University of Bristol Independent Student Newspaper
www.epigram.org.uk
1st February 2016
‘You could save a life’ Hundreds sign up to bone marrow registry
Issue 296
Features Bristol students tackle #TheHomelessPeriod
Page 7 Epigram/Lara Glantz
Noa Leach News Reporter
Letters Freya Spriggs reaches out to Bristolians to defend the student population
Page 14
Volunteers at the #matchforlara drive were inundtaed with students hoping to donate. Over 400 students signed up for the Anthony Nolan Register on 25th January 2016.
With a team of almost 50 volunteers, the donor drives were successful in spreading the word among students. Student donors at the drive were keen to show their support. One Bristol medic commented on the limited ethnicity of the donor registry.
‘The ethnicity of people who give donations is very limited,’ they said. ‘It’s so important, especially in somewhere like Bristol where there’s so much diversity. I think everyone can give some spit in a tube as it takes five minutes. If that can save a life, that’s the most important thing.’ Bone marrow donors usually have the same ethnicity as their recipient. Hannah Haddad, a friend of Casalotti’s, was present at the donor drive and highlighted the importance of such events for improving diversity in the
In a recent video online Casalotti thanked everyone for all the support. ‘I’d like to thank everyone who has helped spread the word,’ she said, ‘and I’d like to thank especially everyone who’s already gone out to sign up to the donor registries. It’s really important that people do sign up and not just for me, but you could potentially be saving someone else’s life who’s in a similar position.’ ‘I have known the Casalottis for as long as I can remember and I don’t think I know any other family who could have responded in such a wonderful way. By campaigning to diversify registries around the world, not only are they helping Lara to find a match, but they are saving so many lives globally,’ said Hayley Deaner. As Deaner highlights, the campaign will improve the chances of blood-cancer sufferers all over the world. Haddad added that, ‘one in ten registries go on to save a life. So if the whole university signs up, hundreds will go on to save someone’s life. ‘That’s how important this is.’ If you missed the drives, you can still join the registry at www.match4lara.com.
Flickr / Paul; Chapman
Style ‘Bristol is the perfect place to launch a start-up’ Epigram chats to House of Junk cofounder Nicki Silvanus
Page 25
Food Julia Pritchard reviews new bakery, Pinkmans Page 29
Arts Helena Napier explores 250 years of the Bristol Old Vic Flickr: David McKelvey
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‘One in ten registries go on to save a life. So if the whole university signs up, hundreds will go on to save someone’s life.’
registry. ‘Universities are key areas to recruit stem cell donors because students are generally young and healthy and we’ve got people studying here from all over the world,’ Haddad said. The determination of the volunteer team emphasised the importance of this cause. ‘At the end of the day, we’ve got 700 kits and we’re determined to use them all up. That’s 700 lives potentially being saved, so hopefully every little bit we do will help.’ Within three hours, 200 of those kits had been sealed for testing. At the time of publication, over 400 people had signed up to the Anthony Nolan register, with the number looking set to increase. The campaign, with nearly 15,000 members on its global Facebook community, has certainly had an international reach. Support for the campaign has been shown by Bristol mayor George Ferguson, Stephen Fry, and even the Prime Minister. At last week’s Prime Minister’s Question Time, Labour MP Tulip Siddiq requested that David Cameron join her in a donor drive in Casalotti’s constituency in London, to which the Prime Minister expressed his support.
Epigram/ Sorcha Bradley
A campaign is running to find a bone marrow match for Lara Casalotti, a graduate of the University of Bristol who was recently diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia). The #match4lara campaign is running in conjunction with the charity Anthony Nolan, a charity that manages and recruits donors to the Anthony Nolan & NHS Stem Cell Registry, the registry which lists potential bone marrow donors. The 24 year old learned of the aggressive form of blood cancer while working on a social project in Thailand over Christmas and she needs to find a donor by April. Casalotti studied Geography at Bristol and was an active SU volunteer and campaigner, passionate about refugee issues and human rights. She is now in London, taking an MSc in Global Migration at UCL. Two donor drives ran on Monday 25th January at the UoB Sports Centre and Badock Hall. Students were given the opportunity to join the bone marrow register, which involved filling out a form and spitting in a tube – a 10 minute process. ‘We’re appealing to anyone,’ said Casalotti’s brother Seb in a video designed to promote the campaign, ‘especially those of mixed race, to do something as simple as spitting into a cup to potentially help people like Lara and others in the future.’ With a mixed ethnicity of Chinese, Thai and Italian, Casalotti’s marrowmatch is likely to be of mixed race heritage. However, as only three per cent of donors in the current global stem cell registry are of mixed race, this is especially hard to find. The #match4lara therefore also aims to diversify the donor registers. Before the drive, Hayley Deaner, a family friend of Casalotti’s, commented on the ‘incredible’ response of the student community. ‘Hopefully this will help us see Bristol’s most successful drive on Monday. It’s important that people know how simple it is for them to save someone’s life.’
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Epigram
01.02.2015
News Editorial Inside Epigram Science and Tech 12 Examining the dynamics of stress David Simpson explores the science behind the stress we probably all felt around exam time.
Flickr / Brittney Bush Bollay
Living 20 My Everyday Drug Problem Living Editor Will Soer describes his battle with his addiction to a surprising drug
2 Editor: Sarah Newey
Deputy Editor: Adam Becket
Deputy Editor: Becki Murray
editor@epigram.org.uk
abecket@epigram.org.uk
becki.murray@epigram.org.uk
A note from the editor
2016 is in full swing now; most of us have broken our New Year’s resolutions, term has began in ernest and, somehow, it’s February (anyone want to explain to me where January went..?) This week, I’ve been fortunate enough to spend some time working as a researcher at The Sunday Times Magazine. This means that, for once, I’ve been able to read the content which is usually hidden behind a pay wall. One of the articles which caught my eye was an opinion piece, in which Katie Glass explains why, in hindsight, she wishes she hadn’t gone to uni. A controversial argument, for sure, but all the same an interesting and compelling one. The article suggests that students no longer enjoy the freedom university once provided for two main reasons: financial restrictions caused by fee increases; and the introduction of safe space policies, which arguably means less experimentation with ideas. Consequently, Katie wrote that although she enjoyed her time as a student, she wishes she’d been ‘clever enough not to go to uni’: a degree was not essential to her current career in journalism, and she feels she would have gained more learning on the job than doing an English degree. This argument stuck in my mind, although I don’t entirely agree with it. Sure, I might only have four hours of contact hours, but I do genuinely feel like I’ve gained something from studying History - not only knowledge, but also key skills such as research and crafting an argument; skills I have put to use this week. But that’s not to say I feel entirely satisfied with the course at Bristol. I regularly can’t find the books I need in the ASS, or a seat, and I think that the quality of teaching and the marking standards varies too much from tutor to tutor. While having four hours a week has given me a flexible timetable (which is very useful as Editor of Epigram) it too can get a bit frustrating. Where’s my £9,000 going? So onto the first aspect of Katie’s argument: money. The question of funding higher education is an issue for students, parents and universities alike, and will be hotly debated in 2016. What with the outcome of the Government’s green paper on Higher Education - which proposed raise fees in line with
inflation for institutions for the highest ranking universities - and the plans to scrap maintenance grants in favour of more loans, funding of universities could see dramatic changes. The obvious concern here is that higher education will become more elitist and less accessible; equal opportunity should be something valued, not restricted. Increased financial burden does put more pressure on students, but this shouldn’t be a deterrent, and doesn’t necessarily restrict freedoms or independence. While Katie may argue that a degree doesn’t always enable you
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Discussion is important, and by avoiding discussion it actually gives more prevalence and power to those whose ideas we disagree with. to better complete your job, there remains evidence suggesting that those with a degree earn £12,000 a year more than those without. Attending university isn’t for everyone, but everyone should have the option. Safe space policies are also hugely contentious; Katie’s suggestion that they limit experimentation isn’t a new perspective, or one I disagree with. Yes, words are powerful, and should not be used to spread prejudice, fuel violence, or cause certain groups to feel unsafe or isolated. Yet just because we disagree with somebody - whether that person Donald Trump or Milo Yiannopoulos - doesn’t mean we shouldn’t engage with them. Discussion is important, and by avoiding discussion it actually gives more prevalence and power to those whose ideas we disagree with. However, safe space policies are not a reason not to attend university - and focusing on this issue over positives - such as the value of being part of a society, the self-motivation developed or the excitement of exploring a new city. Nonetheless, Katie raises significant issues in her article; ones which impact us all and will characterise 2016.
Sarah Newey
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Epigram/ Will Soer
Film + TV 37
“After all this time? Always”
Sam Mason-Jones looks back at the life and career of Alan Rickman 1946-2016
Sport 48 New Year, New Gym The University spends £300,000 on Tyndall Avenue gym
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News
Epigram 01 .02.2015
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Bristol students rank high in employability Ben Kew News Reporter Bristol is the 4th most targeted University by top employers, ahead of both Oxford and Cambridge, a major new report has revealed. The study, carried out by High Flyers Research last December, examined variables such as graduate vacancies, starting salaries and undergraduate internship programs at the country’s top 100 employers, such as the BBC, Google, Apple, Amazon and Marks and Spencer.
The news will come as a boost to the new ViceChancellor Hugh Brady plans to improve aspects such as student experience, teaching quality and expanding alumni networks. Brady told Epigram,
graduates, something of which, as an institution and as a careers service, we are tremendously proud.”
‘Bristol attracts some of the best students and produces some of the most employable graduates’ The report found that the other most targeted Universities include Manchester, Nottingham, Warwick, Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford, UCL, Durham, Bath and Leeds. All of them form part of the Russell Group. Other findings from the report showed an increase in graduate employment by top employers rose by 3.3% in 2015 as employers seek to expand their graduate recruitment schemes and internship opportunities, with the median graduate salary remaining at roughly £30,000. Bristol students graduating last year.
Epigram/Sorcha Alice Hankin Bradley
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‘Employers actively target those campuses where they know they’ll find the best cadidates’
‘Employers actively target those campuses where they know they’ll find the best candidates for their roles. I am therefore extremely pleased with this excellent result which clearly shows employers know Bristol attracts some of the best students, and that our staff work hard to ensure our graduates are career-ready.’ With plummeting rankings and student satisfaction in recent years, 2016 has seen Bristol finally climb back up the overall rankings for ‘The Complete University Guide’ from 18th to 15th position. The findings will undoubtedly improve University’s reputation as a whole. Many will argue that post-University employability is the most important statistic of all, with the majority ‘ of students pursuing higher education in order to improve their career chances. Stuart Johnson, Director of Bristol’s Careers Service, said: “Bristol has for a long time been a university heavily targeted by top employers but it is particularly gratifying to be at our highest position in the report since High Fliers began their Graduate Market Review in 2004. “Bristol attracts some of the best students and produces some of the most employable
Oh no, that’s (not) the ticket!
Students scammed on popular student web ticketing group Ed Henderson-Howat Online Editor
ToothbrushBakingIt seems ‘Pritchard’ deployed an inventive range of excuses for her delay in replying This was particularly unfortunate for Rosie Hammond who was buying the ticket for a friend coming to visit for her birthday weekend.
for fraudsters and fakes.
Imogen McIntosh
Students regularly buy and sell tickets events from the Facebook group ‘Clifton and Stoke Bishop Tickets’.
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‘If they only have two photos and no friends they’re almost certainly a scam account.’
Details remain thin at this early stage but, given the ease of creating a profile and joining the group, it could be that there is one individual acting behind different profiles. There is therefore no insinuation that the girl in the Facebook profile is necessarily linked to the scam. Dan Freedman, a second year linguist, told us that he ‘bought a ticket for regression sessions for 20 quid from someone called Sarah Holden. ‘I’d sent her the money but she never sent the ticket. When I tried to find her using her profile, everything about her had vanished and her picture had changed. ‘I think maybe it’s the same person creating different Facebook accounts to scam money out of people’. Third year computer scientist, Freddie Caira, came close to falling into the trap but realised that ‘there was absolutely no guarantee that she would send me anything after I’d transferred money’. ‘I would always pay in person for physical tickets. If they only have two photos and no friends they’re almost certainly a scam account’. Groups like Clifton and Stoke Bishop Tickets can be invaluable when it comes to last minute buying and selling but one should always be on the lookout
Imogen McIntosh
What was meant to be a fun night out at Motion after exams has turned into a disaster for a number of students who have been scammed by a rogue Facebook user on the popular ticketing group ‘Clifton and Stoke Bishop Tickets’. Numerous students wanting to go to the popular Regression Sessions night this Saturday had been in touch with ‘Annabelle Pritchard’ who would would send over a fake ticket or block them after the money had been transferred. Nia Price, a second year historian, raised the issue on the buying and selling Facebook group this afternoon, warning others not to fall into the same trap. Comments from other students quickly made it clear that Price was not alone in being scammed and ‘Annabelle Pritchard’ was swiftly blocked from the group. Price, who spent £50 on tickets, told Epigram that ‘After being ignored, I sent her another message asking for her to send me the tickets, but had been blocked on Facebook. ‘It says on her profile she works in Topshop so I went there to see if I could speak to her, but no one with that name has worked there recently.’
‘I think maybe it’s the same person creating different Facebook accounts to scam money out of people’. Another victim of the scam, second year vet student Ailis Hunter, told Epigram she is ‘massively annoyed’ but is ‘gathering the other victims of this to go to the police station tomorrow’. It seems ‘Annabelle’ used a range of excuses for not sending over the ticket from baking to cleaning her teeth before disappearing into the night.
Imogen McIntosh
The scam account which left many students out of pocket.
Epigram 01.02.2015
4
University responds to fossil divestment calls Dalia Abu Yassien Deputy News Editor
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‘We need to understand the urgency behind the Paris Agreement’
funds, one that specifically responds to the challenges of fossil fuel dependence.’ The University Board of Trustees is made up of 22 members, including the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, the Treasurer, and up to 15 lay members elected by the University Court. The proposal is a positive step forward ensuring all the university’s investments remain ethical and sustainable. However, there remains uncertainty about the timeline of the implementation of the divestment strategy; meanwhile, the December 2015 international Paris Agreement underlined the importance of urgency, stating that unless 90% of remaining fossil reserves remain untouched, the planet could warm by a further 1.5 degrees. The move follows a number of initiatives from
Student activist group Fossil Free campaign for divestment in November last year.
the Bristol branch of the nationwide activist group Fossil Free amid a growing global need to rigorously tackle climate change. A petition to divest which garnered over 2000 signatures was publicly and symbolically handed to the Vice Chancellor last November, and the issue has been the subject of an informal debate. The group is strongly supported by some staff at the University of Bristol, including many members of the Cabot Institute. A third year student commented, ‘We need
Jamie Corbin
Months of student activism and pressure has generated a response from the University Board of Trustees as they discussed the issue of fossil fuel divestment during a meeting last week. The university stated, ‘The issue of fossil fuel disinvestment is complex, and has been the subject of several discussions within our University, including by our Board of Trustees last week. ‘The contributions of our University to issues related to climate change are far wider than the role played by our endowment investment policy. We teach and research the issues around sustainability and climate change in fields ranging from climatology, resources, societal behaviour, regulation and policy to environmental history, and provide the evidence base that informs policy. In addition, as a civic institution the University plays a major role in seeking to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. We are a longstanding partner in the city’s Bristol Green Capital Partnership, and we were proud to be a partner in Bristol’s European Green Capital 2015 programme. ‘The Board recognises the risks posed by high levels of fossil fuel consumption and encourages the University to engage appropriately with the issues driving the campaign for disinvestment. We recognise also that the situation is complex. All businesses consume fossil fuels and many are involved in some dimension of the supply chain associated
with fossil fuel extraction and consumption. All businesses can also play a role in helping the world to move to a low-carbon future. ‘The University has a variety of investments, and the majority of our endowment investments are in a pooled fund. Last week, the Board approved a proposal from the University to investigate an alternative managed fund in which to hold its endowment
to understand the urgency behind the Paris agreement. Those were some concerning statistics, and I hope that this decision was made wholeheartedly with the environment in mind.’ An investigation by the Bristol Cable in July 2015 revealed that the university has invested over 5.5m pounds in companies such as Shell Oil and BP. Many felt that this was at odds with the university’s commendable environmentallygeared achievements as part of Bristol Green Capital 2015.
Labour Mayoral candidate urges students to make their voice heard in next May election Young People and Voter Registration, stressed how important it was for ‘young people to have a voice’ by voting in May. The changes to voting registration brought in by the Conservative government are a ‘backwards step’ and ‘anti-voting’ according to Miss de Piero, as each individual has to register to vote under new regulations. The Labour Party estimate that a possible 7,000 voters have fallen off the electoral register in lieu of the registration changes. Before the changes, one person could block register a house or even a halls of residence, making it easier for students to participate. The nomadic nature of student living and lack of organisation can cause huge numbers of students to drop off the register without even realising it. Miss de Piero told Epigram that the government ‘doesn’t want students to have a vote’, as they are more likely to vote for Labour.
Labour politicians campaigning in Bristol told Epigram that the student vote is ‘massively important’ to the party ahead of the mayoral, council and the police and crime commissioner elections this May.
Shadow cabinet members Gloria de Piero MP and Jon Ashworth MP, along with Bristol mayoral candidate Marvin Rees, were at Clifton Down Shopping Centre trying to encourage people to register to vote, particularly students. Bristol Labour Students, the University of Bristol’s Labour society, was also helping at the registration drive. Gloria de Piero, the Shadow Minister for
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Adam Becket Deputy Editor
Epigram/Thomas Phipps
Epigram’s Adam Becket speaks to Labour politicians at Clifton Down Shopping Centre last week.
‘The last thing David Cameron wants is a Labour mayor’
Last year’s drive by the University of Bristol’s Students’ Union to get students registered to vote was a huge success and partly responsible for the impressive turnout of 70 per cent in the Clifton West constituency, which was as high as 85 per cent in some areas. Darren Hall, the Green Party candidate for Bristol West last May, told Epigram at the time that the Students’ Union had ‘done well to get so many people involved’ and that ‘the real winner is democracy.’
The turnout at the last mayoral election was only 27 per cent and it is feared that this year’s election will suffer due to the change in voter registration. Mr Rees, the Labour mayoral candidate, emphasised the need for students and young people to get involved in politics and promised to ‘stand up for the city to Westminster’ over issues that affect the whole city, including changes to student fees and funding. Jon Ashworth, shadow minister without portfolio, urged students who are ‘angry that Conservatives pushed through the abolition of maintenance grants,’ to ‘send the government a message in May’ in the mayoral election. ‘The last thing David Cameron wants is a Labour mayor’ Mr Ashworth added, as the Labour Party seek to get back on track. Labour came second in the last, and inaugural, Bristol mayoral election to George Ferguson by 6,000 votes. Mr Ferguson is running for a second term as an independent candidate in May. Mr Rees will be running for the post of Mayor for his second time. The three Labour politicians all spoke of the need to combat inequality in the country, and increase social mobility. Miss de Piero pointed at the figure of youth unemployment in this country, which currently stands at 628,000 according to latest figures, down 58,000 from the previous quarter and that the UK currently has the lowest level of home ownership for young people. The MP for Ashfield also slammed the Conservative government for ‘pulling down ladders’ in this country. Mr Rees highlighted the need to improve social mobility, stating he found ‘elitist Britain’ irksome and that social mobility should allow people at the top to fall as well as those at the bottom to rise.
Epigram
01.02.2016
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Bristol rowers take on the Atlantic Ocean Abbie Scott Deputy News Editor
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The competitors are prepared for tough conditions, including up to 40 foot waves
Freddie Wright, 21, has joined forces with his best friend Jack Galsworthy and together they are attempting to break the world record as the youngest pair, calling themselves ‘The Atlantic Castaways’. The record is currently held by a fellow University of Bristol student Jamie Sparks and his friend Luke Birch. Wright and Galsworthy will be rowing constant shifts of two hours on and two hours off in order to make a better time. The average time for a pair to complete the race is 55 to 60 days, but
the pair are hopeful to beat this if the weather complies. Wright, a second year Mechanical Engineer, only recently started rowing and joined the University of Bristol Rowing Club. The pair have raised £88,000 in sponsorship and a further £16,000 for the Brain Research Trust having both been personally affected by brain related illnesses in their families. On a recent blog post from January 16th the boys described the conditions they are dealing with. ‘We have never been so uncomfortable! On
Monday morning we threw out the sea parachute once headwinds got too strong to row against and we lashed everything down before moving into the cabin. The cabin is just long enough for our heads and feet to touch either end and not quite wide enough for us to be shoulder to shoulder.’ If you are interested in following the progress of both teams, more information about Callum’s progress can be found on the Waterbabies website. Freddie and Jack can be followed on the Atlantic Castaways website.
Bristol University
Bristol students are currently rowing 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Taking part in the ‘world’s toughest endurance race’, they started the challenge in December in La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, and will finish in Antigua. The competitors are prepared for tough conditions, including up to 40 foot waves, sharks, sunstroke and sleep deprivation. Callum Gathercole, 20, is facing the challenge alone and aiming to achieve the title of youngest solo rower, beating the current record holder who is 22 years old. He has taken time out of his Aerospace Engineering degree for the race which could take up to 100 days. Having taken an interest in rowing from a young age, Gathercole has rowed at Henley Royal Regatta, represented England at the Home International in 2011 and GB in European and World Internationals in 2012 and 2013. He currently rows for the University of Bristol and recently completed a 100,000 metre row in just seven hours to create a new under-19s lightweight world record. The Taliskey Whisky Atlantic Challenge is by far Gathercole’s biggest challenge yet, both physically and mentally, as he attempts the race
with just his boat ‘small and mighty’. The reason he has committed to this feat is to raise money for Brain Tumour Research, the Princess Alice Hospice and BRACE Alzheimer’s Research in memory of his father who died from a brain tumour in 2012. He is aiming to raise £280,000 and has already raised an impressive 80 per cent of this target.
The Atlantic Castaways: Jack Galsworthy and Freddie Wright
University residences: high costs and lack of diversity The majority of students at the University of Bristol believe that the university residences are too expensive and lack diverse student bodies, the results of a survey conducted by Epigram suggest. 268 students responded to Epigram’s survey, with the vast majority claiming that their maintenance loans did not cover the cost of their rent in first year, let alone their total living costs. The results also showed that only a little more than one quarter of students believe that the university does enough to ensure their halls of residences have a diverse mix of students.
The maximum amount of money that a student can currently receive in loans and grants from the government totals £7,434. However, according to the university’s accommodation website, a number of halls have rents which exceed this. The majority of places at Churchill Hall cost over £7000 and the cheapest rooms are £6,698. The high prices in some halls of residence are reflected in their intake. In the 2014/2015 academic year, the university accepted 4524 students, 35 per cent of whom were from independent (fee-paying) schools. However, for that same year, 69 per cent of students in Churchill Hall were from independent schools. ‘Students come to university to meet a huge range of people but currently our catered halls have a disproportionately high number of
students from independent schools and halls in Stoke Bishop have very few international students’, Sarah Redrup, the SU’s Student Living Officer, said. Redrup also said that whilst some students are put off from applying to some residences due to financial barriers, ‘a major reason is often the way that halls are marketed to prospective students.’ Student reactions to whether the University residences has diverse student bodies were mixed, with one student describing the fact that expensive halls contain more students from richer backgrounds as ‘something of a tautology’, whilst another called it an ‘unacceptable segregation’. Stoke Bishop hall prices were also found to be about 20 per cent higher than rents in other areas of the city. However, the university have stressed that this is due to the fact that many of them are catered and will therefore save students money they would otherwise have spent on food. ‘We work hard to create a broad student community at each residence by ensuring that we have a mix of faculties, home and overseas students and also male/female students. We recognise that some students prefer some types of residences over others and that this may partly relate to cost’, a spokesperson for the university told Epigram. The survey also revealed that 63 per cent of
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Stoke Bishop hall prices found to be about 20 per cent higher than rents in other areas of the city
Epigram/ Ben Parr
Wills Hall: the average yearly rent for a single room is £7,338
students believe that accommodation prices at Bristol will put off potential applicants from applying to the university. ‘Accommodation costs are clearly a problem here at Bristol given how expensive the city is and the increases in rents across halls of residences we have seen over the last couple of years. ‘We have long campaigned as an SU for more
- 56 per cent said the University does not do enough to make sure halls have a diverse mix of students - 63 per cent said they think accommodation prices at Bristol put some students off applying
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Ben Parr Investigations Editor
affordable rents in halls of residences and a greater variety of prices to ensure that every student has a place that they can afford’, Redrup said.
