Metropolis London Met’s newspaper for students
Autumn 2013 Issue 1
londonmet.ac.uk/metropolis
STUDENT NEWS
Jon Snow interview
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THE STUDENT VIEW
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Grilling Brussels?
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FEATURE
Is there life on Mars?
Putting words in the President’s mouth
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Student interprets for US President Barack Obama Studying at London Met can lead to you meeting all kinds of people. Just ask MA Conference Interpreting student Ahmadou Gaye who found himself chatting to President Barack Obama shortly after finishing his studies! Ahmadou, who only recently completed his course at London Met, works as a translator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Based in USAID’s Senegal office, he was at a meeting of civil society leaders in Dakar when the President paid a visit. But Ahmadou didn’t just meet Mr Obama — he served as his interpreter! The President had his own interpreter with him for the meeting, but he had full confidence in Ahmadou’s skill and suggested he continue to cover the session. “I knew I was going to meet President Obama, but I certainly didn’t expect to interpret for him,” said Ahmadou. “I honestly didn’t have time to be nervous because it all happened so quickly!” Ahmadou received an insight into diplomatic protocol in advance of the President’s visit. “The US Embassy told us to be “smart casual or dressier”
and to not wear a tie,” he said. When the President arrived, he was wearing a white shirt without a tie in the Obamacool style with which he is associated. “He walked around the room, shook everyone’s hand and said a word or two to everyone,” said Ahmadou. “He
He was extremely nice, humble and considerate. He was so friendly with everybody that nobody was overawed by his presence.
was extremely nice, humble and considerate. He was so friendly with everybody that nobody was overawed by his presence. When I introduced myself as “Ahmadou Gaye, Translator at USAID”, he said: “Good to meet you” in his own distinctive voice.”
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2 Welcome from the Vice-Chancellor Malcolm Gillies Vice-Chancellor of London Met Welcome to another academic year at London Metropolitan University. Welcome also to our new students joining us for the first time this September. I hope you have a fun Welcome Week and settle in quickly to London Met life. This is the first edition of Metropolis, the new monthly publication for London Met students. In this issue you can find out about news from the University, see ‘what’s on’ over the next month and exercise your minds with some interesting feature articles. I would encourage each of you to embrace university life in order to get the very best from your student experience. There are lots of student societies and sports clubs for you to join at London Met, as well as regular social and academic events to participate in. You can find out more about these opportunities in this issue.
University isn’t just about academic study, of course — it’s about broadening our view of the world and learning new things beyond the classroom. I hope you will broaden your world view during your time here. Metropolis is produced for you, our students, so please do engage with it. The PR and Internal Communications
continued from front cover... Putting words in the President’s mouth The meeting took place on Goree Island, three kilometres outside the Senegalese capital. During the height of the slave trade, the island — also known as the Door of No Return — was a major shipping port to the plantations of America. Previous US Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush have visited the island in the past. Taking part in such an historic event was a fantastic experience for Ahmadou, and he is grateful to London Met
for helping him progress in his career. “Attending London Met has taken me to a higher professional level,” he said. “It helped broaden my professional horizons and also developed my employer’s confidence in me. Conference interpreting is a dignified profession here in Africa.”
It helped broaden my professional horizons.
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I would encourage you to embrace university life to get the very best from your student experience.
team are always looking to improve how they communicate with students, so if you have any thoughts about how to make Metropolis better, please do contact them at communications@ londonmet.ac.uk I hope you enjoy this first edition and wish you the very best in your studies this year.
NEWS
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Royal Patron meets scientists of tomorrow
We look forward to welcoming The Duke to the University on many future occasions.
HRH The Duke of York visits London Met Royalty came to London Metropolitan University this summer when HRH The Duke of York KG visited Holloway campus. The Duke of York took over as London Met’s Patron in April, following on from his father, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who served as Patron for 60 years.
