Epigram #285

09.03.2015

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@epigramnews Editor: Sarah Newey

Deputy Editors: Ivana Scatola; Issy May Bull

Online Editors: Alex Evans; Oscar Cunnington

news@epigram.org.uk

iscatola@epigram.org.uk ; issyb@epigram.org.uk

newsonline@epigram.org.uk; ocunnington@epigram.org.uk

First ever Epigram Question Time held

Philip Brulard

Students put a range of questions to the panel

Caroline

continued from the front page But Sorana Vieru, Students’ Union Postgraduate Education Officer, said, ‘Instead of getting the education experience right and then recruiting the best students around, we always seem to be playing a catch-up game’, referring to how she believes additional staff are only appointed once student numbers have grown to high levels.

Student expansion has been seen as key issue in recent months, despite several new staff appointments, which critics claim aren’t sufficient to stop rises in student-staff ratios.

But Squires reassured students that the student number growth will slow, ‘Only three departments will see further growth at undergraduate levels from now on’.

Nonetheless, Squires’ choice of language was questioned by some, Josh Williams tweeted, ‘If Squires is talking about “competitors,” surely that makes us ‘consumers’ in a market? Doesn’t that change the whole dynamic of uni?’

A similar sentiment was expressed by many attendees at December’s ASS protest, where many chanted that; ‘Education should be free, we are not a commodity.’

Concerns about lack of resources, especially for Arts students, were also raised, with multiple students citing the lack of texts available in the ASS Library. Squires answered that the library budget on book spend had been increased, and that students could request books to be purchased. In response, one online commenter tweeted that ‘it should not be a student’s prerogative to ensure your department has the necessary resources.’

However, many welcomed the event and praised the work of the panellists. One second year History student said that she felt the event ‘…showed how passionate they are. They’re under a serious amount of pressure, but I think they have our best interests at heart.’

Another second year Philosophy student said that, ‘I think it should happen every month. It’s nice to put a face to a name instead of just feeling like you’re shouting in the dark.’

Tensions rise over ball at Zoo

There is a dispute over where the Student Houses Association Ball should be held

Issy May Bull Deputy News Editor This summer the Student Houses Association at University of Bristol, which includes halls of residencies such as Winkworth House, Nelson House, The Hawthorns as well as others, appears set to hold its annual summer ball at Bristol Zoo. Epigram has been informed, however, of some students who consider it to be a controversial decision.

Jacob Pain, a Bristol undergraduate, has informed Epigram of his concerns over this decision. He fears that the ball will disturb and harm the animals at the Zoo, citing alleged incidents which have occurred during late-night parties at London Zoo where butterflies have been crushed and birds assaulted by drunken attendees.

Social events being held at zoos have been the subject of much recent debate. In September last year the Guardian ran an article highlighting how stressed animals can get during such parties.

According to this piece seven charities, including the RSPCA and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have called on London Zoo to completely

shut down their late night parties.

Mr Pain purports that due to his complaints he has been blocked from the decision-making process by the central JCR, his and others’ concerns have been ignored, and that he was called into a ‘disciplinary meeting’. Supposedly, the purpose of this meeting was to force Mr Pain ‘to drop the issue’.

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‘The decision to proceed shows a severe lack of concern for animal welfare’

He suggests that ‘ultimately, the Student Houses Association’s decision to proceed shows a severe lack of concern for animal welfare and places a higher importance on the enjoyment of 200 residents’.

He has started a petition, with around 40

signatories at present, urging for the location of the summer ball to be reconsidered.

When contacted, however, the Student Houses Association went to great lengths to inform that this was not their decision but ‘A group of elected officers [the JCR] voted to hold the event at the zoo.# ‘If we (the pastoral team) were to respond to these students’ demands and cancel the party it would undermine the whole democratic principle of the JCR as we would be acting unilaterally and we are also not elected representatives.

‘The JCR did take into account the strong feelings about animal welfare but were assured that this had been taken into account by information provided by the zoo’, they added.

Regarding Pain’s campaign against the decision, they also claim to have ‘supported his idea to set up a petition’ and that they had ‘not intended to silence him and under no circumstance was he accused of pressuring students into supporting his cause’.

They also dispute his claim on the petition that it will be a late night zoo party, saying that ‘in fact it is an evening ball at the zoo gardens which has a host of events for people who don’t want to drink’.

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News

Epigram

Planning application fails after controversial ‘anti-student’ leaflet Zaki Dogliani Editor An application to convert a property in Cotham into a student house has been rejected. Local opposition to the planning permission saw a leaflet distributed which urged residents to submit objections before the deadline. It included language such as ‘Another student house in OUR neighbourhood. Draw the line HERE.’ The leaflet, which warned, ‘The next one could be next to you’, was criticised by University of Bristol Students’ Union and the University. Lynn Robinson, Deputy Registrar, told Epigram, ‘I was disappointed by the wording of the leaflet, which I also received as a local resident. Through the Accommodation Team and University Community Liaison Officer we work hard to stress the benefits that the University and our students bring to the city.

‘Complaints about student behaviour have fallen by over 50 per cent compared with the same period last year and the police and Bristol City Council generally tell us that they do not have significant concerns about issues of student behaviour despite

increased student numbers.’

Over 100 objections were submitted to the expansion plans at the site at Penmaen House, at the end of Chandos Road. The overwhelming majority were submitted after the leaflet was circulated, suggesting that the leaflet had the desired effect in galvanising local opponents of increasing student population.

“ Over 100 objections were submitted to the expansion plans

Epigram’s original article (23/02), which has since been picked up by The Independent and The Huffington Post, saw some local students interviewed expressing disappointment at the wording of the leaflet. Epigram has since spoken to the group that produced the leaflet, which commented, ‘Close neighbours of Penmaen House viewed with concern the repetitive amending, withdrawing

and resubmitting of plans to expand this student residence, not least because the degree of consultation and time to respond were getting less and less each time. The group agreed that the best strategy was to highlight the imbalance that rapid increases in the number and capacity of Houses of Multiple Occupation had brought to the area.

Cllr Negus suggested distributing a leaflet around the immediate neighbourhood in order to raise awareness of the deadline for comments.

‘The leaflet had to be both short and “punchy”.

It was drafted in the last half-hour or so of the meeting. The group thought hard how a phrase like “no more students’”might be avoided but the planning application was after all for a student house, so in the end it was left in place in that context. Despite being headlined in Epigram as “anti-student”, the leaflet was not written with that sentiment or aim in mind but instead much more in line with what we’re told students also seek: halting an unsustainable rate of growth in student numbers.’

Epigram has learned that one supporter of the application, described in Bishopston Voice as a ‘local resident’ is Company Secretary of a student accommodation letting company. Speaking to

Epigram, a member of the group, who asked not to be named, suggested that this amounted to a ‘conflict of interest’.

The Council’s ‘Notice of Decision’, which responds to the application, clearly seems to have taken into account the concerns about, as the leaflet put it, ‘more noise’ and ‘more disruption’ where students move in.

‘the leaflet was not written with that [“antistudent”] sentiment or aim in mind’

It stated, ‘The proposed expansion and subdivision of the existing House in Multiple Occupation would contribute to an existing harmful concentration of such uses within the locality, exacerbating existing harmful conditions that negatively impact the residential amenity of the locality by increasing levels of activity that cause excessive noise and disturbance to residents.’

Epigram 09.03.2015

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UoB undergrad wins Student Volunteer of the Year

“ Conor McGlacken is currently studying Engineering Design here at University of Bristol

Conor was nominated by EWB-UK’s Head of Research, Katie Cresswell-Maynard, who described

Conor received his award at a 200-strong reception in the House of Commons

He has been involved with EWB since 2011, beginning his involvement on the EWB Outreach program, teaching schoolchildren about the role of engineering in development. In his second year he expanded this project to reach over 300 pupils across Bristol, and has also volunteered as an EWB representative at a UNESCO conference in Nigeria.

As current President of Bristol’s EWB Branch Mr McGlacken leads a committee of 19 students and over 150 volunteers involved in six technical projects, as well as the outreach program, trips, workshops and talks. He also acts as a Trustee for the organisation, whilst overseeing the growth of the society projects program.

Mr McGlacken told Epigram : ‘Volunteering with Engineers Without Borders Bristol has taught me so much about international development and the role technology can play in tackling poverty.

University of Bristol News

A Bristol Engineering student has been named Student Volunteer of the Year as part of the 2015 Student Volunteering Week. Conor McGlacken, who is currently studying Engineering Design, is the Bristol President of Engineers Without Borders (EWB). EWB is an international charity working to provide the technology required for development, whilst getting young engineers involved with human development projects.

Mr McGlacken was shortlisted alongside four other candidates, with this year’s award seeing triple the number of nominations compared to 2014.

him as ‘exceptional individual.’ He was praised by the award’s judges for his ‘commitment to go above and beyond to effect change and innovate within a national charity’.

Conor McGlacken (right) with Peter Hansford, Chairman of the EWB-UK Board of Trustees This award is a recognition of the huge impact the society has, through trips, talks and training, workshops in schools, design challenges, and our ongoing projects. I’ve been on two great committees at Bristol, and next year’s is shaping up to be even better: this won’t be the last award out of EWB Bristol!’

Mr McGlacken received his award at a 200-strong reception in the Terrace Pavilion of the House of

Richard Assheton News Reporter

Labour MP for West Bromwich East Tom Watson claims to have persuaded comedian Russell Brand that not voting is a ‘pointless act of apathy’.

The comment was made during a wide-ranging and exclusive interview with Epigram on Wednesday 25 February, in which Watson spoke alongside Labour parliamentary candidate for Bristol West, Thangam Debbonaire, whilst on a visit to University of Bristol to speak to Labour supporters and encourage students to vote in the General Election on 7 May.

Watson said VCs need to ask themselves ‘What is it that you value about the British university compared to others?

Richard Assheton

Tom Watson MP and Thangam Debbonaire visited Bristol Uni to meet Labour supporters and encourage students to vote

Commons as part of the Student Volunteering Week’s Parliamentary Celebrations. Alongside his award he has received a £1000 prize to donate to a charity of his choice, which he plans to donate to EWB. This year’s Student Volunteering Week ran from 23rd February to 1st March, with over 100 universities across the country taking part in events including practical workshops, talks and trips.

Tom Watson MP: not voting is pointless

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Amie Marshall News Reporter

On top of voter turnout, conversation covered a wide range of issues directly affecting students such as graduate prospects, tuition fees and the marketisation of higher education.

Watson said he had a discussion with Brand at the end of which the comedian ‘acknowledged that just not voting is a pointless act of apathy.’

The former Labour Deputy Chair is keen to ensure that student voters turn out in their numbers in May and expressed concerns that the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration may see many students unable to vote.

This is part of wider worries he has about the underrepresentation of young people in politics and their bleak prospects for the future: ‘The opportunities that previous generations had have been lost, like the right to own your own home… I see too many people in their early careers living in

fear of losing their job.’

Although neither politician went into specifics on Labour’s expected calls to reduce tuition fees, Watson did relay that Ed Miliband is ‘deeply disturbed that students are having to pay £9,000 tuition fees’ and that with Miliband as Prime Minister ‘people will be paying lower fees and there’ll be a simpler system and greater access to higher education than there previously was.’

Asked whether this would buck the trend of the marketisation of higher education, which attracted criticism from Pro Vice-Chancellor Judith Squires in Epigram’s Question Time event the day before, Watson deflected blame away from government, saying that university Vice Chancellors needed to ask themselves: ‘What is it that you value about the British university compared to other universities?’

In his conversation with Brand, Watson said that he outlined the difference between dissent and abstention to the comedian: ‘I’m hoping I have at least lodged in his mind the fact that positively spoiling your ballot paper is a political act. Not voting is a totally pointless act.’

Individual Electoral Registration means that all voters must themselves ensure they are registered to vote, prompting concerns from Watson that ‘There are thousands of students in this city who are going to lose their franchise.

‘Their right to dissent, their right to vote Labour, their right to vote Tory, their right to spoil their ballot paper is being taken away from them by these changes and what worries me is I don’t think they know it yet.’

The result of marketisation of higher education is that universities are in competition to attract grants and students.

Although neither Watson nor Debbonaire pledged to fully reverse this trend, both agreed that universities’ jobs had been made much harder by the coalition government and that maintenance as well as tuition fees should be reassessed after the election.

Epigram 09.03.2015

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Students quiz politicians at Union event

Helen Cuellar

Candidates for Parliament were introduced to students at the beginning of the event

Luke Wilson News Reporter

Helen Cuellar

Jo Woods, Judith Squires and Max Austin represent the Union, University and political societies who together organised the event

Students had the opportunity to question local politicians at the ‘Meet the Candidates’ event in the Anson Rooms on 26 February.

The event, jointly organised by the Students’ Union, University and various political societies, launched a new initiative encouraging students to engage in politics, as well as officially opening the new Union bar, The Balloon.

Over 30 candidates for Parliament and local councils attended the event, representing the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens, UKIP, Independents and Trade Union and Socialist Coalition.

The evening was well attended, with a mix of students both decided and undecided about

how to cast their vote come May. To begin, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education Judith Squires, urged students to engage actively in politics and stated the university’s wish that all students exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election.

