Epigram 352

A fresher looks back on teaching block one How one first year has adapted to 2020 university life

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Learning to read music?

COVID-19 update from the Bristol labs

Epigram Music share their recommendations for the best books about music this lockdown

Kick off for FDA-funded project in collaboration with the universities of Bristol, Liverpool and Oxford

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The University of Bristol’s Independent Student Newspaper Fortnightly | 24 November 2020 | Issue 352

University highlights road home in guidance on returning for Christmas Filiz Gurer News Editor

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ith the end of term growing ever closer, the University of Bristol have announced the dates from which all programmes at the University are set to move online, between 3 and 9 December, to accommodate the ‘student travel window’.

The University have also announced their plans to implement mass testing amongst students from 30 November, in order to safely return students home in time for Christmas.

On mass testing, the University confirmed that it was ‘among several universities being offered the opportunity to support a mass testing programme’, and has said that it is ‘still working out the details’, but will be updating students as soon as it can on how mass testing will take shape in practice.

In line with the Government’s guidance stating that ‘Universities should move learning online by 9 December’, Bristol University has been putting in place a staggered travel plan and has determined when each programme should shift to online provision.

Whilst ‘blended learning’ is continuing until the transition takes place, students will start to see the cessation of blended learning, as teaching moves to solely online de-

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livery.

For students planning on leaving Bristol for the holiday period, Bristol University have stated that students ‘should travel on the date [their] programme switches online’.

The student travel window allows for students to travel having just completed the four-week period of national restrictions, reducing the risk of transmission to family and friends at home.

Students who do not travel between the 3 to 9 December travel window period ‘may [be prevented] from being able to travel home for the winter break’, due to the risk of having to undertake a period of isolation of up to 14 days if they display symptoms or are alerted as a close contact by NHS Test and Trace.

Whilst UK students are not currently permitted to travel back to their homes within the UK until lockdown restrictions lift on 3 December, international students are not required to wait until the student travel window period and ‘may leave the UK to travel home at any time, including during the period of the current lockdown’.

The University have also said they will be supporting students who choose to remain in Bristol over the holidays and will, together with Bristol SU, soon be sharing with students a programme of online events and information about support services.

More on page three...

How far have we come? Two years since the declaration of climate emergency in Bristol, page 7

Pressure mounts on University to meet demands of the rent strike Emilie Robinson Digital News Editor

The rent strike campaign shows no sign of easing its pressure on the University to agree a 30% cut of the rent, no-penalty contract releases and deposit refunds.

The strike, which began on 24 October, currently involves 1,400 students withholding over £2 million rent from the University, in reaction to the handling of Covid-19 in halls.

On 20 November the University’s

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Board of Trustees held a meeting, in which the rent striker’s petition was discussed.

That same day the University U-turned on its decision to use student’s bursaries to ‘offset’ outstanding rent payments after discussions were held with Bristol Students’ Union.

The University had said via an email addressed to first years on 19 November, that money would be deducted from ‘some, or all’ of student’s bursaries to pay for any rent

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owed by 26 November.

Oliver Bullbrook, a first-year student and one of the organisers of the rent strike, told Epigram the move to penalise bursary students ‘felt like a kick in the teeth.’

A University of Bristol spokesperson following the reversal of this decision had said ‘we apologise for the uncertainty this has raised and can confirm instalments will be paid in full to all bursary recipient on 2 December.’

More on page three...

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Editorial

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

editor@epigram.org.uk

Robin Connolly Teddy Coward Georgiana Scott Siavash Minoukadeh Orin Carlin

Write for Epigram: ‘This tough spell is by no means over. We can, however, begin to see a way out.'

And then there was hope. One vaccine, then two, then a potential third, each one outdoing the last either for efficacy or ease of storage. Authorisations and the all-important logistical details are yet to be confirmed, but what’s clear is the lift such news has given us – reminding us we will, one day, come out of this pandemic.

Yet it wasn’t quite the lottery-winning moment we’ve all pined for since March, was it? Producing any vaccine is a triumph, dosing the globe will require an even greater push. Here in Bristol, students still worry about safely returning home in the upcoming travel window, what Christmas will actually look like and how indeed we will return to campus afterwards.

I sense, too, among us questioning, socially engaged individuals, a desire not to lose some of the silver linings that have emerged from this ongoing tragedy – and there have been some.

Technology has been used, arguably, better than ever: bringing us together for quizzes, as opposed to dividing us for more vacuous reasons. Perhaps we can emerge into a digital (dare I say, ‘blended’) age we can all admire.

Never before have student houses spent so long together, too, and got to know each other so intimately. Perhaps we can begin to see each other co-operatively, rather than as competitors in an ever more squeezed job market.

And never before have we had to show such collective resilience in the face of all the uncertainty; when all those we’ve deemed to be the keepers of knowledge and security – the scientists, world leaders and professors – didn’t really have all the answers.

I would follow this with a ‘perhaps’, but just last week the rent strikers here in Bristol showed their willingness already to turn

their views into a reality, forcing the University into a U-turn over the plan to use students’ bursary payments for rent.

We take no credit, but our added public scrutiny on such matters was a reminder of the strength of student media. Far from being weak and woke, we students have shown a tremendous spirit, which will no doubt show itself to stretch beyond COVID-19.

In this issue, we hope to give you something both for the immediate and the long term. We have news on students taking on the city’s housing market, and the second anniversary of Bristol’s climate emergency; features on starting your own business during lockdown and a fresher’s whirlwind first year; the best of Bristol’s artistic talents; the most entertaining political TV shows (a tonic for the other ongoing mess); as well as student perspectives on lockdown, online teaching and the importance of growing a moustache this November. Again, in that true Bristol spirit, students have put action to words, having raised over £40,000 this Movember already.

This tough spell, though, is by no means at an end. We are, of course, still in a lockdown. The daily death count remains dismally high.

We can, however, begin to see a way out. Here at Epigram, we look forward to returning to physical print after Christmas – and providing you with your tangible copy once more.

Like a vaccine itself, which contains a small dose of illness to trigger a response, I hope this harshest of spells in the living memory of students will spawn a great urge for a cleaner world – socially, economically and environmentally.

Having observed all the interests and actions of the last few weeks let alone months - along with our fantastic team from every section here, I have every faith it will.

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

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

Each section of the newspaper has a Facebook group where editors post commissions.

You can also join our Creatives group where we commission artwork, poetry and illustration.

For more information email: getinvolved.epigram@ gmail.com

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

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

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

News

Editor Filiz Gurer Digital Editor Emilie Robinson Deputy Editor Molly Pipe

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

There’s no place like home: Guidance for Christmas travel windows announced

News Editor

Continued from front page... he confirmed dates for the last day of face-to-face teaching for each faculty are as follows: Faculty of Arts 4 December With the exception of Theatre, which will have on-campus teaching between 4 to 8 December on practical units only.

Faculty of Engineering 4 December

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Faculty of Health Sciences 9 December (undergraduate courses) With the exceptions of the School of Anatomy, which will move online on Friday 4 December, and Orthopaedic surgery, which will finish on Friday 27 November.

Clinical placements for both medical and dental students, as well as for veterinary and veterinary nursing students, will finish at the end of term. For dental students, this includes clinical skills teaching for dental students which takes place in the Dental Hospital.

For Postgraduate courses, these will finish on either 2, 3 or 9 December, with individual schools confirming the last day of in-person teaching with pupils directly.

Faculty of Life Sciences 4 December With the exceptions of Psychology, which will finish on Wednesday 2 December, and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, which will finish on Wednesday 9 December.

Faculty of Sciences 2 December With the exceptions of the following Earth Sciences (9 December), Geography undergraduate courses, Maths and Physics undergraduate

courses (all 4 December).

The following second year Chemistry courses will have in-person teaching until 3 December: • Chemistry: year 2 of the following courses which all have essential face-to-face component (lab) until Thursday 3 December • Chemistry (BSc) • Chemistry (MSci) • Chemistry with Study in Continental Europe • Chemistry with Industrial Experience • Chemistry with Study Abroad

Faculty of Social Sciences and Law Accounting and Finance: Friday 4 December (undergraduate courses); Wednesday 9 December (postgraduate courses) Economics: Friday 4 December Education: Friday 4 December PGCE students have placements until Friday 18 December Law: Friday 4 December Some units will move online only from Monday 30 November, depending on the scheduled rota of teaching.

Management: Friday 4 December

(undergraduate courses); Wednesday 9 December (postgraduate courses) Sociology, Politics and International Studies: Wednesday 2 December Policy Studies: Friday 4 December (undergraduate courses); Tuesday 8 December (post-graduate courses) Social Work students currently on placement will continue as planned.

The University of Bristol have also confirmed that ‘blended learning’ is set to resume in the new year and has stated it looks ‘forward to welcoming [students] back on campus after the holidays’.

Epigram / Lucy O'Neill

• Programmes will move online from 3 November bringing the University’s blended learning to an end by 9 November • The University is to offer mass testing to students from 30 November in an effort to safely return students home for the Christmas period Filiz Gurer

Pressure on University to meet Rent Strikers demands • The University has U-turned on its decision to use students bursary payments to offset their outstanding rent debts Emilie Robinson Digital News Editor

Continued from front page... nother development on 16 November saw students notified of a 10-day rent rebate for term one. Rent Strike Bristol considered this the first concession offered by the University to students.

Director of Student Life and Wellbeing, wrote in an email to students: ‘Rent rebates will be paid directly to your bank account during February 2021 if your rent account is fully paid up to the end of December 2020 by 1 February 2021.’

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However, students striking were encouraged not to give in to this ‘tiny concession’ and Rent Strike, Bristol wrote in a tweet: ‘Keep striking, we’re winning.’

50 staff across all faculties signed a letter of solidarity voicing support for the student rent strike movement on 16 November, marking Bristol Cut the Rent’s Day of Action.

The letter was emailed alongside letters from students and the community of rent strikers to the

University of Bristol’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hugh Brady, ahead of the meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Staff expressed their ‘hope that the University will respond positively and constructively to students taking action and commit to a positive resolution to the dispute’.

A formal response issued by the University following a meeting held with Cut the Rent on 3 November claimed that some demands had already been met.

This included ‘high-level com-

mitments’ some demands, such as an option to request sanitary products on food box forms, and ‘greater transparency regarding the powers of security guards and how to submit complaints if this power is breached.’

On 23 November, the University, at the request of Rent Strike Bristol, published the powers and accountability procedure for the University’s security services on their webpage.

The University have also stated: ‘We do not make a profit from stu-

dent rent and all accommodation fees are used for operating, maintaining, and improving the residences. This includes 24/7 pastoral and wellbeing support’.

Despite this, ongoing discussions with the University carry on and students continue to withhold their rent.

Rent Strike Bristol have encouraged all students to learn the powers of the security services in order to hold them to account should they need to.

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epigram 24.11.2020

International students express concern over increasing tuition fees amidst pandemic restrictions

• International students have voiced their concerns regarding the increase of tuition fees this academic year Guy Taylor

Investigations Correspondent

students, who asked to remain anonymous, about the rise in fees. One student said that ‘it would be nice if the University could take into account the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the International Student community when setting the fees for 2021/22.’

Another student, describing their own situation, said they were ‘extremely concerned and disappointed, especially given that all in-person

teaching [they] got from SPAIS was one in-person session per term.’ She continued, ‘It feels like the university thinks it can suck the money out of international students and they will just go on with it.’

‘If they increase further, I will not be able to afford it.’

Others expressed strong anxiety about the impact of the rise on their

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Bristruths

n line with government policy, international students at Bristol have had their tuition fees for the 2020/21 academic year raised by just under 5%, with some students having to pay up approximately £900 more than they were paying last year.

In recent years, international students have been subject to increasing tuition fees at many UK universities.

Some students have expressed concern that the raise has occurred during a term in which in-person teaching hours and access to university facilities have been significantly reduced.

Epigram spoke to international

finances, with one student saying ‘I’m worried about next year as if they increase it further, I will not be able to afford it.’

Another, whose family income had dropped by around 80% during the pandemic, argued there should at least be discretion as to how and when students pay their fees. Currently, a payment of 50% of the total cost must be made twice during the academic year, with no alternate option.

Other Bristol students, meanwhile, have taken to social media to vent their concerns, via the anonymous confessions page Bristruths, posting a critique of the University on the matter.

Emma Thomas, Chair of the International Students Network, argued that whilst ‘all students are facing a difficult year, the experience of international students seems to be forgotten.’

She continued, ‘at such a turbulent time, an increase in tuition fees feels quite tone deaf and on top of this, there has been limited communication from the university.’

A University of Bristol spokesper-

son said: ‘Students come to Bristol from across the world to receive a first-class education. Despite the challenges created by the global pandemic, we are still delivering a first-class education, providing all our students with a high-quality blended learning experience of in-person and online teaching.’

‘The University reviews all of its unregulated tuition fees on an annual basis and sets them roughly 18 months before they are due to be implemented. Annual fee increases for existing international students, which are usually at, or below, five percent, are based on a combination of inflation and necessary responses to the University’s cost base. We also benchmark our tuition fees against our Russell Group peers and are confident that tuition fees are an appropriate reflection of the quality of the University’s standing and reputation.’

‘If international students have concerns about their course or any element of their life at university, we would ask that they contact the International Office for support and advice.’

Bristol Student Housing Co-op takes next steps after becoming a legal entity

News Editor

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he Bristol Student Housing Co-operative’s successful registration as a legal entity was confirmed on 6 November.

The co-op will have its first meeting on 25 November for all those interested to get involved with the project.

This will now allow the housing co-op to be able to take the next steps in its journey to operating as a student housing co-operative for Bristol students.

The campaign for the co-operative was launched by Bristol University students in August, who set up the initiative in order to provide ‘more beds in Bristol at affordable prices whilst empowering its members’.

A spokesperson for the housing co-op explained that the next steps

would be to open up membership by launching membership applications and hold the Co-op’s first AGM. The group will also now start to assess the possible properties available and their suitability, locations and costings, with the purpose of providing good quality not-for profit housing.

BSHC has received a grant of £3,500 from Community Led Homes and will bring in a co-op specialist to help draw up a business plan.

The housing co-op is being supported by Student Co-op homes, a national organisation which coordinates the efforts of student housing co-operatives in the UK. BSHC has received a grant of £3,500 from Community Led Homes and will now bring in a co-op specialist to help draw up a business plan.

Having now formally registered, the co-op will be able to expand its membership, to involve a much larg-

er group of students.

The co-operative has been running a series of events to engage students in what housing co-operatives are and how they function.

Bristol student housing co-op will be having its first open meeting on 25 November and is encouraging all those interested to join the meeting to hear more about how to get involved with the project.

Speaking for BSHC on the launch of the co-op, Bristol student Dylan Woodward told Epigram: ‘What we want do is to be able to demonstrate that students can run housing in Bristol that’s high quality for cheaper than private landlords do.

‘Once it’s set up, we’re imagining it will be mixed year groups living in it, or people potentially living in it for the whole three years of their degree if they want to.’

‘Once it’s set up, we’re imagining it will be mixed year groups living in it, or people potentially living in it for the whole three years of their degree if they want to.’

As well as the benefits for students of the co-operative system, the founders of BSHC also believe the co-op offers the chance for better student-community relations, saying ‘there are really positive stories from student co-ops about how they have much better relationships with their neighbours, so it’s potentially a way of sorting out the town and gown di-

vide a little bit’.

Encouraging students to attend the co-ops first meeting Wednesday 25 November and to join the co-op, Dylan said: ‘In terms of the campaign now, anyone who wants to can get involved. It’s a really good thing to get involved with and it’s going to be a really long-lasting thing in the city’.

Bristol Student Housing Co-op

• The Bristol Student Housing Co-operative is due to have its first meeting on 25 November Filiz Gurer

News 5

epigram 24.11.2020

• Bristol SU have faced criticism over the results of the elections that took place in March Teddy Coward Co-Editor in Chief

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ristol SU have been strongly criticised for their lack of transparency over their March elections by Bristol student’s anonymous confessions page, Bristruths.

In a statement released on both their website and Facebook page, which has almost 25,000 followers, Bristruths have called out the Student’s Union for taking seven months to provide the breakdown of results for the elections that took place in March.

Bristruths had fielded a candidate, Bristruths ‘Rory’, for the role of Union Affairs Officer and say they now want ‘to commit the SU to holding more transparent elections and other democratic processes in the future’.

The anonymous confessions page has also highlighted what they deem to be ‘misleading information as to when the results were published’ on the Bristol SU website.

The date on the election results page is dated ‘Friday 13-03-2020 18:30’, but an internet archive used

by Bristruths revealed Bristol SU hadn’t added these results until 12 November.

These results were then first publicised by Bristol SU in a Facebook comment, along with a message that read: ‘Our bad… a little thing called covid got in the way’.

Bristruths have labelled the remark ‘sarcastic’ and questioned the responses credibility.

Further issues raised over Bristol SU’s lack of transparency include the failure of the SU’s Democratic Standards Committee to take any action for the seven months, even despite the SU acknowledging they did receive a request for a breakdown of results.

‘We are not alleging fraud has occured, nor are we suggesting that the elected officer or any other member was unduly elected.’

Bristruths note the most recent information on the Committee is of minutes from a meeting that took place in 2016.

Epigram / of Patrick Sullivan / Bristruths Universtity Bristol Students' Union

Bristruths criticises ‘unacceptable’ SU for seven month delay to election results breakdown

The platform have said: ‘we are not alleging fraud has occurred, nor are we suggesting that the elected officer or any other member was unduly elected.

‘We are not calling for the results to be overturned, we are merely pointing out that the current system is not functioning as a true transparent democracy.

‘It is unsurprising that so few people engage with student politics or the SU when the electorate is ignored and side-lined.

In response to the allegations Bristol SU says it ‘made a mistake’, saying ‘the fast-moving situation

around Covid-19 [meant] there was significant disruption to our usual process for publishing elections results.’

They also cited other factors that led to the delay, including their move to ‘remote working on the day’ results should have been published, as well as ‘being busy supporting and representing students on the lockdown and changes in the staff team.’

Typically, they explained, voting breakdown is published on the SU website following the results night event, which didn’t take place this year due to the pandemic.

Instead, they say candidates were

briefed privately before the results were published online and say candidates could have received a breakdown of the results if they had requested this separately.

However, they also admit they did receive a request and ‘failed to acknowledge it or respond’ in the seven-month period.

They added: ‘We’re sorry for the slip-up and are taking steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.’

In a response to Epigram, Bristol SU added they will be reviewing their ‘elections planning documentation and task-lists to ensure that this doesn’t get missed again.’

Mental health foundation set up in memory of former Bristol student partners with UoB

• The scheme will enable students to meet new people virtually Louie Bell

News Correspondent

University of Bristol

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he University of Bristol have partnered with a mental health charity set up in the memory of a former student.

The Ted Senior Foundation (TSF) was established by the friends and family of Ted Senior, a former medical student and University of Bristol graduate who passed away in 2018.

Focussing on sports clubs, the Foundation will trial events and campaigns aimed at improving student wellbeing, promoting mental health awareness and helping stay connected to support services.

Cameron Watson, one of the co-founders of the Foundation, said: ‘For many, University is the first time [students] have moved away from home, and although technology can

help, nothing can replace the social networks we all rely on to stay mentally healthy.’

Six Bristol students, studying for degrees ranging from Economics to Classics, will take up the positions as

ambassadors for the Foundation.

