EPIGRAM 303

Fortnightly 3rd October 2016 Issue 303

University of Bristol’s Award Winning Independent Student Newspaper

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Epigram/ Mairead Finlay

Orchard lows

Accommodation office investigating ‘fabricated charges’ at Orchard Heights Malik Ouzia Online News Editor Former residents of Orchard Heights have expressed their anger at UNITE over damages payments charged to students at the end of the previous academic year.

Residents feel that some of the charges, which relate to everything from broken shelves to marked walls, are excessive and in some cases ‘completely fabricated’.

Orchard Heights, which opened in 2015, is located on Frogmore Street, near Bristol’s O2 Academy, and is part of the UNITE group of

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halls which also includes The Rackhay, Waverley House and Favell House, amongst others. Like other non-university owned halls, inspections and succeeding damages charges are an external responsibility but are then processed by the university’s accommodation office.

The most alarming charges are those that students claim have been falsified. One such case is that of Laura Watson, a former resident who claims that her flat were invoiced for a stained tile which did not exist.

‘We had a normal plastered ceiling with no tiles, yet we’ve been invoiced for a “stained kitchen ceiling tile” which needs “replacing”.

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‘I’m pretty disappointed in UNITE for trying to take advantage of their position of power over students with the assumption that each will just pay to get it done with.’

Another student who asked to remain anonymous, echoed Watson’s sentiment; ‘I was furious as to how UNITE were being allowed to get away with submitting damage claims with no evidence, or on claims that were completely fabricated.’

He also expressed his concern regarding the appeal process, which is ongoing, arguing that students wouldn’t have sufficient evidence to fight the charges.

Medic Hayley May Hall gives her view on the new junior doctor contract

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‘That’s the underlying issue with our case. We as tenants did not photograph stuff which was not damaged.’

He also told of his attempt to return to the flat to inspect the alleged damages himself after receiving the bill, only to be denied entry.

For others, it was the seemingly extortionate cost of the damage that left a sour taste. Catherine Jones, another ex-resident, took it upon herself to do some research after her flat were charged £129 for a broken stool.

Continued on page 5...

Style Alex Boulton argues that fashion week is still relevant to students

Epigram

03.10.2016

Editorial Inside Epigram

News Page 4 - NUS referendum campaigns launched Features Page 7 -Are student international visas at risk?

Film & TV Page 38 - Check out the first instalment of Epiflix and chill!

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Housing is a topic which never seems to be far from Epigram’s front page. For example, our front page in September of 2014 was a story about Bristol accepting more first years than they had rooms for, and as a result freshers were forced to share rooms with bunk beds.

One year later, the first front page of the year was reporting on an investigation by Bristol’s Student Union, laying bare the dire state of the private rented sector in Bristol.

Then there is today’s front page. This one really does show, however much the university messes up, they do care about students at least to some extent. Unfortunately, the idea of private letting agents and private landlords trying to squeeze students for all they are worth isn’t a new thing.

I’ve been very lucky in my housing experiences. I had a university managed hall in first year which, despite its problems, was well managed and students were looked after. Following that, I spent two years in a flat run by a private landlord that we found using UBU Lettings, an agency which I cannot recommend enough.

Unfortunately, this is not a typical experience. Many of my friends have found themselves moving into houses full of damp, mould and lacking basic amenities. Often these are the same places where, upon leaving, students will be lumped with a huge bill full of dodgy charges that will be taken out of their deposits.

One particularly bad story I heard was from a friend who was charged thousands of pounds for, among other things, the cleaning of their en suite. This might sound a little pricey as it is, but when you take into account the fact they didn’t even have an en suite it really does take the biscuit.

Then there was the friend who thought that the cleaning company the letting agents had hired to clean the flat seemed more expensive than needed. They Googled the company to find out if that was their normal price. No trace of them online. They rang the number the letting agents claimed was for the cleaning company. Shocker- the number didn’t work.

The problem is, for every student that challenges the letting agents on the huge chunks they take from people’s deposits, there are probably dozens who just accept the money is gone and move on.

So, how to change this? Challenge landlords and letting agents on it when they take money from your deposit. A lot of the time they will claim they need more of it than they do, and they know it.

Often challenging them is enough to make them back down, but don’t be afraid to follow it up if you know they’re in the wrong.

Finally, if nothing else, I would avoid using one particular letting agents above all others. You know, it’s the one that rhymes with figs.

Ben Parr, Editor in Chief

From the archives... ‘MI5 wants you’ 26 years ago Epigram reported on MI5 and MI6 recruiting students at the University of Bristol, but where did the facts blur with the fiction?

The story back then…

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A note from the editor...

However, as with most stories involving the secret services, it seems there was an element of fantasy in this one too.

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Online Deputies: Sophie Hunter; Phoebe Jordan

‘Allegations of University complicity in MI5 recruitment at Bristol re-surfaced this week, with a lecturer suggesting there could be a recruiting agent in Politics, and revealing that he had been interviewed by the security services about the reliability of a student’, Epigram’s front page reported in November of 1990.

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The original article was based on claims made by a then junior lecturer in politics, Dr Vernon Hewitt.

‘Dr Vernon Hewitt… revealed that MI5 and MI6 have repeatedly approached Bristol politics students, writing on Ministry of Defence paper to invite them for interview in London, without making clear the purpose of the interview’, it said.

‘Several of the students involved were my personal tutees’

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According to the original article, Dr Hewitt had expressed concerns that the Security Services had been accessing confidential university information in order to recruit Bristol politics students.

It was reported that Dr Hewitt believed that the source of the information used to select individuals for the interview may well have been in the University, and probably the politics department, as the students all fitted a specific profile.

‘The situation came to Dr Hewitt’s attention when he was asked to supply references for the students. He at first believed these to be for employment in the MoD, but after supplying one reference he was asked to attend an interview in London, where he was questioned about the student’s “loyalty to his country” and sexual inclinations’, it said.

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‘He never insinuated that there was a “spotter” in the politics department’

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According to the story, this was the point when Dr Hewitt realised that the student was being recruited by the security services.

The story continued: ‘[Dr Hewitt] argued that if information on potential recruits is being handed to MI5, it is likely that it is also being given about students thought “subversive”’.

At the time it was reported that the University’s Information Officer ‘suggested that Dr Hewitt had a vivid imagination’.

26 years later…

Fast forward 26 years into 2016 and Dr Hewitt is now a senior lecturer in politics at Bristol and, according to Dr Hewitt, the story was not all that it seemed.

Describing the 1990 story as ‘willfully exaggerated’, Dr Hewitt told Epigram how the issue wasn’t with misuse or access of confidential information, and that he never insinuated that there was a ‘spotter’ in the politics department, like the story implied ‘There were NO concerns about confidentiality, since any information deemed relevant for recruitment was provided for by the candidate in their original [civil service] application. This is also why there was no need for a spotter in Bristol’, Dr Hewitt told Epigram.

Despite the exaggerations there was truth in the story though.

Dr Hewitt still believes that his students were being recruited by the secret services.

‘Several of the students involved were my personal tutees, and fitted a particular profile - children of white settler families either back or still in residence in Africa’, he said.

The difference was that the recruitment process was not spotters in the university, but rather the secret services following up unsuccessful civil service applications.

‘What has happened is that on rejection, your application has been reviewed within the civil service and you have been identified as someone who might be suitable for the secret service’, Dr Hewitt explained.

Following a rejection letter students would receive a second letter asking them to attend an interview for an alternative job - one with the secret service.

‘My concerns at the time were that people that had been rejected might jump at the chance of a `second’ job without immediately understanding what was involved’, Dr Hewitt said.

‘Nowadays of course, with the security services owning their own websites and application forms, this sort of cloak and dagger doesn’t happen!’

Original story was published in Epigram on 2 November 1990

Epigram 03.10.2016

News

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News Editor: Emily Faint news@epigram.org.uk Online News Editor: Malik Ouiza newsonline@epigram.org.uk Deputy News Editors: Mairead Finlay; Noa Leach; Ellen Jones; Amy Finch

Burglaries in Bristol rocket in one year

‘we believed our posessions to be safe in our new home’

Grace Kendrick, third year History student at the University of Bristol, has recently been a victim of burglary in her student house in High Kingsdown. Despite taking the necessary

Flickr/ StayRAW

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Police figures reveal that burglaries in Bristol increased by a huge 28 per cent last year. In 2015, the Avon and Somerset police force received reports of 1,194 more break-ins than in 2014, equating to an average of three burglaries per day.

In recent years, there has been a vast increase in the safety precautions Brits have taken to secure their homes, with the Office for National Statistics stating that as of 2012, three quarters of homes now have the combined security of deadlocks and window locks. Nevertheless, the number of break-ins continues to be on the rise.

measures to secure the house when out, the burglars managed to force open the back door lock with tools.

‘It was such a shock as we considered ourselves to be sensible in the sense that we always check everything is locked and believed our possessions to be safe in our new home,’ Grace told Epigram.

‘Luckily for me, it was the start of term...but I’d have been even more devastated if it had happened during dissertation season.’

Chief Constable of the Avon and Somerset police force, Andy Marsh, noted the importance of tackling this crime head on, stating: ‘We absolutely need to improve the detection of these crimes and our response to them.’

‘As a force, we are facing huge demands on our resources but I am committed to improving the way we deal with this issue.’

Stephen Le Fanu, Bristol SU’s Student Living Officer, also told Epigram, ‘The SU will be campaigning for improved standards across the private rental sector.’

Nevertheless, he went on to say: ‘It is also worth looking into insurance for things like laptops and individual markers for bikes.’

Students can contact the university’s security services for help and information by calling the non-emergency number: 01179287848.

Burglaries in Bristol increased by 28 per cent last year, with numerous student houses being targeted

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Ellen Jones Deputy News Editor

Bristol’s Sanctuary: Ten scholarships awarded to refugees Amy Finch Deputy News Editor The University of Bristol has for the first time awarded scholarships to refugees and asylum seekers, welcoming ten ‘Sanctuary Scholars’ this September.

Despite opening for applications for just two weeks in June, the Bristol Sanctuary Scholarship Scheme generated much interest, receiving over 130 applications.

Designed to counter considerable barriers to university for refugees and asylum seekers living in the UK, including grants for tuition fees and living costs, as well as softening English language and qualification requirements. The offers have been made across the university and at all levels of study.

A spokesperson for the university commented:

‘We are really looking forward to seeing their successes over the coming years and will be on hand to provide all of the necessary support required to assist them in their studies.’

Speaking at the time, Vice-Chancellor Hugh Brady acknowledged that ‘there are factors that make it difficult for people from refugee and asylumseeking communities to apply to university.

‘Our scheme has been designed to accommodate these factors, so please don’t let them stop you from applying’, Brady said.

Full scholarships have been offered to asylum seekers – individuals still awaiting full refugee status classification. Under current UK law, those awaiting approval do not have full access to UK public services and can be left in limbo – unable to plan for their futures.

This includes facing international student fees – which at the University of Bristol range from

Epigram/ Anna Lewis

Anna Lewis directed a film on the theme of asylum seekers seeking education.

£15,800 to £35,400 – despite living on a government subsidy of less than £5 a day.

Including dependents, almost 39,000 people made asylum applications in the UK last year and the application process can often take many years.

For example, in August 2015, one in five cases from the previous year remained unsettled.

‘In August 2015, 1 in 5 cases from previous year left unsettled’

The news has been counted as a great success by UoB’s Student Action for Refugees (STAR) group, who have been campaigning for home fees for asylum seekers for several years. Anna Lewis, who directed a film on the theme commented: ‘we were thrilled to hear the campaign had been successful.

This is an encouraging step forward and will have a huge impact on the lives of those accepted onto the scheme’.

Ben Hudson, a PhD student leading the lobbying group has said: ‘it has been an intensive, collaborative effort between academics, students and professional services staff here at the university, driven by the Migration Research Group.’

“ The council had admitted only five refugee families

The university’s response places it among several universities offering similar schemes and also offers part scholarships to those who have been granted full refugee status.

The scheme may offer some much needed credibility to Bristol’s ‘City of Sanctuary’ status,

after a damning report by Bristol 24/7 found that the council had admitted only five refugee families under a Government scheme to resettle Syrian refugees.

Bristol’s mayor Marvin Rees placed the blame at the feet of the current housing shortage, adding ‘to be successful in the long term it is vital that we get the infrastructure right and manage the early arrivals well’.

However, there are still some reservations.

Ms. Lewis commented that the group were ‘disappointed’ that the university’s program has only been guaranteed for one year.

She added: ‘we will keep campaigning to ensure it is maintained over the years to come, so that the university stays welcoming and inclusive for refugees and people seeking asylum.’

Refugee Scholarships Key Facts 21 refugees have been given a home in Bristol 10 scholarships for refugees 130 scholarship applications £15,800 - £35,400 international fees paid by asylum seekers Bristol Refugee Rights: over 200 people a day contacted them offering to volunteer in 2015

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Epigram 03.10.2016

Hate crime in Bristol: are students at risk?

recorded hate crime in 2015/16 rose by 10,000 to 60,000 in the UK

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‘Bristol students and international students have every right to feel scared’

Assuaging potential fears, Darcy added, ‘aside from security measures and policy, new students should feel completely welcome and should not feel the need to treat other students, staff and members of the community with fear or suspicion. Our university is incredibly multicultural and diverse and I’m extremely proud of our voter turnout and resulting decision.

I believe that much of this is down to the inclusive attitudes of our students and staff’.

‘Student safety is top of our list of priorities’

Meanwhile, Hannah would like to improve the provisions provided by the university regarding hate crimes. ‘As it currently stands, we don’t have other institutional structures in place. That’s something I want to change this year by turning Bristol Students’ Union into a third-party hate crime reporting centre. This way the Students’ Union can be better equipped to structurally support students who have been victims of hate crimes, for example racism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.’

Flickr/Duncan Hull

Speaking with Hannah Dualeh, Equality, Liberation and Access Officer at Bristol about the rise in hate crime and what this might mean in the future for Bristol students, she said: ‘The unfortunate reality is there will be Bristol students and international students who feel scared and have every right to feel so.’

In terms of support available for Bristol students who may have been victims of hate crimes, Hannah highlighted the Just Ask advice team at the Students’ Union, that can give advice on what to do next.

Similarly, Women’s Officer Darcy Ramsden said: ‘Student safety is top of our list of priorities and we encourage you to contact us should you

Epigram/Henry Edelstein

As previously reported in the Bristol Cable in August, it has been revealed that Avon and Somerset Police had the lowest prosecution rates for hate crime in 2015/16 amongst the 13 largest forces in the country - a 41 per cent decrease on the previous year.

This is despite recorded hate crime in 2015/16 rising by 10,000 to 60,000 across the UK. Whilst not necessarily linked to the referendum result, post-Brexit there has been a series of reported incidents regarding hate crime in Bristol - including what police believed to be a racially motivated attack on a 10 year old boy in Fishponds last month, who was taken to hospital for face and body injuries. There was also racist graffiti daubed on houses in Knowle West in July.

feel that you or anyone else is, was or may be victimised. I know that BME and international students, particularly women, are often the most vulnerable targets of hate crime and I want to reassure everyone that our 24/7 University Security Services will always respond as quickly as possible to any reports no matter how small.’

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Mairead Finlay Deputy News Editor

Some reports have suggested an increase in hate crime following the Brexit vote

Campaigning period for NUS referendum goes live Emily Faint News Editor

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The campaigns for Bristol Student’s Union to leave or remain a member of the NUS (National Union of Students) have been launched.

The NUS referendum will take place between 17th October and 20th October, giving the ‘Yes to NUS’ and ‘No to NUS’ campaign teams three weeks to convince students of their cause. All students are eligible to vote.

‘I hope Bristol students will recognise the overwhelming benefits and choose to say Yes to NUS.’

Bristol SU will host a live debate on the referendum question ‘Should Bristol SU be affiliated to the NUS?’ on the first day of voting, Monday 17th October, at 6pm in the Winston Theatre.

James Heale, leader of the ‘No to NUS’ campaign, told Epigram: ‘The NUS is, quite simply, no longer fit for purpose. Year after year it has disgraced itself, through its persistent failures to adopt “one student, one vote”, tackle anti-Semitism allegations or engage properly with its paying members.’

‘Reformists have been unable to change it in the past; they will fail again in the future.’

Heale went on to say, ‘In a survey this May, 62 per cent Epigram readers wanted Bristol to disaffiliate from the NUS. On 17th October, your readers will have the chance to vote for this. It’s time for change. It’s time for BONUS (Bristol Out of NUS).’

The leader of the ‘Yes to NUS’ campaign had, at the time of writing, yet to be confirmed.

Jamie Cross, Union Affairs Officer for Bristol SU, commented to Epigram: ‘I’ll be campaigning to remain affiliated to the NUS as part of the Yes to NUS campaign.’

‘I feel firstly that the NUS bring many benefits to Bristol Students, financially (NUS extra cards) and through supporting Bristol SU. ‘Secondly that the NUS campaigns for lots of different issues that students care about, be that keeping Wednesday afternoons free for sports and activities, to keeping education both free and affordable.

‘I hope Bristol students will recognise these overwhelming benefits and choose to say Yes to NUS.’ Controversy around Bristol SU’ s membership of the NUS began in April 2016, following a national media storm concerning alleged antiSemitic rhetoric about a ‘Zionist-led media’ from the newly elected NUS President, Malia Bouattia.

On Friday 13th May, Bristol SU received a petition to also hold a referendum on its affiliation to NUS. This has been verified and includes 355 valid signatures.

Despite responding to these allegations and

pledging to condemn racism ‘in all its forms’, the controversy surrounding Bouattia’s election led to a wave of referendums across British universities, with institutions including Lincoln, Hull, Newcastle and Loughborough voting to entirely disaffiliate from the NUS.

James Heale, leader of the ‘No to NUS’ campaign, said: ‘The NUS is, quite simply, no longer fit for purpose’

Universities including Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick and Exeter, however, voted to stay.

The referendum will be overseen by Sam Jones, Academic Quality Manager at the University of Bristol, who will act as the Returning Officer.

The Returning Officer oversees the referendum process and makes sure it is conducted fairly and transparently. She will be supported by SU staff members who will remain impartial throughout the referendum process.

Jones’ appointment was made by a committee of elected students who oversee Bristol SU’s democracy (Democratic Standards Committee), and made recommendations on the timeline, question and rules.

Students who wish to read the full NUS referendum rules at the University of Bristol can find the details on the Bristol SU website.

What is the NUS? The NUS is the National Union of Students. Their purpose is to represent the rights and views of students on a national level. Examples of their work includes lobbying for students to be exempt from paying Council Tax.

Why the controversy?

Over the last few years the NUS have been accused of being out of touch with students.

This is in part due to frequent coverage in the media about their stances on issues such as safe spaces and accusations of antisemitic remarks from the recently elected NUS president, Malia Bouattia.

Are we likely to disaffiliate?

An Epigram survey of more than 400 students at the end of last term suggested a leave vote was likely. However, the poll was taken at a time when the NUS was receiving a lot of negative media coverage and it was of only a fraction of the students who will be eligible to vote. Factors like voter turnout could play a huge part in deciding the result of the referendum.

Epigram 03.10.2016

Outrage as Orchard Heights students charged £129 for ‘£25 B&Q stool’ Malik Ouzia Online News Editor

Outside of Orchard Heights residence where students pay nearly £150 a week complained on all their tiny errors that most people simply ignored out of good faith.’

Student Living Officer Stephen Le Fanu told Epigram that he became aware of the problem after seeing complaints in the accommodation’s Facebook group.

‘I think that the scale of the problem showed that there was a problem in the way that charges were allocated in Orchard Heights by UNITE this year and there were disputes over what constituted “wear and tear”.

‘However the accommodation office is commendably looking into each appeal and I was told that it may take a while because they wish to look into each case carefully.’

A spokesperson for the university said: ‘The university has received a large number of appeals regarding charges by UNITE for damage at Orchard Heights, and each one is being investigated – both as to whether the

damage exists and whether the charge is fair.

‘As part of the investigation, we obtain evidence of the damage from Unite and consider the information the student has provided. Due to the large number of charges and appeals, this is taking longer than in previous years even though we have put additional resources into dealing with charges.’

Several students did praise both the Student Union’s living team and the university’s handling of the case, which included an email assuring them that the university has ‘students best interests at heart’ and the extension of both payment and appeals deadlines.

However, others criticized UNITE staff as ‘rude and dismissive’ and accusing them of ‘fobbing us off’.

At the time of writing, UNITE had not responded to Epigram’s invitation to comment on the situation.

Pain in the ASS: new library plans to solve overcrowding problem

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Noa Leach Deputy News Editor

The university has released a ‘roadmap’ of university development plans, including a new building to replace the Arts and Social Sciences Library (ASS) on Tyndall Avenue.

Vice Chancellor and Professor Hugh Brady said in a release statement, ‘Our vision is to sustain and improve upon our world-leading reputation for research, and embrace educational innovation that will nurture skilled, adaptable and resilient graduates.’

‘The ASS was so overcrowded,’ says student Rebecca Vincent.

‘I stopped using it. I think there should be faculty-specific libraries that only students in that faculty can use to stop everyone going to one (ASS).’

Student, Rosie Castle expressed concern over the new plans: ‘The library was always really crowded at lunch time or in the exam period, but I think the new one would have to be significantly bigger to actually make a difference.’

University staff, however, remained positive

and shared only optimistic statements.

‘The environment in which our students work, live and play is as important as the education we provide,’ said Professor Judith Squires, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education.

Plans also include a new ‘Student Resource Hub’ for improved academic, pastoral and career support for students, and a ‘focused effort to increase female representation in university leadership roles,’ said Brady.

There is currently no further information regarding the budget, probable start or completion dates.

‘The environment in which our students work is as important as the education we provide’

Flickr/ Phillip_MN

This includes a plan to remodel the centre of the campus ‘to create a welcoming, studentcentred ‘heart’ to our university.’

A booklet has been released which reveals visualisations of the prospective university campus.

The plan specifies a focus ‘particularly on the needs of our arts and social sciences students’, which largely includes the plan for the new library.

Currently the ASS is the main library on Tyndall Avenue

Drama has struck the Bristol Labour party following the suspension of three local councilors, in addition to 200 party members.

Despite Bristol being one of the successes of Jeremy Corbyn’s mixed performance in local elections earlier this year, Labour has now lost its narrow majority in the Bristol council.

With Labour winning only 37 of the 70 available seats in May, the suspensions have left Labour one seat shy of the required number to form a majority.

Supporters of Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign have allegedly experienced a ‘purge,’ with almost two hundred members being banned from voting in the leadership election.

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there has been a ‘robust validation process’ to ensure all votes in the election meet Labour party rules

This news came as Channel 4’s Dispatches were due to air footage of Momentum campaigners claiming that the organization was ‘taking over’ the Labour party in Bristol.

Councilors Harriet Bradly, Hibaq Jama and Mike Langley have all had their Labour whip withdrawn and were banned from voting in the recent leadership contest.

Although it is not clear why Langley and Jama were suspended, it is believed that it is due to their open criticism of the National Executive Committee, and their open support of the subversive Corbyn.

Hibaq Jama, Bristol council’s first Somali-born councilor who was elected in 2013, had also taken part in a Corbyn rally, speaking critically of local MP Thangam Debbonaire, a high profile critic of the Labour leader, and her stance on refugees.

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Epigram/ Mairead Finlay

Catherine Jones commented: ‘We have been charged £12.90 each (in a flat of 10) to replace the stool, which I have found an identical version of on the B&Q website for £25. I have advised friends who are about to start first year to stay away from Unite.

‘There are 368 rooms available in OH and if everyone received these types of fines then Unite and Bristol should be ashamed of themselves.’

The University told Epigram that they have held discussions with UNITE regarding ‘some underlying problems’, including those around kitchen stools, and insist that such charges have now been removed.

There had also been other issues regarding admin fees, which were mistakenly charged to every damage rather than one per invoice, but these too have now been resolved.

Yet Tami Mercy Sotire explained that residents’ outrage is also partly fuelled by ongoing issues throughout the year.

‘The quality of the entire place was not good for the £145 a week that we paid. Orchard Heights were just so shabby. I got stuck in a lift three times, and one time was for over two and a half hours. We were without hot water for over two weeks at one point as well.’

Watson also expressed her regret at not acting on such issues early in the year.

‘If I’d have realised we were going to end up having to fight UNITE then I’d have logged and

Bristol Labour in alleged antiThe Story of the Game Corbyn ‘purge’ Adele Momoko Fraser Online Features Editor

Continued from front page...

If everyone recieved these types of fines then Unite and Bristol should be ashamed

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Supporters believe they had been unjustly targeted

Harriet Bradley, the first councilor to be suspended in this recent string of dismissals, has also been an open supporter of Jeremy Corbyn on social media.

She has reportedly also supported campaigns to select other MPs in the next general election.

Many have stated that the motivation for these suspensions have been unclear, as the party have failed to notify those concerned.

A Labour spokesman has stated that there has been a ‘robust validation process’ to ensure all votes in the election meet ‘Labour party rules.’

This report follows the experiences of many during Jeremy’s first election to the party last year.

In what was dubbed ‘Operation Icepick’ - an oblique reference to Trotsky’s assassination at the hands of Stalin’s NKVD - supporters of Corbyn’s campaign were prevented from voting in the contest.

