Epigram 354

Medical students on the frontline

Behind the ‘rum-soaked' scenes of ‘Shantytok'

University of Bristol medical students share their stories from the COVID-19 wards of local hospitals

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In conversation with Nathan Evans, made famous over night for his TikTok cover of 'The Wellerman'

Busting vaccine myths SciTech shed a little light on the biggest misconceptions surrounding COVID-19 vaccines

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epigram est. 1988

The University of Bristol’s Independent Student Newspaper Fortnightly | 23 February 2021 | Issue 354

Don't count your chickens before they hatch! University announces teaching to remain online until after Easter Filiz Gurer

News Editor

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n email to students this morning confirms all teaching will continue online except for students on exempt

courses until the start of the Spring break on 29 March.

The email addressing students states that the UoB is ‘considering the possibility of a limited return to in-person activity/teaching from 8 March for any additional subjects/

disciplines that specifically require in-person teaching in line with the latest Department for Education guidance’, confirming that ‘schools have already been contacted to establish which particular programmes or cohorts this may include’.

The email from Bristol University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Student Experience, Professor Sarah Purdy, states that the University aims ‘to confirm this to those students affected this Friday 26 February’.

However, the email explains that

73 per cent of Bristol students report feelings of climate anxiety

Almost 12,000 students living in Bristol under current coronavirus restrictions

Billy Stockwell & Louie Bell

Climate Correspondent & Investigations Correspondent

Megan Evans

News Subeditor

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niversity of Bristol statistics show that significant numbers of Bristol students are living in their accommodation in Bristol during the current lockdown.

The University contacted all students in January to ascertain where they were currently living.

As of the 18th of February, 18,908 students had responded to declare their addresses.

Nearly 12,000 Bristol students 63 per cent of those who responded - have reported being back in Bristol, with 2,500 students saying that they are living in halls and 9,462 currently in private accommodation.

6,946 students said that they are not currently living in Bristol.

Continued on page three...

www.epigram.org.uk

‘it is expected that blended learning will not restart for the majority of programmes until after the spring vacation (April 19)’, and that this will be subject to further Government and local PHE guidance.

Continued on page three...

Bristol Jewish Society announces online rally calling for disciplinary action against Professor David Miller, page four

EpigramPaper

@EpigramPaper

he survey conducted by Epigram over the last month has revealed the impact of the climate emergency on the mental health of University of Bristol students.

Over 70 per cent of students suffer from the condition of ‘climate anxiety’, a new survey of University of Bristol students has shown.

The little-studied mental health phenomenon of ‘climate anxiety’ is an umbrella term to describe a range of symptoms such as persistent low mood, depression or anxiety deriving from fear or awareness of environmental breakdown.

73 per cent of almost 700 students surveyed self-identified as having suffered from symptoms of climate anxiety in the last year.

Continued on page seven...

@epigrampaper_

Editorial

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

editor@epigram.org.uk

Robin Connolly Teddy Coward Georgiana Scott Siavash Minoukadeh Orin Carlin

Write for Epigram: ‘There’s no better time to put your free speech to good use and write for us' A week in which free speech on campus becomes a central (if a little sudden) talking point is inevitably a busy one for a student newspaper – a platform where free speech on campus is cherished and exhibited. Yet, exactly a week on since the Education Secretary announced plans for a ‘free speech champion’, the debate around it in Bristol appears particularly strong, and our busyness shows no sign of letting up.

To put it mildly, the most recent case surrounding Professor David Miller has come at a rather coincidental time, testing the limits of what’s deemed free speech or harmful language against the recent backdrop of Gavin Williamson’s plans. Whichever side of the debate you fall, it’s clear Bristol students are as driven as ever to defend their values; the rally due on Wednesday, and debates that have surfaced on Bristruths, are testament to that.

As for the University of Bristol – who don't always have Epigram’s sympathy – the phrase ‘between a rock and a hard place’ springs to mind. Some see senior management as having no option but to dismiss Professor Miller, like indeed the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism; others say that to do so would create a dangerous precedent against academic freedom.

Our role as your student paper is simple: report impartially and factually, giving voice to as much of the situation as possible, whilst remaining sensitive to student’s concerns. Admittedly, we may not always get this ‘right’ (with an emphasis on the ‘student’ in ‘student paper’), but we will certainly do our level best.

Given what we’ve achieved since your last Epigram issue, back in December, I have every faith we’ll navigate this well.

Since the turn of the year, we’ve gathered and led the editors from

student newspapers at all 24 Russell Group universities toward a joint editorial on the no-detriment policy; collaborated with the BME Network and BME Success to help set up and broadcast a four-part Anti-Racism webinar, which concludes this week; and of course run a week-long, soldout show – ‘Bristol, Britain and Beyond’ – to give student journalists the chance to hear from professionals, industry experts and academics.

As well as this, we’ve also continued to report – on the serious and the more light-hearted; on online misogyny at the university, as well as the university’s switch to Ecosia; on the dangers of a fake Bristol alumni account, and on the world record row across the Atlantic set by two Bristol graduates; on our university’s plans, as we cautiously come out of lockdown, and of course on that £64,000 triumph for one of our own Medical students on Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

On a personal note, with a whole term already behind us, and applications for next year’s senior team in sight, the time to achieve more with your student paper has now come into sharper focus. I would like to thank to all those who have contributed to us and make your student paper what it is.

To our readers who have yet to throw their hat into the ring and write, I suggest you give it a go – there really is no harm in trying.

The more voices, views, ideas and stories we can incorporate, the stronger and more representative we can become. It's that simple.

(To make it even easier, check out the graphics across the page).

And with positions for next year’s editorial team set to open in a matter of months, there really is no better time to get involved.

After all, it’s a chance to put that free speech to good use.

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: getinvolved.epigram@ gmail.com

Subeditors Chief Proofreader Joe Marshall News Megan Evans Features Flossie Palmer Opinion Flossie Palmer 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

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

Blended learning not expected to restart until after Spring vacation

• The University’s email to students comes in response to the Government’s ‘roadmap’ announcement • Students are to receive updates from their Schools about Teaching Block Two Filiz Gurer News Editor

Continued from front page... ristol University has said that students will receive specific updates from their Schools in the coming weeks and that it will confirm ‘in detail, as soon as [it] can [its] commitment to re-

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open student facilities such as sports facilities, catering, further study spaces and additional library spaces at the earliest opportunity permitted by Government and local public health advice’, but that in light of the Government’s ‘roadmap’, this be may at the start of the summer term.

In its email, the University reminded students of the need to continue to follow the ‘hands-facespace’ safety messages, to help efforts to ‘try and bring the spread of the virus under control.’

The email from the University comes in response to updated guidance for students from the government, issued on Monday, after the Prime Minister set out a four-step ‘roadmap to exit lockdown.’

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon, Boris Johnson announced that schools and

further education settings would be the first to reopen from Monday 8 March, in the first step of the plan.

The Government’s updated guidance confirms that all students on practical and practice-based courses who require access to specialist equipment or facilities can return to universities from 8 March 2021.

All other courses will for the time being continue to be taught online, with the Government stating it ‘will review, by the end of the Easter holidays, the options for timing of the return of remaining students.’

Whilst face-to-face teaching for university students on practical courses resumed in January, all other students have been waiting for updates as to when, if at all, in-person teaching for 2020-21 academic year will start back.

The government has advised that

‘students and providers will be given a week’s notice ahead of any further return,’ and that universities ‘should not offer in-person teaching before ‘the end of the Easter holidays,’ or later if further guidance to this effect is issued, and should encourage students to remain at their current accommodation until the resumption of their in-person teaching, wherever possible.’

Bristol University’s Spring vacation (Easter holidays) runs from 29 March - 16 April 2021.

The newly issued update regarding universities has drawn a mixed reaction from different groups.

Chief Executive of the Russell Group, Dr Tim Bradshaw welcomed the news, stating that: ‘Our members have worked hard to make campuses Covid-secure, with twice-weekly testing and very low overall in-

fection rates this year – even with students from high-priority courses already back on campus.’

Acknowledging the ‘importance of easing lockdown in a cautious and controlled way to ensure further tightening of measures are not required’, Dr Bradshaw did however ‘urge the Government to consider whether more students can return to in-person teaching at the Roadmap’s first review point in early April,’ stating that ‘an earlier return will be particularly beneficial for the mental health and well-being of students.’

The University and College Union (UCU), which represents academics and lecturers has deemed that ‘any wider reopening of college and university campuses from 8 March is irresponsible and risks undoing the country’s hard work to get Covid-19 rates down.’

63 per cent of Bristol students living in city during third national lockdown

News Subeditor

Continued from front page... hen the government announced a third national lockdown on 4 January, as a result of a spike in cases of COVID-19, students were actively discouraged from returning to term-time residences, with the exception of a few courses.

Targeted advertising from the Government, on social media apps such as TikTok, has been addressing students directly, warning them not to move back to university.

A university-wide email on 7 January from Bristol University’s ProVice Chancellor for Student Experience, Professor Sarah Purdy, urged students to ‘stay at home where you can.’

The University of Bristol Press Office noted last Thursday that ‘students will be in the city if they are

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studying medicine, dentistry or any of the other practical courses the Government has already identified, for specific reasons that are personal to them or if their residence in Bristol is their primary accommodation.

‘In addition, some students never left Bristol for the Christmas break.

‘For example, international students who were unable to travel or students who felt it was safer for them to stay here rather than travel home.’

Speaking to students, Epigram found that there were many reasons for their decisions to return to Bristol, including for better mental health, employment opportunities, academic and social reasons, and to occupy accommodation for which they are paying rent.

One second-year medic explained that she chose to return to Bristol to live with friends, even though her course had been moved online, as she was still classed by the government as being permitted to travel.

A second-year Zoology student disclosed that her incentive to travel to Bristol mid-lockdown was to see her partner and friends, having a more social living bubble at university than at home.

She explained her complex feelings upon returning: ‘I did feel like I was breaking lockdown rules – I believe I technically did – but I wasn’t

worried about facing repercussions as the move significantly benefited my mental health, which the university already knows I suffer with.’

The sense of a legal and moral ‘grey area,’ as one Languages student described, appears to be shared by many returning students.

This student explained that, provided social distancing guides were followed, ‘all students should have a right to choose where they permanently live.

‘I felt like I was within my right to be coming back to live [...] in a house I pay rent for.’

Also prevalent amongst the students who spoke to Epigram was the wish to live independently, with friends rather than family, as well as the need to return for better studying environments.

With close to 7,000 students remaining outside of Bristol however, a large proportion of students have restricted themselves to staying at home with their families, even whilst paying rent on their accommodation in Bristol.

One second year student told Epigram that they had decided to remain at home after the Christmas holidays, because of the national lockdown, noting that they ‘did not need to be in Bristol’, as their course had gone entirely online.

Another student said that they had

followed government and university guidance to stay at home, commenting that they ‘found it harder

to study at home’, and were keen to return to Bristol once the guidance changes.

Government guidance to students as seen on TikTok | Epigram / Megan Evans

• Data from Bristol Uni has revealed the number of students currently living in Bristol • Large proportion of students have returned to the city for third lockdown Megan Evans

4 News

epigram 23.02.2021

Online rally to be held calling for disciplinary action against Professor David Miller

Teddy Coward Co-Editor-in-Chief

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virtual rally is to be held at 5pm tomorrow calling for the University of Bristol to take disciplinary action against one if its sociology lecturers, Professor David Miller, after a controversial video of him criticising Zionism and Bristol’s J-Soc emerged last week.

The rally, called ‘Hate Off Campus,’ has been organised by Bristol J-Soc in response to the video and states the ‘type of language, hatred and intimidation’ used by Professor Miller ‘has no place on our campus and it’s time to call for Hate Off Campus’.

During an online Campaign For Free Speech event last weekend, Professor Miller had called for an ‘end’ to Zionism ‘as a functioning ideology of the world’ and claimed there was an ‘attempt by Israelis to impose their will all over the world’.

He also said he had been ‘attacked and complained about’ by Bristol University’s J-Soc and the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), before adding ‘J-Socs are all part of the UJS which is a direct member of the World Zionist Organisation.’

Edward Isaacs, Bristol J-Soc’s President, told Epigram he hoped the university’s actions will ‘mean no one is ever subject to Dave Miller’s harmful language ever again’ and further added: ‘In his accusations, Professor Miller seems to believe that the fact I have been born a Jew makes me responsible for all acts by the state of Israel. Professor Miller’s call to end Zionism equates to a call to end Jewish self-determination and emancipation and begs the question: what does he wish to happen to these Zionists?’

In response to the initial backlash, Professor Miller appeared to double-down on his remarks when contacted for comment, telling Epigram: ‘Zionism is and always has been a racist, violent, imperialist ideology premised on ethnic cleansing. It is

an endemically anti-Arab and Islamophobic ideology. It has no place in any society.’

He also reiterated his initial comments regarding Bristol J-Soc, say-

es for which she was not registered, expressly for the purpose of political surveillance,’ which he described as ‘an age-old Israel lobby tactic imported from the US.’

Professor Miller’s comments have also caused outrage among many within the Jewish community, including the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Marie van der Zyl

of Bristol has said: ‘We have received free speech should not include hate a significant number of calls for Prospeech.’ fessor David Miller to be dismissed.

Four members from the All-Party ‘UK law requires that we, like all Parliamentary Group Against Antiemployers, act in accordance with semitism have also written to Profesour internal prosor Hugh Brady, stating Professor A petition set up by a cedures and the Miller ‘has in Bristol University student ACAS code of Any our opinion been calling for the university conduct. inciting hatred to take disciplinary action action which we against Jewish against Professor Miller might take as an students on your has over 4,000 signatures employer is a private matter. We campus’ and that are under obligations of confidentihe ‘brings public shame’ to the Uniality in relation to all of our students versity of Bristol. and staff, which we will continue to They also said the university’s comply with. lack of action following an inci‘We are speaking to J-Soc, Bristol dent involving Professor Miller in

Labour Against the Witch Hunt/Campaign for Free Speech / YouTube

• Bristol University JSoc to hold virtual rally on Wednesday • Petition calling for disciplinary action from the University against Professor reaches over 4,000 signatures

ing that it, ‘like all J-Socs, operates Edward Isaacs described these ‘as under the auspices of the Union of ridiculous and baseless claims that Jewish Students (UJS), an Israel lobdeserve no more response.’ by group. The UJS is constitutionally Professor Miller’s comments have bound to promoting Israel and camalso caused outrage among many paigns to silence critics of Zionism within the Jewish community, inor the State of Israel on British camcluding the President of the Board of puses.’

Deputies of BritIn addition, ish Jews, Marie Professor Miller Professor Miller appeared to double-down van der Zyl. described the acIn a letter adon his remarks when tions of UJS and dressed to Briscontacted for comment Bristol J-Soc as ‘a tol University’s campaign of manufactured hysteria Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Hugh for two years, attempting to have me Brady, on Friday, she said Professor sacked.

Miller’s ‘rants would not look out of ‘The campaign reached new place on the pages of Der Stürmer,’ heights of absurdity,’ he claimed, a Nazi tabloid, and added that ‘in ‘when a Zionist activist pretended the UK, unlike the US, there has alto be a student in one of my classways been an understanding that

2019, when he had listed the ‘Zionist movement (parts of)’ as one of the ‘five pillars’ of Islamophobia, ‘has been palpable’.

Other high-profile political figures have also weighed in on the issue, with Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees having met Bristol J-Soc’s President and Vice-President last Wednesday, before the Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire tweeted the situation was ‘completely unacceptable’ and that she was following up the case with the university.

A petition set up by a Bristol University student calling for the university to take disciplinary action against Professor Miller has over 4,000 signatures.

A spokesperson for the University

SU and UCU about how we can address students’ concerns swiftly, ensuring that we also protect the rights of our staff.

‘We do not endorse the comments made by Professor Miller about our Jewish students. We are proud of our students for their independence and individual contributions to the University and wider society.’

All of this comes amidst renewed debate around free speech on campus after the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced plans last week for a ‘free speech champion’ who could impose fines on universities and student unions in the event of future cases of no-platforming speakers or the dismissal of academics.

News 5

epigram 23.02.2021

Appeal launched by the University of Bristol's Islamic Society over claims of ‘islamophobia'

• Bristol Islamic Soc is demanding an apology over remarks made by law professor Steven Greer • A petition on the issue has received over 2,100 signatures Guy Taylor & Robin Connolly

Investigations Correspondent & Co-Editor-in-Chief

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ristol University’s Islamic Society has released a petition calling for an apology from Professor Steven Greer and the University, following allegations of ‘discriminatory remarks and Islamophobic rhetoric,’ claims which have since been denied and are under investigation by the university.

On top of an apology, the petition demands the ‘removal of this material from his teaching and the module,’ and ‘a firm commitment from him to not make such statements in future teaching.’

Failing this, ‘a consideration of

further disciplinary action, including suspension and/or dismissal.’

On behalf of Professor Greer, a University of Bristol spokesperson stated: ‘A formal complaint has been lodged with the University of Bristol alleging Islamophobic remarks in the course of Professor Greer’s professional activities.

‘He disputes the allegations, but since they are subject to an on-going investigation we have asked him not to make any further comment as he is bound by a duty of confidentiality and cannot comment upon the matter in detail.’

Professor Ken Oliphant, Head of the University of Bristol School of Law also said that ‘the Law School has been working with the University to respond to the concerns raised and, for the reasons stated in the University statement, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the matter for now.’

At the time of publishing, the petition has recieved over 2,100 signatures.

The statement includes claims of negative reports by some law students over the views expressed by

Professor Greer in his classes, as well as levying strong criticism at his alleged comments on the Uyghur Muslims in China.

The claims targetting Greer also concern his opinions on topics such as the the Charlie Hebdo attacks and freedom of speech, as well as the government’s Prevent Duty.

Professor Greer is a Professor of Human Rights Law, who has written extensively on the legal and political theory behind the UK's counter-terrorism policies.

In 2019, he wrote an article for the University of Bristol Law School Blog, arguing for the need to distinguish between forms of racial and religious prejudice and outlined a detailed understanding of the different faces of islamophobia in this country.

The petition published by the Islamic Society also alleges the university of being complicit in the allegations it made, but states that it hopes ‘they will act on the “speakup” culture they want to push forward.’

Speaking to Epigram, the society expressed further dissapointment

with the university, stating that it is a ‘recurring issue that the processes in place don't recognise the concerns of Muslims students.’

A University of Bristol spokesperson said: ‘We are working with the University’s Islamic Society to respond to concerns raised about an individual member of staff. That process is still ongoing and under review and as such we are unable to comment further. We are in regular contact with the Society and the member of staff during this time.’

The spokesperson also made clear that: ‘We are committed to making our University an inclusive place for all students. As part of our focus on this, we have been working closely with students from minority groups to try and understand their specific concerns and worries. A key outcome from these discussions was the adoption of the All Parliamentary Party Group definition of Islamophobia and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

‘We seek at all times to abide by both our Free Speech Policy and our Public Sector Equality Duties.

Specifically, we are steadfast in our commitment to freedom of speech and to the rights of all our students and staff to discuss difficult and sensitive topics.

‘Universities are places of research and learning, where debate and dissent are not only permitted but expected, and where controversial and even offensive ideas may be put forward, listened to and challenged. Intellectual freedom is fundamental to our mission and values.

‘We also affirm our equally strong commitment to making our University a place where all feel safe, welcomed and respected, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, disability or social background.

‘We would urge anyone who feels that they have been discriminated against or subject to hate speech or harassment, to contact our support services so we can offer appropriate help and support.’

In a Facebook post, the Islamic Society described its disappointment at the ‘apathy and the lack of action taken by the University when these concerns were brought to their attention.’

Proposal of a ‘Free Speech Champion’ receives mixed response across Bristol University

Guy Taylor

Investigations Editor

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n announcement from The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, proposing a ‘free speech champion’ who would investigate issues such as no platforming of speakers at universities, could influence political discussion at the University of Bristol.

The Minister’s plans, outlined on 16 February, could make univer-

sities and students’ unions legally required to promote free speech, in an attempt to ‘stamp out unlawful “silencing” on campuses’.

Under the proposed plans the higher education regulator, The Office for Students, would have the power to impose sanctions, including financial penalties, for breaches of the condition.

The proposal has received a mixed response from groups at the University. Many have expressed scepticism at the extent of the free speech crisis at the university.

Responding to the proposals, Bristol alumna and Vice President for higher education at the National Union of Students, Hillary Gyebi Ababio, said: ‘There is no evidence of a freedom of expression crisis on campus, and students’ unions are constantly taking positive steps to help facilitate the thousands of events that take place each year.

