The Orbital - Freshers' Edition by Jack Ratcliffe

THE ORBITAL’S FRESHERS’ GUIDE: TIMES, DATES AND ADVICE CAMPUS ACTIVITY MAP

EDINBURGH FRINGE REPORT

LOTS OF FREE STUFF MUSIC, FILM AND THEATRE GUIDES FRESHERS’ FLU TIPS FROM DR. DENNY SAM SHEAD’S FIRST YEAR AT HOLLOWAY & LOADS MORE

The | Orbital

FREE STUFF 28/29 COMM.CARD 26/27

This week we have over sixteen different items to give away, including theatre tickets! Also, go here for your free Medicine Entry Voucher for Saturdays.

Society

Our nights out at the Union guide.

WHAT’S ON

CURRENT AFFAIRS12/13 EYE ON THE UNION

COLLEGE WATCH 10/11 Stories from the College.

We burst the Holloway bubble by dragging the reader, kicking and screaming, into our summary of world news.

OPINION CAMPUS MAP 14/15

I missed two lectures last year from getting lost, now, it could have been worse, I could have missed fun things. Our campus map shows you whats cool, and where.

16-18

SAVE MONEY

HEALTH REG

SAFE PLANET

Ex-Fresher Sam Shead reﬂects on his time as a care-free student. I mean, He’s still here, but now he has cares. Register at the University Health Centre. Where, and why, you should.

MUSIC EDINBO. FRINGE 30/31 FILM Our most northern reporter writes about here experiences at one of the THEATRE largest festivals on Earth. HEALTH

Culture

TOKYO EXPLORED 43

Sohpie Yates redescovers her roots (at least I am pretty sure she is part Japanese) by visiting the home of all things cool to teenage boys.

The Score

FRESHERS’ FAYRE 48

Tips to come out of the Fayre with your money and your life.

What some students would spend there only £20 on at the Fayre.

32/33 34/35 36/37 38-41

MFURDER

Edmund Connoley writes about fur in fashion, somewhat more succesffuly then our bad pun. Sorry.

BOOK REVIEWS

THEATRE LIST

A list of all the theatre shows, and audition dates, this term.

WOMEN’S RUGBY 50 SPORT TASTER DATES 51 TEAM TRIAL DATES 51

6-9

This issue, the Students’ Union has provided stuff they feel is useful for students, such as a commuters guide and nights out tips

DOING TIME

LIFESTYLE

£20 FAYRE

Exlpore the wonders of Egham and beyond with our What’s On guide.

EDITORIAL 3 CONTRIBUTORS 5 HOLIDAY PICS 25 23 PIN BOARD

David Cummins, who so carefully looks after our money, tells you how to look after yours.

Green Machine Charlotte BasamBowles explains how to save Earth.

INCLUDING: HELLBOY 2 REVIEW 34 LOLLAPALOOZA VISITED 32 FRESHERS FLU TIPS 38/39 COOKBOOK COMPARISON 40 FITNESS TIPS 41 AND MORE!

OLYMPIC ART?

We ask whether Beijing’s opening ceremoney, and the rest of the Olympics, can be topped by the aristry and talent of lil’ ol’ Lond’n.

The Score provides useful information regarding Sports and Societies at Royal Holloway. The Students’ Union provides it, therefore The Orbital takes no blame for any oﬀense caused, but are willing to take any credit given, like a stray dog around a dustbin.

Editor’s Letter

VPComServ Emilie Seager vpcomserv@su.rhul.ac.uk Editors Jack Ratcliffe orbital@su.rhul.ac.uk Beth Rowley deputyeditor@su.rhul.ac.uk Paul Wrench orbitalsociety@su.rhul.ac.uk Emma Cooper lifestyle@su.rhul.ac.uk Sohpie Yates culture@su.rhul.ac.uk Designers Ejiro Ogboru artdirector@su.rhul.ac.uk Will Harry Branston designone@su.rhul.ac.uk Photography Kirstly Lucas k.lucas@rhul.ac.uk Publishing David Cummins publishingdirector@su.rhul.ac.uk Laura Jones marketingexec@su.rrhul.ac.uk Chief Subeditor Cath Nelms chiefsub@su.rhul.ac.uk Correspondants Nick Fogg nickfogg@hotmail.com Alex Turner a.j.turner@rhul.ac.uk Neil Thornton n.thornton@rhul.ac.uk Edmund Connolly e.connolley@rhul.ac.uk Contributors Liz Owen Clare Beckett The College Sam Shead Health Centre Dr. Mark Denney Lydia Cowdery Charlotte B.B. ??? With thanks, Photographers, Models, The Copy Check Team Tristran Ellison

“

I always feel that the Editorial is the perfect chance for me to share any wisdom I may have picked up over the years. Of course, this conflicts with an even stronger feeling; the feeling I haven’t picked up any wisdom over the last few years. And if I have somehow managed to attain any life -wisdom while at University, any useful parts of it must have been washed away by too many bar socials and nights at the S.U. However, using that as an inspiration, I managed (over the entire summer) to come up with one useful piece of knowledge that you need to know at University - it is okay to make mistakes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying sleep with your best friend’s partner or amputate a limb. I’m just saying that when hardly anyone knows who you are, your family miles away and with thousands of other people to get lost in, don’t be too afraid to look stupid or do something risky (unless it promises permenant damage of some form). University life is far more forgiving than the real world out there. I make mistakes all the time, and do I care? No. That’s why you may find this magazine substandard. And do I care?.. Well, actually I do. So if you do find anything you don’t like, feel free to let me know. I’ll only cry for a short while.

”

JACK RATCILFFE, EDITOR

This week, The Orbital likes

Being back at University PRICE FREEZE ON UNION ALCOHOL lots of free things to give away Barack Obama’s charisma WIRELESS INTERNET ALL THE SUP-

PORT RECIEVED IN MAKING THIS ISSUE Andrew Murray’s tennis performance Royal Holloway

students at the Paralympics repainted offices next door

But dislikes

Cooking for themselves IRONING FOR THEMSELVES russia’s declaration of other countries independence Bureaucracy and its many forms GETTING CLOSER TO LEAVING

UNIVERSITY SLOW E-MAIL Any more Big Brothers

Liking Coldplay’s new song THE NUMBER OF TRAINS TO LONDON PER HOUR the lack of trains back from London tight

deadlines

orbital

THE MAGAZINE We’re the official Students’ Union publication and we’ve been going since 1986, when we first emerged as ‘The Egham Sun’.

Live! 22/23rd

So what is this ‘Orbital Live and Insanity V!’ malarkey? Well, for those who don’t know, The Orbital is Holloway’s official student magazine, and Insanity is the official radio station. We’ve teamed up to create a multimedia event, just for you, that is set to blow your little socks off! After the success of last year’s totally original ‘Orbital Live’, we decided we just had to give it another go to allow all you students, new and old, to see exactly what goes on behind the scenes and provide an introduction to on-campus media. The Orbital are creating a magazine before your very eyes in just two days, so it’s up to YOU to come and help us! Got something to write about? We need it! Interested in becoming part of the design team? Come along for a chat! It’s the perfect way to find out how to get involved if you fancy yourself as a budding radio presenter too; Insanity will be there with ‘Insanity V’, broadcasting live at the Windsor Building from all around campus. There’ll be links with live music being played in Medicine and interviews will be taking place all round the shop, finding out how you’re all doing and what’s going on in Freshers’ Week. So, with all this going on, if you’ve even an inkling of interest in media, this really is the place to be! Rarely, if ever, has there been such an easy opportunity to meet the people in the know, have your questions asked and get your name on paper or your face on the big screen. And if creating media’s not your thing...come along anyway to gawp at the jaw dropping array of technology and pretty images being projected and thrown around like sweets and find yourself in the very epicentre of all that’s exciting about Freshers’ week. On top of all this (yes, there’s MORE!), The Founder, Holloway’s independent newspaper will be showing their faces too with their all new ‘Expose’. So...pretty much a heartstoppingly eventful few days in the Windsor Building I’d say! Excuses? Can’t really think of any! Drop in and see what’s going on on the Monday and Tuesday of Freshers’ week (22nd and 23rd September) between 9.15 and 5pm to be amazed, entertained and dazzled with this truly one-of-a-kind event. You’ll be missing out if you don’t!

” 04 theOrbital.co.uk

Since then we’ve had many different looks and styles, all sorts of colours and paper qualities, and we just keep on changing and evolving with each new editorial team. This year we’re looking at keeping the high standard of journalism that was prevalent in last year’s issues, but injecting a new sense of style with our re-vamped design team. The brilliant thing about The Orbital is that we’re not tied down to any particular genre; almost everything goes. So, if you have something to say, chances are we’ll publish it. From regular features such as ‘What’s On?’ and the debate pages (ed: which will be regular, starting in the next issue) to one-off articles on topical subjects, you’ll find from cover to cover a vast range of subject matter to suit all tastes. Also, as the union’s magazine, we bring the most up-to-date info about what’s going on there, trying as much as possible to let you know about all the amazing opportunities that are out there for you. Having said that, we’re not the union’s slaves: we’re here for you to rant at as well as praise what’s great about the union, and we’re never afraid to publish criticism. Often a bit of debate is all that is needed to spark off student activism and, after all, that’s what being a student is all about. This is your publication, representing your union, and the more you get involved, the better a place it will be. So, welcome to the 2008/9 year of the Orbital! We hope that we will make you smile this year, but more than that, we hope we’ll encourage you to get out there and have some fun. Remember, university is what you make it.

The Orbital itself couldn’t run without its dedicated editorial team and all the contributors (that’s you guys) that provide it with content you will be reading on these very page. If you do have anything you want to write about, or even, if you just want to write, but not about anything in particular, e-mail our associate editors. There is Paul, who is in charge of the Society section (orange tab in the top left corner). His e-mail is p.wrench@rhul.ac.uk. The lifestyle section (blue tab) is run by Emma, emma.cooper@ rhul.ac.uk. Finally, the Culture section is overseen by Sophie - s.j.yates@rhul.ac.uk. Of course, they aren’t the only people who help create this magazine. There is also the design team, who make these pages and choose where this text will end up on the page (it better bet good!). They are led by the Ejiro, the Art Director, available at artdirector@rhul.ac.uk. The final two teams are proof-readers (run by Cath Nelms, chiefsub@rhul.ac.uk) and the marketing team (David Cummins, marketingdirector@rhul.ac.uk. Or, if you have any other questions on The Orbital, how to get involved, or even complaints, simply email orbital@su.rhul.ac.uk or check out our Facebook group or brand new website, theorbital.co.uk. HAPPY READING. BETH ROWLEY

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Charlo tte Bowles Basam She enjo y ing, dan s laughcing, joking, sle turretin eping, Sam Shead g, eatin g, drinkin Likes sport (Ski g squas h, watchin ing, Rugby, Tenn g crap o is, n the T V in Golf ). Gigs & pjamas with Dh Festivals. Travel ar ing told a, beling. Photogra to do ph y. the was Writing. Drinki hing up ng . , twister, Favourite mus doing ic ballet a includes Enter nd the kitc tap in Shikari, Anber hen and lin, then, o Hadouken!, Br f course an d , h degree New, Stereoph , the Ex er on e c and go ics, New Young d know s what els Pony Club, The e also int ! She is Maccabees, Bl erested oc in innocen Party, Funeral t For A bottles smoothie , high Friend, Lost Pr ophschool musica et s, Kids In Glass l and doodlin Houses, Biffy C g. lyro, listen to She will Artic Monkeys anythin , g, but her fa CSS, Oasis, Sufja n is anyth vourite ing she Stevens, Joseph can dan Arce to. thur, Alexisonfi re, Her fav ou The Audition, The shows: rite T.V. are Des A cademy Is..., C perate Hou rysse tal Castles, Mob Friends wives, y, ,G Pendulum, Tim Girls, M uilmore bayF land, JT, Libert Spooks amily, ines, , O.C an Cu te Is What We d Skins. H e Aim For, Busted rite mo r favou, vies are W e Are Scientists Billy Ell , iot Yellowcard, Su Shrek, P , Disneys, brime, ways, Strokes, Practica Ryan l Magic A dams, American and Hairspr ay. She Hi-Fi, Dashboa is a self-c rd, A onfesse H eartwell Ending d “geek re , ad Killers, Jimmy admittin er”, Ea t g she’ll World, Rooney read m , ost thin Death Cab, Dan gs. Especia Le lly Harr Sac vs. Scroob y Potter, iu s an Pip, and The W Ben Elto ything by omn bats. Pullman , Philip and Ro ald Dahl.

Lydia Cowdery Is interested and active in narcissism. Her favourite movies are very much in order, and they include: 1) The Graduate 2) Back To The Future 3) Fight Club 4) Citizen Kane 5) Laputa: Castle In The Sky 6) Amelie 7) Singing In The Rain 8) Strictly Ballroom 9) Out of Sight 10) The Shawshank Redemption 11) House of Flying Daggers 12) The Little Mermaid 13) The Prestige 14) The Bourne Trilogy 15) Brokeback Mountain She also shows great taste in her T.V. shows, liking Arrested Development, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, The West Wing, Dexter, Doctor Who and many, many more.

society EYE...UNION

Freshers’ Week Bar Tips s ex drugs and rock and roll. And, not forgetting the thing you will spend most of your week doing, queuing! You queue for your college card, for your union card, to get into the union to get out of the union, to get your room key, to sign up to club and societies. Let’s be really honest, if you totted up all the man hours every student on campus spends queuing during Freshers’ week, Royal Holloway students collectively must lose at least a decade of their lives.