Known as ‘Ted’s Friends’, the students will act as ‘conduits between students in need’ and connect with mental health and wellbeing services, representing a key source of peer

The scheme aims to combat loneliness that many students experience at University.

support should students need to access it.

The scheme will aim to combat loneliness that many students experience over their time at University.

Max Senior, Ted’s brother and TSF co-founder, said: ‘Ted loved the community spirit Bristol had and it felt right to launch the scheme where he spent three very happy years.

‘I believe that through sport and peer-based approach, the internal barriers that students face when seeking help can be overcome.’

One of the core aims of the scheme is to counter the isolation that can be an acute experience for students,.

Cameron Watson, one of the cochairs of the Foundation, added: 'For many, University is the first time they have moved away from home, and although technology can help, nothing can replace the social networks we all rely on to stay mentally healthy.'

The Foundation hopes the Bristol scheme will act as a pilot that can be extended to other universities across the UK.

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epigram 24.11.2020

BME Network's new mental Virtual antiIslamophobia health support measures for minority students events go ahead despite protest being cancelled • Virtual events for anti-Islamaphobia month go ahead despite cancellation of protest march

the anti-islamophobia march. A webinar discussing Islamophobia as a form of racism, not free speech was held last week, with the purpose of the event being to outline clearly that ‘Islamophobia is objective and should have a zero-tolerance approach’.

Tia Bahia A panel of speakers including ProBME Affairs Correspondent fessor Tariq Modood and representatives from the Runnymede Trust he BME network has been gave their perspectives, with Profesrunning a selection of virtusor Modood explaining the imporal events for Islamophobia tance of distinawareness month, You have to allow the guishing between with events rangvictim to have agency Islamophobia and ing from panel reasonable critidiscussions conin the definition cism. cerning misconThe webinar debated whether racceptions about Islam to a virtual ‘Ask ism encompasses Islamophobia and A Muslim’ stall. therefore if it is the correct term to Khadija Meghrawi, chair of the use. Halima Begum from the RunnyBME Network has been at the foremede trust expressed her view that front of the events and has promoted ‘you have to allow the victim to have them following her recent disapagency in the definition.’ pointment in being forced to cancel

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• The BME network has been working with universities to improve the provision of mental health support for minority students.

Tia Bahia BME Affairs Correspondent

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he BME Network have taken action to address the mental health and wellbeing of the university’s BME student population. With the stresses of COVID-19 on top of the pre-existing struggles minority students face, changes are being made throughout the university to offer support.

Khadija Meghrawi, chair of the BME network has been liaising with SU officers as well as the Head of the student inclusion service and the Pro-Vice Chancellor for student experience to formulate plans for the action they want to take. Khadija explained ‘we are working on ensuring there is an Equality, Diversity, Inclusion strategy for each of the student facing services’.

Among those services is Residen-

New SU bar to be named after Bristol icon Carmen Beckford MBE

SU Correspondent

Bristol SU have announced that a new campus bar will be named after the legendary Bristol figure, Carmen Beckford MBE, following an online

vote by students at Bristol University.

The Beckford is due to open in Senate House in 2021 as part of the food court.

Carmen Beckford was a figurehead for race relations in Bristol, having

moved from Jamaica to Bristol in 1965 at the age of 17.

In 1982, Beckford made history by becoming the first Black woman in the South West to be awarded an MBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Epigram / Teddy Coward

Eve Bentley-Hussey

putting on listening to student voictial Life who offer support to students es. She said there will be more conliving in halls of residence. Khadija sultations held with BME students and her team are looking into BAME to hear from them directly and emwellbeing issues in student halls power them to speak out. A survey during this second lockdown with has also been students now The counselling service issued to widen drinking alcohol in flats rather has agreed for students the number of than out in social to give some training students being reached. venues. Khadija to counsellors which Another imporexplained that for will also empower the tant student facBAME students BAME students theming service heavwho don’t drink selves ily involved in due to religion or reforms is student counselling. With culture this could be an added stress worries that counsellors are not ‘culto their environment. turally competent’, Khadija added: Speaking to Epigram Hajer zu‘The counselling service has agreed bairu, second year law student and for students to give some training to president of the African and Carcounsellors which will also empowibbean society expressed her coner the BAME students themselves’. cerns that students who are not in Khadija hopes that this as well as their first year or living in university further professional training will accommodation are not receiving solve the issue of support not actuthe same level of support. She said ally reaching students on the ground ‘I don’t think they [the university] and leaving them dissatisfied. have actually made people aware The university have kept an open that if you are struggling you can line of communication with the BME take an extension or speak to your Network and have been supportive tutors’. through regular meetings. Khadija These student concerns are being said ‘The university is receptive, and given a platform; Khadija explained they are hearing us’. the emphasis the BME network are

News 7

epigram 24.11.2020

Climate Correspondent

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wo years since Bristol City Council became the first UK local authority to declare a climate emergency, Carla Denyer the Green Party councillor who proposed the motion - has told Epigram there has been a ‘disappointing lack of action' within the city.

Following the announcement by the Council in November 2018, the UK parliament, along with more than 400 other local authorities across the UK made public their own climate declarations, but Denyer believes that what we really need to tackle the climate crisis is ‘immediate action'.

‘Our house is still on fire and our government seems unable or unwilling to respond appropriately.

‘As the UK prepares to host the next round of global climate talks at COP26, this country should be leading the world in our climate response.

‘Instead we are seeing local government decimated and struggling to maintain mandatory frontline services, while central government is more concerned with political posturing than practical action.’

Although Bristol has the ‘ideas, expertise and ambition’ to tackle the climate crisis, says Denyer, she warns the city might not fulfil its commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, as voted for in 2018, because the ‘Council’s hands are often tied’ due to governmental resistance.

‘We don’t have the political or financial support from central government. Instead our government seems to do nothing but put obstacles in the way of meaningful change.’

Bristol has seen a number of events around climate activism since it declared a climate emergency.

Jones.

The city has certainly claimed ‘Students within XRY also worked centre-stage, not only as a strongon an open letter in response to the hold for Extinction Rebellion, but proposal for the 5-year sustainabilalso due to the huge support the ity strategy at the University which school strikes have received. gained 200 signatures from students Last July, Extinction Rebellion and staff and helped to push the blocked the M32 during their Sumuniversity to be more ambitious with mer Uprising to demand greater actheir targets.’ tion, and just a couple of months Domi Rybova, People & Planet later Bristol took part in the world’s President, told Epigram that thanks first general climate strike, alongside to the efforts of many activists on protesters in 150 other countries, campus the University has been according to the campaign group pushed to be ambitious in its scope Global Climate Strike. to tackle climate change.

This year has been just as event‘People and Planet successfully ful, with Greta Thunberg’s visit to lobbied the university to divest from the city in February encouraging all companies involved in the protens of thousands of protesters onto duction of fossil fuels, which was the the streets, and in the same month result of years of student campaignpeople across the city celebrated the ing and collaboration with many news that Bristol Airport’s expangroups and academics across the sion was rejected by North Somerset University. counsellors.

The UniversiIn a win for The University of ty announced its Bristol communiBristol also made full divestment ties, the council headlines as the first from fossil fuels approved planning permission UK university to declare in February earlithis year. for a communia climate emergency in er ‘We also ty-owned wind April 2019 worked alongside turbine to be built Ethics For USS in Avonmouth in and academics and university staff July; at 150m tall it will be the tallaround the country in campaigning est in England. to divest the USS - the largest priThe University of Bristol also vate pension scheme in the UK. made headlines as the first UK uni‘The campaign has been actively versity to declare a climate emergensupported by Bristol SU, the Bristol cy in April 2019. branch of the University and College It’s latest Sustainability Strategy, Union (UCU) and University manpublished earlier this year, reaffirms agement.’ its commitment to reduce emissions However, even with all the acto net zero by 2030, and includes tivism Bristol has seen over the past plans for an in-house carbon offtwo years, many within the city resetting scheme and a £5m program main sceptical about how much prodesigned to increase efficiency in the gress has actually been made. ‘top consuming’ buildings on camProfessor Richard Pancost, Head pus. of the school of Earth Sciences at the Within the University, student University of Bristol and former Digroups are also making significant rector of the Cabot Institute for the progress. Speaking to Epigram about Environment, said that the ‘last year climate activism within the city, has taught us that our capacity as a Poppy Silk, a Physics student at the society to adapt to any catastrophic University of Bristol and member change is far more limited than we of Extinction Rebellion Youth, says had hoped. they have had ‘a lot of big wins’ ‘And yet we have only barely since the declaration two years ago. shifted the needle on our carbon ‘We successfully campaigned dependency, an addiction that will against the Bristol Airport Expanbe incredibly difficult to kick given sion, and for the Climate and Ecoits influence in every aspect of our logical Emergency Bill, which is lives.' now supported by Bristol MP Darren

Epigram/Lucy O'Neill

• ‘Disappointing lack of action’ since climate emergency declaration two years ago, says Bristol councillor that proposed the motion Billy Stockwell

Epigram / Topaz Maitland

Epigram/Lucy O'Neill

The Climate Emergency: Two years on

Bristol's One City Climate Strategy, published in February of this year, aims to ‘accelerate and coordinate climate action' over the next few years, according to Bristol City Council.

However, Cllr Deyer says that the strategy does not provide any detail about how decarbonisation within the city is actually going to be achieved. She also believes little action has since followed.

Another emergency plan released last year – the Climate Emergency Action Plan – which claims to reflect the ‘urgency’ in which the Council aim to tackle the climate crisis, was also criticised, with Cllr Deyer stating again that there was ‘no indication how decarbonisation will be achieved.

‘Announced by Bristol Mayor Rees in July 2019, nine months after declaration, the 12 pages restated the commitments already agreed’ In November 2016, Bristol City

Council voted to support a Clean Air Zone in Bristol, aiming to tackle the illegal levels of air pollution in the city. The Clean Air Zone has still not been implemented, with Cllr Charlie Bolton calling the lack of action ‘a shocking dereliction of responsibility’ towards Bristol’s most vulnerable.

Over 300 people die every year in Bristol due to air pollution in the city, according to a report commissioned by Bristol City Council.

In sum, despite the great efforts made by so many organisations within Bristol, there is still a feeling of stagnation for lots of people at the centre of climate action and policy-making, with Cllr Denyer saying: ‘Across the UK it’s clear that many of the politicians and organisations that declared a Climate Emergency don’t fully get it.

‘We cannot afford to lurch from a pandemic to a climate emergency.

Some form of Green New Deal is essential to help the city and country

8 News

epigram 24.11.2020

News in Brief

Bristol University granted £45 million to advance treatment for chronic kidney diseases Megan Evans

A New Song for Bristol

for kidney disease. Gene therapy has come of age in certain areas, but a major challenge in complex solid organs is to precisely target the genetic material to the correct cell type.

Using accumulated expertise in the Bristol Renal research group we have solved this crucial hurdle, putting us in a position to deliver curative gene therapy to patients with chronic and intractable kidney diseases.’

The groundbreaking research has been pioneered by Professor Moin Saleem, Professor of Paediatric Renal Medicine at Bristol Medical School and Dr Gavin Welsh, Associate Professor of Renal Medicine.

Student research helps to secure £100k charity grant

Filiz Gurer

as Colston Hall).

The project calls for the city to let music and creativity bring people together once more and is asking people to submit their ‘creative responses’ to ‘this historic year’.

Responses submitted by the public will be collected into ‘a living archive of words, poems and songs created by you’ to be used as inspiration for a collective of musicians who will work to create a new piece of music – a new song for Bristol.

University of Bristol

A

New Song for Bristol is a city-wide invitation for the people of Bristol to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences of Bristol in 2020, expressing them creatively through words and music.

The project has been inspired by a mirrored time in Bristol’s history, and draws inspiration from when the people of Bristol came together during WW2 to sing and perform together at Bristol Beacon (then known

Bristol Beacon

A

Molly Pipe

report conducted by three Bristol students has helped to secure a £100k grant for the Wellspring Settlement, a community hub for residents of Lawrence Hill.

The area is one of the most deprived wards in the UK, with more than a third of its population income-deprived in 2015. The students’ report found that the COVID-19 pandemic had had a significant impact on finances and health, with debt and financial strain threatening to outlast the crisis for many community members.

The grant, provided by the National Lottery, will fund a project aimed at helping locals through this difficult financial period.

Bristol launches Think Big Scholarships

T

Filiz Gurer

he University of Bristol has launched its flagship scholarship competition for overseas students for 2021/22 applicants, for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The scheme will see the highest number of scholarships awarded to date, with a budget of £1.75 million to provide outstanding international students with funding towards their tuition fees. Awards of £5,000 and £10,000 per year will be available for undergraduate students, with postgraduate students able to apply for awards of £5,000, £10,000 and £20,000. EU students will also be eligible to apply for Think Big Scholarships for the first time.

The toppling of Edward Colston’s statue in August, from its plinth in Bristol’s City Centre, and its dumping into Bristol’s harbour was described by The Independent as the cutural event of the year.

Bristol City Council launch online climate hub

A

new website has been launched by Bristol City Council to encourage individuals and organisations within the city to reduce their carbon footprint.

The website, the Bristol Climate Hub, was created as part of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Programme, following requests from

Billy Stockwell

members of the public who wanted more guidance on how best to reduce their carbon emissions.

Mayor Marvin Rees said: ‘Everyone has a part to play in this challenge and I hope the new online Climate Hub can help enable our citizens to take the most effective action they can, right now. The launch of the hub is merely the start.’

Local activist ‘Birdgirl’ recognised among top five in environmental power list

E

ighteen-year-old Maya-Rose Craig, who received an honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Bristol earlier this year, has now been named in BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Woman’s Hour Power List 2020: Our Planet' top five.

Maya-Rose places fourth on the list celebrating 30 inspiring women making a positive impact on the environment and sustainability.

Maya-Rose Craig, who blogs under ‘Birdgirl,’ is a birder, environmentalist and conservationist who has organised camps, conferences, and advocated for climate action.

She is the youngest Briton to have received an honorary degree.

Megan Evans

Amongst her achievements is the campaign Black2Nature, founded to increase access to nature for Visible Ethnic Minorities and encourage diversity within the environmental sector.

University of Bristol

number may only represent ten percent of people who need it. Advances in gene therapy may therefore offer more effective and accessible treatment.

Professor John Iredale, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Health and Life Sciences at the University of Bristol, said: ‘Purespring’s gene therapy platform has enormous potential to improve outcomes in patients with kidney diseases and is a major leap forward for renal therapeutics globally’ Professor Moin Saleem said: ‘This is an incredible opportunity to develop transformational treatments

Rufus Atkins

T

he University of Bristol has secured a £45 million deal from healthcare company Syncona Ltd, in order to advance gene therapy technology for renal conditions.

The deal, awarded to Bristol spinout Purespring Therapeutics, is one of the largest single investments ever made to a new UK university biotech company.

It ‘aims to address a global unmet need’ for the treatment of kidney diseases.

Over two million people currently receive life-saving kidney treatments worldwide, however it is thought this

Features

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

Twitter: @EpigramFeatures

Stories of accent prejudice and classism: Far from the promise of mertiocracy?

you went to private school or not,’ a second-year History and French student reveals. ‘I have found that if I tone my accent down, I feel like I’m taken more seriously.’ This highlights an unfortunate fact that in society at large, your accent defines you Second Year, Law very strongly with a socio-economic n a perfect world, your sogroup - a social stratification. cio-economic background Present in social life, accent prejuwould have as much to do with dice seems to seep into academic life fitting in at university as your fatoo. According to one second-year vourite flavour English Literaof ice-cream; It is a harsh state of affairs ture student, ‘I bearing little imget mocked for when you can’t be proud of dropping t’s from portance, if any where you come from. at all. The reality, my th’s, because however, is not of my London as sweet; brash and brazen prejudicaccent. This has happened in a coues towards certain dialects appear to ple of lectures and I felt very embarrun rife at UK universities. rassed.’

A second-year Biology student So, as to be academically respectwhose first-year student accommoed, this student’s experience indidation was Wills Hall, the universicates the social pressure to conform ty’s second most expensive student to the received pronunciation and accommodation at £187 per week, dialect of the majority. felt that accent prejudice not only ‘I have encountered a few people existed but was important for social who seem to look down on you or inclusion. take you less seriously if they feel ‘In my experience, Wills was lots that you’re of a lower class,’ the Engof privately educated people with lish Literature student informs me. similar lives and backgrounds.’ SufThe student goes on, ‘although nofice to say, there was no hierarchy body who says so does so overtly.’ of accents in parallel to a social hiThe university’s demographic erarchy, more a dichotomy between paints a very glum landscape. The those who were privately educated 2019 intake of students comprised and those whose education was state of 71 per cent of students from state funded. schools, however 93.5 per cent of ‘I feel lost in the divide of whether all UK school children are educated

A look at attitudes toward accents, and how they affect the student experience Sebastian Topan

I

Flickr / Javier Gallego

Flickr / University of Bristol & Nick Smith

years. said. ‘It kind of makes you feel like So although social diversity is not it’s harder to fit in and harder for at a stage where most of the student people just to get to know you when body wants it to be, it is slowly but all they ask about is your accent.’ surely moving in ‘Some people the right direc- “I have found that if I tone associate me with tion.

Northern steremy accent down, I feel like otypes, without This echoes a second-year I’m taken more seriously" knowing anyPhysics student’s thing about me,’ experience, who tells me of the conthe Anthropology student continues. trast between the social groups at ‘It made me realise some people put Bristol, compared to the student’s all Northern people into one social social group at home. class which is kind of bizarre.’

‘Because my friends at home are ‘I have been told by people that in from working-class backgrounds it terms of future employment I would feels a bit weird or even “fake” perbenefit from losing my accent.’ It is a haps, to only mix with other midharsh state of affairs when you can’t dle-class people.’ This rings true of be proud of where you come from.' many students experiencing ‘impost‘This only reflects how mider syndrome’ - a self-defeatism and a dle-classes and high-income housemeritocracy’s worst nightmare. holds have a tight grip on the UK Another student tells me about employment, and a not so equal, their experience. ‘By being work‘equality of opportunity.’ ing-class, I feel other people give off Bristol is actively helping the impression your parents are unhard-working, talented, students educated or lazy, which is ignorant.’ from low-income households, irreLikewise to imposter syndrome, this spective of socio-economic backat state schools. Despite the disparsadly resembles the attitude of clasground or accent, through schemes ity, state school participation is up sism and ascribed status. like the ‘Bristol Scholars’ and ‘Access 10 per cent from ‘The minute I to Bristol’ programmes, bursaries, 2015, and in- “I've been told in terms of talk to other stuand maintenance packages. creasing. The 18 future employment I would dents they ask Bristol has the potential to be at per cent of the benefit from losing my me where I’m the forefront of facilitating social student intake for from, which they mobility, improving the life chances accent."

2019 is made up wouldn’t do to of disadvantaged students, and shiftof low participation neighbourhoods any friends I may be there with,’ a ing the attitudes towards regional – an increase of 10 per cent in four second-year Anthropology student dialects. Meritocracy? Not quite yet.

10 Features

epigram 24.11.2020

Know your rights: What to ask and look for when viewing student housing sign onto a property with mould, or if you do, instruct your agency to solve the problem.

Epigram / Tom Taylor

Keeping a look out before moving into, what will likely be poor housing, is essential Tara Ghias Third Year, History

T

Your Rights Many students have no idea of the rights they possess when it comes to student housing, as certain landlords look to exploit their unawareness

Distance and location is a very important part of finding student accommodation. The obvious instinct is to find the closest place possible to university, however, sometimes those properties are too expensive or not in the best condition. I would suggest looking for an area, 20/25 minutes away from University.

