Label Elections Special Issue Five 04. 03. 16
Your Executive Team 2016/17 Racism at the Oscars 5 Memorable Moments: The Brit Awards
The Team
Contents
Editor - in - Chief Bryn Wilkes
Editorials 04 - Editorials from the Editor and VP Media
Editor Katie Wilson
Comment 05 - Results Night Madness
Assistant Editor Leanna Kightley
News 06 - Freedom of Information Act Changes Denied 07 - David Cameron Berates Corbyn Over Lack of Tie One for the Weekend: Man Smuggles Turtles in Pants
Art Director Greg Carter Assistant Art Director Lewis Allum
Features 08 - Horoscopes: Actually Real or All in the Stars? 09 - Eggshellent Ideas for an Easter Break!
Chief Photographer Jessica Crean
10 - Graduate Recruitment Fairs, are they worth it? Loughborough Overheard
Head of Design Theo King
Culture 12 - Racism at the Oscars 13 - Damages: The Heartbreaking True Story of a Forgotten Child
Head of Illustration Olivia Chevallier Culture Editors Katherine Hardiman - Alex Jones Features Editors Alice Priestley - Beatrice Quarshie Music Editor James Hullait News Editors Jamie Hutton - Ellie Mackenzie Sport Editors David Boyden - Amrit Malkani Style Editor Natasha Bennett Online Editor Charis Edworthy Hall Media Secretary Craig Searle Head of Marketing and Events Sarina Eugenio - Jade Ledingham
Design: 16 - Label Illustration Competition Winner 17 - Label Comic Presents: Student Diaries 18 - Totty Spotted 20 - Exec Focus: Bryn Wilkes, VP Media 21 - Exec Focus: Max Crawford,VP Union Affairs 23 - Exec Elections 2016 Results Music 28 - Arctic Monkeys 10th Anniversary: Alex Turner, have a rethink? 29 - 5 Memorable moments: The Brit Awards Style 30 - What to Wear When Working Out 31 - Zendaya: A Fashion Icon Disclaimer:
Sport 32 - ICC World Twentry20 Preview 33 - Shining a Light on: AU Badminton 34 - Media Behind the Scenes
Cover Design by Gautham Kannan
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.
3
EDITORIAL The last few weeks have been manic ones, and I’m sure the majority of the Loughborough population will be inclined to agree. From door knocking and lecture shout-outs right to celebrity video endorsements, LSU Exec Elections are always a hive of activity, but it’s now over for another year.
Katie Wilson Label Editor
Got a story you’d like us to share, or a comment to make? For further information, queries, and to send a Letter to the Editor for the next issue, contact: LabelEditor@lsu.co.uk or @LabelOnline
This issue may seem all Elections Results based, but guess what! It isn’t! We have our other usual sections of Label within this Special magazine and we brought back the square because people loved it so much in Freshers, myself included.
VP Media
4
The commitment shown by LSU Media volunteers and Elections Committee has been outstanding and although stressful, it’s been fun in part too. I’d like to thank everyone who’s made the last few weeks possible, be that through writing, designing or engaging with Label’s content online and in print.
Over the last few weeks (and with many more in planning), Label have brought a lot of varied content your way, from sugary updates, to interviews right to analytical pieces. Wednesday night several of us
Since starting in office in July 2014, I’ve seen the Scottish Independence Referendum, a General Election and two Exec Elections, with an EU Referendum, the devolved parliament elections and the rest of the US Presidential Primaries to come. In a nutshell, my time as VP Media has been rather littered with democracy.
Bryn Wilkes
were in the media centre writing up profiles for everyone who won their position on the 2016-17 Executive team, and really, who wouldn’t want to spend their 21st Birthday overseeing the completion of Issue 5 of Label?!
And you never get democracy without complaints. Regardless of the scope of the election and the size and demographic of the electorate, you always get a significant cohort of the disengaged, who feel that the process doesn’t represent them or give them an opportunity to have their voice heard. While you see that in spoilt ballots in national elections,
media.lsu.co.uk
you see it in a multitude of apathetic Yaks in students’ unions. Whether you voted or not, whether you picked RON or not, whether you publicly complained or not, I’ll ask you this: give the new Exec a chance. No, the process isn’t perfect, but it’s a hell of a lot better than it is elsewhere and I’d argue that it’s better than it’s ever been before at LSU. The students have given those eleven candidates a clear mandate to lead this union forward, and I wish them all the best in their year to come.
/lsumedia
@lsumedia
COMMENT
Results Night
Design and Illustrations by Greg Carter
MADNESS! MADNESS! Exec Elections has been something of a marathon for the Media Team. From Media Week, which began back on Valentines’ weekend, to Results Night there wasn’t a day when the core team wasn’t in the Media corridor, or roving across campus, waiting to bring you the latest news on bans, campaigns and much more. All, of course, building up to March 2nd 2016.
displeased with the result. As a non-candidate, it was quite a strange place to be. While the Media corridor remained alive with activity, with TV representative screaming orders down the microphone and Label busily preparing their magazine, it almost didn’t seem like 2am.
Results Night saw the obligatory tense atmosphere fill the Union. With arguably more student engagement than ever before due to RON campaigns and controversial manifestos, the results were important to so many students. The pressure was on, and behind the scenes we could feel it. In fact, Label’s very own Beatrice Quarshie commented that there should be a reality show about Media – no doubt everyone would watch that! Maybe an idea for next year, JT?
Label is out, the TV show is over, and LCR and Lens have done their thing, tirelessly interviewing candidates, getting beautiful photos and chatting to experts in the field of various roles. Well, in a short time, YOUR new executive will take to their roles, putting into practice all the ideas you supported from their manifestos. As ‘Where Is The Love? ‘plays out in Fusion, and JC’s fills with candidates of mixed emotions, we can only imagine what the next year will bring. One thing’s for sure, we are all hoping for the best year the LSU has ever seen; to uphold our titles of WhatUni’s University of the Year, the Time Higher Education’s Best Student Experience, and being top of the BUCS league. Congratulations to all those who won, and commiserations to those who weren’t successful, you have all contributed to an enthralling Exec Elections.
After the tears on Room One balcony from the current Exec, clearly reluctant to give up their beloved sections to their successors, the atmosphere in JC’s post-results was positively chaotic. There were group hugs aplenty, but of those that hadn’t won (including exhausted campaign teams), some looked positively
The question remains, what now?
