InQuire Issue 13.6 by InQuire Media

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InQuire The University of Kent’s student newspaper

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1 December 2017

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Issue 13.6

Peter Pan Takes Marlowe Stage

Festive Bakes

Review : ‘The Thrill of it All’

Culture Page 23

Lifestyle Page 12

Entertainment Page 21

University of Kent Chaplain Becomes First Transgender Minister for Methodist Church By Sierra Stillwater Writer

oy Everingham, chaplain at the University of Kent, has become the first transgender minister to be ordained by the Methodist Church. For 43 years, she was forced to suppress her identity, fearing that the revelation would result in hate or ridicule from the Methodist community and wider society. She first joined a church at the age of 15, after battling with her identity for several years. She found support, but the church she joined was rather conservative, and it taught that being gay was ‘sinful’. She continued to hide her gender, and began dating her best friend Ruth. They married at the age of 22. When Joy was introduced to the internet, she finally learned the meaning of the word “transgender,” and this opened up an entirely new society where she felt at peace with herself. After suffering from depression for years, Joy was admitted to a gender clinic. She was diagnosed with gender dysphoria. At the age of 41, she decided she wanted to become a Minister with the Methodist Church. During her interviews and

Photo by University of Kent

training, she was honest and open about her gender dysphoria, and she received the position in September of 2014. She told her family and church about her intentions of transitioning, and she was surprised by the overwhelming support she received from the community. Her wife and

kids have been accepting of her decision, and they continue to stand by her side during the transition. Joy has taken what she’s learned from her experiences and created the Canterbury Trans Network, a support group where individuals can explore their gender in a safe atmosphere. This

group meets every two weeks on Wednesdays at the University of Kent. Joy expresses her inclination to bring awareness to the discrimination and social exclusion that transgender

people face, and as a chaplain at UKC, she has made it her mission to reduce the stigma and help students who are struggling with their identities.

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Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

News 2017/2018

Print and online editorial contacts: Editor-in-Chief Kiran Saggu

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highly controversial material, including ‘Mein Kampf’, Adolf Hitler’s autobiography. The grammar school in Kent has School’s head teacher has stated recently come under fire that the works are only included after the school was planning to as “part of a wider debate”. build a so-called ‘unsafe space’ This comes just months after to counteract what is referred a controversial decision to to by the school as the ‘poison invite Milo Yiannopoulos, exsenior editor of Steve Bannon’s website ‘Breitbart’, and one of the Simon Langton’s alumni, to speak at the school. The school has also been accused of also hosting a number of questionably themed lectures, with one being titled “not all cultures are created equal”. The grammar school has a mixed gender 6th form but segregated lower school years. It was officially founded in 1881, but it has roots in Kent that can be traced back almost 800 years. It markets itself as one Photo by Wikimedia of the most prestigious of political grammar schools in correctness’. The ‘unsafe the UK. It has received an space’ is believed to be a set outstanding Ofsted report in all of extra-curricular classes areas, which is rarely attained run by the school for 6th form by UK schools. students aged 17-18. The Professor James Soderholm scheme exposes teenagers to commented on the proposed By Alejandro Javierre Writer

Newspaper Editor

Jasper Gilardi newspaper.editor @inquiremedia.co.uk

Website Editor

Sunny Singh

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News

Canterbury Grammar School Teaches Controversial Material

Grace Pocock

Newspaper News Editor

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Bill Bowkett

Website News Editor

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Opinion

Jesse Bedayn

Newspaper Opinion Editor

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Maisie Goeun Lee Website Opinion Editor

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Lifestyle

Isabelle Dray-Sharma

Newspaper Lifestyle Editor

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Victoria Rees

Website Lifestyle Editor

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Entertainment

Connie Enzler

Newspaper Entertainment Editor

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Georgia Dack

Website Entertainment Editor website.entertainment @inquiremedia.co.uk

Culture

Molly Hope

Sara Kilian

Website Culture Editor website.culture@inquiremedia.co.uk

Sport

James Bayliss

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Vacancy

Website Sports Editor

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Photography Alice Bezant

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Events

Saga Rådh

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Media & PR Ellie Carr

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angton Grammar School’s attempt at creating a debating space free from political correctness can be equally praised for its upholding of free-speech in its most raw forms, or criticised for its possible promotion and incitement of hate-speech and for exposing impressionable teenagers to radical and extreme beliefs and viewpoints. The effect of this push for such a diverse field of unconventional ideas, from the view of the rest of child education, on the pupils of

creation of the ‘unsafe spaces’ by stating: “The Unsafe Space is a much-needed forum for debate about a host of issues seen from both sides of the ideological spectrum.” The local MP for Canterbury, Rosie Duffield, whose two sons used to attend Langton Grammar School, defended the move by Langton Grammar School to create a controversial debate hub by making the statement: “We must not fear debate, but the way in which

Langton Grammar School is yet to be fully assessed, and may not ever be investigated from outside the School itself. This incident forms one small part of the ongoing debate on the place of free speech in relation to political correctness and the dangers of hate-speech across all of education and academia, a debate that could fundamentally change the way that social and political views are taught throughout the most important and tumultuous time in a developing child’s life. ideas are presented and framed needs to be very carefully considered indeed.” There are increasing concerns around the extent of controversial political views among the students, with one parent telling The Guardian: “boys there share the most racist, sexist, fascist comments as if they are saying ‘hi’” The School has since denied any right-wing agenda in its move to create the free debate space.

EcoFeast Project Aims to Reduce Elderly Loneliness By Grace Pocock Newspaper News Editor

Newspaper Culture Editor

newspaper.culture@inquiremedia.co.uk

Interpretation

ne third of Canterbury’s population is elderly, and one of their major causes of death is loneliness. Enactus, a student organisation at the University of Kent is working to empower communities and improve livelihoods through entrepreneurial projects, are trying to help this issue by introducing a new project, ‘EcoFeast’. EcoFeast is designed to help bring the community closer together by connecting the elderly with younger generations through weekly cooking courses using surplus supermarket food as the main ingredients.

This project aims to reduce social isolation amongst the elderly while passing on crucial cookery skills to the younger generations. In order to bring this project alive, Enactus have partnered with multiple c o m p a n i e s including Tesco Fareshare and Feedback. I spoke to Diya Chatterjee, vice president of operations at Enactus, and she s a i d t h e

project provides a “unique way to give back to the community”. When asked about the progress of the project and its future, she stated “it’s been slow progress, but it’s really starting to pick

up as awareness of it is growing locally. In terms of the project’s future, I’d be happy even if it just impacts a couple of people. However I do hope that we can spread it further across different cities.”

Photo by Enactus Kent

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

News

‘Have Your Say’: Students Meet the Vice Chancellor, Professor Karen Cox By Georgie Hoffman Writer

tudents and staff gathered at the Gulbenkian on Tuesday night for the ‘Have Your Say’ talk with Vice Chancellor, Karen Cox; and Deputy Vice Chancellor, April McMahon. The two were all smiles as they mingled with the crowd of students who were taking advantage of the free pizza before the talk began. Cox and McMahon were joined by Ruth Wilkinson, President of the Student Union. The audience were sent round to four separate stations; graduate prospects, academic experience, cocurricular opportunities and space, to write down the questions they wanted addressed in the talk. The talk was interactive: the audience was encouraged to speak up and elaborate on issues raised. Cox and McMahon listened and then responded. Students had a lot to say on the issue of course assessments on feedback: “I think what people are complaining about is that they have no clear idea of where they are losing their marks… even though they’re getting feedback they’re not told how much they get for each part of their essay.” said one student. McMahon responded: “[feedback on assessments have been] a big theme for [the university] last year… there are some [new] things that should be in place in your school now, and if they’re not in place we really need to know about it.” There were a series of events of the different Kent campuses to help improve assessment feedback and there is currently an opportunity for students to change the way their courses are assessed. McMahon explained: “we’re having a kind of amnesty for assessments in the next three months… If schools tell us by the end of January that they want to make

Photo by Alice Bezant

changes to the assessment for their module, we’ll make that happen.” Both Cox and McMahon encouraged students to take advantage of this opportunity by getting in touch with their student reps to tell them what changes they would like to see. When the issue of lecture capture (KentPlayer) was raised, Cox directed the question back at the audience, asking: “What are you actually using it for?” It seems the issue among staff, with regard to lecture capture, is the assumption that students will not show up to their lectures if they will be available to listen to later. Many members of the audience proved themselves to be evidence of the contrary, with on student saying: “If I’m doing an essay I’ll go to that particular lecture and revise it again… [replaying lectures can also be useful for revision] “because the lecturers elaborate on a particular point that you probably don’t remember, especially if your exams are always in June.”. Many other students agreed that the recordings are useful for revision as well as recapping parts of lecture you may not have understood. One member

of the audience who had dyslexia said they were useful for him in going back and making notes. The downfall of lecture capture, is the sound quality. One audience member said that although he finds lecture capture useful, the sound quality can make it hard to hear sometimes rendering the recording useless. Currently, lectures are recorded by camera only, however, McMahon revealed that the University is looking into introducing lapel mics: “Some of our academic colleagues are concerned that they really like to pace around and move in and out of the audience.” The introduction of lapel mics could potentially be the solution to lecturers’ aversion to lecture capture as well as the issue of sound quality. One student commented that although students are encouraged to assess and give feedback on their modules, we never see where that feedback goes. He added that comments from previous students could be very helpful to future students when choosing which modules to take. A student rep in the audience stated: “[reps] still don’t have access to module feedback… [even

though] giving student reps the ability to see what’s been said about modules would give students more power to change them.” Cox agreed, saying: “I think that whole thing around closing the feedback loop is really important, if we ask you for your feedback you should be able to see that.” She and McMahon stressed that the feedback would not reveal comments from specific individuals, but that the information could definitely be collated to give all students an idea of what was expected of them.

Due to lack of time, some of the questions raised by the audience were not addressed in as much detail. Other issues included the lack of internships available to students at the Medway campus and students finishing their postgraduate degrees over summer. The topic of college affiliation had the audience divided; some felt they had a very strong connection with their college while others were not even aware which college they belonged to. One of the final subjects discussed was well-being and pastoral care. Students agreed that on the whole the services available are generally very good. However, many felt that the University needs to do more in order to reach out to students that appear to be in need of help but are not seeking it out, often because they simply do not know the help exists or are unaware of how to access it. The ‘have your say’ event allowed Cox and McMahon to get an insight into issues faced by students, which they may have otherwise been unaware of. It opened up a discussion between students and the chancellors, allowing both parties to take feedback onboard and to work to address issues raised in the future.

Photo by Alice Bezant

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

News

“Whose Streets? Our Streets!”

Kent Students Reclaimed the Night By Grace Pocock Newspaper News Editor

n Monday 27 November, hundreds of people marched through the streets of Canterbury to show support for rape and sexual assault survivors. The ‘Reclaim the Night’ march began at Westgate Hall, filling the venue to full capacity. The procession continued up the high street, before looping back to Marlowe Theatre. The atmosphere was one of unity and defiance, with people mingling and bonding over the banners and placards made in the weeks running up to the march. As the group marched, they chanted together: “Whose streets? Our streets. Join the

fight, reclaim the night!” The march was organised by Kent Union and UKC Women’s Campaign, with a diverse mix of Kent Union volunteers, staff, and students attending. Bannermaking sessions were organised by the ‘Respect the No’ community action group. The march comes at a time when these issues are in the forefront of people’s minds. On Wednesday 15 November an alleged rape took place at Hales Place, resulting in six arrests, with two pending further investigation. Clara Lee, the VicePresident of Welfare told InQuire that The Reclaim the Night march shows that people will not be intimidated by acts of sexual

acts: “I feel it was really important b e c a u s e it was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence a g a i n s t Women. I think really important to send out that message so that we can stand in solidarity w i t h survivors of sexual violence; men and women.”

