Professor Lucy Yardley, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Bristol has been awarded an OBE for services to the COVID-19

Bristol SU appoint new CEO

B

response. As a member of SAGE, Professor Yardley has provided behavioural input to aid government decision makers throughout the pandemic.

Amongst other Bristolians notably recognized in the Honours List are Roy Hackett, one of the oldest members of the Bristol Race Equality Council who has been awarded an MBE for his services to the community in Bristol. Daryn Carter, Director and Programmer of Bristol Pride was also recognized, receiving an MBE for his services to the LGBTQ+ community in Bristol.

The honours recognise outstanding achievements of people across the UK.

Culture Recovery Fund lifts Bristol’s venues

• Bristol arts venues have recieved financial support from the government through the Culture Recovery Fund Guy Taylor

Epigram/ Katie Chalk

E

ntertainment venues in Bristol have received £7.5 million of funding as part of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

31 organisations in Bristol have benefitted from the fund. These include Bristol Old Vic, Watershed, and Motion, with the former receiving £610,466.

The targeted recipients are theatre companies, night clubs, museums, and concert promoters.

The grant will go towards the continuing upkeep of these organisations, amidst the ongoing adversity created by the coronavirus pandemic. MShed, for example, will use a

portion of the grant for the maintenance of its exhibits.

Tom Morris, Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic, said that ‘for Bristol Old Vic it is transformative. Immediately, it keeps us open and prevents another devastating round of redundancies.’ The money will help keep the theatre running, after it lost 75

per cent of its income in one night in March.

Going on, Mr Morris said ‘Beyond that, it gives us a solid platform from which we can contribute to the economic and social recovery which must follow the pandemic over the next two years.’

Another beneficiary of the grant

Epigram/ Milo Clenshaw

Investigations Correspondent

was Watershed, which was awarded £731,993 from the Arts Council.

Claire Reddington, CEO of Watershed, said that she was ‘relieved and grateful to have been awarded this funding.’ Watershed has seen its income this year reduced by around £2.8 million due to coronavirus restrictions.

Molly Pipe

ristol Students’ Union has announced the appointment of Ben Pilling as its incoming Chief Executive.

Mr Pilling has been Acting CEO since predecessor Samantha Budd stepped down from the role at the end of July. He has worked at Bristol SU for 11 years, starting out as Director of Operations and Development and becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2015.

His previous position saw him oversee the launch of Bristol SU lettings and the creation of the SU Living Room.

Mr Pilling said he was ‘thrilled’ to assume the role, and paid tribute to the SU’s ‘rich history and bright future.’

In a tweet, Aerospace Bristol said that they were ‘delighted’ to have been awarded £514,000, which will ‘safeguard the museum as a place to preserve and celebrate our heritage.’

The Culture Recovery Fund comes at a critical time, with lockdowns and social distancing massively affecting the economic prospects of the cultural sector. On top of other government aid such as the furlough scheme, this investment will be vital to the survival of this industry.

In total, the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport have given £1.57 billion of funding across the country, with 172 recipients in the South West.

Mr Morris emphasised the role of the arts in challenging times, saying ‘The country needs its artists more than ever as we confront the bewildering force of the pandemic.

‘It also sets an inspiring precedent in transformative art works which can engage every community in the country and lift the hearts of all of us.’

Features

Editor Jack Charters Digital Editor Noa Blane Damelin Deputy Editor Freddie Grover

Twitter: @EpigramFeatures

Garfield McKenzie

Pauls Carnival held in 1968 to celhe believes we should be taught ‘the The Pioneers collection missing pages of world history’ all ebrate the multiculturalism in the celebrates and tells area. Since then, St Pauls Carnival year round, thus eliminating the the stories of Bristol's has grown into one of Bristol’s bigneed for one month being dedicated gest and most renowned events. to it.

Carribean migrants Mrs Williams, bottom right, raised ‘There is a lack of historical memFin Strathern her son, who would become the inory in the African family that holds Third Year, History us back. The narThere have been calls novative drum and bass DJ Roni Size, rative of British ristol artist and photografor the toppled Colston in St Andrews afhistory taught in pher Garfield McKenzie, statue to be replaced ter migrating from schools tries to repictured above right, is with a Carribean elder Jamaica. mind Europeans of creating a portrait collection to celGarfield told the good of empire ebrate leading figures amongst the us how important it was for him to – it does not teach children of the Bristol Caribbean community. Epiinclude individuals and stories that great damage it has caused and, even gram had the chance to speak with have helped contribute to the creastill, failed to repair.’

Garfield regarding his ambitions for tive arts in Bristol, as he ‘considers In 1962 Roy Hackett, pictured the project, how it fits into Black music and the cultural trends that above left, was a founding member History Month, and the background follow it’ one of the ways in which of the Commonwealth Coordinatbehind some of the individuals picCaribbean migrants have influenced ed Committee (CCC), established to tured.

Bristol most. improve living conditions, promote Having been brought up by Considering the decades of work integration, and seek equal opportuhis grandparents after his mother members of the Caribbean communities for the Caribbean community passed, he was motivated to create nity have dedicated to improving rain Bristol and beyond. the Pioneers collection because he cial equality in Bristol and beyond, Roy was a key figure in the 1963 has always ‘felt a strong connecit is hardly surprising that popular Bristol Bus Boycott which arose from tion towards his elders.’ He went on opinion is calling for the toppled the Bristol Omnibus Company’s reto say that there is a ‘wisdom and statue of Edward Colston to be refusal to hire 18-year-old Guy Bailey life experience’ within elders that is placed with one of the many elders solely on the basis important to docuMigrants paved the way that he was black. featured in the Pioneers collection. ment and teach to for future generations in Mr McKenzie concluded his inThe boycott younger members their struggle for equality helped contribute terview by asking students to enof the community. sure they educate themselves on change to UK legMr McKenzie tithe struggles faced by the Windrush islation, with the Race Relations Act tled the collection ‘Pioneers’ because generation. that was passed in 1965 making rahe believes that the Windrush gener‘They came as victims of colonicial discrimination unlawful in pubation that moved from the Caribbesation, and not long before that they lic places. an to Britain in the years following were victims of slavery, and not long Barbara Dettering, pictured middle World War Two were ‘true pioneers before that they were stolen from right, is another community figure in paving the way for future gentheir countries. The wealth that has featured. As well as being a teacherations’ in their struggle for racial been built on the backs of Africans er in Bristol for many years, Barbara equality. was done so unwillingly and the diswas also a leading member of the The portraits are part of an exhirespect the Windrush generation has CCC. bition coinciding with Black History faced since their arrival in Britain is She was one of the members reMonth but Mr McKenzie said he disa crying shame.’ sponsible for organising the first St likes the term ‘Black history’ because

Garfield McKenzie

Local artist honours Bristol's Caribbean elders in unique portrait exhibition

B

Garfield McKenzie

Garfield McKenzie

10 Features

epigram 27.10.2020

Epigram / Noa Blane Damelin

Flickr / Alex Gooi

Fiestas of flight: Bristol's history of hot air

Just how did Bristol establish itself as an international bastion of ballooning?

Zoe Glascow

First Year, Politics and International Relations

W

hat began with a balloon company founded by an aeronautical engineer in his Cotham basement flat in 1971 and a discussion in a pub for a friendly balloon meet in 1978, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is now one of Bristol’s signature quirks, with over 130 hot air balloons gathering from across the globe to create a unique spectacle.

Don Cameron studied Aeronauti-

his friends in the Bristol Belle, Camcal Engineering at the University of eron abandoned his job and founded Glasgow, followed by postgraduate Cameron Balloons Ltd in 1971. studies in the US at Cornell. A keen Cameron had constructed 10 balglider in his spare time, Cameron loons prior to this under the name joined a local gliding club in the Omega Balloons. 29 more balloons 1960s where he met seven other club were built by Cameron Balloons in members. the first year alone, in the basement One day they discussed the relaof Don Cameron’s tively new hobby The Bristol Belle was house in Cotham. of modern hot air the first modern hot air Production was ballooning. balloon in history. then moved to The group dean old church in cided to build 1972 and the company is currently their very own hot air balloon, called located in Bedminster, where it has the Bristol Belle, which was flown been since 1983. for the first time in Oxfordshire on After a talk given one evening in the 9th July 1967. The Bristol Belle 1978 by Cameron in a Bristol pub, has now gone down in history as the the first Bristol Balloon Fiesta was first modern hot air balloon. arranged, to be held the following Having discovered his new passion year. From 7-9 September 1979, after learning to ride a balloon with

over 100 balloon flights were held, largely thanks to optimal weather conditions. Ashton Court still holds the meet up, as the beautiful mansion grounds can cope with the large gatherings of people.

Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic this year, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta was cancelled, with a ‘Fiesta Flypast’ organised instead.

A virtual nightglow was also held on 8 August, supported by a soundtrack developed by BBC Radio Bristol to ‘raise the spirits of the city.’

Emma Britton of BBC Radio Bristol

explained that she was pleased to ‘bring a taste of the event to Bristolians.’

As well as the first modern hot air balloon, the Bristol Belle, another notable balloon that has showcased at the festival is Aardman’s 2020 ‘Moon Rocket’ balloon, based off of Wallace and Gromit’s rocket in the inaugural film ‘A Grand Day Out.’ The balloon aimed to help raise more money for the Aardman charity ‘The Grand Appeal,’ which has already acquired a staggering £70 million for Bristol Children’s Hospital since its foundation in 1995.

Is it possible to reduce mask and visor waste?

Emma Love Third Year, Politics and Sociology

T

Epigram / Filiz Gurer

Turning the tide on COVID-19's plastic waste

he COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a worldwide re-evaluation of life as we know it.

With many global economies still processing the aftershock of national lockdowns, politicians, scientists and

handles, such as Precious Plastic, environmental activists alike have COVID-19 transmission. and Germany’s Kunststoffschmiede. called on governments to use this as Official guidance for England is The process involves a shredder maa pivotal moment in the journey toto wear reusable, washable masks chine taking sorted plastic waste and wards a more sustainable world. where possible. Disposable masks turning it back into usable flakes of National lockshould be placed plastic, which are then moulded into downs across the Increases in plastic waste in general waste, useful objects. globe resulted or a litter bin if have been necessary to Petit Pli, a sustainability-focused in a temporary you’re outside. protect frontline workers clothing design company, has creatdecrease in CO2 Last month, the and the population ed a sustainable mask made out of emissions, but government was recycled plastic bottles. with the world met with calls New recycling schemes have returning to work and leisure, conto further urge the public to switch sprung up in response to the pansumption of single-use plastics are from disposable masks to reusable demic’s wave of plastic waste, with on the rise once again. ones. According to environmental waste management company TerraMasks have become an essential groups, thousands, if not millions, of cycle creating a ‘Zero Waste Box’ for tool in lessening the spread of the disposable masks are being dumped disposable masks and visors. virus, and although many have optoutdoors.

The solution for ed for reusable, washable face coverThe RSPCA has New recycling schemes the average perings, the disposable mask remains a launched a camhave sprung up in son appears to be popular choice in the UK. Disposable paign entitled face coverings normally come in the ‘Snip the Straps’, response to the pandemic the use of a reusable, fabric mask. form of surgical masks, which concalling for memSustainably produced reusable face tain plastics such as propylene, polybers of the public to cut the straps masks are not an option available styrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene off their disposable masks before to all, with masks such as Petit Pli’s or polyester. binning them, to prevent animals sitting in the moderate to expensive Some increases in plastic waste getting caught in them. price range. However, regardless of have been necessary - single use Several plastic recycling projects their source, reusable masks will not masks, gloves, gowns and visors have been using machines to recycle be contributing to the rise in plastic have been crucial in protecting medplastic and turn it into face shields, waste emerging from the pandemic. ical staff and other workers from respirator masks and hands-free door

Features 11

epigram 27.10.2020

‘We don’t see Black women in period dramas’ - Stephanie Levi-John on breaking industry barriers in a Tudor court Epigram caught up with the actor to discuss her journey Holly Beaumont Investigations Editor

IMDB / Starz Entertainment

D

espite the fact that she is currently basking in the success of her role in The Spanish Princess (2019), Stephanie Levi-John has faced both the conventional challenges of becoming an actress, as well as battling with her gender and skin colour.

She opened up to me about her tumultuous journey, from being enchanted by a National Theatre production at the age of 8, to a myriad of rejections, to finally receiving that phone call that she had gotten the part.

I start from the beginning. I ask Stephanie how she came to want to be a part of such a notoriously impenetrable industry. ‘I went to the National Theatre when I was 8 or 9.

It was such a profound moment, because from that moment, I just knew “this is it.”

‘My journey into acting has been a rollercoaster,’ She tells me that the clarity she felt when she was 8 became shattered by the reality of the industry as an 18 year old.

‘I applied for a whole bunch of drama schools, did one audition and it kind of crushed my dreams of acting. That experience was just so horrible. I went there, I looked around the room and I didn't see anyone else who looked like me.’

be able to play a character like Lina rine’s perspective. she jokes. ‘I ended up moving to because she's not subservient. Her ‘The great thing about the show Spain.’ place within the court is valid. She’s is that it gives the women a voice.

‘I remember walking on the beach, human, she’s not a stereotype, not We always hear about history from I just didn't know what I wanted to a gimmick, she is a fully rounded, the male standpoint but The Spando with my life. And I asked mymulti-faceted perish Princess talks self, “What is it about the female that you want to ‘I feel like I’m slowly ‘It feels like you face a lot son.’

Given her imstandpoint and do Stephanie?” helping people to realise and without even Lina is obviously more rejection than you mense success, that their dreams are do success' Stephanie has a bBack woman. thinking, it was possible.' navigated an unWe don't really acting.’ conventional path to where she is see Black women, or Black substanDespite a retoday - not attending a conventional tial characters in period dramas.’ newed assurance in her passion, I long. After a few years drama school and coming to success Stephanie talks about the honour ask Stephanie about the inevitable of confusion about her place just shy of her 30th birthday. that she feels in playing this role and hard times that ensued. in the world, Stephanie tells Despite this unconventional path, as though she is ‘holding the hands’ ‘As an actor there’s a constant me about a pivotal year she has experienced thoroughly conof people looking up to her. feeling of “this is hard”. Sometimes in her life, living in ventional difficulties on her journey ‘I get strangers writing to me sayit feels like you face a lot more rejeca country that to success. I ask her what advice she ing how much they needed to see tion than you do success.’ would later behas for women of colour seeking cathat representation of people of col‘But I've changed my mindset of come defining reers in acting in 2020. our especially in the Tudor times behow I see rejection. My mum always for her career.

‘There will be naysayers or people cause it almost feels like an erasure. says to me, whatever is meant to be ‘2009 was a that don't really believe in your viIt’s like we didn't randomly pop up for you will never pass you by.’ year and a sion. But if you believe in your vione day, disappear, and then come This attitude has served her well, half, quite sion, amazing things can happen. I back again.’ epitomised in 2019 when she landed reminiscent had to keep telling myself that I'm We discuss how often people of the role of Lina in the period drama of 2020’ enough, that I am worthy. I think colour can be stereotyped in their The Spanish Princess. there's something in self-belief that roles and how ‘When I got a makes you invincible.’

Lina is a breath call confirming The clarity she felt when With the second season of The of fresh air, full of it, I just burst into she was eight became Spanish Princess having just precomplexities and tears. It felt like shattered by the reality of humanity. miered, Stephanie is enjoying the things were fithe industry. fruits of her labour and dreams of ‘So, she (Lina) nally coming toinspiring others. existed but she's gether.’

'I feel like I’m holding the hands like one sentence in a history book.

She informs me about the show’s of people and slowly guiding them, They've expanded her character, and progressive nature, telling the stohelping them to realise that their fleshed it out.’ ry of Henry VIII’s first marriage to New Wave / Stephanie Levi John dreams are possible.’

‘I feel honoured and grateful to Catherine of Aragon, through Cathe-

‘I cancelled all of my other auditions. I thought, if this is what this world is like, I can't do it.’

This feeling, however, did not last

12 Features

epigram 27.10.2020

The Bristol charity offering How sustainable is culturally-sensitive counselling the University?

5 per cent of waste to landfill and recycles over 90 per cent of construction waste.

