InQuire Issue 11.4 9th October 2015 by InQuire Media

Want to write for us?

9 October 2015 Issue 11.4

Meetings Mondays at 6.15pm in KLT3

What is in fashion this Autumn?

Students should be complaining more. Read why

Culture Page 17

Issues and Analysis Page 5

Read Otto Ilveskero’s views on EU migration and the British economy Editorial Page 19

Cut the Costs

£20,538 gone with a bang

Ruby Lyle Newspaper Editor

Photo by David Norman Caption: The Kent Wheel during the 50th Anniversary celebrations

Ruby Lyle Newspaper Editor

www.InQuireLive.co.uk

InQuire The University of Kent’s student newspaper

he Kent Wheel has lost the University an estimated £20,538 following its surprise closure on 22 September, three weeks earlier than expected. On 14 November 2014, InQuire reported that the overall cost of

the Wheel, including additional expenses such as security, would be £260,300, based on figures previously received through a freedom of information request answered on 4 November. The funding for the Wheel came from the 50th

Anniversary Programme, which had a total budget of £350,000. From the weekly cost of £13,700 provided by the University of Kent, InQuire found that the three week premature departure of the Kent Wheel would cost the University an

estimated £41,000. The University has since said that an enormous discount was offered to the University for the Wheel’s return to campus. The Wheel cost a total of £54,800 between 24 September and 19 October 2014; this equated to £13,700 each week. Continued on page 3.

ollowing George Osborne’s declaration that maintenance grants are to be scrapped, Kent Union have taken part in the #CutTheCosts campaign. The Union previously declared their opposition to the abolition of the grants, stating: “We believe that these grants are often the difference between being able to access higher education or not. The government has seriously underestimated the impact of the maintenance grant, and this move is incredibly unfair to students from the most deprived backgrounds. Being able to attend, study and succeed at university should always be about a student’s ability, rather than the size of their bank account.” Maintenance grants are to be eliminated from September 2016, as was announced in George Osborne’s budget on Wednesday 8 July. This is expected to affect over half a million students in England alone. Under these new changes, if a student were to attend university for three years and receive the maximum maintenance loan, they would graduate with £51,600 of debt. The grants, which are nonrepayable sums of money, intended to aid students with a household income of up to £42,620, will instead be replaced with increased maintenance loans reaching £8,200 (this is a rise of £2,460 in potential loans for Kent students in the current system). Continued on page 2.

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire

News

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

2015/2016

Editorial contacts: Just add @inquiremedia. co.uk

Editor-in-Chief

Natalie Tipping

editor

Newspaper Editor Ruby Lyle

newspaper.editor

News

Jack Hadaway-Weller

newspaper.news

Matthew Seary website.news

Comment

Maddy Dunn

newspaper.comment

Otto Ilveskero website.comment

Features

Jessica Duncan newspaper.features

Saga Radh

website.features

Entertainment

Bethan Stoneman

newspaper.entertainment

Max Beckett

website.entertainment

Culture

Shalyia Arumagathasan newspaper.culture

Julia Mitchell website.culture

Sport

Government loans for masters

tudents considering taking up a masters degree may now be eligible to a £10,000 student loan, which would cover the costs of tuition fees, with the remainder awarded going towards living expenses. This loan would only apply to those under 30 years of age, if this is your first postgraduate degree, and if you are set to attend an English university. The loan is available to students across the UK and EU, however. This new policy was announced in George Osborne’s Summer Budget Speech on 8 July 2015, and will come into effect in the 2016/17 academic year. As such, it is currently unclear how much of the potential £10,000 students would receive. Determining factors are likely to include whether the university is located within London, household income, and whether students are living outside the family home.

Essentials cutting tampon tax Ruby Lyle Newspaper Editor

ent Union have now absorbed the tax of sanitary products in Essentials, cutting the cost of feminine hygiene products for students on the UKC campus. Across the UK, sanitary products have a VAT rate of 5%, dropped from 17.5% in 2000. This was one of the manifesto points of the newly elected Vice-President (Welfare), Rory Murray. Speaking to him about this win, Murray said: “I think its been bubbling under the surface at Kent for 18 months.” He made particular note of the efforts of Hannah McIntosh, the 2014/15 Women’s Officer, for “pushing quite hard for this” and Murray’s predecessor, Megan Wells, VP (Welfare) 2014/15, who he said “did quite

Photo by Isabelle | Flickr

One suggestion that InQuire heard was that the price of the tampon tax absorption by

Kent Union was being offset in Essentials by the rise in meal deal prices. When this suggestion was put to Murray, he vehemently denied the possibility, stating that it is “definitely not the case”. He confirmed that the Urban Eat meal deal has gone up, but reasoned that this was as the meal deal costs had not risen in three years, and the previous profit margin was not good enough. Murray continued that Kent Union are further reviewing all meal deals, with the chance of a more diverse range coming soon. While prices are lowering for some of the student population, they seem set to rise once more for the entirety. This is particularly of interest as another point of Murray’s manifesto was a pledge for £2 meal deals in Essentials and the Library Cafe.

Maintenance grant cuts and you Continued from front page. These loans shall be repaid by students once they start earning £21,000 a year; this is in addition to repayments of tuition fees (which are currently capped at £9,000 each year). Maintenance grants have previously been worth up to £3,387 to students. So far, it

is unclear what the repayment rate will be under the new form of maintenance loans. It has also not yet been detailed which students can expect to be eligible for an increased loan. Currently, students living away from home and outside London can receive a maximum of £5,740 in maintenance loans

Vacancy

newspaper.sport

Patrick Kamalu website.sport

Photography Co-ordinator

Connor Murphy photography

Events Co-ordinator Nicholas Gardener events

Distribution Co-ordinator

Fraser Whieldon distribution

a lot of work on it”. The tampon tax policy was agreed over the summer months and has now come into effect in Essentials.

Photo by Conservatives | Flickr

each year. Tammy Naidoo, Kent Union President, told InQuire: “The University have not expressed their support in our fight against the cuts to maintenance grants, despite a petition the Officer Team started and shared with the Executive Group of the University at the end of last term, asking the University to oppose the cuts.” Kent Union met with Julian Brazier MP to discuss his position on the scrapping of maintenance grants on 16 September. Naidoo reported that Brazier supports the government’s position on student grants for cost saving benefits, as well as believing that an increase in maintenance grants would encourage more young adults to attend university. Brazier added that students should apply for a reduced maintenance loan, and take up additional work. Naidoo also met with Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood, who also supports the removal of maintenance grants, but cited her reasons as believing that those who were

not in university should not have to pay for the education of those who were through taxes. Additionally, Universities UK (an organisation that Dame Julia Goodfellow, our Vice-Chancellor, became the President for in September 2015) has welcomed the government’s change in policy. They have said: “Evidence has shown that students are more concerned about the level of maintenance support they receive while studying than they are about the long-term repayment of their student loans.” “The proposed shift from maintenance grants to loans does not in itself affect the money students receive for their living costs. It does affect the amount of money they pay back after they have graduated and are earning more than £21,000.” Further details of the logistics surrounding the increased maintenance loans have not yet been released, but details can be expected to emerge as prospective students begin their student finance applications.

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015

News

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Kent Wheel controversy Continued from front page. When the Wheel returned for a projected 15 weeks, the full costs would have been £128,911 (this includes the expected costs of security, had the Wheel remained for the further three weeks). This would mean that the Wheel would then only cost £8,594 for each of the 19 weeks it was set to be at the Canterbury campus. This is a difference in weekly costs of £5,106 each week, compared to the pricing of the Wheel when it initially arrived. This discount means that the University has lost £20,538 from the already paid cost of the Wheel as a result of its unexpected departure. This cost does not include the additional expenses of security. The University told InQuire that discussions are taking place regarding the final financial settlement, although no further updates have yet been provided. The 50th Anniversary Team announced the reasons behind the early departure of the Wheel as being due to “issues outside of [the University’s] control”. The University has expanded upon this, telling InQuire that the Kent Wheel has been forced to close as a result of the construction work taking place

scheduled to be at the Canterbury campus until 15 October, but will leave 1 October due to the current phase of construction at the adjacent site for the new Law Building, which will provide a new home for the Kent Law Clinic and our Mooting Programme. “We apologise to all those who

were looking forward to using the Wheel over the next few weeks.” Questions have also surfaced regarding the reason behind the Wheel’s exit. Although the University stated that the Wheel was forced to leave due to the construction work that was taking place alongside

the Wheel, when contacted, Osborne, the construction company, confirmed to InQuire that “the decision to take the Wheel down early sits firmly with the operators, not us”. Further controversy surrounding the Kent Wheel includes the information that the Wheel failed to produce a profit. This is despite the University previously stating that the cost of the Wheel would be offset by ticket sales. Furthermore, the 50th Anniversary Team advertised that all ticket sales would go to the Kent Opportunity Fund as part of its year long campaign to raise £1 million. InQuire was previously told by the University that: ‘One of the aims of the 50th Anniversary programme is to generate money for the Kent Opportunity Fund. All income in excess of costs, minus the £350k budget, will go to the Kent Opportunity Fund.” Initially, a ride on the Kent Wheel would cost students £5, however ticket costs were reduced throughout the year, and, just prior to its departure, students were only charged £3 for each rotation. Further updates on this ongoing story can be found on InQuireLive.co.uk/News.

Council restricting student living

an HMO must apply to CCC for planning permission. The Article Four direction debate has been running since 2010, and has subsequently been the focus of four different Vice-President (Welfare) officers at Kent Union. Speaking to Rory Murray, the current VP (Welfare), he said: “My perception of Article Four is that it is anti-student. They [supporters of the direction] would argue with me that it isn’t anti-student, its about creating a balanced community. When we [Kent Union] asked them what a balanced community is, we never got an answer.” Between the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury has roughly 37,000 students. The most recent census (2011) states that Canterbury has a population of 151,200. This works out as a

student population of 24% in Canterbury. Additionally, CCC data from 2009 states that nearly one in five of the Canterbury population are aged between 15 and 24. The Council has stated, however, in a Policy and Resources Committee Report that, “It is acknowledged that students do have a role in supporting local businesses; however, the Article Four direction will not act to reduce the number of students in Canterbury.” The committee report, published on 15 July 2015, further revealed that the Council has so far spent between £15,000 and £20,000 on the Article Four direction, since November 2014. It is unknown how much has been spent by CCC on the program since it started in December 2010.

