ROAR!
Tearing up the tabloid: our new culture pullout,
King's news, comment, culture and sport
from page 7
YOUU LIED L U TO US roarnews.co.uk
EXCLUSIVE: the outrageous ULU cover-up Allegations during London Student election President, Editor & Returning Officer accused Ben Wilson DESPITE having seemingly run its due course, the election process for next year’s editor of London Student newspaper has been hit with yet more allegations of corrupt practice. In just the latest episode in an on-going saga of controversies, evidence has come to light suggesting that Oscar Webb’s victory may have involved the sort of unfair practice that seems to have tarnished both ULU and London Student throughout this entire affair. Issues first arose over Webb’s apparently unsolicited use of a mailing list, believed to be that of the Queen Mary University of London
(QMUL) Conservative Society, as a means of gaining public support for his campaign. An email in response to Webb from former QMUL student Jon Boulton states ‘You see the problem is I don’t ever recall giving you my e-mail. ‘I remember using my Queen Mary email address to vote in previous ULU and LS elections when I was a student however I am no longer one.’
SEE PAGE 4
TU A5 flyer v2_Layout 1 17/06/2013 16:11 Page 1
nobody likes the ‘C’ word
Teens Unite Fighting Cancer was co-founded by Karen Millen OBE and is dedicated to supporting teenagers (aged 13-24) with cancer and other life limiting illnesses The charity aims to help young people build on their self esteem and self confidence and reduce feelings of isolation by taking them on fun days out. Activities range from concerts and football matches to motivational art and beauty workshops. Teens Unite have also just opened the first specialist respite care centre for young people aged 13-24 in the UK.
{
There are many ways that you can help us to support more teenagers: • Become a volunteer
☛
• Nominate us to be the chosen charity at your workplace
• Hold your own local fundraising events • Take part in a challenge • Make a one-off donation • Or simply tell your friends about us Get in touch today to find out more about us and how you can help make a difference
www.teens unitefighting cancer.org
Call Email
01992 44 00 91 info@teensunitefightingcancer.org
Registered Charity Number: 1118361 Company registered in England No.6111574
ROAR! Editor Ben Jackson editor@roarnews.co.uk Deputy Editor (Print) Robbie Hirst
GET YOUR ECONOMICS OUT! KCL Economics Society is hosting the annual Conservative v Labour debate. The debate will be on the motion ‘Due to the State of the UK’s Economy the Government’s Actions on Immigration are Absolutely Necessary’. Both Ben Judge President of the Conservative Society and Nik Jovcic-Sas Chair of the Labour Society, are primed and ready, it promises to be cracker. The event is being held in the Old Anatomy Lecture Theatre, at the Strand, on Tuesday the 1st of October and will start at 6:30pm. Roar! is delighted to hear that there will be a wine reception providing free wine, giving the Economics Society the chance to show off its new membership cards.
Deputy Editor (Online) Megan Hector
A STATUE OF LIBERTY
The KCL Libertarian Society has been filling up Facebook newsfeeds collegewide, with a stream exciting posts, announcing itself to the student population. Although it existed last year the society was largely dormant, now it appears reinvigorated by the leadership of Robert Winterton. Rob as he is known by friends, has already lined up Mark Littlewood, the Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs for the Society’s first event. The Libertarian Society appears to be back from the dead. If you have a complaint about the editorial content in this newspaper, which directly affects you, then email KCLSU with your complaint: studentmedia@kclsu.org
Comment Editors Henry Cross & Madhav Bakshi comment@roarnews.co.uk
Politics Editors Michael Di Benedetto & Nida Ali politics@roarnews.co.uk
Webmasters Ammaar Reshi & Anna Huckerby online@roarnews.co.uk
Features Editors Yasmyne Kricha & Laura Jessop features@roarnews.co.uk
Science Editors Durr-e Tariq & Vanessa Megaro science@roarnews.co.uk
News Editors James Thorpe & Ben Wilson news@roarnews.co.uk
Careers Editor Juliana Ruseva careers@roarnews.co.uk
Sports Editor James Monaghan sports@roarnews.co.uk
Shanice McBean (second from right) is a third year philosophy student and feminist society president. She is a committed political activist and was recently involved in setting up a local campaigns group called ‘Sisters Against the EDL’. The aim of the group was to involve more local women of East London in the antiracism demonstration on 7 September!
page m3
showcasing the best King’s students EVERY month. If you know someone who deserves to be featured, email us at editor@roarnews.co.uk
EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to King’s College London, among the top 20 universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankings released this month! LSE came in at 68th. Perhaps we should reconsider the merger.
Robert Winterton, Libertarian
Culture Editor Vacant culture@roarnews.co.uk
As freshers, you’ve got so much to look forward to. I wish I could start again in my breezeblock room at King’s College Hall back in 2011. My first piece of advice would be to get involved in everything that interests you. In your first year, the stakes are low and you’re going to find yourselves with a lot of spare time, so make the most of it. You’re going to meet such a diverse range of people, quench your wild thirst for academia and have many a messy night in Walkabout. Join everything, go to everything and drink everything. And while you’re at it, write for us!
When you enrol as a King’s student, you’re not just joining a university, but also a vibrant students’ union in KCLSU. Our union is one of England’s oldest and offers a range of facilities (but not a nightclub). And the democratic side of things ain’t bad either. Student Council grows by number each year and offers students the chance to put their own ideas into the union through policy making. Watch out for the October elections! Students (including you!) can be nominated to represent academic schools or minority groups. KCLSU has a beige website at kclsu.org featuring four sentences about Council, it may be a struggle but have a read! Our new website provides a constant stream of lively and engaging content – who remembers Ana Diamond’s article on drugs at King’s?! If you write for us, your articles will be linked to your own profile page on
September 2013 the site, just like any national news site. If you want to get involved with the digital side of things by joining our webmasters or even contribute to the development of Roar!’s tablet edition (coming soon), give us a shout. Even if all of the above isn’t your cup of tea then Roar! offers opportunties to students in the form of the Finance and Marketing Committee. The brains behind the brawn. As with every issue of Roar!, we’ve put a lot of work into its creation. This work includes sourcing articles, editing and crucially, laying out. The skills that students gain from contributing to Roar! are invaluable and set you on the path to success. The best King’s students join Roar!. Our news and culture coverage at King’s is unrivalled. We’re always looking to
tweets@ Roar_News
The very best our readers in the Twittersphere have to offer @superaffiliate @suttonnick Yeah, but the Morning Star isn’t a real paper. Pretty sure @Roar_News have higher journalistic standards. #TomorrowsPapersToday @KCLFemSoc @Roar_News Yo Roar, please RT our new group. Cheers, your friendly neighbour-
hood feminists!
@MattCaponeEsq @LondonStudent Circulating @Roar_News contact details to 3rd parties without asking permission from the Roar! editorial team to begin with. @kcl_biomedrep Just watched Monsters University! Their news-
FOLLOW US @ twitter.com/roar_news
paper is called Campus Roar!!! @ Roar_News :D
@KCLSU_Anthony I love the @ roar_news team... I mean, someone has to ;P @jackson12th Going through the @Roar_News archives so I can update the Wikipedia page. Drugs
expand so keep an eye out for future vacancies. Roar!’s news section is launching a TV show, produced by our partners at KingsTV this year. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be the next Will McAvoy and anchor the show, let us know! And please get in touch with us if you want to contribute to the newspaper and website. Email individual section editors, deputy editors or myself at editor@ roarnews.co.uk - get your name out there! And #YOLO. Ben Jackson @jackson12th
have always been big at KCL, it seems @Ruby_Guyatt Read my piece for @Roar_News on #ChelseaManning and the problems faced by transpeople in the US justice system @KCLTech The guys @Roar_ News have an awesome feature on the KCL Tech Society, check it out! @KCLSU_Seb Good morning! Keep an eye out for @roar_news’s Freshers’ issue coming out soon! #kingsfreshers
LIKE US @ facebook.com/roarnews
WEBB’S CAMPAIGN EMAIL
WEBB CHEATS FOR LONDON STUDENT
Ben Wilson
CONTINUED from front page: With the Constitution of ULU outlining that the Union will always seek to ‘pursue its aims and objectives independent of any political party’ (B.ii), the unsolicited use of a student Conservative Party mailing list for a candidate is highly inapposite.
BOULTON REPLIES TO WEBB
Yet when questioned over whether ULU would be re-opening nominations, Rob Park forwarded to Roar! an email (which Park was cc’ed into) from Michael Chessum to Head of ULU Legal Services John Stewart.
According to one anonymous recipient of Webb’s campaign email, ‘societies choosing to back candidates is one thing… it is, however, another matter to turn over entire mailing lists, created for a very different purpose, to the candidate himself to bombard as they set fit.’
Within this email Chessum states that ‘although the idea of holding a cross campus ballot in the next week or so - most likely between one candidate and RON - seems odd, it is probably the only option that offers closure on the process and legitimacy for any winning candidate.’
Boulton’s status as a former student also creates issues with his being targeted for contact by Webb.
Chessum also claims that ‘the view of the ULU officers is that [this scenario] is the most obvious and fair route to go down.’
According to the ULU Constitution s13.1 any individual ‘shall automatically cease to be a Member of the Union if he or she ceases to be a student’, meaning Webb’s spamming campaign affected those no longer affiliated with the Union. By not blind cc’ing the mailing list, Webb made students’ contact details available to every other recipient of the original blanket email, exposing personal information to further irresponsible use by others.
EMAIL RECIPIENTS CONTACT ROAR!
sum has asserted that he was not involved in the decision to start a new London Student Editor election without re-opening nominations after Katie Lathan withdrew, and that the decision lay with Rob Park.
One of the key reasons Roar! was able to ascertain the origin of this mailing list was through the publicly disclosed mailing list on Webb’s email, which seemed to correspond very closely to that of QMUL’s Conservative Society. Following repeated enquiry over a possible abuse of the Data Protection Act, ULU’s Returning Officer Rob Park simply responded that the issue was ‘still being investigated’ and that ‘suspected misuse of data issues should be reported to the Information Commissioners Officer’. Throughout the investigation carried out by Roar!, Michael Ches-
He goes on to conclude that ‘there is a level of ambiguity about who exactly makes this interpretation’, deciding that ‘the reality probably sits somewhere between me [Chessum], the Returning Officer and the University’. Webb’s unsolicited e-mail focuses directly on his opposition to the closure of ULU’s legislative body as his main platform for election. Roar! has discovered a level of mutual support with Chessum preceding the London Student Elections. As of April 17th 2012, the personal YouTube account of Oscar Webb carried two videos supporting the campaign of Chessum for the position of NUS Vice President of Higher Education. While a good working relationship between the London Student Editor and the President of ULU can only be a good thing (as the debacle of the ongoing feud between Chessum and previous Editor Jen Izaakson served to prove) it must be questioned whether it is appropriate to extend this situation of reciprocity from between two incumbents to an in-
cumbent and a potential electee. Although the possibility of an Election Tribunal has been prevented by the release of the Election results (unlike in the case of Katie Lathan’s annulled election), Section 23.3 of the ULU constitution states that ‘A referendum may be called on any issue by... a Secure Petition signed by at least 250 Members, including a minimum of five students from each of five constituent colleges.’ In the wake of what has been re-
“The role of a returning officer can also vary from Union to Union but we would always advise that they are the final route of appeal for any decisions or rulings made in an election. A candidate can complain about the conduct of an RO to the University as a last resort.”
said...
CRIME TIMELINE
Here’s what the
4 ROAR!
garded by many as a farce of an election, critics are asking whether such drastic action would be the only means of achieving fair process for this election, and finally allowing the voice of the student body to be heard.
Have YOU received unsolicited emails from Oscar Webb? Get in touch with your story at: news@roarnews.co.uk
GOTCHA! BREAKDOWN OF THE ALLEGATIONS OSCAR WEBB
• Unsolicited emailing of members of the University of London Union • Unsolicited emailing of former members of the University of London Union • Inappropriate use of a politicised society mailing list • Possible violation of the Data Protection Act (1998)
MICHAEL CHESSUM
• Dishonesty over involvement in the decision to start a new London Student Editor Election without re-opening nominations • Dishonesty over influence on the decision of others (i.e. Park) regarding these elections • Undue support of one particular candidate, Webb • Conflict of interest due to personal relationship with the aforementioned candidate
ROB PARK
• Failure to properly address allegations of a breach of the Data Protection Act • Inappropriate collusion with Chessum over the decision to run a new election without reopening nominations • Failure to delay release of the election results despite having taken this measure previously, thus preventing any possibility of an elections tribunal
ROAR! 5
K-C-L, C-L, WHATEVER WILL BE, WILL BE... IT has been another huge year for KCL. The Roar! news team takes a look back at the big events.
Tutu’s closes Students said goodbye to KCLSU’s night club. It opened in 1992 but KCLSU was forced to close it because it had become financially unsustainable. It took its name from alumnus Desmond Tutu, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for his anti-Apartheid activism.
KCL makes £31.5 million profit The College’s financial report showed income rose by 6%. The profit would have been enough to buy a year’s worth of zones 1 and 2 travelcards for every KCL student last year.
SU bars transformed
Borough High Street mess
Going green
Both the Waterfront and Guy’s bar were closed over most of summer for a major redevelopment. KCLSU says money saved from Tutu’s closure will be invested in the bars.
Private Eye said KCL’s work on 127-143 Borough High Street will replace 19th century buildings with ‘bland, characterless brick fronts’. The college says the project will provide a new gym and retail area, a 100 room hotel, and better access to Guy’s campus. In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer describes the area as a meeting point for travellers.
