Epigram #284

Epigram 23.02.2015

4

Education Secretary ‘values STEM over arts degrees’ James Heale News Reporter Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has been criticised for failing to recognise the importance of non-STEM subjects to the UK economy.

Drawing on figures suggesting that students with a Maths A-level earn 10 per cent more in their lifetimes, Morgan suggested at the launch of the ‘Your Life’ campaign that, ‘The subjects that keep young people’s options open and unlock doors to all sorts of careers are the STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths.’

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Your Life’ campaign, the Education Secretary claimed that maths and science were generally less popular because they can seem to narrow career choices,

Alex Green News Reporter University of Bristol has awarded honorary degrees to Sarah Montague and James Wadsworth. The degrees were presented in a ceremony that occurred on 10 February in the Wills Memorial Building Great Hall.

An honorary degree is one of the highest accolades that the University bestows. Each year, after careful selection, a small group of candidates are recognized in light of their achievements. These achievements are recognized on the basis that they are consonant with the academic aims of the University.

” An honorary degree is one of the highest accolades that the University bestows.

Sarah Montague received a Doctor of Laws degree for her contributions to media. She is currently the presenter of the Today Programme, one of BBC Radio 4’s flagship broadcasts, and sports an enviable résumé. She graduated from University of Bristol with a BSc in Biology in 1987 and became employed as a stockbroker at NatWest. After four years of work, she left NatWest to begin a career in

journalism, after deciding that work in the city was not for her.

Sarah has worked for both Reuters and Sky, moving to the BBC as they launched their 24-hour news channel.

She then became a presenter on the BBC’s HARDtalk programme, a show renowned for its no-nonsense, pragmatic approach to current affairs.

She said that being awarded the degree was ‘a great surprise’ and that the day itself was a ‘lovely nostalgia trip’.

Professor Sarah Childs, professor of Politics and Gender, described her as a ‘role model for women in the media’.

Montague said it was enjoyable ‘to hear someone say nice things about her’.

James Wadsworth also received a Doctor of Laws in recognition of his services to the University. During his time at the University, he has served as a member of the Council, as Treasurer, and as Chair of the Audit Committee between the years 2007 to 2012.

A retired charted accountant, he joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1971 and by 1983 had become a partner of the firm. James was a founding trustee of the Bristol Community Housing Foundation and is well known and trusted within the local business community. He was also the Treasurer for the International Trusts Organisation.

Honorary degrees are presented to nominees in two groups each year. A second event is scheduled to take place in July, where Professor Russell Foster and Professor David Clarke will be awarded their degrees.

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‘If you wanted to do something different, or even if you didn’t know what you wanted to do… then the arts and humanities were what you chose.

Because they were useful for all kinds of

Policy Exchange

Honorary degrees awarded at Bristol

they have this qualification.

However, a number of teachers and students have criticised the MP’s remarks, suggesting that they make arts degrees seem second rate.

Christine Blower,the General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, commented that, ‘downgrading the arts is the wrong message’.

Recent figures from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport suggest that the UK’s creative industries are now worth £71.4 billion per year to the UK economy, accounting for 1.68 million UK jobs in 2012.

Morgan, who has held the post since a ministerial reshuffle in July 2014, read law at Oxford University and sits in a Cabinet in which only one member has a STEM degree.

‘The subjects that keep young people’s options open and unlock doors to all sorts of careers are the STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths.’

Nicky Morgan emphasised the need for more STEM graduates, but some have criticised her for ‘degrading’ the arts and humanities

‘Unlawful’ small print in Bristol degree contracts Alison Ralph News Reporter A Which? report published in November 2014 found that many universities are using ‘unlawful terms’ such as small print to make ‘unfair’ changes to courses midway through students’ degrees. Around 58 per cent of students questioned claimed to have experienced a change of some kind in their course since starting at their respective university, with one student citing in the report that their course had switched from 100 per cent coursework to 100 per cent exam based since they had signed up.

The report’s conclusions follow calls by the National Union of Students for course fees for international students to be fixed to stop ‘unfair price rises’.

Yet the Which? report details that students at King’s College London saw an increase in tuition fee costs by £1,200 between their first and second years, leaving Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which? appalled and ‘worried by the widespread unfair terms of University contracts.’

Out of the 142 universities asked to provide documentation for research, 131 responded, from which only 5 per cent were deemed by Which? as

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Penn State

James Wadsworth has recieved a Doctor of Laws in recognition of his service to the University, and Sarah Montague has gained one for service to media

jobs. That couldn’t be further from the truth.’

The ‘Your Life’ campaign aims to increase the number of students studying maths and physics at A-level by 50 per cent within three years. It was set up to respond to claims that not enough students are studying STEM subjects. Earlier this year, Semta, the engineering skills council, suggested that the economy needed 70,000 more STEM graduates each year.

The project will also attempt to encourage more girls to study sciences.

In 2011, only 19 per cent of girls who achieved an A* at GCSE in physics went on to study it at A-level. Highlighting these figures, Morgan pointed out the benefits of studying maths to A-level, with studies showing that students earn 10 per cent more over their lifetime if

using terms and conditions which could be considered good practice.

The University of York remained the single university to meet the Which? ‘best practice criteria’, while Bristol was relegated to Category D: Bad Practice alongside 39 other universities such as Durham, Edinburgh and Cambridge.

Only 5% of the 131 Universities who responded were deemed

by Which? as using terms and conditions which could be considered good practice

Which? claimed these universities had created terms and conditions in their procedures which allowed ‘unfettered discretion to make changes to the course’, followed by limited remedies being offered to students if they are unsatisfied by the changes, such as the ability to withdraw their placement and restricted compensation. Many universities failed to give any details about what

compensation students could expect if a course was altered significantly during their studies.

Forty nine providers were criticised for failing to provide adequate information to Which? so as to allow the charity to analyse their terms and conditions effectively, with many cases providing incomplete evidence.

A further ten universities failed to respond to the Freedom of Information request sent by Which? at all.

When questioned about University of Bristol’s position in the Which? report, Maggie Leggett, Interim Director of Communications and Marketing, claimed the University ‘reserved their right to make reasonable changes to programmes’ such as timetable and location changes.

However, due to opinions expressed in the report, the University is ‘revisiting’ their terms with ‘agreement being under continuous review.’

Whether change will occur to the University’s terms and conditions is unclear,but with student dissatisfaction having been clearly expressed in recent months, it poses a real issue which the University, alongside other higher education institutions, need to address.

Epigram 23.02.2015

5

Shadow Minister talks housing Oscar Cunnington Online News Editor Alex Evans Online News Editor

Nevertheless Reynolds underlined that ‘If I am housing minister come 8 May, I’m not going to tell Bristol what to do; it has to be locally led. I want to make sure councils are in a position to do that.’ She placed front and centre the recent Labour target of building 200,000 new houses a year by 2020, using much more public land to do so.

But when pushed on how many of these would be affordable housing, Reynolds insisted she was ‘not going to say it’s going to be a certain proportion or number.’ She said such figures ‘were not part of our policy,’ and instead criticised the Greens for promising specific numbers without explaining how they would deliver, as well as attacking the coalition for ‘undermining the affordable housing requirements on developers’.

Reynolds was firm in saying ‘We’re going to scrap the bedroom tax, we are absolutely determined to do that as soon as we possibly can, as soon as we get into government.’ She added that ‘there are ways of encouraging people to downsize but it has to be a choice for the people living in their homes.’

Emma Reynolds, Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister

Epigram

Shadow Housing Minister Emma Reynolds spoke to Epigram on Thursday 12 February, whilst in Bristol to discuss Labour’s housing policies with local residents and party activists.

Reynolds, who is MP for Wolverhampton North East, met Labour supporters and local residents in Lawrence Hill and Clifton Down, and told Epigram that the party’s three step reform plan was going to benefit renters, including students, who often felt frustration dealing with letting agents and landlords.

The first step, she said, was to ban letting agency fees.

‘We think this will be great for students, because I’ve been talking to many students here who say letting agents’ fees are high - you’re moving around so have to pay them year on year and it’s just lots of money.’

Their second reform aimed to secure

stability for renters by guaranteeing longer tenancies; ‘We are going to legislate to make three years the norm.’

She added if students wanted a shorter term, ‘they can ask for that.’

And a final policy would protect tenants from mid-tenancy rent hikes from opportunistic landlords by placing ‘a ceiling on rent increases during the time of that tenancy.’ This, she hoped, would make the intended 3year security ‘meaningful’. The details of the ceiling were as yet undecided, she said.

Reynolds said she was confident these were goals a Labour government could accomplish quickly, but when asked if students would see the benefit of these changes in September 2015, she became hesitant, speculating: ‘I would think it would be the year after, we have to get legislation through.’

She said private agents will always be a part of the system, but praised the UBU Lettings initiative for providing a non-profit agency as middle man, and expressed hope that this would be imitated across the country.

Bristol currently has 18,000 families on the waiting list for social housing.

Labour hit back at VCs Bristol students ‘can swing’ 2015 general election

Becky Morton News Reporter

Issy May Bull Deputy News Editor Leading Labour figures have hit back at the group of Vice-Chancellors (VCs) sitting on the Universities UK board (UUK), who have criticised Labour plans to reduce higher education tuition fees to £6,000 per year.

According to The Times Higher Education, a source who is close to Liam Byrne, the shadow minister for universities, science and skills, has told them that by doing this the UUK have comprised their capability in influencing Labour decision-making.

The Vice-Chancellors, now led by the University of Surrey’s VC Sir Christopher Snowden, wrote a letter to The Times with 20 signatures, claiming that it was ‘implausible’ that a government would be able to meet the funding requirements universities

would need if fees were lowered to £6,000. They argued that lowering fees would affect the quality of education for all students.

On the other hand, other VCs have come out to criticise this letter and UUK for intervening on such a politically red-hot subject.

Bill Rammell, the VC for the University of Bedfordshire, who has himself condemned the proposal to lower tuition fees to £6,000, is one such VC who has spoken out against this interventionist letter. A former Labour Minister, Rammell described the university sector alienating Labour as being risky due to the upcoming General Election.

According to The Times Higher Education, he said that the letter was ‘undertaken without discussion with members, risks appearing one-sided and bluntly risks the university sector losing influence with the Labour Party in the run-up to the most open

RNIB

Liam Byrne is said to have criticised Universities UK, which Bristol’s Vice-Chancellor was recently President of

general election I can recall’.

In response to criticism, Labour have purportedly raised the issue of the high increases in VC pay packages.

With some gaining as much as 8% pay rises at the moment, many see it as unsettling that VCs have waded into the debate of university funding and fees.

Under Labour proposals, if they win the May General Election, university fees will be lowered from the current £9,000 per annum, to £6,000 per year.

Ed Miliband has failed so far, though, to specify how Labour would directly fund this.

When asked his views on the matter, Matthew Bacon, Co-Chair of Bristol Labour Students, said ‘I resent the fact that these Vice-Chancellors who earn in many cases huge salaries are attempting to stop proposed reforms to a tuition fee system which discourages many from low income backgrounds from applying to University.’

According to a recent NUS Report, students have the power to tip the balance in 191 constituencies in the upcoming general glection.

In these seats, students make up a larger proportion of the electorate than the swing required to change the 2010 outcome. Bristol West, where students make up 24 per cent of the electorate, is one of these constituencies.

In the 2010 general election, the Liberal Democrats defeated Labour by a comfortable margin in Bristol West. Recently, however, there has been a fall in support for the Lib Dems, particularly among students, after they broke their promises and largely voted in favour of increasing University tuition fees to £9000.

This makes Bristol West one of the most interesting seats in this year’s election race. Whilst Labour is keen to regain the seat from the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party also have their eyes on Bristol.

