Fortnightly 8th May 2017 Issue 314
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Bristol at the ballot box .
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Greens target students in Bristol West, but Labour ahead in Epigram poll UOB’s political societies argue why their party deserves your vote on June 8th Full coverage including opinion and analysis from pages 5-7
Wellbeing What will happen to my mental health after I graduate? - page 23
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Puzzles has puzzles - page 45
Puzzles
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What have the arts got to do with What should you wear mental illness? - page 39 for graduation? - page 28
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Epigram | 08.05.2017
Editorial
A final note from the editor... This is it from me, my last waffle on the sheets of a student newspaper. My first article appeared in the December 2013 issue of Epigram. Having my first article commissioned was an exciting moment. I remember I took my laptop to one of the study rooms in my halls and spent a whole day
Online Deputies: Sophie Hunter; Phoebe Jordan
From the archives... 2016/17 in front pages Fortnightly 23rd September 2016 Issue 302
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Fortnightly 3rd October 2016 Issue 303
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‘We are at the mercy of politicians’
to make inflationary fee increases. Stage one of TEF, only allows fees to be increased to a maximum of £9,250 - which Bristol will do from 2017 onwards for incoming students- based upon Quality Assurance Agency reviews. Stage two allows an even higher increase. During the very first NUS Regional Networks event held at the Students’ Union, Zoe Backhouse, Undergraduate Education Officer, said that the Times Higher Education article had been misinformed. ‘The University hasn’t actually committed one way or another. We do really badly on the metrics for stage two, particularly on the graduate employment which would affect our
Mairead Finlay Deputy News Editor Despite the Times Higher Education reporting that the University of Bristol were going ahead with the second stage of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) at the beginning of September, concerns have been raised about the damages this could cause to Bristol’s reputation. The second stage of the TEF involves universities being assessed on their graduate employment, retention and student satisfaction, then subsequently being rated bronze, silver or gold. The appeal is that this stage allows universities
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standing in the league tables... Bristol is getting worse and worse every year on it’, Backhouse said. The fear of going forward with the second stage it seems, is largely related to the damage this could have for Bristol’s reputation, even not participating could affect Bristol’s international standing. Whilst participating in the second stage is optional for universities, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has stated that universities with low quality courses shouldn’t be able to recruit international students. ‘If it implicates whether we are allowed to recruit international students, it’s likely we
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would have to go along with it anyway. But there is a chance that Bristol might not even qualify for the “silver medal” which could determine this’, Backhouse said. At the time of writing the university had yet to decide whether they would go ahead with the second stage of TEF. ‘The Government has just set out its plans for the TEF2 and we only received information about this two weeks ago. We will be working through the proposals with a view to deciding how best to respond by January 2017’, a University of Bristol spokesperson said. Continued on page 3
Disaffiliate means... don’t disaffiliate?
‘Fossil Free University of Bristol’, in collaboration with local community arts group the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, created a ‘mural’ on the side of the M32 in Easton with the message ‘Bristol Uni: Are You Backing Dirty Energy?’ as part of a campaign against global warming.
Too many freshers, not enough rooms? Emily Faint News Editor The number of incoming freshers has once again exceeded the capacity of prepared halls of residence accommodation, with many students being informed that they must temporarily move into shared rooms. The Accommodation Office emailed those affected to inform them of the sudden change to their accommodation arrangements on 7th September, ten days before most first year
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students are due to arrive at university. ‘The University has received a larger than expected number of accommodation applications from both postgraduates and undergraduates.’ ‘We have some large bedrooms […] and in order to try to accommodate as many freshers as possible, we are turning these rooms into temporary shares. In each case the rent will be 50 per cent of the single room rent and at Wills the rent will include catering.’ One first year Richmond Terrace resident, who
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wished to remain anonymous, told Epigram, ‘It was strange because we were apparently guaranteed accommodation, until a few days before the accommodation offer day when a notice popped up on the website which said it wasn’t guaranteed anymore.’ Students were instructed to ‘please travel light’ due to the reduced storage capacity of shared rooms and ‘then get the rest of your stuff when you move into your single room.’ Continued on page 3
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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Accommodation office investigating ‘fabricated charges’ at Orchard Heights
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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.
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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...
Bristol’s Quidditch team, Brizzlepuffs, are starting the first ever league system for the Muggle’s version of the iconic sport from Harry Potter. Full story on page 4.
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It seems that Brexit does not actually mean Brexit. That is if you are talking about Bristol’s exit from the NUS anyway. Epigram can reveal that Bristol students voted to disaffiliate from the National Union of Students (NUS) in 2004, suggesting that whatever the result of the current referendum, a vote overturning the decision is likely to be had, raising questions over how productive the referendum really is. In fact, Lincoln University, one of the universities that voted to disaffiliate from the NUS earlier this year, have already voted to rejoin it just five months later. The current NUS referendum in Bristol was announced after a petition with 355 signatures calling for it was delivered to the SU on the 13th May. Bristol SU currently holds a referendum on their membership of the NUS every three years at their Annual Members Meeting, with the most recent vote supporting membership, winning with 308 votes to 168. The 2004 vote to disaffiliate was won with 227 votes to 145 at the SU’s AGM. It was reported at the time that following the vote a petition was promptly started calling for a second referendum on the result. Continued on page 5
Digs: ‘we’re not interested’ in ethical lettings Full story on page 3
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Katie Raison and Scarlett Sherriff debate the NUS
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News Nicky Withers talks to UBWRFC about rugby in Bristol and team GB
Student housing horror stories give Epigram Living a fright
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The future for the University of Bristol’s research and international partnerships appears to be more stable than previously feared following this summer’s controversial Brexit vote, with a university official describing the current situation as ‘business as usual’. Despite the recent revelation that the university has fallen four places to 41st in the world according the QS World Rankings, with 73 per cent of the UK’s top 400 universities experiencing a drop in both academic reputation and employer reputation, key funding grants and international partnerships have been retained thus far. Professor Nishan Canagarajah, Pro ViceChancellor, confirmed in early August that the ‘university has had an excellent outcome in the recent [post referendum] European Commission Research funding panels’. ‘We were delighted with the award of five collaborative ICT Industrial Leadership grants to partnerships involving our university. The university is also leading a project coordinated by Professor Ioannis Pitas in the Faculty of Engineering.’ ‘This is one of the largest collaborations we lead, with a total budget of over €5 million.’ Pro Vice-Chancellor Erik Lithander issued a statement of solidarity and continued commitment to the university’s international collaborative partnerships, which has been met with ‘numerous positive responses’. Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, one of the respondents, even stated that ‘our bilateral collaborations are even more important than they used to be.’ Key academic disciplines such as Law, the curriculum of which includes entire units of study dedicated to EU Law, must now navigate what Head of the university’s Law School, Professor Joanne Conaghan describes as ‘a volatile political and economic landscape’ both in academic spheres and in the graduate job market. Professor Conaghan confirmed that, at present, ‘the Law School is not currently planning any formal changes to the curriculum as a result of the Brexit vote.’ Continued on page 4
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Fortnightly 31st October 2016 Issue 305
UoB could sacrifice reputation for fee rise
‘Business as usual’ as Bristol University hold tight for Brexit
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Rory McNair looks at American Football in Bristol
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In September, Epigram kicked off our freshers’ issue with a front page on how the Uni was handling the recent Brexit vote and how (as always seems to be the way) they had recruited too many students. The October issues saw an NUS referendum, talk of TEF and a lot of housing stories. A protest even took place outside Digs following our front page story on it. Fortnightly 14th November 2016 Issue 306
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‘I do not want to get the results sober’
Fortnightly 28th November 2016 Issue 307
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Escaped convict in Bristol student’s flat
University of Bristol’s Award Winning Independent Student Newspaper
Emily Faint News Editor Mark Ames, Director of Student Services at the University of Bristol, has pointed to the issue of increasing numbers of students who ‘seem to be struggling to have sufficient levels of resilience’ in the wake of the recently reported student suicides at Bristol.
Alice Oliver asks should Bristol be banning speakers?
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Music Ellen Kemp looks at when protests and music come together
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hand himself in.’ Following this, Jordan called his ex-girlfriend. After a long conversation with her, the students then witnessed him speaking to his young son for the first time and the emotional exchange that took place. ‘Do you know who this is? It’s your father… I’m sorry that I haven’t been there for you, but when I come home I will do anything for you’, Jordan reportedly said. Half an hour later, accompanied by Phillips and his housemates, Jordan walked to the police station and handed himself in. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, reflected upon the issue from their perspective as a rape survivor.
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‘There is a risk, whenever someone talks about the humanising qualities of someone who has committed rape that they will be tarred a rape apologist. But it would be better to acknowledge rapists in three dimensions, instead of labelling them as simple villains. ‘I knew my rapist. I will likely always feel a deep sense of anger, sadness, sickness and shame over what he did, and over how it has shaped my life since. But I also know he was not an “evil” person, and that he had and has good qualities.’ Some names have been changed for legal reasons Continued on page 2
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more from their lovers. Students were responding to the statement, ‘I am satisfied with my sex life.’ 21.3 per cent strongly agreed and 32.1 per cent agreed. 19 per cent remained neutral, but 21.2 per cent disagreed and 6.4 per cent strongly disagreed. A follow-up question asked students to give sexual advice to their pre-university selves, with
An Epigram survey of more than 650 students has revealed that 53 per cent of Bristol students broadly agree that they are ‘satisfied’ between the sheets - with a full 47 per cent left wanting
some of the more graphic responses offering fullblooded tips (!) on how to improve performance. The 6.4 per cent might well heed the advice of one grizzled, veteran student, who encouraged his younger self to ‘thrust hard.’ Another respondent, clearly underwhelmed by her experiences, suggested that students ‘invest in a decent vibrator.’ Meanwhile, a female Arts
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Essays for sale! Ruby Cardona looks at the rising industry - page 10
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Full coverage on page 3
Continued on page 4
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Trump burns on the streets of Bristol
Boycotting the National Student Survey (NSS) will not affect the implementation of the latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and the move to raise fees, according to Pro ViceChancellor Professor Judith Squires. Prof Squires’ comments were made in an interview with Epigram following Bristol Student’s Union urging students to boycott the NSS in order to sabotage the implementation of the TEF. Shortly after the interview Bristol, Cut the Rent announced that they would be going on rent strike explicitly citing the University dropping its continuation with the TEF as one of their demands. Bristol, Cut the Rent have since postponed their rent strike. The TEF is a government policy which aims to fulfil a Conservative manifesto promise to ‘introduce a framework to recognise universities offering the highest teaching quality… and require more data to be openly available to potential students’. Bristol Student’s Union along with many other student’s unions have criticised the TEF as a way of introducing higher tuition fees, as the framework allows universities whose teaching quality is ranked high enough to raise fees in line with inflation. ‘It will mean higher tuition for students, and… it will mean that different universities will be able to charge different fees which will send out a message that certain students only deserve to get this type of education if they can afford it’, said SU Undergraduate Education Officer Zoe Backhouse. The way the teaching quality of universities is determined in the TEF is by using six different data sets, two of which come from questions in the National Student Survey (NSS), a survey of all final year undergraduates at universities in the UK. Bristol SU are encouraging students to boycott the NSS as a way of sabotaging the implementation of TEF. If under 50 per cent of students take the survey then the data from that year cannot be used. The University have stated that students should still take the survey, despite numerous concerns they have over the way the NSS is being linked to teaching quality.
student, presumably once bitten and twice shy, implored herself to ‘use more lube’ in future. The majority of comments, however, took on earnest and equivocal tone. ‘Don’t worry’, ‘relax’, and ‘chill’ were sentiments oft-repeated. ‘It’s no big deal’, and ‘do what you want/do what makes you happy’ were also characteristic responses.
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‘Invest in a decent vibrator’
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Uni: your NSS boycott is futile
occasions where staff feel a little bit unsure on how to respond, particularly to some of the more complex mental health issues.’ One student told Epigram, ‘I emailed the senior tutors saying that I’m really struggling with university and never got a response. The only reason I contacted them was because last week they sent out a message saying, if anyone needed help, to contact them.’ Continued on page 4
Nearly half of students unsatisfied with sex lives Full sex survey results on page 3
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‘The support needs of students have been changing quite markedly over the last few years,’ he said. ‘Clearly, over the last few years, the number of students coming has increased […] and we have an increasing number of students who have enduring mental health difficulties.’ He explained that the University has recognised that these changes in the student body mean that ‘there are now increasingly
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to sober up in the relative warmth of my living room,’ said Phillips. The students involved learned of the man’s crimes and his escape from prison an hour after offering him shelter. He was considered a ‘risk to the public’. Jordan was jailed over a decade ago for rape and robbery. His encounter with the Bristol students was allegedly his ‘first experience of freedom’ since his original conviction. During the course of the evening, the students fed and conversed with Jordan and offered him the use of their phone. ‘He rang a friend he’d met in prison, but who had been out and clean for two years,’ Phillips said. ‘He seemed to be encouraging Jordan to
The University has announced that it would be conducting a review of its mental health services following national coverage of what Ames described as an ‘unusual number of student deaths’. In an exclusive interview with Epigram (page21), he discussed the expansion of student numbers and a level of inconsistency in pastoral support as issues to be addressed in the University’s review of its mental health services.
Epigram/Charlie
Emily Faint News Editor An escaped convict was temporarily taken in by University of Bristol students after being found on the ground only ‘a few yards’ from their home. Jordan, a man convicted of rape and robbery, was discovered by students on a Wednesday in November. He was lying on the floor ‘with bloodshot eyes and clothes drenched in beer’. Tom Phillips, a third year Physics and Philosophy student, was one of the people who found him. ‘Unable to think of a better solution, I offered him a glass of water and the chance
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Uni to review mental health services
Man convicted of rape and robbery spends his last night on the run with Bristol students
. Bristol students see in US election in packed Balloon Bar . Students turned away as bar reaches max capacity . Donald Trump elected 45th President of the United States
Fortnightly 30th January 2017 Issue 309
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Ed Fernyhough on Millennials’ relationship with technology - page 13
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Things went a little bizarre in November, with students watching Trump being elected at an all nighter in the SU and then an escaped convict spent their night on the run eating chicken kiev with Bristol students... Our Christmas issue had the results of our sex survey on the front (as well as between the sheets) and a story on the Uni reviewing its mental health services. Fortnightly 13th February 2017 Issue 310
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E2 University of Bristol’s Award Winning Independent Student Newspaper
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Is this equal opportunity?
Lecturers in ‘gagging’ row
Senior management at the University of Bristol have become embroiled in a row with lecturers over the SU-backed National Student Survey (NSS) boycott. In an email - leaked exclusively to Epigram - academics were warned that they would face disciplinary action if they undermined the University’s position of promoting the NSS. The email was originally sent to the Heads of Schools on the 31st January and has since been circulated to all staff. It was signed off by the Pro-Vice Chancellor Judith Squires and HR Director Guy Gregory. One academic described the move as ‘authoritarian’. Bristol SU and the NUS are campaigning for students to boycott the NSS in order to oppose Higher Education reforms that could see tuition fees rise in line with inflation over the next parliament.
The University argues that the government’s plans would see tuition fees stabilise ‘in real terms’, and are encouraging students to take the survey. The University and College Union (UCU), which represents a large number of academic staff, recently came out in favour of the NSS boycott. The email to staff appears to be in response to this. ‘Members of staff have an obligation to work within and carry out the policies of the University and therefore we do not consider the actions proposed by UCU in relation to supporting the NUS boycott to be consistent with the contractual obligations of staff’, the email read. The controversial ‘edict’ went on to reiterate that the University will ‘expect UCU members to engage with NSS promotion as requested and not to brief students against participation or take any other action to undermine the University’s position’. One lecturer – speaking on the condition
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of anonymity - explained the academics’ opposition to government plans, suggesting that: ‘if something as pernicious as the NSS-driven Teaching Education Framework (TEF) comes along, the silence of academics, complicity with the erosion of a decent, public higher education for all, is as big as burden as simply going along with edicts from Senate House’. The source described Prof Squires’ message as ‘deeply concerning’ and said that it was clear that the University is ‘literally’ trying to ‘censor academics’. ‘A lot of colleagues that I’ve been in contact with find it a step too far’, the lecturer went on to claim, before reminding Prof Squires that she can still ‘adopt a less authoritarian position’. The lecturer described the situation as ‘fluid’, confessing that ‘the “gagging” of lecturers is by no means a done deal.’ Allegations of ‘gagging’ are especially damaging for the University following some
of their recent statements. In response to a student’s open letter on a lecturer’s ‘antiSemitic’ comments last month, the University asserted that ‘freedom of expression and academic freedom are at the heart’ of their mission. ‘Our approach is to enable and promote free speech,’ a University spokesperson said, before concluding that ‘occasionally academics will put forward a view that is contrary to the views of others’. SU Undergraduate Education Officer Zoe Backhouse argued that the statement was incompatible with the email. Backhouse said the SU is ‘particularly concerned to see this [email to staff] directly contradict the University’s commitment to academic freedom and the promotion of free speech. If these values are to be upheld, then academics must be allowed to voice their views even when those views are inconvenient for the University’. Continued on page 3
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Interview: Jonathan Harding talks to Will Dean - page 46
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Uni’s widening participation scheme sees a third of contextual offers go to private schools Full story page 3
Inside: Is there a racism problem against Asian students? - page 8
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Style Alex Boulton asks if feminism and fashion can go together - page 29
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The University of Bristol has declared that it will divest its endowment funds from carbon intensive sectors of the fossil fuel industry. This follows a campaign by the university’s Fossil Free Society – began by former student, Rachel Simon, in 2014 – and will see investment now targeted at companies working to reduce carbon emissions. Paloma Parkes, Head of the Fossil Free Society, has said that she is pleased with the move. ‘This has demonstrated how far perseverance and environmental commitment can go’, Parkes said. Parkes added that, ‘we [Fossil Free Society] will continue to be involved and will keep pushing for continued improvement’. Professor Guy Orpen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Bristol, commented that the University is ‘proud to be a sector-leader in sustainability’ – having helped to introduce what the Fossil Free Society has called ‘one of the clearest and most wide-ranging’ plans of its kind in Britain. ‘Our new investment policy has been developed to be consistent with our sustainability aims’, Orpen claimed. Continued on page 3
Bristol South Labour MP Karin Smyth brought up the Bristol Scholars Scheme in the House of Commons on March 20th in a question to the Conservative Minister for Families and Vulnerable Children Ed Timpson
Bristol Mayor and former health minster back Epigram mental health campaign
MP: Uni’s social mobility scheme is ‘mockery’
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The Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees and former health minister Norman Lamb MP are among the people who have voiced support for Epigram’s mental health awareness campaign, #14Conversations. From the 13th - 27th March Epigram will be teaming up with Burst Radio to help raise awareness of mental health by publishing articles, podcasts and videos centred on the idea
of having your first conversation with someone about mental health. The #14Conversations campaign will also be raising money for Off The Record. Off The Record are a local charity that provides free counselling for young people in Bristol. As well as this, Off The Record also run group workshops and provide other support. In his video of support of the #14Conversations campaign, Marvin Rees praised the work of Off The Record. ‘I know it is an incredible organisation who’ve actually contributed to our own mental health
policy in Bristol… they offer counselling for all people including large numbers of students’, Rees said. Norman Lamb, the Lib Dem Health Spokesperson and formerly the minister who was responsible for mental health, also expressed his support for #14Conversations. ‘Having a discussion with someone about mental health can be so important, whether it’s a loved one, a friend, a neighbour or even perhaps a work colleague it could be the thing that gets that person to seek help’, Lamb said.
Bristol MP criticises Uni’s presentation of Bristol Scholars scheme following offers for private school students
Former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan MP also spoke to Epigram about the importance of talking about mental health at university. ‘Often when you come to university it’s a whole different environment particularly if you’ve been in a school environment where you’ve been very supported, you’ve had small classes and you’ve had your time planned for you… it’s a big transition in life. ‘I think there’s a lot we can do about stigma, getting people to talk about their mental health’, Morgan said.
The University’s Bristol Scholars scheme was branded a ‘mockery’ by a Bristol MP in the House of Commons on Tuesday 20th March. The University of Bristol’s scheme was billed as a scheme to ‘help ensure local school pupils have an equal opportunity to realise their academic potential, irrespective of their background’. However, following Epigram revealing that a third of the tailored offers that were given out through the scheme had gone to private school pupils, the scheme has been criticised by UoB’s state school society, the 93% Club, as well as in the national press. In a question to Ed Timpson, a Minister at the Department of Education, the Bristol South MP Karin Smyth claimed that the scheme made a
Epigram launches #14conversations wellbeing campaign
Special investigation into Bristol’s BME problem page 4-5 Ellie Donnell has a flipping great pancake recipe - page 22
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£3 million for fossil free Uni
Students in 2015 protesting on Tyndall Avenue: Campaigns against Bristol University’s links to fossil fuels have been a feature of the last several years
Academics’ fury at University over NSS boycott censorship Johnny Thalassites Living Editor
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Editor: Ben Parr: editor@epigram.org.uk Online Editor: Hannah Price: hannah.price@epigram.org.uk
Fossil Free - University of Bristol
writing it. Over the Easter holidays I dug out that first Epigram. As I lay my eyes upon the cover, I remembered the adrenaline I felt three years previously when I eagerly sought out the latest issue. Reliving the moment, sat in the ASS between lectures, tenderly turning the pages, searching for my name, and then spotting it. The sense of pride that surged through me that day, seeing hundreds of copies around campus, knowing my name, mine, was in print. As I sat there, in my childhood bedroom, reading my first ever article for Epigram, a realisation crept over me. ‘This is absolutely shit’, I exclaimed out loud. Not even slightly shit. No, this was full on make-you-want-to-gouge-your-own-eyesout shit. I think I might have vomited a little in my mouth as I read it. Part of me wishes I’d just submitted vomit on a piece of paper instead of the waste of ink that now lay in front of me. Nonetheless, even though in many ways I’d rather my byline was attached to a Tab ‘what X is your Stoke Bishop hall?’ drivel than that article, the excitement from the experience was what sparked my interest in journalism and ultimately led me to where I am today. For me, and many others, Epigram has been the stand out thing on my CV, but it’s so much more than just that. On Epigram, you form friendships and you meet people you would never otherwise have met. Epigram, despite its relatively small readership, also makes a big impact. We’ve had many of our stories picked up by the national press this year. One of our front page stories even resulted in a question to an Education Minister in the House of Commons. National press isn’t everything, though. Our ‘Digs: we’re “not interested” in ethical lettings’ cover story was followed by a protest and other local outlets reporting on the failings of the lettings agent. If Digs lost just one customer because of our coverage, then we’ve served our purpose. By putting information into the public domain and letting students act upon it, you hold the seemingly unaccountable to account. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the people behind Epigram. Underappreciated and over-worked, I want to say a huge thank you to our editorial and business team this year. Some people have put in so much effort, and without them it would have been a much worse newspaper. Two individuals I especially want to thank are my two deputies, Caitlin and Stef. We’d be at a loss without Caitlin’s dedication to detail and ensuring the paper looks and reads as it should do. I would also have been at a loss this year were it not for her excellent judgement and advice on tough editorial calls. Stef also deserves a huge amount of credit, above all for driving the innovative ideas into existence. A vague idea about running a mental health fundraising campaign would never have turned into our successful #14Conversations campaign were it not for Stef’s commitment, creativity and willingness to harass politicians for endorsements. To end this self-indulgent waffle on a note about the future, I am pleased to announce that we have appointed a new senior team for Epigram for the year ahead. Taking a leaf out of the Green Party’s tree we have appointed two co-editors: Noa Leach from our current news team and Alex Boulton from our style section. Ensuring they don’t waste Epigram’s very limited finances will be Calli Keane from our current business team who will be taking over as managing director. I wish them, and the rest of the new team, the best of luck in their roles. Finally, if you’re an avid reader of my editorial then – after seeking help and maybe considering getting a new hobby – you might like to recall my first editorial in which I mentioned my mum telling me that the second year of uni was the best year of her life, and that final year is never going to be as good. Well, all you second years who are afraid of the gruelling final year ahead, I can honestly say that my Mum was wrong. This year has, without a doubt, been the best year of my life.
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Find out more on page 2
Features When did we become the ‘Oxbridge reject’ uni - page 8
Facebook.com/EpigramPaper
Travel
Have a look at this week’s EpiBlind Date - page 20
Living @EpigramPaper
Looking for a cheaper way of travelling? - page 28
‘mockery’ of its own stated aim of ‘widening access’ to university for disadvantaged students. The University have always stated that all Bristol schools and colleges offering post16 qualifications were allowed to nominate students for the scheme, and that the students had to meet a number of widening participation criteria. Talking to Schools Week on the 20th March, Labour MP Smyth criticised how the University had presented the scheme. ‘I think what was disappointing is that I think this was a good innovative scheme… I think the intent was genuine, because we know that lowering grades doesn’t just work. But it makes a mockery of it because at no stage was it suggested that private schools would be included’, Smyth said. She continued: ‘If they’d said it includes the
Features
Letters Is it time to get rid of honourary degrees? - page 16
Travel
Interview with Andrew Wallis OBE - page 8
Highly Commended for Best Publication
A pocket guide to interrailing - page 20
Facebook.com/EpigramPaper
and Best Use of Digital Media 2016
large number of private schools in Bristol, we would have questioned it. Without being upfront about the inclusion of private schools, they’ve made a mockery of that’. Smyth admitted that pupils at private schools still have to meet a criteria such as being ‘on FSM or bursaries’, but said that their schools ‘have more resources’ and are more able to ‘take advantage’ the scheme in a way that disadvantaged schools aren’t. Lucy Collins, Head of UK Recruitment at the University of Bristol, said: ‘Bristol Scholars from independent schools who have been offered places had to fulfil one or more widening participation criteria in order to be selected. For example, they may be a young carer, first in family to go to higher education or receive a post 16 bursary’. ‘This is a pilot year and only a subset of schools applied to take part in the scheme. Our
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ambition for the future is that all schools in Bristol will submit applications’. There are 13 schools taking part in the pilot Bristol Scholars scheme this year: six independent schools and seven state schools. All students receive a tailored offer, guaranteeing them a place at the University. ‘It’s about making it work better. I want the University to do better’, Smyth said following her comments in Parliament. In a letter in Epigram, Collins wrote: ‘We worked hard to encourage all state schools and colleges to submit nominations and will be redoubling our efforts for the 2018 cohort’. The Bristol Scholars scheme was launched by the Education Secretary Justine Greening. It was announced at the same time as a national scheme in which pupils can receive offers two grades lower than the standard offer. The latter scheme is only open to state school pupils.
