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Issue 9.7
29th November 2013
recipe of the week
iq features - page 11
university of kent gender divide InQuire Special Report Charlotte Truman
JUST 26 of the University of Kent’s 142 professors are female, highlighting a trend at the University. Recently, the online magazine Times Higher Education researched the gender divide of professors at UK universities. Some universities were reported as having ratios as low as 1:10 female to male professors, with statistics showing that top ranking professions are still male dominated. The Times Higher Education report also noted that researchintensive universities tended to have lower numbers of female professors, while those that specialised in arts and humanities subjects had more equal staff ratios. Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in the 2011-12 academic year showed that country-wide, 20.8% of professors are female, and 45.1% of non-academic staff. Of the 135 institutions included in the survey, the University of Kent ranked 37th, with 18.2% female professors. The University did a lot better when it came to the statistics for non-professorial academic staff and all academic staff, both professorial and non: 46.2%
team kent open forum
sport - back page
kent students vote in asvs
Dan English Newspaper Sport Editor
Image by Kent Women’s Campaign
and 43.1% respectively. However, the lack of females holding prominent positions appears throughout the University. Within the academic schools at the university, only three currently have women as their heads, compared to the 15 which are lead by males. None of the three faculties Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences - have female Deans and there is also currently only one female college master.
This has been a trend within Kent Union as well. Since the University was founded in 1965, there have been 11 female presidents of Kent Union, as opposed to 44 men who have held the same position. The University has a 52:48 ratio of females to males respectively at student level, so there is not a statistical gender inequality. Outside of the University there is also a gender divide.
For example, 22% of MPs are female, and women are still paid nearly 10% less than men for the same jobs. However, with the introduction of university wide student and staff led campaigns, and with Kent Union in which three of the five sabbatical officers are female, the University of Kent is starting to reverse the trend of male domination throughout the University of Kent and Kent Union.
THE reuslts of Kent Union’s All Student Votes were declared invalid after the votes failed to meet quoracy. The vote failed to meet quoracy (the number of voters needed for a valid result) which is 300, but had 282 voters in total. The results of the four motions put forward for vote were unveiled on the Kent Union website. They were motions that had not achieved consensus during the November Democracy Zones. The first result announced being “Kent Union should investigate introducing more ways of rewarding exceptional volunteers”. This received just 213, the lowest total overall. The second was “Kent Union should lobby all academic Schools to provide Employability Officers” at 216 votes. “The University should explore flexible assessment weighting where possible” achieved 235 votes, meaning that this too was void. Finally, with 274 votes, “Kent Union should look into the feasibility of reintroducing a social space or bar in Rutherford” also failed to reach the necessary level of voters.
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News Editor’s Note
Hey everyone, I hope you’ve all recovered from the stress/excitement/lack of any other available conversation with friends that was the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special. If you haven’t, you can read about it twice (yes, twice) in this issue of InQuire. Or, you can turn to Entertainment and Features for three exciting interviews with the director of T:24’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and some of the cast of the Marlowe’s pantomime. Christmas is coming. Matt. InQuireMedia
2013/2014 Editorial contacts: Alasdair Lawrence Chairman chairman Matthew Gilley - Editor newspaper.editor Chad Greggor - Website Editor website.editor Newspaper: Christopher Heron - News newspaper.news Samantha Baldwin - Comment newspaper.comment Emma Shelton - Features newspaper.features Rebekah Chilvers - Culture newspaper.culture Emily Adams - Entertainment newspaper.entertainment Dan English - Sports newspaper.sport Website: Simon Terhaag - News website.news Tom Vine - Comment website.comment Tom Hagues - Features website.features Caroline Wadham - Entertainment website.entertainment Emma Greenacre - Culture website.culture Hetty Sieling - Distribution distribution LaShanda Seaman - Promotions and Events events Daniel Barnby - Design design To contact the committee, add @ inquiremedia.co.uk to the end of the address under their name.
report: link between family background and uni Oliver Kenton
THE Sutton Trust has released a report which has caused some controversy on family background and access to high status universities. The study highlighted Dr John Jerrim’s study investigated this correlation, uncovering some fairly shocking finds. Firstly, he discovered that children who come from a disadvantaged background are often less likely to become developed in the skills that these universities demand, such as reading and cognitive skills. In addition, Dr Jerrim discovered that children with parents in professional roles are roughly three times more likely to enter a high status university, such as the Russell Group universities, than people from those from lower income working class families. One interesting find that Dr Jerrim made was the economic value that going to these higher status universities provides. Graduates from higher status end up on average with a much
higher first time salary and a much higher average lifetime salary. Young people from lower classes are less likely to obtain positions in the high status universities which are where you are more likely to gain a better salary, thus often stay in the working class. In response, Oxford University has recently been quoted as saying, “We don’t just want thick rich kids,” which has caused equal quantities of controversy. Statistical evidence shows that there is 73% of admissions at ‘high status’ universities is based on academic achievement, but the other 27% is based off of other factors. It is not just gaining a place in these high status universities that is a cause of concern though. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has performed research which has discovered statistics that one out of five students do not leave university with a bachelor degree.
Statistical research into this has uncovered that young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are far more likely to drop out of university (Powdthavee and Vignoles, 2009). The research that has been carried out towards the cost of university and whether this is an issue with lower socioeconomic classes. Research has also uncovered that the cost of one year of university at the London School of Economics is £18,500 and one year at the University of
Oxford is £16,000 which can be too high for many working class students, even with a student loan. Figures released by the Office of National Statistics indicate that there is also an accessibility divide in the north and south of the country, with 60% of the population of Inner London having gone to university, and only 29% of the population of the North East of England having done the same. The full Sutton Report can be found at: http://bit. ly/17ou8qm
Photo by AlbertHerring
lecturers set to strike again on 3rd december Christopher Heron Newspaper News Editor LECTURERS around the country are set to strike again after the failure of talks between the unions and the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). The strike, which is set for Tuesday 3rd December (at the time of writing), is as a result of the lack of an improved deal for lecturers’, despite strike action on 31st October. The University and College Union (UCU), Unite, Unison and the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) are all set to strike in December. The strikes on the 31st October received considerable student support around the country, with several universities amassing hundreds of students in support of the strike. Around 30 protestors were present at the Canterbury campus of the University of Kent, with two present at the Medway campus. The UCU head of bargaining, Michael MacNeil, said: “UCU members took strike action last month because they refused to accept the employers’ pay offer
and yet another real-terms pay cut. If we are to stand any chance of resolving this dispute the employers need to improve the offer that started the row in the first place. “We are naturally disappointed that the employers chose not to improve the offer, but we remain hopeful there can be talks before the strike on Tuesday 3 December.” In response to this, a
spokesperson for the UCEA said: “Any announcement of further industrial action is naturally disappointing.” At the time of writing, a motion has been tabled for the Union Coucil to vote on whether Kent Union should support the strike, in the same way as the 31st October strike. The motion, proposed by VP Education Alex Murray and seconded by VP Welfare Megan
Wells, would be in effect in the interim before the next Union Council meeting on the 12th December. The motion argues that fair pay would attract “excellent staff”, and so benefit students. Critics of the motion have argued that the strike does have a negative impact on students due to influence it will have on lectures and seminars on the day of the strike.
Photo by Jacob Cunningham
News 3
opposition to immigration bill Christopher Heron Newspaper News Editor
KENT Union are supporting a campaign against the Immigration Bill currently going through the House of Commons, due to the effect it would have on international students coming to study at the University of Kent. The Immigration Bill, which is intended to make it easier to deport foreign criminals and cut the number of appeals, as well as bringing in legislation which would bring charges to temporary residents of the United Kingdom using NHS services, which includes foreign students. The Kent Union Campaign, titled “Don’t Shut the Door on International Students”, highlights how the charges (which are cited to be up to £200 a year) are discriminatory and impractical. The campaign also argues against the introduction of fines for private landlords who’s tenants do not have adequate documentation to remain in
the UK, calling it “effectively [making] unregulated and untrained private landlords a new branch of the UK border police”. A further point of the campaign is an argument against the removal of the right to appeal for visa applications or extensions, noting how the 50% of appeals were upheld in the last year, with 70% of those due to errors in the application process. The campaign supports an National Union of Studentsendorsed petition against the bill, as well as giving a template of a letter to send to MPs and ministers, as well as encouraging international students to write to their embassies. The Bill, which at the time of writing is at the Report Stage of its passage through the House of Commons, has had little opposition in the House of Commons so far, with the second reading being passed by 303 votes to 18. Theresa May, the Home Secretary said: “The bill will clamp down on the those who
police try to spy on students Alice Henshall A video has emerged of a police officer approaching an activist asking them to be an informant on the political activities of students at the University of Cambridge in return for money. The activist secretly filmed the encounter to expose the activity by the police. The officer was attempting to obtain information about student involvement in groups such as UK Uncut, Unite Against Fascism and antifracking groups. The encounter itself involved the officer using phrases such as “Try not to think about it” and “If you think too much about it, you’ll start tying yourself up in knots’” in his attempt to persuade the student to become an informant. The event has caused extreme criticism from several activist and student groups, with Cambridge Students’ Union saying that they were “alarmed” at the incident. The Deputy President of the National Union of Students, Rachel Wenstone, responded to the incident saying: “This revelation is an absolute
scandal. Students’ unions do fantastic work to defend the rights of students in colleges and universities and these measures completely undermine students’ civil liberties, their right to protest, and to work collectively to improve society. “To group the activities of hardworking students’ unions within the same realm as those of the EDL is grossly offensive. “This is yet another example of the questionable tactics that undercover police officers have taken in recent years to infiltrate campaign groups and extract information. “We now need to know just how widespread this practice is. The IPCC seriously need to investigate this and put an end to these practices.” Cambridge Police have commented on the situation, saying: “Officers use covert tactics to gather intelligence, in accordance with the law, to assist in the prevention and detection of criminal activity.” The University of Cambridge however did not comment, saying that the matter was a concern for the police. The video can be found at: http://bit.ly/1fDOBNi
live in the UK illegally and take advantage of our services. “That’s not fair to the British public and it’s not fair to the legitimate migrants who contribute to our society and our economy.” Alex Murray, VP Education for Kent Union said: “Of those subject to visa controls international students are already the most heavily regulated, monitored and pay the most into the UK economy for the duration of their stay. “The further monitoring and regulation proposed by the Government is unnecessary, will cost more than it benefits and will unfairly target a group that contributes a phenomenal amount not just economically, but to the strength and diversity of our education sector.” Approximately 22% of students at the University of Kent coming from overseas. Statstics from the UK Council for International Student Affairs indicated that in 201112 that there were 435,230 international students in the UK.
decemeber mental health week Dominic Jones KENT Union will be hosting a series of events for Mental Health week, which starts on Monday 2nd December. The week is aimed at encouraging students to look after their mental health and bring awareness of the support services available for those who need it. Currently, the events include a giant map being placed outside of Essentials throughout the week, which international students can mark where they have come from. Both international and UK students will be asked to write postcards home during the event
and be displayed on a plinth, both of these aimed at raising awareness of homesickness and how it can affect anyone. Another event being hosted on Wednesday 4th December is ‘How long is a minute?’, a stall aimed at promoting time management and maintaining a good work-life balance, an issue that can cause considerable distress amongst students. Mental Health Issues affects a considerable number of students. The Association for University and College Counselling says that 3-10% of the student population use couselling services. The NHS website highlights depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia and drink and drug related issues affecting students heavily. Both the University and Kent Union offers a large range of support services, including counselling services on both campuses. The various University Support Services can be found at: http://bit.ly/1bfEaQO
ulu president arrested at protest Felix Morris
THE arrest of a students’ union president following a protest is claimed to be “a clear attack on the right to protest.” Michael Chessum, president of the University of London Union (ULU), was apprehended by police on 14th November in connection with a demonstration on the 13th which Chessum organised. The protest was against the planned closure of ULU. Witnesses claim Chessum was “intercepted by several police officers” leaving the ULU building in Bloomsbury, after a meeting with the University of London management. A statement released by ULU said the arrest was “a transparent and shameful attempt to intimidate students from demonstrating against the actions of university management”. The arrest was also opposed by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, who said: “NCAFC utterly condemns this shameful arrest... The demonstration Michael helped organise in his role as ULU President was peaceful and part
of a proud history of student dissent. The students protest didn’t even leave the pavement for goodness sake!” Speaking to The Independent, ULU vice-president Dan Cooper said he believed Mr Chessum was arrested “on the grounds that ULU failed to properly notify police” of the protest. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that “a 24-yearold man was arrested under
Section 11 of the Public Order Act” on 14th November. Section 11 covers informing the police of an organised protest. On the day of the arrest, around 60 students gathered outside Holborn Police Station where Chessum is being held to protest his incarceration. Chessum has since been released. A referendum on the future of the ULU is currently being held until 12th December.
