Epigram issue 375

EPIGRAM

01.12.23 Issue no. 375 Est. 1989

The University of Bristol's Award Winning Page Independent Student Newspaper 5

BETWEEN THE SHEETS NEWS

Accent Prejudice at UoB? Daisy Yates First Year, Philosophy and Theology

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Prizewinning, portable period products: the story of two Bristol graduates p.5

OPINION

ARTS

Artificial Intelligence should be banned at universities p.8

Street art: Bristol as a blank canvas p.14

he University of Bristol is home to students from across the UK and around the globe.

But while the institution prides itself on its inclusive environment, a significant challenge persists for a number of students: discrimination based on their accents.

The issue appears to be especially pertinent for students hailing from the north of England, as highlighted by Dr Robert McKenzie in his study at Northumbria University. According to his findings, a perception exists that individuals from the north are deemed ‘less intelligent, less ambitious, and less educated.’

To gain a bet-

ter understanding of this issue here at Bristol, Epigram spoke to Amelia, a second-year Liberal Arts student. She explained that ‘it is harder for students with different accents to fit in initially.’

She went on to reflect back on her time at Wills Hall in first year, describing her initial experience as ‘quite surprising and jarring since everyone

seemed to have come from London, most people in my flat had mutual friends so formed a group together.’

Statistics show that only 40 per cent of young people in the north-east go on to higher education, compared to the 55 per cent who hail from London, making it less likely for students from outside the south of England to encounter people who sound like them during their time at university.

Sammy Wright - lead commissioner for schools and higher education for the Social Mobility Commission (SMC) • The rest of this article can be found on page 11.

Images courtesy of Dan Hutton, Features Co-Deputy Editor

Bristol student tasked with bringing football to the last country on earth without it

FILM & TV From video essays to Letterboxd: film criticism in the digital age p.16

Faniki Deche Second Year, Politics and International Relations

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CONTENTS Editorial News Opinion Features Wit & Wisdom Arts Film & TV Music Sci-Tech Sport

FREE

P2 P4 P7 P10 P13 P14 P16 P18 P21 P23

Website - https://epigram.org.uk

hird year Politics and International Relations student and current goalkeeper for the University of Bristol Association Football Club (UBAFC), Max Houchin, shares how his love for football inspired him to bring the game to the last country on earth without it.

8,367 miles separate Bristol from the small Pacific nation of the Marshall Islands. Football’s ability to create international connections further justifies the sport’s uniqueness. Indeed, this showcases the result of combining a fanatic with the only UN recognized nation lacking a National Football Team.

From the start, Max fell in love

Twitter - @EpigramPaper

with football because of the community and escapism it brought.

He said, when contacted by Epigram, '[Football] allowed me to meet people from all different walks of life and connect over a common interest… It just gives you a sense of community, a sense of place, a sense of purpose which I find really powerful.

It’s great fun to play with all your mates, being able to go to socials with them and have a laugh especially when times are difficult. You always have football to fall back on as a place to relax and forget about any other stresses in life.'

The combination of a unique interest towards lesser footballing nations; a desired Masters in Sports Management • The rest of this article can be found on page 23.

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Editorial

Amelia Jacob and Roya Shahidi Co-Editors-in-Chief

W

elcome to the fourth issue of Epigram for the 2023/24 academic year! This is our last issue of 2023 – our next print will be in February 2024 as we take a break for exams and Christmas. We cannot believe how fast the term is going!

It feels like only yesterday we were at the Welcome Fair handing out our Freshers issue. We have mixed emotions about this: on the one

hand, we’re looking forward to the Christmas break, but on the other hand, the reality of being in our last year in Bristol is starting to settle in (and the inevitable existential crisis that follows this).

We will still be active digitally over Christmas and January, so if you want to write an article, do not hesitate to get in touch. Remember, there is no requirement or application process for writing articles: simply join the Writer’s Groups on the ‘Get involved’ section of https://epigram. org.uk or contact us through our social media. We love to hear from both regular and new writers alike, and can’t wait to read your articles!

The commissions for our next issue will be out on January 1st. If you want an opportunity to have your writing in print, make sure to keep your eye out for that, as commissions get snapped up quickly.

Alternatively, if you would like to be a part of Epigram but writing isn’t really your thing, why don’t you join our photojournalists? If you are interested in photography and telling stories, please see the advert on page 20 for details on how to work with us – there are so many ways to participate aside from writing articles.

In December, Epigram has many exciting events to look forward to. We will be having Christmas drinks at the Media Ball in collaboration with the other Bristol media societies (including UBTV, Burst Radio and more!). We will also be having our own Christmas social – location to be confirmed, so stay updated on our socials – on 8th December. Our lifestyle magazine The Croft is also having a launch party in collaboration with Utopia Magazine on the 5th of December to celebrate their issue ‘Seduce’. We would love to see you there, so please come and say hi.

We hope that everyone has had a good start to term and takes a well-earned break over the Christmas holidays!

We have some exciting stuff planned for the new year, including another Women in Media panel, a careers event organised alongside The Bristorian and an Epigram Ball, for our 35th anniversary, so make sure to follow us on Instagram @epigrampaper_ to ensure you don’t miss out.

• You can contact Amelia and Roya at editor.epigram@ gmail.com, or by DM'ing @ epigrampaper_ on Instagram.

Editorial Team 2023/24 Co-Editors-in-Chief Amelia Jacob and Roya Shahidi Deputy Editors Milan Perera and Ella Woszczyk News Editor: Will Standring Deputy Editor: Amelia Shaw Digital Editor: Maud Humphries Investigations Editor: Ellyssa Ashley Rozahan News Reporter: Lottie Leigh Opinion Editor: Amaan Ali Co-Deputy Editors: George Jones and India Noon Digital Editor: Georgia Rowe Subeditor: Megan Ioannides Features Editor: Aidan Szabo-Hall Co-Deputy Editors: Dan Hutton and Nel Roden Digital Editor: Annie McNamee Subeditor: Ellicia Metcalfe Arts Editor: Rachel Bronnert Co-Deputy Editors: Ella Carroll and Isabel Williams Digital Editor: Phoebe Caine Film & TV Editor: Arron Kennon Co-Deputy Editors: Lauren Durose and Sofia Webster Digital Editor: Sienna Thompson Subeditor: Victor Bennett Music Editor: Jake Paterson Co-Deputy Editors: Benji Chapman and Dylan McNally Digital Editor: Cara Hene Subeditor: Susie Long Sci-Tech Editor: Dhristi Agarwal Deputy Editor: Lucas Mockeridge Digital Editor: Aarya Sagar Patil Subeditor: Will Kelly Sport Editor: Oscar Coupal Deputy Editor: Kieran Warren Social Media Managers Anouk Griffiths Phoebe Livingstone

Are you a President of a society wishing to collaborate with Epigram?

Get in touch now!

• @editor.epigram@gmail.com

Proofreaders Zoë Blake-James Bobbi Carsley George Dean Imogen Rance

Want to write for us?

Go to www.epigram.org.uk and click the "Get Involved" icon on the top right-hand side of the page.

From there, you can access all our writer's groups, including those for our lifestyle magazine, The Croft. Each group posts commissions on the first of every month, for the print and online.

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Join our Facebook writer's groups!

News

Editor Will Standring Deputy Editor Amelia Shaw Digital Editor Maud Humphries News Investigations Editor Ellyssa Ashley Rozahan News Reporter Lottie Leigh

Lecturer's 6-year-old daughter denied UK visa, colleagues decry ‘act of unthinkable cruelty’ After winning permanent lecturship at the University of Bristol, Dr Doseline Kiguru was told by Home Office that there were 'no compassionate grounds' to admit daughter.

Roya Shahidi and Milan Perera Co-Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Editor

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n an unexpected turn of events, Dr Doseline Kiguru at the University of Bristol learnt that the visa application for her six-year-old daughter to the UK was refused.

Since then, there has been an outpouring of support and solidarity from her colleagues at the University of Bristol and beyond to appeal the decision.

Dr Kiguru, a Kenyan academic in World Literatures, in the Department of English at the University of Bristol, joined the University in 2021 as a research associate on a £1.3 million EU-funded project.

Dr Kiguru is a scholar in

post-colonial literary networks ter, the Home Office indicated and won the prestigious Vila- that it saw ‘no compassionate kazi Prize for new and young grounds’ on which to allow scholars in African Studies in the child to join her mother.

2016. She was appointed to The letter further added: ‘It a permanent lectureship last was your mother’s personal year through a highly com- decision to depart for the UK.’ petitive selection process.

The rejection was made unAs a leading academic on a der the UK immigration rules skilled worker visa, Dr Kiguru which specify that a child did not foresee any issue re- cannot receive a visa to acgarding the visa application for company or join a parent her daughter and enrolled her unless both parents travel at a school in Bristol. Unaware or settle in the UK together. of the unexpected outcome, In Dr Kiguru’s case, this she even purchased school was not possible due to her uniform and supplies in antic- husband's employment aripation of the new academic rangement as an academic, year starting in September. which requires travelling. For The Home Office has reject- this reason, the Kenyan High ed the 6-year-old daughter's Court, with the consent of her visa to join her mother in the husband, granted her sole reUK. It is reported that despite sponsibility for her daughter. the published As a result, processing time Dr Kiguru inDr Kiguru won the of 15 working tends to re-apprestigious Vilakazi days, it took four ply for a visa months to com- Prize for new scholars in for her daughmunicate the de- African Studies in 2016. ter. Her huscision which came band is also only after a diforced to relorect intervention. cate to the UK for the family In its letter addressed to Dr to remain together. In order Kiguru’s 6-year-old daugh- to cover the expenses of the

es to the existing criteria: visa application process, a Go‘We cannot have a ‘worldFundMe page was set up with class university system’ if we a target of raising £10,000. deny permanent academics During this ordeal, the the possibility of having their Department of English at small children join them.’ the University of Bristol exA Home Office spokesperpressed its solidarity with son said they did not comthe academic and hailed her ment on individual cases and as ‘such a great colleague, added: ‘All visa applications researcher and teacher’. are considered on their indiHer colleagues at the Unividual merits in accordance versity of Bristol took to X with the immigration rules.’ (formerly known as Twitter) Regarding this to express their The Home Office ongoing situadismay at the original decision indicated that it saw ‘no tion, a Univerand to extend compassionate grounds’ sity of Bristol their support. to permit the entry of s p o k e s p e r s o n said: 'Dr Kiguru Professor Madher daughter. is a much-valued hu Krishnan, member of our Senior Lecturer in academic community, and we Post Colonial Writing at the deare offering her advice and suppartment, called the situation port during this difficult time. an ‘act of unthinkable cruelty.’

'We will be providing the Dr Noreen Masud, anothHome Office with testimonier colleague at the departals regarding her academic ment, called the decision excellence and her important ‘shameful’ and ‘devastating.’ contributions to our research Dr Kiguru’s situation has and education in the hope the also prompted reactions from situation can be resolved, and academics in other universities. Professor Ben Ansel her daughter will be able to join her here in Bristol soon.' from the University of Oxford called for far-reaching chang-

Bristol University commemorates the Fallen a direct relationship that they've lost, but it's such an integral part of our history and part of the history of the world. And it's something we shouldn't ever forget. It’s so important that both old and young come back to have this time and to remem-

University of Bristol marks Remembrance Sunday with a special service held at the Dame Monica Wills Chapel.

Milan Perera Deputy Editor

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he University of Bristol marked Remembrance Day with a special service held at Dame Monica Wills Chapel on Sunday, 12th November.

The event was attended by current students, staff and alumni to commemorate the Fallen from the World Wars, especially those who were part of the University community.

The event was marked with a poignant significance as Dame Monica Wills Chapel was built in 1930, only nine years before WWII broke out. As the residents' chapel at Wills Hall, Dame Monica Wills Chapel has been held in great esteem over the years for special ceremonies and events such as Remembrance Sunday.

The service was led by the

ber those Alex

Committee

University of Bristol alumni Charlie Gunter and was assisted by the members of the Junior Common Room (JCR) Committee at Wills Hall.

The service included readings and popular hymns such as 'Be Thou My Vision' and 'I Vow to Thee My Country', which captured the solemnity of the occasion.

During the service, wreaths were laid on the Remembrance Memorial at the back of the chapel which was followed by the observance of a two-minute silence facing the memorial.

Names of former Wills Hall residents who died during WWII and subsequent wars were read out

by Isabelle Phillips, President of the JCR Committee.

Hannah Acworth played 'The Last Post' on trumpet at the end of the observance of silence while Claude Barker accompanied the proceedings on the organ.

Speaking to Epigram on the significance of the event, Isabelle Philipps said: ‘I think it's like a commemoration that links us all. Everybody has some tie, even if it's not

who have lost.'

Sedgley

of

the

JCR

said: ‘I think it's really important as well to remember people of this hall

(Wills Hall) and really chime with the tradition, but also people who have been here and served our country. And I think it's important that we do what we can to remember them especially at this moment.’

Also speaking to Epigram, Benji Miller said: ‘It is important to come together as a community and remember those who have come before and served selflessly.’

Images courtesy of Milan Perera

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epigram 01.12.23

Prizewinning, portable period products: the story of two Bristol graduates University.

Subsequently, the University granted the pair £17,000 to get their business up and running.

The concept of the product is to reduce plastic and single-use waste, whilst also Neve Dawson benefiting the customer by Third Year, English and offering a cheaper alterHistory native to high-street, disposable sanitary products.