KCL continued its sustainability drive with a plan to achieve zero direct waste to landfill by 2020. Latest figures show KCL emitted slightly less carbon than the Falkand Islands last year.
American ambitions
The Complete University Guide put KCL top for crime while the Sunday Times ranked it best university for employment. Elsewhere, KCL continues to slip down in other league tables. The Guardian rated it 32nd in its overall league tables. KCL came 69th in URAP’s research output rankings and 56th in Leiden scientific output.
Halls revamp KCL began a major redevelopment of its student accomodation. King’s College Halls in Denmark Hill was closed for renovation and a planning application for halls in Canada Water was submitted. The contractors for the KCH project, GB Building Solutions, said work is running on schedule. Construction at Canada Water will finish by 2016.
KCL opened its first international office in the US to increase the college’s global presence and student mobility. The office is near Washington DC, the nation’s capital. Last year, 492 KCL students studied abroad as part of their degree.
No.1 for employability
INTERNATIONALS SHAFTED ON FEES James Thorpe
British universities in than the previous
THE revenue British universities generate from tuition fees continues to climb, but at what cost?
This may seem minor, but the number of UK students in Britain has decreased by 0.6% in the same period. At King’s, applications increased by a mere 1%.
KCL’s tuition income jumped by 15% in 2011/12, which was largely due to more international students paying higher fees.
Unlike British students, international students seem undeterred by the continuous rise in tuition fees.
Zahra Mizra, from Dubai, was asked to pay more for her degree whilst she was still studying. She graduated last summer from King’s.
“Honestly, as an Arts student, my degree is still relatively cheaper than what my other international friends are paying for Medicine and Law,” Mizra says. “If there was an increase, it would still be worth it for me.”
“My degree cost went from around £13,000 at the start to £14,000 a year when I finished,” she says. “I actually emailed to ask why the increase happened, and I got an email saying that increases can happen without any notice during the year, so I didn’t question it.”
KCL was reluctant to say if international fees would go up again - despite the fact they have risen continuously in recent years. The college is under no obligation to publicly announce a rise.
Recently, the NUS criticised the way international students were treated as ‘cash cows’ by universities. In the 2011/12 academic year, the average international student was worth over four times more to King’s than a UK/EU student. King’s was quick to defend the amount it charges for a degree. “It is important to remember that UK students and their parents pay into the UK tax system which in turn funds HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council England) funding for teaching, research and capital, which international students and their parents do not,” the college says. Daniel Lee, in his final year of a degree at LSE, says British universities exploit international students. “The universities know foreign students don’t have an Oxford or Cambridge in their own countries so they can charge whatever they like,” he says. “I value my degree but why should I pay so much more than British students pay when we get the same teaching?”
2011 year.
Clinical-based degrees are the most expensive for international students at KCL, which is one of nine British universities to charge over £30,000 per year for the programme. Since 2010/11, the price has risen from £29,400 to £35,000. International students will find that, unlike their British and European friends, their education is not protected by government legislation. Since the tuition fee rise in 2010, universities must meet Office For Fair Access (OFFA) regulations if they wish to charge UK/EU students the maximum £9000 per year. In the 2011/12 academic year, the average international student at King’s was worth almost four times more than a UK/EU student. A 21% increase in international applications suggests tuition income will continue to rise. The growth of international student numbers at King’s reflects a national trend. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) reported there were 1.5% more non-EU students at
Asked if fees would increase again, King’s replied: “This is unlikely in the near future, as the current government has committed to holding undergraduate fees steady in the face of rising inflation of costs. We cannot be sure what will happen after the next election in 2015.” Lee says British universities should be wary of becoming too greedy and scaring away international students. “I come from China and we have a lot of new universities,” he says. “Britain might have been the home to the first universities, but in the future many students will avoid studying there if they continue to ask foreign students for more and more money every year.”
THE CONSEQUENCES OF
IGNORING THE SYRIA CRISIS
James Leeman
OVER the last few days the rhetoric regarding Syria has begun to step up, as Western nations look poised to propose some form of intervention in the conflict. But for many, the impulse reaction to the idea of Western governments becoming involved in another Middle Eastern conflict is pure horror, and it’s not difficult to understand why. For many, the whole situation in Syria brings back painful memories of long, drawn out and bloody conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are reminded of dodgy weapons inspections, the reports of new offensive after new offensive and most of all, scary images of young men brought back in coffins, cut down in their prime in warzones far away from home. The post-9/11 desires to fight a pro-active war on terrorism and the humanitarian intervention school of thought have taken a long, drawn out blow over the last decade, as Western power and its applications came under scrutiny from its own citizens, who were tired of their troops dying in what seemed like never ending wars over unsolvable issues. Hence, with many western voters still conscious of the memories of the past decade, it is hardly surprising opinion polls show staunch opposition to action in Syria. With a YouGov poll showing the 2 to 1 opposition to missile strikes from voters in Britain, the conclusion seems to be that
although the situation in the country is clearly disturbing, it has little to do with the West and is not worth the blood of any one of our troops. Although inaction and turning the other way may seem like relatively harmless and easy options in what is clearly an increasingly complex and toxic situation, we must understand that taking no position is, in fact, taking a position with huge repercussions. Any decision not to exert power can be as costly, if not more costly, than taking a stand in the region. To illustrate this, we only have to look to history for past lessons. Nearly two decades ago, the UN and Western nations began to receive alarming messages concerning a fast-moving situation in the Central African country of Rwanda, which was beginning to get out of control. For years the country had negotiated an uneasy truce between two sets of different tribal groups, the Tutsi minority, and the ruling Hutu majority. Their differences had roots based in the Belgian colonial rule, and had sporadically broken into violence, but for most of Rwanda’s young history the two sets of people had worked in peace. However, in early 1994, experts from inside and outside the country warned that the peace was breaking down and had the potential to create a toxic conflict. The event that sparked the conflict came in April 1994, when the Rwandan President’s plane was shot down and Hutu extremists began to take over the country and direct the armed forces in a mass genocide of the Tutsi people. Immediately, calls for action to bring about an end to
the slaughter came from inside the country and on the international stage, but the voices airing these opinions were few and thin, and were not located within the right corridors of power. The West sat idly by, and most people carried on with comfortable lives, with no idea of the carnage that was unfolding within Rwanda. In what came to known as the ‘100 days of Slaughter’, the Hutu extremists carried out an ethnic genocide which left around 10% of the population (or 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutu people) dead, millions of women traumatised by rape as well as widowed, and thousands more haunted by life-changing injuries. For officials in the Clinton administration in America at the time, Rwanda was simply a foreign policy issue that was not important to them. An issue that wasn’t important to them left 1 million killed and a nation torn apart, as the West turned the other cheek and convinced itself nothing was happening in Rwanda, or at least that there was nothing they could do about it. And if we flick back even further through the history books that form our collective conscience, we’ll find a perhaps more famous example of turning the other cheek. On the 30th September 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned home to a hero’s welcome in Britain. His great achievement? He had just obtained a phoney peace with Adolf Hitler. Many appeasers took to the streets and celebrated the agreement, which they believed would keep British troops away from war and death, and keep Britain out of a brewing conflict in
Europe which had little to do with old Blighty. But sadly, the rest was history, and the AngloGerman agreement only bought Britain a little more time with a false sense of security, while the people of Eastern Europe met their fate with no international figures prepared to use their power and take a stand to defend them. Somalia, Bosnia, Darfur, and many others are names of places or events that should join Rwanda and the Anglo-German agreement as moments in history when we stood by and looked the other way. We were too afraid to risk our boys, and instead left millions consigned to death beds while we kept our hands clean of any blood. In these cases our inaction was a conscious decision with multiple consequences. The point here is not that Syria is the same situation as Rwanda in the 1990s or Germany in the 1930s. It is simply that Western nations have a power which, if applied effectively and in the right way, can save many lives and protect vast populations. This power is costly, and the cost may well be brave troops. Certainly war is never the easy decision, but any decision not to use the power that we possess does have consequences, and we must factor those consequences in when making decisions about whether to intervene on humanitarian grounds in other countries. We cannot simply stick our heads in the sand and convince ourselves that no action is the end of the Syrian story, because for thousands of Syrians, any decision of ours not to intervene may be the beginning of new, dark chapters in their own personal stories.
IN DEFENCE OF MANNING AND SNOWDEN
“WHISTLEBLOWERS
ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO
THE WORLD”
Helena Reut-Hobbs THE trial of Private Chelsea (formerly known as Bradley) Manning has generated much debate on whistleblowers and whether their actions are fundamentally right or wrong. Sentencing Manning to 35 years of imprisonment has attracted criticism for either being too harsh or too lenient. Her imprisonment has set a precedent for what other whistleblowers who leak American secrets, such as Edward Snowden, currently residing in Russia, could face. There is a stark divide as to how the public sees Manning and other whistleblowers. Some argue that it was illegal for Manning and Snowden to leak the secrets they were privy to, and so they are automatically traitors to the US. Others argue that the public has a right to know the information leaked. Snowden’s revelations that the NSA was collecting information from the internet data and phone records of millions of people, including many foreign officials, sent shockwaves around the world. Many were outraged that they had no idea of the extent of American federal agencies’ insight into their lives. Indeed, the revelations have generated a whole other debate on whether true privacy really exists any more. Many are quick to label whistleblowers as either heroes or villains. However, the truth is far more complex. Both Manning and Snowden say they acted out of a concern for their country when leaking the classified
documents. Manning’s mental state at the time she sent classified files to Wikileaks was said to be “fragile”. Watching the now infamous video of the US army helicopter opening fire on unarmed civilians perhaps triggered her to release this and other classified information, to raise public awareness of what the American army actually does in wars. Although Snowden was in a stable mental state, he was horrified by the “destruction” of people’s privacy by the NSA and wanted people to know that their liberty was being compromised. Critics of Manning and Snowden argue that leaking such sensitive information to the general public threatens American security. There is a reason certain information is classified. Releasing this information means that everyone, including enemies of the US, has access to it. It is hard to draw the line between what the public has a right to know, and what should be kept secret because releasing the information could potentially damage the nation. However, the information released by both Manning and Snowden arguably does not compromise national security. The leaks are more an embarassment to America than anything else. The worst they do is compromise delicate diplomatic missions and anger the public. Snowden’s revelations were an eye-opener to a public that did not know just how much their privacy was being invaded. Indeed, most of the information released simply humiliates the US by showing its wrongdoings to the world.
Whistleblowers can act as a check on big organisations and governments, by exposing what they are doing wrong. Many risk everything they have to expose the wrongdoings of these organisations. Snowden was living comfortably in Hawaii on a six-figure salary before he decided to leak US secrets – a life he will never be able to go back to. Whistleblowers who exposed massive failings within the NHS were fired from their jobs and could never work within the NHS again. However, in sacrificing their job security and comfortable lives, they expose vital issues to do with the organisation they are exposing. The actions of Manning and Snowden may have compromised America’s diplomatic relations with other countries, but the leaks haven’t really compromised national security – they have simply shone a light on how the US government carries out its diplomatic and military dealings abroad, and the pervasiveness of its security services in ordinary people’s lives. Since the US army and the NSA are run by the government, which is elected by the public, the public have a right to know this information. Indeed, a lot of the information leaked exposed how little the general public knows about the operations of the US army abroad, and the power of US surveillance. Although whistleblowers may cause embarassment and may cause problems with international relations, they are extremely important to the world. The information they reveal is illuminating and people have a right to know it.
Tearing up the tabloid 2013
The new Roar! culture pullout
CULTURE@ROARNEWS.CO.UK
LONDON IS A CATALYST “I came to London. It had become the centre of my world and I had worked hard to come to it. And I was lost.” - V. S. Naipaul
CULTURE
London is a catalyst. Yes, it is coarse with grime and vast in British ennui; a homeless man ignored outside the third Pret A Manger you’ve seen this morning. But there are rich pockets of the vivant, if you know where to look, and looking is half the fun.
Editor Vacant
Music Editors Joe Brookes & Oscar King
Art Director Sam Cleal
Fashion & Lifestyle Editor Lauren Clark
Arts & Theatre Editors Jessica Moffatt-Owen & Daisy Bartlett
Film Editor Charlotte Woods
Each basement gig where you self-consciously tug at your new jacket from Brick Lane, each late night film screening you attend surrounded by whipping alien tongues, dripping with assurance and gravitas, every exhibition leaving your eyes darting and a silent, internal “...what?”. They will mould you. So from all of us at the Culture section, we
welcome you to this great city, this flea market of thinkers and thoughts. You have arrived at a cultural centre, a conglomeration of artistic enterprises ranging from the fine to the fun. What you’ll also be pleased to know is that, by becoming a KCL student, you have set your base at the epicentre of the bustle. We are sure you will be somewhat aware of the bombardment of experiences you are about to face, and naturally, you will have planned ahead. Some of you may have even lived here before or visited regularly. Yet still, becoming a Uni student in this place is entering into all of that confusion with a haste unimaginable to those on the outside. Suddenly you are independent, alone, and completely responsible for how you spend your time.
At the same time, you are surrounded by people of all kinds of artistic persuasions, flocking en masse to the promised land. So, we send you this culture pullout with the intention of providing a reliable place to touch base with other students’ impressions and advice on the matter, from those who’ve been in exactly the same position as you, perhaps even the same halls. Slowly you will settle and learn to appreciate, as opposed to feigning passion in what the cute girl a few flats down affirmed in drawling tones was “just...like, so organic,” and you’ll realise why these people snaking around looked so much cooler than you ever thought you could hope to be. Because they crawled through it all. Joe Brookes
FILM
9
HOT?
