Epigram 349

COVID-19 vaccine update An exclusive interview with one of the patients taking part in the vaccine trial

Olivette Otele ‘A public deliberative assembly. It has to be Bristol’s answer to its own question.’

Page 27

Page 12

epigram est. 1988

The University of Bristol’s Independent Student Newspaper Fortnightly | 6 October 2020 | Issue 349

Back and better than never?

Looking into the reality of Freshers’ arrival on campus More on page 3... www.epigram.org.uk

EpigramPaper

@EpigramPaper

@epigrampaper_

Editorial

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

editor@epigram.org.uk

Write for Epigram: ‘What a time to be a journalist!'

W

e received an email from Martin Booth, editor at Bristol 24/7 this summer, which opened with the line ‘What a time to be a journalist!’

And wow, what a time indeed. Teddy and I accepted our positions as Co-Editors-in-Chief in April, mid-lockdown ‘proper’. The whole experience was slightly surreal – we had never met each other, and yet there we were, being thrown into roles we didn’t quite understand yet, with no knowledge of how the other person worked, all during a global pandemic where not even the best of us were able to make sense of reality.

Skip ahead past many excited Zoom calls, large cups of coffee and the hiring of a (very excellent) editorial team, Teddy and I found ourselves back in Bristol, meeting for the first time, covering the Black Lives Matter march at the beginning of June.

It was honestly one of the most exciting days of my life.

We were about two meters (how very socially distanced of us) away from the head of the Edward Colston statue as it was pulled down, bounced, bounced again and then lay at the mercy of history.

Filled with a mighty adrenaline rush and slightly stunned with what was going on around me, I made a call to Patrick, last year’s Co-Editor-in-Chief and screamed down the phone, in the middle of a maddened, but liberated crowd, ‘Listen to me.

You need to start writing right now. This is big.’

The event made global news by that evening. The next morning, I was reading about Bristol on The New York Times website.

It has felt like a whirlwind of a summer, which is amusing, given that the pace of the

whole world has slowed down considerably – something which we are definitely now seeing reflected in university life.

This October will be very different to those which have come before it. The U1, once packed like a sardine can full of freshers, now has to enforce social distancing and mask-wearing.

The library which I shamelessly used to pull 24-hour shifts in will now only welcome me for four hours a week. The majority of learning is online.

This freshers’ issue of Epigram really highlights all the changes going on around us.

Our Deputy Opinion Editor discusses how he believes it is right that students are penalised for breaking social distancing rules, Film&TV choose their favourite films for Black History Month and SciTech speak to one of the patients involved in the trials for a Covid vaccine.

In the meantime, The Croft, adorned with a gorgeous front cover, has introduced (drum roll please…) a sex column and a horoscopes page, so when you get the middle of the paper, you can take a little break from all of the heavy duty reminders of the state of our planet.

I am so proud of the team that we have built over the last few months – a massive shout out to you all, and huge thanks from me. They have put up with constant Zoom calls, remote working, online training, all while churning out content over the summer and prepping for a first print issue. They have adapted amazingly, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all their hard work.

To me, the content of this issue perfectly aligns with the beginning of term – and after all, what a time it is to be a journalist!

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

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

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

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

For more information email:

COVID-19 on campus: what's changed this term?

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

Face coverings

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

Masks are also required for other indoor spaces.

Libraries

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

getinvolved.epigram@ gmail.com

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

Robin Connolly Teddy Coward Georgiana Scott Siavash Minoukadeh Orin Carlin

Living Circles

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

Testing

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

Fines

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

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

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

News

Editor Filiz Gurer Digital Editor Emilie Robinson Deputy Editor Molly Pipe

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

Rule of Six or Rule of Mix? • Freshers confused over what consitutes a living circle • Some students have been mixing between their allocated living circles Filiz Gurer News Editor

F

reshers moving into Halls of Residence have expressed confusion over living circles.

It had been thought that the living circles would comprise smaller numbers of students, which would have been closer to the Prime Minister’s Rule of Six. Some living circles at the University of Bristol have been found to group together up to 40 students.

Living circles were introduced by the University to help keep students safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

The University describes a living circle as ‘a household in your university accommodation. Your living circle will be the people you can interact with closely each day.’

Students whom Epigram spoke to were unclear on the specifics of their living circles.

Some students thought their living circle comprised all the students in their halls, which would be several hundred students, others enumerated some thirty or forty students from their corridor or floor.

One student in Hiatt Baker said that they were in a living circle of 27, that this had been confirmed by

the University, and that they would therefore be likely to stick to only socialising with the same 27 people.

Other students speaking to Epigram said that they had not received any information from the University about their living circles.

Students, who wished to remain anonymous, said ‘We didn’t have much information when we arrived, and we didn’t really get told what our living circle was or anything like that so we’re just sort of guessing.

We were told it would be put onto blackboard, but it never happened.’

Other freshers’ responses included: ‘They haven’t told us about living bubbles, they’ve said about social distancing but haven’t told us who our living bubble is.’

‘I’ve not been told much. They’ve said this is your flat, but they’ve not said this is your living circle, so I’m not sure if the living circle is the building or if it’s just the flat. I’m assuming it’s the flat.’

‘There are 20 or 30 on my floor and I can literally see anyone in the whole block, that’s at least 40 people.’

The guidance on the University’s website tells students to ‘stay in your living circle (if you are in halls) or household and, follow social distancing when outside your group.’

Commenting on whether students were abiding by the rules on living circles, one student said ‘Not as far as I know. People have been mixing because they want to make as many friends as possible.’

Speaking on living circles Ruth Day, Bristol SU Student Living Officer, said:

‘We know that there are a number of students who seem unaware of who is in their living circle, and in some cases what a living circle is. They have not been set up in a clear and understandable way and we’re pushing the university to provide more clarity for students as a matter of urgency. Living Circles are important to help mitigate against the spread of covid-19, but they will only be effective if students understand them – clear communication from the university should have been a priority.’

‘It’s frustrating that there are a significant number of students now living in halls and still a lack of understanding about living circles. I’d urge students to contact their Resilife team if they are confused. Students should also be able to connect with their living circle on Blackboard collaborate. Students are also welcome to contact me directly so I can continue to raise this with university staff.’

Speaking on living circles, a spokesperson for Bristol University said ‘We have communicated information about Living Circles with students in advance of their arrival in halls. Depending on the layout of their accommodation, it could be a single flat, more than one flat, or a single floor of their hall of residence.

If any student wants further clarification or information about this, we urge them to speak to the Residential Life Team immediately.’

It is understood that of the 1,173 living cicles, there are only nine which have 30 bed spaces or more, which is due to the the physical layout of the particular residences.

‘There is a party every night!’

Freshers’ flout antirave rules • Freshers described frequent parties within Halls of Residences Georgiana Scott Deputy Editor

I

llegal Parties of over one hundred freshers’ are reported to have taken place across Bristol University halls of residencies as first years continue to arrive on campus.

Despite warnings that such illicit gatherings are in breach of university regulations and could result in fines of up to £800 and expulsion they have been a regular occurrence, with one student saying, ‘There’s a party every night, quite honestly in all of the accommodations.’

Students have said that while parties are quick to get shut down by university patrol teams it is easy to find another one. ‘It’s like whack-amole – you end up moving from one house party until security break it up then move to the next,’ one first year said, and while security has been noting student’s names, this has not resulted in any fines being issued.

Video footage of an illegal party obtained by Epigram showed students crammed into a Hiatt Baker

Hall kitchen with music blasting and beer pong being played.

After monitoring the situation, Bristol university are putting further plans in place to curtail the number of events taking place such as introducing student COVID marshals and increasing security in problem areas like Stoke Bishop.

A University of Bristol spokesperson said while the vast majority of students are abiding by social distancing regulations and keeping to their living circles they are ‘incredibly disappointed by this behaviour and have written to everyone in those residencies to remind them of the vital importance of adhering to the rules to reduce the impact of Covid-19 and to do everything we can to keep our community safe.’

After observing the impact, the virus has had at universities elsewhere in the country, UoB are urging students to ‘follow the rules now, to avoid spreading a potentially life-threatening virus and jeopardising their university experience.’

Several students at Bath, Manchester Metropolitan and Glasgow university have been placed in enforced isolation after a series of sporadic Covid-19 cases were linked to student parties.

• Vice-Chancellor Brady issues a warning to Bristol students about Teddy Coward Co-Editor-in-Chief

T

he Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, Professor Hugh Brady, has urged Bristol students to view other university quarantines as a warning over ‘how quickly the virus can get out of control’.

With the recent arrival of freshers amidst a second wave of the pandemic, Professor Brady has strongly advised all those living in university accommodations at Bristol to ad-

here to both national and university guidelines to prevent any outbreaks.

Referring to lockdowns at other UK universities, Professor Brady said he hoped such scenes of students placed into quarantine would be a ‘wakeup call’ for Bristol students.

‘I would hope our community will look at what’s happening elsewhere and, yes, be a little bit worried,’ he told Epigram, ‘but also take that sobering experience and enable it to strengthen our conviction to behave responsibly and keep each other safe.’

Over a week ago, approximately 1,700 students at Manchester Metropolitan University were placed into quarantine after 127 had tested positive for Covid-19.

More recently, the University of South Wales had confirmed six people on their campus had tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of UK universities with a reported case to 65.

With such outbreaks at other universities forcing students to self-isolate in their halls for up to two weeks, Professor Brady insists the University of Bristol ‘will certainly have the support ready’ if required.

‘We have students who are already quarantining, who’ve come from abroad,’ he explained, ‘and that will be the same if a local lockdown happened. We’re very conscious it’s not just food but other types of social support – mental health support – will be available.’

Courtesy of anonymous source

Hugh Brady: Take on board ‘sobering’ experiences at other Universities

4 News

epigram 06.10.2020

still be possible to enter the library and browse for books, but any that are touched will need to go into quarantine for 72 hours.

In reality, this means that some students will have to wait three to five working days to receive books they have requested.

However, this does not include Queens, Wills Memorial and Physics libraries, where limited space means a ‘click and collect’ system will be in place.

Ed Fay, director of library services said that ‘We have worked incredibly hard to get our libraries set up in the best possible way that we can.

‘We are absolutely confident that they are safe and that they are within the guidelines set down for us by the government, Public Health England and the University.

‘The libraries are significantly changed to how they would normally be, and we realise that will be frustrating.

‘We are incredibly disappointed that we are not able to do more and do better, but we will keep looking for opportunities to increase our spaces and improve what we offer and we very much welcome feed-

Epigram/ Robin Connolly

J

ust as Bristol University students are arriving back to campus, a four-hour cap has been placed on the total time they are allowed to spend in campus libraries each week to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The original ten-hour restriction was reduced following a trial scheme taking place in the Beacon House Study Centre showed it would not allow fair access for all students, particularly once everyone returned to campus.

Students will be able to split the four hours across different study spaces but will need to book their library seat in advance.

They can do this through the newly implemented ‘study seat booking system,’ where a library slot can be reserved up to two weeks in advance by filling out an online form.

The library staff have noted that there will be no system of penalisation if people do not make it to their booked slots.

In the libraries, seating has been spaced out as much as possible to allow for the full two meters of social distancing.

Depending on the capacity, it will

back on that to find ways that we can improve this.’

The seating capacity of all university study spaces has been reduced with 105 spaces in Wills Memorial, 74 in the Chemistry building and 246 in the Arts and Social Sciences library - a 75 per cent decrease from 900 seats.

Overall, there has been a reduction from 4,000 seats to 925 across all study spaces.

There will also no longer be any 24-hour study spaces available but opening and closing times will be aligned with university teaching hours which are 8am to 8pm.

On Monday, when teaching began again, a total of eight libraries and three study centres opened for the first time since March.

Further new safety precautions include the wearing of masks at all times and a QR scanning system, where upon entry students will need to use the ‘venue check-in’ function on the NHS Track and Trace app.

The four-hour limit will be constantly monitored by the library services in case it needs, or can be, adjusted to suit how students are using spaces.

Epigram/ BBCTeddy Coward

Deputy Editor & Co-Editorin-Chief

Epigram/ Robin Connolly

Georgiana Scott & Robin Connolly

Epigram/ Robin Connolly

Epigram/ Teddy Coward

• The cap will apply to students studying in libraries and study spaces across the University • There will no longer be any 24 hour study spaces available

Epigram/ Teddy Coward

Bristol students limited to four hours a week in libraries and study centres

News 5

epigram 06.10.2020

so are many other people. Hopefully, students will understand that it doesn't help if people are kept awake at night.

In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said: ‘Funding from the University of Bristol pays for extra patrols through overtime, known as Operation Beech, in response to complaints about alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in the Redland and Cotham wards.

‘The patrols will take place between September and November, addressing issues with noisy house parties and noise-nuisance, damage and urination by people returning from a night out in the city. The neighbourhood team continue to monitor issues and work with the local community to address any concerns raised.'

Neighbourhood Inspector Lorna Dallimore said: ‘We are pleased to be working in collaboration with the University and we welcome the community’s continued efforts to be good neighbours and their support in addressing the issues which arise at this time of pandemic.'

Sian Harris, University of Bristol Beat Manager, said that officers had responded to around five or six calls each evening in the first 3 nights of operation, mainly relating to noise complaints.

She explained that the first call of action would be to engage with those who have received a complaint. ‘With the rule of six, officers can issue fines. Our standpoint is very much to engage, explain, encourage and the last option being enforce.’

• The motion was overwhelmingly passed at a general meeting of members Louie Bell Investigations Correspondent

A

t an Emergency General Meeting on Monday 28 September, Bristol UCU overwhelmingly passed a motion calling for an immediate transition to online learning where practically possible.

The motion also demanded that staff should be allowed to teach online where they do not feel safe teaching in-person, and that the University should adopt a public information approach, publishing risk assessments for all rooms in which staff will be asked to teach, as well as sharing COVID-19 institutional data such as infection rates and the locality of cases, on the University's SharePoint or an information portal.

Where staff request to teach online, the motion states: ‘It is not grounds to reassign their in-person teaching to another member of staff, nor for them to lose teaching hours and pay as a result.’

Bristol UCU also demand extra

Epigram/ Filiz Gurer

T

he University of Bristol have started enforcing COVID-19 restrictions with ‘Operation Beech’, consisting of extra patrols through student-heavy areas in Bristol.

Through a partnership with Avon & Somerset Police, Operation Beech targets areas such as Redland, Cotham and Clifton to address both ignorance of COVID-19 guidelines and noise complaints from the residential community.

The £15,000 operation responds to complaints between 8pm and 2am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, designed to coincide with likely times of greater student social activity.

Residents are provided with a phone number to ring or text during operational dates if they are experiencing ‘house party or street noise disturbance that is believed to be caused by UoB students.’

Upon providing the University of Bristol with the house number and street name, the extra police patrols then respond on ‘a priority basis.’

This year, the operation will serve to ensure students are complying with COVID-19 social distancing rules, including restrictions on gatherings of people and mixing of

a Scott

Investigations Correspondent

households.

The move has been welcomed by Andrew Waller, the founder of ‘The Noise Pages', a website which has been documenting noise complaints around student-dense areas in Bristol since 2017.

Speaking to Epigram, he said: ‘I'm sure many residents will be happy that Operation Beech has returned and grateful that the university has once again funded it. However, there seems to have been no formal communication from UoB to residents' groups about Beech, nor do we know what's going to happen beyond the current schedule, which ends in November.’

Andrew pointed out that the Chandos area in Redland experienced an entire year’s worth of noise complaints for July alone.

‘Residents recognise that students are in a pretty stressful situation, but

Epigram/ Georgian

• The extra police patrols will target the areas of Redland, Cotham and Clifton Louie Bell

Bristol UCU pass motion demanding all ‘unnecessary’ inperson teaching be moved online

support and allocation of training time to staff in order to best provide online teaching.

Where the fundamental demands are not met, Bristol UCU ‘reserves the right of using any and all action available to us under Trade Union Health and Safety legislation.’

This raises the prospect about the potential for some form of strike action against the University of Bristol until UCU demands are met.

‘Bristol UCU members, University of Bristol staff and, I think, University of Bristol students want to be safe. Allowing teachers to shift their teaching online is one obvious way to help’ says Bristol UCU Branch Secretary Jamie Melrose.

Epigram / Ellie Brown

Operation Beech Resumes

Staff express reluctance about return to in-person teaching amid surge in coronavirus cases

Epigram Reporters

G

rowing numbers of professors and lecturers at Bristol University told their departments that they were deeply uncomfortable about resuming in-person classes because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to people familiar with the matter.

The University decided earlier this year that lectures would take place

online amid a range of precautions intended to minimise the spread of the virus.

But rising concern by faculty members, anxious that they are being pushed to return to classrooms too fast, has led to a fraught situation, given the University’s plans to hold some face-to-face tuition through in-person seminars and tutorials.

‘I’m really unhappy about it,’ said one Philosophy lecturer, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly and feared retaliation, about the prospect of teaching in-person seminars.

‘Then there are of course some members of staff who really are high risk.’

The main complaint from faculty

across the University revolves around the fact they are being pressed to resume in-person instruction, even as coronavirus cases have again started to soar in the UK. Driving some of the concern among tenured academic staff is that they are predominantly older and, as a result, are more likely to have underlying health conditions that put them at heightened risk of adverse health effects should they contract the virus.

The mostly younger lecturers and researchers, meanwhile, remain anxious that they might contract coronavirus from students and then transmit it on to their family members.

Faculty members uncomfortable with the return to in-person teaching have complained privately that

to expect roughly 27,500 students to behave according to public health guidelines is ‘simply not realistic’, another lecturer said.

University officials say they are taking all the necessary precautions, and reiterate that face-to-face teaching is what students, families, and even a large proportion of academic staff ultimately want.

‘As a university, we have been working tirelessly over the summer to make our campus Covid secure,’ a Bristol University spokesperson said.

‘We take the health and wellbeing of our staff extremely seriously.’

Whether to go back into the classroom is starting to become a topic among the faculty, several lecturers told Epigram, and a Philosophy department conference call two weeks ago saw some staff repeatedly raise

concerns about in-person teaching.

Not everyone on the call was opposed to the return of face-to-face teaching, but even staff enthusiastic about welcoming students back into their classrooms later complained about a general lack of consultation from the University.

‘Nobody asked us anything or what risk we might be prepared to take,’ said one lecturer who was present on the conference call and who also asked to be kept anonymous, deeply frustrated about the lack of consultation.

The University has since made overtures to faculty in a bid to better address the concerns of staff, the spokesperson said, noting that those who are at high risk or live with someone at risk can request adjustments to their line managers.