The average woman raduate entrepreneurs Monica Wai and Kira throughout her lifetime will Goode have recent- spend £5,000 on sanitary ly won the national 'Everyday products, with many counEngineering' contest, for their tries still employing the 'Tamportable menstrual cup clean- pon Tax' which further increases prices. er, designed durAlthough this ing their studies Women were unsure was abolished at the University. how to clean and in 2021 by the As a result of sterilise cups on the UK governtheir pioneermove, and that was ment, many ing success, the really off-putting. period prodduo were offered a meeting with Drag- ucts still remain financialons' Den (2005-) star Deb- ly unattainable for some.

The reusable nature of orah Meaden, as well as menstrual cup cuts specialised mentoring from the the Entrepreneurial Academy. down on both costs and The product, now named landfill, preventing, on avEleria, was designed by the erage, the two minibuses graduates while studying at full of menstrual products the Centre for Innovation that go into general waste and Entrepreneurship at the throughout a woman's life.

Two University of Bristol Graduates won the national Everyday Engineering contest, for their portable menstrual cup cleaner, designed during their studies.

G

A concern by some users of menstrual cups is whether the devices are discrete enough, especially when menstrual protection needs to be changed on the go. Eleria helps to reduce these concerns, making the cleaning process of the cup quick and efficient.

Advertised on the company's website, the cup can be cleaned by a simple shakeand-drain process, with the cup also being multifunctionvenient and save money.' al since the case can sterilise Academy of Engineering, who Eleria is now part of Runthe cup between menstrual praised such a creative solution way - the University's 'incucycles. Kira Goode added: to challenges faced every day: bator' for student startups.

'At University I was trying to 'It’s been brilliant to see such Although still in the prototype find a cheaper and more susinnovative and original idestage, Mark Neild, the Directainable period product and as for sustainable inventions tor of Runway, I started using and to have discovered ElerThe average woman said the success a menstrual cup ia, the menstrual cup portable and wondered throughout her lifetime of the graducleaning and sterilising case, why more people will spend £5,000 on ates 'is a teswhich will help people to use tament to the weren't using it. a menstrual cup on the move, sanitary products. tenacity of feAfter conducting prevent landfill from menstrumale founders.' research with thousands of al products and save money.

One of three finalists in the people it was clear the main 'I’m delighted to see so 'Everyday Engineering' combarrier was that women were many people getting into petition, Eleria has caught unsure how to clean and sterthe engineering mindset and the eye of Dr Hayaatun Sililise cups on the move, and coming up with creative solulem CBE, CEO of the Royal that was really off-putting. tions to everyday challenges.'

We created Eleria to make these products more conImage courtesy of University of Bristol

Hundreds attend 'School Strike for Palestine' Bristol school children have attended rallies at College Green in solidarity with Palestinian children harmed by recent military strikes every friday in November.

Milan Perera Deputy Editor

H

undreds of school children from the Bristol area took to the streets and gathered for a rally at College Green on Friday 3rd November in solidarity with the Palestinian children who were killed and injured in the recent military strikes.

The event was organised by School Strike for Palestine, a collective of parents in Bristol, with the support of Bristol Stop the War Coalition, Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Green Party.

The rally was attended by hundreds of school children and their parents, who held placards and banners calling for an ‘immediate cease-

fire’ in Gaza. Pupils from various local schools took turns to address the rally and express their concerns on the current situation in Palestine.

The rally began at 11am and finished around 1pm. Among those who addressed the rally were pupils from local schools such as Redland Green School, Montpelier School, Brunel Academy and Cotham School.

The speakers represented a range of ages, from Reception to Sixth Form, and included some personal accounts of family members being affected by the humanitarian crisis.

There was a play area for younger children to take part in drawing and colouring during the proceedings. A petition was signed demanding Bristol MPs to call for a ceasefire. After the rally, the signed petition was delivered to City Hall when the protesters marched towards the entrance of the building.

In a statement issued regarding the ongoing conflict,

Carla Denyer, Member of Parliament for Bristol Central and Green Party co-leader, urged Bristol’s four Labour MPs to join the Greens in calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. She said: ‘It is disappointing that none of the MPs who represent Bristol have joined international calls for a ceasefire. Three quarters of British people want an immediate ceasefire and this sentiment is clear on the ground in Bristol with thousands taking part in peaceful demonstrations over the last few weeks.’

On the railings of the City Hall hundreds of ribbons were tied for the children who have died during the conflict. According to School Strike for Palestine, they are determined ‘to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis in the region.’

Also addressing the rally was Noor Khashaba from Friends of Palestine, a student-led society at the University of Bristol.

Speaking to Epigram, the fi-

nal-year Law student said: ‘We are happy to be here. We are happy to have such a good turnout with the younger generation. We hope it continues. We need to continue to show solidarity with the Palestinians and continue to ask for a ceasefire.’

Regarding the mass school walkout, a Department for Education spokesperson said: 'Children should be in school.

While we recognise these

young people should be able to peacefully express their views, we do not condone them missing out on their education.'

School Strike for Palestine states that they will continue to hold demonstrations outside City Hall every Friday until MPs call for a ceasefire.

Image courtesy of Milan Perera

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epigram 01.12.23

UoB mourns former Vice-Chancellor 'Visionary' Vice-Chancellor from 2001 to 2015, Sir Eric Thomas, passed away after a short battle with cancer.

Amelia Jacob Co-Editor-in-Chief

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ollowing a short battle with cancer, Professor Sir Eric Thomas, former Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol, has sadly passed away at the age of 70 on Friday 10th November.

Born during 1953 in Hartepool, and educated in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sir Eric had gone on to make significant contributions in both fields of medicine and education.

Before coming into the University as the Vice-Chancellor, he had specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology, and published over 150 papers on infertility and endometriosis.

Sir Eric’s career in teaching started off as a Lecturer at the University of Sheffield, advancing to Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, before being appointed the University of Southampton’s Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

He had spent some time as the Head of the School of Medicine at Southampton before moving up as the Dean, and even-

tually found himself as Bristol’s Vice-Chancellor in September 2001.

Professor Evelyn Welch, the current Vice-Chancellor and President, described the former Vice-Chancellor as one with 'vision, leadership, and commitment.

She added: 'He will be remembered fondly for all his achievements while at Bristol that helped not only those in the local community but also across the world.

Our thoughts are with his wife Narell, his children Rachel and David and the wider family at this very sad time.'

Sir Eric came into Bristol with the primary goals of

increasing teaching quality, improving the research done at the University of Bristol, and enhancing the student experience.

Furthermore, he focused on establishing clear career pathways for academics who want to focus on teaching. His efforts were rewarded when the research at Bristol received wider recognition at an international level. Currently, the University of Bristol is well placed within the top 100 global universities, with a diverse population of students from over 150 countries.

In honour of the advancements he made for higher

education, Sir Eric had received a knighthood in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his two-year tenure as the President of the Universities UK, and as a founding member of the Worldwide Universities Network.

Jack Boyer, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: 'Sir Eric was one of the architects in shaping the future of higher education. He was a great advocate of both the University and city, and helped champion educational philanthropy, internationalisation, the commercial exploitation of innovation...'

First Bus shaken by Halloween violence First Bus suspended certain services after vandals do 'thousands of pounds' of damage on Halloween night.

Daisy Billington Fourth Year, Politics and Spanish

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he lives of both First Bus drivers and passengers in Bristol and Wales were put in danger by three different accounts of vandalization that occurred on Halloween Night (31st October).

Most concerningly, in all cases large objects were reported to have been aimed directly at

the bus drivers. Panic ensued amongst First Bus as they feared more attacks could follow, and bus routes were subsequently suspended.

Rob Pymm, Commercial Director at First Wales and West, has commented on the situation as a ‘disgraceful’ act carried out against the drivers and customers of First Bus. He drew attention to the terrible risk entailed by throwing such heavy objects at highspeed vehicles. The damage that has been done will require repairs that will cost the company ‘thousands of pounds’, cause delays on multiple bus routes and undoubtfully

leave those who experienced the events feeling fearful.

Significant damage was done to the Service 70 (Hengrove to the University of the West of England) in Bristol.

Rob Pymm made a statement apologising for the inconvenience caused by the incidents, noting: ’All we can do is apologise and reassure the public that we will resume a normal service as soon as possible.’

He explains that: ‘we’re committed to protecting our drivers and customers, even if that means stopping services for safety reasons.’

Those responsible for the attacks have not yet been

Image courtesy of First Bus

identified, but Rob Pymm assures that First Bus is taking all the necessary steps to hold them accountable: ‘We have reported the incidents to the police and we are reviewing our on-board CCTV.’

The Service 6 bus in Wales was also forced to a halt, to avoid crashing into a costumed member of the public who was stood in the middle of the road.

Eco-activist group deflate over 150 Clifton SUVs Reclaim Our Community say their actions will intensify and that they are acting 'out of love.'

Amelia Jacob Co-Editor-in-Chief

R

eclaim Our Community (ROC), an eco-activist group, has claimed the deflation of over 150 SUVs in Clifton this week. This statement comes nearly a month after they claimed to have deflated over 100 SUVs in the same area on 19th October.

ROC comments that their 'actions will increase in severity and magnitude un-

til the government responds sixth biggest CO2 emitter.'

'Temporarily disarming veto our demands', identifying as 'a group of young peo- hicles is an effective way to ple angered and fearful of reduce the consumption of the world we are inheriting.' SUVs: after a wave of tyre extinguishIn a statement ing in Sweidentical to that The attack comes den in 2007, of their previous a month after they deflations, the claimed to have deflated sales dropped by 27%.' group claimed: over 100 SUVs in the On the con'The contribusame area. sequences tion of SUVs to of their acglobal emissions may be thought to be inconse- tions, the group repeated: 'We made sure to tarquential. But this is completely false, SUVs were the second get SUVs in an affluent area largest cause of the global rise with easy access to pubin CO2 emissions in the past lic transport, we also left a decade. If the SUV industry note explaining why we did was a country it would be the it. Though it will undoubted-

ly cause extreme frustration SUVs in affluent Bristol areas.

The activities of groups such and resentment, we do this as The Tyre Exact of rebellion 'If the SUV industry was tinguishers and out of love.'

'We will not a country it would be now Reclaim Our be complicit the sixth biggest CO2 C o m m u n i t i e s have proved to in the ecologiemitter.' be hugely concal collapse of our world which could see troversial in Bristol, as they billions suffer. We will fight, have been targeting affluent to reclaim our community.' areas such as Clifton, Redland, Their demands for the gov- Henleaze and Stoke Bishop.

In September 2022, afernment remain the same: more bicycle lanes in Bris- ter a similar tyre-slashing tol, free public transport event, The Tyre Extinguishand the insulation of homes. ers claimed to have ‘disarmed’ The group is not to be over 9,000 SUVs globally in mistaken for The Tyre Extin- the preceding six months.

No convictions have been guishers, a previous eco-acin Bristol so far. tivist group that deflated made

Opinion

Editor Amaan Ali Co-Deputy Editor George Jones Co-Deputy Editor India Noon Digital Editor Georgia Rowe Subeditor Megan Ioannides

Opinion | University may no longer be the right option for progress quire a degree in order to apply, as showing you have obtained an academic qualification proves to employers that you have a Sofia Webster hard-working and diligent personality Film & TV Co-Deputy which reflects your Editor skills in a good light ahead of niversity has been, for starting a career. a long time, the most In our modern sopopular option when c i e t y, choosing t h e r e a path to 'Some argue that are so progress university does m a n y on once not offer the same s t u d e n t s advantages for a career d i f f e r ent cafinish trathat it once did years r e e r ditional p a t h s schoolone can take – and ing in the it is necessary that all roles be UK. Around the world howfilled for our society to flourish. ever, this is not so often the It is typical for more corporate most popular path as, in some jobs, like those in sectors such areas, options like apprenas marketing, media, finance ticeships or immediate emand secretarial roles, to reployment are more favoured. quire an academic degree as a Therefore, I believe it is worth means for showing diligence, investigating whether univera hard-working character and sity is still the right choice for the general ability to learn and all, as it is often deemed to be develop to a high and reputain the UK. Some argue that ble standard. Other job roles, university does not offer the such as lawyers or doctors, same advantages for a career directly require an academic that it once did years ago, and certificate to be able to obthus does not prove as useful tain the job in the first place. in terms of social mobility and Therefore, for these vocational networking, due to the abunjobs, going to university is and dance of career paths one can will always be the right choice now take after turning 18. for these chosen careers.

When my parents’ generation In more ways than one, going were at university, I feel it was to university is a massive priva much less common choice ilege. To be able to (one day) for people despite the fact that pay tuition fees, undertake tuition fees were non-existent, maintenance loans and fund compared to now where those the excess finances on top of that do go to university typicalthis is a huge imly have to be in a much more plication privileged to deal position 'Many of the most w i t h , than those well-paid jobs require and for who went a degree in order to m a ny, years ago. apply, as showing attendThe reality, you have obtained an ing unithat many versity more peo- academic qualification.' is ruled ple achieve out as a result of an undergraduate degree than the financial burden 20 or 30 years prior, directly that can be placed correlates to the reason why on people. On top of the process of getting a dethis, the experience gree does not reap the same of being at univerbenefits it once did. Yet many sity and fending for of the most well-paid jobs re-

Univeristy has been seen as the only way to progress for a long time but now there are cheaper alternatives and it puts into question whether university is worth it.