The New Statesman has predicted Bristol West as the most likely seat for the Greens to gain their second MP in after their success in the last local council elections. Bristol students could be key in securing this second victory for the Greens. A recent MyBristol poll showed that over 40 per cent of Bristol students intended to vote Green, and a combined 70 per cent expressed the intention to vote Green or Labour, reflecting how students tend to be more left-leaning than older voters.

Support among students for the Lib Dems has fallen dramatically, with a recent NUS poll finding only 5 per cent of students would now vote for the party, a figure also reflected

by the MyBristol poll. In the European elections, 25 per cent of students voted Green, more than the number who voted Labour. The Greens are the only major political party to commit to free higher education, which appears to be a key issue for the youth in this year’s election.

The recent introduction of a new electoral registration system, however, means students have to sign up personally rather than relying on household registration through the University. This could scupper the chance of students to capitalise on their potential electoral power.

” Students have the power to tip the balance in 191 constituencies, including Bristol West.

Unlike some universities, Bristol has not brought in electronic enrolment systems and students will have to register themselves.

According to a recent MyBristol survey, just 49 per cent have registered to vote so far. The Students’ Union, however,is attempting to rectify this and launched a drive for voter registration to coincide with National Register to Vote Day on 5 February. This is part of the NUS broader #generationvote campaign to encourage students to use their vote. With students set to be key in the upcoming election, the drive for voter registration within universities could be vital in insuring that the powerful voice of the nation’s students is heard.

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Epigram 23.02.2015

37

Is free speech University of Bristol admissions increase at Bristol highest in the UK being limited?

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We strongly support the concept of free speech but we won’t tolerate offensive language or behaviour

The University’s ‘Free Speech’ and ‘Policy and Procedure for Students on Reporting Allegations of Bullying and Harassment’ were rated AMBER, meaning they allow free speech but with some intervention. UBU’s ‘ProChoice Policy’ received the same rating.

However, Bristol’s overall ranking was determined as RED due to the rating of three UBU policies.

‘Ending Rape Culture at UBU’, which passed in 2013, was the first of these negatively rated policies.

The motion, which passed in 2013, aimed to give UBU the mandate to campaign to end rape culture by tackling myths surrounding rape and educating students about consent.

Reports of increasing undergraduate admissions have come despite the rise in tuition fees, and it is believed that increasing admissions to top universities may be attributable to legislation passed by the government in 2012, which removed previous restrictions on the number of students achieving A-Level grades of at least AAB that universities could admit.

This change in legislation has been embraced by the University of Bristol, as Angela Millin, the University of Bristol’s Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions, told Epigram, ‘For 2012 entry, universities were given the freedom to make their own decisions about the number of AAB+ students they admitted… for 2013 entry, this threshold was lowered to ABB and for 2015 entry, these controls were removed altogether.

At Bristol, we took advantage of the opportunity by embarking on a carefully planned period of growth in our undergraduate numbers…an

A recent report published by The Times has highlighted dramatic swings in undergraduate admissions at British universities over the past four years. The University of Bristol is among the institutions with the highest increases, with student numbers rising by 40 per cent since 2011. Other institutions ranked among those with the highest surge in admissions include Exeter, LSE, Newcastle, King’s College London and UCL, which tails Bristol with an increase of 39.1 per cent.

“ University of Bristol is among the institutions with the highest increases.

Change in students admitted since 2011

Bristol UCL

Exeter LSE

King’s College

+ 1475

+40% (of total student intake)

+1415

+39.1%

+1600

+37.9%

+415

+32.7%

+1155

+29.7%

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A ‘spiked’ project has recently ranked the University of Bristol RED in its traffic light ranking system on free speech, therefore suggesting that ideas have been banned and actively censored on campus.

According to the project, 80 per cent of universities use censorship.

They claimed that ‘the University of Bristol and Union (UBU) collectively create a hostile environment for free speech’.

Amie Marshall News Reporter

Silky

Amber Roberts News Reporter

The UBU website states that ‘Student media would rather discuss Blurred Lines or claim the Union is banning things just to be provocative.

The Union didn’t ban anything; students did - the motion was voted on by student representatives’.

Spiked found that Blurred Lines was the second most popular ban, with 21 per cent of students agreeing with the decision.

The second RED policy was UBU’s ‘Safe Space Policy’ which was updated in 2014. 13 per cent of universities have such safe space policies in order to ensure everyone’s right to a safe and welcoming environment.

The UBU website states that although it is committed to facilitating debate and inviting external speakers to events, ‘sometimes the freedom to express views can be tempered by the need to provide a safe space for students’.

The last was UBU’s ‘Motion against Offensive Advertising’ which is actually a lapsed policy and no longer in effect.

All of these motions were against offensive speech, rather than the wider bracket of free speech per se.

Alice Phillips, Equality, Liberation and Access officer of UBU, continues to support these policies, stating that: ‘All of the policies citied in the report were voted in by the student body at Bristol to ensure we have an environment where all students can express themselves without fear of intimidation. We strongly support the concept of free speech but we won’t tolerate offensive language or behaviour and we make no apology for taking this position’.

increase of some 600 in our intake target for 2012 entry and a further 200 for 2013 entry. The rate of growth has now levelled off, with our 2014 intake target being around 900 above that which was in place in 2011’. However, the sharp rise in admissions seen at Bristol and other Russell Group universities has not been echoed by all institutions, with several reporting a dramatic plummet in applications since the government removed these restrictions and raised tuition fees in 2012.

At Bristol, we took advantage of the opportunity by embarking on a carefully planned period of growth in our undergraduate numbers

London Metropolitan University has seen its admissions almost halve since 2011, falling by 44.6 per cent. This decrease has been echoed by fellow London institution the University of East London (UEL), which has experienced a 20.8 per cent reduction in undergraduate admissions since 2011. Decreases in the region of 20-25 per cent have also been seen at other universities across the country including Bedfordshire, Bradford, Cumbria and Hull, raising fears of serious threats to university budgets that may result in departmental reductions or the cutting of some courses altogether.

Pro-EU Tory Minister talks to Epigram Kompania Piwowarska

Epigram

David Lidington, Conservative MP for Aylesbury

David Lidington, the Conservative MP for Aylesbury in Bedfordshire, came to hold a talk at the University of Bristol on Tuesday 17 February.

Epigram also got the chance to exclusively interview him.

A hardcore Europhilic, which seems somewhat rare for a prominent Tory minister, he underlined the importance of the UK staying in the European Union (EU), saying that the benefits outweigh the costs.

He also went to great efforts to share with Epigram the many benefits for young people and students there are in staying a part of the EU. ‘You have the right in law to study and then to work anywhere in any of the 28 Member States on exactly the same terms as the citizens of those members. So that seems to me a huge freedom’, he underscored.

Turning to the upcoming General Election in May and the issue of getting young people to vote, Lidington accented the importance

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Issy May Bull Deputy News Editor

of exercising this democratic right.

‘I don’t think that anyone should be apathetic… first of all, and perhaps it’s a cliché, but it has really come home to me as a foreign office minister that there are still many countries in the world where people envy the ability we have to choose our government. And that right is not something just to be treated as an afterthought’, he relayed.

‘You have the right in law to study and then to work anywhere in any of the 28 Member States’

When challenged about the government’s recent policy change to disallow universities from registering all students to vote en masse, and the negative effects this could have on student voter turnout, however,

he was distinctly unapologetic.

‘It is a case for perhaps better public information, and the universities have perhaps certain responsibilities… but as I say, I don’t think it’s too erroneous, I know that at university you are leading very crowded lives, and each term is sort of an episode in its own, but I don’t think it’s a huge amount of work to get hold of the council website and register, that’s all that needs to happen’.

As Europe Minister, and a member of the Coalition’s Cabinet, Lidington shared his experiences and insider knowledge of European affairs to the lecture theatre full of students. He highlighted what he identifies as the four main crises facing Europe today.

He acknowledged these as being the struggle for European nations to maintain current levels of competitiveness, the issue of Russia and Putin, the future of the Eurozone’s relationship with the rest of the EU Member States, and finally, the trafficking industry strife in Northern Africa which illegally transport migrants ‘almost as slaves’.

Epigram

Richard Assheton Features Writer

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Two thirds of students questioned admitting to struggling with sleep, with 84% saying that their academic work was affected

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The University treats this destructive problem with great respect The University treats this little talked about but destructive problem with great respect. The Student Health Service aims to find the underlying cause of symptoms, educating patients with handouts about good or bad habits, or what is known as ‘sleep hygiene’ and directing them towards websites such as Sleepio (‘the online program clinically proven to help you overcome poor sleep’), offering oneoff self-hypnosis sessions and directing them to the student-praised Counselling Service, and claiming to only prescribe sleeping tablets as a short term way of resetting body clocks.

The problem is that students are unaware of the severity of sleeping poorly. The University has a dearth of disseminated information about the palette of sleep-related issues and their long term health effects. ‘Sleep hygiene’ is an alien concept and students’ attitude towards insomnia is different to that towards physical conditions: one student told me that he would feel ‘silly’ going to see a doctor about ‘something as natural as sleep’ but that he sought medical help

9

I just can’t get no sleep

Students of Bristol are risking serious long-term health issues by not getting their necessary quality and quantity of sleep when he had a throat infection earlier in the term. Peace of Mind, the new mental health society, aims to encourage the university to be more informative in its approach to an issue affecting thousands. The ‘painfully overwhelmed’ Student Health and Counselling services mean students must undertake some responsibility for themselves. To do this they need knowledge.

Thompson believes that student life inevitably brings with it sleeping problems. For the first time in their lives students are saddled with new responsibilities: ‘the pressures change but the [sleep] requirement is still there.’

A 2012 studentbeans.com survey claimed that one in three students suffered insomnia due to financial worries, on top of which often come relationship issues, before even mentioning academic

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pressures. Student lifestyle traits have been proven to hinder sleep: screens, which emit sun-emulating blue light, suppress melatonin production—f.lux is an app that avoids this; students also use beds as offices and sofas; they take naps in the afternoon; they smoke and eat late; they drink, sometimes to get to sleep when in fact alcohol dramatically decreases sleep quality; and routines are often nonexistent. ‘So you’re on an absolute helter skelter down towards all sorts of issues.’

Thompson likens students getting their routines back to giving up smoking.

Some, like one I spoke to, know [they] can beat it. ‘It’s my own fault that I’ve done it,’ he says. ‘I know how to get out of it.’

Others need medical help to avoid falling asleep on laboratory desks. Almost all are unaware of the risks they are running.

Photo credit: Richard Assheton

Humanity has revered the ability to go without sleep for much of its history.

Gilgamesh was tasked with staying awake for seven days on his quest for eternal life. Margaret Thatcher spent 11 years in office supposedly on only four hours of sleep a night. Keith Richards once ‘had so much to do, man,’ that he stayed up for nine days. These first two are now dead.

The last’s life endures against all odds.

All three are immortalised not in their bodies but our minds.

Yet legends of nocturnal heroes disguise the seriousness of poor sleeping habits. As Dr Dominique Thompson of the Student Health Service tells me, evidence abounds of the very clear-cut link between sleep and health, demonstrated by new studies released almost daily: ‘How Sleep, Memory Go Hand in Hand,’ ‘Sleep Problems May Impact Bone Health,’ ‘Teen Insomnia Linked With Depression, Anxiety.’ Thompson points out that shift workers who work at night and sleep during the day die younger than others, illustrating that it is not just the amount of sleep but when it happens in the day that is important. She also describes cases of depression in which students have suffered physical injuries which have disrupted their sleep patterns. And when a student complains about a poor memory her first question concerns their sleep—often they are working all night, not realising the damage.