The elections in Bristol have been heralded as a close call this year, and students have a lot of influence over the result. The Guardian has recently listed Bristol West in the top ten constituencies in which students have the most influence, as 24% of voters will be students.

Jo Woods, UBU Union Affairs Officer, said: ‘I think that the Union’s “Meet the Candidates Event” was a fantastic success. We had over 30 local candidates and 350 students in a room discussing what matters to them as Bristol residents. I had so many people come up and thank me for the event and say how much they

enjoyed the event.’

Martin Hall, a first year student, told Epigram that he believed informative events were useful to engage young people, but that reports about 18-24 year olds being apathetic to politics were overstated: ‘I think young people do have strong views towards it, but I think they’re just disenfranchised with Westminster politics.’

Several more events surrounding the May election will be held in the Union over the next few weeks. On March 19 an event for students who currently know little or nothing about politics, and want basic information in a nonpartisan manner, is being held in the Union bar. Bristol West Hustings are also being hosted by UBU on March 26, and debates between the presidents of student political societies are currently being organised.

UBU Festival hosts panel discussions Charlotte Lewis News Reporter

The discussions provided ‘an opportunity to learn more about liberation groups and the issues that matter to them’

These four groups are the focus of the UBU Festival of Liberation, a year-long festival of talks and events, including these panel discussions.

The Festival is organised by Alice Phillips, UBU’s Equality, Liberation and Access Officer. In organising the events, Phillips aimed to ‘make the union more relatable to all our students’ as well as giving students ‘an opportunity to learn more about our liberation groups and the issues that matter to them’.

The panels hosted a number of important speakers including Daryn Carter, Director of Bristol Pride, and Fahma Mohamed, face of the EndFGM Guardian campaign and winner of 2014 Good Housekeeping Campaigner of the Year award, as well as many NUS officers and

There are a number of other upcoming events as part of the UBU Festival of Liberation, including a talk on 19 March by Dr William Ackah from Birkbeck University.

Jamie Corbin

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Throughout February, University of Bristol Union (UBU) hosted a series of panel discussions focusing on issues important to the Union’s liberation groups; black and minority ethnic (BME) students, disabled students, LGBT+ students and women.

committee members.

The discussions centred on issues faced by students within these groups. The first talk of the series, ‘Black Students/White Campus: What are the barriers for BME students?’ focused on how BME students often feel alienated at university.

Zahra Wynne, UBU’s Women’s Committee BME Rep, commented on the difficulties of moving into this environment at Bristol from homes where they are more represented.

The major theme throughout the series was intersectionality, the interaction between the four liberation groups and the importance of encouraging this. This was particularly at the forefront of the talk ‘How do we make the Women’s Movement Intersectional?’

The panel discussed that although there has been a recent movement towards intersectionality in feminism, there are still a number of issues in the movement.

Ruth Pearce, blogger and singer in punk band Not Right particularly noted the issue that some believe that trans-women do not belong in feminism. The final talk ‘What is Next for the LGBT+ Movement Following the Passing of the Same Sex Marriage Act?’ also addressed problems with a lack of intersectionality. Cheryl Morgan, member of local group TransBristol, commented that the face of LGBT+ student movements is normally a white, gay male, and so often exclusionary to other liberation groups.

The current UBU full time officers after they were voted in last March

UBU Officers Election Week Sarah Newey News Editor continued from the front page Jo Woods, Union Affairs Officer, has emphasised the importance of voting in the elections:

‘It is your chance to have someone fight for change as their full time job’ ‘If you are frustrated with your course or room bookings or rent prices or library spaces, it’s important to vote as this is your chance to choose who will fight for these issues. It is your

chance to have someone fight for change as their full time job and that can be the fight for free education or free coffee in the ASS!’ Voting will open online at 9am on March 9, and close on Thursday evening. Results will then be counted and announced on Friday evening at the new Union bar, The Balloon.

Alyx Murray-Jackman, Sport and Student Development Officer, told Epigram about her experiences last year: ‘I expected elections week to be really challenging, however it turned out to be one of the funnest and most exciting weeks of my year.

This year there are more people running so I’m sure this year elections week will be even more interesting.’

For more updates about the elections, the candidates and what they represent, visit epigram.org.uk or the UBU website.

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Epigram 09.03.2015

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Colston Hall UKIP MEP attacks Bristol gains £5million Uni students for being ‘bourgeois’ and ‘green’ refurbishment

London should not have the monopoly on arts and culture which is why we’re providing £5m to support the refurbishment

‘London should not have the monopoly on arts and culture, which is why we’re providing £5m to support the refurbishment of Colston Hall right here in the South West’ Despite falling short by half of the £10 million requested by the Colston Hall bosses, this funding could be instrumental in the cultural elevation of Bristol, a city known for its liberal attitudes in art and ethos, to receive the attention it deserves.

If funding continues then it is hoped work will begin in 2017 - the Hall’s 150th year - and be ready for opening in 2019.

David Coburn spoke at BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions on Friday

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David Coburn, UKIP’s MEP from Scotland, lost patience with audience reactions to his comments at a Bristol recording of BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions on Friday, calling them ‘blatantly Green’ and ‘bourgeois.’

The comments came after audience members booed and heckled Coburn’s statements on housing policy, in which he prioritised immigration, dismissing policies from Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister Emma Reynolds as ‘a lot of wind.’

Audience members at the recording in Bristol’s Wills Memorial Building began sarcastically slow-clapping the 56-year-old UKIP politician after he denounced the other parties’ housing plans, saying: ‘how would we know how many houses we need, because we don’t know how many people are

coming into the country!’

Coburn then hit back at what he saw as a biased response to his statements by accusing the audience of being ‘blatantly Green’ and ‘very nice, bourgeois, Greens and whatever, Lib Dems and so on and so forth.’

‘What about the working man?

How does he afford a house if he’s competing with an open-door immigration policy?’ he continued.

‘You people don’t care about the working man.’

‘UKIP is the party of the working man and woman,’ Coburn added, before being curbed by a tide of booing and the discipline of the programme’s chairperson, Jonathan Dimbleby.

Coburn, who is gay and has described himself as a ‘great big screaming poof,’ previously made controversial headlines with his vocal opposition to same-sex marriage, calling its supporters ‘equality Nazis’

Euro Realist Newsletter

A bid to refurbish Bristol’s central concert venue has been backed by Westminster, receiving half the funds requested.

Colston Hall, Bristol’s cultural hub, has received a £5 million subsidy from those at Westminster to revitalise its internal facilities, falling roughly in time for its 150th birthday in 2017.

Despite spending £78 million on a modern foyer for the hall in 2009, the innards of the popular concert venue have not been touched in over 60 years.

The aim of this funding, currently totalling £15 million including city council donations, is to raise a total of £45 million to attempt to modernise the older parts of the building. This includes the total remodelling of the main auditorium, developing the second hall, opening up the cellars and restoring the Victorian frontage.

The hall, conveniently situated between both Unite and Colston Street city centre living, frequently holds affordable concerts, shows and stand up performances just a stone’s throw away from the University.

Charlotte Ennen, a resident of Colston Street accommodation, recently attended a gig at the venue: ‘The location and quality of the performances I have seen there have been fantastic. It’s good that culture in Bristol is getting recognition so that it can continue to grow.’

Some of the hall’s esteemed previous acts include the likes

Alex Evans Online News Editor

of Jimmy Carr, Harry Hill, Emeli Sandé, The Beatles as well as hosting evens such as the Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival.

Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the treasury, said: ‘Bristol is already one of the South West’s most vibrant cultural hubs, so it’s great news that it is finally on track to have the international standard concert venue that the region needs.

Silky

James Croft News Reporter

in an interview with The Huffington Post.

In the preceding discussion, Green leader Natalie Bennett committed her party to building 500,000 new affordable homes during the next parliament, explaining the plans were ‘fully costed.’

The comments came after audience members booed and heckled Coburn’s statements

She had come in for criticism last week after an ‘excruciating’ LBC radio interview in which she appeared to forget key details of the policy, eventually saying the half a million homes would cost £6bn. The actual figure would be £26bn, she said on Friday’s programme.

Liberal Democrat Ed Davey said his party promised to build 300,000 houses a year by the end of the parliament, but did not make clear how many would be affordable.

And Shadow Housing Minister Emma Reynolds echoed what she told Epigram in an interview last month, saying a Labour government would aim to build just 200,000 per year by 2020.

She also claimed the higher offer from the Lib Dems was unrealistic.

‘We haven’t got any idea how they’re going to build 300,000 homes a year,’ she said.

Amnesty International Society holds sit-in Emily McMullin Deputy Features Editor

Philip Brulard

The sit-in was organised by Bristol Uni’s Amnesty International Soceity

Philip Brulard

It took place at College Green at the bottom of Park Street

On Saturday 28 February the University’s Amnesty International Society held a sit-in on College Green in a bid to pressure Bristol City Council into increasing the number of Syrian refugees that it accepts.

Bristol is a city of sanctuary, and part of a ‘national network of local groups made up by businesses, community organisations and individuals, all with one thing in common; their belief that sanctuary seekers should be welcomed, and that their contribution to society should be welcomed.’

While the UK government has promised to resettle ‘a few hundred’ Syrian refugees, only 143 have been because local councils, like Bristol, are refusing to accommodate them.

Jonathan Bowes, the president of the Amnesty International Society, told Epigram that ‘as a city of sanctuary, Bristol has an obligation and the facilities to be able to accept more refugees than we do.’

He also said that refugees are ‘some of the most vulnerable people in the world, specifically people from the Syrian conflict who have been displaced and are victims of sexual assault, violence, people in urgent

need of medical help, and we feel that Bristol should lead the way in supporting these people.’

At the sit-in there was a large cloth banner which was being used as a petition and will be handed to the local council; people were asked to do a hand-print and sign their names.

Many students, locals and passers-by got involved, including Khaled, a Syrian refugee who has been living in Bristol for two and a half years.

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‘those fleeing persecution and torture in Syria should have somewhere to go, and cities of sanctuary such as Bristol are an ideal place for them to come.’

He told Epigram his story, ‘They took me straight from the airport to a police station and within a week I was sentenced to six months in prison.

The solicitor told me that if I pleaded guilty they would take two months off of my sentence, so I pleaded guilty without actually knowing what I was being sentenced for.’

Khaled spent two months in prison, where he did a lot of voluntary work,

after being released he was sent to Cardiff. Soon he began volunteering at an Oxfam shop, and after waiting six months he had his final interview and was granted status as an asylum seeker. He now does a lot of interpreting for new arrivals with charities such as Bristol Refugee Rights and the Red Cross, and six months ago he got his first paid job, although it is a zero-hours contract, so he is called when needed.

The sit-in was a big success with many people coming and going, to pledge support, all afternoon.

Alice Elliot, a second year Politics and International Relations student at the University of Bath and a member of their Amnesty International Society, told Epigram ‘those fleeing persecution and torture in Syria should have somewhere to go, and cities of sanctuary such as Bristol are an ideal place for them to come.

It is completely unacceptable that we haven’t resettled more Syrian refugees already and it’s a great cause to get behind. I’m so impressed with all the enthusiasm and commitment I’ve seen here today.’

Members of the Amnesty International Society were extremely pleased with the positive outcome of the event and will be continuing to campaign for Syrian refugees across the UK and Bristol.

Epigram

09.03.2015

Features

@epigramfeatures

Editor: Holly Jones features@epigram.org.uk

Deputy Editor: Emily McMullin Online Editor: Laura Davidson emcmullin@epigram.org.uk

featuresonline@epigram.org.uk

Student Accommodation Special Deputy Features Editor Emily McMullin looks into the issues surrounding student accommodation and speaks to the University’s Deputy Registrar Lynn Robinson about students’ concerns What plans is the University making for additional accommodation for first year students beginning in September?

Robinson told Epigram ‘the University is in the final stages of negotiation with two developers for approximately 800 additional bed spaces in new build accommodation in the city centre. We hope that this will allow us to remove one of the least popular (in relation to price, location and facilities) city centre residences from our offering. The net increase of approximately 560 bed spaces will provide additional accommodation options for undergraduates and postgraduates from this September and will also allow us to offer University accommodation to more returning undergraduates than in recent years in response to increasing demand. In the medium term we aim to further increase the number of bed spaces provided by the University in response to growth in student numbers. We also aim to replace a significant proportion of our stock held under leases with Unite with purpose built accommodation that will include learning and social spaces as well as the usual support from wardens and senior residents’.

Will the rent for Halls of Residence increase next year?

Although bills are often included in the rent for halls of residence, and of course some meals in catered halls, university residences are becoming more and more expensive, and all too often the quality of the accommodation does not warrant the increase in price. In 2012/2013 Hiatt Baker residents were faced with a building site upon arrival, with certain blocks having it as a bedroom-view and being disturbed by the noise for the whole year. Only after a long and relentless campaign were the residents worst affected by the building work afforded some compensation, although many felt that the reduction in fees wasn’t big enough and that it wasn’t given to enough people. In light of these issues, we asked Robinson how room prices in Halls of Residence next year will compare to those in 2014/15. She told Epigram that the University ‘is consulting with UBU on individual rent levels in University residences by property but expects an average increase of 2% on current levels and to extend the letting period from 41 to 42 weeks which will add a further small percentage increase. We aim to hold the rents on a number of bed spaces at current levels and apply a higher increase on those that have been refurbished or have better facilities (en-suite, more generous learning and social spaces) so that students have a broad range of options relating to cost’.

