Issue Three 09.11.16
Is It Too Full On?
ADVERT
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Design by Jessie Foxford
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The Team
Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Taylor Editor Leanna Kightley Assistant Editor Alice Priestley Art Director Jessica Foxford Head of Design Liam David Hopley Head of Illustration Emily Forrester Chief Photographer Elias Ruiz Monserrat Comment Editor Asli Jensen
Culture Editors Jamie Hutton - Lydia Kah-Pavlou Features Editors Emma Morgan - Natali Dimitrova
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News Editor Ellie Mackenzie Music Editor Emily Harrison
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Sport Editors David Boyden - Hannah Thompson Style Editor Arianna Rossi
Head of Online, Marketing and Distribution Beatrice Quarshie 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. Front Cover: Design by Liam David Hopley
Contents
Editorials 04 Editorial 05 Coming Up in LSU Media
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News 06 Are Poland Falling Down on Their Women’s Rights Laws? 07 Fracking in the UK | Unconscious Lies We Make 08 Grammar Schools: Are They A Good Idea? 09 Is Freshers’ Too Full On?
Features 10 Hangover Cures 11 Nightmare Flatmates 12 Great Nosh: Pepper, Feta and Tomato Chutney Tart 13 Why Do People Flunk Courses? 14 Reality vs Expectation 15 Tweets | Loughborough Overheard Kill ‘Em With Kindness 18 Totty Spotted
Culture 20 Loughborough University and Modern Sculpture 21 Books: A Thing if the Past? 22 The Top Four Depictions of Students in Films 23 Selfie-sticks and Sunsets: Why Instagram Changed the Photography Game for the Worst Comment 24 The Real Deal with University Music 26 Album Review: Danny Brown ‘Atrocity Exhibition’ 27 Album Review: Solange ‘A Seat at The Table’ 28 Radio 1 Live Lounge Month: A Recap 29 The X Factor: Should It Stay or Should It Go? Design 30 Competition Style 32 Style Shoot 34 Blanket Scarves: Hot or Not? 35 Should We Be Wearing Fur This Fall? 36 The Ultimate Style Icon Trio 37 5 Looks to Try This Fall Sport 38 Shining a Light On... Equestrian 39 Autumn Rugby Internationals: What to Watch 40 Best and Worst England Managers of All Time Exec Focus 42 Interview with Media EO: Jennifer Taylor 43 Interview with Societies EO: Joe Ross Nelson
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JENNIFER TAYLOR
LEANNA KIGHTLEY
JENNIFER TAYLOR
LEANNA KIGHTLEY
“So sit back, relax, and have a read” So sit back, relax, and have a read. If you’re interested in the work that the Exec Team do here in the Union, head to the Exec Focus at the back which this month features myself and Joe Ross-Nelson, your Societies EO. So, if you’re a media keeno you can read all about what to expect from LSU Media in the coming months! Enjoy! Jennifer Taylor – Media EO and Editor-in-Chief
It’s hard to believe that Label is already on issue 3, Christmas preparation is well underway in shops and many of us have already completed countless assignments! Where has the time gone?! Never fear though, as Label is here to guide you through the colder weather, just add a warm jumper and a cuddly hot water bottle and your cosy night in is all set! And I know you need a night in, because I can predict at time of writing that come distribution date we will all still be feeling pretty fragile after the atrocities of the Halloween weekend. Heaven help us. This issue covers everything. Literally everything. We’ve got some genuinely hilarious Comment articles and columns that you will almost certainly resonate with you (especially when it comes to expectations of uni, we were alllll thinking it)! News looks great this issue too, with a good balance of campus based thoughts and news from outside the bubble. Plus, there’s a treat in store at the end of the magazine for Sport fans as Emily Harrison’s article on the best and worst England managers of all time is a cracking read, and one that has gone down very well with committee! If you joined us at Make Your Mark last month you will have met me bouncing around at the entrance throwing stickers and Labels at you (if you’re the guy who said the stickers were sick, thanks mate, aren’t they just?!) Hopefully you found something to get stuck into, but if you’re still looking to make your mark drop me an email at leannakightley@lsu.co.uk I’ll help you out. For now though, enjoy issue 3! Now where was that hot water bottle? Leanna Kightley – Label Editor
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Design by Jessie Foxford
As fireworks night and Halloween are over for another year, Label Issue 3 is here to help bring you that little bit closer to winter. From the 5 best Live Lounge’s of Live Lounge month (shoutout to my boy Biebs), to a look into why people flunk their courses, to some dreamy hangover cures (always needed) - this issue has an array of articles to suit all.
Label Editor
Illustration by Emily Forrester
Media EO & Editor-in-Chief
Design by Jessie Foxford
EDITORIAL
Design by Jessie Foxford
Label At Label we are always looking for new writing and designing talent. If you fancy writing, search ‘Label Volunteer Writers 2016-17’ on Facebook and join our group! From here you can find links to all the section’s pages, and there’s bound to be at least one that interests you! Looking for page design, illustration or Label photography opportunities? Search ‘2016-17 Label Design Volunteers’ on FB to get involved! No prior experience is needed for writing or designing, so join our groups today! Any questions? Email me at leannakightley@lsu.co.uk - I’d love to hear from you!
Illustration by Emily Forrester
Design by Jessie Foxford
Lens As always, Lens have been out taking photos of you at your best (and worst) on nights out in the Union, but with the Big Match initiative well underway they’re now catching more campus highlights than ever before. You may also find photos of yourself online from the Hindu Soc. Diwali Party, Fireworks Night and International Day, all courtesy of Lens committee and volunteers! If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, email ushandankirupalaratnam@lsu.co.uk about Lens training sessions (which look fab, btw). Looking for photos? Head to LSU Media or LSU Nights on Facebook – enjoy! Hall Media Your Chair of Hall Media has been filling us in on how Freshers’ went down across campus: “Freshers’ was a roaring success from our reps point of view, and everyone worked really hard! We’re about to start marking everyone’s work and I’m really excited to see what everyone has come up with. The results table will be out soon!” Thanks Jade, and remember that you can always get involved in any section of LSU Media, just ask your Media Reps for more info or pop into the Media Office.
LCR LCR is the university’s local radio station run by the students, for the students. We have bags of amazing different opportunities to offer ranging from interviewing and reviewing live gigs, to commentating, and of course having your own show! If you want to be the next Scott Mills or even just want to talk about movies for an hour, be sure to get involved! Email Station Manager Tim at timothyhunter@lsu.co.uk to find out more! LSUTV LSUTV will have been all across your Freshers’ experience and you are sure not to have missed them, but perhaps you fancy being on the other side of the camera, or have an interest in editing or producing their output? LSUTV needs people like you! Don’t be daunted, pop into the Media Office upstairs in the Union or email katiegreenslade@lsu.co.uk to find out how you can start your Media involvement with LSUTV! 5
NEWS
Poland E U-Turns
30,000 Women Dressed in Black
BAN
Poland currently holds some of the strictest bills in Europe regarding the act of abortion: being legal only when the pregnant woman’s life is at risk; when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest; or if the foetus has extreme, irreversible health defects. On top of this, hospitals can also invoke ‘conscience clauses’, and can turn away women when
Provoked a Pandemonium of Objection a practitioner disagrees with carrying out a termination for religious or moral reasons. Plans to tighten these laws further making all cases of abortion illegal, has caused uproar in Poland. Tens of thousands of women made history by boycotting work on ‘Black Monday’ to take to the street in protest. Warsaw alone saw 30,000 women dressed in black, express their outrage with a fiery dynamism, causing an electric energy to pass through the city. A flurry of visual and
verbal stimulus communicated the desire for women to have control of their bodies in an open minded, ‘Pro-Choice’ society. The passion and solidarity expressed by the protesters screamed of
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The protests of this month successfully triggered a ‘U-turn’ from the proposed blanket ban on abortion. And although this is only one small step in the direction of increased reproductive rights and gender equality, its success has created a momentum, a momentum that is empowering Polish women to use their voice and be heard. This act of protest should stand as an inspiration to women across the globe wishing to eradicate the dark cloud of gender inequality that still lingers over society. Robyn Hastings
Design & Illustration by Sarah Stevens
On Abortion Ban
past suffragette movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, where likewise women protested for increased gender equality, through the vote for women. Illustration by Emily Forrester
arlier this month the women of Poland showed us that public voice still holds the power to stimulate change, when a proposed ban on abortion provoked a pandemonium of objection from citizens of Poland.
COLUMN
WHAT THE
FRACK’S
HAPPENING IN LANCASHIRE?
Illustration by Emily Forrester
A company called Cuadrilla had its plans to start a new project in Little Plumpton turned down last summer. Early in October, however, the Government decided they thought otherwise and gave the energy firm the green light to begin fracking near the hamlet in Lancashire. But what is fracking, apart from a word with massive pun potential? It’s a process which involves drilling a really deep hole in the ground and then firing a high pressure cocktail of water, chemicals and abrasives at the surrounding rock, which is called shale. The shale is fractured as a result, releasing a fuel called shale gas. Supporters of fracking talk up the benefits of producing gas in the UK, a process which would also result in job creation. Though we get over half of our natural gas from our own country and in the seas surrounding us, we do import a fair bit from Europe and, in particular, Russia. In the current political climate, it’s understandable that some think that less reliance on the continent is something to be desired.
