Epigram 351

Up-and-coming BAME artists

The students who canvassed for Biden

Time to change our approach to drinking?

Two Bristol politics students discuss their experiences canvassing via phone during the US election

The trailblazers who are defining the music that this generation is listening to

Opinion argue that we need to re-think our outlook on recreational drugs and alcohol to protect our mental health during lockdown

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The University of Bristol’s Independent Student Newspaper Fortnightly | 10 November 2020 | Issue 351

University to continue with ‘blended learning’ during lockdown despite growing opposition Teddy Coward Co-Editor-in-Chief

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students are now being forcibly denied the chance to leave their termtime accommodations.

Eve Whittle, a Bristol first year Politics and International Relations student said she felt the decision not to allow students to return home is ‘understandable.’

‘However,’ she continued, ‘it does place an even larger onus on the University’s duty of care. The consensus is that many students feel trapped, and nowhere is this more evident than at the University of Manchester, where students were physically fenced into their halls of accommodation.'

he University of Bristol has confirmed it will continue with its ‘blended learning’ combination of in-person and online learning throughout the four week lockdown, which have been imposed across the country since Thursday 5 November.

The move adheres to guidance from the Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan, who last week sent a letter to Vice-Chancellors stating the government does not ‘want or expect to see a full transition to online learning’ during the lockdown – an instruction Bristol University has duly observed.

Yet the continuation of some in-person teaching in spite of lockdown has furthered grievances from staff members and other members of the University community who have called for a move to online-only.

Following the announcement of the lockdown, Bristol University Students’ Union issued a statement calling for the University to ‘show leadership’ and move all non-essential face-to-face teaching online.

They stated ‘it seems wrong on both an educational and public health level to continue on-campus teaching during a lockdown’.

More on page three..

More on page three..

Results of University COVID survey find that almost a quarter of students reported being ‘always’ or ‘often’ feeling lonely after the first lockdown began.

More on page four...

Students urged not to return home as second lockdown is imposed

Molly Pipe

Deputy News Editor In a statement on 3 November, two days before lockdown began, Hugh Brady said that students must remain at their term time accommodation during the November lockdown and could not travel home before the new restrictions came into force either.

Brady’s instruction was reiterating the advice of Universities Minister Michelle Donelan, who told students last Monday ‘to stay where they are’ until at least 2 December, which is the provisional end-date for the lockdown.

‘Any movement around the coun-

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try will risk the lives of our loved ones,’ Donelan also warned.

Bristol Students, however, have expressed a strong desire to return home, to prevent being unable to see their family throughout the lockdown period, which many fear could extend into Christmas.

One student remarked to Epigram the rule had made them decide to return home, as they ‘obviously did not want to be stuck in Bristol for a month alone,’ after their flat mates had also left.

Another student who had also returned home before the lockdown came into effect commented on the fact ‘there is a chance the lockdown might extend beyond the beginning

of December’ and that they ‘did not want to risk not being able to be home at Christmas.’

The Department for Education hopes to allow students to return home for Christmas, but guidance is yet to be released on how this will be done safely.

The current ban on leaving accommodation differs to the rules in place during the first lockdown in March, where students were permitted to return to their parents’ or guardian’s addresses.

Recent scenes at Manchester University, where a fence had been erected around the Fallowfield Halls on the first day of the national lockdown, had prompted concerns that

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Editorial

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

editor@epigram.org.uk

Robin Connolly Teddy Coward Georgiana Scott Siavash Minoukadeh Orin Carlin

Lockdown 2.0: what Write for are the November Epigram: rules?

‘I feel even more indecisive about November than ever' I can never decide whether I love or hate November, even in a ‘normal’ year.

For me, it’s the uncomfortable limbo between Halloween and Bonfire Night and the beginning of Advent. When weeks are forged by the strange combination of wet, cold and rainy days, juxtaposed by the occasional gorgeous, bright, crisp morning.

It’s also that time where all university students are notoriously slammed by essays or other assessment deadlines, leading to the inevitable post-reading week stress.

I, myself, have been struggling with working from home, so have managed to well and truly misrepresent the reality of my workload in my own head, before crunchtime has even hit.

In general this year, I feel even more indecisive about November than ever. The announcement of another lockdown has potentially cast a shadow over the closing of these autumn months. Those moments of gossip with a friend in the pub, away from the rest of our housemates, have been snatched away, as have any hopes of convincing our significant others to treat us to a nice, obviously well deserved, meal out.

A small part of me questions whether it was a mistake granting universities the lockdown exemption the government has done. I know that amongst many of my friends, both here and in other places, this seems to have induced a partial sense they are exempt from the restrictions by virtue of being students. For more on this discussion, see our Opinion section, where one first year students pleads for more freedom and understanding for students during the pandemic.

Yet, while it may be easy to see everyday life at the moment with lenses tinted as grey as the skies above, I keep seeing glints of gold-

en sun sneaking through which are somewhat too bright to be ignored. The results of the presidential election in the US last week, for example, did leave me running down the stairs of my very messy student house screaming ‘Up the free world!’

If you fancy reading about how close the election came and the impact it had on others at Bristol, turn to page 11, where our Features section speak to two students who were involved in canvassing for the election themselves.

To add to this, when my phone buzzed with the news alert yesterday that preliminary trials for Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine have proven to be over 90 per cent effective, my heart did a big old sing (perhaps a small opera, even?) While it may well still be far off, the sight of a tiny light shining at the end of this pandemic-ridden tunnel did bring a spot of hope to my day.

Speaking of vaccines, our SciTech section, who have been following the developments in the battle against coronavirus since the beginning of term, managed to bag an excellent interview for this issue with University of Bristol Zoology graduate, Keith Scholey, now Executive Director of the recent documentary A Life On Our Planet (2020). If you flick on over to page 26 you can read about what it is like to work with our (somewhat divine and very much glorious) leader, David Attenborough. Always nice to be reminded that there is some optimism to be had for after graduation!

So, in summary, I am a bit all over the place at the moment, whether it be about the coming month, or even looking further ahead. However, I am making a conscious effort to live with my fingers crossed behind my back, hoping that maybe, after all, there is a little hope for humanity yet.

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

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

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Face-to-face continues

Education has been labelled an essential activity and, as such, you can leave your homes to attend any remaining in-person course activities, e.g. seminars or labs.

Meeting limits

Social or non-essential activities with people outside your household is now prohibited. If you live on your own, you may attach yourself to a household, or ‘bubble'.

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

Exercise buddies

One exemption is that when exercising outside you can meet up with one other person outside your household and bubble.

You need to be the only person from your bubble, but Strava may soon be the new dating app of choice.

Travel

You must stay at home and avoid travel in the UK or overseas. For students, this means whichever home you have decided to base yourself at and you should not travel between termtime and non-termtime homes.

Exemptions

There are many exemptions from lockdown rules for childcare, support groups, funerals, and more. For more guidance on your specific situation, please visit the government website.

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

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

News

Editor Filiz Gurer Digital Editor Emilie Robinson Deputy Editor Molly Pipe

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

Bristol UCU calls Senate meeting to table motion on online teaching

• The Senate meeting will be on the issue of moving teaching online Filiz Gurer News Editor

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he Bristol branch of the UCU last week set the date for a meeting of the University Senate.

The Senate will meet with the UCU on Thursday 12 November, for

a meeting in response to the new lockdown measures that have been imposed.

The sole item of business and motion for discussion will be on the line that ‘this University resolves online teaching should be the institutional default for Teaching Block 1’.

The UCU has been calling for a complete shift to online teaching since the beginning of term, having set out its demands to the University’s senior management.

On 14 October The University of

Bristol rejected calls from Bristol UCU for the ‘immediate cessation of unnecessary face-to-face, in-person teaching’, arguing that the measures in place across campus and teaching rooms, ‘mitigate as far as is possible the risks of face to face contact’.

The Senate meeting comes amidst growing concerns amongst some lecturers about the safety of staff and students in face-to-face teaching settings, even with these mitigations in place.

Speaking on the UCU’s move, The Bristol branch secretary of the UCU

University pushes forward with ‘blended learning’ teaching during lockdown • Plans to continue the ‘blended learning’ approach during lockdown has renewed divisions • over whether inperson teaching should still go ahead, amidst a growing rise in the number of coronavirus cases Teddy Coward Co-Editor-in-Chief

Continued from front page...

Their new position, which is a reverse of their calls for more faceto-face teaching at the start of term, now aligns with the view of many staff at the University as well as the teaching union, Bristol UCU. Confirmed cases of coronavirus at the University have risen exponentially since the beginning of the academic year, with 1,984 staff and students having cumulatively tested positive since 2 October, according to the University’s own data.

In consequence, some staff have openly criticised the decision-making of Bristol University’s senior management to continue with in-person teaching, with one professor tweeting it is now at ‘the point where staff are terrified, yes terrified, about going into work they once loved.’

Another lecturer from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, who wished to remain anonymous, reiterated to Epigram that they believe all non-lab based teaching ‘should be moved online with immediate effect, to prevent further spreading of the virus in Bristol and to ensure the best possible delivery of education to the whole of the student body.’

They added that ‘blended learning’ within their faculty ‘is not working’ on account ‘of students not facing each other, [and] with many students isolating or afraid of coming to campus, online seminars are much more inclusive.’

They claimed face-to-face attendance is ‘below 50%’ for their teaching, ‘whilst online is around 90%.’

Conversely, in announcing their decision to continue ‘blended learning’ during lockdown, the University pointed to a recent survey in which they said 60% of Bristol students wanted more in-person teaching.

Olivier Levy, Chair of Bristol SU Wellbeing Network, has welcomed the University’s decision, telling Epigram of the importance for some in-person to continue, to prevent students being ‘shut up in their houses’.

‘This is not just for the physical wellbeing of actually getting out of your flat once or twice a week,’ Olivier added, ‘but also, I don’t think we can underline enough the importance of social interactions with other students and with professors.

‘I understand I’m at risk of sounding awfully offhand about the health risks of coronavirus. But to my understanding, there don’t seem to have been any outbreaks of coronavirus in the schools.

‘And if the government, who I admittedly don’t often praise, conclude that universities can and should remain open with strict provisions in place, such as wearing face masks and visors, informed by the top doctors, experts and epidemiologist in the country, then some in-person teaching should go ahead.’

The Department for Education has also declared it has ‘not seen evidence of increased transmission within’ such teaching environments.

In an all-staff email sent in response to the lockdown announcement, Professor Brady said he knows ‘some colleagues are anxious about the risks associated with in-person teaching.’

‘The bulk of scientific evidence on COVID-19 spread indicates that the risk of transmission is very low when social distancing is followed and mitigations (hygiene measures, face coverings, etc) are in place,’ he added.

‘For those who are concerned about their safety, we would encourage colleagues to use the individual risk assessment process we have in place, which takes both clinical and non-clinical factors into account.

I recognise this is a difficult time for our whole community,’ he added.

said: ‘The decision to plough ahead with so-called blended learning is very disappointing. University of Bristol decision-making has paid scant regard to the current state of union and university negotiation here at Bristol and to the UCU’s call to move unnecessary face-to-face, in-person teaching online.

‘There is now a certain ideological fervour about f2f teaching on the part of the University Executive Board, the body calling the shots.

With other universities moving teaching online where possible,

scientific advice calling on university teaching to move online where possible, and Bristol Students’ Union asking the University to ‘show leadership’ and move all non-essential in-person teaching online, the pragmatic choice for teaching staff and students is to continue their work online.

‘It’s the safe thing to do, the responsible thing to do and educationally, though far from ideal, the best thing to do. I hope Senate on Thursday make that sensible institutional choice.’

Students stress as lockdown prevents travel home Molly Pipe

Deputy News Editor Continued from front page... he government has stressed the importance of pastoral support for students concerned by mental health implications of the lockdown period.

In a letter to students, Donelan affirmed that universities are required to offer pastoral and mental health support.

Bristol has a number of support services available, including Wellbeing Advisers and a student-run helpline.

Christina Gray, Bristol’s Public Health Director, has also noted the ‘considerable’ impacts of the lockdown period on student mental health, telling Epigram: ‘Isolation, uncertainty, job loss, bereavement.

Students will be affected through their families by all of that – as well as the particular challenges faced through being at university.

‘I recognise this is really tough for everyone. There will be individuals who have particular individual or personal circumstances – and you should discuss this with the University, your family and any other professionals supporting you to risk assess and manage your particular situation.

‘Students, along with our local communities, can play a big part in supporting each other. Listening, noticing, supporting. Reach out for support if you need to, for yourself of for fellow students.’

Having been urged to remain at their term-time address, Bristol students have been reminded to comply with all guidelines in place, including a ban on household mixing, ex-

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cept in the cases where childcare and other forms of support are necessary.

Last week, Bristol Live reported that an additional 40 students had been fined by the University, bringing the total number of student fines to 107 since early October across residences and the private sector.

Bristol University’s Beat Manager, Sian Harris, told Epigram the country was at ‘a critical point’ and urged students ‘to recognise that our personal choices will matter in the weeks and months to come.

‘Even if students have previously tested positive for COVID-19 and are now feeling well again, they still need to follow the latest guidance,’ she said.

In addition, she explained there will be targeted patrols of the University over the coming weeks and an increased police presence in the Halls of Residence.

‘There can be no excuse for not following the rules and where people are knowingly breaching the regulations there to protect us all, we will move more quickly to enforcement by issuing a fine,’ she said.

A University of Bristol spokesperson added: ‘The vast majority of our students have behaved impeccably since they returned to campus and have followed the rules around social-distancing set by both the Government and the University. We would like to thank them for this.

‘Our approach has primarily been to encourage students to follow these rules, remind them why they are in place and to mitigate the impact bad behaviour has on everyone else’s student experience.

‘Unfortunately, it has been necessary to take disciplinary action when students have breached the rules.’

4 News

epigram 10.11.2020

A quarter of Bristol students ‘always’ or ‘often’ felt lonely since first lockdown, survey finds

• The results released are in response to the Covid-19 Survey conducted earlier this year Louie Bell Investigations Correspondent

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he survey also found that two-thirds of undergraduate students reported much lower motivation to continue with their learning online.

Results from the University of Bristol’s Covid-19 Survey indicate that almost a quarter (24 per cent) of students reported being ‘always’ or ‘often’ feeling lonely after lockdown began.

The University of Bristol’s Covid-19 Survey assessed the state of wellbeing as described by Bristol students themselves and sought to examine the experience of students during the initial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The survey, which ran for three weeks in June and July, replaced the University’s annual Student Wellbeing Survey.

Whilst the survey did bring back a slightly higher response rate than the previous year’s survey, the response rate, at 13 per cent, with only 3,693 students out of 27,513 registered students completing the survey, is still notably low.

The low response rate does therefore raise the question of how reflec-

tive the results are of the whole of the student body at the University.

In total, 37 per cent of student respondents also reported symptoms of moderate to severe depressive symptoms, a decrease of eight per cent from last year.

Other key findings show that ‘entrenched’ mental health inequalities persist amongst non-binary, LGBTQ+ and Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority University of Bristol students.

Students in marginalised groups showed higher incidences of poor wellbeing, with 76 per cent of non-binary students reporting moderate to severe depressive symptoms.

The incidence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms was also higher among BAME students (40 per cent) compared to White British

One of the largest evident increases from 2019 was in students with a physical disability reporting anxiety or depressive symptoms (38 per cent), a rise of 5 per cent from last year.

The proportion screening positive for depression also rose from 46 per cent to 47 per cent.

With many students returning home and losing job opportunities as a result of the national lockdown, the survey also examined the level of financial stress reported by Bristol students.

Almost one in five (18 per cent) of students reported ‘severe’ or ‘very severe’ worries about money, with 25 per cent reporting ‘moderate’ financial stress.

With some exceptions, levels of

Almost one in five (18 per cent) of students reported ‘severe’ or ‘very severe’ worries about money students (35 per cent).

Just over half (51 per cent) of LGBTQ+ students have depressive symptoms contrasted with 33 per cent of heterosexual students.

In addition, female students consistently showed higher levels of depression and anxiety across three measures of wellbeing compared to their male peers.

anxiety and depression were generally down in this year’s survey compared to the previous two years.

The report finds it ‘encouraging’ that students’ mental health appears not to have deteriorated during the Covid-19 pandemic in the short term.

The University appears to have been more effective in improving

Figure from the survey results, which shows the percentage of students using a particular support source (totals are not 100% as students can identify more than one source of support)

perception of its support services, with 38 per cent of survey participants finding it ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ easy to access support, an increase of five per cent from 2019.

However, over one in five students still found it ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ difficult to access support.

The education-related side of the report, meanwhile, found that 66 per cent of undergraduate students reported much lower motivation to continue with their learning online, and 43 per cent of students disagreed that the online format allowed them to learn and research effectively.

The timing of the survey is likely to have affected the result of the report, as it only summarises findings for the summer term, after Covid-19 restrictions were introduced.

Additionally, the survey took place after the end of the summer exam period, which is typically a period of heightened stress and anxiety for many students.

Crucially, there is no suggestion from the report that the results reflect the current state of student wellbeing following the restart of teaching in Teaching Block One. Many students have faced extensive self-isolation since returning to Bristol, and from Thursday will face a new national lockdown limiting the time spent outside and with friends and family.

In response to the survey’s results the University of Bristol has introduced the ‘Being Well, Living Well’ online toolkit. This includes practical tools and tips to help students feel settled, support their friends and manage their finances.

The University also says it is offering a range of virtual community building events to help students connect, and has also adapted its sup-

port services to provide 24/7 support via phone and online through the Wellbeing Access service.

The University also runs its Science of Happiness course online, with over 500 students and staff registered for the online version.

In response to the findings, Professor Sarah Purdy, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience, said: ‘We know that students’ lives, studies and access to support services have been significantly disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘It was vitally important to capture feedback from students at the start of the summer given they’d just finished the academic year in quite unprecedented circumstances.

‘The findings from this survey have been crucial in shaping our response to the pandemic. Not only has it informed our approach to blended learning, with students saying how important face-to-face teaching is to their wellbeing, but it has highlighted the areas in which students need the most support.

‘While there are some encouraging findings around mental health and wellbeing, especially around the support we offer, it’s evident that the current situation has exacerbated feelings of loneliness and isolation.

‘Addressing this is a top priority for us as the pandemic continues to impact everyone’s lives.

‘We will continue to seek student feedback during these challenging and fast-evolving times to help ensure we’re supporting our students in the best possible ways.’

The survey this year was amended following the spread of Covid-19 to account for possible knock-on effects to students’ mental health during lockdown and for those self-isolating.

News 5

epigram 10.11.2020

SU Correspondent & News Editor

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ristol Students’ Union on 6 November announced the results of the first SU elections of the year at the University.

The SU election took place between 3 - 5 November.

Overall 21,112 votes were cast between 3,916 students, with 74% of the roles being filled through the election.

Amongst the roles up for election was the role of NUS delegates. The successful candidates for the position

of NUS delegate were announced as being Ruth Day, Khadija Meghrawi, Annie Walsh, Laura Agard, James Fishwick, Yingpei Wang, Joseph Sharp, Sohpie Borowczyk and Julio Mkok.

As an affiliated Union Bristol SU sends 7 delegates to the annual NUS conference to decide on the policy and direction that NUS should work towards.

Students also voted for the Chairs of Networks in the election, with the results of newly elected Chairs as follows: • Chair of Black Students' Network: Theresa Awolesi • Chair of LGBT+ Network: Joe Fearon • Chair of Sustainability Network: Ella Boswell • Chair of Volunteering & Fundraising Network: Reuben Pritchard • Co-Chair of Postgraduate Network (PGT): Adeola James-lawal The SU have stated that a total of 1,171 students nominated themselves for the roles up for election,

Bristol’s Wellbeing Network launches ‘buddy scheme’ News Subeditor

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ristol SU’s Wellbeing Network has created the new scheme to help students meet new people, at a time when it is more difficult than ever to do so.