U

oneself is a responsibility and financial rewards instead offers life experience that is of burdens since you rechallenging and therefore may ceive an income alongside not be right for everyone, parcompletion of your studies. ticularly those that struggle When looking at social mobilwith daily responsibilities or ity, university can be the necthose at risk of homesickness. essary pathway to achieve Many will also one’s dream be subject to 'In our modern society, career whether there are so many stay at home that be a doctor, instead of different career paths lawyer or simimoving away one can take – and it is lar professions. for universi- necessary that all roles However, today ty as a result be filled for our society many vocations of health ciralso do not recumstancquire a degree es, amongst other things. in order to gain employIn the current cost of living ment, especially if you can crisis, the financial burdens show an element of drive imposed on students are more and determination through prevalent than ever, which your accomplishments and raises the important question in your personality that of whether going to univerwould be needed to achieve sity is as sensible a decision an undergraduate degree as it used to be. This is esto an impeccable standard. pecially prevalent when comOverall, I do believe that paring to options like degree going to university offers apprenticeships, which offer valuable life experience and

is not just about the degree certificate every student receives at graduation. It is also about learning to look after yourself; how to cook yourself meals even after a long day of lectures and even take care of yourself when you are bed-bound with fresher’s flu.

It is an opportunity to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself consistently. However, like with everything, there is no right choice for everyone.

With different people aspiring to have different career paths and life trajectories, taking routes that do not head to university after school will be the most suitable choice for many people for various social, emotional and financial reasons.

Image above courtesy of Daniel Hutton Image below courtesy of Mikey Harris via Unsplash

epigram 01.12.23

8

Opinion | Artificial Intelligence should be banned in universities Artifical intelligence is dangerous and will cause an influx of plagerism, as well as taking away creativity from students.

Izzy Fraser Second Year, English Literature

A

rtificial Intelligence.

It’s suddenly appeared on the radar of humanity over the past few years, whether for you it’s through Chat GPT, Alexa, or the jarring bitmoji of My AI that sits smugly above your pinned friends on Snapchat. While you may roll your eyes because it’s a hot topic of discussion lately, you better get used to the discourse.

This tech advancement isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s only going to get more prominent, more powerful and more (in my not very niche opinion) dangerous. Despite this, the inevitability of AI growing in scale isn’t a reason to get comfortable with it, but rather a reason to acnotice patterns, so answers tively reject it. day tech user) 'It is important to are simply based on patterns According to it has made highlight that AI of words from other data. the Oxford life immeasexhibits or simulates urably easier. Therefore, they often lack English Dicintelligent, human depth or are simply incorrect. tionary, AI can One category of behaviour.'

This was noted by one student be defined as people that AI who said ‘I once went a bit too ‘The capacity has made life far with it and then did realof computers easier for is stuly badly on my essay- I just or other machines to exhibit or dents. ChatGPT is the most find that it’s a slippery slope’. simulate intelligent behaviour.’ obvious example, with a reSecondly, I honestly think It is important to highlight cent poll revealing that 58% ChatGPT contradicts the purthat AI exhibits or simulates of a portion of undergraduates pose of education. It prevents intelligent, human behaviour. from The University of Bristol the need to think It ‘adapts through progressive have used 'I once went a bit too for yourself, and learning algorithms to let the the software. far with it and then it takes away data do the programming. AI Of these studid really badly on my the creativity finds structure and regularities dents, the essay- I just find that and nuance rein data so that algorithms can majority held it’s a slippery slope.' quired for an inacquire skills’. So, in very bathat they dividual to form sic terms, AI recognises patused the retheir own arguterns and uses these to prosource for ment. I’m not denying that duce outcomes. In this sense, inspiration for assignments or ChatGPT makes it quicker and the more data we give AI, the to ‘summarise complex readeasier to do uni work, howmore patterns it can find, and ing material.’ However, there ever, these are just a few of the more ‘intelligence’ it will was a portion of students who the many reasons why usexhibit. AI is claim to have ing AI is not as effective, fair, present in alcopied directly 'A recent poll revealing or rewarding as completing most all areas from, or slightthat 58% of a portion work independent from it. of life, and it ly reworded, of undergraduates from In conversation with a senior undoubtedly the material The University of Bristol lecturer, I asked his thoughts has its posithat ChatGPT have used the software.' produced. Not on students using AI and if, as tives; it can a marker, he could notice AI detect crime, only is this ungenerated work. The English it has allowed fair, but lanLiterature lecturer held that for significant guage mod‘AI generated work sticks out medical advancements and el-based chatbots work in the like a sore thumb’ and not(most handy for the everysame way as other AI, they

replicate human sentience ed ‘random hallucinated facts which, in my opinion, would and quotations’ that often be the beginning of the end. come with sections produced AI is not inherently bad. It has by the software. It is evident its uses, however, these need that, when copied verbatim, to be carried out in a conAI generated work can gentrolled environment with strict erally be noticed by lecturers. rules and regulations. What is However, what cannot currentnot necessary is for AI to be ly notice ChatGPT copied work at the disposal of the public. is ‘Turnitin’, the plagiarism One necessary step that must checking software used by be made while we still have UoB. There have been suggescontrol over tions that AI this advanceitself could be 'However, what cannot ment, and to used to check currently notice AI for AI generat- ChatGPT copied work is prevent from becoming ed work. How‘Turnitin’, the plagiarism increasingly ever, while this checking software used powerful, is for may work to

by UoB.' it to be banned spot this type in universities. of plagiarism, This would not only make asthe wider consequence would sessments fairer, it would rebe overwhelmingly negative. store the individual’s creativI return to the point that any ity in education. On a wider (and all) information we give scale, it would put a stop to AI makes it able to mirror the the immeasurable amounts intelligence of humans more of information that students accurately. You may ask: What feed into AI that slowly but is the problem with this? The surely is enabling the softsimple answer to that is that ware to develop ‘intelligence’ we have no idea what will beyond our understanding or happen. I don’t (just) mean control. We must make this killer robots like in movies; I change before it is too late. mean that there is every possibility that AI, with enough Image courtesy of Daniel Hutton data on human experiences, thoughts and behaviour, could

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epigram 01.12.23

Opinion | Online activism whispers in the face of injustice. Do something rather than fall prey to the Wild West social media has become Online activism is growing and it does not do enough to help the causes it attempts to advocate for.

James Lewis First Year, English Literature

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f you have had any access to the internet recently, which I assume you have, it is almost guaranteed that you will have seen some form of ‘online activism.’ This is the sharing of media by individuals in support of a cause that they feel passionately about. This type of activism has a number of benefits, which include the ability for people outside of the mainstream media to voice their opinions and be heard, it reduces the barriers plex AI can create seemingly to entering political discourse real looking photographs and and it enables videos that are the empower- ' A number of benefits, easily accessiwhich include the ing of marginble to everyone, ability for people alised groups it seems logical through colto assume that outside of the lective action. terrorist groups, mainstream media to While this trolls who take voice their opinions' was possible pleasure in chaos before the internet, it is ampliand those with highly convictfied by the scale at which peoed mindsets would find it benple can connect online, as their eficial to create false media ideas are easily transmittable in order to capture the pubacross thousands of miles in lic’s attention, knowing that if seconds. However, this type someone reposts it then their of activism is not perfect and followers may well vouch for can lead to further problems. its authenticity without any The ease at which someone proof. The issue is that much can ‘repost’ a piece of bitesize of what is shared online does information can mean the pronot come from dependable liferation of fake news, that sources and so it is a wilderhas been created to display ness of what is and is not real. a skewed version of events.

This torrent of repeated and Such media can distort perreposted information makes ceptions or even cause somedependable news from trusted one to shy away from engagsources more and more obing in current affairs out of scure; such online activism can fear of being misled. The EU crowd out important informaeven sent a letter to Elon Musk tion that would be far more inon the 10th of formative with October this 'The issue is that much more scope year warn- of what is shared online for someone ing him of the to form their does not come from punishments own opinion dependable sources and if his compafrom. In 2020 so it is a wilderness of this ny, X (formerconcern ly known as what is and is not real.' came to the Twitter), confore with ‘Black tinued to, ‘Disseminate illegal Out Tuesday’, where users of content and disinformation in social media posted a black the EU.’ In a world where comsquare to raise awareness for

the Black Lives Matter movefrom a counter-cultural corner ment. Those seeking imporof society is actually just an tant information using ‘#BLM’ extension of the problematic or ‘#BlackLivesMatter’ were news cycles that, at their core, instead greeted with a great function to generate profit. wall of nothingness, proving Most causes that fit what I that such activism can actudeem to be ‘trending’ online ally have the inverse effect are already widely reported by of what is desired. This move the mainstream media, which also came under fire for being is why they become so widely virtual signalling, which trivialshared, which in turn serves to ises the movement and turns prop up the media that needs it into a ‘trend’, which faces to readdress their processes the possibility of being lost on of news-making. For example, the internet, as so many are. the current Yemeni famine is Recently, severdescribed by ' This torrent of al world events the UN as, have triggered repeated and reposted ‘The world’s information makes a wave of onworst huline activism, m a n i t a r i an dependable news from such as the war crisis’ yet trusted sources more in Ukraine and there has and more obscure.' the Israel-Habeen and will mas conflict, as likely continwell as the environmental criue to be little to no coverage sis and injustices among difdespite, ‘21.6 million people ferent marginalised groups. are in dire need of humaniWhile I do see the benefits tarian assistance and protecof informing those who follow tion services.’ While it is not you on a matter that is imporpossible to compare suffering, tant to you and the feel-good the lacking recognition of cerfactor of feeling helpful in an tain events makes the activotherwise helpless situation, ism two dimensional, because the conversion of these genof the ease at which it can be uine issues into a trend that done. The very notion of this comes and goes makes me activism encourages further uncomfortable; the war in neglect of other important Ukraine is still going on, inworld events, because these justices prevail, many other act as signifiers to the media worthwhile causes go relaand even politicians as to what tively unnoticed. This activtime and resources should be ism, while seemingly coming committed to. While obvious-

ly it is always good that world events are addressed by countries who have the finances to support or the political clout to take part in or set up constructive meetings, the lack of attention that is given to events that occur outside of Western powers’ scope of interest feels like a continuing hangover from colonialism. It highlights that eurocentrism continually fails to look after those who cannot get their voices heard and continue to suffer as a consequence.

While people will continue to advocate for causes they believe in using social media, I think that each time we think to press the ‘share button’, we should all take that extra second to consider what it is that we are sharing. We should do our best to find its authenticity, ensure that we are properly educated on the subject that it is in reference to and also consider why it is we are doing what we are doing. Perhaps it would be better if everyone were to actually do something rather than post something that 90 per cent of people will skip anyway. That could be to attend a march or sign a petition; actions speak louder than words and they shout compared to pixels on a screen.

Image courtesy of Jakub Owens via Unsplash

Features

Editor Aidan Szabo-Hall Co-Deputy Editor Dan Hutton Co-Deputy Editor Nel Roden Digital Editor Annie McNamee Subeditor Ellicia Metcalfe

' Yo u a r e n o t A l o n e ' : I n c o nv e rs a t i o n w i t h t h e B e a t T h i s To g e t h e r s o c i e ty never struggled, moving to uni may be the start of the struggle for them,’ highlighting the importance of having a supportive community that ensures all students feel equipped to navigate their eating disorders.

Nel Roden Mills notes that the society Features Co-Deputy Edi- receives positive feedback for tor the work they do on campus, ith eating disor- stating that people appreciate ders estimated to seeing the society ‘pop up on affect almost 1.25 Instagram because it's a safe million people nationwide, it little corner.’ Giddings reiteratis now more crucial than ever ed this, emphasising that when that candid conversations are young people start universibeing fostered to raise aware- ty, ‘you're kind of all on your ness about the detrimental own, so I think it's nice that impact of disordered eating. people know that we're here.’

For the 2023/24 academic Epigram recently had the opportunity to speak to Beat year, the society’s main objecThis Together, the Universi- tives are to extend outreach ty of Bristol’s eating disorder to groups - both within and awareness society. From the outside of the university - who conversation with the society are in most need of support President, Katie Giddings, and and to increase fundraising Equalities Officer, Will Mills, efforts for the Beat charity. valuable insights were gained Giddings says that ‘one of the into the society’s efforts to big things we do and are conraise awareness on campus tinuing to do to up the conin the current academic year. versation is talks with sports Beat This Together is affiliat- societies because they can ed with the UK’s leading eat- be areas where there are ing disorder charity, Beat, who higher rates of eating disoroffer information, resources ders and disordered eating.’

Mills elaboand support 'I think if you've rates: ‘we've for those sufpreviously struggled, already done fering from an moving to university a talk with eating disorwomen's footder, as well as can be a catalyst for ball.

