February 2018

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FEBRUARY 2018 | FREE

SURFACE LEVEL SUFFRAGETTES?

CAPITALISING ON OUR PAST OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF ROYAL HOLLOWAY STUDENTS’ UNION

ORBITAL BOARD EDITOR Abbie Cheeseman DEPUTY EDITOR Michele Theil

Inside

NEWS Maria Green Louise Jones

FEATURES Dominic Barrett Amber Choudhary LIFESTYLE Victoria Chapman Chloe Buck ARTS Josip Martinčić Georgia Beith SPORTS & SOCIETIES Louisa Wicks Samantha Davis SCIENCE & GAMING Clara Cohen Ryan Gulliford PHOTOGRAPHY Fab Piolini-Castle MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA Jessie Beach-Thomas SUB-EDITOR Sreeja Karanam ONLINE Beth Gooding DIGITAL Sarah Jane Oxley DESIGN Emma Halahan Michele Theil COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Emma Halahan ADDRESS Media Suite, Students’ Union, Royal Holloway University of London, TW20 0EX WEBSITE www.theorbital.co.uk EMAIL editor@theorbital.co.uk

EDITORIAL

COMMENT Natasha Phillips Izzy Swanson

Abbie Cheeseman EDITOR

Welcome to the February issue of Orbital Magazine!

It’s been a rather manic month for us here at the magazine. Since we broke our sexism scandal, we have been inundated with support – from national press to academics all over campus. So as always, if you ever have anything that you want our help in bringing some attention around, drop me an email on editor@theorbital.co.uk.

As I’m sure you’re already aware, it’s the centenary of some women getting the vote this month. So we’ve dedicated this issue to gender – the good, the bad and the ugly.

Our news team report on the fact that SU society and club presidents are boycotting the Principal’s Annual Student Reception unless he apologises for his gender pay gap comments; a motion has been submitted to try and get the SU to support UCU

Orbital Magazine is produced monthly by a team of student volunteers.

The magazine is published by Royal Holloway Students’ Union, but the views presented do not necessarily mirror those of RHSU or the editorial team.

If you would like to make a complaint or comment about our journalism, please contact the Editor, Abbie Cheeseman, on editor@theorbital.co.uk in the first instance.

strikes; Royal Holloway chapel is still trying to get authorised for same-sex marriage and homeless people in Windsor may be facing penalties before the Royal Wedding.

Our comment team look at whether Royal Holloway are acting as surface level suffragettes – stop capitalising on having a feminist history if you’re not going to support female staff – what do you think? Let us know.

Features also have a fun interview with rapper and alumni, Example – I would personally recommend heading over for the hilarious photos he has sent us.

As a final note, by the time that this magazine has come out in print we will likely know a lot more about how long the UCU strikes are going to last for. It’s not ideal I know, but I would highly recommend supporting your lecturers – it really is a last resort after years of negotiations. Try not to cross picket lines and drop the Principal an email – he is the only person that can put a stop to the strikes and reinstate your education by agreeing to re-enter negotiations.

We’ll be covering the strikes extensively, so keep an eye out on our social media. As always, please comment your opinions – we’re all for a debate!

ORBITAL CONTENTS

PRINCIPAL DRINKS BOYCOTTED Abbie Cheeseman reports on a planned boycott of Principal Paul Layzell’s Annual Student Reception after his comments regarding the gender pay gap.

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DEBRIEF: SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN Abbie Cheeseman talks to Royal Holloway alumna and eight time Paralympic champion, Sophie Christiansen.

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OUR TIME IS UP Rachel Hains reminds us that the fight for equality is far from over.

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SURFACE LEVEL SUFFRAGE Michele Theil asks whether we capitalise off of our suffrage history without really making any significant headway on gender issues.

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ROHOROSCOPES A cocktail (or a mocktail) is all you need after a long day.

Check out what beverage the stars have prescribed.

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BAME IN THE ARTS Grace Khaile, Renee Landell and Kamo Majingo talk about the stigma that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students face when pursuing an arts agree.

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LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH & SUFFRAGE Emma Halahan explains how we can utilise LGBTQ+ History Month to encourage history to take account of prominent LGBT+ figures in suffrage.

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HOW WILL IT END? We have asked where we came from but how about where we are headed? Simon Williams explains the theories which describe the end of the Universe.

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INSANITY TURNS TWENTY Our sister media outlet, Insanity Radio, turns twenty. Samantha Davis reports.

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: FAB PIOLINI-CASTLE

PRINCIPAL DRINKS BOYCOTTED Abbie Cheeseman reports that Presidents’ of the Students’ Union plan to boycott Principal Paul Layzell’s Annual Student Reception after his comments regarding the gender pay gap.

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rincipal Layzell’s Annual Student Reception is facing a boycott over the comments that he made about the gender pay gap on campus, which were revealed by Orbital Magazine last month.

A number of students who have been invited are boycotting the reception unless the Principal apologises for his comments. They are calling for other students who have been invited to follow them in boycotting and calling for pay equality and transparency at Royal Holloway.

The drinks reception which is to be hosted on 19 February is usually attended by the Presidents’ of the clubs, societies and media outlets of the Students’ Union, as well as other students who have enriched music or residential life on campus.

Despite having the seventh worst gender pay gap at professorial level in the country, Prinicpal Layzell claimed that the university has a “transparent and fair pay system”.

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In a recording of his last Staff Open Meeting, which Orbital gained access to last month, Professor Layzell claimed that “there are certain protected groups where there is a natural tendency to not have a go and put themselves in for promotion – sometimes that’s gender, sometimes it’s the BAME group.”

A spokesperson for the University College Union (UCU) said: “UCU is aware of female and minority ethnic staff who have left the college to gain the recognition they deserved.”

Abby King, President of the Labour Society is one of the Presidents’ who have organised the boycott.

She commented: “In response to Paul Layzell’s comments regarding the gender pay gap at Royal Holloway, we are boycotting the drinks reception for society presidents. Further to this, we call for public acknowledgment and retraction of the disappointing and misguided comments made by the Principal, and for a pledge of action to address the issues.”•

NEWS

MOTION TO OVERTURN STRIKES STANCE Michele Theil details the motion submitted to the Students’ Union Annual General Meeting which could see their stance on the SU overturned.

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motion has been submitted to overturn the stance of the Students’ Union regarding the UCU strikes.

Following the announcement of the strikes, the SU released a statement that said they are “unable to support strike action that will see 14 days of disruption for students consolidated into such a critical time of the year.”

The motion will be voted on at the Annual General Meeting on February 20.

61 universities around the country have announced their participation in the University College Union (UCU) strikes, which are due to begin on February 22.

The strike action has been proposed due to changes being made to the Universities Superannuation

Scheme (USS) which could see academics losing up to £10,000 a year in retirement.

On January 23 the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), the establishment for deciding changes to the USS scheme, voted in favour of Universities UK’s proposal to end guaranteed pensions and to tie final pensions on stock market performance, not contributions.

The 14 days of industrial action were announced on January 29. The two-day walkout on February 22 and 23 will escalate to three, four and five days in the following weeks.

The UCU are calling for students and unions across the country to support them in their strikes by not crossing picket lines on campus and writing to the Principal of the College.• 5

A HOMELESS PENALTY Natasha Lam writes about Windsor Council’s recent “homelessness support strategy” .

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Earlier this year, Dudley was met with a vote of noconfidence due to his comments but has since survived the vote.

The strategy is imposing protection orders, which will ban aggressive begging, asking for money or leaving belongings in any public area. This order would stretch from Windsor all the way to Maidenhead, Ascot and Eton.

Councillor Jesse Grey, Conservative cabinet member for environmental services, states that they “have accomodation for everyone who is sleeping rough” and thus are justified in their actions as they “need some sort of action to serve our residents and our businesses”.

indsor council is reportedly fining rough sleepers and homeless people £100 as part of their new “homelessness support strategy”.

For any homeless person that is found to be violating this order, they will receive a £100 penalty. With early payment of the fine, it would be reduced to £50. There are community wardens in action with stab-proof vests and body cameras that will enforce these measures.

Thus, homeless people will have to sign up to a plan that lasts 56 days and it will offer them housing, medical and addiction services. Any person that does not adhere to the proferred plan could face the fine and prosecution.

These measures will come into effect on July 31 of this year and follows the recent controversial comments from councillor Simon Dudley, who stated that homeless people should be removed from the town in advance of the Royal Wedding on May 19.

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This new “homelessness support strategy” has already faced criticism from the public and particularly from homelessness charities Shelter and Crisis and advocacy group Liberty. Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said to The Guardian that “it is wrong to fine or criminalise homeless people simply because they are homeless”.

In addition, Anne Baxendale of Shelter said that “people sleeping on the street don’t do so through choice” and was widely against Windsor’s council measures as she believed that they would prove to be “counterproductive”. •

A QUEER STATE OF AFFAIRS Roman Catholic Chaplain, Father John Dickson, reports on the Chaplaincy’s struggle to allow for same-sex marriages to be conducted here at Royal Holloway.

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oyal Holloway Chaplaincy are hoping they are near the end of their four-year fight to be allowed to conduct same-sex weddings.

The process, which the chaplaincy are hoping will have reached a positive end by February 20, has hit complications because of its designation as a university chapel.

The Registrar General regard university chapels as ‘shared churches’ because they are used by more than one denomination. Therefore, in order to be granted ‘consent to use’ for same-sex marriage, permission is needed from the Catholic Bishop, the Anglican Synod and then from a denomination that was prepared to conduct same-sex weddings.

