Editor’s Letter Well, here we are! The final edition of Verve Magazine this year and significantly, my final edition as editor. This edition has a special theme brought to you by the student journalists: mental health. An important part of everyone’s lives, we thought we would all take a moment to share our advice with all of you, because everyone should be able to open up. Articles on apps to relax, mental health food boosting, cat cafes, and even perspectives from school and university students. We’re giving you a variety of content which all relates to mental health advice and how to cope. With the coronavirus on the loose, we need to stay calm now more than ever. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank every contributor who has ever worked with me since June 2018. It has been an amazing opportunity and I will sincerely miss it. Thank you to the student journalists of London Met. I wish everyone the best in their future studies and careers. It has been a pleasure. Stay safe and don’t forget to wash your hands! All the best,
Aaron Patel Editor-in-Chief
Some articles printed in the magazine originally appeared in Mental, a magazine produced by London Met students as part of a third-year Journalism module
If you would like to contribute to the next edition of Verve get in touch: vervemagazine@londonmet.ac.uk
Contributors Aaron Patel 3rd year, Journalism BA Editor-in-chief
Jamie Bhalla 2019 Graduate Digital Media BA Designer
Jack Barry Creative Writing MA Film Journalist
Emily Wilkinson 3rd year Photojournalism BA Deputy Editor
Maria-Celina Benedic Digital Media MA Lifestyle Journalist
Holly Allison 3rd year, Photojournalism BA Journalist
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Contents 4. your support, your student services 6. mental health boosting foods 8. why I got counselling 10. hamilton star on stage fright 13. navigating your mental health at uni 14. dealing with imposter syndrome 16. headspace: apps to relax 18. where to get help 19. lgbtqia+ student uni life
100% Recycled
23. your su guide 28. exercise yourself healthy 30. school vs uni 32. unique ways to relax 35. is joker a sign of the times?
Disclaimer: All concributions included in this magazine are those of the writer ONLY and NOT those ofLondon Met Students’ Union or its associatedtrademarks, websites and services. LondonMetSU does not necessarily endorse, support, sanction, encourage, verify or agree with anycomments, opinions or statements or other content provided by contributors.
Richie Hancox 3rd year, Photojournalism BA Journalist
Yasmeen Bashir 1st year, International Relations, Peace & Conflict BA Feature Journalist
Honey Carlier 2nd year, Human Nutrition BA Lifestyle Journalist
Adebukola Fadipe 3rd year, Journalism, Film and Television Studies BA Journalist
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Your Support, Your Student Services! University is an exciting time full of new experiences and challenges, but it can also be a time that can lead to feelings of anxiety, pressure and stress. Reports show that one in four students will experience mental
health issues at University. We all have mental health, this refers to our general mental wellbeing - like how you might be feeling emotionally, socially or psychologically. From time to time, though, we will all experience issues with our mental wellbeing. Student Self care is important too and all Services recognise our webpages contain a range of this and have a range external organisations, which can of expert staff and offer additional support. Remember services that are here though to look after your health to help you. and follow our top tips for self care About 57% of students report that money problems whilst at University have led to mental health difficulties and 37% of students said this then impacted on their grades. The Student Money and Accommodation Team are here to help. Their specialist staff can offer a range of expert advice on a whole range of student funding matters as well as advice on student accommodation in halls and private rented accommodation. Book an appointment today and talk to our team! Being a student can mean juggling lots of responsibilities from increased workload to relationships and employment worries. With such busy lives we can all sometimes feel overwhelmed, leading to feelings of increased stress
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and anxiey. You are not alone and our supportive and expert Counselling Team are here to help. The majority of students who have used the service say that counselling is very supportive and valuable. Many students describe counselling as a life-changing experience, which has made their time at University much more rewarding. You may also have a diagnosed mental health condition such as anxiety or depression. The Disability and Dyslexia Team can help by putting in a range of supports such as mental health mentoring, exam arrangements and assistance with your studies. You will have a dedicated adviser who will understand your condition and advise you and support you through your studies. Our rich and vibrant campus is host to over 142 nationalities and many of our students are international from around the world. We recognise that living in a different country can aslo bring additional worries and concerns and our International Advice Team are here to support.
Don’t forget also on campus you can join our free gym to stay healthy and well, sit in our roof top garden and connect with the outside world, or follow our ducks in one of the largest pond and follow our duckcam too!
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Mental healthboosting foods With a constant 24/7 lifestyle, we live a life full of stress. Trying to juggle our time can become difficult, particularly as students, and we often feel as though we’re struggling. As a society we are always looking to boost our mental health to ensure we’re ready for the day. One of the simplest but often overlooked ways to do this is with diet. Small changes can go a long way. What you put inside you really does matter, after all - give yourself the right fuel to start off right.
Top tip: Try looking around open-air markets for unprocessed fish, nuts and veggies. Usually the quality is higher and you can buy how much you want with less packaging. You never know, you might come across something you’ve never seen before that will become your new favourite! This means you’re helping the environment, improving your mood and widening your dietary intake. Win win all round!
Fast foods are convenient and may feel like a good quick fix. Consider mixing it up a bit, as getting in touch with your diet can be an insightful, easy way to connect with yourself. What’s more, eating ‘well’ can be surprisingly cheap too!
Some top mood boosting changes: Whole Grains: Whole grain pasta, bread and brown rice. Simple yet really effective. Adding more variety like couscous, quinoa and lentils will give you more choice in the kitchen, allowing you to create tasty meals.
Oily fish: Salmon, cod, mackerel, sardines, kippers. These are packed full of essential fatty acids that are great for the brain! If you’re unsure how to cook them, just look online, where you’ll find loads of great recipes aimed at students. Plant-based meat alternatives: From seaweed and nori to seeds such as flax or chia. Nuts are also nutritious and
tasty - walnuts and almonds are amazing brain foods and a great quick snack on the go. Fruits and vegetables: From green beans to sweetcorn, pears to oranges and apples. Fresh produce are brimming with mood-boosting nutrients that taste great. A great trick is to purchase frozen fruits - often cheaper, last longer and can be thrown into smoothies for a quick pick-me-up.
