iter... A note from the Chief Wr
Contents.
2 A Statement from The President. 4 An Idiots guide to the Browne Review. 6 Browne Report: Opinions. 8 Student Fashion: Make that money last! 10 When Fadi met Professor Nick Foskett. 12 In a Relationship with Facebook. 14 Mood:Nostalgic. 16 Bikes for Keele. 17 Keele and “Sustainable Communities”
Hey, I'm Andy – one of the chief writers on Concourse this year. Allow me to welcome you to this packed second issue; as you can see, things have changed a lot this year. We have a new structure, a new look and a renewed determination to cover the issues at the heart of the Keele experience. The big debate in this edition is over the recommendations for higher education funding detailed in the recent Browne Report. Our writers have penned thoughts on this from a number of angles and perspectives; as ever, our intention is to stimulate discussion. Elsewhere, there are articles on sport, fashion, TV and much else besides; there should be something for everyone Remember that as a student Concourse is your publication and you can submit comments, ideas and articles at any time. In the meantime, enjoy the issue.
THE CONCOURSE TEAM! Chief Editor Fadi Dada Deputy Editor Brendan Rodgers
20 Ask Fay.
Sports Editor Dan Casey
21 Society Focus.
Chief Writers Nicola Hale Andy Johnson
22 Procrastination on Demand/Audio Warfare! 24 Concourse Sports. 27 Concourse Player Profile.
Dates for your diary... Student Council 25h January 22nd February 10th May Union General Meeting 9th Novebmer 8th February 8th March 31st May Entertainments The Monsters Forest (30.10.10) WinterFest (11.12.10)
Writers Alison Jane Carter Andy Irwin Evelynne Lam Gwen Smith Samuel Fidler Kim Buttery Michael E. Turner II Thomas Norris Nicola Hobbs Frederike Dammé Jack Mills Davidson Sam Higham Proofreaders Lauren Mason Kim Buttery Cartoonist Liam Eddleston
A STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT Cuts, fees, politics – to be quite honest I’m getting sick of all this moaning. Anyone would think we were in some kind of crisis! I mean, calm down everyone, it’s just a few redundancies here and there isn’t it? At the end of the day tough decisions have to be made and I don’t believe that most of us really care about our lecturers’ livelihoods in the first place. I’ve heard all kinds of things recently about job losses and course closures and ‘lack of resources’ but what does that all even mean? If you really want a library book which they can’t stock anymore then you can always just go and buy the textbook yourself.
willing to take on some extra debt to “Surely, if students and their families aren’t enough” go to university they must just not want it As for course closures, if not as many people apply for that subject then it must not be worth keeping open in the first place. In fact, it’s probably for the best if less people do study humanities and social science degrees; they don’t tend to lead you into successful careers and what have you come to university for if it’s not to further your career? On the other hand of course it’s not just that there are too many people studying humanities; it’s that there are too many people studying in higher education as a whole. It’s a fact that not all people can or should have a university education and there has to be people willing to settle for non-graduate jobs whether they want to accept it or not. Then there’s that whole other ball game, the big talking point right now… tuition fees. Surely, if students and their families aren’t willing to take on some extra debt to go to university they must just not want it enough. If you honestly are ‘Oxbridge’ or ‘Russell Group’ university material then you have to be prepared to reflect that by paying more than you may do at other universities. Furthermore, thank goodness someone has finally realised that if you didn’t achieve great UCAS points you don’t deserve financial help at university. I’m not buying for a second all this talk of so-called disadvantaged backgrounds having that large an affect on you’re A Levels or BTECs. If you messed up then it’s your own fault I’m afraid, life simply isn’t always fair and you’ve missed your chance to go into higher education. Do you believe in anything I just said? I’m proud to say I don’t. Join the march.
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By Samuel Fiddler Before a sports match, you warm up; before sitting a test, you revise and before going out on the razz, you line your stomach. Akin to many of you, I know close to absolutely nothing about the recent Browne Report on higher education. Scores of my peers are talking about totally uncapped educations fees and no student loans being given; that only the wealthy will be able to attend university and places at the institutions are being cut. Let‟s put some of these rumours to rest and establish a few home truths, however grim they may be.
a great history of “As students of Keele University, you have activism behind you” As it stands, the fees in England are capped at £3,290 and these have to be paid up front, usually within a few months of enrolment. Already, this is a strain for many warranting us to take out a student loan, either means or non-means tested, which must be paid back when we start earning more than £15,000 a year. If the loan isn‟t repaid within 25 years, then it gets written off. According to the Browne Report, fees are going to be completely uncapped. Each university would be allowed to charge what they want for you to study there, but the fees would not have to be paid up front. There will be “means testing for access to loans for living cost”, and an annual loan of £3,725 will be available to all of us (part-timers would also be eligible for loans for their fees). The repayment threshold has also been raised to £21,000, where we would pay 9% of any income above this. If our income drops, then so do our payments; if we stop work, then do our payments also and any remaining balance after 30 years is written off. What this does mean though is that there will be more competition for higher education. Universities will not be controlled by the government as to how many students they can take in, so this will allow for growth, and from evidence this summer, we need more spaces. But in order for more spaces, the universities need more money to build the teaching and accommodation facilities. Just to settle you down after all that; the Browne Report is intending to start raising the fees by £1,000 a year from 2013, 2 or 3 years down the line. This means that those of you have started a 3 year course this year will most likely not see a massive change in tuition fees. Then again, those of you wishing to further your knowledge with a Masters Degree or PhD will for sure see a change in the way fees are dealt with. So what does this mean for us at Keele? Well, we could see fees rise; however, Keele is committed to growing and in 2009 built another 150 seat lecture theatre in the Dorothy Hodgkin building. And as students of Keele University, you have a great history of activism behind you. If you feel strongly enough about something, I‟m sure there‟s someone who shares this emotion. Do something about it. 4
Enourmous Debt: Just Something Students Have got to get used to? In response to the recently released Browne Report, which proposes various changes to the university funding system, students from all over the country are preparing to protest at the demonstration being held at Horse Guards Avenue in Central London on the 10th of November. The cuts outlined in the report will mean that the students of the future will have to shoulder an enormous debt after they graduate, although it should be noted that at this point the cuts proposed are only suggestions and not actual law. Paradoxically, the generation that is proposing these cutbacks in university education are the same individuals who received their university experience free of charge. They were not expected to pay their tuition fees or their maintenance loans back once they graduated and so the expectation for todayâ€&#x;s student to shell out thousands for their education is tinged with a hint of irony. It seems essential that the demonstration scheduled for early November is supported to illustrate the widespread negative sentiment that surrounds the Browne Report and its lack of understanding of the impact it could have on many potential students. The review proposes that there should be no limits on the tuition fees charged by universities. There will be a levy placed on fees, whereby for every thousand pounds over the ÂŁ6,000 marker the government will claw back a specific percentage, in order to discourage universities charging over this. However despite the levy the report still means that tuition fees could double in comparison to what they are today. This could deter many students from less wealthy backgrounds from making the transition to university due to fear about the debt they will be in for the rest of their lives. The report, if implemented, could also serve to widen the gap between the more elite, wealthier universities such as Oxbridge and the other higher education institutions in the country. The more elite universities are likely to increase their fees in line with the demand for places. Due to this demand always being great and because the standard intake of students are usually from middle class, wealthy families the places are almost definitely going to be filled regardless of fees. On the downside, universities with a usual intake of students from not as well off backgrounds may receive less enthusiasm surrounding places owing to financial worries. This could result in them receiving fewer students, less money and therefore be unable to compete with the quality of teaching and services universities receiving millions in fees a year will be providing. Understandably the government needs to make cuts, however the report raises questions as to whether the education sector is the best place to be drawing back. The report not only suggests students should pay more via their fees; it also slashes the amount of funding the government assigns to each university. Therefore the universities could be receiving less income overall than they are currently and the removal of the cap on fees will simply be used by universities to try and make up the gap lost by the cutting of government subsidies. If we burden our future students with massive debt and deter many from even undertaking a university education are we not as a society lessening the breadth of talent and skills of our workforce? Would the taxation of society as a whole in order to fund universities not be a better option instead of raising fees astronomically so that students are unfairly targeted? If the demonstration in November allows these ideas to enter the government's consciousness and encourage them to rethink the fairness of this proposal then surely it is an event worth supporting.