Operation Icepick has resulted in a mass public outcry, with many supporters believing that they had been unjustly targeted by what they considered to be an ‘undemocratic’ verification process.

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Features

03.10.2016

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Are student international visas at risk?

Consequently, the Prime Minister and her advisors have considered the UK’s student visa policies to be unacceptably lenient, allowing an easy route into the UK for economic immigrants: according to the Home Office, one in five international students overstays his or her visa.

Under May’s government, the BIS department - along with its comparatively laissez-faire attitudes towards student immigration - has now been scrapped.

Camille Delaney Features Writer Prospective International Students at Bristol University are set to encounter an unpleasant surprise in the coming year. As part of the longstanding Conservative goal to reduce net migration, Prime Minister, Theresa May has announced plans for a new government crackdown on the UK’s student visa policies. The proposed plan will attempt to limit the amount of student visas issued by the UK and, additionally, will aim to reduce the amount of international students that remain in Britain after their studies.

Flickr / Number 10

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The UK’s numbers of foreign students has hit a 9year low of 167,000

In consideration of May’s recent history as Home Secretary, this news is unsurprising. Last year saw various changes in the UK’s policy on international students - including cuts in visa allowances - that were largely lead by May. These efforts were at least partially successful: despite a steady increase in non-EU international students - at approximately six per

”

Foreign students may bring as much as 7 billion pounds into the UK each year

cent per year - the UK’s numbers of foreign students hit a nine year low of 167,000.

Politicians and experts have long debated the effect of international students upon the UK’s economy.

In recent years, the UK’s Treasury and Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS) regarded

international students as beneficial to the economy and to universities- largely due to their sizeable tuition fees. Indeed, a report by Universities UK suggests that foreign students may bring as much as seven billion pounds into the UK each year.

As Home Secretary, however, the Prime Minister took an opposing

view, suggesting in confidential government correspondence that the UK’s universities should ‘develop sustainable funding models that are not so dependent on international students’. Similarly, May’s head policy advisor and chief of staff, Nick Timothy, has also spoken out about foreign students’ potential strain on public services and housing.

Its replacement is a new-andimproved Department of Education, led by Education Secretary Justine Greening: a reported supporter of the PM’s immigration policies.

The consequences of these changes - on the UK’s economy and, moreover, on its universities - remain largely to be seen.

According to data provided

by Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited (HESA) in 2015, the University of Bristol consists of 15.2 percent international students: a number that may be dropping in the not-too-distant future.

Fit and Fabulous: Bristol girls can membership as it’s really casual.

Although the classes can be quite full at times, it’s such a good idea, especially for some down time when my workload is a bit overwhelming. The mixture of classes is really nice and there’s a sense of fun and absolutely no judgement which is so refreshing.’ Second year student, Monica Taylor, said ‘Fit and Fab is great because you can go to different classes as and when you want so there was no time pressure. It’s chilled, casual, fun and actually really good exercise.’

Amy Stewart Features Editor It’s the start of a new term at university and with it comes a whole new host of optimism – start each year as you mean to go on, right? For some people, it’s going to all their lectures and for others it’s about hitting the gym.

Flickr / Sangudo

The ‘This Girl Can’ campaign video has been viewed by 13 million people.

Sport England studies affiliated with the ‘The Girl Can’ campaign showed that roughly two million more men than women exercised and played sport regularly. This is despite another study highlighting that 75 per cent of women who took part in the study wanted to play more sport. In response, ‘This Girl Can’ has released a promotional video of women realistically running, jiggling and sweating during exercise

in an attempt to dissuade the idea that women must look a certain way whilst exercising. The campaign has clearly caught people’s attention; as according to Sport England, the campaign’s video has been viewed by 13 million people.

Bristol Students’ Union has also engaged with this issue and is attempting to encourage more women to play sport and exercise regularly in a safe environment

with the ‘Fit and Fabulous’ scheme.

The scheme is open to any of the university’s staff and students who identify as female and comes with a £19.99 membership price for the year. This includes unlimited classes throughout the year ranging from Football to Zumba, which cater for all levels of fitness. Additionally, the scheme engaged last year with ‘This Girl Can week’ and

offered self-defence and nutrition workshops throughout the year.

‘Fit and Fabulous’ has proved to be something female students will engage with and currently has 600 participants.

The scheme has sold out two rounds of memberships for this year already. The second round reportedly sold out in 72 hours. Emily Faint, a third year student who purchased the membership last year, said: ‘I love the “Fit and Fabulous”

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The mixture of classes is really nice and there’s a sense of fun and absolutely no judgement which is so refreshing.

Flickr / Sangudo

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However for some people, women especially, this isn’t an option due to fear of judgement and embarrassment of their bodies during exercise. As well as this, money can be a significant problem for students who want to exercise regularly but can’t afford to.

The scheme may be helpful for students who cannot afford regular memberships for the university gym.

Currently a yearly peak membership for the gym is £290, which for a lot of students who want to exercise regularly isn’t always possible. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘the gym memberships are just not feasible for me, especially with rent being so expensive in Bristol – I can’t afford both.’

As well as this scheme, there is also a ‘Get Active’ scheme which caters for both male and female students offering sports sessions for £2 or some are free.

Epigram

03.10.2016

8

Student Counselling Service: is it worth the wait?

Becky Morton Features Writer An Epigram survey of 55 students found that over half of them who sought 1:1 counselling with the Student Counselling Service had to wait for over a month to begin regular sessions.

Those identified with psychological or academic risks are prioritised

Jackie Head, Head of Student Counselling, stressed that the first intervention offered within two weeks includes a plan of action for individuals to utilise whilst they wait for regular counselling. Daily dropin services and group workshops are also available in this interim period and may be part of an action plan for individuals.

‘In some ways, the image of lots of people“waiting” before they can start something is a bit misleading, and we often find that people use this “between” time really productively, with some no longer needing 1:1 work by the time we make contact. It is also sometimes the case that delays occur because of limitations in a student’s availability, or a wish to delay to avoid clashes in demand on their time,’ she explained.

Those identified with psychological or academic risks are prioritised and when a large number of such individuals apply, waits for other cases can be up to six to eight weeks.

Nevertheless, a significant number of survey respondents expressed concern over the length of

Another had waited two months to be seen by a counsellor: ‘I still saw the counsellor, and it was useful and she was incredibly kind and understanding, but I really needed her the term before, when I was feeling lonely and overwhelmed by my new life at uni and struggling to settle in.’

Over the five year period between the 2010/11 and 2014/15 academic years the number of students seeking individual counselling session with the Student Counselling Service rose by over 77 per cent, from 1,208 in 2010/11 to 2,141 in 2014/15. A 2014/15 report from the Service commented that the longer waits for appointments ‘indicate how the pressure of additional footfall without additional staffing is impacting on the service.’

Another issue highlighted by a number of respondents was the limited nature of the counselling offered. The Service is only able to provide a maximum of six weekly counselling sessions. This can make it difficult to meet the needs of students with complex or enduring illnesses. One survey respondent commented, ‘after only being allocated six sessions I felt a lot of pressure to ‘fix myself’ quickly rather than looking at the next stage of my life being a long term recovery.’ Just under half of the students surveyed by Epigram’s were satisfied with the university’s provision of mental health support.

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The Student Health Service’s budget has doubled over the past five years

Speaking at a ‘Mind Your Head’ panel event last term, Dr Dominique Thompson of the Student

Johnny describes the operation as ‘the highlight of my operational career.’

Health Service recognised that the university now sees mental health as a priority and is one of only two UK universities to have a GP practice as part of the institution. The Student Health Service’s budget has also doubled over the past five years. Nevertheless, Dr Thompson explained that the Service was at maximum capacity and additional support groups were not reducing demand but merely soaking up an excess who had never been able to receive counselling in the first place.

With counselling resources stretched, over a third have sought help from other sources including the Big White Wall, group workshops, private treatment, and student-led support. Several survey respondents praised the work of the student-led Peace of Mind Society and campaigns such as Mind Your Head. One user described the Peace of Mind Society as ‘a great resource, informal too – no pressure to attend every

Peace of Mind Society

“

The average wait of those surveyed to begin regular 1:1 counselling was four and a half weeks. In the vast majority of cases the service was able to meet its target of providing an initial assessment within two weeks of first contact; however, students often have to wait much longer to begin regular counselling.

waiting times for the Student Counselling Service.

The majority praised the service’s work but felt it was underfunded and understaffed. One respondent commented that their GP had recommended against seeking individual counselling due to the long waiting list at peak times, instead recommending medication.

meeting, and a distraction from uni stress.’

A spokesman for the University of Bristol said: ‘The mental health of our students is of paramount importance. We’ve allocated significant additional resources to our Student Counselling Service for the [2016/17 academic year] to meet growing demand, as well as extending our funding of the Big White Wall to provide students with free access to this online wellbeing service available 24/7. In addition to this, we’re reviewing the pastoral support we offer across our residences, schools and other services to make sure our students are receiving the support they need to make the most of their time at university.’

The problems faced by the University of Bristol are symptomatic of wider issues in society where there is a rising trend in the number of individuals seeking support for mental health difficulties, whilst overstretched services struggle to cope.

Flickr / Adi Sujiwo

Epigram/Sarah Newey

Epigram

03.10.2016

9

On British politeness and missing Californian avocados Sparky Californian, Camille Delaney, speaks to Epigram about life away from the beaches Adele Momoko Fraser Online Features Editor What is your name, year and degree?

My name is Camille Delaney and I’m a third year English student.

Where are you from?

I’m from San Diego California, in the US of A! Why did you move to the UK?

Why did you choose Bristol University?

It’s actually funny that I don’t actually know any other full time Americans here and most people in America don’t know that Bristol exists.

But for me, I’d heard loads of good things about the city itself and of course the university has a great reputation. I also came to Bristol before I went to university because I was travelling around looking at a few cities in the UK that I could live in.

I came here, and just completely fell in love with it, 100 per cent head over heels.

What do you like most about your course?

I love the individuality of it, because as an English student I get very few contact hours, which was daunting at first because I wasn’t sure if I could pull off the self-discipline of doing all the reading and writing I would need to be doing on my own. But to be honest, I’ve come to love it and the freedom I have does serve me in that.

Although we have set texts we also get much more freedom when researching for essays and independent thought.

I mean, there are quite substantial differences between the US and UK systems in regards particularly to specificity. I love my course in that in the States, you don’t declare your major until sometimes two or three years into your course. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing as having a well-rounded education can only be good, but I think for people who already know what they want to do ultimately, it’s definitely frustrating.

“

‘I’d always dreamed of living in the UK at some point’

Has your experience of Bristol matched your expectation?

Oh yeah. OH yeah. I mean, absolutely – I’m still head over heels in love with the city and I’m also ‘dweeb-ishly’ in love with my degree. So I think it’s worked out really well for me.

Would you say you’ve always felt welcome here?

Yeah, I would say so, and more so than I expected. because I had the blessing of being here

during the Obama presidency rather than the during the Bush presidency. That may have made a big difference. But either way, I came expecting the piss to be taken out of me constantly for being American and to a certain extent I do, but always in a loving way.

For example, currently my prized possession is my patented ‘Freedom lighter.’ It’s a Bic lighter with a sort of ‘waving in the wind’ American flag and a Bald Eagle on it, which people in America un-ironically buy and use. So yeah, I do like to participate in mocking myself sometimes and obviously living out of the country that you’re from, you conceive of your ‘national identity’ in a different way, so that’s been really fun. There have also been some necessary points in general conversation where I’ve found that I can’t relate to people that I’m talking to. For example, the experience of A levels… or being a British teenager and going to parks to get wasted on 2 litre bottles of cider from Sainsbury’s… You know that’s not really in my consciousness!

What’s the biggest difference between Bristol and where you’re from?

I’d say my experience is tempered by the fact that I’m not from the actual city of San Diego. I grew up in greater San Diego county whereas in Bristol, I really live in the city centre. Generally speaking, I’d say that they’re both pretty incomparable, in that San Diego is like every Beach Boys song you’ve ever listened to… or every surfer film you’ve ever seen. It’s incessantly, painfully beautiful and everyone’s really laid back and friendly. It’s also difficult to know whether it’s a regional difference, or national difference.

America’s so big that, you know, if I were to go to university in New York it would also be a hugely different experience to San Diego.

What do you miss most about home?

the UK, being polite means mostly keeping to yourself, for example tube or bus etiquette where you basically don’t look at anybody else. Whereas in the States I’d say it’s pretty different in that, although it depends where in the States you are, the way to be polite is to be very friendly and be outgoing. I was really attracted to the idea that in the UK, you could go to a country where people would just mind their own business and leave me alone.

But funnily enough, I wound up missing American ‘in your face’ friendliness because, when I’m at home I do smile at random strangers on the street and make small talk with people I don’t know. It’s something I would never have foreseen missing but I guess I miss that kind of over the top American cheesiness sometimes. I also think it’s quite telling that the things that I end up missing are the things which not only I didn’t anticipate missing, but are the things I was actively seeking to get away from.

”

‘In the UK being polite means mostly keeping to yourself’

I also miss the quintessential laid back nature of California, which may sound like an over simplification of it, but it really is the defining essence of the place. It is beautiful all the time, and it has a general aura of ‘Chill’ which permeates everything!

Oh and of course, I also miss Californian avocados.

What’s your favourite thing about Bristol?

I’d say the weather, but actually I don’t. I mean, maybe in moments when I’m walking for miles in the rain. But really, what I find interesting is that, one of the main reasons why I moved to the UK was to live in a place where society at large is generally more reserved, because American and English definitions of politeness are quite different. In

I love the degree to which the city varies. I love how there is – to frame it in the cheesy brochure way – there is a little something for everyone and so there’s a killer art scene and posh residential area, there’s a lot going on but not overwhelmingly so.

How do you think you’ve changed since you moved to the UK? Jesus Christ – this is turning into a therapy session! [Sigh] Well, I think – without being too cheesy again – I do think like all of us, I’m getting older in a time when people change a lot. I think I’ve been so lucky to love the city and my degree just as much, or even more than I thought I would. So I’d go as far as to say that I’ve become a happier person really, and I’ve felt very accepted, even in ways that I probably wouldn’t have if I had stayed in the States. Despite my being ‘foreign,’ I feel like I’ve been able to find kindred souls pretty easily and pretty effectively. And to say it in the most ‘Hallmark’ way possible – I think I’ve been able to become my more authentic self, which has been really lovely.

Do you plan to stay in the UK after your studies?

I mean, it’s something that I feel I will have increasingly limited control over. I would like to, and I suppose like everyone it will be contingent on whether I can find employment and a place to live, but right now yes I’d love to stay in the UK. Because I do feel - as I’ve said earlier - that in a way, without bashing California at all, I have just so loved living in the UK and I’ve been so much happier here that I would love to stay. But you know, it’s all in the air I guess.

Fancy writing for Features?

Join our Facebook group ‘Epigram Features Contributers 2016/17’ and let us know your ideas.

University of Bristol

Happy City

Camille Delaney

Thena Mimmack

Well I’d always dreamed of living in the UK at some point. I just really loved British things, whether it be British books, films or British music.

Then as I got older and started thinking about it in a more removed and pretentious way and I started to assume that my sense of humour was more in line with what I classified as a ‘British sense of humour.’ I’m pretty sure I was right about that.

Oh, and obviously university here is a lot cheaper and a lot faster than it is in America!

fresh

TUESD AYS

EVERY TUESDAY Hip Hop, House, Dance, Pop Party and Student Anthems

Comment

Epigram 03.10.2016

@epigramcomment Editor: Abbie Scott

Deputy Editor: Ed Fernyhough

Online Editor: Sarah Williams

comment@epigram.org.uk

ed.fernyhough@epigram.org.uk

sarah.williams@epigram.org.uk

Epislam weekly*

Hunt allergic to expert advice Hayley May Hall maintains that junior doctors must remain opposed to Jeremy Hunt’s unsafe contract Hayley May Hall Comment writer

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As well as being unsafe for patients, the contract is discriminatory towards women: longer normal working hours will make childcare harder to arrange and women will progress through pay grades slower than men because maternity leave will not count towards their acknowledged time in the service. All of these issues with the contract make it hard to believe that it has been designed

in this day and age, and its imposition would be a regressive step for the NHS. With the current political state of play in the UK, I’m not sure whether it’s more embarrassing or predictable that Jeremy Hunt has tried and failed to negotiate with the head of the British Medical Association (BMA), the union that represents doctors, to come up with a revised contract that junior doctors are willing to sign.

Despite lacking any sound experience of working in the health sector, Hunt refuses to listen to the recommendations put before him by health professionals for a safer, fairer contract.

For many it seems as if Hunt and the Conservative government pulling his strings are trying to bully the junior doctors into striking so that the media can portray them in a bad light and sway public opinion on the matter: for every strike called off, the BMA lose credibility.

Young, tired and hardworking junior doctors who have recently graduated are often at a stage in their life where they want to start a family, but they are also at the bottom of the pecking order when it comes to work responsibilities. This makes them a vulnerable target for attack when the Tories try and deliver on their promise of a ‘seven day NHS,’

which is really just a step towards privatisation in disguise.

The twitter campaign using the hashtag ‘iminworkjeremy’ united healthcare workers across the NHS that already provide emergency healthcare services throughout the UK 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Numerous prominent doctors are questioning the validity of Hunt’s claims of the ‘weekend effect’ that prophesises that more patients admitted at weekends die in hospital: it is Epigram

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Make a stand against the unsafe and unfair working contract...

Flickr / Roger Blackwell Flickr / Richard Harrison

I never thought I’d miss making generic small talk when meeting new people at university. But now, after replying ‘Medicine’ to the first question I’m asked, the topic of conversation inevitably gravitates towards the current level of desperation felt about the Junior Doctors’ contract.

When I was an enthusiastic fresher, the prospect of working in the National Health Service and trying to close the gap between need and access to healthcare was an exciting and not too distant a goal. Now I can’t even envisage what the NHS will look like when I graduate in just 4 years time.

This week Jeremy Hunt has been facing the Royal Court of Justice in an investigation into the legality of his proposition to impose a new contract on Junior Doctors working in the NHS. In 2016 Junior Doctors have been forced to take strike action to make a stand against the unsafe and unfair working contract that the Secretary of State for Health wants to force young graduate doctors to sign. The contract in question entails a basic pay increase to account for extended basic rate hours during the working week from 7am-7pm MondayFriday to 7am-10pm Monday-Saturday without increasing the number of doctors or resources for this. Junior doctors will feel tired, overworked and undervalued, all of which pose a large risk to patient safety.

After a demoralising year of unsuccessful disputes, all we can do as a profession is to stay strongly united...

thought that this idea was based on misinterpreted statistics.

After a demoralising year of unsuccessful disputes, all we can do as a profession is to stay strongly united, true to our morals and to raise public awareness to ensure that an unsafe contract is not imposed in this country.

Freshers’ freebies cause queues

Last week’s freshers’ fair caused controversy for having some of the longest queues since records began.

However, Epislam has learned that freshers are still queuing at the site of the fair, taking the current queuing time up to one week.

One fresher who spoke to Epislam was suffering from severe fatigue and hypothermia, and told us that ‘he wasn’t leaving until he got his free slice of pizza’.

Clearly, this year’s group of freshers are determined not to be beaten by the queues until they have got their hands on some vapid, meaningless freebees.

Spokesperson from Dominos said: ‘This is a disgrace. Students have a right to a single slice of pizza in return for our extreme advertising’** Epislam would like to take the opportunity to wish these freebee grabbing vultures the best of luck. *Epislam is a fictional publication **This spokesperson is fictional and this quote is false.

Written by Stefan Rollnick

Caption competition: Diplomacy is a bumpy ride This week, Epigram exposes the mixed results of our political leaders in their pursuit of support.

Kremlin.ru

@StefanRollnick

@BenjaminJParr

Think you can navigate your way around a good meme better than us? You probably can. Send your best captions to @EpigramComment and we’ll be posting our favourites online!

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@EdFernyhough

Epigram

03.10.2016

12

The parasitic public relish the residue of Brangelina

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Jessica Cripps laments the public’s grotesque pleasure following Brangelina and other high profile disputes.

Jessica Cripps

Comment writer

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Instead of our parents and our grandparents, we look to our Brangelinas...to learn what love should look like.

As long as a couple gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes on a red carpet, we’re behind them 100%. We ship them without really even knowing anything about them.

That is, until they break up.

We love celebrities even more when they break up.

Suddenly, the fairy tale façade is shattered and we get to peek at the very messy, human relationships that suddenly come dripping through the tabloids and into the public forum.

We engage with this nonsense to fuel our insatiable desire to know what is going on in a world where we don’t belong.

An unhappy couple look to find happiness in separation, and instead open up a Pandora’s box of gossip and scrutiny. Their official pleas for privacy from the press seem almost naïve: apparently this is the biggest scoop of the year.

The press write story after story filled with unsubstantiated facts from undisclosed ‘sources’, claiming Jen is laughing, Brad is heartbroken and Angelina is over it. Buzzfeed event created a quiz to find out if you’re more Jennifer or Angelina, with the tagline that either way, “Brad Pitt is into you”.

We engage with this nonsense to fuel our insatiable desire to know what is going on in a world where we don’t belong.

Even in the 21st century, Angelina’s divorce is more interesting than any of her cancer scares, preventative surgeries, UN ambassador roles, or humanitarian work. Forget that she was voted the most admired woman in the world this year.

The messier the divorce, the more some of us, the parasitic public, will feed.

Flickr / Nils Sautterl

So. It happened. Love, once again, ended for a couple we all thought was invincible. Their romance survived twelve years, six children, 33 films, and countless gossip columns. But alas, Brangelina is over. Don your black caps. Apparently we are in mourning.

But are we? Are we really?

We care about relationships between our favourite celebrities, that much is obvious.

Instead of our parents and our grandparents, we look to our Brangelinas, Tayvins, and Kimyes to learn what love should look like. As a public that devours celebrity press, we love when they – perfect strangers - let us into their little worlds: Kanye sent you a wall of flowers, Kim? You’re so lucky! You’re sporting a t-shirt with Zayn’s name on it, Gigi? Goals.

Just two days after the initial divorce headlines, Brad Pitt is allegedly being investigated for child abuse; his married (and pregnant) co-star Marion Cotillard is fervently having to deny having an affair with him; and his long ex-wife Jennifer Aniston is once again the third wheel in the Brangelina narrative, despite the twelve year gap since she was even plausibly part of it.

We want to know why, we want to know when.

We imagine Angelina on the couch, unoriginally sobbing into her ice cream, and Brad making desperate phone calls trying to win her back. We impatiently wait for the next chapter to be written already.

We will never know how we have shaped the course of our favourite celebrities’ relationships.

Would Calvin Harris and Taylor Swift have had bad blood between them if they hadn’t been spreading gossip on each other in the press and on Twitter? Would it even have mattered if every newspaper under the sun hadn’t commented

on it the next day and twisted it into a public drama?

We take public break ups and relish their messiness to distract ourselves from our own study stress and relationship screw-ups. We forget that these are real people going through something very personal and private.

Only when it’s all over, the settlement has been agreed and Brangelina exist solely on the crumpled tabloid pages of 2006, will we turn our parasitic teeth onto the next couple to show fractures.

I heard Kimye have been arguing – did you?

Is Brexit hysteria unhelpful and unproductive?

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Seb Janner thinks that the public’s response to Brexit thus far has been melodramatic and unjustified.

Seb Janner

Comment writer

remaining EU members and other countries as we scramble to strike those trade deals the Leave campaign were so very enthusiastic about. But for me, as the child of an English mother and a Romanian father, rejection

of the EU and its attendant institutions and bureaucracy is not tantamount to a rejection of an outward-looking, internationalist Britain.

As voters and as citizens, we must not let it become so.

For most people, life continued after the referendum pretty much as it did before.

Frankly, these people are insane. Faith in our politics and our institutions is already at an all-time low. Can you imagine the fury amongst voters if they were suddenly told, ‘actually, you’ve made the wrong decision…’ regardless of the fact that it was democratic in every possible way? Refusing to leave, or trying to obstruct or damage the leave negotiations, would make a mockery of the idea that we have a system of government by the people, for the people and of the people. All this talk of second referendums and unilateral action by Parliament is nonsense: there is only one course of action that can be taken if we wish to do justice to the idea that this country is run for the many, not the few.

This not to say the future is entirely rosy, as the rise in hate crimes since the referendum is something we should all be disturbed by and vigilant against.

Years of fraught negotiations lie ahead, with both the

Flickr / Paul Frankenstein Flickr / DFID

People always seem to remember where they were when epoch-shaping events occur – the JFK assassination, the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11, to name but a few.

Brexit, however, came in the early hours of the morning, when all but the most hard-core of political junkies were fast asleep. Judging from the hysteria seen as the nation woke, more than a few must have wished they could have remained blissfully unaware for a little while longer. The markets plummeted, David Cameron wept on the steps of Downing Street as he announced his resignation and politician after shell-shocked politician paraded across our TV screens, telling us what a horrible mistake we’d made.

Rather amusingly, three months later the sky is still where it ought to be. The government and the Bank of England took steps, as everyone knew they would, to ensure the bottom didn’t fall out of the economy. For most people, life continued after the referendum pretty much as it did before.