Ruby Lyle Newspaper Editor

tudents are now to be restricted in where they can live after Canterbury City Council (CCC) voted on 2 October to introduce the Article Four direction. It will come into effect on 25 February 2016. This will limit the number of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) to 10% on any given street. Most HMOs in this area consist of students. This 10% limit can be exceeded in exceptional circumstances, but what defines an exceptional

Photo by andrews5040 | Flickr

on the building site aside the Wheel’s previous location. Alison Coles, the University’s Director of Development, said: “The Kent Wheel has been a popular attraction this summer; enjoyed by University staff, students, and the wider community. “The Wheel was originally

circumstance has not yet been declared. When asked about why the Council voted for the Article Four direction, they argued: “While HMOs do make a significant contribution to the vibrancy of the city, attracting young professionals, students, migrant workers, and a transient workforce to the area, there are also negative impacts in areas where they are highly concentrated. This is in large part due to the increasing number of private student lettings in the city and immediate vicinity.

“Such concentrations put pressure on local amenities, traffic congestion, existing families and external appearance of the areas. It is felt that reducing these pockets of concentrated HMOs through greater assessment is required.” The Article Four direction will not only apply to Canterbury, but to the surrounding wards. Existing HMOs shall not be effected, unless the property owner should wish to make a conversion, in which case they must seek permission from CCC. Landlords who wish to change a residential house to

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Issues & Analysis

International Graduates to Leave UK Issues Chelsea Batelle

ccording to a new policy being introduced by the government, international students may find it difficult to settle in the UK once they have graduated from the University of Kent. The new changes will not only affect the international students wanting to stay after graduation, but will also affect those wishing to study in the UK by enforcing stricter regulations.

“This change would put so many students off coming to the UK to study.”

Analysis Nick Gardener Events Co-ordinator

hen I was young boy, going through a phase of only wanting to eat sausages, mash and beans for dinner every night, my mother would often recall that timeless phrase ‘variety is the spice of life’; a phrase that, despite my initial protests of the fish fingers I’d had to endure that night, I’ve come to agree with and follow with all my heart. Hailing from the ivory towers of the extreme upper class however, where a young Mr Cameron or Miss May got everything their hearts desired, David Cameron and his constituency clearly haven’t learnt the value of diversity within our society, as they take aim at the visas that allow foreign students to stay in Britain after graduation. This just goes to show just how out of touch our government can be when it comes to international relations. Following their appalling response to the refugee crisis, where our doors were only opened (despite other European countries putting us to shame on every front in this regard) after we

Home Secretary Theresa May expressed her thoughts on this change saying that universities should “develop sustainable funding models that are not so dependent on international students”. Following this statement, Business Secretary Sajid Javid said that he wants to “break the link” between studying in the UK and working after graduation. UKC Psychology student Katie Fenton expressed her thoughts on the matter by saying: “It’s such a shame that this is happening, especially as we attend a university that prides itself on being the UK’s European University. It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have the influx of international students that we have now”. Despite this recent announcement, international students at the University of

Kent are unlikely to be kicked out as soon as they have finished studying, as this new rule only applies to students in further education colleges, rather than universities. Delving into the matter further, the new changes differ greatly depending on whether you are studying at university or further education colleges.

of having enough money for course fees and living costs for either two months (if you have previously studied in the UK – what the Home Office calls having an “established presence”), or nine months. This established provision is being removed however, so all students need to show that they can support themselves for nine

Students wishing to study at any university will see stricter quotas and regulations. As of November this year, students will need access to significantly more money. Current international students in the UK need to show evidence

months. When put into effect, a PhD student in London will have to show that they have £11,385 in the bank rather than the current £2,040. When asked on her take on the matter, UKC Biomed student Marit Hetland said: “This

had to tidy the dead infants off European beaches, this is yet another action made with the intention to keep Britain as bland as humanly possible. Combined with the wake of #Piggate, it appears that David Cameron is massively out of touch with both physical and social relationships, with no signs of things getting any better soon. Hailing from an international university, we’ve made countless friends from around the world, all of whom we know could contribute

endlessly to our society. So who are we to deny them that opportunity? We have allowed them to be trained in our education system (and profited from it massively); shouldn’t our society be able to reap the fruits of our labour, if the students in question are willing to share it? One of the key purposes of university, no, one of the key aims of any society, is to forge bonds with other societies all over the world, to open these doors that allow different people to interact

and work together, to forge international friendships that may last generations; bonds that Cameron seems intent on breaking. Can we really call ourselves Great Britain if we relentlessly turn away all those who have a desire to join our society and help carry it forward? As much as it pains me to say, I could understand the hesitations our government may have if these people were untrained, lazy, or unable to speak English. Sadly, it cannot be denied that the costs of

“It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have the influx of international students that we have now.”

Photo by Wikipedia.org

change would put so many students off coming to the UK to study. Many students already rely on student finance for living costs, and having to provide that amount of financial evidence is completely terrifying”. In addition, students wanting to extend their general visas will only be able to do so if they are moving up a level on the National Qualifications Framework. For instance, only applicants for PhD and doctorals can extend their visa, whereas students wanting to do another undergraduate degree will not be able to. These stricter regulations come at little surprise when acknowledging the government has failed on previous attempts at cutting net immigration to below 100,000 – something that David Cameron pledged to do in 2010 – “no ifs, no buts”. housing, training, and catering for these people take a heavy toll on our economy. But these students, graduates of some of our greatest universities, boasting educations envied across the world, aren’t those people. Their English is tested before they are admitted into our educational systems, and only improved upon after spending years within our beautiful country. Their motivation to work can be seen through their degrees, which, as any student knows, is no walk in the park to acquire. Foreign graduates have more than enough ability to lift our society to higher places, something that may be hard to see from the gated community of Downing Street. I find it sickening that, in this day and age, we are still trying to usher out many of the people who contribute to the diversity of our country and make this island truly great. It is time for us to stand with our friends who are to be ushered out of our country upon throwing their caps, it is time for our government to get in touch with the people they are tasked with governing, and it is definitely time for David Cameron and Theresa May to have a long overdue dinner with my mother.

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Issues & Analysis

Students should complain more: discuss Issues

Top tips from the DPS for retrieving your deposit

Natalie Tipping Editor-in-Chief

ccording to a new figures from the Ombudsman Services, students are being ripped off by companies by approximately £335 million a year because they’re too scared to complain, or don’t know their rights. The research found that eight in 10 students (78 per cent) have lost money as a result of problems with companies. On average, students in the SouthEast are losing £159 a year, while the national average is £240 a year. Around one in five students has been overcharged for gas or electric bills, while one in seven has paid bills for previous tenants. Speaking about the findings of this research, Chief Ombudsman Lewis Shand Smith said: “We want to ensure that all students are able to stand up for their rights and speak out when things go wrong. “Students should not be losing money simply because they don’t know their rights or are not making a fuss.” The findings of the research affects approximately 1.4 million students each year, and comes alongside the news that the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), which many students use as a storing system for their tenancy deposits, has warned students that they must act now to ensure that their deposits will be returned at the end of their tenancies. DPS research finds that students are almost twice as likely to lose money from their deposits, compared to professional tenants. The DPS reveals that less than one in three students (27.5 per cent) receive 90 per cent or more of their deposit at the end of their tenancies, whilst around six in 10 professional tenants nationally (57 per cent) retrieve the same amount. The advice from both research studies is that students should research their rights and make sure they complain in good time in order to get as much of their money back as possible.

Photo by someecards.com | Flickr

Analysis Nick Gardener Events Co-ordinator

ere in Britain, I’ve been noticing recently that we have a rather strange ethic when it comes to the topic of complaining. When it comes to the weather, train times, football drama or, inevitably, the government, we’ll scream blue murder. But when it comes to confronting a problem where someone specific is to blame, we seem to follow an unspoken etiquette, and suddenly our lips seal, our pens are put down, and from then onwards we’ll silently live with the broken fridge, the over-zealous gas bill, or the archaic Wifi, for no other reason than ‘we don’t want to make a fuss’. Why do we do this? Should we complain more? Will the people we complain to come to despise the very thought of us? And is there any actual gain from going through all that hassle? I for one believe that we should always complain about the small niggles that make our lives inconvenient. Does your fridge intermittently turn off, ruining half of your food? Make sure your landlord knows about it! Did you not get the meal you ordered? Turf that plate back to the kitchen! I’ll be damned if some unspoken code is going to stop me from informing my

boss that they’ve underpaid me, or make me or my housemates pay for damage that we didn’t cause. I’m not telling you to burn bridges left right and centre*, but it makes no sense to put up with a problem that you’re probably paying good money to prevent. The other day I received a pint that looked like an overdone bubble bath and tasted like soap. I politely informed the barman of this, he had a taste, we both reached a mutual agreement that the pint was, in fact, awful, he apologised and gave me a new one. No skin off either nose, he wasn’t any worse for wear, I had a nice, clean, refreshing pint, and a minute later it was history. Similarly, our fridge-freezer had a tendency to decide on a whim it didn’t want to cool our food any more, and my house-mates or I would be greeted with spoiled milk and puddles across the kitchen floor. A couple of polite, carefully worded phone calls to my landlady later, and we can now sleep peacefully, knowing our dairy products are safely tucked away in our patched up pantry. A quick complaint can make your life seem infinitely easier, and despite what you may fear, these complaints, if done properly, won’t come back to haunt you or bring up feelings of resentment between the two parties - just be nice about it! But complaints don’t just make the burdens of your

lives lighter; they can actually make your wallet heavier! Here’s a stat for you. Recently I read that, on average, one in 10 students end up being £240 worse off a year due to failing to complain or confront problems such as being overcharged, charged for other people’s bills, or repair costs of household appliances that they did not damage. TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY POUNDS. I don’t know about you, but as a student, that’s a lot for me! Think of the things you could get with that money. Nothing comes to mind? Here are some examples: - Eight student railcards for a year (or, one student railcard for eight years) - 48 foot-long sandwich meal deals from Subway. Or, most importantly, that £240 could buy you 160 vodka and cokes at Cuban on any Thursday throughout the year. That’s enough for you to get yourself and all your friends plastered for weeks! All in all, if something is bothering you, or if something doesn’t feel right, make your voice heard. As long as you respect the other person, and are polite and friendly, the result is probably going to be a good one! *The author of this article is not responsible for any family feuds, arguments with landlords, job losses, estranged friends, or spilt milk. Please complain responsibly.