‘At a time when students are facing untold hardship, the govern-

ment would be much better advised to focus on providing the practical support that students desperately need, through maintenance grants, no detriment policies and funding to eradicate digital poverty, rather than attacking the very institutions that have stepped up to fill the gaps in support being offered.

‘We recognise this announcement as an opportunity for us to prove

once and for all that there is not an extensive problem with freedom of expression across higher education.’

Issuing a statement on the proposals in the Government policy paper, The Russell Group stated that: ‘It is important that proposals... if taken forward, are evidence-based and proportionate, with due care taken to ensure academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

‘Government should support existing work by universities and students’ unions to defend and maintain freedom of expression on campus, rather than adding unnecessary and burdensome bureaucracy.’

However this policy will be implemented, it is another example of the increasing relevance of free speech as a key political issue at universities across the country.

Epigram / Cameron Scheijde

• The proposals would see universities penalised and financially sanctioned • Bristol SU has expressed skepticism over the announcement

6 News

epigram 23.02.2021

National survey reveals nearly £1 billion spent by students on unused accommodation in the UK

News Editor

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savethestudent.org

he 2020/21 results of the National Student Accommodation Survey published and carried out by ‘Save the Student’ reveal the financial toll of the pandemic related to students’ living situations.

Based on its calculations, ‘Save the Student’ estimates a total of nearly £1 billion (£933,270,890), has been spent by students on unused accommodation in the UK in the 2020/21 academic year so far.

The UK-wide survey polled over 1,300 university students between 20 January 2021 and 8 February 2021, to explore the realities of how student living has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Findings from the survey showed a 10% drop in students who view their accommodation as good value for money, with 1 in 2 students feeling their accommodation is poor value for money.

With the uncertainties of the last few months resulting in the non-occupation of student accommodation, the survey found that 32% of students questioned had been offered a refund on their rent, of which 9% were offered a full discount, and 23% offered a partial one.

There was also a notable difference in the number of students’ approaching their halls for rent rebates

and those asking for rent rebates from private landlords. In university accommodation, as many as two-thirds have asked for a refund, compared to just under one in five students with private landlords.

UK students have this year been engaged in the largest rent strike in decades, with the University of Bristol rent strike becoming the largest in history, after amassing over 1800 pledges from students promising to withhold their rent.

In response to student strikers, the University of Bristol confirmed a 100% rent rebate for 10 days leading to the end of the first term, and in December conceded to a further 30% rent rebate from 19 December until early February, with this being extended to 26 March for students forced to remain at home due to the Government’s national lockdown guidance.

Save the Student’s report calculated the cost of unused accommodation, finding that on average students spent £1,621 on empty rooms to which they haven’t had full access to this academic year.

Epigram spoke to University of Bristol students about how their living situations have been affected over the last few months.

2nd year UoB student Millie, explained that she had left her private accommodation in the second lockdown in November, subsequently

deciding to move out all together for the remainder of thee year. However, she had found it ‘complicated’ to return to Bristol to ‘safely move out’.

Millie, who has been advertising her room to try and find a replacement tenant since December, says that she understands that ‘the situation has been difficult’ for ‘people living at home who are trying to

to professionals, whilst the demand for accommodation by students has dropped.

Another Bristol Uni student spoke to Epigram and cited that the University had told students at the start of the first term ‘if [they] could be in Bristol, [they] definitely should be’, however said that ‘considering how expensive rent in Bristol is’, they

make up their mind about whether they want to move back’.

Speaking to Epigram, a 2nd year international student who has returned to their home country also stated they had been looking for someone to take over their tenancy and said that it had been ‘an extremely difficult, stressful process’.

Facing difficulties with attempting to get their ‘private sector accommodation to mediate between [her] and the landlord,’ the student explained that the process has been complicated by the landlord refusing to rent

did not think that the little in-person teaching they had had in reality was ‘worth it’. The student stated that they felt ‘slightly conned by the University as to the importance of being in Bristol this academic year’.

Robert Kerse, The University of Bristol’s chief operating officer, last week told the Financial Times that he appreciates that this has been ‘a particularly difficult’ time for students, stating that ‘we believe the university has gone above and beyond to provide support during this stressful and challenging period’.

savethestudent.org

• The Survey reveals the financial toll of the pandemic on students' living situations • 1 in 2 students feel their accommodation is poor value for money Filiz Gurer

Bristol University Halls still called ‘Colston Street' four months after BLM-inspired renaming

Deputy Digital Editor

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pigram has found that the University is still referring to its Halls of Residence under the name ‘Colston Street,’ across multiple pages on its website. This comes despite the University announcing four months ago that the building would be renamed ‘No. 33’ as part of the institution's response

to the Black Lives Matter movement.

As of Tuesday evening, the Accomodation Office section of the University's website referred to the Halls exclusively with its old name, including on its search page which will be how most incoming students will find and select the Halls they want to apply to live in. The Current Students section of the website also mostly used the Halls' old name, although a link to a Facebook group for current residents did use its new name.

The renaming had been announced as part of a 7 October post on the University's Executive Team Blog celebrating Black History Month. The blog, written by Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Judith Squires, set out what was being done to ‘address the effects of Britain’s colonial past on our institution.’

However, it appears that the re-

naming process has been prevented from taking place due to further consultations with Bristol City Council revealing that the new proposed name of 'No. 33’ would not be appropriate.

In a statement to Epigram, a University of Bristol spokesperson said: ‘As part of our commitment to review relevant University building

names and the University logo to ensure they reflect our visions and values, we announced a simple name change for 33 Colston Street last summer. We recognised that having the name of Colston associated with one of our residences might create an environment that could be perceived as unwelcoming to many students, and wanted to take swift

University of Bristol

• The University's website is continuing to refer to the Halls of Residence using its old name • It appears that the renaming process has been prevented from taking place Siavash Minoukadeh

action to address this.

‘However, working with Bristol City Council it became clear that we were not able to do this without a consultation exercise which sadly revealed that the proposed new name, No.33, was not in an allowable format. We then put forward two iterations of an alternative name, along the same theme, and hope to be able to formally announce the approved new name soon, at which point we will then make the necessary changes to our own website and external databases. We remain committed to removing the name of Colston from this accommodation as soon as we are able.’

The announcement that the building would be renamed was welcomed at the time by Bristol SU and students, over 800 of whom had signed a petition calling on the name to be changed.

News 7

epigram 23.02.2021

Continued from front page....

Those suffering from climate anxiety frequently report anxiety regarding plans for the future, with 82 per cent of all respondents reporting that their optimism for the future

ernments and companies that say: don't worry about it.’

Over the last five years Hickman has studied children and young people all over the world, including Sweden, Nigeria, Brazil and The Maldives, looking at their emotional response towards the climate emergency.

She believes that the high levels of climate anxiety within the student population at Bristol University are, paradoxically, actually a positive sign.

She said: ‘I think everybody on the planet should be feeling climate anxiety, and if they're not, I'm wondering why not.

‘People look away or they shut themselves down emotionally, or they go to sleep or they use defences like denial or disavowal.’

Hickman argues that society should take young people’s feelings of anxiety more seriously, and support them by building psychological and emotional resilience.

However, she says that climate anxiety is a ‘mentally healthy re-

had been negatively affected by their concerns about the climate crisis.

A further 56 per cent said that it had affected their desire to have a family in the future, with 44 per cent saying that their motivation to work towards their life goals had been negatively affected.

The results suggest that students think there is clear generational gap in attitudes to climate change, with over two-thirds of students saying that they think that the majority of the older generation fail to understand their concerns about the climate crisis.

Caroline Hickman, a member of the Executive Committee of the Climate Psychology Alliance, highlighted how the anxiety over widespread inaction was the main driver of climate-related anxiety.

‘It is not the environmental degradation that causes the most distress.

‘It’s the denial, the disavow, the lies, the avoidance, the dismissal, the patronising attitudes of adults, gov-

sponse’ to the reality of the situation, and it is needed to spur the world into action.

The results from Epigram’s survey suggest that around one in three Bristol students polled have significantly changed their lifestyle, such as shopping habits and diet, in response to the climate crisis.

However, just as solving the climate crisis cannot rely on individual action alone, neither can solving climate anxiety, according to Hickman.

In response to the finding that around 37 per cent of students believe that their mental health has been negatively affected due to their concerns about the climate crisis, Hickman criticises the view that climate anxiety is an ‘individualistic problem’.

‘In the Western medical model, mental health problems are treated in a similar way to physical health problems, as though they should be fixed.

‘Whereas if you look at the cause,

Billy Stockwell & Louie Bell

Climate Correspondent & Investigations Correspondent

if you look at the origin of this anxiety and depression, the origin does not lie in the individual.

‘This is a collective problem. It's a global problem. And the reason you're feeling distress, anxiety and depression is because you have empathy for yourself and for the environment and for others.’

Of all the students surveyed, 85 per cent said they were worried that the climate crisis would affect them personally during their lifetime.

The results are striking as they come at a time clouded by the effects of another major global crisis - the coronavirus pandemic.

With 76 per cent of students saying that the UK government's response to the pandemic has made them feel less confident about their plans to tackle the climate crisis, the link between these two crises is evident.

An even higher percentage of students - 86 per cent - said they don’t trust the government to deal with the climate crisis.

The effects of climate anxiety can be particularly acute for those who have direct experience of the negative impacts of climatic change. 14 per cent of respondents said that they and/or members of their family have already been personally affected by the climate crisis.

In addition, almost half of the students who responded to the survey felt that mental health and wellbeing services would fail to take their concerns about the climate crisis seriously.

A University of Bristol spokesperson said: ‘Climate change is a real and imminent problem, so it is perhaps unsurprising that our astute and engaged students are concerned about its effects.

‘We would strongly encourage anyone feeling anxious to contact our wellbeing services as soon as possible, where their concerns will always be treated seriously and with empathy.

‘We have a wide range of services available including our Student Wellbeing and Residential Life services; counselling, therapeutic groups and self-help resources; online support communities and several student-led, peer support groups.’

The University became the first UK university to declare a climate emergency in 2019, asserting that it reaffirmed a “strong and positive commitment to action on climate change”. The University has also promised to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

However, Hickman believes that universities should be doing more to combat the climate crisis.

Epigram / Louie Bell and Billy Stockwell

• Epigram's survey reveals the prevalence of climate anxiety amongst Bristol Uni students • 76 per cent of students said the UK government's response to the pandemic has made them feel less confident about their plans to tackle the climate crisis

Epigram / Alice Proctor

Over 70 per cent of Bristol University students suffer from climate anxiety, new survey finds

8 News

epigram 23.02.2021

News in Brief

Academics with Bristol Uni in bottom 20 universities links deemed for state school admissions ‘high risk’ to ‘This data demonstrates the imporristol Uni is 19th lowest tance of ensuring that higher educaamong Higher Education China given tion is accessible for all students, re(HE) providers for state of educational background school intake, among institutions Porton Down that have provided data. The High- gardless or financial status. Despite some excellent initiatives from Bristol, such er Education Statistics Agency’s funding as their contextual offer system and latest bulletin shows that only 71.3

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Molly Pipe

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Filiz Gurer

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he festival has been a part of the city’s cultural calendar for six years.

Submissions are open for filmmakers to submit their entries to this year’s Bristol Science Film Festival.

The festival, which encourages science communicators to showcase their discoveries, will be screening shortlisted films from 1 September before announcing the 2021 winners.

This will be the sixth year for the event, which was founded by Bristol graduate Robbie Freedom and is corun by Bristol PhD student Katherine MacInnes.

It is not yet clear whether the festival will be virtual or in-person, but the organisers hope to screen the shortlisted films in Millennium Square.

A new health-related prize has been introduced for the 2021 festival to honour 200 years since the birth of the pioneering doctor and Bristolian Elizabeth Blackwell. The University, which named its health research institute after Blackwell,

Bristol Science Film

n investigation by The Times last week found that academics with ‘high risk’ links to China had secured Porton Down funding for research.

will be supporting this category with a £150 prize for the winner and £50 for the runner-up.

The Cabot Institute will also be funding a new prize for films about the environment.

Submissions are open to both amateurs and professionals, and can cover either science fiction or factual science.

Films must be under ten minutes in length, and can be submitted until 1 May 2021.

University of Bristol PhD biochemistry student, Katherine MacInnes who co-runs the festival alongside Robbie, said: ‘Films represent a really powerful way to tell a story or help communicate some of science’s amazing discoveries and breakthroughs. With the increasing prevalence of mini-movie-making machines (smartphones), we think film is a great and accessible form of science communication.

‘If you think you have an idea or story that could translate into a short film then we would love to hear from you!’

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees expresses concern for jailed friend Alexei Navalny

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peaking to news outlets last week, Bristol City Mayor Marvin Rees expressed his concern for Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition figure jailed in early February by Russian courts for nearly three years.

Mayor Rees has been outspoken in his support for Navalny, whom he became friends with whilst on a fellowship programme for several months at Yale University in 2010.

Navalny was jailed a few days after his return to Russia from Ger-

Filiz Gurer

many, where he had spent months recovering from what appeared to be a poisoning attempt on his life in Russia in August 2019.

Marvin Rees commented that Navalny had ‘committed his life to exposing fraud in Russia that’s taken money out of the pockets of millions of people and put it into the hands of a few well-positioned people at the top’. He also added that he was ‘horrified about what’s happening to him [and is] very concerned about his family.’

The links of these academics from several universities have been deemed ‘high risk’ due to the connection of the Chinese universities with which they worked to the military.

The Times reports that three academics from the Bristol Composites Institute lectured at Zhejiang University in China, which has been labelled ‘high risk’ by leading think tanks as a result of its relationship with the defence industry.

In a statement to The Times the University of Bristol stated that its international academic activity was ‘subject to a range of thorough due diligence checks, in line with government guidance’ and that it ‘strongly dispute[d] any suggestion... that there has been any breach of these guidelines’.

per cent of Bristol students are from state school or college backgrounds, compared to an England-wide HE average of 90.2 per cent.

The University also falls below the England-wide average for the proportion of students on Disabled Students’ Allowance: 5.5 per cent compared to 7.1 per cent nationally. The percentage of students from low-participation backgrounds is six per cent at Bristol compared to 11.8 per cent in England generally.

However, these statistics, are not complete, as some universities did not report any intake data.

Bristol has introduced various schemes to widen its participation.

These include contextual offers, whereby applicants from lower-participation backgrounds are made admission offers up to two grades lower than standard requirements.

Speaking to Epigram, Alice Bassett, President of UoB’s 93% Club, the student society dedicated to improving the experience of state school students at Bristol, stated:

Molly Pipe

Access to Bristol scheme, the findings show that more must be done to improve state school intake. It is a reminder of the inequalities experienced by students both in the educational system and when approaching the job market.

A University of Bristol spokesperson said: ‘We want our student body to represent the society which we are part of. Diversification of the student body is a core aim of the University and we have made significant progress in recent years, but still have work to do to achieve our aims.

‘We are dedicated to ensuring the University is attractive to all those who wish to study here, regardless of background and have an innovative approach to outreach and contextual admissions. This approach has led to progress on all measures including our state school intake moving from 64.7% in 2016 to 72.7% in 2020.

‘However, we readily accept that we have more to do and look forward to making this happen over the coming years.’

Bristol Councillors sign open letter to student landlords

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cross-party letter signed by local councillors and council candidates is calling on student landlords and letting agents to support students with their housing provision.

The open letter which has 67 signatories to it, was started by students Dylan Woodward, Rhianna Prewett and Elliott Callender, all of whom are standing as Labour council candidates in Bristol.

The letter calls for specific support for students in the private housing sector, who have not been covered by the University’s rent rebate and reduction arrangements.

Signatories to the letter call for landlords and agents to offer: A rent waiver or a significant rent reduction for the period of lockdown if their tenant is unable to return to Bristol.

Filiz Gurer

>A no-penalty contract release without needing to find a replacement tenant if their tenant does not want to return to Bristol for the duration of the tenancy due to COVID-19. >A significant rent reduction (for example 50%) for students who are losing out financially but remain in residence for the period of lockdown.

Signed by members of the Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat parties, the letter outlines the financial hardships students have been facing.

It notes that many students working part-time jobs in the hospitality sector will have lost the essential income which they rely upon to pay their rent.

Citing that ‘the average student

maintenance loan is not enough to cover rent in Bristol’ the letter points out that it is ‘clearly a significant burden on students to be paying full rent for properties which some have not been able to access all year.’

The letter acknowledges that some landlords may not be in a position financially to offer students the measures they are calling for, but ‘urge[s] that [they] make use of the financial aid the Government has put in place, such as mortgage holidays, to allow [them] to support tenants in this way’, and encourages landlords to communicate with students about their situations.

Bristol City Council

Call for short films for Bristol Science Film Festival

Features

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

Twitter: @EpigramFeatures

Fighting COVID-19 as a medical student Frontline tales of stress and sorrow from University of Bristol medical students in COVID-19 wards Estelle Nilsson-Julien

climate, Chanelle has found that bedents seeking help, rather than leting on the frontline in the pandemic ting these issues take over their work has fuelled her ambition to qualify life and potentially negatively affect as a doctor more interactions with paFrontline medics are than ever. She tients.

Chanelle Smith, experiencing the pandemic launched a Youpictured top left, is in an almost-parallel reality Tube channel in her spare time, a fifth-year medito many other students where she sings cal student who has (and raps) about COVID-19. been living full time in hospital Abbi, Jack and Chanelle are unaccommodation. She is one of the deniably three passionate doctors many medics unable to commute in the making who show the best of back to a student house (or family) young people during the due to the risk of spreading COVpandemic.

ID-19.

She explains that though being in a hospital environment day in, day out can be draining, camaraderie among colleagues is very strong. Despite the current

Flickr / Grand Appeal

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Epigram / Chanelle Smith

edical students are renowned on University campuses for their work hard, play hard lifestyle. Yet, since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, this reputation of wild drinking initiations and stressful deadlines seems something of the past.

Thousands of students across the country have been deployed to the frontline to fight the virus, many finding themselves face to face, or mask to mask, with COVID-19 patients.

Abbi Brow, pictured top right, is one such second-year medical student. After receiving only six months of in-person teaching and placements, she found herself propelled Jack McAliden (pictured left), a time to unwind, adding that she only into an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). fourth-year medical student and remembers the names of patients Abbi was fast tracked as a Health President of the Galenicals, the Uniwho did not survive. A harsh realCare Assistant, assisting nurses in versity’s Medical Society, adds that ity which Abbi worries will lead to wards and since starting this job, he felt aggravated at the governhuge sways of PTSD (Post Traumatshe has experienced a fair share of ment’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme. ic Stress Disorder) distressing moShe only remembers the across the profes- He believes that many young people ments. She recalls names of patients who sion. took part in it, contributing to the a distinct moment did not survive image of students being reckless in Though frontwhere she held the the pandemic. Though bending the line medics are hand of a patient rules is an unfathomable considerexperiencing the pandemic in an gravely ill with COVID-19. Shortly ation for student medics working almost-parallel reality to many othafter, it was decided by the team that in hospitals, Jack stresses that they er students, Abbi says socially-dishis care should be withdrawn. are also frustrated by COVID-19 and tanced walks and phone calls with This was a moment where Abbi want the student friends are a key was confronted with a tragic reality, they coping mecha- Some students fear that experience observing one of the first things she signed up for. nism: ‘[My friends ever learnt in medicine applied in if they speak up about Jack underlines are] not there to action: ‘You are taught do no harm, their mental health, it the mental strain make it better or sometimes, pumping a patient with will go on their record that many medical fix it, just to drugs is doing them students are comlisten’. more harm than ing under: ‘You have to respect the Abbi has also witgood.' guidance to protect yourself, your nessed an increasing Another family, and your community, but number of younger moment has also your patients.’ patients being admitstayed with He reports that many feel burnt ted to ICU's - a source her: ‘We Faceout, with the long-term stigma surof frustration when Timed [a parounding reporting mental health students flout rules. tient’s] family issues in the medical profession not Yet, Abbi feels that the and played his doing any favours. student community favourite song, Some students fear that if they has been scapegoated: and every time speak up about their struggles with ‘It is unfair to single I hear reggae I their mental health, this will go on out young people, I have think of him.’ their record and potentially hinder seen older people breakShe realised over their ‘fitness to practice.’ However, ing the rules countless the months that such Jack assures medics that being latimes too.’ intense experiences only belled unfit to practice is extremely truly sunk in once rare: ‘Having a mental health conshe’d had a dition is not a barrier to becoming little a doctor’. Instead, he stresses that Epigram / Jack McAliden medical schools want to see stu-

Epigram / Abbi Brow

Second Year, Politics & International Relations

10 Features

epigram 23.02.2021

Resisting lockdown productivity pressures and pandemic feelings of failure a global pandemic that has brought so much collective pain and suffering?