Photo by Jasper Gilardi

Photo by Grace Pocock

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

News

The Zimbabwe Coup: The End of Mugabe By Alejandro Javierre Writer

n 15 November, Zimbabwean military took control of the Country’s main news station in its capital of Harare, ZBC. It is believed the move was in response to Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe’s firing of his Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, with the alleged intention of placing his wife in the role of Vice President. A military spokesperson made a public address calling for calm, and stated the move by the military was not a coup, despite the heavy military presence in the evening of the 14th. The spokesperson also claimed the move was to arrest the “criminals” surrounding the President. Following a week of uncertainty over Mugabe’s position, the president formally resigned from leadership of the Zanu PF party and government, leading to widespread jubilation from parliament ministers and the country itself. This follows 30 years of rule over the country of Zimbabwe; a period that has seen widespread economic turmoil, oppressive autocratic regimes from the military, suspected wars crimes and acts of genocide. Some have claimed these have been ‘the darkest years of Zimbabwean history’. In 1980, at the time of his election, Mugabe promised to ensure that Zimbabwe would transition to a peaceful democratic state following

colonial rule. In his election speech in 1980, Mugabe retained a “commitment to peace and the democratic process under the Lancaster House agreement”. However, Mugabe’s policies, and his attempts to control his

by the Zanu PF party prompted Mugabe to be banned from travelling to Europe, the US and a host of other countries under a sanction by the United Nations in 2000. Despite widespread relief at

and acted as his chief of intelligence at the time of the genocide in Matabeleland. There are concerns among the opposition party in the Zimbabwean government that Mnangagwa may carry on with

new reforms to death penalty policy which Mnangagwa is strongly opposed to. Dr Magaisa also speculates that UK-Zimbabwean relations are set to improve following Mr Mugabe’s ousting: “Both

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government and people through force and violence, grew increasingly more totalitarian and oppressive, culminating to the genocide of around 20,000 Matabele citizens by a North Korean trained military unit that answered personally to Mugabe called the 5th Brigade. Matabeleland was a province known for containing guerilla movements against Mugabe’s proposed “one party government”. This ruthless act

the end of the Mugabe regime, many are still skeptical as to whether this does spell the end of Zimbabwe’s autocratic oppression and heightened military control. The person tipped to succeed Mugabe following his resignation appears to be his ex-vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa has been directly tied to many of the oppressive actions committed by the military under Mugabe

the same oppressive tendencies as Mugabe. Alex Magaisa, a University of Kent Law Professor and expert in Zimbabwean politics presented more comprehensive information on Mnangagwa’s time as a minister in Zimbabwe’s government, of which he has continually served in since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. Dr Magaisa noted on his blog, ‘Big Saturday Read’, that Zimbabwe should expect to see

Zimbabwe and Britain see this as a new beginning”. There is a long road ahead for equality in Zimbabwe, and it is still facing huge uncertainty in its future and a dark past of oppression. However the days of Mugabe’s grip over the country has come to an end. Dr Magaisa runs up-to-date commentary on the ongoing political situation in Zimbabwe through the ‘Big Saturday Read’ blog at www. Bigsr.co.uk.

UKC Strips Alumnus of Honorary Doctorate By Bill Bowkett Website News Editor

welve charges of misconduct were brought against Phil Shiner by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal back in February. The 60 year old was struck off for receiving more than £1.6million in taxpayers money; and for wrongly accusing hundreds of British soldiers in Iraq of murder, torture, and mistreatment; and for bringing false allegations to court.

The tribunal found that he acted dishonestly, recklessly, and without integrity. After investigating Mr. Shiner in February, following the tribunal, the University announced that his honorary doctorate would be revoked. The University have refused to comment on this matter. This week, following Mr. Shiner’s doctorate removal, the Solicitors Regulation Authority will appeal a verdict which cleared a second law firm, Leigh Day,

of wrongdoing. Mr. Shiner was the head of strategic litigation at Public Interest Lawyers from 2014 until the firm’s closure in 2016. He had previously been principal at Public Interest Lawyers Ltd from 1999 to 2014. He has most recently been a professor in practice law at Middlesex University. Former Canterbury and Whitstable MP, Sir Julian Brazier, has labeled Mr Shiner a ‘disgrace’ and has called for Mr Shiner to be arrested for his actions:

“This man should be prosecuted for treason. He has behaved disgracefully and should be in prison. He has attempted the prosecution of British soldiers who have records for gallantry and some who are suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. His firms were effectively dispensing public money in order to bring false court cases against the British military.” Mr. Shiner now faces an estimated fine of £4million for bringing the trumped up

claims under legal aid. The government has also said that they will pursue Mr. Shiner for the money that his defunct firm was paid in the past. Mr Shiner is, however, bankrupt. Mr. Shiner was previously named Human Rights Lawyer of the Year in 2004 for “outstanding skill and tenacity in taking test cases to protect the rights of Iraqi civilians tortured and killed by British forces”, as well as being named Solicitor of the Year by the Law Society in 2007.

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

Opinion

What Can Centrism Offer? By James Marriott Writer

hat comes to your mind when you hear the word centrism? It feels wishywashy and might be seen as an insult in that it doesn’t aspire to utopian values. Centrism, however, is the core of liberal democracy and we need it now more than ever before. Centrism argues for compromise and debate, which is what politics is essentially about. It is impossible to achieve anything without discussion. If you force a reform through without any consultation with the opposition, you risk it being completely scrapped when the other side comes to power; not a single Republican voted for Obamacare in 2010, they are now trying to repeal it. You need debate and compromise to pass lasting legislation. Centrists must embrace the other side without ceasing to advocate their own policies. I can already hear the roar of disagreement about the coalition government and Nick Clegg and the tuition fees; unfortunately, the tuition fees were part of this bigger search

for compromise. As painful as it is, it at least limited conservative power between 2010 and 2015. Centrists paid a huge price for this compromise: the Lib Dems were reduced to eight seats in the next Parliament. This is only made worse if we consider the centrist opposition to sudden shifts of public opinion both left and right. The radicalisation of young people was a costly by-product. Because centrists try to understand different views, they promote effective reform. It is impossible to be completely centrist, individuals inevitably lean left or right; but in practice centrism promotes a balance between social liberty and economic liberty. This allows for consensus and political discourse, which ideally leads to progress. In most cases the centrist agenda takes good ideas from both the left and right. Economically, it can be cutting taxes for the poorest, but increasing taxes for the rich. This advances the most beneficial and realistic legislation, which is a more effective way of running a country. In this manner one

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is not tied to one’s ideology and forced to blindly follow it even if it’s harmful or purely populistic. Ultimately, pragmatism is at the heart of centrism; and now is the time when we need pragmatism the most. Irrational and populist ideals are dominating current politics. Corbyn and Brexit are prime examples. Policies are being proposed that have no real footing. Corbyn proved this this summer when he went back on his promise to write-off student debt. We enter the era of populism and unrealistic policies, which won’t advance any constructive

reform. Centrism must be the voice of reason. The continued detachment between the left and the right is also worrying; it’s escalating to a point where both sides are too far apart to agree on anything. If you have a communist and a capitalist in the room there will be no compromise. As the parties separate, the culture of consensus is violated. There will be a drastic change of policy each time a new government comes to power, which is possibly the biggest hindrance to progress there can be. If our nation is a boat, and the government is the captain constantly changing direction,

we won’t get anywhere. There is a need for a powerful middle ground, which will bring a general accord between the two sides. As things stand now, this centre is annihilated. Liberal Democrats still can’t bounce back from their time in the coalition; Labour’s centrists have been silenced by Corbynistas; and the Tories have been systematically going right. This centrist power vacuum should be filled by a realistic centrist alternative, which could regenerate our current political culture and safeguard the future of Britain.

Should University Tuition be Free? By Lee Russell Writer

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he decision to implement tuition fees began with the Labour government in 1998, with a cost of up to £1,000 per year for tuition. Fast-forward to 2017, and we see fees of up to £9,250 and interest at 6.1%. Students are incurring huge debts which the majority fail to pay off. The problem with this system is the rate of interest placed on loans; an even higher interest rate of 6.1% was recently announced, and new students face an average debt of £55,000 upon graduation. This is not sustainable, and there is a strong case for reform with Labour promising to abolish fees. Who can forget the Lib Dem’s

policy back in 2012? Hopefully the lesson has been learned by Labour, but the debate over the quality and cost has been brought up once more, and it doesn’t seem to have changed. I am entirely in support of the abolition of fees, but I do not want to see a reduction in quality or a compromise on education opportunities. Some counter arguments have stated that Scotland’s free tuition, for example, is flawed; they are wholly dependent upon international students to make up the shortfall. This is something England must be careful not to replicate. Foregoing the Scottish system, the cost to the taxpayer would be huge, and this could be tough to justify in the current political climate; even so, it is not a debate that can be

ignored. As graduates are earning higher salaries and paying higher taxes, free tuition is justifiable. Opposition would argue that if a student wants a university degree, they should pay for it and reap the benefits later in life. This seems like a logical approach on the surface, but we no longer live in a society where a university degree defines one’s chances in the job market. With the sheer volume of yearly graduates, the competition for jobs is fierce, and many graduates have found themselves in lower paid jobs that don’t necessarily require a degree. Although on average graduates earn more and thus pay more in tax, the majority never pay off their student debt, and this screams ‘problem’.

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

Opinion

Theresa May’s Political Standing with the Tories By Adam Millward Writer

heresa May is caught between irresponsible ministers that she’s too frightened to reprimand, and European leaders who would love nothing more than to give the U.K. a bad Brexit deal. May cuts a frustrated figure. Her cabinet is atrophying – Brexit darling Priti Patel and Secretary for Defence Michael Fallon both left their positions in the last month, while rebels like Boris Johnson bay for her blood. As Merkel and Macron stall the Brexit talks in search of more money from the U.K., May has no wiggle room. The question must be begged therefore; where does she stand in the Conservative party, and where does she go from here? One things for sure; May is the prime minister, and can’t just walk away like David Cameron

did twelve months ago. She lost her majority in what was a catastrophic election for the Tories, but pledged to remain in her position for at least two years nonetheless – by which point the Brexit deal should be in place. The ideal time for Theresa’s exit, her ‘Thexit’ if you will, would have been directly following the disastrous election, but she clung to the hot seat – perhaps acutely aware that Boris Johnson was on hand to fill the void. She has the most drastic swing in approval rating (-25) over the course of the first year of leadership, and barely has the support of her party members after losing 13 seats and culling, before recalling, a number of Cameron’s mates following the election. May is feeble, she lacks the charisma required to lead the country through its most trying political moment for decades. Why hasn’t she been usurped?

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History suggests that the snarling ranks of Conservative backbenchers will eventually prey on the weak; Thatcher was ousted after numerous rival leadership bids; Major was hugely unpopular with his own party in the 1997 election; and Cameron, humbled by his Brexit failure, had to quit, and retreat to his bolthole in Oxfordshire. The Tory backbenchers clearly couldn’t care less if Theresa May’s reputation is tarnished by Brexit, and anyway, the sum of remainers and leavers in the Tory party still hangs in the balance. What would Europhile Ken Clarke, or Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg stand to gain from ousting May? To a party that is divided over Brexit, May is an invaluable floating voter. A converted remainer, now pushing the hard Brexit line – she is proven to lack integrity and be prone to U-turns, a useful pawn malleable to the whims of her backbenchers.