1. First and foremost, make sure your landlord protects your deposit with an authorised deposit protection scheme. 2. When you move in, agree an inventory with all of the other tenants, check it carefully, then return it to your landlord. 3. If the landlord is unknown to you, make sure you check their name against your university or students’ union’s list of approved landlords. 4. Remember that every tenancy agreement can be different: make sure you read yours and understand your rights and obligations. 5. Record all communication with your landlord in writing, particularly any agreements you make, and follow up phone calls with what was agreed by email. 6. Keep copies of any documents, receipts, or email correspondence relating to your tenancy. 7. Report any defects with the property promptly and in writing, including the cause of the problem when you can. 8. If you ever take photos of problems in the property, make sure they are date stamped. 9. Remember that your obligations as tenants are likely to be what are known legally as “joint and several”: if one individual tenant does not accept personal responsibility when something goes wrong, such as a breakage, then it becomes the joint responsibility of all the tenants. 10. Remember that most tenancy agreements stipulate that tenants are liable for damage to communal areas, as well as within your own room. 11. Remember that liability generally extends right until the end of the tenancy: if you move out before other tenants, you could remain jointly responsible for the property.

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Comment

Are students being exploited in the rental market? Sophie Waeland

he majority of adults outside of education see students as having an easy life: many are unemployed, we have a reputation of choosing to party and binge-drink over attending lectures, and we can get away with not doing the washing-up for questionable periods of time. We also have some financial benefits, such as the loans and grants from the government, and the numerous student discounts and offers on the high street and online. In reality, however, we are faced with severe financial issues, ranging from extortionate rental rates, to crippling debt and overdrafts. The student housing charity, Unipol, found that student rents rose 25% between 2010 and 2013. With this in mind, why is it that student houses are known for being unhygienic, stripped to the bare necessities, and unreliable in terms of working appliances and infrastructure? Surely there should be a correlation between rent prices and quality

of property, but this doesn’t seem to exist for students. Personally, I have dealt with neglectful and rude letting agents, and, with a deceased landlord, had no one else to turn to. My student house had a severe problem with mould in the bedrooms and mushrooms in the shower. The girls I lived with and I had to buy dehumidifiers to tackle the mould, and sealant to fix the leaking shower as we saw no action from our agents after numerous emails and calls. Instead of fixing the broken ignition on our hobs, they instead shoved through our letter box a used and almost empty handheld lighter for the cooker. On top of this, they were condescending and belittling in their email replies. For all of that, we paid rent that was far beyond the worth of the property, as well as a large deposit sum, and were even offered a bills package that would have left the agency with a huge profit (we didn’t take them up on that, surprisingly). This kind of poor treatment

would be completely unacceptable if the recipients weren’t students. But young people tend to be unaware of standard rates for rent, or their legal rights, letting these agencies and landlords get away with ripping them off. With three universities in

Canterbury – the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, and the University for the Creative Arts – student housing is in high demand and landlords can charge high rents and still have interest in their properties. With the news that

maintenance grants are to be replaced by maintenance loans in the following academic year, it does not bode well for students, especially those from less advantaged backgrounds who will not be able to receive support from family and care givers.

Photo by wikimedia.org

Is an app for rating people asking for trouble? Natalie Tipping Editor-in-Chief

n the last few weeks, a new app has hit the market, which offers people the opportunity to rate other people, depending on a number of factors. The blurb for the app states that it “allows us to better choose who we hire, do business with, date, become our neighbours, roommates, landlords/tenants, and teach our children”. Sorry, but am I the only person who thinks this is absolutely ridiculous? My feelings towards this app are only partially due to concerns over what people would say about me given the chance - “doesn’t suffer fools”, “doesn’t mince her words”, “can get a bit lairy after a few Jack Daniels” etc - but they are also due to concerns over the sort of power this app could ultimately yield in terms of career prospects for people all over the world. But let’s face it, when you go on any ratings site, you’re only

looking at the four and five star reviews, or the one star reviews. So to any friends of mine wanting to have a laugh but not do any damage, three stars is fine by me - now I’ve said that, two stars would be an insult FYI. I mean, if a colleague pisses you off because they don’t have time to help you out on a really busy day, do they really deserve to be given a poor rating that

could, if this app ever gets big, influence future job prospects. Thankfully, I don’t think that will ever happen, as surely everyone can see that this app has too many flaws to be seen as an accurate representation of someone’s character. As university students, we’re all looking to get a job as soon after finishing our courses as possible. I honestly believe that we should not be drawn

in by the opportunity to slate people we don’t like, but should boycott the app in the hopes of it not ruining our chances. Not that I think it’s fine for people who already have jobs to be slated, but let’s face it, our generation is the most likely to use this app, as we’re generally the kind of people who would relish the opportunity to try to make our friends look foolish, you only have to leave your

Facebook open in front of someone to find that out. Ultimately this comes down to a belief that everyone deserves a fair chance. So what if you get a bit lairy after a few Jack Daniels? What effect does that actually have on your ability to work? I mean, obviously keep the JDs to weekends, and don’t go into work drunk. But that sort of thing should get you fired anyway, you don’t need an app to know that someone who turns up to work drunk maybe isn’t taking their job seriously. But if someone’s mate has posted that they like a drink on an app, employers should really know better than to believe everything they read on the internet, and if they interview well, give them the job. It really is as simple as that. Either that, or we should all abandon our friendships now for fear of our mates finding it funny to rate us poorly. If we live alone and never speak to anybody, however, we’re sure to have a good rating, right?

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

#Piggate: So much less than meets the eye Connor Sturges

iggate. If you don’t know what that refers to, then you’ve undoubtedly been living under a rock, as the public can’t seem to get enough of it. According to a biography titled ‘Call Me Dave’, written by journalist Isabel Oakeshott and Lord Ashcroft, the current Prime Minister placed a “private part of his anatomy” in a hog’s head. Lord Ashcroft, may I add, has previously admitted to a bitter relationship with the current Prime Minister, adding to the theory his allegations are nothing other than slander. However, true or not, should the acts of a young, naïve and intelligent (despite your political views, he did make it to Oxford), young man be spread across tabloid papers and tweeted about endlessly? In my opinion, the answer is no. In fairness, the act David Cameron is said to have done is… bizarre, to say the least. However, the things we do when we are young are often considered strange and ridiculous. Consider the initiation tests that are reported to have taken place at Cambridge, another of the UK’s most prestigious institutions. Supposedly, live goldfish have been swallowed, and raw squid has been consumed. Even the thought of the slightly more common initiation of drinking one’s own urine makes most people retch, but people only do such things in their youth because it appears to be a good idea at the time, and more importantly because they feel they need to fit in with a particular social group, something Cameron was most likely trying to do. The point is, why does the media insist on dragging up politicians’ history instead of focusing on their current dealings and political agenda? Another story recently revealed that Labour MP, Diane Abbott, allegedly had a ‘fling’ with current Labour

leader Jeremy Corbyn, wait for it, in the 1970s. Is the news that two individuals in the current political field were once lovers and rode a motorbike around Germany more than a quarter of a century ago of real political interest? No, not really! However, the political agendas of those in control of our country, the economic deals they are agreeing to, and the visits they are making abroad do matter, and these should come before scandalous allegations, also known as ‘gossip’, in respected newspapers such as The Independent. It’s extremely obvious that there are more important things going on in the political and legal worlds. A majority of the public, politically interested or not, will now know about the allegations around Cameron placing his genitals in a pig’s

Comment mouth, and some will know about the relationship between Corbyn and Abbott. However, a majority will not know about the new laws regarding smoking in cars with children, the 30-day return guarantee being made law, or that George Osborne has put £3 million of taxpayer’s cash into developing grassroots football in China, the world’s second richest nation! These things are key and affect the public in more serious ways. Yes, Cameron placing his genitals in the mouth of a pig’s head as a part of an initiation test, and dabbling with drugs during his youth are hardly things you’d see on the job description for Prime Minister. Yes, if Corbyn and Abbott’s relationship is the reason she is rising within the party, then there is a bit of a problem there. However, what Cameron has achieved, including a majority government with the Conservatives this year, should not be changed by what he did in his youth. It’s not fair to fill all the media with slander. Leave that to the cheap magazines please, and focus on real news that truly affects us all.

Photo by Guillaume Paumier | Flickr

Is the Archbishop right about discrimination against Christian refugees?

Photo by Foreign and Commonwealth Office | Flickr

Nicola McIver

ince the tragic photographs of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi were published on 3 September, the Syrian refugee crisis has become regular global front page news. The pictures introduced a heartbreakingly human dimension of the crisis, and caused a social movement in support for refugees. The developments of the past month have raised questions of our European governments – even our humanity. Without a doubt, the most alarming aspect is just how impotent Europe has been in dealing with the influx of asylum seekers. Last month saw the UK offer only 20,000 Syrians asylum before 2020. Worryingly, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has also shown further concern that the government’s refugee policy risks inadvertently discriminating against Christians facing the greatest risk of religious persecution in Syria. Last month, Archbishop Welby spoke to David Cameron and warned that the government’s plans to take refugees directly from UN camps in Syria and bordering countries risk completely excluding an entire population of Christians from the asylum program, who had been “forced to flee” the camps. Although EU policy prevents the discrimination, or favour, of any one religious group, Archbishop Welby made the point that offering sanctuary

only to refugees from these camps would lead to the same crime. Former Archbishop, Lord Carey, wrote in The Daily Telegraph that the government had “yet again” left Christians “at the bottom of the heap”. Religious minorities, including Christians, are hiding in private homes, in churches, or with friends and family – not inside the UN camps where, as Archbishop Welby says, they risk “intimidation and radicalisation” and are targeted and pushed out by rogue Islamist groups. Not where they are being crucified, beheaded, raped, and subjected to forced conversion. Not where the so-called Islamic State and other radical groups are glorifying the massacre of infidels. Representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and other communities joined forces at an emergency summit in London to support an evacuation of Christians from Syria through Operation Safe Havens. The organisation was formed by the Christian charity, the Barnabas Fund, who has so far removed 42 Christian families from Damascus to Poland. I say that this is something separate to the religious and racial preferences of the bigoted: this is a crisis in itself. Is it not the right thing to do? To prioritise those whose lives are at the greatest risk in the face of Islamic State? To read the full article, head to inquirelive.co.uk/ comment.

