InQuire 14.6 by InQuire Media

InQuire Exclusive: St Dunstan’s house fire victim speaks about disaster

‘Flames were pouring out of the kitchen’ Page 5 By Jordan Ifield Website News Editor

The University of Kent’s Student Newspaper Issue 14.6 Friday 30 November 2018 inquiremedia.co.uk FREE

What is the The Great acceleration? Page X

University of Kent student has been found dead offcampus last weekend. An email was sent out to students on their course confirming the death on

Tuesday. The university are sending flowers and a letter of condolence to the family. A University spokesperson said on Wednesday: ‘We can confirm the off-campus death of a male third year student last weekend.

‘His next of kin have been informed and support is available for his housemates, fellow students and staff. ‘Our thoughts and sympathy are with his family at this difficult time.’ Check our website, InQuire Media, for updates.

Kent Union told InQuire: ‘We are happy with the outcome, as we believe the new systems will encourage and empower our members to get involved in campaigns, participate in the union and have their voice heard.’ The results were met with many who were against the proposal feeling like their voice had not been heard. In line with UEC voting by-laws, the five FTOs had confirmed voting rights along with five part time officers (one to be a post graduate rep and one to be a liberation position), a Societies Executive Committee Representative, a Team Kent Executive Representative and a Medway Volunteering or Kent Committee Action Executive Representative who were all randomly selected froma pool. All five FTOs voted for the motion. Notably, the Postgraduate representative randomly selected was Meidili Moothia

(PGT Faculty Representative Social Sciences), who was the creator of the petition for postgraduates in favour of the proposal. KGSA president Lorts, was not randomly selected. Many postgraduates thought that the FTOs should they have abstained from voting as it was likely that the they would back their own proposal and they held a significant level of influence within the vote as the only people with guaranteed voting rights. In response, Kent Union said: ‘As per the bye-laws, Full Time Officers hold the same rights as any other voting member of UEC. Any member of UEC can make proposals and be selected to have voting rights in the meeting.’ Due to the fact that the FTO’s are technically classed as Student Trustee’s, many thought that they should have been abstained to vote. However, they clarified: ‘Kent Union’s constitution sets out that Full Time Officers are Officer Trustees, which is different to the Student Trustee role. Last year UEC voted to include elected Student Trustees in the UEC membership but did not give them voting rights.’ Later in Proposal 4, the UEC voted to change those that could

vote to all members of the UEC in order to make future votes more democratic. Additonally, 4 out of 5 FTO’s declared a conflict of interest for the vote on Proposal 1. InQuire asked Kent Union: ‘Do you feel that these conflicts of interest should have been investigated prior to the vote in order to ensure that the FTO’s vote would not be effected by personal beliefs, especially as the FTO’s vote was hugely significant in the passing of the proposal?’ To which Kent Union replied: ‘All UEC members including the Full Time Officers were asked to declare conflicts of interests in advance and/or at the meeting in the interest of transparency. Those Full Time Officers that did so declared their interests as any other member of UEC. The conflicts which were noted were of varying degrees and in some cases the Full Time Officers shared the same conflicts as some of the other UEC members in the room and therefore should not have been treated differently. Full Time Officers are members of Kent Union and as such they are entitled to have personal and political views like any other members.’ The final vote will be put to the Board of Student Trustees next week.

University of Kent confirms death of A Third-Year student

Controversial Postgraduate VP approved in UEC vote Photo by Kent Union

By Molly Hope Editor-in-Chief

he Union Executive Committee (UEC) have voted to approve the change in the Full-Time Officer (FTO) roles. The Sports and Activities Vice-President roles will be merged into a Vice-President (Student Experience) and a new Vice-President (Postgraduate Experience). The outcomes comes after a democracy review to improve student representation and to ‘make it easier for students to get involved in our democratic structures’. At the start of the UEC meeting, the letter signed by postgraduates in favour of the new position was handed out. It

was pointed out that the KGSA’s open letter against the proposal was not handed out. Current Kent Union President, Aaron Thompson, opened the proposal, stating that it was ‘vital’ that the proposal passed. Arguing against the proposal was president of the KGSA, Shelly Lorts, who felt as though postgraduates ‘weren’t consulted’ and Kent Union’s ‘research wasn’t sufficient’ to back the proposal. She also added that in a postgraduate panel ran by KGSA, 98.3% of the 50 (approx.) postgraduates (across faculties) in attendance were against the proposal. In a surprising majority, the vote results were: 12 in favour, 1 abstention and no votes against the motion.

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Postgraduates divided over new full-time officer roles

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he Kent Graduate Student Association (KGSA), a voluntary body which represents taught and research postgraduate students, penned an open letter to the sabbatical officers of Kent Union. The letter called for a stay on the vote of the University Executive Council (UEC) regarding the installation of a new Vice-President (Postgraduate Experience). The proposed position came as part of a reshuffle of responsibilities and titles within the full-time officer team, as published in the democracy review recently released by Kent Union. The responsibilities of VicePresident (Activities) and VicePresident (Sports) are combined in the new proposal into the new position of Vice-President (Student Opportunities) and the new position of Vice-President (Postgraduate Experience) is introduced. Rejection of the position came after a discussion forum hosted by the KGSA on 19 November for postgraduates to vote on whether they supported the proposition. The letter highlights that the position should theoretically be an attractive but argues that not enough information was not

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Kent Union has only done a ‘small amount of outreach’ to the community.It goes on further to claim that the Union has been ‘vague and misleading’. When asked about the possition’s approval last Monday, KGSA President Shelly Lorts told InQuire: ‘The vote itself was chaos. In fact, it had to be taken three times due to confusion and frustration in the room. The second time, declaration of conflicts of interest were forgotten. ‘The Union’s conduct leading up to the UEC vote was bias and unacceptable. The day of the meeting, Union officers approached everyone whom they knew was eligible for voting rights but did not come out in favor of the motion. ‘None who argued against the motion was randomly selected for voting rights. The open letter in favor of the motion was printed and handed out at the

Of postgraduate students who feel like Kent Union represents their needs to the University

By Jordan Ifield Website News Edior Maxine Meixner Writer

survey conducted by Survation has found that Emma Leach Newspaper Science and Tech Editor Canterbury would vote for science@inquiremedia.co.uk Remain if there was another Brexit referendum, with only Head of Photography 45% of respondents saying that Emily Heath photography@inquiremedia.co.uk they would back Leave again. In 2016 Kent voted in favour Marketing of Leave 59% to 41%, although George Knight Canterbury was the closest marketing@inquiremedia.co.uk constituency in the region, Twitter: @inquirelive voting in favour of Leave by only Facebook: InQuireMedia 51% to 49%.

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to 3 Postgraduate Taught Faculty Representatives and 3 Postgraduate Research Faculty Representatives. It is unclear whether or not the KGSA President will be a member of the new UEC. The democracy review argues that having a dedicated fulltime officer for the postgraduate community, who must be a postgraduate themselves, ensures that the postgraduate view will always be represented. KGSA argues that this is lip service and that a cultural shift within Kent Union as an organisation is required before the position should be seriously considered for implementation. ‘By its own admission, the Union does not give attention to postgraduates because the current officer team deems undergraduate issues as more important’, writes KGSA in the open letter. The letter goes on to state that

Canterbury now backs remain

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provided on how the position would work practically. The review published by Kent Union provides a list of remits for the position, the stakeholders and a list of the meetings that they would attend. KGSA argues that this is not enough and that more thorough research should have been carried out prior to the vote. Postgraduate students make up between 20-25% of University of Kent students. They can often face different, varied challenges during their time at the university when compared to undergraduates, such as issues regarding the Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) scheme. Issues can vary between taught students who have an experience more akin to that of undergraduates and research students who have an experience which in many cases is a crossover between that of a student and a faculty member. A survey carried out in 2017 on 235 postgraduate students demonstrated the disconnect between this section of the student body and Kent Union. Only 42.2% responded that they felt Kent Union represented their needs to the University and even fewer knew who their FTOs were – 33.2%. A proposal by Emily Window (VP Sports) seconded by Omolade Adedapo (VP Welfare) suggests a change

The polling company correctly predicted the Leave campaigns victory in the 2016 Brexit referendum, at the time predicting that Leave would win 51% to 49%. Canterbury would be likely affected by any Brexit deal due to its close proximity to Dover with imports and tourism into the area being priorities. This problem is also exacerbated by Operation Stack, with lorries queueing on the M20 between Ashford and Maidstone potentially diverting traffic towards Canterbury. Last month, Canterbury City Council admitted that they

currently had no ‘plans’ for Brexit although the overarching Kent County Council is drawing up impact assessments. Despite the news, the government have so far ruled out the possibility of a second referendum, despite the Prime Minister declining to say on a BBC r a d i o s h o w whether the UK would be ‘better off’ under

her deal on Friday. In October, Kent Union created a proposal supporting a second referendum with the option to remain in the European Union. Chancellor of the University of Kent, Gavin Esler has also called for a second referendum, having previously expressed similar views to Channel 4 News and speaking at a ‘People’s Vote’ rally in August. Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury, has confessed that whilst a Brexit deal is close, she is not prepared to back it in its current form. Photo by Free PNG Images

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

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KGSA president claims Union’s ‘Academic Win’ is an ‘utter lie’ Kent Union has claimed A number of ‘academic wins’ in recent weeks which has not sat well with the student body. On 15 of November, Kent Union took to Facebook to laud their efforts alongside student representatives during the strike period last academic year. The response to this claim on social media was a mixture start of the meeting. The KGSA’s open letter against the motion was never acknowledged. Furthermore, every other motion subsequent to the creation of this role was designed to dismantle the random voting system and ultimately implement a system that would allow all present at the meeting to vote. —Therefore, the Union successfully implemented a position that the postgraduate community was against under a system that worked to its own advantage before changing that system. That timeline is not a coincidence. Democracy review consultation outcomes report support for the creation of the position, with 67% of respondents polling in favour. These results have been called into question, with the argument that the question relating to the representation of postgraduates was leading and it is unknown how many of those polled were actually postgraduates.

Academic wins

ccusations of false claims have been made by KGSA. In recent weeks, Kent Union has been taking to social media to publicise their ‘academic wins’. The KGSA claims that: ‘many of the “academic wins” about with the Union boasts in regard to the postgraduate experience are, in truth, wins for which the KGSA did the footwork.’ One such example of this is that of lobbying the university alongside KGSA on resolving accommodation issues within Woolf College, with many students saying that it was in fact mostly down to the efforts of KGSA.

of derision and amusement, with many students, including student representatives covering various academic departments, responding with vitriol. Comments include the claim being ‘nonsense’ an ‘utter lie’ and that the student representatives were in fact ‘put up with’. Lack of communication was

Photo by Shelly Lorts | Facebook

Woolf college has been plagued by hot water issues in recent weeks and historically suffering from issues with mould and WiFi availability. KGSA set up an accommodation task force last academic year in order to tackle these issues. Lorts says: ‘While the KGSA appreciates that the Union sent an officer to each of our Accommodation Task Force meetings, the Union did not take part in the months of work, research and liaising with the University that the KGSA did (in partnership with current postgraduate) to request and then to prepare for these meetings. Nor does the Union take part in the daily work the KGSA continues to do on behalf of postgraduates for better accommodation.’ Kent Union points out in their report detailing the proposition of a postgraduate officer that ‘there have been a significant number of occasions in which the minutes show an absence of the KGSA, or a contribution at the meeting’ before going onto admit that this is understandable due to the voluntary nature of the role. Tom Ritchie, former Kent Union President (2011-2013) and former KGSA VicePresident points out that he was in fact present at one of the supposedly missed meetings and that at least one of the other absence was due to the KGSA team hosting a welcome week

a common issue, with claims that they weren’t listened to, and that emailed correspondence has been ignored. Shelly Lorts, President of KGSA, says that this statement is simply untrue: ‘During the strikes last year, the Union refused to take a stance on behalf of postgraduate issues. Many postgraduates teach and event. Lorts said: ‘The implementation of this position is a bandaid on a larger issue; we (and myriad postgraduates) would prefer that the Union work on the underlying cause of these issues before presenting a change in Union bye-laws. The Union has referred to the Vice-President (Postgraduate Experience) position in practice as a “reminder” to consider postgrads in meetings and votes. The Union should not need a reminder for a demographic it is already supposed to represent — especially not a reminder in the form of an elected officer. The Union needs to walk before it runs: get to know the postgraduate community and its issues, and work with us and on our behalf — as it is already supposed to do — before telling us what we want.’

PGs in favour

ot everyone is a critic of the new postgraduate officer. One student, Floris Claassens, the PGR faculty representative for Sciences, said she was ‘very happy with the approval of the new Vice-President Postgraduate Experience’. She said: ‘Over the last few weeks I have studied the arguments both in favour and against the proposal carefully and found contrary to the

‘The new role will not solve all Kent Unions problems with Postgraduate representation’

are therefore considered staff members as well as students. ‘During the strike, the KGSA and the postgraduate community publicly called on Kent Union several times to support the interests of students who teach and we were met with silence. ‘Though the Union did eventually decide to work on claims of KGSA that Kent Union has been researching the implementation of this role since 2016, over the years having consultations with stakeholders and Postgraduate students both. Based on this I feel confident that the new Vice-President Postgraduate Experience will be a great and important step towards improving the representation of Postgraduate students both in Kent Union and the University and was strengthened by the support of over fifty students who signed the letter of support amongst which all Postgraduate Faculty reps. ‘Of course the new role will not solve all Kent Unions problems with Postgraduate representation and the rest of the year I will hold them accountable on their promise to keep working on Postgraduate representation outside of the new Vice-President role. I share the KGSA’s disappointment surrounding the voting procedure and was glad last night the proposal to give every member of the UEC a vote was approved as well.’

Union respond

n response to the letter, Kent Union told InQuire: ‘We are aware of the open letter crafted by the KGSA, and have taken into account their concerns. The Union President has additionally had meetings with the KGSA this term regarding issues faced by postgraduates as well as the Kent Union Democracy Review. ‘While the KGSA open letter may be in opposition to the changes, which seek to improve postgraduate representation, it is also important to consider

behalf of taught students, the interests of research students who teach were neglected, highlighting the Union’s ineffectiveness to support all students.’ Connor Morrissey a thirdyear student in Politics and International Relations, pointed out that many would not perceive this to be a win. ‘Is this ironic?’ he asks ‘The university refused to pay and still refuses to pay lecturers who went on strike. ‘An “academic win” for the Union would be successfully lobbying for our lecturer’s to be paid appropriately and for having fair contracts! The well-being of our mentors is an “academic win” for students.’

the additional letter crafted and signed by the postgraduate faculty reps, who equally represent postgraduates, which is in favour of the changes. This letter also has a sizeable amount of support from students, including those from our European centres (all of which are postgraduate students), who are equally important and should have a voice in this discussion. ‘Regarding Academic Wins, it is important that the union “closes the loop” and informs students of the work the union is doing and has done, both seen and unseen and we will continue to try and find the best way to do this.’ InQuire have approached Shelly Lorts for further comment relating to the passing of the new full-time officer roles at the UEC.

Correction: The previous edition released on Friday 16 November included an old version of an article titled ‘Feminists bid to ban “hateful” YouTuber from speaking at Kent’. That article states that the creators’ of a petition attempting to remove Carl Benjamin, online pseudonym Sargon of Akkad, from speaking at a Liberty Union event were the Feminist Society. In fact, the Feminist Society were not responsible for the creation of this petition. It was the created by the Kent Anti-Facist Group. InQuire would like to apologise to the Feminist Society and our readers for the misinformation. Please refer to our online article for the correct and updated information.

News

Korean UCA student assaulted in alleged racist attack in London

Photo by Ysangkok |Wikimedia Commons

Exclusive By Maisie Lee Newspaper Opinion Edior

University for the Creative Arts (UCA) student was physically assaulted in central London by a group of teenagers on Sunday 11 November. The police are claiming the incident was a racially motivated hate crime. Mary, 22, from South Korea, was walking down Oxford Street around 5:40pm on

Remembrance Sunday when she realised a pack of ‘mixed white and black’ teenagers were following her and throwing rubbish at her. She turned around and told them to stop. The group then approached closer to her commenting: ‘Oh you speak English?’ They continued throwing rubbish, now at her face. She then retialited by throwing some of the rubbish back. Then suddenly the group struck her down to the ground and started attacking her in middle of Oxford Street.

