Label Issue Six by Label

Issue Six 22. 04. 16

The Panama Papers Should You Do a Placement Year? Musicians: What Happens When It All Goes Wrong?

The Right Move For Students

73 ASHBY ROAD LOUGHBOROUGH LE11 3AA

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 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 Greg Carter

Contents Editorials 04 - Editorials From the Editor and VP Media 05 - National Geographic Travel Geeks Review Media News Editor’s Top Picks News 06 - The Panama Papers Are a Milestone In Document Leaks 07 - Student Creates His Own Chinese Democratic Party Racial Tensions Cloud Warwick University 08 - What Impace Do Your National Student Survey Responses Really Have? 09 - You’ll Only Know If You Went To Loughborough Features 10 - Big Debate: Should You Do a Placement Year? 12 - Great Nosh Little Dosh - BBQ Chicken Skewers 13 - Top Tips For Revising In The Sun 14 - Don’t Wish Away My Life Loughborough Overheard Music 16 - Beyoncé 17 - Kendrick Lamar: Untitled Unmastered 18 - Musicians: What Happens When It All Goes Wrong 20 - Exec Focus: Luke Thomson, VP Sport 22 - Totty Spotted Culture 24 - Batman v Superman 25 - 10 Cloverfield Lane: A Review 26 - You’ll Wish You Were There 27 - The Problem With Sequels 28 - Exec Focus: Rachael Lynch, VP Rag Style 30 - Loughborough Graphic Communication and Illustration Style Shoot 34 - Stay Glamorous And Up To Date This Spring With The Essential Items 35 - Beautry Hacks Declassified Design 36 - Label Illustration Competition 37 - Label Comic Presents: Tom Bradraw Sport 38 - How England Turned It Around 40 - The Top 5 Events: Summer 2016 41 - Shining A Light On Loughborough Students’ Rowing Interview 42 - LSU’s Disability Support Network Scheme For Improving Disabled Students’s Nightlife Experience 43 - What’s New In Media? Well... #SPANC16 Happened! 3

EDITORIAL

It seems to have been a long time since I last wrote an editorial for Label, and so much has happened since and is about to happen in our final term of the year. It was announced that we won the THE Best Student Experience as well as receiving several WhatUni? shortlists, wins and second places (see more online)! By now, most of us are thinking about moving onto a placement, into our next year or if you’re like me, graduating and moving on entirely. The question is, how do we make the most of these last couple of months before we leave our beloved Loughborough, or become a little more mature as a finalist?

Katie Wilson Label Editor

Swamped in dissertations, deadlines and revision, I would like to wish everyone good luck for the next couple of months- and never forget to take some time to chill amongst it all. This issue, Label looks at revision and a new Welfare scheme being trialled this term as well as a Big Debate on placements. This is a great piece considering for and against going on placement with ideas that you may never have considered beforeso do take a look! We have exciting Exec Focuses on Luke and Rachael who both went abroad over Easter with their sections and finally, you’ll see what exciting ventures Label took on over Easter at the back of the magazine. Let’s just say we had a SPANCingly good time…

Katie, in all her modesty, has only used one sentence in her piece above to elude to the Student Publication Association National Conference. The conference, affectionately known as ‘SPANC’ (yes you pronounce that in a single glorious syllable) was hosted as Loughborough Students’ Union between the 8th and 10th of April. She, along with Chris our staff member and the whole SPANC team, planned the event from conception to completion. The result, everyone can agree, was spectacular. This wasn’t just a chance for Label, LSU Media and Loughborough Students’ Union as a whole to showcase what we can do. It was a real success for student-led ambition and enterprise. Label is on everyone’s lips in student journalism, and it’s the students of the SPANC core team that are to thank.

Bryn Wilkes VP Media

Design and Illustration by Gerg Carter

I usually use this space to spout around 200 words of colourful yet superfluous nonsense, predicated on something like Back to the Future or my own Twitter account. As tempted as I am to disappear once again down the yellow brick road of brief literary adventure, this time it would be unfair of me not to dedicate my editorial to a spectacular achievement that took place in our own building a couple of weeks back.

National Geographic Travel Geeks Review The National Geographic Traveller magazine recently hosted their first Travel Geeks event on the 5th April. Happening to be in London around the same time of this event, myself and my friend Alex thought we’d go along and see what it was about. Being an avid reader of National Geographic, expectations were pretty high. And quite rightly so. The event was held in a quirky converted attic on the top of an artsy building just around the corner from Covent Garden. It was an intimate space, with broad windows projecting London’s evening light onto the small gathering. There were three editors from National Geographic Traveller who spoke about their experiences and answered any questions. It was a great opportunity for budding writers, of all ages and cultures, to unite in a community of likeminded, ambitious people passionate about travel writing. The speakers spoke about how to approach the industry, specific steps to take and general tips on getting stuck into the competitive market. Questions were equally embraced from the audience, from how to pitch an idea to editors, and how to make an online blog more eyecatching. Refreshments were provided, and of course, the classic goodie bag with a FREE PEN. Details of their next event, which will focus specifically on travelling through South America, were also discussed, and sounds like an extremely promising meeting. For any budding travel writers out there, this is a great opportunity to network with fellow writers in a warmer atmosphere – who knows who you may meet! Alice Priestley Features Editor

Media News:

Editor’s top picks from Issue Six:

Want to be part of a media committee next year? Committee positions for Label, LCR, Lens and LSUTV open very soon, check media.lsu.co.uk for details shortly. Are you a media member? Media Alumni Weekend will take place from 29th April - 1st May for media members. We’ll meet LSU Media alumni who’ll give talks, guidance and provide valuable networking. Think someone deserves an award? Media awards nominations will open soon, giving you the chance to make sure people get the recognition that they deserve at the end of the year.

News and views from Loughborough and beyond: News look at the tale of racism at Warwick University alongside a very well considered piece on the NSS survey, which is definitely worth a read, especially if you're a finalist. Label teams up with Art School Finalists: This issues' style shoot is a tad different to normal, incorporating the artwork of Loughborough Art School students who have designed t-shirts. The tees will be on sale to help raise funds for an art show in London, all designed by Graphic Communication and Illustration Finalists. Sport consider top summer events: Sport are taking a look at up-and-coming events for the summer, nationally and internationally as well as continuing their "Shining a Light" series with a focus on Loughborough Students' Rowing.

media.lsu.co.uk

/lsumedia

@lsumedia

It has unearthed how many of the rich and wealthy use tax havens to hide their wealth and avoid paying tax. The leak has been bigger than 2010’s Wikileaks. The documents were leaked by a Panamanian law firm called Mossack Fonseca and show how Mossack Fonseca clients were able to launder money, dodge sanctions and avoid tax. As a result of the leaks questions are being raised concerning secrecy and corruption in the global financial system. Among those named in the leaks is the father of British Prime Minister David Cameron who was revealed to have ‘offshore funds’. Mr. Cameron initially denied having benefitted from these funds before saying that he would not benefit from them in the future. He eventually admitted that he and his wife had benefitted from them when they sold shares in an offshore trust for £30,000 in 2010. As a result of this Cameron has been urged to publish his tax returns after Jeremy Corbyn said he would release his own. After Cameron eventually obliged it was revealed that he had received a £200,000 gift from his mother. Other British politicians affected by the published tax returns were George Osborne and Jeremy Corbyn himself, who it was revealed was fined for a late tax return some years ago. The moral and legal questions that arise from these leaks are complex. Although what is being done is largely legal, many see them as morally bankrupt and a result of a broken and unfair system. Although the events are legal, a system where an already wealthy individual is able to receive £200,000 as a gift seems inherently immoral. The question of legality is a little clearer but still not black and white. Although holding money in offshore accounts is in general a legal practice it may be done to hide illegal transactions and be used as a form of money laundering. There are also however some valid reasons for companies to use such accounts, for example any foreigners hoping to buy land in a country where it is only allowed to be owned by citizens or local companies may have to set up a local company in order to purchase a property. Also, setting up a company in a country that may have a corrupt legal system could need to have an account offshore in order to gain better access to financial and legal help. Ultimately it is the questionable ethics and morals that have left most people talking. The leak has highlighted aspects of our financial system that benefits those with the means and the money to help themselves. When people in such high statuses of power are able to and capable of committing acts that undermine the public, this could perhaps be an incentive for the system to be addressed. Jamie Hutton News Editor