63 per cent believe that accommodation prices at Bristol put off potential applicants
One student who responded to Epigram’s survey claimed that they relied on working over 20 hours a week to afford their living costs. Another student said that they do not think potential applicants realise how expensive Bristol is when they are applying. ‘The university sets its rents based on the real cost of delivering our accommodation… Income from residences is not used to make a profit or to subsidise other university activities’, a university spokesperson said. ‘We aim, however, to be able to offer some bed spaces at a lower rental cost, set in agreement with the Students’ Union at £4,300 or below. In 2014/15, 309 students had rents at or below this level, including those who accepted a shared room for the whole year.’ The problem of living costs is not exclusive to Bristol. Research conducted by VoucherCodes. co.uk found that 73 per cent of UK students will have spent their maintenance loan before the end of first term, with it lasting only six weeks on average.
Epigram
01.02.2016
Features Welcome back to ‘the Jungle’
@epigramfeatures
Editor: Alex Green
Deputy Editor: Becky Morton
Online Editor: Richard Assheton
features@epigram.org.uk
bmorton@epigram.org.uk
rassheton@epigram.org.uk
Stephen Le Fanu Features Writer
Epigram/ Vallentina Tarelli
In December, I went to the Calais refugee camp known as ‘the Jungle’ to work alongside long-term and short-term volunteers helping there. We arrived in the afternoon and my brother, who had been working in Calais for some time, picked us up from the ferry port in a bright yellow truck. We were taken to the warehouse of L’Auberge des Migrants, a small but rapidly growing charity which mainly sorts and distributes donations from the UK. After a quick look around, we hitched a lift with a van heading into the Jungle, which was laden with wooden parts for shelters that are slowly being put up around the camp. Suddenly the ground beneath the truck became bumpy and there was bustling human noise from outside – we had entered the Jungle. Opening the door into the Jungle must have been one of the most surreal moments of my life. There were many inquisitive faces of people used to hours of boredom each day, eager to know who we were, against the backdrop of thousands of makeshift tents and tarpaulins – a very real slum in one of the most developed countries in the world. Mud, water and piles of rubbish were everywhere; we were advised to not go ‘off-piste’ as the Jungle is heavily polluted with human excrement due to a severe lack of toilets and infrastructure. Whereas refugee camps in other countries, such as Jordan, are mainly managed by the UN, in developed countries it is expected that the government will be able to manage refugee camps themselves. In Calais, however, the British and French governments have done very little to help. Médecins sans Frontières have even set up their first operation on French soil here. Walking around the camp, we heard some of the stories of the 7,000 people living there. Innumerable times we were invited to join them for ‘cooking’ or tea. We ate some lentils and bread
Piles of rubbish litter the camp
with a group of Sudanese men who had a Union Jack flying above their homes. They talked of their admiration for the UK and David Cameron – rumours travel round the camp from time to time that the UK has decided to let in some of the refugees from the camp. Despite not speaking much English, the conversation never seemed to get awkward and the silences between us were not uncomfortable. We walked around many ‘districts’ of the camp – members of the same country tend to camp together; Kurdish, Afghan, Iraqi, Eritrean. We had a good laugh with Nasser, a Kurdish man who speaks five languages and had taken it upon himself to hand out leaflets advertising the art installations
Epigram/ Vallentina Tarelli
The warehouse of L’Auberge des Migrants, where donations are sorted
in the Jungle. He is continuing to learn these languages, helped by the English language lessons provided by volunteers and ‘Jungle Books’, the camp’s makeshift library. Another character we spoke to was Mr Ehsan, allegedly a former Asian bodybuilding champion. He showed us a video of him squatting 450kg. These individuals were fairly typical of the camp; educated, friendly and remarkably positive. Everyday life in the jungle is difficult and unpleasant. The goal of many of the refugees is to reach Britain, either because they speak English, have family here, or because it is simply seen as the next step of their journey. Attempting to cross the border risks injury, death and police brutality. Refugees risk their
lives scaling high barbed wire fences, jumping onto moving trains and attempting to board lorries. Another option open to refugees with money is to pay as much as £4000 to the shady people-smuggling gangs which operate, but this is risky and could carry heavy consequences. Calais Migrant Solidarity, another group working in the jungle, have recorded 33 deaths in 2015, but the actual death toll is likely to be much higher. Undocumented lives, without family or friends, are cheap and easily ignored or covered up. Tales of police brutality and black eyes are common. Refugees caught by the CRS, France’s crowd and riot control police, are often removed straight to detention centres, sometimes for hours, before being released. One evening as we sat eating in ‘Kabul Café’, one of the impressive eateries set up by enterprising refugees, Afghan men and British volunteers came in with eyes streaming from tear gas. The gas had been fired into the camp in response to men storming the motorway en-mass to board lorries. The camp residents didn’t seem too phased as tear gas in the Jungle is not an uncommon occurrence. The work we did in Calais mostly consisted of sorting and boxing the mountain of donations that come in from the UK. Every day, trucks, vans and cars arrive at the warehouse full of donations. There has been an amazing civilian response to the crisis, both in terms of donations and volunteers. Although the numbers of refugees arriving is increasing, so is the response from the public. Most of the donations which come in are used; clothes, tents, sleeping bags and food. There are also some items which tend to be wasted
such as XL jumpers and women’s clothes – the vast majority of people in the camp are men. However, rejected items, including stilettos and strappy tops, can be sold and bring in valuable income for the charity. The scale of the operation has increased hugely in the last few months, with a number of groups now providing distributions and thousands of hot meals to the camp every day. There are several positives to note such as the immense increase in the number of volunteers and the new projects being set up all the time. There is now a youth club, women’s centre, young boys centre, a church, and several mosques in the Jungle. Pre-fab houses, which give much more protection against the wind and rain than tents, are also being built.
“ Opening the door into the Jungle must have been one of the most surreal moments of my life
Recently, a court ruled that the conditions inside the camp ‘expose the migrants to inhuman or degrading treatment’ and the council must now put in place better sanitation, water points and rubbish collection. In the long term however it is difficult to see how this situation will be resolved, with the governments of France and the UK sticking to their guns and no end to the wars in the Middle East and Africa. To donate please e-mail calaisdonations@gmail.com or to volunteer any amount of your time visit L’Auberge des Migrants Facebook page.
Epigram
01.02.2016
7
Giving a voice to Bristol’s Homeless Becky Morton Deputy Features Editor
Epigram/Stefan Rollnick
Alan Oakley - Bristol resident
can usually be found outside Barclays cash point off the Bristol triangle, is a prime example. By the age of 19 he was happily married with a mortgage and a stable job. Nine years later his marriage broke down. He had been working for his father-in-law and so he eventually found himself without a job and on the streets. As well as helping society to understand how people become homeless, Stefan also hopes to encourage people to talk to the homeless themselves. ‘Just showing some interest can make such a massive difference. It gets rid of the dehumanisation,’ he says. Stefan has also found speaking to homeless people can be an inspiring experience and has taught him valuable lessons. ‘It’s made me realise the strength of human resilience. People can survive incredible suffering,’ he explains, but still retain ‘a determination and a capacity for humour.’ The stories on Stefan’s blog are a testament to this. Ralph, who sells the Big Issue outside the Gloucester Road Sainsbury’s, descended into alcoholism and low-level crime after a relationship breakdown and the death of his mother. He now lives in a dry house, having just achieved a full year sober and is trying to raise enough money for a deposit for a flat of his own. The student response to his blog has been remarkably positive. ‘All the criticism has come from myself,’ he laughs. ‘What makes it really worthwhile is when people say it’s changed their perspective…So many people have offered to help out. It shows that students really do care.’ Stefan remains pragmatic, however, about what his project can achieve. ‘There’s a difference between change
Epigram/Stefan Rollnick
Bristol is a prosperous and progressive city, where the elegant Georgian houses of Clifton and Redland rub shoulders with a vibrant cultural scene and an anti-establishment streak. Yet the city also faces some of the highest levels of homelessness outside London. The number of families facing homelessness in the city has more than trebled over the past year. In the next four years council spending on services to prevent homelessness is set to be cut by around 40 per cent. With cuts to welfare payments, a severe shortage of affordable housing and soaring rent prices, this is an issue which is here to stay. Given the scale of the problem it is
difficult to understand how indifference towards the homeless is so prevalent. One Bristol student, Stefan Rollnick, is trying to change this. His blog, ‘The Streets Will Be Silent No More’, aims to challenge society’s preconceptions about homelessness by sharing the stories of ordinary people around Bristol who have found themselves sleeping rough. ‘The problem is that a lot of people don’t think of the homeless as human beings. That’s why they’re so often ignored,’ explains Stefan. ‘Hopefully the blog will encourage people to engage with homeless people.’ The individuals Stefan has met confirm that anyone can become homeless through circumstances beyond their control. A study by homelessness charity, ‘St Mungo’s Broadway’, found that relationship breakdown, is the most common trigger for homelessness. Alan, who
One of Clifton’s Big Issue sellers, Ralph
and solution. There’s only so much we can do. A lot of the change has to come from the council and the government,’ he admits. Nevertheless, the people of Bristol are increasing the pressure on the council to take action. Last November a petition to open up empty buildings for the homeless gained over 12,000 signatures. The petition was addressed at a council meeting in December, when Mayor George Ferguson announced that a group led by homeless charity St Mungo’s Broadway had been tasked with finding empty buildings.
Homelessness is becoming an increasingly visible issue in Bristol which is difficult to ignore. Despite the problems posed by welfare cuts, the campaigning and practical help provided by charities and individuals is ensuring that homelessness remains on the agenda. You can find Stefan’s blog at www. thestreetswillbesilentnomore.wordpress. com. If you are interested in getting involved in the project contact Stefan at stefanrollnick96@gmail.com.
Bristol students tackle #TheHomelessPeriod Bea Gentilli Features Writer
Crocodile meat, helicopters and men’s razors are all categorized as non-luxurious and tax-free whilst periods are taxed as luxuries and Jaffa Cakes again – laughably - avoid this tax.’ ‘A woman’s period is not a luxury but an unavoidable reality for half the population and it is this that needs to change,’ Louisa told Epigram. ‘The tampon tax was created by male MPs in the late 1970s where female representation was almost redundant in Parliament. I firmly believe it is this unwillingness and awkwardness towards the discussion of menstruation that has contributed to sanitary items being declared as luxury items. ‘Nowadays, women do have a voice and we must address this ongoing issue. How can it possibly be fair that when men need to shave the NHS provides a free razor but when women bleed, they must pay £3.50 for a pack of tampons?’ Regarding George Osborne’s recent conclusion that the surplus five per cent tax should be funneled into helping disadvantaged women or rape victims, they also held strong views. ‘Of course it is great news that the surplus funds are being directed into supporting women’s charities, but crucially these funds should not be coming from taxes that women have to pay over men in the first place,’ Lara explained. ‘It’s almost oxymoronic- and contradictory- taxing women for being women and then using that tax to help other women… It’s a bizarre concept. It seems that they do not want to
Join at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/bristol-homelessperiod
properly address the fundamental issue of taxing a women’s fertility as a method in attempting to diffuse the widespread anger and distress that many men and women feel over the tax in the first place.’ Since starting the Facebook and Twitter pages only a few weeks ago, #TheHomelessPeriod has received an abundance of support and interest. Only five days into their Just Giving campaign, they had already raised a remarkable £435, yet they aim to raise £700. Thrilled with the momentum of their donations, Lara explained that ‘if we reached £700, we could buy 451 packets of pads- which would be almost 5419 pads! It would then be a case of distributing them amongst the shelters or to any homeless and needy people. We desperately want people to join us, campaign with us, talk to us, work alongside us to move
Epigram/Lara Glantz
Tampons. Periods. Tampons. Periods. The large majority of society will read the sentence above and either wince, feel uncomfortable, feel disgusted or worse, complete half the sentence and decide with affirmation that this article is unconditionally, unquestionably and categorically not something they want to spend anymore time reading. It is this exact attitude that two girls in Bristol are committed to change. Lara Glantz and Louisa Weiniger were so riled by parliament’s recent failure to remove the Tampon tax despite persistent opposition that, together, they decided to battle against another focal aspect of the misogyny surrounding this biologically unavoidable female custom. Both Lara and Louisa believe it abhorrent that homeless women cannot receive free sanitary items on the NHS, whilst homeless men receive razors to shave. They view this as another example of the ingrained misogyny still present in today’s society. In 2014, a survey by Crisis showed that 2,744 people slept rough across England on November 14th, which was a 55 per cent increase from the previous measurement in 2010. It is statistics like this which illuminated the extensive nature of this problem for women across the country. There is no denying that the streets are
cold, lonely and dark places to bed down at night, yet as if adding insult to injury, the NHS does not currently offer homeless women any support in making one aspect of homelessness more endurable. There is nothing enjoyable or comfortable about menstruation. However, the embarrassment and strain attached to gaining sanitary items is unfathomable as most women feel hugely more comfortable asking for food from strangers or shelters as opposed to sanitary items. It is this awkwardness concerning menstruation that has stagnated the political quest for improved equality. It is this that both Lara and Louisa feel obliged to change. Lara believes that the catalyst for the tardiness concerning the tampon tax debate comes as a result of ‘this inherent uncomfortableness attached to female menstruation.’ She went on to provide explanation for their decision to start their campaign #TheHomelessPeriod. The project was spawned from a ‘very moving video of a homeless women sharing her experience about homelessness and being female and the widespread homelessness clearly visible in Bristol.’ Since then they have been in contact with local homeless shelters inquiring about the economic support needed to oust this problem in Bristol. Despite their primary concern being the provision of sanitary items to homeless women, both Lara and Louisa are extremely troubled by the larger implications revolving around the tax.‘The tax is completely unfair.
in the direction of our goals. We have a Facebook group and Just Giving page are hoping to create depots to drop of any sanitary items or donations around university. So please get involved and contact us! We are awaiting any emails and interest.’ And there it was; sitting on the floor on my university room, over a cup of PG Tipsthat I met two of the most determined and impassioned girls so far at Bristol University. From the girls, from Epigram, and from myself, boy or girl, dog or cat, please get involved and let’s attempt to eradicate the awkwardness surrounding this issue, and support homeless women who have their pride dented monthly due to the lack of free sanitary items offered to them. It is not a luxury, it is a right. Period.
Epigram
01.02.2016
8
Wikimedia Commons
Sadiq Khan striking an optimistic pose on a London bus
Sadiq Khan’s got plans for the Capital Sam Toller Features Writer Bristol: beautiful, interesting, affordable and easy to get around. For all of us, even most first years by now, Bristol is home. For many students, London is also home and if it isn’t, it’s a great tourist attraction which is only two hours away by coach. Either way, anyone who has travelled around London knows how expensive it can be; if like me it’s where you call home, you’ll know that a decent proportion of your Christmas cash was probably spent on tubes and buses. But Sadiq Khan, Labour’s 2016 candidate for London Mayor, wants to change this. In an increasingly aggressive approach to Boris Johnson and the way he runs the city, Khan has come up with a very enticing plan to win over votes. Not only has he pledged to freeze fares, which have slowly crept up each year under Boris, but he’s also pitched the ‘The Hopper’, a one hour unlimited travel fare for buses.
Travelling in London often becomes an algorithm, especially after a few pints. With bus travel capping at a fiver each day, I often find myself planning my travel meticulously to make sure I get the cheapest fare; at £1.50 for each bus, I know that if I’m getting on more than three a day, I might as well make the most of the cap. Alternatively, getting that one bus to take me two stops round the corner is pointless and expensive, unless I’m planning to go over a fiver that day anyway. ‘The Hopper’ would mean that any bus changes within the hour of the first ticket come under that first £1.50, meaning massive savings for many Londoners. I’ve always been slightly outraged at have to pay £1.50 for a bus to take me up the road, when the bus after that takes me all the way across London for the same fare. Sadiq Khan’s strategy is a good one; many people are disenfranchised by politics because they feel it has little to offer them, but by presenting working class and young Londoners with a real change which will save them
a large and visible amount of money, Khan could harness many votes which are left unused – 48 per cent of voters under 24 didn’t bother with the ballot last year. But are his plans economically feasible? Tube strikes seem all too common these days, but it begs the question: will freezing fares and introducing ‘The Hopper’ put strain on an already overwhelmed system? Khan has claimed that money for his pledges will come from reducing funding for Boris Johnson’s ‘vanity projects’, including the Emirates Cable Car, which according to him costs Londoners £5m to run each year. The Cable Car was introduced in 2012 to run between the two major Olympic venues, offering great views for tourists plus a functional way to travel during the games. But since then it has had a severely reduced use, operating at about 10 per cent capacity for most of the year. I’ve always romanticised the cable car, but in reality I’ve never used it, and probably never will. I’d much rather make real savings with ‘The Hopper’. He also plans to
get rid of new Routemaster buses, another romantic but expensive venture. It would be a shame to see them go, but I’d much rather save £20 a week on travel. Khan also says he will make TFL services more efficient – which translates, to some people, as job cuts. This is an ugly truth, but perhaps a tough decision that needs to be made. According to Khan, TFL’s different services have their own admin systems which could easily be combined to save money. Khan also points towards many European state companies who offer their services abroad, using their profits to offer savings at home. If, as he suggests, TFL expands abroad and offers UK expertise (something which, with our globally renowned education system, should be a valuable commodity) to other countries, those profits would transfer to savings at home. And, if handled correctly, this would arguably create just as many jobs as making TFL more efficient would cut, meaning a redistribution of TFL workers, rather than a culling.
Sadiq Khan is really appealing to the common Londoner, who is rapidly being priced out of travel, making getting around more and more difficult. Growth and jobs are all well and good, but what’s the point if no one can afford to get into work?
“ Khan’s politics seem to match the party slogan, ‘Straight talking, honest politics’.
Khan’s campaign seems to be about reclaiming London for Londoners. Reducing funding for unpractical tourist attractions such as the Emirates Cable Car, and improving the overall TFL system, both seem to cement this plan to reclaim London as does his final idea. TFL own lots of land around their stations, which the Tories plan to sell off to developers for a quick buck to support TFL – the reality of which will probably mean more highly
developed, unaffordable housing for rich foreigners to buy up and never live in. Khan argues that he’ll develop this land as affordable housing, which seems like a great idea; if the local residents who use the tube stations are in effect funding the TFL with their rent, this would be an affordable and sustainable way of running an improved, 24 hour tube system, without cutting jobs or pay for workers. But, as always, who knows if it’s simply more short term propaganda that won’t ever happen. After the backstab of tuition fees going up, it’s difficult to trust any politician, especially after a general election where the idealistic options just weren’t realistic enough. However, Khan’s politics seem to match the party slogan, ‘Straight talking, honest politics’. With a proper outline of where the extra money comes from and how he’ll use it, Khan is in a good position to, for the first time in a long time, offer the voters of this country a positive change which would actually have a real effect on everyday life.
Comment
Epigram
01.02.2016
@epigramcomment Editor: Jordan Kelly-Linden Deputy Editor: Stefan Rollnick Online Editor: Liam Marchant jkellylinden@epigram.org.uk
lmarchant@epigram.org.uk
srollnick@epigram.org.uk
Addiction is an illness
Twitter reacts
Scarlett Sherrif recalls her experiences of dealing with the homeless and questions our assumptions about what addicts are entitled to
Scarlett Sherrif Comment Writer
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‘vulnerable’ due to disability or old age and those who are homeless as a result of a flood or disaster. There was no explicit consideration of mental health or addiction. According to the government, you are given priority if ‘you are homeless through no fault of your own.’ However, addiction, which is widely regarded as an illness by psychologists, is shunned by society. So whilst ‘The Gate’ shelter tried to do all it could to help its guests, at the end of the week many of them returned to their difficult lives on the streets. Of course pregnant women, families, old and disabled people should be given ‘priority housing’ but that does not mean we can just accept that addicts will always be homeless. Yes, some of the
Emily MC
Addiction, which is widely regarded as an illness by psychologists, is shunned by society.
Epigram/Stefan Rollnick
The issue of homelessness is widespread and can affect anyone. It needs tackling and we need to treat people living on the streets with humanity. Over the holidays I volunteered for Crisis at Christmas. I meet real people - funny, kind and mischievous, in spite of the fact that they have no bed, no routine, live on the margins of society and are often isolated from their families. The men and women I worked with were affected by addiction; I was working at a ‘wet’ centre where attendees were allowed to have alcohol whenever they needed to. When I looked up who is considered in ‘priority need’ of emergency housing, I discovered that this applies to those who are ‘pregnant’, those who live with ‘dependants’, those who are considered
‘Alan Takley Has a Voice’ by @StreetVoices - The Streets Will Be Silent No More
guests are so troubled that they might well never be able to have a job again, but that does not mean they have no right to a roof over their head and that does not mean it is their fault they don’t have a home. I watched a whole line of mainly young men take a bag of food, smile appreciatively and return my wish to them of a ‘happy new year’, even though they would be living on the streets on January 1st and I would be staying in my parents’ house. They may have had issues and at times been difficult, but their humanity was more than clear. They needed treatment and help; they didn’t need to be marginalised and left in the cold. One old couple were unable to take the biscuits and baked beans we were handing out because their bags were full. ‘We live on the streets, how are we going to carry this stuff?’ the lady asked. They could have been anyone’s grandparents. We shouldn’t think of people as statistics, but even the statistics are shocking; according to Thames Reach the most recent figures show a 12
per cent rise in homelessness in the last year. In the meantime, the rent market is becoming increasingly privatised and housing is becoming a commodity to foreign investors. Housing that should be used to support people - families, the disabled, that couple who had nowhere to call home and all the other addicts at the shelter who need safety, security and someone to trust. The government must tackle this situation, otherwise organisations such as Crisis will still be the only ones caring for rough sleepers. They can give them a haircut, some counselling, some hot meals and a bed for a few nights, but they can’t give them a permanent roof over their heads. Only social housing does that. For the moment, though, it’s not on the radar of the Conservatives. They extended the right to buy, meaning less housing for those in need. That leaves the rest of us able only to smile and acknowledge the rough sleepers we pass, perhaps buy them a sandwich or volunteer at a shelter or food bank.
New year, same old captions: Jeremy H*nt Junior Doctors found a second to put down their Moët and took to the streets to protest about proposals for a ‘7-day NHS’
Flickr / Ted Eyton
Flickr / Department for Culture, Meedia and Sport
@AdamBecket
@StefanRollnick
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Think we’re slacking off with our captions? Send your captions to @EpigramComment and we’ll post the best on the Epigram website
Epigram
12 10
01.02.2016
The year we actually ‘realise stuff’ and ‘consider things’
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Amy Stewart argues that 2016 should be the year mainstream feminism acknowledges all genders, races and sexualities
Amy Stewart Arts Online Editor
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Too often 2015’s mainstream concern was on the progress of white females.