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Features

Passive aggressive? Me? Manon Charles

e are getting to the point in the academic year where we have all become comfortable with our housemates. We understand each other. We know that she cries after tequila, he likes to Skype his girlfriend at three in the morning, and by now, we all know who the untidy housemate is. But what do you do when enough is enough? Picture the scene, dirty dishes piled next to the sink, food left out for the seventh day in a row, crumbs all over the floor and countertops. Sound familiar? Students are notorious for their lack of ability to keep a clean house. But what if it’s just one culprit in particular? There is nothing worse than conflict with housemates, so sometimes resorting to passive aggressive methods is necessary in order to get the message across. Once you’ve decided to take this approach, you have many options. One of the tried and tested favourites for tackling messy housemates is the use of the post-it note. These little pieces

of paper can be your saviour, coupled with a sweetly written “please can everyone wash their dishes!” they never fail! Add a couple of sarcastic smileys on there and you’re golden. By placing them discreetly around the kitchen, you can draw their attention to it without explicitly naming names. If this tactic doesn’t work, another

Photo by ultraBobban / Flickr

great way of telling someone to clean up is by sighing. Many people underestimate the power of a good sigh, so channel your inner unappreciated mum and get going. You can start off slowly by simply sighing whenever you pass their mess, if they don’t get the hint, go louder. Stand directly in front of the mess and sigh audibly until they come and clean it. While this method can be exhausting for the person doing the sighing, constant sighing is hard to ignore, so perseverance is key here. If even this doesn’t break them, it’s time to consider a new housemate! But before taking this drastic step, you have one more option. It’s time to break out the loud cleaning. Now, this is no joke, it’s time to take initiative and take matters into your own hands. Grab the dirty dishes and start to clean, but do it as loudly as you can. Bang the pots a little bit, splash the water about, make it as obvious as you can. For extra emphasis, incorporate the loud sighing with this step and you’re on to a winner! And if all else fails, write an article about it and stick it on the fridge!

DIY: Student room SOS Jessica Duncan Newspaper Features Editor

um and dad have left you in your new home for the next year, but so far there are suitcases on your bed and boxes of things you never knew you needed everywhere. But making a room feel homely is easier than it sounds. All it can take is covering of marks on the wall with posters and a blanket that smells of home on your bed.

Rearrange: Your room might not look inviting when you move in, but moving furniture around to suit you can make the room seem much bigger and brighter. You may also be able to add more of your own furniture, such as a comfy desk chair as that’s where you’ll be spending most of your time, or shelves for all those books (or bottles). Pillows: As well as making your bed look nice, they’re super comfy and

Photo Do-Hyun Kim //Flickr Photo byby Dominik “Dome” Flickr

inviting for people coming into your room to meet you. Bunting: More than making your room look like you’re throwing a party, bunting can bring colour and make it seem less bare. Flowers: Getting rid of the unknown or musty smell in your room, or just bringing a smell of home to university, flowers also look nice, after all, what’s better than a present to yourself? Poster sale: Hosted by Venue, the poster sale always has a wide selection of posters for everyone. This is also a great way to show others your favourite TV shows or films as soon as they come into your room, making for great conversation starters. Photos: Memories from home can overlap with memories from university in a photo collage along your wall or filling photo frames with pictures from nights out. Photos are also a great way to fill large spaces such as bare walls. Rug: If you fancy a bit of comfort, there’s nothing better than stepping out onto a soft floor, similar to that at home. Either this or it’ll break your fall if you miss your bed after stumbling home! Lighting: Another way to make your room lighter is fairy lights or lamps, rather than the blaring room light. Hanging lights around the top of walls can make the room seem snug on those rainy days. Make sure to get spare bulbs at the same time just incase.

Money saving tips Jennifer Roberts

hen the student loan comes into your bank account, it may look like you can go on a shopping spree, but it soon becomes evident that things are more expensive than you think. One thing that needs to be cut back is brands, both food and clothes, as the value or cheaper versions are often just as good and half the price. Plus with a Primark now in town, as well as many other affordable shops, there is plenty of choice. Most places also offer student discounts if you wave your student ID card at them. Essentials is a great place to buy food, especially with an NUS card discount, but some things in there can be a worse deal than they seem, for example the meal deal, similar to Tesco. If you work it out, it may be cheaper to get things individually, especially if you don’t want all the things included in the deal. Instead of buying meal deals, opt for a packed lunch. Making your own sandwiches in advance or making enough dinner for two nights can save you time and money, as often buying things on special offer makes portions cheaper. Shopping when hungry is one of the biggest mistakes we all make, as we impulse buy anything in sight, and rack up the cost of a weekly shop. When shopping in the evenings, you often find deals with food nearing the end of the sell by date, but these are great bargains and, once frozen, food can last much longer. If you’re someone that goes home often, a rail-card is a must, saving you money each time you travel and eventually paying for itself. Similarly, booking tickets in advance through thetrainline.com can get you a discount, but be sure to check whether splitting a journey is cheaper.

Photo by Pictures of Money / Flickr

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Features

Hidden gems on campus Jessica Duncan Newspaper Features Editor

or those who have just started to find their way around on campus, there’s more to it than just Essentials and Blackwells. Eliot Labryinth: Set upon the hill behind Rutherford (and often only seen in sports society photos), the maze has lovely views of Canterbury, and trying to get around it can be a great distraction from essays. Eliot Courtyard: If you can find your way into it, the courtyard is a quiet escape after, or while waiting for,

seminars in the cloister rooms. Jennison Building Cafe: Staying on campus for a long period can be tedious, but tea always makes the day better especially when it’s this cheap! Take full advantage of this bargain as it won’t be found this well priced anywhere else on campus! Create in Marlowe: A habit for most is not venturing into buildings that don’t relate to their subject, but one which people should try is Marlowe, just for the cafe! Both cheap and delicious, their milkshakes and smoothies are something to experience. The Student Media Centre: Whilst

10 Useless Facts Jessica Duncan Newspaper Features Editor 1. Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour. Forget going to the gym, you’ll be super fit during essay season. 2. A “quidnunc” is a person who is eager to know the latest news and gossip. You will definitely find one of these in your flat! 3. In New York State, it is illegal to buy any alcohol on Sundays before noon.

Photo by Connor Murphy

Photo by Jessica Duncan

not technically hidden, most don’t realise that there’s an upstairs to Venue, which is the hub of InQuire, CSR, and KTV. Come and visit or just have a look around between 9am and 5pm during the week. Expensive sandwiches: Despite being convenient, the library cafe sandwiches are more expensive than Essentials! So if you’re willing to risk leaving your spot in the library unguarded, it will be worth saving your money! Make sure to get there early for a better choice of fillings.

Surviving living off campus Manon Charles

e’re all at university to learn about a specific subject, but there are plenty of things we need to learn about outside of the classroom. Here’s just a few of them. Bills: You’ve finally settled in and put pictures on the wall, and then all of a sudden, BAM, bills arrive! Panic ensues. To make the process easier, talk to your housemates (the app Splitwise is a godsend for splitting money). Also, before you move in, make sure you ask your landlord how and when your bills are paid, so that there are no nasty surprises further in the year. Cleaning: Apparently the house doesn’t magically clean itself, who knew? One of the major downfalls of moving off campus is having to be your own housekeeper. I’ll let you in on a little trick to keep a clean house: do little and often. If you wash up as you go, and hoover or dust once a week, your house will stay relatively clean. The longer you put off the dreaded clean, the harder it will be to start, and before you know it, your house will be quarantined for general grossness.

Dealing with neighbours: During your time on campus, you essentially live in a little bubble of students. If

Photo by Dan Brady / Flickr

you’re too loud, you may get a visit from Campus Watch, but you’re essentially surrounded by students. When you move off campus, you have to deal with actual neighbours, and this can be a bit of a minefield. Top tip - introduce yourself as soon as possible. This can make later encounters a little less awkward, and if you’re planning on throwing a party, warn your neighbours in advance. This could make your time in the house much more enjoyable for everyone. Dealing with housemates: When you sign for your house, you’re in the honeymoon phase of uni. You all love each other and nothing has really gone wrong yet. But what happens when the reality sets in and you realise that you picked the wrong housemates? This can make home life unbearable for everyone involved. The best way to deal with an awkward housemate situation is to find what works best for you. Some people may prefer to ignore the situation, others may crave confrontation. Remember, your housemates aren’t the be all and end all of uni life. If you don’t get along with them, join a society and meet some new people!

Photo by Yann Gar / Flickr

4. 11% of the world is lefthanded. It feels like so many more when you’re in lectures! 5. In “Silence of the Lambs”, Hannibal Lector (Anthony Hopkins) never blinks. 6. Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles an hour. Slightly slower under the influence of alcohol. 7. Dibble means to drink like a

Photo by Dirk Duckhorn / Flickr

duck. Or a student. 8. One in every four Americans have appeared on television at least once in their lives. 9. In ancient Rome, when a man testified in court he would swear on his testicles. 10. More than 30% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call. Parents, don’t be surprised when we don’t check in!