Epigram / Ellie Brown

• Staff complained that they are being pressed to resume in-person teaching • The University has said it is taking all necessary safety precautions

6 News

epigram 06.10.2020

•

Societies have been delivering online and socially distanced events as part of Welcome 2020 The SU's Official Welcome Fair will go online on 7 October

Emilie Robinson Megan Evans

&

Digital News Editor & Subeditor

C

ovid-19 has forced Welcome 2020 events and societies to get creative, by moving online, outdoors and adhering to the rule of six.

Freshers have received a different introduction to societies this year, by meeting likeminded students through virtual ‘Give it a Go’ (GIAGO) sessions and by attending smaller in-person social gatherings.

Epigram spoke to the Committees of societies to find out about how they had reacted and adapted to the changes.

Joshua Mareschal, Captain of Volleyball Society said: ‘We have had to adapt to changes that come through almost weekly either from the government or the University.’

Tiago Gomes De Freitas, President of Kickboxing, said in order to maintain social distancing during in-person sessions ‘there is no possibility of pad work nor sparring, which is a shame.’

Although, there are benefits as ‘smaller session sizes also mean that out world class coaches will have less people to focus on, allowing everyone to improve much faster and get more attention than ever before.’

Dance societies Salsa and Bollywood have responded by moving their GIAGO sessions online.

The President of Salsa Society explained ‘to make things more fun online, we have joined with 11 Salsa Societies from different universities

in the UK for term one. Every week will be hosted by a different university.’

Bollywood Dance Society has reduced membership fees for their online weekly teaching.

Striving to continue as normal, it stressed: ‘delivering lessons is at the crux of our constitution - we could never go without teaching!’

Some outdoor sports are less restricted by government and university guidelines. Treasurer of Sailing, Emma Eaton, said: ‘sailing is able to continue as an organised sport which is distanced by nature, so we have a season planned similar to any other year.’

There are also societies which have

Bristol Students' Union

•

got a diary of online events planned.

President of Bristol’s Eurovision Society said they have still been able to host and enjoy socials online, and have an array of online events including pub quizzes in the works.

Meanwhile, members of Bristol’s International Affairs Society will, in the coming months, be able to join online talks hosted by thinktanks, NGO’s and policy forums on international affairs.

Support networks and subject societies, as well as sports club, have adapted their plans for Welcome 2020 and the upcoming academic term.

Khadija Meghrawi, Chair of the BME Network at Bristol University, said: ‘We have tried to make sure that it is a key mixture of different types of freshers events, which is really important in Covid.

‘It becomes much harder when everything is on the same platform.

You have to make an active effort to diversify the experiences of your events.'

The Official University of Bristol SU’s Welcome Fair will return virtually on 7 October.

As 1 October marked the start of Black History Month, Bristol SU has its own programme of events which will run throughout the month.

The focus this year will be on ‘Our Past, Present and Future.'

The line up of events will kick off on 8 October with an event entitled Active Anti-Racism with award-winning writer, journalist and broadcaster Afua Hirsch.

The full programme of the SU's events for BHM can be found on www.bristolsu.org.uk

Bristol Students' Union

Welcome 2020 virtually all online

Start of Black History Month

Medical students ‘shocked’ by the lack of clinical teaching on darker skin tones

• Bristol’s medical students are eager to push for changes in their teaching • Bristol Medical School wants to take an anti-racist approach Tia Bahia BAME Affairs Correspondent

D

octors are often considered to be amongst the most well-respected and trusted individuals in today’s society; but how easy is it for ethnic minorities to have full confidence in the doctors of tomorrow, if they are not adequately equipped with the knowledge to diagnose and treat patients with Black and brown skin?

With COVID-19 disproportionately affecting people from minority backgrounds, there has been light shed on the lack of diversity in teaching within medical schools across the country.

The UK confidential enquiry into maternal deaths found that Black women are five times more likely to die during childbirth, a statistic

amongst others which suggest there are significant healthcare disparities affecting the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community (BAME).

Malone Mukwende, a medical student from St. George’s University of London, has been at the forefront of change having co-written a handbook of clinical signs and symptoms on black and brown skin, titled ‘Mind The Gap’. The resource has been shared worldwide in over 50 countries and has been added to Bristol Medical School’s official reading list.

Malone explained his motivation behind the venture, saying: ‘Growing up, I witnessed the distrust within the Black community towards medical professionals and was always confused as to why. After arriving at medical school, the reason became apparent’. He expressed his concern when realising the lack of teaching on how conditions presented on darker skin and was taken aback by the thought that he, a Black student, could not transfer his knowledge to treat members of his own family.

Malone’s goal is to make people conscious of this problem in medical teaching and ultimately save lives through improvements in the education of students when treating BAME

groups.

A representative from the University of Bristol’s BAME medical student group invited Malone to be a speaker at a virtual talk entitled ‘Race in Clinical Medicine’. Samera Bi, a Bristol medical student and member of the BME success advocates group attended the session and felt it was a ‘step in the right direction’. Speaking about the University of Bristol’s response and work towards addressing the lack of diversity Samera said: ‘This is a big issue in our medical course, without adequate training of skin conditions on darker skin tones we will subsequently be putting darker-skinned patients at risk if we are unable to diagnose them properly.’

‘It is extremely reassuring to see the work of our BME societies and students who are advocating for change in our curriculum. More could be done by the University and lecturers themselves to make sure all topics of teaching are inclusive and represent all patients.’

When asked what she would like to see from Bristol Medical School to make real change, Samera suggested ‘to include BME representation in case studies and lectures whilst referencing textbooks that have a

focus on skin conditions in different patients with side-by-side comparisons of the same condition’, as well as ‘having BME staff to express our concerns to, so that we as BME students can feel we are being understood by staff members who can relate to the problems we face.’

Bristol’s medical students are eager to push for changes in their teaching. BMEdics Bristol is one student-led group working hard to take an active role to see the necessary shift in curricula. The organisation focuses on creating events to promote Black and Minority Ethnic representation in medicine as well as providing outreach services to BME prospective medical students.

Amina Kaloko, Vice President of BMEdics, said: ‘From day one of learning about medicine you just saw that white was standard and everything else was other.’

Bristol Medical School circulated a letter to its students addressing racism in the curriculum. BMEedics sent a letter of their own in response to this, seeking clarification on how the Medical School was planning to decolonise the curriculum.

Dr Joseph Hartland, the 3D helical theme lead for Bristol Medical School, has a crucial role in trying

to implement diversity and equality in teaching for students. Dr Hartland explained the school wants to take an ‘anti-racist’ approach and have compiled a lengthy document detailing exactly how they aim to decolonise the curriculum.

Dr Hartland also acknowledged that some of the BAME students within the school would like to see more diversity in staffing, saying: ‘We have a lack of diverse representation at senior levels, something we are aware of and are looking at how we can improve.’ Dr Hartland provided insight into how diversity is being incorporated into teaching having just completed ‘a guidance document for our clinical teaching fellows to help them understand the ideas of decolonisation and anti-racism with examples of what they can do to improve their teaching.’

When asked what he would say to Bristol’s medical students who have concerns they are not being taught how to treat BAME patient’s effectively, Dr Hartland said: ‘We know it’s a problem and we will correct it.

Your voices are valid, and the feedback is important. From the highest level in the medical school, there is a desire and drive to change this.’

News 7

epigram 06.10.2020

Bristol City Council

University of Bristol historian chairs city’s first ever history commission

• The commission was brought together to explore Bristol’s past • It will work with citizens and local community groups Filiz Gurer News Editor

B

ristol’s first ever history commission, established to examine the real history of the city, was formally launched on 23 September 2020.

The We Are Bristol History Commission was created in response to the events of the summer months.

Chairing the history commission is Professor Tim Cole, Professor of Social History at the University of Bristol, and Director of the Brigstow Institute.

The Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, announced his intention to set up the commission in June, following the toppling of the Colston statue in Bristol.

The Mayor welcomed the commission to help Bristol better understand its history and how Bristol has become the city it is today.

The work of the commission will include the history of slavery as well as the full scope of events that have impacted the city.

The commission will use the building and removal of the Colston stat-

ue as a departure point and it will also consider the growth of education, the struggles of workers for pay and working conditions, as well as the Chartists and suffragettes campaigning for emancipation.

The commission will work with citizens and community groups to ensure that everyone in the city can share their views and build a fuller picture of how the city has grown and developed over the years.

Speaking on the launch of the commission, the Mayor of Bristol said: ‘Everyone experiences the results of our past differently. The commission will help us all build an improved, shared understanding of Bristol’s story by learning the origins of our beginnings and our journey, contending with events and their meanings, and making sure we share the stories with generations to come.

This work will be an important step in helping us all live with difference.’

Chair of the commission, Professor Tim Cole said: ‘This is an opportunity for us to improve the understanding of our city's past together and honestly explore our city's history, as well as our own individual histories, and the ways that they connect.

‘History is never a single, monolithic story, but rather an ongoing debate about the past and its meaning. My hope is that this commission will help everyone in the city feel able to participate in that debate.’

Speaking on the contents of the first meeting of the commission,

Professor Cole said: ‘We've decided to focus on the question “What have we remembered?" as the first of a series of questions we'll be inviting the city as a whole to explore and reflect on over the next couple of years. We want to ask what and who we've remembered in the public spaces of the city and what or who we've forgotten.’

‘It is a chance to try to understand the different waves of memorialisation that have taken place in the city over the last few centuries.

What characterised each of these moments? What, or who, was remembered, where, by who, and why?

That way we hope to be able to better understand the whole memorial landscape that has accrued, layer by layer, over the last three or more centuries in the city.

‘We then want to move on to ask and explore a whole series of questions about different aspects of the history of the city. Our hope is that once we've done that deep dive into the varied history of Bristol together, we'll be in a good place to ask and answer the question “What do we want to remember?"'

Joining Professor Cole on the commission will be other academics, as well as commissioners from other areas of public life.

A process for appointing up to 12 commissioners in total as well as terms of service and reference will be among the early decisions that commissioners will make.

UniversalCity platform launches •

The platform is the first of its kind in the UK

Filiz Gurer News Editor

B

ristol University has launched a digital platform to connect new students and staff with the diversity of the city of Bristol.

The platform has been created by the University in collaboration with CARGO – a collective of artists, poets and filmmakers.

The UniversalCity platform is the first of its kind in the UK and offers students and staff the opportunity to virtually explore the city via an interactive map.

The map showcases African and African Diaspora-owned businesses, community organisations and explores the heritage and history of key points of interest around the city.

The platform is part of the University’s civic work to critically engage with the history and diversity of the University and the city.

Professor Judith Squires, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor, said: ‘This exciting new initiative offers our students and staff new and rich opportunities to engage in, and with, our city - in all its wonderful diversity. I am thrilled that we have been able to work so productively with CARGO to open up new possibilities for socially-engaged inclusive education, and to foster deeper links with diverse communities across the city.'

One million pound scholarship programme launched to support Black-heritage students

News Editor

T

he University of Bristol has announced plans for a new programme of scholarships which will support around 130 Black and mixed-Black heritage students over the next four years, totalling more than £1million.

The Bristol Black Scholarship Programme will seek to address the lack of representation of the Black heritage community at every level of study in higher education across the

UK, from undergraduate students to those completing PhDs. It will annually fund Black and mixed-Black heritage students across five areas.

One set of scholarships the programme will fund will be 20 Black Futures Scholarships to provide undergraduate students with both a bursary and targeted support from the Careers Service, alongside funding to support employability opportunities.

Bristol University has made progress in recent years, with an increase of 44 per cent in BAME student enrolment. The newly launched scholarship scheme will reinforce the University’s commitment to continue its increase in the proportion of Black heritage students at Bristol.

Speaking on the scholarship programme Professor Judith Squires,

Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor, said: ‘I am thrilled to be launching this new Bristol Black Scholarships Programme. We are determined to create a diverse and inclusive university community and recognise that positive support is needed to address the historical under representation of Black and Black-heritage students in particular.

‘Thanks to the support of our alumni and friends, I am confident that together with our other initiatives to support our Black-heritage students and to decolonise the curriculum, this will help to make our University a truly inclusive environment for everyone.’

Hillary Gyebi-Ababio (BSc 2019 University of Bristol), Vice President (Higher Education), National Union of Students said: ‘Financial concerns are one of the primary barri-

ers to Black people progressing into Higher Education. The Black Bristol Scholarship Programme empowers students to continue their education and gives them the freedom to access resources and support they might not otherwise have.

‘The Black Bristol Scholarship

goes a long way to showing the University of Bristol’s commitment to doing better by Black students. The moment you empower and enable students, you give them the agency and the ability to push for better, to bring change, to feel included and to feel valued in their communities.’

Epigram / Ellie Brown University of Bristol

• The programme is the latest in a series of initiatives by the University to overcome the barriers to education Filiz Gurer

8 News

epigram 06.10.2020

News in Brief Emergency strategy launched to combat wildlife decline in Bristol

E

nvironmental organisations from across Bristol have come together to launch a 10-year plan to combat ecological loss within and around the city.

Wildlife populations have collapsed within the city over the past two decades. Since the 1990s, songbirds like swifts and starlings have seen their populations decline by 96%.

Created in partnership with Bristol City Council, the University of the West of England, and the Avon Wildlife Trust, alongside others, this ‘One City Ecological Emergency Strategy’ aims to tackle habitat loss, pesticide overuse, water pollution and overconsumption in the local area.

As the first ecological strategy for

Billy Stockwell

the city, this announcement follows many significant milestones in recent years, with Bristol becoming the ‘European Green Capital’ in 2015, and the first UK city to declare a climate emergency two years ago.

A new executive post has been created within the City Council, to ensure this strategy is carried out effectively. Labour Councillor Afzal Shah has been appointed.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: ‘This is our city’s opportunity to come together and take positive action for nature.’

‘We urge everyone in Bristol to reflect on how they can get involved so we can all feel the benefits of protecting our much-loved wildlife and natural spaces.’

Study abroad: Second wave of cancellations begins

A

new round of study abroad cancellations began this month, with 13 institutions axing programmes for semester two of the academic year.

Previously, TB1 cancellations occurred in droves, with over 50 partner universities taking the decision to withdraw from study abroad agreements. Hopes were high that students going overseas in the latter half of the academic year would be unaffected, but these hopes are now being dashed.

The cancellations have been oc-

Molly Pipe

curring throughout September, according to Edith Li Ross, Deputy Head of Global Opportunities. More are expected in the coming months, however, with many universities yet to confirm their decision.

However, some institutions will be rolling out online exchange programmes, which students will be able to access should they still wish to study with their partner university.

In Europe, Utrecht University in the Netherlands is the only confirmed cancellation so far.

Bristol University bans ‘fatphobic’ language in sport Eve Bentley-Hussey SU Affairs Correspondent

B

ristol SU is now taking further steps on the motion which passed on 18 June 2020 by Bristol SU’s Student Council, which aimed to put an end to the use of ‘fatphobic’ language by fitness instructors and sports teams at the University.

The SU’s student development team are working with Beat This Together on developing peer-to-peer training with student groups.

The motion entitled ‘Changing our language to embrace body positivity’ was proposed by student Abbie Jessop, Chair of Bristol’s Wellbeing Network 2017-18.

Epigram’s SU Correspondent spoke to Abbie Jessop to understand the motives behind the motion and what she hopes it will achieve.

‘Eating disorder statistics have

been rising nationally,’ Jessop said.

‘The University’s mental health survey showed eating disorders were a real problem. This motion promotes a healthier attitude to how we view our bodies and the way mental and physical parity can work. It challenges the concept slimness is an indicator of health and shows our bodies are not input-output machines. I want a more positive attitude around nutrition and exercise.

Students should be more in-tune with their own body and not have to meet diet culture’s expectations.

We should move and exercise freely in our own way and enjoy doing so.

‘This motion is just one step of the conversation that needs to happen around inclusivity and accessibility of sport. The organisations BEAT It Together, Bulimia Care and WorkED Out are working to start conversations around the harm of diet culture and weight stigma.’

University reveals plans to expand the Temple Quarter campus

T

Emilie Robinson

he University of Bristol has launched a public consultation on the development of sites adjacent to the current Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus.

The plans, which are influenced by the industrial heritage of the site, show a series of stepped buildings ranging from four to eight stories.

These will be presented online until 7 October, showing details of the proposed uses, scale, massing and access arrangements.

Professor Guy Orpen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for New Campus Development, said: ‘The development of these sites represents an important next step in the evolution of our Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and will act as a catalyst in the area to stimulate future development in St Philip’s.’

Virtually Upfest: Bristol’s famous street art festival goes virtual

B

Guy Taylor

ristol’s Upfest, the largest street art festival in Europe, has been held online this year, between the 25th and 27th of September, due to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Users, after entering the festival’s website, were directed to a sci-fi world of black and blue, which served as an online replacement of Bedminster North street. Covering the area from the Upfest gallery down to the Tobacco Factory, the Tron-inspired recreation allowed attendees to view over 30 pieces of artwork from a wide range of artists, all mobile phone or laptop.

Stephen Hayles, the founder of Upfest, said ‘The team at ZubrVR have done an incredible job at helping us bring this alternative to life.’

The festival will return to Bristol on the 5th - 6th of June 2021.

Bristol Nightingale Hospital ‘on standby’

B

Filiz Gurer

ristol’s Nightingale Hospital is to remain on standby whilst the country sees as a rise in coronavirus cases.

In a statement provided to Epigram, Bristol Nightingale Hospital said: ‘We remain on standby and will be ready to care with compassion when we are needed.’

‘We remain ready to ‘stand up’ if and when needed.’

The Hospital, which is set on the University of the West of England’s Frenchay campus, was originally built as a temporary hospital for the period April-July.

Bristol Nightingale Hospital was one of the seven NHS Nightingale Hospitals established in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, health chiefs suggested the hospital could be used to treat up to 250 eye patients a day in a £2million proposal.

Features Twitter: @EpigramFeatures

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

flickr / lovestruck.

Pero’s Bridge: An example of good memorialisation?

Third Year, English Literature

W

Epigram / Beth Gillard

ith the commencement of Black History month and the recent toppling of the Colston statue, the memorialisation of Bristol's uncomfortable history with the slave trade has careered to the forefront of national public discourse.

Pero’s Bridge, named after the enslaved eighteenth-century man Pero Jones, is one of the few memorials in Bristol that bears witness to Bristol’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.

The appellation of the bridge sparked controversy at its time of opening with views that the name was tokenistic rather than an acknowledgement of Bristol’s past.

In view of recent events, it remains to be seen whether creating memorials to the slave trade or knocking controversial memorials down is performative activism or whether it provides us with a method of tackling racism in Bristol and further afield.

Pero Jones was 12 years old when he was purchased from Mountravers plantation in the Caribbean by John Pinney, a merchant from Bristol who

Williams who condemned this as enslaved between 236 and 276 peo‘gesture politics’. Instead, Williams ple at various plantations that probelieved that a new statue should duced sugar and rum to be shipped be commissioned, dedicated to acto Bristol and London. He also set knowledging Bristol’s role in the up a company which produced a slave trade. He also pointed out that pro-slavery pamphlet.