The scheme gives students, especially those studying from abroad, the flexibility to decide whether they would like to meet their groups vir-

tually or otherwise.

The buddy system is open to all Bristol students and ‘works a lot like society family schemes,’ with participants able to choose who they are grouped with based on certain criteria, such as their ideal night out and drinking preferences.

Students are also able to express preferences towards their buddy being LGBTQ+, BAME, international, or a certain gender.

Groups are being able to meet virtually means that students isolating or living away from Bristol are able to participate in the scheme remotely.

Universtity of Bristol Students' Union

• The scheme will enable students to meet new people virtually Megan Evans

compared with 886 student nominations recorded last year.

Other results announced from the election include 4 newly elected PGT Faculty Representatives and 19 JCR Presidents to represent students in Halls of Residences.

The elected PGT Faculty Representatives are: • PGT Faculty Rep for Arts: Ethan Shi • PGT Faculty Rep for Engi-

neering: Jerry Tan PGT Faculty Rep for Health Sciences: Anukriti Panda • PGT Faculty Rep for Social Sciences and Law: Nicole Kelly By-elections will soon be held for the positions of PGT Faculty Rep for Science and Life Sciences.

Results for the roles of course representatives will be announced individually, with the announcement

of successful members to the Democratic Standards Committee due to be made on Monday 9 November.

Members of the Democratic Standards Committee make sure that Bristol SU's structures and democracy are accessible, fair and productive for all students, and also set the agenda for each Student Council and Annual Members Meeting.

The next SU elections are due to take place in Term 2.

‘the first drop-in session was fully booked after the events we ran last week.'

The campaign is a nationwide first of its’ kind, with the University dropping a zero-tolerance attitude to drugs and offering support and advice instead.

In alignment with this new attitude, the Student Union have also offered free drug testing kits at the weekly drop-in sessions.

A survey by The NUS in 2018 found that ‘two in five students use drugs' whilst at University.

The Student Union have claimed Bristol’s strong association with

drugs and alcohol as background for the new approach.

The Students Union aim for the campaign to provide more information about drugs and alcohol, collaborate with experts to provide competent advice and provide the aforementioned drug testing kits.

Student Union living officer, Ruth Day, said; ‘This campaign engages students with harm reduction information and hopefully can create an atmosphere of openness in this area on campus.'

Students have so far been respomsive to this openness, engaging with the campaign in high numbers.

•

Students at Bristol given free drugs testing kits

• Bristol Students' Union have offered free drug testing kits to students at UoB • The SU has collaborated with Bristol Drugs Project to host information sessions for students

Universtity of Bristol Students' Union

• Over 1,100 students nominated themselves for roles in the SU elections • More than 21,000 votes were cast by students in the 3-5 November voting period Eve Bentley-Hussey & Filiz Gurer

Universtity of Bristol Students' Union

Bristol SU election results announced

Eve Bentley-Hussey SU Correspondent

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ristol SU’s new drug harm reduction campaign has been a success after receiving a high level of engagement and positive feedback.

A source from the Students' Union said ‘We’ve had a really positive feedback on the campaign.'

The campaign offered events from 28-30 October, including webinar debates, panel discussions and Q&As. From then on, the Student Union, in collaboration with Bristol Drugs Project, have hosted drop-in sessions every Friday to give students advice and information.

Epigram’s source confirmed that

6 News

epigram 10.11.2020

Epigram / Molly Pipe

Bristol fourth highest for COVID-19 cases amongst UK universities

• The University of Bristol currently has the fourth highest number of cumulative coronavirus cases

Molly Pipe

Deputy News Editor

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ristol University is currently fourth in the UK for COVID-19 cases at universities, aggregate data from the Uni-

versities and Colleges Union (UCU) has shown. At 1,932 cases, the institution trails the Universities of Newcastle (2,218 cases), Nottingham (2,114) and Manchester (2,005).

Close to one in 14 students have tested positive for the virus at the University of Bristol, to date.

This compares with Bristol's rankown asymptomatic testing proing by size; with 28,000 students gramme in order to ‘identify cases and 8,000 staff, it is still only the that otherwise would remain unde21st largest university by number of tected and thereby reduce transmisstudents. sion.’

Bristol has been publishing daiThis is likely to be a factor as to ly case updates since 12 October, why it has the second highest numand currently lists 129 active cases ber of recorded cases, when observ(among students only). ing the UCU data.

In the last 24 hours, 29 new stuThese disparities create a complex dent cases and four more staff cases picture in which the statistics given have been reported at Bristol. provide a useful, but incomplete, The UCU's Covid dashboard has to guide. date logged 40,085 positive cases in Bristol's method of reporting its UK universities, case numbers has Bristol is corroborating changed in recent since the beginning of term. self-reported cases with weeks, with a cuTheses statistics mulative total of local PHE data should be considpositive tests no ered in the context in which they are longer appearing in its statistics. collated; the data has been drawn In response to this, a Twitter acfrom a range of institutions, all of count and a website have been set whom have different ways of colup to present these missing pieces lecting and reporting case numbers. of data. ‘The Worried Academic' site Some colleges and universities are tracks cumulative case numbers at updating cases daily, whilst others the University, as well as showing are updating them weekly. Some, like the proportion of students that have Bristol, are corroborating self-rehad the virus to date. This is curported cases with local PHE data. rently listed as one in 14 students, At least one university, Nottingexcluding those who are studying ham University, is conducting its exclusively online.

Backlash over Bristol SU-turn on in-person teaching • Students have voiced dissent at SU's recent decision to call for all ‘non-essential’ teaching to move online during the national lockdown Eve Bentley-Hussey SU Correspondent

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he SU Officer team released a statement on Monday 2 November calling for the move to online-only teaching, stating: ‘It seems wrong on both an educational and public health level to continue on-campus teaching during a lockdown.’

This new call directly contradicts demands made by some SU Officers at the beginning of term, who initially called for more face-to-face teaching.

In response, many students have voiced their disapproval at the SU’s

position, with some deeming the move to be unrepresentative of students’ perspectives.

Bristol student, Lewis Warburton told Epigram: ‘The Students’ Union are asking to stop in-person teaching and to make everything online. I fully believe that is not the opinion of the majority of students.’

‘The SU should seek out the opinions of a range of students and not act on the complaints of a small few, which is how it looked to me.’

Ned Piggott, another UoB student said: ‘I do not feel the SU is representing students at all accurately on this matter. A large proportion of the people I have spoken to want in-person teaching to continue.

‘That so many people feel the same as me, should mean there is more discussion to be had before making a decision that will impact all our courses, mental health, and futures.’

‘There is absolutely no way I feel the SU has communicated with the student body effectively. For starters, I first found out about the SU’s

campaign to end in-person teaching through a Bristruth!’

Frustration has also been expressed among academic reps and Network Chairs affiliated with the Students’ Union itself.

As well as not being in full agreement with the call to move all ‘non-essential’ teaching online, for concern over the mental health implications, some have also criticised the lack of prior notice given about the SU’s statement, before it was publicly announced.

Olivier Levy, Chair of Bristol SU Wellbeing Network, explained to Epigram that he was made aware of the announcement just 28 minutes before it was publicised, only giving him time to send a ‘quick email’ explaining his concern ‘that the statement did not take into account the mental health of students affected by a second lockdown, for whom faceto-face teaching is critical.’

Olivier added that a move to scrap more face-to-face teaching would only compound the effects of iso-

lation and therefore disputes Bristol SU’s position.

‘Students have spent the last two months getting back into a routine, and a complete lockdown would be nothing short of chaotic for them. I think this chaos, unfortunately, too often translates into trauma and stress, and feelings of immense loneliness.’

‘Also, I don’t think we can underline the importance of social interactions with students and professors.

And I just don't think this has been given enough attention by Bristol SU.’ ‘Government guidelines on this are informed by the top doctors, experts and epidemiologist in the country. And if their opinion is that universities and schools are safe to stay open, I don’t understand why the SU can’t accept this.’

A spokesperson for Bristol SU explained the statement calls ‘non-essential teaching to move online, until Christmas’ and that it ‘specifically calls for essential teaching to still

happen in-person, and has a natural review point at the end of this term for changing approach.’

‘It is also crucial that students know we will still be pushing for all teaching that does happen, whether supported by our statement or not, to be as high-quality as possible.

‘The decision to adopt the SU’s current position on face-to-face teaching has been complex and fast-moving. While we recognise our position has not satisfied all of our members, we want to keep hearing from all students on this issue to help us to keep adapting and improving our response.’

They added that any student who wishes to get in touch with Bristol SU, can do so via bristolsu@bristol. ac.uk.

Discussion on the SU’s position will also be brought to the next student council meeting on 26 November, and Bristol SU have encouraged students to speak to their academic reps so they can represent students on the matter of in-person teaching.

News 7

epigram 10.11.2020

‘I feel very let down’: Chair of BME Network disappointed as antiIslamophobia protest is postponed due to lockdown restrictions

Co-Editor-in-Chief

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hadija Meghrawi, chair of Bristol SU’s BME Network, has said she feels ‘very let down’ after being forced to cancel her anti-Islamophobia march in the wake of lockdown restrictions.

Her decision came after the exemption that had previously allowed ‘Covid-secure’ protests to take place despite lockdown restrictions was removed last Thursday, 5 Novem-

ber, meaning events such as protests have become more difficult to organise.

Without the exemptions in place, organisers face the threat of fines of up to £10,000, or other police interventions.

Although protesting in the UK has not been officially banned, the change in policy, enforced after a police briefing by Priti Patel last week, means that protests of more than two people will be seen by police and local authorities as breaking the law.

The change in direction of governmental guidance has come after Bristol, as well as the rest of the UK, saw large and significant protests this summer in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, which culminated in the destruction of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol City Centre in June.

Speaking to Epigram, Meghrawi explained how she feels like the government is ‘deliberately trying to

send the message that this [Islamophobia] isn’t an emergency, that these are conversations that can be delayed until a convenient time.’

However, she went on to say that ‘The reason that protests were an exemption before and should continue to be an exemption is because these causes are emergencies. My Muslim identity is an emergency to me.’

The event had seen interest from over 100 people on Facebook and had received support from the Islamic Societies at both the University of Bristol and the University of Western England, as well as Bristol SU’s Multifaith Network.

The organised demonstration has now been postponed until 6 December, four days after the current lockdown is due to end.

It is set to start with a series of speeches on College Green, followed by a march to Castle Park.

Khadija has long been vocal about Muslim student’s rights on campus.

Last year she proposed, and saw

passed, a student council motion for the University to accept the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims definition of Islamophobia as being ‘rooted in racism’ and ‘a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.’

She encourages students who still want to participate in anti-Islamo-

phobia month to engage with Bristol SU’s programme of events, including talks from Prof. Tariq Modmood, the Runnymead Trust and Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan as well as a virtual ‘ask a Muslim’ stall.

Khadija also urged students to educate themselves about Islam, to ensure inclusion of their Muslim friends and peers.

Epigram / Teddy Coward

• The event was organised for last Sunday, 8 November, however, a recent Home Office change in lockdown regulations means the protest has been postponed to 6 December Robin Connolly

New EU staff at Bristol required to cover their own costs after Brexit

Deputy Digital Editor

E

U staff hired by the University after the end of the Brexit transition period in December will be required to cover their Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) themselves. This will bring the policy for EU staff in line with what already applies to all other international staff. Currently-employed EU staff who have applied for the Settled Status Scheme (SSS) will not be required to pay the £624 per year charge.

The government requires all Tier 2 visa holders, which includes the majority of international staff employed by the University, to pay the IHS to fund the NHS. This is in addition to the National Insurance (NI) deductions that all staff have deducted from their pay, regardless of citizenship status. In essence, this will mean that international staff at the University will be paying more than their UK citizen counterparts to access the same NHS services. Dependants, such as children, will also have to pay the IHS. The University does cover a num-

ber of other immigration-related fees for staff, including visa application fees and one-time travel expenses alongside providing support for staff who are relocating to Bristol.

A 2019 report published by the consultancy company Ernst and Young found that the average Russell Group university spends £300,000 per year in sponsoring immigration fees and other associated costs.

The report also found that, with EU citizens also needing visas to work in the UK post-Brexit in 2021, the cost to universities would increase by 78 per cent, with each Russell Group university predicted to pay £529,000 on average.

Whilst the IHS is a government requirement not the University’s, a number of other universities have chosen to pay the charge on behalf of their staff, with 10 per cent of Russell Group universities covering the fee for all staff and a further 10 per cent doing so in some instances.

The impact of staff having to pay their own IHS may mean that potential staff will be less likely to want to work at Bristol compared to other universities, such as St Andrews, which do cover the IHS, meaning the University could miss out on academic talent. It would also place the 13 per cent of the academic workforce who are not UK citizens at a financial disadvantage compared to their UK counterparts.

The Bristol branch of the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU), which

has been calling for universities to cover all immigration-related fees, called the IHS a ‘massive financial hit’ to staff, telling Epigram ‘UCU opposes the IHS, and the massive 2020 hike to the surcharge… The University could and should explore options to support IHS-paying staff, everything from the University covering the cost in full, to interest free loans for staff faced with the surcharge. The University could also consider paying the IHS for lower

paid staff, starting grade lecturers or staff on grades A-I, for example.’

In a statement, the University defended its policy with a spokesperson saying: ‘The University of Bristol places huge value on attracting the best and brightest minds and this is reflected in the support we provide to international staff.

‘From 1 January, the University will provide the same support for EU staff as it currently does for non-EU staff. This includes cover-

ing all standard visa costs and, for staff on Tier 2 visas, application fees for Indefinite Leave to Remain and Citizenship. The International Health Surcharge will continue to be regarded as a personal liability and will be covered by individual staff, which from 2021 will include those from the EU. ‘We will also continue to provide relocation assistance for new staff whose move falls within the scope of our relocation policy.’

University of Bristol

• Bristol will not cover the £624 per year Immigration Health Surcharge for international staff Siavash Minoukadeh

8 News

epigram 10.11.2020

News in BriefPaintings of inspirational black women are displayed in Wills Memorial

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Guy Taylor

olston’s Girls’ School, named after the slave trader Edward Colston, has been rebranded Montpelier High School.

The name change came after a major consultation with staff, students, parents and members of the public last month.

The Venturers Trust, shortlisted three names: Montpelier, Liberty and Concordia.

62% of students and staff voted to change the school’s name to Montpelier.

In a virtual assembly, Principal Kerry McCullagh said they had ‘navigated a complex and emotional issue with skill and maturity.’

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ortraits of two inspirational black women have been displayed outside the Great Hall of Wills Memorial building. The oil paintings depict Henrietta Lacks, a black woman whose cells became the first in history to survive and multiply outside of the body and Cllr Cleo Lake, Bristol’s first black female Lord Mayor.

Helen Wilson Roe is the artist behind the paintings, a black creative whose pieces are often inspired by racism and the slave trade.

Her portrait of Henrietta Lacks acknowledges and celebrates the young mother who lost her life to cervical cancer but had cells harvested from her aggressive tumour. These cells were named HeLa cells after their donor, their ability to survive and mul-

Building

tiply outside of the body has meant they have been invaluable to modern medicine including treatments such as chemotherapy and IVF; they are currently being used by Bristol university in COVID-19 research.

The other inspirational figure displayed is of Cllr Cleo Lake who became the first black female Lord Mayor of Bristol in 2018. With a background in social justice, activism, arts and culture, she has worked on supporting the youth and underrepresented groups in politics.

Cllr Lake herself has been inspired by the story of Henrietta Lacks, having said ‘Henrietta Lacks is a woman whose immortal cells have impacted the whole world and therefore through medicine and science we all have a connection to her, and so

Tia Bahia

University of Bristol / Bhagesh Sachania Photography

Colston’s Girls’ School decides on new name

surely today she is worthy of celebrating.’

The different yet revolutionary stories behind the paintings have been put out with the hope that they

inspire students, staff and visitors of the University and showcase strong black women in all their glory to aid in creating an inclusive and diverse community.

Bristol’s Good Grief festival examines sorrow, bereavement and loss

Bristol’s Largest wind Dr Paul turbine in Stephenson has England to be a train named built in Bristol in his honour

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Billy Stockwell

he largest wind turbine in England, which will stand at 150m tall, has had its planning permission granted by the Council and will be built in Avonmouth, Bristol.

Following the approval of its planning application back in July, the community-owned turbine is set to be up and running by spring 2022, providing low-carbon electricity to 3,500 homes and saving 1,965 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Councillor Kye Dudd, the Cabinet Member responsible for Transport, Energy and the New Green Deal, supports the developments, stating: ‘Community-owned energy assets like this must be at the heart of our efforts to address the climate emergency and create a cleaner, greener, healthier Bristol.’

T

Megan Evans

he prominent civil rights activist and organiser of the Bristol Bus Boycott has been named one of Great Western Railway’s ‘Great Westerners.’

Dr Stephenson, OBE, will have his name feature on GWR intercity express train 800036 in honour of his dedication to civil rights activism.

Dr Stephenson was recognised as a ‘hero,’ nominated by the public and GWR staff as part of their Great Westerners campaign.

The civil rights activist, now 83, said he feels ‘very proud’ of the ‘wonderful gesture’.

Dr Stephenson said: ‘It is vital to take ownership of our history and to revisit it from time to time to ensure we have a clearer picture of our time and understanding of our humanity.’

brought into sharp focus the ways that grief and loss affect our lives.’

The impact of Covid-19 was also discussed. With over 60,000 excess deaths in the UK since March following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Selman commented that the festival is ‘needed more than ever.’

Recordings of the festival are available to access on-demand.

Bristol City Council approve £4m funding to tackle carbon emissions

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ristol City Council has approved a £4m Climate and Ecological Emergency Programme designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the city.

The £4m financial boost was given the green light by the cabinet at a meeting on 3 November.

The programme aims to support both the Council's 2025 carbon neutral goal, through the management of its estates, its capital projects and staff training, as well as the city's wider target of net zero carbon emis-

Billy Stockwell

sions by 2030.

Since 2005, the Council have reduced their direct emissions by 86%, with a 9% reduction from 2018/19 to 2019/20 alone.

A new online platform, the Bristol Climate Hub, will be launched as part of the programme, to provide the community and Bristol businesses with tips on how to reduce their carbon emissions.

The cabinet member for Climate, Ecology and Sustainable Growth, Cllr Afzal Shah said: ‘As a council

we are proud of the progress we’ve made so far, but we know how important individual actions are in tackling climate change.

‘We all have a part to play in reducing Bristol’s carbon footprint and that's why I would urge everyone to visit the Climate Hub website and help us develop it further.’

The announcement of the funding from Bristol City Council comes just over a week before the two-year anniversary of Bristol’s climate emergency declaration.

Epigram/ Lucas Arthur

Epigram / Edward Deacon

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he free online festival, led by the University of Bristol and broadcast from the city, explored the experience of grief with the aim of creating more open conversation.

The first Good Grief festival took place online from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, attracting around 12,000 attendees.

Over 70 events, such as panel dis-

Megan Evans

cussions, workshops and webinars, explored the experience of grief with contributions from a diverse list of over a hundred speakers.

Dr Lucy Selman, Founding Director of Good Grief, from the Centre for Academic Primary Care and Palliative and End of Life Research Group at the University of Bristol, said: ‘The COVID-19 pandemic has

Features

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

Twitter: @EpigramFeatures

dent's timetables leads to multiple exists in a myriad of forms, such as contrasting requirements from the mentoring services, funding support, nursery. and 1:1 advice from the Mature StuPriority places are given to student and Peers Adviser. The Adviser dent parents, many runs an introducof whom can also tion event and Covid-19 teaching benefit from lower mingles throughInvestigations Editor provisions are student rates. With out the year, as detrimental to parents their main role well as signposting etween studying and hitand carers being to help stuadditional support ting deadlines, socialising dents get through around the Uniand meeting people, navitheir studies, the nursery even deversity and within the Student Ungating sports, societies, maybe also velop individual payment plans for ion to work through any individual a job, being a student is certainly a parents struggling financially. challenges and concerns. balancing act. Meanwhile, the NaOne student mother, whose chilDespite these efforts, in a recent tional Union of Students estimated dren attended the nursery, sang their poll by the Student Union’s Parents, last year that between 949 and 1518 praises: ‘The nursery staff were all Carers and Mature Students’ Network students at the University of Brisfantastic and really supported me. I found that 50% of responses indicattol had to consider a whole other cannot fault them at all.’ ed they don’t believe that all student pre-occupation: parenting.