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Features

Leek and Potato Bake Recipe Jessica Greenall

leek and potato bake is perfect for winter nights when you are in need of some comfort food, and is unlikely to go wrong even if you are new to cooking. It takes about an hour and a half to make, most of which is spent baking in the oven. This recipe is easy, cheap, can feed five-seven people, and, best of all, you are not left with a lot of washing up to do, so give yourself a

break from instant noodles and enjoy some real food. Ingredients: Six baking potatoes 4 large leeks 75g butter 500ml milk 1 tablespoon plain flour Breadcrumbs 2 cups Grated cheddar cheese Salt and pepper

Photos by Jessica Greenall

Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 190°/350°F/gas mark 5. Wash and peel the potatoes, then chop into chunks. Cut off either end of the leeks and cut the rest into thin slices. 2. For the white sauce, melt 50g of butter in the pan, then add the flour. Fry the flour in the butter for about one minute before adding the milk. If you are not using parmesan, also add one cup of grated cheddar. Stir the mixture using a balloon whisk, until there are no flour lumps. The sauce should be a creamy texture, but if it is quite watery just add one tablespoon of flour at a time and stir until it thickens up. Keep the pan on a low to medium heat throughout this process, but do not let it boil. 3. Once the sauce is done, take it off the heat. Using the rest of the butter, fry the leeks and potatoes together on a medium heat until they are soft. This should take five to ten minutes.

4. Put the fried leeks and potatoes into the baking dish, and pour the sauce over them. Season with salt and pepper, give it a stir, and then cover with breadcrumbs and the rest of the cheese. 5. Finally, put it into the oven and bake for 40 to 60 minutes. When it is baked, it should be crispy on the top and the potatoes should be soft. Eat on its own or serve with salad.

Have you got a problem you want advice for from our Agony Aunt? Seen someone recently you like the look of but didn’t get a chance to talk to them? Been to any restaurants you’d like others to know about? Email newspaper.features@inquiremedia.co.uk and let us know!

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Fun & games

Features

Listen

Posh car

Eye tissue

Used to be

Handcart

Sudoku

Upper limb

Ruin

Coral island

Robber

Leg joint

Colonial insect?

Articles

Piece of cutlery

Twitters

Sort

Argument

Red make-up

Article (on a subject)

Last word in prayer

Skills Say again

Male relative

Toy on a string

Awkward (to carry)

Witness

Commies

Academy Award

Guys

(Pay) hikes

Thin

Hair styling mousse

Result

Feel

8 9

12 13 16

23 24

Crossword Across

1. A practice test taken to prepare for a public one (4) 3. Punch to opponent’s chin (8) 9. A coastal area between La Spezia and Cannes (7) 10. A deep ravine (5) 11. Ivan ?, Czech ex-tennis player (5) 12. See 19 14. Host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics (6) 16. See 27 19/12. Labour MP who became party leader in September (6,6) 21. ___-frutti, confection flavoured with fruits (5) 24. A card game that includes stud and Texas hold ‘em (5) 25. Performs gymnastic acts (7) 26. In Arthurian legend, a

Last issue’s answers 12. Type 14. Plenty 15. Wealth 18. Deck 20. Worrying 23. Leaflet 24. Blunt 25. Year

Across 1. Minute 5. Hand 9. Exact 10. Grown-up 11. Swimming

26. Eleven Down 2. Imagine 3. Ultimate 4. Engine 5. Hook 6. Nanny 7. Mess

8. Speech 13. Terrible 14. Paddle 16. Leisure 17. Bottle 19. Chase 21. Gate 22. Slur

Word search

18 20

Desires

Crossword

Risked

Begin again

Rule

Hairy spider

Tidy

Came up

Greeting

Eighty (archaic)

Existence

Leaning Tower site

Capital of Italy

Glove

Owner (of a house)

French fry

1 4 3

Generous (with money)

Japanese city

Homer's cry?

Custom

Untrue

Correct (text)

Nap

Wife's title

Edge (of a cup)

Even

Puzzles by Matthew Sapsed

Take your mind off the pressures of life for a few minutes with our puzzles.

Arrowword Hard

Arrowword Easy

knight of the Round Table (8) 27/16. BBC youth discussion show (4,6) Down 1. US state of Baltimore (8) 2. An assembly of witches (5) 4. Max ?, German physicist (6) 5. Bernese Alps mountain (5) 6. Robert ?, Scottish actor (7) 7. Star ?, sci-fi series (4) 8. The capital of Germany (6) 13. Agatha ?, English writer (8) 15. The ?, an informal name for skyscraper in London (7) 17. Mary ?, British pentathlon gold medallist at the 1972 Summer Olympics (6) 18. The nickname of the magician Steven Frayne (6) 20. Nest of a bird of prey (5) 22. A river of central Italy (5) 23. A mineral, usually milky white, used as a gemstone (4)

D U T F F B N K V E Q R B E H

O O E E R I U Q N I M U V D O

V N E T Y P Y O Z A Q O A A M

E X L O C F T K H C A T R C E

R E F V Z S R S P O H S H H C

E O S I B D E U Y T H K E A O

S U B L A V C N I C F E K U U

O Q B R A B Z I H T W W U C N

O I E R S E N V A U I O W E T

L N G Y D K E E B R N L V R I

T E N A H T L R J N D R I N E

R O T L Q O A S Y E M A H X S

Y A W D E M W I E R I M P B M

U T T A Y W S T S M L L E N S

Well done to everyone who completed our crossword clue in issue 11.3. For those who haven’t been able to sleep at night, I can now reveal that the missing clue for 22 down was in fact ‘Disparaging remark (4)’.

B Y H O C K E Y U E L T S A C

Sudoku

6 5 1 4 3 2

3 2 6 5 4 1

4 1 2 3 6 5

1 4 3 2 5 6

2 3 5 6 1 4

5 6 4 1 2 3

Code grid 1

7 20

T W U

O Y

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Entertainment

“Writing’s on the Wall” review Songs on Aaron Pape

is name is Smith, Sam Smith, and on 25 September he released the theme song “Writing’s On The Wall” for the 24th James Bond film. Sam Smith joins the cast of singers from previous Bond films, including Tom Jones, Gladys Knight, and Tina Turner. The song does not attempt to bring the Bond franchise into the modern age, which makes it stand separate from other Bond themes in a good way. Sam, being the first male solo artist to perform a Bond song since Tom Jones, had a lot of pressure on him. Available on iTunes and Spotify, the eagerly awaited ‘Spectre’ track has received mixed reviews from critics. Former Bond, Roger Moore, described the theme as “wonderfully orchestrated”, and says it fulfilled every aspect of what a Bond theme should encompass. BBC Radio1 breakfast show presenter Nick Grimshaw stated: “There are three types of Bond themes - the big bombastic showstopper demonstrated by Shirley Bassey’s ‘Goldfinger’ (1964), the dark, regretful, gloomy ballad that Nancy Sinatra’s ‘You Only Live Twice’ (1969) is a superb example of, and finally the heroic, rock anthem like Paul McCartney’s ‘Live and Let Die’ 1973). “Sam Smith’s song belongs in the second category; another quality Bond

song.” It is both intimate and epic, and should gain international status as a classic. The song attempts to give Bond an inner emotion that we never see on screen. Despite this critical acclaim, some have accused Sam of ripping off Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song”, stating there is too much of an uncanny resemblance. Have a listen and see what you think, but for me personally, there is indeed a likeness. Other critics have described the song as bland and not possessing enough drama typical for a Bond theme.

It is all a matter of opinion, but for me, this song is a winner. In Spectre, Daniel Craig reprises his role as James Bond for the fourth consecutive year, matching Pierce Brosnan’s performance as Bond during the 90s. The film will be released on 26 October, and will undoubtedly be another classic Bond, full of irresistible women, deadly foes, and classic Bond gadgets. Smith’s “Writing’s On The Wall” is undeniably fantastically dramatic, and possesses everything a Bond theme should have. Mission Accomplished Agent Smith!

Photo by TNS Sofres / Flickr

repeat

Jessica Duncan Newspaper Features Editor Duke Dumont - “Ocean Drive” With an 80s vibe about it, this smooth new song from Duke Dumont has a different feel from his previous songs, ditching the heavy beats for more of a deep house feel. A catchy tune, you’ll find yourself singing it without even realising. Robin Schultz - “Sugar” Continuing the deep house vibe and following up from last year’s hit “Prayer In C”, the German DJ has produced another tune that will almost certainly be remixed or played in Venue this term! Keep an eye out for his new album of the same name, which was released late last month. Jack Garratt - “Weathered” Described as a combination between Ed Sheeran and James Blake, the guitar playing singer has produced a fresh song with a strong beat that builds throughout. The acoustic version is calmer, having played it at festivals over the summer.

The best artist you’ve never heard of Bethan Stoneman Newspaper Entertainment Editor

ll summer, one name was on everybody’s lips; Halsey, a.k.a Ashley Nicolette Frangipane. She is the 20-year-old singer-songwriter from New Jersey who has exploded onto the music scene with her debut album ‘Badlands’, which has received rave reviews from a range of critics since it was released. The young artist started song-writing at 17 after she taught herself to play Taylor Swift’s hit song “Fifteen” on acoustic guitar and soon fell in love with it. After turning to music when she was unable to pursue her dream of going to college, Halsey decided to make singing and song-writing her profession in her late teens. This decision has undoubtedly changed the young singer’s life, as she is quickly becoming one of the hottest names in music at the moment. Like teen heart-throb Justin Bieber, Halsey was discovered on YouTube in 2012 through her adaptation of Swift’s

“I Knew You Were Trouble”, which she named “The Haylor Song”. This soon led to interest from record companies, and in 2014, Halsey released the song “Ghost”, which led her to being signed

by the Astralwerks record label, with her first EP, ‘Room 93’, following soon afterwards. As of today, the video for “Ghost” has over five million views on YouTube.

Photo by Justin Higuchi / Flikr

This summer, Halsey made history as her album ‘Badlands’ dropped in August and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, the highest debut for a female in 2015. Halsey’s fresh alternative pop is helping to cement her name in the music industry, as ‘Badlands’ is packed with stand-out hits “Hold Me Down” and “Roman Holiday”, which boast a song-writing ability and artistry well beyond the artist’s 20 years. As one of the years’ hottest names in music, Halsey credits her influences in her track “New Americana”, where she lists Notorious B.I.G, 2Pac, and The Cure as a handful of her musical influences. The 20-year-old has just announced a huge UK tour this February, where she will be gracing the stage at Glasgow ABC, the Birmingham Institute, the Manchester Academy and London Brixton Academy. If you want to see Halsey before she becomes a household name, make sure you grab your ticket soon, as they are selling out fast.

