FLEX Newspaper 16

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NEWS

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With the New Year in full swing, dissertations a plenty, projects and coursework one would hope being gotten on with, we are all busy! FXU are busy with governance surveys, safe sex week, and presidential elections. CSM are busy with Crazy Week (sorry that will get coverage in the next issue), The Bottle Match (next issue). Basically, there is lots going on, and even more to get involved with!

To touch on FXU’s campaign – the “Future of FXU” it is interesting to note that the representation of FXU will more than likely increase if the proposed option gets voted in at the Student Council meeting on March 9th. In my opinion, with the addition of External Trustees, Student Trustees, more General Meetings, the work FXU does will be put on display more, enhancing their profile, but also making FXU be hot on student representation.

It is to be expected, that with the trebling of tuition fees, students should be more vocal and demanding about what they get out of university. It is part of FXU’s governance survey that they can apply for more funding options when they register with the charity commission. From this, more

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n this issue’s editorial, I’d like to ask your opinion: What do you think of FLEX? What do you think would make you read it? That’s if you’re reading this, that is! It’s not long now until we hand over to new editors, and it would be great to leave them with some advice for improving FLEX in the future and keeping it going. I believe it is important to have a student newspaper in

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he eruption of protests in Egypt this week has dominated news reports worldwide. Following on from protests in Tunisia last month, Egyptians came together in vast numbers (as many as 1 million protestors were reported to have congregated in Cairo’s Tahrir Square), demanding the end to President Hosni Mubarak’s 30 years as ruler. Mubarak, whose term in charge has been littered with charges of corruption, police violence and repression of civil liberties, is a controversial figure whose potential removal has been welcomed by many inside and outside of Egypt.

For some in the west, however, things are not so straight forward. In political circles, opinion seems to be centred on uncertainty over what will follow Mubarak’s departure. Suggestions that the uprising is the harbinger of a nightmarish Jihadist revolution (Fox News’ Glenn Beck on typically sensational form suggested that soon enough the Mediterranean Sea would sit in the middle of what Beck might describe as a FIERY AND HATEFUL RING OF DOOM: “Morocco is on fire. What’s across from Morocco? Spain, connected to France and Germany and Italy, also on fire, and Greece, also on fire, which brings you right back here to Turkey”) are as misguided as the idea that the protests prove the people of Egypt are the latest Arab nation to reject Islam as an evil and tyrannical religion. All these ideas is achieve is demonstrate the need felt by western political figures

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isclaimer: The opinions expressed in FLEX are not necessarily those of FLEX Editors or the team, nor FXU Students Union. Every care is taken to ensure information is correct in each issue, but when it is incorrect, FLEX cannot accept any liability for the incorrect

money will be available to FXU, which should mean your student experiences will also increaseexciting times!

To make sure you put your say in this, watch out for an upcoming FXU campaign on what you value at university, what do you want from your life at uni? It will be from this the FXU will able to pass to University directors what gets spent on your time here.

Likewise, the news story written by Frances Ivens is worthy of reading. The Census 2011 is the decennial survey that is a legal requirement for the population of the UK to fill in. Your answers will impact on government decisions when they decide on what to spend in Cornwall, and in specific, the Falmouth area. There are many fun competitions to enter through the Census, winning prizes and cash. Check Frances’ story out for more details.

Managing director

Ian Pogonowski,

Falmouth. It is a space where you can voice your opinions, about your course and your time here.

It is also a space to gain experience if you’re interested in journalism in the future. That’s why it’s important and that’s why we are part of FLEX in the first place. So, let us know what you think...

to reinforce the idea of middle-eastern states as backward, medieval and completely at odds with the so-called civilised, Christian democracies of the west. The fact is, in Egypt, people have had enough of life under a vicious dictator, a dictator who has enjoyed years of support and sponsorship from the same western governments who are too slowly beginning to denounce his rule now public opinion demands it.

In other news, two revelations shocked the world this week. Firstly the White Stripes split up, and then footballer Gary Neville announced he would be retiring from the sport with immediate effect. Who knows what next for all concerned, although rumours suggest that Jack White will release a second album with his other band The Raconteurs, before forming The Dead Weather.

That band will release two albums in quick succession, with their popularity culminating in a slot on the Pyramid Stage at last year’s Glastonbury Festival. Gary Neville will spend the same period determined to prove that his career is not over before finally admitting defeat in February of 201... oh, you get the idea.

Chief Editor

Paul Tucker

information. The publisher cannot accept any liability for loss or damage of artwork submitted.

The content in FLEX is the property of FLEX. If you wish to use any content, please contact the managing director.

FLEX STAFF

Managing Director Ian Pogonowski- 07854 087536 imp202@exeter.ac.uk Chief Editors Anna Grant-Casey - ag335@ex.ac.uk Seren Adams - sa118778@falmouth.ac.uk Paul Tucker - pt249@exeter.ac.uk Graphic Designers Omari McCarthy- Design ManagerMorwenna Smith Nadya Pandelieva Rachel Maria Smith Guro Lindahl Flåten Lou Robinson Henry Brown Photographers V. Gopi Mohan Emily Whelan Jack Scott

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Michael Etherington News Anna Grant-Casey - ag335@exeter.ac.uk Rebecca Griffiths - rg121808@falmouth.ac.uk Science Michael Hawkes - Science editor - mh317@exeter.ac.uk Lifestyle Hannah Banks Walker - Lifestyle Editor - hb264@exeter.ac.uk Features Mark Burton - Features Editor - mb349@exeter.ac.uk Sarah Stevenson - Features Editor - SS121826@falmouth.ac.uk Art & Design Catherine Durham - cd122522@falmouth.ac.uk Rhiannon Williams -Illustration Editor rhi_u_williams@hotmail.co.uk Jemma Green - Creative Writing Editor jemmaruthgreen@googlemail.com John-Paul Somerville - Fine Art Editor jpsomerville@msn.com

Kayung Lai - Photography Editor - kl119169@falmouth.ac.uk Reviews Dora Eisele - Reviews Editor - de224@exeter.ac.uk Alex Raffle - Reviews Editor - alex.raffle1@gmail.com Emma Thompson -Reviews Editor - et246@exeter.ac.uk Sports Chris Rushton - Sports Editor - cr267@exeter.ac.uk Proofing Team Charis Bryant - Copy Editor Anna Grant-Casey - Proofing Manager Kathryn Hosking Dominique le Grange Anna Kilcooley Emma Chafer Samantha Webster Becca Hadfield Marketing Kaylie Finn - kf228@exeter.ac.uk

news@flexnews.co.uk

Future of FXU still in the air Text Ian Pogonowski

The “Future of FXU” campaign publically ended on February 2nd.. After 2 weeks of publicity, the “Future of FXU” saw students vote for how they best want FXU to represent them.

As part of FXU’s desire to join the charity commission, it is a legal requirement that FXU and other student unions hold a governance review so as to make sure that they are fully representing the students as members of their students union.

FXU began planning this last year, and concluded it this year.

Governance (big scary word) means how a ruling body governs those it represents. In FXU’s case, this is through their elected presidents and officers, through the meetings they hold with students, and who is accountable for the finances of FXU. The 3 questions that were put out to students were: 1.

Which presidential structure do you prefer?

2.

Who do you want to be on the board of Trustees?

3.

How would you like decisions to be made, and how do you want trustees to report to students?

After the initial week of voting, FXU needed 75 votes in order to take this proposal to their Annual General Meeting where the proposal could be accepted or rejected. In total, 154 students voted. Based on 4000 students, 3.85% of the student body voted.

For each question there were three options. The winning answer to each question was: 1.

To keep the presidential structure as it is.

2.

To increase the Trustee board to include External

trustees and Student trustees 3.

To keep the Student Council and to increase the General Meetings in a year from one to three.

With the proposed results, there will be up to four more trustees, two students, and two external, and there will be treble the amount of General Meetings held.

The Annual General Meeting saw forty five students attend.

This was not enough to put the vote through and as a result, the vote will now be taken to student council where only the council members will be allowed to vote.

At the AGM, students voted forty two in favour of the changes, one voted no to the changes, and two abstained, although the vote didn’t count towards the outcome.

Because the vote didn’t pass, the vote will be taken to student council where council members will cast their vote, based on student argument.

If the vote were to pass at student council, the FXU will see the changes as outlined above come in place.

FLEX asked “If the vote is passed at Student Council, FXU will be able to register as a charity, which means that FXU will be able to access more revenue funds. At a time when students are seeing a rise in tuition fees, students will want to see an increase in provision. Can you outline how you will spend on students in the upcoming years?”

Janice Mitchelson, FXU’s Representation co-ordinator

answered that “FXU should be able to apply for more funding, but at the moment haven’t looked any further into spending” To this Kristy Wallace (Exeter President) added that “Me and Andy are working on a week to gain the opinion of Falmouth and Exeter students to work on where students want funding to go”.

Although this survey will be part of a campaign based on the rise in tuition fees asking students what they want from their students union and student experience, the answers will be able to apply broadly to what students want.

The Future of FXU may well see little change on the surface, but through the opportunity to get more revenue streams, may

“Get involved and let us know what you want!” well see a greater change than at first appears in years to come.

Finishing off the AGM Kristy left us with words to take part.

If you want to voice your opinion on what is going on, the Future of FXU will be officially voted on in the next student council meeting on March 9th. If you want to put your say to those who can attend the council meeting and put your voice into FXU.

End of the road for the British Surfing Association Text Joe Koa and Bryn Christian, FXSC Presidents and with seemingly little, if any, funding available, the executive committee had no choice but to file for voluntary liquidation. With mounting debts and falling membership, it soon became clear that only two people in the room saw a chance for the BSA to survive in its current guise, and despite a rousing speech about heritage and tradition, they were only rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic; the employment tribunals, lack of proper paperwork and inefficient management proved too much. The vote was held and the BSA was wound up voluntarily.

So what does this mean for the average surfer? Well, in all

On Wednesday 19th January, on a bright morning in a sleepy hotel in Truro, presidents of Falmouth and Exeter Surf Club attended the meeting concerning the liquidation of the British Surfing Association. For 45 years, from its foundation in 1966, the BSA has been the regulatory body for surfing in the UK. The question stands then, why, and how, after 45 years, can a national regulatory body for a sport that so many people know and love, slip underneath the financial waves and cease to exist? “the BSA was wound up The accounts made interesting reading, plummeting voluntarily.” membership numbers saw the latest figure at just a quarter of what it once was. Embarrassing employment tribunals and law honesty, not a great deal. Competition surfers, surf coaches, surf suits consumed both time and money from the ailing company. schools, are all directly affected by the BSA. The competitions are Faced with the potential of a substantial VAT invoice from HMRC, run and insured by the BSA, the BSA issues coaching qualifications

and ensures surf schools are conforming to the latest regulations.

But for the average Joe, who surfs when he can, the passing of the BSA rolls on unnoticed, like a beautiful sunset on campus the morning after the Pirate Party.

Are we going to see cowboy surf schools sprouting up, teaching beginners bad habits with bad equipment and no qualifications?

Well, no. The BSA has been directly replaced by a new entity, Surfing GB. With a new leadership team and a new direction, pledges of greater transparency were greatly received, and as Presidents of Falmouth and Exeter Surf Club, representing over 100 active members, we look forward to working with Surfing GB and helping the sport develop as a whole. Look out for more competitions in the pipeline. See you in the water; I’m off to peel the BSA sticker from my windscreen.

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NEWS

cENSuS Text Frances Ivens

This year, specifically 27th March, a census will take place requiring the participation of every member of the UK population, including students. The census is a survey of the population which has been carried out every ten years since 1801.

Glen Watson, census director at the Office for National Statistics wrote that "The census is not just about counting people, the information it provides is needed to plan vital services like schools, hospitals, housing, roads and emergency services", a statement which holds particular significance in this economic climate. Furthermore, the census provides the opportunity for greater recognition of the national student population. It is because of this that NUS is working with the census and student union to ensure that it is carried out in the most effective way for student participation. With an estimated cost of £500,000, their efforts need to pay off.

In order to encourage and promote participation the Office for National Statistics have organised exclusive student competitions.

The first is ‘Snapshot - ’ entries must aim to get as many people as possible into a census-themed photo and then upload it to ‘Flickr’ via the census website. Or if you prefer mediums other than photography there is the ‘Identity’ competition in which applicants must come up with a “thought-provoking and compelling” piece which they feel encapsulates identity in 2011.

This can be expressed in art, film, music, prose, poetry, animation, cartoon or indeed photography. All winning entries will receive prizes and with the vast expertise in these fields at Tremough it seems a good opportunity to get involved. For more information check out http://2011.census.gov.uk/Identity So what do you have to do?

You can complete the questionnaire online at www.census.gov. uk, between 4th March and 6th May using the code on the paper version of the census which will be sent to you at your term time address. If your questionnaire is not completed then it is likely that staff will contact you as participation is currently a legal obligation. Regardless of when you complete it, your answers should reflect your situation as it is on the 27th March.

If you currently live in Glasney Village then don’t fear, FXU will be liaising with accommodation to ensure the correct information is handed out to you.

“it's a legitimate procrastination technique" FXU General Manager Sonya O’Hea highlighted the importance to students.

“It is extremely important for students - and everyone - to complete the census questionnaire as results are used to plan important public services such as hospitals, emergency services and housing. Without a true picture of the population that an area serves, such plans will be in danger of being misguided and not

meeting the real needs of the population who live there.