By Alison Carter 6
Taking Sides... The Browne Review was bound to stir emotion, from the moment the review was announced; with speculation rife as to how severe the cuts would be, starting months before the actual publication of said review. Now released, with the suggestion of no caps on tuition fees, the report has encountered strong opposition and equally strong support from all areas of society. Indeed feelings have become so strong that the Keele Union General Meeting reportedly turned into a political shouting match, over the simple proposition of KUSU providing buses for those who wish to join the NUS protest against Lord Browne‟ s recommendations. Similar situations have doubtlessly happened at other university UGMs and debates about the review and the NUS demonstration. It could almost be seen as a good thing, igniting political fever in a student population, too often stereotyped as being uninterested in anything other than getting drunk. Indeed the feelings it has evoked in Keele students, seems somewhat nostalgic of the historically politicised and politically active nature of the university‟s past, with a strong sentiments from both the left and right leaning amongst Keele‟s student populace. However this political and ideological split that has occurred seems to be missing the point somewhat. Talk to people on campus, ask them if they are going to the protest, they‟ll say yes or no. It seems students, or more rightly the politicised portion of the student body, have split either pro or con, left or right, demonstrating or not. Here is the problem, by objecting totally to the Browne review, are we not missing the point of the NUS demonstration. The NUS is not asking for complete opposition to the cuts but a fairer system to be introduced, as the president said: “any graduate contributions to universities should be determined by earnings in the real world...not fixed prices based on average salaries” . As members of society, current students, and friends or family of future students, we have to accept that the current deficit and financial situation calls for changes in funding and budgeting across all walks of life. However the clear anti or pro stance, which many seem to be taking over the matter, is too simple. To truly ensure the government takes notice of the demonstration and students we need intelligent responses to the question of changing university spending. If the demonstration turns into another UGM situation, a Tory versus Labour shouting match, then it will negate itself. People should not be demonstrating or opposing the demonstration just to take sides, but to genuinely engage with a problem.
By Tom Norris
The Demonstration - Why I’m Not Going... For the past couple of weeks I have been trying to get myself angry about the Browne report and what it means for those who will come to university in 2011, all bright-eyed and away from home for the first time. I‟m also trying to get worked-up about what it will mean for me and my friends as we start to pay back our little student mortgages. The problem is I can‟t seem to get worked-up about it (bearing in mind I like getting on my soapbox, as many will verify). I just don‟t think it‟s a big ask to expect students to contribute more to their elite education. Because that is what this is, when we decide to come to university we make a life choice. We decide that for three, four, maybe even five years we‟re going to enter into an elite system of education so that we can open lots of doors to the future. We live in a country where we now expect the government to provide everything. As a result public spending in this country is colossal when considered against how much we are borrowing. We are in debt up to the eyeballs because we want everything to be easy all of the time. Something has to give, and this time it‟s state-subsidised advanced education. Student funding and student loans aren‟t going anywhere (and without them I couldn‟t afford to be here either), so the funding will still be there. I‟m proud to pay for my education, it makes it all the more worthwhile and gives me the incentive to work hard (otherwise my money, not Mummy and Daddy‟s money I hasten to add, will be wasted). There are other, in my opinion more important, issues than this on the agenda at the moment. I think that the majority of people will see us as a bunch of kids marching around London, most people probably won‟t even know the demonstration is going on. It will achieve absolutely nothing. The assumption upon coming to university is that if you work hard, engage, and take all the opportunities it has to offer then you‟ll be in line for a good career on the other side, and that‟s still a steal at twice the price.
By Andy Irwin
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Dealing with student finance can be a nightmare, but now that we actually have the dosh in our bank accounts, what do we do with it? How do we make it last that bit longer, so that we aren‟t in the red at the end of freshers' week!? Making the pennies stretch can be difficult, especially when every weekend you need a new outfit for the K2 lockdown or black and white formal. Never fear! The these few cheap tricks could be the difference between an abundance of spare pounds and living off of spaghetti for the next few months...
ds! Charity shops are your frien Just because you see the ever aging population going into Cancer Research doesn’t mean its going to be a never ending pit of grannies knickers and old socks… charity shops are gold mines for the chunky winter jumpers that are so in fashion right now! Not to mention their array of fair-trade jewellery such as, bangles, pendants and rings, which add a bright fashion forward edgy twist to any winter outfit. You‟ve got Oxfam, British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research in Newcastle, but if the cheap goodies aren‟t enough to persuade you, the satisfaction that your pennies go towards a worthwhile cause, is reason enough to raid the tucked away charities within Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Don't underestimate “junk” mail... Another sneaky tit-bit to keep the bills low and the bank balance high… or at least relatively high, is a simple trick of actually keeping all the scraps of paper you collect from vendors on the street. Within the junk mail is often a hefty voucher for 40% off on major brands such as New Look and Peacocks, which is a dream when the prices spike for the end of the recession and the approach of Christmas.
There’s more than one reason to keep in contact with your parentals... As it turns out, embellishments from the '80s and camel colours seen in the '60s are back in fashion. Seen primarily in high fashion brands such as Chloe, Stella McCartney and Balmain, they are the hottest trends for the chilly winter ahead of us. So a trip back home to raid the attic and your mum and dad draws, could leave you looking very chic and fresh this Autumn and Winter. I did the very same thing and came back with a chunky, white, 4 sizes too big winter jumper, perfect with black skinny jeans and a pair of wellies, all you need for keeping warm and fashionable as the weather gets steadily worse!
Deploy the other plastic.. . The last and probably most important off all the tips for this issue, is the application and use of the NUS Card! Not only is it a god send for getting pounds off of your clothes shopping, but you can get bargains for Amazon, MacDonald‟s, Superdrug, Odeon, Game and much much more! It only costs a pittance of £11 and ought to be a definite addition to your wallet for your years as a student.
