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5 June 2018
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Issue 13.12
Guardian Releases League Tables News Page 2
Brexit: FFS People? Features Page 16
What to Wear to Graduation? Lifestyle Page 19
What Happened This Year?
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News
2018/2019
Print and online editorial team: Editor-in-Chief Molly Hope
Home Office Survey on ‘impact’ of International Students Withdrawn
editor @inquiremedia.co.uk
Newspaper Editor Jesse Bedayn
newspaper.editor @inquiremedia.co.uk
Website Editor
Daria Istayeva website.editor @inquiremedia.co.uk
Bill Bowkett News Newspaper News Editor
newspaper.news@inquiremedia.co.uk
Jordan Ifield
Website News Editor
Photo by Wikimedia Commons
website.news@inquiremedia.co.uk
Opinion
By Maisie Lee Newspaper Opinion Editor
Maisie Goeun Lee
Newspaper Opinion Editor
newspaper.opinion@inqiremedia.co.uk
Matt Nuttall
Website Opinion Editor
website.opinion@inquiremedia.co.uk
Lifestyle
Katinka Pim
Newspaper Lifestyle Editor
newspaper.lifestyle@inquiremedia.co.uk
Vacant
Website Lifestyle Editor
website.lifestyle@inquiremedia.co.uk
Entertainment
Emmanuel Omodeinde
Newspaper Entertainment Editor
newspaper.entertainment @inquiremedia.co.uk
Matylda Makowska
Website Entertainment Editor website.entertainment @inquiremedia.co.uk
Culture Maryah Chughtai Newspaper Culture Editor
newspaper.culture@inquiremedia.co.uk
A
fter receiving criticisms that a Home Office sponsored survey of international students was ‘racist’ and ‘discriminatory’, the survey, asking students about their fellow foreign students at universities, was axed. As part of an inquiry into the socioeconomic impact of the international students in the UK, the MAC-sponsored survey
Sport
Kiro Evans
Newspaper Sport Editor
newspaper.sport@inquiremedia.co.uk
Vacant
Website Sports Editor
website.sport@inquiremedia.co.uk
Head of Photography design@inquiremedia.co.uk
Head of Events events@inquiremedia.co.uk
Vacant
Vacant
Head of Distribution
George Knight
distribution@inquiremedia.co.uk
@InQuireLive Facebook.com/InQuireMedia Instagram.com/inquirekent
design’ also allowed users to access the survey and respond multiple times, compromising its veracity. Desire for survey-base, Home Office policymaking links to Prime Minister May’s previous tough posture regarding the figures of international students in the UK. Back in her first few months as Prime Minister, May had expressed her concerns over the number of overseas students, and the number of former-international students remaining in the
University Down 13 Places in Guardian League Rankings
Shani Thomas
Website Culture Editor website.culture@inquiremedia.co.uk
was set up online asking the home students their perception of international students. The survey asked questions such as, “How many of your friends are international students?” with a range of responses from ‘all of them’ to ‘none of them’. The survey was initially circulated amongst some of the vicechancellors and the Universities UK group. It was soon scrapped, however, as concerns were raised that the questions unnecessarily ‘problematised’ international students. Its ‘poor
UK. Furthermore, the figures produced by the Office for Statistics Regulation— suggesting that around 90,000 former international students a year have remained in the UK after graduation—in the previous year had generated political demands to set a rigid limit on the number of student visas issued each year backed by Home Secretary May. However, in Feburary, May admitted that the number of international students do not impose long-term effects on migration numbers and has since softened her stance. As the survey follows only a few weeks after the Windrush scandal, which cost the former home secretary, Ambur Rudd, her job, the government was forced to take criticisms into account and dismiss the survey. According to Sumi Madhok, an associate professor at the London School of Economics, and Professor T. Beultmann at Northumbria University, the survey was labelled as an encouragement to “bureaucratic racism” and is flawed as its statistical model makes it “entirely unacceptable”.
By Alejandro Javierre Writer
T
he Guardian Newspaper published their 2019 University League Tables on Tuesday. They delivered a comprehensive ranking of universities by their individual subjects, as well as the overall rankings of universities based on attributes deemed most relevant to prospective students. The ranking considers student satisfaction with different courses as well as
money spent per student on educational services, and average development of grades, measured by comparing entry A-level results to final degree grades among students. The School of Social Policy, Sociology, and Social Research appeared to be hit the hardest by the recent rankings, with most subjects related to the School seeing huge drops in the position. The Universities Criminology course fell from 11th in the country to 42nd, and the sociology course fell to 46th.
The university itself saw a less drastic, but still serious drop to 35th overall, down from 22nd the previous year, and other courses, such as Chemistry, also fell to the mid30s. The details of each course suggest that the fall in ranking for the school of social policy, sociology, and social research courses was directly caused by a large drop in student satisfaction in 2018, as all other variables considered did not oscillate much from last year. This drop may have affected the
overall ranking of UKC, along with a drop in student to staff ratio. The University’s press office said that the difference in student to staff ratio was due to a change in the university’s statistical reporting—a logistical change that other universities have yet to implement. In the following years, when other universities begin to use this new reporting system, UKC should move back up the ranks, according to the our universitity’s press office.
At a Glance UK Universities minister Sam Gyimah has pledged his support for a UUKi campaign aiming to double the perentage of UK students who study, work or volunteer abroad during their degree by 2020. Currently, only 6.6% of undergraduate students in the UK do so, a low percentage compared to many other countries.
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
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News
Canterbury Nightlife ‘Sleazy and Intimidating’, Claims Academic By George Knight Head of Distribution
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anterbury has been branded by an art historian as a Jekyll and Hyde city, for being beautiful and peaceful during the day and intimidating at night. Dr Michael Paraskos, of Imperial College London, claims that Canterbury “turns from a sophisticated and welcoming [place] during the day to a sleazy and intimidating” one by night. The 49-year-old explained that the beauty of the attractions disappears after dark, descending into a wash of “Drunken groups [whom] lurch around the high street, many of them stag and hen parties whose members assume every passerby is fair game”. “The bus station is like a lawless saloon bar in the Wild West. “They might be OK for teenagers and people in their 20s, but perhaps not for people
of my age.” His comments appeared after his most recent weekend visit to the city earlier this month. Paraskos told InQuire that his view on the town’s nightlife was limited compared to that of a resident’s, but that the issue remained unorthodox enough for him to raise it among local media. He pointed out that his perspective was limited to ‘a weekend night’ and that his views should not be taken as a representation of Canterbury’s entire nightlife. He explained that the problem was unique to Canterbury: “You go to similar mainland European cathedral cities and it is not like this. “In our culture people seem very concerned about their own right to get drunk and party, but unconcerned about the impact that [it] has on other people. It’s a very selfish culture really.” Dr Paraskos believes that a “light touch [of] police presence would help” manage the
situation better. He clarified that his accusations were not aimed at the student population in Canterbury, simply at ‘revelers’ who visit. He “saw no evidence of it being a problem with students’ and that there is a risk of scapegoating students for a much broader problem”. From what he witnessed, “it looked like underage drinkers, and mature men and women”,
Photo by Imperial
possibly locals or ‘daytrippers’—essentially those whom he deemed ‘old enough to know better’—were those responsible. Canterbury City Council member, Caroline Hicks, disputed his claims: “We can’t agree with his description of Canterbury. “The city provides residents and visitors with a vibrant mix of night-time entertainment while promoting their safety and wellbeing, as evidenced by gaining its fourth Purple Flag award in March.” Dr Paraskos responded to these claims, calling Mrs Hick’s arguments ‘too dismissive’, making her ‘sound very complacent.’ He even questioned if “she has ever been in Canterbury bus station on a Saturday night”, alluding to his accusations of its ‘lawless’ atmosphere. Former Professor of Social Policy at the University of Kent and current chairman of the Canterbury Society, Jan Phal,
suggested that “Dr Paraskos worries should be taken seriously”. “Many residents would recognise the atmosphere of Canterbury at night. “People talk about being kept awake... having their houses and cars damaged” and even revelers “urinating and vomiting in the street.” However, Professor Pahl also directs the blame towards the venue owners of clubs and bars across the city, and to a certain extent the students. She notes that responsibility lies “with those who run the late-night venues and with the police”. These groups, she claims, have a responsibility to stop people from causing damage to the town, especially the police who she claims do not place enough staff after 11 o’clock, despite most “problems occur[ing] later in the night.” “Students are also involved”, especially towards the “first few weeks of the autumn term”.
‘Super Surgery’ Set for 2019 Opening By Jordan Ifield Website News Editor
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ermission to plan a “super surgery” on the site of Kent and Canterbury Hospital has been granted, with the official opening expected to be late next year. With six active GP surgeries in the local region, Canterbury City Council (CCC) have announced that this surgery center is intended to serve up to 15,000 patients and centralise medical practices in Canterbury into one location. Staff at both Cossington House and London Road surgeries are expected to be relocated, as they were recently rated as “challenged” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and deemed unnecessary under the new proposals. Despite the reallocation of services and personnel in the area, no changes are expected at
the University Medical Centre after it received a “Good” rating by the same organisation last year. However, the necessity of another GP service is being questioned, with the lack of a local A&E services still raising questions. Presently, the nearest full A&E practice is located at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, 11 miles away from the University, and whilst Kent and Canterbury Hospital does have a minor A&E department, it has not met the NHS waiting time target of 4 hours since 2014. Whilst a new “super surgery” could potentially release pressure on Canterbury’s minor A&E, one Kent student cited how a serious injury, theirs being a bruised and fractured arm in three places, meant that she had been expensively “travelling by cab back and forth” from Ashford.
They claim that a full A&E department in Canterbury “would’ve hugely cut down” any waiting time for an injury such as theirs.
Construction costs of the super surgery are expected to reach several million, although exact estimates are unknown until a construction firm and working
plan is confirmed. Despite criticisms, the new surgery is currently on schedule to be opened in December 2019.
Photo by Geograph
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News At a Glance
S Club 7 Coming to Canterbury Pride 2018 The popsters ― famous for smash hits such as ‘Don’t Stop Moving’ and ‘Reach’ ― will be performing on the main stage in the Dane John Gardens for Canterbury Gay Pride on June 9. Pride Canterbury committee chairman Edd Withers said the act were a coup for the festival, which this year received a £2,000 grant from the city council. ‘I think we could get up to 15,000 visitors because there is so much interest in the Canterbury event,’ said Mr Withers. University of Kent Lecturer nominated for a major Shakesphere book Award Dr Sarah Dustagheer, from the University of Kent, has been shortlisted for the Shakespeare Globe book Award. Her book, Shakespeare’s Two Playhouses, looks at how production during shakespearian times have had an impact on modern day drama. The winner will be announced on the 30th of July and the winner will receive a cheque for £3000. Dr Dustagheer joined us in the studio to tell us about her book Cheating at UK’s Top Universities soars by 40% Figures compiled by the Guardian from freedom of information requests to Russell Group universities – a group of 24 leading institutions that includes Oxford and Cambridge – shows the number of academic misconduct cases surged by 40%, from 2,640 to 3,721, between the academic years 2014-15 and 2016-17. InQuire has sent a Freedom of Information request to Kent and we are still awaiting their response.
Mass Vaccinations May Not Prevent Ebola Outbreak, Says University of Kent Researchers
Photo by US Department of Defence
By Emma Learch Science Correspondent
T
here are few diseases which inspire the level of fear commanded by the Ebola virus. A disease with a long rap sheet of symptoms: fever, muscle pain, vomiting, weakness, diarrhea, impaired liver and kidney function and in the most severe cases internal and external bleeding, the disease can claim between 50% and 90% of its hosts. Ebola is transmitted from person to person by contact with any bodily fluids, considering that most of the symptoms produce bodily fluids, this makes Ebola a readily transmissible and incredibly severe disease. In the West African Ebola outbreak between 2014 and 2016 it is thought that at least 28,616 were infected in the disease, resulting in the deaths of 11,310 people across Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. On 8 May, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of the Ebola virus in the region of Bikoro. The Democratic Republic of Congo is not a stranger to Ebola outbreaks, the disease was first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, back in 1976 when an outbreak occurred in a village near the Ebola River. The country has since successfully managed eight outbreaks in the last forty years. The situation has changed this time, however, while previous outbreaks have been confined to rural areas, this time four cases have been confirmed in the port city of Mbandaka, with a population of more than
a million people. The latest situation report from the World Health Organisation, on 22 May 2018, confirms 51 cases and 27 deaths across Wangata, Bikoro, and Iboko regions. Action is being taken, in the form of 7,500 doses of the rVSVZEBOV Ebola vaccine donated by the pharmaceutical company Merck. The vaccine has yet to be approved, currently being in Phase III of clinical trials, however interim results from a major trial in Basse-Guinée, Guinea published in The Lancet in 2015, indicated that rVSVZEBOV is a promising Ebola vaccine candidate. The plan is for the vaccinations to be used in a ring vaccination scheme that involves only vaccinating those most likely to be exposed to the disease, this includes direct contacts of those infected, contacts of those contacts, and healthcare workers. The latest situation report states that 628 direct contacts have been identified so far, though the number of people who could be part of the ring vaccination scheme is likely to be far larger. If a suitable vaccine were to be found, would it be possible to implement a mass vaccination scheme that would protect all vulnerable areas from Ebola? The answer is not likely according to University of Kent researchers, who’s findings have concluded that realistically, mass vaccination schemes in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo are not an option. The original research article ‘Herd Immunity to Ebolavirus Is Not a Realistic Target for Current Vaccination Strategies’ can be read in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.
Authors included Martin Michaelis, Stuart G. Masterson and Mark N. Wass from the University of Kent, Leslie Lobel from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, and the Uganda Research Institute Entebbe, and Miles W.Carroll from the National Infection Service, Public Health England. Mass vaccination leads to a situation called herd immunity, wherein enough of the population has immunity to the disease to act as protection for the remainder of the population by preventing the effective spread of the contagious disease. The study involved analysing the infection in West Africa to determine the likely requirement of an effective mass anti-Ebolavirus vaccination program, by finding the herd immunity threshold. It was found from previous Ebola outbreaks that each individual infection resulted in on average 4 secondary cases during early outbreak phases and super-spreading events. Using this information and a calculation including an expected vaccine effectiveness of 90%, determined that 80% of a population would need to be vaccinated in order to provide herd immunity to the population. There were a number of problems identified on biological, operational and financial levels, as to why this is not currently a viable option. There are various species of the Ebola virus, four of which are in Africa: Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Bundibugyo ebolavirus and Taï Forest ebolavirus. None of the vaccinations currently in various stages of trials are effective for all Ebola virus species. The study also assumes a vaccine effectiveness of 90%, when in fact the current vaccine effectiveness of the rVSVZEBOV vaccine is closer to 75%. It is also not currently clear how long the vaccination provides immunity to the disease, and the zoonotic aspect of Ebola provides more transmission options which could side step preventing human to human
transmission. From an operational stand point, the infrastructure of countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo provides an operational challenge. The vaccines need to be maintained at -80oC, providing a logistical challenge in a country where electricity can be intermittent and poor roads can result in journeys between towns taking days rather than hours. This issue is exacerbated by most outbreaks being in rural areas, home to 58% of the population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (more than 46 million people)— regions which are the least likely to have the required infrastructure conducive to an effective mass vaccination program. There are also communication obstacles; one of the defining aspects of the West African outbreak was the suspicion and mistrust in some affected areas. In the trial for rVSV-ZEBOV in Guinea 34% of contacts outright refused the vaccine, and some patients could not be vaccinated for other reasons. This issue may be reduced in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ebola was a ‘new’ disease to Guinea whereas the disease is more widely known about and understood in Democratic Republic of Congo. Language and cultural barriers would likely still be a problem. With any large-scale vaccination program, cost would also be a contributing factor to feasibility. The cost for each vaccination candidate is between £11 and £15 with a total population of 462million people across countries that have previously been affected by Ebola outbreaks. Mass vaccination of such a huge population would cost billions of pounds. The study concluded in support of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunisation, that ring vaccination is still the most suitable option for the control of Ebola outbreaks, until such a time when research provides a viable alternative.