The attack carried on for 6-7 minutes, she said, and the group was punching and kicking her as she fell down outside a Marks and Spencer. She was screaming and shouting at them to stop, but the group consisting of both male and female teenagers, carried on assaulting her. A friend of hers who was at the spot testifies that people were forming a circle watching and filming the scene, but no one was attempting to stop the teenagers. Two of the pedestrians finally stepped in, but Mary says the

Only one in fifty suspected rapes result in charges By Alejandro Javierre News Sub-Editor

ne in fifty rape cases reported to Kent Police result in charges, new figures show. Data released by the Ministry of Justice and Rape Monitoring group show that in 2016-2017, there were 1,569 officially recorded incidents classified as rape in the county. Data from December 2017 quarterly Criminal Justice

System Data release shows that there were 65 rape cases that were eventually taken to crown court and out of these, only around 30 of these prosecutions resulted in a successful conviction. The total recorded cases of rape by Kent Police Force, as shown in the Police Recorded Crime and Outcomes data for the year 2016-2017, however, was 380. The number of cases leading to a criminal charge of rape by

Kent Police Force was at 91. This means that only 2% of reported incidents of alleged rape result in a successful conviction and under 10% of investigated reports of rape resulted in a successful conviction in 2016-2017. ‘Incidents of rape’ were introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2015 to record the total number of incidences given into the police that are initially labelled as rape when reported by a potential victim

suspects ‘pretended to run away but they came back, followed me and attacked me for the second time’. When the group finally decided to terminate the attack and run away, Mary called the police. She waited for an hour, but the police didn’t show up. Completely shocked, devastated and ‘broken’, she came back to Canterbury the same night. She said that she was feeling ‘helpless’. She has written about the incident and how prevalent racist attacks are levelled through her Facebook. The post attracted over 28,000 likes, and the attack was featured on the headlines of the South Korean news. She has also started a petition to raise awareness of hate crimes in London, which has recieved over 28,000 signatures. This has prompted the South Korean embassy to step in and press the police for a speedier investigation. ‘I don’t know what to feel about living and studying in this country to be honest,’ Mary says. ‘I often thought about working here even after graduation because I enjoyed every minute of living in the UK, but I have now completely lost faith in this country.

I still cannot believe this kind of incident has happened to me in the centre of London.’ Mary was given a swollen jaw, bumps on her head and some painful cuts from the incident. She has also been suffering from panic attacks since the assault. ‘Considering the characteristics of the incident—a hate crime towards a young female Asian student in central London—I am surprised by the lack of support given by the authorities. ‘The police, the embassy, and the hospital were all quite useless until I had repeatedly explained the incident and urged for further help.’ The Metropolitan Police are currently attempting to obtain the CCTV footage of the night, but are struggling to find one that captures the full account of the incident. ‘If there is no clear video footage that shows the incident and the faces of suspect clearly, then I’m afraid that there is a possibility that we might have to close the case,’ said met police officer in charge of the investigation. ‘However, we are trying our best to find the CCTV footage and resolve this horrible hate crime that’s happened to Mary’, added the police.

or third party. Kent Police Force has a history of irregularities involving their official recorded crime statistics, with 5 officers being arrested in 2012 for corruption when it was found that they were forcing prisoners to confess to undetected crimes in order to meet performance targets. Nationally, official police data has recently been brought into disrepute. In 2014 when the UK Statistics Authority decided to withdraw their National Statistics Designation Mark of ‘Gold standard’ from any crime data recorded by Police Forces in England and Wales, following a House of Commons inquiry that

found them to be an unreliable indicator of true crime statistics. Lily Dedman of Respect the No, an anti-rape activist group, places the extremely low conviction rates on the issues around common perspectives of rape, where fault is directed towards victims to prove they have been assaulted. Another primary issue leading to low conviction rates is that the misunderstanding the majority of rape cases are not perpetrated by strangers in public places, according to Dedman, but in private spaces familiar to the victim and by a perpetrator known to the victim.

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

Photo by Meg Warwick

Exclusive St Dunstan’s house fire student speaks about ordeal By Meg Warwick Website Sport Editor

n 20 October, a fire took place in a student

household located in St Dunstan’s. The fire started from the combustion of the property’s tumble dryer, causing fire

New app to make house renting easier Photo by Polygon

By Bill Bowkett Newspaper News Edior

new app has been developed to help make house hunting easier for students in Canterbury. Polygon, a start-up company run by student for students, aims to revolutionise the way students interact with landlords and letting agents. The company state on their

Facebook page how ‘You will never again go through the hairpulling stress of digging through unhelpful websites for hours, just to find a place to live. Our sole purpose: to give students an awesome place to live, with housemates that will become lifelong.’ Erald Makoli explained how the application works with an innovative quota mechanism that matches students according to their personality and preferences. Polygon is a free app that brings together properties from Canterbury’s letting agents to students onto one platform. It then lets you look through and see when they’re available for viewing (swipe up to see viewing

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and smoke to spread into the kitchen. The students who lived in the property had only moved in a month before the incident. One resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted the event. ‘The fire alarm went off in my room. My ceiling is quite low so I thought I’d hit the fire alarm. I went to fetch my house mate to help me fix it. ‘It was then I noticed that the fire alarm was also going on the other floors. I could see smoke coming out from the corner of the kitchen, and flames were spewing out.’ After the individual alerted their housemates, everyone evacuated the building. ‘We called the fire department straight away. We were still in our pajamas, standing barefoot outside our house. ‘It was our last year so we had invested in a big, nice house. ‘Two fire trucks arrived within the area. All my neighbours came out, the firemen had to inform them of what was happening. ‘After they’d cleaned the area an hour after the fire, we were allowed to go back inside. ‘We got dressed and collected our valuables. I contacted the letting agency Student Places immediately but, as they were closed on the weekend, I got their voicemail. However, I left a message and they came within ten minutes of my calling. ‘The letting agent said they would sort accommodation, some of us stayed with our partners while others were put into a hotel. Once the

letting agent saw the damage, he told me that the insurance companies could blitz the place completely, implying that we could live there within a couple of weeks. This left me hopeful. But he told my other housemate that the damage was too bad for us to ever move in again.’ The house mates were left without a house for a week and a half. ‘When deciding on a new house to live in, Student Places suggested a range of houses they could choose from but the individual stated that ‘The majority were all poor condition’. ‘I felt pressured to decide on a new house as soon as possible. It made me believe that they wanted to wash their hands off us in a way and didn’t want to deal with us any longer.’ The group decided to move into a cheaper house with a new letting agency, JG Lettings. ‘The house now is good, but not as nice as the other house. ‘JG Letting were really accommodating and my housemates and I are happy with their support. ‘My school has been really good, offering me essay extensions. The University also offered me accommodation on campus. My family and friends have supported me. However, support from Student Places has been minimal. Though they did accommodate us after what happened, they did their job in terms of that.’ A week after the fire, the house mates were not allowed to venture into the kitchen of the property, because the ceiling

had collapsed and there were safety hazards. ‘I received a text message from Student Places. It said we could enter the kitchen to salvage our stuff, or what was left of it. ‘They stated that the fire brigade had told Student Places it was safe to enter the property. This confused me because I’d been in the house that day and I could see that the kitchen was still a hazard.’ The individual’s guardian rang up the fire station to query this claim to be cautious. A spokesperson for Kent Fires stated: ‘They would never allow anyone to go back into a hazard situation’. ‘It could be a case of us opening a cupboard to get our stuff out and then the whole ceiling falling on top of us. You could see the beams of the ceiling from where the plaster had been covering it. It was way too hazardous to go back into the kitchen.’ The individual decided to claim back her possessions through insurance. The incident of this house fire has has not been put on record on the Kent Fire incident page, which is updated regularly. ‘I feel overwhelmed by the whole situation. It put my life on hold for a few weeks. I had adjusted to a new house and felt comfortable and then I had to move out and uproot my life temporarily. We are lucky though, this could have been a lot worst.’ Student Places, Kent Union, JG Lettings and Kent Fire have been approached for comment.

calendar), to shortlist for later (swipe right) or see next (swipe left). ‘Polygon also has an algorithm for people looking just for rooms rather than whole places that matches you with the people you’d fit best with - night in/ night out, clean freak/plates everywhere, friends over/quiet nights in, that kind of thing.’ The app’s development comes following a spate of incidents between student tenants and landlords. This is Money revealed this week how rogue landlords are routinely and

illegally withholding deposits and subjecting tenants to surprise evictions, with half of students failing to get their cash back. Washington Ali, a Law Student, Property Investor and Polygon’s President, said: ‘We are putting the power back in the hands of students by creating an app where students find the best homes and housemates of which they can develop lasting friendships. This is as pivotal to the student experience as it is important for landlords themselves.’ ‘We also have a chat room on our app where students can talk to us about an unresolved problem as this allows better flows of communication and conflict resolution if problems were to occur. I can assure happy tenants mean a happy landlord!’ ‘There is a lack of transparency and openness between students

and landlords. We want to change that and focus the attention on the student,’ said T.K. Gondo, who, before becoming Co-founder and CEO of Polygon, worked in offshore banking after dropping out of Canterbury Christ Church University. At the time of writing, the company has partnerships with a number of local and national estate agencies, such as Leydon Lettings, Godwin Curtis, Your Move and Miles & Barr. They have also been in a close working relationship with universities and their respective student unions to help develop and promote the app. Down the line, the company wish to expand beyond Canterbury and work alongside other businesses. Gondo explained: ‘In Canterbury, we are aiming to have more properties on our application than any competing service.’

Photo by T.K. Gondo

Opinion Campus is not a dangerous place, yet 6

The views and opinions expressed in the opinion section are those of the authors and do not necessariy reflect the official policy or position of InQuire Media.

By Lauren Drozd Writer

mid the angry reaction to both Kent Union’s proposed fancy dress guidelines—which warns students against wearing racially or culturally insensitive clothing—and the controversial upcoming talk by Carl Benjamin organised by UKC Liberty Union, it’s safe to say we appear more divided in our values than ever. It’s also safe to say that the University does not have a flourishing democratic marketplace of ideas. It is this friction that potentially threatens our safety.

The concern regarding these issues centred around the defence of freedom of speech. At first glance, the effects of banning certain costumes or de-platforming speakers may appear uncomfortable, because of the apparently restrictive examples they set. These initiatives, however, are not arbitrary. The belief that we could be easily persecuted for our speech is an illusion ignoring the autonomy we already possess. The latest Human Freedom Index (HFI)—measuring numerous legal, personal, and economic freedoms—placed the United Kingdom ninth out of 159

Photo by Newtown graffiti | Flickr

countries. It’s also interesting that the HFI correlates higher levels of freedom with democracy. Kent Union’s proposal to ban selected fancy dress costumes may seem regressive, but it is worth bearing in mind the Union’s statement from 12th October: ‘it is a priority for us to promote an inclusive campus… taking into account [all students’] lived experiences and points of view’. Is it not based on the principles of democracy to promote inclusive dialogue that elevates and respects all voices, including those who are underrepresented? The needlessly antagonistic response to the draft guidelines are more concerning; it mirrors a wider tendency of reactionary hyperbole. The reviewing process of pre-existing ideas and situating them within a larger debate—like the Union has been doing—honours democratic ideals. Nevertheless, the question still lies in whether the practice of ‘de-platforming’ similarly honours democracy. Is it justifiable, or does it restrict expression to a dangerous

degree? These questions are pertinent considering YouTuber Carl Benjamin’s invitation to speak on campus. The planned talk has attracted both criticism and defence. A petition to remove him cited his ‘controversial views and appalling statements’, while the Liberty Union argued that they ‘value[d] the freedom to speak and to argue’, urging detractors to join in ‘open debate’. To deplatform, however, presumes a rightful platform in the first place: what academic integrity does Benjamin have to warrant his? Benjamin, known by his YouTube alias Sargon of Akkad, gained visibility for his antiFeminist, anti-social-justice YouTube channel and his involvement in ‘Gamergate’, a coordinated harassment campaign against women in the gaming industry. He said that he ‘wouldn’t even rape [Labour MP Jess Phillips]’ and has described Harvey Weinstein’s victims as ‘golddigging whores’. In a video contentiously titled It’s Okay to be a Nationalist, Benjamin decried ‘Middle Eastern values’ in opposition to ‘Western

civilisation’. I question what his value is – or is intended to be – to students. The Data and Society Research Institute has noted Benjamin’s association and ‘friendly working dynamic’ with ‘openly white nationalist YouTubers… often eschew[ing] the debate form’ that Benjamin claims to adhere to. ‘By connecting to and interacting with one another through YouTube videos,’ the Institute reports, ‘influencers with mainstream audiences lend their credibility to openly white nationalist and other extremist content creators.’ This is more than enough reason to rescind his invitation. To provide Benjamin with a platform disguises itself as, but cannot truly be, ‘open debate’. To uphold our rights to free speech and expression are important – but these should never come at the expense of students’ interests. Campus might not be dangerous, yet. If we continue to offer unnecessary platforms to, and silently legitimise a racially charged message of cultural warfare that seeks to subjugate minorities, then that is what it will become.

Do not post your feelings online? By Violeta Ivanova Writer

inger Billie Eilish’s interview for Vanity Fair has brought about a series of in-depth conversations and introspective episodes about what the purpose of social media is, and how people use it. The interview itself was adequately entertaining and like most interviews, not very memorable apart from a single segment. Billie stressed ‘Do not post your feelings online. Don’t do it to yourself.’ Said with such urgency, it is safe to assume she has been through some turmoil relating to an online experience. What is often overlooked is the balance that is maintained when operating a large-

scale machine such as social media. It is implied that its usage varies from consumer to producer. Your friends, influencers, and celebrities, and corporations all upkeep a social media presence vastly different from one another and for different reasons. The only overarching factor is that the majority of their social media ‘appearance’ is strictly positive, calculated, and censored. This is especially true with celebrities and corporations. Their social media presence is usually directed by a management team that makes sure no person slips up. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the former, yet it makes one doubt authenticity of the social media influencers

one might look up to. Not being certain whether an influencer made the much famous ‘apology video’ themselves, out of feelings of guilt and genuine remorse, or if it was a carefully constructed script devised by that influencer’s PR team is in and of itself a very odd contemporary phenomenon. Feelings are private but when the rest of your life is public, there is an expectation to put them out there. If you do, however, you are opening yourself to ridicule, misunderstanding, and bullying. And this includes the cases where you are being completely honest and ranting online with no malicious intent. Even the most sincere sounding ‘I am feeling lonely. Anyone up for a coffee?’ can be made

out to seem needy, attentionseeking, pathetic. Is anything that is not private consequently less genuine because of an implied agenda? And should one respond to this ‘person in need’ or ignore it as part of ‘cringe culture’? I have never wanted to leave a controversial comment on a post, never wanted to tweet out any frustration or even to express gratitude via post on Instagram. I am positive that anything less than perfection is always in some way judged or disregarded. Perhaps an explanation rests in the phenomenon you could call ‘silent posting’, i.e. not posting the negativity in your life but instead quietly hinting at your emotional state: deleting pictures, changing

your profile picture to black/ blank, putting your profile on private or deleting social media as a whole. I had my reservations about writing this article for precisely the exact reasons people are wary of posting their tribulations online. I felt I was writing an opinion piece that contained no opinion. Yet, I soon realised I had fallen in a ‘meta’ state: I was not stating my opinion for the same reason I avoid expressing how I feel online: fear of judgement. As I would love to educate myself further on the motivational forces behind posting your feelings online, anyone interested in sharing their opinion is more than welcome to message me on Facebook.

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

Opinion

100 Years since WW1: Is Europe more harmonious? By Olly Trapnell Writer

or most of the World, Europe appears as one collective mass, united predominantly under one currency, with strong economic and political relations. In fact, Europe is very much a series of independent states with ever increasing differences in their political outlook. Britain remains the clearest example of this, with Brexit driving a significant wedge between Britain and the rest of the European Union. This is all made worse by European leaders such as Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron who seem adamant to pressure Theresa May into rushed Brexit deals which may have significant ramifications on the future of this country and Europe as a whole. Whilst Brexit was certainly a slap-in-the face to Europe, the Brexit vote was very divided suggesting that interior divisions may also be a factor in determining

the overall harmony of suffered greatly in the wake of band together and offer aid Europe. In this regard, we the Eurozone Crisis in 2011. in various forms to those who can assume that whilst Similarly, countries who have need it, whether in response Britain as a collective whole voted for more right wing to famine, natural disaster or behaved unharmoniously, policy-makers and isolationist conflicts. For example, the EU many individuals still support ideologies such as Italy and as a whole provides around the synergy between Britain Hungary, have begun to €1 billion in humanitarian and Europe. Similarly, fracture the delicate ethos of relief efforts – making itself other countries such as the the largest donor worldwideNetherlands and Germany have and helps to support around had interior differences that 120 million people around have affected the harmony the world every year. of the individual This funding, however, countries, which accounts for less than 1% suggests that the of the total EU budget harmony of Europe and more can be done cannot be decided by to help increase support looking at countries to those who need it. as a whole, since Since the armistice individual reactions signalling the end Photo by Gerald G | Open Clip Art Library of World War 1 was will vary. Europe continues to signed, various European retain many significant countries have also been problems, from its handling involved in a slew of armed of refugees to the possible conflicts of various scales. They instability of the Euro. The have dabbled in other conflicts economic troubles caused the EU. outside of Europe including by Germany in the last few Yet, we have definitely made the heavy involvement in the years was significant. Many headway in recent years in Middle-East. Europe still has countries have taken a stance regards to our collective a mind for war. Furthermore, of distrust towards Merkel, harmony. In times of crises, despite efforts to maintain especially the Italian and there has been an effort for peace after the signing of the Grecian governments who the European nations to armistice, Europe was once

again divided by the Second World War less than 30 years later. So, what is the European identity in 2018? Can Europe and the EU be considered as more than just a trade bloc? The EU was initially formed in order to prevent further wars in Europe, and to this degree, it has been successful. Nevertheless, the EU has evolved into a collaboration of sorts in which member countries have greater freedom in their ability to trade and travel between neighbouring countries, and in this regard the purpose of the EU has become muddled. All this being said, Europe has had its moments of harmony. A disdain for Donald Trump seems to be a uniting factor. Whilst a certain negative energy lies between the majority of European nations right now, it is my hope that in the years to come, that we as distinct nations will forge ahead together to overcome the struggles that we are currently facing and have yet to befall us.

