Impact Magazine Issue 237

ISSUE 237 SEPTEMBER 2015

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Hello and welcome to Impact, the University of Nottingham’s official student magazine! For those who are new and are feeling overwhelmed with Nottingham, you’ll find the latest campus news, reviews and useful tips to help you get around the city within our pages. As well as picking up one of our monthly issues found in our marked stands all over campus, you can keep up to date by following us on Facebook and Twitter as well as checking out our brand new website www.impactnottingham.com. Like what you see and think you can write? Join the Impact team!

In this issue our features team investigates homophobia in Nottingham. With the UK hosting pride festivals every year since 1972 and the campaigns of Mark Ashton and Micheal Jackson for lesbian and gay liberation mostly unheard of among this generation, it is easy to blindly accept that such diversity is celebrated everywhere and by everyone. However, a report by The Guardian revealed that LGBT students need more support since homophobia is more than just a social issue.

We are lucky in that here at Nottingham we have a strong LGBT network and support services in place that are available to all who need them.

Regardless of orientation or general background, whether it’s your first year or final, the start of a new academic year is the time for reinvention. The wide range of clubs and societies on offer at Nottingham provide the chance to do this - so get involved with everything you can!

Good luck and have a great year!

BELINDA TOOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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NEWS

ANCIENTBIOTICS

UoN Professors Discover Potential MRSA Cure

ON THE COVER

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F E AT U R E S

HOMOPHOBIA ON CAMPUS Is the Treatment of LGBT Students in Nottingham Improving?

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COMMENT

MINDFULNESS AND MEDIATION

The Ancient Art for Combating Stress

22 TRAVEL

SPOTLIGHT ON NEPAL

A Country Struck by Tragedy

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26 SCIENCE

WHAT’S THE MATTER?

GAMING

STUDENT GAMING 80S AND 90S

Vintage Procrastination for the Discerning Student

Talking Dark Matter with UoN’s Anne Green

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FILM&TV The Many Faces of the Secret Agent

FRESHER FOODIE FIXES

A Step By Step Guide to Conquer That Hangover

MUSIC

The Use of Other Cultures in Fashion

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CAMPUS TASTES

Your Uni’s Favourite Sounds

STYLE

APPRECIATION OR APPROPRIATION?

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SEVEN ERAS OF 007

FOOD

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ARTS

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WHAT ARE GRAPHIC NOVELS?

Art, Literature or Something Else Entirely?

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EXPOSURE

HUMANS OF NOTTINGHAM

The Lives of the City through Impact Images’ Lens

SPORTS

WOMEN IN SPORT

How Far has Equality Come?

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ANCIENTBIOTICS

USING THE MYSTERIES OF THE PAST TO ADVANCE MODERN MEDICINE “To try to prevent us from entering some kind of apocalyptic post-antibacterial era, in which simple infections may prove fatal, scientists are working really hard to develop new antibiotics. Our research team has been systematically exploring antibiotic remedies in historical medical books, from the medieval and early modern periods, to see if we can identify any recipes or ingredients that might really have antibiotic potential.”

DR FREYA HARRISON

In 2013, a team of microbiologists and medievalists from the University of Nottingham (UoN) delved into medieval and early modern books in search of remedies that may have a modern application 1000 years later.

In March 2015, to the astonishment of all those involved, it transpired that a 10th century remedy, preserved in an Old English manuscript, had the potential to kill the superbug MRSA. Now into its third year, the research project has gone from strength to strength, and the findings were unveiled at the Annual Conference of the Society for General Microbiology in Birmingham and will be presented at the Medieval Europe Research Forum 2015.

Impact covered the research project in March, and now brings you the full story of how this intriguing project was conceived and developed by the team involved.

“IT WAS VERY FORTUITOUS THAT DR FREYA HARRISON [OF THE SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES] CAME TO OUR OLD NORSE READING GROUP” Back in 2013, Dr Christina Lee, Associate Professor in Viking Studies and Old English expert at UoN, had a growing interest in medieval infectious disease and was exploring material on the subject.

The only obstacle to understanding the medieval remedies, presented in manuscripts from the 9th and 10th centuries, was the cross-disciplinary knowledge on microbiology and the scientific understanding of how these treatments functioned as a cure for human ailments.

“It was very fortuitous that, at this time, Dr Freya Harrison came to our Old Norse reading group, and we discovered our mutual interest in disease. She is part of a laboratory with Dr Steve Diggle [also of the School of Life Sciences], so we said ‘let’s meet’”, Dr Lee told Impact.

During the discussion that resulted, Bald’s Leechbook was discussed as a potential source of medical

concoctions that could be tested, after the curious Dr Diggle asked about past remedies for infectious diseases. This 10th century manuscript, detailing a variety of remedies recorded by Anglo-Saxons for an array of medical conditions, contained the recipe that would provide the astounding results that followed.

“THIS 10TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT CONTAINED THE RECIPE THAT WOULD PROVIDE ASTOUNDING RESULTS” “We discussed something we could test [from Bald’s Leechbook]. A remedy that would fit into [Dr Freya Harrison’s team’s] research context, as they are interested in quorum sensing”, Dr Lee explained.

Quorum sensing, the communication between bacteria through signalling molecules, is the process by which bacteria can coordinate their behaviour.

There were a number of candidates in the manuscript that could be tested to determine whether they had the potential to cause babel and disruption to the quorum sensing communication between cells.

Eventually a decision was made to recreate a remedy for eye salve, due to its relatively candid and short description and the ability to procure the necessary ingredients included.

Furthermore, eye styes are caused by the Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that Dr Freya and her team had been researching.

“CHRISTINA WORKED TO TRANSLATE THE RECIPE […]

AND WE RECONSTRUCTED THE RECIPE AS FAITHFULLY AS WE COULD” The team - now working as the AncientBiotics project - received

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damages bacterial cells. Results from the summer projects are expected by September 2015, and will aid in the advancement of the AncientBiotics project.

“THIS TYPE OF BLUE SKY THINKING IS FUNDAMENTAL TO ASKING THE BIGGER QUESTIONS” With the extraordinary achievements of this project, interdisciplinary research between the arts, humanities and sciences has shown how blue sky thinking can reap results.

DR CHRISTINA LEE funding from UNICAS, UoN’s funding centre that provides financial support to projects across disciplines, aiding in the evolution of exciting and progressive techniques. This allowed the team to begin their research with ancient remedies.

Bald’s Leechbook is written in the language of Old English, making its contents inaccessibly cryptic to those without the ability to translate this Anglo-Saxon language.

Dr Lee thus set about rendering the remedy for eye salve into modern English from the 10th century manuscript, of which there is only one copy held in storage at the British Library.

Working in cooperation, Dr Freya Harrison and Dr Christina Lee sought out the ingredients that are incorporated in the production of the eye salve remedy.

“We tried to be exact as possible.

There is wine as part of the remedy and modern agriculture puts chemicals into the ground, which might have an impact on the chemical consistency. What we needed to do was find an organic wine, possibly from a soil of a vineyard that has been there since the 10th century”, Dr Lee explained.

Through scrupulous research of the manuscript’s ingredients for the eye salve remedy, the team endeavoured to obtain the necessary ingredients organically and as true to the original medicinal mixture that the AngloSaxons practiced with. “There were several things we needed to think carefully about. There are a couple of words for instance that are quite ambiguous and we had to think about what ingredient was meant by those words”, Dr Freya Harrison explains in the project’s video.

Following the attainment of the ingredients, the researchers produced the recipe faithfully and followed the instructions on ratios, storage and time for production that are precisely transcribed in the manuscript.

Biofilms (groups of microorganisms amalgamated on a surface) of Staphylococcus aureus were grown in a synthetic model to mimic soft tissue, so as the remedy could be tested as a topical ointment.

“THE BIG SURPRISE WAS THAT IT SEEMED TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN CONVENTIONAL ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT” Dr Harrison was astounded at the results that ensued, saying, “Bald’s Eye Salve was incredibly potent as an anti-Staphylococcal antibiotic in this context. We were going from a mature, established population of a few billion cells, all stuck together in this highly protected biofilm coat, to really just a few thousand”.

Where conventional antibiotics fail, due to the highly antibacterial nature of a biofilm, this 10th century recipe surpassed their abilities and killed a significant number of the cells in the population.

Dr Diggil outlined the next stage of the research: “We then asked a collaborator of ours in the States if they could test this in an in vivo wound model, and the big surprise was that it seemed to be more effective than conventional antibiotic treatment”.

“HOW IT WORKS IS STILL AN OPEN QUESTION, AND THIS IS WHAT WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO LOOK AT” The team of researchers have several theories postulating an account for the potency of the eye salve remedy.

“It might be that there are several active compounds in the full mixture and that the full medicine attacks the bacterial cells on several different fronts at once”, Dr Harrison expounds in the project’s video. “This makes it very hard for them to resist the attack.

They could resist one form of damage on its own, but not three together”.

Another possibility that is being explored is that when the ingredients are combined and left to steep, chemical reactions that occur within the mixture produce a novel molecule that has the potent effect upon the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus.

However, “There is a big difference in trying things within a lab setting both in vivo and in vitro”, Dr Lee explains.

“This is a long way away from being able to be used on humans. It needs proper chemical analysis and we need to understand how it works before it can be taken further. The project needs to be extended now to work with people in pharmacology to consider if this can be something”.

The team secured further funding through the website Crowdfunder, a website that allows projects to receive money from supporters, and thus were able to employ two undergraduate students to continue work on the remedy in a summer placement.

The summer project of these two students aims to: test the recipe against other infections; test the recipe against isolated bacteria; and to elucidate how this medieval recipe

Dr Lee emphasised how important it is for collaborations to occur between disciplines, usually considered isolated from one another, saying that, “Normally when people talk about the importance of the sciences they never think of us, [the humanities].

“I am not saying that everyone now has to work with scientists […], but you may never know what you could find if you include someone from the arts and humanities in scientific research,” Dr Lee added.

The aforementioned UNICAS, which provided the initial funding required to initiate the AncientBiotics project, are contributing to the progressive interdisciplinary research that occurs at UoN. Their aim is to ‘develop new strategies to solve problems across a broad range of disciplines, resulting in enhanced research capacity and interdisciplinary research’, which assists in pushing UoN up the research table nationally and internationally, with the University ranked eighth in the UK for ‘research power’ in 2014.

Dr Lee indicated the research promise of UoN, saying, “We have some really interesting areas for potentials in crossovers. The arts and humanities can add something unusual and progressive to the sciences. We are a force to be reckoned with, and we have some really exciting areas of research that can cooperate significantly to projects outside of our disciplines”.

WORDS BY JONATHAN MCALLISTER IMAGES BY THE INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES VIA FLICKR AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

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NOTTINGHAM RANKED THE THIRD MOST ECONOMICAL CITY FOR STUDENTS IMPACT INVESTIGATES HOW THE LIVING INDEX IS CALCULATED AND HOW THE RESULTS COMPARE TO THE ANSWERS OF REAL NOTTINGHAM STUDENTS

Natwest has released the Student Living Index for 2015, determined by both NatWest and an independent research company. They interviewed 2486 students to calculate how UK students spend their money, and to estimate in which cities students make their money go further. The Index shows, in other words, which students pay the least but are still able to afford the essentials. Nottingham has risen from 20th place in 2014 to 3rd in 2015.

The study found that 40% of students rely on the student loan as their main source of income and do not have a term-time job. Furthermore, the second highest source of income was revealed to be parents.

According to the Index the average student spends 27.5 hours per week studying, 12.5 hours socialising, and 4.5 hours in part-time work.

Not surprisingly, students of Oxford and Cambridge were found to spend the most time studying and Southampton boasts the most termtime income and time spent working.

Dan Jones, NatWest’s Head of Student Accounts, said: “It is important for us to understand the financial strains of students starting out in higher education, and this index helps to

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show the different experiences of those studying across the UK. While the results from the 2015 index provide a handy snapshot of student life in 2015, we would always recommend that students get in touch to speak with our trained advisors”.

“THE AVERAGE STUDENT SPENDS 27.5 HOURS PER WEEK STUDYING, 12.5 HOURS SOCIALISING, AND 4.5 HOURS IN PART-TIME WORK” ESSENTIALS:

The study revealed that students spend approximately £24 a week on groceries with Belfast spending the least (£16) and Dundee spending the most (£29).

The cost of rent is averaged at £85 per week and is most expensive in Oxford and Cambridge with both at over £110 per week.

It has been revealed that students spend an average of almost £9 on local travel each week and annually £210 on long distance travel. Students at London and Leeds spend the most at almost £300 whereas those at Exeter spend on average £102.

SOCIALISING:

The highest expenditure on socialising goes to Oxford whereas Newcastle boasts the most hours spent socialising and the most spent on alcohol.

The Index revealed that students are spending more on eating out than the year before with Cambridge students spending approximately £23 per week, almost £10 above the national average.

SPORT AND FITNESS:

Cambridge boasts the highest expenditure on Sport and Fitness with Nottingham placed at fourth lowest and Plymouth has the lowest expenditure.

It has been revealed that Bristol is the most cost effective city for Sport and Fitness and students on average spend the most on gym membership

at around £4 followed by football at over £3 and swimming at £2.50.

Norwich and Oxford remain the two cities with the lowest spent on gym and sports memberships.

THE RESULTS

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS:

Nottingham ranked fourth for the lowest expenditure on hobbies and interests, with Leicester ranking highest and Bristol boasting the lowest expenditure in this area.

According to the Index students spend the most money on gaming with students at Leicester spending over £16 a week and Newcastle’s students spending the most hours enjoying their hobbies and interests.

Southampton enjoys the position of best in the Index of English Universities followed by Nottingham, thereby students are earning the most term time income and working the longest number of hours.

Three of the top ten cities are in the south, one is in the midlands and two are in the North.

“NOTTINGHAM RANKED FOURTH FOR THE LOWEST EXPENDITURE ON HOBBIES AND INTERESTS” Surprisingly London is in the top 10 despite high expenditures on essentials.

Impact interviewed three students to find out how closely the results of the Student Living Index matched their experience of Nottingham.

When asked what they spend the most on, all three stressed socialising as their main expense.

Freddie Cheal, a second year History and Politics student, stated: “Definitely socialising. There’s a fear of missing out which means often you spend money to do things because other people are doing them. I ended up spending less on food and essentials to have enough money to do this”.

Connor Higgs, a second year History student, stated that most of his budget

is spent on essentials but agreed that there is a lot of pressure to spend money on socialising. “Being able to go out and enjoy yourself is integral to the student life, be it through nights out, going for a meal with your friends or inviting people over to your accommodation”.

This matched the results of the Index perfectly with socialising being a massive source of expense for students all over the UK. The students were then asked if the student loan is enough to support them during their studies.

Yiota Papouridou a second year Politics student stated that it was “just about [enough] but I’d be more comfortable with a job”.

Whereas Freddie and Connor both disagreed. Freddie contended that it was definitely not enough. “The only loan I’m eligible for is the maintenance loan which doesn’t even cover the costs of my accommodation, let alone food and other things. I’m fortunate my parents can cover shortfalls”.

Connor argued that his loan was “nowhere near enough to cover the cost of being a student... after the first couple of months I was wholly dependent on wages that had come in from jobs”.

According to the Index 60% of students have to seek term time jobs

to support themselves alongside the student loan and also have to use their parents as a source of income.

Therefore, these answers coordinate with the results of the Index.

Finally the students were asked if they felt that Nottingham was an expensive city to live in and all three agreed that it was not that expensive.

Originating from London, Freddie stated: “Travel, drinks, and food are all cheaper compared to London, so for me it’s great”.

Yiota, also from London, agreed, stating that Nottingham is much cheaper than London and therefore she doesn’t find it that expensive.

Connor contended that “it is not so much where you are but what you do to save money, and so as long as you budget well and keep a track of where your money is going, Nottingham should be a wonderfully inexpensive city to live in”.

Ranked as the third most economical city for students, it is not surprising that the students of Nottingham do not find it to be an overly expensive city to live in.

WORDS BY HANNAH EVES IMAGE BY MATT BUCK

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EQUALITY NOT

EXCLUSION IMPACT INVESTIGATES THE EXPERIENCES OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM If students at the University of Nottingham were asked to describe their opinion of homophobia in one word, the answers would be likely to range from ‘disgusting’ to the simply unprintable. Fortunately, incidents of homophobic abuse and bullying at UoN are very rare, and the students who study here are extremely diverse and accepting. According to Stonewall, the largest LGBT rights organisation in Europe, Nottingham has the seventh largest LGBT population in the UK, and this is reflected in the diversity of students. With a strong LGBT network, explicit welfare support and a complete LGBT staff network, the university welcomes all students, regardless of sexual orientation.

on heteronormativity at university, in which she claims that 56% of LGBT students who are considering dropping out of university ‘mentioned the feeling of not fitting in as the main reason’. She also raises the issue of casual homophobic or transphobic harassment, and suggests that it is ‘often insidious and not directly violent’. Frequently, students say or do things that have homophobic connotations without being fully aware of the implications of what they are saying or doing. Using ‘gay’ as a light-hearted, negative adjective is an all-too-common example of this.

Though not maliciously intended, behaviour such as this can feel ostracising for some students.

“INCIDENTS OF HOMOPHOBIC ABUSE AT UON ARE RELATIVELY RARE”

As Michael Lewis, the general secretary and treasurer for UoN’s LGBT network explains, heteronormativity is often “the more subtle kind of homophobia”.

Though this is not explicit in any abusive actions or behaviour, it still means that university culture can be intimidating for prospective LGBT students. This was something that concerned second year Theology student Sam Trigg before he started university last year. He explains, “When I first came to uni I was anxious about things like homophobia, and at first was very cautious about what I said.”

Sam stresses, however, that he has “never been on the receiving end [of homophobia]”, and now feels fully comfortable being open about his sexuality: “I have had no trouble at all and certainly don’t hide it when I'm

Yet within university culture, there is a certain level of heteronormativity, i.e. the belief that people fall into distinct genders and have prescribed natural roles in life. To word it more bluntly, ‘lad culture’ is still prevalent.

This has no direct correlation to homophobic feelings or actions, but it can cause anxiety for students who do not fit the stereotypical ideal.

Louisa Acciari, the Research and Policy Officer at the National Union of Students (NUS) has written a blog post

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out and about on the campus”.

Nottingham city centre, on the other hand, can be a lot more problematic for LGBT students. In June 2014, Nottinghamshire Police revealed that they receive around 700 calls a year reporting hate crimes. A hate crime is defined as a violent or aggressive act that is motivated by prejudice against someone because of their sexuality, race etc. Since this figure was released, significant steps have been taken to reduce this number, including the appointment of a hate crime manager at Nottinghamshire Police and a hate crime officer at the city council. Yet incidents of homophobia in the city are still taking place; second year History student Andrew Williams* has been the victim of prejudice of this kind.

“NOTTINGHAM HAS THE SEVENTH LARGEST LGBT POPULATION IN THE UK” On 2nd June 2015, Andrew was refused entry into The Boatsman Club* because the bouncer claimed he was too drunk to be let in, despite the fact that Andrew was sober. When the group tried to reason with the bouncer, he made a comment about Andrew being “gayer” than another male member of the group. Despite their protests, the party were not able to gain access to the club. the club has chosen not to comment directly on the incident in question.

“ONLY 20% OF HATE CRIMES ARE REPORTED” Aside from the obvious anger because the incident “ruined a night out”, Andrew explains, “[I was] upset because it was like the only time I've ever experienced any homophobia”.

Despite being Andrew’s only experience of homophobia since starting university in 2014, it is still one too many, and frustratingly he has received no apology from the club. Worryingly, many LGBT people, in addition to people of different ethnic backgrounds and from different minority groups, do not feel it worth

reporting any abuse they receive.

Research conducted in March 2015 by the Nottingham Citizen’s Commission found that only 20% of hate crimes are reported. Though what happened to Andrew may not be classed as a hate crime, his inability to do anything about the incident demonstrates the helplessness and frustration of many more people who feel marginalised because of their sexuality.

“NOTTINGHAM HAS A REPUTATION AS A VERY LGBT-FRIENDLY CITY” The lack of consequences regarding Andrew’s incident highlights another worrying fact: LGBT students are simply not accounted for in the same way that other minority groups are.

Where the exact numbers of students from ethnic minorities or students with disabilities are recorded, there is no exact figure for the number of LGBT students. This was something The Guardian picked up on two years ago, in their 2013 online article ‘Gay students – invisible on campus?’.

Since then, there is still no estimate available, meaning that support cannot be targeted as well as it could be. With no idea of the number of LGBT students studying there, an institution cannot provide tailored support like it can for other minority groups.

Despite the negative experiences of some students, Nottingham has a reputation as a very LGBT-friendly city.

Incidents like Andrew’s are thankfully few. With an abundance of gay bars and clubs, students can embrace their sexuality; as Michael Lewis claims, “University [is] maybe the first safe space for people to be out”. With the LGBT network organising regular events, students who perhaps feel slightly oppressed at home are able to meet like-minded people and explore Nottingham’s thriving gay community.

After all, university is typically the time to truly explore who you are.

A question that remains to be asked, however, is that of whether it is a positive thing or not that LGBT networks are required at universities and other institutions. In her blog, Louisa Acciari explains, ‘It represents an epistemological challenge around

the use of the category ‘LGBT’. By using it as opposed to ‘heterosexuality’ we risk reinforcing the idea that one is the norm while the other represents the deviation’. Grouping all LGBT students into one collective like this can indeed be seen as somewhat ostracising.

Second year student Ben Nicholls* feels that he has only made friends with fellow LGBT students, and thinks that more should be done to integrate the LGBT events with other societies.

He tells Impact, “The LGBT network here is fantastic, but my main friends are all people I’ve met through LGBT events. There’s almost a separation between the LGBT community and everyone else”.

Though some students clearly feel that they need further help integrating, the LGBT network undeniably provides a welcoming environment for

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homosexual or transgender students who would perhaps feel rather alone when starting university without it. Organising a range of events throughout the year and offering consultations and welfare support, the network is an unwavering source of support for all students who feel they need it. From the fortnightly Queer Café to annual nights out in London, there are a multitude of things to get involved in, with the added comfort factor of being with like-minded people. Furthermore, the network is not like societies in that it does not charge a membership fee and does not keep a list of members, so it can act as a form of drop-in service for students when they need support or just want to connect with other members of the LGBT community.