OR
NOT?
FUN FILMY THINGS TO DO IN LONDON London is a fantastic city for many reasons, but it is my favourite place because of the variety of things there are to do. Particularly regarding one of my favourite hobbies, film and TV/celeb-stalking. So here is a list of ‘what’s hot and what’s not’ when it comes to enjoying the film industry in London Town.
HOT- Heading to the BFI for some escapism from Hollywood blockbusters is just what is needed sometimes. Head to the BFI on the Southbank if you fancy exciting your eyeballs with something a little bit different and a little less mainstream. You might surprise yourself when you discover your new favourite genre is a black and white gangster film, in Spanish, with subtitles… HOT- How do you fancy seeing some hot
totty strutting their stuff on the red carpet? Why not go to Leicester Square when a film premier is happening and trying your luck at some celeb-spotting? You never know who you might meet…
HOT- Living and studying so close to TV
studios means you could be on TV - for free! Shows are always looking to fill their audience seats, so do a little research for companies who provide free audience tickets, it’s so much fun!
NOT- Rushing to work along the Strand and,
literally, bumping into James Corden who spills coffee down your coat. Yes, this really happened and yes, it was incredibly embarrassing. Let’s not talk about this any more.
FRESHERS’ GUIDE Monsters University may not be the best film Pixar has thrown at us recently; let’s be honest, it was no Toy Story 3. But as well as the happy nostalgia brought about by seeing Mike and Sully back on our screens, there are some handy tips that freshers can take note of… Our beloved Mike Wazowski arrives at MU laden with suitcases and is greeted by a team of over-enthusiastic student ambassadors, an experience shared by many of us when moving into halls. The trick is to be nice to these guys, you will probably encounter some of them again at awkward flat meetings in your kitchen. Moreover, they are the ones who come knocking when you and your hoards of new friends are making “too much noise”, so it’s best to be on friendly terms! Another tip that can be taken from these enthusiastic student
types is throwing yourself into as many clubs as possible - you will have more friendship circles and your university experience will be much more varied. Definitely try to join a sports team, be it something you are passionate about or something you have never done before. Every Wednesday night is sports night and, trust me, you don’t want to miss out on the party.
Mike is also treated to a spectacularly awful photograph on his student card, something many KCL students can relate to. Unfortunately, that picture of you looking haggard after travelling for however many hours, from whatever inconveniently
To avoid further snaps of you not looking your best, make coffee shops your third home. You may have noticed the monster wandering through campus with three cups of coffee in the film; this might seem somewhat melodramatic, but when you’re beyond hanging the morning after a wild night in London Town, and have a lecture at 9am, three cups of coffee is the only way forward. You may even need a fourth to sustain yourself during the lecture. Another thing to note is Mike’s supposedly ‘best friend’ Randall. We know from Monsters Inc that these two are most certainly not pals, and this illustrates all too well that the ‘friends for life’ you think you’ve made in freshers’ week
may not be your friends by the end of the year. Meanwhile, someone like Sully, who you don’t actually like, might end up having more in common with you than you think - be openminded! As for scary initiations into secret societies by candlelight, KCL’s secret society is not so secret anymore, after an exposé by Roar! last year. But who knows, there could be more of these lurking in the shadows of the campus - keep your eyes peeled. Hopefully freshers won’t be a scarefest, do try not to follow Mike and Sully’s example and get thrown out, we promise it’s nice here! And as for Mike’s comment that “nobody reads the school paper” - they do. You’re reading it now!
AYSHA HARWOOD
LONDON’S THE LOCATION London has been a prime locaton for a number of exciting films over the years. So, to get you aquainted with London this year, Kyveli Short takes you around her pick of the top 5 films shot in London. Take a stroll around your new, famous home by reminscing with these big hits...
NOTTING HILL (1999)
MY FAIR LADY (1964)
The title is the setting for this ultimate London film. Who hasn’t spent some time wandering around the neighbourhood, looking for the iconic blue door or the Travel Book Company, hoping that they will bump into star-crossed lovers William Thacker (Hugh Grant) and Anna Scott (Julia Roberts)? If you haven’t, you will! Most of the filming takes place in and around Portobello Road, featuring guest appearances from the Ritz, the Savoy and Kenwood House. It is hard not to fall in love with this London-based rom-com.
Based on George Bernard Shaw’s original stage play Pygmalion, this multi-award winning musical follows simple flower girl Eliza Doolittle on her adventures in Edwardian London, as she takes high society by storm. Rex Harrison plays the arrogant phonetics Professor Henry Higgins, who bets he can turn the ravishing Audrey Hepburn’s Cockney accent into a ‘proper’ English one.
NOT- When your friend meets Tom Hardy and you don’t.
CHARLOTTE WOODS
far away place you live, will be sticking with you throughout your time at King’s. Sorry about that!
V FOR VENDETTA (2005) Granted, watching famous London landmarks being blown up might not be the most conventional way to become acquainted with a city, but it certainly makes for a spectacular viewing, especially when the background music is Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. The film is set in London as a near-future dystopian society where the British government is run by fascists. We follow V, an unlikely hero, on his journey for vengeance.
PASSPORT TO PIMLICO (1949) As a result of wartime bombing, the inhabitants of Pimlico discover an ancient parchment, proving that their section of London actually belongs to Burgundy, France. They decide to consolidate their hereditary independence from Britain by setting up a restriction-free state that is soon to become ration-hit and beleaguered. Actually shot in neighbouring Lambeth, this is a deceptively sharp and politically-minded film, dressed up as a light comedy. A film that truly celebrates the cosy sense of wartime togetherness.
BLOW-UP (1966) In his 1966 film, Michelangelo Antonioni perfectly captures the London of the swinging sixties, at a time when the city was at the centre of the world. The plot revolves around a fashion photographer, played by David Hemmings, who stumbles upon what he believes to be a murder in Maryon Park in Charlton, and unwittingly takes photos of the killing. London never looked this glamorous and the film even features cameos from the Yardbirds and Jimmy Page!
KYVELI SHORT I would also just like to welcome everyone back to King’s and deliver a very warm welcome to the freshers. I hope you enjoyed the first film section of the year, as part of the new Roar! culture pullout. If you would like to get involved, or have any comments or suggestions, please email: culture@roarnews.co.uk
FASHION & LIFESTYLE
12
WHICH TREND TRIBE ARE YOU? LAUREN CLARK rounds up the Autumn/ Winter 2013/14 London style tribes...
CAMOUFLAGE
Christopher Kane has decided we should all look like Action Man this season, and obviously we all agree with him. No other print can ‘toughen things up’ quite the same.
MARKS & SPENCER
The new AW 13/14 M&S campaign, shot by legendary fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz, stars Grace Coddington, Karen Elson and Ellie Goulding. We’re sold.
NARS ORGASM BLUSHER
The climax of your beauty routine. Mornings will never be the same.
WHAT IS CHIC WHAT IS EEK!
Are we really at the mercy of the trends? Do we actually decide we can no longer live without neon blocking, nor be seen dead in anything but sandal flatforms? No matter how hard Christopher Kane is pushing that camo print next season, do many of us really drastically alter what we wear after each run of shows? Fashion, for most, is a pick-‘n’mix game of dabbling in particular trends depending on whether they complement our basic style (AKA tribal look). We venture from the tribe occasionally to hunt a snakeskin clutch, or sniff out a taupe fedora, but never wander too far from its main aesthetic. Fashion collections are aimed, too, at specific types of imaginary woman, and therefore not every trend is intended for us. Phew! Which style tribe are you, and which trends will you be wearing this coming season?
VINTAGE TRIBE
Your style icon is Bette Davis, you shop at Battersea car boot and your favourite night out is Itchy Feet. You, my dear, are the biggest fan of everything at least fifty years old, and pine for the days of Grease, Dior’s ‘New Look’ and when red lipstick reigned over nude for daylight hours. This season you’re in heaven. Louis Vuitton sent some 1940s
Hollywood thriller-worthy offerings down the catwalk, with silk negligees worn underneath classic oversized coats and accessorized with deep berry-coloured pouts. The Prada show featured models with their equal share of drama. Artfully mussed rain-drenched hair, belted hourglass silhouettes, and that blue and white check print that you last saw on the primary school playground. Also Get Inspired By: Bottega Venetta and Burberry Prorsum.
MINIMALIST TRIBE
All other tribes wonder why you go shopping each season since you always appear to look the same. However, you know that with the minimalist look it is all about subtlety adventurous materials, sharp cut and a range of hard-working separates. A bit like IKEA really. Maybe that’s why Acne, the midrange minimalist trove, also hails from Sweden. In your book, less is always more. Modern architectural phenomenons of the London skyline provide your fashion references, while alternative fabrics, such as nude PVC, and colour blocking are all you need to make a statement. Stella McCartney, always the chic purveyor of simplicity, revealed a collection of androgynous oversized coats, unfussy jumpsuits and muted wintry hues of charcoal grey and dark purple.
Queen of Minimalism, Phoebe Philo, worked her, as Vogue labelled it “fashion purist”, magic at Celine. Fluted midi-skirts and cleverly draped dresses provided a very put-together Parisian look – aside from racy flashes of thigh leather boots. Also Get Inspired By: 3.1 Phillip Lim and Jonathan Saunders.
KING’WS ROAD TRIBE
You just love Hummingbird’s red velvet, you cannot wait to get hold of the new Mulberry Bayswater ‘zipped’, and darling are you going to Val d’Isere this winter? Life is one big Mahiki-whirlwind as you attempt to shake off your former Kate Middleton boarding-house look, and style yourself a tad more like edgy-sloane fashion stylist Phoebe Lettice-Thompson. SW7 may be your stomping ground and you only ever eat at Cecconi’s, but you get your hair done at Percy & Reed in east London, and want your fashion credentials appreciated. The catwalks did not shy away from privileged looks this season. Emilio Pucci and Dolce & Gabbana opted for serious opulence. The former flaunted Mayfair-friendly short hemlines, Jean Shrimpton-style blunt fringes and drowned models in fur. Domenico and Stefano went that bit more regal, pioneering pea coats, lace and heavy embellishment. Also Get Inspired By: Giorgio
Armani and Victoria by Victoria Beckham.
EASTERN TRIBE
East in this fashion game means Brick Lane and Dalston. You started listening to Marley when you were in the womb, and now show off your moves at XOYO and various warehouse raves. 1980s punk and Kate Moss circa 1993 are where you source your fashion ideas, as are record stores and Glastonbury. You have perfected your indie eyeliner flick and have ombréd your hair to death, yet looking grungily undone is the aim. Buy of the summer was the Topshop version of those Balenciaga cut-out boots to de-feminise things. Cue Versace and Vivienne Westwood to step up to the rebellious mark. Donatella included punk references in the form of chains and zips, and dollops of yellow, throughout her collection. Vivienne appealed to the festival-loving crowd with a hippy/ tribal-inspired assortment of messy plaits, ethnic prints and an indulgent array of ‘homeless’ texture. Also Get Inspired By: Christopher Kane and Chanel.
Follow Lauren at @Lauren_Clark555 and check out her blog at www.museforfashion.wordpress.com
PHUBBING
Excessive snubbing of people in social situations in favour of a social media binge on your phone. Plain rude.
TIGHT FIT
The new silhouette this season is luxuriously oversized. See Stella McCartney and MaxMara. Out with anything more restrictive than pyjamas.
CHERYL COLE’S DERRIERE
Her bottom was the envy of the UK female population, until the singer covered its entirety in a horrendous rose bush tattoo. Chezza, why?!
SPOTTED ON CAMPUS
AMIRA ARASTEH snaps the most stylish students in this issue’s street style.
Name: Oliver Ferris Age: 23 Spotted at: Strand
Keeping it simple in a buttoned-up white shirt, black jeans and the shoe of the year: a pair of tan desert boots; Ollie sticks to hardworking clothing that fits well. He delivers a striking monochrome look, drawing inspiration from Ricki Hall and Luke Ditella, but also from bicycle messengers and the sixties drama, Mad Men.
Name: Daisy Howard Age: 19 Spotted at: Strand
Daisy says she generally prefers to wear plain black and style it up with a staple piece, usually old, such as this Levi’s jacket. There is definitely a vintage feel to this outfit. She has jumped on the trend of socks and sandals which adds a girly twist to the outfit, and acts as a tribute to one of her female rock icons, Joan Jett.
Name: Marco Or Age: 19 Spotted at: Waterloo
Marco has put together an outfit that screams AW’13, drawing inspiration from designers Philip Lim and Alexander McQueen, and emulating the style of his fashion icon, Steve McQueen. The waistcoat, bowler hat and sunglasses add a suave yet kooky aspect to this dapper outfit. I love the layering of skinny jeans with an oversized coat.
Name: Sophie Thomas Age: 19 Spotted at: Strand
Sophie says her fashion inspiration comes from “the entire population of East London”. She definitely portrays the fun-filled and spirited style that one often sees down Brick Lane. Her combination of smart but quirky fitted trousers with The Orphan’s Arms’ (check it out) must-have crop top and hoodie creates an individual sports luxe style.
FASHION & LIFESTYLE
13
With thanks to Chloe Moss
BEAUTY NOTE: PLUM LIPS Marilyn Monroe famously said ,“pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together”. Indeed, a lipstick is a beauty staple; a go to product; a girl’s best friend. Your make-up would not be complete without the perfect pout, right? It is the ultimate accessory.
dares wins.
Most will automatically pick up their red sticks for this Autumn/ Winter 2013/14 season’s bold lip colour. However, if you want to be bang on trend, then put that classic shade down ladies. Now.
