#273

ISSUE 273, MAR.2023

Editorial ~ March 2023

Dear Readers,

It has been an exciting time this semester editing my first of two Impact magazine print editions.

I’ve been involved with Impact since my first semester of university back in 2020 - writing weekly film reviews in Willoughby Hall to keep me occupied during lockdown. I then found myself as Reviews Editor in my second year before taking a step back from the magazine while on my semester abroad in Lund, Sweden.

While in Sweden, Lucinda, our Editor-in-Chief contacted me asking if I would consider running for the position of Print Editor. I think taking a semester abroad gave me the perspective and creative confidence to take on the role. If you are able to apply to study abroad through the university, I strongly recommend it. It is definitely worth the paperwork.

Unlike past issues, this issue isn’t centred around a particular theme and so the articles inside cover a broad range of topics. The cover is inspired by this edition of the magazine being themeless - taking inspiration from pre-mid 20th century abstract art and design.

The country is experiencing turbulent times, Anna Boyne’s #ProjectWinter article tackles the effect of the cost-of-living crisis on students (p14). Kit Sinclair explores migrant and refugee travel routes (p18) - a topic back in the headlines.

Meanwhile, focusing on Nottingham, Gareth Holmes writes about navigating our campuses with a disability (p13), and Sophie Robinson interviews UoN medical students currently taking on 24 hour shifts at Queen’s Medical centre (p6).

On a lighter note, our campus style article showcases the current campus clothing trends (p20).

I trust you’ll find something of interest,

Alex Watkin, Print Editor

Contents

Mini News Stories

UoN Medical Students Condemn Treament Of Junior Doctors

Sophie Robinson

‘Students Won’t Be Living In Lenton Townhouses’: Community Officer Daisy Forster Speaks Out About Student Living Strategy Plans

Lottie Murray

Royalists And Republicans: Opinions On Campus

Harriet Rothwell-Inch

A Love Letter To My State School

Megan Mahoney

Navigating University Life With A Disability

Gareth Holmes

#Projectwinter - Drowning Their Sorrows… If They Can Afford It

Anna Boyne

UoN Society Stereotypes

The Most Troubled Journeys: The Refugee And Migrant Crisis

Kit Sinclair

Campus Style - Winter/Spring 23

What Makes A Clothing Brand Sustainable?

Anna Boyne

Embracing ChatGPT: Artificial Intelligence And The Future Of Graduate Recruitment

Amy Evans

Coffee Shop Crash Course: Nottingham’s Top Caffeine Hideouts

Jacob Edwards

Flying In 2023

Holly Philpott

Leicester Based Band Easy Life On Dream Features, Tour Life And The Evolution Of Their Sound

Jake Longhurst

Three War Films - Three Directors - German, American, British

Christy Clark

Nottingham Castle’s Closure

Omay Chaudhry

Nottingham’s Cultural Legacy: Dh Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover

Matthew Fogarty

Appreciating Physical Media

Will Stead

Critics’ Recommendations

Varsity 2023: The Big Preview

Rhys Thomas

Impact Attempts: Lacrosse

Toby Reynolds

Sports Documentaries Ranked

Jack Perceval

Dictatorship and Sport

Daniel Evans

Nottingham - ‘Cycle City’? Izzy

tober 2022 Nottingham University’s branch of the National charity, ‘Sexpression’, led a campaign rally across University Park Campus calling for support for mandatory consent training from the University.

MINI NEWS STORIES

New Beeston Student Accommodation Plans Spark Local Concern

Plans have been unveiled to build a four-story building containing 32 new studio flats in Beeston. The erection of the new flats would result in the demolition of Beeston Car Centre.

The town has seen several new building projects in recent years, and this new proposal comes shortly after separate development plans have already gone ahead which will provide more private accommodation for students in Beeston also.

The garage that would be demolished to make way for the new apartments is in close proximity to Broadgate Park which accommodates over 2,000 students.

Though it has not been clearly stated who the target residents are for the new apartment block, the new plans have left some local residents reporting that they would prefer to see more affordable local housing in the area. However, others have noted that the increasingly large influx of students would benefit the local economy and help boost shops on the high street.

The growing number of students in Beeston is becoming an increasing concern to some. Plans for Humber Road Chippy in Beeston to be converted into a seven-bed house in multiple

occupation (HMO) were rejected at the start of March because of the growing concern of the amount of student accommodation in the area.

Esme McKenzie

UoN To Introduce Compulsory Consent Training Programme For All New Students

The University of Nottingham has formally endorsed introducing an in-person consent training programme for all new students entering in the 23/24 academic year.

The Students’ Union Community Officer, Daisy Forster, announced the University’s approval of her proposal for consent training, describing it as a ‘really important step for the university’.

The decision follows an increasing demand for mandatory consent training. There were 82 alleged sexual incidents reported during the 20202021 academic year at UoN, as well as several spiking incidents being reported in Nottingham.

The proposal stated that the training would aim to ensure students are educated on consent, with the course being delivered by students in collaboration with the Students’ Union. The course is planned to be delivered during Welcome Week and to be made compulsory.

Student groups have been rallying together to demand change. On the 25th Oc-

Daisy Forster told Impact that she hopes that students ‘will see a decrease inincidents of sexual violence between students’ because of the programme. She also praised ‘all the students involved in the campaign’ noting that ‘this wouldn’t be happening without them!’.

Esme McKenzie

Nottingham Students Show Support For Rent Strikes

Nottingham students visited Manchester to show their support to those involved in the ongoing University of Manchester Rent Strikes.

The strike began in January with 150 students withholding their rent to pressure the administration to offer greater support for students during the cost of living crisis. The students are asking for a 30% cut to their monthly rent payment, including a rebate on fees they have already paid. They are also demanding for no further increases in rent over the next three years.They also want 40% of halls to meet the National Union of Students (NUS) definition of affordability. NUS states that rent should be no more than 50% of the highest student maintenance loan.

This follows a survey by the Office of National Statistics in November which found half of all students in England were facing financial difficulties. A quarter of these students were skipping lectures and seminars as well as taking on additional work to try and save money. Estimates from the NUS and Unipol suggest the average cost of rent has increased by 60% and now surpasses the average student maintenance loan.

The Manchester students were inspired to take strike

action due to its success in the past. In 2020 students from the University of Manchester went on a rent strike in response to their frustration over the University’s pandemic policies. The students succeeded and secured a 30% rebate.

The movement continues to gain support from students around the United Kingdom. The students from UoN were joined by supporters from the University of Durham, Lancaster University, the University of Glasgow, and Manchester Metropolitan University amongst others.

Laura Scaife

Nottingham University Marks ‘Food Waste Action Week’

Every year 4.5 million tonnes of food gets thrown away in the UK. Food waste costs British households £3.5 billion per year.

That’s why the University of Nottingham started a series of initiatives for this year’s ‘Food Waste Action Week’. The theme of the week was ‘Win Don’t Bin’- with a focus on how individuals benefit by reducing their food waste. To kick off the week the University hosted a reducing food waste webinar.

The University’s waste contractor Enva taught students how food contributes to our carbon footprint and why correct food disposal ultimately lessens the impact of climate change. They also offered their top tips for how to save money and reduce food waste, by sharing leftover recipes and teaching students how to understand use-by dates and safely store food.

The university is also promoting the ‘Too Good to Go’ app which allows people to buy food cheaply that would otherwise go to waste. For example, several cafés on University Park offer ‘Magic Bags’ containing fresh unsold food for just £4 at the end of the day.

Laura Scaife

UoN Medical Students Condemn Treatment of Junior DoctoRS

Last year, more working days were lost to strikes than any other year since 1989 - and there is no sign of them stopping. Junior doctors are the latest public sector workers to join the national organised labour strikes with their union. Sophie Robinson speaks with medical students at UoN about their experiences on NHS wards and to get their take on the junior doctor and nurse strikes

For only the second time in the 74-year history of the NHS, junior doctors in England have gone on strike. Their actions have been driven by poor pay, unsafe staffing levels and working conditions. Tens of thousands of junior doctors took part in a 72-hour strike after 98% of those who voted were in favour of strike action, according to the British Medical Association (BMA).

Fifth year medical student, Nathan, explained that the junior doctor strikes could potentially impact his final year assessments. “[The strikes] are going to affect us in terms of exams because most of our exams are meant to be supported by the junior doctors. I heard that potentially our exams might be delayed, or they might take out some OSCE [Objective Structured Clinical Examination] stations, which could make it harder for us to pass.”

to survive for much longer under current conditions. “It’s just not enough to continue what we’re doing. Every doctor and nurse is doing it from the goodness of their heart.”

The BMA announced that the aims of the strikes are to: reverse the steep decline in pay for junior doctors since 2008/9, work with the government to prevent any future declines against inflation, and reform the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB) process to safeguard the recruitment and retention of junior doctors.

However, fourth year medical students Hassan and Zenia highlighted that the working conditions for junior doctors worry them most about entering a medical career. “We’ve made it very normal how extreme the work is - with 24 hour shifts on a weekly basis, it means you can’t have responsibilities outside of work. When people work those long shifts, they make mistakes because they’re tired and hungry.”

Nathan expressed his support for the strikes and the way in which they help to raise awareness for issues affecting health professionals. However, he also emphasised that this is just the beginning. He warned that the NHS is not going

They continued: “The way we’ve found it affects us specifically is that we go on our placements and on some wards, you become like an acting F1 (foundation doctor), and we’ve been third year medical students while that’s been happening. Junior doctors shouldn’t need unpaid workers, who are unqualified, to help them manage their work.”

“He warned the NHS is not going to survive for much longer under current conditions.”

“We’ve made it very normal how extreme the work is - with 24 hour shifts on a weekly basis”

Fifth year medical student, Lauren, corroborated this view, saying: “It’s concerning because quite a lot of the workforce are expressing that they’re not happy with the working environment. If you’re not supported in your job, especially when you’re only a junior doctor and still in training, it feels unsafe.”

According to the BMA’s survey of junior doctors in England, seven in ten junior doctors surveyed said they had undertaken extra shifts on top of their standard contracts over the past year to deal with the cost-of-living crisis. This accentuates concerns around the wellbeing of junior doctors, as well as the risk to patient safety. 60% of surveyed junior doctors described their morale as ‘low’ or ‘very low’, with 51% of junior doctors experiencing low motivation to continue working for the NHS.

Nathan said that higher pay would give junior doctors compensation for the poor working conditions: “People are leaving because the pay is low, so if they solve the pay issue people might come back. There are so many doctors and nurses who have taken over vacant jobs and are working extra hours for not much more money.

Hassan emphasised that the lack of a clear solution worries him about his future as a doctor. “They say they’re going to double the amount of spaces at medical schools but how? You go to QMC [Queen’s Medical Centre] and there are 12 medical students on each ward - they’re not getting anything out of it and doctors are stressed out of their minds. Having double places seems like a good idea until you think about it practically.”

“There needs to be more input from doctors and less input from MPs, because they aren’t the ones working in hospitals.”

Third year medical student, Lathurshaan, says that the problem is the distribution of funding within the NHS: “There needs to be more input from doctors and less input from MPs, because they aren’t the ones working in hospitals. If they spent less on medi cation then everyone would care, but when it comes to paying doctors and nurses then it’s normalised - it’s a failure of the system.”

NHS nurses have been striking over pay since December of last year, pausing their industrial action in February as Health Secre-

tary Steve Barclay agreed to hold talks with the Royal College of Nursing’s (RCN)general secretary. Nathan explained why he believes the nurse strikes are so important: “Some nurses’ jobs are very hard - much harder than it is for junior doctors - and they’re not getting paid enough for what they’re doing.” Lathurshaan also highlighted that doctors are often the face of healthcare issues, but nurses and porters are equally affected.

Although Steve Barclay has been open to talks with the RCN, so far, he has refused to meet with junior doctors. Co-chairs of the BMA junior doctors’ committee asked: “How in all conscience, can the health secretary continue to put his head in the sand and hope that by not meeting with us, this crisis of his government’s making, will somehow just disappear?”

When junior doctor strikes go ahead, the NHS faces the prospect of having to cancel operations and medical appointments - undoing some of the progress made to tackle the backlog created by the pandemic.

“It makes medicine as a career very scary because there are so many things working against you”, said Hassan.

Sophie Robinson

Impact’s Head of News interviewed Students’ Union Community Officer Daisy Forster to find out more about the Student Living Strategy.

Nottingham’s student population is growing every year and currently, around 1 in 7 Nottingham residents is a student. Despite the two universities being a positive asset to the local economy, the expanding student population is resulting in housing problems for both students and locals. Tensions are rising over housing

and differences in lifestyles. The Nottingham Student Living Strategy (SLS) sees Nottingham City Council, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University working together to attempt to improve student housing in the city - as well as improve relationships between students and the community. It also hopes to maximise the possibilities of the large student population in the city.

The Student Living Strategy is comprised of 3 priorities:

• Improving the quality, safety, affordability and location of student accommodation, and encouraging a better balance of student housing choice across the city

• Encouraging neighbourliness, where students contribute to creating a clean, attractive and sustainable environment, and tackling the impact of waste and noise.

• Increasing community cohesion, ensuring students are valued members of their communities and improving graduate retention in the city.

The SLS is an ongoing project, currently predicted to end in 2028. Lottie spoke with Daisy to see what the plans are for the project and to get her take on it.

Can you explain what the Student Living Strategy is?

We’re in a student housing crisis across the UK because there are more and more students being accepted to universities and cities can’t house them adequately. There’s a lot of tension between councils and universities because the council is asking why the universities are accepting new students, and the universities are responding that they need the money.

The two big universities in Nottingham and the Council have come together to create the Student Living Strategy, setting out their common ground in how they should all be working towards a brighter future for students living in the city. It’s pretty ground-breaking work because no other city has anything like this.

What do you think are the fundamental issues with the strategy?

A key part of the strategy is encouraging students to live in purpose-built student accommodation rather than houses in the city.