Father John Dickson, the Roman Catholic Chaplain at Royal Holloway commented: “Given the fact, that neither the Catholics nor Anglicans are permitted to conduct such services by their own rules in Royal Holloway chapel, it did seem a bit strange to have to ask their ‘consent to use’ the College Chapel.”

Many at the college were under the assumption that the college chapel would automatically be authorised to conduct same-sex weddings following the 2013 legalisation of same-sex marriage.

The United Reformed Church agreed to the ‘consent to use’ and stated that their local Minister could conduct such weddings. This comes after an agreement given by the United Reformed Church that allows individual congregations to decide to conduct same-sex weddings if there was a pastoral need.

Having consulted lawyers in January, the chaplaincy has now submitted all documentation providing consent from all denominations using the college chapel.

“It is the chaplaincy’s hope that the college chapel will soon allow for same-sex marriages to be performed for any staff or alumni” Dickson said. • ADDITIONAL REPORTING: ABBIE CHEESEMAN

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PHOTOGRAPHY CR

REDIT: EMMA HALAHAN

COMMENT

RACHEL HAINS REMINDS US THAT THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY IS FAR FROM OVER.

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arvey Weinstein. The “Time’s Up” campaign. Donald Trump’s war against women’s rights. Everywhere we look, sexism is a familiar part of the world we live in. As a woman living in 2018 I, Rachel Hains explore the second ever “Women’s March” in London, reminding us that the fight for equality is far from over. I cannot help but wonder, how can this still be the case?

This question was on the lips of the thousands of people who, on the January 21, marched for a second time in London. The march was aimed to promote current issues women are facing globally, including battling for equal pay, stopping sexual harassment and issues surrounding racism. These are all basic expectations for a modern, civilised country.

Yet, people felt the need to take to the streets to remind those in power - those there to protect and serve them - to do their jobs and uphold womens’ rights.

On one hand, women have made an astounding amount of progress in the last hundred years. We now have the right to vote.

We have an Equal Pay Act to legally protect us in the workplace. We also have the right to own property and have control over our sexuality. On the other hand, as Labour MP Stella Creasy said at the march, “We still have so much further to go.”

In the UK the gender pay gap is still at 9.1%.

It may be at its lowest rate for 20 years, but it is still one of the many issues that need addressing within our own country. Three million women in the UK are victims of rape, domestic violence, trafficking and other violence every year.

These are not rarities, but realities women face every day. A report by the Fawcett Society even states that at our current rate of progress, it will take 200 years to achieve an equal number of women in Parliament.

How can this be the case when we have a female Prime Minister? How can this be the case when women secured the right to vote 100 years ago? Natasha Walter, author of “The New Feminism”, told The Independent that she believes the biggest problem is “the eagerness for change has slowed. I think we’ve slowed down because of complacency: there was a feeling that the argument’s been won”.

Has the argument been won? Clearly, the thousands of men and women who marched in London disagree. Like them, we need to be brave enough to speak up, and demand change. Even last month, Orbital spoke out by publishing a story exposing Royal Holloway’s current pay gap of 10.01%, and questioning our Principal’s laissez-faire attitude towards the issue. Equality is a part of the very fabric of Royal Holloway. You only have to look at the Emily Wilding Davison building, named after a famous Suffragette and former Royal Holloway student, to see fighting for what is right is part of our legacy.

We need to carry on fighting. This means educating people about these important issues. It means encouraging discussion about what we can all do on both small, and larger scales. These are the ways forward if we ever want to achieve true equality. As Andy Warhol once said: “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself”. •

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SURFACE LEVEL SUFFRAGETTES? Michele Theil asks whether we capitalise off of our suffrage history without really making any significant headway on gender issues.

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: @NIC_HG

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ebruary 6, 2018 marks the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which allowed women over the age of 30 who owned land or were married to men who owned land. It was a landmark historical event, and was something that the Suffragettes had been campaigning for for many years.

The Suffragettes were known formally as the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). As a political party, the WSPU was actually more popular than the Labour party at the time and gained immense support from women and men alike. The WSPU was founded and subsequently led by Manchester-born Emmeline Pankhurst, a prominent figure of the Suffragettte movement.

The WSPU often moved to militant actions under Pankhurst’s leadership.

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Emmeline Pankhurst was named as as one of the10 Most Important People of the 20th Century by TIME Magazine in 1999. Her work was crucial to the Suffrage movement despite facing criticism regarding her violent tactics.

These tactics involved WSPU members throwing rocks at the Prime Minister’s windows at 10 Downing Street. They stated that they did it without any guidance from the upper echelons of the WSPU but Pankhurst herself was approving of the actions.

Hunger strikes also became a large part of WSPU resistance under Pankhurst’s leadership in 1909. These hunger strikes, carried out by imprisoned WSPU members proved effective until prison authorities began to force-feed the women that were fasting.

In 1918, following the granting of suffrage to some women, Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel renamed the WSPU as the Women’s Party, a political party open only to women as she believed that the best hope for women would be to remain separate from male political parties. The party’s policies included equal marriage laws, equal pay for equal work and equal job opportunities for women.

Bedford College and Royal Holloway College are the predecessors to the university we see today and were pioneers in giving women access to education in the UK. Emily Wilding Davison, a prominent alumna of the university, was best known for her involvement in the Suffragette movement. She joined the WSPU in 1906 and was often militant in her desire to obtain suffrage for women.

She was arrested numerous times and would go on hunger strikes while in jail. She died in 1913 after walking onto the race course at the Epsom Derby and was subsequently hit by King George V’s horse.

The colours of Royal Holloway today reflect the Suffragette movement as we still use purple and green as our official colours in order to bear homage to the women who paved the way for suffrage.

Thus, Royal Holloway has a substantial history with the Suffragette movement and continues to explore that history to this day.

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ith the centenary of suffrage being celebrated around the country this year, the Suffragette movement and modern-day feminism are being looked at in more depth than ever before.

prides itself on its suffrage history but is this pride justified amid the high gender pay gap we have here as well as outcry over recent controversial comments made by Principal Paul Layzell surrounding the issue of said gap?

Royal Holloway has a particularly interesting connection to the history of the Suffragette movement in this country due to our infamous alumna Emily Wilding Davison. Her past and involvement in the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) has been at the forefront of our minds due to the recent unveiling of the Davison Building, named after Emily Wilding Davison and highlighting her history as an alumna of this ‘feminist institution’.

I’d say no, simply because RHUL is not doing enough for its female staff or its female students.

The gender pay gap between full time professors here at RHUL currently stands at 10.01%, as reported by the Times Higher Education (THE), which is astounding and almost double the national average of 5.70% between full time professors.

RHUL has also showcased the history of the Suffragette movement by placing a open exhibition with archived memorabilia in the Davison exhibition space as well as enlisting students to dress in Suffragette outfits and walk around campus on February 6, which was the day that the Representation of the People Act was passed in 1918.

On the surface, this is all wonderful and successfully pays homage to the strides women have made in the last 100 years. It is clear that RHUL 12

The gender pay gap rose from 8.1% in 2015/16 to the 10.01% figure in 2016/17. Despite this, Layzell said that “we are going in the right direction”. With such a high gender pay gap and no clear-cut solutions to the problem, how are we supposed to celebrate the Suffragette movement and this ‘feminist institution’ without laughing at the irony of it all?

There is also an issue of women not being promoted in the top-tier bands of the Professoriate here at RHUL. Clare Bradley, a former equalities officer and member of the University and College

Union (UCU) local association committee at Royal Holloway, said that many women were having “to go elsewhere to get promoted”, suggesting that women are purposefully stifled from progressing within the college. The Principal, however, puts this down to women not putting themselves forward for promotion due to a lack of confidence. He claimed that “there are certain protected groups where there is a natural tendency to not have a go and put themselves in for promotion – sometimes that’s gender, sometimes it’s the BAME group”.

ments, do not highlight his position as the Principal of a university that was originally founded as colleges for women’s higher education.

This comment is not only ridiculous but infantilising to the women who want to progress in the career and do not believe they have found the opportunity here at this university.

Royal Holloway are capitalising on a movement that led to strong women fighting for their rights and yet are continually failing the very people that movement sought to protect and fight for. It is absolutely ridiculous and they need to address the systemic issues on campus before parading Suffragettes around like everything is fine and dandy.

Layzell’s office overlooks the newly built Founder’s Square and the Davison Building. The Davison Building, of course, is named after the infamous alumna and Suffragette Emily Wilding Davison.

Layzell is clearly proud of the building and was proud to display a Suffragette’s name on the door.

Female students are also continually being failed, with an increase in sexual harassment around campus that is not being dealt with properly.

There is anecdotal evidence suggesting that the Students’ Union has not provided enough support for victims of sexual harassment. That’s not to say they’re not trying but it’s clearly not enough.

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: EMMA HALAHAN

However, his lack of action in reducing the gender pay gap, which is a stated goal of the university in the 2020 strategy, as well as his recent com13

JASMINE COX ON A GREEN BREXIT Orbital’s politics columnist, Jasmine Cox, reflects on the Prime Minister’s hopes for a ‘Green Brexit

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U environmental laws are maintained at an impeccably high standard, and with over 80% of Britons in favour of these levels of protection, it is alarming that the repercussions of Brexit jeopardize the guarantee that Britain will maintain these standards.