Speaking to Epigram, she opened parents receive similar treatment The last official in-depth report on up further about her experiences from the University. When asked if student parents specifically on the with the University. they felt supported by the University, University of Bristol was the 2012 ‘I was just out of an abusive relanearly 80% of the responses stated NUS Student Parents Report. It sugtionship and had no support network only ‘sometimes’. gested that the support offered by the in place. I think the University staff The lack of clear parental supUniversity was insufficient, outlinwere extremely supportive and my port infrastructure ing that ‘it has no tutors, lecturers and the accommohighlighted eight policy or guidance The lack of clear parental dation staff were wonderful.’ years ago may for its staff to folsupport highlighted eight therefore still be ‘The friend group I made were exlow in the event of years ago may still be a tremely supportive of me being able a persisting issue, student pregnancy to go out with other friends, or date persisting issue meaning that the or parenthood.’

- they would volunteer to have my experiences of The 2012 report girls, so I could go out and enjoy the student parents at the University of boded for a vast improvement in the University experience.’

Bristol could differ widely. support available to student parents.

Her advice to parents starting uniTucked behind the Arts and Social By acknowledging that other university is ‘to get a good group of Sciences library lies the University versities, such as the Universities of friends that are supportive and enNursery. Set up and run by student Leeds and Manchester, have clear courage you to have fun and let your parents, the nursery is a non-profit policies and procedures to support hair down when you need to.’ organisation that exists to support student parents, the report recogA few months ago, 50% of parstudents and staff alike. Speaking nised the areas in which the Univerents answered that they felt there to Justine, the nursery manager, she sity of Bristol was lacking. was a community of other students explained that the variety of stuToday, support for student parents

The trials and tribulations of being a student parent at the University of Bristol.

Lily Farrant

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ning of the pandemic she ‘couldn’t who shared in their experiences. The get anything done’. When she Bristol Student Union’s Parent, Caremailed the University to explain her ers and Mature Students’ Network predicament she felt that the Uniwas set up in 2019 in a promising versity could not provide a suitable step towards building a vibrant comsolution, and now feels ‘completely munity and raising the profile of this unprepared’ for her second year of group of students across the Universtudy. sity.

The vast differences in the expeLast year, they organised a variriences of student ety of events for parents is concernstudents through“The nursery staff were ing. The Universiout the year, often fantastic and really ty’s confusing atpartnering up with supported me. I cannot titude compounds other societies. the insecurity Beyond the fun, fault them at all" generated by the the work of this pandemic, further worsened by the Network to support and represent lack of infrastructure that exists to student parents has become imporsupport student parents and carers. tant now more than ever. Balancing These are unforeseen circumparenting and studying is a chalstances undeniably, but within these lenge at the best of times, let alone changing circumstances parents are during a pandemic. not always being supported.

Successful campaigning by the The impacts of coronavirus mean Student Union meant that the Safety that the upcoming academic year Net policy was formed using some will be different for us all. feedback from student parents, the Extending the teaching day to 8pm provision of financial assistance was does mean more in-person teaching, expanded by increasing hardship but may also be unintentionally detfunding, and university nursery fees rimental to parents and carers who were reduced by 10 per cent, in order now have to find childcare in these to support student parents during times. these difficult times.

The University nursery have conBen Hobbs, the Chair of the Netsidered extending their hour of care, work, stated that ‘parents and carers but this comes with further challenghave been stretched, perhaps overes and complications, such as paying stretched’. staff more for later hours.

One mother of three children, all When the future is as uncertain with special needs, described her as it is right now, one thing remains first year studying Psychology as clear: we are all navigating a dif‘hell’. She told Epigram that ‘Covficult situation, but some students id, [teaching] strikes, and not being are having to face a whole different able to arrange child care for later set of challenges. Support for stulectures all combined into missing a dent parents at this time needs to be vast proportion of lectures.’ stronger than ever.

She explained that at the begin-

Epigram / Lucy O'Neill

Unsplash / Iana Dmytrenko

Balancing books and babies: The student parent university experience

10 Features

epigram 10.11.2020

Challenging stigmas surrounding male vulnerability with Mens Talk Club one of the main reasons why I came to university here and I've loved that for more than five years now.

However, having a clear campus that is very much a student hub makes it easier to connect with other students, but what I think happens at Features Editor Bristol is that it is easier to feel lost, isolated, and lonely and that's when pigram spoke to Patrick your mental health worsens.’

Sullivan, co-captain of Talk Indeed, the University of Bristol Club University of Bristol, to Mental Health and Wellbeing Surdiscuss how the support group gives vey 2019 found that 22% of Bristol male students an outlet to talk about students admit to often or always their issues. feeling lonely – compared to 8% in Patrick, who now champions male 16-24 year olds nationally. mental health awareness, spoke canOn top of this, findings in 2018 didly about the problems that led to showed that 45% of Bristol students him starting Talk Club University of reported moderate to severe depresBristol in February 2019. sive symptoms and 37% reported ‘Personally, I've had difficult perisimilar levels of anxiety. ods during my studies - both related ‘You've got to keep your mento burnout stress. Unlike the stress tal fitness topped up and keeping of a workplace, which is pretty cona number out of 10 on how you’re tained, I would say University is a feeling is impor24/7 pressure If you feel intimidated, tant, since it alcooker. So a tool lows you to exlike Talk Club then you can just sit plain why you're may be useful and listen, that in feeling worse or for keeping your itself is supportive and better. It also lets mental health on confidence-building you plan – if your the better side of number is low, healthy, whether what are you going to do that's good you're diagnosed or undiagnosed.’ for your mental health in the next ‘That’s why this topic means a lot week?’ When asked about ‘seekto me, even more so because I reing support for a mental health or cently did my mental health first aid emotional issue, the majority (81%) awareness course. One in four people of students say they turn to friends, are diagnosed with a mental health 36% had seen a GP (38% in 2018), condition at any point in their lives.’

34% a mental health professional Patrick’s experience of the pres(38% in 2018), and almost double sure juggling university work, emthe number of 19% said they had ployment, and extracurricular activsought help from a university wellities is undoubtedly not dissimilar to being advisor the experience of many students at ‘Just because you're undiagnosed university across the country. and mentally healthy doesn't mean However, he feels the city of Brisyou can't go through a difficult petol can worsen these feelings. riod where you need some support ‘Bristol can have specific mental whether that be a mutual aid support health pressures. It is a campus right group like Talk Club or good friends in the mix of the busy city - that's who you're able to talk to.’

With Covid -19 mental health struggles rising, Mens Talk Club steps up.

Jack Charters

Features Columnist

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reativity is defined, admittedly ambiguously, as ‘the ability to create something new’. But is this ability a fundamental talent that some people are lucky enough to be born with? A kind of preordained ability that you either have, or you don’t? Or is it a skill set that can be taught to anyone? A more universal yet intangible concept? Or perhaps we need to move away from the idea that creativity is exclusive to the arts altogether and embrace the fact that it is something broader than that; it can be theoretical physics or an innovative way of navigating tricky access to filming a wildlife documentary. Or can it be a way of enriching our relationships?

I had a conversation with Simon Blyth, a senior lecturer and creativity researcher at the Centre of Innovation in Bristol University, in order to discuss creativity and how he understands it. Blyth challenges the idea of the lone creative genius; he believes that everyone is equal in the creativity stakes.

As I sat in Blyth’s office, about to start our interview, I noticed the mountains of books surrounding his office all with titles relating to the philosophy of creativity in some way. It occurred to me there was no way we were going to be able to solve the mystery of creativity in the next forty minutes. Nor in this article either. But for Blyth that’s not what his endeavour is about.

It seems he is still embedded in the struggle of trying to understand creativity in its entirety and in this sense I find it difficult to pin down who this man is. The instructive title of the module he founded, ‘How to be creative’, is somewhat of an intended irony I soon learn.

Unsplash / alice dietrich

Or as my Grandmother says - ‘Go where the materials lead you.'

Fergal Maguire

His office is on the top floor of At this point he relaxes back one of the University’s trademark into his chair. ‘I’ve just adopted an brutalist buildings, and the view is ex-racehorse,’ he replies, casually. spectacular.

‘We’ve got two at the moment, Harry ‘I’m taking the piss with the unit and Tawny.’ title,’ he remarks. For Blyth, creativSo dressage and all that jazz? ity is something more complex than ‘Not at all,’ he replies quickly, ‘just just a calculated formula that leads wild riding, out in the countryside. directly to being creative. It is about Away from it all’. I feel like I’m beopening up your mind and asking ginning to understand Blyth more questions; about now. He describes generating mo- There was no way that we the joy of riding ments of joy, in on horseback in were going to solve the whatever form the Black Mounmystery of creativity in tains with his that may be. the next forty minutes How does three children, being creative and the beauty manifest itself in your life? I ask. of the whole experience. ‘There is ‘It often appears in people’s lives, something about being a father and in very different ways,’ he replies. riding with your children. There’s ‘For me, my academic research is endless laughing.’ the place in which I flex my creaIt occurred to me at this point how tive muscles.’ Blyth mentions how much of a rich childhood Blyth was he is interested in the psychology giving his children; how pure the of creativity; ‘the idea of the “flow experience was that he was giving experience” is fascinating, that nothem; creating for them. He was – tion of being so absorbed in doing almost subconsciously - creating something that all sense of time and those moments of total absorption, place disappears, and you get lost in of serenity and ecstasy; those moyour thoughts. This resonates with ments of ‘flow’. But did he realise he me hugely, especially in my academwas even doing it? ic work.’

So I ask myself the same questions Is this something we all experiagain. What is creativity? Why is it ence? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a useful? Where does it come from?

Hungarian-American psychologist, And why is it such a hard concept founded this concept of the ‘flow to pin down? Well, to be honest, I’m experience’, attributing it to a major still not too sure. But perhaps crefactor towards happiness. ‘It gives ativity isn’t just about artistic creyou a pure sense of timelessness, seation. Maybe it’s something much renity and ecstasy’. broader than that; something more I asked him what he does when he universal; something more fundais not working. mentally human.

Epigram / Fergus Ustianowksi

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Conversations with Fergal: How to be creative

Features 11

epigram 10.11.2020

Election canvassing for the US Democrats as a Bristol student Two Politics students at the University of Bristol share their experience canvassing for the Democrats in the 2020 US election.

Samuel Kahn

4th Year, Politics & International Relations

Estelle Nilsson-Julien

2nd Year, Politics & International Relations

Flickr / Gage Skidmore

I

ts 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon, I am sitting on the phone in my Bristol university flat.

But the place I’m calling is a very different setting. I am cold calling Americans to convince them to vote for the Democrats and I’ve not been overly successful. I’m volunteering for a congressional campaign in the Midwest, in the closest race for congress in the country and the heart of red-neck America.

I found it hard to sit by in good over broken glass to vote, I’ll do it.’ conscience, especially watching the Then I got to the people I really news coverage of the US election, wanted to speak to. Trump supportknowing I did not do anything to ers. keep Trump out. Admittedly the secSome of them told me they like ond, less messianic reason, is that I Trump because he ‘tells it like it is’, found it exciting to talk to a slice of he ‘wants to keep corruption out of provincial Americana. the White House’, and that he is ‘doMost of the people who I called ing an amazing job by building the hung up immediwall.’

The people I chatted to ately. One cheerOne supporter ful caller heard were often friendly people was even more my generic forwho I would be happy to to the point, eign accent and proudly declarcall a friend shouted down the ing ‘I ain't a line ‘you’re a sham, where are you commie, they’ll turn the country calling from? India?’ into a sack of shit’, before turning I suppose he was right in a way. the questioning around on me - ‘are I was a bit of a sham. I’m not a US you a commie?’ citizen, nor can I vote in the election, My favourite interaction with a and I’ve never been to the US state Trump supporter was when he told in question. I wasn’t exactly a credime he’d ‘had a shot of vodka with ble person. his coffee this morning’, before After channelling calling Biden ‘the biggest my inner Hugh Grant idiot that ever drew a and opening with breath of air.’ my standard line, ‘Hi I don’t want to paint there, I don’t suppose the people of the USA you have a minas vicious. The peoute to talk about ple I chatted to were the election?’, one often friendly people woman shouted who I would be happy down the phone, ‘I’m to call a friend. They in the middle of an ice were charming, blunt, storm right now so not and remarkably open really.’ about their beliefs.

Before she hung That being said, up she said: ‘If there is no I have to getting crawl

past 9pm lightly. away from the fact that the views For the first part of phone canthat some expressed were frightenvassing I was convinced that a ing. They see the Black Lives Matter technological fault was behind the movement as a threat to the safety silence at the other end of the line. I of their police officers. Some were soon realised that a big part in this vehemently anti-abortion. A lot of silence was the generic script I was them have a ‘live free or die’ outlook reading off. Perhaps my hyper-poon the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst lite and overenthusiastic British acsome believe the virus is a Chinese cent played a part in it too. I do not hoax; all want their old lives back. like to think of political canvassing To me, America gets to be a brief, as cold calling yet exotic, taste Phone canvassing can be though. You may of the polarising quite a scary experience be a salesperson 2020 election; in the political others aren’t so when people get form, but few lucky. It has nevaggressive cold callers beer been more aplieve in the product they sell as much parent to me that I am not a woman as phone bankers do. Furthermore, who needs an abortion and can’t get in training it is emphasised that you one. I’m not an elderly person who should check that people are regiswishes their neighbours would wear tered to vote, regardless of politia mask. I’m not one of the 20 million cal conviction. The Trump-Biden Americans who risks having their inrace has already set a record for surance plan taken away from them. the largest turnout in US history, I hope that I at least convinced which is an exciting prospect in some callers that not all Democrats terms of citizen engagement. are loonies.

You do wonder whether there is any point, when the Tuesday morning. It is dark, minus very mention of the word one degree, there is an ice storm and ‘Democrat' leads to peoyou are dragging your whining child ple shouting down the to school. The phone rings and you line ‘where did you answer. It is a young British woman; get my number, you she tells you she is calling on becrazy woman?’ half of the Congresswoman, running Another Repubfor the Democrats in a Midwestern lican told me State. Slam down the phone? I don’t how much blame you - I probably would too. he hat2020 is a year of big things. I am twenty years old, living through an unprecedented pandemic and as I write these words, we are days away from one of the USA’s most decisive elections. People in Britain are invested in how this episode unravels. They are making plans to follow the election into the night – and yes, shockingly that does include my parents, who are not up

ed Biden and all the Democrats, but ‘especially Nancy Pelosi’ for trying to impeach Trump.

Phone banking is such a particular art and I found it different to interviewing people. You are not asking questions imbued with flattery and cannot be too critical of your interlocutor either. You must connect with them whilst remembering that you are a campaigner. It’s a bit like trying to be friends with someone who really doesn’t have any time for you. I am no master at phone banking, and I don’t know how much my canvassing helped, but I would strongly encourage other students to get involved in any campaigning persuasion.

12 Features

epigram 10.11.2020

‘I was able to communicate those criticisms without being vilified’ | In conversation with Inaya Folarin Iman Inaya talks to Epigram about race, cancel culture, and whether Bristol should rename the Wills Memorial Building Oliver Neale Philosophy BA 2015

Epigram / Inaya Folarin Iman

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naya Folarin Iman is a writer, commentator and founder of the Equiano Project, a debate, discussion and ideas forum which facilitates conversations about, and promotes the values of, freedom, humanism and universalism, particularly in the areas of race, culture and politics. I spoke with Inaya to ask her about the Equiano Project, as well as her thoughts on race, cancel culture, quotas, and how we relate to our history.

The Equiano Project promotes a ‘universalist, pro-enlightenment perspective on racial issues in keeping with the liberal tradition of anti-racism’ which affirms the principle that people be judged ‘by the content of their character rather than by the colour of their skin’. Inaya founded the project as a response to the rise of who happens to be of a brown skin Black Lives Matter and its underlying complexion; I’m someone who is victimised, oppressed, and subjugated philosophy, critical race theory.

‘When the BLM protests emerged, under a “white supremacist” system.’

Those who subscribe to the new although there may have been righteous anger, so to speak,' she says, ‘I ideology spread it by sharing reading felt the movement was both wrong lists, with the instruction, ‘educate in its assumptions and claims about yourself’. Inaya has read the books British society. While a lot of peo- and is scathing: ‘The problem with ple instinctually knew what was be- “educate yourself” is how authoritaring said wasn’t completely correct, ian it is. Why would you think that people on the whole did not feel it because I read it, I will agree with it? was safe to speak out. As a woman It’s this hive mind that says you must of African heritage living in Britain, read this and you will understand. born and raised in Britain, I was in a But what if I read it and I think, “this position where I was able to commu- is a load of crap”, which is what I do nicate those criticisms without being think.’

Recently, the University of Edvilified and attacked, as unfortunately many others have been for saying inburgh has changed the name of ‘David Hume Tower’ to ‘40 George almost exactly the same things.’

Inaya explains how critical race Square’ after it was discovered that theory seeks to re-racialize society Hume penned an essay in 1748 conto the detriment of social harmony: taining a racist footnote.

Inaya objects: ‘It doesn’t seek to make skin Why would you think that ‘You must really think very low of colour and race because I read it, I'm going me if you think as trivial as skin to agree with it? that I cannot colour and eye handle that, that colour; it seeks to rectify racial divisions and insti- I am uniquely unable to handle the tutionalise them. So you’re not just reality and the complexity of historisomeone who happens to have fairer cal figures. And I think it’s the height skin than me, you are a white per- of arrogance that you think you can son that has “white privilege” and project value judgements of the presperhaps also “white fragility”, in that ent day onto the past.’

Censoring ‘problematic’ things on you are both complicit and blind to “white supremacy”, and benefit from behalf of ‘vulnerable’ minorities has it. Just by looking at you, according been referred to variously as ‘woketo this theory, I can make all of those ness’, ‘illiberal liberalism’, and ‘the assumptions about you. And when new intolerance’. Inaya knows the you look at me, I’m not just someone phenomenon well from her time at

Leeds, where she studied Arabic and Politics before graduating in 2019.

‘There was a movement at my university called “Decolonise the Curriculum”. As Features Editor of my student newspaper, I dared suggest we run a piece putting forward a different perspective than this, and a massive backlash ensued. I received a lot of strongly-worded emails from people saying that to even suggest that is to potentially create a platform for white supremacists. If in a university – the place where we are meant to create knowledge – we cannot criticise the dominant ideologies that are shaping campus life, how can we expect people to be resilient, to have reasoned arguments, to have thought their ideas through when they’ve never been challenged and actually to challenge is taken as a deep and personal attack?’

The University of Bristol is calling for an amendment to the Equality Act to enable ‘positive action measures’ to help it close the ‘race equity gap’. In a recent blog post, Bristol University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Judith Squires explains that the amendment ‘aims to enable specific ethnic groups to be treated more favourably in employment that [sic] other ethnicities where we reasonably think that the specific ethnic group experiences disadvantage.’

For Inaya, this represents a worrying departure from the liberal ideal: ‘Racial quotas aim at achieving a race-based redistribution which undermines notions that we should

at least be aspiring to such a meri- but not others?’