Students may feel that they are transient or temporary residents in the area where they study, so may not see the immediate relevance of completing the census at their term time address, but they are key members of local populations and I would encourage them to remember that although they may not stay on in the area where they study, other students will certainly move in after them, so their input now will help support future generations of students and local residents, in the same way that they will be relying on the people in other areas of the country, where they may move on to, to do the same now.”

For those who are concerned for the safety of their data, the website reassures that the Office for National Statistics owns all of the data collected and is personally responsible. All staff are bound to confidentially and the data is protected by law. Furthermore, all information is kept confidential for 100 years before it is released for research purposes.

It was reported last year that the 2011 census may be the last and the government is considering new, more efficient ways to collect data on the population such as the use of local government.

This proposal comes in the light of the vast numbers of ‘prank responses’ to the 2001 census in which 400,000 people described their religion as ‘Jedi’, an option which regrettably has now been removed from the questionnaire. So Jedi or not, the resounding message is get involved. Even if you’re not that keen it’s a legitimate procrastination technique and that in itself counts for something.

NuS AWArdS Text Liam Corcoran “I would encourage every students’ union to put themselves forward for the awards, and every student and student officer to think about nominating any outstanding individuals in the student movement they have worked with.”

Student awards are a hard thing to come by, and even harder thing to win, but now is your chance as the NUS Awards 2011 have launched.

With 12 awards, an expert judging panel and a glitzy ceremony, it is high up on any student’s wish list of prizes to win.

NUS President Aaron Porter said: “The NUS Awards are a unique opportunity to demonstrate the successes of students and the valuable contribution they make to their fellow students, university or college, and the wider community.

“The voices of the everyday public could be heard and acted upon” The awards on offer cover a wide variety of student aspects including; campaign of the year, lifetime contribution award, student journalist of the year, student media of the year and the all important, Endsleigh student of the year.

Along with the student of the year award, which would be a massive boost to any student's CV, the winner will also receive a

cheque for £250.

Last year’s student of the year, Joseph Akinnagbe said: “The award culminated the most rewarding experience I had in my life.

I tried to get involved with so many things that impact on people’s lives, so it was amazing to get recognised for that.

“University is much more than just lectures - it’s about going out there and making an impact on the local community. As well as helping people I also gained a lot, such as leadership skills.”

The awards recognise the inspirational work carried out by students, student media and student unions across the UK.Anyone can be nominated, just fill out a submission form and say, in no more than 1,000 words, why the student is deserving.The deadline for nominations is 1pm, Friday 6th May. To enter, visit www.nusconnect. org.uk/awards . Good luck to everyone.

ThE ruNNiNg BEhiNd ruShES mAgAziNE Text Charlotte Wood

Film students at Falmouth have collaborated to introduce a cutting edge online magazine.

Rushes was first launched in 2009 and aims to bring students and professionals together to create a platform for opinions about the film world.

The magazine hosts a number of contemporary reviews, news stories and interviews including Nash Edgerton - director of the Square, and pop star turned film score composer Clint Mansell.

Students on the BA Film course at University College Falmouth (UCF) each year have a chance to be part of the editorial team.

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“Managing the site makes up part of our final portfolio for the journalism module in the third year, there are four of us managing the site this year and each of us have taken on different editorial roles,” said Chief Editor for Rushes, Paul Weedon.

Paul added: “Beforehand there was no real output for students

“Rushes is a good experience for anyone wanting to specialise in Film Journalism” doing the journalism module to get their work published, aside from perhaps the student newspaper, Flex. Rushes was set up as a means of giving us some professional experience.”

Having the opportunity to get work published gives students

valid experience and provides good material for their CVs. “For the people taking part, Rushes is a good experience for anyone wanting to specialise in Film Journalism,” said Film student, Gary Leon Bowyer.

Although Rushes magazine was set up for film students, it is open to anybody wanting to submit content to the site.

Paul says: “Anyone can pitch ideas for features and interviews or request to do reviews for the site. We’re always keen to bolster the site with content and it doesn’t matter what course you’re from.

Just drop us an email at editor@rushesmagazine.co.uk.”

news@flexnews.co.uk

Things can only get better?

Text Charlotte Presland

This month, High Fliers undertook The Graduate Market Survey of 2011, and on first glance it looks all doom and gloom. Although it showed that there are 9% more job vacancies than 2010, there is still a dramatic decrease since pre- recession 2007, which saw 6% more jobs than this year. To make matters worse there are 50,000 more students than 2007, a number that will no doubt rise next year as prospective students rush to apply for university education before the rise in tuition fees.

“having a university degree no longer cuts it”

To put it simply, it’s getting competitive. The survey revealed that these statistics mean that having a university degree no longer cuts it. Graduates are now expected to have past work experience in order to reach those starry limits of high- paid and highranking job sectors.

Martin Birchall the High Fliers Managing Director has been quoted saying that “new graduates who’ve not had any work experience during their time at university have little or no chance of landing a well- paid job with a leading employer”. A comment I am sure instils us all with confidence in our future. What with

facts telling us that one in three entry- level jobs are only obtained by graduates with work experience, a number that increases to half when applied to law firms or investment banking, it seems that we all might as well give up now.

When in this despondent state of mind, it is easy to do just this. However, Jon Christie the Senior Careers Advisor at Tremough urges for a more pro- active regard to these slightly daunting facts. Although he recognises that more and more companies are looking for graduates with a history of work experience, he states that “even if your work experience isn’t relevant there will be skills that you have used and developed that are transferable to the job you really do want”. So if you are aiming at those highranking law firms or top end design companies, slightly more accessible work experience will set you on your way to reaching them.

However, if you’re graduating this summer you are nearly out of time. Most companies accept applications from October to January, although it does vary. As a result, Jon Christie recommends that you “find out early and plan ahead” in order to beat the competition, and there are many facilities on campus to help you do this. So don’t give up just yet!

The Careers Advisory Service on campus which lies at the top of the steps by the library has a Careers Library with a multitude of information, and experts that are always willing to give advice on finding a work placement or updating and improving your CV. They also have a drop in clinic four days a week from 9.30 – 11.30 which automatically provides you with a 20 minute slot with one of the careers advisers, or if you like to be a little more scheduled you can book an appointment for up to 45 minutes at both Woodlane and Tremough. With all these opportunities, students on Tremough Campus have no excuse to give up on obtaining that now vital work placement.

Students urged not to let a big night out have a negative impact on their future You are one, two or three years into your Uni course, everything is going well and your thoughts seldom stray further than when and where you and your mates will be going next for a big night out.

So, if you thought that night on the razzle could have a significant effect on your future prospects, you would be daft not to think about how you behaved during it - wouldn’t you?

Planning isn’t big in most students’ minds but if you ask what the future holds you can bet a large proportion will have travelling or earning money high on their wish lists.

But every year many students put their long-term future into jeopardy by falling foul of the law during their short-term quest for fun. This can have a massive impact on your ability to broaden geographic horizons or get your foot onto the employment ladder further down the line.

Some types of behaviour that can lead you into trouble with the law are: • • • • •

Violence Disorderly behaviour and urinating in a public place Vandalism and littering Theft of road sign and traffic cones Drinking in a public place Devon and Cornwall Police is urging all students to think about the ramifications that picking up a criminal record can have when it comes to applying for travel visas or jobs.

“It is important for students to understand what it can mean for them if they get a criminal record,” said PC John Dukes.

“It is really easy for someone to get mixed up in what seems like high-jinks on a big night out and get involved in something they wouldn’t dream of doing in the cold light of day.

“But one person’s high-jinks are another’s antisocial behaviour and that can easily bring a person of previously unblemished character to the attention of the police.

“Fighting, vandalism, being disorderly, drinking or urinating in a public place and theft of road signs or cones are all behaviours likely to result in a written warning, caution, fixed penalty or court appearance.”

Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA are just four of the countries who may turn down a visa application if an individual has any of the above next to their name.

“A criminal record can severely restrict an individual’s ability to travel but it’s not just that, more and more employers are insisting on CRB checks for future employees and it would be a great shame for someone’s whole career to fall at the first hurdle due to one night’s stupid indiscretion,” said PC John Dukes.

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NEWS

Social Media and the Student Protests Text Chloe Smith

policies. The student protests, which took place in the last few months of 2010, were noticeably affected by the usage of social media. Web-based events could be created, distributed and attended nationally. In particular, the voices of the everyday public could be heard and acted upon, rather than purely voices of authority, or of news reporters.

“The voices of the everyday public could be heard and acted upon”

With the introduction of social media sites, the organisation of big events involving members of the public from all over the world has been transformed. In particular it has become a powerful tool for organising protests and broadcasting responses to government

Students were able to defend the accusations that the violence and abuse was wholly on the student’s side by uploading images or footage of scenes that showed otherwise, for example the footage of Jody McIntyre being dragged by the police out of his wheelchair.

The power of reporting news has been given to the general public.

Most of the descriptions, images and clips that roused the greatest feeling of the events that took place during the protest were reported on through social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr before anywhere else.

Although the ways in which the reporting of the student protest changed, the organisation format was simultaneously influenced.

Through free social media, thousands of students were able to organise themselves into individual protests on multiple dates, ensuring the largest student protest seen since the 1970s.

However, there were some more negative repercussions that arose from the use of social media. Primarily, social media can be seen in part as helping to transform the nature of the protest from one that was aimed to be purely peaceful, to one that spiralled into violence.

Anarchists determined to cause violence and destruction were also able to more easily mobilise themselves through social media. For example, Twitter was used to report areas where there was a weaker police presence. KhurmArshad Tweeted: "Dear Students please proceed to Liberal Democrats, 4 Cowley Street, after Milbank Tower.

Show them who's boss.” On top of this it has been estimated that up to 30 different organisations worked to organise the student protests, making it difficult to ensure that everyone acted in the peaceful manner originally intended.

The use of free social media is rapidly becoming the driving force of small and large public events alike, of all interest areas- however we must question whether this encourages national unity and peaceful protests, or unchallenged chaos and widespread social disturbance.

Spies on Campus Text Lisa Hallifax

"There seems to be new rumours of spies on campus” The need to assert and encourage a scholarly social and political interest is essential for today’s youth. For students, free speech and open-minded debate encourages the need to learn and understand the complexities thrown at them in later life. Student protests are no different if done effectively.

In recent events however, concerns that Scotland Yard’s counter-

terrorism groups have undertaken the need to arrange for spies on university campuses have developed, after London universities were asked to pass on information about budding demonstrations.

The recent student protests occurring in London, having been both condemned and condoned across all media and has generated an increase in ‘insider’ stories and exposés about student activities and organisations. There seems to be new rumours of spies on campus.

In 1968, a sit-in protest at Leeds University protested against the introduction of student fees. Mike Hames comments, “Jack Straw faced no opposition to the motion to occupy until we had cast-iron guarantees that there would be no more ‘spies on campus’.” On the 18th January, 2011, a letter from Hames featured in The Guardian, suggested that spies on campus are still in existence as a way of damping down potential young radicals. However, can there be a beneficial outcome in spying on your peers? At Cardiff University, they run an open and popular Student Police Initiative programme.

The main aim of the programme is patrolling the surrounding

community and crime-prevention. While on the whole, this is a positive idea- many students have claimed in the past that another of their aims is to find and prevent student parties and other studentorganised activities.

If this is still the case, when students have lost faith in MPs and are constantly under suspicion by the police, it is obvious that should the introduction – or the continuation – of spies in university will in fact encourage radical protests, rather than prevent them.

In 2007, the Department for Education and Skills encouraged lecturers and teachers on campus to spy on their students in an attempt to deter radicalism; in 2011 it is likely that this will now turn to discourage attempts for more to protest against the student fees increase. “Demonstrations are the only reason we've got any form of democracy at all,” complains Hames. In a time of social unrest, students do not need the brand of ‘terrorism’ nor a further reason to protest against the emerging police state that we have been catapulted into.

‘Implanned’ Pregnancy Scare Magazine Text Rebecca Griffiths

In light of ‘SHAG’ week, it’s time to talk about sex. So, it’s important to talk about contraception too. Health Officials advocate frequently that hormonal contraceptives are 99.99% effective. Which in contrast with the condom protection rate at 97%, is just a little more reassuring as an added safety precaution.

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However over the last few months there has been a national scandal featuring the contraceptive ‘Rod’, Implanon. The ‘Rod’ is embedded into the arm, and is supposed to stay active for three years. Yet more than 584 women have recently become pregnant while using this form of contraceptive.

According to the online Citizen’s Report the amount of pregnancies conceived, compared to the amount of women who have been protected ‘compose less than 0.4% of the over 1.3million users of Implanon since its approval in 1999’. Therefore the issue is said to lie with incorrect implantation, not a lack of effectiveness. Merck spokesperson Ron Rogers stated, ‘There is no contraceptive 100% effective and we are confident in the efficiency and safety of Implanon.’

Despite the less than 100% safety rates that contraceptives

offer, we still rely heavily on them. When taking young adults and students into consideration, the need for reliable sexual protection is essential. There is always an occasional case of accidental pregnancy- but will there ever be a truly reliable form of contraceptive available?

FXU Welfare President Tim Port reiterates the professional advice, "There can be all sorts of scares when it comes to the large variety and choices of contraception. When deciding on what contraception you feel is best for you it is always important to do your research into what’s out there and to seek advice from your GP."