“Students like living in houses. Students like having that independence to go out with their friends and choose their perfect house”

‘STUDENTS WON’T BE LIVING IN LENTON TOWNHOUSES’: COMMUNITY OFFICER DAISY FORSTER SPEAKS OUT ABOUT STUDENT LIVING STRATEGY PLANS

There needs to be more consideration for the fact that students like living in houses. Students like having that independence to go out with their friends and choose their perfect house and it can be a house with a slightly bigger kitchen or with the loft bedroom they’ve been picturing. That’s such an important part of the student journey. It’s also the cheaper option a lot of the time especially when we’re heading into a climate where students can’t afford luxuries.

The council wants to incorporate student needs into what purpose-built student accommodations look like but I think it might need fleshing out a bit more. If we have students in townhouses, then that could work great for the student journey, and it would be a very similar experience to what they’ve got now. But, if it’s going to be tower blocks, that contradicts the third priority to integrate students into the community. If we’re pushing students out of the community into tower blocks, then that’s not helping them integrate and be an active part of the community.

I would like to see a little bit more nuance and a bit more understanding for students who want to live in houses.

Are they making the argument that purpose built student accommodation is cheaper?

The council’s overarching plan is that they’ll fill the market with these purpose-built accommodations to the point that prices will go down because there are so many, and so student accommodations will have to compete with each other. This is because at the moment - especially at Nottingham Trent - there are not enough rooms for the number of students which drives the price up because students are competing for rooms, rather than rooms competing for students. On the whole, in five to ten years, it could

work, but we’d be running off a completely different model where students are not living in normal houses anymore - they’re living in houses and flats that are built specifically for students.

The reason the SLS is wanting to do this is because, as we’re seeing in places like Lenton, Beeston and West Bridgford, more and more students are populating the areas and using the houses instead of families - then there aren’t enough houses for those families, so they’re trying to cater for everyone. Their answer is to put students into purpose built student accommodation.

Where is the new student accommodation planned for?

Both universities are committing to build more accommodation and some will be on campus. There’s currently a project in the Students’ Union looking at accommodation and trying to cater it more to what students want. For example, students don’t really want catered accommodation as much anymore, so they’re trying to move away from that model. But on the whole, it’s going to be private companies, like Unite Students, building big tower blocks similar to those just built in Lenton next to Jubilee campus.

They are going to build wherever they can, and the council is going to make planning permission easier. But part of the strategy is going to be placing more regulations on those housing providers to not just build a tower block full of studio flats because that’s not what students want.

I would hope that it’s going to be more like flats for five or six people, or townhouses with a communal space. But students are not going to be living in terraced houses in Lenton as much anymore.

Lottie Murray

“in plaes like Lenton, Beeston and West Bridgford, more and more students are populating the areas and using the houses instead of families”

“Especially at Nottingham Trent - there are not enough rooms for the number of students which drives the price up”

With the changing of monarchs for the first time in the UK for 70 years, it seems appropriate to consider the Royal Family’s relevance in today’s society. Harriet explores the difference of opinion between royalists and republicans…

In light of the current cost of living crisis, with many unable to afford to heat their homes, pay rent, or feed their families, the monarchy’s abundant wealth and status seems evermore unfair. The revelation of Prince Andrew’s scandals, the Harry and Meghan situation, and specifically since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the popularity of the British Royal Family has been challenged.

While the majority of the country still believe the UK should continue to have a reigning monarch, support to replace the British monarchy with an elected head of state is on the rise - particularly among younger generations. A 2022 YouGov poll found that

Royalists and Republicans

Opinions on Campus

among 18-24 year olds, while 33% still supported the idea of the monarchy, 31% believed wte should instead have an elected head of state. Republican views have been present in the UK for centuries. Although they all ultimately believe in the abolition of the monarchy, they can take different forms.

For example, Marxism. The President of MarxSoc provided some information on the Marxist perspective of the royalist vs republican debate. According to Marxist theory “republicanism alone would do little to solve the fundamental inequalities and problems within British society today”. To them, the issue is not the monarchy alone, but classism and capitalism. The monarchy is fundamental to the continuing classism in the UK, and is supported by a capitalist system. Even if we abolish the monarchy tomorrow, the capitalist system will still remain, therefore the corruption, inequality and privilege

“I grew up in an environment with a relatively positive view of the monarchy. My family has a history of serving in the armed forces; my Dad grew up with a parent in the RAF”

that the upper class enjoys is unchanged. “The whole economic system is rotten and must be replaced with an economy collectively owned, directed and managed by the working class.”

While clearly in support of abolishing the monarchy, the UoN marxists specify the need for a “socialist republic” which gives full power to the people. They believe this is the only way to “truly do away with the inequality, privilege and oppression that the monarchy represents”.

Personally, I am not against the monarchy but neither am I an enthusiastic supporter of it. I grew up in an environment with a relatively positive view of the monarchy. My family has a history of serving in the armed forces; my Dad grew up with a parent in the RAF and my maternal great-grandparents served in the Royal and Women’s Air Force during WWII. My social life as a child and teenager revolved around

the Girl Guides; I still remember taking my Promise at 7 “to serve the Queen and my community, and to keep the Brownie Guide law”. At 19 I was thrilled and honoured to be invited to Buckingham Palace, where I met the Countess of Wessex, upon achieving my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. As a result, while many call for the removal of the monarchy, I don’t really see a problem with it. They have no real power - they’re just figureheads.

I spoke to Kit Sinclair, who like myself doesn’t have hugely strong opitnions on the monarchy but if pushed

would consider herself a republican rather than a royalist. “Whilst the Queen was still alive I was happy to leave it, as it seemed ridiculous to remove her after so long.” Now, however, with the coronation of King Charles III, Kit believes that if the British monarchy were to continue it should be massively slimmed down: “They don’t need that many palaces!”

She also said the monarchy represents “huge levels of inequality that seem at odds with the modern, equitable country we want”, highlighting the insensitivity of spending huge amounts of money on a coronation when so many are struggling to stay afloat. “If we did keep the monarchy around, I wouldn’t mind seeing a more Danish model, where they live more ‘normal’ - if still very privileged - lives, with regular jobs.”

The Royal Family is certainly not exempt from criticism, however their cultural impact cannot be denied. Abolishing the monarchy and implementing a republic would “destroy centuries of British traditions, customs and practices” says Alfie Brinkley, a member of Nottingham University’s Conservative Association (NUCA). He spoke of the monarchy’s “extraordinary contributions” to the UK. “It generates millions of pounds for the country through the Crown Estate (providing more than the amount given to the Monarchy from taxpayers), runs multiple charitable organisations that positively impact people across the UK, provides a sense of unity and source of morale dur-

ing times of crisis, and exemplifies significant British values such as duty, compassion and respect”.

It is true the UK is world-re nowned for the awe and pageantry associated with its monarchy. Daniel Arthur, another NUCA member, describes it as “an institution inextricable from Great Britain”. Daniel also opposes the idea of a republic, claiming they are “hollow to the core” and pose a significantly higher threat to democracy than a constitutional monarchy: “Republics elevate politicians to a position of supreme power, effectively electing kings as presidents”.

Given the current political climate and the state of our country’s government and the lack of trust in the Conservative Party, the idea of our Prime Minister being the elected head of state, with absolute control over the way our country is run is, in my view, incredibly alarming. Politicians have their own, often divisive agenda which they wish to implement - running the country based on their own political views. In contrast, a constitutional monarch is apolitical, designed to be a visible source/symbol of national unity and pride.

The debate between royalists and republicans over the future of the monarchy in the UK is constantly evolving. However, with so many ties to our history and national identity, the thought of no longer having a Sovereign is still bizarre. Is it that we cannot see Great Britain as anything other than a constitutional monarchy because we believe it is the most effective form of governance? Is it because we believe the idea of any one political party having complete control over legislation is far worse? Or is it just because that’s what we’re used to?

“[Republics] are “hollow to the core” and pose a significantly higher threat to democracy than a constitutional monarchy”

“The thought of no longer having a Sovereign is still bizarre”

Harriet Rothwell-Inch

“The monarchy represents “huge levels of inequality that seem at odds with the modern, equitable country we want”

“At 19 I was thrilled and honoured to be invited to Buckingham Palace, where I met the Countess of Wessex, upon achieving my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.”

Features

A LOVE LETTER TO MY STATE SCHOOL

How well do comprehensive schools prepare students for university? Megan argues that although the education system is flawed and more needs to be done to support UK state-funded schools, the state school experience can be wholly fulfilling.

It’s a grey afternoon in 2017 and a GCSE maths class begins. It is a class of forty fifteen-year-olds with a teacher struggling to manage the noise level, let alone tackle the curriculum. Those with parents teetering on the edge of middle-class can pay a tutor an obscene amount to teach them the basics to pass. But what about the others? Well, they rely on YouTube tutorials and hope for the best. A pass seems like a stretch while university remains an unattainable dream.

“By the time a student is in sixth form, double the amount of private school students go to a RussellGroup University compared to their state school peers.”

This exact scene is repeated in comprehensive secondary schools across the UK. By the time a student is in sixth form, double the amount of private school students go to a RussellGroup University compared to their state school peers. This is a result of numerous factors. State school students reportedly have less help with their university applications, such as writing their personal statement or interview coaching for elite universities. Socio-economic background can be a barrier to university too, with the idea of debt putting many students from a low-income household off.

But, why is this a problem? Not every child wants to go to university or needs to go to university to fulfil their chosen career path. However, the problem lies in equal opportunity. Every child who wishes to go to university should have the

support to go, regardless of whether their parents pay for their secondary school education or not.

When I first arrived in university, I did not take pride in the fact I went to state school. I could not partake in conversations about school ski trips, or lacrosse teams, or owning a horse or a Range Rover. 1 in 5 University of Nottingham students in the academic year 2016-17 attended a private school growing up. In a hall like Cavendish, this statistic was truly evident.

What I could brag about, however, is that my parents saved lots of money and I got into the same university as my peers. What my school lacked in working glue sticks and normal class sizes, it made up for in character. It was the history teacher who ran 7:40am GCSE revision sessions with breakfast provided to help decipher the new grade 5-9 syllabus. The EPQ teacher who championed me to be the only female in the year to be invited to an Oxbridge interview. I didn’t get in, but the self-belief they instilled in me lasted beyond that half-hour interview. It was the head of sixth form who gave students their train fares to university open days if they could not afford to pay themselves. The school had beautiful diversity, and I made friends for life from all different backgrounds.

“However, the root of the issue has yet to be addressed by any recent government. Comprehensive schools are crying out for more teachers and resources.”

As the education system has been this way for many years, it seems implausible that it could change. The recent announcement that personal statements will be scrapped is a start because this has been proved to largely favour middle-class students. Furthermore, schemes such as the Sutton Trust Summer School help state school students into university with mentoring, bursaries, grade reductions and a week-long stay at a Russell Group university. However, the root of the issue has yet to be addressed by any recent government. Comprehensive schools are crying out for more teachers and resources to help nurture the talent of prospective university students.

Megan Mahoney

“What my school lacked in working glue sticks and normal class sizes, it made up for in character.”

Navigating University Life With a Disability

University Park: 300 acres of land that includes lush woodland, classical buildings, rolling hills and a boating lake. However, traversing this huge campus becomes less of a country stroll and more of a mammoth task if you have mobility issues. Like many students at the University, I have ongoing health concerns which mean sometimes I require mobility support - including a wheelchair - and I was struck by how difficult accessing the university buildings became. Whilst the university offers a free, pre-booked taxi service to campus, once there you have to make your own way around and this is where those beautiful rolling hills become a nightmare.

“Once the buildings have been reached then the accessibility improves with lifts, ramps and guide rails prevalent in most of the learning areas.”

From the top of the Djanogly steps I have to navigate the ramps to the Trent building where whole sections are devoid of handrails and guided ramps - thus requiring a huge amount of work on my behalf to make sure I don’t lose control. I have similar problems with other university buildings, getting to the Monica Partridge building often requires me to rely on helpful passers-by. Importantly, once the buildings have been reached then the accessibility improves with lifts, ramps and guide rails prevalent in most of the learning areas. Speaking to other students with mobility issues, all of which require the regular use of walking aids, the stories were very similar. Individually the buildings are seen to be very accessible and the university makes every effort to make sure lectures and seminars are held in rooms that are on the ground floor. But getting to those buildings is a challenge we are not always up to.

Another option offered to students is remote learning, recorded lectures, and using Teams for meetings. Yet this closes off much of university life from those who use this option and can leave students feeling isolated. The campus, and by extension university life, is so much more than attending lectures and seminars, with many societies having their meetings at University Park, and so remote learning creates an incentive to stay indoors rather than face the hills of campus.

The university is less helpful when it comes to mental health support. Whilst the emergency team and subsequent mental health workers are amazing, the funding available to them to create a team that has the time to support the entire university is woefully lacking. It’s recognised that at least one in three students will have a mental health issue at university, yet the waiting list to see a counsellor can be upwards of six weeks. Whilst the university offers support plans and suitable adjustments for those of us who suffer with mental health issues, it does not address the need for more counsellors and support workers.

As a whole, the University of Nottingham works hard to support students with disabilities, but there are some nearly insurmountable obstacles - whether they are the steep hills or crippling levels of underfunding. Getting through university is not easy, and for those of us with a disability it can be overwhelming. All we ask is to be given the support we need.

Gareth Holmes

Features

#ProjectWinter

Drowning Their Sorrows… If They Can Afford It

This winter, Impact has been working with Platform (Nottingham Trent’s student magazine) to investigate how students in Nottingham have been coping with the cost of living crisis. To read the rest of the #ProjectWinter articles, visit: https://impactnottingham.com/tag/projectwinter/

It’s 11am on a Thursday morning. You’ve missed your 9am lecture again. Your head is pounding and you’re dying for some water.

As you reach for your phone, you grit your teeth and open the bank app.