For Inaya, calls for quotas undertocracy, personal responsibility, and the ability of all people regardless of appreciate the successes of minoribackground to be able to compete on ties: ‘In Britain we are seeing massive upward mobility. Among 16-30 year equal terms.’

Inaya notes the use of ‘equity’ in olds, black African and Caribbean particular. ‘Equity is a word that has people are now in a comparable sitcrept up in prominence in recent uation with the white British popuyears. I think that people wrong- lation - a huge difference from the ly think that equity is the same as generation before. Nigerian kids have equality. It’s fundamentally differ- 20% higher attainment rate than the ent. In the liberal tradition we talk of general population. British Chinese equality of opportunity and equality and Indian people have a higher medium housebefore the law.

Equity is a kind For Inaya, calls for quotas hold income than the white British of fixed, what I underappreciate the success population.’ would generally of minorities Campaigners regard as an arhave suggested bitrary, specific percentage of what everyone should the Wills Memorial be renamed on fit into. So if you’re this colour, you the grounds that the tobacco, the will be able to get this role, and if sale of which gave the Wills famiyou’re not you won’t. We are literal- ly its fortune and the university its ly saying that we should be treating historical funding, may have been people based on the colour of their “slave-grown”. Inaya has another suggestion: skin. That to me is racist.’

‘History should be taught in whole.

Diversity defies equity; differences in people’s interests and abilities History is about truth, key events, see them gravitate to different areas and the movers and shakers. If those and achieve different results. A com- people happened to have some dark mitment to equity threatens people’s histories and skeletons, so be it. freedom to pursue their own interests That’s interesting. Let’s encourage and progress on merit. Inaya express- complexity, nuance, richness, depth es the problem thus: ‘We are all di- of thinking and depth of people. verse. We have an overrepresentation That’s fascinating.

‘By censoring history you are of black people in football. Should we have equity in that area? Should censoring our understanding of the we sack the black footballers and get human story, and you’re also not some Asian people in in order to fit helping a single ethnic minority life, this quota system? Why is it that we or anyone’s life for that matter. Just should have quotas in certain areas stop it!’

Opinion

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

Twitter: @EpigramOpinion

Free school meals are essential to equal opportunity when they find themselves in a situation, over the winter period, during a pandemic?

As someone who grew up in a low-income household, having access to free school meals was crucial.

It ensured that I had food on my plate when I was in school, that my needs were being met and relieved Tara Ghias, the stress of my parents. I would not Third Year, History be at the University of Bristol, were it not for free school meals and the Over lockdown, there were many impact they had on my learning. No discussions between government child should be going hungry, parand MPs about the future of free ticularly in the most difficult year we school meals, and whether it was have come across sustainable enough to con- No child should be going in decades.

The country is tinue. With the hungry, particularly in in the middle of pandemic makthe most difficult year a global pandeming many people we have come across in ic, our leaders are redundant, and decades supposed to be the government there to support us through such difhaving previously failed to back the ficult times. Instead, they had decidcontinuation of the scheme, until ed to abandon helpless children, and footballer Marcus Rashford forced place an even greater strain on their them into more than one U-turn, parents, who were simply made to now is the most important time to deal with the consequences of povbring this issue to attention. erty and desperation.

Free school meals are part of a Amid all this controversy, there scheme where children qualify if is a light of hope at the end of the their parents receive income support, tunnel. The recent government deciJobseeker’s allowance or Universal sion has not only sparked fury, but Credit, amongst other reasons. In esaction from local governments, busisence, it means if a child's parents nesses and charities. Many of these can't afford to pay their meals at organisations had pledged to help school, the local authorities will step feed children over the Christmas in and pay it for them. break. Bristol alone saw around 25 It is estimated that around 4.1 businesses promise to provide free million children in Great Britain live schools meals over winter. in relative poverty, with less than 2 Moreover, Bristol City Council had million of those pupils receiving free also promised to provide meals for school meals. This number is bound vulnerable children over half term. to increase rapidly in the light of the This demonstrates that the city came fact that the pandemic. together and was willing to fight A campaign to fight back was against the government’s original instigated by Marcus Rashford, footmisguided decision. baller for Manchester United and It is heart-warming to see our loprevious recipient of free school cal city and businesses step up to meals. Tireless campaigning manfight against child poverty, when our aged to pressure the government to national leaders have failed to do so.

U-turn on their decision and extend Bristol’s Mayor, Marvin Rees, has the scheme. However, a majority of promised that the city will be ‘stepMPs originally voted against the ping up’ to make sure that all chilcontinuation of the free school meals dren are fed adequately throughout scheme over the winter period. this challenging period.

Questions will be asked of the MPs As a Bristol student, who also who initially voted against this. It is calls this city my home, I could not not within these children's control, be prouder of the joint efforts made so why should the government not by citizens. give them the support they require

Virtual classes can be invasive Alice Proctor

We cannot dismiss the impact of free school meals as without them, many University students wouldn't be where they are today

Epicartoon: ‘Cameras on, please’

Being asked to put your camera on during seminars blurs the line between privacy and education Emily Johnstone PhD, Cyber Security

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he ‘new normal’ of online learning is in full swing, and students across the nation have enrolled at the Universities of Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Slack.

While virtual learning provides opportunities for connection and collaboration, it has also left students in some very awkward situations.

Picture this with everyone stuck at home: shower battles, toaster turf wars and a race to find the best study space have taken over the morning routine. Although you have a lecture soon, you try not to stress about the house resembling a disaster-zone, until you are asked to turn on your camera.

In one click, your student house - complete with the piles of coffee cups, takeaways and a hungover housemate roaming around in their dressing gown - is on view to your entire cohort and lecturer. Scenarios like these leave us debating the following issue: ‘should students be forced to switch on their cameras during lectures?’

In a year that we never anticipated, online lectures have blurred the boundary between University and

home life. Staff and students have been given a window into our lives that used to be relatively private.

However, when we start judging others on their home environments, we are forgetting that the pandemic has not affected everyone equally.

Socioeconomic barriers can seem more obvious when students are asked to turn on their cameras.

Many students share study spaces with their flatmates and others are juggling learning with child-care responsibilities. Forcing students to switch on their cameras creates another issue: sometimes poor connection means that video options are simply not possible. Calling students out for turning their cameras off creates unnecessary financial pressures, as not everybody is in a position to upgrade their WiFi. It has also not been easy for everyone to embrace video calls. In some cases, online learning has left people feeling more awkward than connected.

Being seen on other people’s screens can feel very exposing and uncomfortable. With all eyes on you, it comes as little surprise that some students feel more comfortable speaking with their cameras switched off.

As much as some students struggle with the camera on, we should be mindful that others struggle with the camera off. Lip-reading, gestures and body language can make lectures more accessible for students with disabilities. Therefore, striking a

balance is really important to ensure everyone feels confident and comfortable to contribute.

Privacy concerns can also be directed towards the companies running our virtual learning platforms.

At the beginning of this month, a virtual talk organised by Durham University's St Mary’s College LGBT+ Association was hijacked by abusive callers. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident and students using virtual platforms remain relatively unprotected by the technology companies who run them. Therefore, the decision to switch on a camera can be risky, as privacy can be invaded by individuals and groups outside of the lecture itself.

Ultimately, there is nothing wrong with lecturers encouraging students to turn on their cameras. However, if we consider the range of student circumstances and experiences, this encouragement should not be enforced.

Although lecturers may be concerned about participation, there are more creative solutions than mandating that cameras should be switched on. Alternatives include chat functions, real-time polls and discussion forums, which promote engagement and conversation.

As the pandemic pushes us to find new ways of navigating our daily lives, we cannot let the charm of creating a sense of normality outweigh the importance of our privacy and wellbeing. During this period of uncertainty, we have to challenge what becomes the ‘new normal’.

14 Opinion

epigram 10.11.2020

It is possible for us to have different political leanings and still be friends The New Bristolian: Changes made to assessment methods should be kept post-Covid exam the night before.

You might even say that it feels Lowri Lewis like it takes less effort because Opinion Columnist coursework is in fact more enjoyable.

It’s easy to see why spending hours t felt like there was a collective and hours researching and crafting sigh of relief amongst students a response to a topic that you’ve at the University of Bristol chosen would be more pleasurable when it became clear that, where than spending that same amount of possible, timed exams are being time trying to cram facts into your replaced by coursework this year. long term memory.

Of course, this wouldn’t have And yet, anecdotally, it seems happened without the pandemic like students tend to remember forcing the University’s hand. But if information this is the style of they’ve learned assessment that This year will serve as from doing students prefer, a test of whether we c o u r s e w ork shouldn’t these know what’s best for us much better than changes be here - whether we really are that from timed to stay? better off doing courseexams.

During a year work-heavy degrees in which a new where we can With the source of stress lines between is always waiting around the corner, workspace and bedroom becoming so anything which can lessen the blurred, maybe taking exams outside burden was obviously going to be of this space would revitalise us welcome this year. But when there more than anything else. Personally, is no longer a pandemic around, I’ve never found an exam hall to be coursework will remain the better particularly inspiring. option. For stress levels, yes, but also Some things won’t be changing in in terms of accurately measuring a post Covid world, though. Even pre our ‘understanding’ of a subject, Covid, there seemed to be a growing which assessments are meant to be trend of students choosing optional examining. units based on how they were going Those who thrive under to be examined rather than whether pressure would probably argue the subject matter actually looked that timed exams demonstrate interesting. our understanding better because It doesn’t look like this trend will stress improves performance. And be dying down any time soon. In that’s true - to an extent. But the fact, perhaps being able to see what stress which coursework causes, a degree with fewer timed exams for example, provides us with the looks like will encourage even more motivation to get it done by the students to choose their optional deadline. units in this way.

This is because that stress is of a This year will serve as a test of manageable level. Timed exams can whether we know what’s best for cause a level of adrenaline that’s so us - whether we really are better off high, it actually negatively affects doing coursework-heavy degrees our cognitive abilities. where we can.

We’ve become so accustomed to If we are, then this is the perfect this highly stressful type of exam, opportunity to get rid of timed that some students have come to exams. The change already had think of coursework as the ‘easier’ to be made because of Covid - it’ll option. It may feel easier because just be a case of keeping it. Keeping we’re not also being examined the change which will be better for on our ability to weather hand our stress levels, and will better cramps, heart palpitations or sleep demonstrate the knowledge that the deprivation from worrying about the University wants to assess.

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Epigram/ Pascal Van Liempt

Students can look beyond their political differences in a friendship but being able to make this decision is a priviledge Ben Carpenter Second Year, Film and Television

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n the tense and often politically divided stomping ground of higher education, it may be reasonable to assume that the answer to the question of whether you can have friends of different political beliefs would be a resounding ‘no’.

We often hear people of an older generation denounce the discussion of politics with the phrase ‘separate the politics from the person’. Whilst this slogan may sound wilfully ignorant and consequentially outdated, it does open up the discussion of the ability to separate political beliefs from ethical ones.

For many people, myself included, your political stance doesn’t just represent who you vote for, but also where your morals lie. If you follow this theory, seemingly, if someone who leans left politically were to attempt to form a friendship with someone who leans right this relationship would not work, as there would be a direct clash over significant matters such as human welfare, society, individuality and, ultimately, the moral compass.

However, to assume such a broad stance you would need the student

in depth about the topic, I quickly body to be made up of simply two realised what a privilege it is to be homogenous groups – the right and able to even consider the question of the left – which of course is not the whether people of different political case. Aside from factoring in the leanings could be friends. wide range of views on the politiI came to realise that this question cal spectrum, I believe the key deholds a very different value to her. terminator of a friendship between Despite being a queer male myself, two people with completely different I am still in a position of privilege political views lies with each indiin that whilst my existence may vidual’s personal identity and backbe challenged both politically and ground. socially, the struggles of the transSay you have two white, straight, gender community are head and cis-gendered wealthy males. One shoulders above anything I could leans right politically, and the other understand. leans left. At the end of the day, deMy housemate simply doesn’t have spite their disagreements regarding the privilege to surround herself with politics, neither one’s party is likely people of completely opposing views to cause harm or difficulty to either as these people’s views, and conseindividual. quentially their social stances, inherFurther, neither one’s opinion is ently go against her existence. likely to damage the wellbeing or Further, whilst existence of the she may not have other, partially I believe the key the supposed due to self-presdeterminator of a privilege of this ervation but friendship between two decision, she largely to do with their position of people with completely would also not privilege. As a different political views like to devote her result, a friendlies with each individual’s time to someone with such opposship may seem personal identity and ing values. feasible. A friendbackground Whilst this ship between two statement in itself individuals with could lead the discussion even furopposing political views in a univerther into the arena of echo chambers sity environment largely lies on the and wilful ignorance, this is still a impact of their respective political privileged discussion in themselves views on each other. that the oppressed of society, many Before writing this piece, I spoke of which attend this university, simto my transgender housemate, who ply don’t have the privilege to conalso happens to hold a commusider. nist political stance. After talking

Opinion 15

epigram 10.11.2020

Rebuttal Corner When it comes to student housing, the poblem is not apathy, but misconduct by landlords Cecil E. Khayat Second Year, Classics

A rebuttal to our Columnist's piece in Issue 349: ‘On Students and Housing Conditions.' or those who haven’t read the opinion section’s columnist's article ‘students are their own worst enemy when it comes to housing conditions’. Despite attempts to cast blame on the victim, many students do know their rights and notwithstanding this, many are left with a sour taste in their mouth after they get their deposits back (if they get it at all).

The reason for this is quite simple: in the modern student housing world there is a deep and unjust asymmetry of power between landlord, letting-agent and student renter.

It is increasingly difficult to secure a house, thus putting us at a real disadvantage when negotiating terms.

Landlords seek to gain as much as possible. Why? Because they can.

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education and sanity takes a marked hit.

Maybe the worst hasn't happened: you were saved by your knowledge, a bastion of freedom, the Rent Act came to you in your time of need.

You are the landlord whisperer.

Some would be proud, if not disgusted, by your general apathy towards non-rent affairs.

However, the ever-dreaded changing of the guard is now approaching.

You’ve spent 35 hours and used 50 litres of bleach scrubbing the place down, hoovering until Henry himself couldn't take one more spec of dust.

Oh, Henry, where would we be without you?

The place is now fit for a visit from Senior Drill Instructor Sgt. Hartman himself. You're eagerly awaiting the return of the long-lost deposit. Yet you are informed that the £500 - in all its entirety - will be needed for a deep clean and repaint.

This is absurd and you, being well aware of your rights (for what

Despite attempts to cast blame on the victim, many students do know their rights The price for rectification on our side is truly pyrrhic in order to compel a landlord to remove mold, fix a broken ceiling, or mend a window. It becomes a Sisyphean task.

Consider this, it’s another rainy day in Bristol. You hear the pitter-patter of the rain, you’re compelled to listen to Chopin’s raindrop prelude and wonder what it would be like to live in a European monastery, when you realise the rain is now inside your living room. Your landlord says: ‘I can’t have anyone down for another two weeks - best I can do.’

Many would proclaim that a simple reading of our rights would compel the landlord to come down and fix it himself, because knowing your rights is 9/10 of the law, right?

But who has time to research land law whilst trying to compel their landlord and at the same time complete a degree? So you attempt it and battle with the landlord, whilst your

kind of apathetic good-for-nothing wouldn’t?) demand to speak to the duty manager.

‘The place was in a complete state,’ they say, ‘the walls were ghastly, and I'm not just talking about the horrid beige we used to paint the damn things’.

Infuriated as you can’t afford to lose that much, what do you do?

Few can get to seminars, let alone tribunals, and - despite reading up on my rights - I, for one, certainly don’t have the requisite knowledge to do so.

In 2017 a group of Bristol students had to take their agents to court, over a near-thousand pound cheque.

The group were victorious in their case.

But how many of you have the time or the money to take the major regional company to court, who have their own legal team and decades of housing law experience?

I suspect not very many.

A different view on drugs and alcohol is needed now more than ever

Epigram/ Robin Connolly

The punitive way in which many still view drug consumption and drinking culture needs to change - especially in light of the second lockdown Joe Marshall

Opinion Subeditor

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tudents, society and government don’t see the culture of drinking and illicit drugs as a priority when it comes to their agenda. But as we look towards a second lockdown, it’s critical we talk about the issues and reframe our mindset towards them.

In the most recent survey at the time of writing, Britons believe health to be the most important issue facing our country. While COVID-19 is of course at the forefront of everyone’s minds, so is our mental health.

Given the relationship that drinking and drugs have with our mental health, it’s surprising that it hasn’t featured more in policy or discourse.

Bristol is renowned for its high concentration of drug use – last year, The Independent bestowed the prestigious title of ‘Cocaine Capital of Europe’ upon the city. With students playing a part in this accolade, discussion needs to be had on campus.

I’m conscious not to let this article descend into a ‘Don’t Do Drugs’ pamphlet-style literature. The pandemic has, however, given us an

dent population consuming alcohol opportunity to reflect on drug usage. to varying amounts, we can all reIt’s probable that, if you went flect on how we might feed into this home for lockdown, you would have mindset. been less likely to have used ‘party In my opinion, however, the most drugs’ as much - if at all, with your major change in perspective on parents around. However, there has drinking and drugs has to come from been an uptake in cannabis usage, the institutions that govern us. That with many using it as stress and is to say that the anxiety relief A greater awareness of UK government amidst the mire of why we're using drugs and many uniuncertainty that this year contin- can only be a good thing versities have an aggressive policy ues to be. towards students for behaviours perA greater awareness of why we’re taining to drug use. using drugs, and how this year has This punitive approach is frankbeen different to others in this rely unrealistic – the ‘war on drugs’ spect, can only be a good thing. It approach the UK and most other is important to understand the way countries have taken clearly hasn’t in which drinking and drug habits worked. It stigmatises drug users affect our mental health. This is parwhen, in reality, a significant proticularly pressing, given the recent portion of the population consumes decision to place the nation into a illicit substances. The students four-week lockdown. who are part of that group haven’t Still, as much as we need to think changed and won’t change their beabout it, it’s contextually important haviour en masse with the threat of to bear in mind that only a minoridisciplinary measures. ty of students use illicit drugs, while A shift to a more cooperative apalcohol use is far more prevalent on proach is required from government University campuses. and higher education institutions Within weeks of starting as a alike. Bristol SU's recent drug-harm fresher, an international flatmate of reduction campaign, in collaboration mine remarked his intrigue towards with Bristol Drugs Project, is a posiBritish drinking culture. His point tive step. Only in such environments was a valid one that students should can more transparent discussion take acknowledge: many students use place, with those with drinking and drinking as a crutch, as something to drug problems able to safely seek depend on in social occasions. and gain access to support.

It’s concerning that the practice of Students should take the opportuneeding a drink to relax socially has nity this challenging year has prebecome normalised in UK student sented to reflect on the drink and culture in a way that is alarming to drugs culture we’re a part of. other cultures. With 79% of the stu-

16 Opinion

epigram 10.11.2020

Lecturers should not be allowed to unilaterally decide whether their presence on campus is necessary Face-to-face teaching is still viable despite the second lockdown, so the UCU should let students get what they paid for Fiorenza Dell'Anna Opinion Editor

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s we brace ourselves and prepare for a second lockdown, the University has guaranteed that blended learning will continue. Yet, from the very start these two words have eluded students. Perhaps more so when, upon returning to Bristol, many found that they had no, or next-to-no face-toface teaching at all. Had it all been a dream?

Unfortunately, the one group who did very quickly cotton on to what it meant happened to be the UCU, and since before term began they have

been trying to put a stop to it.

So it began: a series of motions and emergency meetings in which the members claimed that they themselves should be allowed to decide whether their presence on campus was necessary or not, and that they ‘do not feel safe’ being around students in a classroom.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am in no way undermining the gravity of the virus and I am entirely sympathetic of the many staff members and students that are vulnerable and need to shield. However, we cannot forget that we were made a promise by the University, that some staff members are now taking into their own hands to unnecessarily break.