“do your research into what's out there”

SCIENCE

SCIENCE Sex, Drugs and Science

By Jonathan Bates

Most of us are familiar with the silky, gooey emotion you get in the aftermath of a romantic night of passion. It’s a feeling which helps two lovers build trust, and our body’s way of patting us on the back for reproducing (although let’s hope you’re not all having babies yet!). It’s a feeling of security, of trust and bonding; even ecstasy. My word choice here is precise; this feeling really is ecstasy and of course it’s all about a hormone; it’s called Oxytocin.

Oxytocin has been studied by scientists since 1906, when Sir Henry Dale first conducted research into it. Synthesised in 1954, its role in mother-child bonding has been well established.

Recently, the scientific community has been researching the hormone’s role in orgasm, social behaviour, and pair bonding.

Oxytocin is highly fundamental to society; recent studies have shown that it also makes us more ethnocentric, forming bonds with those we trust but creating anxiety when faced with an unfamiliar presence. Due to the role it plays, Oxytocin has gained a nickname among scientists as “The Love Hormone”, and the reason why is easy to see - just pop into a nightclub at 2am.

MDMA or “Ecstasy” as it is better known, is named so because of its profound effects on emotion. I’ve seen the scariest looking chavs in Cornwall turn from aggressive louts to loved-up hippies within an hour, and it’s all due to MDMA’s affects on Oxytocin levels. The research is recent, and MDMA’s

“The ability of MDMA to facilitate bonding is quite incredible”

role in Oxytocin production has not yet been tested on humans; except through its recreational use by ravers. Illegal drug use is a far cry from controlled scientific inquiry, but the ability of MDMA to facilitate bonding is quite incredible, and totally undeniable when seen first hand; it is now time for the fears surrounding the drug to be quashed.

MDMA was criminalised in 1985 by the Drug Enforcement Administration, therapeutic sessions using the substance were stopped, and research became almost impossible. Fear had ruined its reputation as a potential therapeutic medicine; the drug was immediately placed at Schedule 1 in America and deemed to have “no medicinal value”, despite considerable evidence to the contrary.

The hypocrisy of drug prohibition was shown when Professor David Nutt was dismissed from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 2009. His pamphlet Equasy caused uproar when it deemed Cannabis less harmful than Tobacco, and MDMA less dangerous than horse-riding. It’s a shame; the government are so blinded by the taboo surrounding the word “drugs” that they are unable and unwilling to hear the truth.

Drug use is never going to stop, we need to take responsibility, legalise drugs (all of them) and start telling people the truth about how drugs affect their bodies. The only way to determine that truth is through science.

ZSL announce new coral conservation initiative

By Michael Hawkes

The Zoological Society of London’s EDGE of Extinction programme has announced what it considers to be the ten most evolutionary distinct and globally-endangered coral species, highlighting them as priorities for conservation.

The chosen coral species come from all over the world, from the Great Barrier Reef to the newly protected Chagos archipelago, and represent some of the most unique and vulnerable corals on the planet.

The list comes as the result of an international conference held last March in London, where scientists and conservationists came together to debate where coral conservation efforts should be focussed.

Coral reefs are one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet. Around one quarter of all marine life can be found on coral reefs, despite the reefs only making up 0.2% of the marine environment by area. Many species need the reefs to mate, spawn, or shelter while they are young and vulnerable.

However, the benefits we gain from coral reefs are not just ecological; over half a billion people depend on coral reefs for food or income. They also act as coastal protection, reducing the severity of tidal events like tsunamis. Despite their worth, coral reefs are currently facing threats from many different

fronts mainly associated with human activity.

As ocean temperatures increase because of climate change, corals are increasingly vulnerable to a process called coral bleaching. This is when microscopic organisms called zooxanthellae that live within the corals leave as a result of temperature induced stress. Coral bleaching can be devastating to reefs as the zooxanthellae provide the corals with up to 90% of the nutrients they need to survive.

As we pump more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, more is also being absorbed into the oceans causing a dramatic increase in ocean acidity. Ocean acidification makes it harder for corals to build their calcium carbonate skeletons and severely inhibits the growth of new coral.

The combination of increasing ocean temperature and acidity has reduced the growth of new calcium carbonate skeleton by corals in the Great Barrier Reef by 142% since 1990.

If nothing is done, corals could face functional extinction within 50 years and would grimly go down in history as the first entire ecosystem that humans have driven to extinction.

EDGE are working to both raise awareness of the threats corals face and to begin focussing practical conservation where it matters most by training local scientists to research

the conservation of threatened corals. If you’d like to read more about their work or feel like getting involved, you can visit them at www.edgeofexistence.org

“If nothing is done, corals could face functional extinction within 50 years”

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features@flexnews.co.uk

let the hunt begin As the New Year commences, it’s time for students to start looking for accommodation away from the halls that have been central to University life for the past months. Charlie Derry discusses the highs and lows of living off campus and the important features to look for when house hunting this term.

It may only be the start of term two, but this is the time of year that you should be sat trawling the accommodation list with your potential housemates, searching for the perfect house to live in next year. But what exactly should you be looking for when you’re spending weeks on end viewing house after house? And who do you go to if you if you’re having trouble finding somewhere to live?

Tremough Campus Services (TCS) is the main service running at UCF, giving advice to students looking for accommodation in the private sector. They offer many schemes during the academic year to point students in the right direction, and run the online accommodation list (www.tremoughservices.com/ accommodation), which provides a regularly updated list of available student accommodation in Falmouth and the surrounding areas.

TCS’s annual house hunting sessions were held throughout January, giving a basic “heads up” to first year students who are currently looking for accommodation outside of halls. If students missed these sessions, TCS’s office welcomes students at all times to answer any queries and FXU advisors are also on hand to help with more common problems that students are faced with when living in privately rented accommodation.

Richard Wilkins, Private Sector Liaison Officer at UCF's Accommodation Office, says: “We are confident that there will be sufficient,

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good quality accommodation in the Private Sector this year since we have had considerably more landlords and agents contact us with a view to developing and renting properties for students – particularly in Falmouth and Penryn.”

So where do you start when looking for a house? Annie Whittaker, Administrator at Miller & Son, who also graduated from UCF in 2009, advises that: “The best chance students have is to get themselves together in a group and individually ask the estate agents in town, as well as looking in the local newspapers and on websites.

“I don’t know exactly what the University itself is doing, but from what I understand they could be doing a lot more! We’ve had a lot of students coming in to the office and from what I’ve seen, the University isn’t doing much to help them. One student even told me the advice they were given was to simply ‘couch surf ’ or camp.

“When I was house hunting as a student, I remember it was pretty tough. My third year accommodation was terrible, the house was a hole and the lettings company were awful,” she adds.

“Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do, and when accommodation is limited, you have to take what you’re given and feel fortunate that at least you’ve found somewhere, regardless of how grotty it is.”

Evidently, the term ‘better late than never’ does not apply when

house hunting. The best advice that can be given is to start looking at accommodation as early as possible, as level two Graphic Design student at UCF, Scott Pearson, explains: “We started looking at houses a bit too late, way later than everyone else.

“There were five of us in total, but eventually the group fell apart in a mad rush to find somewhere else to live before we would be left homeless.”

After last minute trouble with purchasing a house, Scott was forced to find alternative accommodation.

“I looked frantically for a flat around Falmouth town, but having no luck I did the only thing I could - go to Maritime Studios.”

Maritime Studios and The View are the two main blocks of student apartments in Falmouth town. For those who haven’t found a group of friends to move in with or have left it too late to find a house at all, these apartments are the best alternatives.

Chris Winter, Boat Design and Production student at the Marine School, moved out of a student house into The View last year. "I moved into The View because everything was clean and new.

“Living in a block of student apartments is great because you meet lots of new people with having a lot of neighbours.”

But appearances aren’t everything, and you don’t always get what you’re paying for. “Maritime has been a good experience,” says Scott. “But you pay over the odds for a single room that is poorly insulated

and bland. It wasn't the best choice for the amount you have to pay.”

It’s not only the price of monthly rent that will be digging a hole in your wallet either. Additional costs such as bills also need to be taken into consideration, especially when living in privately rented accommodation. Level two Textiles student at UCF, Hannah Kayum, says: “I’m now looking for a different house to live in for my third year due to how high our bills are. Hopefully we’ll find a house with the bill price included in the monthly rent to make it easier as I just can’t afford to keep this up.”

With all this to consider, finding a house isn’t as easy as you’d have first thought, and with the problem of over capacity in halls this year, it hasn’t been made it any easier. So get your reading glasses on and prepare for many a-late-night refreshing the accommodation list. But remember, it will be worth it in the end.

For any last minute help with accommodation, TCS will be holding Accommodation Fairs throughout the summer where landlords and agents who have properties available are invited. This is an ideal opportunity to view a number of houses throughout the day, so try and make the most of these opportunities else you may just end up living in a tent.

Have your say – have you started searching for accommodation? Are you panicking about the state of housing in Falmouth and Penryn.

We’d like to hear from you.

Contact us: twitter.com/flexfeatures or email flexfeatures@hotmail.co.uk

Summer Accommodation Fair dates: Saturday 7th May Tremough Campus (Upper Stannary) 10am – 3pm Saturday 6th June Woodlane Campus (Refectory) 10am – 3pm Saturday 2nd July Woodlane Campus (Refectory) 10am – 3pm Saturday 7th August Tremough Campus (Upper Stannary) 10am – 3pm Saturday 10th September Woodlane Campus (Refectory) 10am – 3pm Links: Accommodation list www. tremoughservices.com/ accommodation Maritime – http://www.falmouthstudent-accommodation.co.uk/ Townsend student accommodation http://www.townsendaccommodation.co.uk/

FEATURES

from a distance I excluded myself from the chaos that was house-hunting last year. I decided to study abroad for the first term of my second year, so whilst my friends were scrambling around trying to tie places down for their second year, I was picking between countries. This may sound ideal, but there were several hurdles along the way.

First came a crossroad where I had to choose whether I wanted to pay rent whilst I was away - to guarantee a place with my mates - or to leave it and find somewhere on my return. I came to the conclusion that the money would be much better spent at my foreign destination than on an unoccupied room, so I decided to risk it for a biscuit.

On my venture overseas I did not worry about accommodation for my homecoming as I figured it would all work out on my return. I mean how hard could it be? However, this was not the case. After a catch up with one of my

friends back home, it became apparent that there would be significant competition in the little Cornish town of Falmouth.

Falmouth University had oversubscribed on their new intake and consequently students were sharing bunk beds at Tremough and flocking into Falmouth and Penryn in the search for a single room. This gave me a big push and forced me to get my act together and embark on a search for a place in Falmouth.

After a good month of hunting, I realised that it was going to be a lot trickier than I had anticipated. The fact that generally speaking most contracts run from July through to June meant this shorter lease I sought was rather scarce and hard to locate.

I created a facebook group and added everyone and anyone I knew from Falmouth and I also put up several adverts on a few of those “find a flatmate” websites. Searching from a distance was hard enough, but the added

pressure of contest truly spiced things up.

Eventually, I stumbled upon a family that was happy to host me until I found something more permanent. Although this was not the best situation, it meant I had somewhere to stay whilst I found my feet.

Nevertheless, I had several friends who were also studying abroad for the term and they managed to find an amazing property that was being renovated but was due to be finished for January. This was a fortunate find as it was available for a shorter lease period and therefore solved all my housing problems. This house made me realise that local landlords are in fact doing their best to meet the student demand and are still building and renovating property at a rapid rate. Having said that, this year I am not leaving anything to chance and I have already bagged myself a place for third year.

Lauren’s Top Accommodation Tips on the search early, the best places 1. Get don’t hang around long choosing who to live with think 2. When beyond how great they are on a night out

3.

4.

5.

Once you have decided who you are living with remain loyal to that group Speak to your parents, decide on a budget and stick to it When searching, call landlords and property services and explore all options

“There is enough accommodation” so don’t panic!

Text Claire Shaw After last year’s high increase of students to Tremough Campus, many are concerned whether there are enough houses to accommodate this level of flux, but the director of Heather & Lay Letting Agency assures students “there is enough accommodation”.

With courses expanding in size and the addition of Dartington College of Arts students to the campus, a huge amount of pressure is placed on the small, rural towns of Penryn and Falmouth to not only accommodate, but fulfil the requirements of students.

As a student, the desire to live in a big house with many flatmates is nothing new, but such student etiquettes may need to change.

The problem may not be a lack of properties to let, but that there is an increasing demand for larger houses, accommodating between 6-9 people. Due to the location of the Cornwall campus, many houses are not built to this size. Therefore, the director of Heather & Lay is asking people to consider living with 2, 3 or 4 people, where there are many houses available to let. He states, “traditional views need to change” and this is only going to happen if students “open up this section of the market”.

In reality living with a smaller group of people has its advantages. It’s much easier to keep the house clean and warm, the noise level is reduced and makes keeping on top of bills fairly straightforward. The general consensus is that smaller houses are usually kept in a better state than many larger properties.

The other advice strongly recommended is to not panic! It has always been the case that many students feel the need to find accommodation around February/March time, with the

mind-set of having nowhere to live if they do not succeed in this. Many larger properties do get released around this time, and it is advised to search early for large properties. However, if you are searching for smaller houses it is perfectly reasonable to start looking in May/ June/July time, where many more properties are released by landlords and letting agencies.