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
InQuire 2017/2018: What Happened This Year? By Bill Bowkett Newspaper News Editor
S
ee what InQuire picked as the best of 2017 for news Take a look back at the stories that shaped an extraordinary year.
than being able to find it on campus, with one student calling the experience ‘embarrassing’.
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News
letter increased concern that students are being brainwashed by Remainsupporting academics. Matthew Goodwin, a professor of Politics and International Relations at The University of Kent, called Mr Harris’ actions ‘absolutely outrageous’.
November Lawyer Phil Shiner stripped of University of Kent honour: The 60 year old was struck off for receiving more than £1.6million in taxpayers money; for wrongly accusing hundreds of British soldiers in Iraq of murder, torture, and mistreatment; and for bringing false allegations to court.
December
have been paid a £45K payout, making her total wage for her final year of work £324K. It stirred deeper concerns over pay rises awarded to current and former vice-chancellors across the UK, with Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU) calling for “far greater scrutiny” on the pay of University chancellors and staff. UKIP Society Threatened with Disciplinary Procedure by Union: A leaked email in January revealed that the UKIP society were ordered by Kent Union to postpone a drinking social celebrating the Crusades or be faced with disciplinary action.
February Lecturers Walks Out Amid Pension Change: Members of the Universities and College Union (UCU) announced on 22 January that it
September
290 students from the Medway School of Pharmacy were unable to cast their vote, Kent Union postponed the event and moved it to Monday night. After all of the ballots had been counted, VicePresident for Activities, Aaron Thompson, was duly elected as the presidential successor to Ruth Wilkinson. The other full-time officer positions were won by: Stuart Lidbetter, VicePresident of Education; Sasha Langeveldt, Vice-President of activities; Omolade Elizebeth Adedapo, Vice-President of Welfare; and Emily Window, Vice-President of Sport.
April
UCU Suspend Summer strikes Over Pensions: In mid-April, the UCU announced that they would be suspending further strikes that were planned for the summer term, having come to a joint agreement with the UUK to review the pension scheme.
May Photo by UKC Photo by wikipedia Photo by UKC
Student Found Dead in Tyler Court Flat: The academic year for 2017/18 began with the news that a female first year student was found dead in her Tyler Court room on the Sunday morning of arrivals weekend. Molly Hope, InQuire’s Newspaper Culture Editor, was working as a welcome helper during Freshers week: “We were informed that there had been an incident and access to the flat in question was blocked off. We were told to move aside as the ambulance crew left the premises. Shaken students started coming out of their rooms and we had to calm them down. It was a sombre morning given how excited students usually are when they start their time at uni.” Students Denied Morning-After Pill: Students were unable to access emergency contraception on campus during freshers’ week, following cuts to sexual health services. Students looking for emergency contraception were referred to local pharmacies during freshers’ week, rather
October MP in middle of row after ‘outrageous’ letter to Universities on Brexit: He was accused of compiling a ‘hit list’ of university lecturers and professors teaching students Brexit, including those at The University of Kent. He asked all vice-chancellors to supply the names of professors teaching European affairs ‘with particular reference to Brexit’ copies of the syllabus and links to online lectures. The letter sparked accusations
Photo by Gov.uk
of McCarthyism from some academics, with many critics of the letter describing it as ‘Leninism’ and an attack on academic freedom. The
University of Kent Chaplin, Joy Everingham, Became First Transgender Minister for Methodist Church: Speaking exclusively to InQuire back in December, Joy told us: ‘I honestly thought it was going to be a hard struggle, but it has been one of the simplest things to transition as part of the church. Not that transitioning is easy, but I never thought this would ever happen’.
January
would be participating in strikes spanning 14 days, protest over employers’ plans to downgrade lecturers’ and staffs’ state pensions. The walkouts resulted in classes being cancelled, exam questions being altered, and many students frustrated by the amount of contact time lost.
March Kent Union Elections 2 2017/18: March 8 was supposed to be
Former Vice-Chancellor Received £45K Payout: 2018 kicked off with the shocking discovery that the University of Kent’s former Vice-Chancellor, Dame Julia Goodfellow, was revealed to
the day when students would find out who was to become the next Kent Union President, along with the other Full-Time and Part-Time Officers, at Kent Union Election Night. Unfortunately, an hour before polls closed, a technical issue relating to data protection Photo by UKIP society fb page meant that approximately
Canterbury Mosque Sent Letter of hate Containing Itching Powder: On ‘Hate a Muslim Day’, the Canterbury Mosque was sent a letter with itching powder. Police cordoned off the area, closing Giles Lane in the process. Paramedics were also reportedly treating the Imam for injuries. Canterbury Muslim Community England issued an urgent notice on its Facebook page that day, calling the attack a ‘failed attempt to terrorise the Muslim Community’ and that it would ‘not prevent Muslims from practising Islam freely in Canterbury’. Kent Down 19 Places in University Ranking: Kent dropped 19 places in the Complete University Guide’s league ranking, dropping from 25th in the 2018 audit, to 44th in 2019. This is the lowest position the University has held in the past decade. One reason behind this fall is the disparity in the Student-Staff Ratio’.
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Opinion
Unpaid Internships: Useful Opportunities or exploitation? By Tarnjoat Kaur Writer
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dilemma that all students are facing, especially now summer is approaching, is gaining relevant work experience for future career jobs. For years, internships and work experience placements have been the most obvious solution to this problem, but giving up your time for free, to do menial tasks for a company isn’t an easy choice for everyone. In a frenzy of soon-to-begraduate fear, I applied for the Penguin Random House paid work experience placements, and was lucky enough to get in. I knew I was dealing with a large conglomerate business and went in with fairly low expectations about how I’d be treated and the kind of tasks I’d be given. I was expecting a lot of filing, menial tasks and someone breathing down my neck the entire time to make sure I was doing them right. The actual experience
however, definitely shattered a lot of my presumptions and opened my eyes to the kind of opportunities students should be looking out for when considering applying to placements. While I was doing a lot of ‘grunt work’ like tidying and mailing out up to 80 books a day, there were also opportunities for me to sit in on meetings, talk to supervisors to make contacts, communicate with different departments and use software that was relevant to the industry. That was extremely important for me as someone looking to possibly begin a career in publishing. While my experience at Penguin was very positive, not every internship and work experience placement is created equal and I know people who
hated the department they were assigned to, and felt exploited despite being payed. Not every internship is for everyone but you won’t know for sure until you apply and find out.
Penguin and other publishing companies in particular rely on a steady stream of interns throughout the year in order to help keep the company running smoothly. If interns are so vital to the company, then it makes sense that they should pay them for the valuable work they provide. If they are unable to do this, then companies should at least provide financial aid to take care of travel, accommodation and other costs incurred by the placement. For smaller companies Photo by Abhijit Bhaduri | Flickr who might not be able to afford The university advises you not this, but still have valuable take an unpaid work experience experience to offer, then the placement for more than placements should not be too one week. I would definitely long and focus on tasks that agree. Students are young would benefit a student CV, and talented individuals and rather than handing them those applying for internships general admin work. Some are generally driven and might say these companies motivated to be working within should not be offering work the companies they apply for. experience but smaller
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companies can be more relaxed to work at, while also providing useful experiences. The crucial thing to remember before going into any unpaid work experience placement is knowing how to negotiate not only costs but also what you do with your time there. If you are accepted into the company, it is because they realise that you have potential to do well and possibly be a future employee. Take this into consideration as well as what kind of an experience you want from your placement, before you simply accept a placement under any terms. Most students are so anxious about getting onto a work experience or placement in the first place that they forget to value their input into the companies they intern for. This puts companies at an advantage because they know students need the experience and that they are willing to do it for free. But if more students valued their time, the amount of paid work would increase.
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
US Withdrawl from Iran Nuclear Deal By Matt Nuttall Writer
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n 2015, Barack Obama, as one of his last major actions as US president, signed a landmark, denuclearization agreement with the traditionally unfriendly Iran. Earlier this May, in one of his worst moves yet, President Trump withdrew from the deal. The nature of the deal was pretty simple, Iran agreed to limit their nuclear production, and open their facility to regular checks. No new facility could be built, and no nuclear weaponry was permitted. In return, the EU, US, and UN all agreed to remove previous economic and nuclear sanctions on Iran. This was essentially a win for everyone involved. The US was able to ease fears of a slightly hostile nation, while Iran could cure its economic issues and clear up the general mess of sanctions
the West had crippled it with. Withdrawing from an agreement with a potentially threatening country antagonises them, further degrading the relationship. Now Iran is reeling after a direct jab from Trump, and therefore liable to bond with other less-than-friendly countries—Russia, for example. So Trump, in one fell swoop, has ended a productive deal, antagonised a difficult country in a troublesome area, and potentially granted an eighty year old enemy, a new ally. This was a terrible decision. So why did Trump do this? First and foremost, it was something Obama implemented. The optimist in me desperately hopes that this was not something on the mind of the leader of the free world, but the cynic in me is still not convinced that Trump didn’t run for president just in spite of Obama after the
former president mocked him at the Correspondents’ Dinner. Furthermore, on a more reasonable note, repealing the actions of a predecessor of the other party is a sure-fire way to increase support for yourself in your own party, so there is some real benefit to Trump’s position. Finally, if Trump and his supporters have decided that Iran is not worth the effort, keeping them weak is a good idea. If this is the path they are taking, expect to see near immediate heavy sanctions on Iran to limit their progress. If these
sanctions aren’t implemented, then what Trump was trying to do here is simply beyond me. Whatever the future holds, however, this was a poor decision. It only serves to increase global tension at an already icy patch in
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Opinion
international relations, and helps to make an enemy out of a genuinely powerful country in the Middle East. In Britain, we are near obliged to follow the US in foreign policy. Let us hope it does not have serious consequences.
Photo by United States Department of State | Wikimedia
No Permanent Resolution to Gun Control? By Lola Bloom Writer
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n May 18th, 17-yearold student Dimitrios Pagourtzis entered his high school around 7:30 am in Santa Fe, Texas, headed to an art class and began to open fire. Ten people were killed and thirteen wounded. Amongst the victims were a beloved 63-yearold teacher and a 17-year-old Pakistani exchange student. To carry out the attack, Pagourtiz used both a shotgun and a 38-calibre revolver he stole from his father. The horror of the shooting unfolded for 25 minutes before Pagourtiz was arrested and taken into custody. The Santa Fe High School shooting has been reported to be the 22nd school shooting taking place this year in the United States (U.S.). This worrying trend is causing frustration across the country over gun regulation. Recent polls have estimated that roughly 70% of U.S. public opinion is now in favour of stricter gun laws. Why is Congress, therefore, not taking
any actions? Is the power of the NRA and the gun lobbies this robust to counter the majority of US voters? It is not unusual following a school shooting, to witness the tide of U.S. opinion to be leaning towards more restrictive gun laws but, as time goes by, the outrage tends to slowly fade away. However, there have been some indications that this could be changing. For example, the Parkland shooting that occurred earlier this year in Florida was seen by many as a watershed moment; a bottom-up movement that emerged from students who were directly involved in the deadly attack. The Parkland students started a ‘Never Again’ campaign that ultimately led
to the ‘March For Our Lives’ demonstrations in Washington D.C. and across America. The turnout for the protest was around 1.2 to 2 million people,
Photo by Kaine | Wikimedia
making it one of the largest protests in American history. Since the Florida shooting, there has been incremental, but positive shifts in policies. Florida’s governor Rick Scott was able to pass a bill that raised the age for buying a gun
from 18 to 21 and a ‘red flag legislation’ to remove guns from individuals showing signs of violent behaviours. Nonetheless, in the U.S., there is still a habit of pro-gun advocates being more vocal and politically active than gun control advocates. Despite the progress being made, the Congress is still blocking many actions to materialize. Moreover, following a Republican tradition, President Donald Trump does not seem interested in expanding gun-control policies as exemplified in his controversial comments on arming teachers. However, are school shootings only a gun-related issue? The frequency of such events seem to suggest something deeper could be at stake here. In 2015, in a piece for The New Yorker, Canadian journalist Malcolm
Gladwell made a powerful argument by referencing a sociological theory of riots. The idea behind this theory is simple: some people do not need encouragement to throw a rock at a window and start a riot. Others need to see a hundred people throwing rocks before considering joining the riot. Ultimately, anyone could join in, as riots are a contagious phenomenon. Gladwell applied this to school shootings to illustrate the complexity of the issue. Of course, guns play a massive role in the context, but is it enough to fully account for what seems a deeply rooted American epidemic? In the case of the Texas shooting, Dimitrios Pagourtzis was described as a quiet kid but also sometimes as someone funny and friendly. Could it be that American popular culture has turned an act, previously defined as extremely deviant, into something kids like Pagourtiz come to view not as unimaginable to carry out as they previously would have? This is the same question we must ask when discussing school shootings.