Last for their friends those kinds of issues and family. coming back up again.' year we had talks with the When asked to elaborate on what it is that the hockey society and hopeUniversity of Bristol chapter fully we'll go back and do does, Mills explains: ‘as a soci- that again if they'll have us!’ ety, we basically raise aware- Giddings went on to talk ness and fundraise for Beat.’ about the society’s efforts to He discusses the prevalence provide outreach to the widof the charity’s outreach and er community, noting their notes that Beat also platforms plans to continue doing talks specific support groups for in secondary schools as a a range of eating disorders. way to support students in When asked why they believe their transition to university. having an eating disorder In regards to fundraising, Mills awareness society on campus notes that ‘because we were is important, Giddings tells a small society, it does make Epigram: ‘for a lot of peo- it difficult to do fundraising ple, moving to university is events sometimes. Last year a huge change. So I think if we got two bake sales and a you've previously struggled, few pub quizzes in, which was moving to university can be a good, but we reckon we can do catalyst for those kinds of is- better this year. Our aim is to insues coming back up again.’ crease fundraising massively.’

Both Mills and Giddings She continues: ‘but then also, even for people who've maybe draw attention to the mis-

Nel Roden speaks to the University of Bristol's eating disorder awareness society, Beat This Together

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conceptions people have about the society. When asked to elaborate on what these were, Giddings says: ‘I think people have got a bit of a misconception about us being a support group, so that kind of puts people off coming to socials and events. Whereas really we're here to help people in terms of signposting and passing them on to services that have support. But ultimately, we just want to create a nice, safe community for people.’

Mills reiterated this, saying: ‘The biggest thing is that if anybody wants to get involved in fundraising or anything, you don't have to have had experience with an eating disorder.

You don't need to have lived through anything. It might just be that on a random week at uni, you're a bit bored you find out Beat is looking for people to help out with a bake sale and you think, “yeah, I'll go help out with a bake sale.”

It's that kind of thing that we really want to increase, the message being, you don't have to have any sort of affiliation or lived experience to be a part of the society and to help us fundraise. Do a talk, write a blog post, do whatever. We just want you involved.’

To get involved with the society, it is possible to contact the team via Instagram or request to be added to the society group chat, where you can receive information about upcoming events.

Mills emphasises the society’s awareness that many people struggling with disordered eating choose not to use Instagram, and says that ‘even if you want to protect yourself from the algorithm and everything like that, we’ll make sure that you still have a way of accessing information from us.’

To wrap up the conversation, Mills and Giddings each shared a message for any students who may be struggling with an eating disorder, Mills tells Epigram: ‘if you're struggling with an eating disorder, then you are not alone. Don't bottle it up, don't hide it. Tell someone;

tell your friend, tell your flat- the current NHS overwhelm mates, tell your parents, call and the stringent criteria for Nightline. Just talk about it eating disorders, which often because it can be so isolating.’ results in individuals who are seeking help He continues: being turned ‘even if a stu'tell your friend, tell She dent is strug- your flatmates, tell your away. gling, they're parents, call Nightline. points out that ‘if you feel like not alone Just talk about it you're being and they will because it can be so turned away, get through isolating.' don't be put off; it because we've got loads they can, they just can.’ and loads of amazing services Giddings reiterates this and in Bristol that you can access.’ notes that ‘I would like to re- If you or anyone you know mind people that you're nev- is struggling with an eating er not sick enough to ask for disorder, there is support help. There's not some kind available via the University’s Health Services, of magic point where you're Student suddenly entitled to help. the Beat Eating Disorders Catching it early is the best website and the Beat This resource page. thing that you can do for your- Together For further information self. Whatever stage you’re at, don't compare yourself to on how to get involved with other people because every- the society, as well as for one's journey is complete- their blog, visit the Beat Together webpage. ly different and if you feel This you’re struggling even just Images above and right courtesy of a tiny bit, it probably isn't.’

Dan Hutton

Image courtesy of Beat This Together Society

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epigram 01.12.23

(cont. from front page) Sammy Wright - lead commissioner for schools and higher education for the Social Mobility Commission (SMC) - stated that in their inquiry, the SMC ‘found an entrenched pattern in certain areas where social mobility is very low, and often the only way to grasp opportunities involved moving away from where they were brought up, but we also found that social and economic disadvantage often hampered any chance to move out.’

This seems to be a widespread concern: a University of Essex report found that working-class people are judged to be less intelligent, friendly and trustworthy than their middle-class counterparts.

This may create a hostile environment for those from socioeconomically deprived areas, discouraging them from pursuing higher education.

Amelia also touched on this feeling of seclusion, namely the financial strain of public transport. She noted that the wealth disparity between students from the north and those from London often means that ‘[northern] students often stay whole terms without going home, which is a long time without seeing family and friends.’ search by Amanda Cole for When speakthe Journal of 'It's not about the ing with EpiLinguistic Gephysical place, but ography found gram, Amelia about the people, that if a speakalso detailed her involvement and sharing the same er received a negative evalin The Univerexperiences' uation based sity of Bristol’s on their accent, they were Northern Society, where she most frequently identified is the equality representative. as coming from East Lon‘People can sometimes jeer don and/or Southern Essex. or mock the idea of a NorthThe issue also extends beern Society when in fact this yond regional boundaries, afwas one of my favourite things fecting international students about my first year because it who constitute 29 per cent of made me feel closer to home.’

Bristol’s stuShe went on 'Anyone with a slightly dent populato explain that different accent just tion. The Sutton ‘it’s not about the physi- needs to be prepared to Trust’s ‘Speakcal place, but stand up for who they ing Up’ report found that Afabout the peoare and where they rican-Caribbeple and sharcome from' an and Indian ing the same accents were ranked as least e x p e r i e n c e s . ’ prestigious in comparison to Northern Society is one of Received Pronunciation acBristol’s 40+ international cents (RP, or ‘Queen’s English’). and language societies, highTo minimise the harm caused lighting the prevalence of diby accent prejudice, the universe communities within versity makes an institutional the university. Despite this, pledge to anti-racism, aiming to a study conducted by Sutton provide increased transparenTrust revealed that 47 per cy about how they tackle racial cent of university students harassment to build increased have faced accent-based trust and confidence in reportridicule in social settings. ing mechanisms. On the UniThe issue is not limited to versity of Bristol website, they students from the north. Re-

state: ‘together we remain determined to tackle racial discrimination in all its forms.’

To conclude her conversation with Epigram, Amelia offered some advice for students struggling with accent-based discrimination: ‘anyone with a slightly different accent just needs to be prepared to stand up for who they are and where they come from and try not to fit in just to make friends [...] university is a great opportunity to move away from

home and experience anoth- urges students and staff to address iner lifestyle, A perception exists stances of buland although that individuals from lying, harassthere may be the north are deemed ment and any challenges, other forms this makes ‘less intelligent, of unacceptyou more reless ambitious, able behavsilient than and less educated.’ iour. Students staying in your comfort zone at home.’ are able to report an incident srs-casework@ If you or anyone you know by emailing where they has experienced any form of bristol.ac.uk, discrimination on campus, will be allocated a Student Stand Up Speak Out is a uni- Liaison Officer who will asversity-wide initiative that sist them with their report.

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epigram 01.12.23

‘ You are of ten alone in trying to navigate a space that was not built for you’ | Is university accessible enough for disabled students?

Sapphire Hope speaks to her sister, Pollyanna, to learn about her experience as a disabled student at university

Sapphire Hope Third Year, Politics and International Relations

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bleism pushes the assumption that some bodies are inferior to others. It perpetuates the idea that disability is a burden, that walking down the aisle is infinitely better than wheeling, that speaking is better than signing.

Rebekah Taussig is a disability advocate and the author of the book Sitting Pretty, a memoir-in-essays which articulates the 'rhythms and textures of what it means to live in a body that doesn't fit.’ She perceives ableist discrimination to be, often, more subtle than cruel. Recently, a GP from north-east Wales was forced to pull out of the New York marathon

after organisers decided she was not allowed to wear a vest that carried supplies for her stoma. Gayle Redmon – who needs to catheterise herself six times a day – was informed that only waist belts are permitted, and that her disability could not be accommodated.

It is this insidious, ableist discrimination that perpetuates the sense of stigmatisation already felt by those who are disabled, reminding them they live in a world that is often not adapted for them.

Think of the cobbled Bristol streets lined with bins that are unreachable for wheelchair users, that only one-third of London tube stations are accessible, that almost half of the restaurants in the UK do not have a disabled toilet.

How – in 2023 – can a marathon not be adaptable for someone with a disability?

Can’t we – the non-disabled – work to give other humans the same sense of societal value that we feel every day?

My sister, Pollyanna, is an amputee. This September, she started an undergraduate

course at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and is the only visibly disabled person there. For her, disability is a part of her identity. It is not a deficiency or an insult, it is simply an adjective.

Her wheelchair is not a limitation – it gives her freedom.

I am not here to criticise, but many of us do not realise just how inaccessible life at university is for disabled individuals.

I challenge you to think of a single club in Bristol where you don’t have to go downstairs to enter or use the bathroom.

Pollyanna spoke to Epigram about her experience as a disabled student.

A few years ago, Pollyanna was unable to wear her prosthetic leg and was confronted with the decision of whether to go to school on crutches or use her wheelchair. Her crutches give her blisters on her hands and elbows and are exhausting. She chose the crutches.

Pollyanna told Epigram that ‘I wore my crutches because when you are in a wheelchair, your disability is the first thing anyone sees. So many people

refuse to waive their eyesight.

With the crutches, I could ignore it because I was at eye level. I could pretend I was standing and had no disability at all. ‘at my dance school, whilst everyone is always happy to adapt exercises, all classes are designed for non-disabled people, so it takes extra brain power to adapt and perform almost every routine – I must create a new version of whatever is taught. Standing up all day is also a struggle as I constantly must concentrate on not putting too much pressure on my prosthetic leg.’

Despite not feeling marginalised, Pollyanna says that it is isolating being the only disabled dancer in a school tailored towards able-bodied dancers.

She emphasised the inaccessibility of university nightlife: ‘I struggle in every club I have been to because of the stairs, and I have never been offered to skip the queue. It would be far worse if I was in my wheelchair, which I often have to use if my leg is hurting. I probably wouldn’t be able to go out. Walking back from

clubs is often painful for my leg. I prefer to get Ubers, but it is difficult to get my friends to alter their plans for me.

‘Disability is incredibly isolating because you are often alone in trying to navigate a space that was not built for you. It’s like attempting to adapt everything in your life when everyone else has it laid out for them.’

Pollyanna highlighted that difference should be seen not as a weakness, but as a shared beauty of humanity: ‘When you see someone, see their strengths, not their weaknesses. Every person deserves to feel they have value as a member of society. Difference should be seen as a blessing, rather than a burden.'

In Sitting Pretty, Taussig articulates this perfectly: ‘Disabled perspectives create a world that is more imaginative, more flexible, more sustainable, more dynamic, and vibrant for everyone who lives in a body. It is our job to do more, it’s our human responsibility to embrace every single body.’

Remembrance out of living memory: does ‘Armistice Day’ still matter to young people over 100 years on?

Emily Brewster examines whether the idea of Remembrance Day is viewed as anachronistic by young people in the 21st Century

Emily Brewster Third Year, History

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or over a century, the seasonal selling of red poppies at the end of October has reminded the British public of the ‘Day of Remembrance’. Renamed from ‘Armistice Day’ following the Second World War to commemorate fallen troops of all wars involving Britain, the 11th of November is the anniversary of the Armistice agreement in 1918 to end the First World War. The annual anniversary continues to evoke patriotic narratives of the ‘Glorious Dead’ and ‘the Great War’ in collective memory. For many young people, however, commemorating an event which killed so many has begun to feel inappropriate

while modern conflicts continue to destroy lives and communities. In an age where the fervent nationalism of war is often equated with xenophobia and political extremism, the event’s relevance for younger generations in 2023 is diminishing. Surrounded by the atrocities of war in the Middle East and in Ukraine, is commemorating lives sadly lost, in a war which no one alive today fought in, still important?

Armistice Day was first held on the anniversary of the end of the First World War. On the 11th of November 1919, King George V announced a two-minute silence to be observed across the country and Commonwealth in ‘reverent remembrance of the glorious dead.’

Despite its immense significance to people then, as now, as a mark of respect to those who were killed fighting, there was protestation from many veterans of ‘militaristic celebration’ for the colossal loss of young

lives in the commemorations.

Arguably, for younger generations of the British public, there is a feeling of distance from the fallen troops of World War One, most of which would’ve been born in the 19th century, during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Speaking to Epigram, one student recalled the two-minute silence observed at primary school every year on the 11th of November. He, as a child, had no real appreciation of who or what this was commemorating, as such a distant, unfathomable event.

Though Remembrance in the years after the devastating loss of the First World War was highly valuable for communities, commemorating the end of ‘the war to end all wars’, it is debatable whether this comfort is felt generations later.

Of course, the emblematic phrase used in Remembrance services, ‘Lest We Forget’, which promised to prevent catastrophic conflict occurring

between nations again, can certainly be viewed with some irony considering the repeated occurrence of atrocity and war throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

A third-year Geography student told Epigram that she finds the scale of Remembrance in Britain problematic for its emphasis on recalling historic events rather than recognising that the ‘The horrors of war are not, for many, something of the past’.

In 2011, David Cameron appointed a minister for ‘remembering the first world war’ and gave him £50 million to spend on the event. It is questionable whether this century-old war, horrific though it was, should continue to be honoured with such grandeur each year, as we witness citizens in other parts of the world inundated with poverty and suffering caused by conflict in the present.

He emphasised that the privilege of peace which Britons enjoy today should not detach us

from the tragic losses internationally during those four years of conflict, as they can help our understanding of the violence we are witnessing in 2023.