Even at such late notice as September, students have been able to find accommodation; you just have to consider the location you are planning on living in, and the current availability of different sized properties.

Tremough Campus Services are currently seeking planning permission to expand Glasney Village, adding another 224 rooms. They are also awaiting permission to build 230 rooms next to Penryn Station and another 43 rooms in Falmouth. These are all expected to be built between 2011-2015 as the campus is expected to grow and expand in the following years.

TCS are planning to build between 500-800 rooms in the next four years. It is important to question the impact on the wider community with these developmental changes and whether such a traditional location in Cornwall can cope with such dramatic changes. In future years, will this not upset the balance of the local community? It seems many locals living in Falmouth and Penryn are gradually being suffocated by student accommodation.

The question needed to be asked is how far will companies like TCS go before these local towns become unrecognisable?

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features@flexnews.co.uk

“We’re so gosh darned angry we’re giving you the night off” Text Mark Burton

…Was presumably what the executive at Sky Sports told Andy Gray and Richard Keys after that conversation. Then they probably all burst out laughing and went to a strip club. Or the 1920s.

In case you haven't followed this one, Sky Sports top presenter and most clichéd pundit are in trouble over voicing their views about the presence of a female assistant referee in the Wolves v Liverpool game in mid-January.

Which was along the lines of:

AG: Wendy Toms, something like that. She was fucking hopeless as well.

Richard Keys: Well, somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.

[Transcript sourced from the Guardian]

Andy Gray: Yeah, I know. Can you believe that? Female linesman. Forget what I said – they probably don't know the offside rule.

RK: Course they don't.

AG: Why is there a female linesman?

Somebody's fucked up big.

RK: I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. Kenny [Dalglish, Liverpool's manager] will go potty. This is not the first time. Didn't we have one before?

AG: Yeah.

RK: Wendy Toms.

RK: [exasperated groan] AG: [inaudible] RK: No, no, it's got to be done, it's good. The game's gone mad. See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah.

Do me a favour, love.

A few things spring to mind here. First, it's important to stress that these were off air remarks, which is presumably the only possible reason these clowns weren't fired on the spot. Gray was subsequently dismissed for other lewd activities involving his groin and a female presenter, while Keys resigned citing "dark forces" as being at work. Proof if ever that Voldemort is alive and well and working at Sky. There's an argument being made in some quarters that what was said wasn't meant for broadcast and the presenters are entitled to their own personal views, and that's perfectly reasonable. What is unreasonable is effectively supporting these outdated views by continuing to employ those who hold them.

Ron Atkinson expressed his personal views off air once (look it up if you're not sure). He,

unsurprisingly, got fired.

Secondly, it's hardly surprising to hear these kinds of views aired in a football context. I've been around football long enough to know that bigotry of any kind is fair game amongst certain groups of fans. Racism has dogged football, as it has most sports, at all levels since day one, with some notable and all too recent examples.

Sexism is well entrenched as well, hence the neanderthal swell of outrage that crops up any time a woman has the audacity to want to get involved in the "men's" game. Whether it be officiating, playing, coaching, managing, or whatever, there's always a massive swell of interest, usually followed by crass and petty displays of machismo from the terraces, and more worryingly from the governing bodies. Sport is one of the last great bastions of gender division and it's almost as funny as it is sad watching the likes of Gray and Keys try to come to terms with the introduction of women into their beloved boys' club.

Put simply, the rules in sport are slowly moving, and rightly so, to mirror wider social guidelines, where people are judged on their ability, not the colour of their skin or whether or not they have a vagina. There are some gifted female footballers out there who could make it at the top levels of the men's game. Marta, Kelly Smith, Birgit Prinz, Hannah Ljungberg, all of whom could shine at the very top level, are denied the opportunity

simply because of their gender. Female officials are only just coming through, and full credit to those who do because it must be a pretty hostile environment.

People often complain that the military is institutionally sexist; possibly because it is. But the same accusation doesn't seem to get leveled at competitive sport. It's hardly surprising that relics like Keys and Gray still abound when they work within a framework that is governed by sexist principles. If FIFA finds the prospect of ovaries and testicles on the same pitch then there's little hope for the eradication of this blight in the rest of the game. At the moment it's not even OK to be gay and kick a football so it seems that football is falling just short of catching up with the 1950s.

Any surprise, then, that Messrs. Gray and Keys come out with such tripe? No. Any surprise that their employer gave them a slap on the wrist and two tickets to Spearmint Rhino, and only took further action on the back of further misdemeanours? No. It's no shock that you find terrible bigotry in an arena that excels at being terribly bigoted.

Finally, re-read the transcript above and replace the word 'female' with the word 'black', and the sexist references with racist ones. Now consider whether, if that had been what was said, these idiots would ever work again.

What's the difference?

The 90’s Kids: How It Was Text Emily Bexson So, the world has moved on and inevitably we have been dragged along with it. Gone are the days of the VCR, Gameboy, and TV programmes that didn’t blind us with their over-digitalised animation. Undoubtedly, we had to move on and of course we have all welcomed the changes.

Nonetheless, we will, and should, always maintain a strong attachment with our era, the 90’s.

For those who have become bogged down in the ‘noughties’, what follows is a brief journey back to another time, our time.

Someone told me recently that Postman Pat now has a helicopter for ‘special deliveries’; today’s kids will look back fondly at Pat in flight.

We, however, envisage only that squeaky red postal van in much less vivid crimson than it now displays.

It seems Noddy has also jumped on the air-travel bandwagon and has begun using a shiny new plane to travel to his car in the opening

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sequence of the show. What happened?! Pat’s van and Noddy’s car were defining features of two very loveable characters in the 90’s; now it seems one means of travel is simply not enough.

The 90’s also marked the decade of the Gameboy kids. When the Gameboy Colour was released we were amazed at the level of technology. Classics like Space Invaders and Bomber Man were in our hands. I imagine today’s products would laugh us out of the gaming world; the Wii and, more recently, Xbox Kinect, have reached new technological heights that require little or no use for buttons and controls. On a positive note such advancements have at least got us moving around, albeit embarrassingly, to the delight of friends, family and various passersby.

For the girls out there, we can’t mention the 90’s without paying cringe-worthy tribute to the Spice

Girls. We may deny it now, but I can confidently say that most female kids of the 90’s (and secretly some males too) went positively loopy for the five poptastic treats. We unashamedly danced, like no one was watching, to “if you wanna be my lover”. Many fights occurred between friends over which Spice Girl they most resembled. Some may think back the Spice Girl days and envisage themselves dancing like performing monkeys in fancy dress, while the classic 90’s enormous video recorder filmed our every move, to embarrassingly taunt us with in later life.

A good place to conclude this brief journey back in time is something that definitely marked a big change in my life: the move from ‘Opal Fruits’ to ‘Starburst’. It was like a sugary mind-game. As time went on we became used to calling them Starburst but, for the parents out there who lived a longer life with the Opal Fruits, this transition

has been difficult to accept. My dad still struggles with the new identity, as I’m sure many parents have. Of course, we can’t talk about Opal Fruits without mentioning the infamous Fruitella advert that insisted they were ‘too juicy for my mum’. I am certain that jingle lives on in the hearts of all the 90’s Fruitella-lovers. They were indeed ‘so juicy it hurts’.

So, there we were, watching videos, eating Opal Fruits, playing on our Gameboys and listening to the Spice Girls. Of course, we didn’t

all indulge in the same 90’s treats; perhaps there is something you remember fondly when you journey back to our collective childhood?

This article proposes that we keep our 90’s memories alive. It was our time and what a magical time it was.

What are your memories of the well wicked 90’s? The best will be featured in the next issue of Flex.

Tweet us @flexfeatures, or drop us an email at flexfeatures@hotmail. co.uk

FEATURES

Should we pay to roam our Forests?

Claire Shaw investigates the proposed sale of British forests in the latest government cost-cutting drive.

The coalition government proposes to sell a substantial percentage of England’s forests and woodland in the aim of gaining between £150250m over the next ten years. The 258,000 hectares of land will be divided into four main categories: “heritage”, “large commercial”, “multi-purpose” and “small timber”.

25% of this land will be offered at market price to community groups and volunteers who will have to fork out a vast sum of money, as land comes at a hefty price of £3500 £7000 per hectare.

It is alleged that 15% of England’s woods currently owned by the Public Forest Estate is to be sold to community groups. However, if such communities are unable to afford it then the land will be offered up to commercial businesses and companies with only minimal restrictions as to what they do with the land.

This controversial proposal has sparked various petitions and protests all around England opposing the sell-off. The 38degrees petition has already gained a

staggering quarter of a million signatures in support of saving our forests and woodland from commercial industries in particular.

Despite the backlash from the public, it is important to weigh up the pros and cons of the intended sell-off in order to present the wider picture.

The repercussions following from the recession have left the economy in a rather dire state, forcing the government to forge new plans to regain the money it has lost. With the rising tuition fees and petrol costs alongside the intended cuts to EMA and education funding, it is no surprise that the public are in uproar about this new proposed plan.

However, in order to maintain the forests and wooded areas it is estimated that it costs the government around “£15m to manage the estate” each year, costing each individual person in England “30p per year”. This is a substantial amount of money for the government to be spending on preserving certain areas for public benefit, when it is believed by some that community groups and private firms could manage such areas just as well or even more efficiently.

As it stands, these publicly owned rural areas are all that is left of our natural England, slices of our heritage scattered around the country, visited by the public all year round. It is a place of refuge from the busy hustle and bustle of city life where one can enjoy observing British wildlife and feel at one with nature.

The frightening statistic that “woodland covers only 9% of England - one of the lowest percentages in Europe” emphasises the need for such precious land to be well managed and wildlife habitats to be maintained. The question being asked is whether community groups, private investors and commercial organisations will continue to manage the land accordingly, or use for the purpose of investment?

The public fears that there will be a price tag to roam around on England’s land, as there are speculations that many plots of land will be allocated to the rich and the private sector, resulting in land only being owned by the elite, leaving the general public restricted from access or having to pay an entry fee.

It is reported that 84% of people do not want land to be sold for commercial use. The predicament

lies in where new landowners will be able to find money in order to maintain such important land.

Community groups could make money through selling zip wires, fuel, charcoaling, bird watching and shooting to cover the cost of maintaining woodland and forests.

However, there are concerns with investors buying land for the purpose of development, in which

The public fears that there will be a price tag to roam around land is not well-managed but transformed from its original state, taking with it wildlife habitats and lush, fertile land.

Heritage sites such as The New Forest and The Forest of Dean are recognised by the government to be of particular importance to England, and are therefore only sold to a “safe purchaser”, such as the National Trust, who has recently placed a significant amount of interest in the two sites. However, the government also claims that such purchases may also be made to the highest bidder, leaving our forests in not such safe hands. Additionally, what is to happen to the thirty forests to be sold in the Lake District and also Idless Wood in Truro, a local,

beautiful forest visited by many that could potentially be sold to small commercial industries?

It is not just the land being used for commercial purposes that is concerning, but the jobs that will be lost at the Forestry Commission when the land is sold.

It seems the benefits of the sell-off are outnumbered by the growing concerns for our wildlife and heritage. Our forests are no longer priceless, we either buy to conserve or pay the price.

What is your reaction to the proposed sell-off of the nation’s woodland? Get in touch, on Twitter @flexfeatures or at flexfeatures@ hotmail.co.uk

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FILM THE KING’S SPEECH Text Joe Hawke It’s difficult to convey this film in words, without somehow previous acting roles, but this film is surely destined to have reducing it. It didn’t have ridiculous special effects or explosions evolved and reinvigorated his career as an actor. It really felt that cost in excess of a few thousand pounds to wow the as though he was immersed and emotionally attached in his audience; instead it had beautifully rehearsed and polished role and this cannot be an easy task seeing as he was playing acting performances; a rarity in most recent films. However, a stuttering and at times, impatiently aggressive character. the trailer and indeed the posters for this film fail to express Geoffrey Rush not only gave an outstanding and perfectly timed that you do not need any pre-existing knowledge of any history performance, he also managed to enhance the role of the lead to appreciate the creative and artistic splendour of this film, actor, Firth, which is what a good supporting actor is meant to do.

It would be no shock to see both of them which is why I was slightly disappointed winning Oscars at next month’s awards. to find myself being about forty years “The intelligence of the film Additionally, the fact that Helen Bonham younger than the rest of the audience! is outstanding.”

Carter, who played the future Queen’s The film deals with King George VI (played by Colin Firth) and his overwhelming and quite shocking mother, actually gave an inspirational acting portrayal is surely a speech impediment; tended to by the speech therapist Lionel testament to the films virtually faultless organisation.

Although it does seem foolish to speculate over Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush. The intelligence of the film is outstanding. It not only encapsulates the struggle of a prince potential awards for this film, seeing as the Academy and future monarch trying to cure his speech defect, but it also Awards do unearth some unlikely surprises, it would be depicts the struggle of a nation in times of despair; a parallel that entirely unjustified if it didn’t pick up a sizeable handful is consistent throughout. The film also manages to somehow in the upcoming American and British award ceremonies. correlate both cinematic as well as theatrical performance and I did not want to devalue the film by making cheap jokes about how this film ironically had no stutters in it, but the acting yet still remain sharp and stylish in its delivery.