None of this was unexpected. The very idea of Brexit is so huge and so complex; it will take years for the consequences of it to be felt, good or bad. Both sides of the campaign presented laughably shortterm arguments, when actually whether or not to remain or leave was a long-term question. However, reasonable answers to long-term questions are very hard to come by. Anyone who said they knew what would happen in ten or twenty years as a result of the referendum was either lying, stupid, or, if their name was Boris Johnson, willing to watch the country burn on the flames of their own misguided ambition.

If we had remained, the EU would have changed

unrecognisably; as it reels drunkenly from crisis to crisis, it’s a case of adapt or die. In the same way, the Leave campaign could never have guaranteed any of the promises it made. Unlike in an election, we were not deciding on what happens for the next five years, so much as for the next five decades. Yet this appalling lack of joined-up thinking has only continued in the aftermath of the referendum, particularly amongst people who are convinced we should ignore the result.

Epigram

03.10.2016

13

Grammar school pressure adds to child anxiety Jamie Muddimer argues that grammar school selection causes and exacerbates mental health conditions.

Comment writer

Theresa May’s controversial grammar school renewal program demonstrates just how far out of touch her leadership is with mental health issues affecting young people.

Driven by a nostalgic attachment to an outdated education system that serves to categorise pupils at the impressionable age of eleven, May is taking the risk of damaging the self-esteem of a countless number of schoolchildren for generations to come.

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Sorting more pupils into winners and losers at such a critical period of their development can only do more harm.

Children growing up today are facing a greater range of social pressures than any before them.

The pressure from a culture of persistent ranking and social assessment, both on the internet and in school, has massively contributed to this. This judgement has helped engender a mental health crisis among young people, with anxiety now being the fastest growing illness in under 21s.

Sorting more pupils into winners and losers at such a critical period of their development can only do more harm. The 11+ will act as another anxiety for schoolchildren to deal with, while also working

to entrench inferiority complexes for those who lose out. These realities show how grammar schooling represents the excesses of a competitive and atomistic education system, one that is damaging the mentalities of far too many young people, while also leaving far too many of them behind.

In light of this, it’s difficult to comprehend how May doesn’t see this agenda as wholly unprogressive.

Statistics back it up: the NUT published a study in April this year claiming that 76% of primary school teachers said pupils ‘developed stress-related conditions around the time of SATs examinations’.

This should have been treated as a warning against subjecting children of this age to more systemized testing.

A responsible leader would not be increasing investment in this unnecessarily rigorous competitive culture that has come to dominate our education system. Building more grammar schools is a step back from the government’s well-received decision in 2015 to invest over a billion pounds in children’s mental health services by 2020.

However, the Conservative party line, despite criticism, remains true to the belief that a child’s resilience can be tested through formal assessment from as early an age as eleven. Taken at this time, exams of this importance will have a lasting effect on the self-confidence of many young people, and this is particularly worrying for those who are more prone to anxiety-related illnesses.

Conditions such as OCD, which can easily be triggered by periods of intense pressure, sadly run the risk of becoming more internalised when initiated at a younger age. The average age for an

Key Facts: •

Anxiety diagnoses are proliferating in under 21s.

•

NUT stats show 76% of primary teachers say pupils develop stress around exams.

• • •

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Jamie Muddimer

In 2015, the government pledged to invest over £1billion in children’s mental health.

70% of young people with mental health conditions don’t receive the help they need.

Will further academic pressure worsen mental health issues facing young people?

OCD diagnosis is 19: so, if developed at a younger age by unnecessary academic pressures, the disorder is given a long time to take hold and worsen before treatment is prescribed.

We should be offering a warm hand of assurance to help settle the turbulence of early life for young people.

The failure of those in power to consider grammar school renewal in regards to children’s mental health is symptomatic of a wider societal problem.

Although awareness is improving, mental illness is

still commonly treated by many as an exclusively adult problem. This is a brutal injustice to the 70% of young people who experience psychological disorders before adulthood and don’t receive the right help within the appropriate time frame.

Rather than embedding more uncertainty, we should be offering a warm hand of assurance to help settle the turbulence of early life for young people.

Providing some surety to a generation that, let’s not forget, has grown up mistrusting an exceptionally fragile economy, would help them to place some trust in the future.

What our education system needs to do is show a bit more compassion. The 11+ is only going to embed deeper anxieties for many who take it, and will be especially damaging to the mental health of those who allow it to mould who they are.

Students must learn from the Brock Turner case Sarah Williams states that consent must be understood by students, and that too many don’t at present.

Sarah Williams

Comment online editor On September 2nd, Brock Turner was released from prison after serving just 3 months of his 6 month sentence for assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated or unconscious person, sexual penetration of an intoxicated person and sexual penetration of an unconscious person.

But is 3 months enough time for a sex offender to serve?

“

In the UK, a Magistrate’s Court cannot give a sentence to a sexual offender that exceeds 6 months. This appears to be the same in the US. The convict is then required to register on the Sex Offenders Register for the rest of their life and, in the case of Brock Turner, serve 3 years on parole.

This raises serious concerns for several parties who believe that the legislature is simply not tough enough. Turner’s father argued during his case that his life should not be ruined over ‘20 minutes of action.’ The question for me lies in rehabilitation, both for the victim and the offender.

I don’t believe 3 months in prison is enough time for the victim to come to terms with their new reality as a survivor, or for the offender to come to terms with their new situation as a sexual offender. Both of these labels are permanent and both come with serious emotional repercussions.

Turner was branded with a low/moderate risk of re-offence and released for good behaviour back into society with his new title of ‘sex-offender’. But what does this do to his victims? Although he is on parole, he has returned into their lives such a short time after the event from which they must rebuild their entire identities.

Flickr / Wolfram Burner

Turner’s father argued during his case that his life should not be ruined over ‘20 minutes of action.’

Brock Turner was also sentenced, in his case, to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol counselling, but where is the consent counselling? At what point do we face up to the real issue of the dilemma?

Drugs and alcohol may have been a factor in this situation, but the fact remains that Brock Turner was ignorant of consent, and also the effect of accosting a woman who was rendered physically incapable of giving her consent.

Turner has claimed that he will now devote his life to educating others on ‘campus drinking culture and the sexual promiscuity that goes along with that’. But sexual promiscuity is not the issue here, and nor is the drinking culture. It is the rape culture: the deference of blame onto substances and the college lifestyle - further evidence of his failure to understand this issue. He should instead devote his life to informing others on the issue of consent.

Many thousands of men get drunk every day, and they manage to effectively control themselves so that they do not drag unconscious women into

alleyways and then sexually assault them. Many thousands of men and women also get into this situation and do exactly what Brock Turner did. According to the British crime survey, in 47% of reported incidents of sexual assault, the victim believed that their attacker was under the influence of alcohol. Although 47% is a large number, it still means that over half of the incidents reported (which is thought to be only 30% of actual incidents) were committed by sober people.

If we can remove alcohol and drugs as the instigator for all sexual assault cases then we are confronted with another issue: education. We need to improve education about consent and sexual assault and the effects these things have on our lives. We need to start addressing this issue as one that is built into our societal structure, built into the very foundations of our campus and we must overturn it by publicising cases like that of Brock Turner. Having the victim’s letter to her attacker published internationally in the

media allowed the victim a voice and provided a chance to educate the public on the effects of sexual assault and the importance of consent.

A recent study by the Telegraph shows that 1 in 3 UK female students are victims of sexual abuse or aggression. The University of Bristol has an ‘optional’ slide about consent in slide shows shown to freshers at the beginning of the year, which many wardens opted to not show their freshers. Optional consent workshops put on by the university last year had ‘very poor’ attendance.

We need to alter the way we talk about consent in universities and change this discussion from one about drinking culture, to one about rape culture. Talking about drinking culture completely misses the point: it only leads to victim blaming and further propagation of rape culture. We need mandatory discussions about consent, whether they be in the form of slide shows, workshops or talks, because these incidents are still occurring every day. We need to talk about cases like that of Brock Turner to propel the discussion.

Epigram

03.10.2016

Science & Tech

@EpigramSciTech Editor: Matt Davis Deputy Editor: Katie Coates Online Editor: Gina Degtyareva

mdavis@epigram.org.uk katie.coates@epigram.org.uk gina@epigram.org.uk

Voting in the age of the internet

“ The rise of social media has improved voter turnout

However, research published on 16th September by Dr Stephan Heblich of the University of Bristol, concludes that the initial introduction of the internet is likely to have decreased voter turnout.

The trend is attributed to a ‘crowding out’ effect, the result of a huge influx of diverse information pools that are likely to have outcompeted political news leaving users overwhelmed and less likely to engage. Further, the early internet may have decreased consumption of established media such as newspapers, radio and television whilst not providing higher quality replacement sources at a net loss to the user. Studies in German and Italy corroborate this initial negative voter effect.

Dr Heblich goes on to suggest that

Flickr/Abi Begum

The internet allows users to access copious amounts of information including political news, data and opinion. So, one may be forgiven for assuming that since the rise of the World Wide Web in the early 2000’s, the public are better equipped to evaluate political campaigns objectively and thus more likely to turn up and vote.

the rise of social media within the last decade has improved voter turnout by engaging the electorate in online debate directly with politicians and those with alternate viewpoints making politics feel more relevant and personal. Social media platforms remove the ‘editorial filter’ that alternate media (for instance newspaper and television) use to set agendas and influence the public’s perceptions of election campaigns.

This arguably results in less biased data that allows voters to make confident, informed decisions.

Another study in 2010 found direct positive correlations between the ‘I’ve Voted Today’ share button on Facebook and voter turnout. It seems the desire to share voting activity with friends, perhaps to gain respect, breeds a conformist environment that works to create a cumulative effect that makes a significant difference at the polls.

On the morning of 23rd June,students awoke to the news that the UK had left the European Union. Many logged on to share their reactions on Facebook and Twitter, a badge to confirm that they had voted the day before proudly on their timelines. The trouble with social media is that one is likely to surround themselves with ‘like-minded’ people, perhaps with the same political outlook.

The referendum vote was heavily skewed by age group and geographical region so, online feeds were likely to contain a general consensus of Leave or Remain depending on these factors.

In addition, the over 65’s, who voted overwhelmingly to Leave, have a smaller online presence leaving the scale of their vote somewhat hidden until the

“

Katie Coates Deputy Science Editor

Exit-polls suggested that a majority of 18-24 year olds voted to remain in the EU and questions followed asking

why turnout in the younger age groups was lower in comparison to the older demographic. Could it have been due to an apathy borne of complacency, perpetuated uniquely by social media and the internet?

Dr Heblich alludes to another disturbing issue with political information online - ‘big-data’. Big-data is a huge collection of information which can be used to determine patterns usually linked to human behaviours for business and marketing purposes. It is now common to see adverts online pertaining to previous searches like online shopping purchases or holiday destinations. These adverts are targeted at the individual following analysis of their behavioural patterns online. This information could be used to target voters during election campaigns, essentially feeding opinion to those who are deemed receptive.

This privacy violation tarnishes the idea that information online is simply waiting for us to access and engage with at-whim, instead data is pushed towards us, and may steer us towards particular viewpoints, even subliminally instead of allowing us to review high quality data ourselves and vote according.

The ways in which our new online life influence our daily choices are many and they are complex. Social media can be used as an invaluable political tool to engage the younger generation who may have been overlooked in the past. It is likely the internet will continue to entwine itself with our voting behaviours and perhaps, in the near future we will need not travel to our nearest polling station to decide the fate of our country but simply switch on our smartphones and vote online.

a dark topside which is illuminated by sunlight with a bright underside which is not, thus making the animal appear optically flat to a potential predator.

This kind of camouflage works well as most predators rely on their depth perception and colour gradients to detect prey, which countershading does not give rise to.

A sharp fall in melanosome concentration across the surface of an animal indicates that the Dinosaur lived in a habitat that was exposed to sunlight.

In the case of the Psittacosaurus, the decline in melanosome concentration

is gradual. This indicates that the Psittacosaurus lived in a habitat with a varied exposure to sunlight, such as a forest or wooded area. This evidence was further supported by examining the shadow generated by a model of the dinosaur when exposed to both direct sunlight and diffuse sunlight under trees at the Bristol Botanic Garden.

Vinther was therefore able to prove that the Psittacosaurus flourished in a heavily forested environment and evolved so as to avoid detection by predators. From this, Vinther and other researchers at the University of

Bristol have been able to infer further details about the habitat and lifestyle of the Psittacosaurus.

By extended inspection of the bones, preserved scales and pigment patterns of the Psittacosaurus, Vinther and other Bristol collaborators were able to create a life-size representation of the dinosaur with accurate details into the shape, size and colour of its pigments.

This research at the University of Bristol has resulted in what is now the most accurate life-size model of any dinosaur ever created and is now available to view at the Senckenburg Museum of Natural History in Germany.

23rd. If users continually concur with each other’s views online, they are likely to find it harder to fairly evaluate another stance or believe that another stance even exists. This echo chamber of one’s own voice could breed a complacent voter who does not comprehend that any side but their own could prevail.

Data is pushed towards us and, may steer us towards particular viewpoints

Dinosaurs didn’t just tan to look sexy David Morris Science Writer

Flickr/alirjd

Current palaeontological research focuses on using information about the anatomy of certain dinosaurs to find out more about their habitat. When certain types of dinosaurs are present in a certain habitat, information about their lifestyle can be worked out as well. Recent research in the group of Dr Jakob Vinther at the University of Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences has revealed details of the mechanism of camouflage of an early cretaceous ornithischian dinosaur known as a Psittacosaurus. This work was published in the scientific journal Current Biology and greatly contributed to the most accurate life-size representation of any dinosaur ever created.

Vinther realised that what were originally mistaken to be artefacts or dead bacteria on the surface of the Psittacosaurus fossils were actually melanosomes.

Melanosomes are organelles present in more complex cells that synthesise, store and transport a molecule called melanin. Within the melanosome, melanin production is turned on by the presence of ultraviolet light and results in a darkening pigment on the surface of the skin. This process is known as ‘tanning’ and is what causes our skin to get darker after prolonged exposure to the sun.

The research group studied how the concentration of these melanosomes differed in different

sections of the Psittacosaurus’ body.

They discovered that on the topside of the dinosaur, melanosomes were very prevalent and there was a steady decline of melanosome concentration moving closer to the underside of the dinosaur. This difference in melanosome concentration is fairly typical of an animal that may be subject to predation in an environment exposed to the sun due to an evolutionarily acquired camouflage mechanism known as ‘countershading’. Countershading was one of the first proposed mechanisms of camouflage. It works by counteracting

Epigram 03.10.2016

15

Practice makes perfect: Bristol work experience Gina Degtyareva Online Science Editor

At-Bristol science centre

The science centre, which is just by the harbour side and very easy to get to, is a great place to develop

The British Science Association The Bristol and Bath branch of the BSA is very active and often puts on science pub quizzes, debates, nature trails and science cafés. By volunteering you can be involved in the organisation of many science communication events. It’s a good way to develop management and communication skills. It is also a great way to get to know the local scientific community and maybe find more work experience opportunities through building relationships with the people you meet.

BBC Bristol

One of the main appeals of Bristol for a life sciences student is that this is

where the Natural History Unit of the BBC is based. They produce incredible documentaries like Blue Planet and Life on Earth. It is useful for those that are interested in filmmaking, documentaries and the journalism.

They offer internships in all these areas as well as legal and business placements but you can also organise a tour around the broadcasting house on their website to see what life working at the BBC is like. The BBC Wildlife Magazine is also based in Bristol and there are some opportunities to get involved with them too.

BBC Focus magazine, also based in Bristol and covers a wide range of scientific material, offer 2 weeks work experience to university students interested in science journalism.

Contact details are easily found on the website.

Flickr/miao gu

University of Bristol graduates have been found to be the fourth most desirable graduates for employers.

However, it is likely that this is because Bristol students are encouraged to gain work experience outside of their degree. This has become increasingly important in the competitive job today. As you may know, Bristol is a science hotspot and it is a good idea to take advantage of that while you are here. There are many science related organisations that you can get involved with to get a head start in your career or just make useful and interesting contacts for the future. Any volunteer work can count towards a Bristol PLUS qualification which looks great on your CV, you can apply for this through the University Careers Centre. Here is a short list of some of the opportunities available to you as a Bristol student.

your skills in public engagement and teaching. They recruit volunteers all year round and it is easy to apply on the website. The work is extremely varied, from supporting a workshop for schoolchildren to guiding around tipsy adults at an after hours event. It is a fun, welcoming atmosphere and they treat their volunteers well often providing food and drink.

Carnivore Research in Malawi. These opportunities can be found by asking your course administrators, head of year or personal tutors.

Student publications

Research

There are often many research opportunities within your science department. Lecturers often need lab or field assistants which is invaluable experience if you want to pursue a career in research. Some volunteer work is abroad for example

At the University of Bristol there are science related publications you can write for. This includes the very section you are reading in Epigram as well as Synapse Magazine. Both are very interested in new writers. You can write about almost anything that interests you and the writing doesn’t have to be formal or in a certain style. This looks great on your CV as it shows you can conduct research and adapt your writing to a specific audience.

Bristol Zoo

Flickr/alirjd

Flickr/David Flickr/Tim McKelvey Loudon

The zoo offers a wide range of volunteer programmes including animal keeper positions and education positions. This could be a great way to make some furry friends as well as develop gain valuable experience in developing educational resources. All volunteer positions are advertised on their website.

Other Organisations Work experience that fits alongside study is often advertised on the Careers Service portal. It is a good idea to check this often so if you see something you are interested in you can prepare an application in good time. Some other good examples of organisations you can get involved with are The Royal Aeronautical Society which has a Bristol branch and the British Ecological Society which has a fellowship scheme. The best thing you can do is find an organisation you are interested in and then find a contact and enquire about work experience, placement or just a visit. The chances are they will agree and you can gain some useful contacts or skills!

Work experience is an invaluable tool not only to help you decide on a career path but also gives you the edge when competing for postgraduate jobs.

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Melanie Wedgbury

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explains artificial embryos

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Flickr/thellr

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Flickr/thellr

03.10.2016

Letters A very Bristol Brexit problem Heather McGowan Letters Writer Now that the new academic year has started, we will slowly begin to see Brexit’s impact, in particular at the University of Bristol. As Epigram reported earlier this month, Brexit is being blamed for the university slipping four rankings in the QS World University Rankings, although we have still retained our place in the top 50.

The article highlights the uncertainty in Britain now that Brexit is gradually becoming a reality. This has led to hesitation in ranking British universities in what is a very unpredictable time in Britain.

who is working on her Masters in Czech History at the University of Glasgow. She expressed her concern over funding which had come from the EU and the new heightened difficulty in finding funding elsewhere. In addition to that, for her research Stephanie needs to travel to European countries and build close relationships with European universities, tasks that Brexit complicates greatly.

As a language student of Czech and Russian, I am certain that my peers and I will especially feel the effects of Brexit as we continue our degrees.

Whilst studying in the Czech Republic this summer, Brexit was the key topic many European students were curious to ask about. However, that may be the least of our worries. For those of us yet to embark on our year abroad, Erasmus grants would have been our main financial source. Whilst the Erasmus programme has said that it will not stop funding students who have just left for their year abroad, we cannot know for certain what the situation will be next year until Article 50 is officially triggered by Theresa May. I already know that I will struggle to finance my year abroad, so if the Erasmus grant will no longer be available to UK students, we will know Brexit will have started to take its hold.

@EpigramLetters

Editor: Claire Hargreaves letters@epigram.org.uk

A note on the tuition fee increase: it’s a slippery slope Benjamina Thompson Letters Writer The news that the University of Bristol is set to increase its tuition fees to £9,250 from 2017 has caused waves of frustration and anger over the past few days. Many students feel alienated from the university following the move, angry that a university education will come with an even greater price tag.

In an age when maintenance grants are slipping through our fingers and loans often fail to cover more than rent, it feels like a barrier is being erected, bit by bit, around the prospect of university and higher education.

With tuition fees likely to rise every subsequent year afterwards as well, it feels like more and more students will be barred from a university education that they have worked hard for and are entitled to.

The University of Bristol has officially said that ‘it is anticipated that fees for the 2017/18 academic year will be £9,250, subject to government approval’ and ‘tuition fees are likely to increase each subsequent year from 2017’ – in line with predictions for inflation and UK government policy. Whilst it will not increase fees for current students, those who are currently applying to study here from 2017 will face these even loftier fees.

“ “ ‘We cannot know what the situation will be when Article 50 is officially triggered’

It’s clear that Brexit is going to have a huge effect on all students at British universities, whether directly or indirectly. Our only hope is that the experts in each respective field are successful in their diplomatic attempts, so we can establish new relationships abroad following our new post-Brexit status.

the amount of money we pay for anything, can we surely not protect tuition fees, so that future generations do not have to face such alarming debt for an education they are very much entitled to?The matter of tuition fees is a very slippery slope.

‘Less advantaged students are increasingly left out in the cold’

Whilst inflation will always have an impact on the amount of money we pay for anything, can we surely not protect tuition fees, so that future generations do not have to face such alarming debt for an education they are very much entitled to?

If tuition fees were to rise by £250 every year, then is it not shocking that by 2020, university students may be paying over £9,300 a year?

Please, University of Bristol, reconsider the impact this increase will have on the most vulnerable and the ways you can help them if the tuition fees do rise to those dizzying heights put forward.

‘This is an age when maintenance grants are slipping through our fingers’

Those institutions with ‘high-quality’ teaching are said to be the ones increasing their fees. The Universities of Bristol, Exeter and Oxford are among those who are already set to charge students £9,250 per year.

This, too, opens a broader debate about whether tuition fees should stand in line with the ‘quality’ of education, since those institutions deemed to have a lower quality of teaching may not necessarily see a rise in tuition fees.

Whilst we Bristol students might reasonably expect a higher quality of teaching, it still does not feel fair that we have to cough up the cash to pay for this: after all, it is supposedly

Tweets of the fortnight: Flickr / Paul Chapman

@amymartin_94

‘I swear the fashion of current Bristol uni freshers is clothes I wore to P. E. in year 4 #lol #umbro’

@JillMansell -

‘Bristol Uni freshers have arrived - hundreds of them buying up all the crates of drink in our local Co-op tonight. Have fun, young people!

‘Anyone is welcome to write for us (Elephants and all) so why not give it a go? #epifair #getinvolved’

@EpigramPaper

Flickr / Jasn

As university students at this momentous time in British history, the direct effect Brexit will have on the university is at the forefront of our thinking. As Epigram reported in June, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hugh Brady, believes that ‘nothing (…) is likely to happen in the short-term in relation to the status of our students and staff within the EU’.

However, we already know that it will affect the university’s research due to restricted collaborations forced by Brexit, perhaps engendering greater difficulty in accessing archives abroad and simply the ease of traveling to EU countries in order to carry out research.

This will, of course, have an indirect influence on students of all courses.

Postgraduate students will especially feel the changes that will come with Brexit, particularly arts and languages students. I spoke to Stephanie Smith,

“

‘This will have an indirect influence on students of all courses’

our intellect that got us here, not our financial resources.

A second year friend of mine is a History of Art student and, for this academic year, has just seven hours of contact time per week.

Naturally, she feels almost sickened that she must pay £9,000 for such a small amount of time with the teaching staff.

Whilst we do have access to world-class libraries and other academic resources, this still feels disproportionate to the tuition fees demanded of us.

If the move does go ahead and tuition fees are increased, then it is vital that more money is spent on outreach programmes.

Students from lower income backgrounds will become less and less incentivised to apply to study here if the fees continue to rise, which means that the university has more responsibility than ever to attract students who feel they cannot apply for financial reasons.

University should never be socially or financially elitist, and I fear that the greater the tuition fees, the more exclusive this environment will become, as less advantaged students are increasingly left out in the cold.

The matter of tuition fees is a very slippery slope. Whilst inflation will always have an impact on

“

Epigram

Living Well Being Travel Style Food What’s On

Epigram/ Maya Colwell

Why not?

18

Editor Johnny Thalassites

Online Editor Erin Beesley

Deputy Editor

living@epigram.org.uk

erin.beesley@epigram.org.uk

saskia.hume@epigram.org.uk

@e2living

03.10.2016

Saskia Hume

Epigram Living Section 2016/17

Where to Eat

Epigram: Saskia Hume

With restaurants and cafes stretching up and down Whiteladies road, there is a plethora of places to eat near Stoke Bishop. If Source Cafe isn’t quite cutting it for breakfast, head across the downs to Tradewind Espresso for a healthy and wholesome Eggs Benedict on sourdough toast. For visiting parents, the River Cottage Canteen and Aqua are both reliable choices.

The former has an earthy and alternative menu, whilst the latter serves modern Italian fare.

flickr / Sandro Maggi

Stoke Bishop Bites

BUHABS

The halls at Stoke Bishop may at first seem a world away from the hustle and bustle of Bristol City Centre.,but there is certainly plenty to see and do on the Whiteladies Road and beyond. Epigram Living provides you with a short guide to some of the area’s hidden gems.

Where to Drink

Epigram: Saskia Hume

DisneySoc

If you’re starting to tire of the bars in halls, head a bit further afield for your pint. Student favourite the Port of Call has recently been refurbished, and with its cheap drinks and large beer garden, it’s definitely a winner. Next door lies the Kings Arms, whose plush decor can at first seem a bit off-putting for students. However, head up the stairs and out the back and you’ll find a lovely terrace with a mural painted wall and great views over the Bristol rooftops. Thirdly, for a quiet and cosy drink, the Jersey Lily is the place to go, with its rustic furniture and candlelit ambiance.