Some significant action on plastic waste has been taken over the past few years. Namely, a reusable cup discount was offered at Source cafes, and in March 2020 the sale of all drinks in plastic bottles was banned. any are aware of the However, despite the reusable cup University of Bristol incentive, only 42 per cent of hot being the first UK Unidrinks served in Source cafes are versity to declare a Climate Emerserved in reusable cups. gency, but what action has been Bristol University has also sought taken to combat this impending to increase sustainable infrastructhreat? ture of campus and is making posiThe Bristol University Sustainative progress. For over a decade the bility Team (BUST) is a student soUniversity has used sustainability ciety which raises awareness about assessment methods when it comes sustainability that works directly to construction, with over half aswith the University to implement sessed projects receiving an ‘excelimportant changes. lent’ certification.

Sustainability is an important Bristol University incorporates issue for many Bristol students; it eco-friendly designs into its new is essential for many of them that buildings and refurbishments such the University takes action to make as natural ventilation systems, our campus more sustainable. For green roofs and walls, and LED example, UoB has made progress in lighting in buildings like the new ethical and sustainable food, such library. Solar panels are already as offering ‘Meat Free Mondays’ in installed around the campus, genhalls and aims to increase vegan erating power which could support and vegetarian approximately food options by The University sends 5% of 100 houses.

30 per cent by Good prowaste to landfill next year. gress has been They also inmade to reduce tend to map and reduce the carbon the environmental impact through footprint of food and drink offerthe Green Labs initiative by using ings by 30 per cent by 2021. They efficient designs and equipment, have set a target of March 2021 to but it largely relies on cooperation achieve the Fairtrade University of students and staff. You can get status, which 12 other British uniinvolved in initiatives like ‘Switch versities have already achieved. it off’ and get recognition for your Although food consumption commitment to sustainability with across the university has become the Sustainable Lab Network. more ethical, food waste remains a The University has attempted problem. to promote sustainable methods Action is slowly being taken, for of transportation by creating the instance in January 2019 a three transport hub at Stoke Bishop so month food waste reduction trial that a bus is available to all resiwas held in Churchill, which redents, but this does not incorporate duced avoidable food waste by alall university accommodation. most 2.4 tonnes (valued at £4,875).

The University is constantly Furthermore, waste oil from kitchadapting and making changes to ens is converted into biofuel, which become more sustainable. Although is used to power the lorries deliverit has come far, it still has a long ing food on campus. way to go to achieve its pledge to Overall, the University sends only be carbon neutral by 2030.

What schemes does the University have in place to ensure it is more sustainable?

Bristol University Sustainability Team Consultants

Nilaari’s services are in high demand. periences of non-BAME individuals The COVID-19 pandemic forced living in the UK, and it is therefore Nilaari to adapt their offerings and essential that every BAME student transition from in-person therapy and individual has access to culturalsessions and training courses to tele- ly appropriate mental health support phone sessions. if they choose to Since March, Nilaari's work serves as a access it.

Digital Features Editor Nilaari have ex- reminder of the importance And after that? ilaari is a community-based perienced such of empathy and allyship It’s nothing less charity who offer therapy high demand for than ‘a change and guidance to BAME adults their services that they have had to in culture’ according to Hetreed. At and young people in Bristol, as well prioritise the individuals who they University level, this might mean as training sessions in cultural com- identify as being most in need of university lecturers or personal tupetence to the wider community. Ep- support at these times. tors receiving training from Nilaari igram spoke to Shelagh Hetreed from While Nilaari could not confirm so that they are able to better support the Nilaari team to talk about what whether or not the pandemic corre- students. In wider society, it requires the charity does and how we can all lated with any sort of increase in the everything from recognising the imsupport BAME mental health at this number of people requesting support, portance of community-led counseltime. they did confirm that the people they ling services to normalising therapy.

It is widely acare supporting Signing up for one of Nilaari’s culknowledged that are certainly af- tural competency courses is anothBAME individuals are ofBAME individuten under-represented and fected by related er great first step in improving our als are both ununder-serviced by existing issues, not least collective ability to support BAME der-represented the loss of a loved members of our communities. These mental health services and under-serone due to COV- courses tend to be day-long and they viced by existing ID-19 or fears of are designed to teach individuals, mental health and wellbeing services, the disproportionate rates at which groups and institutions how to better and Nilaari are trying to bridge this this virus affects Black Britons. support BAME community members. gap. They offer culturally appropriate Nilaari have also been actively Something else that Hetreed points therapy sessions to Black, Asian and supporting BAME and international out is that BAME students need to Minority Ethnic individuals in and students at the Univeristy of Bris- know where to turn if they do feel around the Bristol area. tol through lockdown. Back in June like they could benefit from culturNilaari is an official partner of the the University announced that they ally specific mental health support Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health would cover the costs for any student services.

Partnership NHS Trust, a trust cre- to have up to six Services like ated specifically to provide mental 50-minute tele- Guidance can cover topics Nilaari and SARI, health services across Bristol, Somer- phone counsel- from mental health, drug another fantasset and the South-East. Guidance of- ling services with and alcohol dependency, and tic Bristol-based fered by Nilaari can cover anything Nilaari in order charity working daily living. from mental health and daily living to better support against racism, to drug and alcohol dependency and BAME students who feel that they deserve to be spoken about more (re)offending behaviour. The charity could benefit from culturally specif- widely and promoted far more frefirst emerged from the Bristol City ic support. This offer still stands for quently, especially within the student Council Drug and Alcohol service students: see the University of Bristol bubble. back in 1999 out of a realisation that webpage for further details.

Nilaari’s work can serve to remind BAME people were less able to access So, what can we do to support Ni- us all of the importance of empathy existing drug and alcohol services. laari’s work? and allyship, today and every day.

Today, Nilaari is a well-established ‘Firstly, an acknowledgement that As they continue to grow and esindependent charity complete with this exists. You have to believe that tablish partnerships such as the one its own office in Easton, Bristol. this happens’ exclaimed Hetreed pas- with the University of Bristol, Nilaari While Hetreed declined to comment sionately. People need to recognise are making constant strides to supon exactly how large the charity’s that BAME lived experiences are port more BAME individuals from the operations are today, it is certain that likely to be very different to the ex- Bristol community than ever before.

Epigram speaks to Nilaari, a BAME mental health service in Bristol.

Noa Blane Damelin

N

BUST

Nilaari

M

Opinion

Editor Fiorenza Dell'Anna Digital Editor Jack Crockford Deputy Editor Edward Crowson

Twitter: @EpigramOpinion

The University Young people cannot be should teach, not scapegoated for COVID-19 police, students The University's enforcement policies are an overreach Hugo Cartwright

own university, nor should they.

Bristol's fine system is a black box shrouded in complete mystery.

This broken and unacceptable system shouldn't be accepted. Who Secind Year, History is the University to fine students?

A few weeks ago, the Education Don't we pay enough?

Secretary Gavin Williamson said to It's the job of the council and the Commons, ‘I do not believe we of the police to enforce rules for should look to inflict stricter measthe simple fact of that's their job, ures on students … there must be a that's what they're trained to do. We parity.' wouldn't allow a police constable to Yet, it seems that Mr. Hugh Brady supervise a PhD thesis in theoretical has woken up on the wrong side of chemistry, and we shouldn't allow a the bed as he's certainly seen it fit to University to fine, control, and cominflict a reign of terror on those same pel its students. students he's charged to lead.

The University's platoon of COVThe University has instituted a ID-19 marshals, security services, wide-reaching and the continued policy of fines We shouldn't allow a Operation Beech and security university to fine, control, comes at a high against their own and compel its students cost, and I don't students.

Got merely mean the caught up in the enjoyment of first £20,000 price tag that comes along year and perhaps spent the night at a with these initiatives. friend's? That'll be £800, please.

At the heart of it all, it signals a The law doesn't, and shouldn't, shift of University priority, from the prohibit the mixing of households at provision of tertiary education and this time in Bristol, and yet it seems the enrichment of its students, to as though the University reaps a cerlooking more and more like the new tain level of enjoyment from crushBlackwater incorporated. ing the social lives of its students.

Over the past six months the Imagine this: a tale of two stuUniversity has arguably often falldents. One, the first of their family to en short of its duty to deliver as a go to university, was on free school higher education institution – one meals and takes the maximum mainneedn’t look further than the absurd tenance loan; the other, comfortable, new four hours a week for library doesn't really need a loan and quite space rule (which is particularly frankly could probably take a fine or hard-hitting as even pre-Covid Bristwo and not be in financial ruin. tol was never blessed with abundant One of those infamous, clandeslibrary space). tine block parties is taking place.

This isn't just about access to that Now, think back to the two indididulovely new reference book. It's the als in question. One can undoubtedly fact that many non-halls students afford to take the chance of going to simply don't have desks to work, or the party: maybe they will get a fine a real quiet space to study and the maybe they won't, it's no biggie. library is their only safe haven. It's Now a sad tale of social segregathat many students don't have action begins anew. The other student cess to a computer or laptop all day simply can't take the risk of paying round or a stable internet connection £800 for a potential one night stand, for those long study periods. or even just going to a friend’s for So what does this all mean for us? that post-footie meet up. It just isn't An inferior experience that saw units quite worth the risk. Oh well, I guess cancelled for students at the 11th it's another night of mundane Zoom hour, stringent measures against meetings with a water and tonic to students and I can't even begin to help cover up this sad attempt at recimagine how much extra work for reating a life. lecturers who have had to quickly If students are found to have come to grips with the new blended breached legislation by all means system. they should be referred to the propWe all deserve better than this, er and accountable authorities. But and we're not going to get it unil we no-one expects to be policed by their make our voices heard.

We should blame the government's mixed messages, not young people Rosie Neville Second Year, Law

A

s coronavirus cases rise in the UK, it appears as though the blame has been laid at the door of young people. However, this scapegoating of young people fails to recognise the campaign of mixed and contradictory messages that have been enacted since the easing of lockdown.

Stay at home! Return to schools and offices! Get the economy rebooted! Don’t kill your nan! Socialise in groups up to 30! Eat out to help out! Rule of six. Get a test! Stop wasting tests!

Let us not forget that it was not long ago that the government was encouraging young people to go out in order to repair the damage caused in the hospitality sector after the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.

Indeed, the August ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme was put in place to encourage customers to go back into restaurants, cafes and pubs. However, the government is now blaming young people for socialising too

much. Which way would they rather have it?

This health-economy trade-off has been a recurring tension throughout the pandemic and parliament appears divided on which one to prioritise.

The portrayal of youth misbehaviour and rule flouting as the core reason for the rise has now manifested itself in policy changes, such as the closing of pubs across England at 10pm.

In this selective acknowledement of risk and allocation of blame, we seem to be neglecting the potential negative effects on encouraging thousands of children to go back to school, not to mention adults going back to work and the public out to restaurants.

This pandemic has been marked by a series of failures that we still debate, from the delayed lockdown to the mixed messages about mask-wearing.

I am not suggesting that young people are completely innocent parties in the recent spike and that all young people stuck rigorously to the regulations. After months of lockdown, some young people are taking their re-established freedoms and running away with them.

Obvioulsy, statistics do suggest

Alice Proctor

EpiCartoon: Mask up!

increases in Covid cases amongst young people. However, to categorise all young people as irresponsible and thoughtless is far from accurate. The majority of young people do take the pandemic seriously, with some even wanting the pandemic to be taken more seriously as a result of their peers’ actions.

Young people, like all age brackets, cannot be narrowed down to a homogeneously negligent group.

There are those who have complied with the ever-changing rules, just as there are others who seem hell-bent on bending them.

When the government lays the blame at the feet of young people, it seems hypocritical when notable high-profile figures have been seen flaunting the rules.

Coronavirus has had a damaging effect on all generations. The young have had to brace themselves and prepare to face the brunt of the economic problems and uncertainty that await. Older generations have, in greater part, been more heavily affected by the virus on a physical level, with a very high mortaility rate. No one is immune to the effects of coronavirus, Finger-pointing and blame games should be the very least of our worries at a time like this.

14 Opinion

epigram 27.10.2020

/A am igr Ep

Social inclusion is still a problem at the University

lice Proct or

The New Bristolian: Students may not be experiencing lockdown's community spirit Lowri Lewis

L

Epigram/ Filiz Gurer

Bristol needs to address its issues with social inclusion

Alice Clarke

Second Year, History

B

ristol University has a well-established and visible issue with social inclusion.

The University must make a concerted effort to change this as clearly not enough has been done to address the issue. Outside impressions of the University are that it is posh, white and exclusive and these impressions are not unfounded. This image has to be banished if the University is to grow and pioneer inclusion and diversity in higher education.

The Sunday Times Good University Guide ranks Universities through various criteria every year. They have quantified the idea of ‘social inclusion’ and measured it through these observations: how many students attended a non-selective state school, how many students are from an ethnic minority background, and how many students are the first to attend university in their family, amongst other factors.

It is no surprise that Bristol ranked pretty abysmally when faced with this scrutiny: just 113th out of 116 universities. Only Oxford, Cambridge and Durham ranked lower- universities famous for the homogeneity of their student body.

Bristol ranked in the bottom 10 for social inclusion every previous year shown, with its 2021 ranking of 113th place being its lowest so far.

So, it seems that rather than increasing social inclusion, the opposite is happening and the University needs to find out why.

Social inclusion isn't just some vague concept that can be used to expose Russell Group universities

for their failings. Lack of social inclusion has a very real impact on students and their university experience.

Bristol needs to rehaul its position not because of rankings, but because of how a lack of diversity has a very real effect on students who have worked hard to be here and deserve acknowledgement of such effort.

The step into university life can be hard, it can be a shock to the system. But if you are a first-generation University student, from an ethnic minority or are state educated, the culture of Bristol University poses further difficulties you should not be expected to face.

versity and Bristol should actively acknowledge this.

Once reaching University, students should be able to focus on their degree fully. However, many will struggle with finances. Having to rely on a part-time job encroaches into students’ free time, impacting their studies and social life. This is a pressure that many students at Bristol may not have, and can be isolating.

Bristol is an expensive city to live in and accommodation is some of the priciest outside London. There is a distinct divide between the prices of hall accommodation in Stoke Bishop and the ‘rest,' almost leading to a physical class divide at the

The lack of social inclusion has a very real impact on students and their University experience A great part of Bristol’s student body is privately educated, is white and from a university educated family. For many this can make the process of meeting similar people and settling into university both trickier and longer than it may be for others.

A university that ranks so low in terms of social inclusion does not fully acknowledge or comprehend the unique experiences of students who do not make up the white, middle class or privately educated cohort.

Contextual offers and aiming to widen participation should be a priority, however what happens to low-income students once they arrive in the city? Though it starts with admissions, the experience of a low income or working class student will differ throughout their time at uni-

university with halls in the North Village potentially costing twice as much. This makes integration harder and really just suggests that Bristol University needs to look deeper into how social inclusion is embedded into all aspects of the institution.

The University has vocalised its awareness of inclusion needing to be increased. The past few years have seen the pioneering contextual offers for low achieving schools and bursary schemes being expanded.

All good steps. However, the University isn't being thorough or reflective enough.

As we have slipped even further down the rankings for social inclusion, clearly progress is not being made. The University of Bristol needs a bold overhaul to shake its exclusive image for good.

Opinion Columnist

ockdown saw many of us connect with the communities in our home towns like never before - but these measures were also responsible for tearing Bristol’s student community apart. And even being back in the city will not be enough to repair it.

One of the only comforts to be found during the summer period of lockdown restrictions was the fact that everyone else in the country was in the same position as you.

And at first glance, it does seem like the students of Bristol are all experiencing pretty similar levels of fallout from COVID-19.

But our shared loss of the ‘normal’ University experience does not mean that we are all in the same boat.

The ongoing consequences of the pandemic are in fact vastly different for each student, and it is because of this that our community is struggling to rebuild itself.

Fostering community spirit amongst people who are all suffering from varying degrees of hardship is a huge task. And for students, our general lack of physical vulnerability means that it’s harder to actually see the extent to which COVID-19 is affecting each of us.

We’re also in the unique position where we are surrounded by people who live all over the country outside of term time. Pre-Covid-19, this mix of accents and cultures was part and parcel of the excitement of getting to know people at university.

Now, however, with local lockdowns in place, joining people together from different areas means that some are sadly going to be isolated from their family, friends and even partners from their home towns, whilst others are free to see these people at their leisure.

For those with loved ones in lockdown, knowing that the students around them can see these people whenever they like - whether they take the opportunity to or not - can increase the feeling of isolation that the local lockdown already brought about. If anything, being surrounded

by other students makes the situation worse.

It’s not just local lockdowns which can make people feel detached from the student community. Those of us who relied on part time jobs to supplement our student loan were already experiencing quite a different University experience to those who did not, so with the added complication of COVID-19, these people may feel particularly distant from those who don’t need a job, and to an extent, the community as a whole.

