Impact Magazine #254 by Impact Magazine

IMPACT

A note from the...

PRINT EDITOR

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INTRO

or the last three years, I have written a one line a day journal. It allows you to write a couple of sentences each day, encapsulating the main events and feelings and enabling a comparison between the same day on previous years. It has been fascinating to notice both the trivial and the significant changes in my life throughout this period of time, beginning with my last year in Sixth Form and extending into my final year at university. The element of change I find particularly interesting to trace is the development of my relationships over time, with friends, family, myself and the world around me. The relationships we maintain at particular points in our life can define the person we are at that time. They provide an insight into what we value and how we value it. I can see they type of person I was through the relationships I had and continue to have. However, more than just providing a means of tracing the past, filling in this journal is also a way for me to pay attention to the present and remain connected to it. It can often be difficult to remain present, to value and be aware of the current moment. Although a consequence of human nature, this is acutely and distinctly true for students. We exist in the in-between; balanced between a past defined by childhood, a hometown, school and family and an uncertain future which we are increasingly pushed to consider. The present is easily forgotten. One way to focus on the present is to examine our relationship with it and to all the elements within it. Therefore, that is the loose theme for this issue of Impact- relationships. Whether that be the potential capacity for humans to love more than one person, as Ben Miley Smith explores in an article on polygamous relationships, or the relationship between hip-hop and misogyny as Nicolas Caballero investigates for Film and TV. Or, importantly, our relationship with the world around us, as analysed by Lifestyle in their sustainability series. Contemplating these connections is a method of self-reflection and allows us to remain present and engaged. In an increasingly individualistic world that is paradoxically both increasingly connected through technology but also increasingly fragmented because of it, maintaining a focus on relationships and connection is important. And so, to quote T. M. Scanlon*, this is ‘what we owe to each other’, but also to ourselves and to the world around us. This is Impact’s exploration of the theme of relationships. I hope you enjoy. El

*Disclaimer: This is an attempt to sound intelligent and cultured. In reality, I learned this name from an episode of The Good Place on Netflix (it’s great, I highly recommend) and have not actually read any of his philosophy, but who cares it sounds good.

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CONTENTS

News

Sexual Harrassment and the University of Nottingham Ready, Set, Rent

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Features

Is Everlasting Love and Monogamy a Thing of the Past? Pushy Parents: Dealing with the presure Single and Rather Not Mingle Vintage: Change the Bloody Record or Play that Funk Music? Hopkinson: A Journey Through the Past Toxic friendships: Is a Friendship Doing You More Harm than Good, and What Can You Do About it? How to Tell if You’re in a Toxic Relationship

Can You be a Feminist and Still Accept Chivalry?

12 14 15 16 17 18

Lifestyle

Charlie’s Corner Sustainability: Colour by Number Travel Food Style That 70’s Show Inspired Photoshoot Some Body to Love

22 23 24 25 26 27 31

The Science of Attraction

‘Caught on Campus’

38 40 42 43 44 46 48 50 51

Sport

Entertainment

Art vs. Artist - Do We Care More about What’s Created or the Creator Behind it? Misogyny in Hip Hop Can Music Heal Fractured Communities? Netflix and Stop The Validity of Gaming Relationships - Can you Maintain Love in a Virtual World? Is Gaming a Mental Disorder? Poetry Showcase You’re a Fangirl, Harry The Knitty-Gritty of Mindfulness

How Much Does Playing a Sport at University Impact Upon Your Social Life? Nottingham’s National Water Sports Centre – The Facility that Keeps Producing Champions A Sit Down with Hayley Mills: How Being a Professional Athlete Affects Your Academic Career

52 54 56

NEWS

Sexual harassment and the University of Nottingham Impact investigates the issue of sexual harassment and how the university are tackling it

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Connor Higgs Eleanor Gray Emma Heasman

“I didn’t realise it was sexual harassment at the time, it seemed so minor.” “It happens so often, I feel like no-one would actually do anything about it.” “It didn’t seem that bad at the time, but thinking back, it actually isn’t acceptable.” In an Impact survey of 164 students at the University of Nottingham, conducted in November 2017, nearly 75% of all respondents stated that they believe that they have experienced sexual harassment. However, only 8% of those said that they reported it, with their reason for not doing so often broadly similar to the ones above. The perception that nothing would have come about from doing so, the belief that such incidents are so commonplace, and that it was impossible to ascertain the perpetrator due to the circumstances surrounding the incident were three of the most common explanations. Impact also interviewed six female students and four male students at the University of Nottingham, on their personal experiences of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is defined as any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, be it bullying or coercion, or the unwelcome promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favours. However, whilst such a definition should be black and white in terms of what constitutes sexual harassment, often this is not the case. Impact also asked its 164 respondents what they would class as sexual harassment. Over 90% classed sending an unrequested sexual photo to someone as sexual harassment, 81% classed touching a stranger without permission as sexual harassment, whilst 96% classed forcing someone into a sexual situation without their full consent as sexual harassment. Over 70% also saw following someone home as sexual harassment, while 86% saw grinding against someone without permission as sexual harassment. What can be seen from the results is that the most noticeable forms of sexual harassment, and easiest to define, are physical, and often in situations in which it is harder for the victim to remove themselves from a position of perceived vulnerability. The most prevalent forms of sexual harassment amongst our respondents were being shouted at by someone when driving past (84%), being touched by a stranger in a club/queue without permission (77%), and being wolfwhistled or catcalled (71%). In addition, over 40% of our respondents said that they had been forced into a sexual situation without their full consent, over 36% had been badgered into having sex by a partner, and over 12% of our respondents said that they had been followed home. In discussing sexual harassment with the 10 students we interviewed, following on from the survey, there appeared a fairly unanimous idea of where instances of sexaul harassment are most likely to occur. “I think this occurs a lot on a night out [at nightclubs] because it’s everybody’s chance to let loose as alcohol and drugs come into the picture,” Beth* tells Impact. “A lot of people want a cheeky snog on a night out, but it isn’t what everyone wants and we must all keep that in mind.”

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the Head of Security for their CRISIS on Wednesday 7th March 2018. During the course of the night, there was an incident in which a female attendee had a male she knew place his hands around her neck in a sexually aggressive manner. The female was comforted by two University of Nottingham students, who work for the DrinkAware Crew, with between two and four members attending CRISIS every week from the team. After receiving a description of the male and the location of the incident, security personnel attempted to locate the male, and also used CCTV footage to try and identify the individual. Whilst nights out at university are an integral part of the student experience, for some students, it can often become a far more daunting one. Whilst not exclusively the place where such instances occur, nightclubs were the most cited place where some of the most overt forms of sexual harassment generally occur, such as being touched by a stranger in a club or queue without permission or grinding against someone without their consent. Lydia* was on the receiving end of such behaviour. Recollecting her experiences, she said: “I recently had someone grab my boob in the smoking area of a club, someone I didn’t know at all.” Lydia was certain of the worst place for such instances to occur. “I think nightclubs are the worst place as it’s easy for someone to grab or touch you inappropriately and then run off, and you wouldn’t have even seen his face.” “The worst time”, she says, “was when the door to the floor we were on was shut to stop crowding the stairs and someone put their hand up my skirt and grabbed my bum and there was nowhere for me to move.” Lucy*, a Psychology PhD student, suggested that these incidents are so ‘normalised’, that the term ‘sexual harassment seems too severe’. “[Young men] don’t understand the consequences of their actions, they’re drunk, and sometimes it’s part of some kind of initiation or club challenge.” After contacting CRISIS for comment about the issue, Impact were given the opportunity to shadow

However, security were unable to find the male. CRISIS security also confirmed that they do not receive many reports of sexual harassment; if they do, they take them “very seriously.” Impact also contacted Ocean nightclub owner Andy Hoe, about Ocean’s position and procedures surrounding sexual harassment incidents. Mr Hoe stressed that, much like CRISIS, it is ‘genuinely something we don’t get a lot of”, but incidents would be dealt with seriously. Lucy, however, has experienced another form of sexual harassment which occurred while she was walking home from a night out. She got out of a taxi at Sainsbury’s on Derby Road and crossed under the bridge to walk to her boyfriend’s on Grove Road. “A young, around 30-ish man was under the bridge who made me jump, who didn’t say anything or make any advances, so I just quickened my pace and carried on. I looked behind me and realised that he was following me, and had dropped his trousers and underwear and was touching himself.”

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Although encouraged by her friends to report the incident to the police, Lucy admitted “I still don’t really think it was sexual assault, as I didn’t feel particularly threatened.” “Had he been moving faster, or I was further away from home, I think I would’ve felt differently.” When asked during interviews as to whether university students have created an environment where sexual harassment is normalised, all of the female interviewees stated that they believed this to be the case. Lucy was quick to point out, however, that she believes that it is ‘a minority ruining it for the majority, however’, with most men and women being ‘disgusted with this kind of behaviour.’ The University of Nottingham hit national headlines at the end of May when a message saying “uni girls love rape” was left in a bathroom in Florence Boot Hall. UoN Feminists released a statement on 30th May 2018 after the event, in which they stated that “It is becoming more and more apparent that we are living in a rape culture in which sexual violence is the norm.” A University of Nottingham statement regarding the event made it clear that the University “works hard to raise awareness on sexual consent through” their ‘Let’s Be Clear on Consent’ campaign. In response to the incident at Florence Boot Hall, the University have pursued a number of courses of action. This includes, in September 2018, for the first time, the University placed copies of the Student Code of Discipline in the dig-in boxes received by students arriving at Halls of Residence. This has been supported by a sustained information campaign across campus about expected standards of student behaviour. In addition, three members of staff from Campus Life division have taken part in LimeCulture’s Sexual Violence Liaison Officer training, allowing them to make proposals for the improvement of student reporting of issues. This as been supported through meeting with Nottinghamshire Police to improve communication pathways.

Andrew Winter, Director of Campus Life Division, commented that “We are continuing to work with the Students’ Union to look at what more can be done from a student activism and peer to peer perspective to increase knowledge and create change within the culture of our community. One of the few positives to come out of the Florence Boot situation was the number of students who publicly stated that this behaviour was completely unacceptable. I’m hoping that this will lead to more in the way of student-led initiatives to challenge inappropriate conduct.” After an FOI request was sent to the University of Nottingham, Impact can reveal that the number of sexual harassment, assault or rape reports that were received by the University of Nottingham was less than 10 for the 2015/16 academic year, less than 10 for the 2016/17 academic year, and is less than 10 at the time of asking (March 2018) for the 2017/18 academic year. Further to this, less than 10 incidents were reported to have taken place in University of Nottingham-owned facilities or areas in 2015/16 and to date in 2017/18, whilst no such incidents were reported in 2016/17. Of the number of such incidents reported, less than 10 were taken to disciplinary action by the University in 2015/16, less than 10 for rape were taken to disciplinary action in 2016/17, and to date in 2017/18, less than 10 for sexual harassment and sexual assault have been taken to disciplinary action.

NEWS

In reference to why they did not report personal incidents of sexual assault, survey respondent’s answers centered around themes of it not seeming serious enough, not being taken seriously, or incidents beings too common to warrant addressing. This was especially true in cases where the perpetrator cannot be identified.

One such response stressed that, ‘given that such a vanishingly small number of rapes result in a conviction, and even fewer sexual assaults, reporting harassment would be a fight for no positive outcome. It hadn’t even crossed my mind to ever report it.’ “I feel like it is ingrained into society that it is just fun and it’s acceptable and it comes as standard as a part of what happens on a night out. I was also raped whilst at the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus by a ‘friend’ and this was also not reported again, because of the ‘he said she said’, and the trauma it would have out myself and my family through.”

Do people know where to go if they need help?

This suggests the difficulty of reporting incidents of sexual assault in terms of the often ambiguous and complicated nature of such events.

The University of Nottingham has a webpage with all of the information on their policies and actions regarding sexual harassment, with a dedicated email address, consent@ nottingham.ac.uk, which can be used to report any form of sexual harassment or assault. The University also regularly publish their ‘Let’s Be Clear on Consent’ pamphlet, which gives a clear guide on where consent stands. The University have a strong policy on sexual misconduct and a clear procedure by which an initial meeting would occur with the reporting party and a support and safeguarding assessment will take place. Depending on the reporter’s wishes regarding the situation, the University will support them in safeguarding measures and, if desired, help report the incident to the police if desired by the reporter. As the University is in charge of all crisis welfare provision, SU structures such as SU Advice and Student Minds are not seen as crisis intervention but are available to help students access University support. Zoe Mackenzie, SU Equal Opportunities and Welfare Officer, indicated that “The SU’s role in reporting is to provide welfare support. SU Advice can guide students through the reporting process and offer support to students whether or not they wish to report. They can also link up with local organisations to offer more support.” However, when those we interviewed were ask if they know which University or SU structures were in place to prevent or deal with issues of sexual harassment, nine of the ten interviewees stated that they were unaware of them. Beth stated that, if she did ever experience sexual harassment, she would feel slightly lost. “I would probably look on the SU site to report the issue and seek advice. However, I don’t think that this should be the case. I think any structures that are in place to prevent/deal with issues of sexual harassment should be publicised a lot more. This would save victims of sexual harassment the worry of not knowing what to do next.” One of the manifesto points of the previous Equal Opportunities and Welfare Officer, Laura Bealin-Kelly, was to introduce large vinyl stickers into communal spaces and toilets on campus, which would hold all of the appropriate information for the welfare services, including what can be done in the event of incidents of sexual harassment.However, as far as Impact are aware, this has not yet been implemented.