Where to Shop

Epigram: Saskia Hume

You’ll soon realise that Sainsbury’s supermarkets monopolise the city of Bristol. If you can’t quite make it down the hill to Clifton Down shopping centre, there’s a smaller Sainsbury’s local at the top of Whiteladies which stocks all the essentials. If you’re feeling a bit less frugal, or your parents have offered to buy your shopping, head to the Westbury Park Waitrose, which is less than a 10 minute walk from halls. Finally, if you’re a health food fanatic, Wild Oats will be your Mecca. Situated just off of Whiteladies road, make sure you get there early before the freshly baked bread is sold out.

03.10..2016

19

Where to Watch

Epigram: Saskia Hume

There are many independent film houses scattered around Bristol, with The Orpheus Cinema being the closest to Stoke Bishop - a ten minute walk away in Westbury Park. Sitting on the remains of an old 1930s cinema, the building feels cosy and welcoming. Although it may only have three screens, their film showings are varied and up to date. And at only £4 for a student ticket, what’s not to like? However, its small size means its a good idea to book in advance for new release showings.

Where to Gym

Epigram / Claire Hargreaves

flickr / Sandro Maggi

Epigram: Saskia Hume

Epigram / Claire Hargreaves

If you’re feeling slightly intimidated by the thought of the university gym, or don’t to fork out the hefty joining fee, The Exercise Club might be slightly more up your street. Don’t be put off by its situation in a former church, or the old fashioned machines - at only £30 membership a month for students, it’s a bargain. Aimed at first time gym users, members get their own fitness plan as well as access to classes such as yoga and pilates.

My Top Spot: the White Rabbit Living Editor,Johnny Thalassites, eulogises about the White Rabbit,Clifton’s best pizza pub, in this year’s first Top Spot.

The Richmond was a pub opposite the SU. Decrepit and rundown, with surly Irishmen behind the bar and plaster peeling from the walls, it was nobody’s idea of a good time. Perhaps you could say that, in its own uninviting way, it had character. What it also had was a pool table. One, solitary, pool table in the back – and that was its only redeeming feature. I spent half the academic year of 2015/16 going once a week to play pool with a friend of mine late at night, when it was invariably empty, to shoot the breeze. We both harboured a tortured fondness for the old place, but we knew that it could be supplanted by something better.

Enter: the White Rabbit!

The White Rabbit has replaced the Richmond, is next to the SU and is already Bristol’s best pizza pub. Its pizza is to die for – and not just that, it’s affordable! Every student craves pizza most nights, so at least on one of those nights, succumb to that craving and give the White Rabbit a chance. At £6 for a margherita and £7 for a pepperoni (the Americana), for example, it is substantially cheaper than Dominos and its competitors. Meanwhile, its beer garden overlooks leafy Clifton and has shelter for the winter.

But the thing I like best about the White Rabbit, better still than esoteric takeaway boxes (!), is the sport there. Instead of the battered, old pool table of yesteryear, it has a ping pong table (perfect also for beer pong) and table football. Even more so than pool, these games are universal and can be played by anyone.

What could be better than stepping away from a close game of ping pong to grab a slice of pizza and then celebrating your win with a cold beer? This is more or less my dream scenario, and I suspect I’m not the only one who loves the sound of that. So, go check it out, enjoy it – and thank me later.

flickr / James F Clay

One of the quirkier things I rather like about this place is that when you order a takeaway, you get to select the box it comes in. Each box has different drawings and scrawlings on it, usually actually quite well-crafted. From Mo Farah to Harry Potter, each box is a slice of popular culture. And what’s more, if none of their designs tickle your fancy, you can draw your own masterpiece.

03.10..2016

20

In defence of going Societyfree Deputy Living Editor, Saskia Hume, hits back at last week’s society-infused, Freshers hysteria. She proudly champions not joining socieities - with one exception...

There’s no denying that starting university is a pretty stressful experience, no matter who you are. With so much to do and so many people to meet, it can all easily become a bit overwhelming.

I certainly found this during my first few weeks at Bristol, and it doesn’t necessarily get easier the second or even the third time you return after summer.

When you’ve already got a heavy plate of responsibilities, is there really any need to add to them by joining a society?

I understand that, for many people, societies are a great way to enrich their time at university. Personally, I never thought them a necessary way to make friends or enjoy Bristol life - I have managed just fine without them.

It is only this year, during the final stage of my degree, that I have finally become a solid member of a society - Epigram itself.

But this doesn’t mean I’m going back on my thoughts above. I haven’t joined Epigram in a sudden panic because I feel as if I’ve been missing out these past two years. It’s a society I’ve been interested in from the start of university, yet it’s only now that I feel ready to balance societal duties with those of my course. And there’s no shame in that.

So, my message is this: don’t feel pressured into joining societies because you feel as though it’s something you should do. Everybody is different - some people thrive under the pressure of countless responsibilities and some, like me, do not. University is about finding what’s right for you, so try not to feel too guilty when you delete those emails, or dispose of those Fresher’s Fair handouts in your bedroom bin.

Flirkr/Tom Kelsey

But when it all came down to it, I ignored the emails I received and let my brochures gather dust in the top drawer of my desk. You might think this incredibly foolish, and a waste of the opportunities we’re fortunate enough to be given as Bristol students. Indeed, when my parents’ friends asked if I was a member of any university societies, my answer was often met with a look of disappointment.

But surely, societies are not the only way in which you can define yourself as a student?

I could go to a morning yoga session knowing that I needn’t go to their social on Friday night, and I could flit from one class to another with no feeling of disloyalty. In this way, I have still been able to enjoy the extracurricular activities that Bristol has to offer, without adding to any of the responsibilities that come with my course - that is until now.

StatickFlickr

For the first two years of my degree, the answer to this question was a resounding ‘no’. Don’t get me wrong, I, like many first year students, wandered around the Fresher’s Fair in awe of the plethora of societies I could become a part of. I imagined myself a campaigner for vegetarianism during the week, a sophisticated member of cocktail societies in the evenings and an avid polo player at the weekend. I enthusiastically wrote down my email address on countless sign-up forms and came home laden with freshly printed leaflets.

That being said, I didn’t avoid every facet of societies as if they were the plague. I would still go along to talks that I found interesting, or pay to go to excercise classes every now and again. But there was never any feeling of commitment weighing down upon me.

Flikr: daveynin Andreas Polo

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Editor Tianna Graham tianna.graham@epigram.com

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03.10.2016

Online Editor Flora Doble flora.doble@epigram.org.uk

Join us at: Epigram Well-Being 2016/17

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Homesick and Under Pressure: Returning to Uni Tianna Graham (Wellbeing Editor) Whether you are moving down the road, a few miles away or to a completely different country, homesickness can affect us all when we leave the familiarity of home. Many students can be overwhelmed by how affected they are once they leave home and are suddenly in a new environment surrounded by strangers in a foreign city. Besides the university workload that is sure to come or the time spent trying to befriend everyone in your path, the desire to return home can be a strong one. Many students will miss their families from time to time, but the occasional Skype call or trip home during holidays can satisfy their desire to see their loved ones, while still enjoying their new found independence.

However, for those students who cannot seem to shake their homesickness, especially after the initial month of university, this can be troubling. Depression can enter student’s lives without them realising exactly how it has manifested, with homesickness being mistaken for depression or vice versa. In this article I shall address the similarities between depression and homesickness, suggest some self-help ways of avoiding homesickness, and lastly address how to get help if you recognise yourself or someone you know to be suffering from depression.

“Many students can be overwhelmed by how effected they are once they leave home” Here are a few symptoms of depression that are also caused by homesickness: •Feeling deep loneliness (usually as though you don’t belong or are lost).

•Sleepless nights (potentially feeling stressed to the point of insomnia).

•Panic attacks when thinking about not being able to handle university without your families’ support.

•Isolating yourself from your housemates with no desire to meet new people.

•Deep unmoving sadness that persists no matter how much you put yourself out there.

•Overwhelming desire to escape your life, not necessarily bordering on suicidal but definitely worrisome.

•Deep guilt, regret or just sadness when you think of the family you have left.

These are some crucial signs of homesickness that overlap with depression. If you are feeling any of these symptoms, here are a few tips on how to overcome homesickness. If you feel as though they are making no difference, it could be possible that you are suffering from depression: •Immerse yourself in your new city and find familiarity there,

The worldwide illness that we struggle to speak about

“Fall in love with your city rather, don’t exclude yourself” such as discovering food from your hometown/ country, exploring new sites, museums, cinemas etc. Overall, try to fall in love with your city, and don’t exclude yourself from it.

•Don’t close yourself off from meeting people. Although it may be tough to get yourself out there, even if it’s just going out with a small group and meeting their friends it can always make you feel more at home when you create your own family at uni.

•Stay connected to your family via gifts and schedule skype conversations. If you find a souvenir or take a great picture of yourself at a landmark or with a group of friends, send it to your family. It can be a great way to focus on them in hindsight.

•Keep the habits you have before you moved to uni, such as eating the same breakfast or treating yourself to cooking a meal your family would make. This way you can feel connected to them despite the distance.

If your feelings remain consistent and unchanging despite your greatest efforts, it is important to seek help when needed. Whether this is talking to the student councillor or discussing with your family your fears, it is important to express how you are feeling.

Homesickness happens to the best of us, but don’t feel as though your feelings should be written off just because they are common.

Your mental state is always important.

flickr / ml hoo

MIND has a self-help network of groups for you to express how you are feeling anonymously if that makes you more comfortable: http://www.depressionalliance.org/

All this begs the question: why aren’t we talking more about it?

They are so commonly experienced when you reach university, yet so infrequently presented as mutual troubles. They remain taboo subjects because they are feared, feared for their stigma of alienation. How dare Ruby Hinchliffe (Third Year) someone keel under the pressure of a grueling three-year degree!

Anxiety and depression can seem like the most life-consuming Never be ashamed of your anxiety or depression. They are natural afflictions at times. They infiltrate our social life, disturb our products of a rigorous degree course alongside a complete uprooting sleeping patterns and make us feel well and truly helpless. In of everything you know. recent years the percentage of students suffering from these Unfortunately, we all have this age-old habit here in the UK of mental illnesses has risen rapidly, making headlines all through outward politeness, which in turn costs us our sanity because we are the UK. In September 2015 the BBC quoted Ruth Caleb’s statistics all trying so hard to seem normal. The “I’m fine, how are you?” routine on the subject. that you find yourself repeating daily gets pretty monotonous, dulling out the sound of your inner voice which wills the alternative response: ‘at least 115,000 students reaching out “Well no, actually Ellie, I’m not fine. But thanks for asking.” We are all for help...’ so visually aware of each other, but very few words are ever exchanged, despite the desire for there to be. Many of us project this outward As the chair of Universities UK’s mental well-being working appearance of total togetherness, when, in actual fact, beneath the group at the time, she estimated that between 5% and 10% of smiles and pleasantries lies a very different story. students seek out their university counselling service, which Of course, unleashing every problem you’ve ever had and have on the BBC worked out to be at least 115,000 students reaching an acquaintance, who just asked the question out of politeness, is not a out for help across the country. But just note, if these statistics preferred response. We need to find a balance, a vital balance between represented the silent proportion of students who suffer too, silently coping and vocally coping. Why are we, as a nation, they would be a whole lot bigger.

How Anxiety Nearly Sent Me Home Molly Edwards (Second Year) I’ve struggled with anxiety for a few years now, and in that time I’ve learnt that academic stress makes it surge to near unbearable levels.

Flickr / Alexandra

Homesickness or Depression?

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When I started at university, my anxiety intensified to the point that submitting essays had me in tears. Every essay I submitted seemed to me to be so flawed that I’d have to leave the university (of course, nothing was actually this disastrous, despite what my anxiety was telling me). I started to think that dropping out was the only option, the only way to make this stress disappear. I can see now that this would have been a huge mistake – but, during my first term especially, it seemed the only thing I could do.

My anxiety is particularly challenging because it always seems to be changing; for me, living with anxiety is a constant learning experience – there’s no one way to silence those persistent ‘what if ?’s that spring from every decision I make. It’s all about understanding how to manage my stress, rather than how to get rid of it for good.

I learnt to manage my anxiety by setting a schedule of work for near enough the whole term and sticking to it, then at the end of every day occupying myself with something completely separate from university for a few hours. This way, that constant nagging feeling of ‘shouldn’t I be doing more?’ (or, ‘what if I haven’t done enough?’) was easier to ignore, or sometimes forget entirely. I started this after Christmas of my first year, and the difference in my anxiety levels was incredible. Though essays still had me pacing my room with nervous energy, and submitting them was still so hard it’d take me a full day to proofread them, I found myself beginning to enjoy university in a way I’d thought impossible a few weeks earlier. I had more time to work on my essays and prepare myself to submit them, which meant finding time to relax and actually have fun became easier and easier.

I’ve also started to let go of some of the embarrassment of asking for reassurance – sometimes, even if I know I have nothing to worry about, I won’t believe it unless I hear it from someone else. How helpful I find this support from others has encouraged me to see a GP; although I haven’t even had my first appointment yet, I already feel slightly more at ease about the coming year just from reaching out.

Anxiety made my first year a far bigger struggle than it needed to be, and I suspect it will make second and third year harder too.

But I know now that it is manageable, and that there are steps I can take to keep it as under control as I can. It’s this that makes me optimistic about the rest of my time at university – something which seemed impossible back in first term.

so keen to keep up the exhausting pretense? Talking and sharing is not clichéd, embarrassing or ‘uncool’. It’s a very effective way of realizing you are not alone. Surely if we all feel just as disoriented and anxious for the future, acknowledging that vocally to one another wouldn’t be giving too much away? How many students could be saved from thoughts of dropping out if we just talked about it?

‘Unfortunately we all have this age-old habit here in the UK of outward politness, which in turn costs us our sanity because we are all trying so hard to seem normal’ In order to get anywhere near solving our problems, we have to sit down, pause and think about them. We can’t simply go on, becoming complacent and accepting anxiety or depression as a given. If there was one thing I could tell my fresher self, it would be this: throw yourself into things, meet as many people as you can and don’t punish yourself for not coping when so many others are just pretending to. As one of Daft Punk’s not-so-famous songs goes: ‘We are human... after all/Much in common. After all’.

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03.10.2016

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Burger vs Pizza Maya Colwell and Stan Ford round up the essential places to visit in Bristol for the best pizzas and burgers around. Which all time ‘classic’ will you choose?

When it comes to burgers, the hungry customer is forever yearning for perfection. Luckily, nestled throughout Bristol are some establishments that make the case for the perfect burger being an achievable dream.

True ‘burger heaven’ is always a personal matter, and best found through exploration and an open mind. That said, my own personal top three is an excellent start-up guide for those who just want a recommendation for quality burgers as soon as humanly possible! Let’s begin the countdown…

Flickr: welr thru a lens

Flickr: Sales

The Lion Tucked away in a Cliftonwood back street, just behind Goldney Hall, is this absolute marvel, a gastropub serving burgers so good they wrest tears of joy and pride with every bite. It is the only establishment in which I have found myself unconsciously ordering a savoury burger for dessert.

Quite frankly, I don’t recommend The Lion, I outright order people to try it and join me in never looking back.

Their burgers are gigantic, unique, carefully crafted and bursting with flavour. ‘The Canadian’, a burger incorporating bacon and maple syrup atop a juicy patty is, I maintain, the one true god of the Burger Pantheon, but with The Lion’s falafel burgers and ‘The Reuben’ (I won’t spoil it, go forth, eat, and gain the knowledge) to choose from as well, this particular establishment is worth a revisit and then some. This is not even mentioning that The Lion offers a pub quiz and their burgers are incorporated into meal deals at a sickeningly reasonable cost.

A burger that changes lives, lifestyles and minds can be found here. Join the lucky few who have found the true path.

I could happily live on pizza. I don’t, but only because of my vague awareness of healthy balanced diets. However, after a summer on a course in Sicily, I’ve become even more of a connoisseur than before.

Bristol has some of the best pizza I’ve ever had, so I hope that you’ll take my years of experience on board and trust me on these.

Flickr: blonlcgrrrl

Beerd Beerd is known for beer and pizza, a match made in foodie heaven. If your only pizza stereotype is of Italians crowded around a table enjoying pizza and wine, you are just wrong. Beerd is definitely where it’s at.

The pizza at Beerd treads the perfect line between doughy and crispy, and the cheese is generously distributed around the perfectly imperfect circle of heaven. I went for the goat’s cheese, aubergine and basil, but I hear from my carnivorous friend that the spicy Ndjua sausage also packs a punch!

Beerd is also student friendly, and does 2-4-1 pizzas every Monday night.

PepeNero caters for Vegans. This is one of the most important things to know.

Flickr: stu_spivack

Atomic Burger Located a little further afield on Gloucester Road, Atomic Burger is an altar to both burgers and pop culture - think Pizza Planet from Toy Story – which commits wholeheartedly to both its theme and its quality culinary offerings. Although a bit of a trek from most student residences, Atomic Burger is well worth the hike, with an extremely varied and customisable burger menu and some unique options (I recommend ‘The Brian’ for something a bit different) that are truly sumptuous.

They’ll also give you a free burger meal if it’s your birthday, the cuties.

Their burgers are a meat-lover’s paradise, slowcooked and oozing. For carnivores, a worthy conquest!

PepeNero PepeNero caters for vegans. This is one of the most important things to know. They deliver quickly, and can fool even the most committed cheese lover that fake mozzarella is edible. They have a whole host of vegan meat toppings which I’m told are better than the real thing- something I find hard to believe.

The menu is not limited to the vegans among us, and from the amount of cheese piled on to my pizza, they are definitely overcompensating for the non-dairy stuff! Though they don’t do student deals, the pizzas are big enough that you can share between two and end up paying less than £5 for a giant portion of pizza.

Pizza Provencale Bristol’s biggest and greasiest pizzas also happen to be deliciously tasty. An instant hangover cure or hangover preventer (depending which side of the party Pizza Provencale happens to be on). Prices are reasonable for a one man party, but the large pizzas can feed three to four hungry Pavarottis, making it as student friendly as can be.

Maya Colwell

Stan Ford

Flickr: Yoshlhlde Nomura

All wonderful places to eat – but I will never stop hunting for perfection!

Epigram/ Hannah Price

The ever reliable Burger Joint on Whiteladies Road is always worth a check-up. The Rose of Denmarks’ burger deal is a real treat for those Hotwells bound on a Thursday.

And finally, no.1 Harbourside must be mentioned for the best veggie burger I’ve ever encountered: a beetroot burger with ginger relish that blew my preconceptions out of the water.

Epigram/Becki Murray

Grillstock Grillstock, an American-themed barbecue joint, has branches in both St. Nick’s market and on the Triangle, and is therefore a flexible option for any ravenous student. Grillstock makes my list for straight up exceptional treatment of meat, as well as some cracking barbecue sauces and other condiments and side dishes. Their burgers are a meat-lover’s paradise, slow-cooked and oozing. For carnivores, a worthy conquest!

03.10.2016

24

Czech-ing out the cuisine

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From sugary sweet treats to salads slathered in mayonnaise, Heather McGowan uncovers the sometimes questionable cuisine of the Czech Republic The local cuisine played a crucial role for me whilst studying abroad in the Czech Republic this summer. Admittedly, at first, I struggled to cope with the food. I was staying at a university where all of our meals were served in the ‘menza’ (canteen), yet only offered a handful of options.

On top of this, my gluten allergy caused further complications, although I did risk trying a few Czech treats containing gluten!

It didn’t take long for me to realise that the Czechs love butter with a passion, cook everything in it and even pour it melted on top of their dishes. The food tasted like it had been boiled in butter - it was unavoidable! Indeed, no favours were being done to my waistline.

If any form of vegetable was served, they were either pickled or slathered in mayo

Epigram: Heather McGowan

or filled with either chocolate or ice cream. Whichever way you choose to have them served, they are always incredibly tasty!

Although some of the Czech dishes are definitely funky, by the time my trip was over I found myself craving the above dishes and getting embarrassingly excited when they were served in the menza.

Despite taking some getting used to, I would definitely encourage anyone visiting the Czech Republic to choose a Czech restaurant over other cuisines.

Heather McGowan

Season’s eatings

Courgette, aubergine and red pepper pasta bake

Summer is coming to an end and that means the end of the oh-so-popular strawberry and raspberry season.

However, the autumn months boast a variety of versatile, delicious and nutritious produce which, especially when they are at their best, should be a staple in your fridges for the autumnal months.

Serves 4 Ingredients: 225g uncooked pasta 1 vegetable stock cube (opt.)

Whether you want to get these at your local supermarket or your greengrocers (my personal favourite) is completely up to you. But if you want to be kind to your bank balance (eating seasonably means you get more for your money) and kind to your body, this useful recipe will ensure you make the most of the fresh produce on offer at this time of year.

2 courgettes, diced 2 aubergines, diced 2 red pepper, sliced 2 garlic cloves, crushed

Some of September’s finest crops are ripe and hearty aubergines and courgettes, sweet red peppers and succulent blackberries.

1 onion, finely sliced

1 tbsp fresh basil (opt.)

Preheat oven to 190C.

2.

Cook the pasta in boiling water, with the vegetable stock cube, and drain.

3.

Fry the courgettes, aubergine and red peppers with the onion and garlic for 4 minutes.

4.

Add the basil and passata. Stir the sauce until it gently simmers, then add the cooked pasta and season with salt and pepper.

5.

Transfer to an ovenproof dish, and cook in the oven for 30 minutes. Feel free to grate some cheese on the top if you’re a cheese fiend like myself.

Flickr: Nero Dominus

Flickr: Peter Roan

1.

Flickr: Jamleanne

600g tomato passata

Courgettes, aubergines and red peppers are the perfect compliment to one another and make up the core ingredients of Mediterranean cooking. Their versatility is endless; I would recommend griddling or frying them but they can just as easily be made into vegetable crisps, form the main attraction of a plate or stand as a fantastic pizza topping or pasta bake addition.

Peppers are a staple in my fridge. I often find myself eating them raw, dunked into a plentiful serving of hummus, but I also love roasting them with some garlic, olive oil and seasoning. Try throwing on a sprinkling of paprika for an extra fiery kick!

Jane Cowie

If you have any ideas for articles then please come and say hello on Facebook (join the ‘Epigram Food 2016 - 2017 Writers Page’) or email edonnell@epigram.org.uk

Epigram: Heather McGowan

Epigram/ Matilda Bailey

Another strange lowlight was the extreme lack of vegetables in their diet. Portions were extremely large yet contained little greenery to balance it all out and even restaurants seemed to shun the idea of an innocent side salad.

If any form of vegetable was served, they were either pickled or slathered in mayo, leaving me confused as to how I didn’t see a single person overweight.

Negatives aside, by the end of my trip a few key dishes stood out as being simply delicious. ‘Knedliky’ (dumplings) are a popular favourite to many visiting the country. There are two kinds: potato and bread.

I favour the potato version for taste, and admittedly because they won’t cause an allergic reaction, but they really do serve as a homely addition to Czech dishes.

‘Bramboracky’ (potato pancakes) are simply the tastiest savoury dish on offer. They are comparatively similar to a hash brown, yet remain surprisingly light but filling (although still likely fried in butter!).

And finally, I really can’t forget ‘trdelniky’. Anyone who has visited Prague will have surely tried this delicious sweet treat. It is pastry rolled into a cylinder and baked in front of you on the street.

You can enjoy them as they are, rolled in cinnamon sugar

Do you have a passion for food, cooking, or just love eating out? Whether it’s an obsession with baking or a desire to eat healthily, our Food team would love to hear about it!

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03.10.2016

25

Why we should all cook from scratch Knowing how to cook is an essential life skill that everyone should learn and enjoy. Hugo Lebus explains why cooking from scratch is a cheap, satisfying and surprisingly easy means to live well and stay healthy Three days in to living in a student house for the first time and I can already understand the temptation to buy a ready-made meal instead of slogging it over the stove.

Gone is the luxury of having two meals a day prepared for me in halls. Preparing three meals a day can seems like a lot of effort, a problem that can be easily solved by ordering something in or buying a microwave meal. Nevertheless, there are so many reasons as to why you should cook your meals from scratch.

Firstly, it is infinitely cheaper than buying ready-made meals.

Although I will be the first to admit that my spending has gone a little over budget on occasion when, perilously, doing my shopping on an empty stomach, the reward is even greater if you resist!

There is nothing more satisfying than creating your own delicious meal from scratch and it is also far cheaper.

You can easily rustle up a courgette risotto or a simple curry with rice for two people for less than £10. And for breakfast, bircher muesli left in the fridge over night is a brilliant, cheap and healthy alternative to buying cereal.

Epigram: Ellie DonnellFlickr: Miriam

Epigram/ Matilda Bailey

Bircher muesli left in the fridge over night is a brilliant, cheap and healthy alternative to buying cereal

More importantly, it is not just your bank balance you’re saving but also your health; ready-made meals have been found to contain vast amounts of salt and saturated fats.

Cooking should be an integral part of all of our lives However, I will admit that when I am cooking I do tend to be a little liberal with the amount of butter and salt I put in my food. In

my experience, anything cooked in enough butter and seasoned correctly can be edible.