Your stomach drops as you realise you’ve blown your weekly budget. Twice over.

The cliché “I’m never drinking again” springs to mind.

But this time, you can’t even afford food for the week.

Maybe it is time to stop the nights out uni is supposed to be famous for.

You would not be alone.

A survey by the University of Nottingham’s Students’ Union found that 40% of respondents said they are struggling with their finances. For many, it means the stereotypical carefree student life is far from the truth.

Hannah McCabe and Amelia Mearns are second-year students at the University of Nottingham. On their podcast, Northerners Take Notts they use their platform to speak candidly of their experiences. Amelia receives the minimum student loan which all goes towards covering her rent, then the rest is topped up with money from her own earnings.

This leaves her with a £10 weekly budget to spend on food and other necessities. When she tried to access financial support from the university, she found the responses to be slow and the process unnecessarily complicated.

“It felt like a joke,” she says. “They’re not taking my fi-

nancial situation seriously and the best they could offer was a free breakfast.

“I appreciate the effort, but I don’t think it’s enough. It felt quite patronising.”

The “free breakfast” that Amelia was offered is a new scheme introduced by UoNSU.

The ‘Oasis Breakfast Club’ provides students a selection of cold breakfast items, as well as staff on hand to talk to for extra support. It runs every Monday to Friday 8am-10am in the Portland Building. While the effort is admirable, it seems that a free cold breakfast will do little to aid students, like Amelia, who are seriously struggling with the cost-of-living.

For both Hannah and Amelia, university is not the experience they were promised.

“I’m a first-generation uni student so my parents idealise uni and think I have a

plethora of opportunities,” explains Hannah.

“I do - compared to the normal world - but it’s a double-edged sword. I can only access them if I can afford them.”

University work and the student experience has taken a backseat for both Hannah and Amelia; they are forced to prioritise part-time jobs to afford to stay at university. Over the Christmas holidays, Amelia worked 9 hour shifts 5 days a week at her l local pub.

ey it permeates itself into different areas of your life. It’s a constant background stress.”

Nightlife is typically seen as a hallmark of the student experience, yet Hannah rarely goes on nights out anymore. “Spontaneous nights out are just not a thing… We try our best, but student life involves doing things that need money,” she says.

The cost-of-living crisis has made both Hannah and Amelia much more conscious of the costs involved on nights out: club tickets, transport, drinks etc. Amelia has stopped going out altogether because she simply cannot afford it.

Not only did Amelia’s university work take a hit, as she was left with very little time to complete coursework, but her mental health significantly suffered. “I was so exhausted from working all the time, then being back [in Nottingham] and trying to just get by. I feel down all the time because it’s a constant stress,” she adds.

Hannah agrees: “When you have issues with mon-

Both girls found that their friendships have been affected by their inability to socialise. “You get scrutinised by people who can afford to go out, accusing you of not spending time with them,” says Amelia.

“People want to go out and spend money, and then make you feel bad for not doing those things… We had a friendship group who’s just stopped asking us to go out because we have to say no every time.”

Similarly, Hannah has been forced to prioritise time and money on close friends. Especially during first year,

“I was so exhausted from working all the time, then being back [in Not- tingham] and trying to just get by.”

she worked so much at her part-time job in Nottingham, that she had few opportunities to socialise with new people. Instead, Hannah’s social network at university is principally friends from home and friends she’s met through them.

riences. But everything comes with a cost – especially sports clubs. Last year, a social membership to the women’s hockey club was £30. Being on the first team set students back £320.

Sean Nolan is the current UoNSU Sports Officer. One of the first conversations he had with the SU Officers team was about the cost-ofliving crisis. “It’s shaped our year as officers,” he says.

While Hannah and Amelia are just two students out of thousands, those earning a living from the city’s nighttime economy have noticed a difference this academic year. Greg has been a club promoter for nine years and currently works for Unit 13 and the Cell. He says students are still going on nights out, but they’re going later and spending less on drinks. “Students are receiving the same amount of student loans, but the cost-of-living has gone up. I think people’s money is running out sooner,” Greg says.

He noticed that December and January, which are usually busy months, were quieter than usual. This is probably because students went home earlier and stayed there longer. He also employs students and noticed they were asking for more work sooner in the semester – another sign that money was running out more rapidly.

With nights out a financial no-go, hard-up students are also struggling to access the many extra curricular activities that can often define a person’s university experience. Hannah had planned on joining the football club last year but couldn’t give up her weekends for matches. She started women’s rugby, then realised her shifts clashed with the training sessions.

University societies shape so many students’ expe-

“The cost-of-living crisis has sat at the back of our minds for everything we’ve done.”

He adds it will be the same for future officers.

This year, students living in on-campus accommodation at the University of Nottingham also benefit from the ‘Sport, Health and Wellbeing Package’.

This means that a UoN Sport membership is already built into the accommodation fees students pay. “It’s a great way to boost engagement and remove a barrier for people to get involved in sport and physical activity,” adds Sean.

The planning for the ‘Sport, Health and Wellbeing Package’ started before the academic year, “it’s happily coincided with the cost-ofliving crisis.”

When students come to university, it’s usually the first time they’ve had to manage their own money. Although the planning for the ‘Sport, Health and Wellbeing Package’ started before the academic year, “it’s happily coincided with the cost-of-living crisis,” says Sean.

By spreading the costs across the 40 weeks of accommodation fees, it’s one less thing for students to worry about. UoN Sport currently offer ‘Just Play’, where students can access a huge range of sports sessions for free if they’re a UoN Sport member or for just £3 if they are not a member.

Already this academic year, there have been several ‘Girls Night In’ events in which students who identify as female can access a wide range of sports tasters and non-sport activities. It’s completely free - even for those without a UoN Sport membership.

Phil Wood is the Scholarship and Recruitment Manager at UoN, meaning he is the point of contact for elite athletes who may be struggling with the cost-of-living.

“I’m very aware of people choosing to get part-time jobs now more than ever,” he says.

Where possible, Phil helps athletes get part-time jobs affiliated with the university, as they tend to be much more accommodating and flexible regarding training and competition.

“I have been made aware of a small number who are struggling to fund the needs of their lifestyle for being a student athlete,” he says. Students are cutting down on costs like nutrition and equipment, but a few are even struggling to afford rent.

University is often seen as the trial run for adulthood. It’s acceptable, even expected, that students will live off Pot Noodles, go out on the weekday, miss 9am lectures, and meet their friends for life in the process.

But with 40% struggling financially with the cost-ofliving crisis, are they getting the full university experience? Or are students being forced into real world realities sooner?

Anna Boyne

“Students are still going on nights out, but they’re going later and spending less on drinks.”

“The planning for the ‘Sport, Health and Wellbeing Package’ started before the academic year, “it’s happily coincided with the cost-of-living crisis,””

40% struggling financially with the costof-living crisis, are they getting the full university experience?

SOCIETY STEREOTYPES

Fun and sometimes mocking stereotypes about different societies at UoN...

Impact Magazine

A place for Laura Kuenssberg wannabes.

URN

We can guarantee that you will spend more time asking people to listen to your show than actually going to lectures.

Poker Society

For casino regulars with a suspicious amount of disposable income.

Matchmaking Society

They show up to the Freshers’ fairs every year, but we’re yet to hear of any success stories. You’re better off sticking to Tinder.

Nottingham Economics & Finance Society (NEFS)

For future finance bros in the making. Hey, if all else fails, you can always apply for The Apprentice.

A Capella

For those of you who have comfort-watched Pitch Perfect one too many times.

Law Society

Are you sure it’s healthy to be drinking that much coffee?

BlowSoc

No, this isn’t BDSM Society. But, don’t be too disappointed - you might find you have a natural talent for the trumpet if you stick around.

NSTV

We had to Google what this was.

Board Game Society

You definitely took Monopoly way too seriously a few times and needed to find people who wouldn’t be afraid to play against you.

Rugby (Mens)

The perfect sport for lads who love to wear quarter zips and signet rings everywhere they go.

LeftSoc

We definitely see more of you than actual lecturers at the picket lines.

Taylor Swift Society

Obsessively refreshing Instagram until the UK Eras tour dates are announced - except they call it a ‘social’.

THE MOST TROUBLED JOURNEYS: THE REFUGEE AND MIGRANT CRISIS

With the refugee crisis gaining more prominence with every year that goes by, Kit shares her view on dangerous Europe sea crossings, as well as highlighting opportunities for students to help.

We hear so much in the news and online about the refugee crisis that it’s easy to become desensitised to the sheer magnitude of it all. Although at the start of 2022 it may have felt as though the war in Ukraine had brought the issue closer to home, by the end of the year the millions of refugees fleeing their home country had become just another statistic.

It certainly is true that Ukrainian refugees have significantly inflated the number of refugees in Europe, which doubled in 2022, whilst the number of those internally displaced rose to 9 million. The total figure of those forced to flee their homes across the world (due to conflicts, fear of persecution, or violence) now stands at over 90 million.

It seems that there are new conflicts every year to add to these statistics, while ongoing crises have yet to be reigned in. A crisis in Europe that seemed to begin with the Syrian civil war now encompasses conflicts in Sudan, Afghanistan and, of course, Ukraine, amongst countless others.

Received wisdom amongst many in the

UK, and in other European countries, is often that refugees are seeking to remain in their host country indefinitely. Return intention surveys conducted by UNHCR (the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) suggest otherwise and found that roughly one-third to one-half of refugee populations express a willingness to return to their home country in the future. The UNHCR estimates that if lasting peace in key conflicts were achieved, global refugee figures could halve to around 10 million.

Whilst conflicts continue to arise each year, migration also continues to rise. The route from Lviv in Ukraine to Lublin in Poland has joined the British Red Cross’ list of the most common asylum routes in Europe, which also includes Tunis to Sicily, Paris to London, Izmir to Dubrovnik, Damascus to Beirut and, of course, the English Channel.

The issue at the heart of the matter is not just the decision to make these journeys is heartrending

- refugees often leave children behind or, alternatively, send them on alone in desperation - it’s that the routes are not only arduous, they are very often deadly.

Since 2014, when the number of migrants to Europe began to surge, over 2 million people have attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea. This crossing is now considered one of the most common migration routes into Europe. It’s also one of the most dangerous. Of those 2 million who crossed in the last 9 years, at least 25,000 people are missing and presumed dead. Often, the bodies are never found, and families on either side of the sea are left waiting for news of their loved ones that never arrives.

In the last few years, the inherent danger of sea crossings has been compounded by many European countries doubling down in their efforts to prevent so-called ‘illegal’ immigration (although, in the case of asylum seekers, there is no such thing). Authorities in Greece, under the governance of the anti-immigration New Democracy party, elected in 2019, have been employing ever more violent tactics (known as ‘pushbacks’) to prevent people crossing into the country.

Although this reduced the Eastern Mediterranean attempted crossings, people did not simply go away. Rath-

“The route from Lviv in Ukraine to Lublin in Poland has joined the British Red Cross’ list of the most common asylum routes in Europe”

“The routes are not only arduous, they are very often deadly”

er, they moved to more dangerous Central and Western Mediterranean routes. The Eastern route remains by far the least popular route across the Mediterranean, when once it was the most common. By consequence, more people are dying year on year attempting to get into Europe. In 2021, deaths along unauthorised immigration routes were the highest they’ve been since 2017, just after the height of Europe’s ‘Migrant Crisis’.

It’s not just Greece taking a hardline stance on immigration. With the new Nationality and Borders Act, which became law on the 28th April 2022, the UK is also aiming to reduce the level of protection and support available to those who arrive in the country irregularly, particularly with the introduction of a two-tier visa system.

The Law Society suggests that the Act may be incompatible with UNHCR’s 1951 Refugee Convention, which enshrines the right of refugees to not be returned to a country “where they face serious threats to their life or freedom”.

local events to help refugees settle into the local area, as well as taking part in national campaigns.

As deaths mount in the Channel year after year (one estimate suggests that over 80 people have died whilst trying to cross the Channel since 2019), this is work that is particularly pertinent here in the UK. “Our Home Secretary admits that we provide no safe and legal route to the UK”, Millie points out. With safer routes in place, “deaths could have been avoided” she believes. All these overwhelming facts and statistics can easily make us feel powerless to change the situation. That’s why the SU officers for Community and Sports (Daisy Forster and Sean Nolan, respectively) are launching a joint fundraising and volunteering campaign called Active for Asylum Seekers.

Whilst these routes and crossings may still seem far away from our front door, there are ways to get involved in supporting refugees here on our campus. Impact spoke to Millie Adams, president of STAR society (which stands for Student Action for Refugees). This group is “a national, student led society that’s dedicated to making the UK a more welcoming and understanding place for refugees”.

In the face of an increasingly hostile environment in the UK, where even after surviving traumatic and dangerous journeys, refugees are still faced with “an inefficient asylum system, hostile media, inhumane detention centres, a lack of integration, and are denied the right to work”. STAR runs

Much like Movember, societies as well as individual students will be able to participate as much or as little as they would like. STAR, for example, is planning to run an event in Wollaton Park, the campaign is modelled on the British Red Cross’ “Miles for Refugees” goals. That means you can choose to run, swim, cycle or even climb the length of one of their most common asylum routes across Europe and the Middle East (the English Channel, previously mentioned, is 22 miles long, a perfect individual challenge).

Not only will completing the challenge help get you moving and raise some money, it can also help us begin to understand the arduous routes faced by so many across the world with no other choice. If you’re not the sporty type, or you want to stay involved after the challenge is over, Millie encourages you to look into STAR’s activities on and off campus, such as their weekly Women’s Classes, as well as participation in national campaigns.

Millie is hopeful that with more students getting involved, things can change - working together “ to challenge the harmful narrative created by the government”.

getting involved, things can change”

“There are ways to get involved in supporting refugees here on our campus.”