The surfacing of these fears was evident in Theresa May’s speech last month, whereby, she announced her ambitious 25 year plan to reduce the waste of plastic: “Brexit will not mean a lowering of environmental standards. We will use the opportunity Brexit provides to strengthen and enhance our environmental protections – not to weaken them”.

Alongside this, environmental campaigners have voiced their concerns that propositions such as this demand legislation, which echoes the sentiment of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who wants to see action taken now after his party saw the plan as a “cynical attempt at rebranding the Tories’ image.”

The Labour environment spokeswoman, Sue Hayman, states that the Conservatives have a record of “failure and broken promises” when it comes to environmental issues, which resonates with Greenpeace’s comment that the announcements on plastic were “a missed opportunity”, as the plan does not factor in the deposit-

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return-scheme which is proven to be efficient. Although Michael Gove, the Conservative Secretary of State for the Environment, spoke of “waste” in his foreword to the report several times, he gives no mention to a plan or policy to change the government’s movement on recycling. In 2015, recycling rates fell enormously for the first time in over a decade due to the fact that local authorities suffered an austerity budget cut, which became detrimental to the intended diversion from landfill waste.

As cuts can be seen across a variety of sectors, especially education and health, particularly affecting those with disabilities and of low income, I am also in no position to trust our current government to uphold what they promise. With a party that allows their Chancellor of Exchequer, Phillip Hammond, to make delusional comments such as claiming that the fall of productivity in the UK being is partly to do with the employment of disabled people, it is difficult for me to see such an austere government looking beyond their own benefits and privileges.

So, with May making such a large claim as to leave the ‘natural world’ in a better state than when they came in to power, the Tories’ have a lot of work cut out for them in order to prove that Brexit will bring a positive change to Britain’s environment. •

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE? Annie Moore explains why the Students’ Union campaign, Let’s Talk About Sex, did little to address any of the immediate threats to students sexual health.

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he Student Union campaign, Let’s Talk About Sex, replaced the much loved Sexual Health Advice and Guidance (SHAG) Week that we have seen run previously. Vice President Welfare and Diversity, Willow Wong’s, new initiative was meant to make our sexual awareness weeks more inclusive of all orientations on our campus. Whilst the week was certainly more applicable to a wider range of sexual preferences, it failed to adequately deal with the elephant in the room – our closed sexual health clinic.

In the summer of last year, our sexual health clinic closed due to a restructuring and privatisation of the branch of the NHS that served our campus. Subsequently, students requiring STI and HIV testing or post assault support now must travel miles off campus for such services. The college have remained silent on the issue and despite outrage and concern from many of our most vulnerable communities, the SU has been relatively slow to mobilise the student body into any kind of lobbying campaign.

Let’s Talk About Sex in the midst of all its make your member workshops did indeed host just one two hour period of free STI testing on campus. Hosted in Tommy’s Lounge, there wasn’t a single anonymous booth or quiet space that mimicked a sexual health clinic. Not only was anonymity completely missing from the event, but any awareness of the sensitivity of getting tested. Instead of being a day where those who had been worried about their status could finally grab a free kit and get tested quietly, their experiences were largely trivialised by a competition.

At the Student Opportunities conference, clubs and societies were informed that those who bought the most people along to the clinic would get a plethora of goodies. It sounds like a great idea right? Get the most people possible to use the service during its limited availability. But there is a difference between breaking down stigma and turning what can be a turbulent time for young people into a game.

If our campus had a functioning sexual health clinic, then such a drive to encourage testing would be sensible. But

when we have not even the basic level of comprehensive testing (only chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests are available for collection at the SU help desk) available on campus, it becomes another trivialisation of the experiences of our most vulnerable.

And to further the blow, one of the most urgent needs by students, HIV test kits, which the Students’ Union have claimed are too expensive to buy themselves, were not available – a significant disappointment as most HIV transmissions occur when someone is not aware of their status. This came just days after a lengthy Facebook argument occurred on VP Willow Wong’s official page after she suggested that the SU could shuttle bus people to HIV testing sites, with little understanding of why such a breach of anonymity posed a massive security risk. It seems an understanding of the sensitivity of sexual health testing has been replaced by tokenistic efforts to meet student demand with little thorough thought applied.

Yes, the Students’ Union are not meant to plug the gap left behind by the closure of our sexual health clinic. But their one day of testing could have at the very least been inclusive to the most vulnerable communities on our campus. Instead its trivialisation and ignorance of the anonyminity and security that sexual health clinics work hard to provide did little to solve the most pressing sexual health concern on campus.

VP Willow Wong responded: “I agree that the closure of the STI clinic on campus has caused a lot of problems for students on campus and that the shortcomings of the limited service that we can provide at RHSU do not do enough to solve the problem.

However, over 122 students participated and supported the STI testing day, which is such a strong turnout that will benefit our lobbying objectives to prove to the university that a full-time STI clinic on campus is a top priority for students, and therefore for the college.” •

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AMBER CHOUDARY ON AZIZ ANSARI: A CASE OF MALE ENTITLEMENT

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he aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein allegations sparked a global conversation about sexual violence, harassment and assault.

The Time’s Up movement, headed by Hollywood elite, and the two word hash tag #MeToo movement circulating on social media, were established late last year to curb sexual harassment in the workplace and start a long, awaited discussion about sexism and gender equality.

What has unfolded is the resignation and takedown of powerful figures across many industries and the exposure of sex crimes committed by high profile male celebrities. Critics of the movements often compare the misconduct allegations to a witch-hunt where the verdict is usually guilty till proven innocent, a by-product of the social media bubble we currently reside in.

is even more confusing is that if the date was going that badly, why didn’t she just leave?

The crux of the movements is to illustrate how women are often exploited, harassed and forced into sexual behaviour. The Aziz Ansari story, by the accuser’s own admission, was not an account of assault or harassment; it was an account of male entitlement and casual misogyny.

The irony of Ansari wearing a Time’s Up pin hasn’t gone amiss. His behaviour during their date was an example of toxic masculinity.

He doesn’t, however, deserve to be grouped with men accused of assault and harassment because he did none of those things, and the allegation itself undermined the stories of workplace misconduct. She wasn’t trapped or held against her will, and she certainly wasn’t One narrative that didn’t quite fit in with forced. Should a clearer distinction be the rest of the #MeToo stories – and has made for what constitutes as assault? since caused fierce debate among media Should sexual coercion be equated to sex outlets and social media alike – was the between two consenting adults, despite allegations against American comedian one party experiencing discomfort but Aziz Ansari. Published on the feminist site not vocalising it clearly?

Babe, the accuser, using the pseudonym Grace, relayed the night she went on The accusation does, however, underline a date with Ansari that ended with her the casual sexism prevalent in our crying on the way home to her Brooklyn societies, where men feel entitled to apartment. women’s bodies; where no means yes and compliance is a prerequisite. Our Throughout the night she engaged in silence and acquiescence is expected. consensual sexual acts with him, but These pillars of control are slowing his persistent sexual behaviour upset chiselling away with the help of the her. She used “verbal and non-verbal Time’s Up and #MeToo movements. The cues” to express her discomfort, which conversation is shifting, and soon, yes will involved “pulling away and mumbling.” mean yes, and no will mean no. • But at no point did she give a direct and definitive indication to her unease. What

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AN AUDIENCE WITH EXAMPLE Bryony Lock interviews Royal Holloway alumnus, Elliot Greaves - better known as Example.

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lliot Greaves, better known by his stage name ‘Example’, graduated Royal Holloway in 2003 with a BA Media Arts degree. University is a strange and wonderful time where we meet lots of different people. Everyone has so much potential, yet so little knowledge of what the future holds. Example is a perfect illustration of the amazing accomplishments that we can all obtain after studying at this university.

I was lucky enough to speak to him about his experiences at Royal Holloway.

Why Royal Holloway?

I fell in love with RHUL for many reasons. The grounds, the halls, the Union. I remember going to the open day, it was beautiful day, Founders was there looking like Hogwarts’ distant cousin. Then I visited the Media department and the facilities and staff just inspired me.

Did you go to university wanting to be a musician or did you have a different use for your degree in mind?

I never thought music was an option for me. Though 18 I’d learnt the basics of piano and drums in my teens I

couldn’t produce and at that point in my life I wasn’t really song writing, or doing much singing.

It was mainly rapping and MC’ing back then. Along came The Streets and Dizzee Rascal and then I started thinking of my interests in rapping and dance music as a viable career path. I never dreamed of becoming a musician so I can honestly say when I attended Royal Holloway I only ever envisioned eventually working in the film industry. It wasn’t until 2005 when I got my record deal that I thought of music.

Which halls did you live in?

Reid. It was so close to everything and that drunk walk home from the Union was very easy.

They say you make your life-long friends at university, are you still in contact with people from RHUL? There’s two guys I’m still very close to. We chat every other week. One’s in Singapore, one’s in London. I’m now mainly in Australia.

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Where did you hang out? What was your drink of choice?

It was the Stumble Inn for me. Does that still exist? I heard they gave it a makeover. My drink of choice was dark rum and coke.

Do you miss university?

the grass up at founders. Play football. Have (illegal) barbecues, go on a pub crawl around the Green, chase girls, swap stories, listen to music.

What were your grades and work ethic like?

I ended up with a 2:1. I think I was 1% off a First. I was much better with the practical stuff than the theory.

I miss how carefree it was. It was life changing. I made a lot of mistakes. Learnt so much about myself. It was just all so innocent yet fulfilling. Not a care in the world really. I wasn’t really thinking about the rest of my life. There weren’t any massive bills to pay, no people depending on me.

Did you write music at university?