Remember, there isn’t one specific way to do it right. Try whatever works for you. Most importantly, don’t feel bad if you indulge. Listen to your body! 6
By Honey Carlier 7
Opening the door “This is my story”
Sometimes we all need help - but for some it can take a push in the right direction from friends and family Sitting awkwardly in the armchair, trying not to let my back touch the cushion. I am totally aware that the beads of sweat building on it and running down would soak through my shirt. The clock ticks, louder and louder, the traffic noise outside that’s usually a quiet drone seems deafening. The books on the shelf appear to have their titled spines screaming out their names. I notice the table lamp – its electrical inspection is out of date. Everything appears bigger, magnified and in focus. Hypervigilance is something I live with every day, along with all the other symptoms of my anxiety. I have sweats before I leave the house, as just thinking of a crowded tube train brings on a wave of panic-induced coughing. Sometimes, the thought makes me retch.
the next, and not giving me a break between. According to a recent report by the Office for Students, the number of students entering higher education with a self-disclosed mental health problem has increased from 1.4 per cent in 2012-13 to 3.5 per cent in 2017-18. Along with this increase, the recognition that universities and higher education providers need to do more to support their students has become apparent. With people now talking more openly about mental health, the discussion is now moving forwards. Many people, however, still keep their problems bottled up inside.
This is my story.
In my world there was only one way to deal with the stress: to occupy myself with work. I volunteered for extra hours at my job, and as more and more work flowed in I revelled in the limelight of having the most hours a month. The overtime pay came in and made things seem even better for me - but things weren’t better at all.
I knew that things hadn’t been okay for a while, the little things that kept happening. Worries would become huge; a small thing for others became a big problem for me. I would think constantly, I still do, my mind racing at a thousand miles an hour. Flicking from one thing to
I did all I could to put the facts to the back of my mind. I knew there was something that needed addressing but I just didn’t know what it was, or how to address it. I listened to my friends’ problems as they called me to talk about their girlfriends, their work
I’m a 37-year-old mature student studying photojournalism at London Met, and I needed help.
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My brother eventually managed to convince me to speak to a doctor. That was a hard day for me. I went in and explained how I felt, and everything came out fast as I tried to explain years of struggles in my 10-minute slot. The doctor was nice about it, he gave me a tissue to wipe my eyes and listened. I just needed someone to tell me I wasn’t going mad. I walked out of his office after being referred for counselling and looked at the clock in reception: I’d been in there nearly an hour. I remember calling my brother to tell him I’d done it: I’d asked for help and I genuinely felt a weight lifted. I didn’t tell anyone else; I kept it quiet, afraid of what they might think, say or who they might tell. This was my secret and one I’d be keeping, or so I thought. I then heard some news that someone I had worked with in the military had died, had taken his own life. Suddenly I was speaking with old friends, some now veterans, others still serving. As we talked, we were frank and open, conversations began with, “What happened?” to “I didn’t know he was struggling” to “Why didn’t he say anything?”. I realised that I hadn’t said anything either. And I was also struggling and nobody knew. I spoke with these friends and as it turned out, I wasn’t alone. We are all so close as friends, yet when we had a problem, we all thought each other was so far away. As we spoke about our struggles it dawned on me just how easy it would have been to do this five years ago. For five years I had struggled along, learning to live with my problems, as I called them,
when all it would have taken was picking up a phone for someone to listen. I now look out for signs in friends and family and I’m not afraid to ask, “Are you okay? Are you struggling? Do you want to chat?” Those small words can open a floodgate, a torrent of pain that is desperate to be heard. It’s good to talk, sometimes we need to be reminded of that. Not everyone wants to talk to friends and family and this is okay. There are many ways for people to access support along with free phone numbers such as the Samaritans who can be contacted on 116 123 and also by emailing jo@samaritans.org. “So, Richard, why are you here?” says the man sat opposite me, sitting back in his chair relaxed, the polar opposite of me right now. “I’m just struggling a bit, I can feel myself slipping back into my old ways and just wanted to speak with someone,” I say.
“Are you ok?”
difficulties and their spiralling drug habits. I offered advice, I lent them money and I used their problems to make my own feel like nothing.
The London Met Counselling Service knows that studying at university can be a challenging and sometimes stressful experience. Counselling is a conversation, a chance to off-load and to get help with your difficulties. You don’t need to have a problem to make use of the Counselling Service. We can meet with you to reflect upon your life and your personal development. Contact the Counselling Service: Learning Centre, Holloway Road 020 7133 2094 counselling.studentservices@londonmet.ac.uk londonmet.ac.uk/counselling By Richie Hancox 9
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Playing Hamilton helped my mental health Sometimes we all need help but for some it can take a push in the right direction from friends and family Funny, charismatic, handsome. Twenty-nine-year-old Karl Queensborough seems the epitome of perfection. A Central School of Speech and Drama alumnus with the theatre world at his feet, he has been inundated with back-to-back performances in the best theatres across London. But while the last four years of his life have been a whirlwind of commercial success, Karl has had his struggles. Growing up in the west of London with his parents and little sister, Karl always knew he was meant for great things. But unbelievably, his stage fright and doubts about his performance almost got the best of him. Karl loved to entertain his family during gatherings, but it was when he watched the first Harry Potter movie, that he knew what he wanted to do. “This was in 2001, so I was 11 years old. This cemented for me what career was in my future,” he says, swigging from his herbal tea in a central London café, during a break from shopping with his mum, Ann. “I remember being transfixed by the world and thought to myself: ‘This is what I want to
do’ - and now I am!” With Ann sipping tea at his side, Karl glowed with confidence as he described how important family was to him. When asked how they felt about him, Ann said: “We are overly proud, he’s such a lovely son and to see him grow like this and to be where he is? I couldn’t be more proud.” Karl went on to do Drama for his GCSE, but it wasn’t till he visited the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith as part of their Young Persons Company that he decided to audition for the renowned
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Central School. After graduating in 2015, Karl immediately secured his first acting job: a play at the Tricycle Theatre. He went on to secure a lead in a panto that same year. How has he built his confidence? “Through age and experience. Auditioning for different projects, learning from older actors, training at drama school and working on the belief that we all have a talent and we can’t be afraid to let it bloom,” he says. But it wasn’t till he was cast in
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I always try and remember a poem by Marianne Williamson: “It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Hamilton as an alternative lead that Karl began researching methods and techniques to overcome what was becoming a crippling form of stage fright. “I was on a strange high...I felt blessed but questioned it. My mind took this positive thing and attempted to warp it.