Design by Gerg Carter

The Panama Papers are a milestone in document

NEWS

Racial Student creates

his own Chinese emocratic party

tensions

cloud Warwick University

I do not think it is too presumptuous to state that the majority of British students take democracy as a basic human right. Although we may find the government's actions questionable or downright ludicrous at times, we are all given the opportunity to vote for our preferred political party, and discuss the issues present in our society. Often, our population can take this right for granted. Joshua Wong, a student and inhabitant of Hong Kong, longs for the same democratic privileges, and has spent a number of his teenage years rallying for democracy. He is a high protest activist whose previous arrest two years ago was a contributing factor in a seventy-nine day pro-democracy protest. Events and demonstrations such as these have culminated in Wong and a number of others creating a democratic political party named 'Demosito.' According to the BBC, Wong claimed that their decision stemmed from a need to "enter the system, create a political party and shape the political agenda, in order to drive towards our movement for self-determination." Although 19-year-old Wong is too young to run himself, the party will be putting forward three candidates in the upcoming elections, where they hope to win at least one seat. China has a complicated and dubious history surrounding its human rights, so it is uncertain at this point in time how current political leaders will react to the formation of a new pro-democratic party, and whether they will win any seats in the Legislative Council elections. In any case, I wish Joshua Wong every success in his endeavours. Ellie Mackenzie News Editor

Discussions surrounding the issue of racism have become more prominent at Warwick University in recent days, after a racial incident dubbed 'bananagate' was reported nationwide. Faramade Ifaturoti, a fresher at the university, took to twitter after she discovered a bunch of bananas in her shared kitchen with racist slurs written upon them. Naturally, there has been a wave of concern on Twitter, with numerous current and previous Warwick students claiming that they are disgusted, although not surprised; thus suggesting that racism is an ongoing issue for students. The incident was taken up by the Warwick Anti-Racism Society who created a petition, and claim that the university is not dealing with the wider issue of racism as effectively as it should be. The incident and petition that followed has sparked a university wide debate, with a widespread survey being circulated in order to gauge the level of racism within the institution, and discover what can be done to improve the situation. With regards to the situation, Warwick released a statement claiming that they considered investigating the matter a priority; however, a friend of the victim believes that the university are only taking the matter seriously due to the high profile level of support and outrage from social media. Warwick Students' Union has expressed its disgust at the matter and has reiterated the support the university will continue to provide to the student involved. One can only hope that Warwick can work closely with students to provide a more aware and less prejudice campus. Ellie Mackenzie News Editor

NEWS

What impact do your National Student Survey responses really have? Finalists are all too aware of the annual National Student Survey (NSS) at the moment, with not long left to “make their voices heard”. Universities often view the NSS as one of their main measures of success, but is it really fit for purpose? Since the rise in tuition fees students have often be referred to as ‘customers’ who need to be kept happy. The NSS acts as a measure of student satisfaction, asking individuals for feedback on what it is like to study their course at their institution. It primarily aims to help prospective students decide where to study, as well as indicate to institutions areas to improve. But what does it really tell us? Firstly, the NSS contributes towards league tables. Students obviously want employers to see they have studied at a good University, and if NSS results are published in the public domain (Unistats) and used within league tables, then could this make it beneficial to provide positive - potentially dishonest - responses? It could be argued students are foolish to criticise their course and institution via the NSS, and instead this should be done through programme representatives and module feedback. After all, no student wants to rack up debts of around £40-50k on a poorly rated course. In addition, the recent proposals for the ‘Teaching Excellence Framework’ (TEF) suggest that Universities with good NSS results could be rewarded with the right to increase undergraduate fees in line with inflation. Universities may therefore seek ways to engineer good NSS results from students, motivated by potential revenue gains.

Furthermore, multiple choice questions massively limit responses and thereby the knowledge gained. How useful is this to prospective students? Take “Feedback on my work has been prompt” for example. It may be in first year you “strongly disagree” but by final year you “strongly agree”. You therefore choose a mid “neither…nor” to express your view on ‘your course as a whole’. But in doing so, your answer fails to inform prospective students what it is like to study now. They are not told that prompt feedback was an issue in the past but is now excellent for when they start. Likewise, how useful is just a number to institutions? For “Staff are good at explaining things”, it may be that some staff are and others are not. A mid score tells us nothing about the specific lecturers who may be posing an issue, giving little direction for how a department should improve. There is also a lot of pressure on students to complete the NSS, including from: lecturers, department leaders, programme representatives, and even phone calls from IPSOS Mori. Does this pressure make students more likely to complete it in a rush, primarily to stop being hassled rather than to share their well-thought opinions? Of course gathering student feedback is invaluable for improvements, and students should certainly be able to “have a voice”. The idea behind the NSS is therefore very creditable, but the methodology, impact and usefulness raise debates. Honesty is brought under scrutiny by the potential benefits of good NSS results. Kelly Watson

COLUMN

You’ll only know if you went to Loughborough

Design and Illustration by Gerg Carter

As the end of my final year draws closer to an end, and the thought of real life beginning seems to be a constant topic of conversation at family gatherings and social occasions (the pain is real) I’ve been thinking about how unique Loughborough really is. Not only do we currently hold number 1 student experience, but when I come home and chat with old friends who have gone on to study elsewhere, I only then truly realise how different it really is. How lucky we are to have such a great SU, insane facilities, a general team atmosphere that encompasses every student, and let’s be honest our gyms are pretty cool too. When you tell anyone you go to Loughborough they either ask ‘what sport do you play?’ Or ‘do you study engineering?’, and to be honest a large majority of us are either athletes or engineers. We are in the top 20 in The Complete University Guide for Chemical, Civil and Mechanical engineering and are the leading University for Engineering placements in the UK, so it’s no wonder that so many people know about our great reputation and assume that we’d be studying such a renowned degree. I don’t think anybody could come to Loughborough without getting involved with sports, even if you aren’t a sports science student or participate in any sports you’ll have definitely gone to cheer on the rugby team, or watch one of the dance shows. Loughborough is the top university for sports in the UK, it’s clear, and we have the stats to prove it- has any other university won BUCS for over 30 years? You may be able to get away from sport at other uni’s around the country, but it seems here at Loughborough, a good fair few of us love to get stuck into the Loughborough team spirit!

Another thing that seems to be completely normal in Loughborough is our obsession with stash, shorts and flip flops and trackies. We seem to sport a unique fashion that I highly doubt you will see anywhere else. It’s pretty normal for a luff student to roll out of bed, throw on some trackies and get to their lecture whilst getting that valuable extra 20 minutes in bed every morning, and it’s completely acceptable! But this unique fashion isn’t just seen in our lecture halls, it’s also seen on our nights out. When I got to Loughborough I was a bit shocked, I’d packed my nicest going out clothes, high heels and clutch bags, little did I know that by final year those could be left at home because you’ll rarely need them for a night out. Girls usually wear flats on a night out (your worst trainers if you’re going to Echos) and usually steer away from dresses. Guys can throw on whatever they want and it’s acceptable. You usually receive a shock when you go home in the holidays and realise you have nothing acceptable to wear on a night out on the town. Although it will soon be time for me to retire my Echos shoes for good, I will never forget all the unique things being a Loughborough student has taught me. Kristy Robertson Label Columnist

FEATURES

YES

As the student fight over limited work experience opportunities intensifies it seems strange more people don’t take a placement year, especially with Loughborough being such an accommodating university to do so. We even host the largest graduate and placement recruitment fair in the country! Here are some reasons why a placement year is definitely something you should consider in your university career (for your future career).

Placements put theory into practice with real work that

delivers tangible output - far more satisfying than cramming, aiming helplessly for good exam results where two hours and the hope for good questions removes all perspective from the 100 hours you’ve sunk into that module. For some, it means becoming an expert in a particular field, or others, a chance to sample multiple jobs as they move around within the company. Beyond helping you to understand the academic aspects on the degree, a placement provides industry experience, understanding of working within a structured environment, appreciation for workplace behaviour, management, deadlines and organisational operation. They’re also an excellent opportunity to build on competencies, such as team working, communication and presentation skills, working under strict time-based schedules and professional networking. It gives plenty to talk about in future interviews!

the company. Many students end up landing future graduate offers or linked final year project and/ or dissertations based on similar work. You’ve been through the job hunting process once, got the bulk of your CV done and can nail assessment centres, so it makes preparation for the ‘Real Deal’ a lot easier. I learned more about working as an engineer on a single year on placement than I have across 4 years of university-based education. It gave me guidance on my future career path and an insight into an industry that I won’t be working in. Nonetheless, I still have an appreciation for the industry, and from the placement I’ve gained transferable skills that are applicable across most jobs. For all but questionable unpaid years out, it’s the first real chance for earning a wage without any major stresses associated with the impending graduate life. If you’re given the chance to do a proper placement year then, I advise you to take it!