Pero was not a widely known figure Pinney brought Pero to Bristol in meaning that the bridge was unlike1784 where he served as his personal ly to achieve the desired effect. servant and trained as a barber. Pero O’Connell commented that ‘the fell ill in 1798, so Pinney sent him council can call it to Ashton, just outside Bristol, Some believe Pero's Bridge what they want, believing some is tokenistic rather than a but Pero’s bridge sounds a bit politcleaner air may true acknowledgement of ical.’ Considering heal him.

Bristol’s past that a memorial Pero died at to the slave trade around 45 years had not been the original intention of age having served Pinney for 32 when designing the bridge, it is posof these - never able to live as a free sible to see why this politicisation man before he died. can be construed as insincere.

Pero’s Bridge crosses the harbour, As the only memorial to the slave standing adjacent to the Arnolfini. It trade in Bristol, apart from a plaque was designed by the abstract sculptor on the side of M Shed, pictured left, Eilis O’Connell and formerly opened Pero’s Bridge remains largely anonin 1999. The naming of the bridge ymous to the general population. was first suggested by Paul Smith, a On the harbourside there is no sign Labour cabinet member who served on the bridge referencing its significance and no indication of its purpose.

The question that remains to be asked is how can we memorialise the Transatlantic slave trade appropriately, if at all?

While memorials serve the purpose of acknowledging the harm that was caused in the past, they are a passive way of instigating change.

In a recent blog post titled as Bristol’s Chair of Leisure at ‘Statues, plaques and painful histothe time. ry,’ Williams discusses the calls for He intended the bridge to serve statues of controversial figures to as a memorial to slavery. However, be removed. He agrees that the topthis naming was criticised by Libpling of the Colston statue was an eral Democrat councillor Stephen

first step to acknowledging Bristol’s ‘appropriate action’ but comments shameful involvement in the slave that ‘in most circumstances I believe trade. the balance tips in favour of keeping However, when thinking about the the statue or place name but with future, it is iman accompanying plaque telling the There must be education portant that we refull warts and all to make these Memorials accompany membrance with story of the permeaningful listening to Afrison who is comcan-Caribbean communities in the memorated’. city, hearing their stories, how they For controversial memorials and best think we can acknowledge their memorials that commemorate past often hidden histories and celebrate atrocities alike, there needs to be their ongoing contribution to what an element of education to make makes Bristol today an exciting, forthem meaningful. Memorials such ward looking and confident city. as Pero’s Bridge provide us with a

Epigram / Beth Gillard

Can the bridge manage the balancing act of memorialising Bristol's history without trivialising it?

Beth Gillard

10 Features

epigram 06.10.2020

Epigram / Adrain Howkins

The impending collapse of the Bristol pound?

Conversations with Fergal: A Very Cold War flickr / tpholland

A

With the Bristol Pound nearing its tenth year in circulation, cashless society has caused the initiative to falter Emma Gosling

Third Year, Geography

T

he creation of the Bristol Pound occurred following the 2008 global recession, when trust in big corporations had been lost, and local businesses had been made truly aware of their financial vulnerability within the global markets. Instead of succumbing to this, they sought to create a new system of spending, Over £5m creating and cir- have been culating capital. local Today, the currency is accepted in more than 800 businesses across the city, from local cafes, restaurants to utility companies, transport providers such as First Bus, even council tax and energy payments. As the scheme became more and more accessible to the people of Bristol, it quickly became the most successful local currency in Britain.

However, in recent months the currency has come under strain.

Those who run the initiative stated

earlier this year that without significant funding the currency may fold.

The Bristol Pound has attempted to rise above the problem of cashless society, with the creation of an online banking platform and payment scheme. However, as reported by the BBC, this online scheme is currently costing £13,000 a month to maintain - a cost that many at the initiative say could mark the demise of the currency.

An appeal to the government for financial support was submitted earlier this year to sustain the online project, but organisers have stated that whatever the outcome of the appeal, printed money would still be in circuBristol Pounds lation. Potential spent in the future profits from the online economy banking system are projected to fund Bristol City Funds, an organisation seeking to reduce social, environmental and economic inequalities within the city.

The future of this scheme is, as of this moment, uncertain, marred even further by the impact of the Coronavirus as transactions are increasingly cashless. However, the desire to support local people and businesses is as palpable in Bristol as ever.

flickr / alister

‘Environmental problems, pothe production of useful scienlitical upheavals, economic tific knowledge about the AntFeatures Columnist ventures. I want to understand arctic environment to help legithow things came to be the way imise their control. ntarctic traveller, world that they are.’ Howkins menWith today’s increasing threat expert in Polar histotions how his work in Antarctiof climate change, the imporry, member of the Iona ca has significant contemporary tance of Antarctica as a sciencommunity in Scotland, epicurelevance; of tific hub is rean explorer and, of course, the undenialecturer of History here at Bristol These countries were using e v e r - g r o w bly important ing, and the University, Dr Adrian Howkins geo-politics of the climate as part of their way in which was on the top of my list of peopolitical argument the environcountries enple to interview. I wanted to find ment. gage in scienout about the man behind these The slightly weathered, hugetific research in Antarctica can endeavours, behind the supposly warm man sat opposite me tell us a great deal about the edly unequivocal yet evidently had just returned from a four geo-political scene, especially ambiguous title of ‘Lecturer of week research trip in Antarctisurrounding climate change.

History’. ca. His eighth trip out there to ‘In Antarctica, science is very ‘Why do you love history, Dr date. ‘My interest in Antarctica explicitly political,’ states Dr Howkins?’ I ask. started when I was in Texas and Howkins. Does the science dicHe chuckles - partly at the began solely tate the politics, or does the pollack of pleasIn Antarctica, science is as an interitics drives the science instead? antry, partly very explicitly political est in politSome predictions suggest at the thought ical history; Antarctica could hold more oil of his raison the various claims of ownership than Kuwait or Abu Dhabi. Antd’être. For him, History is about between Britain, Argentina and arctica’s waters also offer huge understanding the world we inChile. These countries were useconomic potential through habit. ‘I’m fascinated by Histoing the climate as part of their fishing. Despite this, the entirery’s connection to the present.’ political argument.’ ty of Antarctica is set aside as a I was eager to begin with Dr Howkins’ book, ‘An Enviscientific preserve, enshrined by some of the bigger questions in ronmental History of the Antthe 1961 Antarctic Treaty. Yet it an attempt to put his work into arctica Peninsula’, explores the is difficult to predict what will some sort of context; way in which countries happen in 2048, when the proto appreciate and imperial powtocol banning Antarctic proswhy he does ers have passivepecting – the process of explorwhat he does. ly fought – and ing a region’s mineral deposits ‘Everything continue to fight - comes up for renewal. Could that happens - over Antarctica we be a desperate, energy-dein the world in a sort of pseudo prived world willing to make a today has a Cold War. Indeed, different decision? back-stoHowkins outlines Two things stuck with me ry to it,’ how Imperial after my interview with Dr he says. powers, especially Howkins. The first was how all Britain, used the interests in his life seem to explorabe wonderfully woven together, t i o n like a beautiful tapestry, not just and existing alongside each other, but subtly complementing their presence. All pervasive and full of essence. The second thing that stuck with me was that perhaps we should aim to get to know our lecturers just a little bit more than just as our lecturers. After all, they’re human too, right?

Fergal Maguire

Features 11

epigram 06.10.2020

A look at how Covid-19 and new guidelines have changed University as we know it Emma Love

Third Year, Politics and Sociology

A

utumn term is fast approaching, with the city of Bristol soon to be flooded with thousands of new students from across the country. The University has released information detailing how the wider student experience will work this year. With several pages of guidelines and safety measures, the picture of university life during the pandemic might seem

like a step into the unknown – so other as a student community.’ let’s attempt to knit together what On arrival, freshers have been adlife might look like at Bristol. vised to isolate for 14 days to ensure Whilst returning undergraduates Covid-19 is transmitted into the city and postgraduates will be able to as little as possible. The Zoom meetmove back into ing might become private student First Bus have introduced the new kitchen housing, freshers get-together. a new timetable to will be moving into Along with exaccomodate social university-hosted tended cleaning distancing halls of residence. services within First-years will be halls, first-years placed in a ‘living circle’ with their will use a one-way system to get in flat, several flats, or in some cases, and out of housing blocks, and ena whole floor of halls. Living circles trances and exits will be accompaare encouraged to connect with each nied by newly installed ‘sanitisation other before arrival, using social stations’. All university buildings media and online activities to get to will be similarly kitted-out, with know each other. According to the students expected to navigate camUniversity, the circle will ‘socialise, pus buildings, following a one-way study together, and support each route ‘where possible’.

The University has declared all es will be trialling an online booking spaces ‘Covid secure’, so that ‘in line system to allow students two to three with social distancing you can still hour study periods, with a limit of enjoy the experiences of campus life’. four hours per week. Subject librar‘Covid secure’ buildings must satisfy ies will remain open for the purpose a set of criteria, after which the Uniof taking out and returning books, versity’s Chief Property Officer will but all-day sessions in the Arts and issue a Covid-19 Social Sciences Freshers have been Secure Certificate.

Library will be a During very advised to isolate for 14 thing of the past. days on arrival limited on-camThose commutpus hours for most ing by bus can courses, the University has made it also expect a new, socially distanced, mandatory for students to wear face experience, with Firstbus introducmasks and visors, which it will be ing a new timetable to accommodate providing for both staff and stusocial distancing requirements, and dents. The use of face coverings has running all buses on around half cabeen emphasized by the University pacity. as a sign of ‘respect, kindness and As cases rise, we may be seeing sensitivity’ towards others, to be more changes to these policies but used not only for the protection of so far, the picture of university life the wearer, but for others. at Bristol in the coming year seems All-day library marathons will to be a very different one compared look different too. Some study spacto previous years.

Unsplash / Erik Mclean

Epigram / Imogen Horton

What will this term's University experience look like?

When animal rights activists bombed Senate House in a push-chair nearby suffered flash on suspicion of being connected to burns, shrapnel wounds to the back the incident, stating those charged and a partially severed finger. were ‘known sympathizers of animal These events occurred in a climate rights groups.' of rising animal rights activism that The threatening nature of the began in the 70s, but became more bombing led Kenneth Barker, Educamilitant with the founding of the tion Minister at the time to declare it Second Year, English Animal Liberation Federation (ALF) 'an act of terrorism' as he visited the in 1976 by Ronscene, continuing The Senate House bomb 'I deplore this in a ristol is a hub of environmennie Lee and Cliff tal and social activism, with Goodman. damaged only property university which high profile events like the The organisaenshrines free toppling of the Colston statue during tion encouraged direct action like speech and measured judgement.'

Black Lives Matter protests cementtrespass, arson, and theft in order to In the case of the attack on Heading this reputation globally. ‘liberate’ the animals it deemed imley, perpetrators were never caught.

But few know that the University prisoned in farms and laboratories.

The period of 1989/1990 was the was targeted repeatedly by animal Following the attack on Senate first and last time the AFL used plasrights activists in the late 80s.

House, the ALF and previously untic explosives. The violent methods In February 1989 the bar in Senknown Animal Abused Society both used to escalate their campaign enate house was claimed responsured the AFL was vilified by the bombed. No one sibility for the government and widely considered 1989 was the first time was hurt and attack in phone an extremist movement. the AFL used plastic only property was calls to news The promotion of a ‘strong and explosives damaged. In June agencies stating profitable pharmaceutical industry’ 1990, an explothe University became an explicit objective of the sive device was placed under the car was targeted because it was engaged government in 1969, so discrediting of Professor Max Headley, an animal in the maltreatment of research labthe AFL also helped in the pursuit of physiologist working at the Univeroratory animals. this objective. Britain’s strong record sity. Although Professor Headley A day after the bombing, police of biomedical research at a universiwas not hurt, a 13-month old baby arrested eight animal rights activists ty level remains to this day.

The late 1980s saw Bristol University erupt into an animal rights battleground Gemma Blundell-Doyle

Epigram / Imogen Horton

B

12 Features

epigram 06.10.2020

Epigram / Rufus Atkins

Talking Bristol, activism, and Black Lives Matter with Olivette Otele

Deputy Editor-in-Chief

O

livette intimately shares the whirlwind of activity and emotions that filled her lockdown period. From the weight of being expected to ‘solve racism and be the face of diversity’ to the enjoyment she’s found through gardening.

Olivette is the kind of person who makes you feel exceptionally unproductive. Sitting in front of a particularly well-stocked bookshelf in her home in Newport, Wales she charismatically launches into an explanation of everything she has been doing

University of Bristol

since the beginning of lockdown in used to no start and no finish times.

March - from being appointed chair I became pregnant when I was doing for Bristol’s Race Equality Commis- my PhD, so I had to learn how to work sion, to leading discussions for the faster and in different ways. I had to Modern Slavery Advisory and Legacy find ways. It has a lot to do with my Steering group, to finishing her book background, what is expected from ‘African Americans: An untold histo- people like me’, she paused. ‘Actually, what is not expected of people like ry’ due to be released this month.

Catching her breath, the mum of me. I sleep less, not because I want to sleep less but two tells me: ‘It’s a lot and I am ex- Topsy-turvy working hours over the years I’ve hausted, but there and conditions don’t seem slept less because I haven’t time to aren’t many Black to have slowed her down do everything!’ people in these Olivette, who places. So, it’s important to be there and encourage in 2018 became the first Black female people to understand that individuals history professor in the UK, is widely from all different backgrounds need admired for her expertise in Europeto be integrated into these boards and an colonial and post-colonial history committees. There are some, where and infectious joie de vivre. She has they don’t even have any women! So, studied Bristol’s associations with the transatlantic slave trade for 20 years. for me, that is just not on.’

So when the world watched EdI remarked how the topsy-turvy working hours and conditions don’t ward Colston's statue topple onto seem to have slowed her down. ‘I am Bristol’s pavements, their attention turned to Olivette for the answer of what should happen to the 17th century slave trader and his plinth. Her response?

‘A public deliberative assembly. It has to be Bristol’s answer to its own question.’ But when asked what she wants to happen, she is less sure.

‘It has been evolving in my head.

Right now, I like the plinth empty because this is where the city is right now. It’s debating with itself; it’s fighting against each other. Do I necessarily even want to see a statue? I am not even sure.’

Olivette was recently named by Prospect Magazine as one of the Flickr / Sam Saunders

Bristol's professor on the history of slavery speaks to Epigram about the pressures and future of student activism Georgiana Scott

world’s top 50 thinkers, appearing on to her 20,000 followers, using it as the list next to David Attenborough, her ‘ranting page’ - though she holds New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda her tongue when it comes to talking about the University of Bristol.

Arden.

‘For the University, I believe I can However, she says the sudden instill change a few crease in meOlivette was recently named things. It’s about dia attention generous brought with it by Prospect Magazine as being an ‘overwhelm- one of the world’s top 50 to people without bashing them to ing pressure to thinkers start with.’ be the face of diAs the interview was coming to a versity and to solve racism.’ It seemed a world waking up to racial inequal- close, I asked what Bristol students ity and reckoning with the impact of can do to ensure the momentum of historical figures like Colston, were BLM is carried forward as they return also relying on figures such as Ol- to campus.

‘Mobilise! Mobilise as the Universiivette for direction.

‘This has been difficult because the ty of Bristol students! Don’t just look story of George Floyd has crushed so at what is happening outside but look many Black people including me. It at what is happening inside. What was really hard not to cry, not to be are you going to do as a collective upset and then being asked to go and about it? Universities are not faceless, they respond solve that – it’s just like, what do Mobilise as Bristol students! to the pressure of you want me to Don’t just look at what is students.’ do?! Many peohappening outside but look ‘I believe that wherever we are in ple have been at what's happening inside life we can make killed over the a change. It’s not years and suddenly you want me to publicly go easy because it takes time, energy and say how people should… it was and dedication.'

‘With students, how do you suptoo overwhelming.’

From what I had seen on social port them? How do you engage with media, many university students people who have very different backshared in her emotional exhaustion. grounds and who are often a minorFrom being asked to share their deep- ity and feel isolated? It’s a case of ly personal and painful experiences reaching out. They might say no, but of racism to being bombarded by you do your bit, and then that’s all you can do.’ messages from their friends asking, ‘What should I do to help?’.

What is Olivette’s advice for handling this kind of stress?

‘Don’t take on what will crush you and what will crush your soul. What are your priorities? Not the world priorities, but your priorities.

Some people have only just realised what racism means, and that’s overwhelming for a black person like me who has lived with it all their life. And your first reaction is anger?’

She tells me how she takes her advice when it comes to Twitter. For a while Olivette does not shy away from broadcasting her thoughts

CMYK

Get creative with our MONO REVERS ‘build a burger’ menu S 4 BUN

CMYK

12 BURG ER PATT IE S

GLUTEN-F OPTIONS REE

IAN R A T E VEG E NU M N A & VEG

29 TOPPINGS 4 SAUCES 2 SPOT PANTONE MONO 202 CMYK REVERSED MONO

12 S

ID ES

for more offers join our burger club online

theburgerjoint.co.uk October Offer

October Offer

20% off your total bill including drinks Valid Sunday – Thursday in October 2020

20% off your total bill including drinks Valid Sunday – Thursday in October 2020

MAXIMUM 4 PEOPLE PER VOUCHER, EACH CUSTOMER MUST PRESENT A VALID STUDENT CARD, NOT VALID IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER

MAXIMUM 4 PEOPLE PER VOUCHER, EACH CUSTOMER MUST PRESENT A VALID STUDENT CARD, NOT VALID IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER

20% off 20% off 83 whiteladies rd bristol bs8 2nt  burgerjointbristol

240 north street bristol bs3 1jd  burgerjointhq

 burgerjointbristol

REVERSED

Opinion

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

Twitter: @EpigramOpinion

Breaking COVID-19 guidelines should lead to disciplinary action itor their behaviour. This greater scrutiny will aid the University to suppress any rule breaking, increasing the likelihood of first years being disciplined.

Therefore, it seems only fair that the University should provide first Deputy Opinion Editor year students with an experience he Vice-Chancellor is right that prevents them from wanting to argue that University stuto break any new Covid -19 related dents who seriously break rules.