University of Bristol is at the cutting edge of sleep research - it has its own two-room sleep laboratory - yet simultaneously seems to be afflicted by a widespread sleep problem. A 2013 University of Nottingham survey saw two thirds of students questioned admitting to struggling with sleep, with 84 per cent of

those saying that their academic work was affected. There has been no comparative study here but similar statistics would be unsurprising; Thompson says she sees someone with a sleep problem every day.

Most students seem to be aware of the short but not long term repercussions of poor sleep, partly due to the great spectrum of its causes and symptoms.

Insomnia can arise from any number of psychological (e.g. bereavement), psychiatric (e.g. depression), physiological (e.g. uncomfortable bed) and pharmacological (e.g. alcohol) problems.

Symptoms also vary: Thompson sees many students with delayed sleep phases syndrome, where body clocks are out of kilter with the sun and the body’s hormonal system - what she calls the ‘basic caveman drive to be asleep when it’s dark and awake when it’s light.’ Others have trouble maintaining sleep. A very small minority show underlying health problems such as depression.

23.02.2015

“ Student lifestyle traits have been proven to hinder sleep

If you think you may have insomnia, there are plenty of online resources which can teach you about sleep hygiene, including Sleepio and the National Sleep Foundation. Sleepio has a short questionnaire which can help to identify your problem. Alternatively visit the Student Health Service; where doctors are more than happy to discuss even the most minor sleep problem.

You might want to ditch that Brummie twang Study: Received Pronounciation gets you the furthest in life

Alex Green Features Writer

Received pronunciation (RP), the Queen’s English, clipped, or cut glass.

There are a myriad of names for the typically middle to upper class accent that is sometimes admired, sometimes derided by the public. Normally though, we just call it posh.

In the 1940s, to become an actor without perfectly clipped enunciation was almost unimaginable. Famously, Richard Burton trained himself to speak without his strong Welsh burr by reciting Dylan Thomas with a pebble in his mouth.

You would think that things have changed in the interim years. Yet RP is still the preferred accent of our newsreaders, the people we trust to deliver the facts of the day both clearly and truthfully. It is still the dominant accent at most prominent universities such as Bristol where public school students claim at least 4 out of 10 undergraduate places each year. The existence of Bristol’s own ‘Northern Society’ is a testament to the university’s disprop or tionate demographic spread:

28% of the British population feel that they are discriminated against on account of their regional accent southern, middle class and public school educated. The Northern Society might have hit the nail on the head when they promise to save you from those ‘southern types with strange accents (Queen’s English pfft!).’

Should we then infer that there is, even now, an underlying prejudice in favour of those with an inflection as sharp as a broken windowpane? And if so, does this mean that in an interview style situation the candidate with the Queen’s English at his disposal will have an unfair advantage over those with a regional twang?

What is clear is that 28 per cent of the British population feel that they are discriminated against on account of their

regional accent. This discrimination may not be immediately obvious but it can have ramifications for people’s social and professional prospects. A recent study has shown that there is still an underlying preference towards the clipped accent. In an experiment undertaken by dating site Eharmony, RP was shown to be both the most attractive and the most intelligent accent.

A group of 750 listened to voice recordings of 19 regional and international accents and rated them out of 10 on various categories and traits. The majority of participants said that they found the accent more attractive than its French counterpart. A similar number of the group said that they thought that English speakers with clipped accents were the most intelligent. The Geordie accent scored highly for its humour whilst the Irish brogue was the most charming.

One area in which RP scored poorly was humour - this might explain why there are so few comedians with that accent.

Professor Jane Setter, a phoneticist at

the University of Reading said that ‘RP speakers have been rated highly in terms of intelligence in studies like this.’ If we put an individual’s actual intelligence to one side we can see that anyone sporting such a posh accent receives a serious leg up, in both romance and business.

‘Actors with this accent – such a Patrick Stewart and Richard E Grant – come over as urbane, charming, witty, and educated and, well, wouldn’t everyone want that from a prospective romantic partner?’

This sort of preference is rooted in more general assumptions about people’s regional birthplace. Accents are like labels; they present our social background, our place of birth and our ethnic origin. For some, they make obvious where we were educated. For the Etonians that would rather hide their illustrious scholastic career under a bushel, this may a problem.

For the majority though, accents are a source of identity and often pride.

Epigram

23.02.2015

10

Do faith schools encourage segregation?

Secularists argue that people of all faiths should attend non-religious schools - would this help to combat social and racial stigma?

Gjeta Gjyshinca Features Writer

“” Shielding children by placing them within the bubble of faith schools is not a direct solution but an attempt to get around the negative impact of discrimination

of discrimination.

When David Cameron – like Michael Gove before him – announced he was to send his daughter to my old school, The Grey Coat Hospital (GCH), there was criticism that although all taxpayers fund the school, children who were not Anglican had little chance of getting a place, and religion was acting as a barrier against problematic students. GCH is a successful school, but only 14 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals compared to an average of 36 per cent in Westminster, and far fewer pupils do not have English as a first language.

The Fair Admissions Campaign thus puts it in the worst 1 per cent of state secondary schools ranked by socio-economical inclusivity. Though GCH is a CofE school, the year I applied,

it began to accept girls of other religions; I was thus surrounded by girls of different ethnicities and religions, all being taught about various other beliefs, and of course sex education and PSHE. However, GCH may be an exception in this respect – concerns are often raised over the teaching of evolution and creationism, RE, PSHE, sex and relationships education and collective worship in faith schools.

Faith schools dominate primary school rankings, occupying two-thirds of the top rankings, even though they represent just a third of all schools. Though faith schools claim this is due to strong religious ethos and support from churchgoers, they may be reaping the benefits of largely middle-class intakes. The British Humanist Association (BHA), which promotes secularism, has warned that schools are unrepresentative of local communities,with many middleclass families using religion to secure school places. Richy Thompson, BHA campaigns

officer, said top-performing faith schools were less inclusive, and is campaigning against faith schools, so far raising £19,122.11, over half of his £35,000 target, in order to fund the campaign.

The Department for Education aims for every child of whatever background to leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Though we cannot deny faith schools outright, we should demand that those schools demonstrate they are actively working to connect with all other schools, and promote fundamental British values. Without a concerted effort to increase integration, we could end up with a society characterised by the ugly divisions of Schelling’s experiments.

Faith schools occupy two thirds of the top rankings, even though they represent just a third of all schools

Photo credit: PPHS Music

‘The Parent Trap’, see next page) and increased isolation between groups creating problems in employment and healthcare. Many argue that the government’s obsession with increasing numbers of faith schools breeds social and racial segregation, and Schelling’s results could carry over to the context of faith schools – more schools catering to specific faiths could create divisions between religious groups, driving them apart. In extreme cases, we could face a repeat of ‘Operation Trojan Horse,’ an organised attempt to introduce an intolerant, aggressive Islamic ethos into schools in Birmingham which had failed to adequately safeguard pupils against extremism. Birmingham City Council recently released a report aiming for ‘a

Photo credit: National Assembly of Wales

In 1971, economist Thomas Schelling noted that while most Americans were not racists, extreme racial segregation in the US persisted. Schelling set up a checkerboard split into squares representing houses, and randomly placed a black or white marker, indicating a black or white family, in some of the squares. Schelling moved the markers around the grid on the basis of a simple rule – if the percentage of neighbours of the same colour as a family fell below 50 per cent, the family would move to the closest unoccupied square. Schelling continued moving the pieces until no marker’s neighbours were more than 50 per cent of the other colour. At that point, the grid had become completely segregated – all the white markers had congregated in one area, and all the black markers in another.

Schelling’s strikingly polarised result suggested even a modest preference to be near at least some people similar to ourselves might produce sharp divides in the population.

There is a clear link with recent research from the Social Integration Commission, which found that Britons increasingly seek the company only of those most like themselves, with profound consequences – social segregation costs £6bn a year, with the drop in social mobility (discussed in

Birmingham-wide approach to inclusivity, integration, openness and transparency across all schools.’

The fact that British society is so diverse, and that we have Catholic and Church of England (CofE) schools, means the need for Muslim schools cannot be denied. However, Muslim schools in particular have less diverse intakes and are more monoculture than Catholic or CofE faith schools. Faith schools in general are too divided in their intake and, in contrast to higher education, largely fail to bring different communities together, despite experts citing schools as one of the best places to foster social integration.

Some suggest that religious schools operated by historically marginalised peoples are legitimate because their pupils may face discrimination elsewhere.However,surrounding students essentially by mirrors of themselves, rather than a true reflection of diverse British society, arguably results in generations of youths detached from their local communities, uneducated about other cultures and unwilling to mix with them. Rather than addressing the fundamental, underlying problem of the causes of discrimination – lack of integration with and education about other cultures, and negative media portrayal of ethnic minorities and immigrants – shielding children by placing them within the bubble of faith schools is not a direct solution but an attempt to get around the negative impact

Epigram

Alfie Smith Features Writer

“ Education begets wealth, and wealth begets education

David Cameron is wont to say that 80 per cent of students attending UK universities come from state schools, but this statistic is deeply misleading. Not

11 9

The Parent Trap

Photo credit: Ian Burt

The lack of social mobility in Britain today is the product of yesterday’s inequality - and the foundation of tomorrow’s. In a state with perfect social mobility, the economic status of a child’s parents makes no difference to their future, but of course, this is only an ideal.

People born into wealthier homes earn higher incomes than their poorer counterparts regardless of how much their parents leave them, largely because high-earning parents can afford to develop their children’s potential. Need to get your child into a selective school? Hire a tutor to make sure your kid passes the 11+.

No good state schools in your area? Send them to private school. 7 per cent of the UK’s population attended private schools, but when you take a snapshot of just MPs, CEOs, civil servants, diplomats and BBC correspondents the figure shoots up to between 33-50 per cent. You don’t have to be a statistician to see a correlation.

The easiest way to increase your child’s future income is to use yours to send them to a feepaying school!

only do the pupil populations of selective state schools, including grammar schools, skew towards the middle and upper-middle classes, but if you look only at Russell Group universities - like Bristol - only 60 per cent of people are state educated.

This means 40 per cent of all top university places go to the privately educated.

Sure, a child may just get in because they’re naturally clever.

But, then again, cleverness depends on income too generally speaking, the better educated you are, the better educated your children will be.

The higher earning family can afford to have one parent take time off work, or not to work at all, or hire childcare who also doubles as a tutor. Children of parents with a university education have better teachers at home. Education begets wealth, and wealth begets education.

The rising cost of living and the stagnation of real wages (wages expressed in terms of what you can buy) have hit those on lower incomes much harder than those on higher ones. What we have seen is a marked fall in real wealth. To our grandparent’s generation, the working class dream was simple: you meet a nice person, get married, one or both of you get jobs, you get a mortgage, save well and eventually pay off the mortgage. Your children now have wealth. Now that those on lower incomes work to survive, leaving nothing for their children because there’s nothing left to leave, it’s more difficult than ever to get a mortgage or save for a deposit, and the helpto-buy scheme only inflated house prices further and caused a shortage of social housing.

In times of economic

23.02.2015

recession, capital is a lifeboat.

Those with little wealth can only earn their money from wages. The rich can invest, and if the UK’s economy is really floundering, they can invest abroad. Best of all, if you’re rich but don’t understand where to invest (unlike the old free-market axiom that the undeserving rich will eventually lose their money) you can pay a company

to invest for you. If everything goes to pot, the rich sell assets and the poor lose everything. In a recession capital dries up and those with it can, albeit in riskier circumstances, come out better off than when it began. It’s one of the reasons why the top 10 per cent have become richer since 2007. Not only are the children of poor parents offered fewer opportunities when it

comes to education and jobs, they also start with less financial assets which are key to setting up businesses or any other way to lift a person out of poverty.