“THE LGBT NETWORK UNDENIABLY PROVIDES A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT” Actions promoting equality and fighting homophobia are not just limited to the LGBT network, however. The sports clubs at UoN have demonstrated commitment to promoting equality both within the university and in the wider area through their Diversity in Sport series. The annual series features talks focusing on experiences of minority groups in sport and promotes equality in all sports. More specifically related to fighting homophobia, the

men’s hockey team even played a game in the nude as part of an antihomophobia campaign!

“THE MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM EVEN PLAYED A GAME IN THE NUDE” Of course, UoN does have its areas it needs to work on in order to continue its promotion of equality and inclusion of LGBT students. The university does not have an anti-homophobic bullying policy, and it could perhaps do more to engage with the wider community. Despite this, the LGBT network is a crucial support service for all LGBT students, and helps to counter the heteronormativity that can be witnessed on campus. ‘Lad culture’ is not going to go away anytime soon, yet students like Sam Trigg are proof that homophobia is not a big problem for the students of UoN. The city of Nottingham itself also has a thriving gay community, and incidents like the one experienced by Andrew Williams are relatively rare. Yet homophobia and transphobia do exist, and it’s important that all of us stand against perpetrators of this prejudice and stamp them out at the University of Nottingham.

*NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITIES WORDS BY RACHEL HARRISON & ROBYN TURNOCK IMAGES BY ALEX FARZAD

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IMPACT INVESTIGATES THE TRUE VALUE AND ACCESSIBILITY OF A DEGREE It’s the beginning of a new academic year. For many this is a triumphant (or lamentable) return to academia, societies and more independence and social freedom than home. However, for some this is a new and exciting journey. New students just moved into new accommodation, the beginning of a unique opportunity. But how valuable is that opportunity, and how accessible is it to everyone?

It helps to be educated as to what sort of world one is moving in to. So how do we quantify the Nottingham experience? Firstly be very pleased, because there were on average 7.7 applications per place available at Nottingham, a university considered to be in the top 1% of universities in the world. In joining as an undergraduate

you are joining a student community of around 24,000. However the full student body makes up a staggering 33,369. That’s more people than the entire population of San Marino and nearly as many Lichtenstein.

With the Conservatives’ determination to raise tuition fees, is university likely to be worth it?

What can you expect from your time at Nottingham? There are over 200 societies to join, ranging from Chess society to Flair. Not only do these allow you to meet like-minded (or very differently minded!) individuals, but they also include more or less every sport you can think of.

“Joining societies was one of the most fulfilling experiences I had at

university”, explains one ex-student.

“When I arrived at university, I was a little disappointed. Although lots of people feel really close to the people they meet in halls, there can be sense of artifice because we’re all forced together and told to get on. Many people find the hall mates they hastily chose to live with in their second year to be a mistake. However, since I really got involved in a society I met a lot of people that I have more things in common with than the ability to dance whilst drunk”.

What can you expect in terms of academia? Well the good news is that 90% of people who have started this year (if the trends hold) will complete their degree, with 77% attaining a 2:1 or 1st. The only degree that has a real

chance of all-out academic failure is Maths at 10%. One third year Maths student gave her account of her experience: “When I saw that nearly a third of people got a first in the maths department, I thought the three years was going to be easy. First year was, but by second year I started wondering why I took this subject. Deep down I love it, but when buried under stacks of revision material, it can be hard to remember that”.

After three years of hard work, independence and immersion in student societies and possibly a few more Kopparbergs than is advisable, where are we all likely to be? Well according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency 89% of students are in full-time work or

1 3 further study after their degree (with men pulling this average down with 2% less employment). Taking an extremely academic, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subject like Maths, 90% of students find themselves employed within 6 months, with the university reporting a fairly stable starting salary at around £23,181, Law tells a fairly similar story.

The Music department reports that 100% of their graduates are entering either paid work or teacher-training.

Although the jobs, roles and income vary between degrees, it seems to be the case that a good degree from a prestigious university gives us the glimmering promise of a fairly bright future.

The question now: is the opportunity of a high quality education fairly distributed?

“THERE WERE ON AVERAGE 7.7 APPLICATIONS PER PLACE AVAILABLE AT NOTTINGHAM” The student intake at Nottingham (although it varies from year to year) is between 51-54% female: 49-46% male.

The biggest gender discrepancies exist within two degrees: Physics and Engineering, which have a 23% and 26% female cohort respectively. These averages are taken over a few years. “I think you certainly notice the gender difference. I’ve not been treated negatively by other physicists, or staff or anything. Weird reactions mainly come from non-physicists”. Third year Physics student Elspeth Sage said, “I rarely have negative experiences, or people telling me I shouldn't be here, but I suppose the people who seem very surprised give an indication that it's still seen as odd by some people.

Sometimes I get irritated by jokes about affirmative action allowing me to get in”. But by far the greatest gender disparity lies among Computer Science students due to the school only receiving an intake of a meagre 12% of females in their 2012/13 cohort.

However, we should be careful not to argue that women are excluded from science, as Biology, Medicine and Veterinary Science courses all have more female than male pupils enrolled. Psychology in particular has the peak number of female students as 80% of the cohort are women. Robert Davidson* told Impact “Obviously most undergraduates are women now, and this trend is only set to increase; this suggests that women are not greatly discriminated against in admissions any more. In terms

of ethnicity, it seems more likely”.

Concerns have also been raised about the inclusion of LGBT community members on campus. Although much of the feedback about Nottingham’s LGBT community is positive, there are concerns that the implicit homophobia is a problem.

“89% OF STUDENTS ARE IN FULL-TIME WORK OR FURTHER STUDY AFTER THEIR DEGREE” Perhaps more shocking is that during 2013/2014, in some years neither Physics nor Veterinary courses had any black British people attending.

The 2010/2011 intake saw a similar problem within the school of Mathematics. “It is clear that there are difficulties facing ethnic minorities in most parts of the world. Although the UK is gradually improving, it is currently no exception. That said, I do not believe that admissions tutors are really racist, I think that the extra challenges associated with being an ethnic minority have started sabotaging young men and women far before they even hear about UCAS”, one student says.

It does not seem unreasonable to conclude that university is a great opportunity. Not only to get an extremely valuable piece of paper at the end (obviously implying that you actually remember something from classes), but also to grow and develop as a person. When asking if this equally available to people from all backgrounds, we must consider the data shows that the representation of women and ethnic minorities has been steadily improving in recent years. However, it is building on a legacy of radical inequality, so we should not mistakenly believe that the work is behind us. We must acknowledge the advantages many of us have enjoyed to get here, and work harder to make this opportunity available for all.

INFORMATION AND STATISTICS OBTAINED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM’S STUDENT STATISTICS, 2010-2014 WORDS BY DALE CLARIDGE IMAGES BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM VIA FLICKR

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IN BETWEEN ATTENDING END-OF-YEAR PARTIES AND FRANTICALLY MAKING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE, SEVERAL 2015 NOTTINGHAM GRADUATES FOUND THE TIME TO SPEAK TO IMPACT, AND ANSWER SOME QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR TIME AT UNIVERSITY. WITH ANSWERS RANGING FROM THOUGHTFUL TO HUMOROUS, ONE THING IS CLEAR: FIRST YEARS EMBARKING ON THEIR UNIVERSITY CAREER HAVE A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

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The fact that anything can happen.

The main things I will miss are obviously my friends and the freedom to do anything because uni life is a bubble!

I don’t have a specific memory, it’s just every time I think about uni I have pictures in my head of times with my friends.

Join as many societies as possible; someone told me that when I was starting! Be active and be involved. Try and be on a committee for second year, no matter how hard it is! Also do the work early, don’t leave it to last minute - procrastination is your enemy!

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ELLEN (ENGLISH) 1.

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I’m now really good at finding reduced food!

I’ll actually miss the library!

First year, when we all finished; on the last day we all just sat outside.

I’ve met lots of different people.

Sports, football in particular.

Don’t drink too much!

JAMES (LAW) 1.

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I now know that revision guides are a godsend! I’m also taking away a 2:1!

I guess I’ll miss the people the most.

The LawSoc booze cruises were always good!

Take first year seriously!

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Friends!

I’ll miss my friends the most, and I’ll miss the Spanish language the least!

Definitely anything from my year abroad.

Second year does count!

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OLA (ECONOMICS) 1.

What’s the main thing you’re taking away from uni?

What will you miss the most/least?

What’s your best memory of uni?

What’s one piece of advice you would offer freshers?

LYDIA (AMERICAN & LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES)

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I’ll miss my friends, and I’m in the dance society too so I’ll miss that. I won’t miss doing the work!

Probably when I was the Costume sec of the Dance Society, and we won best costume at one of our events last year. It’s hard to think of one thing but that was a good moment!

Just make the most of it.

Try everything!

JAMES (CHEMISTRY) 1.

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Probably the skills; I’m not actually going into a job that directly involves chemistry, so I’m using the skills I’ve got from it like maths and so on.

I’ll probably miss friends the most.

Probably getting results each year as I’ve done generally well each year so far.

Make the most of it but make sure you do try as hard as you can, especially in first year. I feel like a lot of people don’t try as hard as they should and don’t get a good enough grounding, especially in something like Chemistry.

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My time with the Nottingham New Theatre.

I’ll miss my time with the Nottingham New Theatre the most. The weather I probably won’t miss Nottinghamshire weather is kind of rubbish!

The Media ball last year at Pitcher and Piano.

Don’t take yourself too seriously. A lot of people come here thinking they’re going to be some amazing person who changes the world - I think everybody has that feeling when they come to university. I think you have to realise where you fit in.

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I’ve realised that you get out what you put in.

I’ll miss the people the most, but I won’t miss lectures at 9AM! Weekend-long parties!

Enjoy uni - it’s a time in your life that you’ll never get back.

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WITH THE RISING COST OF GOING TO UNIVERSITY IN BRITAIN, IS THERE A NEED FOR SHORTER DEGREES? YES The NUS estimate that the cost of studying for one year at a university outside of London is somewhere around £22,000. A figure that, let’s face it, is only likely to go up. The cuts imposed by the new Conservative government are bad news for students. The loss of grants, especially, make it more difficult for everyone but the most privileged of children to pursue further education. High costs are, however, an unavoidable reality.

“CAN WE REALLY AFFORD TO SPEND A SUM OF MONEY THE SIZE OF A MORTGAGE DEPOSIT ON WHAT IS, ESSENTIALLY, ACCLIMATISING” It is a truth universally acknowledged that first year is fantastic – settling in, making friends and getting obliterated on a regular basis. But can we really afford to spend a sum of money the size of a mortgage deposit on what is, essentially, acclimatising. Admittedly, first year does have academic value in making sure that everyone has a good base understanding of their subject.

However, shortening three year degrees to a lesser two would be a simple way in which university would be more financially viable and result in significantly less debt.

If cutting the likes of English, Economics and Chemistry to two years seems implausible then perhaps the length of a degree should be decided in accordance with its content. Students studying more practical degrees such as Travel and Tourism and Hotel Management would perhaps benefit from one or two years of University study, followed by a guaranteed placement year.

Consequently, the fundamentals of a subject could be learnt in a classroom and students would gain real, industry based experience. The government might then be left with more money to help less advantaged students fund their studies. Because, unfortunately, it is fast becoming evident that three years of university is a luxury that not everyone can afford.

WORDS BY MADDIE WAKTARE

NO In this time of post-election turbulence and the threat of imminent government cuts, tuition fees for higher education are frequently under scrutiny. With more universities charging the maximum £9000 for an academic year, the financial pressure of a university degree is ever growing.

Despite this, however, the first year is an essential part of the standard three-year course, and should not be omitted. As well as allowing students the essential opportunity of making friends and establishing themselves in the wider university community, it allows them to strike a necessary balance between work and play, and smoothly make the transition from A Level to degree level study.

Figures published by The Telegraph in 2013 show that students recruited to university from independent schools are a third more likely to be in a top graduate position after finishing their degree than their state school counterparts. Therefore, these students will ultimately be in a better position to repay their debts and are also likely to have less debt in the first place.

Under the new budget, the government pride themselves on offering the highest sum of money ever available for student loans. However, all this means is that students who have to take out the maximum loan will find themselves leaving university with an astronomical amount of debt. Degrees should not be made shorter, they should be more accessible to people from all backgrounds, through grants and bursaries.

“TO ACQUIRE A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION INCLUDES NOT ONLY ACADEMIA BUT REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE.” To acquire a well-rounded education includes not only academia but real life experience. In order for this to happen the first year is of seminal importance.

Even though it may not count towards the final mark of a degree, the chance it gives students to enrich their social surroundings is equally as important as the qualification they come out with.

WORDS BY ANNA HAND IMAGE BY ALEX FARZAD

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WHAT DID YOU DO THIS SUMMER?

IMPACT COMMENT ASKED FOUR PEOPLE HOW THEY SPENT THEIR TIME AWAY FROM UNIVERSITY

FESTIVALS

Working a festival with Big Green Locker Co is the best way I could have spent my summer. Not only did I get to experience the raucous atmosphere of Reading and Glastonbury, but also I had the opportunity to work with some great people. In my case, the job role itself was quite simple: sell as many portable phone chargers as possible and put a smile on the customer’s face.

“I WAS LUCKY IN THAT I GOT TO TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH A GROUP OF FUNLOVING FESTIVAL ENTHUSIASTS” This is all regardless of whether you’re drenched from the British summer, or hungover from enjoying your favourite headline act – Bombay at Somersault were special! I was lucky in that I got to travel around the country with a group of fun-loving festival enthusiasts. We all love our jobs. At festivals with Big Green Locker Co, there’s fun and food included (late-night conga lines are compulsory). It didn’t feel like work and the five days spent together passed very quickly. All in all, if you love music and meeting new people, then festival work is perfect for you.

WORDS BY TOM KNIGHT IMAGE BY NAT URAZMETOVA VIA FLICKR

SUMMER CAMP

This summer I worked at an American summer camp as the director of waterfront. Day-to-day I directly supervised the lifeguards, who ensured the kids were safe and having fun at the lake and the pool, as well as running kayaking, canoeing, fishing and other activities. This was my third summer working at this camp, having previously been a lifeguard and counsellor responsible for a bunk of children. I worked seven days a week beginning at 7am and ending around 11pm - all this for around £2 an hour.

So why did I choose this over an internship in the city or spending the summer travelling?

I got paid to sit around a campfire.

Working at the camp portrays the same level of motivation and commitment as an internship would.

I had a great chance to travel this side of the world after camp finished.

To those who haven’t worked at an American summer camp it is really difficult to articulate the experience.

You end up working for 16 hours a day but it does not feel like a job.

INTERNSHIPS

Much to the rather mocking amusement of friends and family, I, a history enthusiast, decided to spend this summer doing an internship with the Royal Bank of Scotland. Cue the stereotypical mocking chants that I had decided to sell my soul to the mighty and evil banking world.

Cue also the fact that I would know absolutely nothing, and serve copious amounts of tea.

“I FOUND MYSELF HAVING QUITE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM DAY ONE” Well I haven’t been the tea boy, and have instead found myself right at the heart of some really interesting regulatory developments in the banking sector. I found myself having quite a lot of responsibility from day one; and thrust straight into the highly important function of regulating market activity. I’ve learnt so much, and this valuable experience has really opened so many lucrative fields within the very broad banking and financial world.

TRAVEL WRITING

This summer I needed to get out of the country, but I also needed a project. I found my constructive fiesta in helping to write a travel guide based around Berlin. I spent four weeks there, learning the backstreets, the bartender’s favourite bar, and how not to speak German. I worked with a team of around fifteen people – between us we had to research, design and produce the guide from cover to cover. I personally worked as a writer and an editor, but there was the opportunity to work on the layout team or write longer feature articles.

From the hauntingly beautiful Holocaust Memorial to the techno party giant Suicide Circus, there’s something introspective about visiting these places and then transferring that experience to paper. It’s also the best excuse to check out the place round the corner that’s offering 2-4-1 margaritas. All in the name of research.

Additionally, gaining some experience to the real working world, whereby you curse voraciously every morning before a 9am start, and long for the weekends in a religious manner, is simply invaluable. Networking with so many fellow interns and graduates is also a very useful skill I have developed; and certainly will stead me in good ground for post-Hallward days.

WORDS BY ALEX BURGE IMAGE BY VILLE MIETTINEN VIA FLICKR

WORDS BY ABDUL MUKTADIR IMAGE BY TIENSOON VIA FLICKR

WORDS BY RACHEL LEWIS IMAGE BY OSAMU KANEKO VIA FLICKR

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Combating Stress

Mindfulness and Meditation One of my dad’s friends once said to me, “life throws you one wild card – and that’s university”. Indeed, the vast majority of us launch ourselves into fresher’s week with the expectation that we’ll spend the next three years revelling in hedonistic youth. However, in recent years, anxiety, depression and excessive stress have become frighteningly prevalent amongst students.

With further education fast becoming a hot bed for the development of mental illness, medical professionals have been looking at how the medical practices of foreign cultures could help patients deal with mental health problems. This is commonly referred to as ‘complementary medicine’.

Mindfulness is a practice which derives from 2500 years of Buddhist teaching and psychology. It has been gradually working its way into western society since around the 1970s. Yoga and meditation are now popular hobbies and multi-million pound industries.

Oprah Winfrey made meditation a compulsory part of the working day for all of her employees.

Meditation, it seems has become trendy in the field of British politics; Nick Clegg, the man all students love to hate, told The Times that meditation is ‘extremely useful for dealing with the ordinary stresses of life’. He is joined by former foreign secretary William Hague, who has practiced meditation for over thirty years.

“ENGAGING IN DAILY MEDITATION HAS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE; REDUCE ANXIETY, STRESS AND IRRITABILITY” The Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney also features in the trope of famous meditators, saying that, ‘in moments of madness meditation has helped

me find moments of serenity – and I would like to think that it would help provide young people a quiet haven in a not so quiet world’.

Celebrity prestige aside, engaging in daily meditation has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure; reduce anxiety, stress and irritability and to improve memory, concentration and a person’s capability to multi task. If anything, it can improve your ability to slurp coffee, refresh Facebook and hold a whispered conversation in the silent section while ‘revising’.

However, meditation is only one aspect of mindfulness. Engaging with the practice involves an overhaul of the way that we think and experience our daily lives. Pete Anderson, a mindfulness practitioner based in Nottingham, summarises it as, “a vibrant engagement with the uniqueness of human life”.

On the most basic level, mindfulness is about learning to live in the present moment. We often make ourselves anxious by worrying about an

imagined future or make ourselves sad and depressed by dwelling on the past. If we pay greater attention to what is going on right now we can realise that our thoughts are not real things. The worry and sadness that, at times, consumes our thoughts is not actually affecting us at this moment in time. Therefore, we are able to feel less weighed down by the negative things that we think about. As such, by becoming more mindful we gain a better perspective on situations.

The ability to live in the present is achieved by an increased awareness of what is happening around us. In the same way that children get excited by the most trivial and insignificant things, we too can be uplifted by noticing the beauty in everyday experiences. In doing this, we can find enjoyment in the simple, mundane and even stereotypically ‘boring’ parts of our daily routine. This could be something as simple as noticing the refreshing feeling of the rain on your face, rather than instinctively putting your bag on your head, cursing the British weather and reflecting on how

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this miserable rainy day is clearly pathetic fallacy of your entire life.

“ON THE MOST BASIC LEVEL, MINDFULNESS IS ABOUT LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT” As well as consciously noticing what is happening in the environment around us, mindfulness also advocates paying closer attention to our bodies. Pete Anderson explains, “mindfulness is about connecting with and understanding the whole of ourselves - rather than seeing ourselves as our thoughts. We realise we are a body, emotions and a mind all interconnected and influencing each other. Our body is constantly sending us messages, we talk about gut instinct for example - our gut is sometimes referred to as our second brain, as it has a similar number of white ‘brain’ cells as a cat’s brain

does. If we can start to pay attention to the messages our body is giving us, we start to make choices that are healthier for it”.

Mindfulness is increasingly being recognised as a potential method of tackling the mental health crisis amongst young people in Britain. A Buddhist monk recently attended the 2014 World Economic Forum in Davos to lecture our current world leaders on the practice of mindfulness. This reflects the large current of influential figures who are coming to recognise the potential benefits that the teaching of mindfulness could have in British society.

Mindfulness is currently used within the NHS to treat depression, stress and anxiety, with studies showing that it is at least as effective as a course of antidepressants for combatting mental illness and there’s a 50% lower chance of relapse. A nineteen-year study demonstrated that practicing mindfulness lead to a 25% reduction in mortality rate, a 30% reduction in heart disease and a 49% reduction in cancer rates.

The figures speak for themselves, though this does not mean that the act of practicing mindfulness is, in itself, an antioxidant and a substitute for cardiac medication. It seems more likely that these numbers are reflective of the way in which mindfulness boosts happiness and makes people better able cope with the pressures of everyday life. As a result, they are more likely to nourish themselves by eating healthily, exercising more and making better lifestyle choices.

“MINDFULNESS IS INCREASINGLY BEING RECOGNISED AS A POTENTIAL METHOD OF TACKLING THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE IN BRITAIN”

If you can put aside your preconceptions, there are real benefits to practicing mindfulness or even just meditating on a regular basis.

You don’t have to be a member of the ‘washed-up hippy’ club and you don’t have to give away all your earthly possessions to pursue a life of spiritual enlightenment. Mindfulness is simply about learning how to derive more happiness from the life that you already have.

If you are interested in finding out more about mindfulness there is information available on the NHS website.

WORDS BY MADDIE WAKTARE IMAGE BY ALEX FARZAD

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A Future Labour Party

HOW CAN THEY MOVE FORWARD FROM THEIR ELECTION DEFEAT? Months on from the disastrous election defeat of May 2015, the Labour Party is still scrambling to find its footing in the rubble of Ed Miliband’s stone. The Party seems to have lost all direction and is hopelessly wandering somewhere between the reincarnation of Marxist activism and neo-Tory austerity.