And there is one place you really don’t want to queue; the bar. All you want is a pint of ﬂaming beer and you have been waiting nearly

06 theOrbital.co.uk

an hour for it, what is it, liquid gold? And what is that bar man doing, brewing the beer himself? Hell, you could have baked a cake quicker. Yes yes, in the two and a half years I spent working behind the bar in Medicine, I have heard it all. Not being the most graceful of creatures behind the bar, most of the beer ended up down my front instead of in the glass as I crashed into people while tying to serve as many other people as I could, as fast as physically possible. You will notice in Freshers’ week how many people are behind the bar, you couldn’t fit any more in if you tried. And these people are tired, because most of them will work every night that week, and they might well get a bit shirty. But there is one thing they love: the organised customer. And what is in it for you? You get served in half the time! Honestly, the easier you make it for us behind the bar, the faster you will get your drinks. Simple things, like when the world and its brother, mother, sister and two thirds of it’s extended family ask you to “get a drink for them a minute”, say no. After all, you’re the one that has been queuing for the last hour, and it’ll only end up down your favourite pulling top when you try and pass it back over the fifty people behind you.

Give the person who’s serving you a smile. It is one of the best things to get when you have been growled at the whole night - well, the best thing aside from the correct change. Remember, although we might look like machines who serve beer and will crush anything that gets in their way, we’re human too. Please and thank you will get you a long way, and the more polite you are, the more likely you are to get served quicker the next time you get to the bar. Whilst burning time waiting for those twelve shots of sambuca and six pints of snakebite, root around in your pocket/ handbag/bumbag/bra for money. It doesn’t have to be the perfect change, we don’t expect you to have a photographic memory, but it is a lot quicker than rooting round in your bag for it when your drinks arrive and holding everyone up. Last thing, drink responsibly. Boring, I know, but splash back in your mouth (oh yes) from someone vomiting on the bar, is not likely to make you many friends. Drink lots of water and when you feel woozy switch to soft drinks for a bit. It might not be rocket science, but a little goes a long way and helps to make everyone’s night better. Now off you go, put The Orbital down and have fun. And remember, dancing on the tables never looks cool, no matter how drunk you are.

LIZ OWEN

Freshers’ Week Do’s and Donts

from your Friendly Local Neighbourhood Freshers’ Fairy

o you’ve moved in, hung your fairy lights and put up your poster of fine modern art / scantily clad women / original witty slogans (delete as appropriate) your swanky student pad is all set and raring to go. But what to do next? Freshers’ Week can be a daunting blur of new places and new faces thrusting leaflets into your hands about everything from insurance to drinks promos; safe sex to clubs and societies. But students of Royal Holloway do not despair; the Freshers’ Fairy is here to impart her wisdom to make sure that you glide effortlessly through the week getting the best out of all it has to offer! DON’T forget to get plenty of passport photos printed. There’s nothing worse than queuing up for ages just to be told you need a photo! Handy Tip:- Save some pennies and print out some passport sized photos off Facebook or Bebo. DO pick up your NUS card from Medicine! Your NUS card is your key to unlock the gates of all the Students’ Union has to offer. You will need it to join clubs and societies at Freshers’ Fayre and to enter the building after Freshers’ Week. NUS cards will be available on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September 12pm – 4pm and then on Monday 22nd – Friday 26th September 10am – 4pm. Don’t assume the queues will be shorter after Freshers’ Week is over – they might not be!! Handy Hint:- You will need to get you College RCS card before going to get your NUS card. DO drink responsibly. By all means have fun but no-one wants to be known as the guy or the girl who goes home and pukes up over their new flatmate’s fluffy new duvet from Auntie Joan.

DON’T feel like you have to drink if you don’t want to. Or anything else for that matter. Yeah a lot of people like going out and getting drunk but that doesn’t mean you have to. You get the pleasure of telling them all the stories of what they got up to the night before! DO practice safe sex. Visit the Student Advice Centre on the first ﬂoor of the Students’ Union for more information. DON’T think you’re alone. Going to University is a huge step and nearly everyone is in the same boat. If you feel anxious or lonely then go and talk to someone at the Students’ Union or the Counselling office at College in Founders. DO go and explore the local area. There is so much to do out and about. Have a group outing to Thorpe Park; go for dinner drinks by the river in Richmond or Windsor; have a fancy dress outfit hunting in Kingston or London. DON’T walk home alone at night. We are lucky to be in a relatively safe area but it’s better to be safe than sorry! If you live off campus then get the Non-Res Bus home to your door for just £1. Handy Hint:- Save time queuing for tickets and your hard earned pennies and get a Non-Res bus pass from SU Reception. DO go to Freshers’ Fayre at both venues (Students’ Union and Medicine) on Thursday and Friday. Freshers’ Fayre is the perfect opportunity to go out and get involved with clubs and societies and make new friends and get new skills. Go with an open mind, you might think you just want to play Football or join the Dance Society but with

over 130 clubs and societies, a magazine, a radio station and a ﬂedgling TV station there might be more to Uni than you first thought. DON’T forget to set your alarm, get up and go to your course inductions at your department. Start as you mean to go on! DO be a political animal! Run in SU Elections to be part of and change your Union. Nominations for First Year Representative, NUS Delegates and other Executive Officer Positions open on Monday 29th September. Come into the Union or check out the website for more information. DO get your tickets to function nights as early as possible! Tickets WILL sell out so don’t leave it until the last minute to avoid disappointment – there’s nothing worse than hearing about what a great night all your friends had without you! Last but definitely not least... DO enjoy yourself!! Your RHUL experience starts here so make the most of it. The easiest way to meet new people and enjoy yourselves is to get out there and get involved with campus life in as many different ways as possible. Give everything a go once. If you don’t like it you don’t have to do it again but you might surprise yourself!

FRESHERS’ FAIRY

society EYE...UNION

08 theOrbital.co.uk

What To Do If Yo u Are One Of The 300 Freshers’ Who D idn't Get Halls This Ye ar... M

oving on up? Moving on out? Can’t quite break free? Something to stop you? Let’s move swiftly on from M People and 80s music, otherwise I’ll remember that the majority of Freshers joining RoHo this year won’t even have been born in the 80s. And then I’ll start to feel old, at only twenty, and that’s plain tragic. So, university, huh? It’s got to be one of the biggest steps you’ve ever taken in your life so far. Especially if you’re moving out and living on your own for the first time. Yup, note that pesky if I’ve used. ‘If’ allows me to put across that not everyone moves out to go to university; in fact not everyone wants or needs to and if that’s the choice you’ve made this year, then the very best luck to you. It’s no barrier to having a good time and it won’t make you a social pariah. What’s more, providing Mum and Dad don’t whip out the abacus and start totting up rent payments, it’s probably going to make you a little richer as well, and who doesn’t want to be rich? Think of all those extra pennies to spend on Tesco Value Vodka! (Which conveniently will double as a paint stripper and may have been what Michael Jackson took daily baths in to achieve his current skin tone. Now

that kind of Value really does deserve its capital letter). For me, there were a number of issues that all came to a head at once which led me to the commuter’s life. A pinch of clerical error, a heaped spoonful of personal reasons and an incredibly large dash of total lack of motivation (i.e. laziness) which will get you, too, and I ended up with the Stay-At-Home Cocktail. Yet life didn’t come to a grinding, crashing halt. My life at university wasn’t over and in fact I ended up with the best of both worlds. I lead the student’s life, and yet get to go home at the end of it all. Home. That place where the laundry picks itself up off the floor and does itself; that place where you never have to open a cupboard after stumbling in at 4 a.m. and find that the entire contents of your kitchen consist of a single Cheerio and a tin of kidney beans. Home sweet home. Granted, I’m lucky. My home isn’t in some far-flung corner of the country. It’s fairly RoHo adjacent and the trip takes less than forty minutes (less still when it’s 3 a.m. and you don’t need to worry about silly things like braking, decelerating and speed cameras). I don’t mind the commute at all. My point is that there will always be floors to sleep on (softer than the finest feather beds if you’re

inebriated enough), fun to be had and friends to be made no matter what. So good luck with your choice to commute. It’s gonna be great. Michael Englefield.

Remember HOME is where you stuff is!

society COLLEGE WA.

COLLEGE WATCH

Hi and welcome to Royal Holloway We hope everything goes swimmingly for you. Obviously the College is used to welcoming lots of new people every year, and we hope that the balance of entertainment and advice, support and freedom we offer is right for you. We don’t want anyone to feel they have to struggle on their own, but nor do we want you to feel we are wrapping you in cotton-wool! Don’t panic if it all seems a bit overwhelming. It is a big place and it will take time to find your way around. However there are plenty of handbooks, notice boards and other bits of advice, so the answer you are looking for will be somewhere.

10 theOrbital.co.uk

Do look after yourselves and don’t throw all caution to the wind in the first week! It’s very safe around here, but some students can get a bit carried away with the novelty of all the freedom and choices available at the start. Taking it slowly at the outset does no harm. We try to keep the Hall rules, fire regulations, safety codes etc. to the essential minimum needed to keep everything running smoothly. Those we have do matter, so do please follow them. If something does go wrong or if something is worrying you, don’t feel you have to cope alone. We are all here to help, and there are few problems we haven’t encountered, so just contact one of the Services below and they will help you get things sorted. Have a great time and do get in touch if you need us!

Christopher Butler Head of Support Advisory Services.

and

Chaplaincy and faith chaplaincy@rhul.ac.uk

support:

Personal and emotional counselling@rhul.ac.uk

help:

Special learning needs or help for people with disabilities: educationalsupport@rhul.ac.uk Money and financial financialadvice@rhul.ac.uk

advice:

Help for international students: internationaladvice@rhul.ac.uk Concerns for students living out: dclo@rhul.ac.uk General student welfare support and advice: community@rhul.ac.uk Halls of Residence welfare / support issues: wardens@rhul.ac.uk On-campus health centre: 01784 443131 College Security: 01784 443063

Community Action exists to connect, train and support volunteers in the local community. There are over 500 registered volunteers that work with over 70 community partner organisations.

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! Social learning space takes shape

more social learning An exciting plan to create pe this summer sha ng taki n space has bee hment of Level 2 rbis refu thanks to a £1 million ary. Libr ford of the Bed buildings that are Designing new spaces and crystal ball gazing a of bit a is re fit for the futu the future but we dict activity - it's hard to pre gs don't limit the ldin bui our t tha sure be need to more important this is e her possibilities. Now ces that we create. than in the learning spa improved group vide pro will lity The new faci

An Artist’s Impression Of Level 2

The annual Volunteering Fair is on Wednesday 15 October 2008, open from 12noon until 2.30pm in the Students’ Union main hall. There will be over 30 community partners represented to interact with. The following week you can book places on short project introduction sessions given by the community partners and hosted by Community Action on campus.

2008. It is a day dedicated to serving the community, where volunteer teams are sent to complete community projects which respond to specific requests made by various local community organisations, charities and groups. This is a great way to try out volunteering without needing to commit long term at the outset. To GET INVOLVED as a Community Action volunteer, go online and register at w w w. r h u l. a c. u k / CommunityAction

CSV ‘Make A Difference Day’ is on Friday 24 October

g space, increasing study and social learnin ents in the library stud for ts sea of the number in bookstock or ion uct red but it won't mean a providing spaces By y. stud nt sile for s facilitie ups, project teams, for small groups, large gro in a convenient ups and all sorts of work gro feedback that to ing ond resp are setting, we s want, and ent stud our t this is exactly wha essentially social an is g nin lear t tha sing recogni process. ning space will have The open plan social lear the current 85. 230 seats, compared with roved by the imp be will ce spa Services in the nt facilities, me esh refr addition of IT support, trating social cen Con n. atio anis org and better l 2 will also clarify learning space on leve different parts of the expected behaviours in act of group working imp the g library, reducin on silent study areas. vices, John Tuck Director of Library Ser Library social learning comments, “The Bedford

elopment for Royal space is a significant dev think more clearly us help will t tha Holloway ary facilities and libr our about the nature of serve the needs to m the elop dev we as services ." staff of students and

society CURRENT AF.

CURRENT A UK:

South Ossetia/Georgia:

A series of clashes between Georgia and the region of South Ossetia spiralled out of control when Georgia began an aerial bombardment on its neighbour. Russian forces intervened, claiming to be protecting its numerous Russian citizens in the nation’s capital, Tskhinvali, which eventually prompted a devastating series of battles, rendering many locals dead, injured or homeless. French president Nicolas Sarkozy was brought in to mediate between the two nations, but with unverified war crimes on both sides and thousands of civilian casualties, it will be a tough wound to heal.

A new drug, Lucentis, has become accessible in the UK, which can prevent a disease that causes blindness. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the country and affects the elderly. There has been some controversy surrounding the amount of time it took for the drug to become accessible, but clinics say it will get rid of the patient’s choice between blindness or expensive private care.

U S A :

UK:

Millions of students across the country discovered their futures when A Level results were released in August. For the 26th year in a row, the pass rate rose. Now 97.2% of grades were passes, driving many, critics, parents, teachers and politicians to question the integrity of the examination system, making claims that there has been dramatic “dumbing down” over the last two decades.

With just over a month left before the presidential elections, Democrat leader Barack Obama chose political veteran John Biden as his deputy. Some praised the choice, as Biden’s experience will be beneficial, but some wonder whether the new deputy will be too set-in-his-ways to support Obama’s ambitions to modernise the US political system. Obama’s Republican rival, John McCain, claimed it drew too much attention to Obama’s inexperience as a politician. But with polls showing a 50/50 split between the two major competitors, only time will tell who will succeed George Bush’s 8-year term.