Kit Sinclair

“With safer routes in place, deaths could have been avoided”

“With more students

CAMPUS STYLE

- Winter/Spring 2023

Previous Impact prints have documented Campus style across the years. Fashion in 2010 saw students wearing jeggings, pumps, cardigans, brightly coloured jeans, and lots of funky patterns. While it may already seem like a time capsule now, these looks will probably resurface in a few years’ time.

According to ‘The Zoe Report’, the trend cycle is “a metaphorical washing machine that spins out similar style concepts every few years.” Certainly, Y2K nostalgia is everywhere at the moment, with people loving baby tees, velour tracksuits and shoulder bags. Does that mean we’ll soon be seeing a return of the 2010s festival flower crowns, bomber jackets and geek chic?

With all this in mind, Impact has brought back the Campus Style feature. We’re creating a new time capsule to remember UoN student fashion in Spring 2023. Perhaps future students will look back nostalgically and take inspiration from their outfits. Or maybe they’ll just find them outdated and ridiculous…

Geography student Finn wears the BDG Brown Zip-Through Worker Jacket from Urban Outfitters over a black jumper found in a charity shop and a gold Vivienne Westwood necklace. He ties this together with other black pieces- from his New Balance trainers and headphones to his rucksack and Dickies trousers. His outfit is nostalgic to the 90s grunge style.

Molly, who reads American Studies and English, also styles headphones. Her yellow Beats subtly match the Ikea coin purse attached to her mauve Rains tote bag. Over a khaki Reformation fleece, Molly also dons a black puffer jacket - the staple of many students’ wardrobes across the country. Her striped gloves and scarf were hand-me-downs from her mum.

Left - Right Molly, Molly Bag Detail, Finn, Finn Closeup, Molly Profile

Makena is a Law student whose outfit is heavily inspired by her home country of Kenya. The focus of her outfit is a vibrantly coloured striped kikoi - a traditional rectangular piece of woven cloth, that she has wrapped around her waist. Makena’s black leather jacket, blue cord shirt and white tank top were all bought from ‘mutumba’ markets. These markets are prolific in Kenya. Used clothing from western countries is sent to Kenya, they are bought wholesale in bales at ports and the goods are moved along a chain of sellers and buyers until a consumer buys them at a ‘mutumba’ market.

Ysaeel, who also studies Law, wears a red V-neck Ralph Lauren jumper with baggy black cargos from H&M, and Nike shoes. It’s an outfit which combines both style and comfort, with a pearl necklace elevating the look.

Maria is a Sociology student who incorporates striking colours, patterns, and textures in her outfit. The fluffy green scarf from Urban Outfitters is a statement piece and contrasts her zebra print H&M jeans. Maria wears white Buffalo chunky trainers which add at least an inch to her height. Her hair is dyed in the shade ‘Viva Magenta’ - coincidentally Pantone’s 2023 ‘Colour of the Year’. This shade supposedly “encourages experimentation and self-expression without restraint” - which is very fitting for Maria’s daring look.

Architecture student George’s wide leg cord trousers and hoodie were both thrifted in Liverpool. For George, comfort is a key consideration when putting together an outfit for a long day of lectures. The safety goggles also provide ample protection in case of a hangover.

Beth, an American Studies and English student, showcases slow fashion in her outfit. Her Docs were found on eBay, the jeans are from a charity shop, and the leather zipup jacket from a car boot sale. The dainty silver swirl necklace was bought from Etsy and ties in nicely with her silver hoop earrings. The blue V-neck jumper is from Brandy Melville.

Anna Boyne

Left - Right George and Beth, Beth Close-up, Maria, Makena and Ysaeel, Maria, Makena B&W, Makena Close-up, George, Ysaeel

WHAT MAKES A Clothing BRAND SUSTAINABLE?

Anna discusses how brands mislead consumers with claims of ‘sustainability’’ to generate more income and profits for their company as well as to attract consumers...

If the record-breaking warm temperatures this January have taught us anything, it’s that the climate crisis is becoming harder to ignore. Recent research suggests that about 46% of consumers are more likely to invest in eco-friendly, sustainably made products. Clearly, the drive to take individual steps in reducing carbon footprints is there, and the purchasing power of consumers cannot be underestimated. On both small and global scales, brands are recognising these demands. But how do you know if their claims to sustainability are true? How can you differentiate between Greenwashing and genuine intentions? What about the murky middle ground?

According to 4A’s, ‘greenwashing occurs when a brand makes a promise to uphold environmental standards in a way that is unfounded, misleading, or inflated.’ This essentially means that brands exploit sustainability as a marketing tool. Despite good intentions, consumers can be hoodwinked into buying products that continue to damage the environment.

A way to avoid this is understanding the reality of the sustainability spectrum. Many brands make wild claims to improve their environmental impact to avoid scrutiny. Others have genuine intentions but fall short in many aspects. A select few brands do seem to have hit the nail on the head, finding creative ways to develop sustainable products and business models. But at what financial cost? Is it realistic to expect the average consumer to invest only in the totally sustainable options, especially when they are usually much more expensive?

One element of sustainability is the materials used. Brands that use deadstock materials buy fabrics that would otherwise have ended up in landfill and give them a new lease of life. Hissy Fit Clothing is a small Birmingham-based brand which uses only deadstock materials that are sourced from a local supplier.

They then use their own offcuts to make new pieces, helping massively to reduce fashion industry waste.

Other brands make garments from natural, biodegradable or recycled materials. MUD Jeans are made from 40% recycled denim and aim to reach 100% by 2025. One pair of MUD jeans requires just 477 litres of water to make, compared to the industry standard of 7,000 litres. They are also leading the way in clothing circularity. The lease-a-jeans program allows you to rent a pair of jeans for up to 12 months, after which the buyer can send them back for upcycling. It’s really refreshing to see a brand that continues to care about their environmental impact even after the garments are purchased.

However no matter the materials a brand uses, it cannot be considered fully sustainable if it promotes overconsumption.

Professor John Sterman of the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative says that “by encouraging unnecessary consumption, advertising harms our ability to create a sustainable world and preserve our prosperity, health, and even our lives in the face of climate change”. These brands usually prioritise profits and growth over sustainability values. Advertising that claims to solve consumers’ problems and excessive sales with huge discounts are often an indicator of this. Then again, these brands tend to sell their garments at more affordable prices, especially during sales.

“A balanced approach, without judgement, is perhaps the best way forward.”

The general consensus among sustainable fashion advocates is that the clothes you already own are the most environmentally friendly. Sourcing second-hand items also reduces the demand for garment production. But this isn’t always a realistic attitude. We live in a materialistic world where buying new clothes is exciting and sometimes necessary. A balanced approach, without judgement, is perhaps the best way forward. Using your purchasing power wisely can help push brands to continue striving for sustainability.

Anna Boyne

“no matter the materials a brand uses, it cannot be considered fully sustainable if it promotes overconsumption”

This time, I modified Paul Gascoyne’s instructions, substitutingmy firm – Allen & Overy – into the equation. This way I would know whether ChatGPT was generating valuable material. I asked it to draw on its knowledge of competency and scenario-based commercial law questions. But, I saw no change. Whilst the questions asked were useful, they were not firm-specific. They are good practice for applicants, but not enough to adequately prepare for an interview. Likewise, I was encouraged to exemplify general statements with my own experiences, but it failed to recall good interview practices like ‘SWOT’ or ‘PESTLE’ analysis.

EMBRACING CHATGPT: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE FUTURE OF GRADUATE RECRUITMENT

ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model developed by OpenAI, has been making waves in various industries including human resources. Graduate recruiters have started using ChatGPT to streamline their recruitment process, encouraging students to utilise the model in their applications. Amy Evans, a second year law student, considers its potential issues and how it might change the graduate jobs landscape.

Recently I came across a post on Linkedin whare Paul Gascoyne - a Senior Recruitment Manager at Shearman & Sterling LLP - advised applicants to use ChatGPT in preparation for interviews. Out of curiosity, I followed his instructions.

“Can you act as an interviewer, and I will be the

interviewee? The role I am interviewing for is a trainee solicitor at a commercial law firm in London.”

ChatGPT asked some typical interview questions. Why am I interested in the role; what is my educational background; could I please discuss a time when I had to work as part of a team? Even better, when I asked it to provide feedback, ChatGPT complied. But, how could I be certain that the questions asked and advice given were useful or accurate?

So, is its use by applicants problematic? As it is an AI model, it can only provide advice based on the data it has been given, which may not always be upto-date or relevant to the company or role in question – particularly, as it is not connected to the internet. Applicants could receive incorrect or outdated advice, with generic interview questions providing an inappropriate one-size-fits-all approach.

Likewise, the use of ChatGPT by graduate recruiters raises broader questions about the role of AI in the recruitment process.

As ChatGPT becomes more widely used, there

is a risk that it could replace human recruiters at certain stages, therefore having a significant impact on the graduate jobs landscape. We are already seeing an increase in the use of automated video assessments, with over a third of Fortune 500 companies using HireVue – one of the leading interview technology companies. Is this the future of the graduate recruitment process? ChatGPT can, on its own admission, automate repetitive tasks such as candidate screening, scheduling interviews, and sending follow-up emails. It can assist with creating job descriptions, providing interview questions, and even generating offer letters. But, should we allow it to?

When I applied to Allen & Overy, my application was reviewed by a member of the Early Careers Team. I spoke with a human being at each stage of the process. Even my offer was made over the phone before I received an email. I felt supported and deeply connected to the firm. If we eliminate this personal aspect of the process by allowing technology to intervene, we risk creating a cold and impersonal job market, which could eventually extend to our workplaces also.

Whilst ChatGPT has the potential to streamline the recruitment process, we should be wary of advocating for its unregulated use. Applicants and recruiters alike should remember the limitations of technology, utilising these tools only where it is appropriate.

Amy Evans

“When I asked it to provide feedback, ChatGPT complied.”

“It can only provide advice based on the data it has been given, which may not always be up-to-date or relevant to the company or role in question”

“We risk creating a cold and impersonal job market”

COFFEE SHOP CRASH COURSE

Nottingham’s Top Caffeine Hideouts

Drinks of the alcoholic persuasion may be on the mind of more students, but for those who crave a little cosiness in their lives, there are always quaint little coffee shops open in the AM for the early birds. Hosting a hefty array of delectable drinking quarters for you to enjoy alone or with family and friends, there are numerous spots worth the trek beyond the borders of University Park.

If you’re looking for comfort with extra pizazz then look no further than the new kid in town, Dispatch Coffee, nestled within the heart of Hockley. Like a Wes Anderson movie, Dispatch Coffee blooms with bold colours and divine decor, with plenty of space inside to fit a large group. Not only that, but the coffee is a treat and the baked goods go down a storm! Another recent addition to Nottingham is Punch Coffee - a family-run café

packing a real punch, situated a little further out from the city centre on Mansfield Road. It offers a small-town atmosphere, where the lovely couple, Ben and Kellie, greet and get to know you whilst their lovely children brighten up the place, running laps around the counter.

For those who are in need of a banging brunch to fill their bellies, there are also a plethora of places to choose from. In Lenton, the tried and tested Avocafé nurses the hangovers of the previous night’s partygoers with a nutritious menu, free wifi, smoothies and 200º Coffee on the espresso. If one is in need of a Beeston brunch, Cartwheel Coffee offers the most elegant eatables, so it can be a bit on the pricey side. The beauty of this spot is that, not only does it arguably have some of the best coffee in Nottingham’s arsenal (which

is even roasted here!) and also has a sister shop in the city centre.

The final honourable mention for a beasty brunch is Blend. This coffee shop can be found across the city in a couple of spots; my favourite of which lies within Sneinton Market. Toasties have never tasted so good, and this immaculate emporium has an extensive menu full of them, with vegan and gluten-free options galore. Comfortably cosied up in the cracks and crevices of Sneinton Market, it bursts with bright colours and a counter stocked with enough sweet treats to make any 20 going on 12 year old happy.

Concluding this catalogue of coffeeshops are three reserved for the fellow coffee snobs out there. To begin with, another one for the harcore Hockley fans, Kigali - serving Notting-

ham-roasted beans from Outpost Coffee and guest roasters, with numerous options for the caffeine puritans, sweet tooths, and sandwich-lovers. Next is another city-based café called Effy, which helped me feel at home in the first few weeks of university here. Nowadays, they tend to have Manhattan Coffee on the machine. This is all the way from the Netherlands, but they also bring in highbrow roasters from across the world and homebake their goods - it is probably the closest thing akin to a London coffee shop on this list, with impressive insides and a lovely team of baristas. Lastly, for the Beeston-based students, Greenhood. Although it has an almost blindingly white interior, there is a fabulous array of filter coffees and drinks for all. It also quite handily sits next door to Doughnotts, for those craving a sugar rush!

With that, there is more than enough to begin a coffee venture through the city. Hopefully this intensive coffeeshop guide has inspired you in some manner, for whatever your caffeine-deprived heart may desire.

Jacob Edwards

FLYING IN 2023

Holly discusses how life has changed since the pandemicspecifically with air-travel returning to 75% of pre-pandemic levels - and evaluates whether there are eco-friendly alternatives to flying.

During the pandemic, runways were virtually off-limits. Long stretches of tarmac and vast airports normally bustling with planes and excited passengers were silent. This lasted for almost two years. Since life returned to near-normality, the number of aeroplanes in our skies has increased to around 75% of pre-pandemic levels (as of November 2022), which is no doubt going to rise into 2023. However, is this a blessing or a curse?

For some, planes are a luxury; they cruise through the air and land on the other side of the world in a matter of hours, helping enthusiastic travellers to explore new countries and check dream destinations off a checklist. For others, planes are a necessity used to commute for work. Does there come a point, though, where we have to question the true impact of our choice of travel? As a student who is preparing for my year abroad, I will have to consider this myself.

We are all aware that flying produces Carbon dioxide (CO2). However, do we truly acknowledge the sheer levels of CO2 produced, and how

damaging it is to our environment?