Aiding and abetting: UK’s criminal behaviour towards Yemen

Photo by Alisdare Hickson | Flickr

By James Marriott Writer

ur greatest moral failure in the modern world is our inability to understand suffering on a modern scale. The capacity of the mind seems to diminish rapidly after the number fifty, all else is inconceivable. Perhaps we could not survive if we did, but others cannot if we do not try. This is the moral failing the UK faces with Yemen. In Yemen the UN has estimated that half the

population, 14 million people, are on the brink of starvation. That is the population of London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham, Sheffield, Bristol, Glasgow, Leicester, Edinburgh, Leeds, and half a million more close to starving to death. According to Save the Children, 85,000 children are estimated to have died from starvation over the last three years. That is roughly 77 children a day, or three children an hour for the past three years. And this is likely an underestimate given

the impossibility of gaining accurate data in Yemen. All these needless deaths are often attributed to the civil war raging in Yemen at the moment; this is misrepresentation. The greatest cause of suffering is Saudi Arabia’s escalation of an internal conflict into the worst humanitarian disaster the world faces. Of the total 6,592 civilian deaths documented by the UN Human Rights Office, it was noted that ‘the majority of these causalities were as a result of airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition’. These are only those directly killed by the bombs. A report released by the World Peace Foundation found evidence that ‘Coalition strategy has aimed to destroy food production and distribution in the areas under the control of San’a’. On top of this, Jonathan Kennedy of Queen Mary University of London, has shown the effects of the bombing campaign on the outbreak of cholera that

plagues the civilians in Yemen. Regardless of the initial reasons for the civil war in Yemen, the Saudi-led coalitions war crimes has multiplied suffering and death beyond its initial levels. The UK stands in a unique position above this man-made abyss. Unlike the various countries around the world who can only watch in disgust at what is happening, the UK can alleviate the suffering. That is not to say they can solve the problem entirely, but if there was genuine interest to reduce the capricious murder of civilians there are very simple steps that can be taken. The first is the banning of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. This is an avenue the Campaign Against the Arms Trade is pursuing currently with little media attention. They are currently waiting for a scheduled appeal on a judgement rendered on the legality of arms sales. The case is focused on whether there is a ‘clear risk’ of Saudi Arabia breaching International

Humanitarian Law with the arms we sell to them. While our High Court wastes time taking the government’s words at face value, Yemenis die over its intransigence. The second will become more apparent over the next few days with the UK’s submission of a draft resolution to the UN Security council. As the pen holder on Yemen, the UK has the power to shape the clauses that the UN will be bound to discuss and implement. Jeremy Hunt has seemingly failed to use this for any good—mysteriously a clause suggesting an investigation into war crimes by an international court has been dropped following a meeting with Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. Both these actions require no military intervention to save lives. The shameful fact about the situation in Yemen is how simple it would be to reduce the suffering of innocent people. When will the people of Yemen begin to have a chance?

Opinion

Fantastic Beasts lurking in the mainstream?

Photo by Wikimedia

By Charlotte Hirst Writer

s Johnny Depp reprised his role as the villainous wizard Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts sequel last week, the controversy around his tumultuous divorce from his ex-wife Amber Heard and the domestic abuse allegations against him resurfaced into the media. In May 2016, Heard took out a restraining order against Depp after claiming he was ‘verbally and physically

abusive’. This followed her claims that Depp threw a cell phone at her and pulled her hair and struck her in his drunken rage. Photos that show bruising around her eye were submitted to the court alleging the attack. Heard dropped the case in August however, and the couple then released a statement saying their relationship was ‘intensely passionate and at times volatile, but was always bound by love’. This statement neither confirmed nor denied the previous abuse allegations. Harry Potter author J.K Rowling responded to fans’ concerns about Depp’s casting mid-2017. Her website’s statement briefly acknowledged the controversy and fan’s concerns, but ultimately defended the casting decision regardless. ‘Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but [are] genuinely

happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies’. Depp’s Fantastic Beasts co-star Ezra Miller however, struggled to defend him according to the Independent: ‘Ezra Miller claimed that the cast was not consulted about Johnny Depp having a starring role in the film.’ In an interview with Playboy magazine, Miller responded when asked about Rowling’s controversial decision not to re-cast Depp’s role: ‘No, none of us were consulted,’ he said. ‘None of us knew’. Despite Miller’s discomfort with Depp’s presence in the film, his professionalism never wavered in his treatment of the latter at any stage. It is the film’s director David Yates who has defended Depp’s return to the sequel in the most active and controversial way. He went as far to completely dismiss Heard’s allegations as ‘one person who took a pop at him and claimed something’ and even insinuated that

Depp’s talent and prominence within Hollywood should be enough to overlook and disregard a serious allegation such as this.‘What you have to remember about Johnny is that [he is an] extraordinary talent, and that talent never goes away’. Yates’ comments dangerously insinuate that talent and power are factors enough to excuse any inconvenient or negative press coverage of an actor. In Depp’s case this seems to be true to a certain extent. There is of course the question of whether the actor’s absence from the U.S. portion of the film’s promo tour is at all deriving from his guilt or lack thereof. Simultaneously, his recent appearance on the Graham Norton show in the U.K. reveals the respective country’s attitudes to accountability. Has he been advised by producers and executives to avoid the American media spotlight as opposed to its

European counterpart? Is there a strengthened attitude regarding accountability in the U.S. due to the fact that it was the birth country of the ‘#Me Too’ movement and of cracking down on powerful men abusing their power and position? Has Depp then been socially pardoned in this country, perhaps due to Rowling’s fame and prominence automatically securing him public approval? The takeaway from Depp’s continued presence in such a prominent film franchise is the question of accountability within Hollywood. Are we more willing to sweep allegations under the rug for the sake of profits? Regardless, this is not an indictment of Depp or a comment on his guilt or innocence, but rather a chance to posit the question of whether it is morally right to give a platform to those individuals who have been accused of such physical violence and abuse. Are we in the U.K. too quick to forgive and forget?

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Interview

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

Interview with Feminist Society on Carl Benjamin

Photo by Fibonacci Blue | Flickr

By Maisie Lee Newspaper Opinion Editor Interview by Molly Hope Editor-in-Chief

KC Liberty Union has invited the 39-year-old youtuber Carl Benjamin to deliver his talk on ‘Populism in a Changing West’. The scheduled visit of the figure has created substantial amount of turmoil on campus over the past week. Opinions have remained divisive, with some socities describing his ideologies as racist, misogynist, anti-Semitic, and Islamophobic. Question was raised on whether the University and the student society should platform his views on a university campus that must ensure safe and tolerant environment to all students. The UKC Liberty has stood by the value of ‘free speech’ which was also the ground the University Executive Group (EG) has granted the society’s request upon (Education Act No.2 of the University Charter), as opposed to the concern and objection expressed by Kent Union and various groups of students. To investigate further into student opinion that opposes Liberty Union’s commitment to bringing the speaker to its members, InQuire has interviewed

UKC Feminist society about ‘incorrect’ ideas to ‘young and or others’ views be heard. Benjamin’s visit to campus and mostly undiscerning audience’. This interview for example, the concepts of ‘free speech’ Feminist Society stressed we didn’t actually have the and ‘platforming radical the difference between free right to be here, but because ideologies’. speech and right to platform. InQuire has chosen to use its UKC Feminist Society is ‘There’s a responsibility to any platform to promote our ideas, one of the student groups discourse or idea that people we are being heard. This is that expressed their concerns ‘choose’ to platform. Liberty the implication of platforming initially along with multiple Union ultimately holds the an idea, and it entails student/non-student responsibility to Benjamin’s responsibilities’ communities in Kent including words being delivered on They also mentioned that UKC Jewish Society and Liberty Union neglects their Kent Anti-Racism network. responsibility to comply The society has expressed with making the campus a their deep regret over Liberty safe space for all students Union’s decision to invite regardless of their identities. Carl Benjamin as one of ‘Liberty Union’s decision their keynote speakers. to invite Benjamin is They recognise completely reductive Benjamin as a and they remove any threat to specifically sense of care from women, Muslims, their decisions’, Jews, and other says the Feminist minor identities. The Society. They also society referred to pointed out how the Benjamin’s previous event does not take renditions such Jewish students into as his GamerGate account, considering harassment the recent painting of Photo by UKC Liberty Union | Facebook campaign that Neo-Nazi graffiti on campus targeted women, and inviting an ‘anti-Semite particularly women of colour, who holds the same view his previous statement towards campus, because people are point as what was up there on the Labour MP Jess Philips, ‘I held accountable of who [they] the wall of Eliot’. The society wouldn’t even rape you’, and invite on [their] platform while believes in freedom of speech, his anti-Semitic conspiracy they are inviting the speaker and that a good balance of theories. Because the figure down to a potentially wider left- and right-wing opinions is stands at the forefront of the audience’, says the Feminist healthy; hate speech however, emerging bond between the Society. cannot be protected under the far-right and social media ‘Just because you have the value of free speech because platforms like Youtube, the right to speak, that doesn’t they are threatening and simply society conveyed its concern mean you are automatically ‘cannot be tolerated within the over the figure spreading given the right to stand on law’ controversial and politically a platform and have your The society has condemned

Photo by Wikimedia Commons

Kent Union’s response to both the Carl Benjamin talk and the recent painting of the neo-Nazi symbol found outside Eliot College. They believe the Union has treated the circumstances as one-time incidents which were not looked into properly, and the body seemed to be ‘more worried about protecting their image than protecting welfare of the students’. The University itself has not remained responsive to valid concerns expressed by the students either, says Feminist Society. As the University continues to host heated discussions over the subtle borderline between the freedom of speech and platforming ‘hateful’ ideologies, Liberty Union’s invitation to Carl Benjamin projected clear division of opinion among the students. While the freedom of speech is a sacred value that accommodates pluralism and fruitful debate across different viewpoints, the recent rise of the far-right and platforming of controversial ideologies clearly has clearly raised concern among the different groups. The University and Kent Union both hold mandate to address such pertinent apprehension demonstrated by the students. See our website, InQuire Live, for the Marxism Society’s take on Carl Benjamin and his recent talk.

Lifestyle

Waking up in winter - some useful tips I

t’s that time of year again. The nights are long, the weather’s cold, and Christmas can’t come quick enough. Over the coming winter season, we’re looking at an average of 8 to 9 hours of daylight. Gone are the days of summer where you were awoken by birds singing and the sun’s rays streaming in through the curtains. Enter winter: where your alarm becomes your enemy and the sun seems like a distant dream. As much as I’m sure everyone would love to stay in their cosy warm beds, 9 am classes or work could mean you have to wake up and face the day before the sun has risen. If so, here are some tips that you may find useful in waking up when it’s still dark:

•Get enough sleep:

By Maxine Meixner Writer

woken up by your alarm. This can lead to that nasty foggy feeling in your brain when you wake up (sleep inertia), and make your bed seem super warm and cosy as your body temperature drops when you go back to sleep. •Tip: Leave your phone on the other side of the room so you’re forced to get up to turn off your alarm. Then stay up. •Let there be light: As soon as you wake, switch on your light to help you wake up completely, and so you’re not be tempted to go back to sleep. Better yet, invest in a wake-up light which slowly comes on at the time you set it to, so when your alarm does go off, your room is lit with a gentle glow, making you feel more awake. You can get them online or in any department store, and while they initially may be a little costly, they last for years and are incredible in helping you wake up in the morning.

There are so many demands on our time that sleep is often side-lined. We are focusing on assignments, socialising, or perhaps just •App-solutely watching Netflix. But waking up: getting a decent amount Technology is on of sleep is crucial your side with this for waking up and one. There are feeling ready to loads of apps start your day for both Apple even in the dark. and Android We treat sleep phones like a luxury that track sometimes. your sleep Your body needs patterns to recover from and wake the previous day you up at the and prepare for appropriate the next. In winter time in your especially, as colder sleep cycle. This days result in excess is so that you energy being used by start to feel more Photo by Tim Foster| Unsplash the body to keep warm. alert and ready to Everyone is different, but face the day when you it is advised that the average open your eyes. They can adult needs between 6-8 hours also monitor your volume levels of sleep a night in order to function and how restless you are in the night. properly. Some can even tell if you snore.

•Don’t snooze:

Turns out that hitting that snooze button when your alarm goes off is self-sabotage. Especially if you don’t have a regular sleeping pattern. This is because waking up and then dozing off creates a cycle that confuses your body – it doesn’t know when you actually want to wake up. If you keep going back to sleep, your body thinks you are going to be sleeping for longer than just 10 or 20 minutes. It will start its natural sleep cycle again – only to be

•Drink water:

Sleeping is like a mini period of hibernation. You lose a lot of fluid through the night which can result in you feeling sluggish when you wake up. Drinking a glass of water straight away can help to alleviate this and kickstart your metabolism for the day ahead. Whether you decide to give one or all of these tips a try, it is guaranteed to help you feel better about mornings and help you beat those winter blues.

Visit Covent Garden at L

ondon is one of the most beautiful however, Covent Garden won’t cities in the world, its allure disappoint. In addition to the only increasing as December comes traditional stores, you can also find around. During the festivities, the the Disney Store, Mac Cosmetics, and bright lights, winter cheer, and Chanel. Whether you’re searching for vibrantly decorated store windows a gift for a loved one or for yourself, transform the capital into a city full you’ll find the perfect ‘something’ right of joy. No place more so than Covent here. Garden. Outside, in the square, the Imagine this: You’ve just stepped entertainment is breathtaking. Street out of Covent Garden tube station, acts include magicians, musicians, the beloved, historic buildings acrobats, and actors all performing of Central London are along the cobbled streets. The draped with bright lights. interactive performances You feel the aura of allow you to become Christmas around part of the show and you already. The thrust you further sound of a choir into the magic draws you of it all. You into Covent become part of Garden’s the Christmas centre. Beside wonder that a group of is Covent carol singers Garden. stands a If hunger fifty-foot strikes you Christmas mustn’t tree, worry, as sparkling the area is and also known shining, for its wrapped in restaurants. lights and Whether baubles. you want You’re then a familiar engulfed by chain such as the sweet Wagamama’s and spicy or an aroma of independent mulled wine, one of a kind attracting you to restaurant, a stall in the Apple Covent Garden has Photo by Loco Steve | Flickr Market, brewing a a plethora of choice. fresh batch. Personally, Chez After a drink or two, Antoinette tops them you head over to the all. The French restaurant indoor Jubilee Market, which is located on the ground on a weekend is resplendent with floor of the Apple Market, immersed handcrafted goodies. You discover in the center of the plaza – the everything from ancient compasses to perfect place to take in the beautiful candles, lotions, and scarfs. The great decorations and atmosphere of the thing about markets like these is that square. Considering it’s in the heart everything you buy is one of a kind and of the capital, it is very affordable – you are able to support independent especially for students. business owners. If you feel the need to take a breather Moving out of the market and into from our Canterbury bubble, hop on the shops feels like stepping back a fast train to London, three stops on in time. With centuries old stores the Piccadilly line and you’ve made it; – such as Pollock’s Toyshop which Covent Garden, a breath of fresh air – first opened its doors in 1856, you tinged with mulled wine, of course. can appreciate craftsmanship that By Sophia Christodoulou has stood the test of time. If you are Writer looking for something contemporary

Surviving a long-distance relationship at university

eciding whether to enter into a long-distance relationship can be a difficult decision, and maintaining one even more so. Nevertheless, some relationships are worth holding on to, so below is a guide on how to navigate long-distance before, during and after the separation.

Before

•Openly discuss the situation and ensure both of you want to go ahead with this. Long-distance relationships test the strength of a union and if both individuals are not fully invested, it can easily fall apart. Ensuring that both people in the relationship are willing to embark on this challenge is imperative and if there are doubts it is best they are discussed sooner rather than later. •Be clear about expectations. Are you going to call each other at the end of every day or only on weekends? Are you going to meet up at least every three months or only at the end of the academic year? Setting out your expectations of the relationship ensures both individuals know what is required of them. This can also prevent needless confusion and disagreements in the future. •Be clear about boundaries. This may seem obvious, however, different couples approach boundaries

differently. Some may agree to a strictly monogamous relationship, whilst others may prefer an open one. Discuss situations such as dancing closely with other people at parties or going out with individuals one-on-one rather than in a group. These things may seem trivial, but are best to be absolutely clear on before separating. •Have something that reminds you of them. This one is optional but can definitely go a long way when things get rough. Hanging up a picture of the both of you together, keeping their sweater or jewellery that they bought you, or anything else. This can help you to feel close to your partner even when they are miles away.