Leanna Kightley Assistant Editor
5
Freedom of Information
Act Changes Denied
Since its introduction anyone can use the Freedom of Information Act to request information from public bodies, which must be responded to within 20 working days, unless certain circumstances require for an extension. The information is usually released for free, although a small charge can sometimes be needed for postage and photocopying. In some cases the requests can be rejected if national security is thought to be at risk. The review has actually come as a surprise to many who thought that the government would be more restrictive and would back a decision to keep some material secret. However, one proposal, which would have restricted the Freedom of Information Act, boosting the legal basis for the minister’s right to veto, had already been rejected by the government.
Over the years that the Act has been in place, a number of stories relating to UK universities have been uncovered. In 2004 a report was published naming universities which were involved in research deals with the arms trade industry, one of the largest contracts being in place at Loughborough. Another uncovered that a majority of universities had little or no reports of homophobic abuse, despite abundant anecdotal evidence that suggested otherwise. It also found that even when incidences were reported in most cases the perpetrator went unpunished. In 2013 a series of Freedom of Information Act enquires revealed that thousands more students were seeking help for depression whilst universities were cutting funds for counselling services. One university was seen to have a 107% increase in students seeking help over five years, but had cut funds by more than £290,000 in one year. Most recently a report discovered that UK vice-chancellors earned on average £260,000 and had spent £60,000 on ‘premium’ flights last year alone. The Freedom of Information Act has been paramount in holding public bodies accountable and has given power to the people that they work for. Hopefully this change will allow for more instances of important public information being brought to light in the future. Jamie Hutton News Editor
6
Design and Illustrations by Greg Carter
A decision has been made to not make changes to the Freedom of Information Act. The Act which has been in place since 2000, and was introduced by Tony Blair, allows people such as campaigners and journalists to ask questions to public bodies, including schools and universities and has been responsible for such recent news stories as the MP’s expenses scandal. The decision was announced by minister Matt Hancock who said that the system was ‘working well’ and had helped ‘change the culture of the public sector’.
David Cameron berates Corbyn over lack of tie David Cameron and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn often differ on a number of issues. As well as being the leaders of different parties, they have clashed over the Syrian airstrikes, terrorism and taxes. However, both have stooped to a new low with the leaders resorting to the teenage favourite: 'your mum' insults. Corbyn's supporters heckled Cameron with insults over his mother recently signing a petition "opposing cuts to children’s centres." Dealing with such insults in a very mature manner, Cameron retaliated, stating that the Labour leader should: "put on a proper suit, do up your tie and sing the national anthem." Having really considered this insult, Corbyn later released a statement claiming: “You know what he is really jealous of? That I can go shopping in the greatest shopping centre in the world, Holloway Road, N7, and he has to stick with Bond Street.� It's comforting to know that politicians have got their priorities in order. Although it was Labour MP's who began the tiff between the two leaders, David Cameron has been taking the brunt of the abuse, having been criticised for the remarks he made, his slip-on shoes, and also his focus on fashion sense as opposed to current political problems. Perhaps these are all fair remarks, however, it does all seem rather childish. Do both politicians feel so threatened that they need to attack each other on dress sense? Surely there are more important issues to debate. Ellie Mackenzie News Editor
NEWS One for the
Weekend:
Man Smuggles
Turtles in Pants
We've all heard of someone who has an obsession with a certain animal, be it the crazy cat ladies of YouTube or those who cannot be separated from their dogs. However, one Canadian man took his obsession to the extreme, when he smuggled thirty-eight turtles in his pants. Dong Yan, who lives in Ontario, was trying to enter the Niagara border of Canada when he was stopped by customs for strange behaviour. It was discovered that Yan had placed the turtles in plastic bags and taped them to his legs under his trousers.
The reptiles were confiscated from the man in 2014 when the incident occurred. However, he received his punishment in February this year, given fifty hours of community service and a hefty fine. On top of this, the man has been banned from owning such animals for the next ten years, has been given a two year probation, and any further international travels of his will be monitored by international and environmental departments. Perhaps the most bizarre punishment Yan received was having to write a letter detailing his experiences of the illegal smuggling. It has often been said that animal lovers like to keep their pets close, but perhaps keeping them in your pants is too close for comfort. For more One for the Weekend stories, check out the Label website. Ellie Mackenzie News Editor 7
Horoscopes:
Actually Real or All in the Stars?
Real: Horoscopes: of course they’re real! At least that what I try to tell myself when I’ve had a really bad day. With all the crazy astrological theories about planets and stars and moons, it’s hard to deny what you’re being told, and especially because the descriptions are so accurate! It’s easy enough to disprove horoscopes as a load of nonsense, which makes it all the reason more why I want to believe in them. They range from dailies, weeklies, monthlies and even yearlies which predict your future. Why wouldn’t you want a sneaky preview of what’s to come? They can tell you absolutely anything, so why would they focus on something particular? Maybe, just maybe, it’s because it’s entirely in line with what’s going down in your life at present, maybe? We will never know. At the end of the day, they’re just a bit of fun, and can give you a bit of a boost in the week or something to look forward to. So, is the fact that you’re going to have “career-boosting” opportunities this week just because you’re a student… or a freaky-deeky coincidence that is quite simply your fate?! The latter, of course. Alice Priestley All in the stars: Horoscopes are meant to be a bit of fun. Much like the tooth fairy, the Loch Ness Monster, or the popular television show ‘Get Your Own Back’. That doesn’t mean I’m going to live my life based on the advice of Dave Benson-Phillips, great man though he undoubtedly is. Anyway, horoscopes. I’m going to assume that no one at our fine institution takes them seriously, and respectfully suggest that anyone who does live their life on the basis of what the stars are whispering to them relocate to a different kind of institution. Just to make it clear, I’m saying that you’re crazy. Sorry, that was rude. Must be the Sagittarius in me. Sure, they’re mildly entertaining to read on perhaps a biennial basis, but no more than that. If you really need more convincing, the position of the stars has significantly changed since the horoscopes were created, twins don’t act the same, and demonstrably not everyone born in the same month has a similar personality. There. I think it’s best we leave horoscopes with other things you take seriously when you’re 11, like Beyblades or Mizz magazine. To conclude: are horoscopes real? No, absolutely not. Are they fun? Again, no. Rob Godmon 8
FEATURES
Illustrations by Robyn Hastings
Design by Caroline Lakeman
Eggshellent Ideas for an Easter break! The British climate is a fickle, complex beast. By March, we could all be donning factor 30 sun cream as the mercury soars (in lieu of the inevitable damp August). Equally, it may still be raining - in which case there will still be plenty of options to dash somewhere less wet. With semester two in full swing and thoughts beginning to turn towards the tsunami of work before the summer exams, it’s fair to say you’ve earned yourself a break. So, put your student loan to good use and book yourself an Easter getaway! Hop on a plane and go the eggs-tra mile to Tenerife! The largest of the Canary Islands is a hugely dependable sunspot, whether you opt for the Spanish ambience of its North-Easterly capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife, or its South and West coasts. Not to mention the party bars and clubs of Playa de las Americas, and Tenerife’s newest and most exciting attraction, Siam Park. This water park is one of the biggest in Europe, with over 30 attractions – great for whether you fancy a float around the lazy river, or prefer to launch yourself into the pulse racing rides!
