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31 October 2014
Issue 10.5
INSIDE: Halloween spooky special
Staff to strike over pensions Lola Olutola and Alice Barraclough Black History Month Special See Page 12-13
Hannah Lewis Bristol Uni UCU Strike 24/03/11 Photo by Sy Shalyia Arumugathasan
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hanges to pensions are leading to strikes by Kent lecturers in the upcoming weeks. The University United Kingdom (UUK) are proposing radical and large changes. A table, produced by First Actuarial for the University and College Union (UCU) has shown that university lecturers and professors with the highest earnings, could be facing a loss of up to £230,000 on their pensions. All staff will be taking a hit compared to their current pension.
UKC staff, such as Victoria Bennet, an Assistant Lecturer for The School of English, are prepared to fight against the cause. Victoria feels “that as members of a union it is our duty to stand together to stop current and future living standards from being eroded”.Although it will affect students, she hopes that “the students will get on side with staff and stand with us in solidarity”. The ongoing battle with university pensions has caused much debate between staff and students. Joune Kawas, a Film Studies
student, stated: “Although the lecturers have a right to strike, we as students can’t do anything about it, so why does our education have to suffer?” This displeasure about more strikes is a common opinion, but not all Kent students are feeling this way, as some such as Jessica Dunn, an English and American Literature student, believe “though it affects students, it is a short term disruption to fix a long term dispute”. A ballot held by the UCU last week resulted in 69 universities agreeing to take part in industrial action against
the change in staff’s pension schemes. The result of the ballot showed 87% voted for action short of a strike including the University of Kent; the Union have stated that this may include a marking boycott and a failure to set exams. The pension scheme which many of the older institutions participate in, including most of the Russell Group Universities, is the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). It has been announced that talks will commence with the universities to decide when and how these strikes will take place on Friday 24 October.
Top 5 Halloween Films, featuring The Shining. See Page 16
Mimi Jones Halloween: Costumes from scary to sexy See Page 17
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News Editor’s Note
Hello fellow friends, Welcome to our Halloween special. Find within tips on how to dress, what to watch and read for a spooky celebration. Otherwise, do flip over to Features and Entertainment to find out more about Black History Month. Also, in this paper, don’t miss some fantastic informative and opinion pieces about mental health issues in Editorials and Comment. Best, Emma
InQuireMedia
2014/2015 Editorial contacts:
Roommate wanted Francesca Brindle
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his year the government raised the cap on the number of students, allowing an additional 30,000 into university. Next year the cap will be lifted entirely. Opening university doors wider than ever before has many wondering if the resources of all UK universities will withstand the increase. The answer for some being no. Bristol, Winchester and Aberdeen are among the universities who have suffered with the influx. Bristol University had 200 students ‘doubling up’ in single rooms and sharing bunk beds
for free food and discounted rent prices until they could be assigned permanent accommodation. The University said: “Clearly it's not ideal that some of our students are having to share. Having said that, overall, they are taking to it very well. We are working very closely with them to address the situation as soon as we can." Sadly not all universities were as fortunate as Bristol. In Aberdeen and Winchester, students were left to stay in hotels. After accommodation requests rose by 10% in Aberdeen, 300 were left without rooms. In Winchester, students experienced a similar scenario
where over 150 students were ‘roomless’, 70 were given hotels while the remaining students were assigned ‘uni-managed housing’. All students from both universities now have permanent residences. Student Housing Specialist, Robert Lown, has warned that in university towns such as Bristol, Brighton, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Canterbury and Winchester, "it is increasingly difficult to find purpose-built accommodation, and students want to live in purpose-built accommodation". Mr Lown claims this can put students in competition with locals for housing, which can lead to higher rent for all.
Natalie Tipping - Chair chairwoman Emma Shelton - Newspaper Editor newspaper.editor Emily Adams - Website Editor website.editor Newspaper: Ruby Lyle- News newspaper.news Ginny Sanderson - Comment newspaper.comment Katyanna Quách - Features newspaper.features Julia Mitchell - Culture newspaper.culture Meg Weal - Entertainment newspaper.entertainment Dan English - Sport newspaper.sport Website: Georgina Coleman- News website.news Dave Cocozza - Comment website.comment Cerys Thomas - Features website.features Chris Heron - Entertainment website.entertainment Natalie Turco-Williams Culture website.culture Henry Sandercock - Sport website.sport Irene Antoniou Distribution distribution LaShanda Seaman Promotions and Events events Tina Stavarianou - Design design add @inquiremedia.co.uk
Photo by Lora Christy
Kent Student Beans launches Natalie Turco-Williams Website Culture Editor
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n 21 October the popular student website, studentbeans.com, launched seven local sites for universities across the UK, including the University of Kent. Each local site has a dedicated team of students on each campus, who will be promoting available discounts in the area, as well as running a local edition of Student Beans id and magazine.
Student Beans Kent currently has two campus brand managers and an editorial team for its edition of Student Beans magazine. The seven local teams will work alongside the national team, who will continue to run the main website. Brenda Wong, Marketing Executive for studentbeans.com said: “The aim of Student Beans Local is to provide university students with the opportunity to express themselves, and write about issues, places and events
relevant to their university. “ Our mission at Student Beans is to empower young people to thrive, so we are very proud to launch Student Beans Kent and 6 other local publications and hope to see even more growth in the next few months. I look forward to seeing more fantastic content from the Student Beans Kent team.” To find out more about Student Beans Kent visit the Facebook/ Twitter page ‘Student Beans Kent’ or visit the local site at kent.studentbeans.com
Visa change for students Katyanna Quách Newspaper Features Editor
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tudent visa rules have been criticised by universities and employers for deterring international students’ entry into the UK, by making the application process too strict. A conference at Regent’s University in London was attended by members of the Home Affairs Select Committee and a select panel of people from schools, universities, the government and businesses. Mr Walker, Head of the Institute of Directors said that speaking up about immigration issues was not “evil or racist” but was “appalled when politicians make cheap and pathetic gestures to what they think is public opinion”. He believes that the lack of students coming to the UK would impair the country’s economy as it went against “business common sense” to lose out on drawing the brightest students from abroad. This view was shared by Vivenne Stern, Director of the UK Higher Education International Unit, who encouraged potential applicants to UK universities. She said that the immigration policies ruined universities being recognised as global enterprises. This has led to universities pushing for students to not be part of the net migration figures. But Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said the these guidelines “strike the right balance”. He believed that these arguments were fuelling “myths and misconception” and that there is “no cap on the number of international students”. He spoke out about the “money-making scams” that estimated 50,000 students in false colleges in 2009-10. This led to the government having to interfere to protect the reputation of UK higher education and legitimate students studying by disallowing 750 private colleges from accepting international applicants. The debate will continue from both sides with the minister saying that the UK was open to students overseas “playing by the rules”.
New laws for societies Bill Garrett
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ent students will potentially be affected by the new Lobbying Act which came into force on 19 September. The act sets out new guidelines which, among other things, prohibit charitable organisations from aligning themselves with, or expressing support for any political organisation. In accordance with the new laws, charities must adopt a neutral political position in the interest of transparency if they wish to register with the Electoral Committee. Requirements of the Act have been said to leave various areas of ambiguity, making organisations hesitant to register without further information. The National Union of Students (NUS) have, after seeking legal advice from experts in charity law, advised that students should not register with the Electoral Commission. As of now they are seeking clarification on several issues they believe to be unclear. The published Act states that a registered charity can engage in campaigning for or against any change in law or policy of central government, but cannot openly endorse a political party. This creates a uniquely difficult situation within campus politics, where all Student’s Unions will be forbidden from financially supporting the campaigning efforts of political societies. In addition to this, there are implications for the conduct of the student press. VP for Welfare, Megan Wells, states: “Any media coverage that could be seen, read or heard by nonstudents and any society events that are open to non-students must be politically balanced.” As Kent Union decides how they plan to put the Act into practise, various student leaders of the political parties campus have expressed their opinions and potential concerns. Natalie Sparkes, the acting Events Organiser for the Canterbury Young Greens, said: “These changes could restrict political parties from reaching out to potential new members. As a new group in Canterbury, we’ve worked hard to raise our
Photo by Kent Liberal Democrats
profile in the local community, as well as with the universities. This change in law would have meant that we wouldn’t have been able to be interviewed on CSR, as it might have been seen as a conflict of interests. People should have the freedom to choose whether they, or their organisation, want to be affiliated with a political party.” The Chairman of the Classical Liberal Society took a similar view. Alex Tiley said: “It is regretful that due to government policy, student societies are now facing limits on their freedom of speech. “Though I welcome a balanced and non-partisan representative of students at university, this should not infringe on students being able to make their voices heard and talk about the issues that effect them.”
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Volunteer with Kent
Emily Martin
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Photo by The University of Kent Marxists
Photo by Canterbury and UKC Young Greens Sara Mondragon, the President of the Kent Marxist Society, is sceptical of the change. She states that the new changes are “robbing [students] of the entire reason for their existence and damaging the ability of the students to defend their interests”. The Vice Chair of Kent Labour Students, Alec James, said; “It’s disapointing to see such an overreaction from the Union, Student’s Unions across the country are facing the same problem and few are handling it [the implementation of the act] in such a heavy-handed manner.” With so much controversy surrounding the new laws, the political future of the University and other organisations seems
News
Photo by Kent Labour
Photo by InQuire
Photo by CLS unclear. A meeting of the Kent Union Board of Trustees has taken place but no decision has been made as to how best to interpret the legislation as they await for further legal advice.
ent Union are running a programme as part of Employability Week called Give Volunteering a Go. The scheme is designed to allow students the opportunity to help ensure that children in need receive presents this Christmas. Employability Week runs from 3-7 November and these volunteer sessions will be running in the Student Media Centre public space from 1-5pm on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 November. Confirmed activities include decorating shoeboxes to send Christmas presents in or knitting small toys to give to the charities. When speaking about the scheme, Volunteer Projects Co-ordinator, Tom Abott, said: “Volunteering can be something really simple and small that will have a positive impact on others. “Give Volunteering A Go offers you a chance to commit just one hour of your time to put a smile on someone else’s face. If you haven’t volunteered before, come along and try it!” The tagline for Employability Week is “something to inspire you” and the University is putting on a range of events designed to demonstrate the variety of ways you can gain different experiences and skills while at university. There will be interactive workshops with graduate employers, CV feedback slots, skills sessions and much more. Also important with regards to employability is the KSCV award scheme that Kent Union operate; this provides students with the opportunity to log volunteering hours via the employability toolkit so at the end of the year the amount of hours you have volunteered for culminates in a certificate. If you aren’t able to take part in this volunteering scheme but are still eager to volunteer, then visit: www.kentunion.co.uk/ activities/volunteering The University runs different volunteer projects all year round.
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News
Photo by EastKentHospitals
NHS staff take ‘no choice’ strike Your news Chloe Bryer
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housands of NHS staff went on strike for four hours on Monday 13 October over a cancelled 1% pay rise They were also encouraged to take breaks whilst at work, and during the course of the week, refused to work overtime. Staff are striking as they cannot cope with living costs and many rely on food banks, work benefits or a second job. Staff admit that they had ‘no choice’ in whether to strike or not as their discussions with the Government had been ignored and lead nowhere. The strike was organised by Unison, which represents 300,000 NHS staff, who balloted for a strike due to the Government cancelling a 1% promised pay rise. General Secretary of Unison Dave Prentis said: “NHS members don’t take action often or lightly. For many of our members, this will be the first time they walk out as the last action over pay was 32 years ago. The NHS runs on the
goodwill of its workers, but this Government has shown utter contempt for them.” The NHS is the second biggest area of Government spending in the UK, however the NHS Pay Review Body claimed that staff pay has not been kept in line with inflation since 2009 and recommended a 1% pay rise on top of the increments already allocated. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt claimed that a 1% pay rise for all NHS workers on top of the normal increments of 3% automatically per year, was simply unaffordable. He continued that if there were to be an increase in pay, in further years the NHS would have to make up to 10,000 people redundant. However when the coalition government came into power in 2010, wages had been frozen for two years already, allowing prices to increase and wages to decrease. Unless Jeremy Hunt can make a compromise with the staff, there will be continuous industrial action following into November. Action will be finalised once the strikes have been reviewed for their impact.