Students do tend to be in financially precarious situations, but when most of us with jobs are on zero-hours contracts which were easily left out of the government’s furlough scheme by our employers, finances can become pretty dire.

Despite all this, few of those who are feeling left out of the student community will actually make the choice to study remotely from their home town as a result of these feelings. Most will at least try to have the University experience they expected to before the pandemic hit.

But with the list of sports you’re able to participate in dwindling week by week, societies doing their meetings on Zoom and in-person lectures being a thing of the past, it doesn’t really feel like we are surrounded by other students. And the students we are seeing are likely to be in a very different position from us when it comes to the effect that COVID-19 is having on their lives.

The loss of Bristol’s student community is by no means one of the worst consequences of COVID-19.

But it’s because we’re in such challenging times that community spirit is more important than ever.

If we’re going to get it back, it’s not just going to be a case of doing each other’s shopping, or picking up each other’s prescriptions like it was in our home towns. Here, we need to be aware of, and sensitive to the fact that COVID-19 is affecting us all in very different ways.

If we keep that in mind, maybe it won’t matter so much that we’re not all in the same boat.

Opinion 15

epigram 27.10.2020

Debate: tuition fee reductions Asking for fee Students should simply reductions is not be paying their full unreasonable fees this year Opinion Subeditor

W

ith universities restarting teaching over the last few weeks, public discussion has reignited over the issue of whether students are truly getting value for money in ‘blended’ or fully virtual teaching, and whether fees should be reduced as a result. Don’t get me wrong, the idea of lower fees sounds good – but it’d be unfair for you and I to expect it.

Before unpacking this perhaps provocative headline argument, I would stress that it applies to students who don’t have practical degrees, but rather those based in reading.

In attending university in the first place, even in normal times, domestic and EU students have accepted that there is a £9250 yearly tuition fee. As a student in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, my experiences in first year never involved more than eight hours of face-toface teaching a week. I, along with many who have a similar amount of contact hours, am therefore paying for far more than face-to-face learning, such as wellbeing services, the running and maintenance of university buildings and more. I agree: the tuition fee is excessive in normal times, and it should be lower – but not because of online learning. Fee levels in normal times are another debate.

For us to say that the £9,250 goes merely towards a few hours of video calls is a melodramatic simplification. Furthermore, it’s insulting to the academic staff who have had to make the best of a bad situation.

In criticising online teaching before we’ve really got started on it, and expecting an immediately flawless service in something that’s new for both staff and students, we’re dismissing the efforts of those who enjoy teaching us face-to-face, and would do so if they could.

For all the talk of the younger generation being one that is idealistic, we’ve entered Teaching Block One with an attitude of distinct defeatism. Students seem almost determined to believe that online teach-

ing is unworkable – or at least say it is, in the hope that it might make our loan a little smaller.

That’s perhaps to be expected; even the most optimistic can’t be that happy with the way 2020 has panned out.

However, the reality is that significant investment has been made to support the transformational way in which the University provides education. Couple this with a fall in income from international students, and it leaves students looking naïve in the demand for universities to reimburse us.

If you’re still unconvinced, we could revert to the fact that, for many of us, a partial fee reduction would not make a difference to how much we ultimately pay anyway.

Given that most domestic students borrow from the government to pay for tuition and living costs, the idea of around £50,000 of debt by the end of a degree doesn’t appeal. Although psychologically I’d welcome a reduction to that figure, it’s unlikely I’ll get close to paying it off. In fact, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, 83 per cent of us students are forecasted not to pay off our entire loan, as it is written off after thirty years.

Therefore, a reduction in however much we could feasibly expect the university to reimburse us would not make a difference for most of the 83 per cent. For a small few of us, it might mean we’d stop paying a couple months or years earlier in our late forties, but it will still be the same amount taken out of our payslip when we enter employment.

If the failure of Blackboard on 5 October was to reoccur frequently through the year, my argument wouldn’t stand. If you’re taking a more practical course such as Theatre Studies, there would be specific – and for me, convincing - arguments as to why fees should be reduced.

Readers might think I’m opposed to the idea of less debt: that if I had my way, we’d pay even more! That’s not the case; my argument is simply that we shouldn’t demand a reduction just due to online teaching. To end on a cliché; our education this year will be what we make of it.

Flossie Palmer Features Subeditor

B

oth freshers and undergraduates alike were promised ‘blended learning’ upon their return to Bristol this academic year. The majority expected business as usual on campus, with the odd pre-recorded lecture from home. Instead, we’ve been faced with considerably reduced contact hours, a four-hour weekly allowance at the library and expensive student rent that could have been avoided.

So far, it seems that student interests have been sidelined for a nationwide, institutional thirst for tuition fees. When what we originally signed up for has turned into something worth much less, the question is ‘why we are all still paying at least £9,2500 per year for a mostly online education which falls below standard?’

Students have found their contact hours significantly reduced in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It cannot even be said that most teaching takes place on campus, as the semi-asynchronousaspects of degrees involve online learning; only around half of these activities are face-to-face. So, what are we actually paying for, if it’s not in-person seminars and practicals?

Not only are we paying full price for less face-to-face learning, we are also paying for fewer resources created specifically for our course.

Lots of content used in the asynchronous, online tasks isn’t even produced by the University, including links to podcasts and newspaper articles for some humanities students.

Although it could be argued that this material is needed to build up background knowledge for more complicated topics, it feels as though the University is struggling for ideas of its own. Despite seminars and tutorials being moved online, not all of these sessions are up to standard.

Connectivity issues and the instability of the Blackboard Collaborate program are the most guilty culprits.

cial pressure of rent is pushing more Quality teaching has been replaced students into part-time employment, by a greater focus on whether your further risking the spread of corotutor can hear you, and distraction navirus that the University aimed to over microphone feedback. prevent.

If we are paying full tuition fees It is true that students are unlikefor less teaching time overall, surely to ever ly it would pay back all be sensible Student interests have been tuition fee to upgrade side-lined for a nationwide, the wi-fi of institutional thirst for tuition fees debt. Some of us will our tutors land better jobs than others, some and provide them with methods of may receive financial help from teaching that don’t involve copyfamily. But it is still necessary that and-paste style online resources. as a student body, we stand in soliTuition fees aren’t the only finandarity over issues that target us colcial struggle facing the student body. lectively.

Students returned to University halls Students are infamously taken adand privately rented accommodation vantage of, especially when renting, mainly due to the University’s prombut to face the same treatment by ise of ‘blended learning’, with both our own University over fees is unonline and in-person teaching. expected. We may never pay back all However, after experiencing draof what we owe, but why should we matically reduced in-person contact still pay full price for a lower qualihours once term started, with most ty service? Most customers wouldn’t courses offering online alternatives, think twice about seeking a refund it is possible for some students to for a faulty product, and this, in thecontinue studying from home. So it ory, is arguably similar. seems that students have been led Overall, it would only be fair for into yet another trap, this time in the this year’s tuition fees to be reduced form of tenancy agreements. to reflect both the quality of online Maintenance loan debt and high learning and our limited access to student rent could have easily been the University. avoided if the University had been If our teaching cannot be compenmore honest about their plans, sated for due to the pandemic, our which certainly aren’t as ‘blended’ as financial debt should be. we expected. The unnecessary finan-

Epigram/ Molly Pipe

Joe Marshall

16 Opinion

epigram 27.10.2020

COVID-19 has changed the dating scene for the better The coronavirus pandemic may have actually improved the gen-Z dating scene Emma Hanson Fourth Year, English

J

ust call me if you need me, and I can come and get you,’ my flatmate says as I walk out the door to meet my Bumble date.

This is a normal precaution for me, and I am sure many others who are part of the online dating scene: I always let someone know where I am going when meeting a boy for the first time.

The date goes well, but I always feel more comfortable to leave the first date at the door. I can only speak from my experiences as a heterosexual woman dating men, but I often find that there is a pressure to take it further. wwDespite its many downfalls, COVID-19 has somewhat

alleviated the pressure of these expectations.

‘Thanks for a lovely evening, and thanks for respecting my desire to social distance.’ This new concept, acts as something of a get out of contact free card. It’s the perfect reason to not rush into things, and to not do anything you are not entirely comfortable with or unsure of, with a person you’ve just met.

It’s a safety blanket supported by both the media, and government advice. What it meant for me, in practical terms, was that I stayed comfortable. I did exactly what I had set out to do on the date, which was to get to know somebody new without the pressure to be physical that often accompanies that.

Society’s new awareness of how and when we touch others has been sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic.

An innocent hug is now accompanied by a very real threat of disease.

A simple touch has become so much more.

As a result, we ask to hug, ask to

touch, and understand when people don’t want to, without asking any more questions. This newfound awareness and understanding of the consent attached to touching someone else’s body should continue beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Does the stranger you just met want to be hugged in greeting? Does the girl you offered to walk back to her house want to kiss you? The coronavirus pandemic has forced me to re-evaluate how I really feel about touch.

But asking a friend you know well if they are happy to hug is very different from asking your date the same question. The hug at the start of the date breaks the ice, the touch of the leg shows that the date is going well, the kiss at the end says goodbye.

When talking about this with a friend, she eloquently summarised that ‘physical contact is expected until it’s actively declined.’ Dating culture is so steeped in touch that during a time like this when we can’t touch,

we step back and think ‘how much -if ically assaulted, touch can even be at all - do we really want this?’ triggering. So this new awareness of Dating without the instant assump- the consent attached to small motion of touch or physicality feels like ments of physicality can be hugely we have gone back in time to tradi- beneficial. Being forced to take it tional courtship. I understand that slower can allow the emotional side some people want physical touch on of dating to come into the light, and a first date, and some people only take centre stage. It also creates a safe want the space where physical boundaAn innocent hug is now side, but at ries are less accompanied by a very real the moment likely to be threat of disease the choice crossed, and has been people can taken away from us. We are forced to be more comfortable when meeting talk and get to know each other first. someone new.

I am not saying that touch and I think this can be hugely benefiphysical contact is bad on a date, I cial and allow us to really get to know think it is an important part of being each other before we take the relaromantic with someone. tionship a step further and we should Body language serves as commu- aim to maintain this awareness of nication, especially in the early stag- touch and consent, even when social es of dating. But I think we need to distancing rules are relaxed. stop assuming that everyone wants, They were doing something right or is comfortable with, this assumed in the olden days when they courted. physicality when first meeting some- Perhaps being forced back into more one. traditional ways of dating is not a For people who have been phys- bad thing.

Why the ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement is so important in 2020

Lockdown has highlighted how much work there still is to do in the fight for eqaulity Hannah Grier

Second Year, Politics and Spanish

T

his November, women in Bristol and across the country may not be taking to the streets, as they would have normally, for the annual Reclaim the Night march. However, following a year of such tangible isolation, where there has been a noted rise in violence against women behind closed doors, standing in solidarity remains as important as ever.

In a year defined by separation, I hope that events surrounding such an important issue can serve to bring students together to reclaim their right to feel safe in their own bodies, streets and in their homes.

In relation to the spike in domestic violence cases during lockdown, Dr Emma Williamson, Head of the Centre for Gender and Violence Research at Bristol University explained, ‘Isolation is one of the main key tools around coercive control’ inflicted by perpetrators of domestic violence.

It is, therefore, sadly not surprising that a 22 per cent increase in domestic abuse crimes in Bristol has been

reported between March and May this year, by comparison to 2019.

This, of course, only accounts for those who were in a position to report their experience.

Tragically, the fatalities of this pandemic go far beyond those killed directly by the virus; it has also been the catalyst to an epidemic of domestic violence related deaths.

Do not be mistaken: these increased instances of domestic violence are neither the beginning nor end of the repercussions of systemic misogyny, victim blaming and years

of government cuts to support services. All of which, have lead to a surge in domestic violence and unfortunately, deaths.

The very fact that violence against women was so widely predicted to be a symptom of the pandemic only serves to highlight the underlining issue: that millions of women worldwide are not safe within their home environments.

The pandemic did not create the predominantly male perpetrators of domestic violence or a culture in which women feel they must suffer

in silence. The crux of the Reclaim the Night movement, and the reason for which it remains so important, is that it gives women an opportunity to raise their voice above this silence and fight back.

Feminism has progressed greatly since the first Reclaim the Night march in 1977.

Though the central demand for women’s safety in public and private spaces remains, I believe there is still much to be gained in highlighting the intersectional experiences of trans women and women of colour.

Epigram/ Robin Connolly

It is crucial that as a movement so central to modern feminism, Reclaim the Night stands against a white feminism which subverts voices of colour and so-called gender critical feminists who actively fight against the rights of transgender women, despite the disproportionate violence faced particularly by black trans women With the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement over the summer, it will be interesting to see how this year’s Reclaim the Night events seek to protect black women.

The University’s Gender and Ethnicity pay gap report from earlier this year found that in addition to an 18.6 per cent gender pay gap amongst staff, there is an 8.6 per cent ethnicity pay gap. This, providing just one example of the racism which prevails within our institutions. It seems clear that it is not sufficient for the women’s fight to take place in isolation to the intersecting forms of oppression which permeate our society.

Therefore, I hope that the message of this year's Reclaim the Night will be loud and clear: women cannot be equal until all women are equal.

All women can stand in solidarity against oppression in all its forms, in our collective experience of fear of violence and in hope of a future where our daughters need not be afraid.

Film&TV

Editor Maddy Raven Digital Editor Katya Spiers Deputy Editor Sam Vickers

Twitter: @Epigramculture

Tackling mental health in cinema With mental health being a major social issue, now more than ever it is important to question its representation within cinema Sophie Downes Second Year, English

O

ctober 10th is World Mental Health Day, and with mental health being addressed in society now more than ever, it is important to question how mental illness should be explored within cinema. Whilst many films discuss the topic constructively and generate thought-provoking responses, it is evident that through film, negative stereotypes can be perpetrated by erroneous projections of mental illness.

Undeniably, the use of film can

ny (Jennifer Lawrence), a woman suffering from depression after the death of her husband. The film’s upbeat depictions of these characters, amongst the humorous exhaustion of Pat’s father (Robert de Niro), incite a heart-warming and hopeful response to mental health. Whilst mental illness is shown to be difficult and debilitating, the film serves as a positive, if slightly naive, reminder that situations change and things can always get better.

Another film that could be argued as constructively raising the topic of mental illness is Todd Phillips’ award-winning revisal of the Batman comic in Joker (2019). Here – very differently from Silver Linings Playbook – we are offered an insight into the isolation and vulnerability that can be felt through mental illness through the film's brooding, dark cinematography. Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Arthur Fleck – the

man behind the ‘Joker’ persona – offers a new interpretation of the infamous character, alongside a backstory that portrays the villain’s inherent vulnerability and battles with mental health problems. Phillips’ reimagining of the abuse and isolation Fleck has suffered exemplifies a lesson that circled social media earlier this

year; the reminder to ‘be kind’ feels as if it is recurrent throughout. The audience are left questioning whether the mayhem of the ending and Fleck’s ultimate descent into violence would’ve happened without his cruel treatment by society.

Having said that, Dr Ziz Cohen, a specialist in violence psychopathy, argued in an interview with Insider that whilst ‘the film portrays the lack of resources and neglect around mental health...it strengthens the incorrect stereotype that there is a link between mental illness and violence.’

Arguably, Phillip’s bleak reimagining of the classic Joker tale strengthclassic Fight Club, the unnamed proens the belief that mental illness tagonist (Edward Norton) is shown necessitates violence and dangerous to be battling with a myriad of menbehaviour. tal health troubles. Whilst his initial Indeed, the same correlation is struggles show battles with insomperpetuated frequently within film as nia and depression, the film’s shock a whole. The psytwist depicts an chological horror undisclosed menWe are offered an insight tal illness with film Split (2016) into the isolation and divided critics in actions mirroring vulnerability that can its reception, with those of schizomany arguing the phrenia or DID. be felt through mental film stigmatised Here we are inillness. mental illness. troduced to the In the film, narrator’s fiercer James McAvoy plays Kevin Wendell alter ego, Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt).