For that reason, employers love them. Having a placement shows them you’re able to cope with the demands of having a job for the year and they’re often used as a year-long interview for you and

ts’

n r stude 1st yea

t F0a16ir n e m e Plac 27th April 2Area ition sday Wednes France Exhib e m a J - 3pm 11am

Dan Leedham

Design by Jasmin White

Many students will stand firm saying placements are an integral part of university, and essential to secure future employment for students and graduates. Though starting your career mid-university is not actually a necessity, and, contrary to popular belief, not always the best financial option for your studies. Placement fees have increased to a whopping £1800, which can put pressures financially on those who wish to take a year out. With a large number of placements being unpaid, the effects of this increased placement fee – not forgetting accommodation, transport and living for a year unpaid - result in a very expensive year. This can be a large risk and indeed, a large burden, which just doesn’t make that placement year worthwhile.

added pressure of placement applications, online assessments, interviews and assessment centres - possibly involving trekking across the country – whilst also completing an increasing number of coursework deadlines and exam revision? Many students spend months applying for placements, missing lectures in the process, only to attend interviews for jobs for which they aren’t even considered. Is this really productive considering the impact it may have on the quality of their university work? A placement also involves being out of education for a year, getting used to working and earning and risking the difficulty of getting back into studying for the allimportant third year. That break from university life into the ‘real’ working world may well impact your final year results if your mind is elsewhere.

Loughborough means you’re missing out on that infamous Loughborough Student Experience! A placement means you’re less able to be part of the union, take part in the sections and committees, and miss out on all the fun. And if your friendship group isn’t on placement you may feel even more out of the loop, with different dissertation hand-ins, graduation ceremonies and final year celebrations all staggered due to placement years. So, is it worth it to take a year out to work for little - or even no - money, increased workload, stress during the application process and risking your university experience? Though there are undoubtable pros, the cons may well be worth considering even more. Jack Berisford Kelly Watson

Big Debate: Should you do a Placement Year? In addition to this, being away from

There’s also the added stress of trying to find a placement whilst also tackling the increasing demands of second year degree work. Do you really want to have the

FEATURES

BARBECUE CHICKEN SKEWERS

The constant struggle between eating well for less cannot be more relevant to us students. But look no further as today you can learn how to make these delicious, mouth watering BBQ Chicken Skewers! Method

Ingredients

Place your wooden skewers into warm water to soak for at least 30 minutes. Make sure you also start preheating the grill on a low heat.

Chicken Breast Fillets Thick Cut Bacon BBQ Sauce Bramley Apple Sauce Red Peppers Salt Pepper

Cut the chicken breast fillets and the peppers into sizeable, square chunks. Slice the bacon into square strips.

Photography by Emily Logie

Now, picking up your wooden skewer, alternately place the chicken, pepper and bacon pieces. Once your skewer is complete, lightly sprinkle it with salt and pepper.

If you have a blender this next step will be easy for you, if not, looks like you will have to revert back to the old fashioned way of mixing everything together with a fork. Place the BBQ and Bramley Apple Sauce into either the blender or a bowl and mix together until the sauces are smooth. Place the chicken skewers under the grill, cooking each side for 4 minutes. Once all sides have been cooked, cover the skewers in the BBQ, Bramley sauce then cook each side again for 4 minutes. Quick and easy to make and with summer fast approaching these skewers would cook beautifully on a BBQ itself. Be sure to finish off your meal with either a salad, chips or rice. This tasty treat will leave you wanting more. What are you waiting for! Abbey Gardner

Top Tips for Revising In the Sun In every university’s advertising booklet and website you’ll find a myriad of pictures of smiling students performing different activities. These students are usually smiling in classrooms, grinning while playing sports, studying under the sun on a perfectly groomed lawn looking flawless and studious at the same time. Now you may be asking yourself – “how can one achieve such a picturesque scenario and study efficiently?” Whether or not it is an effective way to tackle academics, it sure looks good. Regardless, it’s important to remember that studying outside under the sun may not be for everyone; some people just can’t concentrate in that environment. If that’s the case for you, or if you simply want some pointers on how to be better at outdoor studying, these are some tips on how to boost your productivity while laying under the sun:

Design and Illustration by Emily Forrester

1. THE 45/15 METHOD Basking in the sun and studying with friends can lead to many distractions. As a prime social environment, chatting and banter will be easily distracting. By using the 45/15 method you’ll get the best of both worlds: 45 minutes of studying and productivity followed by a 15 minute break. You’ll find that you’ll appreciate those 15 minutes all the more as well as achieving much more during your 45 minutes of work.

2. Don’t do work that requires technology Studying under the sun means there will be glares on all your screens and (probably) limited connectivity. Use this to your advantage and take the opportunity to ‘disconnect’ by doing work that doesn’t require a computer or technological devices. Not only will you get more done, you’ll also enjoy the sunny weather more without having to squint at a screen or worry about low batteries.

3. Take a blanket or towel to sit on Taking a blanket or towel to sit on is especially important if you’re planning on sitting on grass. You don’t want to be itchy and uncomfortable - this will just distract you from your work. If you’re on any other surface, it will still be helpful by providing a space where you can lay out your work and other personal items.

4. Make sure you take everything you need Though this tip also counts for indoor studying too, for example going to the library or anywhere other than your room, there is nothing more distracting and disruptive than realising you’ve forgotten something vital. Think ahead and save yourself the time and hassle.

5. Don’t Forget Your Sunnies If you are blinded by the sun’s glorious and rare rays (at least here in Loughborough), you will definitely have a difficult time studying. To avoid pushing yourself to the point where you’ll give up on work and simply lay in the sun and work on your tan, remember to pack your sunnies! If you’re not one for sunglasses, you should consider wearing a hat instead. Use these tips to make the most of both your work and of course, the sunshine! Arianna Rossi

COLUMN

Overheard Loughborough

“It’s always nice to have a dangle.”

“I think that’s the altitude of goats.” “It’s only my mouth that gets horny.”

g you e? methin Got so bout this issu a o say want t

Don't wish away my life!

Recently my friends have started handing in dissertations and finalising their courses. Although my deadlines are still a few weeks away, everyone knows that the second semester of third year only means one thing - you're on your way out. Of uni obviously, not life, unless you really have punished your liver over the past few years, in which case delete as applicable. This timeline is a universally understood one. During a casual over-the-counter chat in your favourite shop, or while having a natter with someone at the gym, as soon as you utter the code words "dissertation", "finalist", or "third year" you invariably receive the faux sympathetic "awhh, so you'll be graduating soon then?" Followed, of course, by a series of questions about what you’ll do once you've graduated. Are you going to travel? Are you doing further study? Ooh, I bet you're in need of a job? And worse still, when I respond saying, no, I can't be bothered with travelling right now and yes, I am indeed a stereotypical English student making steps towards becoming a teacher, I get a barrage of extremely pessimistic and condescending advice. "Ooh well, my brother's next door neighbour's wife's sister was a teacher, and she said that it was awful!" STOP! Don’t wish away my last term. I endeavour to take full advantage of it and act as irresponsibly as possible before I have to stop living this Benjamin Button-style life. Literally, yolo.

Leanna Kightley Assistant Editor

itter at on Tw h c u o t Get in lOnline @Labe

TOP TWEETS

#SPANC16

Find out more on page 43

@_katiejw Apr 9 Last night Loughborough gave the people what they clearly wanted and sung #LSLLLLLLLLSU on karaoke. Thanks for everyone’s support. #SPANC16 @alicedaisyp Apr 9 what is the big blue sausage on the ceiling about ? balloons? Confetti? Air? @SPAJournalism #SPANC16 @BoarComment Apr 9 The table confetti is both enchanting, confusing and thrifty - my 3 favourite qualities... #SPANC16 @VPMedia_LSU Apr 10 Big up lemur! @leannakightley #SPANC16 @leannakightley Apr 10 What’s more vegetarian than a sausage? #SPANC16

Design and Illustration by Greg Carter

I'm 21, and those of you who have also reached this milestone birthday will know that it comes with responsibility and expectation. Getting older, and towards the end of my education, means I'm essentially looking for a career and a life plan. Scary, huh?

D HEAR OVER HING? T E M SO

BEY BE Y K NCER Beyoncé

Are we expecting an album release from Queen B after she announced The Formation World Tour?

Rumour has it Queen Bey is releasing a new album very soon. Since announcing her upcoming world tour and releasing ‘Formation’ the beyhive has been buzzing, waiting for her new album to drop. Given the uncertainty of the release date though, many are keen on playing the guessing game, coming up with crazy theories. However to get to the bottom of this, we need to examine the facts.