Neither is what the electorate wants or needs from the Party that was founded to represent the interests of the working people. Alas, by the time this is printed Labour will have elected their new leader and their fate will be sealed – for a short while at least.

At the last election, the Labour Party lost 26 seats mainly due to the surge

in support for the Scottish National Party and supposedly ‘shy’ Tory voters.

Ed Miliband really struggled to give the party a political identity. The first principle of his plan for a better future was ‘a strong economic foundation’.

Commentators up and down the country were screaming questions.

How? With what resources? To support who the most? Labour’s policies were so unclear they might as well have proposed to ‘make a nice country’.

The middle ground of politics is an elusive concept. According to research conducted at the London School of Economics, seven social classes now exist in the UK. These range from the ‘precariat’ to the ‘elite’, with categories

like the ‘new affluent workers’ somewhere in the middle. With such a range of wealth and interest – it seems impossible that any party can resonate with the masses.

Yet, Labour’s top dogs continue to insist that the middle ground is somewhere that elections can be won. However, if we were, per se, to define some kind of political no man’s land between the Conservative Party and the Labour Party it would certainly be more right-than-centre due to the influence of the Blair and Brown governments that openly supported free market economics and privatisation.

“THE DEBATE OVER WHERE THE LABOUR PARTY NEEDS TO STAND IN ORDER TO REGAIN THE TRUST OF THE ELECTORATE IS QUICKLY RUNNING ITS MEMBERS INTO A BITTER CAT FIGHT”

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FIT FOR STUDENTS? Andy Burnham: Proposes that the tuition fee system can be replaced with a graduate tax. A ban on

forced zero-hour contracts and unpaid internships.

Yvette Cooper: Hasn’t yet come clear on policies for higher education. But promotes free childcare and

increased investment in science and research.

Jeremy Corbyn: Complete scrap of tuition fees, establishment of a National Education Service.

Liz Kendall: Focus on investment in early years education instead of higher education.

The debate over where the Labour Party needs to stand in order to regain the trust of the electorate is quickly running its members into a bitter cat fight. The socialist collectivism that Jeremy Corbyn is promoting decries the Tory austerity that Ed Miliband and other potential Labour leaders refuse to abandon. Whilst Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall promote that their New Labour policies are the only way to sensibly run the country – to them, Corbyn is an idealist and unelectable.

“THE PARTY SEEMS TO HAVE LOST ALL DIRECTION AND IS HOPELESSLY WANDERING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE REINCARNATION OF MARXIST ACTIVISM AND NEO-TORY AUSTERITY” In more detail, Corbyn is certainly an interesting candidate. He has rebelled against the Labour Party whip 500 times since 1997. He’s vehemently opposed to austerity, has challenged Blair’s justification of the Iraq War and would scrap Trident. His policies certainly make him distinct from the Blairite wing of the party. However, critics have denounced his socialist

‘Corbynomics’ as an economic shipwreck – in amongst other economic proposals, his ‘People’s QE’ limits the independence of the Bank of England by forcing them to print money in order to fund major infrastructure projects.

Labour’s official après election review concluded that the Tories won because of, not in spite of, austerity.

58% of voters agreed that cutting the deficit was a top priority. Apparently austerity wins elections.

Despite this denigration, the numbers of ‘registered supporters’ eligible to vote in the leadership have surged, primarily in support for Corbyn. This has been denounced as a sneaky Tory coup to elect an unelectable leader, or blamed on the silly twitter activists who don’t really understand the world outside of social media.

Few have stopped to consider that Corbyn’s politics might resonate with an audience who are tired of capitalist culture.

Considering the other candidates.

Andy Burnham wills to restore the 50p tax rate, win back the support of business and take a firmer line on immigration. Liz Kendall wishes to retain tuition fees and free schools, but invest more in early-years education. Yvette Cooper wants to increase research in science and research, backs the benefit cap and wishes to drop Labour’s opposition to the reduction of corporation tax.

Although it is atrocious to consider these three very different candidates as one category, it is clear they are focusing on economic development along the lines of a free market and monetary policy.

For too many, Labour is heading in a similar direction as 1980, when the right of the Party split from the left to become the Social Democratic Party. If Miliband’s election campaign was anything to go by, it’s becoming increasingly impossible to write a manifesto that appeals to the masses without sounding nauseously evasive.

The left-wing remain within the Labour Party because smaller parties lack the political influence that comes from being outside Parliament. Yet, perhaps both the Blairites and Old Labours could benefit from becoming their own entity and building up a base of support from solid policies that speak to an audience.

“IF MILIBAND’S ELECTION CAMPAIGN WAS ANYTHING TO GO BY, IT’S BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TO WRITE A MANIFESTO THAT APPEALS TO THE MASSES WITHOUT SOUNDING NAUSEOUSLY EVASIVE”

minor political movements, pressure groups or relatively insignificant opposition parties. Labour could have some dark days ahead. If they want to have any chance of forming a government in 2020, they need to focus their stance on important issues and more carefully decide how to resonate with the changing social makeup of the country.

WORDS BY RACHEL LEWIS IMAGES BY THE BMA, GARRY Then again, this could mean that these KNIGHT & ‘DALISCAR1’ VIA factions transform into little more than FLICKR AND UK PARLIAMENT

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Spotlight on

Nepal is often described as a country caught in two different worlds. With its beautifully preserved landscape of snow-capped peaks, monasteries and yetis, it is virtually untouched by the fast spreading concrete jungle most of us are used to. However, since opening its doors to welcome foreigners in the 1950s, the deeply traditional society has been increasingly experiencing the pervasive influence of Western material culture. Nowhere is the contrast between traditional local values and western influence more evident than in urban Kathmandu Valley.

Nepal has been under the rule of monarchs or members of the royal Shah and Rana families for most of its known history. Previously, it remained in relative isolation from the rest of the world until it became a republic in 2008. Before it became a republic, Nepal was burdened by the ten years of fighting between the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) and the ruling monarchy. The civil war left the country with more than 12,000 people dead and widespread ruin. In 2008, Nepal held elections for a new constituent assembly and the Maoists emerged as the largest parliamentary party after the April elections. The Maoists’ large historic win exemplified the people’s disenchantment with mainstream political parties and the eagerness for change in a country left ridden with war and poverty.

Today, the political situation of Nepal has stabilised and life is relatively peaceful, despite the country's struggle to recover from war and pull itself out of poverty. Although the country’s political transition is taking longer than expected, recent elections have demonstrated a peaceful transfer of power and marks an important step toward the formation of an inclusive and democratic state. However, the country is still struggling to recover from the effects of war.

Despite its rich cultural and natural splendour, Nepal remains one of the world’s poorest countries resulting from its post-conflict status and it’s

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slow political transition. The UN estimates that approximately 40% of Nepalese people live in poverty. The country is plagued with inconsistent electrical sources and a poor public transportation infrastructure. These continue to be the country’s most important economic obstacles, deterring the creation of jobs and delivery of services. However, Nepal has a unique chance to end extreme poverty and spur a more inclusive and sustained economic growth if it manages to remove major bottlenecks to public and private investment.

“THE PEOPLE’S DISENCHANTMENT WITH MAINSTREAM POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE EAGERNESS FOR CHANGE IN A COUNTRY LEFT RIDDEN WITH WAR AND POVERTY” Tourism is another major source of economic growth for Nepal. Countless trekking enthusiasts and nature lovers have flocked to Nepal to experience the Himalayan trekking experience the country is known for. A landlocked country located in South Asia, the Nepal-Tibet border follows the line of the Great Himalayan Trail, a network of the world’s highest peaks including Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, and

Makalu, to name a few. Trekkers are drawn to the accessible trails, cosy tea houses and helpful sherpas that Nepal prides itself on.

Tragically, on the 25th of April 2015, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter Scale struck Nepal, and the tourists deserted in droves.

Nepal, home to the world’s densest population of UNESCO world heritage sites, Mount Everest and 27 million people, fell prey to an earthquake that was so powerful it moved a mountain; The 7.8 magnitude quake reportedly shifted Mount Everest three centimetres southwest.

What’s more, the moments that followed included aftershocks of magnitude 6.7 and 7.3, the loss of 9,000 lives, 23,000 injuries, and a new homeless population of 2.8 million people. The Gorkha earthquake, whose epicentre was 81 kilometres away from the capital of Kathmandu, was the worst natural disaster to strike the nation since 1934.

At 11.56am, the serene city of Kathmandu was shaken when the rumblings of the earthquake took place. To many, it saw their long feared nightmare: the “Big Himalayan Quake” become a reality. Nepal is situated on an active tectonic belt that had been rising for years, and to many geologists, this earthquake was hardly a surprise. Its devastation and timing however had proven to be the opposite, as seen by the shock, fear and sense of loss seen in Nepal.

Screams of terror coupled with shock and hopelessness rang about the country, as both urban and rural areas

saw the ground beneath their feet rise.

Mount Everest marked its deadliest day ever during this earthquake, with devastating avalanches swallowing 19 people and injuring many more.

Many of Nepal’s historical landmarks were reduced to rubble. Amongst some of the most deeply mourned sites in Kathmandu was the ninestory Dharahara Tower. A Kathmandu landmark and a UNESCO-recognized historical monument, it was built by Nepal's royal rulers as a watchtower in the 1800s. Ultimately the destructive earthquake served to launch Nepal into a greater state of devastation.

“DESPITE ITS RICH CULTURAL AND NATURAL SPLENDOUR, NEPAL REMAINS ONE OF THE WORLD’S POOREST COUNTRIES” Fortunately, there was a huge international response to the earthquake as relief efforts and aid was sent during the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Within minutes of the earthquake, India launched Operation Maitri, a humanitarian mission with the aim of handling relief and rescue operations in Nepal. The United States provided a disaster assistance response team and heavy logistical support, including C-17s, helicopters and personnel.

Many countries donated aid, including the United Kingdom, the largest bilateral aid contributor.

However, in the initial critical juncture, many of these necessary supplies were unable to reach the affected areas due to the delay caused by red tape bureaucracy. Nepalese customs authorities insisted on standard customs inspections and procedures despite the need for immediate relief efforts. As a result, humanitarian supplies were concentrated at points of delivery, including Kathmandu airport.

Evidently, peace and stability in Nepal are fragile, despite the remarkable progress it has made over the past few years. Improving quality of life for all Nepalese denizens requires continuous attention to equality and progress in economic, social, and political life through an unbiased restructuring of the Nepali state.

Although it seems like a long journey before Nepal can move past its turbulent political history and painful memories, and with experts saying it will take years to rebuild Nepal’s fragile economy, the Nepalese have a resilient spirit which will no doubt successfully aid the country in transitioning and adapting for its future.

WORDS BY NICOLE TEH IMAGES BY ANDREI DRAGUSANU AND SHARADA PRASAD VIA FLICKR

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IMPACT INTERVIEWS FOUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO DISCOVER THEIR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES OF TRAVELLING TO AND FROM NOTTINGHAM.

Siobhan Ashleigh Moran

Emma Quaedvlieg

Stefan Baciu

Malena Wong

Growing up in ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’ which is what locals fondly call Malawi, is infamous for our so called ‘winters’ being warmer than British summers. The cold is definitely something I do not appreciate in England. I always cannot wait to get home for a bit of sunshine over the holidays. However, getting home is tiring and stressful. It beings with a coach from Nottingham to the airport and then two flights to get back- one of them being over 11 hours. This means it takes a full 24 hours of travelling to reach Malawi. As my Dad is from London we always come back and forth to England a couple of times a year so university was not too much of a transition for me. I love the efficiency of things in England, you don’t have power cuts as anyone who comes from Africa will tell you about extensively! Sometimes on a rainy day in November, I do just miss the chaos of the beautiful continent that is Africa.

My story is not too exotic, I live just across the Channel in The Hague, The Netherlands. Without any delays it takes me about under five hours door to door - which is a shorter travel time than that of some students travelling from within England. Usually my parents drop me off at Amsterdam airport and I take a short one hour flight over to East Midlands Airport.

From there I hop on the Skylink bus to Dunkirk and I'm there within an hour.

In comparison with other students travelling from across the UK- my experience is not exactly a culture shock!

Being in my third year here at the University of Nottingham, the cultural differences are not as profound as they first were, but I still have the impulse to shake every hand when I enter a room. Even more so, I miss my grandmother's cooking. Only a three hour flight away, Romania is quite close geographically, but in a whole other world culturally. At the crossroads between the Slavic and the Latin worlds, Romania has the best of both when it comes to food and beverages – including a large variety of wines and flavoured spirits similar to vodka.

My journey to Nottingham begins with a flight from Hong Kong International Airport to Heathrow which usually departs at midnight - it takes about a good twelve hours to arrive at London.

The flight lands around 5am which leaves me just two hours to find my luggage, change into my UK SIM card and purchase a coach ticket for Nottingham. Another five hours on the bus and a long-haul flight guarantees a stinging headache, leaving my brain split in two time zones. Despite this chaos Nottingham, a home away from home, may be far but is totally worth that journey.

MALAWI

IMAGE BY NASA

THE NETHERLANDS

ROMANIA

Becoming a student at the University of Nottingham is quite an amusing story. In my final year of high school I was busy almost every Saturday at international student fairs to research destinations that I might be interested in. Nottingham Trent was there at almost every one and I began to like Nottingham as a city. So when it was time to write down my options I googled University of Nottingham and the rest is history.

HONG KONG

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WHAT’S AROUND

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE Nottingham Castle sits atop a hill, protected from the hustle and bustle of the city centre but clearly dominating the city skyline. Its vantage point makes it a favourite escape for locals looking to catch a scenic view of the city. Apart from its imposing, impressive structure, the Nottingham castle also houses a fantastic art gallery and internationally-renowned touring exhibitions.

THE CORNER?

YE OLDE TRIP TO JERUSALEM Touted as a must-visit attraction in Nottingham, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem purports to be the oldest inn in the United Kingdom! If this isn’t incentive enough to visit, interestingly enough, the pub itself is built into the rocks on which the Nottingham Castle was built on. These surroundings lend an enchanting atmosphere throbbing with historical significance to the pub.

The pub also does not disappoint in terms of its food, serving up popular classic British fare such as steak and ale pie and battered fish and chips.

It is said that the name of the pub takes on the ancient meaning of ‘trip’meaning a break on a journey. Even if you aren’t looking for a rest stop on your way to Jerusalem, the pub is worth a visit regardless.

NOTTINGHAM PLAYHOUSE A place known for presenting world-class theatre that caters to everyone, Nottingham Playhouse offers a great alternative for a night out in Nottingham. Founded in 1948, the Playhouse has since produced a plethora of drama, comedy and pantomime that has toured both nationally and internationally. Despite its success, Nottingham Playhouse stays true to its roots in Nottingham by giving back to the local community.

Determined to keep its shows affordable and accessible to all, the playhouse prices its tickets at only £10. Also, the theatre has spearheaded the Enabled UPSTART project which focuses on providing the disabled with creative work learning opportunities.

WOLLATON PARK With its lush greenery, grazing deers and beautiful lakes, Wollaton Park is undoubtedly a beautifully kept park. The deer park is a popular spot in the evenings for both tourists and locals alike since the picturesque grounds provide a gorgeous backdrop to the setting sun. Many people come to the park just to see the famed Wollaton Hall, which was featured as the Wayne Manor in the Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. What’s more, the Hall frequently hosts a number of exhibitions pertaining to nature and wildlife, and even one about the ghosts of Wollaton Hall! Wollaton Park is also the place to be at during summer with music festivals, food markets and cross country championships being organised on its grounds.

CITY OF CAVES For the adventurous, looking for an alternative perspective on Nottingham, The City of Caves is just the perfect attraction. The City of Caves is an original historic site consisting of a hidden city of sandstone caves beneath the streets of Nottingham. Participants are taken on a journey through time as tour guides take on characters who explain how Nottingham dwellers once lived under the streets on which we walk on today. Participants get the opportunity to explore hand-carved cellars, which used to be storerooms, toilets and even air raid shelters. The caves can be accessed through the upper mall level of Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. For just £7.95, the City of Caves provides a dynamic and educational tour which will interest both children and adults alike.

WORDS BY NICOLE TEH IMAGE BY ‘DNCNH’ VIA FLICKR

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RESEARCH AT

YOUR UNIVERSITY

IMPACT DISCUSSES THE MURKY REALITY OF DARK MATTER WITH PHYSICS PROFESSOR ANNE GREEN

“UP TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, REALITY WAS EVERYTHING HUMANS COULD TOUCH, SMELL, SEE, AND HEAR. SINCE THE INITIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CHART OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM, HUMANS HAVE LEARNED THAT WHAT THEY CAN TOUCH, SMELL, SEE, AND HEAR IS LESS THAN ONE-MILLIONTH OF REALITY.” RICHARD BUCKMINSTER FULLER, AMERICAN INVENTOR AND PHILOSOPHER Physicists rarely consider themselves vogue or at the forefront of public consciousness. However, in the last half decade, this has all changed dramatically. The size and expense of the Large Hadron Collider and the increased exposure and influence of such figures as Brian Cox and Lawrence Krauss has propelled physics towards the top of the news cycle to an extent unseen since the days of Einstein and quantum mechanics, or even the first NASA moon landing. Arrays of newly discovered particles and their grandiose titles (think ‘the God particle’) are helping to construct a science-centric narrative. Exotic and esoteric terms such as dark matter are equally ubiquitous on public transport as they are in science fiction literature and video games. Recently promoted Professor Anne Green is at the forefront of the research in this curious phenomenon.

Based in the Cripps Centre for Astronomy Particle Theory, Anne works on determining optimum

experimentation to demonstrate the nature and effects of dark matter. The hypothesis of the alluringly named ‘Dark Matter’ is the idea that of all the matter in the universe, (matter essentially being just ‘stuff’ that makes up the universe, or more specifically anything which has mass even at rest) this particular kind makes up 84% of all matter. The main problem with dark matter is that it is not visible using a telescope, or any alternative form of radiation for that matter.

First postulated in the 1930s, the concept did not burgeon as a field until 1970 when Vera Rubin indirectly inferred its existence due to observed gravitational effects on visible matter i.e. how it affected stuff we can see.

What attracted Anne to this discipline was her initial early-teen love and aptitude for maths, combined with a passion for seeing how mathematics could be effective in the non-abstract realm.

“THE WORK IS PERPLEXING, AS IT INCREASES OUR AWARENESS OF NOT ONLY WHAT WE KNOW, BUT WHAT WE DON’T.” In her formative years Anne’s parents were somewhat sceptical at the idea of her taking on a subject as abstruse as physics, deeming that music may be a more practical alternative.

Barrelling through regardless, Anne began a degree at Oxford before moving throughout the UK and to other institutes around the world to continue her research. In the early 2000s Professor Edmund Copeland was setting up the Centre for Astronomy and Particle theory at Nottingham and Anne jumped at the chance to be part of this new venture which brought together her two biggest passions in physics. She has been here ever since.

Anne describes the peculiar differences in the culture of researchers from both astro- and particle physics, with the astro scientists being more laidback dreamers and the particle physicists being fiercely proud, intellectual and competitive. Anne likes to think she doesn’t particularly conform to either stereotype though does admit to having some classic theoretical scientist attributes. She prefers working in small groups or in selfinflicted solitary confinement, rather like the famous physicist Richard Feynman, in order to attempt to think through the complexities of the challenges faced in such a field. She currently only has one postgraduate research student but their work has proved very successful. In order to prevent interference, which is seen in experimentation carried out at the surface of the earth, they outsource a lot of their work to Boulby mine, an 1100m below-the-surface laboratory in the north-east at Saltburn-by-the-sea.

The work has entailed separating the detection of Neutrinos (currently the only kind of dark matter that has been measured) from all other kinds of dark

matter, which is hoped will lead to the determination of the components which comprise it.

“ASTRO SCIENTISTS TEND TO BE MORE LAIDBACK DREAMERS AND PARTICLE PHYSICISTS FIERCELY PROUD” Anne clearly believes that thinking about science is important for everyone in all professions and backgrounds and is encouraged by the increased number of students taking physics at university. She is excited by the prospects that the rise in popularity of her subject will provide but doesn’t necessarily obsess over its superiority, having a very modest, philosophical outlook and accepting that it isn’t a subject that everyone should study necessarily.

The work of Anne and others at the university is perplexing, as it increases our awareness of not only what we know, but what we don’t. The frontiers of astro- and particle physics demonstrate that not only is the human experience a miniscule fraction of reality, but also that our capabilities may not even allow us to comprehend it all.

WORDS BY STEPHEN KENNY IMAGE BY NASA

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DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE

The United Kingdom, for such a small collection of islands, has discovered, pioneered and invented an incredible amount throughout the centuries. It remains a world leader in today’s scientific melting pot and continues to be the third largest publisher of scientific papers, behind the US and China. The UK-based journals Nature and The British Medical Journal continue to be some of the world’s most respected publications. Impact highlights a selection of the vast number of projects currently flying the flag for British science.

DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE

UK SPACEPORT

DIAMOND is a half-kilometre wide, circular microscope. Electrons are accelerated to almost the speed of light then released into the outer storage ring. As the electrons bend around the circle they lose energy by releasing light, which is then focused onto the object being observed. The light is so powerful that the individual atoms that make up molecules can be observed. Recent research conducted using DIAMOND includes observation of the structure of the part of cells that cause pain, the details of which had never been known. Drug researchers will now be able to design more effective painkillers with this new knowledge. Historians have also turned to DIAMOND to find ways of preserving the 500 year-old Mary Rose shipwreck. Three thousand scientists use DIAMOND every year free of charge, provided the research is made public.

The government announced plans to build a commercial spaceport ready to open in 2018. Not only will the site be able to accommodate passenger flights but also launch satellites at a lower cost and risk than the rockets that are currently used. Although the vehicles are not ready to fly yet, the UK will be prepared when they are perfected. The spaceport fits into the plan to quadruple the yearly income of the UK Space Industry to £40bn by 2030.

DIDCOT, OXFORDSHIRE

LOCATION TO BE DECIDED

WORDS BY JOANNE BLUNT IMAGE BY ‘LOZWILKES’ VIA FLICKR

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND 3D PRINTING RESEARCH GROUP NOTTINGHAM

3D printing is set to be the next science fiction dream to become reality. It has many applications yet to be explored and a lot of the research is happening on our doorstep here in Nottingham.