Crumb, an individual with DissociaAgain, violent stereotypes are pertive Identity Disorder (DID) who kidpetuated through a film’s depiction naps three teenage girls before his of mental illness. The heavy and altwenty-fourth, most dangerous and most recurring violence throughout fantastical personality ‘The Beast’ is the film is indicative of how aggresreleased. This role arguably sets an sive stereotypes of mental illness in incredibly dangerous precedent for film were apparent even two decades a mental disorder that is frequently ago. misunderstood and misrepresented But Fight Club raises further in mainstream media. The predatoquestions about how mental health ry and dangerous characterisation should be handled in film given the of McAvoy’s character aids the misnature of the film’s surprise ending. construal that people suffering from Does the film exploit mental health mental illness are perilous and, as for the surprise twist at it’s finale – a depicted in this film, even criminal. shock that could be argued as parLikewise, in David Fincher’s 1999 amount in the film’s resonance and

president.

InFilm exists in order to give students from all departments the opportunity to begin making films: whether you want to start, or you want to continue to build on your pre-existing portfolio. Having been created by film students who didn’t feel that there were enough opportunities for filmmaking in their course, the society has grown, and is comprised of students from all parts of the university. Each teaching block, they aim to make at least three films.

One of these films is a Project Elephant production. Before now,

Project Elephant was a film that was produced, acted and directed entirely by female identifying members of the society. It has changed a bit this year: now, it’s a space for filmmakers who are female identifying, but also LGBT+ filmmakers, and those who are BIPOC. It exists as a safe space for those who feel underrepresented in the filmmaking community, and for those who may be nervous, and complete beginners. ‘As women in film, sometimes we can hold back our ideas,' Amy told me, ‘creativity is such a vulnerable place, and we want to guarantee a space where you

The Weinstein Company

be highly positive in its depiction of mental health through the empathy and understanding it can generate.

The romantic-comedy Silver Linings Playbook (2012) offered a refreshing and sensitive insight into mental illness through the exploits of Pat (Bradley Cooper) and his battles with bipolar disorder, as he meets Tiffa-

IMDb / Warner Borthers

success – or does the twist finale incite a retrospective consideration of how mental illness is deeper than we might assume? Perhaps the duality of the narrator's character could serve as a reminder of the multi-faceted nature of mental health. Whilst we may assume that we know an individual, as the audience naively assumes throughout the film, there is the implicit reminder that we don’t ever fully know what is going on inside someone’s head.

Mental health has many different portrayals within film. Whilst some directors present mental health constructively and sensitively, mental illness is frequently manipulated and misrepresented for entertainment and directorial purposes. With the wide reach of film creating opportunities for social discussion, it thus falls to us, as the audience, to discern whether a film’s portrayal of mental illness is considerate, constructive and ultimately fair.

If you need mental health support, the following groups can help: Samaritans: 116 123 University Wellbeing: 0117 456 9860

How InFilm adapted to a year like no other

As part of an ongoing series with film societies, Epigram sat down with InFilm Maddy Raven Film & TV Editor

A

s part of my ongoing series of interviews with film societies, I sat down (via Zoom) with the new president of InFilm, Amy Coleclough. She’s only the third president of InFilm – it’s still a relatively young society, but they’ve already made quite an impression. And, she’s the first female

can feel represented.'

There are proposals at the beginning of each teaching block where you can submit your idea. The only requirements are that you must have a producer and a director, and of course, an idea. Not only this, but at the end of last year, InFilm were about to start filming, so they’re currently hoping to re-start those projects.

The society also runs weekly workshops in order to introduce new members – workshops such as introductions to producing, directing, first assistant directing and editing.

The first proposals are after reading week, but everyone is welcome to come to their workshops both before and after reading week. Other plans in the works include a one-hour film challenge, and a seventy-hour film challenge during reading week.

The committee feel incredibly grateful that filmmaking is something that can be adjusted and adapted to be mindful of the Coronavirus. But, InFilm are excited to be welcoming newcomers and returning members, and hope to continue to provide filmmaking opportunities to the student body.

18 Film&TV

epigram 27.10.2020

Celebrating Black History Month

Finding Black joy in films Digital Editor

T

he 7 October saw the release of Steve McQueen’s hotly anticipated Mangrove (2020) at London Film Festival. Part of the director’s timely five-part Small Axe series for the BBC, the film is a vivid, dynamic telling of the Mangrove Nine’s protests and the gruelling trial that ensued. Twenty-seven years ago, while still a student, McQueen released Bear (1993), a short silent film focussed on two nude Black men wrestling each other, which was displayed at the Tate gallery the same year. As an institution which would have, at the time, been frequented almost exclusively by a white, middle-class audience, Bear was and is a moving critique of the homo-eroticisation and racialisation of Black bodies by white audiences, one that is still wholly relevant today.

Like with Bear, films made by Black directors are all too often racialised by white audiences, albeit sometimes indirectly. The reductive idea that Black filmmakers should only make work that tackles racial oppression causes a catch-22 that denies such films of Hollywood’s support and, most importantly, funding, unless they centre on slavery, protest, or police brutality. There is, undeniably, a lot of value in films that educate and empower, but when white audiences and industry members only feel comfortable with Black actors occupying the role of ‘oppressed,’ this serves to further reinforce racial binaries.

With much of Western media stuck in the past, there is an overwhelming need for more film and TV that foregrounds Black joy. Here are some of the best.

Chewing Gum (2015)

Chewing Gum is a sit-com in which writer-director Michaela Coel plays Tracey, a 24-year-old shop as-

Dave King Photography

Rocks has an authenticity and edge over American coming-of-age films Harri Knight-Davis

sistant in her, largely unfruitful quest to lose her virginity. As opposed to thematically comparable sit-coms (Miranda 2009-13), Fleabag (201619)), Chewing Gum does not centre on the tribulations of an aggressively middle-class central role. Instead, the series is set on an estate in east London’s Tower Hamlets, where we follow Tracey, best friend Candice (and her nan), navigating car crashes, second-hand dildo sale parties, dates with Stormzy, and a whole host of other unfathomable sticky situations. Chewing Gum is a genuinely hilarious member of the cringe-comedy genre, full of cheerful takes on the awkwardness of sexuality that are overshined only by Tracey’s ever-clashing floral shirts.

Samuel’s love, their tight-knit group of queer friends and the bonds that form out of unlikely situations.

Queen and Slim (2019)

Miss Juneteenth (2019)

Although framed around a chilling scene of police brutality, Queen and Slim showcases a nuanced and touching portrayal of Black love and intimacy. Following an astoundingly average date, Queen and Slim (Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya) are roped together indefinitely as Andre D. Wagner / Universal Pictures

Ley Line Entertainment

It's important to celebrate Black joy when so many films are racialised Katya Spiers

Rocks... rocks?

A new addition to the pageant-movie genre, Miss Juneteenth is Channing Godfrey Peoples' heartfelt debut feature that centres around a beauty pageant in Texas, where the winner of the competition wins a full scholarship to ‘any historically Black institution’. Though the idea of emancipation runs through the film, from the pageant’s name (which marks the 1865 liberation of enslaved people) to Turquoise (Rachel Robinson) and the labour of trying to give her daughter all of the experiences she needs to succeed, it is the touching mother-daughter relationship and the beauty of the everyday that shines through.

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse (2018) they are forced to escape authorities in an accidental and fairly melancholic police chase. With slick cinematography and an infatuating soundtrack, this carefully-paced road movie is imbued with a magnetic charm that brings to light the profound bond that the couple forms.

I Am Samuel (2020)

Peter Murimi’s vérité-style documentary I Am Samuel premiered at London Film Festival earlier this month. It follows five years in the life of a queer Kenyan couple (Samuel and Alex) in a country in which homosexuality is criminalised, as Samuel’s family make the difficult adjustment to their son’s sexuality.

Without downplaying it, the film does not dwell on the adversities faced by the couple in a world where simply being themselves risks severe punishment, providing instead an intimate portrayal of Alex and

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse is pure joy. It’s the story of Miles Morales, an Afro-Latino teenager growing up in New York in one of many parallel universes, who joins the ranks of the many ‘Spiderpeople.'

As opposed to Black Panther (2018), which highlights race, this film views Miles’ Puerto-Rican and African-American background as simply another part of him. In fact, the film almost completely dismisses the idea that Peter Parker, the original (white) superhero was ‘chosen.’

Becoming super-powered could happen to anyone, and in this case, it happens to Miles, and he must learn to control his powers and help to save that day.

This isn’t just a superhero movie – it’s a coming-of-age tale, and it appeals to all audiences. With a fantastic voice cast and some of the most stunning animation (we’re still talking about it, two years later), Sony outdid themselves with Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse.

is the relentless tug of war between creating an observational-style plotless film and simultaneously wanting to craft a story with regular plot beats. The film then does neither, as although Rocks is rather plot-light, it still falls into regular plot-trappings Second Year, Film and TV such as the argument and subsequent ocks (2019) production began separation of the best friends, and with the casting of the school the arrival of a new girl at school. girls who would be the focus This is perhaps where the film needs of this tender coming-of-age film in a singular director's vision, to create a more nuanced modern London. and slightly less The process from muddled narrathen on was deepThis collaborative tive. ly collaborative; experiment is valiant and The film overadapting the script bold, charming and raw comes this constantly on set through its and all the young heartfelt depicleads ad-libbing the dialogue. Along with this, the tion of human behaviour through a film was also shot with a documen- teenager’s eyes. The film soars the tary feel and it clearly owes a debt to highest when it zones in on Rocks’ the films of the French New Wave, need to appear like she’s in control of specifically Francois Truffaut’s The her ever-spiraling conundrum. Rocks 400 Blows (1959). All this gives seemingly wants to prove that she Rocks an authenticity and edge over can handle this situation by her own means.

American coming-of-age films.

R

IMDb / Fable Pictures

Rocks captures a formative week in the life of the film's namesake Rocks (Bukky Bakray) as she attempts to deal with her mother leaving, without warning, while protecting her younger brother Emmanuel (D’angelou Osei Kissiedu) and dealing with all the other tribulations that come with being a teenager. First time actor Bakray is phe- nomenal as the film’s protago nist, selling her character’s vulnerability and the facade that Rocks utilises in order to deal with her life altering situation.

Director Sarah Gavron and collaborators brilliantly balance the joy that youth brings with the bleak and tragic situation Rocks finds herself in. It achieves this by present characters that feel authentic; the cliques and conversations in school are genuine, the characters that inhabit the screen talk like real teenagers.

Their homes feel lived in and even the smallest of dramas are dealt with seriously. All these factors create a world that is diverse, playful and true. A detracting aspect however,

This offers a tangible element of Rocks’ life providing an insight past her emotional barriers, hence providing a more deeply emotional experience.

This collaborative experiment is valiant and bold, charming and raw, but as with every experiment there are faults and frustrations which occasionally deny Rocks from reaching truly authentic heights. Though, through slight bumps and hurdles along the way by the crescendo of this formative tale Rocks has the viewers in the palm of its hand, eagerly and tensely awaiting a girl coming of age surrounded by a vibrant group of teachers, friends and neighbours.

IMDb / Fable Pictures

Read the full article on the Epigram website!

Film&TV 19

epigram 27.10.2020

The Trial of the Chicago 7 is an engrossing but largely emotionless ensemble courtdrama This legal drama is interwoven smoothly with sharp editing combining flashbacks and historical images George Lanigan Third Year, English

I

t seems bizarre to be talking of Oscar hype over six months before the ceremony, but this is where Hollywood finds itself, with Nomadland (2020) amassing recent film festival hype and The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) opening this week on Netflix. The latter has Academy Award pedigree that will surely play on the minds of voters for the April 25th ceremony.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 was originally meant for Steven Spielberg, but was shelved after the Writers Guild of America strike in 2007.

Aaron Sorkin has instead taken the

helm of a film that commences at a frantic pace, dropping the viewer in the heart of the anti-Vietnam war movement context.

The film charts the Chicago Seven court case. This seven are a group of protestors charged with inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic convention: a historic event, but with a clear contemporary relevance as the film depicts graphic violence between protestors and police, alongside the famous chant, ‘the whole world is watching!’

Sorkin is an exceptional screenwriter whose films include The Social Network (2010), Moneyball (2011) and Steve Jobs (2015). As writer-director, it is no surprise that The Trial of the Chicago 7 is intrinsically Sorkin and largely centred on the dialogue, from the entertaining retorts (the accused brilliantly are described as ‘rebels without a job’) to the gripping verbal conflict of the courtroom.

However, giving Sorkin the reins as director leads to the film that meanders a little, at a lengthy 130-minute running time. There is a very unsubtle moralising tone and the courtroom scenes tip into melodrama at times, with members of the public gallery, defence and prosecution persistently interrupting the rather caricatured judge (Frank Langella).

The insistence on snappy dialogue, though well-written, does detract from the historical realism.

The Flower Power duo on trial become particularly gimmicky, with their comedic interjections tonally out of place in the sombre courtroom context that Sorkin constructs. This perhaps reflects his inexperience as a director, having only directed one feature film previously, Molly’s Game (2017).

The law drama is interwoven smoothly with sharp editing combining flashbacks and historical images,

allowing respite from the intense referencing and cross-referencing of the court. The production and costume design throughout these scenes create a valuable sense of authenticity, particularly in the scenes which place the viewer in the psychedelic world of hippie culture.

The film is well-acted, which is unsurprising given the star-studded ensemble cast to rival any film Hollywood has produced in recent years.

The casting is inspired, especially Sacha Baron Cohen, who is shrewdly cast as radical Flower Power activist Abbie Hoffman, while Joseph Gordon-Levitt is perfectly suited to his role as assured prosecuting lawyer Richard Schultz.

The factions within the Chicago Seven are an interesting area that Sorkin chooses to explore, highlighting the conflict between the psychedelic, anarchic side (represented by Baron Cohen) and the idealist, more democratic side (Eddie Redmayne’s

Tom Hayden). This develops the film’s ideas beyond purely the anti-establishment set-up, allowing scope for the different forms this social revolution took, encapsulated by Hoffman’s words to Hayden: ‘we define winning differently, you and I.’ The negative side-effect of a film driven by an ensemble cast as in The Trial of the Chicago 7 is that no character is fully fleshed-out enough to evoke genuine emotion from the viewer. There is no fully developed protagonist or clear antagonist, which is by no means an issue, but here leaves the action feeling a little heartless.

After two hours of intense verbal combat, the ending is rather sudden but is well-handled and becomes unexpectedly moving. Overall, the film does not have a strong emotional impact, but is an engrossing re-creation of a significant and timely historical moment, leaving the viewer satisfied, if a little exhausted.

The Boys is bloody hilarious If you were a fan of the first season of The Boys, then you are very much in luck Ben Glennan Third Year, Ancient History

I

spoiling anything, is more comical it’s some pretty classic throwaway than ever and really delivers some lines: ‘Expecting a happy ending fantastic lines were we? Well, I’m out of the blue. sorry, it ain’t that The show Expecting a happy ending? kind of massage Well, I'm sorry, it ain't constantly sets parlour.’ (I know up and explores I said I wouldn’t that kind of massage increasingly spoil anything, parlour. outrageous and but I couldn’t help often grotesque myself), to the exsituations and narratives. Some of tremely grisly and satisfying action the most depraved parts of humanscenes that are numerous in each ity are depicted and ridiculed in this episode. season with bloody hilarity. Coupled The straightforward plot (comwith the shows wacky and pared to competitors such as impressively creative Netflix’s Umbrella Academy use of superpowers, (2019-)) is hard to get lost the outlandishness of in. Despite it’s outlandthe characters and ish, well, everything, the scenarios they ‘The Boys’ season two find themselves builds upon the first in is constantly into weave together tensified.

Where surprisingly compeldominatrices and ling relationships neo-Nazis are already from loveable fairly colourful areas rogues to to explore, they’re despicable admittedly a lot villains that more entertaining you love to and amusing when hate. Topped off they are superwith impressive mucharged. sic choices and compelling The show is production design, season two consciously tryof The Boys is some of the most ing to one-up fun I’ve had with a show this itself in seeing year, it’s absolutely worth your how ridicutime whether you’re just picklous it can ing it up or were a fan of the go, whether first offering.

IMDb / Amazon Studios

n these increasingly uncertain times, the average content consumer may face the dilemma of what to watch as they are confined to their respective hall, house, or hovel. With season two of The Boys, Amazon has hit back hard at competing streaming services, its own (anti) superhero series has quickly risen to the top of the pack of the site’s original offerings.

Based on Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s comic series of the same name, The Boys season two picks up right where the first series left off, which was a bit of a cliff hanger. After the reveal of Billy Butcher’s (Karl Urban) very much alive wife, the season follows the continuing exploits of the leading team of vigilantes as they individually seek revenge and attempt to collectively bring down the corrupt superhero megacorporation that is Vought Industries, helmed this time round by Stan Edgar, played by Giancarlo Esposito, who unlike in his Breaking Bad days, seems here to be underutilised.