So if you manage to resist the urge to bathe your food in fat, and maybe add a pinch or two less of salt, your body will definitely thank you for it later on.

Lastly, and most importantly, cooking from scratch is a fantastic way to relax and de-stress from work. You are rewarded with a delicious final product which is not something you can say if you

unwind with a visit to the gym!

Cooking should be an integral part of all of our lives; it is a creative outlet, healthier, cheaper, and an invaluable skill to have.

The occasional take-away is excusable when the student loan comes in, but if you’re looking to save money or trying to be a bit healthier, nothing beats learning to cook all your meals from scratch.

Hugo Lebus

Blackberry and apple crumble Crumbles are such a comfort when the weather begins to worsen, and the woolly jumpers start to come out. It’s a real great British favourite and you shouldn’t be deprived from having it just because you’re not in the comfort of your family home. This recipe, inspired by Deliciously Ella’s ‘Blackberry, Apple and Maple Crumble’ uses blackberries and Bramley apples which are both incredibly juicy and satisfying fruits when at their best. This recipe is full of great healthy fats, antioxidants and plant-based protein sources.

Serves 4 Filling:

180g (1 ½ cups) oats

6 Bramley apples, peeled and cored

200g ground almonds

400g (2 cups) blackberries

100ml (1/3 cup) maple syrup

1 tbsp maple syrup

3 heaped tbsp coconut oil

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp cinnamon (add nutmeg if you’re feeling adventurous) Method: 1. Mix the ground almonds with oats in a large mixing bowl.

Flickr: Stijn Nieuwendijk Flickr: Miriam

Topping:

2. Place the coconut oil, maple syrup and cinnamon in a saucepan and heat through until the coconut oil melts and the ingredients mix together nicely.

3. Pour this mixture over the almonds and oats and stir well, until the oat mixture is completely coated by the maple mixture. Leave to one side.

4. Soften the apples in a saucepan, pour over a cm of boiling water so that it covers the bottom of the pan. Add the maple syrup and cinnamon and leave for 10 minutes until the apples have slightly softened.

5. Transfer the apple mix and the blackberries onto the baking dish (baking the blackberries in this state means they hold better shape and don’t become too soggy) and cover the fruit layer with the topping. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes in a preheated oven at 180C or until the fruit is soft and the topping is golden. Serve with ice cream or custard.

Jane Cowie

26

Deputy Editor Nia Price nia.price@epigram.org.uk

Travel Book Club:

Pack It In! Travel Editor Maya Cowell shares her packing essentials for a last minute trips.

1. Neck Pillow I used to be highly sceptical of people who religiously rely on neck pillows, but after one too many uncomfortable, early morning cheap flights, my outlook on them has changed dramatically. With a neck pillow you can nap anywhere and everywhere, without horrid neck cramps that will ruin the rest of your trip. Don’t ever go for the blowup ones, practical as they sound- they’re uncomfortable and disappointing. My personal favourite is this shrimp- shaped pillow, practical AND hilarious.

Lonely Planet’s Europe on a Shoestring

Maya Cowell reveals the key to her budget travelling success In my last year of school, my best friend gave me this book for Christmas, and for some reason it was put onto my bookshelf and not picked up again until that summer. With A-levels rearing their ugly heads, travel plans seemed a long way away.

3.Dungarees Dungarees are an odd essential, but one thing I would never travel without. They work for clubbing, sightseeing and touristy T-Shirt glorification. Dungarees also happen to be one of the comfiest items of clothing the world has ever seen, a miracle given how trendy and presentable they can make you look!

4.Lipstick

Image: ebay.com

If there’s one way to go from bedraggled to halfway decent, it’s by slapping on a thick coat of lipstick. If ever you have to meet someone hot off the plane or train (even if it’s Bristol to London), your trusty pal in a tube will see you safely there!

My personal code is: red for glam, purple for edgy, light colours for innocent. Ironically, the only time I’ve forgotten lipstick when packing was for an opera course, when halfway decent was a definite requirement.

Every country in Europe is featured, with a map at the front to show the proximity of each country to the next (ideal for backpacking), and a pricing key for each recommendation.

Unlike in most guidebooks, in which the ‘budget’ option would break any student bank, this book really does find the best deals, and provides a summary at the start of each chapter of the prices to expect, so as to know whether or not you’re being ripped off.

Epigram/Maya Colwell

5.Wet Wipes Wet wipes are the gift of the gods/scientists. They work for anything, from pre-street food handwash, to makeup remover, to backpacker-style bathing. When in doubt, overpack - they’re ALWAYS on 3-for-2, and there’s no way you’ll ever find yourself regretting the decision (read this as a challenge - it is one).

There are hints and tips aplenty, from bars frequented by local bohemians, to ways of getting into museums for free. Under 26s from any EU (sigh) country have free entry to any national museums in Paris, the Acropolis in Athens, and a whole host of other amazing destinations.

Flickr/memegenerator

There’s nothing worse than obnoxious Brits who travel the world assuming that everyone will speak English. Yes, it’s one of the most widely spoken languages on the planet. No, that is not an excuse to be lazy. Lonely Planet produces language books specifically aimed at travellers, with useful phrases, basic vocab, and pronunciation guides which will have you speaking broken but effective versions of any language you desire.

When in April, a group of friends decided on a last minute interrailing trip, this book was my bible. Where others had already been planning their trips for months, this book made everything run smoothly.

Image: mac.com

2.Language Book

Nowhere else would you find a list of Prague’s best nightclubs alongside recommendations for the Czech equivalent of Paris’ Shakespeare and Co bookshop. As well as guides to cafes, bars, hostels and museums, the book also features unmissable neighbourhoods and good walks.

Solo Travel: Discovery. Adventure. Freedom.

Esther Rosewarne travels to Spain to continue our feature on why solo travel is the way to go.

Epigram/Maya Colwell

I found a new level of comfort and solace in my own company; I learnt to listen to myself and figure out what I actually

Epigram/Maya Colwell

wanted. Every day was different, every experience was incredible and every memory is vivid.

Planning a trip with no company is daunting at first, but if you embrace the scariness you will learn twice as much as you would otherwise, both about the world and about yourself. So go on: read some books, check out some destinations, and go for it! You’ll take more risks, you’ll have tons of fun, and you’ll feel so, so alive.

The book itself is massive, but not as huge as you would expect from a book with so much information. If you’re only travelling to one place, it’s worth photocopying the relevant pages to save on some packing space, but if it’s a pit stop tour of Europe you’re after, I can 100 per cent promise you that it’s worth lugging this bad boy around.

lwell ya Co m/Ma Epigra

Epigram/Maya Colwell

Epigram/Maya Colwell

Upon returning home from uni to my boring home town and my tedious old job, it took all of five minutes for me to start planning travel escape plans. I was ready for a new twist - an adventure. So I scraped together some money, I booked a flight, and I went for it: a few weeks in and around gorgeous, sunny Spain… By myself.

Now, given that most people my age are off getting wasted in typical European party destinations (with their friends), this may sound just a wee bit sad on my part, but I promise you… Solo travel can yield all the fun, all the adventures, and then some.

I guess I’d say I got off to a rocky start- a creepy hostel here and there, a mopey evening or two, and boy, was my Spanish rusty! But in time my confidence grew and grew, leading to some of the best nights out of my life, and befriending some of the most fun, interesting people I’ve ever met.

Thanks to the hours of alone time on buses and trains and the idiotic excursions out in the heat of the day (this happened way too many times, and I have the sunburn to prove it),

03.10.2016

Epigram Travel Section 2016/17

@epigram_travel

@e2travel

Online Editor Izzie Fernandes izzie.fernandes@epigram.org.uk

Instagram/Scottsergeant

Editor Maya Colwell travel@epigram.org.uk

03.10.2016

27

Wet hot American summer camp

Sarah Williams and Luke Barratt-Bentley reflect on their summers spent in the USA with Camp America

Camp America is a program which gives young people the opportunity to go and work in an American summer camp over the holidays.

I worked on a camp in Sturbridge Massachusetts, an hour west of Boston. I was a freshman councillor, which meant myself and a cocouncillor lived in a cabin with six seven-to-ten year olds at a time.

We’d get them up in the morning, make sure they were clean and fed and spend much of our time trying to make sure they didn’t wander off - with a near 50% success rate. During the day our campers would go off to the activities of their choice while we ran our own classes.

Epigram / Maya Cowell

”

”

The camp itself was on the edge of Lake Thompson, one of the cleanest lakes in the USA. It was beautiful. Every day I would look out at the lush green grounds and down onto the lake and think how lucky I was. The experience was one of the hardest and most rewarding of my life. I will never forget the pure childish joy I felt at camp and the tears of pride I shed at every talent show, drama showcase, dance competition etc. I would recommend Wildpacks as a sponsor and the camp experience to anyone.

- Sarah Williams

Different age groups had their different quirks. While it could be difficult to get the older campers to stop gossiping through a music class, or to get the younger campers to stop chewing at their shoes through drama, the campers were undoubtedly having the time of their lives.

The staff have the opportunity not only to run the classes, but also to take part in them! Getting the chance to bond with the campers, sitting in the dirt doing animal impressions, pretending to be on a safari or grass whistling were brilliant experiences that became commonplace.

After so many weeks of camp songs, chicken fingers and skunk (the animal) avoidance I grew to appreciate the idea that I wasn’t just on a regular holiday in America. Nowhere else in America does a twenty year old Aerospace Engineering student from the UK get to act like such a goof and get paid for it. It’s an experience I would recommend to anyone without hesitation.

-Luke Barratt-Bentley

Epigram/ Sarah Williams

In their two week session at camp, we also saw a massive change in the kids themselves. As they started to relax into camp life they felt more comfortable being silly around us. Some of my best moments will be remembering collapsing into fits of giggles with my boys as they tried to copy my accent, or pretended to be ‘bedtime cowboys’ skipping around the cabin with their trousers pulled up to their chests. They also began to let themselves be more vulnerable, sharing stories with us about home and asking for help writing letters to their parents.I grew seriously attached to my cabins as they started calling me their ‘camp mom’.

The 3am wake up call to go and pick the first group of kids up was fuelled by excitement and fear.

Epigram/ Sarah Williams

My first drama lesson didn’t exactly go to plan. I had my boys, who were still trying to test their counsellors and assert themselves as ‘the baddest’. But at the end of the lesson they did have a set of freeze frames to show to the group, albeit, scenes from GTA5.

I found my place as a teacher as the weeks went on, finding themes that the kids liked to devise pieces from and putting on drama showcases so that they had something to look forward to.

Epigram / Sarah Williams

They were testing all of us, seeing how we’d react when they swore, made rude comments and fought. But, there comes a moment when you realise why they’re doing this. They’re just as scared as us, moving into a cabin with a completely new group of peers who they had to live with for two whole weeks. They were all used to asserting their dominance at home, acting like little men rather than little boys and they were trying to do that with us. But that’s not the point of Agassiz: here the boys could become little boys again, and rediscover their childish curiosity and sense of adventure with new activities like canoeing, archery and of course, drama.

Having learned that one of the young people I would have in my care was unable to speak a word of English, I went to the camp director to discuss the issue of communication. I don’t speak Chinese.

He told me, ‘you’re not in America, you’re at camp. Just do your best.’

So began a game of charades that was to last for three whole weeks.

Epigram / Maya Cowell

The 3am wake up call to go and pick the first group of kids up was fuelled by excitement and fear. I was terrified of the horror stories I’d heard but also ridiculously excited. As a member of program staff I didn’t have to stay in a cabin with a group of kids but I was placed in the 10-12 year old boys’ cabin in the evenings to help settle them down. I met my boys and, honestly, I was scared of them.

Epigram / Sarah Williams

Staff training wewek came around fairly quickly and I jumped on a plane to Maine. I realised that these people were exactly the same as me, we all shared similar passions and were equally as excited (and terrified) for this new experience. The returners shared their horror stories: racist kids, children with anger issues, physical abuse, but we were assured it would all be worth it.

Epigram / Sarah Williams

I didn’t know what to expect when I sent out my application to teach drama at summer camp in America to Wildpacks. They replied to me within two weeks saying that the camp director of Agassiz Village Summer Camp would like to interview me. A quick google told me that this camp was for ‘underserved children’ from the inner-city Boston area. I was unsure what this meant, but after an hour long interview with the director I was offered the job and was ready to accept the challenge.

Tell us your travelling tales - Write for us!

Have you been somewhere exciting this summer?

Have you just returned from your year abroad?

or email the editor at travel@epigram.org.uk

Epigram/Maya Colwell

Epigram/Maya Colwell

Join us on Facebook at Epigram Travel Section 2016/17

Epigram / @journalbyassia

Is there a city that you’ve fallen in love with?

Tag your travel photos with #epitravel to be featured on our account. Each issue we’ll print the photo with the most likes.

03.10.2016

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Editor Online Editor Jessie Onion Alex Boulton style@epigram.org.uk alex.boulton@epigram.org.uk @e2style

LONDON FASHION WEEK SPECIAL...

@epigramstyle

Epigram’s Guide to London Fashion Week Our favourite spring/summer shows...

J.W.Anderson Both a menswear and womenswear designer, J.W.Anderson played around with typical gender ideals in his latest collection.

More masculine designs were presented in a more feminine way, generating a quite commercial and wearable collection.

Charlotte Olympia SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Charlotte Olympia SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

J.W.Anderson SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

J.W.Anderson SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

J.W.Anderson SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Burberry Sept 2016 Vogue/Indigtial

Burberry Sept 2016 Vogue/Indigtial

Burberry Sept 2016 Vogue/Indigtial

Topshop Unique Although skipped by Sir Philip Green amidst BHS controversy, Spitalfields Market was full of celebrities including Lottie Moss and Anais Gallagher for the 1980s themed Topshop Unique show. The collection saw a step away from the sportswear trend the brand helped to create, complete with slip dresses and oversized jackets, all relatively affordable compared majority of other shows.

Topshop Unique SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Topshop Unique SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Henry Holland SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Henry Holland SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Henry Holland SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Mulberry SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Mulberry SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Mulberry SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Topshop Unique SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

House of Holland Attended by the likes of Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldof, Henry Holland’s collection was quite girly but contained some street-wear influences. Overall a wearable collection - gingham, embroidery and florals were intermingled with mesh, with a few pieces reserved for those wanting to make the boldest of statements. For the finale, the brand returned to its roots with statement tees with slogans such as “I’m yours for a tenner Kendall Jenner’’ and “let’s breed Bella Hadid.”

Mulberry Mulberry’s collection saw a twist on the traditionally British school uniform that is described as ‘uniform without uniformity’ by the brand’s creative designer, Johnny Coca. Blazers, skirts and shirts were finished with asymmetric and irregular hemlines, ruffles and atypical accessories. The colours were typically understated and simple, although canary yellow did make an appearance in some looks.

Charlotte Olympia The accessories, bags and shoes designer showed off her latest collection in a ballroom designed to resemble a 1940s cabaret bar.

Models dressed as fruit showcased the new shoe line, while others dressed in more understated cream clothes showed off the latest bags.

A chorus line of sequinned dancers with giant bananas also took to the catwalk.

Charlotte Olympia SS17 Vogue/Indigtial

Burberry Burberry stepped away from the traditional format this season, preferring to name their collection September 2016 rather than SS17, spearheading the runway to retail trend. The show was inspired by the sexual ambiguity in Virginia Woolf’s ‘Orlando’ and was the first time both the menswear and womenswear collections were presented in one Burberry show. Much of the collection reflected this romantic tone, with pyjama sets, ruffled shirts, paisley and embroidery all featuring.

Alex Boulton 2016 Online Style Editor

Best Street Style looks at LFW

Instagram/ @london

Instagram/ @topshop

Instagram/ @marthaward

Jessie Onion 2016 Style Editor

Instagram/ @londonfashionweek

Instagram/ @britishvogue

Instagram/ @laurabaileylondon

Instagram/ @emilysheffielduk

Instagram/ @topshop

Instagram/ @thefrugality

Instagram/ @alexachung

03.10.2016

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See Now, Buy Now: The Fashion Industry is changing fast Famous brands are changing the way new trends will be shown and bought as they make their new collections available to buy instantly after their shows at Fashion Week. Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Burberry and Topshop Unique have all used this new format.

Instagram/ @burberry

Tommy Hilfiger at New York Fashion Week was one of the first brands to launch this change and used the model Gigi Hadid as the face of their campaign and show. Set on ‘Tommy’s Pier’, a temporary fairground installation complete with a ferris wheel and hot dogs, the collection was instantly available to buy on their website after live streaming the show on their Facebook page.

At London Fashion Week, other designers have also adopted this radical approach of ‘see now, buy now’. Burberry’s show combined womenswear and menswear to create a gender fluid collection which was available to buy immediately after the show at their Regent Street store or online in 100 countries.

Instagram/@britishvogue

This marks the start of a new chapter in the Fashion Industry.

Traditionally, new season collections were made available to buy five to six months after they were debuted by the designers.

Now, big brands are catering to the customer by enabling them to buy new season trends immediately after watching them on the catwalk. Fashion is adapting to make the collections more accessible to customer, and more relevant to the seasons they are shown in.

“Every piece presented on the runway will be available to buy the minute the show ends” Christopher Bailey, Creative Director of Burberry.

In the future, perhaps shows will be less directed towards press and buyers, and instead will only be for customers who want to see the clothes immediately before they buy them.

Will this concept of ‘fast fashion’ which places the consumer first make the industry more elitist or more accessible? Only time will tell.

The next London Fashion Week is 17th-21st February 2017.

Is Fashion Week still relevant?

Alex Boulton argues yes... even to students

‘The models on the catwalk... hardly represent the variety of women out there’ The price tags of the designs aren’t much more accessible: especially for the student demographic, which is famed for its love of cheap second-hand clothing rather than designer labels. The majority of the outfits worn in the shows are much too outlandish and extreme to be worn on a normal day on campus anyway.

But then again, shows are designed to push forward a brand identity, not to reflect what we as consumers would wear, which begs the question; what is the point?

The models on the catwalk, the Kendall Jenners and Bella Hadids of this world, hardly represent the variety of women out there, the clothes being unwearable for anyone over a certain size. Even if we were interested in the collections they

were wearing, they don’t come out for 6 months anyway: not good enough for today’s consumers who have come to expect instant gratification.

Despite all of this, I’m here to argue that Fashion Week is still relevant and that the designer world does affect us, even as students. With a limited budgets, we often buy a lot of our clothes from the high street. The looks we see there take inspiration from Fashion Week, taking note of the key trends and identifying looks that may sell well commercially, and manufacturing near copies to hit shelves just a couple of weeks after the catwalk.

These pieces always sell well, showing that people do care and pay attention to what happens on the catwalk. This is the case more than ever before, as arguably Fashion Week has grown increasingly accessible due to coverage on the Internet and social media.

Alongside this, there have been changes in the format and priorities of Fashion Week, such as the new phenomenon of ‘see now, buy now’ , which means no more long waits to see collections in

‘Fashion Week has grown more and more accessible due to easy access on the internet’

Twitter/ @thefashionlaw

As Fashion Weeks across the world opened this September - events cemented in the annual fashion calendar - they faced growing criticism.

Many people argue the occasion is too elitist to benefit normal people; they are seen as a big, frivolous, pointless parties attended almost exclusively by the industry’s key players and near impossible for someone with a simple interest to see the show.

Gucci AW15 vs Mango stores: this marks a shift from appealing to buyers, designers and other industry professionals, to appealing directly to the consumer.

Street style is now just as important as the shows, perhaps the aspect most interesting for us as students, with real people in real outfits they’ve picked for themselves being photographed.

Ultimately, London Fashion Week is key to the £26 billion UK fashion industry and generates £100 million worth of orders in the week alone - how can this NOT be relevant?

Obviously, the event is going to be more engaging for those with an interest in fashion, but it still does affect us all - from the clothes we put on every day (everyone makes a fashion-conscious decision when they decide what to wear), from the posts and news we see on social media to the prosperity of the industry.

Alex Boulton 2016 Online Style Editor

Jessie Onion 2016 Style Editor

Epigram 17.10.2016

Editor Anna Wyn annawyn.epigram@gmail.com

MUSIC

Goat SWX, 19.10

I will try and describe Goat to you as best as I can, because seeing them without context could potentially quite jarring. Expect masks/costumes, experimental fusion sounds and some acid-afrobeat from these Swedish lunatics. I would recommend that you read their Wikapedia page because they’re origins are somewhat bonkers.

For fans of Flamingods and...to be honest they are literally like no other band you’ll see live. Ever.

Facebook: Dreamgirls Event Page

FacebookGOAT Page

Facebook: Writers in the Caves Event Page

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The Planiterium Sessions @Bristol, 17.10-19.10

Simple Things Festival is on it’s way, and part of it’s carefully curated selection of acts this year is “ The Planterium Sessions”.

Their forthcoming collaboration with @Bristol is a three night series bringing together electronica and astronomy in what is sure to be trippy.

FOOD

Julia Holter Anson Rooms, 20.11

Her newest album, “Have you in my Wilderness”,might be one of my favourite albums of this year. American singersongwriter Julia Holter is not one to be missed, especially considering that her tour schedule is sadly minescule . Her neo-classical lyrics are spellbinding, and her pop-baroque etherealism is a sound you will never hear anywhere else. For fans of Joanna Newsom and Julianna Barwick.

The Gin Festival The Passanger Shed, 29.10-30.10

Who doesn’t like Gin, ey? Head on down to The Passanger Shed at Temple Meads and tantilise your taste buds with gins from across the globe. From cocktail demos to all the gin samples your drunken heart desires. This indoor-garden party in the heart of the city centre should hopefully be worth the £10 ticket. If not just get plastered and pretend the extorianate amount of money was worth it.

CULTURE

FILM

+ Soul Sister Writers in the Caves Dreamgirls No.1 Party Redcliffe Caves, 25.10 Watershed, 21.10 Titled “Going Underground: Subterranean Tales”, this event features The Bristol Writers Group and friends reading short stories and novel extracts in the manmade red catacombes deep in the Redcliffe Caves. This night of story-telling is guaranteed to be an atmospheric evening, so bring a blanket and a folding chair and do something different this October.

Watershed KNOWS how to throw a post-screening party. Join them in the bar after the film until the early hours for Soul Sister No.1, a celebration of female stardom from Beyonce to Aretha. Some of the finest emerging female voices in Bristol will be stopping by as we ll, so get your glad rags on and embrace your inner Queen!

SuperHans Motion, 26.10

The irreverant and drug addled musican from Peep Show has forged himself a somewhat succesful career in the art of DJing. Comedian Matt King under his “SuperHans” persona promises to bring jokes and tunes to Motion. No guarentees on my end if it’ll be a decent night out, but I’ll go out of morbid curiosity and an unequivocal love of Peep Show.

Epigram 03.10.2016

Editor Anna Wyn annawyn.epigram@gmail.com

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Facebook/Event Page

Facebook/Rat Boy Page

Facebook/Event Page

FILM

My Scientology Movie Watershed, 07.10-10.10

Louis Theroux’s first feature documentary, surrounded in mystery after its premier at the London Film Festival two years ago, makes its West Country premier at Watershed. Screenings on the 10th and the 11th will be followed by a satellite Q&A with Louis Theroux livestreamed from Royal Festival Hall. If you are one of the lucky few who managed to get a ticket, please give it to me because I’m slightly desperate for one.

HMS Morris Mr Wolf’s, 13.10

This week’s recommended boogy is none other than HMS Morris. This electro-kitchy-pop Welsh trio will guarantee to make your friends say, ‘who?’, but with Huw Stephens and BBC Horizons citing themselves as fans, they will definitely be worth a watch. If the band itself isn’t tempting enough, go for the venue, as Mr Wolf ’s is a hotpot for little-known but wonderful acts. For fans of Sweet Baboo and H. Hawkline.

MUSIC

Ratboy Anson Rooms, 28.09

Essex native Ratboy is one hell of a noisy one man band. This musical renegade and his brit-hip-hop sound is anarchic, loud and infectious. Early Gorillaz with a Jamie T twang, Ratboy harkens back to the Fatboy Slim/Blur days of old but with better haircuts. His most recent EP, “Get Over It”, is mixtape magic. For fans of Slaves and Circa Waves.

Daphne Wright: Emotional Archeology Arnolfini, 30.09-31.12

Presenting an expansive collection of work spanning the artists’s 25 year long career, “Emotional Archeolgy” is the most comprehensive exhibition of Daphne Wright’s art in the UK. Arnolfini will be exhibiting all manner of Wright’s work, from sculpture, to film, to prints and drawings exploring the artist’s interest in socio-domestic issues. Head down to Harbourside to contemplate such matters as aging, parenting and our relationship with animals. These clean, minimal scultpures would look ultra chic on your instagram...

ART

The Kills Anson Rooms, 05.10

Indie darlings The Kills are back with their new album “Ash and Ice”.

Though I was only vaguely familiar with them before their newest record, I have since been converted.

With bluesy vocals from lead singer Alison Mossheart, and a dash of punk etherealism from lead guitarist Jaime Hince, they make for one gritty and sexy two-piece. For fans of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Blood Red Shoes.

Ibolya Feher: East Street Tales East Street, 08.10-29.10

This Hungarian born photographer displays the array of faces, people and places that the locals of BS3 have come to know. We can become secluded in our own insular university bubble up in Clifton, so why not take a stroll down to East Street to become at one with the city a bit?