His Royal Highness was delighted to meet a number of London Met students, including Dietetics, Sports Therapy, and Life Sciences students in the University’s ‘Super Lab’ Science Centre at Holloway campus. The Duke also met Student Entrepreneurs based in the Accelerator. These academic areas reflect The Duke of York’s close interests in science, business and helping young people to develop their skills.
Professor Malcolm Gillies, Vice-Chancellor of London Met, said: “This is the first Royal Visit in over a decade and we are delighted that The Duke of York has agreed to become our Patron. His interests match the priorities of the University in that we are here to transform lives, build careers and meet students’ needs. We look forward to welcoming The Duke to the University on many future occasions.”
The Royal Patronage of London Metropolitan University extends back to 1848 when Prince Albert, the then Consort, sponsored an annual exhibition of students work from the then Metropolitan Evening Classes for Young Men.
4 From classroom to council chamber LLB and International Relations student elected councillor Many students have jobs or hobbies to keep them busy in their spare time, but LLB and International Relations student Syed Enam is perhaps the busiest of them all. That’s because the second-year law student has been elected as a local councillor after triumphing in a recent by-election! Syed, who studies in the Faculty of Law, Governance and International Relations at London Met, is the councillor for London’s Longbridge Ward in Barking.
FEATURE
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“I have always had an interest in politics,” said Syed, who is also Part Time Mature Student Officer in the SU. “When the by-election was announced I applied for the Labour nomination, and was successful out of 18 candidates. It feels very good to have won the election and I am excited to be looking after the residents of the ward. “Sometimes I’ll be in a lecture and I’m getting lots of calls on my mobile, so as soon as the lecture ends I have to go straight back into councillor mode!” Well done Syed!
What would be really exciting is if Curiosity finds a similar fossil on Mars. That would establish common origin. Is there life on Mars?
Australian business inspired by Accelerator Governor-General of Australia visits Accelerator The Governor-General of Australia visited London Met’s business incubator Accelerator over the summer, describing it as “exhilarating.” Her Excellency The Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO came to the University along with the High Commissioner for Australia,
The Honourable Mike Rann, as she led a business delegation to Europe. She said the facility was transferring entrepreneurial rhetoric into reality. “You are bringing people, business and entrepreneurship together in this place and I admire that,” the GovernorGeneral said. “And I am thrilled to see bright, young Australians over here experiencing this.”
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NEWS
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Natalia dines out on banking success Business school student wins top finance prize Finance graduate Natalia Lykova was given a taste of the banking life when she attended the annual dinner of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers. Natalia, who achieved a Distinction from the Business School, was invited to the banquet as the winner of the 2012 Lombard Prize — one of the most
prestigious student awards in finance. “This success is not only my personal achievement, but an achievement of all my teachers, with special mention of Dr Humphrey Shaw, and the Business School as a whole,” said Natalia, who beat candidates from the Judge Institute at Cambridge University, Cass Business School, and Durham University to win her prize, which included a commemorative silver salver and £1,500 cash.
Cass filmmakers enjoy successful year Film & Broadcast Production students celebrate It’s been a great few months for filmmakers in The Cass, who have won commissions from the Bank of England, Royal Society for the Arts and the Football League. Film & Broadcast Production lecturer Charlotte Worthington recently directed a short film celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Football League — the oldest league football competition in the world. Charlotte was hired to direct the film, shown at football grounds across the country and in over 200 countries around the world, thanks to her filmmaking expertise. It also featured on the BBC and Sky Sports websites. Film & Broadcast Production students have enjoyed success too. They are part of ‘We Make Films’, a production company run on the course under Charlotte’s guidance. They have been commissioned to make over 30
films for the Bank of England to raise awareness of diversity in the organisation. Student Divine Angela Ekeleme said: “The Bank of England commissioning us was a big deal to me because we are a newly formed company. To have them liking our work is confirmation that our lecturers have done a great job.” Elsewhere, students interviewed Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow (pictured) for a project commissioned by the Royal Society of the Arts in partnership
After meeting Mr Snow before the interview I was put at ease by his friendly personality and charm.
with website The Samosa, which hosts sophisticated political reporting and intelligent commentary on Pakistan affairs. The team travelled to ITN’s London studios to meet the famous journalist. “He was so natural and easy going,” said student Suzanne Wakefield. “I was nervous that I would mess up the questions by speaking too fast, but after meeting Mr Snow before the interview I was put at ease by his friendly personality and charm.”