During

•Keep and respect ‘tele-dates’. When you live near to each other it may seem trivial when postponing or cancelling phone calls, however for long-distance, these are much more precious. Ensure that when a date or time is set to skype or call, it is kept. Cancelling frequently can leave your partner feeling forgotten and neglected. •Be honest during your time apart. Oftentimes people believe that hiding the truth may protect their partner, but usually, those close to you can tell when something’s not right. Maintain

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

the respect in the relationship and always be honest - if you feel like it’s not quite working, it’s best to discuss it openly, as moving on without telling your partner will lead to a more painful and disrespectful break-up. •Make the most of your time together. When you do get the chance to see your partner, it’s easy to fall back into an old pattern, and perhaps argue, however try not to let this consume all of your time. Every minute is precious and it’s best to focus on spending quality time together and making happy memories rather than fighting. •Communicate like you’re still geographically close. If your partner messages you to let you know when they get home after a night out, or you talk about new movies together, continue to do this. Dramatically changing the dynamics of a relationship may create additional, unnecessary space. If you would normally let your partner know when you’re going out with friends, or travelling to another county for a trip, continue to do so.

After

Although some long-distance

Coping with a break-up Y

ou’ve just broken up with your partner. Your head is spinning, your whole world feels like it’s been cracked in two and you have no idea what to do next. First, I’m sorry that you’re hurting like this, and I know exactly how terrible you feel. I know nothing I say is going to completely fix what you’re feeling, but I hope some of these tips may help guide you in the right direction. •Cry It’s perfectly normal to feel terrible after a breakup, especially if it comes as a shock. Cry all you want, for as long as you need. It’s often cathartic and helps release the pain and grief you’re feeling. •Keep busy It can be so easy to hole up your room doing nothing but wallowing and wondering where it all went wrong. As hard as it is, you need to get up and go about your normal routine. Go to your lectures or the gym, and keep spending time with your friends. It may feel like there’s a huge gap in your life, and that’s going to hurt, but keeping yourself busy will help distract you, and help you start to rebuild yourself. •Look after yourself You may want to gorge on every type of junk food you can get your hands on

or drown your sorrows in alcohol. Both feel like great short-term solutions, however you need to look after yourself. Make sure to get enough sleep, drink lots of water (especially if you’ve been crying) and eat regularly and as healthily as possible. It’ll make you feel better in the long run. •Avoid the obvious temptation I understand the feeling. You’re drunk, or alone, or angry, or some combination of the three and it begins to seem like a really good idea to call your ex. Don’t do this. Likelihood is, if you broke up, it was for a good reason. You need the space away, and talking to them is either going to complicate things or make it a whole lot worse. Save yourself the pain, you’ll thank yourself later. •Don’t look for a replacement Right now, all you may want is someone to fill the hole that your ex left behind. Rebound relationships may be a temporary solution to mask your pain, but without processing it, you’ll never be able to move on properly. You may be lonely, but now is the time to work on yourself and not on a new relationship. •Take your time Only you can recognise when it truly stops hurting. I know it doesn’t feel

like it at the beginning, but the pain will lessen with each passing day. You’ll gradually begin to feel more like yourself, however you need to be patient. Appreciate every little victory that you win. They may not feel like much by themselves, but acknowledging them together shows you that you are one step closer to recovery. •Seek help If everything feels like it’s becoming too much and you think it may be more than you can handle, don’t be afraid to

Lifestyle

Photo by Paul Hanaoka| Unsplash

relationships are for an indefinite period, most of them are temporary and there may be some work to do after you have returned. •Accept that you and your partner have changed. People grow - although it’s hard to accept, you may have missed some life-changing moments and events in your partner’s life. In addition, your partner’s views and opinions may have changed during the time you were away. Taking the time to get to know the people you have both become is imperative. Be open-minded and willing to listen to the things both of you have learned and encountered. •Discuss any situations that may have put a strain on the relationship – discussing these may be difficult, but is necessary. What happens at university does not always stay at university and your partner would much rather hear what happened from you than from anyone By Lauren Innis else. Writer

By Emily Allen Writer seek professional help. Mental health is something many students struggle with, so there are plenty of services available if you feel you may need it. The university offers a well-being service - check in with them, they are always happy to help. Moving on may be one of the hardest experiences you ever have to endure, but I can promise you that no matter how impossible it feels at the moment, you will feel normal again.

Photo by Alex Boyd| Unsplash

Lifestyle

#SayNoToPalmOil

s December closes in, Christmas adverts are taking over our screens, not all, however, have made it to our televisions. Iceland’s campaign has been banned from airing. It has breached advertising policies, being deemed ‘too political’. This year, the supermarket partnered up with Greenpeace to highlight the issues concerning the obtainment of palm oil. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are all countries that are suffering at the hands of palm

Photo by Buisness Insider

oil production. The industry is connected to environmental issues such as deforestation, habitat degradation and animal cruelty. According to the World Wildlife Fund, every hour a segment of the rainforest - the size of 300 football pitches – is cleared for palm oil production. Because of this, more animals are being added to the critical endangerment and extinction list. In the last twenty years, 90% of

orangutans’ habitat have been destroyed. The UN described it as ‘a conservation emergency.’ Perhaps this is why Iceland chose the orangutan to be the icon for their campaign against palm oil manufacturing. Many have wondered why this advert is considered political. The message is an environmental one after-all. Iceland have collaborated with Greenpeace, an environmental organisation that had to prove that it was not a political party according to the 2003 Communications Act, but, unfortunately, were unable to provide sufficient evidence. This campaign has, arguably, been more effective than it would have been had it not been banned from being broadcast on television. The publicity across multiple platforms – whether it be through social media or word of mouth – has highlighted the need for change. Iceland has demonstrated that we cannot keep extracting palm oil like we do, when there are so many other alternatives are available. This newly popularised issue has resulted in a petition banning the sale of

Food

Photo by Buisness Insider

products containing unsustainably sourced palm oil in the UK. As of the 14th of November 2018, the signatures stand at just over 60,000. If it reaches 100,000 signatures within the next three days, the issue will be considered as a debate in parliament. It is our opportunity to change the world in which we live. We can save our planet, and the animals on it. All we must do is speak. If you feel strongly about the banning of unsustainable palm oil production, then head to https://petition.parliament.uk and make a change. By Sophia Christodoulou Writer

Canterbury Christmas Market A

s an avid believer that Christmas begins in November, I attended the Christmas lights switch on event on the 16th, and have been regularly attending the market since, getting in the mood for Christmas. Wandering around for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by the range of stalls. Christmas markets I’ve visited in the past have often been a little kitschy – mostly a mix of food and standard Christmas ornaments, calendars, and clothing. This is why I was surprised to see several stalls representing local businesses, many of which sparked my interest, such as the Kentish cider stall. The most recognizable parts of Christmas markets, I believe, are the food stalls. The scent of cinnamon, oranges, mulled wine and hot chocolate are all signature parts of Christmas, and all present at the Canterbury market. The donut stalls, Philly cheesesteak stand, and the Bratwurst Haus make it a challenge to walk through the market without getting hungry. There is also a great seating area behind the Bratwurst Haus (limited space) with wooden benches, a little cover from the wind, and live music. There are several places to get mulled wine, but if that’s not to your taste, there is also mulled cider available, both alcoholic and without, so there’s opportunity for everyone to be involved in the Christmas tradition.

My absolute favourite food that I tried, was from ‘The Naughty Egg’. Enticed by the word ‘Halloumi’, it was great to see a stand with more than one vegetarian option, something which one could say the Christmas market often lacks. I ordered the Grilled Halloumi burger, which included smashed avocado, cage-free egg, aioli and rocket, all encased in a toasted brioche bun. Not expecting wonders from a £6 burger, I sat down with my friend and took a bite, only half paying attention. Full of flavors, yolk oozing down my finger, I fought to take several bites more, before I had even swallowed. With the saltiness of halloumi, softness of the egg and the tangy cream of the aioli, it is an understatement to say that this burger was a dream come true. Enticed by the flavors, I finished the burger in under five minutes – I just couldn’t get enough. The Naughty Egg has a permanent location in Canterbury, at 72 Castle Street, so if you don’t get the chance to try one of their burgers at the Christmas stall, I would definitely recommend going over there and trying one of their eggy goodies. If after one of their burgers, or perhaps a Bratwurst from the Bratwurst Haus, you are still hungry for some festive fun, then I would definitely recommend to head over to one of the hot chocolate

stands. I absolutely love the display from ‘One in the oven doughnuts’, where not only is there a gorgeous selection of unique donuts and flavors, such as Candy Cane Kronut, apple crumble and chocolate orange, but you can also have a hot chocolate, ladled out of a tub, giving it a traditional feel. According to their website (canterburychristmasmarket.co.uk), new stalls are being added every day, so it’s worth going more than once to make sure you don’t miss anything. This likely means that the market will get busier as we get closer to Christmas, so those

who aren’t a By India Bushell fan of crowds Writer should go during the day, to avoid the worst of it. Going in the evening, however, is definitely more atmospheric. Although the crowds can be stressful, it does also mean that the market seems warm, welcoming, and pleasantly noisy. Even if you have no intention of buying anything, the Christmas lights make for a nice walk, bringing a silver lining to the sun setting at four every day. There is no downside to getting in the Christmas mood early.

Photo by Canterbury Christmas Market| Facebook

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

Food

Dolce Vita: Campus’s most underrated café? By Ellie Macieira-Fielding Newspaper Food Sub-Editor

iding at the back of Keynes College lies the quiet café Dolce Vita. Although quiet isn’t exactly what one pictures as ‘student life’, we still need a place to relax and recover from the previous night’s antics. Whether you need a coffee, a quick lunch or a place to study that has a little atmosphere, Dolce Vita can provide. The first thing that surprised me when I walked in to Dolce Vita was the view. The back of the Café showcases the beautiful scenery of Canterbury and the nature surrounding it. The café is run by Canterbury Catering, who are currently working on more vegetarian options throughout campus. The menu, therefore, has recently

Monday Closed Tuesday 10am–6pm Wednesday 10am–6pm Thursday 10am–6pm Friday 10am–6pm Saturday 10am–6pm Sunday 11am–4pm

undergone some changes, giving it a wider selection of cuisines. Although at first glance the selection seemed quite random, it does have something for everyone. New dishes include ‘Beef Ragu’, ‘Steamed Buns’ and ‘Pan-fried squid and chorizo’. They also have a specials board that includes ‘catch of the day’, something I thought was very unique for a campus café. If you’re a fish fan, it might be worth a try. Sometimes it’s more difficult to get the simple dishes right, so I ordered the Beef Ragu. This proved to be true because the food itself was subpar. The food came in less than ten minutes which was impressive. The presentation

Lifestyle

was beautiful and very appealing, a meal deal in essentials, save time and and the portion size was perfect. The get it at Dolce Vita. beef itself was very tender, however, The staff were friendly and helpful, the flavor was its downfall. It was and when I wanted to order a coffee the bland and very average. Even an waitress reeled off the countless extra pinch of salt and options of syrup from pepper couldn’t save memory. They really it. do have every syrup The prices of you can think of, the menu all therefore if the averaged food didn’t around impress you, £7.00, the coffee which at certainly first, I will. thought After wasn’t finishing bad, but my meal, I don’t I had think it was originally worth what I planned received. to leave Overall straight away, the dish was however there enjoyable but was something Photo by Ellie Macieira-Fielding a little plain, so if about this café that you don’t have a very was very calm and adventurous pallet you might welcoming, and I couldn’t actually enjoy it. help but stay for an extra hour just to In case the prices scare you a little or admire the view, have a coffee, and do you just don’t want to have a hot meal some work. Although I didn’t think that from the menu, it’s worth mentioning the food was mind-blowing, I do think that they do have a huge fridge with a that the café is underrated as a whole. wide selection of sandwiches’, drinks When you have a free lunchtime, take and snacks. Rather than queue up for the opportunity to spend it there.

55 P @th alace S eche t, Ca eses nter hopc bury ante CT1 rbur 2DY y

Entertainment

Music

Simulation Theory Evelyn Glennie by Muse

By Peter Coleman Writer

ne of the biggest battles in rock music is to transition successfully to electronic music whilst at the same time retaining notoriety in modern rock circles. Many a rock band has taken up the electronic mantle only to be hit with accusations of pandering to a larger audience. Although this album is sonically different from the stripped back and somewhat skeletal hard rock sound of previous effort, ‘Drones’, Muse manage the transition by retaining their core identity as they drift into unfamiliar waters. Whereas bands like Radiohead changed their landscape reinventing their original sound, Muse embellish their new sound with what made them great: chunky guitar riffs with Matt Bellamy’s tortured, operatic vocals rooting the listener in place, reminding them that this is still the good old Muse they know and love. ‘Simulation Theory’ is forward marching with an eye to the nostalgic excesses of their past work. This can be found for example in the opening track ‘Algorithm’ in which Bellamy essentially breaks down the (in my opinion somewhat nihilist) theory that life is an illusion and all part of some grandiose computer program. This track, in particular, is very reminiscent of the work Muse did on ‘The 2nd Law’, blending classic and symphonic elements and a tribal-sounding artificial drum beat which runs like a pulse throughout the track. The elements of fusion on this album also come into their own with the track ‘Propaganda’ in which an acoustic slide guitar solo is accompanied by a series of electronic, synthesized burbles and is held together by a simplistic pulse from a drum machine. The album is riddled with sci-fi

references and none more potent than the eye-catching cover art seemingly echoing the film posters of ‘Ready Player One’ and ‘Blade Runner’ – the running theme through both of which is virtual reality (one of the core principles of simulation theory). Although ‘Simulation Theory’ is a progressive record, the song-writing is distinctly downsized compared to the excesses of previous albums resulting in a clutch of far more disciplined songs, a product of Bellamy’s new bottom-up approach focusing on the consistency of individual songs rather than the overall integrity of the album. There are glimmers of brilliance on this album. The track ‘Something Human’ stands as a genuine, heartfelt piece about the pangs of homesickness and the endless countdown until Bellamy can wend his way homewards. It is intimate, acoustically driven, the crooning vocals feel final as if Bellamy has stepped down off his electronic pedestal and put his heart on his sleeve. It is easy to envision the Photo by Muse band burnt out from perpetual touring and pining to set foot on British soil. The track ‘Thought Contagion’, an impressive, towering number explores Richard Dawkins’ theory that a simple idea can spread faster than even the most lethal of viruses, hence the lyric: “you’ve been bitten by a true believer”, is reinforced by the football-chant-like hook. The track ‘Dig Down’ is equally as anthemic, building slowly from a sinister series of electronic pulses towards a chorus line so cathartic it will have the listener fumbling in their pockets for their neglected lighters. Bellamy uses it as a call to arms to mobilise people to root for what matters in life. Overall, Simulation Theory is not the most cohesive, experimental or even the most ambitious album to roll off Muse’s discography. Though Muse’s shift to electronic is more prominent, they still retain the ability to command our attention.

and Trio HLK:

Jazz meets percussion at The Gulbenkian

By Abbey Findeis Writer

n unlikely grouping, Trio HLK and Evelyn Glennie embody the rich culture and exciting performance at the heart of the Canterbury Festival’s ethos. During the electrifying performance, world-renowned and successful percussionist Evelyn Glennie announced rather amusingly that working with Trio HLK had: “vastly taken her out of her comfort zone”. A tall feat for a musical genius such as herself. The Scottish-born star lost her hearing at the age of 12. From then on, she has been faced with multiple challenges, yet overcome them all. Arguably the most significant challenge is the ability to feel music through vibrations in different parts of her body. A quality which allowed her to improvise her own work with Trio HLK and create a powerful and unique ensemble on Friday 2nd November. Much of the concert was devoted to tracks featured on Trio HLK's album ‘Standard Time.’ An album which seeks to deconstruct music and present it in a modern way, a way which is perceived as ‘standard’ today reiterated in the album title. The concert began with a more lulling tone, with soft keys executed by pianist Richard Harrold and more chiming than drumming from Richard Kass, while Ant Law maintained an electric presence throughout. The audience listened and watched keenly anticipating the arrival of Evelyn Glennie.

Welcomed on by applause and a full house Evelyn Glennie was all smiles, as she set herself up at the end of the stage. Settling into the performance with ease, her percussion instruments added shocks to the previously subtle tunes. Gathering speed, the Trio HLK members burst into life. In tune with their music, they performed animatedly, displaying passion and dedication. In a contagious manner, the well-dressed audience began to bob and shift to the music. The atmosphere was thrilling, and the scene somewhat resembled a wealthy person’s rave. A scene cut short by a brief intermission, which audience members spent discussing the enchanting feel of the concert. Upon returning, Evelyn Glennie performed a simple solo and Trio HLK performed a few tracks alone in perhaps their highest gear. Drummer Richard Kass played effortlessly and strong throughout leaving no drum base unturned, his distinctive sound dominating the night. In all, Evelynn Glennie kept up an enchanting appearance as she waved her arms around and created subtle sounds, in all contributed a whimsical feel to the night. Meeting audience members at the end of the night Trio HLK were approachable and Evelyn Glennie a delight beyond words. She is welcoming and sweet, her communication effortless. The concert was unique experience. It was a concert suitable for music enthusiast of all genres. Even if you’re not you may just enjoy the unusual twists and turns that is a Trio HLK and Evelyn Glennie concert.