Sport
Clifton hosts Synthetic Biology theatre - page 41
Arts
Your guide to Varsity - page 47
Highly Commended for Best Publication and Best Use of Digital Media 2016
Our first two issues of second semester centred on TEF and the NSS boycott- first the Uni said it wouldn’t stop a fee rise, then they told lecturers they weren’t allowed to freely speak about the argument, which resulted in our rather dramatic ‘gagging’ front page. Just before the end of February we revealed the Bristol Scholars social mobility scheme had given a third of offers to private school pupils. Fast forward to March and the Uni have committed £3 million towards a fossil free strategy and Epigram had launched our #14Conversations mental health campaign. By the end of March our Scholars Scheme story had done its rounds in the nationals and had made its way into a debate in parliament... All in all, it’s been quite the year for Epigram!
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Chief Proofreader Lowri Daniels Sub-editors Zuzanna Needham, Jess Cselko, Sarah Roller, Elly Brett, Samuel Wong, Daisy Dowding, Megan Frost Managing Director James O’Hara Director of Communications Issy Bull Head of Finance Alfie Smith Business Team Calli Keane Amelia McWhirter Ellie Elstub Aravin Skantha Lucy Ellis-Keeler Megan Aldridge Helen Salter Joe Jones Lucy Roe
Epigram is the independent student newspaper of the University of Bristol. The views expressed in this publication are not those of the University or the Students’ Union.
twitter.com/epigrampaper ACROSS 1. Plane terminal (7) 6. Subsection of a performance (3) 7. Bestow with authority (7) 8. Rule of a monarch (5) 9. Alter in attempt to improve (5) 12. ‘Butter’ used in cosmetics (4) 13. Express approval (6) 14. Neck frame for work animal (4) DOWN 1. List of matters to be addressed (6) 2. Undulation in a liquid’s surface (6) 3. Moving forward (6) 4. Soil or damage (7) 5. Reduce (9) 10. Hide, disguise (4) 11. Require (4) 12. Pig enclosure (3)
Lots more puzzles on page 45!
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Set by Jade
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Epigram 27.03.2017
News
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@EpigramNews
News Editor: Emily Faint news@epigram.org.uk Online News Editor: Malik Ouiza newsonline@epigram.org.uk Deputy News Editors: Ellen Jones; Amy Finch Online Deputies: Noa Leach; Mairead Finlay
UoB has no staff-student relationship policy Amy Finch Deputy News Editor
by one staff member despite her clear refusal. A survey conducted by the Association of American Universities in 2015 found that reporting rates for sexual harassment, either by staff or students were 7.7 per cent. Dr Olivarius told the Guardian: ‘most universities have no effective mechanism to stop staff from pressuring students into sexual relationships’. The University of Bristol is included this, as one of the 32 per cent of universities surveyed have no explicit staff-on-student relationship policy. When asked directly to respond on the lack of a clear student-staff relationship policy, the University responded: ‘Student and staff wellbeing are our highest priority. We have a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment or violence of any form and clear policies in place to deal with complaints, via the Staff procedure for gross misconduct, the Unacceptable Behaviour Policy and/ or Students Complaints procedure. ‘Consensual relationships between staff and students are covered by the University’s Conflict of Interest Policy.’ Sofia Doyle, a final year Politics and International Relations student, has just completed her dissertation on the subject of staff-on-student sexual harassment. She told Epigram: ‘Having clear policies on staffstudent relationships at university is really important, and it’s really shocking to see that Bristol doesn’t
have one. A lot of my dissertation research was about how no policy, or vague policy, on staff-student relationships and abuse effectively means universities are constructing the issue as something beyond their remit, as occurring within the private lives of their staff and students. In doing so, universities are able to construct the problem as not theirs; and if it’s not theirs they bear no responsibility for abuse, and no responsibility to intervene to stop abuse. ‘Turning away from the issue like this is part of what allows the abuse to occur in the first place, and the lack of intervention allows it to continue. If Bristol wants to show it cares about its duty to protect its students - and, as in these cases the majority of victims of staff-student abuse are female, its female students in particular - it should really be leading the way in developing a policy regarding staffstudent relationships, with clear procedures in the event of abuse. ‘It’s also important to note that policies aren’t enough; universities also need to have transparent and fair investigatory procedures; should make the effort to raise awareness of the issue; and educate its staff and students accordingly.’ The Freedom of Information request also revealed three staff-onstaff allegations of sexual harassment in the last six years at the University of Bristol, of a total 127 found in the UK. A large number of academic staff who escaped the figures have also
contacted the Guardian anonymously, citing that they were either persuaded not to report the incidences officially, settled for informal resolutions or fear for their career. A large number of academic staff who escaped the figures have also contacted the Guardian anonymously, citing that they were either persuaded not to report the incidences officially or settled for informal resolutions or fear for their career. The University encouraged students to report incidents: ‘We want to ensure that any student experiencing harassment or bullying knows how to report this and feels able to do so. We are now in the process of developing an online reporting tool for survivors of sexual violence and other forms of harassment, which will complement our existing processes outlined in the University’s Unacceptable Behaviour Policy, the Staff Conduct procedure and Student Complaints procedure. We are also investing in additional capacity to respond effectively to such reports. ‘Students can also raise concerns with their Senior Tutor, Personal Tutor, Student Advisor or indeed any member of staff who can signpost them to the appropriate procedure or, where applicable, take the matter forward themselves if the student is unable to do so. Our Complaints Officer is currently visiting all Schools to talk about the Acceptable Behaviour Policy in relation to the Student Complaints Procedure.’ Epigram/ Noa Leach
Epigram’s sexual violence survey has revealed several respondents who claim to have been aware of sexually inappropriate behaviour from staff members towards students. The vast majority were not reported to the University. The findings echo a recent Guardian report, where prominent sexual violence legal expert Dr. Ann Olivarius described sexual violence on British campuses as at ‘epidemic’ levels. The report in the Guardian, which sent Freedom of Information requests to 120 universities nationwide, revealed only one allegation of staffon-student sexual harassment at the University of Bristol since 2011/12. However, of the 134 respondents in our investigation, ten say they have been aware of sexually inappropriate behaviour by University of Bristol staff towards students, with a further seven ‘not sure’. Of this group, none believed that the incident had been reported and dealt with in a manner they deemed ‘satisfactory’. One student told Epigram that when a friend turned down a member of staff who sexually propositioned her, he threatened her about her academic performance. On reporting the incident to another member of staff the student claimed they were ‘instructed to avoid taking his units’ as the academic was ‘well respected in his field’. The student
was not informed that any formal investigatory procedures had taken place. The Guardian’s report asserted that in many cases, very little disciplinary action takes place - as those in charge of such processes often have many reasons to ‘silence the matter’. The University insisted that ‘both student and staff formal disciplinary procedures are fair and transparent. ‘They require the involvement of the alleged victim and must not interfere with any Police investigations. For understandable reasons, people sometimes prefer not to deal with such incidents through formal University processes and/or by reporting their allegations to the Police, which is why we are introducing the online reporting tool.’ The majority of respondents - nine out of ten of the group - said that the incidents they are aware of had gone unreported. Several of these respondents told Epigram explicitly about the incidents, including objectifying and sexual comments ‘about female students breasts’ and calling one student ‘beautiful’ in a personal message. Many students claim to have had boundaries crossed: one student described how one friend had been ‘asked to pose for a nude drawing on their own’ and another ‘asked if they wanted to go on a walk in a wooded area for a tutor meeting’. One student described how a friend had been persistently propositioned
How significant a problem is sexual violence?
Infogram / Amy Finch
Respondents were asked to rate how significant a problem sexual violence was 1 I have never seen anything even approaching sexual violence 2 All stories of violence I have heard of here have had Man victims and were not sexual in nature. 3 It’s a fairly safe city with good education and awareness 4 I’m aware it can happen, but at the same time it’s easy to gloss over stuff you don’t personally encounter :/ 5 Casual verbal sexual harassment is all too common 6 There’s a misogynistic culture where women are treated as meat 7 Lad culture and entitlement 8 So much goes unnoticed and unreported 9 Sexual assault is so normalised 10 I know people who have suffered sexual assault and it makes me sick. People don’t think it’s a problem that concerns them Survery contained 134 respondents, many of whom chose to remain anonymous
Epigram 08.05.2017
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Flickr/ Robert Cutts
These anti-animal testing campaigners clearly don’t like modern medicine - protest took place on 20th April
Student rent strike to go ahead Mairead Finlay Deputy News Editor Supported by Bristol Cut the Rent, students at the University have gone ahead with a rent strike in response to consistent rent hikes over the past several years, (up to 25 per cent in the last five years). They will do so until demands for affordable rents are agreed upon with the University, with more action planned to further raise awareness of the need for affordable rents. From 2015/16, rents in Bristol increased on average by 4.5 per cent, and are due to increase by roughly 3.5 per cent for 2017/18. Despite meetings with the University’s senior management and
representatives from Bristol Cut the Rent and Bristol SU over the issue of sky-high rents, neither side has as of yet manage to come to an agreement. ‘We believe the University of Bristol has a responsibility to its students to ensure decent housing can be accepted at a fair price’, said Bristol Cut the Rent in a statement addressed to the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Hugh Brady, Put simply, the high rents solicited by University of Bristol’s accommodation services are unfair. ‘More and more students are now either forced by their own university into financial difficulty by unaffordable accommodation fees, or decide not to apply as their financial status becomes an unofficial entry requirement.’
The group in its statement also clearly stated its demands from the university, including asking for full transparency over the running and maintenance costs of student accommodation, a restoration of 2015/16 rent levels for all students in university accommodation in 2016/17 and 2017/18, as well as a full re-examination over its rent setting policies in consultation with students. A University of Bristol spokesperson said: ‘The University does not make a profit from residential accommodation and simply seeks to cover its costs. ‘The price of accommodation is similar to that charged by universities in the other cities in the south of England and is competitive against
private rented accommodation in Bristol. ‘We recognise that accommodation is a significant cost for students, and this year we have worked with the Students’ Union with the aim of establishing rent setting principles. ‘Every year, we make a number of rooms available at lower rents and we consult with our Students’ Union on the cost of those. We have also recently agreed a residential bursary scheme for students joining us from households with a low income. ‘We are always looking at ways to improve efficiency to provide the most cost effective service we can, and will continue to work with student representatives on this issue.’
Fees set to rise despite NSS boycott success Emily Faint News Editor The results gathered from this year’s National Student Survey (NSS) ‘are expected to be invalid’ for the University of Bristol, according to correspondence seen by the National Union of Students (NUS). Data gathered from the NSS is expected to be used to justify further tuition fee increases from September 2017 following the government’s decision to lift the cap on the £9000 annual rate. In response to this move, the NUS and student unions across the country have called for students to refuse to complete the survey in a coordinated boycott in order to prevent this data from being ‘weaponised’. The latest figures sent to universities suggest that the boycott has been successful. In the run up to the survey closing, completion rates have been as low as 27.5 per cent at Russell Group Universities such as Bristol. In order for the results to be valid and implemented as a basis for justifying tuition fee increase, at least 50 per cent of final year undergraduates are
required to complete the survey. Sorana Vieru, NUS Vice President of Higher Education said: ‘The fact that thousands of students across the country have decided to boycott the National Student Survey shows how strongly they feel about the Government using their feedback to raise tuition fees. Jo Johnson has said countless times that he wants to create a system that listens to students and works in their interests. ‘Well, students have spoken loud and clear. Now it is time for the Minister to act, and halt these damaging reforms.’ These changes would be implemented through the government’s Higher Education and Research Bill, which returns to the House of Commons this week for final debates. ‘With the announcement of an imminent general election, the government will have to act quickly to pass the HE Bill and may need to make some concessions in order to do so,’ Vieru said. Zoe Backhouse, Undergraduate Education Officer for Bristol SU, has been a leading figure in the NSS boycott at the University of Bristol. ‘I’m incredibly proud that Bristol students have demonstrated so
resoundingly that we don’t want to be part of fee rises,’ she said. ‘We have shown that we can mobilise both locally and nationally, and we will continue to do so until the link between TEF and fees is removed. The campaign is not over yet – so keep boycotting.’ The University maintains their position in encouraging students to take the survey. Professor Judith Squires, Pro ViceChancellor for Education and Students said: ‘The national student survey (NSS) is an important mechanism for listening to student views. It informs our understanding of what we need to do to enhance the student experience. ‘However, I understand the concern that many students feel about the introduction of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), and its link to the national student survey. ‘The Bristol SU boycott has had a clear impact on our survey response rates this year. Only a small number of our programmes have met the threshold for inclusion in national league tables. ‘The University response rate currently stands at 33.6 per cent. It is unlikely that we will now meet our overall data publication threshold of
50 per cent. The failure to meet the publication threshold will not affect the current TEF process as this exercise uses NSS data from the previous three-year period. It will not therefore affect the agreed sector-wide increase in tuition fees for 2017/18 entrants, which will rise in line with inflation, to £9,250. ‘It is not yet clear whether the rankings resulting from the current TEF exercise will be linked to the introduction of differential fee levels in future: this will depend on the outcome of the Parliamentary debate about the HE Bill that is likely to be scheduled for this week, prior to the dissolution of Parliament. ‘We also don’t yet know how the league table compilers or the Higher Education Funding Council for England (which is overseeing the TEF) will deal with the absence of 2017 NSS data for the small number of universities nationally that, like us, have not met the publication threshold. We will provide an update as soon as we have more information. Parliament voted for annual tuition fees to increase until 2020 from autumn 2017 despite this action. Fees will increase to £9250 from this year.
Bristol marches for science Noa Leach Deputy News Editor Two thousand people, including families, students, scientists and TV naturalists, attended a march to celebrate the vital role scientific evidence plays in everyday life. The march on the 22nd April was organised in collaboration with the AtBristol Science Centre and fully endorsed by the university. AtBristol is an educational charity and science centre with an aim to ‘make science accessible to all.’ Guest speakers included Chris Packham, Dr Simon Singh, Anna Starkey, Professor Bruce Hood, and Dr Suzi Gage. ‘We stand for all science this morning, whatever branch it happens to be.’ The march joins a worldwide movement where rallies are underlining ‘the importance of government support and recognition of the worldwide importance of science and scientific research’, according to the University. ‘Bristol has always been a centre of scientific excellence’ said a University spokesperson. ‘A previous European green capital, home to major academic universities and industry and the biggest hub for wildlife filmmaking in the world, it has built and continues to foster outstanding scientific credentials. ‘This march underlined the community’s commitment to protecting both these credentials and the important role the city has carved within the scientific arena.’ ‘Without science… we never get quite to the Truth and that’s why we need experts.’ Simon Singh’s talk featured him conducting his own science experiment on stage. He played Led Zeppelin backwards and asked if anyone had heard the word ‘Satan’ in there. The second time around, the crowd knew what to listen for and could suddenly hear it too. ‘I compelled you to hear these words and our brains have evolved to find patterns,’ Singh then said. ‘If I give you an expectation, a bias or prejudice, your brains actively seek out those words and trick you into hearing something that’s not there. ‘Without science if all we have is our prejudice and our senses, we believe all sorts of nonsense. We never get quite to the truth and that’s why we need experts.’ ‘Scientists don’t dictate policies,’ he continued, ‘they provide the evidence and politicians should not ignore that evidence.’ Chris Packham’s talk was more personal. ‘For me, learning from scientists’ expertise allows me to better shape my thinking, my values, my life. ‘Galileo, Newton, Darwin, Wallace, Curie: they would all be proud of us for standing up for their legacy. We stand for all science this morning, whatever branch it happens to be.’ According to Bristol 24/7, Bruce Wood said ‘I’m not a mad scientist. I’m livid.’
Epigram | 08.05.2017
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General Election 2017
Meet your candidates for Bristol West Ellen Jones Deputy News Editor The Conservative Party Name: TBC Political Priorities: Although the Conservative Party haven’t chosen their candidate or released their manifesto, the Clifton Conservatives state their priorities as: Boosting local business. For continuing local employment, services and shops. Improved rubbish collection. Improve efficiency of recycling system, and prevent residents from being overwhelmed by storage bins. Maintaining and enhancing green spaces. Using the planning process to protect and improve the local environment. Strong Brexit. The Conservatives claim their top priority is ‘making Brexit work’. And what about students? Fostering better relations. The Clifton Conservatives want to involve students more in the community.
The Labour Party
The Green Party
The Liberal Democrat Party
Name: Thangam Debbonnaire Political history: MP for Bristol West since June 2015. Brief spell as Shadow Culture Secretary in June 2016.
Name: Molly Scott Cato Political History: MEP for South West of England and Gibraltar since 2014.
Name: TBC
Political priorities: No ‘hard Brexit’. In her General Election Statement, Thangam promised to ‘fight against this’, given that Bristol West constituents ‘voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU’. Helping the refugee crisis. Thangam is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees. She says she wants to help the government to do more to help and house refugees. Tackling climate change. Protecting vital services. And what about students? Reintroducing the maintenance grant. Thangam says this is important in ‘ensuring that affordability is not a barrier to higher education’. Marketization of education. Thangam says she is ‘concerned about government proposals to allow ‘high-performing’ universities to raise tuition fees’ which could reduce social mobility.
Political prioirties: Boosting the local economy. Molly wants to create a ‘fair and resilient’ local economy which puts local people and local jobs first. Improved housing. Molly wants to install quality, affordable and secure housing that meets local demand. Radical action on energy. Molly stands for tackling climate change and making energy more affordable, to protect our way of life. Improved public services. The NHS, schools and railways are all services which Molly wants to improve. And what about students? No tuition fees. Molly states that ‘tuition fees is a political choice. We would chose to free young people from debt’. Ending the marketization of education. The Green Party wants to see education treated as ‘a process, not a product’. Restoring block grants for all subjects.
Political Priorities: Although the Lib Dem candidate is yet to be decided, the party has claimed to be dedicated to: Ending homelessness. By introducing a Housing First provider in every local authority, reinstating housing benefit for uner-21s and reversing planned Local Housing Allowance cuts. Being pro-EU. Claim Britain must ‘work actively and constructively’ the EU, UN and NATO, rejecting the government’s ‘isolationist and intolerant’ approach. An improved NHS. Want to increase funding for public healthcare to improve both physical and mental healthcare. Claim drug use should not be treated as a criminal issue. And what about students? Opposing reintroduction of grammar schools. Claim this will disproportionately benefit children from wealthier backgrounds. Opposing the scrapping of maintenance grants. Claim this will ‘threaten to further entrench inequality’.
SU to hold election all-nighter Malik Ouzia Online News Editor Bristol Students’ Union has outlined its plans to increase student engagement with the upcoming general election by lobbying candidates on key student issues, as well as holding an election hustings and election all-nighter. In a statement on their website, the SU encouraged students to consider both their home and university constituencies when registering to vote, and promised to ‘make life easier’ for students finding it difficult to engage with the election build-up during the busy exam period. It also advised students to consider a postal vote, with the 8th June vote likely to come at a time where many students are moving between houses or abroad. The SU also pledged to question the candidates for both Bristol West and Bristol North West over their stance on key student issues such as
higher education reforms and fee increases, free movement of students post-Brexit and mental health provisions. ‘We’ll publish their answers in full so that you can easily digest their views on important policy for students even during this busy exam season.’ The Union will also be hosting an election husting for the Bristol West constituency, which includes popular student areas such as Clifton and Redland, although Stoke Bishop lies in Bristol North West. The hustings take place at 5.30pm on the 24th May in the Richmond Building’s Winston Theatre and will give students the opportunity to meet and quiz local candidates. Following the success of the hugely popular US election all-nighter, which saw hundreds of students gather in Balloon Bar to watch Donald Trump’s victory over Hilary Clinton unfold, the same venue will play host to students wishing to ‘commiserate and celebrate’ as the vote count runs into the night.
2015 results in Bristol West Bristol West has changed hands a handful of times. From being Conservative for decades, in 1997 it was captured by Labour. In 2005 the Lib Dems took the seat, which they subsequently held onto with an increased majority in 2010.
Labour 22,900
Green 17,227
In 2015, Labour reclaimed the seat after the Lib Dem vote collapsed, with a fall of nearly 30 per cent since 2010 and the Greens beating the Lib Dems into 3rd place. Lib Dem 12,103
In 2017, the Greens are once again making Bristol West their second target seat. Conservative 9,752
UKIP 1,940
Total other 296
Green Party Co-leader Jonathon Bartley with Bristol Green Soc members
Poll suggests Bristol students voting Labour Ben Parr Editor Labour are on course to secure more of the student vote in Bristol than it did in 2015, a poll of Epigram readers has found. The poll of 447 respondents suggests that 46 per cent of students plan to vote for the Labour Party in the 2017 General Election. The Bristol West constituency, where most UoB students will be eligible to vote, is currently held by Labour’s Thangam Debbonaire, after she ousted the Lib Dem MP Stephen Williams in the 2015 General Election. The Green Party have once again made Bristol West their second target seat after Brighton and Hove, encouraged after they came second in the constituency in 2015, only 5,673 votes behind Debbonaire. Epigram’s latest poll suggests that Green support is not as strong among students as it was in 2015, though. The 2015 poll put the Greens on 20 per cent among students ahead of the election, with Labour on 30 per cent. In the latest poll, Bristol students appear to be bucking the national trend, with 46 per cent saying they are planning on voting for Labour and only 14 per cent Green. Nationally, Labour are expected to perform poorly, with polls showing their leader Jerermy
Corbyn being one of the reasons for this. Support for Labour in Bristol does not necessarily means support for Corbyn, as Debbonaire has been highly critical of the Labour leader in the past. Epigram’s latest poll also seems to be showing a move away from the Conservatives - who are down 10 per cent compared with the 2015 poll- with gains going to Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Bristol was one of the most ardently Remain supporting areas in the country during the EU referendum, which, with the Conservatives committed to Brexit and the Lib Dems running on a pro-EU ticket, might be used to explain some of this change. About two thirds of students claim that they will be voting in their university constituency rather than their home one, and 77 per cent say that the parties’ stances on Brexit will not be the main factor in what they decide to vote for. The student vote is only a small portion of the electorate in Bristol West, and as such it would be misleading to predict any overall results of the competition for the seat from the relatively small sample size used in the poll. Bookies suggest Labour is on course to hold Bristol West, but odds have the Greens in a close second place and Lib Dems not far behind. The snap General Election, called by Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, is set to take place on the 8th June.
Epigram | 08.05.2017
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General Election 2017
Vote for us! Bristol Uni’s political soc Make history, vote Green in Bristol West Molly Scott Cato is a Green MEP for the South West of England and Gibraltar, an economics professor, and a life-long campaigner for the Green Party. She is now hoping to make history by becoming Bristol West’s first Green MP when the country goes to the polls on the 8th of June. Bristol Green Society are thrilled to have such an impressive candidate standing up for the rights of students and young people. As an MEP and Green Party speaker on EU relations, Molly has experienced the Brexit process first hand. She has been working tirelessly in the European Parliament to defend the rights of all people and has vehemently resisted Theresa May’s plans for a hard Brexit. Molly Scott Cato is the voice of opposition that our country is desperately lacking. With 11 councilors, Bristol Green Party is the largest local party in the UK, and it only very narrowly missed out on electing an MP for Bristol West in 2015. In the last general election, the Green party obtained the biggest swing in this constituency’s electoral history. We won 27 per cent of the vote, finishing in second place; a fraction behind Labour and sending the Liberal Democrats to a distant third. The Tories stand no chance in this progressive and forwardthinking constituency. In short, Greens can win in Bristol West. If you’ve always believed in the Green message, but have felt bewildered by our undemocratic First Past the Post system, Bristol West is your chance to have your voice
“
Amy Heley Green Soc
heard by voting with hope instead of fear, with a meaningful Green vote instead of a tactical vote for another progressive party. Green Party members and local representatives are ambitious and successful. Bristol Green councillor Carla Denyer the perfect example of Greens being proactive, as she successfully campaigned with other activists for the University of Bristol to pledge to divest from fossil fuels, which is an outstanding step towards environmental justice and future economic security.
‘The whole country is watching and here, your vote counts’
At a national level, we simply need more representation for the Green Party. We are hoping to double our parliamentary presence, with Molly Scott Cato joining Caroline Lucas’ outstanding voice of opposition in the House of Commons. Greens are pushing a ‘radical’ agenda, which in reality are measures that would simply bring social justice to the heart of British society. We are fiercely pro-refugee and consistently challenge the hateful rhetoric around migrants that dominate the UK’s political agenda. We are fighting for a fair Brexit, with the chance for voters to have their say in the final deal with a ratification referendum. We pledge to scrap nuclear weapons and use the money to better our public services. We believe
in a benefit system that works for all, and aim to ultimately establish a universal basic income because, in the fifth richest country in the world, foodbanks should not be in such high demand. We are proud to have consistently demonstrated unwavering support for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, minority ethnic groups, women and disabled people. For students, the Green Party’s policies are particularly relevant. The Green Party has long been advocating lowering the voting age to 16, as we believe that young people deserve a say on their own future. Molly Scott Cato has vowed to scrap tuition fees, because education is a fundamental right, and privatisation is an ideological choice, not an economic necessity. Furthermore, Bristol University is no stranger to the mental health crisis that faces young people in today’s society. Molly has made mental health a priority, and will ensure more funding is available to support our students and NHS services. The Green Party will not compromise on freedom of movement in the Brexit negotiations, unlike Labour. Young people are at the heart of Molly’s MEP work on Brexit and will always be a Green priority. In Molly Scott Cato, Bristol West has a capable and hard-working candidate with a brilliant track record. Let’s make history on the 8th of June! Please register to vote on www.gov.uk/registerto-vote before the deadline on the 22nd May. If you won’t be here for the election, it’s important to consider registering for a proxy or postal vote. Bristol West is a unique and exciting opportunity for us- the whole country is watching and here, your vote counts.