Design & Illustration by Sarah Stevens
The residents of Little Plumpton (some of whom live opposite Caudrilla’s proposed site) are worried that fracking is loud and that the site will need to be supplied by heavy trucks. As well as being a nuisance, they say that fracking is also unsafe, with some alleging that it has caused earthquakes and contaminated water supplies elsewhere. I agree with those who think that, in the interests of our planet, we should be attempting to harness the potential of renewable energy, rather than digging holes in the countryside to search for fossil fuels. Liam David Hopley Head of Design
Unconscious Lies We Make No matter how big or small of a lie, we all know it’s an awful habit to have yet we can’t seem to stop. On average, 60% of people lie at least once a day – whether that’s saying ‘nice haircut’ to your friend (even if it looks absolutely horrific) or complimenting a newborn baby, who resembles a constipated potato, by saying ‘what a cutie’. Below are some common lies we tell ourselves, alongside their true meaning.
1.
“I’ll do it tomorrow’’ – whether that’s starting your diet tomorrow or completing an essay you’ve been procrastinating hours on, if you use this excuse you have already lost the battle. You know very well, whilst you carelessly shove 5 slices of pizza/chicken nuggets/fries down your throat, that the majority of tomorrow will be spent on the toilet or being passed out because of the year’s worth of calories which you accidentally consumed in a day – and definitely not exercising.
2.
“Just one more episode’’ – you falsely convince yourself that this is definitely the last episode but 6 hours later you still find yourself covered in junk food wrappers. Disappointed in yourself but shamelessly click ‘next episode’. By this point, there’s no decency left in you, so you challenge yourself to finish an entire season or two and become best friends with your laptop and couch.
3.
“I’m on my way!” – most commonly used by those who have their lives in a mess and have no sense of time/year we’re currently in. Usually if a friend texts you this, it translates to I’m about to hop in the shower and recover from looking homeless, arrive 30 minutes late and blame the ‘traffic’ for being late. Ramish Altaf 7
NEWS
Grammar schools strive to produce the best results, and in most cases they do - this is a clear positive, with most of their students achieving the best possible GCSE and A Level results and going on to good universities setting them up for a successful career. However, along the way they can also be places where academic merit is favoured over personal and emotional wellbeing. As someone who attended a grammar school I will admit that despite the fact that I received an education I am grateful for, I often felt lost and that I was expected to live up to a certain standard that I could not always fulfil. Segregating children from the age of 11 and telling those who do not excel in one exam that they are not good enough to go to a certain school sets children up for failure. This means that many schools fail to factor pupils individualities and see them merely as a result in the school to make their school look good. Similarly, you attend school for 5-7 years and it’s not fair to base the quality of the education you’re receiving at the age of 16 years on a test you took when you were just 11 years old.
It’s clear a grammar school education benefits many, especially those who have always been high achievers. However, if a child has the ability to succeed they should be able to achieve the same results in any school. As it’s 2016 I think that they should be abolished, and every child should have the opportunity to receive the best and most equal education they possibly can without a test determining whether they’re good enough for it or not. Lydia Kah-Pavlou Culture Editor
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Design & Illustration by Helena Davey
Grammar schools aim for the best, meaning that they often overwork their pupils and fail to recognise not everyone can succeed at every subject they do. Instead of recognising and celebrating individual differences and skills, grammar schools often victimise and pressurise those who cannot perform as well as their peers, leading to unhealthy competition where it’s not necessary. Alongside this, grammar schools can produce an air of elitism and raise issues of classism, none of which are needed in our current society especially among children.
Design by Carla Borkmann
Although grammar schools aim to bring out the best in their students and give them the best possible education, I don’t think that there’s a place for them in the twenty-first century.
Photography courtesy of LSU Media
SOCIETY?
SCHOOLS HAVE A PLACE IN OUR
DO GRAMMAR
Design & Illustration by Helena Davey
Photography courtesy of LSU Media
Design by Carla Borkmann
IS FRESHERS’ WEEK TOO FULL ON? Freshers’ Week is supposed to be the best week (or two weeks) of your life. You’re supposed to meet your best friends and have an amazing time partying. However, it does not always go like this. Some students may love drinking and late nights and be able to sustain that for two weeks solid, but for others that isn’t realistic. Surviving on little sleep and filling our bodies with junk food and excessive alcohol is not always the best recipe. There is a feeling in Freshers’ Week that you must go out as much as possible in order to make friends and not be considered boring, and you must try and get involved in everything or else you will be left a social pariah for the next three years. Whilst this is not a feeling that Loughborough as a University promotes, it is more of a nationwide notion that is filtered down to new students every year. I think there should be more focus on saying that it’s okay to not go out every night. I am not knocking the concept of Freshers’, or suggesting that people shouldn’t drink and go out: many of us enjoy this. However, it should be more inclusive, with a wider range of activities (both day time and evening) that are all equally promoted by halls. Indeed, as reported by the BBC: ‘National Union of Students’ vice-president for union development Richard Brooks said: “Students are asking more and more for different opportunities to meet other students in a variety of spaces.”’ Speaking to students on campus, whilst it was evident that going out is very popular during Freshers’, many were suggesting evenings run by halls that have a more relaxed vibe, where you can meet new people, socialise and drinking is considered more optional. Loughborough does already provide an ‘Alternative’ Freshers, including sober events, such as the roller disco and the ‘Big Night In’. However, these are university-wide events and are perhaps a
little daunting for some. Whilst Freshers’ Week is a great experience and full of fun, we should also be mindful of our own health: perhaps halls could put on their own alternate events, such as an evening in the pub, having a quiz or holding a board games night. This allows students to socialise in a more relaxed environment: there is the option to have a drink, but is also more inclusive for those who choose not to. Loughborough provides an incredible student experience, and does already engage in alternate nights to clubbing. However, perhaps more could be done by individual halls to arrange activities and also promote a wide range of choices. Ellie Mackenzie
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FEATURES
There are some ways that you can tackle the dreaded hangover but unfortunately that cure is often being healthy with what we eat…
will replace any vitamins that you may have lost through throwing up; replacing them gives your body a fighting chance at getting back to normal as quickly as possible. Just stay away from orange juice because it can irritate an already fragile stomach.
T
oast: Toast is the best way to reline your stomach. The bread helps soak up the alcohol and restore your sugar levels, meaning that you should be fighting fit after a few slices. 10
T
he Fry-up: Not the healthiest option, but if it’s all you can eat, something fatty is sure to help soak up the alcohol and help reline your stomach. Whether it’s a fry-up or a maccies, it always makes us feel better to get something into the system.
B
right coloured foods: Anything high in potassium, especially bananas, will fill you with necessary electrolytes that you will have lost through a lot of alcohol consumption.
T
hese foods can help make your hangover as quick and pain-free as possible, but the best way to prevent one is to eat lots before you actually start drinking. Lucy Burton
Design by Anna D’Elia and Hannah Doherty
Fruit Juice: Drinking fruit juices
E
ggs: The protein in eggs helps breakdown any toxins in your body from alcohol so that they’ll leave your body quicker. Eggs also contain Vitamin B so will help restore your energy after a lack of sleep.
Photography by Karla Murray
W
ater: The night before always leaves you with a mouth dryer than the Sahara desert. Alcohol dehydrates you creating that awful headache so sipping through a few glasses of water first thing is the best way to rehydrate yourself. Better yet, drink coconut water, a sports drink, or a rehydration drink as these replace lost electrolytes. Don’t down glass after glass of water though; if your stomach’s a bit fragile, that’s one way to make you re-see everything you’ve consumed over the past day.
Illustration by Morgan Lloyd
There’s no denying that hangovers are the worst part of a night out. Waking up feeling sick, the headache and the stomach pain is something we all suffer through and however many times we say we won’t drink again, we still do the same thing every Friday night.
Illustration by Morgan Lloyd
Or what I like to call Nightmare of Frederick Street, Kirkstone Drive and Falkner-Eggington Boulevard.
Disclaimer: Not everyone I have lived with over my almost three years at Loughborough has been a complete nightmare, just a small minority of the people I have shared a sink, bathroom and the odd spoon with. When you’re living with people you don’t know or think you know, a few teething issues are bound to surface. So here are a few of my finest moments:
‘The one where my flatmates were my muse...’
Design by Anna D’Elia and Hannah Doherty
Photography by Karla Murray
I myself am probably guilty of being a bit of a nightmare housemate. Apparently people don’t like it when you use them as your muse for a blog post that is then read by a large percentage of the student population of Loughborough … and further afield. In my defence as a young creative I write what I know and they knew this before we signed our house contract but for future reference I shall no longer write about people I live with.
‘The one where thin walls are not your best friend...’ Let me set the scene. This is the wonderful world of halls where the walls are thin and libidos are high. Living in a ground floor flat with a girl, I can only assume was madly in love with her boyfriend from the sounds they made. At 10am, 4pm, 10pm, midnight. Nap times are sacred and the non-stop sound of coitus was enough to make anyone want to be celibate.