When it comes down to it, we expect parents to do the best for their children. Therefore, it must be governments, not parents, who act. If far-reaching action isn’t taken now, then the next generation’s wealth

will be divided even more unfairly. We must not forget the lessons of the 19th and 20th centuries: violence follows this kind of inequality. The current economic status quo is neither good nor sustainable: wealth must be rebalanced now, by a legitimate government, rather than later by the violent hand of revolutionaries.

2015 general election: a call for change in unpaid internships?

Laura Davidson Online Features Editor

Photo credit: RNIB

The shift into 2015 suddenly jolts the UK much closer to the upcoming May general election which raises important questions for students. in particular as the end of last year saw further protests over tuition fees. Earlier in the year students had rallied together over other issues such as job cuts for university teaching staff and the privatisation of student loans.

At a time of clear difficulty and uncertainty for the student population, might any change be brought by the results of the election?

In December, reports announced that the Labour party were intending to ban unpaid internships lasting longer than four weeks if they win the election. After four weeks of unpaid work, the minimum wage requirement would be imposed on all employers running the schemes, under the proposed changes.

In a speech at Burnt Mill Academy last month, Liam

Byrne, the shadow minister for Universities, Science and Skills, stated that ‘the biggest change in the professional jobs market has been the boom in unpaid internships.’ He acknowledged that the average internship lasts three months and may cost the intern over £930 per month, saying ‘if you’re from a low income background you just can’t afford to do that.’

Many highly able students and graduates are at present limited in many career paths because they do not have alternative means to support themselves while working for free. In 2013, Epigram reported that the NUS were tackling the problem of unpaid internships to make access to opportunities more equal.

Students at Bristol will undoubtedly have felt the pressure to undertake unpaid internships or work experience in an effort to boost their CVs and their chances of securing a graduate job with a particular employer. As a result, many jobs continue to be given to those who can afford to work for nothing.

Will these calls for change have an effect in practice on restricting the use of unpaid internships?

One History student commented, ‘We shouldn’t just believe this sort of claim naively. Student debt and unpaid internships are gaining so much media attention at the minute so it’s unsurprising that the opposition are using that to drum up support.’

An Economics student agreed, saying that Labour’s proposition was ‘a genuinely worthwhile idea, but actions speak louder than words so we will have to find out over the coming year.’

On 2 January, the Conservative party released and began promotion of their first campaign poster, with the slogan ‘Let’s stay on the road to a stronger economy,’ kicking off the run-up to 7 May. For many students and young people, the continuing unpaid internships debate, and any change, in the light of the election may have significant impacts on their own opportunities.

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Epigram

23.02.2015

Letters

Editor: Olivia Petter

@EpigramLetters

letters@epigram.org.uk

Gluten grump My battle against the evil temptress gluten has had a huge impact on my university life. Although I know I’m lucky not to suffer from a lifethreatening allergy, gluten intolerance still proves frustrating and antisocial.

As a sworn hater of all things ‘healthfood’ oriented, I would prefer a packet of Yum yums to the gluten-free choice of ‘Nakd’ bars that can be found at the library café (these I find highly suspicious as there is something really sinister about dates masquerading as ‘cookies’).

“ there is something really sinister about dates masquerading as ‘cookies’

Labelled by many as irritating, just fad dieters or ‘LA eaters’, gluten free-ers are subject to the annoyingly common misconception that they are not ill, but

simply want to cut out a food group for vanity’s sake.

It is frustrating for my housemates to involve me in house meals, and like for most allergy sufferers a simple dinner party scenario can become extremely awkward. Pub situations are also tricky when beer is your enemy, and it is often hard for sufferers of Coeliac Disease to find a cheap ‘relaxed beverage’, frequently leading to the humiliatingly Year 9 throwback of ordering a Smirnoff Ice. Economically, my intolerance is also costly, with gluten-free pasta and bread costing more than double the price of their normal counterparts.

Although I am able to make a pretty mean almond brownie, the crux of my dilemma is that this means nothing when faced with the daily peril of being forced to queue for most supermarket checkouts in the ever-taunting cake aisle.

Cartoon by Alan McAlpine Florence Armstrong

Tweets of the fortnight: @flo_ward

“Friday night in eating raw cookie dough’ #unay#fourthyear#dontevencare”.

@annapatricia94

“1 film down, 7 to go #dissertation#progress#studentlife”.

@bombay_rose

“‘Damn you Sunday trading hours - all I want is my almond milk for my sugar-free granola’ #firstworldproblems”.

Organic food: should we or shouldn’t we?

“

And finally, with a little thought and care it is quite easy to consume clean fruit and veg with minimal pesticides therefore making purchasing entirely organic food unnecessary. It is also important to appreciate that pesticides, although not good for us in large quantities, play an important role in sustainable agriculture, particularly in deprived countries. They allow food to be more affordable, especially fruit and vegetables, which are very good for us.

When I see a non-organic avocado for £1 and an organic one half the size for £2, it’s a no brainer which one I’m going to pick

Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes an annual report outlining the produce most and least affected by pesticides: The Clean Fifteen and The Dirty Dozen plus’ (so called because the list of 12 has now expanded to 14). From this list it is

clear to see what we should be trying to purchase organically. ‘The Clean Fifteen’ are: grapefruits, sweetcorn, mangoes, asparagus, cabbage, avocados, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, onions, sweet peas, mushrooms, watermelon, melons, kiwis and aubergines. ‘The Dirty Dozen plus’ are: peaches, green beans, apples, grapes, kale, cucumbers, pears, potatoes, lettuce, strawberries, peppers, cherry tomatoes, spinach and celery. Neither of the lists mention common fruits such as bananas and oranges. As a general rule, anything with a thick skin that you peel is okay. However, if you are using the zest or slices of a citrus fruit for baking or drinks I would recommend you buy organic and unwaxed. Gin, pesticide & tonic is not a good mix.

Gin, pesticide & tonic is not a good mix It goes without saying that fruit and vegetables should always be washed whether they are organic or not. It is also

advisable to peel produce where possible if you are not 100% sure it is organic.

However, if you are sure it is organic and the skin is edible, it is good to leave it on as it is a valuable source of fibre.

You might ask why it is not sufficient to buy non-organic apples, for example, and simply peel them? The answer is that a lot of non-organic produce is grown with pesticides in it, meaning that the seeds are soaked in pesticides before they are planted. Furthermore, they are sprayed frequently for several months during the growing period, thus allowing pesticides to seep past the skin and into the fruit itself.

So, in conclusion, it is not necessary to consume entirely organic produce.

Always thoroughly wash produce and peel it if necessary, especially if you are eating it raw. Take note of the lists published by the EWG and try to buy anything from the ‘dirty dozen’ organically; however, if buying the ‘dirty dozen’ organically proves too expensive, try to incorporate more of the ‘clean fifteen’ into your diet and peel any of the ‘dirty dozen’ you can.

Always buy seasonal produce as it is much tastier and much cheaper - peaches in December not only taste horrible but they’re also ridiculously

“

In an ideal world we would all eat entirely organic food. The human body was designed to ‘live off the land’, so in other words, to consume unprocessed, plant-based foods that grow around us as well as small portions of other living organisms such as meat and fish. It is therefore no surprise that research has shown high levels of pesticides to be damaging to the human body, in particular the nervous system. As we were not designed to consume pesticides, the body has difficulty processing and getting rid of them which means that the toxins are often stored in our bodies. With this in mind, the best option is obviously to consume completely organic produce that is totally natural. However, this is not realistic for various reasons. There are three main reasons why I personally don’t buy entirely organic food. Firstly, it can be expensive, which isn’t great for the student budget. Secondly, mass produced organic produce that you find in supermarkets is often quite small in size. When I see a non-organic avocado for £1 and an organic one half the size for £2, it’s a no brainer which one I’m going to pick. However, I might add, this is not the case with smallerscale, home-grown organic produce.

expensive. Where possible always buy local produce - even if it is not organic, a cucumber that has travelled 2 miles is much better than one that has crossed mountains, oceans and rivers to get to you. If you are eating on the run and don’t have the facility to wash fruit, try to pick things like oranges and bananas that you can peel. And finally, remember that the benefits ofeating a diet rich

Always buy seasonal produce as it is much tastier and much cheaper

in a variety of fruit and vegetables outweighs the dangers of pesticides (especially if you wash and peel produce) so don’t let them put you off getting your five a day!

Alice Bennett

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When it comes to American food, there’s nowhere better to go in Bristol than the new restaurant Plead the Fifth. Located in an ideal setting, just five minutes’ walk form the centre of the university, it’s definitely worth a try if you love hearty and filling food.

Walking down Park Street recently you might have noticed a new, and very exciting arrival! As many have already realised, Cass Art has come to our doorsteps, opening a Bristol store and bringing the exciting and fresh ethic of the company right to our feet.

Their tag line, ‘let’s fill this town with artists’, gives a genuine sense of the atmosphere of the shop. Everyone who works there is professional and helpful, but most importantly the staff are artists, who know and love art, meaning that they are there to tell you all you need to know. For beginners, Cass Art is idyllic. It is clearly laid out and open, so feels inviting and not intimidating, unlike many other smaller art stores, which can often be slightly cluttered and confusing. There is a huge range of material to be found in the shop, from starter kits for people who are new to the art scene, to a range of specialist paints and different types of paper. The ‘Try Me’ table in the shop increases the friendly vibe which is so clear, as it really seems true that whatever your ability, you can try something new and fun.

The best thing about Cass Art is the price - everything in there is actually affordable and there’s 15% student discount which is a real help! They source good quality materials at reasonable prices, which is in part to thank for their success, alongside the attitude that comes with the company’s ethic. On the 7th and 8th of March they are hosting a launch weekend: there will be freebies, music, and 10% of everything all weekend! This isn’t something to be missed, and whether you’ve been into art for years, or are just curious about starting out, Cass Art is well worth a visit.

0117 925 8515 www.cassart.co.uk/locations/bristol

The portions are big, so you definitely won’t leave hungry and the locally-sourced food itself is fantastic. It’s also very reasonable - with a whopping 30% discount for NUS card holders, it’s a perfect treat for any student on a budget.

There’s a range of U.S-inspired food to choose from, including freshly-made stuffed burgers, BBQ ribs in a homemade glaze and a delicious vegetarian-friendly sweet potato pie.

I’d recommend the ‘Country Fried Steak’ cooked in a crispy buttermilk batter, which I tried earlier this week with some friends. It perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious.

The desert menu is equally mouth-watering: probably not something to have if you’re on a diet, although it would be hard to resist, but the Cajun style chocolate French toast was the perfect end to a great meal.

We were also really impressed by the friendliness of the staff and the efficient service. The venue itself is cosy and ambient- it’s small and has a great atmosphere, so definitely somewhere to go with lots of friends for a catch up.

I’d definitely recommend it, so next time you’re hungry and wondering where to go for lunch, check out the menu and try Plead the Fifth - you won’t regret it!

0117 925 6174

DESIGN: SARAH REDRUP TEXT: REBECCA BUTLER

/PleadThe5thUK

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Epigram 23.02.2015

44 30

Fifty Shades of Grey Film & TV Writer Seb Fayle on why, ironically, the most disappointing thing about Fifty Shades is the climax.

flickr/ Nigel Horsley

“

Anastasia’s eventual submission comes as a fulfilment of her transformation, and it’s beautiful

boy Christian Grey, and they fall in love, because opposites attract, and they’re both pretty actor types. Slowly both halves drift toward each other, boy Christian becoming more openly emotional and girl Steele starting to become more open to the main thing you’re all aware of about the story: boy Christian has a strong predilection for BDSM. More specifically, the middle section of the term, dominance and submission.

Through the first nine tenths of the film, this gradual and mutually respectful relationship becomes more and more touching, with Christian showing he can be incredibly caring and thoughtful. Anastasia’s eventual submission comes as a fulfilment of her transformation, and it’s beautiful, seductive and romantic. You become aware, however, that something is still inflexible about Christian’s character, and that leads to the unfortunate dissolution of the couple in the film’s climax.