Photograph by Kaihsu
4
News
gulbenkian joins record doctor who gpa system to be trialled James Osborne The Gulbenkian Cinema took part in the worldwide simultaneous broadcast of the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special episode on Saturday. It was the first worldwide simulcast of a pre-recorded programme. The special, entitled ‘The Day of the Doctor’, was broadcast in 94 different countries throughout the world, including the USA, Germany and Russia, to celebrate 50 years of the Doctor’s adventures in time and space. In the vast majority of those countries it was shown at exactly the same time as it was in the UK. The Gulbenkian and hundreds of other cinemas around the world also screened the episode ‘live’ in 3D. It was also broadcast in 3D for those with compatible televisions. The Gulbenkian’s first screening was sold out days before the event and as a result the episode was screened again the following day. According to unofficial overniht figures it was watched by 10.2 million people in the UK. This does not include those who recorded it, or those
watching on BBC iPlayer and in the multiple participating cinemas. Official figures for other countries are not yet available. The global simulcast of the 75 minute episode flew in the face of the recent trend for using on demand services, such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer, which has seen ‘live’ ratings for TV episodes dip as audiences have preferred to watch them when they choose. “Few TV shows can still lay claim to being appointment viewing, but Doctor Who takes this to another level,” said Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide. The special was however made available on BBC iPlayer soon after it was televised. The episode, in which Matt Smith is joined by previous TARDIS resident David Tennant, was broadcast fifty years to the day since William Hartnell first appeared as the time-travelling Doctor. It also stars John Hurt, and features the Daleks, as well the return of the Zygons, a fan favourite who have not appeared on television since 1975. In the UK, the broadcast was surrounded by an abundance of
celebratory television and radio programmes throughout the week. These included The Science of Doctor Who, in which physicist Brian Cox explores some of the scientific background to the show, and An Adventure in Time and Space, a drama telling the story of the creation of the programme in 1963. Doctor Who continues on Christmas Day with Matt Smith’s final episode as The Doctor.
Photo by Magnus Manske
Melissa East THE American grade-point average (GPA) system is currently being trialled in approximately 20 universities and colleges, in a pilot scheme intended to commence next year. At present, universities mark undergraduate work on a scale of third, second, to first class. However, with an average of two-thirds of students graduating with uppersecond class degrees, there has been concern that the existing marking system does not distinguish students’ achievements adequately. In the American points system, work is marked on a scale of 0 to 4.25 over the course of their degree, which many believe more accurately illustrates the abilities of students. With the highest grade being a 4.25, an equivalent of a high first, other classifications are distinguished by margins of 0.5. A lower second-class is correspondent to 3.00, and an upper second-class equivalent to 3.50. One of the advantages of introducing the system into UK universities is that, unlike
the current system, students would not narrowly miss out on a higher grade. In Britain, the difference between an upper secondclass and a lower second-class could be less than 1%, but in the job market, it could mean potentially getting a very different salary. A spokesperson for the University of Edinburgh, one of the universities involved in the pilot scheme, said: “We have no plans to replace the existing divisions of degrees, but are exploring alternatives and supplements that might help our students as they move into employment.” The system would be particularly advantageous to students wishing to pursue a career overseas upon graduation, as many international employers often do not recognise the current British grading system when hiring graduates. Institutions such as The University of Hong Kong have been providing students with a GPA as well as degree classifications, as this is thought to present a clearer representation of students’ academic achievements.
interfaith week: what does faith look like to you?
Christopher Heron Newspaper News Editor KENT Union ran InterFaith Week from 18th November to the 22nd November, hosting a series of events on the Canterbury campus highlighting the various faith groups around campus. There was a faith trail around campus on the Wednesday, which visited the various faiths on campus, including
Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. The week culminated in a forum on ‘Faith within the student experience’ on the Thursday, focusing on what role faith can have in the life of students. Another of the questions asked at the forum was what provisions could be made for students faiths with a small representation on campus. It was also noted that there
is currently no Sikh or Hindu chaplain present at the University. Part of the final event was a photo competition, in which students, including some of the faith groups, were asked to send in photos under the subject: ‘What does faith look like to you?’ Some of the entries into the competition are pictured on the right.
Comment 5
christmas guilt: ‘tis the season to be giving? Emma Brazell YOU walk out of the shops with a smile on your face and a sense of satisfaction. Your Christmas shopping is over. You found that necklace your sister wanted. The decorations you put up last week look just right. You wonder if you’re going to get that new iPad you asked for. Just as you struggle through the manic masses of crazed lastminute shoppers you hear the familiar sound of jingling. It’s a charity worker with a near-empty money box. Staring down at your multitude of heavy shopping bags, you hastily pull out your last pieces of change and slide them in the box. Christmas guilt is a common virus that infects the globe at the end of every year. Tis the season to be jolly after all, provoking us to act more charitably. Statistics have proven that giving to charities increases by almost 20% in the holiday season. But why do we help the homeless man on the street in December, whereas in March we may walk straight past him without a second thought? Christmas tends to be an over
indulgent time, the average British family spending £700 every year on presents, food and alcohol. It has recently been reported that over 80,000
news stories to pull at our heart strings, not to mention our purse strings. There’s no denying that when we’re relaxing on the sofa with a
can safely convince ourselves that there’s no purpose in giving some spare change to the woman sleeping on the pavement - she probably
children will spend Christmas in temporary accommodation, not even taking into account the unrecognized homeless British who sleep on a friend’s sofa or in a squat house, this being only one of the numerous
glass of wine and a full stomach, we do feel that extra pang of guilt when an advertisement for a homeless shelter appears on the television, leading us to ashamedly reach for our wallet. Other times of the year, we
wouldn’t even use it for food right? - or perhaps the person a few steps behind us might stop to help instead, saving us from the effort. In the holiday season on the other hand, it feels somehow more ... appropriate
to support others in need. The fact that Britain is duplicitous in this case is undeniable. We indulge more in the holidays, so we feel we should give more. There is little question about the fact that we should want to buy a homeless person a sandwich in January, February, March, April, and so on. Nevertheless, one could argue that Christmas guilt is healthy and should be encouraged on a certain level. +It is a given that charities need money at any time of the year and it shouldn’t take an overflow of crackers and carol services to convince us to donate. But at least we’re helping. Christmas is a time when many people look around them and think just how lucky they are. If this persuades them to lend a helping hand to those a little less lucky, then so be it. Britain, being the 7th richest country in the world has no doubt been caught red handed in the shame of holiday hypocrisy. However, one can’t criticize a holiday that turns Ebenezer Scrooges’ into Mother Teresas’ - even if their motive is guilt.
gap years: not exclusively for students Oliver Haslam THE prospect of, at the age of 30, packing up and disappearing to Asia mid-way through a well-established career seems unheard of, yet I’ve always clung to the mindset of a job being something to fund the hobbies and pleasures in life. Now, perhaps, that’s just youthful naivety, but I reject the notion of one singular chance to experience the world pre- or post-uni in the form of a gap year. Instead, the chance to reward and reinvigorate myself with novel experiences and travel after establishing a solid career seems far more constructive and beneficial to my wellbeing. I assume the majority of readers have spent much of their lives rambling through education, from the innocence of primary school, to the insanity of secondary school and university, all with one goal in mind: to achieve a desirable
job. Often presented within this progression is the importance of the revered gap year as your only opportunity to experience the wonders of the world, whether that be providing volunteer childcare in Thailand or traversing through India in a search of self-enlightenment. But what if you don’t take a gap year? If you were to just go to uni, get your degree and land yourself a promising career, does the rest of the world and all its wonder and adventure become closed off to you just because you missed your one-year window of opportunity? I should perhaps mention my year spent out of education. Instead of spending 6 months at an elephant conservation centre in Sri Lanka, I chose to spend my year in the majestic United Kingdom, harassing any news room or establishment vaguely related to journalism for work experience. Luckily I had a great year of internships involving film
making and working in a BBC news room. However, I couldn’t help but find myself feeling slightly envious when viewing the photos of my friend’s ‘oncein-a-life-time’ backpacking expedition through Vietnam (these being posted on Facebook whilst I made tea for the producer of a regional news broadcast… oh, the joys of work experience). I bring up my own experiences to highlight the p o s s i b i l i t y of pushing the opportunity for adventure to the wayside in order to make room for a year of work experience and CV development, in the hope of standing out within an oversaturated job market. Without being too depressing, I find myself feeling rather cynical when considering the possibility of, in 20 years’ time, finding myself sat in an office, doing the job I worked so hard to achieve and yet feeling resentment over missing my opportunity to look after
elephants in another country when I was 18. Therefore, I suggest the career-break should carry far more value than the current gap-year. In 20 years’ time I want to be able to walk away from the tedious emails and the meetings
and disappear into another country’s wilderness for a while, only to return feeling enlivened and energized, armed with anecdotes from my travels that I can share with the overlyenthusiastic intern bringing me my tea.
6
Comment
size doesn’t matter, says debenhams Lauren King
DEBENHAMS has become the country’s first mainstream high street retailer to use size 16 mannequins in an attempt to better represent real women. These new, larger mannequins will be positioned amongst the slimmer size 10 frames in an attempt to accurately reflect the average size of modern British women, which has grown in ten years from a size 12 to a size 16. Ed Watson, a director of Debenhams, said: “We felt it was important to better represent what real women actually look like when advertising our clothes.” What strikes me is the fact that retailers are using such different sizes, i.e. size 10 or size 16, rather than using a range of shapes and sizes of mannequins to portray ‘real’ women. Furthermore, what Watson’s statement seems to imply is that only weightier women qualify as being ‘real’, a
potentially insulting remark to those who are naturally slim. Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of this century. The World Health Organisation’s figures for 2011/12 show that 19.2% of children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) were obese and a further 14.7% were overweight. With such worrying figures, it is understandable that many argue that if plus size models - although by no means obese - are portrayed as the norm, we will believe that being overweight is acceptable. This all seems a bit extreme for my liking. I think it’s brilliant that larger women are now beginning to be officially recognised as part of the fashion industry. These mannequins, although they are few and far between in popular high street retailers, help to show that beauty does come in many different forms and should be celebrated as such.
Many a time have I walked past a shop window, seen skinny mannequins in the most unnatural positions and wondered why on earth this is seen as a clever marketing. The way I see it, the larger mannequins, with a more natural positioning, are far more accessible to the average consumer. However, going straight to larger sizes instead of creating variety in fashion is clearly not the answer. The next step is to bring the two together, introducing more variety into mannequin sizes, to illustrate how anyone can portray the image of beauty, since, for me, beauty has no ideal form. In my eyes, the use of plus size models in fashion isn’t the answer - diversity is. Most women fall between the two extremes, and until our own oddly placed lumps, bumps and rolls are represented, the ideal image of women will remain widely misrepresented.
why charity doesn’t have to start at home George Hopkin THERE is an old adage that ‘charity starts at home’. With Typhoon Haiyan, that simply hasn’t been applicable. To give some idea of the scale of the disaster, since the typhoon hit the Philippines on 7th November, the United Nations (UN) has claimed that more than 11 million people have been affected, and 673,000 have been displaced. Anywhere between 2,000 and 10,000 people may have been killed. The number is uncertain; the bodies haven’t been counted. Out of the storm has come a wave of compassion, and if there has been anything to smile about it is that as people from the other side of the world have been hit, the rest of the world community seems to have responded with charity and kindness. A similar thing happened in 2010 with the Haiti earthquake crisis: we pulled together to support a nation that was actually being torn apart, and charity efforts were widespread. Valerie Amos, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and
Emergency Relief, said that today in the Philippines “they need food, they need water, they need shelter. People need to be protected.” It is something that we, as individuals, can do through donation. Even we students can afford to donate a pound or two. Politically, aid is something that our governments can help with too, and are helping with at the moment.
The UK government stepped up its support by putting forward a support package of around £10m, including emergency shelter, water, and utility items. It has also sent Royal Navy ships to provide assistance in helping people and communities. So the idea of international aid is back in the spotlight. In Austerity Britain, it was never going to be popular with some
to freeze the aid budget while cuts are being made elsewhere, and aid won’t be too popular, perhaps, until those who do not understand international aid get a different picture of it through finding out why we engage in it. You see, not only does a good aid budget cynically put us on the top table for international relations, and improve our image in the global community,
but it means we can genuinely help other nations – and other peoples – to pick themselves up and progress. Besides providing a crucial temporary relief, funding will also help with long-term plans by prioritising infrastructuredevelopment, teaching better farming techniques, and making sure that clean water is more of a constant, and not just a luxury. These are all good things and make sure that the ladder of safety and prosperity is not pulled up behind us. On top of these positives, aid spending makes up only 0.7% of our national income - a relatively tiny fraction when looking at the entire government budget. And if we do not give what little we can, then the consequences of our actions will come back to haunt us in politics, economics, and social justice. There has to be scepticism of the view that charity starts at home; we need to see that there are people elsewhere that are struggling harder than us, where Britain’s contributions of the only means of aid available. With the Philippines at the moment, this is most certainly the case.