Photo by Canterbury Festival

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

Entertainment

The Chilling Adventures of a Controversial Lawsuit

By Holly Essex Writer

or many people, myself included, Sabrina the Teenage Witch was an important part of our formative years. Finding that a remake was on the cards evoked a series of emotions - would it be able to live up to the legacy that the original series had left behind? It became apparent that, although sharing a name with the titular character, this Netflix original would be making its own mark on the world with a dark reimagining of the struggle between Sabrina’s (Kiernan Shipka) half-mortal and half-witch sides, giving rise to a new sort of comedic horror exceedingly different to its predecessor. The series begins with a fairly innocuous view into the lives of four friends living in Greendale, one of which is 15-year old Sabrina Spellman and her boyfriend, Harvey Kinkle (Ross Lynch), both of whom are recognisable characters from the original show. The seemingly mild setting of their evening soon takes a horrific turn on her 16th birthday when Sabrina must take part in a ‘dark baptism’ which involves her writing her name in the Book of the

Beast and, in essence, selling her soul satanism and how these two ideas, for to the Devil. To do so would mean that the show, are conflated with the general she completely sacrifices her notion that witches must sell their relationships with her souls to Satan in exchange mortal friends and for power, prestige and submits to studying youth. This change, at the Academy whilst giving the of the Unseen reboot its own Arts, as sense of self, opposed to has resulted in her normal a substantial high backlash school. within The The grisly Satanic murder Temple, and a central possession feature of the of her controversy, teacher threatening a is a quick lawsuit against reminder the creators that this series of the series for will be dark in appropriating comparison to the their design for the Photo by Netflix light-hearted sitcom statue of Baphomet of the 90s. poised in the lobby of the An important difference is Academy. Traditionally drawn seen in the focus on witchcraft and with a woman’s chest, the Temple

recreated the image with a male figure, and subsequently are suing Netflix and Warner Bros for copyright infringement, trademark violation and for propagating the connection between this statue and a cult known for cannibalism and occult practices. Co-founder Lucien Greaves alleged in a series of tweets, that the use of such a recognisable image within a world centred around Satan is problematic for the reputation of The Satanic Temple and is not something they want to be associated with them. Personally, the connection between the statue and the organisation is not something I initially thought of or was even aware of until the story about the lawsuit came to light. The statue, whilst sitting in the Academy, is not used much within the show and does not take part in anything particularly gory or dark and actually goes unnoticed for the majority of the season. Whilst understood that for The Satanic Temple it is a clear representation of an intrinsic part of their organisation, it is less clear for the rest of the world and so begs the question: is the lawsuit really worth it?

Narcos: Mexico Season 1 Review B

By Tyler Rigby Writer

ack when ‘Narcos’ revealed it was going to continue as a series beyond Pablo Escobar I had my doubts and was thankfully proven wrong. Then, when Narcos revealed it was moving away from the Columbian cartels and into Mexico, I again had my doubts. I am very happy to report that once more I have been proven wrong. ‘Narcos: Mexico’ is a fast-paced rollercoaster of tension that essentially details the rise of the Drug Enforcement Administration in South America, the creation of the first cartels and the beginning of the drug war across the Americas. As grand and epic as that may sound, this season is really anchored by the building conflict between two men. Upcoming drug kingpin, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo (Diego Luna) and DEA operative, Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena (Michael Peña) completely steal the show this season, which is an impressive feat considering they share very minimal scenes together. Gallardo is by far the most sympathetic antagonist

Narcos has produced (Escobar may have had layers but he was always the ‘bogeyman’ to other people and the Cali Cartel were just representations of the upper class) and Luna plays him perfectly. He’s a far more cerebral man

work with here. Camarena starts off as the stereotypical ‘Boy Scout’ cop that goes to a new precinct and doesn’t fit in because his co-workers are so lax. But it doesn’t take long for Peña to really pull back the layers of this character as

Photo by Netflix

than his predecessors and for once we really get to see how a drug empire was built up from scratch and all the dangers that came with it giving Luna a lot to

Camarena begins to hunt Gallardo and almost becomes obsessed with him in the process. The two men are linked by their untapped ambition and make for

a very captivating parallel across the season. Other notable standouts include Alyssa Diaz as Mika, Camerana’s endearing and supportive wife, she brings a lot of heart to the show especially in its third act. Tenoch Huerta as rebellious and slightly unhinged gangster Rafael Caro Quintero and he really relishes every second. Finally, Joaquín Cosio plays the bitter drug lord Don Nesto who at first just seems like one more in a long line of villains. Cosio however, brings a humanity I wasn’t expecting and aside from Gallardo and Camarena, Nesto probably has the most interesting arc of the season. The show is slightly repetitive however. It’s a vicious cycle of drug dealers killing drug dealers, corrupt police, an array of charismatic characters talking to each other about money and cocaine. That is all present in this season butit doesn’t get stale because it is history. Narcos: Mexico will continue to shock and surprise you just as much as the first three seasons did. Mexico is a more than worthy addition in the Narcos franchise.

Feature

The Great Acceleration: By Emma Leach Newspaper Science Editor

‘

The Great Acceleration’ is a period of time within the history of our planet hallmarked by the rate at which human activity is having an effect on the planet. It particularly relates to the period of time between the end of the Second World War and the present day. In that time, there have been huge accelerations in population size, GDP growth, water usage, fuel usage, developments in technology, ecosystem degradation, tropical forest loss, and numerous other rapid changes. Essentially, it describes a period in history whereby the success

of humankind has been detrimental to the health of the natural resources on which humankind depends. The true extent to which we are harming our planet, has never been more fully understood. Progress towards sustainable change has not always been fast or easy. 2018 has been a busy year for discussing the state of the Earth, full of both small victories and dire warnings.

Plummeting biodiversity The Living Planet report published recently by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) provides a damning picture on the impact that humans have had on the other species that also call Earth home. One of many of the shocking statistics presented by the report is that of a 60% decline in vertebrate wildlife populations in the last 40 years.

An extensive analysis of the dramatic changes humans A 60% decline in 40 years is a shocking amount, but this figure masks even more worrying statistics. In that same time frame, South and Central America experienced an 89% loss in species population. The Freshwater Living Planet Index showed an 83% decline since 1970. So, why do we need biodiversity? Biodiversity is a fantastic indicator of the underlying ecosystem health, and we truly rely on healthy ecosystems and thriving biodiversity in all aspects of our lives. Nature provides everything from our food and building materials, to the regulation of our weather systems and our air quality. It provides our energy and the active ingredients for our pharmaceuticals. Nature props up all of our economies, and in terms of services, conservative estimates have valued services provided at $125 trillion every single year, a value that increases year on year with increasing demand and climatic pressures. On top of that, nature provides beauty, inspiration, places for recreation, and time in nature has been proven to be enormously beneficial to our mental health. There have been discussions surrounding the possibility of prescribing walks in the forest as a form of treatment in the future. It is already a practice in Japan, called shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’. The greatest threats highlighted in the WWF report are that of agriculture and overexploitation. Despite biocapacity increasing by 27% in the past 50 years due to changes in land management practices and available technology, the ecological footprint of humanity has increased by 190% over the same time period. This includes grazing land, forest land, cropland and fishing grounds. Intensive agriculture is also causing soil degradation, driven by anthropogenic stressors.

Land degradation has huge economic costs attached and is estimated to reduce the welfare of 3 billion people due to 75% of terrestrial ecosystems being affected. It is in our best interests to find a better way forward. Agriculture drives deforestation, accounting for around 73% of forest conversion. This value is only likely to get larger as the demand for food grows in the future, and it is estimated that up to 70% of the remaining forests are at risk. Overexploitation is also hugely obvious when faced with both freshwater ecosystems and the open oceans. The Freshwater Living Planet Index showed an 83% decline since 1970, reflecting a decrease in both aquatic and terrestrial species which rely on these fragile ecosystems. Overfishing has caused huge population crashes around the world repeatedly since the 1970s. While many areas are not managed more effectively, there are still species that are at severe risk of overexploitation and population crashes. A meeting in Croatia in November of 2018 was held to put pressure on the EU to bring an end to a €12 million annual trade in illegal bluefin tuna which is pushing populations to the brink. It is clear from this report that much more needs to be done to protect the world’s ecosystems, both for the benefit of humans and other species which are dependent on them. Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson has suggested that 50% of the planet needs protected status to halt the current level of biodiversity loss, which is comparable to the rates seen during historical

mass extinctions. At the moment that figure stands at 15% of terrestrial land, and 7% of the oceans. Philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss recently committed in a letter to the New York Times, to donate $1 billion over the next decade to protect more.

Climate change The report from the WWF comes just weeks after a special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning about the global impacts if global warming exceeds 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels. The current target set by the Paris climate agreement is for no more than a 2oC rise above pre-industrial temperatures, at the moment we are not on target to reach that goal. The report from the IPCC highlights that 1.5oC would be a better target if we really want to see less dramatic climate events, keep our coral reefs and sustain Arctic sea ice. It is a warning that urgent slashes need to be made to carbon dioxide emissions within the next decade, and that carbon capture may also be needed in the future. The greatest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions is the energy industry. A report published in 2017 by The Carbon Majors Database found that just 100 fossilfuel companies contribute 71% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If there was ever an argument for urgent investment into the sustainable energy industry, this report should be it. Thankfully, Governments are starting to listen, with big emitters like China taking steps to invest in renewables.

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

Our impact on the Earth have caused to the planet, and what we must do to save it The human population problem The current global population is 7.6 billion people. At the turn of the millennium it was 6.1 billion people. In the 1950s it was 2.6 billion people. In the time since Queen Elizabeth II was born, it has increased by 380%. These are baffling numbers when you realise it took until the year 1804 to reach the first billion people, and the rest has ballooned in the years since the industrial revolution. The problem with a booming population, is the pressure this puts on natural resources. Every member of this population requires food, clean water, materials for shelter, and resources with which to produce energy, to name just the basics. Coupling this with rapid economic growth and higher standards of living, results in a global population that increasingly asks for more from natural resources. Earth overshoot day marks the day in the calendar year when the demand on natural resources exceeds that of the Earth’s capacity to renew those required natural resources. This day creeps ever earlier each year, in 1987 it fell on December the 19th, in 2018 it fell on August the 1st. There has been recent evidence that this population acceleration is slowing. A report published in the Lancet in November revealed that the overall total fertility rate has dropped by 49.4% between 1950 and 2017. There are now 2.4 livebirths per woman, compared to 4.7 livebirths per woman in 1950. The change has been attributed to fewer childhood deaths, greater access to contraception and a greater number of women in work and education. In the UK there were 1.7 livebirths per woman in 2017, which is near the average shared by other Western European countries. There are of course great variations between countries, with more economically developed countries tending to have lower fertility rates than those in less economically developed countries. Those with fertility rates lower than replacement levels will eventually see population declines, and shifts in population demographics, a pattern already experienced in Japan. Some countries such as Singapore, Russia and Israel have already adopted

pro-natalist policies in order to increase their birth rate and ease the pressures that come with an ageing population.

What action can be taken? It is easy to feel disheartened when presented with what can feel like impossibly big picture issues. And they certainly are big picture issues, arguably the greatest challenge humankind could ever face. But there are actions that individuals can take to produce change. Perhaps the biggest elephant in the room, is that of global overpopulation. Researchers from Lund university estimated that having one fewer children saves on average of 58.6 tonnes of CO2 emission each year. This is substantially higher than other more widely discussed actions such as going car-free (2.4 tonnes per year) or adopting a plant-based diet (0.8 tonnes per year). While there is evidence that people are beginning to have less children, we still live in a society which celebrates, and largely expects parenthood. Questions and incredulity often follow those who choose to remain child-free. Young women who wish to be sterilised often face hurdles to have their choice taken seriously. Maybe more rhetoric on the benefits of having fewer children will reduce the pressure on couples to have children. Food and dietary choice is an area that has certainly received much more discourse, with a surge of people turning to vegetarian and vegan diets in the last 10 years, in an effort to become more sustainable. Agriculture produces 15% of all global greenhouse emissions, and the meat industry is by far the largest contributor, particularly beef production. It has even been suggested by studies that eliminating beef from your diet can be more environmentally beneficial than giving up driving. There are of course controversies surrounding vegetarian and vegan diets, with critics concerned that they don’t always supply the correct nutrition for all people. With so many mouths to feed there are also consequences of some of these more sustainable food choices. The growing demand for quinoa has driven immense price rises in what had been the local staple in Bolivia. Poorer people can no longer afford to

eat quinoa, leading to an increased consumption in chicken and imported junk food within the country, as they have become cheaper alternatives. It is an example of how complicated food security and sustainability can be. On the whole, eating less meat and dairy, and attempting to eat locally sourced produce where possible, is widely agreed to be the more sustainable choice to make. Consumer choices and voices are a driver for change. This has been demonstrated recently by a push in the banning of single use plastics such as straws. Sometimes called the ‘Blue Planet effect’, named after the BBC documentary which spurred large scale outrage at the state of our oceans. Industry will follow consumer demand, at time of writing a banned Christmas advert from the supermarket Iceland is going viral on social media. It depicts the destruction of rainforests in SouthEast Asia for the production of palm oil, revealing that Iceland is banning palm oil from all of their own brand products. The use of palm oil is a highly complicated issue, that can never be perfectly portrayed in a TV advertisement. But it does show that the general public is hungry for sustainable change, and that companies are willing to demonstrate commitment to that. Pressure also needs to be put on Governments and policy makers. These are the people who can protect ecosystems, invest money in green

technologies, build green energy facilities and pass legislation that grants nature vital protections. Sustainability and environmental protections often take a back seat behind policies that seemingly more directly influence the economy and our welfare. But considering the value that nature brings, it is time to encourage our politicians to bring it to the fore. We are possibly the last generation that has the time to make meaningful change. It is time to speak up. The report from the WWF comes just weeks after a special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning about the global impacts if global warming exceeds 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels. The current target set by the Paris climate agreement is for no more than a 2oC rise above pre-industrial temperatures, at the moment we are not on target to reach that goal. The report from the IPCC highlights that 1.5oC would be a better target if we really want to see less dramatic climate events, keep our coral reefs and sustain Arctic sea ice. It is a warning that urgent slashes need to be made to carbon dioxide emissions within the next decade, and that carbon capture may also be needed in the future.

Entertainment

InQuire’s best & wo By InQuire Entertainment team

his year has been largely defined by unrest, uncertainty, and revolt, with indifference and centrism looking like increasingly unpopular positions. The aftermath of 2016’s populist far-right political gains and 2017’s #MeToo movement have changed the media landscape and films that reflect this. This anxiety has dominated much of Western output, even Blockbusters, whereas frivolous films like the romantic comedy ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and joyous sing-along ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ are welcome respites. The standout theme throughout much of 2018’s output was one of deep felt injury and outrage, but also the need to soften our reactions with self-care and communal comfort as shown through films as diverse as ‘22 July’, ‘Halloween’ and ‘First Reformed.’ As a result, it was also a year of cautious optimism and empowerment, with many new directors, often female or from minority backgrounds making their voices heard in spectacular fashion. Resulting in powerful and progressive trendsetters like ‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post’, ‘Apostasy’ and ‘The Breadwinner.’ Written by Hal Kitchen.