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“I think there should be raised awareness on behalf of the University or SU on what is right or wrong in terms of touching and talking to people you don’t know,” Lydia suggests. “Often there is a fine line, as many guys or girls would argue that it was encouraged or wanted, or they got mixed impression from the person.” James, like a lot of the people interviewed, believed that an earlier education on consent, such as in secondary schools, would help students ‘know exactly what is right and wrong.’ In terms of what can be done from the position of nightclubs, James* suggested that it would help to ‘have more bouncers patrolling the nightclubs, with CCTV possibly in place to catch it happening and stop it.’ One scheme which our previous SU Women’s Officer, Ruby pushed to implement was the ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme, which allows those in a bar or club who do not feel safe, to ask for ‘Angela’, alerting the bar staff to their discomfort and meaning they will call you a taxi or help you out discreetly. The scheme was part of Mooch’s ‘Best Bar None’ Submission for 2017-2018 and was implemented fully in the SU bar in Autumn 2017. Bar Manager Benjamin Gould, informed Impact that ‘we haven’t had any feedback as nobody has yet used the scheme.’, suggesting either that there have been no occasions where the scheme was required or that these initiatives require greater promotion among the student community. As part of their roles in Welcome Week, every member of Welcome Committee have comprehensive Bystander Intervention Training, a scheme developed by the University of West England, as an educational means for preventing sexual coercion in university settings. Zoe, SU Equal Opps and Welfare Officer, explained the nature of this training; “The Bystander Intervention training involves training in consent, legal definitions of sexual assault and sexual harassment and how mentors can move from passive to active bystanders in many situations including preventing sexual harassment. Other training that mentors receive includes health and safety, active listening, signposting training, culture shock training, events training, commercial training and practical information around their role and how this should work during Welcome.” In addition, more members of University staff are also completing external accredited training which will will be completed over the next few months to develop services and learn how to best support the University community. Clearly, the University have introduced schemes and projects in an effort to ameliorate and eradicate sexual harassment at University and the culture that underpins this. However, a sustained effort to educate and promote awareness surrounding sexual harassment must be maintained. This will ensure that people are aware of how to report such incidents and feel confident that effective action will be pursued once they do.

What can be done to combat issues of sexual harassment?

The issue of consent is a major issue in terms of preventing sexual harassment, as shown by the University’s ‘Let’s Be Clear on Consent’ campaign. Alex* also stated that he believed that ‘some people are not aware of what actually counts as sexual harassment.’

NEWS

READY SET RENT Marvel Kalu Is rushing to sign a housing contract before the Christmas break really worth it? As you begin to settle into university, getting to know your housemates and trying to make your 9ams, one conversation that will eventually come up is accommodation for the next academic year. Knowing when to start looking for student accommodation can be hard, especially with so many things to consider - accreditation, landlords, agencies, flatmates, deposits, to name but a few.

“You should still have fun searching for places, so take your time when choosing where and who you’ll be living with during your academic year.” Not to mention the fact that you are competing with thousands of other eligible students in your area for that perfect spot. For many of you this will be your first time getting involved in the housing market, which can be quite daunting. One recurring decision that most

Instead focus on getting organised by concentrating on who you would want to live with and what kind of accommodation you are looking for. Be careful, make sure these are people you’d be happy to share a house with with as living with someone can push the limits of even the closest of friendships. With the help of UON SU Advice Centre you can find information about student recommended letting agencies and start booking viewings to go to with your potential flatmates. Going for viewings are key, so that you can have an idea of the pros and cons of certain houses and what would be best suited to you.

“As the poll shows, most students get accommodation postChristmas” According to a poll made by UniPol, home of student housing, about a quarter of returning students finalise their arrangements with the owner (including signing the contract) in January and February. These leases come in to effect on 1 July for a full 52week let (although sometimes there are summer rent concessions made). The rest of those who commit themselves to a full year’s let (about the same number

students struggle with is when to sign a contract. There is a lot of pressure for students to sign before Christmas. The myth being that if you leave signing the contract too late then you will get left behind and finding accommodation will become much harder.

again) sign an agreement in April, May and June (but mostly May) before the third term.

The demand for student housing in Nottingham is in fact very high, especially as there are two large universities in the city; hence why students rush to find accommodation. There are almost 65,000 students at the two universities in the city - a number that is set to grow in the next few years. Many of these developments are close to the University campuses and in the city centre, where nearly 7,500 students now live.

Two of the most common myths in regard to finding accommodation, that you should not be tricked into following are:

As much as finding a house is a big responsibility, you should still have fun searching for places, so take your time when choosing where and who you’ll be living with during your academic year. The reality of rushing into getting accommodation and signing a contract before December is that you are signing up for properties left over from the previous year. Don’t fall for this myth of getting a property before December.

As the poll shows, most students get accommodation post-Christmas even waiting until late into the third semester until a contract is finalised. So be sure to avoid making panicked early decisions.

Myth 1: There is a housing shortage – this is simply not true. In Nottingham, there is a surplus of good quality accommodation. According to the results of a survey set by Nottingham City Council in late May 2018, there are more than 22,000 student flats in Nottingham with more to be constructed. Students who leave their house hunting until the summer before they return to university still secure good houses. Myth 2: All the best properties are snapped up early – often, students that sign up for houses too early are signing for properties left over from the previous year!

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Is everlasting love and monogamy a thing of the past? Ben Miley-Smith Ben Miley-Smith discusses our generation’s attraction to polyamory and open-relationships Western culture has an ingrained schema of long-term, committed love between two people. Usually, this is a model people experience through their parents’ relationship. The appearance of this relationship determines future expectations for romance. When it comes to sex, love and romance it is hard to grasp that more love for another person doesn’t mean less love for yourself. If you love John you must love Lucy less or if you are committed to a relationship with a friend, you must be less committed to your relationship with your spouse. However, such thoughts are unattractive traps. When parents have a second child do they love their first child any less?

“Hook-up’ culture portrays young adults as susceptible to temptation, indulgent in dating habits, and threatening to monogamy” ‘Hook-up’ culture portrays young adults as susceptible to temptation, indulgent in dating habits, and threatening to monogamy. Some embrace the new behaviours, others consider them excuses for cheating.

Monogamy is a relationship where an individual has one partner. Polyamory is the practice of emotional relationships with more than one person with consent from all involved. It stresses that love is additive and not finite, it can be shared. There is confusion surrounding what polyamory actually is. First thoughts tend to associate non-consensual polygyny with the word polyamory. Polygyny is defined as one man with multiple wives expected to be monogamous. This is an old stereotype.

A distinction should be made in that jealousy has nothing to do with love but could be to do with fear and insecurity. Responsible polyamory would involve acknowledgement of a partner’s jealousy and communication to resolve and reassure. Jealousy doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong just that expectations were inaccurate, signalling a difference between expectations and how someone actually behaves. Partners may have different definitions of their relationship’s format.

Monogamy has an emphasis on never fantasising or being attracted to anyone else but your partner. This does not seem humanly possible. When such thoughts persist, the person you are tied to becomes the issue. People may not share their desires because it undermines the convention. Jealousy is definitely something those in polyamorous relationships have to deal with. The term ‘compersion’ has been coined, which is the opposite of jealousy, where a partner feels pleasure from their other partner’s pleasure. Those in polyamorous relationships describe feeling less intense jealousy but it is still not something they are immune to.

“Responsible polyamory would involve acknowledgement of a partner’s jealousy and communication to resolve and reassure” This can be an opportunity to understand each other better. Getting to know your partner’s other partner makes them real when all you had before was your imagination over what this person is like; picking sexual partners based on respect shows you don’t want a competition; and letting go of jealousy is, by human nature, a hard

FEATURES

barrier to break down but one that will lead to a happier sex and love life. The Western world has been wedded to the idea that monogamy equals love, love equals monogamy and the absence of monogamy means absence of love. A common story is the break down of 20-year relationships where a partner cheated once therefore labelling the past a ‘lie’. 1/5 adults in the UK have an affair. The estimated percentage of marriages ending in divorce is 42% (2015). 43/238 human societies in the world are monogamous. The bottom line being: humans suck at monogamy.

“Of 25 heterosexual couples, 19 were instigated to be open by the women” The difficulties of straddling a relationship and university concurrently: Going to university and being separated from your partner forms strain, distance creating fragility. Do such longdistance relationships make it past the first semester? University life is new, exciting and a change from what you’re comfortable with. You may feel held back by your loyalty to your partner upon meeting so many new people. Differences between you and your partner may be thrown into starker relief. You may obsess about what your partner is doing, confining your own life. You may miss intimacy and seek to fill the void with more readily available, local interest. Can the practice of alternative relationship formats eliminate the looming spectre of cheating in such environments? Other alternatives: Open relationships are defined as a primary emotional relationship between two partners who agree to have sexual, but not romantic, relationships with others. This is seemingly liberating

but, with potential complications, upfront ground rules are encouraged to accommodate everyone. While sounding constricting and contradictory, ground rules permit the freedoms people seek.

couples. Of 25 heterosexual couples, 19 were instigated to be open by the women. Furthermore, the women were usually more sexually active outside of their relationship.

Examples are: safe sex is mandatory, ‘veto’ powers, no sex with people both partners know, never more than once with the same person, letting a partner know something happened with another person, no sleeping over and communication (discussing ‘rules’ or jealousy levels). These are all flexible and up to those in the relationship. I believe people shape a relationship to suit both parties, as opposed to following a template.

“Monogamy is not something we should throw in the bin, but we could understand more clearly how illusory and potentially unfulfilling it can be and instead adjust the parameters of our relationships”

Do boys or girls prefer polyamory? A modern assumption is that men want sex, and women don’t. In an article from the New York Times, writer Susan Dominus interviewed non-monogamous

A 2002 study found that men and women experienced equal sexual desire at beginnings, for women such desire dropped after 1-4 years, but not for men. This suggests that women desire novelty as much as men, if not more. Thus, indulging in newer partners could be practical. Non-monogamous relationships offer the mix of stability and excitement. Interviewees recounted restoration of sexual energy and new channels of communication. I have no personal experience in polyamorous relationships, but it is something I have considered and looked into. I believe it takes a leap of faith to enter this world where you have to let go of what feels like yours, trusting that it will be replicated in abundance. Monogamy is not something we should throw in the bin, but we could understand more clearly how illusory and potentially unfulfilling it can be and instead adjust the parameters of our relationships.

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ushy parents:

e r u s es

Dealingwith the r p

An insight into why parents can be overly obsessed with your studies and how to cope with the pressure

Annie McGill

University is fun*.

*University is fun when we are not tucked away in the library, reading the same page for over an hour without comprehending a word and stress eating all the junk food we can find.

So basically, university is fun when we are not feeling the impending anxieties of our upcoming exams. During the stressful exam period, many students travel home for revision and over the Christmas break. However, the luxuries home provides, including constant heating and a fully stocked fridge, come at a price. Sometimes though they mean the best, parents can unintentionally pile on even more pressure during exam season.

“Your mental health needs to come first – even if that does mean that you won’t be able to spend as much time with your family” In my book, there are two reasons why a parent would put pressure on their children: out of love, or out of wanting success for them. The first reason is that they just want to see you while you are home. At university, it’s so easy to become wrapped up in your own little bubble with societies, friends and studies, meaning that your family back home may feel sidelined by the action. When you do return home, your parents can feel like it’s ‘their’ time to be with you and therefore push you into spending time with them and not your studies. Once you do get chance to study, it’s often easy to feel guilty for spending time away from your revision. It’s hard to find a balance between pleasing your family and yourself but it starts before exam season; call your parents regularly and update them

about your life or visit them if possible, so that when you do go home, it won’t feel like you have been away for ages. However, above all, let you parents know that when you come back to study, your mental health needs to come first – even if that does mean that you won’t be able to spend as much time with your family as they plan to.

“Establish boundaries when you get home” The second reason parents may apply pressure is the more practical and direct one. They are pushing you to do better because they think that’s the only way they can show their encouragement. Be honest with them that it only increases stress and establish boundaries when you get home. The more honest you are with your parents about anxieties towards your studies, the more likely that they will back off. Let them know that you will perform better without them constantly watching over you. Inform them of your progress and if they can help in any way, but, if you feel like their involvement is only making it worse, you need to tell them. Exam season does put pressure on you and your parents shouldn’t add to it, even though they may have the best intentions. You must always come first and your mental health is more important than anything else. However, that also means that you need to take time away from your studies. Make sure to take frequent breaks (with your family), go on walks and always stay hydrated. When we’re under pressure, it’s the simplest things that we always forget. Remember that it’s just a few weeks after all. Miserable, hateful and stressful weeks that we will do all again when it comes around. University is fun though, for sure.

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Single and Rather Not Mingle

Brianna Croughan

To be single or not to be single? A list of single-life pros… with love from a woman who has experienced both

Disclaimer: the suggestions below are in no way insinuating that those in relationships can’t do these things, just that being single might make things easier. Our society is obsessed with relationships. Whether it’s TV, films, adverts or music, we are constantly surrounded by this ideal of being in a happy, monogamous relationship. So long has this ideal been thrust in our faces that no wonder most of us grow up wanting or being in an awkward high school couple. Why do we care?

“Get rid of this Bridget Jones fad of being a singleton in the 21st century and wake up to realise the benefits that come from being a solo agent” Let us get rid of this Bridget Jones fad of being a singleton in the 21st century and wake up to realise the benefits that come from being a solo agent. Below are some of the ways you can get the most out of being single:

1. Time This is a big one. Not being in a relationship means more time for the most important person in your life – yourself. Work towards those life goals; whether that’s doing well on your course, going to the gym or smashing your career aspirations. Relationships come and go, so learning to be on your own is extremely important. Become comfortable with your own company whilst you have it. When you do get lonely invest your time in other relationships with friends and family, and you may find these more long-term.

2. Opportunities Being single means you can be open to more opportunities without having to consider how this may impact on your partner or your relationship. No more second thoughts about that year abroad, for example, you are free to throw yourself into every new experience. These experiences could be within university, the workplace, in the club or on the other side of

the world. The options are endless, and you never know when they might pop up.

3. Money Let’s be honest, being in a relationship costs. Whether its presents, date nights or other tokens of love, being in a relationship often means spending. So…how about putting that money towards other expenditures? Being single includes having that spare bit of cash to put towards a group holiday, a trip home or a new outfit. Time to take advantage of the perks.

“Whether you want to find someone in future, or you don’t, keep these benefits in mind next time you are pondering your single life”

4. Independence To summarise this list of benefits, being single means independence. You are free to develop your own interests and be selfish with them without consequence. Commit the time and energy to what makes you happy, without being emotionally dependent on another person. Couples can be quick to rely on one another when something goes wrong, but what happens when this person is no longer there? Knowing how to deal with issues independently is a key life skill and will more likely be achieved when single. As we are constantly reminded by the representations of love in the media, relationships can be romantic and beautiful, but they can also be destructive. By fully understanding who you are and how to take care of yourself first, you avoid a whole lot of unwanted drama and emotional trauma. Whether you want to find someone in future, or you don’t, keep these benefits in mind next time you are pondering your single life.