It seemed like one endless party to me and I mean that in every sense. Maybe it’s because I loved my course so much but I couldn’t wait to get into the suite every day and be creative or just sit in a room with people and talk about films

Finally, do you have any words of encouragement or advice to give?

What is your fondest memory from RHUL? May. Start of summer. My exams were over. We’d sit on

We used the vocal booth in the Media department which was used mainly for voice overs for student documentaries. I think I recorded about 25-30 demos in there. I still have the recordings now.

Oh wow. I don’t know. I suppose if I’ve proven anything it’s that you don’t have to end up excelling in the same industry as the one you studied. Work hard, play hard.

And don’t try to stay in touch with everyone. Invest quality time in a few key people you care about. You 19 can’t please everyone. •

EMMA HALAHAN ON LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH & THE SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT.

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ection 28, the piece of legislation passed under Margaret Thatcher that made it illegal to “promote homosexuality” in schools, was revoked in 2003. Following the repeal, LGBT+ History Month was founded in 2005 in part to promote education on what was still a relatively invisible community. This February marks the 13th annual LGBT+ History Month in the UK. This year, LGBT+ history Month commemorates both sad and celebratory moments in our past. 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of Section 28 and the shooting of the USA’s first openly gay elected councillor, Harvey Milk. But it also marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic rainbow flag and the 20th anniversary of LGBT+ classic book, Tipping the Velvet.

But LGBT+ History Month also directly coincides this year with another monumental civil rights achievement, the 100th anniversary of the right of some women to vote. Vote 100, however, has once again followed in the traditional footsteps of historians in its rinsing of the LGBT+ history of the suffrage movement. It has raised the questions about whether we need direct evidence of lesbian or bisexual relationships to make the case that some of our Suffragettes were in deed not heterosexual. So what were the LGBT+ lives of some of our most beloved Suffragettes?

All evidence that points to lesbian and bisexual relationships between Suffragettes is speculative, drawn from diaries of the ladies at the centre of the movement. There are the detailed accounts of Emmeline Pankhurst having an extremely close relationship with lesbian, Ethel Smyth. Dr Jana Funke details that Pankhurst and Smyth met when they were 52 years old, after the death of Pankhurst’s husband.

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Funke raises the question about why historians and biographers are so reluctant to acknowledge same sex relationships or the insinuation of such when it comes to historical figures.

Martin Pugh is a historian who didn’t shy away from drawing such conclusions, and he came under fire for it. Pugh’s analysis of Annie Kenny’s account suggested that Emmeline Pankhurst’s own daughter, Christabel, may have also been romantically involved with activists. But the backlash that ensued revealed a distaste by descendants for the “smearing” of the suffragettes reputation.

These arguments around the sexuality of historical figures somewhat reveal the simmering intolerance that deconstructs a narrative that LGBT+ communities have achieved full equality. But it is also worth noting that media and historians had long used and abused the LGBT rumours of the Suffragettes to discredit them, dismissing their work as just that of “angry lesbians” and thus the families of the Suffragettes are quick to respond to what was once an insult.

Whether our Suffragettes were members of the LGBT+ community or not will remain unclear – but this LGBT+ History Month and its coinciding with Vote 100 should encourage us all to question how much evidence is needed to celebrate an historical figure as part of a community like that of LGBT+.

These relationships have existed for much longer than was historically acceptable and their absence from our celebrated histories should always prompt further thought. •

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DEBRIEF: Orbital Magazine’s regular sit down with people inspiring change on issues that matter.

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SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN Editor, Abbie Cheeseman, talks to Royal Holloway alumna and eight time Paralympic Champion, Sophie Christiansen.

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t seems extraordinary that someone who has been through such hardship could instantly fill a room with energy. She’s sassy, cheeky and has the kind of determination that makes you want to go out and conquer the world.

Sophie Christiansen is an eight-time Paralympic equestrian champion. She was born two months premature with cerebral palsy. She had jaundice, a collapsed lung and a heart attack – to say that she came out the other side a fighter would be an incredible understatement.

As a lover of horses and once-rider myself I am overwhelmed with the amount of things that I want to talk to Sophie about – there are bound to be a million inspiring things that I can write a debrief on her about. What we stumble across, however, was entirely unexpected.

I remember seeing Sophie hit the headlines back in 2016 – on her return from winning 3 gold medals in Rio, she was stranded on a GWR train because there wasn’t a ramp available. What I didn’t realise, is that she has quite literally become an accessibility ambassador for disabled people across London.

“Central London is still a nightmare for accessibility” she tells me – as an able-bodied commuter I can’t even begin to imagine how true this statement must be. Did the London 2012 Paralympics not improve our central accessibility, I ask?

“I was hoping that London would do more than it did” she says. “The Mayor has just announced a few more stations that will be upgraded but they’re all on the outskirts of London. It’s a great move but it’s not enough”.

She’s amused when I tell her that I have spotted a few of her Twitter rants about public transport and accessibility. “I have kind of taken it upon myself to speak out about these things, because I have a voice for people who don’t,” she says. “I don’t want to keep tweeting about it, I want to actually make a difference.”

I took it upon myself to talk to the head of TFL about it and I tweeted about it. Then he approached me a few days later to thank me for making a fuss as it meant that he was able to secure the funding to make it fully accessible.

“

they were not going to make every station on the new Crossrail line accessible” she tells me. “So I took it upon myself to talk to the head of TFL about it and I tweeted about it. Then he approached me a few days later to thank me for making a fuss as it meant that he was able to secure the funding to make it fully accessible.”

I wonder how long it will be before we see a fully accessible transport system in London.

“If anything, disability is going to get worse with an ageing population. It’s a double edged sword with medical advances – they can save more people like me, which means there’s increasingly more disabled people.”

You would think it would be a priority?

“I do get that upgrading stations in Central London is going to cost billions, but when you’re making new systems accessibility should be at the heart of planning.”

“Buses are really accessible. Why can’t a train have an automatic ramp?”

A Royal Holloway almuna, an eight-time Paralympic Champion, a tech analyst at Goldman Sachs and genuinely one of the most inspiring people I have ever met – if anyone is going to force change for accessibility in London, it looks like it will be Sophie Christiansen. • PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: AMANDA JANE SMITH

When I ask if anything has come of her attempts to get through, you can sense a hint of pride. “Initially

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TINDER: DOES IT WORK? Lifestyle Editor, Victoria Chapman, discusses whether Tinder helps or hinders our dating games.

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ith our lives getting busier by the minute and it becoming much harder to find time to at least have some sort of dating life, online dating communities on apps like Tinder have grown significantly.

But do they really work? Are people actually using them with the intention to meet and date people?

With 1.6 billion daily swipes on the app, you’d think you would surely be able to meet someone or have the busiest dating life ever, right? Not necessarily. Only 54% of Tinder users are actually single, so just under half the people you are swiping every day are engaged in some sort of relationship with someone else - not quite so reassuring now is it… Even for those who are single, it can be so difficult to gauge what someone else wants just from a few pictures and a couple of sentences about them as a person.

So is Tinder really worth our time? The free format of the Tinder profile without any questionnaire allows various types of people with different intentions to mix together, without necessarily stating their expectations in their profiles.

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Tinder has taken away the excitement out of dating, not in every way, but people create their profile in a way that presents themselves how they want other people to see them, not necessarily how they actually are. This can then sometimes lead to failures of many dates that never would have happened, had the people actually met in person and realised sooner.

We should go on dates with people because there is chemistry already, not to find out if there is chemistry.

Sure, it can’t be disputed that Tinder is a great way to meet lots of potential dates in a short space of time from the comfort of your own phone, but it’s just not as special as meeting someone and asking for their number because you think they’re cute.

So many people use Tinder as a means for boredom, aimlessly swiping on their phone just to get matches and make themselves feel better. Do you really want to be chatting to someone who literally just swiped right for you because they were bored and thought you were hot?

Tinder either need to change the way we engage with people by only showing those who have the same intentions as us, or maybe we also just need to change our dating strategy. Try approaching people in bars and clubs on a night out, instead of talking to someone you only know from a screen for weeks, just to find out they might not even be intending to go on a date with you.

Honestly, I’m really not disputing the fact that Tinder and apps like it have worked for many and it will continue to work for many more. However it really is not the only option, and is definitely not an excuse to stop getting yourself out there and going out and meeting new people, and actually talking to face to face, rather than wasting time talking to someone via message only to find out you don’t even have a connection. •

LIFESTYLE

THE BEST OF BALENCIAGA Chloe Hill discusses a brief history of the brand with an overview of the V&A exhibition.

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irst, let me tell you a brief history of infamous fashion designer Balenciaga. Cristóbal Balenciaga has always been and continues to be a huge influence on twentiethcentury fashion. What separates him from other designers is his willingness to go against the grain in a bid to revolutionise the traditional, feminine silhouette.

Due to the Spanish Civil War, Cristóbal moved to Paris. He soon became inspired by French established designers, such as Gabrielle Chanel and Madeleine Vionnet and learnt the art of design by dismantling their garments to see the craftsmanship behind them and redirect this same skill towards his own work.

To veer away from the popularised cinched waist of the time, a shape that was notoriously linked to Christian Dior’s Corolle collection, Balenciaga broke from the mainstream by

introducing the cocoon silhouette.

This was a step away from the traditional feminine fantasy of a tiny waist. Instead, Cristóbal revolutionised the feminine shape by offering an alternative that became more about the art of construction rather than the body itself.

There were even examples of the undergarments, showing the internal workings of his designs.