I say unnecessarily due to the fact that this virus was neither born nor exists exclusively on University campuses and it is high time we stopped acting as though it did.

I empathise with a lot of the concerns felt by staff and students, but I struggle to believe that any of the staff members (who do not need to shield) claiming they don’t feel safe around young people could in good conscience say that they have not been for a coffee, a meal or even to a supermarket since lockdown was lifted, where they were not served by a young person of some description.

The point I am making is that unless lecturers are barricaded in their homes, they are no more at risk on campus than if they go anywhere else.

It is because of this that I simply do not buy this narrative. For one needn’t look far (think of the endless weeks of strikes last year) to see that some union members clasp any opportunity to avoid doing their jobs with the determination and resilience of a bulldog with lockjaw.

Another problematic component of these meetings and motions is the seemingly acceptable rhetoric that is being used - how is it that it is now permissible to essentially brand students as spreaders and carriers?

Somewhere along the line, we started to believe it was perfectly legitimate to be referred to as though we were the unfortunate inhabitants of some sort of leper colony - we even have to wear visors in class, as well as masks, like a humiliated pet leaving the vet in a cone.

We socially distance, sanitise, and yes, we wear the foggy visors which in the most unfortunate cases, drip with a sort of grimy condensation.

Yet it is all somehow worthwhile.

All we want is what we were promised for a substantial sum of money: the chance to be able to see our lecturers in person, if possible.

Despite the second lockdown we

now find ourselves in, a spokesperson for the University has recently claimed that ‘no changes to the measures currently in place are required from a health perspective’. So there is time yet for the UCU to make the ultimate threat: strikes. I wait with bated breath…

The spokesperson added that when deciding what happens next, they will take into account ‘local institutional risk assessment and wider staff and student feedback,’ amongst other things.

If this counts as feedback, I think students are immensely grateful to all of the staff members who have enthusiastically come back to campus since term started. I, for one, would not trade in-person teaching for the world as nothing quite compares to it - even whilst finding it difficult to breathe through a mask, under a steamy visor.

Please don't treat us students like kids throughout this second lockdown Despite the surge in cases at University, many young people don't agree with the restrictions and think they should be allowed to take their own risks Maya Ellwood-Sawyer First Year, Philosophy and Sociology

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uring the national lockdown I was very strict on the rules. I didn’t leave the house apart from for my daily walk and, like many others, I felt anger at those who weren’t abiding by the rules as meticulously as me. Didn’t they care about the old and vulnerable? Or the overwhelmed NHS staff?

Couldn’t they see the importance of this sacrifice?

But when the government released us from lockdown, with schemes encouraging us to go out, spend money and return to filled offices I started to feel different. This, to me, signalled that although the danger was still there, we needed to move forward with life. For the economy, if not for our mental health.

As part of a generation that has been raised to believe it is the individual’s sole responsibility to tackle the world's problems, encouraged to

use paper straws and reusable water lockdown.

The first year of University can be bottles to solve global warming and incredibly lonely the like, it’s hard not to feel guilty It’s hard not to feel guilty and difficult at about continuing about continuing with life the best of times. with life while while cases both locally Add to that being cases both localand nationally are rising unable to meet people on your ly and nationally course face-to-face, socialising in a are rising.

However, it is more than evident normal way and possibly being unawhat a huge toll lockdown is taking ble to return home to see friends and on students’ lives, with many suffer- family, it sadly seems cases like this ing from severe and sometimes fatal are inevitable.

Despite a rise in cases, I have been mental health issues that have been either triggered or aggravated by the more lax with lockdown restric-

tions than ever before. While I still tent with the current circumstances.

Beyond this, what most universiunderstand the huge importance of continuing to act responsibly, I also ties claim to teach their students is believe that we need to find a bal- critical thinking skills, and these are ance between following restrictions the very skills I believe we should be and living a life that is not detrimen- using in order to decide the best way to act in light of tal to our mental the pandemic. health, study and Students are generally We all know ultimately our considerate, smart and the importance of University experesponsible enough to protecting those rience. decide how to follow around us.

That Having been restrictions being said, stupromised a oncein-a-lifetime experience, you will dents (for the most part anyway) are struggle to find a student who is con- well-equipped enough to balance being sensible and responsible enough to protect others while taking into their own hands whether a seventh person should be allowed in their flat.

Of course, I’m not encouraging anyone to flout the rules: obviously, if you have symptoms, get a test and stay inside. But from what I’ve seen, my friends are vigilant and considerate about looking out for the signs and staying in to protect people.

Ultimately, sending thousands of young people from across the country into a new area to live with new people was always going to cause a rise in cases – and students would have been blamed for that rise anyway.

But students are generally considerate, smart, and responsible enough to decide how to follow restrictions.

Epigram/ Lucy O'Neill

Film&TV

Editor Maddy Raven Digital Editor Katya Spiers Deputy Editor Sam Vickers

Twitter: @Epigramculture

The London Film Festival special David Byrne invokes visions of an American Utopia in his new concert film

When he talks to his live theatre audience about hope, I notice everyone around me is singing and bouncing their knees in unison Tilly Long

Third Year, English Literature

In a new era of COVID-induced restrictions and increasing stipulations, a jubilated, singing crowd may sound hard pressed to come by. But thanks to David Byrne’s latest venture, a live recording of his Broadway show American Utopia, the 2020 London Film Festival was able to culminate in an awe-inspiring musical.

Well known for working in an abundance of mediums including but not limited to opera, photography and fiction, Byrne is no stranger to innovation. The frontman of Talking Heads, a band of former art students who released their debut album amidst the New York punk scene of the 1970s, his name quickly became synonymous with pioneering the new wave genre.

Arguably one of the best concert films ever made, Jonathan Demme’s Stop Making Sense (1984) documented the band’s tour of their 1983 album 'Speaking in Tongues', with its impossible energy and hilariously mechanical dance moves. Byrne’s iconic, enormous grey suit adaptly encapsulated the playful nature of the movie; you can see why cinema

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the House’. energy that has a genuine sense of Alongside those classics come new excitement that it even exists. songs, the most emotive of which being a cover version of Janelle Jake Kuhn Monae’s 2015 protest song ‘Hell You In American Utopia, David Byrne Talmbout’. The laments the differlyrics chant the What makes this essential ences between his names of Afriviewing is the cathartic version of ‘Everycan Americans body’s Coming to celebration created by who have been My House’ and a Byrne, which we are all high school choir’s killed as a result of police brutal- encouraged to partake in version. He says ity, before askof his; ‘the singer ing us, ‘won’t you say their name?' sounds like he doesn’t know how Here the presence of acclaimed dito feel about ‘everybody coming rector Spike Lee becomes immedito [his] house’… you can sense that ately apparent; he includes images he’s thinking ‘when are they gonof the families of the victims holding na leave?' Yet, in the latter’s: ‘they up photographs of their lost loved didn’t change a single lyric, they ones. didn’t change the melody, yet their The Broadway show closed on version seems to be about welcomFebruary 16, 2020, three months being, inviting everybody over, inclufore George Floyd’s murder and the sion.' subsequent resurgence of the Black The magic of American Utopia is Lives Matter Movement. And while that it recontextualizes Byrne’s muwe’ve all seen Floyd’s image go viral, sic to be a contemporary, relevant there is something immensely powand thought-provoking film about erful about it appearing on a huge how best we move forward and learn cinema screen. to love one another. What could be David Byrne’s American Utopia better? was also the favourite of several of our London Film Festival writers at Epigram this season, who had this to say about it:

goers of the time were reportedly dancing in the seat aisles.

In the same joyous fashion as this, Byrne’s new concert film combines just the right amount of wistful nostalgia with cultural relevance. The stripped back staging reflects these opposing themes. It's grey and bare, just like the musicians’ bare feet and grey suits, but the vitality is nonetheless palpable. Everyone is untethered from their instruments, granting them unlimited dancing space.

A fundamental difference between Stop Making Sense and American Utopia seems abundantly clear from the first song, which sees Byrne alone on stage tracing a plastic brain, singing ‘here is an area that needs attention.' Whilst he may not have set out to produce an inherently political show, this time round feels

far more like a performance with an intended message. In between songs he often muses on the importance of voting, consistently emphasising the horrifying context of 2020 America.

What makes this essential viewing is the cathartic celebration created

by Byrne, which we are all encouraged to partake in. When he talks to his live theatre audience about hope, people in my cinema screen cheer along, and when he plays the most famous tracks from Stop Making Sense, I notice everyone around me is singing and bouncing their knees in unison. Hearing new renditions of older songs also highlights the relevancy of their lyrics now more than ever before, particularly the connotations behind ‘I Know Sometimes a Man Is Wrong / Don't Worry About the Government’ and ‘Burning Down

American Utopia exists alongside Demme’s masterwork as one of the most essential films of the decade so far. A work of seemingly limitless

ble. Soul (2020) swings big and attempts to deconstruct the meaning of life – the why, the actual reason we choose to get up in the morning – in the only way Pixar knows how.

After an untimely accident causes his soul to be separated from his body, music teacher Joe Gardner (brilliantly voiced by Jamie Foxx) finds himself fighting to get back to his body with the help of another soul named 22 (voiced by Tina Fey).

With jaw-dropping 3D (and 2D!) animation that travels in-between a sprawling, organic New York City and two new spaces the film calls the Great Before and the Great Beyond, we are presented with three

playgrounds of limitless inventiveness that is sure to reward viewers on repeat watches. Even if you’re not a fan of jazz, I’m sure the film will convert you. Every jazz sequence is hypnotising, bursting with creativity and energy. Every scene in the Great Before is wonderfully designed and often very funny thanks to some hilarious voice work from Richard Ayoade, Graham Norton and Rachel House. In fear of even minor spoilers, I will refrain from saying anything else because the film deserves fresh eyes and ears.

Soul also boasts Pixar’s best music since Ratatouille (2007), with a gorgeous jazz score composed by

Jon Batiste that breathes life and a feeling that is almost tangible into the bustle of New York City, and an entrancing score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross that occupies that Great Before (and) Beyond that feels ethereal and so different to anything in mainstream animation.

This is why Soul stands out from its contemporaries.

The film feels similar but couldn’t be more distinct. It is extremely refreshing to see a story that stars a middle-aged black man that is not confined by his race, but rather existing with goals and aspirations like everyone else. The film takes a topic

Julius De La Rama

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Soul is one of the best Pixar films in history

Soul swings big and attempts to deconstruct the meaning of life Julius De La Rama

Third Year, Film & Television

P

ete Docter returns five years after Inside Out (2015) – a beautiful, cathartic odyssey through the mind of an eleven-year-old – with what I believe is Pixar’s best film in over a decade. As of late, the animation studio has been grappling with much bigger questions concerning our every day and aspects of our lives that are fundamentally unknowa-

as serious as mortality and injects it with hope, beauty and happiness.

At the end of the day, I believe that we are afforded very few chances of authentic, sincere joy in our lifetimes, and we are given very little opportunity to understand just how important those moments of joy truly are. Soul cherishes the everyday, it encourages introspection, and in this debilitating time that is the pandemic, I am so very grateful a film like this exists.

I am so excited for the world to be normal again, but while we wait, let Soul transport you to better times.

19 Film&TV

epigram 10.11.2020

Lovers Rock is a truly joyous experience Beautiful, evocative and guaranteed to make you smile Jake Kuhn Third Year, Film & Television

T

hey sit looking at their menus. Brandon steals a moment, eyes tracing over Marianne’s fingers playing with the edge of her menu. The flutter of her lashes. Nipples ghosting her dress. A ring indent around her wedding finger, the shrink of skin.

This excerpt from the script of Shame (2011), written by Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan, showcases a careful focus on small details. In an intimate character study such as Shame, time dedicated to revealing character traits, no matter how small, feels commonplace. However, in McQueen’s career, he has managed to include and even hold on these types of close-ups in increasingly larger, more action-driven films. Typically, he uses them as either visual metaphors to emphasise the action or

These three films exemplify the complex inner worlds that women build for themselves Maddy Raven

Shirley (2020)

our characters’ innocence and kindness in a way that most directors struggle to show in ninety minutes.

McQueen then contrasts this joy by adding quick glimpses of the outside world’s racism: a quick shot of four white children looking suspiciously at the house playing loud reggae music, or a protagonist’s encounter with his boss, a signifier of systemic racism. These small details build to summon a feeling conveying the claustrophobia of racism

without actually showing it. Whereas the rest of Mangrove’s plot feels more didactic, McQueen uses Lovers Rock to demonstrate the power of his small details in exposing the truth.

Lovers Rock may feel like more of a novella than a novel, but it’s beautiful, evocative and guaranteed to make you smile. Seeing the faces of the small crowd on the dance floor as McQueen drops the needle on Kung Fu Fighting is worth the price of admission alone.

find solace in each other, playing a strange game of cat and mouse around the beautiful home in which they both appear to be trapped.

coming-of-age. Birthdays, cuddles and pet names are not commonplace for her family, but Melanie opens up the world for her, and watching the two women circle each other – one a frightened animal, and the other warm and inviting – is fascinatingly beautiful.

In fact, the film is full of larger-than-life characters, creating a fantastical fairy tale full of colour, and though the premise of the film seems surreal, the underlying emotions are very much real.

the cliffs where I’ve walked so many times being traversed by Joanna Scanlan was quite strange for me.

This film was deeply emotional – and very quiet. Joanna Scanlan fully inhabits Mary, though without the assurance of her husband, IMDb she becomes internal and uncomfortable in her own skin.

When she is asked why she doesn’t remove her hijab after her husband dies, she explains that she’s worn it longer than she hasn’t.

Even when it becomes apparent that her husband was unfaithful for years, she continues to cling to her adopted religion: a last vestige of him, and a lifeline. Theirs is a relationship that spans decades, and she can’t simply let go just because he was unfaithful.

Elisabeth Moss, Joanna Scanlan and Evan Rachel Wood all give powerhouse performances in films that are ultimately about female friendship and relationships. It is so rare to find worlds within film that aren’t dominated by men in some way – though it’s possible that, technically speaking, After Love might fail the Bechdel test because of its subject matter – and these three films exemplify the complex inner worlds that women build for themselves, and how they relate to the world around them.

Alic Kajillionaire (2020) eP Kajillionaire is more r light-hearted, though it has a dark undercurrent. Old Dolio Dyne (Evan Rachel Wood) is a young woman in a co-dependent relationship with her con artist parents. A watch on her wrist tells her that every day, she must return to where they have set up camp in an old office space and help to clean up the mess created by the overflow from the bubble factory next door.

When they have to make some quick cash, Old Dolio suggests an insurance scam involving lost luggage at an airport – her parents meet Melanie (Gina Rodriguez), who goes from potential mark to apprentice in their schemes.

Though this seems fun to Melanie at first, the tensions in the family rise when their dynamic is changed, and Old Dolio begins to long for the experiences she has missed out on.

She seems to be stuck as a petulant child, in baggy clothes and hanging her head, and this film chronicles her

After Love (2020)

After Love was the saddest of the films I watched at the festival. The debut feature of Aleem Khan, it tells the story of Mary – a white woman who converts to Islam in order to be Alice with her husband. When he Pr dies, she discovers that oc he has been having a years-long affair with a woman in Calais.

Set in Dover, the film explores the relationship between the two coastal towns, and identity. More importantly, what we build our identity around, or rather, who.

I went to see this film because I am from Thanet, so Dover is my nextdoor neighbour in a way, and seeing

r to

My first film is Shirley (2020).

Starring Elisabeth Moss, Logan Lerman, Odessa Young and Michael Stuhlbarg, Shirley is a film written by Josephine Decker, adapted from the fictional novel by the same name (Susan Scarf Merrell) about the real Shirley Jackson. Shirley Jackson was ahead of her time – a prolific genre author, and the breadwinner of her family in the ‘50s. Known for titles such as The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, both of which have been adapted in recent years, Shirley Jackson was a brilliant mind, although this film takes a slightly different direction.

When Shirley’s husband, Stanley, invites his teaching assistant Fred and wife Rosie Nemser to move in with them while the two men work

at the local Bennington College, the four fall into a strange pattern, acting out toxic patterns of behaviour and almost ritualistic bonding techniques. As soon as they arrive, Stanley asks Rosie (who is pregnant) to take over on household chores, because Shirley is unable to look after herself. Rosie and Shirley form a fascinating, symbiotic relationship, which toes the line between friend and foe, as Shirley becomes obsessed with the story of a local missing girl, and Rosie is sucked into the intricacies of Shirley’s world. At times, it seems that Shirley is playing with Rosie, and at others, she seems genuinely concerned about the young woman’s wellbeing.

Shirley gives an impassioned speech to Stanley about why this missing girl, and indeed all young women who are taken advantage of, matters; she still participates in the reverent erosion of Rosie’s psyche, whilst Fred grows distant. Stripped bare, Rosie becomes nothing more than a deluded housewife, though it’s unclear how much of that is Shirley’s fault, and how much of this descent into discontent was as inevitable as she would have us believe.

The obvious scorn Shirley shows for Rosie’s life choices is prevalent throughout, despite the fact that she herself is miserable and so they

to r

F

rom the 7 to 18 October, more than 300 films were screened both online and in our local cinemas by the BFI for the London Film Festival – although it would have been physically impossible to see them all, here are some of my favourites.

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Editor's Picks oc

Film & TV Editor

themes in preceding scenes or to work backwards and forwards rocking as useful character development. slow down to a stop; the sound eeAt LFF 2020, two films from Ste- rily reminiscent of a heartbeat. This ve McQueen’s new series, Small Axe shot alone conveyed the oppression (2020) were shown: Mangrove (2020) of the police force in a much more and Lovers Rock (2020). Mangrove striking way than any of the filmed takes place in 1970 and tells the true sequences of their actual brutality.

The reason I am focusing on Mcstory of the first judicial acknowledgement of racial hatred in the Queen’s small details is that Lovers Metropolitan Police. Watching the Rock feels like the first time that Mcscenes in which Frank Crichlow’s Queen has had the means and time (Shaun Parkes) restaurant, the titular to make a film that is solely about Mangrove, is raided, abused and de- the small details. Largely plotless, the stroyed by a cruel, racist Metropol- film concerns a house party in 1980s London and is a itan Police chief is heart-breaking. The It evokes a yearning for truly joyous experience. With a action is brilliantsimpler times beautifully craftly choreographed and photographed, with each police ed Reggae soundtrack, cheap beer officer feeling overbearing with- and lit with orangey summer shades, in the frame and each smashed it evokes a yearning for simpler times.

McQueen allows us to sit back and plate feeling particularly brutal.

The shot that affected me the most watch his protagonists dance. The in this sequence, however, was a camera lingers lovingly on the curves close-up of a rocking colander on the of party-goers as they slowly sway to floor of the wrecked downstairs kitch- Janet Kay’s ‘Silly Games’. This dance en. McQueen holds on it for an almost sequence in particular lasts close to uncomfortably long time, letting the ten minutes and helps us understand

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Arts

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Community arts leader Gill Simmons speaks about inequalities in arts provision for children and how aspiring arts students can make it Katie Chalk Deputy Editor

G

ill Simmons is the Artistic Director of Brave Bold Drama, a small not-forprofit community arts organisation based in Hartcliffe and Withywood in South Bristol, ‘one of the most deprived areas in the UK.’ Against all odds, she and her Creative Director, Paul Lawless, have continued bringing delight to their community throughout the pnademic and even during lockdown.

They have performed in care homes - providing multi-sensory, immersive experinces for people with dementia; provided outdoor, socially distanced drama workshops for children; and crucially, their 'Company of International Artists' project have been supplying free creative kit boxes to children who may not have the resources for creative activites in their own homes.

When I sat down for my zoom interview with Gill, I was eager to discover how they've managed to carry on, when so many arts organisations in Bristol have ceased activities.