Your comment Priya Patel
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as the walk out by 400,000 NHS workers over pay rises worth it? Surely striking for four hours sporadically only serves to disrupt the public’s access to health services. Because of their walkout, soldiers and police officers were tasked with driving ambulances, no compromise is seen to be in the making between NHS workers and the government, and to top it off, only 1 in 10 Unison members, the UK’s largest healthcare union, supported the walkout. How can a strike be effective if your own union is not supportive of it? As well as this, Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, claims even a 1% pay rise will lead to a cut in 14,000 employees by next year. Surely it is better for NHS workers to stick it out rather than watch their colleagues be made redundant? Yet I, like the public, find it difficult to criticise the workers, because it all boils down to one thing. When you walk into a hospital to receive treatment, whether it is for an emergency, ongoing treatment, or to give birth who do you want treating you? The nurse who’s worn down,
overstretched, stressed out and frustrated for having to do more for less, or a nurse who is content with their job. I’m not suggesting the 1% increase in their salaries will be a cure for all that ails them, but it could be a good start. Though giving the workers their desired pay rise is unlikely to solve the UK healthcare system’S underlying problems. Whether it’s a cover up, failure to provide adequate treatment or the inability to provide decent care for the elderly and frail , you can’t seem to get through a month without reading about an NHS scandal. At the beginning of the year three nurses were arrested over falsification of patient records in Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, just recently the Surrey and Sussex healthcare NHS had to apologise to 1,200 cancer patients for mistreatment, and reports are now breaking regarding botched surgeries that had been outsourced to the private sector by the NHS. Workers themselves suggest it’s no longer about the patients but politics and bureaucracy and you get very little help from the top, one porter commented: “The only time you see managers is when they are hovering around the coffee shop”.
This may stem from the issue that the NHS follows and pushes through policy depending on whatever ideology is currently in power and is unable to keep up. Since 2009, the government realised it had to make at least £20bn of savings to 2014 - a target which has now been pushed to next year. Under the current government they have opted to achieve this through cuts, pay restraints and freezes. Yet it didn’t seem the managers themselves were complaining. In fact it was difficult to find any reports that voiced managers’ opinions on why they were partaking in the strike. You can hear from the nurses, the midwives and the ambulance drivers, but finding the opinion of a manager seemed elusive. Did it have anything to do with the government allowing a 1% pay rise for those on the top end of the pay band? Although, fear not, it appears the NHS will eventually experience an upshot in funding. Labour pledges to increase funds for the NHS through taxing the rich and the Conservatives have also pledged no cuts but an increase in funding. Are the days that NHS workers have to strike just to get what they’re owed numbered?
Keep safe on campus Your news
Ruby Lyle Newspaper News Editor
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ecent events have raised questions concerning a potential lack of safety on the Canterbury campus of the University of Kent. The most recent incident was that of the armed mugger on Parkwood Path on 9 October. Between August 2013 and August 2014, 22 violent and sexual offences took place on the Canterbury campus area according to the Kent Police Crime Map. On 2 September, a 20-yearold woman was assaulted by the footpath on the Sports
Centre car park. In the previous academic year, on 7 December, a UKC student was sexually assaulted in the early hours of the morning in the Parkwood area. On 4 October, a girl outside The Venue was threatened with rape by a group of boys labelled “scum of the earth” by one Spotted: Kent University poster. These incidents have not been limited to the past two months. In October 2013, an individual wearing a Guy Fawkes mask followed and grabbed several young women. Kent Police recieved four reports of the masked man stalking women in as many days. With many of these offences
taking place near the Parkwood Path, there have been calls by students for improved CCTV and more frequent Campus Watch patrols. This mood was best exemplified with the Change. org petiton signed by 1,798 students created by Samuel Betz, which contained an open letter: “The University has a duty to do everything it can to protect students living on campus and anyone who needs to use the path. “Installing comprehensive CCTV along the path would go a long way in preventing these kind of offences being committed on our campus, which should be a place where people can feel safe.” Despite these calls for improved CCTV, once the University pointed out that CCTV was already in place, the
campaign for improved safety measures fizzled. This has not been the first time students have questioned the safety provisions of Kent. Vicky Buck’s comment when she signed the petition: “At the beginning of this year a motion was passed in the Kent Union ‘zones’ to install more CCTV in parkwood, especially along this path, but it seems like it hasn’t been a top priority. Students should feel safe and they should not have to wait for this privilege.” A second year student, Sophie Spencer, said: “I think Campus Watch does a great job despite the criticism they recieve from students, often a direct result of parties being shut down. However I feel that the University needs to extend both their size and powers for students to feel safer.”
Ginny Sanderson Newspaper Comment Editor
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y boyfriend and I were once followed home. We were approaching what is called by some ‘rape alley’. Yes, it is what you can imagine: ever seen the film Labyrinth (starring David Bowie’s crotch)? Remember the scene where the main girl walks down an endless alley? Now imagine that, but with streetlights that never work. Back to my story. Needless to say we avoided said alleyway, as someone was walking close behind us and it was around 10pm and I didn’t want to die there. We were followed very closely home. It wasn’t a particularly horrendous ordeal, we probably could have ‘taken’ the ne’er-do-well
who was, for whatever reason, on our tail. But I was shaken by it. I had never really questioned the claim of Canterbury as one of the safest cities to go to university, until then. I couldn’t help but wonder, what could have happened if it were just me? Or if I was with a female friend, instead? Especially now that the days are getting darker sooner, street lighting needs to be ubiquitous. This isn’t my life story but, as a UKC student, I feel I have some sort of authority on this issue. Story number two: only the other day, I was walking out from the Tyler footpath to Hales place and all the streetlights were off (presumably broken). Luckily I’ve seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I know how to handle myself. But, in all seriousness, at 6pm at night, someone shouldn’t feel afraid
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What grinds my gears Jack Hadaway-Weller The Green Party (and other minority parties) not being included in the next leadership debate. The inclusion of UKIP but no Green Party in the next lot of televised leadership debates has angered me greatly. I think that it is reasonable that Farage is invited to the debate due to his party’s recent popularity. However, the Greens have also had a huge increase in interest and Natalie Bennett deserves to get a word in as well. The disappearance of the Kent Eye. I’ve got rather attached to the absolutely massive Ferris wheel currently sandwiched on the green between Rutherford and Eliot. I’ll miss the pizzazz that it brings to campus when it is all illuminated. Getting gig tickets. I absolutely hate missing the 9am sale start because I’m either in a lecture or attempting to salvage a lie-in on my day-off. Consequently, when I get online maybe an hour after sale has begun all I end up inevitably seeing is ‘Tickets Unavailable’ and then a bunch of smug individuals parading on Twitter.
Photo by Jes
Your comment
Comment
Photo by Martin Abegglen
walking home from Campus. And now I hear the Council is trying to save money by turning off streetlights between midnight and 5pm. The logic for this seems to be less prevention over cure than ‘if something bad happens, we’ll react to it’. First of all, this is a dangerous way of looking at crime. Secondly, things are happening. That girl was threatened with rape. Not to mention that someone was wielding a weapon down Parkwood Path and threatened people with it. Are the Canterbury City Council under the illusion that no one walks home at night? There are people with night
shifts for a start, alongside those going out - unlikely to get back before 12am. These people still have a right to feel safe and shouldn’t have to splash out on a taxi in order to avoid any potential dangers on their way home. There is a petition against this policy online demanding it is reversed immediately. Visit epetitions.direct.gov. uk/petitions/62413 to give this some support. Ultimately, it is a human right to feel a “security of person” (Article 3, the UN Declaration of Human Rights) and a lot of students don’t right now. The people in charge need to reconsider.
Remembering how to do simple domestic things with other people. Over summer it can be easy to forget that one can’t use the washing machine/kitchen appliances on demand back at uni because another housemate is currently using them. Just sit and watch that laundry pile up. TV Spoiler people. Although I can appreciate how much you want to talk about who became zombie-munch on this week’s The Walking Dead, I would much prefer it if you didn’t do it in my vicinity until I have watched it myself. Also, whoever posts about recent plotlines, you make me sad.
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Comment
Scottish Devolution? What about English? Stuart Fry
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resonant ‘ach, naw!’ was heard from 55% of the people in Scotland to the notion of independence and the United Kingdom apparently remains ‘unified’ for the foreseeable future. Alex Salmond and his band of nationalists failed, but this is certainly not the last we will hear of devolution, not merely for Scotland but for all four components of the UK and yes, that includes England, or at least it should do. Scottish nationalists will have you believe that Scotland suffers a raw deal at the hands of ghastly Westminster, but is there any justification in their apparent bitterness? In a word, no. UK Public spending is determined via the Barnett formula, which typically results in 20% higher spending per head in Scotland compared to England. Latest figures show that whilst Scotland receives £10, 512 spending per capita, in England the figure was only at £8, 529 per capita. But, a higher concentration of spending is not the only benefit of living in Scotland; they also have their very own parliament, allowing Scottish self-legislation, something England is severely lacking. Of course, it is not just Scotland who have an
increased level of power; Wales and Northern Ireland also have had their own devolutions in the form of National Assemblies. Many argue that England doesn’t need its own independent voice because, accounting for 85% of the United Kingdom’s population, Westminster essentially becomes an English Parliament. This is a mere fallacy. This assumes that the four components of the UK are inherently different and unable to ever be unified in their policy preferences, whilst simultaneously being wholly unified within the confines of their own country. As if it is a case of ‘them’ against ‘us’; apparently the English will always collectively want the opposite of what the Scots desire. To suggest that any of the four countries have national unity is naive, particularly in England, where a huge disparity in opinion between the south and the north is present. Furthermore, whilst certain areas of a country will conflict with another area, they may share the same principles as certain parts of another country. Certain English constituencies will be better suited to the core of Scotland and vice versa. A common argument is the fact that Welsh, Scottish
and Northern Irish MPs can partake votes that only affect English affairs. Clearly this is lacking in principles, but it can also affect the outcome of policies that do not remotely concern them. A notable example of this is the 2004 hike in university tuition fees within England; without the votes of Scottish MPs, this would never have passed legislation. Of course, the English paying higher tuition fees is highly important to the Scottish people, which will explain why they charge the English £9,000 a year to study north of the border, while the Scottish themselves get a free education! For many, social welfare has unjustly become a postcode lottery, whereas it should be accessible to anyone deserving. This unfairness causes friction and only succeeds in further destroying the unity of the Kingdom. But, a voice for English nationalism is almost non-existent. The English have become fearful of showing any national patriotism, whilst the Welsh and Scottish remain proud. Perhaps this is due to the negative representation of patriotism, as displayed in far-right groups such as the English Defence League. Nevertheless, people need to appreciate that English
patriotism is not necessarily a negative thing and equally, the notion of an English parliament is not absurd. English votes and a solely English voice for English matters is a no-brainer, just as it is solely the responsibility of the Welsh to cater for Wales or the Scottish to cater for Scotland. What right does any elected MP have to vote on any proposals that do not directly affect the constituency in which they were elected to govern? This issue can easily be rectified. Westminster could oversee matters covering all the UK such as defence and foreign affairs, with each nation having its own independent voice to
decide on its own independent future. Alternatively, we could adopt a fairer, more representative electoral system. If Westminster used proportional representation, then the argument of English votes deciding the outcome of politics within Scotland would become obsolete, as every vote in every region would matter. This would result in many hung parliaments, but is that really such a bad thing? Surely, this enables a larger percentage of people to at least get something of what they want. The smaller elected parties can keep the largest in check and ensure that some of the more extreme policies are rubbished.
