How Community Shapes Our University Experience

How Community Shapes Our Uni Experience

Image courtesy of Max Goodman

Anjolaoluwa Alabi explores one of the university’s largest communities, the Jewish community, whilst speaking to two of its members about all things food, brotherhood and club corners.

Perhaps the greatest thing we have in University is community. We belong to societies, sports teams, networks and some of us even get tribal about our halls of residence. The sects to which we feel a sense of belonging undoubtedly shape our university experience.

As such, I thought it necessary to explore one of the largest communities within our University: the Jewish Community. I spoke to 2nd Year Industrial Economics student Max Goodman and 3rd Year Mechanical Engineering Student Caleb Jacobs.

In conversation, I learnt truths about a Nottingham Jewish fraternity, the power of networking, and commandeering a section of the club, Rock City. The stories of this close-knit community are fascinating to say the least!

‘First and foremost, our university is considered a ‘Juni’ as I was reliably informed”

First and foremost, our university is considered a ‘Juni’ as I was reliably informed, much to the amusement of Max, Caleb and myself. If it wasn’t already implicit, this is because of its large Jewish population and active community.

Max and Caleb took slightly differing views in terms of whether there was a conscious effort to pick a ‘Juni’. For Caleb, he knew that Nottingham is considered quite a popular university, especially among the North London Jews. He wanted to get involved with on-campus events and had always considered that an important factor when choosing his university.

It was less conscious for Max. Also from North London, the majority of his friends were Jewish, so it was a natural progression when deciding on a University.

‘Just like any other community, people with similar lingo, backgrounds and interests, will naturally gravitate towards each other’

The sense I got from both students was that, just like any other community, people with similar lingo, backgrounds and interests will naturally gravitate towards each other. The Jewish community in Nottingham is no different.

Seeing as they were both part of the North London Jewish community, I jokingly tried to probe whether there was any sort of rivalry between the Jewish subsets and if that came to fruition in university. Of course, that suggestion was put to bed!

‘I was made to see how international and diverse the Jewish community in Nottingham truly is’

In fact, I was made to see how international and diverse the Jewish community in Nottingham truly is. This is no more evident than with the Jewish fraternity AEPi. AEPi is essentially a Jewish fraternity with chapters all over the world, with one in Nottingham.

Obviously, fraternity culture in America is very different to what it is in the UK. According to Caleb, AEPi was just a way to form an extra community. These were people seeing each other regularly at JSCOC events, but AEPi is for people who want to create a “sense of brotherhood”. They regularly have guest speakers and host numerous events. At one such event, Max went slightly beyond his spice tolerance in a ‘hot ones’ get-to-know-me social (modelled after the hot ones YouTube series) and found himself sticking his head out the window—mouth numb—before passing out, unable to speak for the rest of the night! But I was thoroughly reassured it was all good fun nonetheless!

It was very interesting to hear about how the community is kept alive and blossoming. Aside from the obviously very helpful JSOC, Caleb heard about AEPi, which is not actually University or Student Union affiliated, through a student in the year above. Aware that he was a new student and Jewish, they messaged and invited him to their poker night.

Such goodwill gestures were echoed by Max who managed to secure financial support and advice for a business idea through a contact he acquired through networking at AEPi. Max described the community as “a natural conveyor belt” remarking that “if you’re Jewish and you end up in Nottingham, it’s unsurprising that you end up getting inducted to that Jewish University culture.”

Nothing forms bonds quite like food, especially when it’s free. ‘Chabad’ is the weekly Friday feast at Mendy’s where north of 120 Jewish students come together, eat and give thanks. A stonewall feature of the Jewish Uni experience.

It would be remiss to talk about Jewish culture in Notts and not talk about ‘Jew Corner’. This is a section of Rock City that has been commandeered by UoN Jewish students!

Essentially a “self-fulfilling prophecy” according to Caleb, one would hear about it from other Jews who hang out there and would go, see loads of other people you know and end up telling other people about it, an unending cycle. Its inception is kind of folklore in Nottingham as neither Max nor Caleb could confirm the details to that effect.

‘Max feels that “the communal dynamic that Nottingham has helped produce really allows these values to circulate throughout the University”’

In all, as Caleb remarked, “community is very integral to Judaism.” The traditional values of Dugma Eesheet (role modelling), Emunah (trustworthiness) and Kavod (respect) are universal. Max feels that “the communal dynamic that Nottingham has helped produce really allows these values to circulate throughout the University.”

This has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for the pair, as I am sure it has been for many others.

By Anjolaoluwa Alabi Page Design by Chiara Crompton

Zoomers vs. Boomers

Tired of being labelled soft or easily offended, Gareth critiques the “snowflake” stereotype aimed at younger generations.

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘In my day…’ normally followed by a tale of how much harder life used to be and how soft young people are these days? I remember my father telling me how he used to walk to school through snow, rain, blazing heat and apparently with a bag full of rocks. Clearly an indicator of the early climate change crisis he still ignores. He attempts to lecture me on how easy it is to save money if you just ‘tighten your belt and knuckle down’. I imagine he assumes the reason I cannot afford a house is because I enjoy an avocado now and then and not the ruinous state his generation left the economy in.

I truly take issue with the idea that the previous generation, those of our parents and grandparents, think we are somehow soft. Rather, I say, we are less forgiving, far tougher and stronger than can be believed. How often are we told that we cannot take a joke, or that young people get offended too easily, while they’re red faced with rage that their favourite 70s sitcom has been removed from whatever television channel black hole it was languishing in. The answer is easy, we can take a joke, we love jokes. But what you are laughing at is racism, sexism, mocking minorities, trans people, in fact anyone who is not a white cis man and that is not funny.