Photo credit: University of Bristol

Student accommodation has long been a contentious issue, no more so than now with increasing living costs and rents making university an expensive affair. Many students have to rely on their parents for financial help on top of maintenance loans and have to get part-time jobs during term or work throughout the holidays to cover the costs of university. It is common knowledge that students frequently get ripped off in the private sector, often paying high rents for mediocre housing and having to deal with landlords or estate agents who are difficult to contact and unpleasant. Halls of residence are therefore a comfort for both students and their parents, providing new arrivals with good-quality, affordable accommodation. Or do they?

In September, Epigram reported on the ‘Freshers Accommodation Farce’, which saw more than 200 new students at Bristol forced to share single bedrooms after the university over-recruited first year undergraduates. Bunk beds were put in as a temporary arrangement and rents reduced accordingly, but those forced to share were understandably confused and angry about the situation. A large number of students were accepted through re-marks and insurance choices, and the University took part in clearing for more courses than in previous years. One of the University’s then policies was the guarantee that everyone who applied for accommodation before 31 August would be provided for, but it has decided to withdraw this guarantee for prospective students arriving in September 2016 that don’t choose Bristol as a firm choice through UCAS. Whilst many have criticised the rapid growth in student numbers (which, it has been claimed, has also led to a lack of study space), the University was quick to defend itself, and pointed out that removing the accommodation guarantee for insurance candidates brought it in line with other universities.

Will any University accommodation cost less than the basic student maintenance loan?

: Emily McMullin

The basic student maintenance loan is around £3700, so we also asked how many UoB students in 2014/15 found accommodation that they are able to entirely fund through this. Robinson said that ‘the University sets its rents based on the real cost of delivering our accommodation. All rental income is used to run the halls of residence - staffing, food, energy costs etc. and to contribute towards the rolling programme of refurbishment. The residences budgets are ring-fenced, i.e., the income does not subsidise other areas of the University, nor does it receive any subsidy from elsewhere. It would not be affordable for us to deliver student accommodation at a rental level equivalent to the student maintenance loan without significantly subsidising the residences from other areas of the University (e.g. from academic or other support service budgets).

We do, however, aim to be able to offer some bed spaces at a lower rental cost, set in agreement with UBU at £4300 or below. In 2014/15, 309 students had rents at or below this level, including those who accepted a shared room for the whole year. In 2015/16 we are aiming to offer 545 bed spaces at this level of which 456 will be single rooms’.

Epigram

Will accommodation prices next year increase at a rate faster than that of maintenance loans and grants? £3700 split between 41 weeks would be £90 per week, and £4300 split between 41 weeks would be £104 per week, neither of which, in my book, are overly cheap.

Whilst Robinson’s justifications for the University’s pricing of halls of residence are all well and good, it is concerning that there is such little accommodation that can be fully paid through maintenance loans, and does little in the way of disproving Bristol’s reputation as an elitist institution. And while there are ongoing refurbishments taking place in many of the university’s halls of residence, it isn’t really fair for students to be paying increased rates of rent until these refurbishments are complete and their accommodation is worth the price they’re paying. We asked Robinson if accommodation prices next year will increase at a rate faster than that of maintenance loans and grants, and if so, how does the university expect students to pay for this? She responded, ‘the % increase in accommodation fees will be slightly above the increase in the maintenance loan and grant for 2015/16. This reflects the real cost of running the halls of residence. We monitor costs against other institutions and other accommodation in the city and also try to provide a range of rental offers to suit different students. We also monitor the preferred rental bands on application for accommodation and seek to provide a significant proportion of our rooms within these bands - from approximately £4300 to £6048 for single, self catered accommodation’. Over 41 weeks, £6048 would cost £147 per week which seems pretty extortionate for a single, self-catered room; after all, this is Bristol, not London. Whilst the contracts for student accommodation in the private sector are often 52 weeks long, shorter contracts which do not include the summer months do exist, as does a wide range of housing which costs a lot less than £147 per week. It is worth pointing out that University accommodation prices include utility bills, pastoral care (wardens, senior residents, student support assistant etc) and study and social facilities. Private accommodation does not.

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9

Cheapest rooms in 2014/2015 • Total of 45 under £100 p/w in Manor Hall, Northwell House,St Michael’s Hill,Woodland Road & St Michael’s Park • A further 154 at £105 or less p/w in the properties listed above as well as Colston Street, Queens Road and The Hawthorns • 292 under £110 p/w at University Hall

What impact do you think new private developments such as St Lawrence House will have on Bristol students?

Robinson also wished to comment on the removal of the accommodation guarantee. She told Epigram that insurance candidates ‘will continue to follow the the same process as everyone else and we will have no less accommodation as a result of the change (in fact, as above, there will be more accommodation available by then)’. She also stated that ‘the change is not a response to student growth.

We will increase our bed-spaces in line with planned growth. We are changing the guarantee because of increasing volatility in student recruitment. It is much more difficult now for us to predict how many students will accept our offers and come to Bristol because student recruitment is becoming more competitive. Given this uncertainty we felt that it would be dishonest to continue a guarantee that we are not sure we will always be able to meet.

We will plan to continue to provide accommodation for insurance and clearing candidates and, if in some years we cannot do this for all, we will do everything that we can to support them in their search for other accommodation’.

Improvements the University are making • They are in year 4 of a refurbishment programme of more than £60 million to upgrade rooms and communal areas starting with those where the need is greatest • They are continuing to improve social and study spaces in the city centre residences with new social spaces at the Rackhay and Unite House opening this year • They have also employed a member of staff jointly with UBU to enhance student events and community building in the city centre and student houses, providing additional support for their JCRs which are less well established than in the older halls of residence

Emily McMullin

Another concern is the rise in luxury student accommodation, with companies such as Unite Students, who have 130 properties in 23 cities across the UK, building private accommodation at the centre of the biggest studentpopulated cities in the country, like Bristol. The Bristol Cable recently reported on the redevelopment of Nelson House, situated in one of the city’s most culturally-vibrant areas, courtesy of Unite Students, and St Lawrence House which is being developed by Prime Student Living. A single room in Nelson House will cost £125 per week and prices for a standard studio in St Lawrence House start at £165 per week. Not only is this particularly damaging to a city as diverse and local-business orientated as Bristol, it is creating a social divide between students that can afford luxury accommodation at the heart of the city and those that can’t, as well as seemingly making it more acceptable for universities and private landlords to raise their rents. Students have become a money-making machine, and the involvement of large companies such as Unite Students in student accommodation is only making more vulnerable to exploitation. We asked Robinson what impact the university thinks new private developments such as St Lawrence House will have on Bristol students.

She said that ‘a number of developers are targeting what they see as a niche market of wealthier students willing to pay a higher price for “premium” studio accommodation. The University believes this market is near saturation point and has already learnt from one developer of downward pressure on rents in this sector because of oversupply. The University offers a small number of this kind of room, which can provide an affordable option for couples’.

Epigram

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Do celebrities have a legitimate role in politics?

Gjeta Gjyshinca Features Writer

“ Stardom has gone almost hand in hand with politics ever since the first Hollywood celebrities stepped onto the red carpet

Fame is synonymous with recognition and influence, both crucial in building support for a political position, candidate or organisation.

Though Reagan is a prime example of the possibilities of a celebrity pursuing a political

politics could be considered manipulation or interference in order to influence public opinion or advance their own agendas. Criticism of celebrity involvement in politics has been directed at the undue influence celebrity support can have on voters - for example, the endorsement of Oprah Winfrey was alone responsible for an estimated one million additional votes for Obama. It could be argued that celebrity involvement in politics has a negative impact on voters - rather than researching what a party stands for and basing their decision on facts, many might allow themselves to be influenced by celebrities leading or supporting campaigns.

Nevertheless, celebrities have

“ used their wealth and influence to support philanthropic

The endorsement of Oprah Winfrey was alone responsible for an estimated one million additional votes for Obama

political causes and bring attention to important issues that transcend barriers between parties. As a result of his extensive environmental work, for example, Leonardo DiCaprio was appointed a United Nations representative on climate change in 2014, and

Photo credit: Dagoberto Rodriguez

The glittering stage of this year’s Oscars ceremony provided a platform for stars to voice politically charged remarks on everything from racial inequality, immigration and democracy, to Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative diseases, suicide and women’s rights.

The controversy over the lack of diversity began when it transpired that all 20 acting nominees were white, with host Neil Patrick Harris welcoming ‘Hollywood’s best and whitest’ in his opening speech, before joking that he’d meant to say ‘brightest’. Patricia Arquette, cheered on by Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez, called for equal rights for women in her best supporting actress speech after the Sony Pictures email hack revealed that Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams earned significantly less than their male co-stars. John Legend argued incarceration disproportionately affected black and brown communities as he accepted the award for best original song, for civil rights drama Selma.

It’s certainly not the first time celebrities have been involved in politics – stardom has gone almost hand in hand with politics ever since the first Hollywood celebrities stepped

onto a red carpet. Perhaps the most notable figure is Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, who acted in 79 films throughout his career as an actor before becoming increasingly involved in politics and rapidly moving up the political spectrum from governor of California to President in 1981. The pinnacle of Reagan’s acting career was 1942’s Kings Row,considered the best movie in his filmography.

Reagan’s endorsement of various candidates and help with fundraising, and particularly his famous ‘A Time for Choosing’ speech, resulted in more than a million dollars being raised for conservative presidential contender Barry Goldwater.

career, there are countless others who have become involved in politics. However, some politicians have argued that when celebrities run for office, their status plays a larger role in their election than what they stand for, their experience or what they plan to do. When Arnold Schwarzenegger first ran for governor of California in 2003, he won by almost 1.3 million votes - earning the nickname the ‘Governator’ - despite having never held public office before and taking part in only one debate over the course of the election.

Closer to home, Vivienne Westwood will soon be touring universities to persuade students to vote for the Green Party in the upcoming election.

Not surprisingly, Young Greens co-chair Clifford Fleming said that the party was ‘incredibly excited’ to have the fashion designer’s support – celebrity endorsement can provide huge benefits to campaigns, and will give the party an opportunity to reach out to young voters.

There is technically no reason why celebrities should not get involved in politics – like anyone else, they have the right to express their opinions, political or otherwise.

The difference between their opinions and those of all the rest of us is that they are more likely to be heard and listened to. This level of influence inevitably raises the question of whether celebrities who get involved in politics are merely exercising their right to support someone or something they believe in, or whether their presence in

Emma Watson and Angelina Jolie were both appointed as UN Goodwill Ambassadors, the former for her work on gender equality and the latter for her work fighting for the protection of refugees in Cambodia and globally.

With the general election fast approaching and students across the UK being encouraged to vote, it is important to recognise that although celebrities do have influence and can make campaigns more memorable or unique, voters should not allow themselves to be star-struck and support a cause simply because of the famous face fronting the campaign.

Binge drinking: intrinsic to student life?

Sian Jones Features Writer

“ alcohol than other students, or a preference for drinking in pubs and clubs rather than

There is a strong argument to suggest that universities are geared towards creating an environment where heavy drinking is accepted

student kitchens.

There is a strong argument to suggest that universities are geared towards creating an environment where heavy drinking is accepted.

University halls are targeted by club promoters as a new source of income every year, and even though there have been more efforts to make Freshers’ Week less alcohol orientated, ‘alternative’ events are still that – ‘alternative’ to the larger events which all involve

alcohol.

Being young means that students are unlikely to show signs of long term liver damage, but the reality is that the NHS estimates that around nine per cent of men and four per cent of women in the UK show

signs of alcohol dependence.

Whilst the physical damage that alcohol can have on the body takes longer to manifest, amongst an atmosphere that fosters excessive drinking, unhealthy relationships with alcohol can go unnoticed

in students. The University provides a weekly drop in service every Wednesday from 2.45-3.45 at Hampton House for anyone looking for help, information or support about mental health for themselves or a friend.

ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER

Drinking to excess remains an ingrained part of student culture and it is a topic which never seems very far from student life. Last year’s Neknomination craze fuelled a media storm surrounding the drinking habits of young people, and the social problems related to alcohol misuse remain an issue in modern society. Alcohol misuse costs England around £21bn per year in healthcare, crime and lost productivity cost according to Alcohol Concern. The current NHS guidance says that for women, binge drinking is classed as consuming more than six units, the equivalent of three 175ml glasses of 12 per cent wine, in one sitting. For men the level is raised to eight units or four glasses of wine.

However, recent studies suggest that binge drinking has been falling amongst all

UK adults from 18 per cent in 2005 to 15 per cent in 2013, with the most significant drop in consumption occurring amongst young people. Not only are fewer young people drinking, but those who do drink are also choosing to drink less. Alcohol-related deaths are also at their lowest point since 2000. Whether or not a decline in drinking amongst young people as a whole is reflected in the student population specifically is unclear.