Having said this, for many like Ollie Cavanagh, a final year Engineering student, paying tribute to the fallen from the First World War should still be important to young people today, particularly in the context of the terrible conflicts that we are currently witnessing. A former air cadet, Ollie partook in several remembrance ceremonies and has seen the value of continuing to commemorate the people of the First World War, regardless of views on the war itself.

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For the full article please go to: www.epigram.org.uk

Artwork by Miranda Mercer, Third Year, Veterinary Medicine

Wit & Wisdom

Graduate Corner D Holly Beaumont, Epigram's former Co-Editor-in-Chief, outlines her career successes and failures , as well as her careers advice for students.

Holly Beaumont Bristol Alumnus

uring my final year at university, I thought that getting a job would come easily. Why wouldn’t it?

I had worked hard and knew exactly what field I wanted to go into. Unfortunately, the reality was starkly different.

The first proper job I ever applied to was the Telegraph’s Editorial Graduate Scheme and this experience was a complete baptism of fire into the world of job applications. I had no idea how rigorous applications could be, how many hoops you would have to jump through, and how cruel comparing yourself

to other candidates can be.

After an application, virtual interview and two online exams, I was lucky to be invited to the assessment centre day, where I met and worked with 17 other candidates - all while being scrutinised by Telegraph staff. Prior to going, I had felt good about my chances, having dedicated so much of my university life to student journalism. However, as soon as I got there, I was met with the reality of how competitive it can be. The friendly world of student journalism was a far cry from the stuffy office of a national newspaper. Other candidates had worked for national publications, were several years older than me, and had Masters de-

grees - how could I compete?

I tried my best to plead my case and to prove that I was

somehow more worthy of a place than someone who already had two years of experience at the Daily Mail under their belt, or someone who had attained their NCTJ qualification. On this occasion, I fell short. It was hard to come close and not be successful, however it taught me a lot. I received the news that I was unsuccessful during the final weeks before my dissertation was due and therefore I could not wallow. I had to pick myself up and focus on all the positives and set my sights on my next goal - something I advise everyone to do after not getting something they wanted.

Getting ‘rejected’ from jobs and having to keep striving has taught me the importance of perseverance and since then, I have been successful and have found jobs that have been right for me. I freelanced for almost a year and got to experience different publications.

Of course, none of them are as special to me as Epigram!

But, every path you take will lead you to learning something new that will shape your life.

I have worked at Sky News for over seven months now and often still feel like an imposter in a big serious newsroom. However, despite how daunting finding a job can feel, everyone’s perfect role is waiting for them - don’t give up!

Image courtesy ofHolly Beaumont

THE EPIGRAFT Epigram's blind date series returns, exclusive to print!

This month...

Beth meets Oscar What do you study?

Palaeontology and Evolution

What do you study?

Physics

First impressions?

'Oh you!', Oscar is a mutual friend of mine who I had met a couple of times before but never spent one on one time with.

First impressions?

We had actually already met before! She had a great t-shirt on.

Any highlights?

The date was good vibes, we had lots of banter and just an overall nice time.

Describe your date in three words.

Fun, friendly and educational (we talked a lot about NASA).

Any awkward moments?

No awkward moments really, quite smooth sailing. I say this but Oscar will have a list.

Second date?

No second date as we both agreed that it felt like friend vibes.

Any highlights?

The whole evening really - great conversations and a band started practicing their music in the pub which was nice.

Describe your date in three words.

Interesting, affable and funny Any awkward moments?

The band playing did trap us in the outside section, so neither of us could leave for the bathroom for a while.

Second date?

The whole evening felt like a chat with a friend so probably not.

Arts

Editor Rachel Bronnert Co-Deputy Editor Ella Carroll Co-Deputy Editor Isabel Williams Digital Editor Phoebe Caine

Street art: Bristol as a blank canvas Bristol’s eclectic street art documents the creative and culturally expressive spirits of artists that are central to the city’s community.

Anushka Dongare Fourth Year, Engineering

Image courtesy of Name /Unsplash

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alking through Bristol, you’d be hard pressed to find a single street which hasn’t been adorned with art worthy of exhibition in the Tate.

Street art has been an integral part of the fabric of Bristol for decades, first emerging in the 80s with the rise of counterculture; it has since helped bring creatives like Banksy to the forefront of the international

arts scene. Over the past 40 years, the city’s walls have become an infinitely expansive blank canvas, affording artists of every calibre the opportunity for self-expression unbounded by the restrictions that more traditional mediums might provide. A recent addition to the city's canvas is a piece depicting some beloved Bristolian characters with a particular affinity for Wensleydale and a deep-rooted rivalry with a penguin. Situated in Broadmead just opposite the HMV, the new Wallace and Gromit mural entitled A Cracking Day Out in Bristol was painted by local artist David Bain. You could easily miss this striking piece if you weren’t looking to lock eyes with Wallace while you’re out on the town, but walk past L’Osteria and it’s a sight to behold.

Implementing a colour palette heavily inspired by the rainbow of

houses that shape Bristol’s landscape, Bain perfectly encapsulates the vibrancy of the city. Drawing on the city’s distinctive architecture, Bain beautifully celebrates the landmarks that all students come to know and love. Much like Bain’s, many murals in the city centre use such symbols and famous Bristolian iconography to capture the feel of the city.

However, if you were to venture into neighbourhoods like St Pauls, the imagery shifts from that of the characters and buildings that form them, to those illustrating the people that embody them. Here the artists capture the true heart of Bristol. In these areas, profound importance is placed on a sense of community and

shared spirit: ideals which has made Bristol artistically are deeply rooted in the mulimmersive; on Nelson Street ticultural backgrounds of its alone you’re craning your neck people. Some beautiful piecto take in the towering imes of street art can be found agery in an experience remihere, such as Taj Mahal Girl by niscent of visiting the Sistine Chapel. Being surrounded by Stinkfish (Mina Road), Unitsuch all-encompassing vised Souls, United Goals by Mr Cenz (Gloucester Road) and uals, it's easy to feel the unbounded passion for creativity The Seven Saints of St Pauls

by Michele Curtis (throughout that pulsates through Bristol, pervading every avenue of St Pauls). All of these vividly artistic self-expression be it depict the community’s immense pride in its identity. Usthrough music, food, or fashing street art as a medium, the ion. It's no wonder so many people of St Pauls have turned creatives flock to a city which their surroundings into an imis such a multi-sensory celebration of the artistic vision – mersive celebration of their cultures, evoking deep feela city where creativity thrives ings of belonging and shared and inspiration is limitless. identity by tapping into raw Images courtesy of Daniel Hutton humanity in their art. This rev- and Dhristi Agarwal olutionization of the landscape

In conversation with comedian Chloe Petts Amelia Jacob interviews Chloe Petts about her new show If You Can’t Say Anything Nice, the privilege of anger and her advice for young people seeking a career in comedy.

Amelia Jacob Co-Editor-in-Chief

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resh off the back of rave reviews from the Edinburgh Fringe and

a sold-out run at Soho Theatre, Epigram recently had the opportunity to speak to Chloe Petts about the creative process behind her two upcoming shows at 1532 Performing Arts Centre in Bristol on the 23rd and 24th November.

Her latest show, If You Can’t Say Anything Nice, doesn’t flip the narrative of her debut Transience, but it certainly flips the tone. Chloe describes her latest show as ‘framing [things] differently.'

'I tried to be very polite,

break these ideas around gender and sexuality into sort of manageable bite-sized chunks for the people of the UK, who I refer to as the “thick idiots” [laughs] And then I go, well, you know, I tried to single-handedly solve transphobia. But if anything, over the course of the last year, it's gotten worse. So I feel like my politeness was kind of wasted. And I guess the thing I'm thinking about is, why should I manage my tone?’

It’s a sentiment that will ring

true for many, but despite the slightly depressing context of the show, Chloe says that her new angry persona allows her to ‘have a lot of fun [...] being quite rude and mean to the audience.’

There is also a level of poignancy: 'I [was] wondering how valuable anger is as an emotion [...] I can go and be angry, but at what cost? Do I want to be an angry person? I always try to put [being] funny first [...] If I want to make a point, and I can't make it

funny, then it gets dropped.’

Despite proclaiming that this is her ‘angry show’, Petts is calm and measured during our conversation – I wonder how well this angry persona suits her on stage. I ask her if she thinks anger is a more effective mode of delivery for what she is trying to say.

• For the rest of this article please visiit www.epigram. org.uk

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Book Nook: cosy autumnal reads Georgia Rowe compiles a list of cosy reads for the fast approaching winter months.

Georgia Rowe Opinion Digital Editor

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ow that autumn has finally srrived with its vibrant hues and as we edge closer to the biting chill of winter, we might all benefit from a more relaxed read to welcome in these darker evenings. I’ve curated a selection of my favourites for this time of the year – a mix of comforting, captivating and diverting reads. These are perfect company for the upcoming exam season: whether you need a soothing escape or a quick distraction between study sessions.

Enjoy!

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (2020) Reading this, as I did over the summer, I couldn’t help but think how appropriate it was as an autumnal read.

Laced with intricate descriptions of labyrinthine halls, mysterious weather phenomena and an atmosphere thick with distrust and speculation, 2021 Women’s Prize Winner Clarke, through the faithful Piranesi, invites readers on a magic-realism journey through lands unfamiliar to us.

It is a puzzling story, a mystery novel at heart, but one impossible to set aside. Perfect, I think, for a snug evening spent in solitary literary bliss.

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker (2014) Nearing 700 pages, Dicker’s novel may seem like a literary mountain at first but fear

not! The never-ending mystery he whips you through makes it a quicker read than most classic novellas. We shadow the writer Marcus Goldman, gleaning his observations of Harry Quebert and his ties to the mystery of missing Nola. Just when you think you’ve unravelled the mystery or can confidently predict ‘whodunnit’, Dicker stuns you with even more intricacies and layers.

It is a wonderfully enticing and complex book following a mystery in a small town.

And if you’re up for rounding off this reading experience in style, the TV series, featuring the charming Patrick Dempsey as the titular character, is similarly fabulous.

The Complete Short Stories by Roald Dahl (2013) Onto something much shorter. Over the span of his

Review: Elias Sime - Eregata In this exhibition, Elias Sime traces a wondrous map of human activity through the use of unconventional materials.

Noah Robinson Second Year, Law

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ike the masterful handling of his materials and creative process, Elias Sime expertly balances the aesthetic and the ethical in Eregata, his first major solo exhibition in Europe, currently at the Arnolfini. The title Eregata emerges from a combination of Amharic (the artist’s language) and the ancient script of Ge’ez. It comes to its closest in English as ‘serene’, but there’s a particular irony in this. Rather than capturing a moment in time, the work is never truly still, drawing on the past, present and future of our natural world. The exhibition is fundamentally about material history: the fingerprints on the objects of our everyday use. The gallery opens with Sime’s Tightrope series. These tapestries explore, as the title suggests, the moment where perfect balance turns into a fall from grace. Viewed from above, Sime produces maps of industrial activity. But coming closer, we see these lines are constructed by thousands of discarded scraps of human activity. There’s a cruel beauty in transforming this

into intricately woven landscapes of wonder. Sime began collecting objects of curiosity from the age of 14 in his hometown of Chirgos, Ethiopia; his present work retains this perhaps tainted sense of childhood wonder in its reclaiming of electrical wires, computer keyboards and circuit boards. In earlier work, these commonplace objects Image courtesy of Noah Robinson

record the ever-expanding networks of global trade. Yemegnot Allen is dominated by a mass of crashing waves from passing ships, leaving in its wake the horrors of environmental damage. It speaks to our broken harmony with the natural world and our instinctual drive to harvest and compete for its resources. There’s no critical thrust in his work,

lengthy career, Dahl crafted a treasure trove of short stories, of which Penguin have collected over two volumes for us to enjoy now. The short story format itself is a wonderful way of getting in your reading when time is of the essence. Some are funny, some heart-breaking, but all are delivered in Dahl’s signature, well-loved voice. These are a fantastic way of introducing yourself to some of Dahl’s more mature works.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh (2018) If you are at all into your reading, I’m sure this title has not failed to escape your attention in recent years, and for good reason. It follows a young woman in New York City who decides to take a year off from her life. The novel explores themes of escapism, mental health, alienation as well as the pursuit of meaning in our instead it is underscored in the process of creation: gathering and transforming toxic Western e-waste in the traditional Ethiopian practises of braiding and weaving. In his hunt for materials, Sime not only asks us to consider who these materials belong to but who is also responsible for where they ultimately end up. His most complex piece is Tightrope: It is Green 8, arguably the culmination of the series.

Tediously stripping wires by colours, Sime’s effort is beau-

modern world. It is commendable for its realness, and so perhaps comforting in a different sense of the word, for those finding themselves nearing that post-graduate panic of ‘what next?’.

• For the rest of this article please visit www.epigram. org.uk

Image courtesy of Studio Media via Unsplash

tifully visible in the striking crafting of flowers and leaves.

Whilst this process naturally asks us to slow down, this is irreconcilable with the great urgency in the questions that Sime explores. But the title is also purposely dissonant: is the red of the canvas actually green? This hypothetical exercise requires us to re-examine our collective apathy in the destruction of our natural world.