Gill was keen to emphasise it hasn't been easy. ‘The biggest thing is we used to run a venue… and it was really picking up. We’ve had West-End shows made here, we’ve had Tobacco Factory christmas shows made here, Egg Theatre (Bath) Christmas shows made here.'

Hiring out the rehearsal spaces, running various activities, such as a toddler group, and running a cafe, are all signs of the succesful nature of the theatre group.

However, much like the rest of the country, when lockdown struck, Simmons' ambitions for the company were put on hold, a daunting prospect, Simmons recalls.

‘When we had to shut in March it was like, okay, that's massive as we didn't get a rent reduction.’

Luckily, they received an emer-

gency grant from Bristol City council. ‘Without that, I really don’t think we would still exist,’ Gill insists.

The prospect of re-opening the building has also been unthinkable.

‘With all the additional logistics and restrictions…I have not got the capacity or the people to take on that responsibility.’

So despite losing a venue and losing most of their regular income, why carry on?

‘It’s because of where I live... there's an awful lot of difficulty for people living here.

‘These families in particular really need us…can you imagine being a kid in a tower block on the very edge of the city? The area you're in is really badly served, the parks aren’t maintained, there’s drug abuse evidence everywhere, there’s nothing to do, your school is shut, you haven’t got WiFi, you haven’t got enough devices… just the trauma of kids having to live like that.’

Inspired by the lack of government attention to helping children from lower socio-economic background, Simmons and her company decided to use their creative skill set to help those in areas hardest hit by the pandemic.

They started by applying for a grant, to deliver free activity packs to primary school children throughout lockdown. She tells me that this project was designed under the assumption that some people might

Brave Bold Drama / Studioduo

‘Stop suggesting that culture is only something people with money do!’

haven’t got anything and if you've got the power to give them what they need, bloody well give them what they need, like, why is this so hard?...People around here don't get most things, and they deserve it… because you shouldn’t just only have nice things if you have money, that’s why I keep going and that's why I’ve always kept going.’

‘I know how nice it is when families come together and their kids are happy, it's important people get a

Be aware that there is more than one way to make a show not have access to anything. While completing the various creative activites children were able to use school WiFi and they were given everything, down to pens and glue.

More than 80 children received kit boxes with the materials they needed to be creative over lockdown.

‘These people deserve what people in other postcodes with more purchase-power get for their kids.

So much stuff [during the pandemic] was online for kids, you have to have a device and you have to have WiFi, but people do not have that.’

‘If they haven’t got anything, they

glimmer of that now and again.’

It is clear how crucial this provision is for communities like Gill’s up and down the country, so with the pandemic, has the government support been enough to ensure the continuation of such inspiring work?

Gill is sceptical: ‘If you look at how much has gone to London compared to how much has gone to ‘the regions’...aka the rest of us!

‘They're all in Westminster, they know about the Royal Ballet and the Main this and the National that… that's not the whole story and it never has been’.

Criticism of the Government’s focus on ‘high art’ in it’s ‘#HereforCulture’ campaign has been rife, and Gill agrees: ‘People in the Tower blocks in Hartcliffe have culture, every human has culture, it's just not middle class culture, but it's all bloody culture… human beings love creating, it doesn't matter if you've got money.

‘You can broaden people’s access to different cultures, or new cultures, but people always have a culture.

But that's not what the Tories mean with that “#HereforCulture" hashtag, they mean high production value in prestigious buildings.’

On-top of this alleged disparity in funding, the pressure on not-forprofit arts organisations who are reliant on grants is huge with critics claiming they are not viable.

However, Gill insists: ‘We are never going to operate commercially if we predominantly serve Withywood and Hartcliffe, we cannot be a commercial entity in the arts and serve that community, because this community does not have the money to even pay £6 for a ticket.’

So in the current climate, how can students prepare themselves for entering the industry?

‘Don't be scared of being freelance, that’s the best way of starting, at least. If you wait for a big organi-

sation to have an opening for someone at entry-level in the arts, the competition now will be absolutely astronomical...I would hate for people to think that’s the only pathway.

‘Me and Paul make whole shows with £100 from a charity shop!' she muses.

‘Be aware that there is more than one way to make a show. The way that you’re maybe being taught in university is a very building-based, site-specific way, it's a very traditional model. Talk to people who make shows and theatre in very different ways,’ she recommends.

‘Go really local, spend time within your community, because I think the reason we get the grants we do is because we start with our audience.

I know exactly who needs the work that we’re doing. If you can cope with the notion of being freelance and you get good at bid-writing, then you can actually just do what you want! You don’t have to wait for a big organisation to have an opening, be brave about that!’

You can find out more about Brave Bold Drama on their website: https:// bravebolddrama.co.uk/ and social media: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/bravebolddrama , Twitter@BraveBoldDrama, Instagram- @ bravebolddrama’.

Sai Lalitha Aiyer

Second year, Politics and sociology

M

Epigram / Sai Lalitha Aiyer

usic has the ability to give everyone a sense of community and home. The Singing Village led by Anna-Helena Mclean and her team is living proof of that. For at a time when everything but the internet was uncertain, I took on her request to be a part of her village.

It was a confusing yet reverberating experience. The goal was to raise funds for artists, to support those that are negatively impacted by the pandemic. We culminated our work in an online, participatory and tick-

eted Zoom production.

As a virtual choir, we met for 12 weeks, with artists around the world, such as Ela Rojek from Poland and Pallavi Arun from India. This village consisted of artists, art-lovers and newbies, but the content we produced was exceptional and unexpected.

Experiencing music of different lands, developing the craft of perfromative music and the overall effort to bring artists together online and to build a community beyond the artists themselves, was a truly satisfying experience.

The power of art extends beyond human suffering; it will always be there. So, quoting the song, we produced together, the world is united by art, whether we recognize it or not, by ‘One love, One heart, One voice [that] sings out’.

L

ast week we asked you to submit the art you've been making. Here are some of the highlights. Epigram Arts has decided this section will be a new regular feature.

We all know our natural world would collapse without the bees, Louisa has lovingly painted here.

Suspended in flight; a pleasant reminder of spring days. Something we all need in the dark lockdown to come.

Leah Simmons has painted a large, exuberant portrait of a young boy, gleefully engulfed in a spray of wa-

ter. Blue and gold fill the frame. It is detailed and evocative of the freedom that youth brings. Textural in form, playful, yet elegantly composed, it reminds us of warm child-

ENVIRONMENTAL READS David Wallace-Wells

Need to get up-to-speed on our climate emergency? May I suggest The Unihabitable Earth. A slim, pocketsized read. Wells sets about unpacking the past, present and future of life in the time of global warming. First, you’ll

BOOK

CORNER

be filled with eco-existential dread but, I promise you’ll get straight to work, facing the Anthropocene with pragmatism.

The Lorax Dr Seuss

Dr Seuss is renowned for a reason and this environmental fable, The Lorax, is one of his most famous stories. For all those climate skeptics who don’t want anything too controversial, Dr. Seuss teaches humanity to speak up and stand up for those who can't. The Lorax allows readers to experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking earth for granted, all in a story that is timely, playful, and hopeful. It remains as pertinent as ever for adults.

This Changes Everything Naomi Klein

Blackwell's

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avid Attenborough's recent documentary has reignited conversations on climate change and the importance of caring for our fragile earth. Watching the damage we as humans have inflicted over the years made me feel sad, angry, but also hopeful... can we still reverse things? And if so, how should we do it? For anyone that is interested in reading up on how to make an effective difference to our planet, delving into discussions on the Anthropocene and the damage caused by neo-liberal policies, escape into a green children's fantasy or just wo just wants to read a book on the beauty of trees, here is a book list I sincerely hope will prove useful and insightful.

The Uninhabitable Earth

Random House

Arts Editor

Random House

Anjuli Vadera

hood days in the sunshine.

Would you like your art to be printed in the next issue? Send a picture of it to us on Facebook or email arts.epigram@gmail.com.

The Hidden Life of Trees Peter Wohlleben

A lighter read for those who have had enough of the doom and gloom surrounding the current state of our planet. The Hidden life of Trees is a beautiful book on the intricate processes of life, death, and regeneration in woodlands. Wohlleben showcases the amazing scientific processes behind the wonders of which we are often blissfully unaware. It is a beautifully poignant exploration into how trees communicate with each other, how they work as family systems or like solitary 'street kids.' Rooted in science, yet entrenched in mysticism, it reminds us to slow down, engage with the language of nature, and protect the ecosystems we have endevoured to destroy in so much of history.

Written by Noami Klein, an award winning journalist, filmaker and writer, This Changes Everything is a book focused on corporate greed and how it affects the planet. The environmental crisis is not about ‘carbon', but ‘capitalism'. Klein myth-busts all climate change related fibs, and provocatively argues that neoliberal policies and the financial market’s addiction to profit and growth is digging us deeper into the environmental crisis. The book is concise, factual and informative, a definite must for those who want a political take on climate change.

Blackwell's

How one Bristol student found joy singing online during lockdown

Louisa Binder, English

Student Art Showcase

Singing for Hope

Leah Simmons Woods, Postgraguate Migration Studies

Arts 22

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700 person illegal rave: Proof that Bristol's music scene is heading for the underground?

Bristol ravers made headlines as hundreds broke the rules for the warehouse party Lucas Arthur Music Editor

O

ver 700 people attended an unlicenced music event in Yate, some 25 minutes outside of Bristol, on the night of 31 October.

The Halloween rave, dubbed ‘The Pandemic Special' by organisers, comes after months of heavy restrictions on large gatherings and nightlife across the country.

Squat raves, or ‘free parties,’ have long been a part of UK underground culture. Sound systems, comprised of a powerful speaker rig and a skilled crew of engineers and DJs, have been a critical component of Bristol's club scene since the early 80s.

Contemporary raves tend to feature several sound systems, playing bass-heavy hardcore, breakbeat and gabber music at high volumes.

Though ‘rave culture’ peaked in the early 90s, some music journals have predicted a comeback of such events under the current conditions; indeed, this is but the latest in a string of illegal raves across the country.

Police were first made aware of the event around 10:30 pm, following reports of loud music and scores of young people flocking to Beeches Industrial Estate. A heavy police response ensued, with roadblocks placed across routes of access. Canine units and riot police were present in great numbers, according to attendees: some ravers were 'threat-

One man recalls his experience of the night's events...

E.D. Second Year

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he first challenge was finding out the location. At half past four, a friend forwarded me a text headlined ‘THE PANDEMIC SPECIAL.' The text featured two phone numbers: I rang the first and was greeted by a voice message beginning ‘HELLO HALLOWEEN RAVERS…' The rest told us to ring back after 10 and keep it off social media. Once 10 o’clock came, I rang back both the numbers. Nothing had changed and I was starting to worry

ened with batons' when orders to disperse were ignored.

The police reported hostility from some of the crowd as bottles and other projectiles were thrown at officers, with one officer sustaining a broken leg. The event was eventually shut down on Sunday afternoon, some 17 hours later. Eight people were placed under arrest.

Speaking to attendees in the aftermath of the event, they stressed the ‘superficial’ initial police response. ‘They just blocked off the road [to vehicles]’ said one – ‘To get in, you just had to walk behind the police line and down the side of the warehouse.’ Another claimed to have witnessed a group of people ‘tearing down the fence’ to gain access, out of sight of the police.

Despite the callous infringement of COVID laws on gatherings several deemed the overall danger of the event to be minimal with some levels of organisation going into its planning. ‘The crowd’s just young, healthy people’ – ‘they needed this,’ said one attendee. ‘[The organisers] set up a lost-and-found item community and banned blue bottles’ (Large canisters of nitrous oxide.)

‘All people want is to have fun safely’ – ‘it’s a tiny group who go looking for violence.’

Other attendees had similar outlooks: ‘I’m pretty sure I’ve had ‘rona already; I don’t fully agree with the lockdown restrictions and I think [a rave] is one of the funniest ways to protest them,' said one 19 year old.

‘The virus is already killing the hospitality industry and I don’t want it to kill the free party scene too.'

E.D.

E.D.

E.D.

in (or out? Now I was thanking my - had they been busted early? It had intoxication for saving my car). We just gone 11 when the first message found the building but there was no changed: ‘right the fucking postcode easy way in. The sea of people did is BS37 5PG , Millbrook road in Yate. not seem bothered by the first fence.

It’s a dead end, big blue doors.'

At first they paused, but it only took And we were off. The original plan a coat to be laid was for me to stay Suicide rigs, intend- over the barbed sober and drive ed to be left behind, wire: soon it was us out there, but unfortunately, I meant the rave could a frenzy of people clambering over wasn’t in a state carry on going til each other to get to drive. One £30 morning in.

Uber XL later and With the first hurdle jumped it we’d arrived, just in time to see the was back to the dash. A friend atroad being blocked off by police tempted to climb the last fence, but vans. Yet, the police let us walk right stopping briefly at the top, a less papast. tient member of the horde began to They only seemed interested in yell at him. My friend gave up his keeping cars from getting further

breathtaking. Within seconds I had position immediately; the impatient lost some of my friends and would raver didn’t hesitate and jumped for not find them for a while. Some nothe fence. This time the barbed wire table landmarks was effective - he Yet, the police let us served as meeting fell straight onto walk right past points: a car sellthe metal spikes, ing laughing gas, screaming in pain and people playing with fire. Suias his coat was ripped off him and cide rigs, intended to be left behind, he flopped onto other side, cut and meant the rave could carry on going bruised all over. til morning without the Southwest Seconds later a man with wire crews worrying about police confissnippers cut though the fence. Now cating rigs. They would make their at the building, we just had to find money back from selling narcotics an entrance, and the wobbly ladder easily. going up to a third-floor window was Yes, it was stupid and irresponsilooking like the only option. Thankble, but it was nice to see that there fully, someone managed to pry open are some things corona cannot inone of the warehouse shutters. fect. Let the music play.

The amount of people inside was

25 Music

epigram 10.11.2020

Five of the best upcoming BAME artists The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Trailblazers creating music for a new generation Mia Smith

Second Year, English

J

1. Arlo Parks

ust announced as BBC Introducing’s artist of the year, 19 year old Arlo Parks’ sudden thrust into the spotlight comes as no surprise. Diving headfirst into the choppy waters of depression and unrequited love, Parks effortlessly navigates subject matter usually so ineffable, capturing clichéd teen angst in new and exciting ways.

Her heavy verse comes bubble-wrapped in softness and twinkly guitars, but is at the same time utterly raw. In 'Black Dog,' depression is far from romanticised, the painful refrain ‘I would do anything to get you out your room’ talking to not just the song’s addressee, but perhaps the listener.

Writing through a Black, queer lens, Parks has created a wholly unique sound; one that makes for sometimes difficult, but always necessary listening. 2021 will undoubtedly be the year of Arlo Parks. We are left eagerly awaiting the depths to which she can push her debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, expected in late January. You can also catch her on tour in 2021.

conversation, harmonising her personal struggles alongside an attempt to define her identity. Crookes articulates pain and politics perfectly, using her 2020 Brit Award nomination to expose the award’s lack of diversity. Her masterful representation of her Bangladeshi/Irish heritage is creating a voice for marginalised South Asian youth and catalysing a call for increased accessibility into the creative industries. In ‘London Mine,' the melting pot of the capital rings out against a struggle to assimilate: ‘Streets that are tailored to no one / but that’s what makes London mine.’

Meanwhile, heart-breaking ‘Anyone But Me' reflects candidly on Crookes’ experience with depression: ‘I'd rather be somewhere else / with anyone but me.’ Her cultural identity and mental health all the while seem tangled: ‘Where I grew up, this wasn’t a topic you could just bring up while your mum was fixing you up a plate of dal’ she explained, in turn opening up essential conversations for other South Asian individuals to have with both themselves and their families. For now, Crookes’ has taken London; soon, the world.

3. Shamir

In his recent seventh album, the eponymous, Las Vegas native Shamir Bailey finally seems to have found his voice. Over the past five years, Bailey has traversed through what appears to be the entirety of the musical spectrum: from electronic dance to lo-fi Folk, his sound has eventually settled comfortably within a dreamy, melancholy indie pop; vastly different from his origins. Opening track ‘On My Own' is a manifesto for both himself and other queer POC: ‘I refuse to fucking suffer.’ The album is sprinkled with interludes, snippets of Bailey age 19 (now 25), forming the final bridge between past and present, between playful naivety and assured wiseness. But moments of introspection make points for larger reflection: tracks ‘Running' and ‘I Wonder' grappling with faith and climate change. We can only await his future.

4. beabadoobee

Currently revelling in the clear success of her debut album, beabadoobee - aka Bea Kristi - seems to be smiling on the cover of every major music magazine. Fake It Flowers was met with expected critical acclaim, becoming an immediate soundtrack for the 20 year old’s peers. Kristi’s progress has been steady, from the silent release of a few EPs to this explosion of an album: graduating from her bedroom and into the studios of Dirty Hit. Perhaps a little too cocky for her own good - igniting a war on Twitter against The Vamps in a bid to win the chart’s top spot (which she ultimately lost) - Kristi may have a right to be, amassing a faithful fan base desperate to star alongside her in what feels like a strange revival of Skins: singing about dyeing your hair and crying in your room to Pavement, set against the 90’s grunge-y and grainy shoegaze guitar riffs. It seems impossible to talk about Kristi without considering her TikTok notoriety,

2. Joy Crookes

With the current musical landscape now more readily carved with spaces for mental health discourse, South London’s Joy Crookes has joined the

Editors' Picks

Oneohtrix Point Never - Magic Lucas Arthur

Ariana Grande Positions

Róisín Murphy Róisín Machine

Lauren Paddison

Greg Evans

Subversive, abrasive and then, like a gap in the clouds, startlingly melodic: Daniel Lopatin weaves radio callsigns, found audio and sweeping synth orchestration into an album of contrasts and surprises. ‘No Nightmares,' featuring the Weeknd, is one of the few tracks that appeals to convention, along with the hazily autotuned electropop of ‘Long Road Home' and ‘Lost But Never Alone;' the rest is noise, masterfully rendered by an electronic artist whose creativity knows no bounds.

All tracks on Ariana Grande’s latest release overwhelmingly steer towards healing and the giddy possibilities of new romance. It is not broadening in intention, but more of an exploration of softly spoken lyrics that detail the ache of tenderness and a strive to begin again. Orchestral elements coupled with jazzy tendencies and mid-tempo R&B highlight a gentle conflict in the process of putting yourself back together again. It is unlike any of her music that has preceded it.

Music Editor

Subeditor

and the Powfu remix of her song ‘Coffee' that seemed unavoidable on the platform.

Annoyingly catchy, this proved an even more annoyingly inaccurate portrayal of her sound. Regardless of her catalyst to stardom, the future is bright for beabadoobee.

5. Michael Kiwanuka

The undoubtedly deserved winner of the illustrious 2020 Mercury prize, Michael Kiwanuka is the king of foot-tappingly-good uplifting tracks. The embodiment of music that Spotify would probably put on one of its ‘dancing in your kitchen’ playlists, Kiwanuka’s songs are frankly, joyous symphonies jazz, funk and soul seem simply not enough to describe his musical ingenuity and complexity. After battling a fierce imposter syndrome throughout his previous two albums, Kiwanuka finally breaks free in this self-titled album, with the instantly serotonin-boosting track ‘You Ain’t The Problem' finally fighting back against his old self-doubt by singing, ‘I used to hate myself / you got the key / break out the prison’.

This new joyful self-assurance, however, strolls hand in hand with a darker despair as reminders of racism are a foreboding presence within the album. Kiwanuka's music does not ignore the world in which it was made but instead tackles its racism head-on. with discussions of police brutality in both ‘Hero' and ‘Rolling': ‘on the news again / I guess they killed another’, ‘No tears for the young / A bullet if you run away’.

Content with his sound and success, Michael Kiwanuka will no doubt continue to wield the mantle for timeless sound well into the future.