“Many actors leave drama school and struggle for months to find a job but here I was, already with so much, and wondering if I could even do it. If I was worthy...someone will soon find out I wasn’t and expose me.”
Imposter Syndrome is a pattern in which individuals doubt their achievements and live in fear of being ousted as a fraud (see p. 15). It often affects high performers, and people with extraordinary artistic creativity could be “many times” more likely to develop disorders such as schizophrenia than average, according to lead researcher James MacCabe, of King’s
College London.
Karl, who says he doesn’t have Imposter Syndrome but recognises the condition, began researching how to get through his fears. An avid health enthusiast, he became very particular about what he puts in his body and attributes his current mental strength to various routines. “I can’t stress enough how good mediation is for mental health,” he says, adding that he recommends downloading an app called Headspace (see p. 16). “Exercise is another one, to release those feel-good chemicals in the brain and bring those stress levels down (see p. 32). Being amongst nature, walking in a park and taking in some fresh air. “I’m a big fan of herbal teas that assist with sleep and anxiety/ depression. I also like liquid remedies [drops] that you can
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those nerves into excitement.”
“A bit of meditation helps to silence the mind”
Karl will star in Hamilton until November, 2020. Tickets can be purchased as cheaply as £37.50, or just £12.50 for standing.
In November Karl became the main lead in Hamilton, starring at the Victoria Palace Theatre in the West End as Alexander Hamilton himself in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s epic musical. The new role sees Karl going from one show a week to seven, but he is adamant that he has fortified himself well to take on this major career-enhancing step. And audiences love him. put into drinks.” Karl says that proper preparation also helps keeps the nerves at bay, whether you are about to perform on stage, make a presentation, or even take an exam. Before a performance he often takes at least 45 mins to warm up his voice beforehand, he says. “Just getting some resonance, exercising the tongue, working on my articulation, my breath and getting everything set in the right place. Then a physical warm up to make sure I avoid any injuries,” he says. “A bit of meditation helps to silence the mind too and to have that ‘me time’,” he continues, “and if I’m feeling nervous I will tell myself to turn
A clear lover of the gym, Karl’s posture exudes confidence, which is a far cry from who he was not that long ago. What worked for him? “Writing out thoughts, feelings or concerns onto a piece of paper can help put everything into perspective. Visual aids like putting your thoughts into a box and storing them all away. Those really saved me.” And what does the future hold for this success story? “The future in my mind holds success and growth,” Karl says. “At times you do get scared because no one ever really knows what will happen in five or 10 years’ time. “But I take comfort in the fact that right now I’m in control and I can put in the work to head towards what I want.”
KARL’S TIPS TO HAVING A CLEAR MIND Hypnosis tapes (see YouTube) Meditation A walk in nature Watching a film with your family Reading a book Cinema trip By Adebukola Fadipe Running 12
Navigating a healthy, balanced uni life We all know how easy it is to get so caught up in essay deadlines that we become overwhelmed and forget to take care of our mental health. Luckily, London Met students have some tried-and-tested tips to help keep your uni life and your mental health on a healthy balance... Have a physical/mental outlet. Take part in an extracurricular activity like basketball or football, take a ballroom dance class or visit the gym. Physical activity helps to alleviate frustration and other negative emotions rather than internalise them. If you prefer to be alone, find peace in nature, hiking or swimming. For something less active, one student recommends photography to channel your stress into something productive. Learn to play the guitar or the piano - it’s something you’ll never regret.
Remember that uni isn’t the only aspect of your life. Balance it out with other things like your social life or family time. Get involved with the Students’ Union or other societies to meet like-minded people, especially if you have anxiety. It’s all about expanding your comfort zone by taking little steps. Don’t forget that even a little growth is still growth. Learn what works for you. Take time to learn how your mind and body works, because something that works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. This applies to your academics as well, so find what revision or study methods are best suited to you. Some students prefer to cram because that’s how their mind switches on; others prefer to map it out. One student suggested reading the material before, during and after your lectures so you, “consolidate the information, making it easier to recall”.
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Surround yourself with people who lift you up, rather than you bring you down. Chrystalle Margallo, our newly elected President of the Students’ Union, draws suggestions from her spiritual beliefs, saying it’s important to surround yourself with positive people if you’re the type of person who absorbs the energy that surrounds you. “The more positivity you have around you, the more you envision it,” she says. Put yourself first. It’s easy to get sucked into other people’s emotional dilemmas, but remember to draw the line between helping someone and allowing their problems to become yours. Remember that the more time you spend on other people, the less time you spend on yourself. “It’s not about being selfish, it’s about internalising your priorities and acting on them,” says a former student.
By Yasmeen Bashir
The Imposter: BUSTED I have a confession to make...
To whom it may concern:
I wish I carried on like this a little longer just like any learnt behaviour that becomes part of a working mechanism or like a parasite plant that feeds from its host in a passive symbiosis but it seems that I am long overdue. So I will tell you what you already know but could not put your finger on to identify and label. I will tell you that cheesy breakup line: it is not you, it’s me. If you ever felt like you do not deserve to be in a place or in this place, student or employee, it was because of me. If you doubted your achievements thinking you are not smart enough, not good enough despite evidence, thinking everybody else knows more than you do or that they are better than you, well, I am the one to blame. Do you remember that internalized crippling fear of being exposed as a fraud? When you thought that all you’ve accomplished was either the result of luck or accident, and that everyone around you will soon call you out for what you really are? Little did you know that it would have been me to discover.