Sudan:

A plane travelling from the Sudanese region of Darfur, intended for the country’s capital Khartoum, was hijacked and ﬂown instead to Libya. The pilot claimed that the hijackers are rebels from the Sudanese Liberation Army- one of many peace forces intent on exposing the Sudanese president’s alleged war crimes. But the rebel leader, based in Paris, has denied such claims, stating that “we do not support putting the lives of Sudanese civilians at risk in any circumstances”. 12 theOrbital.co.uk

AFFAIRS

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE...

WORLD:

Despite blacklash towards Google for possessing too much information, the search giant has announced that it planning on making all of the world's newspapers, and their archives, available to search on its website. According to the Times, "Google will pay for the cost of scanning the archives of any newspaper publisher willing to allow the stories to be shown free on Google's website." Whether The Orbital, its predecessor "The Egham Sun"and their 21year history will be digitised, is yet to be decided.

Beijing:

The 29th Olympiad came to an end on August 24th, with Team GB gaining a total of 47 medals, 19 of which were gold- their best performance since 1908 though still surpassed by China, USA and Russia. In a spectacular closing ceremony, London showed the world what to expect in 4 years’ time, by driving out the iconic red bus, accompanied with performances by Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page and an appearance from David Beckham.

USA: Luckily, with all the problems in the world at the moment, American company CostCo has began to sell an “Emergency Food Kit”. The pack, or rather, tub, contains 275 meals and lasts up to twenty years. A mere $75 will buy you 23lbs of delicacies, including “Potato Bakon”, “Ala King” and more deliciously, blueberry pancakes. And to the relief of many consumers, it is available giftwrapped. However, CostCo provides no suggestions as to what you would write on the tag, with the old cliché, “thinking of you” perhaps being too ominous.

Zimbabwe:

Despite pressure to share power between his own notorious party and the opposition, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has stated that he will form a new government on his own, according to media reports. The power-sharing negotiations, which have followed a brutal election, will hopefully alleviate some of Mugabe’s power which has for so long impoverished millions of civilians.

China:

Also in China, the four-year old elephant “Big Brother” finally returned home having overcame his drug addiction. Big Brother’s addiction began when traders fed him heroin-laced bananas by to control his behaviour.

P A M S U P M A C

opinion

The Hub The Hub provides really good, freshly cooked food in a modern setting. It also has a great coffee shop with comfy sofas and yummy cake.

Stumble Inn Just below Medicine, it's a slightly more traditional alternative to other campus bars with its pub feel.

Medicine Holloway's most modern bar, it's the place to go before a night out at the union, but also during the day to grab a baguette (although this may not be ready for Freshersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; week) and catch up with friends. Look out for special Medicine nights on the Comm. Card and also 'Antidote' every Saturday night.

Sports Centre Here you'll find a well equipped gym, aerobics studio and sports hall to keep you fit.

Students' Union The epicentre of all student activity, with 3 bars, Bake and Bite (a new food outlet) and regular market days, poster sales, job fayres and book sales.

International Building Not just an academic building, it contains Cafe Jules, one of the best places to get a coffee or sandwich in between lectures.

14 theOrbital.co.uk

Founder's College Shop Where to go to buy everything you could ever need from food, magazines, stationery to RHUL souvenirs. It's open until 8pm on weekdays, 5 on a Saturday and 6 on Sundays.

Our castle! Hogwarts! Housing over 400 students, it's also home to most of the college admin, Founder's Library, full English breakfasts in the Dining Hall, the health centre, chapel and Crosslands: the perfect place to meet friends and grab a drink or bite to eat.

Natwest

Handy on-campus bank with 24 hour ATMs.

College Bookshop Very well stocked â&#x20AC;&#x201C; almost all students can find most of their reading lists here, new and second-hand.

Windsor Building This is most likely where you'll find yourself attending your lectures, but on the Monday and Tuesday of Freshers' week it's home to 'Orbital Live and Insanity V!' THE most exciting media event that will happen all year, so make sure you come along!

Computer Centre Does what it says on the tin - contains lots and lots of computers! Also a good place to come with burning I.T. questions or if your laptop has died.

The Monkey's Forehead Bedford Library Now the biggest library on campus, open 24 hours during exam periods and full of work areas for study.

Everyone's favourite off campus pub, it has a great atmosphere, good food and reasonably priced drinks. Home of the epic 'Banana Party' every first Monday of the month.

opinion

E Y M A I T W O G L N OL I O D TH A

hea S m

a by S

year at Royal Holloway has sadly come to an end. I thought, to do it justice, I would have a little recollection of the year that has been one of the best in the 19 odd years I’ve been around. So many people have come into my life (170 according to facebook) and many of them have become awesome friends, and one lucky lady even became my girlfriend. Founders has to be the coolest place I will ever live. Based on a French chateau, and founded by the legend that is Thomas Holloway I absolutely love the place. The East and the West sides, the North and the South quads, all allow friendly rivalries to form and provide banter for many of us to play with. The building itself is characterised by vast corridors, spread over 5 ﬂoors, interlinked by those stone staircases with the banisters everyone loves to lie on. The dining hall is where we ate the food we loved to hate (lots of it in Mark Moloney and Hagrid’s case). The Chapel and Picture Gallery, in the Nouth Quad, were visited by an elite few but are pretty impressive nonetheless. The Library, in the Sorth Quad is spectacular with its towering bookshelves occupied by old dusty books, 90% of which I swear were written in foreign languages and 16 theOrbital.co.uk

completely useless (maybe it’s just where I chose to sit each of the few times I visited.) Crosslands, the home of the alcohol supply on the EAST side, is a very basic bar (although recently revamped for around £120,000) where Crosslands Unplugged takes place on Thursday evenings and it also boasts an Itbox annnd a pool table, oh yeah. Stuck in the small (and I mean small) town of Egham where there are limited things to occupy the standard human being, lies our uni campus. Here we have numerous students, doctors/professors, accommodation for students, the academic department buildings, lecture theatres, bars, the crucial students union, the sports fields, sports hall (home to exams!), gymnasium, various places to eat, too many speed bumps and not enough parking spaces, trees, squirrels, ponds , a large gay population, underground tunnels, a Natwest that gets mobbed during the

first couple of weeks of term with new undergrads wanting to get their hands on an all important student bank account and finally, Santa

“

ME WAS G FOR IN N E V E THE FIRST ES WERE ING GAM K IN R D DOWN AT CARNAGE. RIDOR AND R O C E H T S) PLAYED IN ON CAMPU BEST BAR E H T ( E IN MEDIC

“

The first evning for me was carnage. Drinking ames were played in the corridor and don at Medicine (the best bar on campus) and everyone got to know each other a bit.

Freshers’ week followed on along the same sort of pattern. Lots of drinking and getting to know people and attending the odd meeting relating to our degrees, which most people had put at the back of their minds. At some point in Freshers’ week I met my date for Freshers’ Ball, Abbie Morrow, an amazing girl who I had lots of fun with and who will never be forgotten

completely. Everyone dressed up for the occasion and we managed to all look rather smart. I envied my other neighbour, Olly, as he had a self-tie bow tie which he wore around his neck with an open collar.... a look which I went for at our end of year Summer Ball.

Hamilton,Munson,Hague,Shead... oh and a man/giant...who went by the name of George. George built us a damn consisting of boulders whilst the rest of us feeble boys added stones. It was magnificent nonetheless and a monument I miss very much.

A few of us on the 2nd ﬂoor got a bit of a reputation for being players in the first term, probably a well deserved reputation. We had heard lots about uni in terms of girls and we weren’t wrong. Royal Holloway has a bias population when it comes to the gender of its students with the majority being female (cough jackpot cough). A few of us chose to execute this factor and make it work to our advantage. I dare say by the time Christmas arrived a little competition was going on between a few of us regarding a tally of the amount of pulls each of us had. We were regulars in the Students’ Union on a Wednesday and a Friday and also in The Monkey’s Foreskin on a Monday. This meant hangovers on a Tuesday and a Thursday hence my abysmal attendance in lectures on these particular days.

Whilst in Spain I started getting slightly intimate with a girl named Naomi and, due to this, muchos stick was received from our fellow students. Naomi and I started going out shortly after the Spain trip and remain an item to date and I consider myself to be very lucky indeed. We both have pretty hectic summers and it’s going to be weird going from seeing each other every day to going weeks without one another but hopefully we’ll get through it as I love her to pieces.

In the second term, a Geography field trip/ piss up was on the cards. We were off to Nerja in SE Spain to look at rivers, coasts, sediment and general shit no one really cares about along those lines. I shared a room with Satoshi, a student from Japan studying at Roho for the year. Thankfully in Nerja, there was a beautiful place, a shrine infact, called Tuti-Fruiti. A nightclub with drink promo’s and locals who were well up for scoring with some hot English students (mostly slimey middle aged men from what I can remember.) We were apparently the worst behaved group ever to go on the trip and I personally see this as a great achievement, well done guys. Whilst in Spain, we had to do a study of our own and write up a field report. In my beloved group we had: the two girls Esme

and Nikita, and the boys

“

ND ALL MOODLE A S S E L B D GO OTES. ECTURE N L Y L E V O ITS L GH MY ME THROU W A S Y E TH TO MANAGED I D N A S EXAM H IS ALL YEAR WHIC E H T S S PA T YEAR S AS FIRS R E T T A M THAT ! R NOTHING COUNTS FO

“

Third term meant one thing, exams. Shit. No work all year and now I have exams. Uh oh, that 40%, which sounds so easily obtainable seemed a light year away. Revision was necessary. God bless Moodle and all its lovely lecture notes. They saw me through my exams and I managed to pass the year, which is all that matters as first year counts for nothing (for my degree ,at least)!

opinion The 3rd term meant something else though...SUMMER BALL! With a completely insane line

...a

Mo re !

up consisting of (brace yourselves)...:

URIN

aid

Fr ed

FEAT SON A H2O FRED, J YBE , AID MA KE SHA T S L, E D H N O G I J 80S R HA ND M, Y, A U D N I A PLAT VAN, JK HAT L RUZ! P C O AIO DON OUSE, ND T H A E E WIN HANTASI P

gh tS

This first y e a r c o u l d

have

Mental or what?! Despite a fairly dreadful

line up, which managed to make people laugh and smile throughout the evening

(largely due to them being under the

inﬂuence), I think it’s fair to say a good

eW in

time was had by all.

ay b

Everyone seems to be psyched for

next year when we move into our houses. Englefield Green is clearly where the party is

on Do n

ov an

Ta io

Cr u

ak e

at just for the record...

18 theOrbital.co.uk

made

been into

full on novel but I tried to keep it short, firstly, because I’m lazy and secondly, I don’t wish to bore you all too much. Thanks for an awesome first year at Royal Holloway guys x

SAM SHEAD

IMPORTANT Dear Fresher, During your first week at University you will need to register with a doctor. If you are living in a hall of residence or Englefield Green, Windsor, Old Windsor or certain areas of Egham you are invited to register with the Health Centre doctors who hold surgeries on the Campus. If you are not living within the catchment area the Health Centre receptionist can advise on a doctor’s practice within your area. REGISTRATION:

Monday to Friday and

9.30 am to 12.30 pm 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm

Please allow time when you come to register, as the first week of term is extremely busy. When you register please bring with you: 1.

The Health Questionnaire

A current photograph of yourself.

3. Your National Health Service Medical Card (if you have one). If you do not have a card you will be required to complete an application form on arrival. If you have not yet received Meningitis C vaccine as part of the national schools programme which started in 1999/2000, or from you GP since, please make sure that you attend the Health Centre as soon as possible to register and for the necessary arrangements to be made. If you are unsure check with you parents, your current doctor or the School Health Department of your Local Education Authority. Please come to register as soon as possible – Don’t leave it until you require an appointment or are suddenly taken ill – There will be queues but we have extra staff on duty to cope. After Induction Week you will probably wait even longer – Look upon the queuing as a social event – you never know who you may meet !! Yours caringly, The Health Centre P.S. CONFIDENTIALITY – PLEASE HELP US The staff are very aware of the potential problem when students make appointments or request test results at the reception desk. Please help us to maintain your privacy by bringing only one attendant/friend with you to avoid congestion at the entrance and by making a request to see a nurse if you feel that you require a greater degree of privacy than is afforded to you. You are not obliged to divulge the nature of your visit to the receptionist although for practical reasons she may need to be informed what type of appointment you require (e.g. asthma, cervical smear, employment medical etc) in order to place you in the appropriate clinic and give sufficient time for examination.

opinion

y e n o fe M

ns i m Cum d i v a by D

inances Matter

Money is one of those things; it’s great when you’ve got it and it’s the squits when you’ve not. So here’s some tips to get you through your year of finance – minus the headache. You’ve landed on Planet Holloway and you’ve been faced with Freshers Week. Then after that it’s all go-go-go with growing up and getting sorted;

First thing’s first, before you start thinking about spending your cash this year, work out how much you have. Think about how much you have incoming over the term. Whether it’s just your loan, income from a job, or help from home, it will help to have an idea of how much you’ve got.

a sufficient way, then good for you. If not, you need to think of ways to raise that extra cash;

To find jobs there are a number of places to look. Keep your eye out for the SU’s job fair, which will be coming soon. Here there’ll be plenty of employers looking to take you on. Elsewhere look to the Union itself, who employ many students in a number of different outlets across campus. At college there are also a number of outlets which take student staff, such as in the Dining Halls, College Shop and in the libraries. Head to the careers centre on campus, which you will find on your campus map, or head into Egham/ Englefield Green and approach local businesses face to face.

Think to the future. You know you want to go out to the Christmas Blowout at the end of term, so make sure you have enough money to buy your sexy Santa outfit, your ticket, a carrot for the deer and a mince pie for Father Christmas. Keep things like that in mind before you go crazy mid term.