‘Pandemic productivity' is such a strange idea, yet it dictates my happiness levels each day. Goals have become my new source of misery; Second Year, Ancient History & Features Writer an unattained plan causes pain, but have never written a novel, actually achieving it brings only a roller-skated, built an igloo, brief satisfaction. sky-dived, or composed a sonYet these feelings are not a result net. Yet, with the advent of a year of any failing or intrinsic characsince coronavirus started to impact ter flaw; instead, they are a toxic the world, I get the unnerving sense by-product of the all-consuming that I should have. This feeling of hustle culture that seems to have our un-accomplishment and regret perentire generation under its thumb. fectly epitomises February.

Absorbed in the idea that every Although it minute of 'empty is the shortest We are hit even harder by time' in our lives month of the the commercialised ‘self- has to be filled year, for stuhelp' machine as more of with constructive dents it can seem activities, that like the long- our lives are moved online any action not est. Whether it’s geared toward the lingering sense of failure from self-improvement has no value (or January exams or the robotic act of even place) in our day-to-day existlogging into Blackboard Collaborate ence. only to mute the class, February is Balancing feelings of guilt and pitiless and boring. shame only perpetuates the desire While I had been wallowing in to want to do more. This isn't even what it feels like a ‘wasted year,' remotely possible to accomplish it feels like the rest of the world in normal circumstances, yet this have either embarked on a radical mindset seems to tighten its grip ‘self-improvement' journey or were more than ever during the pandemic. feeling awful because they hadn't.

Nothing about this situation is exWhy have we become obsessed with pected, so why are we attempting to maximising self-optimisation amidst continue as if that were the case?

Navigating the contestation between self-care and selfdestruction Grace Kirby

Epigram / Grace Kirby

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There needs to be recognition of quarantine activities can profit off the difference between the ‘self-imyour self-doubt. It seems to me that provement' adwhat they marvertised and Many platforms promoting ket as ‘self-care’ actual selfquarantine activities can seems more like care.

Self-care self-destruction. profit off your self-doubt This sort of ‘toxshouldn't result in guilt for not ic productivity' using all your time ‘productively'. needs to be more widely acknowlHowever, many platforms promoting edged within the University. Work-

ing effectively has never been so challenging as we adapt to studying at home remotely and with a constant stream of bad news and feelings of uncertainty about the future.

Yet, simultaneously, we are hit even harder by the commercialised ‘selfhelp' machine as more of our lives are moved online.

Productive or not, you are not defined by what you achieve during this limbo period, and we need to put less pressure on ourselves. We are not lesser beings for failing to thrive under these conditions. If anything, we should see merely surviving as a significant accomplishment.

There is no logic in expecting ourselves to be hyper-productive instruments in the depths of one of the largest global crises we will see in our lifetime. That's not to mention that we live in an age that makes productivity a trying task at the best of times; Shakespeare may have produced some of his best works whilst home-bound, but he didn't have to navigate a constant barrage of online information about the status of the pandemic or battle the temptation of various online sources of entertainment. Aspiring for self-improvement should by no means be criticised, however, it should not be perceived as the only way to lead a meaningful existence during this time.

Childcare as a form of self-care and purpose during the pandemic The job offering connection in a time of disconnection Katy Golding Second Year, Geographical Sciences

Unsplash / Markus Spiske

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aking a job in childcare has its perks. The enthusiasm from children is infectious.

It is an employment opportunity I have never experienced anywhere but Bristol. At 20 years old I didn’t expect childcare to be such a huge part of my life.

I moved to Bristol in 2018 from Derbyshire, where the only work for unskilled young adults was waiting-on and stacking shelves. It crefriends and family, usually only for ated a demoralizing association to minimal money and a thank-you at working life; the work being underthe end of the evening. paid and the customers unappreciaIt almost seemed too good to be tive. true, a decent wage of around £10 an Having enhour and shifts joyed a positive that included Nannying was truly a experience with a god-send in a summer of school pickups family and their and prepping COVID-19 puppy in Southdinner. I started ville, my houseworking for a famate encouraged me to also contact mily in Stoke Gifford, looking after families in Bristol who were seeking a three year-old girl and a five yearchildcare. Yet the only experience I old boy. had of childcare was babysitting for I lived in Bristol over summer and

you have to question if I didn’t go to university and live in such an affluent area of Bristol, would I have the same opportunities? With the family I worked for, there was common ground with having attended university; the parents understood the stresses and strains of student life.

Working as a nanny provided me with new aspirations. It also offers a release from the worries of university life as it removes you from your student environment and forces you to do a job.

It almost helps you focus on things that are stresses, such as the kids desperately trying to raid the cupboard or upend the table.

VID-19.

It puts things into perspective. You It was a simple process, signing up aren't desperate for the shift to come to the childcare website and paying to end, which is a game-changer. a small fee to The positive contact suiexperience that It offers a release from the table parents.

I have gained worries of university life and from nannying I already had puts things into perspective lifted me out of a DBS check and expemy low-mood rience with after COVID younger children so it only took me became a harsh reality. a matter of weeks. I’ve never felt so I couldn't recommend nannying appreciated in any work I’ve done. It more. Before, I resented the idea of makes you evaluate the type of work working, and now I associate it with you are willing to take on. Although, only good experiences.

provided childcare during the week and had the weekends to myself; it was a good balance. Nannying is not easy work, but it is always rewarding. I would spend my days in the sun, filling up paddling pools, playing dress-up, and watching far too many films. I would come home in the evenings and chat to my housemates about the things the kids had done over a glass of wine while sending multiple messages to my parents apologising for being a difficult child. For me, nannying was truly a god-send in a summer of CO-

Features 11

epigram 23.02.2021

Mark Ravenhill on what it was like to be a gay Bristol student in the 80s What was it like to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community at Bristol 35 years ago?

Holly Beaumont

Investigations Editor

experiences caused him to feel that he was unable to come out.

‘It was still quite acceptable to make jokes about gay people. Even amongst lecturers it was seen as a source of joking,’ he says.

‘I once had this English tutorial on Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale where the teacher spent the whole hour

crisis, there was so much very, very talking about how homosexuality negative press coverage. Like the was an aberration and if you loved head of police in Manchester said someone of the same gender it was a that AIDS was a punishment from mental illness.’

God,’ he said.

‘We never did get onto anything ‘The theatre company "Gay Sweatelse about The Winter’s Tale And shop" was tourso, you realise this wasn’t really a safe It really wasn't that long ing and they couldn’t get place,’ he tells me. ago but things were cleaners to Despite this, Mark doesn’t re- markedly different. It was come and clean a very, very dark time their theatres. gret choosing the When people University of Briswere in hospital with AIDS, their tol - ‘in general, I don’t really do repartners didn’t have a right to visit grets. I had a great time and I’m glad them. All these things feel like 200 I had that time in Bristol,’ he says. years ago, rather than 35 years ago.’

He countered this, however, statAs a closeted university student, ing, ‘I knew that I needed to leave Mark did not have much experience [Bristol] the day I graduated. I with AIDS. He elaborated; ‘It started thought “I’m moving to London the affecting me really in the 90’s.’ day I get that graduation certificate He was diagnosed with HIV aged and I’m never coming back.”’

24.

In light of the hit Channel 4 television series, It’s a Sin (2021), which is a dramatization of the experiences of gay men during the HIV/AIDS outbreak - Mark and I discussed the parallels between the show and his experiences as a young person.

‘This stuff sort of overlaps with what’s being written about at the moment with It’s a Sin,’ he said. ‘ Pa r t i c u larly at the beginning of the AIDS

‘I was diagnosed in 1990 before there was any medicine, but I was young and arrogant enough to believe I’d survive!’, he said.

‘It was still very challenging, but in a way, [at that time] you could sort of cope with it better - compared to being isolated at uni, very young, and amidst all these very negative tabloid headlines,’ he tells me.

‘Effective treatment became available in 1997’, he said.

Mark’s youthful confidence served him well, living a full life with HIV. In spite of all he has endured, Mark has hope for young people in the LGBT community today.

‘I hope now at a University like Bristol you could feel open,’ he said.

‘I hope their situation would be very, very different. I would hope that even from school onwards they would feel in a much safer place.'

Epigram Epigram//Mark MarkRavenhill Ravenhill

Flickr/ Andy Miah

Flickr / theatre forum ireland

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o mark LGBTQ+ history month, I spoke with playwright and former Bristol student, Mark Ravenhill, about his experience of being gay at the University in 1984.

Prior to the start of a lengthy and successful career, his professional journey began at the University of Bristol in the 1980s - although he told me ‘I avoided the academic stuff and just did student drama.’

‘They didn’t mis-sell the course but in my teenage head I imagined that a course called ‘drama’ was vocational,’ he said. This misunderstanding was not the only thing about his experience at Bristol that fell short of his expectations.

‘I think I had the expectation that when I went to Bristol I could come out and that was a safe environment and then I quite quickly found out that it wasn’t,’ he says.

‘Back then, there were literally ten people in the Gay Society at the whole University.’

‘It really wasn’t that long ago but things were markedly different. It was a very, very dark time,’ he continued.

I asked Mark a b o u t what

12 Features

epigram 23.02.2021

Rebecca, the Bristol Head-Rep of SolidariTee, the largest student-led charity in the UK, spoke to me about how Solidaritee has continued to ‘make sustainable change in the refugee crisis.’

Kate Bowie The charity was founded in 2017 Second Year, English by then-first-year Tiara Sahar Ataii. fter almost a year of pan- After volunteering with a legal aid demic-provoked chaos, NGO in Greece, Tiara started selling the world’s disadvantaged T-shirts to raise funds for the refuneed support more than ever. I sat gee crisis. Four years on, SolidariTee down with Rebecca Bradfield, Head boasts more than 450 student volunRepresentative of the Bristol branch teers from more than 40 universities. of SolitariTee, to see what students Despite the challenges of 2020, Recan do for charities and what the becca enthusiastically told me that charities might offer to the young ‘in four months our [Bristol] group people who donate their time. alone raised almost £2000, which is At Bristol, students have always incredible' ... ‘for just fifteen of us, been on the it’s ridiculous.’ frontlines of We’re seeing a world we’re ‘I’m so glad charity work. The not happy with. We want that SolidariTee University boasts has been there to be part of changing that and raised so over 20 campaigning sociemuch money,’ ties and RAG, the Raising and Giving she continued. ‘Even before COVID, fundraising arm of the Student Un- everyone knew that the position of ion, was founded 90 years ago. But refugees in society was pretty precarin a period of unprecedented global ious.’ turmoil, student activism has been On top of the incredible struggles faced with previously unthinkable faced by refugees and asylum seekchallenges. ers ‘they’re now suffering a global Non-profit organisations on the pandemic that is ultimately unawhole have taken serious hits. One in voidable. Whereas we can stay home ten UK charities are facing bankrupt- and self-isolate, when you’re living cy - volunteers are unable to fund- around thousands of other people, raise in person, donate their time, bed to bed, you can’t escape it.’ or even connect face-to-face. This When questioned as to how Solimakes enacting change through ac- tariTee is able to make an impact in tivism harder than ever before. such desperate times, Rebecca re-

How is the refugee charity helping those in times of COVID-19?

Flickr / Rob Brewer

‘Students are a powerful source of change’ SolidariTee on student activism

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turned to the students - ‘students are Indeed, all information on funds is online, the t-shirt purchasing page a powerful source of change.’

‘Student activism does make a dif- being a click away from the list of ference because we’re one big power- their recipient NGOs. Rebecca highlighted that good ful group ... we’re going out into the world and we’re seeing a world we’re student activism revolves around not happy with. We want to be part the cause rather than students themselves, emphasising the charity’s of changing that’.

As with any charity, questions of efforts ‘in making sure it’s not towhere funds go and how recipient kenistic’ and avoiding white-saviour NGOs are chosen are unavoidable. complexes, instead helping refugees Performative activism is an accepted empower themselves. Having said that, the benefits part of the social media landscape, Whereas we can stay home of being involved and the interven- and self-isolate, refugees are undeniable. tionalist probwho live in close promixity ‘I think a lot of societies and lems with activto each other cannot clubs at univerism are among sity can be quite the first to be risen. In 2021, honesty is as important cliquey and it can be hard to get involved. It was very important for me as intention in student-led charities.

Rebecca stressed that transparency as the Head Rep to make sure everyis a core tenet of SolidariTee’s work. one felt included and got out of Soli-

daritee what they wanted to.’

‘It’s been such a treat getting to meet everyone, build this team and hear everyone’s experiences and motivations,’ she continued. ‘It just creates such a diverse and powerful group for change. I think everyone brings something different.'

Rebecca’s advice for anyone looking into getting involved? ‘Do it! It’s so little commitment with such a high reward. It’s fun, it’s a joy to do, it doesn’t feel like work,’ she stressed.

‘I don’t think anyone actually knew each other at the start of this year, so we’ve had such a cool relationship building experience and we’ve met like-minded people who we wouldn’t normally get to meet.’

At a time when people need each other’s support more than ever, student activism offers relief for everyone involved in it and its mission.

Flickr / Rob Brewer

Hanging after a trip to the pub? The morbid past of The Highbury Vaults

The former purpose of this Bristol landmark was not exclusively in the provision of drink Seb Topan

Second Year, Law & Features Writer

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popular watering hole for both students and locals, the Highbury Vaults pub in fact has a macabre past.

In the mid to late 1800s, condemned prisoners had their final meal in the depths of the pub, before being sent to be executed on the gallows at

the top of St Michael’s Hill. 180 years later, the Highbury Vaults pub is now a fond local for students, academics and townsfolk alike.

Located close to the University’s School of Humanities, this traditional 1800s pub serves a great selection from its original small Victorian

snug bar, and good-quality classic G&T,' Thompson continued. pub grub, including its acclaimed The mid-19th-century pub has a Sunday roast. narrow frontage and dark interior.

Originally built around 1840 as a The bar to the back of the pub has turnpike, before becoming a pub a an inter-war counter, old bar-back decade later, the Highbury Vaults of- fitting and panelled dado. fers a beautiful hidden walled garden The bar also has an impressive set where customers can enjoy a relaxi- of handpumps, that dates back to ng pint in the summer.

1936, adding to its historical aesthe‘I think that it is a pretty excep- tic. tional piece of history, right at the Over the pub’s 180-year histoheart of Bristol,’ ry, it has barely second-year His- Condemned prisoners had been touched. In tory student, their final meal at the pub the early 1980s, Beth Thompson, an extension adbefore being hung on St. ded another two tells me.

Michael's Hill ‘People can go rooms where you and enjoy a pint can now find a surrounded by history!’ billiards table – a feature rarely seen Asked whether she would indulge in pubs today. More recently, the in a drink or two at the pub, after the pub featured in the ‘CAMRA Heritagovernment eases COVID-19 restric- ge Guide’ and the ‘Good Pub Guide,’ tions, Thompson said: ‘Oh definitely! owing to its service and friendly atEspecially with a pub rooted in his- mosphere. tory.’

Post-lockdown, the Vaults is sure ‘I think the fact that it's linked to to continue to be a favourite local of the death penalty makes the pub so Bristolians and students alike, amid intriguing; I can’t wait to visit the the quality experience and historical pub with some friends for a nice intrigue of the pub.

Opinion

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

Twitter: @EpigramOpinion

University has Why the COVID-19 become an Vaccine should not be anticlimatic made compulsory on experience university campuses In light of the new learning conditions, school leavers would be better off taking a year out before university

Theano Dimopoulou

Second Year, Psychology in Education

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ecause of COVID-19 and the uncertainty that it entails, university has become a very anticlimactic experience. As a second-year university student, I have not had the chance to really live the full university experience. I would say I was lucky to have one COVID-free term but knowing how much fun I could be having is not the best feeling. Travelling across Europe in order to pursue your chosen career and ending up back in your childhood home for almost the entire year is definitely not what I had in mind when I applied to university.

Being asked to make life-changing choices about your future, both academically and career-wise at such a young age is a nerve-racking experience for many, especially during COVID-19, where circumstances are even more uncertain than normal.

My advice to any student looking to apply to university this year, would be to take a gap year and gain more experience in the real world. That way students will become more mature individuals and will be able to handle university better.

I believe that the socialising and networking that take place at university play a major role later in life.

COVID-19 has greatly limited these activities, so students leaving school should benefit from the uncertainty of COVID-19 and apply for remote internships or work experience wherever that is possible. However, it must be said that this advice is not limited to this year as many prospective students tend to focus perhaps a little too emphatically on educational achievement, forgetting the importance of real world experience.

Nevertheless, there are several other reasons why I would not recommend attending university this

year. Financial stability and security are significant concerns for many students. Taking care of your finances and making sure you can support yourself is a life skill you need to learn quickly. Student Loans are going to place a severe dent in your financials, even before you consider living expenses. So, attending university during a global pandemic, where the level and quality of teaching have severely deteriorated and you access to resources is limited, might not be the best option. Financially, it simply does not make any sense.

Humans are social animals and naturally seek the company of others. Whether a person is an introvert or an extrovert, everyone needs to socialise. Many university students face anxiety and loneliness during these challenging times. In the beginning, the switch from face-toface teaching to online learning was a fascinating new experience, but no one anticipated the devastating effects that this would have on our mental health.

Talking from personal experience, my sleep schedule has completely changed. The sudden free time as well as local restrictions, and early curfews has affected my sleep, both in terms of quality and regularity.

Being at home all day, trying to attend classes online, and not being allowed to really socialize with anyone outside my support bubble has substantially affected my usual routine. I find myself exhausted during the day even if I haven’t done any serious physical activity. My quality of sleep has definitely worsened, and for quite some time I thought I was the only one, but after speaking with other students, I realised a lot of us have been feeling the same way.

The university stress that already exists, added on to the current ambiguity of the world definitely is not the best combination.

So, if I had one thing to say to potential university students, it would be to take a break from education and enjoy life while taking in all the opportunity that a gap year can offer, allow time and see how COVID-19 will affect university life and learning.

There will be no need to make vaccines compulsory on campus as most people will have the vaccine of their own accord Maxwell Livesey Third Year, Law

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accines have arrived, and so too has the renewed hope of the pandemic’s end. As more and more people are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine each day, a return to normality draws ever nearer.

As of 12th February, more than 14 million people have received a first dose of a vaccine in the UK . In light of the vaccine rollout underway in the UK, students can start to think about a life free of lockdowns, social distancing, wearing masks and getting back to in-person teaching, socialising and perhaps even nights out.

However, to get to this point we need to reach herd immunity, which will only happen if a high percentage of the population is immunised.

Whilst vaccination is not at present legally mandated, without enough uptake, herd immunity will not be achieved and normality and safety will not be restored.

However, while vaccines are the solution, that does not mean they should be mandatory on university campuses. For one, students are very likely to take the vaccine without it being mandated by universities. A series of surveys of 5,114 people in the UK conducted by professors at the University of Oxford, found that 72 per cent of those surveyed were willing to be vaccinated and only 12 per cent were likely to delay or avoid the vaccine.

While some vaccine scepticism remains, this is likely to decrease over time, as more people receive the vaccine and government campaigns aimed at increasing vaccine uptake roll out. The implications of mandating vaccination for students are not worth a potentially marginal increase in uptake, as it appears highly likely already that the majority of people will take the vaccine.

The decision on whether to require students and staff to be vaccinated on university campuses ultimately leads to a collision between respecting the autonomy and rights of individuals or protecting the health and safety of the community. Universities not only want to, but also have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of their students and staff. Irrespective of this, requiring people to be vaccinated infringes on an individual’s autonomy, and cannot be justified given that there are other

ways of protecting the community, such as the wearing of masks and social distancing.

Only a minority of students and staff at universities are likely to be classed as vulnerable. Those who are vulnerable will also be able to benefit from the protections provided from being vaccinated, as well as the herd immunity gained from the majority of people who are likely to take the vaccine regardless of whether it is made mandatory or not.

There may still be strong ethical reasons for mandating the vaccine on university campuses though. For one, it is not a burdensome procedure for an individual and it would prevent harm to individuals by bringing the pandemic to an end. However, these reasons are already likely to incline students and staff alike to take the vaccine without force from universities across the UK. Social pressure is also likely to increase vaccine uptake amongst the community. Through university campaigns encouraging vaccination to the media and discussions between friends and families, those with any reservations are likely to be influenced to take the vaccine.

Given all that we know about the virus and public opinion on the vaccine, in a liberal democracy, can universities really justify mandating that students and staff get vaccinated? I think not.

