Issue Three 04. 12. 15
Union in legal battle over VAT Gaming: Why the stigma? James Morrison: Album review
The Right Move For Students
73 ASHBY ROAD LOUGHBOROUGH LE11 3AA
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The Team Editor - in - Chief Bryn Wilkes Editor Katie Wilson Assistant Editor Leanna Kightley Art Director Greg Carter Assistant Art Director Lewis Allum Chief Photographer Jessica Crean Head of Design Theo King Head of Illustration Olivia Chevallier Culture Editors Katherine Hardiman - Alex Jones Features Editors Alice Priestley - Beatrice Quarshie Music Editor James Hullait News Editors Jamie Hutton - Ellie Mackenzie Sport Editors David Boyden - Amrit Malkani Style Editor Natasha Bennett Online Editor Charis Edworthy Hall Media Secretary Craig Searle Head of Marketing and Events Sarina Eugenio - Jade Ledingham Disclaimer: Label is the publication of Loughborough Students’ Union. The opinions contained are those of individual contributors, not of Loughborough Students’ Union, the editorial team, or any other officer of the union unless otherwise stated. Cover Design by Lewis Allum
Contents Editorials 04 - Editorials from the Editor and VP Media News 05 - Union in Legal Battle Over VAT 06 - Is Lad Culture an Issue? 07 - Fossil Free Universities House-about Accommodation? 08 - US Student Race Protests Fusion: My Guilty Pleasure 10 - Exec Focus: Ellis Jarvis, VP College 12 - Exec Focus: James Bowker, VP Finance and Commercial Services Features 14 - Big Debate: Can a Part Time Job be Juggled With University? 16 - Great Nosh Little Dosh - Christmas Dinner 17 - How to Stick to Your New Year Resolutions Music 18 - James Morrison Album Review: Higher Than Here 19 - It’s Christmas! A Look into the Good, the Bad and the Ugly 20 - The Stone Roses 21 - Flash Back Friday: Led Zeppelin IV 22 - Totty Spotted 24 - Comments from Issue Two Loughborough Overheard Culture 26 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens Preview 27 - Gaming: Why the Stigma? 28 - Top 3 Last Minute Gifts This Christmas Style 30 - Winter Style Shoot 34 - Dressmas 35 - The Perfect Glitz and Glam Guide This Christmas Animal Fur Design 36 - Label Illustration Competition Winner 37 - Label Comic Presents: Student Diaries Sport 38 - Shining a Light On: Loughborough Students Netball Club 39 - Euro 2016 Preview 40 - Doping in Sport Interview 42 - Label Chats To: The Place
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EDITORIAL
Since the last issue of Label, the world has seen many awful events from the attacks on Paris to natural disasters including an earthquake in Japan. The media give focus to the most relevant stories at the time, and we miss those showing what’s really happening to the refugees all over Europe. Therefore, the focus takes an unfortunate shift to terrorism yet again. Social media goes crazy, putting blame on people when they have very little understanding of the smaller details. Whilst thousands of people remain displaced and homeless, our humble, naive focus in the UK lies with Christmas, parties, Turkey and all the trimmings. So, what can we do this Christmas to help those with very little? Spare them a thought, send Christmas packages through Samaritan’s Purse and remember just how lucky you are every day. In my opinion, that’s the best thing you can do. Make the most of what you have, cherish every moment and come back refreshed and raring to go in January for the imminent coursework and exam season…Yes I just mentioned it, but Label will be back in January with lots of tips on staying calm, making the most out of your time and we’ll be interviewing VP: Education, Kailey Hazeldene. At least that’s something for you to look forward to. Enjoy your break and please make sure you read Label with a mince pie in one hand and a mug of mulled wine in the other- Merry Christmas!
Katie Wilson Label Editor
Shameless plug aside, it really is no secret that, as the man who launched LCR Christmas three years in a row (@brynwilkesshow), I’m an enormous fan of the festive period. But beyond the music, the decorations, the pigs in blankets and the turkeys, what I really love about the deep midwinter is how it brings people together. I started this editorial by talking about perspective. Well, the truth is that we live in particularly testing times at the moment. So, without wishing to sound like Band Aid 31, don’t lock yourself in your own world and forget about those who need the holiday spirit more than anyone. Do something for someone who needs it this Christmas and I promise it’ll make every mince pie taste that bit sweeter.
media.lsu.co.uk 4
Bryn Wilkes VP Media
/LabelOnlineLSU
Design and Illustration by Greg Carter
If you want to ask me if I like Christmas, I’m going to go ahead and put it into perspective for you. On December 26th 2014, I tweeted a screenshot of an app I had on my phone that told me that we had 363 days, 13 hours, 49 minutes and 58 seconds until Christmas Day. With the hashtag #excited. For more of these gems and general musings about sport on the weekend, do feel free to follow @brynwilkes.
@labelonline
NEWS
Union in
legal battle
over VAT
Loughborough Students’ Union is currently in a legal battle with HMRC appealing a court decision in 2013 over its claimant of VAT exception. As a charity LSU is allowed to claim up to 15 events of a certain type in a certain location to be VAT exempt. However, LSU was claiming on multiple different types of events, allowing VAT exemption to be claimed on nearly 40 events a year. Two years ago HMRC changed their policy and started to crack down on the number of these events students’ unions could claim VAT exemption on, taking Loughborough Students’ Union to court.
“
In 2013 the court ruled that LSU does not qualify for this exemption of VAT payment due to the fact that the exec members are paid employees of the union As well as this, LSU has also been claiming concessions on paying VAT on 15 events a year due to the fact the union is a charity and puts on cultural events. This meant that LSU didn’t have to pay VAT on services such as security, the cloakroom and bars. In 2013 the court ruled that LSU does not qualify for this exemption of VAT payment due to the fact that the exec members are paid employees of the union, particularly when staffing charity events, as opposed to being volunteers.
te at e deba Join th uk lsu.co. media. ws our vie y s u t e or twe lOnline @Labe
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Loughborough Students’ Union appealed the decision made in 2013 and is now currently waiting the date of a Lower Tribunal court appearance. Label spoke to Andy Parsons, Union Director, and asked about what effects a potential loss would have on the union and what provisions LSU had in place in the case of a loss at the Lower Tribunal. A potential loss in court would mean that Loughborough Students’ Union could face a bill of ~£1.2 million. In order to reduce the potential impacts of paying this bill, LSU is currently building up a reserve in order to pay the VAT bill, should it come to it. This reserve currently stands at ~£600,000 and is rising by around £150,000 a year. In the case of a loss in the Lower Tribunal, LSU would also appeal the decision, meaning the case would go to the High Courts. This would allow more time for the reserve to be built up and provisions to be made to ensure that the student experience isn’t affected. Label asked why students had seemingly been kept in the dark. Andy Parsons said that the information on the situation was out in the public domain but that very few students would be truly interested in the topic. However, the situation has been ongoing since 2009 and since that point there has never been a statement from LSU, effectively keeping the students in the dark. There is information available about the situation, however, this can be found in the Board of Trustees minutes and Exec minutes and even these are sparse with information. Label will endeavour to keep students up to date with the situation as much as possible and will release subsequent articles and information over on the LSU Media website. Hopefully information will be easier to access in the future for those of us who do wish to take an interest. Jack Berisford 5
NEWS
e r u t l u C d a L s e u s s an
It’s arguable that there is a stigma attached to mental illness for males. 86% of guys agree with this theory and 1/5 males admitted to seeing other students stigmatised for a mental health condition. One leading mental health consultant believes that lad culture plays a significant part in stigmatisation, this is described in a recent article by undergraduate Stefen Rollnick as “dated assumptions about openness being a sign of weakness”. So, in order to not appear weak and emotional, males lose the ability to express emotion in order to maintain a macho image. Whether this problem is prominent at universities is debatable. Particularly in the
first year of university (an already vulnerable time), an accumulation of males are put together who may feel pressure to conform to social norms in order to fit in. Examples of such social norms include: drinking, one night stands, how strong you are and the ability to withhold emotions. Conformity to these may lead them to act in a way in which they are uncomfortable with due to the pressure of believing this is what’s expected of them. These macho guidelines are held in even more prominence within male sporting societies, particularly rugby and football. One member of such a sporting society admitted to getting a ‘disproportionate amount of credit’ for his promiscuity and feeling like a ‘burden to anyone [he] touched”, leaving him feeling ‘isolated’. Many males often find their own self esteem hangs in balance depending on whether their personality is accepted by the wider culture. So, how much of the male bravado is put on? If males are acting in a way that they are uncomfortable with to conform, suppressing feelings is bound to lead to mental fragility. A wider support group, recognition of the problem and the abolishment of stigmatisation, may help quell the problem. Jess Vincent
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Design by Liam Hopley
The word ‘lad’ is often synonymous with the archetypal stereotypes of male bravado such as: acts of sexual conquest, risky behaviour and heavy drinking. Although much research and attention is paid to the threat this has to women’s experience of university, little thought it given to the effect that this male bravado has on males themselves. Stress based mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression thrive within the male population, to the point that the suicide rate of men in universities is thrice that of women’s, conveying the message that mental illnesses for men are becoming out of hand to the point where they feel suicide is a viable escape.