The acting was equally as inspiring as the story itself. Firth and accurate depiction of the characters really did leave me and Rush arguably gave the performances of their careers, speechless! which in Firth’s case may not seem that impressive given his

127 HOURS Text Jennifer Laming I must admit, I was slightly apprehensive when deciding whether to disgusting effect to show the necessities of survival; this time or not to watch Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours”, thinking that 95 following a stream of bubbling urine being slurped through a minutes watching someone trapped in a narrow space couldn’t tube. The audience’s connection with Aron is further increased be that interesting. Suffice to say, I was wrong. Boyle’s adaptation through the sense that everything they see is through his eyes, as of the true ordeal of climber Aron Ralston, who became trapped every outing from the canyon is either a hallucination or memory. in an isolated canyon in 2003 is a slow-burning, tense portrayal As Aron’s ordeal wears on the boundaries between what is real of the human will to survive at whatever cost. Despite the heavy and what is imaginary become blurred, constantly increasing the subject matter, “127 Hours” is entertaining and surprisingly funny, tension by suggesting that Aron has escaped, only to reveal that with a powerful soundtrack and stunning visuals of Blue John he is still trapped. These hallucinations, such as the appearance Canyon to accompany the gripping storyline. I think that the real of a huge thunderstorm, brutally interrupt the quiet isolation of the canyon. strength of the film is in its exploration of In the midst of this confused reality the psychological effects of the climber’s “a slow-burning, tense ordeal, and in its ability to connect the portrayal of the human will to Aron realises that his selfish life has led to his almost certain death, and struggles audience so completely with the action. survive at whatever cost” with the idea of dying and no one James Franco’s portrayal of Aron is believable and compelling; brilliantly expressing his character’s knowing or caring to look for him. The physical and emotional struggle to be rational and continue to survive. The film makes tension culminates in a final push to escape and lead a better life, use of a hand-held camera through which Aron talks to himself exploding in a gruesome climax of blood, pain and jarring sounds and his imagined audience, making the real audience feel directly that will have you squirming in your seat and wondering how far connected to his experiences. Interesting camera angles, such as you could go to survive (but hopefully not fainting!). Ultimately, from the point of view of Aron’s dwindling water supplies running “127 Hours” is an uplifting and thought provoking film that is into his mouth (reminiscent of “Trainspotting”) make you feel guaranteed to be worth a trip to the cinema. acutely aware that time is running out. This angle is utilised again

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reviews

TV BEING HUMAN Text Anna Grant-Casey With the third series roaring into action, Being Human has to be one of the best TV shows to come out of our little isle.

Starring Aiden Turner as brooding vampire Mitchell, Russell Tovey as shy, but strong werewolf George, Lenora Crichlow as ohso-lovely ghost Annie, and Sinead Keenan as Nina, George’s first victim and love of his life.

This show follows Mitchell, George and Annie as they find each other in Bristol, right through to their new life in Barry Island, Wales. The trio deal with Annie’s death, George’s acceptance of his ‘condition’ and peak in Mitchell thoroughly embracing his dark side, something he has shunned for the sake of humanity.

Being Human is in another league. Think of the quality of drama bought to us by the likes of Skins and Misfits. It’s gritty, uplifting, and mesmerising. You will cry, laugh, and cringe. It’s not free from the clichéd vampire moments of lingering hunger and desire so bravely suppressed, but it is more heart-felt than other programmes would have it.

Now, I have been reliably informed that over the pond, there are stirrings of a Being Human remake. I am deeply cynical when it comes to remakes, and anyone who witnessed the German remake of IT Crowd would understand my fears. However, I watched the promos in the hope that it would prove me wrong. My friends, it has not. It’s all pouting, and smouldering, and stop-the-music one-liners. The British version had a quirk; it was slightly offkilter and twisted, but not so much as to make it obscure. If you were a fan of True Blood and Vampire Diaries, then this might be for you, otherwise, barge pole I think.

Each character has their own affliction- Mitchell most strikingly has to fight not only with who he is, but who he was.

On-the-wagon Mitchell is kind and sensitive, but falling-off-thewagon Mitchell is inhuman. A vicious killing machine from the

inside out, he battles with his urges, (leading to lovely smouldering close-ups, girls!) and having well and truly given into his vampiric self, he enters the third series desperate to find Annie and forced to face what he is.

All in all, this show is about as good as it gets. The characters are tangibly human, but so tragically wrenched from humanity in the prime of their lives. A truly great show. Put that assignment away, and get on it!

So it’s that time of year again, with January comes the return of the works, depending on your suit your tastes. Although fans more relentlessly positive Glee, and its wonderful message of ‘it doesn’t a kin to Glee’s references to the stage may feel left out this time matter that you’re a social outcast, because you’re attractive and around. The themed episodes also make a return, more so than before. This time they are incorporated into an episodes plot talented’.

With the new series comes new characters, replacement lady better and don’t seem like gimmicks, including the Rocky Horror coach Beiste and contender for the biggest lips ever Sam , yet none episode, which I like but suspect may leave fans divided. After a can hold a candle to favourites like Sue or Brittany who continue somewhat shaky start the series does get better as it goes on, so be aware that Grilled Cheesus was probably as to steal the show. Plus where would Glee be bad as it gets. without guest stars, well short a brilliant episode “so excessively Glee appears to be capitalising on its massive with Neil Patrick Harris for one, but season two pleasant it could give continues to step things up with a mass of stars jelly babies diabetes” fan base responsibly trying to raise issues about bullying and dealing disability, there’s even a bit of stage and screen throughout. An upcoming episode with Gwyneth Paltrow exceeded all my expectations. On with eLegs which is bad-ass. However, it could be something the top of that all characters are more rounded, Rachel is even more average Gleek wouldn’t consider, being twelve in a time where annoying and Kurt has lots of development on the way. But mostly pop rocks exist, that’s what kids like right? I would try and ask the secondary characters are now getting a chance to shine and one but don’t want any trouble.

Anyway Glee is back as good as ever, perhaps a little more become full cast members.

The songs this time around are a lot more contemporary, you serious than before, as usual it’s not for everyone, but if you’ve know trying to get all the kids interested, and for the most part it ever enjoyed any of it, you might as well check it out. Plus it’s

somewhat nice to see something on TV that’s so excessively pleasant it could give jelly babies diabetes.

GLEE Text Alex Raffle

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BOOKS

reviews@flexnews.co.uk

THE TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE Audrey Niffenegger Text Bethany Whymark Whilst not the most conventional grounding for a relationship Many know the woes of an unpredictable lover. But imagine that this unpredictability was the result of a rare genetic disorder, not - a man with a resetting body clock, first introduced to his future wife when the age difference between them spans more than a personality flaw.

The Time Traveller’s Wife tells the story of Henry De two decades - Niffenegger manages to craft something beautiful Tamble, possessor of a genetic condition referred to as ‘chrono- out of the situation. Her clever interplay of narratives between displacement’; essentially his body clock erratically resets itself, Henry and Claire shares with us two different perspectives on an placing him at some point in his own life. Henry arrives at his arrangement that even we, as readers, feel the frustration of.

There is never any faltering in characterisation, and the plot, destination naked and famished, but armed with advice he gave himself as a young boy to survive these ordeals. Despite the whilst difficult to keep up with at times, doesn’t lose momentum. inconvenience of this disorder, Henry learns to accept it as a part We become caught up against our will in the intricate web that constitutes Henry and Claire’s meetings and relationship, and of his life.

Henry’s ‘first’ meeting with Claire Abshere happens at admire their determination to make whatever they ‘have’ work.

This novel truly exemplifies ‘dedication different times in both their lives. A six-year old Claire first sees a thirty- “A romantic classic stretching to a cause’.

The Hollywood blockbuster, whilst something Henry hiding at the bottom of far beyond the intellectual a moving film, cannot compare to the her meadow; Henry, at twenty one, meets reaches of a chick-lit” original novel. The director’s seemingly Claire, now twenty, when working in a arbitrary positioning of encounters from the book would confuse library in Chicago.

The story begins with this initial meeting. Niffenegger anyone who has had the privilege of reading the original text; alternates the narrating character; at each chapter’s beginning we whilst it is possible to recognise events unfolding, the film lacks are told the date, and the ages of both Henry and Claire; it provides the cohesion that Niffenegger brings to Henry and Claire’s some grounding in a series of decade changes which would circumstances.

A romantic classic stretching far beyond the intellectual otherwise be as disorientating for the reader as for Henry on his early escapades. Niffenegger adjusts her narrative style to suit the reaches of chick-lit; whilst a true ‘affinity’ to Henry De Tamble is ages of the characters – Claire at seven and Claire at twenty seven a biological impossibility, he shows us the type of man any woman would all be thrilled to discover. have markedly different way of expressing themselves.

WILD SWANS Jung Chang Text Abbey Heffer Wild Swans enters Chinese realm at a time when foot-binding people in thirty different languages with her revolutionary novel was still practised, when local warlords reigned over the Wild Swans. This impact alone is reason enough to pick up this surrounding neighbourhoods, such as the Old Marshal, who book, and share in the collective enjoyment cause by it.

Since Wild Swans was published in 1991 there has been a was previously a bandit. The most shocking aspect of the Warlord Era is acknowledging that this was happening within tidal wave of literature describing the horrific experiences of living memory. This was not medieval; this was recent history. those living under the communist dictatorship of Mao Tse-tung.

Jung Chang hits home the absurdity and adventure of this era, The Chinese people were subject to intense physical, vocal and without downplaying the dangerous nature of life in such times. emotional indoctrination, including a wide variety of strange and alarming punishments, such as the jet-plane Beginning with Chang’s grandmother, the story humiliation. When this story is told by intellectuals follows the concubinage and eventual marriage “Such an of this phenomenal woman, before embarking inspiring read” like Chang, who lived through the terrifying ordeals depicted in Wild Swans, history then lives, suffers upon the life of her daughter, Chang’s mother.

The vast contrast between the lives of grandmother and mother and dies with us actively attached to the outcome.

As an introduction into this alien world of the Great Leap emphasizes the dramatic shift in Chinese culture from before the Forward, the Cultural Revolution and the Five Pests, Chang communist reign and during.

The story, the pace and the emotive power of this novel is only unlocks the very human truth of life under such authoritarian half of what makes it such an inspiring read. Though banned in government. Though her work is built upon personal prejudices, China, Chang’s work embodies the historic and human struggle which in turn were created by the injustices she experienced for justice and democracy in a country vastly different from throughout her life, Wild Swans stands as a recognisably realistic our own. In terms of overcoming the European boundaries that account of events in China’s last century. Other novels, such as often form around literacy in England, Wild Swans is a beautiful To The Edge of the Sky by Anhua Gao, are less anti-Mao than initiation into a world of words outside eurocentricism. China perhaps Chang comes across, but still show the same level of is the final fantasy, there is so much unknown about this distant personal hardship and suffering. country, and Chang has whetted the thirst of over ten million

14

reviews

GAMES NEED FOR SPEED: HOT PERSUIT Xbox 360/PS3/PC/Wii/iPad/iPhone Text Pete Grafton For those of you who get fed up with the repetitive routine of race, Seacrest County in which the variety of terrains an enormity of garage, upgrade and race then Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit offers differing race types. There are a huge number of unlockable cars as either your ability at enforcing road laws, or to escape those you a beautiful alternative.

Pursuit provides you with the choice of either outrunning trying to ruin your fun increases, many of which will make the the law in incredibly attractive and expensive super cars or, avid car fan dribble a bit.

In order to take down even the quickest of hyper cars both taking down those hundreds of thousands of dollars in equally racer and officer can unlock and upgrade 6 as rapid, luxurious and pricey vehicles with the added bonus of flashing lights, sirens and your “Persuit is a definite different weapons as well as a burst of ultra speed turbo perfect when it comes to picking outrageously over-the-top police arsenal. experience for any an opponent to first place. In other words, Cops Now I know this may not appeal to those racing gamer” chase, Racers race. who enjoy racing games for, well, the racing but Although this game is practically perfect in every way, its I honestly think you should reconsider before snubbing Pursuit.

The racing element is well and truly embedded into the game. release comes at a time when not much is really going on in If you choose to be an outlaw then the variety of drives range the gaming world. Christmas has only just passed and all major from time trials, to outrunning the pursuing AI officers whilst releases from November up to Christmas Day have been snapped up. This Need for Speed title is more of a filler and is not up to the attempting to defeat your fellow racers.

However, for those who prefer the carnage the Burnout series, intensity and diversity of predecessors. It could be said that this is with a little added flair of being able to fight on the lawful side of street a cheeky money making scheme while Need For Speed Shift 2 has its final touches made. racing, then Pursuit is a definite experience for any racing gamer.

Nevertheless it’s an excellent game all round.

The game itself is relatively simple to grasp. There’s a map of

SHADOW OF ROME Retro: PS2 Text Joella Hawley The levels become more ridiculous every time. Chariot racing Originally purchasing this game in 2006, it was only this past Christmas that I finally completed it. Over the years, stopping and was just one of them, proving to be most frustrating level ever. starting, I was stuck on the same level until I found a clue; now I I was driven to the point of nearly throwing the controller. At the beginning of the game it was too easy, and by the end I was was hooked.