‘The one with the Great Shun...’ Living in halls/house and writing for Label has taught me not to write about the people you live with BECAUSE THEY WILL STOP TALKING TO YOU FOR THREE MONTHS. Seriously, probably the crappiest time I have ever had at university was when my house “mates” essentially ignored my existence from November January due to a few choice words I thought I would share with Label. No I was not being passive aggressive, I was venting: a problem shared is a problem halved. Unless it’s a problem shared with Label, then it’s find somewhere else to live for the rest of the year.
Beatrice Quarshie Head of Online, Marketing and Distribution 11
Pepper, Feta and Tomato Chutney Tart
• 2 bell peppers, deseeded and thickly sliced • Frylight • 320g puff pastry sheet • Chilli chutney • 250g cherry tomatoes, halved • 200g Greek feta, crumbled
Tips I’m one for shopping at Aldi and they do some great alternatives for a couple of these ingredients.
Once cooked, you can cut this tart up into 6, wrap the individual slices in tin foil and freeze for another day.
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Pre-heat oven to 220°C Fan, Gas Mark 7. Either grill or fry the peppers, sprayed with Frylight, until browned. Put the pastry sheet on a lined baking tray and spread the chutney over it. Arrange the peppers and cherry tomatoes on top and sprinkle over the feta cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Meg Chastney
Design by Hinal Makwana
For example, try their Tomato and Chilli Chutney from their ‘Specially Selected’ range. Also, Greek Salad Cheese is cheaper than feta, but tastes just as good!
Method
Photography by Olivia Harris
Ingredients (serves 6)
Illustration by Jiayu Liu
This recipe is one of my absolute favourites to make. It’s quick and easy and you can make it in bulk and freeze the rest for another day. It’s a great one to have with salad at lunchtime to break up the sandwich habit!
FEATURES
WHY DO PEOPLE FLUNK COURSES?
Photography by Olivia Harris
Illustration by Jiayu Liu
Wahoo, you did it! You got into University! Time to work hard and play hard, but how do you find the balance between having the time of your life and getting that 2:1 or 1st you’ve dreamed of? Achieving success or flunking your degree always comes down to how well you utilise your time. A lifestyle that is filled with endless partying will guarantee many hungover mornings, but will you still have the motivation to suffer through lectures? Before you know it you’ll end up lying in bed all day to recover and skip lectures. Getting drunk every night will not pave the way for success. I’m not saying don’t go out and enjoy yourself, but know when to say no! University also gives you a lot of free time, but what to do with it? Every degree requires independent study where you are expected to read around your subject and consolidate any work from lectures.
One boy decided it was a good idea to go out on a Stuesday before a morning exam (I mean really, Stuesday?!) - he was still drunk for the exam and yes he failed it! Others I know spend their independent study time on Netflix marathons. Failing to recognise the importance of this independent study will result in heaps of revision for your exams. However, your degree can suffer due to reasons outside of your control. Mental health problems such as depression and anxiety can cause students to struggle emotionally, hindering performance as well as physical wellbeing. If not treated, students often battle the crippling effects of anxiety and isolation where their work suffers the consequences being unable to leave bed and be productive. If you ever feel like it’s getting too much and you can’t cope, there is support available.
Design by Hinal Makwana
But the majority of students who are clearly on the path to flunking their courses haven’t such valid excuses for why they couldn’t reach a deadline. The less convincing being “my computer broke” but really, we all know you didn’t turn it on or “it wouldn’t upload to the system”. No one can prove that you’re lying. But really is it all worth it? A Loughborough myth claims many students fail during their degree and keep repeating till they get it right, so there is no need to be ashamed. But let’s face it no one wants to be a 5th year in a freshers class! Avelina Joseph
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COLUMN
WAVE AND SHAME
So, one day I was walking home from the gym and I was waiting at the traffic lights by Storer Road. A red Mini Cooper stopped at the lights, honked at me, and four girls proceeded to wave at me like we hadn’t seen each other since Freshers’ Week. So I reluctantly waved back thinking it was probably someone I knew, only to commit one of the most humiliating mistakes known to man: I did the Wave and Shame.
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Alessandra Wall
1- In order to get the best result, it is
helpful to have an idea of the person’s habits first: that way you can detect whether anything seems out of the ordinary.
2- Eyes can reveal a lot about whether a
person is telling the truth. Rapid blinking is often a tell-tale sign, as is the eyes moving around a lot, or someone blinking for more than one second at a time.
3- A fake smile can be detected if the person’s eyes do not crinkle when they smile.
4- If the suspect in question is right handed, they will automatically look to their right if they are telling a lie, and vice-versa for those who are left handed. 5- Someone shaking their head when they’re saying something is normally a big indicator that they’re lying. Bouton lets us in on the secret that shaking your head when saying something is an unconscious way of showing that you’re lying. Bouton evidently used these tips to figure out whether someone was breaching national security, or had committed murder, but they’ll totally be useful if you want to discover which sneaky housemate has been stealing your milk! Ellie Mackenzie
Design by Jessie Foxford
I told my friend about my Wave and Shame, and her words made me feel so much better. Turns out that I was not the only one who had Wave’d and Shame’d that day, as she had happily waved back to her old Geography lecturer whilst he was waving to his colleague behind her.
Luckily, ex -FBI detector, Mark Bouton, has published a few handy tips and traits on how to spot if someone is lying. Here are a handful of his suggestions:
Design by Zoe Moreton
As soon as I had waved to those girls in the car, I realised that I had no clue who any of them were. Things just got worse from there, as the two girls standing next to me proceeded to wave to their BFF’s in the car and looked at me like I was all kinds of stupid. I started slowly sinking into the ground and waited for and eternity before the traffic lights finally turned green. At that point I sprinted in shame all the way to my friend’s house on Station Street.
In the last month, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have been all over the news as they both battle to win the US presidency election. Some of the statements made in their debates were questionable, and this sparked a discussion on how to tell when someone is lying.
Illustration by Emily Forrester
The problem about living in Loughborough is that you will always run into people you know, whether you like it or not. It can happen when you are at Tesco’s, when you are at the gym, or most likely when you are getting your drink on at Echo’s on a Saturday night.
Illustration by Emily Forrester
Fact or Fiction: How can you tell when someone is telling the truth?
COLUMN
Loughborough Overheard “I look like a giant pink bean bag” Girl: “Am I too old to wear hot pants?” Boy: “You’re never too old to wear hot pants”
Illustration by Emily Forrester
“If she has crimped hair will she have a crimped bush?” *hungover* Girl 1: “I can’t decide whether I’m hot or cold” Girl 2: “I can’t decide whether I’m alive or dead”
Got som ething y want to ou say abo ut this is sue
OVERH SOMET EARD HING?
?
Illustration by Emily Forrester
Get in to uch on Twitte @LabelO nline r at
TOP T W E E T S Design by Jessie Foxford
Design by Zoe Moreton
Jess Excell @JessExcell “Arrived at work to a @labelonline magazine on my desk! Thanks @leannakightley!” Meet Burger @MeetBurger “Great piece from @labelonline about meet burger in their Freshers special magazine” JT @MediaEO_LSU “Just seen the first few page designs for @labelonline Freshers Edition… It’s looking
Kill ‘Em with Kindness Alice Priestley Assistant Editor
W
ell, ideally, don’t kill anyone at all. But on a serious note, kindness is a topic which I believe is highly underrated. As I’m sure you’ve probably heard your folks say a number of times Kindness costs nothing, they really do have a point.
University is a daunting time in many people’s lives; new beginnings, new friends, new literally everything – it really is a lot to take in, and sometimes, things can be too much for people. Some students can get homesick or generally feel anxious and stressed about the whole process, and it’s important to make this transition easier for everyone. If you notice a flatmate being a little quieter than usual or a classmate who’s missed a few lectures, take the time to see if they’re ok. Send a text, knock on their door, cook dinner with them, anything to try and interact with them. All it takes to simply support someone who is suffering are a few kind words, which may well help them express their problems and hopefully feel better. Mental health is a huge factor to keep in mind at university with regards to many aspects. The impacts of a hectic social life, problems at home, busy timetables, general illness and many other factors are all things which can impact someone’s mental health. If you are concerned about anyone, don’t be afraid to approach them and most importantly express your support for them. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and being mindful of this could really change many lives for the better. So, smile more, help more and most importantly be kind in everything you do. Alice Priestley Assistant Editor 15
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I′ve be
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Photography by Gautham Kannan David Owens
Lia
e been
ysp
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Design by Liam David Hopley
19
CULTURE
Loughborough University and Modern Sculpture Loughborough University has a very rich art patrimony that is not always acknowledged by the students and staff. Not a lot of people know that there are some sculptures that are almost a century old placed around campus in a specific and ordinate way.
If we keep walking toward the social science buildings it is possible to notice one of the most famous sculptures in campus. ‘Truth, Labour, and Knowledge’ was commissioned by Emlyn Budds to celebrate the Loughborough Alumni fund. The mortar shell and the material used connect the sculpture to the past whilst the pointy edge and positive uplifting structure connect it to the future, making this work of art timeless.
emphasise geometry and balance even though he defines his work as ‘a heavy metal cocktail of male fantasies, obsessive and confrontational’. ‘Le Retrait’, ’Pulse’, ‘Revolution’ and ‘Strike’ are part of his early collection, known to be large fabricated steel work.