The climax is the most disappointing part of the film, but considering my expectations for this film were based solidly in the gutter it still does a good job of raising what is a poor piece of trash fiction up into the echelons of a smart and slick romantic film. The minimal score by Danny Elfman (punctuated by remixes and covers of popular songs that range from mildly interesting to steamily sensual) and intriguing cinematography

by Seamus McGarvey (who clearly made sure there were at least fifty shades of grey, blue and white visible at any one time) also help make this film as artistically erotic as it is. But, as I say, the ending is poor, and pollutes an otherwise darkly sexy film, and not just because the discipline gets a bit out of hand.

flickr/ canburak

Jupiter Ascending

flickr/ Ma_Co2013

Firstly, don’t worry about the script: the original novelist E.L. James was not given editorial control of the script. It was instead written by Kelly Marcel, who co-wrote 2013’s well-received Saving Mr. Banks, so James’ Fifty Shades of Grey: featuring hot BDSM and warm hoodies. salacious prose is mostly left by the wayside.

The film is by no means free of awkward or unpleasant dialogue, but at least the long, licentious, lurid lines of Anastasia Steele’s shameless cerebral soliloquies cease to exist.

That’s alliteration, James, if you’re reading; Film & TV Writer Lloyd Maliphant on why genetic splicing with bees and it’s a literary technique. the name ‘Balem Abrasax’ somehow don’t produce fantastic cinema.

If you haven’t read the books, here’s a brief As a reviewer, you should go into a film to gobbling up the scenery as he munches plot overview: girl Anastasia Steele meets open-minded, regardless of other critics’ his way through his screen time. He plays perceptions and opinions. This being said, the main antagonist, Balem Abrasax, the I went into Jupiter Ascending very excited, decadent head of a universal royal family not at the prospect of being blown away by intent on harvesting the population of Wachowski’s latest science fiction epic, but at the Earth to make a youth serum that can the prospect of writing a bad review. After preserve his life for millennia, a plan which a year of writing largely positive reviews of Kunis’ Jupiter is obviously averse to. films, I was rather keen to rip something Kunis fares less well, more as a fault of apart, and in that sense (and only that sense), the writing than the acting, as Jupiter is Jupiter Ascending did not disappoint. an uninspiring and painfully gullible lead, Jupiter Ascending tells the story of helplessly dragged through the film with little Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), a lowly cleaner, influence on the plot, and being perpetually discontent with life in her offensively saved by the equally boring Caine. stereotypical Russian family, she is suddenly The film feels slightly rushed; scenes go by thrown into a series of intergalactic quarrels and events transpire with little consequence when she discovers that she is the genetic or meaning, characters are introduced and reincarnation of an ancient space queen then disappear with no explanation, and and is the rightful owner of the Earth. It there are no real discernible arcs for any also features Channing Tatum as Jupiter’s of the leads, leaving you little to invest in. guardian, Caine; a frequently topless, elf- Even the action sequences, which start off eared, mascaraed, blonde-goateed, wolf-man fairly comprehensible, descend into mindwith magic jet boots, and Sean Bean; as a numbing, sensory overload. man genetically mixed with a bee.

Credit where credit is due; the films looks Whilst the synopsis reads as an amusing gorgeous. The production designers, makeup, romp, the films struggles to derive any sense hair, and costume artists all excel, filling of fun from its ludicrous plot; it’s confusingly their universe with unique and interesting po-faced and the occasional attempts at aliens bedecked in lavish outfits. The visual humour are tonally misjudged and awkward. effects team offer up a host of spaceships There’s a romantic subplot handled with and weapons that are a wet dream to any such little tact that I was in danger of science-fiction fan, but all these dressings detaching my retinas from repeated eye- fail to cover up the huge sprawling mess that rolls; a situation which would have made the this film ultimately amounts to. rest of the film slightly more bearable.

I’m not one to criticise ambition, and One person having fun at least is Eddie the Wachowskis certainly are ambitious Redmayne, currently winning praise for his filmmakers, it’s only that ambition needs to performance in The Theory of Everything, be backed up with competence, and that’s Apparently Channing Tatum’s grandma knits some pretty futuristic sweaters. who here switches from gobbling up awards where the film lets itself down.

flickr/ canburak

For those of you who have spent the 10’s thus far either dead, working deep underground, or inside alone with the lights off and curtains drawn, the new Fifty Shades of Grey film is probably not worth abolishing your admirably rigid routine for.

For everyone else, who knows the hype and uproar that followed the original books, and therefore knows the heavy weight dragging this film’s press down, ignore it all: Fifty Shades is a good film. Not a fantastic one, but considerably better an adaptation than many popular books get.

Two Night Stand Film & TV Writer Max Tindley on why, despite lasting 86 minutes, this romcom probably isn’t worth taking home.

flickr/ morrisseysteve

Oh Miles Teller, with your face like half-kneaded bread dough

Two Night Stand has all the elements of a successful rom-com. Centred around the flimsy concept of two singletons trapped in a conveniently charming New York apartment by a freak snowstorm after an ill-advised hook-up, the film bounds delightfully from this initial unlikely circumstance to the laughably implausible with unflinching vigour. However, whilst perfectly enjoyable, the film fails to resonate in the long term due to an uneven tone and a lacklustre, hackneyed finale.

That is not to say that the film is bad – quite surprisingly, Mark Hammer’s screenplay features some original and innovative dialogue which proves crucial to keeping the audience engaged in a premise that could start feeling claustrophobically contrived.

Our protagonists Alec and Megan’s assured banter manages to be fresh, sharp and current without seeming manufactured towards the teen demographic the film aims to snag.

It’s a shame then that the music selection

Epigram 23.02.2015

repeats the arrogant but oddly likeable character we saw from him in That Awkward Moment, whilst Tipton combines her modelesque beauty with a self-conscious awkwardness that casts her perfectly as the ideal romantic leading lady – attractive but unthreatening, feisty but still likeable. It’s a shame these performances have been mismanaged in a patchy film – as we saw with Teller in Whiplash, given the right material these actors can flourish.

Unfortunately, Two Night Stand is likely to slip under most people’s radar. Misguidedly marketed at Valentine’s Day as the ideal date movie, the film’s promotion feels disengaged from the setting of New Year’s Eve. As our weather begins to heat up and the longforgotten memories of summer begin to seem tangible again, a film released now that is based in the Christmas holidays feels rather late off the mark and loses relevance.

Overall the film hovers jarringly between being genuinely amusing at some points and a generically grating at others. However, elegant direction, an above average script and two charismatic central performances classify Two Night Stand an escapist guilty pleasure.

flickr/ Metropolis Radio

Flickr/screen relish

Saul Goodman: “Don’t drink and drive. But if you do, call me.”

45

Better Call Saul Film & TV Writer Ella Kemp on why we should all rejoice at this superb return to the seedy, engrossing world of Breaking Bad. Since late 2013, there had been a Breaking Bad-shaped hole in my heart. I tried them all – Hannibal, True Detective, American Horror Story, The Walking Dead - and yet no big budget dramatic American TV series managed to satisfy my meth-infused Walter White and co cravings. Which is why when a prequel featuring the show’s shifty dark horse was announced, I did see a faint glimmer of hope for my until then terribly mundane and bleak future of TV viewings.

“

only time will tell, but I for one am confident about the future of the show Better Call Saul shines a light on the before, the after, and the during of the life and trials of Saul Goodman, Walter White’s dodgy lawyer. The show gives potential insight on the character and digs deeper into the way he functions through the tales of the man he was before Heisenberg. The first episode sets this up very well. The viewer is eased into the show with a slow and somewhat cryptic black and white sequence, which may as well be a documentary on the art of making cinnamon buns. From this we cut to a close-up of our protagonist and dive straight into the life of James McGill, not yet Mr Goodman, but with a lot of spunk all the same.

As all pilots should, the episode sets the tone for the series by featuring a standard streak of bad law cases, a couple of lies, some funny cameos and a collection of the lawyer’s ‘best’ puns. The writing is witty, the plot flows nicely and all the performances are very impressive. Although we may have expected a satirical outlook on the character and a sort of mockumentary about Saul Goodman, the show sets itself

up to be a humorous but nevertheless intense and dark character study of Albuquerque’s legal underdog.

Like many, I approached the pilot episode of Better Call Saul quite differently to any other opening episode of a show, as I was not seeking entertainment from a completely new and unknown source, there was no real sense of uncertainty regarding the nature of its content and no real question about whether I would like the show or not. Having been hit hard by the Breaking Bad bug, I was expecting big things from Better Call Saul, and the real question wasn’t whether it would live up to my expectations and whether it would be good, but it was whether it would live up to them by being simply a continuation of the already brilliant show, thus allowing me to reminisce peacefully and to remain in denial about its ending, or whether it would actually provide something fresh and new and truly stand alone as an equally powerful TV unit.

“

feels disconnected from the narrative, sounding more like an alternative tween hipster playlist than the musical accompaniment to the film. Rather than enhance the meaning and emotion of moments, the irritating soundtrack too often distracts our attention and disengages us from the compelling dialogue and pleasingly constructed cinematography.

As the film reaches the uninspired 11th hour plot twist, it also begins to confusingly question the larger theme of finding love in modern society consumed by technology. Despite Alec’s insightful comment that internet dating is just ‘a bunch of people sitting around in the dark, texting’, it’s as if the film has bitten off a bit more than it can chew. Veering between these darker thoughts and lavatorial jokes, the film’s tone feels uneven – a decisive decision is needed over whether this is a contemplative comment on urban dating culture, or a goofball comedy.

However, these discrepancies can be forgiven by stellar acting turns from Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton, who both give two the most assured performances of their burgeoning careers. Teller confidently

a humorous, intense and dark character study of Albuquerque’s legal underdog Although it is still early days and, as with all pilots, only time will tell if this spin-off really does live up to its predecessor, I for one am confident about the future of the show. While featuring a couple of the same characters, a similar visual style and narrative techniques as in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul provides fresh material, which balances comedy and dark witty drama very tastefully. It fills the void in our hearts with its familiarity, while exciting our appetite with the undeniable new and raw talent. So if you’re missing Breaking Bad or if you just really need to watch something good… you better call Saul.

Editors’ Picks

Our personal choices of what to watch over the next two weeks

flickr/ canburak

Matthew Editor

Hannah Deputy Editor

Manvir Online Editor

It Follows Friday 27 February 2015

Cake Friday 20 February 2015

Still Alice Friday 6 March 2015

When it premiered at Cannes Film Festival last year, critics fell over themselves to hail It Follows as one of the best horror films of recent years.

With an unapologetically retro, sexy vibe, this should be a real treat.

So excited to see Jennifer Aniston in her transformation. Playing a woman suffering from severe chronic pain, she’s set to shine as a very talented actress and not just Rachel from Friends.

Still Alice stars Julianne Moore in a role of a lifetime as a linguistics professor who suffers a debilitating illness that causes her to lose her words. After much critical acclaim, I for one cannot wait to finally watch it.

House of Fools - Series 2 Mondays 10pm, BBC2

The Originals - Season 2 Tuesday 24 February 10pm, Syfy

House of Cards - Season 3 Friday 27 February Netflix

Vic and Bob’s surreal, madcap sitcom about the bizarrest household in Britain was blessedly recommissioned.

The Shooting Stars pair alone are spectacularly funny, but in the mix too is Matt Berry - a man whose voice is the aural equivalent of being dipped generously in luscious caramel.

The Vampire Diaries spinoff is back.

Maybe not the best programme in the world but attractive vampires and wolves all over the place. And with not much else starting, you may as well give it a watch.