Digital Editor

Smooth and funky, Róisín Murphy takes us to the gay dancefloor of my quarantine dreams with her fifth album Róisín Machine. With a soft disco beat coursing its veins, Murphy constructs 54 minutes of 90's dance music, punctuated with a freshness we’ve come to expect.

‘Murphy’s Law,’ like many of the experimental poptracks, pulls the bass from beneath your feet on the eve of a drop; this would all be achingly anticlimactic, if it wasn’t so effortlessly cool.

Food House Food House Flora Pick

Deputy Music Editor Back when the unerringly chaotic Thos Moser dropped earlier this year, it was hard to conceive of something surpassing it’s sheer excess.

The debut album of their collaborative project, ‘Gupi’s blown-out bubble-gum production' is paired with some esoteric cries from ‘Fraxiom' (‘No more gods, only SOPHIE’), and a catalogue of samples found nowhere else – if you thought Crazy Frog wouldn’t be playing a part in 2020’s hyperpop scene, well you thought wrong.

Discover all of our recommendations on our Spotify @Epigram_Music

Music 26

epigram 10.11.2020

In conversation with TikTok's ‘Coffee for your head' beabadoobee

10 questions for the British breakthrough artist Beatrice Laus, better known as Beabadoobee Lucas Arthur

ith a refreshingly frank sense of humour and unflinching outlook on emotion, Beabadoobee sat down with Epigram to recount the making of her critically acclaimed new album, Fake It Flowers.

‘Coffee' is a world away from the tone of your new album – the project packs in loads of confidence, anger and sensitivity. Do these changes in your music reflect your personal changes since 2017?

I think it’s just the sound of me growing as an artist, ‘Coffee' feels like such a long time ago but I think that part of me is still represented on my album sonically. Like, I made ‘How Was Your Day?' in my boyfriend’s garden on a 4-track and there’s a dog barking in the background. Haha. That really felt like taking things back to when I started.

So how’d you like your Coffee?

I really don’t!

There’s a lot of raw honesty in your lyrics too. Have you always

Music Editor

W

felt comfortable talking openly about your mental health and wellbeing, or did it take some time before you could do that?

It just feels really helpful to me to do that; just sitting in my room and writing these songs is good for my head. I hope it can even help just one other person. That makes talking about it worth it.

‘Dye It Red' is really about someone else and not about me, it’s about a situation that I just thought sucked and made me really angry when a friend told me about it. ‘Charlie Brown,' though, is really personal. I never know how much to say about it, really, but it’s another example of getting these thoughts out there being helpful.

TikTok... It's like anything else that gets people sharing music ‘Dye It Red' and ‘Charlie Brown' are packed with grungy teenage angst – how much of that stems from your own upbringing?

Those tracks channel the best of 90s MTV – Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morrissette, Beck, The Cardigans … did you ever feel you were born a decade too late?

Ha! Yes! I mean, in some ways, that’s definitely the music I love but also, I guess so much is different now too. I mean, I got my music noticed online so who knows really?

Beyond the 90s, which contemporary artists have inspired your songwriting?

Alex G is someone I love; I think he’s incredible. I also got to do, like, my second show with my band with Mac DeMarco, that was pretty cool.

We got drunk after and he gave me a tattoo!

Ian Cheek Press

One of your producers actually compared your songwriting to Kurt Cobain. Surely that’s a pretty sweet compliment to receive?

Yeah, that’s a weird one to receive

too though, I can’t really think about stuff like that. I just try and be me and be honest really.

And yet, you’ve mentioned that music isn’t something you’d like to do forever. What’s not to love about being a rock star?

I still really want to be a nursery school teacher one day and have a really simple life. I love what I do and I dont take it for granted. I’ll always make music I just think it’s nice to still have these other things I’d like to do one day.

Powfu’s Death Bed (Coffee for your head) racked up 4.1 billion plays on TikTok in a single month. Do you reckon the app has had a big effect on today’s popular music?

Yeah, I mean it’s like anything else that gets people sharing music. Right now, its TikTok and I’m super grateful for that situation but it kinda fell in my lap too, I don't understand.

How Was Your Day is a personal favourite from the new album, it’s got this cozy, fuzzy, lo-fi feeling to it, just like Coffee and your other early self-releases. Any advice for the aspiring bedroom artists out there?

Yeah, I guess just do what you want to do and dont worry about other people. Do it for yourself!

To read the complete interview with beabadoobee, visit our website epigram.org.uk

Review - Beabadoobee's Fake it Flowers Grungy 90s influences and lo-fi tones make for a richly complex debut album Carrie Bright First Year, Philosophy

N

o longer an indie outsider, Beabadoobee gives us one of the best albums of the year with her bittersweet grunge-pop tracks, reminiscent of the 90s bands that inspired her.

Beabadoobee has come a long way in a year. In 2019 she was playing smaller venues, including Bristol’s Louisiana, as one third of a Dirty Hit label tour. This year, she has toured with the 1975, had her single ‘Care' streamed on Radio 1 and the ever so irritatingly ubiquitous ‘Coffee' cover has been streamed on TikTok over 10 billion times. As a friend so aptly put it, ‘It’s not impressive to know who she is anymore.’

Musically, too, she has evolved.

Whilst the single Care harks back to recent take on Heart of Glass has her earlier songs, with its storming already received over 20 million chorus and accompanying jangly streams on Spotify, with eager anticguitar, the rest of the album pro- ipation for an upcoming album of a gresses to something rather different similar style.

It is these heavier tracks on than what we have heard from her before. Her catchy pop tunes of old ‘Fake it Flowers' such as the angry, have becomes darker, grittier, angri- raw, Charlie Brown and the Press Club sounding ‘Worth It’ that are er, punkier. crying out to Bea supportbe performed ed the 1975’s The demand is live.

Lucky for action to only surely there for more us, Bea is set to play gender female fronted rock perform at Brisbalanced festitol’s SWX in vals, agreeing that ‘we need more chicks on stage.’ September 2021.

Despite the 90s grunge overtones, We certainly do, and she is certainly the album is not without its mellow making her case.

Bea’s sweet pop-esque voice per- moments, too. ‘How was your day?’, the lo-fi ballad, with its A B rhyme fectly juxtaposes the grungy gui tar tone, resulting in a uniquely fem- scheme and heartbreakingly simple inine sound evocative of acts like lyrics ‘How was your day? / Was it Daddy Issues and Milk Teeth. This okay?', is evocative of Bea’s earlier album, claims Bea, is ‘for the girls.’ influences, Elliott Smith and Daniel The demand is surely there for more Johnston, or more contemporarily, female fronted rock; Miley Cyrus’ Mount Eerie.

Its uncomplicated nature makes it one of the most affecting songs on the album. This unpolished sound continues to the last track Yoshimi, Forest, Magdalene with a short snippet of audio reminiscent of ‘Car Seat Headrest.'

In addition to her punky-led verses and catchy choruses, part of why it works is the realness of the lyrics.

These are not empty platitudes, but

the laments of a girl who has felt pain, and come out the other side.

Bea encapsulates the feelings, insecurities, the highs and lows of youth, and at only age 20, why shouldn’t she? In a recent interview, she told The Guardian she ‘wanted to be that girl she needed when she was 15.’

Here, she’s achieved that, she’s the girl we all need, and we are all better for it.

Ian Cheek Press

SciTech

Editor Julia Riopelle Digital Editor Edward Deacon Deputy Editor Delhi Kalwan

Twitter: @EpigramSciTech

In conversation with Keith Scholey Executive Director of A Life On Our Planet Dr Keith Scholey speaks about his career in wildlife filmmaking, fighting the war on the climate crisis and more Edward Deacon, SciTech Digtial Editor And

Julia Riopelle, SciTech Editor

S

hortly after the release of David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020), Epigram reached out to Silverback Productions who partnered with WWF to create this recent documentary.

We had the pleasure of speaking to Dr Keith Scholey – Co-founder of Silverback Productions – on his career in wildlife filmmaking and the message he hopes the feature programme conveys.

ture can be a major economic asset.

Julia: How did you switch from research to filmmaking?

At the University of Bristol, I specialised in animal locomotion. For my PhD I filmed birds flying, which was very fun, but then I had to spend hours analysing it which wasn't so much fun.

When the opportunity to just do just the filming bit turned up, I made the jump. A guy who I shared a lab with knew a producer in the Natural History Unit. It was making David’s second ever big series, The Living Planet (1984), and they had a film about the sky above and they didn't know what to do with it. And so I said, ‘Oh, I can give you some ideas,’ and the rest is history.

Julia: What transferable skills did you have from your Zoology degree that were desired by the film industry?

Silverback Films

Scholey is a University of Bristol graduate, who obtained an undergraduate degree and PhD in Zoology.

Early in his career, Scholey joined the BBC Natural History Unit as a researcher and worked his way up to become the Head of the Unit, which he ran alongside other specialist departments until he turned 50, at which point he decided to return to filmmaking. In 2012, he and his colleague, Alastair Fothergill, founded Silverback Films, an independent Bristol-based wildlife film production company.

Films produced by Silverback are becoming increasingly focused on the environmental crisis. In addition to A Life On Our Planet, Silverback have created two other films, Our Planet: Our Business (2019) and Our Planet: Too Big To Fail (2020), which are aimed towards finance and business, and making the case that na-

Bristol gave me a huge, really strong core understanding of Zoology, which I've always fallen back on.

get it, however, it’s the old tortoises who go away and travel the world to gain all sorts of other experiences, who then show up and suddenly leapfrog ahead of the rest because they are more worldly wise.

We need people who understand zoology, but we also need people who know what an animal is going to do in 10 minutes time. That's the basic rule of our job. The right research project can give you a huge amount of experience, and by and large you are left to sort it out yourself, and you learn fast when you're left to sort things out yourself.

Edward: How much of your work is out in the field compared to in the studio?

It really varies from project to project. Some of the films I've made since I left the BBC have been very hands-on. As soon as I left the BBC I wanted to go back to Africa, so I made a film for Disney called African Cats (2011).

I must have spent about five months of every year in the Maasai Mara driving around in my Land Rover, working with film crews, helping to craft the film on location.

On some of these bigger projects, like we did for Netflix for a series called Our Planet (2019), Alastair and I are more driving the team.

We try to go on location whenever we can, largely to remind ourselves that it's difficult. We can't say things like, ‘Why couldn't you have got that shot?’ or ‘Why didn't you get that sequence?’ because in the field you spend your first two days just trying to find the animal you're supposed to be filming. You say, ‘Ah I

You send a script to David Attenborough and suddenly he sticks his voice on it and you think, ‘Wow, that's really good' My PhD was also the best training I could ever have had.

Doing a PhD, you get told to come up with your own idea, which is the same in filmmaking. I always say to people in our business ‘Don't rush’ because it's a tortoise and hare scenario. The people who leave university straightaway and then get a job at the BBC may be very bright and

remember this. This is hard.’ It keeps you grounded, and it’s also a hell of a lot of fun being out on location rather than sitting in an office.

People say wildlife camera men must be so patient, but they're not.

What they are desperate for, is not to miss the moment.

If you're following a lion pride for a week or two, and you take

Silverback Films

your lunch break and a hunt happens, you're in a bad place, so you don't take the lunch break. You stay out there as long as you can because of the fear that the thing you're really waiting for is going to happen, and that's what motivates and drives us.

Edward: Would you say the most exciting element of creating the film is capturing those moments?

When you enter the field, it takes on a world of its own because the animals are writing the script.

You might think, ‘I'm going to follow this cheetah,’ and then the cheetah starts to do all sorts of crazy things, so you build the story around that.

Editing is wonderful because you've got a bag of bits and you're creating the story, then you contact a composer who writes the score that lifts it up, then you

write a script and send it to David Attenborough who gets holds of it and rewrites it for you, and you think, ‘Wow, that's good.' Suddenly he sticks his voice on it and you think, ‘Wow, that's really good.'

That's the joy of filmmaking, the whole process is amazing.

It involves so many different creative talents. For someone like me if you think ‘I'm the filmmaker, I'm the auteur, I create this thing,' I'm just kidding myself because if I'm good at what I do, it's how good I am to persuade great people to join on the journey. You're a conductor in an orchestra, you're not the whole orchestra.

This is an abridged article. To read the full version, visit our website epigram. org.uk

Silverback Films

SciTech 27

epigram 10.11.2020

Bristol researchers make offshore wind farm maintenance a reality Jasmine Brook-Tanker

Masters, International Development

P

roject MIMRee (Multi-Platform Inspection, Maintenance and Repair in Extreme Environments) was created in 2018 as part of an Innovate UK initiative, bridging together leading academics and industry experts including University of Bristol researchers. They aim to create an autonomous robot and drone system that can carry out the inspections and repairs necessary for offshore wind farms, to replace the current process, which is considered costly, as well as dangerous.

Innovate UK is part of the UK Research and Innovation department which is funded by the UK government. They provided £4.2 million to the flagship project MIMREE for two years of collaborative research, planning and communication.

Such research motivations have developed from recent attention in

maintenance checks. the Offshore Wind Sector from the By summer 2020, all partners UK Government, with the desire to hope to present their proof of position the UK as the world leader concept for the new system; this in green energy. The recent Elecaims to demonstrate that offshore tricity Generation Costs 2020 Rewind operations and maintenance port, from the Department of Busisystems can be conducted by auness, Energy & Industrial Strategy tonomous predicts the vessels, total cost Britain is undergoing drones and of wind a revolution in energy high-tech and solar production robots. electricity Britain by 2025 as is undergoing a revolution in enlower than conventional gas genergy production, according to Dr eration and as currently lower than Tom Richardson from the Univernuclear electricity generation. sity of Bristol. Wind turbines ‘are At present, the inspections of the increasing in numbers almost exwind turbines are conducted with ponentially’ and project MIMRee pictures taken from a distance on hopes to facilitate this transformathe ground, meaning they can lack tion. detail and accuracy. Additionally, The University's research contrimaintenance and repair missions are highly dangerous for in-field engineers, due to the extreme conditions at seas. With this new system of drones and the ‘Blade Bug’ robots, not only are these dangerous practices replaced, but it is economically efficient. It can extend the life span of the wind turbines due to more frequent and effective

bution is to create the drone which takes off from a vessel on the mainland with the ‘Blade Bug’, fly it and deposit it on the wind turbine, then carry the ‘Blade Bug’ back to the vessel. Richardson, along with research associate Peiman Moradi and drone technical specialist Duncan Hine have been working on developing these drones and have tested prototypes this past month.

Working alongside Perceptual Robotics, a company set up by three alumni of the University of Bristol, the University’s research focus is on the precision and control of the drones in the take-off and landing on a moving vessel of up to 20 knots.

Some concerns have been raised by members of the public and those who presently work on repairs at

Faculty of Engineering / Duncan Hine

Faculty of Engineering / Dr Richardson

Bristol University drone research to be used in future offshore wind farms offshore wind farms, about the prospect of job losses due to this technology, replacing the need for humans. However, Richardson assured Epigram that in his eyes, the aim of project MIMRee is not to remove the current jobs in the field, but to remove the substantial risk currently in place and to provide the engineers with the tools to become more efficient in these roles.

Currently, the technology is being applied for inspecting wind turbines and repair operations are expected to be available within five to ten years. But Richardson believes the technology involved in project MIMRee could have various other applications in future, particularly in construction and the monitoring of the progress of large construction sites.

What went down at Bristol’s worldleading wildlife festival?

son the festival adopted a virtual format: the COVID-19 pandemic. Programme-makers spoke of the novel logistical challenges the pandemic has presented for production due to social distancing, lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Masters, Biological Sciences Many panellists agreed that some of the changes which have arisen he world’s leading wildlife from the pandemic will carry forfilm festival, Wildscreen wards into the future, such as an Festival, took place from increasing reliance on local filmthe 19-23 October – but not as we making talent. know it.

A positive effect of the pandemic The internationally renowned is that the appetite for wildlife docfestival, celebratring the best wildumentaries has never been greater. life filmmaking talent worldwide, As people spend more and more whilst aiming to advance the intime at home, wildlife documentadustry, was attended by a global ries provide an escape like no other, audience, from aspiring filmmakers allowing us to get closer to nature to established professionals. at a time when many are facing The programme included masterlimited access to the natural world. classes, panel sessions, Q&As and The industry has been able to meet featured headline speakers such this inas direccreased detor James These films have an mand, with Cameron ‘extraordinary power to open at least 20 and prilarge-scale matologist up our eyes’ wildlife proJane Gooductions currently in the works. dall.

Another focus of the festival was Unsurprisingly, a big talking the ongoing climate crisis, providpoint of the week was the very rea-

Renowned wildlife filmmakers and scientists were hosted at Wildscreen Kelly-Louise Ray

T

Silverback Films

ing the topic of conversation for what was arguably the main event of the week: a discussion between Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg. Despite their almost 80year age gap, Attenborough and Thunberg are united in their determination to solve the climate crisis.

Thunberg, who is currently on week 116 of her school strike, emphasised the importance of natural history films – she herself was first introduced to the climate crisis by these films and described how they have an ‘extraordinary power to open up our eyes.’ Though the climate crisis can only be solved through social, economic and political change, when asked what we as individuals can do to help, Thunberg responded: ‘The most

important thing is to try to understand the problem, try to educate yourself, read up on it and spread that information to others – spread the sense that we are in a crisis.’

Attenborough urged viewers to waste less and also to want less: ‘I’m surrounded by luxury. We’re encouraged to indulge ourselves, we’re encouraged to want things.

We should want less and less. In a global economy which thrives off consumerism, we should be content with the simple pleasures of life.’

Thursday night culminated with the Panda Awards ceremony, pre-

Epigram / Julia Riopelle

senting 10 awards selected from over 600 entries. The highly coveted Golden Panda award went to the stunning My Octopus Teacher which followed a wildlife cameraman’s year-long emotional bond with a curious octopus.

The virtual edition of Wildscreen Festival provided a unique, accessible experience, and delivered the same high standard of content as always, firmly reinforcing Bristol’s position as the home of wildlife filmmaking.

This is an abridged article. To read the full version, visit our website epigram.org.uk

28 SciTech

epigram 10.11.2020

Lingfeng speaks of the challenges faced as a Chinese woman studying chemistry aboard Julia Riopelle SciTech Editor

I

n this second interview of ‘Diversity in STEM,’ we speak to PhD student Lingfeng Ge. This interview series aims to highlight BAME experiences in academia in order to gain more representation in the field of STEM. Lingfeng Ge completed her BSc in Chemistry at Xiamen University in China. She then went on to complete two masters abroad; an MSc in Chemistry at the University of Manchester and a joint masters programme, M2 Frontiers in Chemistry, between the University of Paris Descartes and University of Paris Diderot. Now Lingfeng is in the third and final year of her PhD at the University of Bristol, where she is researching photodissociation dynamics with coulomb explosion imaging.

I interviewed Ge about her experiences as a Chinese woman in chemistry and the challenges she has

familiar to me. So life is much more difficult here. I have been trying to make friends, although I find it a lot easier to make friends with Chinese and other international students, than with UK students. I think it’s just because a lot of UK students already have a stable network here.

From my own experience, I have noticed home students do not have a strong desire to make friends wit

In my supervisor’s PhD group I have been the only female in the last three years people from abroad - particularly with people from very different backgrounds.

How do you cope with the language barrier at university and research settings?

I agree that the language barrier is an obstacle, though what makes my life a lot more difficult is the cultural barrier.

It’s hard to make friends with domestic students. Sometimes I also feel like UK students don’t try to understand students of a different

I am one to chase opportunities, so we’ll see where it takes me! faced whilst being abroad.

When did you first develop an interest for chemistry?

My interest for chemistry started in middle school, where I noticed it was much more enjoyable than any of the other subjects I was learning.

I think this was because my middle school chemistry teacher was really inspiring.