Indeed, a decline in binge drinking amongst young people generally does not necessarily mean this is reflected amongst Bristol students; the 2014 Natwest student living index found that out of the UK’s 25 most popular student cities, students living in Bristol were found to have spent the most money on alcohol. No matter how wellto-do Bristol students seem to be (or actually are), it seems unlikely that this spending can be entirely explained by a city-wide taste for better quality

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The corporate nature of Careers Fairs

Margot Tudor reports on the Careers Beyond Profit Fair

“ Banks in particular understand the benefits of ‘grooming’ students throughout their degrees before employing them once they graduate

But Stuart Johnson, Director of the Careers Service, told Epigram, ‘The fact that bigger companies have the resources to invest in promoting their opportunities often means that the opportunities from, for example, NGOs can get a bit drowned out. But there are opportunities and support available and the Careers Service is eager to help students find them.’

Bristol Hub is a charity which focuses on giving students opportunities and training within the non-profit sector.

Their website is brimming with information about sustainable business, third

options that exist within the sector. Owen Baldwin, a second year Historian who is intending on converting to Law remarked, ‘It provided a good snapshot of alternative career paths and internship opportunities that you would not normally think about’.

A panel with eight representatives from a selection of organisations took place at the end of the evening, allowing those who were interested to ask specific questions to the companies. Typically, most people in the room were keen to get the insider on the recruitment process for many of these organisations.

It was clearly emphasised by several of the representatives that competition is stiff when

applying for jobs in the third sector.

Creator of AltGen, Rhiannon, decided to set up a nonprofit organisation that helps young people create their own cooperative businesses after she became tired of unsuccessfully applying for unpaid internships despite her impressive CV. She emphasised to Epigram that, ‘It isn’t you; it’s the economy’. Katie Pickering,

It was emphasized by several representatives that competition is stiff when applying for third sector jobs

a second year, commented, ‘The panel was especially useful in giving tips for interviews and I came away with a better understanding of how the third sector works!’.

With the extreme popularity of the event, it would be a wise choice for the University to consider either putting on more events showcasing the opportunities available in the third sector, or supplying more resources and information for those who are interested but clueless about where to start researching. It may not be the most financially profitable choice for the University, but with the third sector growing in influence every day, it would be reproachful to fall behind.

Photo credit: Gyver Chang

It is a well-worn argument that universities tend to prioritise the promotion of business-oriented careers fairs over other career paths, especially those in the charity and voluntary sector. Questions have been raised over whether this is because the University genuinely thinks a sizable percentage of its graduates will pick a corporate career, or simply because these companies have the spare £800 for a table at the careers fair.

Banks in particular understand the benefits of ‘grooming’ students throughout their degrees before employing them once they graduate, so as to ensure they gain a new cohort of dedicated employees every year. For those students interested in pursuing a career in the banking sector, this is an incredible chance to get a foot in the door - but there are few similar schemes for noncorporate minded students.

Many students – particularly in Arts and Social Science subjects – have been struggling to find a careers fair that gives them a true understanding of what’s available for them after university. Several students Epigram spoke to commented that the Careers Service at Bristol has been little more than a CV spell-checker, as they can

sector opportunities and even their own internship scheme.

They run several independent careers fairs throughout the year, such as the highly successful Careers Beyond Profit. With representatives attending from all over the country with specialised knowledge and leaflets to match, it was the opportunity a large number of students had been waiting for.

However, some students felt like it was overly focussed on Arts and Social Sciences students. Joe Pickin, a second year Maths student, told Epigram, ‘As a sciences student, it felt like they didn’t want anyone to analyse statistics or anything like that. It seemed like all they wanted was for people to fundraise or promote events’. On the other hand, this was an event created as an alternative careers fair so it is understandable that many of the stalls focused on marketing and fundraising aspects rather than the economics behind their organisation.

The stalls section of the event gave students half an hour to be schmoozed by a diverse array of organisations such as Survive, a charity dedicated to helping women who have suffered from domestic violence, and Places for People, a for-profit company that pushes a sizable portion of its profit back into communities around the UK. Just a glance around the room gave a real understanding of the vast

“

Margot Tudor Features Writer

only give specialist knowledge to certain kinds of careers. One third year English student said that she was finding it hard to understand the third sector and what opportunities are available: ‘The Careers Service were really useful for reading over my CV, but without a fair specifically aimed towards nonprofit careers, it’s impossible to make a solid decision which just makes it all the more stressful’.

Stokes Croft says No to gentrification Becky Morton Features Writer

“ Stokes Croft has a strong history of community action against corporate development

gentrification as they moved into the neighbourhood, attracted by the cheap rents in comparison to areas like Clifton and Redland and the vibrant anti-mainstream culture.

This has forced house prices up further, with landlords exploiting the lucrative student market, creating a segregated city demonstrated by the sterile Cabot Circus, just a stone’s throw away from the deprived

St Pauls.

The proposed development of the Carriageworks site by Fifth Capital, for many local residents, exemplifies this threat. The Carriageworks is a Grade II* listed building situated in Stokes Croft which has been empty for over 25 years. In September 2011, the Carriageworks Action Group (CAG) was founded by local residents, organisations and businesses to develop a community vision for the future of the site, and in December of the same year, with the support of the City Council and local residents, the group published this vision.

Their research found that 51 per cent of respondents believed a community organisation with the right skills should lead the redevelopment of the site and a mixed development of housing, community space and shops was clearly favoured.

Local polls found 97 per cent of local residents supported the overall vision of mixed-

use development which would make a positive contribution to the economy, culture and environment of Stokes Croft.

After the Council used its compulsory purchase powers to bring about the redevelopment of the site, the council named Knightstone as its preferred developer. This was largely in keeping with CAG’s vision, as the company is a southwest based not-for profit provider of affordable homes.

Last November, however, Fifth Capital London submitted a planning proposal for the redevelopment of the site. The plan proposed 118 residential units and 5 commercial units, but the CAG have criticised the proposal for providing insufficient affordable housing and community space. Only 7 per cent of the site has been designated for affordable housing, whilst the local requirement is 30 per cent. Crucially there is a key difference between ‘affordable’ housing and social housing,

Photo credit: Object...

A meeting held on 24 February saw a Stokes Croft church packed out with local residents, young and old, united in their opposition to the corporate gentrification of their area – particularly the Carriageworks development.

Stokes Croft has a strong history of community action against corporate development, exemplified by the 2011 riots in response to the opening of a Tesco store, which a reported 93 per cent of local residents objected to. Groups such as the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, founded in 2009, attempt to defend the city from the threat of gentrification which has already engulfed the likes of Shoreditch in London. Over the last decade, Stokes Croft has developed from what many considered an unattractive and dangerous area to a place of cultural vibrancy and innovation, enabled by the

development of a strong graffiti and music culture. This has increased the value of the area, resulting in soaring rents which out-price the very residents who made the neighbourhood what it is today.

Students have also contributed to this

which does not feature in the proposal. ‘Affordable’ housing is not actually affordable to many, priced at 80 per cent of the local market rent, whilst social housing is set at 50 per cent.

The recent meeting held by local residents reflects the strong stance they are prepared to take against corporate gentrification. The success of the E15 Mothers in Newham, East London, who occupied empty flats in protest against being forced out of their council homes in the wake of funding

cuts, also gives renewed hope to those who are committed to securing affordable housing.

The campaign, however, benefitted greatly from the support of Russell Brand, who provided much needed national publicity, a luxury the people of Stokes Croft lack.

One wonders how long locals can stand up against the big business tycoons but with their politically active and passionate community, the residents of Stokes Croft surely stand as good a chance as any.

Epigram

12

09.03.2015

Baby we’re stuck with each other Emily Faint looks at student engagements and marriage Emily Faint Features Writer

Francisco Osorio

For the majority of students today, ‘marriage’ and ‘student life’ are not two terms you are likely to associate with each other. According to the Office for National Statistics, the percentage of brides aged 25 or under fell from 76 per cent in the late 1960s to a mere 14 per cent in 2012, with figures only falling further in 2015. Despite the environment of modern British universities seeming as resistant to undergraduate marriage as these figures suggest, Epigram readers may be surprised to know that there are still student couples out there planning to tie the knot.

Richard, a second year student at the University of Hertfordshire, has been engaged to his fiancé, Robert, since December 2014. Aged 20, he moved out of his family home to live with his partner, who works as a chef, and now faces a three-hour roundtrip commute to university from their new residence in Croydon. Although they plan to have ‘a long engagement’, how has this affected his student life?

Aside from being a member of his university’s LGBT+ society, Richard said, ‘I mainly just spend time in the library’. With his formidable commute and obligations to his fiancée, he occasionally struggles to fit his workload within the hours of his regular working day whilst also making time to see his friends. Indeed, the relatively sparse amount of information out there for UK students on how to live successfully as a married couple suggests that it is a rare lifestyle in modern Britain. However, sites such as universitysurvival.com discuss the potential obstacles faced by those who do choose to marry whilst at university,

from administrative complications of changing your surname in university records, to cases of jealousy and making enough time for each other.

Of course, in Richard’s case, coming home to spend time with a doting professional chef is far from a chore.

Imogen Thomas, a first year English student and her fiancé Harry, a first year Music student, both at the University of Bristol, got engaged in March last year. Harry went to the University of Edinburgh but quickly realised he would be miserable there, so they both took a gap year. Imogen told Epigram, ‘We’re unlikely to get married until after uni, but it was important that

our family and friends could see how serious we are about each other’. She also said that ‘It has definitely affected student life. We live together in private accommodation and are so happy and harmonious. Harry meets a lot of people on my course and I meet people on his, so that’s been great. It was a lot harder to get settled, though.

The uni doesn’t offer accommodation for couples our age, and they didn’t give us much advice when we started here’.

It is a commonly held view that religious beliefs and more ‘traditional’ cultures lead to people marrying at a younger age, however this does not

necessarily correlate. Although the number of young people professing to have ‘No Religion’ in the last national census increased, almost three quarters of the population identified with a religious denomination despite the marriage age continuing to grow older overall. As such, early marriage cannot be attributed solely to religious influence. Students who profess no strong religious affiliation such as Richard may choose to commit themselves, yet students from traditional backgrounds may not.

Saeesha Gulabivala, an Economics student at Warwick, told Epigram, ‘My religion wouldn’t affect my decision

to get married at whatever age. Early marriage used to be common in Indian culture, however nowadays most Indians are actually getting married in their 20s-30s – this is a relatively new thing’.

Marriage may be an ancient institution but attitudes towards it are constantly changing regardless of religious background and, despite couples like Richard and Rob and Imogen and Harry, society continues to move away from young marriage for the foreseeable future.

Lent: just another attempt at failed New Year’s Resolutions?

Amy Stewart Features Writer

“

It’s reasonable to think that the shorter time frame of Lent is much more achievable and rewarding than a whole year or an indefinite period of time

better alternative?

From my experience, New Year’s resolutions never work and I end up returning to my old ways, so wAlso, for lots of people I have discussed this with, the reward of eating your weight in chocolate at Easter after depriving yourself for forty days is much more appealing than what may seem like a permanent life change. But is it a

pointless exercise if you are just going to return to your old habits as soon as Lent is over, and would this make you a better person or not? It seems futile to give something up and then not push yourself to continue with it.

However, some people I have spoken to believe the opposite. They feel that it isn’t futile as it gives you the satisfaction of actually completing and fulfilling a goal you have set out for yourself and you get rewarded at the end – perfect!

This could also give people the boost they need to push themselves further; they’ve worked out that they can resist the temptation so maybe they can go a little longer without whatever they have given up.

The modern views of Lent have moved away from its religious roots, but is this necessarily a bad thing?

If it is provoking people to make changes in their lives that would make them happier and feel proud and accomplished, as well as capable

of continuing these changes then it is surely a good thing. I have been told that for some people, after forty days of living without chocolate or biscuits their cravings for them decreased significantly which helped to continue once Lent was over.

Although this is all well and good, it can be said that if you want to make a change in your life and routine you

shouldn’t need a trigger to do it and you can make changes at any point, not because it is customary to make a New Year’s resolution or give up something for lent. However, some people need an incentive and that can produce a significant change, whether that’s simply feeling accomplished or to making a positive difference to your life.

Antonio Trogu

Traditionally, Lent has been a Christian practice that occurs during the weeks between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday; it is a period to remember the forty days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before his servitude to God. It is believed that during this time he was tempted by Satan but refused. Therefore, Christians aim to commemorate this by not giving in to their temptations, such as meat or chocolate, for forty days.

Over time, this tradition has become more popular and many people, religious or not, are treating this period in the same way as New Year’s resolutions and giving something up; from the people I’ve spoken to this ranges from cutting out certain foods, having a healthier lifestyle and even abolishing anger! But are people just using this as a second chance to

accomplish their failed New Year’s resolutions, or is Lent genuinely a

09.03.2015

Letters

letters@epigram.org.uk

50 Grumps of Grey

Wills Memorial gone green?

