Green Gold pg3
APEX
Missed the Deadlines? pg4
New Year, New Economy pg8
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN The Anglia Ruskin APEX Edition 4 February 2009
PLAYING THE NUMBERS GAME IN THE GAZA STRIP February Begins...News in Brief Cannabis Reclassified
Iraq minutes to be released
Cameron promises UFO info
Cannabis is now classed as grade B
Weapons of mass destruction?
Conservative Conspiracy
The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, has decided to revert the classification of Cannabis to a grade B drug after Tony Blair downgraded the drug to grade C in 2004.
Ministers have been ordered to release minutes of the cabinet meetings which discussed the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The meetings covered whether the invasion would be sanctioned under international law, and as you can tell could bring some light on to the whole situation.
David Cameron has vowed to lift the lid on what the Government knows about UFOs if he becomes Prime Minister.
Former government drugs advisor Keith Hellawell said the government should never have reclassified cannabis to Class C, however there have been opposing views about upgrading the drug from the Liberal Democrats. New penalties are now in place meaning the maximum sentence for possession of Cannabis has now changed from two years to five years.
Sadly this situation is not sorted out yet as the cabinet now has 28 days to decide whether or not to appeal against this decision or could just veto the idea under section 53 of the freedom of information act, which makes some information exempt.
He said he “was convinced” the Earth had been visited by aliens – and joked that Business Secretary Lord Mandelson was one of them. Speaking at one of his regular Cameron Direct meetings, at which he takes questions from the public, the Conservative leader promised to be “entirely open and frank” about what the Government knows about close encounters.
2 NEWS
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09 Important Bit >>
Editorial Team
The opinions expressed in The Anglia Ruskin Apex are not necessarily those of the Editor, Editorial Team, Advertisors or Anglia Ruskin University Students’ Union. Every effort is made to ensure all articles are as factually correct as possible at the time of going to print, given the information available.
News
Palestinian Liberty Richard Conway Deputy Managing Editor Lisa Pool Editor in Chief
Patrick Widdess Photography Editor Sarah Channing-Wright Design Elma Jenkins News Editor Adriana Petcu Affairs Editor Jenna Grabey Activities Editor Ellis Clarke Az Newman Lifestyle Editors Chris Glithero Culture Editor Angeline Lilles Music Editor Cassie Andrews Reviews Editor Sport Editor Position Vacant Here at The Apex we are always looking for new people to get involved. If you would like to write for any of the sections above see www.angliastudent.com/student_ media/apex for more information or e-mail info@angliastudent.com
Elma Jenkins
International protests have been calling for an end to the bloodshed, caused by bomb attacks from both Israel and Gaza, that have been graphically hitting our screens since December. Israel has largely been condemned for failing to open negotiations peacefully and its attacks have caused far more damage of the two sides in the fighting. In armed street conflicts soldiers from both sides station themselves on houses with civilians still inside, to use them as human shields. There are signs on Palestinian casualties of phosphorus attacks, an illegal weapon, which Israel denied. Both sides are playing dirty, but commentators say the conflict will probably get worse before it gets better, as neither side are accepting the UN peace resolution. Israel’s Prime Minister Mr Olmert said “nobody should be allowed to decide for us if we are allowed to strike” before demanding more patience, determination and effort from his War Cabinet. So far 13
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peace can now only be found in negotiations
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Simon Thomas Managing Editor
Israelis and 900 Palestinians have been killed (at the time of writing).
The Palestinian people have been experiencing, what some have called, a crisis of representation due to the infighting between groups that claim to represent their interests over their ancestral land. The two largest opposing organizations: Hamas and Fatah have moved between the waves of the people’s confidence to traverse the political situation. Hamas currently holds a majority, and it seems to be growing. It sets up schools, hospitals and libraries,
but encourages suicide bombing in the fight for a Palestinian Islamic state to replace Israel. Hamas is classed as a terrorist group by the US and UN and has influences of Anti-Semitism within its ranks. The Fatah movement, begun by Yassar Arafat, who died in 2004, continues today under Mahmoud Abbas. Although they have militant groups within them, they are not considered terrorist by the international community. In 1988 they opted for a two state solution for Israelis and Palestine’s. The political situation took an unexpected turn in the 2006 Palestinian National Authority election, after large funds from the Bush administration. Hamas was elected into the majority, ousting Fatah, whose members promptly resigned their seats and became an opposition party. Fatah has since experienced a split. Young
members of the party, headed by Marwan Barghouti and frustrated with corruption from the old guard, set up a new party entitled “The Future” which has weakened Fatah further. The factional fighting, however, has killed more than 200 people. In the background sits the wider Arab – Israel conflict. Native Arabs suffer job discrimination and food shortages in Israel due to their control of Gaza’s borders. Consequently the Palestinian International community is 10 to 11million people globally. Israel, the only Jewish, state feels threatened by Hamas’ election victories. Although Hamas has a reputation with Arabs for organization and honesty, setting up programs to cater for the poor and environmental improvements. By consenting to the use of violence to liberate the Palestinian territories,
attacks are caused from both sides. A series of peace talks broke down in November, when an Israeli raid killed 6 Hamas gunmen. In December a cease fire officially ended through both its expiry and Hamas’ disinclination toward it. The recent attacks in Gaza are the result of this break down. Israeli defense says their attacks are not aimed at civilians, but Hamas strong holds despite that over 200 Palestinian children have died. The Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal who is in exile in Syria – A country that refuses to recognize Israel independence- has condemned this violence. While recently a UK Jewish protest group called on Israel to ceasefire, supporting Israel defense against Hamas, but stating that peace can now only be found in negotiations, not more bombing.
NEWS 3
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Look to the Stars in 2009...
Green Gold Katie Brinkley
Elma Jenkins
fight to turn the tide of history for an ecologically sustainable future.’ Still, more support is urgently needed.
This year is the International Year of Astronomy, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first use of the astronomic telescope. To commemorate this milestone, events will take place worldwide, throughout the year, promoting interest in astronomy under the theme ‘The Universe, Yours to Discover’.
The opening of a new oil frontier is predicted to result in the same problems that have been seen elsewhere. Pollution, deforestation, destruction of eco-systems
“ Four decades ago, Yasuní was declared a National Park, in recognition of the fact that it contains great natural wealth that must be preserved. In 1999, the area that the Oil Companies want to destroy was officially designated as an ‘untouchable zone’. What has changed? Whilst the UK government’s adverts scream ‘reduce your carbon footprint now’ why are they, and their fellow leaders, happy to stand back and watch as 100 million tonnes of carbon is released from Yasuní soil into our atmosphere? Nelson Torres, Ecuadorian deputy Ambassador to the UK said that
to achieve protection of Yasuní would ‘lay the groundwork for energy transformation globally’. Such groundwork would induce the implementation of renewable energy sources, to replace the corruption that resonates from oil. Multiple campaign groups are working together in the attempt save Yasuní and the Waorani people. At the forefront of this are Save America’s Forests who work with other charitable groups, scientists and lawyers in their attempt to protect the future. They said that ‘We have scored many major victories against the oil companies, and are leading the
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The breathtaking rainforest area of Yasuní, Equador lies on the South American equator, where the Andes mountain range ends and the Amazon begins. Yasuní is one of the most untouched, biologically diverse places on earth. Remarkable, considering that it has experienced human population since the days of Tudor England. Unlike Westerners, however, the indigenous Waorani tribe are famed for their natural huntergatherer skills. The Waorani’s live a lifestyle that enriches rather than harms their natural environment. Today, the threat of invasion by Oil Companies has sparked the worldwide campaign Save the Yasuní Rainforest
Yasuní is one of the most untouched, biologically diverse places on earth
The opening ceremony of IYA2009 took place in Paris on 15th and 16th January, with countries such as Germany, Brazil and Spain holding individual ceremonies over January and February. Over 130 countries are involved in the celebration, each hosting collaborations between professional astronomers, amateur enthusiasts and educational facilities. These events aim to increase scientific awareness and celebrate the contribution astronomy has made to society and culture over the past 400 years.
and prevention of tribal self-sufficiency are certain. As a result of these factors spread of disease, conflict and even cultural extinction are highly likely.
To support Save the Yasuní Rainforest and to help the Waorani people you can e-mail Equador’s President, Rafael Correa, urging him to defend both the rainforest and the civil rights of its peoples. (piedadflor@presidencia.gov.ec). Locally, there is a need to demand of our own Government the introduction of real and effective measures to develop fossil fuel alternatives at a national level.
On a local level, events are planned nationwide throughout the year. London hosts several night observations and lectures hosted at various observatories. October sees the opening of a three month exhibition at St. Johns College in Cambridge, displaying 700 years worth of astronomical artefacts. Funded and organised by UNESCO and the International Astronomical Union, the International Year of Astronomy is set to be a festival of scientific celebration, bringing together Nobel Prize winners and young students in one global forum. For more information, visit www. astronomy2009.co.uk
Graduate Jobs In the state of global economic crisis, talented University graduates have decided to turn their backs on high-end jobs in the City and finance sector. Instead they’re opting for ‘safer’ jobs such as teaching, shunning the financial market. This has become clear through lack of attendance at job fairs. Warwick University, for instance, saw attendance levels of 1,425 compared to 1,988 it had the previous year. Oxford also saw a 10 to 15 per cent fall in attendance and Cambridge had a turnout of 866, opposed to last year’s 998.
Gordon Chesterman, head of University’s careers service claimed “Students are becoming suspicious of the sector”. He warned that students had “read headlines in the press about 120,000 white collar jobs going in the finance sector and thought ‘I’ve got my suspicions.” The effects of the ‘Credit Crunch’ appear to be scaring students from their dream jobs into ‘safer’ careers such as teaching and the civil service. Teach First is a scheme that recruits the most accomplished graduates and trains them to work in deprived schools. The
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The effects of the ‘Credit Crunch’ appear to be scaring students from their dream
applicants for this year were an astonishing 2,000 for the small 450 places which it offers. The civil service’s fast stream also saw a similar occurrence with the number of those applying rising by 33 per cent as more than 22,000 people applied for the 500 esteemed posts. Other applicants were bankers who had been made redundant by the Lehman Brothers collapse, which only enhanced graduates decisions to stay clear of the finance sector.
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Katie Brinkley
It seems that Graduates don’t want to be wasting their time in un-
stable career choices. It’s become less about how much money they will earn and more about a steady job that will keep them supported without having to fear the recession. For more advice and information on job hunting see the article in this editions re-freshers center spread. Are you graduating this year? Is the idea of a recession making you think twice about your future? Email your comments and thoughts to l.pool@angliastudent.com
4 AFFAIRS
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Affairs
Adriana Petcu Affairs Editor
Missed the deadlines? Heather Pritchard
Every assessment period some students will miss the deadline for the hand in of their assignments. The reasons vary but without an extension the outcome is always the same: for a first attempt an automatic fail and then resubmission of the assignment with the mark capped at forty percent. By now it is too late to do anything about the semester one missed deadlines but being January it might be a good idea to make a New Year’s resolution to be more organised with assignments. It might also be useful to find out exactly what to do when the next deadlines approach and you find yourself in the position that you
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In this situation it is important not to panic
The most important thing to note about extensions is that they cannot be granted after the submission date so you should speak to your adviser at the earliest possible opportunity. If the deadline has passed you can still submit a claim for mitigating circumstances. This can be done in situations such as serious illnesses, the death of a family member, or other unforeseen circumstances beyond your control. You have up to five working days after the deadline to submit a Mitigation Circumstance Form through your student adviser and keep in mind that sooner is always better. Mitigation won’t be considered for circumstances which could have been planned for, to get further details on what can and cannot be considered see the SU Advice leaflet ‘Extensions and Mitigation’ or visit the SU Office to book an appointment with one of their Advisers.
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won’t be able to meet them.
academic workload, or if you suffer computer failure. So it is very important that you are clear on the dates for your assignments and organise your work accordingly. It is also very important for you to keep a copy of your work. Many students use memory sticks or disks to store a copy of their work and this is usually effective but these can be stolen or lost quite easily. The best way to back up your work is to email it to yourself at your university email account.
In this situation it is important not to panic. The first thing to do is to speak to your Faculty Student Adviser. They may be able to grant you a short term extension of five working days and in some cases ten working days. Extensions will only be granted for certain circumstances which are out of your control, such as a short-term illness that prevents you from handing in your work in time, or would affect the quality of your work if forced to submit by the deadline. You will not get an extension if you misread the submission deadline, or on the grounds of
Before submitting a claim for mitigation you should remember that if your claim is upheld by the Faculty Awards Board your mark will be void whether it is a pass or a fail, and you cannot retract a claim for mitigation once it has been made. Contact the SU Advice Service : All of this is pretty straightforward and every student knows what it Cambridgeshire: takes to get their work in on time, 01223 460008 so if you plan carefully and know what to do should the worst hapChelmsford: pen there is no need to go through 01245 258178 the stress of missing a deadline.