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Opinion
Marx at 200: Was He Right About Anything? By Bill Bowkett Opinion Writer
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arl Heinrich Marx is often described by many to be one of the greatest and divisive political thinkers of the 19th century. His writings on the flaws and failures of capitalism have not only inspired countless revolutions, but have generated centuries of fierce debate among academics and theorists. A hugely influential and revolutionary philosopher, Marx did not live to see his ideas be carried out, but his impact is strikingly evident across so many aspects of life.Born on 5 May 1818 in Trier, Prussia (now Germany), Marx was the son of a successful Jewish lawyer, who inspired Marx to follow the same carrier route as himself. Marx studied law in Bonn and Berlin, and then the University of Jena where he received a doctrine in philosophy. In 1843, after a short spell as a journalist, Marx and his wife Jenny moved to Paris, a hotbed of radical thought. There he became a revolutionary communist, where he then befriended his lifelong collaborator, Friedrich Engels. After being expelled from France, Marx spent two years in Brussels, where he worked with Engels to co-write ‘The Communist Manifesto’. Marx then moved to London, where he was to spend the remainder of his life, during which time he wrote his most distinguished piece to date, ‘Capital’. Throughout his life, Marx travelled across Europe, where he saw the true scale of poverty and inequality. The more he travelled, the more he could see and explain the unequal access to resources and the nature of ownership, property, and wealth. He argued that the working class were being exploited by the ruling class (bourgeoisie), in that the ruling class were paying workers less than the total value of goods that they were producing—known as the surplus value. Not only could the ruling elite extract this value for profit, but they could also use their economic position for ideological control. This deeply infuriated Marx, he knew the system was rigged. To him, profit made by the proletariat and taken by the bourgeoisie was theft. Marx thought capitalism holds the seeds to its own destruction and that this concept of class struggle plays a central role in understanding society’s allegedly inevitable development from oppression under capitalism, to a socialist and ultimately classless society. How exactly would that occur in Marx’s view? Revolution and the overthrow of the class system. He would outline his vision in 1847 where he, alongside Engels, published ‘The Communist Manifesto’. Together,
they elucidated the materialist conception of history, as well as listing ten short-term goals for a communist state. These included the ideas that property is owned publically and that education is free for all. Proclaiming for the “workers of the world, [to] unite”.
economies and nasty dictatorships that tyrannised and impoverished its subjects. After the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War in 1991, Francis Fukuyama marked what he liked to describe as the ‘end of history’: that is, the end point of
Despite Photo by Thierry Ehrmann | Flickr his positive mankind’s mind-set of an ideological idealist future, Marx evolution and the and his ideas were not popular universalization of Western among the general public during his liberal democracy as the final form of time. A point sent-home when only 11 human government, effectively killing people turned up to his funeral. But communism as a concept.
global disparity between rich and poor is striking. Three-point-two billion individuals sit at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Together they have 3% of global riches, despite representing 68.7% of the world population. Rightly so, Marx predicted that capitalism would lead to the rich becoming richer and poor remaining poor. On top of that, he was right in thinking that capitalism would lead to boom/ bust economics, in the form of financial crisis, recession, and austerity. The most recent being the 2008 financial crash. Marx, however, overlooked capitalism’s ability to decrease poverty. Since the 1980s—a period where capitalism was boosted under the leaderships of Margret Thatcher in the UK and Ronald Regan in the US—the number of people in absolute poverty has fallen by around 1 billion. Nonetheless, there is a lot to learn from Marx, but his solution was far worse than the disease he diagnosed. The School of Life brilliantly describe Marx as being like a doctor during the early days of medicine; he could recognise the nature of the problem at hand, although he had no idea how to go about curing it. Marx had so many ideas, including alienation (Entfremdung) and how work turns people into machines, not to mention ‘the fourth industrialisation’ and the complete takeover of the actual machines and artificial intelligence of labour force . If you look at an Apple production line in China, you would not see him as outdated would you? He is revered by many on the left in Britain, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. Have a look at the last Labour party manifesto, where you could see elements of Marxism embedded throughout, such as the nationalisation of the rail networks or the scrapping of university tuition fees. Their 40% vote share can still be a justification as to why Marxism is still relevant today and how many of his ideas are still being implemented. He must have done something right if his ideas are still being embraced by millions. We ought to see Marx as a guide to our troubles, whose diagnoses of capitalism’s ills helps us to navigate us towards a more prosperous life and gaining justice. Whether you agree with the man or not, we should all be Marxist in the sense of being critical and challenging what we believed was right. As Marx rightfully puts in ‘The Eleventh Thesis on Feuerbach’: “Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.”
“His prediction, that communism as a sociological structure would inevitably overthrow capitalism, was undisputedly proved wrong; with capitalism dominating the world system in the wake of globalization. Nevertheless, we should not discredit or reject Marx’s ideas too quickly, his findings have continued to be relevant in many different aspects of life.” after his death in 1883, his philosophy and ideas flourished. Out of Marx’s ideology grew communism, the realisation of a stateless society where all are equal. Communism became a global movement, gaining prominence in countries such as China, Cuba, and Russia. This utopian ideal, however, failed to materialise, leading to poorly run
His prediction, that communism as a sociological structure would inevitably overthrow capitalism, was undisputedly proved wrong; with capitalism dominating the world system in the wake of globalization. Nevertheless, we should not discredit or reject Marx’s ideas too quickly, because his findings have continued to be relevant in many different aspects of life. Today, the
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
9
Opinion
Grenfell Tower’s Legacy: Racism and Classism By Dimitri Andreou Writer
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t has almost been a year since the Grenfell Tower tragedy that, according to the government report, claimed the lives of around 80 people— though in the past year some people have claimed that the real casualty figure is well above 100. Either way, the Grenfell tragedy demonstrated clearly that the lives of the working class and, for the most part, immigrants and people of colour, matter significantly less than those of their white, wealthy counterparts. The tower, which still stands in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, has recently been the focus of much media attention. Just this week, The Guardian published a piece on the “Lives of Grenfell Tower”, in which mini obituaries, written by the friends and family of the victims, were published as
tributes to those who lost their lives. In the run-up the one-year
anniversary of the fire, the country has been considering the legacy that Grenfell has left behind. The tragedy saw the UK unite in solidarity with the victims and their
families, and against the reckless incompetence that ultimately led to the fire. The
lack of fire safety, as well as the failure to replace the extremely combustible cladding with fire-resistant cladding. According to The Independent, the fireresistant cladding, which would have prevented the fire spreading at such a rapid pace, would have cost only £293,000 to install. In short, the Photo by Natalie Oxford | Wikimedia government valued the incompetence, coming from lives of 80 people, including both the government and several children and teenagers, property developers, includes at £293,000. the failure to take seriously the The consequent investigation several complaints made by into the tragedy, however, has Grenfell residents regarding the not urged the government to
ban combustible cladding, despite calls from campaign groups all around the country. The report was justifiably met with harsh criticism, with many simply asking, what more will it take for things to change? The legacy of Grenfell is clear. Of course, we will remember each and every soul that tragically perished in such a preventable disaster, but we must also remember that classism and racism are still relevant. Most, if not all, of the residents of the tower were working class people, while a significant majority had migrated to this country in the hope of bettering their lives. Not much has changed since the tragedy. Nobody responsible has been charged or arrested, and combustible cladding has not been banned. The lack of response is a disgrace, but the campaigns of the victims’ families provide hope for a future with better oversight and more safety.
Royal Wedding and Breaking Conventions By Madeleine Warwick Writer
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n Saturday 19th June 2018, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, in a small ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. In the grand scheme of things, it probably wasn’t that small. But compared with the weddings of Prince Charles and Prince William, it was certainly a less formal, more low-key affair. In many ways, this represents the
couple themselves; neither of them are flashy, and both are more down to earth than many would expect royalty to be. Having said that, there has still be a lot of comment on social media about the wedding, and not all of it is positive; there have been comments on Facebook calling Meghan a “golddigger”, claiming that the new Duchess of Sussex is “lowclass”, gambling over how long their marriage will last.
This kind of comment was not given to either the Duchess of Cambridge nor to Lady Diana Spencer, at the time of their marriages, perhaps due to the fact that they came from supposedly ‘higher class’ families. Meghan Markle therefore, poses a number of firsts for the monarchy; she is the first mixed-race woman to marry into the royal family, she is the first real commoner (despite being related to Edward III distantly through her father), and, possibly the most intriguing of all, she is the first American to marry into the monarchy. This, more than anything, shows how much the Windsors have changed. In 1936, Edward VIII was forced to abdicate the throne, in order to allow Photo by Kensington Palace | Twitter him to marry
the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. The only difference in this is that Edward was king, while Harry is not expected to take the throne, as he is currently 6th in the line of succession after his nephew, Prince Louis. However, it must be said that this kind of change is an interesting one because now, the people who seemed more outraged about the Duchess of Sussex joining the royal family are the people of Britain. Obviously, this is a minority view, but it is certainly saying something when one can claim that a supposedly archaic monarchy, according to some, can be more forwardthinking and less prejudiced than the subjects over which they preside. There have been countless comments through the years claiming that Kate, and now Meghan, are the new Dianas, but also exclamations that no one can fill the shoes of the “People’s Princess”. This kind of pitting of royal women against one another has been going on since the divorce of Charles and Diana, with many claiming the Queen and Diana hated each other. Further
to that, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has been subject to some of the most negative and cruel comments of the entire royal family; while she did have an affair with Charles during his marriage to Diana, as his current wife, and one could argue, his soulmate from the start, she deserves far more respect than she is given. Camilla is actually a great example of royals working behind the scenes to make the world a better place; she supports and lends publicity to hundreds of amazing causes, such as helping victims of rape and sexual assault, and supporting literacy growth, amongst multiple other worthy charities. At the moment, the royal family is proving that it has a place in the modern world; though many would say that this is due to the down-to-earth nature of the younger royals. Instead, I would argue that in actuality, the stabilising nature of the Queen, and her 66 year reign is what allows the next generation of royals the natural account of freedom as humans, in a way that the Queen has hardly ever been allowed to be.
10
Editorial
Where do we go from here? A note from your Editor-in-Chief
Dear InQuire reader, It’s finally the end of the 2017/2018 academic year. I say ‘finally’, though I mean ‘unbelievably’. And for some of us, the whirlwind of the last 10 months marks the end of our entire academic career. Now we have had the ultimate last day of school, which is a moment for taking a train to London to drink over-priced beers in a jazz bar in Soho. That excursion exemplifies the academic resources I’ve taken for granted in the last three years, but it was one of the most incredible nights I’ve had, with some pretty cool people I met through a quaint newspaper society at university. Myself, along with many other graduates, are at a pivotal point in life. We were all told that university was the time where you weren’t going to be ‘babied’ anymore, but if that’s true, what the hell is it like after university? While family members, and seemingly everyone you encounter these days, asks the incessant remaining question, ‘what now?’, I reply with the same half-ironic, monotonous answer, ‘I don’t know.’ Partially because I’m tired of hearing the question, and partially because I’m pessimistic about forfeiting the student cushion I’ve taken advantage of during my time at university. Not having the comfort of a set timetable and a focused academic purpose is intimidating, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sound a little exciting, and at the risk of sounding trite, we may not be students anymore, but we’ll never stop learning. Beyond the interrogating attacks about our future, we must remind ourselves that we still need time to reflect on our past, appreciating what we’ve learnt and achieved. Surely, we can all list distinct changes in our character from our first to last year—less Venue visits, and much worse Venue hangovers. I’m not sure how someone is meant to rate the better and worse times in their life, but if it were based on laughter, love, self-fulfilment, and collective fulfilment, my last year of university has been the best of my life. Although the next stage may be a little foggy, it won’t shake my confidence. The growth I’ve witnessed from my friends is unmeasurable, and I’m thrilled to watch the progress of the brilliant people close to me after university. My friends have helped me become the better version of myself, and that’s the version I’m proud to be carrying forward. Congratulations to the class of 2018, and a special thanks to InQuire, for a fantastic year of nurturing an exceptional publication, and holding an unparalleled place in my heart.
Love, Kiran
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
What’s on... THE LEISURE SEEKER (15) Fri 1st at 5:45pm - Mon 4th June at 6:30pm AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (12A) Fri 1st at 8:30pm - Tues 5th June at 6:30pm STEWART LEE: 90s COMEDIAN (15) Sat 2nd June at 7:00pm SCHOOL OF ROCK: OUTDOOR SCREENING (PG) Tues 5th June at 9:30pm OSCAR WILDE SEASON LIVE: AN IDEAL HUSBAND (12A) Wed 6th June at 7:15pm LADY BIRD (15) Thurs 7th June at 6:30pm I, TONYA (15) Fri 8th June at 6:15pm BEAST (15) Fri 8th 9:00pm - Sun 10th June at 7:30pm A GENTLE CREATURE (18) Sat 9th June at 5:00pm A QUIET PLACE (15) Sat 9th at 8:30pm - Thursday 14th June at 7:00pm FAMILY FILM: HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS (U) Sun 10th June at 1:30pm REDOUBTABLE (15) Sun 10th June at 5:00pm ROH: SWAN LAKE (NEW PRODUCTION) Tues 12th June at 7:15pm- Sun 17th June at 2:00pm
Stand Up Blasphemy Two days of events putting freedom of expression centre stage. Exploring the performance of blasphemy through comedy and film and a special line up of acts... For more information on ticket prices and show timings visit: www.thegulbenkian.co.uk Ravi Holy
Ravi Holy is a Vicar by day and a stand-up comic by night. He has The One Show where he was voted Funniest Vicar by the four (although to be fair, there were only two other contestants!) ordination, he was the lead singer of a punk band and, the Daily Telegraph, a Satanist. The Telegraph objected to an ‘Atheist Funeral’ but the deceased’s family really enjoyed surely, more important…?) He has also conducted a funeral Presley and he performed Black Sabbath’s Warpigs at the a biker wedding he took recently. He will never be promoted England…
performed live on Inbetweeners Prior to his according to him conducting it (which is, dressed as Elvis reception after in the Church of Photo by the Gulbenkian
Daphna Baram Daphna Baram is an rights lawyer, a current political would dare speak in, then definiteley It is based on diabetes from a or prepare to the subject of the energetic show is
Israel born, London based comedian. She worked as a human journalist, and a translator. Her comedy often focuses on affairs, immigration and controversial issues which no one about...If this sounds like something you may be interested give her new show Daphna Baram: Sugarcoating, a watch. Baram herself, a Middle Eastern Mary Poppins who gets spoonful of sugar and is ultimately told to indulge less, part with her toes! There is a very powerful insight on body, politics and the politics of the body. This hystercially Photo by Daphna Baram official website now touring
Giacinto Palmieri Originally from Italy, Giacinto Palmieri has been living in the UK His acts often focus on his transition into British culture, trying his way with his very thick Italian accent and the surprising and events that have subsequently taken place. When reviewing Edinburgh Fringe show, critic Kate Copstick wrote that “Giacinto as Tuscany has wine”.
Prices Full - £8.50 GulbCard Member - £6.50 Senior - £7.50 Registered Disabled - £7.50 Student - £5.30 Student GulbCard Member - £4.30 Unemployed - £7.50
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since 2001. to navigate humorous his first has charm
Photo by the Gulbenkian
Sameena Zehra
Sameena Zehra is an award winning comedian and storyteller. She is also a blues singer/ songwriter, writer, director and accomplished actor who has worked at the National Theatre, and toured internationally with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Sameena is a consummate writer and performer and has a great connection with her audiences. Her humour is dark and her mind is absurd. She is a storyteller, political satirist, feminist and humanist with a unique take on the world; exploring both her Photo by Sameena Zehra official page individual experiences of everyday life and the larger issues of the world in which we live in. She has performed her solo shows all over the world, including Edinburgh Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Brighton Fringe, Adelaide Fringe and New Zealand Fringe.
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Culture
Arts
Marlowe Theatre: Flashdance the musical By Maryah Chughtai Newspaper Culture Editor
Dive into the 80’s with this musical throwback!
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et your leotards and legwarmers ready, because between the 18th23rd June, Selldoor Productions are bringing you their adaptation of the 80s hit, Flashdance! Flashdance the musical is a stage adaptation of the 1983 musical film, with a book by Tom Hedley and Robery Cary, music by Robbie Roth and lyrics by Roth and Cary. Starring Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton as Alex Owens, and singer-songwriter Ben Adams as Nick Hurley, the on-stage performances will undoubtedly leave its audiences dancing up and down the aisles and
Photo by Marlowe Theatre
singing along to songs you wouldn’t have been able to forget even if you tried. The story is set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, centering on eighteenyear-old Alex who is a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night. She is eager attend the highly competitive and prestigious Shipley Dance Academy, in the hopes that she can turn her dreams of professional dancing into a reality. When romance sparks, her aspirations are put under pressure as she navigates through situations that all audiences can relate to. It is through the expressiveness of the music, dance
and lyrics, that we are able to see the struggles and frustrations of this working class, small-town girl. Clifton’s electric energy is a highlight of the production, her talent extends far beyond dancing, to her superb singing and acting—a triple threat who takes any task into her stride. It is about the power of one’s determination and being able to believe in yourself and your dreams. The combination between the talented cast, phenomenal choreography and iconic hits, such as Maniac, I Love Rock and Roll, and What a Feeling, will leave you singing and dancing for days to come!