According to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), global CO2 emissions from commercial air travel were 707 million tonnes in 2013; this rose to 902 million tonnes by 2019. This is without even taking into account non-commercial aviation, such as freight travel. There are also other harmful substances released, including sulphates and nitrous gases.

Of course, air travel has its benefits, such as creating thousands of jobs, which were desperately needed post pandemic. Aeroplanes can take you to places further than other modes of transport can and can get you there faster. They have the ability to connect friends and families over thousands of miles of distance. With this in mind, do more eco-friendly options come close to aeroplanes?

Coaches, sleeper trains and interrailing are all alternative methods of travel which are increasing in popularity. Europe is particularly wellknown for being a continent easily travelled by train, used by young and old travellers alike to discover the continent without a massive environmental burden. Land-based travel options may take longer, yet they give the passenger the chance to see a country in detail, are cheaper, and have far less of an impact on global warming. Biofuels are also being considered more for aeroplane fuel however whilst on the surface this may seem satisfactory, it can be costly both financially and environmentally.

Surely we can compromise somewhere? The answer, unfortunately, is not that simple. As mentioned, flying is a necessity for some: could we perhaps think about how to modify it instead? For example, Dan Rutherford, shipping and aviation director of the ICCT, suggests we reduce plane luggage, as this severely impacts the amount of fuel needed. That, along with combining alternative methods of transport where possible - such as rail travel - will help us all personally reduce our own carbon footprint. Searching for these alternative routes could not only save money, but also save the planet.

So, the next time you’re planning a journey to somewhere new, consider the alternatives. Even if you do end up choosing plane travel, searching for ways to save carbon emissions in other parts of your life is a step towards improving our environment. There are reams of content online aimed at helping people make environmentally friendly changes and I would strongly suggest investigating what you can do to help.

Holly Philpott

“Land-based travel options may take longer, yet they give the passenger the chance to see a country in detail, are cheaper, and have far less of an impact on global warming.”

LEICESTER BASED BAND

EASY LIFE

ON DREAM FEATURES, TOUR LIFE AND THE EVOLUTION OF THEIR SOUND

Shortly after the beginning of their biggest tour yet, Jake spoke to Murray Matravers of the Leicester-based band easy life.

On a slightly overcast February afternoon I rang Murray to find him sitting in Nando’s with the rest of the band grabbing some food ahead of playing that evening. They’d played in Bristol the night before, and were playing in Newcastle on the day of the call. We exchanged pleasantries, and then got into conversation about the band’s new album ‘Maybe In Another Life’. Their sophomore album is more mature, jazzier, and introspective than their conceptual debut album ‘life’s a beach’. The jazzy sound of the album was apparently largely situational, certainly according to Murray “it wasn’t at all a conscious decision”, but rather something that evolved naturally with the band listening to lots of jazz over lockdown and incorporating more of that sound into their writing, making for a very soulful sound across the entire play time. The playlist also included The Bee Gees, and apparently there has been a little bit of chord stealing from them!

Murray seems committed to the band changing its sound over time whilst staying recognisable as easy life. He impresses with a keen interest in differentiating the band’s sound from what else is out there. The idea is to have a unique musicality, in order to keep the ball rolling and stop them stagnating. To quote: “I don’t know what the next album’s gonna sound like either, who knows”.

My true musical love is metal, so naturally I had to slip a cheeky ask as to whether he might consider a little metal on the playlist whilst they write the next album, and to his credit he didn’t completely rule it out - “Well who knows, stranger things have happened!”.

Speaking briefly about the non-musical inspiration, Murray discussed ‘70s album and band visual styles, and how much he loves older methods of recording. Using old microphones and tape recorders was on his mind, this

led to the band working on different songs in different ways. The album also had some great features as part of the release, with my personal favourite song DEAR MISS HOLLOWAY featuring Kevin Abstract, and Benee taking a spot on a later song. Gus Anderson is the third and final featuring artist, joining Murray and co on track 14 ANTIFREEZE. Having talked a little about features, I asked Murray what his dream feature spot would be, and pretty quickly he came back with the legendary Stevie Wonder, saying that a guest spot on a Stevie Wonder song would be “a dream, if only just to see him playing piano in person”.

We also discussed the tour, the band played in Bristol the night before our interview in an intimate show supporting the charity War Child UK at the Trinity Centre. They took over the main room of the venue, for a 600-person capacity event that apparently had the whole room bouncing! For the rest of the tour, easy life hit up much larger venues, from the 2,200 capacity O2 City Hall in Newcastle to arenas in the vein of 10,000 capacity, such as London’s magnificent Alexandra Palace and Nottingham’s very own Motorpoint Arena. With multiple sell outs before the tour had even begun, the band is clearly on a run of form that is well displayed by their popularity!

to help make the dressing room a lit tle more comfortable. Plenty of bands have made the rider into a joke, or into a test to see if the security or staging will be done properly, but easy life made their rider into a bit of a Bargain Booze equivalent! The O2 City Hall in Newcastle was apparently the first ever venue to get it completely right, and when a group has asked for a nice rum, a nice tequila, some whiskey and gin, red wine, four different types of beer, premium tonic water, chambord, champagne, and loads of food, you can see why! But when you’re bringing the kind of money that easy life will bring to a venue, I can imagine the payoff is more than worth it. I can only wonder how much of their impressive collection the band got through before going on stage. I’d be surprised if the tour bus doesn’t become some sort of bar, or even a club! Speaking of the tour bus, I asked Murray if there were any bands he had his ear on that he thought were really worth listening to, and his answer was the band sharing their tour bus! Sad Night Dynamite were the support for the tour, and Murray seems to absolutely love them, so if you want to get the lowdown on his listening list then start there!

Their local status is also helpful for their Motorpoint show, as the Leicester-based group have rapidly become one of the most popular new artists in the Midlands. I asked how excited he was to get back to Nottingham, for what was essentially this tour’s hometown show, and he couldn’t have been much more up for it! Having seen the Arctic Monkeys on their AM tour at the same venue, he seemed slightly lost for words as to how much he was looking forward to it. The band’s first gig had been at the Bodega, and they’ve also played at Rescue Rooms and Rock City, so their history with Nottingham runs deep - it’s almost their home away from home now. Having worked their way up to the Motorpoint, it is a true testament to the love they have fostered in the Midlands, and it shouldn’t be ignored - they are a well-loved band for very good reason.

Part of the conversation devolved to the rider, which for those who don’t know is what a band sends to a venue

Winding down the conversation, I had some more chill questions lined up for Murray. I asked who would be in his dream supergroup, out of anybody alive or dead. Right out of the gates he jumped in with Stevie Wonder again, slotting nicely onto keys, and immediately afterwards he put Bob Marley on lead vocals. Taking a moment to think, he then went the complete opposite direction and put the original Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison behind the kit of what had been quite a chill band! Rounding out the band is Joe Satriani on guitar, and then easy life filled inMurray on trumpet, Oliver Cassidy on percussion, Sam Hewitt on sax, Lewis Berry on backing guitar and Jordan Birtles on synths and backing vocals. I can imagine this would be one hell of a group!

I then decided to go for quite an open-ended duo of questions to finish the interview, starting with “if you could change one thing, what would it be?”. At first confused, Murray realised I was being slightly moronic and leaving it open to literally anything, at which point he said that he would change the spread of wealth through the world and even it out. This is inarguably a very noble and selfless idea, and would no doubt go some distance to radically reorganise society. The final question, I asked Murray to give a piece of advice for Impact readers, and the humble frontman asks only for everyone to “read more books, and be kind”.

Jake Longhurst

“Having worked their way up to the Motorpoint, it is a true testament to the love they have fostered in the Midlands”

THREE WAR FILMS - THREE

DIRECTORS

-

GERMAN, AMERICAN, BRITISH

Christy analyses the new All Quiet on the Western Front directed by German Edward Berger, The Great Escape directed by American John Sturges and finally 1917 directed by British Sam Mendes. Each film offers a different retrospective presentation of war and approach to its film genre.

Welcome to the war film. It can be graphic, patriotic, self-critical, heroic and even sometimes farcical. The war films explored here will all certainly offer more sober presentations of war but are not without their differences. This owes to the diversity and scope in recreating stories of the battlefield, making for an enticing viewing experience.

All Quiet on the Western Front

The new 2022 film is based on Remarque’s 1928 novel of the same title. It begins with Paul, who enrols in the German WWI effort despite being too young, revelling in the celebratory atmosphere and a supposed imminent surge on Paris. However within days, the soldiers are exposed to the cruel realities of war. The film follows the abysmal, hopeless final year of conflict. It catches the eye with its cinematic grandeur, as it juxtaposes the serenity of the French landscape against the cataclysm of WWI.

death. The latter brings us to the reality Berger puts at the forefront of our minds: the only thing worse than dying in war, is living through it. For what becomes of a soldier after war? In the eyes of the desensitised and harsh commanders comes the answer. War never leaves the soldier: it becomes him, both mentally and physically altering its victims for the rest of their lives.

The film gives death a new significance: not as something to fear but something to long for, a level of peace admirable to any on the battlefield. Berger presents numerous suicidal actions: from the soldier escaping into the war-ravaged atmosphere, to brutal suicide despite surviving through war. Death is inevitable, it’s the relentless suffering beforehand that the soldier fears. This is a reality reflected in the novel’s early title of ‘Nothing New in the West’. The same old, day after day. This is the true horror of war.

The Great Escape

Now, let’s backtrack to 1963 and an adventure war film. The plot is fictionalised yet based on a true event of WWII. It follows a group of well-known escapees in a German high-security prison, and their efforts to get out. Seventy six men escape via an underground tunnel, with the film following their attempt to flee the heavily patrolled German and French locale. It ends with the murder of fifty men, and the recapturing of much of the other twenty-six.

Sturges’ view of war is brutal and oppressive, yet not as much as you might expect. Upon arriving at the prison, the prisoners are given a level of trust: to garden, read, converge together - this is in contrast to the horrors of war camps portrayed elsewhere. These men are not tortured, dominated or crippled by conflict. They are confined yet given a certain level of freedom.

Director Edward Berger has possibly demonstrated as much of an anti-war perspective as it’s possible to. It’s a film of contrasts: the agonising soldier and the abundant general, the imagined few weeks of conflict and the relentless eighteen months of worthless battle, flourishing nature and the barren, arid battlefield, life and

Alongside presenting the battlefield, Berger also criticises the out-of-touch, overly wealthy governments. They are disgusted at out-of-date croissants rather than their responsibility in the loss of so many lives. They render young men numb, emotionless killing machines, spurred on by a tainted patriotic unity that discriminates against no circumstances, most poignantly shown in the film’s last moments. In all its emotion and sadness, All Quiet leaves its audience with the inequality between the soldier and government. Why should the soldier be patriotic when their true battle is against those in charge?

Berger’s presentation of battle from the German perspective is the epitome of the anti-war film, offering war’s most harsh reality: nobody wins.

Doubtless, The Great Escape does cater towards a sensationalised view of war at the expense of accuracy: the fighter plane, the tunnel builder with claustrophobia, the immense motorbike chase and the German soldiers who speak such good English. At the forefront of Sturges’ mind is entertaining the audience.

Yet the ruthless murder of fifty men gives a glimpse into the brutality of war, therefore deeming The Great Escape far from being a pro-war film. If you can get past the dramatic music and Hollywood names typical of American cinema, Sturges presents a glimpse into the atrocities all too common in WWII.

1917

The film is set during WWI and yet seems a world away from the two other films. The plot initially follows Will and Tom. They’re given a task which could save the lives of sixteen-hundred men, including Tom’s brother, if

“War never leaves the soldier: it becomes him, both mentally and physically altering its victims for the rest of their lives”

“Why should the soldier be patriotic when their true battle is against those in charge?”

executed in time. After the death of Tom, Will journeys alone through all manner of lands: the blitzed fire-scolded buildings, the lonely country fields, and eventually the crowded trenches.

Not dissimilar to The Great Escape, Mendes’ presentation of war indulges in the conventions of cinema rather than reality. Will is an indestructible, invincible protagonist. The number of near-death experiences he avoids can be difficult to believe. He is given a mission fuelled by emotion and elevated above everyone else from the beginning. Compared to All Quiet, Mendes’ work is less realistic and, whilst based on truth, he undoubtedly has his audience and the cinematic experience in mind when making these directorial decisions.

One of the war’s key traits to Mendes and the British perspective present-

ed is its uselessness. The film shows meaningless honorary medals along with needlessly massacred cows and felled blossom trees. War is an animal destined to destroy every living thing in its path and awards patriotic thing in its path and awards patriotic killing machines with medals that are no more than scraps of tin and ribbon.

If anything, these three films demonstrate a diverse genre while all sharing an unbridled optimism destined to be broken. This is attributed to the out of touch, patriotic government waging war whilst blind to its true reality. Each film has a different tone and level of seriousness to its message. The war film can be entertainment while also a serious anti-war critical force. Nevertheless, common in these films, is an unnecessary and tragic loss of life for seemingly such little gain.

Christy Clark

“Compared to All Quiet, Mendes’ work is less realistic and, whilst based on truth, he undoubtedly has his audience and the cinematic experience in mind when making these directorial decisions.”

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE’S CLOSURE

Nottingham Castle became a hotspot for tourists, locals and university students. The castle’s £33 million renovation sought to achieve a premiere tourist attraction displaying Nottingham’s history and heritage. However, on the 20th November 2022, only 18 months after the regeneration, the castle closed its doors to the public and staff after Nottingham Castle Trust went into liquidation. Omay explores the consequences of the castle’s closure and the approach to its prior revamp.

The renovation began in 2018 and reopened on the 21st June 2021. Multiple parts of the castle were changed or added. The revamp included landscaping referring to its historical layout, adding a mediaeval bridge and maintained grass borders. The trust also added the ‘Hood Hideout’ playground - a playground for children and adults themed around Robin Hood’s Sherwood forest hideout. The castle maximised its views of the city with a new terrace café, firepit and story-telling chair.