• For the rest of this article please visit www.epigram. org.uk

Film & TV

Editor Arron Kennon Co-Deputy Editor Lauren Durose Co-Deputy Editor Sofia Webster Digital Editor Sienna Thompson Subeditor Victor Bennett

From video essays to Letterboxd: film criticism in the digital age With countless new ways to access and review films, film criticism has never been easier to reach, but does this availability come at a price?

Alannah Mylechreest Second Year, English and German

want it to be - reviews range from funny one-liners to genuine analysis. This is film criticism for the masses, and proves that engaging with films doesn’t have to be pretentious; making jokes or witty comments is a valid form of film criticism as well.

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ocial media and its effects permeate almost every aspect of our lives today, and the film industry is no exception. Unless you were living under a rock this summer, you would have been aware of the 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon, a trend that originated and largely played out over social media.

This trend completely shifted the way Barbie (2023) and Oppenheimer (2023) were marketed, and they began to be thought of in tandem with each other thanks to the power of social media. But the influence of digital media is not confined to film marketing - it has had an impact on the way we view film criticism too.

Oppenheimer (2023) / Courtesy of IMDb Once confined to journalists and academics, the practice of film criticism is becoming more and more accessible; anyone who has access to a device and the internet can become a film critic. One website that champions this is the social cataloguing service Letterboxd. Although it’s been around since 2011, the site has become increasingly popular in recent years, allowing users to log, rate and review the films they’ve seen.

The website offers a unique form of film criticism in that it can really be anything you

tain film, but on the flipside, it could deter viewers from watching potential hidden gems, just because it is not universally loved by critics.

Box office failures that later became incredibly popular include Blade Runner (1982), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), and The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Initially mixed or poor reviews of a film that could be seen as more abstract or subversive could risk it never becoming popular in the future if branded with a low score.

A Letterboxd profile / Courtesy of Arron Kennon There are countless other film databases out there; sites like Rotten Tomato and Metacritic aggregate reviews by professional critics, whereas IMDb, much like Letterboxd, displays ratings by the ordinary user. What all these websites have in common is that they are able to reduce films to a simple score from the average ratings gathered from these reviews. Although film criticism is subjective, a quick Google search of any movie will give you a couple of numbers by which you can determine whether it is ‘good’ or not.

Film criticism is also prominent on social media through both long form and short form content. One prominent example is the recent rise of the video essay on YouTube. The digital equivalent of an academic article, they cover a range of topics, from political debates to sociological observations and naturally, film and television criticism. These videos range from 10 minutes to two hours in length, and often maintain a balance between being impressive and well researched, but also accessible to a wide audience who are looking to think about the media they consume in a more critical way, but may not have access to resources like journal articles.

Many have argued that TikTok has had a profound impact on the music industry, with the sounds used on the platform shaping what songs become popular - and it could be argued that this has had a similar effect on the film industry. For instance, Encanto (2021) went from earning a moderate amount at the box office to becoming significantly more popular once released on the streaming service Disney+, arguably as a result of the soundtrack gaining traction on TikTok.

Encanto

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Encanto (2021) / Courtesy of IMDb ebert

Barbie (2023) / Courtesy of IMDb On one hand, this practice can be useful in deciding whether or not to see a cer-

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Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel // Courtesy of IMDb In terms of shorter videos, it is clear that the undeniable

It's a Wonderful Life (1946) / Courtesy of IMDb

power and influence of TikTok has also had its own effect on the film industry. The platform is a space where users can post their thoughts about films they have seen, which much like Letterboxd reviews, can be summed up in a sentence or two if needs be. Clips and edits of films are also shared, oftentimes allowing less popular and more obscure films to be reached by a wider audience.

Roger and Chaz Ebert / Courtesy of IMDb Blade Runner (1982) / Courtesy of IMDb

features that they deem ‘memeable’, in the hopes that the sound will get trending on TikTok, in turn increas-

In addition, sound bites from various films and television shows frequently trend on the platform, with videos of people lip-syncing to these sounds and putting their own spin on the scenes, often going viral. Could this result in film-makers putting in moments and phrases in their

ing viewership for the film?

It has been thought that this practice has been happening in music that has recently been released, so the idea that it could happen in the film industry is far from ludicrous.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) / Courtesy of IMDb All in all, therefore, what sort of influence has digital media had on film criticism and the film industry? The answer is that it is not overtly positive nor negative, but, as with most things, decidedly mixed. On the one hand, film criticism risks being simplified and reduced to a percentage on Rotten Tomatoes or a 20-second clip. But, and perhaps more importantly, criticism has become more accessible, can be found in a variety of media forms, and is able to be both read and written by even more people than before, encouraging a future generation of budding film critics and passionate cinema goers.

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Behind the scenes at BCA's pitching sessions

Sofia Webster Film & TV Co-Deputy Editor

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ristol Collaborative Arts is a society at the University of Bristol which oversees the collaboration of students who are interested in creative endeavours in all different elements of art and media. I went along to their pitching session on 9th November at Senate House to see what sort of films were pitched and how the process of creating a film or video at Bristol unfolds.

The Bristol student film scene is incredibly vibrant, and so it was fascinating to see the sheer breadth of creativity and ideas that students from all different corners of the university had to offer.

The students involved encompassed other interests they had, such as music or spoken word, with their passion for film, in the hopes of bringing their desired project to life.

The pitching session involved each group providing a five minute PowerPoint presentation outlining the vision for

their project, what the plot is like, how other students would be able to collaborate and most importantly, what they would do if they received the desired funds. There are three successful pitches overall; projects that place second and third receive £200 and first place will receive the highest fund of £400 to go towards bringing their winning pitch to life. The idea behind the session was to showcase the creative talent at Bristol, thus including students in all aspects of the film-making process both behind and in front of the camera.

The pitches varied from music videos, to reflective pieces on the past stories of a student house and even a dark comedy about a man becoming ‘Catman’ through contracting rabies. An incredibly broad range of genres were being showcased. The pitching session was an exceptionally encouraging and comforting environment, with everyone being supportive and understanding that it can be a daunting prospect to present an idea to so many students.

The pitching session had seven projects being pitched in total, with only three being able to receive funding. However, the society still offers support to those that miss out

in order to make sure all projects are brought to life in the best way possible. This marks the start of a process which will culminate in an end of year exhibition in May, where all projects will be shown.

The pitch that won first prize was ‘A Snapshot of the Youthful Experience’ – a proposal for a spoken word short film centred around the exploration of love, sexuality, sexual abuse and addiction, pitched by Neto Ken-Amobi.

Bottoms: 'a movie about empowering women' A poignant, honest and hilarious entry into the expanding landscape of LGBTQ+ media.

Tanya Fevzi Third Year, English Literature

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mma Seligman’s long-awaited queer comedy Bottoms (2023) finally came to the UK on 3rd November.

Self-described as ‘a movie about empowering women (the hot ones)’ in its release poster, the film follows self-proclaimed ‘ugly, untalented gays’ Josie (Ayo Edebiri) and PJ (Rachel Sennott) in their quest to get

the attention of their crushes – Isobel (Havana Rose Liu) and Brittany (Kaia Gerber).

Starting ‘literally at the bottom’ of their school’s social rankings, the girls decide to start a Fight Club. Masking their true goal with addressing the ‘lack of female solidarity’ in their school, a small group of girls attend the club for different reasons: to find female solidarity, to learn self-defence, or to fight the Huntingtons (their school’s football rivals).

There is an unspoken significance of the Fight Club, given that it provides a safe space where the girls can talk about their struggles. Getting straight into it, PJ asks the girls ‘Who’s been raped?’ and all members

of the club raise their hands.

Further discussions involve divorce, stalking, assault and the beauty standard. Keeping the light-hearted nature of the film but still exploring these issues is incredibly beneficial for its audience.

When its members discover the impure intentions in the creation of the club, Josie and PJ are held accountable and the group falls apart.

The feminist community created almost reverses within the school: Mr. G (former NFL star Marshawn Lynch), the nonchalant male teacher turned ally, gives up on feminism, Isobel gets back with her cheating-captain-of-thefootball-team ex-boyfriend

The pitch that came in second place was ‘Playing House’ – a short film detailing the story of a student house with a history that is hidden from the new student residents, pitched by India Pluve.

Third place was awarded to a pitch for a music video titled ‘It’s from That Movie’, which aims to replicate scenes from classic films such as Mean Girls (2004), pitched by Don Hulton.

It was so exciting seeing

the range of ideas that will be brought to life on camera this year, promising a fantastic, not to be missed, end-of-year exhibition.

Epigram will be covering many of these projects, from the writing, shooting and editing through to the final showing of the completed projects.

Stay tuned for a continuing insight into the creative processes of the University of Image courtesy of @bristolcolBristol's student filmmakers. laborativearts

Jeff (Nicholas Galitzine).

Upon discovering that the Huntingtons are going to murder Jeff with pineapple juice, to which he is allergic, the group is forced together for a final mission. The girls use their distractions and self-defence tactics they learned from each other to fight the Huntingtons and save Jeff.

The film is a great contribution to LGBT+ media, and the diverse cast provides

representation that is often lacking in teenage films. The comedy of the film is also very humorous, self-depreciative and provides ironic takes on homophobia.

Evidently, Bottoms is an easy watch for all audiences. It is not filled with misery, as many queer movies are, instead celebrating queerness and resulting in overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Image courtesy of IMDb

Bristol's student filmmakers and creatives come together to showcase their exciting new projects.

Music

Editor Jake Paterson Co-Deputy Editor Benji Chapman Co-Deputy Editor Dylan McNally Digital Editor Cara Hene Subeditor Susie Long

No Passion All Technique: In conversation with Protomartyr Touring the new album, Joe Casey of Protomartyr details its inception and other facets of his own life that contributed to its creation

Benji Chapman Music Co-Deputy Editor

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he last time I spoke to Joe Casey he was handing me a bottle of Johnny Walker outside Concorde 2 in Brighton. Dressed in the same suit and shirt he’s also crowned with his Detroit Tigers baseball cap.

The team are somewhat of a staple for the band now appearing in their new album and also being the stadium location of it’s first listening party. We sit down to have a chat about the new album, baseball and other influences which lead to the formation of Protomartyr's latest project, Formal Growth In The Desert Sat around a small coffee table I’m fiddling with my phone to record our chat as the reception's glass doors swing open and Casey returns from his post-soundcheck cigarette. Starting by asking about the new album, he makes it clear that this is a project which wears the influences of its own creation on its sleeves. 'With the last record, I kind of stupidly said it was the end of an era. We’re gonna completely change up and start fresh with a new one and then Covid hit, and I kind of predicted my downfall.'

Covid was a huge tipping point for the group, Casey tells me, forcing the band to reinvent itself without choice. 'I didn’t know if we were going to be a band again.' Alongside many artists, Protomartyr were forced to reconsider what going forward would look like as artists in a world where there was no live music, although this seems to have unlocked a degree of artistic freedom in its absurdity. This is reflected in the album's stories within a dystopian and gothic landscape, adjacent to the eponymous desert in its title, although it seems to foster a new life (or more accurately a growth) in the barren wasteland. 'When we started tentatively working on songs, I reminded Greg I kind of said, we’re closing the book on something musi-

cally. Don’t feel like you have to write a Protomartyr song necessarily.' Writing Growth seems to have been a liberating process for the band, who harnessed the paranoia surrounding Covid into something positive. 'It's brighter sounding, I think,' Casey tells me, 'the album is mostly about dealing with grief and loss and kind of coming out of the Covid years, but also trying to ultimately see life goes on and be open to new experiences.'

Processing the death of his mother and general chaotic disruptions that Casey had to deal with as an artist through the pandemic have been miraculously reflected into a picturesque thing of beauty. On 'Polacrilex Kid', a lead single and 'thesis statement' for the album, Casey says 'it's gonna sound corny... But it's about caring about yourself enough.'

We touch on some of the changes in his life that have prompted these thoughts.

'That was a big question for me for years, but since I've gotten married...' He trails off. It is evident through the music that Joe has tackled some tragedies with an unrelenting and determinate positivity- and found some new appreciation for life in the process, presented alongside the album's cinematically gothic aesthetics.

Turning to the album art, I'm curious how it relates to these themes of the record, as Casey details: 'I wanted a woman embracing a statueI'd seen it in a book, an artwork from the 1920s, some painting.' Passing this on to a friend, Trevor Naud, the album cover was created after a photoshoot with various different props. 'He really took in a new direction. In the future I'll just give him a half baked idea and see what he does with it.'

The album is also inextricably connected by its roots to the city of its inception, Detroit. Though it was recorded in the deserts of Texas, Casey has stated that 'the desert is more of a metaphor or symbol of emotional deserts, or a place that seems to lack life.'

The vast, Texan rock formations that can be felt on the album are only as present as the emotions that Casey is describing all underpinned by the city which gave music legends from all walks of sound; J Dilla, Stevie Wonder and Juan Atkins to name a few. Back to the top-

ic of baseball, I mention '3800 Tigers', a song referencing the city's own team. Conscious of both the time and torturing my interviewee too much, we gloss over the topic, following a questionable season.

With a drummer who learnt his chops at the video-game arcade he worked at, Protomartyr couldn't come across more as a fearless passion project. Their new album has reinforced that the band

is keen to continue redefining itself despite the greatest challenges. They are addictingly positive in their mysterious navigation and storytelling Images courtesy of Bruno Bridger

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Hinge: Bristol's musical red flags Lucy Hillier takes a deep dive into the world of musical icks and red flags on everyone's favourite dating app, Hinge

Lucy Hillier Second Year, History

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t’s cuffing season which means there’s an influx of people downloading and redownloading dating apps in attempt to feel less single.