Your Instagram Could be in an Exhibition in 50 years By Lisa Wehrstedt Writer
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or 40 years she worked as a nanny in Chicago, and after her death she gained world-wide recognition. This is the story of Vivian Maier, an American street photographer, born in 1926, but whose stunning work only became known to the world within the last decade. Maier pursued photography in her spare time and used her Rolliflex to capture the streets and people of Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles in the 1950s. Though she never got published or paid for her work while she was alive, people are now impressed by her mastery of the art and techniques. In 2007, at the age of 81, she became unable to keep up payments for the storage unit that contained her life’s work. Her belongings were auctioned off, and Chicago collector John Maloof bought the biggest part of her negatives, prints, and 8mm films. He proceeded to post some of the shots on Flickr in 2009 and they went viral. At that point Vivian Maier was already dead. She never knew success or appraisal for her art. She died alone and in poverty, assisted by the same children she had helped raise. After the huge internet success, Maloof decided to take Maier’s work around the world with an ongoing exhibition. The work that is on display, however only features a small part of her corpus, as it is estimated that Maier shot around 150,000 pictures during her lifetime. There is always a respectful distance between her subjects and herself. Her
main interests were people, often capturing them candidly on the streets, in an authentic but polished way. When viewing her pictures, one can’t help but feel like they were there, taking the picture themselves, and imagining the conversations that must have happened before and after the shot. Another interest of Maier’s were selfportraits. Due to the Rolliflex and Leica both not having a self-portrait mode, Maier resorted to studying her shape in reflexions. She often captured herself in shop windows, mirrors and other random reflective objects, incorporating her shadow with multiple reflexions. The theme of ‘shadows’ is also found in her architectural work, with her main research being based on the interaction between buildings and people, and the geometrical abstract shapes that buildings create. Overall, her work is very easy to enjoy and aesthetically pleasing. It doesn’t have high artistic ambitions, but it is nonetheless beautifully composed and carries a trademark style. The square fit of the Rolliflex films, the everyday subject and the eye level point of view of her pictures, make them surprisingly similar to the pictures we all post today on our Instagram. And who knows, maybe in 50 years, our phones will be found and glimpses of our everyday lives will be displayed in museums all around the world. Photo by pixabay
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire13
Books
Culture
Top 10 Books to Read This Summer
Khalid Hosseini’s ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’
A collection of the classic novels and a few new bestselling reads to get you through the summer...
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By Megan Warwick Writer
1) Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli Due to the success of the 2018 film adaptation, the book has gained further popularity amongst students everywhere. Through the witty and adorable protagonist, the novel explores themes of homosexuality, young love and teenage struggles. Definitely worth a read this summer.
beautiful young woman who turns the heads of many men and causes chaos everywhere she goes. The story is told from the perspectives of those who love
7) Emma by Jane Austen For those who fancy more of a challenging, mature read, then Emma is perfect. The novel centres on Emma Woodhouse, a beautiful, clever and wealthy girl—who is perfectly content with her life, but feels the need to meddle in others. However, her sometimes chaotic matchmaking throws her into deep water and quickly unravels truths she never once expected. It is a classic piece of literature and one where the heroine is wittingly able to explore the importance of friendship and true love.
2) All About Mia by Lisa Williamson Ever felt like your Constantly the odd one out? Welcome to the life of Mia. She’s a walking, talking, self-destructive nightmare and that’s why everyone falls in love with this book. It is a totally authentic teenage read and one which will leave you with a warm glow inside. 3) Still Me by JoJo Moyes Still Me is the third instalment in the journey of Louisa Clark. She arrives in New York, ready to embrace her new adventures, but is still thinking of a special someone, who cannot seem to leave her mind. Whilst juggling new romances with the ups and lows of New York highsociety, can ditsy Louisa finally find happiness again? 4) The Lido by Libby Page Summer setting? Check. Feel good read? Check. It’s the perfect summer holiday book, which will make you want to head straight for the beach or straight for the leisure centre, whatever you fancy. The emotional connection made between twenty-sixyear-old Kate and eighty-six-year-old Rosemary, is one which will capture the hearts of all people of all generations. 5) Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote A throwback novel, but it’s definitely worth a mention. The story centres on Holly Golightly, a free-spirited,
romance. After being shipped off to boarding school in Paris, Anna is miserable until she meets the charming, beautiful and smart, Etienne St. Clair. But when their lives become quickly entangled, will the City of Light be able to save their love?
8. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven It may not be the happiest story, but with poetic words and sympathetic characters, the love story of Finch and Violet is worth a read. As Violet faces trials with her sisters, she meets a handsome, but misunderstood boy, who shows her the world she’s missing out on. 9. The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt A story of three friends who go on a road trip around Whales, exploring love, loss, and friendship. A perfect read for a perfect summer setting.
6) Anna and the French Photos by Wikimedia Kiss by Stephanie Perkins A feel good book and classic teenage
10. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han A transformation story of a girl who is torn between two brothers. Set at a beach house, this book is summer read to make you feel good.
Book Review:
By Maryah Chughtai Newspaper Culture Editor
tale of two women and two cities— bound together by their love for one another and determination to not give up in the face of a patriarchal society. It is the follow up of Khaled Hosseini’s extremely successful novel, The Kite Runner, also based within an Afghan society and one which also prioritises the important relationships of a family. He is very skilled in telling a hearttugging tale, drawing light on much darker themes, such as violence, abuse and abandonment. We are introduced to Mariam, she lives on the outskirts of Herat, with her resentful and mentally unstable mother, whilst her father, Jalil, lives in the next town, with his three wives and nine legitimate children. Jalil is a wealthy businessman but cannot accept or show enough attention to Mariam because she was born illegitimately. Jalil constantly disappoints and deepens Mariam’s insecurities, finally forcing her into a marriage with a man thirty years her senior. We follow the struggles and firsts of Mariam and Rasheed’s relationship as well as the disheartening realities that soon emerge and essentially change Mariam for the worst. Part Two begins by telling the story of another young and vulnerable girl. Laila grows up in Kabul alongside her best friend, Tariq. But despite her pleasant and cheerful upbringing, events soon take a turn for the worst, and she too is left an orphan and forced into the hands of Mariam’s husband, Rasheed. Both women separated by a whole generation and with very different experiences of family life, care, and love, are essentially brought together by fate. Their unique and hearttouching bond shows them as sisters, mothers, and daughters to each one another. The combination between Hosseini’s characters and his ability to fully emerge his readers into the lives of his characters, essentially portrays women as an extremely powerful and diligent group of people. Whilst they navigate their ways through the extremely patriarchal and dangerous Afghan society, they are constantly participating in acts of self-sacrifice and survival. The novel is full of highs and lows, happiness and despair, love and heartbreak, which will have its readers hooked from the very first page. It is an emotional rollercoaster and one which reinforces the importance of self-belief and the power of women choosing to stick together.
Fiction
I
The Merciless Mercedes
Culture
Megan enjoys creative writing and meeting new people. She is part of the lacrose team and is a current writer for the culture, sports and entertainment sections of the newspaper.
t was a hot summer evening. The kind of hot where your thighs get stuck to the leather seats of a Mercedes, and you practically have to peel them off. I could feel the hot steering wheel beneath my palms. I was sitting in the front seat, a mess.
By Megan Warwick Writer
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I pushed my blonde, wispy hair out of my eyes, trying to focus on the road ahead. My best friends JJ and Fern were in the back seats, singing along to the song on the radio at the tops of their voices. I couldn’t help laughing, despite my nerves. Tom was in the front seat next to me, fast asleep after our late night. “Elle, turn it up!” Fern screamed in my ear. I shrugged, adjusting the volume. Maybe some music might help chill me out. I liked being in control. I liked knowing exactly what I was doing. But right now, I was completely uncontrollable. “VOLUME. UP.” JJ playfully shouted. “Guys, I don’t want to get distracted…” But he still reached forward and turned it up anyway. “I said no!” batting his hand away. But this just encouraged him to play with the different dials on the radio. My blood boiled and I could feel myself about to explode. “NO JJ!” I screamed, turning around and shoving him in the shoulder. “Look out!” I spun forward but my vision had become blurred by an object that was flying towards us. There was a collision, everyone jerking forward and screamed I shouldn’t have let go of the wheel. We skidded to a stop, the car engine rattling away. Silence. I felt the blood trickle down my left cheek but apart from that, everyone was alive. “You okay?” I asked to no one in particular.
Although this was real. I heard Tom’s head violently whack against the dash board. I desperately screamed as I tried to slam on the brake, but my foot was caught. My head knocked into the window, it shattered. I heard a shout. As the car eventually came to a stop, it felt like a vacuum had sucked all the life out of me. My entire body shook and burned with pain. Next, a strong smell of petrol filled the car and a flicker of light seeped through the gapping door. Ever since the accident, everyone thinks that my life has been completely destroyed. But in my opinion, it has been completely obliterated. The two in the back of the car were killed. Their heads had cracked together like eggs, and the impact had left them both brain damaged. My passenger is in a wheelchair, serious ligament damage, and may never walk again. Lives wasted. And me? The doctor’s say I was very lucky. But I’ll have the internal scars of that night for the rest of my life, forever reminding me of my recklessness and the recklessness of my friends. But, who wasn’t to blame? The driver of the car we crashed into. The driver’s husband. Their young, traumatised toddler. And their fourmoth year old baby who will never see her first birthday. But I guess we could always blame the Mercedes. The merciless Mercedes that killed the innocent and punished the reckless.
There were groans coming from the back. I caught my breath, looking around the inside of the car. “LOOK OUT!” A pair of blinding headlights coming straight towards us and I felt myself freeze. I froze and I couldn’t do anything. And even though I was half aware of Tom taking control of the wheel, I knew that it was too late. CRUNCH. The slam of the object took half the car, flipping us over with a great force of power. As the Mercedes moved, I felt as if I was in a gravitation ride at a fair ground.
Photo by Pixabay
Some Kind of Wings I let you polish the halo I wore around my head with a bottle of wine and a shot of tequila whilst you watched me dance and flap my wings sidestepping the arms that tried to rip my golden crown from its throne And each time I saw your curious eyes reflect off the glass surface of mine, like you had never before seen someone like me I turned away, biting the smile from my lip and stroking the golden silk that hung from my head and covered my shoulders Like a cloak And then you left at midnight knowing you had seen enough but I saw you look back just once before you walked into the night and I flew up into the air.
By Issey Spurway Writer Issey studies English and American Literature and Creative Writing. She loves writing in her spare time and often finds herself taking inspiration from modern poets, such as, Lang Leav and Carol Ann Duffy. She enjoys reading and writing honest poetry but also aims to challenge her readers in discovering the underlying messages behind her choice of words.
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire15
Science
Tracking down a Killer Fungus
Culture
By Emma Leach Science Correspondant
C
hytridiomycosis, more commonly known as the chytrid fungus is a fungal disease which has been responsible for the widespread devastation in global amphibian populations, causing the decline or extinction of hundreds of species of frogs. Widespread amphibian deaths were being recorded in the 1970’s by herpetologists, but it was in the 1990’s that the disease was understood to be the causal agent, rather than other anthropogenic means. With over 7,800 known species, it is likely that the disease will affect more in the future. The disease affects the skin, which is very important to amphibian species. The skin is one of their most important organs, used for respiration, thermoregulation, osmoregulation, and hydration. Amphibians absorb water and electrolytes through their thin, permeable skin. Amphibians also use their skin as secondary sources of respiration called cutaneous respiration, although in some species this is their primary means. They can allow passage of oxygen and carbon dioxide straight through their thin skin layer. Even in amphibians that use their lungs as primary means of oxygen absorption, most lose most of their carbon dioxide via their skin. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (the
fungus responsible for the disease) causes the skin to thicken substantially, which consequently plays havoc with the physiology of the host amphibian. Chytrid fungus has been causing concern to conservationists for decades, as it can cause 100% mortality in some species, known to decimate populations even in pristine environments. The issue is a global one, with the disease being prevalent in Australia, Central America, South America, the Caribbean islands, the North American Sierra Nevada, and the Iberian Peninsula. It has also been detected in Africa and areas of Asia, but does not appear to be spreading beyond the known location. An important part of understanding the disease is tracing it to its origin, which can tell us about how it has spread throughout the world. A variety of hypotheses have been postulated for the geographical origins of the disease including Africa, Southern America, Japan, East Asia, and North America. That is, until now. A recent paper published in the journal Science entitled: “Recent Asian origin of chytrid fungi causing amphibian global declines” provides evidence that the disease may have originated in the Korean Peninsula. They used genome sequencing technologies to sequence 177 isolates of Batrachochytrium
dendrobatidis it and combining to the data with the that carried out in other studies. Their country number of isolates hidden totalled 234, covering a in mining Photo by Jack Hamilton on Unsplash global population of the equipment. fungus. By analysing point The findings mutations known as single-nucleotide of the paper have led experts to urge polymorphisms, they were able to caution in the trade of exotic species for produce what could be compared to a the pet market, particularly from the family tree of the fungus. Their findings Korean Peninsula. suggested that the genetics of one Even the translocation of species lineage named BdASIA-1 demonstrated which are not affected by the disease the hallmarks of an ancestral can be vectors which carry the species population, dating back to the early to new locations where local amphibian 20th century. species are susceptible to the disease. What does this mean for the future? This is of deep interest to scientists, The authors of the paper believe that as they hope that future research the role of globalised international trade into species which are resistant to has led to the widespread nature of the the chytrid fungus could show a way disease, which makes sense considering forward in tackling the spread of the the boom in international trade at the disease. There have been multiple beginning of the 20th century. This studies in recent years into the role that could have been in the form of the direct symbiotic skin bacteria have to play in trading of exotic frog species from one species that are more resistant to the country to another, or by accidental disease. Hopefully these new studies translocation of species. For example, and the new findings on the geography Madagascar has recently been invaded of the disease will assist in paving a way by the Asian common toad, which made forward to save the worlds amphibians.
16
Features
Brexit: FFS People!