shopping on the high street, to hidden gems in the back streets, London is the shopping capital of Europe. What’s more, the museums are free, the art galleries are abundant, and the theatre is alive and well in the West End. Cultural exploration in the city is endless. Prague – It’s Eggshellent! One of Europe’s most beautiful cities, the stylish capital of the Czech Republic is brimming with grand historical and cultural sights. Its Gothic and Bohemian Baroque architecture provides a magical setting in which to experience Prague’s contemporary art, dining and entertainment. Whether you seek a romantic walk along the river or latenight dancing in a trendy nightclub, Prague welcomes you.
So bite the bullet and book the little getaway, there’s no egg-scuse! Sorry, one can only apol-egg-ise for all the egg related yokes! Nicola Williams
How about a cracking city break in London?! A city break to London will bring you face to face with some of the world’s most famous landmarks and historical attractions. Scattered throughout the city are parks and gardens where you can unwind. Discover a different cuisine in every corner of the city, and spend some time taking in the glamour of London’s shopping districts; from luxury
9
Overheard Loughborough
COMMENT
“This sounds like porn music.”
“My avatar can beat up your avatar.”
“I’m just obsessed with tampons and periods this evening.” Boy 1 - “Some people have spider fetishes don’t they?” Boy 2 - “Don’t you mean phobias..” Boy 1 - “Oh.. yeah..”
Graduate Recruitment Fairs,
are they worth it?
We’re getting to that time of year where a lot of students are thinking ‘Help! I don’t have a placement yet’ or ‘I haven’t even applied for a single graduate job!’. For those of you who are still lucky enough to be a fresher, I envy you, I’m currently stressing and trying to figure out what I’m going to do after my final year in Loughborough.
Even if you aren’t sure about what job you’re looking for, or what field you want to go into, looking round the fair and talking to a few companies about what they offer can be a great deal of help. You might find exactly what you’re looking for, or it might reveal that perhaps a job you previously thought would suit isn’t quite right for you. Not only can going to these events help you decide on your future but it can also have a great deal of influence on your application process. I know a few people who have talked to employers, and due to their charismatic charm have stood out from the crowd, leading them to a successful application and new job. So, if you’re a fellow unemployed student seeking a job you’d be mad to miss out on these opportunities. Kristy Robertson Label Columnist 10
D HEAR OVER ? G N I TH SOME
itter on Tw touch line n Get in lO e b @La
at
TOP
TWEETS
@SPAJOURNALISM Feb 15 SHORTLISTED BEST DIGITAL @labelonline #SPAShortlisted #SPANC16 @SPAJOURNALISM Feb 15 SHORTLISTED BEST COMMENT: Dan Leedham for @labelonline #SPAShortlisted #SPANC16 @SPAJOURNALISM Feb 15 SHORTLISTED BEST COMMENT: Leanna Kightley for @labelonline #SPAShortlisted #SPANC16
Design and Illustrations by Greg Carter
Although many of my friends are in the same boat, there are a select few have already sorted out jobs (hating on them), but I’m so proud. This is the best time to take advantage of Loughborough’s Graduate Recruitment Fairs! These are held in Sir David Wallace Sports Hall and James France, and exhibit over 80 employers looking for both graduates and students seeking a placement. These fairs allow for students from all degrees to take a look, learn and be inspired by jobs available from top employers such as EY, Unilever, Accenture and Johnson & Johnson, to name a few.
g you e? methin Got so bout this issu say a to t n wa
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.
Racism at the Oscars
Racism is a glaringly important social issue, and this year a turning point in the discussion of race’s role within society has been brought upon us. The Oscars, for instance, aren’t only being scrutinised for their tendency to nominate solely white actors over their ethnic counterparts, but are being publicly protested against by the likes of Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee with regard to The Academy’s ‘incessant discrimination against people of colour’. However, the true question isn’t whether these issues are currently relevant or prominent within the Academy Awards— because they definitely are — but how legitimate the foundation of such claims may be.
Jada Pinkett Smith recently posted a video on Facebook explaining her point of view on this issue. She states that the academy was undermining people of colour and through lack of acknowledgement and recognition, and suggests people of colour should “invest [resources] in their own communities and programs” to gain what they are lacking from mainstream awards like the Oscars. The problem with Jada’s response is that she 12
Perhaps removing people of colour from an environment where they are already being marginalised is the opposite of what Jada and Spike should be doing. In fact, Spike cites a statement from the musical Hamilton, “I wanna be in the room where it happens”, stating that “the truth is we ain’t in those rooms, and until minorities are, the Oscar nominees will remain lily white.” However, the extreme feeling that the only hope for recognition for people of colour is to distance themselves from supposedly celebratory communities shows how strongly the roots of this problem need to be explored in order to find a better way to foster inclusivity. Arianna Rossi
Design and Illustrations by Emily Logie
Facts and figures show that an overwhelming majority of Oscar nominees and winners are Caucasian, and reveal that throughout a staggering 87 years of Academy Awards a mere fourteen African Americans and only one Latino have received Oscars. Additionally, 2016 marks the second consecutive year that all twenty contenders in the Actor Category are white. But, as damning as these figures appear to be, it is still important to evaluate why this is rather than simply pointing fingers and placing, perhaps unjust, blame.
ignores that the issue of racial inequality, particularly within the media, remains a relatively recent development and as such cannot be expected to resolve itself in the blink of an eye. This key idea is supported through a statement from the President of the Academy herself, claiming that “in the last two years, [The Oscars] made greater strides than [they] have in the past toward becoming a more diverse and inclusive organization.” Yet, as the majority of the Academy’s board members are white older males, it is irritatingly obvious that tackling race issues may be a long and tiresome road when it comes to recognition. The President both supports the need for change and acknowledges its unfortunately slow momentum, stating that they definitely need to “speed it up” and although this may not be enough for some, it’s definitely a start.