Photo: ARU Marketing
Acceptable Grounds for Extension & Mitigation SU Advice Service An extension must be requested before the submission deadline. Claims for mitigation must be submitted no later than five working days after the submission deadline or date of the examination. Extension requests and mitigation claims must be made to your Faculty Student Adviser, using the appropriate forms. Grounds for short-term extensions - Short-term illness - Short-term illness of any person for whom you have responsibility of care - Authorised absence from the University during teaching weeks - Enforced change in employment circumstances at short notice - Other reasons considered ac-
ceptable by the Faculty Student Adviser Grounds that will not be considered for short-term extensions - Academic workload - Misreading information regarding submission deadlines etc - Computer, disc, printer or any other technical failure for which you are responsible (You are required to keep a copy of your work) - Unauthorised absence from the University (eg. holiday taken during teaching weeks) Grounds for Mitigation Acceptable grounds, for which you are required to produce evidence, are: - A serious personal illness which is not a permanent condition
- The death, or serious illness, of a close family member, a friend or person for whom you have responsibly of care - Sudden or unforeseen circumstances beyond your control Grounds that will not be considered for Mitigation - Family, work, financial or other general problems which could have been anticipated - Unawareness of the Academic Regulations - Unawareness or misunderstanding submission deadlines or examination dates - Computer, disc, printer or any other technical failure for which you are responsible (You are required to keep a copy of your work)
AFFAIRS 5
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
What’s Waiting for us Third Years? Anthony Mccabe As the first semester shoots past us it leaves little trace or memory; probably due to a dangerous intake of cheap alco-pops and flat beer; or possibly because your heads’ were too busy being glued to study books as you knuckled down for your dissertation. Unfortunately for me it was the latter of the two evils as I’m coming to an end of my fun-but-stressedsoaked time at uni.
we become totally independent, as we have to fend for ourselves with no loans to help pay rent; with council tax anxiously waiting for us; as well as our wages being slashed by tax for the first time for the majority of us students. In addition, there’s the dreaded dilemma of paying back our government loans (providing we earn over £15000 a year) and on top of that we have one year after finish-
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This is the long-awaited step to adulthood. This is the step where
£3000
If your future is not enough motivation for you than what is?
going and abide by your timetable, so that when you are free you capitalise on that spare time and study instead of watching TV or playing the X-Box. What I have been doing recently is waking up as early as my eyes will let me. You’d be surprised how much housework, However, to ease the pressure on studying, or food shopping can our shoulders is our scholarship payments at the end of March and be done before 12pm if you allow yourself to get out of bed by 8am. August. This can come in handy I know it is hard but think of the for either working your way out long-run. The more work you put of your overdraft or paying your deposit for a new house as you will in now the greater the rewards shall be in half a year’s time. have enter the private sector. vast unemployment. Even if you do find a satisfactory paid and rewarding job, you may then need a car to get you there and back. So that’s more money needed for your disposal.
So you see it doesn’t look good for us final year students who in addition have to confront the economic crisis of 2009. But enough talk of the inevitable problems that could potentially cripple us both financially and psychologically! After all we all knew what obstacles we would have to face when deciding upon coming to University. So let us think rationally on what can be done now to help us through such a distressing and depressing journey. First thing is to cut back on one of humans’ most annoying habits: unnecessary spending. Money will be more vital between the period of leaving university and entering full-time employment than ever before. If you’re like me then you have no idea what the cloudy future will bring and how long it may take not only to enter the job of your dreams, but to find a full-time job at all during these gloomy times of
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Therefore, this means looking for another house; saving up as much money as my standard of living and satisfaction can stretch; as well as studying as often as watching Hollyoaks, Friends and The Simpsons (which would roughly add up to three hours per day). This would be enough for me to look back and say ‘yeah, I tried my very best’. But amidst all those woes is the question: ‘What’s next? Where do I move on from here? Where I can I find the job for me?’
ing uni to get out of our scandalously deep overdrafts.
Another word of advice would be to go and book an appointment at careers. They are there for a reason so make use of the resources in front of you. There they can not only guide you in the right direction but they can help you create a professional CV. Although our main focus is of course our dissertation and the other semester two modules, thus buy your module study packs immediately and get reading. Time is also essential. Create a timetable that works around your lessons, part-time jobs and sport clubs. Get a routine
Sacrifices have to be made by us final year students and the primary sacrifices may well be social such as clubbing or shopping. Cutting your hours down at your part-time job may also be a sacrifice that has to be made. The time is now to put in a 110% into your degree and to get the best grade possible that will ensure a safe and pleasant journey into adulthood and full-time employment.
is the introduction to first year students. For the first few weeks of their university course they should have classes accurately and thoroughly discussing referencing; writing bibliographies and filmographies; structuring essays; essay planning; drafting; editing; researching; presentation of work; plagiarism and lastly penalties and deadlines. Yes, we are given a Student Handbook and Guidelines on the Presentation of Work, but this is not enough as it is not adequately clear in places.
Not referencing correctly for example could be the difference between an A and a B, as we all know. So why isn’t anything being done about it?
If your future is not enough motivation for you than what is!
Anthony Mccabe
For the last two and a half years I have been sitting down for my seminars and lectures and getting out my pen and paper ready to do some serious wrist action. When I say wrist action I mean writing. Honestly! Yet when I get up to leave, I have nothing but blank white pages with the occasional bits of doodling in the margins. And I do English and Writing people, so I hope to see words of knowledge and advise from my teachers on the page, not art work. I used to think it was just me, but recently I have been hearing the same complaints and problems from an entire range of degree courses. I know that for University you need to do a sufficient amount of independent research and work, especially in your third year, which I am in. But for my 15 and 30 credit modules (excluding my dissertation) I feel that I am not being taught what I need to know for the questions I have been given to answer at a professional level.
And without the aid and guidance of my teachers, what then are they getting paid for. You could say that marking your assignments and homework plays a big part in a teachers’ role. Which is correct don’t get me wrong. But when I do get my assignments back I can barely read the feedback they have written. Yet they preach to us about presentation and how you can get penalised if you do not double space your work and so forth. Therefore, maybe they too should type up their feedback for us. This is a serious concern which will personally affect me severely because for semester two of this academic year I am doing a module called Portfolio, and for this module I have to polish, edit and develop all the work I have done whilst at Uni. How can I do that if I do not know what needs improving and where I am going wrong due to the fact that I cannot read the feedback? But the criticism does not stop there because it is not just their handwriting that is the problem, but the brevity of feedback. We are given so little advice on our assignments compared to other universities that my development and progress is limited.
As customers you expect the service you are paying for. If your car broke down you would not go to a car mechanic and pay them to fix it, only for them to take your money and then turn to you and say “you have to find that out for yourself ” or “well, what do you think the problem is and if so do you know how to fix it yourself ”. You see sometimes I just want them to talk to us about writing the perfect essay instead of just reading texts in class, which we could so easily do in our own time. I do not need them to read to me. I need them to talk to me about the questions and what they are looking for in our answers. I want them to pass their knowledge, wisdom and experience of the subject they are teaching to us and how it can contribute towards our assignments. No more reading from text books and class group discussions that lead to classmates talking about their Friday nights out. The teachers need to be more potent, direct and active in their style of getting information across.
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One last thing that I believe is crucial and essential for students stepping in the right direction
Teachers need to be more potent, direct and active in their style of getting information across
Like I said, at the end of the day we are paying customers who have taken a bold risk into coming to university. We go to university knowing that when we leave, we will be suffocated with debts. But we are believed into thinking that such financial sacrifice will be rewarded with what we have learnt from our teachers, whom we are paying to teach us. I expect then that the teaching standards per year are worth the price of £3000 and I can leave university with £9000’s worth of education tucked away in my brain. Unfortunately however, this has not been the case as six hours per week of teaching (which I am getting) does not tally £3000 a year.
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£3000 is a heck of a lot of money to me as I am sure it is to you. So do you believe the £3000 we are paying for tuition fees per year is worthy of the education we are receiving?
Valuable time should be spent on such important issues as even third years still have problems with such inconvenient troubles.
Oh and one last thing. Surely the three grand we are paying should include the study packs for our modules, I mean come on now, are you having a laugh! At that sort of price paper should not be an issue!
6 ACTIVITIES
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Activities
Jenna Grabey Activities Editor
CALLING ALL POETS: Get your poetry noticed Jenna Grabey
This is what Adam had to say about his night at CB1: Open Mic Night Experience:
Jenna Grabey The upcoming band “Your Reason” has just started work with a new drummer and the consensus feeling among the band for this coming year is “we’re hopeful and keen but we are gonna take it a step at a time”. Since starting back in the warm month of May last year, the punk/hardcore/alternative band have been covering songs from Rise Against such as “Prayer of the Refugee” and “Handful of Redemption” from Boy Sets Fire, its been a rocky road for them but they have kept on progressing and have now established their unique sound. At present, they have completed their own songs: “what you created”, “the damage has been done”, “without conviction”, “still so blind”, “hypocrite vs.
the monster” and “the way we are” and are now ready to show the UK what they’re made of. I asked Your Reason, why, their slogan “Progress is Protest”, and they explained to me that this is what they believe in: “we don’t want to emphasise on hating government too much, it is just our personal opinion. Our music is representing everyone having the freedom to be who you want to be, and not just being in the background, but to stand up for what you believe in”. As a result this is what their lyrics tend to evolve around. Definitely a band with real meaning behind their music while creating a hell of an awesome sound. To check this band out and find out what they are up to go to: www. myspace.com/yourreasonband.
He also stated that he would likely to be visiting again, so the cyber café- CB1, certainly appears to be a good place to begin performing your poetry, or read through old work that deserves to be heard
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“The experience of reading out poetry at an Open Mic Night was one that was reasonably apprehensive but filled with intense determination as I wanted to share my poetry, even if I was unsure of the atmosphere whether it would be judgemental or welcoming. However once I had read my poetry and spoken to others about the poems, I realised what an enjoyable surrounding and environment it was, I was also able to talk to other poets about their work which covered various
YOUR REASON: Protest is progress
areas that were entertaining.” (Written by Adam Cowler)
..enjoyable surrounding and environment.
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Tuesday afternoon, during late November and standing by ARU in bitterly cold Cambridge, Adam Cowler, an English Language student told me he would be going to CB1 that evening to read a couple of his poems. Since both of us being English students we already knew there were open mic nights for readings, however no one had yet ventured in there that we knew of to read their work.
again. Also a fantastic place to shelter from the harsh weather! CB1 is located at: 32 Mill Road, Tel: 01223 576306.
If you’re interested in sharing your poetry, receiving feedback on your poetry or like to listen to other people performing their poetry, then head down to CB1 on Mill Road this Tuesday.
ACTIVITIES 7
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Compassion beats Fashion Jenna Grabey attended and their trips to London. This semester began with the anti-fur demonstration in London. The Animal Welfare Society joined over 400 activists in telling top fashion brands,and the police that were around them from all sides including the sky- that compassion beats fashion! After all that they decided to take a more passive role in their work, and had a speaker from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society come to ARU. This is where you and I come in- as they set up stalls on campus: raising awareness amongst students and lectures of which companies, still insist on testing cosmetics and household products on animals; also gave out free cruelty-free shopping guides. After this, it was back to London to attend the Christmas without cruelty fayre where people could go on a shopping-spree, knowing that everything they purchased was cruelty-free from animals and environmentally friendly. November, also known
Walking around campus this first semester you are bound to have seen the Animal Welfare Society on more than one occasion with stalls set up, if not, then by the time you have finished reading this you will know exactly what they have been up to. For one semester they sure have something to be proud of. The president of the Animal Welfare Society told me all about the Vegan Challenge, the demonstrations they have
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Did you know that Harrods in the UK still sells animal fur!
as national Vegan month, brought on the Vegan Challenge which the Animal Welfare Society persuaded 35 students and lectures to take part in. This involved going vegan for at least a week, those who took on the challenge were given a helping hand as they gave out free vegan food which was either made my society members or donated by Arjuna, and one of the lucky 35 people won a £15 voucher for Arjuna. I also asked if they had any plans for 2009 in mind. There are finalised plans already: there will be stalls appearing on campus to raise awareness of current animal issues within the student body. Also there will be debates to take part in, on the issue of animal testing: there will be a speaker who is campaigning against animal testing, the society and someone who is for animal testing. Sounds like it will be a heated debate. There are other plans in the process, so watch this space!
If you would like an electronic copy of the cruelty-free shopping guide then email the Animal Welfare Society at: cambridgeanimalwelfare@angliastudent.com
Did you know? That Harrods in the UK still sells animal fur! It is the only department store in the UK to do so.
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Come to the darkside: We have cookies...