The Machiavellian schemer that is Frank Underwood is back. This time, he’s now firmly atop of the greasy pole that is US politics. Frank is now up against the Putin-esque Russian President, potential problems with Claire Underwood and a congressional hearing. All in all, it’s going to be a freaking awesome season!

Epigram 23.02..2015

4725

An Interview with: Alvvays

“We didn’t have record stores, so couldn’t get into cool nineties records, so the radio was where I learnt about songs.”

‘You alright mate?’

Startled, I turn from the seemingly locked doors of H.M.S Thekla to face my addresser.

‘You want the other entrance,’ he said, with a starboard jerk of his thumb.

Once my bleary vision had cleared sufficiently, I beheld the imposing form of Jeffrey Johns, known to you and me as Big Jeff, half-man half-wristband and esteemed guest of many a raucous front row. As well as, in a charmingly Chaucerian twist, posing as something of a spirit-guide to this perplexed journalist, his presence outside Thekla at half past five on a Saturday afternoon provided a pertinent truth about the events its hallowed galley would host that evening.

Subsequent conversation revealed that he was loitering on the off chance that he might be able to score a ticket for the Alvvays gig that evening. It was not only sold out, but so sold out that Big Jeff, the man whose veins run rich with the very lifeblood of the Bristol music scene, was struggling for access.

Having successfully negotiated the course to the band’s dressing room and sat down with singer Molly Rankin and guitarist Alec O’Hanley, the recent spike in the Toronto fivepiece’s popularity was quickly on their lips.

‘This tour has been great, and it’s nice to end in the water,’ grins O’Hanley, nonchalantly adding that ‘Every show has been sold out.’ Those eight syllables have barely tripped out of his mouth before Rankin leaps into the conversation on the back of palpable excitement.

‘Yeah a completely sold out tour! Which doesn’t really happen, or hasn’t happened for us yet.’ There is a definite glint of glee in her eye as she discusses the relative luxury that this second jaunt across the pond has proffered. ‘We’re in a different position from last time I guess, cause we’re not hauling all our flight cases onto subways or trying to hop trams and such. We’ve been in a van this whole time, which is cool. We have a little bit more control over what’s going on.’

Alvvays are reaping just reward from the release of their eponymous first LP, which, as well as winning plaudits and fans alike, was rightfully lauded as one of last year’s finest debuts. Its nine songs pair warm guitar lines with some seriously lovely melodies and moments of wistful ease, a lot like listening to The Pastels or Teenage Fanclub through a pair of really naff headphones. Or Best Coast through some really good ones. What really stands out on the record though is Rankin’s wily way with a chorus, and the way her voice (like a more elegiac Dee Dee from Dum Dum Girls) uniquely weaves them.

‘I love big choruses, no matter if it’s Katy Perry singing it or Gordon Lightfoot,’ she admits. ‘I was obsessed with Celine Dion when I was younger, I used to listen to the radio because that’s all I had growing up.

We didn’t have record stores, so couldn’t get into cool nineties records or whatever, so the radio was where I learnt about songs.’

It was this musical education that informed the band’s sound, which I tentatively suggested

came very close to falling under the category of pop music. The suggestion that the ‘P’ word was considered something of a taboo was met with an impassioned defence of the subject from Rankin: ‘Oh I love pop. That’s what I love about people like Gary Numan, who seemed to just thrust himself onto Top of the Pops by accepting and actively striving for the role of pop-star. It was really cool to hear him say that he wasn’t afraid of pop in a place where punk was more accepted. I think if you feel weird about that stuff then you’re just putting that vibe out subconsciously, you just have to accept yourself.’

O’Hanley is quick to come to her aid on the subject. ‘A lot of the best music flirts with pop and the best of it can successfully synthesise the avant and the noise with the beautiful, melodic stuff. For instance, I really appreciate Sonic Youth but I prefer Yo La Tengo as they skew a little more on the side of pop and they’re able to nail those two worlds of the obtuse and the accessible.

‘We definitely slant on the pop side, but who cares? If you’re playing just for yourself then that’s jazz, and we’re not ‘jazz-ists.’ We grew up on pop and we’ll keep playing it.’

Alvvays, along with Montreal foursome TOPS, are responsible for the poppier, happier sheen to the music coming out of Canada at the moment, though there is a darkness lurking beneath the surface. In recent months Ought and Viet Cong, two bands who ply a vintage brand of postpunk, have stepped out of the shadows. Their presence adds another dimension, and when more established names like Arcade Fire, Mac Demarco, Grimes and Fucked Up are thrown into

the mixer, the Great White North appears one of the most healthy music scenes around.

‘You like to root for your countrymen and women.’ said O’Hanley to this point.

‘With regard to Viet Cong, it was kinda neat because both their record and ours came out of the same hole-in-the-wall, backyard studio at Chad VanGaalen’s, and we both worked with Graham Walsh from Holy Fuck who are from Toronto. He’s great.’

Their set later that evening completely justifies the band’s sold out billing. The nine glittering tracks that make up the album translate neatly into the live arena, with covers of The Primitives and Deerhunter thrown in for good measure.

Molly Rankin’s vocal soars above the mix, swooping gorgeously, particularly on ‘Only Ones Who Love You’, which is the delicate, heartbreaking highlight. Single ‘Archie, Marry Me’ and closer ‘Adult Diversion’ go down particularly well with a crowd who react gladly to the band’s playful live presence.

And in pride of place, right on the bar, is Big Jeff who, you’ll be glad to know, had managed to wangle his way in.

Sam Mason-Jones, Second year, English Literature

Epigram

23.02.2015

48

Drum and Bass in Bristol: what chapter are we on?

In our second feature looking into a prominent genre of Bristol’s music scene, Tristan Davis talks us through the state of Drum and Bass in 2015 Bristol sounds of dubstep and Drum and Bass. Of anywhere in the UK, these genres were the most searched-for in Bristol, while ‘house’ maintained a steady trend over time and was most popular in London.

It isn’t just London that’s home to a thriving house collective. DJs like GotSome, Bordertown, Komon, and My Nu Leng have often tinted the genre with darkness, the signature sound of this city. Essentially, this suggests that we still host the hub of the UK’s seminal electronic scene - which happens to be the most direct link to our artcentric ‘underground scene.’ In fact, the gradual levelling of search trends suggest that the popularity of both drum and bass and dubstep will only be increasing in the near future. Given greater exposure in rave-esque clubs like Lakota, Motion, Timbuk2, Blue Mountain, and Basement 45, it’s easy to come across something of quality.

“

The city’s current array of artists are gaining increasing international acclaim, yet still manage to captivate the population...

It’s convincing to suggest that drum and bass is Bristol’s most original musical export. With artists headlining abroad such as the aforementioned Roni Size, TC, Interface, Jus Now, and Archive, the sound travels from strength to strength. Again, one only has to look at the sheer number of record labels like RAM, MTA, and Hospitality making appearances at Bristol in the O2 Academy and other mainstream venues to feel the influence this city has over the scene.

As the second most popular genre in the city, dubstep also creates quite a buzz. After its national peak in 2009 to 2011, interests have been refined and the heavy, diaphragm-disrupting sub-genre of 140 has seen a rise in popularity. This doesn’t stop the more relaxed, often ethereal, vocal-infused sounds of Joker and VAUN having huge traction underground, perhaps referencing earlier tracks like Portishead’s ‘Rain.’ Younger artists such as Ishan Sound and Piezo are being given exposure by big Bristol players such as Kahn. His remix of Ishan Sound’s ‘Namkha’ is an intensely tribal, off-beat, industrial track which leaves ears ringing with the sounds of high-noted flutes and relentless low-end kick, harking back to the tempestuous atmosphere of Massive Attack’s ‘Inertia Creeps.’

While the idea of ‘Bristol sound’ hasn’t changed from thoughtful, powerful, and often moving electronic music, the city’s huge number of active artists have taken inspiration from the incredible array of past influences and spun a unique tapestry of sound. Spanning multiple genres with a focus on dubstep and drum and bass, the city’s musicality is as well established and identifiable as it was in its 20th-century heyday.

Tristan Davis, First year, History of Art

flickr: Ed Mitchell

The influence of the past on Bristol’s music scene is hard to overstate. Many of our city’s residents are aware of an underlying dark history involving racial tension and the drug trade, and this is most keenly reflected in the expressive audial engagement with artists of the late 20th century. I’m not mentioning anything new yet - there are countless articles and a lengthy Wikipedia page dedicated to the idea of a Bristol ‘underground’, involving sociopolitically-inspired music and street art. What I do want to explore, however, is how the diversity of Bristol’s sound has matured and developed into its current state.

When someone mentions the ‘Bristol sound’, they won’t be referring to the standard band arrangements of guitar and percussion. The term has always been associated with an experimental fusion of electronic elements and sparse acoustics, originally catalysed by Smith & Mighty, Massive Attack and Portishead. This music coincides with the end of cold war, and a feeling of existential angst pervades many of their different soundscapes. Though I would argue that much of this tense atmosphere has been lost through the past ten years, emotional darkness and rhythmic structure are still dominant factors in Bristol’s finest electronic music.

This charged intensity manifests in Bristol’s modernised UK garage scene (a particular movement associated with the breaks in drum and bass). The local producer Conducta and his recent release entitled ‘Belong’ is a vocal-infused exploration into the captivation of desire. A voluptuous bassline coupled with raw percussion and airy synths recall Massive Attack tracks like ‘Protection’ and ‘Unfinished Sympathy’. Conducta isn’t the only Bristolian producer expanding the city’s representation in garage, though. Increasingly well-known artists like Phaeleh, Lamont, Majora, and Lojik (those whose talent has gained recognition) all include forms of subwoofer-moving sparsity made popular through times of uneasiness.

A quick internet search will tell you that Bristol’s influences stem from incredible multiculturalism, which provided access to new strands of music such as reggae, later spawning ‘jungle.’ However, it’s the innovative Kosheen who bridge the gap between trip-hop and drum and bass, with Roni Size developing these frantic rhythms further into the early 2000s. A 1995 edition of Salon magazine notes that the multi-ethnic city of Bristol is home to ‘restlessly inventive DJs [who] had spent years assembling samples of various sounds that were floating around: groove-heavy acid jazz, dub reggae, neo-psychedelia, techno disco music, and the brainy art rap.’ This summation certainly still holds truth today, influencing the decidedly Bristolian rapper Buggsy and producer Arkist.

The city’s current array of artists are gaining increasing international acclaim, yet still manage to captivate Bristol’s population. Researching local search trends has given me insight into the psyche of musical appreciation.

Using Google’s web development tools, I compared the popularity of the terms ‘drum and bass’, ‘dubstep’, and ‘house music’, with the latter acting as a control variable.

Despite the national levels of interest decreasing up to 2014, trend graphs show that regionally, the West Country is still completely enraptured by the energetic, varied

Epigram

23.02.2015

Culture Secretary touts benefit of ‘classic entrepreneurs’

49

Becky Morton looks at Sajid Javid’s recent comments on touting and wonders what on earth he was thinking at inflated prices, leaves the cash-strapped student and others sorely disappointed as they are unable to afford a second-hand ticket to see their favourite sold-out artist.

Despite the fact that the terms and conditions of most tickets state they must not be resold for profit and doing so will make them invalid, sites such as Viagogo insist the practice is perfectly legal. And they’re right. Under UK law it is not currently illegal to re-sell tickets for music gigs. Clearly something has got to change. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ticket Abuse, led by MPs Mike Weatherley and Sharon Hodgson is pushing for a crossparty solution to the problem of ticket touting. Yet with individuals such as Sajid Javid in government they have made little progress.