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Now that I have been busted, I feel like playing you a little longer. Crack this riddle! Not a mental disorder Nor a fatal disease I mess with your everyday order I could be either, none Or even both of them What do you think I am? It’s me! The Imposter syndrome! You can also call me Imposter phenomenon, Impostorism, Fraud syndrome or just Imposter experience - all would be fine. I am a psychological pattern that affects the quality of your life and I torment high achievers in particular. If you don’t believe it, experts like Dr. Valerie Young have studied and classified me. I was acquainted even with Neil Armstrong and manifold celebrities such as Maya Angelou, Emma Watson, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Michelle Obama, and God! So many more! And if you are a Doubting Thomas, feel free to check Wikipedia, YouTube or a librarian. I am popular amongst 70% of the Earth’s population, particularly women, and if of colour, even more!
I come in five flavours : The Perfectionist, The Superwoman/ Superman, The Natural Genius, The Soloist and The Expert. As you have guessed already, all these fancy names mean nothing but unhealthy, selfsabotaging behaviours derived from an inherited inner belief that you are incompetent and a failure - and one that is soon to be found out.
You know, it is not really my fault I took this form. I am also the sum of your upbringing, societal expectations, roles you have accepted as you grew up, race identity, low self-esteem traits, excessive monitoring and anxiety. So, when you look into the mirror it might be me you see and the trick I use is to make you feel isolated and ashamed - or even both.
Whether it is setting impossibly high standards that are difficult to meet (The Perfectionist), or pushing yourself harder just because you think you don’t measure up to your peers (Super Woman/Man), thinking that you must get everything right from the first attempt and being taken down by shame when failing (The Natural Genius), not asking for help because this would mean admitting your incapacity (The Soloist), or never knowing enough (The Expert) - rest assured, it’s all my doing!
But the truth is I am polyamorous, a Casanova, and the way to outwit me is by exposing our affair. Make me popular. Talk about me with your friends, they might be in the same state as you. Not knowing my name but hearing my voice and succumbing to my toxic charms. And this is how I lose. This is how I become normality and you gain back the control you have lost.
The Imposter Syndrome
Yours sincerely,
“If Neil Armstrong felt like an imposter, maybe everyone did. Maybe there weren’t any grown-ups, only people who had worked hard and got lucky and were slightly out of their depth, all of us doing the best job we could, which is all we can really hope for” (Neil Gaiman) By Maria-Celina Benedic 15
Headspace Clear your head in your own space
Dealing with the stress that comes with university can be challenging. Finding methods to combat that stress can also present challenges. Naturally, not everything you do will work. But in a time where apps are essential to modern-day life, meditation apps have taken off. One app amongst hundreds that has stood out is Headspace, which promises to provide users with a clearer mind-set from the very start. Headspace - finding your zen anywhere Launched in 2010, Headspace was created by a small development team. They decided to create a user-
friendly platform that allowed meditation to be enabled through a variety of different methods such as animations, articles, and videos. The app allows you meditate in your time and, more importantly, at your own pace. Remember that one of the key factors to enjoying meditation as much as possible is to find a quiet place in which to relax. There are also a variety of goals and problems you may want to tackle, to which specific meditations are provided. They include stress and anxiety, sleep, performance mindset, personal growth, productivity, sports, and much, much more. In the midst of a chaotic and often lonely life
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at either university or college, maintaining a positive mindset is more than essential. “I found the app useful because it made me realize how little I properly relax and calm myself, especially in a time where your mind is in chaos. The app can be easily soothing and help you organize your thoughts,” said Lorel Petts, 20, Geography student at Newcastle University. Student-friendly targeted meditation Among the variety of featured categories is a section called “students”. A variety of meditation courses can be found, such as dealing with distractions, priorities and focus.
A big part of life at university can be moving away from home. This can be a daunting task, considering it can be your first time. Headspace have a meditation course with ten sessions, which allow you to learn how to cope with the change and adapt better to your new surroundings. Studying can present the most stress, so Headspace offers single meditation sessions to cope with exam preparation and presentations (which can be more nerve-wracking than exams!). Studying is a difficult prospect, but the app covers all issues that one might suffer during their academic years. A personalized app designed to create peace, whenever you need it The app’s personalized user face allows you to adapt it to your desires. Being able
to personalize the way you meditate is key, because it allows your mind to be at ease and also gives you a strong feeling that you’re in control. “Apps like Headspace are good because they allow you to have control of what sort of talks you listen to and personalize it to your needs,” said Lorel. It’s important to address times when you’re not feeling yourself or not having a good day. “I would say Headspace has been so helpful for me when I’m feeling really anxious. It’s a great app because it’s super simple to use, it’s really effective and also it’s free (for students),” said Jen Macdonald, 20, Psychology and Criminology student at Nottingham Trent University.
such as before going to work or sleep, as it is about finding the right balance for your mind and finding the best way to relax. “I used Headspace regularly! Short ones in the car park before work to head in right, sleep ones to switch off at night. Love it! Even used it when running,” said Nat Scroggie, 28, Veterinary Surgeon. Finding your Zen can be difficult. It can be even harder when you are in the middle of a hectic year at university, as assignments, exams and reading can all mount up. Headspace is the perfect app as it allows you to choose your desired stress meditation methods, and pinpoint exactly how you are feeling.
While Headspace is typically thought to be best when in a strictly quiet space, it can also be used in different scenarios
Take the time to download the app, and find your Zen. And now, it’s free when you subscribe to Spotify!