CULTURE
Damaged: Illustration by Emily Anagnostopolou
The heartbreaking True Story of a Forgotten Child. In a society built up with technology where people’s mind’s are engrossed in the latest Yik Yak post or the most recent Insta pic, you can easily forget to read something other than on a screen, something like a book. However, recently I decided to turn my attention to a true-life novel called “Damaged: The Heartbreaking True Story of a Forgotten Child”. Written by best selling British author Cathy Glass, the text invites the reader into the world of fostering where she personally describes her experience as a foster carer for a young girl called Jodie. Keeping in mind that Glass has worked as a foster carer for 20 years and during this time she had fostered more than 50 children, it is clear to say that she has a God sent talent for looking and caring after others. The reader is notified at the beginning of the story that Jodie has already had five carers before Cathy since being taken into care four months ago. Feeling the pressure, Cathy agrees to be her next foster carer, protecting her from being sent to an institution. As young as 8 years old, Jodie portrays extremely disturbing behaviour for a girl of her age. The reader witnesses Jodie’s arrival through an act of soiling where she then decides to wipe
the remains all over her face. The same day, Jodie kicks Cathy’s children as a sign of greeting and that night decides also to cut herself, covering the blood over her face. This hard hitting start to the story is only a baseline of what is to come. However, Cathy and her children remain patient and positive and it is a great relief for the reader to see that as the trust is beginning to develop between Cathy and Jodie, Jodie’s behaviour also begins to improve. It is this point within the story that Cathy and the reader become a witness to Jodie revealing the graphic details of the abuse she has been victimised to by her parents and others. As a result of Cathy’s comforting nature which helps Jodie disclose information about her past life, it becomes visible that her family and neighbours were involved in a paedophile ring in which Social Services missed obvious signs. The story then proceeds into Cathy demanding justice. Despite justice being achieved the book doesn’t end in the happy ending the reader hopes for. This brilliantly written story is extremely touching and thought provoking and will be sure to draw tears. This Sunday Times bestseller is a must read. Abbey Gardner
13
grab to go coffee/drinks, lasagne, broth, soup, pasta bake, noodles, sandwiches, layered salad, homemade desserts
West Park Café NOW OPEN 150 seat café / study area open 8.30am – 5pm (Wed 1pm) find us at the NEW West Park Teaching Hub
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CENTRE WHERE WILL I LIVE NEXT YEAR? TALK TO US FIRST. University halls of residence Missed the deadline to apply? Online applications have re-opened for certain halls. Have a chat with the Student Accommodation Centre team to discuss your options.
Off campus town accommodation University approved properties for groups and individuals – all inspected and graded by us. Housing list available now from the Student Accommodation Centre. or search on
www.lborostudentpad.co.uk
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
DESIGN LABEL ILLUSTRATION FEBRUARY COMPETITION
STAR WARS Illustration by
Alex Jenkin The theme for this issues’ illustration competition was Star Wars.
Congratulations to Alex for winning the competition, we look forward to seeing more of his work and of course entries from other students too! Find out more about him and his work on media.lsu.co.uk
March Competition
We want to see you illustrations related to America, be it the Statue of Liberty or even Donald Trump!
Illustration by Greg Carter
USA
Student Diaries illustrated by Olivia Chevallier
Photography by Gautham Kannan Till Sieberth Cade Morris 18
Design by Lewis Allum
19
EXEC FOCUS Interview with
Bryn Wilkes VP Media
With this long in post, if I can’t offer a comprehensive handover, I’m doing something badly wrong! One top tip? Don’t take anything professional personally.
LSU Media’s biggest achievement over the Elections so far (I’m writing this before Results Night!) has to be the Bubble Debate. Everyone saw the very well-produced show, but not many saw the incredible effort of the volunteers to uproot the Media Centre, transport it to Martin Hall and take it all back again in record time. If you could give a special mention to one person or a team, who would that be and why?
What has been your favourite moment of the last couple of weeks? This is going to sound a little clichéd, but my favourite moment from the last couple of weeks probably has to be a couple of hours after the Bubble Debate. The whole team chipped in to pack up an entire live setup and get it back to the union building and put away in about an hour and a half, and before we knew it, we were all eating pizza in the office together, laughing and joking despite the 12-hour shift most of us had put in.
I’m not sure I can really pick out one person who has been the standout individual. We’ve been running a ‘Volunteer of the Day’ throughout the Elections period, and the sheer number of nominations we’ve been receiving from members of the LSU Media Senate is testament to the number of people who deserve recognition. If you want a team: the LSU Media membership base. What are you most looking forward to in the next few months, any big events or plans?
Are you happy with the overall outcome of the elections? I think Max has certainly delivered on his aim to make these Exec Elections completely different to previous years. The focus on the manifestos, the allowance on critical journalism, the encouragement of debate and the presence of RON have made these the most democratic Elections I’ve ever seen in my considerable time in Loughborough. Couple that with the incredible work of the talented LSU Media volunteers, and yes I’m very happy.
Contact me Twitter: @VPMedia_LSU Facebook: VPMediaLSU 20
After a year and a half in post, I’m actually really looking forward to getting the chance to hand over to a successor. We’ll be putting out Senate applications for next year shortly and committee applications for Label, LCR, Lens and LSUTV soon after; I can’t wait to witness the moulding of a brand new fresh structure in LSU Media. Oh, and let’s not forget the Media Awards… How will you seek to work with your successor during handover? Can you share your one top tip with us? I’ve actually been keeping a kind of ‘diary’ this year of the normal, mundane, day-to-day tasks involved in the job, and the people, systems and whatnot I need to work with to perform those tasks.
Design by Lewis Allum
What has been LSU Media’s biggest achievement throughout elections?
Interview with
Max Crawford VP Union Affairs
What has been LSU Media’s biggest achievement throughout elections?
Illustration by Greg Carter
What has been your favourite moment over the last couple of weeks? I have to say it probably has to be one particular section of the Bubble Debates, the College one, when it really became a debate, that was like “yes”! Everything that came with it really, too, the Bubble Debates actually produced discussion which is really what we set out to do. Are you happy with the overall outcome of elections? Yes! I think that there will have been less voters this year than last, but I think that the people who do vote will be doing so for the right reasons and that’s what I set out to do.