The Ducal Palace was repainted and featured a new climate change system to maintain the condition of delicate items on display. There were also new interactive displays allowing children to digitally carve their own sculptures and other educational games.

With the closure of any institution there is an accompanying loss of employment. This closure resulted in 47 redundancies. According to the trust they were “simply not able to evolve quickly enough to survive the ongoing crisis as it entered its quietest trading period of the year”. The museum’s journal stated staff were given no advance notice of the closure; they showed up to work only to be told in a meeting they were losing their jobs with immediate effect and had no time to secure alternative work. The museum’s journal has also released information that 15 workers on zero-hour contracts have not been paid for work since 15th October 2022. According to one worker, this has left many unable to pay rent and they have been forced to take out emergency loans.

Furthermore, those who ran the market stalls have been left unemployed. Gabrielle Bone from Resin by Gabrielle sold handmade jewellery, accessories, and ornaments since the first lockdown in 2020, but her market stall too was affected by the last-minute closing of the castle.

The castle’s renovation saw new modern infrastructure installed while maintaining its traditional features. Visitors like Simran Kaur, who visited the castle in August 2022 appreciated the castle’s remaining traditional elements because that’s how “it’s meant to be”. This visitor enthusiastically reminisced about the castle being full of Nottingham’s rich history and heritage - and that applied especially to the displays.

The revamp also saw a new visitor centre at the entrance of the grounds and a Robin Hood experience under the palace in place of the old staff car park. The experience recalled the old Tales of Robin Hood experience on Maid Marian Way which closed in 2009. This, like the castle’s new interactive experience, provided the city centre an attraction explicitly focused on the city’s most famous icon.

Although so much improved during the revamp, the pricing strategy became an issue, many felt the entry price to be unwarranted along with the additional costs for cave tours. The discount for locals was also a very lacklustre £1. Darren Sims told the BBC, “If they charged a fair price and gave certain people fairer discounts then people would come”. As such, the forced closure is almost not surprising, given difficult times post-COVID and the cost of living crisis.

The closure of Nottingham Castle in November is a significant loss for the city’s tourism and local culture. Although, the castle has now been returned to Nottingham City Council who will oversee its future. Hopefully they will take all the criticism into account and lower the ticket prices – especially in this economy.

Omay Chaudhry

“staff were given no advance notice of the closure; they showed up to work only to be told in a meeting they were losing their jobs with immediate effect”

“Many felt the entry price to be unwarranted along with the additional costs for cave tours.”

NOTTINGHAM’S CULTURAL LEGACY: Dh Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover

With the recent release of Netflix’s adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover and a renewed interest in the public consciousness for this story, it is the perfect time to re-examine the impact that the original novel had on the literary world and how author D. H. Lawrence continues to be an integral part of Nottingham’s cultural legacy.

For a modern audience, Lady Chatterley’s Lover may seem like another commonplace erotic drama currently popular. However, upon its original release in 1929, D. H. Lawrence’s seminal work became the subject of scandal and censorship. The novel’s sexuality and adultery themes were not accepted subjects among a wide readership, and the book’s unedited original remained unpublished in many countries until the 1960s.

It is possibly most infamous for graphic descriptions of its central characters’ sex, the titular Lady Chatterley and her lover Oliver Mellors. These descriptions may read tamer than the erotism of Fifty Shades of Grey or Eyes Wide Shut, but Lawrence created their blueprint and a cultural touchstone for challenging social norms.

Arguably the censorship of Lady Chatterley’s Lover only added to its prominence. Would this story be as well known and critically acclaimed today if it were written in the vein of regency style, Austin-like forbidden romances? The authenticity of the characters’ sexual desires added a new layer to the love story that had not been present in popular British literature until that point. The novel’s dedication to modernism as its narrative device grants the reader a genuine insight into all facets of its characters.

Author D. H. Lawrence was not only a literary legend but arguably one of the most famous and influential Nottingham natives ever born. Described by E. M. Forster as “the greatest imaginative novelist of our generation”, Lawrence’s artistic contributions to the novel should not be understated. As an alumni of the University of Nottingham, he is perhaps one of the most notable students to ever attend the then University College Nottingham.

It is evident in Lawrence’s work that Nottingham held great meaning to him. Not only in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, but many of his works use Nottingham as their central location. Apart from Robin Hood and his Merry Men, Lawrence’s literary works may have produced the most identifiable characters to inhabit Nottingham. Residents of Nottinghamshire can be proud of the deep cultural legacy his stories have created for the streets and countryside of the county.

Perhaps it’s time for D. H. Lawrence and his Nottingham-based work to be celebrated more by the city and university. His novels’ global appeal and attention have cemented the literary history of the city and the county; thus it would be appreciated for this legacy to be showcased more. Whether this new Netflix adaptation fulfils the novel’s heights is for the viewer to judge. Though it is the case, the attention this adaptation will bring to the original novel and Lawrence will garner new and old interest in Nottingham and its literary legacy.

Matthew Fogarty

“Arguably one of the most famous and influential Nottingham natives ever born”

“Would this story be as well known and critically acclaimed today if it were written in the vein of regency style, Austin-like forbidden romances?”

APPRECIATING PHYSICAL MEDIA

Digital media is becoming evermore ubiquitous. Will Stead explores digital games as the future, passionately defending his “preservationist” tendencies of collecting physical versions.

On my 13th birthday, my parents got me the collector’s edition of Assassin’s Creed 3. It came with a whole range of fantastic gizmos and clutter. I loved it. I then played the game, and it was a honking, buggy mess. I share no love for the game. However, I have held dear the trinkets that came with the present. It’s difficult to explain my love for physical media - I have all my old Nintendo and PlayStation games still in their original boxes standing next to their respective consoles on a shelf. My friend Ross calls me a hoarder, but I see myself more as a preservationist. And now in 2023 I, along with many other ‘preservationists’, have become vindicated in the abysmal landscape of digital ownership. It has been reported that 94.2% of video games are bought digitally, and while that may be a blessing for our bruised and battered planet, it has never been clearer that consumer rights are at risk. It has been seen within the streaming industry; Netflix is removing even their own original content and licensing lawsuits leave media in limbo. It may be the paranoid hoarder (sorry, preservationist) within me that fears one day the gaming industry may follow suit.

For those who share this fear, physical media comes to the rescue. While backwards compatibility exists on both Microsoft and Sony’s flagship consoles, if those titles are owned digitally there is nothing, technically, stopping both companies from removing the games from your account. This, to me, is where the superiority of physical media lies. Only the most avid of cat burglars can stop me playing Fallout: New Vegas. Sorry Billy Gates but the game ismine, sod off. One only needs to look back to 2013 and the release of Activision’s Deadpool game. 6 months

after it hit the shelves, Activision lost the licensing for Marvel characters resulting in the game being pulled from all digital stores. A couple of years later this was rectified, and the game is easily attainable today - but it does go to show the fragility of digital media.

But enough of all this “the end is nigh” talk. What does this actually mean for the future of consoles and gaming alike? The case for digital-only consoles being the future is strong, and is definitely apparent based on the raw statistics mentioned previously, but I don’t think it accounts for the crossover between the gaming industry and the streaming industry. As the streaming industry becomes more and more diluted by competing businesses, and streaming services start losing their licences, more and more people will return to buying blu-rays. I say this as if it’s speculative. It’s not. It’s already happening. 4K blu-rays had their best-selling year in 2022, something I believe is directly attributed to the capabilities of the disc drives found in the Series X and PS5. People may be turning to all digital libraries for their gaming, but modern consoles are serving as entertainment systems used by the entire family.

Mind you, Steam on PC has thrived for years, and doesn’t seem to be stopping - maybe I’m wrong. You’d struggle today to find a PC with a disc drive, so this could just be the way that consoles will go: all digital. But I hold out hope. Game discs stand as not just a form of media, but as a collectible, and what are gamers if not big nerds who love collecting pointless stuff in digital worlds?

Will Stead

“My friend Ross calls me a hoarder, but I see myself more as a preservationist”

“what are gamers if not big nerds who love collecting pointless stuff in digital worlds?”

CRITICS’ RECOMMENDATIONS

The Tokenhouse

I was seeking sanctuary away from the sardine crowds, and the monotony of the high-street stores of Nottingham’s City Centre, when I first stumbled upon The Tokenhouse, an independent, family-run gift shop on St Peter’s Gate, tucked just a few streets away from Old Market Square. It didn’t take much convincing for me to venture inside - there were Jellycats in the window!

The Tokenhouse was a breath of fresh air away from the hustle and bustle not only of the city, but of student life. Its warm atmosphere took an instant weight off my shoulders. For me, a trip to the centre is now incomplete without stopping by. And I never leave empty-handed.

With anything from funky socks, to cottagecore-esque crockery, to delicate jewellery, you will find the perfect gift at a reasonable price for any occasion, whether for yourself or another, within a ten-minute sweep of the shop. And of course, there’s not much like the dopamine high that comes with choosing your favourite Jellycat and taking one - if not several - home with you, and their collection does not disappoint.

If you’re a lover of the cute and quirky, The Tokenhouse isn’t one to miss. The

Tokenhouse is located on 4-6 Saint Peter’s Gate

Eva Hughes-Sutton

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

Watching attractive, well-dressed people whispering venomous rumours about one another isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Yet the unattainable and wealthy characters of Gossip Girl are enchanting.

The show takes place in the ‘most famous city in the world’: New York City. Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen, the main stars of the story, are opposite in appearance and personality. Blair’s ‘Queen Bee’ status, dark hair, and Audrey Hepburn-inspired outfits, are a stark contrast to the messy, fun, and golden-blonde Serena.

However, they are both disgustingly rich, and embroiled in exposed scandals that rattle NYC’s elites - someone is posting all about their secrets on a gossip page. An anonymous someone.

The show has a light-hearted mystery as we wonder who gossip girl is. The pace is mixed, at times very fast and elsewhere more slow-going. It embraces themes such as love, friendship, loyalty, and includes enemies with impeccable fashion-sense.

Characters frequent designer boutiques, walking out with items worth more than our student loans. For students who are living in places such as Lenton, the Manhattan-deluxe skyscrapers can act as a form of escapism. There is such privilege on display but still It’s difficult to resist watching such a riveting show. Gossip Girl is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer

Bethan Beddow

Before the Coffee Gets Cold (2015)

As a novel of warmth, reflectiveness, and comfort, Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is impossible not to love.

This book presents a coffee shop in which people can time travel. However, as in all time travel fiction, there are

“you will find the perfect gift at a reasonable price for any occasion”

er, as in all time travel fiction, there are rules, the most crucial one being that the traveller must return to the present before their coffee goes cold. There are four parts to this novel, each providing the narrative of different people. Each character wishes to go to an emotional moment in their past, including Kei, who wishes to speak to her unborn child, and Kohtake, who longs to find a letter from her husband with Alzheimer’s disease.

This is a wonderfully emotional read which I feel would be well-suited to lovers of Sweet Bean Paste by Tetsuya Akikawa. It’s the perfect book to cosy up with on a cold day (of course with a cup of coffee), and get completely lost in, making it ideal for students in need of distraction. The short length and simplistic yet stunning writing style also means that one may devour this charming novel in a day, when you long to escape from a world of intense studying. Before the Coffee Gets Cold is available at all good bookstores

Hayley Lawson

Brazil (1985)

Directed by Terry Gilliam, Brazil can be a strange film and has a story that veers away from reality more than once, but this is not reason to be discouraged. Michael Kaman’s excellent score is paired with colourful characters, an element of absurdity and a sinister depiction of a hectic and grasping autocracy.

George Orwell and 1984’s influence is certainly clear, but Brazil is grounded much more in satire than dire warning or prophecy. It depicts a government more chaotic than it is domineering. The state that exists “somewhere in the 20th century” may be a monolith, but it is one of impenetrable incompetence, not cold and efficient totalitarianism. In the world of Brazil people do not disappear due to acts of heroic resistance but simple administrative error.

This is a society sustained by indifference, denial and an endless trail of receipts and paperwork. It is fragmented, obsessed with superficial beauty and desensitised to terror. I found Brazil enthralling. It is stylistically distinct, brilliantly acted and genuinely disturbing. It is a classic of British cinema, and it cannot be recommend highly enough. If you like the surreal and dark, this is certainly a film to watch. Brazil is available to stream now on Disney Plus and Amazon Prime.

Daniel Evans

The Secret History (1992)

The Secret History explores the lives of a group of college students who have been corrupted by the indulgent ideals of ancient Greeks and Romans. This book

is bound by hedonism, deceit, manipulation and murder.

Author Donna Tartt examines the human condition set in an academic environment pervaded by guilt and morality. The story focuses on six students attending the fictional, highly prestigious Hampden College, a liberal arts college in Vermont. The six characters are all drawn together by their all-consuming love for Classics.

Tartt draws your focus as a reader with the mysticism of elite education, academia and pseudo-intellectualism. Tartt is able to maintain a constant air of tension and suspense in the atmospheric, secluded Vermont landscape. The group stray away from the moral codes of modern society, isolating themselves from any form of modernity and favouring classical antiquity instead.

This book is unavoidable on social media due to its long-lasting presence and popularity with book influencers so if you haven’t picked up a copy of this, what are you doing? This is some of the best writing from a contemporary author and has influenced the entire Dark Academia genre of art, media and writing. The Secret History is available at all good bookstores.

Natalie Howarth

Prince - Purple Rain (1984)

The arrival of ‘Purple Rain’ in 1984 firmly cemented Prince’s place as one of the greatest artists of all time. Critics say the primary way to identify greatness is through observing how well music ages. ‘Purple Rain’ is an undisputed classic that has proven the test of time.

In the 1980s, an album so raw and provocative had simply never been seen before. The sublime blend of pop, rock and funk distinguished it from all other albums at the time.

Prince delivers several iconic moments throughout. The masterpiece starts off at a hundred miles per hour with Let’s Go Crazy - a tune calling on people to drop whatever they are doing and just enjoy themselves. Prince also embraces vulnerability in tracks like The Beautiful Ones, expressing his difficulty in finding true love with the most attractive people.