Comment 7
is channel 4’s bedlam exploiting the ill? Matthew Magee
BEDLAM is a new documentary series on Channel 4 all about mental health and the people it affects. Each of the series four episodes focuses on a small selection of the South London and Maudsley psychiatric hospital’s staff and patients. Participants in the show are given the opportunity (albeit framed within the guiding narration of the all-knowing Man Voice) to talk about their experiences of mental health problems and the ways in which these are treated. The show, so Channel 4 says, “boldly challenges myths and taboos about mental illness”. From what I have seen, the show is informative to a degree—television can only ever be informative to a degree— and undoubtedly powerful. It moved me anyway. I don’t suppose anything is intrinsically moving, but my experience of the show was one of interest, occasional hilarity, and deep poignancy. There were extremely sad moments too. The part in Episode 3 which showed the sectioning of Rosemary, a paranoid schizophrenic, made
for painful viewing, the camera pointed at the house, the ambulance parked ominously outside, and the sound of Rosemary in her home, shouting in distress. Not a pleasant thing to contemplate. Mental illness is not a pleasant thing. But I don’t go in for the idea that Bedlam is exploitative. Or, rather, it is no more exploitative than any documentary of this kind inherently is, be it showing the aftermath of a terrible war, investigating the ritual practices of a rural community in Kenya, or interviewing drug addicts on the streets of Chicago. There is something inherently sinister, cynics will argue, about intruding on people’s lives with a camera crew, shaping your own neatly-edited, hour-long programme out of the material you gathered as you see fit and then receiving a pay cheque. In the case of Bedlam, you might also say, “These people are ill— how can they properly give their consent to be filmed?” These are unavoidable problems associated with the medium of documentary film. Of course you must create something that is accessible and engaging for audiences. Of course the
presence of cameras makes your exchanges with people in some way artificial. Of course you cannot show everything that happens. Of course you cannot be exhaustively informative. Neither is there an absolute authority capable of determining whether or not
consent that has been obtained to film someone is valid. Every medium has its conventions and limitations, and the validity or invalidity of consent, in these sorts of circumstances, is an irresolvable question. Suffice to say, if a programme
like Bedlam fills me with feelings of humanity, and opens up my world that little bit wider, then I see nothing wrong with it. Never mind high-minded objections and cynical complaints. The show made me feel, and that’ll do me nicely.
music videos: are age-ratings necessary? Yes
No
Chad Greggor Website Editor
Dan English Newspaper Sport Editor
DAVID Cameron’s recent escapade on sexualisation has seen a number of changes, most recently including plans to enforce age restrictions on music videos. The mere fact that a music video exists where a buttnaked, skeletal Miley Cyrus straddles a swinging wrecking ball symbolic of an inflamed testicle proves without a doubt that some age restriction is necessary. But that is not where the argument for age restriction ends. While I don’t believe that children re-enact everything they see on TV, I do believe that today’s media portrays women in such a way that suggests they can only get noticed by showing some skin, and teaches men that the only reason a woman should be noticed is if she’s naked and cow-girling a wrecking ball, or
THERE have been fresh calls in recent weeks to place age restrictions upon music videos, to prevent impressionable children and teens being affected by the actions of our current pop generation. It is quite understandable that parents are concerned, as the sexualisation of music content has been heightened recently, with examples such as twerking and the Blurred Lines video highlighted as being bad for kids. Age ratings have been suggested in order to keep children away from such content, but I don’t believe that it is the responsibility of the music companies to take steps to prevent children being exposed to this content. Music videos have always been controversial, even the great Duran Duran were once
grinding Robin Thicke’s zebra crotch. Just because the government wants to abate sexualisation in mainstream media doesn’t mean that they’re prudish. Any form of censorship of sex since the end of the Victorian age has been seen as backward, prudish and totalitarian. But how much sex is too much? And how early should the innocence of children be usurped by the reality of adult sexuality? Age restrictions on music
videos won’t prevent children from seeing them, but what they will do is set the standard of what is accepted in mainstream media. I don’t begrudge the existence of music videos featuring seminudity and phallic-symbols in abundance, but if they are considered the norm, then society will follow the path of least resistance and assume these roles: the woman the object, the man the fully clothed patriarch.
censured because of their ‘Girls on Film’ video, which featured whipped cream and a fair amount of bondage. But to censor these controversial videos, and prevent them from being widely available, surely stifles creativity. I do not believe we should allow our future generations to grow up among a society that rejects certain methods of creativity just because it finds it a little distasteful. Music is an art form, and we shouldn’t restrict people’s access to art en masse. We have to accept that sex sells, and without it, the majority of the mainstream music industry would collapse. If parents are truly offended, then they should make their own personal attempts to block content in their own home, not expect the industry to cower to them. In essence, blame the parents for allowing their children to view the content, not the music industry for making it.
8
Editorial & Interview
is television killing politics? Caroline Wadham Website Entertainment Editor BALDNESS indicates bad leadership apparently. Since the first fully televised British Election not one Prime Minister has graced the doors of 10 Downing Street with a shiny head. Although I highly doubt that the baldness of a politician actually implies bad leadership, it got me thinking about the general British perception of politicians. Television has constantly portrayed them in a negative light. Does the pejorative way in which politicians are depicted in factual and satirical programmes encourage people to become disengaged with politics? More specifically, has television killed politics? Television is now, unsurprisingly, the medium by which the majority of us are spoon-fed policy ideas and election results. In the hectic
world in which we live the sound-bite nature of politics has meant that we are only given a snippet of the information that is available for us. For example, speeches from important political figures are now condensed to easy-todigest bites, cutting down an hour speech to 10 seconds at best. Barack Obama has been labelled by many as the SoundBite President, now famous for his to the point, headline-
perfect statements. Meaning that media are choosing which snippets to give to us instead of allowing us an education of politics it is an education of their opinion regarding politics. Does this mean that politics is now something which we can only hear or see about in small easy-to-manage doses for fear of an overdose? Take the nature by which politics is analysed on our screens as an example. These
programmes have now been banished to early morning, late at night or midday slots. Viewing figures are decreasing rapidly, unable to contend with prime time dramas that are engulfing our television screens Contrastingly, long-running satirical programmes are given prime-time evening slots are attract viewers in their million. This almost implies that there is no market for analytical politics that assess a surplus of views,
photo by blue square thing
however just enough for people to slate politicians. Elections in recent years have been likened to a beauty pageant rather than a political contest epitomised by the airbrushing on Cameron’s campaign poster during the 2010 general election. Despite the televised debates attracting viewers in their millions it was largely governed by charisma and articulation, as opposed to the content of the policies which they are promoting. Maybe this inattentiveness of the political side of politics is just natural progression, an example of the 21st century coping with the age-old norm of Westminster. After all, it must be better to have a Prime Minister who knows how to conduct himself in a conversation and deliver sound-bite worthy speeches than to know every country’s fiscal policy back to front. Perhaps I am being too idealistic in what I think a politician should be like.
emma greenacre gets converted to instagram Emma Greenacre Website Culture Editor INSTAGRAM. A world of selfies, hash tags and pictures of what people had for dinner yesterday. A world that has certainly taken hold since its release in 2010 but, what exactly is the attraction of Instagram? Perhaps it could be Instagram's easy, we-do-it-allfor-you photo editing abilities. The ex-photography student in me wants to cry at how easy it is to change the mood of a photograph by simply selecting a pre-made filter, when I used to spend hours digitally editing. Why do I have chop most of my photograph off to make it a perfect square? Can't Instagram comprehend rectangles? Then there are the people that think adding a filter to a photograph instantly makes it a piece of artwork. A fuzzy photograph of a tree with a hint of 'Mayfair' is not the next Turner Prize winner. Okay, so maybe Instagram isn't the pinnacle of photo editing but it's users probably aren't too bothered by that. If you're
a professional photographer you're probably going to use software that's a little more sophisticated and precise. So why do people use Instagram? With the ability to follow your friends and 'heart' their pictures definitely has the social networking element. In-fact it was snapped up by Facebook, the King (or tyrant) of all social networks in April 2012 which shows how much competition it was on the social networking front. With a feed not at all dissimilar to Facebook's you get to see all that's going on in your friends lives via photographs. It sort of feels like a picture-based journal, you get to see where your friends go, what they eat, what they're wearing, even if you don't care. There is a pretentiousness about it. At least that's what I told myself until I got an Instagram account last summer. Since then I've been addicted. I didn't want to be but Instagram Instantly (pun intended) became a part of my life. Every time I take a photograph on my mobile, I question what
it would look like downsized to a ratio of 16:9 and whether it would look nicer with a hint of 'Amaro'. At first, I had no idea what type of things I should post. So I just took photographs of things that caught my attention, landscapes, wildlife, architecture, things I would usually capture on my DSLR if I was lugging that around with me, all in the hope that I was 'using' Instagram correctly. It took me a month or so to realise that I'd got the hang of it. The point of Instagram is finding your own little niche, some people have fashion, artwork or funny anecdotes from their life as the main theme in their feed. The key to not getting irritated by pointless photos is following what or who interests you. Also, not everyone has jumped onto the photosharing bandwagon yet so you probably won't have to add your friend of a friend of a friend and be subjected to numerous photographs of Starbucks cartons with their name on. Instagram is all about capturing the little bits of life that you notice, sharing it with others, and when they like it
back, feeling rather good that someone else agrees with the awesomeness you captured. It may not be high-tech but it's alright for embellishing images hastily taken on a smartphone and yes, there'll always be the people that post what they eat for dinner every day but if that's not your thing you don't have to follow them.
photo by remysharp
The attraction of Instagram is it's balance of socialising and creativity. There's the saying, “A picture tells a thousand words”. Well, I'd certainly rather see one Instagram photograph of a snowman than a long ranting Facebook status about how unexpected and infuriating the weather is.
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the beauty of pantomimes iq features pg. 12
best next generation launch titles entertainment pg. 17
iq
photo by Tim Stubbings
best and worst superhero films IQ culture pg. 19
Photo by craigyboi
looking back at 50 years of doctor who iq culture pg. 18
review of reginald d hunter’s in the midst of crackers IQ entertainment pg. 15
IQ Features 11
roasted vegetable crumble
How can you be environmentally friendly with the food that you eat? Two simple suggestions would be to aim to buy fresh fruit and veg from the local market, and when possible, try to eat organic food. An alternative to The Goods Shed is Riverford Organic farms, an online organic supermarket who deliver fresh produce 20% cheaper than supermarkets. Ingredients 6 small red onions, quartered 400g sweet potatoes, cut in chunks 2tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves 2 large courgettes diced 100g baby mushrooms 350g plum tomatoes, quartered (however, any vegetables will do.) Crumble topping: 75g wholemeal flour 25g butter 40g wholemeal breadcrumbs 40g Parmesan cheese 25g mixed chopped nuts Instructions Preheat oven 190°C/gas 5. Put 30x20x4 cm dish in the oven for 10 minutes to warm up. Combine onions and sweet potatoes in a bowl, and drizzle over it 1 tbsp of olive oil. Roast in the dish for 30 minutes turning them over at 15 minutes. Blend remaining oil with garlic, and 1 tsp of thyme. Add remaining vegetables. Tip into the dish and cook for another 20 minutes. Meanwhile, put flour in a bowl and rub the butter in. Sprinkle over 1 tbsp cold water and mix together with breadcrumbs, cheese, nuts. Sprinkle the crumble mixture over vegetables. Bake for another 15-20 minutes until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven, and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
bike theft rife in canterbury Tom Currie Environment Officer
Picture the scene. It’s the beginning of reading week. You’ve worked hard all term and you are heading back home for some much needed R and R. A week later, you come back to University only to find that your bicycle has been stolen with nothing left but the pathetic remains of your bike chain. Sadly, for cyclists across the country, this is an all too regular occurrence. On 8th June 2011, the Guardian stated a total of 115,147 bikes had been reported stolen in 2010. However, given only a minority of people report the thefts, the paper estimated as many as 533,000 could have been stolen. Bike theft isn’t just a national issue. Since May 2013, according to Stolen Bike Statistics and UKCrimestats. com, at least 100 bikes have been stolen in the Canterbury region with 33 bikes alone being reported stolen in September. One of these belonged to Rose Thompson, a 3rd year UKC student, who had her bike stolen on Saturday 2nd November 2013 in Forty Acres
road. Despite having used a heavy duty lock to fix the tires to the bicycle frame, the thief simply picked up the bike and walked off with it. When questioned about the theft, Rose said: “Awareness is key; bike thieves are rampant in Canterbury so it is crucial that students keep their bike somewhere safe and use adequate security measures.” Students are particularly prone to bike theft as Campus Watch’s security manager Leigh Stevenson noted that “bike theft is the biggest crime we experience on campus.” Indeed, last year alone, 49 bikes were reported stolen to Campus Watch and 8 more have been reported stolen since the beginning of term.
how to be eco-friendly in 5 steps Natalie Turco-Williams
It’s a common misconception that being environmentally friendly is an expensive and time consuming lifestyle. After all, how many of us could actually afford to invest in solar panels or have time to grow our own vegetables? It’s just not realistic. The simple truth is that being eco-friendly doesn’t mean converting your house to look as though it were part of The Eden Project – it’s about being more conscious and doing your little bit. Just turning off a switch, something that is completely free to do, will help save the environment. So to help you go green on a budget, here are my five top tips.
Photo by Natalie Turco-Williams
Photo by Hotels Paris Rive Gauche
Photo by Rose Thompson
However, it’s not all doom and gloom as there are several steps students can take to stop bike thieves, as noted by Leigh: - Buy a decent lock. Campus Watch and Estates reception sell a gold standard D lock at a substantially subsidised rate of £20 (RRP £52.99). - Always lock your bike to a solid, immovable object (preferably in a designated bike storage area). - If you’re going to use a cheap lock, use both a cable lock and a D lock to lock your bike up. These security devices require different tools to break and thieves often only carry one type of tool. - Register your bike so that you can fetch it if it’s been recovered. Campus Watch offers free bicycle registration. - Keep your expensive bike at home and invest in a cheaper alternative. Estates rent bikes for as little as £25. Implementing just one of these measures would substantially reduce the risk of bike theft. After all, given you’ve taken the time to invest in a bike, it seems silly not to invest in some security.