My advice for you whippersnappers is simple but a quick recap can't hurt. Just remember: charity shops are a gold mine, plunder your mum’s old rags, don t ditch the paper as vouchers are useful and lastly, cherish the miracle that is the NUS card! You will make it to Christmas, don t fret little ones!
By Nicola
Hobbs
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When Fadi met Professor Nick Foskett: Keele Universities new Vice Chancellor! In the January of 2010 it was announced that Professor Nick Foskett would be taking over as the Vice Chancellor of Keele University following the retirement of Dame Janet Finch. He took up his new post in August and it was with great intrigue that I went along to meet the man that has been charged with the steep task of guiding the university through the tough economic climate facing our country today. With no idea what to expect, I nervously sat in the waiting room contemplating how to approach this interview, so many questions, so many issues - it was hard to decide where I should even begin... In the end, I ended up asking him about cake... Amongst other things...
Professor Foskett speaking at the KUSU Annual General Meeting.
First things first! Can you explain to us students, what exactly is a Vice Chancellor and what does one do? “Basically, if the university were a normal business, I would be the CEO. I have total responsibility and accountability for what happens here- especially financial decisions. Elsewhere in the world, (for example the US), they have a university ‘president’, schools have headmasters, FE colleges have Principles...‘Vice Chancellor’ is a pretty archaic term, but it means the same thing.” About you; how did you become the VC for Keele, and why Keele specifically? “I’ve worked across all areas of the education sector; in schools, further education and higher education. But I’ve been in Higher Education since 1987. I’ve got experience in both the academic and research aspects of the HE sector, but always had an interest in relationship between the theory and practicality of educational management. I enjoy being at the heart of the decision-making process, directing policy, and so on. I never started out in life at 23 thinking ‘I want to be a Vice Chancellor!’ – it was just a case of natural progression I suppose. Why Keele? Keele represents alot of what I think is positive about the education system; the notion of community and the focus on students... ...The size is great as well, you know, about 10,000 students, and the fantastic location. I totally support the vision for Keele. I was born and bred in Staffordshire, but I know I would have liked to come and work with Keele regardless.” 10
You’ve been in office for six weeks. Are you planning to make changes? “It’s an interesting moment to come into a job like this. Nobody knows what’s going to happen [to the future of higher education] and alot of what we need to do will be shaped by the Comprehensive Spending Review and the Browne Review, which are published in October. I suppose the difference in how we manage and respond to these documents is dependent on the percentage of government financial cuts for universities – for example 25% will mean something different to 40%. The only thing that’s certain at the moment is that we will have to respond to these reviews. My top priority for Keele is to ensure long-term financial stability. In terms of direction, I have a real commitment to getting the right balance between research and education, I think it’s core, we need to be getting research and education to work together, not too much of one and not enough of the other. Also, I think our research profile needs to be absolutely as good as it can be; and I’ll be looking at things like research grants, publishing papers, etc. I’m also interested in looking at our education system, the curriculum and structure, I’m really committed to improving the quality of education at Keele, with an appropriate focus on generic skills, employability, as well as getting the right depth of knowledge within the subjects. As soon as possible, I’d like employers to say ‘Keele graduates are fantastic’. Thirdly, I’m interested in internationalisation. And yes, a part of that is growing numbers of international students, but definitely not at the expense of home students- I’m talking about overall growth. More than that though, the ideal is that Keele can become a place where every student has the opportunity to engage on an international level, be that a year abroad, a work experience placement, etc. “ So how are you planning on supporting these increased numbers of international students, and the other projects focussing on internationalisation? “I think we will need to look at the curriculum to ensure it is meeting the needs of all students, whether they are home, EU or international. I think a key player in any international support strategy will be the social support mechanisms, and actually the students and athletic unions are a big part of that- you are central to the community aspect of Keele life. I think the core notion of a non-alcoholic space on the centre of campus, rather than on the peripheries, could go a long way into embracing the diversity not just with our international students, but our home students too.” Moving on, Keele isn’t a sports university in that we don’t offer the opportunity to study sport academically, but for many students sport is a major part of their university experience, and some have expressed dissatisfaction with what we currently offer. What is your stance on sport at Keele and are there any plans to develop our current facilities? “I see the leisure centre as part of a wider remit- it is one of many divisions of student facilities on campus. Personally I am a sports fan. We need them to be as good as we can be. We want to be a leading university across all areas, and if we feel that there are viable ways to improve the standard and experience, then we will strive to. Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to be able to sign blank cheques!” So I guess a swimming pool is not on the horizon then?! “It would be fantastic. Historically, we have tried it on numerous occasions but for one reason or another, stumbled along the way. But, there are other options- we could perhaps look at what local businesses are offering students and perhaps cater for them that way.” You said you are a sports fan. Football or Rugby? Who do you support? “Oh, I like soccer, cricket, athletics. I used to play squash up until two years ago when unfortunately my knee prevented me. In terms of who I support, I suppose this could be quite a politically loaded question! The truth is that I’ve been brought up in Stoke on Trent and throughout my time here I actually supported both Stoke City and Port Vale- Stoke one week and Port Vale the next. My first love was Port Vale because that was the end of the city in which I lived. My Grandfather played for Stoke and my great grandfather played for Port Vale. I wish them both well & I’m sure I’ll go to both teams’ games!” 11
Along the local theme... what do you have on your oatcake? “Cheese. Cheese, has to be. One of my other passions is Pikelets. Kind of like a cross between a scotch pancake and a muffin. You can have them savoury or sweet!” A question from the drama society: if you were a kind of cake, which one would you be, and why? “Cake? It would vary from day to day. Probably a chocolate fudge brownie; Solid, good fun! readers will interpret that to the nth degree!”
I’m sure your
Alot of freshers are going to read this magazine. Give them a tip for their first year at Keele? “Take advantage of all the opportunities that come along. Work comes first, obviously, but as the old cliché goes, you get out what you put in. Also doing something that has a longer term benefit- volunteering, work experience, leadership roles in the SU- it’s a competitive job market, anything abouve your academic degree will help you when you graduate.” Keele has a somewhat left-wing history. Lecturers say students have changed- they see themselves as consumers now. What do you think? “That’s the political direction of travel. If you look at the various governments we’ve had over the past 25 years, it’s all been about marketisation. Changing the structure of education and university as it has, has meant that students increasingly see themselves as buying a service, and as such, expect to have customer rights. I suppose it depends on your own personal political bias as to how you interpret this. But as a university we need to respect the demands that students put upon us.” Finally, I ask most people I interview to give me their favourite quote? VC: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” It means, basically, if you want to change the world, you have to do things differently!” 12
By Frederike Dammé Ever heard of Mark Zuckerberg? No, well, he is probably the man who has had the most impact on your social life in the last few years. In 2004, Harvard student Zuckerberg founded the social network site “thefacebook”. In the beginning, the network was accessible to Harvard students only but soon expanded to more universities in the States and then arrived in the UK. Now, six years later, Facebook has 500 million users worldwide and Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire on the planet. Facebook's cultural penetration is reflected in the recent film The Social Network, which documents the site's creation. But what, really, is the attraction of social networking? In times where the whole world is concerned with issues of privacy and data protection, we happily expose ourselves out of free choice. This might be true for everyone who has a virtual social life, however it is even truer for us students or to be precise for Keele students. It is safe to say that without a Facebook profile, students in Keele feel like they live in social oblivion; and no one likes oblivion. Facebook has slowly become the social market place of the 21st century. Weare still the same people but all our whispering, gossiping, stalking and scandalising is now secured in a safe place called the World Wide Web. One could arguably say that university life has completely changed since social networking became part of our degree programme. You can relive your university experience over and over again - good or bad, it is stored for eternity.