One of the latest innovations developed by the research group is a new printing technique which creates a protein glue that can be used to effectively stick fractured bones back together, or could be used to create a scaffold to build complex structures such as noses. Current work aims to expand the number of materials that can be used and making the design process easier.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM LONDON

Although primarily thought of as a rainy day school trip destination, the Natural History Museum publishes over 700 papers per year and houses over 350 scientists. In addition, the collection both on display and behind the scenes is a giant genetic ark – one of the richest libraries of genetic samples ever assembled, making it one of the most respected natural world research centres on the planet.

Research ranges from analysing fossils to discern if dinosaurs were feathered to using orchids to study climate change. The museum also works on preservation of both the natural world and human quality of life, while geologists are working on sourcing raw materials’ sustainability and biologists plan for farming of the future.

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FOUR APPS TO MAKE STUDENT LIFE A LITTLE EASIER

OFFICE LENS

AVAILABLE ON IOS, ANDROID AND WINDOWS PHONE With the advent of Moodle, the necessity of grabbing every hand-out or set of notes from the lecturer became a thing of the past. If you happen to miss a lecture for whatever reason, it’s now possible to just log onto Moodle and, assuming the lecturer is tech-friendly, find whatever notes you missed, and print them off yourself.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for what is handwritten on whiteboards. You might be lucky enough to have a very progressive lecturer who will scan in the board notes as well, but, for the rest of us, the problem can be solved with Office Lens.

Developed by Microsoft itself, all you need to do is take a picture of the board with your phone*, and the software cleverly crops and corrects the image to give you a clear picture of what’s written on it.

You can then do further cropping and correction manually, and upload to cloud storage or just save to your phone. *Probably won’t work if you came in late and are sat at the back.

WORDS BY THOMAS BARRATT IMAGE BY AMY RAINBOW

TWILIGHT / F.LUX TIMETABLE / UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM TIMETABLE MY FITNESS PAL

AVAILABLE ON ANDROID / AVAILABLE ON IOS

Eating healthy on a student budget and schedule can be challenging.

A combination of campus vending machines, post-night out takeaways, and the proximity of Sainsbury’s for a pack of cookies can really make the calories pile up. Thankfully, there is an easy way to keep things under control.

A timetable is a pretty basic student requirement. Some may choose to go with the classic print-out-on-the-wall approach, or others might just choose to commit it to memory so they have an excuse for when they ‘forget’ about a 9am on the other side of campus. For the others who want to go a bit more techie, a timetable app is the answer.

AVAILABLE ON IOS, ANDROID AND WINDOWS PHONE

The idea is that you spend just a few minutes at the end of the day logging what you’ve had to eat and drink. The app’s library is so large that it contains pretty much any food you can think of (along with all the nutritional information), so you only need to put in the name of the food and the app will take care of the rest. There’s even an option to scan the barcode of a food item with your phone’s camera to make it even easier.

It’s impractical to think that someone might log everything they’ve eaten all day every day, but it’s easy to ‘accidentally’ miscount calories in your head. Using the app gives you the facts straight up, and they might surprise you.

The simply named ‘Timetable’ app for Android provides the perfect experience. It takes about 5 minutes to input the information about your lectures/seminars/ workshops, and clearly displays the module and room number at a glance. And that’s it, you’ll never forget a lecture again. Sorry about that.

For iOS, there is a specific Nottingham Uni timetable app created by Notts alumnus, Tom Howard. The app automatically extracts your timetable information from Moodle so you don’t need to even worry about inputting it all manually. Very fresher friendly.

AVAILABLE ON ANDROID / AVAILABLE ON IOS (3RD PARTY) AND PC If there’s one thing pretty much every student can agree on, it’s that sleep is pretty great. However, between essays and exam revision (not to mention nights out), a lot of us don’t get the recommended 8 hours. You might feel sleepy during the day, but by the time you get into bed, you find your mind still racing, unable to drift off.

Well, the reason for that might lie in your screens. According to a 2014 Ofcom study, the average Briton spends an incredible 8 hours and 41 minutes looking at a screen every day (TV, texting, social media etc.). The blue light emitted from these screens in particular has been shown to inhibit the production of the sleep chemical melatonin, which is what make us feel drowsy at night. Of course, the best advice is to simply not use screens past sunset, but that’s not really a practical solution. Instead, by applying a red filter to the screen, and blocking out the blue part of the spectrum, the idea is that our natural sleep patterns will be far less affected, and we should be able to get to sleep easier, even after flicking between the same four social media apps for a solid hour in bed.

DON’T BE A STRANGER

/IMPACTNOTTINGHAM

@IMPACTMAGAZINE

@IMPACTSTAGRAM

/IMPACTNOTTINGHAM01

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LITTLE BLACK BOOK

Nottingham

Essentials FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO NOTTINGHAM, IMPACT FOOD IS HERE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE QUINTESSENTIAL PLACES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT AS A FRESHER, FROM VEGAN CAFÉ’S TO AUTHENTIC AMERICAN BURGER BARS, WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

Alley Café Bar

Man’s Gourmet

Annie's Burger Shack

Are you a budding animal rights activist looking for a deliciously vegan, ethically sourced bite to eat?

Alley Café Bar is the place to fulfil all your meat-free dreams. Known to be a regular meeting spot for VegSoc socials, the café is an uplifting friendly place to familiarise yourself with the local veggie community and introduce your new friends to your fantastic lifestyle with a menu offering a diverse range of cuisines that vegans and vegetarians can enjoy. From breakfast to dinner, Alley Café Bar provides delicious veggie alternatives that will leave your mouth watering.

Try the alley breakfast, perfect for a traditionalist with ethical intentions, offering their own version of an full English cooked breakfast. If you’re there in the evenings you’ll get to experience the sweet sounds of live performances with an organic beer or maybe a delicious slice of vegan chocolate tarte, Alley Café Bar is sure to delightfully surprise you and your tastebuds all whilst being cruelty free.

Man’s Gourmet might just look like your run of the mill lunch canteen but do not be fooled by its interior aesthetic. Whereas Portland building has its fare share of cheap chicken and quick pasta lunches, Man’s Gourmet is unlike any other on campus food.

Dying to show your new friends your utter love and devotion to Dim Sum? This is the closest, most delicious, cheapest and accessible place to go for all your eastern cuisine cravings. The options are endless, get anything from sushi to curry served in traditional Asian silver bowls all at an affordable price when you want to grab something more exciting than just a sandwich for lunch. Ask for the full menu to see all the hidden delights. Oh, and did we mention? You can use your student card allowance here. No need to thank us.

Annie’s Burger Shack is no doubt the most raved about restaurant in Nottingham, in fact its glowing reputation is so well travelled through word of mouth, you probably don’t even need us to tell you how great it is. But by the time you get around to booking an appointment for all your new friends to check out halfway through term, you’ll be let down by an insane waiting list, so book well in advance. The founder, Annie, was born and raised in the USA and creates the most unique, original and diverse burgers the Midlands will probably ever see. Set in a stylishly refurbished building, the burgers aren’t the only things that are visually appealing.

Annie’s Burger Shack is one of the trendiest joints that Nottingham has to offer, with a stunning selection of local ales, the restaurant has recently offered a vegan option on all its burgers. This is the perfect place for your end of year meal.

Monday - Tuesday, 11:00 - 21:00 Wednesday - Friday, 11:00 - 01:00 Saturday, 11:00 - 00:00 Sunday, 11:00 - 18:00 1a Cannon Court, Long Row W, Nottingham NG1 6JE Call: 0115 955 1013

WORDS BY ISABEL JURY IMAGE BY ISABEL JURY

Monday - Friday, 11:00 - 18:00 Saturday, 11:00 - 16:00 Sunday, Closed Portland Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD Call: 0115 950 6638

WORDS BY ISABEL JURY IMAGE BY ISABEL JURY

Sunday - Friday, 11:00 - 23:00 Saturday, 11:00 - 24:00 5 Broadway Street, Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1PR Call: 07463 033255 Book Online: anniesburgershack.com

WORDS BY HEATHER CORSER IMAGE BY ISABEL JURY

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RAPID RECIPES

ICE BREAKERS

WHETHER YOU’RE A FIRST YEAR IN CATERED ACCOMMODATION OR A SECOND YEAR IN A RENTED HOUSE TRYING TO BREAK THE ICE, BE INSPIRED BY IMPACT FOOD’S SUPER FUN AND EASY TO MAKE RECIPES THAT’LL GET EVERYONE TALKING.

Salted Caramel Milkshake

Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Knots Oreo Cupcakes

Eliminate fresher blues with this godly concoction.

Gooey, delicious, cheesy balls of dough that can’t be forgotten.

The ultimate recipe for some housemate bonding time.

SERVES 9 - 12

SERVES 16

SERVES 8-12

INGREDIENTS: 1 pint of vanilla or chocolate ice cream 1-2 cups of milk 1 pint of ice cubes 1-2 cups of pre-made salted caramel sauce Some toppings or decorations (optional)

INGREDIENTS: 1 Roll of pre-made dough Small handful of chopped parsley ¼ Cup of parmesan cheese ¼ Teaspoon of salt ¼ Teaspoon of garlic powder ¼ Teaspoon of dried oregano ½ Pack of Foiled Butter, Melted

1. Add the salted caramel to a blender then the milk, blend.

1. Preheat oven to 200°/fan assisted 180°/gas mark 6.

FOR THE CUPCAKE BASE: 200g Plain Flour 40g Cocoa Powder 280g Caster Sugar 80g Butter 3 Tablespoons of Baking Powder 240ml Whole Milk 2 Eggs Splash of Vanilla Essence 12 halves of Oreos 12 Cases

2. Slowly add the ice cream while blending, then add the ice cubes.

2. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.

3. Once blended, pour into a nice glass and add a scoop of ice cream and any toppings you so wish, keep the rest of the mix refrigerated.

3. Cut the pre-made roll into strips, create a knot as if you were doing your laces. Place them on the baking tray once done.

4. Mix the chopped parsley, salt, garlic powder, dried oregano and butter together then gloss over the knots with a brush.

5. Put the baking tray into the oven for 12 minutes.

6. Garnish the knots with any left over ingredients.

WORDS BY ISABEL JURY IMAGE BY ISABEL JURY

WORDS BY LAUREN WILSON IMAGE BY ISABEL JURY

FOR THE ICING: 100g Butter 160g Cream Cheese 350g Icing Sugar 3 Oreos 1. Preheat oven to 200°/fan assisted 170°/gas mark 6. Put half an Oreo in each case, then place on a muffin tray. Sift flour, cocoa powder, sugar and baking powder into a bowl, slightly melt the butter to soften it and then add into the bowl. Mix until consistency is even.

WORDS BY ISABEL JURY IMAGE BY ISABEL JURY

2. Whisk eggs together then add milk and vanilla essence. Add this to the other mix slowly until the consistency is smooth.

3. Spoon the mix into the cases, leave some room for them to rise. Stick in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

4. Get 3 Oreos and smash them in a plastic bag with a rolling pin.

Sift icing sugar into a bowl and add some slightly warmed butter and cream cheese then the Oreo crumbs, combine until everything is mixed.

5. When the cupcakes are baked, take them out of the oven and wait until they’re cool. Put icing mix into a piping bag, add a star nozzle on the end, then decorate the cupcakes with your piping bag.

6. Add any remaining oreos onto the cupcakes for decoration, and a sprinkle of cocoa powder if desired.

Ready to eat up!

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Hangover Comforts THE FIRST WEEK OF TERM IS ALWAYS THE MOST MENTAL; WITH SEEMINGLY LIMITLESS FUNDS COURTESY OF STUDENT FINANCE AND KILLER EVENTS, IT'S CERTAINLY A WEEK YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF. BUT YOU’LL STILL WANT TO PAY ATTENTION IN LECTURES UNLESS YOU FANCY TURNING UP NEXT MONDAY TO YOUR 9AM ONLY TO DISCOVER YOU WERE TOLD IT WAS CANCELLED THE WEEK PRIOR. HOME COOKED MEALS MADE

BY MUM WILL BE GREATLY MISSED, BUT HERE AT IMPACT FOOD WE’VE CONCOCTED OUR TOP SIX MOST KILLER HANGOVER CURING FOODS THAT’LL LEAVE YOU WILL A FULL BELLY AND A CLEAR HEAD TO HELP YOU FORGET THE EMBARRASSMENT OF LAST NIGHT. FROM OUR ‘MORNING AFTER’ EXPERTS, WE PRESENT OUR SIX WAYS TO CURE THAT HEAVY HEAD.

The Rise and Shine Shake

Yes Please Mac ‘N’ Cheese

“IMPACT FOOD’S LITTLE SECRET”

“FOR WHEN COMFORT FOOD IS THE ONLY ANSWER!”

INGREDIENTS 1 banana 1 handful of kale 1 handful of almonds 50ml of coconut water Just blend together one banana, a handful of kale, some almonds and coconut water. Puts vitamins right back into your body for those 9am lectures after a naughty night in Crisis!

INGREDIENTS Bag of macaroni pasta (cook amount to suit serving numbers) ¼ cup of butter 1 ½ tablespoon of flour 2 cups of milk 2 cups of grated cheese Seasoning of preference Boil water and add macaroni pasta, let it simmer until cooked.

Drain away leftover water and add the butter, flour, seasoning, milk, and cheese.

Place the pasta mix into an oven-proof dish and add any extra cheese on top.

Grill for 10 minutes for a crunchy bake - the perfect cheesy comfort food!

WORDS BY LYDIA ECCLESTON, ISABEL JURY AND RACHEL WINTERS IMAGE BY M. KASAHARA VIA FLICKR

IMAGE BY ‘MAX’ VIA FLICKR

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Vegan EasyPeasy Ice Creamy “SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT TO SIT IN BED WITH ICE CREAM ALL DAY AND NOT COME OUT UNTIL EVERYONE’S FORGOTTEN WHAT YOU DID LAST NIGHT.”

Feisty Full English Frittata

“THIS WILL BLOW THOSE POST-OCEAN FRIDAY BLUES “FOR WHEN YOU NEED AWAY!” SOME SERIOUS PUDDING INGREDIENTS AFTER WAKING UP AT 5PM 4 rashers of bacon (lean) AND MISSING TEA...OOPS!” 6 eggs ¼ cup of cheese Handful of mushrooms Sliced sausage

INGREDIENTS Three bananas cut into pieces and frozen 1 tablespoon of chocolate spread/ Cacao Powder 1 tablespoon of peanut butter Splash of almond milk

Fry the bacon, sausages and mushrooms, then whisk the eggs together and add the cheese.

Blend all of the ingredients together.

Serve with brown sauce or ketchup for a twist on a satisfying fry-up!

Freeze in a sealed box for one hour (more freeze time may be necessary) for the most indulgent ice cream treat bananas make it healthy, right?

Bread and PBJ French Toast Butter Chocolate Bliss “NOTHING WILL GET YOU Heaven

Place meat and mushrooms in an oven-proof dish and then pour the egg mixture over the ingredients and cook until the mix has set and risen.

INGREDIENTS ½ cup of demerara sugar 3 eggs 5 slices of buttered bread Chocolate chips ¼ cup cocoa powder Rip the pieces of bread up into chunky pieces and lay them on top of each other in an ovenproof dish, making sure the bottom has as little gaps as possible.

Whisk together the eggs, sugar and cocoa powder, until mixed but not for too long as a liquid texture is needed.

Pour the mix over the bread as equally as possible and leave to soak for 10 minutes.

After, place chocolate chips on the pudding and bake for 15/20 minutes.

OUT OF BED FASTER THAN THE THOUGHT OF THIS” INGREDIENTS 6 slices of white bread Peanut butter Strawberry jam 2 cups of double cream 2 eggs Splash of vanilla extract Sprinkle of ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar 2 cups of crushed nuts/cereal Unsalted butter Sprinkle of confectioners sugar Spread the peanut butter and jam onto the bread and make the sandwich.

Combine the cream, eggs, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon and granulated sugar until the consistency is even and similar to custard.

Dip the sandwiches into the custard mixture, allowing them to soak it up, then quickly dip them into the crushed nuts/cereal.

Melt the butter on a frying pan, and place the sandwich on it, allowing it to evenly fry, continue until all your sandwiches are fried.

Sprinkle some confectioners sugar on top for the final presentation, ready to serve!

IMAGE BY INA TODORAN VIA FLICKR

IMAGE BY TRAVALLAI VIA FLICKR

IMAGE BY ‘STARSANDSPRIALS’ VIA FLICKR

IMAGE BY ANDY MELTON VIA FLICKR

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DAY ‘N’ NIGHT POPPY AND JAY SHOW US HOW TO STYLE A BOMBER JACKET TWO WAYS

“I like this look because it is easy to wear. I like the casual T-Shirt as it is good for throwing on before uni, and the bomber jacket adds style without being over the top”

JAY WEARS JACKET BY FRED PERRY, TSHIRT BY RAD, JEANS BY H&M, SHOES BY DR MARTENS

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“As the jacket is lightweight it is easy to take on a night out and it makes the vintage shirt look modern. The shoes make the outfit look a bit smarter but the colourful socks make it fun.”

Y, FRED PERR JACKET BY , M & H JAY WEARS Y B IRT, JEANS VINTAGE SH MATALAN M O SHOES FR

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“For me a jacket that works with most of your wardrobe is essential, which is why a bomber jacket is always my go to.

For a casual day out I teamed the jacket with statement white jeans and a patterned crop top.”

DIRECTED BY CHANELLE OLALEYE AND RAPHAELA RING MODELLED BY POPPY NORRISH AND JOHNATHAN BOULTON PHOTOGRAPHED BY AMY RAINBOW

POPPY WEARS JACKET BY TOPSHOP, TOP BY TOPSHOP, JEANS BY RIVER ISLAND, SHOES BY ADIDAS

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“For my night look I opted for a velvet black strapless mini dress, and black platforms. I like the effortless vibe the dress brings to the outfit. To complete the look I added a statement cherry lipstick and layered accessories”

POPPY WEARS JACKET BY TOPSHOP, VINTAGE DRESS, SHOES BY SCHUH

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Cultural appropriation has been a hot topic ever since Miley twerked, Kylie Jenner got cornrows and Native American headdresses were a musthave at Coachella. But what is it and what role does it play in fashion?

Strictly speaking, cultural appropriation occurs when one culture, often a ‘dominant’ one, copies cultural aspects from another culture. Disrespect is a key word in cultural appropriation – consider the (mostly) white, American girl at Coachella with her Native Americaninspired headdress that stands for tradition, power and religion which – ironically – the white girl’s ancestor helped to destroy. She might just wear it because she was inspired by the Victoria Secret show where Karlie Kloss wore one, she most probably means no harm, but just the fact that we live in such an international world means we have to be more socially conscious. At the same time, we live in a world that is ever more interconnected and it is nearly impossible to live a life without influences from other cultures.

DOES FASHION

APPROPRIATE CULTURES

OR SIMPLY APPRECIATE THEM?

“IS ALL HUMAN HERITAGE EQUALLY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL RACES AND CULTURES?” When looking at cultural appropriation the main question we need to ask is, is all human heritage equally accessible to all races and cultures? Whether for artistic interpretation or as a fashion trend, are some aspects of a culture strictly off limits?

To quote Hunger Games star Amandla Stenberg “Appropriation occurs when a style leads to racist generalisations or stereotypes of where it originated but is deemed as high fashion or cool when the privileged take it for themselves”. Take for example Hindu bindis which have, like the Native headdress, also been a frequently used accessories at many high profile festivals. To the culturally unaware they may be worn simply for

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aesthetics, but in reality bindis play a significant role in Hindu religion as it symbolises the third eye and most important chakra. So if worn with the classic festival attire and attitude it isn’t difficult to see why people might feel that their culture is being disrespected.

“IT'S NOT ABOUT CLAIMING OWNERSHIP OVER A PATTERN OR HAIRSTYLE, IT'S ABOUT BEING ERASED FROM THE CONVERSATION” There is nothing wrong with taking inspiration from other cultures, but there is harm in not respecting and appreciating the culture that inspires you. It's not about claiming ownership over a style, it's about not being included in the conversation at all when trends certain groups have been wearing for years suddenly become popular in the mainstream.

In short why are so many cultural styles originated in a minority only

celebrated and considered cool, when donned by celebrities or the female elite, but completely unremarkable on said minorities?

Fashion and beauty can and should be visual identifiers that enable us to communicate to others who we are, where we are from and what we like to portray about ourselves. This is precisely why it is so important to fully appreciate the cultural roots certain styles either originated from.

It is the duty of the fashion industry to understand how sacred such things can be and to show due respect for them.

Although, as pointed out above, we do live in an interconnected world with individuals from differing religions, races and subcultures constantly crossing paths. Therefore there is no way around influences from other cultures in our daily lives.

We are allowed – it should even be encouraged – to look beyond the boundaries of our own culture for inspiration. Dreadlocks are a classic example for something that is frequently perceived as having been appropriated from ‘black culture’, but in reality dreads can be traced back to Indian yogis and spiritual men who fled to the Caribbean’s, after Americans began to enslave Indians rather than African Americans. In Jamaica the Rastafarians, who were

essentially Judeo-Christians, adopted the look. So the Jamaicans copied Hindu culture which was then copied

by African Americans which was then appropriated by white people? This shows how difficult it is to actually pinpoint the origin of some styles and who ended up copying whom.

How something is perceived depends entirely on how it is done – if someone likes a style and acknowledges the vast history that stands behind it, why shouldn’t they be allowed to adopt it?

“I HAD APPROPRIATED A SYMBOL FROM A RELIGION WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT ITS MEANING” When I was 13 I got asked by a hairdresser whether the cross earring I wore was a fashion piece or a religious statement. At the time I didn’t know how to answer because technically I was Christian but in practice I was a lot less so. Her question made me reconsider the reasons I had bought the earring and I stopped wearing it all together because I felt that she was right to ask. I had appropriated

a symbol from a religion without thinking about its meaning to someone else.

And that is really the key to finding the balance between appreciating and drawing inspiration from cultures, while at same time respecting them.