Buy Local Buying local food farmed in Kent can be just as eco-friendly as going organic
and a lot cheaper as well. One of the closest places to buy local produce is at The Goods Shed on Station Road. Inside, they sell varied produce, and pride themselves on their produce being cheaper than in the supermarkets, like their apples. On your bike Get fit and help the environment at the same time – sounds like a winner to me. Cycling from campus to Canterbury, rather than using the bus, can save fuel and maybe turn into a new hobby. Bicycles can be expensive but at the moment, CyclingAge have created a scheme in conjunction with the Uni which lets students hire bikes for £25 a term with an additional deposit. There is only a limited amount though, so hurry. Cut Down To save resources and your wellearned cash, cut down on using things like heating and water. So if you’re cold, put on socks and hoodies instead of turning the thermostat up, or if you’re going to make a cup of tea, make sure you only boil the amount you need rather than filling up the whole kettle. Be Creative Don’t just chuck away a t-shirt because it has a small hole in it, or buy expensive
cosmetics products full of bad chemicals – get creative. Rather than throwing the t-shirt out, buy a needle and thread, and mend it yourself. Instead of buying cleansers or toners, make your own by using fruit and other natural ingredients hidden in your kitchen. Switch it off We’re always glued to our phones or engrossed in the latest game release, but for people who were born into the technology generation, it’s strange to think that we still use batteries as though they are part of the stone age. The fact is the average phone takes 3-4 hours to charge so leaving it on charge overnight, as most of us do, shortens the battery life and causes us to waste electricity that could have been saved by turning the socket off earlier. The same goes for laptops, leaving them plugged in constantly ruins the battery life.
Photo by kelly.sikkema
12
IQ Features
how to be perfect at perfectionism Kyle Boyd
Is perfectionism a good thing or a bad thing? To get you thinking, imagine that a university student is working to achieve a first classification for his degree, and for every assignment this objective is at the forefront of his mind. On his most recent assignment, he spent hours tirelessly working yet still, he was unable to write a word as he couldn’t seem to find the right way to start. After three rather stressful weeks, he managed to finish the 2,000 word assignment, handing it in just in time for the deadline. Is this an appropriate behavioural response to work?
Photo by notfrancois
What if, in spite of this seemingly overzealous approach, the same student is later awarded 85% for the essay? In addition to this, he seems to maintain successful relationships and enjoy an active social life? Perhaps perfectionism is an appropriate behaviour, when managed within an otherwise healthy lifestyle. There is a fine line between ‘adaptive’ (i.e. the ability for individuals to change a disruptive behaviour to something more constructive), and ‘maladaptive’ perfectionism. In our culture, we
move inexorably toward a need for achievement and goal attainment. However, whilst many can relate to this natural desire for good grades, for the sake of the grade rather than the learning process that comes with it, basing your self-worth on being perfect will only lead to disappointment. Here at the University of Kent, the Head of the School of Psychology, Professor Joachim Stoeber, is an expert in the field of perfectionism and motivation. In research, Professor Stoeber outlined the distinction between adaptive and maladaptive forms of perfectionism, and how they may manifest themselves in our behaviour. ‘Perfectionistic strivings’, for example, can predict higher performance beyond what is expected from an individual’s general ability. As described in The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Performance Psychology, psychologists have acknowledged that such strivings may form part of a “healthy pursuit of excellence”. ‘Perfectionistic concerns’, however, are considered to be the unhealthy manifestation of perfectionism and represent a serious risk to mental health. Such concerns include fear of mistakes, negative evaluation from others, as well as the feelings associated with instances when one’s actual level of performance doesn’t meet their expectations. Many people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer with perfectionistic concerns, and are so encapsulated in the anxiety associated
with it, that they engage in ritualistic behaviours to maintain control. Such rituals have been used in popular culture to define OCD, and might include rigidity of following the ‘rules’, repeating tasks until it ‘feels right’ and so on, although you don’t have to suffer with OCD to experience this pattern of thought.
Photo by Blumpy
Many students can feel the pressure of perfectionism too and find it difficult to keep motivation for tasks when consumed with the worry of imperfection. Whether your experience is anything like the one described in the scenario above, or not, there is something that may help us all when attempting to write an assignment on those lazy winter days. The best way to develop effective psychological remedies against perfectionism, and the resulting procrastination, is to devise treatments that reverse such behaviour. As a perfectionist, I find it extremely difficult to get started, so here’s my advice: take a risk, and write something down within the first couple of hours. It may not be perfect, but it is a start.
he’s behind you ... oh no he isn’t! Charlotte Amelia Smith
There are some traditions that make the Christmas season: lights on the tree, turkey in the oven, annoying Christmas carollers knocking at your door, and the yearly trip to the pantomime. Whether you love it for the family atmosphere, and the excitement of seeing the token ex soap star as the good fairy, or hate it for the cringe worthy audience participation, it’s a treasured part of our British culture that is still going strong centuries after it began. The beauty of the pantomime lies in its ability to entertain the whole family. The children occupied with the bright costumes, and shouting ‘boooo!’ as loudly as possible at the villain, and ‘he’s behind you!’ every time he sneaks into the background of the stage, while parents are kept entertained by the edge of subtle adult humour. Modern day performances take the stories of well-known fairy tales and inject them with musical numbers
Photo by Tim Stubbings
and comedy, a far throw from how the pantomime originated. Back in Roman times they were performed by a solo actor, who would mime out a mythological story. Although often accompanied with music, pantomime remained silent until the mideighteenth century, and it wasn’t until the 1840′s that pantomime, as we know it today, was established. In fact, some of the panto’s most famous elements are derived from the tradition of Twelfth Night, a medieval feast where it was customary for the
natural order of things to be reversed, with its most famous characteristic: the cross dressing tradition. An older female character, known as the Dame, is played by a man in drag to enhance comedy value, and the male lead is played by a woman. Such is the topsy turvy world of panto. Nowadays, pantomimes can be found not only in theatres but in venues such as village halls and community centres all over the country, regularly drawing in huge audiences. They are a great way of bringing people together at Christmas. On the surface, pantomime is certainly not part of the high culture of artistic performance, but for many, a pantomime is their very first experience of the theatre. So this year, if work is getting you down and you feel like a festive boost, why not see a panto? After all, who doesn’t love a man in drag and a bit of corny audience participation just before Christmas?
news in science
Stefan Vassalos
Want a bigger brain? Make more friends... New research suggests that there are parts of the social butterfly’s brain that are larger and better connected than the brain of someone less sociable. On 13th November, researchers at Oxford University, led by MaryAnn Noonan, published their study of 18 men and women and their social lives. Concerning the participants with larger friendship groups, the area of their brains that reacts to sociability – located in the section which monitors the behaviour of others – was betterdeveloped and showed stronger connections with the area of the brain related to empathy. So are sociable people just wired that way from birth? MaryAnn Noonan doesn’t think so: “If I hedged my bets, I’d say the brain is changing in response to social network size”, but “if you come from a sociable family, your brain is predisposed to that.” Either way, next time you forgo an evening of study for a night out, you can tell yourself that you’re just developing your brain... Alcohol without the side-effects? Healthcare practitioners and bacchic revellers, take heed. Does the idea of an intoxicating beverage that doesn’t poison your brain, heart and liver sound too good to be true? Not according to the neuropsychopharmacology professor and former government advisor David Nutt, who guest-lectured at Kent in 2012. In an 11th November article from The Guardian, he says it’s possible to create an “alcohol surrogate that makes people feel relaxed and sociable and remove the unwanted effects, such as aggression and addictiveness.” Along with an antidote that could be sold alongside the new substance, Professor Nutt thinks he’s on the way to developing a safer version of humanity’s oldest drug, which kills 2.5 million people per year. Perhaps most remarkably, after trying some of the experimental compounds himself, he reported that “I was quite relaxed and sleepily inebriated for an hour or so, then within minutes of taking the antidote I was up giving a lecture with no impairment whatsoever.”
IQ Features 13
60 seconds: what would you grab? Caitlin Webb
When I was asked the question “If your house is on fire and you have 60 seconds to go, what would you grab?”, I found it hard to think of what I would take. I don’t own designer handbags, first edition books, ancient artefacts or family heirlooms. I don’t have “cash in the attic” and I know that I don’t need half of the things I have in my room. We live in a consumerist society where we buy things because we want them, rather than because we need them. I know that my world wouldn’t end if my all I owned burst into flames. My revision and study notes are online, my photos are on Facebook, my music collection is on Spotify but even then, I could quite easily (if I remember to rescue my wallet) buy everything again. However, I have possessions that are irreplaceable.
Photo by Caitlin Webb
My Memory Board I would save my pin board, made by my mother for my tenth birthday, which is covered in souvenirs from my travels. If this burnt down with my house, I would have to re-visit people and places, from shops to museums, from metro stations to protests, from Madrid to Mexico. Even then, some of it is so unique to my visit that I could never experience those places the same way again! I now have a photo of this pin board at University, and its presence keeps me motivated to write and stay productive. My notebook and pen I know this is typical for a writer to say but being a typical writer, I carry a notebook around with me everywhere I go. My notebook is invaluable. Saving it would allow me to put the world to rights and keep the thousands of pounds that you’d spend on a therapist to overcome the torment of having forgotten to rescue your wallet and practical items from the flames. My jewellery box I keep this little box by my bed. For every landmark birthday, I have been given jewellery as a present. I received a necklace and charms for my eighteenth, and for my twenty-first I got vintage
broaches and earrings. I was given these to keep for a lifetime. Also, some are from my travels and hold sentimental value which makes them irreplaceable.
events Friday 29th November #Trend Saturday 30th November Soap presents ‘Glow Fun Fair’ Tuesday 3rd December LGBT Christmas party
Photo by Caitlin Webb
My phone My phone drives me insane. It makes me act like a zombie when it wakes me up with notifications from Facebook, Snapchats, WhatsApps and emails. I can’t seem to escape being in contact with the world when I have a smart phone. However, that is precisely why I should save it from a fire; at least my family and friends will know that I’m not dead. But then again, maybe a kind fire fighter will lend me their phone? Now that I’ve hypothetically saved my belongings, I will literally back up my files online and not leave my straighteners on!
Wednesday 4th December Jelli Baby presents ‘I’m a Celebrity’ Thursday 5th December ‘Skepta’ live Friday 6th December #Trend Saturday 7th December Soap presents the biggest Winter event: The Snow Ball. Get all your friends to go along, dress up fancily, and have a great Christmas night out. Wednesday 11th December Jelli Baby WKD presents The Spotify Headphone Disco
creative writing: student poetic talent Jonjo Brady
A man patiently sits waiting for a train The man happens to be on fire Flames are billowing out from his sleeves and cuffs His shoes are starting to melt
The woman next to the man wishes to say something Mention it to him That he is burning But she is drowning She is consumed in water It seeps out from her eyes and her mouth A steady stream of water drips down from her shirt Another woman stands at the train station She is freezing to death She tries to stand near the man who is on fire She hopes to melt with him She wants to melt the icicles that are protruding from her nostrils And the ones suspending from her eyebrows To stop her teeth chattering long enough For her to mention something
That the man is burning And the woman is drowning But she is freezing And has trouble moving As her feet are weighed down by blocks of ice It takes the three some time to board the train What with the flames The water and the ice But when they finally are shown to their seats And sit down The ticket master forgets to ask for their tickets Because he is tortured By visions and is wondering Whether the previous passengers Really were eaten by a pack of hungry dogs
George Hopkin
I gazed at The Scream and saw myself. The Scream is a person standing alone in the midst of a warped reality out of control.
The Scream is modern man in the whirlpool of modernity asking: “What can I hold on to?” and wailing into the craziness of the disordered world. The Scream is the artist – is Edvard Munch – desperate to express himself. The artist wails into the craziness of the disordered world. The Scream is me, The Scream is you: hanging in the gallery of the famous Paris Louvre. And the viewers will come; the viewers will go. It’s them that’s hanging on the wall – I wonder if they know.
Photo by w00kie
It’s me that’s hanging on the wall. I wonder if they know.
Photo by paulmcdee
do i tell you
or keep it all to myself your ears seem close and your mouth more so i stare wistfully at the feet you walk with hoping that they might turn as we drift through the sunset
14
IQ Features
“it doesn’t matter if you are 1 or 101, you can come to a pantomime and enjoy it.”