I am aware that everyone has their own definition and understanding of the word ‘feminism’; for me it is defined simply as equality. However, because women are often seen as the driving force behind this movement and thanks to historical associations with the term, we tend to see feminism as something purely dedicated to women. Nowadays, however, feminism is so much more than that. As a modern concept I believe the focus of feminism should be on a stable equality,
Flick / Eagle Eye
With January drawing to a close, the month acts as a time of reflection of the year gone and a time to consolidate improvements and goals for the rest of the year, including feminists and what some people consider as ‘mainstream feminism’. The main issue I am talking about here is the exclusivity that has been made clear throughout events in 2015 - something we must change and mould in an attempt to make feminism much more inclusive.
considering everyone rather than circling around one group of people. However, after reviewing the media coverage and all the big voices that made themselves heard last year, it’s become clear that this is not always the case. Too often, 2015’s mainstream concern was on the progress of white females. This focus has been made clearer with increased voicing of the misogyny against black
If a certain group of women feels their oppressions aren’t being equally voiced, then there’s a problem. women in modern societies and with the coining of phrases such as ‘misogynoir’. This term was first used by Moya Bailey in 2010 and is defined as misogyny towards black women specifically. The driving force of the term ‘misogynoir’ is the number of fetishes or stereotypes deeply rooted in our perceptions of black women. These can be anything from the ‘angry black woman’ to the ‘sassy black woman’ associated with twerking. The fact that terms like this exist is one failure of modern ‘mainstream feminism’. If a certain group of women feels their oppressions aren’t being equally voiced, then there’s a problem; the coining of such phrases is absolutely essential to the growth of inclusivity and the abandonment of exclusivity and will help nurture the growth of modern feminism as an entity. One figure absolutely crucial to consider is that of Serena Williams. Serena was named by the president of the US Tennis Association as
Serena was named by the president of the US Tennis Association as the greatest athlete ever with her 21 grand slamstitles
the greatest athlete ever, with her 21 grand slam titles. Yet she’s ranked lowest out of the seven tennis players named on Forbes’ list of the highest paid athletes. This caused Quartz to state in the summer that ‘only sexism and racism can explain why Serena Williams doesn’t earn more in endorsements’. The discrimination Williams receives concerning her earnings and appearance is simply unacceptable today. These issues were further brought to light throughout 2015 with Nicki Minaj’s frequent tackling of issues concerning race and gender at high profile events. However, these events were heavily reported in the media as simply ‘catfights’, with little interest in what Minaj was really trying to get at – the lack of diversity in modern music awards. I wouldn’t agree that Minaj went about this the right way by insulting other women, but her point still stands: why is there still so much
exclusivity concerning race and gender within the modern music industry? Minaj’s point is made even more evident with the recent Oscar nominations, with all 20 of the nominees for acting awards being white for the second year in a row. This statistic again highlights problems with discrimination against black women, especially considering Halle Berry is the only black woman to have won an award for a leading role, with other wins having been in supporting roles. This lead to #oscarssowhite being widely used throughout social media. Moving back towards ‘mainstream feminism’, these examples from the last few months should be a push towards realising the exclusiveness of feminism and making a conscious effort to address this problem in an attempt to engage as many genders, races and sexualities as possible in the year to come.
Student support for foreign policy is in free-fall Maddie Goodfellow exposes our government’s hypocrisy when it comes to taking sides in the Middle East
Maddie Goodfellow Comment writer
Middle East and received criticism throughout the international community; the storming of the Saudi embassy lead to Saudi Arabia cutting all diplomatic relations with Iran. Furthermore, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have reduced their diplomatic involvement with Saudi Arabia following the executions. So why is the UK government not doing the same? According to David Cameron, the reason behind the UK’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia is national security and the intelligence that Saudi Arabia can provide. He has stated that
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Saudi Arabia executed on average one person every other day last year.
BBC / Amnesty Finland
The execution of 47 people for ‘terrorist crimes’, including a prominent Shia Muslim cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, has sent shock waves through the international community. The recently retired UK ambassador for Saudi Arabia, John Jenkins, said the act was designed to ‘send a signal to Iran and to the US, as well as internationally, that the Saudis are powerful and resent Iranian interference in their affairs.’ The executions have increased tensions in the
Demonstration against the torture of secular blogger Raif Badawi, outside the Saudi-Arabian embassy in Helsinki, Finland.
national security ‘comes first.’ However, this has not convinced key figures in both the Liberal Democrats and Labour, who have urged the government to withdraw its support for Saudi Arabia, especially with recent developments meaning that Saudi Arabia is now a part of, and could chair, the UN Human Rights Council. Clearly, it is highly hypocritical for the UK government to judge other nations so harshly on their Human Rights records, yet support a nation that has a systematic history of Human Rights abuses; Saudi Arabia executed, on average, one person every other day last year. UK support for Saudi Arabia is not just strong in diplomatic matters, but also economically, shown through the 2014 arms deal between British Arms Company BAE and Saudi Arabia. Student faith in government foreign policy is already low and
students need a strong government that stands firm on issues and principles; the failure of the government to do so on an issue as important as Human Rights only furthers this lack of faith. Moreover, this action taken by Saudi Arabia has
Student opinion on government action in Syria is already low
damaged already fragile relations in the Middle East and created further tension. This will make
cooperation in this region even harder to achieve, as Iran supports the regime of President Assad, whereas Saudi Arabia supports Sunni Islamists in Syria. This will have a huge knock on effect on the crisis in Syria. British support of Saudi Arabia is undermining the diplomatic processes that are key to solving this, as well as presenting the UK as hypocritical in its foreign policy approach. As Britain condemns ISIS for beheadings in the strongest possible terms, even resorting to military action, it also continues to support a regime that abuses Human Rights on a daily basis. Student opinion on government action in Syria is already low, shown by the high student turnout at the march against bombing this region in Bristol last month, and these conflicting policies will only further student dissatisfaction with government action.
Epigram
01.02.2016
11
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Baby it’s you... but you’re not the one I need right now Do you think you could you raise a child right now? Maya Wheeler-Colwell isn’t sure that she could...
Maya Wheeler-Colwell Comment Writer It would not be surprising if the topic of teen pregnancy evoked images of gormless, fame-hungry young girls from the MTV show ‘16 and Pregnant’, who many would argue are in no way equipped to bring a child into the world. Nevertheless, however dismaying these characters appear to be, if they had had more options concerning how to deal with their unplanned pregnancies, they might be following an entirely different path. Amid the recent debates over planned parenthood in the US is a Guardian article, raising the point that although teen pregnancy is seen to be a considerable issue,
the barriers set up to prevent minors from consenting to abortions seem to make this outcome inevitable; in the US only two states have abortion laws giving minors the freedom to make their own decisions without parental involvement. Quite apart from the issue of forcing young girls into parenthood, these restrictions also cast a shadow of shame onto unplanned pregnancies. If permission from parents is needed, something that arguably should be a private decision becomes a family issue, a ‘mistake’ to be straightened out by outside parties.
young students could genuinely afford this, particularly on top of accommodation and course fees. Whether parenthood is a genuine option at
Like many other students, I genuinely don’t believe that I would be able to juggle my degree, friendships, and actually remember to buy groceries on top of looking. after a child. this age is an issue that has been discussed at length among friends of mine and it is a rare occurrence for anyone to be wholeheartedly invested in the possibility. The main barriers cited tend to be finance, education and stability of relationships, but first and foremost that people simply don’t consider themselves ready for the responsibility or to have to give up their youth. Of my closest friends, I am without a doubt the most broody and baby-mad, but also the most meticulous in my use of birth control.
This is because, mature as I consider myself to be, the idea of an unwanted pregnancy fills me with horror and reinforces the sense of gratitude I have for not having anyone dependent on me. This is a feeling that was reinforced recently when, while taking my younger sister to school over the holidays I had a momentary pregnancy terror (scare being too mild a word), and found myself doing the necessary calculations over and over in my head. The hour and a half which I spent trying to work out how I would deal with the possibility of pregnancy made me realise how important the right to a choice as to whether to keep a child really is. Like many other students, I genuinely don’t believe that I would be able to juggle my degree, friendships and actually remember to buy groceries on top of looking after a child. And I especially wouldn’t be able to look after a baby without support from a partner or my family. However, we are lucky enough to live in a society where we are able to choose when we want to start a family. And, differing opinions about abortion and unplanned pregnancies aside, we can all agree that the right to exercise this freedom is a choice we all value having.
Wikimedia Commons Flickr / BBC Radio 4
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It is still a huge financial burden, and one wonders what young students could genuinely afford this.
This is in stark contrast to the UK (bar Northern Ireland), where even girls under 16 years old have the right to an abortion without parental consent. NHS services specify that doctors will encourage girls to involve their parents, or any other adult, but it is made clear that this is an issue of support rather than mistrust. It is an acknowledgement that though it is a decision that is free to make, it is a terribly difficult one and the support offered is an indication that the British state accepts and understands this. This is not to say that there aren’t people who somehow manage to strike the balance and make their situations work for them, whether as single parents or with the help of their partner. I have known people who have raised intelligent, stable children and who wouldn’t trade their situation for the world (die hard Gilmore Girls fans will agree that Lorelai did a fab job in singlehandedly raising the delightful Rory), but these successful and fulfilled student parents strike me as rare cases. The University of Bristol offers childcare during the week, with priority given to the children of undergraduate students, however with fees starting from just under £160 a week, it is still a huge financial burden and one wonders how
This little one might look adorable, but do you want to be the one wiping his bum?
Making our deadlines: George hasn’t GoT it going on Ed Fernyhough makes the case for making our deadlines, regardless of how important we are... or think we are.
Ed Fernyhough Comment Writer Wikimedia Commons
On January 2nd, George R. R. Martin announced to his fans that he would not be able to finish the Game of Thrones novel, The Winds of Winter, before the screenplay of the content airs on television this spring. Many of you might have been moved to wonder why the author’s deadline appears so flexible compared to the routine rigidity of our university submissions procedure. Hmm. Rigidity… HBO wanted to avoid the vituperation of America’s sagacious TV critics by pressurising George R. R. Martin to finish his novel before their deadline. The network will have deadlines of its own to meet, ensuring that the content is ready for distribution in order to prevent a chasm from appearing in the TV listings – it is a shame that the chasm will now be filled by a Game of Thrones series inadequately composed by HBO’s screenwriters, a reality brought upon themselves by their imposition of a godforsaken deadline, a deadline that George R. R. Martin failed to meet. Mr Martin…Mr Martin, how very dare you. How dare you ignore your millions of fans, how dare you be so indolent as to not finish your novel in
George R. R. Martin is still working on the latest novel in the GoT series
time, how dare you ignore a deadline set by a TV network subservient to your creation, a network reliant on you for so much of its own revenue over the last five years? The true sovereign over Westeros is currently 1,770,000 words & counting into his series, holding HBO afloat by the scruff of its neck and yet he doesn’t have the common decency to meet a pathetic deadline. How very ignoble. As the creator of the franchise, George R. R. Martin is in a position of significant privilege; he is chief content controller, he can advise the screenwriters and producers and he can let HBO fuck up their TV adaption whilst he focusses on maintaining the integrity of his novels. His situation is entirely different to our bit-part role
within a complex bureaucratic university system. We are the students – he is the master. A situation familiar to many Bristol students entails the accumulation of deadlines and debilitating illnesses brought on by the relentless maintenance of a sufficient social calendar and our attitude of night-after-night flippancy towards our general health and well-being. Managing to muster the strength for the completion of a measly 2,000 word assignment whilst keeping up appearances 20 years into our fragile lives can be difficult and thankfully the University of Bristol has conscientiously provided students with the facility of acquiring extensions if work is too frequently getting in the way of Lakota and Lounge.
The university is reasonably flexible when it comes to deadlines, granting extensions to students with liberal efficacy, aware, I am sure, of the majority that requires the privilege as a result of general disorganisation. In some instances, students may be suffering from more prolonged conditions in which case the university will relax the punitive measures it would usually take against a missed deadline. For most of us, indolence is the root of deadline stress. We are not George R. R. Martin. We have not written 1,770,000 words, nor have we single-handedly constructed an entire franchise. If we spent less time moaning, we might meet our deadlines with greater efficiency. Let’s just bloody get on with it shall we?
Epigram
01.02.2016
Science & Tech
@EpigramSciTech Editor: Alfie Smith Deputy Editor: Matt Davis Online Editor: Amy Finch
asmith@epigram.org.uk mdavis@epigram.org.uk
Give blood (unless you’re gay and sexually active)
“ If you are a sexually active gay male student you can only give blood 12 months after you last had sex
accidents it is better to not have contaminated blood donated at all and so, although diagnostic tests for HIV are now sensitive, the NHS would rather not wholly rely on them. Many activists believe that the way that gay people are selected against is prejudiced, particularly as there is nearly as great a risk of infection in the heterosexual population. As such, the 12 month ban is being reviewed by the government, with the new leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron writing in the Pink News to express his support for overturning of the so-called ‘gay blood ban’. Activists believe that a better system would discriminate by the number of sexual partners that a potential donor has had and to
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remain at a marginally higher risk of contracting HIV than the general population, there are a substantial number of cases spread between heterosexual couples. While those that inject intravenous drugs and commercial sex workers are banned from giving blood for life, the remaining heterosexual potential HIV carriers are still able to donate. To lower the risk of mix ups and
Flickr- Andrew Mason
Maybe you’ve seen the ‘give blood now’ adverts on the TV, or maybe you were accosted in the ASS and asked whether you donate by passiveaggressive people in scarlet t-shirts. Blood is always in demand and is life-saving for people recovering from major surgery, or for women during childbirth. However, only 3 per cent of people aged 17-70 in the UK have donated in the last year, and if you are a sexually active gay male you can only give blood 12 months after you last had sex. Is this now unnecessary and prejudiced? Are our screening techniques sensitive enough to remove the ban altogether? During the outbreak of HIV/AIDS in the 1970s and 1980s, many countries (including the UK) imposed restrictions on gay men giving blood, as the disease was first prevalent mainly in the gay community. Contaminated blood was accidentally given to haemophiliacs (people that lack the factors that allow their blood to properly clot) by blood transfusion, resulting in many contracting the condition. As a consequence, the government banned gay men from donating blood entirely. This restriction was lifted in 2011, and adapted so that gay men could give blood, if they refrained from having sex for at least 12 months. Blood donated in the UK is not
held in the highest regard by other countries due to the outbreak of mad cow disease in the early 2000s and so, while France has lifted its restrictions on gay men giving blood, it still enforces a total ban on the donation of blood from any of its citizens that lived the UK when mad cow disease was prevalent. In fact, the UK still imports a large amount of blood plasma from the US due to fears that UK plasma may still carry the infection, while much of the blood plasma donated in the UK is either stored or incinerated. In 2014, there were 6,151 new diagnoses of HIV in the UK and just over half of them (55%) were in gay sexually active men, but 40% of these new cases were in heterosexual men and women. So although gay men do
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Matt Davis Deputy Editor
screen more carefully those that have hard high numbers of sexual partners rather than the system depending so much on the orientation of the potential donor. Even those men that adhere to safe sex and use a condom are held under the restriction of the year-long ban. Students are some of the best candidates to give blood, due to their vast amounts of free time, their
A better system would discriminate by the number of sexual partners a donor has had
youth and their general fitness when compared to the rest of the population. Although gay men are more likely to contract HIV than other groups of people, that doesn’t mean that they are the only group that pose this risk. When weighed against the risks that ‘mad cow’ disease poses to UK blood donation, is it within our rights to prevent these people from donating, or is this evidence of the ongoing social stigma behind HIV? Give blood, save lives and be thankful to those that donate, because we need more like them, not fewer.
Examining the dynamics of stress in students David Morris Science Writer All students suffer from exam stress to varying degrees. Some people are more susceptible to it than others, but however severe your state of mind is during the run up to exams, it is useful to know some background of what the body is doing when it is becoming stressed or anxious in order to control it. Stress is defined as mental or emotional pressure derived from the circumstances of the individual. This can be caused by a whole host of
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it feels stressed, the body expresses two steroidal compounds – adrenalin and cortisol. A higher concentration of these compounds in the blood is associated with increased heart rate and blood pressure, plus additional negative effects. This means that blood and the oxygen it carries is used up by
the muscles and brain more quickly. Whilst this provides an evolutionary advantage in, for example, escaping from a predator, it does make revising for exams much more difficult in a more modern situation. Increased blood flow to the brain may sound like a good thing to help
Adrenalin and cortisol damage the immune system, excessive stress can make you ill
It is useful to know some background to what the body is doing when it is stressed, so as to control it.
Flickr-Chris U N W H Khamken O : v i a Economist
circumstances, such as disappointing someone you care about or fear of underachieving. A lot of these circumstances can culminate in exam stress, but there are a number of ways to combat it, which can even make for a better exam performance. Glucose is a simple form of sugar. Due to its very high oxygen content, it is easy to get energy from it as less oxygen is required to burn it as so much oxygen is already present. Since the brain demands a large portion of the body’s energy, a lot of glucose you ingest is sent to the brain for metabolism. When
with revising, but some adverse effects of the aforementioned compounds more than outweigh it. Adrenalin and cortisol damage the immune system, so it is unsurprising that excessive stress can make you ill. Additionally, they have been shown to drastically inhibit memory and other brain
functions in humans. Research has shown that the human blood stream contains 50 % more cortisol when it has had six hours of sleep instead of the recommended eight, which contributes to inhibited brain function when the body is tired. So, the overproduction of adrenalin and cortisol when experiencing exam stress can act to hamper efforts to revise and learn new things. However, there are ways to maintain a healthy level of these hormones whilst also maintaining a good flow of glucose and oxygen to the brain. Firstly, the carbohydrates in a good diet, such as oats and wheat, contain high levels of sugar, but they are available as more chemically complex sugars. This means that they are slower to break down into glucose, making the flow of glucose to the brain more consistently strong. Chocolate contains high levels of glucose as opposed to the more
complex carbohydrates, meaning that upon ingestion, there will be a large surge of glucose delivered to the brain. The glucose flow to the brain will then quickly plummet as the body reacts to overly high glucose concentration by producing insulin, leaving the brain more energy-deficient than it was before, despite the initial sugar rush. Secondly, exercise causes the body to increase its blood flow without producing cortisol. This means that upon returning to work, there will be a strong supply of blood to the brain without the negative effects of stress hormones. Finally, there are a number of ways to keep cortisol and adrenalin level - and therefore, stress levels down, most notably of which is being
“ Exercise can increase blood flow without producing cortisol
well-rested. If you have slept poorly, it is well worth sleeping in another few hours to rejuvenate the brain ready for revision. Many methods of keeping stress levels in check can easily be found with some quick research into what controls and regulates the presence of the stress hormones in the body. Using these methods, you can make the run-up to exams much less stressful and therefore make a very positive impact on exam performance.
Epigram 01.02.2016
13
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Coffee or Red Bull? The search for the right buzz Alfie Smith Science Editor There’s a lot of myths about coffee and energy drinks circulating in the media. Coffee is part of most peoples everyday experience and therefore any headline such as ‘Coffee linked to X horrible thing’ will generate a few clicks. We all want to know if the thing we love is actually killing us. A similar stigma is true for energy drinks. They’re new, target younger people and contain ingredients with unnatural sounding names, like taurine (just an amino acid) or sucrose gum (a sugar substitute). ‘Does your child drink Monster? It may be killing them!’ or ‘Energy drinks destroying young people’s brains?’ These are just some of the questions you may have to answer. The truth is, as usual, much more complex. Caffeine is one of the oldest stimulants known to man. It’s a myth that caffeine gives you energy. It prevents the effects of mental exhaustion over time that, combined
with an energy booster such as sugar, will pick you up. The brain produces adenosine as a by-product of many of its processes. This is far from accidental though. Adenosine is taken up by adenosine receptors on the brain’s surface that, once activated by adenosine, send signals to decrease mental activity. The more you use your brain, be it in terms of activity or time, the more adenosine builds up and the stronger the signal to decrease activity gets, usually ending with the still vaguely understood ‘Signal to sleep’. Caffeine blocks the adenosine receptors without activating them. This leaves your brain mostly free from signals that decrease concentration. Over time caffeine use will lead to a build up of new adenosine receptors as the brain assumes that the old ones, previously occupied by caffeine molecules, are actually broken. They’re not though; just inactive for a short-period. Overtime, more caffeine is needed to prevent the same level of fatigue signalling and the loss of caffeine, due
to withdrawal, can lead to an extended period of shorter attention spans, tiredness and slower understanding. Caffeine is addictive as you need a slowly increasing amount to stay alert for the same amount of time. The industry argument that energy drinks are better for you because
Excessive caffeine leads to restlessness, panic attacks, insomnia that can last several days and heart palpitations
they contain half as much caffeine is false. Looking through the published volumes of caffeine in energy drinks they range from 160-180 caffeine mg per can. Not per serving, because who drinks 1/4th a can of Monster? Per 500ml can. The lie is based on the estimate given by the US energy drinks body that claims the average cup of coffee contains 400mg of caffeine. The only 400mg serving I could find was a 20oz strong roast
Flickr-Nakku-Red Bull
from Starbucks USA. UK estimates ranged from 170-350 mg per serving with 270 seeming to be around the average of averages. Taking average servings in energy drinks to be 170 mg and coffee to be 270 then a can contains 34% less caffeine not 50%. However, drinks like Monster and Relentless contain other ‘energy increasing’ ingredients that break down into caffeine equivalents like guarana. The caffeine generated by these other ingredients doesn’t seem to be listed with the actual caffeine added in production, hence, there’s likely more caffeine in these energy drinks than stated on the can. The FDA, BMJ, and the Heart association all have estimates of 400mg of caffeine per day as the top-limit of any adult male with no medical conditions. Attempting to go past this upper limit doesn’t boost you to new heights of awareness, or even prevent you from getting tired for longer than anyone should. Excess caffeine intake leads to restlessness, panic attacks heart palpitations and insomnia that can last several days. The two most concerning studies found that the consumption of even 300mg in college aged men, around 1.5-2 energy drinks, lead to frequent spikes in blood pressure and an increased resting blood pressure of 3-5%. While particularly worrying for those with heart irregularities, obesity or other heart conditions, there’s also concerns that habits picked up in further education, with conceptions of ‘Tired’ or ‘Awake’, will be carried through to later life. An increase in blood pressure, over a lifetime, can lead to a much larger risk of a heart attack at earlier ages. The real reason we should be concerned about energy drinks is in the sugar content. There’s little to no evidence that many common sweeteners have negative health effects. In fact, Epigram interviewed
two researchers working on this issue who also found no link. There is instead a vast amount of evidence on the role of sugar in causing weight gain, depression and high blood pressure. Regular cans of Red Bull, Monster and Relentless contain 50 or 51 grams of sugar per can. Even my favourite, my go-to during exams. ‘The Doctor’ (due to it’s fanta-esq taste) contains 52g of sugar per can. A teaspoon contains 5g of sugar; so a coffee with two teaspoons of sugar contains 10g of sugar (assuming no other sources). Drinking a normal Relentless can contains around 33% less caffeine and 500% of the sugar, if you’re a two teaspoon drinker. However, it is the sugar that really generates the ‘Boost’ of drinking energy drinks. Switching to zero sugar alternatives coupled with consumption of lower sugar sources, such as fruit, that have a better uptake and length of digestion seems a better solution. Caffeine addiction is real.Withdrawal occurs due to excessive adenosine receptors forming over time. This is also leads to an increase tolerance to caffeine. But, one of two cups regular cups of coffee per day shouldn’t take you over some well-researched limits. Going over the limits may seem like a short-term solution to exam problems but insomnia, anxiety and restlessness may do more harm that is saved by loss of fatigue. The major issue with energy drinks is not their unnatural ingredients or caffeine content (although they are usually understating it). The problem is the high sugar content of regular drinks, which have up to 500% more sugar than a two sugar coffee. Switch to sugar-free options, drink less energy drinks and don’t use caffeine as a solution for tiredness. It may harm your ability to concentrate in the short and the long run.
App of the week: Prune Karim Sadat Science Writer
Conclusion - 8/10 A visually striking and relaxing journey through a series of light-puzzles that never feels like a commitment or a chore.
Prune: Pressimages
Not quite a game, not quite a series of animations, prune is on the minimalist side of the mobile gaming spectrum, preferring to guide its players through a series of tasks based on each image rather than advance any overall narrative or world. First released on iOS last summer and now out on Google play and the Windows store, Prune is a game that I’ve been waiting a while to try. I downloaded several ‘Mindfulness’ and ‘Relaxation’ apps this January, hoping to relieve some exam stress by taking up a new hobby. However, I found that Prune became my app of choice in times of stress. There’s something so peaceful about it. The player is asked to trim the branches of a tree. Really, that’s about it. The branches need to be cut in such a way as to avoid the various obstacles blocking the sunlight. The levels are short and there’s no punishment for retrying a level. It’s not meant to be difficult. Even at level 25, I was only asked to use a moderate amount of puzzle-solving ability. The aim is always to become engaged with the imagery. The challenge is a secondary element to stop the game
from becoming repetitive. Overall, I’m satisfied with the content that paying £2.99 provides. There’s no in-app purchases and there’s no caps. The game is short and can be completed within probably four to five hours of total playtime. But, it isn’t something meant to be completed in a hurry. There’s not much to say against the app. It’s not the most challenging, but I think that only adds to its charm. The levels do seem to repeat themselves after level 20. This is because there is, as far as I have reached, only five types of obstacle to tackle. However, I think to hold onto such views too strongly would be a failure of perspective. A lot would be lost if Prune reinvented its mechanics every level. It only becomes repetitive if you play it enough in one sitting, which is about fifteen minutes. As a short time waster, it probably won’t get old. It’s about wasting ten minutes cutting some trees. Even the non-gamers out there can find some comfort in the peaceful experience that is Prune.