We set out to make the elections more about manifestos and more about peoples’ suitability for the role, I think we’ve achieved that. I think there’s been, from what I’ve seen, a lot more engagement with that side of the elections than ever before, particularly after the Bubble Debate. The idea of RON and things and people thinking about this for the right reasons has been plain to see, so I’m really happy with that. If you could give a special mention to one person or a team, who would that be and why? It would have to be Chris Moore, Natasha Walkerdine, Ryan Onions and Sue Lucas because they’ve just been unbelievable and have done more than I could have ever asked them to do. How will you seek to work with your successor during handover? I took an idea to Exec recently, from when our successors are elected, we’re now going to give them an hour a week, booked into our calendars where they can come in and chat to us. I’m really looking forward to seeing how that works, and bringing successors up to speed and get first hand experience as everything happens.
Katie Wilson Label Editor
Contact me Twitter: @VPUAffairs_LSU Facebook: VPUAffairsLSU 21
ADVERT
22
Photography by Jazz Jefferies and Ushandan Kirupalaratnam
Exec Elections 2016 Results
23
YOUR EXECUTIVE TEAM 2016/17 INTRODUCTION
From around 10pm on Wednesday, JCs livened up with nerves and excitement ahead of the 1am announcement of the Exec Elections 2016 results. We’d like to send a huge congratulations to all of the candidates who campaigned so wonderfully over the last couple of weeks. The eleven lucky candidates are introduced to you by Label over the next few pages. We’ll let you know what they plan to do over their year in office, give them a general introduction and show you who Loughborough have voted in as the Executive Committee for 2016-17. Katie Wilson Label Editor
JONATHAN AKO UNION PRESIDENT
Jon set our his manifesto in four key points, covering Progression, Representation, Exec Awareness and Strategy. Progression will cover things such as extending the handover period between the Exec and their successors, whilst Representation seeks to give students a stronger voice, with the aim of introducing a suggestion page to the LSU website. As this is being revamped currently, the new website should host this well. Focussing more on town should extend the work of the union further, incorporating and considering more students than before. Jon wishes to enhance the transparency of the Executive team through short but frequent video reports to engage a wider range of students with the union in a different way. Finally, a key part of Jon’s current plans is to introduce a student activities calendar to incorporate the events of all sections from the beginning of the year. With Jon’s previous experiences in Loughborough, a clear win has enabled him to gain this position and we look forward to seeing what the next year holds.
ANNA MILEWSKA
Katie Wilson Label Editor
ACTION EXECUTIVE OFFICER
After a closely fought ten days of campaigning between Action candidates Andrew Long and Anna Milewska, Anna has been elected and is the union’s new Action Executive Officer. Her campaign theme of Anna Montana has evidently captivated the student body, alongside her plans to revamp the Action website. Her plans to work closely with the London Campus also appear to have been popular. As the results were announced on stage, Anna was evidently very excited at her victory. Meanwhile Andrew gives Anna and all the proposers a hug. In the next year, Anna will be looking forward to making Loughborough a pioneer of Action, and getting other universities involved in the volunteering that we pride ourselves on. It will be exciting to see what Anna will bring to the role next year! Ellie Mackenzie News Editor 24
JOSHUA THOMPSON COLLEGE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
College candidate Joshua Thompson has been successful in beating opponent Nathan Flynn and dreaded RON, to become your new College EO. No doubt having experience of being a student at the university and the college, as well as teaching at the latter, will have been key in ensuring students he is worthy of their votes. College students will surely be looking forward to some of Josh’s manifesto points being rolled out, including an extra card for college students to collect loyalty points, and a greater involvement in Freshers’. As he discovered his victory, he looked extremely relieved, and Nathan accepted his defeat graciously. It will be interesting to see if this is indeed the year that the college and the university become more of a cohesive unit, but we are sure here at Label that Josh will do his best to make that happen. With a year in office to make a difference, we wish Josh the best of luck in his endeavours. Leanna Kightley Assistant Editor
LEWIS WOOD
Design by Theo King
EDUCATION EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Lewis Wood has been elected the new Education EO. Despite running uncontested Lewis has ran an extremely committed campaign for himself which has clearly paid off as he has seen of the ruthless competition from RON. Lewis has been seen around campus dressed as Where’s Wally and his campaign points of promoting post-graduate involvement and a transparency as to where money is being spent, has clearly proved a hit with voters. Lewis did have a slight hiccup a few days ago after an ill-judged answer to a question regarding programme presidents which led to a misunderstanding. A social media campaign ensued but Lewis utilised his right to reply and seems to have ultimately won public favour. Lewis seemed extremely relieved at the result and excited when his victory was secured and can look forward to an exciting year implementing his promising policies. Jamie Hutton News Editor
JAMES ROWE
FINANCE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Having had a tough ten days of campaigning, James Rowe has won students’ votes and secured his position as next year’s Finance Executive Officer, just beating fellow candidate Melissa Langham. James evidently won over the hearts of students with his Rowemance outfit, as many were captured trying on his huge heart shaped costume. He has also livened up social media during campaigning with his amusing videos, tweets and pictures. Moreover, James’ innovative ideas of the Boris Bikes and a placement student weekend will have undoubtedly won him more votes. As the results were announced on stage, both candidates were anticipating the outcome. James could not contain his excitement as the results were released and he was announced the winner. Melissa accepted her defeat very graciously, hugging her opponent. We will be looking forward to seeing how James progresses with his idea of Boris Bikes and more next year. Ellie Mackenzie News Editor 25
JENNIFER TAYLOR MEDIA EXECUTIVE OFFICER
With a rather widely anticipated win, Jennifer Taylor, AKA JT, is your new Media EO. I’m sure she won’t mind us saying she’s a BNOC and this, combined with her vast Media experience, has clearly assured you she is ready for the role. Having been Assistant Head of LCR over the past year, she has made an impression on Media, producing some fantastic radio shows and videos. Her new role will see her running all four sections of Media, and her approachable and fun personality will surely bring an inventive and personable element to Media. As she discovered her victory over RON, JT looked noticeably thrilled. This isn’t a surprising reaction, after the hard week and a half of campaigning behind her, which saw her running across campus dressed as a banana, a nod to her experience as Towers Hall Chair. Good luck JT, no doubt you will breathe a breath of fresh air into Media. Leanna Kightley Assistant Editor
JONATHAN KING RAG EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Jonny King, although an uncontested candidate, fought long and hard for his position on the Executive Committee for next year. Having successfully defeated RON by a very large majority, Jonny will succeed Rachael Lynch as the next Rag EO. Jonny King has a wealth of experience which will enable him to take on this role next year, having being on Rag Committee and a Rag Rep for Towers Hall. Jonny strongly believes in increasing student participation in Rag by reducing some of the fundraising targets for projects, whilst also encouraging students to participate further by introducing a stronger loyalty points system. Raising student awareness of Rag will also help Jonny to attract more people to the section in order to participate in projects throughout the year. Employability within the section is also something he would like to work on, we shall soon see next year!