Photo by Carol
The Sainsbury’s ‘Kiss-In’ and homophobia in the UK Malika White
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omophobia. Something that was once considered an acceptable attitude towards gay people, but is now seen by the majority as vulgar and as immoral as racism. With the move towards gay equality during the 1990s and 2000s, gay people were said to have made important milestones to stop their polarisation, including homophobia being considered a hate crime, the introduction of civil partnerships, and now legal gay marriage. Attitudes have changed towards homosexuality and Britain has become a more liberal, accepting place for such people, a stark contrast to past decades. With all the progress
the gay community has made to overcome prejudice and discrimination, it was disappointing to hear that a lesbian couple were threatened with expulsion by a security guard in their local Sainsbury’s after briefly kissing. Penalising people for displaying the fact that they’re gay is unacceptable. The aim of gay equality (keyword: equality) is to ensure that gay relationships are seen in exactly the same way as straight ones are, and I wouldn’t imagine this security guard would have tried to dismiss a straight couple for such a display. Interestingly, this incident occurred in Brighton, Britain’s gay capital, and it led to uproar from the homosexual
community who, in turn, launched a protest deemed the ‘Big Kiss-In’ within this same Sainsbury’s. Crowds of people were reported to have descended upon the branch, and video footage shows gay couples kissing while others held banners with slogans such as ‘Live Well for Lez,’ a play on the supermarket’s ‘Live Well for Less’ slogan. Incidents like these show that homophobia disappointingly remains prevalent in the UK, though nowhere near as much as it used to, and only among the minority. I have seen for myself that in this day and age; gay people, for the most part, are able to live open lifestyles without fear of being shunned and ostracised by the rest of society. Despite this, as with
other minority groups, some negative attitudes haven’t and may never be overcome. Hatred towards people because of who they choose to love is just as ignorant and narrowminded as hatred towards people because of the colour of their skin. This makes me wonder why, in 2014, if we are welcoming towards interracial relationships and ethnic minorities having just as much equality and opportunities as whites (things that people of previous centuries would have never considered), why is it taking us so long to accept some people developing feelings for people of the same sex? Perhaps because opinions are still up in the air about whether homosexuality is a Photo by Stian Eikeland choice.
Society should be focusing on the fact that an individual who wants to date within their sex is no different to anyone else, as I feel this is where most of these attitudes stem from. I’m straight and not a fan of public displays of affection by any stretch, but I would have thought that with how close we have come to a ‘live and let live’ approach towards gays, the fact a couple kissing happened to be of the same sex would be the least of anyone else’s concerns. Clearly, there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve a society free of homophobia. What can we do to target homophobia? Email newspaper.comment@ inquiremedia.co.uk with your Comment.
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Mental health at uni: it’s okay not to be perfect Natasha Tullet
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e all knew that one person at school who could get straight A’s, be captain of a sports team, play Grade 8 piano and still manage to have time to spare. The lucky few who seemed to be good at everything, have loads of friends, yet still know the square root of 1764. I was never one of those people. I had to work hard and apply my strengths to (luckily) land a place at my first choice. #hellokent! But what happens when you get to university, and you’re surrounded by people from schools across the world, who suddenly make your ability to read a novel a day or (heaven forbid) do long division in your head, merely a standard skill that you have in common? I am by no means a perfect student, but I am a perfectionist with myself. My own worst critic; I always feel annoyed when I think I could have done better. But according to recent news, this common obsession with perfection is in fact pretty dangerous, and is putting many student’s mental health at risk. Ex-Cambridge student Morwenna Jones suffered for eighteen months at university with severe bulimia and depression (even not leaving her room for 2 weeks), all because of her obsessive desire to be the best; which on arriving at Cambridge, she no longer felt she was. This may seem like an extreme case, but I can completely
Photo by Mrrabbit
understand how easy it is to fall into a downward spiral of stress or pressure, and believe there should be more support available to help cope with these problems. I was embarrassed to first admit that I was suffering from anxiety, especially when I should have been enjoying the carefree life of a fresher. Living away from home for the first time and dealing with problems alone was undeniably a daunting change; one that I’m sure many can relate to and can easily take its toll. It wasn’t until I saw a doctor that I was reassured my symptoms
weren’t serious and that anxiety in my situation was in fact extremely common. I believe Kent has an excellent medical centre and I don’t wish to belittle the great job of its staff, but I do feel there should have been more options for support from the university. Whether it’s the stress of ‘perfectionism’, feeling lost in deadlines, money problems or even just making friends, stress is everywhere at uni and that should be acknowledged. Sometimes it’s hard to get the balance right between an increasing workload and still enjoying a social life. You don’t
need to be labelled ‘mentally ill’ to need someone to talk to, and we shouldn’t feel embarrassed to do so. Luckily at Kent, there are services available that all students should be aware of, such as Student Support and the Welbeing service located in Keynes. Offering mental health therapy such as CBT (talking therapy that helps you manage your problems through your thoughts and behaviour), an emergency drop-in centre and confidential counselling with specialist, experienced practitioners; there is always someone to help. (For more
details visit student services via the university website.) Uni is undoubtedly the best years of many peoples’ lives, but there’s no shame in needing some guidance or support when student life feels like it’s becoming a struggle. Mental health should be recognised more by universities, with easily accessible help for whatever may be distracting your mind; big or small. No one is perfect after all. For more information, visit the Advice Centre.
The LSE Sport leaflet shows the ugly side of initiations Rebecca Fatharly
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t’s that time of year again where the students who are determined to stick with the sport of their choice are ready to take on initiations to show allegiance to their new club. Recently, however, there has been a rise in sports clubs around the country coming under fire because they have been holding initiations that not only degrade the members’ integrity, but also that of their female counterparts. Edinburgh, Oxford and London School of Economics have all made headlines just in the
last month, due to various allegations of discrimination. LSE was the worst when it came to allegations of sexism, since in their fresher’s week, members of the Rugby team handed out leaflets that were meant to promote the society, but instead alienated half of the student population. The leaflets referred to women as ‘netball slags’, ‘sloppy birds’ and ‘beastlike women’, which naturally would cause a riot. With a lot of the sports clubs, such as Rugby and Hockey, drinking plays a major role in how the initiations will go (and how much students’
inhibitions will drop). Drinking and student life go hand in hand (unless you don’t drink) so it seems inevitable that alcohol will become a major part of initiations. However, it’s when alcohol and a whole lot of testosterone mix that makes things uneasy. It’s when sexist jokes become ‘banter’ and degrading women becomes fun. Initiations are supposed to be a fun way to bond with your teammates, but with the apparent rise in ‘lad culture’ becoming synonymous with sexism, this means that these team-building exercises simply become moronic and offensive.
These exercises can include having sex with as many freshers as possible for a tally, and betting on who can pull the ugliest woman they can find. It teaches young men that women are objects to be sexualised and that their only value is based on aesthetics rather than who they really are, which in turn feeds into rape culture. It teaches young men that women are objects to be sexualised and that their only value is based on aesthetics rather than who they really are, which in turn feeds into rape culture. Lad culture in club initiations is not just damaging to
womens’ self-esteem, but also to mens’. Since initiations seem to be a contest of masculinity, it creates an anxiety amongst male students caught in these tests, which can lead to them making rash decisions. Most self-respecting society members don’t hold sexist views, but can feel compelled to in order to fit in. All in all, club initiations are fun and ridiculous, as long as they are not offending people in the process. I just hope, with initiations coming up, that Kent’s sports clubs don’t end up making national headlines for sexist banality.
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Features
Global warming strands walruses Sarah Osbourne
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cientists have regularly warned the public about the negative consequences of global warming on the environment. Modern society has developed so much that people have to rely upon their gas and electricity. But many rarely stop to think of how this is affecting the rest of the world outside. A photo released, showed 35,000 stranded walruses that had swum to shore after the sea ice they had once laid on had now melted. The vast mass of walruses captured in the photograph gives a shocking insight to the scale of destruction caused by global warming. This month, scientists spotted the herd of walruses stranded on an Alaskan shore via satellite. The coast lays five miles north of Point Lay, an Inupiat Eskimo village which is 700 miles northwest of Anchorage. Usually in October, the walruses live upon the sea ice, but had to come ashore as the warming ocean temperatures have melted the ice. This is but one of many consequences due to global warming. Walruses are at a disadvantage as they cannot swim for an extended amount of time and need a place to rest, unlike seals. Females give birth on sea ice and use it as a diving platform to catch clams and other molluscs on the shallow continental shelf. This is not the only occasion of walruses coming ashore, as The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has also reported walruses gathering in large groups on the Russian side of the Chukchi Sea. The walruses not only face the threat of melting ice, but according to the energy blog Fuel Fix, they now face
Shell’s newest plans to drill for oil in the Arctic, destroying their habitat further. Additionally, stampedes are also a threat for the fleeing walruses, observers saw last week around 50 carcasses on the beach from animals that may have been killed due to the rush of walruses coming ashore. David Nussbaum, chief executive of WWFUK concludes that “the scale of the destruction highlighted should be a wake-up call for us all”. Walruses are not the only animals that have been affected by the devastation of the environment. The WWF has stated that Earth has lost half of its wildlife in the past 40 years due to human killing, destruction of habitats and pollution. The Zoological Society of London’s Director of Science, Professor Ken Norris claims that: “if half the animals died in London Zoo next week it would be front page news. But that is happening in the great outdoors. This damage is not inevitable but a consequence of the way we choose to
live”. Mike Barratt, director of science and policy at WWF said that the “Earth must be protected from development and deforestation, while food and energy has to be produced sustainably.” Earth’s natural resources are being used up quicker than they can can be replenished and the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is unable to be absorbed sufficiently by oceans and trees quick enough to keep up with humanity’s output, which is a cause behind global warming. It is approximated that today’s average global rate of consumption would need 1.5 planet Earths to sustain it. The fact that these 35,000 walruses came ashore because of their melting home surely shows humanities devastating contribution to global warming and the need to take action. If we carry on the way we do now then soon, it should no longer come as a shock to see other animals fleeing in desperation from their destroyed habitats.
Photo by allan hopkins
Do you want to be Aquaman? Ann-Katrin Daflis
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ver dreamed of joining the superhero Aquaman on one of his underwater adventures? Though most
Photo by Chris Hunkeler
people wouldn’t necessarily agree on his fashion, his ability to stay underwater for an indefinite amount of time on the other hand, seems quite attractive. A publication released in the journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry revealed, a team of researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have developed a crystalline material that is able to absorb, store, and release oxygen in large quantities, dubbing it the ‘Aquaman crystal’. The crystal containing cobalt absorbs oxygen from the environment by binding it to the material’s surface during a chemical reaction. What is special, is that this reaction is reversible and thus the material is able to release the oxygen again. This mechanism is not unlike to that of the iron binding and releasing oxygen in
our body, providing us with oxygen in our bloodstream. The crystal releases the oxygen when it is exposed to heat or pressure created by a vacuum. Remarkably, this reversible chemical reaction is able to be recycled many times opening it to many possible applications, including breathing under water. The Aquaman crystal may spare divers of the need to carry heavy oxygen tanks on their backs. It could also serve as an easy way to provide patients with respiratory problems, with a highly concentrated dose of oxygen. There is further speculation that the oxygen release could be triggered by light. If so, it may even prove useful in the field of artificial photosynthesis, creating even more exciting possibilities.
How can we be greener students? James Prentice 1. Join Green Impact Green Impact is a volunteer scheme that allows students to help various parts of universities become greener. There are several different groups that students can work with, such as: the catering departments, admin departments or working with university lecturers. Their work environments are judged according to how green they are and can be awarded bronze, silver and gold. The more environmentally friendly conditions are met, the higher the award given. Green Impact is worth employability points, and once completed comes with a recognised volunteer award. This will allow you to work alongside other people with the same goal in mind. Not only will you learn how to be more environmentally friendly but you’ll have yourself a better CV at the end of it. 2. Recycle If you are living on campus being green often gets overlooked. To avoid this from happening make sure you have at least one recycling bin in use in the household. It takes less than five seconds to turn over the packaging of your frozen pizza or tin of baked beans to check if it’s recyclable. It is a good idea to wash out any food or sauce left in tins or wraps to avoid your recycling bin smelling. 3. Join societies We are lucky here at Kent to have so many societies, including the Environmental Society and the Conservation Society. These will have people who will already know how to be more green; ask their advice, l get to make likeminded friends at the same time. These societies also hold activities to better the environment such as litter picking and gardening on campus. They also raise awareness of issues surrounding climate change, by campaigning, watching documentaries and there are various talks and lectures given by people who work in sustainability or conservation.