Therefore, you get a good walk to classes and you are not paying too much. Moreover, bear in mind with location, you need to think about transport and food supplies as well; am I close to a bus stop or a local supermarket? This will be highly beneficial for you in the long run.

Ask questions!

of what is allowed and what is not.

There have been many horror stories of landlords overcharging students, failing to meet standard hygiene requirements and not fixing essential elements of the house.

The citizen's advice bureau has a page dedicated to students rights in private rented accommodation and it would be very useful to give it a read and have knowledge of your entitlement.

Some of these key rights include: a. Your landlord is responsible for most major repairs inside of the house, including the property’s structure, plumbing issues and electrical faults. b.

There must be a working smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector within the property c.

Landlords are not allowed to enter the property without clear notice, 24 hours prior to be precise.

Mould, mould and mould Student housing is well known for not being in the greatest condition. There has been much outrage over the extortionate prices students are being forced to pay, especially here in Bristol, when the property is sometimes not even fit for human inhabitancy. One key factor to look out for when viewing potential houses is mould; it can normally be found in the corners of rooms and within the wallpaper.

Mould is dangerous, and could cause respiratory problems such as infections, allergies and asthma according to the NHS. Be sure to not

There is nothing wrong with asking as many questions as possible; it shows you are interested in knowing the condition of the property before you move in. The best people to ask would be their current tenants. They would have ample information about residing in the house, and experience of dealing with the agency and landlord.

I’m not sure how this will look during coronavirus, but if you get the opportunity to be in contact with the houses’ current tenants, ask them about everything.

Have they had any problems with the landlord? Is there any physical damage we should be aware of before signing the lease? Have you had any issues with infestations? I would recommend definitely asking that - you don’t want any pets, such as mice, lurking about.

Happy hunting.

Resources for House Hunting Students The Citizens Advice Bureau's student housing information Save the Student: 10 tenancy rights every student must know Centre for Sustainable Energy - How to remove damp & mould Epigram / Tom Taylor

he time is upon us again; the panic of organising groups, the rush of booking viewing slots, and the competition to bag the closest house to university so you do not have to walk long.

Yes, you guessed it, it is the time to find a student house.

From early November onwards, thousands of students across Bristol will be searching every corner of the city to find suitable accommodation for themselves as they progress through the years at university.

Whereas second or third year students might possess some knowledge of what is required when hunting for a property, freshers might be completely out of their depth.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, acquiring a student house is completely different, with many viewings taking place virtually. This means students need to be aware of what to look out for and what key questions to ask when they cannot physically enter the property itself.

Distance/Location

Student housing and the law University of Bristol Accomodation Office private rental advice

Features 11

epigram 24.11.2020

A fresher's reflection on a topsy-turvy first term were spent awkwardly in people’s rooms. With few events aside from online ‘Chai and Chat’ sessions, most people slept, ignored the Zoom invites to ‘Harry Potter Watch Parties,’ and waited for the night to commence. Freshers’ Week accordingly First Year, English Literature came and went and work started in earnest. itting the ground as a Most work is currently online Fresher this year has had meaning students work in their its complications. I arrived rooms throughout the day, sitting on a Friday morning to Wills Hall in for hours on end watching lectures Stoke Bishop and was greeted with and seminars. With the added comstony silence in my block. A stagplications of booking a study space gered arrivals week designed to refor a period of time, or potentially duce the numbers of people mixing, being rejected from a café given the meant I was the first person to arrestrictions on numbers, most people rive. work in their rooms or the occasionThat night, with the absence of al accommodation study space. clubs or any opportunity to go out, Blackboard, the site used for most all the new freshers roamed around of the UniverStoke Bishop searching for Many freshers don't know sity’s teaching assignrumours of an where most of the University and ments, works event. Streams of libraries or study spaces are well, aside from small groups, totalling hundreds let alone stepped inside them the occasional technological of people, crossed glitch. In-person seminars this year each other again and again in the mean face masks and visors; this dark. Clusters of drunk figures yelled unfortunate combination impedes to others, ‘Where’s the motive? any easy face-to-face discussion for Where’s the motive?!’ students and lecturers alike. First Most motives were discovered to year students nervous to contribute be disappointingly non-existent. in normal circumstances now have People would tramp up the hill folthe further difficulty of a misty visor. lowing the elusive call of Liquid DnB Self-isolation and quarantine for and find that the LED lights they individual blocks and flats has also were following were actually just affected academic work. At one security flashlights. As soon as this point, most of Wills Hall, and probreality became apparent, a different ably the rest of Stoke Bishop, was in rumour would appear about someisolation. Many missed out on practhing in another hall. tical seminars and in-person discusThe crowd would then move on sion lectures, thus impacting their again and the evening continued learning for that week. In my expeas such. On one night, my group rience, the online tasks or substitutes stopped and saw a large company for these missed lectures or practiof girls walk up and down the same cals are satisfactory but still hill four times in 15 minutes. The not comparanight usually ended in an anticlimactic cluster around the Hiatt Baker bus stop with security ineffectively shouting at any groups larger than six.

The daytimes

How did one of the most formative University experiences pan out in the end?

Alexander Sampson

Epigram / Lucy O'Neill

H

plete social flexibility of Freshers’ ble to the same content taught, disWeek had fizzled out. cussed, or shown in person.

The pandemic has also transThe University provided very large formed the dining rooms of catered food boxes for each individual conhalls, such as Wills and Churchill, taining cooking essentials. However, into communal wastelands. In Wills, for those of us in catered halls, most social dining is non-existent as each of this food was wasted as we have table has a plastic screen down the no hobs and are not permitted any middle and every seat is two metres form of portable stove. apart. All food is served in plastic For my block, the food arrived boxes for either take-away or eattwo days late. On the first night, afin options; most ter several hours take of phone calls, The 10pm curfew has students away and eat in someone from simply meant that pub their rooms, the the Residential trips start much earlier kitchen or the Life Team orcorridor of their dered us seven blocks since these living areas were Domino’s pizzas instead. For the rest not designed for communal eating. of the time, we relied on what we The reality of eating in the dining had left and what our friends bought hall is learning to speak to the perfrom the supermarket. son opposite you through the break Stoke Bishop enjoyed 2 weeks of in the plastic screen in front of you. relative normality before blocks and Everything social about catered halls flats began heading into quarantine. has been axed, including formals Coming out of those two weeks saw and the JCR rooms like the Billiards a drastic change in the atmosRoom in Wills and the Library in phere as the comChurchill. Bizarrely, the staff are very strict about social distancing and hygiene once in the dining hall, yet the queue outside stretches back with neither social distancing nor masks.

For Freshers this year, Lakota, Thekla, various bottomless brunches, and an array of pubs have offered something close to ordinary socialising. The rule of six has added some difficulties as pubs fill their capacity very quickly. It is also sometimes difficult to be inclusive when there is a limit on the number of people who can sit together.

The 10pm curfew has simply meant that socials and pub trips start much earlier, while getting the bus back to Stoke Bishop at 10pm takes much longer as everyone leaves the Epigram / Molly Pipe pub at the same time. Buses have re-

duced their capacity owing to social distancing, meaning that it is often easier and quicker to just walk across the Downs than wait 20 minutes for the bus in a crowd.

Societies have also offered some aspect of normality. Some of the biggest sports clubs - Hockey, Rugby and Mixed Lacrosse – have functioned with regular training and socials and are popular amongst Freshers as a result. Perhaps a key difference this year has been the visibility of smaller societies that were not easy to find during the SU’s Virtual Fresher’s Fair.

Stalls were placed in a virtual atrium where similar sports or societies were banded together. For example, one stall held Men and Women’s Rugby, Touch Rugby and American Football in one. There was an option to chat online with a stall holder or find out more information about the society by clicking a series of links.

Most of the links given just led to the Society’s SU information page and the chat function was slow.

Credit must be given to the SU for maintaining the Freshers’ Fair but the reality was that it was absolutely no substitute for the real thing.

Consequently, most people have not had the chance to meet half as many people as they would in a normal year. This is, perhaps, the pandemic’s greatest impact on the Freshers experience.

If I had one piece of advice to all Freshers, I would encourage them to be as pro-active and persistent in finding things online as possible. It is so easy to miss information, especially given the amount of time we are spending staring at screens, and yet there are so many opportunities available if you search for them, alongside help, advice and support if required.

12 Features

epigram 24.11.2020

Unsplash / Emily Griffioen

COVID 19: A launchpad for student start-ups

Business as usual is still possible for new start-ups, even during the Coronavirus pandemic Jack Jacob Second Year Liberal Arts

I

n a recent interview, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban urged young jobseekers to have a good answer to the first question every in-

terviewer is going to ask: ‘What did you learn during the pandemic of 2020?’ In the beginning of March, a senior executive told me the same thing when he called to say the summer internship I hoped for had evaporated. He encouraged me to redirect my energy to a passion, something I could do to contribute to my community, so I’d have an answer when seeking an internship next summer.

The opportunity to develop or indulge a passion is typically a privilege associated with times of leisure,

not crisis. This time, it felt more like a wake up call, with a real urgency to understand more about my strengths and weaknesses, and to ask – and try to answer – the hard questions: What can I really do to help? What does my community need that I can actually provide? Do I have potential? What am I doing to get closer to reaching it? I was pondering all these heavy issues with my girlfriend, Jade, at her family’s home in Tockington.

New York City, where I’m from and my family were hunkered down, had

quickly become the epicentre of the So, we reached out to our volvirus, and after losing my uncle to unteer group to gauge interest, and COVID-19, my parents and I decided within hours we received our first it was safest for order of focacme to stay in the Our days in lockdown felt cia. In the weeks English countrythat followed more like an exciting, fulfilling Jade and I built a side where the inentreprenuerial adventure. thriving business fection numbers were still low. complete with a Tockington is a farming village lo- website, postcards, and we reached cated in South Gloucestershire, Eng- out to local news outlets for interland. The small town of under 500 views and advertising opportunities. people is part of the UK’s Green Belt After our online classes finished, JJ agriculture conservation initiative, Focaccia was our full time job – we and is full of rolling hills covered had entire workdays of baking, dewith green fields and livestock. Keen livering, social media management, to find a way to help out, we got in advertising, and accounting. We even touch with a local volunteer group linked our business to important and were eventually assigned to de- causes we believed in: Black Lives livering essential contact informa- Matter and NHS Charities Together. tion to the home-bound elderly. As Our days in lockdown flew and felt we biked around and interacted with far less like an aimless drift into the the community, we thought it would unknown and more like an exciting, be great if we could provide some- fulfilling entrepreneurial adventure thing people would find comforting. that did far more than give me an Coincidentally, our pastime of answer to an interview question. choice during our free time in the And while it didn't land us a spot house was bread-baking – we made on Shark Tank and a 50 per cent inloaf after loaf of brioche, challah, vestment from Mark Cuban himself, and finally focaccia, which proved to with olive oil-soaked hands and the be the biggest hit. That warm, yeasty, smell of rosemary permanently on cushion-like blend of olive oil, salt my clothes, it taught me the unanand rosemary seemed to us to be the ticipated upsides of uncertainty and ultimate comfort food. instability.

Epigram speaks to CoppaFeel! about educating students on the importance of being breast aware Freddie Grover Deputy Features Editor

F

or the second installation in our series focusing on the work of charities within Bristol, Epigram speaks to Coppa-

Feel!, a ‘breast cancer charity that educates young people about the importance of being breast aware in a light-hearted, proactive and empowering way.’

In the UK every year, there are around 55,200 new breast cancer cases, which accounted for 15 per cent of all new cancer cases in 2017.

With this in mind, the work being done by CoppaFeel! is helping to change the ways young people think about cancer.

Epigram spoke to Phoebe Lazell,

Student Campaigns manager for Epigram spoke to Jasmine Murdoch, CoppaFeel! who enlightened us on the student ambassador for Coppathis venture.

Feel! at UoB about all things Coppa‘There is currently a severe lack of Feel! within Bristol. cancer awareness ‘We are very within schools In the UK every year there lucky in Bristol leading to late because we have are 55,200 new breast managed to build presentation at cancer cases the GP and late a fabulous comdiagnosis of the munity over the disease.’ years; we couldn’t function half as Text reminders, appearances at fes- well as we do without it.' tivals, and billboard campaigns are There's a multitude of ways to get just some of the ways CoppaFeel! is involved, the best being signing up challenging this issue. to the SU mailing list and following The work that CoppaFeel! does is coppafeelbristol on Instagram. vital - young women aged 18-29 who are aware of the charity are 71 per cent more likely to check their boobs on a monthly basis. Of those surveyed, 51 per cent said the reason they checked their boobs regularly was due to CoppaFeel!

Within the University, CoppaFeel! is represented by the Bristol Uni Boob Team, an SU affiliated society aimed specifically at raising awareness within students and fundraising for the central charity.

Within universities, female students were 31 per cent more likely to check their boobs monthly after speaking to a member of the Uni Boob Team.

Students can also join the ‘booblove revolution’ through the subcommittee ‘Boobies’ who help CoppaFeel! spread the word about events as well as volunteering with hosting Bristol based events.

Finally, Jasmine stated ‘when we talk about “boobs” we are referring to the front part of the body, the chest. Breast cancer affects all genders therefore our message is aimed at guys, gals and non-binary pals.'

CoppaFeel! conveys a simple, but vitally important, message - check yourself regularly and help reduce the stigma surrounding breast cancer.

flickr / CoppaFeel!

flickr / CoppaFeel!

Increasing awareness of breast cancer in students

Opinion

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

Twitter: @EpigramOpinion

From student We shouldn't be protesting to student, stick during a lockdown to the lockdown rules!

Making the most of socialising before a lockdown is ok, but it must stop as soon as the lockdown begins

one for a walk, is the new version of asking someone for coffee and evenings are now spent on the sofa rather than at the pub. But just because your social life is slightly less hectic than before, that doesn’t give you grounds to break lockdown and Caitlin a party.

Palmer O'Shaughnessy have I will shout this from the rooftops First Year, Social Policy and Sociology if I have to: University is a bubble. s soon as Boris Johnson When we’re here, surrounded by made his speech telling us fellow students, it’s easy to forget we would be going back what’s going on in the outside world. into lockdown in a few short days, To many, COVID-19 is simply an I began planning annoyance that as many social means we can’t Just because you think events as I possi- you won’t infect anyone, go to the pub. bly could. From doesn’t mean you won’t. In actuality, this Sunday morning disease is killto Wednesday ing hundreds of evening, I was off seeing friends and thousands of people. To break locktaking in as much of the world as down and continue partying is supossible before lockdown began. premely disrespectful to those who Was this right? Should I have been have suffered as a result of COVallowed to do this? Coronavirus was ID-19 and to those who are working still very much present, and seeing tirelessly to save lives. more people in a more concentratYou might be sat there thinking ed time than usual could have just that as a student you’re not going added to the problem. Whilst it’s true to seriously infect anyone so why that this probably didn’t help with should you have to follow lockminimising the spread of COVID-19, down? Purely out of consideration neither did it pose a disproportionfor others. ate risk. The people I was interactJust because you think you won’t ing with were students, who I would infect anyone doesn’t mean you have seen anyway had the second won’t. If the moral justification isn’t lockdown not been introduced. Not enough to stop you breaking lockforgetting, everything I did was down then think about Christmas. completely allowed at the time.

Is breaking lockdown really worth However, while I am in full support endangering the health of so many of you having your ‘last hurrah,' that people? is where it has to stop.

Having said all this, winter is alAs the second lockdown comready mentally tough, and tacking mences, please just stick to the rules. on a lockdown on top of that will It’s really not that hard. In fact, it’s mean some people are really going nowhere near as hard as last time. to struggle. If you or someone you University is staying open and know is really struggling then reach most importantly, you’re allowed to out. Your mental health should take meet up with another person outside. priority at a time like this.

As I write this, I realise it doesn’t At the end of the day, I’m glad you sound like a lot; but in reality, the had your ‘last hurrah.' A chance to effects of these allowances should get it all out of your system before not be underestimated. lockdown began. But now that we’re Having University open and bein the midst of lockdown please stick ing able to still see people allows for to it. If you do it now, the sooner some degree of normality. Of course, we'll be out and things will be back things are different. Asking someto normal.

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Epigram / Georgiana Scott

The recent antilockdown protest in Bristol was a violation of our human rights Sebastian Topan Second Year, Law

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ou would be forgiven for thinking that it is within your human rights, and therefore morally justified, to exercise your right to freedom of expression through public protest. This was seen in Bristol’s city centre on Saturday 14 November, in order to defend another human right, that of liberty, during a national lockdown. But you would be wrong.

It must be established that this is not a question on your right to liberty, and nor is it a question on freedom of expression either. This is a question that concerns freedom of assembly: I am not writing about why the public protest took place, I am writing about why the physicality of the public protest should not have taken place during lockdown.

The right to freedom of assembly is interconnected with the right to freedom of expression. By facilitating effective forms of public protest, the former right provides a practical means by which the latter right can be exercised. However, civil liberties do not come without their constraints and these two freedoms are no exceptions.

The law has a difficult balancing act of, on one hand, upholding people’s civil liberties whilst simultaneously preserving social order and, in turn, the safety and health of the general public.

This balancing act is seen in the ‘European Convention on Human Rights’ (ECHR), which explains, in effect, why students should not be allowed to protest, in public, during a national lockdown.

Article 10(2) of the ECHR sets out the rare situations in which the right to freedom of expression must be curtailed: ‘[freedom of expression] …may be subject to…restrictions…as are prescribed by law…in the interests of…public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, [or] for the protection of health.’

What this is saying is that anyone can express their view but only if they do so in a way which does not put the safety of the public at risk or involve committing a crime.

Neither of these criteria were met during the public protest on the 14th. It occurred during a national lockdown, and therefore broke the law, in addition to endangering lives in the community, putting the public at risk.

This means that students, and anyone else, can be allowed to protest during a national lockdown but not in a way which infringes on the lockdown restrictions, so not in public.

Technology has made it easier than ever to communicate or promote a view, with a plethora of social media.

This enables like-minded individuals to organise and coordinate their efforts so as to maximise the impact of their message, whatever that might be. This form of protest is preferable given the current circumstances.

Article 11(2) of the ECHR stipulates the constraints on the right to freedom of assembly: ‘No restrictions shall be in place… other than…[those] prescribed by law in the interests of public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, [or] for the protection of health…’

This means even peaceful assemblies will be unprotected by the ECHR to the extent that it is ‘necessary in a democratic society’ to restrict such assemblies for any purpose set out in Art 11(2).

Therefore, freedom of assembly must be permitted except, and only to the extent, that its restriction is necessary. In the case of the public protest on Saturday, which was an assembly during lockdown, restrictions to this human right were indeed necessary.

The right to protest is then a qualified right, meaning that it must yield in the face of more compelling legitimate interests. Adhering to the national lockdown, in order to prevent people becoming infected, is certainly a compelling legitimate interest.

Therefore, people should not have felt entitled, legally or morally, to participate in this public protest, or indeed any public protest during a national lockdown. It is against their human rights to do so.

14 Opinion

epigram 24.11.2020

This lockdown feels eerily similar to the last, but it is not the same

Much of this lockdown will feel like the first to students, but there are some key differences Joe Watt

Second Year, English and History

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ere we go again. In a cyclical twist of fate, England has triumphantly whimpered into another lockdown.