Green co-leaders launch their campaign in Bristol West in fr
Lib Dems, like students, oppose Brexit When Bristol’s students go to the polls on the 8th June to cast their votes in the 2017 General Election they will be confronted with some stark choices. This article makes the case that there is only one national party espousing the values which I know many Bristol students hold dear and that party is the Liberal Democrats. At the centre of the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto for the nation in 2017 is a key principle which I believe correlates with the beliefs of many Bristol students. We oppose Brexit. Yes, we acknowledge the 48 per cent vs 52 per cent result of the referendum but we refuse to be cowed into meekly accepting the vision for our land that Theresa May is proposing on the back of it. Democracy doesn’t just start and stop when a Conservative wants it to. May’s offering, to borrow slightly from William Hague, ‘is the most abhorrent and miserable land that has ever been offered to the people of a nation state’. 48 per cent of those who voted, including most Bristol residents and the clear majority of Bristol students, agree with me. It is my party, the Liberal Democrats, who alone are prepared to voice their concerns. It is also only the Liberal Democrats who seem prepared to hold the government to account on domestic issues too; whilst Brexit steals the front pages daily, the incoherent Corbyn led Labour party wave through bill after
Bristol West
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Sam Head UoB Liberal Democrat Society
Tory bill leaving the people of Bristol West, South and East without a strong oppositional voice. The sinister Snooper’s charter, the insidious antiimmigrant rhetoric, the callous response of the right to the plight of refugees, the repealing of important environmental policies, where were the opposition? Swathes of people across Britain who care about their European status, who believe in civil liberties, who desire tolerance and open debate, have joined the Liberal Democrats in response to the failings of the Conservative and Labour parties.
‘In Bristol, party membership increased by 10 per cent within two hours of May calling an election’
In Bristol alone, the local party membership increased by 10 per cent within two hours of Theresa May calling an election. This article is an invitation for Bristol students to join in. The Liberal Democrats will lobby for the retention of the Erasmus scheme and the encouragement of foreign students to come to Bristol, it is vitally important that the University retain its cosmopolitan cocktail of nationalities; I am
Bristol North West
proud to count Bulgarian, Italian, half-German and half-French persons as amongst my friends, Theresa May mustn’t be allowed to endanger this wonderful internationalism in the future. In Bristol West, where the majority of students from the University of Bristol reside, they will have to choose between a Tory candidate who will support Theresa May’s Brexit plan and who will contribute to the demonising of those who voted to Remain and desire a champion for their perspective, a Labour candidate whose MP career began in 2015 with chaos inflicted on her by Corbyn’s leadership and whose party have failed time and time again to stand up and fight, a Green candidate who I am disgusted to tell you publicly praised the butcher and homophobe Fidel Castro on Twitter, or they can choose to vote for the Liberal Democrat candidate. If they choose that last option they can be sure of several things: Their belief in European cooperation will be fought for, their civil liberties will be defended, their tolerance and love of openness will be represented, their desire for meaningful environmental policies will be advocated for and the real opposition they so deserve will be provided. Theresa May recently stated that the UK and Europe was in desperate need of Liberal Democratic values, for once I agreed with her. Take her advice, vote Liberal Democrat and stake your claim to the vision of our country that you desire. Don’t let Labour or the Conservatives throw it away.
Bristol East
Former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown campaigning outside Clifton Down Station in 2015
Bristol South
Incumbent: Thangam Debbonaire, Labour
Incumbent: Charlotte Leslie, Conservative
Incumbent: Kerry McCarthy, Labour
Incumbent: Karin Smyth, Labour
Main challenger: Molly Scott Cato, Green
Main challenger: TBC, Labour
Main challenger: Theodora Clarke, Conservative
Main challenger: TBC, Conservative
Epigram | 08.05.2017
75
General Election 2017
cieties make the case for their parties
Labour offer true stability and strength
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ront of the Clifton Suspension Bridge
Well that came as quite a surprise, didn’t it? Yet again, the ‘strong and stable’ Conservatives have decided to prove just how strong and stable their leadership is by dragging the country to the polls for the third time in as many years, after a succession of bad decisions have led (ironically) to some of the most destabilising and divisive governance since at least the lateseventies. Received wisdom is that Theresa May has called this election in response to the perceived electoral weakness of the Labour party. It is clear, however, that there is more at stake in this election than at any other in recent political memory – and predictions of a Tory landslide are grossly premature. In reality, this election is all about Brexit. In effect this is our second referendum. The future prosperity, stability and, indeed, continued existence of the United Kingdom will be decided on the 8th of June. Britain is leaving the European Union – that much is true – but precisely how we leave is still to be decided.
Labour students out on the campaign trail with Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire
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Liam Smyth & Labour students Bristol Uni Labour
Theresa May has claimed that she is going to the polls to secure a mandate for her adamantine Brexit, encased in a depleted uranium shell. 52 per cent of the electorate may well have voted to leave the European Union. They did not vote for economic collapse, the shredding of legislation which protects workers and the environment, or the Farage-lite xenophobia of the Conservative ‘vision’ of Brexit. The Labour party will not seek to overturn the democratic result of the referendum. Instead, it will campaign for a Brexit that works for all – students, workers, and our European friends, colleagues and neighbours.
‘a strong government under Jeremy Corbyn, or Theresa May implementing a manifesto that Farage himself would be proud of’
A vote for Labour on the 8th of June is a vote for true stability, strength and internationalism. Whilst the Conservatives seek to appease the farright of their own party, and the Lib Dems seek to overturn the referendum result, Labour will seek to govern in the interests of all. Policies such as a £10 an hour minimum wage, reversal of cuts to corporation tax, re-nationalisation of the NHS and our transport infrastructure, building affordable new homes, and free school meals for all primary school children will improve the lives of everyone
living within the UK - particularly those who have been left behind by the divisive governments of Cameron, Clegg and May. The Conservatives love to trade in soundbites: ‘Strong and Stable’ leadership, ‘Long term’ economic plans, ‘hardworking people’, and ‘coalitions of chaos’. While this may make a great drinking game (anyone who’s played Roxanne will be able to guess that a round of Tory buzzword bingo during an episode of Question Time gets messy pretty quickly) the reality in the cold light of day is rather different. Seven years of Tory rule has tripled the national debt, dragged us out of the European Union, and nearly led to the breakup of the United Kingdom – twice. If one thing is clear, it is that the politics of austerity have utterly failed, granting tax cuts to the wealthy, while working families are forced out of their homes in record numbers. It is vital, then, that students register to vote and make sure their voices are heard. With esteemed Hillsborough survivor/academic/spaceman Paul Nuttall driving the purple banter bus, Tim ‘gay sex is a sin’ Farron flying the flag for the Lib Dems and the nasty party (ironically) back with a vengeance under May, our choice on June the 8th couldn’t be clearer – a strong government, working in the interests of all under Jeremy Corbyn and Labour, or Theresa May implementing a manifesto that Farage himself would be proud of. This election is a once in a generation chance to make sure our voices are heard, and secure the future prosperity of the United Kingdom – let’s make sure the Tories can’t jeopardise that with soundbites, and work together to make June the end of May.
Bristol South East MP Charlotte Leslie joins Bristol Uni Conservative Association at freshers’ fair
A vote for Conservative is a vote in the national interest Johnny Thalissites Bristol Uni Conservative Association You might not be a Conservative. In fact, if you’re a student, you probably are not a Conservative. That is OK – and I probably won’t convince you right here, in Epigram, that the Conservatives are a ‘one-nation’ party that cares about the rich and the poor alike. Even if income inequality is at its lowest level for thirty years; even if NHS funding continues to rise (by £8bn during this parliament); even if Britain continues to contribute more money to foreign aid, at 0.7 per cent of GDP, than any other country. Hell, Theresa May is even set to cut international students out of net-migration figures. Look (!) – this is, literally, a ‘Tory’ government acting sensibly on a student issue. But none of this matters…you don’t need to be a Conservative. Actually, just this once, all you need to do is vote Conservative. And it’s for the national interest. Here’s why: Whether you supported Remain or Leave, Britain has to leave the European Union. To do otherwise would fatally undermine our
democratic processes. So, that is clear – and, therefore, the defining issue at this election becomes: which government is best placed to deliver Brexit?
‘How can a divided Labour party, or a Lib Dem party irreconcilable, unite to deliver Brexit?’
This is where the national interest becomes clear. Leave won narrowly, promising to ‘Take Back Control’ of laws and borders. But the Single Market – the European Union’s most influential institution - is built around the ‘free movement’ of goods, services, capital and persons. Free movement of goods and services requires legislative uniformity. So, if we stay in the Single Market, we cannot make our own laws. Meanwhile, free movement of persons requires that we cede control of our borders. This is why, for example, the Liberal Democrat position – of a second referendum, staying in the
Single Market and so on – is incompatible with delivering Brexit. This is also why, for example, the Labour position – with Jeremy Corbyn advocating leaving the Single Market, but some Blairite moderates opposing the Leader of the Opposition – is incoherent. Theresa May and the Conservatives, on the other hand, can deliver Brexit. A Conservative government will leave the Single Market, whilst continuing to be an international nation keen to play a positive and active role in global affairs. This means strengthening ties with the UN, NATO and the G7. May’s government will go on to seek the most ‘frictionless trade’ possible with the European Union. Theresa May has set out her intention to guarantee the rights of EU nationals, too. To negotiate with the European Union requires competence and experience. Theresa May has these qualities. Indeed, May was the longestserving Home Secretary in a century – and she campaigned for a Remain vote. She is, crucially, a pragmatist, who will champion the national interest. Britain must be united in negotiations, under strong and stable leadership, with clarity of purpose.
How can a Labour party divided, or a Liberal Democrat party irreconcilable, possibly unite to deliver Brexit? Labour’s leadership – rightly – wants to leave the Single Market and secure employment protections, but has one hand tied behind its back by dissenting, centrist MPs. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats’ support for a second referendum would fatally undermine negotiations, encouraging the European Union to make impossible demands of Britain, in the hope that voters would reject any deal and, thus, rebound unhappily into the club. Every vote for Labour or the Liberal Democrats will embolden the European Union. If the British government is unenthusiastic about Brexit, unclear about Brexit or, worse still, divided over Brexit – the European Union can play on these ambiguities and rifts, driving a harder bargain at every turn. A Conservative government with a strong mandate will, instead, demonstrate that Britain stands united and clear in its aims. This will strengthen Britain’s hand in negotiations. This is why, to get the best possible deal for Britain, – even just this once, at a time of unique national significance – I urge all students to vote Conservative, for the national interest.
Epigram
08.05.2017
Features
@epigramfeatures
Editor: Amy Stewart
Deputy Editor: Bea Gentilli
Online Editor: Adele Momoko Fraser
features@epigram.org.uk
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adelemfraser@epigram.org.uk
Are Classics degrees really that outdated? Amy Stewart looks into the value of a classical education
Amy Stewart Features Editor
“ AQA will be removing Classical Civilisation as well as Archaeology and History of Art from their exam board as of 2018.
Classics as part of its exam board. Tony Robinson suggested in an interview with the Guardian that this was as an economic decision by AQA because not many students were taking these exams in comparison to their other exams. This could also be because Classics is increasingly seen as outdated and irrelevant. Now that there are many other subjects that a student can take, some may feel that there are other subjects which are far more applicable to the modern world. However, recently individuals such as Mary Beard have highlighted the value of comparison with the Classical worlds of Greece and Rome. She has recently compared the modern refugee crisis with similar events in ancient Rome. This is a perfect illustration of how understanding Classical history helps to supplement our conception of the modern world. Adele Momoko Fraser, a third year Politics and International Studies student, even noted how important studying ancient Rome has been for her own understanding of the
Flickr/ Sebastià Giralt
Much to the dismay of many a Classicist, the discipline of Classics is not something people are commonly aware of. As a Classics student, it is commonplace to be asked ‘So is that classical music, or literature?’ or ‘What does that actually entail?’ when discussing one’s degree. Once the subject is explained, however, other common responses also include, ‘Why would you even do that?’ or ‘Isn’t Latin a dead language?’ In addition, for those who are aware of it, the subject unfortunately entails rather negative connotations of elitism or even sheer uselessness. However, for many who study it, Classics is a varied and fascinating look into the ancient world, with many useful practical applications. The subject is a very broad discipline, which covers the study of ancient Greece and Rome; this can include ancient Greek and Latin as well as the literature, history, philosophy and art of these periods. According to Oxford University’s description of the discipline, Classics’ involvement with a wide range of disciplines means that there’s something for everyone and it ‘encourages mental versatility’. However, it seems that Classics is becoming less and less of a priority for school curriculums and is even being removed from some exam boards. AQA will be removing Classical Civilisation as well as Archaeology and History of Art from their exam board as of 2018. However, OCR will still be keeping
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A statue depicting the myth of Europa and the bull outside the European Union in Brussels.
modern political climate: ‘Without an understanding of Polybius or Cicero’s work on governments and the Roman Republic, it would be impossible to truly understand the US and its system of government today. Without reading Tacitus, we cannot consider concepts of tyranny and the gradual decay of empire to its fullest extent. We really need Classical history to full comprehend the present, and if we don’t we are consigned to eternally make the same mistakes of those before us.’ This relevance of Classics to the modern world is defined through the concept of Classical Reception, which describes how classical tropes are adopted in contemporary contexts, and thus redefined. Through the study of Classical reception one can discover how Classics pervades events throughout history to the modern day, as well as even influencing literature and art today. As an example, if one
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‘Classics has made me appreciate the primacy and universality of the classics in our everyday lives.’
considers the British Empire’s co-opting of Greco-Roman history, it could even be said that without an understanding the significance of classics, we could not understand Britain as it is today. Dr Ellen O’Gorman, a Latin lecturer at
the University of Bristol, believes that this aspect of Classics is what could possibly help the subject’s popularity and relevance as it helps to supplement many other disciplines. Giles Lingwood, a third year Classical Studies student, noted that classical reception is something he has found very important for his perceptions of modernity: ‘Classics has made me appreciate the primacy and universality of the classics in our everyday lives. From video games to cinema and literature, themes and stories from the ancient world are constantly being transmitted into our lives. Being able to see this has been very eye-opening.’ Another third year Classical Studies student, Ruby Hinchliffe, told Epigram how Greek myth has been a really influential part of her study of Classics to the modern day: ‘Ancient Greek myths are always relevant, not matter what century or millennia … their themes of love, loss, betrayal and revenge are all common feelings of the human condition. Ancient myth has, and should continue to, unite us all in our understandings of each other and the world’. Interestingly, the University of Bristol’s Classics and Ancient History department collaborates with the scheme ‘Classics for All’, which provides funding to teach Classics in state primary and secondary schools. The ‘Classics for All’ website explicitly states that they believe classical subjects are the ‘foundation for a modern education.’ They believe
that ‘every pupil deserves to benefit from the learning, enjoyment and inspiration classics provides.’ This is largely because, classical subjects, such as Latin, ancient Greek, and Classical Civilisation are generally not taught as often in state schools, in comparison to its prevalence in grammar and public schools’ curriculums as well as in large sixth form colleges where a larger variety of A level options exists. Many do not know about Classics as a subject until they enter sixth
An OFSTED report of one London school ... found that the study of Latin was benefiting pupils’ understanding of English grammar.
form and take Classical Civilisation taster courses; and for those who take Classics at university and come from state schools, a lack of background in Latin can be an unfair disadvantage. ‘Classics for All’ believes that there are many benefits that come from studying Classics at any level, such as cultural literacy, grammar, critical thinking and language skills. Also, an OFSTED report of one London school that took part in the ‘Classics for All’ scheme found that the study of Latin was benefiting pupils’ understanding of English grammar drastically. As a Classics student myself, one of the questions I get asked the most
about my degree is ‘what kind of job will that get you?’ This is a rather difficult question to answer because
‘The Classics students that I have taught are ... interested in asking the big, important questions’
the subject does not necessarily lead someone into one direct career path, unlike other less conceptual degrees. For example, some of the most famous Classics graduates, such as J. K Rowling and Boris Johnson, have taken a multitude of different career paths. This question and Classics’ lack of direct career choice is something that Dr Ellen O’Gorman empathised with also. On asking Dr. O’Gorman what it is that makes Classics graduates stand out against other humanities graduates she said: ‘I think the Classics students that I have taught are extremely intellectually ambitious, which sounds like a dreadful thing, but I think it is particularly important. They’re interested in asking the big, important questions about culture and about the world and thinking about how that relates to their own lives. I’m not sure I can pinpoint exactly what it is that causes this, but it is something that I have noticed as the most distinctive thing’.
Epigram
08.05.2017
9
‘Invisible schakles’: What’s in the name?
The history of the Wills family, bristol landmarks and its slave trade Anonymous Features Writer Over the last few weeks, petitions have been opened and questions have been raised about the nomenclature of Bristol landmarks. Colston Hall have just announced a plan to break ties with the “toxic” name of Edward Colston after years of complaints and petitions. This all then begs the question, should the Wills Memorial Building have its name changed to something which doesn’t carry the connotations of Bristol’s difficult slave trade past? Whilst most of the arguments for or against this have centred on the importance of history, very little has actually looked at the history itself and tried to evaluate the problem of the name.
“ On the first voyages over half of the salves would die on the trip due to overcrowding and sickness
Flickr / Heather Cowper
“Discovering Bristol” and similar websites possess lots of information about the slave trade itself. In Bristol, it reached its peak in 1730 with the Royal African Company, helmed by Edward Colston, setting up a trade route linking West Africa, islands such as St Kitts in the West Indies and then back to Bristol where the funds were passed on to the merchants. It is noted that on the first voyages over half of the slaves would die on the trip due to overcrowding and sickness. Despite the high number of fatalities, the company was said to incur close to 100% profit per trip. However, this wasn’t very popular with other key figures and companies in Bristol as they wanted a slice of the money. According to history pages of the Society of Merchant Venturers (a Merchant company founded in Clifton), the institution took the Royal African Company to court so that they could break the monopoly that was
‘That’s what people don’t understand – the level of the invisible shackles people are are held with’
“ ” ” It is regrettable that the trades that were built up, including tobacco farming, emplyed slaves
held by the Colstons and the Company. The Society of Merchant Venturers, founded nearly 100 years prior, funded John Cabot’s (famous for being the first to explore North America) first trip to Newfoundland. The Merchant Venturers have funded and supported multiple projects and expeditions that left Bristol over the last 500 years. Nowadays, as venturing has dried up and is less lucrative, they have turned instead to philanthropy, supporting
charities and institutions – including the University of Bristol. Some would argue, however, that the Wills family are distinct from this. Whilst these cases are recorded as being in the late 1600s, the Wills on the other hand, did not live in Bristol until 1786 - 40 years after the peak of the trade in Bristol. The book ‘WD and HO Wills and the Development of the UK Tobacco Industry’ which was commissioned by the family to detail all of the successes and failures of the company firstly tells us that HO Wills was from a family of greengrocers who wanted to move to the port of Bristol to try and use the trade links with the New World to sell tobacco. The first shop was set up in the city centre where the family used the low maintenance costs to hand make cigarettes and cigars that they sold in Bristol and then around the country. They bought their tobacco from the suppliers that landed in Bristol. The material trade at the time in Bristol was fine cloths and so the tobacco came in and the cloth left afterwards. A Wills Company commissioned book on the history of tobacco details its growth in the UK. The first instances of tobacco in the UK are seen in the Elizabethan times with Sir Walter Raleigh having various stories
associated with him, such one of his butlers throwing water over him due to a worry that he was in fact on fire.
However ... the Wills were said to be famous for their philanthropy and liberalism in an otherwise conservative society
James VI issued a pamphlet called ‘The Counterblaste to Tobacco’ in 1604 expressing his distaste for tobacco. But even so, the popularity of the leaf increased in the Restoration period, with the new King Charles II being a fan himself. This leaf then required more and more farming. It is regrettable that the trades that were built up, including tobacco farming, employed slaves. This is the link between the Wills family and the slave trade. HO Wills II, the subject of the building’s memorial, was born in 1828, 20 years after the criminalisation of slave trading in Britain and 5 years before its abolition. A direct tie between HO Wills and the money of
the Bristol slave trade could then seem a little tenuous. The direct link through tobacco farming, however, is less so. The reality is that, however removed the particular individual commemorated by the Wills Memorial Building is, the wealth of the family itself derives from the exploitation of slaves. Therefore, it would not be totally unfair to condemn the family. However, according to the same book about the family, the Wills were said to be famous for their philanthropy and
We can see that the issue of renaming the Wills Memorial Building is not an open and shut case
liberalism in an otherwise conservative society. Their credentials include the fact that women were exclusively hired into the factories, making it one of the country’s lead employers of women, and the Congregationalist beliefs of the family led to an appreciation of the social responsibility that wealth
brought. According to BWE Alford. Workers’ rights were noted for being well developed, with the owners sacrificing their wages in harder years so the workers could feed their families and then rewarding them in better times. This was translated into the wider community, with the original tobacco shops promoting local causes and helping the areas grow and prosper. The Wills Company is in fact noted as one of the first “modern” employers who focused on welfare and were cited through the 20th century as a shining example of good employers throughout the Industrial Revolution. The family members themselves were regarded as liberals, often voting extremely left of the status quo and drawing adversity as a result. By looking at this information, we can see that the issue of renaming Wills Memorial Building is not an open and shut case. Whilst the Wills family’s involvement in the slave trade is undeniably reprehensible, we must also consider the links and norms of the day. It is also worth reflecting on whether the removal of this name may perhaps hinder the debate of Bristol’s slave trading history, as it is the existence of this name, which is causing us to be having these important debates to this day.
Epigram
08.05.2017
10
What is the true cost of graduation?
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Is it fair that attending your own graduation could cost hundreds of pounds?
Ruby Cardona Features Writer At Bristol, you will not be allowed to graduate without wearing the correct gown and hood. Renting a gown from the university will cost you £45 if you are being awarded a Bachelor’s – or £58 for
a master’s degree – and they have to be returned at the end of the day. Bea Gentilli, a third year English student, says ‘I believe for the price of gaining a university degree, especially for a degree such as English Literature where the overheads are negligible, having to find the wherewithal to
then rent a gown to wear for the best part of fifteen minutes is in keeping with Bristol’s elitist reputation. Other universities may do the same, but Bristol should provide the gowns – especially as they are not even to keep’. At a time when third-year students are inundated with dissertations, exams
and other coursework they are also given the task of planning and organising their graduation day. Amy Stewart, a third year student, says ‘My main problem is that graduation is the final moment of your degree and your time at Bristol, but it is such a palava!’ Despite the stress, is it an experience worth missing? Amy also says: ‘It is an
Renting a gown from the university will cost you £45 if you are being awarded a BA
Flickr / UoBris MDTEL
‘Graduation will be a significant milestone ... especially for first generation students.
old-fashioned tradition but I know it is something my parents have kind of idolised as soon as I started at Bristol’. Graduation for most people will be a significant milestone in their life – especially first generation students - but is it fair that the university are capitalising on an experience they know that you and your family will not want to miss? Unlike other universities, Bristol does not charge for tickets. However, only two are allocated per student and anyone over the age of two has to have one. There is a very slim possibility of getting a third ticket – students can apply to be placed in a ballot but only one additional ticket can be requested. Whilst this is understandable to keep numbers within the limits of the Great Hall, a day that is supposed to be incredibly special might
not be shared with everyone who would like to be there. Students will most likely have left the university and the city by graduation day and to attend the graduation, a night or two in a hotel or with a friend might be needed. Amy says ’finding a friend to stay with could prove tricky’, as many fellow students will have also left the city. A night or two in a hotel for a student and their family will not be cheap – this could easily cost a few hundred pounds. Travelling to graduation – either by train or car – could also be a significant cost on top of everything else. Official photographs are another hidden expense – prices start at £30 for a ‘basic pack’ and go up to £150.
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Is it fair that the university are capitalising on an experience they know that you and your family will not want to miss?
One could speculate that this is another opportunity for the university to make money. The university incurs thousands of pounds through degrees, in addition to accommodation costs. However, although it can be argued that these profits should be able to cover gown costs, or that there should be progressive costing based on economic background, we must consider recent cuts to university funding.
Is it possible to fund a three month summer?
Nikki Peach looks into how you can afford to make the most of your three month summer break Nikki Peach Deputy Features Editor
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Gleeson, who made a £100 profit from selling a pair of air max 97s originally bought from a charity shop. Another inventive way of making money, if you have the space, is to host dinner parties for friends or large groups of people and to charge £10 a head. By doing the shopping, cooking and serving yourself there is scope
for making up to £5 profit per guest. One girl from Durham University did this to fund her summer and made £300 from five dinner parties; enough to pay for her return flights to the Philippines where she volunteered on a coral reef conservation project. Students are always encouraged to make the most of their long summer
holidays and not everyone is lucky enough to be able to afford to pay for it. Ultimately, there are lots of inventive ways to fund the summer that our student loan does not quite cover and if the idea of sitting in a swivel chair behind a desk on the hottest day of the year is not for you, start brainstorming now.