Though when I tell you that this exhibition is held at the iron gate next door to the Asda on East Street, just trust me, ok? ‘Tis legitimate I promise...

and so it begins TERM ONE

changes you should be aware of WELCOME WEEK

our favourite moments bristolsu.org.uk

NEW STUDENTS

stand to be a rep this term

Our top 9 welcome week moments

Beach Party @ SWX This was the opening night and you could tell. The vibes at this event were amazing.

Silent Disco versus Roller Disco Two of the best things combined!

So many happy faces.

Pirate Party @ O2 Academy Fire breathing pirates. What more do you need to know?

International Food Festival It was great to see so many of our cultural societies all together. Plus the whole building smelled of delicious food.

Vintage Swing Night with LeRoc Le Roc's dance instructors really made us feel like maybe there was a world in which we didn't have two left feet.

No Joke! Comedy Night with Sara Pascoe Mock The Week and Live at The Apollo favourite Sara Pascoe graced the Anson Rooms and was absolutely as hilarious as expected.

The Last Dance @Motion with DJ Fresh Just wow. If you were at this night you know how electric it was. If you weren't, we've got a video coming out so you can experience it!

Fresh Tuesdays @ Pryzm

Open Mic Night

Everyone arriving en masse from RAG's Beerienteering bar crawl was fun!

Someone sung 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight?' while their friend built a house of cards; it was spectacular.

the best of welcome fair

Changes to be aware of in term one Term one is always very busy, so it’s important not to forget to take care of your wellbeing. If you have any issues or concerns, do talk to our free Just Ask advice service, or have a look at: bristolsu.org.uk/advice for online support on everything from issues with your course to money problems.

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Just Ask can also help you with appeals against university disciplinary procedures. In particular the university has changed its policy on drugs usage.

If a student is caught in possession of a personal amount of an illegal drug in university owned residences they will be required to attend a police ‘Drug Education Programme’. This will not create a criminal record but may appear on an enhanced DBS check, with possible implications for students going into certain careers. You would have the right to appeal and should contact Just Ask for support.

Students caught in possession of personal amounts of legal highs including NO2 (laughing gas) will have WR SD\ D ÀQH DQG DWWHQG D XQLYHUVLW\ awareness programme (which would not appear on an enhanced DBS check).

Bristol Students’ Union is independent from the university and whilst we welcome a common policy across residences, we do have serious concerns with this policy which we are raising with the university. We will also be working with the university to increase education around drugs and ensure students wellbeing. If you have any comments please e-mail: stephen.lefanu@bristol.ac.uk.

Stephen Le Fanu 6WXGHQW /LYLQJ 2IÀFHU

NEW STUDENT?

YOU CAN NOMINATE YOURSELF TO BECOME A REP! Find out more: bristolsu.org.uk/elections

WHAT'S ON FEATURED EVENT

Fresh @ Pryzm. Tuesday 4 October 10pm, Pryzm.

Welcome to Fresh Tuesdays @ PRYZM Bristol SU's regular societies' night.

3 rooms of awesome music / VIP Booths and Belvedere Cocktail Bar. Presenting a tongue-in-cheek mix of 90s, Party, Cheese, Disco and student anthems.

For tickets and more info see: bristolsu.org.uk/pryzm

Monday 3 October. The Big Fat Bristol SU Pub Quiz Expect obscure facts, near-impossible challenges, general hilarity and extremely cheap beer. By far the best thing to do with your Monday evening!

Friday 7 October. Curryoke - hosted by Bristol RAG. 8pm, Balloon Bar. It’s karaoke, it’s curry - it’s curryoke.

Hosted by Bristol RAG, plus our weekly curry night will add some extra spice.

Tuesday 4 October. Get Active: Volleyball. 5pm, Sports Centre.

Give volleyball a go in this taster session from Get Active. Free and open to all.

Wednesday 5 October. The Kills.

7.30pm, Anson Rooms.

7KH .LOOV WRXU WKHLU KLJKO\ DQWLFLSDWHG ÀIWK album 'Ash and Ice'. Described as a "lean, mean rock 'n' roll machine", The Kills live shows never disappoint.

Thursday 6 October. Falafel King Welcome Party, 5pm.

Come and join UoB Vegetarian & 9HJDQ 6RFLHW\ IRU RXU RIÀFLDO ZHOFRPH party at the amazing Falafel King! We're celebrating the start of term with an afternoon of tasty food.

Thursday 6 October. Thursday Night Live. 8pm, Balloon Bar. Free live music from a stellar line-up of local and student bands, cheap beer and tasty food. Pretty much the perfect Thursday night. See you there.

Sunday 20 October. PG Quiz Night.

7.30pm, AR2 Bar. Get quizzical and put your knowledge to the test in the best quiz in town, hosted by the PG Network's amazing Quizmaster Sam Briggs! £1 entry per person, with great prizes up for grabs!

For more information on all upcoming events see bristolsu.org.uk/events

Epigram

03.10.2016

Film & TV

@epigramfilm Editor: Ella Kemp

Deputy Editor: Josh Spencer

Online Editor: Phoebe Graham

ekemp@epigram.org.uk

josh.spencer@epigram.org.uk

phoebe.graham@epigram.org.uk

@ella_kemp

@_joshjs

@phoebe_elise19

Bridget’s back: A welcome return to the big screen from your favourite Brit Film & TV Writer Ashley Yonga reviews the return of Renée Zellweger’s endearing character creation in Bridget Jones’s Baby - was this a sequel that needed to be made?

“

Things we didn’t like:

Ashley Yonga Film & TV Writer

Unfortunately, it was the guys. I love a Darcy as much as the next girl, but in this film, Mark Darcy just was not doing it for us. Despite the history of Darcy from the past two movies, he feels more distant than usual, and Jack Qwant, the new guy in Bridget’s life, is not particularly interesting because there wasn’t any character development there. In the end we were neither Team Darcy nor Team Jack, but Team Bridget all the way.

When it gets to the third film in a series, people are sometimes thinking, ‘enough, enough. Please just stop.’

That was definitely not the case when my two flatmates and I went to see Bridget Jones’s Baby. In fact, for 19 year olds, we related to Bridget Jones much more than we would care to admit.

Francesca Collins on National Treasure page 2

Furthermore, the film can be quite predictable.

Of course, the rich playboy American is sick of his travelling life and feels lonely; of course she won’t not tell both of them that she thought the child could be someone else’s and of course Jack pretends that he’s actually the father and causes Mark to leave. The movie treads rather close to being monotonous but is saved by the poignant scenes with Bridget and the movie’s natural effortless comedy.

It is still, however, definitely a film worth watching, with the unique trifecta of being funny, charming, and thought-provoking. Yes, it is thought-provoking. Bridget Jones’s Baby manages to deal with things which are relatable to women of all ages and so it is deserving of the credit that comes with achieving that.

What did you think of Bridget Jones’s Baby?

Tweet us @EpigramFilm

Writers Wanted!

Epigram Film & TV is recruiting writers for the upcoming year.

Look for the Epigram Film & TV Writers 16 /17 Facebook group to keep up to date on writing opportunities.

We will be posting comissions and welcoming suggestions for pieces over the next year!

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In this issue...

We are at your service to bring you all of the best reviews, recommendations and reflection

Watershed

You never know how much you want Emma Thompson to play an indifferent OB/GYN who gets unwittingly pulled into Bridget’s drama till you’ve seen Emma Thompson play an indifferent OB/GYN who gets unwittingly pulled into Bridget’s drama. And fun fact: Emma Thomspon actually helped write the screenplay.

The most striking thing is how much Bridget Jones has grown and come into her own. She is successful, has reached her ‘target weight’, but still remains true to her awkward charming self. She stands up for herself to her mother and boss and she even takes the news of being pregnant in her stride. She is every bit the star of this film.

Renée Zellweger strikes the perfect balance between being funny and endearing. There are moments in the film when all you want was to give Bridget a hug and tell her everything is going to be okay, because you feel for her so strongly. She spends the entire movie feeling so out of place. In the beginning it’s feeling too old for the new and hip direction her television producer job is taking, and being too single for her married, settled-down friends. Later, she feels too separated from the two men in her life and the idea of being a mother. Everyone has felt like a fish out of water at some point, so how could someone not relate to such a feeling?

It is a film worth watching, with the unique trifecta of being funny, charming and thought-provoking

Universal Pictures / Greg Williams

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Renée Zellweger strikes the perfect balance between being funny and endearing

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We could all agree that the film is hilarious: rib-tickling, side-hurting, entire audience laughing kind of funny.

Sometimes when a film is classed as a comedy, in reality there are only one or two comical moments - and that was undoubtedly not the case here. Bridget Jones’s Baby had comedy in spades. There are multiple golden moments such as Emma Thompson having to pretend to both men that they’re the father of Bridget’s child or Bridget turning up to a festival dressed for a spa weekend and falling into a pile of mud while in all white, to name just two.

BFI/LFFPRESS

Things we liked:

Tim Bustin on House of Cards

Nathalie Perthuisot on James Corden

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Epigram 03.10.2016

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watched the entire series, but, if not, then this is a SPOILER warning for Episode 1 of Series 4.

Series 4 kicks off, it’s fair to say, in an unexpected place; in an intriguing scene, Lucas Goodwin is sitting in prison, eloquently narrating a sexual encounter so his more thuggish cellmate can pleasure himself. An odd place to start, but it grabs your attention for sure.

The opening theme kicks in and the chills start; you’d thought hearing it 40 times would deaden you to it but every listen brings more depth. The dark bass notes dig under your skin, playing beneath the trumpets and military-esque drums, all to a montage of a busy Washington day flying by. Like House of Cards itself, it’s a not-so-subtle metaphor for the state of American politics: preaching patriotism and doing whatever it takes behind the scenes to succeed.

We join Francis J. Underwood (Kevin Spacey) aboard Air Force One, preparing his latest speech on the campaign trail for the primaries. He seems hunky dory, preparing to fool the masses, until Chief of Staff Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) walks in to report no word from Claire (Robin Wright).

After dramatically leaving Frank at the end of Series 3, we find a Frank desperate rather than

Let’s hope Spacey goes full-Deadpool and turns the camera down to face us with a deliciously vicious quote

Whilst Claire has a meeting with political aid LeAnn Harvey, Frank has a nightmare of Claire: a cut between him stroking her face and the two violently beating one another. He dreams his eyes getting gouged out and wakes to find security guard Meechum removing his glasses. Clearly House of Cards is persisting in focusing more on how politics affects this power couple, not how they affect it. However much of this episode also feels like it’s laying the groundwork for the rest of the series, such as with a brief TV cameo in the background of Republican nominee Will Conway. It’s a common trait in House of Cards for first episode, but whilst it sets up mystery and intrigue the episode itself does suffer.

Lucas Goodwin has won the trust of his cellmate enough to get him to confess he was innocent, taking the wrap for someone much higher in a criminal gang; the conversation is being recorded and Lucas secures his release from prison with this information.

Some of the political chess returns, thankfully, as Claire tries to convince her main opposition for the Texan seat to wait a couple of years; it’s a tough seat to win and shows Claire’s determination for a position of power that she couldn’t get with Frank.

Doug Stamper has been sent to threaten LeAnn, and he sits in on Claire’s meeting, convincing the opposition to disagree with Claire. Maybe not the standard of what we’re used to, but still fun and intriguing to see.

Fox News has a short segment, with rumours that the Underwoods’ marriage is under threat; the two haven’t been seen publically for days.

Little do the Underwoods know that their media chief Seth is responsible for the leak, telling Frank’s opposition for the Democratic nomination (which he is still trying to win in the primaries) Heather Dunbar in return for a position should the Underwoods fail. This Fox News segment leads Frank to finally confront Claire for the first time since their break-up. With Doug and an unthreatened LeAnn, Frank tells Claire the uncomfortable news of her mother’s 3 year battle with cancer. Claire was unaware, but the two agree to tell the public that this is the reason they haven’t been seen together in public, squashing the marriage trouble story. In this deal, Claire saves Frank’s campaign and Frank supports Claire for the Texan congressional seat.

It’s only afterwards that Claire realises she used her mother without a second’s thought. This is what 3 series of Claire’s arc have been building towards, as we’ve seen her humanity slowly stripped away. Claire is turning to the dark side; turning into Frank. Truly, power corrupts all.

Series 4’s themes represent an evolution of the show. It is less misguided than series 3, which suffered from subplots that ultimately went nowhere, a lack of focus and a feeling that time was just being killed until the main Presidential race. Episode 1 still feels like this but at least it’s laid the groundwork for what looks to be an interesting series. At the moment the Democratic nominee race really does feel background to the unresolved character issues, however; a political drama where politics takes the back seat.

Hopefully this is a step in the right direction and back to the binge-worthy quality of series 1 and 2.

If not, then let’s hope Spacey goes full-Deadpool once more and turns down the camera to face us, with that unsettling grin, and drawls a deliciously vicious quote.

Got an idea for the next installment of Epiflix and Chill?

Get in touch @EpigramFilm

“

Honest Trailers couldn’t have described House of Cards Series 4 more accurately. Back in 2013, Netflix wowed the world by introducing highquality original series, streamable in their entity on release day; the trailblazing House of Cards Series 1 was a ruthless and powerful look at the state of modern day politics, reaching unbelievable scenarios through realistic decisions, coming off as an exaggerated, if unnerving, metaphor for reality. Series 2 continued the dangerous cat and mouse game for Frank and Claire Underwood, utilizing whoever and whatever they could manipulate to reach the presidency. With this goal achieved in the finale, series 3 was left with a lack of focus, the themes more about characters than plot, international politics arcs and subplots that went nowhere, and the unfulfilling struggle for a lasting legacy.

Thankfully, Series 4 takes a turn back to its roots – we won’t reach it in this episode, although the groundwork will be laid, but the eventual fight for the presidency between a shaken Frank Underwood and his charming Republican nominee offers an alternative to the equally nightmarish Hillary Clinton v Donald Trump.

I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already binge-

Flickr/Televisione Streaming

To kick off our new feature, Film & TV Writer Tim Bustin unpicks the first episode of Series 4 of House of Cards.

confident, struggling for a life line instead of concocting a plan. Without Claire, it is clear he is unstable and without his fallback. Kevin Spacey’s performance has always been mindblowing and although we wish for him to stare down the camera and give us another chilling, 4th-wall breaking snide, this irrationality and subtleness add new depth to the role.

Claire, meanwhile, has returned to the house she grew up in: a large stately home, covered in dust sheets, as though abandoned. We will soon learn it acts as a metaphor for the deadness of her relationship with her mother. Ellen Burstyn is the latest calibre actor to join House of Cards, and she has instant chemistry with Robin Wright, the two conveying their fractured relationship, unfavourable feelings towards Frank, and their history in just one quiet conversation.

“

Epif lix and Chill: Episode 1

Close to home: National Treasure premiere review

With award success already on the cards, Film & TV Writer Francesca Collins finds out whether the pilot lives up to the hype. imprisoned Rolf Harris by outing them (and many others) as sex offenders. As a nation, our wounds

of the complex psychological negotiations which become unavoidable when a hero seems to become their own antithesis: how do we respond when the ‘good guy’ does bad things?

While neither the innocence nor the guilt of Paul Finchley has yet been ascertained, there is a vital importance in his characterisation as a potential sex offender. As viewers, we are forced to confront an image of an adored entertainment idol — indeed, a ‘“national treasure’” — and reconcile it with our own conceptualisations of those who abuse and exploit. Finchley is a man who ticks so many of our respectability boxes: he has an endearing and largely inoffensive sense of humour, he has a family, he has caring friends and is admired by peers and fans alike. In seeing these aspects of his life, we see him as human.

Humanising the potential sex offender could be disastrous: a possible validation of their actions, a vindication of their motives, or a sympathetic portrait of an otherwise surely-reviled figure. In this instance, however, the humanisation serves a more nuanced but valuable end. It would be easy to make the man a monster, to strip him of his personality and his complexity and to make him unquestionably evil and abhorrent.

Instead, Thorne has made the monster a man.

This evidences what statisticians, sociologists and psychologists already know about sex offenders: they often appear outwardly unthreatening.

They move calmly and anonymously among us, walking down all paths of life. Some of them may Channel 4/Joss Barratt

As the praised playwright of June’s sell-out West End show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Jack Thorne is no stranger to revisiting and reinventing the landmarks of Britain’s collective memory. National Treasure, however, shows us what happens when the magic ends.

Paul Finchley (Robbie Coltrane) is a man we believe we understand from the show’s opening shots. Ushered onstage at an awards ceremony, Finchley gives a warm and humorous speech as he presents the ceremony’s lifetime achievement award to his own comedy partner. It is essential that the man welcoming Finchley is Alan Carr, starring as himself, and that many other well-known comedic household names show their faces in these first few minutes. This alliance with our “real” entertainment industry grounds Finchley solidly in a narrative world which operates in parallel to our own. This close relationship between the fictional world of Paul Finchley and the real world of the television viewers at home ensures that the show’s overarching commentary is clear from its onset: when Paul Finchley opens his front door to police officers informing him of a rape accusation, the allusions to our real entertainment personalities are indelible and immediate. For anyone still confused, Finchley himself explains it with brutal frankness: ‘They think I’m Jimmy fucking Savile.’

September 2016 marks nearly four years since the start of Operation Yewtree, the sexual abuse investigation which triggered the posthumous downfall of Jimmy Savile and that of now-

are still smarting from Yewtree’s revelations concerning our former icons: they were likeable, warm and highly-regarded, but most crucially they seemed trustworthy. National Treasure documents this shift in public perception, and the development

be our friends and relatives (and, incidentally, they may well be our heroes). The snarling and greasy semi-recluse who flashes in the direction of preteens is a mentally satisfying archetype, but not an accurate reflection of reality. It is comforting to herd our psychological field of sex offenders into one small pen. It is much less comforting to admit to ourselves that people across all demographics are capable of abuse.

We are forced to confront an image of an adorned idol and reconcile it with our own conceptualisations of those who abuse and exploit

National Treasure is vital television because it is uncomfortable television. The stunning stand-out highlight performances from Coltrane and Julie Walters (as Paul Finchley’s long-suffering wife, Marie) may leave viewers uneasy and disquieted, but ultimately completely invested. While Paul Finchley’s guilt (or lack thereof) remains to be seen, a significant takeaway from the show is that abusers are people too — and that’s why we are so disturbed.

Have you seen the first episode of National Treasure?

Join the discussion @EpigramFilm

Epigram 03.10.2016

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James Corden: From sidekick Smithy to stateside star He’s now reached possibly the peak of fame, so Film & TV Writer Nathalie Perthuisot tells us how James Corden got where he is today.

An argument could be made for both sides.

Corden, in his many interviews and TV appearances, still comes across as humble, genuinely talented and brimming with ideas, having worked hard to reach this level of success.

He has already been recognised for his comedic roles on screen and has received rave reviews both for his work in British theatre (such as with History Boys) and Broadway (One Man, Two Guv’nors).

Clearly he has never lacked the talent nor the drive. It is quite likely that a certain amount of typecasting, and seemingly playing mostly funny, goofy, good-natured characters, made him a logical successor to Craig Ferguson as host of The Late Late Show on CBS.

Awll it takes is a large dose of hard work and the right circumstances to realise ambitions you didn’t even know you had However, it is still possible to pinpoint a precise moment which proved to be the turning point in Corden’s career: Into The Woods. Rob Marshall’s adaptation of the seminal Sondheim musical cast James Corden as one the featured singing roles – the Baker – alongside an all-star cast.

Unsurprisingly, the film attracted a great deal of attention at the time and offered Corden greater exposure amongst American audiences, who had already started to get to know him in

Flickr/Various

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Even with the occasional misses in his career, Corden has proven to be clear-headed and has learned from his mistakes

It could be argued that a key to his success is that he knows how to embody a certain endearing and entertaining British stereotype that is so appealing to watch for people all over the world – especially Americans. His wit and humour has also made it easy for him to amass over 7.5 million Twitter followers over time, with his internet fame being widely beneficial for his career.

Even with the occasional misses in his career, Corden has proven to be clear headed and learned from his mistakes. After the release of Lesbian Vampire Killers in 2009, Corden experienced stark negativity from critics and general indifference from audiences. He has often repeated in interviews that this failure pushed him to work harder which, he claims, he ‘wasn’t really doing at the time’.

This kind of apparent humility makes audiences more sympathetic towards someone like Corden, who appears to not let fame get to his head. If we took him by his words, it would seem he has only done this well by ‘being a bit of an idiot’.

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James Corden, once the young, dorky English boy known only for British comedies and appearing in the odd episode of Doctor Who, has now reached possibly the peak of fame. The charming actor and writer is now a heartthrob in his own right, singing on Carpool Karaoke with Justin Bieber, Beyoncé and even Michelle Obama, whilst also hosting the prestigious Tony Awards for the first time this year.

But how has he arrived at this point? Was there a turning point in Corden’s career that suddenly propelled him forward into hosting The Late Late Show, levelling him with American stars such as Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert? Or was it due to an accumulation of positive factors in his personality and work that have naturally brought him to this next big step in his career, over time?

Begin Again from the previous year. Better still, audiences all around the world were able to discover the musical side of his talent.

It seems quite clear, then, that everything happened extremely quickly. The combination of publicity and the confirmation that Corden could fit perfectly with the Broadway elite, all thanks to the hit-film Into The Woods, were the

What’s On?

final push that helped him reach his current level of success.

James Corden’s road to fame is certainly an interesting one. He never planned to end up as a talkshow host on American television, yet his journey shows that often all it takes is a large dose of hard work and the right circumstances to realise ambitions you didn’t even know you had.

Films to Faces

Editors’ Picks

Mary Berry

Flickr/ComIc Relief 2013

Flickr/Domenico

Watershed

Watershed

Ella Editor

Josh Deputy Editor

Phoebe Online Editor

Captain Fantastic

Swiss Army Man

Your Name (Kimi no Na wa)

Showing at Watershed

In cinemas now

Premiere at London Film Festival on October 14

Viggo Mortensen stars as the father of six children raised in their own micro-society in the woods. In no way patronising, scary or “too” niche in any way, it may already be one of my favourite films ever. Prepare to laugh, cry and reconsider the way you live entirely.

Judging from the eccentric trailer, the feature debut of Scheinert and Kwan looks a must watch. Daniel Radcliffe stars as a corpse who sets off on a whirlwind adventure with Hank (Paul Dano) when he ends up stranded on a desert island – certainly not your average film.

Hailed by critics as the next Hayao Miyazaki, Makoto Shinkai’s latest picture unites an ethereal aesthetic with rich storytelling. In a tale of miracles and unearthly connection, two teenagers begin to dream of each other’s lives after the first detectible comet in a thousand years approaches Japan.

The Affair

Amanda Knox

National Treasure

On Amazon Instant Video

On Netflix

Tuesdays 9pm Channel 4

From the moment I started this, I was hooked.

The Affair is the TV show of the books your mum reads on holiday. Focusing on, you guessed it, an affair that jeopardizes two marriages, you don’t want to love it but you will. Not wildly original but incredibly juicy, it is the perfect choice for a weekend binge.

After the phenomenon of Making a Murderer, Netflix is following up by releasing a new series covering one of the most notorious murder cases in history. Amanda Knox’s trial for the murder of Meredith Kercher has been a hugely controversial and much discussed subject, so it will certainly prove a fascinating exploration.

The highly anticipated drama starring Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters tracks the public and personal demise of Paul Finchley, after the police turn up at his front door with a set of sexual abuse accusations. With the pilot boasting a darkly intelligent script and stunning aesthetic,critics are already placing it in the running for the BAFTAs.

1. Mary Poppins Myself and Ms. Poppins share two very significant similarities: we have the same name and are both practically perfect in every way. Although Mary is never seen to cook in the film, I imagine she would be an impeccable chef and would make a delightfully patriotic Victoria Sponge.

2. Ratatouille Food just looks so much tastier when it’s animated! I remember having a similar revelation to Remy the rat when he combines cheese and strawberries for the first time, in a spectacular explosion of fireworks and flavour!

3.Bad Boys II I do like that lovely Will Smith.

Epigram

03.10.2016

Music

@epigrammusic Editor: Sam Mason-Jones

Deputy Editor: Ellen Kemp

Online Editor: Georgia Marsh

music@epigram.org.uk

ellen.kemp.epigram@gmail.com

musiconline@epigram.org.uk

Dub Zero Now in its second year under the new moniker, Tokyo World returns to offer up the coolest cuts of dub, grime and dance.

Epigram’s Music Team recalls what you might have forgotten in Eastville Park.

Those that attended Tokyo World did not shy away from the glitter, and Tokyo World itself did not shy away from the manic get-up. The five different stages featuring the flaming Volkano stage and the Tokyo-esque building Mutiny stage ranging from reggae, grime, techno and vociferous drum and bass music made for an enjoyable day.

Headlining the five stages was Big Narstie, Chip, Wiley and Mike Skinner which were dispersed fittingly throughout the night so that the crowd could catch a glimpse of them all. The apex of the festival was Delta Heavy + Visionbi’s drum and bass set at sundown that satisfied the riveting crowd and the techno synths of Daniel Avery’s set; casting a trance over the audience. Bristol was not let down by the homegrown Tokyo World.