An Interview with Ms. Cowison, the student mobiliser for the For our Future’s Sake (FFS) campaign By Kiran Saggu Editor-in-Chief
F
FS is the acronym of the group For our Future’s Sake, somewhat of a play-on-letters, inspired by the explicit acronym that embodied the attitude of young people when they were asked about Brexit. To learn more about the group and their role in the anti-Brexit campaign, I spoke with Amanda Chetwynd-
Cowieson, a member of FFS’s coordinating team, in charge of student mobilisation. I asked her how FFS’s creation came about: ‘We were all sitting around a pub discussing the outcome of Brexit, all equally frustrated, and we wanted something to change, so we just decided, let’s do it.’ Of course, the name ‘FFS’ is interesting and applicable to young people as it best described their feelings about Brexit. ‘They have a defeatist attitude, they’d roll their eyes, shrug their shoulders, and say ‘for f*ck’s sake, I’m clearly not going to benefit from this, but whatever.’ For our Future’s Sake worked on changing that mentality. ‘Since the moment David Cameron announced we will have a referendum, young people were left out. Which really is an endemic problem in our society politically: leaving out young people.’ Amanda told me that FFS was created to be aimed at
empowering young people, because they should be involved in decisions that affect them as much as this, but they have support from people of all ages. She said some people even contact them to say they disagree with their stance, but support them representing young voices. It appears a universal problem with the campaigning and postresult stages of Brexit were the lack of information from both sides. On FFS’s website it states, ‘it is obvious that from the current trajectory of negotiations, that young people’s futures will be severely damaged by leaving the European Union’, and as another person without exhaustive knowledge of Brexit, I wanted to know: ‘how?’ Amanda said that whenever she’s asked why Brexit is bad, she reverses the question on them: ‘Tell me one way that Brexit will benefit BME people, or women, or those economically worse off.’ ‘If there were economic benefits to Brexit, we would hear about it. In the news its reported that Brexit has already placed a financial burden on the people who are already struggling economically. With European nurses leaving our hospitals, if we leave the European Union, that will put even put more pressure on the NHS, which is already underfunded and struggling. There’s no statistic that tells us we are going to economically benefit from Brexit, and any that people try to put across is hypothetical. Economically, people are going to be worse off with Brexit It’s been proven time and time again, that in societal and financial downfall, the lower classes will be hit the worst.’ I was curious as to how FFS grew from frustrated chat with friends over beer, into a prominent and popular campaign.
‘We were reaching out to different people and different universities, and eventually people started reaching out to us—such as interest groups that would be negatively affected by Brexit. Everyone has their own reason to campaign, and we’ve been trying to facilitate people. When the open letter from elected student union officers to Parliament was released, people said an issue hasn’t connected young people to campaign with overwhelming support since the tuition fees increase.’ Because FFS has garnered support from some NUS representatives, some people question the integrity of the campaign being led by young people. ‘Isn’t a NUS
campaign, even if they wanted it to be. Some officers are keen on it, but it is not their campaign, and they also change their position a lot. NUS is in their best position to represent students, but it is more of a grassroots campaign.’ I asked Amanda how FFS operates: ‘We like to diversify the message and inform people, then let them come to their own conclusions. This isn’t a pro-Labour and anti-Conservative campaign, it’s single-issue.’ ‘We wanted to make sure it is distinct from other campaigns, fun, and what young people want to see. So, the other campaigns are red white and blue; we made
ours pink and yellow.’ FFS feels the current political representatives that can really make a difference on Brexit, like MP’s, are not young, or diverse enough, nor are they representing the interests of young people, BME people, etc. FFS operates flexibly, but in three parts broadly. Mobilising: which is encouraging young people to get in touch with their MP and work on campus. Media: getting young eloquent speakers to talk about their experience and their opinions on why Brexit will be a bad move: moving MP’s opinions. They are legally responsible to be representative of young people so we must make sure they listen. What is the ultimate goal of FFS is? ‘Secure a people’s vote and campaign for remain vote now that people know what Brexit would look like. ‘Option A: what Theresa may can offer us outside of the European union, and Option B: no Brexit.’ In the first Brexit vote, 64% of registered voters aged 18-24 went to polls, and those are the young people that Amanda and the rest of FFS are campaigning for. ‘You cannot disregard that volume of people. Almost 1.4 million turn 18 every year, and it’s been 2 years since Brexit. Looking at the statistic majority of young people that would vote remain, that would make a sincere impact on the end result of a people’s vote.’ Whatever your stance on Brexit is, FFS’s mobilisation of young people is inspiring. Providing a platform to prove MPs aren’t the only ones with sincere views. For our Future’s Sake, Amanda told me, is about allowing young people the ability to say, ‘I don’t deserve that’.
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
17
The Argument Against a Second Referendum By Bill Bowkett Opinion Writer
R
uth Wilkinson, President of Kent Union, is part of a national campaign called For Our Future’s Sake, otherwise known as FFS. She and many others are campaigning for a peoples’ vote on the final terms of the Brexit deal, currently being negotiated by Theresa May’s Conservative government. They are
pushing for a followup referendum to the 2016 Brexit vote, with a newly worded question. The ballot would ask whether the United Kingdom should accept or decline the terms of leaving agreed with the EU. It would also need to specify whether declining the terms would result in the UK remaining in the EU or leaving with no terms. Asecond referendum, however, needs a second thought. Their idea threatens democracy, diplomacy, and England’s autonomy. They are not the first group to ride on this political bandwagon: the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats and even ‘Mr Brexit’ himself,
Nigel Farage, all support a second vote. A second referendum would again create the and
political personal divisions that formed during the original vote. Dr Phillip
Cunliffe, a lecturer at the School of Politics and International Relations at UKC, claimed that another referendum on this very issue would ‘be more bitter second time round’. It is simply not needed. The Brexit vote on 23 June 2016 was offered to the British people and the majority of citizens voted to leave—that was the will of the people. In 2015, then Prime Minister David Cameron delivered a speech in Chatham House, saying: “If we vote to leave, then we will leave. There will not be another renegotiation and another referendum.” The resulting vote was to advise the Government to leave the EU; the elected politicians, however, would determine the method of leaving, with the interests of their constituents in mind. Voters were not casting a ballot concerned with the terms of a potential Brexit, the question proposed was “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?” Not “Would you also support a second referendum on the bill to leave?” Many Brexiteers voted Brexit for different reasons and they themselves were divided on a range of issues. As Dion Curry, a lecturer in public policy at Swansea University, noted, a second referendum will not give answers into knowing what kind of Brexit people wanted, what trade deal they would prefer, and so on. A second referendum on the final deal would simply allow politicians to continue to do what they have planned all along. Advocates of a second referendum say that this vote is needed because the first referendum neither informed the electorate of the consequences of leaving the EU, nor educated them on how the departure would manifest.
But throughout the debate, and even before the vote was called, there was clear discussions about what a post-EU Britain would look like: including the £10 billion we would get back from the EU if we were to leave. On top of that, almost all Brexiteers, including the official Leave.EU, supported leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union. Even the Remainers’s official campaign said that they would eventually leave the Single Market and Customs Union if they won. It is a fallacy to proclaim that people did not know what they were voting for— it was clear. They wanted to ‘take back control’ of our boarders, of our money that was being sent to Brussels, and of our laws and jurisdiction. Another referendum, regardless of result, would weaken us at the negotiation table and strain relations between the UK and Europe. Such a serious subject requires expert negotiation and highlevel political decision-making. Another referendum, therefore, would undermine the actual purpose of parliament, which have the capabilities to scrutinise and debate the final terms of the agreement themselves. The FFS wants to fight for their own terms of the final Brexit deal, they should understand that we live in a representative democracy where we, the public, have the ability to hold politicians to account. We can vote them out of office if they fail to represent us in their capacity as civil servants. We, as an electorate, have done our job. We have decided to leave. Now we must hold our trust in Theresa May and our government to negotiate the terms of the UK’s departure. Let us get past these issues with care, then we can continue to focus on the far bigger issues facing us both domestically and internationally today.
18
Lifestyle
Life
Give a Damn:
The Impact of Single-Use Plastics I
Photo by Dustan Woodhouse | Unsplash
nternational statistics regarding plastic waste are a damning piece of evidence for humanity’s negligent impact on the planet. Ideally, this should motivate a broader ban on single-use plastics, or at least show us our impact and how we can each minimise it. Every year a trillion plastic bags are used worldwide, nine million tons of plastic waste ends up in the oceans, and every minute approximately a million plastic bottles are sold. Over forty percent of the plastic we produce is single-use, and only ten percent of plastic waste is recycled worldwide. The human impact on the planet is devastating; ocean waves carrying tons of trash, forests and beaches littered with plastics (much broken down plastic waste is so small it is indiscernible), and perhaps the saddest being the effect on animal life. In confronting our addiction to singleuse plastics, National Geographic photographer and co-founder of Sea Legacy (an environmental conservation
non-profit, aiming to restore the oceans back to health), Cristina Mittermeier has captured the impact on wildlife in photos; for example, a Steller sea lion who swallowed a fishing lure, and now suffers great discomfort as she carries this man-made, non-biodegradable object for months or years. When wildlife photographers, such as Mittermeier, witness animals in distress as a result of a man-made object, there is nothing they can do to help the situation. What we can do collectively, however, is to take steps toward reversing the tragic impact we have had over the past century. Cafes and bars needlessly give out straws, for example, so make a point of asking for no straws and non-plastic/ paper cups when ordering drinks. Kent students I have spoken with have, like myself, found the University’s Templeman Library Cafe frustratingly careless when it comes to its use of paper cups (which include a plastic lid). The
By Sara Kilian Website Culture Editor fact that the paper cups are recyclable is overshadowed by the more important notion that the process of producing the cups uses more water and energy than simply washing some ceramic ones would. To stop using single-use plastics, we can carry re-usable cups and bottles, straws and cutlery, use re-usable bags, bamboo toothbrushes, and buy fresh produce as opposed to supermarket products wrapped in needless plastic packaging. We can all stop littering, and pick up trash whenever possible, which can make a small reduction in what ends up in the ocean. Maybe we could all adopt a mindset similar to Mark Baumer’s (a poet who walked across America barefoot to raise awareness of climate change), who in answer to what his superhero power would be, said: “I want to eat every piece of plastic in the world.”
Take Advantage of Your Summer
By Mariella Ennis Writer
B
y now everyone is in the middle of their exams, so I know the last thing you want to think about is more work. Your summer will require some thought, however, as scrolling through your Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat feeds is not the only way you can spend the next three months. While the percentage of students gaining employment after University is 89.9%, most employers expect more than just a degree from applicants. In order to secure a job after University, it is important to think about the following four things to add your CV: employment, sports, volunteering, and travelling.
Employment
Employment is one of the most important features on your CV. Employers want to see what transferable skills you have. You might be thinking, ‘I want to be a Microbiologist, how is working in my local café going to help me?’, but even working in a local shop will give you transferable skills. For example, being employed in a café demonstrates the following capabilities:
working under time pressures, strong organisation skills, customer service, and communication skills. Obviously, it would be preferable if you can get work experience the field you wish to get a job in. Many organisations offer Summer internships in specific job roles, including HR, accountancy, finance, sciences and more. This gives students the perfect opportunity to get experience in a specific field. (TIP: The University of Kent offers career and employability advice in the Employability building next to Keynes College. If you have any queries they offer 15-minute slots for advice on CVs, application forms, interviews, personal statements and job hunting).
Sports
The University of Kent offers 35 different sports clubs for students. Not only is sports great fun, but it also adds character to your CV. Sports demonstrates leadership, teamwork devotion, and self-discipline. Being dedicated to a sports team also shows you’re competitive, which is fundamental in showing that you want
to excel. It also lends an opportunity to showcase your personality in order to stand out from other candidates.
which allow students to teach Photo by Hannah Olinger | Unsplash foreign languages abroad and gain work experience in different Volunteering countries. If you choose to work abroad, Although unpaid work may seem futile you demonstrate valuable skills: and tiresome, volunteering can be very •Adaptability: if you’re travelling diverse, so you can tailor it to suit your things may not always go to plan. How chosen career. On top of the experience do you deal with this? you can gain, volunteering is great •Organisation skills: booking opportunity to make new friends and transport, accommodation, and increase your confidence. Volunteering budgeting. varies from fundraising, being part of a •Independence and confidence: University society, helping out a charity, learning negotiate the inevitable organizing events or offering help at a difficulties of travel alone. local school. It does not necessarily need •Interpersonal Skills: you will to be specific to the job you want to go communicate with many different into. In fact, choosing something that people from different cultures. Maybe interests you is more fundamental, as it you have learnt a new language, shows you have a broad range of diverse showing versatility. Are you more skills. confident speaking to different people? These are all great skills which can Travelling bring your CV above other candidates Travelling can be a great addition to after University. Don’t waste these next your CV. Many opportunities exist few months. Get cracking.
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
Style
Throwback Fashion T
he 70s, 80s, and 90s were iconic fashion decades that continue to influence today’s styles with their retro flair and design. It seems apt to begin with the 90s: an undeniable merge is visible between it and todays fashion. It is also the decade I would recommend to those who are not looking for drastic change, as the differences in style are subtler, but retain that different kick which makes it stand out.
The 90s
Accessories are the perfect step to begin with for those wanting to start updating their wardrobe. Bum bags: worn best when slung across a shoulder, creating a cool and effortless look, perfect for a festival, holiday, or even night out. Round/slit-eyed sunglasses: this accessory can be simple and affordable, Primark for example has a great selection. Bold coloured windbreakers: a trend which carried on from the 80s—only in more muted tones in line with a 90s vibe—it is perfect for festivals. For a classic day-to-day look: a moderately oversized t-shirt, slightly loose skinny jeans or chinos with some white socks and old vans. Here’s a 21st century outfit, add some accessories and you’ve got a 90s look. (TIP: you can make the look bolder using brighter colours, such as yellow for the trousers, with a chunky black belt and the t-shirt loosely tucked in—with this look heads will turn). For a different vibe, you can create a more classy-cool outfit with patterned trousers, say chequered, paired with a white long-sleeve t-shirt and a black, short sleeve shirt over the top.
The 80s
There are two main statement looks from the 80s which are recognisably carried through to today. Firstly, there’s the casual, almost scruffy John Bender look from The Breakfast Club. For this, the following is a must. Jackets: A good chunky, vintage denim jacket paired with some tight jeans and you could walk straight out of the set of Stranger Things looking like Billy Hargrove. A denim or a bomber jacket are available from
19
Lifestyle
Graduation: What To Wear
By Katinka Pim Writer
most highstreet stores, in almost every colour or pattern. And best of all, a clunky leather jacket which,
Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash
and femininity in relation to gender are becoming blurred and renewed, so nobody need to fear looking ‘gay’. One should take strength from the look, drawing confidence from it and feel empowered. The further one goes back in time, the bolder you have to be. Therefore, out of the three decades, it is the Photo by Wikimedia Commons 70s that screams confidence, although lending the it’s cliché, aura of really someone completes sexy and the ‘bad brave. boy’ look Firstly, it’s (like Billy all about again). the flares: Jeans: the I cannot chunky, emphasize washed out enough old-school how in denim jeans these are are a classic right now. I’m for this decade, a firm believer Photo by The Trend Spotter especially when that flares suit paired with a everyone, and denim jacket—double-denim is can be worn with trainers or boots, definitely in right now. the look complete with a cropped Then there’s the classy work-wear denim or leather jacket. trends, visible in some of Will Silk shirt: worn loose and slightly Smith’s Fresh Prince outfits, or in undone. This would work great with some of the throwback episodes from some flares, again, if you want to Friends. complete the look, otherwise any For this, it’s simple: oversized trousers will do. This would be great blazers, especially in bold colours, for a night out, a look which would paired with some cropped chinos, draw everyone’s attention. pulled together with a sleek belt. To Turtlenecks: again, another item add an air of confidence, wear with of clothing that’s only now making the sleeves rolled up, adds just a hint the move from being seen as of sexy arrogance. something only fashion students wear, to something all men are taking The 70s advantage of. It is a look renowned to Today’s men should take advantage be sexy, especially when paired with of the fact that we’re coming into an a blazer, finishing a look that’s classy era where concepts of masculinity yet hot.