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London — a love/hate thing?
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FEATURE
We ask students to tell us what they love, and don’t love, about London life London is a truly global metropolis in which over 300 languages are spoken. A myriad of entertainment to suite all tastes can be found here, making it one of the most exciting cities on Earth. It’s also home to over 300,000 students, some of whom have been Londoners all their lives, others who have moved to the capital from far afield. But what’s it like studying among this cauldron of humanity? London Met students share their views on London living. IT’S BIG! “What I like about London is the immensity of the city,” says Psychology student Emma Cippitelli. “You may believe that by travelling to Central London, you have seen London and know what it looks like. But you have only seen part of it. As you explore further into this city you discover the many different sides it shows. There are beautiful views from places like Canary Wharf and fantastic greenery within the city’s heart. Then there is the diverse food throughout areas such as Brick Lane and the lively nightlife experience and the theatrical entertainment in the West End. London opens its doors to everyone, which is why I like this city. From the financial district to the touristic areas, London is a city that never sleeps.” Not everything in London is perfect though. The English weather can be famously miserable, and this can have an impact, says Emma. “London’s mood may sometimes be reflected by its weather, and the pace of its environment may be too much for some people! To overcome this, you have to be part of the active lifestyle and embrace it.” However, you can escape it, too. There are lots of areas in London which are actually very peaceful. “My favourite place is in London is Canary Wharf,” adds Emma. “It has a nice view of the city and it is
situated by the River Thames. The architecture of the buildings there is also distinct from other parts of the city.” KEEPING THE COST DOWN One of the inescapable truths about London is that it is, like many capital cities, expensive. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go out and have fun. “London is great for socialising and going out, but it can be costly,” says Sports Therapy student Victor Ben Salem. “Some parts of London are cheaper than others for a night out though. Shoreditch, Hoxton, Old Street and the Brick Lane areas are full of great bars which aren’t too expensive. They’re certainly cheaper than, say, the West End.” Victor found getting a job during his studies helped with him, but gave it up in his third year to focus on his Uni work. “I worked for Arsenal football club, at the Emirates Stadium. It was a lot of fun and I got to meet some of the players and Jeff Stelling from Sky Sports. I even met Usain Bolt while working there — he was a cool guy.”
London is a truly global metropolis in which over 300 languages are spoken. Victor now plans to stay in London, where he is setting up his own city-based physiotherapy and personal training company. “The best thing about London is that everywhere is different. The East End has a totally different vibe to Angel, and Angel is totally different to the West End. You can travel ten minutes on the tube and have a totally different experience,” Victor added. WHAT WORKS FOR YOU? There are days when all Londoners might feel fed up! And then there are days where the magic of this city make us feel lucky to live here. There will be something that everyone loves about London life. What’s important is that you get out there and find yours.
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DENT VIE
THE STU
Grilling Brussels? Students get a taste of political journalism A group of London Met journalism students had the experience of a lifetime when they visited Brussels to meet and interview Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Two students from each year of study were selected for the visit to the Belgian capital, where they worked on projects for course assignments or their final dissertation project. It was a huge advantage for the students to be able to interview people inside the European Parliament first-hand.