The wind of the pub garden pillowing our sails has been punctured, to be replaced by the recognisable ghosts of isolations past. In short, it’s all a bit scarily familiar.

Through August and September our lives were expanding; we were eating out, helping out, and optimistically uninstalling zoom. Now they’re shrinking again, with the looming threat of the e-quiz reappearing on the horizon.

We had a brief affair with regularity before retreating back into our aerated households and socially distanced pairs. The street group chat, thought long-since buried beside the weekly clap, has made a triumphant return.

When lockdown initially hit in March, we were dispersed to entirely divergent living conditions. Some remained in Bristol accommodation, others moved back to family homes, some returned overseas. The list is endless. We all experienced lockdown differently yet, for all, it was a period far removed from the regular-

ities of University life.

Entering into November’s darker, colder sequel is incredibly daunting, there’s little anticipation of sourdough to come, only the collective groan of those who have now wasted their free Pret subscription month.

Although there is comfort to be found in the shared experience of a global disaster, having returned from our various, sprawling lockdowns to a flat or house or halls somewhere around the city, our lives are again blitzed into similarity.

There is solace in shared locations and schedules, but there will not be a singular, universal experience of this lockdown for students and, to suggest that one exists is alienating for those who can’t be ‘all in this together’.

As expected, there has been a slight exodus from Bristol, and for all a sense of loss; even though we are well-practised in the art of quarantine we don’t really have a handle on how this month will feel.

Teaching, from mid-March, mostly fell out the window, yet we are now firmly in the throes of a ‘post/during-Covid’ University.

Our schedules are expected to continue into ‘the new normal’ (potentially my least favourite phrase but would make a good pandemic tattoo).

This begs the pressing question, what will the cornerstones of this incarceration be? We could track the eras of our first lockdown into fairly defined sections: we had ‘Tiger King’, Captain Tom, and Dalgona coffee to

begin with, followed by jigsaws, Joe Wicks, and ‘Normal People’. We went from daily runs, to daily pints. The final phase and transition was from selling hand-embroidered masks to ‘Selling Sunset’.

This time around will feel different because we haven’t up to now, experienced a ‘regular’ taught term entirely consumed by a lockdown.

Countless people will not have the same comforts as last time, and countless still may be in a more comfortable position than in March but navigating this next month or so will take a great readjustment from all, no matter where we are.

There’s a phrase I’ve heard cropping up amongst students recently and can’t quite seem to grasp; ‘we move’. It translates, in my own understanding, to continuation regardless of setback, a modern day ‘keep calm and carry on’.

Living through the uncertainty and grief of a global pandemic sucks, no matter how you try and spin it.

It sucks that we can’t travel, or see friends, or go to a seminar without stewing in a flimsy, head-only sauna.

It sucks that we can’t hug, or sit in a pub, or breathe in a manner that doesn’t resemble hyperventilation while wearing glasses with a mask; and it sucks that University isn’t what we thought it would be this year. But it won’t last forever.

And with that being said, until then, I guess ‘we move’. Although, in a much more literal sense, we should really stay put.

Alice Proctor

Epicartoon: ‘The ‘Gift' that stole Christmas'

The New Bristolian: Contrary to the assertions of the Director of Public Health Bristol, this pandemic is not ‘a gift'

But Gray simply went too far she made it seem as if she had little Lowri Lewis sympathy for the negative effect this Opinion Columnist pandemic has had on us all, academically and personally. ometimes, it can be useful After all, she must be aware of to look on the bright side of the consequences it’s had for us so things. For a group of people far - like the dire situation of first whose mental health was worsening years, many of whom have had to even before Covid came into our self-isolate in the weeks before this lives, in this second lockdown, we’re lockdown even started, in accommoin need of some positivity more than dation with people they barely know. ever. But I was not the only one to And the situation isn’t much betfeel a sense of outrage when Brister for other years. Even in a flat tol’s public health director, Christina where you’re Gray, told us to consider this panThe impact the virus friends with the demic ‘a gift’ and is having on our lives people you live to be glad of the is not something to be with, periods of self-isolation and fact that we’re in disregarded lockdown can this ‘natural exincrease tensions periment.’ beyond a tolerable level. Arguments We’re less likely to be physically get much more heated than they vulnerable to the virus, that’s true. would under normal circumstances, But the impact that this virus is havand things which would normaling on our lives is not something to ly go under the radar are causing be disregarded. Rather than making stress-induced angry outbursts. us feel any better about the situaAnd that’s the situation for people tion, for many of us her words simwho are actually in Bristol - it’s hard ply made it feel like we weren’t supto imagine the level of stress that posed to be feeling the way we did. those on their year abroad must be That we should be taking advantage under at the minute. of the pandemic, not crying about it.

Particularly, in the knowledge that But we have every right to be sad a lockdown in their foreign counabout this. Our loved ones are at risk. try of choice could suddenly render It’s not ‘a gift’ to be unable to see them unemployed. family, or to have deadlines coming Being hundreds of miles away up with no chance of seeing friends from friends and family makes it an to take your mind off it. incredibly stressful time for many Gray also suggested that students anyway, so the added stresses that make ‘something out of awfulness,’ the pandemic causes are obviously but did we not learn in the first not going to be thought of as ‘a gift’ lockdown that pressuring yourself to these students. to be productive just makes you feel They aren’t going to feel priviworse? Considering the fact that leged to be living ‘one of the most most of our work has to be done at huge events’ in world history. None a desk which is one step away from of us are. the bed we sleep in, it’s hard enough It feels like anything but a privijust to get motivated these days. lege - telling students that it is just It must be said, that she was cleardemonstrates a complete lack of ly trying to make us feel better about compassion for those of us who’ve the situation we’re in, not worse. had mental health conditions worsPeople have tried looking on the en, family members get ill, or any positive side of Covid before with other number of the negative consesome success, and seeing the few quences of Covid happen to us. ways that it can have a positive imThis pandemic is not ‘a gift.’ Don’t pact on people’s lives does help to try to convince us otherwise. an extent.

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Opinion 15

epigram 24.11.2020

Rebuttal Corner Locking down with your Moving all flatmates is far more teaching online is fun than going home the most sensible thing to do Jack Foster

Third Year, Engineering Mathematics A rebuttal to our Opinion Editor's piece in Issue 350: ‘Lecturers should not be allowed to unilaterally decide whether their presence on campus is necessary' he University and College’s Union (UCU), as well as Bristol University’s own Student’s Union are all now calling for an end to non-essential face-toface teaching. However, in spite of this, the University remains resolute in its pursuit of ‘blended learning.’

It’s not unusual for unions’ demands to be ignored or flat out rejected. But for a University to be so willing to dismiss health-related concerns, reveals a peculiar sign of the times we live in. One can only assume that the reason for it is financial.

It appears as though the concern is that ending face-to-face teaching will invite a mass exodus of students and lead to thousands demanding refunds on their accommodation and tuition fees. To avoid this, anxious lecturers are being told that, despite a national lockdown, they have to carry on going in to work, teaching in poorly ventilated rooms, with potentially infectious undergrads and just a cloth mask and visor to protect them.

All the while, students who haven’t returned are being told not to worry as all of this in-person stuff can be done just-as-well online.

In reality, it’s hard to imagine this mass student exodus happening.

Most students already have so little face-to-face, that its unlikely to be the sole thing keeping them here. If anything, focusing purely on online teaching might improve the response to it.

The best lecturers are usually those that seem open, relaxed and excited about sharing their subject with students. These characteristics are dichotomous with those produced by the increased workload and stress of ‘blended learning.’

Stopping all non-essential faceto-face teaching would mean that lecturers would have more time to be creative with their online offerings. It would also allow students

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who aren’t attending in-person to feel less disadvantaged by it.

This is not to say that some lecturers aren’t happy to teach in-person.

In fact, many are. But for others, the reticence and fear of returning to campus remains a reality.

The University's response, that there is ‘no evidence of increased transmission within COVID-secure teaching and learning environments,’ is pretty laughable. As the old adage goes, ‘absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence.’

In fact, in all of the arguments for the continuation of ‘blended learning,’ there are only two points that seem at all compelling.

The first is that in-person teaching is important for student mental health. Of course, I have a lot of sympathy for this. Some students, especially those in first year, may well be dependent on in-person teaching for a lot of their meaningful social contact; not least when it comes to finding and interacting with course mates.

However, rather than passively depending on in-person teaching to protect student mental health, the University should be more actively increasing wellbeing support to help establish a truer sense of community across the virtual university world.

The second point is that ending face-to-face teaching now will encourage many students to leave their accommodation and go home; potentially further spreading the virus across the country. But this is bound to happen anyway. Whether we like it or not, students are going to be travelling home for Christmas.

I understand that this is a difficult time for university leaders. But the fact of the matter is, it can’t be taken for granted that students are immune to the effects of the virus or that they won’t pass it on to staff.

Far too many students already feel isolated from the communities they live in. Continuing non-essential face-to-face teaching will only make it harder for them to feel a part of the national lockdown effort and only make it easier for the scapegoating of them to continue. The best thing we can do now, is carry on listening to the scientific advice and carry on taking precautions.

Epigram/ Georgiana Scott

Having spent their first lockdowns with their families, many students have remained in Bristol with their housemates this time Tallula White

Third Year, English

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ocking down in Bristol this semester? Well, me too, along with the rest of my five-man flat. I don’t know about anyone else, but lockdown one was somewhat intense. Not due to the fact that there was, and still is, a global pandemic going on, but because it was my mother, my stepfather and I. Just the three of us, and not the way Bill Withers intended.

I live in the rural countryside, so when shops, pubs and everything else was shut down, I really had to face the derelict lifestyle. I know that nationwide, rural villages and cities alike were shut down. But anything would have been better than the daily routine that awaited me; being awoken at 5am by the idyllic cacophony of the rooster setting off the hens, alerting the world that morning really had broken. Or even the sounds of weening lambs baaing for their mothers, day-in and day-out. I knew no peace.

Most people my age could have walked to see their nearest friends and had a socially distanced cup of tea at least, to escape this. Unfortunately none of my friends were within walking distance. So, this wasn’t

sonal aims include doing the splits, even an option for me. Now, don’t being able to touch one’s toes get me wrong I love my family, but and being able to comfortably sit without my siblings, the first lockcross-legged on down became Activities will consist the floor. Every extremely monotof rude art, a pub crawl evening is group onous, as I’m sure from room to room and stretch time. I it did for a lot of wholesome colouring must confess other people too. that it is not as None of us peaceful as a yoga class with the were in Bristol for the first locksound of the boys shouting as their down. So, this lockdown, our flat hamstrings are too tight, but on the decided to stay in Bristol - I thought bright side: lower back pain is a it would be a nice change of scenthing of the past. ery and company from the chickens Other smaller activities will conand sheep. Also, what could be betsist of rude art, a pub crawl from ter than planning out our November room to room and wholesome colwith activities to do with the ones ouring sessions listening to our fayou live with and love? That’s right: vourite playlists.

Nothing.

As heartbroken I am that the pubs Organised fun is to be the best and restaurants won’t be open and outcome of this lockdown. socialising with other houses is still We have arranged a pizza and illegal, I am rather excited to spend paint night, where we order pizza, some quality time with my houseeat it and then proceed to execute mates. our best artistic skills onto the pizEveryone is always so busy that za boxes, because who can afford to it makes this lockdown a time to buy canvases? genuinely appreciate your flatmates Week two entails ‘Come Dine with rather than just seeing them at awkMe,’ where we will each cook a threewardly timed meals or just as they’re course meal and film our reactions leaving for classes. It is also a time to menu reveals and the presentation to ensure that those who don’t quite of each dish as well as the entertainpull their weight, finally deep clean ment of each night. the shower and loos.

Although, a tip for anyone who I am lucky enough to be able to might undertake this activity for stay in Bristol and experience this lockdown two with their flatmates wonderful city during a national would be to leave at least two days lockdown. I have a positive feeling between each night - one becomes that this lockdown will allow us all uncomfortably full after day two of to have a recalibration, focussing eating three coursers. on who is important to us and what We also thought we would track they bring to our lives. our flats’ flexibility progress. Per-

16 Opinion

epigram 24.11.2020

Movember 2020 - the most important moustache you'll ever grow Movember has started a very important conversation about men's health that is perhaps more significant now, than ever before Elin Alexander

Second Year, Politics and Social Policy

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he Movember movement started in Australia in 2003 when Travis Garone and Luke Slattery met up for a beer and a chat in Melbourne. They managed to recruit 30 men to sign up to the challenge and grow a moustache to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). After just one year the charity donated the biggest single cheque the PCFA had received. Since then, the charity has spread across over twenty countries

and has worldwide fundraisers. It cent of men said they wouldn’t menhas extended its reach to help men’s tion they were having problems too testicular cancer as well as working hard to cope with, highlighting the with men’s menneed to spark a tal health and su- The Movember campaign has discussion. icide prevention. been the difference between Although MoNow many of life and death for many vember is a charus know Movemity aiming to help ber to be an annual fundraiser among men in particular, it's not only men rugby players with World Cup sports- who are raising funds. In an attempt men signing up to the challenge an- to allow women to get involved, nually to prove that even players the Movember Foundation created playing a sport typically associated the ‘Make a Move’ campaign where with being manly are willing to dis- you can run or walk 60km over the cuss mental health. month in honour of the sixty men This is an attempt to disassociate lost to suicide every hour. This is a mental health issues with the idea of fantastic opportunity for women and weakness. According to a study by men, who really care about the isthe Movember campaign, 58 per cent sues Movember are trying to tackle, of British men would commonly talk to get involved. In addition to this about mental health to their friends of course, women have been making whilst only 50 per cent would com- donations to the cause and can also monly discuss this with their partner help by talking about mental health or family members. However, 25 per with men in an attempt to remove

the stigma surrounding the topic.

So why is Movember so important this year? In 2019 suicide rates in England and Wales were at the highest rate in twenty years with male suicide accounting for three quarters of these figures.

A spokesperson for the charity Mind stated that with more people seeking mental health support, the system needs to be equipped to deal with this and currently with rising suicide rates. It is clear that the system is currently failing the most vulnerable in society. The Movember campaign looks at mental health through a male lens with focus on prevention, early intervention and health promotion and an aim to reduce male suicides.

This campaign is therefore incredibly important as typically, mental health can be quite the taboo subject, especially among men. However

Movember has helped to start a conversation regarding mental health as well as providing the means to support those in need. Also, with COVID-19 and the lockdowns impacting people’s physical health tremendously, a significant lack of focus has been put on peoples' mental wellbeing. Some people develop new hobbies, eat cleaner and do more exercise over lockdown, but for others it hasn’t been so easy.

Those struggling with mental health issues and anxiety during this global pandemic have possibly faced the hardest year of their lives.

Movember’s work in filling the gaps in an exceptionally underfunded mental health system for many, has quite literally been the difference between life and death. So keep growing those moustaches and donating where you can, this charity really is doing some exceptional work.

Fireworks are the loudest silent killers of animals Bonfire night cast a harsh light upon the fatal effects that fireworks can have on animals and this should urge us to reflect upon the way we celebrate Holly Beaumont Features Investigations Editor

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umans engage in a lot of things at the expense of animal safety and well-being. Eating meat, deforesting their homes for agriculture, turning them into clothes, to name a few. But one thing that is not talked about nearly enough are the harmful effects that our lavish firework displays have on animals and wildlife.

If you are a pet owner, it is likely that you dread the arrival of November 5th just like I do. Guy Fawkes night which is typically extended over several days means discomfort, anxiety and potential health scares for our animals. And for us, it might mean having to hold them and try to calm their trembles or enduring their loud cries all evening without any means to help them. However, the sad truth remains; that if this is all you experience, you are actually fortunate. When many animals undergo

heart attacks due to shock, it seems a luxury that mine is only shaking in fear.

As humans, how can we justify this? How can we prioritise 20 something minutes of entertainment, knowing that we are putting animals under great distress and in some cases, bringing about their deaths?

It was revealed yesterday that the fireworks caused a huge tragedy in the heart of Bristol. A baby Zebra was born during the first lockdown in Bristol Zoo and was fittingly named Hope as they saw her birth as a bea-

con of hope during a tough time. The zoo announced that Hope is thought to have been killed by being startled by the loud firework displays on November 4th.

While the intention of those who put on local displays is clearly not to terrorise animals, unfortunate happenings like this, urge us to be more aware of the ramifications of the Bonfire night fireworks.

While I understand that this year has brought little reason to celebrate and people are yearning for celebration, this should not be at the expense

of animal safety. It seems there are mal-friendly. many solutions that could be put into There are also several petitions that place to combat this problem and had have garnered a groundswell of supthey been enactport, in favour of ed sooner, Hope People are yearning for alternatives to the might have surcelebration, but this usual displays. vived the season. should not come at the For example, one In fact, Bristol expense of animal safety petition on the Zoo are imploring UK government people to make other arrangements and parliament website is proposing in place of their typical fireworks that we bring about a limit to the and to bear in mind how these might sale and use of fireworks. This propaffect animals. One suggestion they osition seems very reasonable as it are championing is silent fireworks does not suggest the total banning or anything that might be more ani- of fireworks but simply proposes that we lessen their prevalence to lessen the unnecessary distress caused to animals.

This issue is even more pressing with the imminence of New Year’s Eve. Given the prominence of fireworks on this occasion, it is another tricky night for pet owners and animals. If enough people can learn from this Bonfire night tragedy, perhaps we will see a turn-around in the amount of firework displays on New Year’s Eve and consequently, no tragic losses for the start of 2021.

Bristol Zoo are understandably grieving the loss of their eight-month old Zebra and it seems that the only way to ensure that Hope’s death is not in vein, is to make the necessary changes to the way we choose to celEpigram / Edward Deacon ebrate events in the future.

Film&TV American Election special Editor Maddy Raven Digital Editor Katya Spiers Deputy Editor Sam Vickers

Twitter: @Epigramculture

Political TV shows to keep you entertained during lockdown

The US election made for gripping viewing, and there's lots more electoral viewing if you're missing the drama

little about the politics of the time, you can clearly tell what the writers are alluding to. Also, this show was partly the inspiration for the fantastic show Veep (2012), so you know this is going to be good!

Lauryn Clarke

The West Wing (1999-2006)

Third Year, History

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hether you spent last week religiously hitting refresh on Google or your news outlet of choice like me, or whether you only vaguely care, I think we can all agree that the 2020 United States Presidential election had people hooked. Here are a few suggestions of real-life and fictional political shows to keep you entertained!

Knock Down the House (2019) By far my personal favourite on this list, this documentary follows four women’s journey from primary challenges to established Democrat politicians in the 2018 election cycle.

Featuring possibly one of America’s most outspoken and inspiring politicians, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), in her primary challenge against Joe Crowley (who was at the time one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress), as well as Black Lives Matter activist Rep. Cori Bush (MI-01). This documentary shows the realities of running for election and makes you feel like

Netflix

you’re rooting for the underdog.

(P.S: You might want some tissues for the last 10 minutes).

Recount (2008)

This 2008 television film starring Laura Dern and Kevin Spacey is a political drama based on the Florida election recount in 2000 and the court case of Gore .v. Bush, which helped determine the winner of the 2000 US Presidential election.