Topshop Beguiled is a plum, burgundy shade of red with a matte finish. At £8 this is a definite must have. Barry M Lip Paint in number 156 is also a perfect, intense plum shade and a steal at only £4.49.
The catwalks showed three different bold lips. From fuchsia florals at Dior, natural nudes at Burberry to dark, berry tones at Jonathan Saunders, there was plenty to get your teeth (or should I say lips) sunk into.
Advice for application? Go easy with the eye make-up to allow your lips to take centre stage this season!
The most exciting was the vampy, deep plum shade, as seen at Prada, Lanvin and Louis Vuitton. This colour offers punch, attitude and experiment. As they say, those who
Got the top budget? Estee Lauder Pure Colour Sensuous Rouge in ‘Enticing Fuchsia’ at £21 will provide you with vampy sophistication However, if your student purses will not stretch that far then read on.
EMILY FOLKES
@Emily_Folkes www.folkesthinks.blogspot.com
VINTAGE LONDON CHLOE MOSS takes us to her top five favourite vintage shopping troves in the capital... RELIK
Yes, Oxford Circus is great and we all love the high street for our disco pants and mottled tees, but we all know that the best way to get to know fashion London is through its vintage stores. Navigate your way around London with this guide to the top five vintage stores in the city...
8 Golborne Road, London, W10 5NW
A stone’s throw from Portobello Road, Rellik stocks women’s vintage fashion and accessories from all the way back to the 1930’s. Fab. With piles upon piles of vintage pieces, this place is a regular treasure trove, and will induce a fash-gasm in those of us who love a chunky vintage cuff (don’t we all?).
BLITZ
55-59 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JP
My personal favourite, Blitz allows you to sort out your wardrobe, your home, and drink a killer milkshake all in one visit. Blitz London is a huge space encased within an old Victorian warehouse, calling itself the ‘vintage department store’. They’ve got your entire journey to vintage living planned, with clothes, homeware and books, as well as a delightful cafe. Blitz is my go-to for quirky home decorations (it isn’t just a dead person’s plate, it’s a collector’s item) and vintage denim.
LUCY IN DISGUISE
Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LR
The creation of sisters Lily Allen and Sarah Owen, this store will immerse you in eras past. Lucy in Disguise goes beyond the label of ‘thrift store’, offering you not just clothing, but also hair styling from The Drama Parlour, so you can complete your look.
BANG BANG EXCHANGE 21 Goodge Street, London, W1T 2PJ
EAST END THRIFT STORE
Unit 1A, Assembly Passage, London, E1 4UT
East End Thrift Store appeals to me not just as an overflowing warehouse of vintage goodness, but also as a place where one can buy clothes by the bag. That’s right, pick up a £10 or £20 bag and fill it to the brim. This shop is thrift stores at their finest, inviting shoppers to jam as much as they can into their bags, and truly encouraging the rummaging approach to shopping, which is what vintage, to me, is all about.
With three locations available for your vintage-buying pleasure, Bang Bang is one of my go-to stores when I want to lust after designer finds from yesteryear. I frequent the Goodge Street store, where I’ve coveted item after item. Currently, I’m lusting after their Miu Miu clogs, sadly not my size (contemplating losing some toes). Bang Bang offers you designer vintage at not too crazy prices, and they’ve always got lots of amazing stock to sift through. Follow Chloe at @stylegirlscout and check out her blog www.stylegirlscout.com
14
The hottest places in town
MUSIC Welcome to King’s, and to London, which stands as a centre for popular music. Everyone knows about the history, how London effectively spawned some of the most important artists of the last hundred years or so, but let’s drag our mosh-beaten bodies back to the present and focus on what’s most important: the way it is now. Now, we’re talking about the bridge between America and Europe for artists trying to make that gigantic Atlantic leap, and the place where the industry is (Polydor has its offices in West London, for example), thus making it a vital stomping ground for anybody wanting their material to be heard. There are more live venues here than anywhere in Europe, in fact London is only second to New York when it comes to the number of music events happening each night. Thus, we thought it only befitting to make visual the sprawling goldmine of little places you need to check out over the next year. We hope you enjoy this map, of course we don’t suggest that you use it to find your way around, but rather as a graphic representation of the sheer number of places we think you’ll enjoy.
CAFE OTO
THE ROUNDHOUSE
DALSTON
CAMDEN
The Roundhouse is my favourite of the larger venues. It has an interesting history where, despite being an old (yet beautiful) building, originally used for railways, it still has a modern feel. There’s a real spiritual aura too, with so many legendary bands having played there in the 60s and 70s, including The Doors and The Clash. It’s easy to get to, being within reasonable walking distance of Camden tube. Usually I’ll get the bus to Camden and then walk from there. The location is another thing I like about the venue: it manages to be near enough Camden to retain the musical history, but far enough to be away from the all tourist traps. Camden is great for post-gig drinks, as you’d expect, and I recommend the Lock Tavern and the Hawley Arms. The pubs in particular can be good. The Wheelbarrow is quite lively too, and if you’re struggling to find a space at the bar in the other places then it’s worth trying out. It often has great music on for Rock lovers.
AMIKA SHAH
It’s hardly diamante but before I go on I must mention The Macbeth in Hoxton, which occupies a special dark corner of my heart. It’s endearingly grotty, but fun. Unfortunately it’s closing down, so I’d recommend everybody check it out before it goes. Café Oto is next choice. It’s a bit more serious, frequently putting on free jazz amongst other genres. It has a great selection of wines and foreign beers which you wouldn’t usually find in other venues, and is right by Dalston Junction, so neatly placed for travel. I mean it’s no rockabilly stomp night, and the beards and jam jar enthusiasts are out in force, but the music always surprises, even if it is on the aloof and experimental side for some. Plus, you can get tickets on the door most nights, so it’s not like you have to read Wire magazine religiously to pre-empt gigs and nab your tickets. I usually get the bus up to Dalston, and there’s plenty going on there at night, as you’d expect, with clubs like The Alibi and The Nest just around the corner.
JAKE THORNE
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE LOVED? BRIXTON
If you’re looking for something raw and soulful on a night out in London, an antidote perhaps to the blood and thunder of trend-obsessed hipster hangouts, then a humble eleven yearold clubnight by the name of How Does it Feel to be Loved? might well set you on fire. The clubnight is run by ex-Melody Maker writer Ian Watson, and rings with the poetry of outsider pop music, affectionately merging Motown classics and obscurities with the classics of popular indiepop and the kind of awkward, often shambling guitarbased indiepop music that’s been left in the shadows by the market-driven mainstream music media. HDIF also runs an occasional record fair from the (alas) soon-to-be closed Canterbury Arms pub in Brixton, where Pop enthusiasts can find all kinds of stuff that’s fallen off the edges of popular culture, as well as new music from the margins. Although it’s not exactly a live music night, it certainly pulsates with the same kind of energy, so if you need a place to rock out and there’s nothing else on that tickles your fancy, check it out!
NEIL JONES
PAPER DRESS VINTAGE DALSTON
Running a clubnight here myself, I might be judged as biased for including the venue as my pick (strike me down with a giant inflatable banana), but if you’re looking for a place outside of the rub of trendy London clubs, with some genuine balls, a dose of humour and a bit of mischief, check out Paper Dress Vintage. It’s a Shoreditch boutique which by day is a favourite shopping haunt of Keira Knightly; by night a club that puts on a range of stuff from jive dancing and fashion illustration classes to rockabilly and swing jazz jamborees. Stumbling in on a late-night party here is like being beamed into a B52s video on LSD, the place swaying to vintage vinyl whilst everyone drinks from large fishbowl glasses. Shimmering spectre-like on the walls are a bunch of immaculate dresses from the 1920. And if you don’t happen to be dancing, you’re likely to be perched on the seat of a hairdryer from the 50s. As a music venue, it’s the stuff of uncategorisable dreams.
NEIL JONES
Oscar and I have asked a number of KCL students to tell us about their favourite venues, and whatever other advice they had to give. We’ve also asked people to think about where the best record stores are. Now I know that you will all get your music for free, snatched off the internet like the promotional goodies they churn out near Charing Cross station, but of course once Record Store Day comes around you will want to get in on the action, so keep these places in mind. We’ve detailed everything from the eccentric to the erotic here, and when the not-so-exclusive nights at Ministry take their toll, we’ve also got a list of alternative club nights which you’ll find showcasing the best new sounds in undergound dance music. Thrown in the mix are a couple of indie raves, something I missed out on as a fresher, but what I eternally yearned for. On the map you’ll see that there is a large cluster of venues in the North and East areas of London, and these tend to be longest running venues. However, head south of the river and you’ll find an area which is ever growing, and with edgy and interesting venues and nights out, so keep your ears pressed close. At the same time, Camden and Islington have always historically had the largest number of venues, and this is the best bet for great live gigs and pubs playing nostalgic tunes. On the other hand, East London has over the last ten years or so become the place to go for hip nights out, but unfortunately it has become overrun with those that only dance to look cool. As such, it’s worth returning to the North for some real London sweatiness. See you on the floor!
MUSIC
15
AND IF YOU JUST FEEL
LIKE DANCING...
ALTERNATIVE CLUB NIGHTS FOR FRESHERS WANTING MORE
Joe’s, Camden
It’s important to remind oneself that piling into a small room with a ton of similarly sweat-drenched beings, pushing inebriation levels to the brink and shaking it into the early hours to vintage classics is an incredibly fun thing to do. This is what Joe’s gives you - a myriad of tunes from all genres of the 50s and 60s, with an unpretentious and friendly clientele, in an intimate setting. The formula is simple, but pretty unique among London clubs and bars, and makes for a great alternative night out.
JAMES ANDREWES, MASTER’S DEGREE IN MUSICAL COMPOSITION
Bussey Building, Peckham The Bussey Building AKA The CLF Art Cafe on Peckham’s Rye Lane is a lively cultural centre for music, film, theatre and art. Nights here range from funk and disco to afrobeat and latin. Experimental but unpretentious, the majority are here for strictly what’s in the groove and not to dance around their handbags. South London Soul Train, their monthly sell-out funk, rare-groove and soul night keeps you stomping til 5am. The music dictates a student crowd so don’t expect to bump into your dad here. If clubbing isn’t your bag, watch out for rooftop film screenings, comedy, theatre and dance.
“400 people unfriended me since I’ve been promoting”
MILES RUSSELL, PHILOSOPHY
The Nest, Dalston The Nest comprises of an underground dingy basement and an incredible sound system. The night frequented by me and my friends this year was called, rather parodically, ‘Your Mum’s House’. Although I was sceptical at first, it is actually really fun if you just go crazy and lose yourself to the music, which is what it’s all about! They play 90s hip hop and mix it with Trap, which I find mildly hilarious. The crowd is as you would expect in Dalston (East London): queeny, arty types who get really drunk on £2 shots, and who dress up like everyone is watching; expect flat caps, beanies and the occasional man in drag…!
INDIGO ELLIS, FRENCH AND HISTORY
Corsica Studios, Elephant & Castle Corsica Studios spoil house lovers each Thursday night with their gift of Sessions, which promptly gained a large band of devotees and has continued to attract those from all over London, despite its Elephant location. Decor is minimal - a disco ball and fervid lighting, and with a modest capacity the club is favoured by a certain type of very serious partier.
MARAH HAMPTON, FRENCH AND GREEK
WHERE TO AVOID: MAYFAIR
When I got an invite to attend an event in Mayfair, straight away I thought just one thing: I am the shoe on the Monopoly board. It was likely that I’d have to dress up in some extravagant dress, five-inch heels and act like some posh totty all night (note my use of the word “act”). But I have to admit, there is a certain level of novelty when attending a club in Mayfair; you’re bound to bump into someone from TOWIE or Made In Chelsea, but at the same time, you’re bound to be spending at least £20 on a drink. I was, however, guaranteed free drinks all night on a VIP table at Movida, so we took the plunge and went along; free entry for all girls, and free drinks for all girls - what does that tell you? Although
on the outset this may seem great for the young, penniless, female student living in London, can’t you hear the alarm bells ringing? Nonetheless, my experience in Mayfair did NOT give me free drinks all night as promised. Instead, I received ONE free drink from my promised table, had to pay an entry fee of £10 and also (to keep my buzz) had to pay another £10 per drink at the bar away from the VIP area. I think these kind of nights are great for Londoners if you’re working in the City or some high end law firm, but for the first year history student who scrapes for the pennies just for a tin of beans? I don’t think so.
DAISY HOWARD
WHY BECOMING A PROMOTER IS THE WORST THING EVER As an innocent young fresher, the offer to ‘get paid to party’ may well sound appetising; what this translates to is ‘we will give you £X for every person you bring into the club’. What better way to make friends than to all go out and get drunk whilst you are getting paid for it?! This is called becoming a ‘promoter’. Well, I hate to break it to you, but if you do this for long enough most of your new ‘friends’ will start to think you are the worst person ever.