Jenna Grabey
…music and booze! All of which you can find at The Man on the Moon. On approaching the venue, you are bound to notice, (that is if you’re not already intoxicated) the quirky roof of this place, then as you walk round the corner you’ll likely see a few people sitting outside on wooden benches, underneath the lights that are beaming off the stylish sign telling you that you are now entering the Man on the Moon. Walking in, directly ahead of me is the bar, I am way too early for the gig which is happening later tonight, yet already the place is still full of people drinking, talking, watching the large screen TV and playing pool, as it is most nights regardless of any extra entertainment on. The back room is where you need to go to find the music, which it can cater for any occasion-birthdays, random party’s, private functions or meetings, and is an awesome music venue! Upcoming gigs at Man on the Moon are Dissolvedln, The Sketch, 13 Riots, You Me and Them. Alternatively, if you’re more of a sports person, well watching sports, then the Man on the Moon would also be an ideal place for you to check out; since there’s nearly always something on the big screen by the front bar.
If you prefer what lurks in the shadows of the night, things that scream and squeal with delight joining with thrashing music then the Kambar on Tuesday nights is waiting, for you. Alternating Tuesdays is The Calling: where DJ’s play Gothic, Industrial, EBM and 80’s music. You’ll be greeted by fascinating shadows with smiling faces in a darkened bar and reasonable drink prices. On the other Tuesdays it’s time for Wake Up Screaming: where you’ll be deafened with Metal, Rock and Punk to your bloody hearts delight, and is ran by the Cambridge Rock Society: RocSoc, which ARU students are welcome
to join- this saves you £1 on entry fee and there are formals annually. One thing you must remember when you go-nothing is too weird for the Kambar! Dress codes are a thing of the past so embrace the hedonist within. Indie Thingtakes place EVERY Saturday, and as you can guess by the name, this is the Indie kids’ scene, also worth visiting if you’re into alternative and rock music. What’s more, you get a choice in what they play; just weave your way to the DJ’s stand and you’ll see a clip board where you can write down your requests that is amongst the interesting pictures that are likely to be lovingly drawn on. The Kambar
lets you rock out to the music you will never hear in mainstream clubs. The Portland Arm’s is also a great place in Cambridge to seek out an alternative side to the night life. The music here consists of various genres such as: metal, rock, punk, indie, acoustic, acoustmatic, electro, electronica, folk and psychedelic pop. They
have gigs on nearly every night! When there isn’t a gig happening at The Portland Arm’s there will be workshops for all to attend or live comedy, preformed by the Portland Comedy club, which will cost you £7 on the door or £5 in advance. So what ever your taste in entertainment and what ever floats your boat The Portland Arm’s will have it covered!
You can find: Man on the Moon on Norfolk Street, Tel: 01223 474144 Kambar on Wheeler Street, Tel: 01223 842725 The Portland Arm’s on 129 Chesterton Road, Tel: 01223 357268
8 LIFESTYLE
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Lifestyle
Az Newman and Ellis Clarke Lifestyle Editors
Stuff for Anglia Ruskin to look forward to this year!
New Year, New Economy
Strawberry Fair In case you haven’t already heard of it this mini culture ridden festival features local talent and unique stalls selling everything from clothes to laughing gas in balloons. It always attracts a diverse crowd and the sun never fails to shine even if it is forecast to be miserable. This year it falls on Saturday the 6th of June so make sure you get a bunch of your mates and a few crates of cider to just sit around all day!
I’m afraid it’s that time of year again. The joyous Christmas period has left the population of Britain stressed, depressed and a bit out of pocket. 2009 appears particularly frightening with recession worries constantly in the eye of the media. No need to panic though, because we should be over the worst of these gloomy feelings by now. We’ve already broken our new year’s resolutions, discovered debts and shivered through brutal weather. In fact even January 22nd is already behind us - the day that has been scientifically proven to be when we are most likely to get the blues. But Britain still appears to be in a state of financial crisis. What can we expect now?
Cambridge Film Festival This annual festival kicks off in September at the Arts Picture House down St Andrews Street.
The Summer Ball In previous years, Anglia Ruskin’s Summer Balls have featured celebrity appearances (such as Alex Zane), fairground rides, casino rooms, and even wedding chapels, making extremely memorable nights! Make sure you get your ticket early, who knows what they’ll come up with this year! Fresher’s Week Ok you may not be a first year anymore but let’s show all that new young blood how to party. Nothing has been confirmed yet but you’ll probably have to dig out that school uniform again!
2009 Fashion Forecast The 1940s feel is very much back in but with a rock ‘n’ roll edge. Think feathers, fringe and lace on lovely structured dresses and skirts with some kick arse chunky heels and a tuxedo jacket. Celebrities rocking this look include Mischa Barton, Peaches Geldof, and Kate Moss but since us students can’t really afford their budget we’ll have to venture the high street. New Look and H&M are currently selling show stopping party wear
that’s bang on trend at absolute bargain prices. The 1940s trend applies to guys as well but please don’t even think about going out in feathers unless you’re in drag! It’s more conservative for men so think tailored suit jackets and a pair of shiny, smart shoes. For a more casual look, work a suit jacket over a hoody. Ideal since the weather is still so miserable!
Of course predicting what the state of our financial situation will be like in a few months is about as reliable as a British
“
The economic times we are facing are arguably the worst they’ve been in 60 years
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V Festival Taking place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August, for Anglia Ruskin students studying in Chelmsford this fantastic event happens right on your doorstep. Previous acts to storm the beautiful Hylands Park have been music giants Ian Brown, Kings of Leon and The Verve. Don’t miss out!
In a short space of time the independent cinema showcases a dizzying number of new features, shorts, documentaries, silent films, 70mm screenings and more. There are also opportunities to go to specialised lectures and master classes and you may even get the chance to go to free screenings. Check out the festival’s website for a full programme details.
weather forecast saying it will be sunny. By looking at our current situation however we can have a guess at whether or not we will fall into a recession so we can prepare ourselves for how it will affect us and how it will affect students in particular. In terms of how we spend our daily money there has been a recent flourish of challenges for several of Britain’s top retail chains and their sales have fallen markedly as a result of the economic slowdown. Many retailers are struggling as consumers cut back on spending amid rising unemployment figures and falling house prices leading to further redundancies and closed businesses – just look at Woolworths. Some retailers have
actually benefitted from the New Year’s sales, for example discount fashion chain Primark saw a strong increase in sales despite the wider slowdown in UK consumer spending, with total sales up 18%. Despite this there is little sign of any sustained improvement for the economy, especially since the end of 2008 saw such a frightening deterioration. But how likely is it that it will get worse? The Office for National Statistics announced that the gross domestic product contracted by 0.6% which is worse than what was previously estimated and the weakest it has been since the early 1990s recession. Economists also fear that house prices, which have fallen by around 15% already, could drop a further 15% or 20% this year as the number of redundancies climbs further. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, remains scarily honest with us as he warns “The economic times we are facing are arguably the worst they’ve been in 60 years. And I think it’s going to be more profound and longlasting than people thought.” Luckily for us, the state of Britain’s economy doesn’t really affect students too much. Yes, some of our favourite shops might close down and our student loan may have a stretch a little further but it’s not as if we are trying to get on the property ladder or trying to control a successful business. Unfortunately however it will affect us when it comes to leaving university and trying to start a
career. More than 300,000 people graduate in the UK every year meaning the majority of these people will want to start finding themselves a proper job. This will prove quite difficult when considering that the latest study from High Fliers Research found recruitment targets among 100 top UK firms had been cut by 17% this year. Basically there are more and more people earning qualifications to get jobs, whereas more and more businesses are trying to hire less people because they just can’t afford it. The only way to avoid this is to make it impossible for someone not to hire you. Getting as much unpaid work experience as you can while at university will impress employers enough to want to invest in having you on their team. So currently, although no one knows for sure what will happen, it does look like Britain will still be in an economic mess this year and that is a little bit depressing! But if we question the extent to which it will really affect us we shouldn’t have anything to worry about. As far as we are concerned, this whole credit crunch and recession thing is merely a media construction as we hear and read about it more than we witness it and this certainly hasn’t stopped people hitting the sales. Therefore, as long as we continue studying hard to make us more employable and don’t go blowing our student budget too quickly than we have more time to worry about more important things. So cheer up Britain, let the politicians deal with it!
LIFESTYLE 9
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE4 2008/09
Happy New You!!
The Bully Az Newman
I’m sitting in a bath; the water’s lukewarm and I have sufficient wrinkles on my fingertips to warrant getting out of this regulated anodyne…Devendra Banhart’s White Session plays through the tinny speakers of my 12inch PowerBook that’s balanced on the thing that I’ve never bothered to learn the name of. I’m hiding from 2009, that big brutish sod, apparently I owe him something. I keep telling him that a drunken promise means bugger all. But he doesn’t listen. He keeps making things harder for me. He looked the cruel yuletide spectre but with a pointy hat, the lesser of two evils. He took me in from the bitter arctic winds and promised me ambrosia and champagne.
Most of us have just given up on making New Year’s resolutions by now because usually if we haven’t forgotten about them by January 2nd, we will find it a real struggle to keep them. In fact, researchers have found that only 1 in 10 people are successful in keeping resolutions even if they are confident of success. So what is this small percentage of people doing right? Psychologists have come across a few useful tips that really work in making you healthier, more organised and more successful in the New Year.
goals public and got support from their friends.
The main piece of advice you need to know is to be realistic and there are several ways to do this. First you should plan in advance. This means you should devote time to working out exactly what you plan to achieve and why, rather than exclaiming at the stroke of midnight, in a state of complete inebriation, that you want to become a rock star when the closest you’ve come to playing an instrument was knocking your mates guitar over.
Don’t kid yourself either, it is supposed to be challenging and demanding. The most common new year’s resolutions focus on improving health, either by eating sensibly, exercising more, or cutting out smoking, but these are all very difficult to achieve especially if the most exercise you get is from walking up the stairs! Statistics have shown that giving up smoking seemed to be the hardest goal to stick to, with threequarters of people lighting up again in the New Year. Professor Wiseman says this is because “there are physiological responses involved, it’s an addiction”. Losing weight has also proved difficult since only 30% tend to succeed. Whatever you decide to achieve I can guarantee it won’t be a walk in the park, so to make it worth the while you should reward yourself. Lost a couple of pounds? Go out and buy that sexy new
When planning your new year you should also remember that you can learn from previous resolution success rates, for example men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in a system where small measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying “lose weight”), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their
It is also suggested that you should stick to one resolution at a time to keep it simple and allow you to concentrate all of your efforts into it. This is also a lot easier when you don’t repeat resolutions. Richard Wiseman, a professor of psychology at Hertfordshire University explains “If people think they can do it they probably can, but if they’ve already tried and failed, their self-belief will be low”.
outfit you’ve had your eye on. Been good with money? Have your mates round for a cheap celebratory DVD night. If you give yourself a solid goal system and make sure reward yourself once you achieve them you will literally make yourself work harder to get something nice out of it. No pain, no gain!! So there you go, before you decide to give up completely on New Year’s Resolutions just remember
that it isn’t that hard to do as long as you follow advice and stay realistic! Don’t worry if you haven’t made one this year either because there is no rule saying you can start improving your life on New Year’s Day. If you want to give up smoking or start getting a bit healthier then just start now! If it doesn’t feel very official however it isn’t long now until lent so you can at least start thinking about what you’re going to give up then.
He took away my wind up fish that a dear friend bought me. He’s gotten me into an awkward and somewhat forlorn position between lovers, which worsens by the day. He’s taken all of my bloody money, as per usual. Though more importantly He made me drink all of the port! Smiling crookedly to himself as I did so. I despise him and all that he is, so I’m in the bath, choosing to sit here until he dies or finds someone else to bully.
Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions Want to improve your life this year too but stuck for ideas? Take your pick from the list below! • Get more exercise – Take advantage of the gym facilities at Anglia Ruskin or why not just get off a stop early on the bus and walk the rest of the way. • Save money – Loads of banks have some brilliant interest rates on ISA accounts so you can be better off when you start paying back your student loan. • Get a better grades – Self explanatory really. You are at university to get brainier after all! • Drink less alcohol – Always feeling a bit poor, hung over or just incredibly humiliated? There’s a simple solution! • Quit smoking – I think we’d all prefer our lungs a nice pink colour thank you very much. • Reduce stress – University will only get tougher, and you don’t want your hair to start falling out in your 20s! • Help others – The Red Cross are looking for young volunteers, just check out their website. • Be more assertive – don’t let anyone walk over you, you deserve better than that. • Learn something new everyday – bet you didn’t know Paris Hilton has size 11 feet did you. • Become more environmentally responsible – how big is your carbon footprint??