The story involves two lead characters, Agrippa, the strong spending at least three hours on each level; it was beginning to Gladiator, and Octavianus, a young boy in search of solving Rome’s linger, making the levels harder to beat. In the final showdown biggest mystery; who assassinated Julius Caesar? Agrippa’s Father which came at the end of nearly every round, you would find your enemies would have the equivalent of four life bars is cruelly accused of the murder and captured by and yourself would only have one, which was quite the Roman Army. Octavianus takes this as his quest “Shadow of Rome for justice. The game switches throughout letting never holds back” unnecessary really by just prolonging the level and making them impossible to beat. To make the game you have the chance to play with both characters, a wise choice- not letting the player grow bored. Octavianus’s more interesting, cut scenes were shown between missions, letting missions involve trying to sneak pass the Roman guards whilst us follow the characters’ developments. I found it was needed, so Agrippa is enslaved as a Gladiator. Agrippa is by far a more thrilling you could keep up with the storyline as it often made you wonder character to play, each level follows him fight to the death with why you were fighting so many endless rounds. All in all I spent tigers, slaves and other mystical beasts, sometimes maybe having just over thirty hours on the game, it was definitely worth it. I to fight all of them at the same time. The main highlight to the would recommend it for everyone; just make sure you have plenty game is definitely the brutal fighting sequences. Whilst cutting off of time to complete it. heads and chopping arms off, Shadow of Rome never holds back.

STU’S GAMING CORNER So, this Christmas’s big-hit toy was the Xbox Kinect; not surprising really when you think that last year’s must-have present was the Wii Fit, and the year before that? The Wii. So the gaming market seems to have once again resorted to bringing out peripherals for their consoles rather than creating a new one. Now, I’m not

the biggest fan of this motion-controlled gaming fad that seems to have swept across the games industry, however I am willing to try anything once and after getting my hands on the Kinect, I have to say it is impressive. The 3D camera on the front is amazing, and the facial recognition is second to none, but then again, a peripheral is only as good as the games that come with it.

The game I played was called Kinect Adventure, in which you and your friends can compete or co-operate to collect tokens in an array of crazy situations. Some of these games are the most fun I’ve had on a console since Dance Dance:

Revolution in the arcade; seriously it provided literally hours of entertainment, especially when it takes pictures of you mid-jump or mid -crouch, making you look like a complete buffoon. However, all these games feel more like mini-games than a real game, and I really don’t think it’s using the Kinetic to its full potential.

This is a common problem with all these motion games, the motion portion of the game always seems like an after-thought. It’s not just the Kinect that suffers from this, the Wii has been having these problems since the day it came out, and the Sixaxis from Sony for the PS3 has

been almost completely left alone for the same reason. There is a slightly odd conclusion to this though: the best motion game I ever played was the Eye Toy: Play for the PS2, as a kid. When this first came out it was like nothing else anyone had ever seen, and for a long time there was nothing on the PS2 that me or any of my friends wanted to play, and it took the like of the first Halo and Super Smash Bros Melee to drag me away.

So I suppose if I can say any thing about this motion-controlled gaming, its that if you really want to have a good time, dust off your PS2, hit up eBay and get yourself an Eye Toy.

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reviews@flexnews.co.uk

MUSIC THE FALL Gorillaz Text Emma Roberts Constantly pushing musical boundaries, Damon Albarn’s latest song from outer-space, with very overdone electronic laser-y creation The Fall is yet another new sound for his cartoon band sound effects throughout the song.

Gorillaz. The album is said to be entirely created on an iPad, The Parish Of Space Dust sounds different again from which sounds crazy at first - but realistically an iPad is just a small everything else on the album. The futuristic sound effects in the computer. Making an album on it is simply like making an album background clash with the bulk of the vocals and melodies, which on a Macbook, and that doesn’t sound so obscure does it? sound like they belong in a time before the technology to create Technicalities aside, the first track sounds like it came from Gorillaz even existed.

Demon Days and met Plastic Beach on the way. It has the dark, And then we get pulled back to the present with that repetitive squelchy beat of the former with the mix-and-match sounds of dub-step beat making a comeback in the next instrumental, The the latter. But, on their own, the instrumental tracks could be Snake In Dallas. There’s a pace change - a much slower song – anyone or any band. Only when Damon and a reminder that we are listening to “The Joplin Spider sounds Albarn’s voice comes on to the scene on Gorillaz from Damon Albarn’s vocals. the second track, Revolving Doors, does like a song from outer-space” The album is rounded off with a song it sound more Gorillaz-y. Albarn’s dazedcalled Seattle Yodel, which is simply a sounding voice is what gives Gorillaz their sound. With just a 39-second yodelling track, as the title suggests. simple vocal snippet it is impossible to mistake the song for that Once more we have been exposed to many various and eclectic of any other band. styles of music from Gorillaz as Albarn experiments with his iPad By track three, Hillbilly Man, the soft guitars of Revolving Doors and all the sound effects and musical styles it can create. have gone and have been replaced rather suddenly with a much Realistically, without vocals from Albarn, you wouldn’t know harsher dub-step sound, unlike anything Gorillaz have done that this was a Gorillaz album at all. There is no distinctive ‘sound’ before. It isn’t quite dub-step in its entirety, but it has the same to the album; it just sounds like a mix-tape of songs that didn’t bouncy, repetitive sound that characterises the genre. make it onto the other Gorillaz albums. But this album should not The next song, Detroit keeps with the elastic sound of Hillbilly be listened to as an album, but instead as a collection of unique Man but it has a brighter, more upbeat bounce. There are no lyrics and remarkable songs. this time and it quickly flows into the next song, Shytown. This Unfortunately, the album is only available as a free download song is a lot darker than the last, which is more fitting with how exclusively for fans in the band’s “Sub-Division” fan club on their the whole album seems to feel so far. website (www.gorillaz.com), but Albarn has promised to release The dark eerieness of the album continues after Shytown onto the album in physical and digital formats later this year. Watch the next track, Little Plastic Bags. The Joplin Spider sounds like a this space!

JUMP INTO THE FOG (EP) The Wombats Text Dora Eisele The second EP in the run-up to This Modern Glitch (due to be endearing honesty, and it’s at its finest in Jump Into The Fog. The EP is, musically speaking, trademark Wombat – bright, released 7th February ) is far more promising than the first.

Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) was an alarming symptom of the sugary guitar riffs and hollow boppy drums galore. But the now widespread indie-pop virus that leaves you as paralyzingly melodies defy the sweetness that saturated first album A Guide indifferent to the music in your ears as the 88 is to turning up. To Love, Loss & Desperation, producing a darker and more alluring brand of indie-bop. They’ve definitely To all boys in bands, and especially the ones that wrote this song: you haven’t crafted 2011’s “bright, sugary riffs and revved up the electronica too, but here it’s hollow drums galore” put to good use – it’s more of a melodic anthem just because you bought Wayfarers sideline, an embellishment, as opposed to and a synthesizer.

And although The Wombats are guilty of more sunglassed- the frustratingly overdone Nintendo-vibes of Tokyo (Vampires & synthesisings on Jump Into The Fog, the EP can at least be credited Wolves).

It’s patronizing and preemptive to say that The Wombats for its dryly brilliant and exceptionally frank lyrics. “I’m only here because I feel the day deserves a truly sordid end” says a have “matured” or “grown-up”, and in the light of that Tokyo wry Wombat, because “life tastes sweeter when it’s wrapped in blip, it’s probably wrong to assume this anyway. However, Jump debauchery”. Valentine is an equally candid, elegy to the girl that’s Into The Fog is a very likeable taster of an album that could be captured (lead singer) Matthew Murphy’s attention because incredible – fingers crossed the lyrics stay sharp, and the synths “the nihilists always get my vote”. The Wombats have always stay un-Mario. had a unique lyrical style that combines wistful storytelling and

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Future of FXU – You Decide referendum RESULTS!!!!

In the recent FXU referendum, the most popular options chosen by students for how the FXU is run was to have: • • •

Three equal Presidents Presidents + Execs + External Trustees + Student Trustees as the FXU trustee board.

Student Council + Union General Meetings ( at least termly) + Referenda for how students’ union decisions are made and how FXU trustees report to students.

These key elements of running a Students’ Union were included in a new constitution* for FXU, which will have been proposed to all students at the FXU Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 2 Feb during the time of this edition of Flex going to print. Please see Flex editorial for the latest news from the FXU AGM. A constitution is a legal document that states the purpose of an organisation, who benefits, how it is run and how the organisations is accountable.

For more details and a full breakdown of the voting in ballot paper form, please see www.fxu.org.uk/future

Elections 2011

The FXU Spring Elections 2011 bring what students want- 3 Equal Presidents!

In the recent Future of FXU – You Decide referendum, students voted to keep three equal Presidents, President UCF, President UECC and President Welfare, for students’ union representation rather than the option of one overall President and two Vice Presidents for UCF and UECC. So, is what FXU shall have!! This is similar to the current structure, but with improvements in academic representation, campaigning, communication, student involvement in decision-making and activism!

All students can nominate themselves and vote for President Welfare.

University College Falmouth incorporating Dartington College of Arts students can nominate themselves and vote for President UCF. University of Exeter Cornwall Campus students can nominate themselves and vote for President UECC. All president positions are full-time and paid, therefore requiring taking a year out of your studies (a sabbatical) or can take place after your final year of study. Nomination Packs and job descriptions will be available soon on www.fxu.org.uk/elections AND keep watching FXU space for more details.

Nominations open 14th February. Be ready.

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FXUFXU ADVICE ADVICE SERVICE SERVICE CONTINUING YOUR CONTINUING YOUR STUDIES STUDIES NEXTNEXT YEAR?YEAR?

Get your application in early to to avoid latepayment payment ofmaintenance your maintenance Get your application in early avoid late of your loan and any grants are entitled loansupplementary and any supplementary grantsyou you are entitled to. to.

ContinuingContinuing students can apply totoStudent Finance England students can apply Student Finance England for their for their funding forfunding 2011/12 fromfrom 14 FEBRUARY 2011. for 2011/12 14 FEBRUARY 2011.

FXU Advice Service We offer free, confidential and FXU Advice Service We offer free,independent, independent, confidential and impartial advice support to to all Advice service offers impartialand advice and support allstudents. students. TheThe Advice service offers advice by fully advisers and entire spectrum advicetrained by fully trained advisers andcovers covers thethe entire spectrum of welfare of welfare queries including student funding, credits, queries including student funding,benefits, benefits, taxtax credits, financialfinancial problems, housing queries, consumer advice, employment, problems, housing queries, consumer advice, employment, childcare,childcare, institutional/academic related problems and more. institutional/academic related problems and more.

If we are unable fully your to signpost If we areto unable to answer fully answer your query query wewe willwill be ablebe to able signpost you to someone who can. totocontact service is term you to someone who How can. How contact us:us: TheThe service is term time only time only 09.30 - 17.00.

You canYou make an an appointment to an see an Adviser 09.30 - 17.00. can make appointment to see Adviser by callingby in calling in or phoningor phoning • Tremough Campus: FXU the reception opposite therefectory/bar refectory/bar - 01326 370447 • Tremoughthe Campus: FXU reception opposite the - 01326 370447 • Woodlane Campus: FXU the reception in in the Building • Woodlanethe Campus: FXU reception theLibrary Library Building - 01326- 01326 213742 213742

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ART&DESIGN

ART&DESIGN Photography

Lucy Piper Norway is a country famously known for its maritime industry, built on expertise gained from centuries as a shipping nation, with Oslo at the main centre.

This photograph, taken in May 2010 captures a moment of deep conversation, set against the deeply colourful and engaging backdrop of Oslo’s historic dockyards.

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arts@flexnews.co.uk

Interviews Interviews by Catherine Durham

Josh Excell Josh Exell is currently studying for a BA(hons) in Photography at the University College of Falmouth.

He is in his second year of the course, and wants to share some of his experiences with the readers of FLEX. FLEX: How would you describe yourself and your work?

Josh: I like my work to be a part of me, a spark of inspiration from what and who i surround myself with, i feel that i shoot in quiet a clean and commercial way. its all about light and form.

F: You also have work featured in the ‘simply beautiful photographs’ book, how did that feel?

J: This all happened quite recently when i found a critique of one of my images from a gallery in america, in which i had no idea it was being displayed. i delved further into the mystery and found that it was all linked to the latest National Geographic book. it feels great to have my work and name out there in bookshops all over the world and the support from national geographic and their print shop website.

F: Which photographers do you draw your inspiration from?

J: Lots of photographers inspire me and its often just one picture from their portfolios that i really like. but a few photographers that consistently amaze me are. Michal Chelbin and his Images of travelling circuses, Jeff Wall and his beautifully lit and staged imagery and Alec Soth with his amazing collective series incorporating portraits and landscape to create an eclectic view of his subject.

F: How do you find time in between your university work to promote yourself?

J: I generally try and incorporate self promotion into my uni work whilst keeping an up to date website and blogs etc. i find the more you establish yourself on the internet and try and put your work out there in as many places as possible the more opportunities come your way. its also allot about networking and contacts wherever you can find them. my lovely friends often have a big part to play in the work i get.

F: You have been published in many magazines, notably the National Geographic. How did that happen?

J: I entered a competition back in 2007 which was tied in with national geographic and ended up winning. It had always been a dream for me as soon as i picked up a camera for one of my images to appear the pages of the prestigious magazine. when it actually all happened i couldn’t quiet believe it. The photograph was featured in the magazine and taken on in the national geographic stock photography site.

F: Describe your average day: J: hmm not quite sure what an average day would be. everyday is different which is the great thing about photography.

F: If you could be anyone in the world who would it be?

J: Brian Badonde and Susan Boyles love child.