READING WEEK, LET’S LOVE VODKA’, ‘MINISTRY OF SOUND MILKSHAKE: ONE CRAZY PARTY’, or ‘EGG REFRESHERS CRAZIEST LONDON CLUBNIGHTS’. All these upper case letters give me a headache, and when you are invited to one every two days it certainly begins to grind. It is like getting spam-mail, but in your Facebook calendar. A personal favourite is Mayfair club promoters. This comes with
You see, the concept is flawed from the very beginning. Say if you decide to start promoting: you make some friends at freshers’, and then tell them to come to this night you’re hosting at to have a laugh. Your newfound friends come and have a bad night and you will be the one to blame (this being their only impression of you). If it goes well, then sure, the first couple of events may seem really fun. However, soon the whole clubbing experience will become a chore and inviting your friends to the same club nights week in, week out will start to get really, really annoying, especially for them. This is most apparently manifested on social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The chance of all your friends wanting to come to the same club night every week is little to none – the result of this is alienation of your peers through ‘cyber-pressuring’, if that’s a term. Prime examples include ‘F*CK
an abhorrent proliferation of guys posing with bottles of Grey Goose and tarted-up girls hanging off their shoulders. I asked one of them who I vaguely know about whether they think promoting gains or loses him friends: “If I’ve ever lost friends from being a promoter a lot of it stems down to jealousy of what I can get.” This shows clearly why people begin to hate on promoters, especially for
Mayfair clubs.
They want to be perceived as exclusive when the irony is that they are the ones inviting you to events 24/7, thus annulling the illusion of exclusivity that they try to achieve with their online personas. Indeed, he admits “I know people hate me for it, but you have to be fake and be nice to everyone if you want them to come to your club.” To me this exposes the fatal flaw. Despite the fact that a promoter may seem to know everyone (by the number of friends they have on Facebook, for example), nearly all these people are peripheral acquaintances who they may not have even met in person, with the result that they will probably have less real friends than you or I. In this way, personal marketing really can be detrimental to maintaining your friendships. Another source, who promotes for Ministry of Sound, tells me that “400 people unfriended me since I’ve been promoting”. Thus my advice to you is that if you can help it, don’t sell your soul to the world of promoting - stay innocent an remain genuine. If you can’t help it for some strange reason, just don’t push it too much, or your close friends will soon become distant acquaintances.
ARTS & THEATRE
16
TIME TRAVELLER’S LIFE
Seen any amazing art recently we haven’t mentioned yet? Tweet us @Roar_News with #EditorsPicks for it to feature in next issue...
Join us on a historical tour through London’s most iconic venues... ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL THE GLOBE THEATRE BUILT: 1599 originally, again
Arts Editor Jessica Moffatt-Owen went on a spontaneous trip to listen to some organ music.
in 1614, and where it now sits on the Southbank, in 1997
Let’s face it – St Paul’s is iconic. It’s up there with Big Ben and Buck House as ‘buildings which basically are London’. But it costs a lot to go waltzing in, so picking up tickets to an event like this series of “celebrity” organist recitals is great (apparently Timothy Walker is HUGE in the organ playing world). Turns out organ music for an hour and a half wasn’t my cup of tea, but I enjoyed the Bach. The acoustics were sensational. And with this ticket I saved about £20 (entry - £13, ticket - £10). Plus, got to see the stupendous architecture and the ostentatiously opulent interior décor of the cathedral – which is priceless.
WHAT’S ON: A Midsummer
Night’s Dream (until 12th Oct)
COST: £5 yard tickets (standing like the peasants used to), and from £15 seated
Eva Mason tells us of her first experience at the Globe Theatre:
Ali Pantony’s Top Tip: An Under 26 Art Fund Pass costs £18.75 for a year, with 50% off of even free entry to over 200 museums and galleries.
My first brush with Shakespeare’s Globe occurred when I nearly attended a Macedonian language Henry VI part 3 as part of last year’s Globe to Globe festival. Unfortunately (or perhaps mercifully), I didn’t make it in time. Later I went to a production of Henry the Fifth. I must confess, I’ve never felt an overriding interest in the life of Henry V (or Henry I, II, III or IV for that matter), but nevertheless thoroughly enjoyed it. Highlights included being jostled by rowdy, mud smeared ‘soldiers’ during battle scenes, and sniggering at the man in front of us, who laughed conspicuously at every joke, and loudly quoted along with the famous passages. The only low point was the rain, which steadily worsened, until everyone in the pit was drenched, shivering, and jealously eyeing their warm, dry counterparts who had forked out a bit extra for a covered seat.
COST: £5 tickets for the recital on Time Out London’s website, with normal concession entry being £13 NEAREST TUBE: St Paul’s
BUILT: 1792-1824 WHAT’S ON: An eclectic mix of the
oddities collected by Sir John Soane.
COST: Free! NEAREST TUBE: Holburn
BUILT: 1863-1873 WHAT’S ON: All year round entry to
Tanuj Kumar tells us why the Soane Museum is one of the best kept secrets in London.
most of the museum, with special exhibits also taking place regularly.
COST: Free! But as with most museums, the special exhibits will cost you entry
Photo by Hattie Parish
NEAREST TUBE: South Kensington
Born from the Great Exhibition of 1851, the V & A houses the largest collection of art and design in the world, containing over 4.5 million objects spanning over 50,000 square metres. The collection traverses 5,000 years of art; from fashion to ancient architecture to ceramics of the Islamic Middle East. Although often overlooked, with free entry and the tea room worth a visit alone, the V&A ranks as a definite must amongst the myriad of London attractions.Unless focused on a particular passion you already harbour, paying the extra for specific exhibitions isn’t really worth it, as there’s enough in
organ recitals, in addition to the standard tours
SOANE MUSEUM
THE V&A
Hattie Parish talks us through why the V&A is so special.
BUILT: 1720 WHAT’S ON: Celebrity
Photo by @jessicamoffattowen
Photo by @aysha_yh
NEAREST TUBE: Southwark, but an easy walk from Waterloo
the main galleries to excite fresh curiosity visit after visit. A collection as vast as the V&A’s will never cease to reveal new hidden treasures - literally. The museum holds introductory tours daily, as well as period and interest-specific talks and tours, all for free. Student exhibition tickets start at around £5. Go to www. vam.ac.uk/whatson to find out more.
Probably one of the best hidden treasures of London, as it’s off the beaten track that most tourists take. The museum was Soane’s house and occupies three houses: No. 12, 13 and 14 and is every bit quirky as Soane. In designing the houses, he made wonderful use of natural light, as it seeps through the coloured glass roof and falls upon the many objects, bringing them to life. The museum is lit up with candles on the first Tuesday of every month. It is the best way to appreciate its beauty, but the queues for the candlelight openings can be a mile long, so you must get there in good time!
Ali Pantony’s Top Tip: “NUS discounts are offered at most London museums. ‘Pearls’ at the V & A is £7 (saving £4.20) - 21st September 19th January”
ARTS & THEATRE
17
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
TATE BRITAIN
BUILT: 1896 WHAT’S ON: BP Portrait Award 2013 (Free) COST: Free, some exhibitions free for members, but special exhibits will cost the general public
NEAREST TUBE: Charing Cross
Ali Pantony gives her take on the Tate Britain’s vibe, and all that there is to see and do.
BUILT: 1893 WHAT’S ON: Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life (£14.50 concession, £13.10 without donation) until 20th October
COST: You can mill about for free, but exhibitions usually cost NEAREST TUBE: Pimlico
TATE MODERN
BUILT: 1957-1963 (established 2000)
WHAT’S ON: Wander
around the permanent exhibits for free or visit: Meschac Gaba: Museum of Contemporary African Art (free, until 22nd September), Ibrahim El-Salahi: A Visionary Modernist (£11 adults, £9.50 concession, until 22nd September)
COST: Permanent exhibits
are free, but special exhibits have varying costs
NEAREST TUBE: Waterloo
Proudly hosting a vast collection of historic and contemporary British art, The Tate Britain offers a mesmerising meander through our nation’s history. Behind the iconic stone pillars you can find the largest collection of Turner’s work, including the Turner Bequest, located in the Clore Gallery. The atmosphere of awe radiating from gallery-goers, some of whom you can tell have travelled from all over to visit our 116-year-old gallery, is practically tangible. Access to the permanent collection is free (our favourite word), with charging temporary exhibitions normally offering about a £2 student discount. While these are usually relatively pricey (think £10-£15), they will knock your arty socks off. ‘Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life’, running until 20th October, is a stunning display of Lowry’s intriguing industrial landscapes and urban scenes. Grab your tickets, stroll down to Millbank and don’t forget to treat yourself to a £2.90 glass of rose at the Millbank Café & Bar!
Jessica’s Top Tip: Every Tuesday, pick up a copy of Time Out on your commute, or download the app on your phone. You can find out all the hottest (and most importantly free) arts events.
Arts Editor Daisy Bartlett gives her opinion on why you should go and take a look around the Tate Modern. When the Tate Modern opened its doors for the first time in 2000 the British public were still unsure about modern art and no one was sure what to expect, but the investment’s certainly paid off! As the most visited modern art gallery in the world, this certainly isn’t a hidden gem but the often interactive installations in the Turbine Hall never fail to enthral even the biggest modern art sceptic. Even if modern art’s not really your thing, the café overlooking the Thames is the perfect place to hide away with a book and a hot drink as wintery weather draws in. With free entry, a fantastic location on South Bank close to the Globe and many KCL halls, it’s definitely worth popping along to the Tate Modern this semester!
William Jellis wanted people to think that he was cultured, so he took a trip to the National Portrait Gallery. The winning painting is rubbish. There, I’ve said it. Am I basing this upon any expert knowledge I have? No! Of course not! I just don’t like it. Cue my justification. Portraits are so powerful due to their ability to convey a huge variety of human emotions, an ability which stems from facial expression being the most potent form of emotional communication between human beings. So, call me soppy, but I don’t think there is enough emotion in the winning portrait; it doesn’t challenge you to empathise with the subject. The ‘gossiping old women getting their hair done’ is much better.
NATIONAL THEATRE BUILT: 1976 WHAT’S ON: Liola
(until 6th November, £12 tickets available), Edward II (until 26th October, £12 tickets available)
COST: Varies from
Entry to the permanent collections is free with concession tickets to special exhibitions from £8.
performance to performance, but there are £12 tickets available for most productions
NEAREST TUBE: Waterloo English student James Glover went to see Amen Corner at the National, and tells us of his experience. Rufus Norris directs a superbly cast ensemble in this compelling adaption of James Baldwin’s gospel drama, Amen Corner. Coinciding with the National’s celebration of black voices, this production clearly encapsulates the tensions that arise within an insular church community in Harlem during the 50s. This rousing adaptation clearly demonstrates the power of religion in bringing together a community, as well as underlining the typically unobserved conflict that existed within the black community at the time. Combining superb performance by the likes of Oscar nominated actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste, with a chorus of ferocious singing voices, this performance is NOT to be missed.
Taken some good snaps? Seen something we need to know about? Email culture@roarnews.co.uk
Arts Editor Jessica’s Top 3 Websites for cheap tickets: www.hottickets.com www.groupon.co.uk www.wowcher.co.uk
18 ROAR!
careers@roarnews.co.uk
THE COST OF THE RITE OF PASSAGE Lauren Clark
sion. His death has sparked heated debate about an unhealthy, macho banking culture.
IMAGINE that it has just turned 6am. You are stepping into the shower, and preparing for another day of work. Imagine, though, that you have also just got in from work. You were in the office all night, and there is the luxurious taxi that brought you home hovering outside. It is waiting while you get changed, in order to drive you back for another twenty-four hours in the City. This is not a one-off either. You have performed more all-nighters in the last fortnight than in your most recent run of university exams. This shocking, sleep-deprived protocol, rather sinisterly branded the “Magic Roundabout”, has been experienced by scores of university-age interns in London’s City banks while they undertake the coveted summer placements that thousands apply for every year. These internships provide financial rewards, contacts and, most importantly, a shot at a graduate career in the highest echelons of the City. Those at the top companies, including Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, will feel incredibly lucky. One of the most revered of them all is Bank of America. The realities of the working life of City interns has come to light after the tragic death of the 21-year-old Bank of America Merrill Lynch intern, Moritz Erhardt, on August 15th. He allegedly had not slept in 72-hours and had clocked up eight all-nighters in the previous fourteen days when he was found dead in his shower at temporary accommodation in east London. Erhardt, who was from south-west Germany, and a student at WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, had been in his ninth week of a ten week placement in Merrill Lynch’s investment banking divi-
Coping with such long working days and lack of sleep is considered a fraternity-like induction into the business, and is used by interns to stand out from their equally intelligent contemporaries. Like any form of cutthroat competition, it can easily go too far.
what should have been a summer full of hope, is in fact the ‘worst three months’ of their lives due to the exhausting combination of all-nighters, weekend work and the magic roundabout.” They argued that young people are led to believe they have to work themselves to exhaustion in order to stand out amongst their peers, and the root of this lies with the present banking culture.
Polly Courtney, author of Golden Handcuffs and an intern herself at Merrill Lynch in 2001, has spoken about how horrifically long hours were to be expected if you wanted to be offered a job at the end of it. “During my internship, all-nighters were like a rite of passage.
“They’ve already made up their mind they want to work in banking so the horror stories... [don’t] put them off,” they said. “[If] you’ve got that far, you want to convert from an intern to a full-time role so you will fit in and do what’s expected of you”.
They were discussed among us in the Merrill Lynch canteen each night with an outward sense of loathing, but tinged with pride,” she said. “It wasn’t just a culture of long hours and hard work; it was more a culture of desperately trying to impress, with ‘face time’”.
The seemingly established nature of the “Magic Roundabout” and regular weekend work at short notice suggests that overworking is entrenched in the industry.