Perhaps the most fun is Hinge.

Whilst the dreaded prompts can be nightmare, they are a good way to weed out the red flags and start conversation.

Intriguingly, when you scroll through Hinge profiles, it's a rarity to find one without a musical mention. Whether it's a list of favourite artists, concert photos, or a Spotify anthem as an icebreaker, music has become a staple in the world of digital dating. Our playlists have become our dating resumes, showcasing our personality, interests, and even our sense of humour. It is no surprise then that Hinge is full of musical red flags and icks.

I, for one, am not opposed to using music in my prompts.

In fact, I have two. Although quite embarrassing, I feel as though I can’t grill everyone else without exposing myself first. One prompt involves my

ability to sing ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes’ in six different languages, which in itself is a red flag because I can’t speak any of them.

Musical red flags, however, are subjective and as diverse as our taste in music.

In my quest for insights, I stumbled upon some common themes. Firstly, Jeff Buckley seemed to take a hit from the girls - apparently 'anything Jeff Buckley' was an instant red flag. Buckley has made a comeback from the grave with his song ‘Lover, You Should’ve Come Over’ blowing up on TikTok and I have seen his name come up a few times on Hinge. Mostly linked to indie boy profiles, I can see how it would ring alarm bells – no one wants a pretentious pick-me who is 'not like other boys'. Therefore, it is hard to tell whether these boys are hopping on the trend or do simply like Jeff Buckley, thus making women more cautious.

Leading on from dear Jeff is guitar videos. A Jeff Buckley guitar video would perhaps be the pinnacle of a red flag according to my friends.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a musician but I feel like the fact you play guitar is something that can be brought up

Image courtesy of Susie Long later down the line. Remember the sage advice from the Barbie movie? Women have no interest in listening to men play the guitar at them, so why make us suffer on Hinge too? I’m all for listening to you play the guitar on my own terms but being slapped in the face with it on a Hinge profile is not ideal.

As well as guitar videos, we have the classic DJ. At this point DJ's have become such a meme (especially in Bristol) that if you’re putting it on your Hinge account it is highly likely that people are clicking that X. Whilst I don’t doubt that some are pretty talented, I guarantee that the fact that

they have some decks is their main personality trait and that if I were to go on a date with one, I would be subject to endless conversation about 'sick mixes' that I couldn’t care less about. You’re not going to be the next Fred again.. so please keep it to yourself.

On to the topic of songs, it becomes a hard area to judge. Most are quite personal and it’s hard to criticise someone from a specific song, but a few have raised eyebrows.

Speaking of Fred again.., lets discuss ‘Rumble’. Surely, out of all the songs in the world, that’s not your number one.

The amount of times I’ve seen this one pop up has

me questioning the diversity of modern music tastes.

‘Pumped Up Kicks’ by Foster the People? Undeniably catchy but declaring it as your favourite or your anthem doesn’t bode well. We all know it’s about a school shooting and its so overused as a wannabe indie boy anthem that it just screams red flag all over.

‘This Charming Man’ by The Smiths? Screams manipulation. I don’t mind The Smiths at all, some of their songs are scattered over my playlists, but if their most well-known song is a Hinge prompt I would say run. It gives off conceited, fake deep energy to try and attract people, but it simply does the opposite. And ‘Creep’ by Radiohead? I’ve seen this one crop up numerous times especially as people’s “my cryin-the-car song is” prompt.

As we navigate this period of crippling jealousy and craving for companionship, let’s approach profiles with an open mind – you never know the love of your life could be a guitar playing DJ who cries in the car to ‘Creep’. So, best of luck out there, stay safe, and think carefully about your prompts or you’ll end up with unqualified people like me ripping them to shreds.

Review: Maisie Peters @ O2 Academy Touring her sophomore album, rising pop-star Maisie Peters cast the O2 academy into a dazzling bubble of whimsical pop

Toni Baynes Third Year, English

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’ve been following Maisie Peters since before her debut album was released because of her charming social media presence: she ran an online book club and has a lovely community of the girls, gays and theys.

Her witty personality shines through into her music with pop-hit after pop-hit bursting with catchy yet sentimental lyrics which have solidified her status as one of the rising stars in British pop.

She greeted the crowd with the titular opening track of the album ‘The Good Witch’ which starts with an echoey, sonic surge to fuel the anticipation for what comes next: "Still me here, do you think I forgot about you?" It felt like she was directly addressing the fans and the crowd with this lyric, and highlights from the get-go

how this album feels like it was written to perform live.

This dynamic quality was evident in her lyrics but also her stage presence as throughout the gig she seemed to sing both to and with the audience and bounced off the crowd’s energy just like we were bouncing off hers.

Possibly my favourite moment of the night was during ‘There It Goes’ where she encouraged the crowd to shout the reflective yet hopeful lyrics of the song which holds the hand of the past, whilst also holding a hopeful hand out to the better future. She doesn’t shy away from this writing style despite there being a lot of pressure for women to write about more than just their love lives and emotions in hopes of avoiding their work being misogynystically confined into a box. But Peters embraces this, she writes about real experiences and her lyrical diary entry-like honesty is what makes it so relatable.

The communal release of emotion through singing along to live music and feeling like a part of something bigger than yourself is, to me, the most

magical thing about live music. And if Peters did anything it was create an atmosphere of magic. With the inflatable clouds bordering the stage and the disco ball reflecting glimmers of light onto the crowd the very visual, witchy, and bubbly tone of the album was dreamily reflected on stage.

Her lovely, safe online community I described was also materialised on stage.

Her stage presence during the whole gig was top-notch, between songs she chatted to the audience like we were long-term friends and the whole band were clearly just having the best time performing, with Tina (her keyboard player) and Peters having an adorable little dance together during a song. It created such an intimate and fun atmosphere where you could sing your heart out to her lyrics which capture the struggles of what it means to be a young woman so concisely but also jump around during the pop-perfect, catchy, singalong choruses.

Yes, her songs are bops, and from my first listen to the new album I knew it

Image courtesy of Abi Devine

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SciTech

Editor Dhristi Agarwal Deputy Editor Lucas Mockeridge Digital Editor Will Kelly Subeditor Aarya Patil

From cash to code: the rise of robo-advisors Dhristi Agarwal explores the growth of robo-advisors in the investment industry and how they are changing the way people invest.

Dhristi Agarwal SciTech Editor

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ot long ago, the financial world was characterised by tailored suits, well-worn ledgers, and seasoned experts who exclusively deciphered market complexities. However, the emergence of robo-advisors is restructuring finance and the fintech job landscape.

Robo-advisors are online investment management services that employ mathematical algorithms to manage and allocate client assets in the most efficient way possible, making them particularly attractive to novice investors and altering the traditional investment advisory model.

Robo-advisors collect financial situation information from clients to determine risk tolerance and allocate assets based on risk preferences and desired target returns.

While robo-advisors have the capability to allocate client assets across various investment products, their advice often leans toward exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Clients can choose between offerings with passive asset allocation techniques or active asset management

Image courtesy of Mohamed Hassan/Pixabay styles. Notably, the first ro- advanced algorithms to optibo-advisor, Betterment, was mise asset allocation, tax effilaunched in 2010 by Jon Stein ciency and risk management, which marked the beginning thereby providing a compreof their increasing popularity. hensive investment solution.

By 2025, robo-advisory serThe growth of robo-advisors vices are predicted to man- has impacted the fintech job age over $16 trillion, accord- market, leading to increased ing to a report by Deloitte. demand for professionals with By harnessing technology, expertise in technology, data robo-advisors automate in- analysis and algorithm developvestment processes, reduc- ment. Firms such as Vanguard ing complexity and costs of- are expanding their workforce ten associated with wealth to include data scientists, softmanagement. They construct ware engineers and financial portfolios based on the Mod- analysts focused on improving ern Portfolio Theory, focusing their robo-advisory platforms. on minimising risk for a giv- This shift reflects the broaden return. They allocate as- er integration of technology sets based on investors' goals within the financial industry. and risk profiles, adjusting Nevertheless, challenges and portfolios as economic con- concerns accompany the rise ditions change. For example, of robo-advisors. The potenWealthfront, a prominent ro- tial for job displacement due to bo-advisory firm, employs automation is a critical issue.

Additionally, regulatory and security issues remain a concern, as ensuring the safe and ethical deployment of these technologies is paramount.

Human financial advisors usually possess the expertise required to execute trades and construct portfolios for their clients, catering to individual attitudes toward risk. They are responsible for re-evaluating investment goals based on changes in the market.

For their expertise, management and ability to execute, financial advisors charge client fees and/or commission and require clients to have anywhere between $25,000 and $200,000 or more to open an account. In contrast, robo-advisors charge relatively lower fees of around 1 per cent of your invested amount and no minimum value. But, this trade-off involves a decreased level of personalization when compared to human advisors.

Choosing between a robo-advisor and a human financial advisor hinges on several critical factors. Human advisors offer a nuanced advantage during market downturns, steering clients away from impulsive decisions. Assessing your financial goals is essential—robo-advisors may suffice for streamlined decisions, while human advisors excel in complex matters like student loan plans or job compensation evaluations. Cost-wise, robo-advisors are typically

more affordable, yet it's crucial to weigh the value against any minimum requirements.

Your investment style matters: a robo-advisor suits a hands-off approach, but if you seek more control or specific investment options, a human advisor may be preferable.

Additionally, consider specialisation—unique financial circumstances, like business ownership, may necessitate the tailored expertise of a human advisor. Weighing these factors ensures the investors' choice aligns seamlessly with their financial aspirations.

However, the future of robo-advisors is promising as technology advances. They are likely to incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning and other sophisticated tools to provide even more personalised and effective investment strategies.

While challenges and concerns persist, it will continue to shape and reduce job opportunities within the fintech sector, requiring professionals to adapt and acquire the skills necessary to navigate this evolving profession.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or promotion of any specific services. Please conduct your own research and exercise caution when considering financial services or investment options.

Threat of conflict found to boost pup survival Bristol research finds that pup survival rate rises with the threat from outsiders.

Lucas Mockeridge SciTech Deputy Editor

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cientists believe that conflict between rival groups has a negative effect on breeding success in animals. After studying dwarf mongooses for more than a decade, Bristol researchers have uncovered the first piece of evidence to the contrary.

Researchers at the University of Bristol have found that animal offspring may survive better when rival groups are in greater conflict. The research draws on a decade's worth of data from a wild popu-

lation of dwarf mongooses.

Dwarf mongooses are Africa’s smallest carnivores, measuring between 8 and 12 inches long. They are cooperative breeders, helping to raise the offspring of others, and live in territorial

groups of up to 30 individuals.

‘Groups engaged in more intergroup interactions did not produce more young. Rather, a greater threat from outsiders was associated with a higher survival likelihood of pups once they emerged from the breedImage courtesy of Josh Arbon

ing burrow,’ said Dr Amy Morris-Drake, lead author of the study and Research Associate in the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences.

Africa since 2011. Adults were found to increase their sentinel behaviour, taking turns to keep watch and warn of predators, when encountering rivals or signs of their recent presence.

Senior author Andy Radford, Professor of Behavioural Ecology at the University of Bristol, explained: ‘Increased sentinel behaviour is likely an attempt to gather more information about the other group. But sentinels also detect predatory threats and warn groupmates of danger,

so vulnerable pups are potentially safer as a consequence.’

‘We are not suggesting that conflict has a direct positive effect on breeding success.

Instead, there could be byproduct benefits of behavioural changes—such as increased vigilance—that result from an increased threat level,’ said Professor Radford.

Dr Morris-Drake added: ‘Our work suggests that if we are to understand the importance of warfare on societies, we must consider threats as well as actual fights. Moreover, we need to investigate not just actions on the battleground but the wider consequences too.’

The team's findings were published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

22

epigram 01.12.23

UK hosts first global AI summit SciTech reports on The Bletchly Declaration warning against the ‘catastrophic’ dangers of industrial artificial intelligence systems.

Oscar Zimmerman Third Year, Physics with Scientific Computing

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ore than 75 years ago, Alan Turing and his team of cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park made history, not only shortening the Second World War by years, but as an encore inventing the beginnings of the very first computer. Turing has been deemed the father of Computer Science, so fittingly, Bletchley is once again the setting for the next chapter of computing: the historic Global AI Safety Summit.

The summit, called upon by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, gathered together 28 countries

(including China and the US), and the EU on the 1st and 2nd of November. The purpose of this summit was to ‘focus on how to best manage the risks from the most recent advances in AI’ (as defined by the Introduction to the AI SAFETY SUMMIT document - GOV.UK).

Notable guests included Vice President of the US Kamala Harris, the European Commission president Ursula von der Layen and controversial billionaire philanthropist Elon Musk.

Harris spoke about addressing ‘the full spectrum’ of AI, emphasising the US’s stake in all aspects of the evolving technology.

Von der Leyen said on the matter: ‘We are entering a completely different era. We are now at the dawn of an era where machines can act intel-

Image courtesy of UK Government/Flickr

ligently. My wish for the next five years is that we learn from the past, and act fast!’ The EU is currently in its final stages of passing its own AI Act, and is also considering establishing a European AI Office.