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By Aaron Patel
Where to get help Remember - there is always someone to talk and listen to you, in times of need. Here are some key places and organisation contacts‌ Isledon Road Mental Health Resource Centre 020 7700 7458 City & Hackney Centre for Mental Health 020 8510 8117 Camden & Islington Mental Health Foundation Trust 020 7685 4700 Islington Mind 020 7288 2500 Inner City Centre 020 7247 1589 Waterloo Community Counselling 020 7928 3462 Southwark Carers 020 7708 4497 Highbury Counselling Centre 020 7354 4791 Refugee Therapy Centre 0207 272 7498 Safeline 0300 123 2028 Highgate Counselling Centre 020 8883 5427
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Being LGBTQIA+ at uni….
Chrystalle Margallo, new SU President
Starting university is a big adjustment. Being in a completely different environment can be especially hard, especially if you’re moving away from home and the people you know. This transition can be even more difficult if you’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. You’re already worried about everything else that a straight student is worried about and also have to think about whether or not the people on your course, your teachers, your roommates and everyone else will accept your sexuality and/or gender identity. A 2018 report by Stonewall, Europe’s largest lesbian, gay, bi and trans charity, looked into LGBTQIA+ students at British universities. It found that 36% of trans students and 7% of LGBTQIA+ students
received negative comments from university staff, while 60% of trans students and 22% of LGBTQIA+ students received negative comments from their fellow students. These numbers come to a surprise to 19-year-old BSC psychology student Calum Totty. The University of Hertfordshire student has never seen discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community but says he’s fallen victim to “some odd looks and stares when leaving the university bar with a man”. The biggest piece of advice he has to any LGBTQIA+ student? “Research the area and look at the university. Talk to the people who go there and look on online student message boards for people to talk to. Luckily I knew people who had gone to my university before,” he said. London Met embraces its diversity. Chrystalle Margallo,
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who last year was a full-time London Met Students’ Union officer for the School of Social Sciences and Social Professions, was just elected SU President. “Being the first LGBTQIA+ President means so much to me. It shows that we are able to achieve anything within society and within the student body of London Metropolitan University. It reflects us as being a more inclusive community,” Margallo told Verve. She applauded the University’s scheme to provide the LGBTQIA+ community with rainbow lanyards to create a more inclusive environment and safe space for all students. “The Vice Chancellor and her team have also planned to put up a flagpole with the Pride flag to ensure students that we are here to create a change within the society and also the University,” she said.
London Met has joined the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme to ensure all LGBTQIA+ staff are accepted in the workplace. In February, the University held a variety of events, including speakers, drag nights and film screenings, to celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month. London Met is working hard to create a supportive and staff environment for everyone across the uni. Look out for the rainbow lanyards!
Journalist Nick Cannon, 50, got a degree in American Studies and History at Swansea University in 1992 and currently works as a journalist for TI Media. Attitudes when he was at university 32 years ago and in general were a lot different, he says, saying he had to hide his identity until he turned 30. Cannon was surprised that Stonewall reports university discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community is so high. “I thought things were much more open these days, especially at university. There’s not so much of a stigma. “I would have joined an LGBT society, but I wasn’t out back then so it didn’t occur to me. Think I probably missed out.” The report from Stonewall also says that one in five transgender students were encouraged to hide the fact that they are trans by university staff members, with two in five LGBT students (42%) hiding their sexuality for fear of discrimination. A transgender student who wished to remain unnamed as he is only out as bisexual to his family says he has struggled to fit in all his life. He said he was very concerned that he could face discrimination at university due to his gender and sexual preferences. He had planned to come out as transgender before going to university but is worried it will be too much for him to deal with. “The thought of having to explain my gender identity and sexual identity to so many people who will be strangers to me when I start - classmates, roommates and teachers - is a lot to handle and a daunting task. It is the biggest fear I have about university.”
By Holly Allison 20
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W IN
T NT REEN REEEER FFR A E R! FOR A Y
A message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dear students, As I continue to meet and get to know you all, I continue to be bowled over by the creativity, tenacity and passion that you bring to the University. We’ve had another term filled with a fantastic range of activities and positive change. I got to see my first student election at London Met, with many of you dedicating your campaigns to improving our University and our community. Congratulations to everyone who took part. The key to everything that we are working on at London Met, is your success, which is why we have worked with students and staff to create and co-write our Student Success Strategy. In it, we have laid out our commitments to you. I also want to celebrate the really exciting events and programmes that we have held. The Accelerator (our business hub in Shoreditch) launched this year’s Big Idea Challenge; an opportunity for you to get funding and training to start up your own initiative as well as some really exciting shorter courses such as the Start-up sprint and Hack for Good. We welcomed hundreds of your children to our Family Day, run by students from the School of Social Professions. There was painting, entertainers, mini graduations and a chance for your families to experience London Met. The counselling team started a group called ‘Let’s Talk About Us’ for BAME students to come and speak about their experiences of race inside and out of the University. My colleague Dr Zainab Khan was on a panel discussion for the event ‘Does Race Matter in Higher Education’, bringing together the voices of staff and students on their experiences. February was LGBTQIA+ History month and I was delighted to see the range of events put on by staff and students across the month from film screenings to informative lectures on trans rights. We are dedicated to creating positive change in all areas of equity, inclusion and diversity and I look forward to making some announcements about this in the coming months. In addition, we’ve had our new 24-hour library opening hours at Holloway during exam periods, new supersaver menus in the canteens, and a brilliant Varsity against SOAS (University of London). You can read about all of those events and other news in On Campus (our fortnightly newsletter) or at londonmet.ac.uk/news. I look forward to speaking to many more of you over the coming months and working collaboratively with you to make your experience at London Met a success. Professor Donna Whitehead Deputy Vice-Chancellor
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You, our students, are the fabric of our University. We are committed to improving every aspect of your University experience and we will work together to ensure our whole institution is built for student success, especially for those who are already facing barriers. The Student Success Strategy has been developed and co-written by our students and staff. It represents our shared goals and it translates our University vision, mission and values into a number of commitments to our students. We look forward to working collaboratively to provide an excellent learning experience that enables outstanding graduate outcomes for all of our students. The six pillars of our Student Success Strategy: 1. Students as partners 2. Teaching excellence as standard 3. Success for all students 4. The learning and support opportunities for our students are first class 5. We enable our graduates to be distinctive 6. Our courses are professionally facing 27 londonmet.ac.uk/studentsuccessstrategy
Exercise: a step in the right direction Feeling low? Waking up not feeling yourself, or even a bit depressed? Well, research has shown that getting up and reaching straight for the anti-depressants may not be the best solution to cure those feelings of unhappiness membership, and some simply just hate having to change into gym clothes and get all hot and sweaty in front of others. Even if you can’t afford the gym, it’s worth remembering most universities offer a free gym membership for students. Phil Lynch, 23, biomedical science student at London Metropolitan University is a regular user of the uni’s free gym. “It provides me with everything I need, not only free equipment, but free classes as well.”