COMMENT
FOSSIL FREE
Illustration by Greg Carter
UNIVERSITIES Ahead of crucial UN climate talks in early December involving leaders of more than 190 countries, an increasing number of UK universities are divesting from fossil fuels. They are part of a growing global movement which is aiming to withdraw both financial and implied moral support from fossil fuel industries, who help contribute to devastating and destructive climate change. Universities in the UK to recently divest funds include the University of Surrey, who withdrew £42m, Oxford Brookes, and the University of Arts in London. A two year campaign by students and alumni at Wolfson College (Oxford) recently lead to more than £40m being withdrawn from a thermal coal project, which are particularly damaging fossil fuels due to their high carbon emissions. They join a growing group of British Universities to have divested as part of the worldwide campaign. Loughborough is yet to join its fellow UK institutions in divesting, despite growing internal pressure to do so. A petition urging the university to divest money from fossil fuels has been set up, stating that they “believe that our educational institutions should serve the public good and live up to their promises to tackle climate change”. Climate change is inarguably a vitally important issue, and one that Loughborough could do more in tackling. However, it would appear that the campaign for divestment hasn’t caught the imagination of the wider student body, with the petition only garnering just over 60 signatures so far. Clearly, more needs to be done to raise awareness of the campaign, to increase the pressure on the university. This will encourage it to join the growing fossil fuel divestment movement, which can only help in the fight to reduce harmful climate change. Rob Godmon
House-about Accommodation? When and Where to get your Student House Looking to find a student house for the next academic year? Not sure when to look, where to look, and how much it will cost? No worries! Many students rush to get their house organised before the Christmas holidays, but the secret is to not stress and take your time. Don’t feel pressured into finding next year’s accommodation, instances change, people change, and prices go down. So if you’re worrying about where and who to live with as well as when you should put down a deposit, don’t fear! Here are some tips to help the application process a bit easier… Where? From personal experience location is the key to finding the best house. You don’t want to be walking 20+ minutes to all of your lectures (unless you are an engineer, then it’s inevitable). Your best bet for a great student experience is staying within the student triangle: William Street, York, Burleigh, Radmoor, Storer Roads, Regent, Oxford, Paget, Leopold, Fearon and Station Streets. These are roads filled with students and are a 15 minute, or under, walk to campus. If you are a quieter sort and don’t want to be constantly hassled by student living try out Forest Road, Goldfinch Close, Wren Close or Morhen Way. When? Don’t buy too early! If you wait till after the Christmas holidays prices tend to go down as many of the letting agencies reduce rental prices as they want to fill up as many houses as possible. Not only is this a key reason to leave housing a bit later, but you may also make a mistake with your choice of housemates. Make sure you are comfortable with who you will be living with for the next year and don’t worry, there’s plenty of time. Kristy Robertson Label Columnist 7
NEWS
COMMENT
US Student Race Protests As Halloween approached, the Intercultural Affairs Council at Yale University sent an email to students asking them to be thoughtful of the cultural implications of their costumes. In response, Erika Christakis, an associate master at the University’s Silliman College, sent an email requesting instead that if students “don’t like a costume someone is wearing, look away, or tell them you are offended.”
Claims of institutional racism were provoked by a separate incident after a Sigma Alpha Epsilon frat house was reportedly turning away black women from a party, resulting in a gathering of hundreds of students at the University’s Afro-American Cultural Centre to discuss institutional racism on campus. These incidents sparked protests on campuses across the United States and Canada, calling for more diversity training, more faculty of colour, and resignations from culpable University staff, with the #StudentBlackOut protests adopting the spirit of the Black Lives Matter movement. Clearly, activist students across the United States have taken these incidents as the final straw, just two in a series that they have deemed part of a recurring theme of discrimination on racial grounds, highlighting problems with race relations that sadly still haunt modern society.
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Jamie Hutton News Editor
I love the Union, I love their club nights, and most of all, I love Fusion – there, I’ve said it. But why is that such an embarrassing admission? A social faux-pas, if you will? Since I began my time here I’ve been bombarded with people telling me that, by third year, I will hate Fusion with a passion and never want to spend another night in the Union again IN MY LIFE! However, third year is upon me, my dissertation looms, and I’ve never looked forward to an FND more. So, why is this such a guilty pleasure? Picture the scene. Entering the Union at 11:30 shaking your hips to Shakira; wrestling your way to the bar come midnight for a top up to the soundtrack of Arctic Monkeys; and fighting your conscience by 2am, when your body is telling you it really is time for Papa Si’s and bed, but can’t you just stay for one more song? Even if it is Come On Eileen? It is this inevitability I love. Yes, it’s somewhat frustrating when you have to queue behind those less experienced in the ways of the Union than yourself, with freshers pondering the drinks offers when, actually, you know the only value for money option is a double spirit and mixer. And yes, I do refuse to partake in the YMCA. Every. Single. Week. But these quirks of the Union have gained me friends and memories for life. So my advice to you is this; don’t listen to the haters, because they’re gonna hate, hate, hate (in the words of one much wiser than I, and arguably the Queen of Fusion, T.Swizzle). Embrace your time on that dance floor and sing from Fusion balcony with abandon, because only now am I coming to realise I will never get this time back. Leanna Kightley Assitant Editor
Design and Illustration by Greg Carter
Questioning whether Universities should be dictating campus attire, Christakis ponders: “Is there no room anymore for a child or young person to be a little bit obnoxious . . . a little bit inappropriate or provocative or, yes, offensive?” The student body reacted angrily, Christakis at one point mobbed by students calling for her resignation. An open letter to Christakis, signed by over 1000 concerned students, alumni and faculty outlined their concerns with the “degradation of our cultures and people, and the violence that grows out of it”.
Fusion: My Guilty Pleasure
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EXEC FOCUS Interview with
Ellis Jarvis VP College
At the start of the year we managed to recruit 218 Student Reps, and the process is now ongoing to get them through Student Rep Training. Recently, I have been preparing for College Your Education week, where I will be handing out feedback postcards and hosting a College Student Forum along with the College Management Team. The week after Your Education Week it’s College Keep Calm week where I’ll be giving out fruit and bottled water to help revision, as well as revision tips on postcards. Are you working on or planning to work with any other sections on upcoming projects? If so, can you tell us a little bit about this cross-platforming venture?
What has been the best thing so far about this term? Working with the College Marketing team to ensure the new website has an LSU page which is easily accessible, visible and up to date as well as having an input on Loughborough College’s social media updates. Have you been to any events from other sections of the university? If so, what are they and did you enjoy them? I went to my first Union Student Forum; it was great to see the forum members so engaged with the forum activities. I also presented my Strategic Plan to members of the Union Affairs committee which was designed around a puzzle. Katie Wilson Label Editor
Event
Contact me
Any other long term plans/ events that are being arranged that you’d like to mention?