While music is subjective, it would not be an outlandish statement to say that the best song on the album is Purple Rain itself. The 8-minute ballad serves as a fitting end to a concise body of work, tackling themes of love and the afterlife.

The influence of this album on modern day artists gives everyone a reason to revisit and recognise its genius.

Ayman Ahmer

“The 8-minute ballad serves as a fitting end to a concise body of work”

“A classic of British cinema, and it cannot be recommended highly enough”

SPORT

Varsity 2023: The Big Preview

A long-term staple in the calendars of Nottingham student sporting fanatics, Varsity brings together the very best team and individual sporting talents that the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University have to offer in an epic series of fiery clashes. Rhys reviews the UoN teams looking to make it a perfect ten consecutive series wins.

Two universities. 25 sports. One trophy. Notts Varsity is back for 2023. Almost all of the action is taking place this March, with five days of non-stop Varsity drama at the end of the month. From the court to the pool, the pitch to the table, we have the definitive guide to all the events.

Sunday 26th March

Varsity Week kicks off at home with an American football game beginning at 1pm at David Ross. The immensely talented squad will be looking to recreate last year’s epic win which saw them defeat Trent 2421. Beginning at the same time is the women’s rugby union fixture at Nottingham Outlaws. UoN battered Trent 62-5 in 2022! Jessie, club president, can’t wait for the clash, telling Impact: “Varsity is always a great way to showcase everything we’ve been working for”. The bat signal is up for green and gold supporters: “get yourself down to Nottingham Outlaws to watch some good rugby and support women’s sport in general!” There is no men’s rugby union fixture again this year but the men’s rugby league side are in action, concluding Sunday’s schedule at Nottingham Outlaws at 6pm. Unfortunately there is no women’s rugby league game.

Even though UoN are riding the wave of nine straight Varsity series wins, there’s no less weight on this Nottingham rivalry. It’s still UoN versus Trent, green versus pink, and that is plenty of motivation for both sides. That was evident in the one Varsity fixture to have already taken place. In a titanic clash, UoN’s ice hockey team dramatically beat Trent 2-1 in the final seconds of a relentless game.

The rest of the UoN contingent will be looking to follow suit this month. We reached out to every green and gold team who’ll seek Varsity glory this month, from those competing in established fixtures to debuting sports. Here’s our guide…

Monday 27th March

On Varsity Monday, futsal have all the limelight at David Ross with the fixture kicking off at 6pm. Both sides will be challenged to reproduce the immense drama of the 2022 game, where UoN came back from the dead to rescue a 5-5 scoreline, before clinching an incredible win on penalties as DRSV erupted. Having lost twice against NTU in the league already this year, it’ll be no easy task. President Andy Allen says “Varsity is a great way to bring publicity to the sport, and a bit of healthy competition against Trent never fails to disappoint.”

“UoN versus Trent, green versus pink, and that is plenty of motivation for both sides.”

Tuesday 28th March

Tuesday is the lacrosse show! The men’s team face-off first at 5.30pm at our rival’s Clifton Campus, seeking to avenge last year’s 10-7 defeat. Immediately after, at 7.30pm, UoN’s premier women’s lacrosse team will seek to get one over NTU, as they have done twice already this season. The team told us they “can’t wait to leave it all out on the pitch and bring the win home for the green and gold” - here’s hoping they do!

Wednesday 29th March

If these initial fixtures have whetted your appetite, Wednesday is where things get seriously exciting, with a whopping fifteen sports vying for points.

Both hockey teams are in action, looking to replicate their double success in the UoN Sport Headliner event in November. The men’s team push back at 1pm at Beeston Hockey Centre, hoping for a repeat of 2022’s 4-1 victory. First team player Isaac Farrant explained the significance of the fixture: “Having missed Varsity in my first year due to COVID [the series wasn’t held in 2020 or 2021], having the opportunity to play last year was special. The whole club really comes together and gets behind you.” The ladies’ team get their chance at revenge for last year’s 1-0 loss immediately after at the same venue, beginning at 3pm. Also on Wednesday is netball and UoN returning to Clifton Campus. The match starts at 7.30pm, and the green and gold will be looking to put things right after a disappointing 52-28 defeat last year.

For UoN sports fans, Super Wednesday is everything you could wish for. With thirteen sports of all kinds spread across just two venues, Super Wednesday promises to be a Varsity festival and - perhaps most importantly - there are plenty of points on offer.

Trent’s Clifton Campus will host dodgeball, tennis, volleyball, and Gaelic football, with cycling and golf also to be ‘home’ events for NTU. UoN volleyball’s president and vice president are looking forward to the game: “Not only does Varsity give us a chance to prove that Green truly is superior to Pink, it also allows our final year students to go out with a bang! You see, typically we put those graduating on our Varsity squad. These players range from our 1s to our 4s, meaning the whole club gets involved.”

The clashes continue at David Ross, which will entertain swimming, badminton, squash, table tennis, water polo, korfball, and canoe polo! Having just learned about canoe polo via YouTube compilations, I can say that it’ll certainly be worth getting tickets for, given the immense skill and aggression displayed in what is essentially water polo on kayaks (not canoes). Ahead of Super Wednesday, UoN Korfball president Steph Arnull told Impact that the club are “super excited to get involved with Varsity this year for the very first time”, adding that the sport is described as “a mix between basketball and netball.”

Thursday 30th March

With just two sports and three fixtures left, this could be where Varsity is won or lost for UoN (or hopefully where they try to secure a historic flawless series).

Whichever way it pans out, there is some big-hitting sporting action.

Men’s basketball is the first fixture of the day, a 5.30pm tip-off. Trent secured a 103-81 victory in 2022, so there is added motivation of revenge for the green and gold. The women’s team play straight after this, also at David Ross and at 7.30pm.

“Men’s football will provide a fitting curtain close to Notts Varsity 2023, having been one of the original fixtures in the first unofficial iterations of Varsity”

Finally, men’s football will provide a fitting curtain close to Notts Varsity 2023, having been one of the original fixtures in the first unofficial iterations of Varsity. UoN fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Basford United last year, so will be looking to reverse the result this time out when they kick off at the same venue under the lights at 7pm. UoN must go into the game favourites, having finished a couple of places above NTU in the BUCS league table.

Unfortunately, UoN women’s football informed us that Trent have cancelled their varsity fixture. However, UONWFC remain intent on playing in an unofficial charity Varsity featuring the whole of both clubs. Follow their socials for more information!

Varsity is a highlight of the university experience for players and fans alike, so make sure to get down to the pitches, courts, and pools to support the mighty green and gold!

Visit nottsvarsity.co.uk for any changes in dates and times, as well as to purchase tickets.

Rhys Thomas

Impact Attempts: Lacrosse

Having already been battered on the American Football pitch, as well as thrown up on the netball court, our writers are back for more in the wild world of Impact attempts. In the third instalment of this series of sporting excellence, Toby Reynolds takes a trip to men’s lacrosse training. Let’s see how he fared.

In my two and a half years at Nottingham, I have taken full advantage of IMS, playing in a multitude of football, squash, and hockey teams. I’ve loved every second. However, my Green and Gold career has never taken off, having been rejected from UoN hockey, squash, and cricket (three times) after failing to impress at trials!

I’ve watched my fair share of UoN matches whilst reporting for URN,

and my first experience watching Notts was the 2021 Men’s Varsity Lacrosse match in a tight victory over Trent. My only previous experience with the sport was a few YouTube videos, Season One of Teen Wolf and Wild Child. I thoroughly enjoyed the event and loved the balance between the skill needed to beat your opposite number and the brute power of some hits.

When Varsity came round the following year, I made sure to volunteer immediately to cover lacrosse again, after enjoying it so much the year before. After doing some research and discussing it with my friend Bella (captain of the Ladies’ 2s), I started to improve my understanding of the technicalities and tactics and appreciated the sport even more.

When the opportunity arose to write this article, I knew it would be a great opportunity to try the sport which had fascinated me. I sent a message to the men’s club Instagram and headed down to their 2nd and 3rd team training at Jubilee. As soon as I turned up, they were extremely friendly and kitted me up with a helmet, gloves and stick.

They started me off with some passing. Unfortunately, the first few attempts trickled out of the stick’s net and bobbled feebly towards my target but after a few pointers, I eventually started to get the hang of it. Catching came a little more naturally, but only after I completely missed my first three efforts. Then I moved on to what was meant to be shooting, but I made it look like throwing the ball as high over the goal as possible… I am definitely not a striker!

The session then progressed into some three-on-twos. This was a great way to put some of my passing and catching “skills” into practice and learn how to defend. After a few wayward shots early on, I managed to score a couple of goals, but I especially enjoyed defending. There are two ways to defend in lacrosse: the first is to hit your opponent’s stick and dislodge the ball, and the other is to try to push your opponent’s hips and back with your fists to put them off balance and lose control of the ball.

We then did some six-on-six, attack vs defence. I started off as the centre forward, which involved trying to take shots and create space near the goal. I definitely struggled. I then swapped to the defending team and had much more luck trying to stop people scoring than scoring myself…

All-in-all, I found my first time playing lacrosse to be fantastically enjoyable, I would thoroughly recommend everyone to give the sport a go. In the short time I was there, the whole team gave me tips and were extremely friendly. The session had just the right amount of sweat, skill, and Crisis stories from the night before. It was a jovial atmosphere which felt like a group of mates having a good time, playing a sport they loved. I wish them well for the rest of the season and I am available for selection if needed!

Toby Reynolds

“Catching came a little more naturally, but only after I completely missed my first three efforts.”

SPORTS DOCUMENTARIES RANKED

Jack highlights recent Sport documentaries, a genre becoming more and more popular with each sporting season. It is also an excellent form of procrastination to watch hard working athletes at the top of their sport…

1. Last Chance U

Providing a unique and compelling perspective on student athletics, Last Chance U gives people like you or me the opportunity to put themselves inside a successful junior college program to experience the trials and tribulations of College sports. The uncompromising and relentless coaching from Buddy Stephens and Jason Brown provide a reality check to the audience. This provides insight into just how difficult and high-pressure college sports can be. However, don’t just think this is all about the sport: the personal connection that viewers can make with the athletes is the hidden quality of this documentary and something which is so rarely achieved in the genre.

2. The Last Dance

This masterpiece came out during prime procrastination time, otherwise known as lockdown. This documentary inspired my interest in basketball, in part thanks to the mythological greatness of Michael Jordan and the sheer theatre that this documentary presents to its bingeing viewers. Honestly, since my first viewing, I think I’ve rewatched this 20 times. Greatness is indisputable, and this documentary may be just as good as the 72-10 Bulls.

3. All or Nothing

This documentary is what many football fans didn’t know they wanted until they got it. The opportunity of seeing the inner workings of football teams is something special, and All or Nothing presents exclusive footage of interviews, training, and changing room talks in a way which was unimaginable to most football fans before its release. There is nothing like watching your own team in the way All or Nothing allows you to, even if like me, you support Spurs…!

4. 30 for 30

Released in celebration of ESPN’s 30th anniversary, these short documentaries are made by famous Hollywood filmmakers about notable sports drama and events between 1979 and 2009. Expertly made, these films truly capture the dramatic beauty of sport. My personal favourite is June 17th, 1994, detailing the many significant sporting events which happened on that day, all to be overshadowed by O.J. Simpson’s infamous low-speed police chase.

5. Drive to Survive

This documentary allows audiences the ability to immerse themselves inside the cockpits, lives, and paddocks of Formula 1. There is unparalleled insight into the danger, drama, and unrelenting schedule of Formula 1. And presenting the clashing of personalities, gives viewers an edge-of-seat experience that has introduced many people to Formula 1 fandom. Whether you’re a Hamilton or Verstappen supporter, or know nothing about the sport, this is must-watch TV.

6. I Am Ali

Created to capture the life and personality of one of the most iconic and beloved athletes ever, I Am Ali presents the oft-ignored loving side of this larger-than-life idol: Muhammad Ali. The documentary discusses his life from conversion to Islam to objecting to fight in the Vietnam War. Ali the icon is separated from the sport, highlighting his story and personality in a way other sporting figure portrayals do not, whilst of course paying homage to the boxing GOAT. Furthermore, the presentation of Ali’s rise to superstardom during the struggle for Civil Rights is integral to the success and profound quality of this documentary.

Jack Perceval

Dictatorships and sport have had a close relationship for decades. From the 1936 Berlin Olympics to the 2018 Russia World Cup. The potential for sports-washing and sanitation of a country’s image has long been exploited by regimes without regard for human rights. Daniel gives his opinion on the historic and continued role of dictatorships in sport.

Dictatorship and Sport

“The daily spectacle was breath-taking in its beauty and magnificence. The stadium was a tournament of colour and caught the throat.” These words from the American novelist Thomas Wolfe sound as if they could have been said mere months ago in Qatar. But Wolfe was not describing the splendour and colour of Qatar’s World Cup venues; he was writing about the pageantry of the Nazi Olympics in 1936.

Sport undoubtedly has the power to bring people together. One thing it will never be able to do is influence the nature and motivations of autocrats. Prior to Berlin 1936, Congressmen Emanuel Seller said to regard such men as “true guardians of sports… is to invite the possibility that the Olympic games shall be befouled.” The Olympics, and sport in general, are long past being befouled and its desecration continues.

When FIFA’s thoroughly unscrupulous President Gianni Infantino pleaded for people to “not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists” ahead of the Qatar tournament, he was unintentionally echoing the words of the fascist sympathising Avery Brundage, who implored people to not get swept up in a “jew-nazi altercation” prior to the 1936 Games. Both Brundage and Infantino are ‘willing dupes’. At best, they tolerate the abuses. At worst, they may be actively complicit in them.