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015

Entertainment

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

n a h t s t n u o c s i d e Mor e s l e e r e h anyw s d n a r b e t i r u o v a f on your

All for £12 for 12 months

All details correct at time of printing August 2014

nus.org.uk

Your stud e nt d isc ount ca rd

Video Games: the 2015 Zombie Apocalypse Ben Macready

ideo games are becoming an increasingly prevalent part of the modern world and with this comes a certain amount of fear and paranoia about whether the impact they’re having upon society is positive or negative. A recent BBC Panorama article entitled ‘Can Video Games Cross from Innocent Fun to Addiction’ discussed this issue, stating that video games were ‘dangerous’ and how people were at risk of becoming ‘hooked’ on them. Video game addiction is obviously not a laughing matter, and I fully support the initiative discussed in the article to have video game addiction recognised formally as a mental disorder in need of serious treatment. It is worth noting for the masses of gamers out there however that the Entertainment Software Rating Board’s website claims 67% of US households contain a games console of some kind, however very few are addicts, and most enjoy gaming simply as a casual form of recreation. It seems a shame that an entire

medium of entertainment is painted as a sort of malevolent street drug, due to the (admittedly tragic) actions of a small minority who took their interest too far. As, after all, the primary intent of game developers is not to ‘hook’, ‘brain wash’, or ‘addict’ the unsuspecting,

Photo by famcycrave1 / pixabay

but rather to provide an entertaining and memorable experience. As Satoru Iwata, the former president of Nintendo once said: “Above all, video games are meant to just be one thing: fun for everyone.” A game developer is thus just as interested in creating a quality product as the director of a film or the writer of a book. As well as being simply “fun”, video games are also an incredible means of conveying a narrative, as they allow for a deeper level of immersion than books or films, due to their interactive nature. For instance, the company Telltale Games adapts television shows, such as ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Walking Dead’, into five-part interactive experiences. These ‘Telltale games’ have plots just as compelling as the source material upon which they are based, but also allow players to make ethical decisions and shape the story and tone of the game with their choices. For example, in the Telltale adaptation of ‘The Walking Dead’, one must grapple with complex moral situations,

such as who to provide food for when supplies are running short, who to save in a situation where two of your friends are simultaneously in peril, and ultimately whether or not it is correct (or even possible) to remain idealistic and hopeful in a dystopian ‘zombie apocalypse’ scenario. Telltale Games are far from alone on the front of providing a thoughtprovoking gaming experience. With games such as ‘Mass Effect’, ‘Dragon Age’, and ‘Tactics Ogre’ providing not only compelling narratives, but also difficult moral choices and ethical dilemmas to challenge and broaden the minds of their players, not at all to ‘hook’ potential victims. So, to conclude, although instances of video game addiction are harsh and tragic, they are also rare. Try not to let your perception of gaming and gamers as a whole be dyed black due to a few unfortunate incidents; you’ll be missing out not only on a great deal of fun, but also some genuinely thought-provoking and insightful works of fiction.

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Entertainment

Top 10 Winter Picks for the Cinema Bethan Stoneman Newspaper Entertainment Editor

s the days get colder and Christmas gets closer, the inviting possibility of popcorn and good films has everyone rushing to the cinema. Luckily, the film options have never been better this winter, with brand-new releases and thrilling sequels sure to keep those winter blues at bay. He Named Me Malala 2 October The incredible true story of Malala Yousafzai, the 17-year-old girl who stood up to oppression and won. As a strong advocate for girls’ education in Pakistan, Malala’s mission was thwarted when she was shot by the Taliban. This documentary follows her amazing journey in the fight for freedom of speech and education.

Steve Jobs 9 October Since the release of the first iPhone in 2007, the world has gone Apple mad. This October, director Danny Boyle brings to the world the story behind the technology, as the entrepreneur’s secret struggles are revealed. Michael Fassbender is sure to shine in the lead role as the genius, portraying the emotional story of the creator through the turmoils he faced. Spectre 26 October The new instalment in the beloved James Bond franchise sees Daniel Craig reprising the role, this time encountering the global criminal agency ‘Spectre’. The film promises non-stop action and excitement as talented villain Christoph Waltz attempts to stop Bond once and for all.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 20 November It’s been three years since the first Hunger Games film created a buzz that has yet to die down. This November, the series finally comes to a conclusion as Katniss faces the Capital and President Snow for the last time. The Good Dinosaur 25 November Everyone’s favourite animation team, Pixar, return from the phenomenal success of ‘Inside Out’ with their new offering, a prehistoric tale of friendship between a boy and a dinosaur.

Photo by TerraS12 / Wikimedia

Photo by TardisOnFire / Google Images

The Danish Girl 27 November Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne returns to the screen this November with the daring role of Lili Elbe. This is the true story of one of the first people to ever

undergo gender reassignment surgery. Based on the novel with the same name, the film is sure to be a moving and stunning tale. Sisters 18 December One of the few comedies to be released this winter, ‘Sisters’ , starring Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, is the story of two siblings and their attempts to throw one final party before their parents move house. Star Wars: The Force Awakens 18 December Sci-fi fans across the world will rejoice at the return of the epic series. Old favourites, Han Solo and Chewbacca, are set to grace the screen once again, alongside an array of new faces and sure to be thrilling stories. The Hateful Eight 25 December The controversial and talented director, Quentin Tarantino, returns with his newest offering: the tale of survival in a post-Civil War landscape. With Channing Tatum in the lead role of Jody, alongside Tarantino film regular Samuel L. Jackson. The Revenant 25 December This western thriller is set to be one of the biggest films of the Christmas period. Old favourite Leonardo DiCaprio will be taking on an edgier role alongside the extremely talented man-of-the-moment, Tom Hardy. This is a tale of revenge that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Is Real-Life Brutality Caused by Video Games? Zaib Nasir

owadays, the media often turns to video games as a scapegoat for a lot of real-life violence. Is this justified, or is it simply an unfair method of attracting more readers? Video games and violence are a pair that just happen to go hand in hand. It’s a couple that is often highlighted by (typically) conservative adults, and is relentlessly split up by (usually) prepubescent teens, but can video games really be attributed to real-life violent acts? Where’s the evidence of this, and why do games get such bad press? There certainly are a handful of cases where a link can be seen. Breivik stated that he trained for attacks carried out in Norway using Call of Duty, Lanza (who carried out the Sandy Hook shootings) also apparently ‘trained’ using first person shooters. Yet the criminals who carry out

these acts are often mentally unstable, with a warped sense of reality. This is exemplified by Evan Ramsey, who gunned down one of his fellow students. He said: “I did not understand that if I (…) pull out a gun and shoot you, there’s a good chance you’re not getting back up (…) You shoot a guy in ‘Doom’ and he gets back up. You have got to shoot the things in ‘Doom’ eight or nine times before they die”. Ramsey’s mental health was in question to begin with, but it still remains a common theme within crimes committed like this: these games brought out what these shooters were already susceptible to. Despite this, for the vast majority of cases, there are rarely solid links to crime and video games. So if there’s only a handful of cases, why do video games get so much bad press? Why is it still such a hot topic? Maybe there’s a more tactical reason behind the bad publicity. We only have to look at one of the most popular

franchises to find the answer. Once upon a time in the 90s, a little game development company by the name of DMA Design created a game called Race’n’Chase. It was a sort-of open city ‘cops and robbers’ experience, where you could play as either the good guys who maintained the order, or the bad guys who could cause mass chaos. The problem was, playing as robbers proved to be a lot more fun, and all the developers’ energy went into making that the main component of the game. The issue was, however, how can you sell a game that centres on anarchy and being the bad guy? Let’s not forget that this was an era where Mortal Combat was a hot target for its depiction of violence. So, to sell this game, bad publicity was the answer. DMA Design employed publicist Max Clifford, the brains behind one of UK’s most infamous headlines, “Freddie Starr ate my hamster”. Clifford drove

anti-Race’n’Chase press in conservative newspapers to create bad publicity for the game, deliberately throwing it into the line of fire. In turn, it created huge sales for a noname franchise; a no-name franchise that turned out to be Grand Theft Auto, with DMA Design eventually becoming Rockstar Games. This may be a one-off example, but the bottom line is that violent and controversial games will always create bad press. It works in favour of the game companies, and it generates newspaper sales. Carmageddon, Bully, Hatred, the list goes on. So, do video games cause violence? Is there anything to worry about? That’s up to you to decide, but bear in mind: it’s estimated there are 1.2 billion gamers in the world. If video games were a scapegoat for real life violence, the world would have a real problem on its hands. I say, game on everyone.