Ever since her tough split from her boyfriend, Rebecca Roe, a geography student at Portsmouth University, was consistently miserable. With her third year of university approaching, the 21-year-old was finding it increasingly difficult to carry out her normal activities, and knew she had to do something about it. The solution? Getting a gym membership. “I was going three times a week and I’ve noticed that my self-esteem and overall mental health has massively improved,” says Rebecca. She now does 20 minutes of incline walking and 15 minutes on
the cross trainer during every session, followed by 15 minutes on the StairMaster. We know exercise is beneficial for our mental health, especially for depression and anxiety, and according to Harvard Medical School, working out is just as effective as antidepressants. Their research says that just 15 minutes of running a day reduces the risk of major depression by 26%. But while most of us know the benefits of exercise, many of us still aren’t doing it. Some of us don’t have the willpower, some don’t have the money for a gym
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Still not sure about the gym? Try YouTube tutorials that you can follow from home at your own leisure, in your own personal space. “Even a small amount of exercise will release endorphins, feel good hormones which in turn will mean you worry less and feel less stressed,” says Ben Taylor, 30, paramedic practitioner, from Hertfordshire. Just getting outside can increase your vitamin D levels and in turn give you more energy. Exercise improves mental health by reducing negative mood and increasing cognitive function. The good news is that there is a solution for everyone. A brisk 10-minute walk can
Government guidelines recommend that people should do 150 minutes of moderateintensity physical activity every week. For some, this is not only difficult to fit in but simply not within their capability. Yoga has many proven benefits for both physical health, as well as mental health. “When I do yoga in the morning it makes me feel a lot more relaxed,” says Sophie Puffett, 19-year old product design student at Nottingham Trent University. After just a few weekly yoga sessions, symptoms can noticeably start to improve. “I feel more prepared and energetic for the day,” says Sophie, who has been doing yoga twice a week for over
a year now. Yoga is a perfect solution for those to whom sport does not come naturally. Our mental awareness is important too - perhaps more so for sufferers of ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). Keeping up mental alertness when you have ADHD can prove a hindrance, especially for students. The great news is that, as a direct result of frequent exercise, some symptoms of ADHD can be noticeably reduced, including mental alertness. Although following the recommended amount of exercise a week can reduce risks of developing depression by around 31%, only just over half of men and women meet this requirement. But finding your happy medium is essential to feeling the benefits for yourself. Find a level of exercise, you’re happy with, as the easier it becomes the more you’ll notice a difference. It’s worth it - for both your physical and mental health. Give it a try!
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“So how about that 10-minute walk to the shop?”
improve mental alertness, and implementing something like this into a daily routine walking to the shop instead of catching the bus - could put you at a 20-30% lower risk of having depression, according to the Mental Health Foundation.
By Emily Wilkinson
School vs University: Which is harder? Hello! We are a group of 13-16 year olds who attended a Writing and Talking Saturday Club at London Met. After a Journalism masterclass with Verve Editor Aaron Patel, we were asked to interview school students and university students and write about student life in general. We compiled the responses and here’s what we found out: What are the best aspects of your school/university? School response: For me, friends are really motivational and it’s nice to socialize with classmates. You learn a wide range of subjects but sometimes you mess about in school to entertain, which means that you don’t always achieve your fullest potential. Uni response: University not only teaches you about academics but about life as well. University teaching is more specific than at school, as it aims to enhance your understanding and knowledge in your chosen forte.
How do you manage everything? School response: I try to leave things until the last minute, even though I know it’s not a very good mindset to have. Most of the time we get too much homework, which results in a lot of stress – especially when it’s exam season. Uni response: I try to have early nights and prepare my work in advance. If you have too much fun at the beginning, you’ll be very stressed later. I manage money by taking a packed lunch and saving the little things. Student Finance is really helpful; it gives me peace of mind knowing I have to pay it off only when I earn a certain salary.
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What subjects did you study at GCSE? Why did you choose to study them? School response: I chose to study Drama, History, Spanish and Computer Science as my GCSE options. I chose these subjects because I felt a real passion towards them and I might want to pursue careers in these subjects. Uni response: My GCSE experience was a little different. I grew up in India and we had mainly core subjects and only one option - which language to study. I chose Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, as it was a subject you could get really high marks in. The other core subjects were Science, Social Science, Maths, English, Marathi (a regional Indian Language) and Pysical Education.
What’s the most efficient way to complete coursework/homework? School response: I like to go to the library to do homework because it’s quiet and there aren’t many distractions. When I’m at home I get distracted because I share a room with my brother, who doesn’t let me concentrate. I sometimes like to do work close to the deadline because I like working under a bit of pressure. Uni Response: The most efficient way to complete course work is by having a detailed plan. Most pieces of coursework are expected to be completed within a three-week period, so I recommend planning your answer and looking up relevant sources in week one, writing it up in week two and proofing, editing and adding final bits of information in week three. I also record my lectures to listen back to when doing my work.
