Inside....
Women’s rugby team face off against Cardiff Met
The Art of Memes
Match report pg. 47
what does it take to make a truly dank meme?
The Best Pub Lunches in Bristol
Arts pg. 38
Food pg.
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est. 1988
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Bristol students hospitalised with meningitis infection • •
Students have been urged to look out for their friends and housemates There is no increased risk of infection for students at the University
Imogen Horton News Editor
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ublic Health England has been notified that two students from the University of Bristol have been confirmed as having Meningococcal Meningitis Group B infection. The students are reported to be ‘recovering well’ in a hospital in Cardiff, with ‘their discharge from hospital being arranged’. They will return to their family homes following their discharge from hospital. The University of Bristol is working closely with Public Health England to ensure that necessary action is taken. Those who are very close friends, or share accommodation, with the students in hospital have been offered an antibiotic and vaccination which will decrease chances of the bacteria spreading. Students in the rest of the University are not considered to be at any increased risk and Public Health England have said that there is ‘currently no need to take any specific action or change the university routine for students and staff’. Meningitis Now have also agreed that the risk of further cases would be low. Fiona Neely, Consultant in Health Protection at Public Health England South West, said: ‘We
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understand that there will be concern among students, staff and parents following these cases, and we are following national guidelines in implementing control measures...to reduce spread of infection.’ ‘We urge students to look out for your housemates as symptoms of meningitis can look a lot like a hangover - so it’s important to be vigilant for anything out of character. ‘The best advice remains for everyone to be aware of and alert to the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, especially students and their parents. ‘Early recognition of meningitis and septicaemia symptoms can greatly improve the outcome of the disease. If anyone is feeling unusually unwell, and displaying the symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia, they should contact their GP surgery immediately or call NHS 111.’ Rob Dawson, Head of Support at Meningitis Research Foundation said: ‘‘Our thoughts are with the individuals affected. Our free helpline and support service is here to support anyone affected or anyone who may have questions following this news. ‘Meningococcal bacteria are transmitted from person to person by close contact with others such as coughing, sneezing, kissing etc. However, usually we have to be in very close or regular contact with someone for the bacteria to pass between us. Even when this happens, most of us will not become ill because we have natural immunity. Continued on page 2
EpigramPaper
Fortnightly 19th November 2018 Issue 332 Celebrating 30 years
First year starts dance campaign to highlight loneliness and mental health Imogen Horton News Editor
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First year student Freya Selman has started a campaign to encourage young people to talk about their mental health ‘You can Help’ seeks to help people feeling isolated and alone Full story pg. 6
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pigram has spoken to Freya Selman, a first-year student, about her mental health campaign ‘You Can Help’. The project, which she launched in collaboration with friend Jasmine Flanagan, aims to encourage young people to talk about their mental health as they believe this is essential to showing those struggling that they are not alone, no matter what they are going through Freya said: ‘We wanted to do this project to show people that you never, ever have to struggle’
Editorial Another month has flown by as we emerge from the period of the first deadlines into the period of relentless deadlines, where our lives are forever hurling from one terrifying essay to a project to a dissertation synopsis. In my editorial this week I want to address social media and the affect comparing ourselves to others can have on our university experience. We are lucky enough to attend one of the best universities in the world, and whilst this is great for our parents to brag about to their friends it can foster a relentlessly competitive environment where every student has to achieve what their tutors expect, and better than their classmates. It is part of the nature of going to a University such as Bristol, where everyone was the top of their respective classes in school (the good-enough-to-try-to-boost-theschools-Oxbridge-numbers category) but now sit in classes, lectures and seminars with people just as brilliant. This creates an exciting intellectual atmosphere but can be intimidating when you look around and think: ‘everyone in this room is more intelligent than I am’. We’ve all checked our classmates’ LinkedIn pages and felt bad when discovering they’ve never scored below 90 and won the Burlington Scarrot Prize for Exceptional Performance or the Waddington Wade-Worsley Award for being the Best Brilliant Brain. It’s overwhelming, intimidating and scary. However, as best-selling author and mental health guru Matt Haig says, the tip to living a happy life is ‘do not compare yourself to other people’. In a recent tutorial my tutor said “don’t judge yourself on your grades; the difference between a 65 and a 71 is really quite arbitrary”. My immediate reaction was to scoff and say, ‘well that’s no use if grad schemes and Master’s courses need a first’. However, she had a point. A lot of jobs will ask for experience, keenness to learn and mental attitude far above the grade you achieved in your degree or the University you went to (sorry, mum). This brings me onto social media, where the achievements of our peers are not only all over our timelines but the very thoughts of our fellow students are pasted from anonymous forms straight into our phones. It creates this sense of hyper-competitiveness, not only in each other’s achievements, but each other’s hardships. Who has the worst house? Who can be the most angry about the SU? Who can deride the staff / students / buildings / Hugh Brady more? This sense of collective anger turns us all inwards and whilst in some places it is understandable anger, it is mostly either misplaced or unnecessary negativity. We talk about mental health a lot at Bristol, but I cannot understand the arguments of those who sit behind the veil of anonymity on the internet and their meme pages who claim to care about mental health whilst fostering and environment of anger and negativity. I think, therefore, it is important for us as consumers of online ‘content’ to regulate and manage what we ‘like’ and see on our own screens. This environment of excessive competition is not healthy for anyone, and can make people feel like even smaller fish swimming (or drowning) in an ever-growing ocean. Hugh Brady does, much to the dismay of many students, go on about social media and its role in the mental health crisis. However, he does have a point. We live a lot of our lives from our phones. In one day, I have to look at my phone just for work for about 2 hours a day, including emails and the (seemingly endless) Epigram notifications on Slack. When you factor in what most of us use our phones for (Facebook, Instagram, etc) that is a lot of time we dedicate to absorbing what a very small group of people make us see. What a lot of these social media pages do is enforce this one image of what your university experience should be. You’ll live in Stoke Bishop (probably Hiatt Baker, Badock or Churchill). You’ll go out most nights, speak with an affected London/Surrey accent and wear puffer jackets. You’ll not do any societies or be involved with the SU in any way and definitely won’t dare to have passions outside of drinking, sports or going out. This student does not exist, every student has different passions, different interests and a completely different university experience. The homogenisation of uni experience by social media should be rejected, and we should embrace this wonderful plurality of ideas, lives and experiences. To repete, don’t compare yourself to other people. Have a lovely month, I can hear the sleigh bells approaching…
Cameron Scheijde co-Editor-in-Chief
co-Editors in Chief: Ed Southgate & Cameron Scheijde editor@epigram.org.uk Deputy Editor: Nikki Peach
Online Editor: Hannah Worthington Deputy Online Editors: Kate Hutchison & Oliver Cohen Chief Proofreader Ethan Luc
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Sub-editors: Nina Bryant (News), Eleanor Holmes (Features), Phoebe Chase (Comment), Rebecca Scott (Science), Hendrike Rahtz (Living), Anna Hart (Wellbeing), Erin Lawler (Food), Eloisa Griffiths (Travel), Laura Mallinson (Style), Eleanor Gunn (Film & TV), Eleanor Tarr (Arts), Guy Marcham (Music), Kezi James (Puzzles) Managing Director Frankie McNab Director of Communications Tara Lidstone Director of Finance Ben Woods Head of Ads and Sales Joshua Varghese Head of Marketing Emily Lowes Epigram is the independent student newspaper of the University of Bristol. The views expressed in this publication are not those of the University or the Students’ Union. The design, text and photographs are copyright of Epigram and its individual contributors and may not be reproduced without permission.
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Two meningitis cases confirmed at Bristol Continued from front page The bacteria cannot live longer than a few moments outside the body, so they are not carried on things like clothes, bedding or dishes so there is no need to be concerned that the physical environment of the university is the source of the infection.’ Students are the second highest at risk group for contracting
meningitis, an infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Common signs and symptoms of meningitis include fever, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, severe muscle pain, severe headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights, convulsions or seizures, pale or blotchy skin and a rash. Any students who are unwell and recognise any of the symptoms described should contact their doctor urgently or call NHS 111.
Pic of the fortnight: PGCE Graduates in the Wills Memorial Epigram Paper
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Editor: Imogen Horton Online Editor: James Cleaver Deputy Editor: Lucy Downer Investigations Editor: Louise Cripps Uni Management Correspondent: Laura Reid Student Life Correspondent: Victoria Dyer SU Correspondent: Zoe Crowther
epigram 19.11.2018
Got a story for the News team? Email:newsteam.epigram@gmail.com
Relax, socialise and ‘get away from it all’: new SU Living Room to open in centre of campus • •
Zoe Crowther SU Correspondent
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“It’s programmed to be somewhere that isn’t for study or for teaching” Stanford Bristol SU Officer
that ‘it’s programmed to be somewhere that isn’t for study or for teaching. It’s designed to be a space for getting away from that.’ Asked about the origins of the idea, Stanford emphasised that students had fed into the project in the early stages: ‘It came from a lot of different places. It organically came to be almost by chance. A lot of people started to arrive at a similar point at a similar time within the organisation.’ Similar projects have been undertaken elsewhere, such as by organisations like Camorados, which sets up public living rooms in hospitals, libraries and jails to provide a ‘comfortable place where anyone can come, on good days and bad, to be around people, make connections and enjoy being out of the house.’ Bristol SU spoke to Camorados to find out how these spaces have been used by
other organisations and how best to adapt them to the student demographic. Societies, clubs and networks will be free to use the space, but there shall be no official booking system for the room. The Living Room shall be free for all students to use within the opening hours and is part of a long-term plan to transform Senate House into a student hub. ‘It’s a lot about starting to bring the SU into the centre of campus,’ said Stanford. ‘Senate House is now going forward and it shall never go back to what it once was, which was this bastion of bureaucratic leadership. It’s moving away from that and this is the start of that process. ‘Go to the space, feed back on what you want the space to be. We want to curate the space and give it to students to be something they can make use of as they wish.’
Bristol SU
tudents will be ‘taking over’ an area on campus originally used for the Vice-Chancellor, as Bristol SU announce a new living room in Senate House. The new space will include games, entertainment and a comfortable space for students to spend time between lectures, eat their own food and escape from study. It will be opened on Monday 3 December on the fourth floor of Senate House and will be open 8am – 10pm Monday to Friday. Official plans for the Living Room
have been in progress since March, with development work beginning in October. Stanford, Union Affairs Officer, has been involved in the project from the start. He told Epigram that the Living Room will be a way of ‘bringing the SU to the centre of campus.’ He described the project as ‘loads of little rooms in a big room’ with different zones, including areas for computer games, screenings, table football and ping pong.’ There will also be a student kitchen on the fourth floor of Senate House next to the study centre, complete with microwaves, hot water taps and cupboards for storage. According to research by the Bristol SU and the University of Bristol, 35 per cent of students rarely or never feel relaxed. Findings also showed that almost 25 per cent report feelings of isolation. This room shall be part of a University-wide push to improve student wellbeing and support the idea that campus can provide leisure and relaxation as well as academic resources. Bristol SU shall be promoting the Living Room as a ‘social hub’ rather than a communal study area. Stanford commented
Bristol SU
The SU Living Room is part of a Univeristy-wide project to improve student wellbeing Research by Bristol SU and the Univeristy of Bristol showed that over a quarter of students rarely or never feel relaxed or report feelings of isolation
Bristol SU Shortlisted for Inclusive Companies Award •
Bristol SU’s Chief Executive has also been shortlisted for an award
James Cleaver Online News Editor
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ristol SU has been nominated for the Diversity Marketing Campaign of the Year for its work on the Bristol BME Powerlist. For the awards held on 15 November, the SU has been shortlisted for its work on the Bristol BME Powerlist as well as the provision of support for students to set up campaigns focused on ameliorating diversity and inclusion within the student community. Samantha Budd, Bristol SU’s Chief Executive, has also been shortlisted for the Diversity Champion Award for
the Education Sector. She won the 2018 Simpson King Staff Achievement Award in light of her becoming the first black female Chief Executive in any UK Students’ Union. Sally Patterson, Equality, Liberation and Access Officer at Bristol SU said: ‘The University of Bristol is increasingly attracting a more diverse student body and Bristol SU is responsive to that. Being shortlisted for these awards shows that the SU, under Sam’s leadership, is providing a space where students and staff can thrive.’ The Inclusive Companies Awards are partnering with the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers. A groundbreaking and definitive list of the country’s most inclusive companies will be unveiled by them. The highest-ranking organisations will receive recognition in the form of a
Diverse Company Award. The Inclusive Companies Awards aim to highlight employers that diversify their workforces and challenge discrimination, applauding those for their fight against inequality. Alison Lowe, CEO of Touchsone, the UK’s most inclusive employer said: ‘Diversity is not just something employers ought to do; it is something we must do if we are to recruit and retain the best staff and maintain an edge on the competition. The Inclusive Companies Awards celebrate the best in great diversity and inclusion practice whilst also recognising those special employers who go that extra mile to make their staff feel engaged.’ ‘The awards also showcase individuals who have led on inclusion – often without thanks or understanding of the many barriers people might face. I am
“The University of Bristol is increasingly attracting a more diverse student body and Bristol SU is responsive to that.” Sally Patterson Bristol SU Officer
delighted to be a judge once again for these prestigious awards and am looking forward to honouring those whose selfless devotion to fairness and justice sets them apart.’ Paul Sesay, CEO and Founder of the Inclusive Companies Awards and National Diversity Awards, added: ‘The Inclusive Companies Awards continue to be an exceptional way to celebrate the courageous actions of individuals and organisations, who are already striving for inclusion. Let’s celebrate the tremendous feats of our incredible shortlisted nominees.’ Winners will be announced at The Midland Hotel, Manchester on 15 November. A panel of luminaries including Andy Woodfield of PwC, Pamela Hutchinson of Bloomberg and Dianah Worman OBE recently gathered to finalise the widely anticipated shortlist.
epigram 19.11.2018
4 News
Sausage rolls straight to your door! Bristol Greggs teams up with Deliveroo
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Students can now get their favourite Greggs treats delivered straight to their door with Deliveroo
Laura Reid
Uni Management Correspondent
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tudents are now able to get Greggs delivered straight to their door in Bristol, as the bakery chain joins Deliveroo. Greggs have launched a delivery service with Deliveroo in Bristol, Newcastle and London, following a successful trial in Birmingham. Joe Groves, from Deliveroo, said:
‘Gregg’s is in icon of the British high street, we know Deliveroo customers are going to love getting their favourite bakes and bites delivered to them in under 30 minutes.’ The online menu includes sandiwches, salads, sweet and savoury baked goods, as well as lots of meal deal options. The two branches in Bristol which are delivering are on Broadmead in City Centre and East Street in Bedminster. Ruby Rosenthal, a Third Year Liberal Arts student said: ‘I love Greggs. They have super tasty yum-yums!’. Whether you are craving a sweet treat, a sausage roll or a steak bake, there’s now no need to even leave the comfort of your house.
NUS faces potential bankruptcy •
The NUS currently faces a defecit of £3 million The NUS provides Bristol SU with support services, such as research Stanford, Bristol’s Union Affairs Officer told Epigram that issues are ‘unlikely’ to negatively impact Bristol students
Maddy Russell
Second Year Politics and International Relations
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Wikimedia Commons
he National Union of Students, which represents Bristol and the majority of UK higher education institutions, has revealed it is facing significant financial difficulties. In a letter to the group’s affiliated students’ unions, the NUS said that it was unable to cover an estimated deficit of £3 million from its existing reserves. Students’ unions across the country were told that the organisation may need to mortgage its headquarters, reduce staff and curtail its activities in order to save money. In a letter to its unions, the NUS said that the measures proposed would help it ‘get to safety’ within an estimated period of
Bristol University to pay staff the Living Wage •
The Univeristy joins 220 other employers in the South West to commit to paying staff the living wage
Imogen Horton News Editor
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oinciding with Living Wage Week 2018, the University of Bristol has committed to paying staff the real Living Wage. The decision from the University to become accredited as a Living Wage employer, will positively affect interns and casual staff, as well as many University staff on Grade A (spinal point 3). Robert Kerse, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Bristol, said: ‘We value all staff and recognise that their hard work plays an invaluable role in the life of the University and its contribution to the economy of the city and the region. ‘We’re delighted to receive Living Wage accreditation and offer our lower paid staff more security as the cost of living increases.’ The timescale for implementation is yet to be confirmed, but will be communicated with those impacted in due course.
The University also joins 220 employers in the South West, including Bristol City Council, to receive accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation. Last week marked the rise of the real Living Wage to £9 and the beginning of Living Wage Week, a national celebration of more than 4,700 employers who have committed to paying staff this rate. The real Living Wage is a set hourly rate of pay, calculated in line with the basic costs of living, and applies to all over the age of 18. It is independently set and currently is higher than the Government set minimum wage for those over 25.
NUS President, Shakira Martin
“Financial issues facing the NUS are unlikely to directly negatively impact our staff and students at Bristol.” Stanford Bristol SU Officer
six months. It also appealed to members in helping to reshape governance and address the underlying causes of the issue. Members have also been invited to partake in ‘strategic conversation’ with their ideas on the future of the NUS. A Turnaround Board is also in the process of being established with the goal of making changes beyond 2019, when President Shakira Martin is due to step down. Stanford, Bristol’s Union Affairs Officer told Epigram: ‘The financial issues facing the NUS are unlikely to directly negatively impact our staff and students at Bristol. However, there are useful support services that the NUS provides to all the students’ unions, particularly in representation, research and student voice and potential cut backs could affect the quality or delivery of those services. ‘Our aim as a Students’ Union is to engage with all opportunities we can, most imminently in Strategic Conversation 2018, to minimise the losses for the NUS and ensure Bristol students continue to receive benefits of membership.’ With Bristol SU being one of the founding unions of the NUS in 1908, Stanford expressed his confidence that Bristol shall have a ‘strong voice’ in tackling this issue in the coming months.
19.11.2018 epigram
News 5
Mental health march announced after only 1% SU Election of students respond to University consultation Statistics • •
A new march has been organised by a collboration of Bristol societies New demands cover areas such as improved mental health services and lower rent
high rent on students’ mental health. In response to the announcement of the march, a University spokesperson has said: ‘We share the passion and concern our students feel about mental health and wellbeing and respect their right to peaceful protest.’
Laura Reid
Uni Management Correspondent
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further march protesting ‘poor mental health services’ at Bristol University has been announced for the 21 November. This comes after less than 1% of students filled in the University’s mental health consultation. The march has been organised by a combination of Bristol societies, who include: Support Our Services, Bristol Cut the Rent, Bristol Student-Staff Solidarity, Bristol Green Soc, Bristol University Intersectional Feminism Society and Bristol Labour Students. In their collaborative statement, the societies stated: ‘We have decided to organise this demonstration for a number of reasons that have come to light in the last few weeks. These are as follows: the lack of action from the University after the last demonstration, and the University’s denial that they are creating an environment for students that is actively harming their mental health, which includes the financial pressure from high rent in university-owned halls.’ This new protest follows on from the large ‘March for Better Mental Health Services’ back in May, which attracted hundreds of student protesters. Whilst the march in May mainly called for better mental health services, the organisers of ‘People Not Profit’ will raise concerns surrounding the impact of
“This doesn’t show that students don’t care.” Support Our Services
Its announcement comes directly after the end of the University’s staff and student consultation. By the time the consultation regarding Uni strategy ended on Wednesday 7 November, 192 students had commented on the wellbeing strategy, accounting for less than 1% of the student population. The organisers of ‘People Not Profit’ described the consultation form as ‘disappointing and long-winded, meaning that few students filled it out.’ Despite the relatively low response rate, the University have stated that they ‘received a great deal of very helpful feedback from students – including the march organisers - on our draft Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy’. Support Our Services have argued that ‘the document was far too long and abstract, and did not take into account the busy lives of students that do not, in most cases, allow for a serious analysis of policy.’ Moreover, they stated that the consultation document was poorly promoted, relying on the SU; ‘a good forum but nowhere near broad-reaching enough: as evidenced by the fact that 99% of students were left disenfranchised. ‘This doesn’t show that students don’t care, it shows that the University won’t take the trouble of making a consultation that is actually accessible.’ Third year student, Ostin D’Silva, shared the link to the mental health consultation on his own Facebook page. However, he said that, ‘I think the consultation wasn’t publicised very well by the Uni as a lot of people didn’t know about it until I told them and posted about it.’ Following the low response to the consultation, this march hopes to galvanise the University into further action on mental health, and additional concerns surrounding high rent.
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Analysis / How much could relieving financial stress improve student mental health? Nina Bryant
News Sub-editor
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ccording to a survey conducted by Save The Student earlier this year, 45% of respondents expressed that battling to keep up with rent negatively affected their mental health. It goes without saying that rises in rent costs and impending debt can cause huge levels of stress, and this in turn leads to increased risk for mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. The question is - how big is this link and why is it so rarely discussed? Should we be doing more to emphasise the link between the two? Student campaign groups organising ‘People Not Profit’ march say yes. Following a consultation on the new Mental Health Strategy filled out by only 1% of the student population, a number of Bristol societies including Support Our Services and Bristol Student-Staff
Solidarity, have criticised the survey for being another ‘bureaucratised approach’. The collaborative statement preceding the march asserts that the University is not doing all they can to improve the wellbeing of the student population, including failing to address the high cost of student living. This issue is particularly pertinent when looking at the cost of rent of student halls, which for the majority is an important aspect of university life. Students come to university with the combined pressures of socialising, budgeting, becoming independent and of students said that integrating into a community – most keeping up with their rent of these experiences reliant on living in negatively affected their halls of residence, a lot of which charge mental health extortionate rent. With maintenance grants scrapped in 2016, currently the only option for students from low-income households is to take out a bigger loan. With rising interest rates, the burden of impending debt is only growing. The statement argues this can increase stress levels in a variety of ways, with many students
45%
having to work part-time alongside their studies because the maximum maintenance loan is not enough to cover the cost of living. It seems self-evident that general wellbeing will suffer as a result. However, while reducing rent may be a feasible goal in the long run, it remains unclear the extent to which this will improve the overall mental health of the student body. To ascertain where the University should be focussing their efforts with regards to the Mental Health Strategy, it may be necessary to gather evidence specific to current University of Bristol students, as well as looking at figures from other universities where rent may not be so high. This leads us to the question of whether we can assess where there is a specific need for change – regarding rent or otherwise - without greater input from the student body? Continued input and dedication from the University is crucial, but more evidence from the student population may be necessary before tangible change can be implemented.
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*Only including those with over ten members
epigram 19.11.2018
6 News
Universities face debt crisis as Government funding dries up •
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Many universities are being forced to borrow from private US firms as the government is no longer giving out large capital grants The University of Bristol most recently borrowed £200m for the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and new library
James Cleaver Online News Editor
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ith less investment from the government, British universities including the University of Bristol are turning to US private placements as their main source of finance. British universities throughout the country are undergoing a huge investment programme, and the University of Bristol is no different. Developments including the new campus at Temple Meads are partially
Comment Editor
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spokesperson
ensure that the University can afford to pay both the interest and the capital borrowed. The first capital repayment is due in 2047.’ A number of factors have caused UK universities to turn to private loans to secure capital funding. New rules brought in since the financial crisis require banks to hold more capital at all times. This means that long-term capital investments such as the new campus at Temple Meads are less attractive to them. The European Investment Bank is halting investment in the United Kingdom as a result of Brexit, and the UK’s potential departure has created uncertainty about future numbers of EU and international students. A decline in the number of 18-year-olds in the country also means that revenue from students could be potentially lower in the future. The loans from Pricoa are due to be paid back in three tranches between 2047 and 2057 at interest rates of around 2.6%. The rest of the University’s debt, borrowed using two loans from Barclays at higher interest rates, is to be paid back by 2038 and 2047 respectively.
Bristol University student shows the power of dance in mental health • •
The campaign aims to encourage more young people to talk about their mental health Freya has praised the mental health support at Bristol she has recieved so far
Imogen Horton News Editor
Continued from front page... The pair bonded over their love of dance and this formed the basis of their campaign as it had helped them both in their journeys with mental health. Their project centres around a dance they choreographed together which expresses the story of two young people feeling isolated, struggling with their mental health. When they meet and learn that they are both experiencing similar struggles, it helps them to realise they’re not alone. As a student new to Bristol, Freya told Epigram that so far, her experience with mental health services has been ‘very mixed’, explaining that she’s ‘found it very difficult to access community [NHS] services, which was the original plan for my support at uni.’ However, Freya has praised the mental health services at Bristol University, calling the staff ‘really lovely and helpful’. ‘The Residential Life team have been proactive and supportive since I came to Bristol, which has been massively helpful. I’ve also seen a mental health advisor with the uni who is helping me get things in place, and the GP has been helpful in trying to chase people and checking in with me.’ Looking at the impact that the wider university community can have on mental health, Freya also praised the Jets
“The Residential Life team have been proactive and supportive since I came to Bristol” Freya Selman
Cheerleading Society as being ‘massively helpful’. She went on to say how ‘everyone on the team is so lovely’ and also that ‘a couple of people in particular have been massively supportive of me which has made such a difference’. Freya told Epigram that when she first started struggling with her mental health ‘no one around me ever really spoke about mental health or how they were feeling’. She explained that by never talking about ‘deeper feelings or emotions’ she felt like she was ‘completely alone and the odd one out’, adding ‘I had no idea that there were other people going through similar things’. After talking to CAMHS Youth Advisors (CYA) in a PSHE lesson, Freya began to realise that there were people like her ‘who felt the same’ and ‘struggled in similar ways’. ‘I had that knowledge that I wasn’t the only one anymore, and that was so empowering.’ From there, Freya decided to join CYA and ‘was surrounded by people who not only understood what I was going through, but openly talked about how they were feeling and what was going on for them’. Talking about the future, Freya admitted to Epigram that it is unlikely that she and Jas will do another video with Fixers as
‘there are so many amazing young people out there with things to say and Jas and I would never want to take that chance away from them.’ However she did tell us that she would ‘definitely like to take this project as far as it can go’. ‘We’ve had some incredible feedback on the video, and the most moving thing has been people coming to us to tell us that our project has made them feel less alone, or that they no longer feel like they have to keep everything inside. That was our ultimate goal, and to help even one person on their journey is such a privilege. ‘Ultimately, we want to show people that it’s okay to ask for help, and that no one is alone, and the more people we can show, the better!’
Freya Selman
he University of Bristol has received its first Athena SWAN Award for a non-STEMM subject, with the Law School receiving a Bronze Award. First established in 2005 to reward efforts made in advancing women’s careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) within higher education; the Athena SWAN Awards were expanded in 2015 to recognise the advancement of gender equality in all higher education departments. It has not been until this year that the University of Bristol received its first nonSTEMM award, bringing the University’s total number of Athena SWAN Awards to 15, including an institutional Bronze Award. Professor Charlotte Villiers, the Athena SWAN Lead for the Law School, said: ‘The Law School is vibrant, diverse and inclusive. Our new Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee will now be taking forward plans that will benefit all students and staff in the school in the future years’. Two other departments also won Athena SWAN Awards this year with the School of Biological Sciences winning a Silver Award and the School of Chemistry maintaining its Bronze Award. A spokesperson for the School of Biological Sciences said they were ‘immensely proud’ of their progress towards inclusivity, whilst the head of Chemistry stated that the school was ‘committed to achieving even more in the future’.
University of Bristol
A University of Bristol spokesperson responded to Epigram: ‘The University borrowed £200m for periods up to 40 years in April 2017 from the Pricoa Capital Group to fund the delivery of the University Strategy. Key elements of the Strategy are the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and the new University Library. Government is no longer providing significant capital grants for universities to make strategic investments to protect their futures.’ ‘Many other universities have taken on new long term borrowings in the last couple of years for the same reasons. The Board took significant care over this borrowing decision, including taking independent financial advice. This included ensuring that the University has enough financial headroom to service these borrowings in a number of downturn scenarios. We managed to secure the borrowings at a very attractive long term fixed rate.’ ‘This means that we are not exposed to future interest rate fluctuations, which helps us to manage the affordability of the loans. We maintain long term financial forecasts to
Freya Selman
Will Charley
“Government is no longer providing significant capital grants for universities”
Freya Selman
Bristol Law School receives award for advancing gender equality
being funded by Pricoa Capital Group, the international arm of Prudential Capital Group. In April of last year the University borrowed £200m from Pricoa Capital Group. This increased the University’s gross debt from £250m to £450m and raised the University’s debt as a percentage of revenue to 74%. The International Financing Review has drawn attention to the increasing amounts of debt universities such as the University of Bristol are racking up. They estimate that UK university debt has trebled to £12bn in the last three years. Private loans from companies like Pricoa are the main cause of this. More recently, The I reported that three unnamed UK universities were on the verge of bankruptcy and needed short-term loans just to survive. Sir Michael Barber, Chair of the Office for Students, stated that universities would not be bailed out, arguing that making them ‘too big to fail’ would remove incentives for sensible financial policies.