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015 facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Culture

The Zombie All-Nighter

Photo by Mark Lobo | Flickr

Bethan Stoneman Newspaper Entertainment Editor

s the 9am seminars and endless reading return with a vengeance, there is one big event just around the corner: Halloween. With talk of the best costumes and parties already buzzing around campus, The Gulbenkian already got in the spooky spirit and hosted a night of back-to-back horror films in their ‘Waves of Horror Zombie All-Nighter’ on 3 October. The night documented the very best of the horror genre, which lasted until the

Two For Tuesdays

he Gulbenkian are now offering a new deal for students this Autumn; two tickets for the price for one. This will take place on Tuesdays for selected screenings. This is a great deal that you shouldn’t miss, and it includes some popular screenings. One of the major films included is Mad Max 2D, which was released a few months ago and was a huge success. Also, to get you already thinking about Christmas, they are showing the classic, Home Alone; a heart warming and fun watch. Another which many of you will be dying to go and see is Mean Girls Quote-A-Long, a dream we have all been waiting to come true. Don’t forget that this deal is available every Tuesday, and if you are a regular visitor of the Gulb, why not get yourself a £5 student GulbCard.

eerie early hours of the morning. The first film of the evening, Romero’s ‘Night of the Living Dead’ (1968), followed the seven unfortunate occupants of a Pennsylvanian farm, where the recently deceased return to life. Shot in black and white on a low budget, the film soon became the most profitable horror film of the time, as audiences flocked to see a previously unexplored genre of film-making. The second film of the night was ‘Return of the Living Dead’ (1985), a sequel to the first, in which the terrifying events of ‘Night of the Living

Dead’ actually happened. True to the culture of the 80s, the protagonists are a group of teenage punks who attempt to escape a horde of brain-eating zombies, with thrilling results. Following these two films, the next showing was the original classic ‘Evil Dead’ (1981); a brilliantly scary and original tale of five friends who unleash demons and spirits in the middle of a small cabin in the woods. The film was a huge success, which helped to spawn the 2013 remake. The most recent of all the films involved was the 2008 thriller, ‘Pontypool’. This horror has the unusual setting of a Canadian radio station. The workers struggle to survive when zombies are released into their small town. This clever plot leads to a thrillride of action and gore, perfect for any fan of the genre. The penultimate film of the night was the epic ‘Dawn of the Dead’ (2004); a horror which re-launched the world’s obsession with zombies. The story follows a small group of people fighting for their lives in an apocalyptic world, and has enough jump-scares and bloody horror to please even the most critical film-goer. Completing this terrifying night of zombies and providing some light relief was the brilliant 2004 horror-comedy ‘Shaun of the Dead’. Giving a different take on the genre, the film follows the perils of Shaun and his close family and friends as they attempt to escape the zombie madness at their local pub, The Winchester. The night was a complete spooky success, perfect for getting people in the Halloween mood.

The Art Awards Shalyia Arumugathasan Newspaper Culture Editor

This page is sponsored by The

his scheme has been set up by the Gulbenkian to encourage children and young people to get involved in and be inspired by art. The Arts Award is managed by Trinity College London, in association with Arts Council England. It is a programme for developing and learning new skills whilst also sharing them with others. It is great to be able to progress in creativity and also gain leadership skills. Additionally it can help create a great network between young people and art professionals. Through this framework you have a chance to meet new people, express your talents and learn what inspires you.

The best part of this is that they have a great reward scheme to go with it. It comes in five levels, introductory and four accredited awards. This award is something that will make a difference in your work world and the arts.

Photo by PermaCultured | Flickr

What’s Going On At The Gulb? Yolanda Brown Saturday 10 October Double MOBO Award Winning Saxophonist, Yolanda Brown, brings her vibrant and lively music to the Gulbenkian this October with a special set called ‘Reggae Love Songs’. White Slate - Your Fragment Phantom Sunday 11 October This is a brilliant piece of drama written by F.Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald. Here they retell their story of love, loss, and legacy. It is a show that will take you soaring back through the Jazz Age and into the passionate world of the two lovers. A Midsummer’s Night Dream Monday 12 October The Gulbenkian will be showing a recording of this famous Shakespeare play, performed in Brooklyn, New York in 2014. It was a production created by Julie Taymor and really showcases her abilities in this incredible retelling. Othello - An All-Female Production Tuesday 13 October Smooth Faced Gentleman present a smash-hit from the Edinburgh Fringe; a version of Othello that contains an all-female cast. A shadowy tale of secrets, passion, and misdirection, this new twist gives the classic tale a whole new feel. James Acaster - Represent Wednesday 14 October The comedian, Acaster, is once again doing what he does a best and speaking the truth in a very relatable way about the most mundane things. Once again, his nonsense will have everyone laughing! Jason Byrne - 20 Years a Clown Sunday 18 October The biggest selling comedian from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival comes to the Gulb to celebrate his 20th year of solo shows. Earthfalls - Stories from a Crowded Room Wednesday 21 October It’s the 25th anniversary of Earthfall; their show is a story in motion with highly physical dance.

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire

This page is sponsored by The

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Culture

‘Buy a book, help save a life’

Jessica Duncan Newspaper Feature Editor

aterstones aim to raise £1 million for Syrian Refugees. Big names in the literary world, such as David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson, and publishers including Penguin Random House and HarperCollins, are coming together to help the cause. They plan to do this through the Buy Books For Syria Campaign, started by Waterstones, for the Oxfam Syria Crisis Appeal. The Buy Books for Syria campaign is a joint initiative between authors, publishers, and Waterstones. All of the profit will be donated from certain books sold to Oxfam’s Syria Appeal, to aid in this humanitarian crisis. The campaign started on 1 October and the books that are involved bear a sticker reading ‘Buy Books for Syria’. The campaign has already received a lot of support, with #BuyBooksForSyria trending on Twitter and raising awareness to their cause. The target amount of £1 million will give 150,000 people in Syria

clean water. Managing Director of Waterstones, James Daunt, said: “In desperate times like these, everyone

feels the need to do something, to help in some way, we are doing what we do best: book-selling, and it only feels right

Photo by European Commissions DG ECHO | Flickr

that every single penny of each book sold will go straight to Oxfam.” There are over four million refugees throughout five host countries. More than half of the refugees are children, and still need to be registered with the UN. Dangerous trips are being made to try and flee the war stricken country. Waterstones’ scheme aims to provide extra support and care for these refugees. “Our aim with this campaign is to use the power of books to save lives.” said Tom Weldon, CEO at Penguin Random House UK. Another campaign using “the power of books” was recently led by Patrick Ness for the same cause, and raised more than £500,000, with Ness pledging to match the first £10,000 of donations. This was followed by John Green, Derek Landy, and Anthony Horowitz. So, if any of your upcoming books for your course are part of this, then why not donate your money to a good cause and get something back for helping. As David Nicholls said, “buy a book, help save a life”.

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015

Runway rundown - LFW 2015 Shalyia Arumugathasan Newspaper Culture Editor

or the second time this year, the fashion kings and queens have graced the catwalks of London with new gorgeous collections. This time debuting the Spring/Summer 2016 lines. Burberry, Aspinal of London, Jasper Conran, Orla Kiely, Topshop Unique and Vivienne Westwood Red Label are just a few of the many designers who impressed during Fashion Week. With a whole new range of trends introduced, I have narrowed it down to my highlights for fashion week: 1. Cara Delevingne brings back the selfie at the Burberry show. Although not featuring in the show, she still manages to make a statement. 2. Burberry also revealed that following the success of the monogrammed blanket scarf, they are now hoping to create personalised rucksacks. That is something that will definitely be on everyone’s wish list next season. 3. The Breakfast Club edition of Fashion Week was served to us by Hill & Friends. They had rather handsome bellboys serving the new line, with the addition of some pink ponies. Très chic. 4. Donatella also rocked London

with her new Versace line, emulating a young, punkier look of the Versace brand. After the show, the place transformed into a heaving party; that is how its done during Fashion Week. 5. Orla Kiely’s innovative fashion display was in the form of the most chic minigolf game you will ever see. The models showcased their outfits whilst playing a round. 6. Primrose Yellow - This is the ‘It’ colour of next season’s fashion and I guarantee you will be seeing a lot of this

around when the new lines come out in the shops. 7. Topshop Unique had a bold new range that celebs, such as Alexa Chung, were loving. Spotlight model from the show was Lineisy Montero, who showed true grace and elegance. So, once again, London Fashion Week has created a whirlwind of trends and unforgettable moments. I’m sure we all can’t wait for it to grace us with its presence again with Autumn/Winter 2016 collection from 19-23 February.

Photo by Dominika Wojciechowska | Flickr

The Tate Modern revamp

Shalyia Arumugathasan Newspaper Culture Editor

he Tate Modern in London will undergo a major revamp. The new makeover will cost £260 million and

Photo by JR P | Flickr

will include a new ten storey building and an extraordinary panoramic roof terrace. The new development was encouraged by the art museum’s increasing success over the years. The Tate director, Sir Nicholas Serota, wants to use this expansion to continue to influence England’s attitude towards art. The Tate also announced that the public will be able to view it from 17 June 2016, but the day before, they are inviting 5,000 school children for a special event. This is an excellent opportunity to expose the younger generations to some incredible pieces of art and encourage them to become involved in the art world. The expansion means a 60% increase in display space, and allows works from 250 artists to be shown from around 50 countries. The Tate are determined to raise the full amount of money, and they are nearly there. The trustees of the gallery have confidence that the last £30 million to be raised will be achieved by their target date. The bosses of the gallery have expressed that this revamping of the Tate Modern is “one of the largest cultural fundraising campaigns ever

This page is sponsored by The

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

launched”. I think this expansion will be an excellent contribution to the galleries already wide collection. Its opening is most certainly a date to keep in the diary.

Culture

Autumn fashion must haves Hannah McNamara The Turtleneck This top is the perfect autumn essential for your wardrobe. You can wear a ribbed, short-sleeved style for layering under your favourite jacket, or a chunky rollneck jumper to cosy up in when it gets colder.

The Pinafore Dress Perfect to wear to lectures to remind you of your primary school days. Try one in either denim or corduroy. The Bomber Jacket These seem to be all over campus at the moment, and are a perfect item for autumn weather! Nice and lightweight, great for layering, and very versatile.

The Backpack An obvious essential – perfect for carrying all those heavy books around campus, and much more practical than a handbag!

Photo by allispossible.org.uk | Flickr

Sportswear Even if you don’t do sports but still love wearing comfy clothes (like me), sportswear is just what you need for being practical, comfy, and stylish. Brands like Adidas and Nike are a must-have.