It was a huge advantage for the students to be able to interview people inside the European Parliament. Some student journalists interviewed MEPs from their own countries, while others prepared to grill the London MEPs in pursuit of comments; the more controversial the quote, the better. The guide for the trip was Lucinda Pickersgill, who works at the European Parliament Information Office in the UK. Thanks to her, students were introduced to the Press and Communication Division, press
500m
room facilities and audio-visual facilities, and met the EP’s Press Officers. It turned out that the journalism equipment used in the European Parliament is the same as the that available to London Met journalism students, which made tutors Richard Evans and Ben Falk very happy! They were both all smiles that day — like all of the students. Obviously, the amount of equipment at the Parliament was another matter! During the evening, the students were wined and dined with reporters from The Times and the Press Association. The journalists amused the students with stories about their own careers, and gave tips about making it in the industry. Some business cards changed owners while everybody enjoyed the night until the late hours. All of the students are professionals though, and so the next morning they woke up fresh and ready to go. The day was full of work from the beginning to the end. After the morning meeting with MEP Charles Tannoc (Con), students met with Baroness Sarah Ludford (LibDem) and put their interviewing skills to the test. Looking like she was born to be in front of the camera, student Nayara Caminotto interviewed the Baroness with some help from the Parliament’s professional camera crew and equipment.
Next up was MEP Jean Lambert (Greens), who answered Guiliano Toffani’s questions about food waste and environment. For their last interviews, the students met with MEP Mary Honeyball (Lab), who had a conversation with Jude McCardle about women in power. After that they met the MEPs’ media head, who talked off the record about his work so he could give better advice to the students. Later he gave Thomasina Jordan his opinion for a story she is working on about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The trip was a huge success and all the students (as well as the tutors) had a great time getting to know how the EU and the Parliament works. All the MEPs were very helpful and are actually very easy to contact through their offices, so the “barrier” between them and budding journalists actually is quite small. You just have to reach out to them and they are happy to help you with almost anything you are working on. Thank you so much London Met and the European Parliament for providing this opportunity for us.
If you’d like to write for the Student View, contact Luke Foddy at l.foddy@londonmet. ac.uk
These MEPs represent over 500 million people living in the EU, making it the world’s second largest democratic body behind the Indian electorate.
londonmet.ac.uk/metropolis
STUDENT VIEW
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BA Journalism student Ida-Sofia Ääri reports on a field trip to the European Parliament
The trip was a huge success and all the students (as well as the tutors) had a great time getting to know how the EU and the Parliament works.
STUDENTS INTERVIEWED MEPs
STUDENTS OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Photos courtesy of: Martina Tomasello
Is there life on Mars? This summer, London Met chemistry graduate Berivan Esen is undertaking a research project at NASA to explore the possibility of life on Mars. But as Berivan toils at NASA’s Ames research base in California, we ask the question: what do we know about life on Mars so far? LIFE-FRIENDLY CONDITIONS It seems that the conditions on Mars during its early years (the first billion!) were actually life-friendly. “We have recently discovered that there were large bodies of standing, pH neutral water on the surface of Mars, some of them at least one meter deep,” explained Dr Kevin Devine from London Met’s Faculty of Life Sciences and Computing. “There was also a thicker atmosphere around the planet at that time.” These conditions may well have been conducive to simple life, but no evidence of that has been found so far. “The Curiosity rover has been on Mars over a year now, and is making its way to Mount Sharp which should reveal more about the planet’s history,” added Dr Devine. “It will dig down into the layers of the surface looking for signs of organic molecules.” One of the most intriguing things about searching for life on Mars, however, is what it can tell us about life on Earth. Some scientists think that we could even be Martians ourselves!