Epigram
01.02.2016
Letters
@EpigramLetters Editor: Sophie Hunter shunter.epigram@gmail.com
‘New Year, New Me’
1. Decide, in order of importance, which areas you’d like to improve. Examples can include health, relationships, education, money, ability to balance it all, etc. 2. Break each goal into little activities which, when fast forwarded, show a big change. 3. See how you can incorporate these actions into your week. The ‘new year, new me’ craze is not one I hate, but I don’t encourage it either. Making goals and planning ahead is certainly useful, but how sustainable is following a long list of ideals we decided to implement on a designated impersonal day? We all make the same resolutions: drink less, gym more, eat well, study more – I’m sure you can relate. But what do we actually want to achieve by doing these? Perhaps if we find the aim of our chosen ideals, we can decipher which of them are truly important to us – at least enough to
‘Woken up fully clothed and hugging my complex functions notes #bleak’
@ AdamBecket-
‘Surely I can apply for extenuating circumstances for Bowie passing away’
@_bryanpalacio -
‘I feel so judged wearing my leavers hoodie at the ASS library #bristoluniproblems’
Your goals can be as ambitious or mini as you like.
Therefore, through this realisation, this year I have chosen the following achievable goals: 1. Always take off make up before bed. Drunk or throwing up, the makeup comes off! 2. Floss Fridays – let’s make it a thing. 3. Moisturise at least four times a week. 4. Join the gym. 5. Always smell like flowers and sangria. 6. Read a new book every month (already started Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh). 7. Always replace empty batteries for my fairy lights. 8. Get three haircuts. I think through completing these minimal yet specific actions, I have set myself up for a great 2016. Your goals can be as ambitious or as mini as you like and as long as you break them down into baby steps, there should be nothing stopping you completing them. Good luck and happy new year!
Flickr / Anthony Cramp
Want to try something new in 2016? Write for Epigram by joining our writer’s group on Facebook: Epigram Letters
A Letter to the Locals
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After some expressions of tensions between they city’s students and locals Freya Spriggs reaches out to Bristolians to defend the student Freya Spriggs Letters Writer
Dear Bristolians,
It’s not exactly a well-kept secret that we students don’t have the best reputation amongst you. Whether it’s anonymously posted anti-student leaflets appearing in Cotham, or the less than kind words of certain Bristol Post writers who seem to be under the impression that the average Bristol University student has a private chef on call (have you seen an average student kitchen?). It’s pretty clear: we are not your favourites. The question is: why? Bristol University is relatively new compared to most redbrick institutions. Perhaps the influx of students just isn’t as ingrained into Bristolian culture as it is in, say, Oxford or Cambridge.
This is my message to you: we are not all that bad.
Or could it be the size of the city? Compared to London, where you’d be hard-pressed to pick a student out on the street, the presence of students in Bristol’s various zones is pretty obvious. A journey around the Clifton Triangle on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and so on brings the good, the bad and the ugly encounters with students.
The issue of students accelerating gentrification - in areas such as Stokes Croft - is a concern that rightly should be publically discussed. In light of all this damning evidence, this is my message to you: we are not all that bad. Bristol University students have so much to offer the city when we’re given the chance. Bristol Hub is one great example of students wanting to participate in the local community. Tutoring in local schools, sustainability projects and various other volunteering schemes place students directly in the community. Some may want to dismiss these acts as attempts to boost CVs and improve job prospects, but such an outlook misses the point. So many Bristol students are committed to some form of volunteering or community activity – run by the university or not – and really take pride in what they do. Volunteering efforts aren’t the only contributions that make students a valuable asset to the city. Building on an already diverse creative scene, which is for many one of the University and the city’s main attractions, students at Bristol University come with a wide array of talents and skills that add to Bristol’s arts and music culture. Live music can vary from rock bands to operatic offerings, the list really is endless. Various exhibitions, plays and shows are just some of the ways that students are committed to contributing to Bristol’s cultural scene which offers so much in return. Bristol’s eclectic culture is due in part to its rich diversity. This diversity is reflected in Bristol University’s rich student body as students come to Bristol from all over the world, adding
to the vast range of cultures which make the city such an interesting and dynamic place. Diversity is something to be proud of both at the university and in the city itself; Bristol is such a special place because people can come from all over the world and feel that this city is home. This welcoming atmosphere is not solely down to the university. Bristolians can and do make the city such a warm and friendly place to live in. This is a major factor of why the university has one of the highest rates of student retention, graduates staying on in the city after their studies. These graduates add to the economy of the city they’re proud to call home and clearly there is something about Bristol which compels people to stay once the heady days of university are over.
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The three steps to achieving your New Year goals:
@HanhanPrice-
Flickr / Paul; Chapman
Last term I left feeling more perplexed than ever before. Perhaps this is the peak in life where everything imaginable is uncertain. Maybe the not-so-tender but young-enough-to-feel-invincible age of 22 is when it’s all meant to go tits up and back around again several times leaving you wondering ‘what next?’ It’s ideal timing for everything to be a shamble: New Year aka the time to organise one’s life! Often, if we think too big we are labelled naïve, if we think too small we are called narrow-minded, and somewhere in between lies greed and hope. I, for example, want it all: a big family with dogs, to change the world, be an astronaut, design clothes... and all of this sooner rather than later. Am I being greedy or just ambitious? I decided that if I realistically want to achieve any of these, I should think more short term.
keep up for the next 365 days. After all, that’s the issue, isn’t it? Maintaining a drastic life change for an entire year can become overwhelming and unrealistic. I think a common issue many people face, is that they want a lot and they’d like it now. We often only hear of top job salaries and don’t focus on the years of dedicated shit work you need to endure before. Similarly, we look at the end result as opposed to the ‘journey.’ Perhaps it’s the way society places it’s priorities. Our image of how the world works and how to get to the top can become very skewed, which is particularly dangerous when choosing our goals.
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Noga Livne Letters Writer
Tweets of the fortnight:
I don’t want to just list the things that students do for the city because it is a relationship of exchange
I don’t want to just list the things that students do for the city because it is a relationship of exchange. The contributions and respect we give each other can only act to improve the city we are all proud to call home. Yours truly Bristolian, Freya Spriggs
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Epigram
Puzzles
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@epigrampuzzles
Editors: Suzie Brown; Andrea Philippou sbrown.epigram@gmail.com
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Decode the clues to work out what Christmassy things the numbers represent. (E.g. 7 D in a W = 7 days in a week)
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This week’s backronym:
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(Great Western Railway)
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Your task: Come up with a different description of the organisation using the same initals. You must not use any of the words from the real meaning.
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01.02.2016
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Acting on an anonymous phone call, the police raid a house to arrest a suspected murderer. They don’t know what he looks like but they know his name is John and that he is inside the house. The police bust in on a carpenter, a lorry driver, a mechanic and a fireman all playing poker. Without hesitation or communication of any kind, they immediately arrest the fireman. How do they know they’ve got their man? Tweet your responses to @epigrampuzzles using #riddlemethis
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ACROSS 1. Illumination leads Her Majestgood for smokers or weightwatchers? (7) 5. One note back regarding the bum (4) 7. Surprised to find no French addition until return of the French (10) 8. Run around vase of ashes (3) 9. Shout with pain, but in colour (6) 11. Observation negative for frozen water (6) 14. Greek letter? Add a bit, it’s delicious. (3) 15. First person to rent frustrated but doesn’t react (5) 17. Refer back to a woman for one holding controversial opinion (7) 18. The french get behind blue sticky stuff to take the ball (6) 19. Tirade about strange blokes for whatever’s left (7)
DOWN 1. Headless penguin confused after element forms spaghetti-like pasta (8) 2. A cocktail - sort of rummy with a root note (3,3,5) 3. Keep count of shirt with friendly soldier (5) 4. The French oxidised iron makes noise like stealing sheep (6) 5. High and low about private school famous for making a mess - also makes organic solvent (7) 6. Upended Eastern European has head removed, like branch cut from a tree (3) 10. Homeless feline made of weird teal clay (5,3) 12. Tie back a girl, one way or another (6) 13. Saint on the sailor’s booze will play guitar (5) 14. Return tip but say thanks for Greek bread (5) 16. Weird tea? I already had dinner. (3)
EPIGRAM IS RECRUITING!!
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EPIGRAM IS EPIGRAM IS Ads and Sales Assistants
RECRUITING!! COULD YO U Byou E EPcommunicate IGRAM’S NEXTwell? RECRUITING!! Can We’re looking for We’reand looking for in speaking to local national businesses? WEAre BMyou ASTEconfident R??? AdsAssistants and Sales Assistants Sales To apply,Ads youand will need: Are you a technical whiz? Can you communicate well? Do you understand how to build and modify websites? Can you communicate well? - A CV Are confident in speaking to local and national business Are you confident in you speaking to local and national businesses? To appideas ly, you will sheet need: To need: apply, will need: - An outlining your vision for Epigram and weyou should To apply, youwhy will - A CV - A CV A CV - A covering letter entailing your vision for the Epigram pick you - An ideas sheet-outlining your vision for Epigram and why we - An ideas sheet outlining your vision for Epigram and why we should
website Please send these to our Managing Director Rebecca Butler at pick you pick you rd Please send these to our Managing Director Rebecca Butler at rebecca.butler@epigram.org.uk by 3 February. Please send these to our Managing Director Rebecca Butler at Please send these to our Online Editor Ciara Lally at ciara.lally@epigram.org.uk by Friday 5 th
February.
rebecca.butler@epigram.org.uk by 3rd February. rebecca.butler@epigram.org.uk by 3rd February.
Epigram 01.02.2016
16
Sport for all at university
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Matt Birch, Director of Sport, Exercise and Health (SEH), speaks to us about paving the way for more accessible sport and shares the department’s priorities for the future. Our top priority is to get as many people as possible involved in sport. To do that, we need to broaden out the options so that there is something for everyone. Our student community now numbers 23,000, and we want to offer every single person the chance to get active and stay active in a way which makes sense for them.
Keeping active and well We are working with the Students’ Union (SU) to develop a more varied sport offer, with an increased focus on health and wellbeing as well as employability and leadership skills, and non-traditional classes and activities alongside more conventional sport opportunities. The ‘Get Active’ programme which we run with the SU is already a major success, and courses in Leadership and
Community Sports Leadership continue to receive great feedback from students.
our Performance Sport offer. We now employ more than 30 coaches, including full-time Directors for Rugby, Rowing and Hockey, all working hard to help us achieve
Our top priority is to get as many people as possible involved in sport.
The University is investing significantly in sport and health – in the next couple of months we will submitting a planning application for a £3m development at Coombe Dingle, and we have already completed a £300,000 upgrade and complete refurbishment of the gym on Tyndall Avenue.
Performance sport
Alongside our focus on increasing participation, we continue to be committed to providing opportunities for Performance Sport. Having the opportunity to compete against other universities is a real part of that feeling of belonging at Bristol. Whether you play, coach, referee, or go along to cheer, we will continue to support and develop
competitive success. Alongside this our squad of performance athletes represent the University at the highest levels of
national and international sport. Our role is to enable students to excel in sport by providing the opportunities, support and f lexibility they need to succeed alongside their studies.
Future investment
Behind the scenes, we are reorganising the office to better suit students’ needs, giving more emphasis to improving consistency, customer service and some of the systems – like online booking – which we know make things easier for students to get what they want. The University is investing significantly in sport and health – in the next couple of months we will submitting a planning application for a £3m development at Coombe Dingle, and we have already completed a £300,000 upgrade and complete refurbishment of the gym on Tyndall Avenue.
University of Bristol
University of Bristol
Tangible results In addition to SEH staff working hard to deliver an improved and inclusive service, the University and Students’ Union are fully supportive of making sport more accessible and appealing to everyone, with significant investment leading to three major developments:
Gym upgrade The University has invested nearly £300,000 in a complete refurbishment of the Tyndall Avenue gym, with new décor and equipment. This very popular facility is now completely up-to-date and offers students the ability to track and develop their own exercise programmes.
Lower cost options After consultation with students during 2014-15 highlighted the prohibitive cost of getting involved in physical activity, we have significantly increased the scale of the ‘Get Active’ programme. Up to 15 active sessions are now available every week, with many free to join and access to the entire programme available for £50 per year.
Flexibility For 2015-16, we have improved the flexibility of our offer to students, with part-year memberships being offered from January. We have a range of options available, from those who want to be able to use the facilities at any time to those who want to use the gym at off-peak times or have access to all swim sessions and pool classes. Whichever is right for you, it’s now easy to upgrade and take advantage of the new gym facility and expanded programme of Get Active sessions. The Get Active pass allows you to participate in some form of sport or physical activity without too much commitment. It is a great way to socialise with like-minded students in a relaxed environment. Get Active sessions include Fit&Fab and a comprehensive intramural programme for students who wish to play sport at a recreational level with the emphasis on participation and enjoyment.
For more information on student sport memberships and the range of sport activities available to you, visit www.bristol.ac.uk/sport/memberships/student and www.bristolsu.org.uk/activities/sports. From the memberships page you can give us your feedback on the new memberships, which will allow us to continue to improve upon them.
University Sponsored Content
We are recruiting trainees to start their training contracts in Bristol in September 2018. The firm opened its second UK office in Bristol in 2012 to allow us to improve efficiencies, while continuing to undertake complex, high value work for clients. Lawyers based in Bristol are fully integrated with our London practices and undertake Projects, Real Estate, Finance, Employment and Dispute Resolution legal work. By working as part of an integrated team, our people in Bristol support all London practice areas, subject to the nature of each client’s requirements.
L O T S I BR G N I N I TRA CT A R T CON S! E L O R
The training contract Like our London trainees, during your training contract in Bristol, you’ll complete four six month seats in different practice areas to familiarise you with the teams, the clients and types of work. You’ll complete one contentious seat, one financial markets seat and one seat in our corporate and commercial departments. There’s also the opportunity to experience client and international secondments as one of your seats. To give all trainees a chance to integrate and to have regular contact with us, all Bristol future trainees are required to study the LPC and MBA at BPP in London. We’ll pay all your law school fees and provide you with a maintenance grant of £7,500. You will be paid £36,000 in the first year of your training contract and £37,000 in year two. At the end of your two years, you will be considered for a qualified solicitor position in Bristol as part of our qualification process.
Eligibility Applications for Bristol training contracts will close on 28 February 2016. To be eligible, you must either be a penultimate year law student, final year student (all subjects) or a graduate (all subjects).
Apply now! Apply now via our website www.simmons-simmons.com/graduates where you will also find details about our summer vacation schemes and open days.
See our world
Living Travel Style Food What’s On
Epigram/ Adam Becket
New Year, New You
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Editor Will Soer
Online Editor Maya Colwell
wilso@epigram.org.uk
mcolwell@epigram.org.uk
@e2living
01.02.2016
Epigram Living Section 2015/16
My Everyday Drug Problem recently discovered that 25 per cent of Bristol students have felt pressured to try drugs. Now, our own Living Editor Will Soer comes clean about the substance that has haunted his time at UoB.
Epigram
I’m in Shanghai, out with some locals. They hand me a cup of one of their favourite beverages, a drink with a certain cocktail of chemicals inside. It’s delicious and refreshing and their relaxed attitude makes gulping it down quickly seem like a good idea. Within half an hour my heartrate is up, the music in my ears sounds awesome and I feel great Fast forward another 30 minutes and I feel awful; anxious, uncomfortable and experiencing that sick feeling you get in your gut upon discovering that the essay due in 24 hours actually counts towards your unit mark. I try to calm myself down by drinking clean cold water and slowing my breathing, but the only solution is to ride it out.
The drink: bubble tea. The locals I was out with: work colleagues. Am I just soft? Maybe. But I do feel this anecdote signifies an issue that I don’t think most students – including my previous self – appreciate; caffeine is a drug and like all drugs it has side effects. Like most Bristol students, I’m not quite cool/sad enough (delete as you wish) to buy performance-enhancing drugs to help with deadline all-nighters, but still desperate for an extra boost. I’m unsure as to whether I wrote a single essay in my first two years as a philosophy student without consuming a metric shit-tonne of tea and I’ve definitely used Pro Plus pills to help out with many a trip to both Woodland Road and Lakota. It’s only due to my aforementioned Chinese experience that I’ve begun to realise that a rarely interrupted flow of caffeine with the occasional heavy boost might be a bad idea, as I was in a situation that wouldn’t have otherwise caused me stress. Suddenly it all became so obvious; tea may have been helping me stay up late, but it wasn’t helping my stress at all, if anything it probably made it worse. Anxiety is just one of many symptoms of caffeine misuse – this term doesn’t signify an exact quantity of consumption; everyone’s body is different – it’s also really not
Epigram / Will Soer
I try to calm myself down, but the only solution is to ride it out
great for your body’s hydration or your quality of sleep. The problem is that it’s easy not to notice these problems when you’re already feeling pretty awful anyway, or to dismiss them because you don’t take caffeine seriously. Just as British culture’s acceptance of getting wankered in the pub as good sport increases the likelihood of drunken tears, I fear its instatement of tea as proverbial holy water can lead to caffeinated chaos. A scene comes to mind from everyone’s favourite BBC drama, Tracy Beaker, when an elderly prospective foster parent says to a young child ‘a cup of tea always does the trick’. Bloody drug-peddling Satanist. Is this conjecture a little strong? Nah mate, sound the properjournalist-klaxon, I only went ahead and contacted Bristol’s Student Health service. Their director, Dr. Dominique Thompson, commented that they ‘routinely see students suffering from a variety of ailments made worse by caffeine. This may range
from diarrhoea to palpitations, gastritis, and anxiety. It also has a significant part to play in causing insomnia. So whilst we would not necessarily advise students to avoid it completely, we suggest that those with any of these issues try swapping to caffeine free versions of their favourite drinks!’ To clarify: I’m not telling you to stop drinking tea. I’m not even telling Bristol’s coffee-chugging law students to give it a rest: everyone has different limits. I know people who claim to bosh down pill after pill, night after night without invoking serious self-hatred and others who drink their weight in vodka and still make it to the gym before midday, maybe your habit is fine! I only ask that you appreciate that caffeine is a drug, and treat it as such. Though a quick word of warning; if you drunkenly bosh down a bunch of pro plus pills at Wide Eyes, there is the slightest chance that you may end up looking wonkier than everyone else there. I mean, that’s just what I heard…
My Top Spot: The Triangle Tie Every issue we ask a different writer to hype up their favourite Bristol haunt, a task that put our online editor in a twist... The position of ‘top spot’ is in a constant flux for me, as a choice between Wills Memorial library and Lizard Lounge is one almost as hard as that between pizza and pasta. I would argue that the two complement each other perfectly, as one offers a space to learn and remember, the other, a space to unwind and forget- in many ways a pretty accurate representation of my personality. As a childhood Hermione-wannabe the space satisfies a dream of finding myself in a quiet corner of the Hogwarts library, book in hand. This is not a spot in which I would ever do last-minute exam cramming, as the chances are I’d be far too distracted by the gorgeous wood panelling and old-fashioned windowpanes to remember anything more significant than my coffee order. I have admittedly been known to go to Wills and read nothing more educational than Bridget Jones’ Diary, but it work just as effectively for actual study. Another advantage of hibernating in Wills is that you have the option to avoid conversation. Sure, you can easily get away with a whispered exchange, but it is also entirely
possible to avoid unwanted interaction, using the library itself as an excuse, something that has come in handy many a time. Lizard Lounge, on the other hand, finds itself on the opposite end of the social interaction spectrum, a place where it is impossible to move an inch without bumping into someone who you will ultimately end up in a drinking/ twerking/singing (delete as appropriate) contest with. Before arriving at Bristol, Lounge was the only place I had heard of, as my favourite teacher at school had made a point of mentioning it every time the topic of university arose - a far more valuable lesson than any other uni prep! Lounge provides a safety net of cheesy tunes, and the promise that no one will judge you for knowing all of the words to Shake It Off, including the ‘rap’. A great day to me would involve a little bit of trashy reading in Wills followed by trashy music in Lounge; throw in cheesy chips and you’ve got a deal!
Maya Wheeler-Colwell
01.02.2016
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Bristol’s Weirdest Exam Venues Now that we are finally able to enjoy exam-free bliss, Epigram looks back on the beautiful, brutal and frankly bizarre exam venues our esteemed university has chosen for us in recent years. Words and Images by Edward Henderson-Howat. TA Centre ‘You’ll get shot for taking that.’ With a guard who is particularly averse to passers-by taking photos of the building and an ominous looking field gun by the door the Bristol OTC base offers little in the way of warming cheer. It is, however, well situated and the walls are finely decorated with flags and plaques to cast one’s eye over.
Coombe Dingle The idyllic summer venue. With pitches of every size and description, Fortress Dingle is the hub of all things sport in Bristol Uni. As an exam venue, you can weep in the silent and shared comfort that there are 800 others around you but it’s really not the best when it comes to distance and disruption.
Temple Meads It’s already the bane of every student’s life that the train station is quite so far away. As an exam venue it doesn’t get much better. Open windows and the distinct sound of traffic make it easy to get totally derailed in losing your train of thought. (Apologies).
Ashton Gate Bristol City Football Club. It’s the venue on every sports fan’s bucket list and the university have, until recently, been benevolent enough to give us the chance to queue outside the hallowed turf and enter the field of dreams…an exam hall.
Wills Memorial Hall The building we all know and love. It’s only 100 years old, was constructed with the help of Harry Patch – the last fighting Tommy, suffered heavy bombing in the war and is said to be owned by UWE. But forget all that and pretend you’re at Hogwarts, it might give you some magical encouragement.
Victoria Rooms Edward VII may not be the most likeable man in British history but the Victoria Rooms offers more than this oversized statue stained in bird shit. A formal but open venue, inspiration can be drawn from memories of those greater Britons: Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and Benedict Cumberbatch who have all lit up audiences in the Vic Rooms.
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Editor Camilla Gash
Deputy Editor Ella Ennos-Dann
Online Editor Annabel Lindsay
cgash@epigram.org.uk
eennosdann@epigram.org.uk
alindsay@epigram.org.uk
@e2travel
@epigram_travel
01.02.2016
Epigram Travel Section 2015/16
Why every student should travel With the summer holidays only four months away now, seasoned traveller Noa Leach provides us with some post-exams travel inspiration If you’re going to travel, do it now.
Noa Leach
experience for themselves. What could be more attractive to an employer? And on top of all this, you see (excuse the cliché, but they really are indescribable) breathtaking sights. Try staying with friends around Britain you’ve met at uni for a cheaper adventure, or backpacking around British hostels. Interrailing is a fantastic challenge with friends or solo and is a great way to see multiple countries. It can be done on a budget depending on the countries you choose, but you won’t have to pay for anything more costly the train pass itself. Getting out of Europe becomes more expensive but is definitely possible. Asia, particularly the south, is extraordinarily beautiful and can be incredibly cheap – the cost of food and living makes up for the flights. If you are on a higher budget you can target South or North America. Bolivia and Peru are significantly cheaper than other Latino countries and include the famous salt flats and Machu Picchu. Of course, any trip can be shortened or made longer depending on time or budget. While university undoubtedly improves our minds, life is about more than just academics. We go to university for a reason, and whilst there most people work hard towards their degree. But even though a degree lasts three (or more) years, those years should not be taken up solely by a degree. There are too many experiences for one lifetime, but you may as well start now. With job searching and who knows what else after university, there may not be a better time for it. And whatever form the trip takes, I could not recommend seizing the opportunity more. Whether it’s backpacking around England or climbing Patagonian mountains – interrailing in Europe or volunteering in Malaysia – everyone should travel. You wouldn’t do anything in the summer otherwise-
Noa Leach
What are you waiting for?
Noa Leach
This may seem like strange advice to give a student in the middle of studies. But if you’re struggling to think of exciting New Year’s Resolutions, you should definitely consider planning a trip abroad. With almost four months between academic years, students have the perfect window of time to work – both academically and for money – and then take a break before studies start. If you get a job paying at least £7 an hour for 35 hours a week, in two months you have nearly 2 grand (and I’m not even a maths student). That leaves a third month to get some university work done or relax at home. If you are finishing second year or are studying a more demanding degree, you might think that there’s not enough time to get everything done. But even two weeks away can provide the benefits that a half-year journey gives. Travel clears the mind. You have to think about more basic things than imaginary numbers or the legal constitution. You don’t even have to live in a tribe to get back to the basics – sorting out food and accommodation is enough. It just gives you a chance to do what you really enjoy and not feel guilty for it. Travelling isn’t just for a break. Meeting new people from all over the world gives your mind a fresh perspective and really changes the way you look at things. Your studies will benefit from this, whichever side of Arts vs Science you sit on. New people don’t just give you new perspective, but also friendships you won’t make if you stay at home. You connect with people you wouldn’t otherwise have met and the people you travel with become lifelong friends. Suddenly you have a worldwide network of people who want to help you. If you do a volunteer project, get a job, or even learn a new language while you’re out there, travel can become an invaluable addition to your LinkedIn profile. You become a student who can balance academics and earn their way to providing a lifetime
- TRAVELGRAM -
The Gehry buildings in Dusseldorf, photo by @kate_hacker Tag your travel photos with #epitravel to be featured on our account. Each issue, we’ll print the photo with the most likes.