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A journey through the past Holly Wilson Fancy having a wander through the past? Holly Wilson tells us all about Hopkinson and its ability to transport customers through time. Often, when I meet someone off the train into Nottingham, I guide them through the double doors of Hopkinson Vintage and Antiques. Where better to take a visitor in Nottingham than to a shop that hosts 4 floors of the city’s material history? Its art covered walls, towering shop face, and the occasional vibrant bulldog statue sat outside beckon to those who walk down Station Street. It promises whimsy and the opportunity to lose many hours wandering between the stalls inside, and never disappoints.

“Sat just off from the train tracks, it has its own way of transporting you” The shop has a long history, which it maintains a strong connection with today. Originally, it was part of Nottingham’s thriving textile industry, opening in 1880 as the hub of Mr Hopkinson merchant empire. As you can probably tell, the current vintage emporium is named after the Victorian businessman. Spilling from the walls and the numerous shelves is hundreds of years of history. The glass cabinets at the front of the store are filled with small artefacts ready to be dug up from their layers of tissue paper and presentation stands. Hair pins, removed from a twisted curl in the 1950s and then lost for decades, now wait to be rediscovered. Though it might sound like a place potentially filled with melancholy, really it is a place of celebration. You can feel the joy of the original Cluedo player, or grant an ancient smoking jacket a new lease of life. The ground floor contains many hidden pathways, winding through the lines of shelves. You have to shimmy around a 1980s arcade machine to enter what appears to be a mid-20th century kitchen. Each display stand, individually curated by unique independent stores, is a time capsule for another era. Downstairs, the basement houses buckets of miscellaneous debris from many lives lived. If you’ve ever fancied collecting

random keys, clockwork parts, scrabble letters and pretty much anything else you could imagine, Hopkinson can provide. Amongst these boxes, there is a collection of ancient photographs that can be sorted through and the lives of nameless people pieced together. I myself have a collection of pictures following the apparently carefree youth of a man, depicting him playing the piano with his foot and taking a vintage selfie. There’s a magic to the act of discovery at Hopkinson’s that is rarely found in other vintage shops. The items feel like treasure without the restriction of a high price. The higher floors include a guitar shop, a hair salon, more clothes-based stalls, and everything in between. There are cabinets filled with 1960s mass market Penguin paperbacks, many of which are now out of print, often accompanied with a tentative underline or a childish doodle. Sometimes, you will find things that will bring your childhood racing back. I once found a miner’s lamp that could have been plucked from the mantle of my Grandparents’ living room. You may be surprised by what they sell too. Giant shields, a ceiling high giraffe and old yellow school lockers all furnish the shop floor. The best way to experience Hopkinson’s is on a long afternoon, when you have time to explore all that it has to offer. With the Hops café and cocktail bar within its walls, you don’t even need

“Sometimes, you will find things that will bring your childhood racing back” to leave for food. Sat just off from the train tracks, the store has its own way of transporting you. Though Nottingham has many vintage and second-hand shops, none quite have the feeling of being a traveller like Hopkinson.

Vintage: Change the bloody record or play that funky music? FEATURES

Katherine Gomes Drawn to the past and don’t know why? Katherine discusses our obsession with vintage items, questioning whether it’s authentic or just trendy.

In an age which promises constant innovation, with new technology constantly arising, it seems odd that today’s youth have become fixated on the past. I am guilty of this fascination; I dress in clothes from the 90s, constantly sporting a controversial double denim, own a record player and enjoy the odd game on my old GameBoy Advance. But why? That’s what I am to uncover in this brief discussion: our obsession with all things retro and where it’s sprung from.

“Brings into question whether this fixation is genuine or purely to follow a trend” Firstly, I consider social media to have played a role in how we like to reflect. With trends like #tbt (Throwback Thursdays) dominating tweets, and Facebook providing reminders of when we first coined friendships, it’s not surprising that we become so attached to the past when we are constantly bombarded with it. Photos and posts crop up to remind us of how far we’ve come, and perhaps that serves as a distraction from where we once were. With regards to music, vinyl sales reached 3.2 million in 2016, a 53% increase on the 2015 totals as indicated by the BPI and is the highest total in the UK for 25 years. This is astonishing since vinyl was in danger of extinction in 2007. With several record shops cropping up on our high streets and popular brands such as Urban Outfitters stocking them, there is no doubt that young people have become increasingly interested in vinyls. Personally, I relish the sacrifice of sound quality for the warmth that vinyl provides, and will often buy records, even if I don’t listen to them for a while, purely to support the artist that made them as a gesture of gratitude. Despite this, the same company indicates that 48% of listeners do not end

up playing the vinyl they bought, which brings into question whether this fixation is genuine or purely to follow a trend. Second-hand clothing is another fad which has recently gained popularity. Charity shops are taking £270,000 a year and 32% of people are using charity shops regularly. I am among this group of people who value the treasures in a charity shop, especially when the end of term looms close and my student loan has depleted. So I can see why cheap clothing appeals to those who don’t mind it having a history. As well as this, more apps besides the classic eBay and Gumtree have an increased number of users and sales. For example, popular second-hand app ‘Depop’, which I consider a hybrid of the concept of eBay and the format of Instagram, grew in sales by 103% in 2017, which can only follow an increased interest in cheaper, quality goods. Depop also capitalises on the desire for ‘vintage’ styles, with many accounts branding themselves as such, and their owners making entrepreneurs of themselves as the market evidently grows.

“Perhaps vintage or retro fashions are a way of longing for a simpler time” To conclude, there seems to be a nostalgic element to the way we refer to older fashions and trends to inspire how we present ourselves now. Perhaps, in an increasingly intricate and complex digital world, defined by a pervasive information environment and constant stimulation, vintage and retro fashions are a way of longing for a simpler time. Whether that simpler past is a reality that actually existed or not. Or I don’t know… maybe it’s just pretty darn cool.

Toxic Friendships: 18

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Is a friendship doing you more harm than good, Ellie Wright and what can you do about it? Below, we’ll give you the lowdown on recognising a friendship that’s going downhill, and making the change that’ll chase all that unnecessary stress out of your life. Friendships are a funny one… they arise from all kinds circumstances: the school playground, mutual friends, drunk nights out, and have all kinds of functions: stress-eatingpartners, revision-partners, Netflix-binge-watching-partners (to name a few!). But do you ever get to a point where things start to go downhill? It could be a gradual realisation through a subtle dig, or a random squabble, or it could even come to hit you all at once with (a bitchy) full-force.

have some knock-on-effect on you. And if you fail to notice this, maybe it is because you have subconsciously accepted it as being normal.

“There’s plenty more fish in the lecture theatre…” Potential ‘warning signs’:

Do you feel drained by their company, irritable, or oversensitive? Do you feel like the constant ‘jibes’ are getting you down? Or, even their attitude has become so different to yours, they are starting to hold you back?

“No matter how long you have been friends, if a person is bringing you down in your dayto-day life more than they are bringing you up – something has to change.” It is important to realise, no matter how long you have been friends, if a person is bringing you down in your day-to-day life more than they are bringing you up – something has to change. Naturally, people do change overtime, usually for the good, but sometimes for worse. When you share a large amount of time with a ‘friend’, it can become difficult to note these changes in their behaviour. These changes will usually

Side note: please do not read this article and analyse every single friendship, decisively cutting them out of your life like a checklist – because 9 times out of 10 they could be groggy after having a shit day… (unintentionally taking it out on you). This is aimed at those of you who have a niggling in the back of your mind, and perhaps need a little push to do the right thing. There are a few different ways to approach this… Step 1) Identify the toxic friendship. Step 2) Change.

CHANGE:

I am aware this is a very unhelpful heading, and gives way to many different interpretations. But depending on your situation, you may only want to make a ‘small’ change, rather than a ‘big’ one!

SMALL CHANGE

BIG CHANGE: I am ready for you!

a) Start talking to new people that perhaps you haven’t given a thought to before - maybe because you were so caught up in your ‘toxic friendship’ bubble? This will subtly send the message (without having to directly state it) that you are branching out to bigger and better things. There’s plenty more fish in the lecture theatre…

a) BITCH BYE Cut. The. Cord.

b) Stop agreeing with every single thing that ‘toxic friend’ says just to please them – if you don’t agree, why are you faking it? Be your own person! c) Stop beating yourself up for wanting a change in the first place.

If they aren’t adding anything to your life, why are you wasting your energy? Sometimes you have to be savage: because it is what you need.

FEATURES

How to tell if you’re in a toxic relationship

Katie Moncur

tell-tale signs that you are dating a toxic partner

At university, many people are looking for or are in a serious relationship and the vast majority work out well, but when a seemingly healthy relationship starts to turn sour, the problems arise. Toxic relationships can damage self-esteem, harm platonic and familial relationships and generally affect your outlook on life so it is important to be self-aware. From the outside, it can be incredibly difficult to judge if a relationship is healthy: the loved-up Instagram couple can have the biggest problems, yet they hide it the best. When you’re in the relationship yourself it is also easy to get caught up in it and ignore the tell-tale signs that something isn’t right. Here are just a few of them:

1) You stop seeing your friends as much: When you start having to choose between maintaining your friendships or your relationship then there should be warning signs. In a healthy relationship, you shouldn’t have to abandon your own lives to be with each other. If one person in the relationship starts forcing you to make these kind of choices then this is mentally-abusive behaviour - they are trying to remove other influences and have you all to themselves. Freedom is key in any relationship.

2) Saying ‘no’ creates an argument: You should respect that your partner will not always agree with you and accept these differences in opinion as, although healthy relationships do need compromise, they need understanding too. If you get to the stage where you can only stay civil and loving when you’re saying ‘yes’ then it’s time to re-evaluate.

3) All the effort and love comes from you: Every relationship needs work but if there is a huge unbalance in the amount of care and effort being put in by both sides

then it probably isn’t healthy. Equally, when your efforts are no longer being recognised and you start being blamed for your partner’s issues, the relationship may be beyond repair.

4) Your partner cares a bit too much about where you are, what you’re doing and what you’re wearing: This controlling nature can develop as a relationship becomes more serious, but it isn’t excusable. If you haven’t previously broken their confidence, you have every right to be trusted. When privacy becomes non-existent, you lose your individuality and freedom so sacrifice too much for your relationship.

5) You become more of a carer than a partner: Mental health issues can be difficult in any relationship but one thing you have to remember is that you are not your partner’s therapist. Being supportive is one thing but having the weight of their issues on your shoulders and being expected to have all the answers, is unhealthy. If their unhappiness becomes your unhappiness and it stays this way, you’re in too deep.

When you love someone, it’s hard to leave. Whether you’ve been stuck in a toxic relationship for years or only a few months, it can feel like there is no other option but to stick it out in the hope that it will get better and in fear of the gap that will enter your life without them. If you find yourself facing any of these problems then the best thing to do is to end it, but don’t feel like you have to go through it alone – talk to friends, family, counsellors or anyone that you feel comfortable with because the most toxic thing to do in a toxic relationship is to stay quiet to protect the other person. As with any break-up, it will hurt a lot but once you have accepted what has happened and moved on to healthier and happier times, you won’t look back.

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Can you be a feminist and still accept chivalry? Four accounts of whether chivalry has a place in today’s feminist society Chivalry is, according to Wikipedia, ‘an informal, varying code of conduct developed between 1170 and 1220’ that was associated heavily with knighthood. Chivalry’s attached expectations have lasted into the 21st century, whereas feminism as we know it has only been as comparably mainstream for just over 100 years. So it seems that chivalry is here to stay, despite seeming a little dated. It also seems to be majorly skewed as a male thing: a chivalric man will open a door for a woman but if the situation is flipped, is it considered chivalry, or just politeness?

“You should be free to pay for your own meal or to get it paid for you” Anyone can be a feminist, just as anyone can be chivalrous. You don’t have to reject the notion by slamming a door in someone’s face and yelling “I’m a feminist!” to get the point across. Chivalry, with its notions of honour, nobility, and sacrifice, come from a time when gender roles were ridiculously strict and everyone died of the common cold, so arguably has no place in the modern age. Further, a militaristic notion of chivalry simultaneously places men as protectors and women as damsels in distress, which not only subscribes to a gender binary, but also puts archaic restrictions and traditions on what should just be seen as commonsensical decency. A person can be a feminist and still accept and embrace chivalry. You should be free to pay for your own meal or to get it paid for you, without having to submit to expectations. Nobody should be applauded for simply being nice.

Esme Johnson “Nowadays women are bossing it in the workplace, thus this old-fashioned logic no longer applies” Image courtesy of: Wikipedia

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The word ‘chivalry’ originated in a time of knights, jousting and duals; today (in a time of Tinder, clubbing and speed dating) the term has evolved, just as the world has. Therefore, I would argue that of course a feminist can accept chivalry, because nowadays chivalry is simply synonymous with politeness. The term derived in a society where life was much more precarious, and women would indicate their interest in someone by giving him a handkerchief- a bit different to swiping right, isn’t it? So, if the courting rituals between men and women have changed so drastically, why are we still associating this term with such archaic ideals of masculinity? Take the first date scenario; you’re both students (so both very aware of the £27,000 worth of debt hanging over each other) and the dreaded moment arrives- the bill is here. The waiter asks if you’d like to pay cash or card, holding eye contact with the man. As a chivalrous feminist, I would argue that now is your time: jump in and offer to split that bill. If you both have similar incomes, then why invoke the outdated expectation that the man should pay? This used to be the case because men were paid more; nowadays women are bossing it in the workplace, thus this old-fashioned logic no longer applies. Of course, either party is entitled to pay the bill in full. But, this should be based on generosity rather than outdated expectations because we are no longer damsels in distress.

Emily Casey When you think of the word ‘chivalry’, what springs to mind? A fairy-tale image of a knight in shining armour? Maybe it’s more along the lines of a man holding a door open for a woman, a guy settling the bill on a date, a man carrying a girl’s suitcase up a flight of stairs for her… the list goes on. Now take the word ‘feminist’. What images does this bring to mind? It’s likely to again be a range of images, from a women’s march in London to women in boardrooms to Emma Watson, to your own friends… Personally, when I think of feminism it’s inextricably linked to another powerful word- ‘equality’. Equality in this sense meaning that men and women are seen as equal, having equal opportunities, equal rights and essentially being treated and treating each other the same, irrespective of gender.