Features
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Easy and cheap Halloween costume ideas Tina Stravianou Head of Design
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e all love Halloween. It is the perfect time to watch your favourite classic horror movies. And although students may be a bit too old for trick-or-treating, there is no stopping us dressing up nevertheless. For some international students it can be a new experience during university, for others it has been a yearly event since they were children. All of us want to dress nicely and all of us
want to impress with our outfit but what happens when we have a limited budget? Let me show you some classic, cheap ways to rock your halloween costume. They are easy to edit as well. Be creative. Black Dress A black dress can be transformed into anything you want. You can be a witch, a zombie, a devil, a cat. No matter what, you can still just wear a black dress. For a more Halloween feeling, I suggest to get some scissors and create cuts on your dress. It is going to look amazing
Photo by Markéta Veselá
and creepy. Fake Eyelashes I love make up, and Halloween is the one day when you can go all out with no regrets. First step is fake eyelashes. as there are amazing colours and eyelashes will make your eyes expressive. If you are daring enough, go for something red, colourful and extravagant. Face painting If you haven’t painted your face and body, you aren’t dressed up enough. You can always wear simple clothes; the whole point is to ruin them with paint. Face paint can transform you into anything you want and you can get all your supplies for a cheap price. White Dress Yes, it is the opposite of the black dress but you can make it look super spooky and scary; just throw some fake blood or red body paint or ketchup on it and you are ready. You can be a ghost, zombie, nurse, corpse bride or any other idea you can think of. The whole point is being scary. If you are daring enough, go for a maxi white dress which will make you look scarier. If you are going to a club, and think you won’t be able to wear a maxi dress, a mini one will do just fine. Blood
Does it even need an explanation? What is more Halloween than blood. You can be as creative as you want, painting on realisitic looking wounds or just splatter it everywhere. This will instantly change any costume into one that is suited for Halloween.
Photo by Len Radin
To find out more about how Halloween costumes have changed throughout the years, turn to the culture section!
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Features
Celebrating Black History Month
October is dedicated to Black History Month, and Lola Olutola writes about some of the figures she admires in black history Lola Olutola
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lack History Month is a yearly celebration of important black figures from the past and the impact of their achievements on the black community. Black History Month is vital in countering the tendency to omit people of colour from the history taught in schools. These figures in black history whose contribution has been forgotten or overshadowed by the rhetoric and actions of others.
1963. Amongst all the black leaders in attendance, was a certain Baptist preacher from Birmingham, Alabama, who entranced the crowd with his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. Just think about it. Without Randolph’s proven ability to organise masses of people and his fervent passion for change in spite of naysayers, who would have inspired people like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X to the prominent places they held within this movement for change?
soldiers who had fought in The Crimean War, yet her request by the government and other organisations was turned down. Nevertheless, she remained so devoted to helping the soldiers that she funded her own way to the warfront. She set up The British Hotel to provide ‘a mess-table and comfortable quarters for sick and convalescent officers’. The soldiers were so grateful for her efforts in helping them, that they nicknamed her’ Mother Seacole’. When she returned from the war destitute, a fund was set up by former soldiers and well-to-do members of the public to support her. Although this is a piece that celebrates history, I also want to draw your attention to these two great contemporary figures. They add to black history by raising awareness of feminism within the black community and ensuring that black history and culture is always present in their art.
Photo by Library of Congress
Photo by Cliff
Asa Philip Randolph (1889-1979) In the face of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King’s achievements, Randolph’s contribution to the U.S Civil Rights Movement has been overlooked. After encountering socialism in New York, faced with the injustices blacks often confronted in the workforce, Randolph, with the help of his friend Chandler Owen, founded the black socialist magazine The Messenger in 1917. In 1925, he set up his first successful trade union, The Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), after some porters approached Randolph for help. In spite of the efforts of employers and the American Federation of Labor, in 1937 the BSCP was finally recognised as a trade union, making it the first American trade union to support black workers. In 1963, Randolph was the chief organiser of the march in Washington. 250,000 people rallied together in the name of Civil Rights. The event is often credited for the Civil Rights Act of
Mary Seacole (1805-1881) While Florence Nightingale’s part in The Crimean War is often well documented, the efforts of another woman at the time to help the soldiers is often overlooked, Mary Secole (neé Grant) was born in Kingston, Jamaica to a Scottish father and a Jamaican mother. Although being of mixed race, Mary was not immune to racism. In 1854, Mary travelled to England in the hope of being able to nurse injured
Photo by wikimedia commons
Photo by Howard County Library System’s Miller Branch
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie For anyone who has read any African literature, it is always refreshing to read a female writer’s work as opposed to the men who dominate this area. The fuller-fleshed female characters of Adichie are brought to the forefront of the story instead of remaining passive as they tend to do in the male works within the African literary canon. As well as improving the depiction of women in books, Adichie also seeks to improve the way the world views and treats them. Any Béyonce fan will know that the song ‘Flawless’ features an extract from Adichie’s TED talk ‘We Should All Be Feminists’. Adichie addresses the need for gender equality and the pressures placed on women within African culture.
In the light of the growing uproar against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the many young girls who fall victim to sex trafficking, I believe that Adichie’s words are very significant. I also recommend listening to Adichie’s earlier TED talk on ‘the Danger of a Single Story’ which urges people to avoid only believing one narrative about a country or a race. Adichie’s work captures the spirit of Black History Month as she ensures that herstory and the story of the minority is not completely eradicated from history. Janelle Monae I really wish this singer was the big household name, she truly deserves to be. Her music tells the story of a fugitive android, on the run from an oppressive regime (not something you’re likely to hear every day, is it?). This robot epic has spanned across 3 albums (so far) and incorporates funk, jazz, hip-hop, soul and even baroque! The plight of the androids in Monaé’s musical universe mirrors that of any ethnic or social minority today. Yet, it is clear that Monaé’s music is primarily influenced by the suffering of blacks in the U.S.A. Monaé doesn’t just make a statement with her music, but with her clothes as well. In a style that Monaé deems neither ‘male nor female’, she resists the music industry’s compulsive need for near-naked female singers. In a world populated by Nicki Minajs and Rihannas. Janelle Monae’s inventiveness and individuality make her a truly inspirational figure in black culture.
Photo by Seher Sikandar
h at the University of Kent and culture, whilst Alice Barraclough covers a debate held by The African Carribean Society. Alice Barraclough
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o mark Black History Month, Kent’s African Caribbean Society (ACS) held a debate on Thursday 23 October, to give students a free space where their opinions and voices could be easily heard. A variety of topics were covered from political disengagement to institutional racism and mental illness to black culture. The night was a huge success and the lecture theatre was completely full. The committee were professional and considerate, giving questions to the audience in an appropriate manner, with the support of a panel helping to keep ideas flowing and politically correct. When the race question was brought up, everyone had an opinion, especially a group of intelligent, fiery undergrad students who want to share their own experiences and speak up. Students were interested in how black heritage plays a part in our modern society. They looked at perceptions in society and how to knock down stereotypes. And to define what our skin colour really means. Chloe Wallace, Vice President of UKC ACS was pleased with the turnout at the debate and stated that it brought up “a lot of controversial issues, especially compared to last year, when the topics didn’t really have a purpose”. Wallace believes that getting our students to comment on present day issues, such as why its important students should vote, would hopefully persuade more people to read the news and understand what is happening in the world around them. She stated that “the topics discussed were linked to the theme of empowerment and black history month”. For me, the topic that stood out most was the question regarding black female stereotypes in the media. The panel asked the room ‘is the black
Features
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Recipe of the week Jess Duncan
Mozzarella and asparagus risotto Getting to university and realising that beans on toast is your speciality and that mums roast is definitely best, is any students nightmare, but with my recipe for risotto (which isn’t as tricky as you think), you’ll soon become the Jamie Oliver of your house. Serves one
Photo by Alice Barraclough
woman’s body being liberated or hyper sexualised?’ and a loud murmur spread across the lecture theatre. Someone asked “What do you define as liberation though?” Personally, I think it is the right to freedom of expression. The freedom to do what you want and be who you like. So does it matter if girls show a little skin or wear tight dresses? Surely it’s up to us how we dress and want to be perceived. Beyoncé has become the ultimate portrayal of media’s perfection. But the question asked was what message is she really sending out to young girls? At the 2014 Grammy Awards in January, Beyoncé chair danced alongside her husband, rapper Jay Z, in a skimpy, strappy, extremely seductive tight black thong bodysuit, leaving little to the imagination. More recently, Nicki Minaj, in her music video, Anaconda, wears an
Photo by mp3waxx.com
array of outrageous tiny outfits, from a skimpy gold chain cut out top to a neon pink thong. The debate asked the room- why? And the answer was simply that sex sells! But the issue raised was that in the process, these music icons were teaching young girls that the only way to be successful is by dressing provocatively. This is an obvious contradiction and poses a question on the freedom of expression of these pop stars. Freedom of expression empowers these women but to what extent? Complaining about the sexualisation of women in magazines and the media has been a hot topic for ages. So, I wasn’t at all surprised that this was also linked to the theme of black empowerment for Black History Month. Despite the ongoing debate over sexualisation vs liberation of black female bodies, which has raised a lot of questions, why has nothing been changed? Although UKC ACS gave us students a place to vocalise these issues, how do we actually implement change? When are people going to be seen as something other than their exterior? Something other than just the colour of our skin? CORRECTION: In issue 10.4 a photograph was wrongly accredited to David John and the 50th Anniversary Celebrations’ photos were not all taken by Ian Perrin. The four photos in each corner of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations page were taken by Daniel John. InQuire would like to apologise for the mistakes and mispelling of Daniel John’s name.
Ingredients 1 cup Arborio Rice 1 Vegetable stock cube (the green one) made up to 3/4 pint with boiling water 1/2 a 125g Tub of mini mozzarella pearls (or buy a ball of mozzarella and cut as much as you want, or as an alternative, try feta or parmesan) 100g of peas 1 Lemon, squeezed A few green beans for decoration (asparagus or broccoli also make for a nice crunchy top)
Photo by Jess Duncan
Method 1. Prepare everything before starting with the rice, as you’ll need to be constantly stirring and adding the ingredients. 2. Cook the beans, asparagus and broccoli separately in a pan of boiling water for five minutes. 3. Keep the vegetables warm while you cook the rest of the meal by wrapping them in tin foil. 4. Pre-heat a pan with a splash of oil. 5. Pour your cup of rice into the pan, and stir for 30 seconds. 6. Gradually add the stock continuously stirring. It is essential you keep stirring, otherwise it will stick to the pan and burn. This will take 20 minutes and will work those arm muscles! 7. Add peas and lemon juice and stir for a further 5 minutes to heat them through. 8. Turn off the heat, add the cheese, and leave for a further 1 minute to allow the cheese to melt, top with the greens and serve. Top Tip : Best with a slice of crusty bread to mop up the remaining sauce!
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Entertainment
Empower, educate, elevate
Q&A InQuire spoke to UKC’s ACS Vice President, Chloe Wallace and society liaison, Koso Ezemonye, about Black History Month. We chatted about its importance, its role at UKC and why it is an entity that is overlooked by the education system.