Season two opens strong with typical scenes of extreme violence and tongue-in-cheek humour; it doesn’t

example, there is a scene in this seaslow down for the entire eight-epson that is surely empowering, hilarisode run. If you were a fan of the ious and pretty bad-ass that genufirst season, then you are very much inely delivers a in luck.

Where seaSeason two opens strong message without potentially feelson one introwith typical scenes of ing forced whilst duced us to the extreme violence and also being inviolent, corrupt, tongue-in-cheek humour credibly enterand often alletaining. gorical world The strength of the show certainly of ‘The Seven’, season two continlies in its larger than life characters. ues the trend of showing us what From the eternally expressionless superheroes could look like in our ‘Black Noir’ (Nathan Mitchell) to current combative civilization. The the newly born again ‘Deep’ show builds upon its reputation (Chace Crawford), no matter of satirising pretty much any the scene, you are constantaspect of modern society, from ly invested in or cracked clear jabs at Scientology, to poup by the characters on litical movements as a whole. screen. Homelander (Antony While it may run the risk of Starr), though sidecoming off as dislined somewhat ingenuous, the by newcomshow’s self-aware er Stormfront attitude and (Aya Cash), is genuinestill spectaculy funny larly unstable commenas a Supertaries do man who hit the can snap mark, as at any mo‘Eagle the ment. Despite Archer’ would the iffy accent probably say. (which somehow If for whatever adds to delivery reason you weren’t and kind of suits the a fan of the fetone of the show), male power scene the hard-hitting Bilin Avengers: EndIMDb / Amazon Studios ly Butcher, without game (2019) for

Arts

Editor Anjuli Vadera Digital Editor Dulcie Godfrey Deputy Editor Katie Chalk

Twitter: @EpigramCulture

F

rom it's involvement in the slave trade, to the 1960s Bristol Bus Boycott that helped influence the UK’s first Race Relations Act in attempt to outlaw racial discrimination, to the St. Pauls Riot, an uprising against the racial profiling and overall harassment from police under the ‘sus laws', Bristol’s important position in Black British history is unquestionable.

We live and study in a city that is vibrant, diverse and full of culture and history. More so than ever, questions about Bristol’s slave legacy and those we deem worthy of memorialising are being brought into question. Pubs, schools and halls are changing their names and something that has come out of the discussions with people across the country is: who should we commemorate instead?

Longing for new ways to engage my brain when locked indoors and inspired due to the fact we're in the middle of Black History Month, I asked students across the campus about their own Black role models and favourite cultural icons. Admittedly, it seems I actually knew little more than the typical Black American figures, such as Rosa Parks, that I was taught in primary school. So, it is time for an alternate history. Let some of Bristol's best tell you about their Black Icons.

Ojinika Agbu

Ojinika Agbu, English, Second Year, President of AfroLit Society:

This Black History Month feels different. It feels like now, more than ever, we need to highlight stories of black success and joy and and put at the forefront the many times that Black people have beaten the odds and paved the way for not just their, but everyone’s, liberties.

For my black historical figure, I wanted to stay close to home and shed a light on Bristol’s own Marti Burgess (the Black woman you should probably be thanking if you’ve ever had a wild night out at Lakota). Marti bought and ran the popular club with her brother Bentley and made it the first to tour post-Apartheid South Africa, hosting some of the country’s first integrated discos. She also became the first Black member of Bristol’s Society of Merchant Ventures (infamously once led by Colston himself), tackling Bristol’s systematic inequalities and rewriting the legacy.

Another figure I would like to highlight who also feels close to home, is British-Nigerian musician, poet and playwright Labi Siffre.

You’ve probably heard him sample on your favourite rapper’s record, from Kanye West to Jay-Z to Eminem. But being a Black, gay singer in the seventies who was open and honest about his sexuality meant he never really managed to make it that big.

One of his defining tunes, ‘My Song,’ is an example of how he used his music as a form of revolution.

The song encapsulates the passion and pain of a person trying to make their way in a world that refuses to provide them a path.

His music acts as a form of revolution. The songs encapsulate the passion and pain of a person trying to make their way in a world that refuses to provide them a path. This Black History Month, he teaches me to keep using my art, in any way I can, to make a change.

Danique Bailey, English, Second Year, founder of 100 Black Voices: Mary Prince was one of the first Black writers to be published in Britain and wrote her autobiography The History of Mary Prince in 1831, after escaping slavery in Bermuda.

Prince’s autobiography highlighted the horrific life stories of enslaved women and men, helping change

public opinion on slavery, which was still legal in Bermuda and the West Indies. I think first-hand accounts

like these are so important because literacy was a sense of freedom. Lest we forget: slaves were not allowed to read or write.

Poetry is therefore significant, and sometimes in ways that do not directly relate to the arts. For example, Muhammad Ali recited a poem from memory during an interview in Ireland, to commemorate the prisoners killed during the 1971 Attica prison massacre. He also used his poetry to build his persona, which helped encourage people to buy tickets and watch his fights. He is remembered as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Morayo Omogbenigun, Social Policy, Second Year, Afrocentrik Director and LGBT Rep of ACS and Treasurer of AfroLit: Growing up in Nigeria, you’re always made aware of the cultural icon, Fela Kuti. Both an activist and a musician, he is truly a national treasure – even though the government attempted to arrest him over two-hundred times. Something less talked about is his band and the fantastic musicians that provided the driving beat to classics like Zombie and Water.

My cultural icon is actually Tony Allen, who was Fela’s drummer.

When listening to Allen’s solo work,

Epigram / Bamidele Madamiola

Arts Critic

This Black History Month feels different...now more than ever we need to highlight stories of black success and joy

Danique Bailey

Epigram asked students around Bristol for their favourite Black role models for Black History Month Bamidele Madamidola

Morayo Omogbenigun

Celebrating the Black cultural icons inspiring Bristol students

I hear a lot of drum patterns that remind me of modern day house music — my favourite one of his tracks is Afrobeat Jam; it could easily be a track on a KAYTRANADA album.

To me, Allen is a cultural icon and not only because he was a pioneer of West African highlife music. He helped take it to the world, collaborating with international artists such as Damon Albarn (frontman of 90s Brit-pop band Blur) and paving the way for so many young, Nigerian talents like Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema. Even though he has now passed, his beats are still influential today, and even featured alongside Skepta on the Gorillaz song How Far? earlier this year.

After these interviews, I started to do my own research on Black cultural figures, including Dolores Campbell. For 18 years, Dolores was a foster carer to more than 30 children.

She was the first female member of the Commonwealth Coordinated Committee (CCC), which set up to focus on open racial discrimination in Bristol in the 1960s and was one of the founders of St Paul’s Carnival celebrated every year on the first Saturday of July.

Her mural lies emblazoned on a wall on Campbell Street, St. Pauls.

Smiling down at us, exuberant with Black joy, surrounded by red lilies and a drawing of the sun shining down on a group of children. It is a part of Easton-born artist Michele Curtis’ ‘Seven Saints of St. Pauls,’ which celebrates Black Bristolians.

When walking down St. Pauls toward Easton to visit the barbers, I now think about that drawing on the mural and Dolores Campbell. I see a vibrant and inclusive history depicted on the walls, reflecting its diverse population; because Bristol’s Black history is inextricable from British History.

Arts 21

epigram 27.10.2020

The Path: Hassan Hajjaj's solo show at the Arnolfini is a glorious burst of colour

O

n display until November 1, The Path is Hassan Hajjaj’s first solo exhibition at the Arnolfini, curated by Ekow Eshun. This cacophonous explosion of colour, logos and patterns not only chronicles Hajjaj’s journey from Larache, Morocco to London in 1970, but is also a rumination on shared histories and heritage and the meaning of the word ‘home’ in a globalised world.

The name of the exhibition recalls an album by Ralph MacDonald that fuses jazz with Trinidadian calypso

portrait, a woman crouches down, a Louis Vuitton shoe poking out from underneath her camouflage djellaba. Her imposing look is directed out into the exhibition space, confronting the viewer and directly challenging the preconceived stereotypes that they may have towards Islamic women. All of Hajjaj’s photographs are surrounded by borders of Moroccan grocery products. The

in the exhibition’s chronology, but one which epitomises the experience best as a whole. In uniting an array of musicians from diverse backgrounds, the sitters take centre stage, rather than being pushed to the margins of society simply because of their heritage.

Just as each culture has its own rich musical tradition, Hajjaj celebrates the creativity and inspiration

The Path is a heartfelt and poignant celebration of a collaborative global spirit. integration of these mass-produced items subverts the traditional idea of ‘high art,’ critiquing the stuffy and hierarchical art world that all too often sidelines work by non-Western artists.

My Rock Stars is the last series

that is created by a multicultural society. In this strange post-Brexit limbo where politics divides us more than ever, Hajjaj showcases a portrait of Britain where immigration is positive: a very necessary reminder in the current climate.

Hajjaj has been repeatedly branded ‘the Andy Warhol of Morocco,’ a reductive and inhibiting label that diminishes his work to little more than an imitation of the infamous American pop artist. This tired comparison only serves to deepen the binary between Western and non-Western art ideals, pushing non-white voices out of the picture by suggesting that their work offers nothing more than an answer to (insert White artist’s name). Hajjaj’s work is original, inspiring and joyful in a completely unique way. At a time when borders are becoming more rigidly defined each day and criticism of immigration and multiculturalism ever present, The Path is a heartfelt and poignant celebration of a collaborative global spirit.

The Path is open at the Arnolfini until November 1. Free, but booking is required. Tickets available from the Arnolfini website.

Arnolfini

Digital Film & TV Editor

and African percussion, foregrounding the artist’s belief in music as a uniting power. The theme runs throughout the exhibition, the name of the Dakka Marrakchia series recalls Moroccan folk music tradition and My Rock Stars (a series of portraits and short films) showcases contemporary British musicians from multiple heritages: Kamaal Williams to Bumi Thomas.

Upon entering the exhibition, the viewer is confronted with towering portraits of women clad in djellabas, in a kaleidoscope of brands and colours.

The Dakka Marrakchia series defies Western stereotypes that see Islamic women as subservient and restrained, as well as integrating them into the world of high-fashion which remains dominated by white beauty ideals. Gang of Marrakesh (2000) makes up part of the series, a dynamic portrait of an all-woman biker gang. In the centre of the

Arnolfini

Mixing together influences from fashion, music and consumer culture, The Path creates a rich picture of global culture Katya Spiers

22 Arts

epigram 27.10.2020

A student response to the Chancellor's recent controversial statement Alice Clarke Second Year, History

F

Libby Henderson- Third Year, History of Art

atima’s next job could be in cyber (she just doesn't know it yet)' declares a recently resurfaced government recruitment campaign, set to the backdrop of a ballerina lacing her slippers. It may have been published pre-corona, but social media has gone ballistic nontheless. The ad encompasses the government's recent sentiment towards the arts. To many, it appears as though they believe the arts are merely an expendable hobby and that it is incomprehensible that it should be seen as a ‘proper career,’ despite our country relying on the Arts throughout the entire of lockdown to stay sane. The Arts are un-

derstatedly important and should be is the language of the Conservative celebrated, not pushed aside. government. But then, the numbers The patronising sentiment of support the fact the arts is invaluable the campaign is too familiar. Last to the UK economy. week, ITV reported that Rishi Sunak According to Arts Council Enghad suggested ‘musicians and othland, the sector brings in the region ers in the arts of £10 billion should retrain each year. For The arts are not and find other every £1 of an indulgence or jobs.' He later funding the secclarified that he afterthought. They are tor received, it had been talkcontributes £5 the livelihood of many. in taxes. Howing about ‘all’ types of emever, Conservaployment facing cuts and losses due tive austerity and cuts have slashed to the pandemic. However, arguably through the sector in recent years, the other ‘types of employment', of showing how little it is valued. Rishi which Sunak is refering to, do not Sunak’s COVID-19 ‘support package’ face the same uncertainty and sheer is much needed, but does not reach lack of support that the Arts do. In far enough. my opinion, the Conservatives have I would challenge Rishi Sunak and failed to acknowledge and act on any critics skeptical of the validity of this appropriately: something that arts careers to imagine life without is symptomatic of how the Arts are consuming art. No favourite albums, treated as a whole. trips to a gallery, gigs with friends The arts are not an indulgence or or film nights. Even if you are not an afterthought. They are the liveconsciously artistic, you consume lihood of many. Just because those thousands of images, sounds, enviwho engage with the arts as a career ronments and literature on a daily are not scientists or politicians, does basis. All designed by those in the not mean their service to our culture arts. Art does not just ‘appear’ for and society should be any less valthe enjoyment of us all — it is creued. You should not have to have a ated, agonised over, commissioned, career in STEM to be appareciated as often underfunded and made with a constructive member of society. passion.

Perhaps we should ask: why must The spirit of artists and the indusvalue and worth be based so heavily try is resilient against the relentless on profit and financial gain ? Even if pursuit for profit and productivity the music, theatre and art industries rife within our society. Many famous brought nothing to our economy, names have rallied in support of the they are invaluable to all our lives. creative sector and highlighted the Unfortunately, profit and statistics hard work and value of all those who

Isla Leckie

Listen up Rishi! Here's why the arts matter

work within it.

Author Ian Rankin really sums up how out of touch the government line is — ‘Without the arts, our lives are impoverished.'

To make a point, the Epigram Arts section for this issue has decided to Showcase artwork produced by Bris-

We have always lived in the Castle

Spooky Reads F

Mary Shelley

I

t’s that time of year where we don’t only dress up as monsters, ghosts and witches...but we read about them! Here are some of our favourite spooky, blood-curling, stop-up-the-passage-to-remorse stories full of mystery and haunting figures for Halloween!

Penguin Classics

Harlan Ellison

A

Edgar Allen Poe

A

I Have No Mouth And Must Scream rtificial intelligence takes over the world in this post-apocalyptic science fiction short story by Harlan Ellison. A product of the cold-war but prescient today nonetheless.

The Tell-Tale Heart nother psychological horror, this morbid tale is one of Poe’s best known short stories. The reader is compelled by the narrator to trust in their sanity as they describe, in detail, a calculated murder they have committed. Identities remain ambiguous, allowing the imagination to run wild. Who is the narrator? Who did they kill and why? Have a read and decide for yourselves.

A

Penguin Books

Deputy Arts Editor

Penguin Random House

Katie Chalk

If you would like to send us examples of anything creative you have been working on or towards, please get in touch: epigramarts@gmail. com

Frankenstein

Shirley Jackson

or those less suited to gory horror, this quietly disturbing novel entices the reader into the mystery of the murdered Blackwood family and the claustrophobic world of those family members left behind. With gothic folktale undertones, dark humour, and unsettlingly unreliable narration, Jackson plays with the reader’s trust, keeping them teetering between safety and insecurity.

tol Students, in defence of the arts and as an ode to student creativity.

h, Frankenstein. Surely, a list of halloween novels would be amiss without this classic. As an English student, I am all too familiar with it. But, for those who have not studied Mary Shelley's masterwork, I can assure you it's popularity is not without reason. With its chilling narrative about a botched creature intent on destroying its maker, Frankenstein is the perfect spooky classic to return to this Halloween.

BOOK

CORNER

Music

Editor Lucas Arthur Digital Editor Greg Evans Deputy Editor Flora Pick

Twitter: @EpigramCulture Spotify: epigram_music

Lucas Arthur Music Editor

L

was offered to England’s ‘Cultural Organisations’, with any business related to music, theatre, dance, combined arts, visual arts, museums, or literature eligible to receive funding, given that they applied by 4 September. A document shared by the SBN Hardcore Activists Group revealed the breakdown of the grants received by various Bristol music venues.

A total of £3,309,973 was granted to the city’s ‘music’ organisations, ecompassing all facets of the industry: besides venues (shown alongside grants in the insert below), management agencies, production companies and music publications all benefitted from the scheme. Bristol's Crack Magazine, an internationally acclaimed music journal, received over £125,000: it's a reminder that hardships within the sector extend far past the obvious casualties.

The utility of the grants goes beyond merely bailing out the venues: across the UK, the night-time entertainment industry contributes some £66 billion to the UK economy.

In Bristol alone, some 40,000 were employed in bars and clubs across the sector. A 2015 report identified 94 dedicated music venues across the city, bringing in £123 million in revenues. ‘It’s not charity,’ says McGann - these are important contributors to the economy, apart from the fact that they are central to Bristol's culture and tourism industry… All the recipients are well deserving and

Lucas Arthur | Epigram

eftBank, a cosy jazz club tucked into Cheltenham Road, closed its doors in March. The club had been ‘struggling as a business before [the] crisis’ and felt that remaining open posed ‘too great a threat to public health’.