Twitter: @VPCollege_LSU Facebook: VPCollegeLSU
The planning for the awards afternoon for Student Reps is underway, we’ll see how the league table looks towards the end of the year!
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Design by Lewis Allum
I’m working with enterprise next year for the College Apprentice; this event ran last year so we’re hoping this year can be even bigger and better, especially with the development of an enterprise society over at the college. I’ve also invited all of exec to a tea and coffee session at Café Chino which is on the College Campus. Café Chino is run by students at the college, specifically on a course which teaches them to live more independently. I’m hoping to work more with this group of students in the future; the planning for a baking competition with a theme is well underway!
Illustration by Greg Carter
What have you and your section been up to in the last couple of weeks? Any big successes?
50% of our jobs are outside of London
We have 9,100 clients across our regional offices
Our regional practices are at the heart of PwC
68% of all 2015 promotions were outside London
We welcome all degree disciplines
We don’t look at UCAS tariff for our graduate roles
A career that takes you places You might be surprised at the types of projects you could get involved in with us. Not only will you experience a range of challenging projects and exceptional training and development, you’ll also get to work with our high-profile clients. With over 30 offices to choose from, we’re sure you’ll discover an opportunity that’s right for you. Whether it’s joining our Assurance business to provide decision makers with information they can trust, or one of our technology businesses to help our clients embrace emerging trends. With us, you can take your career in a direction that suits you.
Take the opportunity of a lifetime pwc.com/uk/careers
/pwccareersuk @pwc_uk_careers © 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved.
Create value through diversity. Be yourself, be different.
EXEC FOCUS Interview with
VP Finance and Commercial Services
What have you and your section been up to in the last couple of weeks? Any big successes? In my role for the last couple of weeks alongside Andy Parsons, Union Director, we have been focusing on budgeting for all the departments across the union. The biggest success of the last few weeks has been the setting up of the new Commercial Committee, this will allow student input into our commercial services, which will be invaluable.
Illustration by Greg Carter
James Bowker
What has been the best thing so far about this term?
Is there anyone working in your section at the moment who you feel deserves recognition?
Have you been to any events from other sections of the university? If so, what are they and did you enjoy them? This is one of things I love about our roles on Exec, we get the chance to go to all the events showcased by LSU and the University. One of the most recent events was the Rag Fireworks Extravaganza, a fantastic event that raised over £26,000 for local charities with over 5,500 people. Hats off to Rachael, VP Rag, and her committee for a fabulous evening. Katie Wilson Label Editor
Event Is there a particular event, or series of events that you’d like to mention? It doesn’t need many words, but in Semester 2 look out for Soundclash. All I want to say is #itscomingSC16.
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Contact me Twitter: @VPFinance_LSU Facebook: VPFinanceLSU
Design by Lewis Allum
The Department Students Federation (DSF) has been a pleasure to work with so far this year, they have been putting on some fantastic events for their respective departments. Fiona Grace, who is this year’s DSF President, has done an amazing job so far and I’m very grateful for her continued support and hard work.
Wow, this is a tough question, every week we are very fortunate to be invited to numerous events and every day at work is always different. I suppose #LSUFreshers15 was just the pinnacle, despite being very tiring, getting the chance to meet a lot of new people and showcasing what we at LSU do was unreal.
9,100
clients are based across offices outside of London, and this represents 2/3 rds of our client list
50% of our graduate opportunities are based outside of London
In London, salaries are % higher on average, than other cities, but you pay 60% more to live there
look at
UCAS
tariff for our graduate roles
of all 2015 promotions were outside London
Our regional practices are at the heart of PwC
33
We don’t
68%
We welcome all degree disciplines
Internship opportunities •Summer internships •Business insight weeks •Career open days •Talent academies •Diversity in business •Undergraduate work placements •Graduate work placements
A career that takes you places Our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems for our diverse range of clients. In our Assurance practice, our work might involve auditing local councils to make sure budgets are being spent wisely and for the benefit of the community, through to providing assurance that an online bank or retailer has the right controls in place to protect their customers’ money and data. It’s work that ensures the value we deliver has lasting impact for our clients and beyond. You might be surprised to know that Assurance can take your career in all sorts of directions. Once qualified, you could deepen your knowledge in a particular industry, move into a new area and develop new expertise, or maybe go on a secondment abroad or with a client. Whatever you decide, it’s a great place to begin your career journey. The range and variety of career opportunities we have is extensive – from Consulting to Tax; Assurance to Legal; and Technology to Actuarial – and our businesses welcome applications from people who don’t have business or finance-related degrees. In fact, 50% of our graduate intake studied non-business related subjects. Instead, we focus on whether someone can bring the kind of skills that will create value for our clients and lead to success in their career. Our roles aren’t limited to London – over half of our graduate jobs are regional and just like London, they have high-profile and diverse clients. So whichever sector you’re interested in, and in whichever part of the country you’d like to be, we have a huge number of opportunities on offer.
Take the opportunity of a lifetime pwc.com/uk/careers
© 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved.
IB G
: E T A B E D
E B B O J E
CAN
IM T RT A P A
The first year of university for most is a daunting experience, with everyone wondering the age old question “How will I make friends?”. In 2nd and 3rd year, balancing university work with applying for placements and graduate schemes can be stressful, and even the thought of adding a part time job to the mix can be exhausting. However, whether I’m applying for placements or getting ready for a night out, I am constantly reminded of the benefits that having a part time job provides. The obvious benefit to any student is the pay cheques that are included in any part time job. This allows you to pay off your next months rent or update your wardrobe, ensuring you have the cash to have a Friday night out, and place those hefty Domino’s orders with a tad less guilt than usual. When considering a part time job at university, the misconception that you’ll have less time with your new course friends and housemates undoubtedly exists. From my experience, I can firmly say I have experienced quite the opposite. It allows you to meet new people and widen your circle of friends as you begin to socialise more with individuals outside of your course and flats.
Having a job at university ensures you experience the practical working world when many are in that university bubble. Timekeeping skills and a responsibility to others will improve your performance when in your permanent job and even during your assessments. Although it’s not for everybody, I for one have enjoyed my part time job whilst at university and intend to continue it through my third and final year. Lara Townsley 14
Design by Vanisha Mistry
Many university students struggle to balance their social life and workload, with many wondering if a part-time job is really worth the hassle. As a second year student looking for placements, or a soon to be graduate, we know that your university degree just isn’t enough anymore. To separate you from the crowd, employers look at what else you’ve done that makes you stand out. The experience and responsibilities you gain from a part time job are actually an invaluable part of the “uni experience” and can really benefit you when hunting for a placement or a graduate scheme!
JUG
FEATURES
GLE
DW
ITH U
NIV
ERS
When you’re in university you’re overwhelmed by various tasks that need completing. Even though a lot of students find part time work in supermarkets, shops or behind a bar in order to fund their studies, many students don’t have a part time job and manage to get by fine.
ITY?
It’s no secret that working in a retail or catering job is stressful and fast paced. Dealing with customers’ requests can be overwhelming and when you add this alongside a never-ending reading list, coursework, revision, tutorials, 9am lectures and socialising, it seems almost impossible to manage.
A lot of employers, although understanding of the fact that you’re a student, will expect to be able to change your shifts around and for you to work overtime. This may be not be a possibility if you have lectures or a looming deadline. Working long hours can have a negative effect on your university work, which you don’t want to suffer as a result of working part time. Getting 10 hours of sleep (the recommended average) is a luxury for students. Working long nights can clash with your sleeping pattern, meaning you could end up skipping lectures to catch up on sleep. Working may also mean missing out on the social aspect, which although not the most important, is a big part of university. If all your friends are going out and you have to constantly miss out because you’re working, it’s probably pretty tiring.