20
( ‘Pulse’)
Alessia Fabbioni
Illustration by Lisa Remy
The celebration of man’s power is also reflected in the Orchardson sculpture. Placed in Schoefield building, the sculpture is quite notorious for how it is organised and the different effects it has on the public. ‘We are the sky’ is inspired by early aviators and sky-related discoveries. The disposition allows the public to look at it in different perspectives whilst ascending the building. Paul Wager’s multiple pieces
Moving toward the engineering side of campus, sculptures become more geometric and balanced. The ‘standing figure’ realised by Bryan Kneale is a perfect example of this style shift; as a matter of fact, his work is powered by disruption. Kneale uses stress and tension to create a perfectly ordered figure. The artist’s work is clearly influenced by Picasso’s work, and the art is brought back to basics and destruction becomes a form of construction for a purely personal interpretation. Picasso has, in fact, changed the way art is perceived. New materials are used, and the purpose of art becomes the abstraction and imagination of the public, as proved by most of the sculptures that make our campus so unique.
Photography by Elias Ruiz Monserrat
(‘Truth, Labour, and Knowledge’)
( ‘Strike’)
Design by Rik Wyer
(‘The Spirit of Adventure’)
Our journey begins with a masterpiece realised by Willi Soukop and unveiled for the first time in 1958; ‘The spirit of adventure’ is, in fact, a suggestive and eclectic piece of art and the perfect way to introduce the public to modern sculpture. Soukop piece is characterised by animal-looking shape and curvy edges which, from multiple opinions, would be soothing if it wasn’t for the rib-like patterns that abruptly interrupt the gentle lines.
B ooks:
A THING OF
THE PAST?
Do you still love the feeling of a new book or would you rather dip in and out of your Kindle? Culture writers, Aldas and Jade, debate the whys and wherefores of reading today.
FOR DIGITAL READING
What could be better than the smell of the first page of that new book you open up in the bookstore? That feeling when you stroke the sturdy spine of the hardback you’d been thinking about for weeks. That moment when your fingers grace the previously untouched edition. Okay, so not all of you feel as passionate about books as us English students, but there is something to be said for the feeling you get when you knuckle down with a cup of tea and a good book. Your kindle doesn’t hug you on cold nights like a book does; it stares blankly at you from behind its dimly lit screen. Reading from your laptop may be cheaper but is it worth the nightly strain on your tired eyes?
Illustration by Lisa Remy
Photography by Elias Ruiz Monserrat
Design by Rik Wyer
AGAINST DIGITAL READING
Finding your place is as easy as pulling out that bookmark and picking the adventure up from where you left off. Then there’s that sense of achievement when you turn the page to find you’ve finished the chapter and can take that well-earned break. And finally, nothing is better than when someone gifts you that special edition of your favourite novel, which you can cherish forever and that will never ever run out of battery on you. Jade Ledingham
Digital reading is the future in the present. Physical books are beginning to symbolise the characteristic of the past and represent an old-fashioned approach to reading in a modern era. Moreover, printing is an environmentally harmful and expensive process, and with electronic publishing being more eco-friendly and cost-effective, print books are set to become luxury items. The bulkiness of the physical books can’t even begin to compete with the lightness and portability of the digital readers. Kindles, for example, have the capacity to store thousands of books but remain as light as a single book. Kindles also provide privacy and single-hand use to your reading experience, whereas physical books advertise the title and require the pages to be held-down. More and more digital reader screens imitate the look of a paper that also allows to adjust fonts, letter sizes, screen brightness and have batteries that last for a significant amount of time. They also have built-in dictionary and translation features for learning languages. In the long-term, digital readers provide a cheaper choice than physical books with the plethora of cheap(er) and free e-books online to download that allow you to save money, which is an especially attractive feature for us students. Aldas Kruminis 21
Photography by Elias Ruiz Monserrat
CULTURE
Before American Pie, there was National Lampoon’s Animal House. This 1978 film follows a misfit group of fraternity members as they challenge the man undermining their pursuit of fun. The film conveys a balance between insanity and accuracy, between the excessive amounts of ridiculously pointless antics portrayed and the realistic realisation that these antics are a part of student life. I mean, who hasn’t crumpled a beer can on their head or opened a bottle with their teeth? Obviously, there are some exaggerations, but that’s the film industry for you.
RIOT CLUB
DEAD POETS SOCIETY
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Inspired by the infamous Bullingdon Club of Oxford, Riot Club presents the, what can be, shadier aspects of student life. Unfortunately, the tagline ‘reputations can be made or destroyed over the course of a single evening’ still resonates in university, where appearances can still, sadly, make a significant difference. Although the film is more targeted towards portraying a highly bleak outlook onto the political scene, suggesting that money can buy everything, it does realistically portray some aspects of student life, such as the after effects resulting from one succumbing to peer pressure.
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2
Arguably casting the legend that was Robin Williams at his very best, Dead Poet’s Society conveys the realistic connection created between student and teacher, when that teacher is a figure of inspiration. Peter Weir effectively portrays this notion in Dead Poet’s Society; it is the teacher who opens the door for the student to walk through. It may be a naïve viewpoint to take but is this not why we study the respective fields we do, because somewhere along the line we grew interested in it? I believe this is largely due to the teacher, and in that sense find Dead Poet’s Society bang on in its portrayal of what e student and teacher relationship can be.
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Rupert Ibbotson
Design by Maria Teodora
Based on the novels of South African author, John van de Ruit, the three films which create the Spud Trilogy chart the tumultuous, and scarily realistic, life of John Milton; a fourteen-year-old schoolboy entering a new boarding school. The films amusingly covers Milton’s three-year career at the school, as he turns from a naïve first-year into a matured and developed third-year, well sort of. There are moments within the films that any student can relate to and, unusually for sequels, Spud 2: The Madness Continues, and Spud 3: Learning to Fly, do not fall short of the standard set by the first film, Spud.
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE
Illustration by Isaac Coppin
1
THE SPUD TRILOGY
Design by Maria Teodora
TOP 4 DEPICTIONS OF STUDENTS IN FILMS
Photography by Elias Ruiz Monserrat Design by Maria Teodora
Design by Maria Teodora
CULTURE
Selfie-sticks and Sunsets WHY INSTAGRAM CHANGED THE PHOTOGRAPHY GAME FOR THE WORSE THE WORST PICK OF THE BUNCH ith the swift influx of users taking to Instagram to flaunt their recent beach holidays in St Trop, or their not-so-recent school trip to Cornwall in 2010 (you know who you are), photography has become accessible to all via your standard smartphone device. This begs the question, has Instagram helped to ‘bring out the best’ in our photographic skills? Or, more likely, set in stone the preordained acceptance that most people fall within the boundaries of “distinctly average” on the creativity spectrum.
Instagram’s very own breeding programme gave birth to the immense numbers of users who seem to think puddles can plausibly share the same, deep, ‘ocean’ blue that Attenborough’s Blue Planet flaunts, and get away with it. NB. You can’t. Everyone knows that British sunsets are severely underwhelming and bear no resemblance to Jackson Pollock’s paint palette. Battling for top place of the ‘Worst Pick of the Bunch’ are the Hash-taggers, the ever-growing band of millennials who, in the effort to be #instafamous, use hashtags such as ‘#like4like’ and ‘#photooftheday’. I hate to break it to you, but that bathroom selfie you snapped the other day with the loo seat left wide open is unlikely to be in the running for “photo of the day”, and just because some 12-year-old Polish boy from Kraków double-tapped on your photo, definitely doesn’t make you Kendall Jenner.
Illustration by Isaac Coppin
MAKING PAPER Making money via Instagram seems to be the highest attraction for students of this generation, and Instagram is certainly one place it can be done. Being someone who has an “instafamous” friend who currently travels abroad and eats in most places free of charge thanks to her immense numbers of followers on various media platforms, I have definitely been able to see the perks of that lifestyle. But to say that it was a conscious choice by said person to make money via Instagram would be a lie, and what most people do not realise is that it happens more by coincidence than mere perseverance.
WHAT DO I THINK? Personally, I believe Instagram had the potential to, and in some ways has, created an environment where amateurs and beginners can spread their wings and attempt to have their photography seen by a wider audience. This ideal has, unfortunately, been crowded out by the previously noted Instagram fiends who care more about their own foundationcaked faces than seeing genuinely comic or aesthetic photography. Charlie Metcalfe 23
COMMENT
THE
L A E D REAL ITY ERS
IV WITH UN
Here are a few examples of what I (hopefully we) expected about Loughborough versus what it’s actually like.
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When it comes to hall life, I don’t know about y’all but I was just hoping that I would live with decent people who have good banter and are relatively clean. My only expectation of university derived from American movies and even I knew that was far fetched.
Reality
Expectation
HALLS I don’t think I need to explain to everyone how hall life works but I guess we can all agree that it is something extraordinary. Life in halls encapsulates the Loughborough bubble that we live in. I personally had no idea how important halls would be in relation to my time at university – it’s way more than just your B&B.