Covid guidelines should face swift An essential part of this would be disciplinary action. for the University to provide fundThis statement, along with recent ing and support for JCRs. Currently, government guidance and the impleJCRs are funded by a one-time fifmentation of the ‘rule of six’, means ty-pound payment that is taken from that rule-breaking University stuthe initial rent of the new students. dents will have a hard time avoiding A boost in funds from the Univerdisciplinary action. sity would enable JCRs to expand on These policies are both undertheir increasingly important role of standable and necessary. As students, entertaining first years beyond the we have no right to be exempt from initial Welcome Week, whilst also rules that are there to keep the wider encouraging students to adhere to community safe. social distancing If anything, we As students, we have no in their bubbles. should be moniright to be exempt from Additionally, tored even more rules the SU should closely due to the perhaps organise potential risk we pose of spreading more socially distanced spaces and the virus around the country. activities where students can come Clearly, the threat of disciplinary together to enjoy their University action by Universities for those who experience. break Covid-19 related rules is needThese spaces would reduce disruped if we ever hope to prevent Unition to student life whilst incentivisversities from becoming the ‘care ing students to adhere to University homes of the second wave’, as a regulations and the Government’s spokesperson for the Academics Unnew ‘rule of six’. ion, UCU put it.

Along with the social aspect of a If university campuses became the socially distanced University experinew epicentres of infections, everyence, the wellbeing of students reone would suffer. Students would mains an integral responsibility of be forced to isolate, further eroding the University. our university experience. UniversiThe National Union of Students ty staff and their loved ones’ health has warned that many returning would be put at risk. And the local students face ‘anxiety, isolation and businesses, who heavily rely on the loneliness’ because of the new reUniversity for survival, could cease strictions. to exist.

If the University is going to imDisciplining students appears to plement any form of discipline for be the only way the University can students, it is only fair that it also

Why disciplining COVID-19 rulebreakers is both right and necessary Edward Crowson

T

Students don't appreciate diversity of opinion Why students should be listened to by their university peers Tom Rattner Second Year, Law

B

efore even sitting to write this opinion piece, I felt hesitant. This is not because I believe anything I’ll attempt to profess in this article will be in any way controversial. My reticence stems from the fact that any comment around almost any subject in recent months has become a toxic battleground in which our most animalistic selves come to the fore.

In some respect, my caution is positive as objective truth is inexistent. What I mean by this, is that regardless of the amount of evidence you believe resides beneath your premise, it is almost certain to convince no one.

We should approach all areas of discussion with a desire to understand, assimilate, and perhaps even believe. Actually assuming another position, contrary to one’s own, provides an established basis for progress.

Throughout history, respected giants of politics and philosophy have

laid bare the building blocks of a There are of course those that inutopian society in which diversitend to stir the pot, to cause distress ty of opinion places central. Thus, for distress’ sake. But should we not the question as to whether students hear out those people who have a should appreciate diversity of opingenuine story to tell, regardless of ion has been answered with retheir education, of their gender, of sounding confidence: ‘yes’. their colour?

So then why does our society feel This can be exhausting and in its so far removed from their vision? most extreme form almost insufferAnyone with any degree of emotionable, but the risk that any alternaal maturity will know that honest, tive presents is far worse. Simply delicate conversations are to be reimagine, and the possibility is alserved for face-to-face encounters. ways present, that you become the With this in specific regard, testing cancelled. Sure of your opinion, but our appreciation for diversity of unable to share. That is a punishopinion could not ment no person come at a more We have forged a deserves. inappropriate society of intolerance We have forged time. a society of intolOur society is on the verge of erance. As is always the case with breaking up, and we are resigned to humanity, we have reverted to what text. Our society is almost entirely we find easiest: to that ancestral reliant on virtual communication. tribalism, the urge for merciless deWe resort to dehumanisation, tarstruction of that which we find ungeting any weakness, be it grammar satisfactory. or appearance. We trawl through This is discrimination of the years and years of content to find harshest most clinical form. We seek anything that provides even the difference before similarity, and slightest dent in the validity of our how we might divide before how we opponent's argument. might unite. Perhaps, when all this Even among the student body, blows over, togetherness may once supposedly a bastion of diversity, again prevail and I might sit down this pervasive ‘cancel culture’ reto write an opinion piece safe in the sides. We move to remove, to eradiknowledge that the battle is at an cate and ultimately to silence. end, with humans the victors.

Alice Proctor

The wellbeing of students remains an integral responsibility of the University uphold its role as a responsible institution in the midst of a pandemic.

Despite this, the University should also be practical. It is now widely accepted that student life will have to change, with the incoming first years perhaps being the most affected.

Measures taken to protect first years, such as ‘social bubbles’, will allow the University to closely mon-

ensures that its wellbeing services are adequate for what I’m sure will be a very stressful year for both returning and new students.

After all, it is not realistic to think students will isolate themselves away from their peers if the University isn’t going to ensure that their isolation is enjoyable and well-supported.

EpiCartoon: The bare neccessities

Opinion 15

epigram 06.10.2020

Online teaching: not as bad as we thought

lice Proctor / A

The New Bristolian: On students and housing conditions

Caitlin Palmer O'Shaughnessy

First Year, Social Policy and Sociology

Lowri Lewis

Opinion Columnist

Epigram / Siavash Minoukadeh

I

n the space of the past six months the world has drastically changed. Social distancing is now part of our everyday vocabulary and the go-to phrase for leaving the house has evolved from ‘have you got your keys?’ to ‘have you got your mask?’.

Coronavirus has changed how we live, and universities have had to adapt how they teach accordingly.

Most have turned to the method of online teaching. Bristol has decided to take a ‘blended learning’ approach, meaning all lectures will be online for the whole year, whilst seminars and tutorials will be taught in person wherever possible.

Like many, I am left wondering how this will work. Online learning presents a plethora of challenges.

Will we really be able to learn effectively? Are we getting our money’s worth? And how on earth are practical courses such as Medicine, Theatre and the Sciences supposed to function?

Not to mention the loss of the social aspect of in-person teaching. At least those of us in second year and above will have had the chance to get to know others on our course and form friendships, but for incoming freshers this will be virtually – pardon the pun – impossible.

Obviously, given the circumstances, teaching must be online. It would be unfair and unsafe to teach in person. Having said that, online teaching is a whole new ball game.

It is vital that online teaching is administered in a way that involves regular student engagement in order to ensure students feel like they are getting the most out of this year.

Online University is on the rise, and contrary to popular belief, can be highly effective. Minerva Schools at KGI is a University programme based in San Francisco. What distinguishes Minerva from other universities is that it is taught solely online. Despite sounding somewhat suspicious, some believe Minerva to be on par with Oxbridge.

Not enough students have graduated from Minerva to be able to judge its success, but as a University about to embark on a year of mostly online teaching Bristol could definitely learn a thing or two.

For some courses however, no

m ra

The successes of online teaching outweigh the cons

Ep ig

matter what modifications are made, online learning is nearly impossible.

Theatre and Music rely on practical workshops to form a major part of their teaching and assessment and Science students carry out experiments in University-owned labs, full of equipment that could never be replicated at home.

Attempting to carry out these courses online would be a disservice to students. Students taking these courses must be prioritised if

en that online teaching en masse is unprecedented, so we do not know whether it will be as effective as in-person teaching, students should have their fees reduced.

We must also not forget the benefits of in-person teaching for our mental health. The little bursts of serotonin we get from bumping into friends in a lecture are important, and will be sorely missed as we lose the social aspect of our degrees. It would be foolish for the University

Online learning presents a plethora of challenges. Will we really be able to learn effectively? and when in-person teaching is allowed to be carried out. Whilst this may seem unfair, given the current pandemic, those who can be taught online should be taught online.

This is where I believe students have grounds to demand financial compensation. With most of next year’s teaching being carried out online the University could potentially not cost as much to run.

Additionally, the services we are paying for have undeniably changed. When we agreed to pay our tuition fees, online teaching didn’t even seem like a possibility. Whilst it’s true that if a student didn’t want to learn online they could have suspended their studies, for many this would not have worked.

By the time the true impact of coronavirus became known, most students had already signed housing contracts, meaning that even if they were to suspend their studies for a year they would still have to pay rent on a property in Bristol. Giv-

to ignore the effect that online teaching will have on our mental health, and for the year to be a success the University should invest further into student mental health services.

Ultimately, our desire for in-person teaching does not outweigh the need to protect those who are vulnerable and manage the spread of coronavirus. Nothing has actually changed since University first went online in mid-March earlier this year.

There is no vaccine and infection rates are on the rise again. It is very possible that we will go into another lockdown, or will face a second spike of the virus as winter approaches.

So, Bristol must do what is sensible and teach online.

Online teaching must be carried out in a way that ensures students are engaged and wellbeing needs are being met. The idea of online learning sounds off-putting, but we must be open-minded. Who knows, we may actually end up loving it…

O

ver the past month or so, second year students all over Bristol have been moving into the accommodation we arranged as freshers. For many, this has been accompanied by a realisation that letting agencies and landlords have a tendency to let us down. However, there’s few who are willing to admit that we are at least somewhat to blame for this.

Of course, students rent houses with serious damp problems, collapsing ceilings, and other issues which potentially endanger our health because of the rush during house-hunting season more than anything else. It’s not our fault that we’re pressured into blindly accepting a contract, for fear of not having a house at all. Not all housemates will have had the chance to even see the property before they sign the contract to live there - it’s usually the case that you’re only given one viewing, which not all may have the chance to go to.

But when it comes to actually living in the property we’ve blindly agreed to renting, landlords and agencies can break all sorts of rules, laws even, without us even knowing that they have. Whether they do take advantage of our lack of knowledge or not largely depends on the letting agency you end up with. But we shouldn’t put ourselves in a position where we are able to be taken advantage of in this way.

Year after year, students move into houses without knowing the first thing about their rights as renters. Just because schools aren’t yet aware that the rights you’re granted in a tenancy agreement are almost as important to learn as English or Maths, that doesn’t mean that we are absolved of the responsibility to teach ourselves these rights.

The information is not hard to find - Bristol University has provided free factsheets online.

Admittedly, there are far more interesting things that you can be doing on your return to campus rather than reading about your

right to an electrical safety report.

But I feel like it’s worth it, when thousands of pounds and your safety are at stake.

It’s unfortunate that such important information is so incredibly dry, but that’s not the only reason that students neglect to learn it. Most of the time, there’s only one or two people in a group of student renters who are left with the responsibility of organising the entire thing.

They set up the viewing of the house in first year, arranged the payment of council tax and utility bills when we moved in, and did basically anything else which required some level of responsibility. These people are essentially treated as the parents of the group, and we assume they have all the knowledge of people twice our age too.

But they don’t - they also went to schools which didn’t teach them their rights as tenants. And they’re too busy finding out what we need to do, to find out what the letting agency should be doing for us. It’s natural to assume that the agency will be fulfilling their obligations, because they’re the ones that know what it is they should be doing in the first place.

It’s this assumption, though, which results in the students of Bristol being subject to malpractice.

Agencies take months to do repairs that should’ve been made before we moved in, because they know we’ve never been taught that we have a ‘right to live in a property that’s safe and in a good state of repair’.

We might know a couple of things that we need to do when we move in, like to check the house has smoke alarms, or to take pictures of damage that was there before we arrived. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg of what we need to know about.

Landlords and letting agencies will feel less and less able to take advantage of us if increasing numbers of students educate ourselves fully on our rights as renters.

As we return to Bristol, we need to do this if we’re ever going to convince the city’s renters that they cannot cheat us out of what we are legally entitled to.

16 Opinion

epigram 06.10.2020

Debate: Extinction Rebellion summer 2020

XR’s return is out of line and pointless Connor Scully

Second Year, Politics and International Relations

E

xtinction Rebellion (XR) have returned with their notoriously bizarre and disruptive forms of protest across the UK. However, this time, the group has seriously crossed the line by holding their demonstrations in the middle of a global pandemic.

In Bristol, the demonstrations began towards the end of August. Two activists laid down together on the Suspension Bridge ahead of its closure for the planned protest on the following day.

In a Facebook Live stream, the Mayor of Bristol responded to a concern from a Bristolian regarding the risk of saying that ‘people have the right to protest’. This statement is true and people do in fact have the right to protest. That being said, it must also be stressed that just because you can do something, does not mean that you should.

Not to mention, some of the actions by XR have not been protests, but attacks on our democracy. During the first weekend of September, XR blocked printing sites from distributing newspapers such as The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and more.

The result of this attack was an incredible amount of outrage from those on both ends of the political spectrum. The Prime Minister was quick to call the attack on the free press ‘completely unacceptable’, to which Labour leader Keir Starmer joined in condemning the group the following day.

There is simply no logic behind any of this. Not only did the group commit a criminal act, but the outcome of the entire thing was a failure. XR made more foes than ever before that day, as it is quite a rare occurrence that Johnson and Starmer can fully agree on something.

Amongst other areas that XR should try to reflect upon however, are the lives of the people they are affecting - especially now. Although most of these self-proclaimed 'rebels are clearly in the luxurious position of having the time to protest, others

have work to get to. In a time when many workers are returning to their jobs - some for the first time since lockdown began - protests like these are a slap in the face.

Now, however, social activity is much higher. Cabot Circus is no longer a deserted wasteland of shops. The streets of Clifton Village are bustling again. The Triangle and Park Street have been revived - the atmosphere of not only Bristol, but also the entire country is radically different. Because of this, XR’s demonstrations were putting not just themselves at risk, but also everyone else around them.

In addition to the risks of the protests, we must also look at what XR is impatiently protesting for. The main agenda seems to be popularising their “Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill” (CEE Bill). One of the measures at the core of the Bill is the establishment of a Citizens’ Assembly (something XR has been pushing for a while now).

This Assembly would be an independent, unelected body that works to “recommend” measures for the government to implement in their climate action plan. With an 80 per cent majority, the body can pass any measures they want so long as they do not require disbursement of public funds or charges upon the people—with or without the support of Parliament.

Protesting during a pandemic is inappropriate in itself but doing so for something that is so u t t e r l y unrealistic and un-

achievable is frankly insulting. XR and their supporters ought to be ashamed of themselves for putting this country at a greater risk for their illogical agenda. They claim that there is no time to waste, yet it seems to me that the only time wasted is time dealing with XR.

XR have been doing what is necessary to tackle climate change despite the pandemic Isobel Turner

Second Year, Liberal Arts

S

ince its creation, Extinction Rebellion (XR) have used extreme methods of protest and have often been viewed as counterproductive leading to a loss of public support.

However, due to the current climate crisis and the lack of legislation addressing it, these measures are necessary until significant changes are achieved.

During lockdown and the eased measures that followed, XR have been met with even more controversy due to their commitment to solving the climate crisis whilst the Government is otherwise engaged with the pandemic.

As a movement that claims to be non-violent, it is often argued that blocking roads and disrupting the public negates their efforts to protest peacefully. Over lockdown, XR released a scheme called ‘No Going Back.’ This included a video suggesting that going back to ‘normal’ will condemn us to a point of no return in terms of ecological decline.

During the Covid-19 crisis, should XR be finding different ways to demonstrate rather than returning to their pre-lockdown means of protest?

It is understandable that XR using similar protest methods would paint them in a hypocritical light. But what other options do they have?

Lobbying the Government to change is arguably a near impossible task, especially when other legal alternatives - such as creating petitions and protesting in Parliament Square - have failed.

Taking direct action seems to be the only way to gain attention from the media and the Government so, perhaps it is

our political system that should be in question, rather than the methods XR are using to be heard.

XR protests often lead to conflict between the organisation and the police force. The relentless lobbying puts a strain on our emergency services who are simultaneously attempting to cope with a pandemic.

Two students were arrested for blocking the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol at the end of August. The youthful sense of the movement is highlighted by the fact that young people don’t seem to realise the life-long consequences of a

criminal record as they deliberately try to get arrested to receive public attention. However, the attention they gain is critical to highlight the importace of the climate emergency, so perhaps it is a price worth paying...

The lack of coverage of the climate crisis in the mainstream media could suggest that XR would not be taking direct action if there were alternative, successful methods by which they could express their concerns.

The news is heavily centred on the pandemic and, whilst it is undeniable that this needs to be covered, the climate emergency is a continual problem that only seems to be on the mainstream news when an event has called attention to it.

In response to this, XR last month physically stopped the press from printing to gain widespread media attention.

This act was more of a statement against the media refusing to report

on the climate crisis than an act of censorship. Moreover, it is not a repeated tactic from XR, yet it showed that direct action is crucial until our government agree to take the climate crisis seriously.

This underlines how extreme direct action is necessary for change in our current society.

However, their protests in 2019 led to the UK Parliament declaring a climate change emergency which was a breakthrough for the movement.

This shows the impact that XR’s actions can have. Whilst acknowledging the success of that particular instance, it is also essential to recognise that it was only a small step in the process to cutting our emisions enough to reverse the ecological decline of the country. This, in turn, justifies XR in continuing to use direct action.

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE), would force the UK to enact a serious plan but, as of yet it has received little support from MPs. This blatant lack of political support illustrates why XR have no choice but to continue direct action, even in the face of a global pandemic. They are being considerate of the current situation but are still campaigning for what they believe is the biggest issue we have to face.

Taking direct action is the most successful way for their concerns to be noticed and has proved successful in the past: the relentless way that they protest makes it imposible to ignore them.

Opinion 17

epigram 06.10.2020

COVID-19 has exacerbated social divisions Coronavirus has left us worse off than before Kavya Sharma Third Year, Philosophy and Theology

A

s we enter a period of renewed restrictions associated with Covid-19, it seems only logical to look at the effects of the pandemic to date while reviewing how people have interpreted it. Some have viewed it as a levelling force, but that is not the case.

A rose is a metaphor for life. In Dante’s Divine Comedy it represents God’s love, evolving to be synonymous to sanctity: the passion of Christ and the blood of martyrs.

The romantic rose as we know it is blood red, perfumed, and beautiful.

So beautiful it is separated from its thorns; petal by petal scattered into water, exuding the passion of Aphrodite. But who gets into the water with the roses? Not a God, not an Aphrodite, but Madonna - and not in the Biblical sense.

In a video posted to Instagram at the start of the pandemic, Madonna

argued that despite fame and fortune, anyone can catch Covid-19. She monotonously concluded that Covid-19 could therefore be viewed as the 'great equaliser'.

While valid in the first instance, the claim that Covid-19 is an equaliser is little but a distorted myth. This is due to the obviously lower quality of life that the average person has when compared to that of celebrities who have the means to more than adequate health care, and experience lockdown in the luxury of mansions rather than the sometimes cramped conditions that normal people may be subject to.

This is likely to have been the case in Bristol. The Mayor, Marvin Reeves, has spoken of health inequalities in the city, where some live in the most deprived areas in the UK. The symbols of the rose, the calmness of the water, the light of hope in the candles were disjointedly juxtaposed with the claim that “what’s terrible about [Covid-19] is what’s great about it”.

This may be a very difficult statement to let slide for those who do not know what they will do when furlough is lifted and jobs are lost.