many cases not an accurate “We keep forgetting that a Facebook profile is in description of someone‟s character” Of course, it has become easier for us to communicate with people. Friends, who are all over the country and the world, family members in Australia or that hot Canadian guy you met whilst backpacking through Thailand, they are all are easy to talk to on a daily basis. However in our day-to-day life, social networking can also show its ugly face. How much information do we actually need? It often seems that we are provided with an overload of facts and figures we do not really need to know. The ex-boyfriend who just uploaded pictures of his trip to Paris which shows him with a different pretty French girl in every photo. The friend who is throwing an amazing party... but no matter how hard you look you can't seem to find an event invitation. Social networking is supposed to ease our relationships with other people but one cannot shake off the impression that in many cases it complicates things even more. “Moments are only unique because they happened and you were there not because you read it in someone‟s status”
What we see is not necessarily what we get. We keep forgetting that a Facebook profile is in many cases not an accurate description of someone‟s character. We feel a constant temptation to create a person we would like to be. Now, whenever we meet someone new, we judge him or her according to an artificially created virtual life. We have become the generation of access-all-areas information but in reality remain to a large extent completely clueless. Maybe - and that might be psychology for dummies - Facebook has provided us again with that feeling of control. Control in a current climate where it is uncertain if we find the right job or a job at all, the right partner and the perfect house. The problem is, we won‟t find these things on Facebook either. Even if the university experience, and for us personally the Keele experience, has changed since Facebook is on the agenda we should not forget that the real university life is not in front of a screen but in the Union, the Pig and Rat or even a lecture theatre. So even though Facebook is great and we can share all our funny and tragic moments with whoever we like, these moments are only unique because they happened and you were there not because you read it in someone‟s status. After all, I would not like to hear that we will be known as the generation who posts everything but has nothing to say. 14
By Brendan Rodgers Hello again Keele! Last issue, we welcomed the Freshers- and I’m sure by now you’ve all learnt what we mean by “Freshers’ week will teach you everything”! If you remember from the last issue, we discussed Apathy – and what it means for Keele today. For those who are not involved in our Students’ Union’s political side, I would like to talk today about Keele and its history of activism- some of which may surprise you! Although some may know Keele to be a dull and apathetic place, others have lived and breathed the passion of conviction to defend the peoples right to education or the opposite! To prove this, today I’m going to inform you of how Keele for a small period, became known to the whole of the UK as an institution that protested against educational cuts of 1981. The first year of a progressive decade – and the Conservatives were in power much like today having to deal with an economic crisis. The Government has to make some very unpopular decisions, and like today’s Coalition Government – they address the issue of education expenditure. In 1981, however, there were some differences! Fresh in the people’s minds were the 1970s, punk rock and activism were still in the air- the people still thought they could make a difference. Whether they were the liberal hippies, advocating world peace, environmentalism and free speech, or the conservatives concerned with the economic recession, and a progressive future with Britain’s first female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the helm; the time was ripe for the country to be full of opinion. Those of you familiar to a Union General Meeting, you’ll know how the debates can get emotionally heated – especially from the opposing political factions. For those of you who don’t know the UGMs,
I can promise you that there are students who will fight tooth and nail to make sure that justice is ascertained within our Union. 1981, was no different than today. However, this was a special meeting because at the end of this meeting; Keele had voted itself in direct opposition of the British Government, and started the process of a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (in short, they became their own COUNTRY!) The Letter to the Prime Minister went like this: osed , deeply opp n e e b e v a h diture. We “We always cation expen u d e in s ck a ust in the to cutb that our tr , re fo re e ged in feel th rrently enga cu t, n e m rn has British Gove us cutbacks io d o ch su g It is our implementin betrayed... y tl n le o vi st not a been mo is right and n o ti ca u d e available belief that uld be freely o sh d n a e g easures, privile sed to all m o p p o re a e or unto all. W to education ss e cc a ct ri bwhich rest fuse to be su re e W . ty li a u q therefore dermine its means, and ch su y b from d jugate independence te le p m co r We u declare o overnment... G sh ti ri B e Republic of the rule of th s; ‘The Free e lv e rs u o re decla U, 1981” Keele’ - KUS
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Ultimately, the Free Republic’s independence only lasted roughly a week, due to its inability to sustain itself. However, in that period of time – a few amazing things happened. None other than the late comic Spike Milligan was appointed Ambassador of Keele, a strict policing for entry to campus was initiated – the passphrase being: “Sod off you commie bastard!”, and a motion (which was turned down) to have female students be allowed frisked on random, just in case they were spies! Rumour has it, that although Keele University could not for political reasons endorse the declaration – they did support it, and the SPIRE department produced “Free Republic of Keele Passports”! After looking into the Declaration, I met with Mr. John Easom, the Keele Alumni Officer, who informed me that Keele “has always been like this”. Mr.Easom fondly waxed lyrical about the “strangeness of Keele” and how as a campus, we have always attracted not just activist, but quirky people! He told me, that although my article (originally planned to emphasize the historical Declaration of Independence) was of good intention – it would be better served to remind Keele students of some of our more quirky- yet just as historical moments. So, adhering to his advice, I looked into the Keele Oral History Project (spearheaded by John himself), and found some amazing stories. One that struck me was the time that Keele students supposedly levitated the Vice Chancellors building! “There is a strong tradition of imaginative and creative student activity and protest at Keele. The turn of the decades of the 1960s and 1970s was a particularly energetic time. Here we weave some very carefully expurgated threads of music, protest and psychic power to recall those heady days....”- Oral History Project Supposedly, rumour circulated around Keele Campus by the Student’s Union as a form of Protest on the 28th October, 1970.The Oral History Project (which includes statements from alumni to piece together Keele’s more interesting history) has a quote from alumni, Janet Dowling: “When a large number of people had gathered outside and around the Vice Chancellor's house, the Vice Chancellor’s wife came out and asked them what they were doing. When some one said that they were levitating it, apparently she said something along the lines of "Alright dear, but put it back when you have finished with it!" – Oral History Project Website. Hilariously, the drama of Keele doesn’t stop there by a long shot, in 1970 “the incident on the lawns” had roughly twenty Keele Students strip naked, and sunbathe in the summer sun. An extract from the Scottish Daily Mail (20th June, 1970) goes into more detail! “One of the students, aged 20, said: ‘We fancied a sunbathe so we took our clothes off. We believe in freedom. I don’t really see what all the fuss is about.’ A university spokesman said: ‘They possibly thought that their bodies were too beautiful for other people to be denied the sight of them.” There are so many more stories- and I haven’t done any of them justice (they each deserve whole articles to themselves –that tell of crazy antics and protests at Keele University, and most of which were done with the co-operation of the Student’s Union. The days were different back then, and people were happy to make spectacles of themselves to get their message across. Perhaps, with this new surge in activism – Keele can observe its heritage once more. I for one, am totally up for a few flash mobs or trying to levitate the chapel (not that I’d have the slightest clue how to manage it). Remember guys; we are all Keelites – and with that comes a certain responsibility to standing up for what we believe in. Whether that is through nude protests, psychic levitations or stampeding towards London! I really wanted to quote everything they said, but it would be an excessive use of page space! If you’re curious, you can find out all the awesome and crazy details at Keele.ac.uk/alumni/thekeeleoralhistoryproject/ 17
Bikes for Keele!