On Friday 24 January, Bristol celebrated its position as European Green Capital for 2015. The University took part in this celebration by lighting the outside of the Wills Memorial and of the Victoria Rooms in green. It was a striking way of celebrating the city’s achievement and of promoting the green cause. But apparently not enough: the University announced on its Facebook page that Wills Memorial is to be lit in green every evening for the rest of 2015.

I’d like to put the University’s use of its spotlights in the spotlight because that seems to be overdoing it a bit.

While it may have been a good idea for the University to light two of its best-known buildings in green on the day, this was, as the University says on its Facebook page, ‘especially for the occasion’. With the occasion now long since passed, keeping the lighting seems inappropriate.

“ I’d like to put the University’s use of its spotlights in the spotlight

It must also be said that the Green Wills is a strange sight indeed. When darkness falls, the green lighting gives the building a spooky look. It’s as if it were auditioning to star in a haunted

Editor: Olivia Petter

@EpigramLetters

house show, but one for towers. While we might know that it is to celebrate Bristol’s green status, that doesn’t stop it from looking distinctly odd.

If you have friends visiting Bristol for the first time I wonder what they’ll make of Wills when they see it at night.

They’ll probably wonder what on earth it’s meant to signify. I imagine their train of thought going something like this: ‘What is that green thing on top of the hill? Are extraterrestrials involved?

Have they parked their spacecraft where it was convenient? Will they get a ticket from the traffic warden?’ Or perhaps we have different friends…

Lastly, it seems to me that they’ve reversed how things ought to be. Instead of the light being there to proudly display the building, the building is now there to proudly reflect the light.

When people look at the building they will no longer be as concerned with it as with the unusual, green light. The light isn’t there to reveal so much as to draw attention to itself. I’m more than happy for the University to raise awareness of the green cause, but not at the cost of turning the main University building into a device to remind people that our city is a ‘green capital’. And, on reflection, if the concern is with the environment, might it not be better to turn off the lights altogether for the rest of the year?

“

You’re probably all bored of hearing about That Awful Film (hereafter referred to as ‘TAF’) and subsequent bad puns on its name, so I’m going to give you a reprise from all of that and instead beseech you to rethink the misplaced view you have of the naughty book/film/Ann Summers franchise and see it for what it really is.

If you’re in any doubt that the relationship portrayed in both the film and ‘novel’ series (which, unlike Andrew Bennett, I have both seen and read - and no, I paid for neither) is abusive, look no further than Christian’s concession to virginal little Anastasia that he would do ‘hearts and flowers’ with her once a week, should she sign the contract allowing him to ‘explore her limits’ with her through an interesting assortment of buttplugs, peacock feathers and other BDSM paraphernalia. This means he knows she is curious, but not overly keen, on kink, and so is willing to sweeten the deal with cinema dates and romance - something we come to find out that doesn’t come all that naturally to him. Why is he so obsessed with her, someone who is ostensibly reluctant to cede to his demands?

Anyone who’s read even the tiniest bit on BDSM knows the submissive (‘sub’) has the real control of the relationship.

The sub dictates what they like having done to or with them, they enjoy relinquishing responsibility, and most of all they trust their ‘dom’. They are not supposed to be cajoled into something they aren’t comfortable with and then punished for minor transgressions

“

Epigram

to the extent that they feel the need to get away to Georgia - only to find their dom has tracked them down to the café they’re eating in to introduce himself to their mother. While it’s not necessarily true that BDSM dynamics are something that are kept to the bedroom, this is stalking. He even says he is ‘incapable of leaving her alone’.

At the beginning of the film Christian finds her intoxicated in a bar - how? Did he track her flip phone (what is this, 2004?)? Creep.

I bet Sam Taylor-Wood is really punishing herself after making this film - or she’s letting Aaron Johnson do it for her

The sheer volume of women who have gone to see this film is testament to the fact that yes, women have sexual desires, yes, they have fantasies revolving around their pleasure, and most importantly, they want media which shows this. The fact that porn actor James Deen is hailed as a ‘new breed’ in the porn industry for actively enjoying giving women pleasure onscreen is testament to that fact that mainstream porn doesn’t give women what they want.

Listen, TAF is not the only medium to promote abusive relationships - every Lana Del Rey video glamourises a pouty woman fawning over her strangely

paternal well-built man, and certain online memes promote the idea of a ‘chill girlfriend’ who is happy to do whatever her boyfriend asks lest she be called a shrill harpy - but it’s grossed a metric ton of money at the box office.

Yeah, it’s an 18, and its audience is not necessarily young, but that won’t stop young women internalising the idea that having a dude micro-manage your life is a turn-on and that they should be flattered he’s paying them any interest at all. This is reinforced in so many facets of modern life already, and I’m afraid that all TAF serves to do is provide a confirmation (albeit in a very flagrant manner) that this is acceptable. The BDSM community is not a sex-positive, totally consensual area which anyone can skip happily into and expect to have the best orgasms ever and leave: to pretend that there aren’t sadists, psychopaths and abusers out there is to be wilfully naïve.

As a final note from your pennypinching Epigrump, I’d advise you that buying expensive gizmos and £20 whips from Ann Summers is not going to make your sex life that exciting if you’re not already interested in the dynamics of power and pleasure during the deed.

You’d already be spanking with hands or a hairbrush...save your money and don’t buy anything if you think it will be buried at the back of the wardrobe after a couple of uses. I bet Sam Taylor-Wood is really punishing herself after making this film - or she’s letting Aaron Johnson do it for her.

Anonymous

Tweets of the fortnight: @constancemirt

‘11pm. Walking down the triangle, without a drop of alcohol in my blood, and judging. Massively. @UoBProblems’

@mollykilbey_

‘Wish I didn’t go to such a posh uni, I have to pretend I hate eastenders #guiltypleasure #eastendersanonymous #uobproblems’

@tweers_of_toby

‘Comfort eating mango sorbet. What has uni come to?’ #UoBproblems’

Oliver Neale

Are we more inspiring than celebrities?

I don’t see celebs and fashion models taking gap years and coming back looking like Janis Joplin hit with a glitter bomb

it). Not just normal jeans, but denim jackets, dungarees, boyfriend jeans, you name it and it’s in. Yep, seen plenty of that. It also appears that ‘glitter is back’, as various women’s magazines like Glamour appear to claim. I’ve also seen (and own) plenty of that. Buying a Lakota ticket might as well have the words ‘glitter compulsory’ stamped on it.

I was in Badock Hall. I don’t really need to elaborate much on that. People came still fresh from their gap ‘yahs’ with hair braids still looking relatively

clean, jingly ankle bracelets which (I’m sure) were so meaningful that they didn’t have the courage to take them off just yet. Fine, I’d probably be the same. I was happy to sit there and talk about people’s elephant experiences in Thailand, the hamsa necklaces round their neck and the sun tattoos on the top of their back.

I don’t see celebs and fashion models taking gap years and coming back looking like Janis Joplin hit with a glitter bomb. Yet the hippie/Thailand look lives on and has managed to convert a large amount of students from Armani to Primarni and from Topshop to thrift shop. Those who didn’t already possess this ’90s-themed and/or hippy mashup style seemed to be thoroughly convinced this is how they should dress from then on. Chokers, polo necks, tartan and high-waisted boyfriend jeans are all back. Not to mention those suspiciously patterned men’s shirts or cartoon crazy colours originally inspired

“

I flick through plenty of girly mags and scour the net for details of fashion weeks across the globe; consequently I come to learn of some pretty confusing trends. Let me explain.

I learn that a boiler suit is being promoted to be an ‘essential 2015 buy’ (yes, really), and brightly coloured patterned summer dresses are ‘in’ for this year. Flared jeans are also looking popular, apparently, along with funky coloured leather outfits. Some red leather ‘trackies’ have been modelled on the catwalk.

I’m not sure about you, but I didn’t see too many pink flowery dresses last spring while walking around the Stoke Bishop halls, and perhaps I’m not looking hard enough but skinny (in both men and women) seems to conquer flared by far.

The media seems to match Bristol students in some ways. Apparently denim is in (in my opinion denim was never really ‘out’, but we’ll go with

by ’90s ‘Fresh Prince Effect’.

The students of Bristol are not unique in their trends, sure. And not every student chooses to fashion this ‘trippy hippy’ look. Some have stuck to Jack Wills, others only get funky on nights out to Stokes Croft, or when it’s relevant to a theme of a club night or house party. But I think everyone has some idea of what I’m talking about.

And whether you want to dig deeper into the reasons behind these trends or not, it doesn’t really matter if Bristol student fashion is influenced by gap

We seem far more inspired by each other

year students, or quirky vegan cafes and health shops, or by the infamous psychedelic drug culture of Bristol’s past, by the prominence of vintage markets, the creative street art vibes or Bristol’s famous DJ and music scene.

Perhaps all these things lead to the students dressing how they do rather than adopting high fashion straight from Milan and New York.

Regardless of the reason, it would seem that we couldn’t care less whether Uma Thurman didn’t wear much makeup on the red carpet, or that Ellie Goulding wore an electric blue coat to a date with her boyfriend, or even that red leather trackies are apparently ‘in’.

We seem far more inspired by each other, and whether you think crochet tops, clashing patterns and chokers are ridiculous or not, you can’t deny that fact is pretty awesome. Am I wrong?

Helena Elliott

Anson Rooms

UBU STAND UP PRESENTS:

COMEDY CENTRAL LIVE Shappi Khorsandi and Rob Beckett

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Presented by

Rachel Tung

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Epigram 09.03.2015

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Cake Film & TV Writer Ella Kemp argues that whilst Rachel-from-Friends can do dramatic acting, she should save it for superior films Another year, another awards season officially behind us. Any film coming out during the aftermath of all the glitz and glamour of the Academy and its contemporaries really does have to bring out all the stops to stand out. Let’s have a little look at how Cake did.

Many were slightly surprised that Jennifer Aniston didn’t get an invitation to the popular girls’ Best Actress birthday bash for her transformative role in her latest film. Cake’s protagonist Claire is a bitter 30-something suffering from chronic pain following a tragic car accident which killed her young son. She finds a new purpose to her life after a member of her support group commits suicide. Thus begins Claire’s journey to seek out the woman’s widower while still dealing with her own pain constantly.

It has become quite fashionable for comedic actors to all of a sudden surprise everyone with a deep career-defining role, especially in the last couple of months.

Steve Carrell in Foxcatcher springs to mind but we can also mention Eddie Redmayne, Ben Affleck and even Miles Teller in Whiplash (most definitely completely underrated and under-rewarded.) All of these actors have proven themselves worthy and capable of much more than just cracking a few jokes and looking pretty.

Aniston is indeed very impressive in Cake. With her multiple facial scars and

“

not an enjoyable cinematic experience in any way shape or form

Unfortunately, that seems to be the only positive aspect of the film. By no means am I undermining the bold task that the actress with a permanent Friends label on her forehead has undertaken, but the fact is that the whole film centers on this Jennifer Aniston microcosm. Around it, the story is rather stiff. The topic of the film is undoubtedly intense and by no means a laughing matter, but does not actually make for an enjoyable cinematic experience in any way shape or form. Characters that could potentially have been exploited remain rather superficial, and the various sub-plot trajectories seem to all fall flat mid-flight, leaving an overall dissatisfaction and sense of nothingness once the credits fade in.

I could go on, exemplifying what makes Cake such a slightly tedious film... but that would make this review just as boring. Hats off to Aniston who has proven that she does still have many great things to show the world. In terms of the film itself… let’s just leave it in the 2014 annals and stick to Netflix.

Friends is never too far away, thankfully.

1990s sitcom Queen Jennifer Aniston - arguably best known for her lead role in in the 1990 Ferris Bueller spin-off TV series that apparently existed.

Catch Me Daddy Film & TV Writer Anna Smith on why this West Yorkshire-set thriller’s richness justifies its bleakness

image.net/BFI

The latest government campaign to curb second hand smoking.

Flickr/Chris Elt

image.net/Kevin Mazur

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Aniston is indeed very impressive in Cake - unrecognizable and intense

also a seemingly tattooed-on expression of bitterness and pain, she is unrecognizable and gives an extremely intense and harrowing performance. She manages to embody nostalgia and resentment very compellingly, and is indeed quite credible as being eternally in pain.

With depictions of well-heeled Oxbridge high-achievers dominating this year’s awards season, one may be forgiven for wondering what stories the British film industry has to tell about the large proportion of the country not ensconced in ivory towers.

Catch Me Daddy is one such tale, a tense thriller following Laila (Sameena Jabeen Ahmed) and Aaron (Connor McCarron), a teenage couple on the run from Laila’s troubled family against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors.

The film begins with the Ted Hughes poem ‘Heptonstall Old Church’, the last line of which (‘the moorlands broke loose’) is the perfect prelude to what quickly escalates into a relentless account of pursuit and desperation. Ironically enough, the landscape (beautifully captured by cinematographer Robbie Ryan) appears to be the only thing on Laila and Aaron’s side, providing shadows in which to hide and convenient, thug-tripping divots.