Similarly, hearing that Covid-19 is ‘great’ may be particularly hard to stomach for those who are aware of just how disproportionately affected the BAME community has been, and that is before impoverished areas are even mentioned, with twice the death toll of their richer counterparts.

In a report by David Gordon, the director of the Bristol Poverty Institute, he stated that people in poor areas are more likely to be infected by Covid-19.They are firstly more likely to have key worker jobs (which are much lower paid) and therefore come into contact with infected people more than those in richer areas who have been able to work from home.

They are also less likely to have fast internet and afford online food deliveries. But most poignantly perhaps, the population density in poorer areas is much higher than richer areas so the risk of coming into contact with people in their daily lives is much higher too.

Madonna, ladened with necklaces and bracelets counters this stark reality, highlighting difference, inequality and delusion, not to mention the dark truths beneath this simple statement. She is the epitome of the gap

that has not been bridged.

In the video, Madonna was correct in that both rich and poor have caught and been by affected Covid-19. But she was not right in terms of Covid-associated deaths. In the same report, Gordon argued a higher risk of death from Covid-19 due to underlying health conditions: hypertension, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and more. Those in deprived areas are more likely to suffer from these and more due to living in cities and towns where there is greater pollution, but also a greater quantity of stress and risk of infections in childhood.

A rose is a metaphor for life. Light for hope. Raphael’s Renaissance painting Madonna of the Rose depicts the Virgin Mary cradling Jesus: a mother cradling a child, nurturing and protecting. Perhaps it should be the role of the rich to protect the poor, to take social responsibility not only to educate themselves but actively aid more deprived areas globally.

Rather than offer a commentary on Covid-19, celebrities like Madonna have the means to donate to research, fund testing centres and use

their influence to encourage 'covidiots' to follow government guidelines.

Even as students, perhaps it is our own social responsibility and moral duty more than anyone’s, to follow government guidance and practise social distancing too. This is essential in order to not only protect ourselves but other global citizens.

We have all experienced Covid-19 differently, some affected more than others. One needn’t look far for a wide variety of lockdown experiences: even as students it is undeniable that people’s way of experiencing lockdown has been radically different. So perhaps the time has come for us to recognise this disparity and raise awareness of social issues tied to public health for the benefit of the wider population The precedent set by Madonna in her rose-bath video, while perhaps well-intentioned, has not only mixed symbols but misinformed the masses.

Covid-19 is far from being an equaliser. In fact, it shows where there is clear inequality. The pandemic has shown the chasms in society, raising alarm for more practical action to 'equalise' society.

Film&TV

Editor Maddy Raven Digital Editor Katya Spiers Deputy Editor Sam Vickers

Twitter: @Epigramculture

A welcome to Bristol's film scene Bristol Palestine Film Festival

The Bristol Palestine Film Festival works with various venues across the city, including the Watershed, The Cube Microplex and the Palestine Museum, to screen films by Palestinian filmmakers and that reflect life in Palestine, and encourage dialogues between audiences and filmmakers surrounding Palestine’s rich culture and the realities of everyday life.

Court esy Last year’s line-up includof B ed Elia Suleiman’s It Must Be Heaven (2019).

For those of you interested in the intersection of art and politics, the 10th anniversary edition of the Bristol Palestine Film Festival is due to take place between the 1st and the 6th of December this year. tol

Fi estine lm Festiv Pal al

Whether it’s cartoons in the We The Curious planetarium, or a wine tasting-cum-screening to evoke some sophistication, there really is something for everyone.

Their website is regularly updated with pandemic restrictions and even some at-home screenings, so keep an eye out for any upcoming events.

The Watershed (2) The Watershed is the most prominent landmark of Bristol’s film scene.

Situated right on the harbourside, the Watershed is host to a diverse selection of screenings, festivals, and Q&As that take place all year round. This is an important destination for any film-loving fresher who wants to keep in the loop with new releases, including foreign films and restored classics, as tickets are only £5 for anyone under the age

of 24.

The Watershed will also be screening a selection of films from this year’s London Film Festival which runs from the 7th to the 18th of October.

The Cube Microplex (3) The Cube Microplex is an independent, volunteer-run community cinema space nestled into the back of Stokes Croft. Here, you will find an impeccably-curated line up of films shown sporadically throughout the year, just keep an eye out on their website for details of upcoming events.

In The Cube, conventional soft drinks have been replaced by homebrewed cola (delicious) and extortionate ticket prices have been dismissed in favour of making cinema affordable and accessible to everyone, a hallmark of Bristol’s approachable, DIY spirit.

Bristol Film Festival Map Data: Courtesy of Google 2020

The Bristol Film Festival screens films in iconic locations around Epig ram the city, from the SS Great /M Britain to the Bristol Cathedral, creating a new and exciting viewing experience for familiar titles. Explore the way that different contexts can alter the experience of viewing some of your favourite films. ilo

Cle

n sh

aw

Halfway down Bristol’s charming, fairy-light-draped Christmas Steps, you’ll find 20th Century Flicks, an Aladdin’s cave of DVDs that are all available to rent – it’s Bristol’s romantic and artsy answer to Blockbuster. 20th Century Flicks is currently operating a distanced rental system: you can browse their extensive and continually-growing selection of films online and reserve a selection of DVDs that you can watch from the comfort of your own bed.

The Encounters Film Festival focuses on animation and shorts, by both new and experienced filmmakers from around the world.

As well as taking place entirely online, this year’s edition includes the festival’s Lockdown Depict selection, created in partnership with The Watershed and the BFI to showcase creativity that has emerged from 2020’s extenuating circumstances, as well as a selection of films from Bristol’s Queer Vision Film Festival, which was due to take place in July.

Encounters Film Festival runs from the 18th of September through the 11th of October, and festival passes can be purchased for only £10 for the whole month, giving you access to the 400+ films being screened, as well as live Q&As, workshops and talks from filmmakers and industry experts.

v

r is

20th Century Flicks (1)

Encounters Film Festival

Si a

kadeh

F

reshers Week is looking a little different this year, which may make it difficult to get to know the city. Instead of feeling queasy outside La Rocca while you wait for the bus back to halls, you’ll be participating in yet another Zoom quiz and innumerable remote ‘mingle sessions’. But while you may not be able to dance the night away at Lola Lo’s just yet, there is still a lot that Bristol has to offer, including its diverse and dynamic film scene.

Bristol is brimming with native film festivals and is host to a wealth of amazing independent cinemas all within a stone's throw of the city centre. Here are the places to go and the festivals to look out for this academic year, as well as the ways that they are taking shape in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

m/

n ou Mi

Digital Editor

Epigra

h as

Are you new to Bristol?

Or just looking to get acquainted with the city’s film scene?

Freshers Week is looking a little different this year Katya Spiers

The shop is also home to Bristol’s cosiest cinema screen that you can rent out for a private screening of any of the DVDs available in-store. It's a real treasure in the heart of Bristol's city centre.

The wheels will keep turning for Film Society Courtesy of UoB FilmSoc

How Bristol's Film Society is having to adapt to survive during the pandemic Maddy Raven Film & TV Editor

A

s part of our short interview series with the film societies on offer at Bristol, I spoke to this year’s president of Film Society, Guy Atoun. There’s still plenty to do in Bristol if you’re interested in film, despite the ways in which the university experience is changing.

Guy is going into his third year studying law, but obviously, he has a deep interest in film: ‘I’m really interested in how filmmakers represent history in film, and to what degree is the truth manipulated.' And, of course, he’s this year’s president of Film Society.

The main focus of the society is their weekly screening event: usually, members vote for which films they’d like to see, but they’ve also hosted bigger screenings in collaboration with other societies, such as Cold War (2018) with Polish Society. They also invite academics and lecturers to talk

after their screenings. At the Holocaust Memorial Day screening, academic Janek Gryta, who also runs a unit at the university, gave a talk about Jewish history, which is his area of focus. The society’s collaborations tend to be their most popular screenings. ‘We also screened Paris is Burning (1990) with LGBT+ society, and I’m really eager to continue showing lesser-known and cult films,' says Guy. Their pub quizzes are also a lot of fun, and last year they had so many people come that they filled the pub.

This year, Guy wants to hold more collaborative screenings and perhaps screen some newer films. There’s also

the possibility that Film Society can be in touch with distribution companies and find some free tickets to events for their members.

They’ll be at Freshers Fair and they’re always happy to chat to anyone who’s interested in joining. During the term, the best way to join is to come to their screenings, which are usually on Fridays at 7:30. Film Society is also on social media – Facebook especially.

While their screenings are free, membership is £3 for the whole year!

You don’t need to pay on the door, so everyone is welcome. It’s a great way to get involved and see some more indie films.

Film&TV 19

epigram 06.10.2020

Bill and Ted return to face the music in an excellent reboot

BA Film & Television

O

ften, I wake up in the middle of the night, sweating, having just dreamt that Hollywood have decided to make a sequel to Zoolander (2001). I grab my phone, un-plug it from its charging station and hurriedly type the key-words into Google. After only twenty-three minutes of scrolling through Variety, Hollywood Reporter and Collider articles, I am thankful to see they’ve decided not to touch that property yet.

“The world’s still pure,” I think as I drift back into dreams where film characters who I’ve grown up watching appear frequently without the constraints of the horrible, yet inevitable, fate of being put back on the screen; studios desperately hoping that a recognizable IP will lead to a box-office smash – not caring about how many hearts they break

and not much has changed for the titular characters, who are still desperately trying to come up with the song that will unite the world. Within the first five minutes, they are whisked up in a time machine and told by Holland Taylor in an almost inoffensively generic sci-fi costume that they have seventy-seven minutes to come up with the song. Bill and Ted decide that their most viable route to achieving this goal will be to steal the song from themselves in the future.

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are back on top form, giving genuinely touching performances. The ride is quick, with only a few elements that feel as though they were taken directly from the long-awaited sequel handbook: 1. Carbon copy kids of the original characters who can potentially reboot the franchise at a later date.

2. Bad CGI 3. Unnecessary opening voiceover explaining what’s going on so your kids can check out and look at TikTok whilst you relive your youth.

Despite these, the film’s distinguishing factor is that it was clearly

made with love. Furthermore, if you love these characters back, you’ll likely have a fun time with the movie even if it isn’t as polished or imaginative as the original two films in the franchise. It treats its characters with care and respect, placing it alongside sequels such as Toy Story 4 (2019) as opposed to Die Hard (2014).

As a critic I always give any movie with a runtime of ninety minutes (or less) five stars. In that regard, it’s safe to say that Bill and Ted Face the Music is a five-star film. Now, I know you’re asking the obvious question or whether I would recommend this film. Well, are you the type of person who enjoys brown toast and reading Cahiers du Cinema on

a Sunday morning? If yes, this isn’t for you. If no, relax and enjoy.

In an interview with the Big Picture Podcast, Alex Winter perfectly sums up the movie when talking about the writers Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson: ‘They’re good writers and didn’t want to re-hash themselves. But they went even further than they c o u l d have, or needed to.'

IMDB / Hammerstone Studios

along the way. See Dumb and Dumber Too (2014) or Work Hard, Die Hard (2016) for examples.

It was one of those nights on which I discovered a third instalment of the Bill and Ted franchise had been green-lit. I was naively optimistic: it’s the same writers. It’s the same stars. It’s the same director of my favourite film, Red 2 (2013). At the time, I didn’t even have an inkling of the state the world would be in during its release. Now I do, I can safely say that its simplistic morals are more welcome than I could have ever imagined: be excellent to each other.

After two movies, you’d think we’d get the picture. However, as has become apparent this year, it seems we could all do with a quick refresher from Ted Theodore Logan (Keanu Reeves) and Bill S. Preston Esquire (Alex Winter). Thematically, this could be the first ever long-awaited sequel to feel prescient, or dare I say, necessary – even if it is for its simplistic championing of kindness and the power of working together.

The film takes place 29 years after Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)

How do Bill and Ted fare in the latest victims of Hollywood's reboot regime? Satire warning!

Jake Kuhn

Editors' Picks IM

etl eve Di

Su n

nt

nc da

nsti eI

tute

Maddy Raven

Sam Vickers

Katya Spiers

cturehouse Ente r / Pi t a in m e

/ St

Db

Db

Beireis Nguye n, /

Universal Pictures

y shle /A

/ Db IM

Db

IM

M

I

Layla Nathan

Film & TV Editor

Film & TV Deputy Editor

Film & TV Digital Editor

Film & TV Subeditor

Dear White People (2014)

Blackkklansman (2018)

Mudbound (2017)

The Last Tree (2019)

Part of the beauty of this film is that it lures white liberals in with a promising title, wherein they think that this will be a nice, easy education on race in America which continues to centre them and their experiences, and it hits them with the comic relief and barely-there sidekick roles (if any at all).

The roles which we have side-lined Black actors and actresses to for years.

Dear White People is about the university experience and how it intersects with being Black in America: in a post-colonial education system, how can we possibly expect black students to feel as if they’re valued, and heard?

This is the film that spawned the stillrunning Netflix series by the same name, but by far, I prefer the film.

John David Washington and Adam Driver are ‘70s police detectives leading an investigation in Colorado Springs to infiltrate and expose the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. One Black and the other Jewish, the two often face prejudice from their colleagues, and the local hate group. The film fluently blends action and comedy with moments of hilarity reliably punctuating the heavier action; with a runtime of over two hours, the film is remarkably pacey and maintains this throughout.

The film’s soundtrack features Terence Blanchard’s powerful jazz trumpet heavily (later released on vinyl following fan demand). Spike Lee’s instant classic is an essential watch and a culturally significant film for this Black History Month.

What if your home life is so deeply entrenched with cruel racial prejudices that your time spent at war actually provides some reprieve? This is the case for Ronsel Jackson (Jason Mitchell), the oldest son of a working-class Black American family, who returns home from war to rural Mississippi to find that the same merciless racists still rule the land.

The film tells of the mutual experiences of two veterans as they struggle to come to terms with their changed situations and deal with the realities of the trauma inherited in their service. Mudbound is a complicated depiction of what it meant to serve in the war as a Black American, and the racism that is deep-rooted in the land, one whose legacy of prejudice and power continues long into the 21st century.

The Last Tree is a moving semiautobiographical coming of age gem, directed by Shola Amoo.

The film follows the life of Femi (Tai Golding/Sam Adewunmi), a British boy of Nigerian heritage, throughout his childhood in foster care and his troubled teen years in London where he has to decide on a path to take.

Most poignant is Femi’s struggle with cultural separation and the constant tug of war faced by second-generation immigrants between the culture of family and the pressure to fit in with the world around you. Identity is at the centre of this film, and Shola Amoo presents a very honest and moving story surrounding it. This film is a great watch for focusing on the issues of being Black and British.

20 Film&TV

epigram 06.10.2020

Enola Holmes: a Fleabag-esque romp

BA Theatre & Film

I

t wouldn’t be fair to say that Enola Holmes (2020) is a result of a customary obsession of bestowing Sherlock Holmes with a sister, because even though it is in a way, the film repeatedly asserts that the name Enola, spelt backwards is ‘alone’, and thus this story is strictly about her. Adapted from the book series by Nancy Springer, Enola Holmes is translated for screen by Jack Thorne and directed by Harry Bradbeer, who has extended his Fleabag-esque direct address approach in this film due to the avant-garde nature of the character stranded in a classic Victorian setting.

The film centers around Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), who lives with her widowed mother, Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter) in their family home where they engage in all sorts of physical and mental activities that were forbidden for women in that era. It is when her mother disappears

on her sixteenth birthday, leaving ive Mycroft (Sam Claflin) imposing her with a series of cryptic clues, that his patriarchal standards upon Enoshe’s reunited with her two unavaila- la by sending her off to a ‘finishing ble elder brothers, Mycroft and Sher- school’ to become more ‘acceptable lock. These are obligatory appear- for society’, or Miss Harrison (Fiona ances, both in her life and the film. Shaw), the headmistress of the finSet against the backdrop of the Third ishing school – the central conflict Reform Act of 1884, the film follows revolves around the fight for female liberation. the escapades of The female repEnola running ‘The future is up to us' resentation in this away from her is the piece of motherly film extends to brothers to find advice that sets the tone those demanding her mother and for the film change and those ‘rescuing’ fellow resisting it. On runaway, Lord Viscount Tewksbury (Louis Partridge) one hand, there’s Eudoria, who we when she gets caught up in a con- mostly see in flashbacks: a suffragist herself, home-schooling Enola and spiracy against him.

‘The future is up to us,' is the piece giving her an unconventional educaof motherly advice that sets the tion involving jiu jitsu. While on the tone for the film. Be it the dismiss- other, there’s Miss Harrison, encour-

aging us ‘to live a full and vibrant life – not with anger and endless questions but with answers’.

Flower motifs dominate the entire narrative as ‘irises’ (code word for messages) are constantly conveyed through foliage. Even the Viscount who later creates a diversion for his killer and hides in the Covent Garden Market as a florist, uses this knowledge and impresses Enola. The most striking revelation of Enola’s calling as a young female detective can be traced back to the pinecone named ‘Dash’ she had as a child, which later reprises itself as an artefact that ends up killing Linthorn (Burn Gorman).

Enola warns Sherlock (Henry Cavill) by saying, ‘you’re being emotional. It’s understandable but unnecessary'. Sherlock’s depiction of a brother developing the capacity for emotion caused the Conan Doyle Estate to file a lawsuit against Netflix for making him a kind, supportive older brother.

Over all, the film is a visual treat as it straddles perfectly between the landscaped countryside and London.

The background score by Daniel Pemberton captures the true Victorian essence of endearing maternal love and loss and intense emotional

Bristol's Cider Tap Room ARCH 5, SILVERTHORNE LANE, BS2 0QD

Pouring fresh cider from indie makers alongside craft beer,cheese & wine.

Show university ID to unlock rewards & discounts.

Check socials for latest opening hours & Covid-19 measures @theciderbox

conflict. Millie Bobby Brown plays a sprightly Enola Holmes with incisive insights into her character by delivering asides where we get to unravel the mystery with her. It is one thing for the main character to break the fourth wall, but when someone else does it, the impact is incredulous. Director Henry Bradbeer does this again; he exposes the real villian when she looks right into the camera as Lord Tewksbury tells her, ‘your time is over’. Thats is definitely a scene to look out for!

Legendary Pictures / Netflix

IMDB / Robert Viglaski

Mmmmm it does feature Henry Cavill though so it's not all bad Isha Vibhakar

Arts

Editor Anjuli Vadera Digital Editor Dulcie Godfrey Deputy Editor Katie Chalk

Twitter: @EpigramCulture

The People's Platform: what should replace Colston's statue?