May is so weak and hapless that the egos within the party can push their agendas onto her – and scapegoat her should it not come off. The party chasm widens, and May’s space to operate tightens. If she push her own views, a soft Brexit, she will inevitably be ousted by the far right of her party. For now, May is safe. She will hold onto the leadership so long as she acts as a puppet for her party around the negotiating table - but as Brexit negotiations stall, it remains to be seen how long she can hang on. That leads us conveniently onto the ongoing Brexit talks. I imagine a huge Dr. Strangelove style table in the EU Headquarters in Brussels. A vast crystal ball sits in the middle, surrounded by European leaders, laughing like hyenas, and rubbing their hands watching Theresa May’s ramshackle government fall to pieces. No wonder they’re

holding out for 40 billion, a bitter pill that May will reluctantly have to swallow to usher in the second stage of talks. May’s cabinet is keen to see progression, but how do you justify paying billions over the odds to a bunch of hard line Eurosceptics? Theresa May walks a tightrope. The European giants will continue to call the shots, which the cabinet will grow ever more impatient with – May is stuck in the middle, trying to keep both sides of the channel happy. Still, May’s government trundles on. She defied expectations, surviving the weeks following the election. She could well see out her two years. It is growing ever more apparent, however, that the prime minister is being backed into a corner, as clinging onto power, and shirking the title of the prime minister who screwed up Brexit, becomes her biggest concern and consequent focus.

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

Opinion

Zimbabwe Awakens By Matt Nuttall Writer

rior to its independence from Britain in 1964, Zimbabwe—then called Rhodesia—was immensely wealthy. Thanks to gold rich terrain and extremely fertile land, the Southern African country had been named ‘the Jewel of Africa’. Of all the countries transitioning between colony and democracy, Zimbabwe was one of the best situated to modernise. Fifty years later, it is a wreck, and Robert Mugabe is almost entirely at fault. Mugabe’s rise came in the years immediately after independence. For a short while after the split from the UK, Zimbabwe remained under the racist control of Ian Smith, a man of European descent determined to maintain white supremacy in the African country. Naturally, this was hard to enforce without British help, and a guerrilla war was launched by black Zim-

babweans with Mugabe at the forefront. Fifteen years of this was enough to erode Smith’s authority completely, and, with elections imminent, Mugabe was the obvious choice. He became prime minister in a landslide, taking 63% of the vote. He seized power and never let it go. After consolidating his position throughout the 1980s, he fused the prime ministership and presidency in 1987, and then maintained his control by winning election by an even larger margin in 1990. At this point, things began to spiral out of control. Mismanagement of both blue and white-collar industries led to strikes by everyone from civil servants to nurses over salaries. When these went ignored, there was a mass exodus of professional talent. The general health of the country began to decline as the doctors joined the exodus, and consequently, by 1997, approximately a quarter of the population was infected by HIV. Looking for any success, Mugabe attempted

land reform, as the 0.6% white population still held 70% of Zimbabwe’s agricultural land. He did this by simply seizing land from the whites and giving it to black citizens. They were black Zimbabweans who had no farming experience. Zimbabwe’s exports plummeted, and the economy sank with them. This began a trend in the 2000s, where Mugabe would try something dramatic to solve a problem, and mistakenly make everything worse. To save the stumbling economy he began printing piles of money making the Zimbabwean Dollar worthless. To combat slums in cities, Mugabe ordered them all destroyed, leaving tens of thousands homeless. In the midst of all this was blatant electoral fraud; Mugabe even admitted, in what I can only assume was a senile moment in 2014, that the opposition had won the 2008 election by 73%, an election Mugabe claimed he won by 76%. By 2009, the majority of the country’s workforce had simply left the

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country, and employment was reaching dangerously close to 50%. Mugabe’s final years reinstated his political ineptitude. Realising, perhaps, that one could only be so corrupt for so long, the aging president embarked on a final ride of wild mismanagement. One study by the Institution for Security Studies concluded that ‘the government encourages corruption to make up for its inability to fund its own institutions’. This wasn’t a

struggling country. This was a near unsalvageable wreck. Last week, Mugabe was finally removed from office by a coup. His 37-year rule is over. It’s hard to imagine a route back to riches for Zimbabwe. Mugabe was neither the cruellest nor maddest dictator of all time; but, in terms of sheer incompetence, Mugabe must rank first. He has ruined a rich and vibrant country that had optimistic prospects. Thank god he is finally gone.

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

Opinion

Should we have Another Brexit Referendum? By Michael Lear Writer

hile both Theresa May’s Conservatives and Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party have re-affirmed their commitment to taking Britain out of the EU, the often forgotten Liberal Democrats have been calling for a second referendum on EU membership following the conclusion of the negotiations over the UK’s withdrawal. But as the terms of Brexit have become more uncertain the case for a second referendum stronger than ever. The prospect of another referendum may be unappealing if it leads to a repeat of the divisive rhetoric of the 2016 campaign. It’s becoming increasingly clear that it might be the only way to prevent a crisis of governance, and settle the issue. The Conservatives and Labour are both split down the middle, with the general election result sending a decidedly

mixed message. Any hope of politicians coming together to deliver a positive outcome from Brexit seems remote even if it is the. In the long term, a second referendum would break the deadlock and provide the clarity needed for the country to move forward inside or outside the EU. As for those that claim holding a second referendum could hinder the UK’s negotiating position, they fail to take into account the dynamics between the 27 member states. If anything, the EU27 have become more united since the Brexit vote and will not want the UK to continue membership as a reluctant partner, resisting any attempts at reform, or further integration. Perhaps the biggest criticism that ‘leave’ campaigners have used to deride the idea of holding a second referendum is that it’s not democratic. Indeed, it has been framed as a move by ‘remain’ politicians to stop

Brexit happening which defies the clearly expressed ‘will of the people.’ However, another referendum is the most democratic path. The public will know exactly what shape Brexit will take, unlike in the 2016 referendum when many claims and

Photo by HM News and Views

promises were made that have turned out to be false or unfulfillable. Furthermore, it provides voters with the opportunity to express a different view if they are not happy with the deal the government negotiates. Given the Conservative Party’s questionable mandate following the loss of its House

of Commons majority, it’s not clear that the appetite for Brexit is as great as it once was. As the government often reminds us, by voting to trigger Article 50, Parliament has accepted the outcome of the referendum, and must not attempt to ‘block’ Brexit. Frankly, this argument is worrying in its attempt to subvert the parliamentary process and close down debate. No one is trying to ‘block’ Brexit or undermine the government’s position, rather MPs are simply trying to provide the scrutiny and accountability you would expect in a democracy. If anything, it is the internal disagreements over Brexit within the cabinet that risk throwing the negotiations into chaos, particularly if no progress is made on the issues of the Irish border and the financial settlement. Meanwhile, the leaked letter from Boris Johnson and

Michael Gove to the Prime Minister, setting out how the Brexit process should proceed, is a dramatic demonstration of the extent to which Theresa May’s hands are tied by the ardent Brexiteers in her own government. So far, the government has offered Parliament a ‘take it or leave it’ vote on the final deal. This is nothing more than a token gesture. A second referendum might be unpopular, but it is necessary to prevent a potentially disastrous ‘no deal’ Brexit being imposed on the UK against voters’ wishes. If a week is a long time in politics, then the 1009 days between the referendum and its departure on 29th March 2019 is surely an eternity. Arguing for a second referendum does not mean rejecting or ignoring the outcome of the 2016 vote. Instead, it means ending the Brexit debate the way it started – by putting power back in the hands of the people.

A Conversation with the Marxist Society By Joe Cumner Writer

o mark the 100th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution and the 150th anniversary of Marx’s Das Kapital, I sat down with Jesse and Luke from the Marxist society to ask them some questions about their beliefs and the current state of the ideology.

Photo by BigBrand | Flickr

What first drew you to Marxism? Luke: “For me it was a gradual process through the mainstream left, I found Marxist principles appealing,

and eventually I could no longer believe in capitalist institution.” Jesse: “I never really bought capitalism, and Marxist ideals were something I found I could relate to. After attending a few Marxist events I knew I had found something worthwhile to follow.” As a Marxist society, are your activities purely political, or do you just find a more common ground with your Marxist peers in comparison to others? Luke: “Mostly political, unlike the labour society we are mainly academic with an aim of furthering knowledge with lectures on Marxist principles. And the odd social thrown in. It’s difficult to get 20 Marxists in a room so when you do it’s fun.” Jesse: “The majority of our members are left wing but not necessarily Marxist, therefore there is an emphasis on political presentations and informing people about Marxism.”

What do you think the current political establishment could learn from Marxist ideology? Jesse: “Corbyn’s policies, such as free education, are practically impossible without breaking from the capitalist model.” Luke: “Yeah, it requires change. The ideas of nationalisation are fantastic, but the constraints of the British political system don’t allow it. We require institutions not to sell out, especially unions.” Jesse: “Unions aren’t representing the people any more, power groups are carrying out atrocious acts against their workers due to the current system.” Luke: “We want the workers to feel like they have the choice, influence and leverage over the system.” Do you feel like a political outlier, especially when you aren’t within student social circles? Luke: “I’m the only Marxist in my friend group, we certainly agree there is a problem with current systems but disagree on

how to fix it, but most students sit on the left of the political fence, you only have to look at how the Tories treat students to see the reason why.” Jesse: “I don’t hide my beliefs, but I rarely bring it up. and when I do bring it up there is often constructive conversation. We rarely feel attacked, we often look to build a dialogue, for the reasoning behind belief.” Do you think that Marxism has evolved significantly since Das Kapital and the Revolution of 1917? Luke: “Marxism has to evolve, and when you examine the possible mass-unemployment brought about by automation, combined with the wealth gap, Marxism is more relevant than ever.” Jesse: “What Marx, Lenin and Trotsky wrote about is timeless, Marxist tactics and ideals are infinitely applicable. If you examine the role played by women in the Revolution, you can see how Marxism favours a modern idea of gender equality, it’s all encapsulated within a class struggle. Marx foresaw the boom and bust nature

of modern capitalism in Das Kapital, and currently, the bust is always greater than the boom.” Do you find it fair that the extreme left is often presented in a similar way to the extreme right? Luke: “They are, but only by those on the extreme right. We look for class equality whereas the extreme right is looking to divide and classify. It is unfair to examine us based on the activities of people like Stalin and Mao, their actions are not indicative of our beliefs, and that is how we are most commonly criticised.” Jake: “The extreme right on the internet is often far more reactionary than educated, they only react to current political situations and the rise of individuals like Trump is a pure reaction against immigrants and terrorism. Media representation is always going to be biased against the left as they are all owned by wealthy individuals, it’s good to have many sources, but putting all your eggs in one basket is counter productive.