The thugs in question are Leila’s brother Zaheer (Ali Ahmed), uncle and cousins who, accompanied by two white mercenaries, have been dispatched by Laila’s father Tariq (Wasim Zahir) to bring her home against her will. Given this setup, one concern with Catch Me Daddy was whether it would be able to address the theme of misogyny at its centre without playing into increasingly prevalent (and overwhelmingly unfounded) negative stereotypes of the British-Pakistani community. It is largely successful; Zaheer and co. never spout ideology, and Laila’s predicament is portrayed as much a boiling over of long-simmering familial tensions

as a product of cultural prerogative.

However, while the filmmakers have clearly attempted to address the issues at hand with subtlety and veracity (several women’s crisis organisations are thanked in the closing credits), the fact remains that in the wider context of films in general, all too often British Asians are bound to the rote clichés of overbearing families and religious fanaticism, something that Catch Me Daddy does not manage entirely to circumvent.

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Wolfe’s direction blends perfectly with Ryan’s cinematography to create a feeling of immersion However, despite these reservations the film remains a fascinating piece. Daniel Wolfe’s naturalistic direction blends perfectly with Ryan’s cinematography, creating a feeling of immersion which ratchets up the tension on every exchange.

The camera pausing to linger on an extreme close-up of a spinning car tyre or nail polish oozing from an upset bottle creates a sense

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Epigram 09.03.2015

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of unstoppable and jarring progression, which is enhanced by occasional wide-angle tableaux that announce impending

the filmmakers have clearly attempted to address the issues at hand with subtlety and veracity collisions of pursuers and quarry. Captured in this manner, the inevitable explosions of

violence are shocking, but the film clearly doesn’t revel in its more grisly aspects.

Indeed, the camera itself occasionally appears to be flinching away during the more graphic moments, increasing their impact without the need for gratuitous splatter. Equally powerful is newcomer Sameena Jabeen Ahmed, a striking screen presence who delivers an assured central performance which more than stands up to the camera’s close scrutiny. She perfectly captures the disintegration of Leila’s teenage bravado under the pressure of the horrors she faces over the course of the film, when the real world comes knocking and every decision carries mortal weight.

While many may find Catch Me Daddy’s unrelenting bleakness hard work, those seeking stories from a Britain about as far removed from Downton as it’s possible to be will find rich rewards in this hard-bitten but compelling drama.

flickr/ FashionTrends andTips

relish Flickr/screen The latest in

our ongoing series of pictures of actors Film & TV Deputy Editor Hannah fancies.

The 87th Academy Awards

Flickr/canburak

Film & TV Editor Matthew Floyd argues that the 2015 Oscars amounted to little more than an exercise in self-congratulation In Hollywood’s famous Dolby Theatre on the evening of Sunday 22 February, the 87th Academy Awards were distributed according to votes cast by its more than 6000 members. However, although claims can be made that its democratic nature legitimises its outcomes, that doesn’t mean we should like them – and I for one have a few bones to pick.

The ceremony began encouragingly with former child/regular Broadway star Neil Patrick Harris earning some early credibility as host, with the line ‘tonight we honour Hollywood’s best and whitest – sorry, brightest’ in reference to the uproar Selma’s awards-neglect has provoked about the Academy’s perceived racism. NPH is a man so consistently enthusiastic, positive and talented that it’s rather difficult to dislike him, and it took him only seconds to launch into the opening musical number that everyone presumed he would do inviting comparisons with 2009’s celebrated host Hugh Jackman, who did the same with aplomb. Despite being a solidly amusing and well-performed number featuring Anna Kendrick and Jack Black, it had the overall sense of being a tuneful apology for the never-more-obviously profit-driven interests of Hollywood. I mean come on, how much was he paid to reference Transformers noncritically at the most prestigious awards event in the industry?

Similarly with mixed success, the Original Song nominees were each performed live, staggered throughout the ceremony.

Frankly I was happier not knowing Maroon 5 still existed, an illusion cruelly shattered when Adam Levine and co. took to the stage to play their completely unmemorable track from the correspondingly unmemorable film Begin Again. Nevertheless, two musical moments genuinely did stand out for the right reasons. First was ‘Everything Is Awesome’ from the fantastically fun The Lego Movie, performed by Tegan and Sara with The Lonely Island and a glorious appearance from Will Arnett as Lego Batman, who wielded a sense of darkness and an electric guitar. Later came ‘Glory’ performed by John Legend and Common from the Dr King drama Selma, which was met by tears from David Oyelowo and - more unexpectedly - a very bronze Chris Pine, followed by a full standing ovation from the

audience.

Unfortunately the significance of ‘Glory’ as a civil rights message was lost somewhat under the throng of causes which piled up over the evening. Cumulatively it seemed that when each new award was announced, it was immediately and passionately dedicated to another respectable issue.

‘Glory’ and racial equality, Citizenfour (Best Documentary) and whistleblowers, Patricia Arquette (Best Supporting Actress) and equal pay for women, Eddie Redmayne (Best Actor) and ALS, Julianne Moore (Best Actress) and Alzheimer’s disease – all noble and deserving attention, though each overshadowed by the next. All of which contributed to a sense of the Academy patting itself on the back even more than usual, not only for being aware of such concerns but also collectively dedicating a good deal of time at its biggest annual event to them.

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the sense of selfsatisfaction was solidified with the standout injustices of the evening...

This sense of self-satisfaction was solidified with what I would argue were the standout injustices of the 2015 Oscars – Birdman winning both Best Picture and Best Director instead of Boyhood. I’d hoped it wouldn’t be so, as whilst Birdman is an entertaining, frenetic and flashily-directed success, the real triumph of the last cinematic year was undoubtedly Boyhood, whose power came from its dedication, modesty and above all humanity. Sadly though I suspect that Birdman and its director Alejandro González Iñárritu swung the Academy voters on the basis of its dealing with the strengths and struggles of movies and actors, as opposed to the, perhaps less relatable to them, 12 year study of the universality of the human experience. But hell, it wouldn’t be the Oscars if we agreed with them.

Editors’ Picks

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

Hannah Deputy Editor

Manvir Online Editor

Chappie In Cinemas Now

White Bird in a Blizzard In Cinemas Now

Focus In Cinemas Now

District 9-director Neill Blomkamp maintains his sci-fi vibes in this action thriller about a police droid that gains sentience. Let’s ignore Robocop, I, Robot and Ex Machina and focus on the presence of Hugh Jackman co-starring as a villain with a mullet.

The star of The Fault in Our Stars plays a girl who at 17 came home to find her mother had disappeared. The film dances between the current day and flashbacks to unravel the mystery of what happened to her mother.

Expect a glamorous 104 minutes, as Will Smith and Margot Robbie team up in this slick film about two con artists who become romantically involved with each other. While Robbie is hitting her peak after Wolf of Wall Street, I hope Smith can make up for waste of time that was After Earth.

Raised By Wolves Coming soon to Channel 4

image.net/BFI

Having read basically everything feminist columnist and author Caitlin Moran has put out, I’m definitely looking forward to this autobiographical comedy series about growing up poor and fat in Wolverhampton.

Poldark Sundays 9pm BBC1 Poldark is the BBC’s new series based on the novels by Winston Graham; it was originally broadcasted in the 1970s. You can’t go wrong with a period drama, and the original was one of the most popular adaptations in television history. So let’s hope the remake lives up to its predecessor.

Stella Fridays 9pm Sky1 It is so rare for a new comedy to be a runaway success but Catastrophe has pulled it off. It follows Sharon Morris and Rob Norris who get together after Sharon falls pregnant after their brief fling. Their chemistry and a sharp script will have you laughing out loud.

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Tour Interview Entertain: an interview with Public Service Broadcasting

flickr: villunderlondon

Ahead of their album launch at Rise, Epigram met up with Public Service Broadcasting to talk about the new album, excessive touring and an inevitable bossa nova follow-up...

It’s album launch day. A day of celebration, and to look back contently over the two years of effort put in to reach this point.

Instead, Public Service Broadcasting have driven the 300 miles from Newcastle to Bristol, before spending 30 minutes driving around The Triangle in the drizzly south-western rain looking for a car parking space. This is a band that hasn’t let the success of their first LP overwhelm them.

The London duo has garnered a reputation for relentless touring from the offset, and this looks set to continue in the new release cycle. When they finally arrive at Rise Records we’re ushered into the back room with a photocopier blaring out. Small talk is kept to a minimum - they seem anxious to get this interview started and out of the way. ‘Do you want me to bring seats?’ asks their tour manager. ‘No, we’re fine standing’, is the reply from J. Wilgoose Esq (a pseudonym, as the duo refrain from using real names on their website, social media and output).

I start by asking them about the slogan used excessively in the band’s advertising, ‘teaching the lessons of the past through the music of the future.’ However, Wilgoose is quick to put this into context. ‘I don’t think it’s remotely true but it’s like the first album - very tongue in cheek. We don’t want to teach people a history lesson. It’s there foremost for entertainment.’

‘Which is enough of a struggle,’ jokes drummer Wrigglesworth.

Despite this, the new record is still firmly rooted in historical fact. ‘In 2012 I started reading a few books, watching documentaries.

Getting a feel for certain events or stories that would be interesting to cover and match that up

with either ideas that already existed musically, or what would work with a song like that.’

It’s amazing the level of detail and time that goes into a PSB record which is all the more impressive when you look at their touring track record. ‘It was about 2 and a half years. I knew I wanted to do it from May 2012 and started to research it in January 2013. We were doing a lot of touring so were fitting it all in between playing live.’ It’s this detail that was lauded on 2012’s Inform – Educate – Entertain but, despite the critical acclaim and growing fan base, Wilgoose didn’t feel the pressure when recording their sophomore record. ‘The only pressure is what you put on yourself. We don’t take ourselves too seriously but we do take what we do seriously (if that makes sense). We wanted it to be as good as it can be. It got quite frantic towards finishing it at the end in October.’ Wrigglesworth has another quip: ‘That was the most unshaven I’ve ever seen you in your garage after a month.’

The lead single from the new LP, ‘Gagarin’, took a lot of people by surprise with its strong funk influence and brass section. ‘In the sound checks we often mess around with funk and disco and he [Willgoose] won’t let me a write a disco song. It comes from the same place as all of our stuff really - just liking a particular genre and just writing a song of a particular style. We just wanted to surprise people and show them a few more strings in our bow.’

I ask tentatively if this was a response to some people branding the debut as a gimmick and if what they do has a shelf life. ‘It’s never going to be our place to judge,’ replies Wilgoose. ‘It’s there for the people who listen and do or don’t buy the record. Maybe in five years everyone will look back on this as a terrible mistake.’

‘I’m already starting to feel that way. Perhaps we could do a bossa nova album,’ was the customary witty remark from the drummer.

The band kicked off their tour in support of The Race for Space with an arena tour opening for Kaiser Chiefs. ‘It went better than I thought it would go. We’ve played on some big stages before.

The good thing about it is that it can scale up and down well so it can work in a room like this tonight (the in-store gig at Rise) because these are the kind of rooms we played for two or three years. You’ve got a bit of scope production-wise to get the big screens in because the visuals are such a big part of it.’

When they play live the duo performs in front of projected images of the films sampled from. It adds an interesting dynamic to the show and Wilgoose seems keen to expand on this in the future when questioned on bringing in additional musicians. ‘The brass section is probably the biggest and most important as that’s on two of our biggest songs really, ‘Gagarin’ and ‘Everest’. It adds quite a lot to the show. You can’t do it everywhere though, so we’ll do it where we can really.’

As our allotted time draws to a close the band shows how they garnered their reputation for constant touring with a rundown of their plans for the next few months. ‘Leicester space shows this week, which should be good fun. Next week we go to Australia and New Zealand to do WOMAD, then onto America for a month before coming back to do our UK tour and after that we’re in Europe for about 5 weeks. Pretty busy, pretty full on and then it’s the summer and festivals.’

There was just time for one last joke from Wrigglesworth. ‘And by then we might actually be able to play it all.’

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Interview: Hudson Taylor Caitlin Butler chats to the buskers turned pros says Harry. ‘We sit down in a room and just start playing, and whatever comes out, whether it’s a mood, a riff, or even just a chord, we go with it and it becomes a song.’ They know each other so well, they write lyrics based on what is going on in each other’s lives, and sometimes, the music just comes from there.

And how is it working with a brother; making music as siblings? Has it helped them in their careers? ‘It’s massively helped us,’ says Alfie. ‘We know each other so well; we know exactly what’s going on.’ They can tell each other when they’re annoyed with each other, and quickly move on.

They have a really strong family unit, Harry tells me, ‘and we’re very close with our sister. She doesn’t let us bang heads together.’

It must be difficult touring sometimes, I suggest. The pair are quick to contradict me. ‘We love touring!’ Alfie enthuses. ‘It’s so addictive.

We just want to keep going.’ Touring, for them, is kind of a drug. ‘There’s nothing like the feeling of coming off the stage; the adrenaline is something else. Music is therapeutic for us.’ They’re on a high at the moment, what with their tour and a new album coming out soon. ‘There’s people coming to our shows, and most of them are sold out! There is so much to be excited about, so much to look forward to,’ says Harry. And as there should be.

As Hudson Taylor bid me farewell and each give me a warm hug, I couldn’t help feeling that for a pair of such lovely boys, every success is due to come their way. A few hours later, they backed up their wit and charm with a raucous and lively show certainly living up to its sold-out status. They put their souls and bodies into their performance, and their energy is quickly passed on to the eager crowd. Their brand of folk-pop translates into a riveting live performance, and, with true Irish tradition, the crowd is quickly dancing along.