By Jack Mills Davidson
As you will all know Keele is one of the largest and most beautiful campuses in Europe boasting a 617acre estate including woods, a lake and parkland. It's one of the most communal campuses around, accommodating over 3000 students. With this in mind Keele markets itself as a green campus, with a sustainable ethos. Events such as 'green week' in February of last year, the new Keele sustainability hub being built, the implementation of recycling bins in halls of residence's kitchens and a union run by students for students are just some of the wonderful aspects of Keele's approach to caring for the community and its environment Having said this, more can be done. One of the best ways we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint, whilst saving those pennies to spend down the pub, rather than the fuel station, would be cycling as an alternative to driving, or using buses and taxis. Cycling saves cash, keeps you fit and protects the environment. From what I gather, many student bike owners feel uncomfortable leaving their bikes in the sheds available as they are insecure - confirmed by reports of break ins last year – not to mention inconvenient for the majority of students as their nearest bike shed is some distance from their room and too small. These factors deter students from buying bikes or bringing an existing one from home. If a student doesn't wish to risk using a bike shed and leaves it in their room, they are subject to a fine as it is deemed as a 'safety hazard'. As a community Keele needs to encourage cycling, and to do this it first needs to be able to accommodate bicycles. Cycling rather than driving would make Keele less crowded, noisy and polluted and save people time searching for parking spaces. Futhermore, it is proven that regular exercise keeps people energized and happy, thus cycling could improve the mental well being of the Keele student community and the atmosphere. What I and other students would like to see is a secure, spacious and conveniently located bike shed attached to every block on campus, or at least very close to the block, able to accommodate 20% or more of the students bikes within each block. I am currently speaking with members of Keele, including the Environmental Manager and the union about these issues. Please would any fellow student who has a bike on campus, wishes to bring or purchase one and empathizes with these concerns email me at jackmillsdavidson@hotmail.com letting me know who you are, in which halls of residence you live in and whether you have a bike. This will provide further backing for making the case to keele for a more cycle friendly university.
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Jack on his bike...
Keele and “Sustainable Communities” Wassup Keele!
II By Michael E. Turner
Quickly, without thinking... what do you admire most about our beloved Keele? Well to be honest - for me - there's no way I can choose, simply because there are so many things about Keele that should be commended. Only recently, I have added another entry on my list of things to love about Keele: its efforts to develop a more sustainable and environmentally aware campus. Keele has a vision to become the “Ultimate Campus University for the 21st Century” and I just thought I'd let you know that we - the students can help achieve this. How? Well at the risk of sounding too cliché, the 'Triple R' concept still applies today - Reduce, Re-use and Recycle! It takes roughly 24 trees to make 1 to n of newspaper Over Christmas 2009 , approximately 80 km2 of wrapping pa trash bins (that's en per ended up in UK ough to cover the ar ea of Guernsey!) Glass is 100% recycla ble and can be used over and over and actly how long it ta over; no one know kes for glass to brea s exk down, but glass ma de over 3,000 year in the Middle East s ago can still be found to day. Just 1 recycled plas tic bottle can save enough energy to po wer a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours. Hundreds of thousa nds of tonnes of pl astic are used each year in the UK (the alent of around 15 equivmillion bottles per day). £36,000,000 worth of aluminium is thro wn away each year. Aluminium cans ca n be recycled and ready to use in just 3 weeks
These are just a few interesting facts that help us to realise that our everyday actions do affect our environment. Making a difference can be as simple as turning off the lights when they aren't in use or avoiding leaking taps. So as students, we may not be from Keele, but for the duration of our time here, Keele is our home and will always be a part of us when we leave - so why not leave here knowing that we've done our part? Not only will we be helping to make Keele the model university it strives to be, but also we'll be ultimately helping our environment. On Friday 29th October, Keele will be holding an Environmental Symposium entitled 'Sustainable Communities'. At the symposium, Keele will be showcasing some of its research in the area of environmental sustainability across both the science and social science arenas. We will also be sharing some of our major developments on campus such as the 'Keele Sustainability Hub Building' which will be located at the entrance to the campus in the former Home Farm buildings. As a part of the symposium, Environmentalist Jonathon Porritt will be coming to Keele University to deliver a public lecture at 2:45pm. His lecture will carry the same name as the symposium - Sustainable Communities - and is open to anyone interested. If thats you, register your attendance by contacting Shirley Courthold (s.p.courthold@epsam.keele.ac.uk, tel: 33175). Let's show our support! Let‟s make it a point to become more environmentally aware and simultaneously help to make Keele a more sustainable community. I love Keele!
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Fay manages KUSU ’s Independant Ad vice Unit (IAU) which prov ides FREE, confid en ti al and impartial advice on academic, pe rsonal and financial issues. Drop in between 1-4pm to arrange an appointment! You can fi nd the IAU on th e to p floor of the students unio n. Alternatively em ail your queries to : independent.ad vice.unit@keele. ac.uk In this regular se ction we publish a selection of the frequent ques tions that Fay an d her team deal with around the time of public ation.
on of Concourse, and it I followed some of your advice from the last editi didn’t really help, why should we listen to you?
Well, I am sorry that it didn’t work out for you, however the questions and answers given here are only as a guide for others as nothing replaces individual advice, even you think they are the same, their circumstances may be very different from yours. Pop into the unit and we’ll sort you out. I need to transfer money from my Fath er’s account overseas into my UK account to pay for accommodation fees, but I don’t want to pay charges /commission if I can help it, what can I do?
You can go to postoffice.co.uk look in ‘finances’ under payments and find ‘international payments’, here you will be able to register your transfer requirements (bank details etc) and transfer money in the UK or overseas and from overseas to the UK free of charge. You will need to give them personal details, etc to register. If you use this service and give them the branch code you will be showing your support for your local post office at Keele, this is 2122383. You should also talk to your bank about what services they provide and compare them with the Post Office. 20
I fractured my finger last week playing rugby – it was the day before the exam, can I put in an EC form?
If you genuinely think that it has had an impact on your studies, and you can provide evidence of what happened, then you should complete an Extenuating Circumstance form, but if it just hurts a bit, then it probably won’t be upheld by the EC committee. People in Stoke keeping calling me ‘dog’ what this about?