10 CULTURE
Culture
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Roundup
Bobbie Davis
Chris Glithero Culture Editor
Surf ’s Up Pointlessly Entertaining Websites Chris Glithero
It has been said that students have perfected the act of procrastination to a pinnacle of non-achievement. Some might even call it a highly developed artform, particularly in the early days of dissertation writing and essay avoidance. With this in mind, The Apex presents you with a selection of utterly useless yet entertaining websites, for when you just can’t refresh Facebook one more time. www.arminbwagner.com/ crates_and_barrels A nostalgic visual history of crates and barrels in computer games. Nuff said. www.grudge-match.com/ History/index.html Ever wondered who would win in a fight between Rocky and Rambo? Clint Eastwood and John Wayne? How about if Bruce Willis took on the Death Star? No? Well these guys clearly have and in their archives you can find hundreds of humorous commentaries on such memorable match-ups as The Village People vs. The Spice Girls, and Stephen Hawkings vs. Dr. Strangelove. www.simulation-argument.com There is a particular school of thought that contends that we, and indeed our entire world, are merely part of a vast computer simulation set up for tourism purposes by a future hi-tech society. On this website, fans of The Matrix, The Nines and The Truman Show can find yet more reasons to doubt their own existence. www.dirtycarart.com Classic, much-loved works of art, faithfully recreated on the windscreens of dirty cars. www.blackstump.com.au/ bizarre.htm A vast collection of links to pointlessly entertaining websites, ensuring that you can keep procrastinating in new and ever less productive ways, right up to deadline day.
Christmas break is over and it’s back to lectures, essay’s and long nights in the library but we’re all still entitled to have a little fun now and then and for some of us it’s our last semester to enjoy the delights Cambridge and Chelmsford have to offer. So why not enjoy a few nights out that don’t involve the usual clubbing scene. In Cambridge, The Junction offers a wide range for all music lovers. Southern California ska-punk band Reel Big Fish play on 9th February for one night only. Then on the 10th, Woomble, Drever and McCuster, 3 of Scotland’s most successful young musicians, join together with an energetic contemporary folk sound. The Fiver takes over on the 13th, bringing a mix of five live bands- Big 10, Naked Squid, The Mavericks of Love, A.RT. and How To Kill a Conversation- a combination of musical talents sure to please any audience. The Corn Exchange also boasts big music acts with the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour, featuring a line up of Glasvegas, Friendly Fires, White Lies and Florence and The Machine- some of the hottest rising names on the indie music scene. Over in Chelmsford at the Civic Theatre That’ll Be The Day is a
back to back performance of nonstop classics from the 50’s to the 90’s with comedic routines thrown in for good measure. Playing on the 9th and 10th of February, with students getting in for £5, this looks set to be a cheap fun sing-along night out. Also playing in the Civic Theatre
from the 24th to 28th is Pirates of Penzance, a Broadway version of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic. Directed by Ray Jeffery, this take on the original is filled with music, wit and plenty of humour. For filmgoers, The Punisher: Warzone opens on February 6th - a story about infamous vigilante
Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson), known as The Punisher, who brutally assaulted a group of mobsters, disfiguring gangster Billy Russoti and killing an undercover F.B.I agent. Six years on, Russoti and the F.B.I are after revenge in this violent thriller bound to keep you glued to the screen.
Incoming: Films 2009 Phil Greer
Clint Eastwood’s much anticipated return to acting comes in the form of Gran Torino. Hitting cinema’s on February 20th, it tells the story of Walt Kowalski, a grumpy 78 year old Korean war veteran who lives solely for his classic car. When a local Chinese chao attempts the car’s theft ol’ Walt confronts him with an assault rifle, however this film is about penance and putting aside old prejudice. Clint, who also directs, felt that this role and his own return to acting was, “too good to ignore.” Coming on March 6th is the one comic book movie that fan-boys everywhere are wetting their pants over. Watchmen. Set in an alternate reality 1985, Director Zack Snyder says: “In this movie
Batman can’t get it up, Superman doesn’t like people and the bad guy wants peace.” As a massive fan of the graphic novel I am part of the pant wetting masses and simply can’t wait- every press release makes me tingle and the prospect of seeing Billy Crudup painted blue and wandering around naked makes me weak at the knees. Following one comic book adaption is another, slightly weaker idea- X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Released on May the 1st it is set several decades prior to the first X-Men film and explores the past of James Howlett (aka Wolverine). The appearance of comic-fan faves Gambit and Deadpool should be enough to
satisfy but I personally worry about whether this film should exist or not. Another probable blockbuster is JJ Abrams geekasm, Star Trek. The film chronicles the early days of James T Kirk (played surprisingly by relatively unknown Chris Pine) and the Enterprise crew as they begin their service and do battle with Romulan Nero (Eric Bana). I myself am not much of a trekkie but imagine that Abrams will do a stand up job, although many fans have expressed their concern. Looking far into the future, November 9th sees the release of Wes Anderson’s stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox, featuring
regular Anderson actors, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray and Cate Blanchett, as well as George Clooney as the voice of Mr Fox. Decent British Cinema is rare. Which is why the promise that 2009 will bring the film 44 Inch Chest to our screens is one that should be met with joy and celebration. Brought to us by the team behind 2000’s indie genius Sexy Beast, 44 Inch Chest stars Ray Winstone as a man who discovers his wife is having an affair and sets up a team of dubious underworld sorts to kidnap and interrogate her and her lover. Expect plenty of F words and C bombs and probable amounts of violence but also a brilliant script and terrific acting. One to look forward too.
ReFreshers
This centre pull-out provides you with information you may need to know this semester. Including everything from joining a new club or society to shape up and meet friends in the new year to job hunting. We hope you find this useful, and if you have any feedback then please e-mail l.pool@angliastudent.com or visit www.angliastudent.com.
Keep that new years resolution: join a sports club or society... (Information on more Clubs & Societies can be found at www.angliastudent.com)
Cheerleeding (Cambridge)
Cheerleading is getting more and more popular in England. It is the best sport ever!!!! Well we think so anyway! Forget the gym, you’ll tone up a treat and use muscles you never thought you had! We are currently in our third year of running :D we have gone from strength to strength since we started up! Our main aim is to train hard to get ready for competitions which we go to 1-2 times a year. When we can we also cheer for Anglia Ruskin’s American football team; The Phantoms, at their home games on Sundays! Training is Tuesday nights 7:30pm- 9:30pm in the gym at Chesterton Sports Centre, meeting by the university gym at 7pm for the minibus. We enjoy meeting up outside training and have regular socials on Wednesday nights throughout the semester. Anyone is welcome to come along to watch or take part in a training session and then you can decide whether cheerleading is right for you! If you are interested please get in contact, details are below :) Vicki Farmer (Cheerleading President) 07908672447 http://www.facebook.com/group. php?gid=2425579642&ref=ts
Netball
(Chelmsford) Since 2006 Netball has grown from strength to strength- awarded with the “Team of the Year” award in 2007/2008 season. We are currently fighting our way through the BUSA league after being promoted last year and joint top of this years table with more games to play. If you would like to be part of this successful club then don’t hesitate drop me an email on siandsmudge@hotmail.com and come along to training sessions; held on Mondays 4-5 and Fridays 1-2 at Kelsey Kerridge. Looking forward to seeing new faces soon, Laura Smith, Netball Captain.
CUR1350 We are CUR1350 the award winning radio station for the university students, staff, academics and alumni of Cambridge, it doesn’t matter if you’re full time, part time, at Cambridge Uni or Anglia Ruskin we have something to offer you. From listening to us on 1350am (in the city) or online at www.cur1350.co.uk or from getting involved. We offer a variety of programming including entertainment, talk, arts and drama and a wide spectrum of specialist music. We are growing our coverage to include more sport and societies activity at both universities, at present we cover the Bumps rowing competition which includes ARU’s own boat club, in addition to this we will be covering the ARU Student Union Elections with a Radio hustings as well as announcing the results live on air. Anyone can get involved with CUR1350 we are always looking for presenters, reporters and journalists, technical engineers and more, all roles and positions receive training, support and development and we have had many of our alumni go on to have successful careers in Radio and the Media. The Station is run by the Management Committee made up of volunteers. It is a great experience, good for the CV and you have great opportunities to make contacts in the industry For more information about getting involved with the Station head to www.cur1350.co.uk/getinvolved, the management positions are appoints at the AGM, which this year will be held on the 1st of March for more information about
Jujitsu
(Chelmsford) Jitsu is a martial art based on the traditional styles of Jiu Jitsu that originated and developed in Japan. The core of the art comprises a system of throws,
joint locks and strikes. Based on the principal of using an aggressor’s energy to their own disadvantage, Jitsu skills can be used by anyone to counter aggressive situations ranging from unwanted harassment to armed physical assault. If you have ever wanted to try a martial art, meet new people or just wanted to try something different. Come give us a try you can contact us by email or phone: 07745 658949 jitsu@angliastudent.com.
Womens Football
The Women’s football team is a fabulous team to join! Training is at Linton College every Tuesday evening for various matches and tournaments in the University leagues. Although champions of the BUCS tournament, we’d love to attract more players and further improve our game. We also enjoy relaxed kick abouts on Parker’s Piece and Coleridge Road Rec and if you love to go out, you’ll find the social nights more intense than the football! Get fit and have fun at the same time with our friendly players, whether you’ve never played before or you’ve played all your life you’ll be welcomed onto the team, whatever ability.
Chelmsford gets Gold Congratulations to all our students who took part in the Southern England Students Sports Athletics meeting at Lee Valley Athletics Centre on Wednesday December 3rd. The Indoor meet was held in the prestigious world class facilities at Pickett’s Lock, and we are delighted to report that James Shane took Gold in the 3000m and reordered a personnel best time of 8:29.4. James Shane was awarded a Anglia Ruskin Sports Scholarship for the 2008/9 academic year and is based on our Chelmsford campus.
12 RE-FRESHERS
CAMBRIDGE Tony Lee XXX Hypnosis Show:
Tues 10th Feb 7:30pm-Late SU Bar World famous hypnotist (and Cage fighter!) Tony Lee travels all the way from Canada to bring his uniquely funny XXX rated Hypnosis show to the Academy! The show “may” include Swearing, Adult themes and hilarious antics. Don’t turn up if you are easily offended! He has performed all over the world and highlights include the Edinburgh Fringe! Tickets are just £4 on the door (but we’ll also put a limited amount online if you want to guarantee entry! (our last hypnotist show sold out!!!)! Doors open at 7:30pm to allow people to be seated before the show starts. Advanced Tickets: http://www. sutickets.com/event/43398
Flirt @ the SU Bar:
Fri 6th Feb Battle of the Sexes Rock Gods vs Pop Princesses It’s the annual battle of the sexes; last year the girls beat the boys hands down, who will emerge victorious this year to win free entry to the following flirt? Fri 13th Feb Valentines Pink Party We’re raising money for testicular and breast cancer awareness charities at our valentine’s pink party! Will you meet that special someone at flirt?
CHELMSFORD Laughter Lounge Tuesday 3rd Feb @ the SU Bar A night of live comedy at the SU Bar. Jimmy McGhie Benny Boot Tom Craine & MC’d by Kevin Shepheard. 8pm - Midnight £3 Entry Wunderbar Every Wednesday in the SU Bar Drinks from £1! 8pm - Late FREE Entry Lounge Sessions Every Friday in the SU Bar New cocktail menu! FREE Entry 8pm - Late
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Campaigns: Up & Coming... Lisa Pool
Last semester saw the birth of the Freshers Opinion Poll, in which students had the chance to vote on the priority campaigns for the year ahead. This resulted in the issue of Higher Education Funding coming in as top priority over all campuses and the issue surrounding travel coming in 2nd place overall, however it was top priority for students who voted in Chelmsford. The campaign surrounding Higher Education Funding kicked off with the launch of the NUS report Broke & Broken and a regional day of action to lobby local MPs and parliaments took place on 5th November in Cambridge. This campaign is still ongoing as we managed to target over 47 MPs with the letter writing campaign at the end of last semester, which we are still awaiting responses from the MPs. As the Travel Motion (see www. angliastudent.com for full motion) came in as the highest priority for students in Chelmsford, this will be the focus for the Students’ Union this semester. We are beginning by finding out from students on that campus about issues they have surrounding travel, and gathering possible solutions to create an outcome for the campaign by asking students to text our dedicated campaign phone: 07977978660. These suggestions or complaints will be gathered together and a report will be created and feedback to both the University and the local council. The report will create an action plan for a visual and effective campaign that will be rolled out in week 9. If you study in Chelmsford you may have already seen the strategically placed green banner on the side of the Faculty Building, and you should be starting to see other posters and publicity shortly. For those of you who study on other campuses but still have travel nightmares please feel free to get in touch and make it clear which campus you are from so we can feedback and help with your issues. The next big campaign for the Students’ Union, and indeed the University, is encouraging final year students to fill out the National
Student Survey (NSS). The NSS is already available to fill out, however in week 3 of this semester the Students’ Union will be running a very visual campaign including a prize draw at the close of the NSS. The prize draw is run by an external company and it will randomly select 2 students that have filled out the NSS to win a £250 Thomson travel voucher each. The NSS has also induced a number of changes within the University to improve student experience, which has included the re-introduction of Personal Tutors and the collection of marked assignments is now faculty organised, hopefully resulting in better feedback for students. It is important to remember that this semester is the elections period; one of the most important times for the Students’ Union and of course students. This is the time where you get to vote for the people you think would be your best representatives, and your vote does make a difference. Nominations open Thursday 19th February and close again on the 25th February. So if you are thinking of running in the Elections, either for a Part-Time or full time Sabbatical role now would be a good time to get in touch with the current Sabbatical Officers for advice and guidance. There are a number of open office sessions for anyone to attend, dates for these sessions along with more detailed information on the elections can be found at www.angliastudent. com. Voting begins Monday 9th March and ends with ‘The Count’ (this year held in Cambridge) on Thursday 12th March. The first two days of voting will be soley online to allow a chance for parttime and distance learners to have their vote. This will be followed by paper ballots on both the Cambridge & Chelmsford campuses in a number of differnt locations. There are also a number of welfare campaigns in the pipeline, including a campaign after the easter holidays focusing on healthy food, but not as we know it. There is no name for the campaign as yet but the ideas surround heathly food and the way it makes you feel.