The poet Lawrence Hoo has asked Bristolians to submit their ideas for what should take the fallen statue's place in the city centre Anjuli Vadera Arts Editor

O

n 7 June, the statute of slave trader Edward Colston was flung into Bristol harbour, marking arguably one of the most symbolic acts in the history of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The passionate removal of the statue made headlines around the world, sparking heated debates about the glorification of controversial individuals through the erection of monuments. It inspired a host of similar acts within the UK, America and beyond.

Edward Colston was a prominent benefactor to the city of Bristol, but his wealth was the product of ex-

This is where the People's Platform comes in. Bristol Poet Lawrence Hoo has launched a public art project which he says will allow those who have not been heard to come up and present creative ideas. Hoo is inviting people from across Bristol to submit potential designs to represent the diversity of the city.

In a recent interview, Hoo stated: ‘The idea came from the fact there is a lot of confusion about what should go on the Colston plinth and this is something we can create in a virtual space. It will be a blank canvas that's open to anyone.

‘Anyone online anywhere in the world or standing with a smartphone near the plinth will witness this unique series of visual statements about what today’s Bristolians truly value. The idea behind People's Platform is semi-permanence.

‘The conversation about the statue has been happening for years anyway, and this will allow it to continue. No matter what level of ideas we get, if they're just sketches or a more

Re-reading young adult fiction as an adult Spending lockdown re-reading the genre that dominated my early teens Maddy Raven Film & TV editor

I’ve been re-reading a lot of books in lockdown, mainly because I spent a large part of it at home, and the books in my room hadn’t been touched for years. I hoped to be able to remember the books more clearly; a lot of them I hadn’t read since I was fifteen, before the tide of GCSEs, sixth form and then university. In particular, I’ve found re-reading the work of Sarah J. Maas very interesting.

While I never reached the level of worship many people on YouTube and other social media have for her, I’ve been a fan for a while. Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses set a bar for thoughtful worldbuilding.

What impressed me about Maas’ writing is her dedication to tackling difficult topics. A Court of Thorns and Roses is primarily a story about domestic abuse, framed within a world populated with some of the

eye-rollingly cliché tropes of slowexperience of immigrant women burn romance. I never had much and an East-Asian-inspired empire time for the endless romance in YA across the sea. Sometimes, I do get books, which is ironic, but Maas YouTube recommendations for videdoes a good job of talking about os eviscerating Sarah J. Maas, critihow abuse and trauma can inform cising her for lack of representation relationships. Maas sticks to writing (and the campy nature of the books what she knows. Her most recent — but that’s surely a matter of preferbook has shown that after years of ence). I can understand her reticence writing about two to write the lived well-developed What impressed me experiences of worlds, she feels people of colour: about Maas’ writing is as a white womunder pressure to attempt a new her dedication to tackling an, she may not difficult topics genre and remain want to offend, or relevant. Howevperpetuate stereoer, her characters remain archetypal. types. However, as a bestselling auFurthermore, despite queer characthor, surely, she has the resources to ters in the periphery of the protagdo the research to rectify this, and onists, she sticks to heterosexual roinclude characters that are identifiamance. White, heterosexual romance ble across the spectrum. at that.

While Maas clearly has work to do You could argue that whilst Maas when it comes to increasing meanattempts to incorporate people of ingful representation in her books colour into her worlds with descripand graduating from what at times tions like ‘golden-brown’, the ambifeels like a slightly juvenile self-inguity of such descriptors does allow sert (but always beautifully written), her to get away with the bare minishe has done an amazing job edumum of representation. This was met cating her young female readership with outrage. It seems that she took about domestic abuse, sex work, inthis criticism onboard and she took ternalised misogyny, multiple sexutime to turn what was meant to be al partners, break ups, colonialism, a typical Maas novella, into Tower miscarriage, sexual violence and of Dawn, a narrative about the lived disability.

ploitation and enslavement. While most can agree that the statue is unfitting within a city that champions social change and racial equality, there seems to be one question on everyone's lips: who, or what, should replace what was once the eponymous statue of Colston?

On 15 July, Marc Quinn's temporary statue of BLM protestor Jenn Reid, titled Surge of Power was erected for 24 hours. The statue was not, however, consented to by Bristol City Council and was consequently removed. The plinth will remain empty until Bristolians have decided unanimously on a suitable replacement; something that is true to the city of Bristol today, with its diversity, youthfulness and creativity.

fully realized concept, our team will translate that into 3D and it will be placed on the plinth.'

A diverse, intergenerational panel of community members representing all of Bristol’s postcodes will put forward a number from the submissions, which will then be projected in a digital realm. The chosen submissions will virtually occupy the plinth in the city center on rotation, in addition to a small note with the name of the artist and their inspiration.

How can I participate?

Anyone that is interested can submit their drawings and designs via the People's Platform website: www.peoplesplatform.co.uk

Epigram / Siavash Minoukadeh

Hoo is inviting people from across Bristol to submit potential designs to represent the diversity of the city

22 Arts

epigram 06.10.2020

A Fresher's guide to Bristol's arts scene

GENDER IDENTITY Robin Ireland First Year, English

L

ockdown has been a great time of reflection for many people. It certainly has been for me: I’m a lot closer to knowing who I am and who I want to be. I changed my name and read a lot. So, if you feel like you want to explore your gender identity, or if you’re looking to learn more about gender as a concept, then these could be the books for you.

Canongate Books

Blackwells

The Argonauts

Girl Meets Boy

Maggie Nelson

Ali Smith

A

genderqueer climate activist in a kilt, spray paint protests and the destruction of private property. What more could you want in a book? Girl Meets Boy is a blindingly bright retelling of Ovid’s Iphis, designed to challenge the myths instilled within us by society.

Stone Butch Blues Leslie Feinberg

A

semi-autobiographical tale of queer life in 1970s New York, Stone Butch Blues is a revolutionary read. It is a story of resistance, class and making one’s own space in the world. Stone Butch Blues is somewhat of a ‘Holy Grail’ in terms of queer literature, as it has been out of print since 2003.

The book is, however, available as a free pdf through Feinberg’s website.

FUZE

Art If drawing and painting is your thing, then Bristol ArtSoc host weekly life drawing sessions as well as a termly art school, 'drink and draw' socials and much more. ArtSoc provides an ideal way to de-stress, nurture your inner Matisse, listen to some relaxed tunes and experiment with a mixture of media.

It is a fun, relaxing way to meet like-minded people and find a creative outlet, far from the woes of academia. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @artsocUOB for more info or upcoming events.

Helicon (@heliconmag), an arts and culture magazine also nurtures young artists, poets, writers or essayists who want to explore their creative side. Keep an eye out for

Any budding thespians here?

DramSoc offer a range of student produced and directed plays. They Fashion also run creative meet-ups, directing FUZE, the UK's largest student-run schemes, writing schemes, audition charity fashion, dance and music rehearsals, workshops, guest talks event is taking place in March 2021. and more.

Whether you are a spectator or an Upcoming auditions for burgeonactive participant, make sure to note ing actors as this one down well as exciting Creativity in Bristol is ever- in your calenperformances dars. expanding are bound to Alexandra take place soon, Hurts, the comespecially showcases like TRASH, mercial director says ‘The events this and the freshers-only, Something year in the build-up are looking to Old, Something New. Make sure to be the highlight of the student calkeep your eyes peeled on their Instaendar: being a part of a movement, gram (@bristol_dramsoc) and Facewhich has events running throughbook (@brsitoldramsoc). out the year is something you don’t

often find.

‘You also join a circle of exciting and creative people with no fees for joining. Simply put: it is relaxed and striving for positive change, all while raising money and awareness for two charities. A no brainer really.'

Pippa Adamthwaite-Cook, the Managing Director writes: ‘We provide a fantastic opportunity for personal development of soft skills, as well as mentoring students in roles such as PR, sponsorship, marketing, photography, graphics, producing, styling, and events.

‘Within our casting we are looking for powerful, unapologetic, beauty.

We want to break down traditional beauty standards seen within the fashion industry and for our cast to represent real people, with real stories to tell. What are you waiting for ... Come audition for FUZE 2021!'

FUZE is available to all students, whoever is interested can audition as a model, music performer or dancer, or join the marketing, styling and coordination teams.

More information can be found on their Facebook and Instagram @ fuzebristol.

Fancy something a bit more relaxed? Why not have a look at Fashion Foward Society (@bristolfashion) for charity shop crawls, sewing 101s and weekly sessions.

To find out more about the plans all these societies and more have lined up for the year ahead, check out our full guide on epigram.org. uk

W

Delusions of Gender Cordelia Fine

I

t has long been argued, by authors such as John Gray, that men and women are biologically different - right down to their brains. Cordelia Fine is here to prove them wrong. If you’ve been looking for a scientific approach to proposed gender difference, look no further. Fine, backed up by independent studies, humorously and accurately dissects society’s attitudes to gender. For further reading of Fine’s work, I would recommend Testosterone Rex.

Graywolf Press

F

or any newly arrived arts enthusiasts, Bristol’s cultural scene does not disappoint. Creativity in Bristol is ever-expanding and the following recommendations cover only a fraction of the student-led events, installations, performances and cutting-edge initiatives. Calling all art freaks, drama geeks, the curious and the intrigued, here is a lowdown on some thrilling student-led initiatives and societies.

Drama

If devising is more your style, Spotlights (@bristolspotlights) is the place to go for experimental student writing, with the bombastic CRAM showcase traditionally kicking off the year.

Bristol ArtSoc

Arts Editor

their poetry events and life drawing sessions, usally in some exciting venues.

W.W Norton & Co

Epigram rounds up the best arts societies to get involved with Anjuli Vadera

hen I first read The Argonauts in November for a gender and sexuality unit, I found it to be a revelation. Coming back to it in July, it changed everything.

Talking candidly and eloquently about her experiences with motherhood, academia and the journey of her partner, Harry, Nelson manages a perfect balance of sobering theory and delightful anecdotes.

BOOK

CORNER

Arts 23

epigram 06.10.2020

A clear strategy is needed to save university arts Second Year, Politics

T

he day when Covid-19 struck Britain was ‘the day the music (and theatre) died’, in the immortal words of Don McLean. Choirs disbanded, theatres emptied. Thousands of pews and velvet covered seats sat skeletal and empty, staring at dusty and abandoned stages, like a Woman in Black performance gone wrong. Not only is the nation grieving this loss, but it is felt intensely by students who engage with the performing arts. It is essential that the University and the SU devise a stringent and dedicated plan to ensure Bristol’s vibrant artistic atmosphere is not totally eradicated by Covid.

Who am I speaking to, you may ask? The SU Officer for Arts and Student Development? Unsurprisingly, we don’t have one. We have an Officer for Sport and Student Develop-

ment but no one on the officer team mentions their possible involvement with arts societies.

The SU must reassure participants and provide viable and enjoyable alternatives. The leaders we have must liaise with society leaders, plan initiatives to inspire the next year of performance, or resume business as usual.

Not only do our tuition fees include SU funding for societies, but student participation in arts societies encourages a rich sense of community, calmness for the mind and the chance to pursue a hobby or start a new one. We deserve to get the most out of all aspects of University life, no matter the risks. We cannot let a pandemic completely shake what we once enjoyed, and there are clear reasons for this. Yes, there’s risk, but with cinemas and stages having partially reopened in the UK, it’s time to put a plan in place for keeping the arts alive for Bristol students when they return to campus.

The benefits of engaging in the theatres, choir halls and music

chambers are too precious to be lost.

Kingsley Amis reported that choral activities are ‘the most fun you can have with your clothes on’. Whilst I may not wholly agree with Amis on this one, the joy of being part of such a community is like no other.

Choirs keep beautiful, forgotten pieces of music alive, dragging them away from the vaults of antiquity. I’ll never forget the sensation of singing Allegri’s Miserere in Venice one year, with chills bouncing off the gothic church arches and every eye of the audience enraptured at every second.

It’s the same with theatre. I’ve met people at university I simply wouldn’t have otherwise if it wasn’t for DramSoc. The stage gives you the opportunity to carve your own trench of influence, manipulate the atmosphere, be it in a small warehouse in Stokes Croft or the Bristol Old Vic. I remember the stunned reaction from the audience after I mooned a synthetic bottom at the age of 12 while performing Brecht.

I’ve never cried laughing so much

Epigram / Robin Connolly Brsitol DramSoc

In order to keep the arts going, we need SU representation Alys Watson Brown

since watching A Comedy About a Bank Robbery. I am definitely biased, but I know I am not alone.

Thursday 23 July saw the London Palladium put on the first socially distanced theatre performance.

Whilst it was described as a ‘jubilant atmosphere’ in The Guardian, Andrew Lloyd Webber (among others) thought otherwise, remarking that it was a ‘misery for performers’ and that the need for theatres to be operating again at ‘full capacity’ is absolute.

The composer John Rutter wrote

that, despite efforts from choirs to perform virtually, a ‘pillar of national life’ has been dismantled.

Drama clubs and societies must use their creative knowledge to adapt to these surreal circumstances. Singing two feet apart is possible.

Performing a play is harder perhaps, but a challenge is no new feat to creative dramatic directors.

We must petition to save our arts societies for the next academic year, otherwise the four month lockdown and isolation Summer will continue without the joys of peformances.

SPECIAL STUDENT OFFER! ALL NEW SHOW! TONY HOPKINS PRESENTS

THE DOWNS WHERE ELSE!

BS9 1FG

WED 23 SEPT to SUN 11 OCT

LICENCED BAR

ALL HUMAN PRODUCTION!

FOOD AVAILABLE

PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS ON HOW WE’RE OPERATING DURING COVID19

TICKETLINE OPEN NOW!

0844 4155 228 CIRCUSMONTINI.EU TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE

£5

OFF

SPECIAL STUDENT OFFER NOT VALID FIRST DAY ONE VOUCHER PER PERSON

WITH THIS VOUCHER VALID AT TIME OF PURCHASE ONLY. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFER OR AGAINST TICKETS ALREADY PURCHASED.

Music

Editor Lucas Arthur Digital Editor Greg Evans Deputy Editor Flora Pick

Twitter: @EpigramCulture Spotify: epigram_music

A local legacy: In conversation with Sarah Records, 1987-1995

For indie kids of a certain age and persuasion, Sarah Records is it.

Flora Pick

John Peel.’

Without social media, these connections were made on paper. Ultimately, it was an instantaneous kinship between the two and a subsequent desire to share the art they loved that led to Sarah Records’ formation. The platform was never intended to turn a quick buck: ‘The premise of the label was always that we were in it to put out records by our mates, not to make money. ‘Obviously we always wanted to sell as

Sarah Record

B

s

Deputy Music Editor orn in a basement flat in Clifton, Bristol’s own indie label ran a bare bones operation throughout the late 80s and early 90s, releasing records that reached out into the bedrooms of a generation of misfits. Pressing music that spanned genres, their releases were tethered to a central appreciation of pop sensibility, and to the associated power of the 7" single record format. The latter tenet held true throughout their lifespan; their music was always accessible with what could be eked out from one's student loan. In less than a decade the label put out over 100 official releases, some apparent inbuilt fatalism bringing it to its close.

This was not before managing to develop a certain cult of personality that has never fully washed out from the city, in addition to establishing a legendarily bizarre antagonism with the British music press. As recently as 2014, Bristol's own Arnolfini exhibited 'Between Hello and Goodbye,' a retrospective exhibition accompanied by a one-off concert.

How did such humble origins give way to such a legacy?

Though popular knowledge would have the label's glory days span 1987-1995, circumstances of their fêted end being well documented, the birth of Sarah Records was less many records as possible, but we a distinct act of creation than one of were mainly looking for bands we natural evolution. loved.’ The pair Established by Pre-internet there was a quickly found Clare Wadd and lot of lonely young people themselves exMatt Haynes — hausted by the staying up late in their the former while rooms at night, listening practices emshe was still atployed by mainto John Peel tending Bristol stream labels that University — Sarah emerged from, they saw as exploitative of fans. To and maintained firm roots in, the a label just treading financial water pair's mutual investment in zine culture. Talking with Clare, she described how this initial contact came about. Prior to her moving to Bristol for university, she had tended to draw herself into the epicentre of the music scenes she so admired from afar. Commenting on the state of fan culture at the time, Clare notes that: ‘Pre-internet there was a lot of lonely young people staying up late in their rooms at night, listening to

(though Clare was quick to point out that the label never once went broke, a point of honour for someone who went on to work as an accountant), economising through their exclusive release of cheaper, 7” singles was a selfless act: ‘We wanted it to be affordable out of pocket money or uni grants, rather than to be exclusive for collectors.’

When questioned on Sarah's bold use of Bristol's

geography to adorn their releases, Clare explained how the pair consciously positioned themselves as music industry outsiders: ‘There was that whole Oasis thing where you moved to London and you got into all the tabloids... We were setting ourselves up as against London. We didn't want to be a part of the music business, we wanted to be against the music business. We

Sarah Records

wanted to do things our way.’ Clare remarked upon a certain ‘We're here and you're there’ mentality – the label’s rejection of the capital was a point of honour. Sarah remained a constant devotee of Bristol, equally affectionate of its iconic landmarks and rubbish-strewn side streets. The distance from the capital meant that it was easier for the mainstream music press to make snide comments from a distance, without fear of retribution;

cessful exports, Heavenly, would go on to be eternally associated with the US' riot girl scene, being distributed as iconic K records in the states.

Subversion was innate to the label, turning away from the nepotistic feedback loop of the capital, even if it seemed unobvious at the time.

The cycling of clean guitar and harmonised, layered vocals conjure a nostalgia for something you're not sure you’ve experienced at all.

Evidently, some journalists felt likewise; when Venue Magazine reviewed the first Heavenly single (Sarah #30), it was described as ‘another Sarah band with another girl singer' - it was the label's first release with a female vocalist. ‘For a while every review said, ‘‘this doesn't sound like your typical Sarah band!’''

A Day For Destroying Things was a theatrical bow-out — the label commissioned half page ads in both NME and Melody Maker, announcing the label's closure with a certain flair for the dramatic. Ending on their 100th release exactly, the advert featured a series of maxims calling back to youth and ambition, paired with the iconic silhouette of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. .

Asking Clare just how intentioned they were in reality, she replied that ‘It's easy to reinvent history and say that we'd always meant to release a certain number of singles, that it was predetermined - of course, it wasn't at all. In reality, we put out a record that we thought was brilliant, other people thought it was brilliant, then we felt the need to put out another, then another one.’