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

Lifestyle

The Two Sides of Social Media

Combat SAD this Winter

By Grace Pulford Writer

Although we can have a blast sharing a selfie or two, social networking has been known to pose a potential threat hether it’s catching up with to anyone’s enjoyment of it and even family and friends on Facebook, wellbeing. Whilst further researching retweeting the latest news on Twitter, this issue, I found that the struggle to or sharing your favourite photos via log off can stem from anything from Instagram, there’s no doubt that social boredom, a coping mechanism for media has become an essenstruggles in real life, the desire tial part of our everyday to feel noticed all the way lives. Nothing feels to the fear of missmore heart-warming out on every ing than seeing piece of news your family and event on Facebook going on. As and reada former ing about journalism friends student, celebratTwitter ing their became my achieve‘best friend’ ments or despite beadventures. ing nervous If you’re more to not fall of a news-type behind on any person, chances piece of news are you’ll be catchout there. HowevPhoto by Saulo Mohana on ing up with breaking er, regardless of what Unsplash news or your favourite struggles occur, many celebrities on Twitter. Whatever are sure to agree it will never erase kind of social media gets your attention, how much social media has introduced it’s our generation’s fastest way of conus to, inevitably connecting the whole necting with each other anywhere. world together like never before.

Reimagining Vintage Fashion By Kiran Saggu Editor-in-Chief

he 1990’s gave us Tamagotchi, text messages, the Spice Girls, and of course, the World Wide Web. While I’m happy about the extinction of some trends by the start of the noughties, bowl cuts for example, 90’s fashion gave us some iconic looks. Honestly, what would our world look like today without high-waisted trousers? A lot of exhausted abdomens, that’s what. As primary inspiration for this article, I’d like to thank my mum: for having great style back in the day, keeping around clothes long enough for them to be considered vintage, and

having a much better body than me in her younger years so that I have to suck in my soul to squeeze into her old trousers. This outfit one of my favourite retro vintage looks. Although it took a fishing line and a tub of Vaseline to get out of them, high-waisted colour block trousers are quintessentially 90’s, not to mention incredibly body flattering. Pair it with a padded shoulder striped crop top and stand outside a retro vinyl records store, it feels like you’re in a Salt-n-Pepa music video. For more vintage looks, visit the Lifestyle section at: inquirelive. co.uk

Photo by Isabelle Dray-Sharma

By Hannah Blowes Writer

easonal Affective Disorder (SAD), or seasonal depression, is thought to affect a large number of people, particularly those living in countries with variable climates. It occurs more often during winter, with symptoms appearing around November and easing around April. Symptoms may include: low mood, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, irritability, feelings of despair, decreased energy, a need for sleep, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite, and more frequent feelings of stress and anxiety. The symptoms of SAD can take their toll, particularly due to their effect on energy levels. It can interrupt your social and work life, so it’s important to recognise the symptoms and try to do something about them, particularly during deadline season. Although the causes of SAD are not fully understood, there are ways in which we can combat them and help to ease those winter blues:

reward yourself for completing tasks, don’t be shy of treating yourself for hard work.

Exercise and a healthy diet

As part of your busy schedule, it is also important to factor in some physical activity. The endorphins released from exercise can help to keep your moods up and can ward off the stress. Equally, try to keep a healthy diet rich in vitamins, especially vitamin D since we usually get this from sunlight. SAD can make us want to hit the carbs, and this can leave us feeling sluggish and unmotivated, which will only make matters worse. Even after tackling all of the issues raised above, you may find that you are still struggling. If you feel that you are unable to cope and need some help, it’s best to see a medical professional who can offer advice and perhaps suggest some treatment such as CBT or medication.

Exposure to sunlight

SAD is thought to be exacerbated by a lack of sunlight which, sparing the jargon, can in turn affect the chemicals in our brains which play a role in regulating our mood. One trick to beating the blues is to get as much natural sunlight as possible. Although it can be tempting to sit inside with the curtains closed and huddled under blankets, when done frequently it can actually be detrimental in the long run. Make sure to leave the house and drink in some of the sunlight for at least 20 minutes each day, which will make you feel much better than hibernating through Winter. Additionally, if you like to study from home, make sure to keep your working environment as light and airy as possible and if you can, sit by a window. You may also consider using a happy light, which is a full spectrum lightbulb that serves as a sunlight substitute, but consult a medical professional before doing so to learn about the possible side effects.

Keep busy and stick to a routine

Although SAD can feel like an uninvited tenant storming in unapologetically, kicking up a fuss, and demanding your attention, don’t let it ruin your routines. Keep a tight schedule full of lots of fun and productive activities; being organised can help to reduce the stress that is often associated with SAD. Granted, you may have deadlines and be busy in the library most of the time, but it’s important to schedule in some downtime to recuperate when your energy levels are low. Furthermore, make sure to hang out with friends regularly, as social networks are important during busy times and can help to make the struggle a little bit easier. Plan exciting things and

Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

Lifestyle

Top Five Christmas Events in Canterbury 1) Christmas at the Castle. raditional Christmas fair with stalls inside and out selling Christmas gift. Plus there’s the magical Christmas grotto. Whitstable Castle and Gardens, 15 Tower Hill, Whitstable CT5 2BW. 3 December. 11:00AM – 16:00PM. 2) Christmas Market. Dozens of colourful cabins selling seasonal food and drink, gifts and decorations – many handmade by local artisans. Whitefriars, Gravel Walk, Canterbury CT1 2TF. 25 November – 24 December. Mon – Fri 10:00AM - 18:00PM, Sat 9:00AM - 18:00PM, Sun 10:00AM - 17:00PM. 3) Artisan Christmas Gift Fair. A special Christmas fair, displaying the wares of local artisans, particularly celebrating crafts which hail from the medieval period. St Margaret’s Street, Canterbury, CT1 2TG. 2 December – 3 December. 10:00AM – 17:00PM. 4) Peter Pan. The Marlowe and Evolution Pantomimes present ‘Peter Pan’, featuring stunning costumes and scenery. The Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, Canterbury, CT1 2AS. 24 November – 14 January. Tickets: £8.25 – £36.75. 5) Christmas Quiz. A fun night of Christmas trivia and drinking before term ends. Origins Bar and Grill, Darwin College, CT27NY. 10 December. 7:30PM. Entry £1.

Five Helpful Essay Tips By TJ Kaur Writer

s deadlines are approaching for the second time this year, these helpful tips will come in handy if you’re starting to feel a sense of impending doom, and have no idea where to start. Most should also help you write a well thought-out essay, no matter how long you have to write it. 1) Set deadlines If you haven’t left things untill the last minute setting yourself deadlines at the beginning of term for when you need to have chosen a question, researched, planned, and written your essay, is ideal. If you haven’t already done this do not worry, but keep it in mind for next term. 2) Research It’s the foundation of any good essay. When doing research on any essay topic, make sure you stay specific to the question at hand. Do not just research the author of a book, or look up vague facts about a certain period of time. You should make sure you have decent knowledge of the issues and debates that surround your question because you do not want to make the rookie mistake making a rudimentary arguement that already exists. After you know what arguments people have already made about the subject you will be better able to position your own argument in relation to what has already been said. If you do not have much time, still skim through critiques on the subject you are writing on. Library search and google books are ideal sources. 3) Plan This is probably the most important

tip in the list. We have been told to plan since secondary school, but still struggle to do it adequately. I would recommend finding techniques that works for you. Possible solutions include; mind maps on A4 of initial thoughts and research points, and quotes; bullet point list breakdowns of what points will be in which paragraph, and giving the paragraphs subheadings so that you know what each one will be about.

with criticisms to reflect your opinion, even if it just builds upon what someone has already said. 5) Take breaks This may sound counter intuitive, procrastinators may be screaming that they don’t have time for breaks, but you need them. Not sitting in the same place, making a snack, having a ten minute dance party, or just taking a short walk will help keep your mind

Photo by William Iven on Unsplash

Ideally your planning techniques should not take too long, but it will give you an idea of the structure of your essay and its content. Even if you have 24 hours to do an essay, planning it is still important, or you risk your essay looking like incoherent word vomit. 4) Be original When choosing your argument try to look at how you can add to the discourse of your essay topic. Don’t just regurgitate what other critics have already tried to argue; instead engage

refreshed. For people like me, who struggle with a work/break balance I recommend the Pomodoro technique. This is where you work for a set amount of time and then take a 10 to 15 minute break, before starting the cycle again. Personally I find 30 minutes of work and then a 10 minute break ideal for when I’m feeling a little slow, and 45 minute work sessions for productive days with a 15 minute break.

The Spirit of Selflessness this Christmas By Amber Bytheway Writer

the severity of the homelessness crisis this winter, or people who may feel alone with the loss of loved ones. So, t’s all too easy to forget, when you’ve perhaps this Christmas you could pull got the tinsel up and the turkey in off a few festive favours in the spirit of the oven, that selflessness. One thing you can do is donate a bag of urgently needed items to your local foodbank. With 1 in 5 families currently living under the poverty line in the UK it is vital that foodbanks rely on our generosity. With an increasing pressure to have ‘fun’ at Christmas, for those with little money and struggling to make ends meet it is important that we do all we can to support the network of Christmas isn’t always foodbanks. Concentrate Photo by Pexels a spirited time of year on donating food and for many: whether it be toiletries that are urgently families on the brink of poverty, needed by your local foodbank. To

find out more about what items your local foodbank desperately need visit: https://www.trusselltrust.org/. You can also give someone a call you haven’t spoken to in a while. Whether it’s a family member who you should have phoned a year ago or a long-lost friend let your loved ones know that they’re loved. Christmas can be an incredibly lonely time for those that are alone or have lost loved ones. Letting someone know that you care and you’re there to listen is always appreciated. So don’t just hide under the duvet this Christmas, give your great aunt a call! Sending a Christmas card to a poorly child can give them a much needed lift. Channel your creativity and hand make a card to send to a ill child this Christmas with the fantastic charity Post Pals. You could brighten the day of many children receiving cancer treatment of transplants this Christmas.

Read the stories of all the incredible ‘pals’ and send them some mail today and all throughout the year! For more information go to: http://www.postpals. co.uk/. To help beat homelessness you can also volunteer or donate this Christmas. The number of people sleeping rough in England has increased by 134% between 2010 and 2017 according to the Office of National Statistics. We are now in the coldest part of the year and it’s an incredibly dangerous time of the year to be homeless. You can help in a number of ways! Get involved with Crisis this winter by either donating to help them give shelter and food to the homeless this winter or register to volunteer: https:// www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/. If you spot an old coat lying around the house donate it to a charity that distributes to the homeless today.

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

Lifestyle

Festive Bakes to Delig By Rachel Marsh Writer

some Yorkshire puddings if somebody’s mum paid for their shopping recently. Despite this, a Christmas dinner is hristmas is a time for friends, an integral part of your university family, and perhaps most experience. Each person will have their importantly, good food. Almost all own demands; so much so that you’ll university students will soon be finally be able to understand Monica’s pooling a little money together to buy struggle in that Thanksgiving episode what can only be described as a gross of ‘Friends’. As such, here are a interpretation of the traditional few Christmas side dishes meal. and desserts that will If you have Sure, there are a few hopefully be cheap students who can afford and delicious a passion for turkey, but most of us enough to make cooking and have will be gather around the joint effort, the cheapest bit of any recipes to submit and subsequent meat we can find, falling outs, writing get in touch: with the remaining worthwhile. vegetables from our newspaper.lifestyle@ freezers and maybe

inquiremedia.co.uk

Photo by Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

1. DIY Mince Pies Ingredients:

• Pre-made shortcrust pastry • Mincemeat • 1 Egg • Icing Sugar

Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. 2) Grease the bases and sides of a muffin tray. 3) Roll out the pastry until the thickness is roughly half a centimetre. 4) Cut into circles slightly bigger

than the size of the tray holes; use the bottom of a bottle if you have no cutter. Place the circles into the greased tray, and using a small spoon, place some mincemeat into each. 6) Re-roll the leftover pastry, and cut them into tops for your pies, and place them on top, pinching the edges down onto the bottom 7) Whisk the egg, and gently brush it over the top of the mince pies and bake for 20 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius. 8) Sprinkle the tops with sugar.