Best:

1. The Shape of Water by Eloise McCrohan ‘The Shape of Water’ is an extraordinary film. As one of Guillermo Del Toro’s more accessible films it appeals to a much larger audience than his fanatics. It follows the love affair between a mute woman (Sally Hawkins) and a humanoid sea creature (Doug Jones). The protagonist being a mute, we see the world the way she does, without a voice. This makes the relationship with the sea creature all the more profound, in that she finds a means of communications with it when she is unable to find one with the world we are so used to. The notion of love without words is beautifully depicted on screen. It deservedly won the Oscar for Best Picture earlier this year. 2. Avengers: Infinity War by Peggy Welch The crowning instalment of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), the Russo

brothers’ ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ is accurately dubbed ‘the most ambitious crossover event in history.’ Featuring characters such as Iron Man and Captain America as well as more recent favourites like Tom Holland’s SpiderMan, the film brings together all of the plot lines from its predecessors in a highly satisfying way. Put this together with stunning visuals and CGI, a witty yet often heartfelt script, an all-star cast and you’ve certainly got one of the best films of the year. Not to mention the complete shocker of an ending that broke the hearts of many fans and left us desperate for the next instalment! 3. A Star is Born by Charlotte Delangle A Star is Born is one of the greatest films of the year. It is one of the few musicals where the music works seamlessly within the story. With this film, Bradley Cooper has shown his talents not only as an actor but also as a director, musician and singersongwriter. He plays the role of Jackson Maine, a harddrinking musician whose career is headed for a

father suspects she was abducted by a sex trafficker. It seems pretty straightforward. Joe finds the missing girl but things take an unexpected twist and he finds himself in a dangerous situation. Although the film is quite dark and brutal there is still a kind of beauty behind it. It is thrilling, plotdriven yet deep and meaningful and Joaquin Phoenix gives a stunning performance that lends wings to the whole film. 5. Phantom Thread by Emmanuel Omodeinde One of the most revered contemporary film directors, Paul Thomas Anderson returns to the big screen after his 2014 take on Thomas Pynchon’s Inherent Vice was met with lukewarm reviews. Although I personally didn’t dislike ‘Inherent Vice’ (though I would admit it was one of his weaker films), I was pleased to see him return to his best with ‘Phantom Thread.’ The film follows the difficult relationship between pernickety couturier, Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis), and his muse, Alma, (Vicky Krieps). The film has many profound things to say about difficult artists, grief and love and features an unmissable final performance from one of the greatest actors ever, DanielDay Lewis. 6. Black Panther by Sopé Elegbede Black Panther is the epitome of what could have Photo by IMDb been. The film portrays power, downward spiral. potential and purpose. Wakanda The film is about how he is a symbolic African utopia that is helps a young singer named Ally (Lady free from the fractures of colonialism, Gaga) find fame. With an incredible highlighting the prospects of a greater original soundtrack, the movie shows Africa. Simultaneously, Coogler how thriving in music can lead you addresses the dichotomy between either to succeed or to fall. Africans and African-Americans by 4. You Were Never Really Here engaging with ideas of belonging by Matylda Makowska and dislocation. Earning over $1.3bn Joe is a hitman, probably in his globally at the box office, this worldwide forties. He does everyone’s dirty work cultural phenomenon is not one you while in his spare time taking care want to miss. of his elderly mother. Working from 7. Lady Bird by Emmanuel one job to another, one day he gets a Omodeinde new assignment. A senator’s young Set in the early 2000s, Lady Bird is a daughter Nina goes missing and the coming-of-age film which tells the story

of Christine “Ladybird” (a nickname she gave herself) McPherson, a high school senior and the difficult relationship she has with her mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf). After starring in several critically acclaimed films, including 2015’s Brooklyn for which she received her third Academy Award nomination, Saoirse Ronan shines as the snarky rebellious teen. Partly autobiographical, Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut is a confident and assured piece of work that proves that she’s the queen of more than just “mumblecore”. 8. Widows by Emmanuel Omodeinde Steve McQueen returns to the big screen five years after his third feature film, ’12 Years a Slave’ the period drama based on a slave narrative received widespread critical acclaim, commercial success and launched McQueen as one of the best directors working today. This time around it’s a much different story. McQueen takes on the heist genre with ‘Widows’, co-adapting the screenplay, loosely based on the 1983 British series of the same name, with ‘Gone Girl’ writer Gillian Flynn. ‘Widows’ is sharp and exhilarating with many incredible performances from its talented ensemble cast notably from lead, Viola Davis. You can count on an Oscar nomination for Viola Davis and expect Elizabeth Debicki to also receive a nod. 9. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri by Tyler Rigby Martin McDonagh’s latest brings the perfect amounts of drama, comedy and tragedy into an eclectic mix that makes for an unforgettable film. Mildred (Frances McDormand) is a mother whose daughter was raped and murdered and is willing to take on her whole town including the police department in her search for justice. ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ has an air-tight script, strong direction and is anchored by some of the best performances of the last few years. 10. A Quiet Place by Yoan Dzhugdanov Set in a post-apocalyptic world, a family is forced to live in utter silence whilst hiding from monsters with ultrasensitive hearing. Director-writer-star John Krasinski delivers a belter of a monster movie which never lets up and creates tension with barely a word being said and also boasts impressive performances from the whole family.

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

Film

Entertainment

orst films of the year Worst: 1. Venom by Josh West The worst movie of the year, Venom was teased for years and when it finally arrived it was a huge disappointment. Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock, the helpless host of a parasitic extraterrestrial known as Venom, who must, with the aid of his stereotypically boring girlfriend, stop the evil genius Carlton Drake from possessing the entire world! I know, how original. The movie returned us to the days of tacky superheroes and archaic, bland storylines. It posed no talking points, save how rubbish it was, nor did it address any contemporary issues as other hero movies are doing. It was, I quote, the ‘worst cliché ever!’. 2. Illang: The Wolf Brigade by Hal Kitchen Kim Jee-woon is a director with an incredible track record, even for remakes, having helmed the vibrant, outrageously entertaining action reimagining of ‘The Good the Bad and the Ugly’, ‘The Good the Bad the Weird.’ And having just released the gripping resistance thriller ‘The Age of Shadows’, he seemed the perfect choice to re-adapt Mamoru Oshii’s masterwork manga Jin-Roh to live action. But the original’s subtlety and bleak, disturbing atmosphere were rejected in favour of flavourless, flashy action bombast and the most insultingly revised ending imaginable. 3. Mute by Hal Kitchen Duncan Jones’s soft sequel to modern sci-fi classic Moon had a lot of anticipation around it to measure up to the expectations of the earlier movie’s cult following. However, the film, released through Netflix, was a disaster on nearly every level, combining dissonant tones, disparate meaningless plot threads and the most generic sci-fi tropes to produce a thoroughly boring, vacuous, and self-important product. 4. Sierra Burgess is a Loser by Tyler Rigby Sierra Burgess is a manipulative psychopath seems a more fitting title for this ignorantly made teen comedy. Sierra (Shannon Purser) is the biggest ‘loser’ in school. After resident mean girl Veronica (Kristine Froseth) gives

football player Jamey (Noah Centineo) Sierra’s number saying it’s her own, he and Sierra begin to talk through text and bond, although he believes it’s Veronica. Beyond that point the film becomes borderline offensive, condoning catfishing to the point where the film seems to be actively encouraging it, especially to those that may feel they aren’t good enough for others. Purser is perpetually dreadful in the title role but the bungled screenplay here makes everyone look inept. I truly hope young people won’t see this and take the message it’s putting across to heart. 5. A Wrinkle in Time by Peggy Welch With its long-running advertising campaign, star-studded cast and backing from Disney studios, Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic novel was expected to be one of the standout family films of the year. Unfortunately, it did not manage to live up to any of these high expectations. The plot was difficult to follow, despite having such a slow build-up to the climax of siblings Meg and Charles Wallace finding their father, which is predictable and somewhat underplayed. The performances in the film are also a big let-down, even from big names like Chris Pine and Mindy Kaling which makes the film especially tedious. Overall, a highly disappointing watch despite its aesthetic appeal – far from being one of Disney’s best decisions. 6. Downsizing by Josh West Probably the most boring film of the year, ‘Downsizing’ is an apt metaphor for Matt Damon’s career. Promoted as a comedy with funny stars like Kirsten Wiig, it was instead 150 minutes of boring, unchanging and pathetic trash about a five-inch tall man trying to adjust to his new life and then going on an ‘incredible’ adventure of human discovery. Hong Chau plays perhaps the most annoying supporting character of the year whilst Damon is clearly scraping the barrel’s bottom. Ultimately, it’s a boring movie with an overused message and poor acting. 7. Truth or Dare by Tyler Bates This may be one of the most unintentionally funny movies I’ve ever seen, but the fact it’s unintentional is why it’s in this category. After a

group of friends decide to spend their spring break in Mexico, they are easily encouraged to play a game of truth or dare with a complete stranger in an abandoned church. As inconspicuous as that must sound, they are surprisingly cursed and must continue to play the game until the game itself forces them to die in ludicrously laughable ways. It’s a ridiculous premise and surprisingly convolutes itself with the addition of several rules, a ritual involving the removal of a tongue and a demon than manifests itself as the warped face Snapchat filter. This is a profusely terrible film…but a surprisingly humorous experience.

and an absolutely predictable and cringy plot. Maybe it’s time to retire this character for good.

8. Ready Player One by Eloise McCrohan ‘Ready Player One’ is a bad film. Period. It’s infidelities to the book on which it is based in no way help the plot and by the end, it feels like nothing more an endless list of characters from various different video games. Throughout the film, Spielberg attempts to instil a sense of melancholy to proceedings, which might have introduced an interesting new factor but it gets tiresome fast. The representation of women is also flawed since they are represented as trophies to be won (and by that I mean danced with) or saved. 9. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom by Hal Kitchen Juan Antonio Bayona is a hugely talented director, who leaves the first stain on his previously impeccable track record with another crushingly mediocre entry on a franchise that has once again been resurrected with as little circumspection as went into its stock villains’ resurrections of prehistoric predators. Even a director of his skill struggles to bring to life a script comprised entirely of moments, storylines and characters that we had already seen in the other sequels and we already hated them then. 10. Johnny English Strikes Again by Yoan Dzhugdanov When Britain is faced with a devastating cyber-attack, Johnny English is forced out of retirement with the mission to find the mastermind. This entry is by far the weakest in the franchise, possessing the fewest laughs

Photo by Universal Pictures

Games

Insomniac’s Spider-Man is the best Spider-Man yet By Tyler Rigby Writer

nsomniac Games has exceeded expectations and I think this may be the most quintessential Spider-Man experience ever made in a video game. Not only do you get the thrill of feeling like a superhero but you also get the surprising amount of emotional weight behind living life as Peter Parker. Insomniac has spared no expense in crafting a fully realised version of the character and the world around him (with their own personal tweaks to the Marvel mythos as well). The story follows Spider-Man trying to balance his ‘normal’ life with that of his ‘work’ life before a certain new villain (often underutilised outside of the comics) emerges in the city. When you begin, Peter has been a hero for around eight years, he’s met some of his classic

foes and allies but not all. This allows for a perfect balance of surprise and recognition for both the character and the player as they encounter various famous faces over the course of the 1520 hour single-player campaign. The gameplay has borrowed just the right amount from the Arkham series to feel familiar yet fresh and it’s safe to say that the web swinging is the best it’s ever been. Seamlessly wall running into a web zip followed by extraordinarily animated acrobatics has never allowed the player to feel more like a superhero. The combat seems a bit clunky at first but you soon begin to exact some truly gratifying takedowns with innovative web combinations once you start upgrading your equipment and abilities after the first couple of hours. In terms of notable negatives, the game has an incredible amount of

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side content...or so it seems until you realise a great deal of it is the same. Most of it is forgivable, however ‘Spider-Man’ features 180 random crimes that are required to be completed to fulfil 100% of the game. Considering only about 20 of these are unique and that you also have to get to the final act of the game to unlock 90 of them, it can make the final hours feel like a grind. Otherwise, Marvel’s Spider-Man provides the perfect combination of exciting gameplay, gripping narrative and gorgeous graphics that help to make up the best Spider-Man game ever. Insomniac has knocked it out of the park. This is a PS4 exclusive you won’t want to miss.

Across: 1 Armistice Day, 7 Nene, 8 Advocate, 9/17/13 First World War, 10 Dress, 11 Name, 14 Caen, 15 Poppy, 19 Gimcrack, 20 Move, 21 Irena Sendler. Down: 1 Axel F, 2 McEnroe, 3 Slant, 4 Invader, 5 Emcee, 6 Artiste, 12 Applier, 13 W.B. Yeats, 14 Caramel, 16 Pecan, 17 Woken, 18 Dover.

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Across 1/7. British indie rock band whose albums include Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino (2018) (6,7) 5. Profit, or interest from anything (6) 8. Black ___, a 2010 American psychological horror film (4) 9. A deduction made for prompt payment of an account (8) 10. A soft thick animal fat (6) 12. Tiny ___, an Elton John song first released in 1972 (6) 13. US actor whose films include Go (1999), Abandon (2002), and Logan Lucky (2017) (5,6) 15. An initial move in any battle of wits (6)

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17. The fleshy organ in the mouth used in tasting (6) 19. A loose protective garment worn over a dress (8) 21. Condoleezza ___, US Secretary of State to George W. Bush from 2005 to 2009 (4) 22. Fictional Rough Collie dog created by Eric Knight (6) 23. The young of the fox or ferret (6) Down 2. A person who propels through water with an oar or oars (5) 3. David ___, Scottish actor who played the Tenth Doctor Who (7) 4. A food-fish of northern seas (3) 5. 2015 Pixar animation featuring the

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voices of Amy Poehler and Mindy Kaling (6,3) 6. The diadem or state-cap of royalty (5) 7. See 1 Across 11. A conductor by which electricity enters or leaves an object (9) 13. Wiz ___, the stage name of the rapper and actor Cameron Thomaz (7) 14. A mosque tower, from which the call to prayer is given (7) 16. An alloy of copper and zinc (5) 18. The brother of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father or mother (5) 20. A deer of northern Europe and Asia (3)

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Culture

Arts

Musical Theatre Society presents: You Wish! A Musical Theatre Showcase I

nQuire sat down with Erina Farrant, director of MTS’s ‘You Wish! A Musical Theatre Showcase’, and discussed the much anticipated production, her role as a director, and the important themes it sheds light

Tell us about the show?

The storyline is based on a mystery man who hosts a radio competition and is able to make the winner’s dream become a reality. In order to have chance to win, people have to send a video of what they desire most, but this highlights many unexpected emotions and consequences of their desires. Usually a showcase is a collection of songs that correlate with one particular theme and do not follow a specific plot. However, we decided to incorporate a storyline as it would be nice to have some sort of underlying plot which would link the musical numbers more smoothly. I think it is important to note that the storyline does not try to pretend to be more than what it is, it is fairly simple and the events unfold in quite a predictable but proven-to-work kind of way. Our main priority was to make it a light-hearted, easy-to-follow plot, so that audiences could focus more on the showcase elements of the production. It also features classic hits from the West End musical Hamilton, High School Musical 3, and Cabaret!

How is it being a director?

It’s been really fun taking on this role. As a director there is a certain level of respect and responsibility that comes with the job. I am also so grateful to be working with a cast and crew who are all so involved and dedicated to their roles. They are constantly working hard and are essentially the reason behind me being able to witness my own ideas coming to life.

Is this your first time directing for MTS?

Yes, this is my first time. It was really nerve-wracking getting the job, but

Interview by Maryah Chughtai, Newspaper Culture Editor it was such a great feeling knowing that people believed in me enough to actually put me forward for the job. It is a very fulfilling position to be in. I have been a member of MTS since my first year at UKC, and have been involved in various productions that were held at either the Gulbenkain or in the Colyer-Fergusson

Photo by MTS Building. I am now in my final year, and to be actually directing a production feels like such an achievement. It’s amazing knowing that there is always room to make progress within MTS and hopefully I’m just one of many examples of how rewarding societies can be in terms of developing occupational skills.

How does being a director differ from your previous roles as an actor?

The best thing about being a director is having a creative say on things. Being able to express your opinion and for it to then be valued, listened to, and then even developed, is a great experience. Like I said before, it is also down to having the best cast and crew who are able to support me through my role. Whether it is an idea I have decided to alter, or been keen to further establish it, they have been by my side and gotten on board straight away. I’m just feeling very blessed!

ideas of love, betrayal, fame, and fortune. It also raises questions within audience members and makes them think about what their most important desire would be and what would be the reasons behind them. The showcase explores human reactions when they are put in extraordinary situations, and proves to create highly entertaining moments. If we think about popular films, books, and television shows, they offer some type of escapism for people’s realities. I Photo by MTS think that the merging of Why do you think UKC everyday scenarios (that students can students should come and ultimately relate to) with unimaginable see this production? opportunities is what makes it so It is a very well-rounded showcase! I intriguing for audiences. think the most important thing is that it is a very relatable storyline. There is What else do we have to literally something for everyone! Whilst look forward to from MTS? it can be categorised as a generally light‘You Wish! A Musical Theatre hearted play, it should not overlook the Showcase’ will be shown on the both fact that it still has alternative moments 1st& 2nd December 2018, at the Colyerof comedy, darkness, and even tearFergusson Building, at 7:30pm. We then jerking laughter. It is basically a very have another show called ‘Rent’ which watchable play and more importantly will be held on the 1st& 2nd February very accessible to all students as it is 2019, at the Marlowe studio. But if you being shown on campus. We encourage are more interested in getting involved everyone to come and support their in our shows, then we will be holding friends and fellow peers. We are also auditions for our upcoming spring approaching the holidays and so it shows on the 3rd& 4th December 2018. would be a great event to attend with The first musical has been revealed as all of your housemates as the perfect ‘Company’ and the second showcase is ending to a great first term! yet to be determined. But they are all very exciting events which we can look Are there any strikingly forward to seeing! important themes in the play For more information of upcoming that stand out to you most? shows and how to get involved in MTS, I think the overall important theme is visit their facebook page: https://www. the different realms of desire that are facebook.com/ukcmts explored throughout the production. It shows and also contrasts the different levels of desire for each character, something which is quite eye-opening in my opinion. Because in reality it is highly unlikely that a radio competition will be offering the opportunity to make our dreams come true, but the interesting thing is being able to see the consequences and unfolding of events when this does actually happen. The question of ‘what if’ is one which can trigger a lot of emotions within different individuals, and sparks

Photo by MTS

Friday 30 November 2018

Tolkien:

Maker of Middle Earth Exhibition

n 21st October, I was fortunate enough to attend the Tolkien: Maker of Middle Earth Exhibition at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Despite only filling the space in a single 20 by 20 room, the exhibition managed to hold a wealth of fascinating, emotional, and beautiful pieces, all from the life of author, philologist, and historian J. R. R. Tolkien. The exhibition was an interactive insight into the making of Tolkien’s classics. Upon entering the exhibition, the contrast of colours immediately caught my eye. The famous ‘Doors of Durin’ was projected in startling white onto the walls and contrasted against the illuminating black corridor. Situated at the far end was Tolkien’s own dwarf runes spelling out ‘Say Friend and Enter’. The projections would quickly change into focal points of light, leading one’s eye towards the original watercolour pieces that were situated within the walls. The pieces were suspended upon clear perplex frames, that were in gold illuminated cases. They displayed the colourful and dazzling detail of Tolkien’s creations. The images were either sketches, coloured drawings, or full paintings by the author himself, depicting various scenes from his fantasy world of Arda. Amongst these were his most famous works, such as the original ‘Doors of Durin’ sketch and the original covers for the ‘Hobbit’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’ respectively. The final room was also littered with a collection of his creations and other personal items. Along the back wall were the remaining series of Tolkien’s watercolour and other drawings. From left to right, displayed in a chronological order, Tolkien’s creations demonstrated his experimentation and growth as an artist. Many of the earlier pieces were colourless sketches, but as the sequence progressed, they too developed. The most spectacular of these was Tolkien’s ‘The Trolls’, created in 1937. It demonstrated how Tolkien had learned to utilise negative space, using the white light to illuminate the entirely black space. This back wall was the key area of interest for many casual visitors, but for the more intrigued fans the surrounding room was filled with items to explore. The exhibition held the detailed original manuscripts and maps that Tolkien created to support the mainstream tales of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. All these were created by behind the scenes and were not published into complicative works

By George Knight until Head of Marketing after Tolkien’s death. They would make up The Silmarillion and his countless unfinished tales. Displayed were sketched and illustrated manuscripts of languages, family trees, and calendars, all which contribute as the

Photo by Tolkien facebook page intricate details that Tolkien created as the foundation of his world. Tolkien is believed to have created between 30 to 40 languages, all of which maintained their own dialects and linguistic roots. The exhibition displayed his handwritten timelines of the histories and the peoples of these languages, evidencing Tolkien’s passion for language above all else. Tolkien even mentioned in his memoirs that he created the world to ‘accommodate’ his languages, rather than for the languages to accommodate the world. Tolkien aimed to make such intricate detail that everything within his mythos fit perfectly and the mystical reality of the world felt natural. Beyond his published works, the exhibition also held more personal items of Tolkien’s life. Many of his diary entries were on display. These included his experiences from the First World War, love letters to his wife, personalised Christmas cards sent to his children, and individually coloured drawings he created in his leisure time. These items evidenced the humility of Tolkien’s work, demonstrating the inspiration and passion that he found in his ordinary life. They helped observers to understand the reality of the man himself, to withdraw him from the mythical fantasy of which he is often associated with, and understand him as an individual subject to the forces of the world around him. Much like his own works, the exhibition aimed to place Tolkien in context and derive meaning from his life.

Culture

Patrick Heron: His Painting Now P

atrick Heron challenged the use of colour in painting. Shape, light, and colour are elements which were of utmost interest to Heron throughout his career. Mark Hudson from The Telegraph, explains that Heron’s ability to portray the relationship between his emotion and the physical world is so powerful, that ‘you can sense the atmosphere of the elemental landscape around his house bleeding into these primal forms’. Turner Contemporary in Margate has pieced together a spectacular exhibition that presents over fifty years of Heron’s work, dating from 1943 to 1996. It invites the viewer to explore a world of form, colour, and light. Heron claimed that his use of colour ‘is both the subject and the means; the form and the content; the image and the meaning, in [his] painting today.’ The predominant odd shapes that cover his canvas, can seem chaotic when viewed from afar. His technique of using colour, form, and shape, are all very fascinating aspects of his work. The prominent but small brush strokes. created through the use of a tiny Japanese brush, helped depict an overall picture of unity. Each painting transports the reader to a different place, creating a new space for the mind to roam within. The exhibition opens with a series of paintings from 1999 (the year of his death), which have never been exhibited before. The evolution of Heron’s painting is clearly visible throughout his lifetime. His paintings are focused and built around dynamism, play, line, and colour. He was inspired by the great French painters, such as Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, and Pierre Bonnard, all of which also explored form in the 19th century. He was not interested painting the outside world, but rather in creating an equivalent of it in sensations. His desire was to construct a space through the usage of

By Timea Koppandi Arts Sub-Editor

Photo by Timea Koppandi

Photo by Timea Koppandi colour. The space becomes flattened, it gains edge, unity, and symmetry. The surface plays an essential part in the abstract painting, especially for Heron. Heron’s previous experience in silk drawings and glass painting, offered him a different perception of surface and fabric. His preferred subjects were still life, as they allowed him to creatively expand the abstractness within his paintings. It also helped with expressing his own artistic views of the world. Balancing his life as a painter and as an art critic provided him with a well-rounded understanding and foundation for his own artistic experiences, and is something that is clearly shown through the evolution of his paintings. The Turner Contemporary in Margate, is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. For more information check out the website: www.turnercontemporary.org.

Culture

Books

Most Unbearable Literary Heroines from Pre-1900 1) Pamela Andrews, from Samuel Richardson’s Pamela (1740)

It is not hard to believe that most twenty-first century readers would find it hard to warm to the eponymous heroine in Richardson’s novel, Pamela. The 18th-century epistolary novel, tells the story of a beautiful 15-yearold maidservant, named Pamela, whose country landowner master continues to make unwanted sexual advances towards her. Pamela insists on continuing to work in the house out of some misguided sense of duty towards her master. In a bizarre twist, she then chooses to marry her wouldbe rapist, despite clearly being averse to his previous attempts to seduce her. From a contemporary-feminist perspective, Pamela can be a frustrating and infuriating novel to read. This is partly due to Richardson’s presentation of a heroine who is so consumed by her virtuosity and societal duty, that she ignores her own sexual rights.

3) Amy March, from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women (1868)

2) Lydia Bennet, from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813) The youngest of the five Bennet sisters, Lydia, is arguably the most insufferable. Her behaviour is no doubt influenced by her mother, Mrs Bennet, an excitable, selfobsessed hypochondriac, who is desperate to marry her daughters off to wealthy gentlemen. This does not however excuse Lydia for her selfish and impulsive behaviour throughout the course of the novel. From the beginning, her flirtatious, frivolous, and immature nature prove to make her an embarrassment to her sisters. Her decision to run away with the villainous Mr Wickham, also puts her at the centre of a bigger scandal. Even when Lydia returns home, she brags about being a married woman, and once again suggests that as a character she has not characteristically progressed or learnt from her mistakes.

Photo by Pixabay

By Rachel Claxton Amy Writer March matures as the story progresses, but she is still one of the least likeable March sisters in the first half of Alcott’s Little Women. The novel tells the story of four povertystruck sisters during the American Civil War. Despite her family’s financial struggles, Amy has a taste for high society and allows her vanity and selfcentredness to control her actions. She spends much of the early chapters obsessing over her appearance and throwing tantrums, making it difficult for readers to warm to her. Her most unforgivable action is when she burns her sister, Jo’s manuscript for the book she had been working on, leaving her completely devastated. By the end of the book, Amy is a much more compassionate character, partly due to the death of her sister, Beth, and marriage to Laurie. Nevertheless, it is still hard for readers to forget her earlier selfishness and immaturity.

An in-depth look into Dickens’:

A Christmas Carol

Christmas Carol is a beautiful novella which reinstates the holiday charm and real meaning of Christmas. Whether you were introduced to the tale as a child, watching The Muppets’ rendition while scoffing mince pies on a frosty Christmas Eve, or, if you are able to appreciate Dickens’s effortlessly distinctive descriptions, it is a tale that everyone is familiar with. Dickens characterises his characters as either entirely villainous, such as Quilp in ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’, or as purely angelic characters, such as Oliver Twist. Scrooge is an odd mix of both. At the beginning he is cruel and selfish, and highly unlikeable. He says “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas,’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!” Scrooge’s moneybased approach to life indicates his incapacity to feel emotion, as he seems incapable of love and generosity. The depiction of a protagonist with a

damaged soul is highly intriguing. Poor Scrooge, unable to enjoy festive merriment. He directly contrasts the portrayal of his nephew, Fred, who is the epitome of festivity and good will. Dickens balances the characters incredibly well. His dialogue, characters, and settings, each hold their own unique streak, but all prove to be very complementary of one another. Scrooge’s lack of sympathy to those less fortunate than himself is reinstated by his dismissal of charity. His voice comically echoes that of the modernday grumpy, drunk Uncle who spends the majority of Christmas Day moaning about how much money he has spent on presents. During his journeys with the spirits, it is revealed why Scrooge feels the way he does towards Christmas, and as a reader, I begin to sympathise with him. He unravels to be a highly complex and deeply troubled character. The Ghost of Christmas Past takes us back to the various Christmases

between Scrooge’s childhood and young adulthood. Discovering the deaths of both his sister and his business partner, readers can understand why he relates bitterness, suffering, and painful memories to the festive season. Another memory reveals that his fiancé, Belle, left him around Christmas, due to his downfall into the pursuit of money and greed. Scrooge is reminded of the man he was before his misfortunes, and that his suffering is partially due to his own moral weaknesses. The novel is an ageless classic, as the values and morals that are deeply embedded into each character, completely transgress time. Dickens’s way with words encourages his readers to stay wary of the influences of greed and money. Scrooge’s journey, highlights the importance of family values, togetherness, and everything that should be celebrated around this time of year.

By Erin Frost Writer

Photo by Erin Frost

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire25

Fiction

Culture

The cosy books to hibernate with this winter season

There is nothing better than snuggling up in bed on a cold winter’s night with a great book in hand. By Paru Rai Books Sub-Editor

1) Mr Dickens and his Carol - Samantha Silva

the events that follow after a lifechanging discovery. After finding The Gravedigger’s Handbook buried in the snow, the little girl quickly learns the joys of reading and the power of the written word. Her love for reading results in her stealing books from various places and being exposed to the frightening and equally exciting ideas that are much greater than her

The story is set in the water planet, attempt to find a sense of meaning. The Tiamat, which is ruled by two groups: cold setting also goes with Holden’s Published summer and winter. iconic red hunting just last year, Each side has a hat, which symbolises this novel respective queen of his individuality and puts a twist their own, and every alienation. But in on Charles 150 years their powers narrating his story in Dickens’s are exchanged, such a personal way, this classic tale, resulting in the queen book reminds us that we A Christmas being are not alone in our fear Carol. The ritually of adulthood and the protagonist is executed, future. Mr Dickens by the himself, at end of 5) The Lion, the the height of their rule. Witch and the his career, The plot Wardrobe – C.S. enjoying all focuses on Lewis the perks of his Arienrohd, We all know the story, literary success, the snow but how many people but is then queen, have actually read the Photo by Paru Rai Photo by Maryah Chughtai book? C.S Lewis’s novel forced to snap who out of his reality as the release of his community. conceives is by far the number latest novel is massively unsuccessful. However, a wicked plan, in order to one must-read this winter season. The novel continues by exploring the the sinister, try and avoid this sacrificial Filled with snow, mythical creatures, different ways his literary downfall overbearing ritual. Vinge’s characters, testing family relationships, Turkish threatens to destroy his luxurious new influence of Hitler’s storyline, and delight, hot cocoa, Photo by Meg Warwick setting all life. It is a nostalgic and imaginative Nazi regime a lion, the witch, story, and one which effortlessly threatens her safety prove to be a and the wardrobe… transports readers back and continued quest fascinating and successful what more could to Dickens’s original tale. for books. Despite take on this classic fairyyou possibly need. Silva carefully creates the underlying tale. The novel centres a balance between old theme and setting on four siblings who themes and the strikingly of the novel being 4) The Catcher discover the magical new climatic events dark and gloomy, it in the Rye – J.D. world of Narnia. that are played out is undoubtedly an Sallinger Narnia is trapped in throughout the novel. inspiring read when This timeless cominga state of perpetual Similar to the original, following the journey of-age story should be winter and has been it reminds the reader of a young, and highly on everyone’s must-read cursed by The White of the true meaning of impressionable list. Young adults can Witch, whose reign Christmas. protagonist. still relate to Holden is threatened by Caulfield’s struggles of the arrival of the 2) The Book 3) The Snow having to grow up and sons of Adam and Thief – Markus Queen – Joan D face the consequences the daughters of Photo by Meg Warwick Zusak Vinge of the adult world. Eve (also known as Set in Nazi Germany The Snow Queen is The protagonist’s reflective state of the Pevensies). This story is a perfect during the late 1930’s, based on the classic mind, shares many of the scarily and examples of fantasy being used as a Photo by Katinka Pim the narrator, who is fairy-tale by Hans universally relatable themes within this form of escapism. It is one that can be described as Death, Christian Anderson, novel. The novel follows the protagonist, enjoyed by both children and adults. tells the story of a young girl and but has an epic twist and sci-fi setting. as he wanders through the cold city in

Classifieds

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

Classifieds

Science and Technology

Nobel laureates issue warning on hard Brexit By Emma Leach Science & Technology Editor

he challenges we face must be tackled in a manner that benefits everyone and those challenges are better faced together. This is one of the closing statements used in two separate letters sent to Prime Minister Theresa May and President Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission on the 19th of October. Imploring for the closest possible scientific collaboration between the UK and the EU after Brexit.

29 Nobel laureates and 6 Field Medal winners signed the letter to the two leaders. Signatories included Venki Ramakrishnan, President of the Royal Society, and Paul Nurse who is a director of the Francis Crick Institute in London. Shortly after this letter to Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker, the Francis Crick Institute released statistics gathered from over 1,000 staff, revealing that 97% of those surveyed believe that a hard Brexit would be bad for UK science. The results go on to further reflect the unease felt within the scientific community, with only 3%

of those surveyed believing that the scientific community is being listened to and represented during the discussions surrounding Brexit. The Francis Crick Institute is a £650 million biomedical research facility based in London, the largest biomedical research facility found under one roof in the whole of Europe. It boasts first class facilities and attracts the best and brightest scientists from all across the globe to carry out ground breaking research. Concerns have been raised however, as to whether the UK will continue attracting top talent post Brexit, with

over half of those surveyed in the institution stating that they are less likely to look within the UK for their next position. Concerns include those surrounding citizenship and freedom of movement, restrictions to access in funding, and the ability to continue to attract top talent to research groups. wThe letters point out that in order for science to flourish, it ‘requires the flow of people and ideas across borders to allow the rapid exchange of ideas, expertise and technology’. Only time will tell if May and Juncker heed their message.

Influence of diet on depression risk By Meera Solanki Writer

ccording to YouGov, an estimated 27% of UK university students experience a mental health condition, depression being an example. The symptoms of depression involve being in a continuously low mood or anxious state and lacking an interest in activities and confidence. It can be caused by a number of factors including the stress of studying, family, relationships, and even a high alcohol intake. There are new scientific studies emerging searching for links between lifestyle and the risk of depression. These have been conducted in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of such conditions, and to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. One such study, published in The Journal of Molecular Psychiatry, carried out a meta-analysis investigating possible links between depression and diet. This involved combining and reanalysing data from many previous studies to come to a logical conclusion. The results from the meta-analysis suggested that a predominantly Mediterranean diet with a high intake of fruits, vegetables, and nuts was associated with a lower risk of depression. These outcomes were similar in populations who had a diet low in pro-inflammatory foods, which are foods that cause inflammation and are strongly associated with cancer and diabetes. These foods include processed meats, deep fried foods, and many baked goods. Components of a Mediterranean diet all share anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are thought to protect the brain from

neuronal damage, and inflammation in the brain. The latter is seen in patients with depression and results in the uncontrolled regulation of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers between neurons) such as dopamine and serotonin which are all involved in modulating emotions. Interestingly, components of a Mediterranean diet are similar to those in the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) which aims to prevent and reduce high blood pressure. According to the British Heart Foundation, such diets also promote cardiovascular health by lowering the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and type II diabetes. Therefore, adhering to such a diet can be beneficial for not only your mental wellbeing, but also your physical health. There are, however, other small changes in our lifestyle that we can take to improve our overall mental wellbeing. It may sound simple, but even going for walks, daytrips or taking up new hobbies can promote a healthy mind and give people a sense of escapism. These are excellent opportunities to meet new people, increase your creativity and confidence. Be sure to get involved with the social aspects of university and talk about any issues you experience with either friends, family or even the university’s Wellbeing Services that offer confidential appointments and counselling. Being a student, it can be difficult to continuously adhere to a healthy lifestyle and diet but knowing that there are foods promoting a healthy mind is something we should all consider on our next grocery shop.