That is the reason why wearing a bindi, a cropped top with Ganesha print and denim short shorts for a night out that will quite possibly end with a Big Mac is deemed as disrespectful. But if you love Indian culture and fashion, if you love the colours, the jewellery, the patterns, the fabrics – by all means include them into your wardrobe – just be aware of the thin line that separates appropriation and appreciation.

What I love so much about the world we live in, is that it is so international.

It is so easy to travel, to find out about other cultures, to meet people who belong to different religions, countries or who have made different choices in life. And every person you meet, every flavour you smell or taste, every song you hear, will inevitably make itself into your data bank of inspirations.

Just remember to use those inspirations with respect and dignity.

WORDS BY CHANELLE OLALEYE AND RAPHAELA RING IMAGES BY THOMAS HAWK VIA FLICKR

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Impact Style shows you how to hold onto that summer glow with our make up tutorial:

HOLDING ONTO THAT SUMMER GLOW

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Prep the skin by exfoliating to ensure a smooth surface; apply a moisturiser followed by a primer.

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Apply a foundation with a brush evenly across the face.

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Apply a concealer one or two tones lighter than the foundation used under the eyes, down the bridge of the nose and the centre of the forehead, blend with a beauty blender.

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Sweep a dark bronze below the cheekbone and blend.

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For the eyes apply a nude eye shadow on the eyelids stopping at the crease.

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Apply an eyeshadow similar to the skin tone under the eyebrows stopping at the crease and blend downwards.

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Apply a shimmer gold over the eyelids, blending upwards and sideways

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Apply the same gold under the eyes and blend.

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On the water line apply white eyeliner.

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Apply a bronze eye shadow under the eyes staying close to the lash line, blend downwards.

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In the outer corner of the eyes under the lash line apply a brown eyeliner stop a quarter of the way along and blend.

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Apply mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

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Define brows by colouring in gaps with a brow pencil and finish with brow mascara.

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Add a shimmery rose blusher to the apples of the cheek and blend outwards.

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Line the lips with a pink lip liner one darker than your lips.

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Apply a nude lipstick.

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Using shimmery based highlighter, brush along the cheekbones across the forehead and down the bridge of the nose.

MODELLED BY: TARA BELL MAKEUP AND PHOTOGRAPHY: CHANELLE OLALEYE

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#iwokeuplikethis

THE BRAID ESSENTIAL FOR ALL YOUR BAD HAIR DAYS

MODELLED BY: DARSHINI PANKHANIA HAIR, STYLING AND PHOTOGRAPHY: CHANELLE OLALEYE

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Purse Essentials It doesn’t matter whether it’s Taylor or Kurt that gets you on the dancefloor, if your poison of choice are sticky Jägerbombs or rows of Tequilla shots raced by lime, or if you really just prefer cocktails and quiz nights at the pub. For a stylish night out make sure to be prepared for any eventuality and pack Impact Style’s purse essentials.

Fluffy Framed Clutch from Aldo - £40

Sweet mint lip balm by EOS - £3.25 Mini purse by H&M - £6.99

Velvet Mat Satin Lipstick in Fire Red

by KIKO - £6.90

Solid Perfume by L’Occitane - £8

Kick Ass Instant Retouch Pressed Powder (translucent) by Soap&Glory - £12

Chubby unicorn iPhone 5 case by Skinnydip on Topshop - £12

PRODUCTS SELECTED BY CHANELLE OLALEYE AND RAPHAELA RING

Oil Blotting paper by DHC - £3

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THE MIGHTY T-SHIRT DRESS 1 WEEK, 1 DRESS, 5 LOOKS ASOS DESIGNSIX - £4

MON

NEW LOOK - £4

WED

H&M - £25

NEW LOOK -

BOOHOO - £4

£20

MONKI - £20

H&M - £20

H&M

- £20

TUE

THU PRIMARK - £3

FRI

PRODUCTS SELECTED BY CHANELLE OLALEYE AND RAPHAELA RING

DOROTHY PERKINS - £25

ASOS - £10

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E X P O S U R E

“I’ve spent the last 3 Christmases having BBQs. Last year I had a BBQ in the Arctic Circle.

The year before that I was in Australia and I spent Christmas on the beach. It was funny to see Santa Claus in full costume in 40 degrees.”

“When I think of the university I think of the trees on campus.

They remind me of my hometown in Germany.”

“I’d like a government that was honest.

Nobody’s honest any more. They don’t treat us pensioners like people.”

4 5 “Are there any differences you’ve seen between here and France?”

“If you could go back to when you were a teenager and give yourself some advice, what would you say?”

“The food. And the queueing!

Always queueing! First time I saw them I was just wondering, why are you queueing?”

“Oh, I definitely wouldn’t want to go back there”.

“When you survive genocide you feel like you’re living a second chance so you have to maximise life. It has given me belief that life is more than what we believe and see. I went through so much. I saw so many going through even worse than I did. I survived but so many I knew, so many of my family members didn’t, so I saw what life really meant.

Rwanda has recovered from the mayhem of 1994. We never thought that we would even live in Rwanda again, let alone have a country which is today a model in many ways. Rwanda is the first country in the world which has more women in the parliament. Our women suffered the worst during the genocide. Many of them were raped and often rape was a tool used to kill them slowly. More men were killed than women, so women who survived were either widows or orphans so they had to survive on their own after the genocide. So afterwards, people wanted to give the women of Rwanda a place in society they didn’t have before and today they’ve really done so much.

I was a football player back then, playing for the most popular club in the country. On the first day of the genocide, a group of soldiers came into my house where I was staying with my colleagues. When they were interrogating us they stumbled across a photo album of my football team and one of them recognised me.

For that reason they didn’t kill us. I survived due to the sportsmanship these people had. That’s why today I want to use it as a way of education too for the young people of today and tomorrow.”

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX FARZAD Get involved with Impact’s images team: images@impactnottingham.com

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E X P O S U R E

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

AMY RAINBOW

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G A M I N G

TRON (1982)

Although, looking back, the videogames of the 80’s and 90’s appear faded compared to their modern counterparts, many students still lost much of their time at university that way. Impact looks at those games and asks if they have stood the test of time and worth playing as students in 2015.

Tron was a coin-operated arcade game based upon the movie of the same name and year. The film, starring Jeff Bridges, is about a man who gets stuck in a computer game and must battle the hardware from the inside in order to survive. This led to a neo-noir/ cyberpunk aesthetic and much toying with classic computer concepts.

These activities are also the basis for the game in which, in a standard arcade format, players race lightcycles, battle in tanks and take part in a few other games. That first game type is probably the most well-known, taking the form of ‘snake’ but with other players trying to all survive on the same map. Students loved Tron in the eighties for its simplicity, movie-ties and ease of use. There was (and still is) a rather ‘meta’ aspect to the whole thing. The idea of playing around inside a computer may appear a bit cheesy, with computer viruses being sentient enemies, though at the time it was well-received.

That cheesiness is probably partly a reason for the game’s success, particularly in the eighties when few ideas like this had actually come across gamers’ screens before. The

success of both the game and the film is evidenced by the expansion of the Tron universe in both formats.

Several games were released which updated the concept, along with a new film which was released in 2010.

However, if you still fancy playing the tried-and-tested original formula there are numerous websites online which have preserved the original light-cycles game type for your enjoyment.

There is now even a multiplayer component built in to develop competition as well as team-based formats.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA (1986) The Legend of Zelda was the first game in the now-famous Zelda series and is widely considered to be among the greatest video games ever made. Developed by Nintendo, it featured the classic adventure game format of completing various objectives in the game world in order to rescue another character and defeat an evil villain.

In this case you played as hero Link

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who must travel across the fantasy world of Hyrule in order to save the titular Princess. It was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System and played from a top-down perspective; Link traversed the various environments around Hyrule and collected items, solved riddles and battled enemies with his classic sword and shield in order to reach the endgame.

Unlike coin-operated arcade games, this was an early console game which students could play in their rooms and quickly swap stories of their various perilous adventures in Hyrule. Students in the mid-eighties were privileged to be experiencing a true standard-bearer in the RPG (Role Playing Game) genre which would become among the most popular genres in the industry. You could truly disappear into this world and it was that level of immersion which differentiated Zelda from its peers at the time.

As you may know, The Legend of Zelda is now a global brand and a huge series of games, with other merchandise being released in the wake of the first ground-breaking game. These sequels and spin-offs are naturally now available on modern consoles and handheld devices including the Nintendo 3DS.

DOOM (1993) Multiplayer shooters hadn’t really existed before Doom. Before it was difficult to actually play multiplayer games (especially online) as there was little or no internet and computers couldn’t handle the signals from other players. Doom managed to change all that by allowing players to use their local networks (including University or Company) to play against other people in that building. This was such an issue that some universities banned it, taking up too much of the network bandwidth that there was none left for actual uni work.

Not only was it the first major multiplayer game, it was the game that really brought first-person shooters (FPS) to the front. Games such as Wolfenstein 3D had existed previously, but none achieved the same level of success. Almost all FPS games after took some level of inspiration from Doom – and the name for many of the standard multiplayer types (such as Deathmatch, or King of the Hill) came from Doom originally.

The game itself is relatively entertaining, though the demonspawn that are the main enemy look very weird on modern TVs. The graphics are definitely faded and show their extreme age, but it has a certain charm. It still has a community playing it multiplayer, and the genre of FPS are definitely still taking up students’ time as Doom did.

AGE OF EMPIRES (1997) With twelve different civilisations and four campaigns, Age of Empires had a historical base with engaging gameplay layered on top. The game focused on the period between the Stone and Iron Age, showing the rise (and fall) of civilisations such as the Hittites and the Egyptians through conquest. The campaigns focused on the actual historical paths of these nations, but it also included a random map feature, that allowed any nation to be pitted against another.

Age of Empires was also the game that really brought multiplayer to the real-time strategy (RTS) genre. This meant that students could link their computers up with cables and play against each other, proving who in a group was the best military general.

Previous RTS games had multiplayer components (Westward’s C&C Red Alert for example) but these games struggled with latency between computers, whilst Age of Empires was generally a smooth experience, even with eight players at once.t With the excellent campaigns, the multiplayer experience and the historical focus students loved Age of Empires. The ability to crush your friends empires is an amazing experience, one that unfortunately doesn’t hold up in the first game. It’s sequel Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings however, is still an experience worth playing with friends – and is available on Steam under the title Age of Empires II: Complete Edition.

ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON (1999) Although theme park management games had existed before Chris Sawyer’s Rollercoaster Tycoon, they were extremely railroaded. In Bullfrog’s Theme Park for example, all the customisation of the parks such as the rides and scenery depended on what level was being played, limiting the

freedom of the player. Rollercoaster Tycoon gave the player the ability to colour and chose the theme for their park however they wished.

Within the game was an astonishing variety of rides. Log flumes, corkscrews and gigantic wooden coasters could be built. Not only that, but these rides were designed to be customised by the player. Half the fun of Rollercoaster Tycoon was trying to create a rollercoaster that was not so intense that it would injure the people riding them. There was nothing more satisfying at the time to make a rollercoaster the guests loved and had high ratings, except maybe making 100mph death-coasters.

Unlike the aforementioned Theme Park, Rollercoaster Tycoon had some extremely hard scenarios. This added more challenges, as a player was forced to both build successful rollercoasters and also prove their business might, choosing exactly how much rides and the park tickets costed. All this made for an excellent game that is still replayable today.

WORDS BY TIM SPENCER AND TOM WELSHMAN IMAGES BY BOSTON COLLEGE VIA FLICKR

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GAMES FOR FRESHERS SO YOU’VE STARTED A NEW CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE…YOU MADE IT TO UNIVERSITY! SOCIALISING WITH ALL THESE NEW PEOPLE FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS IS SOMEWHAT DAUNTING, SO WHY NOT DO IT IN FRONT OF A SCREEN? HERE’S A LIST, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, OF A FEW GAMES THAT CAN HELP WITH THAT BONDING PROCESS.

CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS 2 ZOMBIES (FIRST PERSON SHOOTER) Even with two new instalments out already and a third to the Black Ops series being released in November, Black Ops 2 is one of the best Call of Duty experiences since the first Modern Warfare.

With an extensive single player, multiplayer and zombie sections, Black Ops 2 is without doubt one of the best value experiences in the series. Of course you could just play the competitive multiplayer and shoot at your new-found friends. However, nothing says ‘bonding experience’ quite like fighting off hordes of the undead while traveling round a post-apocalyptic landscape in a bus. Road trip anyone?

Transit is certainly the best of the experiences but there is plenty of additional DLC to keep you occupied for months (at additional cost, of course).

Grab three of your new friends and spend hours on a fourplayer split-screen, unlocking easter eggs and nailing those headshots.

Available on PS3, Xbox 360, PC (no split screen)

FIFA 15 (SPORTS GAME)

MARIO KART 8 (RACING GAME)

FIFA has become something of a dirty word recently, but at least the games are still fun and scandal-free! Having an easy-to-pick-up, hard-to-master control scheme results in a game suited for all skill levels. Given the visual style looking just like a football match on TV it’s quite an entertaining game to simply watch, so why not host a few tournaments? Pack as many people into your room and make a night of it. In terms of value you could pick up the latest instalment for about £30. Yet the great thing about FIFA games is that they hold their price just as well as a fresher holds their drink, so feel free to pick up a previous instalment for a quarter of the retail price.

If you are one of the two people in the UK that picked up a Wii U then the latest instalment of Mario Kart (titled, er, Mario Kart 8,) should definitely be on your list. If, instead, you were part of the many households that had the original Wii console then you probably have or have played Nintendo’s incredibly successful Mario Kart for Wii. With incredibly easy controls, 32 courses, 10 battle stages and four-player split-screen, there are literally hours of fun to be had with this classic game. Beware the blue shell and pray for the rocket, Mario Kart is a surprisingly tense racing experience full of fistbumping moments and plenty of laughs.

Available on PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS4, Xbox One

Available on Wii U, Wii

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DIVE KICK (FIGHTING GAME) Dive Kick is a 2D fighting game that allows you to jump, kick and... that’s pretty much it.

It is one of those excellent games that combines simple, spartan controls with addictive gameplay, making for a fun drop-in/drop-out multiplayer experience. The matches are usually short, making this perfect for a whole room of people quickly switching in and out on one computer or laptop. This is ideal for a king of the hill style tournament to find the best Dive Kicker!

Available on PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS4, Xbox One.

LEGO (ASSORTED FRANCHISES) (ROLE PLAYING GAME) Found a new friend that likes basically anything popular that’s existed in the last 20 years? Then Lego is sure to have a game about it. With 21 franchises, including Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, there’s sure to be some common interest. The Lego games have become known for their simple puzzles and co-op gameplay that encourages players to work together to complete objectives in fun and comical ways. Having two player split screen co-op on the PC as well and this is an excellent addition to any PC gamer’s collection!

ROCKET LEAGUE (ARCADE GAME) A game that has been clogging up YouTube over the summer, Rocket League, is essentially FIFA with cars - and therefore better. In epic 5v5 or personal one-on-one matches, control a car that can drive on walls, boost, jump, and do flips with a control scheme that feels highly intuitive. Just search for videos showcasing the trick shots that can be pulled off with these cars and that is entertainment unto itself. With a very modest price tag and very polished gameplay, battle your friends or team up with them in this excellent arcade football game.

Available on PC and PS4.

Available on PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

WORDS BY GLENN TANNER

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THE SEVEN ERAS OF

JAMES BOND IS A CLASSIC ICON OF BRITISH CINEMA. BASED ON THE BOOKS AND CHARACTERS CREATED BY IAN FLEMING, THE FIRST FILM, DR. NO, WAS RELEASED IN 1962. IN OCTOBER, BOND WILL UNDERTAKE HIS 24TH BIG SCREEN OUTING WITH A FACE OFF AGAINST THE EVIL ORGANIZATION SPECTRE. BUT BEFORE THIS, IMPACT FILM AND TV TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY OF BOND, EXAMINING WHAT MADE EACH ACTOR’S ERA UNIQUE.

SEAN CONNERY THE ORIGINAL BOND

Sean Connery was the first actor to take on the mantle of cinema’s Bond and, for many, IS 007. Though initially Bond creator Ian Fleming dismissed Connery as not right for the role, the actor bought a level of charisma and sophistication that has become a requisite part of the character for all that followed.

Playing the spy over six films (and the unofficial Never Say Never Again), Connery’s Bond was the one to take on SPECTRE, the first to own a gadget packed Aston Martin and the first to utter the phrase “shaken not stirred” onscreen. Connery’s initial films were based, unlike later releases, on a semirealistic view of real-world espionage, with missions being grounded in reality rather than the fantastical and providing a cold streak to the character, often missing in later iterations, that was key to his literary counterpart’s success.

Connery’s Bond was the epitome of the suave secret agent that many people have come to expect from the character, with his virility and charisma making him an unforgettable Bond and the template for all cinematic depictions of the character.

Connery’s rein as Bond is interesting for many reasons, though perhaps most noticeably due to his return to the character after George Lazenby’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Connery’s Bond was so popular that, despite claiming he would never return to the role, he did indeed make a come back as 007 for 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. Though having a much campier feel to the film, Connery’s iconic take shone through, making Diamonds one of the most widely known Bond films to date.

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GEORGE LAZENBY

ROGER MOORE

Never heard of him? Unless you’ve watched On Her Majesty’s Secret Service you’ll most likely not have; Lazenby is the only actor in this list to have played Bond just once. Lazenby was pretty much an unknown actor until this point and he didn’t help his career by deciding never to play Bond again during shooting of the film.

Evil dwarfs, laser battles and a man called Jaws – Roger Moore’s portrayal of James Bond is a far cry from the character’s recent, grittier outings. Ever the well-dressed gentleman, the Moore films became increasingly fantastical throughout the 1970s and early 80s. Whilst they’re often remembered for ‘camping-up’ the iconic franchise, there’s no denying their popularity at the time. Moore maintained the role for seven films, equalled only by Sean Connery.

Bearing this in mind, let’s revisit the flamboyant world of 007’s third incarnation.

THE FORGOTTEN BOND

"LAZENBY WAS PRETTY MUCH AN UNKNOWN ACTOR" Post-Connery fans had high hopes for a new frontman but this film offered a lack of gadgets as well as a budget-Bond. Yet the film was the highest grossing of the year in the UK, so the Bond hype may have saved an actor dismissive of his performance and franchise. Lazenby was often thought to lack any form to his character, being a bit bland, and his off screen attitude probably did not help public perceptions.

The film was not a total wash out - it did have a strong focus on SPECTRE (the Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion), which will be extremely relevant when watching the latest instalment of Craig.

Lazenby is not the forgotten Bond due to his one spy outing; he is forgotten because the fans purposefully shelved a man who lacked the features of a true 007 agent.

BOND GOES CAMP

By the end of the 1960s, Britain had undergone a cultural revolution. The social niceties of previous decades were torn-down by a wave of promiscuous developments. These included legalisation of the contraceptive pill, tabloid journalism, and so-called ‘hippy’ culture. Following such events, the British public could express themselves like never before. In this era, ‘camp’ was the embodiment of cultural freedom, the ability to express what you wanted, how you wanted, and without judgment.

This new-found liberal approach is a defining feature of Moore’s Bond; nothing was off-limits. ‘Bond in space’ may sound like the beginning of a bad joke, but it comprises the plot-line for Moonraker. Adding to this was a crucial ingredient which remained buried in following films, not to resurface until 2012’s Skyfall – a sense of humour. Not only were Moore’s films funny, but they had an undeniably British sense of humour. In later eras, there was a greater need to appeal to international audiences, somewhat stifling this unique sense of ‘Britishness’.

This in itself makes the Moore films rare gems, well-worth revisiting.

Eventually, audiences grew tired of Moore’s unlikely escapades. A View to a Kill was the final nail in the coffin. According to reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it received the worst critical consensus of any Bond-film. In Thatcher-era Britain, and with Ronald Reagan pushing the world to the brink of nuclear war, the time for comic relief was over.

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TIMOTHY DALTON

PIERCE BROSNAN

Timothy Dalton appeared in just two films, The Living Daylights and License to Kill, and is often forgotten. Neither was well-received at their time of release.

Dalton was a new breed of Bond, more Craig than Connery. The loss of sophistication was tragic for contemporaries, but in our darker era, there is much to appreciate.

Bond had been absent in cinema for all of six years at this point, but Pierce pulled up in his top of the range BMW Z3 to shake not stir 007 back to life. 1995 allowed Goldeneye to be born showcasing how Brosnan was going to modernise James for another three films afterwards. The usual car chases, love interests, villains and explosions were amped up to match the pre-millennial tension encapsulated through Brosnan’s run.

THE DAY BOND WENT DARK

From the outset, Dalton was different. The Shakespearean stage actor was tall and serious, a stark contrast to Moore’s debonair quipster. His films tapped-into and exploited cultural paranoia. At the time, Reagan’s terms as US president led to increased cold-war aggression. In The Living Daylights Bond is forced to hunt-down General Pushkin (John Rhys-Davies) to prevent escalating tensions between the Soviet Union and the West. The film paralleled real-world events, which allowed Bond to slot right in.

He wasn’t the dry Connery or sophisticated Moore - Dalton’s Bond was a human being. Whilst prepping for the role, he went straight to Fleming’s original novels.

In doing so, he stripped back much of the Hollywood glamour that had been built-up over the years. Instead of making Bond a superhero, Dalton explored the psychological-state of a man who murdered for a living. Throughout Licence to Kill Bond is violent and reckless. At one point, he takes on multiple assailants whilst clinging to the back of a speeding lorry. With his disregard for personal safety and tendency for nervous laughter, Dalton’s Bond is vulnerable and unhinged. Whilst unappreciated in its time, the Dalton-era stands strong in retrospect. True, he lacked charisma, but his is the ‘real’ Bond, Fleming’s original – and should not be dismissed.

THE BOND SAVIOUR

Being dubbed by many as ‘The Modern Bond’, Brosnan was coupled with better filming, stunts and a general contemporary overhaul. His run of films echoed pre-millennial fears of technological anxiety with Goldeneye’s fear of hacking space weapons to Die Another Day’s 21st century messages on global warming and fears of foreign agencies like North Korea. Bond films in general like to echo concerns of the time to truly connect with an audience living for the now.