Bristol student Ruby Gleeson ... made a £100 profit from selling a pair of air max 97s originaly bought from a charity shop.
bartending, catering work and office administration; it might not be the most fun you’ve ever had but these roles are low-commitment and can potentially earn you a lot of money. By joining companies such as FMC catering or office temp agencies, you can ensure you are on an email list offering both continuous work placements or the chance to help at one-off events. However, given the power of social media in our generation it is definitely worth considering apps such as ‘Depop’ where students have managed to make exceptional amounts of money through reselling clothes. Success stories include Bristol student Ruby
Flickr / Simon_sees
Despite being disguised as a ‘year’, we actually spend just over six months at university. We are therefore blessed and cursed with a long summer; cursed because travelling, reliable modes of transport and most enjoyable activities are very expensive. So, if you are a diligent student who has been spending the last month making notes in the ASS and writing essays then finding the time to fund any plans for the summer proves to be a struggle. With three months of summer on your hands there is the potential to both earn, but also spend a lot of money. Many people have extravagant plans to travel around South America or South East Asia, whilst others are volunteering in Nicaragua or even writing and taking their own plays up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. So it can feel like lying on your sofa at home watching old episodes of ‘Come Dine with Me’ is not an option. For many, Summer seems to be an opportune time to live the gap year you wish you had or the year abroad you are not going to have. Being a ‘young adult’ usually signifies a time in our lives when we don’t have the responsibilities of offspring, an ageing dog or a mortgage tying us to our lives at home. We are encouraged not to waste this fleeting opportunity.
Student finance accomodates this by providing us with a larger instalment in April to account for summer. However, it’s hard to manage and stretch these funds very far without getting into crippling student debt. It’s therefore advisable to find other ways to supplement this spending. Popular ways of making money over summer include childcare,
A popular way of making over Summer is to bartend, but some students have found more inventive ways to fund their Summer
Comment
Epigram 08.05.2017
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No Grad ball? What a joke...
The Weekly Angry Takedown
This week Jessica Cripps laments the lack of organised celebration for final year students - page 12
Look, I’m sorry I can’t do numbers. I’m sorry I never understood Chemistry. I’m sorry I could never grasp the Universe. I’m sorry I don’t do a science. Despite the fact that my tuition fees are paying for your liquid nitrogen and chemicals to (almost) blow up Chemistry, it is us Arts and Social Science students that incur the wrath of the scientists during exams. I’m sorry I chose a degree that has only one exam and finishes midMay, and I’m sure your five exams will be very hard, but it really isn’t my fault that you ended up trundling down the STEM train.
Chuka-out what I’m reading in Comment Rent increase reflects an uncaring attitude towards students - Page 12 Is now a good time for a general election? - Page 13 Students are even more selfish during exam period - Page 13
What the #editors are saying... When you’re in your final year of an English degree and you have to Google ‘poetry terms’
@caitlinbutt
Whilst we lock ourselves away in the library to finish our essays, you will be stuck trundling down to Coombe Dingle for 9:30am. And while this seems an injustice, please remember it’s not our fault. If I had a pound for every death threat I received from my esteemed Engineering peers, I could buy myself a nice holiday between my exams finishing and theirs. I fear for my wellbeing; I could end up with an extremely well-crafted explosive device being slipped under my door. Who can tell? Cameron Scheijde
OVERHEARD ON THE 16 BUS “I’m gonna put this on my insta, you owe me like 10 likes so get on that please”
Paul Nuttal has locked himself in a room in the latest installment of: ‘When Politics Was a Scene from The Thick of It’’ @StefanRollnick
“What’s saving the day this year?”
If I replaced internet shopping with revision I might actually get
“I’m so excited to sacrifice every last remnant of my personal integrity to the corporate void once I graduate.”
this degree @hanhanprice
Epigram
08.05.2017
12
Oh Bristol, where have all the Grad balls gone? Jessica Cripps mourns the lack of Grad ball for Bristol final years and hopes for better next year Jessica Cripps Comment writer
A number of Epigram’s editors enjoying the Epigram ball last term
Perhaps we only have ourselves to blame for the lack of Grad Ball fun
mishaps – of their last three years in style. Nottingham University dub their Grad Ball a ‘rite of passage’ – so are Bristol students missing out? Graduation is already an expensive affair as it is. Between the cost of robe hire, official graduation
photos, a nice meal and travelling all the family to Bristol, it would be easy to spend up to £1,000 on Graduation Day alone. As the cost of ball tickets are often above £30, adding a Grad ball ticket onto the cost of graduating may be too much for the last remnants of the student loan to cover. If, like the Law Ball in March 2017, the night is flop, it can feel like spending all that money was a waste. However, there’s always appetite to create lifelong memories in a last university shebang. The inclusivity of a more general Grad Ball may appeal to those with extensive friendship groups – after all, even if the food is great and the entertainment flawless, we all
know it is the people who make the night. There have been Bristol SU run Grad Balls in the past – the last appears to have been in 2011. Perhaps we only have ourselves to blame for the lack of Grad Ball fun: interest in SU hosted events often appears…well, underwhelming. But maybe there is hope for the future. The History Society have bucked the trend held up by Falstaff, the Bristol Jets and Aerospace for a more general ball, and marketed their own History Grad Ball on June 2. Will the class of 2018 see other societies follow suit?
The University does not value its students Scarlett Sherriff argues that we must support the strike against the commercialisation of education
Scarlett Sherriff Comment writer The news that rent fees for senior residents at Bristol will go up by 19.5 per cent across halls (and as much as 45 per cent in some cases) is the latest symptom of the commercialisation of education, which is fast turning places of scholarship into money-obsessed corporations. Bristol’s vice-chancellor earns over £250,000 annually - that’s more than the Prime Minister earns, yet the University won’t think twice about raising rent prices for financially struggling students with mounting debt. The University’s ‘strategy’ manifesto claims that ‘recognising the potential of our applicants has always been fundamental to our mission to recruit the most able students from the
most diverse backgrounds’, but recruitment is not enough. Students need to be supported throughout their time at Bristol, and this move undermines a principle that should surely be at the heart of every university, ensuring that every student is adequately funded and able to study without barriers. The fact that at the University of Bristol, 40 per
university is on the increase. Raising the rent for senior residents shows a complete disregard on the part of the university, for students who rely on it for their survival and who provide a vital means of pastoral support for first year undergraduates. It highlights that to the University, students are increasingly seen like the products in factories. One in, one out, produce us a profit. That’s the message this gives, to students and to shamefully underpaid academics. Meanwhile Caroline Court, Head of Student Residential Life, lives in a flat in Goldney Hall provided by the University for free according to a freedom of information request sought by Epigram. This seems ridiculous when senior residents, who also work for the University, are being all of a sudden treated with such mighty disregard. As a student and academic community we can’t stand in silence on this issue any longer.
The cost to education is too devastating. If all students are not given an equal chance, if the University continues on its slippery slope towards providing no means possible for its poorest students to fund themselves, what future is there for research? What future is there for our country? I repeat, our vice-chancellor earns more than the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and yet the University seems to care less and less about ensuring that students aren’t plunged into financial instability. It’s our obligation to support the senior residents, who reported to Epigram that they are going to strike this term. It is also our obligation to oppose any further measure to commercialise education, and to call our government to fund universities adequately. We aren’t totally naive consumers here to be manipulated; we are the future of our country.
Epigram
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The University seems to care less and less about ensuring that students aren’t plunged into financial instability
cent of students went to private school, when nationwide only 7 per cent of children go to private school, is surely damning enough without this clear blow to senior residents who are taking up the role precisely because they need a means to fund themselves. The least privileged senior residents may end up having to make up this rent hike by working extra hours at another part time job - leaving them with less time to study, compared with the privately educated 40 per cent. Senior resident Alex Cocker put it succinctly: ‘Senior residents are effectively paid through our rent reductions, so what this amounts to is a very significant pay cut to some of the most financially vulnerable students at the University.’ This rent hike might lead to shinier facilities, but that’s irrelevant if the University doesn’t aim to produce the best and the brightest. Imposing financial pressure on students is no way for the University to fulfil its supposed aim to enable ‘our students to be the best that they can be’. A new, fresh-smelling flat is useless if students are in tears because of time pressures or because they can’t afford to eat properly. Students are under enough pressure as it is and the stresses of tough degree programmes, the pressure to get the highest grade, as well as enhance one’s CV, takes it toll. According to an article published by The Independent in February 2017, ‘one in seven’ students ‘have been chased by debt collectors’. That’s astronomically high, and it’s no wonder whatsoever that the number of students suffering mental health problems at
Goldney hall is one of the most sought after halls of residence
Someone
While old school friends at Edinburgh, Southampton, Nottingham and beyond are toasting the end of their degrees in Grad Ball style, final year students at the University of Bristol will have to celebrate the end of their degrees in respective subject balls. While checking out your course mates in evening wear is certainly better than celebrating final submissions with a few pints, for those whose friendship groups are broader than their courses it may feel like there is no way to celebrate with everyone. Many courses and societies opt to not toast the end of the year with a formal event, and so many students are disappointed to miss out on a university ball experience altogether. The Grad Ball typically takes place after the end of exams and before the announcement of results, so students can celebrate the achievements – or
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For those whose friendship groups are broader than their courses it may feel like there is no way to celebrate with everyone
Alex Sheppard
Tuck away the textbooks for a night - it’s the time of year to pull out the prom dress or dust off the bowtie. That’s right, ball season is upon us. From society to hall hosted balls, there’s an opportunity for almost everyone to get together for a few chic photos in formal clothes at a fancy venue. But while we commemorate the end of our first years at the renowned Founders Ball, or Goldney Ball, Bristol’s formal scene is lacking a major title: the Grad Ball.
Epigram
08.05.2017
13
May is right: now is the time for a general election
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Ed Southgate defends May’s decision to hold a general election in June as necessary for stability Ed Southgate Comment writer In a move that shocked everyone, including members of her own cabinet, Theresa May called an anticipated snap general election. Much has been made about her presumed selfish intent, but this election comes at a prime time not just for strength and stability, but for democratic satisfaction. It is hard to discuss to this election without assuming victory for May; in this respect, of course, it is a perfect time for the Conservative Party. With some polls rating May’s popularity at 50% it is ludicrous to suggest that some selfinterest did not contribute to her decision. But this is not necessarily negative but natural; in a
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It is in both ours and the EU’s interest to have this general election
Conflicting opinions are necessary for democracy, but a secure majority is vital for stable government
It has been suggested that if Theresa May truly wanted to prove her mandate then she would have called an election as soon as she became Prime Minister. This is not the case. With the pound falling and the stock markets fluctuating in the weeks and months after the UK’s vote to leave the EU, it was in Britain’s interest for her to prioritise reassuring the financial world, stabilising Britain’s economy and developing a Brexit strategy to propose to the nation. Now that she and her government have steadied the Brexit ship, and now that she and her government have developed a clear and coherent Brexit strategy, it is prime time to ask Britain for their approval without the risk of the markets destabilising massively. Whilst she was right to call an election to strengthen her hand, she has, however, announced
it in a problematic way. Repeatedly insisting that there would be no snap election, this shock announcement fuels feelings of distrust towards politicians from all parties. But this can hardly be considered one of the most antagonising U-turns; she changed her mind after a sound and logical assessment of the current situation in the interests of the Conservatives and the future of Britain. Besides, many MPs who repeatedly called for her to call a general election upon becoming Prime Minister have now changed their tune significantly, with Labour’s Chuka Umunna ridiculously suggesting that this general election is symptomatic of a dictatorship. If Labour get wiped out it is because of their own incompetence within our democracy, not because we live in a dictatorship. An issue with the current timing, however, is that the campaigns will be very Brexit-centric, making it almost like a de facto ‘second referendum’. But most general elections are centred around a specific policy; the 2015 election, for example, was heavily influenced by the future of the NHS – what’s the difference when focusing on Brexit? Furthermore, we must remember that Brexit negotiations will be finishing in 2019, and, if not now, the next election would be in 2020. If these two events come too close together, we risk the parties splitting their focus between finalising a successful Brexit deal and getting the party machine ready for election campaigns. Westminster’s focus must be on securing a successful deal, and not be distracted by campaigns; we must get the election out of the way now.
Beyond campus I’m going to be completely honest. Usually someone rants in here. I’ve had a few days to think about a subject to exhaust this column on, but I just haven’t got the f***ing strength. I could use this space to chastise various international malignances - the Oompa Loompa in presidential office, Duterte’s blood-smeared hands, ISIS, the unremittant circus of UK politics, ibid, ibid, ibid - but I won’t, for two main reasons. The first reason: 150 words is not enough space to devote the vitriol that each of the aforementioned subjects deserves. The second reason: I trust that even those of you that lean to the right can see the shambolic instability of international politics at present. Blaise Pascal once said that humanity’s problems stem from the human’s inability to sit quietly, in a room, alone. Read into that what you will. A few thousand students, myself included (hence the lack of strength), have just finished their dissertations - exams loom, but following that the big wide world, s***e and all.
Linus Smith Flickr/Number 10
parliamentary democracy it is natural, indeed it is a primary aim, to want a clear majority – if the opportunity arises, any party would reasonably take it, especially in advance of such important negotiations and with an already slim majority. Responding largely to the polls, however, is not necessarily a sign of cynical selfishness; a stronger majority is beneficial in many respects. Theresa May will have more certainty and support in the House of Commons with pursuing her policies, which any stable government can reasonably want, and she is right to say that it will strengthen her hand when negotiating with the EU. Having a strong majority gives her a clear mandate, and therefore a confidence and power, in the negotiations. But the EU have also welcomed the election as they want May to have that strong majority too. They have noted that the negotiations would be much more stable if they had confidence that May’s proposals were not likely to constantly change at the whims of party interests, and they can only be certain of this if she has large support in Westminster. It is in both ours and the EU’s interest to have this general election, provided the outcome is as anticipated, to reach a deal that works for both of us. May has been criticised for supposedly defying democracy by reducing her opposition. Undoubtedly conflicting opinions are necessary
for democracy, but a secure majority is also vital for stable government. If the Conservatives won in 2015 with a three-figure majority, it would not be invalidated because there wasn’t ‘enough’ opposition seats – what’s the difference now? The election is a democratic process and will produce a democratic result to strengthen the credibility of Brexit talks.
Theresa May’s anticipated snap general election is set for June 8th this year
Resolving global problems is a mean task for any graduate, but I think we can all learn from Pascal. If in future the urge comes over you to splurge discriminatory bile, or cultivate doctrines of conceit and dogmas of violence, try just sitting quietly alone for a moment. Well done for graduating - all the best. Ed Fernyhough
Everyone hates a desk-hogger -- don’t be that person
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Lucy Thompson begs students not to be desk-hoggers during the already stressful revision period Lucy Thompson Comment writer It’s the height of exam season and students are embodying the stereotype of Germans and beach towels. You walk eagerly into the ASS library hoping for a seat only to find one occupied, not by a student, but by books and highlighters. Seat-hoggers are the scourge of student life, throwing down their belongings and then vacating the premises for hours on end while you stand there, desk-less. Dumping your textbooks for more than an hour in a packed library reveals a fundamental lack of basic etiquette. If you are outraged by this concept then you are the problem. I am not calling for students to be glued to their desks. By all means grab a coffee or fetch a book, but don’t treat the library seats like your second home in the Cotswold’s. I recently witnessed a girl defy all social norms by
moving work from a reserved seat to sit down, a bold act that should be applauded. Hours later the disgruntled seat-hogger returned, berating her and swearing under his breath. Yes, it’s annoying to lose your seat but you’re contributing to the library seat deficit and wasting library resources. Even worse people have been leaving their books overnight in order to beat the early morning rush.
Bristol...has introduced a gentler approach to the situation with ‘I’m Taking A Break’ cards
St Andrews had the right idea in 2015 with a system of parking tickets, issuing the statement that during exam time ‘any desk that has had unattended belongings left on it for at least an hour will have a yellow parking ticket placed on it. If another student is looking for a study space and sees a yellow ticket on a desk, they will be able to occupy the space for themselves’. Newcastle University is more extreme in its policy, stating in their regulations that belongings cannot be left for any amount of time in the libraries. This resulted in disaster for a student who left his work for 15 minutes to later find it in the bin. Bristol on the other hand has introduced a gentler approach to the situation with ‘I’m Taking A Break’ cards. These allow students to reserve desks when they are gone for 45 minutes or less. However, I’m yet to see this initiative being widely used and it seems a little futile when most people are using their books to reserve seats for their
indulgent three-hour lunch breaks.
A similar system to St. Andrews during exam time would be beneficial and free up more spaces for students I’m not suggesting we adopt the draconian methods of Newcastle, but a system similar to St Andrews during exam time would be beneficial and free up more spaces for students. There have been past attacks on freshers using libraries during exam time but the desk-hoggers are the real invisible enemy (can never find them), so please when you consider tossing your scruffy notes on a valuable space, just don’t.
Epigram 08.05.2017
14
Epigram brings you the general election... ... in memes
Epigram is recruiting! Want your voice to be heard by students all over Bristol?
We are looking for editors in all of our sections for next year! Go to our website for more details on how to apply: www.epigram.org.uk
“I love the dank memes in the Comment section� - Tony Blair (2002)
Epigram 08.05.2017
16
University Sponsored Content
Exam ready Find a Study Desk Find available desks in libraries and study centres, which are counted at regular intervals to suggest how busy study spaces are: www.bris.ac.uk/where-is-my Operating Monday-Friday until 2 June to support you through the Summer assessment revision period. Study Skills tutorials Drop-in tutorials for exams and revision Techniques run on Wednesdays and Fridays 1-2 pm in the Pod in Beacon House. There’s no need to book, just turn up. Tutorials run until 26 May. This is an opportunity to discuss your exam and revision techniques in a confidential, safe space with an experienced and professional tutor. Got a question you’re not sure if you should ask? This is the place to ask it! bristol.ac.uk/studyskills What to do if things go wrong If you’re affected by illness or unexpected events during the assessment period, see the Student Guide to Extenuating Circumstances and the Students’ Health Service for help and support. www.bristolsu.org.uk/justask/extenuating-circumstances Preparing for your exams We wish you all the best in your exams - make sure you’re ready and have the information you need. Before your exam make sure you’re ready and have the information you need. Make sure you know what is and what is not expected of you in an exam and read our Code of Conduct for Examinations. More guidance is available at www. bristol.ac.uk/directory/exams/exam-day. 1. Check your timetable StudentInfo will show you the time of your individual exams and clicking on the venue name will give a Google Map. 2. Make sure you’ve got your Student UCard You are required to bring it to all your examinations and display it on your desk so an invigilator can check it. 3. Desk numbering You will be allocated a numbered desk you must sit at. Check your number on the list posted outside each exam venue about 30 minutes before the exam is due to start.
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Stepping outside your comfort zone As exams loom and final years start to look ahead to graduation, Music student Ping Bai looks back on his time at Bristol and what he’s learned inside and outside the classroom. My first impressions of the University were very strong – the open day was welcoming and I was immediately impressed with the sights of the city and the Victoria Rooms building, which holds the music department. Music also ranked first in the year I was applying and it continues to stand in the top five in recent years. I like the broadness of the course, the strong calibre of the staff and its international reputation. Underground culture You can feel very involved and right at the cutting edge of society whilst never being too far away from the peace and quiet of the numerous parks and green spaces.
The university is an energetic, fun and exciting place to be. With music you are constantly involved with productions and concerts – there are endless opportunities to participate.
I enjoy the heritage of underground culture in Bristol. You will never be bored to find new and exciting things to do! My favourite place to explore is Stokes Croft with lots of independent bars and restaurants. Expanding horizons The opportunity to take open units outside of my immediate field of study meant I could draw on the vast pool of knowledge from across the University and this really expanded my academic horizons.
Our three-day ‘Music hack’ in partnership with Radio 6 Music and UWE was an opportunity to see how music can be linked to social enterprise – it was a real learning curve! In a team we developed an app featuring an interactive map of Bristol with GPS tags showing points of cultural and musical interest. University has pushed my boundaries and has encouraged me to probe outside of my comfort zone both academically and in how I can apply what I’ve learned in the real world. Future steps The University has strong links with Teach First and I’ve been informed about their graduate opportunities since I started. I have now received an offer to participate in their leadership development graduate programme. Music performances are conducted throughout the year – see www.bristol.ac.uk/music/events.
Look to the skies for the launch of our new hot air balloon Did you know the University has its own hot air balloon? If you’ve ever been to the annual International Balloon Fiesta you might have seen our trademark red envelope (the technical term for the fabric part of a hot air balloon!) already. This summer we are happy to introduce our brand new balloon, created by local experts Cameron Balloons and to be flown by our fantastic ballooning society, BUHABS. You can find more about BUHABS on the Students’ Union website. Follow #UoBBalloon on Twitter and Instagram for more photos and ballooning facts – and share your best snaps of the balloon over the city.
University Sponsored Content
Epigram 08.05.2017
16
University Sponsored Content
Exam ready Find a Study Desk Find available desks in libraries and study centres, which are counted at regular intervals to suggest how busy study spaces are: www.bris.ac.uk/where-is-my Operating Monday-Friday until 2 June to support you through the Summer assessment revision period. Study Skills tutorials Drop-in tutorials for exams and revision Techniques run on Wednesdays and Fridays 1-2 pm in the Pod in Beacon House. There’s no need to book, just turn up. Tutorials run until 26 May. This is an opportunity to discuss your exam and revision techniques in a confidential, safe space with an experienced and professional tutor. Got a question you’re not sure if you should ask? This is the place to ask it! bristol.ac.uk/studyskills What to do if things go wrong If you’re affected by illness or unexpected events during the assessment period, see the Student Guide to Extenuating Circumstances and the Students’ Health Service for help and support. www.bristolsu.org.uk/justask/extenuating-circumstances Preparing for your exams We wish you all the best in your exams - make sure you’re ready and have the information you need. Before your exam make sure you’re ready and have the information you need. Make sure you know what is and what is not expected of you in an exam and read our Code of Conduct for Examinations. More guidance is available at www. bristol.ac.uk/directory/exams/exam-day. 1. Check your timetable StudentInfo will show you the time of your individual exams and clicking on the venue name will give a Google Map. 2. Make sure you’ve got your Student UCard You are required to bring it to all your examinations and display it on your desk so an invigilator can check it. 3. Desk numbering You will be allocated a numbered desk you must sit at. Check your number on the list posted outside each exam venue about 30 minutes before the exam is due to start.
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Stepping outside your comfort zone As exams loom and final years start to look ahead to graduation, Music student Ping Bai looks back on his time at Bristol and what he’s learned inside and outside the classroom. My first impressions of the University were very strong – the open day was welcoming and I was immediately impressed with the sights of the city and the Victoria Rooms building, which holds the music department. Music also ranked first in the year I was applying and it continues to stand in the top five in recent years. I like the broadness of the course, the strong calibre of the staff and its international reputation. Underground culture You can feel very involved and right at the cutting edge of society whilst never being too far away from the peace and quiet of the numerous parks and green spaces.
The university is an energetic, fun and exciting place to be. With music you are constantly involved with productions and concerts – there are endless opportunities to participate.
I enjoy the heritage of underground culture in Bristol. You will never be bored to find new and exciting things to do! My favourite place to explore is Stokes Croft with lots of independent bars and restaurants. Expanding horizons The opportunity to take open units outside of my immediate field of study meant I could draw on the vast pool of knowledge from across the University and this really expanded my academic horizons.
Our three-day ‘Music hack’ in partnership with Radio 6 Music and UWE was an opportunity to see how music can be linked to social enterprise – it was a real learning curve! In a team we developed an app featuring an interactive map of Bristol with GPS tags showing points of cultural and musical interest. University has pushed my boundaries and has encouraged me to probe outside of my comfort zone both academically and in how I can apply what I’ve learned in the real world. Future steps The University has strong links with Teach First and I’ve been informed about their graduate opportunities since I started. I have now received an offer to participate in their leadership development graduate programme. Music performances are conducted throughout the year – see www.bristol.ac.uk/music/events.
Look to the skies for the launch of our new hot air balloon Did you know the University has its own hot air balloon? If you’ve ever been to the annual International Balloon Fiesta you might have seen our trademark red envelope (the technical term for the fabric part of a hot air balloon!) already. This summer we are happy to introduce our brand new balloon, created by local experts Cameron Balloons and to be flown by our fantastic ballooning society, BUHABS. You can find more about BUHABS on the Students’ Union website. Follow #UoBBalloon on Twitter and Instagram for more photos and ballooning facts – and share your best snaps of the balloon over the city.
University Sponsored Content
Epigram
08.05.2017
Letters
@EpigramLetters
Editor: Claire Hargreaves letters@epigram.org.uk
Group work does not make the dream work Claire Hargreaves Letters Editor I want to talk about group work – possibly the least popular form of studying and assessment at university. In theory, it is the most wonderful prospect to work with others who share a passion for your common subject, to produce something academically exemplary, from intellectual discussions of which you can be equally proud. Before coming to university, these
discussions and projects are what you imagine university will be like: intellectual, inspired, and profound. However, the reality is that group work is unproductive, and ends up pissing off more people than anything. There is always that person who takes the lead but who ends up doing all the
You’re gonna do great
Whatever your reasoning for getting freaked out at the word ‘exam’, it is all totally normal. Sitting exams is a very pressured time and for many students, the next few weeks have a lot riding on them. While there can be no doubt exams are important however, they are not the end of the world and many people build them up to be. It is so important to have faith in yourself and your abilities but also to remember that if things do go a bit wrong then there is always a plan B.
There is also still plenty of time to ask for help with areas of the course you may be struggling with. Ask friends, lecturers or your personal tutor. Everyone has been in the frustrating situation where you just can’t seem to make sense of what you’re doing and asking for help sooner rather than later is always better. There is nothing more reassuring than finally understanding a piece of work that you’ve been struggling with so long. Many students just find exams stressful because they are exams and there can be a lot riding on the result. And of course making yourself relax is always easier said than done. However, if exam
that exams are daunting. Between the years 2013 and 2015 when I was sitting GCSEs and A Levels, I would dread the summer season, having nightmares over what might happen if I f lunked out. And, like most people, there were a couple of exams I didn’t do as well in as I’d hoped. But with the proper
preparation it all worked out and I’m not at the university I’ve always wanted to be at. It is of course important to work hard and prepare properly for exams. However, if you are finding yourself overwhelmed with stress, then it is also important to remember that they are not the end of the world.