By Georgie Hoffman Writer
O
ver the next few months many students will be slobbering through their last days at the University of Kent. The end of your time at university can bring on a mix of emotions: sadness at leaving your home of three years, excitement at the thought of freedom from essays and exams, and the panic over the big, over-asked question: what now? To distract yourself from the looming anxiety over the rest of your life, why not enjoy deciding what you’ll wear to graduation and take some pleasure in the celebration. There are several routes to do go down style-wise for a graduation ceremony. One option is to dress like the mature and responsible adult you want everyone to believe you are. For men this would be a simple suit in blue or grey (avoid black as the gowns themselves are black). The buttons on shirts are ideal for hanging your graduation hood off of and the pockets in a suit are especially handy as taking a bag into the ceremony is not allowed. Suits are of course an option for women too, but if that’s not your style, there are other ways to look responsible. Styles such as sheath or skater dresses are classic, and useful in keeping you cool in what will hopefully be a warm sunny day. On the other hand, graduation is your special day. It’s your chance to really stand out and celebrate your achievements. If you want to wear six-inch platform heels, then you do that, (although maybe ask a family member to carry some flip-flops for later). Women can opt for the bright colours and bold patterns that are abundant in stores for spring and summer, alongside jumpsuits and playsuits, a current trend. They come in so many different styles and on top of that they’re incredibly comfortable. Men who want to stand out could take a step away from the classic blues, greys, and blacks of classic suits and choose a more unusual colour, cut, or material. Personally, I’m dying to see someone turn up in a white bedazzled tuxedo similar to what Tom Hanks wore in Big. There are some obvious dos and don’ts that go with graduation apparel. However high your heels are going to be, make sure you break them in first, so you’re not limping when collecting your diploma. As most of our graduation ceremonies take place in July, be sure to wear light layers so you don’t overheat and melt whilst waiting in the Cathedral. But, in the end the real answer to the question ‘What shall I wear to graduation?’ is: whatever you bloody like. As cheesy and clichéd as it may sound, it doesn’t matter how you look at graduation, what really matters is that you are graduating. Congratulations.
20
Lifestyle
Travel
A Weekend:
Bern
R
elaxing into the surprisingly comfortable seat of a doubledecker Swiss train, and gazing out over the twinkling Lake Geneva, I couldn’t help but be exited at the prospect of Bern, Switzerland’s de facto capital, and a city which up until a few days before, I couldn’t claim much knowledge of. Bern was a last minute, spur-of-the-moment idea for my friend and I, and it provided the perfect mini break as we spent the week on her grandmother’s farm in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Travelling somewhere on a whim, lacking expectation and that certain concentrated excitement which follows naturally from hours of pursuing travel guides, I felt strangely liberated. Content to accept whatever the city would have to offer, the beauty and culture only became more affecting, in that it was a complete surprise. Bern is truly a city of relaxation and ease. There is the chocolate-box
By Isabelle Dray-Sharma Newspaper Lifestyle Editor
Photo by Isabelle Dray-Sharma
historic ‘old town’, surrounded by the meandering River Aare which, in 1983, became classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stunningly beautiful, this area of the city has remained largely unchanged since its creation in the twelfth to fifteenth centuries. Being a true culture vulture, but possessing only the budget of a humble student, this part of Bern was a true gift. It was easy to spend an entire day just soaking in the city by foot, and spending very little money along the way. There are over 100 public fountains which populate the city, each supplying fresh drinking water and providing a fun and beautiful route to follow through the cobblestoned streets and take in famous sights like the Zytglogge and the Federal Palace. Alternatively, with a few francs and quite a lot of courage, you can, as me and my suddenly-vertigo-experiencing friend did, look down on the city from above by climbing the 100m bell tower of the
Münster, Switzerland’s tallest cathedral. The streets are laid out in a unique grid pattern, with cobbled streets and a tram system, which combined, made navigating very easy. While the atmosphere of the Old Town is unmistakably laid-back, the newer area which lies just beyond provides a more fast-paced experience. Here, there are plenty of opportunities to shop your heart out and pay a visit or two to some bars. There is also the chance to sample some modern art at the Zentrum Paul Klee, a museum which lies on the outskirts of the city and houses the most comprehensive collection of work of the indomitable artist Paul Klee, who lived in the city for much of his life. Another person whose residence in the city has left its permanent mark is of course Albert Einstein. Einstein was living in Bern when
he developed his famous Theory of Relativity in 1905, which revolutionised the scientific world. It was fascinating to explore the house he lived in, and discover the Einstein Museum and its amazing collection. After spending two days in this truly wonderful city, I have no doubt that I will return many times to walk its cobbled streets. It is rare to visit a city so incredibly historic and beautiful, and rarer still to discover a place so serene, and so very welcoming.
Photo by Wikimedia
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
Food
Recipe: Vegan Banana Bread
21
Lifestyle
By Isabelle Dray-Sharma Newspaper Lifestyle Editor
T
his banana bread is not only easy, but absolutely delicious! Over my years as a student I have personally made it several times as it’s the perfect way to use up those bananas that end up sitting in your fruit bowl for who-knows-how-long. And, as a plus, it is also completely vegan, so all your friends can enjoy (although, on second thoughts, that may not be such a good thing).
Instructions
1) Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mash the peeled bananas with a fork, then mix well with the oil and sugar. Add the flour, baking powder, half of the chia seeds and cinnamon, and combine well. Add the dried fruit or nuts, if using. 2) Bake in a greased 2lb loaf tin for 20 minutes, scattering the remaining chia seeds on top for decoration. Check and cover with foil if the cake is browning. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. 3) Allow to cool a little before slicing. It’s delicious freshly baked, but develops a lovely gooey quality the day after. Enjoy!
Ingredients 3 large black bananas 85g vegetable oil or sunflower oil 100g brown sugar 220g whole meal or plain flour 2 ½ heaped tsp baking powder 3 tsp cinnamon or mixed spice 50g dried fruit or nuts (optional) 20g chia seeds
Photo by Whitney Wright on Unsplash
Alice and The Hatter: Fall Down the Rabbit-Hole T
he recently opened Alice and the Hatter in Canterbury is a wonderfully weird café and restaurant, based on 29a/b St. Margaret’s Place, CT1 2TG. The original in Herne Bay has branched out into the heart of Canterbury and is worth a visit, serving food and drink with a Carol twist. On entering the café, I was struck by the decoration. A lot of thought and effort has gone into making the space feel like you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole and Photo by aliceandthehatter.co.uk entered Wonderland. With grass on some of the walls and the ceilings painted pink and purple, the décor pleases both fans of the novel and the original Disney film. Each table has its own felt top hat which hides the sugar—a particular detail that I loved. The selection of food was great. With options for sandwiches, sharing platters and small bites, there is a dish to satisfy every desire. There is a range of drinks, from teas to sodas, that complement the tasty Photo by Wikimedia Commons food. Having ordered a cherry
By Victoria Rees Website Lifestyle Editor
flavoured cola, I eagerly awaited cupcakes. The broad selection my choice of food. I opted for ‘The included a mint-aero flavoured Walrus’, a sandwich with chicken, cupcake, a death-by-chocolate chorizo, and mozzarella on focaccia cupcake, a gluten-free Victoria bread. Served with vegetable crisps, sandwich cake slice, and a lemonthe presentation of the sandwich blueberry cake slice. They all looked was in the shape of a heart, a subtle beautifully tempting, and my reference to the Queen of Hearts. cupcake was delicious, rounding Filling and off my lunch tasty, I was perfectly. quite satisfied In addition, ‘The broad selection our with my choice waitress included a mint-aero was happy and of themed lunch. flavoured cupcake, a cheerful, and we Looking at got our drinks death-by-chocolate almost instantly. the menu, however, I felt cupcake, a gluten-free On the other that there could our Victoria sandwich cake hand, have been more sandwiches came slice, and a lemonvegetarian and after a fairly long vegan options. blueberry cake slice.’ wait, considering Of the twelve the relatively sandwiches on empty tables. the menu, only (Merely a result three were vegetarian. Online, the of the late time we ate lunch). menu states that any sandwiches However, we did feel that it was can be adapted into vegetarian or worth the wait. gluten-free options, but the choice Overall, I had a delightfully odd seemed limited in the restaurant. experience at Alice and the Hatter My favourite part of the experience and will definitely be back. I can’t was the choice of cakes and wait for my next mad tea party.
Entertainment Avengers: Infinity War: 22
action-packed showdown I
t’s been a decade since Iron Man, the first instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), was released. There was a lot of riding on Avengers: Infinity War, the nineteenth instalment in the MCU. The hype was off the charts following the release of Black Panther, just a few months earlier, which broke multiple records and became a global cultural phenomenon. Infinity War has shattered Black Panther’s box office records, but that does not diminish Black Panther’s enormous success as Infinity War brings most of the characters in the MCU together guaranteed it was a guaranteed, massive commercial success. For me, Infinity War is definitely not the best MCU film, that would be Black Panther, but I can comfortably place it in my top 5. References had been made to Thanos and the infinity stones since the first Iron Man film, but it was not until 2012’s The Avengers that Thanos finally appeared, albeit in a post-credits scene. My favourite MCU films are Captain: Winter Soldier, Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther, films which play with genre conventions and could be standalone successes. Winter Soldier is like a 70s political thriller, Ragnarok a cheesy 80s action flick, and Black Panther an afro-futurist sci-fi film. Infinity War is much less standalone
than the three aforementioned films, but it is quite ambitious film. I would compare The Avengers films to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Infinity War, the third instalment, mirrors The Return of the King in some ways. A slight criticism I have of the MCU, however, is that the
infinity stones were not as important to the narrative of the preceding films as they are to Infinity War. Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter’s finales were more effective because the ring and Horcruxes were important and crucial to the progression of the narrative of these series. Directed by the Russo brothers, with a screenplay by Christopher Markus &
Film By Emmanuel Omodeinde Newspaper Entertainment Editor
Stephen McFeely, Infinity War has a gargantuan task in attempting to pack a culmination of 18 films into two and a half hours. The running time of the film is somewhat brief considering how huge the scale of Infinity War is. Two and a half hours is typically a long movie but with a large ensemble cast, and the stakes at hand, I expected close to three hours. Luckily, Infinity War does not drag and its several set pieces in many locations are expertly edited together to keep the pace urgent. The Photo by Disney film follows The Avengers and the Guardians coming together to attempt to stop Thanos (CGI Josh Brolin), a powerful titan warlord, whose mission is to collect all six infinity stones, magical gems, for an infinity gauntlet which will allow him to wipe out half of the universe. Thanos believes that by committing genocide of half the universe he will bring stability and balance to every galaxy.
Thanos is an impressively well-crafted villain, considering this is his first actual appearance in the MCU. Josh Brolin’s deep commanding voice and the CGI work of Thanos is effective in conveying Thano’s titan strength and power. He is never completely sympathetic considering his mission is so drastically radical but in his interactions with his adopted daughter, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), we see a human side to the evil purple titan with a weird chin. The assembling of the cast is also quite impressive. The members of the Avengers and Guardians are paired off together in little adventures and it’s a joy to watch all the different worlds of the MCU finally collide on screen. While the stakes are very high, there is plenty of humour which comes from first interactions between the different characters. Particularly Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) interactions with the Guardians and Spider-Man’s (Tom Holland) every other hero. Infinity War had an almost impossible task of bringing together all the plot threads, worlds, and characters over the past decade in this ever-expanding universe—it mostly succeeds and is even sometimes surprising. While the spectacle is entertaining to watch, as an audience, our knowledge of the future of this cinematic universe weakens the shock of the ending.
last month, plays a great serious-guy foil and is compelling at the same time. Rob Delaney is hilarious in an unexpected cameo as Peter, a regular guy along for the ride. Arguably the best addition is Domino (Zazie Beetz) who fits immediately into the Deadpool world, and with luck as her superpower, breezes through each action sequence with humorous nonchalance. Deadpool 2 doesn’t achieve anything distinctly new, but it does what it does best. If you liked the first, the chances are you will probably enjoy the sequel, and the
inverse applies. For those unsure, it’s important to not take the plot too seriously as it veers into chaos for the sake of comedy, and just enjoy the ride.
Deadpool 2 Review I
By Georgia Dack Writer
n 2016, during an era in which superhero films saturate the industry, Deadpool was a breath of fresh air, and audiences worldwide welcomed the change. Deadpool 2 was always guaranteed to fill seats, but could it ever live up to the surprise success of its predecessor? Well, much remains the same; the sequel is even more self-aware and boasts filthy jokes, filthy mouths, and filthy violence, but now with a new Terminator-style plot. Wade Wilson pulls together a team to protect a young mutant Russell (Hunt for the Wilderpeople’s Julian Dennison) from Cable (Josh Brolin), an assassin from the future sent to kill him. Whilst the film still feels like Ryan Reynolds parading about with free reign, it’s roughly pulled together by the search-for-a-family plot, with Wade’s chaotic attempts to form a “forward-thinking, gender-neutral”
X-Force. The film straddles the line of mocking convention and conforming to it, the constant stream of quips often interrupted by clunky CGI fights and moments of emotional depth, balanced by acknowledging its own silliness as well as mocking everyone else. It’s safe to say the movie is just as relentlessly funny as before and rides on such a constant stream of popculture references and jokes that even if one doesn’t land (as many don’t) the next one will surely pick the pace back up. But despite transgressing where superhero films dare never to venture, it’s a shame that such an influential blockbuster still occasionally leans on race jokes, and not to mention an all too common plot device at the beginning (which I refrain from revealing because of spoilers). This being said, it’s nonetheless rich in delightful performances throughout. Reynolds is as charismatic and enjoyable as ever, and Josh Brolin, in his second Marvel baddie role in the
Photo by 20th Century Fox
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire 23
Entertainment
TV
13 Reasons Why
Midsomer Murders: Death By Persuation
Season 2 By Meg Warwick Writer
I
f you’ve seen or heard of, the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why, then Season 2 is ready to feed your binging obsession—with Season 1’s endeared characters featuring yet again in the exploration of suicide and bullying. The story is explored further, with the protagonist’s, Hannah Baker, (Katherine Langford) life shown through flashbacks. The first thing to note when watching Season 2, is that there are some disturbing scenes that may leave audiences feeling scarred. They are very powerful, and arguably achieved what they intend to, but the caution is advised. Without spoiling the series for eager watchers, the story takes a different approach from displaying Hannah Baker’s tapes to her court case. There are varying accounts of the different stories, portraying Hannah Baker in a different light and showing unseen sides of the characters. The acting,
By Matthew Crook Writer of taboo, unmentionable subjects that mainstream pop culture often dismisses. But, without acknowledgement of these topics, how can society hope to combat these issues? 13 Reasons Why is a step in the direction of change, challenging audiences to consider the way rape, bullying, race and homosexuality is addressed in the media and society in general. The story sometimes comes across as over-dramatized, with its dramatic music and overacting. Though the TV show may be a step towards a better social conscious about important issues, it could achieve this more realistically. The themes are very sensitive and do not need to be dramatized. If you haven’t seen 13 Reasons Why before, then it is a recommended watch. It is one of the most talked about shows for good reason. It
Photo by Netflix
especially from Kate Walsh, who plays Hannah Baker’s mother, is outstanding. She allows the audience to empathise with her and easily feel her emotions. Although she is not portrayed as the perfect mother during her anxious child’s life, she is humane and sympathetic. The show plays with the subject
displays the power of a picture, and how it can make or break a person’s life. The TV show leaves you thinking for days, wondering what you can do to change the world. It may be heart-breaking at points, and difficult to watch, but it sets out to make you contemplate for the better.