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

Lifestyle

ght You this Christmas 2. Christmas Pudding Ingredients: • 225g Unrefined molasses sugar • 225g Sultanas • 175g Suet (shredded) • 225g Raisins • 225g Breadcrumbs • 100g Candied peel (chopped) • 110g Apricot(s) (dried, Chopped) • 1 tsp Nutmeg (grated) • 100g Prunes (pitted, Chopped) • 1 tsp Cinnamon (ground) • 150ml Beer (dark) • 1 tsp Ginger (ground) • 4 tbsp Rum • 1 pinch Cloves (ground) • 4 Egg(s) (free range) (beaten)

Method: 1) Place all the fruits in a large mixing bowl with the beer and rum, cover and leave to soak overnight. 2) Next day, stir in the rest of the

ingredients, stirring well to combine. 3) Divide between 2 1.2 litre (2 pint) greased pudding basins (leaving room for the puddings to rise) and smooth the tops. 4) Cover with a lid or a double thickness of pleated greaseproof paper, then with a double thickness of pleated foil. 5) Tie securely and place in 1 or 2 large pans and pour in boiling water to come halfway up the basins. 6) Cover and cook for 6 hours, topping up with boiling water as needed. 7) Cool completely, then wrap in fresh greaseproof paper and foil. 8) Store in a cool, dark place until needed. The puddings will keep for 3 months.

3. Cheesy Stars Method: 1) Unroll the pastry and sprinkle most of the cheese over one half of the sheet. Fold the pastry in half to cover cheese. 2) Roll out the sheet until it has doubled in size. 3) Heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius, and line two baking trays with baking paper. 4) Using cookie cutters, or something similar, cut the pastry into shapes and place them on the sheets.

Photo by Baking Mad

5) Brush the shapes with milk, and add a sprinkling of cheese.

6) Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, and serve.

INGR • 320 EDIENTS: g Puff P sheet astry • 90g of gra (any i ted chees e s • Plai fine) n Flou • Milk r

Lifestyle Last Issuesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword Answers Across: 1 Away, 4 Napkin, 8 Burglar, 9 Khaki, 10 Ache, 11 Whiskers, 13 Captain Hawdon, 15 Asterisk, 17 Scan, 19 Groin, 20 Ukulele, 21 Speech, 22 Zest.

Sudoku Easy

Friday 4 March 2016 InQuire

Down: 2 Worship, 3 Yolk, 4 North and South, 5 Pakistan, 6 Image, 7 Dissonance, 8 Blancmange, 12 Lawrence, 14 Duchess, 16 Troop, 18 Buzz.

4 5 6 4 3 2 3 3 7 1 2 9 2 2

Sudoku Hard

2 9

9 2

9 8 5 2 9 6 5 1 7 4

1 4 3

Garment (1-5) Doctor ___, Xmas staple?

Writing Put back into (a liquid job, say) Become aware (of)

Buzz

Plunder

Arrowword

Black eye (informal)

Glasses (informal)

Lies (slang) Victory

Short (Xmas?) sleep

Talent Island Food (informal)

Bulky piece of wood

Twitch Pastry dish

Outdo

Set (of rooms, say)

Honeymaking insect

4 7 6 5

9 7 2

Down 1. Sort (7) 2. Tubular package (for 16 dinner) (7) 6. Small species of deer (7) 5 8. Gift (7) 10. Sack (3) 11. Alcoholic drink (3) 12. Second person (3) 14. Knot (3) 16. The season of Christmas (4) 17. Expensive (4)

9 5

8 1

Crossword 1. Curved line (3) 3. Free entertainment (5) 4. Serpent (5) 5. Large plant with a trunk (4) 7. Mature (4) 9. Hug (7) 12. Immature (5) 13. Occasion (5) 15. Eurasian country (6) 17. Hesitate (6) 18. Meadow (3)

5 9 7 8

Puzzles by Matthew Sapsed

Across

3 1 8

Going to all your lectures and seminars can really take its toll, escepically in the lead up to the holidays. So, take some time to relax, but keep your brain ticking over at the same time with these quick puzzles!

Fun & Games

InQuire Friday 4 March 2016

Editorial

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

InQuire

Kent Raises £14,103 for the Movember Foundation By Grace Pocock Newspaper News Editor

he Movember Foundaiton aims to address some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention. By 2030 they aim to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25%. Teams, societies, and individuals across the University of Kent have been raising money for the foundation by not shaving throughout the month of November. After a month of not shaving, and tireless fundraising, the men participating in Movember were finally able to get a

shave from local barber’s, Fella, in the plaza on Wednesday 29 November. The total raised by Kent currently stands at £14,103. Frasier Inglis issued a statement on behalf of Kent: “I am so proud of #TeamKent and their Movember efforts. Our clubs together have raised £14,000. I would like to say thank you to each and every single club an member that has taken part. You are the reason why Kent Union is leading the way on tracking the stigma surrounding male mental health. We have started the conversation, now it’ time to build on this and have an impact on our sutdent lives!”

www.InQuireLive.co.uk www.InQuireLive.co.uk www.InQuireLive.co.uk www.InQuireLive.co.uk www.InQuireLive.co.uk www.InQ

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

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Fundraising Leaderboard: Men’s Rugby: £4,692.12 Ultimate Frisbee: £1,716.88 Mens Football Club: £1,429.99 RAG: £1,245.70 Kent Stags: £1,239.00 Men’s Hockey: £1,188.50 Kent Falcons: £1,136.30 Fencing: £671.00 Handball: £365.00 Kent Union: £223.50 Surf: £51.00 Canadian Law Society: £37.00 Women’s Rugby: £35.00 Scubasoc: £25.00 Sailing and Windsurfing: £25.00 UKC Athletics: £20.00 Men’s Lacrosse: £3.00

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

Entertainment

Seven Christmas Classics for a Festive Night By Helena Tate Writer

crucial part of the Christmas experience is sitting at home under a blanket and watching a plethora of festive films with your family. In case you’re not sure where to start, here’s my list of the seven best Christmas movies that you need to watch this year.

Photo by Flickr

1. ‘Elf’ (2003) There’s a reason why this film was pulled out every time your teachers said you could watch a Christmas film: it’s brilliant. Will Ferrell brings out everyone’s inner child with his enthusiastic portrayal of Buddy the Elf, filling your screen with fun, Christmasthemed mayhem. 2. ‘Nativity’ (2009) Speaking of schools at Christmas time, don’t we all remember feeling the

unmistakable feeling of pride when we got cast in the class nativity? Whether you performed the much-coveted role of Joseph or were relegated to shepherd number four, this movie will bring back the laughter with every song. 3. ‘The Holiday’ (2006) Chick flicks are popular all year round, but you can’t beat this Christmas classic. At times it may be a little predictable, but anyone in need of a chilled-out evening shouldn’t hesitate to watch ‘The

Holiday’. And even if you’re not a chick flick person, who doesn’t love the always hilarious: Jack Black?

of enabling more people to enjoy classic literature in an accessible and entertaining way.

4. ‘The Polar Express’ (2004) Catchy musical numbers, a terrifying homeless ghost, and Tom Hanks, ‘The Polar Express’ is a feelgood that reminds us what holiday spirit is really about: belief in all things good. This movie tugs at the heart strings and reminds that friendship can help overcome all obstacles. It sounds horrendously cheesy but it is an important message to be sending out to those of us who may find themselves alone at Christmas.

6. ‘Arthur Christmas’ (2011) A lot of us can relate to being the odd one out in the family, which is exactly the case for Arthur in the Santa Claus household. He’s lovable, he’s awkward, he has great taste in reindeer slippers, and he cares deeply about making everyone feel loved that this film is quickly becoming a Christmas must-see.

5. ‘The Muppets’ Christmas Carol’ (1992) There are so many different adaptations of the Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ including ‘Scrooge’ (1954), ‘Blackadder’s Christmas Carol’ (1998), and ‘Ghosts of Girlfriends Past’ (2009). And for anyone with young family members, the version featuring everyone’s favourite Muppets is a must watch. It is a perfect example

Films to Look Forward to in 2018 February

March

May

‘Black Panther’ superhero - action In the Marvel film, the plot picks up after the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’ when King T’Challa returns home to Wakanda to find out that his two enemies are plotting to start a world war. The cast includes Michael B. Jordanand Martin Freeman.

‘Red Sparrow’ spy - thriller A Russian spy falls in love with an American mole in Moscow. She is required to expose him, but is torn between her duty and becoming a double-agent. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Ciarán Hinds and Joel Edgerton.

‘Avengers- Infinity War’ superhero - action In the third sequel, the Avengers team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to defeat a new supervillain - Thanos. Starring half of Hollywood, the film will be followed by a direct sequel which will be released in 2019.

‘Annihilation’ science - horror - action When a biologist’s husband disappears into an environmental disaster zone, an expedition of scientists goes into the danger zone to find an unexpected sight. Starring Natalie Portman and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

‘Ready Player One’ science-fiction - adventure Based on he book by Ernest Cline, the film depicts dystopian 2045 Earth where citizens engage in a mass virtual reality world called OASIS. The protagonist plays the ‘Anarak’s Game’ to win ownership of the OASIS.

‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ fantasy - action - adventure In this second ‘Star Wars’ anthology film young Hans Solo takes us on an adventure. All we are told of the plot so far is that it involves a meeting with Lando Calrissian, from previous films. Staring Emilia Clarke, and Donald Glover.

7. ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000) Based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name, this film will remain firmly lodged at the top of the Christmas watch list for years to come. Jim Carrey stars as the grumpy, and very hairy, green creature that lives atop a mountain, and tries to steal Christmas from some odd-looking creatures with weird haircuts. The humorous dialogue and the incredible aesthetics contribute to making it one of the best Christmas movies of all time.

By Matilda Makowska Writer June

November

‘The Incredibles 2’ action - annimation After 14 years of waiting, the super-fam will soon be back in 3-D. The first teaser last week revealed that the sequel’s action appears to be more about Helen (Elastigirl) than Bob, who stays at home with the kids. Most of the original cast is back on board.

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ fantasy - adventure In the much anticipated sequel, a not-yet-grey Albus Dumbledor teams up with Newt Scamander to defeat Grindelwald, who escaped from prison. Newt will also be reunited with his New York friends.

Deadpool 2 (untitled) superhero - comedy In the sequel, the wisecracker mercenary embarks on a new aventure involving ninjas, the yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines.

‘Mary Queen of Scotts’ biography - drama - history The retelling of Mary Stuart’s life on the Scottish throne reccounts the Queen’s struggle to overthrow her cousin Queen Elizabeth I resulting in her imprisonment and eventual execution.