Tom Jamieson Tom Jamieson is currently studying for a BA(hons) in Press and Editorial Photography at the University College of Falmouth. Tom is in his second year and currently on a work placement at VII photo agency. He has taken time out of his busy schedule to share some pearls of wisdom with the FLEX readers.

FLEX: How would you describe yourself and your work?

Tom: Still learning.

F: Which photographers do you draw your inspiration from?

T: I’m surrounded with work by VII all day at the moment so right now it’s those guys, specifically Antonin Kratochvil, Seamus Murphy, Benedicte Kurzen and Jessica Dimmock. Away from those guys, Dominic Nahr, Christian Hansen, and always Paolo Pellegrin.

F: You recently won a £1000 grant from Ideastap, how did that feel?

T: Lucky more than anything, although I’m only going to have about 3 weeks when I get back from New York to get it all finished up.

F: Along with your previous success, you have recently secured a work placement for 3 months at VII photo agency, how is that going?

T: It’s good, days are long and are non stop as soon as you walk in but I’m learning a lot. I hope so anyway. It’s New York as well so there’s everything that goes with that, lots of galleries, new exhibitions and talks going on almost every night.

F: How do you find time around your university work to progress your career as a working photographer?

T: I’m just trying to get better at making pictures right now and understanding photography a bit more. I’m doing a few jobs here and there but yeah my focus isn’t on working right now, i’m not ready at all!

F: Describe your average day at VII: T: VII has a lot going on, it has a gallery and online magazine, multi media production, print sales and assignments so I’m getting to spend time on all these different things and getting a bit more of an idea of how the industry works.

Everything apart from the prints and gallery is digital and has been since VII started so I spend a lot of time in front of a computer.

F: If you could work for anyone in the world who would it be?

T: I would assign myself, publish myself and pay myself!

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ART&DESIGN

Textiles

Interview and text by Natasha Loader Rachel Brown, 20, grew up in a small Cornish town in Plymouth. She recently found success at a top design company in London. Through having talent and determination, Rachel has already seen glimpse of having a tremendously successful career.

embroidery competition, which has a £15,000 prize for the winner. Falmouth has actually won this competition a few times, and so I think when they heard I was a student there they were quite happy I would be skilled enough for me to work with them.

N. How did you get hold of such a competitive work placement?

R. Through a friend, who goes to Bath Spa University. She had been trying to get an internship with ‘Hand and Lock’ for a few years, and when they got back to her they said that they needed two people and if she knew of anyone who would be interested. She knew that I had just specialized in embroidery at University College Falmouth so she asked if I would like to go with her.

N. How did it feel as a student being given so much responsibility?

R. Scared! On one occasion they asked to me to go and pick up an order and gave me the company credit card. I had to go into the depths of Soho armed only with a map and a pin number. When I arrived, it turned out that I had to pick up and pay for £2,000 worth of Swarovski crystals, and then walk back to the studio with them in my bag.

N. Were you the youngest person working there?

R. I was indeed, everyone had already gained degrees or apprenticeships and were fully trained in embroidery and gold work N. How did they know you were capable enough to work for them?

R. Hand and Lock conduct a yearly

I would love to do commissions for museums.

N. Do any current designers inspire you?

R. Natasha Kerr, who does lovely things with photographs and quilting. She also does short stories to go alongside her artwork, they always make me smile.

N. Finally have you got any advice for students like you who want to get hold of some good work experience?

R. Don’t give up! If you e-mail or phone and they don’t get back to you, be persistent.

N. How did you feel when you were told to design for Snoop Dogg?

R. I was happy, I mean I had my hands on Snoop Dogg’s tracksuit bottoms but it’s not my thing really. I do love Snoop Dogg for wanting such disgusting designs though, I wouldn’t expect any less from him really. I think after working at Hand and Lock, my work is going to be directed more towards interiors than fashion;

“I had my hands on Snoop Dogg’s tracksuit bottoms”

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arts@flexnews.co.uk

A Pug’s Life Illustration Editor: Rhiannon Williams Gemma Correll is a freelance illustrator and crafter living in Norwich with her pug, Mr. Pickles.

She graduated from Norwich School of Art and Design in 2006 with a BA (hons) degree in Graphic Design, specialising in Illustration. Her work is irresistibly witty and naive, and has impressed a clientele including The Guardian, Macmillan and Hermés.

Flex: How would you describe yourself and your work?

Gemma: I’m an Illustrator, I’m freelance, I’m 5’4” and I have dark brown hair. My work consists of a lot of drawings of pugs and cats with some other stuff in between. It has a strong narrative bias and probably falls under the “naïve” category, although I’m not sure how I feel about that. I also make a lot of my own products, such as greetings cards, tote bags and zines.

F: Where do you draw inspiration from?

G: I find inspiration everywhere- places I go, people I meet, overheard conversations, books I read...

F: Who are the people in your illustrations? Is your work autobiographical?

G: Some of it is- obviously my “daily diaries” are, but I can see myself in a lot of my characters, ormore accurately - my childhood self.

The other people might be friends or children I worked with (I was a teaching assistant for 2 years after graduating) or just interesting people that I’ve spotted on the street.

F: Which artists/ designers do you most admire?

G: There are so many, but a short list: Tom Gauld, Camilla Engman, Oliver Jeffers, Harriet Russell and Simone Lia.

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F: Describe your typical day.

G: I wake up around 9 (good thing about being an Illustrator is that you can choose your own hours. Although these can be quite antisocial...) and drink some coffee. This is very important, I can’t function properly without caffeine. My morning is usually spent checking e-mails and packaging orders for shops and from my own online/ Etsy shop. After lunch, I’ll go to the Post Office with Mr Pickles (my pug), via the coffee shop if I have time. I start the “real work” of illustration in the afternoon and usually work until about 2am with breaks for food, coffee and playing with Mr Pickles. I work best in the evenings when it’s quiet... I go to bed at 3am.

F: If you had to pick another career, what would you choose?

G: I’d probably be a teacher and work with children with autism, or special needs.

F: What advice would you give a student in their last year at university?

G: Be prepared to work very hard. Learn about accounting and taxes and all the boring stuff too.

Make a good website. Be prepared to get a part/full-time job to pay the bills but don’t let it take over your life.

F: Sweet or savoury?

G: Hmm, probably savory, but it’s hard to decide. How about Chocolate-dipped Pretzels which are both sweet AND savory. Yum. F: What super power would you most like?

G: I’d like to be able to teleport, so that I could travel around easily, quickly and for free.

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LIFESTYLE RECIPES

What to do with your mince...

Text Annabel Charlesworth

Meatballs – because they make a change from spaghetti Bolognese or cottage pie! Although we are only weeks into term, I found myself faced with another pack of mince and no desire to tuck into another portion of wintery potatoes or pasta. Instead I thought back to something reminiscent of summery days, meatballs and couscous, the sort with a tomato-y sauce and a subtle hint of herbs and spices, perfect for lifting the spirits and the palate.

For the meatballs; 1 wholemeal pitta, torn into small pieces and soaked in 60ml milk 500g lamb mince 1tsp dried mint 1tsp dried parsley 1 clove garlic, crushed For the sauce; 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 1 tablespoon harissa paste (or to taste) 1 tsp dried parsley Salt and pepper

Mix all together with plenty of seasoning and shape into small bite-sized balls. Heat a frying pan up and brown the balls very quickly. Turn them over when each side is browned – this will perhaps take about two minutes a side and they do not need to be cooked through. Remove from the pan and drain away the fat.

For the sauce, fry the garlic in the same frying pan and quickly add the tomatoes followed by the harissa and parsley, simmer until the sauce is thickened and reduced.

Add the meatballs and cook for about ten minutes. Serve with couscous.

Geographies of love...

Text Jenny Gramnes Love is all around, but there are some cultural differences when it comes to romance. Flex spoke to some international students to find out how they rank the British on a romantic level.

Mari Myhre is from Norway and just got back from a dreamy mini-break to Rome with her Scottish boyfriend.

Are British men more romantic than the Norwegians? I’m not sure really, but Ross is certainly very romantic! When he booked the hotel room in Rome for us, he told the staff that we would be on our honeymoon just so that they would take extra good care of us! He doesn’t have any problems with showing affection in public either and always gives me lots of compliments. Sometimes I almost think that he is cheesy, so maybe they do act more romantically over here than in Scandinavia. But one bad thing that I’ve noticed about British men is that they text too much. I just don’t think that texting all the time is good enough when you’re in a relationship—I need to hear the person’s voice sometimes too! They also insist on paying for everything which I actually don’t like. In Norway, I think we are more equal, and it’s normal to split the bill, or to even let the girl pay sometimes.

Ruth Amelung is from Germany and currently single.

“British men...they text too much”

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Is Valentine’s Day a big deal in Germany? It’s a huge deal actually, people go crazy! Some people have their Valentine’s Day plans ready weeks ahead and the shops are filled with tons of hearts, chocolates and things like that. Roses sell out and there are romantic movies on all the TVchannels. It starts at a pretty young age as well; I remember when I was in sixth grade and got a box of chocolates in my mailbox. I think that German guys might do more things like that, and are perhaps a bit more romantic than British guys.

Damian Drozdowicz is from Poland and also single.

Are there any cultural differences to Valentine’s Day in Poland? We have so many days that we celebrate in Poland. There’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day of course, but also things such as Grandmother’s Day and Grandfather’s Day, Woman’s Day and Man’s Day; I believe it came from the east and communism. I think the commercialism is a bit tacky, companies make so much money from Valentine’s Day. In Poland, I think there’s even more hearts and stuff put up than over here. The Polish have more traditional values in general, we are a bit more romantic and the men are more protective over girls and things like that. The UK is such a multicultural place

LIFESTYLE

FASHION

From Paris (and Milan) with love...

Text Michael Swann

For most of us, early January is a still time. We’re gradually settling into the swing of the New Year; we realise that soon enough it’ll be back to work, back to school or back to Uni, but we’re still dwelling on the Christmas holiday languor. Who’d have thought that bubbling beneath the general laze of the festive season, were the preparations for one of the biggest months in the fashion calendar? The New Year is no excuse to rest when you are a fashion bigwig and you’ve got collections to be shown in Paris, Milan, Rio or San Paolo, and for some, the highest of high fashion: Paris Couture week. From January 15th, Milan was buzzing with the beginning of Men’s Fashion Week, and in true Carrie Bradshaw style, “I couldn’t help but think to myself”... is it going to live up to previous years?

Very rarely does Men’s fashion week make headline news for any newspaper, but it was the finale of the Burberry show that flooded the front pages. As the stream of mac-clad models walked the catwalk for a final showcase, rain poured down over them and, I imagine, most of the front row of the audience (good job said macs were waterproof ). It was impressive, yes, but did it attempt to distract from a distinctly average collection? Probably not, but it managed to.

Chris Bailey’s designs, whilst never really stepping too far from the Burberry style, always please the masses. Burberry is just one of those power houses of fashion that will always be popular.

But, bar a few interesting and out of the ordinary pieces near the start of the show (the orange coat shown right for example), the Burberry AW11 collection was a bit bland. This trend seemed to continue throughout most of the men’s shows in both Paris and Milan, with only a few designers really pulling out some interesting collections.

The show everyone was most interested to see this season was Thierry Mugler. And why? Because this collection will be the first shown from new designer Nicola Formichetti, otherwise known as “the guy responsible for Lady Gaga’s meat dress” (among other Gaga-related incidents). Needless to say, fashion followers worldwide were fearful; most expected a gimmicky, tasteless collection and the promo images featuring Rick Genest

“I found myself loving whole collections”

(or “Zombie Boy” as he is known, due to his whole body being covered in tattoos) didn’t seem to dispute these expectations.

However, the actual show was a surprise, with the majority of the pieces being rather minimalist, and in several cases... bright orange. Which rather shattered the ghoulish, gothic, Gaga im-

pression that the promo images evoked. Formichetti’s collection (a collaboration of sorts with designer Romain Kremer) was, on the whole, pretty safe and wearable, something the Thierry Mugler label isn’t so well known for.

Formichetti wasn’t alone in his bright orange endeavours on the catwalk this season, there were plenty of collections that aimed to liven up the winter chills with a hint of tangerine, and plenty more extending the summer trend of blindingly bright block colours into autumn. It looks like there’s a certain sense of optimism this year as most brands burst through the typical winter colours of brown and black and generally dark and dreary shades of grey with bright colours. What’s more, glitter and shine and a little bit of gold glamour graced the runways this season with Prada, Cerruti, Dolce and Gabbana and Jean Paul Gaultier, to name but a few, dressing their models in a little somin’ somin’ sparkly.

Normally I would be hurling abuse at this “trend” of shimmeriness; I mean, when I think “tacky” I think gold and glitter and tinsel. However, with the exception of Mr. Gaultier, whose garish gold jackets have been proven (by real scientists) to induce nausea and headaches in onlookers, the trend is pulled off rather well. This is especially true in the case of Prada whose odd blend of 1960’s and Post-retirement leisure styles made for one of the highlight shows of this season. But is that saying much?

June 2010 was the last time men’s fashion graced the runways in Milan and Paris, a season so dense with fantastic collections that I find it hard to recall a single show in which I didn’t find something to crave. I found myself loving whole collections rather than just several pieces or outfits, this season however, there were maybe 2 or 3 that really impress from start to finish.