Epigram / Lucy O'Neill

14 Opinion

epigram 23.02.2021

Security staff wearing body-cameras may be invasive but it is necessary

The New Bristolian: The mental health support petition has started an important conversation Lowri Lewis

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Epigram / Lucy O'Neill

There are invasive concerns about security staff wearing cameras, but it is necessary to save lives Mark Ross

Moreover, the University has good not by potentially ruining our repureason to implement these measures. tation along with our already-dwinDespite the ‘majority’ of students addling career prospects. hering to the national lockdown, a Add to this a recognition from minority continue to flaunt the rules.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, that For proof of this, one needn’t look students are often overly criticised further than the by media outlets during the pan- Introducing body cameras last weekend of Second Year, French and Politics demic, and it is in an effort to deter these January which saw a number of easy to see why niversity security staff offences seems a wholly gatherings – inheightening sehave recently been proportionate response cluding a house curity measures equipped with body camparty of up to against us seem eras when patrolling campus and fifty people – broken up by police. unfair. ‘The vast majority’, he tweetUniversity-owned residences. It In light of this, introducing body ed, ‘have acted responsibly and comstings our egos and feels invasive, cameras in an effort to deter these passionately’ – this hardly seems to but for students acclimatised to the offences seems a wholly proportionnecessitate the imposition of filmed digital age, we should really just acate response. security surveillance. cept that the benefits outweigh the Nobody likes being recorded by a These criticisms, however, do not flaws. stranger, especially not security oftell the full story. With regard to priAn email to students stated that, ficers. We associate body cameras vacy, the body cameras are not tools as of 29 January, the security serwith riot police filming violent proof a 24/7 surveillance state. Cameras vice has been actively protecting testers, not with university staff on will only record the community Tyndall’s Park Road. audio when by capturing Cameras are invasive In reality, however, this behaviour officers are restudent misdeis commonplace: from NHS staff to sponding to an meanours on Co-op cashiers, body cameras are incident or come across a developfilm. Let’s take a look at why many a widely accepted method of dising incident. students have not taken too kindly couraging violence and empowering This means that students will only to this announcement. workers. be filmed if they are involved in a Cameras are invasive and interfere Consequently, students must raperceived breach of University rules. with students’ privacy. Being recordtionalise their gut reaction to this Security are also required to notify ed almost seems like a pre-emptive new policy. It may make us a little students when they are being recordcriminal charge, implying that we – more nervous when walking to our ed, and all footage is subject to the being the boisterous and unpredictafriend’s house for a small gathering University’s GDPR data protection ble students that we are – are on the in the future, but given the circumpolicy. verge of committing a crime. This is stances, perhaps this is no bad thing.

It must be acknowledged that indicative of a lack of trust on the Cameras encourage us to do what we filming also protects both parties.

University’s part. should already be doing.

Students claiming innocence can Being filmed also risks dragging Admittedly, security staff waving produce evidence to support their our personal lives into the public. cameras in our faces makes the idea appeals – this ensures against abuse Surely we have the right to attend of a united and strong community of power on security's part. Likewise, a slightly over-crowded cheese night slightly harder to come to grips with. officers are at decreased risk of exwithout the risk of appearing on the However, they are taking material periencing aggressive behaviour givfollowing morning’s BBC news resteps to saves lives and we should en the deterrent effect commanded port? It is our choice to break rules; respect that. by video cameras. security should deal with us fairly,

U

Opinion Columnist

t seems like those who draw up the University league tables intend to do so with the student experience at the heart of their considerations. But satisfaction with the course and the way it is taught are not the only factors which potential applicants should be aware of. According to the creator of the petition for mental health support to be included in University league tables, the quality of this support should be taken into consideration, too.

The pandemic has worsened, and drawn attention to, the state of students’ mental health. Over half of us have seen our mental health worsen over this period, and some have consequently turned to Universities for help.

Of those that do, however, only ‘57 per cent are satisfied with how they’ve been supported.’ It’s clear that improvements need to be made in this area. But is including this in league tables the right way to go about getting changes made?

It would certainly be a good start - anything which will encourage Universities to invest more of their resources and energy into this can’t be a bad thing. In the unlikely event that it wouldn’t motivate them to make any changes, the information it would give potential applicants would still be invaluable.

Students would be able to make an informed choice about which Uni could best protect their mental wellbeing, rather than simply hoping that some sort of support will be available as we must at the moment.

The transition from sixth form to University can be an immensely challenging time mentally - freshers are thrown into a new environment without any friends around to function as a support network. The pressure that exams and workloads put us under means that our mental health can suffer further on in our Uni career too. The importance of mental health support for Uni students cannot be underestimated.

The fact that many of those that

turn to their Uni for help aren’t satisfied with the support they receive is therefore a disappointing one.

But unfortunately, it’s unlikely that knowledge of this fact in itself will encourage many Universities to improve the help that they provide.

The Russell Group’s stance on the ‘no detriment’ policy is an example of this reluctance to listen to students’ opinions when it comes to our mental health.

The Group has failed to acknowledge that students from every single one of their Universities have stated that a ‘no detriment’ policy is needed when we’re trying to complete our degrees in the middle of a global emergency, for mental health reasons amongst others.

It seems like the opinions of huge numbers of students are only considered by these universities when it’s an opinion about something like ‘satisfaction with the course’ - one which will affect their rating on the league tables.

The creator of the mental health support petition notes that ‘decision makers’ at Universities often don’t consider the extent to which their choices can have an ‘affect [...] on the mental wellbeing of students’.

The pandemic has highlighted this fact.

Whilst the University of Bristol has had a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy in place since 2019, it’s clear that this will not have anticipated the effect that a pandemic would have on Bristol students’ mental health.

Of course, in such unprecedented circumstances, it must be difficult to make decisions that will work both for students and for Universities themselves. The question is whether those decisions would be different if universities knew that they would be judged on the way that they impacted students’ mental wellbeing.

Over thirty thousand of us have signed the petition for mental health support to be included in University league tables - if they won’t listen to us, we know what Universities will pay attention to.

Opinion 15

epigram 23.02.2021

Student house hunting in 2021 is a nightmare House hunting as a student has always been hard, but this year has been particularly challenging Conor Hogan Second Year, Politics and IR

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t was a cold November evening and the Prime Minister had just announced a second national lockdown. My flatmates and I sat down to watch and couldn’t imagine the nightmare that would ensue. Finding a house to rent in Bristol is difficult at the very best of times - last year we were fortunate to find our place very early on, but there was to be no such luck this time. What began as a relaxed search on the Rightmove website once every few days, transformed into a frantic seven-man scouring of many different websites.

Finding a house we liked on the site was difficult enough and the

thrill of searching quickly faded each time we discovered that although a house was listed, it was unfortunately, most probably, already under offer. Little did we know, this was only the start of the nightmare of looking for housing during lockdown.

We became increasingly concerned as the days went by. Not only were viewings limited because of COVID restrictions, but some places would only allow online viewings, making it extremely difficult to judge properties.

As was the case with most students, our troubles were further compounded by the announcement of Bristol’s travel window between the 3rd and 9th December, meaning we were scattered across the country, communicating intermittently via the WhatsApp housing group chat.

After weeks of fruitless searching, eventually a property did come up that we all liked. It felt like a minor miracle. We were excited yet

Alice Proctor

Epicartoon: ‘Sorry, the property you are viewing is already under offer' apprehensive, and we were right to be. Despite the landlord telling us to come and view it, and two of us driving tens of miles to see this house, upon leaving the property and trying to apply for the house within minutes of the viewing, we were told another group had reserved it already. The WhatsApp group pinged with disbelief; our luck had once again failed us.

However, was it luck or something more sinister? The agency, clearly already knew a group had reserved the property before we left for our restricted viewing, and yet neglected to tell us this fact, no

doubt using us as a fallback option.

In the winter of a global pandemic where students are getting into thousands upon thousands of debts for a unique rolled-back experience, having landlords treat us like that left a slightly bitter taste in the mouth.

As we entered 2021 in a more draconian third national lockdown, a sense of urgency hit us. As many but not all of us returned to Bristol, the old problems returned. “The property is under offer, thank you for your consideration” became daily reading. In what was one of the lows of our experience, upon

politely calling one agency, we were told to ‘not call us again’ and hung up on.

January wore on and the spectre of exams began to loom just over the corner, but we finally found a property that we liked and was affordable.

I fail to see how my experience is any different to that of other students, so I can only sympathise with those students still searching for housing at the mercy of the sometimes opportunistic landlords and incompetent agencies. In the midst of a global pandemic, the true colours of some are revealed.

Now is not the time to embark on a postgraduate degree

Taking a postgraduate degree during a pandemic is a lonely experience Laurent Nassé MA Religion

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eing a postgraduate student in the time of coronavirus has been many things, most of which being demanding, draining and, ultimately, disheartening. Sure, I enjoy my degree, but it’s lonely. I don’t write this lightly, it’s simply a side effect of doing an MA now.

I don’t live in Bristol so I can’t speak on what it’s like being in the heart of campus during the pandemic, but I doubt there would be a significant difference. Being in-between lockdowns and tier systems for the better part of a year, I can’t imagine many are able to say they’ve made many friends solely through their online studies.

While it’s gutting to know I’m financially unable to move to the

were. Who wants to pay thousands city I’m studying in, it’s also sad to just to be disappointed? realise that the move would have We’re halfway through this ultimately been futile anyway. academic year and I’ve been given I’ve always enjoyed studying, and minimal opportunity to meet people universities such as Bristol boast on my course, consequentially left so much of everything I’ve been (albeit virtually) surrounded by peodrawn to – beautiful libraries, a ple I don’t know, and often by those gorgeous city, and learning from with friendships previously made in people as passionate about a subject undergrad courses. I’m not able to as myself. However, do many of physically meet and chat to people, these enticing things really mator form any kind of connection ter when you’re discouraged from to them that isn’t in a hideously leaving your house anyway? Stay awkward Zoom call – and let’s be home and stay safe is an important honest, those are awkward; small message, but it is also the primary talk is the worst and we all know it. reason why I don’t believe doing a You can’t postgrad degree exactly make at this time is in You will not be getting the a good fi rst everyone’s best same experience as those impression when interest. who came before you the backing You will not track to your be getting the introduction is the recycling bins same experience as those who came being emptied outside your window before you, whether you’re interor your crazy dogs barking at their ested solely in the academic side of own reflections, your camera conuniversity or the social side as well. stantly freezing on facial expresYou’re bound to be let down in one sions akin to a mid-sneeze at best, way or another because we’re unaa pre tactical chunder face at worst. ble to do half as much as we once

crackle, pop.

Safe to say I’m not making any Honestly, I’m tired of having little positive memorable impressions. I’m – and difficult – contact with lecdetached from my studies and even turers, feeling under constant time further detached from those I’m restraint in virtual calls. I’m tired of studying with. This really is lonely. being confused and unable to talk Not only has this year already to the people I only know the first been emotionally taxing and names of. mentally exhausting, the question I’m tired of remains whether having limited we are getting Taking a master's degree access to things the most out of in the time of corona is a that were once what we’re payjoke, and I'm the butt unlimited, easily ing for. Limited accessed and library use, Zoom encouraged to be used. lectures on dodgy internet connecI’m tired of being told it’s all tions, the endless struggle to access worth it, that this level of teaching essential reading materials online is the same as before, when before I when said access is constantly was told an online presence was not ‘denied.’ For £9,000? What a breeze, enough and you had to be physicalI’m having a blast. ly making the most of it all.

My parents used to warn me that I’m tired of being told this tiredstaring at a screen for too long ness is the same as every other year, would give me square eyes. Apparwhen we’re living in a pandemic ently, they lied, but instead, it will and nothing is the same – except give you multiple migraines, the our academic experiences, of course. posture of a shrimp and the aches Taking a master’s degree in the and pains of a frazzled 80 year-old. time of corona is a joke, and I’m the At 22, wiggling my body has me butt. sounding like a Rice Krispy: snap,

16 Opinion

epigram 23.02.2021

Young people should pay more attention The Gamestop to the information fiasco should they are fed make us more financially aware Beyond Bristol

Gamestop: what happened and why students should learn about the world of investment Nadja Lovadinov Second Year, Geography

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ith the arrival of the new year came the virtual invasion of an army of activist investors fighting against the powers of Wall Street, hell-bent on shaking the sacred pillars of American society and its hypocrisies. The revolution was livestreamed.

We appear to be existing in something akin to Aristophanes’ comedy in which the blinded Plutus, Greek God of wealth, has his sight restored and can determine who is deserving of wealth. The effect of this was that of unprecedented havoc on Wall Street.

The bandit Redditors of Locksley, who are sympathetic to persuasions across the political spectrum, detected an inefficient gap in the market that was dramatically over shorted.

Reaffirming their financial agency, the Redditors managed to temporarily beat the system. Their efforts have been applauded by the Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, who has been heavily critical of the hedge funds titans that intimidate the ‘little guy,' believing that the crusaders were justified in their provocation of war.

Yet who can deny the Redditors' fearless efforts? Personally, I remain undecided as to whether this saga represented a tragedy or comedy.

Wall Street will close the gap and its inefficiencies, making these opportunities rarer. Realistically, who will have the capacity to lead such a scheme again? Was GameStop a one-hit wonder?

As a student, I have great con-

fidence in the free market. The creatively destructive aspect of capitalism has indisputably benefitted Western society, making companies innovative, generating jobs and propelling forward the middle class.

Yet with the imminent environmental catastrophe and the inequality gap approximating a rubber band nearing breaking point, Friedman’s philosophy of ‘Greed is Good’ appears outdated, immoral and false.

In defence of the recent events which have been described as a populist uprising, and even a vendetta for 2008, I believe that shareholders do have a responsibility to society.

Equitable reforms are needed since market stock prices do not always reflect a company’s true value.

Rather the market should express transparent public investment into companies that people genuinely believe will avail society in the long term.

After the events that took place in relation to GameStop, students should be the charging cavalry, leading a world where information is accessible and transparent.

But where does this leave students? While it is clear that the market is extensively volatile, the GameStop affair should actively encourage students to strive to be financially literate. There are many platforms students can use to sharpen their financial understanding, including YouTube channels such as Economics Explained.

Students are entwined with technology, it is the bane of our existence and with the shifting paradigm threatening Wall Street’s monopoly, students should become more financially aware in order to be better informed of the circumstances which prompted those involved in the Gamestop fiasco to outwit Wall Street. Within the ashes of GameStop, there remain embers and planted ideas for future changes.

Epigram / Molly Pipe

The difference between echo chambers and epistemic bubbles and why we should not confuse them Brodie Neilson

Third Year, Sociology and Philosophy

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t is very hard to live as a student, with even a slight interest in politics, and not be subject to either an epistemic bubble or an echo chamber. Some would say impossible.

In light of our changing political landscape, many have claimed that we live in a post-truth world. It’s very understandable to come to such a conclusion as a student, especially given the seeming excess of err’d thinking on the internet, too much of it being rather serious.

However, the truth is that discourse often confuses two distinct social phenomena: epistemic bubbles and echo chambers. It’s profitable for students to understand what they are, how they’re distinct, and why it’s important not to confuse the two.

An epistemic bubble occurs where some voices, opinions and facts have been left out, accidentally or not. An example of this would be social media algorithms, which feed you media that they think you’ll like, which is by and large media in line with your world view.

This prevents those inside such

bubbles to be exposed to all of the relevant information on a given topic, namely the information they don't agree with. Since the omission of information in an epistemic bubble is the only issue, popping an epistemic bubble is relatively easy; one simply needs exposure to the information that’s been omitted.

Echo chambers, on the other hand, occur when other relevant voices are actively excluded or discredited. Here, people are systematically brought to distrust outside sources.

Partisan news corporations are guilty of this.

They feed their audience with a heavily skewed take on events, incorporating reasons to inflate the credibility of those inside the echo chamber, for example, a news anchor, and deflate the credibility of those they don’t favour outside the echo chamber.

Echo chambers are much harder to escape because even a person acting with good intentions, may have their beliefs manipulated by social circumstances. Escaping an Echo Chamber requires, at times, a radical rebooting of one’s belief system.

One of the key distinctions between these two concepts is that epistemic bubbles exclude through omission, whilst echo chambers exclude through manipulating trust and information. It’s important that we respect and understand these differences, because if we don’t, we risk undermining the manipulation and deception involved in echo chambers that are absent in epistemic

bubbles.

Those in epistemic bubbles still maintain an appreciation of the credibility of those they disagree with, they are just naïve to them.

As argued by C. Thi Nguyen in his article on the topic, appreciating the distinction of the two topics can help us to better understand recent political phenomena, namely the apparent resistance of some groups to clear evidence opposing them, for example, climate change deniers and anti-vaccination groups. Groups with no proper evidence to support their claims, and overwhelming evidence proving them wrong.

Understanding these differences will help students like us realise the extent to which contemporary political issues are, to a degree, inextricably tied with the changing ways in which we receive information. It will help us, as students, to combat the prevalence of epistemic bubbles and echo chambers, giving insights into how we might better structure and regulate the platforms that give rise to them.

Moreover, it will help us appreciate the perils that come with being caught in an echo chamber, making our disagreements all the more productive by allowing us to properly engage with issues, exploring alternative views.

This does not mean that our views change altogether. If anything, this will mean the arguments our generation of students presents will become even more grounded and logical and therefore, more merited.

Film&TV

Editor Maddy Raven Digital Editor Katya Spiers Deputy Editor Sam Vickers

Twitter: @Epigramculture

Documenting the AIDS Crisis: Five different approaches

Five films and TV series to learn more about the AIDS epidemic Ben Carpenter

Second Year, Film and Television

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here to provide you with five educational and entertaining films and TV series that feature or focus on the AIDS epidemic. Sit tight, my loves, this is going to be a depressing ride.

Pose (2018-)

GBTQ+ History Month means something different Ryan Murphy finally struck (conto each member of the comsistent) gold with this drama focusmunity. For me, I feel an obligation ing on the Harlem ballroom scene of to understand and respect those the late 1980s and early 1990s. With lost in the AIDS pandemic that tore a wide range of diversity both in through our community less than 40 front of and behind the camera, Pose years ago, the effects of which are handles the AIDS epidemic with both still seen today. sensitivity and strength and never With HIV/AIDS being a keen inrepresents anyone as a victim. terest of mine, Despite some you can imintense snubbing Pose handles the AIDS epiagine I was at both the Emelated to demic with both sensitivity my’s and Goldand strength watch It’s a en Globes of its Sin (2021), the mainly transgennew Channel 4 drama covering the der cast of colour, Pose has proven lives of a group of friends in London to be a huge hit with audiences, with during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. the third season in production right Announced just a few days ago, now. In the meantime, you can catch It’s a Sin quickly became All 4’s bigboth seasons of Pose on both Netflix gest ever instant box set. With the and BBC iPlayer. You’ll be voguing show being such a hit, and many of in no time. my friends being more than aware of my interest, I have found myself anHolding the Man swering a range of questions about (2015) the virus – from questions regarding treatment and statistics and most commonly: where can I find more You can stop voguing now. Only films and TV shows that feature HIV/ tears with this one.

AIDS? Based on Timothy Conigrave’s Fear not, dear readers. For Ben is autobiography of the same name,

Holding the Man FDA. tells the story A testament to the beauty of Featuring footof Timothy and age of many insame sex relationships John Caleo’s dividuals who relationship besuccumbed to the ginning at school in 1970s Australvirus many years before the film’s ia. Following their consistent uphill release, How to Survive a Plague is battle with the conservative homoa truly inspiring watch and acts as phobia of twentieth century Ausproof of the influence we can have as tralia, the struggles of young love a collective when taking our health and the growing threat of the AIDs and wellbeing into our own hands, epidemic, Holding the Man is both and put pressure on those who very a tale of heartbreaking ignorance literally hold the key to our survival. and struggle and a testament to the It’s largely due to the work of beauty of same-sex relationships in these activists around the world that a society insistent on brushing them you can contract HIV and still live a under the rug. long and healthy life today, making With a touching script adapted How to Survive a Plague essential from an equally touching source viewing. material and genuinely breathtaking chemistry between the lead acDallas Buyers Club tors, Holding the Man is available on (2013) Netflix and a must-see this LGBTQ+ History Month.

Whilst the activists seen in How to Survive a Plague may have gone How to Survive a about things in a more politicised Plague (2012) sense, there were also many people on the other side, simply desperate Time to feel empowered. Nominatfor survival and willing to break any ed for the Academy Award for Best law to do so.

Documentary Feature and produced One of these people was AIDS pausing over 700 hours of archive tient Ron Woodrof, played by Matfootage, How to Survive a Plague thew McConaughey, in an Oscar tells the story of New York based acwinning performance, who worked tivist groups ACT UP and TAG and to smuggle not yet legalised HIV their fearless work to obtain effecmedications over the border from tive treatment from the money hunMexico into Dallas, Texas and sell gry pharmaceutical companies and them to those most in need.