Another convincing theory revolved around the date April 4, which marked her wedding anniversary with Jay Z. Hollywood Life thought Beyonce would in fact, drop her new album on her and Jay Z’s anniversary arguing that she will have a repeat of her album Beyonce, which was dropped by complete by surprise in 2013. Hollywood Life points out that because “Beyonce’s birthday is September 4, while Jay Z’s birthday is December 4” it is the ‘perfect’ date for a new album release”. Apparently her surprise drop of Formation was meant as a ‘warning’ or ‘warm-up’ to build up to the full album; as of April 16, we’re still waiting. Apparently her surprise drop of Formation was meant as a ‘warning’ or ‘warm-up’ to build up to the full album.

Clearly there is no way to know until the album is actually released, but we can all dedicate that time to figuring out when it will be…which theory do you believe in? Keep buzzing in the beyhive... just know you’re not alone! Arianna Rossi

Illustration by Kirin Crooks

Digital Spy presents a completely different approach presenting us with several explanations. One ‘explanation’ argues that since her imminent album is rumoured to be a visual experience, much like her last album described as an ‘album film’, it would be impossible for her to go on tour without it being released. They also mention her collaborators, which include Cara Delevigne (who Instagrammed a picture of her hand on the same mixing desk as Beyonce, on the same evening), Clean Bandit, Ed Sheeran, Naughty Boy and even Jay Z! Considering the meaning of these recent collaborations and their relation to her upcoming album, after reading the Daily Double- which also mentions the rumours of a joint husband and wife album- it is an explanation that is difficult to dismiss.

Design by Emily Logie

Harpers Bazaar points out in an online article that Beyonce’s iTunes page temporarily went down a few weeks back while thirteen new unlisted videos emerged on her VEVO. This information consequently fuelled rumours of the new album release. The article concludes by boldly stating,

“Since the Formation world tour kicks off on April 27, an album release within the next month is inevitable.” Though we all wish we had this certainty, I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Harpers Bazaar is right!

K KEND ERICK MUSIC

After the release of the inevitably seminal ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ last spring, Kendrick Lamar was faced with the question that breaks so many other acts that have hit dizzying heights by their third album in their twenties: how do you follow a masterpiece? Many simply reproduce a formula, quickly becoming a parody of themselves, taking to the stadium and festival headline slots and losing all touch with that spark that made them so vital in the first place. Others fizzle out or fail spectacularly. Far fewer go from strength to strength and those that do usually step into the pantheon of the truly great artists.

Illustration by Mol Mathews

Kendrick Lamar appears to have danced around the issue altogether, modestly putting out a solid little compilation of outtakes dating back a couple of years with minimal cover art and without a title, in a format that doesn’t quite fit the designation of LP nor EP. Coming from the sessions for ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’, the sound adopts a similar jazz/funk fused theme (and a distillation of its social, political and emotional themes), and whilst there are no obvious ‘bangers’ grabbing the listener by the scruff of the neck quite like its predecessor did, the record does contain two or three tracks that would’ve strengthened his 2015 LP.

In the end, the act of reviewing this album feels almost moot; it’s intended to be consumed in one listen and viscerally felt rather than analysed, despite its obvious invitations for a closer look. It is deceptively dense with theme and emotion and at the same time feels like Kendrick at his most relaxed, displaying all the signs of an artist at the top of his game with nothing to prove. What’s more, it simultaneously tides over an expectant fanbase with quality content, and allows him room to breathe with regard to his next full-length release.

Alex Boyd

Where ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ opens with loud provocation, ‘Untitled Unmastered’ starts things off with a minute and a half of soft foreplay with Bilal, shifting deftly mid-stride into Kendrick’s verse. On ‘Untitled 02’, he displays some rare vocal range, channelling Lil Wayne and sinfully crooning for God on the phone. 03 and 06 bring the funk vibes, the latter including a master turn by Cee-Lo Green. Another member of this album’s stellar cast of characters is Thundercat, who provides a bass masterclass throughout, particularly on 08, the album’s closer and most immediate, bracing track. The most interesting of the collection is 07, a medley of three parts, the second of which was apparently made by the 5 year-old son of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, Egypt Daoud, followed by a four-minute denouement, a stripped back demo of 04 playing on the double-entendre mantra ‘head is the answer’.

17 29

MUSIC

MUSICIANS: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT ALL GOES

Born 1935 and now at the ripe old age of 80, Andrews has been faced with many difficult career challenges, a significant one being the loss of her beautiful voice in 1997. After a long run on Broadway, she began to suffer vocal pain and difficulty producing notes within her four-octave range. She underwent surgery whilst in the U.S to remove potential vocal nodules, however after closer inspection, it was believed the problem was minor and didn’t require surgical intervention at all. Sadly the famous Soprano became an Alto; after the expected timeframe of six weeks for recovery, two years later her voice never retuned to what it was and in the words of Drake, “Nothing was the same”. Andrews has gone on to continue her incredible work in acting, remaining a female icon within the entertainment industry, after all, she was Mary Poppins. Even the most gifted, well trained and knowledgeable performers however, can suffer physical stress when overusing their voice due to hectic and demanding performance schedules.

The striking Laura Mvula came to public attention after her single, ‘Green Garden’ in 2013 burst its way into mainstream music. Trained in Birmingham, the singer met her former husband who was also studying at the institution, they fell in love and never looked back. Mvula states that marriage was a part of her life encouraged by parents, growing up in a strong family unit until contradiction occurred. The revelation of a divorce bi-polarised her mother and father from each other. Mvula said this was completely unexpected and pushed her into a very dark place. In an interview with The Guardian, the singer has cited that her depression and anxiety ruined her own marriage and that fame is not for the faint-hearted. Mvula speaks openly about the extent of her panic attacks in sobering detail, showing the true rancorous, unrelenting side to anxiety…

‘

out in the The freak-out shower. And I wish that was the term for something good – it’s not. When it happens I feel like my head’s about to ex explode. So I start shaking it violently, bang the door open, water spills out

‘

J U LL II E A N D R E W S

LAURA MVULA

Design by Sophie Lindsay

Being a musician in the spotlight can appear exciting and rewarding, but what happens when things start to go wrong, when money-making-music-machines begin to malfunction? What happens when they show a side that resembles that of a human being? Artists suffer psychical and mental health challenges just like you and I, but the difference is, they do it publicly. Some deal with adversity through dignity and professionalism. Unfortunately though, some are not so able and due to the pressures of a career in the limelight, legends perish.

A M YY W I N E H O U S EE Lastly, the icon that is, Amy Winehouse. Born in 1983 and raised in North London, this ferocious female made it to what is now known as the 27 Club along with the aforementioned Cobain. Winehouse grew up in a working-class, Jewish family of both Polish and Russian descent. She adored jazz music and had a natural flare for all things bluesy. She attended The BRIT School; the likes of which include: Adele, Jessie J and The Kooks. Winehouse possessed a bluesy mezzo-soprano voice. She had several partners throughout her life, none of whom were more impactful than Blake Fielder who would often encourage Winehouse to continue using. Cited as the ‘voice of her generation’ the singer tragically died in 2011, due to alcohol poisoning; speculation still surrounds the case in whether this was intentional. Despite chronic substance abuse, several psychiatrists have cited that Winehouse suffered from the fairly unknown but serious illness, Borderline Personality Disorder, symptoms of which include: eating disorder type behaviours; Winehouse was known for suffering with Bulimia-intense, often chaotic relationships

seeking codependency and grave emotional pain as well as self destructive behaviours where sufferers use drink and drugs as crutches to deal with crippling emotional dysregulation. After her death, millions paid tribute- including many famous musicians. She was a wonderfully eccentric, highly gifted individual but Winehouse sadly appears to be a perfect example of what can happen when pressures of the rock n’ roll lifestyle coincide with personal issues. No doubt though, our tears dry on their own as Amy’s music lives on. I am in no way saying that musicians have it worse than you or I because that is simply not true; depression and anxiety are especially on the rise among students. And yes, they chose the money, the fame but next time you criticise Adele (perhaps for a similar awful Grammy performance) or for Kelly Clarkson being ‘too fat’, remember to employ a degree of empathy. After all, they are only human.