I think that you are probably mishearing them, it’s actually ‘duck’ which is a friendly expression, people in Stoke can also call the bus ‘buzz’ and to food/packed lunch as ‘snap’.
le I don’t know, they are doing my head I am a Fresher and I have moved into a house with peop fridge but it’s not working. I need to be in, I have tried talking to them and leaving notes on the s every night of the week on placement every day and can’t cope with late night This is a difficult one, as if you have moved into a house the chances are you have signed an agreement which is a contract between you and the landlord. There are a few things you can do: you can contact the Student Mediation service, which is in the process of being able to mediate student to student, you can talk to your landlord, as it may be that they are able to help e.g. let you find someone to take over your room. If the other people in the house are on professional courses and are breaching codes of conduct then technically this can be reported to their school, however if you are having problems like this, come and talk to the Unit or to Student Support in the Walter Moberley building. I have to waste a just do failed modules; I can’t believe I’ve got to come back to Keele to l a bit lost t money I am going to get and I fee wha clue a t en’ hav I . this ng doi r yea
It is a difficult thing for students to deal with, especially if you have been through an appeal process and not got the outcome you were looking for. If you just doing exams, you won’t normally get any funding for this; if you are doing at least one module with attendance then you should receive some funding, though it depends when you are attending, if it is only for one semester, then you will only get funding for that one semester. This means that you are probably going to have to get a job, and try to fit your studies around it. You shouldn’t have to pay council tax during this period, but the rules regarding this are complex, so if you get charged during this period contact the Unit. We find that students in your situation are vulnerable to failing academically, so you must stay in touch with the University, engage with your departments, with the Centre for Learning and Student Support and make sure you are doing everything you can to stay on track to rejoin the main programme next year. My landlord is a pervy old git and keeps letting himself whenever he feels like it and we are a hou se of all girls
There is legislation to protect you; your landlord has the legal right to enter your house at reasonable times of day for example to do repairs and to see how you are treating the place. They need to give you 24 hours’ written notice. Ideally in the contract you have it should say what the arrangements are for access and procedures for getting repairs done, however it is not unusual for this to be missing, wrong or unclear. We can help negotiate with your landlord, as can the Housing Standards Officer at Newcastle Borough Council. However, if you are genuinely worried about their conduct you also need to make a judgement about whether the police should be involved.
The person I am sharing a campus room with is shagging her boyfriend in the bunk bed above me, it’s not pleasant – what can I do?
You need to speak to your Resident Tutor or Resident Manager about this as soon as possible, as this is not acceptable behaviour and you shouldn’t be subjected to this (assuming you are there at the time, if you are out it may be another matter...
with, they go home at the like the people who I share the corridor not is far so nce erie exp ty ersi univ My er parents before r room and shopping. I lived with fost thei for pay help to nts pare e hav they t there weekend, living independently, so the novelty isn’ time first my t isn’ This it. of out bit a in the past and feel for me. There are a number of groups who aren’t quite getting the whole ‘fresher’ thing, e.g. if you are on a health related course and have to get up at 6am to get ready for an early shift, however this doesn’t help you, particularly. In terms of finance, many of those at Keele who are here after leaving care don’t get the entire financial help available, if you contact the Student Funding Office, (email or ring Helen and tell her you are a care leaver), there’s a generous bursary you could be entitled to. You could take advantage of the opportunities to get out and meet more people, as friends can be as much of a support as family, check out opportunities to volunteer, or join societies, see Sonia Douz about sports opportunities which aren’t competitive. Nothing in this column reflects actual enquiries made in the Unit, we operate a strict policy on confidentiality, and nothing you say in the Unit will be repeated without your strict permission. Contacting Concourse with questions to ‘ask Fay’ assumes that you are happy for your question to printed. 20
As well as encouraging the skills of enthusiastic, experienced writers, Keele Writing wants to coax new creative minds to come forward from all walks of Keele life, and embrace hidden talents. While not a society in the usual sense - you don't need to pay to become a member - Keele Writing offers participants a chance to express themselves to a group of people who share their passion. All you need to do is join their Facebook group and attend any event that you find interesting, whether it be poetry or prose. The group organises open readings by a variety of published authors. Recently these have included the journalist Jo Tatchell whose first book, Nabeel's Song, was nominated for the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction 2007; Gwendolen Riley whose book Joshua Spassky won the 2008 Somerset Maugham Award; and the Whitbread Award winning poet Michael Symmons Roberts who was twice shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize. Meanwhile the society enjoyed an amazing opportunity when Keele played host to Carol Ann Duffy, who was settling into her role as Poet Laureate when she appeared in March to read to a sold-out auditorium in the Chancellor's Building. The Roy Fisher Prize for Poetry, endowed by Carol Ann Duffy, meanwhile is to be run at Keele. It is funded by her for the ten years of her laureateship, and will allow any student to enter a pamphlet of their work, the prize being publication. The deadline should be mid-November, but keep a look out on the group's Facebook page for more news. Creative Writing tutors and published authors Jim Sheard and Joe Stretch are, rather fittingly, in charge, and always preparing new speakers and events where you can read too. Working alongside the Creative Writing Society on Facebook, they hope to build a vibrant writing culture. As Jim Sheard says "once done once, it's easy" - joining and getting your work out there is not as daunting as you might have first thought.
By Gwen Smith
By Andy Johnson The advent of online TV-on-demand services has been a crushing blow in the 21st century student's fight against having to do any work. iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD, even Demand Five – we salute you, even as we curse your greedy consumption of our HallsNet download limits. Here's a few highlights that have kept my nose from the grindstone recently, and which I recommend to you, gentle readers, in the coming weeks.
Spooks on to If there's ever been an occasi the t tha make use of the fact up s iPlayer's volume control goe , it's to a Spinal Tap-esque eleven spy e Th e. the Spooks theme tun , ies show is now in its ninth ser ills aand as ever there are thr topho ly ing plenty as MI5's alarm m fro s genic team sees off threat Sothe Chinese government, exng cki ija p-h shi viet terrorists, and e hav C BB bombers. Handily, the so , put it all on series catch-up of the you can quickly get abreast r apyou in action before you put dgra 's plication to Thames House uate scheme.
Holby City Now let me reassure you that the BBC aren't funding th is article; it's just that for my mo ney (ha!) the Beeb just make bette r TV. However uncool hospital drama and Casualty spin-off Holby City ma y be, its yearround weekly format all ow for some ambitious storylines and 2010 has been a good year, clima xing recently with the much-publicise d murder of a major character. And for you medical students – yes, it does count as revision: preparing yo u for the ethical dilemmas, social disintegration and judicious backsta bbing you're apparently in for. Rath er you than me.
The Apprentice Now don't get me wr ong – I love the Lord Sugar sh ow. But is it just me, or does this series feature the most hateful, self-absorbed group of candidates ever? Oh well, this just made the record-bre akingly poor result of the los ing team in week two even mo re delicious than it would ot herwise have been. With so many headstrong individuals thrown together this time ar ound, it would seem that we are in for a particularly explosiv e series. Yes sir, these candid ates are dynamite – and not of the kind Lord Sugar is looking for, I suspect.