“This is still debatable, but a Martian meteorite discovered in Antarctica in 1996 contained what look to be a fossilised organism. It could be that the simple organisms which began life on Earth came here on such a Martian meteorite. “What would be really exciting is if Curiosity finds a similar fossil on Mars. That would establish common origin.” LITTLE GREEN MEN? Such a discovery though, while ground-breaking, would not mean that Mars is, or ever was, host to an alien civilisation. As Dr Devine explains, there is a big step from simple organisms to intelligent life. “The current evidence we have is that the first microbes on Earth arrived around 3.7 billion years ago. However, it took 3 billion years for those microbes to form multicellular life. These are the kind of timescales we are dealing with.” The search continues relentlessly though. In 2018, a sample return mission is planned which will see a space craft land on Mars and bring back rocks for analysis. This will be the first time humans have taken samples from the planet, although we do have numerous Martian meteorite fragments that scientists have studied. PUTTING A MAN ON MARS Of course, one of the best ways to explore Mars properly is by putting a human on its surface. But there are significant obstacles that would make a manned flight to the Red Planet very challenging. “The distance between Mars and Earth varies massively as they orbit the Sun,” explained Dr Devine. “At their closest, the distance is about 34 million miles, but at their furthest it is 250 million miles. The two planets come close to each other every two years, and this would be the time to make the trip. So, in reality, that means the
londonmet.ac.uk/metropolis
Photos courtesy of: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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FEATURE
astronauts would need to spend over a year on Mars, plus the travelling time.” While technically such a mission is possible, it would be extremely costly. “That could be the make or break factor,” said Dr Devine. “Can such an extraordinary cost be justifiable?” So, with a manned mission perhaps on the back-burner, we must rely instead on research being conducted by scientists such as London Met graduate Berivan. At NASA, she is investigating techniques to seek out small quantities of organic compounds in soil samples that contain perchlorates – naturally occurring salts that could hold the key to unlocking the story of life on the planet. Having secured such a fantastic opportunity, what advice does Berivan have for students beginning their academic career in science at London Met?
What would be really exciting is if Curiosity finds a similar fossil on Mars. That would establish common origin. “Take every opportunity to attend summer schools, workshops and conferences relevant to your interests, because this is what will make you stand out as an applicant to graduate schools or employers,” she said. “You need to go out there and meet people who work in your field. It’s win-win because you meet people who have the same passions as you and you’re also moving your career forward by networking. Don’t be intimidated by other people, it’s OK to not know everything!”
FACTS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT MARS
27km 600km
x2
Mars is home to the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, which stands 27km tall and 600km across
The sun looks twice as big from Earth as it does from Mars.
Mars appears reddish in colour due to the high levels of iron-oxide in its soil.
On Mars you would only weigh 38% of what you do on Earth.
The largest dust storms in the solar system rage on Mars, covering the entire planet and lasting for months.
12 What’s on There’s a lot going on around the University throughout welcome week and beyond. Freshers’ Fortnight events include club nights, live music, quizzes and rock karaoke, to name but a few! There will also be Courtyard Activities from Monday 23 to Friday 27 September in the Outer Courtyard at The Rocket, Holloway Campus. Check out the Met Fresh Guide, available across campus, for more information about Rocket events.
STUDENTS’ UNION
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International Student Party Thursday 26 September 8.00pm–2.00am @ The Rocket
This special event will provide a warm welcome to our international students. It’s a great way to meet other students from your own country and beyond!
Freshers’ Party
Freshers’ Fairs
Freshers’ Fairs
Friday 11 October 8.00pm
Tuesday 1 October 11.00am–3.00pm
Thursday 3 October 11.00am–4.00pm
@ The Rocket
@ Basement Cafe, Calcutta House
@ Sports Hall, Science Centre
The legendary Freshers’ Party hits The Rocket on Friday 11 October. You can buy tickets at the Freshers’ Fairs or in the Rocket bar and shop.
Find out more about student societies and services at the Freshers’ Fairs. The first is held at Aldgate campus.
The second Freshers’ Fair takes place at Holloway campus. Why not come along and join a society? There’ll also be free stuff up for grabs!