The second section was held upstairs, which showed the influence of his work and how other designers have been so avidly inspired by him. My personal favourites were Nicholas Ghesquière Whilst some saw his modernised take and Rei Kawakubo’s reinterpretation. As on the female shape as an attack on creative director for the brand in 2006, Western beauty standards, his step Ghesquière channelled Balenciaga’s away from the expected boundaries of roots in the winter runways. the female silhouette is still so modern to the fashion of today.

Twenty years later, Rei Kawakubo took the 1950’s revolutionary The exhibition was held at the Victoria yet controversial ‘sack’ dress and and Albert Museum, the exhibition was transformed this into inspiration for separated into two sections- upstairs Comme des Garçons. and downstairs.

To this day, her designs remain Downstairs presented an array architectural. They seek to emphasise of Cristóbal’s fabrics, cuts and the space in and around the body, as silhouettes, whilst showcasing the much as the body itself. And if you need sketching processes that go on a visual representation, think Rihanna’s behind the scenes of dressmaking.

2017 Met Gala look! •

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DEBATE: REAL FUR Tom Holmes and Martha Lochhead engage in a stark discussion about fur and fashion.

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hose of you who have seen videos of fur farming will have, no doubt, been appalled by the gruesome and bloody images, and quite naturally will have proclaimed yourself anti-fur. Yet, on the runways of Paris, New York, London and Milan when the new winter season comes, fur is still prominently featured. There seems to be a gap between the average customer and the world of real fur. This is an opportune moment in which to shed a little light on the subject, exploring both viewpoints and possibly seeing if there is a middle way.

My partner in this is Martha Lochhead, an anti-fur voice, who has joined me in an open-minded discussion on the matter, to attempt to find a way through the heated voices on both sides and reach a place where fashion and compassion can coexist.

Tom: So Martha, I don’t think I am wrong in saying that you are not a mink kind of girl, I just wanted to ask you briefly to explain why you wouldn’t go out and pick up say one of Prada’s beautiful fur linked loafers in their 2017 Fall/Winter collection?

Martha: Personally, I wouldn’t wear anything that was made from an animal. I think it’s quite frankly unnecessary, especially as faux fur is

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available, you can achieve the look without an animal suffering.

Tom: What would you say if I told you that there was a large environmental cost with the use of petroleum (a non-renewable substance taken from crude oil) in the creation of faux fur and that the use of real fur has a far less harmful impact on the environment?

Martha: I think it’s difficult because the manufacturing of pretty much all clothes negatively impacts something or someone. For example, children in sweat shops suffering to produce cheap clothing. I was enlightened by a friend who studied fashion design that the fashion industry is the second most wasteful industry in the world, after food. So I try to wear second hand clothes. I think the argument surrounding fur is due to it blatantly involving the suffering of animals.

Tom: I’d like to pick up on the point of the wastefulness of fur. The Canadian Fur Board promotes fur as an environmentally conscientious industry, they offer wild fur farming as a necessary bi-product of culling, which is needed to ensure the control of the ecosystem. In my view, the use of wild fur instead of farmed fur serves simply to helping the reduction

of waste as a needed evil, and allows people to wear a beautiful material whilst making use of a resource, which if not used would merely rot away. How can fur be wrong if by wearing it you reduce waste?

Martha: I wouldn’t wear fur as I associate it with the body of a dead animal. However, I’m not naïve to the fact that the fashion industry is vast and isn’t going to disappear overnight.

If we cannot stop the use of fur in fashion then using fur that is created as a bi-product of culling, seems like a comprise that prevents the suffering of the animal.

Tom: That seems like a fair compromise, however I should add that there is a significant body of fur (pardon the pun) which is still produced in farms.

Martha: Exactly, which is cruel to the animals.

Tom: So it seems like although there is a middle way there is still work to be done in branding fur with compassion?

Martha: Yes, I would say so.

Tom: Thank you so much for talking to me, I hope that together we have provided even a little illumination on such a hot button topic. •

ROHOROSCOPES What cocktail will the stars prescribe you? For a non-alcoholic alternative, just substitute the alcohol for whatever fruit juice that suits you.

Taurus

Pisces

Aries

19 February - 20 March

21 March - 19 April

Hot Toddy: A Pisces is always imaginative and quite sensitive, which is why a warm cocktail is the perfect thing to soothe your soul on a cold night. This is a cocktail that you have to be careful with - just like a Pisces.

Bloody Mary: Any Aries will tell you they like to have fun and what’s fun without a hair-of-the-dog kind of cocktail that can be enjoyed at almost any time of day?

Plus, we all know red is their colour.

Sidecar: Tauruses are notoriously selfindulgent and nostalgic. That’s why a Sidecar is perfect because they can sit casually in a three-piece suit longing for the days gone by with an expensivetasting cocktail.

Cancer

Leo

21 June - 22 July

23 July - 22 August

Strawberry Mojito: Cancers need a kick and the minty freshness of a mojito is what will give it to them, but adding strawberries for a twist of sweetness is exactly what you get in a traditional Cancer.

Pornstar Martini: Leos are always ready for a show and a little something extra.

If you’re a Leo, grab a Pornstar Martini for the sweet & sour taste people come to expect of you, and enjoy the extra shot of Prosecco - just don’t enjoy it too much eh?

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

23 August - 22 September

23 September - 22 October

23 October - 21 November

Strawberry Daiquri:Virgos come with a certain sharpness to them, but are generally very sweet. The same can be said of Strawberry Daiquris. A daiquri takes the phrase “shaken, not stirred” to a whole other level, which is exactly how a Virgo approaches life too - a match made in heaven, don’t you think?

Dark and Stormy: The name says it all.

Libras are usually dark, stormy and everso-slightly melodramatic, so what could be better than a Dark and Stormy? Plus, a dash of bitters never hurt anyone, particularly not strong-willed Libras enjoy it.

Long Island Ice Tea: Scorpios are stronger than you think and can knock you out. Have you ever tried a Long Island Ice Tea? Same thing. It will chew you up and spit you out if you’re not careful - this isn’t a criticism, more of a compliment. Everyone loves a good ice tea anyway, almost as much as a Scorpio.

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

22nd November – 21st December

22 December - 19 January

Margaritas: Icy and chilled-out, ready for a wild night, sometimes tactless - these are all classic traits of a Sagittarius and a Margarita. The salt around the rim also suits the basic saltiness of a Sagittarius. They’re not trying to be salty, they just are. And you can’t say a maragarita isn’t the same.

Kir Royale: Capricorns enjoy the finer things in life. A fancy cocktail like the Kir Royale is exactly what they need to get through the coldest months. And, the dark red colour of the cocktail suits the traditional seriousness of a Capricorn.

Gemini 21 May - 20 June

Tequila Sunrise: Geminis are generally considered to be playing the field a little bit with their opinions. A Tequila Sunrise is the thing they need - it’s a strong liquor but sweet enough that a Gemini won’t have to make a decision about whether they actually like it just yet.

20 April - 20 May

20 January - 18 February

Cosmopolitan: An Aquarius thinks themselves as more eccentric and adventurous than they truly are. In truth, they like life to be simple and classic. A Sex-and-the-City-style Cosmopolitan is perfect for an Aquarius to channel their inner Carrie and accept their fates.

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BAME IN THE ARTS Grace Khaile, Renee Landell and Kamo Majingo talk about the stigma that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students face when pursuing an arts degree.

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hoosing whether or not to pursue, or continue, higher education is already a daunting task.

Perhaps what is even more daunting is deciding what degree to study, the fact that you’ll be taking out a significant number of loans and being that step closer to choosing a career. Prospective students are faced with having a conversation with family and loved ones to inform them of their desire to choose a particular degree; and with the stigmas attached to BA degrees, this conversation can be awkward for some!

It is our hope that this article will make students studying social sciences feel more assured, especially BAME students who commonly feel pressure to conform to their parent’s educational aspirations for them.

discrediting the value of what they can offer. The focus of this article is to vocalise the pressures felt by students to study a degree more “meaningful” and “worthwhile.”

Therefore, we spoke with 3rd year, English and Drama student, Azan Ahmed and 2nd year, English Literature student Modupe Reis to hear their perspectives.

While this article contains a general focus on the relationship between BAME students and social science, the advice provided is not exclusive and can apply to anyone tackling the stigmas attached to BA degrees.

There tends to be judgement towards BA students for various reasons: the variety of job prospects, financial stability in careers, the meaning and impact on society etc.

But, as Modupe advises, whatever you do you do it with It must be made clear that this is not a critique on students love, out of love and because you love it.” We hope that this article will inform BAME students and parents, as well studying BSC or STEM degrees, nor is it an attempt at

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ARTS

as others affected by the BA stigma, that there are endless career options that one can pursue, when graduating from university with a Bachelor degree in the Arts.

“BAME students have such interesting stories to tell” which can be expressed “in so many different ways than just spreadsheets on excel” says Azan. However, with the array of stigmas surrounding social science and the lack of diversity in the Arts many stories are being left untold. As a ‘BAME’ student facing criticism for studying a social science degree, there are ways of fighting the stigma: Communication has the power to influence and enhance understanding. Sitting down with your family or peers to explain why you want to do something that they do not agree with or understand is not always easy. But, with relevant research of possible career paths and examples of successful people in your ideal industry as a support, communicating your passion can be a crucial step in fighting the stigma against your social science degree.

We have to challenge ourselves by going for those opportunities which intimidate us. The job markets have evolved; with the ever-changing times comes a new wave of creative sectors filled with opportunities in which you have the

potential to reap success. Take the risk or lose the chance.