University of Bristol
“ ‘You will have taken in more than you think over the year’
‘There is always a plan B and things are never as bad as they might seem in the moment’
stress is wearing you down then it is important to take some time out. While doing twelve hours of revision a day may feel productive, it is often not the most beneficial. Allowing yourself to relax and be with friends for an hour or two can often do a lot of good. I know from my own experiences
Flickr / Jenny Tabrum
Amazingly exam season is already upon us. I know most us, me included, feel like the year has only just begun, and yet here we are with the summer exams only a few weeks away. For many students exam season can be an extremely stressful time and for a variety of reasons. Some of us may have whittled away the Easter holidays, only to come back and find that everyone else is half way through their revision. Some of us may have spent the holidays realising that they don’t understand anything their lecturer has been harping on about for the last nine months, and some of us may just find exams stressful.
If you have spent your Easter holidays doing more play and less work, then you still have time to turn it around. Try and remember that you will have taken in more than you think over the year. It can be very difficult to remember to stay calm when you feel as though you are drowning with work, but just remember to take each day at a time and break down your work into doable sections. Often the most daunting part of revision is actually starting it. Once you’ve done that you are likely to find getting your head down much easier.
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Ellie Chesshire Letters Writer
Epigram / Claire Hargreaves
“ ‘The worth of summative group work needs to be seriously challenged’
important elements of the project. Then there is that person who never replies on the purpose-made group chat and just about turns up on the day of the presentation to muddle their way through something that someone else has scripted for them. Ultimately, it is almost impossible for a group project to be entirely equal. Of course, there will be a natural leader and others who need that extra bit of encouragement. However, it is too common that group work becomes a farce, with one person taking on the major responsibilities and others slacking more than they should. Moreover, group work fails to account for different learning styles and abilities. Although it is important for students to learn to work professionally and academically with a range of people, it seems unfair that this could lead to a worse mark and ultimately even a worse degree. The worth of summative group work needs to be seriously challenged, so that some students do not end up being taken advantage, and the laziest amongst us do not end up getting a get-out-of-jail-free card.
We asked, you said...
Following Bristol SU’s red light ranking for its level of censorship, we asked you what you thought Does Bristol deserve the red light rank for censorship? YES: 80% NO: 20%
Total voters: 40
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Living Well Being Travel Style Food What’s On
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Editor Johnny Thalassites
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Online Editor Lucy Thompson
Deputy Editor Saskia Hume
living@epigram.org.uk
saskia.hume@epigram.org.uk
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Epigram Living Section 2016/17
A sermon: on the end Lucky Dube is back - and he’s in melancholic mood. The incoming Student Living Officer recognises like few others the uniqueness of the university bubble
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become accustomed. What would’ve seemed novel, random walks to the downs, or the suspension bridge, spontaneous trips to the pub, coffee dates with friends and suitors, becomes normal. The values imbued within you in the 18/19 years previous will be called into question by the university’s culture: the moment you arrive, you begin to change, you begin to grow.
In the act of looking back is a recognition that something is about to end
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Looking back at previous experiences has always struck me as a very sad thing to do. In the act of looking back is a recognition that something is about to end; you look back to console yourself of the end to which you are approaching, to evaluate it. I recall speaking to my flatmate on an ordinary evening, in the first weeks of 1st year, and he said something that stuck me as very sad indeed
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What would’ve seemed novel...becomes normal
– he said, ‘I’m really going to make the most out of uni. I know these will be the best days of my life.’ Although I disagree with the view that university is the best part of anyone’s life because you cannot possibly know if it is until your entire life is behind you, but it appears to me now that he was saying something else. He was recognising that there’s something extraordinary about the environment we have chosen to be a part of. Extraordinary insofar as the freedom, the constant intellectual stimulation, and the wealth of experiences on offer is something that will, for the most part, be lost as soon as we leave, and join the world of work. This is a unique time and it is important that we, as students immerse outselves in the breadth and diversity of opportunities that are avilable to us.
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Now - the end - is a time typified by lasts: the last time you’ll slave over a piece of work before a deadline, the last house party, the last time you’ll sit through a lecture
Now – the end – is a time that typified by lasts: the last time you’ll slave over a piece of work before a deadline, the last house party, the last time you’ll sit through a lecture. These are all moments of deep melancholy, but it would be defeatist to leave with the view that your best days are behind you. Although the university environment has its issues that I hope to ameliorate over the coming year as your elected Student Living Officer, there’s something about the bubble, the sense that the university is, as it were, its own eco system, that I’ll miss. The end, ultimately, is a time of reflection: a reflection on the experiences you’ve had that culminates, hopefully, in the view that it was all worth it.
Flickr/Jonathan Potter Epigram/Lucky Dube
When we arrive at university, after our parents or guardians leave, we partially unpack some our belongings, we head out into the communal area of our dwelling for the year and attempt to befriend our flatmates. This time is typified by firsts: for some, the first time away from home, they first time living without parental influence, the first time in a club, the first time cooking for yourself. The first few weeks stands as an introduction to experiences to which you will likely depend, and to which you will
Uni is about so much more than hitting the books
The ‘Dube Doctrine’ - We unpack some of our belongings; -We head out into the communal area of our first year dwellings; - We attempt to befriend our housemates; - This is a time of firsts, and - Some of our best days are right now.
The end of the line Living Editor Johnny Thalassites and Deputy Living Editor Saskia Hume reminisce about what they’ll miss most at Bristol, whilst Online Editor Lucy Thompson looks ahead to her third year at Bristol Johnny
Lucy
It’s pretty easy to know what I won’t miss from my time at Bristol - the 16 bus, walking up Park Street and trying to find a seat in the ASS in exam period to name a few. But it’s harder to decide what I’ll mist the most, because there really is so much. Above all, it’ll be living in the city itself. As a girl who grew up in a tiny village with no shop and an incredibly unreliable bus service, Bristol has just the right amount of green spaces to make me feel at home. You can easily escape to the leafy streets of Clifton, yet if you want a buzzy atmosphere the triangle is just around the corner. It’s definitely a comforting city, rather than an intimidating one. Once I hand in my dissertation and final essay I plan to stay in Bristol as long as possible, exploring the city and making the most of it before it’s time to pack up and leave.
A familiar Clifton sight that we’ll be sad to leave behind
The final year of university is a source of dread for many university students. More work, more pressure and everyone badgering you with the daunting question - ‘what are you going to do next?’ This aside, I am genuinely excited for my third year of university. Due to the fact that there is a finite amount of time left I think it will push me to go to different societies and events that I’ve always wanted to try - rather than just the generic club nights you can find in any city (will still be a loyal customer of Donervan’s). Next year I am hoping to take a more an active role in Epigram as a member of the senior team, writing more articles, investigating stories and making my mark on the newspaper, no matter how small. Lastly, I am actually looking forward to doing some work. I’ve moaned about my degree solidly for two years but in reality reading novels and attending tutorials is far more interesting than the dull office job I might have to take when I leave university. In final year there is more opportunity to study what actually fascinates you within the degree. It will be last time I am a student in Bristol so I can’t wait to explore the city further, meet more people and make the most of it! Flickr/Nicole Beauchamp Flickr/RIchard Sandoval
Pixabay/diego_torres
Coming to university has been the greatest experience of my life. It has its stresses and worries, deadlines and relationships, but it also has its triumphs and beauties - first class grades and finding love. I’m lucky because I’ve (once) had a first class grade and I’ve (once) had someone I really care about. Part of growing into adulthood at university, where we are exposed to so much that is new, is about making mistakes and learning from them. For me, that has meant sometimes leaving work too late, or not doing myself justice on coursework. That has also meant, for me, sometimes letting insecurities and anxieties affect things that I think are special, occasionally hurting people I value. Every student has his/her/their own experience of university, and of what it means to flee the nest. That is why university can be an equalizer; we are all in the same boat, experiencing similar things in parallel. Meeting so many people, I’ve gained appreciation of important, different (increasingly liberal) perspectives at university and often my beliefs have evolved as a result. The most significant thing I’ve learned lately, however, is that it is OK to ‘just feel’ something, and that it is OK to be vulnerable. I think that message is important. But I will miss all that I have experienced here, and I will remember all I’ve learned.
Saskia
08.05.2017
21
The £5 for five days food diary challenge A brave student, Rosa, tells Epigram Living about the trials and tribulations of surviving on £1 per day for a week for charity Day One:
The Rules • Food and drink could not be donated by
I began eating lots and lots of porridge and for dinner I had carrot and broccoli soup, using less than half of a carrot and just a little bit of broccoli stem (it was very watery and lacking in flavour).
other people or sources • Garden produce had to be costed
What I learned... It’s really hard for people living below the poverty line to factor in all costs. Time and planning are very important. Living with the worry, however, of running out of money is genuinely terrifying. Wasting food is genuinely upsetting. Living for a few days in this way helped me to reconnect with our food and its importance. We need food to live - so it should not be considered ‘fashionable’ to eat certain foods. (Editor’s note: shoutout to all you quinoa-quaffing, kale-munching Lefties)
Seed n’ oats
Day Three: I spent lunchtime on a train, so packed two dry bean burgers and a bottle of water. It was extremely bland, and so very, very dry. For dinner I made a huge curry to last til Friday.
Day Four: I’d been saving my mushrooms for the last day so I could have a yummy breakfast. I had curry and bread for dinner which blew the roof of my mouth off!
Day Five: So far, £1000 has been raised... if you want to donate, too, then go on:
https://child.org/rosy-pound-a-day
Epigram/Rosa
Epigram/Rosa
But it was amazing to see just how much my attitudes towards food changed over just five days - I would recommend the challenge to all Living readers.
I decided I would get cooking for the week ahead. I cooked a small loaf of bread and two smaller buns from my seeded bread mix. The bread took about three hours to make.
Epigram/Rosa
Epigram/Rosa
A hearty meal
Day Two:
Snackin’
Custard Creams 45p 1 Banana 11p 3 Mushrooms 27p 2 carrots 24p 1 broccoli 32p 1 sweet potato 44p 1 box chopped tomatoes 30p 1 bag mixed beans 1.15p 1 seeded bread mix (flour, seeds and yeast) 75p 1 bag oats 80p Oil (store cupboard) 5p Salt and Pepper (store cupboard) 5p Cayenne Pepper (store cupboard) 5p Parsley (from garden) 2p Total: £5.00
Epigram/Rosa
• All food and drink must be accounted for
Food for the soul
I bought:
Howbow dah?
I cooked:
• Porridge (loads) • Carrot and broccoli soup (x2) • Carrot and ‘bean water’ soup • Seeded bread (loaf and 2 buns) • Bean Burgers • Sweet Potato, Bean and Broccoli curry (4 meals worth) • Mushrooms on toast
I’ve come to the end of my five days on £5 and feel like I learnt a lot. I feel like I’ve reconnected with food somewhat, am now more aware of some of the daily struggles that people living below the line have to endure.
I’ve come to the end of my five days on £5 and I feel like I learn alot. I feel like I’ve reconnected with food somewhat, and am now more aware of some of the daily struggles people living below the line have to endure.
Bristol’s best cinemas Bristol’s well known as a cultural hub and this extends into its plethora of cinemas around the city. We explored a few of them to help you make your choice
Everyman
Scott Orpheus
Watershed showcases a brilliant section of independent and mainstream films , overlooking Bristol’s Harbourside. It picks up on the films that other cinemas neglect and opens your eyes to a plethora of international and independent films , for example I saw the lesser known Israeli drama ‘Next to Her’, screened last year. The seats are comfy and it is attached to a bar/restaurant to grab some snacks from - with 30% off main courses on Tuesdays! The staff are friendly and the prices are extremely reasonable - if you are 24 or under you can see any screening at any time for £4.50.
Flickr/Heather Cowper
It’s relatively new to White ladies but Everyman is truly the titan of Bristol’s cinemas. It opened last year, rescuing the derelict Whiteladies Picture House, which was opened in 1921 and formerly had a restaurant, ballroom and billiard room. While the interior is modern and luxurious, the company has managed to preserve the historic features and atmosphere of the old art-deco cinema. The best part about Everyman is its plush red seats with amply leg- room that you can share with your friend or cinema-date, and the food and drinks that are brought to your seat before the movie begins. There is a yummy selection of burgers, sundaes , hot-dogs , cocktails and make-your-own sundaes to indulge in while you watch the latest releases. The only catch is the price. At off-peak times you can nab yourself a £11.40 student ticket but standard adult price is £13.40 , making it one of the more expensive cinemas. However, if you fancy treating yourself this is the place to go.
Watershed
The watershed cinema lies right on the harbourfront
If you’re a fresher living in Stoke Bishop, a second year living at the top of Redland, or just anyone looking for a cheap evening out, Scott Orpheus cinema is a great choice. It’s a hidden gem, located just accross the Downs in Westbury park, just ten minutes walk from Stoke Bishop. It’s also next to the Waitrose superstore, which is ideal for buying pre-movie snacks, although the cinema does offer the usual pickings of sweets, chocolate, popcorn and ice-cream if you’re happy to spend a bit more. Don’t let the terrible 60’s exterior of the building put you off, inside the cinema is comfy and cosy, with three screens showing a wide range of movies. It may not always have the big block busters, but if you fancy watching something a bit different this is the perfect place for you. As well as movies they also show screenings of live theatre performances, ballets, musicals etc. Check online for the current listings! With adult tickets starting from only £5.50 for a 2D viewing, its also great value for money. For a student on a budget this has to be your top cinema pick.
08.05.2017
22
Love is blind Epigram Living has a bumper issue of blind dates to round off the year. First, we have Paddy and Chloe for you...they went to the cat pub, Bag o’Nails. But will the cat get the cream after this date? Paddy Stewart Paddy thinks Chloe would ‘probably be a cat’if she were an animal and says that her best feature is ‘her eyes’.
What were your first impressions? PS: ‘She was late, but I quickly forgave her when she was very open and chatty from the beginning’ CC: ‘I was really panicked about being late to the date, so my first impression was that he didn’t seem really angry about that, which was good’ What did you talk about? PS: ‘The scary amount of skulls in her room; her love for bears and wolves and all animals; and her grandparents’ house in France where she spends lots of time chasing after deer’ CC: ‘Law, travelling and food’
Chloe Cole Chloe reckons Paddy would be a ‘squirrel’if he was an animal and says her perfect partner (listen up, fellas) would be F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Were there any awkward moments? PS: ‘Don’t think there were any awkward moments - chat flowed well’ CC: ‘I never really think before I speak, and so I accidentally blurted out way too ealry about the boar’s head I have in my room’ Describe your date in three words. PS: ‘Pretty, crazy and good craic’ CC: ‘Interesting, funny, Irish?’ Would you see them again? PS: ‘Yeah, I’d happily meet up with her again’ CC: ‘He lives across the road, so would be difficult not to’ Would you introduce them to parents? PS: ‘She seems just about crazy enough to keep up with my friends, so yes. Mum wanted to see a picture of her as soon as I told her I was going on a date, so mum is keen to be introduced!’ CC: ‘My mum would probably fancy him because she likes rugby players, so that could be weird - but yes’
Rating out of 10 PS: 8.7/10
What happened at the end of the date? PS: ‘Chloe had an essay to write, but luckily we lived close by so just walked to our houses’ CC: ‘I had to go and write an essay, so we had a really chaste hug.
Rating out of 10 CC: 8/10
Epigram Living also sent Online Living Editor, Lucy Thompson, to the Bag o’Nails, where she met Jamie. There may be cats galore at the date, but will our singletons make one another purr? Jamie Nugent Jamie feels like Lucy would be an ‘ocelot’if she was an animal and most likes her ‘self awareness’- especially on the topic of ‘social smokers’.
What were your first impressions? JN: ‘I coult tell she was an easy-going person, aware of the world and other people. She started with a smile, which she barely dropped even when conversation turned to more serious issues’ LT: ‘I was worried about introdcuing myself to the wrong person! He seemed friendly and nice on first impression’
Lucy Thompson Lucy claims Jamie would be a ‘meerkat if he were an animal’ and wants a ‘laid-back partner’.
What did you talk about? JN: ‘Mental health, sport (or lack of) and the benefits of an English degree’ LT: ‘Tab/Epigram differences, social smoking and a woman who visited every single Spoons’ Did you lie about anything? JN: ‘I tried not to lie, even when it might have made her uncomfortable...’ LT: ‘Played down how much I wanted cheesy chips from Turtle Bay’ Describe your date in three words. JN: ‘Talkative, thoughtful and flexible’ LT: ‘Interesting, chatty and opinionated’ Would you see them again? JN: ‘I would certainly like to’ LT: ‘Maybe as friends’ Would you introduce them to parents? JN: ‘I think most of my friends would like her, and vice versa. Compared to the other girls I’ve introduced to my parents, I think my mum would like her the best’ LT: ‘Probably, he seemed easy going’
Rating out of 10 JN: 8/10
What happened at the end of the date? JN: ‘She gave me her number, we hugged and went home’ LT: ‘We walked home together’
Rating out of 10 LT: 7/10
Editor Tianna Graham
Online Editor Flora Doble
Need some help? Student counselling service: tianna.graham@epigram.org.uk flora.doble@epigram.org.uk 0117 954 6655
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@EpigramWB
08.05.2017
From the editors to our readers and wonderful contributors during our first year in Epigram
Epigram Wellbeing
What happens to us after we graduate from uni? poor mental health?
(Anonymous)
I wondered what it would do to your mental health, when a body of work is considered more important than your own body.
”
”
Your supervisors had it worse – and they’ll tell you that themselves – but with the national completion rate of PhDs at around 40%, is this attitude helping students? Current academics were pushed to breaking point on their PhDs, and some have chosen to continue to do the same to their students, in a kind of academic “hazing”. However, their PhDs were undertaken at a time when mental health or working smarter, instead of harder, was not yet recognised. The current approach now seems old fashioned and out-dated. These attitudes extend to personal and professional development opportunities provided to PGRs to help them with their studies which are underused – perhaps students are fearful of being seen to be asking for help.
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”
I decided to talk to some fellow PGRs to hear about their experiences. These conversations often began the same – with a joke, usually at their own expense, about how “everything’s going terribly, but don’t worry I’m absolutely fine”. Cue crazy, staring eyes. Do you laugh, when someone is obviously struggling, when it’s not funny? I didn’t. What I came to realise was that for a lot of PGRs, this was the first time the normality of struggling with mental health had been questioned. This left them visibly deflated, but from there, they opened up about their experience. One PGR, Emily, recounts how she suffered with anaemia whilst doing research, because her experiments required fresh human blood, so she was expected to take her own and get on with it. The PhD is given higher status than her. I wondered what it would do to your mental health, when a body of work is considered more important than your own body. Whilst other PGRs sacrifices might be blood, sweat and tears in a more metaphorical sense, the sacrifice of mental wellbeing expected during a PhD is ever-present. When you apply for a PhD, you are expected to sacrifice a work/life balance. I’m left feeling isolated: undergrads tell me I’m lucky I get paid, professionals tell me I’m lucky to have flexibility and the possibility of travel, yet often I don’t feel lucky. If a researcher begins to struggle, they may find themselves in an abyss – without the rights and support of academic staff receive, so left with the student support, which is heavily geared towards undergraduate study. As you are undertaking novel research, by definition, there is no one doing the same as you. You are not in the same boat as anyone, but at least everyone else’s boat is sinking too? A change in the whole culture surrounding academia is required to stop the normalisation of poor mental health in PGRs. This may improve PhD completion rates, but more importantly, it might improve their wellbeing.
As I’m very aware of how difficult I find the summer months, I’m usually mulling over in the back of my brain how I can make it better, from as early as January. Maybe if I cram the whole holiday with plans, there’s a chance that it will be okay? But, as with many things related to mental health, it can be more helpful to try and change thought patterns than drastically change what you do. I can spend summers counting down the days to when uni starts again, instead of appreciating the present, which only leads to more worry when there’s so much time still to go. There are a few things which have made the summer holidays more bearable in the past for me, and could help you if you find yourself in a similar position. The most important thing for me, is trying to see the summer as a positive time, rather than letting negativity influence my experiences from the beginning. Summer holidays can be the perfect time to focus on more personal goals and devote time to hobbies that don’t get a look in during the term. Whether it’s starting a new sport, brushing up on a language or taking classes in art or photography, all the free time of the summer can be a real opportunity to pursue your interests, which can have positive impacts on your mental health. It can also be useful to organise things to look forward to periodically throughout the summer, to break up the months into smaller chunks of time. Instead of looking forward to the end of the summer, you can look forward to seeing a friend or going on an exciting holiday or day trip instead. Perhaps the smallest, but often the most difficult thing to do, is confide in a friend or family member. If someone else is aware that you find the holidays hard, they’ll be looking out for you too, which could make all the difference!
Flickr / MICOLO
At a time when talking about mental health is becoming more mainstream, why is poor PGR mental health still normalised? Post-graduate researchers (PGRs) have the worst mental health of any group at a university, yet this is often seen as a fundamental part of doing a PhD. Worse still, there is a bravado surrounding the poor mental health, with missing meals and working late nights and weekends thrown around casually as badges of honour. These things come from the top – a culture of sacrificing mental health for research. I’ve heard of being looked at suspiciously for taking a lunch break, and no-one I’ve met has taken anywhere near the recommended amount of holiday for a PGR. Simply because doing these things, which may help your mental health, would make you appear weak. Like prey animals, PGRs are taught to mask any sign of weakness.
As soon as the Easter holidays ends, it seems like everyone in any sort of education is dreaming ahead and counting down to the best time of the school year – summer. In a way reminiscent of the scene at the beginning of High School Musical 2, people excitedly make plans for festivals and holidays, relishing in the upcoming freedom. The very concept of summer is romanticised as a glittery, carefree time, filled with the best memories and characterised as the epitome of happiness. So, if you aren’t happy during the summer, when everyone seems to be at their best, it can feel very isolated. Every year, for as long as I can remember, I have dreaded the summer holidays. The vast expanse of time with no direction or purpose fills me with anxiety, with depression often finding a way to worm itself in to all the extra unoccupied brain space. It can be a very lonely time, if most of your friends are from university and not local when you go home, or if you have a bad home situation to return to. Often there’s a stark contrast between term time, which is filled with impromptu socialising, independence and the constant juggling of priorities, to the holidays which can seem like a metaphorical wasteland in comparison. This is further exacerbated by the length of the summer holidays at uni, with some subjects having a three to four month gap between their last exam and fresher’s week.
What about life after graduation? Gina Lloyd (3rd Year Student) Graduation is less than 3 months away. It’s a scary prospect for all of us currently in our final year. Maybe even scarier than the final exams we are about to sit. To no longer have that safety net, that excuse, to live the student lifestyle and enjoy that freedom of no set routine. That all ends in one ceremony and we are thrust definitively in to the adult world come July with very little else but a few more letters after our names. We will suddenly be faced with very real, very grownup issues of jobs and housing, with no large institution or student service to back us up. Add on to this my mental illness, I think you can see why I’m so terrified. Because I know leaving university will either be amazing or absolutely devastating to my mental health. Best case scenario, it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
Flickr / Alan Light
Catherine Lawler (3rd Year PhD Student)
I’m left feeling isolated.
I dread the summer holidays
Leaving toxic relationships, my occasional weekday drinking habit, and the stress of deadlines behind will do me the world of good. The stability of my parents’ house and my steady job could provide the structure my life has been lacking recently. I could flourish under that safe environment and somehow, finally get my illness under some control … Or I could not. Transitions are difficult especially for those of us that have Bipolar Disorder. The last big transition of my life was coming to Bristol, and that was the trigger for the most severe manic episode I’ve suffered so far. I was loud, didn’t sleep, drank heavily and took risks I still shudder to think of. Quite honestly I was a nightmare to be around.
”
Why do post-graduate researchers have such
Transitions are difficult especially for those of us that have Bipolar Disorder
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It all culminated in the Christmas of first year in a very public meltdown that ended with security in our halls and me alienating a lot of people. It took a good year to rebuild those friendships and my reputation. What if that all happened again? What if moving cities again was the trigger to cause another manic episode? Now that I have more to lose it could be even worse, I wouldn’t be able to hold down a job like that. I’m scared because I just don’t know what way this is going to go. I won’t know what will happen until I get there. I guess for all of us life after graduation is a leap in to the unknown. We know there will be that gorgeous, teary day in the middle of July. We know we’ll wear our gowns and be with the people that became friends over the past three years. But after that, then what? How hard is it going to be to get a job? How long will it be until we can actually afford houses and weddings and children? Will any of us actually use our degrees? Only time will tell.
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Editor Ellie Donnell
Deputy Editor Hugo Lebus
Online Editor Jane Cowie
edonnell@epigram.org.uk
hlebus@epigram.org.uk
jcowie@epigram.org.uk
Join us at: Epigram Food Section 2016/17
08.05.2017
Follow us at: epigram_eats_out
10 ways to save time in the kitchen No time? No problem. As exam season hits, Hannah Keel gives us her top 10 hacks for saving time in the kitchen During this busy term of seemingly endless deadlines and revision, it’s so tempting to order your favourite takeaway by the time you crawl home from the library. However it’s the most important time of year to be eating well, and with a few tips and tricks, cooking doesn’t need to be a chore! Putting a tiny bit of time and effort into your down time will really pay off when you’re stressed and in need of some fuel. Follow these ten simple tricks so that you can stock up your freezer and whip up proper meals in no time at all!