Illustration by Meiyu Chen
Come on Loughborough, not even a River Island? There is a certain degree of disappointment when you first enter the town. I still personally can’t tell whether it’s due to the locals (the rivalry with them is more intense than with other halls) or the lack of well-known chain shops. I mean, it’s saying something that we only got a Nandos this year. Don’t get me wrong, we do have little perks in town – l ain’t ever paid 4 quid for McDonald’s meal in London so there are no complaints there. Anyways, what the town lacks, the campus makes up for.
Design by Liam David Hopley
Loughborough Town sounds like a bit of a dead end if I’m being completely honest. Let’s be real, when you first heard the name ‘Loughborough’, you were a bit like wtf. Although my expectations did fluctuate a bit, it couldn’t be that bad … it is a student town. The least you would expect with the town is a decent shopping centre, especially for those of us accustomed to Westfield, Bullring and Highcross. You know, Wagamama’s, Pret A Manger and Burger King. For those of us from big cities and those of us from small farms, there is a certain level of expectation from our new home for the next three years.
Reality
Expectation
TOWN
Expectation
Student Finance – a foreign term to us all at one point. I thought I was going to be rolling in money when I moved to university. How mistaken was I, eh?! I feel like I’m not the only one who thought I would be blindly handed free money. In fact, I’m certain. The thought of food, rent, amenities and even hobbies and leisure activities were completely neglected.
Reality
MONEY
Freshers’ week leaves a drought in your pocket, especially those of you who forget about all the other necessities in life. I could list all the basic stuff you will lose your money to but that’s just me reiterating recycled jokes. But what I do think is relevant is supermarket slogans which I live by now: 1) Spend a little, live a lot. 2) Every little helps
Nightlife is a bit of a tricky one. For some of us (whether we like to admit it or not), going out at uni is our first try at the clubbing lifestyle. The rest of us are confined to our hometowns. So half of us are completely oblivious to what is ahead of us, which in a way minimises our expectations; whatever the union has to offer is brilliant regardless.
Reality
Expectation
Illustration by Meiyu Chen
NIGHTLIFE Loughborough nightlife is diverse and I don’t think I need to tell you that. Having three different rooms with three different types of music in one union building that pretty much caters to all is fantastic. I seem to be enthused by this but other student unions are completely incompetent in comparison to us.
Most importantly are the people you meet at university. I’m not gonna lie, I had some low low low expectations of people. I had my friendship group from home and it was the sort of ‘ride or die’ squad. I always thought friendship that has been built over 10 years couldn’t compete with something that springs over a few weeks at university. I knew I’d meet like-minded people, but I never thought too much of it. I genuinely feel like this is the general consensus in terms of expectations.
Reality
Expectation
Design by Liam David Hopley
PEOPLE You know when you can just vibe off of people because you’re so in tune – I’ve had that here. Truly, I’m so glad I’ve come to Loughborough and I’ve met the people that I have. Yaknow, I’ve made friends who push me to do better and have supported me in achieving my goals and aspiration. Omg this sounds so cringe! But you guys all get me, right? Yeah you do. Everyone knows what I mean!
I guess what I want to say is that it’s good to have expectations because it’s so amusing to compare them to the reality of things. Asli Jensen Comment Editor
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MUSIC
crudely described as Andre 3000 strung out on crystal meth. Suffice it to say, Danny Brown is not for everyone, but he is an unnerving, striking and undeniable voice in modern hip-hop, Atrocity Exhibition the latest in a catalogue of triumphant off-kilter genre explorations. Danny tends find inspiration in various corners of alternative rock as much as any of his peers and predecessors in rap. The album title is named after a Joy Division track (itself named after the novel by JG Ballard), and points to a presentation of violent and visceral dissection, not for the faint-hearted. ‘Downward Spiral’ opens shuffling and yawning, the instrumentals more reminiscent of those late 70s post-punk masters than anything you’ll hear in hip-hop. The first lines yelped by Danny; “I’m sweating like I’m in a rave / been in this room for 3 days / think I’m hearing voices / paranoid and think I’m seeing ghosts”. ‘Rolling Stone’ features bass as if by Peter Hook. If this year has produced a track as danceable as ‘Ain’t It Funny’ I haven’t heard it and here again we find influence in rock, producer Paul White aping the manic saxophone of Steve Mackay on the Stooges’ ‘Funhouse’. ‘Golddust’ features more guitar and sax, along with a veiled lyrical reference to, yes, Joy Division. Spasms of unease in mind and body litter the record. It’s a nervous and frenetic trip through the mind of a neurotic auteur uncomfortable in his own skin, but it’s not all alienation and isolation. The scant few guest appearances are a pleasure. Earl Sweatshirt takes the win on ‘Really Doe’, effortlessly stomping over the beat for his minute-orso slot. Kelela floats over moody funk in ‘From the Ground’. Closer ‘Hell For It’ dials it back with a melody that could’ve been lifted from early Talking Heads, touchingly rounding off an endlessly intriguing and introspective album that is undeniable for consideration among the best of the year. Alex Boyd
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Design & Illustration by Phoebe-Rose Logan
Growing up on the streets of Detroit, Danny Brown started dealing drugs in his teens and had numerous run-ins with the law that eventually lead to skipping probation and living as a fugitive for 5 years before getting caught and serving 8 months in prison. He’s had a hard life coloured by paranoia and claustrophobia. He also looks like he’s been dragged through a hedge backwards and lost some teeth in the process. His trademark rapping style could be
Design & Illustration by Phoebe-Rose Logan
Everyone knows Solange Knowles as Beyoncé’s little sister who flipped out on Jay-Z in an elevator in 2014. But I think that this album will establish her as an authentic, unique artist who isn’t afraid to stand for something and speak out against injustice. A Seat at the Table in a word, is unapologetic. It’s a record laced with pain and frustration while being light, quirky and easy to listen to, with the influence of the roots of AfricanAmerican music clear throughout. Solange delivers powerful messages and commentaries centred on black culture and experience in a hard-hitting yet graceful way – and this is down to the airy, almost ethereal melodies that counteract the brutally honest lyrics of her work. The album starts with ‘Rise’, a song that sets the tone of the album as a record that is meant to stir something in its listener; whether that be emotion or
action. ‘Weary’ is a haunting commentary of Solange’s view on the world around her, ending with the first interlude of the album, ‘The Glory is in You’. The interludes are some of the most fascinating parts of her work, they offer stories and insight on topics such as history and race, and give a much more personal feel to the album with the use of recordings of her parents speaking about these issues. Music for many is escapism, and it’s very easy to get lost in the vibe of this album, but the interludes pull you back to reality and reinforce the topics that Solange wants to address and remind people of. ‘Cranes in the Sky’ is the standout track, with personal lyrics and elegant, light vocals that feel like a floating cloud. The first feature of A Seat at the Table comes from Lil Wayne on ‘Mad’, a song that sees Solange combat the angry stereotype surrounding black
women and Wayne address the issue of fame and loneliness. ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ embodies both Solange’s frustrations towards society and her pride of her heritage, while ‘Where Do We Go’ reflects on the uncertainty of society today and is reminiscent of Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’. A hidden gem on the album is ‘Borderline (An Ode to Self-Care)’ featuring Q-Tip, an intimate, neo-soul inspired track. The album fuses R&B and soul with the electronic synth sounds of today’s music to create a quirky fusion inspired by artists such as Prince and Erykah Badu, although tracks towards the end of the album reveal Solange’s R&B roots. Knowles describes A Seat at the Table as a “project on identity, empowerment, independence, grief and healing” – that it is Solange, and so much more. Henna Amin 27
Radio 1 Live Lounge Month: A Recap
(Twenty One Pilots cover)
Covering Twenty One Pilots smash hit from the Suicide Squad movie, Martin Garrix has taken the track in a different direction completely, switching up the song from the sombre and downbeat tone into an energetic performance. Using the vocal styling of Bebe Rexha, including some brilliant harmonies, the cover blends perfectly. A must listen this November.
Bastille – ‘Final Song’ (MØ cover)
To be quite honest, we’ve never been strong fans of Justin Bieber, but he’s managed the shake off his cheesy pop feel for a more down to earth vibe for one of the best acoustic covers we’ve heard in a long time. The Canadian lad shows off his guitar skills, using the style that made him famous in the first place.
Izzy Bizu – ‘Don’t Mind’ (Kent Jones cover)
For a rising star this is a must listen cover to check out. Completely changing the song to suit her own chilled out, relaxed style, Bizu brings her own twist to ‘Don’t Mind’. After seeing her at the Coffee House Session last year and showing off her single ‘White Tiger’, we were waiting for the next step and this is most certainly it. Bizu is definitely one to watch in the future.
Jack Garratt – ‘Friends’
(Francis And The Lights feat. Bon Iver cover) A relatively unknown artist last year, Jack released his first studio album last February, and through cementing his own sound into his tracks, here he creates an emotional and soulful cover. With a beautiful combination of his gravelly voice and luring piano, he brings chills by the bucket load. Cade Morris
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Design by Hui Yi Hang
A returning favourite in the Live Lounge, Bastille has come back to try to top their cover of Miley Cyrus’ ‘We Can’t Stop’, this time taking on the smash hit ‘Final Song’. Using the unique sound they’ve developed over the years, they also decided to throw in Europe’s ‘Final Countdown’ and Craig David’s ‘7 Days’ for a few bars, showing how well they can take any track in their stride and produce an amazing cover.