Halfway through the set, they switch off all electrics and play an ode to their sister, a strong influence in their lives. The crowd is silent, enchanted by their haunting acoustics. After this, they bring the rest of their band on stage and, bizarrely, play a rowdy cover of AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black.’ Classic rock duly paid its dues, the rest of the set is fun, enjoyable, and hugely entertaining. Pop starlet Gabrielle Aplin makes an appearance, and an encore is obligingly performed, to raucous acclaim from the crowd. And as we leave the Centre, the general feeling is of respect for both the brothers and for what has been a fantastic show.

flickr: Dena Flows

Caitlin Butler, First year, English

flickr: Dena Flows

Hudson Taylor are a band on the rise. Brothers Alfie and Harry Hudson-Taylor, hence the band name, have been playing music together since they were very young. From busking on the streets of Dublin to supporting Jake Bugg on tour, they have a new album due out later this month and a number of singles already under their belt. They cite Simon & Garfunkel and the Beatles as influences, but they nonetheless have a distinctly modern, folky feel, with clever lyrics and catchy riffs. Their first headline tour takes them to Bristol, where I met the charming brothers at a sold out Trinity Arts Centre I arrive at the Trinity Arts Centre slightly lost, mildly nervous, and extremely damp; the Bristol rain has not been kind. Passing groups of over-excited teenage girls already converging to await the show, I make my way inside to interview the pair, where I am third in line. Nerves now at a height, I wonder what it will be like to meet these two, already so successful, brothers. But when I do meet them, all my fears are laid to rest.

The pair are immediately friendly and welcoming.

As we settle down, I begin by asking them how busking has shaped their music. They tell me they play a lot of covers, which really influenced their eventual sound. ‘When we were playing our own music, no one would stop and listen, so we would scratch our heads and say, what’s going on?’ Harry tells me. ‘So we tried to take good things from our covers, like hooks and getting people singing.’ It has also taught them a lot about sound dynamics in live performance. ‘You’d be surprised how playing a little louder or quieter on the street can really change the way people react to what you’re playing’, he says. ‘It really moulded us; we learnt so much from it.’

What about their contemporaries; how is the current Irish music scene doing? The pair are instantly enthusiastic, mentioning Kodaline and Hosier, also from Dublin. ‘There’s such a good scene’, says Alfie. ‘Everywhere, even in the States, Irish music is doing so well. It’s so nice to be a part of, to be from a country that is known for its music.’

I mention Simon & Garfunkel; having been a lifelong fan, I wonder about their influence and other influences the pair might have had.

Harry immediately mentions the Everly Brothers, themselves an influence on Simon & Garfunkel.

Alfie references the Beatles. ‘If you strip away the rest of the band, it’s just John and Paul, a duo, singing harmonies together.’ And a modern influence?

‘A person that has influenced a lot of Irish music, but also a lot of people more generally, is Damien Lewis’, says Harry. ‘In the early 2000s, he brought back this lovely acoustic music. People owe him a lot for that.’

I throw a curveball into our conversation. What would be their dream collaboration, dead or alive?

Harry ponders, before eventually deciding on the legendary Jimi Hendrix. ‘I’ve been playing a lot of electric guitar recently. It would be amazing to watch him jam, although I would be totally out of my depth,’ Alfie says, with a wink in his eye, ‘imagine playing with John Lennon!’ Har har.

We talk about the way they write their music. Do they write lyrics individually, or as a pair? ‘Most of our stuff just comes about by jamming together’,

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Is Kanye standing in the way of British Grime? even let them drop a quick 16? Their presence though, acted as a reminder to the organisers that the UK is full of talented black British artists.

The real shame is that it took an American to put them on stage. The idea that ‘grime is dead’ has been forgotten as the scene’s resurgence continues. If the organisers wouldn’t recognise that fact, Kanye clearly wanted to make it clear, and he’s not only person from across the pond to recently big up grime. Drake only last week made a series posts on his Instagram showing his respect for Frisco and Wiley while talking of the legendary LOTM clash between Skepta and Devilman - ‘Watching Skepta vs Devilman is a true reminder that whenever you think you’re good at what you do there’s most likely 2 people out there that will yam your food.’ But does grime need American validation? It seems the scene itself is more than happy with the recognition it’s getting, but my fear is it loses its unique essence as we see them adapt their styles to please US audiences.

Sure, grime can evolve and change, but it must retain that grit and cathartic energy that makes it so special. What we really want to see is Kanye going bar for bar with Novelist on some wacky new Murlo beat. That’s the kind of collaboration I would listen to.

flickr: rodrigoferrari

While Madonna may have unintentionally stolen the headlines at this year’s Brit Awards, Kanye West made a statement that was almost certainly no accident. Repeated use of the word ‘nigga’ during a jarring performance of ‘All Day’ led ITV to censor much of it. Viewers were furious, some at Kanye and others at ITV. No stranger to controversy, he quite clearly ignored the agreement to perform a clean version of the song. A look back at past TV performances indicate he is at times more than willing to keep it clean. This was different. It was deliberate, and a clear attempt to shock and provoke. He succeeded. It was, in effect, a big two fingers at the musical establishment - most likely at their persistent failure to represent black artists at major awards ceremonies such as the Brits. The number of black nominees at this year’s Brits was tiny, Pharrell the only one to walk away with one of the eleven prizes up for grabs. This was perhaps why we saw the likes of Skepta, Jammer, Novelist, and Fekky form part of the mob assembled on stage behind him. Hooded and clad head to toe in black, some carried flamethrowers launching fire high into the O2 Arena. At first glance they looked nothing more than menacing backing dancers. Though in many ways they were, and many fans were bitterly disappointed that at no point were they passed the mic. Why bother having Skepta and Novelist on stage if you don’t

Sam Ferris, Second year, Philosophy

LIVE REVIEW: George the Poet @ Start The Bus

George The Poet holds a pretty unique position. An inner-city kid (née George Mpanga) with a Cambridge education, he is something of an oxymoron in himself and this comes across in his work. Tiptoeing a blurred line between rap and poetry, his songs package the real messages in grime undertones. Naturally, he has been pounced upon by the BBC, who have placed him both on their Sound of 2015 shortlist and their Diversity Advisory Group; as a credible boy-done-good with the right things to say, he represents their ideal candidate for entertaining/ educating the youth. As a result there is a discernible air of curiosity among the gaggle that has crowded into Start The Bus to get a glimpse of the poet himself, following Barney Artist’s introductory set and a bizarre interpretive dance display from Shelz The Dancer - is there a theme developing? I become Sam The Critic.

Having delivered his first poem out of sight behind his merch stand, he joins his three piece band on stage and immediately assumes the identity of a hysterical girlfriend, cuckolded by the man who ‘strolls in smelling like female shower gels’ in ‘If The Shoe Fits.’ The portrait is vividly realised, caustically funny, tragic, and packed with a vital realism that lends Mpanga’s poetry his charm. His real strength lies with her and the other protagonists unfolded from ‘The Chicken and the Egg’; it is simple story-telling done well, delivered effortlessly and augmented by his pre-emptory explanations which feel almost as honed as the poems themselves.

Speaking of his recent single

‘1,2,1,2’, which he and the band barely touch upon, he mentions the need to smuggle messages onto the radio disguised as pop songs. And it is partly from this intent whence the problem of George The Poet stems.

As legislative terminology begins to creep into his oratory, his poems in turn become increasingly politicised.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing in itself as there is, of course, a place for didacticism within poetry - some of the finest protest has been expressed in verse. Yet its aesthetic quality is too often sacrificed as a result of agenda, and Mpanga’s poetry suffers accordingly. He beleaguers his position of assumed leadership to the point of self-righteousness, frequently inviting the patronised crowd to ‘Come follow me!’, while his penultimate track, a vague political manifesto set to sparse keys, translates as faintly ridiculous.

The icing is his ‘ballot box’, revealed before launching into closer ‘Cat D’, into which his faithful followers can insert their email addressesthe most pretentiously convoluted process of signing up to a mailing list ever.

It’s a shame because the boy is talented. His stories and characters are crafted with real care, and delivered with a loquacious flexibility.

At his best he is breathtaking. At his worst he feels like a condescending headmaster preaching a trite parable to a school assembly.

Sam Mason-Jones, English

Second

year,

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Epigram 09.03.2015

52

Ain’t no mountain high enough Alfie Smith Deputy Science Editor

gorilla tragedy lies a human one

deforestation, despite dwindling resources, the Mountain gorilla population is growing, albeit very slowly from about 660 in 1970 to 880 now. I use the word despite to emphasise that this isn’t a problem that will sort itself out. The various groups, like the WWF and AWF, support ranges like Virunga and they have become experts at using funds efficiently and intelligently.

However, 880 gorillas is not sustainable, and the species is still

Their past is scarred

by human action, their future depends on it

considered critically endangered, one below extinct in the wild. The

Flickr: : Dave Schefeld

help that Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC are three of the world’s poorest countries. Perpetual instability and weak central authority means low tax revenues; revenues that already have to be put towards a range of other issues: maintaining security, relieving famine, reconstruction, HIV etc. No control and no cash makes it impossible to prevent poaching and habitat destruction.

At the heart of the gorilla tragedy lies a human one. Refugees fleeing from local conflicts often see the national park as a secure place to rebuild their lives. While the DRC army often vanishes, the national park rangers are a constant presence in the area. The refugees survive by cutting down miles of jungle to create space for farming and livestock. Necessity forces people to hunt the Gorillas for bush meat; a practice that is generally very rare.

The trees are cut down to make

charcoal that is sold as fuel to cities all over the basin. Groups looking to illegally harvest the rich resources of the area, when not doing so directly, target these refugees. They are frequently the only source of income for those displaced near Virunga and other parks. The rangers can’t stop the majority of it. Their meagre resources, funded mostly by wildlife groups, cannot cover all the land at once.

Despite the warfare, despite

“

“ At the heart of the

Flickr: : Rod Waddington

Last weekend, two thousand people filled Motion to capacity. It didn’t seem that crowded, certainly by comparison to other clubs.

To put this into perspective, in Motion alone there were twice the number of people than the world’s population of Mountain gorillas.

The World Wildlife Fund estimates the current population of our distant cousins to be 880. They live in the vast Congo basin, with their territory split between Rwanda, Uganda and The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, most live in Virunga National Park, in the DRC. Their natural habitat is the dense, humid, forest that sit atop the area’s many inactive volcanoes.

Chronic instability in the region has taken a huge toll on both humans and wildlife. 40 years of civil war and armed insurrection have left the local central governments without active jurisdiction over these habitats for years at a time.

The park itself has been a battlefield. The Kivu war, involving various Rwandan rebel groups, was particularly devastating. It doesn’t

introduction of a new disease, perhaps spread by their destructive cousins, could decimate the gorilla population. Another war could destroy what remains of the Mountain gorillas’ habitat or defund their protectors. The current conflict between President Kabila’s supporters and the various antiKabila factions grows more violent every day. Wildlife aid is often seen as different and secondary to human aid.

However, we share more than 98.6 per cent of our DNA with the Mountain gorilla. Their past is scarred by human action, their future depends on it. What is required goes beyond giving money, which is of course necessary, into political action. The violent uprisings in the DRC are but one of many in the world at the moment, raising awareness about it to others and pressing your local MP may see it pushed up the Government’s agenda. If unilateral action is taken soon, perhaps through a UN taskforce, then it may be possible to prevent another full-scale civil war.

Progress is being made in saving the Mountain gorilla. However, the situation is tenuous at best and a future where they exist is far from certain.

Epigram

Sport

09.03.2015

53

Winter Wonderland

Malik Ouzia Sport Features Writer

Winter World Cup: The Winners and Losers It was recently announced that the 2022 World Cup is to be shifted from its traditional June/July slot to avoid a clash with the searing Qatari summer. With air-conditioned stadiums and domed cities (unsurprisingly) no longer deemed feasible, the football world is faced with the unfamiliar prospect of a World Cup starting in November. But just how will a winter incarnation affect some of the game’s biggest players?

FIFA To some extent FIFA were on a hiding to nothing here. Staging the tournament in June and July would obviously have been impractical and unsafe. Breaking with tradition in moving it to a new slot, regardless of when, was bound to attract criticism

UEFA Given the recent expansion of the European Championships to 24 teams, UEFA are no strangers to shaking up major international tournaments. Their backing of a winter tournament came as unexpected to many – Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said he felt ‘let down’ - but with hindsight its unsurprising. Disruption to UEFA competition fixtures should be confined to second half of the group stages of the Champions and Europa Leagues, a problem solved simply by starting the competition slightly earlier or perhaps reducing the number of qualifying rounds. A winter world cup also cements the Champions League Final’s position as the season’s showpiece climax. For Michel Platini, a man with half an eye on the FIFA Presidency (although he won’t run this time around), this opportunity was too good to turn down.