Plan your meals for the week and make a shopping list Epigram/ Sasha Semple
Being organised with your food definitely pays off when trying to save time. Make a list of meals to last you a week, including how many portions you should get from that dish so that you don’t spend ages staring into the fridge wondering what to cook! Then you can make a list and buy exactly what you need so it’s all ready and waiting.
Batch cook
Epigram: Satellitepr Flickr/ Tracy Benjamin
Choose meals like pasta sauces or curries which you can cook in bulk to last a few meals, meaning you can make three or four meals in the time spent to make one. Either store in the fridge for up to four days or freeze individual portions which you can take out the freezer in the morning to be defrosted by dinner time.
Squash garlic before peeling it Peeling those pesky garlic cloves can be frustrating and time consuming, but by crushing the clove with the flat side of your knife you release the garlic from the skin and it should just fall off. Done in a matter of seconds!
Keep the root on the onion whilst chopping it Cut your onion in half and remove the skin, but keep the root intact. Then cut along the grain of the onion. It won’t fall apart and you’ll end up with an evenly diced onion. Perfection!
Speed up softening your veg with a splash of water Once you’ve got the veg in the pan with a splash of oil it can
feel like an age until they soften. Try adding a glug of water and covering with a lid so that you steam the veg as well as fry them! They’ll soften much more quickly and be ready for your sauce (or your mouth!).
Roll lemons and limes on the counter before juicing Save all the effort of squeezing the juice out of a lemon or lime by rolling them on the counter first. This releases the juice before you cut into it making it much easier and quicker
to get every last juicy drop!
Microwave your rice! First, rinse the rice then place it in a microwave proof bowl covered with boiling water. Cover with cling film, make a few holes with a knife and pop in the microwave for ten minutes. No need to watch it or stir it! That’s ten extra minutes to go through that last little bit of revision whilst you wait for your perfect f luffy rice!
Freeze breadcrumbs and grated cheese for easy sprinkling Both bread and dairy freeze really well, so by keeping a bag of breadcrumbs and grated cheese in the freezer you’ll always have the toppings for a crispy pasta bake to hand! Coupled with your frozen pasta sauce, you can easily make a zero effort quick dinner.
Freeze balls of cookie dough Whip up a batch of cookie dough on a rainy Sunday afternoon, freeze it in small balls on a tray until solid then transfer to a food bag in the freezer. Then just grab a ball and bake from frozen when you need a sweet treat without the effort. They’ll just need a few extra minutes to cook.
Clean as you go!
Flickr/ Kim
Epigram: Satellitepr
Epigram/ Flickr/ Alex Sasha Harries Semple
I’m terrible for not doing this, but by cleaning and putting away ingredients whilst you’re waiting for your dinner to cook you’ll minimise the time you need to spend cleaning up at the end! Use that waiting time as your revision time! Hannah Keel
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08.05.2017
Eating for Easter Lleana Daniel tells us how she turned pressure into passion in an account of her own personal experiences with food anxiety
Flickr/ fox-and-fern
‘Well I can’t have pudding because I already had a creme egg for breakfast, and that would be too much!’
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‘Ok, I’ll have a slice, but I must make up for it by going to the gym everyday next week’.
Ok, I’ll have a slice, but I must make up for it by going to the gym every day next week
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To the unperturbed gourmand, this probably sounds a bit silly. Reading those quotes aloud certainly sounds like a ridiculous way of thinking. But it’s different being in the drivers’ seat. It’s easier said than done to just leave these qualms and habits behind, and it would be naïve to suggest a one-size-fits-all solution. For me, progress in terms of moving away from fears around food has been largely rooted in rekindling my pre-existing passion for it.
The process feels slow and chore-like, but it’s transformative despite its pace. I know that one day, rigidity and stubbornness at supper will be a thing of the past, and I won’t even think of checking a restaurant menu online before I brave it with friends.
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Flickr/ Elliott Brown
‘I must enjoy it and have a nice time, Mum has spent the last two
days in the kitchen, I must enjoy it’.
Epigram/ Ellie Donnell
One knee is jiggling under the table, a loose thread from the sleeve of my cardigan is being made longer by my nervous fingers. ‘Peas, carrots, no potatoes’ I recite in my head five, six, seven times. When it comes to my turn, the veg has already been served before I have a chance to say my line. ‘Roast potatoes?’, my Dad asks, tipping three onto my plate as he speaks. A slick of rosemary-infused oil runs under my carrots and peas; the meal is over. I get up from the table in a rush, pulling on my running shoes, and leave to work off a meal that, in my head, I already feel like I’ve eaten. There’s a plethora of reasons why some people may feel a certain apprehension in the lead up to any special occasion that has a pivotal focus on food and the long, luxurious meals that they invite. For many of us, Easter might as well be renamed, ‘The Second Christmas’, if based purely on the quantity of chocolate and rich lunches it invites. It is this sense of occasion, I think, that is the undoing for so many, at a time that should be spent relaxing and having fun.
‘It is this sense of occassion, I think, that is the undoing for so many’
”
Fast forward a year and I surprise myself at how comfortable I now feel around food. Last week I made a tart filled with crème pâtissière, topped with syrupy rhubarb that I roasted with lemon and ginger, and not only tried but finished my own piece. Easter lunch arrived, and despite the butterflies, I didn’t make a fuss. My relationship with food is now virtually reconciled and so much more relaxed than last year. I ate the potatoes once my plate was put down in front of me whilst my running shoes lie forgotten in their box upstairs. Lleana Daniel
Flickr/ Ben Ward Flickr/Alex Valentine
Flickr/ su-lin
Flickr/ Elliott Brown
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Editor Jessie Onion style@epigram.org.uk
@e2style
Online Editor Alex Boulton alex.boulton@epigram.org.uk
Deputy Editor Mary Richardson mary.richardson@epigram.org.uk
08.05.2017
@epigramstyle
Graduation 2017 Need graduation inspiration? Let Hannah Worthington help you out Graduation day is one of the most exciting dates in the calendar year where final year students can ditch their hoodies and tracksuits from tiresome revision, to a day of style and celebration. Admittedly, outfits may have already been planned out, even down to the nitty gritty of what eye shadow shade will complement your outfit best. However, if you haven’t, here are some pieces that you may consider for your photos outside Wills Memorial, on what hopefully will be a beautiful day.
LEFT Topshop: Tailored suit, £65.00 for the Jacket, £35.00 for the tailored trousers. Outfit total, £100
MEN BELOW LEFT- Ted Baker: Suit, Kiskj Classic Fit Wool Jacket, £325 BELOW RIGHT- Paul Costelloe, Slim fit grey melange suit, now in the sale on House of Fraser for £224.
WOMEN
Ted Baker
Topshop
Ted Baker: Coat dress, Racheel spring meadow collarless coat, £249 Dress, Daisy Jacquard Cut out midi dress, Light Green, £215
In the style:Tao Nude Jumpsuit, currently on sale for £13.99
Paul Costelloe
In the Style
Ted Baker
Ted Baker
Karen Millen knot detail pencil dress, £190, Ivory
ASOS: Dress, Wiggle dress with split in colour sage, £42.00 Skirt, Satin pleated midi skirt, lilac, £35.00 Hugo Boss Bow Ties, Black, Plain tailored bow tie in silk, £85 Butterfly bow tie in Jacquard Silk, £75 Hugo Boss
Karen Millen ASOS
Interested in fashion? Want some experience in journalism that looks great on your CV? Would love to see your name in print? Don’t fancy writing listcles for The Tab? We are looking for a new Style Editor, Deputy Editor and Online Editor to take over next year. If you’re interested, keep an eye on the website for details of how to apply.
Calvin Klein SS16 / pinterest.com
Celine SS16 / pinterest.com
WANTED: Style Editors!
Hannah Worthington Style Writer
08.05.2017
27
Festival Season Style Guide The end of term, as you’re probably well aware, is fast approaching and that means the end of exams and the start of festival season. Whether you’re heading to the beaches of Benicassim or Outlook, or sticking to Bestival or Glastonbury, here’s a selection of festival fancies to get you in the mood…
Topshop £28
River Island £20
Zara £19.99
Topshop £20 New Look £8.99
Zara £25.99
River Island £45
From left to right: Topshop £19, New Look £19.99, Topshop £26 and River Island £28.
Office, Hunter boots £95 and £45
Zara £29.99
Jessie Onion Style Editor
Pastel Palettes
House of Holland
Welcome the summer with beachy pastels What better motivation for beating the exam blues than to think about a seemingly endless summer and its joys: sun, sand and sea. OK, so realistically we might only be headed off to the Clifton Lido, but beachwear remains a great hallmark of summer fun wherever you may be. Epigram Style has hunted the very best of high-street swimwear so you don’t have to. Pair our selection with some useful tips over at Epigram Travel and you’re all set for what should be a great, deadline free summer.
H&M £20
H&M £23
River Island £40
Topshop £36
Topman £22
Mary Richardson Deputy Editor
Deputy Editors Editor Anna Lezard, Edie Essex Barrett Nia Price nia.price@epigram.org.uk
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@e2travel
@epigram_travel
Online Editor Izzie Fernandes izzie.fernandes@epigram.org.uk
08.05.2017
Epigram Travel Section 2016/17
Pack your bags for Bologna
Travelgrams
Julian Faber shares his post-dissertation trip around Italy’s food capital
Follow our Instagram account @epigram_travel and #epitravel to be featured
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The city is also famous for its towers. There are many of these, and they all are leaning. You’ve heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa however, that seems almost perfectly perpendicular in comparison. Seriously, some of the towers are so tall, so thin and at such a perilous angle that I’m surprised they’re still standing. If you’re brave enough, most of them can be climbed - offering excellent views of the city. A big part of your time in Bologna is spent walking the streets with no more than a vague purpose, other than just taking in the city. Bologna is very keen on its porticos or covered pavements - the city centre has over 38 kilometres of these, a lot of them intricately decorated. Although there are plenty of high-end shops, there are equally as many catering more to the student budget - it must be remembered that Bologna is possibly Italy’s foremost university town. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s more than nice enough just to walk around, enjoying the sights and sounds. This being an old Italian town, almost all the buildings are very pretty. If you’re artistically-minded, several of the larger palazzos host galleries with extensive collections of paintings.
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Being a student town, there’s quite a decent nightlife on tap... Der Kidergarten on Via Alfredo Calzoni is widely regarded as the best, offering a refreshing mixture of Italian D&B and techno with a seasoning of house
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Being a student town, there’s quite decent nightlife on tap. The streets and squares around the university buildings in the city centre begin to buzz with activity in the evenings. This being Italy, many of the student bars are open late into the night. Club-wise, there’s plenty to choose from if you’re willing to travel slightly beyond the city centre - Der Kidergarten on Via Alfredo Calzoni is widely regarded as the best, offering a refreshing mixture of Italian D&B and techno with a seasoning of house. There’s an eclectic and very friendly crowd, with a combination of students and locals with a few tourists. Also of note is Capannina, located in the hills above Bologna - if you can be bothered to take a taxi up the hills, it has a house-y soundtrack with an old-school hip-hop flavour. What’s more, the smoking area offers delightful views of the city below.
All in all, Bologna is certainly worth a visit...It has plenty to offer in terms of culture, architecture, food and nightlife, which you’ll find makes a refreshing combination
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All in all, Bologna is certainly worth a visit. You can enjoy most of the city in a couple of days, making it perfect for a city-break without the crowds and inflated prices you find in many other tourist hotspots. It has plenty to offer in terms of culture, architecture, food and nightlife, which you’ll find makes a refreshing combination.
Epigram / Julian Faber
No doubt walking around all day will make you hungry. Bologna is the spiritual home of spaghetti Bolognese, though they just call it tagliatelle al ragu. They take their food very seriously here, as evidenced by the huge range of regional specialties. You’ll find shops and restaurants selling freshly-made tortellini and every conceivable form of pasta (my favourites are the ones shaped like little bow-ties). A firm local favourite is cured meats such as prosciutto, salami and mortadella - these are often served on a platter with cheeses and make for a great lunch. For dinner, there are seemingly endless family-run restaurants or trattorias that serve good local food at a decent price - so there’s no need to blow lots of money on a fancy restaurant. The University of Bologna is a tourist attraction in itself. It’s the oldest university in the world and has been taking in freshers since 1088. It’s various schools and departments are scattered around the city; most of them are open to the public, and are well worth a visit. The ceilings of some of the older faculties are covered with the personal crests of former students, something which makes the ceiling of the School of Geographical Sciences at Bristol look quite boring in comparison. Occasionally, you can step into some of the lecture theatres - some of which date back more than five centuries, and certainly put our own to shame.
A snapshot of Bologna’s 38 kilometers of porticos
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Although there are plenty of high-end shops, there are equally as many catering more to the student budget
Epigram / Julian Faber
Bologna is maybe not the first place you think of when you think city-break to Italy – naturally, the big names such as Rome, Venice, Florence and Naples come first to mind. For that reason, it’s certainly a lot less crowded than these more famous places. Most of Venice seems to be flooded with tourists, and you can barely stop to get your bearings in Rome without being hit in the face by an American wielding a selfie stick. Whilst these big names have a lot of tourist appeal, they are priced accordingly. Do you really want to pay €9 for a coffee? If not, get yourself down to Bologna. The city is really quite small. Nothing in the historic centre of town seems to be more than a 20-minute walk away. Arrive here in mid-April, and it’s balmy - warm and sunny enough to be pleasant, but not too hot. There’s plenty to keep you occupied here; as with most Italian towns, there’s a large main square - Piazza Maggiore centred around the city’s main cathedral, the Basilica San Petronio. It is intricately decorated inside, and well worth a look. The façade is beautifully done in a polychrome collection of marble - but only partially. Half-way through the process it seems they ran out of money, and haven’t been bothered to finish it since (they were probably busy inventing pasta sauce). For aficionados of Italian ecclesiastical architecture (maybe a niche taste, I’ll admit) there are a handful of other pretty churches - generally in more finished stages of completion - out there.
Towers of Bologna
08.05.2017
29
Products abroad that show we love freedom of movement
In defence of a gap year Izzie Prankerd challenges typical assumptions about student taking time out to travel
Epigram / Izzie Prankerd
Izzie Fernandes For Berlin’s best burger, you’d better head straight to Burgermeister. Think cheese, bacon, maple syrup, curly fries and tofu (for the veggies). If the weird and wonderful assortment of fillings don’t do it for you, then the deserted, artsy feel to this side-of-the-road burger van should sway you. This is the heartiest hangover food you’ll come across and it’s brought to you with a real breath of fresh air…
‘Poffertjes’are my favourite thing to eat when in the Netherlands. You can buy these decadent mini pancakes with butter, syrup and icing sugar from street vendors across Amsterdam. Anna Lezard Club Mate is a soft drink made from Argentinian mate tea extract, but sold pretty much only in Northern Germany. It’s got quite an odd flavour, not very sweet but a mild tingly herby taste, and it takes some getting used to. But after that you’re hooked. It’s also beautifully caffeinated - not enough to make you feel wired but enough to be the best and most refreshing hangover cure ever.
There are experiences you could never have at home. You can’t hike on glaciers, swim with dolphins or see komodo dragons in the UK!
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You get to explore different cultures and cities, seeing how other people live. It will broaden your mind and you’ll learn so much more about the world. There are experiences you could never have at home. You can’t hike on glaciers, swim with dolphins or see komodo dragons in the UK! Unfortunately. But the real treasure is the friends you make along the way. It’s a different type of friendship, you meet people you just click with and end up travelling with them for a few weeks and becoming life long friends. You also discover things that you never knew about yourself and gain confidence.
Having a full bank account is always nice, but as a student it may not be entirely realistic
You just get to know people so much better when you’re on your own
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But that goes quite quickly, as soon as you sit down and get talking to other people in hostels. You just get to know people so much better when you’re on your own. If you still don’t think that’s for you, then find a tour. There are so many tours out there designed for students where you can meet people and then continue travelling with the people you met there. The same is true of volunteering projects. “I’m worried I won’t get a job so I just want to get University over with”: That’s fair enough, it’s horrible out there. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to be able to mention in applications though. When they ask for those good old transferable skills you’ll be able to give some interesting examples. It does improve organisational skills and your confidence in handling unexpected situations.
My gap year was the best year of my life and I’m sure yours will be too!
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Epigram / Anna Lezard
So there you go! Go travelling! There’s no rush, it’s never too late but why put off a good thing? My gap year was the best year of my life and I’m sure yours will be too!
Epigram / Izzie Prankerd
Epigram / Sabiya Sheikh
Epigram / Edie Essex Barrett
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Some of you will be thinking, okay that sounds great but… “It’s too expensive”: Yeah it can be, but it doesn’t have to be as much as you think. Having a full bank account is always nice, but as a student it may not be entirely realistic. There are several options out there.
Epigram / Izzie Prankerd
Epigram / Izzie Fernandes
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As you are no longer restricted by term dates you can use sites like Kayak and skyscanner to find the cheapest flights. You can go to less expensive countries like those in South East Asia where the cost of living is less. The other option is to work while you’re away, which is what I did in New Zealand. It can be hard, but if you find a job with other backpackers it can be amazing fun as well. “I can’t find any friends to go with me and I don’t want to go on my own”: Firstly, I would say don’t be afraid to go on your own. I’m not going to lie, it’s scary at first, really really scary.
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Edie Essex Barrett
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Canada is blessed with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Tim Hortons hot chocolate. That hot chocolate has the perfect amount of chocolaty-ness and is the only thing that kept me going through the cold weather!
It’s the last term, summer is fast approaching, and if you’re in third year you are trying to figure out what to do for the rest of your life. It’s a daunting prospect. Job applications, taxes, loans - yuck. Luckily for you I’m here to suggest a solution: take a year out and go travelling! I can promise you won’t regret it. I’ll start by introducing myself: Hi, I’m Izzie and my gap year changed my life. I know that’s not a very fashionable thing to say, if I ever said that to any of my friends I would be met by a chorus of “gap yaaah”, but it is true. Let’s start with the benefits (which are probably obvious, but I’ll say them anyway):
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Sabiya Sheikh
30
08.05.2017
A perspective of travel which should be voiced… Izzie Fernandes highlights why it’s important to recognise that travel isn’t always leisurely for everyone Take a moment to think about the various travelling plans you have discussed over the past few months. Whether or not these plans are your own, the travelling that will fill most people’s summer itineraries will likely constitute a sense of adventure, enjoyment and freedom.
treated far worse. ‘I did not choose to be a refugee’ Mohammed told us, ‘I had to be.’ Harrowing as it was, Mohammed’s story brought to life those we’ve read in the press countless times before. Here was a man who had travelled from Eritrea to Sudan to Turkey, Greece, Calais and to England. It had been a long, treacherous journey to Bristol but not one made out of choice.
Food and music was all it took to bind people as they shared a delicious vegan curry, (heroically cooked by STAR volunteers) but more importantly, some harrowing stories. The story which sticks most in my mind was delivered by Mohammed, a refugee from Eritrea who has been in England for
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The reality of this side of travel was highlighted to me when I recently attended a Peace festival run by Bristol STAR (Student Action for Refugees). STAR aims to build bridges within communities and on 24th March it did just that. The evening’s goals were threefold: have a good time; information for student involvement with refugee charities win Bristol; and a point of information for for refugees and asylum seeking communities to find out what charities in Bristol had to offer them.
With no freedom of speech, education, profession or even movement, people are treated like animals by the Eritrean government
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9 years. Mohammed gave us an insight into the Eritrean system of government and this was a harsh reality check. With no freedom of speech, education, profession or even movement, people are treated like animals by the Eritrean government. This system strips people of their most basic human rights. Yet, due to minimal press coverage and few people being able to escape the system, a large majority of the West remain unaware of what is going on. Mohammed told us how, in Northern Eritrea, people are treated like animals and trafficked into Sudan for their hearts, eyes and kidneys. A large proportion of these are children who, once they have left Eritrea, are abused and unable to return home. Writing this down, I should correct myself: these people are not treated like animals, they are
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Amidst exciting plans, it is easy to overlook a significantly different side to travel. A quick Google of the word ‘refugee’ puts things into perspective. This is not a case of ‘sun, sex and suspicious parents’ but instead of escape from war, persecution, or natural disaster. For refugees, the word ‘travel’ carries very different connotations. Rather than flocking towards the sandy beaches of Thailand with hopes of getting a suntan these people travel with hopes of gaining basic human rights.
Epigram / Bristol Star
This is not a case of ‘sun, sex and suspicious parents’ but instead, of escape from war, persecution, or natural disaster
Mohammed shared his past struggle and unimaginable oppression with the room
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Eloquently, Mohammed shared his past struggle and unimaginable oppression with the room. ‘So I brought a lifejacket which I thought was going to save my life and it was a red life jacket. When we came to the boat the smuggler told me, well he didn’t tell me, he took the life jacket from me and he threw it. And when I asked him, he said because it will give some reflection to the sea-guards, so he took it. I remember I told my friends, this is the end because this was the only hope I thought would save my life.’ By standing before us in the flesh, Mohammed brought to life the injustice of the refugee plight. Here was an intelligent man, who had achieved a pharmaceutical degree, and had had a dream of using his education to make a difference. We are university students; these sorts of attitudes are not unusual. Yet there is a crucial difference: while we work toward BA’s and BSC’s (begrudgingly at times), refugees with identical hopes contend with life threatening circumstances that go with pursuing these dreams. No newspaper can explain the injustice of it. Some of us are dealt a good hand, a passport, freedom of speech, education and travel while others travel miles in search of such things. Mohammed is an inspiration for many reasons, but as the summer approaches he poses an important reminder. While ‘travelling’ is often (and quite rightly) met with excitement, in other countries the word carries a different meaning which, sun kissed or not, needs to be voiced.
Mundolingua: a unique languages museum in Paris Nick Bloom explains why you should visit this one of a kind museum in the heart of Paris
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Welcome to Mundolingua: a languages, language and linguistics museum in Paris’ 6th arrondissement, and a stone’s throw away from L’Église Saint-Sulpice. Founded in October 2013 by Mark Oremland - a languages enthusiast and voracious traveller - Mundolingua is truly the only one of its kind in the world.
However, fascinating all of this may be, my primary focus is to spread the word. In such a tiny, niche marketplace, the museum’s greatest challenge is to harness its unique selling point, expand its consumer base and strengthen the visibility of its brand image. That’s why this week, we are modernising the Mundolingua website, revitalising our Facebook page and launching an Instagram account in an attempt to
Epigram / Nick Bloom
Mundolingua is truly the only one of its kind in the world
translated into hundreds of different languages. Descend the mythic Tower of Babel and lose yourself in the past, present and future of languages; it’s no wonder that David Crystal - the renowned British linguist, academic and author - came to speak at the museum last year.
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Ever wondered how many languages there are in the world? Interested in how dolphins communicate? Concerned by the threat of global unilingualism? Desperate to discover the similarities between Finnish and Hungarian? Or simply keen to mug up on the French you learnt at school all those years ago?
An inspiration to linguists all over the world
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language exchange in a relaxed, sociable environment. This idea is based on the principle that the most efficient and rewarding method to master foreign languages is through conversation with a native speaker, stepping out of your comfort zone and making frequent mistakes rather than pouring over a grammar book.
Like any good museum, Mundolingua is also a treasure-trove of relics and artefacts, including radios and telephones dating back to the 1920s, an exact replica of the Rosetta Stone (the original can be found at the British Museum), and the Declaration of Human Rights
We firmly believe that Mundolingua can be a practical asset to all language learners, as well as an inspiration to linguists all over the world. So next time you’re off on a city break to Paris, I urge you, linguist or not, to pop your head in and see for yourself!
Epigram / Nick Bloom
Covering a range of topics including phonetics, language death, etymology and linguistic imperialism, the museum displays 40 interactive alcoves, all translated into the six languages of the United Nations and adorned with maps, puzzles, quizzes, games and academic journals. The museum has even conducted research into the impact of alcohol on the brain’s capacity to interpret and process foreign languages, something I’m sure all Bristol Year Abroaders can relate to!
EDEN AND CITADEL PRESENT
FOALS Tues 11 July 2017
ONE OF ONLY 2 UK DATES
“Best live act” Q Awards FOR TICKETS VISIT WWW.EDENSESSIONS.COM The Eden Project, St Austell, Cornwall, PL24 2SG | Tel. 01726 811972 | Registered Charity No. 1093070
Running the Greek economy, invading Iraq or having a ‘brain fade’?
Make sure you’ve read your Epigram...
BRISTOL SU SURVEY
5 interesting things we learned NSS BOYCOTT REVIEW
what we've achieved
bristolsu.org.uk
ITCHY FEET SUMMER EVENT
the ultimate way to close the year
5
interesting things we learned from the Bristol SU Survey
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1. Bristol students’ favourite night out would be a night of pop music at Motion 2. The biggest things stopping you from joining in extracurricular activities and societies were time, followed by shyness 3. An average Bristol undergrad spends 12.7 hours per week in classes, though some of you said that it was closer to a million. We think you might have been exaggerating.
4. Mice hate aluminium foil...or so one of you found out whilst renting in Bristol 5. The average accommodation cost was £443 (mean)/£411 (median)
+HUH DUH VRPH WKLQJV ZH GLG DV D GLUHFW UHVXOW RI ODVW \HDU·V IHHGEDFN 1. You told us how we could help improve sport at Bristol. These responses have been used in a review of the Sports Passes - more to be announced on this soon. 2. 3RVWJUDGXDWH (GXFDWLRQ 2IÀFHU Laura Ho used your responses to stop PG spaces from being closed in the Arts & Social Sciences Library, and to secure more social spaces for PG Research students.
3. You told us what you thought of events at Bristol SU. That helped us develop an even better Welcome Week programme! 4. Your comments about the rising cost of halls were used to secure £120,000 for accommodation bursaries. 5. You told us which support services you found most approachable, and this has helped shape new investments in pastoral support.