Starting at the election on 7 November 2000 and closing out on the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling to stop the recount on 12 December, this film will have you hooked, despite probably already knowing the outcome. This film, although dramatised and definitely taking some creative liberties, shows just how tense the 2000 Presidential election (and American politics in general) can be, and the effect on those working behind the scenes. This election is still contentious 20 years later, so if you

want some knowledge on modern US political history, this is one to watch.

The Thick of It (2005-2012) Bringing the political action a little closer to home, The Thick of It is a British comedy show that is more light-hearted than others on our list.

This iconic show features the ever-quotable Malcolm Tucker (played

by Peter Capaldi) whose razor-sharp insults and quick delivery truly make the show as enjoyable as it is – you may have seen this clip from the show circulating over the past few months on social media.

Taking place in the fictional Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship, this is the ultimate political office show, especially for those who enjoy dark humour and British dry wit. Although the departments are fictional and the political parties are never named, if you know a

Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing follows the administration of Democratic President Jed Bartlett, who I would argue is the best fictional US President on TV. Tackling topics such as homosexuality, the 25th Amendment, and domestic and international terrorism, this show has been consistently praised for its handling of modern issues and allusions to controversial topics that were affecting the nation during the duration of the show’s run.

This praise was not unrewarded as

by the time the show had ended, it had collected three Golden Globes and a remarkable 26 Primetime Emmys.

This show is also credited with developing the ‘walk-and-talk' filming technique which just enhances the in-world feel to audiences. Heaping recommendations from political analysts, former White House staffers, and even Time Magazine listing it in the 100 Best TV Shows of All Time, this is always my go-to recommendation for anyone wanting to engage with a US political show.

These are some of the political shows that I find most engaging and enjoyable in the current climate but there are so many more including Designated Survivor (2019) and Veep, Scandal (2012).

Read the full article on Epigram's website!

IMDb

Despite its star power, Supernova is an inoffensive disappointment Even with two highly talented stars, this film is a muted, subdued and disappointing Julius De La Rama Film & Television, Third Year

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supernova is described as a powerful explosion of a dying massive star.

Something that is simultaneously beautiful and melancholic, it is an act of rebirth and life anew amongst heavy devastation. Despite having two highly talented stars (no pun intended) take the reins here, Harry Macqueen’s Supernova (2020) goes in the opposite route, deciding to be

a muted, subdued and overall disappointing effort.

Set primarily in the beautiful Lake District, we watch as Sam and Tusker (Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, respectively) spend as much time together – reuniting with friends and family on their journey – as Tusker has been diagnosed with early onset dementia.

Despite two lead performances that are pretty great and a pleasant change of pace for both Firth and Tucci, there isn’t enough substance in Supernova for me to have any genuine attachment to any one thing that the film has to offer. Every act is driven by this force of inescapa-

bility and inevitability, and all things considered, Supernova finds peace in that. But it comes at the cost of an engaging story. It re-treads the ideas of conventional romance dramas of the same ilk, follows a structure that is so neat that it doesn’t separate itself from its contemporaries and disappears among them.

There is a warmth to Supernova that is almost tangible; I was ever so close to feeling the gentle, quiet breeze of the Lake District, I nearly found myself getting lost in the wonderfully simple familiarity of the gathering of friends and family. Unfortunately, there just was not enough depth to anything or anyone

for me to fully immerse myself in the emotion of almost any scene. The interactions do, on the other hand, feel genuine.

There’s a scene around the midpoint of the film in which Sam and Tusker have to occupy a single bed.

Their chemistry is wonderful and the simplicity of this scene worked effectively. It’s the only scene I can still clearly remember; intimacy and humour going hand-in-hand allowing these characters to be much more than their limitations.

That’s where I found myself most frustrated with Supernova. The film doesn’t exist anywhere outside its melancholia. An extra twenty or

thirty minutes would not go amiss if it dedicated itself to fleshing out these characters more and not merely placing them in such a confined box. The performances are doing all the heavy lifting but that can only go so far when the rest of the film is providing very little.

However, if you are looking for a lazy Sunday watch, I would still recommend Supernova. Your mileage may vary, but it is the type of British film that can easily tug on the heartstrings for those that have an affinity to Firth and Tucci; it is inoffensive and relatively easy to watch.

I just left the film wanting much, much more.

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epigram 24.11.2020

The best films and series to stream this lockdown Now that we're in the midst of another lockdown, we've all got more time to sit back and watch these must-watches Ellie Kenny Film & Television, Third Year

Mad Men (2007-2015)

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he noughties are rightly praised with producing some of the greatest TV shows in history, and Matthew Weiner’s Mad Men sits amongst the best. Mad Men chronicles the lives of those employed by an established advertising agency based in New York, delving into personal lives and working relationships adjacent to one of the most turbulent and change inducing decades in American history; the 1960s.

The show’s brilliance can be credited to Weiner’s acute attention to

detail, be it through visual aesthetics (apparently even the weather is accurate to the day), or the ways in which each character exists within the show’s timeline.

Jon Hamm’s lead performance as Don Draper is deservedly acclaimed, offering a complex and morally challenging depiction of the American Dream and at what cost it can be achieved. So, cosy up and settle in for hours of slick sixties suave, or if you’re in need of making a night in quarantine a little more fun, you can always take a shot whenever someone lights up a cigarette.

Time (2020)

I was lucky enough to catch Time as part of the BFI London Film Festival and was elated to see it has arrived on to Prime Video.

This was to bask in adoration and appreciation of the film’s central message: one of unbreakable hope and perseverance, albeit the result of

injustice that is familiar to too many families.

Time follows Sybil ‘Fox’ Richardson’s life span over two decades, raising a family and establishing herself as a respected entrepreneur, all while campaigning for the release of her husband.

Bradley’s ever sensitive hand serves to highlight the consequential realities for black families who experience the cruelty of the American Justice System first-hand. It offers an insight into how the Richardson family managed to progress under the weight of absence; of a husband, of a father, of privileges granted to white counterparts. The combination of stunning black and white home videos alongside Bradley’s own footage only make the story ever more visceral. Inspiring, eye-opening, and showcasing a new exemplary voice in cinema, I cannot think of a more essential viewing for this moment.

Below Deck (2013-)

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I can wholeheartedly and without an ounce of shame say that Below Deck is one of my favourite things I have watched in quarantine, and one of the most binge-worthy pieces of television to grace streaming services all year.

A true gem in the never-ending pit of reality shows, Below Deck has mastered the recipe for justifiable

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trash. First airing in 2013, the show follows a group of young yachties making their living on a 100ft vessel, going above and beyond to appease millionaire guests, and the ever-high-strung Captain Lee. While the staff are a colourful mix of characters who will certainly extract a strong love or hate reaction from you, the insight into the heinous and mysterious behaviours of those with enough dosh in their pockets to regularly charter these extraordinary boats is a unique one.

It’s never plain sailing when a group of absurdly rich people are confined to a boat with overworked staff, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the chaos.

The Last Dance (2020)

If, like myself, you know nothing about sport, let alone 90s basketball, don’t let that deter you from delving headfirst into The Last Dance. You

will embark into an exceptionally unique tale of a never-ending pursuit of greatness.

The Last Dance is Michael Jordan’s showcase, and as one of the most iconic sporting figures to ever exist, it feels appropriate that this series goes above and beyond to cover the Chicago Bulls reign in the 1990s.

The Last Dance highlights deserved moments and personalities, as well as never before seen insight into the Bulls’ 1997-98 season, shot on stunning 16mm footage. You will be jumping for joy one second and glassy eyed the next, observing Jordan’s most personal moments a little too intimately at times.

It's difficult to believe that any of this actually happened, which is an ode to Jordan’s individuality as a player. I quite frankly envy anyone who gets to experience it all for the first time.

Is there a correct way to show war on screen?

Early cinema was often propagandistic but do newer films manage to capture war accurately?

Harry Stringer Classics, Third Year

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ince its inception in 1919, Remembrance Day has been characterised by its sombre tone and a firm declaration that the violence and loss of life seen in the First World War (1914-1918) and later in the Second (1939-1945) must never happen again. However, this solemn attitude, borderline condemnatory of war, has often been at odds with another notion: the patriotic military hero-worship that pervades our culture. The narrative surrounding military remembrance has therefore often walked the line between sombre commemoration and pro-war propaganda, and nowhere does this oxymoron manifest more than in film.

Representation of war in film undoubtedly has its roots in propaganda, as is seen in Tearing Down the Spanish Flag (1889), a silent film

made a year after the invention of as All Quiet on the Western Front the medium. Created during the (1930), tend to occur at least a decade year of the Spanish-American War, after the war in question, with the it solely depicts the lowering of the objectivity of hindsight and without contemporary Spanish flag before the necessity of wartime morale. its subsequent replacement with the Films on the subject of the Vietnam Stars and Stripes.

War released earlier in the conflict Only 26 years later The Birth of a tended to demonise the enemy and Nation (1915) would be released. The glorify the American soldier, accordlongest film ever made at the time, it ing to the work of Martin Novelli. depicted a relatively complex account However, films released during and of a Northern and Southern family after the 1970s, after the continuing through the American Civil War, in war became increasingly unpopular which the Ku Klux Klan are present- with the American people, lean toed as national heroes and African wards the ‘war is hell’ narrative so Americans (primarstrongly assoily played by white ciated with the The Birth of a Nation actors in blackface) Vietnam War, was disturbingly the as unintelligent and classics first motion picture to with lecherous criminals. be screened at the White like Apocalypse Though a virulently Now (1979) and House racist work of reviFull Metal Jacket sionist history, The Birth of a Nation (1984) depicting the dehumanising was disturbingly the first motion pic- effect war had on its soldiers. ture to ever be screened at the White Despite its different origins to House. these films, in place and time, ReMany of the films made during and membrance Day invokes a similar briefly after both World Wars were idea with Wilfred Owen’s oft-recited intended to boost morale and affirm poetry decrying “the old lie: dulce et the moral superiority of whichever decorum est”. In this, it is recognised country made them. that while the two World Wars were Meanwhile, the most prominent neither sweet nor honourable, they anti-war films in this period, such were necessary.

So, where does this leave the modern war film genre? Modern war film as a genre seems to synthesise these two narratives both in its treatment of past conflicts and current or recent ones.

Last year’s release 1917 (2019) shows a pair of young soldiers’ harrowing journey across the WWI battlefield, and thus fits comfortably in the ‘war is hell’ category. The use of several continuous shots, giving the illusion of one long shot, immerses the audience in the unending fatigue of the battlefield. However, there are moments throughout the film, such as the betrayal of the plucky British soldiers by a downed German pilot whom they help, which are reminiscent of the black-and-white portrayals of differing nationalities in contemporary WWI media.

American Sniper (2014), released only 3 years after the end of its respective conflict, the Iraq War, does not shy away from the horrors of military service, portraying the violence imposed by both sides upon non-combatants and children. However, it also makes very little effort to disprove the main character Chris Kyle’s (Bradley Cooper) several references to his Iraqi opponents as

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‘savages’, a view held by the real-life sniper upon whom the film is based.

It is no doubt a good thing that the soldier’s prejudices are shown, rather than erased. But, in refraining from portraying the religious and political nuances that existed among Iraq’s civilians and combatants, the invasion is retroactively justified in the minds of its largely American audience.

Military remembrance is a multi-faceted issue, balancing the evil of war with its sometime necessity and the glory of battle with its supposed futility.

This provides a more realistic view of war instead of adhering to a sole narrative but in portraying the horrors of war through the lens of blackand-white, patriotic morality, there is a risk of deadening their impact.

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epigram 24.11.2020

Donta Storey reminds us to be the sweet amongst the sour Epigram spoke to Donta Storey about their award winning short film, LiME, and their production process Maddy Raven Film & TV Editor

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onta Storey is a non-binary, Black, and queer filmmaker from Compton, California on the rise. Their film LiME was an Official Selection at this year’s Outfest Fusion Film Festival after a successful festival run that took the film from San Francisco’s Black Film Festival to the DC Film Festival.

Donta also has a short film Dooley Does Murder! in production which they wrote and will star in and will also film their debut feature film Boys Like Us come this December.

We were given the opportunity to speak to Donta about LiME, their upbringing, and their filmmaking process. Having cited Michaela Coel

and Issa Rae as inspirations, they are a voice of advocacy for queer, Black youth in filmmaking, and certainly one to watch.

LiME stars Urian Ross as a young man auditioning to be part of his local community majorettes’ team. This is a typically female-dominated sport and past-time, and he must face the disapproval of his peers while following his dream.

‘Casting LiME was a delight, I feel very lucky to have found the talent that I did for this film,' says Storey, but when choosing an actor to play their younger self, Ross was a clear choice: ‘he brings such an energy to the film, a very special vulnerability. Working with Allana Barton who portrays the matriarch in the film was also such a delight, she is such a talent – and I can’t wait to work with her again.'

In fact, LiME is incredibly autobiographical – it’s based on events of Storey’s youth. They were in the drum squad for their local community, and they were a majorette. ‘I also wanted to celebrate and showcase a

part of the culture I’m most proud of.

We have so many dance teams, drill, and majorette squads in the urban communities and it goes all the way up to HBCUs. Howard and Clark University are among some of the best to do it.'

T h e main crux of the film is a monologue by Allana Barton, about choosing to be the ‘sweet amongst the sour', and showing kindness to those who choose to live their lives as

As both the director and writer ‘sour.' Though it doesn’t seem that there truly is a lime famous for its of the film, the filming process was very involved. sweetness, all of the Over two very words come from ‘Be the person you needed long days, LiME Storey: ‘As a when you were younger' was born, and the community writer, I try my best to in Compton supported the subject approach stories matter: in fact, this made Storey’s from an authen- experience as a new director as ‘easy tic space, and I as pie.'

In fact, Compton ‘represents itself remember hearing a quote once pretty well... LiME captures the city

by Ayesha Siddiqi through my eyes in such a beautiful that reads “be the way, and I hope anyone who watchperson you needed es see the softer side of the city. A when you were young- friend of mine has a company called er," and the monologue Beautiful Complication, and I would the grandmother in the describe Compton that way – there is film delivers is my way of a lot of stuff that can be complicated fulfilling that for myself about its roots, but there is so much and hopefully for the beauty in it.'

Despite being a new director, Stoaudience.' rey is not new to filmmaking – having started in theatre, and as an actor, storytelling is their bread and butter.

Alesha Bush

Read the full article on Epigram's website!

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Editor's Picks: Political Films ht

Maddy Raven Film & TV Editor

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House of Cards (2013-2018)

ouse of Cards is an adaptation of the 1990 mini-series by the BBC of the same name.

It’s not for the faint hearted. Despite the considerable debate around the show given accusations levelled towards lead actor Kevin Spacey and his subsequent removal from the show, the content itself remains morally ambiguous.

When Frank is denied the role of Vice President after having served as the majority whip for the Democratic Party for years, and despite promises made to him, the Underwoods scheme to enact revenge on the new president and to fast forward their climb to power.

Watching the two of them take on the world and literally burn every bridge they have in order to accumulate more power is fascinating. Everyone in this show is genuinely a horrible person, and I love it.

Sam Vickers

Film & TV Deputy Editor

Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

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his satirical masterpiece from Stanley Kubrick sees the comeidic genius that is Peter Sellers masterfully switching between playing three separate characters, as the US government desperately tries to call off a missile strike authorised by a rogue General, hilariously named ‘Jack D. Ripper.’

Released during the Cold War, Kubrick persistently mocks the idea of nuclear attacks from the Soviet Union throughout with his bold satire and archetypal character. Peter Sellers steals the film with superb acting, arguably peaking in the final ten minutes when we finally meet the eponymous Doctor, who is obviously an escaped Nazi eugenicist using a pseudonym.

With undoubtedly excellent comic timing throughout, the film runs at only 102 minutes, and is a romp from start to finish.

Katya Spiers

Film & TV Digital Editor

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Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)

f the current political climate is a little too bleak to warrant a watch of any seriously politically-minded TV, then Parks and Recreation is the perfect way for you to get into Election Day spirit while still maintaining a safe social distance.

Set in the fictional Indiana town of Pawnee, the series follows the trivial pursuits of the town’s Parks Department as they attempt to transport Pawnee from obesity epidemic to lush green paradise.

With an America’s best-of-a-bad-bunchcandidate cameo and a running joke that Leslie’s dream man ‘would have the brains of George Clooney, and the body of Joe Biden’ — which may be a little close to the bone — Parks and Recreation has certainly lost none of its relevance. And with seven long seasons to get through, it is absolutely the perfect series to see you through to the end of lockdown number two.

Layla Nathan

Film & TV Subeditor

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Scandal (2012-2018)

f you love politics and intrigue and you love it a bit sexy, then you’ll love Scandal (2012). Perfectly filled with romance and pure scheming this show is House of Cards (2005) mixed with Grey's Anatomy (2005-).

In fact, it may not be a surprise that Grey's Anatomy shares its producer and show writer with Scandal. Shonda Rhimes is a showrunner, creator, head writer, and executive producer of many television shows such as Private Practice (2007), How to Get Away with Murder (2014), The Catch (2017), and Station 19 (2018).

Starring Kerry Washington, Scandal is the perfect lockdown show to binge-watch alongside the American election. Scandal received a Peabody Award and Washington was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Emmy. I promise if you give it a watch, you’ll get hooked and see why.

Arts

Editor Anjuli Vadera Digital Editor Dulcie Godfrey Deputy Editor Katie Chalk

Twitter: @EpigramCulture

In conversation with FUZE managing director, Pippa Adamthwaite-Cook

Anjuli Vadera Arts Editor

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UZE is the UK’s largest student-run collective of creatives. Established in 2003, FUZE has developed and transformed, moving away from solely focusing on the main fashion, dance and music show and placing more emphasis on developing itself as a brand. This year marks a shift in how FUZE has decided to go about its organisational process and is now focusing on their strong core values and bringing it back to basics.

Pippa explained: ‘We are trying to ground the brand in core values, looking at how we can make it

strong and recognisable, ideally we want to become more than our annual show, we want to become an organisation based around supporting young creatives.

‘We have changed our tag line to be truer to our brand: FUZE is trying to showcase a collective of creatives, placing emphasis not only on the performers, models and musicians but also everything that goes into making the main spectacle happen.’

This includes workshops, blog writers, the commercial team, artists and a spectrum of other roles that when fused together (no pun intend-

that people actually want to see,' she added.

Undoubtedly, this all sounds incredibly exciting, but nevertheless, a raging pandemic stands in the way of a lot of young creatives trying to showcase their work and indeed their creativity this year. Pippa delved into how FUZE is coping during lockdown.

‘We are constantly having to adapt to changing government guidelines, as students it has been really interesting learning how to cope with that, writing guidelines, running a three-day casting with over 300

called FUZE at home, led by our artistic brand director Sophie. We have tried to find ways in which people in the comfort of their own home can engage with FUZE. Our musicians are launching a series of Instagram lives featuring performances and interviews. Dance is working on an Instagram reels competition, a kind of Tik Tok dance thing that people can get involved from home. There is the chance to win some amazing prizes like memberships to motion studios,’ she enticingly added.

Further to this, this years cohort of models not only got the chance to

We wanted people that tell a story, people that are unique, have personality, power, strength... specifically within female performers ed) create a fabulous show.

‘We want to have an active role in activism and social justice while also being a brand that produces events

people while also maintaining social distancing.’

‘Now being in a new lockdown, we are focusing on a new initiative

audition for the FUZE show, but get scouted by leading model agency, Select Models.