Gold £164 Silver £140 For purchase and use from Monday 10 December 2018. For more details, come and chat to us at the Sports Centre and Pavilion receptions or visit kent.ac.uk/sports/membership

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire 29

The Nightmare Before Christmas at the Gulbenkian

What’s on... Dogman 30th Nov 2018 The Rocky Horror Picture Show Sing-Along 30th Nov 2018 The Guilty 1st Dec 2018 Bohemian Rhapsody 1st - 14th Dec 2018 The Polar Express 2nd Dec 2018 The Nutcracker and the Four Realms 2nd Dec 2018 National Theatre Live: Antony & Cleopatra 6th Dec 2018 Manu Delago: Parasol Peak 7th Dec 2018 The Muppet Christmas Carol 8th Dec 2018 It’s a Wonderful Life 8th Dec 2018 Peterloo 8th - 13th Dec 2018 The Hate U Give 9th - 11th Dec 2018

By Kateryna Slobodian Gulbenkian Correspondent

ow long ago did you last watch the ‘Nightmare before Christmas’? Or have you been re-watching it every single Halloween, as you cannot imagine holidays without the scary creatures of Tim Burton’s iconic stop-motion animation film? This Christmas Jack and Sally are coming to the Gulbenkian on 16th of December, to take you back on a journey to childhood. This time you will find more to this story as an adult, than you saw as a child. The story starts when Jack, the Pumpkin King of Halloween town, has grown bored with having to scare people each and every year on Halloween. After another successful celebration Jack receives congratulations and praises from the fellow citizens, but it does not settle his thoughts. Hoping to escape the town for a bit longer, he finds a special place in the forest. He opens a door carved in a tree, and falls into a Christmas town—a place, where only happiness and laughter prevail. In good intentions Jack comes home and tries to teach creatures of Halloween town about Christmas, but soon finds out that used to violence and fears monsters cannot understand the meaning of Christmas.

Photo by The Gulbenkian So, to make it more understandable for them, Jack exaggerates Christmas, saying that Santa Claus is a scary and horrible master of Christmas. And, after Halloween creature heard what they wanted to hear—they all decide to help Jack with his plan, understanding, that the plan is to spoil the Christmas and scare children, who are waiting for presents from Santa Claus. However, in all honesty Jack means something completely different. Although he is warned by Sally, a rag doll from the town, that his adventure may end up very badly, Jack is determined to make his plans come true.

The screening costs only £1-3 pounds, so it is a good opportunity to come with all of your friends and get childhoodnostalgic. Don’t miss the chance!

Do you have any other beloved stories you watch every Christmas? If so, join Gulbenkian Uncovered every Tuesday to discover how you can influence venue’s entertainment by suggesting your ideas and making things happen! For ore info at https://thegulbenkian. co.uk/project/gulbenkian-uncovered/

A Christmas Carol 12th Dec 2018 Arthur Christmas 15th Dec 2018 Wildlife 15th Dec 2018 The Nightmare Before Christmas 16th Dec 2018 The Grinch 16th - 23rd Dec 2018

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

Photo by The Gulbenkian

Sport Trans-inclusion in sport continued

but also be more open with myself this year.’ While the union is clearly making efforts to tackle LGBT+ involvement in sport, it is time for sports clubs to step up too. While it may be easy to notice from within that everyone is supportive of LGBT+ student joining, it is vital to advertise this and bring it to the attention of prospective members – at Fresher’s Fayre, through campaigns such as TKGC, and on social media pages. Sasha struggled finding information from clubs on whether they welcomed trans students without approaching

them directly: ‘There’s always the fear of stigma, so I got the president of the LGBT society last year to email the president of cheer to ask if it was ok because I was so nervous. Looking back on it now, it seems silly but that’s really how bad it can be for some people and I really think that it would be great if clubs were just more upfront about it. I went around freshers fayre asking and everyone seemed to be fine with it but I don’t think that should be a thing, I think that everyone should actively show it in any way they

can.’ During last year’s Varsity, sports clubs signed the LGBT+ pledge to

Photo from Facebook

show that they were supportive of LGBT+ members joining. While this was certainly a step in the right direction, the signing of the pledge was only attended by committees, all done on one evening and was not discussed much thereafter. Therefore, most trans students would have been unaware of this pledge. Sasha (left) wants to bring these kind of campaigns the attention they deserve: ‘Last year, from being trans myself, and a member of a sports team, I didn’t see much involvement with it. There were rainbow laces on shoes but

Is Germany the unlikely saviour of English football? By Joe Acklam

Writer

t was during the second half of der Klassiker, as the eighteen-yearold Jadon Sancho turned the Bayern Munich defence inside-out for the umpteenth time, that I saw what he could become. I’d heard the stories, watched compilations, and seen the statistics, but I had finally watched the next English superstar for myself in a full-match, and it was a joy to behold. He made these seasoned professionals at the very top of their game look ordinary and he was doing it all by swapping his home country for somewhere that spoke a different language and had a different culture. Nothing seemed to daunt him, not even the number 7 on his back, whose predecessor left for Barcelona for more than £100 million shortly before his arrival in Dortmund. Quite frankly, I am slightly embarrassed that this impresses me; no other country seems to have issues with players moving abroad at a young age, with all of our top sides being full of them, from Leroy Sane to Anthony Martial—they are practically ten a penny. But what Sancho is doing is undeniably unusual among his peers, he has prioritised his own development above the cheque that enters his bank account every week. Fortunately, he is

no longer alone. In the past seasons, the Bundesliga has been torn apart by a few other young Englishmen in Ademola Lookman and currently Reiss Nelson, both of whom are beneficiaries of the loan system.

This current crop of exports is proving what we found out in the latter half of 2017, courtesy of those victories in multiple youth World Cups and European Championships: there is an abundance of talent in this country. So why is Germany reeking the rewards of this in their domestic leagues, and not the Premier League? This can only be due to the differences in footballing culture between the two countries. English football is all about winning, it is instilled in us from a very young age that winning ugly is better than not winning at all. That’s why even at Photo by Wikimedia Commons

Sunday league level, we play competitive leagues from a very young age, so we can prove who the best is. This unwavering desire to win is multiplied at a professional level and the Premier League is so rich that why would you bother giving an unproven youngster a chance when you can buy a more tried and tested professional from elsewhere? This win-at-all-costs mentality is why Sam Allardyce gets wheeled out every year to save a club that looks set for relegation, because being in the Premier League next year means more to owners and (possibly) fans than what the club will look like in five years time. This is not so much the case in Germany, due to league rules, every club has to be at least 51% fan owned (although RB Leipzig have played fast and loose with this rule), so the money is not available to buy anybody they want to fix a short-term issue, they have to develop from within, in order to secure the long-term future of the club. It is therefore beneficial to utilise the youth academy as the less financially stable teams can benefit immediately and make money later on, and so chances are easier to come by than their English counterparts. I hope many more follows in the footsteps of Sancho, Marcus McGuane (FC Barcelona), Keanen Bennetts (Borussia Monchengladbach), and Jonathan Panzo (AS Monaco) in taking the plunge and swapping England for Europe, because taking that risk shows

that wasn’t a really big enough message.’ With the emphasis on trans inclusivity in the This Kent Girl Can campaign and the plans for a trans inclusive Varsity this year, does Sasha think these campaigns will work? ‘I think it can help as long as it’s done correctly, shown correctly, shown in a brilliant way. It’s about getting people to notice. This year I do think Emily is doing a brilliant job of actually working with us to try make people aware because it can get a bit lost in things. And maybe at Fresher’s Fayre in the future, we can have it on the bottom, just “all welcome”’.

Sports at a Glance - Harry Copping has singlehandedly raised £1000 for the Movember fund, claiming to follow through with his promise of marking the achievement: “I did it, I can’t believe I did it. I am now getting a Movember tattoo.” - The Woody’s Movember hot wing challenge last Friday saw a huge turnout, with over 20 individuals competing against each other. The men’s Lacrosse second team came second while the African-Carribean society were crowned winners. - Netball organised a charity tournament in which 22 teams competed, with Men’s Rugby 2nd team winning the tournament and football finishing in 1st. - Lacross also organised a charity match on Sunday which reportedly saw a great tournament. The 2nd team came out on top and there was also a raffle at the end.

much more about your determination to succeed than playing in the dead-end alley of u23 football, which frequently leads to being released and falling by the wayside. We have been stifling the development of young players for years, so why not let a nation with a proven track record of producing world class players take over?

Friday 30 November 2018 InQuire

Sport

Three reasons new Golden Generation are the real deal By Mark Saggers Sports Sub-Editor

set plays that could dismantle any top international team right now. The former under-21 manager’s focus on youth has paid off as he’s accumulated a set of young technically gifted young players with the potential to be world class, as well as a few players who are already reaching world class status.

nternational breaks are the marmalade of football — a source of joy for some and drudgery for those most inclined with watching the domestic tussles. The recent resurgence in English football, however, has fixed the cynical climate that once surrounded the nation as English fans can now look forward to refreshing, attacking play, exciting raw talent and destroying low expectations. Despite the semi-final loss against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup, there is an optimistic and positive atmosphere within the English camp, and there is evidence to suggest that things could get even better after qualification for the UEFA Nations League semi-final. Here are three Reasons why: 1) Gareth Southgate

2) Young Talent During the world cup, England played with a new generation of talented young and technically gifted players, Photo by Wikimedia Commons such as: Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Jesse Lingard, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Sporting the classic sleeveless and others. Since the summer, waistcoat, the fashion icon has new talents have emerged with already established himself as a the likes of Ben Chilwell, Harry fan favourite. Gareth Southgate Winks, and Ross Barkley now (above) has translated his on top form for Chelsea. Two style off the pitch onto it, with prospects, who have emerged possession-styled attacking as being primed to be world play complemented with a class are Dortmund’s Jadon disciplined defence and lethal Sancho and forward Reiss

Nelson for Hoffenheim (on loan from Arsenal, above). Sancho has enjoyed the limelight recently, following his team’s 3–2 win against FC Bayern Munich and was named Bundesliga player of the month for his excellent start, registering a tally of three goals and an assist in three. He was impressive again in his English international debut and showed a convincing display with pace to burn and displayed a plethora of skill and creativity. Sancho shows all signs of being a world class addition to England’s attacking lineup as he showed confidence, maturity, and composure that transcended his young years. Reiss Nelson, only 18 years and on fire for Hoffenheim, has sparked the Bundesliga alight having scored 8 goals in 12 games. With explosive pace and tidy finishing in the box, there’s no doubt that he will fulfil his bags of potential and become not only an established English Forward along with Sancho,

but also his goal of becoming an “Arsenal Legend”. 3) England have won a penalty shootout Failing to score from the spot has been a hapless tradition with English teams, with nightmares haunting the psyches of English fans for 30 years. Southgate was well aware of this, having failed to score the penalty against Germany in the 1996 European championship, which led to England’s downfall. Thus, it was a bit of a shocker when England had won their first ever penalty shootout against Colombia, in round 16. Not only was this a period of limitless joy and relief, it was also a removal of the heavy burden and pressure that English players had to deal with, which will now allow them to play with a sense of freedom and confidence with the knowledge that they can handle the pressure.

Move for men’s health

Movember at UKC draws to a close with solidarity and fun helping propel the Tennis society’s tenacious campaign By Clara SanchezIzquierdo Writer

t the University of Kent, November is not November anymore; it’s Movember. This consists of a fundraiser to stop men dying too young. The Movember Foundation is saving and improving men’s lives by organizing projects and events focused on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Many sports societies contributed to this cause over the past month with different events that all had the same purpose; collect money to support men’s health. UKC Tennis society was one of them. Their Mo-tivation was: ‘We’re raising funds and awareness this Movember for all the dads, brothers, sons and mates in our lives. We need your help. Please donate to support

This consisted in running a 12-hour rally starting at 8am at the University of Kent Plaza on the 23rd of November. They had a marked mini tennis court with baby rackets and sponge balls for people to join in and have a hit. You could Photo from Facebook| Kent Sport even challenge some of the men’s health’. team players. To do this, they organized the event To pick up the racket they just asked called UKC Tennis 12 Hour Rally with for a minimum donation of 50p. All Movember, hosted by Movember at money raised went to the Movember UKC. Foundation.

The best part was not only raising funds for their Movember campaign but the fact that everyone was welcomed, even people who had never touched a racket before. This was as well a great opportunity to engage not only with some sports but also with what might be a possible new society. Chloe Robinson, 19, who’s part of UKC Tennis Society but wasn’t too involved in their events up to now, says: ‘It was so much fun! I was happy they organized this event as I got to know them better by helping a good cause, all at the same time. I will definitely give tennis and their coaching sessions a chance’. If you haven’t already, you can participate in this cause by checking all of the other events by other sports societies. As the Movember Foundation says: ‘It only happens because of people like you.’

Sport www.InQuireLive.co.uk/sport

InQuire

Brexit threatens Sports Tour

Photo by Facebook|ILOVETOUR.co.uk

By Kiro Evans Newspaper Sports Editor

he annual University tour is at risk of rising in price following Brexit, according to data from the People’s Vote Campaign. Analysis of Theresa May’s Chequers deal suggests that the price of April’s tour could rise by £190 on average, with phone roaming chargers

and hotel costs likely to be biggest cause of the price hikes. With tickets already on sale for Kent students for the popular yearly trip to European destinations such as Croatia, Italy and Spain, potential price changes following a Brexit deal could potentially affect attendance, with around 50,000 students per year usually travelling to engage in

sports and socialising during the Easter holiday. Sports Vice-President Emily Window said in response to the news: ‘I do think Brexit will have an impact on tour. Purely because at the moment it’s uncharted territory, it’s very much the unknown. Things like exchange rates will likely go up and it will have an impact on our economy which is so unfortunate for

students.’ Roaming charges, which previously did not apply to EU residents, could rise to £61 once Britain leave the European Union, while a fall in the value of the pound could cause hotel prices to spike by £127 in places like Rome. Health insurance and flight prices are also expected to experience a surge in price in the event of Britain leaving the EU in March 2019 on the terms proposed by the Prime Minister. Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson, co-founder of the anti-Brexit pressure group For our Future’s Sake, says: ‘Students are worried that post-Brexit, Sports Tour will become more expensive for them, or worse, become financially unsustainable altogether. Because of the uncertainty around Brexit, tour operators are concerned about their businesses and service they

can provide for students.’ University Sports Students have been reacting to the news. Lacrosse player Becca Misevic, 20, told Inquire: ‘Money is already hard to find for students so if the price changed I think it would make a lot of people think twice about going. Tour is a great experience and if the price changed and people didn’t go because of that it would be a shame.’ Another lacrosse player, Lucy Hebden, 19, stated: ‘The price of tour is already a lot higher than what most students can realistically afford to pay easily. Any higher and I think people would stop going completely.’ Sources at For Our Future’s Sake claim it is likely the price changes would occur in 2020, subject to the post-EU arrangements that are eventually reached by the government.

Gold Medalist honoured by UKC

Trans-inclusion in sport

By Mark Saggers Sports Sub-Editor

n recognition of her sporting achievements and accolades, Winter Olympian Lizzy Yarnold has received an honorary degree from the University of Kent. After a successful career, Lizzy announced her retirement in November as she set her legendary status in stone, having won the Gold Olympic title in the Skeleton this year and breaking records including winning every major title of skeleton by 2015. The Olympian will collect her doctor of science degree at Rochester Cathedral. Photo by Wikimedia

By Fiona DesmondCollings Writer

his year’s This Kent Girl Can campaign included non-binary and trans women. The campaign organiser and the Sports VP, Emily Window, made this change, consulting inclusivity officers in the union in an effort to make sports clubs more welcoming to all. BUCS (British Universities Colleges Sport) revised its Transgender Policy in 2016 to include non-binary students in its sporting league. A stigma, however, remains regarding trans involvement in sport, especially in university sporting culture. I sat down with Sasha Allen, Kent Union’s LGBT Officer (Women’s Place) to discuss the barriers to LGBT involvement in sport.

Asked who she represents in her role in the union, Sasha says: ‘It’s all women but it’s sort of bridging the gap between [trans and cis women] because I don’t think there should be a bridge, I think there should be one playing field’. The union’s approach to tackling this issue is studentfacing. As well as working with other officers in the union on LGBT involvement, Sasha engages with societies and clubs to make sure student voices are represented: ‘There is bound to be at least one LGBT person in any society, so it’s making sure they’re happy and involved and help them have a good experience at university. But it’s also making sure everyone else around them is aware and also has a good experience, because we’re

all equal anyway so why not let everyone have the same experience?’ What exactly is stopping trans students from joining sports clubs? Sporting stereotypes have long been an issue, with sports like rugby seen as hyper masculine and clubs in general appearing as “cliques”. Pair that with a widespread misunderstanding of transgender issues and trans people are much less likely to join a sports club than any cis student. Sasha, however nervous about it, decided to join Kent Cheer last year: ‘Going in, I was very, very apprehensive with it because cheerleading you would assume that it would be very girly and they might not be good with it. But they were lovely. Everyone got me involved, not treating me any

different.’ Joining a sports club has benefits in terms of health and fitness, but it also has many other personal benefits that many trans students may be missing out on because of this stigma. Sasha said of her personal experience with joining Kent Cheer: ‘I wanted to join because I didn’t have the typical experience that most girls have growing up because if you were cis female, you might get pushed for it, whereas in my situation, you don’t get that. I thought I’d get the chance to do it now, so I might as well go for it if you want to do something, just go for it. I made some really good friends and it helped me get involved

Continued on Sports Page 1