Photo by Kent Union
Megan Weal Newspaper Entertainment Editor
W
hen thinking of entertainment you almost immediately expect light relief. But, some films manage to break the status quo. Some use their exceptionally large audience as a platform for education and the encouragement for change. As part of this years Black History Month, UKC’s African-Caribbean Society (ACS) arranged a screening of the 1992 release, Malcolm X. While the film serves to entertain, it most certainly strives to educate. The film dramatises the events of Malcolm X in his life of segregation, imposed racial tyranny and hardship in the face of social and political rebellion. For those uneducated on the ongoing racial battle that became so violent and rebellious during Malcolm X’s life, much of this due to his bellowing political voice, the tensions become very clear in the opening of the film.
Denzel Washington, the casting for Malcolm X, bitterly and angrily tells the audience, “We don’t see the American dream; we’ve experienced only the American nightmare!” as an American flag burns into the shape of an X on the screen. Drawing influence and scenes straight from Malcolm X’s biography, the film portrayal is a key piece of educational material. Its brutal realism is key for an engagement with the audience. Koso Ezemonye, ACS’s Society Liaison, revealed education through entertainment is a necessity in our society and our generation: “I think for a lot of people, especially in our generation, it’s easier to get people to watch things rather than read things...We didn’t want to pick something too “new”, because I think the old stuff is more realistic.” And the essence and morals of Black History Month extend outside of the Afro-Caribbean cultural group. “I feel as though the film has a lot of elements of black culture and black
Photo by ItsJustPhilly
history. And you have to remember that we’re from a different era; the fact that I’m sitting in a multi-cultural class on my mobile phone is amazing. 50 or 60 years ago that wouldn’t have been heard of,” said Chloe Wallace, the Vice President of ACS, “I feel like by showing these films, you’re enabling people to feel humble and appreciate the things that our generation has.” The evolution of history and its place in today’s society is a topic that ACS continually encourage conversation on during their debate nights. “The films are obviously entertaining,” Wallace said, “But they spark conversation and debates. Our debate night looks at the evolution of things over time – we get a lot of different responses. It’s all about education.” It’s easy for us, as a 21st century audience, in a multi-cultural world, to take racial history as just that, history. But it isn’t. It is an issue that we continually need to educate ourselves on, so that we can be empowered and elevated.
Curzon brings diversity to Canterbury Joe Whitcombe
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riday 17 October saw the opening of the new Curzon cinema in Canterbury, and with it, a great deal of excitement for anyone with even a mildly extended interest in film. Occupying a renovated section of Westgate Hall, the Curzon is a Londonbased (most notably for a cinema in Soho) cinema company that offers its customers something more than the conventional cinema structure. Representing the film industry’s past, as well as its present and future, mixing current box-office heavyweights like Gone Girl, with retrospective screenings of films like A Canterbury Tale, and Blade Runner: The Final Cut.
A membership scheme is available for long-term usage, which offers great value for money for all involved – particularly for students, for whom a yearlong ‘cineaste’ membership costs only£20. The Curzon is an incredibly homely place: the foyer is akin to the house of a grandparent, or somewhere similarly nostalgic, complete with board games – seriously, I spied ‘Risk’ and ‘Guess Who?’ – along with a sophisticatedlooking bar. There are 250 seats, divided between three screens, offering seating for both individuals and couples. It seems silly to make such a big deal out of something so trivial, but these are legitimately amongst the comfiest cinema seats you will ever
experience. The bar downstairs is an added bonus, because what student wouldn’t want to enjoy a film with a glass of wine or a beer? With the veritable pick ‘n’ mix of film options on offer, the Curzon is more than just a place for you to go with your weird friend who likes films you haven’t heard of; it’s a bridging point between the mainstream option of Canterbury’s Odeon, and the multicultural smorgasbord offered by the Gulbenkian theatre. The Curzon seems to have had genuine thought, interest, and care put into its setup and schedule. For too long, Canterbury has needed a truly alternative option to the Odeon, and now we finally have it, and long may it stay.
Why is Black History Month important? K:It’s our way of celebrating black people in the UK and the things that they’ve done. For us at ACS, it’s more about “empower, educate and elevate,” which is our motto this year. So Black History Month allows us to do that. It’s sad that we only get a month but if that’s what we’ve got, then we should celebrate it a lot. C:I feel like it’s the one month within the year that we can express our culture and explore our history in order to educate young people. I have a lot of young siblings and they go to schools where there isn’t a focus on black history, so I feel as though this month is about education, empowerment and celebration. Is there a large Afro-Caribbean community at UKC? C: In comparison to other races and communities, I wouldn’t say so. But we do have quite a big audience and it’s grown even more and it’s forever growing. K:I know last year they had their biggest intake of people from Caribbean and African heritage. Have you had a very diverse turn out for the events? C:It depends on the event. We had a workshop and there were a mixture of people. And when I speak to people around – people on my course – they’re really keen to come to a lot of events because they want to be involved and learn more about it. Do you think that black history is overlooked in the education system? K:Black history is an untapped market, so there is a lot of institutional racism that does go on which then means that black people don’t get as far. We’re trying to get people to see that they can get there if they follow the right avenues to get there. C:I think it’s because history is mandatory only to a certain age and you only learn filtered parts. If it was mandatory and if there were events going on, people would be more aware and more educated.
Entertainment
15
Celebrating the magic of animation
Photo by 2001 Nibariki
Photo by Canterbury Festival
Photo by Anime Limited
April Yeung
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ince its conception in 2007, Canterbury Anifest has become a week-long festival celebrating the magic of animation with Canterbury locals, students, and others that gather from across the country. Emma Bowles is the Festival Producer behind this year’s Anifest. Hailing from an Arts Events background, mainly in photography exhibitions and community projects, and having just finished a Masters in Film at UKC, she is more than equppied to take on Canterbury’s 2014 Anifest. As Anifest comes to a close, Emma sat down with April Yeung to tell her all about Canterbury Anifest, why the project is important and the culture of anime in Britain. What can we expect from Anifest this year? What’s different? The theme itself has changed from previous years; this year it’s Japanese animation. There’s a great range of workshops, such as manga-drawing and calligraphy. Speakers include Andy Frain, producer of Ghost in the Shell, and CEO of Touchwood Animation; his talk will be followed by a screening of Ghost in the Shell. There’s also Jasper Sharp, guru on Japanese animation, and Helen McCarthy, author of several books on Japanese manga and anime. Then there are a diverse range of films – all Japanese, or produced in Japan. We’ve got the classic Studio Ghiblis, but also films such as Akira and Barefoot Gen. I wanted to find a good broad range that would appeal to everybody. We also have free Japanese language
classes, demonstrations from the UKC Japan Society, and stalls selling comics, calligraphy and everything in between. All week at the festival, there is an exhibition called 8-Bit Ghibli by Richard Evans, a conceptual artist, at the Gulbenkian Foyer, created a homage to Studio Ghibli. There’s a special Japanese menu at the Gulbenkian, and a cosplay photo booth as well. There are 27 different events going on at Anifest, so I’m hoping there is something for everyone, from the fans to the people who are new to the genre. For young professionals who want to enter the industry, there is a Masterclass, by a company called Woolly Vision, about their film-making process and experience in the industry. Which one are you most excited about? If I had to choose, it would be Andy Frain’s talk because Ghost in the Shell was my introduction to the genre. But I really put my heart and soul into the festival, so there isn’t one thing I wouldn’t want to attend. If I had a time machine, I would reverse time and go to everything all over again as well. What were previous years’ Anifest’s about? Stop-motion and traditional animation. How do you think Anifest contributes to the cultural scene of Canterbury and UKC? Anifest is a community event involving everyone. I think it can become an integral part of Canterbury’s cultural scene. I also think it’s quite
important to UKC, because there’s a lot of interest in anime on campus and in town. We’ve got the UKC Japan Society and Kent Anime Society helping out; Kent Anime Society is on the Advisory Board, advising about issues such as programming. So Anifest is going in the direction of Japanese anime instead of traditional animation? Animation is such a big thing. This year we’re focusing on one type of animation, Japanese anime. For me, the idea of Japanese anime is very exciting as there’s been nothing like it in Kent before. I don’t know what the future holds for Anifest, maybe another theme, such as British or French animation. But it would be nice to keep anime as an element in Anifest in whichever direction it goes. Do you think there’s an anime culture in Britain? There’s always been a huge following in the UK; just look at ComicCon or MGM. I think the interesting thing about Anifest is seeing how we can communicate and expand that passion and interest in anime to a wider audience. One of our talks is by Jim Walker, a lecturer in animation at UCA, about the influence of Japanese animation on the West, and you only need to watch Batman or Transformers to see that. I think Anifest this year aims to show families whose children watch Transformers or Batman that Japanese animation was an inspiration. I don’t think there’s a negative view of anime; if there is, Anifest would look to educate them otherwise. Canterbury Anifest started on 27 October and will run until 2 November in The Gulbenkian. For more information, please visit their website at www.canterburyanifest.com.
Albums on the go Shereen Lisa Dudar Greys—If Anything If you have 35 minutes and an unshakable urge for loud punk music, consider If Anything, the debut album from Greys. It’s a gift from the rock gods watching over you. Greys has a don’t-care FIDLAR-esque attitude, which is paired with Fugazi influenced grinding guitar and dominant drums. ‘Adderall’ is the song to blast in the morning when you don’t want to get out of bed but your 9am lecture says the opposite. ‘Chick Singer’ is a quick, sarcastic commentary about being the patronised girl in a band. ‘Lull’ is the ideal closing song, starting off just as heavy as the previous 10 songs before giving way to more lighthearted, positive lyrics. Overall, this album will give you the adrenaline rush that you expect from punk. But its softer side sneaks up on you and reminds you that your angst will pass. George Ezra—Wanted On Voyage George Ezra makes my heart melt. The lower octave voice coming out of such a young, hipster looking English boy is mind-boggling. I’m not usually a big fan of blues, but every song on this album made me want to travel the world. In three to four minute increments, Ezra creates beautifully inviting campfire songs, followed by more mellow songs that suggest he’s been through his fair share of disappointment. Although his voice creates a deceptive air of wisdom, a closer listen to the lyrics reveals that Ezra is a typical 21-year-old—full of spite and sarcasm.
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Entertainment
Meet the talented Donald Glover Grace Beard
I
f you think you don’t know who Donald Glover is, chances are you’d be mistaken. As well as being a comedian in his own right (check out his hilarious stand-up show ‘Weirdo’ on YouTube), he is a writer for comedy show 30 Rock, plays college kid Troy in the series Community, and most notably has released numerous albums and mix tapes under his rapper pseudonym, Childish Gambino. 10 months after his critically acclaimed 2013 album Because the Internet, Gambino’s latest musical offering dropped earlier this month, a mix tape/EP combination entitled Stn Mtn/Kauai. It is an ambitious and intelligent project that demonstrates the extensive reach of his skill and originality that is unparalleled in the hip-hop scene. The mix tape takes us on an 11-track journey through Atlanta-based hiphop, where Gambino was born and raised. Standout tracks include the tape’s triple-barrelled opener ‘Dream/ Southern Hospitality/Partner Dem’, a three-part exhibition of Gambino’s rapping dexterity and a mesmerising
juxtaposition of a cappella vocals. Alongside this is a narrative rapsoliloquy in the stripped-back ‘U Don’t Have To Call’, and the lyrically masterful ‘Candler Road’. For the most part Stn Mtn is gritty, raw and aggressive. It’s a far cry from Gambino’s track record of alternative nerd rap, as Gambino self-proclaims in one song to be ‘Hovy with glasses, Weezy but geeky’. We see more of his playful side in supplementary EP Kauai. Gambino shows off his sheer musical versatility by offering a stark contrast to the hostile and heavy Stn Mtn. If you’re not a huge hip-hop fan, this is the side of Gambino’s artistry you should indulge in first. With a tropical vibe influenced by the Hawaiian island of the same name, Kauai is light, easy listening, with Gambino’s singing abilities taking precedence over rapping. Opening track ‘Sober’ presents a laidback break-up song with a surprising heavy bass interlude. ‘Pop Thieves’ is a romantic, schmaltzy number with a cheeky lyrical slip-up that is hard to explain (you have to listen to understand). ‘Retro’ is the pick of the
bunch with catchy choruses and verses brimming with wordplay, while ‘Late Night in Kauai’ features cinematic narration from heir to the Fresh Prince, Jaden Smith. The mix tape/EP duo is a sound demonstration not only of Gambino’s unarguable hip-hop aptitude, but also the duality of his two personas, rapper Childish Gambino and actor/writer/ comedian Donald Glover. The concept album isn’t the first time he’s released two pieces of work to be paired together to reach their full potential. Last year he released a screenplay alongside his album Because the Internet of the same name, designed to accompany and complement the listening experience. Like most of Glover’s work, the screenplay is startling, funny and very well-written. If you’re into short films, Glover also released a ‘prelude’ to this screenplay entitled Clapping for the Wrong Reasons. It is a fascinating and honest exposé of the young, troubled and super-rich, and it is available on YouTube. He’s a super-talented man with a plethora of creative goods on offer, so if you hadn’t already heard of Donald Glover, I suggest you get acquainted.