While studying your social science degree, situate yourself with like-minded people who work hard, celebrate your successes and push you even higher. This will aid you greatly in your journey towards success.

“It’s only right to follow your passion and that which makes you feel fulfilled,” says Modupe. Azan adds that “there is always more to be done but there are exciting things happening… industries are changing and there are schemes that are specifically looking for BAME people…if you do not push to be represented you will never be represented.”

We’re always advised to network as much as possible when at university but you may find it difficult to do so if you feel like you do not have the support you need. Luckily, there are some organisations that are here to help you.

Women Who, Social Fixt and Business of Creativity are all such organisations that are here to help those that are starting out. These organisations are extremely beneficial and will help those who want to “follow their passions”. •

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THE LINE OF BEAUTY

Helena Keeble recounts her experience at a literary event with novelist Alan Hollinghurst.

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n February 3, National Trust’s Sutton House played host to the Late Night Library Club, a theatrical adaptation of Alan Hollinghurst’s ‘The Line of Beauty’, marking the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality. The event featured a diverse programme, headlining Alan Hollinghurst in conversation with Jonathan Kemp. Hollinghurst is an award-winning gay novelist, with The Line of Beauty winning the Man Booker Prize in 2004.

surface”. Hollinghurst explains that he wanted Nick to be a character “who is pushed out of shape in a way by the forces of this horrible period [for gays] in our recent history”.

The event started with drinks in the courtyard before you ascended to the first floor. Immediately you were greeted by characters of the novel dressed in the 80s ‘Tory Glam’ style.

On your right, character Leo encouraged you enter and explore your creativity by colouring in a print of Margaret Thatcher. You can imagine the array of results from this audience which were gloriously displayed on the walls throughout the evening for everyone to enjoy. Across the hallway the Little Chamber was filled with flashes as Elissa Cray hosted a portrait photography studio. Next door in the Great Chamber, Starkers Life Drawing invited people to draw the compromising positions of the two male models.

Hollinghurst originally wanted to be a poet, which Jonathan Kemp suggested was evident in his expressive and meticulous prose. Hollinghurst described his writing as almost musical due to his interest in “how a sentence or paragraph moves” and “the sounds of the words”. Yet, Hollinghurst described the writing process as getting harder with each novel. Wittily, Hollinghurst commented on how he never usually revisits his novels ‘in quite this way’ with his characters literally present in the same physical house.

With their drawings proudly on the wall next to the brightly coloured-in Thatcher’s, the guests of the evening descended to the Barn to hear Hollinghurst’s talk.

Hollinghurst began with a short reading before discussing many topics; his interest in aesthetics and his writing style and process.

The Line of Beauty is dominantly themed as an aesthetic book with the main protagonist, Nick, who is the observer of the novel, “being drawn to beauty” and is “all about the

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“I’m very interested in the fact that the novel itself is a kind of aesthetic realm, you’re not just in the everyday world … you’re in the world which is in a careful kind of artistic construct.”

The evening was wrapped up by music and spoken entertainment in the staging of character Toby’s 21st birthday party. Sporting a fabulously tight pair of black and white leggings and heels, Lord Hicks sang charmingly and wittily on topical issues, both sensitive and satirical.

To follow, Ted Rogers and Keith Jarrett exampled some of their poetry on many subjects, ranging from cake, to finding love on Grindr, to the Sexual Offences Act. The event ended with a drag Margaret Thatcher’s arrival and a disco party featuring the top hits of the 80’s. •

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: MICHELE THEIL

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS IN EGHAM Michele Theil interviews Philipp Carl Kostelecky about Late Nights in Egham, his new project.

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elcome to Late Nights in Egham!”, is the tagline accompanying Philipp Carl Kostelecky’s new project, a late-night talk show set in “our wonderful town of Egham”. Kostelecky’s pet project came to life after more than a year of discussions, writing and set up, with him dressed in a snazzy suit and ready to be the charming late night talk show host we have come to expect.

Royal Holloway, such as Presidents of societies”, Kostelecky tells me. These guest conversations are followed by performances and sketches from people at RHUL.

Kostelecky likes that the show is “weird and different” where parts of it may confuse you and get you asking “why is this funny?” and “other parts where there are clear jokes for you to laugh at”. A interesting, and odd, aspect of the show is that there His biggest inspirations come from Conan and Eric Andre, both is no live audience, as there usually is with other late night talk of which he has drawn from to influence his own talk show idea. shows. Kostelecky comments on this and states that this, in itself, “is kind of funny” as he will “gesture to the audience and there The idea was conceived on a long plane ride last summer and is no response”, which is “weird but also very interesting and Kostelecky and the rest of the production team are extremely excited to see it “finally come into fruition”. Kostelecky says that unique”. he “thought the idea of a late night talk show in Egham would Kostelecky is “very impressed” with the production team and be fun”. The show concept was originally quite different to finds that this project is a good opportunity to meet “some very the final product, as it was supposed to be more “behind-thetalented people here on campus”. It is co-directed by Laurence scenes” by showcasing how the show itself would have come Smither and James Burns, with Michael Guano operating together, focusing on the “production side of it” but keeping it comical. After some careful contemplation, Kostelecky decided the camera, Alfie Rackley in charge of casting and Georgia Johnson doing sound. Kostelecky is very clearly grateful to the that a comical talk show idea would work better and be more team for their hardwork on his pet project. Not only are his fun. team hardworking, he says, they also provide a lighthearted atmosphere to accompany a light-hearted show. Kostelecky Kostelecky’s show is “shot like an American talk show”, gushes that the crew members are “amazing... with the project accompanied by Kostelecky’s co-host Guy Cole and an in-house band headed up by the talented Jimmy Butts. The in- as a whole” and, as most of them are also his friends, it is fun and house band is, coincidentally, called The Jimmy Butts Orchestra easy to work with them. and provides apt entertainment along the likes of Jimmy Fallon They aim to release its full episodes on YouTube in March. Until and The Roots. then, their social media channels allow for anticipating fans to follow along in the editing process and watch clips of the show They bring in students from Royal Holloway as guests, mostly before it is released. Follow them on @latenightsegham.• “campus celebrities and people that are well-known around

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HOW WILL IT END? We have asked where we came from but how about where we are headed?

Simon Williams explains the theories which describe the end of the Universe.

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SCIENCE AND GAMING

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veryone always asks the question: ‘Where did we come from?’. Well, why not look from the other perspective; ‘How will it all end?’

The true fate of the Universe lies, as bizarre as it may seem, in its geometry. Einstein’s theory of General Relativity formulates a particular set of field equations that have within them an unknown parameter. This parameter is known as the curvature of space-time, literally the shape of space and time, the very fabric of reality itself. Einstein proposed three situations of this parameter, known as: the “open universe”, a negative curvature leading to a saddlelike shape; the “flat universe”, where curvature is zero and thus the universe is flat; and the “closed universe”, a ballooned shaped universe with a positive curvature. Each of these situations have different repercussions on the fate of the universe.

Before we delve into the death of the universe, we must first think about what geometry really means. For almost 2000 years people thought of geometry in a purely logical way with the famous works of Euclid: flat planes with no edges go on for infinity, and shapes have specific rules.

However in the 1800s, French mathematicians like Gauss came along and suggested another logical formulation of 3D space, in which planes no longer need to be infinite, and geometric laws are no longer true. For example try adding the angles of a triangle drawn on the surface of a balloon; you’ll find that they add up to more than 180 degrees. Moreover, the 2 dimensional surface of a sphere is finite, but without any edges.

Clearly, in some circumstances, Euclidean geometry breaks down. The mathematicians didn’t stop there, they suggested that 2D surfaces can be finite and curved in their own right, without being a surface of anything.

Einstein extended this to 3D spaces, explaining that 3D spaces can be curved in their own right, leading to the formulation of his ground breaking theory of General Relativity.

So, how do we find out what sort of geometry we are standing on? It’s not as easy as it sounds, for example can you tell you are stood on the surface of a sphere as you read this? We are essentially blind to the third dimension that the plane we stand on curves in.

But, we will not let this stop us. We can use the idea of triangles, which we can draw on the surface of our plane by connecting two points by the shortest line. Do this three times, and you form a triangle. Then measure the angles: if they are greater than 180 degrees then we are on a positive curved surface like a sphere; less than 180 degrees then we are on a negatively curved surface like a saddle; and finally if they are equal to 180 degrees, then we are on a flat plane.

We are now ready to tackle the different curvatures of space. All the situations are suggestions of what might be possible for the universe today, having expanded from the Big Bang, depending on the true geometry of the Universe.

We shall start with the “open universe”, which holds an interesting idea for the fate of the universe. The negative curvature of space-time means that the universe would keep expanding forever. At the moment, the Universe has been expanding for about 13.8 billion years. In this time it has undergone periods of great expansion and thus has a radius of approximately 46.6 billion light years according to data from WMAP, an orbiting telescope.

In the open universe, this expansion continues to accelerate at the same rate, leading to a cold and lonely death for the universe. Eventually the expansion of space-time will be reaching the speed of light, and the expansion will be so large that everything will be atomised.

Each atom will lie so far from another that the light from the other atoms will not reach it due to the rate of the universe’s expansion. The universe would be dark.

“

We are essentially blind to the third dimension that the plane we stand on curves in.

The “closed universe” doesn’t hold out much hope either.