To keep up to date or give us feedback on any of the campaigns you have read about visit www.angliastudent.com or e-mail info@angliastudent.com. Text the campaigns phone on the topic of travel with suggestions on how to improve it, or any problems you may be having: 07977978660.
Amateur Dramatic Club The Amateur Dramatic Club was formed in 1855 by a group of gentlemen students of the University of Cambridge, a couple of years after the repeal of the University Statute specifically forbidding drama. In the face of considerable opposition from University authorities they raised sufficient funds to buy the freehold on a small building, the Hoop Inn, on Park Street to use as a theatre in which to perform. The Club’s fortunes varied over the years, seeing the theatre through the disastrous fire of 1933 and subsequent rebuilding until 1973 when, due to financial problems, the Club was practically bankrupt. The University stepped in and paid off the Club’s debts, leasing the building from the Club for 5 pence a year for 75 years. The original theatre of the Hoop Inn is almost exactly where the present day stage lies. The ADC Theatre is now Britain’s oldest University playhouse. The impact of the ADC on British Theatre is almost inestimable; four of the five directors of the National Theatre (Sir Peter Hall, Richard Eyre, Sir Trevor Nunn and Nicholas Hytner) are old alumni, and what became known (perhaps unfairly) as the ‘Cambridge Mafia’ ruled Stratford from the founding of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961 until the early 1980s. Today, the theatre is maintained by four permanent staff, leaving the Club to look after what happens on stage. All students in further education in Cambridge (Cambridge University, Anglia Ruskin University, Language Schools etc.) are entitled to join the club, take part in productions, stand for the Committee and vote at General Meetings. There’s never been a better time to get involved. Over the last four years the Theatre has undergone a dramatic £2 million redevelopment, which has seen disabled access to the auditorium, stage, bar and control
boxes installed, the front of house areas completely refurbished, the backstage areas reorganised, the stage space expanded and the auditorium seating replaced. There’s also a completely new soundproof studio space, the Larkum Studio, which can be used for rehearsals, talks and performances. If you’re interested in taking part in forthcoming ADC productions, the most important thing to do is join our weekly email lists which detail auditions and production vacancies for all shows in Cambridge (not just at the ADC Theatre!). Go to www.cuadc.org, click on ‘Get Involved’ and you’ll see a link there for ‘Email lists’. You’ll also find the committee in the ADC Bar, in the Theatre, every Wednesday evening between 9-11pm. For more information come along for a drink, check the website, or email Tim at president@cuadc.org. ADC Shows coming up this term: Le Fil 8pm, Sat 7th - Tue 10th Feb @ Outside The Big Book for Girls by Joe Richards 11pm, Wed 18th - Sat 21st Feb @ ADC Theatre Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov (translated by Rory Mullarkey) 7.45pm, Tue 17th - Sat 21st Feb @ ADC Theatre Matinee 2.30pm, Sat 21st Feb @ ADC Theatre Richard II by William Shakespeare 7.45pm, Tue 24th - Sat 28th Feb @ ADC Theatre The Chairs by Eugene Ionesco 11pm, Wed 4th - Sat 7th Mar @ ADC Theatre
RE-FRESHERS 13
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE4 2008/09
Calling All Jobseekers! Adriana Petcu
As we all know, whether we like it or not there will come a time when we will have to find ourselves a job and start living on our own wages. For some of us the time is now, during the studies at the university. This is how everything gets upside down and on the run. Not only do we have to keep a diary because of the 1000 things we need to remember to do for school but we also need to think about mixing the university schedule with the one we have at work. That is pretty hard considering the fact that from time to time we also need to squeeze in some time for our friends or even for a quick visit to the doctor. But having a job is the best case scenario. There are lots of students that are not so lucky when it comes to finding a job. Knowing people in that situation I asked myself what is luck in this type of situation. I believe luck is something that you can make. By knowing who to ask for help and where to go, by representing the person needed for the job you want can make you your own lucky star. While I was searching for a job I have gathered a lot of information that I wish to share with all of the people struggling with their unemployed status. Here are the steps that you can follow in order to make your search more pleasant and to increase your chances in finding a job that you like and need. Make up your mind. Is it the job title that you are interested in or the working pattern? These are two situations where you should act totally different. Let’s say you find yourself in the first category. Once you have settled on what job to look out you should ask yourself some questions that will help you focus on the exact job that will suit you: do you have experience in the domain? Are you qualified for the specific role or do you need a job that also offers training? How far away from your home and the university would you prefer to work? This should be at a comfortable distance because you may need to rush from university to work and vice-versa. When you have it all clear in your mind do not stray from the path you have chosen because it can make you feel bad about yourself. I’m telling you this because I did the exact opposite having a job that was not
Photo: ARU Marketing challenging me, it wasn’t what I wanted and I realised that doing a job that you don’t enjoy can be like carrying a huge mountain on your shoulders. There are times when you are pressured to have any sort of job but my advice is to never forget your goals. For the ones more interested in the working pattern my only advice is to look for any jobs that might suit your situation making sure that the word “flexible” found in the add means that the employer will offer you a flexible schedule that will work good around university hours. Build up your CV. There are a lot of places where you can find advice on how to create a CV. You can go at the Employment Bureau located in the university or at the Jobcentreplus. Another source of inspiration can be found on the internet. The idea of a CV is to show the best of you, your strengths and abilities, to create an image for the employer of what type of job you are looking for and an idea of the schedule that would suit you. Do not forget about the cover letter which plays a big role in the decision of the employer. It’s true that your background, studies and abilities count a lot when choosing you for an interview but
the employer is very interested in your attitude as well. You should write the cover letter as if you are the best person for the role, focusing on your qualities as an employee and showing that the interest of the company will be your interest as well. Obviously the cover letter will differ from job to job but you must pick out the essence and use it wisely. Where to look for jobs? The fastest way to search for jobs in the comfort of your own home is through the internet. There are a lot of job sites there to help you. For your own safety my advice is to go for the well known ones and also to always check the companies advertised. With the help of Google you can check out the background, the address, and the telephone numbers and see if the information is real. You can never know who is behind the advertised vacancy so you must always double check the information you received. You wouldn’t want to end up in a dangerous situation instead of an interview. Always let one or more close people know where and when the interview you are going to takes place. I would use this advice for all job adverts. Another place to look for jobs is in the local newspaper or job specific
magazines. An extra help are the employment agencies which operate for different job sectors. Some of them are specialized in admin/ office jobs, some in IT, catering and so on. For a full list of local agencies ask at the Jobcentreplus. There you can also find job ads that were taken through the jobcentre, pick the ones you like and print them out. After that you can give the phone calls you need, using the phones provided by the Jobcentreplus. Sometimes there are good jobs that are not advertised. Think about the job you want and go straight to the source. Don’t be afraid to ask personally if there are any vacancies. You might have a good surprise doing this. Also by showing up yourself and not just sending a CV creates an image for the employer to remember you by. You are finally called for an interview. I know you are very eager to get that job and a little bit more scared then you thought you will be but when you are at the interview please here me when I say to keep yourself in a calm and professional way. A very excited person might scare of the employer and can easily send a false message about
yourself ending up in not giving you the job. Besides the rule of “being on time” for the interview you must take a minute or two and look in the mirror. Is the person in front of you an image of what the job mean? Don’t forget that the first impression is very important for everybody and so does for the employer. You must look like the person he would hire. If the beginning of the interview looks promising then the rest will go more smoothly then it would if opposite. Confidence is also something to show off but without turning it into stubbornness. Remember to have a good motivation of why you want that specific job and put all your skills and qualities upfront. Instead of continuously “praising” yourself I would suggest to act more human because perfection does not exist and you will loose credibility. You may be thinking now about the economic crisis and of the fact that there are fewer job vacancies now then there were last year but don’t panic and do not loose faith. If you look for job adds you will see that there are still a lot left so keep “hunting” them. Good luck!
CULTURE 15
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Digging for Bones: Eternal Dawn of the Comedy Dinosaur Fionn Pooler
With the release of the latest Jim Carrey vehicle Yes Man, the ageold question must again be raised: How does he keep getting work?
Cupid to trade arrow’s for Hypodermics
Love is quite a hard thing to put into words, but as I’m unable to show you my interpretative dance on paper I’ll have a crack at it. According to the dictionary it’s ‘a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person’ or ‘a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection’. However the dictionary is clearly written by a knob-job as those who have experienced love would describe it as ‘a never ending period of life in which you hope the object of your affection never finds out what you’re really like in fear that they will leave you to die crying alone in a cave.’ Cynicism aside, people want to be loved, and some are willing
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love is nothing more than ‘a series of chemical events’
He’s not the only one. Robin Williams, a truly funny standup in his day, continues to put out low-quality family films even though nobody wants him to. Eddie Murphy was once the biggest comedy star in Hollywood, but his ego inflated so much he insisted on playing every single part in every film. He’s putting half of Hollywood out of business and yet they still encourage him - even expensive crap and all that dating rubbish, just con them into seeing Dr Young who will effectively give them a date rape drug so that you can live happily ever after. And hell, if that doesn’t work out for you the Doc also believes that he can make people fall out of love using a similar method, making this entire venture virtually risk free.
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to do anything to get it, even if it means seeking help from the world of science. Dr Larry Young, a professor at Emory University in Atlanta, believes he has found a way to make people fall in love with the first person they see using chemicals that already exist in the brain. Dr Young argues that love is nothing more than ‘a series of chemical events’ that bond one human to the next, as these chemicals increase our abilities to read other peoples emotions which helps form trust between one another (and who says romance is dead?). So instead of wooing the one you love with
handedly making toilet humour smart, have gone the way of ol’ Carrey and are currently in preproduction on a film which sums up this article better than anything else - Walter the Farting Dog. The prosecution rests.
after every last ounce of his talent and charisma has evaporated. Steve Martin was never very funny to begin with, so we’ll ignore him and move on. Even those shining lights of nineties comedy, the Farrelly brothers, responsible for single-
But is there hope? Is there any way
to enjoy comedy films now that even the Apatow/Rogen Second Coming has faltered? There is a way, and that way is Irony. Go watch Beverly Hills Chihuahua and appreciate it for what it is - utter, glorious crap. Or, if that sounds too much like painful hard work, just wait for the next Steve Carell film. He’s always funny.
“They misunderestimated me” – Farewell to the Idiot King Chris Glithero
Although this may seem a good idea, the scientists working on the project are fully aware that it raises a number of ethical issues, as creating something which has the ability to alter someone’s decisions could be used irresponsibly. Another argument suggests that the infringement of science’s manipulation over love destroys the spontaneity of the experience and shouldn’t be allowed to happen. In my opinion, drugging someone up to fall in love with you is the wrong way to go about things, especially when alcohol is much cheaper. However, in the words of Tina turner ‘What’s love got to do with it?’ Wise words Tina. Wise, wise words.
As America’s dumbest president departs the Whitehouse, its time to take a look back and reflect on eight years of bewildering verbal butchery, illiterate buffoonery and plain insanity. Over to you Dubya…
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I’ve been in the Bible every day since I’ve been the president.
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G
arnham’s ander
Carrey joins Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams and countless other washed-up ‘comedians’ who inexplicably keep making films. What’s even more astonishing is that people keep watching them. Of course there is a reason for Carrey’s fan base - he used to be good. He made Ace Ventura, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber. These were all enjoyable, fresh and most of all funny films. He even made some good ‘serious’ films - The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for example. But then The Majestic happened. Although it might not have, as nobody saw it. And then came countless other mediocreto-terrible films where he gurned, grimaced and counted to 23 to no comedic effect.
2000: “I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.” 2001: “I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe — I believe what I believe is right.” 2002: “I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we’re really talking about peace.” 2003: “I think war is a dangerous place.” 2004: “Free societies are hopeful societies. And free societies will be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience, who kill at the whim of a hat.”
2005: “See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.” 2006: “The only way we can win is to leave before the job is done.” (speaking about the war in Iraq) 2007: “Information is moving — you know, nightly news is one way, of course, but it’s also moving through the blogosphere and through the Internets.” 2008: “I’ve been in the Bible every day since I’ve been the president.”.