What would you like to do after you leave school/ university? School response: My mum insists that I go to university after my secondary education. I plan to use my holidays to get some work experience which I think will help me achieve higher levels in life. I would most likely want to have a career in banking. Uni response: My initial plan was to become a barrister (which would mean taking another course that would last one year) and not take a gap year. But after some consideration I have decided I would like to go back to India and teach children there. I want to give back to the community and then after a year I would like to return to the UK to complete my master’s degree.
What do you enjoy doing away from school/university? School response: I used to like going to the gym twothree times a week but now I like playing football with my friends. I’m also spending a lot of time revising because my GCSE’s are coming up soon. I spend most of my time mainly revising History and Science. Uni response: I enjoy reading in my spare time. I like to read different genres as reading the same thing over and over can get really repetitive. I also enjoy meditation because it helps take care of my mindfulness. I like to go out - but only sometimes as I don’t like spending money on unnecessary items.
Article by: Ahsan, Imen, Jonathan, Maria, Sakina and Victor London Met Students: Angelica and Omkar
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Take time to relax… Looking to chill out but want to do more than just have a drink or a meal? We’ve got three unusual activities that are sure to tickle anyone’s fancy…
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Shantay Please Stay! After the massive success RuPaul’s Drag Race UK experienced, it was only right for Mama Ru to bring her brand full circle The UK’S first Ru Paul’s Drag Con took place this year, celebrating all things queer and cheer. Straight, Gay, Trans, Bi, Nonbinary, whatever or whomever you identify as, you would’ve been welcomed with open arms at Olympia conference hall in January.
Tickets ranging from £40 for standard entry to £250 for the VIP package had already sold out several days till it opened. And with kids under 12 free, it was sure to be a family friendly Con that everyone would love.
With a kid’s fashion show, Drag legends gracing the main stage, lip synching competitions and even a DJ set from RuPaul herself, there was certainly something for everyone.
The weekend started off with The Vivienne, the first UK Drag Race winner gracing the stage for a VIP exclusive performance. So many queens from the hit show then serenaded the crowd with their stunning runway skills. Throughout the day booths sold merch and drag stars signed autographs – certainly the place to be.
Krystal De La Kruz, a drag performer from Spain, has been a fan of the show for years. “I’ve been watching it from day one and love everything it represents. It brings unity and from everyone can see this weekend, it brings freedom. “I’m one of the few straight drag entertainers and being in a straight relationship with my wife, I get it from the other point of view...RuPaul said it, doesn’t matter what you are, doesn’t matter who you are, as long as you are.”
Runway skills in style
With their make-up LAID to perfection and contoured for the Gods, the main stage was graced with performances from The Frock Destroyers, India Ferrah, Vinegar Strokes and Drag Syndrome, a group with Down syndrome who perform drag all over the world. Wrapped in Swarovski floor length dresses, show stopping catsuits and 10-inch heels with
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big hair to match, these queens did not come to play! The weekend-long DragCon also featured in-depth panel discussions with some of the world’s biggest gay and queer activists: Daniel Franzese, Crystal Rasmussen and Shea Coulé, just to name a few. With discussions ranging from selflove, empowerment to drag makeovers, how drag influences music and self-expression through makeup, the organisers did well to show drag beyond the aesthetic. Honesty and openness of the queens Exiting one of the panels, Stuart Mackenzie, a musician from London said: “To receive all that love and advice from people who look like you, in a room full of people that understand you, was something I never knew my soul needed: the honesty and openness of the queens when answering the Q&A, was so refreshing and beautiful.” Asked about what he loved about the DragCon most,
the 29-year-old said: “The community of it all. Everyone living their best life and feeling safe, I’m living.” RuPaul’s Drag Race has long been a statement of the drag community. With the first show airing in the US back in 2009
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and season 12 contestants recently introduced, fans are never left alone for long. The show, which sees 12 drag queens compete with one another in a series of challenges, has had a cult following for over 10 years and there’s no sign of it slowing down, with the second
UK series having already been given the go ahead. Don’t worry if you missed it - for updates on any future RuPaul Drag Cons, follow their Instagram @rupaulsdragcon
By Adebukola Fadipe
Cat Cafe: The purrfect place to unwind Cats, food, drink, and a calming atmosphere? Name a better place to relax and find some peace! We recently visited the Whiskers and Cream Cat Cafe located on Holloway Road in Islington, and here is a taste of what it was like! A free drink on admission? Yes please! Prior to arriving at the cafe, we were aware that it cost £10 per person for a table booking, which by all means is respectable. While you can turn up on the day and chance the prospect of a free table, it is advisable that you always book in advance. Arriving at the cafe, located a short walk away from Upper Holloway station, we found it visibly quiet and empty inside.
Before being seated we were provided with the house rules: don’t wind up the cats and never, under any circumstance, allow them to sit on the tables. As we were shown and seated at our table, we were informed that a free drink came with the admission booking. Awesome! We were entitled to a free soft or warm drink, which was a nice touch that really welcomed us from the start. Fitting atmosphere! It is rare to be able to visit a cafe to escape a loud environment, as cafes are of course typically for social use. But Whiskers and
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Cream provided the opposite experience: a quiet and soothing respite from life. Within moments of being seated at our table, it was cats galore. They freely roamed around the cafe as cats do, and there was no shortage of feline friends to greet. Naturally we’d love to go wild and stroke as many as you can, but we found that their attention was a little tricky to get. Eventually, the residential cats became comfortable around us, but while they did not shower us in love and affection, they were comfortable with a few strokes and be on their way.
The calming atmosphere was wonderful, as the cafe was lightly lit and reflected a relaxing feeling, with sweetsounding acoustic music in the background. A side note: the cafe was absolutely spotless, which is always a positive.