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

Humour and Loss? Here’s ‘Nathan for You’ O

By Emmanuel Omodeinde Writer

n 9 November, the season finale of the fourth season of ‘Nathan For You’ aired. After the previous season’s spectacular finale, promotion heightened viewers’ expectations for the episode. If you’ve never seen ‘Nathan For You’, the premise might sound insane. It’s a docu-reality comedy series in which co-creator Nathan Fielder plays an off-kilter, slightly exaggerated version of himself as he tries to use his business background to help struggling companies and individuals. He frequently offers them outlandish and ridiculous strategies and despite the reluctance of the business owners, they often go along with it. The lines between reality and fiction are tricky. None of the contributors and business owners are actors; but Fielder and his team have

an eye for finding the weirdest, most interesting, and sometimes delusional people. His large production team orchestrate the ridiculous plans. The series often gets into the most extreme and farcical situations imaginable, despite not having a script. The season four finale begins by looking back to when Nathan and a so-called Bill Gates impersonator, Bill Heath, recorded commentary for a DVD release. Bill is preoccupied by a long-lost love, a woman named Frances Gaddy whom he regrets not marrying. Out of empathy for the lonely 78-yearold, who still clings to the glory days of playing American football in high school, Nathan makes it his mission of finding Frances. Throughout the four seasons of this show Nathan has gone through a lot of ambitious tasks and while this might

not be the most difficult one, it is by far the most emotional. And it made the season finale the best episode of ‘Nathan For You’ thus far. While this episode is about Bill’s desire to find Frances and declare his love for her, it contains some surprisingly vulnerable moments from Nathan. It’s difficult to tell where the real Nathan begins and the persona ends, but they clearly have similarities. This feature-length episode is one of the best episodes of television I’ve ever watched. It’s a sad, honest, and poignant portrayal of regret and how we as humans want to be loved. Although ‘Nathan For You’ has been renewed for a fifth season and I have no doubt that it will continue with the same original brilliance, the season four finale will always stand out as exceptionally down to earth, a humanising creation.

Entertainment

In Cinemas Murder on the Orient Express A lavish train ride unfolds into a stylish & suspenseful mystery. From the novel by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express tells of thirteen stranded strangers & one man’s race to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.

Justice League

Photo by Comedy Central UK website

Based on the comics, Justice League is a team of some of DC’s best superheroes: Batman, Amazon warrior Wonder Woman, Atlantis Aquaman, human/machine hybrid Cyborg, and super-speedster the Flash. They’ll stand together to protect the Earth, but will it be enough?

Seven of the Best TV Christmas Specials By Meg Warwick Writer

ancy feeling a little bit Christmassy but you’ve over watched Love Actually? Or maybe you simply haven’t got time to enjoy ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’? Well fear not, here’s a list of some of the best TV Christmas specials to put you in the seasonal mood. 1. ‘Black Mirror’ – ‘White Christmas’ (Season 2) Directed by Charlie Brooker, ‘Black Mirror’ predicts the dangerous impact that technology is likely to have on human lives in the near future. This may sound depressing, but this episode is so engrossing in the strange empathy it creates for the characters. I would advise watching this special if you want twists and turns that keep you on your toes. Whether or not you’ve seen any other ‘Black Mirror’ episodes is irrelevant since each contains an individual storyline with different characters and settings each time. Heads up: Not extremely happy-golucky, but very gripping!

2. ‘Doctor Who’ – ‘The Christmas Invasion’ (Season 2) The ‘Doctor Who’ throwback – with Rose Tyler and Mickey Smith as David Tenant’s companions – features a spaceship, scary santas, and ends with the best thing of all: a family Christmas dinner. If you’re ready for ‘Doctor Who’ to invade your free time, log into Netflix because this is one of the rare specials available. 3. ‘Sherlock’ – ‘The Abdominal Bride’ (Season 4) Many ‘Sherlock’ fans would agree with this Christmas special being on this list. For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s why: ‘Sherlock Holmes’ books were set in the 1800s, but the TV series is set in modern day. But, this special is set in the past, it’s a perfect blend of past and present. 4. ‘QI’ – ANY The show is as educational as it is funny, and its Christmas special is no different. With silly hats and decorations, it’s an easy watch for family or friends. And will spark some interesting discussions and heated debates.

5. ‘Orange is the New Black’ – ‘Can’t Fix Crazy’ (Season 1) Enchanting yet bittersweet, the episode shows the inmates of Lichfield prison putting on a Christmas show. Some moments are brutal, others funny, and the characters are entertaining as always. Seeing inmates being forced to spend Christmas in a prison is a humbling experience. 6. ‘House’ – Christmas Specials The only difference between ‘House’ special episodes and normal episodes is their joyful endings. If you like the show, or you’re in the mood for dark humour, then you’ll love any of its Christmas specials. 7. ‘Outnumbered’ – Christmas Special Depicts the perfect family Christmas: absolutely nuts. If you’re feeling a bit home sick, and want to see your family’s chaotic Christmas reflected on screen, then this one is for you. With parents who lack any authority, a moody teenage, boy and two cheeky kids, you’ll either feel right at home or stop missing it altogether.

Paddington 2 Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

Entertainment

‘FIFA 18’ Review: Same Old, Same Old By Jordan Ifield Writer

onsidering that a new iteration is released annually, waiting for triple-A titles such as ‘FIFA’ is arguably ludicrous; however, the release of ‘FIFA’ ‘18 has been a curious one. Have EA exploited “Ultimate Team” for “loot crates”, and has the gameplay actually evolved? Gameplay- Is it actually any different? Writing about ‘FIFA’s’ gameplay could be seen as controversial as everyone has a favourite ‘FIFA’ depending to their play style. This year, however, EA have listened to my prayers, as both pace and shooting seem to be more accurate and powerful than in recent editions. As a result, there seems to be more of an arcade feel to ‘FIFA’ 18, which has been missing lately, with realism being the priority. That’s not to say realism has been bad for ‘FIFA’: you can count the hairs on Ronaldo’s left leg. However, EA’s idea of realism tends to revolve around slowing players down, limiting their skill ability, and generally frustrating the gamer more than entertaining them. Now, rather than throwing your controller against a wall, ‘FIFA’ comes across as an entertainment product, with, for example, first-time passing now being a working game mechanic. However, all these positives about gameplay have all contributed to one field of play: attacking. As a result,

defending is a nightmare for those non-professional gamers who haven’t dedicated their life to it. Slide tackles, now the only effective way of tackling an opponent, are a tricky business; if you were to so much as blink an eye when making one, you can say goodbye to that defender, because they got sent off when you pressed that button. The Journey (Spoilers ahead!): No effort had ever been made for an indepth personal career mode. It helped that they had Mario Gotze advertised with the game, a character you could supposedly meet. Overall, I enjoyed the game last year, but came away with a feeling of there not being much complexity. Decisions made were often black and white, and whilst Alex Hunter was a likable protagonist, he came across as more of generic EA character no. 754. So, EA’s clever idea was to transfer him away from all those decisions you made last year with no consequence. Ultimate Team and Career Mode

2017: The year of the Loot Box. If you’re a ‘FIFA’ fan you’ll know that EA jumped on this bandwagon about seven years ago. Ultimate Team’s selling point in terms of essentially gambling for players has always had an air of controversy about it, however, I think EA did the right thing and merely left “packs” as they were. However, EA have done little to remedy the repetitious gameplay in Ultimate Team, with the only significant

aming is often considered an expensive hobby, with games costing up to £55 at release, and controllers which cost even more. But Christmas time is rolling around and what best way to please your gamer friends than to offer them their favourite games or decorations for their gaming set-up? Here are some affordable gift ideas for gamers that won’t break your bank. Posters: A poster of your friend’s favourite video game is a cheap and reliable way to make any gamer happy; it will decorate their gaming space and make their room feel more personal. You can easily find them in any entertainment store, or online, and most cost less than £5. Figurines: Although they are little more expensive than posters, figurines of their favourite character - whether a realistic replica, or a quirky pop-vinyl figurine with an oversized head - will certainly bring a smile to a gamer’s face. They are also collectibles you can buy

together or let them add on to it. T-Shirts/Clothing: Gamers are often proud of their passion and will happily show it off to the world. Nothing says “I play video games” like wearing a nice T-shirt of a favourite character, a quote, or a logo. If you want to go the extra step you could always get them a costume of a character. Even though those are usually more expensive, nothing makes you feel more badass than wearing the same clothes as your favourite hero or villain, especially if your friend is into cosplay. Art Books: When a gamer becomes immersed in the world of a game, they will obsess over anything related to it, whatever the form. Offering them an art book of their favourite game gives them the experience of the game’s development. In addition to neverseen character art and pictures of hand drawn landscapes or weapons, the creator will often include drawings of how a character evolved over the course of the production. Most

By Jordan Ifield and Kiran Saggu Writer and Editor-in-Chief

he demise of Club Penguin in March 2017 was tragic for many students who mourned the loss of their favourite minigame, puffles, and debates over whether the penguin world better represents capitalism or communism. Whilst Disney tried to put the genie back in the bottle with mobile app; Club Penguin Island, students have been quick to react claiming that it doesn’t have the “charm of the original game” which made it so unique. We asked some Kent students to reflect on their time in the Club.

Photo by Elite Daily

edition being daily and weekly objectives. If you were to complete these, you get rewarded in packs and coins varying in desirability depending on the difficulty of the objective. Is ‘FIFA’ ‘18 worth buying? Yes. Whilst it has its flaws, the gameplay has actually improved for the first time since ‘FIFA’ ‘12. They may not have succeeded every time, but this year, it’s evident that EA have at least tried.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Gamers By Felix Avit Writer

Club Penguin: Gone But Never Forgotten #WeAskedKent

include a foreword from the creators with explanations on their creative choices.

What was your favourite Club Penguin memory? Kausar Uddin: “Some guy tried to hit on me.” Jack Pinfold: “Club penguin was my childhood; it was literally the best game ever made. You could interact with penguins, you know 4chan did some marches on it, it was so good.” How did you feel when it shut down? Ryan McDowell: “Disappointed, but mainly for my little sister. She cried. I told her over the phone that it was closing down and she broke down in front of my entire family.” Michael Ginn: “I became reclusive, and had crippling anxiety. I basically logged off from the world. No one could get through to me. There was no life behind these eyes.” Jack Pinfold: “Depressed, I was in silent crying for months” Georgina Emmerson: “I hadn’t played it in ages, but I was still sad.” Sally Shammas: “It ended?” Is Club Penguin the capitalist utopia? Michael Ginn: “I don’t know, I’d say it’s more Communist. Think about it, where was the boss penguin? There was no boss penguins. It was ruled by the people. Freely trading.”

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

Entertainment

Sam Smith ‘The Thrill Artist Spotlight: Honne of it All’ Album Review By Rafaela Scharrer Writer

he release of ‘The Thrill of It All’ shifted public attention back to the beloved cheesy-love-song go-to artist Sam Smith. In the album, the pop singer sings about faith, relationships, love, goodbyes, and more. These themes were the result of genuine emotion, as he said to Billboard, ‘I wasn’t trying to make a big pop record when I made this album. I was actually just trying to make something personal and like a diary’. He also admitted in an interview with the New York Times that most of the songs were inspired by the end of a five-month relationship. Released on 3 November, ‘The Thrill of It All’ has received mainly positive reviews, although Observer reviewer Kitty Empire pointed out that ‘there is little drama here, just plenty of shorthand (sad pianos), a total absence of risk’. The song ‘Too Good At Goodbyes’ was

released in early September as the lead single of the album after much hyped promotion, and did not disappoint fans. As The Independent put it, ‘Smith’s voice remains a thing to wonder.’ Even to the ears of an ordinary music amateur, his vocals are precise and emotive, his lyrics poignant and relatable. Following the massive hit, Smith released ‘Pray’ in October, a song inspired by the work he did in Iraq with the War Child charity, in collaboration with hip-hop artist Timbaland. The melody’s climbing riff is backed up by a gospel choir, creating a dramatic and epic sound. In ‘HIM’, Smith explores the controversial relationship between homosexuality and religious faith. Starting with a soft choir sets the feeling of an auditory church as he confesses his secret to the Holy Father: ‘It is him I love, it is him’. The vulnerability of this conversation with God presents the listener with the dilemma of being gay while trying to belong to a religion that says it is wrong. ‘The Thrill of It All’ is second in the Billboard 200 chart, having hit incredible numbers since the first week of its release. Smith’s sudden success is being compared to other huge names in the pop field like Adele and Coldplay, which is notable praise considering that it is only his second album. The fans also received a visual surprise: the album cover depicts a simple black and white photograph of his slimmed down face and new hair style. Despite his whole new physique, Smith’s voice holds the same warmth and his artistic style has matured since his last album, ‘In the Lonely Hour’. Now, Smith’s fans can only sit and wait for details of his tour dates for the chance to be surrounded by the honey of his vocals in a live concert. If you still haven’t heard Sam Smith’s ‘In The Thrill Of It All’, you can listen on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, or YouTube.