Nowadays, chivalry is seen as something archaic and illfitting in a modern feminist society, and it’s often stated that women have to choose between one or the other, for their peaceful co-existence is impossible.

“It’s a manifestation of the kind of treatment modern women deserve” However, feminism in everyday life is about knowing what kind of treatment you, as a woman, deserve. It is a known fact that women already contribute a lot more to romantic relationships than men do; the continuing existence of dual burden (professional and as a family carer) is no secret and is something we are all so used to as a society that we don’t necessarily notice it anymore. Men also often rely on their partners for emotional support a lot more than women do (something that is the result of it not being a custom for male friends to share their feelings with one another because it’s not ‘manly’ enough). It makes sense to expect your partner to bring in at least as much effort into your relationship as you already do, and chivalry should be part of the man’s contribution. Chivalry is not a sign of clinging patriarchy, it’s a manifestation of the kind of treatment modern women deserve. It doesn’t have to be patronising or something that puts pressure on women, it’s about men being that ‘nice guy’ rather than just talking about it, all by treating their partner with the respect, love and courtesy that they rightfully deserve. Therefore, chivalry is not an antithesis of feminism. In fact, they go hand in hand.

Kateryna Vine

“Essentially being treated and treating each other the same, irrespective of gender” What would happen if we changed our perspective and considered the potential for women to be chivalrous and men to be feminists? Recently, I was going up some stairs at a train station and I noticed a woman helping another woman carry her suitcase up these stairs. I watched curiously when, at the top of the stairs, the stranger (female) put down the other lady’s heavy suitcase at the top, accepted a thank you and walked off. Would this be considered an act of chivalry? An act of feminism? Or simply, a random act of kindness? Point being; yes, I think we can all still be feminists whilst accepting chivalry, and visa versa. If we see chivalry more as an act of kindness and less about an act carried out by one gender and not by another then really, we can all accept chivalry and we can all be feminists.

Hannah Crolla-Parkhouse Image courtesy of: pngimg.com via google images

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How to maintain relationships at uni Charlotte Hegley

Charlotte gives you her four top tips on how to tackle, and sustain, long distance relationships and friendships whilst at university One of the hardest things about University, especially at the very beginning, is sustaining long distance relationships with both partners and friends.

Partners: Less is more

Partners and friends: Visit them

The transition from seeing your partner regularly to once every few weeks, or maybe even months, is perhaps the biggest hurdle a lot of couples face. It is very natural to think that because you are no longer seeing them regularly, you should be communicating with them more online. However, this is not necessarily true. It is best to work out what works for you both, whether that be scheduling a call (remember you could use FaceTime or Skype) every evening, once a week, or, if you prefer texting then maybe in the evenings or when you wake up. It is crucial to make time for eachother but also to remember that your schedules are doubtless profoundly busy and, suddenly, very different from one anothers.

By far the best and most exciting way to sustain a long distance relationship is to visit each other. It gives you a weekend to look forward to, and means you can also plan things to do in advance. It really is up to you (and your schedule, commitments etc) how often you visit people. I personally see my boyfriend once every three weeks, and try to see my friends once or twice a term. You just have to see what works for you (and your bank account too).

2 Partners: See it as an opportunity Long distance relationships at University are generally between people who met before they started University. If you have both made the decision to try and make it work whilst you are in different cities nationally, or perhaps internationally, then that is an amazing achievement in itself. Long distance is undeniably testing and different compared to when you are living in the same city, but nevertheless, see it as an opportunity and a challenge, through which your relationship will hopefully become stronger.

4 Friends: Group chats If you are part of a group of friends from home, make a group chat, whether it be on Facebook, iMessage, WhatsApp or even Snapchat, do it. Group chats allow you to communicate with some, or all of your friends at once, meaning you do not have to message people separately all of the time. Understandably, you are unlikely to talk to your friends as regularly as you do at home because of your different schedules and social lives. This is not necessarily a bad thing though, the beauty of group chats is that every so often you can ask how everyone is, try to arrange meeting up, send a funny picture in or just rant about life in general. It is important to remember that friends for life are friends for life, whether you talk everyday or not.

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Sustainability:

Ecotourism in the travel industry Ella Morton Ella discusses volunteering abroad and whether it is a sustainable endeavor or whether we can help in different ways The term ‘Voluntourism’ refers to the fusion of conventional tourism with philanthropy and volunteering, resulting in the emergence of a controversial multi billion-pound industry.

‘Research suggests that the potential to inadvertently cause harm during short term international volunteering often outweighs any positive contribution.’ The practice of Voluntourism was originally regarded as a way for young people to enhance their CVs, while also giving back to underprivileged communities. However, it is increasingly apparent that companies in the tourism industry have capitalised on the appeal for co-beneficial travel; resulting in a mass of unskilled workers travelling to areas temporarily with little contextual understanding of their issues. Volunteers participating in these programs therefore often only engage with these issues on a superficial level, despite their best intentions. Many of these placement companies also market themselves as sustainable and vital to local communities. However, research suggests that the potential to inadvertently cause harm during short term international volunteering often outweighs any positive

contribution. For instance, a major criticism of this system is that it fosters dependency on foreign aid, thus leaving local communities without the ability to independently create selfsustained growth and development. Voluntourism is also condemned for contributing to sustaining harmful practices and institutions, as organisations lack the long-term ability to enact any meaningful change. For example, volunteers pay large amounts of money to travel to orphanages with the hope of improving the lives of impoverished children. However in reality, this practice incentivizes the need for these very establishments, and in doing so perpetuates the institutionalization of vulnerable children. Therefore, orphanages are kept running despite an abundance of research into their detrimental impact on a child’s development. Charities, such as Lumos, have also

even found that children are far more likely to experience abuse, cruelty or neglect in an institution than in any other setting, which is a central reason as to why you do not find orphanages within the UK. It is therefore necessary to weigh up whether the two thousand pound spent paying for a two-week student volunteer trip is necessary when the same amount could pay the salary of a village teacher for months. It would seem logical then, that a better goal would be working towards and supporting more tangible ways of reducing poverty sustainably. It has also been suggested that students who participate in these programs may be contributing to the continuation of larger systems that produce this inequality.

‘A better goal would be working towards and supporting more tangible ways of reducing poverty sustainably’ So, if you are interested in volunteering on your next holiday abroad, it is worth considering some of the ethical questions you are likely to encounter. This is not to suggest that the problems underlined here mean that people should abandon their volunteer work, but it is perhaps worth being more aware of our own impact if we want to work towards implementing worthwhile and sustainable change.

LIFESTYLE

Sustainability: Food

Esme Johnson

Esme discusses what the University of Nottingham is doing to improve food sustainability.

Climate action at UoN In October 2018, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) announced that we have just twelve years to prevent global temperatures from rising any further than 1.5℃. It therefore seems useful to establish what the University of Nottingham has been doing to help achieve this goal in terms of food sustainability. According to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), food waste accounts for 20% of the UK’s CO2 emissions, and 10 million tonnes of food is wasted each year, despite countless initiatives to promote awareness regarding food waste.

‘The University has undoubtedly been active in their response to sustainability’ The University has undoubtedly been active in their response to sustainability. They work with Wastecycle (soon to become ‘Enva’), who divert 95% of the 3000 tonnes of the waste produced annually at UoN away from the landfill.

‘99% of respondents supported the reduction of single-use plastic on campus’ In recent months, there have been great strides in food sustainability.

As of October 2018, both University Park and Jubilee campus Students’ Union’s SPAR shops have become zero food waste establishments. They work with the student-led social enterprise Foodprint, who redistribute surplus and waste food to the local community. SPAR has also introduced a small but popular zero-plastic section, selling bamboo toothbrushes among other products.

‘The university has been criticised for its investments with fossil fuel companies’ Similarly, the #WasteNott campaign was launched earlier this year after a survey of 3000 students and staff revealed that 99% of respondents supported the reduction of single-use plastic on campus. WasteNott has focused on cutting the number of ‘single-use plastic bottles, cutlery and straws, and coffee cups’ used at the university, and has pledged to install more of the muchneeded water coolers to discourage the buying of plastic water bottles. Meanwhile, the SU shop and Blackwell’s have debuted a range of reusable coffee cups, and the Starbucks on campus have introduced a 20p tax for the use of disposable cups.

All of this is clearly a step in the right direction. However, despite these efforts, the University has been criticised for its investments with fossil fuel companies such as Shell, BP, and Centrica, which in 2014 totalled over £3.9 million. There are also questions to be asked about how food sustainability is actually being promoted to the student body. Arguably, pressure has been increasingly placed on the individual; the 20p coffee cup tax has been ridiculed for doing nothing to solve the problem when water bottles are still being sold on a mass scale, as are polystyrene and plastic food containers at numerous campus food spots.

‘Pressure has been increasingly placed on the individual’ Whilst an individual can make a huge difference in terms of how much food they throw away, the changes needed to prevent the critical levels of climate change that we are already experiencing the effects of, may only be achievable if there is major policy change at the institutional level. By taking advantage of the technologies available and listening to those rallying for sustainability, this goal could be reached before 2030. UoN is certainly moving towards food sustainability, but it is clear more is yet to be done.

Image courtesy of Lisa Pinehill ‘Vegetables’ via Flickr

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Sustainability:

Style

Georgia discusses unsustainability in the fashion industry and amongst consumers themselves. While, Hannah focuses on the unsustainability of beauty products.

The fashion and beauty industries are two of the biggest and most profitable industries worldwide with fashion alone demonstrating an annual worldwide revenue of more than £1 trillion. Unlike sustainability in food and travel, consumers are often less aware of the impact of these industries and therefore are more careless in how their shopping habits, whether it be buying a new t-shirt or beauty product, can have a detrimental impact on the environment.

Fashion

Fast fashion’s legacy of devastating environmental impact is predicted to escalate with the growth of the ever-expanding industry, unless new initiatives take hold. In 2017, Burberry invoked controversy over its destruction of unsold stock worth £28.6 million. This epitomizes the culture of waste that now permeates the fast fashion market. The tendency of companies to use non-renewable textiles and fuels has resulted in huge deposits of microfibers in our oceans and the continued increase in global temperatures, contributing to climate change.

‘Apps such as ‘Good On You’ can help you to ensure that you are shopping sustainably’ In response to increasing demands for more environmentally-friendly products, many companies have made commitments towards developing their sustainability, however, such promises are not always fulfilled. Apps, such as ‘Good On You’, can help you to ensure that you are shopping sustainably, as they determine which brands adhere to their ethical goals by rating them on their treatment of employees, the environment and animals. Refraining from supporting poorly rated brands can both ensure your own sustainability and contribute towards change, as companies are much more likely to reform if motivated by potential profit. Alternatively, you could completely refrain from supporting the fast fashion industry. Buying from sustainable outlets like charity and vintage shops, or apps and websites like Depop and Ebay, has many benefits. Such places can allow you to purchase more items for a lesser cost than from established brands. You can often find more interesting and personal items and longer lasting and better quality materials are usually used in older pieces. If you do decide to throw something away, you can return it or sell it through these avenues.

Georgia Cavanagh

Beauty

As a generation that seemingly worships Instagram’s dedication to vegan eating and aesthetically pleasing green lifestyle choices, the concept of sustainability seems to have become more of a fad than an exciting societal shift. However, this effort to fight against the tide of climate change can be an enlightening experience for us millennial / Gen Z participants. Vice i-D states that “we’re still on course to have more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050” suggesting our efforts need to extend to beyond the camera lens and into our daily subconscious. A regularly overlooked area for potential eco-friendly living is daily use cosmetics. Zero Waste reports that over 120 billion units of packaging originate from the global cosmetics industry annually. Not only are the overwhelming amount of plastics damaging to our environment in terms of packaging, but their ingredients themselves can also be extremely harmful to our planet. Oxybenzone, a chemical found in most sunscreens, is currently causing mass coral bleaching in our oceans. This seems a bit niche, right? How bad can using sunscreen one week a year so I do not turn lobster red in the sudden presence of sunlight be? But, when it’s approximately 14,000 tons of sunscreen being washed into the ocean resulting in the mass bleaching of one of the most significant ecological hotspots of our natural world, it seems less niche and a little more horribly eye opening.

‘120 billion units of packaging originate from the global cosmetics industry annually’ This is just one of the multitude of little switches you can make, try reusable makeup removing pads, or switch out your shampoo for an organic sulfate free one. These might not be as Instagram story ready as that stunning Acai bowl but trust me the planet will thank you.

Hannah Fields

LIFESTYLE

Directors: Charlotte Hegley, Ibrahim Khan, Daisy Cooper Photography: Charlotte Hegley, Ibrahim Khan, Daisy Cooper Make Up: Ella Morton, Sophie Hunt Models: Jase Neal, Seb Safwat, James Hurman, Sadie Agg, Polly Watson, Hannah Fields, Abby Allwood, Rose Morgan, Sarah Haywood, Georgia Cavanagh, Grazielle Perez, Aoife O’Gorman

THAT 70s SHOW Impact Style’s first shoot this year was inspired by Richard Linklater’s seminal 70’s teenage classic, Dazed and Confused. Captured through effortlessly cool sky-high-wasted bell-bottoms, skintight tees, flattered by undone, tousled hair, we pay homage to the angsty ‘we don’t give a damn’ attitude Linklater embodied through the likes of Milla Jovovich and Matthew McConaughey.