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mind your head We asked you to draw out how you were feeling
Review of NSS Boycott
6LQFH )HEUXDU\ ZH KDYH EHHQ DVNLQJ ÀQDO \HDU XQGHUJUDGV WR ER\FRWW WKH 1DWLRQDO Student Survey and it looks like you've been listening! Last week we found out that Bristol has one of the lowest participation rates in the country, well below the threshold that would be needed for our results to be used by the government to raise tuition fees. It's amazing to see Bristol students send such a clear message to the Government: we will not be complicit in raising tuition fees and burdening future students with ever-mounting debt. The impact of this campaign, both locally and nationally, is a reminder of the power that we have when students campaign together on the issues that matter to us. This week MPs will be voting on the Higher Education Bill and deciding whether to keep the amendments we have fought for throughout this campaign. This means that we have one more chance to make our voices heard. If you agree that the Government's plans – for higher fees, for greater marketisation – will be bad for students the call, email and tweet your MPs ASAP and remind them of the power of your vote. Now it’s time to speak up your mind about how Bristol SU can improve the study environment even better for current and future students. #tellchloe at: bristolsu.org.uk/tellchloe
The ultimate way to close out the year! Summer is here to stay - and Itchy Feet have teamed up with Bristol SU to bring you the biggest, Itchiest party of the year; a massive night of retro sunshine sounds at Motion on 1 June. 'XVW GRZQ \RXU Ă RUDO SULQW UROO \RXUVHOI LQ JOLWWHU DQG KLJKWDLO GRZQ WR 0RWLRQ IRU \RXU last chance to dance this year. The music - jump blues, rock n' roll, jazz, soul, swing, reggae and ska. Expect amazing live performers, classic Itchy tunes and nonstop summer feels - the ultimate way to close out your year. For tickets and more go to: bristolsu.org.uk/itchyfeet
WHAT'S ON This bristol girl can This Bristol Girl Can is back! Giving all female identifying students a chance to try something new, with a diverse UDQJH RI ÀWQHVV DQG VSRUWLQJ FODVVHV &ODVVHV LQFOXGH SLODWHV GDQFH ÀW VSLQ \RJD LQGRRU IRRWEDOO SROH ÀWQHVV ER[HUFLVH DQG PRUH Check out the full events listing and book your space at: bristolsu.org.uk/events
Why Scientists Should Also be Revolutionaries. Monday 8 May, 5pm, Powell Lecture Theatre. Hosted by NeuroSoc and co-hosted by BioSoc, Professor David Nutt returns to Bristol to discuss updates in his research. There will be an opportunity for book signings.
Get Active Pilates. Wednesday 17 May, 5pm. Carpenter Room, Bristol SU. Get active with us, have fun and meet new people! Mats provided, comfortable clothing recommended.
Changing perceptions, transforming identities, with the Brigstow Institute. Monday 8 May, 5pm, Life Sciences Building. This discussion series kicks off a week of events for Research Without Borders, hosted by Bristol Doctoral College.
Environments without borders, with the Cabot Institute. Wednesday 10 May, 6pm, Life Sciences Building. The impact of environmental change is felt across borders and underlines the need for collaboration across conventional boundaries. But what is the most effective response and whose responsibility is it to act?
Research without Borders 2017: showcase exhibition.12 May, 2pm 6pm, Colston Hall. Join the Bristol Doctoral College for this showcase exhibition and explore the latest postgraduate research emerging from the University of Bristol.
Lunch Time Coffee & Cake with the PG Network. 1pm - 3pm, 16 May, Balloon Bar. Come along to the Bristol SU balloon bar at lunch time and enjoy some free coffee and cake with other postgrads.
PG Network Picnic. Saturday 20 May, 12pm - 5pm, Brandon Hill Park. Join us at Brandon Hill park for a picnic, with some fun games. Bring food and drinks, everyone welcome.
For more information on all upcoming events see bristolsu.org.uk/events
Epigram
08.05.2017
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
The Handmaiden review - Deceptively charming
Consider the octopus. Moist and squirming, this extra-terrestrial creature stalks the ocean’s calm depths before merging into the scenery. It spots an unsuspecting fish passing by. Before the prey can understand why this familiar patch of seabed now seems so unsettling, it feels a clammy tentacle coil around its torso. The octopus is an ingenious hunter and has long been a sexual symbol, a tradition which director Park Chanwook has followed to highlight suppressed and perverted desire. The mollusc performs this role in his most notorious work Oldboy, when Choi Min-sik devours it alive after his release from captivity. It appears again in The Handmaiden, encapsulating the film’s strange mixture of predation and passion. Based on Sarah Walter’s book Fingersmith, Victorian England is traded for colonial Korea a country writhing under Japanese oppression.
The new masters have absorbed the superior and modern culture of the West, using it to carve out its own imperial hegemony in the East. Mimicry of the masters is essential to advance up their ladders of power. Some, such as Uncle Kouzuki (Jo Jin-woong), have discarded their base Korean identities in the struggle to attain a Japanese one, even going so far as to adopt a new name. This Uncle Kouzuki, in aiding the Japanese in their subjugation of the peninsula, has acquired a literal gold mine. Using this wealth, he buys his way into the circles of Japanese nobility and builds a vast gated compound in the local woods. In this estate, he lives with his niece, the Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee) and their servants. His own wife, a Japanese noble, is dead and Kouzuki hopes to marry his niece to secure access to her vast inheritance and lineage. However, he is not the
only man with his eye on Hideko’s assets. A lowly Korean forger posing as Count Fujiwara (Ha Jungwoo) aims to seduce her, enlisting the help of Nam Sook-Hee (Kim Tae-ri) posing as her handmaiden. Their plan is to defraud Lady Hideko by marrying her to Fujiwara, then sending her to an asylum. The story is co-written between Park and Chung Seo-kyung who borrow elements from its novelistic base. They break the narrative into three parts which are carefully stripped away, each section revealing more truth than the last. Flowing through the narrative’s entirety are two main plots - one a tale of romance, the other of revenge. These address the film’s main themes of the struggle to reclaim love and beauty in the face of separation and predation. The film contains excellent dialogue delivered superbly by strong performances from the main cast. Each actor has been carefully selected for
Flickr/Bago Games
Film & TV Writer Michael Murphy reviews director Park Chan-wook’s tale of suppressed and perverted desire
their role, from the horrifically impassive face of Kim Hae-sook as butler-madame Sasaki to Kim Min-hee’s doll-like features, fragile and unnerving. Their physical attributes match exactly with the personalities of their characters. The main issue some may have with this film is that it perhaps places the female leads on something of a pedestal. Their relationship is one of abiding faith and harmony. The perversion is all on the part of the males. Instead, their idolised moments of lovemaking are depicted with an attention some might find excessive. Whatever your opinions in this regard, The Handmaiden undoubtedly reinforces Park’s strong reputation as a director. His direction allows for a stunning range of emotions to be weaved into this story, with an exquisite set design that would make the BBC blush. It makes for a deceptive charm many will find difficult to escape.
Raw review - A glorious balance of the carnivorous and the carnal
Film & TV Writer Miles Jackson tells us whether Julia Ducournau’s meaty debut lives up to its recent film festival hype and notoriety
BFI/LFFPRESS
Everything about Raw exudes anxiety. Already having gained a degree of notoriety following reports of audience members fainting at the film’s premiere, the film is certainly not one for the squeamish. From its churning soundtrack to the oppressively grey, concrete college campus upon which the film takes place, to the gory acts of cannibalism that have brought the film its infamous reputation, Julia Ducournau’s debut is an uncomfortable but essential watch. For the film’s sickening shock tactics are utterly imperative to its ultimate goal; to provide a brutally realistic, feminist depiction of the pressures of body image and the struggles of sexual liberation. The film follows Justine (Garance Marillier), a teenage girl who arrives at a veterinarian school and soon has her stringent vegetarian beliefs stripped away after a brutal hazing by a Drooglike fraternity. Enlightened to the social stigmas of college life, the one-time veggie Justine soon begins to take refuge in the taste of meat, eventually succumbing to her deepest desires and pursuing human flesh. Despite the film’s gruesome premise, it is most certainly not a horror film. Rather, Raw posits itself as a psychological thriller - more inline with the filmography of David Cronenberg than anything else. Indeed, as uncomfortable as the film is to watch, it never aims to scare. Rather, Ducournau leaves the audience perversely fascinated with Justine’s actions, repelled yet unable to look away. The film expertly balances - perhaps even justifies - Justine’s cannibalistic habits by enveloping her in a world of pure dread. Ducournau, who also wrote the film’s script,
perfectly exploits the universal pressures of adolescence - virginity, familial expectation, the overbearing pressure to conform - and douses them in a series of otherworldly visual metaphors. There are moments in Raw that are nothing short of dreamlike, the gritty handheld camera and flat, brutalist setting contrasted with surreal, gloriously macabre imagery. In a world this cruel, Justine’s actions never seem malicious, rather just sad, desperate and perhaps even necessary. Much of the reason that Justine is so relatable throughout the film is due to Marillier’s performance. A total newcomer, the French actress expertly navigates innocent naivety and depraved indulgence. She’s matched by Ella Rumpf, another newcomer who portrays Marillier’s sister Alex. The two actors have a naturalistic camaraderie that drives the film; one of the few places Justine finds refuge is in Alex,
a rebellious angsty older sister that has more in common with the innocent Justine than she might think. A scene involving a bikini wax is both revolting and hilarious at the same time, mostly due to the chemistry between the two. Yet the most astounding revelation to be found in Raw is in its writer-director, Julia Ducournau. The film is simply one of the most assured debuts I’ve seen in a long time. Ducournau’s miseen-scène oscillates between muggy corridors, fluorescent operating theatres and a flat expanse of grey asphalt and concrete that perfectly contrast the frequent colourful bursts of blood and paint. The script is watertight and the film moves at an intense clip, with the naturalistic style and constant handheld camera adding an urgency to events. She further perfectly captures the protagonist’s helplessness, one shot of Justine writhing around in pain under a seemingly
infinite bedsheet practically being a metaphor for the entire film. Raw can certainly be seen as an attempt at provocation; Ducournau often has Marillier stare directly into the camera, almost as if she is confronting us, forcing the audience to look into the more malevolent aspects of themselves. If anything, Ducournau’s visual metaphors are almost too perfect; there are moments in the film which verge on clunkily obvious in their meaning. Yet these moments are fleeting - and the imagery employed is ultimately still so memorable so as to not be more than a minor flaw. Raw is a film I saw weeks ago now, yet it has barely left my head since. It is beguiling, offbeat and yet constantly entertaining, with a truly vicious sense of humour that perfectly offsets the grim body horror. An essential film, so long as you have a strong stomach.
Epigram 08.05.2017
Lady Macbeth review -- A hauntingly impressive Victorian tragedy
37
Film & TV Writer Joyce Khoh reviews the low-budget British drama film which pushes the infamous traits of Lady Macbeth to extremes
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seems quiet, submissive and rather pitiful. However, there are various sides to her, an upright one where she protects the maid, Anna, from being bullied and humiliated by a group of men, and also a scary, manipulative and cold-blooded side, which will stop at nothing to be with Sebastian and throughout the entire film, she appears to feel no guilt whatsoever. Sebastian is another interesting character; he initially appears rude and misogynistic but, as the film continues, he feels guilty for playing a part in those murders and refuses to ‘go all out’ in order to be with Katherine, whom he finds scary and cold-blooded.
Flickr/NO1
Based on Nikolai Leskov’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Lady Macbeth is a gothic tale about one woman’s struggle for control and happiness. Sound familiar? Set in 19th century rural England, it tells the story of a woman trapped in a marriage of convenience who embarks on a passionate love affair that unleashes her dark side. In 1865, Katherine (Florence Pugh) is ‘sold’ as a young bride to a rich older man and she finds married life to be lonely and stif ling. Trapped in a big house with nothing to do but the sole purpose of serving her husband (who doesn’t even show any care or love to her) and producing an heir, Katherine is unhappy and ends up embarking on an affair with the stable-hand Sebastian whilst her husband is away on business. When her controlling father-in-law finds out about it, instead of being submissive (like she was taught to
be), Katherine rebels and argues back. In her pursuit for happiness and insistence on being with Sebastian at all costs, despite initially seeming weak and submissive, Katherine transforms into a manipulative and coldblooded woman capable of poisoning her father-in-law, killing her own husband and even a young child whilst covering it all up with lies. All for the sake of her own freedom and happiness.
Directed by a trio of first-timers (William Oldroyd, Alice Birch, Fodhia Cronin O’Reilly)
What’s On?
What did you think of Lady Macbeth? Get in touch @EpigramFilm
Films to Faces
Editors’ Picks
Theresa May
Wikicommons
Watershed
BFI/LFFPRESS
Ella Editor
The cast give subtle, impressive and convincing performances, especially Florence Pugh. The simplicity in the lack of background music surprisingly worked, emphasising the cold and ‘stif ling’ nature of the big empty house and the relationships between various characters were thoughtprovoking and ref lected various relevant themes for the modern day, such as gender roles, race, abuse, power and authority. The cinematography is beautiful and the film as a whole is just as refreshing, even compared to billion-dollar high-budget commercial films. Simple yet filled with depth and heart, this brilliantly directed gem of a film is captivating and simply a must-watch.
Josh Deputy Editor
Phoebe Online Editor
Their Finest
Mindhorn
Finding Fatimah
In cinemas now
Showing at the Watershed until 22nd May
In cinemas now
Director Lone Scherfig has been making quite a name for herself in a post-One Day rise to widespread acclaim. Their Finest sees Gemma Arterton, Sam Clafin and Bill Nighy in a witty, dazzling propaganda-fuelled comedy which has been winning over audiences since its festival run late last year. The perfect antidote to exam-fuelled stress, it’s up next on my hitlist.
Julian Barratt’s comedic genius is evident in this film about a washed up actor reprising his previous 80s TV role as detective Mindhorn - this time to catch a real killer. Teaming up with Mighty Boosh collaborator Richard Farnaby, they seem to have produced the next cult British comedy helped by a supporting cast that includes Steve Coogan.
There has been a lack of good quality RomComs to fill our hearts in this time of uncertainty. Finding Fatimah follows a man’s second search for love in the British Asian community alongside the stigma of filing for a divorce several years earlier. Praised for its exceptional use of a low budget and its witty resemblance to the comedies of Richard Curtis, this is one for all the family.
Line of Duty
Saints and Strangers
13 Reasons Why
On BBC iPlayer
On Netflix
On Netflix
I don’t want to hear about it - my pick is a future pick, a vital catch up that needs to occur following the social media meltdown that I have witnessed of viewers losing sleep and health over Line of Duty. Gripping, compelling, mad - these are words that I have heard and that I cannot wait to agree with after binge watching the whole show.
This forgotten miniseries follows the significant journey of the pilgrims, who journeyed from England to America in 1621. Thankfully, the creators seem to have strayed away from popularising myths that have emerged about these early settlers, who many consider the true founders of today’s American values.
It’s the show everyone can’t stop talking about. But is that necessarily a good thing? 13 Reasons Why tells the story of Hannah Baker’s teenage suicide and what pushed her to do it. Sparking controversy worldwide regarding the ethics of depicting suicide on screen without romanticising mental health, this Netflix original series is a must see if you want to join the discussion.
Wikicommons
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Its rawness evokes the melancholy that women from that era were subjected to
making their feature film debut on a relatively low budget under the iFeatures scheme, Lady Macbeth is a unique and impressive piece. Despite having a simple setting - most of the film is set in the house and occasionally outdoors - it convincingly tells the story of Katherine’s struggles in her loveless marriage without getting boring. Although it had a relatively slow beginning and certain parts were slightly confusing, its rawness and simplicity accurately evokes the melancholy and bondage that women from that era were subjected to due to gender roles. There are quite a lot of sexual scenes as well, ref lecting Katherine’s pent-up frustration and, in short, this film can be said to be simple yet witty, sensual and captivating. What struck me and left me on edge is was the character development and various sides to each character. At first glance, Katherine
The relationships between various characters were thought-provoking
1. Pinocchio In a world of Disney live-action remakes, I like to represent national values by going a bit traditional. We can learn a lot from Pinocchio. Rule number 1: always tell the truth! 2. The Invention of Lying I do love Ricky Gervais, and I’m sure he loves me too. In a time of snap elections and Brexit, we must be aware of any porkie pies we’re told. 3. I, Daniel Blake I found this such an unusual film with an unusual premise. The government actually denying social welfare for those deemed unfit to work? Bonkers! As we know, there are many complex reasons for why someone would want to go to a food bank... Who should we interview next for Films to Faces? Tweet us @EpigramFilm
Running the Greek economy, invading Iraq or having a ‘brain fade’?
Make sure you’ve read your Epigram...
29.09.2016 Epigram
Flickr/ Karen Bryan
Epigram
08.05.2017
40
Andrea Luke Zimmerman at Spike Island Avital Carno gives her thoughts on ‘Common Ground’, the first UK exhibition by German-born artist Andrea Luke Zimmerman, whose films and photographs are currently on display at Spike Island
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The project [I Am Here] was initiated as a protest against [a decision made by] the local council
These photographs are part of a collection entitled I Am Here, a public art project initiated by Zimmerman, Lasse Johansson and Tristan Fenell.
Each of these artists was a Haggerton resident, and the project was initiated as a protest against the orange hoardings placed by the local council over the windows of vacated flats on the estate. The photographs, which show the residents who remained behind, were displayed outside with the intention of challenging the estate’s image of neglect. Other films on show in the exhibition include outtakes from Estate and Taskafa—Stories of the Street. This 2013 film documents the histories of Istanbul’s street dogs, and it portrays the potential for friendship between humans and animals. Apart from Estate, the films were shown on old, boxy televisions reminiscent of the 2000s, featuring cinematic countdowns before beginning, with deliberately grainy quality. Of particular note here is Merzschmerz, a series of short clips where children retell Kurt Schwitters’ fairytales from memory. The tellers and listeners were varied: in the opening clip, a young blonde boy tells a story to an old man of African descent, while in another a teenager with special needs speaks to his mother. Merzschmerz literally translates from German as ‘Mercury’; the title reflects the mercurial dynamics which the clips
Zimmerman’s films play on old televisions convey, including the slippery relationship between child teller and adult listener, and the constantly shifting landscape of memory. ‘Merzschmerz’, however, is also very similar the German word ‘herzschmerz’, meaning ‘heart pain’, a word and a sentiment which underlies these endearing, at times amusing clips, filmed on different locations around the estate.
One wall is plastered with a photograph of Zimmerman’s old bedroom on the estate, which she turned into a film set before moving out
Epigram/ Avital Carno
The exhibition also features one of Smart Urhiofe’s Ghana Must Go bags, which is used as a prop in Estate. The empty bag is displayed on a patch of white floor, spot-lit in the darkened room. The bags are a response to the expulsion of a million Ghanaians from Nigeria in 1983, during which period most Ghanaians packed their possessions in similar plastic laundry bags. The bag is just one example of objects and ideas from Estate spilling over into the rest of the exhibition: one wall is plastered with a photograph of Zimmerman’s old bedroom on the estate, which she turned into a film set before moving out. The adjacent bookcase is filled with books that inspired the artist, ranging from texts whose connections to the art are easy to understand, such as I Lived in A Slum and Willats’ art and social function, to more surprising titles like Richardson’s Pamela, the story of a servant girl who rejects a social superior. ‘Common Ground’ runs at Spike Island until 18th June 2017. Entry is free.
‘This modern, unsual exhibition is a far cry from the static walls of traditiona; galleries’
Arts from the Past
22nd May, 1885
14th May, 1771
Les Miserables at London’s Palace Theatre
Playwright, poet and author Victor Hugo passed away on the 22nd of May 1885. Something of a jack-of-all-trades, his most famous works include The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables. Hugo’s evocations of Paris are some of the greatest in all literature. Don’t be afraid to belt out a drunken rendition of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ in memory.
Flickr / Amy Barr
Flickr/ Rick Payette
Thomas Wedgwood, born on the 14th of May 1771, was the first person to replicate an image using a camera and light (#nofilter). His use of light-sensitive chemicals to capture an object’s silhouette eventually led to the development of the photograph in 1839. Wordsworth said Wedgwood ‘produced in me an impression of sublimity beyond what I had ever experienced from the appearance of any other human being’.
Epigram/ Avital Carno
Andrea Luka Zimmerman’s work touches on an age-old question: life or art—which is imitating which? Zimmerman’s answer in ‘Common Ground’ presents a symbiotic relationship between the two, as she drags relics from the past and transforms them with endowments of meaning. The modern, unusual exhibition is a far cry from the static walls of traditional galleries: each screen is surrounded by armchairs, a blackboard on the wall welcomes viewers to write on it with the chalk provided, while a sign on the bookcase invites you to annotate any of its worn volumes. Zimmerman’s exhibition is, in part, a reflection on roots and childhood. At the same time, she explores ideas far more wide-ranging than the simple evocation of childhood nostalgia; the touchingly and tastefully compiled multimedia collection uses Zimmerman’s personal experiences as a springboard for the exploration of emotional and political themes, avoiding sentimentality through the originality of its ideas. Zimmerman, who grew up on a council estate and left school
at 16, has channelled the mixed emotions of a coming-of-age on an estate in her film Estate, a Reverie, which documents the closure of the East London Haggerton Estate. The film forms the centrepiece of the exhibition: a projector plays on loop onto a screen surrounded by armchairs. The chairs are enclosed by a series of large head-shot style photographs, holding viewers within the walls of Zimmerman’s world. The photographs show multi-ethnic men and women, both young and old. The people in the photographs aren’t smiling; instead, they look straight into the camera with expressions that range from amused or quizzical to weary determination.
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Avital Carno Arts Writer
Statue of Wilde in Dublin’s St. Stephen’s Square
Epigram
08.05.2017
41
‘What are we waiting for? A Meteorite.’ Arts Editor Ed Grimble gropes around in the murky, surreal world of artist and filmmaker Basim Magdy, whose first UK exhibition ‘The Stars Were Aligned for a Century of New Beginnings’ is currently running at Bristol’s Arnolfini
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Sitting as Magdy’s films loop around again and again is to be surrounded by a fog of cynicism and melancholy Much of the world Magdy presents is decaying and crumbling. The stained and scar-ridden film itself evokes a world that is perhaps only semi-real; each new shot is strangely uncanny. Magdy’s visual medium, coupled with a melancholic soundtrack evocative of composers like Philip Glass, show the world as altered and defamiliarised. It is almost as if everything is slightly out of focus, or on cusp of slipping out of existence altogether, a once-vibrant and wholesome world that is slipping towards the ethereal. Seemingly disconnected images follow each other, flickering in and out of existence as the shots on the film bleed into one another with all the predictability and rationality of a dream. Magdy’s films seem like a lamentation for the present in which we find ourselves. No Shooting Stars talks of the ‘morbid inventors’, grimly working in ‘the land that law forgot’. The camera
Arnolfini/ Basim Magdy
‘I am an eye. A mechanical eye’, wrote pioneering Soviet documentary filmmaker Dziga Vertov in his 1923 manifesto on the movie camera. ‘I explain in a new way the world unknown to you’. They are fragments of quotation which aptly suggest the mood of Egyptian artist Basim Magdy’s films. Shooting on 16 millimetre film which he often ‘pickles’ in household chemicals (a strange, organic alternative to Instagram filters), Magdy’s works have a conspicuous and overt artifice; they are very obviously the products of a mechanical process. Riddled with spots, scars and bright lens flare, these are explicitly the results of a man looking down a camera, rather than attempts at accurate representation of reality. And yet, for all the obvious presence of the artist moving his camera lens, the sweeping shots presented to the viewer are disconcertingly empty of human life. In his 2016 No Shooting Stars, an eery meditation on the ocean and humankind’s relationship with it, sweeping panoramas capture a vast emptiness, populated only by mist-shrouded landmasses and shipping tankers, dwarfed to model-sized by the surrounding expanse on which they float. Shots of the decks are nothing more than rusted, windswept metal gantries, apparently unpopulated. This absence of vitality only becomes more noticeable as one watches more of Magdy’s films. In The Everyday Ritual of Solitude Hatching
Monkeys (2014), inspired by the short fiction of the artist’s father, Magdy El-Gohary, the viewer catches unsettling glimpses into disused and overgrown bunkers, and close-ups of ruined multi-storey concrete buildings.
Basim Magdy, from An Apology to a Love Story that Crashed Into a Whale (2016) travels through vignettes and landscapes with resignation, always grimly asking the question of what kind of future such a bleak present can ever hope to foster? In The Dent (2014), Magdy narrates an anonymous town and its failed attempts to host the Olympic games. The pervading is one of endless perpetuating failure, a relentless cycle of aspiration and disappointment. ‘The circus
Arnolfini/ Basim Magdy
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Ed Grimble Arts Editor
‘The circus elephant caught a glimpse of itself in a murky puddle’. Magdy, from The Everyday Ritual of Solitude Hatching Monkeys (2014)
elephant caught a glimpse of itself in a murky puddle’. Alongside these three films, houses in the cavernous first floor gallery room, are Magdy’s floor to ceiling mosaic of 64 prints, An Apology to a Love Story that Crashed into a Whale (2016), as well as a selection of smaller works. An Apology is an awesome work, dominating the far wall of the room. It demands a curious, active viewer, who is willing to allow their eyes to trace new and exciting paths through the dozens of images and portions of text which make up the larger grid. The work is a narrative cornucopia, at once a meditation on love and human relationships; pessimism, social cynicism and the limitations of language; and a reflection on the information-saturated world we all try daily to negotiate, carefully separating the authentic from the fantastic. Despite the majesty of An Apology, however, the rest of the space is disappointingly empty. Several smaller works on paper are framed on the room’s other walls, which have themselves been given a wild lick of purple and pink paint. These irregularly hung collages of acrylics, oils and spray paint may have an eye-catching 1960s aesthetic, their vividness appears largely superficial; I found myself hurriedly scampering back into one of the smaller rooms to be entranced by more of Magdy’s film work. Sitting as Magdy’s films loop around again and again is to be surrounded by a fog of cynicism and melancholy. His images drift calmly, almost peacefully, in and out of vision, ghostly traces of a decaying present which offer little towards the prospect of a utopian future. ‘What are we waiting for? A Meteorite. It’s our last hope. To kill us all? Yes.’ ‘The Stars Were Aligned for a Century of New Beginnings’ runs at the Arnolfini until 18th June 2017. Entry is free.