Lastly, I would advise to be realistic. When you’re out and about think about things you definitely need, and what you don’t.

Now the bad bit. Once you’ve worked out the finer details, how much you’re going to get per month and how much the maintenance loan will offer, you need to start thinking about the outgoings. If you live in halls they’ll be a lump sum that will leave your account at once. If you live in private accommodation, think about your monthly rent, and then your bills on top.

Once you’ve sorted your incomings/ outgoings you should be able to work out if you’re plus/minus each month/term/ year. If you’re making ends meet in

20 theOrbital.co.uk

So, you’ve got the money you think you need to get by, now let’s think about how to spend it. One of the best money tips I ever heard was this; on Sunday night, take ten minutes to work out how much you will spend in that following week. Take into consideration going out to the Union, buying food for the week, and those little trips to the College Shop. Once you have a figure in you head, go to the bank, take out that money and then hide your debit card for the rest of the week. This way you can only spend what you have.

Don’t let money get you down this year. If you are ever having any financial problems, remember to visit the Welfare suite upstairs in the Student’s Union, where they’ll give you sound advice about where to go and what to do. Don’t panic!! DAVID CUMMINS

p.s.

Don’t go food shopping when you’re hungry. Error.

net arlotte s a l P wle ave y Ch b -Bo m a s Bas

o you’ve lugged all your worldly belongings up hundreds of ﬂights of steps, you have ﬂeetingly waved goodbye to your parents and felt like a small child again. In the space of a day your whole environment has completely changed. Everything is just a bit strange isn’t it? So while everything around you is changing, now is a perfect time to change some small things you do. I hear you draw a sharp intake of breath, silently curse the ceiling. The truth is both the SU and college are working hard to towards becoming far more environmentally efficient and with the main percentage of people living here being students. We need your help. Phew got to the point- bet half of you are regretting even starting this article! The truth is being environmentally friendly can seem like a drag- Ok so everyone seems to be doing something, the media has hatched it as the new trendy thing to do, but can you really be bothered? It often seems with the environment that someone is doing far more to help and someone is doing far little, thus discouraging you to do anything at all. But the truth on this campus is that very easy to do small things and actually make a huge difference. Our biggest problem in relation to RHUL’s carbon footprint is emissions from buildings. As students you are living or studying in these buildings and so by such small things like turning your lights off can actually make a huge difference to our campus as a whole. But before we harp on at you about how you can change your ways, lets explain a bit about what the SU has done to give you some ideas and to maybe get a bit inclined to help out in the future. Firstly the SU has become involved in an NUS scheme called ‘Sound Impact’. This countrywide accreditation scheme assesses unions in relation to how environmentally friendly and ethically efficient they are. Sound Impact involved completing over a

hundred assessment criteria, including, but definitely not limited to, the temperature of water in taps, ﬂushing of water in toilets, photo booth machines, number of pot plants on premises (yep, no joke)! We were then given the award ‘Working Towards Accreditation’, and this year we are aiming to up this to the Bronze certificate and are well on our way to achieving this. We are also involved in the ‘Carbon Academy’, run by the Carbon Trust which emphasises how being environmentally efficient can be a huge cost saver, which working in a student’s union is extremely important. And the more money we save, the more money goes to help you! We also now have brand spanking new recycling bins both inside and outside of the SU for you guys to use to rid you of your sin bin ways and move you well onto the way of being environmental gods! In relation to these bins, we are also perusing avenues within our bars and catering to recycle glass bottles, skiffs and cans. We are also looking at changing all t-shirts we buy to Fairtrade and looking towards a huge lighting refurb in medicine w h i c h will reduce that building’s c a r b o n emissions by a huge amount. We are a l s o working on a turn off policy so that nothing is left on when people are not in the building. In the past year SURHUL has made a massive commitment to the environment, we now have an ethical and environmental officer position, a committee you can join and so many other initiatives in the pipeline. There are so many ways for student’s to help the environment, so for those of you that have mislaid your student handbook amongst the huge mess in your room.

Here are a few pointers (but I do advise you stealing someone else’s handbook as they will be far more explanatory). Turn your lights off when your not in the room (Ok, so were starting with the simple ones) Don’t leave items on standby (Ok so you knew that one too) Turn your heating down- we know its tempting to leave it on when your not paying the bills but do the polar bears a favour and put a jumper on instead Take your charger out when your phones not plugged in- they eat energy! Only do washing when you have a full load, if not maybe share with a friendno better way to bond with someone than over dirty knickers! Recycle whenever you can- you are doing so much more to for the environment by walking a little bit further rather than putting it in your kitchen bin Walk wherever you can, if this idea seems just too daunting to you, take advantage of the public transport in the area, or when going to Tesco all bundle into the car together (reducing carbon and making those first shopping trips a bonding experience) If you’re not a student in halls and you’re having to foot your own bills there’s another huge reason to do your bit for the environment. Energy bills are rapidly on the rise, so by cutting down your energy usage you are saving money which, believe me, as a student can be used for far more exciting things than bills. So pester your housemates too, the more of you willing to change the cheaper your living will be! We all know that the idea of being environmentally friendly can seem a bit too much effort, especially for students when 8 hours of lectures can seem a push! But by changing the way you live in these small ways you genuinely can help to reduce the carbon emissions of RHUL. We’re not asking you to become tree hugging hippies who run at the sight of a wash (although obviously do not condemn those that wish to live that way of life) but seriously, uni is a great time to change the way you live so you might as well incorporate some good old planet TLC into it, eh? .

CHARLOTTE B.B.

orbital

22 theOrbital.co.uk

PINBOARD

The Orbital’s classified ads page. Contact d.t.cummins@rhul.ac.uk, to see your business here. Students, send a shout-out on here for £10!

PREGNANT? Not sure what to do? call 01784 248 710 or 07506 564 691 Options Pregnancy Crisis Centre

For all fancy dress accesories, will order in as necessary if not available in store

Janet’s

FANCY DRESS

82, St Judes Road, Englefield Green (Next to the Baker’s) 01784 436 301

*also dance shoes and clothes available*

HOPE YOUR TRAINING WAS GOOD EMILIE!

CONGRATS! ANNA & LISA & GEORGINA ENJOY YOUR NEW JOBS! DRIVING TUTITION

Secrets of

R E IK I

Lesson: £25 Block booking discounts. Call Stewart 07966215151

Gentle hands-on healing. Training courses and treatments Rosemary 01784 433634 rosemary@talktalk.net

Pilates & Yoga Classes

Two of the best workouts ever! Thursday 20:00 Jurgen Centre Harvest Road, E/G Rosemary 01784 433634

ES!

STUDENT RAT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA JONES! Sept. 25th

NOW I DON’T HAVE TO BUY YOU A DRINK! Magna Road Cru

orbital

LONDON FASHION WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 24TH-28TH

Following on from London’s Fashion Week, a long weekend in the Natural History Museum will see high-profile designers selling high-end designs at reduced prices. Now open till 9pm on the weekdays. w w w. l o n d o n s f a s h i o n w e e k e n d . c o . u k

WHAT’S | ON

PART-TIME JOBS FAYRE 12-2:30PM OCTOBER 1ST

Strapped for cash after Freshers’ Week? Come along to the SU where businesses from around Egham and Englefield Green will be advertising for new recruits. www.surhul.co.uk/events

READING COMEDY FESTIVAL 2008 THROUGHOUT OCTOBER

The Hexagon Theatre in Reading will be presenting some of the finest stand-up acts in comedy including Dylan Moran, Ed Byrne, Jason Manford, Tim Minchin and many more. www.readingcomedyfestival.com

WINDSOR FRINGE 19 SEP 08 - 5 OCT 08

TURNER PRIZE 2008 FROM SEPTEMBER 30TH

A unique opportunity to see the works of the 4 artists short-listed for the most prestigious arts award in Europe. The winner will be announced on December 1st, but decide for yourself at the Tate Britain. www.tate.org.uk

COMEDY EXTRA with STEVE DAY! Sunday 28th September

Theatre Royal Stratford East Bar. Warm, witty and engaging, Steve Day looks at the dilemmas faced by a deaf man in a hearing world. Hilarious and Inspiring!As ever, entry to all these events is completely and utterly free. There’s food (not free), there’s drink (no, you’ve got to pay for that too) and if you get there early enough, there may eve 24 theOrbital.co.uk

The popular Windsor Fringe has a long tradition of encouraging new talent and each year stages an inspired and innovative programme of music, dance, comedy, drama, and art. Highlights include the successful WINDSOR FRINGE MARRIOTT AWARD FOR NEW DRAMA WRITING and the popular ARTISTS OPEN HOUSE programme. Box Office 01753 743915. Web: windsorfringe.co.uk

CROYDON FOOD FESTIVAL 4th Oct 2008-31st Oct 2008

Croydon Food Festival celebrates food from around the world. FREE events, activities and demonstrations taking place throughout October 2008 for all of the family. vroberts@croydonbusiness.com 02086806104 Location: North End, CR0 1UG Extra Info: www.croydonfoodfestival.com

ROYAL WINDSOR WHEEL UNTIL NOVEMBER 2ND

Visitors to windsor can be transported 180feet upwards to enjoy spectacular views of the castle, the river thames and other historic landmarks against an autumnal backdrop. www.royalwindsorwheel.co.uk

MY LITTLE PONY CONVENTION OCTOBER 11TH

Thought conventions were just for Spock lovers and sci-fi fans? Well think again! Hundreds of My Little Pony fans will be descending on Brunel University in October

WELCOME BACK!

orbital

Non-Res Bus Key : Leaves from Union (9pm) Leave from Medicine (9pm)

26 theOrbital.co.uk

“ orbital

Free Stuff

We figured that if we were reading The Orbital, we’d want all of the free stuff available on one page. That way we could just turn straight there, apply for all the good stuff and then, when there is nothing better to do, read the rest of the magazine at our leisure. So here is all the free stuff we have.

”

Teleflorist Corsages Teleflorist have kindly offered not only five free corsages to lucky winners, but offer 10% off any purchase for The Orbital readers. Not only that, but they also support Marie Curie Cancer Care, a great cause. Teleflorist is one of the UK’s leading online florists. Our flowers are created by award winning flower designers, gold medalists from Chelsea flower show plus we offer beautiful gifts ranging from contemporary flower arrangements, traditional flower posies & baskets, Christmas flowers, gourmet gifts, wines, food hampers, fruit baskets and birthday flowers. Teleflorist also prides itself on supporting local and national charities. One of our key charities is Marie Curie Cancer Care with whom we have developed a beautiful bouquet created from fresh vibrant flowers.

For a chance to win, e-mail your name, contact details and TELEFLORIST IS AWESOME to: orbital@su.rhul.ac.uk

UNION

MEDICINE

If it is you with a big Orbital logo around your face in the pictures page, you have a free Union ticket! Woo!

With the voucher to the right, you can get free entry to the Saturday event at Medicine - “Antidote”.

DVDS Win one of two DVDs or three t-shirts of the new Adam Brody DVD, Smiley Face. Page 35 28 theOrbital.co.uk

TICKETS Turn to the theatre pages to win one of five pairs of tickets to a new stage show. Page 37

WIN TICKETS TO WAR HORSE, THE NATIONAL THEATRE’S

EPIC HIT PRODUCTION ‘So exhilarating it makes you rejoice to be alive.’ The Times

‘Powerfully moving and imaginative… whatever age you happen to be.’ Daily Telegraph War Horse is based on the highly original novel by Michael Morpurgo. The First World War is the backdrop for this exciting tale of bravery, and the extraordinary bond between a young recruit and his horse. Actors working with magnificent, life-sized puppets lead the audience on a gripping and emotionally charged journey through history. Following a sell-out run last year, War Horse returns to the National Theatre by public demand. With performances selling fast, don’t miss the chance to get tickets for this unforgettable family show. From 10 September National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX Box Office: 020 7452 3000 Book online: nationaltheatre.org.uk To win one of four pairs of tickets The Orbital has to give away, simply answer the following:

COMPETITION QUESTION: What year did World War I end? Send answers to orbital@su.rhul.ac.uk, with your contact details and the subject “WARHORSE!”

lifestyle THEATRE

E L Y T S LIFE

PRESENTS the Edinburgh

Welcome to the biggest arts festival on the planet. With over 1,500 shows to peruse in your time here there is no shortage of things to see, only a shortage of life in which to see it. There is not only one festival here at the fringe, there are over 10, though ‘festival’ is a rather strong word to use for a some, it just seems a good time to have a convention (the Edinburgh Interactive Festival to name one). The two main festivals are, ﬁrstly, the International Festival, the original 30 theOrbital.co.uk

festival and the reason that the Fringe as we know it began. Started in 1947 as a post-war eﬀort to celebrate unity through the arts, it intended to showcase the best professional theatre around the world. Then secondly the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which began in opposition to this proving that the small performers could still be brilliant… and cheap.

2,000! An elderly gentleman in a shop told me while I was here that the first fringe had only seven shows in it, and it is now up around the 2,000 mark. However, along with more shows, the shows themselves have got more expensive so now you are not only gambling with time, you are gambling with money! This is where humble reviewers come in.

RHUL! Royal Holloway had some great offerings at the fringe this year; Darning Jilly, Max and Ivan and Flush which was a ‘fringe favourite’ from Fest magazine. I managed to get to Darning Jilly which was incredibly acted and certainly scary. Flush was performed at the Arts Lecture Theatre in October and don’t doubt that it has got a hell of a lot better since then, it was one of the most professional shows I saw at the fringe. (That includes the actual professional shows. Which is stretching on the term at times). I also heard fantastic reviews about the comedy duo Max and Ivan who were known to be packing out their audiences night after night. The cast of all shows will have spent much of their time ﬂyering on the Royal Mile, a task that is tiring, sweaty and this month extremely wet. For any average punter walking up the mile it takes a torturous amount of time and energy and then add in slow-walking American tourists for good measure.