‘It became terribly easy The absence of an awkward fade for the press to slag us off, because into obscurity they would has surely stoked never bump into The cycling of clean us and have awkguitar and harmonised, Sarah’s cult folward situations layered vocals conjure a lowing; even if - they wouldn't nostalgia for something they didn't set out to craft a certain know us if they you're not sure you’ve mythology, the did.’ experienced at all. intoxicating imThe music was pression of one pushing against remains. Such a sense is evident in an indeterminate something, be it the website, an immense archival the chauvinism of certain NME and project which puts the Wikipedia Melody Maker journalists, or the page to shame. It's all there: from the pretension of music that positioned bombast of zine scans to the minutiitself as 'eternal'. ae of magazine adverts; vague memWhile their musician's romantic ories of adolescence are preserved pop sensibilities could easily be read for future fans to find. as apolitical, the supplementary texts put out with releases maintained a lefty sensibility firmly rooted in the This is an abridged article. To read the punk zine spaces from which they full version, visit our website grew. One of the label's most sucepigram.org.uk

Music 25

epigram 06.10.2020

A definitive guide to Bristol vinyl Despite its smaller selection, Gastro Vinyl boasts some rare finds in punk, glam and classic rock, and has the advantage of being a stone’s throw away from campus - ideal for a break between lectures. You’ll also find books, cassettes, zines and VHS videos in this indie treasure trove.

2. Rough Trade (New) - 3 New Bridewell, Nelson Street, BS1 2QD Founded in London in 1976, Rough Trade was synonymous with the punk movement. As its popularity grew, so did the range of genres it covered: today, Bristol’s Rough Trade houses an extensive catalogue of classic and contemporary records, a café and an intimate gig venue.

Rough Trade feels distinctly local, despite being a national franchise; it’s a great place to come to discover new music.

3. Playback records (Used), The Rock Shop (New & Used) – Unit 45, Unit 79-83, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LJ Small but mighty: nestled in amongst St Nicholas Market, Playback Records hosts decades of classic vinyl at very reasonable prices.

For those seeking a harder edge, The Rock Shop also carries representation from every camp within the genre (and, of course, the obligatory T-shirt for each too).

5. Plastic Wax Records (Used) 222 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QU Founded in 1978, Plastic Wax boasts one of the city’s largest second-hand collections. Among its many categories are an extensive film soundtrack section alongside endless rows of 70’s and 80’s hits. An equally large selection of CDs makes this an authoritative store.

Located in Stokes Croft, the vibrant heart of Bristol’s club scene, Idle Hands showcases the best of dance and electronica from around the world. Its selection of 12” is testament to the expertise of its staff – an absolute must visit for fans of the genre.

9. PK Music Exchange (Used), 51 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8AD You’d be forgiven for walking past the PK Exchange without realising what lies inside; the windows, and half of the shop itself, display a huge array of instruments making vinyl only a small part of what’s on offer.

Masses of classic house, breakbeat and techno reward prudent digging.

Google Maps

1. Gastro Vinyl (New & Used) 68 Park Row, BS1 5LE

If the Vintage Market’s offering didn’t draw you in, the Collectors Cave is worth a visit. Occupying the far side of the ground floor, its collection of 12” dance singles cover the spectrum of electronic music, from dubstep to disco, alongside crates of hip-hop, soul and classic rock. Second-hand hi-fis, PA systems and DJ accessories add niche appeal.

8. Idle Hands (New), 32a City Road, BS2 8TP

Prime Cuts | Epigram / Lucas Arthur

Third Year, Geography

4. Collector Cave (New & Used), Stokes Croft Vintage Market, 15-19 Stokes Croft BS1 3PY

6. Prime Cuts (Used) - 85 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, BS7 8AS Underground and underrated, Prime Cuts makes the most of its basement setting. An eclectic mix of records is on offer, each hand-labelled with a short description, making this an excellent place to delve deeper into a genre or try something entirely new.

Rough Trade | Epigram / Katie Hubbard

Epigram picks out the best crate-digging spots across the city.

Katie Hubbard

7. Radio/ON (New), 34 Park Street, BS1 5JG Radio/ON is spacious and light, making for a more curated offering. Hidden above BS8 Vintage, it offers the best in current indie, post punk and avant-garde, alongside books, postcards and classic reissues. Always a nice place to spend time and find new favourites, though you’ll pay more for the privilege.

Editors Picks

Kelly Lee Owens Inner Song Lucas Arthur

Jacob Collier Djesse Vol. 3 Lauren Paddison

Plastic Wax | Epigram/ Katie Hubbard

AG Cook Apple Greg Evans

Sufjan Stevens The Acension Flora Pick After a series of increasingly niche releases that followed 2015's critically acclaimed Carrie & Lowell, the indie darling here returns to form. Anxious and disjointed, the neurotic, stuttering synths effectively embody the vibe of a dance floor lapped with hellfire. Forays into electronica continue to expand the soundscapes of sprawling tracks towards the nakedly political - his most ambitious work to date.

Music Editor

Subeditor

Digital Editor

North Wales’ own returns with a masterful celebration of texture and repetition, weaving together threads of main-room techno, trance-like ambience and experimental, near beatless synth pop. Her lyrics drift over playful arpeggios and progressions, creating a supple and intricate sound: Even the driving club cuts have their severity tempered by her hazy vocals and a coolness that evades description.

The multi-instrumentalist and autodidact has poured into his latest release a new level of electronically centred music and microtonal ventures. Elements of contemporary pop, classic soul, jazz and danceable house present themselves in an entirely unique and masterful production process.

Layer upon layer of thick harmony in ear-bending modulations are ever present but in an accessible and grounding way.

Pairing glitchy PC music and soft indie acoustic, AG Cook creates an album that punches through expectations. This binary in his music feels far removed from the grinding sound we’re used to. Instead, Cook creates an album that’s rich in emotion and masterfully produced. Following his 49-track-long release 7G earlier this year, Apple is a distillation of Cook’s craft, and a solid grounding for his new solo venture.

Deputy Music Editor

Discover all of our recommedations, including an introduction to Sarah Records, on our Spotify @Epigram_Music

SciTech

Editor Julia Riopelle Digital Editor Edward Deacon Deputy Editor Delhi Kalwan

Twitter: @EpigramSciTech

emPOWER – The fusion of mankind and technology Third Year, Biology

W

hen I first heard of emPOWER, the term ‘Cyberpunk’ immediately sprung to mind. I was fortunate enough to interview Prof. Jonathan Rossiter, a professor of Robotics at the University of Bristol leading this project. emPOWER is a research project, funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Its goal is to develop artificial implantable muscles in humans to aid muscle aging and disabilities by 2050. The project involves leaders in multiple scientific disciplines, including biomaterials and soft robotics.

‘As people age, they lose muscle mass and strength. This is known as Sarcopenia, which means they walk slower, are less mobile and ultimately, have to move into supported care,’ said Rossiter. ‘We believe that with emPOWER, we can boost remaining muscle functions by 10 per cent, which can restore mobility and independence to patients suffering from Sarcopenia. Many other disorders caused by muscle dysfunction can also benefit from emPOWER, such as urinary and faecal incontinence or facial palsy.’

There have been significant advancements in muscle technology over the last decade, with synthet-

University of Bristol

emPOWER aims to accomplish what up until now has only been possible in science fiction Ian Tsang

ic muscles capable of similar power densities compared to human muscles. Artificial muscles are constructed from electroactive polymers. These are materials that adopt different shapes when stimulated by an electric field, making them ideal for artificial muscles.

Compared to wearable exoskeletons (mechanically assisted body suits), artificial muscles do not cause damage to skin and discomfort to the wearer. ‘The muscles are interfaced with the skeleton under the skin, exactly where the natural muscles are located. The ends of the muscles will fuse with the bone, allowing muscle forces to transfer to the skeleton with no loss or danger of damage.’

When asked about how the muscles would be controlled, Rossiter explained, ‘We will explore how neural signals from the nervous system and the brain enable muscle control, via electrocorticography. We aim to develop an artificial motor neuron, which enables bidirectional control

ation everyone’s opinions.’ and sensing of emPOWER muscles.’

To what extent can humans ‘play Once implanted, are emPOWER god’ or control what is natural? muscles removable? It depends. ‘We As emPOWER muscles could do want the process to be reversible, strengthen people beyond the limits but it depends on the situation. If a of normal muscles, the potential for COVID-19 patient is recovering from people to turn themselves into a sumuscle fatigue, emPOWER muscles perhuman is imminent. Technologcould be implanted to aid regenerical advances in emPOWER cannot ation and recovery of the patient’s continue until regulations and ethmuscles. Once the patient has recovical protocols are in place, with the ered, the biodegradable emPOWER protocols ever muscles can deevolving alonggrade into the body or be re- To what extent can humans side technology. ‘play god'?

The goal is for moved.’ By doing emPOWER to be so, emPOWER available worldmuscles can aid wide, with the potential to improve rehabilitation as well as provide long and save the lives of millions. emterm assistance.

POWER could be particularly beneEthical challenges are a major ficial to countries with ageing poproadblock for any scientific breakulations, such as Japan, which as a through, with emPOWER being no result, suffer from a higher rate of exception. ‘We have a full time ethSarcopenia. ics team working in Essex,’ stated As Rossiter said, ‘We don’t curRossiter. ‘They will be talking to inrently have the answers, but we dustry leading experts as well as the know how to find those answers’. general public, taking into consider-

COVID-19 patients report symptoms three months after hospital discharges The study has revealed long-term effects experienced by COVID-19 patients Nicky Kobayashi-Boyd

Third Year, Biology

A

s COVID-19 hospital admissions fall in the UK and more patients are recovering, persisting long COVID' symptoms are highly reported. Three quarters of a study cohort in Bristol reportedly suffered from fatigue and breathlessness weeks after hospitalisation and many experienced a drop in quality of life.

As part of the DISCOVER project, researchers at the North Bristol NHS Trust will release the first UK study to investigate the long-term effects of COVID-19, reported recently in the BBC as ‘long COVID'.

110 confirmed COVID-19 patients were recruited from Southmead Hospital in North Bristol and participated in an 8-12 week review after hospital

discharge. 74 per cent of the cohort reported persistent symptoms.

The most common symptoms reported were excessive fatigue and breathlessness – seen in 39 per cent of the test group. Of the released patients, 24 per cent reported insomnia, with muscle and joint pain being a frequent long-term symptom.

Many in the cohort additionally reported a lower health-related quality of life. Questionnaires answered by the patients revealed that many struggled to carry out daily tasks due to the long-term effects of COVID-19.

These findings are currently awaiting formal peer review, however the statistics follow many colloquial reports in the media of COVID-19 patients continuing to suffer from long-term symptoms, even post COVID-19. Sufferers may find it difficult to carry on with work, studies, or hobbies, but do not receive the same medical attention as those currently testing positive for COVID-19.

The DISCOVER study cohort was grouped by the severity of their COVID-19 infection: from mild, moderate, to severe. Mild disease was defined in the study as patients with ‘no requirement for oxygen or enhanced care during stay’. Moderate disease required oxygen while in hospital, and severe disease included requirement for non-invasive ventilation, admission into the ICU, or eventual death.

Although persistent symptoms were more common in patients with moderate or severe disease, 59 per cent of those currently in the mild infection category still report long-term effects.

Chest radiograph and blood results were also carried out on the group.

Lung health was found to improve for most patients that still Epi gram

report persisting symptoms, signalling no damage to the lungs.

Reassuringly, the study suggests COVID-19 does not seem to cause lasting damage to the respiratory system, however the origins of the ‘long COVID' symptoms remain unsolved. Dr David Arnold, a NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow at the Bristol Medical School and leader of the DISCOVER study, commented: ‘Abnormalities on X-rays and breathing tests are rare in this group. Further work in the DISCOVER project will help us to understand why this is, and how we can help coronavirus sufferers’.

The DISCOVER study routinely takes samples from COVID-19 patients to further researchers' knowledge of the novel virus.

It is assisted by the Southmead Hospital elle Charity and the Elizabeth

p / Julia Rio

Blackwell Institute at the University of Bristol.

Sarah Harrison, the director of the Southmead Hospital Charity, said: ‘We are proud to have been able to support this vital research project which has already enabled clinicians to develop their understanding of this disease and its longer term effects.’

‘This research firmly puts Bristol at the heart of advancing the knowledge of coronavirus and how it shapes the medical landscape going forward.’

Research on the long-term symptoms of COVID-19 has been neglected globally. This innovative Bristol study has therefore highlighted a necessary focus on the wellbeing of patients after hospital discharge, and can help to prepare global health services for post COVID-19 care. Dr David Arnold concludes: ‘Future studies should focus on the role of rehabilitation and psychological services for sufferers of ongoing COVID-19 symptoms.’

SciTech 27

epigram 06.10.2020

Were teenagers less anxious in lockdown?

Claims of teenage anxiety decreasing over lockdown could be misleading Katherine Skipper Second Year, Physics PhD

A

report by Bristol researchers indicating significant improvements to young people’s anxiety during lockdown may not be representative of the teenage population.

The University of Bristol research, articles in the BBC, ITV and Evening Standard have all reported that, surprisingly, teenagers became less anxious during lockdown. However, such broad statements should be treated with caution given the scope of the project.

The study, which was compiled for the NIHR Research School for Public Health Research, asked over 1000 13 to 14-year olds, who were part of an ongoing study on mental health, to complete a survey during lockdown.

The results were compared to answers they had provided to similar questions the previous October. On average, the students who completed the second survey had become less anxious, with the percentage meeting the diagnostic criteria for a possible

anxiety disorder falling from 54 per cent to 45 per cent in girls and from 26 per cent to 18 per cent in boys.

Describing this as a ‘big surprise’, lead researcher Emily Widnall commented that ‘With the whole world in the grip of a devastating pandemic … the natural expectation would be to see an increase in anxiety.’

Nevertheless, generalised conclusions based on these figures may be misleading, as the 800 students who provided the lockdown data represent only about a third of those originally recruited to the study. This is likely due to the second survey being completed at home instead of in school, making it more difficult to chase up non-responding participants.

It has been repeatedly shown that people with poor mental and physical health are less likely to voluntarily complete surveys. This bias must be considered when evaluating research. It may be that the students who did not complete the second survey did so because their mental health had worsened during lockdown, thus possibly skewing the results.

The report compares the dropouts with those who completed both surveys and shows several differences between the two groups. The

dropouts as a cohort had signifishould be taken into account. They cantly higher risk of anxiety before particularly highlight the link belockdown than those who went on tween feelings of connectedness and to complete the lockdown survey. mental health, with author Dr Judi These students were also more likely Kidger saying ‘Those students who to receive free school meals and to felt least connected to school before have a limitthe lockdown ing illness or The expectation would be to see saw a largdisability. er decrease an increase in anxiety As a new in anxiety, school term which raisbegins, stues questions dent’s mental health must be conabout how the school environment sidered when weighing the costs and affects some younger teenagers’ benefits of transitioning to in-person mental well-being’. teaching. The researchers advise that The report also shows that rethe positive impact some teenagspondents with lower initial wellers felt at being away from school being (compared to the rest of the

participants) reported a greater improvement to their mental health than their peers. The researchers theorise that for some students, particularly those who felt disconnected from their schools and peers, lockdown removed stressors that were impacting their mental health.

This research not only shows that the shutdown of schools did not necessarily make teenagers more anxious, but also highlights the challenges of doing science during a global pandemic. Amidst a crisis that demands researcher’s attention, the tools they rely upon to recruit and survey participants have become much harder to implement.

Unsplash / Annie Spratt

COVID-19 vaccine update University Hospitals Bristol extends recruitment for Oxford Group’s COVID-19 vaccine

Francesca Levi Third Year, Biology

A

new round of recruitment to the second phase of a clinical trial for the COVID-19 Oxford Vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) has begun in Bristol.

Researchers at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and the University of Bristol are currently recruiting up to 150 healthy Bristol volunteers over the age of 70. The vaccine, designed by researchers from the University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group, is designed to protect healthy individuals against COVID-19.

The study will evaluate the vaccine’s safety and ability to generate a good immune response against the virus. Overall, phase two and three will be made up of 10,260 volunteers, including adults and children, in order to assess the response to the vaccine across different age groups. The trial will see

participants be randomly allocated to receive the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or a Men ACWY vaccine as a control. They will then do blood tests, nasal or throat swabs, and provide information about both COVID-19 related symptoms or any other symptoms that could have resulted from the vaccine itself and its potential side-effects.

Epigram spoke with Jack Lennard, University of Oxford graduate and a participant of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine trial in London: Which phase of the trial are you part of?

I’m in the phase two/three part of the trial. I applied for phase one, but their screening process took too long so it filled up for phase one. By the time I got the green light, I was offered a place for phase two/three. I ended up getting the initial injection at the start of June, 90 days ago.

Were there any specific requirements to take part in the study?

Health-wise, you couldn’t do it if

you had anything that would hinder your immune system. This means no history of cancer in the last five years, HIV, or hepatitis. They screen for that in person, even if you have already declared that you haven’t had it. They also wanted to check that I didn’t have any ongoing serious medical conditions. They asked if I took any medications in the screening session, and I jokingly said ‘Well, I had a hay fever pill the other day,' They then asked, ‘How many did you have?” and ‘When did you take it?' so I assume they must have had a pretty rigorous screening set up.

What were you asked to do for the trial?

It was different for each participant group. I am in group four. They gave us the vaccine, but they didn’t ask us to do an e-diary of the side effects because they’d already covered that in phase one. I need to take a COVID-19 home test every Wednesday and send it off via priority mail.

Every Saturday I have to do an ‘exposure questionnaire’, asking ques-

tions such as: 'How many people have you seen within close contact this week? How many times have you gone to a restaurant or a pub?

Has anyone is your household tested positive?' and so on.

That’s surprising to hear that you didn’t have to record any symptoms.

No, my group didn’t have to. We were just asked to let them know if we reported anything severe. They knew that it would cause aches and pains, maybe a bit of redness around the injection site, or a bit of swelling. Therefore, none of that was unexpected. The placebo that I might have got (who knows?), the meningitis vaccine, also has quite a few of those side effects, even though it’s been licensed for a few years now.

The researchers are thereby more interested about the efficacy of the vaccine, rather than its safety. They actually paused it one week because someone had an adverse reaction.

They emailed us today to let us know what had happened. It seems a very standard part of the whole thing.

Did you have to get a booster shot?

Yeah, I got one now, because they believe a booster series to maintain the immune response is the solution. I will have another visit in 30 days, and then 60, and then 90. The results they have been getting, so far, suggest that there is a peak immune response at three and a half weeks post initial injection. Although they don’t know how long it actually stays effective and whether a booster would extend that exponentially.

Jack Lennard

28 SciTech

epigram 06.10.2020

Bristol University scientists spearhead sustainable alternative to genetically modifying crops Nanoparticles could be key to the survival of one of the largest global industries: agriculture Dan Sarkar

Third Year, Chemistry

A

fter the worst wheat harvest the UK has seen in 40 years, an interdisciplinary group of Bristol University researchers are going against the grain by pioneering a new way of increasing crop yields using nanoparticles.

There will be an extra 2.5 billion mouths to feed globally by 2050.