By Tom Norris What to do when a neighbour is going overboard with their loud music? Obviously Concourse doesn't condone this kind of dastardly behaviour, but if we were to strike back in kind, what might be the best aural weapons to deploy...? 1) Arab on Radar – “#5” (from Soak the Saddle) 2) Norma Jean – “Pretty Soon...” (from Bless the Martyr...) 3) The Chariot – “Evolve” (from Wars and Rumours of Wars) 4) Rolo Tomassi – “Fuck the Pleasantries, Let's Remix” (Remix) (from Rolo Tomassi) 5) The Dillinger Escape Plan – “The Mullet Burden” (from Under the Running Board) 6) Genghis Tron – “Board Up the House” (from Board Up the House) 7) Gay for Johnny Depp – “F**king isn‟t Cheating” (from Manthology) 8) Liars – “If You‟re a Wizard...” (from They Were Wrong...) 9) Crystal Castles – “Xxzxcuzx” (from Crystal Castles) 10) Big Black – “Bad Penny” (from Songs about F**cking) 21
ev iew BUCS 2010/11 Season Pr
It’s that time of year again; Keele sports men and women have all competed in their first competitive sports matches of the year representing us, Keele University. There may be some of you out there who are unaware of what all the fuss is about, and why the buzz word around the sports side of the campus is BUCS. It’s because all the teams have wet their lips with pre-season optimism for the exciting year that lies ahead for Team: Keele. What is BUCS? BUCS stands for British Universities and College Sports. BUCS is the administrative body responsible for organising 50 inter-university sports within the UK. BUCS are also responsible for organising representative teams for international competition in the World University Championships and the World University Games. BUCS is the largest sporting organisation in the world and there are over 80,000 students competing in the contests annually. There are 157 members of the BUCS scheme. All of the members compete against one another, but this happens first on a regional level. Keele falls into the North West region, so there is regular competition against teams in our region such as MMU Cheshire, Liverpool, Manchester, Chester and Bangor to name a handful of the 16 other institutions we compete against. Teams generally play in a league format, but there is also a regional knock out cup, which allows teams to be crowned Regional Champions and progress onto National Finals. Teams to look out for... Last year, the Fencing team were very proud to claim the BUCS Northern Conference Cup in a thrilling victory, earning them BUCS Team of the Year 09/10 at the end of season Athletic Union Ball at Keele Hall. Not only did they win the Northern Conference Cup, but they also clinched promotion to Division 1 after their 100% record last season and now compete in the Northern Region rather than the North West Region. The core of the team from last year remains and they are very excited for their season ahead. Fencing weren’t the only club to dramatically claim a rise in stature last year, with Men’s Football seeing their 1st and 2nd team claiming promotion in their BUCS leagues emphatically with class and composure which saw the club hit a high point in their history. Coach Keith Harrison claimed it was down to the strongest on the field performances he had seen in his 11 years with the club which had driven the teams to such success. The 1st Team has had a strong pre-season and is looking forward to testing itself at the new level of Division 2 with quiet confidence of successive promotions.
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Other teams to claim promotion include Men’s Squash, who managed a 75% win ratio last season after a string of successful performances which has also seen them hit Division 2. Women’s Basketball also deserve a special mention after they won Club of the Year 09/10 at the Presentation Ball for their exceptional off the field work including a fantastically organised tournament that pulled in players of all levels to play. They also gained promotion last season through some hard fought victories and are also competing in Division 2 this year. Keele currently has over 50 teams competing in BUCS this year, and all have aspirations for promotion and further success. For the last two years Keele has finished 72nd nationally in the BUCS ranking table, Sports Development Officer at Keele, Mike Huss has confidently claimed that “Keele will break into the top 60” after the work being done at the Athletic Union this year. This is taking into account “a major emphasis on coaching for all teams this year, with the objective of helping students achieve their true sporting potential”. Mike Huss also identified another key target for this coming season, to “send more individuals to national championships - for example Deputy AU President Emily Strickland will be entering the National Women’s Squash”. Come down and watch the next set of BUCS fixtures at home on the 3rd November! Every week the pitch side is dying out for dedicated Keele students to urge our teams on to victory! It is unanimous across all the clubs that more support would dramatically contribute to raising the game of all our athletes and make Keele an impenetrable fortress at home! No longer can your excuse be that you don’t know when the fixtures are! The next set of home fixtures are almost all in the prestigious BUCS knockout cup competition. Here are some key fixtures I’ve picked out for you at home for the 1st Round… Keele University Netball 1st vs. University of Central Lancashire 1st BUCS Cup – 2pm, in the Leisure Centre. The Netball team performed strongly in their opening home fixture, and will be fired up for their next home game in the cup. Expect a strong performance from players out to prove a point. Especially suitable for those who want to be indoors and avoid the Keele frostbite! Keele University Basketball Men’s 1st vs. University of Liverpool Men’s 1st BUCS Cup – 4pm, in the Leisure Centre. Basketball always has a fantastic atmosphere; the games are fast paced, seriously competitive and extremely exciting (even for those brand new to the sport). Again, another indoor fixture to enjoy! Keele University Men’s Football 2nd vs. Glyndwr University Men’s 1st BUCS Cup – 2pm, on the grass pitches. Fiery captain Riche Harrison will want blood, sweat and tears from his lads after their performance at home on the opening day. This is the perfect opportunity to make up for it, and expect the team to be firing on all cylinders for this massive clash. Not to be missed. I sincerely hope that I’ll be seeing some of you out on the pitches on Wednesday 3rd November cheering on Team:Keele!