As the pantomime season kicks off, InQuire Emma Shelton and Dan English chat to Samantha Womack (Eastenders) and Phil Gallagher (CBeebies’ Mister Maker), lead actors in this year’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at The Marlowe Theatre. Samantha Womack Emma Shelton: How are rehearsels going? It’s alot to learn in a short space of time. So when in doubt, shimmy, that’s my motto. The older you get, I’m 41, you are not quite as quick at taking things in, especially with stuff you don’t do as often, like dancing. So I’m trying really hard, but every now and then, I just end up having marshmallow moments, going “I’ve melted.” But the rehearsels are really nice. It’s a really warm bunch of people. We’ve bonded really quickly which is nice. There’s a lot of laughter, because the script’s very funny but so are the people in it. Maybe too much laughter, we are having too good a time. Dan English: So how is this different to being on Eastenders? You use a different part of your brain. With straight acting, you’re reacting to people. So the fairy is quite difficult: you are talking in rhyming couplets all the time and you’re not interacting with anyone. And often, the couplets are structured quite strangely in order to rhyme. So, most of time, it’s a case of learning an amalgamation of words with no emotional content. That’s quite tough. ES: What’s your role as the fairy? She’s kind of the narrator of the piece. She sets up the scenes. A little bit cheeky and naughty. We’ve gone for a more impish fairy this year, rather than traditional glitter and pink. She’s a vegetable fairy. My theory is when you’re over 35, you become a ‘vegetable fairy’. DE: Is this your first pantomime? I did ITV’s pantomime, a few years ago. That was massive. I had such a good time doing that. I recognised the traditional aspect to it. I came from comedy when I started out so I was respectful of the banter, the writing, the dames. If it’s done properly, if it’s keep traditional, which I love, it feels creative. ES: What made you choose to do the pantomime? Just because I had such a good time doing the ITV one. I’ve been asked every year, and every year, I’ve been tied into something else. I was a bit nervy as well, because it depends which pantomime you do. Some of them are much more lavish and grand, but maybe not as traditional
as the old ones, and I really wanted to make sure that my experience was as close to a traditional pantomime as possible. Like that, I think it’s safe for the family, and I think the kids enjoy that. ES: Were you used to going to the pantomime as a child? I go every year. It’s the one thing that you can do as a family that has something for everybody. You get stuff for the parents, and for the little ones. That’s quite hard to find, that box to tick. Like everybody else, I work really,
Phil Gallagher ES: So you studied radio, film and tv, with English and Drama at Christchurch. Were you involved with CSR at the time? It was called C4 Radio at Christchurch at the time. But yes, I was for 3 years. When I started, which was in the 90s, I first helped out by reading out the sports bulletins. ES: What was your University experience like at Christchurch? I loved it. When I came to Canterbury, I just had the three best years of my life. I look back on them so fondly. The
Photo by Tim Stubbings
really hard. I’ve got a family, so I understand what it means to have a bit of escapism at Christmas. I think it’s really important. And I know people are financially strapped aswell, but I do think that if you can do one Christmassy thing... ES: Is your family going to come and visit you to see this? I’ve had to keep Lily away. Lily is my 8 year old. Ben is not that interested. Lily has been in every show I’ve done. She’s really lucky. Dancing with Patrick Swayze when she was 2 years old. He was lifting her up, and “nobody puts Lily in the corner.” I was like “You don’t know how lucky you are.” It’s a pretty awesome introduction she’s had, whether she chooses to do it or not. It’s still a very cool world to be in. DE: Well I’m jealous. ES: I’m really jealous. I want that. So was I. I was like “pick ME up Patrick!”
course was really good. I’ve still kept in touch with some of the lecturers and I go back and help out every now then with Christchurch. I made lifelong friends when I was there and I’m still best friends with the people I lived with at Uni. They’re all coming to see me in the pantomime, and a lot of them are coming with their kids as well, which is really nice. A lot of my family are in Kent so they are all really chuffed as well. ES: Did you know you wanted to be an actor when you were at Uni? I did. Actually Canterbury played a big part in me getting my first job, and my break in TV. With any industry, it’s all about getting your first foot in the door. My first foot in the door, came from a lady at Disney channel, and I only got that contact from a chap who was in my course at Christchurch. To go back to your question though, from a very early age, before Christchurch, I always wanted to perform. I was always doing puppet shows behind my sofas with cuddly toys. ES: Is the pantomime similar to being on TV?
There is great comedy in it. There is something for everyone in the pantomime. It doesn’t matter if you are 1 or 101, you can come to a pantomime and enjoy it. There are some older gags in it for the parents and the grandparents. Some of those will go over the kids’ heads but they are also produced and cleverly written by Paul Hendy, in a way that quite often, they are part of a slapstick routine or it’s a funny face or a funny sound that accompanies the gag, so the kids will laugh anyway, because they are getting something from it. The one difference with our TV show, Mr Maker, and the pantomime, is that it’s live. We have a script here, but you never quite know where it’s going to go. That’s what makes it unique.And, for a lot of the younger kids (Sarah Munday works really hard with the schools and the younger people coming in), this could be the very first time they have ever set foot in a theatre, let alone they have ever come to a pantomime. Hopefully, what we are doing here, and it’s a massive team effort, with not just the people on stage but everything that makes the theatre what it is, is to make that experience for the kids the best it can be and an inspiring one. They won’t realise it at the time, but hopefully as they grow older, they will want to come back and explore the other forms of theatre as well. DE: You’ve done 9 pantomimes. Out of all the characters you’ve played, which was your favourite? I’m going to have to sit on the fence. The only thing I will say is that I’ve worked with Evolution, this being my fifth Evolution panto, and these have definitely been my favourites. This will blow your socks off. Even though I haven’t done it yet, I expect this to be my favourite. (to hear and read the full interview, visit http://www.inquirelive.co.uk/features/ article-4663/interview-with-jack-andthe-beanstalk-cast, or follow the QR code below)
IQ Entertainment 15
events
albums on the the gospel according to reginald d hunter Emily Adams to date, stood in his warm winter gilet, go his hands in his pockets, chuckling Sarah Holt ARTPOP - Lady Gaga Drifting away from the boldness of Born This Way, Artpop is a bit of a disappointment. Although Gaga displays technical ability when losing the theatrics on tracks like Dope. It definitely lacks the punch of her previous work. The only standout track is Gypsy, which is lively enough to actually be considered interesting. The rest are a stereotypical blur, despite the mix of genres covered. It’s hardly original, but not quite a disaster. Avril Lavigne Avril Lavigne If you’ve seen the video for Here’s To Never Growing Up, you’ll realise that Avril Lavigne has returned to her teenage rebellion phase, looking and sounding indistinguishable from when we were in primary school. Her self-titled album is fun to jump around the kitchen to in a nostalgic way, but perhaps it would have been nice to see a bit more maturity from her. Marshall Mathers LP 2 - Eminem This album is a piece of art, but like some pieces in The Tate, not everyone will get it. Eminem has attempted to flow seamlessly from the Marshall Mathers LP and in many respects has returned to the tongue-in-cheek, arrogant humour that he blew everyone away within the original. It’s loud, boisterous and well crafted, but it isn’t 2000 and, though brilliant, lacks the same impact its predecessor had. Dan English Newspaper Sport Editor That’s What Happens - Chas and Dave Chas and Dave return from a short hiatus with this latest offering. The new album, focusing on a folk sound, is an easy listen, and definitely something to do some work to. The reworking of their hit ‘Aint No Pleasing You’ is also a nice touch, and a throwback to their success in the 70s. A great listen.
Newspaper Entertainment Editor I made an error on the night of Wednesday 20th November, a dreadful error that I’m sure will haunt me for years to come. Instead of remaining calm and collected, poised and ready to meet a true comedic legend, I completely fan-girled over Reginald D Hunter. The man is the embodiment of ‘cool’, and I was most definitely not. If you’ve heard of Hunter at all, it’s probably for all the wrong reasons especially after the stir he created in recent months for his choice of words at a gala for Professional Footballer’s Association. So, although it obviously pained him to do so, he started his set by giving his own disclaimers about his controversial word choices to avoid any further marks on his record. Sure, the ‘N’-word was commonly used, but never malevolently. In this opening pause from humour, Hunter was clearly making a comment on the nature of stand-up comedy and even society today: you can say whatever you want, as long as it’s completely impartial, painfully polite and what everyone else wants to hear. On with his set and he gave us perhaps his most personal stand-up material
quietly to himself. We saw the usual one liners intertwined with what felt like the ‘gospel according to Hunter’ in his anecdotes that steered away from comedy and dealt with his views on life. From time to time, he would break away from the regular format and raise the lights to ask the audience the most personal questions possible. These ‘confessional sessions’ made for some surprising revelations as the audience seemed bizarrely at ease with giving away their secrets. It’s not all laugh out loud humour; Hunter’s ‘jokes’ do tackle challenging topics such as unwanted sex, infidelity and death that shouldn’t be humourous, but he tells them in such a way that, strangely, it’s okay to laugh. “I choose subject matters that are inherently controversial”, he stated before ending with an anecdote so outrageous, he admitted that it had ended one of his lifelong friendships. But to ease our apprehension he added, “I don’t like doing this material, but it’s necessary… and it’s excellent”. It’s also definitely worth mentioning Hunter’s warm up act, and rising star in comedy, Mr Pete Johansson, a Canadian comic who loves to talk about
Myself and Reginald D Hunter
bears; 15 whole minutes on why we need bears in the UK and he still had the audience craving more when he left the stage. Why is it the police don’t have bears here exactly? But when he wasn’t wrapped up in the thought of giant grizzlys roaming the streets, he took the time to tell some crowd pleasing British jokes. Somehow we love it when we’re mocked. Poke fun at our nation and we’ll laugh out loud and applaud you for it. A great talent that I recommend you go and see. After the show, the comics appeared at the stage door to meet and chat briefly to their fans and myself, a star struck ‘reporter’ who just wanted a photo with them both. Embarrassing? Yes, but at least we got one thing cleared up: what about that beard? “I’m just going through a little phase”.
shadow puppets, string quartets and banana leaves
Ahead of T24’s last performance of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Entertainment Editor Emily Adams, caught up with co-director Elliot Liburd to talk about the production and the society. How was your first performance? you all the information about when to come. There’s also T:@SIX every Friday Elliot: Really well, people seemed to and you don’t have to audition for that really like it, there was a nice amount of so you can just go along and do lots of families there and everyone was really workshops. complimentary. Is T24 is a good basis for getting Tell me a bit about your role in into acting or theatre? this project. Photo by Elliot Liburd If you are interested in doing things We picked the play, pitched it to the their design and made it seem like the outside of your course or even if you society and then they decided whether storyline. The masks are all made out of don’t do Drama, there’s lot of people or not to vote us in, and they did! Then things like cardboard and banana leaves who get involved. we basically created the concept and to make it a little bit more natural, to picked and auditioned the actors. Any additional words about the seem like the story as opposed to a production? blockbuster. Have you encountered any problems? I just want to mention it’s been put Have you also included puppetry together in less than five weeks; I in the production? The biggest problem is that there haven’t slept for a while! There’s been were so many people, so trying to get We use shadow puppets to show the a huge amount of effort put in from everyone together in the same room journey through the wardrobe which everyone. There’s a string quartet which is a challenge. For T24, in terms of a proved hard. We were trying to work is called The Leon String Quartet and combination of cast and budget and set, out how to do a convincing journey they are one of my highlights of the it’s their biggest production so far. It’s a as opposed to just going in and then show, they play throughout. lot more responsibility. coming back out again, so shadow The make-up is done by the MFX puppetry helped with that. What’s different about your society and they’ve put a lot of work in interpretation of the story How can other students get every night. compared to others? involved in T24? There’s a musical theatre choir which I think Tom and I have focused mainly They have auditions every term, but if is On A High Note and they’ve been on trying to keep it as close to the you’re interested you can go to the Kent singing in the interval. I could go on and book as we can. All of our set has been Union website and you can be put on on about all the people that Tom and I drawn and made by many people. Amy the newsletter and they’ll be able to give owe credit to. Conway and Eleanor Hicks drew out
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IQ Entertainment
film
winter warmers: wasting away the winter months listen, watch, Jake Cunningham use and follow When I took it on, the description for
Farah Chowdhury
Listen – Marie Dahlstrom EP Gloom This is the perfect accompaniment to those autumnal evenings and wintery nights spent slaving over an essay or unwinding after a session in the Templeman. Dahlstrom’s soulful and spine-tingling vocals will have you relaxed, mind, body and soul. Reminiscent of the days of Floetry, Dahlstrom is one to watch in the world of Soul. Watch – The Mentalist, Season 6 The search for the serial killer Red John is down to 7 suspects, but the closer Patrick Jane gets, the more people are likely to get hurt. It’s Sherlock Holmes meets fortune teller; an interesting and thrilling mix which is sure to have you grinning as you piece together the puzzle.
this article was ‘best films for students for the winter months’. Immediately thoughts of Christmas popped into my head, but as I’m currently writing in November and won’t allow myself to get into a Christmas mindset until December, I’ve had to think otherwise. So, to me, winter months means it’s a lot darker and colder than it was a few months ago and you’re stranded in your room. Now that you’ve got into the foetal position and wrapped yourself around a hot water bottle you need to waste some time, so I present to you my alternative short list of long films to keep you entertained. Dogville Who needs props? Not avant-garde director Lars Von Trier that’s for sure. With a set drawn out in chalk lines along the floor, this parable follows Naomi Watts’ Grace as she escapes from mobsters, only to find herself in the small village of Dogville. Working to earn her keep, Grace’s presence in the town slowly converts the sleepy hamlet into something a bit more sinister.