LUKE THOMSON
Katie Wilson Label Editor
SPORTS EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Luke Thomson has secured another year in office as Sport EO. With six months of experience behind him, it seems he has convinced those across campus that he is the one for the job. His focus on finances and reviewing the current position of the AU has proved a hit with voters and seen him beat his opponent Jack Mynott, who graciously accepted his defeat on the Room One stage. Luke will surely be looking forward to spending another year as head of the AU, having suggested that a year is not long enough to progress and make the changes necessary in order to keep Loughborough Sport at the top of their game. Luke’s campaign has seen a number of celebrity endorsements and fun videos including yoga and yodelling, which have clearly proven popular with the student community. Well done, Luke! Leanna Kightley Assistant Editor
26
JOE ROSS-NELSON SOCIETIES EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Joe Ross-Nelson has topped of a prolific campaign with securing his role as Societies EO. Joe has been all over campus in his Big Friendly Joe costume and has been victorious in one of the toughest competitions of the campaign. Joe saw off competition from Esther Malkinson and proved popular with his enthusiasm for the societies section and his points of increasing involvement from all sections of the university. His manifesto points, of increasing what he called ‘college enrichment’ and having societies bazaars specific to different departments has clearly been a hit with the voters. He has also been very prolific on social media and on nights out. Joe celebrated by first hugging his campaign team before offering his commiserations to his opponent Esther and there seemed to be no bad blood between them. He seemed extremely humbled by the result and we can look forward to his time implementing the polices he has proposed. Jamie Hutton News Editor
NUZHAT FATIMA
Design by Theo King
WELFARE & DIVERSITY EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Nuzhat Fatima has been announced as the new Welfare and Diversity EO. Her campaign theme of Nuz Lightyear has been seen all over campus and has clearly been a hit with voters, as have her manifesto points. These points, including making the night bus more regular, have clearly been popular with voters and many have seen her policies as being vital to the position. Nuz saw off competition from Charlie Dale and her Charlie’s Angels to secure the position. It was the closest contested post and saw both candidates campaigning prolifically around campus. The votes were very close but ultimately Nuz just clinched it with 26 more votes, and she made sure she congratulated and offer her commiserations to her component and we can look forward to Nuz’s policies coming into play in the following year.
MATT GILL
Jamie Hutton News Editor
UNION AFFAIRS EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Matt Gill has defeated the ever present RON this year, to become Loughborough’s new Union Affairs Executive Officer. As the results were announced on stage, Matt was ecstatic with the results, embracing current Union Affairs Officer, Max Crawford, and leaving the stage to the sounds of Taylor Swift. This year there was a strong focus on RON as a candidate, due to the number of uncontested positions. However, Gill’s strong campaign saw him through. His fun theme of Spider Matt, and his aims to improve transparency within the executive, and make them more accessible. He performed very well in the Bubble Debate, answering confidently to all questions posed, which will undoubtedly have won him a few more votes. We will be looking forward to seeing what Matt will bring to the role next year, particularly the changes he proposes to make to the Exec Elections campaign week. Ellie Mackenzie News Editor 27
MUSIC
10TH ANNIVERSARY: Alex Turner, have a rethink?
If you listen to Turner’s lyrics on their first album you’ll be able to put together an image of the beautiful grittiness of a big night on the ale - he’s singing about all aspects, trying to leg it from a taxi, totalitarian bouncers and scraps between lads who can’t handle their lager. Just fifteen months later the Sheffield four-piece released their much anticipated second album “Favourite Worst Nightmare” and with that came the beginning of the end for down to earth, unpretentious observations and signalled the start of Turner’s lyrical turbulence. The sound of the band had begun to change, with a couple of exceptions, the guitar wasn’t half as catchy and for me the album was neither here nor there – I mean it was okay, just a bit contemptuous. Two years later and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme jumped on board to co-produce the band’s third album, but unfortunately “Humbug” is just absolute drivel.
28
The next two albums were a little better, but again Turner dabbles with his ostentatious lyrics. If you think I’m wrong just look at the absolute state of some of his writing, “It’s two thousand and thirteen / All across the galaxy” I know what you’re thinking and yes, this is genuinely a thing. And he gets paid to do it. And people think he’s good at it. And it’s at this point where you have to look at Alex Turner’s transformation. He was born and raised in industrial Sheffield, yet somehow in the post-Humbug years he has seemingly convinced himself that he could be a poster boy for Springsteen’s “Born to Run”. Greasy, slicked back hair, black leather jackets and he’s even adopted a semi-American accent overnight. Not to worry though, because this man is the saviour of guitar music. If you don’t believe me then watch him drop the microphone to the ground at the Brits in 2014. Proper rock n’ roll mate. Personally, I think it’s time for Turner to sit down and re-listen to the band’s debut, get back to the basics – and if he wants to leave this American act behind then that would be great. Joshua Smith
Design and Illustration by Emily Forrester
Back in the Arctic Monkeys’ halcyon days, frontman Alex Turner uttered the lyrics, ‘You’re not from New York City, you’re from Rotherham’ in a broad Yorkshire accent, accompanied by a selection of witty guitar riffs and the sound of four lads having a boss time whilst being heralded as the band to fill the postLibertine musical void. Their debut album “Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not” was released at the turn of 2006, (back in the days where you would sit at the back of the school bus Bluetooth-ing each other the latest chart toppers from your Sony Ericsson) and has just celebrated its tenth anniversary. No one can deny that Alex Turner & co. have been hugely successful over the last ten years, they’ve won over America and managed to remain suitably trendy in Britain, but I can’t help shake the feeling that Alex Turner has managed to turn himself into the very thing he was criticising on “Fake Tales of San Francisco” – a massive fraud.