(Tracey Chapman cover)
Illustration by Vincent Lau
Martin Garrix feat. Bebe Rexha – ‘Heathens’
Justin Bieber – ‘Fast Car’ Illustration by Hannah Dalton
It was a busy month over at Radio 1. Throughout the whole of September one of the UK’s most popular radio stations delivered a whole host of sets and covers, so, with that in mind, we thought we’d take a look at some of the best sets to grace Live Lounge Month.
MUSIC
The X Factor Should It Stay or Should It Go? With Christmas fast approaching, the build up to see which act will become The X-Factor winner is also on the way. The so-called talent show boasts an array of negativity from poor song choice to a reputation for vomiting up numerous musical robots.
Design by Hui Yi Hang
Illustration by Vincent Lau
Illustration by Hannah Dalton
Bursting onto our screens in 2004, it has become a world-wide brand created by Simon Cowell, a man who has accumulated a healthy net worth for himself. Whilst Cowell might be an intelligent businessman, whether he is qualified to judge musical talent still remains questionable. Contestants audition to producers who decide whether or not, for the actual TV auditions, they are good enough to be laughed at for their ridiculousness or weeped at for their semi-decent rendition of a Whitney Houston classic. As the process becomes shriller through bootcamp and judges houses, you see how much contestants are desperate for a slice of fame trifle. The final 12 then compete over a number of weeks to win the show. It does have its upsides of course. Captivating ‘sob stories’ some of which are sincere, others more superficial than Simon Cowell’s teeth. It’s also a decent platform to watch current musicians in the industry perform as guests on the Sunday night show. The show has faltered in the past few years though as it tries to keep up
with competition from Strictly and The Voice. Many viewers complain about new judges and presenters, new ways of auditioning as well as conspiracy theories that the show is fixed. More importantly though, what most fail to observe is that the show is not only artificial, it is destructive to the contestants who hope for a better life. What this show excels at is misrepresenting the nature of the industry to a point where even Rylan Clark can make a million and have his 15 minutes of talentless fame. Leona Lewis and One Direction are among contestants who have made something of themselves; they have used the show as a springboard. Take Lewis as an example, she trained at The Brit School and used it purely for fame. But what about Steve Brookstein? Oh yes the first ever winner is still trying to sell his book on how the show ruined his life. James Arthur also recently opened up about crippling anxiety that existed before the show, but was worsened because of the rapid ascent to massive levels of attention. Look deeper and you begin to see the cracks in a show that is failing drastically, becoming predictable and is now far too false to fool anyone. Perhaps The X-Factor needs to take some inspiration from its name and be x’d from television altogether? Now wouldn’t that be wonderful?! James Hullait
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DESIGN
Photography & Illustration Competitions Your chance to have your work featured in our next issue!
P H O T O G R A Y
Congratulations to Anna Borsboom, whose photo of a spooky spider won last month’s competition! Please send us your best sport-themed shots if you’d like to enter the November competition!
Please send entries to both competitions to LabelEditor@lsu.co.uk Deadline: Midnight on Thursday 17th November. Best of luck!
I
L
L
U
S
T
R
A
T
I
O
N
Alice Pattinson’s stunning portrait of Amy Winehouse was October’s illustration contest winner!
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The theme for our November competition will be superheroes and villains!
Design by Liam David Hopley
P H
Design by Liam David Hopley
Let’s start off with a few questions: Do you love learning and expanding your mind? Have you ever been inspired and energised by an idea? Have you ever changed the way you see or appreciate the world after understanding something from a new perspective? If you answered yes to all of the above, you’ll definitely love TED. More importantly, you’ll love the TEDx conference that will be hosted on the 12th of November, here at Loughborough University! You might be asking yourself “What is TED?”. TED is a nonprofit organisation devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown massively, now hosting two major TED Conferences annually. TED invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com — empowering individuals across the world to learn and expand their minds. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman. Isn’t that cool? Here at Loughborough University, we’re hosting a TEDx event. TEDx supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self-organised TED-style events around the world, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. This year the conference’s theme is “The Truth of the Matter”, prompting nine speakers to present stimulating new perspectives or ideas that will connect dots that previous theories failed to connect. We have a wide variety of topics ranging from ‘Defining the Mind’ to ‘Death by Powerpoint’. In order to encourage stimulating debates, thought-provoking discussions and (of course) loads of fun, this year’s TEDxLoughboroughU conference will include: inspiring live TEDx Talks, stimulating TED Talk screenings, networking opportunities with like-minded individuals, a TEDx themed photo-corner, the opportunity to meet and interact with the speakers, and — most importantly — awesome TEDx goodie-bags. Tickets are on sale for £20.00 and are available at: (www.goo. gl/3noCGV). With a ticket purchase you will benefit from: seated entry to the TEDxLoughboroughU 2016 conference, catered lunch from a large tasty buffet, a great variety of refreshments and snacks throughout the conference, a personal photo session in our TEDx themed photo-booth and one of the aforementioned fabulous goodie bags. If you want to expand your mind, are curious to learn more about TED & TEDx, or simply want to add a new experience to your list, buy your ticket now and attend the TEDxLoughboroughU conference in Room 1 on the 12th of November. You won’t regret it! Arianna Rossi 31
STYLE
Models Alexandra Nedescu Belinda Chan Hayley Copeland Elanor Oldham Jack Wareing Photography Elias Ruiz Monserrat
WITH THE LSU FASHION SOCIETY
SCARVES & STYLE Design by Holly Rowlands-Hempel
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Design by Holly Rowlands-Hempel
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STYLE
A go-to for many outfits You can use them for casual daywear or even use them as a shawl for fancier evening occasions. Better yet, use the blanket scarf to warm you up while en route to said fancy event, then transform your outfit when you arrive – again, genius! You don’t have to break the bank You don’t need to splash out to get yourselves one of these must-have items. Primark (classic) have a huge range from as little as £7, and even Topshop, starting from £13. Get yourself one now, cause you’re going to want and need it! Alice Priestley Assistant Editor 34
What on earth is a blanket scarf?! A huge scarf?! Great, so I can head out on a cold winter’s morning cosy as hell in this massive scarf but what happens when it rains? Wet wool. Have you ever worn wet wool? It is as itchy as anything! There is a reason wool is not the go-to material of outer layers and its lack of waterproof/weather-proof qualities is exactly it! Okay, so it doesn’t rain every day… But why would I want to look twice as wide from behind because I have this huge cape like expanse slung across my back? I would much rather wear a nice tailored coat and accessorise with a cute coordinated scarf than bulk myself out with a shapeless cut of overpriced fabric. Moreover, I’d have to carry a lint roller everywhere I went as my scarf malted all over me making my black jeans look like they’ve been through some kind of a fake snow machine. But that’s just me. What do I know?! If you are a lover of blanket scarves, please let us know @LabelOnline and defend your right to flaunt this fluffy fashion fix! Leanna Kightley Label Editor
Design by Camilla Li
Multiple uses Is it a blanket? Is it a scarf? You could easily use them for both, or use them as a blanket for when you’re out facing the freezing cold winter mornings – what a genius invention! Because they’re so large and wide, you can wrap them around yourself multiple times while looking #flawless and being warm AF at the same time.
AGAINST
Photography by Elias Ruiz Monserrat
FOR
Whoever invented blanket scarves wants a right good fist bump. They’re absolutely revolutionary for the fashion world and I would struggle to imagine a life without them. Below are the reasons why blanket scarves are, and always will be, HOT:
Illustration by Angel Chiu
Blanket scarves are EVERYWHERE this season, but should they be? Do you look hot (in more ways than one) or just a big old woolly mess? The upper editorial team explore the merits and drawbacks of this new fashion must-have/faux-pas…
Design by Camilla Li
Blanket Scarves: Hot or Not?
Design by Camilla Li
Photography by Elias Ruiz Monserrat
Illustration by Angel Chiu
Design by Camilla Li
Should We Be Wearing Fur This Fall? A Closer Look At The Ethics Behind Fashion. Unfortunately, as the practice of wearing fur has been normalised it is rare that we question or even pay attention to the fact that by wearing fur, we are adorning ourselves with something that was once a living, breathing, creature. In fact, most of us wear fur trimmed winter coats regularly and without a thought. I mean, its ‘normal’ and therefore acceptable… right? The question of whether fur can ever be ethically sound is one animal rights activists effectively silence with a resounding “no.” Fact is, we use a lot of animals for fashion. Fur, along with many other animal skins and byproducts, make up many of the staples in the everyday wardrobe. Additionally, between 2008 and
2013, world fur exports more than doubled, from $2 billion to more than $4 billion. ‘Why does this matter?’ you may ask, or ‘Why should I care?’ Karl Lagerfeld himself stated, “In a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and clothes and even handbags, the discussion of fur is childish”. In reality, however, we need it put a new perspective on the topic in order to make these questions more relevant and widely understood. Yes, some aspects of the fur industry are absolutely horrific; living creatures suffer miserably for the greed of others. But the ugly truth is that this applies not only to fur, but also to a myriad of other materials in the apparel industry. Beyond that, the ethics involved vary depending on where the fur is sourced and how the animals are killed. Fur can come from fur farms, where animals spend their entire lives confined to cramped, filthy wire cages and the cheapest and cruelest killing methods available (including suffocation, electrocution, gas, and poison) are used to kill the animals.