Illustration by Alice Bindloss

K U R TT C O BB AA I N One of the most misunderstood, tragic cases is that of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. Cobain was born in 1967. He was a leading figure of his time releasing some groundbreaking material whilst part of the band, including ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, ‘Lithium’ and ‘Come As You Are’. Cobain led a drug-filled life, also suffering many mental health difficulties. His addiction to heroin was severe and his addictions alongside his Bipolar Disorder have been cited as fuels for his creativity. Cobain had many talents but is known to be one of the most emotionally scarred figures within music even to this day. After his tragic suicide in 1994, several notebooks were found within his home which show the extent of not only his difficulty with mental health but also the strain stardom placed on his life. James Hullait Label Music Editor

EXEC FOCUS Interview with

Luke Thomson VP Sport

against the best universities across the globe and it was hugely useful to find out about their sporting structures. I certainly took away a number of things that I will look to implement here at Loughborough over the next 15 months.

What have you and your section been up to over the last couple of weeks? It’s been a busy few weeks since the Elections. Currently I’m driving a new big joint funding pitch from the AU and SDC to the University, which would be a real game changer if it comes through. Additionally, we’ve been looking into a new communication pathway for sport into halls, and we may soon see the implementation of Loughborough Sport Reps in each Hall. Simultaneously, I’m planning a restructure of the AU Exec and the Student Sport Senate, so lots of change. You’ve been abroad over Easter, can you tell us a bit more about your trip, what it involved and what the students took from the experience? Sure, so we had a return fixture, again MIT, out in Massachusetts. It was Tennis this time round, and both our Men’s and Women’s Teams performed strongly on court and as we ran out 13-3 victors to maintain the Transatlantic Varsity Trophy! Amazing experience for the athletes involved and I know they had a great time. Really rewarding to test ourselves

Contact me Twitter: @VPSport_LSU Facebook: VPSportLSU Email: VPSport@lsu.co.uk 20

I’d probably say the Men’s Hockey team. They had a difficult start to the year but have been fantastic of late. Particularly the first team who won BUCs, topped the Men’s Conference North and are now in the playoffs for a spot in the Premier Division which would be a remarkable achievement should they pull it off. What has been your sections’ biggest achievement of late? On the field BUCS Big Wednesday went really well, with our Badminton Men’s and Women’s, Hockey Men’s and Basketball Men’s all taking Gold. Off the back of this, we hosted our first committee training of the year for club treasurers. That went well and is part of a much bigger project we’ve undertaken to completely overhaul committee training, the majority of which will be delivered just after Easter. It’s been a real achievement getting all that done in time and we are hoping it will have real benefits next year. What are you most looking forward to over the last term? The AU Ball is obviously up there. It’s going to be bigger and better than ever before with 800 of us travelling over to Leicester for a celebration of the achievements this year. But similarly the Colours, IMS, CVA awards, where we recognise the achievements of our students, are always great to be a part of and tend to be fun filled evenings! Katie Wilson Label Editor

Design by Lewis Allum

If you could give a special mention to one person or a team, who would it be and why?

Illustration by Greg Carter

Full investigations

Half marathons

Tope Advisory Graduate Trainee

“At KPMG, one of the ways we add value to clients is by really getting to know their businesses. We investigate and scrutinise their most pressing challenges as a team – in fact, I’ve been able to work with people from across the firm. Many of these colleagues have become friends. A group of us got together to run the Barcelona Half Marathon to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind. Teamwork has taken us far!”

© 2016 KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International.

Visit kpmgcareers.co.uk to find out more about careers for undergraduates and graduates from all degree disciplines in Audit, Tax, Advisory, Technology, Marketing and HR.

Photography by Cade Morris 22

Design by Lewis Allum 23

CULTURE

Batman VV Superman Superman Batman Batman V Superman

Audience members definitely received the film more positively, calling it ‘fantastic’ and ‘incredible’, among other things. Not only do they believe the film was beautifully shot, which it most definitely was, they also seemed to appreciate the CGI fight scenes, which didn’t seem to be the case with critics, and the appearance of the much awaited heroine Wonder Woman. Some even compared the fight sequences and their almost unprecedented realism to that of John Wick, a popular action film of 2014. Upon hearing about the critical reviews of the film, many audience members excused it as a fundamental misunderstanding of the film, a very popular view among dedicated DC comic book readers. Given the hype and expectations following The Dark Knight, critics may have been too influenced by past success, forgetting the individual nature of the film and, more importantly, its target audience. The best thing to do is to see the film yourself and decide what side to join; it’s no longer Batman V Superman, it’s Audience V Critics. Arianna Rossi

Design by Vanisha Mistry

Unfortunately, according to the overwhelming majority of critics, it was a complete and utter disappointment. Rotten Tomatoes revealed a 28% rating, ranking it with films such as Zoolander 2, but, interestingly, it was given a 72% rating by the public. This drastic contrast in perceptions of Batman V Superman, negatively received by critics yet adored by general audience members, has made it controversial and therefore difficult to pin down as definitively a success or failure.

The criticisms provided for the film range from blatant sexism and ‘uncool politics’ (Forbes) to unsophisticated plainness and lack of emotional connection (The Guardian). Many critics were disappointed with director Zach Snyder’s work, as it apparently did not live up to the calibre of his previous films, such as Watchmen and Man of Steel, with many calling his newest project a “stink-bucket of disappointment.” A main issue is supposedly the film’s lack of structure, making the storyline difficult to follow and comprehend. These reactions, however, may be too harsh.

Illustration by Aarushi Mittal

Both Superman and Batman are iconic members of the DC Comic Book Universe. The demand for a film pitting the two against each other, much like the demand for Captain America: Civil War, was so high that it was even presented as an Easter Egg in I Am Legend, hinting at its release in the post-apocalyptic world. Fortunately for us, the wait wasn’t quite that long! Announced in 2013 at the San Diego Comic-Con, the build-up for Batman V Superman has been long and suspenseful, creating a horde of expectations for the motion picture, intensified by the previous success of The Dark Knight franchise, directed by renowned director Christopher Nolan.

10 Cloverfield La Review 10 Cloverfield Lane: A Review

10 Cloverfield Lane: A Review

In many ways 2008’s ‘Cloverfield’ was a surprise hit. What seemed like the latest edition to In many ways, to 2008’s ‘Cloverfield’ the ever wearisome found footage genre seemed outlive its noveltywas a surprise hit. What seemed like the latest edition to the ever wearisome found factor and is now on its way to cult classic status. footage genre has outlived its novelty factor and is now on its way to cult classic status. Now arrives ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’, an altogether different beast. One theory circulating is that the ‘Cloverfield’ title refers to a set of films As for the performances, all along a similar tone, like ‘The Twilight Zone’ or ‘Black Mirror’, which Now arrives ‘10 Cloverfield three principal actors truly bring seems an exciting prospect. Indeed,Lane’, to go an into the film expecting altogether different any their A game. Mary Elizabethkind of sequel to ‘Cloverfield’ wouldbeast. be misguided andcirculating in fact oneis One theory Winston is brilliant as the heroine of the greatest strengths of the film that is that trailers gave next to thethe ‘Cloverfield’ title refers but John Goodman is a clear nothing away. To even give away thetoset up here would beaasimilar spoiler as a set of films along standout, flitting between cuddly it makes for an explosive opening that willlike have many jumping outorof tone, ‘The Twilight Zone’ and menacing almost every 15 their seats, not an easy feat for an opening credit sequence to achieve. ‘Black Mirror’, which seems an minutes. His performance is in exciting prospect. Indeed, to part responsible for the film Then things get underway and the film to film evolve into a tense go starts into the expecting any never settling into a noticeable psychological thriller. The film takes kind placeofexclusively the bunker sequel to in ‘Cloverfield’ narrative or genre, something of Howard (played brilliantly by Johnwould Goodman but moreand on that be misguided in fact that is certainly a strong point. later) and although confined to this small not once does it feel one ofsetting the greatest strengths of Just as you think you have it cramped or claustrophobic. There are elements of Hitchcock, thedefinite film is that the trailers gave sussed, this film pulls the rug (most notably the tension of ‘Rope’ and horror influences of nextthe to nothing away. To even from beneath you again, all within ‘Psycho’) in the blocking of these scenes as thethe tension and give away set upmounts here would 3 rooms and 3 characters. twist and turns abound. be a spoiler as it makes for an explosive opening that will have And then we reach the final 10 As for the performances, all three principal actors truly bring many jumping out of theirtheir seats, minutes. Somewhat of a deal A game. Mary Elizabeth-Winston is brilliant as the heroine John not an easy feat for anbut opening breaker. For all the Hitchcockian Goodman is a clear standout, flittingcredit between cuddlytoand menacing sequence achieve. tension built up so well over almost every 15 minutes. His performance is in part responsible for the first 90 minutes things boil the film never settling into a noticeable narrative or genre, something Then things get underway and over into out and out anarchy that is certainly a strong point. Just as you it sussed, theyou filmthink starts to have evolve into a at the films climax. You’re either this film pulls the rug from beneath you again, all within 3thriller. roomsThe and 3 tense psychological going to spend the final minutes characters. film takes place exclusively in with your mouth open in awe, the bunker of Howard (played confusion, disgust or all three and And then we reach the final 10 minutes. Somewhat of aGoodman deal breaker. brilliantly by John but although there’s a knowing wink For all the Hitchcockian tension builtmore up soon well over theand firstalthough 90 that later) and a nod to it, your reaction to minutes things boil over into out andconfined out anarchy at small the films climax. to this setting not the ending will perhaps rely on You’re either going to spend the final minutes your mouthor open once does with it feel cramped personal taste. Personally, I can’t in awe, confusion, disgust or all three and although there’s a knowing claustrophobic. There are definite wait to see it again. wink and a nod to it, your reaction toelements the ending will perhaps rely on of Hitchcock, (most personal taste. Personally, I can’t wait to seethe it again. notably tension of ‘Rope’ and the horror influences of ‘Psycho’) Jamie Hutton in the blocking of these scenes as News Editor Jamie Hutton, News Editor the tension mounts and twist and turns abound.