Are there any noticeable differences in studying chemistry in China versus the UK? It’s hard to compare, because I did my undergraduate in China and postgraduate abroad. Although, I would say that in China there are too many students and labs tend to be overcrowded. Each academic needs to oversee many students, whereas here, at least in my PhD, the groups are small and you get a lot more attention. The methodologies and work ethics in research are pretty much the same.

However, I’d say the main noticeable difference in my experiences in China versus here is more personal.

I’m abroad here. I’m alone here. I’m far away from my family and friends back home. Far away from what is

language, the audience is much more narrow.

Back in China, I didn’t have the chance to read papers published in English, as our resources were limited to Chinese databases. This is usually because the ones in English are much more expensive than the Chinese ones and many Chinese universities cannot afford subscriptions to them for every student.

cultural background. They just find me odd.

Lingfeng Ge

In your undergraduate degree did you only read papers published in Chinese journals or were your resources very diverse? How does this compare with resources available at the University of Bristol?

At Bristol I can draw information from papers from all over the world, because the global language is English and so researchers who want to get their work noticed by a global audience will write in English. If research groups publish in their own

What inspired you to undertake a PhD as a potential first entry point into academia?

In my undergraduate and masters degrees I found that I simply have a passion for research - the discovery of new things!

I still think conducting research is far more interesting than anything else. My masters at the University of Manchester was very computational based, whereas I got to work with lasers at the Laboratoire de Chimie Physique in Paris, which was much better. My experience at the Paris lab is what triggered my interest in laser and spectroscopy.

In order to advance my academic career and make myself more employable, I thought that was naturally the next step. Research also allows you to be a group leader, as well as a follower. I thoroughly enjoy research ing right now, so we’ll see whether I go into industry or into academia at a university, who may lecture on the side. I am one to chase opportunities, so we’ll see where it takes me!

Why did you choose to do your PhD abroad rather than back home?

I am lucky, most students in China do not have the money to go abroad, so I am definitely privileged. Though amongst the middle class in China, the majority will try to complete a degree abroad. We are very curious about the world outside of our own country.

I was planning to do my postgraduate in the US, however I heard from Chinese students there that they experienced a lot of racial and gender discrimination there. Whilst having its own issues, I think Europe is generally less racist. It also seems less competitive with post-graduate positions and encourages more collaboration between researchers.

This is an abridged article. To read the full version, visit our website epigram.org.uk

We The Curious launches new exhibition Delhi Kalwan

SciTech Deputy Editor

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ver the last three years, We The Curious has been gathering questions from residents all over Bristol. With over 10,000 submissions coming from every postcode in the city, staff and volunteers whittled them down to just seven.

These questions have been developed into a ground-breaking exhibition, which will be the first major science centre exhibition in the UK inspired entirely by the curiosity of a city’s residents.

Project What If, has been funded by a three million-pound grant from the Inspiring Science Fund, and aims to ‘place people at the heart of science’ and engage the Bristol community: answering their questions about science and life.

During the pandemic, We The Curious team were busy conducting user testing with many different people, from students, to magicians and skateboarders. Projects Producer Amelia Howarth noted: ‘We want everyone to feel a part of science and curiosity, at a time where it’s never

been more important.’ Soon they will be reopening their doors to unveil the 68 new features and 25 art pieces which make up Project What if.

‘Each exhibition area uses hightech, beautiful design to explore these very different questions in a multitude of ways, covering a huge variety of different disciplines and voices.’

The exhibit is divided into ‘question constellations,’ which are unique areas designed to ignite the curiosity of the city’s residents. The constellations cover a variety of themes, spanning the universe and time, to invisibility and rainbows. There will also be a collection of COVID-19 diaries, from the people of Bristol and beyond, displayed in ‘The Box’ gallery.

Aside from the main exhibition, the centre has seen a major transformation. The John James Theatre of Curiosity offers ‘a place to explore visitor’s curious questions in new and unexpected ways.’ The ‘Open City Lab,’ is a new area where visitors will be able to participate in real scientific research as it happens. They will also have the chance to speak to researchers running the experiments.

Bristol Zoo forced to make staff cuts due to COVID-19 Julia Riopelle SciTech Editor

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ristol Zoo and the Wild Place have been strongly affected by the governmental restrictions caused by COVID-19.

The restrictions have caused prolonged losses in profits, despite the reopening of sites after lockdown.

Low visitation numbers and earlier closing times have caused tourism to suffer. Bristol Zoological Society predicts a multi-million-pound loss this year due to the pandemic, funding which is vital for staff positions, breeding programs and conservation projects abroad.

Dr Justin Morris, CEO of Bristol Zoological Society stated, ‘The expense of caring for our animals is considerable. We continue to run our conservation breeding programs and field projects across four continents.

This work is now more important than ever before in a world where humans and wildlife are increasingly

struggling to coexist.’

Bristol Zoo applied for financial aid via the government’s emergency Zoo Support Fund, but were unsuccessful due to donations acquired from previous charity work. Despite having money saved, it is not enough to sustain the animals at the zoo, the staff or the species they work with overseas.

Now 35 posts are at risk of being dismissed, despite the dedication and hard work of the employees who contributed to running the zoo. As the pandemic prolongs and is likely to enter 2021, the Zoo is trying to prepare itself for the further damage that is on its way.

Epigram / Julia Riopelle

Diversity in STEM: In conversation with Lingfeng Ge

Puzzles

Editor Fergus Ustianowski

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

Crossword Use the clues on the right to fill our the crossword below. The number after the clue indicates the amount of letters the answer has.

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1. Wobbly mass by photo? (5) 4. She knows what's up (3) 6. Missing South Africa? Venezuelan capital in a mess? go for another (5) 9. Core member of prefab sprout (3) 10. More undercooked, less often (5) 11. Setter gets behind animal carrying hundred (5) 12. Cocaine player, heavyweight getting STI (7) 13. Queer as any malawian folk (5) 14. A blockbuster could go either way (5) 16. Furry Claudius gets in brother's car (4) 18. Mitigate while rehearsal version plays (5) 20. Girl at home on spanish day (5) 22. Very softly, electrical engineer gets in type of show 23. (4) 27. Sound of cinema inspires letter (5) 29. Old book, or metal detected by beach (5) 31. e.g. Palin joins in song for graphic author (7) 32. A metal helmet for solver puts us up creek (5) 33. A honda, and in mirror (5) 34. Manage republican and french one (3) 35. Time before lacklustre improvement (5) 36. This creation obscures instruction (3)

Sudoku

Tetonor Each number in the main grid can be formed by adding or multiplying a pair of numbers from the strip below. Each pair of numbers should be used twice: once as part of an addition and once as part of a multiplication. For example, a 10 and 24 in the main grid may be solved by the sums, 4+6 and 4x6, respectively. Enter each sum in the boxes below its answer. Any blanks in the strip must be deduced, with the numbers in the strip listed in ascending order.

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1. Continent originating American Film Institute made mess of vehicle (6) 2. Coat from assistant taking biblical vessel (5) 3. Maker, cart our dead off! (7) 4. Going down fully dressed but for sock (6) 5. Century by younger Ferdinand divides Switzerland 6. (6) 7. Son goes in other direction of many 4D (7) Famous representative supported by some of 8. california? turn back and find beans (5) 15. A time, an arrangement, a drawing (7) 17. Alien takes queen, knock out (5) 19. Something chewed by meditator (3) 20. Type of group propagate mistruths? (3) 21. Prevent fashionable greeting, taking joke? (7) 22. President, call out Antalyan on twitter (7) 24. Forces Varsovians to take leave of picnic (7) 25. Eel in a way, friend of Jerry? (6) 26. A headless thing, how gruesome (6) 28. Journos using technology get orders (6) 29. Misunderstood, pesky platform (5)

Place the digits from 1 to 9 in each empty cell. Each row, column, and 3 x 3 box must contain only one of each of the 9 digits.

Difficulty: Medium Credit: Fergus Ustianowski, Editor

Credit: Patrick Sullivan, Puzzles Digital Editor

7

5 8 5

6 3

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9 1

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

Global Lounge autumn events The Global Lounge celebrates all cultures and helps to build communities by inspiring social exchange through fun and interactive cultural events! Stay connected this autumn and check out their virtual programme. Open to all students, home and international.

Travel the World

Tuesdays, 1 pm to 2 pm Discover new destinations as fellow student and staff volunteers share stories and experiences from across the globe!

Language Café

Wednesdays, 3 pm to 4:30 pm Practise up to 15 languages in a relaxed environment and make friends from around the world.

Faith Crawl

11 November, 3 pm to 5 pm

Diwali

11 November, 6 pm to 7:30 pm

bristol.ac.uk/global-lounge

Sport 31

epigram 10.11.2020

Bristol's netballers are taking Strava to a whole new level in aid of charity Charlotte Carver Match day reporter

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eriod poverty is an issue that affects women across the globe. For those who do not know, it is when women and girls do not have access to sanitary products or a safe, hygienic place to use them.

To contextualise, Plan International UK found that in the UK alone one in seven girls struggle to afford menstrual products. As you can imagine, women in war-torn countries and refugees elsewhere must also contend with period poverty on a regular basis.

In an effort to adress this issue, the University of Bristol Netball Club have spent the past week running 50 kilometres in five days in aid of The Pachamama Project. They have so far raised an astounding £2000 for the

charity.

Early in October, The Croft magazine reported on the scheme, which was set up by Bristol student Ella Lambert during lockdown, and makes reusable sanitary pads to distribute to refugee camps.

One of the main aims of The Pachamama Project is to provide women refugees with reusable sanitary products, allowing women to worry less about sourcing safe sanitary products every month.

The Pacha Pads will be delivered to the Moria refugee camp in Levsos, Greece following a trial distribution to refugees in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon. The Moria camp recently burnt down, leaving more than

and therefore the health of women around the world.

Epigram spoke to Netball's Charity Sec, Sophie Rogers, about the 50km run the team are taking on. Rogers told us that the club were inspired to take part because ‘as the largest all-women performance sport at the university, we can hugely relate to the aims of The Pachamama Project.’

Rogers also felt that ‘without access to safe sanitary products girls don’t only risk jeopardising their health, but also their education as many are forced to stay at home.’

Running 50km over the space of five days is obviously quite a task but ‘lots of the girls have been keen to get involved and it’s lovely to see

The Netball club have raised an astounding £2000 for the charity 10,000 people without a safe place to live. Given the circumstances, The Pachamama Project is also helping to provide emergency aid for the camp in addition to the disposable sanitary products.

The money raised from the 50km run, initiated by Lambert’s brother, Luke, and supported by the Netball Club, will go towards buying materials for the sanitary products, running costs and distribution costs. All these small things help to ensure the success of The Pachamama Project

She then went on to say that: ‘Some days have been tough and the weather isn’t always on our side, but it’s a great chance to get outside and get some fresh air, which I think is really important given that the majority of us have all our lectures online at home.’

While the Netball Club are doing a great job of supporting this very important cause there are things others can do to help as well.

The Pachamama Project is open for anyone to get involved with. Those handy with a sewing machine are able to help produce the reusable sanitary pads by contacting thepachamamaproject@outlook.com for more information. The less crafty of us, can help with the fundraising side of things or help source materials for the project.

Whether it is fundraising or constructing, the cause is a worthy one and the Netball Club are doing great things to help out.

everyone sharing their running experience on Strava,' said Rogers about the response from the rest of the Netball club.

Over lockdown, many of us had quite limited exercise opportunities, especially with team sports not being an option for such a long time.

Despite this, ‘the running has been an excellent opportunity to increase our fitness, especially after months of limited netball training’ explained Rogers when asked how the club were finding the challenge.

Arty Prevot and Rhiannon Tanner

Arty Prevot and Rhiannon Tanner

Bristol's netballers run 50km to fight period poverty

Footballers' monumental Movember marathon George Lanigan Third Year, English

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wo members of the University of Bristol Men’s Football Club will undertake a journey of epic proportion next month when they run an ultramarathon in aid of Movember. Toby Spencer-Pickup and Finlay Wallace-Abbott are going to attempt a 45-mile ultramarathon to raise money and awareness for the men’s health charity.

The run was originally scheduled for 21 November but has been postponed until 12 December due to restrictions. When these are lifted the duo will set off from the Wills Memorial Building, with the run finishing at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The route will take them via the Clifton Downs, over the Severn River crossing and through Newport.

According to Spencer-Pickup, ‘The route planning has been fairly tricky and takes us across fields, the path of a long dual carriageway and up

plenty of hills.’

Fortunately, the duo have been training both on the treadmill in the gym and on the roads for the last few months. The intense exercise has been taking its toll. ‘We quickly realised when we started training that our feet, especially blisters, would be an issue,’ Spencer-Pickup said.

He added, ‘As two guys really into fitness and both members of the University of Bristol Men’s Football Club, we have selected a challenge that will without doubt push us to our absolute limits both mentally and physically.’ The timing of the run is weather dependent (it wouldn’t be Britain if not), but they are hoping to complete the ultramarathon within 11 to 13 hours.

Movember began in 2003, after two Australian men, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, grew moustaches to raise money and awareness for men’s health.

Today, the movement is a global initiative, having funded over 1,250 men’s health projects. In 2019 alone, the movement raised almost £13 million. What started as two guys in a bar has become an international or-

ganisation that saw close to 400,000 people participating last year.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 promises to be another strong year for the charity, as they continue to spread their slogan, ‘Your dough will save a bro.’ Sports clubs and their members throughout the University will be making money-raising efforts for the cause, including Ben Costin.

Unlike the UBAFC boys, Costin has already ran a marathon for men’s

health after the Yorkshire marathon was postponed and has raised nearly £1,250 at the time of writing.

Contending with the additional 19 miles of an ultramarathon means the intrepid footballers will have to cope with extra physical challenges, but they know the benefits it will have.

So far, they have raised over £1,000 for Movember, which has set the goal of reducing the male suicide rate by 25 per cent within the next decade.

Spencer-Pickup and Wallace-Abbott encourage students to speak about their issues and believe there should be no stigma around discussing how you feel, particularly in the current climate with restrictions and lockdowns. ‘We are certain that at some point during the task, probably exhausted and soaked somewhere in Wales, we will both want to quit, but the thought of all our ‘Mo Bros’ out there will keep us going.’

Alex Daniels

There must be a pretty special reason to run an ultramarathon

Sport

Editor Eddie McAteer Digital Editor Daniel Dyson Deputy Editor James Dowden

Twitter: @EpigramSport

Combat sports profile: Boxing

As part of Black History Month, UoB ACS hosted a racism in football panel event Eddie McAteer Sports Editor

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ootball has an incredible capacity to unite people across the world. Last month we saw the outpour of support for Marcus Rashford’s brilliant initiative to help feed hungry children. Unfortunately, despite having such a positive impact, the footballing world undoubtedly has its issues.

For decades, racism has been a significant problem in the sport and it has reared its ugly head on multiple occasions this year. Just a few weeks ago, Barcelona’s 18-year-old prodigy, Ansu Fati, was compared to a ‘black street vendor’ because of his movement on the pitch. Closer to home, Wilfried Zaha was the victim of racial abuse from a 12-year-old on social media.

Experiences like these are all too common in football and made up part of a discussion ran by the Bristol BME Network in collaboration with an organisation called MOB Football. Chaired by Obafemi Alabi, the online event included three panellists: Danola Odeyemi, an academy scout for Chelsea, Juwon Akintunde, a former academy player at Brentford and QPR, and Olisa Odukwe, who currently plays for the University’s first team.

They covered issues including racial bias in football commentary, racism by fans and racism in football media ahead of an 11-a-side match between Bristol ACS (African Caribbean Society) and UWE ACS. Addressing the problem of commentary, the panellists discussed the aspects that pundits pick up on when talking about players of different skin tones. Much of the language

MOB Football

MOB Football

players would not hesitate to walk away from the game. Odeyemi stated that despite his own feelings, he would happily stop play if someone else felt that they wanted to do so.

Like walking off the pitch, taking the knee has been another powerful action when it comes to race and sport.

Across footballing leagues, teams have knelt before kick-off in a similar fashion to American Footballer Colin Kaepernick. The widespread use of the stance, however, has been criticised by Les Ferdinand, who was racially abused at different points in used to praise players of a darker his career, saying, ‘The message has skin tone revolves around physical been lost.’ attributes such as pace and power.

When asked about this statement, In contrast, players of a lighter skin Odeyemi recounted an interesting tone are often praised for their instory about one of the young playtelligence and versatility. This racial ers he had coached. He said that bebias is problematic because it igfore the game, the boy took a knee nores the clever play by players with and when asked why, he responded darker skin and suggests that their ‘I thought that’s what you do now?’ only asset is their physical prowess.

For the Chelsea scout, this supportIn a similar vein, Odukwe recounted Ferdinand’s ed a story wherestatement but by he was told at ‘My dad told me people admitted that it youth level: ‘My like you were quick' could also have dad told me that a positive impact if combined with people like you were quick.’ Odukeducation on the topic. we’s experience shows how from a Turning our attention to the young age, people already start to match, Bristol sadly lost 0-5 against form the stereotypes that act as the UWE ACS in the 11-a-side friendly basis of biases in commentary. fixture. Taking place at UWE HillThat is part of the reason that Odside Gardens, the game followed the eyemi believes ‘Football is a reflecdiscussion and saw UWE dominate tion of society.’ If people are picking the game, taking advantage of an up racial stereotypes outside of footopposition goalkeeper who, I was ball, they will eventually permeate informed, had never played before. the footballing world.

For anyone who missed the drubResponding to forms of racism has bing, highlights of the game can be been a significant part of the fight found on MOB Football's Youtube against the abuse. Some players rechannel. act by walking off the pitch, others A 0-5 defeat is hard to take, esprefer to continue and silence fans pecially at the hands of UWE it hits with their performance. Odeyemi even harder. Fortunately, this was spoke particularly strongly about part of something bigger. It was the this saying, ‘There is nobody that opportunity to ‘Empower black playcan make me walk off the pitch if ers in Bristol and shine a light on I am the one being abused.’ Everythem.’ one is different, however, and many

UoB's boxing captain reveals what it's like to be a part of the club James Dowden Deputy Sports Editor

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pigram’s Deputy Sports Editor James Dowden continues to investigate the world of combat sports at Bristol University. This week he spoke with Boxing captain Sebastian Finburgh about

the morning, abs at lunch and then boxing at night for two hours. It gets very intense; you have to remain super dedicated and focused.'

Who are your coaches and what are they like? ‘I have two main coaches. One from my club and the University boxing club coach.

They have taught me a lot. They are very positive people who have an amazing passion for sport, but also enjoy coaching and guiding young

90 per cent of boxing is mental fighters. I have a lot of respect for the sport that is the home of some of them.' the worlds biggest stars like AnthoHow is the social side of boxing? ny Joshua and Tyson Fury any why Boxing is a lonely sport. When it has plenty to offer here in Bristol. you’re in the ring, it’s just you who What is boxing? ‘Boxing is a type can fight and bring the victory of combat sport. The objective is to home. There are no friends in this break down your opponent using game. However, you do make speyour punches. It’s almost like an cial bonds with the people you train art. You have to be ruthless while with and it’s easy to relate with anremaining completely calm at the other boxer as they understand your same time. You’re trying to outmentality and what you have to go smart and outwork your opponent through emotionally to win fights. to the point where they feel like What would your dream season they can’t beat you. 90 per cent of be? I want to remain undefeated. boxing is a mental game.'

My current reWhat is a cord is five wins weekly schedule ‘I want to remain (three via TKO) like in boxing ? ‘I undefeated' and zero loses. train for boxing My next goal is to get to 10-0. This every weekday 19:00-21:00, and will be tough, as my opposition will then on the weekend I’ll go to the only get harder. However, we are gym or have a cardio based session currently not allowed to have any to improve endurance. If I have a amateur bouts due to COVID-19, but bout coming up, I will train three hopefully that will change in the times a day for six weeks before near future. the fight. Usually I do sprints in

UOB Boxing

Tackling racism through football