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01.02.2016
Cultural city breaks close to home... Georgie Wootton extols the virtues of Scotland’s bonny capital city
When the temperature dips below zero, you’re more likely to find me in another freezing cold city than on the slopes or chasing the sun in southern Europe. Last week, I celebrated my birthday visiting my sister in one of the UK’s loveliest cities: Edinburgh. It’s quick and cheap to get there as Easyjet flies there at least once a day direct from Bristol, and I managed to snap up return tickets for £55 less than a month in advance. Despite being even hillier than Bristol, Edinburgh’s city centre is fairly compact and very walkable, so there’s no need to rely on public transport – though their shiny new tram service will take you
mentioning Hogmanay, one of the world’s largest and most famous New Year parties. I found myself in Edinburgh in time for Hogmanay a few years ago, and can confirm it’s something fun everybody should try once (caveat: it will rain, and it will take you at least 40 minutes to queue for the loos, so be prepared!). And for all other nights of the year, of course, there’s no shortage of clubs that cater well to Edinburgh’s reasonably cool and well-heeled student crowd. If you’re itching for a local winter city break that’s equal parts culture and fun, you need look no further than bonny Scotland!
Georgie Woottton
Georgie Woottton
to and from the airport to the city centre for just a fiver. Just south of Waverley train station, the Old Town is home to the wonderful Edinburgh Castle, as well as the National Museum of Scotland (‘it’s got a great animal room’), Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament building, which offers a surprisingly interesting free tour. Look past the plethora of shops selling tartan tat, tea towels, and whiskey that populate the main streets of the Old Town and you’ll find some great and inexpensive places to grab lunch, such as Hula Juice Bar or any of the other eateries on Grassmarket. Beer lovers will want to head out west to The Hanging Bat on Lothian Road, which is home to a well-curated selection of bottled beers and plenty of interesting choices on draft. Fans of Sweden (is there anyone who doesn’t love Sweden?) shouldn’t miss the chance to pop in to Peter’s Yard, an artisan bakery and coffee shop on the edge of the university, to try their impossibly delicious kanelbulle, or cinnamon and cardamom buns. In the north of the city you’ll find New Town with its chic bars – Panda & Sons, Bramble, Tigerlily and Hoot the Redeemer, to name a few – as well as numerous delicatessens, cafés, cake shops, and restaurants. New Town Deli, Artisan Roast, Bibi’s Bakery, and Pomegranate all come highly recommended. For great views across the city, head up Calton Hill, or even better, make the trek up to Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park. The highest point in the city, with the remains of an ancient fortress perched at the peak, this is definitely part of the Edinburgh bucket list. And in case Edinburgh Castle leaves you craving more castle action, I recommend getting yourself to Linlithgow - just a 20 minute train ride from the city centre - home to the grand Linlithgow Palace ruins and Linlithgow Loch. Visiting other nearby castles like those at Blackness, Craigmillar or Tantallon, will require buses or having your own car – don’t discount the idea of driving up to Scotland, as the views once you get over the border are smashing. Now, I couldn’t write about winter holidays in Edinburgh without
Callum Woodcock gives us a rundown of France’s stunning fairytale castles grisly-minded should check out the famous ‘Carcassonne Torture Museum’, which showcases some of the inquisition’s most disgusting tools, like the ‘Pear of Anguish….’
1. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy flickr/Marc Poppleton, Chenonceau
The word ‘spectacular’ doesn’t do this incredible village justice. Dating back to the 11th century and inhabited by only 44 people, the island is visited by more than three million tourists every year. Where To Stay: Avoid staying in the town at all costs as accommodation is horribly overpriced. Quaint ‘Au Bon Accueil’ offers a cheaper alternative a short drive from the town. What To Do: A tour of the ramparts offers spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Be sure to check out the tiny shops that line the cobbled streets around the town. What To Eat: Salt-Marsh lamb, or ‘Agneau de pré-salé’ is considered to be the local delicacy. The sheep graze in pastures with a high salt content, causing their meat to have a distinctive taste.
It’s hard to believe somewhere like this exists. Built across the River Cher, the Chateau de Chenonceau looks like something straight out of Game of Thrones. During World War Two, the Chateau was used as a means of escaping from the Nazi-occupied zone on one side of the River Cher to the ‘free’ zone on the opposite bank.
4 Yvoire, Haute-Savoie Nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva, Yvoire is a picturesque medieval village (complete with castle), which is classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Located just 30 minutes from Geneva, Yvoire is easy to reach for any would-be backpacker.
Where To Stay: There are a huge number of good value hotels and B&Bs nearby. Take your pick.
Where To Stay: The village’s hotels charge more money than most students are prepared to part with, so the best option would be to stay in Geneva, where ‘cheap and cheerful’ hostels can be found all over the place.
What To Do: A tour of the castle is just €9.50 if you are a student. It’s also worth wandering round the spectacular gardens and maze, or heading to a wine tasting in one of the many nearby Loire Valley wineries.
What To Do: Very little! Take a boat out on the lake, explore the town, and visit the (slightly) pretentiously named ‘Garden of the Five Senses’.
What To Eat: Fouace and Rillettes. Fouace has long been a staple of Loire Valley cuisine and this bread is traditionally baked in a woodfired oven. Rillettes is shredded, textured pâté – usually pork.
What To Eat: Being situated by a lake, fish have long been the staple of the region, so opt for the filets de perche if you’re eating out.
3. Carcassonne, Languedoc For centuries, the fortified city of Carcassonne has dominated the landscape around Languedoc. It has an incredibly interesting history, being the centre of the famous ‘Cathar Heresy’ and later the headquarters for the Papal Inquisition, who were tasked with finding, torturing and executing enemies of the Catholic Church. Where To Stay: It’s best to avoid staying within the town’s walls if you’re on a budget, but ‘Sidsmums Travellers Retreat’ offers lowbudget accommodation, just a short bus ride away. They also offer free bikes to use if you want to make the most of the warm French weather by cycling into town. What To Do: Exploring the town is an activity in itself, with its ancient network of streets and interesting shops. However, the more
flickr/Dale Musselman, Carcassonne
flickr/afloresm, Mont Saint-Michel
2. Chateau de Chenonceau, Indre-et-Loire
What To Eat: If you’re looking to try a local speciality, order yourself a bowl of Cassoulet. Cassoulet is a deliciously rich, slowcooked casserole of pork, sausage and white beans.
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01.02.2016
Say no to voluntourism
Hayley May Hall highlights the issues surrounding volunteering abroad
Flickr/ charlie cars
If you are reading this as a Bristol uni student, it is almost certain that you or someone you know has taken part in some kind of volunteering abroad project. These opportunities come in many forms; the scale of the organisation arranging the placement can vary massively, as can the cost to the volunteers, duration, nature and location of projects and, somewhat controversially, how volunteers’ money is spent. They could be categorised into volunteering for sustainable international development or contrastingly, ‘voluntourism.’ Volunteers embark on trips looking to better the world and ‘give something back’ with their overflowing reserves of compassion and cash. Unfortunately, there are organisations that will exploit these good natured people as well as the communities where projects are located. Important issues with voluntourism arise in Chloe Sanguinetti’s documentary The Voluntourist. The ethics of short term projects and teaching or working in orphanages should be taken into serious consideration. Vulnerable children can form attachments with volunteers who then leave after a matter of weeks - continuity of education is unachievable and local qualified teachers are effectively being replaced by unqualified, unskilled volunteers. The voluntourism industry is lucrative: millions of pounds of profit are made yearly, lining the pockets of CEOs, rather than providing project materials or employing local people within the community to maintain projects. However, not to fear, sustainable, ethical and truly impactful volunteering opportunities do exist! These are often student-led charities that work solely as and with non-profit organisations, ensuring that volunteers embarking on projects are fully trained and skilled and that projects are needs-led, requested by the communities themselves. These projects are longer-term and are thoroughly monitored and evaluated to ensure that they are ethical and have a long term positive impact on the community.
What type of volunteer would you want to be?
Volunteering done right: Challenges Worldwide in Uganda Dom Steele tells us about an incredible summer he spent volunteering in Uganda Last summer I spent ten weeks living and working in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. I was working for NGO Challenges Worldwide, one of twelve organisations which work closely with ICSe. ICSe, or International Citizen Service entrepreneur, is funded by the UK government’s Department of International Development (DfID) and sends young volunteers around the world to help local businesses. This is unlike other ‘voluntourism’ organisations where you must
seemed slightly absurd. However, the training that we got from Challenges Worldwide before starting our placement, as well as the support on the ground that we received, allowed us to have a meaningful long-term impact on the business. This is a programme I would highly recommend to anyone with a keen sense of adventure and the desire to do something good. If you’re unsure of what to do this summer, then apply!
Dom Steele
Dom Steele
spend vast sums of money for the luxury of going abroad to build a well which is subsequently knocked down before the next group of gap year students arrive to rebuild it. The programme is completely funded by DfID; inclusive of flights, living costs and accommodation, with volunteers simply having to raise a small of amount of money before departing. Over the course of the ten weeks, volunteers live with a host family as well as a volunteer from the local area. This serves as the best possible way to interact with and understand the local culture and by the end of the 10 weeks it really felt like a home away from home. I miss the family massively but know that I can turn up any time and be welcomed with open arms, which is testament to the generosity we all experienced out there. I was working for a school that catered to individuals from a disadvantaged background. Working with local NGOs, they provided vocational qualifications in areas such as catering and hairdressing to young people that may be HIV+, internally displaced or from low-income families. Working closely with the staff at the school we helped to improve their financial systems, notably setting up an annual budget, as well as improving their business operations and sales and marketing strategy. This helped to make the school run more smoothly and reach their goal of increasing the quality of education provided to the students. Other volunteers worked in a wide range of businesses; from huge concrete suppliers to small mushroom-wine producers – the scope was vast! I had absolutely zero prior understanding of business, so thought that the prospect of telling someone else how to run their business
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Editor Plum Ayloff
Deputy Editor Beatrice Murray-Nag
Online Editor Phoebe Jordan
Deputy Online Editor 01.02.2016 Julia Pritchard
payloff@epigram.org.uk bmurraynag@epigram.org.uk pjordan@epigram.org.uk jpritchard@epigram.org.uk @e2style
@epigramstyle
All that JUNK: launching a fashion start-up in Bristol Ever wondered what it’s like to start your own brand? We catch up with House of Junk’s co-founder Nicki Silvanus to find out why Bristol is the perfect place to do it If you were to take the buzzing aura of gritty creativity from Stokes Croft and translate it into fabric form, you might come close to the brand ethos encapsulated by House of Junk. The same aura surrounds both the place and the brand; their colourful, cutting-edge explosions of selfexpression with the common concept that visuals are the perfect way to embrace your originality. What Bristol expresses with its vibrant street art, House of Junk embodies with bold graphics. ‘Living in Bristol has really exposed us to an amalgamation of exciting, creative people,’ expresses Nicki Silvanus, the brand’s co-founder and creative director. ‘It is the UK equivalent of Silicon Valley with new innovative start-ups happening here all the time. It’s a very creative hub with an abundance of photographers, models, makeup artists and collaborators to work with.’ House of Junk draws inspiration from music, sport, ethnic cultures and the city itself, transforming such influences into quirky graphic printed tees and sweatshirts, along with slogan bags and beanies. The brand targets the go-getters, the adventurers and superachievers, with the overwhelming sense of getting out there and doing, first initiated in their search for original influences. ‘We are constantly absorbing inspiration in the wider sense,’ Nicki tells us, advocating that creativity isn’t simply about waiting for inspiration to come to you. ‘Whether it comes from an exotic location, a beautiful muse, an interesting colour palette, detailing on a wall, local art and culture - it can be found anywhere if you look for it.’ The brand’s latest project is The Seven Deadly Sins collection, and features quirky graphics influenced by our most base human desires. ‘We were so excited to plan it,’ Nicki continues. ‘It appealed to our naughty side and we knew we could have a lot of fun with the designs and photoshoot.’
Beatrice Murray-Nag Deputy Style Editor
Wanderlust Compass Bomber, £55
Air Force One Backpack, £25
Junk Sports Crop, £22
All images: Jenny McCord, House of Junk
Full Fat or Nothing sweatshirt, £35
The collection’s Lookbook, which features grungy, dreadlocked models set against Stokes Croft street art (even shot momentarily chewing on chicken drumsticks!) sends a refreshingly positive message about our attitude to fashion. In a market that is so often centered around restriction, what we eat, how we dress, how we act, House of Junk reminds us that fashion should be about indulging in our basic desires and staying original to who we are. The label also chose to collaborate with the tattooed, ethereal beauty Grace Neutral, who drew them in with her unusual looks and body mutations. ‘She is such a sweet girl,’ Nicki tells us, ‘she unwaveringly follows her passions without caring what other people think. We dig that!’ Striking photoshoots and visuals have gained an even greater gravity in brand marketing now we live in an era where life revolves around the internet and a brand’s success rate is now measured in web traffic and Instagram likes. How to survive as a fashion start-up in an online world was one of our main topics of conversation with Nicki, who offered some insider info on embracing all things digital. ‘We focus primarily on social media and eye-catching imagery. We found that our customers are visually hungry and constantly consuming information. Social media is a great form of reciprocal communication; with this in place we can get direct feedback from our fans and we especially love seeing our ‘junkies’ photos! We have found Facebook to be an invaluable tool for getting in touch with other talented creatives and it has helped propel us forward. It’s also a great way to find muses and models with an individual style.’ House of Junk’s creative culture stretches far beyond the prints and stitches of fabric garments though, attending festivals and hosting events and amalgamating their ethos by becoming the official sponsor of TEDx Talks in Bristol. ‘TED Talks has been a cause very close to both of our hearts for a long time now, so when we were asked to provide the official t-shirts, we jumped at the chance. TED is beacon of light for humanity when bad news in the media is all too common. It provides a platform for thinkers, visionaries and teachers, so that people around the globe can gain a deeper understanding of the biggest issues faced by the world, and feed a desire to help create a better future.’ So is creative lifestyle branding the new, slick form of self-expression? ‘Running our own business means that we can choose our hours, work with inspiring people, explore ourselves creatively, travel and attend festivals/parties with work and ultimately be excited about getting up each morning!’ Nicki leaves us with a word of advice for other Bristolians feeling inspired and looking to get creative. ‘House of Junk works with YENA (Young Entrepreneurs Networking Association) a creative set-up founded in Bristol. YENA removes barriers to access for young people getting into business. Targeting 15-30 year olds specifically by offering free nights, great conversation and prestigious speakers, it’s a great place to get started and meet like-minded people.’
01.02.2016
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Trend focus: Sports luxe, the 2016 edit
Julia Pritchard explores the rise of the athletic aesthetic, taking centre-stage within high fashion collections of recent years and now getting a revamp for the highstreet It’s official; after years of catwalk appearances, ‘Sportswear’ has become an integral trend of the fashion world. The concept is simple; sportswear that consists of different athletic shapes and cuts made chic, appropriate for both the office and letting loose after dark. Athletic styles have never really left runway shows in Fashion Weeks across the globe since they first turned heads in 2014, meaning there is now a wealth of different variations available and they are appropriate for every-day wear. In 2014, the trend was focused on hi-tech sporting fabrics and mesh detailing, paired with an almost 90s feel involving retro white pump shoes, boxy crop tees and shorts and shirts of a classic tennis-wear cut – a version of the trend arguably still present amongst student fashion in Bristol today. Then, just a year later, the style seemed to mature with designers opting for a more polished and elegant slant to the sporty gear. Taking the traditional boxy cut and tight-fitting lycra feel of the original, 2015 saw the transformation of the trend into a fusion of athleticism with overt femininity; loose, f lowing hems and pastel hues. And now, Spring / Summer 2016 sees the trend come back with a bite. The tougher feel of this year’s adaptation blurs the line between feminine and androgynous fashion, with darker, metal shades meeting oversized jackets, high-neck cuts and long, f lared trousers. The more boyish, rebellious vibe makes the 2016 edition almost reminiscent of punk, which, when paired with the punk-rock leather, rips
and studs, makes the style all the more prominent on the catwalks. Luckily for us, our favourite high street stores have jumped on the trend in their new Spring/Summer 2016 collections. The likes of Asos, River Island, and Mango have all featured a range of pieces following the sports aesthetic so fashion fans can achieve the look off the catwalk, too. Silk drawstring shorts and heavy black dresses featuring mesh and contrasting textured materials can be found in H&M at very affordable prices; both suitable for grungy day looks or sophisticated evening events, dressed up with chunky shoes and silver statement jewellery. Head to Topshop to pick up the finishing touches to complete the look, with monochrome f lat pumps, a boyfriend-style khaki jacket and a sports-luxe metallic bowling bag. Whichever item you choose, rock some of these masculine athletic pieces with girly pleated skirts and spring colours for a fail-safe combo to achieve the fresh 2016 style.
Christopher Kane S/S 15 , pinterest.com
Bomber jacket, Topshop, £55 Jersey dress, H&M, £14.99
Metallic barrel bag, Topshop, £55
Looking forward, new eyewear trends for the stylish student Many of us may have grown-up wearing glasses, with childhood memories seen through finger-smudged, yoghurt splattered lenses. Often only allowed the NHS ones, they were always substantial, wiry and round, occasionally with a little diamante jewel embellishing the sides. Continuing to grapple with the glasses identity, several years of adolescence were spent essentially blind for fear of looking ‘nerdy’. And yet, over the past few years, society has slowly changed the way it looks at glasses. It’s no longer about seeing, but about how you want to be seen. Topshop have racks of cheap clear lense fashion glasses. Jennifer Aniston and Anne Hathaway wear them on the red carpet. For the first time ever, the 2016 Spring /Summer catwalk sees the majority of its models wearing glasses just for the sake of it. Like with many other things, the boundaries are seemingly limitless when it comes to what you can stick on your face. If you are a nervous glasses-wearer, more discreet, classic frames are a good option. It is difficult to define ‘classic’ within the range of glasses, but generally they are rimless and snug around your eyes. However, thick-rimmed square frames also channel the ‘geek chic’ look whilst not making too much of a statement. They make you look clever as well, which is never a bad thing. These glasses have been worn by Eddie Redmayne and Colin Firth, so you can’t go too far wrong. As in the rest of fashion over the last ten years, vintage has made a huge comeback in glasses too. In an array of pinks and nudes, plastic, wired, oversized glasses have become hugely popular. These ‘granny glasses’ can be found in the
senior section of the opticians, and are generally cheaper too, as they don’t tend to be designer. Bug-eye and aviator frames are a good inbetween choice if you want to give a retro feel without looking too senile. As part of the generation who grew up with Harry Potter, it’s only fair to pay homage to the small, wiry, round specs made famous by the boy wizard. While many would argue that Harry was a bit of nerd at the beginning, he certainly brought the iconic frames into the mainstream. Celebrities such as Alexa Chung and Ke n d a l l Jenner have since managed to pull off the look, obviously not quite as well as Potter himself though. A trendy yet chic look and a subtle nod to childhood. Cat-eye glasses are for the brave. Spring/Summer 2016 seems to be all about cats (look at Stella McCartney’s bizarre new clothing) and large, cat-eye, winged glasses have followed the trend. You could wear the most boring outfit ever and still look funky with statement glasses. It’s not so unusual anymore to see someone in Bristol wearing bright red velvet winged frames ready to f ly off their face (in a good way). Whatever your style or budget, there have never been so many glasses out there to pick from.
All pictured glasses from ASOS, left to right: ASOS square glasses, £8 Jeepers Peepers round glasses, £18 Versace Round Glasses, £139
Lottie Moore Style Writer
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01.02.2016
Behind the lens: the photographers behind the editorials
As British Vogue celebrates its centenary year, Alexandra Keates looks at the photographers that have made their names with their iconic images Fashion photographers are one of the strongest forces in the industry, yet their unique position capturing the story and the fashion behind the lens means they are capitulated into the business as both highly influential and highly elusive. From season to season, they create the face of fashion as their images are spread over glossy editorials in high fashion magazines, influencing editors, designers and models alike, but how much do we really know about these visionaries? Tim Walker – The Fairy Tale Teller Walker began working for Vogue in 1995 and for over a decade has been entrancing his readers with his fantastical fairy tale staging and dramatic motifs that characterise his truly unmistakable style. His transcendental and almost iridescent style of photography has become one of the most prized in the industry. As well as featuring on the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, LOVE Magazine and in exhibitions around the world, he is the most featured photographer in UK Vogue’s history with his work appearing on the publication almost monthly. Within his editorials, Walker makes sure the clothes and models are not simply the subject of his work but rather enticing theatrical characters that make each picture a fantasy and visual entertainment that lures the viewer into the story he creates in his editorial spreads.
pinterest.com
pinterest.com pinterest.com
Patrick Demarchelier – The Muse Maker Known to most of us through the infamous line from The Devil Wears Prada, ‘I have Patrick,’ Demarchelier is one of the most in-demand photographers from designers, editors and celebrities alike. His editorials are striking, bold and enticing to the viewer, often focusing on strong silhouettes enraptured in vivid colours and luxurious fabrics with plain backdrops so the eye is persuasively drawn to the model and her captivating style. Demarchelier, however, never received any formal training and instead honed his techniques by immersing himself in the world of fashion photography, taking inspiration from those around him and making lots of mistakes. He believes fashion photographers are like athletes, they must practice every day to hone their craft to be the best it can be. Bill Cunningham – The King of the Camera
Tickets now on sale! FUZE 2016 Friday 26th & Saturday 27th February More information and tickets available online at: fuze-bristol.com
pinterest.com
pinterest.com
Anna Wintour dresses for him, Oscar de la Renta prioritised him above all else and Iris Apfel adores him, yet he is one of the most elusive, kindest and magical figures in the world of fashion. Having made his name in Women’s Wear Daily, he has settled as resident street style photographer and fashion journalist at the New York Times. Bill paces the streets of New York, Paris and London and, at 86, remains more spritely than most of the models, in order to capture his utterly unique view on the fashions of the day. To him ‘fashion is the armour to survive everyday life’ and he’s not interested in who’s wearing it, how much it costs or even who’s made it. Instead, he captures how women style it, wear it, and are empowered by it, thus his street style spreads focus on the attitude of style and truly places clothes as the spirit of the street.
Editor Izzie Fernandes
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Online Editors Issy Montgomery; Becky Scott
Deputy Editor Tom Horton
01.02.2016
getinvolved@epigram.org.uk
Join us at: Epigram Food Section 2015/16
Follow us at: epigram_eats_out
“New Year, New Me” Charlotte Wass gives her health tips ready for the new year
Come on, admit it, we’ve all said it, or thought it at least. We all have visions of ourselves for the New Year in which we are better versions of ourselves than we were last year. Whether we envision ourselves as being kinder, smarter, slimmer, stronger or happier in 2016, the majority of us have made some kind of resolution to improve ourselves or our life as the New Year begins. Although we may not always stick to our resolutions religiously and we have days where the promise we made to ourselves on January 1st goes out the window, resolutions are still a great thing to make because it gets you to think about what you really want to achieve and what you can do to reach those goals. So many people decide to eat more healthily in the New Year and it looks like 2016 has some exciting and interesting new health trends in store for us. These are my health craze predictions for 2016, and I’ve already jumped on the bandwagon for all three.
3. Macros
1. Matcha
Flickr: TheKarenD
Matcha is essentially powdered green tea, but it is packed with way more nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants than ordinary green tea. Matcha has so many health benefits and it can be used as a substitute for coffee on those dreaded mornings of 9am lectures. Matcha can help you concentrate, increase energy levels, improve your mood, boost your metabolism and aid in fat oxidation. There are several ways you can include matcha into your diet such as blending it into your morning smoothie or making it into matcha cupcakes. My favourite form of matcha is in a warming mug of coconut matcha latte. It is bright green in colour but it tastes much nicer than it looks, leaving you feeling focused and energized for the rest of the day.