The universe in this regime would expand to a maximum size, at which point the density of the universe becomes too large, and the universe collapses in a cataclysmic ‘Big Crunch’ destroying the universe in essentially the reverse of the Big Bang. Luckily, if this does happen it is estimated to happen when the universe is 100 billions years old, 86 billion years from now, so we can sleep easy in our beds tonight.

The final situation is the “flat universe” which expands to a certain point and then just stays there at constant expansion rate. The most stable of the situations, Einstein liked this geometry, and to make the theory work properly, he introduced a cosmological constant into his formulae.

Although Einstein said this was his biggest mistake, making the theory work instead of being mathematics, but it turns out that he was right. The cosmological constant is experimentally measured as well as being needed to fulfil the field equations.

So what is the geometry of our universe? Well, using the triangle method explained earlier, and universally large triangles, experimentalists have been able to calculate the curvature of the universe. The angles of the triangle add up to roughly 180 degrees in most circumstances, but if a black hole or quasar is within the triangle, then this is not the case. Consequently it turns out that the space we live in is more complicated than just one simple curvature.

Mother Nature has eluded us once more! But, what we do know is that the end of the universe is quite a while away. •

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WHAT’S UP IN SPACE? Clara Cohen explains how the future of space travel is at risk from millions of pieces of space junk.

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f you’re asked the question “What is orbiting the Earth?”, the first answer to come to your mind might be “The Moon”. Another answer could be “The International Space Station” or a number of other television or GPS satellites. If you stop for a moment and think about it, you will realise that for people to be able to have global network coverage, there must be a very large number of satellites surrounding the Earth, carefully moving around each other.

But these aren’t the only things bouncing around in our exosphere. The current count of trackable “space junk”, the term for assorted space debris, is over 500,000, and this is creating a massive negative impact on the future of space travel.

Space junk is mainly artificial, caused by leftover bits of rockets and space stations that have fulfilled their purpose and are abandoned above the planet, but some is natural, such as broken bits of meteoroids that never escaped Earth’s gravitational pull. Over 20,000 pieces of space debris are larger than a cricket ball and can travel up to 17,500 miles per hour, which causes serious threats to the important machines and people in space.

Even the 500,000 pieces of marble-sized junk have been known to seriously damage strong satellites. The smallest fleck of paint, travelling at extreme high speeds in space can smash the window on a space station. On top of all the trackable debris, NASA is aware of millions more microscopic leftovers. This is not a new threat. We have been aware of the dangers of space debris since satellites were first sent into space. NASA has listed a few examples of times when abandoned equipment, or failed experiments have worsened the problem: “In 1996, a French satellite was hit and damaged by debris from a French rocket that had exploded a decade

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earlier. On February 10, 2009, a defunct Russian satellite collided with and destroyed a functioning U.S. Iridium commercial satellite. The collision added more than 2,000 pieces of trackable debris to the inventory of space junk. China’s 2007 anti-satellite test, which used a missile to destroy an old weather satellite, added more than 3,000 pieces to the debris problem.”

So what can be done to clean up the exosphere and renew the safety of space exploration? The first step is more advanced tracking. NASA and the Department of Defense are working together to create a better tracking mechanism in order to accurately predict impending crashes. Currently, though, the only option to avoid these predicted crashes is to literally move out the way in a “debris avoidance maneuver”.

If a space station is going to get hit and isn’t able to move out of the way, the crew is moved into the Soyuz spacecraft, used to move humans to and from the station, which would then become a lifeboat in the case that the collision seriously damaged the station or any of the life support systems.

Locally, the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey is working on a spacecraft, RemoveDebris, which is designed to test methods of netting and harpooning space junk. It will be launched from the International Space Station and release its own debris, which it will then clean up. It has also been designed to burn up on reentry into the atmosphere, to prevent the craft itself from becoming a problem.

While this may help remove some of the larger, more critical pieces of debris, the millions of microscopic remains will continue to remain in orbit with no plan or clear way of removing them. •

A GRAND GATHERING Helena Keeble recounts her experience at the Magic the Gathering Grand Prix in London.

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n January 26, the Magic the Gathering Grand Prix 2018 arrived in London, hosting artists, traders and tournaments throughout the weekend. Magic the Gathering was created by Richard Garfield as the first trading card game published in 1993

by Wizards of the Coast. The game can be played by two or more players in multiple formats within two categories: constructed and limited. In 2015 the MTG community consisted of over twenty million players from 13 years plus and continues to thrive through a multinational market.

The London Excel arena hosted gamers from around the world turning up to play in tournaments, meet artists, and buy, trade or sell cards to a large range of vendors. Simon George, a magic player from Norwich who attended the event, stated, “I had a great time, sadly I was not able to participate in any events, but my friends did and they had fun. I mainly attended to trade with the vendors and get some cards signed by rk post. It was my first time at the GP and I was not disappointed, I even got to meet The Professor.”

The event was also host to many special guests such as The Professor on his Pauper Tour who is known for hosting the YouTube channel, Tolarian Community College, giving product reviews for items like card sleeves, deck boxes and event decks, as well as discussing deck lists for various formats. Along with The Professor were professional players who were accepting challengers, such as Andrea Mengucci, who won the

World Magic Cup in 2015 as a member of the Italian national team, as well as Joel Larsson and Lukas Blohon.

Throughout the weekend six artists were stationed at the Artist Area, signing and selling their work: with Milivoj Ceran, Tomasz Jedruszek, Howard Lyon, Aaron Miller, Adam Paquette, and rk post. As my main interest, I headed straight over to this area, leaving the event with a great bundle of signed works, including a print by Aaron Miller and a token card, a woodcut and a gorgeous playmat of a gothic version of characters from my favourite Disney film, Beauty and the Beast by rk post.

Centre to the event was the tournament space with multiple events happening from the Friday morning until Sunday evening. As you walked past you could hear the cards being shuffled and placed onto the specially event-designed play mat, featuring John Hass’s artwork, Champion of Dusk. For each tournament you competed to win tickets to spend at the Prize Area where you could get items such as t-shirts, booster packs and rare cards.

The MTG Grand Prix is a great place to cater for the prosperous community. Participants can compete against players from across the globe, trade in those cards that have been sitting at home since last year’s event and meet their idols who designed their favourite card artwork or host their favourite MTG YouTube channels.

The Grand Prix will be back in England in May at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, during its international tour. •

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WOMEN IN GAMES: RECOGNITION & INCLUSION Deputy Science & Gaming Editor, Ryan Gulliford, explores the issues facing women in the video games industry; from poor educational awareness to oppression in the workplace.

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ith 2018 now in full swing and the spring term well underway, the topic of women in video games and the gender diversity gap in the industry was brought to light in 2017, so let’s make sure that continues throughout the year.

The video games industry has several factors influencing its negative perception and among them are key issues surrounding gender and the nature of these views. So, here we look at what’s causing the problem and how we can continue to solve it.

OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION: A key, yet overlooked factor which, has a large effect on the inclusion of women in the video games industry, surrounds the lack of support from the educational system. From a young age, women can be discouraged from pursuing a career in video games simply because they didn’t know it was a career option and a lack of educational support, even at degree level, can in some cases, become crucial to levels of female interest.

This lack of awareness constitutes part of the

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gendered occupational norms associated with the industry, mirrored in today’s student demographics and the gender split amongst gaming professionals, with women making up 22% of the industry.

By contrast, certain initiatives exist to address the above problem, studios such as LearnDistrict are among those who take part in educational programmes, but focus on providing them specifically for girls. Their ‘Girls Make Games’ initiative, provides a summer camp experience where young women can learn the fundamentals of games development and work on their own ideas in small teams, with the best teams being able to pitch their ideas to industry leaders. Programmes and schemes such as this, provide a creative playground for young women, educating them on the industry and its opportunities.

SOCIETAL NORMS AND INDUSTRY GENDER The presence of various social stigmas and unconscious ideas form a substantial amount of the problem facing women and their experience with the

games industry. Communicated from a young age, video games are assigned the stereotypical, introverted male audience, supported by mainstream media which, in some cases, sexualises the female aesthetic in games, playing to a dominantly male viewership.

Furthermore, the 2016 IGDA survey depicts the various factors which, influence the negative perception of video games, with the top 3 surrounding sexism among gamers, working conditions and sexism in games. Additionally, 58% of survey correspondents feel that exposure to opportunity and development within the industry is not equal for all workers.

These findings are only part of the sexism and harassment issues experienced by women in the industry which, has a direct effect on the cultural upbringing of younger generations. Quite rightly so, parents may not want their children, particularly daughters, being exposed the industry’s oppressive perceptions. However, this leads back to the problem of pre-existing social stigmas and assumptions which, deter women from the industry.

By contrast, we can expect the problems associated with these social norms to improve. In an IGN article, an anonymous games developer from the UK stated that “The minority who are sexist, and promote sexist or othering environments, are an old guard, being phased out by an increasingly liberal new wave of game developers.”

This notion is supported by the plethora of support communities and initiatives geared towards women in the industry. Groups such as IGDA Women in Games (WIG) and Women Who Code, promote an ethos which, surrounds gender balance and awarding opportunities to those already in the industry, or who are looking for their big break.

Similarly, the use of digital media initiatives such as #HowIWillChange and #girlsbehindthegames, promotes awareness of the negative perceptions that we see in the video games industry and adds to the increasing support network available to women pursuing a career in the ever-growing world of gaming.•

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INSANITY TURNS TWENTY Samantha Davis looks at the history of our sister media outlet, Insanity Radio.