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LIFESTYLE

IMAPCT

LIFESTYLE

Maintaining a Healthy Relationship With Your Body With the convenience and high prevalence of unhealthy food, the increasing dominance and usage of social media, as well as progressively busier lifestyles - it is very easy to develop an unhealthy relationship with your body. However, fear not! I have compiled a list of tips to ensure a healthy relationship with your body is maintained. Balanced meals As much as I do not intend to sound like your mum, ‘you are what you eat’. Quite often, students are unable to grasp a good balance between the different food groups in their diets, either consuming too many of the wrong food groups or not enough of other food groups. This can lead to an excessive intake of carbohydrates and unhealthy fats or cravings for neglected food groups. Ideally, at each meal, ½ of your plate should be made up of vegetables, ¼ from protein and ¼ from carbohydrates. However, this does not mean that you are not allowed that brownie that you have been craving. The key is proportion. By consuming a mixture of different foods, your body will receive the nutrients that it requires, which it will thank you for. Exercise Exercise is known to boost your energy and mood, as well as having the ability to reduce stress levels. Exercise is commonly associated with strenuous cardio. However, you do not have to work yourself into the ground to benefit from exercise. It is important to find an activity that is right for you. May that be swimming, hiking, or yoga - all of these activities have excellent health benefits that will allow you to maintain a healthy relationship with your body. Sleep It is a well-known fact that students should be getting eight hours of sleep each night. However, this recommendation is frequently ignored and sleep is often neglected for other activities. Your body cannot function without sufficient rest, and I cannot stress enough how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. Down time It is often thought that university is supposed to be the best time of your life, with it being full of social events. However, it is incredibly important to take time out for yourself in order to maintain a healthy relationship with your body. You should not feel afraid to turn down an invitation. From reading a book, to watching your favourite film, to having a long bath - it is vital to spend some time alone to allow your body to relax. Limit social media use Social media is becoming an increasingly dominant part of the lives of many people. Social media content is often constructed in a way that is free of flaws and imperfections. The effect of this can be extremely dangerous, with many students comparing themselves and their bodies with those that have been carefully curated. The key to maintaining a healthy relationship with your body is to limit social media use and to remind yourself that you are fabulous in every way, and to refrain from comparing yourself to the artificial images that exist on social media platforms. Feeling good in what you wear Frequently, there is pressure to dress in a certain way, as well as an increasingly self-destructive attitude towards your own body, which results in not feeling confident in your own skin. An empowerment exists when you feel truly confident in what you are wearing. From wearing your favourite colour, your

comfiest jumper, to that much-loved dress - feeling good in what you wear gives you that extra spring in your step. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of ensuring that you feel good in what you wear- it really does make all the difference in maintaining a healthy relationship with your body.

Rosa Morgan

IMPACT

The Science f Attraction Inga Becker Hansen

Relationships and attraction, a trial and tribulation for all people alike. However, what actually determines the ‘spark’ that defines initial attraction? What actually makes your heart go a flutter? You are meeting your new crush and your hands are sweaty, your nervous, your heart feels like it is thumping so hard that it’s going to fall out your butt. Keep calm. Your body is basically hyping you up for what is coming!

‘A pleasure release chemical – producing that feeling of bliss and happiness.’ The hormones dopamine, norepinephrine and phenylethylamine are released in the brain. Dopamine is a neurochemical, a small molecule which travels across the synapses within the brain. It is in fact this same dopamine which leads to you being more talkative and more excitable when first dating or getting to know someone new. It also acts as a pleasure release chemical – producing that feeling of

bliss and happiness. Norepinephrine is stimulating release adrenaline and also aids dopamine in increasing your heart rate and your overall excitement. It acts as part of the noradrenaline system containing 1500 neurons. The release of norepinephrine and its resultant actions are activated upon the binding of the norepinephrine to the receptors within the system. Norepinephrine binds to receptors in the spinal cord as well as the thalamus (a small structure in the brain just above the brainstem). Phenylethylamine acts as a stimulant / releasing agent of norepinephrine and dopamine. Upon first attraction phenylethylamine is released in increased concentration. This leads the individual to have those ‘woozy’ feelings of love.

‘Both sexes exhibit eye dilation upon chancing upon a certain fancy’

LIFESTYLE

What about love at first sight? Do your crush’s eyes widen and glisten upon glimpsing your sweet face? Good news – your well on the way to wooing them into your grasp! Men are known to have 25% more neurons (cells which transmit nerve impulses) in their visual cortices as compared to women. However, both sexes exhibit eye dilation after chancing upon a certain fancy, and it cannot be helped. So, get those eyelashes a-fluttering! Women, on the other hand, have the ability to sense major histocompatibility complex molecules (MHC). These are molecules which line cell surface proteins and determine our acquired immune system, in turn they also indicate the strength of an individual’s immune system and well as their general health. In several species, including rodents and fish, MHC has been shown to be influential in terms of mating preferences and is sometimes determined by body odour.

‘Men are attracted to copulins, a hormone released by women during ovulation’ Human research has shown mating preferences are based on mis-matched MHC molecules. These MHC molecules mean that any offspring will possess an immune system which is more resistant to a wider range of pathogens (bacteria/virus which can cause disease). Hence, the inheritance of parent genes can produce a healthier immune system in offspring, a factor some are attracted to. However, controversially, research has also found that if an individual had positive childhood experiences they are more inclined to becoming attracted to persons with similar characteristics to their opposite-sex parent (as reported by Professor Bereczkei of the Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Hungary). Research has also indicated that women demonstrate raised dopamine levels in attraction to metabolites of testosterone. Meanwhile, men are attracted to copulins, a hormone released by women during ovulation i.e. during their fertile period.

Your new love is going away for some time and you cannot help but feel attached and little bit melancholy… That is it. It is official. You are attached to them as a result of the beautiful hormones known as oxytocin and vasopressin.

‘Could love become marketable in the future?’ Oxytocin is noted for reducing stress and anxiety. Research is currently being undertaken exploring the uses of Oxytocin for treatment of social phobia, autism and postpartum depression. In 2012, it was reported that people within new romantic relations have higher levels of oxytocin compared to single people. This was found to continue for six months. Alternatively, an increased release of oxytocin is said to play a major role in terms of bedroom antics and leads to increased uterine mobility in women, leading to increased guidance for sperm. It has been found that sexual encounters may stimulate the release of oxytocin. Some research has also noted a correlation between increased oxytocin levels and higher intensity orgasms. When we become aroused and our hearts go a flutter, regions of our brain become inactive (pre-frontal cortex) and we lose critical-thinking, self-awareness and rational behaviour. However, for each individual, these levels of hormones and responsiveness differ. Further to this, our external environment and internal environment may also amplify or hinder these features. Many different physical and chemical changes occur in the body in relation to the science of attraction, a lot more than this article can attempt to cover.

Is it about magical ‘love at first sight’ or does it actually come down to the scientific details?

‘People within the new romantic relations have higher levels of oxytocin compared to single people.’ Ultimately, a first kiss can be the most important factor in terms of developing an initial attraction! A mixture of smells, texture, taste and environment have the ability to both change and enhance this first experience. It has been reported that 59 % of men and 66% of women have broken a new relationship following a bad first kiss. However, if that smoocheroo goes well, its means there’s plenty of time for more good and even better kisses without the nerves.

But, if we bottled or extracted all these elements of our anatomy, if we had the right materials and facilities would we be able to formulate the ideal love equation? Could love become marketable in the future? Or is love something so pure and unique that it cannot possibly be synthesised in a lab?

Amy Wolstenholme Ben Phillips Torin McDowell Simran Singh

IMPACT

‘CAUGHT ON CAMPUS’ Friendships & Partnerships

Emily Sharpe Georgia Smith

Sophie Diep Amy Chai

LIFESTYLE

Dylan Clark Zhuowen Deng Jayan Patel Priyansh Garg James Lige

IMPACT

Sam Cloke Tom Stanton Jessica Taylor Caitlin Ayres Caitlin Clancy Thomas Ricketts

Phoebe Raine Harriet Frosh Jess Rough

LIFESTYLE

Leora Marcus Ellie Cook

Yousef Abdalla Inga Behring Ashton Harris

Art VS 38

IMPACT

Artist

Do We Care More About Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Created, or the Life of the Creator Behind it?

Charlotte Evans

Can we enjoy a piece of music without looking into the lives of the artist? What is the relationship between artists and their work? Charlotte examines these very questions, with focus on Gabrielle Aplin, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande.

ENTERTAINMENT

Since the rise of social media, it’s become easier and easier to glimpse into the private lives of celebrities. Yet whether what we see through the rose-tinted glasses of Instagram and Snapchat is representative of what goes on behind closed doors, remains a curiosity. It’s not a new phenomenon. People care about other people’s lives, that’s always been the way. Gossip finds its way around celebrity circles until the intricacies of so called ‘private lives’ are splashed on the front page of newspapers worldwide. But does caring so much about the lives of artists distract from the art? Whilst scrolling through twitter a couple of months ago, I noticed a tweet from Gabrielle Aplin that stuck in my mind. In answer to a question about whether she felt pressure to regularly post photos of herself online, the 26-year-old singer/ songwriter admitted: “Yes. I want to post pics of my dogs, food, art. I couldn’t give a **** about my face but selfies get more interaction and I hate that. It goes against how I feel about unrealistic expectations online. My mgmt. told me to post a selfie or he’d send me to fashion week lol NOPE” The pressure on musicians to use their looks to sell their music demonstrates these blurring lines between the artist and their art. Being successful in the music industry should be about your musical talent, but there’s a wide range of factors that come into play and, sadly, being physically attractive is one of them. This isn’t just a problem affecting female musicians; a fact that many seem to overlook. Whilst it may be magnified for women, men of the music industry also face this frustrating battle of drawing the line between their music and themselves and are encouraged to look a certain way to sell records. Dan Smith (Bastille) admitted in an interview that he was told for years by his label not to change his trademark hair. To what extent his hair contributed to the success of his band is a question for another time.

“Being successful in the music industry should be about your musical talent, but there’s a wide range of factors that come into play”

A problem that seems to affect female musicians considerably more than their male counter-parts however, is slutshaming. Whilst this issue is broader than the music industry, there are clear examples of negatively representing women because of who they’re dating. In an interview with Vogue, the iconic pop star Taylor Swift noted: “If I could talk to my nineteen-year-old self I’d say hey, you know, you’re gonna date just like a normal twenty-something should be allowed to but you’re going to be a national lightning rod for slut shaming.”

“A problem that seems to affect female musicians considerably more than their male counter-parts however, is slut-shaming.” If you think about this for a moment, and compare the way society treats women that sleep around as ‘sluts’ or ‘slags’ to men that sleep around who are most likely referred to ‘studs’ or ‘players’ you can begin to understand the deep-rooted societal sexism that worms its way into jading music created by women. This is further demonstrated in the way that Swift is mocked for only ever writing about her exes, whereas her male counterparts seem to avoid this backlash. Ed Sheeran for instance is a prime example of this: he writes about his exes too, and he’s not exactly subtle about it, releasing ‘Nina’ on his second album about his affair with Nina Nesbitt. Ariana Grande has also been vocal about the treatment of women in the industry, calling out a fan who congratulated her late ex-boyfriend Mac Miller for ‘hitting that’ whilst they were out on a date together. In a note shared to twitter she made it clear that she “was not a piece of meat that a man gets to utilize for his pleasure.” It’s sad that the former Disney star turned pop star felt it necessary to have to explain why this situation upset her. Grande has been the centre of this topic again recently after performing at Aretha Franklin’s funeral and being allegedly groped by a bishop. The bishop, Charles H Ellis III, has apologised for being ‘too friendly’ when he put his arm around the singer but has insisted he meant no harm by it. Ariana Grande’s reaction to the questionable moment has circled around the internet and

sparked fresh conversation on the topic of sexual harassment; a topic that took centre stage last year in the form of the #MeToo movement.

“It’s unlikely that fans of music will ever listen to an album and not wonder about the life of the person or people behind it, that’s human nature.” Since going viral in 2017, the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment industry has made and is continuing to make great strides in alerting people to the true scale of the problem. But whilst feminist movements such as #MeToo are making such industries more equal and safer places for people of all genders, it does not tackle the blurred lines of privacy and fame; the question remains as to what extent the art vs artist divide affects the lives of the creators. It’s unlikely that fans of music will ever listen to an album and not wonder about the life of the person or people behind it. That’s human nature. It seems however, that we are moving towards a world in which artists are treated more equally and judged less because of the art they are making. The first step towards solving a problem is recognising that it’s there in the first place, and most people are aware of the inherent sexism and objectification of people in the creative industries. Basic knowledge of the creator of music can positively add to the experience of enjoying his or her art; I just hope that people can learn to respect boundaries and steer clear of negative reactions to artists that become personal because of an individual’s dislike of their work.

IMPACT

Misogyny in

p i H Hop

Hip-hop’s roots have always been about depicting an unforgiving, sometimes crude, reality. Any hip-hop listener will agree that the genre’s fascination with depicting truth, mixed with a healthy dose of exaggeration and fiction, makes it something quite unique within music. Following this mission of depicting a fantastical version of reality, a lot of the more controversial moments in the genre’s history come from a ‘how far can I take it?’ mentality that has emerged as a result. For the most part, this controversial agenda has been pushed in hip-hop with a general understanding that rap is entertainment, and real life should never mimic it. But with social media shenanigans becoming an ever-increasing part of the promotion for albums, and the alarming rates of allegations of harassment, abuse, and even murder that even the most mainstream of rappers are now up against, it’s time that hip-hop listeners re-evaluate their stance on the genre’s agenda.

“Drawing a line in the sand stating ‘everything after this point is offensive’ is never going to be feasible” I should start by clarifying what I mean by controversy. Of course, everyone has their own opinions as to what is off-bounds to talk, sing, joke, and rap about. Drawing a line in the sand stating that ‘everything after this point is offensive’ is never going to be feasible. Therefore, I’m not talking about simply using ‘the b word’ in songs. Some would argue that’s not inherently misogynistic in the context of artistic expression. Of course, chauvinistic behaviours like this in everyday life absolutely qualify as harassment, but hip-hop has always been about portraying a crude reality. Part of the power of the genre has always been its provision of a voice to a group of people that have long been silenced; specifically, young African Americans. However, nowadays, this is more generally the youth. Crassy, adolescent language characterises youth, and so it is embedded into the very DNA of what the genre is and has always been. What this article considers controversial and misogynous are topics and messages that should never, regardless of age or maturity, be expressed to anyone, let alone everyone. To draw from a recent example; Lil Durk in his collaboration with Lil Baby and Gunna on the song “Offwhite VLONE” says

ENTERTAINMENT

“You can’t say no I ain’t hearing it” in regards to a sexual act. Lyrics that so blatantly disregard consent are not only detrimental to the genre, but the effects these lyrics may have, particularly on younger listeners, face the possibility of normalising hateful messages in everyday interactions.