We are constantly being told different things about what we should and shouldn’t be eating and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has become completely baffled over whether I should be watching my calorie intake, my fat intake or my carb intake. However, counting your ‘Macros’ (short for macronutrients) seems to be the newest trend and it actually makes a lot of sense. Macronutrients are fundamentally carbohydrates, fats and proteins and you should be obtaining different proportions of your daily calorie allowance from each of these three sources. MyFitnessPal is a really useful app that helps you work out your macros and keep track of what you’ve consumed each day. By counting your macros you are still able to enjoy all your favourite things, which means you’re less likely to binge on loads of unhealthy foods after three days of just eating lettuce.
2. Spiralized vegetables
Flickr: oklanica
Flickr: Kirinohana
It seems a spiralizer is the newest gadget people are investing in to help make healthy eating a little easier and more interesting. Courgetti is the beginners favourite. A popular dish, which I have tried and tested, is courgetti with prawns incorporated into a stir fry dish. You can barely taste the difference between courgetti and regular noodles so you still feel like you’re having a hearty meal even though it is mainly vegetables. You can spiralize any number of vegetables, including sweet potato, which can be used as a substitute for spaghetti in a bolognaise dish. Some spiralizers are rather expensive but there is one in Lakeland for just £10, which is small and compact and perfect for keeping in uni kitchens where spare space is sparse!
Insta-piration of the week Improve yourself
Help Yourself
Spoil Yourself
Epigram/Becki Murray
Epigram/ Hannah Price
Epigram/ Jordan Kelly-Linden
01.02.2016
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Pinkmans comes to Park Street Julia Pritchard takes us into the realms of Bristol’s delightful new bakery my next post-deadline treat. Admittedly, it isn’t the friendliest to a student budget. A salad will set you back £6 and their homemade sausage rolls (as melt-inthe-mouth and meaty as they are) will cost you a whopping £3.40. However, whilst you could get a cheaper sarnie elsewhere, the quality at Pinkmans really is hard to beat, with its authentic, crusty bread and fresh and light ingredients set to keep you satisfied all afternoon. Plus, it’s all about ordering correctly – the cost of a ham and cheese toastie may be steep, but their sourdough pizzas on offer can be enjoyed for under a tenner which, for the sheer size and huge variety of toppings, including prawns and parma ham, is most definitely good value for money. All in all, Pinkmans really cannot be missed by anyone who just loves classic, good quality and satisfying grub. However, as much as we may wish and act like that student loan is neverending, it may be one best kept for special occasions. Or for when the parents visit, perhaps.
Epigram/Julia Pritchard
Epigram/Julia Pritchard
Alongside this they churn out vats of homemade lasagne and bakes, each looking as warming and homely as the next and boast special soups of the day that change depending on the seasonal ingredients. I went for the tomato and red pepper; beautifully creamy and tangy at the same time, with a hunk of soft bread on the side perfect for dipping. Their loaves and cakes are made freshly on the day and are available from as early as 8:30am, meaning you can take some of their produce home and enjoy it all week. The deliciousness doesn’t stop at lunch either – their breakfast menu, serving brioche with maple bacon as well as everyone’s favourite bacon and egg classics, would be a sensational cure for a hangover, proving there really is something for every mood and taste on offer at this gem of a café. As well as all of this, they have free samples of their freshest products of the day by the entrance, meaning you can try a whole load of their cakes and breads without even ordering them. Having taking full advantage of this (of course), I can personally recommend the carrot cake, olive sourdough loaf and raspberry and custard brioche; the latter in particular I’ve already chosen as
Epigram/Julia Pritchard
Having opened late December when most of us had left for Christmas, Pinkmans which is nestled neatly at the top of Park Street, has been the excitement of student foodies since the January exam period began. A bakery and deli in one sitting a stone’s throw from Wills Memorial Building, I had high hopes for this new Bristol institution to become a regular haunt of my time as a student here. And, considering I ended up going three times in one week, it’s safe to say it did not disappoint. As soon as you step in, you are greeted by the divine smell of freshly-baked bread and a wealth of colourful cakes and lunch delights which make you want to dive into the counter and eat them all up instantly. Their sandwich menu is extensive, ranging from avocado, mozzarella and pesto baguettes to soft brioche burger-style buns filled with hot chicken or roasted veggies.
‘SOLO’. Here’s Why Cooking for One Can Be Fun !
Flickr: Steven Lilley Flickr: T. Tseng
I have to admit, my reaction on opening the promisingly heavy, book-shaped gift I was handed on Christmas Day did not, at first, elicit an expression of glee. Tearing away the neatly wrapped paper to reveal, in large black in, the single word, ‘Solo’, followed by the solemn subtitle ‘Inspirational cooking for one’ was, well, a little disheartening. As the book was a gift received from my parents, who are wholly aware of the joy it brings me to cook meals for a ‘foodie’ family, I began to feel slightly dejected by the message which was implied by those four, piercing letters. Nevertheless, the clean and slick pages of new culinary inspiration laced with beautifully photographed food soon lifted my spirits. Linda Tubby’s recipe book was not meant to be a cruel albeit very real reminder of one’s solitary status. Instead the book is an ‘Inspiring’ and empowering reminder that cooking for one is a self-gratifying and, dare I say it, delightfully selfish experience. Solo exemplifies simple and, more often than not, luxurious recipe’s which Tubby ‘Allows’ on the principle that, well, you’re alone so you may as well treat yourself. As a conventionally thrifty student, my attention was drawn towards a lovely section entitled ‘Things on toast’ which, amongst numerous, heady ingredients of sumac salt, pistachio nibs and freekeh endorsed by Tubby’s well stocked pantry, promised success provided I had the correct preliminaries. Toast! I recognise that word! Whether it’s the smell of lightly golden bread that wakes you up the in the morning or a mid-afternoon snack smothered in peanut butter for a nutritious pick-me-up, toast satisfies all of those hungry and nostalgic cravings. It can be served at any time of day as either a light lunch or gratifying main meal, but more importantly is the sheer versatility of toast, especially when cooking for one where free reign in the kitchen means you can be as mundane or bizarre as suits your taste buds.
Ignited by the delicious flavours and foods I was lucky enough to experience when on a family holiday in Greece, I was drawn to the topping entitled ‘Sardines on toast with tapenade, green tomatoes, celery and leaves’. Although the term ‘Leaves’ is enough to make me shiver with the image of a piece of watercress carefully but needlessly placed on the side of the plate for garnish, I was undeniably compelled by the fact that tinned sardines cost 40p in Sainsbury’s and are a staple in my store cupboard. Every step was considered and carefully placed, from the specifically griddled bread to reserving a drizzle of olive oil from the tin in replacement of butter. Sardines, olives and tomatoes all speak of summer’s seasonal simplicity and, although things on toast may proffer disparagement by suggesting that such simple cuisine demands a recipe, I was gladdened by the inspiration to transform characteristically cheap and easy food into a gourmet experience. Toast is inexpensive and quick to make, which leaves room for a touch more time and decadence to be attributed to exactly what goes on top: melted goats cheese with apple, spinach, sumac and sesame salt or charred ciabatta with smoky steak, courgettes and aubergine. I understand if the sumac and sesame salt seems like a stretch of both the mind and the budget but the premise seems feasible; pimp up your toast! Most of Tubby’s recipes focus on simply putting fresh and harmonious ingredients on a plate whilst following an essentially ‘Assemble-and-enjoy’ mantra. The point is, cooking ‘solo’ should be an exciting event where you choose exactly what you want to eat entirely because it’s what you find delicious. So if you’re unsure about what to make for dinner and can’t find the motivation to cook, then indulge, go on, and have a piece of toast. Ellie Donnell
Editor Ben Duncan-Duggal whatson@epigram.org.uk
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‘Unlocking the therapeutic advantage of banned drugs’ - David Nutt
Flickr: stevpb
Whether drugs are good or bad is a moot point and a source of contention for many. Whether or not their potential therapeutic benefits outweigh their negatives is likewise a moot point. What is certainly not up for debate is that Professor David Nutt – sacked from his government research post for speaking out against the legal status of drugs – will be a interesting man to hear speak. According to the Facebook event 2,400 people agree. Event free, but registration required.
Clean Bandit DJ Set @ SWX
Flickr: slackernrrd
One of Britain’s best pop-dance acts of the past few years come to what is without a doubt one of Bristol’s worst nightclubs. It promises to be a night full of decent music, so hopefully it won’t be spoiled by too many topless men or fights. That said, the cheap booze is a massive draw which potentially outweighs these hazards. If you’re going to take advantage of those prices, what better night than this one? Tickets available online, £11 incl booking fee.
Colston Hall Record Fair
Flickr: CFCF
You’ve got the bucket hat and the Motion tickets. What else do you need to fit in in Bristol? A stack of vinyl, that’s what. And where better to find it than here, a trade fair featuring all four of Bristol’s record shops plus other shops from across the south. It’s so good that people have been reported to fly in from abroad from it. With that kind of interest, it seems that this event will up your cool ratings quicker than you can say, “What trust fund?” 10am - 4pm, free entry
HIGHRISE Bristol Launch @ Lakota
Facebook: Highrise
HighRise is a reputable brand of nightlife, having already hosted 12 events in reputable clubbing city Leeds. The music promises to be a nice mix of jungle and DnB, with a strong bassline running throughout. And where better to attend a DnB night than Lakota, a nightclub as grimy as the music. Lakota, tickets available online, £15 + booking fee
6 Music Festival, Various Venues
Jamie Neely
04. 05. 06. 12. 19.
01.02.2016
This event, taking place at various venues around the city, takes place in a different city each year and so should not be missed upon its trip down to Bristol. Performances by Primal Scream, Suede, Tricky and Daughter will be all be big draws amongst others, but the real highlight will be Foals performing in the perfectly sized Motion. This band don’t play venues of this size much anymore and so it should be a treat to compensate all those singletons on Valentine’s Day. Or it could be a perfect first date… Various venues and prices, tickets available online
bristolsu.org.uk/giveitago
JAMIE CROSS TELLS ALL
why you should be a student officer BRISTOL STUDENTS ARE GREAT
things we did in 2015
bristolsu.org.uk
VARSITY IS COMING
dates for your calendar
Why would you want to be a student officer? Equality, Liberation & Access Officer Jamie Cross tells us about his experience as a student officer. new etiquettes, and quite frankly feeling underprepared and overwhelmed. But the job is worth all that. It’s like finally seeing the backstage of the University and Students’ Union, and it is so insightful. Learning the
It’s that time of year when people start talking about officer elections, and yes, I’m going to join in. Actually- I’m going to try and persuade some of you to run for an officer position. At this time last year, I was starting to think seriously about running myself. I was the president of the LGBT+ society and had the best year running it. I wanted to do more to try and change the way the University treats students like me. I had struggled through my degree for various reasons, the most acute being the lack of structural support for me as I came out as transgender. I felt angry and let down by the University. I couldn’t bear the idea of other students facing similar struggles being let down as well - or maybe not having the opportunity to get here in the first place! So I ran to be the Equality, Liberation and Access Officer, won the position, and have never looked back. The year so far hasn’t been easy. The first three months were a whirlwind of new faces, new buildings, meetings,
It’s like finally seeing backstage
I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get anything done. But I had no reason to be. Every student I spoke to was nice and polite (even if they were in a rush and uninterested), everyone is genuinely interested in your thoughts and opinions and lived experiences as a student at Bristol, and I’ve already achieved more than I ever thought I would. Becoming an officer is one of the best things I have ever done so if you’re thinking of running then my advice to you is to give it a go!
Equality, Liberation & Access Officer Jamie Cross
way that both these organisations work left me empowered to make them both better for students, and that was liberating. I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the country meeting other union officers, the leaders of the National Union of Students and other influential people within the student movement. I went to parliament to lobby my MP. I’m a company director and trustee of Bristol SU, and all these experiences are completely invaluable. When I started I was worried that I wouldn’t be very good at being an officer. I was nervous to run in the election, I was scared that no one would take me seriously and
Visit bristolsu.org.uk/ elections to find out more.
WHAT HAS
Bristol SU been up to in 2015/16?
15,000
students, more than ever before, joined one of our clubs or societies this year!
We put on hundreds
of events in 2015 including society nights the Big Fat bristol su Pub Quiz and gigs from Foals, Slaves & Congo Natty
673 students stood and
28,422 votes were cast in our student elections
Our award-winning
Balloon Bikes
scheme provided affordable
bikes for
50 students
Never again will you be presented with as many opportunities as you are at University. There are countless chances to get involved with politics, sport and all sorts of weird and wonderful hobbies – all either free or extremely cheap. The level of choice can be overwhelming: there are 300+ societies and sports clubs at Bristol SU; that’s a lot for anyone to take in. Plus, you need to fit it all in around lectures, seminars, labs, time spent in the library, socialising, eating, drinking sleeping…
If you don’t try quidditch or zombie apocalypse training or ultimate Frisbee now, when will you?
BUT. It’s term two now. You’ve settled in (or settled back in) to the swing of University life. Maybe it’s time to start making the most of being at Uni. Seriously, if you don’t try quidditch or zombie apocalypse training or ultimate frisbee now, when will you? February will be Give It A Go month at Bristol SU. There will be free society taster sessions as well as a variety of democratic, social, academic and sporting events. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for to grab university life by the horns. Get yourself to bristolsu.org.uk/giveitago to find out what’s going on, and then, well… give it a go!
Sport & Student Development Officer Steph Harris For your chance to win some awesome prizes, share a photo of yourself at one of the Give It A Go events using #lovebristolsu
WHAT'S ON FEATURED EVENT AMM 5pm - 8pm. Anson Rooms Thursday 18 February AMM, the Bristol SU Annual Members’ Meeting, is the biggest event in the SU calendar. There will be pizza, there will be debate, there will be hundreds of students working together to make the Bristol student experience the best it can be.
Tuesday 26. Get Active Lacrosse 1pm - 2pm, meet by the café on the downs Come along to our Lacrosse sessions every Tuesday 1-2pm! Meet new people and get active! It’s FREE!!
February
January
How it works: any student can submit a motion on any issue by emailing bristolsu-council@bristol.ac.uk. Any student at AMM can then oppose or ask questions about your motion, before voting on whether or not to make it Bristol SU policy. If it passes the vote, then the SU begins working on making your idea happen. Simple!
Thursday 4. Volunteering Fair 5:30pm – 8pm, Anson Rooms Meet over 40 volunteering projects and find your next challenge
Thursday 28. Open Mic Night 8pm - 10pm, Balloon Bar. Hosted by local singer-songerwriter Ed Lofstedt. Email bristolsu-events@bristol. ac.uk to sign up or for more info.
Thursday 28 Student Council 6:30pm - 8pm, Anson Rooms Is there an issue affecting your experience at Bristol? Do you want to make a change? Time to take control!
Thursday 4. Student Leaders’ Conference. 5:30pm – 8:30pm, Bristol SU Come and develop your leadership skills through a series of FREE talks and workshops that will help enhance your employability.
Thursday 4. Time To Talk: the chat off 12:15pm – 12:30pm, outside Senate House, Tyndall Avenue Everyone has mental health - so let's chat about it! Join us outside Senate House, find someone and have a chat. There will be free cake too!
Friday 5. Time To Talk: the after party 8pm – 10pm, Anson Rooms Bar Featuring some of Bristol's best poets, this spoken word night will be based around the theme of mental health. All proceeds will go towards local mental health charities
For more information on all upcoming events see bristolsu.org.uk/events
Flickr: Hunter Desportes
C U LT U R E
Flickr: Marie-Lan Nguyen
Epigram
01.02.2016
Arts
Editor: Mattie Brignal
Deputy Editor: Ed Grimble
Online Editor: Amy Stewart
arts@epigram.org.uk
egrimble@epigram.org.uk
astewart@epigram.org.uk
@EpigramArts
‘Vertigo Sea’: from the Venice Arsenale to Bristol’s Arnolfini As the Arnolfini hosts the UK premiere of John Akomfrah’s ‘Vertigo Sea’, Ed Grimble ruminates on what the artist has dragged up from our oceans Debuting as the UK entry to the 56th Venice Biennale, part of Okwui Enwezor’s ‘All the World’s Futures’, John Akomfrah’s 2015 video installation ‘Vertigo Sea’ has its UK premiere at Bristol’s Arnolfini gallery. An eco-poetic, postmodern tour de force, the 48-minute long film spread across a triptych of screens is a stark and discursive foray into the ethics of humankind’s troubled relationship with the oceans, both past and present. Alongside it is a new work, ‘Tropikos’, a experimental film in the form of a sixteenth century Brechtian period drama, which evokes the ghosts of England’s own suspect relationship with the sea and exposes the palimpsestic nature of the ocean as a site of recurring episodes of human suffering and cruelty.
poem ‘Whale Nation’ betray the fact that this exploitative relationship is something deeply entrenched in humankind’s cultural seafaring history. Akomfrah’s use of the archives (both in its specific sense, in his diligent excavation of footage from the BBC’s Natural History Unit, but also more generally in how he has weaved into his tapestry examples of written and visual arts from the past half a millennium) highlights an insidious human tendency to repress these cultural traumas. The ethereal tableaux vivants of Tropikos are an attempt to resurrect these faded traces of human stories and the archival footage and photography of Vertigo Sea is an antidote to the cultural amnesia that has caused, and may well
Epigram/ Ed Grimble Viewers are encouraged to form their narratives, subjectively linking the photos and footage in Vertigo Sea
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In Vertigo Sea, Akomfrah gives a portrait of the ocean as a space of tremendous plurality, one that throughout history has been the backdrop to great acts of human pioneering and endeavour in striking out into the frightful unknown, but simultaneously the silent and sublime witness to some of our most shameful crimes against both each
Vertigo Sea attacks our fissiparous, othering worldview
other and the natural world. Excruciating archival footage of polar bears being shot for their furs and the on-deck flaying and dismembering of whales are a reminder of the brutality and arrogance with which we engage with the oceans’ life. Readings of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Heathcote Williams’
WHO
continue to cause, a tragically cyclical history. Akomfrah also strives to transpose these ethical issues spatially. The experience of the sublime caused by the sheer size of the world’s oceans can provoke a false sense of the infinite in the human mind. Oceanic endlessness makes it increasingly easy for a society, culture, country, to distance itself from the acts (often atrocities) committed on the high seas. A recognisably English location in Tropikos is Akomfrah’s way of bringing those cultural and ethical concerns home. The waterways and sea ports of the South West (much of the film is set around Plymouth) were the core of Britain’s prosperity, but if these river-ways are the veins of the country then Tropikos forces us to admit that there is poison in our blood. The cultural legacy of Britain on the world stage has as its reluctant backdrop the massive exploitation and enforced diaspora of enslaved nations. Bristol, a city whose history is inexorably and uncomfortably bound up with that of the transatlantic slave trade, is an apt city in which to show a film like Tropikos.
David Foster Wallace Born: February 21st 1962, Ithaca, New York, USA
Died: September 12th 2008, Claremont, California, USA Occupation: Novelist, Short story writer, Essayist, Professor
David Foster Wallace
Alma mater: Amherst College (B.A.), University of Arizona (M.F.A.), Harvard University (dropped out), Cornell University. He struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, depression and institutionalisation. On September 12th 2008, Wallace wrote a note, arranged the manuscript for The Pale King, and hanged himself.
Writer
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Lisson Gallery
John Akomfrah © Smoking Dogs films. Courtesy Lisson Gallery
The current international catastrophe of the migrant crisis is perhaps the most pertinent issue raised by Vertigo Sea. Akomfrah instills his film with reminders that migration and displacement have defined global modernity for centuries, and in doing so levels a frank accusation against the cultural amnesia that has resulted in the floundering panic we are seeing today on our television screens and in our newspapers, from governments the world over, in response to our generation’s issues of the mass movement of peoples. He also criticises and seeks to disrupt the concerning way in which our society is now able to sit gelidly soaking up the hyperrealities
The archival footage and photography of Vertigo Sea is an antidote to cultural amnesia
of news reports on issues like the migrant crisis. Our realities come to us down the lens of a camera, and there is a distancing and a desensitising effect at work here. Vertigo Sea attacks our fissiparous, othering worldview, and the insidious ‘swarm’ rhetoric of the migrant as contagion, who will bring unknown threats to our secure way of life. These problems are not politicised; instead, one’s conscience simply
feels ashamed and repulsed that such things continue to happen. Akomfrah, however, seems reluctant to commit himself to giving either a didactic or prospective solution to these issues. Instead, sitting in the darkened gallery one is struck by the feeling that the burden and in some ways privilege of meaning-making is being left with the audience in Vertigo Sea. The triptych setup exacerbates this - as the gaze of the viewer flits from screen to screen, different moments from the melange of information being shown are juxtaposed. A prescriptive linear narrative is eschewed in favour of the potential for new, unpredictable, and subjective emotional links to be created in the individual audience members. It is a very empowering experience. Aesthetically, Vertigo Sea delivers everything from rich, oceanic panoramas and examples of breathtaking wildlife filmmaking, to grainy footage of the repugnant depths of humankind’s ability to maim and murder in the name of empire and economic prosperity. It exhumes memories of the crimes of our past, and sadly shows us all how little progress we seem to have made. John Akomfrah’s Vertigo Sea and Tropikos will be shown at the Arnolfini from Saturday January 16th 2016- Sunday 10th April 2016, and is an exhibition that is well worth a trip down to the Harbourside to see.
WHAT
Ed Grimble
WHEN
Wallace produced existentialist post-modern
Wallace’s work garnered a lot of national
fiction and non-fiction. His notable works include
media attention and was awarded numerous
Infinite Jest (1996), A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll
honours, arguably due to his unselfconscious
Never Do Again (1997), Brief Interviews with
and almost manic realism.
Hideous Men (1999) and The Pale King (unfinished,
1987: Wallace’s thesis written for his English
2011). His works highlight the quintessence of
major became his first novel, The Broom of
the human beneath the assignment of what is
the System.
constituted as ‘human’. Some of Wallace’s main
1996: Features in Time magazine’s Best Books
writing techniques consist of extensive use of
of the Year (Fiction)
footnotes, and self-generated vocabulary. D.T.
1997: Wallace wins the Aga Khan Prize for
Max, on Wallace’s work: ‘an unusual mixture of
Fiction for the short story “Brief Interviews
the cerebral and the hot-blooded’.
With Hideous Men #6”.
Epigram
01.02.2016
37
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A defence of ‘cultural appropriation’ in the Arts Hannah Wakefield argues that the arts would be empty without cultural appropriation and the rich cross-pollination that it brings The blending of cultures has long since been a cornerstone of the arts. However, in recent years society has adopted what can only be described as an obsession with political correctness. This has resulted in such extremes as a white Westerner who practices yoga being labelled as racist on account of cultural appropriation, as British colonialists once banned the practice in India. Whilst both political correctness and cultural appropriation are of course valid terms in trying to prevent undue offence to any party, when taken too far, as is this case, they become ridiculous and trivialise other serious issues such as racism by labelling them under the blanket term of ‘cultural appropriation’. The arts appear to be far more frequently affected by accusations of the above, both recently and in the past, with similar accusations thrown towards Iggy Azalea and Elvis Presley. In the same way that Elvis has been attacked for taking the sound and style of African-Americans and becoming so successful that he was widely known as the king of rock and roll, Iggy Azalea has been accused of ‘blackfacing’ her way to the top of the charts. Apparently because she, as a white Australian, has had huge success within a genre typically associated with African-Americans there are considered to be racial implications, specifically that she owes her success to the colour of her skin. However, if there is any truth in this then surely it is the society who are recipients of her music that are to blame for favouring her over others because they find her race more palatable, not Azalea herself. It
seems narrowing and divisive in itself to restrain a person from adopting parts of other cultures into their work, which would probably produce a richer artistic output. An artist, or in fact anyone, should not be expected to remain strictly within his or her own cultural parameters. This seems to raise issues of where one draws the line between what is considered a person’s cultural property, as well as problems with artists who may
Artists of every kind have always borrowed from and sought inspiration in other cultures
have more than one cultural background, who are mixed race or have experienced life in more than a singular environment. The question of which cultural resources an artist can draw on becomes foggy and ambiguous. Artists of every kind have always borrowed from and sought inspiration in other cultures. Shakespeare himself was a great borrower from cultures other than his own, with a number of his plays set elsewhere than his native England. Moreover, his
making of the titular character of Othello a ‘Moor’ - of North African descent - is central to the plot and provides a depth to, and further interest in, him. He is considered exotic yet also something of an outsider in Venetian society, which is crucial to understanding his motivations in believing that his white Venetian wife has been unfaithful. His race helps the audience understand him as person and an outsider, rather than meaning to simply define him by a stereotype of race. This sort of cross-pollination of culture in the arts results in a wealth of rich and varied work, and without it the arts would certainly become bland and restrictive. Moreover, what some may consider as cultural appropriation in the arts is far from the act of wearing a Native American headdress at a festival, which is far more reasonable to accept as potentially insensitive and offensive. Musicians, playwrights, artists, who have no intention of offending or taking advantage of the possible financial benefits of another culture, as it is clear most do not, should not be criticised for seeking inspiration or preferring one genre of music over another. This would only result in the pigeonholing of cultures and a step away from multiculturalism, and has the potential to promote xenophobia and racial discrimination.