This is unlikely to be the last pandemic related closure. For small venues, which comprise the majority of the city’s clubs, contending with two meters of social distancing, a maximum of six to a group and a 10pm curfew has proven difficult, particularly for those who were struggling before Covid-19 hit. Venues like LeftBank which lack outdoor space were unable to adopt the wildly successful model of Lakota Gardens, where outdoor seating substitutes the lack of indoor capacity.

Some devised workarounds (See the page opposite); yet, despite adaptations, the majority of venues have been ‘left out to dry’ – reduced capacities and opening hours have placed immense strain on an already though all were larger and arguably fragile sector of the local econoin lesser need of aid, their exceptions my. The plight of venues, their staff highlight the austerity that shrouds and their owners has triggered an relief efforts at a national level. outpouring of support. Save Bris‘Bristol is luckier than it knows…’ attol Nightlife (SBN), a community tests SBN: while Westminster’s blanFacebook page dedicated to ket contributions have been supporting the cities nightinvaluable, Bristol’s local Name AKA Grant (£) time industry, is one such authorities have truly risen Aerofleece The Fleece 249,297 example. Since its foundato the task of preserving the Limited tion in 2017, the page has sector. ‘The council, coungarnered over three thoucil officers and admin have Exchange Ven- The Exchange 85,533 ue Bristol LTD sand likes and endorsement been absolutely amazing from innumerable local and supportive through this Loco Klub Loco Klub 83,000 businesses. crisis – [they] have gone Motion Events Motion 884,796 Speaking to Annie Mcout of their way to be acLTD Gann, founder and admin commodating.’

St George's St George's 564,916 of the page, she stressed Such glowing feedback Bristol the personal cost of the may come as a surprise to The Lousiana The Louisiana 137,476 pandemic: ‘I really worry some. The 10pm curfew, Trinity ComTrinity Center 329,363 for the mental health and gaily imposed by Johnson munity Arts wellbeing of people in our with little academic basis, sector… The people who was met with widespread run pubs and venues, who opposition from venues and have put their all into making their have certainly paid enough in tax punters alike. The burden of enforcvenues COVID safe, but who are and business rates to see some of it ing the curfew, along with social disstruggling financially and mentally’. [returned] in one form or another.’ tancing measures and a raft of other The losses incurred by many venNot all of the venues that applied restrictions, fell onto local authoriues have necessitated financial aid. were as fortunate: ‘There are quite ties and the police; conflict seemed The government’s Culture Recovery a few venues that applied for fundinevitable. Yet, McGann says, the Fund has been hailed as a ‘lifeline’ ing and didn't get it.’ Among them, relationship between venues and for the sector: £1.5 billion in grants Thekla, Rough Trade and SWX; authorities has been exemplary: ‘I

Lucas Arthur | Epigram

Bristol's music venues are in dire straits. Will we ever dance again?

Lucas Arthur | Epigram

What next for nightlife?

know this doesn't go with the pubof really shit behaviour from ‘revellic's imagined narrative but it's true lers'. It's hell out there.’

- it's not an ‘us against them' situaNightlife under COVID is a matter tion at all. Behind the scenes there is of compromise and restraint, defined communication and dozens of Zoom by its restrictions. The challenge for calls. Even the police have been pretvenues who wish to remain open ty supportive, putting things right will be to create something fun from and giving advice before the venues within such a dismal set of paramreopened… From thousands of visits eters: seated, table-serviced discos by the authorities, there have been which end abruptly at 10pm are here very few places that have been in to stay. Even with compromises, surtrouble.’ viving in this new If anyone is I know this doesn't go climate is easier deserving of critwith the public's imsaid than done. icism, it’s those agined narrative but Independent venthat visit the venit's true - It's not an ‘us ues, the very ues. ‘Now, if we against them' situation things that makes could just get the at all.

Bristol’s nightlife public to behave so unique, are themselves we'd be fine,’ she jokes; marred by their minimal financial ‘We have had some noise complaints resources, and a further tightening even though the venues are closed of restrictions (least of all, the threat when people have loud parties, the of a ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown) will venues get the blame even though only worsen their chances of endurthey're shut - that always happens.’ ing the winter. Given this, it’s reasIn addition, staff often take the brunt suring to know that such vast sysof the public’s anger at new restrictems of support are in place, through tions: ‘One of the things [SBN] will government, local authorities and be chasing is for mental health supthe city’s night-time community. port and conflict resolution training While little else seems certain, the for staff and security in the bars on love and pride put into Bristol’s Park Street – they’re on the frontline nightlife is unlikely to wane.

24 Music

epigram 27.10.2020

Bristol venues: Improvise, adapt, overcome...

F

rom mid-lockdown renovations to the building of impromptu beer gardens, to a giant circus tent, many independent venues have done an excellent job adapting to the new normal.

The Love Inn The Love Inn, an intimate techno club in the heart of Stokes Croft, has joined ranks with one of the more exciting pandemic upstarts. Breaking Bread is a ‘socially distanced pop-up environment’ hosting some of the city’s trendiest independent restaurants, including the Pipe and Lovers, Pasta Loco and the Pony and Trap.

A range of culinary treats is on offer, from tapas to pasta, kebabs and cocktails, all within a graceful tented seating area. The Love Inn provides the soundtrack, bringing in live DJs to play beneath the canvas. Themed nights are also on the menu: Drag Queen Bingo promises to be 'a game like no other you’ve played before’, marking a slight departure from the laid-back techno nights of days gone by.

The Crofters Rights Before the pandemic, Crofters Rights in Stokes Croft consistently put on high quality local and touring bands of all styles, served a great selection of pizza and beers, and held small club nights in their live room.

A very cozy place with great sound and a lot of character. After being

The Exchange The Exchange in Old Market is usually one of the best venues in the city to catch punk and alternative acts, as well as being home to a vegan friendly café and Specialist Subject Records. It’s larger 350-capacity upstairs stage hosted shows from acts as varied as experimental hip hop fiend, JPEGMafia, to math rock bands like Battles last year.

While the Exchange remains closed at the moment, the venue announced on 12 October that they successfully applied for a government support grant.

Despite closure for the past seven months, a lot has been going on as they prepare to reopen. In addition to renovating much of the venue, Exchange ran a successful pressing of custom T-shirts, consistently populated their social media with great memes, and has started a series of excellent videos on their social media of local bands playing isolation sets and engaging in general shenanigans under the banner of Exchange TV. While it remains to be seen how and when the venue will be able to

Editors' Picks

reopen, The Exchange could well be a good test of how helpful the government’s cash injection will be for grassroots music venues.

The Mother’s Ruin Located right next to St. Nicholas Market, Mother’s Ruin is a delightfully unapologetic dive bar with two small stages. It’s one of those venues where you’re likely to stumble across your new favourite band, frequently holding shows by Bristol labels like Breakfast Records, as well as touring acts. The venue is spread out across several little floors of different heights, which makes it both exceptionally weird and cozy, and challenging for social distancing measures.

To compensate, The Ruin has set up all new outdoor seating, hosts acoustic sets on the sidewalks, and have run some very successful crowdfunding campaigns. The ongoing campaign has raised over £12,000, but is yet to meet their goal of £15,000. While a number of Bristol venues ran similar crowdfunding campaigns to keep them afloat while closed down, Mother’s Ruin’s campaign undoubtedly offered the most entertaining rewards to contributors ranging from the guarantee that one of their notoriously cranky bartenders will be nice to you for one evening (£20), to a sound engineering course from the in-house engineers (£50), all the way up to the promise to have a large picture of your face immortalised on the wall of the men’s toilet (£200). While the venue is far from saved at the moment, if anyone deserves to hold a successful crowdfunding drive, it has to be The Mother’s Ruin.

Various Artists

Blue Note Re:imagined

Lucas Arthur Music Editor

R

e:imagined is as much a celebration of the jazz greats as it is of the current generation.

16 of the UK’s most highly acclaimed artists, including Ezra Collective, Blue Lab Beats, Nubya Garcia, Jorja Smith and Poppy Ajudha, have created renditions of Blue Note standards in their own image, shifting tone, tempo and instrumentation.

More than a set of covers, the album is bound by legacy – a continuation of a record label which began in New York some 80 years prior.

Lucas Arthur | Epigram

Third Year, Philosophy

forced to close in March, the Crofters team went to work building a working beer garden on Picton Street.

This didn’t allow them to continue their live music, but it helped keep the venue open as an outdoor pub from July until they were allowed to reopen their indoor facilities on 18 September. They’re now holding sit down DJ events with limited capacity, but are not yet back to their full time opening hours. Because of this it remains to be seen how sustainable this will be in the long run, but for the time being Crofters is back in business.

Lauren Paddison | Epigram

Epigram looks at how some of the cities best venues have handed social distancing Zac Richardson

The Lanes Seeing as The Lanes is a bowling alley, pizza place, pub, live music venue and nightclub it’s not shocking that they’ve continued to innovate in response to challenges posed by social distancing. The Lanes have been holding fairly large scale seated gigs since reopening, with bands from all over the region scrambling to book a show there. It is one of the only places in the city where you can get close to a normal pre-pandem-

Travis 10 Songs Lauren Paddison Subeditor

A

kin to the vibes of Keane and Coldplay, Travis' new album takes you on a trip back to the noughties to fully embrace the very assured vocals of Fran Healy in the most classic of Britpop settings. Reverberant piano lines and tremelo'd guitars rarely sway from the parameter set out by the band in their heyday. Travis’ first release since 2016, it is laced with melancholy and clean playing, a soft background to accompany rainy days and your allocated four hours of library study time.

ic Bristol live music experience. To ensure attendees feel safe, the venue requires all to register in advance, sells a maximum of 10 tables of four in their reasonably large live room, and has a contactless ordering system for its bar and pizza kitchen. The Lanes is a great example of a venue that has taken advantage of its size and unique layout to give music fans a sense of normality while keeping things safe and ensuring they conform to government guidelines.

Shamir Shamir Greg Evans

Digital Editor

W

ith a fresh, genrebending outlook, Shamir is a reclamation of self-love set over cool lo-fi pop music.

Self-released, this is an album that deals heavily with the emotions and authenticities of self-identity, retaining a certain cool atmosphere that distinguishes it from earlier releases. Best summarised by the line ‘Done giving up my light, just to stay in the dark’ on ‘Running’, the countertenor finds a rawness of emotion that sets Shamir apart.

Touché Amoré Lament Flora Pick

Deputy Music Editor

T

hough one is not necessarily inclined to believe that 2020 is the year to yank post-hardcore in newly brilliant directions, the stalwarts of the scene here prove that there's no excuse to rest on convention. Sporting its signs of wear as adornment, Lament expertly navigates a balance between cacophonic catharsis and the catchiness of unashamedly pop hooks.

Standout track 'Limelight''s refrain of 'I'm not so young anymore' rings out with apt futility, soundtracking a year of uphill struggle.

Discover all of our recommedations on our Spotify @Epigram_Music

Music 25

epigram 27.10.2020

Music events to watch out for in Bristol this month Deputy Music Editor

A

s plans are built on shakier foundations than ever before (who knows quite what the future will bring), it pays to remain optimistic. Here’s what's set to happen in Bristol in the coming weeks.

The Lanes The Lanes is another venue offering an approximation of the concert experience belonging to days gone by. This is an exciting opportunity to catch some local artists, including Wych Elm, that have been barred from performing for months on end.

Strange Brew Strange Brew is a new venue for the city - discover their proud array of craft beer, local DJs and impressive murals on Friday and Saturday bar nights.

Lauren Paddison | Epigram

Trinity Centre Trinity Centre is attempting to replicate some of that concert experience by running seated sessions

throughout October. Expect sets from Waldo's Gift and Afrobeats.

SWX SWX are running seated sessions on Friday and Saturday nights throughout October, featuring three DJs and ample deals on drinks.

Lauren Paddison | Epigram

Your guide to the city's events and happenings the next few weeks!

Flora Pick

Mr. Wolfs The legendary Mr. Wolfs reopens its doors, both to its main rooms and a newly refurbished roof terrace, hosting live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Bridewell Beer Gardens Bridewell Beer Gardens have done the city well throughout times of social distancing, providing a reliable outdoor space for drinks and DJs. Now, they’ve undertaken the formidable task of relaunching BED Mondays: though perhaps the time for chicken nuggets thrown into open mouths has passed, drinking games and ‘embarrassing' themed nights are promised. BED Monday relaunches on the 26 October.

The Black Swan Hosting Bris-Tek Garden sessions on weekends, supplying sound system jams at a distance. Tickets tend to be snatched up pretty fast so make sure to keep an eye on their Facebook page. Expect carnage.

High Rise With the potential to book table sessions from 3pm-9:45pm, High Rise Hub is the place to go for a fullon, utterly immersive sound system experience, complete with every flavour of drum and bass.

Those eager to express their inalienable right to get drunk in public while wearing a tacky costume: hope is not lost. Various venues across the city will be running socially distanced events this Halloween.

Crofter's Rights will be hosting Warp Speed Chug presents ITALOween on the October 31, promising the ‘scariest seated event of the year’, with music provided by their inhouse DJs.

Lakota Gardens are truly pulling out the stops, with event nights from October 29–31, ensuring maximum access granted to spooky festivities.

Bridewell Beer Gardens will be hosting a live scare show on 31 October - expect scare actors galore, that seem increasingly real with every cocktail purchased.

Mother's Ruin are taking free table bookings for 31 October, with speciality Halloween drinks and a fancy-dress competition. Gather your flatmates and plot to blow the other contestants out of the water.

If you choose to attend an event, stay safe and follow government advice.

Masked-up meetings and zoom auditions: Bristol Uni music societies in 2020

Epigram takes a look at how leading musical societies are getting on this year Greg Evans Digital Music Editor

Lauren Paddison | Epigram

I

n the face of local lockdowns, bans on gatherings and 10pm curfews across the city, societies have found a way to let music play in 2020.

Whether it’s piling onto the dancefloor of Thekla on a Thursday night or hearing the unmistakable marimba of an iPhone mid-performance at the Victoria Rooms, the days of live music seem distant.

Social distancing has permeated every facet of the music sector, yet Bristol Uni’s music societies have adapted, and found ways forward.

After speaking to everybody from Hip Hop Society to Bristol's own Burst Radio Station, the thing that unites them is adaptability: ‘If it’s one thing we have learnt during this time, it is that things change so quickly that you just have to go with the flow,' say Bristol Uni-

veristy Music Society.

Over the summer, societies had to completely reimagine how their ensembles worked. The infamous lockdown Zoom call became a regular fix as committees tried to plan events for an academic year that felt so uncertain.

Yet societies were quick to discover the power of social media beyond the realms of the quarantine quiz.

Talking to Bristol Hip Hop Society, it was clear that the best thing students can do to get involved with music societies is to keep in touch online.

In these changing times, societies are being innovative in their use of socials, and they stress that it’s not too late to join their community.

A quick scroll through the events section on any music society's Facebook page reveals a host of well

thought-out online events. It’s clear that committees have gone to great effort to replicate the live music experience online, being careful to avoid the trials of some online socials (break-out room anyone?)

But the allusive in-person experience is not a concept banished to the history books. With face masks, social distancing and optimism in tow, the Jazz, Funk and Soul Soci-

ety are back with COVID-secure live music every Tuesday evening at Mr Wolfs. Similarly, Bristol University Music Society are hoping to restart in-person rehearsals at the end of this month.

For all societies, public health remains the most important thing. Ensuring students can enjoy music in a way that ensures the safety of the wider community is paramount to every committee we spoke to.

‘Music is so important to all of us and we are just focussed on being able to allow our members to take part in music again in a COVID secure way!’ add Bristol University Music Society.

There’s a level of acceptance among societies that things won’t quite be the same as last year, but there is also an optimism that music will continue to, as it always has, provide a community for students at Bristol.

For more information about music societies and how they are running this year, visit the SU website - https://www.bristolsu. org.uk

SciTech

Editor Julia Riopelle Digital Editor Edward Deacon Deputy Editor Delhi Kalwan

Twitter: @EpigramSciTech

Diversity in STEM: a conversation with Dr Leanne Melbourne

SciTech Editor

D

r Leanne Melbourne is a British Caribbean who grew up in London and whose parents are from Jamaica.