19.11.2018 epigram
News 7
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Domestic violence is widely accepted in most developing countries, says new Bristol research • •
Nearly half the population in South Asia believe that domestic violence can be justified In nearly three quarters of the countries studied, women were more likely to justify violence
Lucy Downer
Deputy News Editor
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esearchers at the University of Bristol have revealed that societal acceptance of domestic violence against women is widespread in developing countries, with 36 per cent of people believing it is justified in certain situations. These concerning findings were gathered using Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 20052017. University of Bristol researchers analysed data from 1.17 million men and
women from 49 low and middle income countries. The surveys measured whether people thought a husband or partner could be justified in beating his wife or partner if she goes out without telling him, argues with him, neglects the children, suspects her of being unfaithful, refuses to have sex, or burns the food. 36 per cent of people thought it was justified in at least one of these cases. However, these attitudes were found to differ greatly depending on country, with only 3 per cent of people believing this violence is justified in the Dominican Republic, compared to 83 per cent in Timor-Leste, South East Asia. On the whole, the societal acceptance of domestic violence was higher in South Asia with nearly half the population (47 per cent) justifying it and in Sub-Saharan Africa (38 per cent), compared with Latin America and the Caribbean (12 per cent), Europe and Central Asia (29 per cent). In 36 of the 49 countries, mainly in
“The influence of country-level factors and environment are invaluable if we’re to tackle this global problem” Dr Lynn Marie Sardinha
South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, women were more likely to justify the behaviour than men. The political environment was revealed to play an important role in the acceptance of domestic violence. For example, this attitude of acceptance was more prevalent in countries which have experienced frequent political conflict within the past five years. Countries under more democratic regimes, were revealed to have lower societal acceptance rates of domestic violence amongst men. The same can be said of people in countries where women are given more economic rights. This trend reveals that education and political stability are key to tackling attitudes towards domestic violence. Dr LynnMarie Sardinha, an ESRC Research Fellow in Domestic Violence and Health at the University of Bristol, led the research. She said: ‘This is the first study of its kind and the insights it gives us into people’s attitudes towards
MPs criticise Students Loans Company for using ‘KGB tactics’ to assess eligibility •
The SLC have defended their actions saying they have a ‘duty’ ensure taxpayers’ funds are being properly disbursed
Imogen Horton News Editor
T
“If people have public sources of information about themselves then they must expect that will be looked at.” Christian Brodie SLC Chair
Community organisation Bristol Bike Project celebrates ten years •
The Bristol Bike Project has helped many marginalised by society, teaching them workshop skills and providing them with transport
Olivia Duggan
Third-year Theology Student
F
ounded to help those marginalised by society by teaching them new skills and providing them with an upcycled bike, the Bristol Bike Project celebrated its tenth birthday last weekend at Hamilton House. Created by co-founders Colin Fan and James Lucas, the Bristol Bike Project was originally a small enterprise, run from a back garden. Its aim is ‘helping people help themselves’ as clients not only receive the finished product, but also assist in the bike repair, gaining workshop skills in the process. Bristol Bike Project is helped by many student volunteers, particularly at DIY workshops such as Women’s Night and Bike Kitchen. Students have also benefited from the project by buying refurbished second-hand bikes, an affordable and more sustainable alternative to buying a new. Since starting, the project has reached many people, re-homing 2,000 bikes. It
now welcomes 170 volunteers and works alongside 60 organizations such as Bristol Refugee Rights. James Lucas, one of the two co-founders, says, ‘I feel extremely privileged to have met so many amazing people at the Project over the last ten years and hope that it continues to flourish!’ Sean, who was referred by Bristol Drugs Project back in 2010 is now a volunteer and says how the project was ‘such an important part of my recovery’. ‘The bike keeps me clean. But the best thing about this place is that it is immediately welcoming. Anyone who has been an addict will know just how important it is to be accepted in that way.’ The Bristol Bike Project is an organisation which aims to help underprivileged groups of people. Bikes are donated, repaired then gifted to people who need them such as refugees, women, young people and homeless. All profits support the projects community work. Bristol Bike Project
he Education Select Committee has accused the Student Loans Company (SLC) of creating a ‘surveillance society’ after it was found that they used social media the check the eligibility of student loan applications. Last week Christian Brodie, the SLC’s Chair, told the Education Select Committee that the company deemed personal Facebook accounts as a public source of information. He told MPs: ‘If people have public sources of information about themselves then they must expect that will be looked at.’ ‘Social media tends to be public. We have a duty to make sure that the taxpayers’ funds are being properly disbursed, and if there are public sources of information the terms and conditions on which people apply allow us to look at public sources of information.’ Chair of the Committee Conservative MP Robert Halfon, refuted this reasoning calling the actions of the SLC ‘an abuse’ and accusing the company of using ‘sinister,
KGB knock-on-the-door tactics’ and of ‘creating a surveillance society.’ ‘I find this really sinister, to be honest, because people don’t always use privacy settings and they might have deeply emotional issues or family trauma, rightly or wrongly.’ During the questioning, Labour MP Ian Mears cited the case of one student who after posting on Facebook a Christmas present they received from their parent, was told that they would have to be means-tested for a loan, as they were ineligible to be deemed as ‘estranged’. ‘We’re talking a £70 Christmas present, for goodness sake, not an ongoing financial commitment. A decision was taken, on the basis of that, to withdraw and review that student’s finance. I just think that’s unbelievable.’ The SLC’s chief executive, Paula Sussex, has admitted that the company’s handling of eligibility testing ‘could have been a lot better, clearly’. ‘We’ve taken away several lessons from very many points in the organisation, and it’s now my job to oversee them being delivered.’ The SLC first came under fire in the summer when it was discovered that the company had used social media to assess the eligibility of students applying for full maintenance loans due to being estranged from their families.
domestic violence in the Global South and the influence of country-level factors and environment are invaluable if we’re to tackle this global problem.’ ‘The widespread justification of domestic violence by women in highly patriarchal societies suggests women have internalised the idea that a husband who physically punishes his wife or verbally reprimands her has exercised a right that serves her interest. They perceive this behaviour as legitimate disciplining, rather than an act of violence.’ The Bristol researchers hope the findings will inform the development of effective prevention programmes, targeting the factors which lead to domestic violence being accepted by different societies. The World Health Organisation and the United Nations, have already expressed an interest in using the data to help monitor its goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
Features
Editor: Ollie Smith Deputy Editor: Tom Taylor Online Editor: Emily Vernall Deputy Online Editor: Niamh Rowe
epigram
19.11.2018
Maintenance loans or tuition fees: which is the real issue? An examination of whether student loans are actually as big an issue as some say and whether or not maintenance loans are a greater cause of financial burden
Patrick Sullivan
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he student loan system in the UK has been featured in national news regularly since the controversial inception of £9,000 annual fees for undergraduates in 2010. From September 2012, most British undergraduate students have paid - or, more accurately, borrowed - £9000 per year of study, with no stipulations of subject. The relatively high fees and graduate ‘debt’ have been a common conversation for students and taxpayers alike in the years since. The money for both tuition fees and maintenance loans are provided by the Student Loan Company (SLC), a ‘non-profit making, Government-owned organisation’. However, HMRC, responsible for collecting all taxes, assist the SLC with servicing and ensuring repayments of those loans. When analysing the loan system, there is little differentiation between the repayment of student loans and the concept of ‘graduate tax’, except for student ‘debt’. The strict definition of debt is ‘the state of owing money’. The way student loan repayments are structured however is by paying nine per cent of all earnings above a certain threshold. Until April 2018, that threshold was £21,000. Now, however, it is £25,000. Associated with debt is the pressure to pay back any money owed and the effect of interest if you are slow to pay it off. While interest rates have become a larger factor over time - they have risen from 3.9 per cent to 6.3 per cent since the 2015/16 academic year and are applied even during years of study - there is no pressure to ever pay off
“There is no pressure to ever pay off your student loan. Therefore, it is difficult to class as debt, especially in the same sense as payday loans or harsher, long term loans like mortgages”
“Maintenance loans are the same income based amounts for students in either Lincoln, Bristol, or Cambridge. It is only different in London”
Epigram / Patrick Sullivan
Film & TV Editor
your student loan. Therefore, it is difficult to class as debt, especially in the same sense as payday loans or harsher, long term loans like mortgages. A report published in July 2017 by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) was conclusive in the uncertainty caused to both students and the government by the repayment structure. The amount repaid to the government is entirely dependent on future graduate earnings, a value made even more difficult to predict when considering the rise in student population - nearly 28 per cent of English 18 year olds started University in 2018, 96 per cent of whom took a student loan. How can the government predict the earnings of such a large group of varied students? On November 2, it was reported that the governmental review of higher education, due to be published in the new year, will recommend decreasing fees to £6,500 for Arts degrees and increasing them to £13,500 for higher earning degrees such as Medicine or Engineering. The financial illusion of having to pay that money could discourage lower income students from doing subjects like Medicine and, likewise, discourage universities from offering so many places for Arts and Humanities. However, from early analysis in The Times, it would not hugely affect the amount students repay but simply keep higher earning BSc graduates repaying the same rate for longer. Arts students are more likely to form part of the 75 per cent of graduates the IFS predicts will never fully pay off their student loan, but that is because their degree is not tailored to specific employment channels rather than lower prospects. Arts students take longer to reach their peak salaries, by which point interest has kicked in. Lower tuition fees would allow them to repay their debts faster, but when they earn more later, they would be avoiding any further repayment. The government writes off any outstanding ‘debt’ 30 years after graduation, and this report proves their desire to keep the high
earners contributing for as much of that period as possible. It begs the question: why not simply charge an extra graduate tax of nine per cent for all earnings above £25,000 for 30 years post graduation, regardless of subject? It would certainly improve the attitude of a student population who constantly berate having to ‘pay’ £9,000 a year when, in fact, they may never have to pay anything at all. While tuition fees have no immediate financial impact on students, we eagerly await the latest text update from our SFE maintenance loan as much as our latest match on Tinder. The latest Valuation Office Agency (VOA) private renting survey for October 2018 shows an average monthly rent of £384 in Bristol for one room with shared facilities. However, the University of Bristol’s website lists an average of £435. Is the rising student population being exploited by the greater housing demands they create in a city? Living costs are certainly a varying factor for students at universities across the UK. In the same VOA renting dataset, Bristol was the seventh most expensive major university city outside of London for a privately rented room in shared facilities
behind Cambridge, Guildford, Bath, Reading, Bedford, and Ipswich. It is nearly 40 per cent more expensive to rent in Bristol as it is in Lincoln. Property price tends to be reflective of more general living costs as well. Still, the maintenance loans are the same income based amounts for students in either Lincoln, Bristol, or Cambridge. It is only different in London, where the maximum maintenance loan is £11,002 compared to £8,430 outside the capital. The average rent in Bristol, £4,608 for the year, is 54 per cent of the maximum maintenance loan. Yet, as noted in the University’s average figures, most student actually pay more than that - student lettings are rarely below £400 per week and that does not include bills, agency fees and other hidden costs. A simple solution could be a living cost matrix for university cities, multiplying the baseline maintenance loan value by a factor proportional to the rental rates collected by VOA. In this case, Lincoln would be the baseline city, Bristol would have a factor of 1.37, and Inner London would have a factor 2.42. This would mean a Bristol student usually receiving an average maintenance loan of £3000 would receive an extra £1110 to cope with the demands of the city.
Why is turnout low at student elections? An examination of participation in student politics and why voter turnout is so low
Ellie Brown
Second year, Politics and Sociology
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tudents have many things to be angry about. High tuition fees, a lack of affordable accommodation, poor mental health services and striking lecturers are just some of the issues that students have faced in 2018. Student politics, particularly within the NUS, could be a way to resolve some of these issues. Yet turnout for student elections continues to be low. Last month’s student elections saw a turnout of 10.57 per cent. While this is close to the record achieved last year, it is still low by any democratic standard. The October elections are arguably just as important as the March ones.
Possible explanations for the low turnout in the October elections are numerous. Firstly, low turnout may be as a realist of candidates at Bristol University not reaching out enough to students. For Stanford, Bristol SU’s officer for Union Affairs, ‘the biggest factor in turnout is a talented collective of individuals getting the word out there and earning votes for themselves.’ The increased number of roles on offer in the March elections, coupled with their greater prestige, may explain why candidates have more visible campaigns around that time. Additionally, there was relatively little coverage of the elections on student media sites, which contrasted with the March elections where candidates were interviewed and profiled. Furthermore, in October students had just returned from their holidays and were getting used to a new workload, living situation, and may have been trying out new societies meaning less time to engage with student politics. However, while this would explain the
“The increased number of roles on offer in the March elections, coupled with their greater prestige, may explain why candidates have more visible campaigns around that time”
bigger turnouts in Bristol’s March elections, it doesn’t account for the lack of interest in student politics across the UK. For example, no university elections besides that of St Andrews SU has ever had a turnout above 50 per cent and average turnout across the UK is around 17 per cent. These figures are concerning because they cast doubt on the NUS’s status as a democratic organisation. This perception has led to a widespread discontent with the NUS: in 2016 students unions in Loughborough, Newcastle and Hull voted to disaffiliate with the union. Even more concerning is the theory that this disillusionment works like a self-fulfilling prophecy in that because students don’t feel heard, they don’t vote. Apathy may also be caused by a lack of awareness of what the NUS can do for students, as, in the words of Stanford, delegates ‘do not have the automatic resonance of roles such as course rep and JCR president, as they are about national student dialogue rather than “my course” or
“my halls.”’ Yet, apathy may not be the only reason why students don’t vote. Indeed, this was only true for 20 per cent of the students surveyed by the NUS in 2013. 30 per cent of students surveyed weren’t even aware of their elections, whilst another 20 per cent didn’t vote because they didn’t know where, when, or how. Social media and online voting don’t seem to have fixed these problems yet. The news is not all bad. Despite the continual low turnouts, there is evidence that our SU is making progress in encouraging students to vote. Numbers have been on the rise for the past three years, with 40 per cent of the student body voting in at least one election in the year 2017-18. Taken together, turnout for Bristol SU’s elections doesn’t look so bad after all. Indeed, Stanford is “not worried about turnout at Bristol SU.” Yet problems with turnout at student council, as well as UK-wide ambivalence towards the NUS, indicates that student participation is crucial in an effective, democratic union.
19.11.2018
Features 9
epigram
From DogSoc to GingerSoc: six of the most bizarre societies on campus A look into some of the University’s most unusual societies, what they do and how they came to be
Helen Babbidge
Second year, Russian & Czech
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Ginger Appreciation Society (GAS) was set up around a year ago to celebrate all those blessed with the world’s rarest hair colour. Anyone can join whether they are auburn, strawberry blonde or simply want to appreciate and support those who are. Ginger Appreciation Society organises parties, bar crawls and speed dating events, offering wigs to help non-ginger people to fit in, with the aim of having fun and bringing people together. In the future they aim to host more orange themed events and perhaps get involved with some charities.
“It is simple to set one up and you only need 30 expressions of interest to be considered. So if you have any ideas for fresh and exciting societies you can make them a reality.”
Unsplash / rawpixel
tudent societies of all kinds are a cornerstone of university life for many students. They offer an escape from academic pressures and a valuable opportunity to make friends outside of your course. But what does Bristol University have to offer beyond the staples of sports teams, course=related groups and film societies?
2. Ginger Appreciation Society
4. Bristol Obscure Games Society
Ginger Appreciation Society
BOGSOC (Bristol Obscure Games Society) was founded in 2015. It works to bring the most unusual games to students and promote physical activity in the most fun way possible. The society was born after Robbie Herring and Matt Knight had such a good time at the Llanwrtyd Wells Bog Snorkelling World Championships that they felt that they had to make a society for it. After some consideration it was decided that Bog Snorkelling probably did not have to breadth of appeal to capture the attention of the masses so the concept was broadened to include all obscure games and sports.
1. DogSoc
3. Circus Society
5. Bristol Quidditch Club
DogSoc was set up in May 2017, and received a huge volume of interest almost straight away. They get in touch with various charities and individual Bristol dog owners to organise regular walks. They have contributed to an ongoing conversation about how wholesome activities like dog walking can improve students’ lives. Many students miss their canine friends at home and DogSoc can provide some relief.
Circus Society is a performance and recreational oriented group which provides its members with training and equipment. According to their SU description they do ‘juggling, unicycling, diabolo, poi, staff spinning, hula-hooping, and anything else you feel like playing around with’. Membership costs £3 and as well as social events they also take part in events known as ‘fire nights’.
Founded in 2014, Bristol Quidditch Club is a society for Both UoB and UWE students but also permits graduates and members of the local community. Based on the famous Harry Potter sport it is a full contact, mixed gender and non-magic. It is made up of two teams: the highly competitive side Bristol Bears and the more fun and fitness-oriented Bristol Bees. They compete against both UK and European teams. They came second at the Wessex Cup in Bath earlier in the term, eventually falling short against Exeter.
Members of Cheese Society, who are affectionately called ‘Babybels’, are joined together by a shared love of everything cheese related. Founded in 2006, Cheese Society frequently meet for a variety of cheese tasting events, Big Fat Cheesy Quizzes and an occasional trip to Cheddar Gorge. They also branch out into other deli related food items including chutneys, pates and breads. Cheese Society is primarily a social group: ‘babybels’ meet up in bars and pubs to drink wine, taste cheese and have a laugh. They also enjoy cheese related puns including ‘long time no brie’, ‘halou is it me you’re looking for’ and ‘you feta believe the wait is over’. Membership is only £4 and you get to sample many cheeses for free and at discounted prices so if you enjoy food and wine then Cheese Society is the place for you. The Students’ Union offers a wide range of societies to inspire and encourage all sorts of students, however if you feel your interests are not being catered for it is simple to set one up and you only need 30 expressions of interest to be considered. So if you have any ideas for fresh and exciting societies you can make them a reality.
Bristol Quidditch Club / Evy Tang
Epigram / Cameron Scheijde
“They also enjoy cheese related puns including ‘long time no brie’, ‘halou is it me you’re looking for’ and ‘you feta believe the wait is over’.”
6. Cheese Society
Features
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epigram
19.11.2018
BME Medics - A discussion with Ore Odubiyi I spoke to the founder of BME Medics: a new network set up by students to provide a supporting and safe community for BME Medical students
Nikki Peach Deputy Editor
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“Subconscious bias literally hinders BME doctors from occupying these spaces”
BME Medics / Ore Odubiyi
re Odubiyi first explained why she decided a network exclusively for BME Medics was necessary. She said, ‘The idea came about in September 2017 during a Bristol SU BME Network event. Medical school can feel quite separate from the wider university community at times and to have this combined with being from a minority ethnic background means that it can be even harder to feel that you are being fully seen and fully heard.’ Odubiyi added: ‘Microaggressions, subconscious biases and underrepresentation are so evident yet there seemed to be no space within medical school where we could acknowledge, confront and tackle these issues. BME Medics provides a platform where people can come together to do all of these things and more, whilst fostering an environment which supports each other and even inspires others to pursue a career in Medicine.’ When asked how she went about setting up the community and encouraging BME students to get involved, the medical student commented, ‘to a large extent it was a rather organic process. With word of mouth, people came on board and together we established what we wanted BME Medics to achieve, coining our tagline: ‘Build Community. Inspire Others. Raise Awareness.’ She explained that several months later, after an initial bout of inactivity, she reached out to people on social media and asked more BME students to join the team. Unsurprisingly, lots of students responded to the call and BME Medics now continues to grow as more people have become aware of what they are doing. The obvious question to address was
then why BME communities are so underrepresented in Medicine. Odubiyi said, ‘this is a question that is currently being tackled on a national level. It seems to be a result of many things but the face the NHS, GMC and BMA are actively looking into it is very encouraging.’ ‘Historically, formal medical practice was a white institution and doctors from ethnic backgrounds is a relatively new phenomenon. In historically white institutions such as politics, academia and healthcare there is always an initial degree of resistance to levelling the playing field so that all people can be active occupiers of such spaces and we are still experiencing the aftermath of this, due to the knock-on effects of racism and prejudice.’ ‘BME doctors are less likely to be promoted into senior doctor roles than their white counterparts and this is not due to lack of merit. Subconscious bias literally hinders BME doctors from occupying these spaces and as a result people from minority ethnic backgrounds are excluded from having a seat at the table where they could advocate for people like themselves and change the narratives of these institutions.’ She explained the difficult reality that a lack of visibility of BME doctors in the community goes on to impact the aspiration of potential future BME doctors saying, ‘an inability to identify with a certain profession makes it less likely for a person to pursue it.’ ‘Not to mention the BME Attainment
Gap which starts at schools and does not merely exist at university level; generations of potential doctors have the opportunity of pursuing a degree in Medicine taken away from them before they can even get started! Curricula and teaching is often done through a white lens which can be exclusionary of BME students.’ ‘The decolonisation of curricula at all levels could help reduce the BME Attainment Gap which would then see a knock-on effect of more students from minority ethnic backgrounds being able to consider a career in Medicine and then raising aspiration would allow for more students from these backgrounds to actively pursue Medicine for themselves. Increasing the presence of all BME people in Medicine is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to increasing our representation.’ Odubiyi acknowledges that her own experiences as a Black-African medic are unique and not indicative of all BAME medical students. She described how ‘there are times when it has felt frustrating to be a black woman in this space, as we are often so sidelined. I am proud of my Nigerian heritage and to hear academics and students alike refer to Africa rather than specific countries or regions within this vast continent is very reductive and erases the experiences millions of people.’ ‘Frankly, I find this to be very callous and it is a shame that people within higher institutions don’t seem to know any better. In teaching, we are not always taught how to identify diseases in people of different complexions which is very upsetting. It is when coming to study Medicine I understood why the standards of care between white people and people of colour are so disproportionate — the nuances of not being white are simply not considered in these spaces.’ ‘I find it very worrying that our future doctors are being trained to only be able to adequately treat white people with very few people caring about this. Despite these and more, I am incredibly privileged to be in this space and although it took hard work
to get here I am aware of the help I have been fortunate to receive. I want to use my privilege to help others who may not be as privileged as myself to achieve and pursue the very best for them. It is important that there is a change of the status quo.’ Looking to the future, Odubiyi addressed the difficulty of establishing fair and equal representation of all ethnicities in the field of Medicine. She responded honestly that, ‘it will not be easy at all but it is definitely worth it. So long as the powers that be see that there is a need for fair and equal representation and are proactive in seeking that change and include all people in changing the narrative, I believe it will certainly get done.’ By setting up Bristol BME Medics she aims to create a space for all ethnic minorities to engage with so that they feel their voice is being heard. ‘Our social media accounts and our website - bmemedics.co.uk - are some ways we are doing this. It is important that we build communities in which people feel comfortable to simply just “be” also, too often is the BME experience sensationalised and our existence becomes a political act which is exhausting!’ She hopes soon the network will be able to hold events ‘where people feel free to be themselves, a safe space devoid of microaggressions! Highlighting the successes of BME medics, students and professionals alike, is also very important to us.’ ‘We also hope to hold a series of forums and events where we can openly have important discussions in how to make change in Medicine where we have all people present — non-BME people too!’ Hopefully we can help decolonise our curriculum too while we are at it.’ ‘Last but not least, we want our reach to go far beyond Bristol as the issues faced by BME students in Bristol Medical School are by no means unique. There is so much power in the collective voice and a wide-scale change demands wide-scale action through our growth and collaboration with other grassroots initiatives like our own.’ ‘In simple terms, we want to: Build Community. Inspire Others. Raise Awareness.’
Student stroke victim tells others ‘don’t give up’ The Story of Craig Bailey: a Veterinary student who suffered a brain haemmorhage/stroke
Ollie Smith Features Editor
I
Because of his situation Craig set up a GoFundMe page to try and raise the funds which he described as ‘a last resort’. People who heard his story quickly offered their support and after just less than a week he met his funding goal. After 22 days 175 people had donated £4,300 to Craig’s cause and this continues to rise. To date nearly 400 people have shared Craig’s funding page on Facebook. Craig still has a long way to go but thanks to the generosity of the people who heard his story it has become that much closer. Over the Christmas period he will be undergoing the medical preparation required, and on 7 January Craig will be having his operation with the whole treatment process lasting 10 days. Afterwards he will work to complete his degree. He has had to retake the clinical years of his course which has brought additional financial burden. In the words of Craig himself on his funding page: ‘I hope I can inspire others
“After just less than a week he met his funding goal”
to go and achieve want you want, everyone has their own struggles and at differing severities, but that doesn’t have to stop you from creating the future YOU want! Don’t let anyone tell you no, and don’t give up!’ Craig’s funding page is still active and can be found at gofundme.com/last-resort-medical-treatment.
GoFundMe / Craig Bailley
n May 2015 Craig Bailey, a 29 year old mature veterinary student in his final year, suffered a brain haemorrhage/ stroke which left him hospitalised for two months. As a result he was left paralysed on his right side and with a constant feeling of dizziness and nausea. Whilst in hospital Craig needed a feeding tube and for his brain to be drained to keep him alive. Craig returned home where he was cared for by his retired parents on low income. He weighed just five stone and required Stereo-tactic Radiosurgery to repair and prevent any further chance of his haemorrhage returning.
After two years of rehabilitation, where he worked to regain control of his body, Craig has since returned to the University to realise his dream of becoming a vet. Unfortunately an additional obstacle in his ordeal came in the form of Giardia, a parasitic infection in the gut which has led to complex pain syndrome and gastrointestinal problems. Despite being on NHS treatment and taking a range of medications, Craig stills suffers from the symptoms and often the medication has little effect. Not only was he in physical pain but was also suffering from depression and anxiety. Desperate to end his torment and complete his studies, Craig discovered a private form of treatment not yet available on the NHS which will hopefully improve his condition. However, the treatment cost close to £4,000 and he would need to stay in a hotel close by for monitoring meaning additional costs.
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epigram 19.11.2018
Editor: Will Charley
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Deputy Editor: Noor Evers Online Editor: Ffion Clarke
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Deputy Online: Maia Miller-Lewis
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Graduate schemes: Elitist, exclusive or educational? Graduate schemes are not shameful, they are pragmatic and necessary
Scarlett Sherriff
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tudents should not be ashamed of being tempted by graduate recruiters from banking and consultancy. I, for one, am becoming more money-orientated than I thought I could be. I once asked a commercial lawyer at a careers event: ‘but what if you don’t agree with the actions, for example tax avoidance, of your clients?’, ‘This won’t be the job for you,’ she replied. I’ll never do a job like that, I concluded. But now, things are different. It is my final year and I approached Newton Consultancy. This time, it was not just for the free keep-cup and cappuccino, though obviously the smell of coffee was still a huge selling point. No, it is that I have only been back a couple of weeks and the pressure has been on since day one. Time is ticking. The flashy, clear and simple option - and the free coffee option - is outside the ASS. In today’s world, this career path makes
Unsplash/rawpixel
Fourth Year, French and Spanish
sense. It did not always, but it does now. Suddenly, there’s a weird air of competition, as this is the year that people start ‘gunning for a first’ or securing a solid 2:1. ‘Education for education’s sake’, we have all screamed at a protest before sitting in the library pouring over the mark scheme. ‘At university, it is good because people do not compare themselves with their course mates,’ everyone says, and then that person drops the line: ‘I got a first, what did you get?’ As well as grades, the biggest thing on all of our minds is jobs, careers and the fiercely competitive world of work. Many have been at it since first year, enrolling in countless internships. Others do not advertise it, but it is pretty clear they are safe in the knowledge they have the contacts to get a good job easily. For everyone else, the starting salary of some of these grad schemes is less than forty-thousand pounds per year. In creative industries like fashion, journalism and film the starting salary is zero, or you are paid well below the living wage - all whilst being told that it’s a privilege to gain this ‘experience’. Corporate industries entice wide-eyed grads with free coffee, good money and flashy logos, but creative industries tell you to come back when you are the best in your field.
Students who get on a corporate graduate scheme are not selling their souls more than anyone else
“It is no less righteous to take on a grad scheme than returning home and living off... your parents”
Until then? Stay at home and rely on your parents, have limited independence and tolerate a sub-human existence for the love of the work. They completely fail to acknowledge that this is not a possibility for those who did not grow up in London, cannot live with their family, or who have no family at all. What about care leavers or people with difficult homes? To quote Newton Consultancy’s recruitment brochure: ‘Learn on the Job. We believe training should be more than learning how to book a holiday or fill in a timesheet. So you’re
on a project, with a client, from week five running your own workstream’. It’s fair to say you are no more selling your soul by working for them and taking the opportunity for paid training on the job, than by working for free or very little whilst staying in your family’s nice London home, to break into a more ‘ethical’ and ‘left of field’ industry. So, yeah - I did speak to Newton and I was kind of tempted. But most importantly, I was not ashamed. It is no less righteous to take on a grad scheme than returning home and living off the wealth of your parents.
Graduate schemes promote inequality and further enable the privileged Graduate schemes must diversify their intake and improve the job market’s equal access, or else be viewed as an elitist institution in an unfair society Benjamin Salmon
Second Year, Politics and IR
I
Pexels/Emily Ranquist
f there is one thing almost all Bristol students lament over, it is the brutal competition for the prized places on graduate schemes. With the job market improving since the Financial Crash and the emergence of an increasingly overly-saturated graduate talent pool, there has become an intense contest for places at everyone’s favourite management consultancy or ‘Magic Circle’ law firm. While some relish this rivalry, many do not have the time, money or resources to compete – and this shows an inherent problem with the graduate schemes themselves. These schemes need to change their philosophy or risk becoming a poignant symbol of this country’s growing economic inequality. Access to education is already one of
the most important determinates of life outcomes. The University itself is guilty of perpetuating this, accepting a proportion of students from independent schools over five times the national percentage. This discrepancy carries through when finding that perfect post-university graduate placement. In a recent survey of 38 employers across 17 sectors detailing the educational background of recent graduate employees, 57 per cent went to state school, compared to 93 per cent nationally. This divide is made worse when employers target the top universities, like Bristol, and court their best students, of which many are privately educated, leaving many bright but less well-connected students
“Graduate recruitment schemes focus much of their energy at universities wellendowed with a privilleged few”
behind in the rat race. There are, of course, many programmes and campaigns in these top companies to improve diversity and access to the job market for less-privileged students. However, with 38 per cent of the adult population now made up of graduates, compared to 17 per cent in the early-1990s, the level of competition permits those with access to extra help – be it connections through school, the time and money for extra tutoring or simply the ease of having some free time – an unfair leg-up in the battle for graduate recruitment. So how can the process of finding a good job after university become more accessible? For starters, the education system itself often prefers the well-connected, wellfunded and the nepotistic over the genuinely talented with the persistence of private schooling. Access to higher education in the UK, as mentioned, is still an incredibly unjust process for those with the bright spark but who lack the resources to fulfil that potential. While the debate over private education is one for another time, there needs to be serious contemplation over how schools play a part in perpetuating the cycles of poverty and privilege that ultimately lead
to those with greater opportunity enjoying an advantage in graduate recruitment. Another way is through making the top firms diversify their talent pool by looking for flair at weaker universities. There is a perception amongst the upper echelons of society that non-Russell Group universities are void of any talent, but this is simply not the case. Many students with the ability to be great lawyers, journalists or consultants but who lack the means to manifest it will utilise these universities because of the sheer fact that they are more likely to be accepted there. The graduate recruitment schemes focus much of their energy at universities well-endowed with a privileged few, neglecting the talent found at other, less reputable institutions. If graduate schemes are to become fairer and ultimately better, they need to look past the tried-and-tested, high-stakes competition of the best universities. Further, the schooling system needs to find ways to widen its intake and break the cycle of poverty – ultimately leading to a graduate environment where more people have equal access to good firms. Universities and the government need to realise these problems and make access to a good education and to good graduate employment a more equal endeavour.