Hannah Wakefield
The generation that wouldn’t grow up Ed Grimble explores the phenomenon of the ‘Peter Pan economy and our desire to reconnect with our younger selves
Flickr/ Ania Mendrek
The past few months have seen a marked rise in a curious trend in the adult leisure economy. There seems to have been a regressive shift wherein a yearning for a return to childhood is being mercilessly tapped into. Seeping into literature, art and leisure in general, there has emerged a cultural-wide denial of our adult present. The Christmas bestseller charts revealed that Penguin Books’s set of eight ‘Ladybird Book of…’ for grownups stole the show in terms of our literary tastes over the festive period. ‘How it Works: The Husband’, with sharp insights like ‘the husband likes to do simple repairs, like changing the washer on a tap - afterwards he likes to talk at great length about what a struggle it was’, sold over 50,000 copies in a single week in December, for example. Such demand suggests that the appeal for these titles transcends simply transient enthusiasm that necessarily accompanies any sort of franchise reboot or revisit. The books contain advice, wisdom, and anthropological observations written by adults, to be read by adults. It would seem then, that it is the mediation of a recognisable, comfortingly childlike book format and voice that we desire. Alongside these sorts of books, this ‘Peter Pan economy’ manifests itself in a multitude of other forms of adult recreation. Trendy urbanites chow down on the breakfast treats they enjoyed as tykes in Shoreditch’s now somewhat infamous Cereal Killer café, perhaps pausing between mouthfuls to absentmindedly shade in Peter Dinklage’s face in their new Game of Thrones colouring in book (published by Bantam Books). The act of enjoying leisure time seems now to require time-travel - so horridly oppressive is our own adult present. One can only speculate, but perhaps the insidious connectivity that defines modernity is making the once
Carston Höller’s ‘The Slide’
clear line between a time for work and a time for play increasingly blurred. The smart-phone means that even when the phalanxes of Burton-dressed infantry leave their plate glass fortresses, they have not ‘left work’ in the true sense. ‘Work’ is now remorselessly ever-present, vibrating and beeping away in one’s breast pocket, and the only way to thus escape it is to regress to the analogue existence of one’s childhood years. Even fine art has not escaped this childish prism through which we ultra-stressed grown ups must see the world. Does the name Carston Höller get any synapses firing? Höller is the mind behind ‘Decision’ and ‘The Slide!’, two recent additions to the outside facade of London’s Hayward Gallery and to Anish Kapour’s ‘Orbit’ at the Stratford Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Both represent a disheartening phenomenon where ‘art’ must become ‘play’ in order to appeal, seemingly. Low ticket sales at ‘Orbit’ in 2015 apparently led to a loss of around half a million pounds. The answer: put in a slide. The introspection that comes with experiencing an artwork is gone, replaced instead by an opportunity for childish liberation and an artistic experience that sates the thirst of the oversharing generation who want to photograph, video, and generally clamour and shout across social media platforms that they’ve ‘gone and done some art’. Trying to tie these ever escaping threads together leaves me with the feeling that this is a generation that cannot stand to be alone in the hectic quotidian of its present. The way we engage with art replaces solitude with sociability and more and more of our leisure opportunities are a way of reconnecting with either our own lost childhoods, or simply a romanticised pre-adult world of happy thoughts, sans anxiety. Ed Grimble
WHY
WHERE
Wallace disintegrates the self-legislating entity
1991: Emerson College, Boston, MA - Wallace began
of the universal ‘human’ - his works encourage
teaching literature as an adjunct professor.
compassion and acknowledgement of the self as an
1992: Illinois State University, Normal, IL - Wallace
inherently disillusioned being and a by-product of
obtained a position in the English department.
established societal values, like gender binaries.
2002: Pomona College, Claremont, CA - Wallace of Creative Writing and a Professor of English. 2014: the first annual David Foster Wallace Conference was held by the Illinois State University Department; a following conference was held in May 2015.
Flickr/ Steve Rhodes
moved to become the first Roy E. Disney Professor
Wallace’s works focus on the fragmentation and nonlinear nature of thought, the relationship between the ugliness and beauty of human physicality, and reveal an earnest yearning for transcendent experiences in a monolithic world.
Eliana Benaim
Let’s all keep on making small changes for a better Bristol
initforgood.org
Epigram | 01.02.2016
39
250 years of the Bristol Old Vic 2016 marks the 250th anniversary of the Bristol Old Vic. Helena Napier looks at the theatre’s history as well as how this landmark year will be celebrated was assisted by appearances from, among others, Richard Briers, Stephanie Cole, Judi Dench, Patrick Stewart and Timothy West, whilst £5.3 million was provided by the Arts Council. During this period, plays were still staged, albeit in other locations around Bristol. Melly Still’s Coram Boy had a run at Colston Hall, and Sally Cookson’s Treasure Island was performed outside on King Street. Amongst others, Daniel Day-Lewis considers the Old Vic ‘the most beautiful theatre in England.’ The lengthy refurbishment project, subsequent to a period of closure and threat to funding, not only created a beautiful hall, but also gave up some subversive secrets. Archives indicated that middle-class members of the audience in the Georgian age once paid more money to stand and shout together in a ‘pit’ at the foot of the stage than to sit in comfort in the gallery, indicating that the atmosphere within the theatre might previously have been reminiscent of a speakeasy or a nightclub.
Flickr/ Pablo Sanchez
This year Bristol’s Theatre Royal, better known as the Old Vic owing to the theatre company that often performs in the auditorium, is due to celebrate its 250th anniversary. Artistic director Tom Morris says, ‘With the average lifespan of an 18th century theatre being just 17 years, 2016 represents a momentous year for the British theatre world and Bristol Old Vic. Since it first opened, this historic playhouse has been celebrated for its remarkable design and as a place where countless artists, from Sarah Siddons and Henry Irving, to Peter O’Toole, Daniel Day Lewis, Miranda Richardson and Jeremy Irons, have found their voices.’ The Old Vic opened in 1766, during a miniboom in Bristol. Famous for being the second oldest theatre (after Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and the oldest continually operating theatre in Britain, it originally had no royal patent, so technically plays were illegal. They were thus disguised as musical concerts and visitors entered through a private home in order to access the concealed hall.
Flickr/ Berenice
The anniversary year will feature five world-class productions, starting with Jane Eyre
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and opened on 21st January as a celebration of the theatre’s success during the 19th century. The 20th century is to be represented by Sir Richard Eyre’s staging of Long Day’s Journey into Night, starring Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville.
Flickr/ Rob Brewer
The most beautiful theatre in England, according to Daniel Day-Lewis
Its history is turbulent: the theatre received a Royal Letters Patent in 1778 and thrived in the 19th century. Morris describes it as a ‘freak survivor’ of an era when theatrical buildings stood for an average of 17 years. Indeed, it even endured bombing during World War II. However, during the 1970s the theatre suffered badly at the hands of architects, and underfunding brought any development to a halt and forced the theatre to close in 2007. Bristolians and others in the theatre world were unsure as to whether the theatre would open again.
In July 2007, the board of trustees took the controversial decision to close the theatre for refurbishment, and a fundraising campaign for the £19 million planned refurbishment
250th anniversary This unique milestone will be marked by a year-round programme of productions from each of the four centuries of theatre’s operation, alongside Shakespeare’s King Lear (marking the 400th anniversary of his death), whilst the theatre’s birthday itself will feature an openhouse weekend and the launch of a digital heritage project, celebrating those who founded the theatre in 1766 as well as the individuals who have made sure of its on-going survival ever since. The anniversary year will feature five worldclass productions, starting with Jane Eyre. After an incredible run at London’s National Theatre, Sally Cookson’s epic reimagining of Charlotte Brontë’s classic returns to Bristol Old Vic. In 2014 the play gained stunning reviews from papers such as the Telegraph and The Guardian
This is the first time the acclaimed British film, theatre, television and opera director has directed a production at the Old Vic, the very site that inspired him to work in theatre after seeing Peter O’Toole play the eponymous role in Hamlet in 1957. A thread of 21th century work will run
Helena Napier
Flickr/ David McKelvey.
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Since it first opened, this historic playhouse has been celebrated for its remarkable design and as a place where countless artists have found their voices.
Morris has cited the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris as inspiration for the refurbishment. The glorious main auditorium gained an optional thrust stage, and an increase in seating to 540. The refurbishment work has now finished, coinciding with the theatre’s 250th anniversary this year.
The unique milestone that is the Old Vic’s 250th anniversary will be marked by a year-round programme of productions from each of the four centuries of theatre’s operation.
throughout the year, launched by the return of Pink Mist by poet and novelist Owen Sheers, a critically acclaimed Old Vic Production, which, according to critic Dominic Cavendish, ‘sends you reeling’. The play first opened in 2015 and revolves around the lives of three soldiers after their return from Afghanistan. Arguably the most exciting of the programme is the Old Vic’s upcoming production of King Lear, as Timothy West prepares to play the woeful monarch, joined by 18 actors from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. West, who first trod the theatre’s boards in 1967, reported, ‘To step out onto the stage at Bristol Old Vic again is something I’m hugely looking forward to. 2016 is a very important year for the theatre but also quite an important year for William Shakespeare.’ The production, directed by Tom Morris, will run in June 2016, and will be an event rejoicing wholeheartedly in the mutual anniversaries of such major contributors to the world of theatre.
The theatre is a ‘freak survivor’ of an era when theatrical buildings stood for an average of 17 years.
Epigram 01.02.2016
Film & TV
@epigramfilm Editor: Ella Kemp
Deputy Editor: Kate Wyver
Online Editor: Georgia O’Brien
ekemp@epigram.org.uk
kwyver@epigram.org.uk
gobrien@epigram.org.uk
@ella_kemp
@KateWyver
@_georgiaobrien
‘After all this time? Always.’ Alan Rickman: 1946 - 2016
Online Music Editor Sam Mason-Jones looks back at the life and career of the well-loved, warmly-admired actor who recently passed away. as the German terrorist Hans Gruber, a character who was ranked at 46th in the American Film Industry’s 100 best villains of all time. Three years later, he played the Sheriff of Nottingham, facing off against Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and completely outclassing his eponymous foil, as well as appearing in the guise of another baddy, Rasputin, in the acclaimed HBO movie of the same name. These roles cemented his antiheroic acumen, which crept into later roles including that of the crepuscular Potions professor, Severus Snape.
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BFI/LFFPRESS Flickr/ Marie-Lan Nguyen
The most telling testaments to Rickman have come in the stream of glittering tributes following his death The expert handling of this character’s dichotomy, which he reprised in all eight of the Harry Potter films, both introduced Rickman’s acting to a new generation of film-fans and succinctly captured the duality to his acting capabilities. For Snape, though appearing as a shadowy enemy of Harry, Ron and Hermione throughout the series, is also arguably its romantic hero. As such, he often took more overtly romantic leads, starring with Emma Thompson as Colonel Brandon in 1995’s Sense and Sensibility and as Jamie in the BBC’s Truly, Madly, Deeply. In 2003 he again starred alongside Thompson in Richard Curtis’ beloved rom-com Love Actually, though, as her unfaithful husband, he could ultimately be seen as the film’s villain once more. His distinctive voice continued to beguile hordes of fans and critics alike, and it transpired that even scientists were not immune to its charm: in 2008, linguistics professors concluded that the ideal male voice combined elements from his, Michael Gambon’s and Jeremy Irons’ intonations.
Rickman continued to put this voice to good use in a flurry of other notable acting credits which adorned the actor’s noughties. He appeared in a pair of Tim Burton’s adaptations, Sweeney Todd and Alice in Wonderland, Snow Cake with Sigourney Weaver and Carrie-Anne Moss, and alongside Dustin Hoffman in Perfume. The following decade saw his welcome return to the stage, drawing critical acclaim for his lead roles in Henrik Ibsen’s John Gabriel Borkman, in which he reunited with Lindsay Duncan, and Seminar, the new play by Theresa Rebeck. Though he had collated a number of accolades during his time, notably University College Dublin’s James Joyce Award, the most telling testaments to Rickman as an actor and a man have come in the stream of glittering tributes which have poured in following his death. Emma Thompson and Michael Gambon have led these commendations of their friend, with
“
Time has written the London bus image into adage and accepted truth: two will always arrive at once to overwhelm the waiting passengers, just as it famously never rains but it pours. So it appears to be with the passing of celebrities. With the country’s collective wounds still open and the darkened streets of Brixton still echoing with the chorus of ‘Starman’, we awake to the news of another pertinent loss, that of esteemed and loved actor Alan Rickman. Obvious parallels will of course be drawn with the death of another national treasure which came four days prior: David Bowie also died at 69, and was also killed by cancer. It is important, however, to view the news outside of this context, to commemorate Rickman’s life and work in and of itself, to celebrate that which has established the actor as one of this country’s finest products; an actor whose languid drawl became synonymous with so many roles and whose striking features moved so many. The first steps towards his august reputation were taken in theatre, with the young actor comprising roles in experimental productions of Chekhov’s The Seagull and The Grass Widow by Snoo Wilson upon graduating from RADA. Noticed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, he was cast in the coveted role of the melancholic Jacques in Adam Crowley’s 1985 production of As You Like It, which enjoyed a successful run at the Barbican. The same company handed him a bigger break in the subsequent year as the lead in Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. When the production, directed by Howard Davies, was transferred to Broadway in 1987, Rickman’s libidinous performances earned him nominations for both a Tony and Drama Desk Award and left audiences ‘wanting to have sex – and preferably with Alan Rickman,’ as his co-star Lindsay Duncan famously noted. The publicity garnered allowed Rickman’s smooth transition onto the screen and the beginning of his lengthy love affair with the cinematic villain. In 1988 he was cast in Die Hard
the latter telling Radio 4: ‘Everybody loved Alan. He was always happy and fun and creative and very, very funny. He had a great voice, he spoke wonderfully well.’ Emma Thompson wrote this: ‘What I remember most in this moment of painful leave-taking is his humour, intelligence, wisdom and kindness. The intransigence which made him the great artist he was – his ineffable and cynical wit, the clarity with which he saw most things, including me, and the fact that he never spared me the view.’ Some eulogies, offered by the likes of Richard E. Grant, Daniel Radcliffe and Eddie Izzard, speak of the professional composure with which he conducted each role, others speak of the total dignity he exhibited in everyday life. It is strangely fitting, then, that the man who will go down in history as one of cinema’s finest villains will be remembered as one of life’s good guys.
Does David O. Russell bring Joy to our cinemas? Film & TV Writer Phoebe Graham reviews David O. Russell’s modern day fairy tale about one remarkable woman and her miracle mop.
Flickr: Watershed Dominick D
Behind the almighty facade of the selfassurance, guaranteed witticisms and poignant remarks naturally assumed by an Epigram film writer, I can only be honest: I really struggled to write this. David O. Russell’s Joy is frankly manic, it is oxymoronic. It’s absurd, an absolute mess in so many ways and ironically about a mop. On paperor on screen, depending on your technological competence- this film shouldn’t work. Yet I left the cinema with a spring in my step pacing to a song in my head, with that heightened feeling you get when you pretend you’re in a film yourself, this itself a human oddity which Joy uniquely plays on. Against the backdrop of the late ‘80s with Russell’s familiar yellow-tinted, vintage aesthetic, Joy takes on the epitome of a dysfunctional family setting reminiscent of Silver Linings Playbook and fuses this with the explosive yet cynical energy of American Hustle. Stylistically amalgamated in a comedy-drama loosely based on the entrepreneurial rise of Joy Mangano, it’s nothing new from the acclaimed director, but Joy is pushed to his stylistic extremes. The film zooms in on the hectic household of Jennifer Lawrence’s Joy. She is daughter to Mimi, a bedbound, TV addicted mother (Virginia Madsen), and a divorced, loving but discouraging father, Rudy (Robert De Niro). Rudy lives in the basement with Joy’s ex-husband, a wannabe exotic club singer and a father of two comparatively normal children. Joy’s life has become stressfully mundane amongst this eccentricity which has prevented the once little girl with big ideas of pursuing her passion for making things. After a light-bulb moment
when being cut heavily by glass while cleaning up yet another one of her family’s mess, she invents the self-wringing ‘Miracle Mop’. Bloody and determined, she secures an investment from the cartoonish, villain-like Isabella Rossilini, who plays Rudy’s new girlfriend, Trudy, and fights her way up the commercial ladder to eventual resounding success, with a bit of TV stage fright along the way.
Joy takes on the epitome of a dysfunctional family setting reminiscent of Silver Linings Playbook
My analytical gut wants to bring up the immensely imaginative but inconsistent stylistic twists that are littered all over this ‘sort of’ true story, that doesn’t quite scream ‘quirk me’ at first sight. Joy begins with expositional narration by Joy’s grandmother which is noticeably dumped as a device. The film also includes sporadic mockeries of atrocious day-time soap operas which never quite establish their purpose within the film. But despite all of this, it is captivating within its inconsistency. Joy bursts at the seams with energy, pace and quirk. It essentially makes the selling of a product on the QVC channel a heart-stopping affair. The many stylised facets are genius in themselves but it’s admittedly
excessive. The style dictates the storyline but this is typical of O. Russell and his films wouldn’t be the same without it. He gets away with it once again. It is uneven but wonderfully so. The cast are excellent in executing these idiosyncratic and caricaturised parts. Although the intensity of their outrageous personalities leave little room for subtle developments, it makes for a really unique, comic dynamic that O. Russell does oh-so-well. Bradley Cooper received an unlucky dip as Neil Walker, executive of QVC TV who, despite being featured heavily in the promotion of the film, actually lacks much development and pales in personality. But I suppose this is to emphasise that Joy’s American dream doesn’t have to rely on a ‘handsome prince’ to come true. Jennifer Lawrence is fierce as the tragically beautiful Joy. Flashing and balancing the strongwilled initiative, dark humour and unbeatable determination seen of the Hunger Games tribute into the context of the blue-collared world, she achieves a greater feminine strength equipped with a mop than any weapon she could find in the arena. Lawrence does not only hold her entire family together, but the film as well. She is yet again completely worthy of her Oscar nomination. Of all the films made about mop manufacture, this one is by far my favourite.
What did you think of Joy? Is Jennifer Lawrence set for another Oscar? Join the discussion @EpigramFilm
“
Epigram 01.02.2016
41
The Big Short: The economic fortune tellers - teachers of invaluable lessons? Film & TV Writer Dulcie Jones learns about collateralised debt obligations in a bubble bath as economics gets a makeover.
Wikicommons
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The Big Short is a stylish movie. Think The Wolf of Wall Street’s more conservative and refined cousin. Director Adam McKay, most well-known for Step Brothers and the Anchorman films, is the perfect choice to carry this story of the economic crash of 2008. The movie placed in different hands could have been not only inaccessible to anyone unable to understand financial jargon but also just plain dull. However, in McKay’s assured hands we are presented with a vivacious, fast-paced, serious comedy, one which demands attention from the opening scene and holds it until the credits begin to roll at the film’s close. The movie’s advantage is certainly that the storyline - the financial crash of 2008 - is still disquietingly fresh in the memory of the audience. The nature of such an infamous disaster naturally provokes anyone to seek to understand the mechanics of the event. There are many who may claim to totally comprehend the source of the crash but for the majority, and those being completely honest, there are grey areas of understanding. This film not only skilfully enlightens, it also plays to the audience’s silent appeal. The plot follows four men who notice a fatal flaw in the backbone of the financial system housing mortgages. When the characters break the fourth wall and speak to the camera, it goes a long way in making the discussion of synthetic bonds and collateralised debt obligations intelligible. But the true genius lies in the use of real-life celebrities who spell out the issues at hand. At one point, Margot Robbie is seen lying in a bubble bath - supposedly a reference to the financial bubble about to implode - sipping on champagne and explaining the basics of how these mortgages get bundled together. This works so well on two levels. First, it’s funny
What’s On?
and comprehensible. Secondly, it highlights the ignorance of the everyday man and the sad truth that important issues are glazed over whilst celebrity culture garners central interest.
The financial crash of 2008 is still disquietingly fresh in the memory of the audience.
The cast here are also at their very best; Christian Bale as an autistic, one-eyed fund manager, Ryan Gosling as a greasy, perma-tanned trader, Brad Pitt as a neurotic retired banker and Steve Carrell as an angry, disturbed hedge fund manager. All this put together provides an ensemble of immense talent which crackles in every scene. Yet, it is Carrell who really shines in this. His look of agony when he realises the implications of what he has predicted is truly distressing to view. In fact, the moral punch of the movie is just as painful. It is our own greed and stupidity which is laid bare at the film’s conclusion; these men saw what we couldn’t see, they anticipated our obliviousness and bet on it. The film isn’t just taking down corrupt bankers, it’s questioning the whole financial system. Never has a comedy been quite so serious.
Is The Big Short the one to watch this season? Join the discussion @EpigramFilm
Best of 2015
Epigram Film and TV Writers
Editors’ Picks Flickr/Human rights watch
Substance Global
WikiCommons
1. Star Wars - Max Tyler
Ella Editor
Kate Deputy Editor
Georgia Online Editor
‘The layered new cast, expanded universe and loveable charm will not just awaken the force but inevitably a whole new core of fans, itching for more from our galaxy far, far away’
Hail Caesar!
Zoolander 2
Meet The Patels
2. The Lobster - Ben Hickey
Out February 12th
In cinemas November 25th
The Coen Brothers return with bedazzling comedy featuring the most familiar faces in a star studded meta-movie world. Featuring George Clooney as a kidnapped Caesar and more cameos than the Oscars, the Coens put on their most exuberant show yet.
Fifteen years later and Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell and the gang are back with the follow up to the incredibly popular and incredibly sassy Zoolander. A story of revenge, high tensions and of high fashion, get ready to strike a pose.
After a break up, Indian-American Chandar Abboy enlists the help of his parents and extended family to find him a wife. This hilarious documentary follows the traditional Indian process of matching a couple for marriage in a modern age.
Deutschland 83
And Then There Were None
Silent Witness
On BBC iPlayer
On BBC iPlayer
Ten strangers are stranded on an island and are picked off, one by one. Using traditional horror techniques with a sleek, elegant twist, Sarah Phelps’ adaptation of Agatha Christie’s murder mystery doesn’t disappoint. Also, I would just like to say, I guessed the murderer correctly.
One of the BBC’s best crime dramas, this follows a team of forensic pathologists in London who solve murders, occasionally getting drawn into the cases on a personal level. Leading woman Emilia Fox (Nikki Alexander) gets sucked into the most gripping case of the series.
In cinemas February 26th
Channel 4
Set in the heart of the cold war, the 8 part series focuses on an undercover border patrol guard who goes from East to West Germany. It’s refreshing to see more European talent on British television channels, and is set to be a powerful watch with some extremely strong performances.