“Tekashi is not big despite his controversies, he is big BECAUSE of his controversies” And this is not a lyric in isolation or something an obscure rapper is saying. Right now, Tekashi 6ix9ine is one of the biggest stars in hip-hop. Not only are his lyrics offensive, they are downright misogynistic. In his breakout hit “Gummo” he brags about “using” a woman for sex and “kicking her out the door” afterwards. These comments are particularly chilling when considering Tekashi’s guilty admission of the use of a child in a sexual performance and recent public snapchats where he jokingly refers himself as a “happy rapist”*. And this is the largest part of the problem. Tekashi is not popular despite of his controversies, he is popular BECAUSE of his controversies. He is popular because people gravitate towards him to check out this rapper that everyone’s been talking about. They remain unfazed by mediocre and generic trap beats and weird, overly loud screams that pass as rapping.I am confident that if Tekashi was not wrapped in the veil of controversy he currently is, he would go unnoticed and categorized as just another generic SoundCloud trap rapper.

“I sound like I hate hiphop nowadays, but the truth is I LOVE hip-hop nowadays” Hip-hop is moving increasingly into an area where it’s not the music or even traditional forms of advertisement that push sales forward, it’s news coverage, and a flurry of online and social media shenanigans that promote it. And when it’s real life that is boosting such a boundary-pushing genre forward, then real life needs to be equally as boundary-pushing. Just take Bobby Schmurda as an example. After his song “Hot N****” rose to fame, he was charged and arrested for a number of felonies related to his songs. The NYPD stated his songs were “almost like a real-life document” of his activity in the streets. As a devout hip-hop listener, the

collapse of the barrier between reality and music is very concerning.

When Eminem rapped about murdering his wife in “Kim”, the scenario was fictionalized, exaggerated beyond belief, and the consequences incredibly negative. He depicted a scenario in the same way a writer would depict a murder scene in a book and the downward spiral this fictionalised version of Eminem goes through leaves no doubt in the listener’s mind that this is outrageous behaviour. It’s a message yes, but a cautionary one, and this is completely intentional. Compared to this, there is a blatant disregard nowadays as to the impact or message that is promoted in music, and how someone’s real life shenanigans (which are often times also exaggerated) can really normalise this behaviour, particularly for young listeners.

“At the end of the day, numbers and sales speak more than 1000 words on a page ever could.” I know perhaps reading this I sound like I hate hip-hop nowadays, but the truth is I still LOVE hip-hop. Today, musically, flow-wise, and sometimes even lyrically, the genre is at the best place it’s ever been. Its mainstream appeal and experimental nature have allowed it to innovate new sounds and ideas, without compromising originality or a paycheck at the end of the day. I complain about it because I want it to be the best it can be. I want some of its most destructive traits to dissipate and allow it to set a good standard without a rotten few in the mainstream painting the genre as misogynistic in nature. Because at the end of the day, I do believe some of the best hip-hop and some of the very first hip-hop, has always had nothing but respect for women. Think “Dear Mama” by Tupac, “Renee” by the Ghetto Boys, “Sure Shot” by the Beastie Boys, more recently “Complexion (A Zulu Love)” by Kendrick Lamar, “Crooked Smile” by J. Cole, and countless others. As a final message, I urge all hip-hop heads like myself to stop giving signals to the industry that the bar is set so low for entertainment that artists can get away with this amount of hate spewing, and still be worthy of our hard-earned money. Stop streaming mass rappers whose recurring messages you fundamentally disagree with and stop feeding into the ‘buzz’ media outlets create around them and their social media. At the end of the day, numbers and sales speak more than 1000 words on a page ever could.

*Source: https://genius.com/a/here-s-what-you-need-to-know-about-controversial-brooklyn-rapper-6ix9ine-his-breakout-hit-gummo

Can

IMPACT

music

Hannah Pickard

heal

It’s undoubtable that music is a powerful thing – but can it bring fractured communities together? Can culture heal fractured communities? That was the question posed by archivist Simon McKeon at one of the sessions of Battle of Ideas, an annual debating festival hosted in the Barbican, London. There was much talk about music in the session, and, as someone studying the subject, I was interested to delve deeper into the role of music within communities. What are ‘fractured communities’ and how can they be ‘healed’? The definition is perhaps relative, but to me fractured communities are areas which are strained by social and economic problems. The general consensus at the Battle of Ideas session was that these communities do not need to be ‘healed’; rather, they can be strengthened through artistic initiatives.

come together to promote awareness of fractured communities through charitable enterprises such as Band Aid and Children in Need. The British public raise millions of pounds every year to support communities around the world, providing clean water and food to areas of Africa. Therefore, artists can utilise popular music to encourage economic investment into poverty-stricken areas.

“Music can bring people of different backgrounds in the community together in a fun and nonisolating fashion”

It is indisputable that music brings people together, whether you’re sharing a new favourite song with friends, or playing an instrument in a band. Indeed, leading music charity Music for All note how music-making “can help break down cultural barriers and strengthen social unity”. Thus, music can bring people of different backgrounds in the community together in a fun and non-isolating fashion, strengthening bonds between local individuals.

However, there are many problems revolving around music in communities. How can the impact of music in a community be measured? The lack of quantifiable data within artistic initiatives often leads to the underfunding of community music, as well as other community art projects. Despite this, I do believe music projects can be successful in building social connections within communities, as mentioned previously; why wouldn’t the government want to fund that?

Music is also a great way to promote the existence of fractured communities. For example, musicians and artists

Yet would an impressionable teenage boy want to join a community choir? We won’t know until we try. A range of

musical groups should be funded, such as DJ workshops, band rehearsals, and pop choirs, to appeal to a range of individuals; perhaps these musical groups would perform often together in concert, connecting a range of people in the community. Can music heal fractured communities? It seems that there is not a yes or no answer (how surprising!). Many community issues are deep-rooted in government funding (e.g. the housing crisis, caps on benefits, etc.), which cannot be resolved by music-making. However, music is successful at bringing groups of people together with common interests, bringing joy and distraction to many individuals who ordinarily may be isolated in a community. In this sense, community music is largely effective, and more funding should be directed towards such rewarding schemes. If you want to find out more about community music, I would recommend watching the BBC’s Unsung Town, available on YouTube. The choir was founded in 2009 by Gareth Malone, and I was a member for two years before attending university; the group is still going strong today.

fractured Communities?

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and STOP. ‘Netflix and Chill’ is a phrase thrown about so much that it’s hard to pin down exactly what it means. Once being no more than an innuendo, the phrase now evokes more the image of a cozy Friday evening, and has planted itself into the very fabric of modern relationships. While there’s many benefits in including Netflix into your routine, there is an argument to be made that our generation’s over-reliance on connecting through a television screen has harmed relationships more than it has helped them.

“We are amongst the very first generations to have been brought up with television playing a pivotal role in the way we form and maintain relationships.” By the late 1990s, television had become a necessity more than a luxury in the majority of households in the developed world. This means we are amongst the very first generations to have been brought up with television playing a pivotal role in the way we form and maintain relationships. At face value, there’s nothing wrong with this. Televisions (meaning the device, not solely TV programmes) allow us to connect to the world around us. It’s most likely one of the first ways you remember connecting to your family and your friends. What’s most important is often a television will be placed in the living room, your bedroom, specifically a place you associate with being comfortable, safe, and at home.

With the term ‘Netflix and Chill’ becoming a staple of the way we form relationships, Impact Film and TV explores if we are still using television as a tool for connection or if we inadvertently depend on it

When you grow up in a world where film and television have become so massively accessible, why would you not want to connect with your partner on a level that you are intrinsically wired to relate to comfortableness and loved ones. Given the way we grew up, it’s really no surprise we would want this sort of connection free of expectations and this isn’t a bad thing. However, like every technology that brings us closer together, there is another side to it that pushes us apart. The adoption of televisions into every household not only created an environment in which to connect, but also brought about a new form of ‘soft-addiction’. Soft-addictions are seemingly harmless habits that, when overused, can interfere with our lives. I’m sure if you try hard enough your joyous memories watching television with your friends for hours would at times be intruded by an adult saying “just one more hour”. Research has found soft-addiction to be correlated with a poor mental health so as much as you might have kicked up about it as a kid, your parents were looking out for you. But what happens when you come to university and that exterior discipliner is not by your side anymore. It’s no secret that once students come to university they tend to fall back into some slightly immature habits (I’m looking at you binge drinkers), and softaddiction to television is no different. If it’s not interfering with other aspects of your life then a little over-reliance on television is harmless, but when your dependence starts affecting your relationship then it’s a different story.

Nicolas Caballero The well of talking topics you draw from dries up as you rewatch the same shows and films and the lack of expectations can quickly turn to lack of trying. You and your partner might feel extremely comfortable with one another, but there might be a side of your relationship you are failing to experience if ‘Netflix and Chill’ is the only way you interact. All of this without even entering the discussion of what this reliance might do for both of your mental health. I’m not saying it turns this bad in every relationship, nor do I want to scare you away from connecting with your partner on this level. But, I do believe there is wisdom in taking a step-back and considering what role television plays in your relationship. Is it still a tool you and your partner use to connect, or is it a soft addiction that requires intervention?

“Why would you not want to connect with your partner on a level that you are intrinsically wired to relate to comfortableness and loved ones.” Keeping a healthy balance of activities is essential in a relationship. Television has and will continue to play a pivotal role in our lives but it’s important we become our own discipliner, develop our own voices at the back of our heads that tell us “one more hour and no more”. At the end of the day, you want to show your partner the best of you, and that’s always going to be far from a TV screen.

Image courtesy of: inakihuarte ‘Televisiones’ via Flickr Netflix logo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

IMPACT

? Georgia Butcher

The validity of online rel@tionships:

Can you maintain love in a virtual world? Georgia explores the validity of virtual relationships and the dangers of online anonymity. For the last few decades, as online games, chat rooms, and apps have flooded into our lives, more and more individuals have met their partners online. I myself met my boyfriend through RuneScape – much to the annoyance of parents who insisted nothing good would come of playing games all day – and such occurrences are becoming increasingly common. But though most people meet their significant others in a virtual world, and then go onto pursue a real-life relationship (often, at first, long-distance) there are some who maintain their relationships within a solely virtual world. Some never meet in person, but still class each other as their ‘partner’. Some don’t even video chat, or call at all, but have their relationship exist solely in text chat, often not even within a private communication (such as texting or WhatsApp) but within the sphere of the virtual world within which they met.

“In the Oxford English Dictionary a relationship is defined as a “connection” between two or more people, and often based on “social interactions and mutual goals, interests, or feelings”

This then begs the question – are these relationships valid? What precisely constitutes a relationship? As far as every English student’s best friend, the Oxford English Dictionary, is concerned, a relationship is defined as a “connection”

between two or more people, and often based on “social interactions and mutual goals, interests, or feelings”. In this sense, perhaps this virtual relationship is valid – if the two individuals are in frequent communication, and share these feelings towards one another, who’s to say that it isn’t authentic?

“Virtual worlds give individuals the power of anonymity.”

Yet, without ever speaking to or seeing the other person how can you be sure they are who they say they are? Having grown up in an ever-evolving digital age where it’s possible for us to connect with strangers all over the planet, most of us have been raised as being hyper aware of the possibility of ‘stranger danger’. Not just ‘stranger danger’ in its original form-the ‘real-world’ context- but the danger of unknown people online. Virtual worlds give individuals the power of anonymity. MMOs especially give you the power to be whoever you want to be. You not only design your own username, but an avatar, a physical manifestation of your imagined self who you can design to look and act how you please. Existing only in a virtual setting, provides the player with freedom to present themselves in any way they desire – name, age, profession, and even gender, are entirely up to personal choice. So how do you know the person you’re talking to, is the real ‘them’.

100%

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To be frank, without either meeting them in real life, or calling them- (and even this may not be true in a few more years’ time as voice changer software continues to advance) you don’t. Even the sending of photos is dubious as there are so many images available now, you never know if the photo receive is the ‘real deal’. Ultimately, you could be the victim of catfishing.

“Existing only in a virtual setting, you are given the freedom to present yourself in any way you desire.” For those unaware of the term, ‘catfishing’ is the process whereby someone lures you into some form of relationship (often romantic) by adopting a fictional persona which you are led to believe is the ‘truth’. There have been numerous TV shows and documentaries which have focused on this topic. The popular American show Catfish is one such example, as is the far more recent Channel 4 program The Circle; a new program similar to Big Brother but which exists solely in a virtual world – contestants strive to be the most popular individual and talk to each other solely through online chat. Such programs prove how frequent and easy it is for individuals to lie about themselves. If an individual claims to be dating someone, but has not met or spoken to them, can this relationship even be valid? When the possibility is that they are, quite simply, not the person they claim to be?

This caused massive emotional uproar, in the same way that you might expect of any real-life relationship. The realisation that you’ve been lied to, especially by someone you believed you knew, is upsetting, particularly if the relationship was romantic. A solely virtual relationship then is arguably not only invalid, but dangerous. Without some form of proof, you simply don’t know who you’re talking to and risk your own emotional welfare. But this isn’t to say that relationships formed online can’t become valid. As I stated earlier, I met my own partner through online video games. But until you meet, or at least call your romantic interest, you can’t know for sure if they are really ‘them’.

“In truth, any deviation from a typical relationship will always be seen by someone or another as invalid – that’s simply what happens with non-conformity.”

Ultimately, it’s not up to anyone else but the individuals in question to decide if their relationship is ‘real’ – it’s certainly not down to me to comment on other relationships, if what they feel is valid to them. Even when my partner and I frequently skyped but were still long-distance, many people doubted the relationship’s ‘validity’ in comparison to a couple able to see each other every day. In truth, any deviation from a typical relationship will always be seen by someone or another as invalid – that’s simply what happens with nonconformity.

“A solely virtual relationship then is arguably not only invalid, but dangerous.”

I don’t think it can be. In my many years engrossed in numerous virtual worlds, I’ve seen too many friends happily indulge in an online relationship, calling a fellow player their ‘girlfriend/boyfriend’ only to later realise they weren’t who they claimed to be. This was revealed either through the person in question ‘coming clean’, or else the secret being divulged via a third party. More often than not, this was in the form of a female avatar being played by a male player.