CULTURE You’ll Wish You Were THERE

The Scilly Isles If you yearn for somewhere that won’t break the bank, but will guarantee a picturesque experience then The Scilly Isles may be for you. With a choice of five inhabited islands – St. Mary’s, Tresco, St. Martins, Bryher and St. Agnes – to stay on, and countless other uninhabited ones to explore, Scilly offers a range of atmospheres sure to fit anyone’s idea of a good time. Despite still being a part of the U.K, temperatures are high enough in summer to get you a good tan, and whether you prefer a relaxing spa week or a mountainous adventure, the islands cater to all. Providing opportunities to not only discover unique souvenirs but also see nature at its best with seals, puffins and even dolphins on boat tours, I cannot recommend this place enough. Budapest European vacations are ever popular with students, but why stick to the mainstream clubbing holidays synonymous with Ibiza and Magaluf? For something a little more special, try Budapest. Not only does Budapest offer unique (mostly free!) tours of beautiful museums and historic landmarks like its infamous House of Terror, but it also has outdoor hot springs and a reputation for great food. With the ability to party in the city’s underground ruins instead of overheat in one of Spain’s sweat-fest boat parties, the experience you’d get from Budapest just can’t compare with that of other destinations and - has the added bonus of being one of the cheapest city breaks around. New Orleans If you’re looking to go all out, New Orleans needs to be on your radar. The people of New Orleans are described as those who know how to live, celebrating a large variety of cultural festivals to the extreme with events such as Mardi Gras and music-themed carnivals put on throughout the year. With an artistic reputation, going to New Orleans opens creative doors for vacationers and allows people to experience things they may not otherwise do such as learning to cook local delicacies and professional dancing. All of this is available in and around the French Quarter, which is where many-atraveller stays to indulge in mouth-watering cocktails and have their fortune told by a resident psychic. What’s not to like? Katherine Hardiman Culture Editor

Design and Illustration by Emily Anagnostopoulou

As we enter the final term of the year, it’s only natural to start thinking ahead to summer: the shining light at the end of the seemingly-never-ending-coursework-exam-stress tunnel. Some of us may be thinking; how do I end the academic year on a high note? Well, despite being admittedly cliché, vacations are the answer. Whether you’re journeying solo or with a group, travelling is perfect for soul-searching, reconnecting and, most importantly, celebrating! No matter what your budget or mood, whether it be for a few days or a few months and regardless of whatever else may come your way, you’ll look back and always wish you took that end of year vacation. However, the most difficult question consistently remains: where should I go?

The problem with

Like Jamie, I also thoroughly enjoyed ‘ 10 Cloverfield Lane’ . A sequel in title only, the film was a leaner, meaner, and altogether more frightening experience than the original. In it, the humans were the monsters and its predecessor proved important only in its ability to set a backdrop for the world in which the central characters in ‘ Lane’ inhabit. ‘ 10 Cloverfield Lane’ got me thinking about sequels: the film was so successful because it had almost nothing to do with the original - it was a companion piece set at the same time, and expanding on the mythology that was teased in ‘Cloverfield’.

The problem with SEQUELS

Of course, this was a risky move from the studio and it would be unlikely for the same situation to occur with a huge box office success; logically, if a film brings in a lot of money then the producers assume that the safest option is that the audience wants more of the same. This can be seen with box office behemoths like Pirates of the Caribbean and Transformers; yet these films are complete rubbish. There’s no heart, soul or, God forbid, decent scriptwriting and it’s quite obvious that they’ve been made only for the money. Smaller films aren’t burdened with this moral disadvantage, and while it would be incorrect to assume that the ‘Cloverfield’ films are independent pictures, the filmmakers certainly have more freedom than the likes of those who produce Star Wars, or the Marvel films. Even the latest in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise, ‘The Force Awakens’, while enjoyable, didn’t actually do anything new. Of course ‘Star Wars’ was once a film directed by a talented rebel in the film industry. George Lucas was a member of the Hollywood Brat Pack - a group of individuals known for their unique talents in film. ‘Star Wars’ was a box office hit, and its sequel, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’, directed by Irvin Kershner, is frequently cited as one of the greatest films of all time, never mind one of the best sequels. Likewise, ‘The Two Towers’ in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ franchise was met with both financial and critical acclaim, but these films are part of a trilogy and essentially one long story stretched into three films. They weren’t made for money, but because they had a story to tell. With the release of the R/15 rated ‘Deadpool’ exceeding expectations, and ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ being a pleasant surprise, perhaps studios are going to start taking chances like they used to. In a filmmaking era of bland superhero movie after cliche superhero movie, after disjointed messes of superhero movies, this will be a breath of fresh air. However, as the box office takings of ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’ are proving, studios are under no obligation to change their formula. As long as the public are willing to fork over their hard earned cash for trash, there’s no guaranteeing that there will be any change. Still, it’s a step in the right direction, isn’t it? Alex Jones Culture Editor

EXEC FOCUS Interview with

Rachael Lynch

VP Rag

What have you and your section been up to over the last couple of weeks?

You’ve been abroad over Easter, can you tell us a bit more about your trip? If you could give a special mention to one person or a team, who would it be and why? I just want to say a HUGE THANK-YOU to the offcoming Rag committee as they have worked so hard this year. They’ve given it their all, helped smash old records and create brand new events! I am so utterly proud of them and all their work – I love you guys!! What are you most looking forward to over the last term? We have lots of new events coming up this final term: Loughborough’s first campus wide FIFA tournament starting April 28th, a clothing sale for the Newlife Foundation on May 4th, some hall challenges in the form of The Hunger Games 8th May and a union night event Groove Plane 10th May. And we are pleased to announce that due to popular demand we are bringing back Colour Dash for the final term on 15th May - and it’s going to be bigger than ever, we’ll see you there!

I’ve had a super busy Easter! I spent a week in Belarus visiting old friends and the interpreters from The Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline Charity, and then after 3 days back in the office I went out again to Everest Base Camp with 9 other Loughborough students and 2 alumni! This trip was in aid of The Children’s Society and we spent 11 days trekking to Base Camp at 5365m and some of us went even higher to Kala Patthar which is 5643m (that’s over 18,500ft!). The team were incredible so shout out to them – well done guys! We had such an amazing time meeting people that lived in the Himalayas, summiting Everest and even meeting other Base Camp Trekkers. The best bit of the trip for me was bringing my gradball dress up to Base Camp to change into for a photo. My friend also brought their suit and then all of a sudden when we got a picture together and people at Base Camp thought we were getting married so started applauding!! To confirm – we did not get married.

Contact me Twitter: @VPRag_LSU Facebook: VPRagLSU Email: VPRag@lsu.co.uk 28

Katie Wilson Label Editor

Design by Lewis Allum

We have had an extremely busy term in regard to rag raids as we’ve done more raids than we have ever done before! I’m super proud to announce that we have also put on 2 new London raids for the first time ever for Marie Curie and Cancer Research UK. The amazing raids total for term 2 is £31,364.03 with just 92 collectors, and 5 students have raised over £1000 in one go!

Illustration by Greg Carter

ON EAT CA ING MP & US DR WI INK TH ING CA SH +

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Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers or promotions *10% discount applies to freshly produced food listed on individual outlet menus ^10% off hot drinks excludes COSTA in Martin Hall and EHB Grill Offers can be withdrawn at any time, excludes Student Union shops, cafés and bars

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CENTRE STILL LOOKING FOR A HOUSE IN TOWN FOR NEXT YEAR? The university’s website is the best place to start looking for accommodation in town. • • • •

All properties are close to campus and inspected by us All advertised private landlords are accredited by Decent and Safe Homes (DASH) Properties available from as little as £50 per person/per week for groups and individuals The only place to find ‘University Approved’ accommodation.