L
ast Sunday marked the return of the classic crime drama Midsomer Murders with the latest episode, ‘Death by Persuasion.’ The story sees DCI Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and DS Winter (Nick Hendrix) investigate the mysterious death of a young woman. As is the way in Midsomer, she was stabbed with a quill pen
two fundamental issues. I was rather bothered by the weakness of the Jane Austen context; whilst I’m not a diehard Austen fan, I still appreciate her work and wish that more was made of it in the story. Yes, there is the fantasy camp and a teashop decked out in all manner of memorabilia, but that’s as far as it goes. It feels more like an excuse to have our leads romp
about in fancy whilst dress than it donning does a plot regency element. attire. As any Secondly, I did fan of the show wonder why there will know, this is was the subplot about Photo by Amazon almost business as usual. the drone delivery system The plot thickens, naturally, floating about—it was certainly with much of the case focused on a an interesting aspect, but it felt a bit local manor house that doubles as a superfluous at times. I wonder if the Jane Austen fantasy camp, as well as episode’s writer had an idea about a the continual interference of a drone Jane Austen themed story as well as delivery system. one about a drone and, having no idea ‘Death by Persuasion’ is a solid what to do with either, mashed them episode of the series. Given how much together. Honestly, for most viewers the quality can fluctuate depending on it probably won’t be too much of an who is penning the story, it was a great issue, but as a crime fiction aficionado, relief that this particular tale managed I find these dangling threads a tad to swerve some of my bugbears about troublesome. the show. The murders, though slightly I would like to stress, however, that odd, were kept within the realms of these minor gripes are exactly that. credibility and the characters were Slight annoyances that seasoned fans fleshed out well enough to not leave or whodunit buffs might roll their eyes me wondering who everyone was. The at, but for anyone wishing to watch acting, production values, and overall an engaging mystery drama full of presentation of the show were certainly twists and suspense, then it comes very on top form making it an easy watch. highly recommended. There certainly If I had any serious gripes with this shouldn’t have to be any persuading particular story, it would boil down to needed to watch ‘Death by Persuasion’.
Entertainment Arctic Monkeys 24
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
By Joe Cumner Writer
Photo by Last.fm
“
I just wanted to be one of the strokes / Now look at the mess you’ve made me make.” Brilliant. In 2013 the Arctic Monkeys released their album AM, a collection of songs with a rhythm section that would be at home on any R&B/Hip-Hop release. A definite departure for the traditionally indie-rock giants, but retaining plenty of guitar-heavy riffage and littered with songs that detail the nightlife scenes about which frontman Alex Turner has always written. It was greeted with praise and elevated the normally UKcentric boys from Sheffield to global superstars, partially due to its radiofriendly nature. The future looked bright. Then nothing, for 5 years. No singles, no new music. Until, a month prior to its release, they teased Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino, along with a drastic change in appearance. There were no tracks released before the album, it was to be delivered as a product, a single composition. And it wouldn’t work any other way. It would be an understatement to say that this new album varies tonally from the last. The songs are slower, jazzier, with more emphasis on piano and keyboard. In fact, the guitars take a complete back seat, only appearing sparingly. Instead, the limelight is given to the lyrics, which are some of the most introspective, funny and inventive that Turner has ever written. Where he used to sing about girls and bad nights
out, now he waxes lyrical about the nature of modern society, or the fragile front that social media presents of the individual. As the band has matured, so has their subject matter. This is not to say that the instrumentation is boring. Quite the opposite, the limitations that they have placed upon themselves allow for interesting new piano melodies and song transitions. One Point Perspective, the album’s second track flows seamlessly into American Sports, the synthesizers giving the album a multi-layered dimension. The rhythm section, which drummer Matt Helders and bassist Nick O’Malley have championed on the last four albums, is characteristically tight and in-sync. Although some variation in drums across the tracks wouldn’t go amiss. When the guitars do appear, Jamie Cook brings heavy fuzz tones that cut across the piano. Overall, whilst it suffers from an eventual feeling of homogeneity, the instrumentation is a fresh departure. As I said earlier, the album feels whole, possibly more so than their other efforts. There is a sense of direction and theme, even if that theme is interstellar hospitality. For 40 minutes, you live in the Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino. In a time where the mainstream rock is filled with similar sounding, flatly produced distortion, this new release provides an escape. It feels nice to be transported away from what we know, and for a band to take steps to distance themselves from their established, clichéd song-writing.
Music
Childish Gambino:
This is America Analysis
S
By Connie Enzler Writer
ince its release less than two weeks party, party just for you, we just ago, the music video of Childish want the money, money just for you’, Gambino’s single This is America has over falsetto vocals, as she dances to already gained over 135M views on distract herself from the dark realities YouTube. A man of multiple talents, taking place around her. The only time Donald Glover does it all: stand-up America stops dancing is to suddenly comedy, acting, writing, directing, and unexpectedly fire a gun. First, rapping, singing etc. Whatever it is, Gambino shoots the black man, the all the content he creates is original, gunshot breaking the smooth guitar masterful, and genuine, like his punpicking and diving into a deep bass filled rap lyrics and his award-winning under Gambino’s low voice, ‘this is television series Atlanta, which is both America, don’t catch you slipping hilarious and deeply relevant. now, look what I’m whippin’ now’. The track This is America has He then resumes his dancing, joined everything it needs for by beaming child background instant success. dancers, then turns around Gambino and guns down a happy managed to choir, inevitably drawing write a song parallels with the that pairs a Charleston Church repetitive shooting which was flow with found to be racially simple yet motivated. layered The transitions lyrics, are smooth and decorated quick, but fans with catchy managed to catch riffs and subtle details, such melodies, and as the way that all the complete with an guns are carefully wrapped Photo by YouTube intense bass drop in red cloth after being and skipping beats— shot, whereas the human bodies all the elements needed to appeal to are dragged away in the unfocused this musical generation. Hopefully, background. If you manage to tear that would be enough to keep them your eyes from the obsessive dancing, watching the music video. Because you’ll notice a hooded man riding by that’s where the genius really is. on a white horse, a biblical symbol for The video is brimming with hidden the apocalypse. Even the set choices, symbols and references which the like the old car models strewn across internet was quick to pick up and an old warehouse, give the impression speculate about. The first time you of being stuck in the past, signifying a watch it, you can barely take your lack of progress. eyes off Gambino’s contorted dance The video ends with Gambino moves yet feel faintly restless by an running with all his might with an awareness of the chaos taking place expression of utter fear and horror in the background. The scene opens while Young Thug sings on the outro on a black man walking to a guitar ‘you just a black man in this world, you in a warehouse, as the camera pans just a barcode, ey’. It seems that he’s to Gambino wearing trousers and snapped out of America’s spell and is shoes which have been linked to old doing everything possible to find a way Confederate uniforms. His top half is out before it’s too late. shirtless, but he wears two small gold Even though he now has the world’s chains which could be seen as a double intrigue, in the fashion of a true artist, entendre for physical bondage and Gambino refuses to explain any part obsession with consumerism. Creator of the video. ‘I don’t want to give it any of Netflix series Dear White People, context. Justin Simien, pointed out on Twitter I feel like that’s not my place. that Gambino’s movements and Whatever I make is for other people expressions seem to be modelled after and you can walk away with whatever common caricature Jim Crow, who you need to walk away with’, he said was commonly used in the 1800s and in an interview. Gambino’s attitude 1900s when white actors performed effectively involves his audience in the blackface to act out black stereotypes. creation of the video’s meaning, as they Gambino’s body is the focal shot seek out the references themselves throughout, and it seems Gambino and become invested in tackling those plays America herself, proclaiming problems, making it all the more her real anthem, ‘we just want to impactful.
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire 25
Entertainment
Games By George D. Knight Writer
Red Dead Redemption II, Trailer Review
T
he highly anticipated release of Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar’s next major single-player experience and prequel to the critically acclaimed Red Dead Redemption, looms on the horizon. To prepare for us for its imminent arrival, Rockstar has released a series of trailers over the past two years, the latest surfacing on 2nd May 2018. Despite revealing the first trailer in October 2016 and announcing a release date in Autumn of 2017, the game has been repeatedly delayed. First for Spring 2018 and now for the 26 October 2018—almost two years after its announcement. Rockstar’s bases their decision primarily on the quality of the game, saying on the company’s official website that the game required ‘a little extra time for polish’, something which fans would agree justifies delays. These setbacks have given Rockstar more time to generate excitement for their new instalment, slowly offering more information through trailers and official announcements. The previous title has set the bar incredibly high for quality, receiving overwhelming critical acclaim since its release in 2010. Just recently it ranked 4th of 50
titles Eurogamer considers ‘Games of the Generation.’ However, the three released game trailers for the prequel do not disappoint. Unlike the two previous trailers, the third focuses largely upon the plot.
Whereas as the first focused on the world, landscape, graphical capabilities of Red Dead 2, the third builds upon the characters introduced in the second trailer of September last year. It explores the circumstance of protagonist Arthur Morgan and his role within the infamous Dutch’s gang. For many fans of the series, witnessing the characterisation of Dutch and
his companions, the antagonists of the previous title, is an incredibly interesting and exciting experience. This trailer confirms the realities many had surmised from the previous trailer, that the player will play a criminal,
the century-long western expansion which had defined the contemporary American identity was finished, leaving the United States with a new, unfamiliar, and worrying future. As the trailer depicts, the characters feel this at full force. Morgan, Dutch and his gang, possibly with previous games protagonist John Marsden, all face the end of their bandit lifestyle in the west. Greater government control under President William McKinley, modern infrastructure, and western civilization all challenge the chaotic world in which they thrive. The trailer’s intense soundtrack and imagery emphasising the long and arduous journey which awaits them. The trailer also introduces many minor details about the game. We are introduced to various mechanics like horse taming, duals, Photo by YouTube riding, guns, and raids. We witness scenes in a theatre and a doctor’s which previously you had to hunt. office, which GTA Series speculates to The trailer also reveals that the game be micro missions and minigames. is set in 1899, a tumultuous year in both In all their other open-world titles, the games lore and the real-life setting. Rockstar adds details like games, TVs, The game is set thirteen years prior and cinemas to offer a break from to the previous title, during the end gameplay and develop immersion. America’s western expansion. In 1890, With these minor additions, the third Historian Frederick Jackson Turner and possibly final trailer for Red Dead declared in his ‘Frontier Thesis’ that 2 really fleshes out the world, building the American frontier had closed and even greater hype for its release.
Trailer Review: Spyro Reignited Trilogy A
fter the release of the remastered Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy last year, even more excitement is about to set in for gaming enthusiasts as another remastered trilogy hits stores later this September. Spyro Reignited Trilogy will contain three of the original classics remastered for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. I personally have never played any Spyro games in my life. In fact, the only memory of Spyro I have is a 3ft cuddly toy of the dragon from when I was five year old. However, when the trailer released in April, I was immediately introduced to Spyro with just a few snippets of his scales, tail, and horns. With these trademark features, you can tell who is back to excite gamers across the world, whilst looking better than ever before. Not only does the trailer
introduce the enhanced and immensely detailed graphics and fantastical landscapes, but we also witness a couple
of stunning transitions from footage of the original Spyro the Dragon titles to the expected, remastered gameplay. Not
By Grace Pulford Writer
only is this a great method of showing what made the original games so memorable to fans, especially for people like myself who never played the games. Aside from the imaginative comparison of past and present Spyro games, environments are highly detailed to the extent of identifying individual grass blades and roof textures, including seemingly very smooth controls. From the trailer so far, and despite never playing Spyro the Dragon before, the reignited trilogy will certainly give me an enjoyable insight to the originals that. Although, it really scares me how much gaming technology has advanced over Photo by YouTube these last 20 years.
Entertainment
Across: 1/10/19/7/16/5/26/15 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, 3 Pin-up, 6 Sia, 8 Logic, 9 Steward, 11 Kiss, 14 Austin, 18 Hock, 22 Due Date, 23 Rosti, 24 Boy, 25 Sinew.
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Sudoku Easy
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5. The world, everyone (8) 6. A city in southwestern England near the mouth of the river Avon (7) 7. The hind part of an animal’s body (4) 9. British TV series (2012-) following Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse (9) 13. A resilient large oblong pad for sleeping on (8) 14. 1960 Joy Adamson book about raising a lion cub adapted into a 1966 film (4,4) 16. A plant’s coiling threadlike climbing organ (7) 21. In architecture, a room in the roof of a house (5) 22. US TV series (2003-) with spin-offs set in Los Angeles and New Orleans (4) Reject
Band
Libel
Luck
23/3. Fictional comic book character played on-screen by actors including Erica Durance and Margot Kidder (4,4)
Fun & games Puzzles by Matthew Sapsed
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Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire 27
Societies
An Interview with Jake Peach By Bill Bowkett Newspaper News Editor
CSR Station Manager
J
ake Peach, 21, is in his final year of university at Canterbury Christ Church University. He is the Station Manager of Canterbury Student Radio FM (CSR 97.4FM), and oversees all aspects of the day-to-day running of the station, whilst also championing its reputation with the Canterbury’s student communities. An aspiring broadcaster, Peach has big ambitions of becoming the next big thing in radio. “I want to leave a legacy in the radio industry; I want to be one of the greats” says Peach, who recently has become the Regional Officer for the London and South East with the UK Student Radio Association for 2018/19. InQuire caught up with Jake to ask him about his new role, his time at CSRfm, and what the future holds for broadcast radio. InQuire: Congratulations on becoming the Regional Officer for the London and South East with the UK Student Radio Association, 2018/19. How do you feel? Jake: I feel great! It’s fantastic to be part of such a great organisation, especially one which has been essential in developing my understanding of radio and all the support that they have provided over my last three years at CSRfm. The opportunity to now give back some of the knowledge I’ve learnt from student radio and support stations get better and better is a privilege and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead. InQuire: What does your role entail? What responsibilities do you have as Regional officer? Jake: I’ll be responsible for liaising with all student radio stations within London and the South East, linking them to the national industry in as many ways as possible. This includes regularly providing information of job opportunities in the radio industry which may be a good first step out of student radio. I will also be responsible for organizing local training days, sourcing a group of industry
practitioners to speak and conduct workshops with the region’s stations – the workshops are always very useful for picking up useful hints and tips and a great chance for people to network which is a key thing in the radio industry. In a nutshell, I am the first point of contact between the stations and the Student Radio Association itself; they are there to represent student radio across the UK and if there is any way that stations can be helped, then it will be our job to do all we can to solve the situation. This can range from providing content, to sourcing the latest music for playlists, to increasing awareness of the role student radio plays. InQuire: What process did you have to go through to attain the role? And what made you go for it in the first place? Jake: The SRA holds an AGM at the annual Student Radio Conference and hustings for the SRA’s committee take place, where you outline why you want to take on the role. I wanted to take on the role as I’m really passionate about all-things radio and wanted to get some experience of the national industry. I feel I’m a great communicator and sociable person, that enjoys interacting with different people and helping to achieve and make things happen. I feel the experience I’ve accumulated being Station Manager of CSRfm was very useful as well. It’s also about wanting to be at the heart of a great community that is the SRA. Not only do I hope to help as many people as I can with radio but I feel it will also be a great learning curve for myself for seeing what the ‘real world’ is like! I hope being amongst other like-minded people will help me learn and become better in the industry. InQuire: What credit can you give to CSR, and your degree at CCCU, to help you get to where you are now? Jake: It goes without saying that they have both been invaluable for developing my knowledge of radio and teaching me things I never knew that could make me better. Particularly within CSR, I’ve had some great role
models who have been willing to help and provide advice whenever I’ve needed it. But above all, to be given the chance to run a student radio station teaches you not only about what you hear on-air, but all of the work that goes in behind the scenes to make what you finally hear. Having seen all the different components, it makes you appreciate all the effort that’s required to make great radio and all these experiences helped to further my understanding of what radio is all about. InQuire: What is the dream? Jake: (Laughs) If I told you that, I’d have to kill you… My dream is to be a radio presenter. I want to be able to be that person in people’s lives that puts a smile on their face when they hear their favourite song or share stories that everyone can relate to and invite them into the conversation. Most of all, I want to leave a legacy on the radio industry, knowing that I’ve worked as hard as I can to be the best broadcaster I can be, whilst enjoying it all along the way and making a difference in people’s lives. I want to be one of the greats. Whatever that is, I guess we’ll find out. InQuire: Radio seems to be seeing a bit of a renaissance, with more adults listening to it than ever. But we are seeing some changes in its overall appearance. FM is on the decline, digital radio is on the rise, and the medium is seeing a direct threat from streaming services like Spotify. What’s your current analysis of the radio industry and where do you see it going next? Jake: I think in the last few years it’s been very easy to assume that radio is dying but I think what we’re seeing is radio adapting to this ever-changing digital world, whilst also trying to understand this new multi-media landscape we find ourselves in. I think social media has had a major role to play in the way radio is made nowadays, with the power of Facebook videos causing stations to visualize more than ever before. Stations can connect with the audiences much more directly now
Photo by CSR
than in the past, and I think visualization is only one example
of this. Away from traditional broadcasting, we’re also seeing people harnessing innovation in technology. Someone nowadays can quite easily create their own personal ‘brand’, through the use of podcasts, vlogs, playlist curation and social media, catering to a particular but loyal and niche following. We are so lucky to have the amount of services we do, making it much easier than ever before to fit around a person’s particular wants and needs. You can have complete control over what you want to do, rather than it be dictated by someone else – I think this level of freedom is something our millennial generation crave, watching or listening whenever you want and when it is most convenient in your life. FM looks like it’s here to stay for the foreseeable future, as the radio industry is nowhere near ready to go all-digital. Too many people are stuck in their habits of listening to FM like they have for so long. However, digital radio is beginning to increase with the range of services that DAB provides – it’s giving the audience more choice and once again, catering to more specific audiences. I think streaming services are making an impact on the radio industry, but radio is being very careful about which ones it allows in. Some can help complement the listener’s experience where as others are trying to steal radio’s purpose. Radio is learning and re-defining itself, harnessing a multi-media approach to connect with their listener as much as possible. The radio is only one part of the puzzle now – all the surrounding factors that make up radio are enhancing the listener experience, which can only be a good thing for relating to people more closely and being a part of people’s lives in as many ways as possible. These are the principles radio was born on and that will never be lost, only enhanced.