‘We were in contact with Select,

FUZE

Epigram sat down with Pippa, a third-year theatre student and this year's managing director of FUZE, to glimpse behind the elusive velvet curtain of this years show

and they asked if they could collaborate with FUZE and come along to castings. For the first time we really put a lot of effort into advertising.

We even had someone from Sheffield travelling down, who is now in the show. We had people from everywhere, UWE and members of the Bristol community.’

I proceeded to ask what they were looking out for in the casting process? Pippa replied boldly, ‘We wanted to create a space, where in the final show, every spectator could identify with the range of models trying to break down traditional beauty standards.

‘We had a big meeting with the creative directors and worked on questioning pre-existing biases, questioning what beauty means. It was really fascinating because we have been preconditioned to adhere to what society makes you to think of as “pretty."'

I felt I had to chime in and agree with Pippa there. From my personal experience with brands, a very homogenised beauty ideal is perpetuated, time and time again. This is especially true with social media platforms that promote a ‘cookie cutter’ aesthetic, and can often bring you to quesiton your self-worth.

Pippa brings me out of my revelatory daze stating: ‘We didn’t want that, instead we wanted people that tell a story, that are unique, have personality, power, strength... specifically within female performers.’

Once again, I couldn’t help but allow my inner thoughts to churn.

This is exactly what we need in a time of uncertainty when for so many people social media enables a much-needed escapism, we are bombarded on a daily, even hourly, basis with unrealistic beauty ideals that breed anxiety and self-loathing.

Organizations like FUZE anchor us and remind us that there is no perfect state. It is truly more beautiful to have confidence and power than be defined solely by your aesthetics.

If you are interested in getting involved with the show then you can find more information on FUZE's website.

To read the full length interview visit www.epigram.co.uk

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epigram 24.11.2020

Coffee, tears, Netflix and... more coffee: A week in the life of a student writer

Nyse Vincente

Second Year, French & Russian

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h, writing. That overly romanticised thing that keeps you awake at night and leaves you with dark circles and a long to-do list. If that sounds pessimistic, you're welcome. Writing is a messy process (heck, any creative work is chaotic). You're responsible for your deadlines, still have to keep up with homework (walking into a lesson with a manuscript and half unbuttoned sailor's shirt to look like a poet won't work). Oh, you also need to find friends, because hey, I am a student still and want to have a life (emphasis on want).

So, when I was asked if I could

write this piece, I didn't know what I was doing. Which is unsurprising since I'm still trying to figure what a week in my life is like. But anyway, buckle up, you're about to get a taste of the sweet life of a tortured writer.

while some of the phrases worked in English, they definitely won't do in French. But it is ok: I like a challenge.

Monday

In between finding time with friends, doing univeristy work (more assignments), my motivation to write has been completely diminished.

Solution for the day? Go to the nearest cafe, grab a hazelnut hot chocolate to feel chic and read some of Epigram's previously published stories. That might sound vain, but it was worthwhile to look back to the past for inspiration.

It put things in perspective: I remembered that people can do stuff when they actually try. Okay, let's go. One word at a time.

After an evening of lessons and homework (yeah, that's a thing, who knew?), I almost didn't get any writing done. Then I remembered, I need to get my academic writing done or, I can't do what I want which is to write. Being the model modern languages student that I am, I crack open my writer's notebook and keep going with the current project I'm undertaking. Translating a children's story I had written in English into French.

A few paragraphs later, I find that literary translation is 1.) Difficult. 2.)

Satisfying. The wordplay, metaphors and sentence structures that give me a headache. But at the same time, the wordplay, metaphors and sentence structures make the process entrancingly beautiful. A few sentences in and it's obvious that

Tuesday

interesting! A catastrophic event involving my little sister, a can of deodorant and my hand has left me unable to write—by hand at least. So it's all been laptop today. Which you know, is weird because I'm the queen of carrying a thousand notebooks for Just About Everything. And I mean everything.

I ask my notebooks: should I buy cream-crackers? It might seem silly.

But it is good to write everything

down. Regardless, with a slightly hurt hand and resolute determination, I get to work on my laptop.

Friday

After a year abroad meeting that went on for three hours, writing had to be left behind. Ah, it's alright.

There's always tomorrow. And we all know that will consist of coffee, coffee, more coffee, typing, then more coffee.

Wednesday

That is all that happened today.

I wrote one word. And another.

And kept going. Sorry, it doesn't get more interesting than that.

Isla Leckie

Writers block, procrastination and copius amounts of hot, caffienated drinks.

We follow the trials and tribulations of a student attempting to be creative

Thursday

As it turns out: life does get more

Student Art Showcase

Embroidery By Anna Liberty, Third year, Art History

Collection of life drawing sketches by Isla Leckie, Third year, Anthroplogy

If you would like your Art to be featured please email arts. epigram@gmail.com or contact us on facebook via Epigram Arts Writers 2020/21.

22 Arts

epigram 24.11.2020

Double double toil and trouble, Brexit talks and COVID bubbles!

In these times of change and uncertainty, Erin Dearglove reflects on some lessons we might learn from Macbeth's witches Erin Dearlove Third year, English

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The three witches in Macbeth are often compared to the fates of ancient mythology: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. The witches prophesise the fates of Macbeth and Banquo, tantalising them with riddles. ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair;’ all is not what it seems they warn.

Our modern world, too, is fraught with ambiguity. We summon news headlines at the click of a button – written by someone with their own opinion and predictions, much like the witches. Even if the facts are accurate, they are used to relay a particular viewpoint - just as the speech of Shakespearean characters

Penguin Random House

acbeth's Witches use the word ‘Hurly-Burly’ to refer to the disturbance of war. It means commotion, tumult,

strife, uproar, turmoil, and confusion. I can’t think of a better word to describe the times we are living through today.

With the Coronavirus pandemic, ongoing Brexit negotiations and the bitterly contested US presidential election, we are experiencing a particularly distinct period of uncertainty. Uncertainty that is undeniably amplified by social media.

It is almost as if we too are standing on a heath in a storm amid thunder and lightning, as the Witches are at the beginning of Macbeth. Yet, this isn’t a new phenomenon. Life is (and has always been) stormy.

Molly Downham Third year, English

As we approach the height of a second national lock-down, the thought of setting up Zoom for another pub quiz seems unbearable. Netflix has been exhausted.

Girl, Woman, Other

summer afternoons have since been replaced with groggy student apartments and dark winter nights.

Thankfully, novels by female authors are being speedily released, books reflecting positive or powerful social commentary. So, indulge feminist literature this lockdown: it might help us feel slightly better about the world again.

Penguin

in some fiesty and feel-good

in the green room sipping mineral water before being called on to announce our fate' on CNN. Like Macbeth, we live in a world full of predictions. As Lilla suggests, in the realm of politics we cannot predict with any certainty what is going to happen next. Even what we take as fact is often based on probability, as physicist Carlo Rovelli has pointed out: ‘The idea of something being scientifically proven’ is ‘practically an oxymoron' as ‘the very foundation of science is to keep the door open to doubt.'

Certainty, then, it's as implausible as attempting to control the weather. The question is, what can we do amidst the storm to stay grounded? How can we keep our feet planted firmly and not get swept up and blown away? As Shakespeare demonstrates in Macbeth, it is

Elizabeth Day

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ritten in the innovative form of ‘fusion fiction,' Girl, Woman, Other is centred around radical lesbian playwright, Amma. The narrative proceeds to slip into the lives of Black, mostly female, but with one non-binary, characters. No two characters are alike. Their lineage and experiences show ‘Black’ to be a state of being that is heterogeneous, multi-faceted, and deeply inspiring.

The Vanishing Half Brit Bennett

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oetic and energic, The Vanishing Half is far the best book I read this summer. Bennett creates a masterful portrait of twin sisters, Desiree and Stella as her two leading ladies. After growing up in a Black community in the south, the girls escape.

The plot sprawls across the Deep South into California throughout the 1950s into 1990s, covering American history and geography with contemporary understanding. It raises questions about class and racial identity so beautifully executed. I cannot recommend this book enough.

only our reaction to the storm that we can control.

The witches’ prophecies of promotion and royalty tempt Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to act. They go extreme lengths, even regicide, to ensure that the

‘Hurly-Burly’... I can’t think of a better word to describe the times we are living in today

How to Fail

Bernadine Evaristo

Waterstones

Feel-Good Feminist Fiction

is often motivated.

In an article for the New York Times Mark Lilla, professor of humanities at Columbia University, recently called former prime ministers ‘less flamboyant' modern-day ‘prophets' who ‘sit meekly

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ringing some much needed positivity into lockdown living, How to Fail is a sentimental reminder that everyone gets it wrong. Part-memoir, part-manifesto, it is based on the hugely popular podcast of the same title. It combines celebrity interviews with personal experiences such as ‘How to Fail: at Babies’ and ‘How to Fail: at Anger’. Structurally flawless, it completely shifts my perspective on female rage and how modern sexism manifests itself.

witches’ predictions come true.

Yet once King, this is still not enough: ‘Tell me more' Macbeth demands, preoccupied with his legacy. Lady Macbeth is driven into a kind of psychosis and ultimately to suicide. In trying to seize his destiny and control the future, Macbeth’s own outlook on life becomes futile, ‘tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.' he despairs.

Banquo is not so easily led. After enquiring his fate, he treats the Witches predictions with suspicion. He warns Macbeth ‘oftentimes, to win us to our harm / The instruments of darkness tell us truths / Win us with honest trifles, to betray's in deepest consequence.’ Like Banquo, we must therefore watch out for these instruments of harm: the truth these days is no longer eternal.

Women Don’t Owe You Pretty Florence Given

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efore being forced to read this book I was a harsh Florence Given sceptic. I felt her take on feminism was white-hot and only digestible to a privileged audience. I think I might have been slightly wrong.

Women Don’t Owe You Pretty is an accessible introduction to feminism. It covers broad topics from the body to intersectionality.

Most importantly, and right now, I think we all need a little more empowerment.

BOOK

CORNER

Music

Editor Lucas Arthur Digital Editor Greg Evans Deputy Editor Flora Pick

Twitter: @EpigramCulture Spotify: epigram_music

Behind the scenes at HUBB Records Epigram Music in conversation with BIMM's own student run record label Lucas Arthur & Lauren Paddison Music Editor, Music Subeditor

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f you’re interested in student music, you’ll doubtless have heard of BIMM Institute (British and Irish Modern Music). The music college has campuses in music hubs across the UK and Europe, in places such as Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, London and Bristol. With an intense focus on industry specific roles, it boasts plenty of famous alumni; artists such as George Ezra, James Bay, Tom Odell, Fickle Friends, and more locally, IDLES’ Jon Beavis were all formerly enrolled. As a springboard for young talent, its Bristol campus is no exception.

HUBB Records, established 2018, is a record label run by and for students of BIMM Institute, Bristol. Label manager Eva Lepikov spoke to Epigram Music about the beginnings of HUBB – ‘Each BIMM campus has their own annual album project, which is a part of BIMM’s strategy to support and offer professional opportunities to students. But Bristol’s campus decided to develop that idea and put together a label that’s run by students. So essentially, it’s a way for students to gain experience in both working for a label and being signed to one. This year is Volume III of HUBB Records, so I’d say it’s still a fairly new project.’

The label’s PR manager, Summer Bolitho, also spoke to us about the unique benefits that separate them from larger labels – ‘HUBB possibly came together quicker than a stereotypical record label. BIMM have been able to provide financial backing for our artists and the facilities they need for a release, such as studios and producers. It also meant we didn’t have to go artist scouting as a lot of people had heard about HUBB and were interested in getting involved.’

For those not familiar with the inner workings of the music industry, it can sometimes be hard to establish what role a record label plays in the wider music world. ‘Traditionally record labels were, and to an extent still are, gatekeepers’, says Lepikov; ‘in the traditional music industry,

they had the money, the contacts and the power to either make or break an artist. A record label will invest in an artist financially, but also their time and efforts, to give the artist the best means to reach their goals.’ Lepikov also remarks on the differences between types of record labels, commonly divided as majors or independents.

‘Majors are the ones with huge resources and power,' he says, ‘which is what some artists want and need.

Indies can offer other benefits, such as a very personal approach and

pled with an artist’s greater ability to independently release content, means that the importance of record labels has been somewhat clouded.

And yet, Bolitho is solid in her conviction on the importance of independent labels: ‘They’re important because being signed to a label can be the difference between an artist making a living from their music, and an artist struggling to get their music played.

This is what is especially great about independent labels; they really do support people’s journeys and listen

since lockdown began in March. ‘I’m immensely proud of our team this year’, says Lepikov. ‘I’ve witnessed a bunch of almost strangers becoming good friends over Zoom over the past eight months, step-by-step working towards a common goal.' There’s somewhat of a silver lining, too: ‘it's exciting to see music consumption going up and vinyl and merch sales still doing well. And the industry has been adapting to new technologies and coming up with creative ways to share musical experiences.’

With so many students at BIMM

to what an artist wants. It’s great for HUBB because there will always be artists at BIMM who stand out and really should be getting their music heard.’

Having the support of a label is especially important now; it’s a gloomy time for live music and entertainment, and Lepikov is understanding, saying: ‘It’s a very worrying for everyone that understands the importance of live music.’

Running the label hasn’t been easy – studio sessions and photoshoots, both essential for promoting an artist, have been delayed indefinitely and meetings have all been online

Bristol, HUBB records only takes the best. ‘We look for artists that stand out, that offer something fresh and interesting’ says Bolitho. ‘This year we purposefully chose a mixture of genres, as we thought it would be important to showcase a variation of styles and cater to wider audiences,’ Lepikov adds. ‘Applications for HUBB Records are open for everyone that studies at BIMM. The applications also go around various industry professionals, but eventually the choice is up to the team. We look at artists’ potential – how unique they are and how much motivation they display. HUBB is all about develop-

HUBB Records

more creative development. Releasing music often requires quite a bit of money and other resources, such as access to studios and industry contacts: it’s where record labels often have a massive advantage.'

Independents like HUBB combine the best of both worlds, by giving the artist the means to be their most authentic self and not taking away creative control, whilst offering the assistance and support in any way they can.

As streaming services have taken over consumer practices, the revenues gained from putting out a record have fallen sharpy. This, cou-

ment, and we’re there to give everyone, no matter their position, the chance to be amplified to kick start their careers.’

Staying true to the ethos of the label, Bolitho establishes diversity and individualism as key factors in all elements of production. ‘I think the future of HUBB will show that even more than this year's volume III. This year we’re working with Folk to Drum & Bass to Lo-Fi and Indie, so we’re not limiting ourselves at all.

I would say that determination and talent unites them, especially this year, seeing as things really have been tougher than previous due to lockdown restrictions.’

Recognising the importance that the city of Bristol has in the larger UK music scene, Bolitho mentions how privileged she feels to be working in the very heart of it. ‘Bristol has always been known for its collective community spirit, and that really follows through into HUBB. I think this definitely resonates and is why so many people want to move here to study music.’ Lepikov admits she didn’t know much about the city’s history before moving to Bristol not too long ago, apart from the fact there’s ‘a lot of drum & bass’.

She terms Bristol as the ‘most welcoming city’ and advises that ‘being involved in the music community of Bristol is the best way to get to know it’.

Truly, there’s plenty more indie music to discover - Hubb isn’t the only indie label in Bristol, and Bolitho lists a few of her favourites; ‘SUDO Sound are a wicked 140 label, Mangoes & Melons for Garage heads or F-LOOPS for underground House + Techno. For percussion fiends, Worm Disco Club are definitely one to check out.’ Lepikov also recommends Saffron – ‘a label and social initiative committed to tackling gender imbalance in the industry’ and Stokes Croft favourite Idle Hands – ‘a well-loved record store but also a label.’

HUBB still has a long way to go, says Lepikov - ‘what I’d love to see is for more artists to apply, so we could even more accurately showcase the diversity that BIMM and Bristol have to offer.’

Information about Volume III and HUBB Record's earlier works can be found on their website - https://hubbrecords.com/ along with individual artist profiles. Hubb Records Volume III is out now. Stay tuned for Volume IV.

24 Music

epigram 24.11.2020

Bright music for dark times: In conversation with Ela Minus

Columbia's technopunk breakthrough talks to Epigram about misogyny, identity and breaking the mould Lucas Arthur Music Editor

I

t’s early November. England has just begun its second lockdown and the world awaits the outcome of the US election with bated breath. In Bristol, as in Bogotá, it’s raining outside. For Ela Minus, music and politics have been an ever-present part of life. ‘I think how political my music is comes from my being Columbian… You go to a party with your parents and everyone around the table is talking about politics there’s no separation between the personal the political.’

Growing up, she listened to English emo, punk and rock bands – Metallica, Fugazi, Queen – soon forming a punk band, Raton Perez, with friends from primary school. ‘I started very young,’ she laughs. Ela played drums, an instrument she’d rarely seen played by women, before going on to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the US. Escaping from the harsh competition of the college and the now-familiar genres of punk and jazz, she discovered techno and the music of Kraftwerk, Caribou, Mount Kimbie and others – ‘a turning point in my life was when I listened to Four Tet!’ she grins, speaking quickly in accented English.

Soon, she’d immersed herself in the Boston club scene and enrolled in a course on music synthesis; by 2015, Ela Minus had started self-releasing her unique brand of punk-edged electronica.

Live performances were at the heart of her work. Her live setup peeks in the corner of my laptop screen. It’s a curated set of analogue synths and sequencers, assembled and programmed by hand, adored with post-it notes, pink tape and black sharpie – BRIGHT MUSIC… FOR DARK TIMES is sketched across her synthesiser case. Playing live is a mix of pre-programmed sequences and blank sections, she explains.

Ideas for her records emerge from the blank, improvised sequences in-between. Sometimes, there’s lyrics too: ‘I’ll just intuitively grab the mic and say or sing something – sometimes it’s just one word, one phrase, one melody.’ Other tracks are instrumental – beat-driven, or melodic ambience, though her latest project tends toward the former. ‘I had a little postit note that said punk club – I wanted to make something I could play in a small, sweaty club.’

Listening to Acts of Rebellion, Ela’s debut album, it’s easy to imagine such a scenario. ‘We can’t seem to find / A reason to stay quiet…’ she snarls on ‘megapunk’, a disco-tech track which embraces the charged, pared-back vocabulary of youthful dissidence. Her message throughout the project is deliberately broad. If anything, it expresses a shared exasperation at the state of the world.

‘I made the record a year and a half

featured mostly male artists. A 2016 study by VICE revealed a significant gender imbalance in electronic music festival line-ups, reflecting the skew in the genre as a whole. I ask Ela what aspects of this she’s experienced. ‘To be honest, there’s a lot of misogyny in all music – it’s extremely bad, and I’m very vocal and very aware of it’ she says, frankly. ‘They see us essentially as pets, you know?

Like that’s cute, it’s cute you’re trying

for one woman. I think that’s the most fucked up thing.

‘I’ve put my attention into building sisterhood with other women who I think are amazing. We don’t have to compete – men aren’t competing, so why should we?’

The difficulties don’t end there. She elaborates on the shit she has to put up with when playing live; ‘Fucking engineers! … ‘They touch my things and set it up as if I didn’t know how

ago – it’s interesting how much more political it feels because it’s coming out now.’ Unsurprisingly, US politics take the brunt of her anger. ‘It’s extremely depressing’ she sighs, when I

to make music.’ It’s stupid and it’s a shame, because women have a very different sensitivity and approach, specifically to electronic music, and we’re really fucking missing out on

to do it – I’m a nice person, but I’ve learnt I have to be super serious and act like an asshole, essentially, for them to take me seriously, otherwise they completely run over me.’