16 MUSIC
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Listings...
Music
Cambridge Angeline Liles Music Editor
Beat Box to Flute Box
Frank Turner – Monday 19th January – The Junction Innerpartysystem – Monday 26th January – Soul Tree The Streets – Tuesday 27th January – Corn Exchange Buzzcocks – Thursday 29th
Claire Wilkins
So when people ask you if the flute is something you would consider as a popular instrument to play you would probably say no. I thought the same until I saw Nathan Lee on Rude Tube, and then live in Covent Garden. Take a classical wind instrument and then a beat boxer. What do you get? FLUTEBOXING! Now what do you think? He takes playing the flute to a whole higher level of cool! He found fame through Youtube for his rendition of ‘Knightrider’ with a fellow beat boxer, tom tom drums and an MC. If you went to Glastonbury 2008 you may have seen him showing off this rare talent on the Shangri La stage. Lee drew in an audience of around forty people at the show I saw in Covent Garden, including a camera crew and reporters. The crowd took off like a Mexican wave spreading a cheer around the area, with people of all ages fascinated by this man’s new talent.Surely playing for The Prodigy on Radio 1 and then opening for them at Brixton Academy will have opened more
opportunities for Lee in the music industry, amongst being recognised to a wider audience. To think that he started off as a labourer who decided to take up classical lessons seems rather insane. He admits to regularly beat boxing during maths lessons in school and admits that his main interest in music was hiphop. Mixing Hip-Hop, Reggae and Drum ‘N’ Bass with Indian Classical, Jazz and Funk melodies, it is suggested that this form of music could be the next big thing to hit the charts. In terms of expanding his career and sound, Lee has started incorporating many different instruments. So far the only person that Nathan Lee has been compared to is Jason Mraz. Even though they don’t play the same instrument, the appreciation they have for their instruments and fans is shown in such an honest way. So it’s clearly not just for the money then. If this really is the Next Big Thing, then it won’t be guitars and drums that people will be dying to learn. It’ll be the flute, clarinet or even the trombone. Oh, the possibilities!
Recommended! Jeremy Warmsley – Wednesday 28th January – Portland Arms A graduate of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, Warmsley went on to develop his unique electronicainfluenced approach to melodic songwriting. After touring with Regina Spektor and The Shins in 2006, playing at several festivals last summer, and with his debut album released last September, Warmsley’s definitely on his way up.
Quite Great Simon Thomas
Quite Great was established by Pete Bassett, after working for years as head of public relations at Jive, MCA and Polydor. The company has worked with acts such as Newton Faulkner, Nickelback and Chris Rea in their time. Whether you like the act or not, appreciate the success of Sandi Thom’s internet-spread sensation which they masterminded. So how do Quite Great end up working with the artists they do? “Bands, managers and labels find us, but sometimes we scout out new talent too. We hunt MySpace and sometimes labels approach us with acts” Jay Taylor tells the APEX. Jay works with the ‘Decade PR’ branch of the Quite Great umbrella, the area working on nurturing new talent in the alternative music world. This umbrella spans far
wider than to merely encompass music however. ‘2GR8 Consumer PR’ works on things ranging from music schools to everyday products, from fashion to food. Quite Great also, APEX is told, works with a website named ‘Artists Without A Label (AWAL)’ which has subtly, yet significantly, boosted the profiles of some of the most famous acts of the past five years, turning profiles into careers. “Through our contacts” Jay explains “we’re able to work as a full service agency. We’re capable of taking a song and getting it as far as hit single status.” “With new acts, deals can vary. We’re capable of working out deals of upfront payments or percentage splits over time.” The truly interesting thing, however, is the talent sought after by
the industry at the moment is far from limited to new music acts. “A little while back, there was an advert where it appeared Gene Kelly was dancing to the soundtrack of a Volkswagen advert, [..] students are helping to launch singles and products through clever videos and there’s quite some demand for this” If anybody remembers Christmas number one hopefuls that weren’t written by Leonard Cohen then the next story might amuse. “Status Quo [were] gunning for number 1 and were very interested in creating a viral ad campaign for it, like put your face on Quo or something” Companies are increasingly looking for persons, particularly students, to come up with ideas for such campaigns and to take them on to work for them on a
freelance basis. “What we want to do here at Quite Great is to offer students with a creative streak the chance to get their break in the music industry. If there are any students reading this working in web/ graphic design, film/ video then we’d love to hear from them basically! All they need to do is email harvey@ quitegreat.co.uk” Looking at the sheer catalogue of accomplishments by the company, I have to ask: Why so modest? Why only ‘quite great’ PR? “[Laughs] This is a common question, it all goes back to something our MD Pete Bassett’s son used to say when he was younger..” Somewhat ambiguous but a great help, thanks to Jay Taylor and Quite Great for the interview.
January – The Junction Alkaline Trio – Wednesday 4th February – The Junction Reel Big Fish & Random Hand – Monday 9th February – The Junction Woomble, Drever & McCusker – Tuesday 10th February – The Junction The View – Thursday 19th February – The Junction Ray Lamontagne – Thursday 19th February – Corn Exchange NME Tour: Glasvegas & Friendly Fires & White Lies & Florence and The Machine – Friday 20th February – Corn Exchange Billy Ocean – Saturday 21st February – Corn Exchange Late Of The Pier – Sunday 22nd February – The Junction
Chelmsford Open Mic Night – Tuesday 3rd February – St. Anne’s Castle Torn Asunder – Saturday 7th February – The Twist Suzi:Won – Thursday 12th February – Barhouse Life of Byron – Friday 13th February – The Twist Zen Motel – Saturday 14th February – The Twist Acoustic Soul Night – Sunday 15th February – St. Anne’s Castle CASYS (Showcasing new bands) – Thursday 19th February – St. Anne’s Castle
MUSIC 17
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Music News Angeline Liles
Pete Doherty has announced the title of his new solo album, set to be released March 16th. Titled ‘Grace/Wastelands’, it will be preceded by the single ‘Last Of The English Roses’ on March 2nd, and will feature Graham Coxon (Blur) playing guitar on all but one track. Plans for a Nick Drake tribute CD are well under way, with Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Norah Jones and Jack Johnson all signed up to contribute. The project will also include a previously unreleased video of Heath Ledger on the accompanying DVD. Drake died from a suspected drug overdose in 1974, aged 26.
The BRIT Awards ceremony is beginning to flesh out in terms of acts confirmed. Set to take place February 18th at Earls Court, it will be hosted by Kylie Minogue, James Corden and Matthew Horne (the latter pair being of ‘Gavin and Stacey’ fame). Kings of Leon, Girls Aloud, Duffy and U2 will all be gracing the stage.
Grubby ex-glamrocker Gary Glitter (real name Paul Gadd) has dropped his appeal to have his name removed from the sex offenders register in the UK. Following his time in Vietnamese jail for sex crimes against children, Glitter was made to sign the register, an action he has been battling to reverse. His solicitor has withdrawn the appeal, and Glitter will remain on the register for life.
Snoop Dogg is appealing to all sources to get access into the UK. Originally denied entry in 2006 after a mildly violent fiasco at Heathrow Airport, the rapper is now calling on Paul
Lily Allen’s 2006 album ‘Alright, Still’ has, via Conservative Party leader David Cameron, fallen into the hands of newly-inaugurated American president Barack
Obama. Cameron also donated to Obama’s music collection albums by The Smiths, Gorillaz and Radiohead when the pair met at a conference in July.
Listen Out For... John Hazell
Florence and the Machine Florence Welch and The Machine have been buzzing in and out of the scene for the best part of two years now. Frequently collaborating with the likes of Kid Harpoon and everyone’s favourite silly hat wearer Lightspeed Champion. However, after a couple of singles and a tonne of live performances, Florence has managed to gain the kind of praise that singers like Adele were receiving around about this time last year. Take this coupled with the fact that she was voted first in the 2009 BRIT Awards Critics Choice section and it appears that the future is pretty bright for her. But all this is trivial. What does she actually sound like? Imagine Kate Bush fronting the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and put them in the middle of a Tim Burton Movie and I think you’ll come close. Florence and The Machine are
set to play the Cambridge Corn Exchange with White Lies on February 20th as part of the NME awards tour. Check out: ‘Dog days are over’ ‘Girl with one eye’
Lies as just another Joy Division clone. But while their synth driven melodies do hark back to ‘Love will tear us apart’ it doesn’t particularly matter, their colossal choruses should be enough to convert any neigh-sayer. It’s safe to say in a matter of months every indie disco will be packed with kids screaming the chorus ‘Let’s grow old together... and die at the same time’. Feast your ears upon: ‘To lose my life’
Dinosaur Pile Up Dinosaur Pile Up sound a little more like they come from Seattle in 1991 than Leeds in 2009. Still, singer Matt Bigland’s vocals along with guitar that’s thick enough to chew on seems to be steadily catching fans like dolphins in a fishing net. ‘Biffy, QOTSA, Foos’ - If any of those three abbreviations ring any bells, then this trio of giant prehistoric lizards is probably for you. One more thing - does the band name remind anyone else of that scene in Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong? You know...it’s the bit with the dinosaur pile up. Err...Listen to: ‘My rock n Roll’ ‘Love is a boat and we’re sinking’
White Lies I can just imagine it now. Upon hearing them for the first time, every music fundamentalist on earth will dismiss Ealing’s White
On the airwaves ... …Zaheer: ARU’s own Hip Hop musician/producer, whose songs will be showcased, along with an interview, on the BBC Asian Network on 2nd February between 10pm – Midnight, hosted by Radio 1 DJ Bobby Friction. Following this, his tracks will be played everyday that week. Tune in on a good old-fashioned radio or bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork, and check out his Myspace at myspace.com/zaheermusic, where he’ll be offering free downloads throughout the week.
18 REVIEW
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Re iew by William Shakespeare ADC Theatre, 13th – 17th January Director: David Brown Presented by: Cambridge University European Theatre Group 4/5 stars
It would not be unjust for me to begin my review by establishing that a great level of hype had been placed on this production. Indeed, the production itself had boasted that ‘this raw and vibrant new production by the Cambridge University European Theatre Group tells the tale afresh’ and featured the voice of Sir Derek Jacobi as Old Hamlet; expectations were inevitably high. The audience entered to a stage inhabited by ghoulish masked figures busying themselves with rope whilst Hamlet, appearing fragile and somewhat insane, sat on the forestage holding a candle, otherwise shrouded in darkness. The candle was snapped out and so it began. Within the first ten minutes of the production I was, sadly, weighing up whether I would return after the interval. All of the mood and tension which had been brilliantly set by a simple
pre-state had seemingly vanished once Old Hamlet’s ghost appeared. The creature, whilst fantastic in design (much credit to Production Designer- Georgia De Grey), seemed farcical in execution. For all of the life of me, and even with much reflection and discussion with those in agreement, I cannot establish why this was so. The production moved on, however, and gained momentum. Polonius and Hamlet’s witty exchanges were carried perfectly by David Brown and Jack
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All of these moments were some of the finest I have ever seen on stage.
Monaghan respectively and the show began to demonstrate fantastic potential. Despite the brilliance in performances by Patrick Warner, as Claudius, and Kate O’Connor, as Ophelia, I felt concerned that the show would only provide me with the promise of greatness. With the return to a midway state similar to the
Role Models Cat Ryson
opening one, and fearing a restart as slow as I had felt the opening (despite knowing the ghost was not due to return), I was cautious of returning to my seat. How glad I am that I did so. I could not have wished the second half to be more brilliant. The adjustment of wooden planks to form a vertical desk which Hamlet wrote on (which clearly cannot efficiently be described by this review), the sight of Ophelia floating motionless in a tank of water on stage, the swordfight between Laertes and Hamlet to the bitter conclusion, the curtain call. All of these moments were some of the finest I have ever seen on stage. Being as the show’s director was playing a major acting role in the first half, it might not be unjust to suggest this to be the reason why I preferred the second so greatly.