12 Comment
epigram 19.11.2018
‘Stop using social media on nights out- otherwise I‘ll snap.’
Source cafés are overpriced & overrated Hope Riley Living editor
First Year, English and Philosophy
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friend of mine once looked at me as my eyes were staring placidly at my phone screen- yet another video of someone’s face filtered with dog ears or flowers had popped up- and he asked me: ‘Have you ever felt happy after seeing a snapchat story?’ I laughed at the time and asked how a Snapchat could alter my mood so drastically. But now, more than ever, I see his point. We, as students, tend to connect on social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram that are reliant on broadcasting our lives’ relentlessly to those we’ve added as ‘friends’.
“I am so tired of reliving my night through the medium of ten-second videos”
I am in danger of sounding ostentatious when I say: ‘I hate social media, man’, but it is not social media as a construct I take issue with. It is the negative connotations of messaging, and the consumption of other people’s ‘stories’ that troubles me. Many of us have found ourselves falling through the kitchen door – cheesy chips in hand – after a greasy night with Gravity’s free
chicken, only to begin the arduous process of flicking through Snapchat, Instagram and other social media. Why do we do it? It is self-torture; no part of me really wants to see ‘Joe’ in Manchester film his mates with an unforgiving flash on, accompanied by the all-too-familiar sound of Mr. Brightside. I am so very tired of reliving my night through the medium of ten-second videos. Every video ends the same, after thirty seconds of jumping and screaming someone lies passed out in the door of a chippy, tagged with a caption that reads: ‘victim of the sesh’. What does that even mean? How can anyone think the sight of their catatonic ‘bestie’- drooling on the carpet, their face down in a bag of wotsits as someone hurls abuse at them for their early departureis worthy of broadcasting? It is like we want to announce both the triumphs and tribulations of our night so others can know we were out or, even more starkly, to remind others we exist. You know what? Next time I go out I will turn my phone off. Better yet, I will not take my phone at all. Actually, on second thought, I am not sure I am ready for that!
Rivalry between Halls of Residence is an essential Bristol experience quips; Stoke Bishop identity is fragmented with Wills Hall being the target of choice with chants of ‘I’d rather be in ISIS/UWE than in Wills’ a common occurrence on nights out. This is, admittedly, a slightly uglier side to Halls rivalry, however, it should still be celebrated as to ban such satirical remarks would remove the character of Halls that makes the first-year experience so great. It is important not to take the Halls rivalry seriously and it would be ludicrous to suggest that jokes directed against certain Halls should
The competition between Halls of Residence and between —the City Centre and Stoke Bishop—is a first year right of passage
William Kerslake First Year, Politics and IR
be banned: these rivalries are indeed nothing more than jokes and not some tribal schism that will have an apocalyptic impact on the student body. Instead of being looked upon as a problem, the competition between halls should be a prized part of the culture at Bristol as it adds comedy to first year life. Ultimately, if you can’t joke about accommodation: one of the staple facets of first year, then what can you joke about?
U
ni halls; a vital part of the first-year experience where friendships are made, relationships are formed and… deep rivalry with other halls established? The University of Bristol’s first year accommodation is divided, however, this division is a friendly and amusing part of Halls life. The comic-contention between halls stems from ‘accommodation bubbles’ with the main competitors being City Centre and Stoke Bishop residences. This filters through into student life with city centre students regularly pitched against Stoke Bishop dwellers in friendly competition over whose hall is better (or worse) with trivial matters such as the heating or water pressure being used as barbs to assume superiority over residents of alternate accommodation to one’s own. Whilst some find it annoying, I believe that it should be a cherished part of the first-year experience as the friendly rivalries amongst students constructed upon ‘Halls identity’ provide common ground with flatmates and allegiance to the accommodation one resides in, something that, if removed, would make Halls feel vacuous. Whilst the City Centre-Stoke Bishop rivalry never amounts to much more than trivial
“‘Halls identity’ provide[s] common ground with flatmates”
Epigram / Patrick Sullivan
The University’s trademark chain of Source cafés is frequented by hordes of hungry students on a daily basis. Not because the Source offers quality, reasonably-priced food and drink options; but because due to the chain’s occupation of university hotspots, there is often nowhere else to go. With notable locations on the ground floor of the ASS, in Beacon House study space and on the popular Stoke Bishop accommodation campus, these cafés are frequently so busy that there are queues around the block, generating an overwhelming amount of business for the staff on shift. On the UoB website, the University boasts that Source cafés ‘provide an important social role, providing places to meet, share ideas and gather one’s thoughts.’ Instead, it seems that the Source has monopolised Bristol’s study spaces, banning students from eating their own packed lunches in communal areas, and committing daylight robbery in the form of charging extortionate amounts for a blueberry muffin. Whilst I applaud the University for paying Source employees a living wage, and for the company’s commitment to sourcing Fairtrade ingredients as well as carrying out sustainable food waste procedures, I fail to see how these policies mean that the products on sale have to be priced quite so extortionately. Their social and ethical conscience seems not to have extended to consider the needs of the everyday student. If the University is truly serious about widening accessibility and ensuring that people from all backgrounds are able to study and live in Bristol, then I think charging less than £3.60 for a panini in Beacon House would be a good place to start.
Zak Asgard
Unsplash/Noiseporn
Unsplash / Nathan Dumlao
Your weekly rant:
Snapchat is ruining our social lives; it is time that we put our phones down on a night out. Ultimately, no one cares that you went to Motion
Comment 13
19.11.2018 epigram
Time to weigh-in: Judging gym-goers does not promote inclusivity Responding to a recent Comment piece, it must be made clear that mocking gym users does not promote a friendly environment Megan Allard
Third Year, Neuroscience
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from people who have felt the gym is not an inclusive environment was valuable it highlighted that this is a real issue that people experience on a regular basis. I would however like to argue that I don’t think this is an issue only seen in the University gym. Often, rightly or wrongly, gyms do have a masculine energy. I do not think the nature of the University gym is any different to other gyms, and so I think this is a bigger
“It makes a mockery of the important issue in hand”
All students should have a reading week In the name of mental health and productivity, every student deserves a reading week Elisha Mans
First Year, Politics
R
emember the good ol’ days of school half terms? Those relaxing breaks from the traumas of maths lessons and rubbish canteen food. Yeah, they are still needed. There is no good reason that we should not have the same mid-term break in university as we did in school. After all, too many of us still have the same dismal-quality of food. But, more importantly, it is vital that all students get a change from the routine lectures and work. By that, I mean everyone. It is unfair that the science and maths students are put through endless terms whilst everyone else enjoy the luxury of a week off. Say you have late lectures on a Friday and early lectures on a Monday. What is the point in travelling all the way home for just one night over the weekend? The lack of a reading week for some students makes this the only viable possibility of seeing their family and it is just not enough. This is particularly tough for first years who are still adjusting to not living with their families. It seems cruel that they are not given the opportunity to go home. I am not suggesting that everyone should have just kicked-back and relaxed for a week in the luxurious environment of dishwashers, free food and pets.
“Reading weeks are a chance to rejuvinate and refocus productivity”
issue than just addressing the gym on the University campus. As mentioned previously, the Indoor Sport Centre is trying to tackle this discomfort with their females only weight training sessions. I really do believe inclusivity within gyms is something that needs to be emphasised both on campus and across all gyms, however the blame does not lie with people who already regularly attend.
But reading weeks are a chance to rejuvenate and refocus productivity. It is scientifically proven that breaks and changes to our usual routine are beneficial to our mental health and can refocus our minds when we return to work. This can only be positive, particularly when we have reached a point in which one in five students are saying they have suffered with mental health problems. If that is not reason enough, reading weeks allow for students to consolidate what they have learnt in the first half of the term and to keep up to date with the workload that has undoubtedly been building as the weeks go on. They can get ahead on deadlines and prepare for upcoming lectures, which they otherwise probably wouldn’t have had the chance to do. This could be the difference between a rushed piece of writing and a wellthought through essay. Even lecturers cannot dispute that one. However, the biggest injustice of this situation is that some students got this opportunity and others did not. Why should certain students have the chance to relax and work at their own pace, whereas others had to continue on their same repetitive, stressful routine? I understand that different courses have different requirements of their students, but all students deserve a break. Not only does this seem unjust in terms of mental health benefits and working in your own way for a change, but these students effectively got left behind whilst everyone else has the freedom to go home or take time to themselves. Everyone needs a reading week and it is time we prioritised all students’ wellbeing and needs.
Epigram / Ffion Clarke
fter reading the article ‘Judgement should not be a member of the gym’, I thought how important it was that this increasing issue was finally being addressed. I hear too often of how people, especially females, feel uncomfortable using the university gym. As someone who uses, and thoroughly enjoys the University gym, I believe everyone should be in a position where they feel comfortable to go there regardless of their ability, strength, fitness level or gender. Gyms often are male dominated areas, and this can make females feel nervous to go to the gym and train as they wish. The University gym is trying to tackle this
issue with the introduction of their ‘This Girl Can’ sessions, where the free weights area is reserved exclusively for females to use. I thought the Epigram article, written by Nikki Peach, would be addressing these issues. However, the article read as one big ridicule of people who already use gyms. The opening sentence: ‘The university gym should be a place where all students are welcome, whether they drink 3 litre protein shakes or not’ straight away takes up a mocking tone, targeting a stereotype. She talks about ‘smelling protein powder being poured into Love Island bottles’ and people ‘lifting 300,000kg’. Comments such as this run throughout the article and I think it makes a mockery of the important issue in hand. I use the gym often, and I do not drink three litre protein shakes, own a Love Island water bottle or lift 300,000kg weights- and it is clear to me that most people in the gym also don’t fall into these categories. An article that was meant to be inclusive of everybody, ended up being exclusive of people who do use the gym by making stereotypical remarks and implying that gym goers are simply vain, supplement-filled men, whose only interests are to look buff. Inclusion of Bristruths and interviews
Getting your house in order can wait Who is in your second year house? One decision where procrastination is good Will Charley
Comment Editor
W
hether heaven or hell, the time for students to start deciding who to live with in houses next year has begun. For many, this period is stressful, daunting and confusing in equal measure. For most first years, even the simple steps of acquiring a house can be alien. The likelihood is that unless your daddy owns multiple estates and you grew up with a polo pitch for a garden, you do not know even the basics of living in a property run by yourself. But, there is one thing that every first-time renter must know: do not panic. It is too easy to believe that you must know who you are living with as soon as Reading Week ends. Your neighbours begin to talk about looking for houses; every block, corridor and flat seems to divide into distinct groups. Whilst the pressure to sort housing can seem huge, the reality is that, in midNovember, there is no rush to secure a house or even to know who you want to live with. Many students have found their houses after Christmas, with some having found their accommodation as late as February. The most important part of choosing your house is who you decide to live with. Vikki Hanley, the Branch Manager of
Bristol SU Lettings stated that who you choose to live with is most important since ‘the chances are you will know these people long after uni’. It is better to wait until after Christmas if you are not sure who to live with, than to sign a house with people that “seem okay” because you “just wanted it sorted”. Of course, this is not to say that housing is difficult for everybody. For some, choosing who to live with comes naturally and they quickly find a house. But this column is for those who find the whole housing debacle about as slick as putting on a wetsuit. The other big issue that may be of concern to many is that “the best houses will go” in November. In a recent survey of some of Bristol’s housing agencies, Epigram rated Bristol SU Lettings as the best- and they do not even release their houses on the market until near the end of term one, whilst advising on their website that ‘the best time to start house hunting is in January’. Some of the best houses only become available later, and it is a mistake to believe otherwise. Although the ‘University bubble’ often leads to ideas being accepted as true; on the issue of housing, it really is the blind leading the blind. Next time your neighbour in halls asks you if you have sorted your housing, tell them no, because you are not a sheep who folds to the pressure of deciding early. Instead, know that choosing in January is fine, and you can proudly gloat your wisdom from your above-average house with those who are actually your mates.
Science & Tech
Editor: Bethany Harris Deputy Editor: Vilhelmiina Haavisto Online Editor: Caitlin Bromfield
All you need to know about ASMR Vilhelmiina Haavisto Deputy Science Editor
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appointments and massages; tapping and scratching sounds; eating; and typing on a keyboard. Some companies have even embraced ASMR for marketing purposes. In 2017, IKEA USA uploaded a 25-minute video on how to create a relaxing college bedroom space, entitled “Oddly IKEA: IKEA ASMR ”. The video features making a bed, organizing a wardrobe, and setting up a shelving unit – all sounds included. Further research is being done to better understand how and why ASMR works. For example, a paper from earlier this year found that there are actual physiological reactions associated with watching ASMR videos – but only if the person watching actually experiences ASMR. Their research found that the heart rate of participants who experience ASMR decreased more
while watching the videos than the heart rate of participants who do not experience it. They believe that this observed decrease was actually comparable to results from studies examining the effects of mindfulness and music on reducing stress. The authors concluded that ASMR is a “reliable and physiologically-rooted experience” that may well be beneficial to both the physical and mental health of those who experience it. ASMR is not for everyone, though. There is not really a consensus yet on whether experiencing ASMR just requires finding the right trigger, or whether some people simply do not experience it and never will. In any case, it is clear that there is a case to be made for the positive effects of ASMR on the mind and body, though the scientific evidence is still in its early stages. Zemlickis
“...38 out of 45 chronic pain sufferers in the group reported that experiencing ASMR improved their symptoms of pain”
Unsplash / Kristina Flour
utonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is described by those who experience it as a pleasant, tingling sensation on the skin of the scalp, neck, and spine. It may also be coupled with feelings of contentment, joy, and relaxation. The term ‘ASMR’ was first coined in 2010, however before then it was known colloquially by many names, including attention-induced euphoria. Even before the feeling was given an ‘official’ name, though, content and discussions intended for people who experience it were already present on internet sites such as Reddit. The anecdotal evidence for ASMR as a real sensory experience was strong even when science had not yet caught up with the phenomenon. However, this changed when the first peer-reviewed, scientific paper about ASMR was published in 2015. Its authors surveyed over 500 people who reported that they experience and regularly consume ASMR content. The researchers were particularly interested in the behavioural patterns of their participants with regards to ASMR, and any potential benefits of consuming ASMR media for sufferers of chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. These seminal results were enlightening
Unsplash / Siddharth Bhogra
– 98% of those surveyed said they sought out ASMR content for relaxation purposes, and large proportions also reported using it to get to sleep or for stress management. Further analysis revealed four main “triggers” that participants reported to cause them to experience ASMR; these were whispering, personal attention, crisp sounds, and slow movements. All four elicited a response from over half of the participants – indeed, whispering was the most popular trigger as three-quarters of participants agreed that it caused them to experience ASMR. Furthermore, 38 out of 45 chronic pain sufferers in the group reported that experiencing ASMR improved their symptoms, and individuals who scored highly on a depression screening test, presented to them by the researchers, also reported a larger improvement in mood when consuming ASMR content than lowscorers. ASMR has become somewhat of a pop culture phenomenon, and the community has found a home on Youtube, where ASMRtists post videos that garner millions of views. There are many different kinds of videos to choose from, each with their own mix of triggers that appeal to different people. Just a few examples of these include role plays of ‘personal attention’ situations such as doctor’s
Epigram / Vilhelmiina Haavisto
The trend is ASMR usage is on the increase. Evidence shows that it can be used to aid relaxation, treat pain and improve mental health.
Can’t grow a moustache? Get moving.
Naomi Berthaut
F
acial hair is not for everyone but fear not, there are plenty more ways to get involved with Movember, or should I say MOVEmber. The initiative is to walk or run 60 kilometres over the month of November for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour. The Movember Foundation strives to improve men’s lives by addressing some of the biggest heath issues that men face: testicular and prostate cancers; mental health and suicide. Too many men take their own lives. Males account for three quarters of the suicides registered each year in the UK (Office of National Statistics UK). So, take up the challenge for yourself and for all the men in your life, and get moving this November! Move for yourself and for others Move for your own health. According to the Movember Foundation, physical inactivity is responsible for 3.2 million deaths worldwide and is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Exercising
“Males account for three quaters of the suicides registered each year in the UK”
How you can get moving Being a student at Bristol University, the options to get moving are countless! Whether you are already a great athlete or a simple couch potato, all that matters is that you do a little bit more than you usually would this month, and it is not too late to get started. First, THE challenge: run or walk 60 kilometres this month. Enjoy the beautiful autumnal colours and head up to Leigh Woods or Ashton Court: race with your mates, train for that next half-marathon or have a gentle stroll, anything that suits you. Can’t face the rain today? Jump on the treadmill at the Indoors Sports Centre gym and get that counter up to 60 km. Everything counts, even walking to lectures in the morning. And in general, just get moving, however
Unsplash / Mārtiņš Unsplash / Zoltan
Third Year Neuroscience
has a wide range of positive impacts on both physical and mental wellbeing. Physical activity gives you more energy, it reduces the chances of heart diseases by about 10 per cent and improves sleep. It also makes your bones stronger and builds your muscle, thus reducing the risks of developing osteoporosis. These are just a few of the physical benefits when you get moving, not forgetting about how good exercise is for your head too. When you exercise, your brain releases endorphins, sometimes called ‘feel-good’ hormones, which help reduce anxiety and put you in a happy mood. Being more active reduces feelings of stress, thanks to better control of cortisol levels in the body. There is also good evidence to show that aerobic exercise (meaning activities that makes your heart and lungs work harder than usual) is efficient to reduce symptoms of mild to moderate depression (Dunn et al., 2005). In general, exercise can just boost your selfesteem and lift your mood. Move to fundraise. Sign up at uk.movember.com, hit those 60 kilometres and do not forget to get sponsored by your friends and family to make your every move count towards raising funds and awareness for men’s health. You can even connect your fitness tracker to your ‘Mo space’ once you sign up, and your progress will appear on your fundraising page.
Tasi
MOVEmber: how can you get involved?
you like! There are plenty of clubs to join and indoor exercise classes available with University of Bristol Sport and the Students’ Union for you to get active. Join a sports team, book a tennis court with your friends, or start your day with a few laps at the SU swimming pool. You do not need to be the best athlete, even taking the stairs instead of the lift, cycling to university instead of getting that crowded bus and playing a few games of ping-pong in your JCR will boost your wellbeing. You can also join some B:Active classes, you do not need any previous experience, they are cheap and a fun way to get sweaty! Prefer staying at home? Create your own exercise routine and get tips at www.bristol.ac.uk/ sport/get-exercise-confident/. The point is, just MOVE(mber).
19.11.2018 epigram
Science and Tech 15
Depression: does my sex affect my diagnosis? The stigma around men’s mental health is beginning to lift, but there is still work to be done.
Genevieve Clapp First year, Medicine
P
hrases such as ‘man up’ or ‘grow a pair’ are probably heard more often than ‘how are you?’, particularly amongst young men. They have contributed to the dangerous social stigma surrounding men seeking help that has been around for centuries. But the war has not been lost; movements encouraging men to speak out about mental health issues are gaining more traction by the day. This Movember will be the 16th year in which men all around the country adopt a moustache to raise awareness for men’s mental health, a movement that has helped decrease male suicide rates in the UK to the lowest they have been in 30 years, according to the Office for National Statistics. Unfortunately, men’s mental health is still an ongoing battle, as men are currently three times more likely to commit
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have a greater effect in women, while a category of drugs called tricyclics could be the preferable choice for men. Moreover, antidepressants in general appear to be more potent for women, however the reason for this is still unclear. If antidepressants are less effective for men, it could be possible that an emphasis on non-pharmaceutical approaches, such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) may be beneficial. These findings seem to indicate that more research needs to be done on gender-specific treatments for depression, as although reducing the stigma surrounding men’s mental health is helping to save lives, we need to be able to offer first-rate treatment when people come forward. Currently, if you were to type ‘men’s mental health’ into Google, almost all the initial results would focus on stigma and encouraging men to talk about their feelings,
which is amazing considering how in the past, society – and even some people now – did not believe depression was an illness. However, there are likely to be considerably fewer results detailing how symptoms differ between men and women. As students, please help us to raise awareness of the lesser-known and easily mistaken signs of depression in men. Whether it is growing a moustache to help spark a conversation, or simply offering to talk with a friend who is feeling down, you can contribute to this incredible cause. The Samaritans -116 123 Movember - uk.movember.com - advice for yourself Mind - www.mind.org.uk - advice for supporting others
“As well as becoming irritable, other symptoms that are more common in men include increased risk taking and alcohol dependency”
Epigram Scheijde Unsplash // Cameron Elijah M. Henderson
Unsplash / Sasha Freemind
suicide than women in the UK, as stated by the Samaritans’ 2018 report. One of the major difficulties contributing to this is the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions in men. Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with a mental health problem than men which, when combined with the suicide statistics, indicates a large discrepancy between men who may be suffering and those whose conditions are diagnosed. The latest research is suggesting that, as well as there being evidence that men may be more hesitant to seek help than women, there could be a difference in how symptoms of conditions such as depression manifest in men and women. An article released in 2017 by the National Institute of Mental Health said that men are likely to display sadness as anger and frustration when they are clinically depressed, which can lead to a misinterpretation of symptoms and therefore misdiagnosis. In fact, the PHQ (Patient Health Questionnaire) 9 test, used by GPs to diagnose depression, does not ask about feelings of anger. The test focuses more on sadness and hopelessness, which could be contributing to why fewer men are diagnosed with depression than women. Perhaps if the test were to be modified slightly, we could see an increase in the number of men who are diagnosed and treated for depression. As well as becoming irritable, other symptoms that are more common in men include increased risk taking and alcohol dependency. If you begin to notice any of these symptoms, potentially combined with weight-loss and trouble sleeping, in either yourself or someone you know, please seek help (there are the numbers and websites of various organizations at the bottom of the article), as you could be saving their life. In addition to a difference in how symptoms are displayed, there is also research which suggests that treatments for depression may differ in efficacy between men and women. According to an article in Scientific American, selective serotonin
What’s new in science? Palm oil crisis and volcano mapping Vilhelmiina Haavisto explores how BristolBirmingham joint research is helping scientists in Guatemala monitor volcanic activity.
African oil palms are native to west and south-west Africa. Early in the 20th century, vast plantations were introduced to the tropical rainforests of Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra in order to extract and refine palm oil. Palm oil is cultivated efficiently and at a low cost, making it a valuable agricultural export that accounts for 60 per cent of international trade in vegetable oils. In South East Asia, millions of hectares of land have been cleared for its cultivation.
A team of engineers and geologists from the Universities of Bristol and Birmingham have begun the implementation of their volcano-mapping drone technology in Guatemala. The Fuego volcano erupted in June of 2018 and caused large-scale devastation in Guatemala, as there was little-tono warning and evacuation time. However, revolutionary new technology that uses drones is a safe way to gather data on volcanic activity remotely. The drones allow scientists to survey volcanic sites and generate data, such as 3D maps of the terrain below, for further analysis.
Flickr / Marco Verch
Between 1990-2005, over 55 per cent of plantation expansions involved the burning and deforestation of virgin tropical forests – killing or displacing Critically Endangered species of orangutans. For this reason, the supermarket Iceland announced that it will stop using palm oil in its own branded products by the end of the year. Their Christmas advert this year was intended to highlight this decision, however, the body which assesses UK Broadcast advertising deemed it “too political.” Within 24 hours of a petition being started on Change. org to overturn this decision and release the advert, over 250,000 signatures were reached.
Flickr / CIFOR
In light of the recent ban on Iceland’s Christmas advert, Emily House discusses the problems associated with palm oil.
The Bristol-Birmingham team was in Guatemala earlier this autumn, training scientists from the Guatemalan government agency that monitors the country’s volcanic activity to use the drones and associated data and image analysis. There are plans to continue the work in the new year, though great improvements in the ability to predict eruptions accurately are already being observed. Dr Matt Watson from the School of Earth Sciences here at Bristol remarked that “collaboration between scientists and engineers” is key in making an international, collaborative project such as this one a success.
Wellbeing Living Food Style
Travel Issue 5 / 19th November 2018
Food//
The Best Pub Lunches in Bristol
Nicole Abou Abdallah shares her top five spots
Style// Fake fur: the debate
Travel// How to achieve Icelandic Hygge
Living// ‘Our housemates are ignoring us’!
epigram / The Croft 19.11.2018
Editor Jasmine Burke
Deputy-Editor Luke Unger
Online Editor Marina Afzal-Khan Epigram Wellbeing
@EpigramWB
@epigramwellbeing
How healthy is it to tweet your problems?
As part of our Wellbeing debate series, students Sabrina and Marina debate the statement: ‘Sharing your problems on social media is unhealthy’
”
You have a right to privacy and not every person you’ve ever interacted with needs to know about what you struggle with. The only reason that we think it is ok to share such private information online is because we don’t immediately feel the consequences. However that doesn’t mean that there aren’t real consequences. Do not let your mental health problems define you online, just like you wouldn’t want it to dominate your life offline. You have a right to privacy and don’t let social media take that right away!
Sabrina Miller First Year, English Literature
Instagram / @metoomvmt
AGAINST: ‘Being able to read other people’s posts or stories about their own wellbeing can help you feel less alone’
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hen we think about the topic of social media and mental health, the words that are associated with it are usually always negative.
‘Omg you’re putting your whole life story on Twitter, you’re oversharing!’ ‘You’re just attention seeking.’ ‘If you keep liking and reading sad posts, obviously you’re going to be sad!’ ‘If you keep posting stuff, you’re going to get depressed.’ I’m here to talk about the benefits of social media for your mental health. For me personally, Twitter has been a safe haven. It has felt like a journal where I can write about my feelings and thoughts, helping to put them into perspective. This has genuinely improved my wellbeing because I have been able to let it all out.
Twitter / @twitter
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Why do I think it is so dangerous to share your problems online? Firstly, we need to consider who we are sharing this information with. When you share something on Facebook, one needs to realise that you’re sharing this information amongst friends, not therapists. Only professionals know how to properly handle issues of such importance and it can be exceedingly dangerous if someone starts to take advice from someone who is not a medical professional. If you needed brain surgery you wouldn’t ask your grandma to help the doctor on the operating table. If you needed a degree, you wouldn’t ask Tom - the guy you met during the first week of freshers- to lecture you. If you needed a dentist you wouldn’t
Secondly, when deciding whether or not to post intimate details about your mental health online, I believe you need to really consider the implications this has on your real life. Many people do not directly correlate their online life with their real life and this can be really destructive. Logically ask yourself, would you share such personal struggles with random people you encounter on the street? Would you speak about your depression with your mum’s friend that you’ve met a few times at dinner? That is essentially the same as sharing it on Facebook because, be honest, you do not know every single one of your Facebook ‘friends’.
Unsplash / Robin Worrall
When you share something on Facebook, one needs to realise that you’re sharing this information amongst friends, not therapists
ask Sally - the girl you met whilst on a gap year - to clean your teeth. The same principle should apply here. If you have a mental health problem, no matter how good-hearted Tom, Sally, or your grandma are, they do not have the essential training to help you cope. Speak to a professional, not your friends on social media.
For those struggling with mental health issues, it can be a place where they are free to share whatever they want to without being judged and without the danger of stigma
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Essentially, being able to read other people’s posts or stories about their own wellbeing can help you feel less alone. You are able to feel a sense of community and can speak to other people in order to make sense of your own wellbeing. Mental illness can make you feel like you’re the only one experiencing it so, if you stay away from social media, you can feel isolated. Social media doesn’t just mean Facebook and Twitter, it also includes the use of forums, articles and videos. Some people post vlogs of their own mental health experiences which can be of comfort.
Some people find it really difficult to speak to their loved ones, such as friends and family, in real life about their mental health concerns. Being able to turn to social media can help them open up when ordinarily they are keeping it to themselves and sitting in silence. The fact is, of course, whether social media has a positive or negative impact on one’s wellbeing depends on the individual. However, in my case Twitter helped me escape. It became my safe place; I was able to write whatever I wanted
and people were listening. I felt free, I felt liberated. It became my outlet as, even for a little while, knowing that I didn’t have to always bother my friends and I could just tweet about my anxiety, depression and feelings in general. This helped me feel reassured.
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ocial media plays a prominent role in most of our lives. There is no way we can escape its impact. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat give us a wonderful opportunity to share real experiences with friends, family and followers. Unfortunately ‘real’ has become a fairly loose term when it comes to social media; most Instagram models share their lives through rose-tinted lenses. Whilst I believe it is important that we start being far more honest with each other online, I will contend that sharing personal struggles with mental health is really counterproductive. This is because it is very damaging for those suffering from a problem. It is essential that we protect the interests of patients first, as the harm that could befall sufferers of a mental illness are severe.
Epigram / Luke Unger
FOR: ‘Sharing personal struggles with mental health is really counterproductive’
Twitter in general has started so many movements and mental health campaigns such as the #MeToo movement and allowed an increase in various other wellbeing awareness campaigns
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For mental health struggles, it can be a place where they are free to share whatever they want to without being judged and without the danger of stigma. Twitter in general has started so many movements and mental health campaigns such as the #MeToo movement and allowed an increase in various other wellbeing awareness campaigns. The point of all of this is that social media isn’t all that bad. Of course social media has its bad sides, such as the constant need for approval and obsession with likes. Nevertheless, for those struggling with mental health issues, it can be a place where they are free to share whatever they want to without being judged and without the danger of stigma. Social media can help you build connections, strengthen relationships, allow you to speak freely, seek help and help you feel less alone.