Based on a true story and also starring an Oscar-winning Jared Leto as an HIV infected trans woman (which is of course controversial in itself), despite its obvious flaws and Oscar-bait nature, Dallas Buyers Club finds it significance in its representation of a poorer AIDs demographic in an industry where most HIV representation focuses on its middle class patients. A bold and realistic film, you can find it on Amazon Prime Video.

Buddies (1985) The final film on my list takes us all the way back to the very first film to ever deal with the AIDS pandemic: Buddies (1985). It is directed, produced and written by Arthur J. Bressan Jr., who was himself infected with HIV and died of AIDS related complications just two years after the film's release.

The film tells the story of AIDs patient Robert (Geoff Edholm) and his assigned ‘buddy’ David (David Schachter) and their friendship over the course of Robert’s final months.

With many of the actors themselves having HIV and the film being made on a shoe-string budget, Buddies is a truly unique film and, although it has its flaws, it acts as a time-capsule of sorts, showing the viewer a world where knowledge was limited but many people, even strangers, still had love to give.

WandaVision takes Marvel in an exciting new direction Humour, empathy and champagne casting comprise a promising start to Phase Four Lauryn Clarke Third Year, History

U

nlike anything that has come before, Marvel’s first foray into Phase Four is striking a markedly different tone for the franchise WandaVision is the first of Marvel’s new slate of Disney+ shows and the first of the shows that link directly to their upcoming slate of movies (unlike their previous shows e.g. Agents of Shield (2013-2020).

The show takes place after Avengers: Endgame (2019) and follows Wanda Maximoff (aka Scarlet Witch, played

by Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul

Bettany) in a series of sitcom-inspired episodes of their new life.

However, this is not as it seems because last audiences saw, Vision was dead and nobody around remembers the town they reside in existing.

As a self-proclaimed comic book nerd, WandaVision is straight up my alley. These characters are getting more screen time than they had in the movies, which allows for more character development, something both Wanda and Vision were lacking after their initial appearances in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

Head Writer Jac Schaeffer has peppered in many comic book easter eggs and previous Marvel movie references for the eagle-eyed viewer, so every episode there are moments of ‘Wait, rewind that! Is that what I think it is?’ which gives much for those who are heavily invested to theorise about.

The sense of unease you get with each episode is something you can’t shake: a definite new tone for Marvel’s Phase Four. You can tell something is wrong, that something is off, but you can’t quite put your finger on it. As previously announced by President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige, parts of Phase Four – including WandaVision and the upcoming Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (scheduled for 2021) into which this show ties – are going to take a darker turn, even sinking into horror movie territory. It will be interesting to see how this will be received, given the way the franchise has been marketed so far.

However, the show has come under criticism for the first few episodes as many fans are disliking the sitcom-esque style and the pacing. The show is releasing one 25-30-minute episodes a week as if it was on

broadcast television like the shows from whose style it emulates, rather than the more popular modern format of releasing a whole season at once on a streaming service for people to binge. I believe that the expectations people have developed from this model of media consumption is the reason for this criticism – people have become so used to being able to have a show all at once that they have somehow forgotten how television used to be.

The acting in the show is superb.

With a well-selected cast, the actors absolutely nail the show and I can’t think of a moment that ChI felt has been poorly acted. WandaVision is also the first female-led Marvel release since Captain Marvel (2019), following the postponed release of the Black Widow solo film. Olsen confidently pulls off leading this show without a hitch. The writers

have also brought back secondary characters from other Marvel projects, including Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) from Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) from the first two Thor movies; they both serve as comic relief in their respective films they work well together on screen, and provide a little breathing room in the tense fourth episode. Teyonah Parris also deserves an honourable mention as Monica Rambeau, a role she is slated to carry again in the upcoming Captain Marvel 2 (2022), as she performs a heartbreaking scene of what happened directly after the Hulk snapped and brought everyone back in Endgame that brought tears to my eyes.

Overall, WandaVision has kept me wanting more and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season will bring.

18 Film&TV

epigram 23.02.2021

The documentary that still shines in 2021 Third Year, Film and Television

J

ennie Livingston’s 1990 documentary Paris is Burning is hailed as a seminal piece of LGBTQ+ cinema, shining a spotlight on the ballroom culture that flourished in the eighties in New York’s underground drag scene.

The 80-minute film offers a chance to relish in its glitz and glamour, whilst being educated on the icons and outcasts on whose shoulders the balls were built.

Paris is Burning was Jennie Livingston’s debut feature film, and the seven-year project covers an abundance of themes regarding sexuality, race, class and gender identity.

Painted against the background of the turbulent Reagan years that exacerbated the vulnerability of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly Black and Latinx members, the ballroom appears to offer brief salvation to anyone who seeks it. Livingston lays out the groundwork in what I call a ‘straight man’s guide’ to New York drag; an almost A-Z display of the structure, the stakes and the intrinsic language of the ballroom.

true mothering style by the likes of the reigning queens’ Pepper Lebeija and Dorian Corey, each description elevated by an exemplary quip.

The Grandfather of Voguing and Mother of the House of Ninja, Willi Ninja, introduces the unique dance form he created, stating that ‘voguing’ evolved as a facet of throwing shade, a battle-like tactic. ‘Voguing’ was the most mainstreamed of terms, having made its stamp on pop culture after Ninja himself choreographed Madonna’s 1990 video of ‘Vogue,’ amplifying the riches and aheadof-its-time creativity that could be found in the art of drag - an art that was commonly looked down on due to outsider’s perceptions of performances being overly sexualised and therefore too inappropriate for the mainstream.

The film is inherently political by nature.

Marginalised groups in America were consistently active in fighting for equality through radical means, and Paris is Burning shows no exception; a tenacious group Db

Eleanor Kenny

Partnered with this are intimate interviews with both participants and legends who relish in hilarious and heart-breaking anecdotes of their years at the highly anticipated event, allowing the viewer to garner a greater sense of just how important the ballroom is to the community that blossomed within it.

Some may be familiar with the existence of the documentary and ballroom scene due to its retelling in shows such as Rupaul’s Drag Race (2009-) and Pose (2018-), offering a new generation a segue into the history of the drag form that we know and love today. The former hosts challenges such as catwalks and ‘reading’ competitions in homage to the very fiercest of queens.

The latter bases its entire narrative on the rivalries between drag houses and the importance of winning ballroom competitions, especially for LGBTQ+ youth who rely on this IMDb once-a-year opportunity to express their true selves and be awarded the recognition they have always deserved but been denied. It is easy to become familiarised with the specific drag terminology evidenced by various contestants, explained in

IM

The queens of the New York drag scene get on like a house on fire

of radicals, doing the most radical thing possible, accepting and celebrating those who were persistently rejected by society.

In the face of adversity, this community managed to not only demonstrate an extension of the American dream, but rather the very epitome of the ideals it boasts.

Almost every character that features in the film can recall personal hardships that lead them to the ballroom scene. A more poignant recurring scene shows two 14-yearold boys outside of the ballroom, detailing to Livingston about life on the street in contrast to life on the ballroom floor, a place where they felt was a safe enough environment to establish a new life after they had been rejected by their families for showing signs of being homosexual.

Where America had failed on delivering promises of freedom, pioneering drag queens acted on these convictions; so long as a contestant was on the ballroom floor and in the correct drag for their category they were to be judged equally and praised for flamboyant talents and sickening style. There was a world of possibility inside the four ballroom walls, shielding a harshly contrasted

world outside, one which sought to restrict both freedoms of expression and freedom of rights.

The joy of expression radiates off of each contestant, creating an energy that is palpable even through a laptop screen three decades later. A joyous energy which is made bittersweet once learning that the majority of the queens you grow to love perished due to AIDS complications or to the devastating consequences of bigotry and sexual oppression.

To deny the film’s relevance in this day and age would be a naïve and ignorant stance, as unfortunately the ever-important rhetoric that trans, queer and Black lives matter still has to be protested as much today as it was in the 1980s. A rhetoric that Livingston supports through revealing the unwarranted hardships imposed on these young individuals through their own words, but more importantly through highlighting the magic to be found in witnessing genuine, personal freedom; gloriously evidenced of Brooke Xtravaganza twirling on a beach exclaiming ‘I am my own creation!’. May the film continue to be as a source of inspiration of the ever-evolving art form of drag, a reminder of paying due respects to the trailblazing artists and activists, and moreover a celebration of queer beauty, queer voices and queer existence.

Gender and desire in modern film

Representing lesbian desire on the big screen Isha Vibhakar

Second Year, Film and Television

Q

it portrays women trapped by male structures and trapped within the limits of male-authored text, it shows them escaping from those things or using them, using bits of them for their own pleasure.' Among its many accolades, The Handmaiden won the 2018 BAFTA Award for Best Film Not The Handmaiden in the English Language and Waters’ (2016) novel itself was shortlisted for both The Man Booker and The Orange The Handmaiden is a Victorian Prize. tale of love and deception transposed The narrative focuses on the two into 1930s Korea (then under Japa- transgressive, lesbian characters. nese colonial rule). Juxtaposing the The women are extremely brave, original novel by Sarah Waters with for example the assumed agency by Park Chan-wook’s adaptation in film, Sook-hee, where she shatters male we come across the two conflicting narratives about female sexuality in yet co-existing themes: a lesbithe complete destruction of the liCJ Enterta inm brary that houses Japanese an writer’s ‘lesbo Victorian e romp’ and an internapornography that Lady tionally acclaimed auHideko is forced to reteur whose male gaze cite publicly to audimay be considered ences of men. problematic due to The film also renthe lingering issue of ders a fetishistic and the film’s jarring fasvoyeuristic reading of cination with pornogLady Hideko as she is raphy. an active subject to her However, when questioned male guests’ gaze in her sexual about the film’s lingering sex scenes, simulation on a wooden mannequin, Waters, defends the film: ‘although suspended in air and her erotic litnt

ueer love has come a long way; what was once used as a sexual slur now is now a buzzword for LGBTQ+ Pride. This linguistic recovery can be traced to the sexual stigmas and the resulting socially conditioned prejudices that have now been reformed to an extent where gay pride has garnered a cult following.

The regressive mindsets that dubbed LGBTQ+ as unconventional and dismissed lesbian love as “just a phase”, have now been displaced by an all-inclusive social group where everyone is considered normal and equal. Based on the recurring theme of an exploration of love that is replete in its anonymity and wistful yearning, this article will explore how WLW films are not just about Victorian corsets.

Whilst placing the sapphic gaze at the centre of the narrative, the following two foreign language films

are historical period dramas that subvert the genre conventions by portraying a queer feminist love story and a female saviour trope rescuing upper class heroines from their patriarchal shackles.

erature reading. The explicit mention be awarded a Queer Palm. Set on a of ‘wetness’ in the film is visually lush island in Brittany at the end of translated by steamy warm bath wa- the 1800s, artist Marianne is comter through the glittering surface of missioned to paint a wedding portrait IMDb a deep red lollipop and Sookof Héloïse, to be sent to her hee’s glistening face lookpotential husband in ing up from between Italy.

Hideko’s legs to the The director, bare bodies exploring Céline Sciamma, their desires through essentially reworks the oral lubrication of the tale of Orpheus sex toys. The frequent and Eurydice as a dressing and undressqueer feminist love ing is a well-orchestrated story. She says, ‘Orcosplay where the exchange pheus and Euridyce is a of dresses also renders a switch in myth that has been looked at by femtheir identities. This is a lot unlike the inists a lot because it’s basically how male guests who hid their perverted the male gaze can kill you.' While and desires underneath their formal Marianne suggested that by turning attire. around, Orpheus doesn’t make the While femininity in the film is lover's choice but the poet’s choosing brimming with possibilities, all the to retain the memory of the beloved, male characters take a major hit; a Heloise counters by suggesting that result of their own undoing. maybe it was not only his choice – maybe it was she who said ‘turn Portrait of a Lady on around.’

Their relationship takes on a forFire (2020) mal structure that counterintuitively supports more intimacy and flirtaPortrait of a Lady on Fire won Best tion. The film shows the two characScreenplay at Cannes and it was the ters through communal perspectives, first movie directed by a woman to further drawing on the gaze.

Film&TV 19

epigram 23.02.2021

Why I didn't watch any rom-coms this Valentine's The best, least romantic films to forget about 14 February Alice O'Rorke

Second Year, English Literature

V

alentine’s Day: a day of chocolates, flowers and stuffed teddy bears.

The day that every shop window is filled with red heart cut outs and every TV channel is screening romantic comedies. But this year, rather than cashing in on cliched rom-coms, I’m advocating for an alternative Valentines Day watchlist.

Although the roots of Valentine’s Day date back as far as the Roman Empire, in recent years, this day has become hugely commercialised, with £1.45 billion spent for Valentine’s day in the UK alone last year.

Hollywood has been a huge contributor to this commercialisation, creating a plethora of films featuring ‘Valentine’ in their title, in order to reach every audience and maximise their income from the occasion.

These include the horror My Bloody Valentine (1981), the animation A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002), and of course the cringey romantic comedy Valentine’s Day (2010), budgeted at $52 million. The portrayal of romance around this holiday in films is fairly predictable, with Hollywood cashing in on the commercial value, and making the day unavoidable for all. There are hundreds of lists online of recommended films to watch on Valentine’s Day, the vast majority simply list romantic comdies, and each one suggested follows the same cliched plot: Films such as To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018), Notting Hill (1999), Bridget Jones (2001) and any Nicholas Sparks or Hugh Grant film, all closely follow this storyline, and thus, unsurprisingly, are all recommended in any Top Films to Watch on ‘Valentine’s Day' list. This inescapable portrayal of love is immensely limited.

It reduces the struggles of a real-life relationship, romanticising the peaks and troughs of love,

Image credits: IMDb

Maddy Raven Film & TV Editor

I

When Harry Met Sally...

(1989)

f I ever don’t list this film in my top ten films of all time, please allow the ghost of Nora Ephron to smite me down where I stand.

Written in collaboration with Rob Reiner (director of The Princess Bride (1987), another classic), When Harry Met Sally… is an iconic romcom that asks the age-old question: can men and women ever truly be friends?

It follows Harry and Sally, as they meet during a cross-country road trip, and then over the subsequent ten years as they settle into their separate lives in New York. The film also stars Carrie Fisher as hilariously underrated best friend archetype, Marie.

It’s safe to say that this film is the reason I still have incredibly unrealistic standards to this day. Although I do disagree somewhat with the premise – men and women can be friends! Just not these two.

showing a very simplified version of romance. They fail to teach the values needed for a relationship; the importance of compromise, the bad days and instead give a fake expectation to young people about what love is supposed to be. The films always end before the real relationship begins, whilst the ‘honeymoon period' is still in full effect, and this creates a huge pressure for relationships to be as perfect as Hollywood depicts. This pressure is maximised over Valentine’s Day, as people feel a need to be dating or somewhat involved in this day of love.

I remember feeling this pressure to be involved myself, as young as ten, when my friends adamantly insisted that I put a Valentine’s Day card into the locker of the boy I liked at the time. This memory remains somewhat embarrassing to me, as he found out who it was from, and I was teased by the boys at my school for a week, until they lost interest.

This pressure around Valentine’s Day is explicitly demonstrated by Dating.com’s statistic that last year,

that online dating activity increased by 18 per cent between February 1 and February 14. And of course, this is an annual occurrence. The lead up to Valentine’s Day can be daunting and remains a stark reminder to those desiring a relationship that they are single. It can be demoralising when, even a film titled I Hate Valentine’s Day (2009), is in fact a romantic comedy. The portrayal of this day in films leaves little room to escape it and all it represents.

When I explained my angle on this article to a friend, he said to me ‘I’m surprised, I thought you would love Valentine’s Day,’ referring to the fact that I am in a relationship. I have to admit that I am partial to a romantic comedy, and I love the relationship that I am in.

But I object to the fact that only those in relationships really have the chance to freely enjoy this day.

Couples already have so many other opportunities to show their love to one another and shower each other in gifts (if they choose to), such as anniversaries, birthdays

and Christmases. Valentine’s Day, and all that it is depicted to be, is an unnecessary addition to this list.

With newspapers such as The Telegraph, Town and Country, The Week and Harper’s Bizarre (and those are just the first four that came up when I searched ‘Valentine’s Day films’) publishing their lists of ‘The most romantic movies to watch on Valentine’s Day,' I propose an alternative list. Whether you are with your partner, your pals, or by yourself, here is a list of the best films to watch on a solo Valentine’s Day that have limited romance involved: Thelma and Louise (1991) Booksmart (2019) The Blues Brothers (1980) I Am Not an Easy Man (2018) The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Oceans 8 (2018) Spirited Away (2001) Apocalypse Now (1979) Jaws (1975) The Incredibles (2004) Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

Editors' Picks Samuel Vickers

Film & TV Deputy Editor

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Metropolitan (1990)

hit Stillman’s Metropolitan is a brilliantly understated comedy of manners that tracks a crowd of wealthy teenage socialites during one debutante season in ‘90s New York. Complex love triangles and inter-class relationships lead to the group splintering and the protagonist, Tom Townsend, finds himself suddenly without the group of friends he had become attached to over the summer. An ardent socialist, Tom at first feels some conflict at his forays into this world of the super-privileged, but ultimately falls in love with Audrey, a beautiful student whose suitability Tom is tragically blind to. The score is unintrusive and compliments the sparkling tones of the groups dates the socialites go on, with outdated blues music underlining the sad fact that these summer parties will soon end forever, for Tom at least.

Katya Spiers

Film & TV Digital Editor

I

Down with Love (2003)

t's 1960s New York City and Barbara Novak (played by certified rom-com queen Renée Zellweger) is a best-selling writer whose magnum opus Down With Love is taking America by storm –preaching the possibility of a commitment-free sex life in order to liberate women from loveless marriages.

In swoops ladies' man Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor), an esteemed journalist determined to prove Barbara wrong. What follows is an extravagant, hyper-stylised romantic romp that is the film equivalent of a huge banana split: all saccharine sweet, hot pink and retro-chic, with plenty of cherries on top.

Down With Love has all the effortless charm of a Nora Ephron flick, as well as the highsaturation, feather boa-d allure of Clueless (1995). And it's available to stream on Prime.

You can thank me later.

Layla Nathan

Film & TV Subeditor

C

Clueless (1995)

lueless (1995) has not only stood the test of time but truly stands as a flagship classic from a great era for rom-coms.

The story follows the coming-of-age of rich and popular Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), a character loosely based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma (1815). This movie has every rom-com necessity: a great makeover scene, quippable one-liners and, of course, romance to make you go ‘awww.’ The love interest, Josh (Paul Rudd), genuinely helps Cher become a better person, and I personally choose to ignore the fact that he's technically her step-brother (don't worry, they're not related, but it's still kind of weird).

This movie is truly iconic even to the extent of the fashion inspiring Donatella Versace’s 2018 collection and catchphrases still recognisable 25 years after its release. If you have somehow never seen this rom-com royalty… ugh, as if!

Arts BookTok?A Gen-Z guide to literature

Editor Anjuli Vadera Digital Editor Dulcie Godfrey Deputy Editor Katie Chalk

Twitter: @EpigramCulture

Move over BookTube: BookTok, a community of readers, is in town.

Millions of listeners are tuning into TikTok's latest craze.

Carly Pearce,

Third year, Film and TV

E

very few years, a brand-new app redefines the way we use social media. In 2020, TikTok rose to the forefront as the new social platform for accessible and available content.

The rise of TikTok was slow but steady, gradually amassing millions of followers to the app until it became a global success. The app is in many ways responsible for a new cohort of ‘influencers’: creators like Charli and Dixie D'Amelio or Addison Rae. While also accommodating some well-known celebrities who use it to their advantage as a marketing tool.

Disregarding the mainstream dancing and music content, there are several subgenres of TikTok that attract thousands of viewers globally, one of these being BookTok.

What Is BookTok?

Who you should be following:

BookTok is a community of readers who post videos about their favourite books and characters, book reviews and ‘to be read’ lists. This phenomenon is not new or unique to TikTok, as demonstrated in the ‘BookTube’ community on YouTube or ‘Bookstagram’ on Instagram.

Although it can be said that all online reading communities are welcoming and interactive, BookTok’s community is unique for a few reasons.

The biggest difference between the other communities and BookTok is the length of the videos. TikTok limits its videos to 60 seconds. The short length means most creators in the BookTok community create several short TikToks throughout the day, and these videos are usually less formal than the longer content seen on other platforms.

Whilst it could be argued the community is still too new - the scale of accounts on BookTok and the volume of comments is far smaller than that on BookTube - this makes it easier for creators to reply to comments, allowing for more interaction.

Secondly, the time restriction imposed by the app forces users to be more creative; they have a limited amount of time to convey their personality and discuss and promote whatever book or series has caught their eye.