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CAMPUS LIVING

@lboro_campus www.browzer.co.uk /Campus.Living.Loughborough

Loughborough

Graphic Communication and Illustration Finalists

BA Graphic Communication and Illustration finalists have created some limited edition T-Shirt designs to raise money for their show in London in July. Hopefully you visited their stall at the last TCAF event?! TCAF 2.0 will be happening at freefest where they will be selling these designs and some new Loughborough related designs.

Models Lucie Baker-Wyse Hannah George Bryony Harrison Adam Jackson Ollie Lee George Morgan Dominik Piasecki Rebecca Summerfield Photography Jessica Crean Photoshoot team Greg Carter Seb Clark Tom Bradshaw Jazz Jefferies Martin So

STAY GLAMOROUS

AND UP TO DATE THIS

SpRING WITH tHE ESSENTIAL ITEMs fEMaLE

PASTELS

It’s no surprise that pastels are making their debut this Spring! Light pink colours are dominating, so think about picking up that baby pink skirt or dress. If you are not a fan of the colour pink, why not incorporate the shade in with your footwear or accessories? Sunglasses are a start. But don’t worry, pink is not your only option as baby blue is also a prevalent colour this Spring. Top Tip: Remember to match pastel colours with a darker shade, too much pastel can look a little sugary.

FLORALS

Floral patterns are essential this Spring, adding a variety of colour and decoration to your outfit. The design works beautifully on a playsuit or a tight fitting dress. If a whole outfit of florals is too much for you then try including the trendsetter within your blazer jacket or as a scarf. Top Tip: If you are going for the accessory only, make sure your top or jacket doesn’t include an exaggerated pattern as both designs could clash and look excessive.

BOMBER JACKETS

MaLE

Bomber jackets are back this Spring and are the perfect garment to compliment an overall outfit. Depending on the style and colour of the jacket will depend on whether you wear it for the day time or for an evening occasion. For a casual look, all colours and designs are acceptable. Be brave and buy one with a couple of stripes or even a pattern. To wear one for the evening, leather and suede bomber jackets are very stylish and gives an edge to your overall image. Best to keep the jacket design simple. Top Tip: Avoid denim bomber jackets for an evening occasion as they are too informal.

FIFTIES SHIRTS

Believe it or not they are trendsetters this Spring. Say goodbye to your tight fitting vests and say hello to the oversized polos and textured shirts. Perfect with tailored shorts or trousers. Top Tip: Contrast is important when combining colours and different patterns.

bOTH Cropped White Trousers or Chinos: Spring is not spring without a pair of cropped white trousers or white chinos in your wardrobe. Perfect for those days where the sun is shining but it is still a little chilly in the air. You can dress the outfit up ladies by combining it with a heeled pair of shoes or go casual with a pair of flats and a flowery top. Gentlemen, for a casual image think sneakers, espadrilles, flip flops or Toms. Or liven up the outfit for an occasion with sophisticated loafers. Top Tip: Make sure you buy slim fitting trousers to enhance your beautiful legs. 34

Abbey Gardner

STYLE

BEaUTY hACKS

DECLaSSIFIED

Us ladies are always looking for ways to make our daily beauty regimes easier. This doesn’t make us lazy, I like to see it as trying to do our day to day beautifying in the most efficient way possible! So in this article I will outline beauty hacks that are sure to make getting ready in the morning stress-free.

Design and Photography by Holly Kemp

THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK OF FOUNDATION MATCHING...

Let’s be honest, the majority of us have all been in that awkward scenario where we have bought a foundation that we believe matches our skin tone, then to leave the house looking like one of the cast members off of ‘The Only Way is Essex’. However, when testing and buying a new foundation DO NOT test it on your arm. Instead, test the rest of your body. This way you can ensure that you will perfectly match your foundation shade!

GOODBYE FLYAWAYS! This is a hack that I have tried and tested myself, and can vouch that it is such a quick step that can solve all of your frizzy hair dramas. After blow-drying your hair on a high heat, you may notice fluffy bits of hair that stick straight up at the top of your head. When going for a sleek hair look, after drying your hair, go over it with the cold air setting on your hairdryer. This will help to relax flyaway hairs, but will also add that gorgeous shine that makes your hair look incredibly healthy.

MAKE YOUR PERFUME LAST LONGER! By applying Vaseline on the skin where you spray your favourite perfume, it actually makes the smell last longer! The science behind it is complicated, but in simple terms the oils in Vaseline attach to scents and prevent the liquid from evaporating, meaning you smell fresher for longer! Also this will make your purse stretch, as you wont have to keep buying new perfume because you are constantly spritzing yourself with it.

THICK, BEAUTIFUL LASHES

This tip is one that took Pinterest by storm, revealing what top makeup artists did to make models’ eyelashes look thicker and longer than any mascara could ever achieve. The special ingredient is... baby powder. I know it sounds like it could get extremely messy, but by applying one coat of mascara, and then applying baby powder onto your lashes with a cotton bud and finishing with another coat of mascara you will be on your way to the longest thickest lashes you’ve ever had. Just be careful to not get any left over baby powder in your eyes!

Shannon Leahy 35

DESIGN LABEL ILLUSTRATION COMPETITION

Favourite Movie Label Illustration brings you another competition opportunity, this time asking you to represent your favourite movie in an illustration. Take inspiration from Greg’s ‘Hunger Games’ illustration, delve into the realms of ‘Lord of the Rings’ or maybe think about your favourite Disney movie! The choice is yours, good luck!

ow N r e t En ntries to: .co.uk

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FREEFEST COMICS

Illustrated by Tom Bradshaw

SPORT Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early September 2015, and whilst many people, including myself, come to Loughborough for the first term of their university experience, there is a sense of hope and optimism amongst the English rugby fans on campus. The 2015 Rugby World Cup, being held in their own back yard, was the best chance England had to win the World Cup since the famous win of 2003. However, being in the 'Group of Death' with arch enemies Australia and Wales, the team knew that it was not going to be easy. A convincing win against Fiji in the opening game set England in good stead for the immensely important showdown with Wales. After a fantastic individual performance from a certain Dan Biggar, however, Wales left Twickenham with a 28-25 victory. (Myself being Welsh, this was the best night of Freshers).

The one change which was widely expected, did indeed happen. Stuart Lancaster, coach since 2011, was relieved of his duties. Another change which occurred was stripping Flanker, Chris Robshaw of the captaincy. Robshaw was widely criticised for his decision to take a corner in the dying seconds of the match against Wales when a penalty would have seen the hosts grab a draw and eventually qualify out of the group.

The 2016 Six Nations got underway and the English supporters had a cautious optimism this time, dissimilar to the World Cup. The English got off to the perfect start, avoiding the potential Banana Skin in the Calcutta Cup match at Murrayfield, whereby the English defeated the Scots 15-9. Tries from Jack Nowell and George Kruis put them in a good position, especially after the two pre-tournament favourites, Wales and Ireland, drew 16-16. Further victories against Italy (40-9) and Ireland (21-10) effectively set up a Championship decider against Wales at Twickenham - only 5 months after the Welsh stole English thunder at their own World Cup.

Design by Liam Hopley

The match against Australia was all or nothing and a drubbing from the Australians left England humiliated, being the first ever host nation to not make it out of their pool. England have always been a proud Rugby nation so something had to change.

Change had to happen. After an impressive stint as manager of Japan in the World Cup, including a remarkable victory over South Africa, Eddie Jones was given the managerial hot-seat. He quickly made changes, and was not afraid to make controversial decisions, including making Front Row, Dylan Hartley, captain of the team despite a polarising career.

Illustration by Hannah Mclaren

Revenge was on the cards for England. The home side completely blew Wales away in the first half, going into the break 16-0 up. It was a really commanding performance from England and although the final score read 25-21, the three Welsh tries came late in the second half (with two coming whilst England were down to 14 men). The shine of the day was slightly tainted however, with the seemingly never ending debate over whether or not Joe Marler should face punishment for his abuse of Welsh counterpart Samson Lee. Being from a proud Welsh rugby family, it is difficult to admit this but England blew us away and completely deserved the title, which was confirmed after Scotland's victory over France the next day. Travelling to France on the final day of the championship, England were looking for their first Grand Slam since 2003 and duly achieved it with yet another convincing victory. It is difficult to disagree with the idea that Eddie Jones has completely rejuvenated this English team. No other team in the Six Nations can have any complaints this year, because simply, England deserved to win the championship. They were a class above everyone else.