Photo by Sam Smith press

By Andrea Berdeguè Writer

he Japanese word “honne” refers to feelings one keeps to oneself or shares with close friends. It’s also a British duo made up of James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck, long-time friends who write and produce their own music. Honne’s music

Their album ‘Warm on a Cold Night (deluxe)’ contains a variety of songs for any mood. If you are in a feel-good mood, the goofy chords of ‘It Ain’t Wrong Loving You’, will climb up up to meet your high spirits. If you’d rather relax on your bed after a long day, the soothing harmonies in the chorus of ‘Warm on a Cold Night’ are the

would hyptonic most likely escape Photo by Honne press be described you need. as a mixture of The album also electronic, soul, and danceincludes collaborations with pop tunes creating a perfect blend of artists Izzy Bizu, and Animé. chill sound. But perhaps what makes åHonne is an excellent, fresh, and them so ingenious is that they do not upcoming duo that should be heard by restrict themselves to one genre, but many. Even though Honne’s popularity rather let their musical creativity lead is slowly rising, many people I meet are the sound. Honne have said to be still unaware as to who they are, and, inspired by Ink, Michael Jackson, and in my humble, unbiased opinion, they early Quincy James Production. Most are missing out. At least this gives me listeners would say that their music is the opportunity of blessing their senses similar to artists like Jack Garratt and by introducing them to the duo’s sweet Oh Wonder (both also excellent artists). honey. Their catchy tunes please a large The duo started when James and variety of tastes, so give them an ear if Andy met at University. They were you are looking for new music. the first people they each spoke to. In an interview with Grammy ProHe, Andy said that the pair had an instant Best Christmas Song connection, and when jamming, they realized that their chemistry also Covers applied to their music creation. “White Christmas” (2003) by Their usual song-making process starts Michael Buble and Shania Twain with James creating the melody, then Andy comes in to add the lyrics. Since these lyrics usually come from their own “Carol of the Bells” (2014) by personal experiences, the band’s name Pentatonix describes their content perfectly. The Honne sound is perfect for late“The Christmas Song” (2017) night vibes when you are driving at arranged by Kirby Shaw night with the windows down with wind blowing through your hair. Their “O’ Come O’ Come Emmanuel” mix of chill, feel-good, music makes (2014) by Marika Hackman them appropriate for either mood. In an interview in Toronto, James “Silent Night” (2001) by Destiny’s and Andy talked about how Honne’s Child chill romantic vibe tended to turn their concert rooms into places for “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town ” “romantic affairs.” They said they would (2015) by Aloe Blacc sometimes catch couples making out and dancing together to their music. “Baby it’s Cold Outside” (2003) ‘It was quite off-putting actually’, Andy by Zooey Deschannel and Leon said while James laughed. Redbone

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

Culture

‘The Little Match Girl’ What’s on... THOR RAGNAROK (12A) Sat 2nd - Wed 6th Dec 2017 THE POLAR EXPRESS (U) Sun 3rd Dec 2017 THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER (15) Sun 3rd - Mon 4th Dec 2017 ROH: THE NUTCRACKER Tues 5th- Sun 10th Dec 2017 BREATHE (12A) Fri 8th - Sun 10th Dec 2017 MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (12A) Fri 8th - Wed 20th Dec 2017 LOVING VINCENT (recorded) Wed 13th Dec 2017 PADDINGTON 2 (PG) Wed 20th Dec 2017 FILM STARS DON’Y DIE IN LIVERPOOL (15) Fri 15th - Mon 18th Dec 2017 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (U) Sat 16th Dec 2017 THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS 3D Sat 16th - Wed 20th 2017

By Tyne Richardson Culture Events Correspondent

he Gulbenkian stage is set this winter for an enchanting Christmas tale full of spell-binding magic and enthralling dramatics. Olivier Award nominated director and choreographer Arthur Pita brings his charming stageshow to the Gulbenkian after a sell-out season at Saddlers Wells. Breathing new life into Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale, ‘The Little Match Girl’ follows the journey of an unlikely heroine, an impoverished street girl, as we watch her hopes and dreams being played out through Pita’s innovative original storytelling. Blending originally scored music alongside his unique choreography, Pita is a director who made a name for himself through his knack for unique other-worldly storytelling. This poignant piece of heart-warming family theatre stands as testament to Pita’s celebrated style – mixing comedy with surreal magical elements. On a snowy Christmas Eve, a young girl paces the darkening icy cold streets with only the glowing flame of her final match to keep her warm. Rich in sensory marvel this heart-warming tale

Photos by the Gulbenkian

sees the young girl magically glide into the night sky and up to the moon making us question when we look into the night sky: are we seeing distant stars or is it her match burning brightly for all to see? This enchanting tale will delight both children and adults alike; and all who go to see it will leave with the spirit of Christmas. The Little Match Girl will be at the Gulbenkian from Wednesday 6th to Sunday 10th December. Tickets: £10, Groups of 4+ £8.50pp.

Flicks and Chill: Home Alone PJ Party

FROZEN SING A LONG (PG) Sun 17th Dec 2017 THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 3D (PG) Sun 17th Dec 2017 THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (U) Mon 18th Dec 2017 WHITE CHRISTMAS (U) Tues 19th Dec 2017

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

By Tyne Richardson Culture Events Correspondent

ored of watching movies alone in your room and want to become part of a student-led group of film lovers? Than look no further than the ‘Gulbenkian Uncovered’ screening

series, supported by Film Hub South East and the BFI film audience network and curated by students. This series aims to celebrate and programme arts-based events catered specifically with students in mind, in turn bringing an active film-based culture to the University of Kent, which has been

absent from student life until now. Inspired by brands like Secret Cinema, ‘Gulbenkian Uncovered’ is centred around the concept of an interactive cinematic experience – bringing the screen to life in unique and creative ways. Past events have included the huge free outdoor screening of Jurassic Park during Freshers’ Week. The series finds it’s Christmas finale this December with a screening of the festive cult classic ‘Home Alone’ on Saturday 9th. Escape looming deadlines and study stress alongside childhood hero Kevin as he battles to escape two would-be burglars. A guaranteed hilarious and nostalgic viewing experience, bring your friends along to this festive evening in the transformed Eliot Hall for one night only! Tickets: Early Bird £10, Standard Student £12.50, Standard Student 2 for 1 £20, for tickets and more information please contact Gulbenkian on 01227 769075 or visit www.thegulbenkian. co.uk

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

Culture

T24 Review: Pride and Prejudice By Meg Warwick Writer

‘P

characters Mr Bennett, Mr Collins, and, of course, Mrs Bennett. They had the audience laughing throughout the show. It was an excellent portrayal of these foolish characters. The director translated the play to fit the 1940s time period seamlessly. Originally, Elizabeth is a headstrong

ride and Prejudice’ swaps its bonnets, long dresses and Georgian attire for knee length skirts, rolled hair and Post WW2 fashion in this adaptation! Whether it’s viewed as a romantic, Austen masterpiece, or ‘that really boring novel we had to study in English lit’, everyone has heard of this 19th century novel. However, this adaptation of the book is not set in our beloved Georgian period, but Post World War 2. How would this play off to the audiences? The laughs could be heard girl who throughout doesn’t need a the theatre. husband, walks The acting was places instead of impressive, and getting carriages, although ‘Pride and speaks frankly and Prejudice’ is to men. However, in sometimes supposed this version Elizabeth Photos by T24 Facebook to be somewhat is in the factory job that serious, the play was in fact full of she took on during the war, which is humour, especially the light-hearted frowned upon by Caroline, who makes

some comments that imply that men are the ones who should be carrying out the work. But Elizabeth is feisty and free-spirited, portrayed very well by the actress Isobel Hamilton, who was likeable and strong-minded. My favourite sequence was the dance sequence when Bingley and Jane are flirting, and Elizabeth is standing next to Darcy. They exchange awkward glances, before she’s overwhelmed with excitement to see Wickham, then overwhelmed with awkwardness when she tries to get past Collins. It was hilarious to watch and executed very well by the cast and director. Often, romance on stage can come across as cheesy and cliché, but in this version, the relationship between Mr Collins and Charlotte was far funnier than in the book: Mr Collins made more weasel-like, and Charlotte more likeable and sweet. The difference between the

two was amusing and awkward. However, this contrasted to Bingley and Jane, who were both sweet and humble, making the audience feel at ease when they finally reunite at the end after the confusing chase for each other’s hearts. And, of course, Elizabeth and Darcy are a couple loved by all, and none the less in this adaptation – Darcy is brooding, yet appealing, compared to Elizabeth’s feisty and friendly personality, opposites really do attract. If you missed out on seeing this classic, then do not fear! T24 have tons more shows lined up. Including Rabbit Hole (30th Nov – 1st Dec), all of which are detailed on T24’s Facebook page. T24 are a drama society, currently going into their 51st year. They put on six shows a term, of which two are in professional theatre spaces (The Gulbenkian and The Marlowe Theatre Studio). If you’re a budding actor or actress then be sure to pop down to one of their bi-weekly drama workshops, where you can enhance and develop your knowledge. In the alternate weeks, they also run improvisation sessions so that everyone has the chance to come and give it a try.