Marina Afzal-Khan Online Wellbeing Editor Want to start arguing? These debates are going to become a regular feature of our section! If you would like to get involved and find out what the next topic will be, join our writers’ group. Search ‘Epigram Wellbeing Writers 2018/19’. We are also now filming them for even further debate, so look out for those...
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19.11.2018 epigram / The Croft
Me and ME
Third year Film and Television student Leah Martindale discusses what life is like with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
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Epigram / Luke Unger
hen I was twelve, I broke my arm. Easily the most painful experience of my life, it was a complex fracture-break that took pins in the bone and months of my life to heal. The bright yellow cast and long fat scar were a clear indicator that something was wrong.
When I was fifteen, I broke my nose. A 3 minute surgery and attractive facial plaster later, I was all sorted and I managed quite literally to save face. With a lovely fat lump and a skewiff septum, it was a clear display that something was wrong. When I was twenty, I fractured my ankle. A stupid accident in SWX of all places that resulted in me sporting a fashionable pair of dull grey crutches. Hopping up stairs and dragging myself around lectures, it was a clear sign that something was wrong. In second year, I received confirmation of my formal diagnosis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). An invisible illness that saps my youthful energy and leaves me as spritely as your average sixty-year-old. CFS is defined by the NHS as ‘a long-term illness with a wide range of symptoms. The most common symptom is extreme tiredness’.
Simple acts set off the body’s alarms: tiredness, muscle pain, ‘brain fog’, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, sore throats, back ache and all the joys in between
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It is theorised that CFS is sparked in many of us by a spate of illness, after which the body does not know to get rid of its symptoms. Imagine a house being broken into, and the alarm going off, but then, every time anyone opens the front door, the alarm goes off again. Simple acts set off the body’s alarms: tiredness, muscle pain, ‘brain fog’, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, sore throats, back ache and all the joys in between. That is the simplest way I can describe my life with CFS. I’ve always brought electricity to a group. Insufferably loud, scatterbrained and constantly quipping, people find it completely inconsistent for me to be paralysed by fatigue in my day-to-day life. When at the peak of my energy, I have worked as a walking tour guide, completed 8 hour essay writing stints and gone on week long benders without a breather. When I am in a trough it is too exhausting to stand. To speak. To cook. It would take a better man than me to have CFS and not manage, at times, to be desperately depressed. When the world is going at a thousand miles an hour and your body is so achy from the previous day’s activities that you cannot stand long enough to shower, you do not have the mental energy to process simple maths like telling the time, or cannot remember what you have heard moments before, it is easy to feel like the world is ending.
There was a time at which it was truly overwhelming. The prospect of facing this every day for the rest of my life felt like a death sentence. The fact that I may wake up one day with muscles too fatigued to stand and no
sure-fire way of staving it off scares me still. As someone aiming to pursue a career in academia, it is hardly promising that I cannot read more than a few hundred words off a screen before my cognitive processing gives up. As someone with a desperate wanderlust, it is worrying to know I cannot carry a backpack more than a few minutes without exhaustion, or on bad days walk more than ten minutes without crippling backpain.
The main reason for my worries, however, is not the illness itself. I have my own methods of avoiding the boom-and-bust phenomenon familiar to all fellow CFS-ers. The most difficult part, for me, is the lack of understanding. My fear of seeming lazy is overriding. I worry that I appear lazy when I am too tired to cook and have to order food, or cannot face the walk to university and have to get an uber, or cannot physically process a reading
and have to wing it in a seminar. I am not a lazy girl. I would argue that I am the most painstakingly active person I know. We just work on different scales. The best analogy that my chronic fatigue cognitive behavioural therapist gave me was this: if we all have dials in our bodies of how strongly we feel something, healthy people are at about a 2. I am cranked up to a 5. When you are tired, you may dial it up to a 5. Your body starts to feel aches and pains more acutely than before. By that point, I am at an 8. As someone who exudes energy from every orifice, it is understandably confusing to my friends and peers that I have such illogical struggles. Jokes about constant naps became a worrying reality of a crippling crutch I’d stuck myself with. That someone with a mouth that runs a mile a minute and a penchant for running off in clubs for hours on end cannot, at times, stand long enough to put toast on, or think quickly enough to force a sentence out, is baffling. In truth, it baffles me. I wish there were a battery bar shining out of my face, so people could see the bright red sliver of a bar when I am trying my damnedest to pretend to be all green. If I could impart one piece of wisdom from my life with CFS it is this: it is invisible. It follows me like a shadow and sometimes the sun is low and my shadow is taller than I am. All I ask is that people try their hardest to know that I am not just me when I am in the light, I am me in the shadows.
Leah Martindale Third Year, English
Why were the services so hard to access?
An anonymous student recounts their struggle to access mental health services in their time of need
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arlier this year I was taken to hospital after a selfharming incident. I was at rock bottom and realised that if I continued to neglect help, things could rapidly go downhill. At this point I found it incredibly difficult to know what to do, how talk about the reality of the darkness I was feeling and admit I needed treatment once again. To be honest, it even took a lot to book a doctor’s appointment. I know for a fact that I am not alone in this.
a safe and healthy home life and cannot afford private treatment, who may also be consistently pushed back on their treatment and confused as to how to access it. Getting help from a doctor regarding mental health issues is hard enough, but it would seem to only be the first step in a long and demotivating marathon. I hope that many of the appointments which are cancelled and so hard to access are to offer immediate help to those who were literally on the brink.
Despite how it may sound, I am not annoyed because of what has personally happened to me. Whilst it has not helped my mental state, I am more angered by the principle of seemingly lax attitudes towards free mental healthcare for those that are in dire need. Getting trapped in a cycle of appointments, referrals and cancellations aggravates whatever mental health issues a person is struggling with and unquestionably demotivates any attempts to push for help. This is not right. We should not be pushed to pay for private healthcare when, somewhere within the NHS, psychologists exist who have the abilities to help. Mental healthcare is a right, not a privilege. If someone says they are not okay, this needs to be taken at face value and not compared in severity to another’s version of not being okay. Please be aware that I am so thankful that we have free healthcare, but it comes to a point where constant waiting and assessment appointments is a hindrance, not a help to improving Five months later I am still waiting for any treatment and have done mental health and ultimately exacerbates the vicious cycle of strained a further 3 initial assessments. I was not admitted to the SHERPA resources. programme - being that it specialises for severe psychological disorders and addictions - and am currently waiting for my first appointment with It is as if once at university you fall between the cracks of university the University’s mental wellbeing advisors, as well as a course of group services, local services and your home services. I believe these need to self-harm help sessions run by Bristol Wellbeing Services, outside of the be integrated, if only to level out the strain on each. Similarly, it needs to be uni. I was advised the waiting list for the CBT I would need was too long at comprehensively clear where to go to access what sort of help and how,, 9 months, therefore I would receive faster help as part of a group. in an encouraging and normalising way. If someone says they are not okay, this needs to be taken at face value and not compared in severity to Despite this meaning I am closer than ever to getting help, I cannot anyone else. Getting the strength to reach out for help is huge and there stress enough the impact trying to access the right help has had. At points, needs to be some level of support the minute this happens, if only to it seemed like the only way I was going to get help without having to go check in between assessments, appointments and more referrals. through too many confusing avenues, cancellations and wait times was to pay for treatment. The prospect of this only induced further guilt and Phrases like ‘Well done for coming to the right place, we will give you unnecessary pressure on my recovery, but is ultimately - like for most the help you need’ begin to lose impact after hearing them half a dozen - not a viable option. What troubles me the most is that there would be other people who were in a worse mental state than me, who didn’t have Anonymous I began by going to Bristol’s Student Health Service and was referred to the SHERPA programme. However, within a week, my appointment had been pushed back 2 months. This was the first of many delays. I pushed myself to keep trying and went to the doctor in my hometown to try and get more immediate help. I was referred to the Single Point of Access service who phoned me within a week and asked me the classic mental health assessment questions. Following the assessment, I was given numbers to call for helplines and told I should go back to the doctors to find a counselling service. At this point I was confused; I thought this phone call was how I got into a service? I was honestly too depressed and mentally drained to go back to the doctors, so I left this avenue, relying on returning to Bristol for my SHERPA appointment during summer.
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19.11.2018 epigram / The Croft
Movember: What is is all about?
The student Wellbeing Men everywhere are withholding from facial shaving this month, Service should be valued, not but why? Support Our Services president Isaac Haigh explains the underrated meaning behind Movember avigating both the university and NHS mental health
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his November marks the 11th UK Movember, a time of the year dedicated to raising awareness of men’s health issues and fundraising for campaigns to help solve these issues. It was initially started to raise awareness of prostate cancer: a cancer that kills more people now than breast cancer, but is hardly ever talked about between men.
doctors about how their mental health is declining, are all incredibly difficult tasks for anyone to do in a society that prioritises status, wealth and power over all other values. Men are far less likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems because men are far less likely to go to the doctor about their health in general and especially their mental health.
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Luke Unger/ Epigram
The Movember Foundation has, in the last few years, started to focus on men’s mental health as well as physical health: an issue that is far more likely to affect the men reading this than physical health issues. Men under the age of 45 are still far more likely to die by their own hands than by any other cause. Two thirds of suicide victims are male, despite women being far more likely to be diagnosed with depression.
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We must look at the root causes of these issues if we want to solve them.
Men under the age of 45 are still far more likely to die by their own hands than by any other cause
Luke Unger/ Epigram
This ties in to the next cause of the issue: men generally think they require permission to show v u l ne ra b i l it y and weakness or at least have a very difficult time expressing it. Asking for help, telling someone they’re struggling or telling a stranger in the
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I believe that both of these issues can be improved massively by changing the way that men talk to each other. It says on the Movember website that almost all men say they would be there for a struggling friend, but many do not feel comfortable going to their friends in times of need. If anyone is struggling it can be incredibly difficult approaching your mates for help, simply because you don’t want to feel like you’re a burden. Perhaps then the onus is on us, the community, to provide that permission to show vulnerability and to make it more normal to talk about about our honest feelings, so that when we, or someone we know, is struggling, it is easier to express those feelings. If you do anything this M ove m b e r , as well as donating money or attempting to grow a moustache, start asking your male mates how they really feel, twice if necessary. Make it known that you will be there in a time of crisis. This should go without saying but remember, of course, that you must also look after your own mental health first; put your own air mask on before you help others. What ever you do this Movember, start by checking in on your mates. Luke Unger/ Epigram
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Men are traditionally far less likely to open up about their feelings and be honest with themselves with how they feel. Instead, they fall into a state of what they think they must be like. Sometimes this can be stoic, strong and powerful. In recent years there has been an equally dangerous flip of this. The plague of the ‘Nice GuyTM’ a man who will blindly agree with anyone in not wanting to rock the boat. Someone who cares far too much about others’ opinions to the point of not being honest with themselves or others with how they truly feel. These are often people who will do anything to appease people, often members of the opposite sex, and when things don’t go their way, bottled up resentment can explode in a dramatic and ugly fashion. Both of these extremes are just as bad as the other; in both cases we have people burying their true feelings and not being honest with themselves.
If you do anything this Movember, as well as donating money or attempting to grow a moustache, start asking your male mates how they really feel, twice if necessary
Isaac Haigh Support Our Services President Are you participating in Movember? We need you! We want to highlight the efforts made by men this Movember. Therefore, if you have any pictures of your progress over the month - be it good or bad - let us know! Send them through to our editor on Facebook, join our writers group and post them on there, or email them to epigram.wellbeing@gmail.com! Alternatively, if you would like to write about your progress or what Movember means to you, feel free to! Get in touch using any of the methods listed above and we’ll publish it online and possibly in print! You might even get a feature on our Instagram...
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services can be challenging at the best of times but, when mentally ill, it can feel painfully overwhelming. Although the University still has a way to go with tackling its mental health crisis, it remains hugely important to highlight which services are working, which types of support we need more of and which services may be useful to those who are currently struggling. For students feeling a bit lost in the confusing sea of NHS and university support services, I would highly recommend making contact with the Student Wellbeing Service. They are a non-clinical advisory service who will listen, act as a support base for all students and signpost specialist services. It is a new service; it came into being this year and it should be noted that it is distinct from the other new service, the Residential Life Service. Having started to feel disconnected myself towards the beginning of term, I quickly started to feel ashamed and despondent at my rapidly deteriorating mental health yet again. I emailed my Senior Tutor and asked him to point me in the direction of the Wellbeing Advisory Service, wanting to prevent my low mood from being further exacerbated.
Things were feeling pretty dire so I mustered up the motivation to email the service straight away, trying to deliver as much coherence and detail as possible, which ended up being an email consisting of one sentence, relaying that I belonged to their specific faculty and that I wished to access support if possible. I did not really expect much to come of it and, if it did, I expected to be waiting until the end of my degree before it really got me anywhere. I have rarely been so pleasantly surprised with regards to the speed of the response I received. I heard from one of the Wellbeing Advisors from my faculty the next day, offering me appointment times within a week. Granted, this was towards the beginning of the year before many people knew what the Wellbeing Service was or how to access it; I would persuade students not to feel despondent if their response is not quite so speedy. My particular example simply illustrates their dedication to student wellbeing, and their understanding of how important early intervention can be. When I met with the advisor, their tone was completely nonjudgmental. This alone enabled me to relieve myself of some of the guilt and shame I was dealing with on top of my mental health problems. My obscure fears and disordered thoughts were not only met with kindness, but also with a great level of understanding. I would urge students not to misunderstand the term ‘non-clinical’ to mean they exist only for students who suffer from poor mental wellbeing, rather than those who have diagnoses of severe mental health problems. ‘Non-clinical’ simply means that the advice they offer is not therapeutic or treatment based, but supportive advice in the context of a wide understanding of mental illness. Everything I said seemed to genuinely make sense to them, even though I thought I was losing my mind. Nothing I said seemed to be out of the realms of what they might have encountered before. I felt normal, I felt less helpless and I felt less afraid of what other people might think. They continued to follow up with me, made a doctor’s appointment for me when I was really unwell and, as time went on, the pressure I was putting on myself to become instantly ‘fixed’ and not waste people’s time lessened. Although it can be tough to pin down at times, there will always be people who react to any level of difficulty with kindness, not judgment. The one thing I would say about this service is that as the academic year progresses and distress levels increase, it could probably do with greater funding and better signposting, so that students can access it more easily. The service itself seems to be filling a vital role within the University’s support network. That is not to say that there is not more work to be done with regards to building a secure support system, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.
Anonymous
epigram / The Croft 19.11.2018
Editor Hope Riley
Deputy Editor Imogen Rogers
Online Editor Josie Roberts
Epigram Living Writers 2018-19
The great outdoors: exploring open spaces in Bristol Need a break from the stress of city life? Deputy Living Editor Imogen Rogers talks us through some of Bristol’s green spaces St Andrews Park This Victorian park was close to my first-year accommodation - Northwell House (yes, I know you haven’t heard of it) and is just a short walk from Gloucester Road. I stumbled across the park after getting lost on my way home from the supermarket, and was impressed by its size and beauty, but also by the historical significance of the park within Bristol history. A memorial in the park records the 1941 event in which a WW2 Wellington bomber plane crashed into one of the trees, resulting in three deaths. Ironically, it was also the sight of an air-raid shelter, and the children’s paddling pool was used to supply water to nearby homes within the war. Many events and fundraisers take place in the park throughout the year.
Right in the centre of campus, the Royal Fort Gardens are a great starting place in which to explore Bristol’s open spaces. Beginning its life as a Civil War fortification, the gardens are well situated to be used as an outdoor study spot or lunch break area for students. They also boast a great collection of outdoor public art installations. Artworks include ‘Hollow’ by Katie Paterson, and the mirror maze ‘Follow me’ designed by Jeppe Hein. In the warmer weather, the gardens get quite busy, but they remain a peaceful place. Brandon Hill Brandon Hill is a formal garden, nature reserve and the oldest park in Bristol, and an ideal place to escape the hustle of the nearby city centre. At its summit is the beautiful -and free- Cabot Tower, built to commemorate John Cabot’s voyage from Bristol to North America. After a painful – but rewarding - climb up the winding stone staircase, you can enjoy the beautiful 360 degree views of the city and beyond. I recommend that every Bristol student experiences this at least once.
Epigram / Imogen Rogers
The Harbourside Further down the hill, you will reach the Harbourside. Although not strictly a ‘green-space’, the Harbourside is a must-visit area for any Bristol student. Although alive with markets, restaurants, and sporting activities, the harbourside provides a relaxing and visually pleasing walk, especially in the evening and during the Christmas period. Keep an eye out for events held in Millennium Square, for
Familiar to members of student sport societies, and those living in Stoke Bishop, the Downs is a huge open space. Many events happen here, and in the summer, it becomes the favourite place for picnics and barbeques. It is also a great place to take a walk – or a run if you prefer- especially with the view of the Avon Gorge. I would recommend bringing some breadcrumbs or a ball of string however as there are 440 acres available to discover, with similar looking paths, but is it really an adventure if you don’t get lost? Redland Green Redland Green is ideally situated within the popular student residential area. This park has plenty of open space as well as a children’s play area if you fancy giving the zipwire or swings a try! If snow hits Bristol again, it also makes a fantastic place to go sledging! Every first Monday of May, the locals host the Redland May Fair here which is a great way to get involved with your local community, even as a student.
Please help! I live in a house of four and me and my flatmate have realised that the other two (who we also lived with last year) hate us?! They go out whenever we are in, stay in their rooms and try to hang out with our other friends without us! WHAT DO WE DO?! My dear Anonymous, It is first important to get all of this nonsense out in the open. Your flatmates owe the pair of you some honesty, so my advice would be to send them a message on the Facebook - or an instantgram, whatever it is you young people are using these days - and confront them on their peculiar behaviour. Demand that they tell you the truth about why they have been avoiding you - better out than in, I always say!
Better out than in, I always say!
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You never know, there could be an an entirely different reason why your flatmates have been so unavailable recently. Come to think of it, it was only April last year that I ignored my 11-year-old son for three weeks in the lead up to his birthday. He cried himself to sleep every night, of course, but little did he know that I was up to my ears planning a surprise party for him and a friend at the local vole sanctuary. So you see, all those weeks of giving him the cold shoulder were worth it - the look on his face! And if turns out that they do hate you, Anonymous, then you must accept that rejection affects the very best of us in life. In other words - get over it!
Leigh Woods The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a thing of a beauty and fame in itself -and a staple on every freshers’ Instagram- but cross the bridge and go and explore Leigh Woods. If, like me, you enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside, then the woods are a great place to forget that you are even in a city. They have a large selection of foot and cycle paths, and a small coffee shop for a post walk hot chocolate. It can get quite muddy in the winter however so make sure you are not wearing your best trainers. The main attraction, by far, are the stunning views of the Avon Gorge and the surrounding city, whatever the weather.
Epigram / Imogen Rogers
Epigram / Imogen Rogers
The Clifton and Durdham Downs
University Royal Fort Gardens
Dear Aunt Aggie,
example they often hold free film screenings in the evening.
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efore I moved to Bristol, I had spent the first 18 years of my life in the tiny village of Bodiam, relying on my parents to drive me everywhere I needed to go, and with the nearest form of nightlife being 11 miles away. In Bristol everything and more was within walking distance, and I loved being part of the city. However, with a lot of my uni life involving being either in my bedroom or at the library, I began craving the peace and quiet of the countryside. Going for walks outside, runs or even just sitting on a bench, has, for me, always had a beneficial impact on my mental and physical health. Fortunately, Bristol is a city which embraces its open areas having been described as a city within a countryside by many. Over the years I have found many great outdoor places in Bristol allowing me not only to be alone with my thoughts from time to time, but simultaneously giving me an insight into the history of Bristol.
Aunt Aggie: ‘our flatmates hate us’
Imogen Rogers Deputy Living Editor
Dissertation planning got you down? Or is one of your flatmates grinding your gears? Aunt Aggie is here to answer all your problems, however big or small. Get in touch with us at livingteam.epigram@gmail.com, or submit your problem on our Facebook group: Epigram Living Section 2018-19. All submissions will be published anonymously.
epigram / The Croft 19.11.2018
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Monzo: student finance made easy Living Editor Hope Riley weighs up the pros and cons of using digital banking service Monzo to monitor your spending
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s someone who’s idea of ‘budgeting’ is getting in an Uber Pool, Monzo, the self-proclaimed ‘bank of the future,’ has helped me to successfully monitor my spending at uni.
at uni
to recognise the benefits of such intervention.It is also worth mentioning that there are no fees or extra charges for spending abroad with your Monzo card, which makes it ideal for bringing along on your holidays or travels.
Monzo was founded in 2015 by a team of four ex-employees of Starling Bank. The start-up business began with the launch of their fluorescent coral top-up card – these prepaid Mastercards could be topped up in-app by bank transfer or via existing debit cards. Later, in April 2017, Starling’s young entrepeneurs were granted licence to set up a Current Account for all users, which replaced the previous top-up system.
So what’s the catch? The most obvious downside I can pinpoint to Monzo is the fact that there are no physical bank branches, with almost all correspondence with the bank taking place via the ‘Live Chat’ function on the app. While this can make you feel slightly as though you are in an episode of Black Mirror, I’ve found it is actually quite handy to have all your Customer Service needs met in one place. The founders of Monzo have also chosen to disregard using chequebooks, deeming them ‘obsolete.’ Fair enough. Another drawback is that there is an upper limit to cash withdrawals – you can take out up to £200 per 30 day period, but there is a 3% charge for withdrawals after that.
When you start using your Monzo card, push notifications are sent to your phone in real-time that log your spending. This data is then collated to generate a review of your spending across the day, and another more detailed review across the whole month. The review breaks down your spending across a variety of categories: shopping, transport, groceries and so on. In my opinion, the best feature of the service is that contactless payments are deducted immediately from your balance – you do not have to wait 2+ days for your balance to be updated, a.k.a. no nasty surprises when you belatedly realise that you generously footed the bill for a round of drinks in Mbargos on Thursday night. Another useful element is the ‘alerts’ that pop up on your phone to remind you to stick to your budget. Once you get over the somewhat invasive (and at times judgemental) tone of these alerts (e.g: ‘Hope, you’ve already gone £13.78 over your weekly budget’), you begin
Epigram / Hope Riley
The mobile-only Current Account functions much in the same way as the old top-up cards, with everything controlled via the app, but with the added option to make bank transfers (both U.K. and international), and to set up direct debits and standing orders. With the introduction of the Current Account, the card can also be added to your virtual Apple ‘Wallet’ for mobile use.
The only other issue I’ve encountered with Monzo is with ring-fencing, which I’ve experienced on a couple of occasions. Ring-fencing is essentially an instance where the merchant tells you that your payment has been declined, but the money still leaves your account and is subtracted temporarily from your balance. The balance usually re-equilibrates itself and the money is refunded automatically, but if this doesn’t happen within a week then you just have to take a photo of the ‘declined’ receipt and send it to a team member on the Live Chat, who will sort it out for you. While I am by no means a financial advisor, I can honestly vouch that transferring my Current Account to Monzo has made managing my money at uni so much easier.
Hope Riley Living Editor
The Black Dog Project Tegan Kemp writes on her experience of educating and informing young people about mental health, as part of a student volunteering group set up by Psychology undergraduates
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he Black Dog Project is a volunteer-based group, set up by Bristol University Psychology undergraduates, which aims to inform and educate youth groups about mental health and wellbeing.
About half of mental disorders begin before the age of 14
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We are a passionate committee of ten people who focus on planning lessons, contacting schools and reaching out for new volunteers to train. Our President Nina, third year Psychology student, says: ‘mental health will affect everyone at some point, whether they know someone who is struggling or they do
This week we visited QEH School, talking to small groups of Year Nine and Ten boys about exam stress. The groups we spoke to were very enthusiastic and all had a rough idea of
Epigram / Tegan Kemp
The name ‘Black Dog Project’ originates from a famous quote from Winston Churchill who referred to his long term depression as a ‘black dog.’ Churchill indeed offers inspiration to those suffering with poor mental health, as he was able to persevere and remain resilient against his internal battles.
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The project operates with the ideology of removing modern day stigma that exists around mental health and affects so many in our society. We provide assemblies, workshops and listening classes to nearby schools and youth groups, focusing on opening up conversations regarding mental health. It is essential that we encourage those who are struggling, or who may struggle in the future, to talk about how they feel - especially as nowadays figures suggest that one in four people will suffer from poor mental health at some stage of their life.
The project not only benefits those we present to, but also us as volunteers. Providing insightful presentations has furthered our public speaking skills and increased our knowledge of the topic, both of which make us more employable.
themselves, so education on how to deal with this is such a positive thing.’ Our presentations include ideas about body image, exam stress and mindfulness, and we offer these alongside encouraging supportive discussions. Mental health is a topic that is becoming ever-more present in dayto-day conversation as awareness for mental conditions grows. As much as we, as adults, may feel reasonably in tune with our minds and can often identify poor mental wellbeing, young people can find it much harder to develop their understanding of their own mental state. We provide exercises, discussions and advice on ways to tackle this.
Young people can find it much harder to develop their understanding of their own mental state
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what ‘mental health’ is. Talking to volunteers of similar ages to themselves really encouraged the students to confidently speak out about any encounters they, or a loved one, had had with poor mental health, in a way they could not speak so openly about to their peers or teachers.
It is a highly rewarding scheme and the impacts that our presentations have are always evident. We are always looking to recruit new volunteers, and offer advice and training for those who can give up their time, so if you are interested in educating others about mental health, and joining a great team of passionate individuals, then please contact myself at the following email address: tk17148@bristol.ac.uk. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook page Black Dog Project Bristol and follow us on Instagram @blackdogprojectuob! Tegan Kemp
Second Year, Management
19.11.2018 epigram / The Croft
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Instagram pictures of the fortnight... Want to be featured? Tag @epigrampaper_ in your posts for a chance to appear!
Epigram Travel provide us with a guide of Dublin
The Sleeping Soldier on Gatehouse Wall on the 11th November
An afternoon autumnal shot of Castle Park
A beautiful evening photo of Wills Memorial Building
Beets ‘n Roots celebrate World Vegan Month with this delicious looking smoothie jar!
Jeppe Hein’s Follow me sculpture in the Royal Fort Gardens
A view of a rainbow captured from the Gromit room
Post-graduatestudentDanBethallcelebrates his para-badminton win in France
The Impossible Garden by Luke Jerram in Bristol’s botanic garden
Editor Laila Freeman @lunchingwithlaila
epigram / The Croft 19.11.18
Deputy Editor
Online Editor
Olivia Critoph
Nicole Abou-Abdallah
Epigram Food 2018-19
@epigram_food
The Allergy Epidemic
A
SavannahJadeCoombe,sharesherexperiencesofcateredhallswithasevereallergy
huge amount of recent media and public attention has been given to allergies and food intolerances in the UK. Recent incidents at Pret a Manger have propelled the issue to the forefront of the news, but cases like the two unfortunate deaths linked to the major food chain have been happening for years. Most restaurants and food establishments have had issues with customer allergies and many of these have been severe and, in some cases, fatal. Most incidents are kept “hush-hush” in order not to damage the reputation of the business, but this is to the detriment of allergy awareness standards around the country.
before without any issue, and immediately realised it contained peanuts. I spoke to the catering staff who in turn spoke to the Chef running the kitchen that day. He explained that they had run out of the usual nut mix and so had bulked up the crumble with crushed peanuts. This had not been stated on the allergy information available for the dish.
Instagram / @10mmballpointpen
Having a peanut allergy, as well as my less severe, but much weirder aubergine allergy, I am no stranger to the discussion. I have carried around an EpiPen for the last 3 years after being hospitalised for eating chocolate cake with peanut butter hidden in the icing. I did not blame the person who gave it to me, most people do not even think to ask. This was why I was impressed when at the start of first year I was called into the office of the Head Chef at my catered Hall to discuss my allergy. He explained that he was meeting with all students who had notified the Hall of their allergies to make sure they were handled properly. I left feeling reassured that the issue would be taken seriously.
OliviaCritoph,interviewsMOBKitchenambassador
Seb explained to me that he thinks MOB is a brilliant idea, especially for students, as the recipes are incredibly tasty (especially the chorizo carbonara which is his favourite dish) as well as easy and cheap. Even he was skeptical
Allergy procedure needs to be seen as a life-threatening issue because, well, it is.
If you are interested in getting more involved in MOB kitchen, Seb recommends following the Facebook and Instagram pages to keep up to date with everything going on. Also, most weeks he will be running a ‘best from the MOB’ competition in Bristol where followers can cook a MOB meal, Seb chooses his 2 favourites and then the followers decide the winner who will win £10 for their efforts!
Review: Convivio Lenya Aristotelous,visitsConvivioon CothamHill
If you are looking for a new restaurant to try this week look no further than the cafe and bar, Convivio. It is located halfway down Cotham Hill and is the perfect place for a meal whether you are with family or friends. The cafe itself is friendly and welcoming with a lovely atmosphere, stylish decor and layout - and you can even hire out the venue for events. My housemates and I visited Conivivio a few weekends backm for our weekly house dinnerand I will definitely be going back. There were also a great number of deals to take advantage of, including 2 for 1 pizzas on Tuesdays and 20% off all food and drinks for students.
Epigram / Laila Freeman
A large part of Seb’s role of being a brand ambassador is to run the Bristol MOB’s Facebook page (Bristol MOB) and instagram (mobbristol) to keep people up to date with events, recipes and competitions. Seb has also been keen on spreading the word about MOB as much as possible, so you may have seen him handing out flyers around the student union, libraries and on the street. He also told me that he is hoping to do some promotional events, potentially at Gravity, where they would give out some free merchandise and delicious MOB food. In doing all these events, and keeping the social media accounts lively, he is hoping more and more people will realise how great the MOB Kitchen company is.
about being able to feed four for under £10, but when it actually came down to buying all the ingredients, if you are shopping in Co-Op, Tesco or Sainsbury’s, it is usually doable!