Illustration by Emily Logie
Although working can be a great way to earn some extra money, the skills you’re learning probably aren’t all too relevant to your career and won’t look too impressive on a CV. What will look impressive is graduating with a well-deserved degree that you know you worked hard for and didn’t brush aside to be working a part time job. Overall university is meant to be enjoyable, and something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. You don’t want to look back on your time at Loughborough with memories of constant work and stress because you spent most of your time working in order to get by! University is a time of learning and fun, and as we’ve chosen to spend the next few years of our lives here, university work should be our number one priority. Is it really worth spending every free hour we have to earn a bit of extra money?
AGAINST
Lydia Kah-Pavlou
15
Design by Sarah Rathbone
CHRISTMAS DINNER ON A BUDGET
WHAT YOU’LL NEED (SERVES 5) A whole chicken Salt Ground black pepper Springs of fresh rosemary 1 lemon 1 tbsp. plain flour b
250ml chicken stock 40g butter 5-6 tbsp. olive oil 750g potatoes cut in half ¼ bulb garlic 1kg parsnips cut lengthwise
VEG Preheat the oven to 220°C.
CHICKEN & GRAVY Preheat oven to 240°C.
Parboil the potatoes and parsnips for 10 minutes and drain in a colander.
Use salt and pepper to season the cavity of the chicken.
Separate the potatoes in a bowl. Mix in the garlic, a bit of rosemary, 2 tbsp. olive oil and 15g butter, as well as some salt and pepper.
Separate the skin from the meat with a dull knife, then place thin slices of butter between them.
Toss the parsnips with the honey, 5g of the butter and 1 tbsp. oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Roast in a single layer, using separate trays. Allow 40 minutes for parsnips and 45 for the potatoes. Put the carrots in cold water (add a pinch of salt) and boil for 15 min. Drain and coat with the remaining butter. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt and pepper before serving. PIGS IN BLANKETS
Preheat your oven to 200°C. Use the side of a knife to stretch and flatten bacon on the chopping board and cut each strip in half. Wrap each piece around a sausage, securing with a cocktail stick. Roast for 15 minutes until goldenbrown. 16
1 tbsp. running honey 500g carrots 10 chipolata sausages 5 slices of streaky bacon
Drizzle the outside of the chicken with oil and rub with salt, pepper and fresh rosemary. Cut the lemon in two, squeeze over the bird and place the halves inside the cavity. Cook the chicken for 1 hour 20 minutes, basting halfway through. Take the chicken out with a pair of tongs, allowing juices to flow into the tray as you’re lifting it. Wrap in loose tinfoil for 15 minutes before serving. While the chicken is resting, make the gravy. Place the tin over low flame and stir in the flour. Sizzle until the sauce thickens into a light brown paste. Pour in the stock gradually, stirring with a wooden spoon. Simmer for 2 mins, and then strain the gravy into a small saucepan. Season to taste and simmer for a further 1-2 minutes. Natali Dimitrova
Photography by Vanisha Mistry and Emily Anagnostopoulou
Allow the holiday spirit to take over and spread the joy by treating your flatmates to a delicious Christmas dinner. This budget-friendly alternative costs around £3 per person, so you can use the spare pennies to get a fun Secret Santa gift!
FEATURES
New
Year Resolutions
December: the time of year where Christmas is our main concern and we find ourselves overindulging in the luxuries of life: presents, laughter and festive treats. It’s also when we begin to tell ourselves that we are going to “Get one’s arse into gear” as we start to think of our New Year’s resolutions. But I think we can all agree the hardest part is actually trying to stick with them. Here are some tips to help to stay focused:
Design by Sarah Rathbone
Be Specific
Don’t set yourself a goal which is unrealistic or unachievable. Saying you want to fluently speak French in a month isn’t really going to happen if you haven’t even learnt another language before. Break it down and learn small steps each week. Top tip: create a timetable which is easy for you to follow and accomplish.
Images
Whether your goal is to smile more, lose weight, grow your nails or to study a language, using positive images works a treat in reminding you why you chose this New Year’s resolution. Make sure you have a specific photo of that goal you dream of achieving. Be sure to apply this to your phone screensaver, laptop wallpaper or even have a photo in a frame on your windowsill. Whatever your aim, these pictures of inspiration will definitely motivate you to maintain your goal. It will help to withdraw any negative thoughts of giving up and will instead help you to climb those hurdles at difficult times when you need urging the most. Top tip: change the image regularly.
Remember the Consequences
If your New Year’s resolution is to improve your fitness, then you need to focus on what will happen if you don’t continue with this challenge: it will always be more difficult to get back into the swing of things having given up the first time. Considering these negative effects mentally can be helpful, but you are more likely to reach your overall goal if you write down your goals and its consequences on paper. Top tip: create funky brainstorms, diary logs or jot down words on your phone.
The Results
Remind yourself constantly of the positives of you fulfilling this New Year’s resolution and how it will make you feel. Particularly focusing on why you are doing it will help with motivation, however difficult your chosen challenge is. Some wise guidance from Ernest Hemingway himself: “Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with that there is.” Abbey Gardner
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MUSIC
Higher Than Here Four years on from his 2011 album ‘The Awakening’, James Morrison is back with his fourth studio album, the soul searching ‘Higher Than Here’. Where Morrison’s previous efforts glossed over a kaleidoscope of emotions, this time round the sound and sentiment is more focused, cutting beneath the surface and bringing to the forefront a very real sense of anguish and heartbreak.
Where the likes of Paolo Nutini’s ‘Caustic Love’ show, on a grand scale, what can be done with this type of genre, Morrison falls by the way side, producing a mixed bag of heartfelt but nevertheless tame songs. Emily Harrison
With distinct, husky vocals and a back-catalogue of killer tracks, the expectation is rightfully high for Morrison and he kicks off the tone of the album in sure fire style, lamenting ‘I close my eyes and talk to God, and pray that you can save my soul’. Yet where ‘Demons’, with its easy melancholic sway, displays Morrison at his best, it’s the stripped back songs that labour the flow of the LP. Although still wrought with emotion, the slower tracks become nothing more than simply ‘nice’ to listen to. ‘Just Like A Child’ and ‘Heaven To A Fool’ are solid efforts, but there is a feeling that Morrison hasn’t quite fit all the pieces of the puzzle together to take the songs from easy listening to something more compelling and captivating. Whilst the less up-tempo tracks are nothing to really write home about, the album still has some merit. With his raspy vocals and penchant for funk and fleshed out disco beats, he manages to keep a steady pace to the album. The pulsating ‘Right Here’ and the anthemic ‘I Need You Tonight’ takes the LP to a place that the laid back songs cannot fully navigate. Disappointingly though, this ‘place’ is mirrored in nearly every track throughout. Where he could discover and explore different sounds, arrangements and tones, 18
James Morrison
Design by Nicola Corsini
After losing three family members in the space of three years, Morrison is confronting his demons, exercising his grief and coming to terms with who he is in the industry. However, where artists such as Adele delve so deep into their own wounds that they deliver a universal sense of heartache, Morrison struggles to quite reach the same emotive heights as his peers.
he sticks firmly each time to the middle of the road. And whilst this does provide the album with satisfactory coherence, it becomes repetitive and rather lacklustre.
Illustration by Alice Bindloss
Album Review:
IT’S CHRISTMAS!
Illustration by Mol Mathews
Design by Nicola Corsini
A Look into the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Abbey Gardner
Christmas may not seem festive without hearing the word in a song about 20 times. There are numerous songs that are over thirty years old which we still listen to and love today and then there are others, which will turn us into the Grinch and make us hate Christmas forever. Label Music will be looking back at the good, the bad and the ugly with our definitive list.
The Good
The Bad
The Ugly
Let us begin in the festive spirit with ‘hanging up a stocking on your wall’ and ‘hoping that the snow will start to fall’. That’s right, it’s Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade. This song is 30 years old this year and is probably still as popular today as it was in 1985. With an uptempo jolly rhythm, it is sure to get you into the Christmas spirit. Alongside Slade, adding a more seductive and romantic spice to Christmas in her glamorous Mrs Clause outfit, Mariah’s Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’, is still a guaranteed track on the playlist. The upbeat tune which declares that Christmas is irrelevant without having that one and only is sure going to urge you to express your feelings for that special person.