She added that this distorted work-life balance does not go away even when you land that dream City career. “Ultimately, the money and perks could never make up for the exhaustion or the lack of control we all had over our lives,” she said. In the aftermath of Erhardt’s death many City interns have come forward to talk of 100hour weeks, well over fifteen-hour working days and numerous instances of the “Magic Roundabout”. In the investment banking division many agreed that Erhardt would have been subjected to the longest hours of them all. FinanceInterns, a City career advice group, has called for overdue changes to the working practices of banks. A spokesperson said, “Young people who jubilantly accept a summer internship thinking they’ve landed a chance at their dream job, find themselves declaring that,
The Independent has already branded it “Slavery in the City”. Many have pointed out that despite the fact that these interns will get paid £45,000 pro rata, or £7-8000 over the summer period, the number of hours they are encouraged to work makes them work for every penny. Bloomberg’s Zara Kessler has argued that the responsibility of monitoring the welfare of ambitious interns is that of the banks. “Yes, these employees generally have a good idea what they’re signing up for; and, yes, they get paid to work hard. That’s not enough,” she said. “The root of the problem is often that these men and women are so intent on gaining good recommendations or full-time jobs that they’re unlikely to speak up if something seems unfair or overwhelming.” A culture of secrecy certainly seems apparent. Many students who had interned in banks this summer were reluctant to speak to Roar! for
fear of repercussions from their banks who had asked them to sign non-disclosure agreements. However, it has also been argued that a willingness to work to exhaustion is a trait of high-flying young people intent on wealth and success. A summer placement in the City has been described by Merrill Lynch’s John McIvor as an extended job interview to filter out those who can stand the pressure and those who cannot. He said, “A lot of the people we will ultimately recruit as junior bankers … will come from the summer intern programme.” Erhardt certainly held great ambitions in the City, having previously interned at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. A fellow intern, speaking to the Evening Standard, said, “you would not find a harder worker than him”. Should there have been support in place to regulate this ambition? A Bank of America spokesman has said there will be a review into “All aspects of working practices with a particular focus on our junior population”. McIvor has also said that mentors, line managers and an HR team were already in place for support. When Roar! contacted Bank of America’s HR spokesperson about their procedures, they declined to comment. The current job climate has made the need to compete even greater. A spokesperson for FinanceInterns said, “In the toughest job-market experienced in recent times, competition is even higher. Consequently these talented, diligent, young people are ever more willing to work hours which more senior staff would not”. McIvor has defended the number of hours expected of interns. “Do people in investment banking sometimes work long hours? Yes they do.” he said. Though at what cost?
ADVICE FOR THE STRUGGLING APPLICANT
ALTERNATIVE INTERNSHIPS
Emily Horner
IF you’re not ready for a six month stint or being elbowed out of serious internships by never-ending streams of graduates, the prospect of an internship can seem daunting. As an unskilled sixth former I certainly found the right bridge to the world of work - volunteering. Not only did I come out with a full (and glowing!) reference, but with invaluable hands on skills that education simply can’t provide. The ever expanding voluntary sector is providing a whole new CVfull of opportunities for us less than experienced undergrads. So if you want to be welcomed as part of a team rather than the office junior and have a flexible placement to fit around those horrendous 9am classes, look no further.
For business students, many non-profit organisations are looking for campaigns, marketing and fundraising teams.
Even the cliché local charity shop is not to be scoffed at. In their search for a younger customer base, shops are seeking to hire young volunteers to employ new marketing strategies, launch events and take a lead on advertising. Introducing innovative ideas may be the first step to a business career and such practical hands on experience will certainly impress any employer. Historians should take note of an unusual opportunity with Legasee Educational Trust. They’re looking for volunteers to record veterans’ personal experiences of conflict as part of their oral history project. It’s a chance to write historical sources for the next generation to study.
line small publications are looking for editors and writers. The freelance nature of writing for such blogs means you can submit material as and when you have time. For a more hands on approach, search for campaigning teams on local or national issues to join.
Offer your skills for charity! Places of historical interest, museums and galleries are suffering from funding cuts and have a variety of opportunities. Not only do many look for volunteers to guide visitors, but some are even looking for people to help in restoration projects and write their guide books. While you may not be constructing Oxford’s Dictionary of World History, it’s a start. An abundance of political prospects lie outside of party politics. Many on-
Consultation committees are also looking for your ideas and opinions, allowing you a hand in policy formation without tying yourself down to a particular party. Law students can find court volunteer placements aplenty. Volunteers are usually given training and then help liaise with prisoners and their families. This gives a grassroots insight into the workings of a court, and the wider effects of a case. It also helps students gain experience in delivering advice and information to clients in a nonbiased manner, a skill perhaps not so easily picked up from textbooks.
It’s sure to make you stand out when applying for competitive placements later on. If those student purse strings are restraining you from volunteering, make sure to ask about travel reimbursement - most volunteer roles do offer travel expenses. After all, volunteering can be a fundamental part of a CV, not just evidence of a bit of do-gooder. So remember to keep track of your achievements. Whether you increased footfall 30% in a shop or helped write a guidebook for a historic building, be sure to include the details. If you don’t see the perfect job advertised, then ask and offer your time. Just because it doesn’t say internship on the tin, doesn’t mean the contents aren’t just as rewarding.
COLUMNIST
Ben Judge
VicToryous
I’M A WARRIOR FOR DAY-TO-DAY WORRIES THE KCLSU Annual General Meeting in March saw what I as Student Council Chair could only dream of. Fierce debate, electric engagement and parrying of points from all sectors of the 24,500 student population; critical analysis of decisions made by KCLSU and a sense of loyalty to the icon of discussion that evening, almost only conveyed from speaking to a medic about GKT. The closure of Tutu’s nightclub brought to the table some refreshing engagement that was simply unapparent during the course of the year at the fortnightly convening of the Student Council. KCLSU has certainly put in some effort over the summer break; a flagship new website (which the writer incidentally believes is far clearer than the shoddy orange affair of the past)
and the creation of new bars and eating areas are among the most physical aspects. I feel a refreshed strategy and arguably one of the finest officer teams of recent years are also present. A few perennial problems that KCLSU has not overcome during the course of last year include spreading themselves too thinly in terms of resources and perceived image. KCLSU has attempted to manage aspects of student life, including halls, newspapers, sport and socialising. This would be no problem for a larger union not spread across five campuses, but KCLSU is not that union and KCL is not a university campus to a single confined. The reality of the matter is that the student population is
large and divided. Attempting to effectively offer the same services to all is difficult. Why does KCLSU compete against bodies such as the MSA for student affection, when such a body has the infrastructure needed to do (and already is doing) an excellent union-style job? Secondly, KCLSU’s image is unclear. To many throughout their time at King’s College London, they don’t even realise they are a member of the body, albeit they probably know it does exist.
year more than ever to find an identity and one which does not spread resources too thinly. The relinquishing of the Kinetic Gym and Tutu’s nightclub are good first steps. With a sense of identity comes engagement, involvement and interest. Do not get me wrong, KCLSU is a good union and Thomas Clayton’s officer team alongside Mo Wilshire’s inspirational leadership produced some superb wins for students last year.
KCLSU means too many things to too many people – is it a bar, campaigns body or gym? The image conveyed needs to be more concise and more coherent.
By concentrating KCLSU’s resources on key day-to-day worries – like WiFi, like libraries, like course costs – KCLSU will succeed in winning students’ hearts and minds more than ever before.
Students need value for money from their union; it needs this
Maybe the engagement I dream of will follow.
Ben Judge in profile • • • • • • •
President of the KCL Conservative Society Former Council Chair Can be seen riding a Boris Bike along the Strand late at night Always good for a quote on polar bears and jammy dodgers Victor of countless debating competitions According to rumour has an impressive slection of tuxedos Future leader of the human race?
THE MORAL CASE AGAINST FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION Sahel Athari THE distinction between male circumcision and female ‘circumcision’ is more than the ironic little quotation marks on either side of the word. Whereas one is done for the sake of religion and hygiene (cleanliness is Godliness after all) the other is supposed to prevent adultery. After all if you can’t have sex for pleasure, the likelihood of you having an affair with a man who is not your husband is decreased. And besides, why would you want to have sex for pleasure? Procreation should be the primary thought on the minds of these women. Generally speaking, the activity of female genital mutilation is carried out in countries, such as Somalia and North African states, as well as Saudi Arabia. It is justified on religious grounds, despite the fact that no religious text, including the Qu’ran, endorses or mentions the crushing of the clitoris by a flat
rock or sliced off by a knife. Using religion as grounds for this practice, and accusing religion of encouraging it, is frankly an offence to anyone religious and/or educated. Here are some fun facts to make you hold onto your crotch: there are more nerves on a clitoris than on a penis. Furthermore, FGM is carried out without the benefit of a sterile environment or anesthetic. It is also common to cut off any other external genitals. Still, this is a minor aspect of cruelty in a context where women are sexualised, and simultaneously, paradoxically, turned into objects without the right to sexuality. Disconnecting a woman from a part of her body, or rather, disconnecting her body part from her, takes away from part of your identity. It is as much of a violation as rape. It is a callous, excruciating practice that has long lasting consequences. It discards women’s rights to their body and people all over the world should be enraged that this continues. It
exemplifies and is a symptom of horrendous gender inequality, turning women collectively into subordinate and anonymous ghosts, their gender both blurred by the very part of them that defines their sex, and highlighted, by the frequency of these actions. They are told that their anatomy is a dirty thing, a disgusting thing, thus weakening their self-worth.
mutilated, a significant decrease compared to the previous generation, where the figure is over 50%. This is a positive indication of progress, of women increasingly having a right to there own bodies but it’s a small step. Surely the space between our legs, hidden and private should be given enough respect not to be sliced off our bodies.
To adapt the Rifleman’s Creed, women have the right to say, ‘This is my body. There are many like it, but this one is mine.’ However women in the places this is practised do not have this voice. When culture and tradition based on a twisted conception of religion dictates this, how can the repressed portion of society defend itself? Often it is not even women, but young girls. Girls who cannot proclaim ‘this is my vagina. This is my clitoris. There are many like it, but this one is mine. So back away from it with that weapon.’
The long-lasting implications of FGM, including difficult births and, a lot more long lasting, death, should push this up on the agenda. Yet, in places with many problems regarding human rights, this is one of many ways women in particular suffer.
Recent statistics show that 36% of girls in countries where this is practised have been
So why mention it now? Because I too, have a body. There are many like it and they deserve to be treated with as much respect as I expect mine to be treated with. Awareness should be risen as to the relevance of this horrifying practice, and steps should be taken, like any other violation of human rights, to ensure that it is stamped out as soon as possible.
“THE MOST PERSECUTED MINORITY IN THE WORLD” Shaheen Sattar
transition to democracy and unshackled media has allowed for freedom of speech to be selectively replaced by hate speech.
A word (or two) from the (Politics) Editor
SO often in political theory seminars, I am taught the importance of freedom of belief and religion, to be able to practise freely one’s belief or non-belief is intrinsic to an individual’s identity in civil society. But what happens when a group’s identity is the reason for their plight?
What now for the Rohingya people? A surge in Rohingya Muslims fleeing to neighbouring countries Thailand and Bangladesh only to be refused asylum has increased international pressure for Thein Sein to scrutinize domestic affairs.
Michael Di Benedetto
This is the case for the Rohingya Muslims, an overwhelmingly persecuted minority native to the Rakhine State in Burma. The Rohingya people, after the 1982 citizenship law, have been rendered stateless after being unrecognised out of the 130 ethnicities in Burma. With tyrannical and peculiar restrictions placed upon them, they have been forced to flee their native land into neighbouring countries like Thailand, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. Many have died en route due to harsh weather conditions and lack of nutrition. So why are the Rohingya people -according to the UN- “the most persecuted minority in the world”? There is a deep hatred of the people of Rohingya, as Burmese Settlers deny their native identity and refuse that they were even inhabitants of Burma before 1950. They have a different language, skin colour and religion, and are consequently detested by xenophobic Burmese monks who instigate Buddhist-Muslim tension.
A visit to the USA in May 2013 saw Thein Sen praised for poitical-economic development in Burma, but strongly criticised for the heavy human rights violation against the Rohingya Muslims. This followed worldwide media reporting on the 2012 Rakhine state riots, which displaced an estimated 90,000 Rohingyas. The Rohingya’s fear for their lives on a daily basis continues. Facing waves of bigotry and xenophobia, their journey will continue to be bitter and rough. What can you do? To find out more, search for ‘Respond2Rohingya’ on Facebook. It is a KCL student-led initiative that aims to empower students to take action and support the Rohingya Muslims. Stalls outside Strand and Guys campus are regularly held too, so keep a look out!
An example of this is the degrading and racist manner with which they are acknowledged: “kala” roughly translates as black monster. Coupled with the long history of ethnic tension in Burma, the ongoing conflict and blame game between the president Thein Sein and the Buddhist monks, the Rohingya people occupy threatening terrain. Cruelty towards, and oppression of, Muslims is endemic in Burma. Wirathu, a Burmese monk who notoriously calls himself the “Buddhist Bin Laden”, recently caused outrage by demanding a boycott of Muslim owned shops. Burma’s fast pace
THE “average working time” for a person in the UK is about 8 hours a day. That’s 40 hours a week and, by extension, 160 hours a month. Permitting for bank holidays, annual leave sickness etc., the average person can be expected to work around 1700 hours a year. For 45 years. The figures are stark, but they are not surprising. Consider also that employment, for the most part, is stressful, and it is, quite literally, laborious. How then are these long hours compensated? The point here becomes more salient. Wages are as low as they were in 2004. Pensions are dwindling. Further, the public provision of tertiary education is no more, and the NHS will soon go the same way. Privatisation! De-regulation! Competition! Market efficiency! The agitators for neo-liberalism had us fooled. Still, we look to our elected representatives, to Mr Cameron. He has nothing to offer but austerity and war. Yet, there is no real despair without hope. The UK economy has “turned a corner” George Osborne teased yesterday. The fruits of this, of course, are not apparent to the millions who continue to struggle to make ends meet. This is not a polemic, but I do intend to draw one conclusion. That is, we are not asking the right questions, and we are not getting the right answers.