Epigram / Olivia Critoph
Seb has always followed their instagram page, and has always thought their food looked really tasty. He became brand ambassador over summer when MOB put up an Instagram story about how they were looking for university brand ambassadors. This is the first year MOB have used ambassadors as they have recently published their first cookbook and wanted to get as many students involved as possible. Now they have ambassadors in Bristol, Exeter, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Oxford and Durham .
In this incident, or any case of an allergic reaction in my life, do I feel the staff were really at fault? To put it simply, no I do not. There is simply a lack of awareness regarding the severity of allergies in the UK. Catering for those with allergies should be a priority of those in the food industry. It is up to lawmakers and creators of company policy to ensure the proper education and training of staff and to put procedures in place that minimise the likelihood of incidents.
Second Year Liberal Arts
MOB Kitchen: eat more, save more
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The staff on duty that day were extremely concerned and checked in to make sure I was okay. They were not aware that there were peanuts in the dish. I found out that the Head Chef I spoke to at the start of the year had left the Hall and, while they still had information for some people, record of my allergies had been lost. The staff pointed out a list they had on the back wall that had all known students with allergies and added my name to the bottom. I had no other issues throughout the rest of the year.
Savannah Jade Coombe
Halfway through second term however, I was eating lunch in the dining hall, took a bite of my walnut crumble, a dish I had eaten there
OB kitchen is an online food publishing company, created by Ben Lebaus a former Edinburgh student. MOB kitchen is a particularly attractive company for students as it creates recipes which ‘feeds 4 people for under £10’. To understand a bit more about the company, and how students can get more involved with MOB, I met with the University of Bristol’s MOB Kitchen ambassador, Seb Gilmore, a second year film and TV student.
Fortunately, I was fine as I had taken the powerful antihistamines that I had been given to prevent anaphylaxis: a serious and potentially fatal allergic reaction.
My housemates and I experienced a range of the meals on offer. I ordered the ciabatta with falafel, houmous and red onion, as well as obligitory sweet potato fries. I would definitely recommend this, but the pizzas that my housemates ordered also looked amazing, inlcuding one with beet pesto and goat’s cheese. For those in a sharing mood they have both a meat and a cheese sharing platter and a nachos platter too. For those with more of a sweet tooth there are also a range of impressive looking desserts, such as waffles and shakes.
Olivia Critoph
Deputy Food Editor
Lenya Aristotelous
Third Year Physiological Science
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19.11.18 epigram / The Croft
Reuse, reduce, recycle your food waste VirginiaCampbell,shareshertoptipstostayecofriendlyinthekitchen Food waste is a big problem. Each year as a country, we throw away 4 million tonnes worth of food, costing each household up to £400. It is a scary situation - but it is one with thankfully very easy solutions. So, which helpful tips will make the intimidating world of food waste better? Hopefully some of these:
Thirdly, if like me, you are awful at portion sizing (who knew rice expanded that much when you cook it?), then Tupperware will be your best friend, as well as the environment’s. Box up any leftover food that you are too full to eat, and have it for lunch or supper the next day. It will save you cooking and prevent unnecessary waste. Fourth, try to avoid plastics as much as possible. Buy loose fruit and vegetables rather than the prepackaged ones - this is often better value for money and means that you can choose your own items. Another way to aviod unnecessary plastic is to avoid purchasing disposable plastic water bottles. Get yourself a nice reusable metal or glass bottle and fill it up using the tap - it is free! There are also so many ways to store food without using plastic and these are often much better looking too. Fifth, sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it will be impossible to prevent all food waste. If this happens, you may still be able to put it to good use. Use a bin strictly for food waste, then throw it on flower beds to make a natural fertiliser - even coffee granules work well for this.
Bristol’s best pub lunches
Here is a recipe for those dingy winter mornings, where you just need some wholesome energy to get you through that icy cold walk up Woodland Road. The great thing about porridge is that you can completely tailor it to your own tastes.
Whether it is a comforting plate of bangers n’ mash, or a fullon roast dinner, Sundays consist of hearty and warming foods. Make your Sunday afternoon decision easy by checking out these top pubs you need to visit for food in Bristol!
What you will need: 40-60g porridge oats 100ml milk (or milk alternative) 1 (or more!) tablespoon of maple syrup Half a teaspoon of cinnamon Optional toppings: Chopped walnuts
5. Clifton Sausage This pub specialises in the classic and well-known British dish, sausage and mash. It creates a twist on the humble dish, serving your chosen sausage in a Yorkshire pudding bed, which serves excellent use as an edible gravy boat! Although this is considered a hearty yet cheap dish, the menu prices require a bit more forking-out than an average pub.
2. Add maple syrup and fold in sultanas. 3. As you occasionally stir your oats, gradually add water. Do this over the course of 10 minutes to make your porridge super creamy! 4. Once you have reached your desired consistency, remove from heat. A thick consistency works best for this cake-themed recipe. 5. To make your porridge taste even more like carrot cake, add yoghurt (as a mock cream cheese frosting) or chopped walnuts.
an eye out for deals such as the return of 2-for-1 pizzas for students.
@
Epigram / Alex Stevens
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3. The White Rabbit A stones-throw away from the beloved Balloon Bar, the White Rabbit is a handy location after a few too many pints. It serves a range of pizzas, even accommodating for gluten-free requirements. Keep
1 carrot (grated) 100ml water A handful of sultanas A pinch of nutmeg A dollop of yoghurt
1. Put oats, grated carrot, cinnamon and nutmeg in a saucepan with your milk of choice. Cooking on medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a boil before reducing the heat to a low simmer, with the lid of the saucepan on. Instagram / @colstonarms
Instagram whiterabbitbristol
at designated times throughout the week for discounted prices.
Virginia Campbell First Year Religion and Theology
Carrot cake porridge
Affordableanddelicious-NicoleAA,shareshertopfivespotsinBristol
4. The Albion Located in the cute crevice of Clifton village, The Albion not only serves quality food, but a great atmosphere. From classic pub food such as beer-battered fish and chips to steaks, the menu has a variety for everyone. It also serves sample-menus
Instagram / @ecowithem_
Secondly, keep track of what you have bought. Watch out for use-by dates and try to plan your meals around them; prioritise eating foods that will go off soon. If you really cannot face ratatouille for the fourth night in a row, but the aubergines are on the turn, making, then freezing a meal is always a useful way around it. Equally, if you are pushed for time, just freeze the ingredients so you can make the meal at a later date.
Following these effortless little tips can make you a super-saver and an eco-warrior without even trying. Your wallet will love you, the earth will love you and your stomach will love you. You can thank me later.
Epigram / Laila Freeman
Firstly, do not buy more food than you will use. It sounds simple, but it means you should not be left with any bits of food that you do not know what to do with. Shopping lists can help with this; work out exactly how much you need for each recipe or meal, and do not go overboard! If, despite your best efforts, you do end up with fresh leftovers, do not be afraid. You would be surprised how many dishes can be made more interesting by adding flavours you would usually leave out. Too much celery after a houmous binge? Add it to bolognese. Loads of potato peelings left over after making some mashed potato? Bulk up a casserole dish and make your meals stretch further.
HereIalsohavetomentionthatsomeuse-bydatesshouldbetakenwith a pinch of salt. It is worth being wary of meat and fish, but most vegetables, fruit, breads etc. will be absolutely fine long after they ‘run out’.
2. Racks Bar & Kitchen Racks offers a trendy spin on your average pub restaraunt, offering private parties and dinners. It offers a £5 lunch menu from Monday to Saturday (12-5pm), and a range of deals for every day of the week. For the price of the food here, it is difficult to complain! 1. Colston Arms This, in my very biased opinion, is the best place in Bristol to go for a pub lunch, specifically a roast. With massive portion sizes, this doesnt impede on the quality of the roast! The pub offers a stack of board games to play whilst you wait and sip on your drinks. It has a heated beer garden, which lets you enjoy your food and drink outside!
Nicole Abou Abdallah
Fourth Year Dentistry
Alex Stevens
Second Year Politics and International Relation
Editor India Harrison-Peppe
Deputy Editor Jemima Carr-Jones
Online Editor Ruby Gleeson
@epigramstyle
@e2style
epigram / The Croft 19.11.2018
Epigram Style 2018/19
Fashion’s biggest fireworks Do you agree with the writer? Write for
Guy Fawkes Night has been and gone, but Style Sub-Editor Laura Mallinson explores how style revolutions are here to stay ‘norms’ of certain clothing as the revolutionary spark is passed on. For many, when the words ‘fashion’ and ‘revolution’ are strung together in the same breath, there’s a stand out subculture which crashes to mind: Punk culture. An era which has had an everlasting effect on the fashion world, the 1970s Punk movement shook up British music, politics and style in a universal message of defiance and push for a brighter future. At a time of rife Conservatism and high-unemployment, the
We’re the successes of history’s bold style moves
Instagram/theraggedpriest
Look at the political upheaval of the Suffragette movement. Through brandishing the colours white, purple and green in protest for electoral equality, its success was partly orchestrated by these women’s defiant unity in their coordinated dress. At a simple glance, the public would recognise the political revolution Suffragettes demonstrated; they orchestrated style defiance which spread their message of parity through their decisive fashion choices which stand as a symbol of that revolutionary success. From suffrage to 60’s hedonism, the steadfast fashion choices of progressive minds have served as a symbol for female change in society, as fashion and feminism often go hand-in-hand. Take the bold and shock-horror-short mini-skirt which took the world by storm as - gasp - women showed bare legs. The 1960s took the revolutionary front of fashion by the horns, as female sexual liberation was explored both in clothing and in the new contraceptive pill, both of which gave women freedom and sexual power. Nowadays, we students can freely and expressively explore our styles. Felt good waltzing down Gloucester Road in that tartan mini-skirt, right? We’re the successes of history’s bold style moves – a liberated fashion world set to break even more rules. On our street’s today, the same alternative ownership can be seen in those who don’t conform to removing body hair or defy the gender-defined
joining our Facebook group
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emember, remember the fifth of November for a time of gunpowder treason and, more abstractly, revolution. Any rebellion begins from within and is closely followed by a defiant outward display to the world; it is increasingly apparent that fashion can, therefore, be used as an effective weapon. Kicked off with an explosive bonfire night, November provides the perfect time to remember all the successful style riots born from creative minds and defiant generations. Fashion never fails to break the limits, and as a student body, we’re often the ones at the revolution’s vanguard.
Style by finding us on Instagram or by
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youth Punk movement was a political revolution which gave working-class members an outlet to express their frustrations and advocate for greater opportunities in the working world. Their confrontational fashion sung and celeberated this message. Fashion anarchy built with pins, chains and wild hair: the Punk fashion movement sought to destroy traditional middleclass clothes, such as ties and shirts, by ripping holes in them and embellishing them with alternative band logos and political slogans. The Punk fashions created by these forward-thinking activists are still celebrated today on the runway, in our shops and breaking fundamentally talesby of youth life, work, culture andand love—as students. toldThe through impactthe of Punk things fashionthat is still weprofoundly wear’, as felt described in BS8: clunky on its webpage. DMs, ripped jeans and embellished trench coats have all descended from the innovative
movement to become staple items in the student wardrobe; and brands like The Ragged Priest and Unif, amongst others, are heavily influenced by these kinds of style sub-cultures. Do we students gravitate to these pieces as a mark of an alternative style? Or, does it go to show the longevity successfully defiant outfits have on the fashion world? One thing is for sure, a wider – potentially political – message can be recognised through these bold outward displays of clothing, which highlight the power of
Review: Fashion podcast, UnStyled
Laura Mallinson Style Sub-Editor
Second Year English student, Amber Allen shares her views on the topical industy-orientated podcast Unstyled
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One of my personal favourites is UnStyled, a weekly podcast hosted by Christine Barberich, founder and co-editor of the women’s lifestyle platform Refinery 29. I would highly recommend downloading this particular podcast, it features a high calibre of guests and focuses on topical conversation. Each episode sees Barberich interview a different woman from the sphere of fashion and creative arts whist paying particular attention to how style and the clothes we wear can influence our behaviour. UnStyled could be considered the Desert Island Discs for millennials with a fashion twist. The weekly guests are highly influential women who are pioneers in their field and have ranged from models’ Alexa Chung and Ashley Graham, to Man Booker prize nominated author of A Little Life, Hanya Yanagihara. Unlike any others, this fashion podcast ‘explores the funny, inspiring, sometimes heart-
Each episode of UnStyled certainly fulfils its tagline. Barberich’s interview style is warm and inviting, she asks delving questions and allows her esteemed guests to lead the flow of conversation which often results in interesting and sometimes shocking stories, as well as detailing their journey to becoming a successful figure in popular culture. Frequently, guests offer guidance to listeners on how to feel comfortable and confident in their own style and discovering new ways to be empowered through clothing. The podcast also engages in broader current industry debate. In her interview, Amy Sall speaks poignantly on how to avoid cultural appropriation in fashion and Tess Holiday offers advice on self-acceptance as she recalls her experience as a plus sized model.
Desert Island Discs for millennials with a fashion twist.
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A particularly fascinating episode featured New York womenswear designer Norma Kamali whose career has spanned almost five decades. Kamali, who introduced the ubiquitous shoulder pad into popular women’s fashion in the
1980s, gives her compelling thoughts on the objectification of women. Based on her own experience of changing careers, she also gives valuable advice on having the confidence to pursue something you truly enjoy, even if it is not considered conventional. Each episode goes beyond goes beyond talk of clothing and addresses universal female insecurities and how they can be overcome. This makes UnStyled a
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njoyed anywhere, podcasts are being more and more listened to as a millennial way of engaging in popular culture; whether it’s on the way to uni, during a relaxing bath or a long car journey they provide an unmeasured sense of escapism. If you’ve ever searched for a programme to listen to you know there is a dauntingly large number of series out there, covering almost any topic imaginable from true life crime (‘Serial’, ‘My Favourite Murder’) to awkward familial discoveries (‘My Dad Wrote a Porno’). There are a number of great podcasts with a focus on style and the fashion industry.
...the confidence to pursue something you truly enjoy, even if it is not considered conventional
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Next time you have a spare yourself in and motivating programme thatmoment, promotesplug female empowerment beand a platform for discussing significant issues in the fashion inspired by established women in the creative arts industry today. industry.
Amber Allen Second Year, English
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19.11.2018 The Croft / epigram
Faux Fur: A fashion faux pas? Second Year Zoology student Billy Stockwell evaluates the trajectory fur has taken in the industry
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Epigram/ India Peppe
Is faux fur therefore the Tesla of fashion, meant only for those privileged enough to afford the aftercare?
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Third Year History student Naomi Winter provides the low down on hair removal
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he topic of hair removal is subject to lively debate, especially in feminist circles. Whilst this is a valuable conversation to be had, most of us remove some amount of hair as part of our grooming routines. There are many ways to do this, so without further ado I have chosen some of the most common and given a quick rundown of their pros and cons.
Shaving
Shaving is arguably the champion of a speedy, budget friendly, pain free de-fluff. To achieve a nice clean shave, make sure your razor is sharp and good quality—Gillette tend to make the best —, run the blade under a hot tap for a minute or so and apply shaving foam for a smooth surface before you start. Moisturise damp skin afterwards for a baby soft finish. The downside is that the results are only short term, giving skin a rather lovely sandpaper feel a couple of days later. It can also cause irritation especially in more sensitive areas such as the bikini line.
Hair Removal Cream
Hair removal cream -—Veet is generally the go to in this department—has developed a much less pungent smell in the last decade or so and has all the benefits of shaving in terms of being quick, easy and cheap. It is also better than a razor on sensitive areas such as the bikini line and upper lip with the effects probably lasting that little bit longer too. However, I find hair removal cream on big areas such as legs a bit longwinded, it can also cause irritation, so it is a good idea to do a little patch test if you haven’t used it before to ensure you don’t react.
Threading
Threading is generally used on the face and with a good beautician can be used to achieve absolutely flawless brows and eliminate downy hair to give a photoshop finish. It can be pretty uncomfortable at first but, like waxing, gets better with repetition and is generally quite cheap. Again, ensure you go to a good salon and tell the beautician what you wan, to avoid the tadpole brow look that Posh Spice sported in the late 90’s– I’ve been there, so you don’t have to. A good threader will cause little irritation and will calm the redness with some good old Aloe Vera gel.
Laser
Laser therapy or IPL is the don of hair removal with repeated treatments often achieving permanent results. It is also much more comfortable than waxing and more economical in the long run if you regularly pay for salon treatments. However, results can be dependent on your colouring as dark hair and pale skin generally sees the best results. However, the initial outlay for a good, trained practitioner is usually expensive. Laser is a great investment if you’re in a constant battle with fuzz but ensure you go to a reputable practice with properly qualified staff. There are often deals for multiple treatments but if you think it’s too good to be true, you’re probably right.
Good Salons
- Bonjour Belle on Alma Road – good sugaring/ threading and student discount - Ministry of Beauty on Cotham Hill – great hot wax
Waxing/Sugaring
Waxing on the other hand is not exactly a walk in the park in terms of pain, but this improves with repetition, as hair becomes thinner and sparser. Results last longer than shaving and if you have dark hair there is much less of a ‘shadow’, as waxing removes the hair follicle. A hot wax in a salon, with a trained beautician is the best way to go, as a bad wax can result in bruising, irritation and ingrown hairs, but this can often prove quite pricey to maintain on a regular basis. Sugaring uses a similar process but uses a paste of water, sugar and lemon instead of wax so is ideal for those with sensitive skin and a low pain threshold. DIY wax strips haven’t really improved since 1984 so unless you want to be sat on a cold bathroom floor for two hours hesitantly peeling off a gummy strip from a ‘delicate’ area, give them a miss.
or so long fur epitomised the glamour and prestige of high fashion, championed by the fur-loving, world-class sybarites designing deluxe collections for big brands. But as with anything, and especially with consumer-driven markets, fashion follows the people. Anti-fur activism is now as chic as the bold red lipstick look à la Marilyn Monroe. In the past year alone, Versace, Gucci, Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo have added their names to the —much more extensive—list of fur free brands. Thanks to the efforts of the grassroots animal rights organisation Surge, fur is now off the catwalks of London Fashion Week. Many will rejoice, some will dwell in the nostalgia of the old days of glamour, but everyone accepts that change has come. Sometimes our craving for change can unearth new and complex obstacles; the anti-politics of Brexit, and the avocado debate thrown at every newly-fledged vegan are fine examples of this need for change, blind to the consequences. The ‘Blue Planet Legacy’ proved that people have concern for the future of our planet, but is it possible to be environmentally conscious and ethical?
The petroleum-based synthetic fibres that dominate the faux fur scene ultimately end up outliving their owners, and according to the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF), use three times as much non-renewable energy as the production of the real deal. With fast fashion plaguing Western desires, our dependancy upon foreign oil is likely to increase, uprooting more and more conflicts of interest for the ‘ultra woke’ do-gooders of our generation. Of course, faux fur is a much better alternative as far as animal welfare is concerned, but too often we fail to recognise our place on the global stage and how we influence trends worldwide. The desire to replicate Western fashion capitals in the Asian market is strong; brands like Burberry are adored due to their British associations, despite the fact that most of it won’t even be made in Britain. Therefore, regardless of our well-placed intentions to elevate faux, countries which admire the Western fashion world, but don’t have the same attitudes towards ethics and animal welfare, may just end up buying the real thing. And this shows in the figures: the fur industry is still valued at $40 billion globally, far greater than its fake counterpart, as stated by the IFTF. I think faux fur somewhat embodies a much wider message; simply changing lanes doesn’t offer a quick fix. Ever since Naomi Campbell stripped off in that infamous PETA campaign back in 1994, sporting the slogan ‘We’d rather go naked than wear fur’, the anti-fur agenda has been growing. But to what avail? We seem to be living in an era where we’re constantly having to choose between ethics and the environment. Sometimes it’s hard to escape this ecological niche of destruction we humans have landed ourselves in. Good intention just doesn’t seem to be enough anymore, and we far too often find ourselves having to pick between the lesser of two evils. Thankfully, a third lane is emerging. Hyper-conscious customers can now flaunt their purchases guilt-free, with more and more brands releasing faux fur coats made from recycled plastics, and proving Stella McCartney’s promise that ‘luxury does not mean landfill’. But this earth-friendly, fair trade silver bullet comes at a cost; a faux fox coat from House of Fluff will set you back a moderate $1,275. Even your pets can get in on the action, because let’s be honest, which self-respecting pup wouldn’t want a Yeti faux fur and French Terry jacket with snap closure and cotton jersey lining?! Am I right, or am I right? Is faux fur therefore the Tesla of fashion, meant only for those privileged enough to afford the aftercare? It seems so to me. But one thing’s for sure, the decision of whether to buy faux or real, if any, this winter may leave you in a cold sweat.
Naomi Winter Second Year, Zoology
Billy Stockwell Second Year, Zoology
epigram / The Croft 19.11.2018
Deputy Editor Editor Amelia Edgell-Cole Rachel Evans
@EpigramTravel
Online Editor Amelia Shoebridge
@epigram_travel
Iceland can teach us how to be hygge he average winter temperature in Iceland is zero °C, which is approximately two degrees below my second-year house. It also has the lowest population density of any country in Europe, so it’s little surprise that snuggling up with a blanket in a cosy café is quite a popular pastime.
The 2018 World Happiness Report’s top five happiest countries in the world are Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland. Is this just because they are generally hygge countries? No. But it certainly has something to do with it. The English translation of hygge would be something along the lines of ‘cosiness’ or ‘homeliness’. Think warm lighting, blankets, comfort food, woolly jumpers and a log fire. However, this is only half the meaning of hygge. There isn’t really an English word for the other half, but think along the lines of laughing with a group of close friends you’ve known for ages or reminiscing about adventures with your significant other. Hygge is inherently the social state of being where you share your warmth and cosiness with others. As winter approaches and students begin to debate about wheth-
Wrap up warm on a hygge walk
Despite Iceland literally having the word ‘ice’ in its name, I underestimated how cold it was going to be. It was very, very cold. If there is an Icelandic equivalent of ‘brass monkeys’, then it was that. Nevertheless, it taught me an important lesson, which is that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. So if you’re planning a wintery walk up to the Suspension Bridge or exploring St Pauls, and I suggest you do, remember to wear your fluffiest hat, scarf and gloves. Going on a walk with no real purpose in mind is a really good way of practising mindfulness so try and work it into your weekly routine. Have a hygge spa day Balancing university, hobbies and a social life is incredibly difficult at the best of times. Sometimes you can forget to switch off and just relax. Icelanders often go to natural thermal spas to unwind, the most famous of which is the Blue Lagoon. Bristol may not have a naturally heated, visually stunning thermal lagoon, but a 15-minute train ride will get you to the historic and equally stunning Bath Spa. So when your student loan drops, grab a few friends and have a hygge spa day. Or just have a bath with a
candle or two and you can say you’ve basically been to Iceland. Get everyone together for a weekly dose of hygge A common complaint in student housing is that there isn’t much time to spend together. You may all be living within the same four walls, but never see each other, save for a quick greeting in the kitchen. Perhaps try and organise a weekly dose of hygge for everyone - perhaps a weekly movie night with blankets and popcorn or a communal flat meal. The most important thing is that you’re spending time together and if there is laughter and happiness, you’ve achieved a state of hygge. Unsplash / lightscape
That act of snuggling up, perhaps accompanied by a warm mug of cocoa or the flickering of a candle, can be considered hygge (pronounced hoo-gah). The word ‘hygge’ originates from the Norwegian word for ‘well-being’ and is generally associated with the Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland.
er to turn the heating on or not, it’s worth taking a few hygge tips from our European neighbours.
EEpigram / Tom Taylor
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Tom Taylor discusses how we can apply the Icelandic principles of hygge to our daily lives
Finding time to be hygge can be tricky, but it is so important. Anyone and everyone can be hygge and if you need inspiration, just look to Iceland.
Tom Taylor Deputy Features Editor
epigram / The Croft 19.11.2018
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Spotlight on... Bilbao
Brazil’s far-right forecast
Ever wanted to know more about the Basque country’s biggest city? Joe Gorecki sheds light on what Bilbao has to offer
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commonplace. I soon found myself saying ‘agur’ for goodbye, instead of ‘adiós’.
Epigram / Joe Gorecki
f you stand on Bilbao’s Iparraguirre Kalea and look down the street towards the Nervión river, you’ll notice something obscuring your view: a vast collection of metallic c u r v e s glistening in the sun, jutting out of the ground to demand your attention. This sweeping spaceage complex is the Museo Guggenheim - the Frank Gehrydesigned contemporary art gallery which has come to represent the city which, despite its modest size, packs an outsize cultural punch.
Walking around, you definitely get the feeling that the city has changed, with the the blending of old and new being integral to this reinvention process. The Guggenheim blends in with the river that made the city a historical trading hub; there’s an exciting new library and arts space housed within a grand former wine warehouse and one of the focal points of Bilbao’s old town is the distinctly modernist metro station carved into a hill. Bilbao shows you don’t have to choose between the past and the future - you can have both.
I spent plenty of time getting lost in the city’s old town, the Casco Viejo. While not actually that big, the labyrinthine medieval alleys create the impression of enormity. Just off one of these streets is the impressive square of the Plaza Nueva. Here you’ll find many bars specialising in pintxos, the Basque equivalent of tapas.
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In the rest of Spain, you’ll be given tapas when ordering drinks but in the Basque country you pay for pintxos. However, they are often miniature gastronomic creations of such incredible
Many cities are chasing this ‘Bilbao effect’, whereby a city attracts a cultural outpost to use as a springboard for redevelopment: most recently Dundee is hoping for this to happen with the opening of the V&A Dundee this past summer. While an exhibit at the city’s maritime museum goes to great pains to say what a transformative effect it had on this old port city, hit hard by recession in the 1980s, it is hard to say whether the Guggenheim
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Bilbao shows you don’t have to choose between the past and future: you can have both
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actually changed Bilbao, or whether it just gave the world a reason to visit and see what the biggest city in the Basque country had to offer.
Following the river up from the Casco Viejo you’re eventually faced with the Guggenheim again. The museum itself is an astonishing space. Once past the ticket desks, you enter a large atrium with platforms above your head, and windows many metres tall covering the space in light, through which you can catch a glimpse of the bridges crossing the Nervión, foregrounded by Jeff Koons’ slightly ostentatious ‘Flowers’. The building is as much a piece of art as the art inside. The first time I visited the museum, it provided welcome shelter from the rain: at certain times of the year, the weather can be decidedly English. But that just made me feel more welcome. Flickr / Thierry Llansades
Bilbao is a particular mix of Basque and Spanish. There are plenty of Basque national flags about, but similarly commonplace were flags saying ‘Refugees Welcome’ in Euskera, the Basque language. Within Spain, Basques have a reputation of being dour, but I found the opposite to be the case, feeling very welcome. The city is bilingual but even when speaking Spanish, words from Euskera are
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quality, that they work out as a bargain. Good food and drink are integral to Basque culture, with a culinary tradition to rival any of its Iberian neighbours and with a strong emphasis on seafood, owing to the Basque country’s maritime tradition. While the Basques share a liking for cider with Bristolians, the region’s wines are also an excellent insider tip, particularly when poured from a great height, as is local custom.
Flickr / AutumnAddition
For the unfamiliar the Basque country is the historic region facing the Bay of Biscay that straddles the Franco-Spanish border. The Basque culture and language predate the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. More recently its difference to the rest of Spain was expressed violently by the terrorist group ETA. The group formally disbanded earlier this year and the region is very keen to move on from this period of history. While Basque nationalists are a strong force in the region’s politics, there is significantly less appetite for independence from Spain than in Catalonia.
The museum itself is an astonishing place
Joe Gorecki Deputy Music Editor
Peter Borsada examines the election of far-right Jair Bolsonaro
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oters in Latin America’s largest democracy went to the polls last Sunday and elected Jair Bolsonaro president. Bolsonaro has long been a fixture of Brazilian politics, having served as a Federal Deputy in Brasilia since 1991, where he has had just as long a history of making incendiary and offensive statements. He once shouted at a female member of congress that he ‘wouldn’t rape you because you don’t deserve it’, he has openly pined for the military dictatorship of the 1960s and 70s, which tortured and ‘disappeared’ its leftwing critics, as well as claiming he would be incapable of loving a son if he were gay and that he would rather such a son be dead. This is the man to whom 55% of Brazilians entrusted the reins of power to on Sunday. How did we get here? Brazil’s politics has been a shambles since 2014 when the country entered into a deep recession. This sent inflation ballooning, cost the economy millions of jobs and left many of those still in employment unpaid for months on end. Compounding this came a political scandal with even more profound consequences. The so-called ‘Lava Jato’ investigation, which refers to the practice of running money laundering operations in cash-centered businesses such as car washes, uncovered an epic web of slush-funds and kickback operations. Roughly £4.5 billion was redirected from government contracts for state oil company Petrobras back into the hands of corrupt politicians from all factions, but especially implicated was the ruling Labour Party (PT) of then president Dilma Rouseff. Rouseff was impeached in 2016 under the pretext that she had manipulated statistics about the Brazilian economy. Brazilians have long despaired of their dysfunctional political system, where 30 or more different parties can be elected to Congress and where governing requires wrangling ideologically and geographically distant factions from across the massive country. Too often this has been achieved with bribes and illgotten money. Security concerns also weighed heavily in voters’ minds. Brazil’s murder rate is 30 times that of the UK, with certain areas of the country’s major cities more akin to war zones. It is no wonder Bolsonaro’s promises of heavy-handed crackdowns on crime appealed to a weary electorate. It is no exaggeration to say that Brazilians have elevated a fascist to high office, whose vague and extravagant promises seem unrealisable through democratic means. His vice president is a reservist general in the Brazilian army and his cabinet is likely to contain several more retired military generals. In the minds of many liberal Brazilians, the military coup that overthrew civilian rule in 1964 looms large. Ministerial posts are also likely to be handed to friends of agribusiness, whilst Bolsonaro’s public scepticism about climate change and flirtation with withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement have prompted worries that deforestation in the Amazon rainforest could be kicked into overdrive. Brazil’s current constitution is only 30 years old and in the current climate of corruption, economic hardship and political unrest it seems more fragile than ever before. If this important democracy collapses it will be a dark day for the world and it is extremely worrying that its custodian is a now a man who denigrates the norms of a free society. I spent the first half of this year living in Brazil and it is my belief that its people are warm and open-minded, whilst the country’s culture and music are internationally celebrated. These things will not change. But the prospect of another country embracing chauvinist nationalism is one that should sadden liberal-minded people everywhere.