There’s always the chance of receiving an awful festive gift and in 2009 this happened to Joe McElderry when Rage Against the Machine ‘won the most competitive battle in years’ becoming number one in the festive charts. Perhaps it was bad because The X Factor didn’t grab the number one spot like they presumably thought. Public opinion was split between those that love The X Factor and those who wanted nothing less than a number one from Simon Cowell’s ‘Factory of Karaoke’. Their aggressive and explicit tone is anything but festive and can be seen to be antagonistic of those in support of the popular talent show. Despite what some said was musical inability, their campaign to swerve The X Factor from claiming the Christmas number one spot did actually work. I wonder who will be battling out for Christmas number one this year?
Moving on to our special surprise, it’s Elmo and Patsy with ‘Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer’. Elmo and Patsy must have been drinking as much eggnog as grandma that night to even write and produce a song like this! The horrific lyrics speak about the death of their grandma who is ‘run over by a reindeer’ on Christmas Eve because she had one too many too drink. Firstly, why would you let your grandma walk home on her own that late and secondly, blaming a reindeer, what ever next? The singing isn’t even in time with the music. It’s definitely not a Christmas song that should be played to children, let alone one that should’ve even been released!
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THE STONE ROSES “you already know you’re listening to something aiming for legendary status” It cannot be stressed enough how important and influential the Stone Roses’ eponymous debut album was to British music. Britpop from Oasis to Blur to The Libertines and everything in-between hails, directly or indirectly, from this seminal work. Alas, Brown’s brazen prophecies proved to refer more to their musical legacy than anything the band released afterwards. Though certainly underrated and judged harshly by comparison with its predecessor (just listen to Tears), their second coming proved to be their last, as its poor reception, disappointing tour and disagreements among the band members led to a gradual breakup finalised in October 1996.So concludes the
agonisingly mundane end to a career that at least promised would go out with a bang. After over a decade of ‘calls to reformation’, in October 2011, the band finally got together again and the following summer embarked on a reunion tour that included triumphant homecoming gigs at Heaton Park in Manchester. The fact that the first two Manchester shows sold out 150,000 tickets in under 15 minutes should be enough to demonstrate the sheer size of this band. Another mini-reunion was announced early this November with four dates in summer 2016 including two at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium and a headline slot at T in the Park.
“Sold out 150,000 tickets in under 15 minutes” It’s easy to see these tours as just another in a series of moneyspinning reunions from other 80s and 90s bands over the last 10-15 years as Generation X fails to find any kind of cultural icon in the Millennial age, and to a large extent I’m sure that is accurate. Whether next year’s tour will prove to be as anticlimactic as their sophomore album remains to be seen but in terms of the levels of genuine love and nostalgia generated by a band, there are very few that come close to The Stone Roses. Alex Boyd
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Design by Emily Forrester
It’s perhaps one of the most iconic and recognisable album openings in indie music history. When that bass-line emerges from the noise and dissonance with John Squire’s guitar subtly caressing every note, you already know you’re listening to something aiming for legendary status even before Ian Brown laconically announces his intent to be adored. It’s hard not to be sceptical when a singer declares to be ‘the resurrection and the life’ on a song containing a 4-minute acid-houseinflected instrumental outro, but the song and album are just so good he almost fools you.
Flash Back Fr
What happen
AY: D I R F K C A FLASH B
MUSIC
. . . y in music: 44 years toda ed
IV
With this, the final issue of Label this year, what better way to celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of a new one than with a retrospective view on the world of music. Not confining ourselves to genre or decade, this month we’re going way back to the 70s, and one of the all time great albums of rock, Led Zeppelin IV.
Formed in London in 1968 and already packing a blistering array of stratospheric hits and killer guitar riffs, Led Zeppelin’s fourth studio album, which to this day still goes untitled (although referred to as IV for ease) propelled the band to superstardom. By the time the 4th of December rolled around in 1971, Robert Plant and co. kick started a twoweek run at the top of the UK charts.
Design and Illustration by Emily Forrester
They didn’t stop there though. Across the pond the LP managed the outlandish feat of becoming one of the biggest selling albums in US history to never reach the number one spot. Featuring scorching hits such as ‘Rock and Roll’ and ‘Black Dog’ this was the work that cemented Led Zeppelin’s rock god status. ‘Stairway To Heaven’ provided a rare moment of musical genius. The 8 minute long track managed to transcend any race, creed or colour and became a timeless classic. Passed from generation to generation, the song is undoubtedly one of the ‘go to’ paradigms of rock music. Building layer upon layer of swaying riffs, sharp chords and Robert Plant’s ever cryptic lyrics, ‘Stairway To Heaven’ is one of those unique gems of music. You might not know the band or even the name of the track, but it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll recognise the melody and the tune. Just have a listen to the first few bars of Jimmy Page’s acoustic intro and you get the idea. With the LP certified 23 times platinum and shifting 37 million copies since its launch, Led Zeppelin IV is a must have for any record collection. It is earth shattering, all consuming, swaggering rock at its best. Just push play… Emily Harrison
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Photography by Andy Butt-Gow Till Sieberth 22
Design by Lewis Allum 23
Comments on Issue Two Recently, Amy Hartley, a volunteer Label Culture writer, wrote a game review online, these are some of the comments that she received as a result: "Why did you write a review about the Taken King, or whatever it's called? You could have gone to see Spectre with us and written about that." - Jeremy “You should write a film review, or something.” - Michael “This is just so you can justify playing video games all weekend, isn’t it?” - Ashleigh This issue, Amy has written another piece for Culture, this time questioning why there is such a stigma surrounding gaming. It's a great read and really makes us question their opinions on gaming and whether they're being closed-minded. Make sure you give that a read. We have also received several questions regarding our last front cover on Issue Two: "What was the story behind it?" - Dan Label Chief Photographer, Jess Crean, gives her explanation below: "I wanted to create an image that embraced the bonfire autumnal theme of the issue but I also wanted to take fire out of its expected settings to give a point of interest to the cover. I drew on inspiration from a number of artists that use the flowing shapes created by flames to mimic the waves of female hair. I wanted the face in the image to have an expression of joy to suggest that although autumn is the time of year where it starts to get dark and cold, it's still a season which is full of fun."
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I hope that answers any queries that you've had recently, and be sure to get involved yourself by emailing LabelEditor@lsu.co.uk or tweeting @LabelOnline with your thoughts and comments.
Overheard Loughborough
“Sometimes I think I’m allergic to myself” “I regret being me” Girl 1: “I think I’ve lost a stone!” Girl 2: “Oh no, what does it look like?”
“I’ve ran out of storage, now I have to delete the BBC weather app!” “I just really love lunch.”
g you e? methin Got so bout this issu a y a s o want t
D HEAR OVER ? THING SOME
at witter ch on T e u o t in Get lOnlin @Labe
TOP
TWEETS @President_LSU Nov 15 Great article from @labelonline @lsumedia - glad @VPAction_LSU is getting a feature! Our volunteers are amazing. @VPWelfare_LSU Nov 5 Really excited to find my interview with @labelonline in Label this month! Take a look at my special shout outs... @nicolawillsxx Nov 16 @labelonline I thought the design, layout and content were all fantastic! It seems the hard work of everyone involved is really paying off! @allymc29 Nov 16 @labelonline adore the design this year, and illustrations are awesome... Personally think Skyfall should be #1 bond song! #loveit #debate
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Star Wars
CULTURE
The Force Awakens Preview This December, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is blasting into cinemas and, all being well, is going to destroy the Box-Office; much like the Empire destroyed Alderaan in A New Hope. There’s no doubting that this is the most anticipated film since…well, The Phantom Menace way back in 1999. And we all know how that turned out. Yet buzz for the seventh instalment in the classic sci-fi series has been cautiously positive; J.J. Abrams is a competent director, with another big-budget nerd favourite, Star Trek, under his belt, the cast is good (with many old favourites returning - they got Harrison Ford! They got Han Solo!), and from what we’ve seen in the trailers, this film focuses less on glitzy, CGI mess and more on plot, tone, and character. Oh and most importantly, George Lucas is taking a back seat, thank God. Hopefully this will be the Star Wars film that fans feel like they deserve. Much of the film is, understandably, shrouded in secrecy; but what do we know?
Thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi, a New Republic has arisen, but our heroes, joined by some new faces, Finn, Rey and Poe Dameron, are still a part of the resistance fighting off the First Order: a terrorist organisation led by Captain Phasma, and Kylo Ren (who apparently isn’t a Sith but looks an awful lot like a Sith). Sure, this plot doesn’t jump out as being particularly unique or original, but you can bet that J.J. Abrams has a few twists up his sleeve. For one thing, we know that Mark Hamill is back as Luke Skywalker, yet while we’ve been treated to glimpses of Han, Leia and Chewwie, Luke is startlingly absent from any promotional material. Where is our hero? Is he in hiding? Is he dead? Or worse, has Luke Skywalker turned to the dark side of the Force?
Design by Danny Essom
Die hard Star Wars fans are a curious breed of people. Who would have thought that movies about aliens with speech impediments and rusty looking space ships, with a lead villain who looks like he’s dressed up for some kind of medieval S&M party would cause such tension and heated debate? People love the original films, and they love the characters even more so. When George Lucas made his prequel trilogy, there were fans that claimed that he had ‘raped their childhood’, and these films were set before the events of the beloved original trilogy. If it turns out that The Force Awakens is a bad movie, or Abrams kills off fan favourites (as has been rumoured), then I genuinely don’t think that anyone will be able to save him from the wrath of angry Star Wars fanatics. With that in mind, may the force be with you, JJ. Alex Jones
Illustration by Emily Anagnostopoulou
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CULTURE Gaming: Why the Stigma? One of the driving factors behind the release of this article is that it is a response to a few comments both myself and a couple of others received following the publication of the last magazine, and subsequent articles in the online version of Label.
“Why not write a film review or something instead?” It has long since been accepted that binge-watching television programmes and marathoning films is a much more acceptable past-time than playing games on a console or PC. My main question to people is simply this:
Illustration by Catherine Brown
Design by Danny Essom
“why is that?” There is a stigma against people who choose to play games in their spare time. While it is certainly more accepted than it used to be, what with the emergence of more popular culture games (think Call of Duty, or Fifa), there is a certain look that gamers get when they reveal their plans for the weekend. It’s a look that almost says ‘Oh’ in more than a bit of a patronising way.
More generally, gaming is a much more active form of entertainment than watching a film or television series. The player becomes immersed in the story experience of the game, which is much more enriching for the brain than passively watching something on a screen. Decision-making also comes naturally to gamers. When you have to quickly make a decision about which weapons are the most effective, or which pathway you should take towards victory, decision-making does, after all, come naturally. Another argument that people use to dismiss gaming as a possible past-time is the fact that they make us more violent, encourage sexism and increase our aggression levels. According to studies undertaken by Oxford University, however, these have since been dismissed as myths. If all of this was the case, then people who watch violent films would all be killers and sexists. It is down to the individual and how easily they are influenced. Why not give it a try? The stereotype of gamers being people who hole up in a basement binging 24 hours at a time on World of Warcraft has long since disintegrated, and with it comes the more intelligent, human gamer. Amy Hartley
And yet, scientific studies continue to prove the positives that gaming bring. A gamer will, on average, have reaction times up to two, or three times faster than the average person. If they play a lot of action games, their cognitive functions are greatly increased, as well as their fine motor skills and their overall perception (in fact, children with dyslexia will be helped massively by playing a lot of these kinds of games as it aids their ability to discern words and letters). Co-op games encourage people to work together and be friendlier to others, due to the increased rewards that one gets from being nice. That, and gamers who play a lot of roleplaying games tend to lean more towards taking risks to help other people.
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Top 3 Last Minute Christmas is fast approaching and the thought of shopping centres becoming jam-packed can only spell one word...nightmare. Before you know it, you’re running out of time and ideas and you still haven’t got presents for your parents, your best friend or even for the neighbour you always buy for.
Girls As Coco Chanel states, ‘a woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.’ You therefore can’t go wrong in buying a woman what is deemed a life essential. The only problem you may face is what perfume she would like. If you know the person well, maybe try picking a fragrance that is linked to their favourite celebrity, such as Beyoncé and her very own perfume, ‘Heat’. If you have no idea of their taste, try tactically asking ‘you smell lovely today, what are you wearing?’ This will give you an idea of their taste so you could find a perfume similar or just buy the same one again knowing that they’ll definitely wear it. Prices start at as little as £5 leaving you with a flexible price range.
Simple, easy and bound to be successful. Who doesn’t love a gift set? Many shops have a range of gifts under £25, £15 and even under £6. There’s a chance for you to choose between shower gels, body butter, body scrub, hand cream and even lip butter. If that’s not enough, you can even choose a fragrance that would specifically suit a specific person! These feel good gift sets include the following scents: moringa, strawberry, mango and my favourite, coconut. You’re guaranteed to pick up the perfect gift for someone.
Design by Beccy Morris
Gift sets.
Illustration by Caroline Lakeman
Perfume.
Cosy wear.
If you’re looking for a small gift with a low budget, check out supermarkets and other low cost stores in town. You’ll be able to obtain a matching set of funky or comical pyjamas for around £8. An essential item, which the individual will definitely be thankful for and will most certainly wear during these cold, winter months. If you’re looking for something less than £8, a pack of furry socks for around £3 or the essential glove, scarf and hat accessories will do the trick for £5 and under, keeping your gift receiver warm and snug.
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CULTURE
Gifts This Christmas
However, don’t panic, where there’s a will there’s a way and today you’re in luck, as we list the top 3 last minute gift ideas for males and females!
Guys TV box-sets.
If you buy the right box set, you will undisputedly be renowned for buying the number 1 Christmas present of the year. Recommended shows include, House of Cards, The Walking Dead, Californication, Luther, Breaking Bad and the unmissable Game of Thrones. No matter what he is into, one of these box sets will have him captured and unable to leave the sofa for days or even weeks on end! If he is into sci-fantasy, purchase Game of Thrones, if he is interested in tackling crime events seek Luther or if he prefers a more political drama series, be sure to obtain House of Cards. Box-sets can start from £10, fitting in with the ideal Christmas price budget.
Games.
Everyone loves a game. It releases a person’s inner competitiveness, which is innate in all males who love to win every challenge they’re faced with. Therefore, with this last minute gift it is impossible for them to be displeased. Find out if they possess an Xbox or PlayStation and then look for the latest games such as Fallout 4. If technology isn’t their forte and they instead favour board games, I suggest gifting Time’s Up! Deluxe or, depending on the individual’s humour, the controversial Cards Against Humanity.
Aftershave.
A man loves to be noticed and this can happen almost immediately if he smells good. The perfect aftershave is one that leaves a lingering smell in the room even though the person has already left. Every guy wants to be this guy. Therefore, buying a seductive fragrance will be a number 1 winner for a guy this Christmas. Check out the latest and most popular aftershaves and maybe drop a hint to see if there’s one he particularly likes. If these ideas tragically fail, then purchase a gift card from their favourite shop...that trick always works!
Abbey Gardner 29
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WINTER STYLE SHOOT The Christmas party season has arrived. Bring on the champagne, the crackers and most importantly the glitz and glamour. The festivities just wouldn’t be the same without the suit and tie and that sparkly frock so let’s go all out and leave 2015 with a bang! Natasha Bennett
Photography Jessica Crean Till Sieberth
Models Glenn Fellows Akachi Obijiaku Michael Obire Natalia Petrovic
Photoshoot Team Natasha Bennett Olivia Chevallier Emily Forrester Dom Underwood
Stylish Winter Wardrobe Essentials that are Guaranteed to Beat the Winter Blues! excessive amounts of food and lounging on the sofabut you will also be entertaining relatives and sitting down to decadent dinners…
Christmas Shopping outfit... Layers, layers layers!