‘Amidst the laughs and the comic emotionlessness lies a dark heart at the centre of The Lobster’
3. Suffragette Phoebe Graham ‘I found Mulligan absolutely captivating as she faced the many trials and obstacles in her way’
What were your favourite films of 2015? Join the discussion @EpigramFilm
Epigram
01.02.2016
Music
@epigrammusic Editor: Gunseli Yalcinkaya
Deputy Editors: Alex Schulte; Caitlin Butler
Online Editor: Sam Mason-Jones
gyalcinkaya@epigram.org.uk
aschulte@epigram.org.uk; cbutler@epigram.org.uk
s.masonjones@epigram.org.uk
Interview: Rosie Lowe Rosie Lowe, a singer-songwriter from Devon, is set to be one of 2016’s most prolific artists. Her stripped back R&B style combines a delicate, electronic accompaniment with powerful lyrics to express her beautiful vocals. Learning both the piano and the violin from the age of 5, the singer has an extensive background in music from a very young age. Born the youngest of six into ‘a really musical household,’ Lowe has been gifted an overwhelming passion and aptitude for music that stems from her childhood. ‘People say, ‘When did you decide you wanted to be a musician?’ but I can’t remember a time when I did. I was just doing it forever really. It’s how I learnt how to communicate and have an emotional output…I’ve never done anything else in terms of education, put all my eggs in one basket.’
before beginning her career as a singersongwriter. Although her background is inextricability linked to music, she never expressed a definite desire for this as her profession. ‘I was never like, ‘I want a career in music’; it just happened. Even when I came out of university I still didn’t think ‘I want to be an artist’ but it’s been quite clear that something around music is clearly the right thing for me because its what I am passionate about.’ After putting up her music on SoundCloud, ‘just for my friends and for [her]self,’ Lowe was approached by her management and publishing label. ‘I’ve been quite lucky in terms of that process happening quite naturally.’
Lowe’s musical background is largely in jazz. She sang and performed with the same jazz band throughout her teenage years. ‘That was a really good performance platform; it was really good to practise playing in so many different places and to different audiences and having to respond to different things. It was the best practise I could have asked for; I didn’t really know it at the time.’ Although her music would be described After leaving school, Lowe studied as electro-R&B more than jazz, it is what Music at Goldsmiths University in London she trained her voice and her ear in. ‘[Jazz] has probably had a really big influence on the way that I approach music more than anything and a freedom in music to try things out. Jazz is incredible.’ The ability to communicate with other people is an important part of what Lowe loves about making music. ‘As a listener I love music that can make me feel understood and less alone in feeling particular things. It’s probably the same thing that I feel creating music; it’s being able to have the opportunity to do that. For me, it’s a selfish output. It’s an emotional output, it’s like a therapy, it’s really key to my existence. If I was completely cut off I would still be making music in the same way that I do now I think. Just communicating with people through music is a really special thing and I feel really lucky to be able to do that. A lot of the time I don’t know how I feel about something until I’ve written a song and I think okay, this has actually really affected me. It’s your subconscious, there’s so much going on there and mine makes its way out through music.’ Rosie Lowe’s album Control is available on 19th February. She plays The Louisiana in Bristol on 26th February. Tilda Haymes
Epigram 01.02.2016
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should have been a nomination for FKA Twigs, and her brilliant EP M3LL155X, whose unique and revolutionary sound is a prominent feature of modern British music. Nominating deceased female artists, regardless of their merit, exemplifies an inattention to women in music and obstructs new female talent from achieving highly. Like many award ceremonies, the Brits promise to offer a public celebration of talent that is disproportionate to the actualities of the industry. The lack of diversity in the artists that have been nominated presents a false ideal of what British music actually is. By failing to recognize artists of different ethnicities, the Brits have alienated some of the biggest talents present within the UK music scene and become an embodiment of institutionalised discrimination. Tilda Haynes
RIT AWARDS Tilda Haymes talks diversity, race and alienation in light of the 2016 Brit Awards...
flickr: Bill Strain
In recent years, many award ceremonies have come under scrutiny for the lack of diversity in the artists that they chose to honour. The 2016 Brit Awards are no different. This issue was brought to the forefront of international attention after comments posted by Nicki Minaj stating she would have been nominated for a VMA if she were “a different kind of artist.” The rapper made incredibly illuminating comments on the nature of critical recognition, stating that “black women influence pop culture so much but are rarely rewarded for it.” She is right. Award ceremonies are often the epitome of white privilege and show a disregard for the incredible influence black artists have on our society. The BRIT Awards, just like the Oscars, have failed to nominate a non-white artist for the vast majority of their awards. Despite nominations for many interesting and innovative artists such as Aphex Twin and Jamie XX, there are clear disparities between the most influential and creative artists in the music industry and the artists that are recognized. The failure to include any black artists within the nomination for British Male Solo act has resulted in no mention of one of the past years most popular and prolific genres. 2015 saw a massive surge in the appreciation for grime, with it becoming a large part of Britain’s most appreciated musical exports. Artists, such as JME, who have had such a profound impact on popular culture, are completely overlooked by the Brit Awards for artists like James Bay, whose impact on the UK music scene seems so insignificant in comparison. The posthumous nomination for Amy Winehouse is particularly interesting. Although it is a moving tribute following the release of her biographical documentary Amy in 2015, many have criticized this as neglect of current British musical talent. While Winehouse’s extraordinary talent cannot be disputed, it eludes to the idea that there are few contemporary female artists that are worthy of recognition. Perhaps there
Epigram 01.02.2016
45
The Best Film Soundtrack Compilations With the BAFTAs fast approaching and Oscar fever on the horizon, tis the season to celebrate cinema – and its defining soundtracks. Georgia Marsh counts down the crème de la crème of on-screen compilations.
10 Pretty in Pink (1986)
The Graduate (1967) Director Mike Nichols was so inspired by Simon & Garfunkel while making The Graduate that he invited the folk team to pen the rest of the soundtrack to the era-defining movie. What was born out of this relationship was one of the biggest hit movies in American history and a timelessly likeable score. Haunting harmonies and acoustic simplicity – ‘April Come She Will’ – are pitted up against boppy folk (what else but the emblematic ‘Mrs Robinson’) to braid a narrative soundtrack which elegantly runs alongside the cynical romance onscreen.
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9 John Hughes excelled in creating magical movie montages: Talking Heads concluding The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller lip synching ‘Twist and Shout’ on a parade float are among the greatest. However, none of these films had a soundtrack as immersive as that of Pretty in Pink. The Psychedelic Furs’ title track – a raspy and very British example of post-punk – inspired the film, while Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Echo & the Bunnymen add a sense of percussion-heavy 80s euphoria. Of course, quintessential to this generation, alternative heroes The Smiths also feature.
Forrest Gump (1994) Forrest Gump won over cinema-goers across the globe with its larger-than-life tale of the extraordinary happenings of a young man with mental disabilities. It received the Academy Award for Best Picture, but it’s the multi-platinum soundtrack which is truly its golden achievement. Each chapter of Forrest’s life is magnificently brought into colour with the help of countless 20th century idols: 60’s swingers The Doors, soul queen Aretha Franklin and the infectious Fleetwood Mac, to name a few; painting a dazzling portrait of the diverse history of popular music.
Creed (2015)
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Rushmore (1998) The ever idiosyncratic Wes Anderson directs oddball coming-of-age charmer Rushmore the soundtrack of which he originally intended to consist solely of The Kinks. Instead, they appear only once with the subtly irate ‘Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl’. Filling the gaps are the folky rumblings of Cat Stevens and a John Lennon tribute to Yoko, concluding with the happy-go-lucky spangled rock of Faces. Using classics from the British Invasion, Anderson exquisitely illustrates the naïve innocence of Max Fischer’s wide-eyed crush on Miss Cross.
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Sylvester Stallone recently reprised his most celebrated role in the latest movie in the Rocky legacy: Creed. Its soundtrack, compelling and determined, appears very aware of this legend. Not shy of original material, Tessa Thompson (who plays a singer-songwriter in the movie) injects a copious amount of ambient R&B into the mix, while another highpoint is ‘Last Breath’: Future’s galactic trap remix of the iconic Rocky fanfare. The rest is a map of modern hip-hop with a few welcome throwbacks: ranging from UK grime trailblazers Krept and Konan to rap royalty 2Pac, Creed’s soundtrack represents a hustling cluster of fighting hits.
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To hear ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and not picture John Travolta swaggering down the street is impossible; Saturday Night Fever is a movie defined by musical moments. From the honey-soaked smoothness of ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ (definitely not that Calvin Harris tripe) to brassy guest appearances by Kool and the Gang, this soundtrack captures the soul of disco. While the movie seems dated to 21st century audiences, its music is feverish as ever almost forty years on. What epitomised disco culture then can still be found running through the veins of music today, with artists like Tame Impala desperate to recreate sounds like these.
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Purple Rain (1984)
Adventureland (2009)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Has anyone actually seen this movie? No, me neither. Yet this only proves the soundtrack’s eminence as a standalone album. It’s not hard to see why – especially considering how frequently it is ranked as one of the best albums of all time. Seesawing theatrically between offbeat techno and rock-infused funk, the songs of this score are vivid and genre-spanning. Purple Rain catapulted an already majorly popular Prince into the stratosphere of superstardom with the help of the blissed-out power ballad that gives both the film and the soundtrack its namesake.
Set in 1987 and starring Kristen Stewart (the woman of many emotional dimensions), the music of Adventureland boasts free-spirited youthfulness. Feisty, fiery rock from the likes of The Replacements is balanced out by the gorgeous gentility of The Velvet Underground (Ryan Reynolds’ loser character outlandishly claims to jam with Lou Reed). The entire compilation is nothing short of retro feelgood fun with the help of gloriously cheesy contributions from Falco and Crowded House, alongside the late, great David Bowie (RIP), whose ‘Modern Love’ adds a touch of 80s magic in a climax of swirling sax solos.
The infamous Tarantino does nothing delicately, hence why the electricity of Pulp Fiction’s soundtrack champions both the films gutsy glory and the director’s eccentricity. The compilation is an eclectic assortment of songs that work so well concurrently. On one end of the spectrum lies uplifting technicolour disco courtesy of Kool and the Gang’s ‘Jungle Boogie’, whereas the other end plays host to the jangly garage rock of Urge Overkill’s cover of ‘Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon’. To this day, the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction, as nutty as the film itself, remains one of the most remarkably unique collections in cinema.
The Jay-Z-produced soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel is a glistening hybrid of EDM and hip-hop melted into the noise of the roaring 20’s. It includes Emeli Sandé’s jittery rendition of ‘Crazy in Love’ by Queen Bey (who also covers ‘Back to Black’) and Fergie’s baroque club anthem ‘A Little Party Never Killed Nobody’. Although ‘Young and Beautiful ‘by Lana Del Rey immaculately illuminates the hazy romance of Gatsby’s character, it’s Jay, Kanye and Frank’s ‘No Church in the Wild’ that steals the show; seizing the decadence, indulgence and unreality of Gatsby’s American Dream.
Epigram
01.02.2016
46
A preview of the world of sport in 2016 Marcus Price, Malik Ouzia and James O’Hara Epigram Sport Editorial Team
Sportsperson to watch...
Most looking forward to...
With 15 knockouts from 15 fights, Anthony Joshua has been tipped by many to dominate his field of boxing in the future. Already an Olympic, British and Commonwealth Champion, calls are coming for him to take on a higher class of opposition. This could well come in the form of former WBA heavyweight champion, David Haye, who recently made his comeback with the knockout of Mark de Mori. However, the fight that the boxing world really wants to witness is Joshua against the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’, Tyson Fury.
Marcus Price - Ryder Cup
Malik Ouzia - Rio 2016
Malik Ouzia - Pep Guardiola
This is Wembley. Wembley is not a stadium in France and will not feature im Euro 2016. Enjoy it anyway.
Forget all that ‘My nan could manage Barcelona or Bayern Munich’ rubbish. This is the finest football manager
Flickr: Thomas Rodenbucher Guardiola, the second most attractive Barcelona player ever, after Ronald Koeman.
With a few exceptions, the Olympic Games provide the pinnacle of the careers of every athlete on the planet. For two weeks of the year where we forget the tedious monetization of football and become experts in the canoe slalom and dressage. We forget about club loyalties and nail our colors firmly to the mast of Great Britain, supporting boxers not because of their showman’s performance at the weigh-in but because the Union Jack sits proudly upon their chest. What’s not to love?
on the planet bar none and his next move has the potential to define the landscape of English, if not European football, for the foreseeable future. Since the millions arrived in Manchester, Mark Hughes, Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini have tried and failed to establish City as a continental superpower. With Pep at the helm it could be consecutive titles and European glory at last for The Citizens.
James O’Hara - Euro 2016
2016 could prove to be the pivotal year in Gareth Bale’s career. At the moment, it is shrouded in uncertainty – will he leave Madrid after Benitez was fired against his wishes, or will Ronaldo leave and allow Bale to become the focal point? And with the Euros this year too, Bale probably has his only chance to deliver on the international stage too. He has undoubted ability – hopefully this will be the year he delivers.
and comparisons had been made with the legendary Ayrton Senna. He did not disappoint, taking a record points tally for a rookie driver and impressing with a series of daring overtakes. He looks destined for a seat at Red Bull in 2017. He still needs to prove that he is more than a oneseason wonder – and 2016 is the year to do that.
Malik Ouzia - David Alaba
Marcus Price - Leicester City
‘David Alaba is our God’. High praise indeed from the aforementioned Pep Guardiola. Bayern Munich’s dynamic defender, Austria’s central-midfield playmaker, and one of the most gifted footballers on the planet. Criminally excluded from the farce that is FIFA’s Team of the Year, Alaba is still only 23 years old. And if his Bayern team sweep all before him at home and on the continent then come Euro 2016 Alaba could really announce himself on the world stage.
‘It won’t last’ – Everyone (September, October, November, December 2015). Leicester’s form during perhaps the most bizarre Premier League season in history has continued to astound punters and bookies alike. Sitting comfortably at the top of the table after 23 games, with only two losses under their belt, the time has surely come to say, ‘Why not?’ With Vardy back to scoring ways and Mahrez and Kante continuing their midfield dominance, the initial odds of 10001 for a Foxes’ crown don’t look too shabby.
James O’Hara - Max Verstappen Max Verstappen arrived in F1 in 2015 with very high expectations: at 17 he was the youngest driver ever
Team to watch...
Malik Ouzia - Kenya Athletics
For good and for bad. In August last year Kenya topped the Athletics World Championship medal table for the first time. They’ve diversified too, no longer limited to long distance glory, in Beijing they won gold over the 400m hurdles and in the javelin. And yet there are doubts. Amidst the Russian doping scandal there were remarks, both explicit and implied, that Kenya would be next. Corruption at the head of the sport’s governing body is allegedly rife whilst anti-doping regulations aren’t implemented as forcefully as elsewhere.
James O’Hara - Ireland I might be a little biased, what with my dad being Irish, but this could be a big year for Irish Rugby Union. They have won the last 2 Six Nations and at the Rugby World Cup won their group impressively. It took an inspired Argentina performance and the absence of Jonny Sexton to knock them out. If Sexton is fit, Ireland could make history at this year’s Six Nations by becoming the first team to win the tournament three times in a row.
James O’Hara - Gareth Bale
Young one to watch... Marcus Price - Max Whitlock
Can Ireland make it three in a row at the Six Nations, even without the bald head of Paul O’Connell?
Flickr: Antonio Cinotti
It will be very interesting to see whether the 20 team format works, but even so I think it will be a cracker. It’s difficult to look past the Germans, but Spain and hosts France should not be ruled out, and the Italians always deliver in tournaments. It will also be brilliant to have Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at the tournament too. And with Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney on form, is it time for England to believe?
At the tender age of 22, Whitlock has achieved more than many athletes could hope to do in a career. Having made his name at London 2012 with two bronze medals, he has since added to his impressive tally three further golds at the Commonwealth games as well as becoming Great Britain’s first ever male World Champion. He will be hoping to add Olympic gold to his haul in Rio this summer in both individual and team events.
Flickr: Dave
Europe will be looking to bring the trophy home for the 4th consecutive time as they travel to the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. However, the USA seemed to be more prepared than ever following the creation of the exceedingly American ‘Ryder Cup Task Force.’ Consisting of three PGA officials and eight former Ryder Cup participants, USA captain Davis Love III will have an overwhelmingly unqualified lack of excuses for defeating Darren Clarke’s Europe.
Marcus Price - Anthony Joshua
Epigram
01.02.2016
47 Biggest hope... Marcus Price - Newcastle survive the drop The Magpies are perhaps the most frustrating team around to support, for they consistently indulge themselves in sheer mediocrity and disappointment. Despite the noticeable improvement in the squad from new signings Wijnaldum and Mitrovic, it is rare that that I begin to watch a Newcastle match with the belief that we will win. The only upside to relegation would be if Sports Direct reintroduce their whopping 25 per cent off replica shirts sale of 2009.
Malik Ouzia - We get a proper year of McIlroy vs Speith In 2014 Rory McIlroy won two majors. In 2015 Jordan Spieth did likewise. But at no point have we really had both golfers, undoubtedly the finest
of their generation and both with the potential to finish their careers amongst the finest of all time, in full flow at the same time. Perhaps in 2016, across four majors, an Olympic Games and a Ryder Cup, we may witness the birth of an epic rivalry which could dominate the sport for a decade.
James O’Hara - No more doping scandals 2015 was the year of the sporting scandal. First there was the latest developments in the seemingly endless corruption allegations surrounding FIFA, which finally seems to have knocked Blatter off his pedestal. Then there was Athletics, with IAAF President Seb Coe clinging on after the allegations surrounding Russian state-sponsored doping. Hopefully, sport will have a clean year for once in 2016.
Biggest fear...
Marcus Price - England fail to qualify from the group stages... again. Surely not even England could fail to qualify from a group containing the mighty Wales and Slovakia? This mere question epitomises why we all love to hate watching England at major championships; for it reeks of inevitability. Inevitable that we draw with Russia. Inevitable that Bale scores a hattrick against us. Inevitable that, needing a win against Slovakia, we can only muster a pitiful 0-0 draw. But let’s remain positive. Rooney might score another penalty to add to his England tally.
Malik Ouzia - Arsenal don’t win the Premier League Apologies neutrals and Leicester fans alike. My beloved Arsenal haven’t had a better chance at winning the title since, well since the last time
they were in contention at this stage only to chuck it away. Injuries, form, pure lack of bottle, whatever it might be have cost us in the past. Please get this thing over the line. It’s the hope that kills you.
James O’Hara - Sheik Salman is elected FIFA President Supposedly, Prince Ali of Jordan is the favourite in the upcoming FIFA presidential election. I don’t believe that for a second. Sheikh Salman of Bahrain is the current President of the Asian Football Confederation, and has managed to secure most of the African and Asian federations. He claims that FIFA ‘Does not need a revolution’, is close to Blatter and has been associated with Human rights abuses in suppressing Bahrain’s 2011 uprising. Football can do better than Salman, and must.
Cricket was made for student life
Normally, one member of the Epigram Sport editorial team and a guest both aim to correctly predict the Premier League scores. But for the Christmas Special, it was a three-way battle of the Epigram Sport team. Check out this week’s results... www.epigram.co.uk/sport
Friday Football Show Every Friday from 4pm5pm, Epigram Sport preview the upcoming weekend of football on Burst Radio!
Adam Becket Deputy Editor
If you want to certain topics to be discussed, tweet us @EpigramSport. Be sure to tune in!
Flickr: Airwolfhound
It’s an odd experience being an England cricket fan in the winter. The odd timing of matches in lands far away, combined with England more often than not losing, is a strange experience but sits easily with the life of a student. It is different this winter. England have managed a stunning series victory over the number oneranked Test team in the world (before this series), South Africa; also, South Africa is fortunately only two hours behind us, so if you don’t mind early mornings you can keep up with the cricket without losing too much sleep. Whilst at university, I’ve experienced England’s humiliation in the 201314 Ashes series, along with our humbling at the 2015 World Cup. In fact, England’s Test series victory in South Africa is their first away series win since India 2012; the winters have been largely bleak for England cricket fans. This is all part of the fun; to the ardent England fan the defeats are just part of life. Perhaps I’m an exception, an oddity in the amount of cricket I consume, but I find Test Match Special to be the perfect accompaniment on late winter nights and early mornings. The disappointments are all just part of it; in my cricket supporting life I’ve been lucky enough to see England win five Ashes series, England rise to the number one in Tests and win the T20 World Cup. It wouldn’t be England though without the reverse of this: the two 5-0 whitewashes in away Ashes series, the disappointing Cricket World Cups and the team exploding after the dropping of Kevin Pietersen in 2014. It would be boring if we were constantly number one (probably). Listening to the cricket is the ideal accompaniment to student life, it’s perfect to listen to whilst writing essays, when procrastinating from essays and when doing nothing.
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Fantasy Football
England’s victorious 2015 Ashes team, featuring the greatest living Aston Villa fan, Ian Bell.
Well, maybe it’s not the best accompaniment to revision, but that doesn’t stop me trying. In winter, I’ll roll in from a night out and tune in to the cricket, or roll out of bed in the morning to the sound of the cricket. I listened to Alistair Cook’s mammoth double century while on an early morning coach to London to do some dissertation research; I listened to Stuart Broad’s match winning bowling against South Africa half asleep, hungover. It got me through that morning. The only sport that really works on the radio is cricket. There’s something about listening to it rather than watching it that makes it enthralling. I look forward to Tests because that means four or five days of entertainment, of easy listening. Radio is perfect for the student: no subscription fees, no streaming and no need to watch anything and get distracted too much.
A proper England fan sticks through the team in their bad spells as well as their good spells, which means in my first year of university I listened to almost all of the 201314 Ashes series, willing England on as they were completely destroyed 5-0. The team ended up exploding following that disaster, and it has been an upwards curve since then. I was at the final day of the first Test England won after those disastrous Ashes and the euphoria was clear. Since then, England have regained the Ashes and have now beaten South Africa in their own backyard. It has been whilst being a student that my addiction to cricket has gone to whole new heights. During the Cricket World Cup last year I listened to as many matches as I possibly could, even after England had exited at the group stage. The Cricket World Cup being in Australia meant I had to change my body clock to be awake
for games which started in the early hours of the morning. This winter, I’ve been listening to Australia’s matches against New Zealand, the West Indies and India, coming in from the pub to listen to Australia dominate yet another Test match. Cricket has become all encompassing, the perfect accompaniment to my life at university. As I write this, I’m listening to the fourth Test between South Africa and England, which isn’t going as well for England as the series so far. This doesn’t mean that I’m not as interested in the cricket, or less emotionally invested in it; I woke up to the sound of Test Match Special and I cheered for joy when Jimmy Anderson got AB de Villiers out for a duck. People might think I’m mad for liking cricket this much, but they just haven’t experienced enough; my time at university has facilitated my addiction to the sport.
Epigram Sport is running its very own Barclays Fantasy Premier League. Feel free to join! The Liga is proving more and more competive, with the top 5 within 36 points of each other... Liga de Epigram Code: 1568501-366592 Good Luck!
Epigram
01.02.2016
Sport
@epigramsport
Editor: Marcus Price
Deputy Editor: James O’Hara Online Editor: Malik Ouzia
sport@epigram.org.uk @marcusprice106
deputysport@epigram.org.uk @JamesOHara14
sportonline@epigram.org.uk @MalikOuzia
University spend £300,000 on Tyndall Avenue gym
James O’Hara Deputy Sport Editor The University of Bristol has spent £300,000 on a complete overhaul of the Tyndall Avenue gym, as part of the University’s £525 million capital investment program. The purchase includes brand new, state-of-the-art cardiovascular machines and a new set of free
Epigram: Malik Ouzia
These machines are used for running.
These machines are used for cycling.
weights equipment. As a result, treadmills, spin bikes and steppers can now interact with social media and be used as part of an individually tailored exercise programme which can be set up remotely. Meanwhile, in the free weights area of the gym there are new bars, weights and machines. Although some might argue that the £300,000 purchase was unnecessary - especially considering the Tyndall Avenue gym already arguably had adequate provision of
gym equipment - the University’s Sport, Exercise and Health (SEH) department felt the purchase was justified. ‘We are aware that many students will compare our gym facilities with more commercially-minded gyms,and we want to ensure we offer the best service we can as part of our membership packages,’ said Matt Edwards of SEH. ‘Our gym remains hugely popular and is very heavily used, so there is also a regular need to replace equipment. The new
equipment was purchased through the University’s procurement process which is there to ensure value for money. We are very pleased with the quality of what we now have and believe we got a very good deal from the supplier.’ This sentiment was echoed by the Student Union’s sport Officer Steph Harris, who added that the SU was seeking for similar value-for-money investments in sport in the future. ‘Any investment by the University in its facilities, including the new
equipment in the fitness suite at Tyndall Avenue is welcome, however this is just one small part of the students’ sporting experience’ said Harris. ‘It is important that the University continues to invest in sporting facilities across the board whilst balancing this with the need to provide a high-quality but, crucially, affordable offer to its students. The Students’ Union remains committed to lobbying the University in this area and seek further investment and reduction in cost of sport.’
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