In the meantime it seems that ticket agencies will have to take the initiative in tackling this problem. For example, Glastonbury requires the registration of photographic ID before purchase to avoid touts reselling tickets above face value. The option to resell tickets to the official box office at the original price would also reduce the need for secondary marketplaces like Viagogo and StubHub, removing the forum for touts. Ultimately however, it is down to government to regulate and restrict ticket re-sales to eradicate the phenomenon of ticket touting which is draining money from the music industry and out-pricing fans from seeing their favourite artists.

Becky Morton, Second year, History.

Sajid Javid (right) somehow looking incredibly pleased and awkward at the same time

flickr: Number 10

After a ticket for the upcoming One Direction tour this year? A quick search of popular online ticket marketplace, Viagogo, finds standing tickets for the band’s upcoming tour are going for up to £600, with face value at just £72.60. But it’s not just the big acts who face the problem of ticket touts; tickets for sold-out dates of indie band Peace’s 2015 tour are going for double their face value.

Clearly, this is exploiting the passion of music fans for the profit of speculators. Yet Culture Secretary Sajid Javid has recently defended ticket tout firms, claiming ‘there’s nothing wrong with a healthy second market.’ He has also previously described touts as ‘classic entrepreneurs’ who ‘provide a service.’ The solution, he claims, is simply to raise the price of tickets to match demand. Because that’s surely the best way to make the arts more accessible.

To any sane music fan, the Culture Secretary’s recent comments are ludicrous. The profits of the music industry should be going to the musicians and the venue, not these so called ‘classic entrepreneurs.’ Public subsidies to the arts are supposed to provide cheaper tickets for the public, not opportunities for a hefty profit. Furthermore, artists and venues should determine how much they charge their audiences in order to manage expectations.

Having paid hundreds of pounds for a ticket, fans cannot be blamed for being disappointed if their favourite act fails live up to their high hopes. The use of sophisticated computer programs by touts to secure large quantities of tickets as soon as they go on sale, in order to sell them

LIVE REVIEW: Kerrang! Tour 2015 @ O2 Academy 10.02.2015 The clue was in the title. The Kerrang Tour 2015 was going to rock the Academy.

No doubt about it. With an impressive line-up of Beartooth, Bury Tomorrow, Young Guns, We Are The In Crowd and Don Broco, the gig catered for a variety of tastes. From melodic metalcore to pop punk, the allencompassing four-hour set was there to impress.

A mixed crowd filled the floor. Early queueing teenage fan girls could be seen hours before doors opened. More restrained audiences, who gathered for a pre-gig pint or two in the nearby Hatchett Inn, arrived later on, observing the bands from a more distant, perhaps mildly intoxicated, perspective.

Beartooth, first on stage, were loud and lairy; the hardcore punk lads had the audience’s attention from the off. There were no real headliners of this gig, more an opportunity for each band to give Bristol all they had. And without doubt they did.

Speaking to Beartooth’s Caleb Shomo before the show, his thoughts on the tour were expressed. ‘My favourite song to play live is probably ‘The Lines.’ The crowd receives it well.’ Shomo went on to discuss his band’s reception, stating ‘the biggest difference is city to city.’

In Bristol, the crowd received the rock tour with passion. Bury Tomorrow followed Beartooth. There was a complementary transition between bands and ‘Man On Fire’ – driven by slick guitar riffs and a catchy chorus – was a standout performance. Red stage lighting characterised the blazing lyrics and the mosh-pit that ensued cemented the

band’s flawless set.

When Young Guns took to the stage, the gig naturally became less heavy.

There exists a sense of excitement on the musical scene for these Buckinghamshire boys. They are truly an album away from mainstream success, mimicking the likes of Biffy Clyro, provided they continue to evolve their refreshing sound. Promising to return to Bristol’s venue The Fleece, fans of the five piece will be awarded with another gig very shortly.

Both We Are The In Crowd and Don Broco were arguably the most well-known of the performers. And their reputation did not disappoint. With unavoidable parallels with Paramore, We Are The In Crowd are still successful in their own right. Adopting the basics of the Hayley Williams winning formula, frontwoman Taylor Jardine provides an embracing confidence that seemed to empower every female in the academy. Clad in punky attire, Jardine encompassed the band’s pop-punk style.

Don Broco were a class closing act, with well-known crowd pleasers ‘Priorities’ and ‘Whole Truth’ keeping the audience on their musical toes. The intonation of lead singer Gustav Wood compares to Matt Healy of The 1975. The slightly softer ending concluded a wonderful mix of styles, highlighting the distinct sounds of each band. And whilst Kerrang propelled these acts onto the stage, each provided a calibre for future success.

Annie Slinn, First year, Physiology

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purity ring 3 may

SCOTT BRADLEE

STAND UP BRISTOL

15 feb

23 feb

The tom lucy show

comedy central live

12 mar

16 mar

For information and tickets for these gigs and more visit

www.ansonrooms.co.uk

Epigram 23.02.2015

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Unlocking the secrets of chemical reactions Samir Rana Science Writer New research done by the Bristol Laser Spectroscopy Group has revealed the minute details of chemical reactions taking place in a liquid. According to a paper published in the journal Science, the team are now able to observe these reactions at time scales of a trillionth of a second.

The team’s aim was to build a picture of what exactly was happening when a chemical reaction took place in a liquid.

To do this, they employed a technique known as Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy (ULS). Short bursts of Infra-Red and Ultra-Violet light were fired through the sample and onto a chip, similar to a CCD within a digital camera, where the

spectrum was then recorded. The spectrum gave the scientists a ‘chemical fingerprint’ of what was going on in the reaction at that time. Combining these snapshots gave a picosecond by picosecond account of the chemical reaction.

This was then compared with

While the science behind ULS is new, it’s already giving scientists a never before seen perspective on their research

the science behind UltraFast Laser Spectroscopy is new, it’s already giving scientists a never before seen perspective on their research, which is sure to rewrite what we thought we previously understood about chemical reactions.

is involved in the science outreach project Danceroom Spectroscopy (DS). DS is a joint collaboration between artists and scientists using motion capture technology to record the movement of dancers.

This data is then converted into a ‘real-time energy field’ which triggers sounds and images to generate interactive visuals and soundscapes. Danceroom Spectroscopy will be featuring at this year’s Bhutan International Festival.

Asked what sort of work the team will be moving on to next, Orr-Ewing said, ‘We’re interested in what happens to DNA bases when you excite them with UV light.

DNA bases are very efficient at recovering when bombarded with radiation without breaking up and creating dangerous free radicals.

What we want to understand is how they do this relaxation’. There are also plans for future collaboration with the new University of Bristol research centre BrisSynBio. The techniques being developed

Flikr/Fatlama

“ The chemists were able to compare the results from the ULS with computer simulations

detailed computer simulations.

The field of reaction dynamics is relatively young in chemistry, having come to prevalence after the 1986 Nobel Prize was awarded for the study of the of gases using ULS. It is only with recent technological developments in computing ad spectroscopy that scientists can now investigate the dynamics of chemical reactions in liquids.

Nearly all common chemical reactions take place in a solvent or as a reaction between solvents.

“The reactions studied so far are quite fundamental. We started with these as they are reactions quite well understood in the gas phase,” said one of the paper’s lead authors Professor Andrew Orr-Ewing of the School of Chemistry, Bristol. ‘We want to push this forward and work on the technology as [the methods employed in our paper] can be applied in a multitude of fields.’

The chemists were able to compare the results from the ULS with computer simulations done in-house in the Bristol Centre for Computational Chemistry.

Dr David Glowaki, another lead author on the paper, ran state of the art simulations involving up to 62 molecules colliding with one another, to predict the outcome of the experiment.

Glowaki currently shares his time between Stanford University and Bristol. Outside of his research, he

have useful applications in all fields of chemistry, but the prospects for biochemistry seem particularly amazing.

Being able to understand the complex reactions underpinning human anatomy opens up new methods for developing medicine. While

“

Rewriting the book on asthma treatment

Mike Sampson Science Writer With4.1millionsufferersintheUK, chances are either you, or someone you know has asthma. Inhalers are now not an uncommon sight even with professional athletes, with

both Paula Radcliffe, the current marathon world record holder, and David Beckham seen using them.

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently published new guidlines on the management and diagnosis of asthma, suggesting that ‘up to 30 percent of asthma sufferers do

Flickr: : NIAID

not have clear evidence of asthma’.

If true, this suggests that over one million asthma sufferers do not actually have the disease.

Asthma is a chronic disease which causes breathlessness and coughing due to inflammation of tubes in the lung called the bronchi.

Asthma attacks are escalations from the normal symptoms due to substances (such as pollen) that irritate the lungs, stress, or even exercise.

The guidelines lament the difficulty with which asthma is diagnosed, stating there is no ‘gold standard test’ to diagnose it. Your GP will make a diagnosis of asthma depending on the symptoms you present and describe during consultation, however very young children often find it difficult to articulate their symptoms accurately so this could be an area for improvement.

The major charity Asthma UK, which funds asthma research and campaigns to improve the quality of treatment has responded to the guidelines. The charity was pleased that NICE was trying to improve the treatment of asthma sufferersthis was NICE’s first ever report on asthma diagnosis.

However, it said ‘we are concerned that the headlines caused by this report will prevent people from taking their asthma

The fact is that, on average, three people a day still die from asthma in the UK

medication’. The charity argued that just because the patient is asymptomatic, doesn’t mean they don’t have the disease, but instead that they are having good treatment, which if stopped could result in a relapse.

The guidelines suggest that alongside symptomatic investigation, doctors should incorporate clinical tests to prevent misdiagnosis due to ambiguous symptom description.

Usually the clinical tests for asthma would be a bronchodilator reversibility test. This involves a spirometer testing the function of the lungs after inhaling a dilator which opens up your airways, or seeing if the patient has any substances, specifically nitric oxide, released as a result of the inflammation present in the air they breathe out. It also states that doctors should ask about a patient’s workplace, as one in ten

adults have occupational asthma caused by their line of work. The main advice from all parties is to keep taking your asthma inhaler, and seek a consultation from your GP if you have any queries about your treatment. These are only draft guidelines which are now being sent out for comment and opinion, which could mean that they change before being finalised.

According to the NHS it is unlikely that there will be any significant changes due to these guidelines, with perhaps the increased use of clinical tests during diagnosis being the most important one.

All asthma sufferers should have a yearly review of their treatment, and if clinical tests do become more integrated with diagnosis, they may be used to reconfirm initial diagnosis.

Whether the information given in the guidelines will change after review is not known yet.

The fact is that, on average, three people a day still die from asthma in the UK. Correct treatment can only be given after a correct diagnosis, so if methods to detect asthma can be improved, then fewer people each year will die from what we consider a perfectly treatable disease. These new guidelines are certainly a step in the right direction.

Epigram

23.02.2015

54

Intramural: Wizards face up to the Law Jonny Gould Sport Features Writer

You could smell the fear in those Law boys’ veins. They were as scared as if winger Gould were to be confronted by a woman. The purple and yellow warriors shone radiantly with confidence, entering this match with a goal difference of roughly 40 and an undefeated season to back them up. Law, on the other hand, had a goalkeeper who, rumour had it, once played for Yeovil academy. So there’s that.

Spurred on by the absence of key player Cameron Pitt, who was doing his best to impress at an assessment centre in somewhere that can only be described as Not-London, the Wizards were determined to prove that we could win a match without our pheomelanin-ful colleague.

The game started cagily, with both teams defending deep and with very little time on the ball, and after 20 minutes the score was still 0-0. Then ‘impact sub’ (words of intended encouragement from captain Hector Whitrow) Gould was brought on, aiming to use his 5’7” frame to bully the opposition right wing.

Unfortunately, said opposition right wing was built like a small bulldozer, but had about as much control over his limbs as a startled duck, so the ‘impact sub’ did not make much of an impact.

It was at the 25-minute mark, however, when the Wizards struck.