‘You say we are soft; I say we are kind’

You say we are soft; I say we are kind. You decry us as snowflakes who get offended at the drop of a hat. Well I have news for you, you used to freak out if people of a different colour shared a water fountain and are currently ready to go to war over someone saying mean things about the flag. Heck, you marched, drunk on power (and cheap booze), to bravely defend statues and urinate next to memorials.

‘...all of our generation has to live and survive in this world that needs a lot more kindness and a lot less of those days’

All that for a refusal to ‘give in’ to some imagined foe that wants to take away humour and their right to marginalise others. Worryingly, there is a real danger, that the mistakes and ideologies of the past will follow us into the present - the evils of toxic masculinity, humour from misery and creating the idea of a lesser person. I know that it isn’t all of that generation but all of our generation has to live and survive in this world that needs a lot more kindness and a lot less of those days.

By Gareth Holmes Illustration and Page Design by Chiara Crompton

Lifestyle

Dinner Times

Kayleigh Moore explores how capitalism created modern mealtimes

‘The industrial revolution meant that many people were working longer days doing hard labour, and to do this you needed fuel’

The Roman period had very different attitudes to mealtimes than we do today. The idea of eating more than one meal a day was shocking to many and considered a form of gluttony. Romans only ate once a day around noon a large meal, which for the wealthier in society was an opportunity to show off with extravagance.

‘The industrial revolution meant that many people were working longer days doing hard labour, and to do this you needed fuel’

In the Middle Ages, mealtimes were set by the natural work patterns of feudal life; the impact of the Industrial Revolution can be seen as a turning point for what we would recognise as mealtimes. The industrial revolution meant that many people were working longer days doing hard labour, and to do this you needed fuel, so people started to eat breakfast. Breakfast provided workers with the energy to do hard labour early in the day.

Workers in the Industrial Revolution by midday would have worked around 6 hours with still another 6 to go, this meant that a midday meal was needed. However, eating at midday was not a new thing. In the Middle Ages, most people would have their main meal at this time. The working pattern and time restrictions brought on by the Industrial Revolution changed the type of meal that was needed; instead of being the main meal of the day it just needed to be enough to give you energy for the rest of the working day. Outside factories, pies would often be sold and the importance of a quick, but filling meal was becoming more prominent. Britain became the first nation to offer industrialised food to suit the needs of the people. This shows the impact of working hours on mealtimes and the types of food consumed. The word ‘dinner’ and what it refers to is a debate that stems back further than the ‘north-south divide’. In the Roman period, dinner was eaten in the middle of the day because people in this period (continuing into the Middle Ages) got up earlier and went to bed earlier, as their day was dictated by natural lighting. However, the invention of artificial lighting changed when people ate. Now it was fashionable to eat later in the day and socialise by candlelight. As people working outside of the family home, instead of on a feudal homestead, the evening became the only time possible to have a proper meal.

As you can see, mealtimes have greatly changed over the course of history and it is clear that the impact of capitalism, particularly the industrial revolution, has played a major role in the creation of modern mealtimes. As many people are now working from home, there is the possibility that mealtimes may even change again.

By Kayleigh Moore Illustrations by Ellie Stainforth-Mallison Page Design by Sarah MacAllan

Dosas for Days – My Favourite Takeaway

The UK’s favourite takeaways are far from traditional, at least for the cultures they originate from. If you’re looking to try something new, Alice Nott shares a recipe for Dosas, an authentic Indian street food.

When we think of Indian takeaway, we think of Chicken Tikka Masala or a Saag Paneer. However, some of my favoured dishes are Indian street food, especially Dosas. I remember first trying them in a vegetarian Indian restaurant called Sagar in London, and then a few years later in a restaurant called Zindiya, which opened in my hometown of Birmingham.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced Zindiya to close for a while so I decided to look at ways I could make the Indian street food snacks I loved so much at home. I came across Meera Sodha’s book Fresh India, which I have adapted this recipe from. It is simple, filling, and tastes brilliant. It can also be kept and reheated the next day for any meal.

‘I decided to look at ways I could make the Indian street food snacks I loved so much at home’

‘It is simple, filling, and tastes brilliant’

Ingredients

Dosa Filling: • 1kg of new potatoes • 1 carton of coconut cream • 1 large onion • 2 green finger chillies • 1 tbsp of mustard seeds • 1 tsp of cumin seeds • 1 ½ tsp of salt • 2.5cm piece of ginger • Butter • Coriander or curry leaves (optional)

Dosas: • 175g of chickpea flour • 75g of plain flour • ½ tsp of salt • ½ tsp of bicarbonate of Soda • 380ml of water • Oil

Method

Boil the potatoes until tender (you can put a knife through easily). Once tender, drain and mash the potatoes and leave to one side.

Put some oil and a bit of butter in a pan. When hot, add the mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds start to pop, add the cumin seeds and coriander/curry leaves if using. Cook for a minute before adding the onion, chillies, and ginger, which you need to cook on low heat for 10-15 mins.

After about 10 mins, add some more butter, the potatoes, and the coconut cream, then leave to one side.

Mix all the ingredients of the dosas together to make a batter. In a medium pan on medium to high heat, add a teaspoon of oil to the pan and swirl to coat the bottom, then add a ladle or so of batter for each dosa. Cook for 1 minute before adding some of the filling you made earlier and then cook for another 20 seconds. Once cooked, fold over or roll one side of the dosa over the other, you can then serve immediately or put in a foil basket until the rest of the dosa are cooked.

Serve alone or with a dhal or chutney.

By Alice Nott Illustrations and Page Design by Sarah MacAllan