The 2022 World Cup and 1936 Olympics are certainly not the only controversial hosts. In 1934, Fascist Italy hosted the World Cup, during which Mussolini is alleged to have handpicked the referees. Barely a year later, this was followed by the invasion of Abyssinia. In 1978, Argentina hosted the World Cup, a tournament which came just two years after a military coup under Jorge Videla had toppled its elected government. Videla’s campaign was responsible for the disappearances of thousands, yet matches went ahead all the same.

“Infantino proudly proclaimed that the World Cup had revealed a “changed” Russia; the full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year is testament to the absurdity of this statement.”

Five years ago, Putin’s Russia hosted the World Cup, with the dictator stating how thrilled he was “that myths and prejudice” had collapsed as fans flocked to stadiums rumoured to have been partly built with North Korean slave labour. This particular tournament had been preceded by the annexation of Crimea, deaths of opposition leaders, and the attempted murder of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury. Infantino proudly proclaimed that the World Cup had revealed a “changed” Russia; the full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year is testament to the absurdity of this statement.

World Cups in 1934, 1978, and 2018 all served to sanitise, legitimise, and bolster totalitarianism. They did not foster global unity; they did not foster peace and they most certainly did not lead to any positive reform. Each tournament saw cities transformed into colossal stage sets. Sets in which regimes performed tolerance and openness. Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels called on Berliners to “be more charming than the Parisians, more easy going than the Viennese, more cosmopolitan than the Londoners, and more practical than New Yorkers.” Antisemitic publications and signs were removed as Berlin was transformed into the model global city. All the while Germany’s Jews anticipated the withdrawal of the world’s attention after the Olympics “with fear and trembling”.

Autocracies can never be trusted. Their motive is exclusively their own preservation and the oppression of anything that stands in opposition to their existence. Such regimes have always weaponised sport, and they will continue to do so. If they want to host such events it is entirely for illicit purposes and cannot trigger positive change.

This article has initially focused heavily on football. This is in part because it has consistently been the most egregiously complicit. However, this does not mean that other global sports are clean. The Formula One group, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), boxing, and MMA also have long and storied relationships with totalitarian abuses.

Numerous Formula 1 events are held in anti-democratic states. The ITF has also been consistently happy to turn a blind eye so long as they are not pushed to act. Tennis tournaments may have been suspended in China for 2022, but this was due COVID-19 restrictions and pressure resulting from the disappearance of

player Peng Shuai. Ongoing ethnic cleansing and the wider nature of China’s government has evidently not been enough to trigger a response. The alleged treatment of Shuai by the Chinese Communist Party should have come as no surprise, and the fact that tournaments had been hosted for years in China shows that the ITF had no problem lining their pockets so long as people turned a blind eye.

It is easy to sit on a moral high horse and decide which states should not be allowed to use sport to legitimise themselves. What is altogether more difficult is deciding where this line should be drawn. The United Kingdom economy depends to a significant degree on its arms industry.

Arms which are sold to Saudi Arabia and used to murder the Yemeni people. The 2012 Olympics was also given to London just two years after the Invasion of Iraq. An invasion founded on lies, the consequent war resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians and decades of regional instability. Was it right for the United Kingdom to showcase its best qualities in the wake of such a crime?

The United States will also host the World Cup along with Canada and Mexico in 2026. Its long list of crimes are well known, but suppose an autocrat like Donald Trump were to win the white house in 2024? Should that tournament be allowed to go ahead even though it would underpin a farright theocracy? There is not a sin gle country on earth that is pure and there is nothing anyone can do to change that. What we can do is take away the power these tournaments have in whitewashing totalitarianism. If the countless sycophantic dupes who promote such events - like Infantino, David Beckham, Andrea Pirlo, and Gary Neville did in Qatarare drowned out by critical reporting then sport loses its power to sanitise the image of dictatorships. Sporting bodies certainly have a responsibility to uphold basic levels of integrity, but this is unlikely to ever happen.

It is up to everyone to maintain the critical thinking that was seen in the run up to the 2022 World Cup. There is great power in people questioning the narrative peddled by sporting bodies and the dictatorships they aid and abet. Qatar spent a staggering estimated 200-220 billion dollars on its World Cup. An insane cost they never intended to recuperate. What they wanted was to project the image of a modern and open country. At least to some degree this has failed, and I cannot help but wonder if some within its government feel the money could have been better spent elsewhere.

The spectacle of the 2022 World Cup may have been breath-taking and it is tempting to believe the lie that it has brought the world closer together, but this was never its intention. Its purpose was always to benefit a small, un-elected ruling elite concerned only with their own aggrandisement.

We must stop our tacit acceptance of the sport’s intimate relationship with totalitarianism. If this is done then we are one step further towards prying it away from its clutches.

Daniel Evans

“Such regimes have always weaonised sport, and they will continue to do so”

NOTTINGHAM - ‘CYCLE CITY’?

With an impressive history on two wheels already, Nottingham City Council is aiming to transform Nottingham into a “cycle city”, supporting commuters, young people and those that cycle for sport to get on the saddle. Izzy takes readers through Nottingham’s cycling history and the measures being put in place to encourage more pedalling around the city…

Nottingham’s Cycling History

Nottingham’s cycling roots run deep within the city, being the birthplace of the most recognisable bike company in the UK; Raleigh bikes. If you’ve ever been to a cycle shop, chances are you’ve heard of them, no matter where you are in the country. Raleigh was founded in 1887 by Sir Frank Bowden, who fell in love with the sport himself after a spell of bad health. His doctor prescribed cycling to him, after warning he may not have long to live, and the search for a good quality bike amidst questionable penny farthings and outdated designs led him to find his eventual business partners. The business eventually blossomed into the mammoth Raleigh and by 1913 became the biggest manufacturer of bikes worldwide. Today, Raleigh no longer manufactures in the UK but

the bikes remain popular with signature designs like the Chopper carrying big sentimental value for many cyclists.

Speaking of signature designs, there is a very famous figure in Nottingham that’s hooked on cycling; Sir Paul Smith. In his early life Smith aspired to be a professional cyclist. Today, the sport continues to inform the fashion designer’s work, who goes by the saying ‘you can find inspiration in anything’. His namesake brand, Paul Smith, is one of the leading luxury fashion brands in the country and is still based in Nottingham. The brand notably has an entire line for cyclists, offering colourful helmets, jerseys, bidons and even bib-shorts for the sporty folk that want to ride in style.

Some students in Nottingham may remember a very notable visitor to the famed Lenton triangle in 2020. On Rothesay Avenue, a bike-related Banksy appeared on the side of a hair and beauty shop. It was very clear the infamous street artist had been influenced by Nottingham’s cycling history, as it featured a young girl using a bike wheel as a hula hoop, next to a real bike missing a wheel. This generated buzz and conversation about Nottingham’s cycling history before being removed by a collector for a hefty six-figure sum.

Cycling as a Student

With over 5,000 cycling spaces across all campuses, it is clearly a popular choice for students and staff at the university, which has also invested in a number of shower facilities and locker storage areas in order to allow cyclists to keep their items safe and to freshen up after their journeys. You can find these locations by going to the University’s website and looking at the interactive maps. There are also handy puncture repair kits in a number of buildings on campus too, so if you run into trouble on the road, patching up your trusted machine should not be too much of a challenge.

Provided by Enactus Nottingham, U-Cycle provides rentable bikes for staff members and students looking to transform their journeys. Students can hire a bike for a semester for £45, or £70 for the year. This could be a good option if you want to cycle around the city without needing to worry about lugging a bike between home and student accommodation.

However, bike theft on campus, and in Nottingham as a whole, is still very much an issue. It is recommended to use D-Locks when you’re locking up your bike, as they’re far more secure. You may even want to consider using two types of lock to make it even more challenging for thieves to steal your bike. Opt for well-lit locations near CCTV cameras and consider insuring your bike to prevent an expensive loss.

“It was very clear the infamous street artist had been influenced by Nottingham’s cycling history”

“U-Cycle provides rentable bikes for staff meMbers and students looking to transform their journeys. Students can hire a bike for a semester for £45, or £70 for the year.”

Off Campus and Into The City

In 2015, Nottingham City Council secured £6.1m dedicated to the improvement and maintenance of the cycling facilities, and recently received another financial boost for such plans. Students might be particularly familiar with the Western Corridor, going along Castle Boulevard and Abbey Street, which connects University Boulevard with the city centre. This is the first two-way segregated cycle track in the East Midlands. It comes with its own set of traffic lights, incorporating cyclists into the traffic system in a way that keeps them safe and separated from cars. Building more cycle paths is a conscious commitment to the health of the city’s people and the planet. The Eastern cycle corridor also connects the train station to employment sites like BioCity into the east. There are newly proposed corridors to the North of the city which will aim to make cycling in Nottingham more attractive to those tempted to get active.

there are hopes to reopen it soon with the right funding solutions.

While hobbyists and commuters can easily find their way around Nottingham, professional cyclists have also recently found a reason to visit the city. Last year’s Tour of Britain saw some of the sport’s best athletes go from West Bridgford to Mansfield as one of the stages. It attracted massive crowds of cycling fans: from school pupils, cycle clubs and those

Supported by the council’s Active Travel Fund, there are also four Ridewise Community Cycle Centres in the city. These offer free and private paid cycling lessons for people in Nottingham for both individuals and primary schools through the Bikeability scheme. They also offer useful cycle maintenance training sessions to keep Nottingham’s cyclists safe when out and about. Unfortunately, due to funding issues, their bike library, which allows Nottingham City residents to borrow bikes free of charge, is currently out of action, but

less familiar who were curious about the commotion.

Is Nottingham a ‘Cycle City’?

It is clear the council has the intent to shift the city’s planning focus in favour of bikes, though there is certainly some way to go to undo the car oriented planning of the 20th century. The demolition of historic streets in the city centre in the 1960s to build Maid Marian Way is an unfortunate example of the council’s past mistakes. Yet, there is good cycling heritage and history in Nottingham. The new cycle lanes in recent years are welcome additions and suggest perhaps the council’s “cycle city” may come to fruition with consistent planning.

“These offer free and private paid cycling lessons for people in Notting- ham for both individuals and primary schools”

“Last year’s Tour of Britain saw some of the sport’s best athletes go from West Bridgford to Mansfield”

Izzy Morris

“Certainly some way to go to undo the car oriented planning of the 20th century.”

meet the team

Head of ReviewsHannah Walton-Hughes

I am a second-year English with Creative Writing student, living in Lenton. I have been writing for Impact since the start of my first year, I’m interested in pursuing a career as a Political/News journalist. My favourite part of this role is meeting our writers in person and discussing their ideas at our weekly meetings! We always welcome new writers, so please get involved with the Reviews section. All opinions and interests welcome! Tuesday 4-5pm in the Impact Office, Portland Building Media Zone.

Head of Lifestyle: Izzy

Rodney

I’m a final year English undergraduate and an aspiring journalist! Being the Head of Lifestyle at Impact has really been an opportunity to meet some amazing people, create positive energy within the team and bring innovative and fresh ideas to the Lifestyle section.

Head of Images –Thomas Acratopulo

I’m responsible for organising all the photos and accompanying images that go alongside our articles both online and in our regular print editions. I became interested in photography as a kid through using my Dad’s old cameras on family holidays. Since then I haven’t known a time when I’ve not enjoyed making great images whether personal or professional.

Editor-in-Chief: Lucinda Dodd

Print Editor: Alex Watkin

Online Editor: Tylah Mofford

Deputy Online Editors: Sarina Rivlin-Sanders, Mia Walton & Ruby Cross

External Manager: India Rose Campbell

Internal Manager: Abi Cadman Kerr

Social Media Assistant: Poppy Read-Pitt

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer: Marian Sarpong

Welfare Officer: Natalie Howarth

Artistic Director: Catrin Dimond

Head of Illustrations: Zainab Shakeel

Head of Images: Thomas Acratopulo

Head of NewS: Lottie Murray

News Editor: Esme Mckenzie

Campus News Editor: Laura Scaife

Head of Investigations: Gareth Holmes

Investigations Editor: Arabella Mitchell

Head of Features: Sophie Robinson

Features Editor: Urmi Pandit

Comment Editor: Amy Evans

Head of Lifestyle: Izzy Rodney

Food Editor: Daniel Dieppe

Science Editor: Daniel Conmey

Style Editor: Anna Boyne

Travel Editor: Kit Sinclair

Head of Entertainment: Daria Paterek

Arts Editor: Amelia Brookes

Film & TV Editor: Orla Newstead

Gaming Editor: Alice Bennett

Music Editor: Emily Campbell

Head of Reviews: Hannah Walton-Hughes

Reviews Editor: Charlie Maris

Head of Sport: Rhys Thomas

Sports Editor: Rosanna Loyd

Head of Podcasts: Yara Abuyousef

Podcast Editor: Santhana Kanapathippillai

Design Credits: (cover) Alex Watkin, (p5) photography by Alex Watkin, (p7) photography by Alex Watkin, (p8) photo courtesy of Daisy Forster, (p10) illustration by Tim Griffin, (p14) image courtesy of #ProjectWinter, (p16,17) illustrations by Tim Griffin, (p21,22) photography by Alex Watkin, (p25) illustration by Harry Stevens, (p26) photography courtesy of Dispatch Coffee, Punch Coffee, (p27) illustration by Tim Griffin, (p29) photography courtesy of Jack Bridgland, (p31) illustration by Zainab Shakeel, (p33) photography by Alex Watkin, (p34) illustration by Jocelyn Neligwa, (p36) photography by Thomas Acratopulo, (p38,39) photography courtesy of UoN Sport, (p40) illustration by Tim Griffin, (p42) illustration by Vivika Sahajpal, (p45) illustration by Tim Griffin, Page Formatting Alex Watkin

• Motorpoint

• Boots

• Highfields

• Robinhood

• Wollaton

• Raleigh

• Sherwood

• Goosefair

• Sneinton

• Lenton

• Lawrence

• Beeston

• Byron

WORD SEARCH