MORE THEATRE? PAGE 36!

NEXT YEAR My month at the festival was different from that of the performers, for a start people actually listened to my opinion, so here it is one more time. Firstly, I would suggest for anyone looking to visit in a coming year to come in the second week once the reviews have really kicked in, otherwise you may find yourself going along to some of the more excruciating offerings the fringe can throw at you. Take for example ‘Shaggers’, just four desperately unfunny (male) comedians pretending that any woman had at some point found them attractive enough to sleep with. The embarrassment hit me even in the back row, the only reasonable saviour was that it was in the Free Fringe Festival, and so I had not wasted any money on it – only precious time! So far as the good side of the fringe goes there were shows to experience such as ‘Paganini’; the classical string quartet who ran around playing Rodeos alongside Pachabel’s canon and made me laugh until I cried or ‘Table 23’ a sweet little play full of energy that made me cry until I laughed. The Thai Drumming girls in skin-tight leather, the kids show that taught you how to juggle, the electo-post-modern poetry and the London Gay Man’s choir – ‘there’s no place like homo’. The list is endless and terrific. It is all here, all singing, all dancing and all drinking. So make sure you put it in your diary for next year, you don’t want to miss out because trust me, it’s the best thing worth bankrupting yourself for! Rhiannon Smith

lifestyle MUSIC

Behind: GIRLTALK

America’s best Festival? Nick Fogg ﬁnds out!

n a sunny Friday afternoon, on a park bench, in the beautifully picturesque Grant Park, Chicago, a young woman sits ﬂicking through the pages of a small book. However, this is no leisurely afternoon respite, as this weekend is Lollapalooza weekend, one of the music festival highlights of the year, and the small book the young woman is ﬂicking through, is the program guide to this year’s festival. Perry Farrell first conceived the idea for Lollapalooza in 1991 as a way of showcasing the last performance of his alternative rock band, Jane’s Addiction, and although previous years have drawn controversy and poor ticket sales, since 2004 the festival has enjoyed a a renewed success operating under a new and improved format, over a 3 day weekend in the heart of Chicago. This year, Farrell’s brainchild offers one of the most exciting festival line-ups in recent history, showcasing some of music’s biggest talents, including Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West and Nine Inch Nails. And with a whole host of other acts to support such strong headliners, it is no wonder there has been so much buzz surrounding the event. One of the highlights of day one at the festival included an amazingly energetic performance by Gogol Bordello. The Eastern European selftitled ‘Gypsy Punks’ stormed onto the AT&T stage and launched into a frantic set of songs, taken from each of their 4 studio albums, proving that after a decade in the industry, they had more than enough 5 star material to squeeze into a one hour set.

32 theOrbital.co.uk

CSS also offered the crowd a typically physical performance of songs from their albums Cansei de Ser Sexy (literally ‘tired of being sexy’) and Donkey, released earlier this year on Sub Pop/ Warner/Trama records. The crowd was whipped into a frenzy with such well known hits as Meeting Paris Hilton, and Music Is My Hot Hot Sex proving the band to be one of Brazil’s hottest exports.

“there has been so much buzz surrounding the event.

“

Much of the excitement surrounding this year’s festival was thanks to the recent reformation of Rap-core-Rock legends, Rage Against the Machine. The crowd the band drew on Saturday night left many wondering just who was at the other end of the park to see Chicago’s own Wilco perform. Aside from a few problems concerning crowd safety during the set, Rage put on a great show, belting out some of their biggest hits including Freedom, Calm Like a Bomb, and Killing in the Name of. The 90’s golden duo of Tom Morello and Zach de la Rocha proved that even after many years away from the band, that they still have what it takes to combine catchy guitar riffs with poetically executed rap, bursting with political agenda.

The 3rd and final day of the festival satisfied many of the Chicago hipster scene’s biggest anticipations in the form of one Gregg Gillis, a.k.a Girl Talk. The mash-up DJ, who dislikes the term which so many use to describe him, takes samples from artists as diverse as Elton John and Sly & the Family Stone to create a new song comprising of samples, often from more than 20 different songs. And as the set opens to a stage clearly too small for the salivating crowd, it isn’t long before Gillis has us jumping up and down to the huge range of songs crammed into an hour long set. For me, Girl Talk was the highlight of the festival, and if he continues to release more albums to the standard of Night Ripper and Feed the Animals, I predict that he will enjoy success for many years to come. The organisation of the festival was excellent and the range of extra activities offered festival goers a lot of choice for things to do. Whether it be the Rock Band Competition tent, the massage tent or the water tent, which sprayed constant mists of water to offer a temporary refuge from the heat, there was always something to do. This years festival proved to be a huge success all round and for $160 it was worth every penny. If you ever happen to find yourself in Chicago midsummer I would strongly recommend you check out the festival. A word of advice for the seasoned festival freak however: don’t bother packing your wellies. Nick fogg

music GUIDE good band:

gig to be at:

What Made Milwaukee Famous Not just any band is invited to play Austin City Limits, America’s own Top of the Pops, so when an unsigned band from Austin Texas played in 2005 alongside Scottish pop-rockers Franz Ferdinand, more than a few eyebrows were raised. The audience were impressed by a stellar performance by What Milwaukee Famous however and have since signed with Barsuk Records on which they have released two studio albums; Trying to Never Catch Up in 2006, and What Doesn’t Kill Us, released earlier this year. Currently on tour

album reviews:

album: The Monkey Pole artist: Hybrasil Hailing from the same part of Ireland as Moloko’s Rosin Murphy, Hybrasil, whose style they describe as being ‘indietronic’, certainly dooesn’t disappoint on their début album Monkey Pole released in early 2007. Their infectious brand of electronic rock is clearly inﬂuenced by the likes of Gorillaz and Goldfrapp, but what sets this band apart from the rest is lead singer Spud Murphy’s lyrical ability, which neatly ties together the different elements of the album.

in North America, the band, whose lead singer Michael Kingcaid cites his main inﬂuences as being Radiohead and Jeff Buckley, are perhaps best described as being a pop-rock outfit, and as the title track of Trying to Never Catch Up expertly demonstrates the band’s ability to weave catchy riffs into a vocal execution that would make Dave Grohl jealous, it becomes clear that this is a band who will only continue to grow in popularity.

If You Feel demonstrates the band’s astute understanding of track arrangement, as Murphy’s vocals gently weave in and out of a well constructed synth melody, all laid over a simple but effective drum beat, all of which combined creates a beautiful track, and one of the highlights of the record. Love Is In You is a more modern approach to the garage rock scene and would not look out of place on a Hives album; the bass drum keeping a constant rhythm gives the guitars licence to soar in and about the varied Pulp style vocals. Monkey Pole sits happily in that grey area between indie and electronica which so many times bands have tried to fuse together, and have just as often failed to do.

Jamie Lidell - £16 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Thursday 16th October

With comparisons to Prince, Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder long having done the rounds, Jamie Lidell is proving that there is a good deal of truth behind them. Having a more electronic background (his first full length album Muddlin Gear was entirely electronic), makes for a live show with a bit of a difference. In between the more soulful tracks taken from his albums Multiply and Jim, he incorporates a live recording session in which he layers recordings of his voice on top of each other to create an interesting and different mix at each gig he plays. His multi-talented backing band provide enough musical support to avoid any suggestion that he is a one-man act, especially his saxophonist (who for some reason takes to wearing a dressing gown on stage). Always an energetic set, £16 is a good price at a great venue to see one of Britain’s hottest new soul acts.

A record which is musically mature beyond their twentysomething ages, Monkey Pole is a sure-fire winner which could be a contender for record of the year.

album: Dystoria artist: The Midnight Juggernauts Brilliant alternative dance record from the band often likened to Justice and fellow Aussies Cut Copy. The heavily synthesised sound feels like an updated and more cinematic approach to the

80’s new wave dance genre. Released internationally in April 2008, the album has enjoyed critical success as well as doing well in the Australian music charts. REVIEW? GIG PREVIEW? FAVOURITE BAND? SEND IT TO US: EMMA.COOPER@RHUL.AC.UK

lifestyle FILM

HELLBOY 2, America’s best Festival? HOT? Nick Fogg ﬁnds out! A

common staple of the superhero movie is the hero’s attempts to keep their identity a secret. Spiderman is Peter Parker, college student and photographer; Superman is Clark Kent, journalist and former farm boy and Batman is Bruce Wayne, millionaire playboy. Hellboy however, does not have a secret identity. Mostly because, to be honest, a pair of glasses or a spandex suit would not hide his big red horns and engorged stone hand. Instead, he is kept secret by the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence, living in a secret bunker in New Jersey with his girlfriend, Liz and fellow freak Abe Sapien. Every day, millions of New Yorkers go about their daily business unaware that agent Hellboy is there to protect them from things that go bump in the night.

After saving the world from destruction in Hellboy, he’s back to do it again in Hellboy 2. Only this time it’s bigger and better. Or is it? Anyone familiar with Del Toro’s work knows that the director can create some of the most exciting and exotic fantasy creatures in cinema and this film doesn’t disappoint. The audience is presented with a plethora of paranormal beings, from tree gods to eyeless oracles. In fact, the film is so full of fantastical creatures, that it actually feels slightly saturated. It no longer feels like it’s set in our world, instead, it feels part of Middle Earth or Narnia. 34 theOrbital.co.uk

Hellboy, who is supposed to feel alienated from the world due to his freakish looks, is actually right at home amongst the range of uglies presented in Hellboy 2. He is no longer the sad outsider, the unsightly loner. And this takes away

Behind: GIRLTALK

undoubtedly amusing, distracts from the film’s pacing. In fact, humour in Hellboy 2 is often misused. Hellboy as a character is fundamentally amusing, he looks like the devil but acts like a regular bloke: smoking cigars, drinking beer and

“the world is so full of fantastical creatures... it feels part of Narnia.

“

something I found quite charming in the original Hellboy. Another of the film’s many problems is its narrative structure; the film seemed to consist of a series of set-pieces rather than a cohesive narrative. Whilst the set-pieces are admittedly awesome, there is no sense of theme or purpose; instead we are presented with scene after scene of nearly random fantastical incidents that seem more self-indulgent than thematically relevant.

rescuing kittens. Humour played a big part in the first Hellboy film and was all the better for it. However, the problem with Hellboy 2 is that it just doesn’t know where to stop. It’s too funny. Not usually a criticism but in this respect, I think it might be. The comedy weakens the films more serious moments and undermines Del Toro’s awe-inspiring creatures. Having said all that, Hellboy 2 still has one key strength: Hellboy. He’s a fantastic creation, one of the greatest characters I’ve ever seen on screen. He’s got charisma that makes Jack Nicholson look like Gordon Brown. At the end of the day this film’s lack of narrative cohesion just doesn’t matter. I’d watch Hellboy read aloud from the phone book. For all its faults the film is immensely watchable. Hellboy 2 is exciting, electrifying, exhilarating. It’s also all over the place with more holes in it than Swiss cheese but that simply doesn’t matter because it’s awesome. Lydia Cowdery

In one scene Hellboy and friend Ape Sapien get drunk and sing along to Barry Manilow’s ‘Can’t Smile Without You’, a scene which, whilst

oooO.

film GUIDE in cinemas:

free dvd? (no need to download!)

Although not technically adhering to the section title “in cinemas”, the new film Zombie Strippers from Sony Pictures is released this week in the Prince Charles cinema in London, and, well, nowhere else. Jenna Jameson is arguably the biggest name attached to the production, with the acting skills she acquired in her career as a world-famous porn star perfectly matching the rest of this B-movie-eske production. I would summarise the plot, but I feel the title does this better than I ever could. Perhaps more intentionally funny is The Foot Fist Way, the film that launched Danny McBride’s career (he has since starred in Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder, arguably the two most recently released comedies in the world). The film follows the life of Fred Simmons (McBride), a down on his luck and delusional Tae Kwan Do instructor working out of his dojo in a North Carolina strip mall. His wife cheats on him with her new boss, and Fred’s life comes crashing down around him. To keep it together, he takes his best friend and top students off on a road trip to meet his idol, martial arts movie star, Chuck ‘The Truck’ Wallace. After Chuck agrees to make an appearance at the school’s next testing, Fred returns inspired and at the top of his game until Suzie makes an unexpected return. Will it be brilliantly funny? Who knows. Will it be a cult movie you can brag to your friends about discovering first? Yes. It has Chuck Norris.