By now, there’s venom in her tone.

‘They set cues and shit on my mix because they’re afraid I don’t know what I’m doing and assume that I’m not gonna notice – it’s extremely offensive and I know it’s only because I’m a woman.’

We discuss other artists in the genre: ‘A lot of times I’ve reached out to other musicians because I’ve wanted to collaborate with them, and they always think you wanna fuck them – “I’m not into you, I just wanna work with your music!”’ I ask if this has happened with artists that I’d recognise – ‘Yeah! Definitely.’ She

They see us essentially as pets, you know? Like, that's cute, it's cute you're trying to make music. ask how she’s feeling about the ongoing election. ‘I really think none of this matter until January, when they actually have to make the change.

From now until then it's gonna be a fucking shit show…’

Since its conception, techno has

that.’ Those few women who do produce techno are subjected to unique pressures. ‘We’re treated as though we’re so special because we’re doing this… like it’s so rare. It’s made us think we need to compete against each other because there’s only space

hesitates. ‘There’s a lot of names and stories that I wanna say out loud, but, and this is another misogynistic thing, I feel like at this point in my career, especially naming bigger names, I don’t want it to become about them right now. They wouldn’t respect my story or my voice. They’d just think “she’s the one who said this about this other person.”

‘Through the years, you think that these artists are so nice, and that you’d love to work with them – it gets to the point where you realise, Oh! You’re actually an asshole.’

Having lived in Columbia for most of her life, we discuss how her ethnicity has affected her music: ‘Latin America is a very colonised place. We consume European and North American culture 100 per cent, so I grew up listening to American-English bands, not salsa or native Columbian music, as much as I would’ve loved to.’ Of all genres, the coloniality of European techno is perhaps the most absolute. ‘Latin American producers feel underappreciated. These Europeans come here and make their festivals and raves, and then they go home,’ Ela says, frustrated. ‘They don’t take Latin American producers over there.’

It’s not for a lack of Columbian talent, either. She explains how the region has plenty of excellent DJs, but relatively few producers. ‘To have a scene you have to make music, otherwise you’re just emulating scenes from other places’. She recommends Insurgentes, a record label based in Bogotá which is championing Columbian breakbeat, electro and ambient works. It’s still niche, with most of its artists having under 10,000 plays on Spotify, but Ela is excited for what’s to come. ‘It’s starting to blossom! People are actually making music, with an intensity that I don’t see anywhere else, specifically Columbians; our personalities are so intense because we either do it all, or we die – very intense!’

It’s not hard to image Ela as one of the torchbearers of a new era of Latin-American electronica, bridging the gap between continents and their respective cultures – already, she alternates between singing in English and Spanish. We chat about the future; since her live shows are cancelled, Ela’s taking the time to plan her second project. ‘I’ve blocked out a month, starting December first, to sit down and write. I’ve been thinking about my new direction. There’s the second album thing, especially when the first one goes well, it’s like, fuck!’ she laughs – ‘I wanna make it fast because I really don’t wanna get inside my head with it. Now, I’m gonna tap into something that before, I didn’t know I had…’

Music 25

epigram 24.11.2020

Four of the best books about music As we find ourselves stuck behind doors yet again, Epigram Music shares it's picks' of the best books about music Epigram Music Various authors

The North will Rise Again John Robb The North will Rise Again provides a comprehensive and fascinating insight into the development of the famed Manchester music scene from its early beginnings with The Buzzcocks in the 1970s, through to Oasis at the height of Britpop in 1996. Written by music journalist and Manchester resident John Robb, the book chronologically traces influential Manchester bands, narrated by the band members themselves alongside friends, fans and industry professionals. Inside, you’ll find the greatest Mancunian exports of the twentieth century: The Buzzcocks, Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, and Oasis, amongst many more.

The book reads as a ‘who’s who’ of alternative music legends, featuring a mind-bending array of indie A-listers: Pete Shelley, Bernard Sumner, Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Ian Brown, Shaun Ryder, Noel and Liam Gallagher tell the stories of their development in the city they love. Informative, personal and insightful, the book feels as though you are tapping into the minds of these Mancunian greats. Biographical in tone, it features a great array of personal insights, anecdotes and stories that many music fans will not

have heard before, whilst still manging to be incredibly informative.

An absolute must read for any music fan, The North will Rise Again is bursting at the seams with Mancunian pride. It is the story of a city finding its voice against all odds, told by the influential people that made it happen.

Katie Hubbard, Third Year Geography They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us – Hanif Abdurraqib Poet Hanif Abdurraqib’s collection of essays is one that revels in subjectivity; it tells stories of friend’s funerals, of news caught through a TV screen in a shop window, interlaced with accounts of screaming one’s lungs out at underfilled venues. Taking its title from a note draped above Michael Brown’s memorial site (which he visits just prior to finding himself the only Black man among the crowd at a Bruce Springsteen concert), Abdurraqib explores his relationship with the m u s i c a l scenes he belonged to as a teenager and as an

Editors' Picks

adult, with frustration, joy and unbridled connection. Oscillating between political diatribe and train-ofthought-poetic-run-ons, his essays cover musicians across the board, from the aggressive optimism of Carly Rae Jepsen to the heightened suburbia of The Wonder Years, to the cinematic portrayal of Nina Simone.

He expertly interweaves the strikingly intimate alongside glimpses of the wider world. There’s a section on Chance the Rapper playing a tribute to Chicago poet Gwendolyn Brooks; elsewhere in the city, stories of early Fall Out Boy shows in hidden basements become the medium for memorialising a friend’s tragic death.

On revisitation, what’s most striking is Adurraqib’s ability to capture a suspended state of the world as it was in 2016 - at once far away and starkly familiar. Beyond whatever quagmire of political upset exists within a given

time, that which remains unfailingly present is the music inside it.

Flora Pick, Deputy Music Editor Perfect Sound Whatever - James Acaster Borrowing his title from Jeff Rosenstock's 2016 album WORRY, comic genius James Acaster’s Perfect Sound Whatever is the ultimate musical listicle meets memoir. We’re taken on his strange quest to prove 2016 the best year of music of all time. Along the way, we lend an ear to his experiences of heartbreak, to playing in terrible teenage bands, to bagging even more terrible DJ gigs, and even to an anecdote involving him trying not to shit himself on Conan.

Unfiltered, unadulterated joy radiates from the pages. It’s a work undoubtedly penned by a man who experienced the ineffable feeling of finding an album you love, 366 times (apparently). The novel feels far removed from the sometimes more exclusionary musical writing, defined by it’s niche knowledge. In contrast, this isn’t a plodding list of the most underground indie no-names, but one that includes Beyoncé (among others).

It concludes with a

leap year calendar: one song per day taken from each of the 366 albums he discovered.

A love letter to the life-saving power of music, the book is a compulsory read for music lovers of any persuasion – else, you can listen to his new Perfect Sounds podcast and hear his comedian friends be subjected to his thesis instead.

Mia Smith, Second Year English How Music Works – David Byrne Few people can claim to be experts on music. A subject as diverse, subjective and transitive as popular music demands an unflinching lifetime of expertise. Thankfully, Talking Head’s David Byrne is one such expert. How Music Works covers every facet of the music industry, from a history that stretches from the beginnings of recorded music to Byrne’s own experiences as a bestselling recording artist. His skill as a musician translates flawlessly into those of a writer; non-fiction often feels stale and monotonous, but Byrne illustrates his expertise with vivid anecdotes and experiences, making it a constantly engaging read. He namedrops without vanity – while so many musical autobiographies feel like expressions of the authors own egotism, Byrne creates an exhaustive account of how music is created, perceived, marketed and sold, with little mention of his own successes.

It’s a compelling read, and one that anyone with musical aspirations can pick up and enjoy – though fans of Talking Heads are certainly in for a treat…

Lucas Arthur, Music Editor

Adrianne Lenker songs

McFly Young Dumb Thrills

The Kanneh-Masons Carnival

Samina The Baby

Lucas Arthur

Lauren Paddison

Greg Evans

Flora Pick

A

A

Music Editor

drianne Lenker’s music is fragile. Her tender falsetto rings out over reams of acoustic guitar, bringing to mind the snowdrift-solace of Bon Iver’s debut. Both feature that same remote and melancholy intimacy, being recorded in forest cabins with artists reeling at a partner’s recent absence. It’s laden with autumnal ambience, sparse birdsong, rain on a slate roof. Separated from her band, Big Thief, Lenker’s music is stripped of artistic pretentions: what's left is the purest distillation of her music.

Subeditor

pop punk boy-band reprise from the beginning of the century brings an album of singalong, jump-around music to their once teenage fan base. All now married with children, McFly release their reunion record, Young Dum Thrills, with a new lense of reflection and what it means to grow up. For steadfast nostalgia skip to ‘Happiness’ and ‘Another Song About Love’. Listen to what has come of the boys who used to sing of ‘that werido with five colours in her hair'.

Digital Editor

O

livia Coleman, Bob Marley and Tchaikovsky: not the trilogy I expected to feature on the Kanneh-Mason’s highly anticipated debut album. With poetry by Michael Morpurgo woven into the fabric of the suite, classical music’s favourite family breathe new life into Saint Sean’s celebrated Carnival. It’s pretty departed from my usual picks, but it’s a comforting remedy for the times and a serious bit of playing by young musicians establishing themselves at the top of the game.

Deputy Music Editor

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or those with a tendency for sad girl singers, too much is never enough.

Samia indulges in airy indie-pop perfection cut through by a driving bass guitar, which pulls the naval-gazing to the bedroom-danceable.

Standout track Is there something like the movies? transforms a childhood encounter with Brittany Murphy to a heart-breaking reflection on the waste of the actress’ premature death. Fans of Fenne Lily and Boygenius will find The Baby an ideal soundtrack as the seasons begin to chill.

Discover all of our recommedations on our Spotify @Epigram_Music

SciTech

Editor Julia Riopelle Digital Editor Edward Deacon Deputy Editor Delhi Kalwan

Twitter: @EpigramSciTech

A home fit for Mars…to be built in Bristol A collaborative art project will see a home fit for Mars built in Bristol Edward Deacon SciTech Digital Editor

I

n a collaboration between artists, scientists, engineers and architects, a full-scale house designed for life on Mars is going to be constructed beside the M Shed museum in April 2022.

The public art project, ‘Building a Martian House’, has been led by two local artists: Ella Good and Nicki Kent.

Over several years, the pair have brought together a multidisciplinary team to explore how we live on Earth today, and the challenges of life on Mars.

A five-month public programme of workshops, events and research will begin when the exhibit opens.

This includes the public being involved in the development and filling of the interior of the house.

The programme will run in conjunction with M Shed’s ‘Think Global: Act Bristol’ project, that seeks to foster positive action to address the climate and ecological crises.

Dr Bob Myhill, from the School of Earth Sciences, was a consultant on the project, and asked: ‘What might the first settlements look like [on

Satori Photos

Mars]? What would day-to-day life Broughton Architects, who helped look like on another planet? How produce the design, said: ‘The life will the first settlers deal with the support systems are being designed harsh conditions and the isolation?’ by specialists in space exploration, Ella and Nicki's artistic vision is extreme environments and sustainto use over 60 years of scientific ability with the interiors being deknowledge and engineering advanc- signed by the public through an exes to construct a real Martian home tensive engagement process. that can help us better understand The outcomes will provide an and answer those alternative apvery human quesproach to space People will be able to tions. design which explore life in a Martian represents the inThe house will House have two floors, terests of everywith the upper one, not just govfloor designed to sit on the Martian ernments and the super-rich.’ landscape, and the lower floor built Commending the project, Profesunderground. sor Lucy Berthoud – a specialist on The prototype in Bristol will have spacecraft systems from the Faculty a scaffold hoarding around the bot- of Engineering – said: ‘I feel it is tom floor with information and il- really important that artists and scilustrations about the project on its entists work together. Space exploraexterior. tion is for all of us and we will need The lower floor is designed as lots of different skills to explore and a versatile living space capable of live on Mars. hosting bedrooms, virtual reality I am thrilled that people will be rooms or a dining room, alongside a able to come to Bristol and explore toilet and kitchenette. what it would be like to live in a Hugh Broughton, Director of Hugh Martian House.’

Hugh Broughton Architects and Pearce+

Hugh Broughton Architects and Pearce+

COVID-19 Updates Recent findings suggest the rapid COVID-19 test accuracy may be lower than previously thought Delhi Kalwan

SciTech Deputy Editor

T

he AbC-19TM Rapid Test works by analysing a drop of blood from a finger-prick and determining the likelihood that a person may have previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2. As the name suggests, it is fast, producing a result in as little as 20 minutes.

An earlier study (yet to be peerreviewed) had suggested that the test gives no false positives. However new research, conducted by

scientists from Public Health England and the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge and Warwick told a different story. One of the key findings of the study estimated that if 10 per cent of people tested had previously been infected, then one in five positive test results could be incorrect (known as a false positive result). The study was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care and published in the British Medical Journal.

Results published from Bristol-based COVID-19 antibody testing study

T

he University of Bristol’s ‘Children of the 90s’ health study tested almost 5000 individuals for the presence of COV-

ID-19 antibodies. They reported that 4.3 per cent of participants gave a positive result and about a quarter of these were asymptomatic. Furthermore, almost twice as many young people reported having COVID-19 compared to those of their parent’s generation - with 5.9 per cent of young people and 3.1 per cent of their parents age Unsplash / Medakit Ltd reporting a

positive antibody response. Although positive results do not indicate that a person has immunity toward the virus, the results do help researchers learn more about who is affected and possible immune responses.

The purpose of the study, as described by Professor Nic Timpson, ‘Children of the 90s’ Principal investigator, was to ‘understand how many people in our study have had a COVID-19 infection, especially those who had an infection without even knowing it or with only mild symptoms.’ Following this research, 300 of the participants have been invited to take part in a year-long study investigating the after-effects of the virus and ‘long-COVID’.

SciTech 27

epigram 24.11.2020

Pterosaurs: how did these giant lizards get better at flying? Bristol researchers investigate

on

P

terosaurs first evolved from terrestrial archosaurs, emerging as fliers around 245 million years ago, during the Triassic Period. Until now, researchers have had trouble determining how these pterosaurs first evolved flight, as the earliest fossils found date to 25 million years after this period.

Shrouded in more mystery, is how the pterosaurs’ flight continued evolving to become more efficient over the 150 million years in which they ruled the sky. One theory has suggested that flight improvement may have occurred

the fossil records of 75 pterosaur species, spanning the entire phylogenetic diversity of all known pterosaurs and combined this with a newly developed flight model based on living birds.

The model integrated both gliding and powered flight in order to predict the flight efficienc y of ptero saurs.

T h i s works Witt aul P well for k measuring the flight of extinct species because different pterosaurs w o u l d have used the method of flight that best

outh / Dr Ma r

Third Year, Biology

over short evolutionary bursts - but until now this has been difficult to disprove.

A new study, involving scientists at the Universities of Reading, Lincoln and Bristol, aimed to provide a greater understanding of pterosaur flight improvement, and answer the question of whether the pterosaurs had an advantage over their ancestors.

Scientists gathered information from

Uni rsity of ve Po rtsm

Bristol researchers considered how these winged reptiles evolved better flying capabilities Jack Hayward

suited their lifestyle. pterosaur species. The azhdarchoid Fossils were needed for measuregroup was an exception. There was ments of wingspan and body size. previous debate as to how they flew These measurements allowed the because gigantism and proportionalteam to ‘study long-term evolution ly short wings are identifying charin a completely new way by comparacteristics of these species. Quetzaling the creatures at different stages coatlus, for instance, reached the of their evolutionary sequence’ acheight of a giraffe. cording to Professor Chris VenditEvolutionary biologist and co-auti, lead author. thor Dr Joanna He and the team Pterosaur flight improved Baker, said the determined that azhdarchoids liketwo-fold over their 150 ly spent more time pterosaur flight million-year reign had improved on the ground, two-fold over and as a result, their 150 million-year reign and more efficient flight wasn’t as adapthis evolution was driven by contively necessary, so didn't improve sistent minor improvements over over time. time, instead of sudden evolutionary Their findings prove the valchanges. The models revealed that ue that newly developed scientific pterosaurs used a staggering 50 per models can add to fossils in solving cent less energy when flying. This million-year old mysteries like the allowed them to increase in size up evolution of pterosaur flight. ‘We to 10 times. don’t just have to look at fossils with Nevertheless, this improvement in amazement, but can really get to flight was not consistent across all grips with what they tell us.’

How will the US election impact sustainability in the UK?

Bristol University social scientists comment on how Biden’s policies will affect UK sustainability Francesca Levi

vironment plan ever enacted in the United States.

Biden’s environment plan has the main aim of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. He also plans to invest $2 trillion in clean energy in order to reach carbon free electricity by 2035. Through this he aims Third Year, Biology to create one million jobs, improve energy efficiency in buildings and oe Biden, the 2020 Presipromote conservation efforts in the dent Elect, has a more proagricultural industry. Other goals gressive environmental plan include reversing all of Trump’s compared to Donald Trump, yet he environment-related policies, such has been criticised for not setting as the previous removal of methane tougher climate goals. Dr Alix Dilimits on oil and gas operations, etzel, lecturer in global ethics, and and re-joining the Paris AgreeProfessor Stephan Lewandowsky, ment. chair in cognitive psychology, from Dr Dietzel has stated: ‘The Paris the University of Bristol, give inAgreement will benefit from Bidsight into how Biden’s presidency en re-joining, because it will make will change public opinion on cliparticipation universal. It is also mate change and its outcome. the first time Earlier this the US will be month, Joe Biden won the race Biden’s environment plan c o m m i t t i n g aims to achieve net-zero to a UNFCCC to the presidency (United Nations against the 45th emissions by 2050 Framework American PresConvention on ident, Donald Climate Change) treaty, since they Trump. Throughout Trump’s fournever joined the Kyoto Protocol. year presidency he reversed many However, under the Paris AgreeObama-era environmental policies, ment, each state submits their own favoring the country’s oil and gas climate plans, and currently these industries. He even went as far as plans are leading us to a world exiting the 2015 Paris Agreement, of between 2.2-3.4 degree rise in an international pledge to limglobal average temperatures (Cliit global temperature rise by 1.5 mate Action Tracker, 2020). degrees celcius. In stark contrast, The Paris Agreement in itself is Biden’s climate plan has been dean inadequate response to the cliscribed as the most progressive en-

J

mate change problem. Whether the US is trusted [to upkeep its promises by other countries], will have a

green policies will be enacted.

Professor Lewandowsky states that: ‘To get to net zero by 2050

The Republicans are likely to hold the Senate, so it is improbable that many green policies will be enacted lot to do with what climate diplomacy looks like under Biden. It has to be radically different, because historically the US has not done much to help the UNFCCC or the global response to climate change’.

Critics of Biden’s plan have pointed out that, although it is progressive and a huge improvement from current legislation, it is much more moderate than what is necessary. The Green New Deal, a plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, introduced in Congress by Alexandra-Ocasio Cortez and Ed Markey, and rejected by the Senate, is a much more effective framework for tackling climate change.

Biden has described it as a ‘crucial framework’ and yet his own plan starkly differs from it. Namely, only aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and pledging not to abolish fracking, due to it providing thousands of jobs in Pennsylvania. Although the president is now a Democrat, Republicans are still likely to hold the Senate, so it is improbable that many

is extremely challenging. In a short 30 years you have to transform the

entire American economy. In theory it could be done, but given the current politically polarised state of the country, it will be difficult. The reality of doing this in an adversarial environment is very different from doing it in a country where everyone is working together’.