InQuire Goes to the Pantomime By Kiran Saggu, Saga Radh, Sara Kilian, Maisie Lee Editors

irates, vegetable jokes and Christmas cheer. The Marlowe’s Christmas Panto 2017 took us on a magical voyage to Neverland with their most recent production: Peter Pan. The cast and crew put on a fantastic, two-hour show of pure magic and excitement, for children and adults to appreciate. There was classic

panto humour, local references and captivating stage effects that make the whole theatre feel like family. Afterwards, InQuire went to the press room to speak to the Panto stars that brought us magic after an impressive, and intense two week rehearsal period. The performance was full of acrobatics and stunts by The Black Eagles; an acrobat group originally from Tanzania, who are now based in the UK. There was also a lot of technical work included, such as pyrotechnics

and wires for flying around. We were curious to know what it was like to fly around over a 1200 people audience: “Painful.” David Ribi, who plays Peter Pan, says. “We’re not in control of our movements when we’re in the air. I can’t take much responsibility for what I do.” When we met with the director and writer of the show, Paul Hendy, he expressed some of his own thoughts about the pantomime: “It is a wonderful thing to stage ‘Peter Pan’ at Marlowe, considering the uniqueness of pantomime. I am sure it will be a different theatre experience for a lot of audiences especially for those who haven’t experienced pantos in the past.” Since the actors have only two weeks to learn everything, we were curious to know whether there have been any improvisations. Ben Roddy, who plays Mrs Smee (the Dame), revealed the funny bits are improvised to some extent, but the cast is under aquite tight script. Photo by Paul Clapp The audience was full of

very excited spectators who did not hesitate to shout out at the actors. We had to ask whether it is different acting on a pantomime compared to other productions. “I actually like the interaction of the audience. It makes every show different” Gemma Haunt said. David Ribbi agreed, especially being Peter Pan as he gets a real boost from being cheered on by the audience. “Because I’m Peter Pan everyone wants you to win, so that’s a really nice feeling.” The musical numbers also augmented the excitement and audience participation. Ribi has already appeared in multiple West End productions, including ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Hairspray’. He added: “I’ve always been a singer primarily. Musicals has been my career so far, and I think you get a lot of emotions through music.” The cast agreed about just how special pantomimes are, in their association with this festive time of the year and with regards to the primarily young audiences. Jo Osmond said: “At the end of the show [the children] wait outside, [and] honestly believe that I’m a fairy and want to be like me…it really makes their Christmas.”

Friday 1 December 2017 InQuire

Culture

A Discussion on: Secularism at Christmas By Issey Spurway Writer

hristmas is the time of year that the entire country gets excited for: it’s time to spend with family, time to eat lots of food, and of course, time for presents. But for many, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. The distinction between Christmas as a religious holiday or a cultural tradition has become more and more blurred. And it begs the question: what should Christmas really be about? In primary school children dress up as shepherds and angels and re-create the nativity in front of their proud parents. The religious aspect is taught to children at a young age. Most children even know the words to multiple Christmas carols. While in the past it was very common for people to go to church on Christmas day, most people now spend the day with family instead. Religion seems to lose out on a battle with cultural traditions, but many people still go to church on Christmas Eve. All religious appreciation is not yet lost. Sometimes it is argued that if you are not religious at all then you shouldn’t be able to celebrate Christmas. Today, it seems virtually impossible to escape Christmas, whether or not you are religious. The entire nation is filled with the holiday spirit and Christmas is seemingly everywhere; in schools, in the streets, on TV, etc. As a child, Christmas means Santa, presents, and a chance for parents to watch the joy on their children’s faces. Yes, religion is undoubtedly important, but the happiness of children and their bubbling excitement every year is important for many as well. Christmas isn’t just a cause of excitement for children. Adverts appear on TV in early November, lights are strung up throughout every town and city in the UK, and people buy presents year-round. Religion is almost certainly an afterthought for the retailers, and lights are merely put up to look pretty and make passers-by swoon at the festivities. But is this a bad thing? Christmas, for many people, is a time to forget about the worries and difficulties of the modern world and be swept up in the joy of celebrating. It’s an escape, a time to look forward to all year.

Christmas in Sao Paulo, Brazil By Rafaela Scharrer Writer ave you ever spent Christmas in a place where none of the stereotypes are true? No? Well, let me tell you, it’s both amazing and tragic. Traditions and celebrations will always be different depending on where you come from, your parents’ backgrounds, or how religious you are, etc. I grew up in a tropical country; my Santa would wear swimming shorts, sandals and sunglasses, looking ready for the beach, but definitely not snow. Brazil has one of the highest Catholic

populations in the world, which explains why Christmas is such a serious holiday. We actually celebrate the birth of Christ by giving and receiving blessings throughout the day. Many families still attend the midnight mass and cherish it. Most churches also hold bazaars for a week or so in which artists, sometimes priests and nuns, will sell goods to raise money for the community. To wake up and see snow on your window is not the reality for Brazilians, or for much of the world. Some of us are fortunate enough to wake up and see the ocean, sand, and massive colourful umbrellas. And if not, we just wake up feeling the Christmas spirit. As part of our traditions and culture, we like to celebrate big: massive amounts of food and as many family members as the hosting house can fit. Brazilian culture is all about family, ‘the more the merrier’ is the rule of thumb. The Photo by Wikimedia Commons feast is held on the

evening of 24 December, and gifts are exchanged at midnight. Usually, if the family has children all adults buy gifts for them. Adults partake in a casual, yet funny, Secret Santa. You can imagine my disappointment when I grew old enough to realise my Christmas would never be like the ones in the movies, where the happy children wake up the next morning and run to the tree to open their presents. The European Christmas markets are somewhat rare in Brazil. We might have a weekend with a bazaar or a small fair, but not much longer than a couple of days. The heat during that time is almost unbearable; imagine staying under the 30 degree sun for a full day. You just can’t. Sao Paulo’s most famous park, Ibirapuera Park, has the most incredible show of lights and water across the ponds. You wouldn’t get that if they were frozen. And on the other hand, the British Christmas trees are better. They are real pine trees, and they smell great. The heat in Brazil makes it impossible for the tree to survive, so most of ours are all fake and made out of plastic. They look authentic, but it’s not the same. Still, I can’t imagine myself spending Christmas anywhere else in the world.

Christmas in South-East Asia By Maisie Lee Website Opinion Editor

t’s that time of the year. Lights, decorations, mulled wine, cinnamon, carolling, and last but not least, big family gatherings for Christmas dinner. Despite the Christian roots of the day itself, these are the images we can relate to when thinking of Christmas. While the festiveness is universal, most of those traditions and conventions come from Europe and North America. Christmas in Asia is different. It does not involve pigs in blankets, eggnog, or John Lewis adverts. It is, however, unique and equally as festive. Christmas in Asian countries is not normally considered a holiday, nor is it a day for family gatherings. Christmas has much more of romantic tradition; it is a day for people in love. Rather than family reunions with a giant Christmas roast dinner, restaurants and bars are usually full of couples enjoying their romantic dates. There is no particular Christmas dish or beverage enjoyed, but the romantic atmosphere is what really makes Christmas special in Asian countries. And yes, the nightlife during

Christmas seasons gets a bit overheated as well. Although it varies, countries like Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore, which have adopted certain aspects of the Westernised version of Christmas, put a great deal of effort into Christmas displays, so much so that it can hurt to look at it. The extravaganza put up in streets, malls, theatres, and basically everywhere you go reminds you from early November that it’s ‘that’ time of the year, even in Asia. Typical Christmas symbolism like Santa Claus, angels, and carols, are undoubtedly beloved in Asian countries. I grew up in South Korea, and just like all the kids anywhere else, I was told to believe in Santa Claus. However, I was not told that Santa would come down through the chimney since many of the houses in Korea do not have chimneys. But still, it’s good to know that Santa also travels to Asia to spoil kids with lovely little gifts.

Photo by @facebook_seoul.kr

Photo simonexploressouthkorea.wordpress.com

InQuire Friday 1 December 2017

Culture

Top 10 Podcast Recommendations By Emmanuel Omodeinde Writer

Photos by itunes

Blanguage: Co-hosts, Janelle and Daniel are best friends and black Londoners who discuss music and Black-British culture. They’re fun to listen to because of their friendship, and their Black-British perspective is much needed in the podcast landscape. Pop Culture Happy Hour: NPR’s ‘Pop Culture Happy Hour’ is a longterm favourite of mine as someone who really enjoys all things pop culture. Linda Holmes hosts with a panel of guests which often includes Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon. This year they’ve released some shorter episodes on a more regular schedule. It’s recommended listening for anyone interested in pop culture. The Friend Zone: ‘The Friend Zone’ is made great by the close friendships of the co-hosts. Fran, Dustin, and Assante, discuss their personal lives and wellbeing, and give great advice to help you get through the week.

Still Processing: The hosts of ‘Still Processing’ describe their podcast in their intro so I’ll just paraphrase that. Wesley Morris writes about how pop culture relates to humans and Jenna Wortham writes about how humans relate to technology. It’s always interesting to hear their perspectives on current affairs. Tag Me in Podcast: Based in Bristol, Anton, and Ola are another pair of black Londoners who bring more Black-British voices to podcasting. They discuss and give good advice on their personal and professional lives.

Mostly Lit: ‘Mostly Lit’ is black Londoners: Alex Reads, Rai and Derek Owusu who discuss literature, pop culture, and wellness. They make talking about books interesting and have encouraged me to read a lot more; and they always have the best recommendations. I love their banter, friendship, and their Black-British perspectives.

Code Switch: Another NPR podcast is ‘Code Switch’ co-hosted by Gene Demby and Shereen Marisol Meraji. It’s a podcast on race, and ways of navigating race. And although it’s focused on America, it’s often relatable and applicable in other countries. Typical of NPR, the production quality is incredible, and the level of reporting and research is outstanding.

The Nod: After ending their podcast, ‘For Colored Nerds’, co-hosts Eric and Brittany started ‘The Nod’, a podcast about all things black. Self-described as ‘blackness biggest fans’ they discuss things about being black that are not so obvious. It always makes for an interesting listen.

If I Were You: ‘If I were You’ is co-hosted by comedy duo, Jake and Amir, who played comedic versions of themselves in a long running series on web comedy YouTube channel ‘College Humor’. The pair humorously answer listener questions often asking for relationship advice and the banter is always hilarious. There are catchphrases, running jokes and offkilter humour. It’s seriously funny stuff. The Bugle: ‘The Bugle’ was created 10 years ago, and was originally hosted by Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver. John Oliver left ‘The Bugle’ in 2016 with the success of HBO satire show ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’. Since its relaunch in 2016, ‘The Bugle’ has remained one of the most essential political satire podcasts, still hosted by Zaltzman with a rotating set of co-hosts. It’s hilarious, and frequent co-hosts include Nish Kumar, Hari Kondabolu and Alice Fraser.

Literature Review: ‘Nervous Conditions’ By Emmanuel Omodeinde Writer

years prompted a look back at this novel. The interesting thing about the novel is that it is not overtly political. t’s been almost 30 years since It’s set in the 60s and 70s, this was the novel ‘Nervous Conditions’ before Zimbabwe became independent was published in 1988. Written from British rule and before Mugabe by Zimbabwean author, Tsitsi became president. The novel follows a Dangarembga, it was her third little girl named Tambudzai as novel and to date is one of she navigates the oppressive only four novels the author patriarchal domination in has published (a sequel her home. After her older to ‘Nervous Conditions’ brother, Nhamo, dies, was published in 2006). Tambu is sent to the Set in the late 1960s and missionary school where 70s in Rhodesia, which Nhamo studied; she is was an unrecognised state away from home with from 1965 to 1979, and is her wealthy middle-class Photo by Wikipedia now Zimbabwe. The recent uncle Babamukuru and his coup of the national party, Zanu family. She finds it difficult to PF and the forced resignation of assimilate into the culture of the revolutionary turned dictator, Robert missionary school and is alienated from Mugabe who ruled the country for 37 the white British missionaries and their

children who speak Shona rather than English. Her cousin, Nyasha, returns from England, and struggles with the oppressive patriarchal landscape of Rhodesia. The novel highlights the way in which assimilation is not necessarily a positive thing, but can be a difficult and traumatic experience. It also explores how women experience assimilation might differ from a man’s experience. The politics and colonialism of the novel is not overt, but it is represented in the characters and natives of the countries it has affected. It’s certainly not the first, but it is an important representation of African feminism and the struggles which black women go through. The novel however does not wallow in despair, it’s certainly dark at times but it’s ultimately uplifting, and recommended reading for everyone, especially young black women.

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