The biggest release this week is probably Death Race, starring that bald guy that seems to appear in every film needing a “hard man”. However, we’ve relegated it to third on our list due to Universal Pictures not returning our calls regarding all the cool free press stuff they offered us. Still, it is too exciting a prospect to ignore entirely. A remake of a real cult classic (Death Race 2000), in this the year is 2012 and the United States economy has collapsed. Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) is an ex-NASCAR champion who, having spent several years in prison, has got his life back on track, working at a steel mill to provide for his family, wife Suzy (Janaya Stephens) and their baby girl. However, his life goes wrong again and he ends up in prison on Terminal Island, the toughest for-profit prison there is, run by the callous Warden Hennessey (Joan Allen). She is the creator of the “Death Race”, a kill-or-bekilled car race where the inmates race to win their freedom from prison. Needless to say, Jensen competes in the race and lots (and lots, and lots) of bullet and ballistic fighting ensues. The simple plot seems to serve as simply the background for the action scenes, which are extraordinary. With the action and octane levels of this film off the charts, it will be sure to fill any action fan’s tank to the brim. At the Vue: Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder, The Woman, The Boy in the Striped PJs

coming out soon(ish):

DRONA (october) Although only the second most excting film to be coming out of India in the next year (the most interesting being Incredible Love, starring Sly Stallone AND Arnie Schwarzenegger), Drona may,in fact, be the better film. According to the Director, Goldie Behl, “Drona is the title that’s given to the lead character. Drona is completely human – he even has character ﬂaws. In the movie, he learns to deal with his fears as well. Drona is the title given to the firstborn of every generation in this dynasty. It has been appointed here on earth by the gods themselves to guard a secret which, if found by evil forces, will spell doom for the planet and the universe.” Referred to as a cross between Indiana Jones and The Mummy, the trailer is more reminiscient of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - and not just because of the subtitles. It matches the beautiful visual styling of Crouching Tiger almost exactly; it is clearly our world (albiet a few centurys ago), but more beautiful. This theme appears to reoccur in all aspects of the film, for example, the fighting is real, but more ﬂuent and impressive to the eye then an real-life fight would be. Should be good!

Anna Faris Adam Brody The official press release, “released to own on DVD on 29 September from Momentum Pictures, it tells the story of Jane (Anna Faris), an unsuccessful slacker actress who is having a really bad day…and it’s about to get even worse after she mistakenly eats her roommates fresh batch of hash cupcakes.” gives the impression that Jane was only accidentally stoned - perhaps trying to avoid promoting the story’s heroine as a complete mess. That is not to say she isn’t funny, good to watch and even lovable at times - she will no doubt resemble your friends as they drunkenly stumble home from the Students’ Union. However, just like drunk friends, sometimes you are laughing at them, and others you are groaning to yourself, “why am I left to deal with this?” There is lots of laughter to be had in watching Smiley Face, but unfortunately, there are also just a few too many groaning moments. Anna Faris is brilliant, I truly believed she was stoned the entire movie. The fact that I believed the director, producer and script writers were stoned as well is what gives me trouble. It is definitely best classed as “light fun” and could definitely be laughed with, and at, with a group of friends.

THEY SAY: “... a hilarious, star-studded stoner comedy of highs, lows, and… well... highs!” WE SAY: “We’d recommend watching it, but beware, you will not come away wiser or smarter from this film.”

WIN IT! To win one of two DVD’s and three T-shirts, just e-mail in your name, contact details and the words, GIVE ME SMILEY FACE STUFF to the usual address. The usual address is: orbital@su.rhul.ac.uk

lifestyle THEATRE

HAMLET: Is Tennant the Dr. of Shakespeare? Possibly Shakespeare’s best known play, a tragedy that delves into the heart of human emotion, revenge and madness, Hamlet is infamous for having possibly the hardest male leads Shakespeare ever wrote and a ﬁnal scene littered with corpses. Left: DAVID TENNANT, posing

irector Gregory Doran has used a stupendous cast with the likes of Patrick Stewart (Star Trek, Tempest, X-Men), Penny Downe (Henry V, Food of Love) treading the boards. One of the finest performances came from 28 year old Anglo-Australian actress Mariah Gale, whom you might recognise from Skins, as Ophelia. In an original take on the role Gale portrayed Ophelia as a very young girl who loses everyone she loves. The well known “violets” scene saw Ophelia dishevelled, with bleeding legs and mud caked on her pale complexion bearing a funeral-type arrangement of weeds and rushes. When she left singing her swan-song the image of an innocent girl transformed into a depressed mad woman left not a dry eye in the audience. Another member of the cast was that Scottish guy off the telly. David Tennant (Romeo and Juliet, Dr Who, Harry Potter) has returned to the stage after 8 years of film and television work. The last time I saw Tennant was in The Rivals, the half empty house appreciated his efforts, apart from one old lady next to my brother who fell asleep, snored and woke up in the final Act to ask him what was going on. However this audience had crammed the auditorium, and watched in silence and at the end offered heavy applause. Tennant’s performance was very impressive, Hamlet’s phases of madness were clear and his almost Oedipus like devotion to Gertrude was constantly present.

“There’s rosemary,

The overal design concept was slightly odd, with costumes and set spanning from renaissance styles to Tennant wearing converse and jeans. Despite this unorthodox representation of the Elizabethan tragedy the different style of costumes and timeless nature of the peace made the rather dated play more accessible to a modern and younger audience.

“I am dead, Horatio“ In editing this piece Doran left in Rosencratz and Guildenstern, played by a pair of actors who reminded me of Ant and Dec, a non-essential couple who are often omitted. Yet Doran chose to reduce Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech and his final death speech, this made Hamlet’s death, that lasts for almost three pages, far more plausible and for that, more tragic. As to be expected this was an outstanding production, the set, costumes and music were all a thoroughly unique take on Shakespeare’s tragedy, but they only bettered Doran’s creation of a production that focused on the potential reality of Hamlet’s situation, an often over looked element of the play. I thought Stewart and Downe’s performances truly amazing; with thoroughly unique takes on their characters (Claudius and Gertrude). Downe managed to make her death a tragic suicide as a mother chooses death rather than see the demise of her vengeful son and unloving husband. EDMUND CONNOLLY

that’s for rememberance

“

Despite the limited resources the Courtyard Theatre has to offer, the set was an artistic, minimal backdrop of reﬂective plastic that coupled with a polished stage to make a restrictive mental prison. The first scene immediately showed the “arty” nature of this production with Tim Mitchell’s lighting reﬂecting off the entire set using a single torch beam to create criss-crossing lines that shone through smoke making a suitably spectral entrance for Hamlet’s Father. 36 theOrbital.co.uk

Performance Dates:

Hamlet leaves the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford upon Avon Saturday 15th November Tickets are priced £8 - £38. Hamlet moves to London in 2009 with the rest of their London productions, including “The Taming of the Shrew” and “A Midsummers Night’s Dream”, booking is available online: http://www.rsc.org.uk/WhatsOn/5723.aspx

theatre GUIDE win tickets to...

you should see: The Comedy Store Players

Above: A WHOLE HOST OF COMEDY STORE PLAYERS As six Comedy Store Players take to the stage (or turn up to play some games), armed with nothing but themselves, some musical instruments, a few microphones and the audience, you know you’re in for a good night out. The set up of the evening is similar to that of Who’s Line Is It Anyway, and the comedians perform scenes, games, stories and sketches, fuelled by the creative input of the audience. Lots of the fun of the evening came from audience suggestions. Lee Simpson asked the audience for a famous person (‘Jordan’), a household object (‘a key’) and a place (‘the jungle’) and then pointed at one of the players to begin the story, pointing at other players to continue it. If there was a break in the story, the audience would shout ‘DIE!’, and the player would leave the stage. One

of the funniest moments was when Simpson had to guess a bizarre job, created from audience suggestions. The other players acted out scenes to give him clues to the job (‘the man who teaches Lego men to clog dance in size 12 clogs, in a spaceship orbiting the world, to the sound of mamma mia on loop) and the fun came from the audience knowing exactly what part of the job they were referring to, cheering every time he guessed a part correctly. The shows are completely unscripted, unpredictable, and absolutely hilarious, performed by talented comedians. If you’re in need of a good of dose comic relief, these are the people to administrate it. Wednesday & Sunday’s at 8pm, £10 www.thecomedystore.co.uk

and this might be good:

The Norman Conquests by Alan Ayckbourn

The Old Vic brings Alan Ayckbourn’s comic masterpiece, The Norman Conquests, to the London stage for the first time in 34 years with an outstanding ensemble cast: Amelia Bullmore, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miles, Paul Ritter and Amanda Root – directed by Matthew Warchus in The Old Vic’s new reconfigured ‘theatre-in-the-round’ CQS Space. The three interconnecting comedies (Table Manners, Living Together, Round and Round the Garden) follow Norman, his in-laws and the local vet over a summer weekend in an English country house. Just choose a perspective, the dining room (Table Manners), the living room (Living Together) or the garden (Round and Round the Garden)…or of course you can piece the puzzle together and get the whole picture by seeing all three in any order you like. We have 5 pairs of tickets to give away for a play of your choice – choose from either Table Manners, Living Together or Round and Round the Garden. Tickets are valid for all performances until 11 October. Visit www.oldvictheatre.com for details of the performance schedule.

Which playwright wrote The Norman Conquests? a) b) c)

Send your answer, name and contact details to:

To Be Straight With You ‘Visionary and artistically magniﬁcent… highly political dance theatre: angry, powerful and emotional’ Neues Deutschland, Berlin world premiere, December 2007 Ground breaking physical theatre company DV8 are back with their new production To Be Straight With You, a poetic but unﬂinching exploration of tolerance, intolerance, religion

Arthur Miller Alan Ayckbourn Alan Bennett

orbital@su.rhul.ac.uk and (homo)sexuality. The topical piece has been created from 85 interviews with people in the UK directly affected by these issues; ‘every word spoken on stage comes directly from the interviewees.’ A piece of theatre that deals with a taboo subject, it is sensitive and moving, incorporating dance, text, documentary, animation and film as it challenges preconceptions. Renowned for their refusal to conform, DV8’s

latest production, which The Times describes as ‘a hard-hitting and passionate 80 minutes that expresses what is often left unsaid’, looks aweinspiring. The National Theatre from the 29th October – 15th November, buy tickets early! Write for us, submit to emma.cooper@rhul.ac.uk

lifestyle HEALTH

ARE YOU ? D A B G IN L E E F F O SICK

Think healthy with the advice of Dr Mark Denny MB, BS (London)

very October, usually within a fortnight of the beginning of the Autumn Term, both students and staff alike are affected by colds, sore throats, coughs and the like. These are termed upper respiratory tract infections or URTI by the medical profession. With the exception of sinusitis, tonsillitis and streptococcal pharyngitis (which require an antibiotic, usually penicillin) the common denominator is that they are caused by viruses.

You know when you have ‘ﬂu! The symptoms are: high fever aches and pains in the joints, headache, loss of appetite and general weakness necessitating enforced bed rest.

Viruses are microscopic organisms that do not respond to an antibiotic, indeed there is no known treatment for the vast majority of viruses causing URTI and none likely in the near future. There are for instance, over 200 viruses causing the common cold. Many of them change from year to year so that the human body can effectively mount an immune response. Most adults as a result suffer three to four colds per year. In addition every winter there is usually an outbreak of inﬂuenza (the ﬂu). The outbreaks vary in intensity, but every few years there is what is called an epidemic. This is when over one in a hundred people are affected per week.

Many people mistakenly think they have ‘ﬂu when they have either a bad cold or a ‘ﬂu like illness which are characterised by only a low grade fever and the ability to carry on with every day life.

38 theOrbital.co.uk

two hundred ! Over viruses can cause the common cold ?

The purpose of this short article is twofold. The first is to suggest basic treatments for the URTI, which hopefully will lead to the second, which is to cut down the number of unnecessary visits to the Health Centre for what essentially are medically untreatable and self-limiting conditions. The initial treatment is standard and consists of

Behind: Artist’s Impression of Dr. Denny three aspirin or two paracetamol every six hours, plenty of ﬂuids and rest. Nurofen or Ibuprofen at a dose of 400 mgs three times a day is an effective substitute (not suitable for those suffering from asthma or with history of allergy to aspirin). Some people advocate the addition of Vitamin C 500 mgs three times a day. A dry, tickly cough is best dealt with by codeine linctus, which can be bought from the pharmacist. It should be made clear that the taking of medication is not a substitute for rest. Rest is an important part of the body’s response to infection and it has the added advantage of keeping the people who are highly infectious away from other people for the first couple of days of the illness. There are a large number of so called cold and ‘ﬂu remedies on the market available over the counter from the pharmacist. By and large these are expensive and have not been shown to be significantly better at relieving symptoms than the much cheaper aspirin and paracetamol. Remember that antibiotics are of no value against viral upper respiratory tract infections.