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

Flickr / Photo News

28 SciTech

epigram 24.11.2020

Bristol University part of new FDA study to understand severe coronavirus infections The international study will enhance understanding of coronavirus infections and their progression Conlan Doherty Fourth Year, Cellular Molecular Medicine

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Unsplash / Daniel Schludi

new international project funded by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has been approved and will collaborate with the University of Bristol’s School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, as well as the Universities of Liverpool and Oxford, Public Health England, A*STAR in Singapore and King Fahd Medical City in Saudi Arabia.

The aim of the project is to increase understanding of severe coronavirus infections in humans, which will help to discern novel therapeutics to combat COVID-19. Currently, there are no licensed therapies to treat or prevent the infection, and the virus remains a burden to healthcare systems and global economies.

In recent years, emerging infec-

tious diseases have become an increasing threat to normality, with SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and the culprit of the current pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, all being members of the same virus family: coronavirus.

This new study will investigate viral evolution, host-pathogen interactions, any elicited immune responses, and diagnostic biomarkers throughout the infection in all three viruses within the family.

This is to elucidate any common mechanisms of virulence. Doing so will help inform the development of new therapies, and how the infection progresses.

Professor Julian Hiscox from the University of Liverpool said: ‘The development of licensed drugs to treat severe coronavirus infections is a huge priority for the international community. There is a time-sensitive need to assess the efficacy of COVID-19 interventions, and prepare for potential future

The Bristol team will explore how antiviral drugs may be used to perturb the pathogens’ severity

coronavirus pandemics.’

The Bristol team will be headed by Dr David Matthews and Dr Andrew Davidson and will focus on how

The three-year project is expected to run from Autumn 2020 until September 2023 and will cost £4 million. The international team is led

This work will undeniably impart crucial findings in the mechanisms underlying COVID-19 and allude to many therapies SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV infect living cells and cause disease, and how antiviral drugs may be used to perturb the pathogens’ severity.

Viral evolution will be assessed via identification of diagnostic target sites that are no longer present in the virus. These suggest diagnostic and therapeutic intervention has acted as a selection pressure, compelling the virus to mutate, become evasive and remain successfully infectious.

Additionally, the study is assessing a newly developed technology, Organs-on-Chips, which can mimic organ systems and will highlight characteristics of the virus and the ensuing infection.

by Dr Hiscox and will unite a multi-disciplinary team of scientists in understanding several characteristics of the virus.

Chief Scientist at the FDA, Denise Hinton, elaborated: ‘This work will undeniably impart crucial findings in the molecular mechanisms underlying COVID-19 infections, and allude to many therapies that might successfully prevent or counter any progressive decline in health engineered by SARS-CoV-2.

‘The FDA will continue to collaborate on important regulatory science projects, as we seek to bring safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and treatments as quickly as possible.’

More than just drops in the ocean: rain can move mountains

Novel modelling techniques reveal how raindrops shift mountain ranges Katherine Skipper PhD, Physics

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ground-breaking new theory of erosion from Bristol University researchers predicts that rainfall can trigger the growth of mountains, as well as wear them down.

The team, led by Dr Byron Adams from the Cabot Institute for the Environment, worked in collaboration with researchers at Arizona and Louisiana State Universities, to perform a large-scale analysis of erosion and rainfall data.

They showed that these factors can be linked by a single model, which they hope can be used to solve a long-standing mystery in science: how erosion on the surface of a rockface can influence tectonic activity deep below the surface.

The idea that erosion causes mountain growth rather than shrinkage is counterintuitive but founded on longstanding geological principles.

When an eroded landscape is com-

University of Bristol / Dr Byron Adams

pressed by tectonic plates, it compensates for the erosion by crumpling upwards instead of sliding across the rock below. This ‘tectonic uplift’ is a rapid and powerful effect, and modelling it is key to the study of tectonic landscapes.

The researchers hypothesised that the leading model of erosion called the ‘stream power theory’, which assumes that the effect of rainfall is negligible, is insufficient to describe tectonic landscapes.

The researchers believed that by using data from a large but geologically uniform region, climatic effects could be incorporated into the stream power theory, leading to an

accurate model of rainfall induced rock uplift.

The researchers chose the central and eastern Himalaya of Bhutan and Nepal; one of the most geographically sampled landscapes in the world, boasting large variations in climate but uniform rock erodibility.

The team used a technique based on cosmic ray measurements to study erosion. Dr Adams explained: ‘When a cosmic particle from outer space reaches Earth, it is likely to hit sand grains on hillslopes as they are transported toward rivers. When this happens, some atoms within each grain of sand can transform into a rare element.

‘By counting how many atoms of this element are present in a bag of sand, we can calculate how long the sand has been there, and therefore how quickly the landscape has been

the team found a ‘climate control’ model which performed well in regions of extreme low or high rainfall where the effects of erosion can be the most dramatic and dangerous, potentially triggering landslides due to sediment build up behind dams.

He also posited that the model could be used to predict volcanic activity: ‘This new frontier of landscape evolution modelling is shedding new light on volcanic processes.'

‘With our cutting-edge techniques to measure erosion rates and rock properties, we will be able to better understand how rivers and volcanoes have influenced each other in the past. This will help us to more accurately anticipate what is likely to happen after future volcanic

We will be able to anticipate what happens after future volcanic eruptions and manage the consequences for communities living nearby eroding.’

After compiling topology and rainfall data from across the region,

eruptions and how to manage the consequences for communities living nearby.’

Puzzles

Editor Fergus Ustianowski

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

Word

Use the crossword clues to the right of each row of the pyramid to complete the puzzle. Each answer is an anagram of the answer on the row above with an extra letter added.

Place the numbers 1 to 5 into each row and column of the puzzle so that no number is repeated in a row or column and so that all of the inequality signs (< and >) are obeyed.

Credit: Patrick Sullivan, Puzzles SubEditor

Credit: Fergus Ustianowski, Editor

Charged Particle A Symbol Bubbly mixer Meat cooked in its own fat Place

Train There are two entrance/exit pieces of tracks. The aim is to fill in the rest of the puzzle with one continuous piece of track so that all the clues are satisfied. There are horizontal and vertical clues, and these tell you how many pieces of track appear in that row or column.

Credit: Patrick Sullivan, Puzzles SubEditor

Epigram Moving from letter to adjacent letter, can you create a continuous path that visits every square once and spells out all the words listed on the right of the grid? Start on the shaded square. Words not necessarily in the order listed.

Credit: Fergus Ustianowski, Editor

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

Difficulty: Easy Credit: Fergus Ustianowski, Editor

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As you know Epigram will be online for the rest of the term, which makes Puzzles harder. We are putting as many as we can on the website and there are some extra interactive ones to keep everyone entertained during lockdown. We hope you enjoy!

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

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30 Sport

epigram 24.11.2020

Top of the spots: Bristol's best exercise sites

Need a break from your room? Epigram Sport has you covered!

Lexi Bothamley-Dakin Second Year, History

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he emergence of Lockdown 2.0, and the closure of all gyms and sports facilities, has led to many of us struggling to find motivation. Exercising in your student house is hardly inviting and a lot of students have already exhausted their home workouts during the last lockdown. If you are wanting to make the most of it with running and cycling, or simply want to know where Bristol's green spaces are, Epigram is here for you with a comprehensive list of all the best outdoor places to exercise in Bristol.

For Outdoor Spaces Many of us will be familiar with the Downs for exercising outdoors.

However, if you feel like mixing it up and trying new spaces look no further.

• Brandon Hill - This is a great space for exercising outdoors.

It even includes an outdoor gym! It's perfect if you want to use your own bodyweight for resistance training.

The hill is also a great place for those who want to challenge themselves with some incline sprints. Located not too far from the University itself, Brandon Hill offers location, versatility and beautiful views of the city.

• Redland Green - A bit more convenient for those living in Redland. A little-known space, it is ideal for those wanting to do exercise in a quieter and more private environment. Try some shuttle runs or a HIIT circuit.

• Clifton Down park - so close to the river and those living in Clifton. This is a great space for interval training; have a go at some 30 second sprints followed by a 30 second jog. Repeat until you can’t go any longer! If interval training isn’t your forte, there is lots of room to take a brisk stroll around a beautiful green space.

For runs • Queen Square - For those of you who fancy yourselves as a bit of a Usain Bolt, each side of the square is around 100m, giving you your own urban athletics track. Queen Square is in a perfect location for anyone living near the City Centre.

side mansion is a great escape from the city and is well-suited to running. If you are lucky, you may get a glimpse of the majestic deer!

• Harbourside - A classic route for running, it has its own running trail, with six accurately measured distances from 100m to one

Brandon Hill is a great space for exercising outdoors If you have a particular interest in learning about Bristol's history, this was where the 1831 riots took place, one of the country's bloodiest riots.

• Ashton Court - This beautiful estate is a great place for those wanting to add some distance to their running. Covering 850 acres of woods and grasslands, this country-

mile. Harbourside is a fairly flat and aesthetically pleasing route thanks to the beauty of the river. It is an ideal location for anyone wanting to cover a shorter distance.

For Road Biking routes • Bristol and Bath Railway Path - Covering a distance of 13

miles, this fantastic route connects both Bath and Bristol. Steeped in local heritage, it is a brilliant way to see more of the city outside the student bubble of Clifton, Redland and the Triangle. Like many a cycle path, this one was built on an old railway and has been open to the public for over 30 years.

• The Pill Path - Starting at Brunel's SS Great Britain you can loop round the Ashton Court Estate on your bike on this 18-mile route. This is a great way to avoid busy roads and traffic whilst on your bike and takes an average time of just over two hours to complete. Be aware, however, that some parts of the route may require you to push your bike.

• Route from Clifton to Tyntesfield - Like quite a few of our routes, this one also goes through the

wonderful Ashton Court Estate all the way to the Tyntesfield Plantation.

You start on Princess Victoria Street in Clifton and cycle for a distance of 14.79 miles. It is therefore a great route for those not wanting to venture to escape the city into the country. If you fancy a quick break, why not visit Tyntesfield House? Whilst the house itself remains closed due to lockdown, the grounds look stunning in autumn.

Epigram hope this gives you some ideas for where to do your next workout. Even with the nights getting longer and very little opportunity to see friends, these places should come as a welcome break. For those struggling for motivation, why not join the University of Bristol Sport Strava? This allows you to see where fellow students are exercising and may give you some more inspiration.

sessions is the club’s main coach, Phil Whitlock, who ‘brings sophistication but also fun to our classes.’

With regards to the social side of

is hopeful ‘this will happen in the second half of this academic year, as so many members of the club have the potential to do amazing things.’

Combat sports profile: Taekwondo The martial art where participants truly get a kick out of it James Dowden Deputy Sports Editor

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pigram's Deputy Sports Editor, James Dowden, continues his series on the University's combat sports. This time, he speaks to Taekwondo Captain Maddie Ball about the 2000-year-old roots of the sport.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art.

The word ‘taekwondo' itself literally means ‘the art of hand and foot' and it is a combination of sparring, patterns and self-defence.

Their weekly practices involve two sessions per week, both of which are in the SU building. These are on Monday and Saturday and run for an hour and a half each. Leading these

So many members of the club have the potential do amazing things the sport, Ball said ‘last year we had a martial arts ball and also had a taekwondo dinner at an Indian restaurant, which was great. Now, because of Covid, we’ve started using discord and playing online games with each other.’

For the Taekwondo Captain, her dream season ‘would be to actually get my team to compete in competitions.’ Given the current climate, this is easier said than done, however she

• • • •

Taekwondo in brief Recognised as one of the oldest forms of martial arts in the world Originates from Korea Olympic sport since 2000 Characterized by headheight kicks, jumping spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques

Sport 31

epigram 24.11.2020

Adblocker over pay-per-view: Being a sports fan in lockdown Sports fans across the globe are having to adapt to a different sporting experience Charlie Wilbraham

Second Year, Politics and International Relations

Charlie Wilbraham

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long with the stadium experience, going to the pub to watch sport is a universally loved weekly sporting ritual.

It is a ritual replicated by millions of people around the world in bars, clubhouses, dive bars, and anywhere else with a big screen, a sports channel subscription and some form of alcohol being sold.

In recent weeks, going into town along with a group of (six or fewer) mates to watch a match in one of the city's many pubs has been a rare sign of normality returning after months of either no sport or a sterile, technology driven experience. How then, are Bristol's students coping with being forced back into lockdown and away from the sticky carpets and bad breath of a Saturday afternoon in the pub? The answer, as it has been for a long time before the pandemic with the ever-increasing cost of supporting a commercialised industry: streams.

Now, as stools have been swapped for sofas and pints for shop-bought cans, the students of Bristol have turned to their old friends in the form of TotalSportek, CR7.net and FootyBite to provide a break from the monotony of a life spent indoors getting a degree through Blackboard Collaborate and Zoom.

Lugging the TV into the living room, desperately scrambling for the HDMI cable, or playing games of cat and mouse in the removing of ads and suspicious invitations from strangers, these are all new rituals that have emerged.

Thanks to them, we can make the most of what we have and spend time with our friends, even if that time is spent arguing over the tactical pros and cons of Pep Guardiola’s pitchside cardigan.

When every sport being played on our screens is done so with the players' grunts and shouts echoing

throughout empty arenas, the construction of these rituals provides an extra buzz and feeling that has been

relaxing drinking experience at the expense of the buzz of celebration and alcohol-inspired expressions of

Stools have been swapped for sofas and pints for shop-bought cans

sorely missing. Even with the return to pubs, bans on shouting and chanting have created a more

emotion.

As the playing fields move further away from us, the idea of sport and why it is so important to us both as a spectacle and pastime seems closer than ever. Walking back home from the library or shops in the evenings, windows are lit up with the greens of golf courses and football pitches whilst others display club scarves or Six Nations flags. Those who once mocked the tribalism of football now sit glued to the Europa League goals show on a Thursday night, swearing as the referee disallows a goal for the Azerbai-

jani champions against a mid-table Spanish side. A once-mocked replica shirt is now smiled at by their mates, who can’t bring themselves to knock the enthusiasm of someone clinging to normality, however abnormal our times.

With the only legal sporting activities entailing lonely jogs and sweaty bedroom workouts, it is only natural that these events have become such an important release for many people as a reminder of how things were, and, with any luck, soon will

– things which would have been laughed at are now real moments of joy as the unpredictability and grandeur of sport gives us something reliable and simple.

Whilst we lament tongue-scalding cups of Bovril and red-faced bald men aggressively singing the national anthem, we must also gain an appreciation for what has been created in the absence of mass spectator sport. Our lives exist through our laptops and so it is no surprise that another aspect of our lives has

We can make the most of what we have and spend time with our friends be again. The housemate with the BT Sport subscription getting the comfy chair on a Champions League night, cooking pasta with a phone propped against the toaster so you can watch Jon Rahm’s phenomenal water-skipping hole-in-one for the 50th time

become reliant on them, but through the gatherings of housemates huddling around a screen and talking rubbish about sport on a cold and rainy November evening, something strangely beautiful has emerged in spite of all else.

Sport Twitter: @EpigramSport

Editor Digital Editor Deputy Editor Match Day Reporter

Eddie McAteer Daniel Dyson James Dowden Charlotte Carver

Orienteering phoenix club affiliates afresh

As a result, when the SU informed them that they were no longer SU-affiliated, committee and members alike were both very upset. The problem was, the club had only 24 registered members, six below the Sports Editor 30-member requirement, and not for the first time. There had been emails he University of Bristol’s in the past highlighting the issue, alOrienteering and Fell Runthough nothing had ever happened ning Club has affiliated with before so the committee did not the SU as a new society following think much of it. This time it was a seven-month struggle to affiliate. different.

After falling below the 30-member SU byelaws say that clubs must requirement for two successive years have 30 members every year, althey lost their affiliation, and their though the SU only disaffiliate clubs £1,200 funds, just before the first if they have failed to do this for two lockdown in March. I spoke to their years in a row. Unfortunately for the Club Captain, Dan Weaver, to find orienteering club, this was the situaout more. tion they found themselves in.

Orienteering is a sport that reFinding this out at any time is a bit quires a combination of navigation, of a blow, however, to discover that speed and endurance, think cross your club is being disaffiliated just country but you have to work out as the country starts to lock down is where you are going. One of the a sizeable shock. more niche socieIt feels like a weight has For Weaver, their ties in Bristol, the ‘main priority Orienteering Club been lifted was not getting nonetheless plays 30 members; it was leave, go home, an important part in the lives of make sure we are all safe.’ Once the multiple students at the University. dust had settled, the club set about Like all societies, it provides students gaining support for their appeal with an escape from their studies, an from Bristol Orienteering Klub and opportunity to make friends and the British Orienteering, as well as chaschance to push themselves.

The Orienteering Club's battle to affiliate has finally finished Eddie McAteer

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ly stages of what will hopefully be aws used to justify it ‘didn’t give ing up those who had not paid for a fruitful relationship with the SU. particular clarity,' giving the club a membership. Even with this support, The affiliation did not come without lifeline. the appeal was turned down due to conditions, as the club must attend With their future still in doubt ‘not presenting a full case’ and the development meetings to ensure that though, the committee had to look club was disaffiliated. this sort of situation does not arise at alternative ways to continue the Disappointingly for the society, again. Weaver showed a desire to go sport they love. Having already conthis meant they could not have a the extra mile too, stating that ‘we sidered a partnership with UBES stall at this year’s virtual Freshers’ want to be Balloon accredited,’ to (University of Bristol Expeditions Fair. In normal times, this has been show the Union they are ‘trying to Society), the committee proposed a crucial for the club’s recruitment engage.’ The Balloon Accreditation motion to UBES as lots of people Scheme gives societies recognition who join have Over £1000 of funds were and a trial partfor their good work by awarding nership was never done oriat risk of being lost bronze, silver or gold accreditation agreed. enteering before. based on certain criteria.

Backup in place, the Orienteering Not participating in the freshers’ fair In order to further strengthen the and Fell Running Club began the meant that new members were hard club, the committee plan to have a process of applying to be a ‘new’ to come by as they had to actively tiered membership. Those wanting society with full affiliation. Creatseek out the club and therefore had to attend just weekday training will ing a new society requires a petito be interested in orienteering alhave a free membership, whilst those tion to be signed by a minimum of ready. who wish to go on weekends away 30 supporters and the orienteering Perhaps more worryingly, once a or participate in club smashed this society is disaffiliated the SU keep The committee had to events will pay target, gaining 30 their funds for 12 months before look at alternative ways £15. signatures withredistributing the money into the For Weaver, in 36 hours. At to continue the sport they society grant fund. This left over this summer has the final count, £1000 of funds, predominately genlove had the added 41 people had erated by the club, at risk of being stress of fighting for his club and he expressed their support for the club lost. When the SU put a 12-month says it ‘feels like a weight has been and on 29 October, the new Univerfreeze on the society re-affiliating, lifted.’ Securing the immediate future sity of Bristol Orienteering and Fell that money seemed lost forever, as of the Orienteering Club will feel like Running Club rose from the ashes. they would not be able to re-affilia big win for the committee and, Now a fully affiliated society, they ate in time to get their funds back. fingers crossed, they can keep their have been able to regain their funds That was until the SU rescinded this affiliation this time. from the SU and are in the earfreeze after deciding that the byel-