Top five Halloween Films Hannah Lewis
well as having some nasty ‘jumpy bits.’
H
alloween is a major date in the student calendar and I’m sure most of us are still deciding on the best outfit. But before that, it’s important to have your Hallows’ Eve complete with the best horrors that film has to offer us. So have your apple cider at the ready as we countdown the top-five must-see Halloween movies. The Blair Witch Project (1999) This bone-chilling horror has to be one of the scariest films of the 90s. Three film students take a trip to the woods to shoot a documentary about a legendary witch. They disappear and a year on the video footage they captured is found. So the premise is simple but the film manages to discredit the era of gore and terrify the audience with no need for anything other than sound and the established overriding dread in the atmosphere. Scream (1996) Your Hallow’s Eve wouldn’t be complete without a slasher movie classic. In Woodsboro, there’s a killer and they’re an expert when it comes to horror movie knowledge. You can enjoy the way the film plays with all the horror conventions and mocks itself as
Photo by Adam Polselli Photo by Katie Grogan
Paranormal Activity (2009) It’s an unnerving experience watching this American supernatural horror. Based around a young couple haunted by a demonic entity and presented to us as found footage. The noises in your house never would have seemed so loud or unexplainable than they will after watching this film. It creates a fear that lingers long in your memory.
Photo by Adam Polselli
The Shining (1980) If you haven’t seen it already, then
you need to ASAP and preferably on a big-screen. This film is essential viewing and Jack Nicholson’s kill-crazy performance makes this a hard horror to beat. A haunted house created by Stephen King and adapted by Stanley Kubrick into an eerily complex world that combines madness, murder and the supernatural.
Photo by Ma_Co2013
The Conjuring (2013) There’s nothing new about this film; it uses all the standard components from old school scary movies and ghost story clichés but this time it’s done successfully. The Conjuring will scare you and every single jump is earned as the atmosphere of tension triumphs. It is again, a stereotypical haunted house but it delivers the goods and provides shots that stimulate both the inability to look away, but also the terror to need to hide away.
Songs on Repeat Elliot Bayliss Ben Howard – ‘I Forget Where We Were’ With a hugely successful debut album and two Brit-awards to build on, Ben Howard’s sophomore release couldn’t afford to be anything less than spectacular. The title track and newest single ‘I Forget Where We Were’ displays a vastly impressive sound. Partnered with layered guitar melodies, Howard’s distinct vocal talents tentatively open the track, leading up to the addition of percussion and a grandeur crescendo. With the release of his album later this month, Howard clearly reinforces his title as one of Britain’s best singersongwriters. Circa Waves – ‘So Long’ Circa Waves’ newest release ‘So Long’ captures the quintessential youthfulness of the band. Lyrically, it’s a song of unrequited love which is paired with racing drum beats that carry the vocals through a series of brash guitar melodies and memorable choruses. With heavy radio play, a busy festival season, and a debut album on the horizon, Circa Waves’ energised indie-rock continues to take 2014 by storm. AlunaGeorge – ‘Supernatural’ The first track to follow up 2013’s ‘Body Music’, AlunaGeorge returns with ‘Supernatural’. Despite the fitting Halloween titling there is no nod to ‘Monster Mash’, but it certainly does not disappoint. Soft, pop-like vocals are juxtaposed with darker lyrics such as opener “is this dead or is it alive?” The 80’s synth vibe of the track compliments a faster pace that isn’t dissimilar from Disclosure’s ‘White Noise’. Though definitely not a step back, the duo have changed very little from their successful debut – why fix what’s not broken? Raury – ‘Superfly’ Raury, Atlantas newest export, has been building significant hype on both sides of the Atlantic since the midsummer, spurred by his free-todownload mix tape ‘Indigo Child’. Arguably the most uplifting track from the mix tape, ‘Superfly’ presents Raury’s unique blend of folk and hiphop whilst bringing his vocal and lyrical talent to the forefront. Choral harmonies and a fast-paced rap verse form the spine of this song. At the tender age of 17, Raury still has a lot of room to grow with ‘Superfly’ a clear signifier of his raw potential.
Culture
Words of Wisdom Halloween “October, tuck tiny candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins.” Rainbow Rowell
Halloween: from scary to sexy Mimi Jones
C
ady Heron once told us in Mean Girls: “In girl world, Halloween is the one time of year a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” Unfortunately these days, this seems to also apply in the real world as well.
of who can bear the most flesh? And who invented the sexy ladybird? Saying that, I’m all for people dressing how they like on Halloween (it’s just a bit of fun) as long as the non-scary dressers don’t give the scary-dressers evils from behind the punch bowl for actually sticking to the theme (see Mean Girls).
“On Halloween, the parents send their kids out looking like me.” Rodney Dangerfield “Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen, voices whisper in the trees, tonight is Halloween!” Dexter Kozen “The thing under my bed waiting to grab my ankle isn’t real. I know that, and I also know that if I’m careful to keep my foot under the covers, it will never be able to grab my ankle.” Stephen King “Halloween is huge in my house, we really get into the spirits of things.” Dee Snider “Halloween wraps fear in innocence, as though it were slightly sour sweet. Let terror, then, be turned into a treat.” Nicholas Gordon “There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly lit front porch.” Robert Brault “Nothing on Earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night.” Steve Almond “Hold on, man. We don’t go anywhere with ‘scary’, ‘spooky’, ‘haunted’, or ‘forbidden’ in the title.” Scooby-Doo
Photo by Wendell
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Photo by Eyesplash- let’s feel the heat
Since when did a witch costume of a long black dress, green face paint and pointy hat turn into a black corset, knee high boots and a mini broomstick? When did the whole point of Halloween costumes go from dressing as scary and disgusting as possible to a competition
What is most disturbing though is that the emphasis on children’s costumes has also gone from silly to ‘sexy’. After reading a couple of blog posts by unhappy parents, curiosity led me to search Amazon for ‘kids Halloween costumes’. I was surprised to find
no shortage of corset style tutus and pleather dresses with ‘ages 4-8’ on the packaging. So who’s to blame for the startling contrast between today’s Halloween costumes and those of 10 years ago? I say the media and popular culture for feeding young girls overly sexualised identities. I’d bet my student loan that this Halloween there will be plenty of young girls taking inspiration from Ariana Grande for instance, in her signature cat ears and skimpy leather leotard. I also blame the Americanisation of British culture. It appears that whatever the Americans make of the holiday, we seem to follow. They don’t find dressing scarily to be a requirement on Halloween, and we seeme to have adopted the same attitude. American celebrities lead the way; Gwen Stefani wore an egg costume last Halloween, and Mariah Carey was pictured in a cookie outfit, alongside her partner Nick Cannon who was dressed as a milk carton. It seems like Halloween is no more than a dress-upas-anything-you-want day. And this interpretation of the festival has gradually infiltrated into today’s British culture. I guess it’s the same reason ‘giant ice cream cone’ and a ‘tissue box’ are amongst the top UK Google image results for ‘adult Halloween costume’. And I guess that’s also the reason why I’m going as a unicorn this year.
Spooky traditions around the world Cecily Rowland
T
he bulk of Halloween traditions carried out today in Britain stem from our American cousins across the pond. Although not attempted with quite the same enthusiasm, it is difficult to miss the quintessential pumpkin lanterns which embellish shop windows and street corners. Yet little is known by the general public regarding the true origins of the celebration. Although the modern day characteristics we participate in may be imported, the celebration takes its roots in the UK from the old Pagan celebration of Samhain. On this day, spirits supposedly rose from their graves and spread amongst the living. Masks were donned in an effort to ward off bad spirits, and food laid on doorsteps to attract the good. The modern name is an abbreviation of the old English ‘All Hallows Evening’. In comparison, ‘All Saints Day’ is celebrated on the 1 November. It in actual fact comes from the Roman culture, and was introduced in an
attempt to shake off the old Pagan festivals. Like Britain, traditions carried out in other parts of Europe also started in the Pagan beliefs. In places such as Belgium and Austria candles are burnt and food is left out in remembrance of the deceased.
Photo by leasqueaky
Yet it is in Spain and Latin America where ‘The Day of the Dead’ holds the most weight in terms of tradition.
Festivities commence with the building of altars to embellish graves, and the iconic sugar skull and marigold are used in order to honour those who have passed. The festival revolves around a celebration of the lives once lived. Traditions in Asia can also be seen to stray from the growing western Halloween traditions. In China for instance, the Buddhist practise of burning paper boats can be seen as twofold, in that it is for the remembrance of the diseased as well as the releasing of ‘pretas’. These are the spirits of those whose bodies were lost and whose presence amongst the living is considered to be dangerous. In another instance, Hong Kongers burn the images of fruit and money in the hopes of bringing comfort to the spirit world. The holiday is aptly named ‘The Festival of the Hungry Ghosts’. It is also the first of the two main dates in the Japanese calendar recognising the return of the dead to their birth place. On the last day, lanterns are placed in rivers and seas to guide spirits back to their own world.
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Culture
Read and Avoid Emma Richards
Read
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
I stumbled across this ‘cultclassic’ whilst doing work experience at my local library and was quickly possessed (i.e. lost all ability to concentrate on more important tasks as I was so desperate to find out what happened next). A savvy Angel and a hapless Demon try to track down the Anti-Christ and prevent the apocalypse alongside a host of colourful characters. Also includes a witty social commentary on religious doctrine, witch-hunting, Cold War politics and the Queen.
Avoid
Time’s Arrow by Martin Amis
Man Booker Prize round up 2014 Cecily Rowland
O
n Tuesday 14 October, the 45th awards ceremony for the Man Booker Prize took place. The event occurs once a year and is to honour the very best and most original works of fiction published. The Prize takes place in Guildhall, London and traditionally encompasses authors from the UK, the Republic of Ireland and the Commonwealth. However, this year marks the first to be inclusive of all authors writing in English regardless of nationality. The candidates for the prize were narrowed down to a long list in July consisting of 13 books. The shortlist was announced on 9 September and consisted of six entries, which were as follows. The apocalyptic drama J by Howard Jacobson takes place in a world in which the past is not to be spoken of, and words beginning with J are forbidden, hence the title. Author Jacobson previously won the Booker Prize in 2010 with The Finkler Question. The Lives of Others by Neel Mukherjee takes place in Calcutta, India. The book centres on the politics of a family in 1967 through the little known Naxalite revolution, although the author is adamant that his novel should not be considered a family saga. Ali Smith is becoming somewhat a household name here in the UK,
This one I’ve heard great things about. The story follows 18 year old Rosemary and her troubled family life with her two estranged siblings. The award ceremony took place, and the winner announced, on 14 October, where the award itself went to Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the
Photo byMosman Library
the first of our two token American nominees. The book describes the woes of middle-aged dentist Paul O’Rourke, a man whose stolen identity on Twitter and Facebook begins to become a better version of the real thing. Karen Jay Fowler adds her two cents with We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves.
Deep North. It takes its name from the famous Japanese work, and is carried out during the construction of the Thailand-Burma Death Railway in World War Two. The book is a love story spanning over 50 years and revolving around the affair between a young surgeon and his uncle’s wife.