"BOND FILMS IN GENERAL LIKE TO ECHO CONCERNS OF THE TIME" It would be rude to not mention Dame Judi Dench, who took on the mantle of M alongside Brosnan and continued to do so until her departure in 2012. Dench and Brosnan always had a great chemistry on screen, her persona ranging from that of a worried mother to a scolding school teacher. Goldeneye regenerated the franchise and Brosnan is quite probably the most well-known Bond to students now. Well, either him or the hunk of muscle and suave sass that replaced him for Casino Royale.

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DANIEL CRAIG

BOND’S FUTURE

Daniel Craig’s first outing as Bond, Casino Royale, came out just four years after Brosnan’s last, but gave the 44 year-old franchise a reboot. Craig’s Bond is fresh from receiving his license to kill and double-0 status, allowing the franchise to move with the times, updating and modernising along with audiences. Free from the franchise’s complicated past, audiences were able to see a more multi-faceted Bond, a man who, within the same film, could dispatch multiple enemies in traditional style, whilst also exploring his personal demons. The martini-sipping, suave killer in a tux may remain, but Craig’s era demonstrated that there could be more to Bond as a character than audiences ever expected.

In 1961, Ian Fleming published Thunderball, a novel he based on a draft screenplay for the next cinematic Bond outing, but he failed to credit Kevin McClory, the screenplay’s key contributor. McClory sued Fleming and, after many years of legal battles, won, taking with him the rights to Bond’s biggest cinematic enemy, SPECTRE. In 2013, his estate awarded MGM back all the rights that McClory had acquired, allowing that mysterious organisation to return to Bond’s cinematic universe, plaguing 007 for the seventh time. Whether or not the organisation Craig will face is linked to the original remains to be seen, but the 24th Bond outing looks to be one of the most exciting yet.

A modern era of Bond also needs modern threats. Gone are the metal-mouthed villains and the henchman wielding weaponized bowler hats; the threats of Craig’s era are murkier, with a more over-reaching feel. The shady organisation Quantum which acts as antagonist in both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace seems to have operatives in every major sphere of society, manipulating the course of world events. The face of his threats in Craig’s era was perhaps the most unclear of all Bonds, reflecting modern real-world fears of the faceless nature of terrorism.

"THE 24TH BOND OUTING LOOKS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING YET"

BOND FOR A NEW GENERATION

Craig’s era (and to an extent, Brosnan’s) is also noticeable for putting aside the overtly misogynistic treatment of women seen in earlier films, fitting more with modern society, without losing the character’s famous flirtatious manner. The ‘Bond girls’ of this era are more than the subservient arm candy they once were, while M became a strong lead in her own right.

SPECTRE AND BEYOND…

The film after Spectre will see James Bond’s 25th release and will be, quite possibly, Daniel Craig’s last as the iconic character. Speculation has already begun regarding who will replace Craig as the new Bond with the likes of Idris Elba being put forward to step into the role of cinema’s most famous spy. Only time will tell but the future for Bond looks to be as exciting as his past.

WORDS BY GEORGE DRISCOLL, JOE JONES AND HENRY STANLEY

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SOCIAL MEDIA SPECULATION OR SPOILERS?

SPECULATION AT ITS BEST

There is no doubt that social media can be a nest of spoilers. There will always be that one person who can’t stop broadcasting the latest twist on Game of Thrones. However, there are ways to limit the extent of this. In the case of TV particularly, not using a site until you’re up-to-date is almost certainly a good idea (or just straight up blocking those inclined to spoil they deserve it after all). Social media doesn’t have to be all about spoilers.

"SOCIAL MEDIA DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ALL ABOUT SPOILERS" Social media sites allow fans to discuss what they know from trailers, with the knowledge that very few people know for sure what is about to happen. The discussions that occur may come true, but the act of speculating is not necessarily ‘spoiling’ anything. Instead, the discussion simply helps to build the excitement and anticipation for the upcoming release. The eventual revelation is all the more satisfying when you have discussed what could be about to occur.

Leaked photos may have, in recent years, become an issue; however, not only are they easily avoided, they also very rarely spoil pivotal plot twists.

Yes, we may have seen this bad guy fighting this hero, but so what? A fight like that isn’t so much a spoiler, in fact, it just fuels the speculation. Photos from set are often out of context and open to interpretation. Bigger reveals and plot details are often filmed in closed sets meaning they cannot be spoiled online.

Social media can be a tool for spoilers to a select group, it is nearly impossible to deny. However, for the vast majority of users, social media allows us to come together to speculate and anticipate, examining trailers and news releases to our hearts content without ruining the joy of viewing our favourite shows and films.

WORDS BY HENRY STANLEY

SPOILER CENTRAL

Spoilers to social media are what The Human Centipede is to your 85 year old granny: an extremely unpleasant sight. Spoilers are a rot in a society where storylines span months and TV shows and films are ruined by a small piece of knowledge. Yet this knowledge is avoidable! Not if you follow your favourite film and TV social media channels.

Take the recent example of The Walking Dead, a gripping and popular show that reels in millions of viewers. Their Facebook admins decided to reveal three character deaths hours after the show had aired…in the US. For any late watchers and non-US viewers the plot was spoiled and all due to the weapon of social media.

In addition to events like this, trailers, stills and interviews are bombarded at viewers with films often having up to three or four trailers with new content each time. Which begs the question if you’ve seen up to 10 minutes of footage of a film is that offering hype or just spoiling a little too much of the film itself?

“SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW TO OVERKILL GREAT PLOTS AND GREAT CINEMA” Social media can be an extremely useful tool in promoting films and TV shows but when an individual decides to ruin plots or expose way too much of the material it can often take away from the end product.

Social media is the prime example of how to overkill great plots and great cinema.

WORDS BY GEORGE DRISCOLL IMAGE BY ‘ANA C’ VIA FLICKR

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“...IT’S NOT EVEN MORIBUND, IT’S JUST FUCKING DEAD” TALKING WITH KNEEL BEFORE ZOD Nottingham has a vast array of film societies so we interviewed Alastair Smith, a Psychology lecturer at the University of Nottingham and member of TKBZVCONC (The Kneel Before Zod Video Club Of Nottingham Club) to get to know a little bit about the club and the wider Nottingham cinema environment.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE KNEEL BEFORE ZOD AS A FILM CLUB?

It’s getting harder and harder to answer that question as it has completely changed in form over time. When we started, it was an opportunity to put things on that we wouldn’t usually get to see. Often those were films that were a bit ropey in some way shape or form, but in a way that was kind of heartening and entertaining. What we try and do is show films that people may not have seen before or we feel have been unduly forgotten.

I think what we also want to do is evoke a kind of nostalgia from growing up in the joys of video rental. I bet that the next generation of first years will not have memories of renting from a shitty garage, but I also wonder how many of them will have even been to Blockbuster. What we are trying to hold on to is definitely dead - it’s not even moribund, it’s just fucking dead.

The reason why I say it’s harder to say what we do is because we don’t just

show films anymore; we’ve been doing visuals for gigs and people’s album artwork. It has completely turned into a multimedia bastard.

There are so many slight errors that it’s actually quite funny now. I like the fact that it’s a crap name that people can’t even get right.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT PLANNED IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS?

YOU SCREEN A LOT OF FILMS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM YOU’VE PUT ON?

We’ve had a kind of an unofficial hiatus. Rich, my compatriot, is currently in America, he is also a lecturer, at Trent, and he runs a record label. I’m also in a couple of bands, so we’ve got too much stuff going on.

This month Scalarama is taking place and we’ve been making sure the city is full of film stuff! We’re putting a couple of things on, and details can be found on our Facebook page and the Scalarama website.

THE NAME KNEEL BEFORE ZOD, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

Its complete happenstance really. We were just having a chat and talking about Superman 2, and someone said ‘Kneel before Zod’. We love Superman 2 but as time goes on I hate the name more and more, but it’s too late.

The name doesn’t mean anything anymore. Like Radio-head - what does that mean? It’s just a label. We sometimes play with it ourselves, so at the moment we are actually called TKBZVCONC just to be annoying.

What’s lovely is the way it’s been written in different bits of press - we were doing something at Nottingham Contemporary and they called us Neil, with Beforezod as a surname.

There’s a point at which I felt we’d reached a kind of zenith, and that was when we put on Friday the 13th Part III in 3D. We had Richard Brooker, who was Jason in Part III, and he came along to introduce the film. What we had been doing until that point was putting things on in weird little spaces because firstly we liked moving, and secondly, we didn’t know where the best places were to do these things were. This was an opportunity where we had quite a large room that was full, and we had someone in the back from the film who was shouting and surprising people. That was the point where I thought ‘this is what I’ve always wanted’.

The film was great and Brooker did a Q&A after, and he was funny and engaging. That’s definitely for me a high point. I do think we’ve had some achievements that are a bit more highbrow, if you like. For example, we had a performance of Turkskib at the Broadway, which is an old Soviet propaganda film, but with the soundtrack as a live score by Bronnt Industries Kapital. It’s a really

interesting film as it is, but it now had the most rousing beautiful bastard of a soundtrack that completely transformed it. That was when I felt we’d achieved something of artistic merit and integrity.

IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND ONE FILM TO STUDENTS WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I really really love The Shout, which has just had a Blu-Ray release. It’s got John Hurt and Alan Bates in it, and is essentially about a composer and his wife who live in the middle of the sand dunes of Devon. Their lives are interrupted by this man who controls them and their household.

He claims he has learnt the ‘death shout’ from aborigines in Australia, and when he uses this shout people can die. John Hurt wants to record that, so it’s just about what leads up to and after that incident. It’s just pure poetry. It’s got an astounding soundtrack by that dude out of Genesis, the good one…Tony Banks!

We did show this at Broadway but for me this sums up everything that Zod is about. It’s a really beautiful and strange tautologous labyrinthine bit of filmmaking that’s going to stick with you for ages.

WORDS BY GEORGE DRISCOLL AND HENRY STANLEY IMAGE BY ‘PAULICARMODY’ VIA FLICKR

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THE COMING MONTHS WILL NO DOUBT BE A HECTIC FEW FOR US ALL. WHETHER YOU’RE IN YOUR FIRST YEAR OR YOUR LAST, THINGS WILL NO DOUBT BE BUSY. BUT FEAR NOT, IMPACT FILM AND TV HAS COMPOSED A LIST OF MUST-SEE FILMS COMING OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, SO AT SOME POINT, TAKE A BREAK, POP TO THE CINEMA AND ENJOY!

WORDS BY HENRY STANLEY IMAGE BY ‘V1CTORY_1S_M1NE’ VIA FLICKR

Black Mass

Spectre

SEPTEMBER 18TH

NOVEMBER 6TH

Johnny Depp is known for his unique character roles: Sweeny Todd, The Mad Hatter and, of course, Captain Jack Sparrow. But in Black Mass, Depp’s true acting talent may be revealed, with his terrifying portrayal of Whitey Bulger, one of the US’s most infamous criminals.

Bond is Back! Expect new cars and new gadgets but an old enemy is rearing its head.

Daniel Craig returns to the titular role but, in the fallout from the events of Skyfall, who can he trust? And can he survive the return of the evil SPECTRE?

Maze Runner: Scorch Trials

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2

SEPTEMBER 18TH

NOVEMBER 20TH

They’ve escaped the Maze, but the adventure is only just beginning. In the second part of The Maze Runner trilogy the teens must battle to survive the might of WCKD. With The Hunger Games coming to an end, this may have become THE new teen franchise.

The final instalment of the record-breaking franchise has the war against the Capitol finally reaching its epic conclusion. Whether stretching the last book into two films will leave this instalment feeling strained remains to be seen, this will be the last time we see Jennifer Laurence’s ‘Girl On Fire’ on the big screen.

Pan

The Good Dinosaur

OCTOBER 9TH

NOVEMBER 25TH

Hugh Jackman leads this live action Peter Pan prequel as Blackbeard, ruler of Neverland.

Showing audiences just how ‘The Boy Who Never Grew Up’ got to Neverland, this fantastical adventure teams Peter with fellow captive Blackbeard, a prisoner with a turbulent future - Captain James Hook

2014 had no Pixar movies. This year, we get TWO! With Inside Out smashing the summer box office, Pixar’s second offering of the year examines exactly what could have happened if the dinosaurs were never extinct. What if man lived side by side with the dinosaurs?

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

OCTOBER 23RD

DECEMBER 18TH

The revolutionary franchise, now in its fifth outing, may seem like its finally breathed its last. But featuring a camera which can ‘see’ the spirits that are doing the haunting, the days of two hours of slamming doors and shifting bed sheets may finally be over…

Its back! Thirty eight years after the first release to a galaxy far, far away, THE franchise of so many childhoods returns with Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, R2 and all your favourite characters and continue the journey. May the force be with you!

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J.P

FRESH MEAT J.P is the culmination of every negative English stereotype. Not only is he the quintessential ‘toff’, but also has the added defects of a brainless pretty-boy with more money than sense. Having arrived and unpacked, you start a tentative conversation with ol’ money bags. It doesn’t take long before you’re informed that this wasn’t his first choice. Don’t be silly, that was Oxford! Unfortunately, the family-jet needed repairs, and the world-wide cruise interrupted his revision. Oh, it’s a hard life! As if student budgeting wasn’t tough enough, J.P. will always be there to remind you how poor you really are. The up-side? Those bottomless pockets can be turned to your advantage. Get him on a nightout and you’re guaranteed a couple of free drinks, if you can stomach those cheesy chat-up lines and ‘banter’. ‘Did you know my second cousin is actually the third Earl of Dorchester?’, ‘Feel my jacket, that’s boyfriend material’ – ugh!

Unless you happen to be a member of the royal family, this cringe-worthy roommate is definitely one to steer clear of!

ROSS GELLER FRIENDS

Geology rocks! Dinosaurs rule! As do big hair and bad moustaches, apparently. For anyone who hasn’t seen Friends’ college flashbacks, take it from us, Ross blossomed later-on in life. He befriended Chandler, but that was due to mutual dorkiness, not a shared sense of ‘cool’. But hey, if museum outings are your thing, maybe it won’t be so bad. You could bond over late-night chats. Who would win a fight, a tyrannosaurus or a pack of velociraptors? And when not participating in dino-related banter, it’s time to get stuck in with his other favourite pastime – studying! What do you mean that doesn’t sound fun?

Fine, do something else then…so long as it isn’t too loud.

MIKE ROSS SUITS

Everyone knows that one friend or acquaintance who can demolish exams with little to no revision. Mike Ross is that guy, but takes it to a new extreme of lying to become a Harvardgraduated lawyer. Many freshers adopt the ‘I only need 40%’ approach anyway, but to have a hallmate who didn’t attend a single lecture and then achieve a first across the board may be enough to start some irritation in the flat. In addition to this, he lies to everyone about everything so as to who stole your beloved Domino’s leftovers, you won’t need to be a lawyer to work that one out.

JOFFREY BARATHEON GAME OF THRONES

University, halls especially, are a melting pot for characters to come together and make new friends and new experiences. The Joffrey type as a hallmate would ruin everything. The most self-entitled individual you know does not come close to this monstrous cretin who lives for the pain of others and anyone who does not give him his own way. Some people are going to come close to this personality at Uni as this is a lot of first times away from parents who used to do EVERYTHING for them. “Can I borrow your iron?” may be a simple request but some may decide all property is theirs and in halls, sharing is caring. Mr. Baratheon would not do well in this environment.

HANNIBAL LECTER SILENCE OF THE LAMBS/ HANNIBAL

Most likely found in self-catered halls, whilst many students are living off Sainsbury’s Basic Beans on Toast, Hannibal could well be a popular flatmate, always serving up feasts of delightfully meaty cuisine, full of choice morsels and tasty treats to make the mouth water. His cupboard will seem to never be empty, though you may soon realise that he rarely pops down to Tesco’s to top it up.

Oh, and he will always be the first to explain that one of your coursemates had to “rush home in an emergency” despite not leaving any messages for anyone else. Sticking to the vegetarian option is probably the best idea.

GREMLIN GREMLINS

Many students may have a little bit of Gremlin hidden within, hiding in the dark, away from the sun and only emerging from their rooms when the sun has completely set. But a full Gremlin as a hall mate would be a complete nightmare on a night out. The weekly trip to The Big O, with its bright flashing strobes and tendency for flying liquids make this an incredibly dangerous place for the hallmate AND anyone with them.

And the post-night out McDonald's after midnight is a big no-no… eating that late could easily end the night in disaster.

Hallmates

From Hell

MANY WILL TELL YOU THAT HALLS ARE THE BEST TIMES OF YOUR LIFE, BUT AFTER THE FRESHER GOGGLES HAVE WORN AWAY AND REALITY HITS, YOU REALISE HOW TRULY ‘UNIQUE’ SOME OF YOUR HALLMATES ACTUALLY WERE. WE HAVE OFFERED JUST A FEW OF THE CHARACTERS YOU MIGHT MEET WHEN SURVIVING THROUGH HALLS. WORDS BY GEORGE DRISCOLL, JOE JONES AND HENRY STANLEY IMAGE BY ‘GOODSOPHISM’ VIA FLICKR

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UON MUSIC SOCIETIES PROFILED

IT’S THE START OF TERM. THIS IS THE TIME WHERE SOCIAL BOUNDARIES DON’T MATTER AND PERSONAL PASSIONS CAN BE INDULGED - AND THERE ARE TREATS FOR EVERYONE IN THIS MENU OF SOCIETIES ON OFFER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM.

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A CAPPELLA

BLOWSOC

Seen Glee, or the Pitch Perfect movies?

Then welcome to the A Cappella society. Looking to participate soon in intercollegiate competitions such as The Voice Festival UK’s nationwide University A Cappella competition, with eyes on The London A Cappella Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival too. The University of Nottingham A Cappella Society currently oversees four A Cappella groups: ‘RadioOctave’, an auditioned male-and-female group, ‘The Crazy Pitches’, an all-female group , ‘Miss Four Tune’, a female barbershop quartet and ‘Chordally Invited’; a male-and-female mix. All are welcome, no matter what you consider your abilities to be!

Blowsoc is the music society for all wind, brass, percussion and big band jazz players. They run eight ensembles and aim to provide something for players of all abilities. They have two auditioned ensembles; Wind Orchestra and Moonlighters Big Band as well as five unauditioned ensembles for all instrument types. Blowsoc combines outstanding music-making with an exciting social calendar topped off with an unforgettable European tour in the Easter break.

BANDSOC BandSoc gives you the chance to meet new people who have the same interest in music as you, and to make those people the hottest new band on campus! Every year BandSoc holds a Battle of the Bands, where they pit upcoming bands against each other in a chance to gig on the big stage.

The Final is traditionally hosted in professional performance venue or upcoming student music venue such as Rescue Rooms or Spanky Van Dykes. Their bands compete for the chance to win some recording time which will help put their music out there. Practise rooms are cheap, so the facilities are there to rehearse for the climatic band-off.

BASS SOCIETY Bass Society has its arms wide open to all university ravers. Nottingham has one of the most thriving and exciting music scenes in the country; home to legendary nights such as Detonate, Highness Soundsystem, Dollop, Basslaced, Ascension, MIMM, Detour, Surface and many more. Their mission is to unite fellow beat heads and hit the raves together. They throw house parties and host their very own club night at Dogma where they offer the opportunity to DJ alongside great amateur DJ’s and also some of the best professionals in the business.

Last year Alix Perez, Friction, Jubei, and Phaeleh were just a few of the artists that passed through. Bass Soc also have their very own radio show that keeps you up-to-date with new releases, live mixes and opportunities to get involved.

DJ SOC The society for the aspiring and established DJs, producers and music lovers at UoN. The place to learn DJ-ing, improve your productions and jam with like-minded people?

If you already know the craft then the DJ Society are expanding their soundsystem, putting on house parties and club nights in Nottingham, and giving you the opportunity to play or just enjoy a decent party.

FOLK SOC Folk Soc gives you the chance to explore both folk music and folk dance. Regular socials are held which revolve around live gigs in and around Nottingham, and encouraging participating musicians beginners, improvers, and those more experienced - to attend 'folk sessions' together in a Nottingham pub to play, share and learn tunes and generally have a good time.

HIGH SOCIETY High Society is all about alternative/ indie music; a pretty broad church meaning fans of rock, pop, punk, experimental, hip-hop, electronica, jazz, noise… The list goes on, but you’ll all find a place at this "alternative" society. They’re also all about the indie ideology and culture, and host or attend mostly musicbased events that fit this ethos. You'll make your membership back fee easily after only a couple of events and meet many new friends here.

HIP HOP SOCIETY Hip-Hop is a culture, a way of life and for many a career. The aims of Hip Hop Soc are simple; to give students the necessary support to display their art to the community from Nottingham to Ningbo and

everywhere inbetween. Whether you’re an emcee, DJ, graffiti artist, designer, B-boy or poet; they will provide you with a platform to promote your work, pool resources and communicate with one another.

Using links to various ongoing projects and hip-hop companies within the country; the hip-hop society has the potential to be one of the largest at the university. And it could be the starting point of a career in Hip-Hop for many of its students.

MUSICALITY Musicality is a thriving, Gold Award society at the University of Nottingham. It unites all aspects of musical theatre including singing, acting, dance, production, direction, composing, costume... and pretty much anything else theatrical! They have gotten to heat four on Don't Stop Believing on Channel 5 but don’t be starstruck… they give everyone the chance to get involved, regardless of experience or ability. Take part in their numerous cabarets and showcases, large-scale musical productions and smaller external productions performed in various locations including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and open-mic nights in the city. Or, alternatively, simply come along to their acting, singing and dancing workshops and rehearsals every Thursday night. There are also various theatre trips to the West End and local theatres during the year, and plenty of socials in the city.

industrial music can come together and meet like-minded people. They run a weekly social called ‘Piracy’ at The Salutation Inn every Tuesday 8pm-12am where they have their own Rock/Punk/Metal/EBM and Industrial DJs alongside hosting themed quiz nights and open nights for you to debut your own monster riffs. They also help organise group trips to gigs in other cities and nationwide festivals.

SONGWRITING SOC A music society for all musicians and singers, regardless of experience.