Meanwhile, China was represented by the Chinese vice-minister of Science and Technology, Wu Zhaohui, and gave the statement: ‘We welcome the international community’s efforts so far to cooperate on AI to promote inclusive economic growth, sustainable development and innovation, to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to foster public trust and confidence in AI systems to fully realise their potential.’

The resulting ‘Bletchley Declaration’ was signed by the representatives of all the countries present, and is a clear and historic starting point for global AI control. The document, released the day after the summit concluded, states: ‘Many risks arising from AI are inherently international in nature, and so are best addressed through international cooperation. We resolve to work together in an inclusive manner to ensure human-centric, trustworthy and responsible AI that is safe, and supports the good of all through existing international fora and other relevant

Can AI solve climate change?

Aarya Patil evaluates present-day technologies to assess its capabilities in addressing climate change and its effectiveness.

Aarya Patil SciTech Digital Editor

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limate change affects all living things, including humans and animals. The situation worsens due to sudden, frequent, and more powerful storms, droughts, earthquakes, and other natural calamities brought on by the climate crisis.

Artificial Intelligence is among the very few phenomena, other than climate change, that has the potential to completely transform the planet. This essay explores

the possible contributions AI might make to resolving the current climate catastrophe.

Let's start with the most frequent source of pollution: plastic. Two thirds of the more than 430 million tonnes of plastic generated annually are discarded as rubbish after single use.

A non-profit group called The Ocean Clean-up is creating and expanding technology to rid the world's oceans of plastic.

'Remove 90 per cent of floating ocean plastic by 2040' is their lofty goal. The organisation is able to produce scientific observations of floating macroplastic litter by using their AI object detection system. When compared to solely depending on manual data collection and onsite observation, this innovative approach of remote-sensing plastic detection has shown

to be immensely beneficial.

The increasing global need for energy is contributing to the worsening climate situation. With green technologies, like Immersion4, they may solve the problem of cooling electronics without consuming any natural resources. When implemented in large quantities, they can cut data centre energy use from 20 per cent to 4 per cent while producing no pollution.

Green cooling solutions can also aid in the resolution of e-waste, another pressing problem.

Furthermore, around the globe and in the United States, wildfires are significantly being affected by climate change. Millions of acres can be burned quickly by wildfires, destroying everything

initiatives, to promote cooperation to address the broad range of risks posed by AI.’ The declaration focuses on ‘Frontier AI,’ which refers to the most sophisticated software, and what experts are most concerned about.

Despite these promising proclamations, no substantive policies came out of the summit, and many trade unions and civil society organisations have branded the summit a ‘missed opportunity’. Supporting these criticisms were some notable absences: President Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany. Many argue that without these vital world leaders, the already insubstantial agreements and proclamations are made all the more toothless.

The summit has been called by many to be Sunak’s attempt to position the UK as a global leader on the AI discussion. While the talks put the UK in the frontlines on a global scale, when it comes to at home AI policy, the British government has been restrained. Sunak’s position regarding AI at the end of the summit is ‘not to rush but to relegate.[..]

How can we write laws that make sense for something we don’t yet fully understand?’

For the time being while

President Biden announced an executive order which requires AI companies to assess national security when releasing their software, the government at home is purposefully sitting on their hands policy-wise, not making any changes to existing laws and regulations for the time being.

Much of the UK’s leading research into AI is being conducted at many of the top universities, including right here in Bristol. The government has announced the start of the AI Safety Institute, which will evaluate and test new models, and regarding academic research, they state: ‘The Institute will establish partnerships with leading academics and civil society organisations in the UK and beyond […] to leverage the expertise of the UK’s world-leading researchers.’

Nonetheless, the main result of the Global AI Safety Summit is surely a symbolic one, and a first step in setting global policy and restrictions.

A second summit has already been scheduled in six months in South Korea and another in France in a year,.This signals a commitment to ongoing international collaboration and the development of comprehensive frameworks to ensure the responsible and ethical advancement of artificial intelligence on a global scale.

in their path including houses, plants, animals, and people. In remote, high-risk areas, families and communities run the possibility of losing their houses and being forced to evacuate for safety.

Deep learning is an advanced machine learning method that makes it possible to find patterns in data in new and creative ways.

A start-up called Kettle has created a more intelligent reinsurance model by utilising deep learning to forecast the disastrous repercussions of climate change.

Using more than seven billion lines of meteorological and ground truth data, patented machine learning algorithms are used in this predictive underwriting platform.

Lastly, it is surprising to learn that agriculture releases carbon footprints. Before you question its veracity, consider this: Brahm Works,

a different business, is using AI to decarbonize India's agriculture sector. Their system employs artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and improve agricultural inputs and outputs through precise nutrition control of fertilisers, giving farmers a higher yield and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. To learn more about their solution, watch the AI For Good Innovation Factory session.

As we contemplate next steps, it is imperative to encourage further research, innovation, and collaboration between the scientific community, technology developers, and policymakers. The success of initiatives like The Ocean Clean-up, Immersion4, Kettle, and Brahm Works underscores the importance of leveraging AI to tackle climate change on multiple fronts. Investing in and supporting such initiatives can pave the way for scalable and sustainable solutions.

23

epigram 01.12.23

Islands Federation had been started. I’d seen that they had hired their technical director, their press secretary and head of marketing, who were all English guys. This sounds really weird but I remember seeing in the Match magazine when I was 5 or 6 that André Villas-Boas had been appointed Chelsea manager. It said when he was about 21,

Image courtesy of Md Mahdi via Unsplash

he had become technical director of the British Virgin Islands and I thought: you have to start from somewhere! So, I sent them an email saying "Look, I have this interest in football, especially in smaller countries. I’m hoping to do a Sports Management Masters and I have some spare time to volunteer." Ultimately, they were really supportive and they wanted me to get involved!' Along with being former Sponsorship Secretary and current Intramural Secretary for UBAFC, Max has risen to become a spearheading member of the federation as their Soccer Development Executive. 'I have been tasked with trying to build connections and awareness of our federation among the Marshallese diaspora across the world, whilst also trying to find eligible men and women players for our national team in the future. My focus has particularly been on America.

I have reached out to coaches from high schools and colleges to find eligible players and add them to our database.

This is so we can potentially reach out and connect with them when we are trying to

gather a national team. I have also been looking at the logistics of how we can make an international ID camp work in America, so that the players in our database can get a camp over there and our technical

Image courtesy of UBAFC

a well-established English connection within the Marshall Islands; and, weirdly, André Villas-Boas is what sparked Max’s relationship with the Pacific nation. 'I’ve always loved watching San Marino vs Gibraltar as opposed to watching England vs Albania in the European Qualifiers. I was on Twitter (recently rebranded X) and I saw that the Marshall

director Lloyd (Owers) can go and evaluate our players.'

Substantial strides have been made as key members of the English staff have set foot on the islands and created the footballing groundwork.

Pictured: Max Houchin

Managerial carousel: Bristol City and Rovers seek new leadership after dual firings Kieran Warren questions the dual managerial firings plaguing Britsol City and Bristol Rovers.

Kieran Warren Sport Deputy Editor

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t comes as a shock to see not one but two managerial dismissals within the same city, this being the circumstance currently plaguing Bristol City and Bristol Rovers. Both Nigel Pearson and Joey Barton started their respective roles on 22nd February 2021, with both teams facing the drop to lower divisions. In their first seasons, Pearson and Bristol City narrowly avoided leaving the Championship by finishing in 19th place. Barton and Bristol Rovers were not so lucky, falling fate to the depths of League Two. Both managers would soon find their individual successes. Pearson's development of youth prospects, such as Alex Scott, became essential to creating a well-oiled

machine; in this, he hinted at the possible return of Bristol City’s glory days and playoff battles. In his second season, Barton would lead Rovers back up to League One, pulling off a miracle on the final day of the 21/22 season with a thumping 7-0 win over Scunthorpe United. This provided the additional five goal difference necessary to leapfrog Northampton Town and secure a promotion. However, following an unsteady set of results for both clubs early in the 23/24 season, it seemed to be time up for both Pearson and Barton. Barton was dismissed on 26th October 2023, with Pearson following only three days later. Both Rovers and City were sat in 15th place in their respective leagues but despite the mediocre form the teams displayed, both managerial dismissals seemed to lack any strong conviction from the owners of the clubs.

With both clubs being one win away from pouncing into the top half of the table, their performances did not reflect those

of a team in complete disarray, prompting the question – were the owners wrong in their decisions? Historically, both clubs performed better under the two managers, with Pearson improving City from 19th place in 20/21 to 14th in the 22/23 season.

Furthermore, Barton, despite starting with the club in an almost guaranteed relegation spot, managed to promote and keep Rovers in League One, with a momentous effort to secure 17th place and keep a place for the following 23/24 season. As shown by results this season, neither club has been struggling with relegation. Both teams are comfortably placed in 15th spot with just one win allowing both to jump to the top half of the table. So, what justification do the owners have for sacking both individuals? It can be seen as a lack of patience from the owners of both City and Rovers, however it doesn’t justify their decisions, especially with the

approach that Pearson was taking in producing young talents such as Alex Scott, Sam Bell and Tommy Conway: all of which have proven to be great successes. Scott earned a move to Premier League side Bournemouth for a club record fee of £25 million, whilst Bell and Conway have proven to be key components for City. Pearson’s project was structured around youth development, a process which

Image courtesy of Kieran Warren

requires time and patience and perhaps takes inspiration from the Dutch team, Ajax.

Furthermore, to help further the owner’s apparent ambition for success, the failure to act with approving transfers (the record fee being Alex Scott’s transfer) is something that certainly does not make sense for the goals of promotion as claimed by City Chairman, Jon Lansdown. The goals set by the chairman are somewhat ludicrous considering the club have not challenged for playoffs actively since the early 2000’s. Like Pearson, Barton’s managerial style was that of a no-nonsense attitude which was prominently shown whilst at Rovers. Whilst this management style has been criticised for affecting team moral, it certainly seemed to work positively for Rovers • For the rest if this article, visit www.epigram.org.uk

Sport

Editor Oscar Coupal Deputy Editor Kieran Warren Investigations Editor Laura Nesbitt

Diving into Politics: Bristol's movement for designated bathing waters Laura Nesbitt uncovers the politics behind Bristol's designated bathing waters and what this means for wild swimming.

Laura Nesbitt Sport Investigations Editor

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ive years ago, water companies and regulators said it wasn’t a big deal that sewage flowed into our waterways; now, it's an election issue. Next year, the local elections are scheduled to take place on May 2, 2024.

These elections will determine councils and mayors in England. Last year, the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, denied an amendment to a 2009 bylaw that prevented swimming in Conham River Park: a popular spot for swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and boating amongst University of Bristol students and locals.

Wild swimming, a recreaPictured: Becca Blease gives a talk on how to run a bathing water campaign that represents your community. tional pastime in the UK, has been slowly building a following in the last decade, with a Henleaze Lake, which is a itored for its effects on hu- as well as collaborating with boom in 2020 during the panbehalf of Epigram. This was private memman health. Legal SAS. She gave a presentation demic. The Unian event for bers-only obligations are on how to utilize Citizen Sciversity of Bristol Surfer Against Five years ago, communities lake and has thus put on pol- ence to support bathing water Wild Swimming and individuSewage's first Bathing water companies said a very long Society (set up als who want it wasn't a big deal that luting industries campaigns. Meanwhile, BecWater Conference was waiting list. in the autumn to protect sewage flowed into our to clean up their ca Blease, a Research Impact an event for those who I am a comact, so to speak. Specialist and Environmental of 2019) have their wild wawant to protect their waterways; now, it's an petitive open In the UK, there Campaigner, also presented been regular ters and find wild waters. election issue. water and are currently only on how to conduct a bathing users of Conout about ice swimmer three stretches water campaign that truly repham River Park, applying for and trustee of river that have resents your community. Both Clevedon Marine Lake, Saltbathing wafor Clevedon Marine Lake, been designated Becca and Eva have been pivford and Warleigh Weir. Howter designation. Officially desand attended Surfer Against as bathing waters: all of these otal in the success of Conham ever, the only existing body of ignated bathing waters are Sewage’s (SAS) first Bathhave been won through local Bathing, as Bristol swimmers water with designated Baththe only blue spaces where ing Water Conference on campaigns by individuals. Col- and local residents' campaign ing Water Status in Bristol is water quality is regularly monlaboration was the core theme for cleaner water at Conham of all the talks at the confer- River Park. Michelle Walker, a ence, includTechnical Direc'We have to work in tor at The Rivers ing how to collaboration; we can’t Trust, equip locals emphato establish do it alone. It would sises the need a campaign be ideal to raise funds for collaboration, in their comindependently, without stating, 'We have munity, how to work in collabresorting to water Citizen Scioration; we can’t companies...' ence can do it alone. It bolster camwould be ideal to paigns and raise funds indehow we can create change at pendently, without resorting to both a local and national lev- water companies, Nestlé and el. All attendees left with a Coca-Cola. However, the realitoolkit on how to enact change ty is that they hold the majoriat their local bathing spot. Eva ty of funds for our river catchPerrin, an aquatic ecologist ments, so we must engage and recent Ph.D. graduate in with them to exert influence.' freshwater biogeochemistry, is Images courtesy of Laura Nesbitt currently working in the NGO sector with citizen science and community action groups, Pictured: Conham River, Summer 2022 Pictured: locations of attendees' bathing spots