Follow – @TheGradStop A brilliant blog set up by Graduates and Undergrads, writing articles on everything from food to sport. They’ve also created a free e-book for students at university – and we students do love the word free! Follow @ TheGradStop for interesting articles, interviews and tips about university life and post-degree living.
Apocalypse Now: Redux Few people would have thought that Francis Ford Copolla’s masterful take on Conrad’s Heart of Darkness was missing a 40 minute sequence set in a French colony. Francis Ford Coppolla, however, was one of those few people, and thankfully so. Bumping the film over the 200 minute mark, Apocalypse Now: Redux is more unsettling, destructive and ultimately more fulfilling than the original. The White Ribbon Although it may not truly be a long film, it certainly feels like it. The White Ribbon is a black and white, German language fable, involving murder, adultery and ‘impure touching’. If you’re a fan of films with arguably no
resolve, and I know I am, then Michael Haneke’s tale is for you. If you’re not, but still fancy a stunningly bleak cinematic experience, sit back, relax and attempt to enjoy. And now for a lengthy attraction coming soon… Nymphoniac (5 Hours!) We’re back to Lars Von Trier again! Now he isn’t exactly known for being the most crowd pleasing film maker: sympathising with Nazis, check! Making a film in which people pretend to be disabled, check! Show a man’s genitals cut off by a pair of scissors, check! So it comes to no surprise that next year we can look forward to a 5 hour hardcore sex drama starring the kid from Even Stevens. Bring it on Lars.
de niro and foster: the greatest actors of all time?
Sam Howlett
Rupert Pupkin: The King of Comedy
Use – 8tracks We’ve all been there. Stuck listening to the same tracks and artists, but fear not. Download the app 8tracks or use the website to discover playlists created by other users. Simply click ‘Explore’ and pick from the numerous options. Fancy a ‘happy’ + ‘mashup’ or some ‘workout’ + ‘jazz’? The playlists are endless and sure to perk up your music collection.
Dogville
Robert De Niro
It seems almost clichéd to say my favourite actor is Robert De Niro. Sure, his recent ventures into comedy have been near unwatchable (The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle perhaps being the low point), but at the height of his career, he was untouchable. Mostly known for his work with director Martin Scorsese, De Niro has been an unmissable presence in cinema since the early 1970’s. Having never been a sex symbol, De Niro has relied on his charisma and, more often than not, a talent for being hard edged and frightening. While most people will always know him as the ultimate gangster with roles in Goodfellas, Casino and The Godfather, De Niro has also played a boxer in Raging Bull, a veteran in The Deer Hunter and a pure psychopath in Cape Fear. With a recent Oscar nominated performance in Silver Linings Playbook, it appears De Niro is on the path to a comeback. Most would say that his best performances were as Travis Bickle
in Taxi Driver or Jake La Motta in Raging Bull, but my favourite De Niro performance of all time, and one you need to watch, is a more left-field choice: Rupert Pupkin in The King of Comedy. A lesser known Scorsese film, De Niro plays a man obsessed with becoming a celebrity, so much so that he kidnaps a comedian and hijacks his show. It sounds like a bad comedy, but in fact it’s a genius satire on celebrity worship and fame-hunger. De Niro leaves his tough guy image at the door, playing Pupkin as a pathetic human being who pretends to be a famous celebrity in his mother’s basement. De Niro makes Pupkin a strangely sympathetic psychopath who we actually want to succeed in becoming a celebrity. Jodie Foster Starting off a child actor in hits Bugsy Malone and (the slightly more adult) Taxi Driver with the one and only Robert De Niro, Foster went on to win two Oscars within the space of three years for The Accused and Silence of the Lambs. The reason I’ve picked Foster over so many other talented actresses is that she was never tempted to ‘go mainstream’ and star in a rom-com or action film. Foster has always carefully selected intelligent, thought provoking characters, and although this prevented her from becoming the mega-star she could have been, Foster remains at the top of her game.
It’s difficult to choose between her two Oscar wins for her best performance. In The Accused, she plays the victim of a brutal rape and really sells how harrowing the experience has been. However, my favourite female performance in any film, is Jodie Foster as FBI Agent Clarice Starling. It’s rare for a Hollywood film to have a female lead without sexualising her or giving her a love interest, but with Clarice, she’s all we need. Most people will remember The Silence of the Lambs for Anthony Hopkins’ chilling portrayal of serial killer Hannibal Lecter, but for me Foster is the real scene stealer. Her Clarice Starling is strong and independent in a world run by men and she outsmarts them all. What makes this performance shine above the rest is the complexity she brings to the character, specifically her tragic back-story. I dare anyone not to get goosebumps when she finally tells Dr Lecter the truth about ‘the silence of the lambs’. Silence of the Lambs
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gaming top 5: the best next generation launch titles With the PS4 and Xbox One now available in stores, Alec Pearce takes a look at the best launch titles for the next generation consoles. 1. Killzone: Shadow Fall – Released as a PS4 exclusive, the newest game in the Killzone franchise takes place 30 years after the events of Killzone 3, placing you in the shoes of Lucas Kellan. As a member of the military intelligence unit, known as the Shadow Marshals, you will fight to sustain the delicate peace that exists between the Vektans and the Helghast, two factions inhabiting a distant planet. With an exciting single player campaign and a revamped multiplayer, Killzone: Shadow Fall is a must buy for fans of the saga.
Killzone: Shadow Fall
2. Dead Rising 3 – The third instalment of the Dead Rising series, coming exclusively to Xbox One, puts you in control of badass mechanic Nick Ramos in a zombie infested Los Perdidos. As you fight through the madness you’ll have hundreds of tools and weapons at your disposal to deliver justice to the undead nightmare in a completely open, free
roam world. Expect blood, gore, insane combinations of weapons, zombies and blood, in what is looking to be one of the hottest games for the Xbox One. 3. Ryse: Son of Rome – Another Xbox One exclusive, Ryse: Son of Rome tells the story of young Marius Titus, a soldier who has just witnessed the brutal killing of his family. Seeking revenge, Titus travels with the Roman army to Britannia in his thirst for vengeance, rising through the ranks and showing that he is a true leader. This release is set to be a rollercoaster ride of action and adventure, giving history lovers and gamers alike something to be excited about, whilst also looking fantastic graphically. If you’ve got yourself an Xbox One, you have to pick up this game. 4. Battlefield 4 – Battlefield is back with a bang! The campaign is a direct sequel to Battlefield 3 pitting you and your heroic allies against vicious Chinese aggressors, intent on preventing you achieving your objectives. However, the feature all the fans are excited about is the impressive multiplayer, in which up to 64 players can fight for dominance on huge maps using a massive range of weapons and vehicles to defeat and destroy the
Battlefield 4
enemy. Bear in mind though that these huge matches will only be available to the newest consoles and PC, so if you have an Xbox 360 or PS3 you will have to be content with fighting less than half the number of players. 5. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – Lovers of the Assassin’s Creed franchise rejoice, the series is back and looks amazing! As new protagonist and notorious pirate Edward Kenway, grandfather of Connor and father of Haytham, you take to the seas aboard your trusted vessel The Jackdaw to unlock the secrets of the past. Set in the Caribbean and featuring an excellent, explorable open world, the next phase of the AC storyline looks set to be a riproaring, swash-buckling adventure with a plot that should entertain gamers for many hours.
simply seven: the predictability of modern films Arnie Voysey As one of the founders of the satirical British magazine Private Eye and long-term columnist for The Sunday Times, journalist Christopher Booker has explored many different issues throughout his career. For over thirty years, he developed the concept behind his book The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories, which explores the theory that there are only seven basic plots in literature: overcoming the monster, rags to riches, the quest, voyage and return, comedy, tragedy and rebirth. But is this true? Are there really only seven basic plots in any story? To test the relevance of this theory in modern cinema, I have looked into the nominees for the 2013 Oscars Best Film and it’s clear that all nine can be summarised by one of these seven outlines as its core plot. For example, if we look at Ben Affleck’s Argo closely mirrors Brooker’s ‘the quest’ with Tony Mendez driven by his goal of saving the six escapees by creating a fake film crew and travelling to Iran to rescue them with fake Canadian passports. Similarly, Ang Lee’s Life of Pi also follows this plotline as Pi is motivated to stay alive
and survive after he is stranded on a small boat with a dangerous tiger. There are two Oscar nominated films which strongly embody the core themes
of the “Overcoming the Monster” basic plot. These are Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty with the former’s monster in the form of the racist politicians who disagree with Lincoln’s Thirteenth Amendment and the latter’s monster
being Osama bin Laden. Additionally, based on Booker’s description, Silver Linings Playbook falls into the category of comedy as Pat and Tiffany are blinded from being together by his love for his wife Nikki that ironically causes the two to become friend. I feel that since the beginning of the 21st century, film as a medium has relied too heavily on the old ‘Hollywood’ conventions first created in the previous century. There is a feeling amongst producers that all films need to encompass this concept. Additionally, the increasing importance of generating the highest profit has resulted in more and more producers resorting to the safe option of sequels, prequels and spin-offs which, from the producer’s perspective, should look and feel like its original. Booker’s seven basic plot lines is, personally, quite a worrying concept now that as you can see above, has proved to be factual time and time again. It’s arguably the reason for the decreasing audiences at cinemas as the public have finally grown tired of these repeated seven plots. Film is becoming predictable.
pick of the week Rob Linton KTV Station Manager Him & Her: The Wedding (BBC Three Thursday 10pm) Now in its fourth series, Him & Her has been a great success for BBC Three. For those of you who haven’t watched it yet, this series follows the relationship of Steve and Becky and how the couple deal with the everyday challenges of family, friends and living together. In the fourth series we move away from the bedsit where the first three series are set and the action is focused on the wedding of Laura and Paul (Becky’s sister and soon to be brother-inlaw). The first two episodes have already aired and it’s great to see the characters placed in a new environment. This looks like a really exciting series. Although unfortunately it’s the last, but I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens. Hebburn (BBC Two Tuesdays 10pm) Another returning series is the Chris Ramsey fronted Hebburn. Set in Tyne and Wear, it follows the lives of a family all dealing with work, relationships and health issues. I was really pleased to see this series return as it’s a great feel good comedy with a excellent cast. The star of the show is Nan Dot (played by Pat Dunn) who has some amazing lines and comedy moments in the show, so it’s worth watching just for that. The series continues on BBC Two and there’s even a Christmas Special in the works. Drifters (E4 Thursday 9.30pm) Dubbed the female Inbetweeners, Drifters is a new comedy for E4. Featuring and written by Jessica Knappett (who was also in the recent Inbetweeners Movie), this series is about a group of girls trying to get on with their lives after university. It might not be the phenomenon that Inbetweeners was, but the series is getting better and it has great potential.
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IQ Culture
cultural events calendar
t.s.eliot bust given to ukc
Matt Magee
Fri 29th Nov-Mon 30th Dec Whitefriars Christmas Market Whitefriars Shopping Centre Fri 29th Nov-Sun 12th Jan Jack And The Beanstalk The Marlowe Theatre Fri 29th Nov Sherlock Holmes and The Case Of The Christmas Carol Playhouse Theatre Whitstable Sat 30th Nov Christmas at The Castle The Whitstable Castle and Gardens Sun 1st Dec Advent Carol Service Canterbury Cathedral Mon 2nd Dec Elf The Gulbenkian Cinema Sat 7th Dec St Nicholas City Parade Westgate Towers Mon 9th Dec The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D The Gulbenkian Cinema Mon 9th Dec Christmas Carol Concert Canterbury Cathedral Thu 12th Dec An Illustrated History of Christmas The Beaney Thu 12th Dec Fagin’s Last Hour The Marlowe Theatre Thu 12th Dec Royal Opera House - The Nutcracker (Live Screening) The Gulbenkian Cinema
A bust of the modernist literary giant T. S. Eliot, by sculptor Jacob Epstein, was presented to the University of Kent on 26th September 2013, the poet’s birthday. It was bequeathed to the university by his late widow, Valerie Eliot. The bust is one of nine made from its mould, as part of a limited edition, and has an estimated value of £200,000. T. S. Eliot died the same year the University of Kent was founded and its first college was named after him. Valerie Eliot was closely associated with the University for many years following her husband’s death, supporting the annual T. S. Eliot Lectures and the Eliot Poetry Prize. The Master of Eliot College, Stephen Burke, commented: “I am delighted that Valerie chose to remember us in her will by making such a generous Sam Howlett
bequest. I know that this bust meant a lot to T. S. and Valerie Eliot, and I will ensure that it is displayed for the enjoyment of our community, and as a most fitting memorial to them.” Judith Hooper and Debbie Whitfield, representatives of the Eliot estate, remarked: “We were delighted to deliver the bust fulfilling a long commitment by Valerie Eliot to leave it to Eliot College. Valerie had considered giving it during her lifetime but could not bear to be parted from the likeness of her beloved Tom, so the College would have to wait! She would be pleased to know that the bust has arrived at its new home where it will be cherished by staff and students as it was by her.” The bust is among Epstein’s most renowned sculptures. A plaster version is on display currently at the National Portrait Gallery. Epstein also famously constructed Oscar Wilde’s tomb, which is located in Paris’ Père Lachaise Cemetery. Epstein’s bust of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, loaned to the White House, recently caused controversy in accordance with its location. The bust of Eliot, modelled in clay and cast in bronze, will be placed alongside Patrick Heron’s portrait of Eliot, another of the University’s prized
possessions. Eliot, famous for such works as the poem The Waste Land and the play Murder In The Cathedral, was a much celebrated poet, who also found work as a critic, an editor and a playwright. His play Murder In The Cathedral was first performed at Canterbury Cathedral during 1935’s Canterbury Festival. Born in America in 1888, Eliot settled in England after graduating at Harvard and eventually became a British citizen in 1927. Valerie Eliot’s art collection has recently been sold for more than £7 million at auction.