Peter Borsadao Fourth Year, German & Portugese
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19.11.2018 epigram / The Croft
Sitting down with: BVDA (Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad)
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Amelia Shoebridge interviews BVDA committee members about their experience volunteering abroad
nline travel editor Amelia Shoebridge sits down with Eve Morrison, Rowena O’Donnell and Chrissy Lightowler to find out why all students should consider venturing further afield next summer.
to churches and women groups and set up communities to ensure that the positive work we carry out sustains long after we have returned home. Our programmes in Malawi and Ghana engage with social issues, such as teaching HIV awareness, running empowerment workshops and engaging with the youth both educationally and socially.
What is BVDA?
We are a student led charity/society, focused on responsible, sustainable volunteering operating since 2001. We have worked in India, Malawi, Uganda, Nepal and as of 2019, we will be in Ghana too.
What have volunteers enjoyed about the programmes?
Epigram / BVDA Unsplash / waldemarbrandt67w
We run as a non-profit, student-led organisation, we are transparent about where the money raised from volunteers goes - all of it is used to help the local communities and is donated to our partner charities operating in the field.
The satisfaction of living simply for a few months, cooking on fires and having the moon and sun as your source of light. Getting to know yourself more, feeling comfortable with challenges and over-coming barriers to reach success. You become a part of the local community, learn from each other and experiencing a culture so unlike your own is enrichingly insightful and gorgeous.
What projects do you work on? For all placements we work in teams of six people; in Uganda and Nepal our work is focused more on the construction side. Building roads and smoke pits is a main part of our mission in Nepal, whilst also teaching about water sanitation and implementing our WASH programmes.
If volunteering abroad sounds like your cup of chai tea, then go visit their website at www.bvda.org.uk where you will find the application forms and more information. The next information session is on November the 20th, in Wills Memorial. See the BVDA Facebook page for all the details.
Amelia Shoebridge Online Travel Editor
In Uganda we construct water sources, teach water purification
A Very Vegan Vacation
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Leah Martindale reveals the trials and tribuations of a vegan in transit
Epigram /Leah Martindale
love to travel. I save my limited pennies and cash in on airline Black Friday sales to globe-hop to my heart’s content. I love the culture, the heat, and the freedom from your daily life. However, one problem I often encounter is trying to find some vegan scran anywhere away from home.
Travel for food We travel for culture, for art, for sun and for fun, and there is nothing wrong with travelling for food. Places like Berlin,
HappyCow is your best friend If you do not have the HappyCow app, what are you doing? It’s a cheap app that will pull up all the vegetarian and vegan cafes, restaurants, and shops around you, as well as normal shops with good options, hints and tips. Put this article down, download the app, and find all the hidden gems right around your corner.
‘Senza formaggio’ ‘Vegan’ is not a term that carries well globally. ‘Vegetarian’ will get you a confused chuckle in more rural areas, let alone the idea of no cheese, eggs and honey. Learning little phrases in the local tongue will save your life. ‘Senza formaggio’ saved my life in Italy, because its (butchered) meaning is ‘without cheese’. ‘No cheese’ may land you with no added cheese, but a nice, rich, cheesy base, but ‘without cheese’ will get you a meal with it all taken out. Learning simple phrases in the language will save you a lot of hassle, as well as preventing you completely looking like an uncultured, touristy Benidorm extra. When we assume… In England, supermarket pasta will be 100% durum wheat, breads
Do as the locals do
Unsplash / Ella Olsson
After some gruelling travels in my past few years, and stumbling upon some absolute gems, I have compiled a few easy suggestions to quieten your grumbling tummies, whilst getting some Instagramworthy snaps. My experiences focus mainly on mainland Europe because, to be honest guys, I can’t afford to go further.
are vegan unless otherwise stated, and allergens are listed in bold. When you go to the home of pasta, expect egg pasta. In England, asking for a pizza without cheese will usually equal a vegan pizza. Abroad, you can never be so sure on dough fronts. If you are a hardline vegan, never be afraid to ask the obvious questions, because a curveball to you is someone else’s obvious answer.
Epigram / Lauren Jeffrey
Veganism is still a relatively new concept in some parts, and hunting down veggie snacks with your ‘French for Idiots’ pocket guide in hand is a challenge no-one at the travel agencies warns you about.
Amsterdam, and Barcelona are hot on the trend of veganism, and knowing this can help you to narrow down your choices when planning. A major influencer on me piggybacking my mum’s trip to Northern India was being under the impression that I’d be tripping over vegan food at every corner. (Spoiler alert, I wasn’t.) Also think timewise - Bruges’ Christmas Market was magical, but with Christmas Markets comes mince-pies, doughnuts, foot-long hot dogs, and chocolate fountains. Veganism was possible, but hardly fun.
One of the joys of travel is eating out. However, one of the most expensive and often disappointing elements of vegan travel is also eating out. The best tip I can give you is shopping and cooking for yourself. Hitting the greengrocers and rummaging through local shops can open your eyes to a whole world of holiday food, without the stress of asking your confused waiter to take out half the ingredients. At the end of the day though, don’t let food put you off your travels. If you can afford to go (financially and timewise) then seize the opportunity, and if push comes to shove, pocket some bread and jam from breakfast.
Leah Martindale Third Year Film & Television
Bristol SU Sponsored Content
MY RENT
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My Rent My Rights aims to increase your awareness of your rights as tenants. All too often students are exploited by landlords and are rushed into signing contracts without fully understanding the implications of them. :KHQ LW V \RXU ÀUVW WLPH UHQWLQJ DORQH LW FDQ EH HDV\ WR HQG up with a dodgy landlord or agree to something that's substandard. But you deserve better and at the very least you should know your rights. The campaign aims to get you thinking about the more technical side of renting: what to look out for in viewings, tenancy agreements and guarantors. We want to make sure you're aware of these things and we want to make sure that you get a fair deal. Some of you might already be thinking about your house for next year, but there's no rush. Here are the key dates to look out for over the next few weeks: Tuesday 4 December - Housing Fair Wednesday 5 December - Bristol SU Lettings Housing Release 7KH $FFRPPRGDWLRQ 2IÀFH KDYH DOUHDG\ UHOHDVHG WKHLU House Hunting guide, and you can check out our viewing checklist to support you with any property viewings that you might have booked. Find out more at bristolsu.org.uk/myrentmyrights
Vanessa Wilson, Student Living 2IĂ€FHU
Housing advice fair 2018 Tuesday 4 December, 11am - 4pm , Anson Rooms Staff from Bristol SU Lettings and the Accommodation 2IÀFH ZLOO EH RQ KDQG WR DQVZHU \RXU LQGLYLGXDO TXHULHV DW their stalls throughout the day. There will be a presentation held every half hour with essential information about your search, for example how, where, when to look and DGGUHVVLQJ WKH TXHVWLRQV \RX QHHG WR FRQVLGHU LQ RUGHU WR ÀQG WKH ULJKW SODFH There will be stands from a host of organisations to advise RQ DOO WKH RWKHU TXHVWLRQV \RX PD\ KDYH RQ LVVXHV VXFK DV JDV VDIHW\ ÀUH VDIHW\ GHSRVLW SURWHFWLRQ ELOOV OLYLQJ LQ the community, how to deal with problem landlords, what to do if you don't have a guarantor, contents insurance, funding issues and home security. In addition to Bristol SU Lettings there will be stalls from a number of other agencies and housing suppliers to give you an idea of what is available on the market.
Bristol SU Sponsored Content
WHAT'S ON This Girl Can Week 2018 Monday 19 November - Sunday 25 November
Together with SEH we're putting together a range of free activities and events for students who identify as female to take part in across the week. Whether you're sporty or not, there will be a rnage of taster sessions and opportunities to try something new. View the full timetable online. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sport/events/2018/tgc2018
Student Council, Tuesday 20th November, 6pm, Anson Rooms Want to improve your university experience? Come along to debate on ithe motions which are being brought to Student Council. Free pizza and lots of democracy!
Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil, Wednesday 21st November, 6:30pm, Anson Rooms
Proper Jokes Comedy Club Thursday 22nd November, 7:30pm, Anson Rooms Bar
The Trans Day of Remembrance is on 20th November. Please note that this event is a vigil for Transgender individuals worldwide who have lost their lives in this past year, and therefore the nature of the event may be upsetting for some.
The Proper Jokes Comedy Club continues with another monthly round up of the best new talent in comedy. Expect "an effortlessly assured act" (Steve Bennett, Chortle) from Gareth Richards, slick content from Michael Odewale (The Pleasance Comedy Reserve 2018 winner) and tongue-in-cheek comedy from duo Rebecca Shorrocks and Paul F Taylor, jointly known as Short & Curly.
Best of South West Showcase, Saturday Women in Politics, Thursday 29th 24th November, 7pm, Anson Rooms November, 8:30pm, Richmond The biggest A Cappella regional event of Building the year is back! A whopping 14 groups are coming together for one night only in a spectacular showcase.
In:Motion / Friendy Fires Live, Saturday 1st December, 9pm, Anson Rooms Friendly Fires return to tour some of the UK's best loved cities with some very special guests in tow.
An Evening with David Rudolf, Saturday 8th December, 7pm, Anson Rooms Join David Rudolf, the defense attorney IRU 0LFKDHO 3HWHUVRQ LQ WKH KLW 1HWĂ L[ documentary series The Staircase.
Join Bristol Liberal Democrat Students, BUCA, Bristol Labour Students and Bristol Green Soc for a expert panel discussing self-identifying women in politics, their H[SHULHQFHV LQ WKLV PDOH GRPLQDWHG ÀHOG and how we can all affect change.
For more information on all upcoming events see bristolsu.org.uk/events
Film & TV
Editor: Patrick Sullivan Online Editor: James Turnbull Deputy Editor: Luke Silverman Student Film Correspondent: Miles Jackson
‘BBC Porn’ would revolutionise sex education
Film & TV Editor
Epigram / Patrick Sullivan
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2016 NSPCC online survey with Middlesex University found 53 per cent of 11-16 year olds had watched sexually explicit material online, and 94 per cent of those had come across it by the age of 14. Looking at the 15-16 age range, who are at a key point of puberty and will be inevitably curious, over half of the 228 participants actively searched for and found porn. The survey produced a whole bunch of parameters around the topic, but the simple, unsurprising conclusion is that online porn is a clear presence in young people’s lives. The action taken by the government was to introduce a new law for age verification to enter such sites, which was supposed to be launched in April of this year but has since been indefinitely delayed. The problem is the internet is an exponentially expanding global domain, and such a tool, even if it finally launches, would have loopholes even as simple as a horny, tech savvy 15 year old pinching their dad’s credit card. The authorities believe they can banish porn in the same way as recreational drugs, but the internet is open access and intuitive to recent generations. Ignoring or denying its existence and the desire for it is, arguably like the effects of criminalising drugs, more harmful for the users. The difference between online pornography and drugs is the influence watching porn has on a less taboo aspect of life - our real sexual activity. 53 per cent of boys in the survey believed porn to be a realistic depiction of sex,
compared to 39 per cent of girls. When nearly 90 per cent of the most watched porn scenes contain violence towards women, is it a surprise that the young men in this society do not understand the importance of sexual consent? The influence of early sexual impressions being unregulated online content is what leads to a systemic culture of misogyny, sexual abuse, and rape. It is an obvious assumption that the disturbed and unrealistic subject matter of even mainstream online porn - not only violence, but incest, teachers/students, office relations, and hardcore sex activities - is a cause of unhealthy sexual habits, expectations, attitudes and behaviour later in life. But we must also hold sexual education in both schools and universities accountable for failing to fully acknowledge the role online porn plays in young people’s understanding of sex in the age of the internet. Experiences are variable: the specialist sexual consent workshop I had during Freshers’ Week (2015) used a great analogy
“No more computer viruses, no more dodgy webcam advertisements, no more exploitation and abuse of actresses”
of ‘drinking tea’, but sex-ed curriculums at primary and secondary schools are largely delivered by non-specialist teachers with biases and sensitivities around the topic. The curriculum is also undefined, with policies being written by individual schools, and parents can withdraw their children from receiving the classes. More tellingly for this discussion, I can’t recall an educational session ever explicitly mentioning the impact of learning about sex through a screen. The concept of filming sex itself is not harmful, it is the ideas that many online porn outlets perpetuate which are. Sex within the regular film or television industries is not wholly realistic nor responsible with its content - see some scenes of Game of Thrones (2011-) for an easy example - but at least they are being produced by culpable companies and subjected to certification. Is it outrageous to suggest a trustworthy content creator in the UK should partner with the sexual education curriculum to produce safe, free-to-access, online pornography for curious teens and self-loving adults alike? Certainly, risqué films, such as Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac series (2013), riled more conservative viewers with its explicit depiction of sex, but the central premise of the film is sex addiction. How are we supposed to understand the subject without seeing the act itself? If there was a government supported, responsible porn outlet on the internet which also published educational information, teenagers - and adults - would be more open and encouraged to discuss sexual misconceptions. There would be less hiding of our confusion, and society could confront what should be deemed acceptable for our viewing. Now, here’s where my entrepreneurial mind starts running at an uncontrollable pace. If, say, the BBC were to take ownership of this website, only the genuinely disturbed would trawl through the dark depths of the internet in search of masturbation inspiration because there would be a trusted source of
quality content. It could do the equivalent of what Spotify and Netflix did to Limewire. However unlike those streaming services - to ensure it is both responsible and educational and doesn’t follow the money driven, exploitative US porn industry - it should be free-to-view. No more computer viruses, no more dodgy webcam advertisements, no more exploitation and abuse of actresses. Instead, surrounding material on the website could include information and publish articles on a wide ranging set of issues underrepresented in standard education: relationships, STIs, periods, contraception methods and risks, body image, sexual consent, domestic abuse, safe experimentation, LGBTQ+ sex, transgender support, genital hygiene, general puberty, sexual harassment, the list could go on and on. The vast majority of the adult population who watch porn - 56 per cent watch porn at least occasionally as of the 2014 British sex survey - and the confused teenagers lacking dependable sex-ed in schools would all be implicitly learning more about these subjects in the same place as the trustworthy, high quality sexual streaming service they seek. Believe me - I realise the sheer ludicrousness of the concept. But the more time spent investigating problems caused by the influence of porn on young people’s sexual behaviours, the clearer it becomes that it cannot just be dismissed to oblivion. The education authorities need to acknowledge its existence and implement more revolutionary ways to align the effects with the principles of safe sex. Unsplash / Aaron Thomas
The UK response to teenagers being able to access online porn has been to dismiss it rather than seize the chance to teach safe sex practice Patrick Sullivan
Suspiria bursts the tension in explosive final act
Film & TV Editor 2017/18
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t is often said of horror films that they have ‘tension bubbling under the surface’. Upon sitting down to write this review, I was tempted to use some such phrase to describe Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria. After considering this for a moment, however, it became apparent that this would in no way do justice to the overwhelming sense of dread that permeates every facet of Guadagnino’s most recent offering as director. In fact, by the film’s climactic ending, there is little left beneath the surface. While Suspiria’s opening acts do thrive on a subtle and nagging sense of unease, this more delicate approach is all but
abandoned as the film progresses. What may have started as bubbling tension erupts into a cataclysmic furore in the final act. This approach will likely be derided by some as heavy-handed, even tasteless (The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw described the film’s ending as ‘orgiastic’). Despite this, there is a historical precedent for this approach to storytelling. Suspiria is a textbook – if somewhat overexaggerated – example of Aristotelian catharsis; the sense of tension and disquiet which characterises the film’s opening acts builds and builds as the film progresses until it can no longer be contained, and it forces its way to the surface in a bloody display of violence. Suspiria’s score, written and performed by Thom Yorke, perfectly consolidates this theme of tension and release. Yorke switches seamlessly between melancholic piano ballads - such as the film’s titletrack, ‘Suspirium’ - and dissonant, frantic electronica. This constant undulation, this constant tension and subsequent release, is masterfully moulded to fit the narrative
movement of the film. Even the film’s colour palette can be said to follow a similar progression. Set in 1970s Berlin, with the Berlin Wall looming in the background, the first 4 or 5 acts of the film the film is split into 6 titled acts - are visually muted and dull. A near constant stream of rain, dark greys and greens, and cement architecture make up the majority of the setting throughout the first ninety minutes of Suspiria. All this serves to do, however, is make the eventual explosion of scarlet at the film’s end all the more striking. The viewer is made aware of how dull the film’s
“Suspiria is a textbook [...] example of Aristotelian catharsis”
London Film Festival / Suspiria
Luca Guadagnino, director of Call Me By Your Name (2017), follows his breakout gay romance with a surprising horror Charlie Gearon
colour palette has been only at the film’s close, when these muted tones make way for an oppressive wash of vibrant reds. As with the narrative, and with the score, under-thesurface tension eventually subsides in favour of an all-out attack on the senses. This concept is what separates Suspiria from the films of David Lynch and Yorgos Lanthimos – two comparables for the film. Both those directors are committed to maintaining tension as the driving force behind their works. The climaxes of The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) or Blue Velvet (1986), while violent, leave the viewer purposefully perplexed. No such uncertainty is left at the end of Suspiria. The final act leaves everything on the table, and the viewer, while shaken, will leave the theatre with a sense of closure at the very least.
Suspiria is showing at Watershed from the 16-22 November
19.11.2018
epigram
Film & TV 35
Has #MeToo changed how actresses are treated when filming nude scenes?
The industry has been slammed for its sexual misconduct, but has the process on set improved? Alicia Wakeling Third Year, Film & TV
IMDb / Westworld / HBO
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ver a year ago, The New York Times published its article detailing decades of sexual abuse and misconduct allegedly carried out by Harvey Weinstein. A host of further allegations soon followed, aimed both at Weinstein and other prominent Hollywood figures, as well as the formation of the Time’s Up legal defence fund. In the wake of the ‘Weinstein Effect’ has come a further examination of the treatment of women in film and television - both on and off camera. While it is often numbers that grab the headlines - only 8 per cent of the top 100 films in 2017 were directed by women on-set practices haven’t been examined in the public eye beyond specific incidents of harassment and abuse. Sex and nude scenes often provide amusing stories on the publicity trail of a film or TV show, usually on how awkward the encounters are or the funny underwear they may require. However, it is no great leap to see the boundaries may be less defined and easily misinterpreted during the filming of such scenes. Naturally, discussion of traumatising experiences doesn’t tend to make it to the final interviews. Nevertheless, a quick Google search will reveal many stories of women participating in nude or sex scenes feeling uncomfortable or even violated. These are even more concerning when contrasted
with the male participant’s account, usually revealing a lack of awareness of how the woman felt. Of course, these scenes aren’t filmed with just the director - there’s a whole crew present - so you can understand how vulnerable the actors must feel. So has there been a change in the nature of nude scenes one year on from the Weinstein allegations? Certainly the sheer amount of nudity and sex performed by women, compared to men, has been called into question. With the increase in awareness and speaking out, practices are beginning to change - but note this is not yet a privilege all actors possess. Recently, Jennifer Lawrence spoke of her experiences filming Red Sparrow (2018). Talking extensively about the scenes beforehand meant she faced no surprises. Francis Lawrence, the film’s director, gave her the first look and final say on scenes,
“With the increase in awareness and speaking, practices are beginning to change”
suggesting she was afforded greater control, as well as high professionalism. Lawrence herself said: ‘[He] just looked at me like I had clothes, and then I just felt like I had clothes on.’ Similarly, Thandie Newton commented on her scenes with HBO series Westworld (2016-), during which crew were told to turn around and the director would hand her a robe immediately after. ‘The grace, and the consideration, and the sensitivity. On the one hand I was so appreciative. On the other hand I was horrified by what I had been through up until then. I had delayed horror.’ She chose not to elaborate on any specific horror and - as being spared the ordeal of forced exhibitionism was such a revelation to her - it may not bear thinking about. Given there seems to be increased awareness within the industry and individual cases of palpable change, are there any industry wide checks being put in place to ensure women’s safety and comfort? Intimacy Directors International (IDI) is a non-profit organisation, originally specialising in intimacy coordination. Experts perform a similar job to the stunt coordinator, planning sequences and training actors for intimate scenes. However, while their practice always included creating a safe atmosphere, the company is now providing an additional service to ensure good practice. Alicia Rodis, co-founder of IDI, was hired by HBO as an intimacy consultant for Emily Meade on The Deuce (2017-). Meade plays a prostitute, a role requiring multiple sex scenes, and she insisted on having someone to advocate on her behalf. ‘It’s not the things [she does] that are so radical. […] It’s just having someone other than yourself to think about it. It shouldn’t be a radical concept
to give someone something to cover their private parts. But to have someone do it at all - the gesture of it - it helps.’ The consultant’s role is expanding. They are a liaison between actors, directors, producers and crew, reviewing scripts, facilitating discussions about sex scenes, meeting individually with actors, being vigilant on set and advocating for comfort and consent if any changes are made on the day. HBO now hire intimacy consultants across the whole network - a welcome move given the high rates of sex and nudity in their shows. Hopefully this active approach to making the scenes more palatable and empowering for actors will become commonplace as the consequences of the #MeToo movement and the Weinstein scandal continue to take effect. Whether this progress translates to a greater awareness of the treatment of actors during nude or sex scenes beyond funny anecdotes remains to be seen, especially while more allegations are still being made and many areas of the industry are yet to change. But the scenes are an important measure of how women are seen and respected in and out of the workplace, due to their unique vulnerability. Sex and nudity are normal aspects of life which don’t need to be curtailed in order to protect the actors in their portrayal. The actors just need to be shown respect in the difficult work they do.
Missing our reviews? Find them all online in the Film & TV section of Epigram’s website!
Editors’ Picks
IMDb / Rook Films
IMDb / New Line Cinema
IMDb / Universal Pictures
London Film Festival / Call Me By Your Name
This week’s theme is Sex In Film as we mark the 68th anniversary of The Pill on 3 December
Patrick Sullivan
Luke Silverman
James Turnbull
Miles Jackson
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Call Me By Your Name (2017)
American Pie (1999)
Boogie Nights (1997)
The Duke of Burgundy (2014)
Partly based on The Dirk Diggler Story (1988), a short mockumentary that famed Hollywood wunderkind Paul Thomas Anderson made when he was still in high school, Boogie Nights charts the heady highs and soul-crushing lows of the so-called ‘Golden Age of Porn’ in unforgettable fashion. What sticks in your memory isn’t the sexual content but the universal nature of the story and the characters’ journeys, which are full of the same success and excess as any other. Of course, the film has plenty to say about the industry it portrays, as its central characters gradually lose their humanity at the hands of a world that comes to view them as mere props performing for their pleasure, not actors creating works of art. Word of warning: don’t watch this one with your parents.
In a timeless, Gothic world inhabited entirely by women, a biology professor whose home is plastered with dead butterflies employs one of her students as a maid. The two are lovers, meeting each week for a rigid role-play of master and servant. Despite its playfully surreal premise, Peter Strickland’s The Duke of Burgundy is one of the few films ever made to non-judgmentally depict the intricacies of a BDSM relationship. It’s a sharply funny pas-de-deux of tricksy power dynamics making a sadomasochistic, but ultimately consensual, relationship feel genuinely sincere and endearing. Strickland suffuses the film in eye-popping imagery whilst the weirdness is buoyed by two sensitive performances from Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara D’Anna. An unforgettable presentation of erotic love.
The sex in this beautiful, coming of age film, American Pie is a classic Hollywood coming of directed by Luca Guadagnino, is not limited age film about a group of five guys in high school by heteronormative Hollywood standards, and who, with the exception of Stifler (Seann William ventures vastly in all directions with its curious Scott), make a pact to lose their virginity before teen protagonist. Timothée Chalamet is Elio, the their graduation. Jason Biggs leads the cast as Jim Italian son of an academic who falls in love with his Levenstein. Despite the comedic elements of the film, dad’s American research assistant, Oliver (Hammer), it does speak a lot about the expectations of sex by Alicia Wakeling but also explores his sexuality with childhood teens. There are certainly clichéd moments in the Second Year,forFilm & Television friend, Marzia, and even uses a peach as a tool for film: instance the jock, Oz (Chris Klein), learning masturbation. The film is set in stunning Northern to be kind and sensitive. Whilst the film could easily Italy, and is a gorgeous, charming rendition of be accused of being a relatively uninspired one, it is the hopeless pursuit of love which is equally always cheerful and, for the less mature audiences, overwhelming and heartbreaking in parts. Chalamet, is definitely funny. But, most importantly, the film Armie Hammer, and Michael Stuhlbarg put in three is not mean - it makes no effort to alienate any part tremendous turns, pivotal in the simmering, sun of teen society and the characters come across as soaked, emotional core of Call Me By Your Name. sweet and lovable.
epigram 19.11.2018
Film & TV 36
Sex onscreen is not necessarily gratuitous IMDb / The Spy Who Loved Me / MGM
Raunchy scenes are used for both bait and art in films and TV series Ethan Luc Epigram Chief Proofreader
W
atching Naked Attraction (2016-) with my flatmates, I was struck by how far the public has come in terms of sex on TV. Still, there is a nagging feeling that sex is only used in film and TV because, well, it sells. There are many on-screen sex scenes which seem to do little more than provide some eye candy for its audience. Game of Thrones (2011-), for instance, has been criticised for its ‘excessive’ nudity and prurience. Similarly, there are multiple examples of actresses who have declined to appear naked in a film at the insistence of a particularly profit-driven producer or director: Amber Heard is a recent case. Sex scenes often appear suddenly or are so cliche in a specific genre, it becomes a token part of the plot. In The Matrix Reloaded (2003), who could forget when Keanu Reeves
sleeps with Carrie Anne Moss’s Trinity in a scene obviously inserted for middle-aged women. Then there’s James Bond in every Bond film ever. And those two horny college kids in any horror slasher movie. There are however some brilliant examples of sex in film. Often, it is because the film is centred on sexual education or liberation. The clearest example for this is Alfonso Cuaron’s brilliant Y Tu Mamá También (2001). Opening with a unflinchingly earthy sex scene, the film confidently examines the role sex plays in the minds of two cocksure adolescents. Through the numerous explicit scenes, the audience accompanies these young men and the worldly Luisa (Maribel Verdu) as they make their way to ‘Heaven’s
“There is a nagging feeling that sex is only used in film and TV because, well, it sells”
Mouth’, learning all the while about love and sex. ‘You have to make the clitoris your best friend,’ one says to the other. ‘What kind of friend is always hiding?’ his friend replies. Every time they have sex, we feel the same surge of excitement these teenagers are feeling, the same passion many of us feel at some point in our lives. The scenes are not pornographic; they are bemusing reminders of our pasts and emblems of a powerful human desire. Elsewhere, sex scenes are used to bring the marginalised into the fold. The Handmaiden (2016), where a young woman is hired by a conman to help him seduce a lady-nearer-to-goddess, follows 2010’s Shutter Island-esque plotline, a story of twists and turns. An ingenious psychological thriller, adapted from Sarah Waters’ 2002 novel, Fingersmith, it is fascinating enough, even without the explicitness. But the visually stunning eroticism makes it. Filmed in three parts, with shifting perspectives, the audience is privy to the same sex scene from different, absorbing angles. One critic has pointed out that their 69ing mirrors the film’s obsession with doubling. The raunchy lesbianism, much like
Carol (2015) before it, offers fresh insight into the passions enjoyed in all sorts of relationships. A subplot involving an old pervert’s collection of erotica reads more like an attack of pornography rather than aimless hedonism. And finally, there’s Anomalisa (2015). Charlie Kaufman’s most recent film evokes the mechanical nature of modern-day companionship, platonic and sexual. There, two puppets have sex in authentic detail, a scene which is meant to be felt. That scene took six months to animate. Sex in film is understandably viewed with scepticism. They are often unnecessary, ruining the rapport the rest of the film has so painstakingly built up with its audience. Many times they have become a function of the genre, appearing only to fulfil what is perceived as a prerequisite. Two kids don’t need to be having sex in a forest before they’re killed. There doesn’t need to be a hundred sex scenes in Game of Thrones for us to know that it exists. James Bond is a serial womaniser, we get it. There are however films where sex is an artistic, measured and crucial window into the humanity of its characters. They just don’t come too often.