From 2009 to 2013 she completed her MSci in Chemistry at the University of Bristol with a year in industry. She went on to attain a PhD from the School of Earth Sciences, looking at the effect of climate change on coralline algae.

After taking a brief break from academia, she has returned to lecture at the School of Earth Sciences. I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Melbourne about her experiences as a BAME woman in science and have gained many insightful views from our conversation.

When did you first become interested in pursuing a STEM field, specifically chemistry, at university?

Growing up I initially was set on studying medicine. My mother works in a hospital, so she’s always been in that environment and did coerce me a little down that route.

I’ve always loved science, but research-wise, I never thought of it as a career. However, when I went to an open day for medicine I hated it! It’s not like I don’t find medicine interesting, it was just because I had that mindset for so long, that I just went with it. I saw my strength to be in chemistry and maths during my A-levels, so I decided to pursue chemistry at university.

Interesting! You sort of already answered my next question on whether your parents influenced your decision to do a STEM science.

I’ve been having the conversation a lot quite recently, and I definitely don’t want to generalise; however, there is this concept that parents who have migrated to the UK, want their children to have a ‘better life’ than they had. They will definitely push you down those routes with the well-respected and high-profile career paths. My mother wanted me to earn more money than she

ever did and be more successful, hence why she thought a doctor would be good for me.

The University of Bristol is a predominantly white university.

Did you ever actively think about how you were one of the few Black students doing chemistry?

I didn’t really, which is weird because I went to a school of predominantly Black and asian students.

White students were actually the minority! I guess since I grew up in an area that was heavily multicultural, it didn’t matter that I was in a predominantly white setting. I was so used to being around people of different backgrounds, and also I guess I knew I was going to go into a predominantly white setting so maybe I had prepared myself for that, I don’t know.

So, I didn't think much about the diversity of students, however I do remember noticing there were only a few lecturers of colour. Despite that, it was actually the lack of female lectures in chemistry which stood out to me.

I remember during my undergraduate, which was only ten years ago, there was one female professor.

Did the lack of diversity of women in chemistry affect your teaching in any way? For example contributing to discussion or feeling comfortable to ask questions?

Yeah, I think this is something that happens a lot, especially with women. I was definitely not as comfortable communicating my ideas in university classes. I always assumed I was quite shy that way with my knowledge, but actually it may very well be due to not feeling comfortable in the space. Not being comfortable enough to show when you do not know the answer. In school I was never like that, I was always the one to raise my hand

and collaborate with my peers.

You need to consider university is a big environment. There are many students who have the confidence to say things, whether they know it’s true or not. I am definitely not like that, I like knowing that what I am going to say is always factually correct. I think that’s partly because if I do start saying things that are wrong, it’s not just a reflection of me, it’s a reflection of my community.

What made you change from an undergrad in chemistry to a PhD in Earth Sciences? What inspired you to pursue academia?

When I started my chemistry degree, I loved learning all the theory, but hated labs. I did a integrated

looked at the impact of climate change and global warming on the acidification of coralline algae.

I truly loved my PhD, I really enjoyed it.

PhDs usually attract more international students, did their perspectives help you in your approach to research?

The post-graduate world is definitely more diverse, we had many more Black students from all over the African continent, but not in the terms of UK domestic students.

If you are looking at UK BAME students, at the time of my PhD, I think I was one of three?

There are a lot of international students who definitely bring more perspectives and resources to our research group.

For example, highlighting research and introducing us to papers we probably would not have been aware of if we did not have that connection.

Do you think that’s isolated to the Earth Sciences departments, or is it a general trend that UK BAME students don’t do PhDs? Firstly, Earth Sciences is small, so the pool of students is already limited.

But no, you see a high dropout rate across all STEM departments (after graduating with a bachelors). There is a ‘leaky pipeline pattern’. You see a number of BAME students doing a Bachelors of Science degree, but you see fewer and fewer students applying for PhDs or pursuing academia. A report was picked up

by Leading Routes about research councils in the UK. It stated within Natural England Research Council, which funds a lot of PhD students, that between 2017 and 2019, out of 19,868 PhD funded studentships awards, only 245 were awarded to Black or Black-mixed students. I was one of the 30 Afro-Caribbean students granted a studentship in Dr Leanne Melbourne

Dr Leanne Melbourne speaks about her experience as an AfroCaribbean woman pursuing a career in academia Julia Riopelle

masters with a year in industry, though even then I was thinking of alternative career options. It wasn’t until my supervisor sat me down and said, ‘Leanne, have you thought about doing a PhD? You’ve really taken to the research side of your masters project. You’re the sort of person who would do well doing a PhD and really enjoy it.’ I think if it wasn’t for this comment, I would have never considered pursuing academia.

As I really enjoyed the ocean chemistry unit and seeing the chemical impacts on the biology of the ocean, I applied for a PhD project in Earth Sciences. My PhD

the UK. It is partly to do with students not seeing representation of people like them, not feeling like they are capable of getting there, feeling alienated or isolated when coming to a new city that is predominantly white. There are less people to interact with who understand your culture and background. I guess there is probably a bias in the awarding of studentships, but you cannot exactly pinpoint it within the data.

How did you come into the role of a lecturer in Earth Sciences?

Originally, I knew that after my PhD I would be done with academia. Even though my supervisors kept telling me I was doing well, I didn’t want to stay because I didn’t think I was good enough. I didn’t think I had it in me to keep coming up with the questions, fight for funding and fight to prove the worth of my research and me.

However after two years working at the Linnean Society and the Natural History Museum, I missed conducting my own research. I saw this lecturer role was come up and I applied and here I am! It’s an 18 month contract, which is great, because it’ll give me the chance to really know if I want to stay in academia.

What would you like to say to prospective BAME students looking into STEM? Oh wow, I don’t know! If you have an interest in science and enjoy learning why things work the way they do, then a research career could be for you. It’s a really difficult question to answer because it’s hard to say to someone, ‘don’t let the lack of visibility affect you’. Because it does. As we know, Bristol has definitely had issues in its past, but it appears to me that they are really working on increasing diversity and being inclusive. There are more outreach programs into communities which they never really interacted with before. There is also much more structural support in the University for BAME students.

So, to say it simply, if you love science, pursue it! And don’t let the lack of love for labs stop you!

This is an abridged article. To read the full version, visit our website epigram.org.uk

SciTech 27

How cancer puts brakes on the immune system Unsplash / ZEISS

from the T-cell to the cancer cell.

A T-cell taken from a cancerous mouse failed to maintain a skeletal ring around the fused area. Instead, its skeleton formed a messy mesh across the entire joined region. There was no skeleton-free zone in the middle.

This could explain why these T-cells struggled to hold on to their target; it would be like trying to grip a football with only a couple of fingers. It also explained why these T-cells did not kill properly. They simply had no clear window through which to freely fire ammo at the cancer target.

Does the drug give T-cells a firm-

Professor Sir Michael Berry Professor Sir Michael Berry from the School of Physics is being awarded the Fudan-Zhongzhi Science Award for the theoretical discovery of the geometric phase - commonly known as the Berry phase - in quantum mechanics.

The Berry phase arises in quantum waves when amplitude and phase (the stage along an oscillation) are simultaneously changed very slowly, and has applications in many areas including quantum computing, the swimming of tiny organisms and in the electrical properties of quantum materials.

Immunotherapies can be lifelines, but they don't work for everyone Professor Lucy Yardley

Professor Lucy Yardley was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her COVID-19 responses.

Yardley is a professor of Health Psychology and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Her research educates people to self-manage their own health, through the development of a ‘Germ Defence’ app. The app helped control the spread of seasonal flu and now has been adapted to combat COVID-19.

Tune in to...

Courtesy of BBC Radio Bristol

er hold on cancer cells by correcting their skeletons? When they looked at the skeletons of T-cells from tumours which had been exposed to the drug, it was a breakthrough moment. T-cells from tumours that received the drug regained the stable skeletal ring at the synapse when they bound to cancer cells. They also cleared their skeleton from the synapse centre which helped them to kill better.

‘This study shows how a series of steps is required to enable a T-cell to kill a cancer cell and if these steps become less efficient, they add up to a substantial overall defect in the killing power of T-cells,’ says Wülfing.

Looking forward, scientists continue to search for new strategies to improve the therapeutic potential of the drug.

Immunotherapies can be lifelines, but they don’t work for everyone.

If we want immunotherapies to succeed for more patients, knowledge is power: to shrink lumps and save lives.

University of Bristol / Carissa Wong

A

University of Bristol

cell, the T-cell fires toxic chemicals through the synapse into it. The researchers noticed that T-cells from healthy mice fused tightly to one spot of a cancer cell, while T-cells from the tumours of the cancerous mice struggled to bind and stay in Third Year, Cancer Immunology one place. This is when the Bristol PhD researchers had an interesting idea.

To test whether the drug restores study led by the Universithe ability of T-cells to hold on to ty of Bristol has revealed cancer cells, thereby making them a new way of utilising the better cancer-killers, tumours were drug Pembrolizumab to help in the grown in mice and some mice were fight against cancer. The research, given a medicine, which was the published in Science Signaling, outmouse-equivalent to Pembrolizumlines how the antibody can aid the ab. Although the drug did not comcancer-killing soldiers of the impletely reverse the defect, it substanmune system: T-cells. tially improved the ability of T-cells Pembrolizumab is a form of imto hold on to and munotherapy, Antibodies can aid the kill cancer cells. a treatment To work out why cancer-killing soldiers of which boosts cancer-killing the immune system: T Cells exposure to a tumour made a T-cell immune relose its grip, the scientists compared sponses in the body. Although the the skeletons of T-cells obtained drug has been approved to treat from mouse tumours and healthy severe skin cancer since 2015, past mice. The skeleton of a T-cell conclinical trials showed that the drug trols its movement in the same way often cures fewer than 50 per cent our skeleton enables us to walk and of patients.

A limitation to the effectiveness of the drug is that, although scientists know it strengthens T-cell response mechanisms once inside the tumour, they don’t know how exactly it instretch. However, unlike ours, the teracts with T-cells to achieve this.

T-cell skeleton has the ability to colLead researcher Professor Chrislapse and re-build in different parts toph Wülfing explains, ‘if we don't of the cell. know in detail how tumours inhibRather beautifully, when a T-cell it T-cells to start with, it’s hard to from a healthy mouse fused to a imagine how the drug reverses this inhibition.’

Firstly, the researchers found that T-cells taken out of mice with cancerous tumours were weaker cancer-killers than the T-cells extracted from healthy mice. In the same way that a heavy night of drinking leaves you with a hangover, T-cells extracted from tumours remained intoxicated by the tumours’ chemicals for some time after they had stopped consuming them. What they found next was surprising.

Imagine two bubcancer cell, its skeleton rearranged bles floating and then fusing togethto form a ring, which outlined the er on one side. This is what it looks edges of the junction between the like when a cancer-hunting T-cell two bubble-like cells. Crucially, a latches onto its target. The T-cell and skeleton-free zone at the centre of the tumour form an area of fusion the fused area enabled the rapid between the two, called the synapse. transfer of cancer-killing chemicals To kill the cancerous tumour

Unpacking the science behind how our bodies' T-cells help us fight cancer Carissa Wong

Scientists in the spotlight University of Bristol

epigram 27.10.2020

Professor Bruce Hood, from the University of Bristol, has launched a podcast available on BBC Sounds that seeks to give listeners evidence-based tips and information to live a happier life.

The podcast is based on the Science of Happiness course that Hood teaches at the University which was launched in 2018, attracting 150 students in its first term, followed by 250 in the next.

Hood noted that ‘Students who participated reported significantly increased levels of mental well-being and a reduced score on loneliness.

‘It was so successful, that I wanted to bring it to national attention so that everyone could benefit.'

Find the podcast online at: www.bbc.co.uk/happinesspod

28 SciTech

epigram 27.10.2020

Study investigates inequality in COVID-19 bereavement support for BAME families A novel Bristol study is searching for participants of BAME backgrounds to share their experience of bereavement during lockdown Sarah Dalton SciTech Sub-Editor

R

the complexities of grieving in this pandemic so we can ensure there is support for the people who need it most.’

Whilst grieving is inevitable one of the hardest things a person may ever face, this process is made more difficult by current restrictions and strains on support systems. Many individuals have been unable to visit their dying loved ones, having to grieve alone during lockdown, whilst restrictions on funerals and traditional death rites have created painful disruptions. Similarly, additional strain has been put upon bereavement support and palliative

Ishrat Islam from the Marie Curie Research Centre at Cardiff state, ‘We must make sure that people do not continue to experience further inequities when it comes to accessing bereavement services. It is essential that we try to understand

care staff, as they are unable to provide the in-person and attentive support expected of them.

With current media discourse generated by the Black Lives Matter movement, it is clear that even something as personal as grief is by

Life Research Group at the University of Bristol, adds ‘We know that there are barriers to accessing bereavement services in some population groups. We need to understand the reasons for this in order to be able to create culturally appropriate services which meet the needs of those who are currently missing out on support.’

The study is still ongoing and looking for participants, particularly those from BAME backgrounds who have been bereaved s i n c e March this year, to complete the qualitative survey. ers

iv

BAME groups are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than white people

no means exempt from racial prejudice. Claire Collins, Bereavement Coordinator & Counsellor at Marie Curie, explains: ‘From very early on it became clear that there was a racial pandemic within the COVID-19 crisis. The Office for National Statistics figures only confirmed the stories we were hearing and seeing around us – that BAME people are dying in disproportionate numbers.’ Observational data from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre, show that approximately a third of COVID-19 patients admitted to critical care units are from BAME groups.

With regards to the gap of knowledge surrounding ethnic minority bereavement services, Dr Lucy Selman, Senior Research Fellow from the Centre for Academic Primary Care and Palliative and E n d o f

Un

esearchers from the Universities of Bristol and Cardiff have launched a new study into bereavement services during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the experience of Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups.

A number of reviews have revealed that BAME groups are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than those of white ethnicity. Following on from this, a new study has been launched to investigate how the bereavement process may too be tied up in racial discussions.

The research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, is the first to investigate bereavement support during the

pandemic. Voluntary participants, aged 18 and over who have experienced bereavement of any kind since 16 March 2020, are asked to complete an online survey lasting 20-30 minutes. The survey's aim is ‘To understand the grief experiences and support needs of people who have been bereaved either due to COVID-19 or another cause of death during the pandemic.’

Due to COVID-19’s disproportionate effect on ethnic minority groups, the study’s primary goal is to ensure that equitable bereavement support is provided across the UK. Dr Emily Harrop and Dr

ity of Br

isto l

Is resistance to COVID-19 more common than we anticipated?

Bristol University Professor Moin Saleem proposes that more than half of the world’s population may already have COVID-19 resistance Francesca Levi Third Year, Biology

I

s the end of COVID-19 closer than we think? Professor Moin Saleem, from the Medical School at the University of Bristol, states it is likely that in multiple countries where COVID-19 has settled down there is natural immunity to it. In fact, examining the current data, he suggests that up to half of the world’s population may already have natural immunity to the virus.

The evidence? None of the studies conducted on Sars-CoV-2 exposure within a closed group showed an infection rate above 50 per cent.

Namely, a study by Poletti and colleagues of around 5,500 individuals in Lombardy, who had all been in close contact with an infected individual, showed that 51.5 per-

cent tested positive for antibodies against COVID-19.

But how did such a high rate of resistance arise in populations? A study published in Nature by Julia Braun and colleagues, regarding CD4 T-cells, may answer that.

T-cells are long-term immune cells with the purpose of identifying and killing invading pathogens. They do this by binding its surface proteins to the pathogen’s own surface. These T-cell proteins are highly specific when binding to their target, so, when they are exposed to the same pathogen again, they can react fast and effectively.

The study examined the CD4 T-cell infection response to the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 (surface proteins that mark the virus as an invading pathogen), between the blood of COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals. The findings showed that the spike-reactive CD4 T-cells were found in 83 per cent of patients with COVID-19, as expected, but also in 35 per cent of healthy individuals. The T-cells from the healthy individuals resembled those used to fight off two other human endemic viruses from the coronavirus family.

These findings support Saleem’s claims, suggesting that they had been created when the patients were infected with these other coronaviruses. Furthermore, another study led by Alba, found that blood samples taken years before the start of the pandemic contained T-cells specific to COVID-19, suggesting a pre-existing degree of resistance within the population.

Resistance may therefore be conferred by T-cells rather than by antibodies, as was previously be-

lieved. Many of the patients who develop antibodies against COVID-19 seem to lose them after only three months. On the other hand, people infected with COVID-19 test positive for T-cells specific to the virus; even when asymptomatic.