I’d like to extend a special welcome to those students joining us for the first time. I hope you will find your experience at London Met as enjoyable and fulfilling as I have so far. Jason Jackson
Who’s who at the SU? President Jason Jackson president.su@londonmet.ac.uk
Deputy President and Media & Campaigns Officer Adnan Pavel
media.su@londonmet.ac.uk
londonmet.ac.uk/metropolis
Participation, Democracy and Activities Officer Raju Ali
participation.su@londonmet.ac.uk
Education and Academic Affairs Officer Md Monir Hossain
education.su@londonmet.ac.uk
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WHAT’S ON
About The Rocket Oliver Niroomand-Rad The Rocket is London Met’s main social venue and features a well-stocked bar, big dancefloor and even bigger sound system! There are also pool tables and sofas for chilling out, and the venue is also home to ‘Backroom Cinema’. Oliver Niroomand-Rad worked for The Rocket while he studied at London Met. Here’s what he made of it… “I worked at The Rocket Complex throughout my time at London Met, and enjoyed every moment of it! It was my job to promote the events in
Win the ultimate student package courtesy of the N1 Centre Islington! Islington’s N1 Centre is giving one lucky London Met student and a friend a great night out — plus the opportunity to add your own finishing touches to your accommodation. Simply enter our competition and you could win a £30 Butlers home accessories voucher, a meal for two at wagamama Islington and two tickets for Propaganda at the O2 Academy Islington. So what are you waiting for? Enter now to win a great day out to explore the retailers, eateries and entertainment venues at the N1 Centre — just a short bus ride from Holloway Campus! Customise your new accommodation with Butlers Islington’s great range of stylish accessories and furniture, such as fun wall art from just £6.99 including the Name It! chalk board — perfect for
Equality and Welfare Officer Mohammad Obaidullah equality.su@londonmet.ac.uk
and around campus, to get people to the events, work in the box office and take pictures of people having fun for our Facebook page. I’d set up games like ‘pass the ice’ and give out free shots as prizes! Being known around Uni as the guy who ‘took your picture and gave you a drink’ wasn’t a bad reputation to have! “The Rocket Complex is a great place to go out, and to work while at Uni. It’s a really close team and you make loads of new friends. So if you enjoy meeting new people, going to events (and laughing at people’s dancing while being paid!), I would recommend working at the Rocket!” any student living room or kitchen. For nightlife look no further than Propaganda, the ultimate rock & roll party every Friday night at the O2 Academy Islington. Previous live bands and guest DJs include Mumford & Sons, The Vaccines and Bloc Party. £5 tickets are available from thepropaganda. com or facebook.com/ propagandalondon. Catch a movie at Vue Cinema Islington, or enjoy a meal with friends at wagamama, a Japanese-inspired restaurant offering friendly service at great value. Dishes are freshly prepared and perfect for sharing. And make your student loan last longer this term with student discounts from N1 Centre’s French Connection, Oasis, Accessorize and Benetton. H&M is also running a 20% discount from 23 September to 6 October for students who have downloaded the UniDays app.
Postgraduate Students Officer Marie-Violette Akembila Mbela
postgraduate.su@londonmet.ac.uk
Activities and Societies Officer Masuma Ahmadyar
activities.su@londonmet.ac.uk
To be in with a chance of winning, just email the answer to the following question to Luke Foddy, PR & Internal Communications Officer, at l.foddy@londonmet.ac.uk Terms & Conditions The winner will be chosen at random from all correct answers. All prizes are valid for 3 months from closing date. Prize includes £30 Butlers voucher, £40 Wagamama voucher and 2 tickets for Propaganda O2 Academy Islington. Prizes subject to availability, transport not included. Prizes only valid at the N1 Centre Islington. For further information visit n1islington.com, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/n1shoppingcentreislington or tweet with us @n1centre.