Verdict: Winners European Leagues Unlike UEFA, domestic governing bodies face a major headache over scheduling. In England there is already talk of axing FA Cup replays to vacate space for rearranged fixtures, whilst there seems to be a misconception that in continental Europe the break for the World Cup will simply replace the usual midseason break. This somewhat overlooks the fact that playing intense football on the biggest stage in the world isn’t

Flickt: SpreePix - B erlin

Flickt: Theglobalpanorama

Qatar In an absolute worst case scenario (or best depending on which side of the fence you sit) a re-vote may have been issued and hosting rights redistributed.

With plans for a winter World Cup not part of Qatar’s initial proposal, the FIFA executive committee would have been within its self-dictated rights to reconsider its decision.

Whilst this never looked likely, Qatar will still be relieved that years of supposedly meticulous planning have not been in vain. Come 2022 it may also benefit from the extra six months preparation time facilitated by a late-November start. This may seem an insignificant period now, yet four of Brazil’s stadia for 2014 were incomplete six months before the tournament, as were numerous infrastructural projects.

Verdict: Winners

from across the globe.

And so low is public opinion of FIFA that even the third option, relieving Qatar of hosting duties, would’ve led to accusations of indecisiveness rather than a recouping of lost credit. Yes they deserve credit for taking the Cup to unchartered territory, with Russia and Qatar succeeding Japan & South Korea and South Africa as first time hosts in the Blatter era. But what would’ve been wrong with, say Australia – another prospective first time host - a sport-mad country with one of the fastest growing domestic leagues in the world and, crucially, mild winter conditions during our summer months?

Verdict: Losers (in everyone’s eyes but their own)

exactly most people’s idea of a ‘break’. Will the likes of La Liga and Serie A have to skip their usual break to minimise fixture congestion further down the line? If so how will the quality of football fare in the second half of the season? After all, we’re regularly bored by the cliché that foreign players in the Premier League drop off because they aren’t used to playing a full season with no break.

Verdict: Losers Players The impact of a winter tournament for the players themselves is somewhat mixed. In theory players will be heading into the tournament fresh, just three months into the season, and so should be at the peak of their physical powers. This should lessen the number of players who miss the tournament after picking up fatigue-based injuries in the final league games, as well as improving the quality of football on display at the competition itself. On the other hand players have less time to play themselves into form, whilst emerging young talents have a shorter period in which to break into the first team at club-level and earn a World Cup call up.

Verdict: The jury’s out Broadcasters With the World Cup likely to be broadcast exclusively on terrestrial television, broadcasters such as Sky and BT Sport will be left high and dry with huge voids to fill in their schedules.

The impacts could be even greater should the Premier League opt to implement a post-World Cup break extending across the traditional festive domestic fixtures. In the period between Boxing Day and New Years Day this season Sky and BT Sport showed ten games in the Premier League alone. Let’s presume that each matchday show lasts almost three hours including prematch, post match and half time analysis. That equates to over a day’s worth of material gone before we even consider the knock on effect on preview and review shows such as Football First or Goals on Sunday. Factor in the masses of televised European games and it is clear broadcasters have a big, big problem.

Verdict: Losers

Flickt: cvrcak1

The Rest Fans heading for the tournament will be relieved with the slight reduction in how much Ambre Solaire they’ll have to pack but fans at home would probably have preferred the beers, barbeques, shorts and no shirts that usually accompany a World Cup. Lower leagues may benefit from increased gate and possibly TV coverage should both fans and broadcasters look down the divisions for alternative domestic live football, as will leagues in The Americas whose May-December season will be less disrupted than in a normal World Cup year. Impact on other sports is mixed. The IOC will be delighted at the avoidance of a clash with the Winter Olympics and Wimbledon will no longer have to compete with the latter stages of the World Cup. However, the consequential extension of the domestic season into June may be detrimental to interest in some summer sports such as cricket.

Epigram

09.03.2015

54

UBU: A swim-only pass ‘will be discussed’ Epigram Sport’s interview with Alyx Murray-Jackman continues from the back page...

AMJ (cont...): I will be taking that forwards as well as previous motions from student councils to do with ‘swimonly’ passes and the feedback I’ve had from students. It will be discussed.

ES: The order of priority is focussed on: 1) 2) 3) 4)

Student participation Performance Staff Community

AMJ: Participation is just making sure that everyone has the opportunity and that we’re not focussing just on BUCS performance, for example, but actually that everyone in the club has the opportunity to take part.

AMJ: In the university. Intramural, the recreational fitness programmes like ‘fit and fab’ and UBU Active as well as participation in general, not even specific to the University, but it could be promoting things done in the city which encourage you to get active.

ES: There could certainly be a case made, if someone reads that and thinks ‘participation is the first thing and getting people going to exercise classes’. Someone in a sports team might ask if they [UBU] are focussing more on that to the detriment of BUCS Sports or elite sports? Could that be an argument?

UBU

“

engagement. We’re basically saying that students are more important than everything else to do with the University in terms of sport.

ES: That’s something that has been worked out with Mary Nicholls and she’s had an input into that as well?

AMJ: Yeah, it was through the sport, exercise and health divisional review and was one of the outcomes suggested by external people who sat on the review.

ES: Are you looking forward to Varsity? What are you looking forward to in particular?

AMJ: I’m really excited. American football was really good which has paved the way for having a good varsity series. The varsity 10k, the first time we’ve done something like this, has allowed people not part of sport teams, who might think it’s not for them, a way in for them to get involved.

The boat race is always great, too, and this year it’s being tied in with canoe polo on the same day in the Richmond

Building pool. Rugby Union should also be really good at the Memorial Stadium with the women’s match followed by the men’s and hopefully some special guests! Then there’s Varsity Day on 25 March when it’s all free and anyone can come along and watch what they want.

University of Nottingham

Does student participation mean intramural? Does it mean more people buying sports passes? Or does it mean more people being involved in sport, going swimming etc?

ES: In the club or in the university?

The boat race is always great, too, and this year it’s being tied in with canoe polo on the same day in the Richmond Building pool.

AMJ: I can see why people would think that, but the priorities are the priority. First in line is making sure everyone has the chance to be active, which I think most people would agree with anyway and then having good performance sports is second priority.

It comes above staff and community

Bristol make a splash in the Pool Dan Jenkins Bristol 8-Ball Team Member

Congratulations to the Bristol’s 8-ball 1st team who overcame 60 other teams from 38 universities across the UK to win the 2015 BUCS Shield.

The team (Stjohn Peters, Dan Jenkins, Gus Teunissen-High, Daniel Thomas and Scott Woodruff) played extremely well throughout, winning 9 out of 9 matches on the way to BUCS

gold medals and BUCS points for the University of Bristol.

The pressure was dealt with well all around, with the team winning two close playoffs in the quarterfinal and final. This result is especially impressive considering the lack of the support for Bristol as only one team was entered and every other university had several teams that could cheer them on.

This is a huge achievement for

the club in its first year, seeing us promoted to the Team Championship for 2015/16, and we hope this will inspire others to join to bring continued and increased success in future years.

Do you think you have what it takes to take our pool and snooker teams to the next level or do you fancy taking it up for fun?

We hold a pool and snooker session every Wednesday at Rileys during term time between 2-5pm.

Memberships are £2.50 per year and each Wednesday session is also only £2.50, come along and have a go!

Full tournament results Group Stage W 6-1 University of Abertay Dundee 2nd W 6-3 UWE 2nd W 6-1 University of Bath 2nd W 6-3 University of Birmingham 2nd

Last 32 W 6-2 University of Hertfordshire 1st Last 16 W 6-3 University of Birmingham 1st Quarterfinal D 5-5 University of Strathclyde 2nd W 2-1 Playoff Semi-final W 6-4 University of Nottingham 2nd Final D 5-5 University of Glasgow 1st W 2-1 Playoff

Epigram

09.03.2015

55

The International Council of Clowns: why the Cricket World Cup needs the underdogs Edward Henderson-Howat Online Sport Editor

If anything, it provides a breath of fresh air for the game. Ashes contests are gripping but the chance to see auld enemies, England and Scotland scrap it out, or witness the most unlikely of contests between Australia and Afghanistan? Now that is something altogether different.

Non-Test teams can still offer a fantastic level of competition, something which has been true as ever in this year’s World Cup. Ireland toppled the once-mighty West Indians in a thrilling match but when the men from the Caribbean faced fellow Test playing nation South Africa, they were destroyed in a horribly one-sided

affair.

Equally, Afghanistan came within touching distance of an historic upset over Sri Lanka in Dunedin but the only upset in the England - Sri Lanka game was the look on Eoin Morgan’s face after the nine wicket hammering.

In the World Cup you still get to see the battle of the big boys throughout the tournament and the associates have to fight it out in qualifiers before the best four can reach the highest tier.

The tournament isn’t exactly saturated in the smaller teams so why not throw in a few banana skins to keep the big sides on their toes?

Finally, for their sheer entertainment

If cricket is to develop across the world, young fans need to see their teams competing on the highest stage

Flickt: Peretz Partensky

The Cricket World Cup kicked off on 14 February and the runs have piled up in their thousands. Records are being smashed as teams turn on the heat against lesser opposition.

It would be easy to run with this theme and argue, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has, that associate, non-Test playing, nations damage the standing and reputation of the tournament. Their matches against the big guns can be dismissed as second rate contests lacking the world class standard we come to expect.

However, in their global reach, style of play and entertainment factor, associate teams offer so much to the World Cup. Any plans to restrict their entry to future tournaments by reducing the number of participating teams from 14 to 10 are, quite simply, madness.

If the ICC wishes to see the game develop internationally and reach a truly global audience, something they really ought to given their title, then cricket has to be encouraged across the world. For cricket to build and maintain its popularity in non-Test playing countries, then players and fans in the likes of Canada, Kenya and Papua New Guinea have to be given the chance to see their teams qualify for a place in the world cup.

An up-and-coming associate cricketer is unlikely to stick it out if the best they can ever hope for is

competition against fellow minnows in front of tiny crowds. The World Cup acts as an incentive, a driver for these associate nations. Remove their golden opportunity to compete at the top and the standard of cricket in these countries will very quickly sink to the bottom.

The World Cup rolls round once every four years. In-between times, the very best teams face up to each other on a regular stage be it the Ashes or some subcontinent clash. One can hardly argue that smaller teams damage the standard of world cricket when the tournament happens so infrequently.

factor alone, the smaller cricketing nations should be released onto the world stage. Under coaches like Andy Flower and Micky Arthur it was often said that the top teams bred machines, not men – players so scared of failure they would struggle to express themselves on the field. There is something wonderful in the way the diving Dwayne Leverock of Bermuda or Ireland’s pink-haired Kevin O’Brian can stun the ‘better’ nations through their sheer freedom of play and force of character.

Can you imagine Stuart Broad or Dale Steyn roaring in with a bandana round their head or war paint on their cheeks à la Hamid Hassan of Afghanistan?

Aside from their sponsors probably having some complaint, they are too constrained within a mechanised efficiency to enjoy the open expression of Hassan. Draped in the colours of his country, Hassan, the former refugee, cartwheeled down the wicket after bowling Kumar Sangakkarra, one of the greatest batsman of all time. Such moments of magic are what makes the World Cup. When the amateur steps onto the field a part of us can imagine ourselves in their position. It fulfils that FA Cup dream of competing against the heroes of our youth and toppling the giants above us. And is it not a more human, a more honest contest when sport pits the brave against the strong?

For the sake of the game, the fans and the players the ICC have to keep the underdogs invovled. It is after all, a world cup, so please, let it remain one.

Football enjoy swansong of success as BUCS season draws to a close Edward Henderson-Howat Online Sport Editor

With the term slipping away, Bristol’s sports teams faced some of their final games of the season with relegation and promotion battles aplenty.

The women’s badminton team conquered UWE at home on the 25 February but their rivals held their ground a week later with a hard fought draw at UWE. On the 26th, Bristol’s basketball girls travelled to Cardiff but went down in a 49-61 defeat.

The men’s football team secured a heartening 3-2 win against Swansea on the 4t March and the ladies also tasted success with a 4-2 victory over the University of South Wales.

In hockey, the ladies’ season drew to a close with an unfortunate 4-1 loss to Loughborough and in lacrosse, the women’s team also suffered defeat against Loughborough (7-13). The men’s lacrosse team saw their cup hopes dashed on the 25 February as they were beaten 22-6 by Nottingham.

The netball team ended their season on a high with a tense 44-41 win over Gloucestershire – a result which sees them finish their mighty competitive league in second place.

There was no stopping the women’s rugby team as they travelled to Cambridge in the cup and beat the light blues 26-15. A week later they faced Bath and eased to a 38-24 triumph.

Meanwhile, the men’s rugby team travelled up to Leeds on the 4 March and scored a big 39-7 win over Leeds.

In squash, the girls also journeyed to Leeds but they were they soundly beaten. The boys also lost to Southampton. The tennis ladies also suffered defeat, this time against Bath.

Both volleyball teams enjoyed a fortnight of success. The men won three games on the trot against Plymouth, Falmouth and UWE and the ladies beat Bath and Southampton.

Now we have an array of Varsity battles to look forward to. Bring it on!

@epigramsport Bristol’s women footballers enjoyed a hugely satisfying 4-2 victory on March 4