They meet up once a week for a jam session, usually on Tuesdays at 7pm, at the Djanogly Recital Hall, alongside organising Open Mics in the city for our members to play. If you want to learn covers, then you can practise by yourself or with others in the practise rooms. If another member knows a song you like, ask them to teach you!

In the past they have booked studios for their members to record their own songs in a professional environment.

Have a listen to what they've recorded in the past at soundcloud.com/ uonsongwriting.

PUNKSOC PunkSoc celebrates all things punk about university of Nottingham - its counterculture ethos and its earthtrembling noise, alongside its various subcultures, be it ska, punk rock and the more hardcore run-offs. They're not as as scary a bunch as the music would suggest however; PunkSoc is a friendly and welcoming crowd - a means to mingle with those who share the same tastes and are interested in going to and putting on punk gigs.

They often also mingle and merge with other music societies on socials, so no matter how broad or centred your tastes may be, there’s be something for everyone punk here.

ROCKSOC Rocksoc is where the hand-bangers collide; providing a scene where fans of rock ‘n’ roll, heavy rock, metal and

WORDS BY LIAM INSCOE– JONES IMAGE BY LEEDS COLLEGE OF MUSIC VIA FLICKR

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NOTTINGHAM GIG VENUE GUIDE RIP OUT AND PUT THIS GIG GUIDE IN YOUR WALLET FOR SPONTANEOUS MUSICAL ADVENTURES IN THE CITY OF NOTTINGHAM CAPITAL FM ARENA

What’s it like? With room for 10,000, the Capital FM Arena is the largest venue in Nottingham, and as such has attracted numerous international acts since opening in 2000; it’s been a stop on world and UK tours for The Killers, Katy Perry, Metallica and Elton John over the years, to name a few.

Where is it? In the Lace Market… it’s a whopping great arena, you can’t really miss it.

Who will I meet there? People whose favourite song came out in the last 3 months and don’t care who knows it.

What can I see here? All the big names.

This year will see a range of some of the biggest international artists, from Florence + The Machine and Imagine Dragons to A$AP Rocky and The Prodigy. Also, Bryan Adams.

ROCK CITY

What’s it like? Nottingham’s premier venue for the last 35 years, Rock City has a proud history of hosting some of the biggest names in music. From its roots hosting 80s rock bands like The Undertones, The Smiths, Guns N Roses and The Pixies, Rock City has grown to accommodate hip-hop acts like Public Enemy, 90s bands such as Nirvana and Rage Against The Machine, and of course Britpop with the likes of Oasis, Blur and Pulp.

Where is it? If you’ve already experienced your first drunken trip to club night Crisis - it’s the same venue.

RESCUE ROOMS

What’s it like? The younger sister to Rock City, Rescue Rooms offers a smaller, more intimate setting for upand-coming acts to visit Nottingham.

With more than a hundred gigs a year without compromising acoustics or atmosphere, this venue has seen the likes of Bloc Party, Foals, Jamie T, Mumford & Sons, The Killers and many more on their respective ascensions to stardom.

Where is it? Next door to Rock City, just without the flashy entrance.

Who will I meet there? It really depends what you’re into. Don’t expect the crowd at Peace to stick around for Cradle of Filth later that month.

Who will I meet there? Expect those with a finger on the pulse of acclaimed new and alternative music, NME subscribers and fans of Dave Grohl lookalikes.

What can I see there? Highlights from this year’s gig guide include Sleaford Mods, Years & Years, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Everything Everything and Frank Turner.

What can I see there? Upcoming at the Rescue Rooms is everything from UoN alumni Amber Run to hot indie folk artists including Lucy Rose and Tobias Jesso Jr, mixed with some pop-punk nostalgia from Wheatus and Reel Big Fish.

WORDS BY LIAM INSCOE–JONES AND JAMES NOBLE IMAGE BY ‘IGGYSHOOT’ VIA FLICKR

JT SOAR

What’s it like? A converted fruit and vegetable warehouse on the outskirts of the city centre, JT Soar is a DIY creative space for music and arts complete with a venue area and recording studio. An important addition to Nottingham’s live scene, this venue provides an informal setting for unknown bands from a variety of genres to perform and record.

Where is it? Furthest from the centre on our shortlist, it’s on Aberdeen Street in Sneinton – through Hockley, down Goosegate… around there. Google it.

Who will I meet there? Music-lovers untamed by mainstream whims, determined to make a positive impact upon their local community.

What can I see there? One of the bigger names to appear at JT Soar recently was Rolo Tomassi - an experimental group with a DIY ethic of their own - though even they appeal to a relatively niche market of mathcore fans. You’ll see a mix of rock, experimental, math, punk and posthardcore here.

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BODEGA

What’s it like? One of the most iconic gig venues in the city; it’s known for breaking big bands and it has a past roster to confirm the legacy including Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, MGMT, The Libertines, Snow Patrol and the White Stripes. You have to envy those who caught these now-mammoth acts in such an intimate setting; which turns into an alternative club venue after hours. More turntable spinners than radio hitters.

Where is it? Up Pelham Street from the main Market Square – straddled by pubs and vintage clothes shops.

Who will I meet there? Sweatband adorning indie rock fans, looking to rock out after picking up some vintage garms from Hockley.

What can I see there? Upcoming acts like Jess and the Bandits and Summercamp may not be huge yet, but that’s sort of the point… an old Bodega line up can be today’s Capital FM headliners.

ROUGH TRADE THE What’s it like? The newest addition to CHAMELEON the Nottingham music scene, opened in December of 2014, this world ARTS CAFE famous chain started in the seventies in London and later signed acts like The Smiths and Libertines. It’s rather telling that they only have stores in London, New York, and Nottingham.

A record shop first and foremost – the hottest releases are always there on Vinyl and CD formats to peruse before heading to the first floor bar and performing stage to hear the musicianship behind the wax.

Where is it? Lace Market, opposite Wild Clothing on the same street as the excellent Broadway Cinema.

Who will I meet there? Those who pretend to like vinyl, those who actually like vinyl; music lovers all.

What can I see there? It’s a record shop – so expect indie artists to pay a visit. Recent performers include Lorna and Spotlight Kid.

What’s it like? A quaint venue with a fiery underbelly in the attic performance space upstairs; it’s the sort of place to host crafts afternoons and then let loose with some local punk rock when the sun goes down.

Where is it? On Angel Row, in an upstairs space above the same row as Nandos and McDonald's… although don’t expect them to share much clientele.

Who will I meet there? Local creatives and those working on furthering socially conscious community work in the city.

What can I see there? Acts here often come tied to socially progressive causes, be it the ‘Punks Against Patriarchy’ event held earlier this year which hosted the likes of Petrol Girls, or just music with a straight political edge – such as recent Glastonbury stormers Sleaford Mods.

SPANKY VAN DYKES

What’s it like? A student run eatery on the way into the centre of Nottingham is one hip place to grab a burger and a pint; and then rock out to some great local music upstairs. Themed nights are normally what’s on offer and, given the name of the bar, it should be of no surprise that they go by titles like ‘The Hoochie Coochie Club’ and ‘An Ode to Kinky Gerlinky’. Don’t expect class, but one hell of a laugh.

Where is it? Just down from Rock City; on the way into the centre of town on the number 34 bus.

Who will I meet there? A friendly if alternative crowd; don’t let their beards deceive you, it’s all smiles underneath the bush.

What can I see there? Lots of tribute acts, like the Bowie cover group Rebel Rebel.

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M U S I C RECENTLY INCREASING NUMBERS OF MUSICIANS HAVE BEEN BRANCHING OUT INTO POLITICS. ONE THING HAS BECOME APPARENT: WE CARE ABOUT THEIR OPINIONS. SOCIALMEDIA HAS GIVEN THESE INDIVIDUALS A PLATFORM UPON WHICH TO SHARE VIEWS AND INFLUENCE SOCIAL CHANGE. THIS BEGS ONE QUESTION THOUGH: SHOULD MUSIC BE USED AS A POLITICAL FORCE?

THE SEX PISTOLS VS COLDPLAY

Should Music Be Political?

We’ve heard it all before; one great rock show can change the world.

This is naïve, but music can truly be a unifying force. It doesn’t matter who you go and see, an indie group filling The Bodega with 250 fans or 10,000 people screaming for a popstar in the Capital FM arena. These people may have vastly different lives to you. They may hold wildly differing views. But for one night you all have that moment in common, you are all sharing something special. Imagine if 10,000 heard something that made them consider social revolution. Genuine change can only happen upon mass involvement and musicians have a huge opportunity to influence that.

Perhaps that’s why they shouldn’t.

“ONE DIRECTION WOULDN’T HAVE MILLIONS OF FANS IF THEY SANG ABOUT AUSTERITY” The unique sanctity of sharing something so special with thousands of others that might have nothing else in common with you might just be shattered by a timely reminder of our differences. Music has a truly therapeutic power and we as a people could lose that if it too became something overtly politically. Music would become another means of focusing on the very things we use it to avoid. It’s amazing that people pay £165 to be lectured by Bono about those more in need than us but it can only be because of the iconography of U2. One Direction wouldn’t have millions of screaming fans buying all of their merchandise if they sang about austerity. Taylor Swift’s embrace of women’s rights has remained largely outside of her actual music, because

people aren’t paying to hear talk about that, they’re paying to drunkenly scream “Shake It Off.” When Nina Simone got political in the 60’s her career took a nosedive.

Then again, if people didn’t want to hear about these things then why did The Sex Pistols and The Clash become so popular? People flocked to them because they were authentic and stood for something. You can look at any 20th century subculture and find its foundations in a musical genre: the Mods, the Rockers, skinheads, Rastafarians, hippies. In many of those cases key social change was at least partially inspired by the freedom brought by embracing new musical ideas.

“YOU CAN LOOK AT ANY 20TH CENTURY SUBCULTURE AND FIND FOUNDATIONS IN A MUSICAL GENRE.” Of course, it doesn’t take long to be reminded that music is as an industry.

Adorno noted the use of culture to make one feel as though they are achieving social change without actually achieving anything. We all feel that bit better after screaming “fuck you I won’t do what you tell me” to Rage Against The Machine, but I didn’t achieve much. In fact the only reason I can hear that song is because I gave Apple 99p, a terrifyingly unavoidable irony.

If there were ever a time in which music was needed to be the voice of social and political issues for the masses, it is right now. Maybe if we agree with a band starting a discussion on a key debate we shouldn’t just mindlessly repeat it but act upon it. It is also important that we still appreciate music that doesn’t have a message; a sanctuary in which people can escape the stresses of everyday life because sometimes we just need a catchy tune to enjoy.

WORDS BY LIAM FLEMING IMAGE BY SHELL SMITH VIA FLICKR

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//// CD LIBRARY PROFILE //// Lurking deep in the basement of the Portland building, somewhere beyond the sultry sounds of the university radio station, resides one of the campus’ untapped gems. The University of Nottingham’s CD and Record Library has now amassed a total of 10,000 CDs, and a membership card grants you access to every one.

“A CD DOESN’T HAVE AN ADVERT HALFWAY THROUGH” The Library was first established in 1979 by a Jazz Society who wanted its members to be able to borrow the records they talked about when they met. Gradually other music societies contributed to the Library to form the eclectic mix of music that we have today. Then a brand new medium for music purchase; among the very first CDs they acquired were The Smiths’ Meat is Murder and Whitney Houston’s self-titled album, which were kindly donated by various record companies such as Bellfruit. These days the CD Library receives funding and support

from Students Union, which grants them a space to keep the library running, and provides the funding and freedom to buy and maintain our CDs and keep the library up to date.

It’s entirely non-profit as all the staff in the library volunteer their time, and the money from the loans of CDs goes towards topping up the libraries musical stockpile. Their own niche nature means they have a natural affinity towards more independent labels and artists. This ethos means that they try and buy as much as possible from independent record stores, such as Piccadilly Records and Rough Trade; who have recently opened up one of their stores in Nottingham.

By its very nature, the CD Library buys into the debate about the physical vs. digital medium in music.

It seems like yesterday that digital downloads being included in the charts was revolutionary; but today physical releases are something of a footnote. We spoke to Louise Croft, student chair of the CD Library, about the importance of keeping physical music alive – on which she remarked

“a CD doesn’t have an advert halfway through – what you have, you have.”

Being in a room filled with music has its other plus points too, as a volunteer at the desk pointed out to us. “Half my favourite bands I found flicking through these shelves” he told us; and indeed being able to spend time looking through a collection is a great avenue for discovery.

“THEY HAVE A NATURAL AFFINITY TOWARDS MORE INDEPENDENT LABELS AND ARTISTS.” Despite the title of the resource, the library also plays into another burgeoning revival: the vinyl resurgence. Louise says that “vinyl adds something”; and for many it’s this unplaceable quality that enhances music in analogue. It’s certainly true that LPs enable you to explore the artistry and personnel behind a record while it plays on wax, and the artists’

own input into its concept often informs the music. While the digital form enables us to widen the breadth of our musical tastes, the physical (one of the few places artists can retain mastery over the design and intent of their output) is integral to furthering the depth. With vinyl currently being free to rent from the CD Library, it’s certainly a great local resource to enable students to explore this.

The CD Library has had many locations over the years, originally starting in the West Concourse of the Student Union, but they now reside on the basement floor of the Portland building near Mooch and next to the dance studio.

The Library is open Monday to Friday between 12 and 2PM and Thursday evenings between 6 and 7. CDs are 50p each to borrow with membership.

You can access their catalogue at their website cdlibrary.co.uk to browse their full collection.

WORDS BY LIAM INSCOEJONES AND LOUISE CROFT IMAGE BY ‘FRANKIELEON’ VIA FLICKR

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CAMPUS TASTES!

CRAIGBONEY / FLICKR

Over summer we surveyed University of Nottingham students about their music tastes and hates… These are the results…

ED WEBSTER / FLICKR

Which Nottingham Night Out Boasts The Best Music?

RODRIGOFERRARI / FLICKR

A Recent Study Found That Hip-Hop Might Be More Influential Than Any Other Genre So…

The Beatles, or Kanye West?

THE FAB FOUR (50%) YEEZY (35%) THEY BOTH SUCK (15%)

Favourite Nottingham Gig Venue?

ROCK CITY (43%) THE BODEGA (26%) RESCUE ROOMS (17%) ROUGH TRADE (7%) OTHER (7%)

HOCKNEY (24%) OCEAN (16%) BOPP (15%) CRISIS/INK/ BOUNCE (7%) OTHER (24%)

ANDREAS LEVERS / FLICKR DESHAUN CRADDOCK / FLICKR

ANDY BLACK / FLICKR

What’s The Main Way You Listen To Music?

STREAMING (36%) CD/VINYL (23%) DIGITAL DOWNLOAD (22%) PIRACY (11%) OTHER (5%)

Favourite Nottingham Affiliated Artist?

LONDON GRAMMAR (35%) JAKE BUGG (33%) CHESHIRE AND THE CAT/SLEAFORD MODS (9%) AMBER RUN/GEORGE HOLROYD (5%) INDIANA/APRIL TOWERS (2%)

Favourite Nottingham Festival?

DOT TO DOT (51%) NO TOMORROW 28%) SPLENDOUR (13%) DETONATE (8%)

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TONI ROSADO / FLICKR ALLEN LEE / FLICKR MARFIS75 / FLICKR

Favourite Genre of Music?

ROCK (26%) ALTERNATIVE (23%) INDIE (9%) FOLK/REGGAE (6%) HIP-HOP (4%) OTHER (26%)

Favourite Band?

JON ELBAZ / FLICKR

ARCTIC MONKEYS FOO FIGHTERS KASABIAN ONE DIRECTION ARCADE FIRE

Favourite Rapper?

KANYE WEST EMINEM DRAKE KENDRICK LAMAR CHILDISH GAMBINO

GABBOT / FLICKR

KMERON / FLICKR

Favourite Album of the Year So Far?

Favourite Song of the Year So Far? TAYLOR SWIFT, SHAKE IT OFF

TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY, KENDRICK LAMAR I LOVE YOU HONEYBEAR, FATHER JOHN MISTY MY LOVE IS COOL, WOLF ALICE

Favourite Solo Artist?

GEORGE EZRA ED SHEERAN DAVID BOWIE BON IVER JOHN LENNON

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7 1 In April 2015, Prince Harry declared the ‘selfie’ unfashionable; The Guardian reported him asking a teenager in Australia to “Just take a normal photograph” when she tried to pose with him. Whilst selfies provide art in-the-moment, they are not exactly enduring – the invention of the Snapchat mobile app, which allows the sending of a picture for a maximum of 10 seconds to a friend, destroys the concept that true art is lasting. Impact Arts has found a solution to this problem: the ‘shelfie’. Having investigated bookshelves of several university students (after all, what could be more timeless than a good novel?), we decided that your book collection – your ‘shelfie’ – can reveal a lot more about you than a shameless selfie…

WORDS BY VICKY LORRIMAN IMAGE BY AMY RAINBOW

THE

HOPELESS ROMANTIC SHELFIE: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, THE NOTEBOOK, JANE EYRE. Traits: In love with love, the hopeless romantic cries at movies (especially Nicholas Sparks’ films), Disney and inspirational adverts.

Sentimental idealists, they live life with rose-tinted glasses and care for their loved ones.

THE

THE

SHELFIE: HARRY POTTER, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.

SHELFIE: LORD OF THE RINGS, A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, THE HUNGER GAMES.

INNER CHILD

Traits: A secret gorger of Cartoon Network, the inner child loves to mess around and doesn’t need a drink to go on the bouncy castle.

Habitat: Usually found having a temper tantrum in Tesco because the marshmallow fluff has run out.

Habitat: The hopeless romantic is often found sighing wistfully on the Downs and maintaining their modesty during Fresher’s Week.

ADVENTURER Traits: Adventurers are risk-takers and live by their own rules.

Generally mischief-makers as children, they live life in the moment and are independent, love to explore new surroundings and are not constrained by fears that restrict others.

THE

WANNABE DETECTIVE SHELFIE: GONE GIRL, SHERLOCK HOLMES, ANGELS AND DEMONS. Traits: Wannabe detectives often think they were born with Sherlock-style deductive reasoning skills. They are usually found in the company of a chosen side-kick with a low IQ.

Habitat: Usually found somewhere totally awesome completely off campus. Examples include The Peak District and Wollaton Park.

Habitat: It is expected that wannabe detectives forgo most nights out in favour of a binge in Hallward Library.

THE

THE

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THE

SHELFIE: FIFTY SHADES, GODDESS OF VENGEANCE, THE CROSSFIRE SERIES.

SHELFIE: JAMES BOND, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, JACK REACHER.

SHELFIE: WOLF HALL, SHAKESPEARE, TEXTBOOKS.

SHELFIE: DOCTOR WHO, COMIC BOOKS, ENCYCLOPAEDIAS.

Traits: Vamps are easily identifiable by their luxurious attire and room décor – usually ostentatiously costly ornaments and candles. They go to extreme lengths to maintain their mysterious air, sometimes refusing to reveal exactly where they were last night.

Traits: Natural born leaders, action heroes are known by everyone on campus. They have a tendency to use bad quality one-liners, and smoke or drink heavily. Incredibly popular, daring and great company, the action hero is who everybody wants to be.

Traits: Organised, efficient and respected, academics are wise and never fail to hand in an assessment on time. They are identifiable by their “individual” dress sense.

Traits: Extravagants unashamedly pursue wacky interests and are intellectually knowledgeable, but rather quiet. They are usually part of a close-knit group of friends.

Habitat: Vamps are typically found in their boudoirs at night, secretly reading under the covers

Habitat: Action heroes are most at home in the more “edgy” areas of Nottingham, especially backstreet bars.

Habitat: Academics generally congregate in Costa, drinking coffee with extra shots to keep essay-writing all night.

Habitat: The extravagant generally spends time in their bedroom on the computer.

VAMP

ACTION HERO

ACADEMIC

EXTRAVAGANT

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GRAPHIC NOVELS

ARE THEY ART, LITERATURE, OR NEITHER?

‘A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS’ – THAT’S THE CLICHÉ ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBTEXT OF AN IMAGE. BUT IS IT THE PICTURE OR THE WORDS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT? VICKY LORRIMAN, AMY WILCOCKSON, AND SCARLETT WHITE ARGUE THIS POINT WHILE DECIDING THE TRUE ARTISTIC CLASSIFICATION OF GRAPHIC NOVELS.

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ART

Graphic novels are heavily image-orientated – this we can all agree on. The ‘graphic novel’ will contain graphics, which are an incontestable manifestation of art: drawings. Nonetheless, the use of ‘novel’ in its title complicates its categorisation as a form of art.

Admittedly, graphic novels relay a narrative by using a structure that is typical in literature: setup, confrontation, climax and resolution.

However, whilst written words are usually essential in conveying the exterior meaning of an image, the overall message of the story is not entirely dependent upon words. Drawings alone can evoke the desired responses from their viewers without the spoon-feeding approach found in novels. Take Picasso’s Guernica, completed in 1937, as an example.

It is a painting, a work of art, that contains no words, yet no individual can deny the suffering of people, animals, and buildings that it depicts. This painting expresses a story visually that then influences its spectators to feel emotion and to take some form of action.

Just like Guernica, graphic novels also represent the art of telling a story through a series of images to achieve an effect.

Essentially, written words – the medium of literature – communicate superficial information such as setting, but the images themselves create the most powerful meanings that are open to interpretation, sometimes making this more effective than a novel. For example, a caricature can easily abolish a politician’s authority through eliciting laughter.

This is not to say that words are entirely insignificant in graphic novels, but that since the evocation of response in their audience relies largely upon images, it seems more fitting to place graphic novels in the ‘art’ category.

WORDS BY VICKY LORRIMAN

LITERATURE

NEITHER

Traditionally, literature combines plot, characters, action and developing events through the medium of words. Art, on the other hand is a visual expression of creative skill. For those who classify graphic novels this way, consider this – can you read art? Is it physically possible to turn the pages of the Mona Lisa?

Can art contain characters or convey action like a novel can? The answer is clearly no.

Anyone who has actually read a graphic novel will know that it is very difficult to categorise the experience. Is it like viewing a painting?