After making progress down the right, the ball was played into Michael Beard, a self-professed reincarnation of Alexis Sanchez, who ran at the

keeper as though a hoard of Tinder exgirlfriends were behind him. He was taken out in the box by a challenge best described as ‘f***ing hell, mate’ by an unknown player, and the penalty was quickly dispatched by the man who had earned it. 1-0 Wizards.

The first half drew to a close with

silent and composed as ever, Greg Brown, whose sports bra so frustrated the opposition winger that he resorted to rugby in an attempt to win the ball and finally Whitrow, whose pass completion rate for the match was roughly nine per cent. Rumour has it that Stoke are looking into the

on his goal. At the last second he managed to loop the ball away from his goal, and was heard to mutter something about Harry Kane being Jesus.

The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with neither side relenting, not really pressure, but

keeper Charlie Beeson relatively untroubled, owing to sterling defensive work from the Wizards back four: Alex Coetzee, returning from a long absence from the side as a result of a head-butting incident at Motion, Doug Farr, who, despite being kicked in the face in the first half, remained

Wizards captain as his ‘long ball’ style of play suits Mark Hughes’ philosophy.

As mentioned earlier, the solidity of the back four meant that Beeson had very little to do. As a result, he decided to do some keepy-uppies early on in the second half to amuse himself despite the Law striker bearing down

scrappy midfield battles. Then came another breakthrough. After one of Ben Rogers’ numerous dribbles, a strong tackle from our very own Paul Scholes, Ed Simons, meant the ball broke wide on the right. James Scott, who had until this point charged tirelessly from one end of the pitch to

the other looking like an emotionally drained bloodhound, paused for a quick thought about penguins and aeroplanes before sending in a ball to Nick Rigg. Now this is speculation on the part of the narrator, but who knows what was occurring in Rigg’s mind at this point. Perhaps he was dreaming of his Jagielka-esque goal of yesteryear, or perhaps his mind was still on the £20 trip back from UWE he’d had the previous Wednesday having had an argument with the girl he had attempted to seduce, but his shot was not forceful enough to beat the once-noble Yeovil reject. The ball fell kindly into Luka Illien’s path, and he powered home the Wizards’ second goal. His celebration, however, was far from powerful, and was so questionable, that it earned him Dick of the Day. It was as if he was trying to mimic a delighted fly that had just discovered an open window.

At 2-0, the game was nearly won, but the Wizards were in search of one final goal to secure the victory.

Released by a pass from Beard’s follicly challenged, but football-gifted cousin Tom Morgan, Rogers bore down on goal and buried his shot in the bottom right hand corner sealing the victory for Wizards. Mentions also go to Charlie Warren, who slaved away up front for little reward as his mind was still on the lovely barmaid in Bunker and Jack Williams, who had a very solid game and has given me nothing with which to mock him.

A win for the mighty purple and yellow soldiers: long may it continue.

South Africa’s Achilles heel likely to ensure further World Cup heartache James Scott UBCC Club Captain

Flickr: Nazly Ahmed

It is possible to put forward a convincing argument that South Africa possess the leading batsman and bowler in the entire ICC Cricket World Cup. In fact, to suggest that they have the second best in both disciplines as well would hardly be ridiculous. Yet, despite this wealth of talent, ability and experience, an intriguing paradox exists: South Africa do not have sufficient tools to be crowned world champions in Melbourne on 29 March.

The issue for South Africa centres on the lack of a genuine all-rounder, or at least one of the required quality.

An attractive element of limited-overs cricket is its dependence upon the team, not just individuals. This is particularly true for a bowling unit, which require a minimum of five bowlers to bowl 50 overs. In reality, six bowlers are necessary to provide a remedy should poor form or injury strike during an innings. Such a conundrum means that at least one all-rounder in a side is critical, with the modern game demanding a long batting order; scores upwards of 300

are now the norm rather than the exception. The first five games of the tournament all included at least one total in excess of 300.

Currently, Farhaan Behardien occupies the number seven spot for South Africa. He is also the side’s fifth bowler. The elegant left-handed batsman, JP Duminy, offers a bowling option, but his fairly innocuous off spin is risky in a tournament packed full of aggressive batsman in conditions unfavourable to slower bowlers. By extension, much responsibility falls on the shoulders of Behardien, but the statistics don’t seem to suggest these shoulders are broad enough to carry such a burden.

His one-day batting average is a mere 21, and though his bowling economy rests at a respectable 5.31, the signs for his gentle medium pace are ominous – a second-rate Zimbabwean line up hit him for 40 runs in five overs, and left him wicketless. Evidently, at this exalted level, the Johannesburgborn all-rounder is a level below the rest of his superb teammates, which include the two best ODI (One-Day International) batsmen (AB De Villiers and Hashim Amla) as well as perhaps the best seam attack since the West Indian production line went into

The lack of a genuine all-rounder is at the heart of South Africa’s problems steep decline.

It’s tough for Behardien; his weaknesses are magnified by his team-mates’ immense strengths. To compound matters, South Africa’s

rivals simply don’t have this issue.

Australia have an embarrassment of riches, with Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell all offering two skills. New Zealand have Corey

Anderson, India Ravindra Jadeja, and Pakistan boast the evergreen Shahid Afridi. Even the beleaguered West Indies and England seem to have solutions with the likes of Darren Sammy and Moeen Ali respectively.

There will of course be moments where the brilliance of South Africa’s other ten players deem Behardien’s inadequacy irrelevant. One has to look no further than their opening game vs Zimbabwe, where the irrepressible David Miller and the sublime Duminy ensured Behardien wasn’t required to bat, and that his expensive bowling never put South Africa’s prospects at risk. But there are sterner tests in this World Cup than Zimbabwe, and times when Behardien is counted upon to perform.

When this magnificent tournament concludes, it is certainly conceivable that five or six South Africans will be mentioned in the team of the World Cup. Yet, none of these are likely to be on the winning side due to a fundamental weak link. It seems ironic that for so long, the nation who boasted the greatest all-rounder of all time in Jacques Kallis, are likely to fail due to the lack of such a player. Poor old Behardien, the ultimate victim of his peers’ ability and modern cricket.

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Varsity 2015: The UoB Captains speak Felicity Hamilton-Cox Swimming

Steph Harris Rowing

Epigram Sport: How many Varsity tournaments have you competed in?

Epigram Sport: How many Varsity tournaments have you competed in?

Felicity Hamilton-Cox: Both in the two years I’ve been at Bristol University.

This upcoming varsity will be my final one (very sad times).

Steph Harris: Three so far: won two and lost one!

ES: What happened last year? How do you predict it’ll go this year?

FH-C: For the first time we introduced a Bristol and UWE A and B team, so 4 lanes were used. This went really well and we will definitely do it again this year. We won (of course), and so will strive to win again!

ES: Best sporting rivalry outside of Bristol/UWE? FH-C Exeter. We competed in Exeter Varsity last year and will do again in a couple of weeks. Because we know the team pretty well now there is some friendly rivalry between us.

ES: What’s been your personal highlight/best Varsity memory?

SH: My first one in 2012 as part as the Novice Women’s first VIII. I’d only been rowing for 6 months and it was my first experience of side-by-side racing, I’m not sure I’ve ever been more nervous than the moments before the race sat on the start line. We went on to win that race by quite some distance and the club went on to win three out of the four races that count toward the varsity match, taking home the Varsity blade (which we promptly lost in between the Varsity Ball venue and lounge but that’s another story!)

ES: Where are your side’s strengths?

SH: Fitness. We work incredibly hard to be the fittest athletes in the University with our Senior rowers training 12 times per week and our Novices six to eight times per week.

ES: Who’s your team’s unsung hero?

SH: That always has to be the Cox. They steer the boat and encourage the crews to give every last ounce of strength during the race. On top of that the Varsity course is not an easy one to steer, it’s a sprint so all eight rowers are flat out at high rate and there are some huge corners to tackle, steering can make or break the race.

Leo Lawrence Women’s Football Epigram Sport: How many Varsity tournaments have you competed in?

Leo Lawrence: Unfortunately I’ve been injured for every one! This will be my first year.

ES: What’s been your personal

played UWE twice this year in our league, drawing both, but deserved to win. I think this will be a really tight game with UoB coming out on top – we want it more!

ES: Where are your side’s strengths?

LL: Aside from having a pretty solid defence, this year we’ve become really good at breaking on the counter attack

ES: Best sporting rivalry outside of Bristol/UWE? SH: Probably Bath. We train on the same piece of river so it’s always nice to beat your neighbours!

ES: How do you celebrate a big win?

SH: A visit to Lounge.

ES: Do you have a message for UWE? SH: No, I’m confident our rowing will do all the talking necessary! highlight/best Varsity memory?

LL: Despite losing both Varsity games since I’ve been here, a highlight would be one of our Canadian exchange students scoring an incredible goal from outside the penalty area in my first year. We lost on penalties in the end but it was a really exciting moment!

so we’re hoping to catch UWE out with that.

ES: Why is Varsity important to UoB? LL: I think it’s important to show that we’re a university that can compete in major sporting events as well as achieving academically. We all want to show UWE we’re the best overall!

ES: What happened last year? How do you predict it’ll go this year?

LL: We lost 3-0 last year but we’ve

Bristol clubs journey far in Cup action Edward Henderson-Howat Online Sport Editor

Over the last fortnight, league fixtures have drawn to a close for most teams across the University. However, there has been no shortage of drama with cup clashes, promotion bids and relegation battles.

It was another week of success for women’s badminton as they enjoyed a clean sweep over Oxford on 18 February.

The first football team travelled to Leeds for their cup tie on the same day but were unlucky to lose 3-1.

Meanwhile, the ladies footballers also faced a cup fixture but were ultimately undone 3-2 on penalties by Oxford.

The week before they had drawn 0-0 with South Wales, a result which staved off the relegation play-offs.

Hockey were another club to be embroiled in cup action. The girls dominated Manchester at Coombe Dingle, running away with a 4-0 victory. However, the boys’ big day in Nottingham was spoiled by a defeat as they missed out on a quarter-final tie.

Lacrosse went one better, with the men and women securing solid cup wins over Sheffield Hallam (12-9) and Leeds (24-4) respectively.

The netball women faced a doubleheader against top of the table Southampton. Bristol were beaten 6440 at home and went on to suffer a 6338 defeat the week after. However, this should not sour what has been a solid season as they look to finish second in what is an extremely competitive league.

Rugby league were soundly beaten

by Cambridge in their penultimate match of the season.

After controversy off the pitch, the 1st XV suffered a 7-31 loss to Hartpury College finishing their year in second from bottom.

It was a different story for the

women’s rugby team. They travelled to Cardiff on the 11th and turned over the league leaders with a 38-7 victory. A week later they faced Sussex at home and ran away with a 34-12 win. Their Twitter hashtag #TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork couldn’t be more apt!

Water Polo have continued their dominant season. The men and women are both heading for the semi-finals after a string of impressive victories.

In American Football, the Barracuda were beaten by Plymouth

on 15 February. The game was not without controversy, however, as members of the Plymouth squad seemed to be standing in as referees.

Further investigation is pending.

As ever, it’s been a mixed bag across the board but we must wish the best of success to lacrosse and water polo as they continue their trophy run. Keep your eyes on our website (epigram.org.uk) and @EpigramSport on Twitter for all the latest!

1st team BUCS fixtures WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY HOME Men’s Football v Gloucestershire AWAY Women’s Tennis v Bath

All fixtures taken from BUCS website Cup fixtures to be confirmed

WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH HOME Men’s Basketball v Cardiff Met Women’s Basketball v Bournemouth Women’s Hockey v Loughborough Men’s Rugby League v Aberystwyth Men’s Tennis v Exeter AWAY Women’s Badminton v UWE Men’s Football v Swansea Women’s Football v South Wales Women’s Netball v Gloucestershire Women’s Rugby v Bath