Changing attitudes to the greatest human desire have been captured over time Leah Martindale Third Year, Film
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e’ve all been there. Sat with the family, crisps on the table, telly on. Suddenly, someone starts grunting - it’s coming. They’re coming. When we think of sexuality in film it usually falls into two categories: uncomfortable encounters, or porn. Upon first exploration of eroticism in cinema, it may feel like a slurry of near-pornographic films form a niche and perverse subculture surrounded by a cinema as crisp, clean, and respectable as its voyeuristic audience. Rolling Stone has listed 30 films which blur the lines between cinema and pornography, spanning 40 years between 1973 and 2013 which highlight the role of sex in films of that time. Pre-1960s cinema seems, in retrospect, embarrassingly prudish. The twitching curtains and Sims style, threehugs-and-they’re-married relationships which tantalised our grandparents may seem out-of-touch and desperately naive to a contemporary audience, but sex was not invented this century, and as always, cinema was at the forefront. Cinema has always been tangled in the scandals of the bedroom. From the widely accredited first filmographic pornography, Le Coucher de la Mariée (1896), to motion picture vaudevillian icon Mae West’s historic eight day imprisonment in 1927 - charged with ‘obscenity and corrupting the morals of youth’ for her stage production, simply titled Sex - the stars, shows, and form of cinema have been consistently sexy. Precode Hollywood cinema - the brief and debauched period between the inception of sound cinema to the mainstream in 1929 and the 1934 introduction of the Motion Picture
Production Code censorship guidelines - was known for its provocative content. The selfaware titles Laughing Sinners (1931), The Devil is Driving (1932) and Merrily We Go To Hell (1932) are tantalising, raunchy, and all over sexual. From Magic Mike (2012) to The House Bunny (2008), Last Tango in Paris (1972) to The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), it’s clear that sex and sexuality in cinema has prevailed. The latter two were banned in certain countries like Spain and South Korea for the explicitness of their sexual content. Contemporary cinema is familiar with sexuality in both mainstream and indie cinema, which influences the misconception that previous eras of screen has been frigid. However, it is arguable whether current cinema is more or less sexual than earlier eras. Cinema moved from an overtly and unabashed sexualised medium to one that demonised the sexual, causing subgenres and moral panics, and making sinners of the shaggers. One argument for cinema’s latest lack of sexiness is, of course, the censorship. The sexuality of Pre-code was due to a lack of regulation on the moving image. With age ratings came parameters for cinema which could limit mainstream success. Too sexy and it may not get shown, limiting your audience to 18+, flies-twitching weirdos. With a board of stifled bureaucrats dictating your film’s future, it makes sense for the content to be as under-the-bed-sheets as possible. Another argument is that without the element of shock, these elements can no longer be passed as artistry. If art is about pushing boundaries and breaking the rules, it is hardly revolutionary in 2018 to show two people bumping butts. In the same way that the ankle-length skirts and courtship periods of their grandparents seemed foreign and naive to our parents’ generation, so might the sexuality of earlier cinema seem tame to a generation bred on more explicit and easily accessible material. The sexuality underlying aspects of classical cinema seems
a baffling contradiction to the respectability, religious sensibilities and conservative views of old. While certain classics like Brief Encounter (1945) and The Philadelphia Story (1940) offer Love Island-esque love-at-thirdsight romances, art has always shown the complexity of the human condition. The puritanical views of British and - after a certain period - North American cinema pale in comparison to the experimental and irrepressible European filmmaking sensibilities. German expressionism like La Belle et la Bête (1946) created worlds at once theatrical and nightmarish, completely unseen before in English language cinema; the French New Wave cinema of Les Quatre Cents Coups (1959) et al influenced the artistry of film for the rest of time; European cinema was also the pioneer in sexuality. Belle de Jour (1967) is an award-winning, ferocious French tour-de-force of sexual fantasies, wrapped up in respectability politics and expensive furs, which has divided critics for decades. The Italian Taviani brothers’ remarkable Padre Padrone (1977) portrayed ideas of class and self-discovery using visceral, disturbing scenes of a young man’s formative sexual experiences in bestiality. Another potential cause for the decline of overt sexuality is the rise of sexual health education. According to the World Health Organisation, the HIV epidemic sparked in the ‘80s has claimed over 35 million people to date, proving the dangers of unprotected sex. As a result, unruly sexuality in cinema seems unethical. Films, such as Parting Glances (1986), explore sexuality in the peak of the AIDS outbreak, and are revolutionary and heartbreaking counterpoints to a culture of possibly fatally influential sexual cinema. The 1960 invention of the contraceptive pill gave women autonomy over their sexuality, before the revolutionary 1983 San Francisco gay rights campaign for free condoms for everyone later curbed sexual health outbreaks. With the change in attitudes, cinema was also revolutionised. As much as
IMDb/ Belle de Jour / Paris Film Production
The history of sex in film: from 1896 to now
“Cinema moved from an overtly and unabashed sexualised medium to one that demonised the sexual, [...] making sinners of the shaggers”
I love the debauchery and desires of classical cinema, real world context was a necessary step. With the inception of film criticism and academic study, catalysed by François Truffaut and his peers in the ‘60s, came a rush of theorisation and discovery about the inherent sexualisation of the screen. Miriam Hansen’s exploration of spectatorship in media consumption and Laura Mulvey’s theories on scopophilia are two of the most prominent discussions of the inherent sexuality of cinema. In short, the content is not all that can make film sexual. The use of visual direction and the heterosexual ‘male gaze’ create inherent and subconscious sexual biases in visual art. Once the inherent sexuality of the cinematic medium is acknowledged, the entire history of cinema is cast in a different - red - light. It is easy to mistake current cinema for being sexier than the history it has left behind. Once we shirk the idea that we are the generation most in touch with our sexuality, we discover a world of cinema that will shake and shock you. There is a reason, after all, that our grandparents had so many children.
Arts
epigram 19.11.2018
@epigramarts
Editor: Alina Young Online Editor: Avital Carno Deputy Editors: Anna Trafford & Gabi Spiro
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The Art Blog / Skylar Chui
On the subtle art of the meme Charlie Harrison explores meta-memes, the art of a truly dank meme and the unifying power of the meme community Charlie Harrison Masters, Global Political Economy
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currently full of these memes. However, to many, these are just low-effort normie memes (even though they can be surprisingly clever). Why are they dismissed like this? Well, let’s look at the other type of meme: the truly dank ones. I would define the main kind of humour among dank memes as meta. Meta-humour is king among memes. In a generation that is so oversaturated with media and popular culture, there is something gratifying about media which directly comments on itself. For many memes, this is precisely where the humour is derived - it is not so much the joke itself, but the mere fact that a joke is being made out of this at all. They are not witty; rather, they make fun of the idea of being witty. Take, for instance, Star Wars prequel memes - often creating jokes out of the most incredibly minor and random lines in the film series.
ou know those private jokes you have with your friends? Where all you need to do is vaguely reference them to have everyone in heaps of laughter? These in-jokes can last for years and can evolve over time, bending back in on themselves and mutating so far from the original joke that they become utterly unrecognisable. Now, thanks to the wonder of the internet, these in-jokes span millions of people and are immune to the constraints of geography, ethnicity, age or, indeed, anything. These are memes. I imagine you’ve heard of them. But what is the art of memes? What does it mean to be truly dank? Let’s find out. Something key to a memes’ survivability is its adaptability. Consider the Drake meme. This meme has been around since 2015—
a long time in meme terms, but it still gets used regularly because of how easily the meme can be re-used to create new jokes. For some memes, this replicability is enough to keep them circulating. However, most memes rise and then fall from grace rapidly. Why? Let us first consider the average life cycle of a meme. Many of the dankest memes originate on 4chan, Reddit, or other internet forums. These memes then spread to other sites. Alternatively, the meme may be a silly song or amusing public video and humour is derived from referencing the source in some way. ‘All Star’ by Smash Mouth is a perfect example. However, the consequence of a rise in popularity is that memes may be declared “normified”, i.e., they have been adopted by “normal” people. This is the beginning of the end of a meme and tends to happen as soon as the meme hits Facebook. But why is this? And what is it that is so offensive about normification? To answer these questions, I will consider two types of memes: relatable and meta. Some of the most popular memes are the relatable ones. Here, the humour derives from the meme referring to something that you can instantly recognise and relate to, with a picture that captures whatever that feeling is. No doubt your Facebook timeline is
“To be truly dank is to be weird enough to stay out of normification, while remaining adaptable enough to never get old”
me.me
The funny thing is not the joke itself, it is that a joke was made out of something so arbitrary. Also, that the memes rely on intimate knowledge of the Star Wars universe creates an effective barrier against normification, as well as parodying overly devoted fandoms who desperately pick apart their chosen franchise. Similarly, consider the surprisingly popular Trebuchet memes. These memes are based around a devoted support for trebuchets as the superior siege weapon. Not only is the subject matter patently
ridiculous, fitting in with our idea of parodying jokes, but it can even be read as a comment on our society and the way that people attach themselves to and then mindlessly support arbitrary groups and identities. It should now be clearer why normification would ruin these memes. Their humour is derived from commenting on established forms of humour and society in general. If these memes are normified, however, then they become the established form of humour and thus lose their impact. And there we have it: to be truly dank is to be weird enough to stay out of normification, while remaining adaptable enough to never get old. I’ve barely scratched the surface of all that memes can be, but if there’s one thing to take from this, it’s that it doesn’t matter a bit what kind of memes you like. Something that holds all memes together is the sense of community. Whether that is community in the sense of knowing the dankest, most underground memes, in sharing in our love for a franchise, or in sharing in our insecurities and faults as human beings, memes really do bring people together. Some may hate that one of our most popular forms of entertainment as a generation is something that is so immensely bizarre, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. With that in mind, let’s close this off with a nice wholesome meme:
19.11.2018 epigram
Arts 39
Navigating the divide: High vs. Low Discussing stigmas around artforms and who decides what ‘great’ art is, Tilly Bryson interrogates the problems of categorising art in culture Youtube / Ariel Bissett
Tilly Bryson First Year, French & Spanish
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rt can be an exclusive world and ends up isolating many of us as a result. A concept of apparently ‘high’ and ‘low’ art has developed, whether it be a differentiation between art forms or certain pieces of art in the same domain. I am questioning if I am qualified to comment on any kind of art, as I certainly don’t know a lot about its history and am no expert on classical music, but also, isn’t that exactly why I should write about it? It appears that there is a stigma around some kinds of art: examples of literary genres and poetry spring to mind. However, there are more non-traditional art forms, including street art, that I don’t always think of when someone mentions art. Even between artists in the realm of street art, criticism arises about stencilling, as it can be looked down on as an easier method. Banksy’s popularity caused a certain amount of controversy because of this and contributed to tension between artists in that sphere. Additionally, in recent years, poetry has experienced a lot of change and this is
discussed in a documentary on YouTube called #poetry. Content on YouTube is generally considered ‘low’ art in itself (if it’s even thought of as a form of art), making it an appropriate place for a piece about elitism in poetry. It explores biases against ‘Instagram poets’ and as I watched Ariel Bissett’s video, it brought a couple of questions to mind – how did a distinction arise between arts, in terms or being ‘high’ and ‘low’ and for what purpose? Arguably, Charles Dickens, has been viewed as both high and low over time – he became a classic author, a household name over the years. He wanted his writing to be accessible to all, meaning that he published some of his work in a newspaper and deliberately used a style of literature that
many people could understand. This begs the question of how the audience influences if art is considered high or low. Art aimed at or for young people is not taken as seriously as it should be, for the sole reason of it being intended for adolescents. It’s often seen as immature and people can sometimes consider themselves as above all of it. Along with high and low art comes the idea of a ‘great’ artist, as in one of the greats, creating art that is the highest of all. Consequently, being a struggling artist is frequently glorified, with the concept of suffering for art, for example in Whiplash (2014). If taken one step further, do we believe that, without difficult experiences, people can create real art? Implicit in this is the notion that all of
“I often wonder how art can make an audience feel at the same time both clever and stupid”
it is somehow ‘worth it’, that hardships are insignificant in comparison to being praised as a successful artist. But, in reality, during many artists’ lives, their art goes largely unappreciated, as was, for example, the case of Van Gogh. As a result, I am sceptical of the concept of, according to some people’s definition, great art and what constitutes it. It bleeds into our life as an audience member, glorifying over-exerting ourselves in order to feel that we are achieving. Finally, I often wonder how art can make an audience feel at the same time both clever and stupid, a kind of paradoxical situation. Simply, we can feel intelligent through the act of consuming art, being able to say that you’re reading a book that you feel you ‘should’ be - according to whose criteria? - even if you’re forcing yourself to do so. Conversely, it can make you feel stupid when, perhaps, an author constantly references abstract and complex concepts, drawing attention to their book-smarts and your apparent lack thereof. I wonder if anyone feels that high art is made for them, that they are the intended audience. If I discuss high art, I cringe a bit at myself. I feel as if I’m adopting a false intelligence, being a fake and pretentious version of myself. Sometimes I am acutely jealous of characters, despite the fact that they’re fictional. For example, Elio in Call Me by Your Name gives off an air of effortless knowledge and appears to know almost everything about classics. I thought that art was only for people like him, but deep down, I know that it’s not.
Reimagining the faces of WW1 Bryony Chellew on Broken Faces at Centrespace gallery, a timely show that portrays the lasting disfigurements of WW1 soldiers
“[you are] quite literally being stared at by the horrifying realities of a war”
of the man on whom this sculpture was based reveals the harrowing extent of the disfigurements that he was left with, seemingly to live with on his own. As Healey points out in his exhibition notes, after the First World War soldiers with facial injuries were not invited to the Remembrance Day parades in England. He went on to bemoan the fact that it was ‘100 years later and sadly things have not changed very much’. The portrait in ‘figure 8’ presents a hollow where the subject’s nose should be, and their mouth is lent little to no detail. It is simply a single black line, scrawled on as if it were an afterthought, which perhaps is a commentary on the significance of the surgical treatments and the lack of care that these soldiers were provided with. Another portrait, which was worked
Epigram / Bryony Chellew
Epigram / Bryony Chellew
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atthew Healey is a Bristol-based artist, whose exhibition Broken Faces, the product of a series of sculptures, paintings and photo collage, is showing at the tucked-away Centerspace gallery until the 14th November. The exhibition depicts studies of facial reconstruction surgery performed on injured survivors of the First World War, detailing the severely disfigured profiles that they were subsequently left to live with. In many of the paintings, the subjects’ now-superfluous physical features have been left blank, or a block colour. The detail and focus is undoubtedly pointed towards the facial disfigurements, whilst aspects such as the ears, neck and sometimes portions of the face are left a single colour - maybe to symbolise the now void and irreparable nature of these features. The ears, perhaps, are blank to imply that, in an echo of their absence of detail, they hear nothing, they contain nothing. ‘Figure 13’ depicts a stretch of flesh connecting the right side of the nose to the place where the neck and shoulder meet, whilst the absence of lips reveal the teeth perpetually. The inclusion of the photograph
Epigram / Bryony Chellew
Bryony Chellew Third Year, English
into a sculpture as well, shows only a few centimetres of skin separating the right eye from caving in to join the cavernous hole where the mouth and nose evidently once were, in a horrifyingly Dalton Trumbo-esque profile. Their tongue is still visible from the outside. Healey’s sculptures are - perhaps deliberately - made to be ever so slightly smaller than the skull size of an average male adult, making them appear small and childlike. As well as lending emphasis to the exhibition’s harrowing nature, this also serves as a grave reminder that boys as young as 14 were enlisted in the War, and were subjected to the horrors that one is surrounded by in the exhibition. Upon reaching out to Healey later via email, he admitted that he worries that
‘no one cares’ - a fear that is alarmingly pertinent when considering the little to no care provided for the survivors of war, who are often forced to rely on charity work alone to cope with the mental and physical repercussions of their service. Befittingly, Healey ends his exhibition with a line from Wilfred Owen as he quotes Horace; ‘The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori’ And wherever you might fall on the spectrum of the politics of war, it is difficult not to agree with Owen - and Healey - when you leave the exhibition, quite literally being stared at by the horrifying realities of a war that seems to refuse to acknowledge those whom survived it and whom still carry its burden on their faces every day.
epigram 19.11.2018
40 Arts
Stepping into eighteenth century Bristol through ‘Birdcage Walk’ Lara King reviews Helen Dunmore’s final novel, ‘Birdcage Walk’, which revists the political unrest bubbling within daily life in 1790 Bristol Lara King Second Year, English Epigram / Alina Young
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he year is 1790. As radicals hail the triumph of democracy, French revolutionaries are assessing the guillotine as a method of execution. Meanwhile, in Bristol, over 400 miles from Paris, plans for a new genteel suburb are underway on Clifton Hill. Entrepreneurs wanted to make their mark on the Somerset landscape, at a time when Clifton village was famous only as the home of poet Ann Yearsley, ‘The Milkmaid of Bristol’. But the events across the Channel set these plans into tumult; with no-one willing to buy in the uncertain years following the Revolution, the early terraces were left uninhabited to decay. The builders were left completely ruined
Gleeson, survive, carefully preserved in the Bristol Central Library. Fawkes is the mother of the novel’s heroine Lizzie, who marries the builder of a Clifton Terrace, Diner Tradevan. She is a wonderful presence in the book, guiding her through the isolation of Diner’s abuse. Unlike the Birdcage Walk of Clifton, Dunmore’s novel is by no means quiet or peaceful. It is about the reverberations of political unrest into daily life, as Lizzie is forced to choose between her husband’s harsh pragmatism that abhors indulgent talk of revolution and the ideological dreaming of her mother and friends about equality. And, it is about Lizzie’s personal struggle with the confusion of violence and abuse. The book scintillates with Gothic elements, and Lizzie’s character development is deeply compelling. Helen Dunmore in her last novel does
what she has done so masterfully before in ‘The Siege’, unearthing forgotten voices of history. To paraphrase Fawkes’ epitaph, Dunmore’s novels ‘remain our inheritance’, to read and re-read.
Instagram / amyandbooks
Unsplash / marc-ruaix
“Unlike the Birdcage Walk of Clifton, Dunmore’s novel is by no means quiet or peaceful”
financially and there were many suicides, according to Helen Dunmore. What remains of these turbulent times, asks Helen Dunmore, a Bristol resident since childhood, in her last novel? What is left of the angst about revolution and the acceleration towards war with France, the worries of the people who built Clifton and the pain of their bankruptcies? Dunmore finds that what remains is a noticeable quiet, captured in a peaceful graveyard, Birdcage Walk, with which the novel shares its name. She decides to find the voices in the silence, and is inspired by the tombstone of Julia Fawkes, with the inscription, ‘her words remain our inheritance’. Fawkes was a writer on hereditary privilege, although all of her work has been lost. Her words are silent to posterity, whilst the pamphlets of her husband, Augustus
What’s on: the best events, exhibitions and shows of the fortnight Theatre
Poetry
Photography
Olivia Jones: ‘Tephra: Order in the Dust’ Spike Island 17 Nov - 2 Dec Taking inspiration from Italo Calvino’s Cosmicomic stories, visual artist Olivia Jones presents works from her evolving series Tephra: Order in the Dust, exploring entropy and order in ash clouds. It forms part of the ‘Test Space’ exhibitions at Spike Island, where artists based at the gallery have a chance to exhibit new works and test ideas. It is an exciting space to see emerging contemporary art.
Ballet
English National Ballet: Swan Lake The Hippodrome 27 Nov - 1 Dec This timeless ballet classic comes to Bristol. Watch the romance of Prince Siegfried’s love for Swan Queen Odette and hear the tones of Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music, as performed by the English National Ballet Philharmonic. Though perhaps ballet isn’t for the average student, ‘Swan Lake’ is a great introduction for a first-time viewer.
Spike Island / Olivia Jones
Facebook / Loco Klub
The Wardrobe Theatre
In Your Face Martin Parr Foundation 26 Sep - 22 Dec The exhibition collates Paul Trevor’s striking close-up street photography in the City of London and around Brick Lane, shot between 1977 and 1992. The radical and dynamic photography is rooted in the political backdrop of Thatcherism, as he tries to tell the story of contemporary economics through the candid faces of his subjects.
Art
That’s What She Said Loco Klub 20 Nov This second installation of That’s What She Said nights features iconic and emerging female writers from Bristol and beyond, with a mix of performance, poetry, storytelling, slam and more. There’s a headline slot for Bristol poetry staple Malaika Kegode amongst other talented women and Open Mic slots for anyone wanting to get involved.
Unsplash
Martin Parr Fdn. / Paul Trevor
Oedipuss in Boots Wardrobe Theatre 22 Nov - 20 Jan A merging of Greek tragedy and pantomime, ‘Oedipuss in Boots’ tracks the story of royal kitten Oedipuss, who is cursed with the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. This dark comedy from the Wardrobe Theatre promises puppetry, dancing, music and unforgettable drama, as an antiChristmas show.
Music
Editor: Alexia Kirov Deputy: Joe Gorecki Online Editor: Bethany Marris
epigram 19.11.2018
Email: music.epigram@gmail.com
‘I feel good being myself this time’ In Conversation with Miles Kane Epigram talks to Miles Kane about genre, Frank Ocean and his new music video ‘Albatross’ Bethany Marris Online Music Editor
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‘For Kane, the combination of time away and becoming acquainted with a new band has brought ‘freshness and excitement to it all.’
Flickr / aurélien.
hatting with Miles Kane was exactly how you’d imagine chatting with Miles Kane to be. For want of a better phrase, he comes across as down to earth: a creative spirit pursuing a lifelong zeal for music and indie-rock culture. Linguistically unfiltered and free from pretentiousness, in fifteen minutes we squeezed in discussion of everything from Jamie T and Lana Del Rey, to his fashion icons and the exuberance of European crowds. Kane released his third studio album Coup de Grace on the 10th August, five years after his last solo release, Don’t Forget Who You Are, was swimming in the charts . Despite a lousy wave of critical reception, Kane affirms that getting back to showcasing his solo material has been an ‘enjoyable and positive experience’, going so far in stating that it’s been his ‘favourite year’ in the industry. Kane highlights that prior to Coup de Grace, both his last creative endeavour and subsequent performing stint occurred with the 2016 drop of Everything You’ve Come to Expect, from The Last Shadow Puppets: the band he fronts alongside indie-rock BHNOCH Alex Turner. For Kane, the combination of ‘time away’ and becoming acquainted with a new band has brought ‘freshness and excitement to it all’. Miles proceeds to give an honest assessment of the way in which age has allowed his confidence to grow, stating ‘I’m a bit older now, I feel good coming out in
myself this time’. It wouldn’t be too bold to suggest that Coup de Grace is reflective of this elevated mood, with dazzlingly bold artwork in shades of cerise and midnight-blue. Kane wanted this album art to have a ‘late night sort of vibe like the Ryan Gosling film Drive’, expressing his disregard for conventionality as he claims: ‘I’d rather this than a fucking photo of me outside a fucking brick wall.’ Additionally, Kane laces tracks such as ‘Silverscreen’- a song tackling ‘all that nonsense in hollywood’- and ‘Something To Rely On’ with punky bravado, while the record’s snappy opener, ‘Too Little Too Late’, carries echoes of 80’s synth pop under chaotic drums and imposing electric guitar. That said, we shouldn’t get too lost in the new characteristic energy of many of Miles’ rhythms, as he is keen to highlight the ‘melancholic lyrics’ that contradict them. Perhaps a little wishy-washy in response, Kane claimed to be ‘just writing about feelings that I was feeling at the time…the things you go through in life and stuff’, however, the story behind his writing process got juicer as we discussed recent collaborations with Lana Del Rey and Jamie T. On his relationship with London based singer-songwriter Jamie T, Kane revealed that they’ve ‘known each other for over 10 years’, explaining that once the sharing of ideas began, ‘we couldn’t really stop...we got into an amazing groove and each song became better than the previous’. The collaboration with Lana, however, came about as the pair happened to ‘bump into’ her in Los Angeles; nonchalantly explaining that as a result they ‘put her on the chorus’ of the first single ‘Loaded’. Alongside music, integral to Miles Kane’s brand is his style. As one of GQs ‘50 best dressed men’, Kane makes no secret of the fact that his contemporary musical interests have orchestrated his fashion choices from a young age. ‘When you’re a kid you’re looking at bands, old and new. You wanna grow your hair and you wanna shave your hair’, said
Miles, and continued that he primarily draws inspiration from the apparel of icons such as ‘The Beatles, James Brown and Paul Weller’. As the conversation drew to a close, Miles reflected upon his memorable summer touring new material in Europe. Despite ‘anxiety’ over crowd turnout at matinee settimes, the artist was proud that he and his band ‘absolutely smashed it’, crediting ‘fair play’ to the audiences for bringing ‘that certain energy’ and ‘all getting lit at three
in the afternoon’. Paris and Transmission Festival were cited as particularly ‘rocking’ destinations. Whilst Kane feels that his sound is ‘built for a larger audience’, his overriding agenda isn’t to drastically scale his following. Humbly, Kane expresses excitement for his upcoming, UK academy-size tour, concluding that ultimately, he just loves performing; ‘whether that’s in a pub or an arena, as long as I’m just doing it, that will make me happy’.
Review/ Sons of Kemet @ The Fleece ‘A dazzling example of talent, passion and diligence’ Bethany Marris Online Music Editor
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olitical, organic and immersive. Through fierce rhythms and masterly instrumentation, tribal jazz band Sons of Kemet put on a unique show at The Fleece. Despite forming over half a decade ago, the booming success of the group’s most recent release, Your Queen Is A Reptile, has resulted in an excited wave
of critical acclamation and numerous sellout shows. Being shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in September has no-doubt expanded the platform of the London-based quartet, with saxophonist and frontman Shabaka Hutchings acknowledging to NME that a swelled following has allowed their ‘message’ to have ‘increased reach’. Over the years, there’s been much talk of the ‘token jazz band’ as a developing trend amongst Mercury-prize contestants. Despite the inherently jazzy current that flows through their music, it was acknowledged that the group’s dynamic tribal infusions, and potent political agenda set them far apart from this stereotype. So, what exactly is this ‘message’?
YQIAR’s opening track ‘My Queen Is Ada Eastman’, kicked off the show with vigour. An hour and a half of relentless, abstract musicianship ensued before Sons Of Kemet took a well-deserved breather, as Hutchings took to the mic to enlighten the crowd on the significance of the LP’s song titles. ‘We sat down and thought about ten great female leaders, and decided that they need to articulate what values we want our female leaders to have’. From ‘Angela Davis’ to ‘Doreen Lawrence’, each track is loaded with historical and sentimental value. Shabaka proceeded to express that ‘the past is always being nuanced to account for voices that are not always heard’, asking that we ‘be vulnerable’ to the fact that the history we understand is not always objective.
‘Each song is loaded with historical and sentimental value.’
This is communicated through the powerful spoken-word that tops select instrumentals on record, yet there was nothing detrimental about the live absence of this. The mutual respect between band members both as musicians and performers truly manifests on stage. In moments of zealous drumming, Hutchings and Cross (tuba) stepped back to reveal their percussive counterparts. Similarly, as Cross performed solo interludes, Tom Skinner and Eddie Hick (drums) rose from their stools to appreciate his rich, decadent melodies. A dazzling example of talent, passion and diligence: may Sons of Kemet continue to ride their thoroughly deserved wave of success.
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epigram 19.11.2018
Music
Review/ Natalie Prass @ The Fleece
Joe Gorecki
Deputy Music Editor
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atalie Prass’ self-titled album was one of 2015’s most interesting releases. The album evoked the lost world of the early 1970s singersongwriter, containing an array of gorgeous musical arrangements. Her return this summer with The Future and the Past lost some of the ornate intricacies of her prior sound but instead picked up a groove and highlighted some slicker songwriting. Prass’ show at the Fleece, despite only being supported by a four-piece backing band, reflected her new found bolstered musicality and sense of groove. Prass has chosen to move her material in a more jazz and funk-filled direction, bringing out some latent grooves in her back catalogue to great effect. Right from the first song ‘Hot for the Mountain’, Prass mesmerises the audience with her powerhouse vocal performance, exuding a sheer effortlessness. During the song her vocals were occasionally lost in the mix but no matter: just watching her you were still one hundred per cent involved in the performance she
gave. Then, a glimpse emerged that this will be no ordinary show. The intensity in which ‘The Fire’ builds, with its heavily percussive chorus and confident end, leaves the audience in its wake. Much of the highlight of her show was her reinterpretation of older material with her backing band. This showed how Prass has since massively improved as a performer. ‘Your Fool’ demonstrated a new precision within her phrasing which came across as almost Ella Fitzgerald-esque. She also manages to improve on her debut’s stand-out track ‘Bird of Prey’, raising the tempo and creating such an atmosphere that leaves you believing it was always a solid funk track. It was as much her band’s night as her own as they put in a powerhouse performance. Much of the move to a funk-filled direction was contingent upon the rhythm section and they gave so much of a performance at Bristol’s Fleece. What is remarkable is the ability to make such dramatic changes but then present them so naturally, so convincingly that you wonder why the original versions weren’t like that. ‘Why Don’t You Believe in Me’ built and built culminating in an unexpected drum solo by Eric Slick that generated such an electric atmosphere that it has all but ruined the studio version, a much straighter ballad. Also made stronger was the topical solidarity anthem ‘Sisters’ in which chorus rhythms were amplified, in turn amplifying the call to arms message. The set closed with an unreleased track filled with some slick afrobeat rhythms and then after some negotiation with the
Epigram / Joe Gorecki
‘2018 meets 1978 as Natalie Prass dazzled the Fleece, presenting a funk-filled interpretation of her back catalogue’
crowd, she settled on finishing with album closer ‘It Is You’. While it makes for a good album ender on her self-titled release, it’s presented there a little too saccharine with a recollection of Disney that jars, spoiling the atmosphere. Here however, supported just by Jacob Ungerleider on keys, the song becomes a terrific new jazz standard, bringing out
‘Prass mesmerises with her powerhouse vocal performance’
Prass’ sheer vocal abilities in an enchanting atmosphere interspersed with pockets of gorgeous improvisation. This ends the gig on a perfect note with Natalie Prass highlighting the unexpected delight of the set. At the Fleece she proved you don’t need layers of instruments to make an excellent gig: less can be so much more.