Ellen Kinsey This year’s annual Eastville Park festival was a whirlwind of lights, colour and the finest stage design in all of the South West. Erupting volcanoes, looming skyscrapers and fluffy clouds littered the festival site, making it an impressive visual experience - and let’s not forget the music. Pulse was consistent in churning out the very best of reggae and dancehall all day – the top dog being London’s own General Levy. His inordinately fast-pasted flow was the pinnacle of his hyped set, which included a cover of RiRi’s ‘Work’ and an imitable freestyle over Major Lazer’s ‘Lean On’.

Over on Volkano, the reinvented grime star Chip’s stage time lacked any of the Year Eight bangers like the 2009 chart smash ‘Oopsy Daisy’. Previously, Big Narstie soared and proved to be a festival highlight early on in the day. Stirring excitement from the moment he whipped his shirt off and unearthed his bulbous belly, he accommodated both commercial and underground beats to incite crazy crowds.

Shapes stage, too, peaked very early with Floating Points’ unmistakable brand of sprawling electronica. Squeezing in new-age raver classics like Lee Walker’s ‘Freak Like Me’ to his bouncy and buoyant set, his baselines soared and the crowd was restless. Closing the stage later was Daniel Avery, whose monotonous techno was pretty lazy and showed to be comedown-inducing no matter what state you were in.

The most exciting stage was Mutiny, with DJs like Breakage and Ed Rush creating a D&B haven for a sea of self-made Ikea bag bucket hats. I guess it’s not just funky furniture that you can craft at the Swedish retailer.

Georgia Marsh

After a summer of lapping up the array of house and disco in Manchester, the Mutiny stage was the only choice for immersing myself back into Bristol’s Drum & Base culture. Of course there was the 20 minute struggle of rounding up all the troops that had come with us, but once the seemingly impossible was achieved, a B-Line was made to the impressive structure that was set to boast some of the most exacting acts of the day.

Although it was only 4pm when I arrived, the skanking had already commenced with jump-up fiends raving to heavy beats and an impressive light show that looked more fitting to one of Creamfields’ mega-structures rather than the ever-expanding day fest in the lovely Briz. The Drum & Base was definitely a good start, but as always for me, all acts merged into one and it was impossible to tell one set from the next. Who was playing and what time it was became a complete mystery to me, as those around me boasted about that time they saw Hazard play at Boomtown and how ‘it’s all about the energy’…right…

After a good few hours at the Mutiny stage, we watched the sun go down and the crowd come up. Things started to get weird as the light shows intensified and the music got deeper. On a different vibe, we finally managed to migrate to the Pulse stage to see some of Deep Medi’s top acts laying it down to onlookers. The highlight of the Pulse stage, and perhaps the whole day was Kahn’s closing set. He changed up the vibe from anything else I had seen during the day and renewed everyone’s tired feet and shutting eyes. The crowd was reborn under his guiding hands as he expertly mixed the wobbliest of baselines with soothing lyrics in a way that sounded totally original and innovative. His set managed to lead everyone out of their self-induced wonk and although no one was ready for the day to end, we were at peace with knowing we had seen one of the greatest musicians of our time.

Louisa Kendall By the time I entered the Shapes stage was full in swing, Palms Trax’s set of classic house having paved the way for an exemplary DJ set for flavour of the year Sam Shepherd, AKA Floating Points. Lively and cross generic, FloPo showed the best how it’s done dropping records left and right, yet rarely center field, from disco to techno with everything in between.

And yet the best were yet to come. ‘How ya’ll doing? Imma do a little bartending later on tonight,’ Detroit’s Moodyman proclaims to the mob as he opens – and true to his word he served the sun-washed front row drinks galore, with songs galore to match; nearing his set’s conclusion he let fire the song that’s been creeping its way into our ears for just over a year now, Liem’s ‘If Only’ – and Moody made our world a better place. Livity Sound propelled us into the realms of tech, glitchy off-kilter aspects running above ferocious tribal drums, Hodge, Kowton and Peverelist working up a frenzy.

Returning to Detroit, though firmly sticking to tech, Carl Craig made a demonstration of soulful, jazzy techno, as only he can. Daniel Avery brought the stage to a close in an intellectually stimulating blend of sounds that was thoroughly danceable and, like the stage itself, a thorough delight.

Louis Harnett O’ Meara

epigram / Sarah Roller

Epigram 03.10.2016

41

Skeptacism: Mercury in Retrograde Georgia Marsh examines the tremendous social barriers still facing the seemingly unstoppable grime force Skepta.

flickr / Marcus Blaque

With his usual wild-eyed demeanour, Jarvis Cocker announced the winner of the 2016 Mercury Prize in a seemingly agreeable manner: ‘if David Bowie was looking down on the Hammersmith Apollo tonight… he would want the 2016 Hyundai Mercury Prize to go to...Skepta!’ In the immediate seconds following, if you were listening closely enough among the fury of cheers, you could hear the sound of old white men everywhere clenching their fists.

‘It should’ve gone to Bowie – disrespecting a legend’s legacy!’ they shouted the rooftops.

‘Don’t put words in a dead man’s mouth!’ their hands a blurred as they quickly launched a Twitter tirade against Skepta and the Mercury Prize committee.

Twitter user Andy asks will ‘anyone be listening to/referencing [Skepta’s Mercury Prize-winning album Konnichiwa] in 20 years? 10 years? Next year?’ In fact, Andy, I very much think they will.

Skepta’s music, as with grime in general, is quintessentially of and for the modern age: it captures the rich dub sounds that once rumbled through fabric and provides a compelling snapshot into the vibrant politics of urban youth. It’s creating a very mainstream dialogue for previously marginalised voices; something that no other genre – especially the incredibly diverse white-man-with-guitar rock that usually litters award shows – is doing.

However, while grime’s uncomfortable politicised stance is certainly playing a role in its inability to win over the more conservative music fan, it’s easily admitted that grime isn’t easy listening. The dulcet sounds of Big Narstie are unlikely to sing you to sleep after a nice full-bodied glass of red wine.

(Well they can, but multiple glasses may be involved...) Because grime is bombastic and obnoxious, it’s easily mistaken for noise – and perhaps not the kind of noise that appeals to the kind of people who care about the Mercury Awards (e.g. a small pool of Guardian readers, BBC 6 Music listeners, people that collect vinyl for its ‘superior sound quality’, etc.). In short, Skepta doesn’t always appeal to

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the middle aged middle class, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t or it can’t.

Speaking to Newsnight in a particularly problematic episode, Skepta told the BBC that ‘older people need to stop separating themselves from young minds’. Young people’s tastes and views are often patronised by older generations; we’re a bunch of blindly liberal privileged kids who lack any sort of taste in anything. We like noisy music and we voted to remain: we’re absolutely deluded.

A lot of the reception towards Skepta seems to be caused by knee jerk reactions to a black man in a baseball cap achieving success on a very public platform.

Thus, a lot of the reception towards Skepta seems to be caused by knee jerk reactions to a black man in a baseball cap achieving success on a very public platform. He’s an example of underground culture becoming overground – the kind of culture that Fabric was seeking to keep alive, which Newsnight presenters smirk at because it’s not homogeneously high-brow, that Twitter trolls scorn at because it’s unashamedly young and black.

For God’s sake, a black man can’t even win a prestigious music award in this day and age without his mother being asked ‘did you ever worry about him being in this scene? Did you ever hope he’d have some other kind of job?’ by so-called ‘respectable’ journalists. I dare you to call up Matt Healy of The 1975’s mother and ask her the same question. While Skepta plans to donate the Mercury Prize fund back to the Tottenham community who made him who he is today, Matt Healy has claimed that he would’ve spent the money on ‘endless, endless drugs’. Excuse me one moment, I have to go wash my hands; they’re covered in blood because I cut myself on Matt Healy’s edginess.

Grime is very aware that it lacks a place in mainstream public consciousness (see the spoken monologue in Skepta’s ‘Shutdown’ as prime example of this awareness). But where can it have a place if it’s shunned by the Brit Awards and told it doesn’t belong at the Mercury Prize despite being the most significant kind of music being produced by this country right now? This does nothing but highlight the diversity problems that constantly plague the entertainment industry and the blatant racism and classism that many musicians face.

Perhaps it’s none of this, and people are simply genuinely outraged by Bowie’s loss, but let’s put this into perspective. Blackstar is an incredible record and David Bowie will always be a legend, but this is not criteria for winning. Blackstar is an ending, a farewell, whereas Konnichiwa is forwardthinking and grime is the future – it’s the next big UK export and its innovators are destined for superstardom. The Mercury Prize – though largely insignificant – is essentially a very middle class, middle English award that has been presented to an artist like Skepta, and we cannot overlook the significance of him being rewarded by a platform like this. Maybe, finally, the industry is recognising grime.

I’m not telling you to like grime, because by any means you don’t have to and no one wants you to pretend to. I’m just calling for a bit more respect for the movement that’s pioneering the UK music scene. After all, it was Bowie who always understood that ‘the only people in the music business who were being truly creative were the rappers’. And maybe we are putting words in his mouth, but I for one do believe he would’ve had no scepticism about grime.

Georgia Marsh

Autumn Essentials Bon Iver 22, A Million

Justin Vernon’s star has been in the ascendant ever since the door swung shut on his cabin in north Wisconsin. Since the resultant release of For Emma, Forever Ago in 2007, the widespread reverence for this, and its eponymous successor, led his brittle falsetto into the bedrooms of millions, up the pop charts and into the recording studio of new friend Kanye West. This influence is readily glimpsed at the surface of Bon Iver’s new LP, 22, A Million: the record’s willingness to sample, for instance the inclusion of a Paolo Nutini vocal on ’33 “God”’, and its new-found maximalist production feel inherently West-influenced, adding welcome layers and texture to the sound which remains so refreshingly idiosyncratic. For third track ‘715 - CRKS’, he goes full 808s and Heartbreak, even adopting Kanye’s signature auto-tune. A couple of centimeters below the surface, however, lies evidence of the brutal effect that the last decade has had upon the singer’s psyche. Strip the lyrics of opening track and lead single away from its major progression, and apply them to the context of their inception, in a period where music had stopped giving back, and they become the whispers of a potential suicide: ‘It might be over soon.’ Having stepped back from the edge, the rest of 22, A Million is the sound of Vernon finding meaning in the life which had once appeared so empty. The space between the disparate memories conjured in the songs and the numbers and symbols with which they are represented allow for the germination of a special collection of moments, infinitely personal to their creator. Vernon, however, allows his audience to invest in these moments as they see fit, leaving them open to external interpretation. To be able to share in them is a privilege and so, so rewarding.

Sam Mason-Jones

Mannika Mishra

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree

The first track of Skeleton Tree, ‘Jesus Alone’, is like a desolate wind whistling through a winter grove of trees, the grass frozen and dead and nothing stirring. And then Nick Cave. His voice swells, at the same time a command and a plea, and emotion pools into an oasis of respite from this bleak and uncaring world. There is a terrible aura of trying to make sense of things which accompanies this entire album: Cave’s son died while it was being recorded, and to listen to it is a shattering experience. With these songs he has cut his heart out and slammed it on the table in front of its audience. Cave has always written vivid, painful songs – they have a sparse beauty like some aural version of a Georgia O’Keefe painting. Skeleton Tree, however, is different. It is somehow unfair that so great a personal loss only comes to eight tracks on a plastic CD, because the anguish inside transcends everything. This album will take your skin off. There is such grief in his voice, cracking and faltering, as he talks about remembrance and resurrection that you have to stop the music and breathe. ‘Girl in Amber’ and ‘I Need You’ in particular are like screaming in unfathomable pain, unable to stop singing because that’s the only way forward. Despite the devastation, Nick Cave shines like a beacon. It is his voice, guiding us and comforting us, undeniably there and choosing to share his loss and transform it into great, jagged beauty. But sometimes it falls away and there is a feeling of something like an animal, grey fur edged with frost, curled up in a hole in the snow, trembling, its ears lying slick against its head and a glassy film covering its eyes. If you do decide to listen to Skeleton Tree, don’t listen to it in one go, take your time with it and cry with it.

Epigram

03.10.2016

Arts

Editor: Ed Grimble Deputy Editors: Myla Lloyd & Online Editor: Helena Raymond-Hayling Georgia O’Brien deputyarts@epigram.org.uk artsonline@epigram.org.uk arts@epigram.org.uk @EpigramArts

Is art criticism still relevant in the age of Twitter?

Helena Raymond-Hayling and Myla Lloyd debate the issue of art criticism’s place in a world where everyone has an opinion.

In an age where anyone can voice their opinion and engage in discussion online, the role of the critic is easily dismissed. The fact that the profession has a reputation for being pretentious and elitist too does it no favours.

It is true that the Twittersphere gives a voice to people who may have less opportunity to express their views due to their age, nationality, race or other situational disadvantages. This kind of social media based discussion in the art world is healthy and helps to construct a new kind of artistic critical sphere, but where does this leave the critic?

YES

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If criticism becomes obsolete, one of the main tools remaining that measures the worth of art is its financial value, which has the potential to be very damaging. As writer and cultural critic David Levi Strauss has expressed, ‘among other things, criticism involves making finer and finer distinctions among like things. If criticism is devalued, artists and curators have no other choice in the current crisis of relative values but to heed the market’s siren song.’ The work of the critic is essential in the fight to build the immune system of artistic disciplines to capitalism and modern consumerism.

Georgia O’Keefe has been described as a pioneering female artist who claimed her ‘full sexual citizenship’ by subverting contemporary ideas about gender and sexuality. The sexual

themes in her work were discussed in a critique by Marsden Hartley in 1921, ‘the pictures of O’Keeffe… are probably as living and shameless private documents as exist’. Published criticism provides a dynamic social commentary and can be used to map changing opinions and core values in contemporary culture and academia.

Why does the art world today need criticism? To save art from itself by providing a form of reflection and academic discourse and preserve it from the ills that come with our new technological world, and to reap its rewards.

The work of the critic is essential in the fight to build the immune system of artistic disciplines to capitalism and modern consumerism.

People tend to gravitate towards those who share similar interests to them, and professional art critics are no exception.

To assume that the professional critic’s opinion will resonate with anyone other than his peers is misguided. The increase in female art critics such as Nancy Durant (The Times) and Alice Jones (The Independent) is cause for celebration. Yet sadly the same cannot be said for cultural or economic diversity. The well-spoken white male still dominates, while countless audiences continue to go unrepresented by professional critics in the mainstream media.

provide audiences with a wide range of critical opinions on the arts. This far more democratic way of sharing opinions gives people the agency to make their own views heard and to read about the things that interest them as opposed to an editor.

At a time when print media is struggling to stay afloat, it makes little economic sense to pay the salary of an in-house

“

NO

Gaining access to other peoples’ opinions is now easier than ever before. The internet has enabled anyone to instantly share their views with hundreds, if not thousands, of strangers. Whether you approve of this barrage of chit-chat or not, it is hard to deny the risk it poses to the livelihoods of professional art critics.

critic when others are willing to do the same work for free.

A social media trend or viral video arguably provides far greater publicity than a newspaper column. Publicity, after all, is at the essence of professional criticism. Not to mention the scope of topics an internet community can cover in

We are not only entitled to our own opinions but encouraged to share them with the world

comparison to a lone critic. Crowd-sourced reviews, such as TripAdvisor and IMDB are the new normal, harnessing the wisdom of the masses to rate and rank cultural phenomena.

Flickr / Matthies CatÓn

Each viewer has a unique reaction when engaging with the arts. Whether watching a play or visiting a gallery, our experiences are highly personal and subjective. To hang off the words of a few household names is to deny the power of art to elicit diverse reactions from different viewers. To perpetuate a cultural elitism that values one person’s opinion above others is highly undemocratic and unhelpful.

The internet has provided a perfect antidote to the critical consensus that dominates the professional world of criticism.

Amateur bloggers, prolific tweeters and online reviewers all

In this age of cultural populism, we are not only entitled to our own opinions but encouraged to share them with the world. That doesn’t mean to say you should follow the word of a keyboard warrior any more than you should the Guardian’s art critic Jonathan Jones. Most people will have come across a film with a five-star rating that they could not bear to finish watching or a rave-reviewed exhibition that they thought was laughably bad. Each of us is our own critic with a unique and personal reactions to the arts, something I hope we can continue to celebrate.

Myla Lloyd

WHAT

Dmitri Shostakovich

WHO

Composer 1906-1975 Flickr/ Em

A soviet composer and pianist, Shostakovich was born in 1906. He studied at the Petrograd Conservatoire under Alexander Glazunov, a predominant composer of the late Russian Romantic period.

In 1936 Stalin attended the premier of Shostakovich’s opera ‘Lady Macbeth of Mtensk’ and criticised its lack of nationalistic value. Consequently, the Russian newspaper Pravda slated both Shostakovich and his music. A year later he wrote his Fifth Symphony, arguably his most popular work. He was an opponent of the Stalinist regime, as inferred from his Tenth Symphony ‘Leningrad’, which premiered in 1953, the year Stalin died.

Flickr / Ms Tory Jones

The role of the critic is distinct from this kind of online dialogue. These approaches responding to art, form a symbiotic relationship to adapt to the artistic landscape millennials find themselves in. The art world is becoming more accessible to aspiring artists meaning that a huge range of art is constantly being produced, and it is all so accessible because of the internet. In addition, many artists use social media as their primary way to gain a following. Achievement in the creative world can almost be more of a test of one’s social media skills and ‘rebloggability’ over the depth and quality of their work. Art criticism can provide a means to either bypass or scrutinize artwork that finds itself going viral, and bring to light lesser known or less ‘clickbaitist’ artists.

Shostakovich’s music can only be described as heavy. Combining neuroticism and gritty realism, Shostakovich’s work is regarded as notoriously tricky to execute. Not only does it require technical skill, but also emotional sensitivity and passion. His music is distinctly Russian, often portraying turmoil and unrest; for example, the third movement of his Fifth Symphony demonstrates the suffering experienced by victims of the Stalinist regime.

Epigram

03.10.2016

43

What does the Brexit vote mean for the arts?

Maria Leonard ponders the fate of the British and European arts sectors in the wake of the Brexit vote.

The recourse to English canonical poetry at a time of post-Brexit national self-reflection becomes pertinent when tackling the implication of the vote for the arts sector. An island in itself, the art world and its creative industries is portioned off into top-down structural levels. This ranges from funding and institutions down to the charity and voluntary sectors, and finally through to the actual stuff of creativity. The cultural capital of the arts can seem closed off and exclusive.

Yet, as Kate Brindley (CEO of Arnolfini) wrote for the ‘How Global?’ art conference, the arts

The geography of the arts sector, as both its own exclusive world and a space for cohesion and exchange, goes hand-in-hand with Donne’s overused extended metaphor monopolised by Brexit vote poetry-quoters.

The arts cement an acute and mawkish pride in what the former Culture Secretary and Brexiteer John Whittingdale described as the UK’s ‘amazing cultural heritage’, alluding to the English language itself as a kind of export. The top-down model under which the arts sector thrives fuels the exportation of the UK’s proud cultural heritage and globalised language. It is an asset to growth and GDP; from 2014-2015, Creative Europe cited the creative industries as generating nearly £10 million an hour in the UK. It is the reason why museums are free and art galleries some of the best places to go when it’s raining. Perhaps it is even why English departments in universities precariously still exist.

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) recently downplayed its negative prediction for the UK’s economy immediately after Brexit.

However to continue and sustain our amazing cultural heritage via extended metaphors, if both the UK and the Art World are not islands unto themselves, perhaps the impact of the vote on the arts crosses the all-important monetary and fiscal boundary.

The implications for visas, passports, and collaboration through film festivals, biennials and partnerships, for the arts and their

Alex Miles

“

Perhaps by taking itself out of the EU the UK will allow non-central EU member states to create stronger cultural partnerships

play a role in ‘building social cohesion and integration’. Where art galleries become ‘a space and place’ for cultural exchange and dialogue.

‘Not #InForThis?’, anti-Brexit street art on Stokes Croft physical institutions as spaces and places for creativity redresses the question of Brexit’s impact on the arts to the impact of the arts on the UK. Creative Europe– the European Commission’s programme to invest in the arts in EU member states– over the course of six years pledged a billion Euros towards creative industries, while over six years UK government cuts to the arts have reached 56 million pounds.

While the UK may have chosen to reduce its political and investment reach, will a confidence in its ‘home-grown’ art and talent,

“

It’s unusual for politicians on Newsnight to start quoting 17th century metaphysical poets, but when they do it can only signal an impending referendum on whether the United Kingdom should leave or remain in the European Union. In 1624 John Donne wrote that, ‘No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main’. However it has been three months since the UK, in a huge surge of democratic sentiment and factual uncertainty, found itself voting to leave the EU framework. Yet quoting 17th century metaphysical poets still continues without awareness of context; waving excerpts of Donne’s Meditation XVII on placards outside Parliament and using it to segue into underwhelming performances on The Today Programme.

whether metaphysical and still making itself heard from the annals of the 17th century or not, persist? Perhaps by taking itself out of the EU the UK will allow non-central EU member states to create stronger cultural partnerships. Baltic countries such as Lithuania and Latvia have burgeoning arts sectors, frequently reaching out to Russia to collaborate, as Polish cities are ordained centres for literature and culture; whilst we still have John Donne, placards, and conservative aestheticism to inscribe and reinscribe our relevancy within the arts.

Maria Leonard

‘Reading ‘Ulysses’ was like a thump on the head’ Alongside the publication of The Lesser Bohemians, Eimear McBride talks novels, publishing, and what makes her tick as a writer. Ed Grimble This month has seen the publication of Eimear McBride’s hotly anticipated second novel, The Lesser Bohemians. McBride rose to renown, almost instantly, three years ago with the release of her debut novel A Girl is a Half-formed Thing. Despite its arduous publication process– the book was subject to a remorseless string of rejections before finally being accepted by Galley Beggar Press– it found an immediate market and has sinced scooped numerous literary prizes.

The reading public’s demand has, therefore, been growing steadily since A Girl hit the nation’s shelves.

Flickr/ Em

The life of the book-touring novelist

McBride, perched in front of a group of two dozen or so eager fans, comes across as an extremely humble writer. Not only is she candid in discussing the near disaster that her first novel’s publication was, but also tells inbetween laughs her husband’s reaction to the first draft of what would go on to become The Lesser Bohemians. ‘He [McBride’s husband] reads all my work, and he read this and said it was total shit.’

McBride does not give her readers any helping hands in negotiating her novels

and concedes that of course one could read them through this or that lens. However as far as she is concerned her only aim was to write her characters well.

Reading any of McBride’s prose, one is immediately struck by its diffiuclty. Echoing Wallace Stevens and James Joyce, among

WHEN

WHERE

Flickr/ iClassical Com

Catastrophes of Stalinism included the Great Terror and the famine of 1930-1933, which killed over five million people. Shostakovich pushed the limits of iconoclasm with his compositions.

Indeed, his Fifth Symphony (1953) is known for the Imperial March in its last movement, thought to be a sarcastic wave to the regime.

However, Shostakovich also celebrates his home’s rich history, as he incorporated traditional Russian dances and polkas into his eclectic repertoire.

This is just one of several occasions where McBride’s authenticity as a writer is revealed.

Literary notoriety is completely by the by, and the same is true of imbuing her novels with any kind of political or sociological agenda. In response to being asked if either A Girl or The Lesser Bohemians had an overtly feminist objective, McBride simply shrugs

20th century Russia was subject to incessant political instability under a gruelling Communist regime. The Bolsheviks led the country through a violent period of rapid industrialisation as Lenin led the creation of the Soviet Union. Millions of citizens were killed in Gulag labour camps and opponents of the Bolsheviks either disappeared or faced show trials. Artists, such as Shostakovich were unable to voice their political opinions, and had to be careful to censor their work.

others, McBride does not give her readers any helping hands in negotiating her novels; they require focus, and effort. Indeed, the idea of ‘reclaiming literary modernism’ is never far from any conversation about Eimear McBride. ‘Reading Ulysses was like a thump on the side of head’, she says.

Discovering the great Irish novelist relatively late in her 20s, Joyce’s influence on her work is clear. ‘One great part of every human existence is passed in a state which cannot be rendered sensible by the use of wideawake language, cut-and-dry grammar and goahead plot’. This is the throbbing heartbeat of both of McBride’s novels: the efforts to find a language that could give life to her protagonists. Less ‘stream of consciousness’, and more ‘stream of existence’. I would urge anyone to go and hear McBride speak–, or failing that to really give her novels the time they deserve.

Ed Grimble

WHY

Shostakovich is truly a pivotal composer.

His work utilises private musical codes and ciphers including his personal signature, DSCH, an ominous DEbCB used incessantly in his Tenth Symphony and Eight Quartet.

Ensnared in a world of Stalinist censorship, he managed to portray Soviet oppression while gaining popularity amongst Stalin and his followers, only to become, in my opinion, Russia’s finest post-Revolution composer.

Helena Napier

Epigram

03.10.2016

44

Interview with novelist and Bristol alumnus David Nicholls

Visiting the university as part of Encounters Film Festival, Ella Kemp sits down with award-winning novelist and screenwriter David Nicholls

Everyone has always told me how nice David Nicholls is.