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Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
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Sport
Keynes FC Claim College Double With Cup Win
How to Stay Fit Over the Summer: Your FivePoint Guide By Kiro Evans Writer
T
hank god that’s over. Exams are done for another year and the seductive scents of summer can beckon us into freedom. Left behind are the
realistically you should cut out entirely, drink it instead of juice, drink it, when possible, instead of alcohol. It makes a huge difference and can be imperative in helping you not pile on those unnecessary pounds.
for example, once every five days. Then make it once every week. Then once every month.
Goodbye fast food.
You’re delicious but, ultimately, far too costly. The well-known fatty chains have dominated
Photo by Kent Sport | Facebook
Keynes FC Keynes Ath.
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Keynes FC Win 5-4 on Pens. By Bill Bowkett Website News Editor
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eynes FC faced rivals Keynes Athletic in a thrilling Cup Final on a beautiful sunny Wednesday evening, with FC eventually emerging as the winners and claiming a league and cup double to round off an impressive season. However, whilst Keynes FC’s 6-2 victory on the final day of the league season was somewhat routine, their cup final clash with their rivals was far from it. Four goals, three red cards, 120 minutes of play and a penalty shootout to decide it all made this a final to live in College Football history for many years to come. Keynes FC kicked off the first half and set the tone in the match early, creating early pressure in the Athletic half and targetting a lot of their play towards wingers Jordan Minta and Ralph Vincent. There was an early breakthrough for Keynes FC as Edson Onwumere, who’s previously chipped in with 29 league goals, guided the ball past the Athletic keeper to give the league Champions a 1-0 lead. The game opened up after that moment as Keynes Athletic started to dominate possession in the FC half, though their forwards were marshalled well by the Keynes FC defence. Despite Athletic’s possession, it was Keynes FC who created
more chances in the first half and came close only to be denied by the impressive and man of the match Jonathan Lurot in goal. The second half saw Keynes Athletic continue to chase the goal they needed to even out the tie, with Keynes FC dropping deeper and deeper in their half and substitutions highlighting their desire to protect the slender lead. Eventually the equaliser came as Athletic won a freekick on the edge of the area which was turned in by an FC defender with 10 minutes of normal time to go. 1-1, the game goes to extra time. After a cagey 90 minutes, extra time was anything but. Keynes FC were reduced to ten men with Athletic taking a 2-1 lead from the resulting freekick, and a second brawl of the day saw Keynes FC and Athletic have a player sent off each, leaving it 10 against 9. Athletic, who had dominated the second half of normal time and most of extra time as well, were left heartbroken as with 3 minutes to go as Alex Mclean nodded the ball into the back of the net and send the match to penalties. Both keepers showed their talents as they made saves each but it was Rory Newman and Keynes FC who came out on top with a 5-4 penalties win to send the Lions into pandemonium and deliver a league and cup double and firmly write Keynes FC in the history books.
Photo by Pixabay revision textbooks, the flashcards, the inkless pens and, far more crucially, the late night discarded pizza boxes, the abandoned coffee cups and the remnants of sugar from that 12 pack of jam doughnuts you scoffed down last week. No more excuses. It’s time to get fit. It’s easy to slip back into bad habits once we return home, but you should allow the following five tips to act as a fitness bible for you over these next few summer months.
Drink water. This cannot
be emphasised enough. Drink it instead of fizzy drinks, which
Jog. It’s not everyone’s
favourite pastime, but there aren’t many better things than settling into a consistent jogging pattern. If you can do an hour every morning, it sets you in the right frame of mind. If you struggle to achieve that, start small: Monday 20 minutes, Tuesday 25 minutes, Wednesday 30 minutes, and so on.
Limit yourself. Life is
best lived in moderation, and there’s nothing wrong with a cheeky snack every now again. But it must only be occasional. To help yourself, set up a rule where you can only have crisps,
our lives for far too long. Next time you’re passing by theywhich-must-not-be-named, skip it—go to the supermarket and get something with greens. Easier said than done, granted, but still doable.
Join a sports team. The
regular training and match day sessions will keep your body constantly active, help to burn calories and will hopefully spark your competitive nature into wanting to reach your sporting heights. Within a few weeks you’ll find yourself fitter than ever!
Photo by Pixabay
Tuesday 5 June 2018 InQuire
Sport
Continued from Back Page outstanding. It set us apart throughout the day. On the subject of name dropping as well, do you have a strongest player? Is there one person you could say, stood out in this match? I wouldn’t say, no not in this match, it was a real team performance with the batting and fielding. Very harsh to single out one player, today is a victory for the team. mine! We’re all great banter and stick really well together. Jordan: All of us. We’re all a good attribute. Would you say you have a strongest player? Danielle: Beth Marsh, an amazing season, highest scoring of today. It’s her last year also. Hannah: Beth’s performance today and every year is incredibly. Ruby as a captain as well really pushed the girls and is an incredible player. Strong captain. Beth: I’d say Lauren Perkin is the one to watch out, the opening batter with me and she’s really come into herself the last through years. Lauren: Probably Beth, she just bats and bowls and does everything so well. What is the difference between the men’s and women’s cricket? Hannah: Men’s is more intense, stronger and paced players. The girls are more chilled out but we still work as hard. A lot more intense when it comes to guys. We all work as hard but ours is possibly not as fast paced. Beth: For UKC the men and women’s is together, we are one club. Little bit more exciting for men’s. Danielle: The level of intensity, a lot of them are counter players so the standard is very high. Whereas women’s cricket, you get a handful of good players and the people that have only just started, which is great, but it does set the levels apart. Jordan: Men’s cricket is much faster. It’s exactly the same game, same number of overs, just much faster. More support, people love it! Very exciting I guess, much tighter, the teams are very tight, haha. With us,
it’s win or lose. Lauren: Probably for men’s cricket, it’s a lot easier to find people to play since they were young. Women’s cricket has only just started gathering momentum, and we often get people who haven’t played before. The guys probably have more people. Would you recommend cricket to future freshers? Danielle: I’m pretty sure I’ve played more cricket then done my course! But, I mean, I have a nice undemanding course and had the time. I’ve been doing recruitment fairs for the last few years and to anyone, any fresher, join a society. It’s always worth it. We’re a small team and you’re gonna get heard. Lauren: Of course! It’s great to be part of a team sport, there’s always people there to back you up and it’s great to be part of a team like that. What is you one word to sum up your experience? Beth and Lauren: Memorable. Jordan: Fantastic! Danielle: Can I just be cheesy and say amazing? Great weather! Hannah: Majestic!
2nd Men’s Match
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he Men’s Cricket 2nd team did UKC proud by taking winning their varsity match. UKC batted first on this occasion, as it’s what they are arguably strongest at. With 147 to UKC (won by 31 runs as CCCU achieved 116 in response), the boys certainly proved themselves as winners. Here are some comments from the 2nd Captain and 2nd Coach… The Inquire spoke to 2nd team
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Photo by Kent Sport | Facebook captain Sam Street:
How are you feeling about winning? Over the moon, we have such a brilliant team! There were contributions from all, and the weeks of training paid off. Are you surprised? Well we haven’t won Varsity in the last two years and took a heavy defeat last year. However, the training for the 2nds is much better this year, and there was an array of good performances from all. The preparation was good. What are your teams best attributes? Can I name drop? (Um yes!). Okay so, today our opening partnership between Michael Tyrer and Cam EmmanuelBurns was outstanding as they put on hundred runs with no wicket inside the first 14 overs, so gave us a solid platform to make the total that we did. We would have liked to accelerate a bit more toward the back end of our innings and probably placed 160 runs. If we’d scored that we’d have run fairly comfortably. CCCU bowled well towards the end of the last four, five overs and kept it tight, making it quite difficult for us. But we made 147 largely down to our openers. In the field, there were no stand out performances, probably our best bowler Cam Flack opening the bowling really well and bowled two overs towards the end for only two runs, which is outstanding. Overall, our best attribute was our togetherness and teamwork. When we started well, when batting, the CCCU were getting on each other’s backs where as we were the complete opposite. Our togetherness as a team through the full 120 balls of our innings and theirs as well were
What is the main difference between the men and the women’s cricket? Because it’s female it’s a lot less popular, but on the rise of course, it’s a lot less simplified game where as some of the men have been playing since the age of three or four. However, looking at our women’s team today and watching them progress as they have done is outstanding. The team have been training a ton, and Christ Church had no chance.
brought the win home. If they keep working at it and building, then go out and enjoy themselves tonight, hopefully they’ll bring home so more victories. The women’s team have also played great, a positive advert for women’s sport in general as they’ve improved brilliantly so credit to both sides. I think the exposure between the men and women is the main difference, men have had more opportunities then the girls, but the girls are catching up. Well done to all.
1st Men’s Team
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here was sweat and tears, competition of fun, but through all the 1st team still worked as a unit. Although CCCU stole this win, the team still played incredibly well and had an amazing time doing so. They were confident playing, stating that it’s all about mindset. We even spoke to the assistant coach for his overview.
Are you on committee next year? I’m on year in industry, but the year after I’m hoping to be on the team when I come back and further my involvement.
Aaron (assistant coach): I’m happy with the results so far, however, to improve we need to go for deeper shots. Despite the loss, the team are all good fellas and play well together.
What is you one word for your cricket experience? Cloud nine, I’m on Cloud nine.
And one nice piece of trivia: The teams’ kit is yellow and blue because they are supporting Porchlight charity.
Max Campbell (2nd Team Coach): Can you give us a summary of the day and the experience of Cricket Varsity 2018? I’m the 2nd team coach, so I was focused mostly on their game and they did really well,
Overall, I think it is pretty obvious that everyone had a blast. Regardless of whether you understand cricket or not, Cricket Varsity is a smashing social event and I would fully recommend attending it next.
Photo by Kent Sport | Facebook
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Tuesday 5 June
InQuire
Photos by Kent Sport | Facebook
Cricket Varsity Success for UKC Women but Mixed Day for Men By Megan Warwick Writer
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day spent in the sunshine, watching Cricket, soaking up the sun and learning a lot of rules. Despite exams, many UKC students headed down to the Spitfire ground to get bevved and show their support. The matches were between CCCU and UKC’s 1st Women’s, 1st Men’s and 2nd Men’s teams. Stay tuned for score details and antics of the day – let’s say it got a little bit messy…
1st Women’s Match
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t was an intense game between the UKC and CCCU women. As CCCU choice to bat first, only two members (Beth
Marsh and Lauren Perkins) of the UKC team batted as Kent were already far enough in the scoring to win. The two batters often open together, as batting is arguably their strongest trait. The team stated that, when you decide whether to bat or field first, it is best to do first what the team is strongest at. Christ Church scored 89, UKC chasing them down without loosing a wicket, UKC winning by 10 wickets. Here are some words of wisdom from the Cricket girls on winning Varsity and having fun in the sun: How does it feel to have won? Danielle Weller (Captain): Really, really good. I was quite
nervous I have to admit and it’s been a calm win, and I’m all about the calm and serene. Bethany Marsh (Past Captain): Great, I mean we lost it last year so there was more riding on the line this year. It’s a pretty good feeling. I’m going to get pretty drunk tonight. My last varsity. Lauren Perkins (Vice Captain): It feels great. I was one of the batters and it feels even better! Jordan Garland (Future Captain): Amazing, loving it, getting bevved now. Are you surprised that you guys won? Jordan: Nah, we alienated them Tuesday and tripled their run rate. That’s why we think they batted first today, and
they’ve never batted first ever. Danielle: No, you never expect to win but we caught up in half the time and unfortunately it wasn’t a hard match. Hannah Fernández (Social Sec): No. We always bat first, which was a shock when we had to field first. A lot of activity going on the pitch, putting pressure on the other team. It makes a difference. We’ve been training every week. Beth: No, I mean, we’ve trained and totalled up 150 hours in training. The girls put all into it. Lauren: I don’t think so, just because we played them on Tuesday for our BUCS match and won. And it went really well, so we were just more excited to play!
What are the team’s best attributes? Lauren: Just having people who are really good at batting and bowling, we have a really good team bond. We work really well together, bringing people up rather than bringing them down when things go wrong, and I think that’s the main thing that draws us together. Danielle: Everything. They’re so hard working and they’ve really put in the effort. Persistence. I love my team. Beth: The best thing that we do is stick together as a team and really good at supporting one another. Hannah: Drinking? That’s Continued Sports Page 2