Review/ Jen Cloher @ Grain Barge
Guy Marcham Music Sub-Editor
An intimate evening of honest storytelling and soothing melancholy folk: Australian DIY indie singer-songwriter, Jen Cloher provides a smattering of warmth and consolation on a cold and biting Bristol winters day. During one of Cloher’s often humorous live segues, the singer-songwriter jokingly remarked about a not so secret Bristolian love of socially congregating upon moored barges. While, the infamous Thekla may instantly spring to mind, the retired industrial vessel named the Grain Barge, which permanently resides in Hotwells, is another unique venue which boasts an impeccable live music selection. As an array of multi-coloured ribbons and glistening fairy lights dangled from the venue’s ceiling and the river delicately rippled through the portholes, the stage and mood was set for intimate evening of ethereal folk and heart rendering stories. Following the beautifully melancholic folk of fellow Milk! Records Label mate, The
Flickr / kingArthur_aus
‘An evening of true solace and poignant reflection, Jen Cloher provides a smattering of warmth and consolation’
Finks, Jen Cloher quickly shuffled on stage accompanied just by her trusty acoustic guitar. While, Cloher’s last tour of the UK saw her perform with her very own backing band, accompanied by her partner and fellow Australian DIY indie icon, Courtney Barnett, on rhythm guitar. This UK run showcased a more intimate and insular side to Cloher’s music, exposing her raw and naked song writing prowess as well as her ability to transport an audience into a deep hushed and awe-inspired silence. Cloher was somewhat spellbinding, performing an emotionally driven set with an innate sense of honesty and wisdom, as if Cloher had invited not fans but friends to see her play. Throughout the evening, Cloher played a selection of songs from her arresting, vivid and emotionally vulnerable latest self-titled album. Stand out tracks such as ‘Regional Echo’ and ‘Sensory Memory’ were made even more reflective and contemplative when performed solo with just Cloher’s voice and effortlessly tantalising fingerpicking. Older tracks such as ‘David Bowie Eyes’ from Cloher’s 2013 album In Blood Memory, as well as ‘Mothers Desk’ off 2009’s Hidden Hands, were given an extra sense of emotional weight as a result of Cloher’s keenness to tell stories of the thought processes behind her song writing. The latter was a particularly raw and tear-jerking moment, as Cloher reminisced about her mother’s interest in writing before she was unfortunately diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
A particular highlight from Cloher’s Bristol gig was the song, ‘Fear is Like A Forest’. The track, which has since been covered by Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile on their collaborative album, Lotta Sea Lice, represented a darker and more brooding side to Cloher’s music. On that very track, Cloher sings that ‘love is like a promise that you’ll never be alone’. The theme of physical and emotional distance as echoed by Cloher, crops up
‘Cloher’s live experience reflects a sense of community and family’
frequently throughout her back catalogue. Yet, Cloher’s live experience reflects a sense of community and family instead of physical and emotional distance. Cloher’s countless witty stories and emotionally honest songs allow the audience to truly delve into her life and mind, connecting on a personal level and creating a natural musical bond. An evening of true solace and poignant reflection.
19.11.2018 epigram
Music 43
SW sound/ The Shuks Epigram / Alexia Kirov
Alexia Kirov Music Editor
The Shuks
will find yourself with an enduring wish that they were. Though The Lanes stage is small, The Shuks’ presence and the atmosphere they created were both much bigger - you will be hearing more from this band in the coming months.
Who are they? Jack Lawther (vocals/guitar) Tom Hunt (guitar) Ciara Bains (bass) Katya Pischick 19/11/18 (drums)
For fans of:
Where can you see them next? 19/11/18 @ Moles [Bath] 07/12/18 @ The Louisiana (Supporting Haze)
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he Shuks are a four-piece, DIY band from Bath. Over the past year or so, they have played a number of gigs in both their hometown and Bristol, as well as in the capital. Having already been tipped by the likes of BBC Introducing, their sound - grungy postpunk brightened by hints of dreamy indie rock - has been steadily spreading to more and more ears. The band celebrated the release of their most recent single, ‘Running’, with a launch at The Lanes, their first headline gig in Bristol. ‘Running’ is self-described by the band as their ‘oldest and most beloved tune’, and closed their 8 track set.
With Hunt’s riffs reminiscent of Butlerera Suede, live, ‘Running’ felt even more vitalised than on record. But such a comparison is not to say that The Shuks music is derivative - there is plenty of scope in their sound for them to be band making their own mark. Despite playing without their usual drummer, The Shuks’ first Bristol headline set was very tight. From opening song, ‘Spent’, it was clear that this band have an indefatigable energy about them live. Most of their tracks are as yet unreleased - so, unfortunately, for now, you can’t go and re-listen to all of them when you get home. But if you see The Shuks live, you
Epigram / Alexia Kirov
Post-punk/grunge/indie rock especially Suede, Pixies etc.
‘There is plenty of scope in their sound for them to be a band making their own mark’
Review/ Mt. Joy @ The Louisiana Ellen Kinsey
Fourth Year, Film and French
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t. Joy, a quintet decked in plaid, baseball caps and hailing from Philadelphia, USA brought rootsy Americana to chilly Bristol. The intimate surroundings of The Louisiana was the perfect stage for the unpretentious band. It felt more like a jam session in the back garden with their relaxed conversation and audience participation. To make the experience more intimate and inclusive, the audience was united due to the band suffering many technical hitches with the sound monitors. From lead man, Matt Quinn getting mildly electrocuted by the microphone throughout the gig, to the room being filled with static,
‘Their lyrical storytelling and chill vibe turns the experience into a campfire sing-song’
cracklings speakers; matched with the technical glitch light-show that made for a spooky, atmospheric, Halloween special. Mt. Joy are fairly new to the music scene, with their patent folk-rock sound. They smashed it with their well-ordered set-list wherein if closing your eyes and slipping into a daydream, their chosen songs could reflect an all-American road trip. Their tracks resonating from their battered secondhand car at a gas station, surrounded by the alpine landscape. An illusory roadtrip soundtrack with resonances of the jazzy sweet south, rock’n’roll melodies of the immense urban cities and the folky rustic songs of American country and suburbia. Their lyrical storytelling, chill vibe and unpretentiousness turns the experience into a campfire sing-song with increased
participation from the crowd. Introducing the rhythm of the night with Matt Quinn on vocals, Sam Cooper, Michael Byrnes on bass, Sotiris Eliopoulos on drums, and Jackie Miclau on the keyboard was the soulful rock anthem ‘Big Foot’, followed by the folksy ‘Jenny Jenkins’ and comical ‘Astrovan’. My personal favourite, ‘Dirty Love’ followed, which delivered a nice change of pace. With Quinn’s scratchy deep vocals almost reflecting The Black Keys’ lead singer Dan Auerbach, he matched the passion that can be heard on the recorded version. Opening with the ukulele which transfigured into a progressively more intense drum beat that escalates the sentiment of the song. Continuing with the heartstring-tugging musical theme, the
band performed ‘I’m Your Wreck’ and political anthem and crowd pleaser ‘Sheep’. The self-titled song ‘Mt. Joy’ and ‘Younger Days’ were next with their sweet riffage and beat. We were presented a lovely mélange of the jazzy ‘Julia’ and classic ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’, for their sultry penultimate song. The band ended with their most famous sing-along foot-stomping tune ‘Silver Lining’, Mt. Joy’s charming performance and the venue’s atmosphere certainly engendered a sensory gig. Their lyrical storytelling and plucky melodies place them in the same category as perhaps The Lumineers and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. Bursting with a genuine heartiness that American folk-indie bands are so often associated, Mt. Joy are not only good storytellers but charismatic performers.
Review/ The Church @ The Fleece
Dylan Morley
Second Year, History
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potent combination of energetic, considered and quirky, The Church’s frontman Steve Kilbey immersed himself in an evolving set that began emphatically with the high tempo 1988 hit ‘Destination’. The band, appropriately dressed in an array of funky Western shirts, and wasted no time in delving into their catalogue of atmospheric, occasionally ballad orientated, yet predominantly rock ‘n’ roll setlist. The Fleece, charmingly intimate yet with a subtle aura of prestige, was packed full of local faithful who had waited all these decades for The Church’s first ever gig in
Bristol. A nostalgic trip through times gone by, it at times felt like a 1980s time capsule from the forgotten heyday of live authentic rock music. The Church seized the night, expertly blending melodic acoustic chords with relentless electric strumming, in old classics such as ‘Under The Milky Way’ and ‘Almost with You’. The Church’s faith, however, in recent album Man Woman Life Death Infinity from 2017 was evident in their setlist and justified by a receptive crowd. In new song ‘Another Century’, Kilbey’s talkative narrative helped display the fluid parameters of their genre; combining what sounded like the eerie chords of Radiohead’s Kid A and a classic Pink Floyd concept track.
The musical expertise demonstrated by the Australian rock stalwarts was on show throughout. The versatile Jeffrey Cain, on both guitar and keys, assisted the talented percussionist and producer Tim Knowles in providing a masterful rhythm that built the foundations of this engaging set. This impressive performance was accentuated when English born frontman Steve Kilbey handed over his bass guitar to Cain after the opening four songs. This freed him up, transforming his focused and considered persona into an eye-catching performance with dramatic gesticulations reminiscent of an improvised theatre production. The Church raised ‘big’ questions over the transition of life, memories and wistful
‘This fourpiece deserve their status as veterans of the psychedelic rock scene’
regret. Kilbey used his mellow, deep-toned vocals to sing “I’m thinking it’s all a dream / And I’ll wake up and be gone” from 2014 song ‘Miami’, reflecting a deeper meaning to their message. This was balanced with regular quips between songs; one time joking he was the “Only person to ever come to Bristol and get sweaty”, much to the delight of the local enthusiasts. The Church finished emphatically, each member immersed in their separate crescendo of instrumental prowess, yet beautifully intertwined in melody and rhythm. This ever-evolving Australian fourpiece deserve their status as accomplished veterans of the psychedelic rock scene, and their long overdue trip to Bristol was an emphatic success.
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Puzzles Nature Crossword
Editor: Ruby Rosenthal
epigram
puzzles@epigram.org.uk If you need any help, contact the editor by email or through social media
Spot the difference! See if you can find the 7 differences between these two pictures... You could also use this as a mindfulness exercise and colour it in!
Across
Down
2. Rose, Daisy, Tulip (6) 4. Nut of an oak tree (5) 6. Area of grassland (6) 7. The natural home of a plant or animal (7) 9. Large gourd (7) 11. The variety of plant and animal life in the world (12) 12. To let the ____ grow around your feet is to delay doing chores (5) 17. Capable of being decomposed e.g. by bacteria (13) 19. An ornamental aquatic plant with large floating leaves and showy flowers (5, 4) 20. Something that is not artificial (7) 21. A garden specially for the culture, study and exhibition of special plants (9, 6) 22. To hold out an ___ branch shows you want to make peace (5) 23. Gardener’s glass shed (10)
1. A sparsely settled place away from the city (5) 3. Spotted beetle (8) 5. A glossy, hard, brown edible nut (8) 8. Plant life. Derived from Latin flos meaning ‘flower’ (5) 10. The action of clearing a wide area of trees (13) 13. Highest mountain in Wales (7) 14. A large, open space often in the centre of the room commonly used in winter (9) 15. The art, science, and craft of tending woodlands (8) 16.Contaminated:rendered unwholesome(8) 18. Gather a ripened crop (7)
Sudoku Fill the empty squares with numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column and 3x3 box.
Logic Puzzle
Solutions will be posted online at: epigram.org.uk/tag/puzzles facebook.com/epigrampaper If you would like to join the Puzzles Team, email editor@epigram.org.uk
19.11.2018
46 Sport
epigram 19.11.2018
Last-gasp Lloyd winner sends UBAFC top Daniel Dyson Second year, Politics & French
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dramatic last-minute goal from centre-back Bertie Lloyd gave Bristol 1s a 2-1 victory against Cardiff Met 2s and moved them level on points at the top of Men’s Western 1A football league. After an unexpected defeat in their first game of the season, Bristol had been closer to their best in the next two games, taking four points from a possible six, and hoped to continue their form at home to winless Cardiff Met on Wednesday 31 October. Bristol dominated the game’s opening stages, passing the ball with composure whilst Cardiff Met hardly had a touch. On the rare occasions when they did, they resorted to long balls, easily dealt with by Bristol. Bristol were dreadfully unlucky not to be ahead just before the half-hour mark when Jasper Harlington was put through for a one-on-one but had a shot well saved. Matt Hinks and Will Gale then both had closerange shots blocked by desperate Cardiff Met defenders. The home side remained firmly on top and didn’t have to wait long for their next chance as a minute later, some great work
from Gale freed striker Toby Thomas, whose shot hit the side-netting. Ten minutes later, dazzling footwork from Harlington on the right-wing opened up space for a shot, forcing the keeper into a low save. A clever training-ground routine from the resulting corner resulted in captain Jack Haire’s shot being blocked. The best moment of the first-half came minutes before the break. Thomas turned brilliantly near the half-way line, made his way into the box, weaving through four Cardiff Met players in the process, before shooting narrowly wide at the near post. A well-saved Gale strike from distance brought an end to a goalless first half in which Bristol would have been disappointed not to have scored, given their numerous, unconverted chances and the fact that their goalkeeper, Ross Cusdin, was rarely troubled. However, early in the second half, Bristol gave away a free-kick on the edge of their box which was fired into the corner to give Cardiff Met a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute, with their first meaningful effort on goal. Bristol’s manager, Alan Tyers, wasted no time in reacting to going behind and brought off centre-back, Gabriel Smith for Finn Racadio, who formed a back-three with Lloyd and Josh Norris, whilst right-back Harry Cruttenden was pushed up the pitch alongside Ed Mahoney and Haire. The tactical switch signalled Bristol’s attacking intent and they nearly found an equaliser after an hour when Thomas had a one-on-one saved by the keeper before the follow-up was somehow cleared off the line
Epigram/ Daniel Dyson
A 96th minute goal propelled the dominant Men’s 1s to joint-top of their division after four games
“The final whistle was met with wild celebrations from the Bristol faithful”
by Cardiff Met. The home side’s persistence paid off three minutes later when Thomas blocked the goalkeeper’s clearance and the ball fell to Hinks, who calmly slotted the ball away to level the game at 1-1. Immediately after, Bristol almost grabbed a second as a bending shot from Cruttenden was saved, shortly before the bright Toby Thomas was replaced by Chris Speed. The only noteworthy event of the next fifteen minutes came courtesy of man of the match Norris, when he brought the ball out from defence and performed a sensational roulette to get past two Cardiff Met players. However, Bristol’s end product was again lacking. With ten minutes left and Bristol unable to break through Cardiff Met’s defence, Gale was replaced by centre-back Ollie Pooler and the towering Bertie Lloyd was sent up front in search of the three points needed to ensure the league’s leading pack didn’t stretch too
far away at the top of the table. Despite this change, a late winner seemed unlikely since Cardiff Met defended with all eleven men behind the ball and restricted Bristol to half-chances as the game entered stoppage time. Just as all hope seemed lost, the ball was worked to Hinks on the right-wing, whose floated cross into the box was met by Lloyd. Bullying the defender beneath him, he fired a header beyond the helpless keeper and into the back of the net. The 96th minute winner was the game’s last action and the final whistle was met with wild celebrations from the Bristol faithful as dozens stormed onto the pitch. The hero Lloyd remained grounded afterwards and told Epigram, ‘I’m just happy to get the three points. The lads are staying humble and focused at the moment’ , although he joked that, ‘it was a great feeling to score again, maybe I should be up top more often!’
Water polo women win in emphatic debut In their first game of the season, the Bristol women’s water polo 1s smash 17 past Birmingham Charlotte Greenwood Deputy Sport Editor
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“The professionalism and drive to perform until the final buzzer, made for an impressive spectator experience”
an impressive spectator experience. With Birmingham’s best player receiving three exclusions and therefore sent out for the rest of the game, Bristol took the final score of an impressive 17 goals to 3 in the close of the final quarter. This excitement for their successful debut was clear when captain Lauren Harrison commented that ‘it was a great start to the season considering it was the first time we had played as a team together with our new freshers.’ This cohesion of new athletes alongside previous athletes at Bristol has clearly proven to be an effective advantage, as evident in Harrison’s expression that there is a renewed ‘strength across the board which will hopefully make a
positive impact on the whole team.’ Similarly, Bristol’s goalkeeper, Elizabeth Lee, said that despite this being the first time this team had played together, ‘it’s like we’ve been playing as a squad for years’, reinforcing this element of pride in performance to their gaming debut. With a win under their belt in home water, the first team have their second game away on Sunday 11th November against Cambridge University. As I witnessed in this match, support goes a long way, so do come along. Hopefully Bristol can take their new excitement to challenge the team from Cambridge and return with yet another maroon success!
Epigam / Emily Dickson
dislocated shoulder, four fastpaced quarters and 17 goals for the home side; it’s no large claim that the Bristol Women’s first game was an exciting start to their season. Coming off last season, placing second in the league, the 1sts took a huge 17-3 lead over their midlands rivals from Birmingham. With a new influx of athletes in their first year at Bristol, this was, for many of them, their first game performing at a university-level standard. The first quarter saw Bristol take an easy lead, showing a clear and successful structure to yield an impressive five goals in just eight minutes. With the vast support from fellow athletes and local supporters on the balcony, the centre was filled with noise both in and off the water. Heading into the second quarter, the noise in the water grew as Birmingham attempted to close the gap, firing in three goals towards the end of the quarter. Their frustration was clear when Birmingham called for a timeout, immediately scoring a goal which was later disallowed. Bristol took advantage of this frenzy, sticking to their well-practiced succession of passes; ending the quarter with a 12-3 lead. Entering the final two quarters of the game, Bristol harnessed the advantages
of facing a weaker opposition, infiltrating Birmingham’s long and loopy shots with impressive marking and focused aims with immediate success. From this point on, their lead remained unchallenged and the calls from the balcony to try a ‘back-shot’ cemented the inevitability of their eventual success. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the game was that, despite their healthy lead, the Women’s 1s never compromised on their effort – there was always a sense that something could change. Whether this has been a lesson learnt from previous seasons I am unsure, but the professionalism and drive to perform until the final buzzer, made for
Sport 47
19.11.2018 epigram
Improving UBWRFC defeated by rivals Despite a home loss, Bristol’s rugby girls showed considerable fight against powerful opponents Cardiff Met
UoB Results 07/11/2018 Badminton: Women’s 1s 6-2 Cardiff 1s Men’s 1s 2-6 Cardiff Met 1s
Ed Hanton
Lucy Hall Club Captain
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ontagues vs Capulets. Scar vs Mufasa. Bristol vs Cardiff Met. It’s an age old rivalry. One that has left both teams bruised, beaten and thirsty for more. Three years ago, when the club was still small, our 1s beat their 2s and there were tears of joy. On this cold, blustery night we were on our home turf and we were gritted teeth ready to take on the girls in red. At the first kick Cardiff Met took the ball and quickly headed over the try line. The score was 5-0 up to the away team. Old UBWRFC may have let their heads drop but they came back fighting. In response: quick balls through the hands, resetting, barrelling through Cardiff Met’s defence, and then Brooke Clarke—her quick and powerful legs running a line so hard she crumbled their defence and soared over the line. Then a battle commenced. UBWRFC’s defence was impenetrable. If ever there was a break, Lucy Andrews’ deadly tackles would stop them in their tracks. Jenny Herring was vicious at turning over the ball and as
usual, Emily Codd, the smallest member of the team, backed herself - and rightly so - to tackle the strongest girls on the pitch. As expected, it was a physical game. Our style is usually quick and fit, run around the contact. Not tonight; a fire was lit within our girls and everyone put in a shift. Everyone was getting low, wrapping their arms and hanging on tight. An especially impressive moment was when Megan Husband was pirouetted over someone’s shoulders and got up fighting. At half time the score was tied. The improvement in our club and our first team has been exponential. A year ago, we would never have been able to even contend for a try, and here we were, neck and neck going into the second half. When we restarted, fingers had cooled
“A year ago, we would never have been able to even contend for a try, and here we are tying at half time
slightly and one dodgy scrum created a tenminute gap that gave our girls little respite in the freezing wind. Still, they fought on. The scrums were powerful, Cecil Lock the stalwart hooker in the midst of it and our feisty flankers racing to the first break down. Unfortunately, Cardiff Met’s physicality got the better of us in the end, and they got over the line three times more to score the win. However, after the game, Captain Nina Webb, usually only fearsome on the rugby pitch, got teary as she recounted the history against Cardiff Met. It was a loss that was not taken lightly, and when we are on their turf, UBWRFC will be ready to hit them as hard as they hit us. Bristol’s next fixtures see the women travel to Hartpury and Swansea, as they hope to make up for the frustrating loss.
Basketball: Bournemouth 1s 102-49 Women’s 1s Bournemouth 1s 103-54 Men’s 1s Hockey: Exeter 1s 2-2 Women’s 1s Exeter 1s 2-1 Men’s 1s Lacrosse: Exeter 1s 13-4 Women’s 1s Men’s 1s 11-3 Bath 1s Netball: UWE 1s 49-40 Bristol 1s Rugby Union: Women’s 1s 5-22 Cardiff Met 1s Men’s 1s 7-20 Hartpury 2s Tennis: Swansea 1s 0-12 Women’s 1s Men’s 1s 10-2 Exeter 3s Volleyball: East London 3-0 Women’s 1s East London 3-0 Men’s 1s
Cuda snag overtime victory against Solent The Bristol Barracuda sealed a dramatic late 1312 win over Southampton Solent in their season opener Barney Stone Deputy Online Sport Editor Flickr/ Luke Simcock
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ooking beyond a superficial examination of Bristol Barracuda’s 2017/18 campaign, there was evidently cause for optimism; despite frustration, this period of rebuilding had precipitated a more cohesive and balanced roster, with talent to be found in abundance. With Simon Preston now at the helm as Head Coach, having recently returned from his stint at the Exeter Demons, a renewed sense of optimism was palpable as the opening game loomed large. Up first, was a trip down to the South coast to face the Southampton Solent Redhawks; given their pedigree as a Division 1 side, the Redhawks had been touted as early challengers to the 2A South West title this year and constituted a stern test for this Bristol side. If the events of the first half were anything to go by, the game was set to be a cagey affair. Indeed, during the early exchanges, any assumption of superiority throughout the Redhawks side-line was soon muted; Bristol’s defence quickly asserted its authority on the fixture, restricting the opposition’s offensive thrust and ensuring the punt team were kept busy. With Matt Pullen snatching an interception on debut, and Jonny Read forcing a fumble early on, defensive turnovers crippled the Redhawks as Bristol dominated. However, despite two trips to the red zone for the Cuda offence
during the first half, in part driven by a gritty performance from running-back Hugh Parker, resilient stands from the Redhawks themselves frustrated Bristol. Indeed, on two occasions Bristol failed to convert, bearing down on goal; the scoreboard thus failed to reflect the run of play. As the first half closed at 0-0, it became increasingly clear that a moment of magic was required to unlock a dogged Redhawks team. With both teams exchanging possession regularly throughout the second half, it all boiled down to the 4th quarter for the game to explode into life. With 30 seconds remaining, a fumbled snap was pounced upon in the end zone by veteran Oli McDowell, in doing so notching up 6 points for the Cuda on a previously desolate scoreboard. The game was seemingly in the bag, as Bristol went
“A renewed sense of optimism was palpable as the opening game loomed large”
up 6-0. However, this jubilance was soon quashed; remarkably, with the game all but dead and buried, the resulting kick off was returned for a touchdown by the Redhawks’ special teams unit. With the chance to win the game, the point after attempt was missed, and at 6-6, the teams were headed into overtime. With both teams failing to capitalise during their opening possession of overtime, the game was grasped by the scruff of the neck by quarterback Jim ‘Bumble’ PowellCullingford; delivering a tantalising pass to James Cook, the latter burst past the Redhawks’ secondary in for the touchdown. With Ed Lunnon nailing the extra point, Cuda now led 13-6 as the Redhawks were left with one last opportunity to match the Bristol offence. Given the to-and-fro nature
of the game, it is perhaps unsurprising that in another moment of magic, the Redhawks’ quarterback delivered a strike that found its way into the end zone. At 13-12, the game was on a knife edge. In a bold move to seal the victory, the Redhawks’ side-line opted for a two-point conversion attempt; amidst the drama, a miscommunication between the quarterback and running-back led to a fumble which fell into the grateful arms of the Cuda defenders. The game was over, finishing 13-12, as the Bristol Barracuda advanced to 1-0 for the season. With aspirations to reach the play-offs, and challenge for the division title, this opening day win will provide new impetus for the season looking forward. Up next for Bristol is a home fixture against Oxford University Lancers on November 28th.
Sport
epigram 19.11.2018
Editor: Henry Edwards Deputy Editor: Charlotte Greenwood Online Editor: Freddie Keighley Deputy Online Editor: Barney Stone
UBWFC: a thriving women’s football team India Gay Second year, History
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Epigram / Emily Trim
omen’s football very much has the potential to break through into the mainstream media and be considered as equally important as men’s football, and UBWFC is a symbol of this. Growing at a substantial rate each year, the club now has four teams which brings together all abilities and is continuing to showcase the great capability of the women involved. The 2017/18 season ended on a high for UBWFC with the 1s and 2s being promoted to the 1A and 2B leagues respectively and the 3s showing off their skills in their games as they entered into a BUCS league for the first time. Not to mention the development squad, who also entered into a new casual league encouraging people, who may have never kicked a ball before, to get involved and achieve more wins for the club! The summer of 2018 proved to be so much fun for the club that preseason began as a slog. With training almost every weekday, the teams endured endless fitness tests, including the dreaded ‘bleep test’ and ‘cooper run’, fast pace training sessions and painful strength and conditioning. All teams worked together to push everyone through and took the hour stretching
sessions very much for granted. All was in preparation to have just as a successful year as the last. The arrival of many fresh faces and the return of some old ‘legends’ began to create the shape of the teams for this year. The 1s began their season, under their new captain Jess Robinson, on a high by beating Bournemouth University 1s thanks to creative play, continuous balls and amazing defensive support, wowing the crowd in the process. Their second game was an unfortunate 3-2 loss; however, the girls still showcased their undeniable talents and new ‘high pressure’ tactics. Their third game, which was heart-wrenching to watch, was a frustrating 1-1 draw after Bristol had their 2nd goal denied after the famous UBWFC chant and celebration. However, this seemed to only be a short bad spell for the 1s as they made a comeback in their most recent game against Southampton Solent, with a lovely 6-1 win, despite the absence of their normal keeper. Unfortunately, the 2s, under new captain Maj Opalinska, have had a rather hard start to the season, losing their first 2 games. However, it appears that their successful season last year has not been forgotten after the recent friendly against UWE was suspiciously cancelled one day before they were due to play. The 2s hope to prove their skills and showcase their new players in the following fixtures. Also, the 3s, under new captain Amber Thompson, had a rather upsetting start to the season after losing their first game. However, this was quickly pushed aside after they won 3 consecutive games, reminding opponents that Bristol are
Epigram/ Freddie Keighley
A recent 6-1 away thrashing of league leaders Southampton Solent demonstrated what the club is all about
“The club now has four teams which brings together all abilities”
to be feared. To further break the hearts of UBWFC members, the development squad have also played several games but are yet to bag a win. We hope their endless efforts at training and fitness will pay off in their upcoming matches. To hear more about UBWFC’s fixtures, please head over to the website - ubwfc. co.uk - to read the mesmerising match reports! Coincidentally, ‘This Girl Can week’ is
from the 19th-25th November and to show support for this, UBWFC are opening up a Sunday training session at Coombe Dingle on the 25th November at 6-8pm for anyone who is interested. This is a great opportunity to come along and play football, no matter what your ability, and show that football is for everyone, not just men! If you do have any questions, please contact Club Captain Ellie Vaughan: ev17239.2017@my.bristol.ac.uk.
Lacrosse: undefeated men breeze past Exeter UBMLC served up a treat on Halloween night, producing a terrifyingly dominant performance Will Stallibrass UBMLC Club Captain
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s night fell and the lights of Coombe were set ablaze, the scene was set for the mighty Bristol Men’s 1st team to put their rivals Exeter to the sword. As the crowd accumulated and the boys jogged out onto the pitch, with words from coach Pete Wilson still ringing in their ears, the players knew tonight was
going to be electric. Bristol had enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2018/19 season. Away victories over Bath, Oxford and Surrey – with the latter a staggering 24-0 win – and a triumph at home against local rivals Cardiff, had seen Bristol race to the top of the Premier South league table. This same fixture in November of last year saw Bristol prevail 10-6. The match this time around was a far less even affair; testament to the side’s continuing improvement. After a minute silence in remembrance of Ottie Ulden, Charles Stewart-Syme set himself for the first face off of the match. The whistle blew and Charles pounced,
“Exeter’s defence began to crumble in on itself as the dominating Bristol side kept up their relentless barage of goals”
winning the face off, a recurring event of the night with Exeter failing to win a single face. Bristol took an early lead through goals from Cameron Stewart-Syme, Freddie Atkins and Sebastian Wooff. Exeter gallantly fought back to bring the score to a tense 5-3 to Bristol at the end of the second quarter. As the players huddled around to listen to their coach the crowd began to truly get behind the team. In the third quarter Bristol came into their own, and the score began to run away from Exeter. The sound of the ball hitting the net and cheers from the crowd became common place: Will Stallibrass and Matthew Giudici both adding their names to
Epigram / Ed Hanton
the score sheet with a cannon of an outside shot from Stallibrass and a pitch length run from Giudici that started with a sublime one handed catch off a feed from Keeper Tom Stephens left the crowd in uproar. Exeter’s defence began to crumble in on itself as the dominating Bristol side kept up their relentless barrage of goals. Tempers flared and Exeter tried to hold on but Bristol showed no mercy. Atkins, Stallibrass and Stewart Syme all added to the tally with Stephens defiantly keeping out any further attempts. The final whistle came at great relief to Exeter. Freddie Atkins must be noted for his outstanding 6 goals. The players thanked the opposition as well as the officials for the game before celebrating wildly with the crowd who had shown incredible support for the cause. At the halfway point in the season the Men’s 1st team remains undefeated continuing their current two and a half-year streak of being undefeated in league fixtures. Final score: Bristol 14 - 5 Exeter. Bristol will go on to play Bath on Wednesday 7th November under the lights at Coombe Dingle at 17:00, before a trip over the bridge to play Cardiff on the 14th. This is an exciting time for not just this high-flying team, but also the club as a whole.