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Unbeknownst to us there was another floor, downstairs. We saw more cats, more tables and
even sofa seating. It actually looked much more comfortable than the upstairs and the cats were also a bit more chilled out and lazy. With the atmosphere downstairs even quieter, we felt like we could have fallen asleep. Overall experience Whether it’s finding a nice quiet space to study or chill, or just a
great spot to be with friends, we could not recommend visiting Whiskers and Cream enough. With all the cats you would want around you, it’s the ideal place to find your relaxation headspace and zone out for a while, while making new feline friends. Not recommended for people with allergies...
Laugh out loud
Comedy can relax us all and give us a break from the day-today hassles of work and real life
With its friendly atmosphere and attractive frontage, The Finsbury is a welcoming venue. Walking through the door you’re greeted by the bar showing an array of beers, ales, wines and soft drinks. Every taste is catered for. Food is also on offer, with an open kitchen area letting the scent of fresh, stone-baked pizzas drift through the air. But it’s the comedy and entertainment that is always on in The Finsbury that sets it apart from other local venues, and is the reason that people return again and again to wind down after a tough day at work. As one local put it: “I come for the relaxed atmosphere, socialisation and the laughs of the comedy shows.” Towards the back of the bar is a large room, complete with a brightly lit stage and a large seating area. This is the main entertainment area, separate from the bar and providing an intimate experience for any show guests. The classic dark comedy scene is played out as the comedian gets on the stage. With the audience still quietly chatting in
anticipation of the show ahead, the bright single spotlight beams down on the isolated stand-up. The audience soon turns all its attention to the performance and listens intently as the jokes and anecdotes flow off the performer’s tongue.
feeling as you see a mixture of experienced and novice comedians along with a promoter note bellow telling any budding stand-ups, “If it would be your first gig, just tell us that we like people like you too!” Good to know.
Hive of activity
Something for everyone
The Wednesday night comedy events, run by Bear Funny Comedy, are a popular attraction - and when we visited the venue it was a bustling hive of activity. Before we even entered the stage area we could see the comedian wildly gesticulating on stage as the audience looked on, smiles on their faces in between their open-mouthed laughing.
With intervals between some acts, there was plenty of time to get refreshments and stretch the legs. The time flew by and by the end of the show, the audience was left wanting more. Luckily there is more: every week’s a different act and the list of upcoming comedians has something for everyone.
Arriving at any comedy show late can be an unnerving experience, and walking into a room full of guests and an on-stage comedian could mean being singled out at the end of a joke. But this isn’t that type of venue, it feels more like an inclusive place with everyone there to laugh with each other and not at each other. Looking at the future events list only goes to confirm this
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Recent highlights included award-winning Australian comedian Laura Davis followed by Sindu Vee, who has appeared at the Apollo and on ‘Have I got news for you?’ Tickets, which cost just £6, can be found on the Eventbrite page of Bear Funny Comedy. Be sure to go online and take a look at The Finsbury’s listings page to see for yourself. thefinsbury.co.uk/listings
By Richie Hancox
OPINION: Mirror, mirror, on the wall… Is the film Joker reflecting the shallowness of our times? “But for the present age, which prefers the sign to the thing signified, the copy to the original, representation to reality, appearance to essence ... truth is considered profane, and only illusion is sacred.” - Feuerbach, Preface to the second edition of The Essence of Christianity I had not intended to see Joker as the sheer amount of media surrounding it had tired me, but a friend invited me to an afternoon at the cinema. I had expected to see a film about mental illness, and I did - but not in the way that the various blogs and journalistic articles had told me. Joker is about how, in our current Capitalist society, the media has trained us to turn people into Products and currency. We are all a Product that must seek to brand itself in such a way that is desirous to be bought. Arthur Fleck, the man who will become the Product or Idea Joker, is of a subset of people who lack productive skills or capabilities that can harnessed by Capitalism. Fleck is disabled and acts as a carer to his elderly, mentally ill mother. He is constantly on the edge of extreme poverty. He has become dispossessed by a system that values productivity over humanity. Fleck and his fellow dispossessed eek out an existence in utter destitution,
routinely dehumanised by the system. He is physically abused, deprived of food, and shuffled through the underfunded social health system, palmed off with drugs. Fleck’s humanity goes unrecognised and he becomes unsure that he ‘exists’. He is unrecognised because he lacks a place within the system; he has been indoctrinated into the belief that without a use he lacks reality. Fleck finds his freedom from unrecognition when he embraces the idea of the Product. He becomes the Joker- a two-dimensional idea devoid of ideology or of human reality. He becomes a Product that can be both used by the establishment, for fear mongering and news bait, and the public, who use him as a face for their own political agenda. Rather than having to find a way he can be used by the system; Fleck makes himself a void: an ideologically empty vessel that others can use as they wish. He is the ultimate Product because he is nothing. And yet, at the same time he is a mirror. He reveals to society the emptiness of the Human turned Product: the emptiness we all feel and experience when we are dehumanised, forced to sell our time and lives, as Products for currency. The emptiness we all feel when we acknowledge that our capacity to create and love is less valued than our capacity to produce.
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Joker is pure void. Murray, the television host, asks him if his face paint, his Joker image, is a political statement. It is not. Fleck replies that he believes in ‘nothing’. By stating that he believes in nothing, Fleck is both exposing himself as a void and imbuing nothing with an ideology itself. He believes in Nothing. A human being deprived of their humanity is nothing, nothing is chaos. A void desire’s to be filled and without any ideological guidelines - without belief in anything - that desire leads to madness. Joker, by being a Product that desires use (to have a meaningful role within the system) but that fits no prior guidelines on how to be used - there is no one else like him, he has no ancestoris capable of being used for everything. But as he is used for everything he is useful for nothing. Everything, then, is also chaos because everything is use without rules. Joker is a mirror that reflects the void and madness of a system that flattens out human beings to shallow Products, that defines people as tools to be used over real entities. As a film it has garnered significant criticism in the media, some that can be supported by a watch but much that cannot. If I were to try and find a single reason as to why Joker (2019) has received such rabid criticism it would be this: Joker is a mirror, and the media does not like what it sees.
By Jack Barry