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Hamlet
Cassie Andrews Reviews Editor
Having seen the production, however, I have very much become an agent in the proliferation of the aforementioned hype and strongly suggest you look out for Mr Brown’s next directing venture and ETG’s next tour show. I guarantee that you will join me when you do. David Brown returns to direct “Three Sisters” at the ADC Theatre, Tuesday 17th February – Saturday 21st February
After solid supporting roles in some of the biggest comedies of the last few years, Paul Rudd finally takes a stab at being the leading man in, the Universal Pictures comedy, Role Models. Rudd plays Danny Donahue, a pessimistic thirty-something experiencing an early midlife crisis. Having spent the last ten years working for an energy drink company, Danny realises that he hasn’t achieved anything he’d wished for. Meanwhile his co-worker Wheeler (Sean William Scott) is happy coasting along. After a run-in with the law, Danny and Wheeler are ordered to complete one hundred and fifty hours of community service. They become ‘Bigs’, older brother type role models for young kids who are troubled or have working parents. Their ‘Littles’ are loudmouth, precocious Ronnie
Photo: Rebecca Pitt
(played enthusiastically by Bobb’e J Thompson) who immediately tries to get Wheeler fired; and Augie Farks (Christopher MintzPlasse shedding his McLovin persona) a gawky teen loner whose parents are unhappy with the time he spends dressed in a cape, recreating fairytale battles with other socially challenged reenactors. Rudd is immensely watchable as Danny but the movie has an uneven tone. Awkward pauses and long silences don’t always work and a lot of the jokes are obvious, cheap double-entandres; funny at times but throwaway. Jane Lynch, playing the former drug addict founder of Sturdy Wings steals every scene she’s in, just like she did in Forty Year Old Virgin. Perhaps that’s the problem with Role Models; it’s not anything we haven’t seen before in every buddy comedy churned out by the
Apatow production house with their revolving door of familiar faces. William Scott plays another version of his Stifler character from the American Pie franchise which adds to the unoriginal quality of the film. Elizabeth Banks’ comic talent is wasted in a small supporting role as Danny’s lawyer girlfriend and Bobb’e J Thompson is incredibly annoying as the brash kid with authority issues. Only Christopher Mintz-Plasse shines as Augie who is arguably the most mature character on screen, even if he’s only sixteen. The saving grace is the battle ground ending, with inspired costumes and hilarious faux action scenes. It’s not completely a case of ‘all the funny bits were in the trailer’ but don’t be fooled that this is anything but a mediocre comedy.
REVIEW 19
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
March of the Mono-testicled Fan-boys
Slumdog Millionaire
James Garnham
Cat Ryson
2008, the year that brought us some very lovely comics, has finally died it’s death leaving us with nothing more than bad hangovers and unexplained bleeding. Fear not though as 2009 seems to be even more brutal, with massive titles from all the big companies.
Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire is billed as the feel good movie of the year. A bold statement since we’re only into the first month of 2009. The film begins with Jamal (played by Skins very own Dev Patel), a tea boy at an Indian call centre, being tortured by police. After reaching the final stages of Who
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Wants To Be A Millionaire, the show’s host believes that he must have cheated. They refer to him as a ‘Slumdog’ and someone who couldn’t possibly be intelligent enough to answer his way to the million dollar question.
It’s a life on the streets, rather than a life of education that has given Jamal the ability to answer his questions. As the film progresses, the audience follows Jamal’s life
and the significant moments that occur which enable him to work his way to the final question on the show. More than anything, Slumdog Millionaire is a love story between Jamal and his childhood sweetheart Latika, who were brought together by tragedy and torn apart time after time.
is a natural, Jamal is a decent kid who never forgets the girl who he left behind. Many scenes are disturbing and distressing, but knowing that Jamal has at least made it to Millionaire allows the audience to escape the true-life relevance of life on the street for children free to exploitation.
To say the film is feel-good would be a lie. Jamal’s eighteen years of life have been a struggle to survive. After his Mother’s death, he and his brother Salim turn to petty theft to stay alive and while Salim
It’s not all doom and gloom though, the film shines with moments of fun. Jamal’s meeting with India’s biggest action star as a child, after a run in with a cess-pit, is a highlight. And ultimately, the
film is a love story, whose beating heart is a constant throughout the narrative.
Lily AllenThe Fear
Guns and All American Miley CyrusRoses- Better Rejects – Fly on the gives you hell Wall
Lily is back with her second album, It’s Not Me, It’s You. The quick witted, sharp tongued songstress returns after 3 years, bringing with her a slightly new sound. Allen incorporates electropop with her notoriously punchy, witty lyrics.
Better, is the second single off Chinese Democracy, but, with Axl Rose being the only original member left in this new line-up, will it live up to fans expectations?
Using her own life and fame as an influence, Lily has produced inspired lines such as ‘I am a weapon of massive consumption it’s not my fault, it’s how I’m programmed to function ‘ and ‘I’ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless, cos everyone knows that’s how you get famous’ . This single will definitely follow in the same footsteps as Allen’s previous releases. Cassie Andrews
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The performances are all flawless, with every moment feeling like a tense build-up to a future every audience member wishes for Jamal and Latika. Emotionally charged thoughout, It’s easy to see why Slumdog Millionaire is a front runner in the upcoming Oscars. The film is a triumph in storytelling and originality. If only more films matched up to its quality.
Well, this is definitely no Sweet Child O’Mine or November Rain. Yet it still holds elements of GnR which fans have come to know and love, especially in Rose’s hard hitting lyrics. Although, with guitarist Slash no longer in the bands line-up, some of the guitar licks are not as jaw dropping as some other GnR songs. But all in all, this is a good track and hopefully there will be more to come.
This ‘Weezer-esque’ single is the debut release off the Rejects’ third album When The World Comes Down. Showing an obvious stylistic shift from their punk rock roots of their self entitled first album and the 2005 release Move Along, to a softer indie rock, electro infusion. This single is definitely more main-stream than Rejects’ fans will be used to, but is it a bad thing? I think not. This easy listening single still holds ample amounts of the Rejects’ talents, although the song doesn’t showcase Tyson Ritter’s voice to its full ability. Both the single and new album are out now.
The latest 16 year old teeniebopper come actress’s new release is the follow up single to 7 Things, off her album Breakout. Being likened to Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, and Avril Lavigne, Cyrus is the newest of a long line of ‘rebellious’ teenage Bubblegum-pop artists to hit the UK charts. This single fits into the electro-pop genre, with heavier bass than Miley’s previous songs and use of synthesizers. Prepare yourself for another one of those annoyingly catchy songs, with a lack of lyrical genius and simple repetitive bass line. Fly On The Wall is due for release on the 16th of February.
3/5 stars
2.5/5 stars
1/5 stars
When asked which characters will appear in the comic Johns just replied ‘everyone’
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The performances are all flawless, with every moment feeling like a tense build-up
After the events of Secret Invasion, Marvel is flinging another 10,000 titles at the world to con the comic buying public into giving them our hard earned cash (the money grabbing S.O.B’s). The best of these titles is Bendis’ Dark Avengers which see’s an all new line up of Norman Osborne’s best and brightest taking up the mantles of the now fugitive superheroes. Lead by the mysterious Iron Patriot (quite possibly the oddest name of all time) this looks to
continue Bendis’ untouchable run as Marvel’s golden boy. After 5 years of planning by uber-genius Geoff Johns, 2009 finally sees the release of Blackest Night, the comic to end all comics that will probably be one of the best things ever written (biased much?). The plot follows the rise of the Black Lanterns, an army made entirely of the deceased characters of the DC universe wreaking havoc on Earth. When asked which characters will appear in the comic Johns just replied ‘everyone’, making fan-boys across the world rip off their left nuts in sacrifice to their new God. Image comics are also storming out a big title this year with the release of the multi-title crossover Image United in which pretty much all the characters in the image universe meet up for a big fight. Not a lot is known about the plot so far but with writing from Kirkman and art from nearly all the image founders it’s certain to be one of the highlights of 2009.
20 OPINION
&Opinion
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Editorial Crappy New Year Ben Lewis
The SAGA is over, that standing for the seasonal alcoholism and gluttony that is Christmas and new year it is now time for detox and sales, but what do we have to look forward to in the coming year apart from green tea and equally green food. Well there is the credit crunch making us the poorest students since the war, which is depressing, as the only war going on is one we are lead to believe we have already won. There is global warming although it doesn’t feel all that warm at the moment add to that the fact that government is warning us that the summer will be worse, reaching dangerous highs. We are entering a new year that if the newspapers could be believed is in apocalyptic proportions, Russia’s cutting off gas to Europe, job cuts, banks and commercial institutions going into liquidation and the escalating military action in Gaza. Who will save our troubled planet and save the year? Al Gore attempted to save the planet but was robbed by the American election process and so instead decided to make documentaries, Michael Moore would rather wait for something to happen rather than do anything about it so he can poke fun at the people with more power and influence then he has and make some money of their backs, and so we are left with Barrack Obama. He has already joined forces with Spiderman in the latest comic of the latex clad arachnid, who only has two legs where is he hiding the rest?
Illustration by Dean Patterson Which brings me to question where am I hiding my optimism, is it hidden behind the veil of negativity spewed before you previously or maybe the negativity floats to the surface with the added buoyancy of facts. We are doomed, baton down the hatches, if you have any and prepare for a year of furthering financial ruin which can only be redeemed by your increasingly educated minds. We also have the wonderfully and I must add dangerously hot
Our Hero Dean Patterson
Our hero went and purchased the cheapest bottle of dark rum he could find, and drank heavily from it in glasses overflowing with ice. Stumbling home in an alcohol induced divine haze, our hero and his associate the Frenchie carry a discarded Christmas tree, some 15 days after Christmas has passed. Yes, this will look good in their living room. And oh, the looks of the passers by, that gaze at our two characters with some middle class bewilderment, but then it is only 8pm, and they are very drunk, and carrying a 8ft Christmas
tree. Our hero responds to these gazes by wishing them all a merry Christmas, surely he has a mental deficiency. Tomorrow he will baby sit a cat that has no personality and write down this experience in a hope that it will get published in a student newspaper that is in dire need of some writing. But of course, as we know dear reader, tomorrow is very rarely different from today. Our hero sat at computer, at two separate typewriters, and at good old-fashioned A4 paper with pen. Nothing would come, nothing would spurt
summer which has been promised to us, air conditioning for the elderly and much needed pennies saved on sunbed’s and holidays for our generation. Instant coffee and beans are all we have to look forward to, but is that such a bad thing? Now we have something truly worthy of our young inquisitive minds, is the government taking the best course of action to see us through this time of need
out and splurge itself onto the blankness that lay before him. And so it was time! Time for his inspiration, his muse! Our hero went and purchased the cheapest bottle of dark rum he could find, and drink heavily from it in glasses overflowing with ice. Was there a specific time when our hero and his associate Frenchie grew tired of their society and generation? Everyday paranoia spread through the world like wildfire. Newspapers and media had jumped on bandwagons and made the human race believe they should feel a constant worry about living. All the talk was of climate
or do we need to do something besides complain? This is not a call to arms but a call to reminisce, although not from personal experience , over the times in which students have made a difference, all the times students have stood up from their ready meals and Trisha diets and said no longer will we sit back and do nothing. I am again left feeling less than joyous over the next year as the only good thing to come I can think off is happening across
an ocean and will only aid our current credit climate by way of the trickle effect.
change, credit crunch, running out of resources, prices increasing more than wages; in all the world and the economy was fucked. And this didn’t hold well for our hero and his associate the Frenchie. It was their belief that life was short and should be enjoyed. But media and government were trying to take the fun out of life, trying to make people think of surviving rather than living.
any propaganda stop them from making the most of it.
But our two rebels wanted none of that, damn it, if it is all fucked then the only thing to do is party. They would not only survive but live, even if that compromised their very survival. This was university, and they would not let
Excuse me for being pessimistic about life and the future, my glass is half empty and so must leave you now as I have yoga class, an attempt to contort my body in such a way as to squeeze all the port and wine out of my body, only to re-collect as a money saving method of re-using alcohol.
Our hero woke early next morning, slumped over his desk. In his hand was a crumpled piece of A4 paper with horrid, disheveled attempts at words that read, “My body feels weak, my face feels ugly. But my mind grows stronger every day. It grows stronger through the feeding it with knowledge and texts. It grows stronger through the feeding it with life and experience. But it also grows stronger through the ability to open my eyes and see, the ability to take in. And it is through this that I will make my mark on history. Surely my legacy will come through this.”
OPINION 21
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 4 2008/09
Playing the Numbers Game in the Gaza Strip Chris Glithero
The conflict in Gaza is now subject to a precarious ceasefire. In the three week long ‘war’, approximately 1,313 people lost their lives. Thirteen hundred of these were Palestinians and most were civilians, including a reported four hundred children. The remaining thirteen were Israelis, ten of whom were soldiers engaged in the offensive into Gaza. These simple figures should speak for themselves, but the world’s leaders and the media at large insist on calling it a war rather than a massacre. True, they have recognised the terrible plight of
the Palestinian people and have to varying degrees condemned Israel’s actions, but no one seems to want to address the plain facts of the matter. On the one side we have a desperate band of fanatical crackpots governing over a virtual refugee camp and armed with primitive rockets that can’t even kill twenty people, and on the other we have a nuclear-capable nation armed to the teeth with state of the art American-supplied tanks, fighter jets and other more insidious weaponry. If Iran or North Korea had attacked one of it’s weaker neigh-
bours we’d now be hearing an American president and various other leaders and TV pundits declaring war against an ‘evil oppressor’ or ‘enemy of freedom’. But Israel seems to be above any such recriminations, and instead we hear how its such a terrible thing, and Israel should really think a bit more carefully about it’s actions, and please, if its not too much trouble, don’t drop illegal white phosphorous bombs on cowering women and children, thank you. Lois Michel, a senior EU envoy visiting the Gaza Strip, recently blamed Hamas for the unravelling
humanitarian crisis, and stated that their could be no dialogue with the ‘terrorist’ movement until it renounced violence and recognised Israel. But what of Israel’s violence? What of the terrorism conducted by Israel? Should Israel not declare that it will stop killing and maiming civilians before we can have a polite conversation? Politicians seem to merely gloss over the gross double-standard that if a small organisation with little power kills several people it’s a ‘terrorist atrocity’, whereas if a powerful modernised state such as Israel kills a thousand its a ‘war’ and somehow justified.