Worry no more, here is the key to it: girls, just find your favourite blouse (with a bit of sparkle or glitter would be perfect); guys, throw on your favourite shirt and pair with artfully ripped black jeans, dressing this up with a scattering of sparkling jewellery or a tie. Your jeans will be discreetly tucked beneath the table whilst you elegantly shimmer as you devour the turkey and pull the crackers. When it comes to venturing outside for your post Christmas dinner walk, just put on a warm coat, some sturdy boots and your signature scarf! You will be perfectly comfortable all day - although you might have to undo the button on your jeans half way through snacking on the After Dinner Mints.
Forget the winter blues! If you want to see through the cold in style the key is to layer up! Asymmetric hems, contrasting colours, textures and clashing prints all work their best when hems are staggered and overlapped. A printed shirt, thick tights, a knitted jumper and an oversized coat – tied together with a statement necklace and patent ankle boots, and you’ve nailed it. Then, as you venture into the cold, it’s time to let your coat do the talking! Don’t become shrouded in black, invest in a colourful coat or a fur trimmed cape that will put the colour back into those dark nights. Finally, not forgetting that statement scarf - the bigger, the softer, the bolder, the more joyous, and this of course works for guys too. Do NOT neglect the joy of the statement scarf this season, or forget it at your chilly-necked peril!
The Christmas Jumper!
If all else fails, why not? After all, what would Christmas be without a Christmas jumper? Christmas tat comes out once a year, so embrace that reindeer jumper. There’s a large variety of jumpers out there: classic ones, novelty ones and simple ones, so there’s no excuse. Don’t forget that the university have their own Christmas jumper too.
Christmas day itself?
Not that what we are wearing is the focus of Christmas or anything . . . But you do realise that those photos will be around to haunt you for the next hundred years? So yeah, it’s not a bad idea to put a bit of thought into our wardrobe choices for this festive occasion. You have to admit though, it’s a tricky one. You wake up bursting with excitement on Christmas morning, ready to prance down the stairs in your novelty onesie. But then something makes you pause: What are you going to wear today? Your day will encompass 34
Nicola Williams
Illustration by Kirin Crooks
Need some inspiration for this festive season? Look no further, here are all the style tips you need to ensure you can be festive and remain fashionable!
Design by Holly Kemp
dressmas
STYLE
The perfect glitz and glam guide this Christmas! Ladies and Gentlemen, Christmas is coming and you need to be ready, so think sequins, sparkles, bow ties and shiny shoes. Whether you are spending Christmas Day staying indoors or going out, an outfit to wow is essential. Ladies: Concentrate on the Christmas colours, so think red, silver, gold or even the classic black. Dresses and jumpsuits will both work for Christmas Day. In order to capture peoples attention, make sure there is the addition of sequins, gems or sparkles on the outfit. A plain coloured dress or jumpsuit can be perfectly acceptable, if boosted alongside glamorous, glittery jewellery. If there is
a lot of design, however, on the piece of clothing worn, be sure to keep large, chunky accessories to a minimum. Gentlemen: Think James Bond’s new film Spectre. The suave suits that Daniel Craig wears are ideal for Christmas Day. There are many variations, such as black on black, or you could even go for the traditional black trousers and blazer, white shirt and a black bow tie. Not forgetting the handkerchief in the blazer pocket to finish off this charming outfit. Abbey Gardner
Animal Fur In 2014, one hundred and twentyseven bears were killed to create the iconic hats worn by the ministry of defence outside Buckingham Palace. ‘PETA campaigners’ argue that the traditional use of real skins is no longer necessary – ‘designers such as Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood have offered services to the MoD in recent years to design alternative hats that do not need real fur.’ (Independant) The use of animal skin and fur has been an issue for many years: more recently, Canadian fashion retailer Kit and Ace said it was conducting a ‘detailed investigation’ within its departments after a national observer report found canine fur in one of its products. The company issued the following statement: “We are aware of the conversations surrounding our Berkeley Toque. We take these accusations very seriously
and appropriate departments within our business are conducting a detailed investigation.” The National Observer investigation found that the company claimed the fur pompom on one of its winter hats was made of “raccoon fur.” It was, in fact, found to be fur from “raccoon dog,” which is a member of the canine family, despite its misleading name. When shopping around for your latest winter buys, especially those fluffy hats and jumpers, take a second to consider where your clothing came from. Natasha Bennett
DESIGN
portraits LABEL ILLUSTRATION NOVEMBER COMPETITION
Illustration by
Vanisha Mistry The theme for this issues’ illustration competition was Portraits. Following an excellent and varied set of entries, your chosen winner was Vanisha Mistry with her illustration of Twiggy. Congratulations to Vanisha who won with over 40 likes. Find out more about Vanisha and her work over on media.lsu.co.uk
LABEL ILLUSTRATION COMPETITION
Childhood comics This months illustration competition is to draw your favourite childhood character! Good Luck!
Yeah. This is exciting don’t say who you got.
Hey guys, who did you get in secret Santa? I got Takeo I got Amy
I got Gareth
Student
Diaries ...
TER
U
LA RS
O OH
This is perfect for Amy
TW
Sure Amy, I will be down in one minute
Hey James, Do you want to help me decorate?
I can’t wait to give out our presents .
Student Diaries illustrated by Olivia Chevallier
SPORT
Shining a Light On:
Loughborough Students
Netball Club
From court session training, to fitness training, to fancy dress socials before hitting a Hey Ewe, the Loughborough netball girls dedicate their time and effort into being the best they can. With endless hours of training and match play, the coaches of the AU Netball Club believe it is “one of the highest achieving and dominating clubs across the UK”. There are five competitive BUCS teams who compete in various leagues with the 1st team playing in the Premier North League in BUCS and the other four teams competing in the Midlands BUCS Leagues.
Along with Alima, some girls who play for BUCS are also part of the Loughborough Lightning long squad, trained by Head Coach Karen Atkinson. They train with Lightning on Tuesdays and Thursdays for court sessions and on Tuesdays and Fridays for weight sessions. This fantastic opportunity is offered to some of the girls due to the “reputation for excellence in the standard of netball” in the AU club. Club Social Sec and BUCS 1s player, Lienna Mustoe, organises socials every few weeks with themes such as ‘The Hunger Games’ and animal fancy dress for all the teams to get together and…well we all know what happens at Hey Ewe. So far the BUCS 1s girls have played 5 matches this season. They’ve won 1, drawn 1 and lost 3, so let’s wish the AU Netball Club good luck in their upcoming matches this season! 38
Flic Carr
Design by Aurelija Koerfer
BUCS 1s GK Alima Priest told us about her active lifestyle as a netball player and what her and her team’s busy weekly routine involves. The team has two coaches, Rosie Port and Jane Johnson, who take three court sessions a week which are up to two hours per session. The girls will also have three fitness sessions a week: one cardio and two weight sessions which are up to one and a half hours each. The most exciting parts of the week are their matches against other universities. BUCS 1s will have a match on Wednesday afternoons, either at home or away, adding to the buzzing atmosphere we see and hear on campus along with the rest of the sporting scene here at Loughborough. The girls also have matches at the weekend.
Photography by Kim Clark and James Wilkins
In the Loughborough Bubble we always spot the AU hoody being worn around campus and try to catch a glimpse of which sport it says. Occasionally we’ll see netball but do we ever think much more than that? Do we ever wonder what happens within the AU Netball Club? We gained further insight after meeting with BUCS 1st team players Alima Priest and Lienna Mustoe.