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hether you’re an avid listener who tunes in every week to catch your favourite shows, or someone who just enjoys the music whilst relaxing with a bubble tea in Imagine, Insanity Radio is undoubtedly an integral part of being a student at Royal Holloway. However, the radio station will take an even greater spotlight throughout campus in the upcoming weeks as its long-anticipated 20th birthday celebrations commence.

Insanity Radio aired under its current name for the first time back in 1998 on FM but under a Restricted Service License. Broadcasting was originally done from a spare room in Founder’s Building, but was then forced to move into the Queen’s Annexe a year later.

Despite the move only meaning to be short term as the Annexe building was only meant to be a temporary addition to the university, the Annexe became the home to Insanity’s studio for over ten and a half years. After two years of Insanity Radio, in late 2000 they were granted an AM licence by the Radio Authority which saw the beginning of continuous broadcasting.

At midnight on the March 8 2012, the FM transmitter was officially turned on to the sound Labrinth’s Earthquake, making it one of only six student-community stations in the UK. However, in true Insanity style, the AM transmitter was switched off following an on-air marathon to raise money for its chosen charities.

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The most recent upgrade to the station came in December 2014 where the studio moved once again to its current home in the media suite above the Student’s Union, sharing the space with Orbital Magazine and rhubarbTV. To celebrate how far the station has come, February 23 will see the SU hosting a takeover night in place of its usual Friday club night, where Insanity Radio DJs will be playing on the SU stage. It is looking to be an amazing night of celebrations with some incredible music.

The festivities follow over onto Saturday February 24 with their annual training day. Following that, the Insanity Radio Productions Board invite current members, alumni and any guests to join them from 6:30 to 8pm to continue the ongoing 20th Anniversary celebrations in the Emily Wilding Davison Event Space. There will be a collection of memorabilia from the station’s history and a chance to learn more about what made the station as incredible as it is today.

Whether you are a member of the Insanity team, or just looking to find out a little more about your on-campus radio station, the 20th birthday weekend is sure to be entertaining for everyone.

As Insanity states, music is the cure. So, be sure to get involved with what will undoubtedly be a memorable anniversary. •

SPORTS AND SOCS

FIGHTING BACK: #THISGIRLCAN Sports and Socs Editor Louisa Wicks looks at the sexual assault accusations in the sports industry and what it means for women in sport.

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fter last year’s #MeToo campaign, it is clear that women all over the world have grown tired of being silenced. The Harvey Weinstein accusations have encouraged women to share their stories and call out those responsible.

But, this global movement has not just been restricted to the entertainment industry.

On the January 24, 2018, a former physician for the USA Gymnastics National Team was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison after being accused by over 150 women of sexual assault. Amongst Larry Nassar’s accusers were former team members and Olympic champions including Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman and Simone Biles. But, this was not just restricted to the USA gymnastics team; Nassar was also a faculty member at Michigan State University.

Similar accusations have come from students of the university, accusing Nassar of abuse dating back years.

Following the week-long hearing which included statements from his victims, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nassar that she had just “signed his death warrant”. Although this has proved that women are not to be silenced, it has also proved to the world that sexual assault can happen in any industry, and to anyone.

The sports industry has always appeared to excel in gender equality – some of Team GB’s best athletes are women – whereas the entertainment industry is still behind. Female-dominated sports such as cheerleading and gymnastics have achieved global recognition, thanks to the raised awareness of

gender equality in sport. Also, several maledominated sports are also seeing a rise in female teams. The England Women’s Cricket team had an extremely successful 2017, ending the year with a win at BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

But, women’s teams are not just triumphant at a national level. Royal Holloway’s very own Women’s Football team won the highly coveted BUCS Club of the Year award at the end of the 2016-17 season, as well as Club of the Year at last year’s Colours Ball. Other female-led clubs such as Women’s Rugby and Netball have also been hugely successful, proving in multiple social media campaigns that #ThisGirlCan. If we can take anything away from this, it is that women are capable of fighting back. 150 women testified against Nassar, and each statement showed how much it had affected their lives. But, these women are successful, with some even winning Olympic medals. American women have won 48 gymnastics medals at the Olympics, and many of Nassar’s accusers contributed to this total. The ‘Magnificent Seven’, the ‘Fierce Five’ and the ‘Final Five’ have become part of Olympics history. The USA Gymnastics National Team has dominated the sport, and it has been the women who have stolen headlines with their talent and fierce personalities.

Women are dominating world sports, and they’re not showing any signs of stopping. •

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LOUISA WICKS LOOKS AT THE CHIC AND MODERN FASHION SOCIETY Sports & Socs Editor Louisa Wicks highlights

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oyal Holloway offers a huge range of creative arts societies, and one of these is Fashion Society. I spoke to committee members Tereza Hadrbolcová, Rachel Foster, Mara Pem Muñoz and YangYang Driver to find out more about what they do and what opportunities there are for their members.

When I asked what their main aims were as a society, they said that it is “a community of people who are interested in any aspects of fashion”, and that the society was created to “provide a space for creativity and fashion expressionism as well as to help interested students to expand their knowledge and opportunities in the fashion industry”. Lastly, and most importantly, they said that “the main aim is to create an environment where people do what they enjoy, share their ideas and meet likeminded people”.

The society has been able to “adapt to our members’ expectations and needs by offering different sources of support and opportunities”. Some of the activities listed by the society were “employability workshops, volunteering, blogging, creating, modelling, photography, or simply just attending fashion exhibitions, watching fashion films or strengthening the community by regular socials”.

As expected with anything fashion-related, the society has always had a huge output on social media. As well as having a blog, where students can post about recent socials & experiences with the society, they have also recently started running an amazing campaign on Facebook and Instagram. #OutfitsOfRHUL gives students the opportunity to find people on campus and take photos of their outfits. I was keen to find out where this idea came from and how students can get involved.

Society members also benefit from alumni events and have been “working hard this year to find alumni within the fashion industry”. The society work closely with the Careers and Employability Service in order to encourage employability amongst their members, and also so they can organise exciting events and visits. Obviously, the fashion industry is huge, with so many different paths to go down.

By organising these events and encouraging members to increase their employability, fashion society is giving students invaluable opportunities.

Recently, two alumni came to visit the society, and talked about their experiences in the industry and more specifically about their work with Burberry. The committee spoke about how “this real insight into the fashion world is what can give members the best representation of what that job is like and offer them the chance to ask questions to a professional”. In the future, the society hope to “offer our members further first-hand insights into this exciting industry”.

The society is also involved with a number of events on campus. Last term, they were lucky enough to star in ‘A Night at the Theatre’, hosted by RHUL’s creative arts societies. The committee said that this was “the highlight of this year so far” for the society and was “an incredible and fun experience being able to see all of the other creative arts societies performing and doing what they are all good at”.

They went on to mention how “even though it was a challenge for fashion soc to adapt to the SU’s layout for our RED-themed catwalk, spending some time on choreography was definitely a great and successful experience” and that “so many members got involved helping not only with modelling but also with makeup and general support which created a strong bond “We have had this idea in our heads for a long time between us”. As well as this, the society also runs trying to figure out what would be the best way to get a Fashion Show on campus. This event is organised non-members involved with Fashion Society as well. entirely by the society, and their goal is to raise as As our campus is very diverse and multi-cultural, you much money as possible for charity. Students have come across so many interesting styles, outfits and the opportunity to get involved with the fashion show, personalities. That’s why we created #OutfitsOfRHUL. as volunteering is a huge part of the society.

With this project, we promote all styles and are especially keen on fashion individuality.

If you want to find out more about Fashion Society, visit their Facebook page or check out their page on As well as enjoying events on campus, Fashion the Students’ Union website. •

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: MICHELE THEIL

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THE PUZZLES 42

ACROSS: 6 What is the official name of the Suffragettes? (4) 7 What is the name of the new musical about Suffragettes? (12) 9 What is the name of the pro-suffrage protest song? (17) 10 What animal did Emily Wilding Davison throw herself under? (5) 11 In 1918, what age did a woman have to be to vote? (6) DOWN: 1 Who starred in the 2015 Sufragette Film? (13) 2 What political party were the Suffragettes more popular than? (6) 3 Where did Davison die? (5) 4 Who founded the Suffragette movement? (7) 5 Where was Emmeline Pankhurst from? (10) 8 What colour represent the Suffragette movement? (6)

Sudoku is easy to play and the rules are simple. Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

Easy

Difficult

THAI CURRY INGREDIENTS: 350g. boneless skinless chicken 200g. potatoes 1 can coconut milk 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 tbsp of Thai green curry paste 1 lime 1 tsp of seasame oil Boiled rice, to serve METHOD: 1. Chop the potatoes into small pieces and boil it for approximately 7 minutes. In another pan, cook the chicken until tender with a tablespoon of water.

2. Pour the coconut milk into a pot and add the curry paste. Stir continously for a few minutes until it reaches a pastel green colour.

3. Add the garlic cloves to the coconut milk and stir.

4. While the coconut milk heats up, boil your desired amount of rice on the side, ready to serve with your curry.

5. Drain the potatoes and add them, along with the chicken, to the curry.

6. Let the curry warm up the potatoes and chicken. Chop a lime in half and squeeze one half into the curry.

7. Sprinkle a teaspoon of seasame oil over the top of the curry and serve with rice.

STUDENT RECIPES

A delicious and easy Asian curry to make for yourself or for friends! It can be enjoyed with a glass of wine - our recommendation is Barefoot White Zinfandel or with a mango smoothie for a warmer feel.

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