Like reading a book? People shake their heads in confusion. The simple explanation for this befuddlement is simple: a graphic novel is neither of these things.

In my opinion, art is static and simply a representation of a fixed moment in time, which can never be as alive or vital as the twists, turns, and revelations of a novel.

The storylines expressed in literature can be controversial or powerful, poignant or anguishing; emotions that cannot be evoked when stood blankly staring at the profound artwork that is just a depiction of a bowl of fruit.

First of all, a graphic novel is a storytelling vehicle that is like no other. Unlike a book or a painting, the words and the pictures are interdependent; to remove one is to take away the very backbone of the narrative. An iconic masterpiece such as V for Vendetta would not be the same without either its gritty writing and plot, or the brilliant artistry behind the image of the hero’s sinister smiling mask. The same can be said for the famous DC comic series Watchmen, another dark dystopian tale from the pen of Alan Moore. After all, who thinks of the dark anti-hero, Rorschach, without his creepy as hell ink-blot test mask?

Yes, ‘cartoony’ style images, like those used in graphic novels, can be considered as art by some, but they are just there to tell the story using a combination of written representations of speech, and a collection pictures that offer continuity like that of a novel, classifying the graphic novel as literature. To me, the closest thing to graphic novels are actually children’s picture books, which are the equivalent of novels for those in their younger years, certainly not considered works of art!

Finally, the word ‘novel’ comes from the Latin ‘novellus’ meaning new, modern or young; three words that perfectly describe the concept of a graphic novel – simply a new spin on a traditional prose narrative. And let’s face it – with the word ‘novel’ in the title, it is clear that a graphic novel is another form of literature.

WORDS BY AMY WILCOCKSON IMAGE BY RYAN HYDE VIA FLICKR

It is clear that graphic novels derive their main elements from both literature and visual art. This does not mean, however, that they have to be defined as one or the other, as the combination results in something that is completely unique and separate from either category. If anything, the experience of a graphic novel is most similar to watching a film with subtitles (which could be a reason comics have been adapted into blockbuster movies).

It is the affinity of literature and art that allows the graphic novel to be its own entity. A visual form of storytelling that has a power that neither literature, nor art, individually possess.

WORDS BY SCARLETT WHITE

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BACKSTAGE CAREERS When thinking about a career in the arts, the most obvious roles are the ones at the forefront, for instance a dancer, a writer, a sculptor, or a director. However, the sometimes glanced-over, ‘backstage’ careers are just as important in maintaining a successful, lively industry. Every facet of the art world has one, so Impact Arts is shining the spotlight on a few that remain under-the-radar, and what it takes to become involved.

CURATOR Curators acquire, maintain and display collections such as historical artefacts or works of art within organisations including museums, heritage centres, and art galleries.

The position varies greatly from one organisation to another; in a smaller museum or gallery a curator may have managerial responsibilities, whilst in a large institution they may only be responsible for a specific collection.

The day to day aspects typically involve writing bids, collection documentation and management, negotiating loan items, fundraising, and preparing budgets, but can also incorporate aspects of marketing and PR. In addition, a curator may write articles for publication or for online, lead talks at the exhibition, and collaborate with other departments within the museum or gallery. One of the most pivotal duties is the preparation of exhibition displays; the curator is responsible for shaping how the works are interpreted, so it is vital they create an appealing, inspiring, and engaging presentation.

COSTUME DESIGNER Costume designers are responsible for creating the overall ‘look’ of each character in a production through their clothes and accessories.

Productions can include theatre, dance, film, or television. The costume designer oversees the process of creating a production’s wardrobe from start to finish, including initial research and design, hiring, buying or making costumes, as well as alterations, cleaning, and costume maintenance.

A costume designer is highly knowledgeable about textiles, fashion, and costume history as well as the production process as a whole, including lighting and sound. They may develop specialist knowledge (for example, corsetry for period dramas, or tutu making for a ballet company), and work closely with hair and make-up to maintain a cohesive style. Designers must also produce costumes that reflect the artistic aims of the director, i.e. character development.

A relevant degree is essential and postgraduate study is becoming increasingly more desirable; volunteering before gaining a paid role is also commonplace. Curators are knowledgeable and passionate about their profession; creative thinkers and able administrators with great ‘people skills’ for dealing with members of the public.

Most costume designers hold a degree or advanced apprenticeship in fashion or costume design. Designers may work in a studio, theatre, office, or at home, but must commute to the production site and meet with other staff when required. Apart from the creative aspects, a designer will also manage a budget, negotiate terms with suppliers or specialists, and potentially manage a team of skilled personnel.

WORDS BY LEAH LORD IMAGE BY PETUR VIA FLICKR

IMAGE BY ASHLEY RHODES VIA FLICKR

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ART THERAPIST Art therapists combine art with psychotherapy to help patients work through their problems. The therapist will actively guide patients through sessions, incorporating anything from drawing and painting to sculpture, theatre, or dance. This type of therapy can be invaluable for people who find verbal communication difficult, such as those with learning disabilities or mental health issues, as it offers a creative solution for self-expression.

"IT OFFERS A CREATIVE SOLUTION FOR SELFEXPRESSION" Patients need no experience or skill with the arts in order to participate in a session, which may take place on a one-to-one basis or within a group setting. Group work has the additional level of helping people relate to one another via the art they create, acting as a social as well as psychological intervention. Environments can include prisons, social services, charities, or schools, as well as psychiatry.

Postgraduate training is necessary to qualify as an art therapist, so usually a degree in art is required, though relevant experience in a field such as social services can also fulfil entry requirements. They are well-balanced people; empathic, self-aware, and highly creative. They have great skills in arts as well as technical knowledge and understanding of the practise of psychotherapy.

IMAGE BY STEVE SNODGRASS VIA FLICKR

ARTS ADMINISTRATOR An arts administrator supports the work of the arts sector through the management of activities and services offered at their workplace.

Organisations an arts administrator can work for are diverse and include galleries, museums, arts centres, theatres, dance companies, local authorities, and arts councils.

Work is correspondingly varied between organisations, depending also on size and level of funding.

In a smaller establishment, an arts administrator will cover a variety of roles such as marketing productions, organising events, booking performances, customer service and IT support, as well as assist with the daily running of the organisation. In a larger company, there may be individuals or teams covering specific aspects like education, fundraising, programming, and so forth.

Because it is such a multidisciplinary role, a relevant degree is advantageous but not essential. Due to the increasing professionalisation of the occupation, postgraduate qualifications for arts administration are increasingly in demand.

Administrative experience from other fields can also be an entry route to this kind of role, but direct arts experience is nonetheless essential. Early career arts administrators often build up required skills and knowledge through voluntary work with local galleries, theatres, or museums.

IMAGE BY TOM ROYAL VIA FLICKR

LITERARY AGENT A literary agent is the ‘go-between’ of writers and publishers: they act as a filter, selecting the best and most marketable works to pitch to organisations such as publishing houses, film studios, and media production companies. An agent can work with anything from novels or books, to magazines and screenplays, and may specialise in one area, or choose to remain generalist. They can work freelance, or within a large firm with hundreds of clients.

A literary agent is generally someone who has worked within publishing for many years prior, as to be successful in the role requires extensive knowledge of the industry, including a network of important contacts. Most publishing houses, the largest in particular, will not accept unsolicited submissions, so literary agents are usually key to publishing success.

"THEY ACT AS A FILTER, SELECTING THE BEST AND MOST MARKETABLE" Though no formal qualifications are needed, a degree is desirable; agents are responsible for overseeing the publication process from start to finish, requiring a variety of skills. Apart from establishing new clients, roles can include pre-editing manuscripts, and negotiating offers and contracts.

Ultimately, an agent’s foremost responsibility is to act as an advocate for clients, including the more longterm task of managing an author’s career.

IMAGE BY CWCS HOSTING VIA FLICKR

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S P O R T

SPORTS EDITORIAL What a summer of sport in 2015.

Starting at our own front door, the Ashes came home, just 18 months after England were thrashed 5-0 in Australia, right here at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge. Even within that series, we can pick out some incredibly special moments, from Broad’s 8-15 on day one at Trent Bridge to Steven Finn’s triumphant Test return. England now look to be building another Test team that could be a force to be reckoned with.

“THE TOURNAMENT SAW AN ENGLAND FOOTBALL TEAM FINISH IN THEIR HIGHEST POSITION SINCE 1966, AND REACH THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP SEMIFINAL SINCE 1990” Arguably the most memorable sporting event of the summer was the Women’s World Cup in Canada, with the manic pace and tension producing some of the most memorable matches

in women’s football history. Eventually won by the USA, the tournament saw an England Football Team finish in their highest position since 1966, and reach their first World Cup Semi-Final since 1990. England’s Lionesses came home to cheers, speaking volumes of their performances in Canada.

Andy Murray’s wait for a second Wimbledon title continues as Novak Djokovic once again proved just why he is the best player in the world at this moment, a foreboding presence for all-comers going into the US Open in September. Serena Williams also completed her second ‘Serena Slam’ at Wimbledon, holding every Grand Slam title at once, and will look to win the fourth major of the year at the US Open.

The new football season is upon us, with Chelsea looking to defend their Premier League title from strong challengers in Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs of United and City.

With huge amounts of money spent in this transfer window, the Premier League looks to reaching a higher quality and intensity each year, with even the smaller teams proving they have the prowess to match the Chelseas and Citys of the league.

For any fresher looking to get involved in sport this year as part of UoN, there

are a number of clubs to get involved with, from pretty much any sport you can think of. Even those who have been here a year or two and haven’t yet joined a sporting club, there is no time like the present!

“IMPACT IS THE PERFECT CHANCE FOR YOU TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR VERY OWN VIEWS AND IDEAS, ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY”

where we discuss all that is happening in the world of sport and which campus events we will cover.

Check out our website, or email us at sports@impactnottingham.com to get involved. We also have a Facebook and Twitter page. Most importantly, don’t be shy. For all newcomers, this is our first year as editors and we would love to have as many people contributing as we absolutely can!

In our ‘What’s On Your Doorstep’ piece, we profile the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest, and Nottingham is full of sporting venues to get involved or watch some top quality, so be sure to check those out during your time here at UoN. If you’re simply into sport and would like to write about it, however, then Impact is the perfect chance for you to contribute your very own views and ideas, analysis and commentary.

Regardless of previous journalistic experience, come along to our weekly meetings in the Portland Building,

WORDS BY CONNOR HIGGS AND JAKE WHARMBY IMAGE BY ‘AIRWOLFHOUND’ VIA FLICKR

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WHAT’S ON YOUR DOORSTEP?

THE CITY GROUND As Nottingham Forest enter into their 150th anniversary year, Impact looks at the City Ground, their home and the largest football stadium in Nottingham.

“THE CHANCE TO TAKE IN THE TENSION AND FRENETIC PACE OF CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL ALONG WITH OVER 30,000 OTHER SEEMS LIKE TOO GOOD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MISS” Anyone who knows their football history will know of the heady heights of the 1970s and 1980s for Nottingham Forest. Back to back European Cups under the stewardship of the legendary Brian Clough remain the club’s finest hour, and it is evident

from the size of the ground and the atmosphere as you step into the stands that this is a club that expects. Having been languishing in the second and third tiers since the turn of the century, you could be forgiven for thinking that this was a club that had settled into what is an ultimately comfortable standing in the Championship. Not a chance. Always hungry for success, once England’s only European Cup winners crave a return to the Premier League as strongly as ever.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

The chance to take in the tension and frenetic pace of Championship football along with over 30,000 other seems like too good an opportunity to miss. In addition, with the club entering its 150th anniversary year, stadium tours around the City Ground are available, with stadium tour dates arranged upon request and in groups of up to 20 people. This gives you the chance to see just what a football stadium is like for the players away from the pitch, and also get a glimpse at a replica European Cup which was won by Forest in 1979 and 1980.

COST

For those of you who may have spent just a little too much at the start of the new year, the prices for matches aren’t quite as steep as one may think. For non-season ticket holders, a ticket for a typical Saturday game in the Championship is around £25-£30, with tickets going on sale a couple of weeks before the game is played. However for those who follow football with passion, the City Ground is easily one of the best places nearby to go and watch a game of football in a ground where the atmosphere is electric more often than not.

In a city that last summer became the place where England regained the Ashes and the stars of Women’s Tennis descended on Nottingham Tennis Centre, Forest are looking to put football back at the top by winning promotion to the Premier League. It’s your privilege to see them try.

TRAVEL

The City Ground is only 10 minutes away from University Park Campus and Jubilee Campus, while travel to the City Ground is fairly straightforward from the University Park using public transport, with the 35, 36, and Y36 taking you to the Victoria Centre. A short 5-minute walk down Lower Parliament Street and you can catch the number 5,6,7,8 to just outside the ground, where you can join the throngs of people ready to watch the red side of Nottingham.

WORDS BY CONNOR HIGGS IMAGE BY NTU VIA FLICKR

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WHAT’S ON AT YOUR UNI?

EQUESTRIAN CLUB Impact Sport speaks to Charlotte Daniel, the publicity officer for the UoN Equestrian Club about new changes coming into the new year and how to get involved.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN THE UON EQUESTRIAN CLUB?

We have around 80 active members across all our branches including lessons, horseball, the BUCS team and RDA volunteering.

HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE DO YOU NEED TO TAKE PART?

You can join the club if you’ve never seen a horse before and fancy trying out a new sport! The club is very supportive of beginners - our President this year started as a beginner at University!

WHAT SORT OF EVENTS DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN ACROSS THE YEAR?

Our BUCS team competes in the Equestrian BUCS league every year.

Alongside that, we hold regular showjumping and dressage friendly competitions against SB riding society and Nottingham Trent University. Our horseball members also compete in friendly matches against SB and NTU,

and this year are hoping to enter into the British Horseball Senior League!

HOW EXPENSIVE IS IT TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE EQUESTRIAN CLUB REGULARLY?

Membership is £25, which gets you access to subsidised weekly lessons and trips. Lessons cost £8 if you get the train to the yard, £14 if you’re driven and just £6 if you can drive other people! For beginner lessons we do bookings of 4 lessons for £32; after one block booking you should be able to move up to the pre-novice group.

In all the other levels (Pre-Novice to Advanced) you can sign up as often as you like!

IS HORSE RIDING AS HARD AS IT LOOKS?

Like any sport, it comes with its own challenges. One of the biggest is having to trust the horse you're riding, while also being a different type of balance and using different muscles to most other exercise. Multi-tasking is important because you have to not only think about your own position but also how you are supporting the horse and keeping it in balance. Don't let that put you off, once you’ve got to grips with the basics, you've overcome some of the hardest parts!

WHAT IS THE SOCIAL SIDE OF THE CLUB LIKE?

Our socials are very popular with our members. We try to hold varied socials every two weeks including Crisis Wednesdays, dinners and movie nights. We also hold regular trips to Equestrian events such as the Horse of the Year Show as well as an annual riding holiday! This year we’re starting Engage social sessions which are hacks through the countryside, open to all levels as well as non-members.

We’re a very friendly bunch!

HOW CAN UON STUDENTS GET INVOLVED?

Like our Facebook Page or join our closed facebook group, ‘University of Nottingham Equestrian’. You’ll get lots of updates about what we’re up to and how you can get involved. We have an instagram account (@uon.equestrian) and a twitter account (@UoNRiding) for you to follow, and we will also have a brand new website going live soon, so keep your eye out!

WORDS BY CONNOR HIGGS IMAGE BY UON EQUESTRIAN

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themselves had already risen in 2015 before the Women’s World Cup, and have risen even higher after England’s heroics.

What look like tentative steps towards greater coverage all add up to a much greater difference, however. The Women’s FA Cup Final will be played at Wembley Stadium for the first time this year, FIFA are set to double the amount they invest in developing grassroots women’s football, while the FA’S ‘We Can Play’ campaign aims at helping girls to get involved in women’s football.

IMPACT SPORT LOOKS AT THREE OF THE BIGGEST WOMEN’S SPORTING EVENTS OF THE SUMMER, AND ASKS HOW FAR EQUALITY IN SPORT HAS COME, AND WHETHER IT IS STILL A LONG WAY AWAY.

THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP’S FRESH IMPETUS Not since 1990 has an English team returned home from a national tournament to such pride and adulation by a public than the Women’s England team did after the 2015 Women’s World Cup. The bronze medal picked up for their third place finish was the highest finish by an England team at an international competition for over 50 years.

However, the stark reality of women’s football is that, ultimately, when compared to the men’s game, female footballers earn a relative pittance, and despite the successes of the Women’s World Cup, it is doubtful that equality in sponsorship and pay will never become a reality. Only a handful

of Women’s Super League (WSL) players earn over the average national wage of £26,500, while many live on around £50 a week and have to work a part-time job to support their fledgling career in professional football. Even the lesser paid footballers of the Premier League earn well over £50,000 a week.

What the Women’s World Cup did achieve, and with unprecedented success, was creating coverage and an interest in women’s football both across the country, and indeed the world. Over 12 million people watched the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup, with the semi-final peaking at 2.7 million viewers. Considering the match was shown at around midnight GMT, and when compared to the average attendance of around 1000 for WSL 1 games, the numbers are rather staggering. Attendances in of

The men’s game will always be more popular and earn more money than the women’s game. However, it is the strides towards equal opportunities in the wake of the successes of the Women’s World Cup that are most telling, and although there is still a long way to go, it is refreshing to see women’s football finally being recognised.

WORDS BY CONNOR HIGGS IMAGES BY ‘JOSHJDSS’ VIA FLICKR

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THE BACKWARDS THINKING OF TENNIS The feminist writer Reni Eddo-Lodge commented recently in The Guardian that women should stop arguing for equality but instead aim to deconstruct the systems that prevent liberation. If this ideal was consistently applied to world sport, tennis as it currently stands would not survive.

Just selecting a handful of prominent debates in the sport at random makes for depressing reading. The 2nd best player in the world who happens to be blonde and slender (Maria Sharapova) earns $10 million more per year than the best, Serena Williams, who is so much more successful it is rather embarrassing. This includes a losing streak to Ms Williams which stretches back 12 years. The vogue style in women’s tennis for attire is almost uniformly the shortest skirts possible feeding in to the hyper-sexualisation narrative.

Men’s tennis at the grand slams (and other co-gender events such as the Indian Wells Masters’ series) takes centre stage with both advertising and court time on the high exposure arenas. The best players in the game on the women’s side can only hope to have 60% of the matches on centre courts than the men do.

Furthermore, the WTA comes under far greater scrutiny for the ‘grunting’ of Azarenka and Sharapova et al. than the ATP does when the likes of Nadal and Ferrer commit a similar ‘sin’. Whilst the counter argument that the sport on the women’s side has become tedious and predictable, with most of the players being identical baseline-bashing clones of each other, it is equally, if not more likely, that the conditions are not yet ideal for women to flourish in this sport.

WORDS BY STEPHEN KENNY IMAGES BY ‘TATIANA’ AND YAN CARADEC VIA FLICKR

A PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES The Women’s Ashes Series is not new. In fact it has been played sporadically since 1934 without the ‘Ashes’ tag, as the series was played “for the love of the game” and was not to be linked with “male concepts of Tests and Ashes”. It was not allowed to rival the ‘prestigious’ men’s game.

The women’s game now however, is in unstoppable growth. Nine Ashes Series (the name ‘Ashes’ was adopted in 1998) have been played since 2000. The previous nine took place between 1954 and 1998.

The 2015 Ashes Series took place at the same time as the men’s, with the First ODI starting just before the men’s Fifth Test at the Oval.

The Women’s only Test Match, a 4-day match at Kent, was granted exclusivity and did not clash with any men’s matches.

Sky Sports broadcasted all of the women’s matches live for the first time, bringing in much-needed funding, sponsorship and publicity to the sport.

There is still a long, long way to go for equality in cricket. Equal funding, support and coverage will come with time and as interest peaks.

Hopefully this year’s Ashes is a watershed moment like the one we have seen with the Women’s World Cup for football.

WORDS BY MATT SMITH IMAGE BY ‘NICK’ VIA FLICKR

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For anyone who played in, watched or simply read about the 2014 Varsity series, which the University of Nottingham won (of course), then the series could only be seen as a resounding success. Two weeks of no holds barred sport, some of which was held at some of Nottingham’s most prestigious sporting arenas. However, could the same two-week format be even more successful if the series was moved forward, from the start of the third term to the end of the second term, just before the Easter holiday?

“TO JEOPARDISE SUCH A SUCCESSFUL SERIES COULD BE SEEN AS FOOLHARDY” With exam season beginning at the end of May, a Varsity series held just after the Easter break leaves many

people having to choose between going to events and staying in to revise. Such an eventuality arguably has an adverse effect on both the attendance to some of the events, yet also the revision of those who do decide to attend. If the series was moved to just before the Easter break, such a dilemma would be removed.

The party atmosphere that can only come from beating Trent could also be heightened by the end-of-term feeling that would pervade all of the events, without the overwhelming feeling of guilt at not revising for an evening or two.

More importantly, however, is the isolation of the cricket match as a result of the 2014 schedule. Playing Varsity Cricket nearly a month after every other event simply made it seem smaller, not unlike an afterthought.

However, one can argue that the cricket, along with a number of other events, have to find the time to fit in our series around that of other

organisations, with high-profile venues such as Meadow Lane and the Capital FM Arena hard enough to book out at the most convenient times. If the schedule is feasible at the end of April and the start of May, then there is no reason to jeopardise the series itself by moving the dates to ones that could well leave the series looking for different venues.

“WHY CHANGE WHAT IS ALREADY INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL?” In addition, events such as the cricket are dependent on the weather, and the likelihood of rain is much higher at the start of April than at the end of the month. The colder, brisker weather could in of itself drive some people away from attending certain events, negating the positive effects of attendance immediately.

However, the biggest and most telling factor in not changing the date of the Varsity Series is rather more simple: Why change what is already incredibly successful? The atmosphere at a number of events last year was fantastic, and it cannot be said that support was low in any respect.

To jeopardise such a successful series could be seen as foolhardy, but if the option is feasible, it may well be a way to push the Nottingham Varsity Series towards even higher attendance, and surely an even fiercer rivalry.

WORDS BY CONNOR HIGGS IMAGE BY AMY RAINBOW

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