All I would advise, is caution. As technology continues to advance, it is easier (not to mention cheaper) to communicate and spend time with someone through only an online format. Perhaps, in a not-so-distant future, virtual relationships will become more of a norm (especially as VR technology continues to evolve) but this doesn’t make it any less dangerous. Should you or someone you know engage in such a relationship, keep in mind your own emotional wellbeing and avoid becoming involved in a relationship that is not truly real.

IMPACT

Is gaming a mental disorder?

Tom Sampson

Is frequent gaming a ‘disorder’? Tom looks at the World Health Organisation’s definition of its newly announced “Gaming Disorder” and debates whether it really is a disorder, or simply a healthy means by which people can escape the stresses of the real-world.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) created their 11th revision of the international classification of diseases, in which they included what they describe as “Gaming Disorder”. This then kicked up a debate about whether their description of the supposed “disorder” was fair, since it lacks specificity in its definition. On their website, WHO describes “Gaming Disorder” as: “characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interested and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences. For a Gaming Disorder to be diagnosed, the behaviour pattern must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning and would normally have been evident for at least 12 months.” This depiction of “Gaming Disorder” does seem to hit on rising issues associated with gaming. People who become attached to games become

increasingly reclusive and detached from society, disconnecting themselves from the people around them, and causing friends and family to worry about their wellbeing. Gaming also involves intrinsically inactive and physically detrimental behaviour, meaning that this activity has negative physical effects as well as mental ones. WHO has appropriately recognised that certain addictive behaviours linked to specific types of time consuming game genres, such as MMOs or competitive games, can result in 1000+ hours being clocked in and therefore be greatly damaging in the long term.

“Gaming also involves intrinsically inactive and physically detrimental behaviour” Focusing on MMOs, these games sometimes have time specific events, which can lead players to prioritize in-game events over possible external social events. This is a growing worry

linked to an increase in less social activity among younger generations. The most extreme example of this is in Japan. Reports across the last decade have increasingly highlighted the dropping population rate of Japan, to the extent that, if trends continue, in 50 years the population will have halved. This is potentially linked to the trend of the HIkikomori, or shutins, where individuals find themselves desensitized from society and spend all their life in one room. This growing worry is worth taking seriously and I do find WHO’s registering of this threat a valid effort in highlighting this problem.

However, there are considerable issues with the way they approach this. Firstly, their definition: WHO’s description does not specifically amount to video game related activities. For example, an “increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities” could apply to any form of addiction, out of context.

ENTERTAINMENT

The classification likens itself more to addiction in general rather than anything gaming specific, and addiction is a problem entirely in itself which becomes incredibly difficult to pin down. Addiction is also something that can affect specific people to a greater extent than others. Addictive personalities become attached to anything that can become routine, such as smoking, drinking or gambling. All forms of addiction lead to some element of destruction in an individual’s life. In the case of smoking and drinking there are more immediate effects.

“Games are a form of escapism, like Film or TV, and people value them for such purpose.” However, the threat of gaming is that it appears innocent and is able to able to affect far younger people than gambling or smoking. Nevertheless, this addictive quality is something that should not just be used in conjunction with the stigma of gaming. Such connections simply scare parents and cause an arguably unnecessary restriction of games.

Games are a form of escapism, like film or TV, and people value them for such a purpose. As well as the disenfranchisement people feel in modern society, there are also great pressures in life which can bring about devastating mental disorders such as depression or anxiety. Gaming, in part, is used to escape and alleviate these stresses. The ability to have agency and immersion provides the player with a break from the real world, and maybe it isn’t so surprising that people begin to desire time spent in these worlds instead of our own. While people still criticise the value of games, story and art form has developed to such a level that they should be respected as much as a good film or TV series. Such an example is the game Journey. The game uses story and gameplay to manipulate the player’s understanding of the world and cause them to empathize and project themselves onto a voiceless, faceless traveller.

“Is this a sign that games are a problem or that people are turning to games to escape the problems of the world” As WHO fails to realise, games are not so simple to define. There is no clarification for a film disorder or TV disorder and this disorder doesn’t help to ameliorate an already stigmatised collective conscious against games. The question that really needs to be addressed is whether this a sign that games are a problem or that people are turning to games to escape the problems of the world? Gaming is not a disorder in the sense that people don’t rush to games specifically and there isn’t something in them that affects people since it is so generationally specific. And if this is another form of addiction, we are mislabelling the real issue being presented by addictive tendencies. I don’t think we should accept WHO’s classification of the problem at hand. There is something else surrounding gaming that needs to be targeted more purposefully in order to solve the problem of disenfranchisement among the current younger generations.

Poetry Showcase IMPACT

A collection of poetry focusing on the theme of relationships.

Who are you

In given time

Who are you To say who loves who? Don’t need your approval, But don’t understand your view. Believing people can’t be together, Due to gender or race, Is far from rational, That’s something you should face. They’re not hurting anyone, Why do you even care? But you still invalidate, It really isn’t fair. They’re doing nothing wrong, Just loving who they love, But apparently for you That is not enough. They need to fit Your norms and ideals. And if they don’t, Their love isn’t real. You say it’s unnatural, And that’s the word I’d use, Not when describing them, But when describing your views.

Even from the tears you caused beauty escaped. even from the way you left pain blossomed. If you truly cared you would never have risked the loss. You made me wonder how could you go so easily? Yet I should have asked myself why I wanted you to stay

Emily Patel

Self-Love Sonnet Cloaking your body in shame, second skin that clings to each crevice. Splits you apart, until these shards are embedded withinhow you give your all to radiate heart and soul, so much love- except for yourself worth devoured by relationships: yet validation never came from their lips, So silently self-sabotage your health. Breathe... watch ribs swell, bloom, petals you call weeds, scattered in this wasteland. Let yourself grow into a gentler perspective, within thoughts cultivate kindness, for roots need seeds thirsting in perfection’s mirage. To know self-love, once lost, can be found again. Lauren Winson

Shanai Momi

Plate Tectonics Our hearts are like tectonic plates; Moving with little explanation, Just convection currents from the earth. Just heat. Heat. Our hearts are like tectonic plates; And sometimes we collide. Our love is as high as mountains, As deep as ocean trenches. Is it construction, Or destruction? Our hearts are like tectonic plates; When we get close, the earth shakes; Disturbing years of hidden emotions, Like a landslide, An avalanche. Our hearts are like tectonic plates. I survived the first earthquake. But I missed the warning signs, And you swept me away. Like a god-damn tsunami. Charlotte Evans

The Fall

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Take my hand, walk me down the Seine I think we’re in France, on a summer’s day As water flows through the fountain’s pool You tell me there’s nothing to worry about, nothing at all. Once feeling fragile, I woke up to find: There’s no weight behind me, no mountain to climb. I consider myself, stop and reflect, Is there anything around me that would make me forget? Forget the wind, forget the lies, forget the fears that made you Hide; so hidden you were, you were hard to find Lost in the skin of our serpent’s ties (Darkness, it seems, our distant memory) In the quiet secluded halls of your mind: Mazing inside you, you’re falling behindDrowning in tears, risen up from the gravesWe dug for ourselves when we were lost in a haze

Dandelion Dust

When I close my eyes And think of new love I see dandelion dust. Ivory ballerinas borne On the hope Of bittersweet wishes. FeatherlikeThey caress the skyline Whispering to the wind Hoping for me As I longed for him. Then as the sun drew the curtain We laid under the cherry blossom He turned to me and I to him Our lips touched And Cupids’ tears rained down On us As the petals kissed our skin. Esther Kearney

A dark temptation, Polluted skiesAnd threats upon us unheard uncried… You told me there was nothing to worry about- (you went back on your word) All now a memory and everything’s blurred. I wish we lived back in the days When the world around us didn’t lead us astray You forgot our promises, each other’s gold; Bathed in lies, deception and holes We made to Him, you made to her (Passively) allowing such breaks to occur. Too late we realised... We were banished from paradise, not in France at all; The Seine was an earthly place for gardens and rules; Rules unbroken, rules obeyedThis garden, our garden, was where tragedy was made; We lost our senses, lost our mindsFrom weakness of desire we could not help but pine, Pine: for sweetness, love and moreReceiving heartbreak and the close of a once open door Too meek and mild, now hitting a wall; so easy to give in to our serpent’s call. What became of this place, our world, our all? Is nothing but the price we paid for choosing the fall ... You told me there was nothing to worry about, I ask again: For where is the hand of our once old friend Now He is gone, the right hand was gone: One chance we got; and we got it Wrong. Olivia Morel

Edge of the forest, storm coming on Rain is the perpetual theme when I think of you, it rained As we walked the Royal Mile And contested against fierce winds Before a night of forgotten joys. It accompanied us through Birmingham, Washing petals clean and Inviting pollen into the air. As I push further back into my memories Of us, the smell of petrichor follows. The first night of indulgent freedom, With wine and the proximity of the theatre, Rain lashed against windows far off. I didn’t believe in pathetic fallacy, But as the heatwave rose over us And the summer stretched out long and happy, I could have been almost convinced. We stood outside on the hottest days, Praying and imagining the tickle of water Splashing from the sky and onto our skin I don’t believe in pathetic fallacy, But I regret the wish for returning rains. They came and stood with you At my doorstep and drowned our love. I cried in time to the falling sky Which had betrayed me with downpours. I think of rain and think of you, Both unpredictable and constant And which I step in eithers path, I am completely encompassed. Holly Wilson

IMPACT

YOU’RE A FANGIRL, HARRY Sarah Quraishi Sarah takes a look at the implications of the term ‘fangirl.’ Is it solely a negative term? Or is it being reclaimed?

In a world where a K-Pop boy band can give a speech to the United Nations and be featured on the cover of TIME magazine, the power of fangirls is more prominent than ever. But what do we mean when we say “fangirl”? Well, one could say that it simply means a person who happens to like something and is also female. However, whether intentional or not, “fangirl” carries a sense of derogation with it – the feeling that labelling someone (often a young girl) as such is to immediately brand them as a shrill prepubescent with a shrine of merchandise displaying the iconography of their idol. It is difficult to discern how these negative connotations – immaturity, unhealthy fixation, an inability to engage with the world outside of this obsession – became associated with the word. This is especially true as “fangirls” have been around for at least a century, just think of fans of the Beatles in the 1960s or even those of Charlie Chaplin during the dawn of Hollywood.

“Labelling someone … as such is to immediately brand them as a shrill prepubescent with a shrine of merchandise displaying the iconography of their idol” The only difference between then and now is the advent of social media – a platform through which fans can not only connect with each other, but also communicate their passion to anyone who scrolls past, such as through fan accounts. It is easy to assume someone’s online presence equates to their whole identity; so if the majority of that presence is dedicated to an artist they like, is it appropriate to simply refer to them as a “fangirl”?

Nevertheless, it is an unfair and sexist term that is often used to disregard the interests of young women as unimportant. While toxicity from predominantly male fans has been seen on occasion previously – for example, in the racist vitriol directed at Star Wars: The Last Jedi actress Kelly Marie Tran, or the misogynistic criticism of the gender-flipped remake Ghostbusters in 2016 – “fanboy” is not used as widely as “fangirl”. The term simply does not have the same inferences as the latter appears to have, or at least not to the same extent.

“Being a “fangirl” ... is not simply mindless obsession, but rather it is a filter through which one can interact with one’s surroundings” Some work has been done to reclaim the word though. Rainbow Rowell’s 2013 young adult novel Fangirl was widely praised for its accurate representation of the multifaceted nature of fan culture. In the book, the protagonist Cath, an avid writer of fanfiction for a Harry Potter-like series within the story, learns to adjust to life without her twin sister, as she settles into college. One of the best things about the book is that Rowell normalises being a “fangirl” by showing that it is not simply mindless obsession, but rather it is a filter through which one interacts with their surroundings. If a human’s personality is simply the sum of their experiences, moulded by their likes and dislikes, then being a “fangirl” – that is, enjoying something to its fullest – is just an amplification of that. Therefore, why is it so shameful to be so enthusiastic about a subject that it becomes part of your identity? Personally, I think it’s cool to care; bring on the fangirls.

ENTERTAINMENT

THE KNITTY GRITTY OF MINDFULNESS

Morgan Peschek Morgan discusses the important role knitting plays in attaining mindfulness and the impact it has on their mental wellbeing. If you’ve been on the internet in any capacity, you’ve probably heard about mindfulness. In essence, mindfulness is the practice of taking time out of your day to relax by focusing intently on whatever’s happening in the present, including your own thoughts and feelings, and re-centring yourself within your own body. I truly suck at it.

“Mindfulness is the practice of taking time out of your day to relax… and re-centring yourself within your own body.” As well as an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), I have a long and rich history of anxiety with some depression stirred in too for good measure. Everyone and their dog have recommended I try mindfulness in some way or another- I even get incessant adverts for meditation apps on YouTube! And I totally understand why- if I could just calm down and focus on the realities of the present, I’d probably be less prone to catastrophising about the future, right?

“I’d more or less given up on the concept of mindfulness until I started knitting.” The problem is that traditional forms of mindfulness don’t work for my twitchy, adrenalin-loaded brain. I get distracted and frustrated when I try to meditate, worrying about pointless things and then berating myself for worrying. My crushing perfectionism makes colouring books and word searches more stressful than mindful. I’m too paranoid for long walks

in my own neighbourhood, and too broke to take a train to a nice beach... You get the picture. Mindfulness is difficult for me precisely because of the problems it seeks to solve, and I’d more or less given up on the concept – until I started knitting.

“It brings me a particular kind of ASD-related satisfaction that few other things can match.” Knitting requires a degree of focus and physicality that a lot of other mindfulness activities don’t. I have to pay attention to what I’m doing to such an extent that I can’t get distracted. It is varied and engaging enough that I don’t get bored and ultimately frustrated either. The feel of yarn and needles in my hands, the repeated click-click of the needles meeting each other to form a stitch and the mesmerising nature of watching it all move and grow absorbs me fully. It provides me with a particular kind of ASDrelated satisfaction that few other things can match. And, unlike with a colouring book, there is very little in knitting that is truly irreversible. So, when I do mess up I’m able to calmly correct my mistakes without my perfectionist brain sounding its alarm bells. Plus, even under the pressures of final year, I can’t chastise myself for ‘wasting time’ with knitting, because at the end of the process there’s a garment or a toy or what-have-you that I’ve produced for myself or somebody else. Knitting obviously isn’t going to cure my anxiety. I take medication, I go to counselling and I’ve accepted that my brain chemistry might always be a little different from other people’s. What knitting does do is soothe me on my bad days, enrich the good ones, keep me centred in my body, and turn out some really nice scarves.