US law defines terrorism as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups.” Why sub-national? Is it suddenly alright to kill civilians if you have a flag and a standing army properly trained in dealing death? Meanwhile, Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has declared that his nation’s soldiers will be given state protection from any possible international war crimes prosecutions. And the world will probably lodge a formal complaint at the embassy and go about its business. As usual.
Lifeline for Art & Design Students Anon
Last Friday I was having a quite night in so I decided to go to the shop and buy a new magazine and a treat myself to a CD. After looking round for about half an hour I’d picked up the new Ministry of Sound: Baseline album (which I recommend to anyone, it’s a great way to warm up for a night out!) but was still struggling to find a magazine of interest. Now I don’t know about you but I’m just not that into the typical ‘women’s’ magazines e.g. gardening, hair, dieting, marriage and pregnancy so I decided to go for something with a bit more meat to it. Of course, to find anything interesting you have to venture to the men’s section; apparently women aren’t into music or sport. The ‘other half ’ had already
bought the new edition of Mixmag so there was probably no point in getting that so I was a bit stumped. I literally spent 20 minutes browsing the isle before I discovered what I know refer to as THE BEST MAGAZINE EVER! It wasn’t in the girly section, it wasn’t sports, music or even pornography sections, it was an Advanced Photoshop tucked away at the back of the bottom shelf like a nugget of pure genius. I realise I built that magazine up by claiming it is the best magazine ever, and I also realise that for the majority of you, when you found out it was about Photoshop you kind of wanted to stop reading. However this magazine will help anyone who is interested in the programme, taking a course in
&emails
Letters
art & design or even those that are just interested in new Mac products. (I know there is a group of Mac fanatics in our University in a corner somewhere checking macrumours.com every 5 mins) Not only does the magazine feature step-by-step tutorials on how to create images and use certain techniques it also comes with a CD containing over 500 gradients, 400 textures, 28 new brushes and a number of other resources you may find useful. I got very excited, maybe too excited, when I loaded my new ‘galaxy’ brushes onto my laptop to discover it come with all the gradients! I can definitely say I have learnt more from this magazine then I did for my whole 3 years here at Anglia Ruskin.
Correspondance
Dear Lisa I read your article in “Apex” with interest. I thought I would send an email with my own feedback. I attended my graduation for my part-time distance learning Masters at Chelmsford on 27th November. I enjoyed the event: I thought it was well-organised. I liked the fact that although the ceremony contained all the features of a typical graduation but it only lasted about 1hr 20 mins - I know that some graduation ceremonies go on forever!! I personally thought the buffet was good at Chelmsford. I take your point about the value for money issue - when I graduated from the University of York in 1995 for my BA, you received two guest tickets for free - I don’t know whether it is normal now for universities to charge. There is one critical point I’d like to make - the Chelmsford ceremony was held in a temporary “corporate pavillion” ie a large marquee. I’ve never been to the Corn Exchange in Cambridge but I’ve heard it’s a decent venue. The Chelmsford graduations have always taken place in Chelmsford cathedral until now and I heard about the Students Union campaign to keep the graduations in Chelmsford so why wasn’t it held there this year? Do you know the reason? No reason was given to me in the literature nor on the graduation website. The student giving a vote of thanks at the ceremony made a little joke about “graduating in a tent” but that was the only mention of it. I think for future graduates it would be a pity to mark such an important occasion in a makeshift venue. I hope this is of some use and thank you for your article, Kind regards
Apex Editor, Anglia Ruskin Students Union East Road Cambridge CB1 1PT
Email: apexeditor@angliastudent.com Tel: 01223 460008 Fax: 01223 417718
This months topic of G.O.A.Ting (Go Out And Talking) for the Sabbatical Officers of the Students’ Union was: Do you know who your Course Rep is? and Have you collected last semesters assignments and recieved good feedback? Here are some of the responses we received... “My rep just stood up in my lecture and introduced themselves!” “I didn’t know who my rep was but now you’ve mentioned the name I’ll be speaking to them with my feedback” “I wasn’t aware where to collect my work from but my lecturer gave it back to me in my last class and explained a number of trends and similar issues that occured throughout the whole cohort” “I have collected my work but I prefer to collect it from the i-centre because I can collect it when I like and I don’t have to wait until my lecture” This feedback has been collated and we are now identifying the gaps where courses don’t have student reps. To have your say on these issues e-mail info@angliastudent.com or leave a suggestion on the website. www.angliastudent.com
22 GAMES
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 3 2008/09
Games
Spot the Difference! There are 5 differences between the two images. See if you can spot the difference!
Sudoku
Easy
Sudoku 9x9 - Easy (137795043)
1
7 3
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4 2
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www.sudoku-puzzles.net
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www.sudoku-puzzles.net
Hard
Sudoku 9x9 - Hard (133842712)
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Elections
President
Obama
Communications Society
Sabbatical
Students
Apex
Officer
Experience
Campaign
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Academic
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3 9
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Medium
Sudoku 9x9 - Medium (135653259)
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Word Search
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www.sudoku-puzzles.net
SPORT 23
THE ANGLIA RUSKIN APEX ISSUE 3 2008/09
Sport
Launching the New Boats Martyn Blackford
On a crisp and bright Saturday afternoon in December the Anglia Ruskin Boat Club invited University staff, current crew members and Alumni to the prestigious Launch and Naming Ceremony. Held in the attractive grounds of Emmanuel Boat house, the waterfront provided a fitting atmosphere to find out all about the boat clubs plans, meet the current and past crew members, and view the two new VIII rowing vessels that the crew have been eagerly awaiting. After an opportunity to network, and sample some Champagne and Canopy’s, kindly provided by the Students’ Union. The speeches kicked off with the host of the event, Jeremy Rossiter, who has himself been a member of the club since 1993. After speeches from the Men’s Captain Ollie Crabb about future plans, and Doug Cosnett about the history of the club as far back as the 1970’s. We finished off with speeches from Don Keiller, who is very passionate that University sport can play a key role in the success of a campus. Last but not least we were very privileged to say the Vice Chancellor managed to say a few words (in particular about beating Oxford Brooks) and reveal the boat names. These included ‘John Ruskin’ – an obvious choice to remember the history of the
University. The second name was ‘Jeremy Rossiter’ as a fitting tribute to his dedication to the club since 1993. After the ceremony, the men’s crew quickly changed into their racing lycra’s, and jumped into their new racing shell for a demonstration of their rowing technique and talents. They started off with a stationary photo opportunity in the water, in particular highlighting their fantastic posture, but this did not stop some friendly banter from other crews about their positions. The men’s crew then went from a standing start up the river in a fantastic demonstration of power, technique and coordinated team work. Once the conversations on the river bank resumed the men’s crew returned in what can only be described as a ‘fly by row’ – the speed, power and coordination of their full stroke rate looked impressive. On behalf of the University and the Students’ Union we wish all the crews every success with their training and races and look forward to some some additional trophies in the display cabinet. Please keep up to date with their progress by visiting www.angliaruskinbc.com
Charity Skydive Carey Girling
Charity skydiving. Some like the idea of helping a charity but faint at the “S” word . Some people dont take a second glance. Others (these tend to be the ones with a feckless disregard for their own safety) shout for glee at the prospect of jumping out of a perfectly good aeroplane. I was just a bored student on Facebook. We have all been there. With a 1200 word essay due in the next day, a bomb-site for a room and a hangover to equal any serious illness, what do we do? We turn to Facebook. On this occasion however, I happened upon a link to Mencap, a leading UK charity I have worked with previously. I spent many months working with the disabled through
the medium of horses, and it was during this time that I saw the great amount of support that Mencap provides, both financially and emotionally. A skydive appealed to me, though the prospect of paperwork and sponsorship hung like a dark cloud over this otherwise bright opportunity. Nonetheless I completed the necessaries (which in actuality was just a single sided form) and sent it off. Within two days, the where and when had been arranged. As for the sponsorship, it’s not as hard as it sounds. Donations ranged from twenty pence to ten pounds. With my own donation of £160, I had soon collated enough to pay for the jump and provide a
sizeable donation to Mencap. The first attempt was nerve wracking, cancelled at the last minute due to poor weather. However on the 14th October 2008, with the aid of my support team, I jumped from 10,000 feet. A great thing about charity skydives is that with so many people relying on you, backing out is almost impossible! With £370 raised for Mencap, the venture was easily worth it. From Facebook to freefall in three weeks, this is something I would urge you all to do. Face your fears and enjoy yourself-but most importantly of all-do something for someone in need. You know what they say, “every little counts”. A video of the skydive can be found on my Facebook!
ANGLIA RUSKIN Pietersen Left Out To Dry?
SPORT
Is your dream to become a Sport Coach?
Alexis Mannion
Alexis Mannion
When Kevin Pietersen became England captain in August 2008, everyone believed that the England selectors had made a good choice. He became captain after an emotional Michael Vaughan stepped down at a press conference following England’s defeat to South Africa which left them 2 – 0 down in the series with 1 test left to play. By the end of that summer Kevin Pietersen was hailed as a Midas-like figure for his leadership influence on an England side which won his first Test in charge and then the subsequent one-day series against South Africa 4 - 0. However things began to unravel during the doomed Stanford series in late October / early November, and then the 5 - 0 one – day series drubbing in India. Pietersen was instrumental in ensuring his side returned to India after the Mumbai atrocities but they lost the Test series 1-0 and his doubts about Moores’s abilities as a coach, latent ever since Moores’s elevation and evident in reports of a meeting before Pietersen took the reins, resurfaced. During the Test series in India, especially after he was
tactically exposed in the defeat at Madras, Pietersen let it be known that he no longer wanted Moores as coach. Peter Moores was appointed as England coach in May 2007, after Duncan Fletcher’s resignation. Moores been director of the national academy for two years after considerable success at Sussex where he coached them to their first-ever county championship title in 2003. Appointed without interview or job advertisement, Moores had a difficult task in replacing the excellent Fletcher. Throughout Moores’ term in office England never won a test series against a major nation. England only beat the West Indies and New Zealand both of whom are ranked below england in the Test “league tables”. This saga came to a head when the squad for the series in the West Indies was announced. Kevin Pietersen had gone on holiday believing that former captain Michael Vaughan would be in the touring party. However when the touring party was announced it
transpired that Michael Vaughan was not in the touring party, this led to numerous phone calls between Kevin Pietersen and the ECB hierarchy. It has been reported that Pietersen and Moores disagreed over a range of issues, including team selection - most notably that of Michael Vaughan - training regimes and leadership style. And Pietersen admitted last week his relationship with Moores was strained as they clashed on how to move England forward. This led to the ECB sacking Peter Moores as England coach, and due to leaked reports of this while scenario Kevin Pietersen resigned as England captain saying “In light of recent communications with the ECB, and the unfortunate media stories and speculation that have subsequently appeared, I now consider that it would be extremely difficult for me to continue in my current position”. “Accordingly, I have as of this afternoon decided to stand down with immediate effect. I still fully intend to be a part of both England’s Test and
one-day international squad to tour the West Indies next month and to do all I can to recapture the Ashes during the summer.” England travel to the Caribbean at the end of this month for a Test and one-day series against the West Indies and former captain Graham Gooch, for one, expressed his concern about the effect all this will have on the team, he said “What really worries me is what’s going on in the dressing room”. “There are obviously some factions in the dressing room, some with Pietersen and some not, and that’s not the sort of harmony you want before a big series in the West Indies and of course the Ashes. England have since appointed Andrew Strauss as England captain which led to some raised eyebrows as his test form has been debateable recently and he has not been in any of the one day squads since the World Cup held over 20 months ago. Only time will tell if the ECB have made a good choice…
The Students’ Union are looking into helping students become qualified coaches. The sports which we will be offering courses on are subject to demand; however you are welcome to apply for any sport, even if you are already a level 1 coach in a particular sport we will try to help you find a level 2 course for you to go on. The scheme is open to everyone however, you will need to prove your commitment to the sport as a club member for a further year (this is open to 1st and 2nd year students who intend to be a member of their club for at least another year).you do not have to have any previous coaching experience. In order to be on this scheme you will need to pay the cost of the coaching course yourself. However the cost of the coaching course will be refunded to you when you have successfully completed the course along with 20 hours of community coaching.
For further information about this scheme or to register interest in the scheme please contact: Martyn Blackford m.blackford@angliastudent.com or call on 0845 196 2199 as places are limited.