1. @abbysbooks Based in Bristol, Abby creates funny, on-the-nose videos for her 145,000 followers. Her content is engaging yet light-hearted, as she gives popular memes a bookish edge.

2. @fitzplleasuure Also based in the UK, this account is relatively new but has posted content almost every day for the last three weeks, with no sign of stopping (a personal favourite being the series “reading classics so you don’t have to”). Her videos are packed full of British wit and a wide variety of literature – it takes a LOT of self-restraint not to buy everything she discusses.

3. @aymansbooks This account comes filled with recommendations and literature-inspired takes on popular TikTok memes and sounds.

Spanning a range of genres, Aymans' recommendations are generally more adult, going further than the traditional YA. Her account also includes captions so is accessible to all!

4. @pixie.duck Ducky is a certified sign language interpreter. Her videos are funny and easily digestible, some most recent favourites being her first socially distanced visit to a bookshop, or when she signed an iconic scene from Shrek.

So why should you venture over to BookTok? Especially during the pandemic, TikTok became a place for young people to seek refuge, somewhere they could go to ingest content in a way that didn’t feel overbearing or require too much investment – the ideal platform for a world seeking distraction.

It’s very satisfying to distract yourself for a couple of minutes by listening to enthusiastic people talk about books. The community created on this platform has helped readers feel connected regardless of where they are on the planet. At a time when many of us rely on books to escape reality for a while, it is comforting to find a community of people who share a similar love of literature.

Arts 21

ART SPOTLIGHT

epigram 23.02.2021

Charlotte Carpenter First Year, English

I

like picking out colours within a scene, intensifying them to make a bold and striking landscape. I usually start off with a rough sketch, and then overwork it with layers of paint, pen and collage, building up different textures and patterns.’

See more of Charlotte’s work on her Instragram, or her website where she sells prints and takes commissions.

Instagram: @cc.art._ Website: https://charlottecarpenterart.weebly.com/gallery.html If you would like to feature your art contact @EpigramArts or email epigramarts@gmail.com.

Romantic reads for the postValentine's blues

R

One Day in December

Conversations with Friends Sally Rooney

Frances and Bobbi are students, friends and ex-girlfriends. As they get close to journalist Melissa and her husband Nick, we’re exposed to love and relationships in all their various forms. A true page-turner for anyone looking for a romance book with substance.

Josie Silver

Sophie Cousens

Photo courtesy of Penguin Random house

This book is a feel-good, festive love story. Whilst being utterly frustrating, and having a slightly unrealistic storyline, this story takes a ton of unexpected twists and turns and but has a super heartwarming ending. We follow a group of three friends through 10 years of relationships, life challenges and missed opportunities. A very wholesome romance that’s easy to get lost in.

This Time Next Year Apart from the ending being extremely obvious from the first chapter, this book was actually pretty good! Minnie and Quinn are born on the same day of the same year but have very different outlooks on life, as they unexpectedly meet at a party we see how their lives slowly mesh together. A classic love story told through a new framework that manages to be warming and heartfelt.

Photo courtesy of Blackwell's

First year, Social Policy and Sociology eminiscing on your post Valentine's lockdown date? Romanticising your recent galentines/bromantines?

Here are some romantic reads to liven up the February blues.

Robert Webb

Photo courtesy of Blackwells

Caitlin PalmerO'Shaughnessy,

Come Again Whilst being possibly the weirdest and wackiest romance I’ve ever read, Webb’s story is super refreshing. Kate is desperately sad after the unexpected death of her husband Luke. Consisting of time travelling, a mass taxi chase in central London, and an expected appearance from MI5, it’s fair to say that the storyline is pretty unpredictable. Overall, a lovely tale that hooks you in, but is a refreshing change from your classic romance.

BOOK

CORNER

22 Arts

epigram 23.02.2021

It’s Not Too Late To Join! What the arts societies are up to in Lockdown Bristol’s many societies have done well to adapt to these challenging times for students and artists.

But how can you get involved? Hear it straight from the horse's, or President's, mouth.

Dulcie Godfrey Digital Editor

Spotlights

Maddie Bentley potlights has lots of opportunities to get involved with this term, kicking off with our Give it a Go session next Tuesday and our first online fulllength play ‘City Killed the Stars’ streaming next Friday. We are also launching applications for our New Writing Festival that will be performed in a variety of online methods at the end of March. Beyond that, we are planning lots of more casual socials and scratch nights so there should be something to get involved with whether you’re an actor, a writer, or just looking to try something new!

To find out more, you can find Spotlights’ Facebook page: @BristolSpotlights.

S

Revunions

Cecilia Orr This term we're holding our regular weekly Zoom workshops, which last an hour and a half. These are super casual sessions meant for everyone. We'll also be running our online shows which are made of twenty minutes of filmed material from our society members, instead of the live shows we usually would do. This term we're also introducing live-streamed stand-up nights, where our members and local Bristol comedians can perform live standup which will be put up on our Facebook and Youtube pages.

We also run socials frequently online to help build up that community feel you get from societies.

To find out more and get involved, you can find them at: @Revunions.

Art History Bristol

Sophie Hill Art History Bristol has lots in store this term: from virtual exhibition tours to artsy movie screenings.

They’ll be running their all-new ‘Curators Scheme’ which will give 20 budding curators the opportunity to learn directly from industry professionals and put on their own exhibition.

The best way to get involved, and stay up to date is on their instagram - @arthistorybristol.

Afrolit

Ojinka Agbu President Ojinka Agbu describes Afrolit as a close knit group, so it hasn’t been too difficult to adjust to the online setting this past year.

This term, they'll keep going with their bi-weekly zoom discussions which have had great attendance and engagement so far. They're also working on collaborating with many more societies and networks this terms for larger audiences, merging interests and providing opportunities and exposure for writers within the society.

All Afrolit updates can be found on their facebook page: @AfroLitSoc.

Falstaff

Alice Baxter We’ll be continuing the book club, coffee well-being mornings, and regular quizzes, as well as releasing The Capulet Platform, a series of recorded ooms in conversation with Bristol academics and creatives. There will also be theatre opportunities as we prepare for a virtual play, and the publication of the Falstaff Journal is fast approaching (thanks to everyone involved!)

Links to the events, and more details can be found on facebook: @ BristolFalstaffSociety.

DanceSoc

Freya Harrison We’re doing online classes via zoom, and we’re working towards an online show. It will be recorded in March and released in April.

All members of any style and any ability are welcome to join the show and filming week is scheduled for 8th March. We hope to show off what everyone has been working on this year and encourage people to get active and have a boogie! Find out more on their Facebook page: @UoBDanceSoc.

Music

Editor Lucas Arthur Digital Editor Greg Evans Deputy Editor Flora Pick

Twitter: @EpigramCulture Spotify: epigram_music

SOPHIE: Memories of a pioneer Flora Pick & Gruff Kennedy

Deputy Editor, Postgraduate English

O

n 30 January 2021, there was a full moon in Athens, Greece. The pioneering and boundary-redefining artist SOPHIE died following a fall as she climbed up to get a better view.

Her loss has been felt immediately and keenly amongst peers and fans.

The sudden, cruelly unnecessary nature of her death seems to leave a vacuum in its wake, as the guaranteed impact she was going to have on pop music of the future becomes splintered with unknowns.

Upon death it tends to become very easy to mythologise, to build somebody into something they were not in service of their memory. With SOPHIE there is no need to do so.

She was a true and rare visionary, peerless in her ability to shape and push the culture forward, the extent to which she did so remaining tragically unrealised at the point of her death.

As Spotify’s much-contested ‘hyperpop’ playlist reshaped the way we conceived pop music in 2020, it is difficult to not look to the legacy of PC Music and the role SOPHIE played in deconstructing electronic pop, only to rebuild it glossy and askew. While the likes of 100 gecs’ ‘1000 gecs' and Charli XCX’s ‘how i’m feeling now' were celebrated for their fully-formed appearance, so strangely apt for these times, they are but some of the recent projects that owe a debt to SOPHIE’s innovation, beginning in the early 2010s. genre was still finding its feet, in Hyperpop didn’t spring from the a process which began with 2013’s ether in 2019; SOPHIE was the gen‘BIPP’ and reached its ludicrous peak re’s most dedicated pioneer. with 2014’s ‘Hey QT’. ‘BIPP’ initially A brief google search will reveal sounds like superficially glossy club hushed, reverent PC Music forum music, but its high-pitched vocals threads in which users dig up oband danceable beat are underpinned scure SOPHIE by a succession of gems from as far This is pop at its lurching, unsetback as 2008. most hyperreal, most tlingly squelchy Enthusiasts pore exaggerated and most synths, and a over bizarre colincisive challenging lyrlaborations with ical hook: ‘I can artist Matthew Lutz-Kinoy, broken make you feel better / If you let links purporting to lead to obscure me’. Follow-up single ‘Lemonade’ live snippets from early gigs, unatpushed the boundaries even further, tributed collaborations on unlista compelling but uncomfortably ored YouTube videos, and even what ganic number which transcended

the genre’s demented satire of capitalist realism entirely by ending up soundtracking a McDonald’s ad.

It’s a testament to her phenomenal musical intuition and wit that SOPHIE managed to make even this infamous fount of corporate blandness sound fresh. ‘Hey QT’, however, is arguably the closest this growing collective of hyperpop fiends ever got to a mission statement.

The single stems from a multimedia project centred around the eponymous QT, the living personification of semi-fictitious ‘energy elixir’ DrinkQT. To say it divided opinion

elled at SOPHIE, glassily abrasive ‘Yeah Right’, moulding the cultural aesthetic aside. Her magnum opus, reset that was Charli XCX’s ‘Vroom and only released studio album, Vroom’, or dipping into K-pop for 2018’s ‘Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Inher work with ITZY, when SOPHIE sides' stacked the appears as a protranscendental SOPHIE didn't require ducer on a track, bliss of ‘Is It Cold the moulds of others, she there’s no need to In The Water?’, mader her own check the credits the irrepressible — you will know. joy of ‘Immaterial’, the slap-in-theSOPHIE’s influence ran deep, but face BDSM of ‘Ponyboy’, and the it’s easy to forget quite how much, pained longing of ‘Infatuation’. Pergiven her well-deserved reputation haps most impressively, album openas a relentless sonic experimenter er ‘It’s Okay To Cry’, demonstrated unconcerned with the mainstream. that SOPHIE was perfectly at home Tributes came, of course, from altwith a stripped-back, raw sound pop staples Charli XCX, Rina Sawayama, GFOTY, Sarah Midori Perry, Danny L Harle, and Christine and the Queens. They also came, however, from figures as diverse as Sam Smith, Rita Ora, Nile Rodgers, Madonna, Munroe Bergdorf, Jack Antonoff, Rihanna, and Annie Mac; these two rather disparate groups represent only a small portion of the enormous volume of acclaim to be found online in the wake of SOPHIE’s death. There’s a reason that such a variety of people can be seen paying homage to SOPHIE in the wake of her passing. She had a reputation not just as a musical visionary — though she absolutely was — but as a warm and compassionate collaborator also, one who took every song and artist she worked with seriously and never phoned it in.

Beyond the big names, a group experiencing SOPHIE’s loss more achingly than any other are her fellow trans women. SOPHIE’s transness was inextricable from her artistic innovation: in a 2018 interview with Paper she commented that she was able to ‘get closer to how you feel your true essence is without the societal pressures of having to fulfil certain traditional roles based on too. Its minimalist production is the gender’. The act of utter uninhibitperfect showcase for her first ever ed self-creation was in-line with the vocal performance, and the result music she created. SOPHIE didn’t reis a beautiful, intimate, immensequire the moulds of others, she made ly moving ballad which brims with her own. Her position, not only as a vulnerable strength. Words, to be a musical icon, but as an explicitentirely frank, begin to feel insuffily trans one, makes her premature cient. death feel especially cruel and unA trademark ability to bend synths fair, a meagre accident taking away to the point where electronic imitathe life of someone who had already tors have the physicality of kitchmanaged to survive in the face of en objects being slammed together adversity. crosses boundaries of genre, which As SOPHIE’s innovation dictates suddenly begin to appear very adthe sound of the coming years and olescent in the context of SOPHIE’s time catches up with her vision, it's ability to get tracks to bend to her important that we remember her as will. Whether laying the groundwork the visionary she was — always lookfor Kendrick Lamar on Vince Staple’s ing up.

Renata Raksha

The artist's legacy is second only to what might have been yet to come.

recorded fragments remain of her pre-2010 work as the keyboardist of professional Berlin weirdos Motherland. Some of the songs from this period don’t even have names, some appear to have been scrubbed off the face of the internet, but all are unmistakably SOPHIE, and the vast majority indisputably fit hyperpop’s over-engineered satirical aesthetic.

For context, ‘Godfather of hyperpop’ A.G. Cook only founded PC Music in August 2013.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that SOPHIE had already codified the hyperpop aesthetic even as the

would be an understatement; critics and punters alike were baffled, repelled, turned off, or were enraptured and hailed the advent of an entirely new form of music and art.

Even by SOPHIE’s rarified standards, this is pop at its most hyperreal, most exaggerated, and most incisive — but it didn’t signal a stop to her relentless innovation.

A criticism often levelled at hyperpop, and PC Music in particular, is that it is too knowingly artificial, that it lacks a human touch, it is music for a fictional cyberpunk dystopia, not for actual living human beings.

This is not a criticism easily lev-

24 Music

epigram 23.02.2021

In conversation with The New America Deputy Music Editor

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here’s a certain compulsion within me to assume all bands live in some Geordie Shore-esque set up; cohabiting, eating breakfast together. There may even be bunkbeds.

The New America are massively gratifying in this respect. Attempting our phone interview on one of many COVID-infused dreary afternoons required an initial audio-only rush around their shared house, led by guitarist Zac, as an attempt was made to scoop up any other available bandmates. Ultimately their bassist, Tom, joined to discuss what Bristol means to them, hijacking freshers' group chats and aiming high post-COVID. A mutually held mindset of lockdown melancholy led to initial reminiscing on alien times before, where you could stand in overcrowded rooms stinking of IPA, to be blessed with the face of a familiar sound guy who doesn’t recognise you in the

slightest.

The New America would not exist but for the tactical misuse of freshers' group chats and a healthily obsessive interest in IDLES. Zac, an international student, informs me his interest in the latter played a not-insignificant role in his moving to the city. He tells me, ‘I started messaging loads of people in August – those big fresher’s chats you get put in – and Cam is a DJ, so he used to do some of the Propaganda events and he set up a group chat about alternative music for Bristol freshers in order to basically promote his DJ set.

We got talking about the new IDLES album because it came out right as I got accepted and then I met Cam and Ali through that.’

Their geographically-misguided name, shared with a ‘very, very not-good’ Wii Sports-core French electronica act, is now something they feel ‘deeply ambivalent about’. Despite this, their love of Bristol is anything but, as Tom is eager to stress: ‘[the city] is so full of opportunity, with a really really really rich music scene. Before the whole pandemic I was going to two, three gigs a week across venues in town.

They’re so well put on, such a high

quality of music. It’s not even just musical stuff, there’s so much going on in Bristol, there’s a whole wealth of things you can find out there.’

This is something of a mission statement on their track ‘I Love Where I Live’, with its refrain of ‘I

Zac denying that the band tries to be especially political. Its ‘weird, kinetic, angry vibe’, initially triggered

by Zac’s being stuck indoors at home over summer, later overlaid with lyrics infused with the turbulence of the political unrest that prompted

feel a little bit better when you're beneath my feet / I feel a little bit at home when I hear your sirens scream’ — an ode to finally feeling as if you’re where you’re supposed to be. Their most recent single ‘Going to the Races (Dressed like a Racist)’ is as provocative as it sounds, despite

the Black Lives Matter protests that occurred at the start of 2020.

While it’s been hard to be so physically disengaged from the scene in the throes of lockdown (though Zac rightly notes the excellence of socially-distanced gigs The Lanes managed to engineer last year), the

Courtesy of The New America

Epigram talks hijacking group chats with these Bristol-based postpunks.

Flora Pick

guys are very aware of how lucky they are to have their living situation: ‘Relatively we’re not doing too badly as we’re allowed to do rehearsals and bounce ideas off of each other just living together in the flat,’ Tom elaborates: ‘We can just come to each other with ideas, push each other on while practising — I guess we know each other really well so know when to not annoy each other. And we know how to not get on each other’s tits! So I mean that’s pretty helpful. We’ve avoided potential arguments surprisingly.’

Asking after their plans for when the world does eventually open back up, The New America are looking to push from the grimy post-punk they have been working in to an experimental, Talking Heads and afrobeat infused style: ‘we’re writing music now that’s just so much weirder than the stuff we have released.’ Beyond this, they are keen to get back to playing with bands across the country, as well as settling some scores closer to home: ‘there’s a band in Bristol called Football FC who just are really really great. We played with them one time and absolutely bombed. Our goal is to not play absolutely terribly in front of them.’

Goat Girl: On All Fours - album review The South-London four piece get under the skin of UK postpunk.

Gruff Kennedy Postgraduate English

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oat Girl have always been at their best when they’re kicking your teeth in. Their 2016 breakout singles, Scum and Country Sleaze, exuded a fantastically compelling and uniquely louche savagery that didn’t sound quite like anything else on the scene, all angular thrashy guitars and violently incisive drawls. Though they drew inevitable comparisons to the likes of IDLES, Fontaines D.C. and Fat White Family, you could make a strong case that they had rather more wit and ferocity than these titans of the genre loosely known as UK post-punk; their sound was most definitely all their own. They cleverly developed this sound on their self-titled first album in 2018, providing more energy in ‘The Man’, a more overt politics in ‘Burn the Stake’, and more character in the bizarro oom-pah rhythm of ‘The Man with No Heart or Brain’, alongside other highlights.

On All Fours, then, with its somewhat bestial title, initially appears to speak to a further refining of this primal energy that characterised the band’s early releases, but this album actually represents a quite pronounced evolution in the London quartet’s sound.

It’s a little softer, a little groovier, and, curiously, a little less certain. It starts strong with the slow buildup of ‘Pest’, a song which takes on Western exceptionalism with the band’s trademark dry wit by prompting us to think about the vaguely Orientalist ramifications of terming something a ‘Beast from the East’. Second song ‘Badibaba’ is rather less trenchant, but it is undeniably catchy. It’s testament to the band’s musical ability that this is a song on which they all switched instruments — I’d never have been able to tell. It’s a strong start.

There are other standouts too: ‘P.T.S.Tea’ juxtaposes a real-life act of staggeringly banal cruelty — in which a man on a ferry spilled a cup of scalding-hot tea over drummer

Rosy Jones and walked away without saying a word — with an eerily cheery melody and a hypnotic refrain. The discordant ecocriticism of ‘The Crack’ proves that they’ve not forgotten their roots, harking back

to those captivating rough edges that made them a breakout success while backing them up with lovely twinkly synths and some positively elegiac horn stabs. Standout track and lead single ‘Sad Cowboy’ smacks of a wonderfully expressed disconnec-

tion, a kind of hazy near-euphoria.

It feels like walking down a busy high street half in a trance, heedless of modern society’s bustle and noise, and it is absolutely fantastic.

What’s abundantly clear is that the members of Goat Girl have a real ear for a hook. From the Radiohead-esque chord progressions of ‘A-Men’ to the gorgeous opener of ‘Closing In’, or the languid harmonies of ‘Jazz (In the Supermarket)’, this album brims over with astute musical choices and catchy grooves. They’ve not lost their lyrical inventiveness either; there’s much to admire in the body-horror anxieties of ‘They Bite On You’, for example. Vocalist Lottie Pendlebury, also known sporadically as Clottie Cream, proves that she’s retained her ear for the zeitgeist in ‘Where Do We Go From Here’, which imagines ‘dissecting Boris Johnson’ with a fantastically repellent physicality: ‘I’m sure it stinks under his skin / Where pores secrete all the hate from within / We

open up the muscle work / Coated in all this thick sludge and dirt, hurt’.

These triumphs aside, and much as I hate to say it of such a good album, I don’t believe they’ve quite managed to surpass the notorious sophomore slump. There are rather a lot of breakdowns and bridges, and I can’t help feeling that a few of the songs are a little samey, especially the four which follow ‘Anxiety Feels’. Brilliant as those hooks and grooves are, they feel a little overstretched at times. It all feels less assured than its predecessor, not quite matching the energy and variety of their debut which, while lengthy, had noticeably shorter songs. Length itself is completely unimportant, of course, but I believe it belied a focus which appears to have been marginally diminished by this step away from their roots.