Horror books: where to start reading Holly Welch
W
ith Halloween upon us, what better time to curl up in a dark corner and read a story to scare yourself silly? If you haven’t given the horror genre a try before, here are a few of my top picks. See what takes your fancy! The Woman in Black by Susan Hill This was difficult, as unlike with films, no-one can force you to ‘sit through’ an appalling book, unless you are studying it for your course, as I was here. Recounting the life of a Nazi doctor in reverse may seem a novel concept, but the result was like watching a video rewind: not very interesting and a headache to follow. The most I learnt is that humans appear far more virtuous when ‘undoing’ their actions.
her latest novel being her third to be shortlisted. How to Be Both is split between the past and the present, but with a twist. Depending on the copy that you purchase, you may be given either part to read first. To Rise Again at a Decent Hour is
Set in the early 20th century, the story follows solicitor Arthur Kipps and his encounter with the infamous Woman in Black, a vengeful spectre and a harbinger of death in the town she haunts. Written in a traditional gothic novel style, this book is a modern classic, and no less scary than when it was published- it’s no wonder it’s had theatre and film adaptations. The Collector by John Fowles This book is equal parts horror and thriller, yet it doesn’t have a single ghost or ghoul in it. It focuses on Frederick Clegg, a clerk who collects butterflies in his spare time – that is, until he becomes obsessed with art student Miranda Grey, and decides to “collect” her too... The Collector is not only constantly tense, it also considers the real life terror of abduction, which is potentially even more horrifying than anything from a fictional story. IT by Stephen King What was your worst childhood phobia? In this book it’s a shapeshifting demon that transforms into the stuff of children’s nightmares and terrorises the town of Derry. It’s up to
a gang of kids to save the day – if IT doesn’t get them first. This is written by the one and only master of modern horror himself, so you might want to consider reading it with the lights on. Horror is a wide-ranging genre – some books are deliciously gory, whereas others are all about maintaining a suspenseful atmosphere until the final moment.
Whatever takes your fancy, horror is an underrated book genre and you should definitely check it out.
Culture
Theatre to watch out for in November Rebecca Fatharly
T
heatre coming up in Canterbury over November is looking to be very exciting, with a range of performances to suit all tastes. At the Gulbenkian: NT Encore - Frankenstein (recorded) Thursday 6 November at 7pm. Student ticket: £13. Featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller, the 2011 production of Frankenstein was a huge hit, both when it was on stage and broadcast to theatres nationwide. Now back for a limited time only, audiences can witness the classic tale of the scientist who created a monster so horrific, he himself turned his back on it. Half Moon Theatre - FREE Sunday 9 November at 7pm. Student ticket: £8. This is the tale of two teenagers who love free-running, and end up meeting by chance because of their shared passion. Together, they keep running from the past, desperately trying to keep ahead, but not being able to handle
it when it eventually catches up. They have to keep going: if they stop, who knows what will happen?
Photo by Jeremy Paton
At the Marlowe: Henry IV Part I & II Tuesday 11 November – Saturday 15 November at 1.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets from £14. The famous Royal Shakespeare Company comes to Canterbury with their production of Henry IV Part I and II straight from Stratford-Upon-Avon. The two parts are directed by Gregory Doran, and have a cast of fantastic actors including Antony Sher, Jasper Britton and Alex Hassell. Part I depicts King Henry getting
ready for war whilst his son Prince Hal must live up to the family name. Part II portrays the King’s failing health, with Hal having to make the ultimate choice: between duty or loyalty to a friend? An Inspector Calls Friday 14 November & Saturday 15 November at 8pm. Tickets from £8.00. T24 Drama Society present their version of J B Priestley’s classic play, An Inspector Calls. The show has sold out on both nights, but there will be a Matinee on the Saturday exclusive to T24 members. If you are lucky enough to have a friend in the society, they can buy you a ticket to this sought after production. Magic of Motown Wednesday 19 November at 7:30pm. Tickets from £25.00. This show brings back the magic of Motown in the all-new, all-star 2014 Reach Out Tour celebrating 50 years of UK No1 hit singles. It features music from all the greats, from the Jackson 5 to Diana Ross. Get down to the Marlowe and Gulbenkian to get your tickets now!
My visit to Canterbury at War Alice Taylor
F
or a month only, up until 9 November, the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge are hosting a new exhibition: Canterbury at War. Partially funded by the University of Kent, and researched and created by Simon Langton Boys and Girls Schools, the exhibition is a true community project.
promises to give visitors an insight into life in Canterbury during the First World War. The exhibition aims to bring the lens of focus of World War One over Canterbury, and to see how the heritage of the city was affected and is still shaped by the events of 1914-1918. The archive material draws reference to a select few families living in
Photo by Alice Taylor
The exhibition takes its research from primary sources of archived material, collected from the Beaney museum, Canterbury Cathedral and the Canterbury Heritage Museum, and
Canterbury during this time, following their story and showing how the war affected their lives. Bringing the war to this individual level is highly effective. It is so easy,
when studying events on a large scale, to treat people as numbers or statistics. By showing the events of war through the view point of Canterbury, it tells the story of war through its people, which gives a greater insight into the true impact of the events of World War One. I think it is appropriate then, that the exhibition can be seen as a community project, bringing heritage projects, local schools and the University together to tell this story of war. Although on first reflection the exhibition appears basic, and not to offer much information past A Level study, this is much more than the average museum exhibition. It reminds visitors of the importance of the individual stories of war, and how these stories have affected, and still affect the city we live in today. Visitors can see the original documents, letters and pictures taken during the time. Perhaps the most raw and provoking part of the exhibition was a wall of poppies presented by those affected by the brutality of war. The poppies that make up this wall of remembrance are each declared with love to something meaningful to its sender. Although perhaps not on such a grandiose scale as the new Tower of London Remembrance Installation, the wall is personal to Canterbury. In my own opinion, this exhibition is definitely worth a visit. Its community project view creates a charming yet provoking insight into World War One.
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Society Spotlight Kent Publishing Society Katie Heslop
The UKC Publishing Society tries to incorporate all the different aspects of the publishing industry. During the editorial sessions, students’ pieces are looked at and discussed. It is great fun, and being located in the Coyler Fergusson building means that the Gulbenkian’s famous brownies are never far off. The conversation at the editorial sessions tends to wander, last session we found ourselves pondering how one would go about finding a bonsai tree… We are currently working towards producing our first magazine of the term. Last year we published two issues of our magazine which we named `Figment`. Figment contains students’ poems, prose, drawings and photographs, and this year we are aiming towards publishing three issues. At the moment pieces are being edited, but once we decide which shall be in Figment, the members will design the pages, which is always a fantastic collaborative effort. Want to see your society in this space? Contact newspaper.culture@ inquiremedia.co.uk.
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Editorial Julia Mitchell Newspaper Culture Editor and Chris Heron
Why you should watch out for Mental Health
Photo by University Of Kent
M
ental health is one of those funny little things that affects every single one of us, but no-one likes to talk about. And if no-one ever talks about it, how are we supposed to cope when something goes wrong? But first, let’s establish what mental health actually is. Being mentally healthy means that you are able to cope, and live the life that you want to live. It's the ability to fulfil your potential and play a role in society. Naturally, these things will fluctuate over time, and that's
nothing to be concerned about. That's just called being alive. Nevertheless, it's still important to be aware of our mental well being and to talk about it to the people around us. No, we’re not telling you to stand up and shout from the rooftops 'I woke up this morning, and I don't really feel okay!' but it's important to let these feelings out in a healthy way. And often, that can just be by talking to someone about how you feel. It’s easy to let someone know when you're feeling happy, and talking
about feeling sad, or stressed, or scared, is just as acceptable. Sadly the stigma surrounding mental health prevents far too many people from doing this. In the most severe cases, the consequences can be direeven fatal. Mental health itself is not a problem, but society's inability to communicate about it most definitely is. With mental health problems on the rise, and only a very small percentage of those affected seeking treatment, it's clear that something is very wrong. This needs to change.
T
here are many statistics floating around about mental health in the UK, and not all of them make for good reading. In the most often quoted statistic regarding mental illness, one in four people will experience some sort of diagnosable mental health problem in any one year, with university students being one of the most well-documented groups in recent times. One of the most telling statistics surrounds the actual treatment of mental illnesses. With 29% of women and 17% of men being treated for mental health issues, the gender difference is stark. However, it’s the low number of individuals getting treatment at all which is incredibly worrying. At Kent, the University's counselling service is seemingly pushed to its breaking point, with students only having a limited number of ongoing support sessions per year (with only drop-in sessions being available afterwards). With the number of individuals going for treatment at below 30%, services being stretched is not a good sign. The low percentage of those being treated can be partially attributed to the well-reported stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental illness.
It's no coincidence that us folks at InQuire and others at the University, Kent Union, the NUS and the media as a whole have been making great efforts to undo the stigma, particularly with the recent marking of World Mental Health Day. Some more stats: suicide is the most common cause of death in males under 35 in the UK. Schizophrenia has an occurrence rate of 1 in 100, with average onset between the ages of 18 and 35 for both genders. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental disorders in Britain, with between 8-12% of the population experiencing depression in any one year. At university, instances of mental illness skyrocket due to the impact of sudden change of environment and the stress of balancing academic work, to name a few of the oft-cited factors. And these are just the numbers we know about, and many are uncomfortable telling any friends or family about a mental health problems (compared to having the flu). While attitudes are more accepting than ever, it is increasingly important that everyone feels that they are able to speak out to someone, be it a friend, family member or trained professional.
Photo by University Of Kent
Mythbusting: Schizophrenia Who can I talk to? In and out of the University
W
hen considering misconceptions surrounding mental illnesses, Schizophrenia has one of the worst reputations. For many, it is synonymous with multiple personalities (it was only A-Level Psychology which removed that misconception for me), but in actual fact it is far different from a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hydeesque situation. The theme of 2014's World Mental Health Day is Schizophrenia, and it’s incredibly important to clear up any misconceptions about the condition. So, here are the main facts about Schizophrenia:
- Schizophrenia is a psychotic illness, meaning that sufferers often find it difficult to distinguish their own thoughts from reality. Hallucinations and delusions are both common symptoms, which themselves impact on thought processes. - Around 1 in 100 people suffer Schizophrenia at some point in their life, with diagnosis most common between the ages of 18 and 35. - Often treated through antipsychotic medicines and therapy, many sufferers recover and live normal lives. - It’s not the same as Multiple Personality Disorder.
University Medical Centre: Doctors don't only exist for physical ailments. At the University Medical Centre you can also access a wealth of mental health support, including various forms of talk therapy, such as Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. There's also a mild to moderate eating disorder service, as well as specialist student services. Wellbeing Service: If you don't feel comfortable talking to the Medical Centre, the Wellbeing Service can be another anonymous port of call. The team are a group of professionals, who can provide
counselling support to any student enrolled at Kent. Situated next to the Dolche Vita, it's easy enough to pop in and find out how they can help you. University Nursing Service: Another source of immediate support are the University Nursing Service. They run as a drop in, and are able to provide support and advice, amongst other things, seven days a week. During term time they are open from 7am until midnight. After that time they are open for emergencies only. Kent Union Stand Out Training: You don't need to be suffering
in order to learn more about mental health. Together with the Wellbeing Service, Kent Union hold 'skills for life' training sessions that can help to widen your knowledge on a variety of topics. Make sure to keep an eye out for these on the Kent Union website. Samaritans: And then of course there are the Samaritans, a 24/7 helpline for those in any level of distress. Whether you're feeling mentally healthy or not, it's worth keeping this number in your phone just in case: 08457 90 90 90. You never know when it might come in handy.