Fur can sourced from the wild. This makes it less ‘perfect’, and therefore cheaper, but allows wearers to be comforted by the notion that they are wearing the pelt of an animal whose days were spent frolicking in the woods instead of being raised in a cage. ‘Invasive Fur’ on the other hand, has environmental benefits. For a species to be considered invasive, it must be harmful to the environment and nonnative. Consequently, using the fur of invasive animals could be considered a good way to make use of the animals killed to protect fragile ecosystems. Lastly, we have the newly emerged concept of ‘Roadkill Fur’. Sustainability consultant, Pamela Paquin, found herself overwhelmed by the animal carnage she saw on roads and highways and decided to start a company Petite Mort Fur. She sells products made from the collateral damage of American car culture, revolutionising the fur trade by making roadkill (which she calls “accidental fur”) a viable sector of the market. As you can see, each different source provides different ethical questions and dilemmas. There is no one answer to whether it is right to wear fur or not, the answer must be assessed on a individual basis. So next time you see or wear fur keep this idea in mind, and really think about the implications of the garments. Arianna Rossi Style Editor
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The Ultimate Style Icon Trio: Twiggy, Audrey, And Marilyn A ‘fashion icon’, as defined by the Collins English Dictionary, is a person or thing that is very well known as being highly fashionable. Fashion icons are also often described as being timeless, flawless, and irrevocably beautiful. Hearing this term may automatically cause a few names to pop into your mind. Maybe you’re picturing the timeless Grace Kelly, or the classy Elizabeth Taylor? Perhaps you envisage the absolute fox that is Sofia Coppola. Regardless, for now at least, we’ll be focusing on fashion history’s iconic trio: Twiggy, Audrey, and Marilyn.
Photography by Elias Ruiz Monserrat
Illustration by Lucy Semple
Discovered at the young age of 16, Twiggy — the unmistakeable face of the 60’s — has been a style icon for over forty years. Known for her shift dresses, spidery long lashes, and sleek parted hairdo; the gamine look defined her decade. Not only did she help popularise Mary Quant’s miniskirt and the iconic 60’s paper shift dress, but rebelliously redefined fashion and style. If you identify with Twiggy’s style, you’re probably outgoing, bubbly, like to challenge the ‘norm’, and most importantly don’t care what people think of you.
You simply cannot walk past Tiffany’s on Fifth Avenue without picturing the iconic scene where Holly Golightly gazes longingly at its lavish display, holding her coffee and pastry, wearing a sublime LBD. The iconic black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s was based on a Givenchy gown and has resonated with women for over fifty years. Audrey is known for having beauty and brains, as well as her class any grace. Throughout her career she wore some of the most iconic gowns in film history — does Sabrina ring a bell? Roman Holiday? If you identify with Audrey’s style you’re probably glamorous, classy, and effortless.
Arianna Rossi 36
Design by Carla Borkmann
Marilyn Monroe is best known for the iconic white dress she wore in The Seven Year Itch designed by William Travilla. Her form-fitting, body-enhancing style of dress made her one of the most famous sex icons in history. Rising to fame in post-war America, Marilyn was one of the first to showcase new ideas – from the bikini to the IT bag, to Christian Dior’s New Look. If you identify with Marylin’s style, you’re probably sultry and sexy, and don’t feel the need to follow the rules. Twiggy is the face of avant-garde mode. Audrey is the essence of class and glamour. Marilyn is a Hollywood bombshell and sex bomb. The trio represents the three cornerstones of style, a trifecta that will stand the test of time. The real question remains… which one are you most like?
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STYLE
Looks To Try This
Illustration by Lucy Semple
LOOK #1 — MONOCHROMATIC MODE WITH A “POP”
Photography by Elias Ruiz Monserrat
One of the best parts of fall fashion is that, unlike summer, it requires a lot less mixing and matching because of the restricted colour palette that accompanies the season. For this reason lazy fashionistas everywhere can rejoice. I mean, what’s easier than pulling on black jeans, a black jumper, black boots and a chic black bag? You instantly look put together and fashionable! To update the look and add an extra “pop” and put on a dash of red lipstick, a colourful scarf, or a funky statement necklace.
Fall
LOOK #2 — FUNKY TIGHTS Fun tights are one of the best elements of the fall/winter season. Does anyone remember Blair Waldorf’s collection from Gossip Girl? If you do, you’ll remember how creative her outfits were and how much of an extra ‘oomph’ her tights provided. Funky tights don’t only mean fun colours, they also mean fun prints! You can find everything from cool patterns to themed tights nowadays.
LOOK #3 — JEANS, A TEE, AND A BLANKET SCARF This is probably the easiest outfit of them all, and the best part, is that is probably the comfiest too. Blanket scarves are a great accessory because they can be worn in all sorts of ways. Wrapped around your shoulders, draped around your neck, belted… the list goes on and on. If you throw your hair up into a messy bun and pull on some simple accessories and a cute pair of booties, you’ll have a complete and easy fall outfit.
LOOK #4 — OVERSIZED KNIT SWEATER AND SKINNIES Oversized knitwear is a season highlight. Throw one over a pair of skinny jeans or leggings — the key here is that if you’re wearing something baggy on the top, you wear something tight on the bottom — and voilà you instantly look cosy and cute. Extra points if you wear a matching beanie or hat!
Design by Carla Borkmann
LOOK #5 — PLAID AND SUEDE Plaid shirts are not only comfortable and casual, but also make for an easy outfit. Worn open over a black tank top, or buttoned up, they can make you look outdoorsy and chic all at once. The best combo is to pair this with black jeans and a nice pair of suede shoes or boots. If you’re feeling chilly you can layer a vest over it for the ultimate outdoorsy look! Arianna Rossi 37
The Equestrian team at Loughborough may not be the biggest club in the AU, but we certainly have high aspirations. Equestrian, otherwise known as horse riding, is a unique sport, which combines the partnership of horse and rider. It is one of few sports where both male and female riders compete along side one another, giving equal opportunities to both genders.
As well as the competitive side, the club also offers recreational riding opportunities for those who do not wish to compete or did not make the BUCS teams. The recreational riding at Loughborough University is an opportunity to have fun and enjoy learning without the added pressure of competing. Lessons run weekly and are divided into beginners, intermediate and advanced abilities. Please visit the Loughborough Equestrian Facebook page to find out more. If you would like to know more about the Equestrian Teams, please get in touch: Facebook.com/LoughboroughStudentsEquestrian Tor Smith
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Photography courtesy of Loughborough Students Equestrian
At the start of the first semester we have trials to select the best riders to represent the university at BUCS competitions throughout the year. With almost 40 members in the club it is difficult to select who to fill the 16 space available on teams. Teams are categorised from A to D, with A being the highest standard team. Each BUCS team competes in the league competitions against four other universities at different venues within their region, as well as hosting their own competition. Depending on the success at each competition determines whether you move on to the regional stage and then on to qualifying for the nationals at the end of the year. Where, just one team and two of the highest placed individuals within the region will qualify.
This year the A team was our most successful team, qualifying for the Nationals which were held at Bishop Burton Equestrian Centre last June. The team which consisted of four members; Beatle Payne, Madison Rose, Tor Smith and Tilly Higgs produced excellent performances throughout all stages of competitions securing them a place at the BUCS Nationals. The A team are now the 5th best university equestrian team in the country after finishing 5th at Nationals. This accomplishment bought us an unexpected award at the AU Ball when the A team were awarded ‘The Most Improved Team of the Year’.
Design & Illustration by Emily Boyes
SPORT
Autumn Rugby Internationals: What to Watch
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Barbarians vs. South Africa at Wembley Stadium – November 5th
The opening day of the series sees Wales host Australia whilst Ireland play the All Blacks in Chicago. The real highlight of the weekend however is expected to be between the Ba-Bas and the Springboks at Wembley Stadium. It will be their first time facing each other in six years, last time The Barbarians won 26-20, so the Springboks will be keen to get one over the invitational side.
Ireland vs. New Zealand at Aviva Stadium, Dublin – November 19th
Any game featuring World Champions New Zealand is worth keeping an eye on and week three brings a cracker to our screens. In 111 years of competition, Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks but will be hoping to make history this autumn by breaking their duck.
Design & Illustration by Emily Boyes
Photography courtesy of Loughborough Students Equestrian
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England vs. Australia at Twickenham – December 3rd
The Autumn International calendar will conclude with a showdown between old foes England and Australia. There will be plenty to play for after England hammered the Aussies 3-0 in their own backyard earlier this year - a series that included the exhilarating 44-40 win in Sydney. My money is on England but maybe I’m biased.
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Scotland vs. Australia at Murrayfield Stadium – November 12th
The following week sees an equally promising set of fixtures but many will have their eyes on Scotland and Australia. Both placing in the top ten of international rugby teams, this looks as though it would make exciting viewing and I’m sure there are plenty of fans of both sides across campus.
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Wales vs. South Africa at Principality Stadium, Cardiff – November 26th
Two of rugby’s biggest nations will come together at the home of Welsh rugby on the last Saturday of November. Traditionally this is a fixture that South Africa swallow up in their pursuit of glory but Wales are one of those sides that are hard to write off.