I am reluctant to make these criticisms; that’s because this is still an excellent album from an excellent band which itself is still developing and growing. Though this is perhaps not quite as decisive a step into hitherto-unexplored sonic realms as they might have liked, the path ahead is still very promising. They’re immensely talented, piercingly outspoken, and, to be frank, really bloody cool.

Music 25

epigram 23.02.2021

Behind sea shanties and TikTok stardom

Editors' Picks

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t was a gradual process. More people would follow me, and every so often there’d be more notifications. Then ‘Wellerman’ came. Within three days, I think it had reached one million views. And it just kept going – my phone notifications went absolutely nuts, they just kept coming in. My God, it was insane.’

Such was the seemingly overnight success of Nathan Evans, a Scottish postal worker turned major label popstar. His cover of ‘The Wellerman’, a nineteenth century sea shanty, surfaced from the churning depths of TikTok to become one of 2021’s first viral music trends.

The 26-year-old Glaswegian made landfall at the top of the European singles charts and signed a three album deal with Polydor records, before embarking on a promotional voyage across breakfast television, chat shows and terrestrial news.

Yet, behind the rum-soaked escapism of Shantytok, Evans is merely the latest major-label signing to emerge from the clandestine, algorithm-driven, hit-making machine that TikTok appears to have become.

The Scotsman played his cards exactly as one should when leveraging the platform for exposure, stirring up the perfect storm to launch a viral hit. But as the app produces

rtes y

Music Editor

stumbling into the limelight: Evans is an accomplished, versatile artist, and his split melody renditions of various sea shanties went viral because they sounded rich and magnanimous, set to the bracing thump of his fist against a wooden table. As well as this, the shanties themselves had all the trappings of a lethal earworm – doubtless, you’ve sugar and tea and rum running through your head as you read this.

Other hits to either emerge from the platform or enjoy an unexpected second life tend to have some innate qualities that invite trends. They’re often short in length, no more than 15-20 seconds, and ripe with exploitable refrains for imitable actions.

The archaic form of the sea shanty is strangely fitting, with the genre purpose-built to be spread by an oral tradition, pre-empting memetic replication and spread. Reminiscing on the times when artists like Justin Bieber were being picked up on YouTube following simple acoustic song cove r s barely a decade ago, it’s

Cou

As TikTok makes waves across the music industry, Epigram spoke to Nathan Evans about the ebbs and flows of viral fame.

Lucas Arthur

one chart-topper after another, what does it take to claim a share of the bounties?

Perseverance, for one, as Nathan quickly establishes during our chat over Zoom. He’d been making musical content since 2012, beginning on YouTube with acoustic covers of Ed Sheeran and Bon Iver before migrating to TikTok in 2019. His musical tastes are varied, he assures me — he’ll go from Bugzy Malone, to Bob Dylan, to fellow recently TikTok-bolstered star Olivia Rodrigo – but his covers, often suggested by his followers, catered to prevalent tastes, with Scots ballads thrown in for good measure.

Sauntering down the rabbit hole of TikTok creator strategy, you quickly see where Nathan went right. His content was regular and predictable, like an efficient postman on his rounds, conforming to a single genre (or ‘vertical,’ as the jargon goes). An average user’s ‘authority rank’, a kind of digital caste, dictating how many people are shown your content, is only valid within your chosen vertical. Veering off course — going from covers of Lewis Capaldi to Meshuggah, say — is sure to damage your standing. Old dog, same tricks is the name of the game.

If I sound cynical, having crammed in more than enough painful maritime puns, it’s only because I lack any of the talent or commitment that’s necessary to succeed in the virtual fray.

This wasn't an instance of someone

Slowthai Tyron

hard to overstate just how much more esoteric things have become.

The criteria for viral success are in constant flux, upending norms and allowing the obscure to enter the mainstream seemingly overnight.

In fact, as a frequent user of both YouTube and TikTok, Nathan felt that the days are numbered for the former – in so far as musicians are concerned. ‘I’ve never had much success with YouTube’ he admits.

‘It’s more heavily produced – I’ll make the song, make the video, put it all together and create a piece of content.’ TikTok, meanwhile, facilitates quantity over quality: ‘It just involves singing a song and you’re done!’

For those musicians who have the talent and ambition, courting the TikTok algorithm and amassing followers may be the new in. ‘Artists, actors… everyone who’s creative, I think it’s the app is for them’; Nathan’s authority on the subject is hard to deny. ‘This is the new age of going out and gigging, of playing in pubs and getting your name out there just a little bit more every week.’

Last year alone, over 70 artists signed onto major labels following success on the platform. From an artist's and repertoire perspective, the platform serves up the finest and most refreshing new performers, accompanied by an adoring fanbase, streaming accounts at the ready. TikTok offers an unparalleled degree of immediacy and intimacy previ-

Foo Fighters Medicine at Midnight

The Weather Station Ignorance

ously unseen on content-sharing platforms: the space navigated between ‘fan’ and ‘creator’ is excitingly blurred and uncertain. To this end, fan service is easier than ever: ‘I was always checking the analytics: there were songs that I thought were really good that didn’t do so well – people would tell me why, in the comments.’

It’s like playing a pub gig where the punters give constructive feedback.

Many of Evans’ uploads are original compositions: it’s these that he hopes to share throughout his three contracted albums, alongside a few more shanties – ‘Anything that’ll keep people involved, keep them singing along. It’s what people need at the minute.’ Putting aside the jaded politics of TikTok popularity, there’s a component of democratised accomplishment that comes from a musical career launched through a viral trend, like voting Susan Boyle into stardom on Britain’s Got Talent.

Nathan draws the comparison before I do: ‘it’s like winning a talent show – one big album, then it’s up to you to carry it on.’

Unlike traditional musicians, the longevity of Evans’ career rests upon his ability to keep his audience consistently entertained and engaged.

TikTok creators are endlessly vying against one another for views, regardless of their chosen ‘vertical’.

Evans is emblematic of what breakout viral acts will come to anticipate: if he can stay afloat on TikTok, retaining his global audience and prestigious ‘authority rank,’ streams of his forthcoming albums will surely follow. ‘It’s up to you to keep it going and to let everyone know who you really are’ he reflects. ‘But I think there’ll be many more like me to come.’

Frank Iero & the Future Violents Heaven is a Place, This is a Place’

Greg Evans Flora Pick Lucas Arthur Lauren Paddison Digital Editor Deputy Music Editor Music Editor Subeditor We likely all saw the vid- The long-awaited COVID-de- Tamara Lindeman creates an The past year has been rough eo: given his loutish out- layed tenth studio album ambitious folk-jazz album for emo juggernauts My bursts at 2020’s NME awards, from Foo Fighters is a 2021 that rings with intimate obser- Chemical Romance. FollowSlowthai’s second album was lift we all needed, ‘No Son vations of climate breakdown. ing a reunion announcealways likely to convey apol- of Mine' spurring our New Dreamy strings and ambitious ment and an indefinitely ogies, or to seek redemption. Years. Guitar lines are un- saxophone solos create a con- postponed tour, the ups and Both are somewhat achieved mistakably Grohl, as if his rig tinuous soundscape on this downs would give anyone through Tyron's split-sided has remained untouched since ten-track triumph. Originally whiplash. Guitarist Frank Ieapproach, which lunges into the last album. Recent tunes written on a battered key- ro’s semi-solo release echoes seven tracks of mosh-instigat- prove more danceable than board, her melodic takedown such emotional extremes, the ing braggadocio before relent- before, marking a dive into a of late capitalism feels per- masochistic clamour of opening into seven of self-reflec- post-punk sound that is one sonal: her voice remains di- ing track ‘Violence’ jarringly tion. His flows and lyricism part pop and only two parts rect throughout, her lyricism coexisting with an acoustic exhibit his unmatched ability rock. My personal favour- swathed with reflections on cover of REM’s ‘Losing My to turn a phrase, while his ite, ‘Making A Fire', entic- hope and frustration. It feels Religion’. The short EP comproduction — punchy and es you with air-tight kit and sophisticated in its curation, mits to a jagged soundscape, sprightly — is refined enough keeps you in a chorus-filled, urgent in its message and oscillating between churning to be unmistakable as his own. thump-the-desk dwam. ambitious in its musicality. abandon and uneasy restraint.

Discover all of our recommedations on our Spotify @Epigram_Music

SciTech

Editor Julia Riopelle Digital Editor Edward Deacon Deputy Editor Delhi Kalwan

Twitter: @EpigramSciTech

Noise pollution is deafening marine life SciTech Editor

Silverback Films

S

ound travels farthest in our oceans. All marine animals, from the smallest plankton to the largest humpback whale, use ocean noise to perceive cues from their environment. The ability to distinguish sound underwater allows marine life to navigate their world, in a similar way to how we rely on sight to navigate our world above.

A new study, led by Professor Carlos Duarte and involving Professor Andy Radford, from the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences, as well as 25 researchers from the Middle East, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, analysed over 10,000 published papers which look at the effects of manmade noise on ocean environments.

Their hopes? To urge policymakers to integrate the acoustic soundscape one kilometer underwater off the US into their frameworks that define a West Coast, I was surprised to hear ‘healthy ocean environment.’ the clear sound of rain falling on the Prior to the Industrial Revolusurface as the tion, the only noises that traversed dominant sound the underwater world were those of in the deep-sea nature, such as raindrops hitting the ocean environocean surface or melting ice crashment’, Professor ing into the polar waters. These cues Duarte, lead auare used in all aspects of life: to map thor of the study, explained. ‘I then out the ocean landscape, forage for realized how acoustically connected food, avoid predation, assess coral the ocean surface – where most hureef health and more. man noise is generated – is to the Different marine animals hear deep sea.' completely different ranges of Now the ocean is home to consounds. Invertebrates, fishes and repstant human noise. The researchtiles hear sounds at a low frequency, ers found that 90.6 per cent of the usually less than 5Hz, whereas ceta10,000 studies they analyzed had ceans (dolphins and whales) can hear significant data that noise negativevery high sound frequencies, up to ly impacted the hearing ability of 200Hz. marine animals. Cargo ships, cruise Not only do they listen, but some liners and private boats alone are marine animals have evolved to use thought to have caused a 32-fold sound for communication between increase in ocean noise. This is not members of their beginning to even own species, as well include the sounds Shipping alone is the use of active produced from overthought to have sonar for the detecfishing, coastal incaused a 32-fold tion of surrounding frastructure, gas and increase in ocean objects. This can oil drilling and other noise be observed in the noisy pursuits in the infamous songs of deep ocean. whales, where a humpback whale The study associated areas of lowsinging at a low frequency can be er sound pressure with increased fish heard up to 16,000 kilometers away, diversity, invertebrate abundance, or in porpoises, sperm whales and as well as healthy coral reef covdolphins, who use echolocation to erage. The good thing about sound locate prey. pollution is that turning it off will ‘As I was listening, years ago, to have immediate effects. During the a hydrophone recording acquired COVID-19 pandemic, many marine

mammals and sharks have been migrating back into areas that have previously been hubs of human ac-

impact on the fitness and mortality of ocean inhabitants.

Why are louder oceans a problem?

Increased noise makes it difficult for marine mammals to detect the sound frequencies they usually rely on. One example is that intruding sound hinders the development of ‘anti-predator behavior’ in young animals. This is vital, as usually these juveniles will

Humpback whale singing can be heard 16,000 kilometers away tivity, such as harbours and urban coastal areas. However, only 35 to 50 per cent of studies had evidence that marine noise had a significant

use noise cues from their predators to evade detection or death. However, when anthropogenic noise pollution masks predator movements, chances of escaping in time are limited.

Another problem with unnaturally loud oceans is that they are likely to have a longer lasting impact on mammals than on fish. Loud noises can permanently damage the hair cells in the internal hearing organs of marine mammals, whereas in fish these hair cells tend to regenerate.

As marine mammals rely on noise to navigate their environment, damaged hearing can lead to further disorientation.

What do the researchers urge policymakers to do?

Novel technologies are definitely an option to subdue the impacts of noise. Some ships already use specifically designed propellers that decrease sound pressure from six decibels to eight decibels. Professor Duarte further suggested that, ‘materials such as fiber-reinforced polymer components are effective in dampening noise. The fact that these materials are also lighter means they additionally have less propulsion’.

The European Union currently states in one of their legal clauses that for good environmental ocean status, member states should decrease noise pollution. However, as the impacts are hard to concretely measure, countries do not tend to follow that guideline. It is time to take noise pollution seriously and to restore the peaceful realm that its marine inhabitants deserve.

Silverback Films

Research highlights the detrimental impact of noise pollution on our oceans Julia Riopelle

SciTech 27

epigram 23.02.2021

COVID Corner

COVID-19 vaccines: busting the myths Sarah offers insight into common COVID-19 vaccine misconceptions Sarah Dalton

A

maintain the pH of the vaccine.

Theories that can be found circulating social media and untrustworthy internet sources of a hidden microchip have no scientific or factual grounding.

‘I’ve already had COVID-19, so I don’t need the vaccine' Now this one is a bit of a grey area, but the standard r e s p o n s e is to approach this statement as myth.

development from the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine highlighted that: ‘With the emergence of these new variant viruses, this may become more of a problem actually going forward.’ Therefore, current scientific advice states that even if you have had COVID-19, it would still be safest for you to get the vaccine and ensure that you and those around you are protected.

Despite the attempts of scientific research to put myths to rest, digital platforms such as social media in particular are still prime sites for misinformation.

Epigram / Emily Connor

flu and rabies. The companies then blame a secret cabal of evil people put their vaccines through rigorous rather than accepting that bad things clinical trials with tens of thousands can happen for random reasons. A of volunteers. good way of combating conspiracy ‘The vaccine will give me COVtheories is by informing the public ID-19' about ways in which they might be SciTech Subeditor Many vaccines misled, which has put a weakened or been shown to prorecent study led by re‘Sadly, COVID-19 is inactive form of the tect them against searchers at the Univerreal and we need to virus into our bodbeing misinformed.’ sity of Bristol and King's deal with it as best we ies, but this is not To tackle the spiCollege London has identified that true of mRNA. When ral of digital misinbeliefs in COVID-19 conspiracies are the mRNA in the vaccine enters your formation, Epigram’s SciTech team directly linked to hesitancy towards cells, it instructs them to create a are here to separate the fact from the vaccines. piece of the SARS-CoV-2 ‘spike’ profiction. Here is the science behind Results show that whilst 15 per tein that is present on the coronavifour common vaccine conspiracies. cent of the general UK public believe rus molecule that causes COVID-19.

‘We can’t trust COVID-19 vacthat reporters, scientists and govThese protein pieces do not harm cines because they were rushed' ernment officials are involved in a the body but trigger your immune Whilst it is true that COVID-19 conspiracy to cover up coronavirus system to produce antibodies which vaccines use somewhat new techinformation, this figure almost trifight the spike proteins off as if they nology, and were developed in rapples to 42 per cent among those who were the coronavirus molecules. id time, the process of creating this do not wish to be vaccinated.

Whilst some evidence suggests technology has been going on a lot Professor Stephan Lewandowsky, the vaccine may cause short-term longer than you may think.

Chair of the Cognitive Psycholofatigue or headaches, this is simply The technology gy department at ‘Pandemics that your immune system responding and at the centre of the the University of is normal in any vaccine.

Pfi zer-BioNTech and Bristol stated that: make people feel like ‘We don’t know what's in these Moderna vaccine is ‘Pandemics or other they've lost control vaccines' a strand of genetfrightening events over their lives are a In short, this is simply not true. ic material called that make people trigger of conspiracy messenger RNA or Both Pfizer and Moderna have feel like they’ve lost theories’ published the ingredients lists of mRNA. Researchers control over their their vaccines. In addition to mRNA, have in fact been lives are a known both vaccines contain lipids that destudying and working on mRNA trigger of conspiracy theories. liver mRNA into your cells, and sevvaccines for more than three decades ‘Some people find it easier to cope eral common ingredients that help to in order to fight viruses such as the with frightening events if they can

T h e r e is not yet enough scientific r e search to objectively state how long natural immunity to COVID-19 lasts, but cases of returning COVID-19 are not unheard of. Professor Adam Finn, expert in immunology and vaccine

However, as Professor Lewandowsky also noted to Epigram: ‘All conspiracy theories are characterized by certain attributes, such as incoherence, and if you learn to spot them, then you won’t fall for them.

‘Sadly, COVID-19 is real and we need to deal with it as best we can by wearing masks, keeping our distance from others, and getting vaccinated as quickly as possible.’

ICU COVID-19 mortality rates dropping, but not fast enough Mortality rates have dropped since March but improvements are plateauing Julia Riopelle SciTech Editor

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he newest governmental reports from 12 February state there have been 15,144 new daily positive cases and 758 new deaths of patients within 28 days of testing positive for the virus. Despite these harrowing numbers, there is some hope to be seen – the national lockdown is working.

A meta-analysis, led by Professor Tim Cook, consultant of Intensive Care Medicine at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Professor in

Bristol Medical School, looked at the outcomes of 43,128 ICU patients across North America, Europe, the Middle East, China, Australia and South Asia.

A previous meta-analysis, conducted by Professor Cook and his colleagues, showed that ICU mortality rates fell from 60 per cent at the end of March 2020 to 42 per cent at the end of May. The new meta-analysis has found that as of October 2020, ICU mortality has further decreased to 36 per cent.

Between March and May, a period of two months, ICU mortality rate dropped by 18 percentage points.

However, from June to October, a period of five months, mortality rates only decreased a further six points. The plateauing decrease is also concerning, as the data of this

study only reflects until October and does not consider the impacts of increased cases over the winter season, as well as the pressures the new UK, South African and Brazilian strains have added.

The study found that improved treatments were not a confirmed reason for the overall improved ICU management between March and October. However, some did find evidence that steroids helped improve the survival of patients who required respiratory support.

As the pandemic progresses, hospitals and virologists have more exposure to the virus’ symptoms, and therefore ICUs may have become more prepared for various outcomes.

Whilst most ICU mortality rates remain between 30 to 40 per cent globally, some countries are doing better

than others. Hospitals in Melbourne have an average ICU mortality rate of 11 per cent, whilst the Middle East is experiencing a higher rate of up to 62 per cent. The stark contrast across these mortality rates may be due to differences in what constitutes an ICU and which patients qualify for it.

This article is abridged.

Read the full version on our website: epigram.org.uk

Unsplash / United Nations

28 SciTech

epigram 23.02.2021

Neonics: the common pesticides wreaking havoc on the sleep of insects pesticide had been applied, it slept less, and its daily behavioural rhythms were knocked out of sync with the normal 24-hour cycle of day and night.’

Similarly, the fruit fly study ex-

Bristol studies reveal the extent that pesticides can affect insects, and even our food supply Ellesse Jun Huan Low Second Year, Chemistry

Unsplash / Filipe Resmini

N

eonicotinoids (shortened to neonics) are a common type of pesticide which is widely used in crop protection. Two new studies led by scientists at the University of Bristol recently discovered the harmful effect of neonics on disrupting the sleep of bumblebees and fruit flies.

Just like humans, insects require a good night’s sleep. It is needed for them to carry out essential activities, such as hunting and foraging. However, modern agricultural practices are interfering with this important process more than pre-

terrupting the sleep cycle of insects like bumblebees and fruit flies.

Bumblebees, one of the primary pollinators, are known for pollinating plants and flowers during the dark. They actively forage through-

Neonicotinoid-contaminated honey and flowers can disturb the sleep of insects viously thought. Researchers at the University of Bristol have found that certain types of pesticides (known as neonics) have been in-

out the night and get sleep during the day. However, it has been found that neonicotinoid-contaminated honey and flowers can disturb the

sleep of insects. This problem appears to be concerning as a large percentage of plants, including fruits and vegetables, rely on pollinators to reproduce. Bumblebees play an essential role in this field.

The research indicated a significant reduction in their foraging activity when the toxins enter the bee’s body whilst collecting pollen, leading to dramatic decrease of pollination and the bee population.

Neonics have a substantial effect on the amount of sleep taken by both flies and bees. Lead author Dr Kiah Tasman explained: ‘If an insect was exposed to a similar amount [of pesticide] as it might experience on a farm where the

unable to sleep - which has subsequently affected their health and memory. Dr Sean Rands, the study’s co-author, acknowledged that bees and flies have similar structures in their brain. Neonics therefore have

If these pesticides affect the sleepcycle of bees and their ability to pollinate, this may lead to food shortages plored how pesticides interfere with the insect's brain. It was identified that the fly’s central nervous system is especially sensitive to neonics. They found a threshold value, above which severe damage would be caused to the fly’s brain cells.

Concerningly, most modern farms use above this threshold.

Other effects include memory loss for bees, causing significant changes to their biological clock which confuses their sleep-wake cycle. Tasman also added it impairs their navigation and learning, making them unable to scavenge for food in their natural habitat.