With droughts and poor harvests becoming more common as a result of climate change, the art of maximising crop yields is fast becoming the best way to prevent a global food crisis in the near future.

Biotechnology has been portrayed as the most viable solution for decades, however with scrutiny and reluctance from the public to welcome genetically modified products onto supermarket shelves, scientists at the University of Bristol are providing an alternative route to solving this problem.

Epigram / Edward Deacon

around the world.

These carbon-based nanoparticles, coined ‘carbon dots’, can be as small as a nanometre in size – a million times smaller than a millimetre. By combining the carbon dots with glycan, a type of carbohydrate, the carbon dots can be absorbed by plants much more effectively. This allows as much as an 18% increase in grain yield in Triticum Aestivum, which constitutes 95 per cent of all wheat cultivated worldwide.

They also benefit from being naturally fluorescent, making their uptake easily monitored through a microscope.

These processes can be overcome using genetic modification or enzymes, but carbon dots offer another

Carbon dots benefit from being renewable, low-cost and completely non-toxic to humans solution to this ever-increasing global issue. With the public still being quite wary of genetic modification as a whole, the study has opened up a wealth of opportunity for research into non-biological ways to increase crop yields that are commercially viable. Carbon dots benefit from being

Epigram / Julia Riopelle

In a collaborative study conducted by the Schools of Chemistry, Biological and Life Sciences, researchers used a new type of nanoparticle to increase the amount of light that plants can turn into energy, and subsequently increase grain yields in a variety of wheat used ubiquitously

renewable, low-cost and completely non-toxic to humans.

The mass of the grain-bearing part of the plant was 18 per cent greater when grown with carbon dots, and the number of seeds produced increased by 12 per cent. The researchers also observed a decrease in the level of excess energy dissipated by the plants when treated with the nanoparticles, along with an increased rate of carbon dioxide passage through the plant itself, increasing the rate of photosynthesis substantially.

The reason for this dramatic in-

crease in crop yield is due to the intricate mechanisms behind photosynthesis. Plants naturally absorb more light than they can safely harness, which can lead to the formation of harmful oxidants that damage their tissue.

Thankfully, plants have in-built reactions that dissipate this excess energy and prevent the formation of these harmful molecules. This, however, limits how large a plant can grow. Other scientists have tweaked certain parts of these reactions to try

photosynthesis, such as producing textile production and biofuels.

Fuels like bioethanol or biodiesel have been projected to provide just under 30 per cent of the world’s transportation fuel by 2050, compared to just two per cent in 2011.

Incorporating carbon dots into plant soil used to grow fuel crops would provide both larger yields and a buffer for potential poor harvests in the future. If nanoparticles like carbon dots are used on a larger scale, they could play a major part in re-

Carbon dots can be as small as a nanometre and redirect excess energy into plant growth, but this is the first study to achieve significant results using nanoparticles.

The implications of this study could be huge, as the technique could be easily adapted for use in a range of other industries that utilise

lieving the high levels of stress on industries in the future to provide for a much larger populace.

As the effects of climate change become more prevalent, this new avenue for photosynthetic research will hopefully provide the renewable solution we are looking for.

Puzzles

Editor

If you need any help, contact the editor by emailing epigram.puzzles@gmail.com

Uni Halls Crossword

1 2

Fergus Ustianowski

Credit: Fergus Ustianowski, Puzzles Editor

3

4

Across

5 6 7 8

2.

5.

7.

8.

10.

9

11

10

12.

14.

16.

17.

12

A Stoke Bishop hall that celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2014 (6) The edge of a mound (8) Was longest-serving Chancellor from 1929-1965 (9) A large house on an estate (5) There is no finer hostel among the universities of the British Empire according to Winston Churchill (5) Died in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 (6) Heads of a University faculty (5) The name of the paddle steamer that crashed into the pier at the start of September (8) The closest halls of residence to The Apple (6)

Down

13

1.

3.

4.

5.

6.

9.

11.

13.

15.

14 15 16

17

Battleships

Train Tracks A train is departing Bristol Temple Meads (A) and travelling to Clifton Down (B). The number by the rows and columns indicate how many cells contain pieces of rail. The train track can move straight through a cell vertically or horizontally, or curve left or right, however, it cannot cross itself and must be one continuous rail.

Credit: Patrick Sullivan, EngD Composites Manufacture

1

3

4

6

2

Is called Crataegus and is a type of shrub (8) The other part of the Downs, not Clifton (7) The Bristolian who made it into the news as his statue was pulled down (6) This person helped the University get a royal charter (5,5) An elevation near the suspension bridge (7,4) Another name for a recently made Prison (3,9) The place where John Watson got married in the BBC series Sherlock (7) Is grouped with 16 and 17 across (7) To bring together (5)

2

There is an armada of two cruisers three squares long, two destroyers two squares long and three submarines one square each. Each ship occupies a number of squares on the grid, arranged horizontally or vertically. The ships are placed so that no ship touches any other ship, not even diagonally. Each row and column also has a number beside it indicating how many squares are occupied by ships, the aim is to find them all.

1

2

2

1

1

4

2 2

2

3

A

3

3

2

2

4

3

4 3 B

Solutions will be posted online at: epigram.org.uk/tag/puzzles facebook.com/epigrampaper If you would like to submit ideas for Puzzles, email epigram.puzzles@gmail.com

30 Sport

epigram 06.10.2020

Considering a sports society? Just do it!

As we start a new term in the midst of a pandemic, it would be very easy not to join a sports society. Here's why you should Rosie Neville

Second Year, Economics and Politics

T

he benefits of sports societies are often overlooked by students. It's understandable as people are often more concerned with settling in, making friends, focusing on their degree or drinking themselves silly. Despite this, the pros that come with joining a sports society can make all these adjustments at university considerably easier.

Furthermore, there is a vast range of sports available at Bristol; whether you want to get fitter through cross-country, tone up at pole dancing or nostalgically play benchball with PEGsoc. Keeping healthy at university is vital for your overall well-being, especially after those countless Tupperwares of pesto pasta and the blackout nights at the Cori Tap. Making Friends: Whether you get involved in your favourite sport or try a brand new one, sports so-

cieties are an excellent way to meet is a different story. Joining a sports new people and therefore make new society is a very good way to avoid friends at university. This is especial- this. Regular exercise gets your heart ly true as you already have some- really pumping, something which is thing in common with both new and proven to improve cardiovascular existing members of the club. These health and weight management. This friendships can only be strengthened is especially relevant for university after eventful sports nights on the students, as living on your own for triangle and long coach trips to and the first time makes falling into unfrom games. healthy habits so easy.

Mental Health: Maybe you had Career prospects: It may sound a an intense day at the library feeling bit left-field, but being a member of your brain turn to mush, or perhaps a sports team may help your employyou’ve been in your room binge- ability. ing How I Met Your Mother, sport is Firstly, you learn important interan invaluable way to improve your personal skills like teamwork, commental health. mitment, time At university, it management and Bristol is one of the is normal to find leadership. Sectop 10 universities for yourself feeling ondly, physically sporting achievement in healthy and aclonely, lost or the UK. stressed. It may tive people are be that you’re positively correstruggling to fit in or you're worried lated with higher incomes and higher about a looming deadline. grade averages. In addition to this, Either way, exercise has been sci- being in a sports society provides entifically shown to produce ‘hap- people with the opportunity to take piness chemicals’ like endorphins, on a committee role, giving you exdopamine and serotonin. Indeed, perience that is hard to gain anyexercise has been proven to reduce where else. stress by 20 per cent.

Having fun: A pretty obvious reaPhysical health: I’m sure it's no son for joining a sports society is that shock to you that exercise is benefi- they are enjoyable. If you are already cial to your physical health. Howev- a keen sportsperson, Bristol is one of er, actually bringing yourself to do it the top 10 universities for sporting

...Continued from back page: The University Boat Club has also taken to the water again with a gruelling five-week pre-season.

This time has been well spent clocking up many miles on the water, and strength training in the gym.

Though it is unlikely that there will be many races this side of Christmas, the early start has still been a great opportunity to improve technique and welcome some new members into the club. Some members to watch out for are brothers Robert and John Davies, and Robbie Prosser who are preparing to trial for Great Britain this year.

The process will look very different this year, for obvious reasons, and there will be no on-the-water trials.

Instead they will be submitting ‘ERG scores' consisting of a two-kilometre, five kilometre and a 30 minute test.

With all three of the trialists break- in which to practice tackling, most of ing their two kilometre personal bests the focus has been on skills such as this summer, they stand in good stead hand-eye coordination and evasion. to make the squad.

However, all this will surely benefit Back on dry them in the new land, the Uni- Over 50 of the men have season and for versity Rugby the rest of the returned to Bristol to build year as they push club has seen a up fitness after a long huge change in to reach BUCS and potentially lethargic Superleague. the way they can train due to COVBadminton will lockdown ID-19 restrictions. also suffer a later Fortunately, howstart to the season ever, they are still having a success- due to COVID-19 restrictions Howevful pre-season. With a limited scope er, they will be playing in the Great

UBWRFC

achievement in the UK and has multiple high achieving sports teams.

As a top-level athlete, you will therefore have the opportunity to reach your full sporting potential.

Even if you don’t see yourself as an elite athlete, there are also intramural or development teams which are a less competitive and more relaxed environment than the demands of a BUCS team. Furthermore, if ‘traditional’ sports aren’t your thing, Bristol has you covered with clubs such as PE Games Society, Quidditch

teams and NERF soc.

I hope this article has opened your eyes to the myriad of sporting opportunities available to you as a student here, as well as the range of benefits that come with university sports societies. It is an unspoken truth that opportunities to spontaneously join a sports club beyond university life are few and far between. Keep an eye out for the ‘Give it A Go’ sessions which run throughout October. They give you the perfect chance to try different sports and chose the perfect one.

Grace Ward-Allen

University of Bristol Boat Club

Western 4, a competition consisting of tournament days against Bath, Cardiff, and Exeter Universities. Both the men’s and women’s First teams are ones to watch out for, with an aim to finish in the top half of the Southern Premiership next season.

The club has also focussed its efforts on developing stronger relationships with its alumni in order to field more competitive play.

Netball, like Rugby, have also seen a change in the way they can compete. An introduction of four foot marking instead of one on one,

and the removal of toss ups will be a complete change for the players.

Like all other sports, the cancellation of BUCS has completely altered the competitive side to the game.

Epigram spoke to first team Captain, Joanna Leslie. She stated that, ‘Though COVID has brought a huge change to the way we can compete, at least we will have plenty of time to improve our skills for the new season in January.'

This year will certainly bring unprecedented challenges for all University sports teams. It is important

The teams to watch in 2020/21: • Men's Hockey Club • The Davies brothers and Robbie Prosser • Men's Rugby Club • Badminton • Netball to remember that Coronavirus has not brought an end to competition, but merely changed it. In this article alone there are certainly many teams and individuals to watch out for without even mentioning a host of others who are shooting for the stars.

With any luck, the teams can make the most of a bad situation.

Sport 31

epigram 06.10.2020

An (almost) A-Z of lesser-spotted sports

E

A F

B G

C H

D J

K

L

M

N

P

Q

R

S

T

U

Third Year, Spanish and Russian

xpedition Society: they organise weekly outdoor excursions for those who wish to swap the city for walking, climbing or mountaineering. Perfect for adventurers. rav Maga: for anyone eager to learn to defend themselves in real-life situations, Krav Maga Society is a really good place to start.

rchery: although they enter competitions every year, this is a fun club open to everyone who wishes to pick up a bow. encing: the fencing team regularly takes part in competitions against other universities, but also offers training sessions for complete beginners. atin American And Ballroom Dancing: BULABDS offers social and team classes teaching various dances, from Rumba and Paso Doble to Waltz and Tango.

razilian Jiu-Jitsu: a submission grappling martial art.

They train twice a week and are open to all abilities. aelic Athletic Association: this society offers the opportunity for students to experience Irish sports such as hurling, handball and Gaelic football. otorsport: with UBMS, karting and F1 fans can come together for events including the British Universities Karting Championship, F1 socials and regular karting sessions. uidditch: definitely the most fun club to join at University.

The Bristol Quidditch Club is very active and competes around the UK and Europe every year.

Patrick Metcalfe

We all know football, what abou ballooning?

Jenny Barruol

rampolining: offering recreational as well as competitive opportunities and regular socials, the Trampoline Club will sweep you off your feet in every single way

W

anoe Club: the Canoe Club involves kayaking, canoe polo, and surfing as well as regular trips to the Brunel Lock Pitch. ot Air Ballooning: in some ways, BUHABS is the most ‘Bristol’ society about. For an affordable membership, you can fly in the iconic University Balloon. erf: NerfSoc offers their members games of Zombies, King of the Hill, Capture the Flag, Thunderdome and more. For just four pounds anyone can become a member. ounders: as a mixed club, the Rounders Society is open to everyone. They hold training sessions every Wednesday on the Downs. nderwater Club: UBUC are a well-established club and teach skills such as scuba diving (obviously), Nitrox blending, underwater photography and more.

indsurfing: Bristol Windsurfing Club is very welcoming and organises regular day trips to the sea and great socials. Most likely the club with the best summer tours.

arts: Darts is open to any Bristol student aiming to better their skills competitively or join a fun, socialable club.

udo Club: UBJC is one of the fastest developing sports teams in Bristol. It offers high quality training sessions for both beginners and advanced Judoka. ool and Snooker: with many talented medallists here, the club is a very successful and active team but they still run more relaxed weekly snooker sessions for amateurs.

ynchronised Swimming: this artistic yet physical sport is fairly new to the University and runs different types of classes such as SynchroFun or SynchroFitness.

V

olleyball: the Volleyball Club has Women’s and Men’s teams which play competitively or socially. Of course the club is very socially active too.

Y

oga: brings together a large number of students who wish to perfect their yoga skills

Sport

Editor Digital Editor Deputy Editor Match Day Reporter

Twitter: @EpigramSport

Eddie McAteer Daniel Dyson James Dowden Charlotte Carver

A new normal for university sport

We all know it will be strange, but just how different will sport be this year?

Maxwell Livesey

Third Year, Law inding a ‘new normal’ for sport in the midst of a pandemic is an uncertain task.

Without the funding and capabilities to test players regularly as has been done with the Premier League restart or to create an NBA-style ‘bubble’, universities are left with the uphill challenge of finding a balance between keeping students safe whilst allowing them to play.

Sport at the University of Bristol is a fundamental part of university life for a large number of students, giving them the opportunity to make friends whilst being beneficial for their physical and mental health.

With most teams training multiple times a week and Wednesdays dedicated to matches and socials, incoming Freshers will be eager to know what impact Covid-19 is going to have on their ability to take part in sports.

In BUCS’ ‘Return to Play’ statement on September 3 they announced that although the Leagues and Knockout

F

programme will not commence in TB1, there will be ‘an opt-in competition with regional leagues’.

BUCS have stressed that this ‘optin competition’ will focus on fun and participation instead of on performance, and there will therefore be no rewards associated with the matches being played. Regardless, the opportunity for competitive sport during a time filled with endless safety measures and restrictions is an exciting prospect for returning and incoming students alike.

Sadly for students, the government’s announcement on September 9 that from September 14 social gatherings would be limited to six people prevents sports societies from organising socials for the ‘foreseeable future’.

Although organised sports are exempt from this rule and are scheduled to go ahead at the University, measures are being taken to control the spread of Covid-19 and keep students safe.

The SU have committed to supporting sports clubs to continue to offer the best possible experience for their members, whilst keeping them safe and complying with the prevailing government guidance.

The SU and SEH expect clubs to

hold Covid-safe versions of their training. For some sports, this will mean that trainings remain relatively similar to before the pandemic, however sports with higher degrees of physical contact may have restrictions on contact and/or how many students can train in proximity.

Rushab Shah, Bristol SU Sport and Student Development Officer, said, ‘Sport is a big part of many students' university experience and whilst it might look a bit different this year I hope that people will continue to get involved with their club or try something new.’ The use of online platforms, such as Zoom, for communicating and socialising will play a significant role in sport this term as they have already done over summer. Societies will not only have to recruit freshers and promote themselves through the University’s virtual Freshers’ Fair but will also have to plan online socials to replace clubbing and house parties.

Virtual socials are likely to be the unfortunate reality for TB1, or at least until measures on social gatherings are lifted. However, after the long periods of time spent in lockdown throughout the summer, social secs are likely to have a few

University of Bristol Volleyball Club

Zoom pub quizzes and other activities planned for Wednesday sports nights. Another benefit of online socials is that everyone’s pockets will remain that little bit fuller.

One sports team that has had to change their approach to trainings, matches and socials is the University of Bristol Basketball Club.

Try-outs, which usually attract hundreds of people, have been separated out across multiple sessions to limit the number of people using University facilities.

Further, the number of players on each of the men’s and women’s squad will also be reduced so that trainings can continue to go ahead.

Similarly, equipment, as with many other sports like volleyball (pic-

tured), must be sanitised regularly.

As other sports around the University are likely to take similar precautions and measures, students should take comfort in knowing that everything that can be done to allow sports to continue is being done.

Unfortunately, in an ever-changing scenario we can only make predictions as to how sport will look this year at university, and by the time this article is published the rules may have already changed.

The current picture of our ‘new normal’ certainly lacks the elements of excitement and anticipation one would usually associate with novelty. We can all only hope that this ‘new normal’ is a just a ‘temporary normal’.

Epigram's five teams to watch for the new season With plenty of time to get some training in, which UoB teams should you be keeping an on?

Lexi Bothamley-Dakin

SmifSports Photography

Second Year, History

O

ver the last few weeks, we have seen a return to pre-season for many of the University’s sports teams. After a long hiatus over the summer months it has been great to see the sides return to some form of normality.

The start of pre-season also gives us a chance to highlight which teams we should keep an eye on for any potential success. Epigram has been

in contact with a range of societies returning until January 4, the first to gauge what this first season will four teams have been entered into look like in the age of COVID-19, Saturday League Competitions. Simand what will constitute success for ilarly, the fifth and sixth teams have these teams. organised local friendlies against the One of the clubs to look out for University of the West of England. this year is the Men’s Hockey team.

The first team has already played With both the men’s and women’s four pre-season games, beating Bath teams returning to pre-season on Buccaneers, Cheltenham Hockey September 7, they have been trainClub, and earning an impressive ing hard over the The start of pre-season 2-1 win against last few weeks.

Exeter Universigives us a chance to This pre-season ty. Head Coach, has seen a fantas- highlight which teams we Ben Dudley has tic turnout, with stated: ‘We have should keep an eye on over 50 of the a squad full of men coming down to Bristol to build quality and depth and will be lookup their fitness after what has been a ing to challenge at the top of Englong and potentially lethargic lockland Hockey’s West Conference.' down. With BUCS competition not Continued on page 30...