T.S.Eliot and his wife Valerie
50 years of the doctor
Before Star Trek, Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, the first true cult sci-fi emerged in 1963 on the BBC in the shape of Doctor Who. 50 years later, “the man in the blue box” has celebrated a landmark anniversary with millions of fans worldwide. Since the show’s ‘regeneration’ in 2005, Doctor Who has been event television, every Saturday for 13 weeks a year, and every Christmas since, fans of all ages have been glued to the TV. Of all the cult sci-fi shows mentioned above, Doctor Who is the longestrunning by far. Doctor Who is very much part of British culture. In a department store a few weeks ago, I overheard a man say to his wife, “look dear, that iron looks like a Dalek”, and because of Doctor Who, anything that appears smaller than it is on the inside is referred to as a “Tardis”. In fact, both Dalek and Tardis are now part of the Oxford English Dictionary, which really shows how Doctor Who has integrated itself into our everyday lives. But it’s not just in the British Isles where fans reside. Across the pond, Doctor Who has a huge following. It is one the most-watched programmes on BBC America, and at the annual
San Diego Comic-Con - the biggest convention for sci-fi and fantasy TV shows, films and comics - a large number of costumes and events are Doctor Who-based. For anyone who watches The Big Bang Theory, you’ll notice Doctor Who is often discussed amongst the main characters. Fans of Family Guy, The Simpsons and Futurama will also have noticed the subtle references to Doctor Who. Russell T. Davies, who was in charge of overseeing the show’s return in 2005, left in 2010, and was replaced by writer Stephen Moffat. Moffat’s showrunning skills have led the way for him to branch out, scripting Hollywood films such as Steven Spielberg’s Tintin, and creating another beloved BBC Drama Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Clearly having Doctor Who on your CV helps. On Saturday 23rd November, BBC One aired the 50th Anniversary episode of Doctor Who, where the current
Doctor Matt Smith made one of his last appearances. This was alongside returning Doctor David Tennant, as well as a return from Billie Piper, and the introduction of John Hurt as the War Doctor. The details of this special episode was kept very hush-hush, but early trailers and shorts were gradually released and analysed by fans for clues about the 50th Anniversary episode. This Christmas will mark the Doctor’s twelfth regeneration, from Matt Smith into Peter Capaldi, quite possibly the biggest name to take on the role. The fact that an actor who has starred in Hollywood films including World War Z and In The Loop is to play the Doctor indicates the shows ever-growing popularity and value. The 50th Anniversary episode titled The Day of the Doctor was shown on BBC One on Saturday 23rd November. It was broadcast simultaneously in 94 different countries to avoid plot leaks, and shown in 3D cinemas across the world. Special content will be available across the official website www.bbc.co.uk/ doctorwho and on the BBC iPlayer. If you would like to read more about Doctor Who and the 50th Anniversary episode, then please turn to the News section.
IQ Culture
best and worst: superhero films
Jake Cunningham
In recent years, superhero films have been released in abundance, but while some of them really are super, others are downright villainous. Here is a look at the best and worst superhero movies of all time. In third place for the best superhero film is Watchmen. Alan Moore’s book is the only graphic novel to be found in TIME magazine’s ‘100 Greatest Novels of All Time’ - no pressure for the film then. Not without its critics, Watchmen was deemed over-stylised, long and confusing. I strongly disagree, and expect it to be getting the praise it deserves in 10 years’ time. Starting with one of the best opening sequences in cinematic history, and steamrolling through another 162 minutes, we see various people in various costumes, but to call any of them ‘super’ would be to question the intentions of the story. Placing second is The Avengers. When you’ve added a metallic flying man, a WWII super soldier, two deadly spies, a Norse god and his evil little brother into your cinematic magimix, you’ll either end up with an awful mess or an incredible superhero film. Luckily, with Joss Whedon at the helm, the result is the latter: a combination of action, suspense and - a rare ingredient for modern superhero films - fun. Plus, “you mewling quim!” will possibly be
one of the greatest insults used on the big screen. The “best superhero film” award has to go to a trilogy of films - The Dark Knight Trilogy. Before I receive hundreds - okay, let’s be honest, this is only InQuire - THOUSANDS of letters from fanatics telling me that Batman is a detective and not a superhero, for argument’s sake, he is. After Joel Schumacher’s disastrous Batman and Robin (if you haven’t seen it, two words: ‘Bat nipples’), Christopher Nolan pulled together an incredible script, an incredible cast and incredible visuals. As a result, we have intelligence, action and sublime quality. They were the films that Batman needed, and the films that the fans deserved. Now moving on to the worst superhero films, in third place is Green Lantern. If you ask anyone to name a Marvel Superhero, thanks to The Avengers, they’d have no trouble. Now ask them to name some DC superheroes: “Batman, Superman and, er, that other one”. It fell to Green Lantern to have the first chance to be “that other one”, sadly he’s just another one to forget thanks to a bad plot, worse CGI and for some reason Ryan Reynolds. Green Lantern’s oath goes: “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight”. Unfortunately, this film managed to slip through his gaze.
In second place for the worst, is X-Men: The Last Stand. It’s sad when any film doesn’t fulfil the potential that Hugh Jackman has, and although 3 X-Men films did fulfil, something else makes The Last Stand worse. But what makes one bad X-Men film worse than another bad X-Men film? The answer is Vinnie Jones. Possibly the worst casting since everyone in the new Star Wars films, Jones ‘Juggernaut’ crowns this mutant mess. But worst of all time, is Spider-Man 3. Compared to Green Lantern and The Last Stand, Spiderman 3 is not that bad. However after the defining Spider-Man 1 and 2, disappointment is what gives Spidey’s third outing the top spot. A villain as brilliant as Venom deserves to be the main villain in any film. Venom does not deserve to be shoehorned into what is an already cinematically awkward threesome of Spider-Man, Green Goblin and Sandman, and as this film showed, a foursome is a guaranteed recipe for disaster.
There are many things you should do as a student during your time at the University of Kent. Here is a selection from my UKC Bucket List: 1. Get lost in Eliot or Rutherford College: You can’t say you’ve been at the University of Kent until you’ve got lost in Eliot or Rutherford College. After being constantly reminded that they were designed by architects who built prisons, you’ll find yourself stumbling around like a new-born baby animal. Your only hope is to be rescued by one of the freshers living within the college’s depths. The feeling of sun on your face after emerging is like being reborn.
2. Try a pint of Snakebite: My Australian friend recently visited me at UKC and tried Snakebite. She took one sip and refused to finish it. Perhaps Australian students know something we don’t. If you don’t know what Snakebite is, it’s a particularly potent concoction of blackcurrant cordial, beer and cider. A night out in Venue isn’t complete without one of these, which brings me onto my next point nicely. 3. Enjoy a night out in Venue: Nights out in Venue are normally restricted to two kinds: awful or tolerable. However, there may come a time where you flop into bed after a night out and think to yourself “Wow, I had a lot fun tonight!” It might be the 90s night, it may be the foam party or the onesie night but it’ll happen at some point. 4. Attempt (and fail) to capture a rabbit: Students aren’t the only nocturnal creatures that live on campus. Rabbits. Lots of them. And everyone gets the same idea whenever they see one. “Wouldn’t it be cool if we caught one?” It may be an urban myth, but I’ve heard you can get expelled for that…so I
in other news... The Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life is to get a sequel, more than 60 years on. The film is set to be called It’s A Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story, and to use elements of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol within its storyline. The sequel is expected to be released around Christmas 2015.
Hull was named the UK’s City of Culture 2017, beating Leicester, Dundee and Swansea Bay. As the destination chosen to receive help with tourism and the economy, Hull’s council leader Stephen Brady described winning as “a real game-changer”.
the ultimate ukc bucket list
Will Shillibier
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wouldn’t risk it. 5. Overhear an argument in The Templeman Library: Exams are near, nerves are frayed, tempers are flaring. You’re quietly going over your notes on that lecture back in Week 2 when you were still suffering a hangover from Freshers week when you hear raised voices in the quiet area of the library. Leave the books, sit back and observe nature at its finest, you’ve earned it.
Monty Python are to reform for a stage show more than 30 years since their last Python project. All of the surviving members of the comedy group are expected to reunite at the Playhouse Theatre in London, where the musical spoof Spamalot has enjoyed large audiences for years.
Tate Britain is set to reopen after a £45m revamp. Since Tate Modern opened in 2000 as a sister gallery, Tate Britain has been overshadowed by its success. With help from a major Heritage Lottery Fund grant, the oldest of the galleries in the Tate group (opened in 1897) hopes to be an equal to Tate Modern. To make the most out of your time as a student at the University of Kent, it is advisable that you abide by this list. If you graduate from UKC not having ticked off these 5 Bucket List items, then you might as well enrol for another three years in Canterbury...
20
IQ Culture
pause for thought As November turns to
December, it’s time to put on as many layers as possible and try not to freeze in the frosty winter air. It may be cold outside, but here’s a poem by Romantic poet John Keats to remind you of that wintry chill whilst you’re wrapped up warm.
In drear-nighted December In drear-nighted December, Too happy, happy tree, Thy branches ne’er remember Their green felicity: The north cannot undo them With a sleety whistle through them; Nor frozen thawings glue them From budding at the prime. In drear-nighted December, Too happy, happy brook, Thy bubblings ne’er remember Apollo’s summer look; But with a sweet forgetting, They stay their crystal fretting, Never, never petting About the frozen time. Ah! would ’twere so with many A gentle girl and boy! But were there ever any Writhed not at passed joy? The feel of not to feel it, When there is none to heal it Nor numbed sense to steel it, Was never said in rhyme. John Keats
student art profiles:
illustr ations by harry purves
Ayla Soguksu
Harry Alexander Purves is an artist at heart. Many of his pieces illustrate the relationship between the “ugly” and the “beautiful” in the world. In caricature form, the artwork does not fail to arouse feeling. That is, in my opinion, the one element in any form of art which enables it to be good. Though Harry refers to his pieces as “doodles of the moment”, in truth, the creative process in which his art appears is known as “spontaneous art”. This relies on the raw, simple, clear emotion of the particular time frame in which the artwork is produced and Harry’s work shows this talent successfully. These pieces are examples of the kind of work Harry likes to produce on a regular basis. He says: “I hesitate to call it art, as I myself am not an artist – I’m sure my A grade in A level art isn’t enough to qualify me as one.” Though his studies in this field have halted, his desire to keep producing artwork as a hobby has not. Sometimes, the images he produces are purely from his imagination that, admittedly, often steer towards the surreal, random and confusing. However, most of the time, Harry seeks inspiration from his thoughts, feelings or observations at that moment in time or from recent memory, perhaps
going as far into reflecting upon the subconscious and drawing what he is really feeling deep inside. Harry has developed a familiar style, which appears to tie his doodles together. The art has almost always been inspired by the cartoon and caricature and, with this in mind, the more notable aspect of his style is indeed the characters and faces within the work. Often these characters are grotesque, in an attempt to perhaps expose inner corruption. “What would we look like if our personalities were always represented accurately by our appearances and physical nature?” Harry thinks of it as a way of exposing the truth. Rock-a-by-baby
Perhaps an explanation for this piece can be found through the way in which the media and entertainment industry are exposing the young to images that corrupt and turn them into bloodthirsty
“tentacled” mutants. Harry comments: “Had I have planned the image prior to drawing, I’d have left space to write Nursery Rhymes on the book this mutant baby clutches aggressively.” Cruel
Whilst obviously this displays the contrast between beauty and ugliness, it also explores more than the relationship between the two. The real intended meaning of this piece is to consider the way in which we are often so critical of ourselves and consider ourselves unworthy and inferior to beauty, as if exterior image is a constant burden on our lives. In this way, we are self-obsessed and self-destructive. The blood in this image represents the pain we cause ourselves by this judgment. Overall, this piece exudes patheticness and cruel selfafflicted pain, whilst also provoking sympathy. I feel sorry for the poor guy anyway! (Additional writing by Harry Purves)
photography by nathan lucking
Nathan Lucking
My first exploration into digital photography was during my teenage years in London, using my father’s digital compact camera to capture what I saw around me and uploading them on to an online art community, learning and improving with every shot with advice from fellow users and from other internet sources. Coming to UKC has opened up a lot of photography opportunities for me, from covering three day music festivals on the south coast for InQuire, to photographing prominent guest lectures for some of our societies and many others in between.
This portrait is of the bassist for Wretched Soul, a heavy metal band from Canterbury, performing earlier
this term at Woody’s for the Rock Society’s Alternative Freshers Ball that I was invited to photograph. This was after having covered the Alternative Summer Ball at the end of the last academic year, which was one of the last events to be held in the old Attic. I really like the energy he is showing. I was lucky to capture this moment as I had just changed position when he adopted this pose.