Author, screenwriter, actor and a Bristol University English and Drama graduate. He is best known for writing One Day, the one novel that you recommend to everyone, and Starter for Ten, which became the film that made you want to come to Bristol in the first place.

history, the author teaches me that actually what goes around does indeed come around. ‘When I was at university in 1985, political opinions were really widely split. There was a huge divide between left and right, but in the 90s it all got a bit homogenised. I’m reminded again of the 90s now, as it feels as if opinions are very polarised and people are very passionate. There’s a lot of discussion about politics which

After receiving an honorary degree in July and taking time to speak to students and graduates, he returned to Bristol last week as part of Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival to give a talk at the university. As ever, he is beaming and attentive as he addresses a full audience eager to hear what he has to say.

from 20 to 40 and what changes in that time, and I wrote that when I was 40. The fourth book Us is about parenthood and being a father and being in a long term relationship which is also my current situation.’

Thankfully, Nicholls reassures me that his own life does not have as many comical plot twists. ‘My life is always much more

When meeting me a few minutes before going on stage, he is polite and considerate, his knowledge and passion for film and literature is easily perceptible. On his love affair with Bristol, Nicholls remembers his time as a student here: ‘I lived here for a little over four years, and I always think of it as a sort of hinge in my life. It was a huge event for me, coming to university here. It was a very happy time where I felt for the first time that I was doing exactly what I wanted to do.’

“

As he walks through his own university again for only a short period of time, Nicholls admits the tangible aura of protest in the air He studied Drama and English and, like many of us, gratefully seized every opportunity presented to him. A keen member of Bristol Dramsoc and sketch comedy troupe Bristol Revunions, it is fair to say that Nicholls left his mark on the university.

‘There’s always an element of sadness because of the friends you miss, the stupid things you did and the terrible decisions you made’, he admits, ‘but it was generally a very happy and rich time in my life. It really means a lot to me.’

This awareness of the heterogenous nature of his university years is an emblematic feature of his experience of life, and it feeds into his work. In his novels, stories of love and friendship are told; happiness and heartbreak are intertwined. This is what makes his writing so attractive, the sense of relating to how each reader is connected to the characters, and will inevitably feel at some point in their student life.

Rosie Atkinson-Wood

“

Discussing his own university experience, Nicholls compares it to one of his own favourite films, Rushmore. In one of Wes Anderson’s first features, Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) navigates his way through high school, falling in love and making his way to the top– one extra-curricular society at a time. ‘Even though it’s about people a little bit younger,

Nicholls, before his evening ‘in conversation’ with Simon Perry has got to be a good thing, I think.’

As the university students of 1985 grew up, so did the characters in David Nicholls’ books, who seem to go through life extremely close to their author. Having written four books and a dozen screenplays, he admits that he is reaching a moment in his career where many authors write a very similar sort of book. ‘I don’t want my next novel to Flickr/ b.

One Day was first published in June 2009 it seems to sum up the kind of gaucheness, optimism and romance of that time. It’s a really smart, funny, beautiful and touching film’, says Nicholls.

On the topic of Max– and also relevant to Nicholls’ own literary creations– we discuss the importance of political activism as a student. As he walks through his own university again for only a short period of time, Nicholls admits the tangible aura of protest in the air. In a time of such political change, he acknowledges the vital part that students play in such a discussion. ‘Older people like to think they were more radical, more angry, more involved and more committed than anyone has ever been– older or younger. Clearly that’s not the case and it’s a really complicated and difficult political time at the moment.’

Although we may think that this is a unique period in political

‘I’d tell my younger self to take a deep breath and calm down a little bit. And my younger self would ignore me– which is fine’

be about a novelist having a mid-life crisis’, he confesses. ‘I really want to avoid that because it’s what a lot of novelists end up writing - a novel about bourgeois, middle aged novelists having some kind of breakdown.’ Although the likes of High Fidelity by Nick Hornby and Steve Tesich’s Karoo are excellent in equal measure, I cannot help but agree with Nicholls that the theme of ‘middle-aged man despair’ is feeling somewhat worn out.

The reason that so many readers become attached to Emma, Dexter, Brian or even Douglas in Nicholls’ books is because they are written from a place of truth. ‘My first book was about being a student which was a huge event for me, my second book was about being a failed actor and I was a failed actor in my 20s. The third book One Day was about getting

content and not quite as outrageous and dramatic and comical as the novels, I’m pleased to say. They’re autobiographical in the sense that the spur, the catalyst always comes from reality, but I’ve never really had an argument and written it down– that’s where the imagination comes in.’

In terms of what to expect from his next book, the future is still unclear. ‘I feel like I’ve run out of major crises that I can fictionalise and make into major events! The next book will be slightly more outside of my experience.’ At least we can rest easy in the knowledge that the sequel of High Fidelity isn’t on the cards just yet.

Before we parted ways I asked Nicholls, for you, if he had any advice to impart on all of us who are standing where he was 35 years ago. We have all decided that we have made the best decisions, worst mistakes, and had the most fun than anyone who has come before while studying at Bristol. As a fond onlooker of our current lives, Nicholls remembers his own.

‘I wanted to meet everyone, tell all my best jokes, make the best friends in the first week and I was really passionate and intense, trying a bit too hard. It was a bit of a performance’, he admits.

‘I’d tell my younger self to take a deep breath and calm down a little bit. And my younger self would ignore me– which is fine.’

It was on that humble, endearing, and surprisingly sagacious note that we said goodbye. I thank him and he tells me that it was a pleasure. A final note which is pretty emblematic of our conversation and of the way he is to the world. Honest, attentive and understanding of human emotions.

Ella Kemp

Epigram

Puzzles

@epigrampuzzles

Editor: Suzie Brown sbrown.epigram@gmail.com

Quick Crossword 1

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ACROSS 1. Unprocessed (3) 3. Marine crustacean (8) 7. Enunciate (9) 8. One-man performance (4) 9. Irritate (7) 11. Name (8) 14. Contentedness (12) 15. Heavenly messenger (5) 16. Female sheep (3) 17. Danger (4)

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Decode the clues to work out what things the numbers represent. E.g.

7 D in a W = 7 days in a week

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1. Summit, Date, Fold 2. Crawl, Slash, Light 3. Mark, Case, Shop

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PROVE REAL ATE HER PING TO RAIN RANT TACK GO

3 M to S B an E 12 J C in a P 48 C in E 140 C is the M L of a T 8 P in the S S

How many words can you find including the middle letter, with at least four letters per word?

14 = Average 17 = Good 20 = Excellent

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Fancy contributing to the puzzle page? Get in touch via email or tweet @epigrampuzzles

Find the two letters that can suffix the word on the left or prefix the word on the right, in each case giving a real word.

E.g. HE-AR-MY

Numerator

Codeword 21

Word Links

DOWN 1. Relaxation (6) 2. Winter headwear (6,3) 3. Puff (4) 4. Agrees new terms (12) 5. Attentive (5) 6. Making things hover (10) 10. Projectile (7) 12. Madman (6) 13. Normal (5)

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03.10.2016

CRAMP

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SEAL ACROSS 1. Home after being held in luxurious flat (9) SELL 6. F off origami, you’re ancient! (3) 9. Call after saint - how long is it? (6) 10. Circle assortment of fruit, maybe (6) 11. Transfer aid yet reverse around bun (7)

12. Dismiss short rebuff (5) 15. White stuff negative in two directions (4) 16. Umbilical seamen? (5) 19. Stop post without stamp’s head (3) 20. A couple of pints for group of four, and French left out (5)

21. Not a bandit, just your wife’s relative (2-3) 23. At quiet time, doesn’t reach top of mountain (3,4) 26. Drop in price of French number (7) 27. Roll it or be killed (3) 28. South wind initially leaves everbody rich, especially con-man (8) 29. Give evidence in messy state before tea (6) DOWN 2. Come in and trace around men to amuse guests (13) 3. Attempt to determine guilt (5) 4. Headless dog earnestly seeks heads at sex parties (6) 5. Head south with pull-along pack (4) 7. Reasoning with piece of wood in intensive care (5) 8. Instrument in Cuban jokes (5) 12. Catch other half rebounding without regret (6) 13. Sheepishly said to be illegal turn in the West (3) 14. Now swap alcoholism for diabetes in hot drink (5) 17. Spread tea name playfully (7) 18. Don’t stay out late - some are after endless curry (6) 22. Bucket from dad starts interupting leak (4) 23. Get out and fight with lances, no joke! (4) 24. Boy creates turbulence (4) 25. Backwards vegetable stabilises boat (4)

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03.10.2016

The Rise of Rugby League in Bristol Jonathan Harding Sport Editor We caught up with UBRLFC captain Rob Angel to discuss the growing popularity of Rugby League and his plans for the upcoming season.

Today, Rugby League has begun to spread not only across the UK, but across the world.

Now played in over 70 nations, with well over 285,000 players registered in the UK alone, Rugby League is no longer an exclusively Northern sport: it is a global one.

The Bristol University Rugby League Club has harnessed this growing popularity, successfully attracting a number of top players to the fold. Its 1st team currently competes in one of the highest levels of university sport, having finished third in the Western 1A BUCS league

RA: I have played Rugby Union my whole life, and still play Union when I am home in London. In my first year of University I was injured and was unable to do contact sport until January, by which point the Union season had all but finished. I wanted to try something new at university and a friend I played rugby with at school asked me to come along and try League. I went to training with him, got picked for the first team and haven’t looked back since.

Epigram: Rob Angel

Since then, its popularity has been primarily localised to the Northern counties, whose teams, such as Leeds Rhinos and St Helens, have dominated the Super League in England. The Rhinos have won the Super League an impressive six times in the last 10 years. Indeed, former Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield was runnerup to Andy Murray in last year’s BBC Sports Personality, evidencing the expanding populartity of the sport on a national level.

So Rob, what drew you to Rugby League as opposed to Union?

Flickr: Alasdair Massle

Rugby League is currently one of the fastest growing sports in Southern England and Bristol University is no exception to the trend. The game itself originated in Huddersfield, as the Northern Rugby Football Union, broke away from England’s established Rugby Football Union after a disagreement over the payment of players, establishing its very own competition in 1895.

last season. This year, they are supported by several development teams. Frequent fixtures every week, along with rolling substitutions, means players tend to get healthy amounts of game time as well as plenty of opportunities to represent the university.

What have you enjoyed most during your time at the club so far?

RA: I’ve enjoyed my time off the pitch with the players as much as I’ve enjoyed my time on the pitch. I was surprised at just how friendly the players were. In the first training session I went to every player made an effort to make me feel welcome and learn my name.

“ I went to training with him, got picked for the first team and haven’t looked back since

What has been the highlight of your playing career?

RA: The highlight of my playing career has to be the last ever game I played in for my old school, Watford Grammar. I scored a hattrick in my last game for the side. I still

have the match ball in my garden!

Varsity is the high point of many people’s time at the university: were you involved last year?

RA: Last year our varsity was cancelled due to problems from UWE’s side of things. This year, after an absence in the League last year, UWE are back in our League.

Our fixture this year is scheduled for Wednesday 16th November at home, so keep the date free!

What are your personal aims for the season, or is the focus purely on the success of the team?

RA: My personal aims is to try and play as many games for the club as possible. I’m not too fussed about scoring any tries myself

as long as someone wearing the same shirt as me is scoring themthat’s the important thing!

How do you think the club has helped you to develop as a player?

RA: Since joining the club I feel I’ve definitely improved as a player. Training several times a week with experienced coaches has brought my game on leaps and bounds. This year we are also introducing weekly gym sessions so that everybody can work out as a team, which will certainly help player development.

What are your aims for the club this season? What do you hope to achieve?

RA: This season I, along with the rest of the committee, want to make everything better, bigger

and more fun than it was last year. Towards this end, we have introduced an extra development team into the squad. We are also looking to enhance training, and I recently applied for a grant from the Student Union for new tackle shields, as well as ordering new ties for our socials! This, along with other plans, means players will get an all-round amazing experience being part of the Rugby League Club for the next year and beyond.

Finally, how have you coped with the added pressures of running the club so far?

RA: Thankfully this year we have a really strong committee, so the workload is spread evenly.

We are also lucky enough to have a very committed bunch of players who are always happy to help out if they are ever needed.

Squash causing a racket Jack Francklin Deputy Sport Editor

Facebook: UOB Squash

Epigram: Stefan Rollnick

The University of Bristol squash club is a force to be reckoned with after the successes of last year.

The men’s first and second teams were both promoted from Western 2A in BUCS and are now in the top regional league, competing with the likes of Exeter and Bath University respectively.

Further success was seen in the Western Conference Cup where the men’s 1st team came runners up to Plymouth in a tight final.

The women’s 1st team is ranked third nationally as they finished second to Birmingham University in their particular league, while they won the Premier play-off against Northumbria in a close match which ended 3-2.

The club’s performances have warranted a status as a performance sport and the increased funding has enabled them to set up a new website.

Club President Olivia Huxtable told

Epigram, ‘The University squash club is growing at such a fast pace and keeps performing amazingly well.

This year we’re pushing a big re-brand to try and attract big name sponsors.

We launched a new website and are constantly updating all of our social media channels to drum up support. We think a fresh, updated image for the club is perfect to represent our new make-up’.

This year Ben Turner takes over from Max Irwin as club captain, as he looks to ensure squash remains Bristol University’s 5th highest points earner for BUCS. Training and home matches take place at the impressive Bristol Grammar School courts off University Road and the club are welcoming players with all experience to join up.

Huxtable further noted that ‘for anyone looking to pick up a new sport, squash is an amazing workout and place to meet students.

Check out our website for more info on how to join us on court’. www.uobsquash.com

Epigram

A big year for university football Lewis Tanner Sport Reporter

“

We’ve just finished a really good pre-season and we’ve got a really tight-knit group

Key in achieving this will surely be improving their away record.

Formidable home form, which saw them remain unbeaten all season at Coombe Dingle, was blighted by a tally of five points from a possible 15 on the road.

As for the Men’s 2nds, they too weren’t far off promotion, finishing third in Western 3A. They

47 BUCS Wednesday Wednesday 5th October Men’s Rugby Union: USW 1st v Bristol 1st Men’s Lacrosse: Cardiff 1st v Bristol 1st Wednesday 12th October Men’s Football: Marjon 1st v Bristol 1st Men’s Hockey: Reading 1st v Bristol 1st Men’s Rugby League: Bristol 1st v Cardiff Met 2nd Women’s Netball:

Epigram: Malik Ouzia

The upcoming BUCS football season gets underway on 12th October, and with no less than seven teams participating, it’s sure to be an enthralling one for both the men and women’s teams.

UBAFC club captain Malik Ouzia has issued a rallying cry, declaring that he and his players are ‘raring to go’ ahead of the upcoming BUCS fixtures. Despite a successful season last time around – no team finished below third in their respective leagues – Ouzia has urged the club to hit the ground running.

‘We’ve just finished a really good preseason and we’ve got a really tight-knit group at the moment. Having said all that, we’re not getting carried away. Last year we were too slow out of the blocks and ultimately that’s what cost us, so we have to be ready from day one’.

It was heartbreak last season for the Men’s first team, who were denied promotion and the Western 2A league league title on the final day of the campaign following an away defeat to Exeter. They kick off their promotion hunt with a difficult away trip to Plymouth Marjon, whose top side were relegated from the Western 1A division last season. Following their narrow miss last season, Ouzia candidly remarked that: ‘Our first team know that anything other than the title won’t be good enough’.

03.10.2016

face another tough start to their campaign with a visit to Plymouth 1st XI, who were relegated last season.

Western 3A promises to be a hugely unpredictable affair, with 5 of the 6 teams in the league in with a real chance of finishing top of the pile.

If they are to succeed, it’s certain that they will need a good run at some point during the season. It will be crucial for them to improve their consistency – they only managed back-to-back victories once last season.

The UBAFC third team achieved a similar finish last season in Western 4A. Sam Rattigan, Joe Paisley and Ollie Smiles will all be looking to build on their impressive debut seasons last year. They play newly-relegated Plymouth 2nds away in their first game of the season.

After a fantastic start to the campaign for the Men’s 4th XI, only a dip in form that saw them collect two points from

their final three games prevented them from winning Western 5B. They ended the season in third, and face a trip to USW– who finished second – in an opening game between two title contenders.

The fifth team were desperately unfortunate not to gain promotion from Western 7A. Indeed, it was only a draw in their last game against champions Southampton Solent 2nds that stopped them from doing so. They host the Royal Agricultural University in their first game of the new season.

The Women’s first team will be hoping it will be third time lucky in their efforts to secure promotion back to the Premier South. They were unbeaten last season in Western 1A until two defeats in their last three games ended their title hopes.

Their team were top scorers in the league last season with 31 goals; they

undoubtedly have the firepower to win the league. At the back, however, they will have to improve on last season’s three clean sheets if they are to do so.

If their second team begin this season anything like they did last time round, then their first opponents, USW, will be in for a gruelling ninety minutes. You would be forgiven for mistaking their astonishing 13-0 opening day drubbing of arch-rivals UWE for a rugby score-line.

Undeniably, the main thing obstructing a Western 3A title triumph last season was a leaky defence, with 25 goals conceded in 8 games last term.

The football club will be hoping to emulate Manchester City’s start to the season rather than Manchester United’s. While the club cannot boast a Sergio Aguero or ‘the special one’ there can be no denying the talent within the club. The question is - do they have the temperament to match?

Gloucestershire 1st v Bristol 1st Women’s Football: Cardiff 1st v Bristol 1st Men’s Table Tennis: Aberystwyth 1st v Bristol 1st Women’s Hockey: Cardiff 1st v Bristol 1st Women’s Rugby Union: Cambridge 1st v Bristol 1st Men’s Basketball: Gloucestershire 1st v Bristol 1st Women’s Basketball Bath 1st v Bristol 1st

Fantasy Football

Captain’s Corner - Ultimate Frisbee and Windsurfing Ed Hanton Ultimate Frisbee Captain

We spoke to two club captains to tell us why you should consider joining up with their sport.

Ultimate Frisbee has been ranked as the number 1 sport to try out at university.

The sport, often better known as ‘Ultimate’, has its own BUCS league and is one of the fastest growing sports in the country.

Ultimate is an exciting, fast paced, non-contact sport, played with a flying disc and is notorious for being extremely physically demanding. Combining aspects of American Football, Netball, Basketball, Athletics and many other sports along with an inherent friendly atmosphere, Ultimate has become one of Bristol University’s most popular sports.

One of Ultimate Frisbee’s biggest draws is its relaxed environment due to the selfrefereeing policy while the club boasts both Men’s and Women’s teams along with a Mixed side.

We are a welcoming and friendly club who also compete at the highest levels

of University Ultimate. 90 per cent of our members have never played before university so don’t worry if you haven’t either. We also have several international players. Last year two of our Women (who had never played before university), competed for Great Britain U20s in Poland at the World Junior Ultimate Championships!

“ We’ve just finished a really good pre-season and we’ve got a really tight-knit group

As a club we have two Men’s teams in the BUCS League and hold our very own Bristol Beginner’s competition.

From Disco Inferno and Mixed Indoor Regionals to University Men’s & Women’s Nationals, there are, ultimately, plenty of chances to play competitively at your level of experience. For more information, get involved at www.facebook.com/ bristoluniultimate.

Pablo Andrés Andalaft Windsurfing Captain Windsurfing is a unique sport roughly combining the thrills of surfing and sailing – very roughly, since I think it is much more exciting than either.

At the early stages it is much like sailing, though the handling of the kit is more physically demanding and technical. Once you can point the board and sail, the sky is the limit, since the wind that you have available will determine how fast you can go.

The holy grail is to start planing, a condition where you are going so fast that most of the board is out of the water. This is a great way of providing spectators at the beach with a good show, especially with high-speed wipeouts.

At Bristol we have a great club for people to join and learn, and other universities’ windsurfing clubs love to collaborate and

hold events together, keeping us entertained with racing, freestyle, and designing fancy dresses from whatever can be found. There is an atmosphere of encouragement around windsurfing that I haven’t seen elsewhere and we really enjoy developing our skills and overcoming the challenges of progression together; it’s a sport that gives you a great sense of personal achievement.

For me, having come from a background of windsurfing, I would really recommend joining our club since you will enjoy it much more with our range of kit, personalities, and activities not just in Bristol but across the UK, making strong friendships along the way. Our wide-ranging socials are also a great way of meeting people.

Much windsurfing love, and may the wind always be on your back! For more details go to www. facebook.com/UoBWC.

Epigram Sport is running its very own Barclays Fantasy Premier League. Feel free to join!

Liga de Epigram Code: 808585-362510 Good Luck!

Epigram

03.10.2016

Sport

@epigramsport Editor: Jonathan Harding Deputy Editor: Jack Francklin

Online Editors: Oscar Beardmore-Gray & Dan Reuben

sport@epigram.org.uk

oscar.beardmoregray@epigram.org.uk dan.reuben@epigram.org.uk

jack.francklin@epigram.org.uk

Bristol tops league table thanks to pricey gym Key Facts - Price of University of Bristol Active Plus pass £290 (Peak gym and swim membership).

- Price of University of Bristol Active Gym pass £185 (Off peak gym for one year).

-Out of the top 25 Complete University Guide Bristol ranks second most expensive for peak gym access and fourth most expensive for peak gym and swim membership.

-Cheapest University gym facility Imperial London £0.

-York University gym and swim membership the most expensive at £340.

-Loughborough University charges £360 for 3 year access to gym, pool and sports teams.

Out of the top 25 Universities on the Complete University Guide (CUG) Epigram found that the University of Bristol is the second most expensive for peak gym access, behind the University of East Anglia. The comparison of these different institutions also showed Bristol to be one of the most expensive for overall fitness facilities.

Last year saw the implementation of a new sports membership system.

Students that want access to the gym and pool at any time, as well as participation in club sessions and BUSCS, can purchase the Active Plus pass (£290). The Active Gym (£185) and Active Swim memberships (£150),gives students access to the gym at off peak times and the full access to the pool.

“

‘I go to a gym really far away

now because for the same price as uni peak membership I

can

go

at

all

hours.’

The most significant change was the introduction of a Get Active Pass (£50) for those wishing to participate in some form of sport, from casual participation to BUCS

sport. Which, for the first time ever, meant that those wishing to join a sports team didn’t have to purchase the equivalent of an Active Plus pass.

Nationally, apart from the few institutions that take this price out of the students’ fees directly, Bristol offers one of the cheapest ways to participate in sports teams.

However, the changes to the other memberships offered divided student opinion due to lack of peak access to only the gym or the pool.

Anna Lezard a third year student explained why she is not a member, ‘I go to a gym really far away now because for the same price as the off peak membership I can go at all hours’.

Epigram compared the price of Bristol’s facilities to that of 25 other institutions nationwide. Overall, Bristol came out as very expensive; due to their lack of alternatives to the Active Plus pass for peak gym membership.

Locally, our varsity rivals, the University of West England, only pay £180 per year for peak gym access.

Oxford University who is often criticised for being elitist, offers swim and gym access for £188 at peak times.

Many universities, like Oxford and Cambridge, also offer a reduction in price for an Academic Year, making it more affordable for those who only reside within that area during term time.

Loughborough University, who are infamous for their state of the art facilities, offer membership to

“ “

Hannah Price Online Editor

their fitness centre (fitness suite and swimming pool) to students for three years for only £70 more than the price of just one year at Bristol.

‘Our

varsity

rivals,

the

University of West England, only

pay

for

peak

£180

gym

per

year

access.’

Surprisingly, all of the four universities within London that Epigram reviewed offer cheaper gym access to their students – with Imperial College London, providing the cheapest gym facilities of the Top 25 Universities in the CUG due to their facilities being free to all of their students.

Universities such as Southampton, Sussex, St Andrews, Durham and Manchester offer peak gym membership for a cheaper rate than Bristol’s Active Gym pass, which only allows users to enter before 3pm on weekdays.

When asked on his views on Epigram’s findings, Sport and Student Development Officer, John House commented, ‘It’s worth saying that whilst the get active pass is a wonderful improvement to the price of sport, it is by no means a

finished article, we need to continue to work to make Bristol sport more accessible and better priced for all.

The cost is big but we do have a big offer which is what I think people forget, you can go to hundreds of classes etc, having said that I think the variety of pass is still not there.’

The majority of institutions also offer additional facilities, such as a climbing wall. In a few cases their memberships even cover luxuries like steam and sauna rooms. However, it is important to note that some universities do not offer any swimming options.

“ ‘peak-time

access

to

a

very popular gym facility has

a

cost

attached’

Matt Birch, Director of Sport Exercise and Health at the University said, ‘We’re continuing to work on improving our offer to all students, and are really pleased that access to sport and physical activity is considered so important… What we have worked hard to do, in partnership with the SU particularly, is broaden our offer and increase flexibility… In addition to this the

university has frozen all membership prices for the last two years - and dropped the price of Active Swim, as well as re-introducing pay-as-you-go swimming…

‘it is by no means a finished

article, we need to continue to work to make Bristol sport

more

accessible.’

‘We have also this year started a major programme of free-ofcharge activity in University Halls of Residence, the ‘Active Residences’ scheme, which offers over 3,000 students a regular programme of classes as part of their accommodation fees.

‘A £3m investment in new facilities at Coombe Dingle will be completed next month, and we are currently planning a major piece of work at the Indoor Sports Centre as part of the Clifton Campus project.

‘Overall we’re confident that our offer is strong.

Yes, peaktime access to a very popular gym facility has a cost attached, and this is only one way in which students engage in sport and health.’