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Sport
“You bounce around, learn tricks, and fall over a lot!” InQuire sat down this week with Trampolining Captain Vicki Jolley to discuss one of the most exciting sports that is spreading across campus, and how you can get involved too. Hi Vicki, can you explain a bit about your role? I’m the captain, and the club coach so I’m a bit of a busy bee! I do a bit of everything really, mostly to do with organising and running training sessions and coaching anyone and everyone that passes through the club, from the very beginner to national level competitors. I also judge competitions, and help to organise Varsity, BUCS and other competitions throughout the year. Why did you get involved in Trampolining? Gosh that’s hard to say, I’ve done it for years. I think my mum sent me to one of those holiday clubs one summer and we did trampolining for a day and it went from there. I guess little Vicki really liked it, as I can’t remember not doing it now. What’s the attraction to
Trampolining? I guess it’s just that it’s really really fun. You bounce around, learn really cool tricks and fall over a lot. How big is the sport on campus? I think it’s definitely getting bigger. Maybe it’s still not the most well-known sport, or one of the biggest on campus that you hear about lots, but last year we had over 50 members which was a record for the club. Hopefully we will continue to grow year on year. Has the sport got bigger in the UK? Definitely, since the sport was introduced as an event in the Sydney Olympics (2000), I think it has caught the nation’s eye more. Shows like Tumble on BBC also featured it, so I guess more people in the UK are getting to know the sport, but it still
remains relatively new and unknown. I think it’s a sport most kids try at school and maybe go to a club for a while and maybe try competing, but because it’s not as big as some sports I guess it gets overshadowed. Having the home Olympics in 2012 also helped, I worked there at the trampoline and gymnastics events in the O2 Arena for four weeks and the arena was full to bursting for all of them. What has the UKC team achieved recently? Last year we won Varsity for the second time running. These two consecutive wins are unheard of for UKC as before these CCCU won practically every year. I was absolutely ecstatic with the result. I think we won 3714 in the end which is huge and it was the highlight of my captaincy last year.
I also got the team to BUCS for the first time in the club’s history, so I’m dead proud of that too. We had six of the club into the finals and Jake took the national title for the BUCS 4 level. I think that weekend was the proudest I’ve ever felt. What are you hoping to achieve this year? I’d definitely be thrilled to
retain the Varsity title again, so that’s up there with our goals this season. We want to get more people through to the finals and hopefully aim for more titles. Where and when do you train? Wednesdays 7-10pm and Fridays 6-9pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and join in.
Photo by Vicki Jolley
BUCS week 2 roundup UKC Fencers foil Reading’s plan Percival Kleft
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fter kicking off the week before, the BUCS fixtures were in full swing as Team Kent enjoyed a mixed bag of results across a plethora of fixtures. The Men’s Basketball team were unfortunate not to win at home to Queen Mary, after being pipped 73-69 in what was an intense game. On the rugby pitch though, Kent did get the last laugh over Queen Mary, with the Men’s 1sts winning 43-14 in a convincing manner. It was also a difficult week for the football sides, with the Women’s 1sts being beaten 5-2, while the Men’s 2nds were pegged back by a last gasp equaliser against Greenwich
Photo by Team Kent
1sts to draw 2-2. Kent’s goals were scored by Peter Robinson and Michael Enubije. On the hockey pitch, the Women’s 1sts drew 2-2 at home against King’s, while the 3rd string also drew 1-1 against Royal Holloway. Meanwhile, on the tennis court, the Men’s 1sts lost to Portsmouth, while the Men’s 2nds won 10-2 against Middlesex. The Women’s team were unfortunate to lose away against Royal Holloway. Despite it being a mixed set of results, there’s still plenty to cheer for in the early stages of the competition, so pick a fixture this Wednesday and go and cheer on a Team Kent side.
Mark Harrison UKC Fencing Club
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fter a close loss last time out, the men’s fencing team was keen to secure a win this week. Thanks to the responsive leadership of Tom Fletcher, this was more than possible. Despite a challenging start against Reading, the Kent team pulled through with overall wins in two of the three weapons, and a final score of 131-121.
Photo by Rosa Furneaux
Stellar performances from the captain and Tom Perfect secured a solid win in foil. This, coupled with resolute attacks from Henry Bureau in sabre, ensured the Reading team had to push themselves to overcome the Kent 1sts. Josh Taylor made his team debut and fenced admirably against tough opponents. Having faced two of the most experienced teams in the league and come out fighting , the rest of the season bodes well for
UKC. If you want to see what fencing is all about, come to one of the club’s training sessions 8-10pm on Tuesdays or 5-7pm on Wednesdays in the Sports Centre. Ability is unimportant, as the team are actively looking for new competitors despite the season having started. For further information about the club, log onto the team’s Facebook page www.facebook. com/groups/UKCfencing/.
Sport
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“Women find it inspiring and it gives them confidence” Holly Baker, from Kent Pole Fitness, joined InQuire to talk about the emerging sport on campus and how it is challenging the stigmas surrounding the activity. Hi Holly, tell us how you got involved in Pole Fitness I got involved when I came to university. I watched the society at the Freshers’ Fayre and found it inspiring and incredible, but I was very shy and didn’t want to join on my own. A friend came with me in the second term of my first year and my confidence built from then and I continued to come as I enjoyed it more and more as I progressed. It’s something you hear about but don’t fully understand what it is until you see it and try for yourself. So how successful has Kent Pole Fitness become? We are a popular club. This year, we had to turn people away from taster sessions because we had far too many people and were over the capacity for the room. We always reach over 100 members which makes us very proud. People are intrigued and want to give it a try, but a lot don’t have the confidence to go on their own and think they need
to be super strong to do it, which isn’t the case, as a sport, you learn as you go. This year we already have over 150 members and last year we reached over 200. Is Pole getting more and more popular? It is expanding rapidly. It has always been bigger overseas, in Australia and America it is taken much more seriously and has a larger range of pole schools. But it is becoming increasingly known in the UK as more people have become interested in doing a fitness activity that is an alternative to the gym. A lot of women find it inspiring and it gives them confidence. What would you say to someone thinking of joining the club? I would say just give it a go. You don’t have to have any previous training or experience, or upper body strength! You build it all up as you go along, just give it a go and see if it’s for you. People fall in love at pole, others find it’s not for them but
still have fun trying it, and they get to understand exactly what it is we do. There’s appears to be a stigma regarding Pole Fitness, so how do you go about battling that? As time goes on, the stigma is changing, which is great and has taken a long time to get it to this point. A lot of people do assume we are pole dancers in the stereotypical sense, admittedly we sometimes wear little
clothing (shorts and a sports bra) but that’s because we need to grip to the pole! We just show people exactly what we can do, it’s a sport that takes an incredible amount of strength to perform moves. In competitions, it is a type of dance, as moves are put together on and around the pole with floorwork to music, so technically it could be considered a form of dance. It’s just people tend to think we do it for money in clubs.
Photo by Holly Baker
What’s your highlight of being involved so far? My highlights would be many, mainly my own personal achievements and seeing the change in how I feel confidence wise and the physical change; I’ve never been stronger. Also, meeting a wide range of great people who I now call my close friends, we all support each other which is just the pole fitness community, everyone supports each other. We also put on a showcase each year where we choose a theme and have a lot of fun coming up with routines. What are the club’s hopes for the upcoming year? We hope to move to a bigger room on campus to accommodate our increasing amount of members, but there are only so many rooms. We want to showcase ourselves more so people can see what pole is all about by doing more than one performance this year, but generally teaching and improving and seeing our members enjoy themselves and improve.
Team Kent start BUCS campaign with cheer after opening success Nina Mehmi VP for Sport
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ou know it is a Wednesday when campus becomes flooded with Team Kent colours. Term is well underway, and so are BUCS fixtures. It is fantastic to see so many teams out representing Team Kent. We’ve had some great fixtures so far. Men’s Rugby 1s are off
Photo by Dave Cocozza
to a flying start winning 43-13 against Queen Mary on home turf. A very tense match for Men’s Basketball ending in a close defeat, 69-73 to Queen Mary the crowd were hooked the whole way through and it was a fantastic effort from the team. Polo also bought home a win a 13-11 win against UWE. We had some great away results
too, with Women’s Lacrosse bringing home a 22-2 win against Imperial. Kendo and Rowing were out representing Team Kent over the weekend too, bringing back more fantastic results. A special mention must go to Kirsten Wang who got placed 2nd in the Lidstone Memorial Kyusha Taikai Kendo tournament.
Not all of our clubs take part in weekly BUCS fixtures. Last weekend, Kent Snow were representing Team Kent in the first round of the Kings Dryslope Championships in Brentwood. KentSnow entered 5 teams this year, 1 mixed, 2 ladies and 2 snowboard. Kent Cycle are also taking on the Curbar Gap climb, and I managed to grab them pre training on Wednesday. I’m looking forward to hearing the results! Across Parkwood pitches and the Sports Centre, the teams had some great supporters; it is really fantastic to see just how many different ways you can get involved with sport here at Kent. This year, for the first time, we have the Let’s Play programme; this is a way to get involved in low cost casual sport on campus. Sessions such as campus running, badminton and swimming are held on a weekly basis. Get out and try something new. Photo supergolfdude If youbyenjoy it, come and get
involved with one of our Team Kent sports clubs. Look out for regular updates on the Team Kent Facebook and Twitter pages, and InQuire website. Come along to the Sports Centre, and the Pavilion and support your sports teams when they are playing at home; the support really does help. Looking for a sport you can get involved with? We have 54 Team Kent clubs on campus, from Kent Touch This (Ultimate Frisbee), to Trampolining and Hockey. There really are so many ways to get involved. It is never too late to join in; joining a sport at Kent will really be the best decision you make, it certainly was for me. I mean, what else will you really be doing on a Wednesday afternoon? 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!
InQuire sport www.inquirelive.co.uk/sport
BUCS joy for Lacrosse 1s
Photo by Dave Cocozza UKC Lacrosse Club
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t was a successful second week of BUCS fixtures for the Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse 1s, who both secured vital BUCS points in the early stages of the competition. After a closely contested match for the 2s the week before, it was now the 1s chance to play UCL. Quietly confident due to the 6-6 draw that the 2s had achieved against a weak London side, Kent’s first string started strongly, launching on the offence from the start. Attack soon turned into success, with several goals netted in the opening minutes and each of the team’s three attackers getting their name on the scoreboard.
The match quickly snowballed, as the evident lack of experience in Kent’s opponents aided some excellent plays, with notable efforts from Ryan Johnson up top, and an on form James Cugley from behind the goal. By halftime, the team had managed an impressive 13-0 scoreline. Kent’s captain called for a slow down of play in the second half, which was almost seen as an act of mercy by many, to save the visitors from further embarrassment. Despite Kent taking their foot off the pedal in the second half, they remained on the offence, scoring some well worked goals, and ending the fixture with a final score of 18-0 to Kent 1s.
This is the second win running for a side who look set to be pushing for promotion from their 2B division this season, as well as hoping for success in the BUCS Cup, and the all important Varsity fixture. Onto the Women’s fixture then, as the Women’s 1s brought home a strong win of 21-1 against Imperial College London Women’s 2s. From the first whistle, UKC raced to the goal with ease, scoring four times within the first five minutes of play. Play continued to be just as strong throughout the first and second quarters, only allowing Imperial two goals of their own. After half time, Imperial seemed to regroup and
rejuvenate – however, they were unable to score as UKC continued to dominate the pitch. The team were helped by a fantastic performance by Ashleigh Mizon who was lethal to the Imperial defence throughout the game. UKC also boasted impressive performances by and three freshers: Maisie Hunter, Momoko Tana and Caroline Styles. A special mention too to the fourth fresher, Coralie Thomson, who brilliantly and effortlessly stepped in as goalie for the first time. It was a hugely satisfying and exhilarating first game for Women’s 1s, who will be hoping
that performances like this will continue throughout the season. There was some disappointment though for the Lacrosse club, with the Men’s 2s going down against Hertfordshire 1s 8-6. Back to the 1s, and these good results left the two teams in strong positions after the opening rounds of the BUCS competition, with both sides having title aspirations for the coming year. Inside: Fencing match report, Pole Fitness and Trampolining interviews and a BUCS review