Looking through the shows was like sifting through the rails in a charity shop; most of it is a bit crap but occasionally there comes along one special item that really takes your fancy. Granted, there were a handful of great collections (Jil Sander, Acne, Giuliano Fujiwara and Costume National for example) and when shows were good, they were great, but most were a bit underwhelming.

Is this a sign of things to come for men’s fashion? A downward spiral into the monotonous? Or am I simply over reacting and, in actual fact, is it an inevitably dreary follow up from the high standards set last season? I guess only time will tell.

A Sweet New Beginning...

Text Hannah Banks-Walker: Lifestyle Editor Mr Simms’s Olde Sweet Shoppe’s delicious delights are about to enhance temptation on all levels. No more will this simply be a sweet shop, but an entirely new and exciting experience. From next month, Falmouth’s Olde Sweet Shoppe will be under construction, preparing to offer you the tastiest treats you can imagine. Adopting an American Retro theme, the shop will now consist of even more products, with the upstairs chocolate shop replaced by a milkshake, smoothie and coffee bar! Choose from hundreds of sweets to create your own uniquely flavoured traditional thick and creamy shake, or for a health kick, choose a refreshing smoothie to get in your 5 a day. Even grab your morning coffee en route to Uni to banish that dreaded hangover! You can also choose to enjoy your treats in the shop itself, with seating upstairs enhancing the fun, retro ambience. With new loyalty cards as well as fantastic student discounts, you won’t be able to resist! Keep your eyes peeled for Falmouth’s Olde Sweet Shoppe with Candy Shakes... Coming soon!

“Delicious delights are about to enhance temptation on all levels”

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Sports@flex.co.uk

Sports The Sky’s the Limit

Text: Hugh Firth

In 1960, after a long and illustrious career, Preston great Tom Finney finally retired after 14 years and 433 appearances for his beloved side. During his time at Deepdale, he scored 187 goals as well as finding the net on 30 occasions for England; he was also voted Footballer of the Year in both 1954 and 1957. Despite this, his wage packet throughout his career rarely rose above a meagre £12 a week. For all his accolades and impressive statistics, his pay packet was only just above what the average, everyday bloke at that time earned. Put in perspective with today when you consider that Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez now reputedly earns £250,000 a week – and how that compares with the average weekly wage of about £26,000 per year in Britain - you can see how things have changed.

Up until 1961, the most any player could earn was a weekly wage of £20, irrespective of how good you were or how many goals you scored. This however began to change when players began to challenge the clubs and the football authorities. They saw the huge crowds on the terraces and the large gates that clubs were acquiring and felt they were being financially shortchanged. Therefore the players’ union, represented by Jimmy ‘Chin’ Hill and PFA Secretary Cliff Lloyd, lead talks with the FA in the bid to reform the football labour laws, and eventually lead to the FA deciding to remove the £20 wage ceiling, paving the way for a fundamental change in footballers pay.

Almost immediately, wages began to skyrocket. Before the cap was lifted Fulham chairman Tommy Trinder claimed that his star player Johnny Haynes was worth £100 a week, which he subsequently paid him when the limit was removed, making him the highest earning player in the land. The floodgates had

opened and players, knowing that they could demand larger and larger wages, began to call the shots. Transfer fees for players rose in tandem, as the price of players rose above £100,000 and eventually in 1979 to the first £1million pound player in Trevor Francis. Footballers pay continued to increase steadily but it was not until the 1990’s and the conception of the Premiership with its lucrative TV rights and sponsorship deals did wages begin to spiral. Wages climbed to above £10,000 a week, to above £50,000 and in 2001, to above £100,000 when Sol Campbell signed for Arsenal.

What to make of all this then? Well clearly it was right to get rid of the artificial wage ceiling as players weren’t being sufficiently rewarded for what they were bringing to their clubs.

Nowadays people will comment and complain that footballers are paid too much, that it’s unfair that they earn a hundred times more than an army soldier. It’s hard to argue with this, but the fact is that top performers are paid so much because they are very talented and have very rare, sought after skills. The problems which exist with players on large salaries are that they become less interested with their club and any sense of loyalty, and more obsessed with where they can find a bigger pay packet.

In 2008 Pascal Chimbonda summed this up perfectly when he wanted to leave Tottenham for Newcastle, adding “Kevin Keegan has offered me more money. I am definitely leaving Spurs. It’s all about the money; I don’t care about the [Carling Cup] final”. In comparison to their counterparts of 50 or 60 years ago like Nat Lofthouse or Stanley Matthews, they view it simply as a job like any other, and as is the case in the real world, you generally will go to where the most money is.

Furthermore some of the top stars believe they have become so important at the club, that they think they can dictate issues like transfer policy as demonstrated by the Wayne Rooney saga late last year. 21st century players have become so infatuated with their almost demi-god status that they have begun to interfere with off the field matters. It seems unfathomable that Bobby Charlton would have gone into Sir Matt Busby’s office and threatened to leave the club if he didn’t agree to sign a higher calibre of player; unfortunately that was a different era.

bottle match 2011 Editor Chris Rushton

The Bottle Match is fast approaching; this is a varsity match played between the Camborne School of Mines (CSM) and the Royal School of Mines (RSM), Imperial College London. It’s a tradition that is now seeing its 109th Year, making it the second oldest varsity game in the world! The competition is held over a weekend in February, alternatively being hosted by the two sides, this year it is RSM’s turn to host. During the event, sports including Rugby, Hockey (Men’s and Women’s), Football, Squash, Netball, Golf, and this year as a new addition; Basketball.

To decide which School takes home the Bottle is entirely hinged on the Rugby match. Last year CSM won every event apart from Golf, which was drawn and Netball, which was lost. This year it is being held over the weekend, Friday 25th February -Sunday 27th February.

The Bottle Match means a lot to the people who take part in it, so it would be amazing if we could take down a big supporter’s crowd to London with us this year and retain the Bottle, bringing it back to Cornwall again. This isn’t just a Camborne School of Mines event, the teams may take the name of CSM, but students

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from the whole of the Cornwall Campus are involved in each and every team partaking. The Bottle Match is a piece of history in its own way and to be part of the winning side is unbelievable, especially when you’ve got your friends and family watching, believe me, I played in it last year. And I’m sure that if any of you have friends involved in this year’s Bottle Match, they would love it for you to get involved, and come along to support the sides.

On the evening of the Saturday there will be an informal dinner for the players and supporters, where it will usually turn into a very heavy night for everyone. More information about purchasing a ticket will be made known when available.

The Bottle Match is one of the biggest events on CSM’s calendar every year.

There are Bottle Match Hoodies, why not get yourself one to truly become one of the team supporters. The deadline to place your orders for a hoody is Friday 4th February. They will cost you £27 and good quality will be ensured plus you can get your initials printed on the arm for no extra cost.

The inflated egos and greater player power of the present seems dominant at the top level, and this can be largely attributed to by their sky high salaries.

Should we bring back the salary cap then? The answer is no.

Players will go where the money is, and if it’s not in England, they’ll look for it in Italy or Spain, or even the Middle East as Fabio Cannavaro has done. All fans want to see their team have the best players and everyone wants to see the best players in the Premier League. It is impossible to have this and a salary cap.

This isn’t to say that all footballers are devoid of loyalty or nostalgia for their club; rare examples of one club men such as Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher still exist; however it seems that for many sadly, money is more important.

sports@flexnews.co.uk

compETiToN

“

“

Who Openly lived and was soul mates with George Henry Lewes?

Win one of 3 copies of the superb dictionary of media and communication.

Send an e-mail with the answer to: imp202@exeter.ac.uk

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Sports@flex.co.uk

club and society higvhlights The bottle match The countdown to the Bottle match has begun! The epic event will take place on Friday 25th & Saturday 26th February. This for many is the highlight of the sporting annual calendar. This sees CSM pit their sporting prowess against The Royal School of Mines (London). It has been played for 105 years, making it the second oldest varsity match in the world, only out-aged by the Oxbridge boat race.

We compete in rugby, football, hockey, golf, squash, netball (added in 2010) and Basketball (new addition for 2011). Despite this, the winner of the Bottle hinges entirely on the rugby match.

The Bottle is the official match trophy, a 3-ft beer bottle ‘acquired’

by RSM students in 1946 from a Bass-Charrington beer lorry.

The competition is held alternatively in Cornwall and London. In 2010 we hosted and won the event and so it is our turn to travel to London for a weekend of sport and friendly rivalry to retain the Bottle.

The competition starts on Friday afternoon with the golf, squash and netball matches, continuing on Saturday with the basketball, hockey and football matches, culminating with the rugby match followed by a players dinner in the evening to celebrate the occasion.

netball Netball - In the run up to the Bottle Match the Netball girls have been training hard on skills and fitness and have benn training alongside the Penryn Ladies team and have played a series of fixtures. See the results below.

Results so far: Storm - 46-24 Penryn U16s - 16-11 Newquay -38-7 Truro College 19-32

cricket Cricket - Net training commencing on Sunday 6th February.

Please e-mail the club captain James jbw204@exeter.ac.uk or come along to one of our sessions which will take place at Penryn College Sports Hall on the following dates.

6th Feb 12-1.30pm 13th Feb 12-1.30pm 20th Feb 1-2.30pm 27th Feb 1-2.30pm 6th March 1-2.30pm 13th March 2.30-4pm

bell ringing Bell Ringing - After months of hard work and lots of practise The Bell Ringing Society are now ringing on Sundays mornings at Mabe church, which is a fantastic achievement. The society are working closely with the community ringers and can now step in if the ringers are a few short. If you fancy giving Bell Ringing ago come along to one of the society practise sessions on Wednesday evenings. For more information contact e-mail richard.shepherd89@googlemail.com

eco soc Eco Soc - This term Eco Soc are going to start rockpooling every other week commencing Saturday 5th February.

It’s a free event, led by several experts with a wealth of knowledge who will teach us how to find and ID the many species found in the pools, last time we found over 50 species!

Bring: Sensible clothing and any nets if you have them Where: Meet at Gylly beach cafe When: Saturday 5th Feb 2011 Time: 12:30 - 2:30 Cost: Free!

want to play swimming squash? club The girls also have a number of matches coming up against local sides including Penryn School, Falmouth Ladies, Falcons and St Agnes.

The club are now running the minibus for two sessions per week on Monday mornings and Friday evenings to Helston Pool (£2.50 swim+50p petrol).

surf club Surf Club are Now selling club T-shirts

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A group of students play at the Falmouth Sports Centre on Wednesdays 2-4pm. With enough interest they hope to set up a student squash club.(Cost: small contribution to court hire). Head along to one of the sessions or contact Anthony amb217@ex.ac.uk for more information

FUSC snow sports FUSC (Snowsports) - BUSC Championships and trip 2-9th April, Tignes, £369 inc accom, travel, liftpass, medical insurance, event wristband, t-shirt. A festival in the mountains, what more could you want! (http://www.buscevents.com/).

boxing Boxing - Michael Mahoney will be representing the Cornwall Campus in the British Boxing Championship 2011 in Coventry on 17th - 20th February. We wish him the best of luck in his bouts in the men’s novice competition.

food coop Food Coop - The Food Cooperative Society are doing their third bulk order at the end of February, contact Sophia at sc408@exeter.ac.uk if you want to purchase food through the scheme.

bass bin Bass Bin - Bass Bin are planning a fantastic event later this month, watch this space for more info.

environment & ethics The Environment and Ethics Committee are planning a sustainable fish campaign to commence in March, including talks by Surfers Against Sewage and the Marine Conservation Society, as well as a fish cooking demonstration and screenings of films such as End of the Line. Watch out for posters appearing soon.

For full information about clubs and societies please visit www.fxu.org.uk

HOROSCOPES Your Outlook for this month...

Text & Images Faye Simms | www.candyflameyeah.blogspot.com | All origianl paintings for sale £25 | Concatc 07531871860 or Here and Now gallery

Aries – February will be a great month for you. Expect a few changes, especially regarding careers. The energy from the sun will increase your friendship status.

Libra - New circumstances will present themselves to you.

Embrace these opportunities, and see what comes of them. Don’t make up excuses, and say yes more.

Taurus – This month should see some offers come up in your favour.

Despite people trying to pull you down, or showing jealousy, battle against this and take what you feel like.

Scorpio – Domestic changes are important. If you’re planning to move house soon then take care to the attention for detail perks that could make life that much better.

Gemini – As you can probably guess, you have entered the best month of your year. Expect the chance to travel, but also see your reputation and popularity increase.

Sagittarius – A huge boost to your health and confidence will be seen this month. There is a new feeling in the air, so expect some fresh changes to come by too.

Cancer - Career aspects will be excellent for you this month. By the end of the month you will see many encouraging signs of what is to come.

Capricorn – This will be an expensive month for you. Be careful with spending, but also be informed about spending and making money when the opportunity arises.

Leo – With regards relationships, your partner will have more control over where you both are heading.

Make sure this is something that you really want to do otherwise your life will be tougher.

Aquarius – February 22nd is an important day. Expect friends to be of the essence this month, and from this a special change can occur.

Virgo – From your handwork with work, you will see dividends pay off. Your new year’s resolutions may not have may not have gotten off to the best start, but you’ll see your motivation kick in this month.

Pisces – Utilise your creative streak this month. You have creativity so use it! Opportunities will present themselves, but you have to be in the right state of mind to take these up.

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meal deal

*Excludes Walkers Sensations **Coke & Water only Not available in conjunction with any other offer or discount

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