Dr James Hodge, senior author of the study, stated that sensing the time of day is important for knowing when to be awake and forage, but it seems like the insects are

similar effects on bees too.

The extensive usage of neonics may have benefited farmers and helped them achieve bountiful harvests. Nonetheless, it is clear that insects have been suffering the consequences. If these pesticides affect the sleep-cycle of bees and their ability to pollinate, this may lead to food shortages.

The hazardous insecticide was banned by the European Union, and the UK government promised to keep this ban in place post-Brexit. Despite this, last month the UK signed emergency authorisations for its use. The studies have encouraged calls for the use of neonics to be prohibited globally, to avoid potentially decimating the populations of foraging insects and risking food shortages.

Illicit drug use by young people more common than official statistics suggest Masters, Psychology

A

ccording to new research, official government statistics may be significantly underestimating illicit drug use among young people in the UK.

grammes, however there have long been concerns that the CSEW does not provide an accurate picture of illicit drug use in the UK. It is believed that respondents to the survey may be reluctant to provide honest information about their drug use due to fear of the information they provide being traced back to them.

To address these issues, a team of researchers from the University of Bristol, University College Lon-

‘It is unlikely current drug policies and interventions are adequately reflecting the extent of drug use’ Official estimates of illicit drug use in the UK come from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW).

These findings are used to inform drug policy and treatment pro-

don, and Public Health England have compared data on illicit drug use from the CSEW to data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

Their findings suggested that the CSEW underestimates illicit drug use. Estimates of lifetime illicit drug use among young people were 22 per cent lower in the Crime Survey than in the Avon study (40.6 per cent compared to 62.8 per cent), while estimates of past-year illicit drug use were also lower by 20 per cent.

Lead author Hannah Charles from Public Health England noted: ‘This suggests we do not fully understand the drug use within this population, and therefore it is unlikely that current drug policies and interventions are adequately reflecting the extent of drug use in the population.

‘This could mean we need to do more to support young people who are taking illicit substances in order to prevent the negative health and social outcomes that are often associated with this behaviour.’

Charles emphasises that: ‘We need to understand drug use particularly

amongst young people, as this is the life stage in which lots of negative outcomes associated with drug use are seen.

‘If we do not fully understand the problem, then we are less equipped to intervene and support those who need it.’

The researchers speculate that participants in the Avon study may be more inclined to answer honestly since it is a birth cohort and has al-

lowed researchers to gain their trust.

Going forward, the researchers suggest that studies like ALSPAC could be used to validate official estimates of illicit drug use in the UK. However, since the study is based on a cohort of people from the southwest, it would be necessary to conduct further studies with other birth cohorts from different geographical regions to gain a complete understanding.

Pixabay / Jeff W

Researchers found that the Crime Survey underestimates drug use by 20 per cent Lilli Waples

Puzzles

Editor Fergus Ustianowski

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

Cockney Rhyming Slang Crossword Credit: Patrick Sullivan, Digital Editor

1) Lump of lead (4) 3) The daughter of which is

water (10) 7) Smooth fabrics resembling milk (5,3,4) 8) Jam ____, slang for 4D (4) 9) Breakfast item in sarnies (5) 10) European nationality whose

archers allude to ‘elbows’ (7) 12) Former England manager

or soap star; Cockney e.g.

soya milk drinker (6) 13) Clever ____; Cockney for

two wheeled mode of

transport (4) 15) _____ and shout, Brussel

sprout; Beatles song (5) 17 Type of hat and scarf that’s a laugh (6) 18 John Wayne film or river;

slang for one thousand

Killer Sudoku

Word Ladder

A normal Sudoku, each row, column and box of 9 have the numbers 1-9 only occuring once. The numbers in the dashed sections add up to the grey number in the box.

Difficulty: Medium Credit: Fergus Ustianowski, Editor

7

11

10

4

15

20

9

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7 10

12

4 17

19

9

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Down

1) Rhyming slide in WW2;

Beatles song (6-7) 2) Trashcan tops; rhyme with

‘kids’ (7,4) 3) ‘90s DJ used in Cockney for

‘gym’ (6,4) 4) Key organ described by 8A (5) 5) Newspaper astrologer,

pictured (pl.); Cockney for

lower limbs (6,4) 6) Former South African

president; slang for a certain Belgian lager (6,7) 11) Rum mixer to describe

humour (4) 14) Metallic element paired

with lung (4) 16) Colloquial word for mouth

Mental Maths Start with the number on the left and then apply the operators from left to right to calculate the number. The top line is easy with the bottom one being harder.

Credit: Fergus Ustianowski, Puzzles Editor

28 +16 x5 28

x7

-50

-53 x3

x5 +20 /8 -68 x6

+25

+74 /16

11

We are putting all these puzzles on the website and there will be extra puzzles just to keep everyone entertained over the next few week. Please go to the website and enjoy :)

7

8

13

10

5

8

2

14

9 16

6

PAPER

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Credit: Fergus Ustianowski, Editor

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Begin with the first letter and you change one letter each time to create a new word. This will continue until the last word.

The Irish Sun

Across

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3

17

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

9

WOKEN

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

30 Sport

epigram 23.02.2021

Combat sports The Buchabest intramural rugby team profile: Karate Deputy Sports Editor

Clifton Crusaders

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Clifton Crusaders have continued their partnership with mental health charity, So Happy In Town Eddie McAteer Sports Editor

C

lifton Crusaders have been raising money for mental health charity Young Minds by running, cycling and walking the distance from Bristol to Bucharest.

The intramural rugby team have previously supported the charity by promoting the ‘It’s okay to feel S.H.I.T.’ campaign in a training session last year.

The last article I wrote before the first lockdown covered Clifton Crusaders’ training sessio to raise awareness for mental health in which they trained wearing shirts stating ‘it’s okay not to be okay'. Coincidentally, I wrote this article just a few weeks

to Bucharest in one month. ‘Since we can’t play, I thought it would be a good thing to get the guys out and to have something to focus on during lockdown,’ he said.

Many of us have undoubtedly found the numerous lockdowns and

Who wouldn't be motivated by hearing Star Wars on Classic FM? tier changes difficult. Now more than ever, the work of mental health charities is important and Clifton Crusaders, like many sports teams, have played their part.

In less than two weeks the team had already ‘reached’ southern Germany, more than 1250km into their journey. Perhaps more impressively, they have now received almost £1500 in donations for their efforts and reached their destination with five days still to spare.

Some monumental efforts have

I thought it would be good to get the guys out and to have something to focus on before the team went on tour to Bucharest, unaware that all our lives were about to change so drastically.

With the tour heavily disrupted by the developing pandemic, the team did not feel their relationship with the city was ready to end. After another drive for S.H.I.T. stash yielded few results, Joe Stirrup – the club’s Director of Rugby – proposed that they travel the equivalent of Bristol

commitment to supporting mental health. Even as the exam period inconveniently placed itself mid-way through the challenge, nobody waivered – least of all Jake Chase, who decided it was the perfect time to run a marathon. He said of his marathon

gone into the fundraiser, including a near 70km cycle, numerous 20km runs and even a marathon. Then, to top it off, four players said they planned to cycle to and from Bath twice in one day, a total of 110km.

Just like on tour, there were peaks and troughs throughout the challenge, yet, through one of the coldest, wettest and bleakest winter periods in recent years, the team upheld their

run: ‘It was a personal challenge to keep me motivated during lockdown and to inspire others to get out there'.

They were helped in part by a shout-out on Classic FM in early February, just as the danger of running out of steam started to present itself. Who wouldn’t be motivated by hearing the Star Wars theme tune blasted out by a radio station associated more with Mozart and Beethoven than Yoda and Chewbacca?

In total, more than 30 members of the club participated in some way, shape or form and Stirrup is ‘really proud of what we have managed to achieve’. He acknowledges that there is a ‘really strong support network in the team’ and hopes that the money raised will go some way to helping those who are struggling.

The link to donate to the team's fundraiser can be found below and if you are finding things difficult, support is available through organisations such as Young Minds and Samaritans.

If you want to support the team, donate to the fundraiser here

pigram's Deputy Sports Editor James Dowden continues to investigate the world of combat sports at Bristol Univeristy. This week he speaks to Combat Karate President Thomas Spencer about the Japanese martial art which is set to make its debut at the Tokyo Olympics later this year.

What is Combat Karate?

Combat Karate is a comprehensive and effective martial art for practical self-defence. It is properly called ‘Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate’, and the word ‘Goju’ sums up the system: ‘Go’ means ‘hard’ and refers to striking techniques (punching, kicking etc); ‘Ju’ means ‘soft’ and refers to wrestling techniques (throwing, locking etc). Whilst most martial arts would be classified as being either ‘go’ or ‘ju’, ours is unusual in that it covers the full martial spectrum, hence ‘Goju’. We pride ourselves on incorporating the widest possible range of fighting skills within one cohesive system!

What position do you hold within the society?

I’m the President of Combat Karate. I’ve been training for two years and have reached the rank of green belt.

What is a weekly schedule like in Combat Karate?

There are four sessions every week at Combat Karate, and, since our syl-

labus is so broad, no two sessions are ever the same. Some people opt to train once a week, some two or three times a week, and a few even come to all four weekly sessions! Sparring and grappling are usually prominently featured in our training, but, due to coronavirus, those elements are currently on hold. We can however still work on learning and polishing our techniques and on improving our fitness. Just because the contact has been removed, doesn’t mean we’re taking it easy!

Who are your instructors and what are they like?

Combat Karate is very lucky to have a group of five third dan instructors (each having about twenty years’ experience in Goju Ryu), as well as five first dan assistant instructors, all giving their time for free, because they loved learning Combat Karate when they were at Bristol and want current Bristol students to have the same opportunity. Perhaps because they’re teaching for the love of Combat Karate, they’re not the type of instructors who just depart at the end of each session, but instead regularly join us for the social side of our society too. The Combat Karate society is a community, and the instructors are just as much a part of that community as the student members.

How is the social side of Combat Karate?

In normal times we’d often go for a drink or a bite to eat after training, as well as having regular socials (both boozy and non-boozy) throughout the year. Sadly, due to coronavirus, none of that is possible at the moment, but we have plans in place for a number of online socials.

Rob Newton

UoB's Combat Karate captain reveals what it's like to be part of the club James Dowden

Sport 31

epigram 23.02.2021

How to play: toilet roll ten-pin

could use as inspiration. keep you busy? When all global sport Amongst many other examples, was postponed last year, footballers we saw Hunhad a lot of time Why not resume last garian canoeon their hands March's craze of toilet roll and started a ist Eda Zsofia Szabo train on challenge which keepie-uppies?

Daniel Dyson an improvised instantly beDigital Sports Editor canoe made from three of her din- came viral, performing keepie-uppies mid the COVID-19 pan- ing room chairs, as well as triathlete with toilet roll. demic, sport-lovers have Lasse Lührs perform ‘dry swimming' Never played football or not sure had to adapt their favour- on beer crates at home. if you will be any good? Just give ite hobbies in order to respect stayHowever, new and creative ideas it a go! After all, everything is beat-home restrictions. As we continue for exercising during lockdown have hind closed doors now and toilet roll through the second month of lock- not been limited to elite athletes. is no longer the rare commodity it down 3.0, we are once again vic- French citizen Elisha Nochomovitz once was. You might even surprise tims of the unending boredom that made the news in March last year yourself and discover that you have became so familiar last spring. With when attempting to occupy himself a hidden talent for toilet roll keepthat in mind, Epigram is here to give by running a marathon on his bal- ie-uppies. you some fun ideas on how you can cony.

Equally, this is a particularly good continue to enW a n t i n g activity for students given it can joy your favourto celebrate be done without the need for much Physical activity and ite sports whilst France’s health space, so perfectly suits our small relaxation techniques staying at home. service and student bedrooms! can be valuable tools to Training is show it is posIf you are a keen golfer and miss protect your health part of daily life sible to stay fit days out with your mates on the for professional at home, No- course, or for those of you lucky athletes, even during lockdown when chomovitz ran 26.2 miles back and enough to have a garden, golf at some elite sport remains postponed. forth on his seven-metre balcony, home could be for you.

Around the world, sportspersons completing it in six hours and 48 A quick Google search will bring have found creative ways to stay in minutes. up a golf chipping practice net to buy shape whilst respecting government Although an outstanding feat, here and put in your garden and improve guidelines. are some slightly more fun ways you your chip game.

During the first lockdown in March can adapt your gardens, living rooms Alternatively, you can purchase an 2020, numerous global stars posted or bedrooms to fill these cold winter indoor putting mat or use the budget photos and videos on their social days. option – a mug. Putting is undoubtmedia showing the creative ways First, why not resume last March’s edly one of the most important asthey were able to practise, which you craze of toilet roll keepie-uppies to pects of golf and, thankfully, it is the

A

easiest element of golf to work on at The stress and challenge to mental home. Dedicating time to putting in health that lockdown has brought is the practice can therefore make a real affecting lots of us, but can be signifdifference to your scores. icantly aided by exercise. According Finally, a slightly more fun activity to the World Health Organisation, that you can play with your family physical activity and relaxation techor housemates is niques can be homemade tenToilet roll is no longer the valuable tools pin bowling, to help you rerare commodity it once which can also main calm and was! be done solely continue to prousing loo roll. tect your health Simply save up your empty loo roll during this difficult period. tubes, arrange them as pins in your We hope that this article has prohouse and use a full loo roll as a vided you with some fun ideas on bowling ball and let the games com- how to look after your physical and mence. This one is so easy to do and mental well-being whilst abiding by surprisingly enjoyable! government restrictions.

Epigram Sport's top tips for home workouts

Match Day Reporter

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yms have been shut for a very long time, meaning many of us are now well

versed in the art of the home workout. However, some of us may have been doing the same workout routine from home for almost a year now and might be looking for new ideas.

Whether you are wanting to increase your fitness through cardio exercises, or if you want to build muscle through strengthening ones, there are so many options available to adapt your workout to the space

Epigram / Charlotte Carver

Looking for a new home workout programme? We've got you covered Charlotte Carver

Epigram / Eddie McAteer

How you can fill the sporting void and still have fun from your own home

of your home. cle-building or toning, there are way but if you fancy a bit of a difFirstly, the University of Bristol plenty of things you can do at home ferent challenge you can try ‘each Sport app provides free workouts which will conminute on the every day which you can fit into tribute towards Creating your own work- minute’. your daily routine. your muscle For this, you out means you can work to If none of those take your fancy, gain. take a certain your own ability and slowly we have some recommendations.

The wide exercise, such adapt it over time A cardio workout is a great way to range of equipas burpees, build up fitness and there are a vari- ment available and do a set ety of exercises that you can do for at the gym is one aspect you might be number of them as the minute starts. this. lacking in your own home. However, The aim is to try and complete the A personalised option for a home there are ways to get around this. set number as quickly as possible, cardio workout is to create your own Home weight sets are readily avail- and then spend the remainder of the high intensity interval training (HIIT) able online for a reasonable price. A minute resting. routine. You could pick a few ex- low-cost alternative is to think creThe great thing about this type of ercises such as star jumps, burpees, atively and use items you can find workout is that it is so versatile. You mountain climbers, high knees, or in your kitchen such as tinned food, can choose to do the same exercise jump squats. After selecting your juice cartons, or a milk bottle. for the whole block or change the chosen exercises, you can choose the Once again, a great option is to exercise each minute. You can chalnumber of reps and sets you want to create your own personalised mus- lenge yourself too by increasing the complete. For example, five 30-sec- cle-building circuit. This could in- set number of the exercise, as your ond reps of exercises for three sets, clude push ups, bodyweight dips, fitness increases. It is also great as allowing yourself 15 seconds of rest lunges, squats, squat pulses, planks, you can design it to suit your own in between each side planks, goals, whether that is muscle gain, Think creatively and use donkey kicks, weight loss, general fitness, or you repetition.

Creating your items you can find in your wall sits and sit just want a physical challenge. own workout is ups. You can inThere are so many options when it kitchen great because corporate resist- comes to working out from home. So, you can work to your own fitness ance bands and weights for an extra even if you are desperately missing ability and slowly adapt it over time challenge, or you can just use your the gym - as you almost certainly are as your fitness improves. own bodyweight.

- there are many ways to maintain If your main workout goal is musDoing each exercise in sets is one your fitness goals.

Sport

Editor Digital Editor Deputy Editor Match Day Reporter

Twitter: @EpigramSport

Eddie McAteer Daniel Dyson James Dowden Charlotte Carver

Armago: Like Tinder but for sport Sports Editor

S

tudents at the University of Bristol are developing an app that will make it easier for students to play sport together.

The app, named Armago, will be launching next month and aims to increase participation in sport by connecting Bristol students based on their location, ability and availability.

Upon starting university, we are thrust into a world full of new opportunities. We enter Freshers’ Fair as wide-eyed teens and are bombarded with freebies and flyers. Almost everyone will have signed up to a sport with the intention of at least

ty, he realised that lots of students were not as involved in sport as they wanted to be. Market research revealed that 90 per cent of students in 2018 wanted to play more sport.

The question was, how do you make this happen?

With that in mind, Bushby identified our generation is used to apps that deliver whatever we want, almost immediately; dating, food and transport are just a couple of examples. However, there was nothing like that for sport. Bushby said, ‘Our aim is to build a global sports community’ and he hopes Armago will be the foundation of that community. Soon, students will be able to find people to exercise with through the simple process of opening an app, just like ordering a takeaway.

By working with the sports clubs at the University, Bushby and his team have also created a network of sporting opportunities to supplement

In 2018, 90 per cent of students said they wanted to play more sport giving it a go. Sometimes, however, timetables do not align and other sports catch our eye, consigning this new sport to the freshers’ week memory bank. Yet occasiona l l y t h a t memory resurfaces and we find ourselves longing for a quick game of nostrings-attached futsal, badminton or whatever takes your fancy. In these instances, Armago could well come in handy.

Armago is a new app that will be launching in March at the University of Bristol and is the brainchild of Mark Bushby, a second-year innovation student.

Hailing from rural Scotland, Bushby often found himself lacking in exercise partners. Even after moving to Bristol for universi-

the casual side of the app. Students will be able to view a club’s training sessions, socials and trials so that they can choose whatever suits them. To start with, only the tennis club will feature, but with time and interest there are plans to introduce some of the biggest sports societies. Bushby told me that the progress of Armago is something that even S p o r t England might be interested in

and they have already had contact with the senior K

Ar

oU mag

Armago UK

Going for a kickabout is about to get a whole lot easier thanks to Armago Eddie McAteer

sports management at Bristol University.

With regards to developing the app itself, it is being developed by a company in Bristol and that means there are expenses. He explained that developing an app comes with lots of little, hidden costs such as the font and data storage, all of which adds up. This is something that Bushby has largely taken upon himself to cover, going as far as putting student loans towards his creation but also through donations on their GoFundMe page.

The Armago team are not just occupied by the app; they have a podcast and an Instagram quiz series involving 16 of the biggest university sports clubs. Guests on the

ty presidents against each other in a head-to-head battle. At the time of

Occasionally we find ourselves longing for a quick game of nostrings-attached futsal writing, 12 societies have faced off in a series of questions, for a place on the Hugh Brady board, affectionately named after the Vice-Chancellor, in an after-eight challenge and an Instagram poll. Not to mention that they get a free Armago blindfold delivered to their door!

Bushby himself is an avid athlete and plays a number of sports

We want to be the big app for all universities podcast include former South Africa rugby player Schalk Brits, Olympic silver medallist Keri-Anne Payne and trans-Atlantic rowers the Broar brothers. Some guests have even been kind enough to donate to the Armago auction to help fundraise.

The quizzes have been taking place on Instagram Live and involve pitting the knowledge of two socie-

plained that it comes from the Greek word ‘árma’, meaning chariot. As

including rugby, hockey and tennis (where he is on the committee), as well as having trained for a marathon. Whilst not everyone might be as sporty as that, he hopes that the Armago app will allow students to fit exercise into those little one-hour breaks we all take.

For those of you wondering where the name comes from, Bushby ex-

one of the first Olympic events and synonymous with speed and dynamism, he says, ‘It’s a good way of describing what we’re about.’

When Armago (pronounced arma-go) launches, students will be able to sign up for free using their university email, meaning it really is an app for students, by students. The running costs of the app will come from clubs and will be included in membership fees for club members.

Bushby’s ambitions for the app are clear. He wants to make Armago ‘The big app for all universities.’

Even though there are clear benefits to the app during lockdown, the goal is to simplify sporting arrangements whatever the circumstances, pandemic or not. With a clear gap in the market, there is certainly a bright future ahead of the Armago team.

If you want to support the Armago app, donate to the fundraiser here.