SHOULD KCLSU PURSUE POLITICAL OBJECTIVES? Theo Williams
ANYONE who thinks student unions should not pursue political objectives needs a history lesson. Student unionism has been a part of British university life since the late 19th century and, using a vocabulary borrowed from the highly political trade union movement, has always been ideological in its outlook. The goal of any union is to protect the interests of its current and future members. Much of the time this means merely providing social spaces and recreational centres in order to improve students’ quality of life, much like an admittedly declining trade union culture has provided subsidised bars and childcare. But occasionally this becomes politically charged. Just as trade unions have campaigned for 8-hour days, holiday pay and weekends, KCLSU has backed demonstrations against cuts to higher education in the last three academic years. The comparison here is not merely rhetorical – in each case unions fought for the economic wellbeing of their members in the face of capitalist imperatives. The very reason we organise as a union is that we can achieve more collectively than we can individually. Student unions have also had an impact in the wider political realm. When
Barclays Bank withdrew its investment Henrique Laitenberger from Apartheid South Africa, it cited the NUS boycott as a contributing factor. Few students are met with greater disdain by their peers than student politicians. This To those who argue that student unions should might come as a surprise – after all, what scrap all this political nonsense and just focus could be deplorable about actively engagon improving the ‘student experience’, I of- ing oneself in the student community? fer two examples from the last few months at King’s: the extension of library opening times Student politicos however are all too often and the U-turn on the merger of the Biomedical perceived as little more than self-important, Sciences and Medical Schools. Both of these self-seeking and occasionally megalomaniac were prompted by student campaigns which Trotsky/Blair/Thatcher-wannabes who seem to frequently referenced the tuition fee hike, low subliminally believe that the greatest difference student satisfaction and astronomical salaries between the post of SU President and that of the of KCL’s senior staff. In these instances it is US President were the transposed letters in the impossible to untangle the political from the job titles. Such stereotypes are hardly surprising ‘apolitical’ improvement of student services. if student politics is non-ironically described Experience tells me how the op- as a “meaningful way of changing the world”, posing argument will go. as Michael Chessum, President of the UniverStudent unions will perhaps be accused of being run by the self-serving left-wing mafia. It will probably be peppered with criticisms of ULU’s various scandals over the last year, some of which I’ll agree with. Guess what? I want more engagement too! But the way to achieve this isn’t to shut the whole thing down altogether, which is a more undemocratic measure than the corruption it claims to oppose. The best student politics isn’t led by sabbatical officers, but packed AGMs. We need more student politics and more political students.
sity of London Union (ULU), described it. But should student politics really be considered a stepping stone to the world of “real” politics? Should student unions serve as a platform for implementing far-reaching partisan agendas? The first issue with this approach is its lack of practical effect: a boycott of Israeli products by KCLSU will not prevent further settlements on the West Bank for instance and is almost certain to be ignored by the press, the general public and particularly responsible policy-makers. But even more alarming is the (ab)use of student unions by sabbatical officers who prioritise
personal ideological goals over student welfare. The latter is their sole purpose however: according to the 1994 Education Act, student unions represent the ‘generality of students at an establishment … in … matters relating to the government of the establishment.’ While political beliefs obviously influence stances on university government – e.g. tuition fees - student unions should not therefore pursue wider political goals unrelated to university life. In fact, sabbatical officers have no mandate to speak on matters of general politics on behalf of the students they preside over and ought to be wary of doing so. Yet they rarely are. When ULU vice-president Daniel Cooper refused to lay down a Remembrance Day wreath on the union’s (and thus students’) behalf, he was faced with a petition of 1,700 students demanding his resignation – more people than had participated in the elections which saw him become vice-president. Instead of performing such presumptuous political acts therefore, student unions should focus on providing practically orientated support to students on campus-specific issues. KCLSU has generally stuck to this principle in the past, prioritising longer library opening hours over fracking protests for instance. It should remain that way.
politics@roarnews.co.uk
ROAR! 21 Melanie Smith @MelanieFSmith I think I can probably
NORTH THE ONLY WAY IS KING’S COLLEGE Ella Watkins
ATTENDING university in the heart of the capital, you couldn’t ask for a more culturally diverse mix of people. Students from all over the globe lug their suitcases into London halls, bringing with them their social and cultural backgrounds. However, you needn’t look far to see such societal differences between regional groups. Within the UK, it’s a common occurrance for Southerners to mock Northerners, to be afraid of venturing to THE NORTH (as ominously titled on road signs) and vice versa. The stereotypes of the North-South divide have always been there, with a perception of the North as chips-and-gravy-loving and being stuck in the 80s. Northerners also hold generalised views of their Southern neighbours- viewing them as middle class, rude professionals who can’t keep their drink down. (My source: my Northern friends.) However, with the eruption of reality shows such as The Only Way is
Essex, Made in Chelsea, Desperate Scousewives, Geordie Shore and The Valleys, exaggerated regional stereotypes have, rightly or wrongly, found their way onto our television screens.
I hail from Essex myself, but I like to think I am the opposite of the ‘Essex gal’ stereotype. I have natural brown hair without extensions, real eyelashes, real nails and unfortunately a real, non-existent tan. My only lapse is that which my drama teacher consistently picked me up on- my Estuary vowels. On one of my first nights out during Freshers’ Week at King’s, my friend introduces herself as from Surrey, and is greeted with ‘ooh, nice place’. I, on the other
STEREOTYPES
Modupé Macaulay
AFTER spending a year living in London, I can quite safely say London is a melting pot of culture. A metropolis full of language, art and entertainment, which in my opinion makes it the most dynamic and diverse city in the world. But despite the diversity and dynamism of the City, stereotypes still persist. Surprisingly, I’m not referring to race, ethnicity, sexuality or even religious affiliations, but believe it or not, stereotypes based on your university. Yes, this sounds bizarre, but across the University of London. there are certain preconceived notions that we hold towards our fellow University of London brothers and sisters. Here at King’s, LSE is just a stone’s throw away and the rivalry is fierce. Those of us at ‘Cool King’s’ generally see our LSE friends as overworked, antisocial bookworms. Whereas those ‘Imperialites’ are the social outcasts who
hand, receive an ‘oh’, a grimace and a look of almost pity. In fact, one day someone actually said ‘I’m sorry’ when I said I was from Southend. I start to feel ashamed of where I live and where I have been brought up: laughing about it so I am at least part of the joke. However, I am not the only one to feel the inner shame; ‘The One Show’ Welsh Presenter Alex Jones says ‘The Valleys’ “doesn’t make you greatly proud of your nation”. Instead, I said I was from ‘just outside of London’, hiding my roots to avoid the judgmental looks from my fellow freshers. That is, until I get back on the train home to Southend. I pass the ruins of Hadleigh Castle, the fishing village of Leigh-on-Sea and the sandy beach at Chalkwell and am flooded with memories of my childhood. Although London is an amazing city, there really is no place like home. People view Essex without knowing it just like they do Newcastle, Liverpool and anywhere else these brain-dead programmes showcase.
are really not interested in much else apart from quantum physics and socialize only amongst themselves safely in their coveted SW7 postcode. God forbid venturing anywhere near Chancery Lane, that’s solely for KCL folk. As for SOAS, it’s purely for the hipster, arty type, oh and by the way they’re all communists, so steer clear.
“King’s is often referred to as the (and I quote) ‘Strand Polytechnic’” Now, of course, I do not agree with or believe any of these stereotypes, but it is interesting to explore the reasons why they even exist in the first place. Surely, you would expect some form of solidarity amongst University of London students instead of division?
Meeting new people with different accents and ‘customs’ is all part of the learning process at university. As @ Dear_Freshers tweets: ‘Dear Freshers, arguments on how to pronounce words like “scone” and “bath” will last for at least 3 years’. The differ-
“Someone actually said ‘I’m sorry’ when I said I was from Southend.”
ence in accent creates funny, icebreaking conversations that last the duration of your degree with no winner. Be careful to go with an open mind and not judge a book by its cover. Just because a boy is from Essex doesn’t mean he will be like Mark Wright (The Only Way is Essex), or just because a girl is from Newcastle, she isn’t necessarily going to be the next Vicky Pattinson (Geordie Shore).
Well, it seems the Internet does nothing but perpetuate these stereotypes. Simply taking 5 minutes of your time to surf through social sites like the infamous Student Room, the rivalry and unfounded stereotypes are rife. Kings is often referred to as the (and I quote) ‘Strand Polytechnic’. However, it is important not to take such ideas seriously. From my experience I can safely say such rivalry and stereotypes are purely used lightheartedly as a form of banter. If anything, it appears students enjoy poking fun at other London students, not out of malice, but simply in the name of a ‘good laugh’.
To all the freshers who are new to KCL, I really encourage you to look past ridiculous stereotypes and socialize with students from all the different universities in London. If you are in an Intercollegiate Hall, make the most of it. If you aren’t, make the most of your friends who are. Your university experience will be worth so much more if you simply broaden your horizons, and venture out to socialize with those from other universities in London. But, just a quick word of warning, make sure you don’t get converted to Marxism by one of those loonies from SOAS, I warned you first.
Indeed, considering in London we lack the campus life 90% of other universities enjoy, such ‘banter’ actually brings us together, as it creates common ground allowing us to touch base with each other, albeit lightly insulting.
SOUTH
The great Yoda. @Natty180374 Sep 10 days until I move to londonnnnn!!!! #kcl
Jacob Reilly-Cooper @MrJanapexo 11 days until I go and enrol at #kcl @KingsCollegeLon #excited
even more!!!! Didn’t think it was possible! #KCL
cope with this being my home for the next year #library #kcl
Sarah Quirke @Quirke3 Love love love Kings
features@roarnews.co.uk
22 ROAR!
BONE MARROW GIFT Durr-e-Maknoon Tariq
RECENTLY a 26 year old doctor from Loughborough, Dr. Kanthan Jawahar, donated his bone marrow to a complete stranger in order to save his life. This life saving doctor signed up to the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Register eight years ago with our volunteering group KCL Marrow when he, himself, was a student at King’s College London. Dr. Kanthan himself said: “I joined up on the spot because it sounded like something everyone should do.”
GOOGLE TRIBUTE TO FRANKLIN Durr-e-Maknoon Tariq
ON 25 July, Google Doodle celebrated Rosalind Franklin’s 93rd birthday. As we all know, Rosalind Franklin is the famous King’s scientist who played a very crucial role in the discovery of DNA along with her colleague Maurice Wilkins. The Google Doodle featured the images of Rosalind Franklin, a DNA double helix and the famous Photo 51. Photo 51 is considered to be one of the most important photographs in the world. It was taken in 1952 by Rosalind Franklin and Ray Gosling, who was Franklin’s student, using an X-ray diffraction camera. This was the very photograph that enabled James Watson and Francis Crick of University of Cambridge to construct the first correct structural model of DNA, the DNA double helix. To find out more, just visit Waterloo Campus and you will see for yourself. .
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY IN DNA DISCOVERAY BY ROSALAY, K? science@roarnews.co.uk Fatima Binte Abdul Kaiyum THE one thing I love most about teaching GCSE Biology is the pride I feel when mentioning to my students that I attend the same university where Rosalind Franklin had uncovered the basics of the structure of DNA. DNA is a simple acronym that represents the “dogma of life”. It stands for ‘deoxyribonucleic acid’, a molecule that functions as a control panel for any living entity. One DNA molecule consists of many units bonded together to form a long strand, similar to how a chain is made of links. Each ‘link’ in the DNA comprises one sugar molecule, a phosphate group and a nitrogen-containing substance we call ‘base’. There are four different bases in DNA, and it is the sequence of these bases along the DNA chain that forms the ‘code’ by which our cells function the way they do. It was the research conducted by Rosalind Franklin at King’s College London that enabled the completion of the molecular model of the DNA double-helix.
CRIME is everywhere but, thanks to our advancing technologies, what is becoming rarer is the unsolvable crime. Poulomi Bhadra, Forensic Science MSc student, is a step closer to putting a complete end to this genre of crime. The research of many students at King’s in the field of forensic science proves invaluable to the Metropolitan Police Service in criminal investigations.
WHAT could be better than having a wild Wednesday night and waking up without a hangover, all ready to go for your Thursday morning lectures? You would think it’s not possible but it is! Scientists at Griffiths University, Australia, have brewed up this magical beer that reduces the chances of a hangover. Instead, it hydrates the body by replacing lost fluids and does not cause dehydration like normal alcoholic drinks. To make this magic brew, scientists modified the recipe of a normal beer. They reduced its alcohol content and added electrolytes to it. Electrolytes are the rehydrating component of sports drinks. It wouldn’t be bad at all for freshers’ period!
In 1951, Franklin started her research by taking images of DNA by using X-ray diffraction, a method that involves the firing of X-ray beams onto a crystal and observing the pattern of spots they produce when reflected onto a detecting screen. By examining the patterns made when the beams were fired at different angles against the DNA molecule, it was possible to deduce the chemical bonds and angles within it. The real breakthrough occurred in 1952, when Franklin, along with her student assistant Raymond Gosling, took an X-ray diffraction photograph of the DNA, dubbed Photo 51, which showed a clear ‘X’ shape. This dispelled the idea of the DNA being a single helix, and welcomed the theory (now a common fact) that the DNA found in cells is a double helix made of two DNA strands.