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Keele University Men’s Football 1st vs. Manchester Metropolitan (MMU) 2nd 20th October 2010 By Sam Higham It was a cold day that played host to Keele 1st opening BUCS game of the season, and an icy wind whipped across the grass as the two teams warmed up. The contrast in pre-match regime was stark with MMU being drilled hard by their coach, and Keele, absent of a coach figure, with a much more free form training style. Although as the match progressed it was probably lucky for MMU that Keele weren’t as drilled. First chance of the day fell to Keele, with Adam Dorontic whipping in a cross from the left which managed to miss everyone and zipped dangerously close to MMU’s right hand post. This was just a sign of things to come. The opening fifteen minutes consisted of a battle between Dorontic and MMU’s left back, with Dorontic coming out on top time after time, beating his opponent with both pace and skill. It was therefore no surprise that Dorontic was involved in the first real opportunity for Keele. After a series of shots peppering the MMU goal the ball fell to Dorontic just inside the 18 yard box with his shot taking a deflection off the goalkeeper and landing plumb on the line. Appeals are waved away by the ref. Time for video technology at Keele? After a series of handball appeals being turned down for both teams the first free kick of the game fell to Keele on the left hand side of the pitch about 40 yards out. As the ball was played in Mikey Hewitt rose above the rest with a salmon lick leap to place a clever flick on into Listowel Appiah’s path, who used a majestic flick over the keeper which landed just short. Luckily Appiah was first to react and he slammed the ball into the empty net. 1-0 Keele. MMU were looking very quiet. 20 minutes in and Keele centre back Nick “Hatman” Jones shows his pedigree with a storming punt and run from defence which caught MMU dozing, and after a Usain Bolt like sprint Jones found himself in the opposing box crossing to Junior Rodrigue who sliced his shot just wide. The match was almost over shadowed by an incident between Rodrigue and the MMU forward, who lashed out unprovoked at Rodrigue. This led to the conventional push shove dance that has become all too common place in modern football. The ref didn’t see the incident and the MMU forward escapes what should have been a certain red card. MMU manage to weather the Keele storm for the remaining 30 minutes of the half with shots coming from all angles but Keele unable to put away. MMU will have felt more than lucky to come in only one behind. Half time seemed to rejuvenate MMU and they came out the much brighter in the second half, soaking up any Keele attack and forming the own. MMU’s punted a innocuous looking ball into the box which isn’t dealt with well, perhaps missing Jones height, and it eventually falls to an MMU striker to place into the net for an undeserved equaliser. If it wasn’t for a few smart saves by Bourke shortly after, Keele could have found themselves behind. Then, with 20 minutes to go, Keele were on the back foot making limited chances. Fortunately neither were MMU. It looked to be heading for a dull second half draw. It would take a bit of magic to find a goal. Three minutes to go, Keele pinged a ball into the box which was half cleared by the MMU defence but only as far as imposing centre back Sonny Sloggett 25 yards out. He then almost nonchalantly placed a wonder strike which curled and dipped over the MMU keeper into the top right hand corner of the net. It was a goal any player would have been delighted with and worthy of winning any football match, which it did, although Keele will feel it should have come a lot sooner. After the game, Head Coach Keith Harrison said that “if Keele stick to what they do best, a short and sharp game plan, they will always be hard to control. With their never say die attitude and with courage and perseverance they will usually come out on top, as they did today. Teams last season branded our unique short passing style as unplayable and we will look to continue in this form”.
2-1 Keele.
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Keele University Women’s Hockey 1st vs. University of Chester 1st 20th October 2010 By Stefanie Kent
The first BUCS League game of the season saw a large number of players new to the club making their competitive debut: Emma Bartlett, Ruth Hindle, Laura Hughes, Lauren ‘Polo’ Leaper, Mishka ‘Moo’ Mayers and Lauren Roberts. Some good pre-season friendlies, plus the Staffordshire League being well underway had already allowed players a chance to gel and after a first Staffordshire League win on Saturday 16th Oct the team was determined to get the BUCS season off to a good start. Chester started out much stronger than Keele for the first 15 minutes and duly went a goal up when the rebound of a saved strike was scrambled over the goal line. Keele’s typical dominance at set plays shone through however when a well worked short corner was confidently struck by Sara Blackwell and swept home by Emma Bartlett. This settled Keele’s nerves and they began to play themselves back into the game with a couple of intense battles taking place in central midfield with Emma Bartlett and at left back with Lauren Roberts. Towards the end of the first half several short corners in succession saw a sweet ‘top D’ strike from Sara Blackwell who smashed into the backboard. Keele go in 2-1 up at halftime. Keele came out strong in the beginning of the second half, and with several opportunities – the most notable from Ruth Hindle who struck narrowly wide. Chester had some good possession and made some good attacking play but strong defending from Lottie Bain and Sara Blackwell saw Keele hold firm. Lottie, much to her amazement and panic, and our amusement even managed to dribble the ball around a player and pass it off successfully before realising quite what she had done earning her ‘Dick of The Day’! Several injuries to players caused some panic in the Keele team and Chester were able to capitalise on this with an unfortunate, and somewhat lucky, goal slipped past the outstretched foot of keeper Becky Walters. With less than five minutes to go striker Stefanie Kent was clean through on goal before being spectacularly taken out by the Chester goalkeeper. Unfortunately Keele were unable to capitalise on the set piece in the aftermath and the final result remained 2-2. With a strong performance from the side to build on for the rest of the season there are high hopes of promotion back to Division 2A this season, and the strong performances across the field are giving everyone abundance in confidence. Special mention goes to Man of the Match captain Sara Blackwell for an absolutely sterling performance as sweeper! 2-2 Draw. Keele University Women’s Netball 1st vs. University of Cumbria 1st 20th October 2010 By Dan Casey
Keele University Netball 1st team produced a promising first performance of the season, but they were disappointed to narrowly lose 38-48 against University of Cumbria 1st team in their opening BUCS fixture of the season. There is a feeling that the team will get stronger as the season progresses. The Team Captain Kasia Skrakowski said “The team is looking really strong – I’m really happy with the team. We have two more training sessions before the next game and we have really high hopes for promotion this season”, she also said “I’m sure if we get the chance to play Cumbria again we could definitely beat them.” Despite the result, there is a defiant mood in the camp and the determined performance today suggests their optimism isn’t misplaced. 38-48 Cumbria. 25
ty Perry Thinking of You - Ka
Ok... A bit of an unusual choice (and I’ll probably get A LOT of stick for it) But this video had to go in purely because of the fact that we see a COMPLETLEY different side of Katy Perry! Gone are the stupid outfits and and ridiculous child like lyrics and instead what we get is a heart felt accoustic ballad of emotions - and who knew she could play the guitar! Katy, you are much more attractive when you do stuff like this, please can we see more of it!
KUSU SUDOKU!
Cartoon by Liam Eddleston
STEFANIE KENT
BIO... Having played several different sports at county level Stefanie chose hockey as her university sport and rapidly became a solid member of the club; picking up the 2nd team Player of the Year as a fresher. Last year she worked heavily behind the scenes and was rewarded with the Club Captain’s Award for her efforts. Stefanie is also a key participant in the (in)famous Hockey Club Socials, and has never missed a social. Particularly this year she has been noticeable in the union because she’s free and single and causing havoc – man-eater!
QUESTIONS...
Currently Top Scorer across all matches she has settled comfortably in her now role this season as Centre Forward in the First Team!
What was your highlight of the 2009/10 season? Without a doubt Varsity – I scored a goal and notched Woman of the Match for my performance! There’s nothing better than beating Staffs... If you could improve one thing about your sporting experience at university, what would it have been? The ability to represent the university in more than one sport competitively. Does Keele University Hockey Club play at a high enough level to fulfil your ambition at university, and do the resources – for example coaching, facilities and training equipment – reflect a university with a winning, competitive mentality? For now, seeming I’ve been coming back to fitness after a serious injury two years ago. I think however that the team is only provided with one reasonable training time a week and that simply isn’t good enough. The facilities need to be improved to allow other clubs, such as football, to train on another surface to free up the astro turf pitch for teams that actually play on it – that would be the ultimate solution. Two years ago we actually had two reasonable training times that were appropriately attended and this made a massive difference to our on the field results for obvious reasons. Promotion? Or a season full of fun ahead? Definitely promotion in the BUCS league for the First Team, we want to bounce straight back up. The restructuring of the Staffordshire League (that we play on a weekend) means that hopefully we should be safely mid table. 27