E RS NU IT AL OR B The Orbital Nurse’s top tips on avoiding death from colds (although generally, you don’t die from colds anyway): 1. three asprin OR t wo paracetamol every three hours. However, if a person suffers from other conditions such as severe asthma or diabetes then antibiotics might have to be used to prevent complications. A small number of otherwise healthy people can develop secondary bacterial infections in the sinuses (sinusitis, causing facial pain) in the ears (otitis, causing ear ache) or in the chest (bronchitis, causing a productive cough of yellow or green phlegm). In these cases a doctor’s appointment may be arranged so that an antibiotic can be prescribed if necessary. One final word about ‘flu vaccine. The Health Centre offers registered patients with some underlying medical problems such as pre-existing chest disease, moderately severe asthma and diabetes an influenza vaccine in mid to late October. This will give protection against the current three types of influenza virus only but will not prevent colds, sore throats etc. ‘Flu vaccine is not recommended for otherwise healthy people. DR MARK DENNY MB, BS (London)

2. plenty of fluids. 3. rest. ? maybe even add Vitamin C supplements. ! cold and flu rememdies have not been proven to significantly reduce symptons vs. asprin or paracetamol.

lifestyle FOOD

This week,

Coop’s Kitchen

looks at which student cookbook is worth your money, and your ingredients. Behind: EMMA COOPER (HOMEMAKER)

Student Grub by Alastair Williams

Student Cookbook - Healthy Eating

Student Survival Pack

. . o o o

O o o o o

by Ester Davies

O o o o o This book is small, accessible and at only £4.99 it’s within the student budget. Student Grub covers all elements of cooking from the basics of how to correctly cook pasta, rice or potatoes through to the art of healthy dinners, lunches, and breakfasts with even a chapter on midnight cravings! The writer recognises students live on limited means and this is reﬂected in the basic kitchen appliances used to cook the food and the fundamental ingredients needed for the recipes. The book offers a good variety of meals stretching to some world wide exotic cuisines without being too pretentious for the average frugal student. It is laid out in a user friendly format, my only qualm would be that there are no illustrations; I like to see how the food I’m preparing is supposed to look like!) The book is in touch with student living; even dedicating a page to “putting out kitchen fires”! This is definitely the ideal easy, budget cookbook for students but perhaps not for those more advanced cooks among us. 40 theOrbital.co.uk

This book is written by an experienced nutritionist however I’m not sure if they have ever been a student. It is a little on the pricey side at £8.99 although considering it should pave the way to healthy living then like the old cliché goes – you can’t put a price on health [ed: £5 if you buy it through the Students’ Union, but I forgot to head down to Coop’s Kitchen to tell her]! It is very educational informing the reader on how to lose weight and ultimately how to live a healthy lifestyle with a calorie counter on every page. This idea appeals to us all at some point; normally just after Christmas or during study leave when diets predominantly consist of notorious bad foods. However, I’m not convinced that the book would sustain the needs of real student living. It is too idealistic requiring a lot of will power and perhaps a bit more time and money to live off of these healthy foods all year round. On the other hand if you think you have the determination to persist with these low fat recipes then it is a very informative and sensible buy, even giving great tips on things such as the brain foods you should eat during exam times.

by Hamlyn

This student survival pack comprises of the student cookbook; covering everything from proper meals to hang over cures, cakes and cocktails. Along with this is the student pasta cookbook which contains over 200 ways of cooking pasta with an abundance of new and exciting pasta sauces (a way to put an end to simply dousing the pasta in tomato puree!) These two books are the perfect companions for each other as if all else fails you can simply reach for the pasta and still be assured a hearty meal. The lay out of the books are vibrant and inviting, making you want to cook what they have on offer. It has a break down of how long each dish will take to prepare/cook along with how many people it serves. These books prove to be the ultimate companions for successful student cooking, combining healthy foods with affordable and easy, step by step recipes. The pack may be a little more expensive at £10 however you are getting two separate books and they are well worth the price.

lifestyle FITNESS

While

Neil’s Gym

Behind: NEIL (AND PHOTOSHOP)

aims to burn oﬀ the calories eating (and drinking) puts on. Sup Holloway Freshers! And a welcome back to returning students! Ok, so I guess I should start with an introduction. I’m Neil, a 3rd year Drama and Theatre student, AUC (Athletic Union Committee) Health and Safety officer, Lacrosse Player, and general gym junkie. I used to be a huge teenager with a 42-inch waist at age 16. I had never been happy with my size but it was after seeing my prom photos I realised it was time to take a stand. So I joined my local gym and learnt all I could about exercise and nutrition, and so here I am five years later, having lost around 6 stone and im here talking to you guys about how you can stay in shape whilst at Uni.

NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG, THIS IS NOT, AND THERE NEVER WILL BE AN ARTICLE SAYING “DON’T DRINK, DON’T EAT BAD FOOD”… THIS IS AN ARTICLE ON HOW TO DO THESE AND REMAIN REASONABLY HEALTHY. University is a crazy time for everyone, new experiences, new people and new challenges. But with this brings new things, which can cause health problems. So this week I’m just going to give you a super quick (due to my word limit) list of easy ways to stay fit and healthy and for surviving Freshers’ Week.

FRESHERS’ FIFTEEN Now many of you may have heard about the dreaded ‘Fresher’s Fifteen’. You come to University and within the first month you either gain or lose 15 pounds. Now obviously if you are lucky to be the later then you can skip this part and move on to the next section �. However if you are one of those people like myself who is more prone to putting on weight then heed this advice: Obviously watch what you eat! Try and get in those pesky 5 fruit and veg and if needs must only have a small pizza, and small portions of greasy food. REMEMBER: EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. Watch what you drink. Now don’t get me wrong, I want you to drink, I like to drink, and many of you will see me at the bars either drinking or working (I’m also a Security Supervisor at the Union and Medicine/Stumble). But the key is to think about what you are drinking. Check out my healthy drinking tip at the bottom.! Exercise! For all those who are fans of this pass time, Holloway’s Be Active gym is located next to Noble’s Field and is full of equipment for all your workout needs. For those who aren’t so keen on kitting up and getting hot and sweaty in front of strangers, we will be looking at some quick ideas for working out in your room and the local area in the coming weeks.

For now, the Lunge (forward or reverse) with rotation, is something that may help battle the bulge. Hold a weighted object, step forward or backward on one leg and then rotate body as far as it can go engaging your abs, return to standing. Complete 10 reps then swap to other side.

Drinking makes you fat, because the alcohol is broken down into acetone, which your body uses for energy instead of the carbohydrates in the drinks. If you have to drink, compensate for this by having a Vodka and Diet Coke, or if you want to seem less obvious, Vodka and Lime Cordial. That will reduce the calories you consume compared to most drinks, such as beers (Corona is 148), down to 56 and 85 calories respectively. Also, don’t drink too much.

TOP TIPS:

culture ARTS

CAN LONDON 2012 BEAT BEIJING 2008?

he Beijing games and Britain's startling medal haul are converting Olymposceptics to the cause of London 2012”, said Boris Johnson on returning from China. I have to admit, it’s true. Being fiercely against the political background in China, in the lead up to the Olympics I shunned anything to do with the games, and turned my nose up at people who asked me if I was going to watch them. This act was all pretty pointless as my family all watched the opening ceremony, and in the background I gradually became more interested to the point where I was so awed by the performances and games that I forgot all political conviction. I was more than impressed by everything the Chinese displayed – from the masterpiece that was the arena, to the athletic performances that earned them fifty one gold medals. I still stand by my view that criticisms of China's human rights record should not be overlooked because they put on a good show, but the success of the games did blow away my Olympo-scepticism.

side of China was shown, and with pride. I doubt Britain has enough to show, and the imagination to produce it. Although Britain is steeped in history and has its own traditions, none stand out enough for me to imagine them being put into an opening ceremony as magnificent as Beijing’s. For starters, the London 2012 budget is just over half the £20bn that Beijing has spent. It is difficult to imagine London will live up to Beijing’s success, even in terms of sheer numbers alone, one suspects London would struggle to raise the army of 14,000 dancers, musicians and volunteers who put on Beijing's show. In contrast to the 16 ton globe which emerged from the ﬂoor of the enormous Chinese national stadium to close the first section of the opening ceremony, David Beckham will be kicking a football from the top of a red double decker bus accompanied by the X-Factor winner Leona Lewis. It is a sobering thought to look ahead to London's plans for a £525m ﬂat pack stadium which will be taken apart after the event closes. I also doubt London will have over 2,000 men playing instruments whilst dancing in unison in the first ten minutes of our opening ceremony.

The mayor also reminded journalists as he arrived back in the UK that the Olympics are designed to bring people together as much as they are a competition. In other words, if you can't beat them, don't bother.

BORIS FLIES THE FLAG FOR LONDON Sophie Yates

TIGHT SECURITY WAS OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES

THE CHINESE PUT ON A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY Every decade or so an Olympics will capture the spirit of the age, and it seems China has not only done this, but made sure no country can beat them, also. One of the most brilliant things about the Beijing Olympics was there constant return to ancient Chinese traditions and history. Throughout, glimpses of the glorious and rich 42 theOrbital.co.uk

I still can’t resist mentioning the controversies surrounding the strict and censored Chinese dealings, such as the stories of Yang Peiyi and Liu Yan. The young singer Yang Peiyi was replaced on stage at the opening ceremony by Lin Miaoke, who was considered more photogenic by senior officials. Liu Yan, one of China’s top classical dancers fell ten feet during rehearsals for the Olympics' opening ceremonies, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Chinese authorities insisted she had only broken her leg; in truth, she dislocated her 11th vertebra, losing all feeling below the waist. It is stories such as this, added to the political tension surrounding the Communist party that may taint Beijing 2008’s remembrance. Perhaps, with this in mind, London 2012 has the chance of being remembered as more democratic and in contrast to China’s.

culture TRAVEL

J A P A N W

here in the world can you order an eel flavoured drink or a scoop of salt ice cream? Where can you find yourself gazing at some of the most beautiful and striking architecture in the world? Where can you bathe, naked, in a hot spring, with the company of small red-faced monkeys? You got it, in Japan. A record number of foreigners visited Japan last year as the weak yen lured more Chinese shoppers and fans of Japanese pop culture, though the country still ranks low in the UK among holiday destinations. However, after travelling there myself I realised how underappreciated the country is. It really is a country like no other, and can be quite a lot to take in, so here are a few suggestions for anyone who would like to go there. Japan is great for anyone who likes to shop. Although Tokyo isn’t thought of as in league with Paris and Milan for fashion, I would challenge this view. Tokyo style is truly amazing, even if it isn’t to everyone’s taste. The shop windows of Shibuya are packed with bright, bold and daring outfits. Everything is extreme and shows social groups amongst the youth, “Gothic Lolita’s” and “Tokyo Princesses” being examples. Different districts also flaunt different styles, but Harajuku stands out the most. Made famous in Western culture by Gwen Stefani, Harajuku is perfect for picking up some original and often strange items. Harajuku also plays host to Kiddyland. Like Hamley’s, but a lot more interesting for both kids and adults, it would be easy to spend hours in here. Oh, and there’s six glorious floors of it. Tokyo isn’t all bright lights and fast trains. It also has a lot to offer on the cultural side. There’s a temple on every corner, each one with a different charm and amazing decoration and atmosphere. Meiji Shrine offers a great insight into the juxtaposition between traditional Japanese culture

and the trends of today. The street leading up to the shrine is a glamorous plaza where girls with blue hair and white faces, wearing Bo-Peep style dresses (including the staff ) linger. Boys sporting tights and equally bright hair sit in groups with guitars or break dance together. Reach the end of the street and you feel as if you’ve stepped into Edo times, with looming ancient buildings, monks strolling about jangling bells, and the scent of burning incense in the air.

sushi conveyor belts, to restaurants where you fry or barbeque the food yourself, the food is always fascinating. Everyone who visits Japan has to try some sushi. Like most Japanese food, not only does it look cute, but it tastes great too. For those who think of raw fish as being repulsive, it really isn’t as bad as you would think. For the less adventurous, most sushi bars do sushi minus the raw fish, wasabi and pickled radish to suit the more Western pallet.

As for nightlife, you couldn’t ask for more variation. From Reggae clubs and alternative style bars, to the regular clubs and pubs, Tokyo really has it all. The district of Shinjuku hosts many high class, good quality clubs and bars. Although some of the clubs can be pricey, the bars can be just as good and don’t come with the entry price. The drinking and clubbing age in Japan is 21, but the nearby district of Roppongi is notoriously laid back on ID for those willing to break the rules. Drinks, in general, are less expensive than the UK, especially the “drink buffets”, which can be as little as £10 for an evening!

Japan is also great for anything a little geeky. Akihabara is a good example, and is so much more than an electronics district. Anime lovers should head to the Anime centre, or check out the games and comics. One of the most unusual experiences I had in Japan was visiting a Maid Café. At the door I was greeted by three Japanese girls dressed in sexy French maid outfits, and called “master”. Even though I felt as if I should be a man, visiting such a place, they were really friendly, and also served up some yummy treats.

To save money for the important stuff, its worth staying in a youth hostel. Japanese youth hostels are usually very friendly, of surprising quality and can be as cheap as £8 per night. However it’s also worth checking into a Ryokan for a night or two. These are traditional Japanese hotels, and not only really complete the Japanese experience, but also serve up great meals and usually come with a hot spring. It should be noted that clothing is forbidden! The capsule hotels used by Japanese salary men are also fun, and each have a TV and radio, as well as communal bathrooms and plenty of food and drink. Japanese food is fun if nothing else. Even for fussy eaters, simply watching the process of most meals is an experience in itself. From the famous

For anyone thinking of going to Japan, although Tokyo is the obvious place to start, going further afield is a must too. Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka are all vastly different to Tokyo and offer insights into different cultures in Japan. Unlike certain countries, regional variations make real differences to art, music, fashions, dialects, and scenery. It truly is a unique culture and country. You could spend a year here and still marvel at its culture and traditions. My advice is to visit Japan whilst you’re still young, as its vibrancy and animation emits an energy perhaps not appreciated as much by older people. My point is summed up by a t shirt I saw in a Japanese tourist shop. It said “Visit Tokyo, or die with unhappy heart”. Sophie Yates

FUR

culture FASHION

signs reading “Giselle Fur Scum”. I can only say that for supposedly ethical people insults and illegal actions hardly seems the best way to get your cause heard. This reaction stemmed from Giselle becoming the front for American furrier Blackglama, however, as Giselle correctly pointed out, the supporters attacked her at a show that uses only faux fur. Giselle described their attack as “unwarranted” and “inappropriate”, and claimed sheher wasproonly Brazilian Beauty Giselle maintains doing her job as a model. fessional manner when attacked on the VS runway

n e o f the most controversial areas of the fashion industry is the use of animal furs and skin by designers. Many fashion houses have categorically stated they refuse to use fur in their clothes, but the more traditional designers retain their right to use any material in the creation of art. Up until the mid 60’s, fur was a regularly used fashion material, evoking a sexuality and lustre that cotton and silk could not. Italy was one of the largest fur producing countries, with animals such as the chinchilla, fox and mink being the preferred pelt. Even now fur still has this ring of expense and beauty that can not be escaped, celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Kate Moss and Paris Hilton openly support their right to wear fur. Ex-Victoria Secret Angel Giselle Bündchen recently became a victim of hate-crime at the 2002 VS fashion show when PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) supporters stormed onto the stage carrying 44 theOrbital.co.uk

FASHION FORWARD OR FASHION FAUX-PAS?