There we go, five fixtures to look out for this autumn. There are plenty more that I’m sure will be equally entertaining but we can’t be in multiple places at once! David Boyden Sport Editor
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Best and Worst England As possibly one of the most scrutinised jobs in world football, becoming the national manager for England is about as ill fated as strawpedoing a sixth VK on a Friday night at FND. Rarely does it end well, and if it does end, it’s usually by kissing the pavement 10 minutes later. It’s no lie; the England job really isn’t one for the faint-hearted. Many have tried, and most have failed. But like all good nights out, some are always better than others. With that firmly in mind, we take a look at the worst and the best that England have had to offer. We’ve tried to be kind, but sometimes, the truth really does hurt.
Sam Allardyce Up first is Big Sam. Before you start, yes, we know he has a 100% win record, but that does nothing to save the mess that the whole Allardyce escapade has whipped up. Signing a two-year contract back in July, with a cool £3 million a year to add to the upkeep of ‘Big Sam’s Villa’, he was subject to a newspaper sting which saw him offer advice on passing FA transfer rules, attempting to bag a much needed extra £400,000 along the way. Resigning after 67 days, there is little good to take from his tenancy.
Ramsay in 1974, Revie could have been the one for England. Preferring day-to-day contact, Revie struggled to work with his players, and with a failure to reach Euro ‘76 and a 10 year ban from the FA after jumping ship to manage in the UEA before the ‘78 World Cup, there really was no going back for the former Leeds United manager.
Illustration by Emily Boyes
The Worst
Dubbed the ‘Wally with the Brolly’, Steve McClaren became the England boss back in 2006 and managed a measly year in the top job. With a 50% win rate over 18 games, McClaren’s record, on paper, doesn’t make for terrible reading. But with a total failure to qualify for Euro 2008, as well as an ill fated move in dropping an in-form Beckham, there’s no saving McClaren here. Still, at least he lasted longer than one game (sorry Sam).
Don Revie In competition for worst manager, Revie is not necessarily a prime candidate. But whilst he was a master with club football, Revie couldn’t bring the same flair to the national game. Succeeding Sir Alf
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Design by Sharika Tayub
Steve McClaren
SPORT
Managers of All Time The Best Sir Bobby Robson
Design by Sharika Tayub
Illustration by Emily Boyes
A legend of the game, Sir Bobby Robson took charge in 1982, two days after England were knocked out of the World Cup. With an eight year spell, Robson is quite rightly one the best managers to grace the world of national football. Taking England to the quarterfinals of the ‘86 World Cup and building on the euphoria of Italia ‘90, where England were one
match away from the final, suffering, as England do, to a penalty shootout, Robson was a master of the game; where many have failed, he succeeded.
Terry Venables One of the most charismatic managers of England, Venables nearly brought a trophy home during Euro ‘96. Dubbed the ‘summer of a lifetime’, the tournament, which was held across various venues in England, was, unlike nearly every other competition England take part in, one to actually savour, to remember. Although the national side went on to lose against Germany in a penalty shootout at the semifinal stage (shock), the side, aided by Venables’ killer tactics and a high flying team, were glorious to watch. Capturing a nation in football fever, Venables’ two-year stint in the top job, which saw him lose only one match, goes to show that with the right manager, England can (nearly) do wonders.
Wembley, beating Germany 4-2 in a home tournament, Sir Alf Ramsey at the helm, it doesn’t come any better than that. With a nation expecting, Ramsey steered England masterfully, and with the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Bobby Charlton bringing ‘60s flair (and even better comb overs) to the game, there is little doubt that Ramsey is one of, if not, the best England manager the side have ever had. Others have come close, but only Sir Alf has delivered. With that, we must sign off. The list is short, we admit, so here are some honourable mentions that didn’t quite make the cut. Topping up ‘the worst’ side, Roy Hodgson, Graham Taylor and Glenn Hoddle, whilst ‘the best’ could have seen Sven-Goran Eriksson and Walter Winterbottom make the grade. Granted, there’s more to choose from, but if we keep going that ‘the worst’ list would get exponentially longer, and well, we want to try and stay somewhat optimistic about our national side, don’t we? Emily Harrison Music Editor
Sir Alf Ramsey This one is a no brainer. 1966, the World Cup,
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Interview with
Jennifer Taylor Media EO
Hey JT! Tell us a little bit about what LSU Media has coming up throughout November and beyond?
Design by Liam David Hopley
Far too much to fit into this article so I’ll pick two highlights! Radio shows are all kicking off at the moment, and with a number of hall shows in the mix a focus for us is to inspire hall residents to start up their own shows. Another focus for us this year is our brand new sports round up series, Match Report. Keep an eye out for our shows, reports, photos & commentary across campus, keeping you up to date with Loughborough’s Winning Wednesdays! We’ve just held Make Your Mark, how do you think that went?
Why should students get involved with LSU Media? It’s a sociable, friendly environment where our students are always developing their skills. A large number of our volunteers will end up going into the media industry, so if you want a second career option, come along and get involved as it really could change your future!
Difficult question: favourite part of Label? Tough one! I’ll bail out of this one and say I think the whole magazine is amazing. From writing to design to photography, the quality always amazes me but I do have to say I do always enjoy reading the Loughborough Overheard section, it always gives me a chuckle. Finally, describe LSU Media in three words… So many opportunities!
What would you say is your ultimate favourite thing about your job? My favourite thing is the people I get to work with. With 46 committee members and even more volunteers, the people I spend my days with is what makes it so enjoyable. The office is always full of volunteers creating content and so there is always something happening. I also like to think our office has the best banter on campus but I guess I’m quite biased on that!
Contact me Twitter: @MediaEO_LSU Facebook: /LSUMediaEO Email: MediaEO@lsu.co.uk
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Illustration by Emily Forrester
Make Your Mark was a huge success this year, we had 350 attendees and around 90 sign ups to each section. It’s a good indicator that we have a great year to come. We have had a large amount of taster and trial sessions for each section and they’ve been incredibly popular – it’s great to see so many fresh faces wanting to get involved in Media this year.
Interview with
Joe Ross Nelson Societies EO
Illustration by Emily Forrester
Design by Liam David Hopley
Hi Joe! You’ve been the Societies EO for a little while now, how do you think things are going? Really, really well!! We’re getting a lot of background things done, formalising the section and making sure all the health and safety measures are up to scratch – getting ready for the fun to begin throughout the rest of the year! Plus, we had a wonderful turn out at the bazaar, with so many societies reaching record numbers of people interested in joining them – so yeah, another big thank you to my Societies Executive Team and to the LSU Marketing Team who made the day a big success. Have you got any favourite societies currently? Obviously I’ll always have a strong allegiance to my old society, Stage Society, who made a big difference to my University experience! But since coming in, I’ve been seriously impressed by our Gliding Society, and how well they’re run and the amount that members can actually have access to through them. We’ve also had two or three new societies who have started up with a lot of potential for big things for LSU and our students!! In fact, our brand new Space Society have already won our first ‘Society of the Fortnight’ for the amount they have managed to achieve since starting up just in time for Freshers’! What’s the best thing about being Societies EO? Probably the opportunity to go and dip in to so many different activities! I always get a really wonderful reception when I pop along to societies’ sessions, and I’ve already this year attended sessions run by Rawkus Street Dance Society, Nigerian Society and been invited to join Hot Air Balloon Society several times – basically, I’m spoilt for choice.
If you had one piece of advice for students of any age, in any year, what would it be? Do what you can to help ‘Find Your Home Away From Home’ (cheeky plug, sorry!)! For me, that was in the societies section and in Stage Society – but there are around 120 different societies currently, so I like to think there is something out there for everyone to really get stuck into! Honestly though, people can find a passion in absolutely any of LSU’s activities – whether that be working with children on Action projects, helping to develop your course as a Programme Rep, or dancing like an idiot at a Stuesday. Once you find something you love, help other people to do the same, and you’ll make the most of your Loughborough Experience. Describe Loughborough Students’ Union’s array of societies in just three words… BIG. FRIENDLY. SOCIETIES.
Contact me
It had to be said, sorry…
Twitter: @SocietiesEO_LSU Facebook: /SocietiesLSU Email: SocietiesEO@lsu.co.uk 43
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CENTRE WHERE WILL I LIVE NEXT YEAR? TALK TO US FIRST. University halls of residence
Off campus town accommodation
Continue the ‘Lufbra Experience’ – a third of University Hall rooms available for returning students.
University approved properties for groups and individuals – all inspected and graded by us.
It’s easy to apply – just register a preference for a room online from Thursday 1st December to Friday 27th January 2017.
List for 2017/18 is available from Thursday 1st December 2016 on www.lborostudentpad.co.uk Come and talk to us at the Housing Bazaar in December.
PLENTY OF ACCOMMODATION TO CHOOSE FROM SO NO RUSH!
01509 274488 sac@lboro.ac.uk findahouse@lboro.ac.uk www.lboro.ac.uk/accommodation
@lboro_campus www.browzer.co.uk /Campus.Living.Loughborough
CAMPUS LIVING
PROUD TO SERVE
COSTA COFFEE
is now being served in Martin Hall Café & EHB Grill www.lboro.ac.uk/food-drink