Particular players came in for huge praise after the tournament, for example, youngster Maro Itoje, the Second Row from Saracens who deservedly got Man of The Match vs Wales. Billy Vunipola was consistent as ever and Dylan Hartley seems a changed man. Eddie Jones has done a fantastic job in changing the mentality of these players. After the World Cup, a lot of them were down and dejected, however, the team once again look a real force.

Many people think that the 2017 Lions Tour of New Zealand will be made up of a large number of English players but only time will tell. What we can be sure about, however, is that everything seemed to click for England this year and this will be a worry for the rest of the Northern Hemisphere teams, as well as the rest of World Rugby, as it looks as though they are just getting started. Tom Short

1. The Olympic Games - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil It’s the biggest sporting event in the World and it’s finally here! Four years ago, London hosted a memorable Olympic Games and it is finally back this summer. The Olympics is the most fantastic sporting event as it covers a range of single person and team sports whilst hundreds of medals are won over the two week period in August. No matter how well your country does it’s always a time to be proud and patriotic. The opening and closing ceremo-nies are also spectacular with the hosting country looking to impress the fans and athletes alike. 2. Football UEFA EURO – France

Here are just a few...

3. The Ryder Cup - Minnesota, USA It may not strictly be a summer event but The Ryder Cup is back for five days at the end of September for all you golf fanatics. In 2014, Team Europe beat Team USA on home soil in Gleneagles, Scotland. Will Team USA be able to get revenge and win this year? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. 4. Wimbledon - London Every summer, Henman Hill is always packed with people enjoying some sunshine and in-tense tennis. If you’re lucky enough to get tickets to see the pros play on court, you know you’re in for a show. The likes of Murray, Federer, and Djokovic impress us every year as they compete for the male title, whilst we expect to see the Williams sisters and Heather Watson battling hard for the women’s! 5. Tour de France - France Last but certainly not least, Le Tour de France. Like Wimbledon this sporting event takes place every summer and this year is in its 103rd edition. 2016 will see 22 teams competing in July and all teams will hope to see their leader on the Champs-Elysees podium come the 24th. It’s an extremely busy and sporty 2016 summer, what will you be watching? Flic Carr

Design by Theo King

What’s summer without watching Wimbledon over a glass of Pimms or some strawberries and cream? Or even better, your country winning medal after medal in the Olympics? Not a lot for all the budding sport fans out there and there are plenty of sporting events on this summer.

As with the Olympics, the EUROs take place every four years and our football crazy country is gearing up for this year’s tournament. The matches will be played all over France for one month, starting on 10th June, with 24 teams competing. According to the bookies, Germany are the favourite to win! 2012’s Championship was the 14th and Spain were crowned win-ners after beating Italy in the final.

Photography by Jazz Jefferies

The Top 5 Events Summer 2016

Photography by Loughborough Students Rowing

SPORT

For many people around the UK, rowing only crosses their mind during the Olympics or when they see that The Boat Race is on the TV. Many will be surprised to find out that Loughborough actually has a rowing team and not only are they active all year round, they are showing a lot of promise. For many of Loughborough’s dedicated rowers, their sport is the first thing that crosses their mind in the morning and stays with them for the rest of the day; in part due to the early morning training sessions. Many of Loughborough’s rowers are involved in Nottingham Rowing Club because of the closer proximity to the Trent. There has been a lot of success for Loughborough rowers in Nottingham with several being a part of the prestigious High Performance Programme, the only UK programme of its kind that caters to just women. HPP rower and Loughborough student, Annie Campbell-Orde, tells me that training is tiring with sessions ‘twice a day, six days a week’. Training starts around 7:15 in the morning and requires a very early alarm to leave Loughborough at 6:30! When it comes to competing, the club row for both the university in the BUCS competitions and also with Nottingham Rowing Club. Over the winter they typically compete in head races, which comprise of

time-trials, whilst in summer they compete in the more familiar regattas in which different teams race at the same time. In the BUCS competitions, the club have had limited success with mid to low table results in the 4s and 8s Head in February that saw the club ranked 21st/27. The club will hope to have more success, however, at the BUCS Regatta over the May Bank Holiday. The event will take place in Nottingham from 30th April – 2nd May and is considered to be the annual highlight of university rowing. Last year, Loughborough came 13th/39 on the overall points table and took home four medals, including two golds. I am sure that they will be looking to improve on last year’s success come May. Like all good teams they celebrate just as hard as they work and host socials every three or four weeks to ensure that they aren’t getting too serious! Socials often have fancy dress themes such as predators vs. prey that put second and third years against freshers. With many more races coming up soon, we wish the club the best of luck. David Boyden Sports Editor

INTERVIEW ‘s Disability Support Network Scheme for Improving Disabled Student’s Nightlife Experience

Hana Jacobson, the LSU’s Disability Officer on the Welfare and Diversity committee, set up the Disability Support Network this year. The network provides support to students who identify themselves as having a disability, mostly through a closed Facebook support group where students can discuss any issues they have regarding their disability whilst at university, and communicate with other disabled students and share experiences. From feedback through discussions on the online support group, it was noted that introducing a scheme such as this would be very beneficial. Students commented that going on a night out at the union with their disability was out of the question when facilities such as the use of disabled toilets required awkwardly asking members of staff and experiencing the queues for entry were painful or uncomfortable for students.

One of the main issues raised in regards to gaining disabled access on a night out, is when students have disabilities which are not always visibly noticeable. This scheme aims to directly tackle problems raised around this. The union currently provides disabled access to students who request it by communicating with the security door staff, however this scheme hopes to be more discreet and will not require students to explain their disability to staff.

LSU’s Disability Support Network and VP Finance and Commercial Services, will be trialling the scheme for the remaining academic year with current registered physically disabled students, with the intention of the scheme being fully implemented within the union at the start of the academic year 2016/17, ready for incoming students to benefit during their Freshers experience.

If you would like any more information regarding the scheme or would like to join the Disability Support Network, like the Facebook page: LSU Disability Officer, join the closed Facebook support group: LSU Disability Support Network, or alternatively email Hana at: W&DisabilityOfficer@lsu.co.uk

VP: Welfare and Diversity, Gemma Lomas and W&D Disability Officer, Hana Jacobson

Design by Faye Newman

The Disability Support Network (DSN) within the Welfare and Diversity section at Loughborough Student’s Union (LSU) are introducing a new scheme to improve disabled students’ accessibility on nights out in the Union Building. The optional scheme will initially provide registered physically disabled students with a discreet DSN sticker to be placed on their student card, giving students the opportunity to have queue jump with one friend accompanying them on a night out, if they require it. The sticker will also provide students with a discreet way of signalling to union staff members their needs on a night out without need for questions; for example, when requiring the use of the lift. As well as the DSN sticker, students who require the use of the disabled toilets on nights out will be given the option of a Mag lock key card which will allow access to open all disabled toilets within the students’ union building.

What’s new in Media? Well... #SPANC16 happened!

Design by Theo King

Photography by Martin So

Easter was an exceedingly busy time for Label and LSU as we hosted the Student Publication Association National Conference 2016 (#SPANC16) in Loughborough. After winning the bid to host before Christmas, myself and the team worked very hard alongside the Student Publication Association (SPA) in order to pull off the conference on its biggest scale yet. With 150 delegates, SPANC saw a social in Fusion on Friday 8th April, in which I believe we did Loughborough students everywhere proud, and sang the infamous LSU “La La La” parody on karaoke. Saturday and Sunday saw two full days of talks and workshops from freelancers, broadcasters and social media experts from around the country, giving advice to delegates on how to get into the industry and how to pitch ideas to newspapers and magazines. The highlight of the whole weekend has to be the SPA Awards evening, held on Saturday in Room One which we transformed into a lively, exciting location having had a conference layout all day. We could not have done this without the help of Venue, Catering, Tech, Marketing and the Media team who worked tirelessly (I think my legs still ache) to make the conference and the awards night a success. I am so proud of what we achieved, going from having very little involvement with the SPA previously, to hosting their biggest conference yet and being shortlisted for four of their national student publication awards. Although we didn’t win, the shortlists and the hosting made everything worth all of the effort we put into the event and I can only hope that Label continues to thrive in the years to come. Again, a massive thanks to all involved. Katie Wilson Label Editor SPANC Hosting Officer 2016

Ellie

Economics Student from Loughborough - Loves to ride her bicycle

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