IMPACT

ources

lub and eague websites

How much does playing a sport at university impact upon your social life?

WHOLE 248.indd 53

12/09/2017 12:38

Callum McPhail

How much does playing a sport at university impact upon your social life?

With some University sports teams demanding 25 hours a week for training and with course commitments on top, there isn’t much time left over for socialising. Impact spoke to members of a few of the sports teams at the University of Nottingham to find out how you can manage to strike that balance.

Why does training take up so much time?: The main issue is fitting practice and training sessions around University timetables, meaning most clubs are unable to meet 9-5 weekdays as coaches want to make sure as many players can attend as possible. This means that sports then have multiple, often lengthy practices each week, usually consuming the whole evening for team members. As we all know, evenings are the main time for socialising, especially for nights out or even just a movie night with friends. In spite of this, structured gym work can be done in your own

Image courtesy of: Johann Schwarz ‘RAIvsKR (68)’ via Flickr

time, which can allow some flexibility in terms of organising your social life. However, this rigid timetable means social life still has to be organised, which can result in sport’s team members missing out on impromptu outings with friends.

“The social nights we have on Wednesdays with my sports team are great for meeting people and going out”

SPORTS

SPORT

NOTTINGHAM’S

Image courtesy of: Matthew Tipple ‘0Y7A0132’ via Flickr

Reliance on team members:

Due to the structured manner of combining University and sport’s timetabling, most players only have a few evenings free a week. This ensures they rely on their respective teams when it comes to socialising, especially as other team members have the same nights free. Most sports at the University host socials on a Wednesday and other regular events, such as the American Football team who watch the NFL together on Sundays.

Josh said: “If I want to see other people besides my teammates, I have to bend that to my University and sporting timetables, so I know I’m never free on Tuesday or Thursday evenings.”

SPORTING SECRETS Along with Josh, Dominic advised that time management is the key: “I think a lot of it is deciding when my training and gym times are and just getting as much work and social stuff done around those as I can,” he said.

Pedro cautioned that it’s not necessarily easy toTom balanceonks work, “If I want to see other coursework, sporting commitments and his social life, but he people besides my teamplays handball because he enjoys it and not because it’s an Beyond the banks of the Trent: the flourishing world of sport clubs goingsubstantially under the mates, I have to bend obligation which he says makes that balancing easier. radar in Nottingham. that to my university and sporting timetables” Every student we spoke to emphasised the importance of

setting certain times for certain activities. This includes social These socials run by the sports clubs are one of the primary time which, just like work, has to be scheduled around other ways to get to know more people inside the club but to also ost people, know ofeither ottingham’s most ithother a record eightcommitments. hallenge ups rugby union saw the club struggle, they meet new on a night out or friends of and the U ’s only ontinental up, the have since consolidated their position teamsuccessful members. sports teams and their importance to the city. obin ood anthers are the U ’s most successful in the hampionship, ngland’s second “I play handball because I county is home of theofoldest club, tier. hould they achieve promotion to Dominic Frost, who isto a two member the University of despite their solitary lite eague enjoy it and not because it’s ootballSwim eague clubs, ottsthat, for him, title.“the They play their games at the the top flight, the club will once again Nottingham Team, toldwith Impact an obligation, and that makes ounty owning thewe titlehave as the of ational ce entre, where the play their home matches at swimming social nights onoldest Wednesdays are great them all. legendary eadow where they had for meeting people and going out”. 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Their team consists of alternatives to more expensive games proactive when planning meetings with friends or social to the sport, or celebrating a win with a Wednesday night famous outfits that reside on the banks Uo students and several players in played in the stadiums on the banks activities. social after matches. of the iver Trent. the top of the world rankings, who of the Trent, but it certainly shows that in secured the Whilst remier a wealth exciting and beinguash a memberthere’s of a team may of somewhat limit your “Handball is the centre of eague title. y far the most notable of these teams growing sport waiting be discovered options (mainly due to time commitments) thetosocial aspect is ottingham ice hockey by the of sports clubs at University is masses a great in wayottingham. to relax outside of myanthers. socialThe life” team is to many people a household ottingham ugbythelub are itself one team sport and allows you to bond with team members name in local sport, but to a who are not too farwhich awayconsequently from improves performance. Furthermore, the Structuring your time: surprising few, their success and becoming a major necessity force in national for time management is a skill all of us require at stature has passed them by. sport. hilst the professionalisation of being fundamental to members of sports university, and this teams allows players to turn a hobby into a device for skill Training three or four evenings a week removes players ability building; not only building your sports skills, but your social to go out more spontaneously, and after speaking to students and organisational skills too. the key seemed to be taking control of commitments and setting time aside for friends and social interactions.

Nottinghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

IMPACT

s t r o p s r

e t a W l a -The facility that n o i keeps producing champions Nat Tristan Simpson

Tristan Simpson looks at the successes of Nottingham's National Water Sport Centre which has produced Olympic, world, and national champions. Nottingham is home to the National Water Sports Centre, one of the highest quality training environments in the country, as well as the training centre for many team GB and University of Nottingham athletes. The University has helped to produce a rich set of talented alumni who have achieved Olympic and European achievements. Set at Holme Pierrepont only 10 minutes from the city, it is a beautiful and thrilling way to get out of your student house and make a splash. What facilities does the Centre have?

environmentally friendly and does not rely on electric pumps to generate the current. The course is also set to host the 2021 World Freestyle Canoeing Championship. Alongside the white water course is a 2000m regatta lake. The lake is perfect for high quality training purposes. With a depth of 4m and a width of 140m it can be divided into 6 rowing lanes or for sprint canoe and kayaking it can be split into 9 lanes. The lake has held some of the biggest events in world rowing, having hosted the World Rowing Championships and the Great Britain National Championships, as well as a collection of other events.

The Centre is home to many water sport activities such as, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and powerboat handling. There are multiple lakes as well as a large University of Nottinghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alumni lagoon to perform these sports on. and current talents: The venue has its own 700m white water course, which is regularly trained on by team GB members. In May 2009, the course even held the European Canoe Slalom Championships after it was revamped. The revamp gave the course greater depth and flow and it was also made gravity fed, meaning that it is

The University of Nottingham has provided a number of national talents in water sports that have gone on to achieve at international level and at the Olympic Games. The National Water Sports Centre has played a vital role in attracting these athletes, and provided them with the ideal training facilities to

maximise their potential, achieving some of the highest accolades in canoeing, rowing and kayaking. Below are some examples of the recent world and Olympic champions that have stemmed from the University. Canoeing: Tim Brabants MBE: 3 x Olympic medallist (Gold K1 1000m, Bronze K1 500m - Beijing 2008, Bronze - K1 1000m - Sydney 2000) Etienne Stott MBE: Olympic gold medallist (C2 - London 2012), 3 x World Championship medallist (C2: 2009, 2011, 2015) Rowing: Chris Bartley: Olympic medallist (Silver Lwt 4- London 2012), 7 x World Championship medallist (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014), 2 x European Championship medallist (2014, 2016). Olivia Whitlam: 2 x Olympic finalist (W2Beijing 2008, W8+ London 2012), 2 x World Championship medallist (2007, 2010). (Data taken from the University of Nottingham website)

Image courtesy of: Wikimedia Commons

e r t Cen The University’s tight connection with the National Water Sports Centre has allowed athletes both past and present to practice regularly, ensuring that they can compete at the highest levels. Current stars Amy Willock and Jonathan Atkinson both won individual BUCS Championship golds last year, Willock in the women’s C1 and K1 events with Atkinson winning the men’s K1 event. On top of this the University became BUCS Mixed Team and Open Team Champions in the canoe slalom. In the rowing, the University also achieved highly, winning the University shield in M4- and M8+ at the Senior British Championships being just one of many successes. These achievements highlight the importance of having such an amazing facility close by, to enable the regular practice for athletes in professional conditions.

SPORTS

Image courtesy of: Geograph via google images

What fun activities are there? Alongside the competitive advantages of having one of the best water sports centres in the country on your doorstep, there is of course the huge advantage of having fun recreational activities available.

White Water Rafting

Wakeboarding

A common thriller whether you’re a water sports enthusiast or just somebody ready to give it a try. Whether it’s a big birthday or for your bucket list, there is no better place to do it than the newly revamped white water course. From Sunday - Friday the cost of hiring a raft for up to 8 people is £260, whilst the charge on a Saturday is £380. However, it is a guaranteed soaker so

The Centre has recently opened their wakeboarding facility in 2017. With a variety of membership prices available this could quickly become your new favourite hobby. What’s not fun about being propelled at high speed across a lake? Surely nothing can go wrong.

be prepared to get wet!

Lagoon Wipeout

White Water Tubing

This is the ultimate activity for those wanting their own take on the TV show Total Wipeout. It is great fun with a group of mates, especially with those ones who you can’t wait to push in. This is effectively a massive assault course on water, which involves slides, climbing walls and bashing balls amongst other obstacles. At only £10 for an hour it’s a great activity for the summertime, if only to get some well deserved revenge.

Similar to the white water rafting, white water tubing is an individual version which is equally as adrenaline pulsating. This activity can take groups of 4-20 so is another great activity for a large group of friends. On a Saturday or Sunday from 10-11am or 4-5pm an hour session can be booked for £15 per person.

A sit down with Hayley Mills 56

IMPACT

We sat down with sprinter Hayley Mills to discuss her athletic career and how she is enjoying life here in Nottingham Alex Riggs Hayley Mills is currently studying for a PhD within the school of Mathematical Medicine and Biology here at the University of Nottingham, but her extracurricular activities are different than most. Alongside her degree, Mills is a professional athlete, having won medals at European and World championships and competed with world famous athletes such as Dina Asher-Smith. Impact Magazine: How did you first get into athletics? Hayley Mills: I got timed at school over 100 metres, and I went home and told my dad I ran like fourteen seconds, and he was like ‘no, you didn’t run that’. He wanted to see if the school had timed me properly, so he took me down to the local athletics club and I’ve carried on ever since.

IM: Was it always athletics for you or were there any other sports growing up? HM: I started athletics when I was in Year 7 at school and until then I’d done something different every day of the week, like dancing, gymnastics and football. My parents took me somewhere every night, which I think is great because you get to see what you’re good at. I’m really glad I did that and didn’t just focus on athletics alone too early. Pretty much as soon as I started doing athletics I was training three or four days per week, originally doing a bit of everything, but the coaches finally said that I needed to focus on one discipline, so I chose sprinting. IM: As a junior athlete, you were the European champion over 200m. How special an achievement was that for you?

HM: Getting to hold the flag at the end and stand on the podium and hear the national anthem was surreal, and even now it feels like a bit of a dream! I’d gone into the championships ranked fourth at the time, but in my head from a few months before I’d decided that I was going to win. I’ve no idea where that came from, but it was a nice moment. IM: In 2013 you won a bronze medal at the World Championships as part of the Great British team in the 4x100 metres relay. Would you describe that as your career highlight? HM: Yeah, so far I think so. They put me on the last leg because they knew I could deal with the pressure of running against some of the best runners, like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who’s one of the fastest of all time. They had some serious big guns on the last leg, but they put the trust in me not to let it phase me. IM: You’ve been at UoN since 2016, why did you choose to base yourself here?

SPORTS

“Getting to hold the flag at the end and stand on the podium and hear the national anthem was surreal, and even now it feels like a bit of a dream!” HM: It was mainly for the course originally, because I had done my master’s in Mathematical Medicine and Biology and there’s only one or two similar courses around the country. It turned out I’d made a lucky decision because it’s a really great place to be. I really like the campus and the greenery and you’re near the city, so it works really well. IM: Does studying alongside competing help or hinder you as an athlete? HM: I had three years out between my undergrad and my masters where I was just a full-time athlete. To be honest, I really struggled with what to do during the day because I’d always studied, so going from that to just having to go home and rest and watch TV, it wasn’t really me. I found my brain was going crazy and I was obsessing about times and how I did in training, so studying is a positive distraction to have alongside my sporting career. At the moment, I do my research which I absolutely love and then I go to training. It’s like one’s using my brain and the other is using my body. It doesn’t really tire me out, they just complement each other. IM: Are there any of your UoN teammates that really stand out to you? HM: I think athletics wise, we’re only just building up the programme at the moment. Nottingham is brilliant, it just gives you everything you need. I just want to leave the athletics programme

better than I found it, so I’ve been putting a lot of energy into making the training programmes and making things work. We’ve got a really good group at the moment, with a really strong core group of 10-15 athletes who all have talent. We’ve got a six days a week training programme that people can follow, so I’m really hopeful about it, and it means I’ve got loads of training partners and people around me to get me through the session and I hope we can do the same for them. IM: Is that team environment and competing for UoN at BUCS and Varsity something that you really enjoy? HM: Yeah, I love that. Because athletics is such an individual sport it’s really hard to get that team environment. Even within GB teams there’s a massive competitive element between each other, so that hasn’t been a positive for me previously. So being a part of the Uni, I literally wear my stash everyday because it feels so good to be a part of the team and taking on a coaching role as well, you

really want everyone else to do well and you get invested in their success as well as your own. For me, having something bigger to focus on than myself is a really positive thing and something that’s really exciting me this year. IM: What are your aims for the rest of your career?

“ I found my brain was going crazy and I was obsessing about times and how I did in training, so studying is a positive distraction to have alongside my sporting career.” HM: I’ve still got the illusive Olympics! I’ve been to every champs that you can go to, Europeans, Worlds, Commonwealths, everything apart from the Olympics. Missing out on 2012 because of one step on one line really hurt at the time and it’s something I haven’t let go of. 2016 was the year I was having a break, so I missed that one out of choice, but I really don’t want to miss another one in two years’ time, so that’s the main thing.

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