Having T-cells from a previous coronavirus infection may lead to an asymptomatic infection. The knowledge that T-cells may confer COVID-19 immunity is massively valuable when designing vaccines against it.

Number of confirmed coronavirus cases amongst University of Bristol students.

Total cumulative positive cases shown in red, newly positive tested students in blue.

Epigram / Julia Riopelle

So where is the catch? Analyses of patients hospitalised with extreme symptoms showed that they had extremely high levels of T-cell activity. Curiously, these cells also seemed to disappear from the blood. No explanation has yet been found for why this happens.

Though, the role of T-cells in combating COVID-19 does explain why the elderly are more vulnerable.

After individuals surpass the age of 30, the thymus, a gland that is important in the production of T cells, begins shrinking, thus massively diminishing T-cell production.

Saleem proposes that about 3550 per cent of the population is naturally immune to COVID-19.

In some regions 25 per cent antibody prevalence is being recorded.

We could even be approaching 75 per cent immunity in such regions, which is above the minimum estimated 60 per cent needed for herd immunity. Saleem speculates that in places where death rates have settled to historical norms, there is already natural immunity in play.

Professor Moin concludes seriously that ‘we may be closer to the end of this pandemic than we think.’

Puzzles

Interactive PDF edition!

Editor Fergus Ustianowski

If you need any help, contact the editor by email or through social media epigram.puzzles@gmail.com

There are three types of connection: rhyme, meaning and letters. ‘Rhyme’ connections link both words by a rhyme or half rhyme, ‘Meaning’ links the words as they are synonyms of each other and ‘Letters’ links the words by one letter change. The central word is related to the University.

Letters

Yaw

Use the pictures and text below to work out the names of famous Bristol University alumni.

Credit: Fergus Ustianowski, Editor

Rhyme

Unsplash / Parej Richard

Meaning

Dingbats

Epigram / Patrick Sullivan

Zygolex

Drop

Potato Fails Slim

3

5 Board

3

3

Faint

3

5

Ore

Punch

Fade 5

3

3

&

A

Pexels / SLR Lounge

5

Epigram / Patrick Sullivan

5

5

3 Jib

Eid

5

3 Faucet

Pond

Kakuro

Epigram / Patrick Sullivan

Epigram / Fergus Ustianowski

Clap

Rules

Place one digit between 1 and 9 in each empty box so that the sum of the digits in each set of consecutive white boxes (horizontal or vertical) is the number appearing to the left of a set or above the set. No number may appear more than once in any set of boxes.

Credit: Patrick Sullivan, Digital Puzzles Editor

10

16

10

29 15 5

14

14 6

7 12

20

24

3

16

21

17 34 14

16 30

16 10 23

16

17

6

17

8

15

42 23

22 24 11

12

11

7

9

Solutions will be posted online at: epigram.org.uk/tag/puzzles facebook.com/epigrampaper

7 9

22

10

If you would like to submit ideas for Puzzles, email epigram.puzzles@gmail.com

Pexels / Mabel Amber

23

IMDB / Disney

35

IMDB / Channel 4

4

30 Sport

epigram 27.10.2020

Peak performance: An insight into the world of performance sport Sports Editor

S

port plays a pretty big part in the lives of a lot of students during their time at university. Whether it be watching the Six Nations in spring, visiting the gym just hours before going out or Wednesday coach journeys for BUCS, most of us are ‘sporty’ in some way.

Some incredibly gifted students, however, take 'sporty' to another level. These students are part of the performance sport squad, Bristol University’s elite athletes programme, and they are amongst the most promising young sportspeople in the country.

Their predecessors include Olympic gold medallists, MBE recipients and international sevens rugby players.

With alumni like this it could be very easy to feel the weight of expectation, but students are well supported by a university that now consistently finishes in the top ten in the BUCS championship.

In addition to the all-round improvements in BUCS sport, the performance squad get certain benefits that would make any young athlete jealous. For example, not only do these gifted students receive a free top-level sports membership, but they also have one-to-one strength and conditioning, nutritional and psychological guidance and

their own development plan. Who ‘they understood that your studies wouldn’t want that sort of structure came first.’ to their life?

Nonetheless the workload can still Well, with so much structure there become too much, especially when comes a level of commitment that you are someone who feels obligated many of us would struggle with. to do the things on offer to you. This Imagine having to train every week- was where Sophie said she ‘found it day on top of doing your degree and pretty impossible to do both.’ As the maintaining a social life. work starts to pile up and the trainDuring first year most students ing sessions get harder, the stress levare busy going out, sleeping in and els can easily start to rise. ordering Dominos. Not if you are in Despite the stress that comes with the performance squad. Sophie Peake performance sport, there also comes a was in the squad last year thanks to level of self-control with it. Without her skill with a foil and has repre- this self-control it would have been sented Great Britain at various fenc- very hard to even make the squad, ing competitions across different however ‘when you know that you age categories. The commitments of have a commitment, you are very performance sport meant that she disciplined.’ did not fit into the category of ‘most That applies to the nutritional students.’ side of sport too. We all know just When discussing the amount of how important our diet is and how training involved Sophie said that integral it is to athletes, so having a ‘I could be fencing until 9:30pm qualified nutritionist as a guide can and then get home at 10pm’ which be a real help. Even the catered food meant she ‘definitely missed out on was a weight off Sophie’s shoulders the going out side because it ‘ticked of things.’ Put this Some students take sporty all the nutrition into perspective: boxes,’ allowing to another level no Lounge, no her a little relaxaGravity and no SWX (or whatever tion in a semmingly unrelaxed world. floats your boat, maybe Thekla?).

Despite the aid provided by the Personally, my first year would have programme, Sophie decided to step looked very different without these back from performance sport and clubs. now only competes at a BUCS level.

One of the additional benefits of Her experiences give us a small inbeing in the squad is that you get sight into the dedication, time and your own personal mentor for aca- skill required to participate at this demic and sporting support. Full of level. I for one know that I would praise for these mentors, Sophie said struggle to do what these young that they were ‘really helpful because sports people do on a daily basis.

Keanu Koekemoer

Students tell Epigram how being athletically gifted can be both a blessing and a curse Eddie McAteer

Combat sports profile: Krav Maga A look at how the selfdefence sport has a thriving following on campus James Dowden Deputy Sports Editor

J

University of Bristol Krav Maga

ames Dowden speaks to Edy McEvoy about the mixed martial art which has gained popularity in recent years.

What is Krav Maga?

Krav Maga is an Israeli self-defence martial art that provides trainees with real-life practical skills in self-defence that don’t rely on size or strength. It is designed to be incredibly effective and efficient and is used by many military and law enforcement agencies across the world, including the British army.

What position do you hold within the club?

I am this year’s Vice President and I

was last year’s Secretary General.

What is a weekly schedule like in Krav Maga?

We train twice a week, on Monday 4:45pm-6:15pm, and Thursday 2pm4:30pm.

Who are your coaches and what are they like?

Our coach is Will Bailey, he is a very experienced Krav Maga instructor and has been teaching for over 8 years. He operates several Krav Maga schools in the South West and has even trained the Royal Gurkha Rifles.

He is also a part-time police officer in the Gloucestershire Constabulary.

How is the social side of Krav Maga?

The social side of Krav Maga is really good. Aside from having great fun at training and getting to know people, we also have evening socials at the pub and at clubs (although less so these days because of Covid!).

I can personally say that I have made some firm friends at university through Krav Maga.

What would your dream season be?

A ‘dream season’ is a bit of a tricky question for us because the nature of Krav Maga means that it can’t be practiced with full effect in a competitive manner like most other sports (without extreme risk of injury!).

However, a dream year for us would always be an increase in membership, filling training sessions every week, and everyone having fun and improving their proficiency in Krav Maga.

As a committee, a dream year for us would also include the ability for us to leave more behind for the next committee than we started with, whether that be money, equipment, SU accreditation, memberships or all of the above!

Sport 31

epigram 27.10.2020

The people's champion: Getting to know The magical world of your editors: What teams do they intramural sport support and why?

also allows you to create and enter form. With fixtures hopefully taking your own team into one of the many place, intramural, often seen as a bit leagues on offer. less structured, can now provide stuFor some, being part of an intra- dents with a more structured routine mural team is a pivotal part of their in a difficult period for all. university experience. Caitee MidgThe list of benefits seems endless ley joined Centaur Netball in first when writing this as, in addition to Match Day Reporter year ‘for the social aspect but also to everything already mentioned, intraor some people, the intensity keep fit in an enjoyable way.’ Weekly mural sport is flexible and seamlessly and commitment of univer- training and weekend matches pro- fits around your studies or social life. sity sport just isn’t their cup vide a fun bit of competition, but in Epigram’s very own Eddie McAteer of tea and they would prefer a more a very relaxed atmosphere. is a member of the intramural masses casual sporting experience.

Caitee states that one of the great- for this very reason. Having played This is where intramural leagues est benefits of joining her society’s rugby for a long time, he wished to come in. They offer the chance to Netball team is that she is ‘able to continue playing but was not sure participate in a get to know girls about joining the university team. range of sports It's a great way to play a from other years Instead, he discovered Clifton Cruand form friendof the Vet school’ saders, a team originally for students sport casually ships in a relaxed whilst also ‘mak- from the Clifton Halls of Residence environment, without having to wor- ing friends with people I might not but now open to anyone. ry about trials or preseason fitness. have met otherwise.’

With commitments such as EpiFootball, Hockey, Rugby, RoundWill Shanks is a member of Bristol gram and university work, playing ers and Netball are just some of the Engineering Maths Society’s football for Crusaders ‘gives me the opporsports on offer if you are looking to team. When asked why he would tunity to get some exercise with a take a slightly more laid-back ap- recommend being a part of an in- good group of lads whilst balancing proach. tramural team the workload of One of the most appealing features he replied, ‘it’s a Intramural sport seamlessly studying and of intramural is that you are not ex- great way to play writing and edfits around your studies pected to be the finished product of a sport casually iting for the paproject Mbappé to participate. The without having per.’ intramural teams are all mixed abil- the commitment and pressure of a One aspect of intramural that looks ity, with a variety of leagues within University team.’ very different now is the socials. For each sport.

These unprecedented times have obvious reasons, there is limited It is also so easy to join a team. If left most of us with very few on-cam- scope as to what teams can do so you are in Halls of Residence, your pus contact hours. As a result, it is they are getting creative with Zoom halls or student village will have easy to spend less time with peers or socially-distanced socials. This, teams set-up ready to join. and stay inside our own homes. however, is a story for another page, You can also opt to join your Joining an intramural team offers quite literally. course or society’s team if you would the chance to leave the four walls of As you can see, intramural sport rather meet people that are not nec- your bedroom, give your weary eyes has plenty working in its favour essarily first years. For example, a rest and once again feel like part of and has been a welcome home for History Society have an intramural the student community. many a student. Now, though, infootball team called ‘Past and Move.’

Moreover, with coronavirus halt- tramural plays an even more imporHave a group of football fanatic ing the BUCS leagues until January, tant role than before by providing a friends? Or is there a group of you intramural leagues are (so far) ex- much-needed break from the difficult crazy for cricket? Intramural sport pected to continue in some shape or circumstances we are currently in.

Get to know intramural: an integral cog in the network of University sport Charlotte Carver

F

James Dowden: Deputy Editor

E

H

Charlotte Carver: Match Day Reporter

Daniel Dyson: Digital Editor

ast Midlands born and bred, I could easily support one of the most successful rugby teams of the professional era, Leicester Tigers. However, having been to a few games, there is nothing I hate more than to hear the droning chant of ‘Tiiggeerrss, Tiiggeerrss' ringing round Welford Road. Instead, I had the good fortune of being able to support Harlequins thanks to my dad, who was born in London. Whilst Quins are not a particularly solid side, at least they are doing better than Tigers!

ampton & Richmond Borough is a name that will means little to most in the sporting world.

Situated in the leafy London suburb, the club compete in the sixth tier of English football. For me, they are my team, my home and where I grew up on the terrace. It’s the kind of club where the kitman is the physio and the tea lady sells the programme seemingly a whole other world away from the the professional game. It's doing it for the love of the game and my passion for this club will always remain.

Alice Proctor

Clifton Crusaders

Eddie McAteer: Sport Editor

D

espite being from Cardiff, my heart is yellow and green, not blue. I have supported Norwich City since watching my brother as a match-day mascot in 2009. My Dad and Grandad’s support of the club has certainly been passed down to me and my brother. Seeing Norwich win at Wembley or seeing them beat Tottenham at penalties in the FA Cup fifth round are definitely the highlights of my supporting career.

I

have been an Aston Villa season ticket holder for 12 years. Since Martin O’Neill’s successful reign, we have fallen considerably from sixth-placed finishes, with our demise culminating in a relegation to the Championship. However, all that heartache now makes our current improvements all the sweeter; the emotional rollercoaster Aston Villa provide means I will never stop supporting them.

Sport Twitter: @EpigramSport

Editor Digital Editor Deputy Editor Match Day Reporter

Eddie McAteer Daniel Dyson James Dowden Charlotte Carver

Epigram / Tom Sherwood

Socially-distanced socials keeping Bristol's sports teams sweet

With government guidelines preventing normal sports socials, how are teams adapting to overcome these limitations?

Lexi Bothamley-Dakin Second Year, History

O

ne of the best aspects of joining a university sports team has always been the social side. Most teams have somewhere that they call home on a Wednesday evening, whether that is a pub, bar or club, socials are integral to the sporting experience at university. Often they have been home to some of our messier nights and are usually always followed by a night out on the Triangle and potentially a much lighter wallet.

However, with the considerable challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the government guidelines surrounding it, there has been a huge shift in the way socials

are able to run this term. explore COVID-secure venues such The closure of most nightclubs (in as the Invades races to ensure they their conventional form at least), as all have new, fun and safe socials in well as restrictions on gatherings of store for the club.’ over six people, has meant a certain The Netball Club is committed to level of ingenuity has been required ensuring their socials still happen when organising sports socials this as they know social interaction has year. been lost in some ways due to the To try and find out how teams are pandemic. Given the importance of maintaining a social aspect, Epigram socials for the future of the club, spoke to some of the University they want to make sure all new and sports teams who have been forced old members can get to know each to adapt to an ever-changing set of other safely. circumstances.

The Boat Club have also been exStarting things off, the Universiploring new ways to continue their ty Netball Team has been busy arsocials this year. We spoke to Social ranging socials Secretary Charfor the start of the Sporting socials have not lotte Blake who new university gone away, but merely believes this panyear. These have changed their format demic has actutaken the format ally brought one of meeting in groups of six for pub major positive to their socials. nights, and more recently a trip to She said that ‘having to place Lakota Gardens. everyone in groups of six, we are Their groups of six are determined finding that integration has been by their training bubbles, the people oddly aided by these strange times.’ they must train with due to numbers They are easily able to facilitate new being restricted for indoor sports. friendships between teammates and Social Secretary Lizzie McGeshie find that those who may not have stated that they are ‘continuing to spoken to each other in a larger

group, are now doing so much more ful feedback helped the commitee to naturally. realise that online The Badminton A certain level of socials with more Team have ceringenuity has been than 30 people tainly been crea- required when organising were overwhelmtive this year with sports socials ing, particulartheir plans to use ly for those new an online platform to increase social to the club. As a result, they have interaction. So far they have done now changed their format to smallweekly Zoom calls for quizzes, bingo er groups, in addition to potentialand other games. They have also had ly running COVID-19-friendly pub online baking, coffee mornings and trips throughout the term.

MasterChef competitions as everyThe new university term has cerone started putting their newfound tainly brought significant challenges lockdown skills into practice. to the traditional Wednesday Sports Badminton Social Secretary Juliet Night, and Gravity’s lost property Chee noted that, ‘though using an will definitely have had a significant online platform is great to get a large reduction in sports fleeces. Howevnumber of people involved safely, er, sporting socials have not gone nothing quite beats face to face.’ away (could they ever?) but merely So, like other clubs at the Unichanged their format. versity, they will also run a family The efforts of social secretaries and scheme in groups of six, which will committees have proven that there is help in introducing the freshers to still considerable merit in joining a the club. team for the social aspect, even in a To finish off, Epigram spoke to global pandemic. Even so, everyone Social Secretary Kyle Thomson from will undoubtedly be desperate to get the Korfball Club and discovered back to their team’s spiritual home that so far they have mainly been on a Wednesday evening in (hopeexperimenting with Zoom calls. Usefully!) the near future.