International Students Officer Maryam Saberi
international.su@londonmet.ac.uk
Which tube station is nearest to the N1 Centre? a. Bank b. Angel c. Stepney Green Closing date: Friday 18 October 2013
Part-time and Mature Students Officer Syed Enam parttime.su@londonmet.ac.uk
Diversity Officer Baljinder Verma
diversity.su@londonmet.ac.uk
14 Getting to know your Students’ Union! Jason Jackson President of London Met Students’ Union Hi, I’m Jason Jackson, the President of London Met Students’ Union for this academic year. I hope you have all enjoyed a nice summer break and are looking forward to the year ahead. I’d also like to extend a special welcome to those new students joining us for the first time. I hope you will find your experience at London Met as enjoyable and fulfilling as I have so far. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a few things about MetSU to ensure that you get the most from your student experience at London Met. JOIN A SOCIETY! One of the best ways to meet new people, make friends and learn new skills is to join one of our many student societies. We have some excellent societies which reflect the vibrancy and energy of the student body here. The Life Sciences Society is particularly active and is open to all students, not just those studying in that field. Although only founded in October 2012, they won the Students’ Union award for Best Society last year. The Accounting Society is also really active, as is our very own model United Nations club, METIMUN. A full list of societies can be found at londonmetsu.org.uk/ societies/directory and range
Verve
from academically focussed clubs to those covering social and cultural topics. SAY HELLO I operate an open door policy and am always happy to have visits from my fellow students. If there is anything about the SU or university life you’d like to chat with me about, please come along to my offices, either at Holloway Campus (TMG 75) or at Aldgate (CM 222).
Verve is the University’s student media enterprise, complete with a radio station, magazine and website. Verve is run by students, for students, and they are always looking for new talent. So whether you fancy
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I hope you will find your experience at London Met as enjoyable and fulfilling as I have so far.
writing for the student magazine or having a go at radio DJing, Verve might be just for you! Find out more by contacting Adnan Pavel, media.su@ londonmet.ac.uk
REACHING OUT We will be bringing MetSU to you this year by setting up a number of ‘pop-up’ offices around the University. Look out for pop-ups in Moorgate and Aldgate campuses and be sure to come and say hello. We want to encourage all of you to engage with the Students’ Union, which is here for you. Indeed, that is the only reason we exist — to support and represent students at London Met.
♼ London15
London is home to over 300,000 students, some of whom have been Londoners all their lives, others who have moved to the capital from far afield.
16 Sport Back of the Met!
SPORTS TEAMS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR NEW SIGNINGS Sports clubs at London Met are hoping to recruit new talent to bolster their squads as the new university sporting season approaches. The University has a number of sports teams competing in this year’s British Universities and Colleges Sports Association (BUCS), all of which are looking for a successful start to the 2013/14 campaign. Last year, the Women’s Netball 1st team won the league and secured promotion into South East League 6B. Their first match of this year’s competition is a visit to South Bank University on Wednesday 16 October. It will be an intriguing test for last year’s champions to see how they respond to next level netball; Southbank lost every game last season, including a 130–71 drubbing at the hands of the University of Kent’s Women’s 3rd team.
BUILDING ON SUCCESS The London Met Men’s Basketball 1st team also had a great season last year, finishing 3rd in the South East League 1A. The Mets had a slow start but went undefeated in the second half of the season, winning every match. Third year Business and Accounting student Sean Lawrence is confident that they can be crowned champions. “We finished the season very strongly but we had a shaky start and that cost us,” he said. “We can take a lot of confidence from the way we finished the season though. If we can start this year the way we finished last year, I’m sure we can go on and win the league.” Like all the sports teams the basketball squad are looking for new players, and Sean says there are a lot of benefits in joining a competitive team. “It’s great for fitness and there is a brilliant social side. I have made some really good friends through basketball.”
GREAT NETWORK For Sean, joining the basketball team has also paid dividends off the court — literally. “Through playing basketball I managed to get a job in the University gym. And through that, I got a job working in the post room at London Met which has helped me financially during my studies. That’s the great thing about joining a sports team; there are lots of networking opportunities because you meet so many people.” GET INVOLVED! There are a wide range of sports to get involved in at London Met, from tennis to rugby, from volleyball to football. Why not get involved, get active and meet new people?
Find out more at londonmet.ac.uk/sports
Your Metropolis Metropolis is a new monthly publication for students at London Metropolitan University. If you have a story, or would like to write for Metropolis, please email Luke Foddy at l.foddy@londonmet.ac.uk
Follow us on:
/londonmetuni and /londonmetadmissions @LondonMetUni /LondonMetUniversity linkd.in/londonmetuni
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