15th May, 1926
8th May, 2000
On 19th of May 1897, Oscar Wilde was released from Reading prison after serving his two-year sentence for ‘gross indecency’. Once released, he immediately went into self-exile in France, never to return to Britain. Wilde was finally pardoned for his ‘offence’ this year. ‘He comes before us still, a towering figure, laughing and weeping, with parables and paradoxes, so generous, amusing, and so right’, concludes Richard Ellman’s biography of Wilde.
Probably the most influential twins of 20th century theatre, playwrights Anthony and Peter Shaffer were born on this day. Sir Peter, arguably the more successful of the two and member of the American Theater Hall of Fame, would go on to win an Oscar for the screenplay version of Amadeus, whilst Anthony received Edgar awards for his production Sleuth.
Born out of a disused power station, the Tate Modern first opened its doors on the 8th of May 2000. From 30 foot slides to Picasso’s cubist masterpieces, from its outset the Tate Modern struck a balance between fun and fascinating. Now in its 17th year in London, the gallery features a series of ‘Tate Lates’, in which the art space is transformed with DJs and live performance: a perfect reason to grab the train down from Bristol.
Flickr / Dave Pearce
19th May, 1897
Inside the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall
Ewan Morgan
Epigram
08.05.2017
Music
@epigrammusic Editor: Sam Mason-Jones
Deputy Editor: Ellen Kemp
Online Editor: Georgia Marsh
music@epigram.org.uk
ellen.kemp@epigram.org.uk
musiconline@epigram.org.uk
An Interview with Palace
Alexia Kirov quizzes bluesy rockers Palace on style, songwriting and the spirit of independent music-making
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Image courtesy of Chuff Media
In the middle of their UK tour, bassist Will Dorey and guitarist Rupert Turner of indie-blues band Palace sat down to chat to me in the bar of Bristol’s Thekla. It’s been a monumental year for the London four-piece – they’ve toured the UK and the width and breadth of Europe, and released their debut album So Long Forever. But the success hasn’t gone to their heads; they seem just as laidback as the riffs that fuel their music. Our conversation begins with how they begin writing their tracks. “Sometimes, one of us could be just cooking a meal for the rest of the band and then gets an idea - if they’re stirring a pot of lentils, for example, they’ll suddenly get an idea and they’ll decide to bring that to the band and we’ll discuss it, and ask ‘what were you cooking?’ and they’ll say lentils, and from that we’ll build the song”, says Rupert.
We get to play with our friends’ bands and support them, and get bands to play who we want to see live. Nothing about Palace is contrived – Will adds that they “just write songs [they] like mostly”. Although “there is a theme of loss running through So Long Forever, that was more from Leo’s lyrics than anything else. We just went with things we liked really. It wasn’t really that we wanted it to be a dark sounding album or a happy-clappy hippy album.” Rupert nods and smiles in agreement. “It’s just music that we want to do – that’s the simplest answer really. We weren’t trying to sound like anyone, or trying to do anything like that”. Palace are certainly a very independent band with a sound of their own. Although Will was “listening to King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard on repeat basically” whilst writing So Long Forever, by his
own admission, the album sounds nothing like them. Rupert continues, “there’s no specific artist that because they played guitar, I wanted to, too, it was just generally liking music”. Will jokes “I thought it was Chris Rea who did it for you! Mozart and Chris Rea - the two dudes of rock”. The band’s pride in independence goes beyond their music. It’s clear in their project Palace Presents, a monthly night of live music curated by the band, held at an independent venue in London, The George Tavern. It started off as “just something else to do as Palace really. It’s done at the venue where we used to do our first gigs, and it’s just taking on the night from our friend who used to run it. He moved away, so he stopped, and we decided to carry it on. We get to play with our friends’ bands and support
them, and get bands to play who we want to see live, so it works out quite nicely really.” However, they don’t do absolutely everything themselves. Their affection for frontman Leo Wyndham’s brother, Wilby Wyndham, is evident. Not only was he their original bassist, but he is also the man behind all of their album art. “Really, he’s got a natural knack of knowing what works for us… he’s like the fifth Beatle, but of Palace. He’s the man behind the scenes, but still has a large part to play. Plus, he came up with the name, Palace. Apart from the songs, he is Palace”, says Rupert. For me, as well as many other long-term fans of Palace, the single ‘Bitter’ was an entry-point; whilst it has grown to be one of their biggest tracks, it was re-recorded for the album, because the band believe although “it is one of our
more successful tracks [and] it’s a strong song, we thought we could do a better recording of it, because we didn’t really like the original recording. We thought it was played really sloppily, but then other people don’t really like the new one and prefer the old one!”. Before they head back to their soundcheck, Will and Rupert tell me of the time they “were walking in Munich from the hotel to the venue and someone, out of a car, threw an egg at our drummer and hit him in the head - and all the egg fell down his face!” – but it’s easy to imagine that this is the only mishap the band have had so far. Egg-wielding passers-by aside, So Long Forever has been an undeniably brilliant opening chapter for Palace.
Alexia Kirov
Introducing: Willie J Healey Singer-songwriter Willie J Healey is Oxford’s answer to Mac DeMarco, and if it wasn’t a cliché, I’d call him the next big thing. That Healey is on the brink of massive success is definite, but his sound brandishes an organic energy that deserves more than hackneyed phrases. Healey is now 22, but has been writing music since he was about 13, and his “sound has developed, definitely, and has been influenced by different people as I’ve got a little bit older. I started recording at home which changed things a lot. [That meant] I could put more instruments on a song. I’d started just acoustically, writing more folky-style songs”. Just as his writing style has developed, so has Healey’s music taste. Although he still loves Neil Young and 70s rock, more recent influences include “JJ Cale, and Mac DeMarco - people that record at home, and albums that were done a bit more DIY, but didn’t sound like DIY albums”. This DIY approach to songwriting is something Healey emulates, and is what yields such a unique sound. Although he says his creative process is “not always the same each time, generally I’ll
write the bones of a song on an acoustic guitar in my bedroom, and I’ve got a little set-up in my garage, and then I’ll take it from there and I’ll start demo-ing it. Then the band I play with will come in and we’ll all write parts together. So sometimes I’ll write and I’ll record at the same time, so I’ll just be making parts up while I’m recording, a n d sometimes I just write it all on acoustic guitar first.” His most recent music video, for the track ‘Greys’, was created with “a guy called Sam Hiscox”; it features Healey
and an alien. Healey’s approach to music videos is to “try not to make it like a story – because we’ve only got three minutes. I don’t really like music videos that are trying to cram this story into three minutes, we just try to keep it quite fun. [Hiscox] s h o o t s most of his stuff on film, so it looks great, too”. After a string of very wellreceived EPs, fans can be pleased to know that Healey’s debut album is coming out on August 18th. Although “it’s a bit of a way away, the plan is to have two Image courtesy of Chuff Media
Prior to his support slot at Palace’s Bristol show, rising indie talent Willie J Healey also grabs a chat with Alexia Kirov.
more singles before then. There’s a song coming out called ‘Lazy Shade of Pink’, which we’ll play tonight, and that will be out in the next few weeks I think, and then another one after that”. Indeed, anyone looking to get a taste of what the album will sound like should head down to a gig soon, because Healey’s set “has quite a lot of unknown songs in it that haven’t been released. There’s this song called ‘My Room’ and it goes from one song into another, I really enjoy it. ‘My Room’ is probably my favourite to play live”. Healey has an upcoming gig, at Oxford’s Modern Art, that’s already sold out. It’s hardly surprising that the tickets have been snatched up so fast, but he can hardly believe it: “Someone said to me ‘oh you know that will sell out really quick’ and I didn’t believe him, but it did! It’s nice to feel that people really want to come that bad that it sold out so quick. It’s kind of new territory for me too, generally the shows don’t sell out, and if they do, it’s not that quick!”. Healey will next be back in Bristol as part of Dot to Dot Festival, on May 27th. Be sure to catch him on a small stage whilst you can, because he is sure to be filling up much bigger venues very soon.
Alexia Kirov
Epigram 08.05.2017
43
Rejjie Snow @ The Marble Factory
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Image courtesy of Malt Booking
Georgia Marsh reports back from her night investigating the unexpected charms of Irish rapper Rejjie Snow “Can we do anything about this speaker here?” Rejjie Snow asks somewhat rhetorically, in a rare occasion where his fading Irish accent slips through his speech. He’s been kicking the speaker aside for the majority of the opening of his performance. Either it’s an especially heavy piece of equipment or he lacks adequate lower body strength, because it shows no sign of moving.
He floats with ease between his jazz-inflected early material to his newer, US-centric sound
Although it seems he has been skipping leg day, what is more telling about Snow’s character is that he craves a closer connection to his audience than venue logistics allows. As he hops, bops and does a Peter Crouch circa-2006 World Cup impression across the stage, it is clear that The Marble Factory lacks the intimacy that this rapper seems slightly lost without. However, this lack does not detract from the immaculate energy of his performance. Snow, born Alex Anyaegbunam, maintained control and confidence from the moment he emerged through the onstage smoke, not letting his asthma cloud the opening bars of ‘1992’ (he later asks venue staff to chill with the synthetic smoke after seeking solace in his inhaler). Not
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Kendrick Lamar:
Charlie Gearon takes us through the latest chapter of the Hip Hop Odyssey of Uncle Kendrick’s career In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Kendrick Lamar stated that: ‘My focus is ultimately going back to my community and the other communities around the world where they’re doing the groundwork. To Pimp a Butterfly was addressing the problem. I’m in a space now where I’m not addressing the problem anymore.’ To Pimp a Butterfly was huge in scope. It was political and insightful, filled with jazz and funk influences provided by a plethora of musicians and the forefront of contemporary experimental music. Damn. is certainly a step away from this approach to music making, both in message and music. The first thing that jumps out at you upon listening to Damn is its aggression. Tonally it’s more similar to Good Kid Mad City than his previous two works. Trap influenced instrumentals take the place of the experimental jazz-fusion which pervaded TPAB. Most of the production credits go to names like 9th Wonder, Alchemist and Sounwave. All masters of their trade, but routed firmly in the hip hop tradition. It would be possible to see this as a regression by Lamar, as I admittedly did upon first listen. However, when you take into consideration what Lamar says in his interview with Rolling Stone, this aggression and relative simplicity seems consistent with what it is Lamar is trying to achieve. TPAB was maximalist both in instrumentation and lyrical scope. Damn. is a movement away from that. It’s minimalist and personal. Lamar seems unconcerned with the story at large, and more interested in the individual characters.
Just as Bob Dylan shirked the persona of ‘voice of the people’ when he wrote Highway 61 Revisited in 1965, Lamar seems to have stepped away from the almost prophetic role which the general public have ascribed to him.
Lamar is at his most human, not at his most political.
‘My latest muse is my niece, she worth livin / Seen me on the TV and screamed: “That’s Uncle Kendrick!”’ Lines like this from ‘YAH.’ show that in making Damn, Lamar is at his most human, not at his most political. For this album at least, Kendrick is relinquishing the role of political visionary and returning to his routes – the personal stories out of Compton which comprised most of Section 80 and Good Kid Mad City. This distancing from politics takes an aggressive turn at several points throughout the album, as in ‘FEEL’: ‘Feel like I don’t wanna be bothered I feel like you may be the problem I feel like it ain’t no tomorrow, fuck the world. The world is endin’, I’m done pretendin’ And fuck you if you get offended.’ It’s a move which will surely disappoint some, but it makes total sense as a creative direction. To Pimp a Butterfly was released two years ago. The themes it deals with are just as, if not more, relevant today, and a simple reprisal of its
political approach to music making would have been unnecessary. His albums have always been conceptual and always held up well in their own right, separate from his wider discography. Damn. is yet another example of Lamar’s adeptness at creating a cohesive piece of art which creates its own worth and defies the expectations established by his previous albums.
Charlie Gearon
once did he trip over his tongue, or, if he did, he had no intention of making that obvious. The Irish Independent have recently hailed him as “the future king of Irish hip-hop”, but what’s so futuristic about Snow’s quest for the crown? I consider myself to have a reasonably sound knowledge of hip-hop, yet I would categorically not be able to name another Irish rapper, let alone one better than Snow. Obviously, an ignorance of the Irish rap scene does not qualify me to say he is the best, however seeing him in the flesh is a euphoric moment of discovery in which the artist onstage is genuinely better than his recordings would suggest. Born and raised in Dublin (following a brief stint in America in his late teens, he has since returned to his home city), his talent is completely undeniable. He floats with ease between his jazzinflected early material to his newer, US-centric sound (the latter part of his catalogue could fit quite easily into an A$AP Mob mixtape). The differences between these are not only sonic, but also lyrical. Where in Olga he raps “kissing on her neck, because she’s gorgeous / flirting with her momma ‘cause her ass is so enormous”, his latest tracks qualify him for ‘politically-conscious’ status (despite his continual reference to North Face). Snow is easily one of the most underrated young rappers around, and his associations with Odd Future and King Krule have gained him a cult following, so it would seem that Snow’s upcoming mixtape release will thrust him to the brink of hip-hop stardom in the foreseeable future.
Georgia Marsh
Epigram
Puzzles
@EpigramPuzzles
Editor: Suzie Brown
Solutions will be posted online at www.epigram.org.uk before the next issue is released.
puzzles@epigram.org.uk
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Epigram
46
08.05.2017
Another year - another Bristol Varsity win Jack Francklin Deputy Sports Editor
attack, but only managed to shoot wide. The next event in an exciting schedule was the Basketball and it was UWE who went home with the spoils. UWE dominated the opening stages of the Women’s game before Gonzalez inspired the Bristol Spartans to come back to within four points in the second quarter. Ultimately UWE proved too strong and came out 55-46 winners. It was a scintillating game which lived up to expectations as one of the most highly anticipated matches in the Varsity Series. More defeat was inflicted upon Bristol in the Men’s match soon after. UWE were strong favourites heading into the game after an excellent season, yet this did not put off Bristol who pushed them until the very last play but they fell agonisingly just short, with the end score being 54-50 to UWE.
On the eve of Varsity day, the SU hosted FightNight. For the first time in varsity history between the two universities, an MMA competition featuring Taekwondo, Kickboxing and Muay Thai was launched in the Anson Rooms. At the end of the last fight Bristol emerged 5-2 winners, before members of both universities warmly embraced each other. It was a great act of sportsmanship to cap a highly competitive evening. Varsity day itself was then upon us - and what a spectacle it turned out to be. An early win for Bristol in the windsurfing extended their lead to 5.53.5, which was followed by a fantastic 75-55 win for UoB’s swimming team. At Coombe Dingle, Bristol inflicted defeat on UWE in both Men’s Rugby matches. The 3s scored five tries with no reply before the 2s, having
gone 5-15 down, staged a fantastic second half comeback to win 27-15. The Women’s Netball 1s and 2s came up short against strong UWE sides, but victories for the 3s and 4s ensured the spoils were shared at two a-piece. Results in the Water Polo also ended in a draw. UWE out-scored Bristol in the Men’s game by 16-11 before Bristol Women’s team restored level terms with a resounding 39-1 victory. There was nothing to split the volleyball contest either, Bristol Women’s won a nervy 2-1 match after UWE had brought home a 2-0 win in the Men’s contest. Bristol, however, dominated their rivals on the athletics track by a score of 44-7. UoB won the 100m, 400m and 1500m running events in both Men’s and Women’s, which was an outstanding achievement. In the football, Bristol
FineTime Facebook Photography / John House
For yet another year,Bristol University have defeated their rivals the University of the West of England to secure the 2017 Varsity Series. UoB won by a commanding margin of 15-8 to claim bragging rights over their neighbours. The series got underway as the two universities went head to head in rowing in the Harbourside, the oldest event of this growing rivalry. Despite UWE winning the first race of the day in the Novice Men’s 1st VIII, UoB Women’s Senior boat powered to victory to ensure Bristol came out 3-1 winners, giving them the perfect start to the series. It was not long, however, for UWE to get off the mark in their search for Varsity victory. Popular venue, Walkabout, in the City Centre played host to the raucous Varsity darts, with UWE dispatching UoB 7-1. James Jobson got the only win for UoB on a night that proved darts’ upcoming status as an increasingly popular university spectator sport. American Football and Lacrosse took place on the same evening at the inaugural ‘Friday Night Lights’ under a floodlit Coombe Dingle. In the American Football, the UWE Bullets proved too strong for the Bristol Barracuda’s, who struggled to break down their rival’s stubborn defence. The final score ended 26-6 to the visitors. However, both the Bristol Men’s and Women’s lacrosse teams overcame their fierce competitors shortly after, to make sure the home fans went home smiling. The Men’s team came out 12-1 winners after UoB’s Women’s team had swept aside UWE 19-4 at the LaxArena. In the Men’s game, Bristol goalkeeper Jamie Caldwell provided one of the more entertaining highlights of the evening as he came out of his goal to join the
Men’s 4s came out comfortable 3-1 winners amidst a set of mixed results at Coombe Dingle. Bristol Women’s 2s thumped their rivals 5-0, although the Men’s 3s could not quite replicate the same form as they suffered a 2-1 defeat. A late UWE goal in the Men’s 2s denied Bristol further glory in a 1-1 draw. Development Officer John House was thrilled by the series overall, saying, ‘Varsity was once again witness to absolute domination from Bristol University. Everyone from Athletics to Dodgeball absolutely smashed it. It was also nice to see the sportsmanship, with Bristol sides going for meals and drinks with their counterparts, and in some extreme circumstances, even allowing them to score the occasional point. I couldn’t be prouder, another year - another Varsity win’.
Classy Bristol too strong for UWE in Varsity Rugby Jack Harbridge Sports Reporter
Epigram / Malik Ouzia FineTime Photography
University of Bristol capped off the Varsity Series with victory for both the men and women’s rugby teams at Ashton Gate. The women opened the doubleheader with an astounding 61-7 demolition of UWE. Both sides started the game tentatively, but Bristol soon found their stride and opened the scoring with a try in the sixth minute. With a quarter of the game gone, Bristol had extended their lead to 22-0, with tries from Vaughn-Fowler, Macdermott and Neumann. After continued dominance, Bristol went into the half-time break at 39-0. Their supremacy was maintained throughout the second half, which notably featured a fourth try for Vaughn-Fowler, who was magnificent on the day. Barring a consolation try in the closing stages, Bristol put in a perfect performance, running out 61-7 winners. Central to this victory was Bristol’s supreme playmakers, who were always on the front foot of a comprehensively dominant pack. They played for each other, and reaped the rewards. Next up was the men - who were treated to an electric atmosphere. Both sides brought high levels of physicality in the early exchanges, with big collisions going in all over the pitch.
After a tense first-half, Bristol went into the break 6-3, off the back of some precise kicking from Peter Gordon. With the tie finely poised, both teams sought to play expansive rugby in an attempt to assert themselves on the game. Bristol began to pile on the pressure, and reaped their reward when Patrick Hagerty drove over from the back of a maul, extending Bristol’s lead to eight points. Despite being in the ascendency, Bristol’s struggled to put points on the board, and slowly UWE began to creep back into the game. With three minutes to go, UWE scored a sensational try to bring the score to within one point and set up a grandstand finish. Were it not for a resilient Bristol defence, UWE may have pressed on for the win. After forcing a turnover, Bristol, despite a tight finish, reaped the rewards of their overall dominance in the game. After the final whistle, Captain Max Cresswell singled out the physicality as a major factor in the game: ‘it was one of the most physical games I’ve ever played, but we made it pretty hard for ourselves as we always seem to do’. He added: ‘it could have easily been the other way around, but credit to UWE, they were awesome today’. Despite the fierce rivalry on the pitch, both sets of players showed immense respect, sharing a few beers together after the game.
Epigram
08.05.2017
47
Spoils shared at inaugural Friday Night Lights
FineTime Photography
Dan Reuben Deputy Online Sports Editor Bristol and UWE shared the spoils in the inaugural Friday Night Lights event on 24th March, which saw the two universities face off in both American Football and Lacrosse in a feast of sporting action. UWE Bullets ran out comfortable victors over Bristol Barracuda in the American Football on the 3G whilst over on the Astroturf, both Bristol’s men’s and ladies’ lacrosse teams eased to victory, with a combined goal difference of +26 in Bristol’s favour. In both sports, the pre-match build up had been based around an underdog victory or a slip up from the favourite rather than a tight contest and the night ran true to form. Bristol Cuda started their game on top, however, almost scoring with their first venture inside UWE’s 30 yard line after star running back Yemi Falana
took the ball within five yards of the opposition’s line before fumbling the ball. From then on until half time, it was all one way traffic with Cuda on the back foot. Sure enough, the Bullets opened the scoring, bundling the ball over the line and adding a two-point conversion. UWE added a second touchdown shortly before half time through wide receiver Ryan Batt and went into the break 14-0 up. After an impressive burger for the reporters from the pop up food stand at Dingle, a rejuvenated Cuda side took the game to their opponents but a resilient UWE defence stood firm. Shortly before the end of the third quarter, UWE stretched their lead with a sixty yard pass for a third touchdown. Heading into the final quarter 200 down, the wait for a Cuda win in Varsity seemed certain to roll on to 2018 however Bristol rallied, with Jim Powell running in a consolation touchdown and with UWE nervous in defence, Cuda could see the dimmest
of lights at the end of the tunnel. Time was against them, however, and despite their huge effort, it was to no avail as UWE added some gloss onto the score line in the dying embers of the game with a final touchdown and the game ended 26-6 to the UWE Bullets. Cuda quarterback Paddy Sidwell remained upbeat after the match, saying, ‘We always knew it was going to be a tough game against UWE and it proved to be a very physical encounter. There wasn’t much more we could do on the night, we left everything out there. We’ll be back again next year stronger than ever. It was a great occasion to be a part of and the atmosphere was class, so thanks to everyone who came down to support’. Meanwhile, the short walk across to Dingle’s Astroturf showed two Bristol teams in much higher spirits, with both the Ladies’ and Men’s teams in a class above their UWE counterparts, both in the lead up to Friday Night Lights and throughout the evening.
The Ladies had finished mid-table in a division three higher than their opposition and so they could have been forgiven for their complacency. Right from the face off, however, all worries were swept away as Bristol’s ladies swarmed over their opponents; they meant business. By half-time they were 8-2 up and cruising. Another eleven goals later and the ladies were home and dry, smashing UWE 19-4. Job half done for the Lacrosse club - next came the Men’s team. They were looking to continue their tremendous winning streak, which had stretched the length of the season and seen the team crowned Premier South champions along the way. Like their female colleagues, complacency could have crept into their game with their UWE opponents on the night having finished their season lower than the Bristol men’s second team in Western 2A, two divisions below. The men took the baton from the ladies in style, however, and raced into
an early 4-0 lead. From then on, the team were able to take their foot off the gas slightly and coast through the game. By the start of the final quarter, Bristol had stretched their lead to 9-1, demonstrating the quality and determination of a team unbeaten all season to the bumper crowd. As the final whistle blew, Bristol had eased to victory 12-1 and the champagne for both the men and the ladies could start flowing. Club captain, Harry Rintoul was extremely pleased with the night overall. “This was our first year having a standalone event for lacrosse and it was a massive success. It was great to see such a strong crowd come down to enjoy the action and even better that we were able to put on a good show for them, putting UWE away in a dominant performance”. In the end, the first ever edition of Friday Night Lights ended all square, with both sets of fans returning home happy and the organisers even happier at how the event turned out. Bring on next year!
Bristol Spartans come close in Varsity showdown Malik Ouzia Online News Editor
FineTime Photography
Bristol were narrowly beaten by UWE in both the men’s and women’s first team basketball matches at Filton, in one of the most hotly contested stand-alone events of the Varsity series. Coming in off the back of a stunning league and couple double, Bristol’s women were hoping to repeat last year’s epic victory against a UWE side sitting one tier higher in the BUCS league system. Having trailed by as many as nine points, Bristol fought back to go in level at half-time, with the scores at 2323. The game remained tight for much of the third and fourth quarters, with Noelia Gonzalez particularly impressive, and well deserving of her MVP award. However, trailing by four in the final quarter, as Bristol poured forward UWE were ruthless on the counter and from the free throw line, eventually running out 55-46 winners. Afterwards captain Grace Youell, playing in her final game, having previously served as club captain and chair of the Sports Exec, said: ‘I started the day putting my jersey on
for the last time, pretty calm and a bit excited to finish with a huge game’. ‘Winning Varsity would have definitely been the cherry on top of the season we’ve had, especially in front of that crowd. UWE had a couple of outstanding players and managed to just pip us’. Theoretically, the men’s match should have offered more of a gulf in class, with UWE sitting in the Southern Premier Division. However, fresh from winning all ten of their fixtures in Western 2A, Bristol started brilliantly with two three-pointers in quick succession from Nick Argento. Like their female counterparts, Bristol’s men trailed by as many as nine points at one stage, but with MVP James Throup dominating the boards at both ends of the court they responded to level the scores deep in the fourth quarter. Again though it was UWE who proved clinical enough in the crucial closing stages to secure a 54-50 win and a double on the day. ‘It was without a doubt the most exciting varsity I’ve been part of,’ said Throup. ‘The roar after every point was incredible. To come away with a fourpoint loss against a team two leagues above was actually a great result.’
A great place to relax
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University Botanic Garden opposite Churchill Hall, Stoke Bishop www.bris.ac.uk/botanic-garden Epigram ad_v4new.indd 1
20/03/2017 14:46