5 Memorable Moments:
THE BRIT AWARDS
Madonna’s Fall
Madonna has had a hard time living down the fall of the century that took place during her 2015 performance. Everyone and their Nan has seen the footage of Madonna taking a spectacular tumble during her first Brit Award performance in over 20 years. Dressed in an extravagant oversized Armani cape, Madonna is a perfect example of what can go wrong during live shows. The world watched in horror as a wardrobe malfunction sent her flying down a flight of stairs in the middle of her track, “Living for Love”. Credit where credit is due though, in true showbiz veteran style, Madonna brushed herself off and carried on her performance, taking to Twitter after the event to assure fans
Illustration by Vanisha Mistry
Adele
Adele’s relationship with the organisers of the Brit awards has been very public and controversial. The singer stole the show during the 2012 ceremony by angrily flipping her middle finger on live TV in reaction to her acceptance speech being cut short, later blaming ‘the suits, not the fans’ for her outburst. However, despite her rocky relationship with the producers, Adele is expected to slay once again at future awards, several years after her iconic performance of “Someone Like You”. Hailed by critics as one of the most memorable Brit performances ever, the spine-tingling rendition brought Adele herself to tears on stage and certainly signalled the start of Adele’s ascent into superstardom. Her emotional performance was met with a standing ovation, 450 million views on youtube and an 800% increase in her album sales.
The turn of February not only signals a goodbye to the miserable post-Christmas blues of January, but it also brings about the much anticipated annual Brit Awards. Famed for hosting some of the most iconic highlights of music in recent years, we thought it would be fitting to reminisce over some of the most controversial moments. From Britpop feuds to that Union Jack dress, we’ve got it covered…
Oasis vs. Blur
The well-documented feud between these two influential Britpop bands came to a dramatic climax during the 1996 Brit Awards. The British media had seized upon the rivalry between the two bands long before they both received nominations for the ‘Best British Band’ category. On winning the award, Oasis used their thank you speech to taunt their unsuccessful counterpart through a rendition of Blur’s ParkLife, with Liam Gallagher hilariously changing the famous lyrics of the
Michael Jackson vs. Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, notoriously stormed the King of Pop’s rendition of The Earth Song at the 1996 ceremony, due to his discontent with Jackson’s attempt to appear Christlike during his performance whilst surrounded by children. Cocker invaded the stage, mooning in Jackson’s general direction before being dramatically escorted off. Cocker’s actions divided opinion across the world, with many celebrities publicly expressing either support or criticism towards his protest.
Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack Dress
The 1998 event saw the Spice Girls close the awards at a time where ‘Spicemania’ was at its peak, however it was Geri Halliwell’s patriotic outfit that truly stole the show. Deeming her black Gucci dress as ‘too boring’ for the performance, Halliwell got her sister to sew a Union Jack tea towel across the front. The outfit has since been considered as the most iconic dress of the last 50 years, and was sold for a record-breaking £41,000 with the proceeds going to a children’s charity. Chloe O’Sullivan
WHAT TO WEAR WHEN WORKING OUT
Your Ultimate Guide to Looking Good at the Gym
T-Shirts: Plain, cheap and comfortable cotton T-shirts are fine but avoid colours that show up sweat patches, such as light grey. Be wary of white tees too: yellow underarm stains will form, quite naturally, over time. Plus, bright, colourful patterns will boost your mood and make you feel great!
30
Shorts: If you’re running, doing cardio or working out your legs, opt for shorts! Bright running shorts offer ultimate breathability and comfort whilst working out. But remember that tight shorts aren’t always the best option. And not too short, ideally shorts will end just above the knee. Opt for neutral colours that will go with whichever top you have chosen. Cotton mixed with spandex or polyester make for a comfortable fabric.
Logos: To put it simply, discreet logos are best. Perhaps consider buying five different tops from the same brand in a similar style – that way they become interchangeable and make your job much easier. Nike, Adidas, Puma and all the big giants should have you covered.
Trainers: The general rule of thumb is that regular gym-goers should change their trainers every six months, although a year is more reasonable provided you’re not the next Mo Farah in training. If you feel good, then you’ll do good! Opt for a bright pair to enhance your mood! But remember, comfort and support always come first!
The Extra Mile: Step things up by treating yourself to a new hoody so you can look your best in the gym foyer or when you grab a post-workout smoothie. Being spotted walking from the gym clutching a dripping plastic bag from the supermarket is definitely a no no. Get yourself a trendy gym bag and you’ll be good to go! Generally, be sure to avoid makeshift ensembles of bright colours that don’t match and make sure your kit always looks clean, simple and new. Coordinate two or three colours, remove any jewellery and go easy on the gadgetry, you’ll just look stupid when you grapple with the controls. Simple stylistic points aside, comfort is key: feel relaxed and you’ll be more prepared to return for more. Nicola Williams
Photography by Emily Logie
2016 is well and truly upon us now, and you’ve promised that you’ll take your impressive fitness regime to the next level. But what should you wear whilst pumping iron? Just because you’re wearing clothes to absorb sweat doesn’t mean you’re off the hook in the style stakes. In the gym, the emphasis may be on getting your body in tip-top condition but you should still try to look good. After all, you never know who you might meet. The good news is that it’s not hard or expensive to dress well for the gym. Comfort and breathability should be your mantra, but you need to get the colours and styles right, too. Follow these simple tips on what to wear and avoid in the gym and you’ll be destined for success.
Zendaya: A Fashion Icon
STYLE
“Style-wise, I am fearless.”
Illustration by Sarah Rathbone
Design by Aurelija Koerfer
-Zendaya Coleman Zendaya has come a long way since the days of acting as Rocky Blue, a dancer in the Disney Channel series, Shake It. Now she has her own series on the channel, which she co-produces. Alongside this she is releasing music, including her most recent track “Something New” featuring Chris Brown. Through her ground-breaking red carpet looks and domination of social media, the 19-year old has put herself in the media spotlight and has earned her crown as a fashion icon. One thing that can be taken from Zendaya’s style is that she refuses to stay in her comfort zone. From tailored two-piece suits to luxurious ball gowns, she never sticks to a trend and is clearly not afraid to try something new. In an interview with Style Caster, Zendaya gave us an insight into what she admires from her own fashion icons: “Style-wise, I look up to people who like to do their own thing, people who march to the beat of their own drum, who dress for themselves and just don’t care.” This statement truly captures Zendaya’s style to a T, explaining her dramatic outfit changes from event to event. Even when dressing casually in her day-today life, Zendaya always adds her own edge to an outfit, something that can inspire us to put a spin on a casual ensemble. Zendaya has clearly proven her standing in the fashion world, by landing her own shoe line ‘Sole of Daya’ that will launch later this year. Her unique fashion choices have impacted her shoe designs with many bold colours, statement patterns and sophisticated styles being showcased.