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire

This page is sponsored by The

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Culture

‘To Kill A Mockingbird’: take two? Karisma Indra

or many of us, the name Harper Lee conjure up images of GCSE classrooms, pouring over the modern day classic, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. The novel remains one of the most popular books of the 20th century. Lee’s second published novel, ‘Go Set a Watchman’ was the most pre-ordered book since the Harry Potter series. With so much speculation surrounding the newest book, it was inevitable that many would be disappointed. The

unprecedented success of her first novel created a tombstone for her later career;

Lee previously stated that she never intended to write another novel, fearing

Photo by Gwydion M. Williams | Flickr

Photo by Kennedy Library | Flickr

The Marlowe Presents: Pss Pss Shalyia Arumugathasan Newspaper Culture Editor

n Friday 9 October, the Marlowe Studio will be hosts to the Baccalà Clowns and their award-winning show, Pss Pss. This is a clown show created for adults, and has seduced and entertained audiences from all over the globe. The show is presented by two very skilled performers, Simmone Fassari and Camilla Fassi. Their act consists of communicating purely through body language. It incorporates a blend of acrobatics, juggling, and clowning. Pss Pss is a discovery of magic in the mundane, and these two incredibly lively dreamers take the audience to a journey of hilarious moments that will make you laugh out loud. They display a seriousness that can in turn can be seen as an innocence reminiscent of one’s childhood. The silence on-stage carries an abundance of emotion, love, support; the two show an incredible connection. They showcase impressive physicality and give a great portrayal of modern clowning.

They are a Swiss Company and have won the Cirque du Soleil Prize. The company are known for creating poetic tours that are both playful and dazzling. The director of this piece is Louis Spagna, who was born in Belgium, and whose directing and writing career set off in 1995. Directing is not his only

profession, however. He is a musician, an accordion teacher, an actor, and a clown. He also had the opportunity of taking part in Cirque du Soleil in 1984. His work is known for its simplicity, and it is clear that this performance was carefully constructed. It is guaranteed to be a brilliant show; and should not be missed this October.

Photo by Sabrina Corana/ Flickr

that fans would be left disappointed. The novel is set in the 1950s, and features a 26-year-old Scout Finch, who returns to her home town to visit her father. Here, she grapples to reconcile the father of her childhood with the one she now sees through adult eyes. The book has faced criticism for its portrayal of the elderly Atticus Finch. Atticus was portrayed as a man who advocated civil rights in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, but has racist views in ‘Go Set a Watchmen’. Here we see the difference between the narration of a child and the more reliable perspective of a full-grown Scout. No longer is Atticus the hero of Scout’s childhood, but simply a flawed man. Lee does manage to create full and intriguing characters in the book, but fails to create a well-flowing story. ‘Watchman’ may not be Lee’s greatest work, lacking the finesse of ‘Mockingbird’, but to expect another cultural and literal phenomenon such as this is setting oneself up for disappointment. A better and more fulfilling way to read ‘Go Set a Watchman’ may be to view it as a standalone novel. In its own right the book can be seen as a good read when taking away the burden of Lee’s previous plot; therefore making it definitely something to still consider.

Blog To Watch This Week!

f you’re looking for an alternative culture blog to follow, the one that should be at the top of your list is ‘Pop Sonnets’. It takes current songs and turns them into old English, in the style of a Shakespearean sonnet. These make for an entertaining read that is both literary and relevant to pop culture. An example of this is the Spice Girls song “Wannabe”. The blog, run by Erik Didriksen, posts a new one every Thursday. The idea behind the blog is that of reversing the norm of Shakespeare being made modern by turning the modern into old, following the common rhyme pattern. Running the blog himself, Didriksen has researched the old language aspects to ensure that each sonnet is accurate.

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015

Editorial

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Blaming the outsider A Finnish Politics and International Relations student gives his take on the real effects of EU migration on the economy of Great Britain. Otto Ilveskero Website Comment Editor

red “controls on immigration” Labour campaign mug sits on my kitchen counter, collecting dust. I bought it as a reminder that on 7 May 2015, none of the three largest parties (in terms of popular vote) really wanted me here. After Labour’s crushing defeat on that day, I was foolishly hoping that the opposition would learn from their mistakes and turn the discourse back to real economic issues. However, it seems that Labour’s new Shadow Home Secretary, Andy Burnham, didn’t feel the same. Instead, last week he took on the EU’s free movement policy, saying that EU immigration widens inequality, reduces wages, and provides economic gains in

big cities, while leaving smaller communities worse off in the UK. But he might as well be citing that graph showing how the shrinking number of pirates has correlated with the rising global average temperature, because the claim that EU migration is causing any of these things is just extremely difficult to prove. For example, a study by UCL’s Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM) found that an increase in the number of migrants resulted in a small increase in average wages for the UK-born workers, while another study by the Institute for Public Policy Research indicated a small decrease in wages resulting from immigration. Additionally, Jonathan Wadsworth’s analysis for the LSE found no correlation between the levels of immigration and changes in unemployment or local wages of UK born citizens.

Mr Burnham might be correct when it comes to some manual workers, as the same study that indicated a positive average wage development from immigration states that the 5% lowest paid workers might see their wages decline slightly. However, for his “EU immigration has made working people poorer” argument to be true, he must only be talking about the very lowest paid UK workers. Even then, though, these numbers explore immigration as a whole, rather than just the effects of the EU migrants, who tend to be well qualified with a high employment rate. Now that we’ve got that settled, I must say that there are just way too many partsto the economy to blame all the bad things around us on EU migration. We could focus more on, for instance, how the London-centric

establishment spends over £2,000 per capita more money in the capital than is the UK average – that’s 24 times more than in the North East. Big cities also gain from the fact that the government invests more in areas with stronger private sectors, rather than helping those with the weakest (SPERI brief no. 15). And he’s not wrong on inequality, this year Britain’s wages were declared the most unequal in Europe – followed by Portugal and Latvia. But I don’t know, maybe the doubling of the top 1,000 richest individuals’ combined wealth in the last ten years, while the rest of us have had to face the consequences of the historically slow recovery, helps to explain this better than EU immigration. It’s always nice to blame the outsider though, right?

Photo by Tim Gillin | Flickr

Friday 9 October 2015 InQuire

Classifieds

Relief Support Workers

Ref: 1458 30 positions £7.18 per hour Various hours Canterbury and Dover Are you looking to get fulfilment from your job? Are you looking for a job where no two days are the same? Relief support workers are needed in Canterbury and Dover.

Bar and Waiting Staff Ref: 1454 20 positions £6.50 per hour Flexible hours Based in Gillingham Would you like to work for one of the most famous football clubs in Kent? Gillingham FC are recruiting bar and waiting staff to work on match days and other events.

Part-Time Musicians Ref: 1468 10 positions Meets minimum wage Various shifts Based in Canterbury Calling all aspiring musicians! The band of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment are currently recruiting musicians to attend high profile military events and occasions. Jobshop’s Recruitment Fair is running on 29 October in Keynes Foyer.

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

Summer Camp Counsellor

Ref: 1469 250 positions $1600 for an average of nine weeks full-time America Would you like to spend the summer gaining some valuable experience and earning some extra cash? A summer camp company are currently recruiting for summer camp counsellors!

Bar Person

Ref: 1471 £6.50 per hour Part-time Based on the outskirts of central Canterbury A bar person is needed to work in a pub located close to Sturry Road.

IT Technician and Tutor Ref: 1473 15 positions £10 per hour plus commuting expenses Various shifts Are you studying Computer Science or an IT related degree? Are you tech savvy with lots of patience and enjoy talking about new technology? If so, this could be the job for you!

Waiting Staff

Ref: 1424 Meets minimum wage We are looking for a pool of experienced waiting staff. Work will be on an ad-hoc basis and you must have your own transport.

Outreach Ambassador Ref: 1474 120 positions Meets minimum wage Part-time Based at Canterbury campus Would you like to work for the University of Kent? The Partnership Office are currently recruiting for student ambassadors!

Tutors Ref: 1457 100 positions £10-£25 per hour Part-time Based in various locations in Kent 100 tutors are needed to work in various locations in Kent!

Part-time Tutors

Ref: 1451 250 positions Meets minimum wage Various hours Various locations Would you like to share your knowledge with others? Are you looking for a job that can fit in with your studies? Tutors are needed to provide tuition to children, guiding them through maths and literacy activities.

Community Carer Ref: 1452 5 positions £6.75-£8 per hour plus 22p per mile for petrol cover Part-time Based in Canterbury Community carers are needed in Canterbury!

Waiting and Front of House Ref: 1475 20 positions £7.60-£8.00 an hour Flexible hours Do you have experience in catering? Waiting and front of house staff are needed to work at various locations within the Canterbury and Thanet area at a variety of events throughout the next few weeks/months.

Guide Communicator Support Worker

Ref: 1453 £7.85 per hour Flexible hours Various locations in Kent Enthusiastic, reliable and caring individuals are needed to support those with sight loss. Duties will include assisting the client with their daily activities such as shopping, attending appointments, and helping them do the things they enjoy.

Customer Service Assistant Ref: 1459 5 positions £6.70 per hour increasing to £7.33 after probation 15-25 hours per week Based at Folkestone Do you have exceptional customer service skills? The World Duty Free Group are looking for customer service assistants to work at the Eurotunnel in Folkestone during their busy period on the run-up to Christmas!

PHP Developer

Ref: 1400 £10-£12 per hour 8-24 hours a week Based in Canterbury Do you have experience in PHP development? A web development agency is currently recruiting for a PHP Developer.

Senior Mentor Ref: 1478 100 positions Meets minimum wage 15 days residential hours Based in Kent and London This is a short term opportunity which may lead to further work in 2016 to work for a leading charitable organisation in the delivery of the NCS programme.

Bartender

Ref: 1476 2 positions £6.70 per hour Part-time Based in Chatham Do you have experience in pouring a drink or two? A countryside pub with a family friendly environment is looking for bartenders!

Data Collector

Ref: 1319 3 positions £8.76 per hour Various hours Based in Canterbury A data collector is needed to work on an exciting project looking into how oral health and the quality of life can be improved for the elderly living in care homes in Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.

TO APPLY FOR ANY OF THESE ROLES, GO ONLINE TO: inquirelive.co.uk/jobshop

InQuire Friday 9 October 2015

Classifieds

facebook.com/inquiremedia @inquirelive canterbury_media

InQuire Classifieds - Advertise with us Your ad here 01227 816101

www.ktvlive.co.uk

FIND A JOB THAT FITS AROUND YOU AND YOUR STUDIES. inquirelive.co.uk/jobshop

Producer Templatefor text. Wednesday drivetime radio show. Contact via www.csrfm.com

Your ad here 01227 816101

Template text.

50 Shades of Grey Party Game