Some of you might be familiar with this tree by the path to Tyler Court from Rutherford. I was initially attracted to the bright-coloured ribbons tied to the tree, which were made even more vibrant by the sun we had this summer. The background is thrown out of focus to produce this very soft, cool gradient which complements the simplicity of
the image, retaining interest around the tree and the tied ribbons fluttering in the breeze.
This image was taken at the Beer Cart Arms in the centre of Canterbury earlier this year, on the only Kent date of OPM’s (Heaven Is a Halfpipe) European tour. The pub was packed with people filled with energy, thanks to two crowd-hyping local acts. When OPM took to the stage, the lead singer used this custom-designed microphone stand in the shape of a skull with interestingly painted bone, teeth and with very detailed painted roses in the eyes. If you would like to see more examples of Nathan’s photography, you can check out it out here at: www.facebook. com/nilphotography
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Sport
howzat! the winter ashes begin down under Stuart Smith
21ST November marked the beginning of the second Ashes series of the year and despite losing the first Test by 381 runs, England remain favourites to win the series. England’s 3-0 series win over the summer was routinely achieved, facing little resistance from the from the heavily criticised opposition. However, this winter, they evidently are facing a sterner test. England have arguably the strongest bowling attack in all of test cricket and fast-bowler Stuart Broad’s ability to perform under pressure will be crucial. Broad, England’s second highest wicket taker in the summer, refused to walk this July when the umpire wrongly gave him not out, and as a result Australian fans have been urged to get on his back from the moment he steps onto the field. Broad will have to deal with constant jeers and boos this winter and it is clear he thrives
under it. England’s batting order is being reshuffled ahead of the first Test in Brisbane with Michael Carberry likely open with Captain Alastair Cook. Carberry’s only test match for England came in 2010 against Bangladesh so his inclusion is risky, but good performances in
the warm-up matches suggest he will be worth his place. Captain Cook will hope to bat better this time around after scoring only 277 runs across his ten innings in the summer. Joe Root’s absence from the top of the order doesn’t mean it’ll be a quiet Christmas from him; he’s expected to drop down
to number six where there will be less pressure on him. Australia have won 49% of Ashes tests held on home soil and they’ll be hoping to add to this impressive record. The last time they won the series was in 2007 so they’ll be desperate to stop England winning a fourth series in a row.
If they are to stand any chance of regaining the Ashes, Ryan Harris’ fitness will be key. The fast-bowler will be hoping to play all five Tests, leading the attack in Australia’s injury-hit line up. Finally, the Australian public will be resting their hopes on skipper Michael Clarke. If his side are to finally win back the Ashes he has to be on form. Not only does Clarke have to be exemplary with the bat, his tactics in the field need to be precise and he has to inspire the crucial belief into every one of his team-mates. It’s sure to be an entertaining Ashes series, with both English and Australian fans hoping for a greater competition this winter than delivered in the summer. For more sport news check out our website at www.inquirelive.co.uk Got a story? Get in touch with one of our editors. We’d love to hear from you!
vettel’s winning formula prepare to samba - 2014 world cup preview Elizabeth Mitchell THE Grand Prix of America on 17th November saw a season of broken records continue with Sebastian Vettel becoming the first person to win eight consecutive races in a single season, after a dominating performance at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The previous day had seen Mark Webber beaten to pole by teammate Vettel by just a tenth of a second, with the Australian notably upset with his slight error late on. The start of the race showcased conflicting fortunes for the Red Bull drivers with Vettel sailing away from pole position while Webber initially fell down to fourth as Romain Grosjean and Lewis Hamilton boxed him in on the inside of turn one. The first round of pit stops saw Fernando Alonso manage to get ahead of Sergio Perez but behind the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez taking a further two laps for Alonso to pass taking sixth place. After a fantastic qualifying for the returning Heikki Kovalainen, a series of issues dampened any opportunity for him to score precious
constructors points for the Lotus team. Kovalainen was only able to make up two places in the remainder of the race and finished fifteenth and out of the points. A duel emerged in the dying laps of the race between Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg for fifth position with Alonso initially managing to make the move down the inside of turn one on lap fortyfive. However, the Spaniard never managed to fully detach himself from the Sauber driver and continuing tyre degradation allowed Hulkenberg an opportunity in the final two laps of the race. Vettel eventually crossed the line, celebrating with the ever popular doughnuts on the straight after the race. Webber came a fantastic second place in the penultimate Formula One race of his career with Grosjean finishing third. This domination by Red Bull continued in the next race in Brazil, with Vettel once again winning in a strong manner. The race also saw Mark Webber finish second to bring his Formula One career to a close.
George Dagless WHILST domestic seasons are in full swing across Europe and players are fully focused on their club successes, there is the small matter of a World Cup gradually emerging on the footballing horizon. For many, the season before a World Cup provides the best opportunity to represent your country at the greatest sporting event in the world. The sport’s spiritual home takes centre stage, Brazil. The most successful nation in the history of the tournament provides the back drop, as the samba boys look to make it six
world cup wins; this time on home soil. There are twelve stadiums dotted around the country where games will be played. The smallest ground is the Arena de Baixada in Curitiba which still holds a respectable 41,000 people, bigger than most Premier League grounds. The largest stadium is the iconic Maracana which holds 78,838 people, where the final will be played. The full World Cup line up has now been settled and the teams come from five different qualifying areas. From Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and
Algeria. Qualifiers from Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan and South Korea. The European contingent consists of Belgium, Germany, Italy, England, the Netherlands, Spain, Russia, BosniaHerzegovina, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Croatia and Greece. North and Central America and Caribbean send Costa Rica, United States, Honduras and Mexico. From South America is Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and Uruguay. The tournament has been in the headlines, however, for all the wrong reasons in recent months. Violent protests marred the build up to the Confederations Cup in June, overshadowing the traditional curtain-raiser to the World Cup marking one year until the main event. The Brazilian government has been forced into action to limit disruption, but concerns have already been voiced about safety ahead of the tournament. Questions have also been asked about the safety of players and fans alike, with the quality of accomodation also under scrutiny. Not an ideal build up to a World Cup then.
Sport 23
do’h-ping lance alleges cycling drug cover up Tom Beresford
THE world has hardly got to grips with the Lance Armstrong interview by Oprah Winfrey earlier this year and now, a Daily Mail interview has seen the disgraced cyclist allege that the former president of cycling’s world governing body UCI, Hein Verbruggen, helped cover up Armstrong’s positive test in 1999.
The former seven-time Tour de France champion, who was stripped of his titles in August 2012 due to testing positive for blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO), steroid and blood transfusions has told The Daily Mail: “The real problem was, the sport was on life support [after the 1998 Festina drugs scandal]. “And Hein just said, ‘This is a real problem for me, this is
the knockout punch for our sport, the year after Festina, so we’ve got to come up with something’. So we backdated the prescription.” Herbruggen has not commented on these new allegations, though he did distance himself from any sort of doping cover-ups earlier this month. He has claimed that his conscience is “absolutely clean”.
The UCI under current president, Brian Cookson, have declared that there will be a full investigation into its own role during previous scandals. Therefore, the body cannot interact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which Herbruggen is still a member of until the investigation is finished. Blood doping or EPO is becoming far more apparent in today’s sporting world after recent evidence has shown that six members of the Jamaican athletics squad, including Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, have tested positive of the illegal substance earlier this year. Dr Paul Wright, senior doping control officer with Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission, has stated that Jamaica’s testing has been well short of the international requirements. The second fastest 100m sprinter of all time, Tyson Gay, was caught earlier this year with positive results of EPO; suggesting that the lessons have not been learned in the Athletics world ever since Ben Johnson’s drug scandal at the 1988 Olympics .
November seems to be a month of purification for Armstrong as it has been reported that he has apologised to his former teammate and masseuse, Emma O’Reilly. O’Reilly was the first to accuse the cyclist of illegal drug use and was the subject of much abuse from Armstrong in 2004. Armstrong and O’Reilly recently met in Florida after much commenting to the media by both parties, O’Reilly reassured that she “wasn’t here to humiliate him. But I wanted closure.” The World Anti-Doping Agency President John Fahey publicly announced on the 12th November that the Lance Armstrong case is “done and dusted.” But it would seem unusual for the former athlete to involve himself with the press and falsely accuse a leading figure in IOC. Unfortunately for cycling, this issue is sure to rumble on for some time yet. It’s another damaging blow to the sport, which already has a poor reputation as a result of doping scandals.
mixed results for england rugby team mccoy claims milestone win Margaux Loyer AFTER a stuttering start against Australia (20-13), England set things right by beating Argentina during their second Test Match 31-12. The fixtures conincided with the ten year anniversary of the 2003 World Cup triumph. Stuart Lancaster’s squad overcame their weaknesses and showed an uncommon solidarity. Even though their Autumn Series ended with defeat against New Zealand (22-30), the players should be going back to their clubs with a feeling of pride. On 2nd November, Twickenham was quaking in the presence of the convincing Australians, who were severely testing their opponents. That snatched victory for England was more a reflection of the team’s unity rather than the quality of the game. Even though England has finally fixed its scrum, Stuart Lancaster’s players were poor on all the others aspects of the game with defensive disorganisation,
lack of initiative, failed lineout schemes and handling errors. Despite the victory, England were underwhelming against an Australian side who have been struggling in recent months. England, however, could rely on its usual leaders such as Chris Robshaw, who gave his teammates a glimmer of hope by scoring the first English try. Into the contest with Argentina and England led at half-time 24-6. While showing more coherence and willpower in the game, England’s squad disappointed fans with an uninspiring second half. Once again, England has to face its old demons: poorly placed passes, turnovers and a lack of awareness, which prevented them from developing their attack or from being effective in defence, with the final score 31-12 not reflecting the performance. Even though England lost to the All Blacks, this was their best performance. Trailing by 14 points after only 20 minutes (3-17), Lancaster’s squad could fortunately rely on
Farrell’s boot to help them get on to the score sheet. By conceding two tries (Savea and Read), England knew that every little mistake could influence the momentum, and the outcome of the game. These Autumn Internationals were mainly the occasion to test players in the national team, and some of them stood out from the crowd. Fullback Mike Brown was faultless under the high kicks and started all three games, even though at times his mistakes elsewhere on the pitch caused his team to be under pressure against Australia. Among those with doubt about their pick, Owen Farrell’s inclusion was debated. Even though Farrell’s kicking has been decisive for England, he was not able to intensify the game and to lead the attack schemes. In any case, Stuart Lancaster can be pleased with the performances, and the competition for squad places the fixtures created. England’s performances show promise ahead of next year’s Six Nations.
Dan English Newspaper Sport Editor AP McCoy has become the most successful jockey of all time, after sealing his 4,000th win on 7 November. Triumphing in his second race of the day at Towcester, the Irish jockey reached the milestone on horse Mountain Tunes at the 15:10 race. The 18-time champion jockey said of his achievement: “It was just amazing, it couldn’t have worked out any better.
“Racing people are fantastic, they are so pleased for me.” Having raced over 15,000 times, winning over a quarter of them is a massive achievement for McCoy, who has earned a remarakable £35 million from his racing career so far. McCoy’s 4,000 wins is almost 1,500 more than the second most successful rider Richard Johnson, who has ridden 2,567 winners. The jockey continued: “I’m lucky and proud to have done it.”
visit our website at - www.inquirelive.co.uk/sport
InQuire sport team kent holds open forum
Photograph from Chris Bull Chris Bull Vice President Sport DOES Sport matter? The question was proposed at the inaugural Team Kent Forum, a current evolution of the traditional Sports Council, on Tuesday 19th November. This year Team Kent are changing the way in which they operate, in an attempt to allow University of Kent students to have a greater say in what Team Kent does in an informal environment. The aim is to create an open forum, to prompt discussion about sporting matters that
arise at the University of Kent. At each meeting, there will be a theme with a series of questions put forward from the audience to the panel. The forum then culminates with guest speakers, as they aim to tackle the major sporting issues affecting the students. The forum opened up by going around the room asking one another: “what does sport mean to you?” This prompted further discussion with additional questions such as how different would your life be at University if it weren’t for playing sport? For most, sport played a
fundamental role within their University life, with the competitive, recreational and social aspects associated with it. Those at the forum shared their anecdotal stories where sport had a major impact upon them whilst studying here at Kent. Sport has given individuals a chance to meet likeminded people, who they were able to form friendships and communities with. There were also further discussions about the effect sport can have on the individuals. As well as this, how sport
allows someone to grow in confidence, gives others a release and provides an opportunity to refresh outside of their academic studies. Many talked about discipline and how ultimately sport allowed them to improve their academic mindset, routine and outcome. It was then when a potent question was raised. Have you ever sacrificed your academic studies for the sake of sport? A resounding majority raised their hand. Sport plays an important role in several different areas, such as widening participation,
retention, wellbeing, student satisfaction, recruitment, employability and community engagement. This year the focus will be upon the importance of sport within Higher Education and staking claim that sport at University really does matter, in an attempt to get sport embedded within the University’s Institutional Strategic Plan, committed to supporting the regions in which the University operates. INSIDE: Winter Ashes preview, Record breaking Jockey, Formula One Round Up and much more!