Zendaya has also been known for her activism in body positivity, and uses her large social media following to attempt to make a change in how people perceive body size in the media. Zendaya recently brought to light a dramatically edited image of herself, posing for the cover of ‘Modeliste Magazine’. The already slim star posted a side-by-side image, comparing the untouched photograph to the manipulated one for her 20 million Instagram followers. The caption read: “...These are the things that make women self conscious, that create the unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have.” Zendaya was praised for her honesty, which I believe brought her a lot of admiration and made her a role model to many young girls and women who suffer under the strict body images we see today on the covers of magazines.
“If there’s any definition to being perfect, you’re perfect at being yourself.” -Zendaya Coleman Shannon Leahy 31
SPORT
From the eight teams that currently make up the two Super 10 groups, it is tough to pick four that will go on to make the knock-out stage because of the distinct quality of Twenty20 cricket at the moment. As current incumbents of the title, Sri Lanka will be favourites to many. This is further supported by their experience of sub-continent playing conditions but their recent loss of legends such as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena will hinder them. England join Sri Lanka in Group 1 and many cite them as early favourites given the
Design by Liam Hopley
This March the sixth ICC World Twenty20 tournament lands in India. The World Twenty20 features an unusual format in which the first round is made up of the smaller ICC Associate Members, and Test ‘minnows’ Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Between 8th and 13th March these teams will compete to determine which two teams go on to join the automatically qualified Test teams in the Super 10 Round. Going into the First Round, bookies’ favourites will likely be Bangladesh and Afghanistan given their relatively high positions in the ICC T20 International rankings, however, teams such as Scotland and the Netherlands should by no means be overlooked after their performances in the qualification tournament.
meteoric rise of certain players in the new look English limited-overs sides. All England fans will be hoping that the recent form of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, and Alex Hales will carry on into the tournament. Also in their group is South Africa; a once mighty force that have struggled against England and India of late. South Africa will have a lot to prove after a recent dip of form but with the likes of AB de Villiers and new prodigy Kagiso Rabada in their ranks, they have every chance of impressing. The final side in this group is the West Indies; a side that have previously underperformed in the big tournament considering their wealth of One Day talent but a side one can never write-off, especially when they have Chris Gayle in the midst of their attack. Group 2 will see hosts India exercising their home advantage. The sheer quantity of Indian supporters makes any match daunting for a tourist side so India will be able to lay
claim to a 12th player greater than anywhere else in the world. Neighbours Pakistan also feature in this group and all eyes will be on the big rivalry clash on 19th March as the two giants face off. After failing to make it out of the Super 10s last time, Pakistan will be eager to return to former glory. Two more local rivals make up the rest of Group 2, Australia and New Zealand. Australia are fresh off the back of last year’s immense Cricket World Cup win and their depth of talent knows no bounds. Although New Zealand have been one of the great One Day sides of the past they must now look to continue this success in the post-Brendan McCullum era. Will they cope? We can only wait and see. As much as I would love to see England win, they often struggle in big tournaments so I would be surprised if they make it past the semi-finals. I would not be surprised however if Australia or Sri Lanka are in the final. David Boyden Sports Editor
32
Photography by Kim Clark
n... Shining A Light O
AU Bad min ton
2015 Club of the Year winners, AU Badminton, absolutely dominated the BUCS leagues by winning all five titles and four out of five BUCS cups last year, not to mention winning four gold medals, four silvers and one bronze for BUCS individuals! Badminton player Dave McGinnity tells us how they are on course to repeat these fantastic BUCS results this year. At the edge of campus lays the Badminton Centre, where several Loughborough students devote most of their time on the courts, twenty hours of training a week to be exact. This unique club not only trains and plays matches, but they also have ten Level 1 student coaches within the club who deliver coaching sessions for the Development Squad. They have also raised £550 in aid of the Macmillan Cancer support (driven by Laura Graves) through fundraising events. The club is broken down into four sections which consist of: Elite, Squad, Academy, and Development. The range of sections means there’s a chance for all keen badminton players to flaunt their talent and ability. Here at Loughborough there are five BUCS teams (three Men’s and two Women’s), nine Leicester teams who compete locally, as well as the National Badminton League (NBL) team. Their training sessions range from an hour and a half, to three hours a day, with Elite training every day, Squad and Academy training four times a week, and Development training three times a week. Now that’s a lot of badminton! Not to mention that Coach Atu includes fitness into
most of their training sessions. No wonder the teams who compete in the local league won three leagues last year. Head Coach Mike Adams and the players undergo a hectic calendar this season as every week the club have one or more teams playing somewhere. BUCS matches are every Wednesday which normally involve all 5 teams, and local Leicester matches are throughout the week, every week. Whilst the players work and train hard they also play hard, enjoying a large Hey Ewe social every other week. They’ve endured whiteboard, t-rex and wizard themes to mention just a few. The club are also teaming up with Squash, Tennis and Table Tennis for a social so expect the racket sport clubs to be out in full force! An inspiring part of Loughborough Badminton is the NBL. This is separate to the AU club but it’s their professional team, which Loughborough students Greg Mairs, Jenny Moore and Chloe Birch play for. Last year Loughborough came second in the league just behind Birmingham. This year, however, Loughborough are making their comeback and seeking revenge as Chloe Birch beat Birmingham 3-2 on February 8th. There was a huge and noisy turnout of 400 people in the Sir David Wallace Sports hall for the match. Let’s support our badminton teams as they play on Wednesday afternoons, as well as the NBL team who qualified for the playoffs which will be played in May! Flic Carr
Photography by Ushandan Kirupalaratnam
28
Behind the scenes of the Exec Elections 2016
WIN a month’s rent for
you and your housemates* Whether you’re searching for a property, renting a room in a house with other students or graduates or buying a new home, Move Me In gives you a customised set of tasks tailored to your search or move. You can add photos of the potential property, share tasks with housemates and create your own list of jobs to complete.
Sign up to Move Me In today for your chance to WIN a month’s rent for you and your housemates.* Visit www.move-me.in
*Terms and conditions apply Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting their website at www.fca.org.uk/register Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited. Company No. 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.