SPORT
UEFA Euro 2016 will begin on June 10th, when legions of fans will descend upon France for a month-long feast of fun, sun and football. Over the course of 51 matches spread across 10 host cities, 24 nations will compete for footballing immortality as they battle to be crowned European Champions. Should be pretty decent! This will be the first edition of the finals to use an expanded 24-team format, with concerns from some that this will dilute the tournament’s quality. However, the new format led to a memorable qualification campaign with highlights including the utter disintegration of the Netherlands and the incredible success stories of Albania and Iceland, a nation with a population the size of Coventry, both qualifying for the first time. There was unprecedented success for the home nations, with England, Wales and Northern Ireland qualifying automatically, and the Republic joining them via the playoffs. Wales, with the inspirational Bale at the forefront, qualified for their first major finals since 1958, and Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland, a team of no stars, relied on exceptional organisation and disciplined performances to stunningly top their group.
Design by Aurelija Koerfer
England enjoyed a flawless qualifying campaign, winning all 10 matches. Doubts still persist over the team, with memories of the humiliating group stage exit in the Brazil World Cup still fresh. However, Roy’s boys are improving, and unburdened by massive expectations. Exciting young talent such as Sterling, Kane, and Barkley might just surprise a few this summer. With all four nations likely to send thousands of fans across the Channel, it’s going to be one hell of a party, with a distinctly British and Irish flavour... (Croissants dipped in Guinness, anyone?!) Despite holders Spain’s 2014 debacle, they and world champions Germany remain formidable outfits. Belgium and Italy are also likely to go deep in the competition. It is always difficult to predict how France will perform but as they demonstrated in the ’98 World Cup, you cannot write them off on home soil. The draw for the tournament is on the 12th December, marking just six months to go until the opening game. With intriguing storylines, first-time participants, and a British and Irish party in France to look forward to, Euro 2016 is a thrilling prospect. As a Chelsea fan, I say bring on the end of the Premier League season and let’s get Le Rendez-Vous underway! Rob Godmon
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DOPING IN SPORT S
The most high profile case of a broken relationship between an athlete and their fans is undoubtedly the Lance Armstrong case. Armstrong was viewed as an absolute hero. He had overcome very aggressive forms of cancer and added five Tour de France titles to the two he had won before his diagnosis. Armstrong was an icon, he had shown the world how you can overcome these illnesses and do even better than before. However, after years of speculation and
rumour, he confessed to blood doping throughout his career in an Oprah Winfrey interview in 2012. Once an international hero, Armstrong was disgraced, and it certainly terminated the trust between him and his fans. This scandal has made fans suspicious of all subsequent athletes. One New York Times sports reporter most poignantly referred to Armstrong’s career as a “cycle of lies”. I would be lying if I said that this has not tarnished the reputation of cycling or damaged the relationships the cyclists have with fans. In the 2015 Tour de France, leader Chris Froome was jeered by parts of the crowd as well as having urine thrown at him. Froome was being told that he was a ‘drug cheat’ despite never testing positive for taking performance enhancing substances. As a result of the recent findings on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, Russia have been banned from international athletic competitions which could rule them out of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. This decision has split public opinion with many saying that it is unfair on the vast amount of athletes who haven’t cheated, but many people believe it is the right thing to do to eradicate further cheating. One thing is for certain, the ruthless decision will certainly make athletes who are considering doping think twice. Tom Short
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Illustration by Emily Forrester
port is a wonderful thing. It brings people, and in certain cases, whole countries together; as was seen in the summer of 2012 when London hosted the Olympics. Unfortunately however, due to the accusations which have been made over the past few months, a cloud has been placed over these games due to the Russian Athletics Team being accused of ‘manipulating the games’ with several cases of doping. Obviously this type of cheating is very damaging for sport itself but it also damages the trust and respect fans have for athletes.
SPORT
With the Russian Athletics Federation being provisionally suspended from competing internationally for its alleged involvement in widespread doping, scrutiny is being put on elite athletes worldwide.
Lord Coe described the scandal as “a wake-up call” for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), of which he is President. However, not only should we be looking at ways to keep competing fair and drug-free, but also look to the pressure we put on the athletes themselves. Incidences like this mainly highlight the questionable podium positions and the corruption in anti-doping organisations, but these are not the only concerns. The extreme pressure we put on our elite athletes is incredible, excessive and unhealthy, and just as damaging to the world of sports. With technology moving ahead at an ever increasing speed, and cosmetic surgery becoming the norm, we are living in a fast paced world that’s only gaining speed, yet nothing we have is enough. We are never satisfied, constantly looking for what’s next. Not only do we want more, we expect more too. In the world of sports, however, we can’t get instant upgrades. Unlike the iPhone, the human body isn’t something we can evolve and have a new model of within six months. It takes years of training and relentless hard work to compete at a high level, only to be scrutinised further. Is it any wonder an athlete might feel the pressure to take steroids or stimulants to meet societys demands? With even youth sport affected, we really need to take a step back and recognise the huge expectation that we saddle athletes with to be superhuman. There is immense pressure to take performance enhancing drugs as we are in an age of sport that places so much attention on marginal gains. There is enormous focus on not just a win but point differences and race times. With personal stats in both individual and team sports being so important and influential in an athletes’ career, there is a huge incentive at a high level to take drugs as the results pay so highly. Russian athletes can still compete in the Brazilian Olympics so long as they register as Independent Olympic Athletes. But when looking at doping - the phrase ‘we’re only human’ has never been more appropriate. We are only human. Our bodies are changeable, easily damaged, and subject to limitations. We all make mistakes and in this evermore competitive society, in high pressured situations where the price of marginal gains can be life changing, I can only have sympathy for those athletes who are snared into the net of doping. Amber Thiara
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INTERVIEW What is ‘The Place’? Label Sports Editor and ‘The Place’ Placements Intern, Amrit Malkani, interviewed the team at The Place. The Place is a highly vibrant new space for undergraduate students to access information and advice on placements and other forms of professional level work experience. Since we opened at the start of the Autumn term, we’ve helped over 400 students from all Schools across campus.
“I am really pleased and satisfied with the help you’ve given me as I was not too sure how/if a placement CV should differ from a normal job CV. The booklet you emailed with information regarding CVs, cover letters, Linked In profiles etc. is really useful and I have been using it a lot. I wouldn’t hesitate to contact you if I had any other enquiries regarding my placement and/or my CV.” - Lydia Rushton, 2nd year, English with a Minor in Business Studies
Who is in The Place? Ru Mistry, Placements and Work Based Learning Officer - School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences Mandy Rana, Placements and Work Based Learning Officer – School of the Arts, English, Drama & Publishing, and the Design School Amrit Malkani, Placements Assistant (and placement student from the School of Social, Political and Geographical Sciences) Allison Dunbobbin, Placements Governance Manager
Label Chats to
The
Place
What services can students access in The Place? Students who are thinking about doing a placement or want to find out more about work experience can visit The Place to receive information and advice on: What is a placement Benefits of doing a placement and/or summer internship Where to look for opportunities CVs, covering letters and application forms Who to go to in your department for further help and advice on placements Other forms of professional work experience such as summer internships, work shadowing and experience days In addition, we want to hear from you! What kind of placement or work experience are you interested in? Please pop in and discuss your requirements with one of the team. Opening times Term time Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. 42
“I’ve been to The Place several times and they have always been very helpful. I am hoping to do a placement in football coaching which isn’t easy to find, but they have shown true commitment in helping me find the right placement and securing it.” - Ieuan Llyr Evans, 2nd year, Sport and Leisure Management Where is The Place? We are located in the ground floor corner offices of Stewart Mason – 0.06. Look out for the signs on the windows and the doors as you walk past Stewart Mason. There is no need to book an appointment to speak with someone. We look forward to meeting you! Amrit Malkani Sports Editor ‘The Place’ Placements Intern
Design by Faye Newman
The Place team is part of the Careers and Employability Centre (located in the Bridgeman Building, where you can also book appointments for advice and guidance on placements and careers). Please see our website for further details. www.lboro.ac.uk/services/careers
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