85% of the world’s fur originates from China where there are no animal welfare laws or regulations, humane methods of dispatching are not used. According to the Animal Welfare Fur Regulation any animal must first be sedated, where as in China there is no such necessity. A further issue with the fur industry is the origin of the fur; despite urban myth no endangered species is used in fashion for the simple reason that the killing of any protected species is illegal. More often common animals are killed and given interesting names, such as Mountain Kat, or Chinese Catala, both synonyms for cat or dog. An estimated 2 million cats and dogs are slaughtered every year for fur creation.

A Fake Solution?

Brazilian BeautyGISELLE Giselle maintains her proBRAZILIAN BEAUTY MAINTAINS HER PROFESSIONAL fessional manner when MANNER WHEN ATTACKED ON THEattacked VS RUNWAY on the VS runway PETA have since opted for more appropriate form of protest, running an ad campaign featuring celebrities stripping off to fight against the fur industry. These celebrities include Pamela Anderson, Jamelia and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

The Pro-Fur Argument One of the most fervent pro-Fur arguments come from Anna Wintour, the 20 year Editor-inChief of American Vogue. Wintour argues that a designer creates art, and as such is at liberty to use any materials possible to create the final image. I can see that fur is arguably a part of human culture, ermine is still a symbol of royalty in both fashion and art.

The Anti Argument Most anti-fur activists are stuck on a single argument; it seems wasteful to kill an animal for a fashion garment. A recent interview with Dior led them to admit almost 50% of their gowns never see the runway and about a third of these never make it out of the workroom, this religious obsession with perfection includes fur garments.

Animal prints play an ever present part in fashion, there was a recent leopard print obsession that saw gold and black designs everywhere (this was in 2006, so if you’re still decked out in print it’s time to move on). The fashion leanings toward vintage, seen in D+G and Jacob designs, requires fur collars and trims for the truly authentic look. Most designers now opt for the easily attainable fake fur – referred to in fashion circles as Faux-fur to sound all French and fancy. Fake fur is usually silk based with the fibres dyed to mimic a natural animal coat, the threads are treated and weather proofed to create a soft, durable product. If you want to get involved in the anti or pro-Fur argument, visit: www.peta.org or www.iftf.com Ed Connolly

TERRY LEWIS FAUX-FUR BAGS

culture BOOKS

BOOK REVIEWS TRAINSPOTTING Irvine Welsh Trainspotting is a violently rude and explicit book told by a series of Edinburgh junkies and drop-outs in their own vernacular. The language is dense and at times confusing, but it doesn't take long to feel like you've been reading in a Scottish accent all your life and you even begin to wonder how other novels are able to express themselves fully whilst

LONG WAY DOWN Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman This is the tale of Ewan McGregor (yes, THE Ewan McGregor!) and his pal Charlie's second epic motorbike trip, this time going the 15,000 miles between John O'Groats and Cape Town. It should be a great tale of adventure in the world's most colourful continent, but unfortunately it's shabbily written, often focusing more on the bikes,

TWILIGHT Stephanie Meyer I felt compelled to read Twilight after a conversation with my 13 year cousin and hearing that it was being dubbed the new Harry Potter. The plot is quite simple â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it's a teenage-y love story between the main character, Bella, and a dark handsome boy named Edward. The one snag is that Edward is, in fact, a vampire. Oh dear. Harry Potter it is not, and it's unashamedly

limiting themselves to conventional words and spelling. The book is both funny and shocking, embarrassing and illuminating and you'll find yourself routinely laughing out loud, cringing and crying at the sheer wasted lives that you'll come across. I simply can't describe how well written it is.

ooooo

in-jokes and disputes between Ewan and Charlie. If you're expecting a coherent and eloquent travel book, then this isn't for you. However, if you're a motorbike freak, an Africa freak or simply a die-hard Ewan McGregor fan...you may as well just watch the TV series instead of reading this rather lack- lustre book!

oo . . .

American and dripping in teenage angst. However, although I'm embarrassed to admit it, I enjoyed every page! It's strangely believable and just so addictive. I challenge you to read it and not run straight out to buy its sequel, New Moon.

ooo . . BETH ROWLEY

the score

E H T

Score

...

46 theOrbital.co.uk

This Term’s Drama Productions Audition Dates SHOW NAME:

DATE: Mikado (Savoy Opera Society): Happening at some point in Freshers’ Week So This Is What It Feels Like (Student Workshop): Thurs 25th & Fri 26th, 6pm, Studio Theatre Ubu Roi (Drama Society) Sun 28th & Mon 29th, 7.30pm, Jane Holloway Dick Whittington (RAG Panto) 29th Mon (yet to be confirmed) The Ash Girl (Student Workshop) Mon 29th, Tue 30th, 6pm, Studio Theatre Cloud Nine (Drama Society) Tues 30th, Wed 1st, 6pm, Somewhere? Cigarettes and Chocolate (Student Workshop) Thurs 2nd , Fri 3rd, 6pm, Rehearsal Room B The Who’s Tommy (Musical Theatre Society) After Freshers Fayre Hardcore 24 7th October

Show Dates SHOW NAME: Hardcore 24 So This Is What It Feels Like Midnight At The Boilerhouse Ubu Roi

DATE: 8th October 23rd, 24th October, 7.30pm, Studio Theatre 29th October, 9pm, The Boilerhouse 29th - 31st, October, 7.30pm, Jane Holloway

The Ash Girl The Mikado Cloud Nine Cigarettes and Chocolate

6th, 7th November, 7.30pm Studio Theatre 8th - 11th November, Jane Holloway 16th - 18th, November, 7.30pm, SU Main Hall 27th, 28th November, 7.30pm, Rehearsal Room B

Dick Whittington The Who’s Tommy

7th, 8th December, SU Main Hall Who Knows? December? SU Main Hall

Theatre Correspondent Alex Turner recommends... The Who’s Tommy. Although the Musical Theatre Society have, once again, failed to provide any useful information to The Orbital (contact them at mts@su.rhul.ac.uk for details on their stuff ), Alex Turner is assured of the quality of their

production. He says, “Erm, the highlight of MTS’s year, the SU show promises to be a big hit, something, on campus. Yeah. Yeah, MTS go all out for their main show of the year. Can you write The Orbital recommends Dick?” No Alex, no we can’t.

the score

FRESHERS’ FAYRE More advice from that Freshers’ Fairy cow (she just won’t go away)

DON’T be afraid to try something new. You will probably never again have so many opportunities to try so many different types of activities. DO bring plenty of cash and/or your cheque book to sign up for all the clubs and socieites you want to join. You can’t pay by card. DON’T forget to buy your Student Activites Membership when you pick up your NUS card. You have to have this little sticker on the back of your NUS card before you will be allowed to sign up to any clubs or societies. DO be patient. Unfortunately queuing comes with the territory of Freshers’ Week - sorry!! Everyone will be working as hard as they can to make the queues go down as quicklly as possible and all the exciting stuff going on once you get inside the Fayre will be worth the wait - we promise!! DON’T be lured by the swords of the historical re-enactment society or the attractive members in the cheerleading squad, make sure you have a genuine interest in what it is the society is actually offering you to make the most of your money DO look out for people in Freshers’ Fayre T-Shirts. These people are our amazing volunteers and staff who are there to make sure things run smoothly and help you out with any problems you might have. So don’t be afraid to use and abuse them - that’s what they’re there for! DO go and check out Freshers’ Fayre at both venues (Students’ Union and Medicine). Sports Clubs will be at Medicine and Societies and Media will be at the SU Main Hall. There will also be external companies with great student deals and offers around on both days at both venues. 48 theOrbital.co.uk

You have £20. What do you buy?

We ask students their Fayre investment tips*

COLOSSUS D. BEAR

Sports Mascot, Polar Bear As a mascot, I feel it is vitally important that I have the required moves to cheer on our teams. That’s why one of my first choices would be Cheerleading - they teach you how to dance, stunt and “cheer”, which is some kind of mix of the previous two except you do it while smiling like a maniac, and considering my smile is stitched on, I think I suit this quite well. I’d also join People and Planet, as I’m very concerned about what people are doing to the planet (especially the arctic). I hope we’ll be able to make some real changes to the world and leave me with a home to go to after I finish University. Finally, I’d probably join the Basketball team - I think joining a sport is good for you, both socially and physically. Why basketball? Well, their name, “The Bears” was certainly one of the key reasons.

NEIL THORNTON

JACK RATCLIFFE

EJIRO OGBORU

Athletic’s Union Health and Safety Oﬃcer

The Orbital Editor

Art Director, The Orbital

“If I only had £20 pound to spend it would have to be spent on one sport and one society, sports at holloway are great for keeping fit and making great friends, and i would definitely choose Lacrosse. I’ve been a member for 2 yrs and Its the best club on campus. For my society id have to chose the drama soc. i love performing and this soc is great for getting involved in all aspects of theatre.”

“I think I don’t have enough time left in my life to join anything. However, if I had more time, I’d definitely be back into American Football and Insanity like I was in my first year - they are both a great opportunity to do something that you’ve never done before, and will never do again, which, for me, is what University is all about.”

“I would join the tennis society, ‘cos they have really cool hoodies and, erm, the cheese and wine society. Oh and the dance society because they appear in EVERYTHING.”

*Unfortunately, due to this being the Freshers’ Fayre guide, we couldn’t give students any advice on societies that aren’t endorsed by the Union, because we dont know whether they will be at the Fayre. Two of the most prominant are The Founder and NADS, and we recommend you check them both out.

the score

SPORT TALK WOMEN’S RUGBY SPEAKS

“I spent the last two years of my school career sitting on my arse...” Tamsin Bell is a current student at Royal Holloway and a key member of RHUL Women’s Rugby. ...and coveting the vending machine in the sixth form common room. Sport was forgotten after GCSE and the most exercise I did was running for the last train on a Saturday night after we had spent the evening getting into pubs underage. As you can imagine I wasn’t exactly in peak physical condition when I started university, however I resolved to use this fresh new start to play sport again. And for a reason that is still quite unknown to me, I joined the women’s rugby team. Due to a lack of brothers my Dad had always taken me to see the Six Nations rugby tournament with him and these trips gave me a real taste for mindless violence on grass surfaces. My nerves about going to the sports trials during Freshers’ Week were calmed dramatically by two things: (a) at the Freshers Fayre the group of girls on the women’s rugby stall had practically fallen over themselves with excitement when I said I wanted to play and (b) I was told that absolute beginners were positively encouraged to come along. I had nothing to lose. I’ve now played rugby for two seasons and when I look back I’m so glad I fought against my lack of confidence and went to the first training session. Any worries (and a lot of my chocolate induced puppy fat) soon disappeared within a few weeks of falling down in mud, running and laughing I 50 theOrbital.co.uk

did with the rugby girls. Women’s rugby often gets a bad reputation for being a ‘male sport’ that is too dangerous for girls to play and all the girls are big, scary and butch. I won’t deny that originally rugby was created by a bunch of men picking up a football and running with it and yes, you do get a fair few bruises (although at a certain time of the month nothing gets rid of ‘tension’ quite like rugby) but like most things in this world we girls have taken on the challenge and made the sport our own. Women’s rugby not only gained promotion into a higher league, reached the final of the ULU Cup and the semi finals of the BUSA Cup last season but were also awarded Coach of the Year and Team of the Year. I don’t like to boast but if Carlsberg made sports teams… Admittedly the very nature of the game means

that you are putting your body on the line in order to play, but that is never an issue because every single other girl is doing exactly the same thing for you. You aren’t just joining a team and playing some sport, you are joining a big group of quite frankly hilarious and completely ridiculous girls who keep fit by playing a very mentally and physically challenging game. At training there is a lot of fun (or banter, if you will), at socials there is a lot of silly drinking (and even more banter) and on Tour there is… (I don’t think I’m even allowed to tell you the banter from that). Everyone is welcome, everyone is wanted and everyone is guaranteed to have a damn good time. The only excuse for not joining is that you are male. See you at training girls. TAMSIN BELL

TASTER DAYS

The “taster days” allow students to get a feel for sports that they would like to know more about. So far, zero students have died from taking part in these taster days, so even if you have the slightest possible interest in any of the sports below, go ahead and give them a go. Tuesday

Sports Centre

Sports Field

1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700

Lacrosse Lacrosse Women’s Rugby & Cricket Badminton & Trampolining Women’s Rugby & Cricket Badminton & Trampolining American Football

Founders Field

Ultimate Frisbee Ultimate Frisbee

Thai Boxing

Also on Tuesday is the Society Taster Day, which will take place in Medicine which will include performances from Holloway Players, Absolute Harmony, Historical Reenactment, BALADS, Dance and Indian Dance. The Society day is running in conjunction with World Culture Day so also in Medicine there will be a chance to talk to our religious and political based societies.

TEAM TRIALS Saturday

Football Pitches

1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700

Men's Football Men's Football Men's Football Men's Football Men's Football Men's Football Men's Football

Sunday

Football Pitches

1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700

Men's Foorball Men's Foorball Men's Foorball Men's Foorball Wo/Men's Foorball Wo/Men's Foorball Men's Foorball

Courts

Sports Hall

Rugby 2

Tennis Tennis Tennis Tennis

Men's Basketball Men's Basketball Women's Basketball Women's Basketball Badminton Badminton

Lacrosse Lacrosse American Football American Football

Courts

Sports Hall

Rugby 2

Netball Netball Netball

Volleyball Volleyball Cheerleading Cheerleading

Men's Rugby Men's Rugby Women’s Rugby Women's Rugby