The discovery of the DNA structure led to better understanding of DNA replication, coding, genetic inheritance and other DNA functions. Of course, science is never short of potholes. Competitive research programmes are being currently pursued at King’s to apply genetics to a variety of disciplines. They involve the identification of genetic mutations that cause human disease, as well as the development of new gene therapies. The most recent addition to the Division of Genetics and Molecular Medicine is King’s Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, which was opened in 2012 to research the self-renewal processes of stem cells, their role in tumour formation and how their functions are controlled by chemical factors.
King’s also conducts an international lecture series, the Rosalind Franklin Lecture Series, where global researchers are invited to deliver lectures in experimental biology and medicine, in recognition of Franklin’s indispensable contributions to the life sciences. There is always something going on in King’s when it comes to research. When it’s not a platform to learn, it becomes a platform to teach and share experiences that ultimately contribute to the advancement of science. When you’re not attending lectures or seminars, take some time to explore the campus; notice the buildings named after notable personalities, the statues and scientific models subtly decorating the sites, the spiral shaped staircase in the Franklin-Wilkins Building that strangely resembles the DNA double helix. Even the architecture is filled with the history of people and discoveries that have elevated this university towards excellence. With so much history between its walls, it’s hard not to be proud of being a part of the commotion that is King’s College London.
It’s a bug’s life for savvy King’s scientist Vanessa Megaro
SOBERING UP ON BEER! Durr-e-Maknoon Tariq
A photo that changed history.
Franklin’s research notes and Photo 51 were the vital puzzle piece that enabled the scientists James Watson and Francis Crick to finalise the DNA molecular model: a double-helix of two antiparallel DNA strands, with their bases pointing inwards and the phosphate groups pointing outwards.
Dr Barbara Daniel, Head of the Department of Forensic and Analytical Science at King’s College London, said, “King’s researchers work together with the MPS, sharing espertise and resources, to enable King’s students to carry out focused research projects based on real crime scene investigation. The aim of these projects is to tackle the challenges in uncovering, collecting and analysing forensic evidence.” “As a leading research institution we are now building on this experience and drawing from other expertise across College to work with the MPS on expanding our work in digital forensics and cybercrime.” Poulomi’s research focuses on forensic entomology, using the developmental stage of flies or their larvae (or other insects) to
determine when a victim died. Blowflies are mainly used as they are the first insects to arrive on a corpse and hence make it easier to estimate the time of death. However, scientists have to take on board the factors that may delay the process of the flies’ arrival. Factors such as if the body is indoors or outdoors, buried or in a vehicle, all contribute to the time bluebottle or greenbottle blowflies find the body. Poulomi is looking at how long flies take to arrive when a body is in a suitcase. She is investigating various types of zips on luggage
- metal and plastic toothed zips and coiled zippers - to see how long colonisation takes on each. Although to the naked eye zips appear to be pretty tightly sealed, on a microscopic level they actually have tiny gaps, large enough for female blowflies to plant their eggs. An experiment was set up simulating a real case scenario, where a pigs head bought from a butcher was placed in an airline cabin suitcase and put in a cage in the wildlife garden in the Natural History Museum. What was observed was it took at least 24hrs for eggs
to appear on the case, this could make all the difference from a detective’s perspective. The tiny first born larvae were observed crawling on the zipper until they disappeared, only to reappear after a week as well fed, large larvae dispersing from the suitcase to find grounds to pupate - the next stage of blowfly development. Her findings have proved that blowflies are capable of laying eggs on different kinds of zips when attracted to the smell of decomposition e.g. a rotting corpse! Eggs were deposited pretty much anywhere on the zips, from the crevices of the zip teeth to the actual zip tape and even on the underside of the zip. Forensic entomologists have been curious for several decades at the role of insects in crime scene investigations. Working closely with pathologists, they have been able to provide a more accurate timeline of victims’ deaths to assist police investigations. Poulomi’s work in this field contributes to the work on ‘oviposition’ - where flies choose to position their eggs - in criminal cases. Further research into this area of forensic entomology will help in a more precise determination of a victims’ deaths in enclosed cases with restricted access and as a whole could help solve a crime!
ROAR! 23
KCL LIONS SEEK TO BUILD ON SUCCESS
CHEERLEADERS ON TOP!
World Cup success for England may still be a long way off.
Alona Klopot CHEERLEADING is becoming the fastest growing sport in the UK, with over 60 competitive university teams competing across a range of divisions in the BCA National Universities 2013 competition. King’s, as you would expect, is ably represented. Last year the KCL Lions earned a third place trophy in the national-scale SNF Future Cheer University Level 2 Division, the largest in the competition. How did our team of nurses, historians and linguists to-be end up there? Taking a look into a typical week for the squad confirms the fitness and commitment required to be so successful. Two sessions a week are a combination of conditioning (try holding a squat with another girl balanced on your knees), drills to perfect group stunts, jumps, flexibility and synchronicity between the team. A third evening session is held at a dedicated gymnastics gym, where back-handsprings come to be perfected. As competition looms, the girls also travel out weekly to a sprung-floor gym near Gallions Reach.
Head coach and herself a Lionalumni Jane pushes the girls to be peak athletes. According to Jane, “You only miss practice if you are in a hospital.” The girls agree. “The dedication to your stunt group and squad is what keeps you training hard every week”. Towards the end of last season, the team was plagued with injuries, pushing the girls to shift stunt groups and change aspects of their competition routine at the last moment. “It really was tough; we had to change our pyramid sequence completely, which involves every single competing athlete. The timing had to be perfect, and the pressure of the upcoming competition was coming up quickly. All the girls really pulled together at our joint training sessions. We spent every moment we had together working on the pyramid and structural routine changes that meant we had a lot of work to put in individually outside of training time. Each of us worked on maintaining peak fitness whilst also improving our toe-touch jumps and round-offs.” And it paid off, with a near-flawless routine at the BCA National Universities in Telford. Joining the team also brings with it a lot of laughs, friendships and
support for each other. “We are all so close; we see each other pretty much every day, we went on tour together to Italy last summer which was amazing, and of course we enjoy our weekly Wednesday night team Walkabout sessions! Lifelong friendships and memories are made here.” This year the girls will also be rallying on runners for Cancer Research UK at the night-time Shine Marathon as well as supporting Ambitious About Autism at the Royal Parks 1/2 Marathon. For their continued involvement in the King’s and wider London community the team secured sponsorhsip last year from KPMG. Liking our Facebook page (KCLLions) will keep you updated with all our squad news, photos and adventures throughout the year. If you would like to try our competitive cheer for yourself, the Lions are hosting a taster session at Kennington Park on Sunday 22nd September from 1pm-3pm (meet at Oval Tube Station at 1pm). You can also look out for us at the Freshers Fair and join our mailing list at kingscheerleaders@gmail.com. Get involved! It will be your best decision during freshers’ week!
ROWING TO VICTORY CONTINUED from back page If you’ve rowed before, come to our senior trials on Saturday 22nd September. If you’re new to the sport, come to the Fresher BBQ on 25th September where you can try your hand at rowing before enjoying some food and KCLBC’s infamous cocktails. Please visit our website www. theboatclub.org.uk for fur-
ther details, follow us on Twitter @Kings_Rowing, or look out for us at the freshers’ fair.
For more info on KCL Rowing and latest news and analysis from the wider world of sport, visit our website:
roarnews.co.uk
ENGLAND’S ROCKY FUTURE
Graham Oxley
A year from now, football fans will be looking back on the Brazil World Cup, and I am telling you right now, England will not have won it. We will never have had a chance, despite what the national newspapers had tried to make us believe. At least over the last few World Cups we had a couple of players pushing to be one of the best in the world at their position. We had reason to be optimistic, and quite rightly ended up being knocked out only by teams who looked like genuine contenders for the title. However looking ahead to 2014, the difference this time is that we have nobody pushing towards the title of world class. Some would have thought Joe Hart was ready to take that mantle, but his error strewn 2012-13 season at Manchester City knocked people’s confidence in him. We should be worried; this could be one of the most painful World Cups to watch for England fans in recent years. So what are the issues in the England team? There are two major issues. The first, and most glaring one, is a reliance on the same players. Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole and the never ending soap opera surrounding John Terry and Rio Ferdinand’s potential inclusion. These are all players who have been playing in the England team for years and yet still get picked despite a series of failures. It is not to say that each individual does not merit his place in the squad, but as a group they have failed and will have little impact on England’s future going beyond next year’s tournament. Secondly, our promising young players have little championship experience. This is a direct result of the first issue, with senior players who have failed to progress numerous times continuing to play instead of exposing the younger players to tournament football. This cycle has been going on for years and so when they become first team regulars, they do not know how to win at tournaments and England become the same old failures. So what can we do to save England from its perpetual cycle of failure?
The answer is simple; write off the 2014 World Cup. Forget about their overall performance, put no pressure on the team to even get out of the group stages and take a very young and inexperienced team. This will allow those players to gain exposure to the biggest stage of all and hopefully this will benefit them in the future. Let the youngsters play their game together now and gather the necessary experience to help them and in future tournaments, we will see the best performances in years. I am not saying this will lead us to win the World Cup, but let’s give the English youngsters the best chance possible to emulate the 2010 German team and maybe we shall have some future success. You need to take a couple of veteran players to make sure they are kept on the right path, but there is no need to play them as regulars. Roy Hodgson has made a couple of steps in that direction, picking Townsend and Barkley in his most recent squad for the World Cup Qualifiers, but by sticking with many of the older players, I feel he has not taken it far enough. I am going to provide my provisional England squad for next year’s tournament to show the young group that I think should be taken: Goalkeepers: Jack Butland,
Joe John
Hart, Ruddy
Defenders: Gary Cahill, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Andre Wisdom, Carl Jenkinson, Nathan Baker, Kieran Gibbs, Luke Shaw/ Danny Rose (depending on form) Midfielders: Tom Cleverley, Jack Wilshere, Jack Rodwell, Ross Barkley, Andros Townsend, Steven Gerrard (Captain + elder statesman), Raheem Sterling, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Forwards: Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Theo Walcott, Gabby Agbonlahor, Rickie Lambert (Sentimental pick; if not, Andy Carroll) This is a group of young, talented footballers who should be hitting their prime come 2018 World Cup.
GIVE ME A K! GIVE ME A C! GIVE ME AN L! - Page 23
KING’S
EXPECTS
ROAR! SPORT WE WANT YOU!
James Monaghan
WELCOME to this year’s sports section of Roar! Throughout the year I will be looking for people to contribute to the section to keep it lively and up to date with all of the sporting goings on around the university. The 2013-14 season will be a big one for all involved in KCL sport. With potential developments concerning BUCS and the potential merging of KCL and GKT sports societies this may well prove to be one of the biggest years of change in KCL sporting history. With so many sports teams to choose from, all individual needs are catered for. Any sports society is welcome to get in touch with me via email at sports@roarnews.co.uk Articles concerning your society, whether it be match reports, promotions such as charity involvement, tour stories (no holds barred!) as well as engaging comment articles on the wider world of sport are all welcome. I hope to hear from you!
ROW YOUR WAY TO KCL
Owen Vanstone-Hallam
KCL Boat Club is looking forward to welcoming new rowers to one of the most successful sports clubs at the university.
KCLSU offers a range of sporting activities Liam Jackson SEPTEMBER has arrived again. Around 10,000 new students across our four campuses descend and bring joy to us student officers after a summer desolate of mainstream student life. Where to go? What to do? My advice to all students is to get to Fresher’s Fair and sign up for something new! I believe the key to a great student experience at KCL is being involved, not just in a lecture or seminar, but also in all aspects of co-curricular. From sports, student activities and niche societies, delve into all that our union has to
offer. In total KCLSU have over 250 activity groups and around 50 different sports clubs, allowing students the chance to not only participate in what they are accustomed to, but also a chance to try something new and develop their character. Make sure you visit our new website and have a look at the array of opportunities.
cess here at KCLSU. From our Women’s Volleyball representing GB in the European Championships last year, to our Islamic Society and GKT RAG year on year raising massive amounts for worthwhile charities. As a community we are second to none in London and should pride ourselves on our accomplishments.
There is no greater time of the year than these first months: new faces, new challenges, and not forgetting our reincarnated sports ground Honor Oak Park, recently hosting Roy Hodgson and the FA for National Football Day. One thing I want to push for this year is to really celebrate suc-
Our most nail biting internal sporting event of the year is our annual Macadam Cup, where an array of sport teams at KCL battle it out against our GKT sides. Last year’s event came down to a stalemate, with GKT winning the day after a tense tug-of-war. KCL has only won the prestigious award once
and are always looking to balance the books every year. Our victorious GKT teams will relish in holding the bragging rights at least for the next twelve months. And of course no rivalry is without UCL, dating back to the 1800s. This year will see our Varsity return. We will all be hoping to send Jeremy Bentham’s jolly flock back to Gower Street with heads bowed. I won’t be giving much away; the press release will be soon... Liam Jackson is Vice President Student Activities and Facilities at KCLSU. You can email him at vpsaf@kclsu.org
Last year, after kicking off with the Fresher BBQ, the squads showed their potential at the annual Cambridge Tour, with 6 fresher crews competing. United Hospitals and University of London competitions continued throughout the year, with all the crews showing improvement. Scores of freshers went on to row in the senior squad this year. First years Ellie Baker and Steffi Stone were in the first eight which won the novice academic pennant at Women’s Eights Head of the River with a record-breaking time. In May, 21 beginners represented the club at BUCS Regatta, held at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham. They came away with top results in both beginner and intermediate categories. It’s not all training and competing, though. We have regular socials from Walkabout on Wednesday nights to the black-tie Christmas party.
Turn to page 23