The Fresher's Issue 2018 by Orbital Magazine

O R B I TA L THEORBITAL.CO.UK

Est. 1986

THE FRESHER'S ISSUE

FRESHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ISLAND: YOUR TYPE ON PAPER?

CO N T E N T S 2

DON’T THROW AWAY YOUR SHOT

FINDING LOVE LIKE LOVE ISLAND

WHAT IS STUDENT ACTIVISM LIKE?

REMEMBERING YOUR HERSTORY

WHERE’S THE DIVERSITY?

DEBRIEF: RENEE LANDELL

MEET EMILY: PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

DESIGNER ON A BUDGET

ROHOROSCOPES

CRAZY RICH REPRESENTATION

WAIT, IS THIS VEGAN?

FROM THE EDITOR: and I can’t wait for you to crack it open and read the content that we have spent months creating for you.

Hello Fresher’s and Returners alike! Welcome to the Fresher’s edition of Orbital Magazine. This one is very special to me because it’s the first one of my editorship and I am so excited to be running Orbital Magazine with my lovely board. I can’t wait for you all to read the amazing articles in the magazine - we’ve got such a wide variety to entice you all to RHUL and to Orbital. I guarantee you’ll love at least one! If you’re a returning student, don’t worry, this issue isn’t just for Freshers. You may think that Orbital looks and feels a little different. Well, it’s common that with each new Editor, changes will be made to the magazine as each person aims to leave their own stamp on Royal Holloway. This is my stamp. Jasmine, my deputy, and I decided to go in a different direction with Orbital this year, focusing intently on the aesthetic of the magazine while keeping the quality of content as high as ever. I may be biased but I think this is a magnificent magazine

The first few pages contains our Fresher’s content. In the past, we’ve put it into a separate magazine but we decided to collate all of our articles in this one issue and on our website too. For the savvy photographers among you, we’ve got a guide to the best Instagram spots on and off campus as well as a fitting introduction to our Photography Editor, Emily Bradbury,. She is heading up our Photography Section and is on the lookout for photographers so get in touch with me if you want to get involved! As you may have noticed from our cover, the theme of this year is ‘Fresher’s Island’, a spin-off of the beloved ITV2 programme, Love Island. There’s a great article by Holly Feeny that will teach you Love Island’s tricks to finding love as well as a comment by Amal Abdi asking for Love Island to incorporate more diversity in their programme. Then, Ian Hayes has some strong opinions against Reality TV, so the whole spectrum is covered. If you didn’t watch Love Island (were you living under a rock?!), don’t worry – the magazine isn’t only Love Island-themed. Our esteemed SU President, Clem Jones, has popped up with an article about the college’s investments in Fossil Fuels while Features Editor Abby King looks back over her year of activism

and encourages new students to get involved with significant campaigns. Becca Bashford discusses the transphobia once-beloved drag queen Ru Paul has espoused and Caitlin Robin argues that a petition to ban infamous Robin Thicke song, Blurred Lines, from campus is fauxfeminism. Both articles are concise, clear and to the point, giving us the chance to start strong with our highly-popular Comment section. Our regular ‘catch-up’ with inspiring people is back and better than ever. Debrief has undergone a transformation but, behind it all, we’ve got the opportunity to talk to some amazing people about their incredible work. The Rohoroscopes are also back and they’ve come out of their own Mercury Retrograde fresh-faced and looking good. Head over to Page 36 to see what’s in store for you this month! The Arts section has been renamed as the Culture section and I am excited to leave it in the capable hands of Maria Green and Jeyda Hasip. Then, we’ve got Hefina Everard telling us all why we should join a Society or Sports Club. Lastly, we’ve collaborated with the Vegan society to bring you some excellnt recipes that just so happen to be vegan. Make sure you bookmark Page 48 and get cooking! Thank you so much for reading this inaugural issue, I have genuinely never been happier. Enjoy!

mi chele t h eil EDITOR@THEORBITAL.CO.UK

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DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T THROW AWAY YOUR SHOT 10 posts

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EDIT PROFILE

SAMANTHA DAVIS HAS GOT YOU COVERED FOR THE BEST insta PHOTO OPs ON AND OFF-CAMPUS.

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he old adage is true: did it really happen if you didn’t take a picture? University is no different and you’ve got to make sure you’ve got the best shots. Whether it is to keep pestering parents knowing that you are happy, or showing off to others how great your university is, here are some hot spots on and off campus to show off these new adventures.

VIRGINIA WATER Totem poles, ancient ruins, dazzling lakes, and waterfalls, what more could your Instagram need? Virginia Water is only a half hour walk from campus and it’s the perfect place for a day out and an Instagram top up. Get some incredible sunset pictures over the water, or, if you prefer to keep your feed more personal, of you taking a dip in the lake.

FOUNDER’S BUILDING Did you ever really go to Royal Holloway if you have not posted at least one picture of this iconic building? From any angle, or in any light, the castle-like exterior and the increasingly uncommon red brick is sure to draw attention and steal focus in amongst drunken Fresher pictures. FOUNDER’S SQUARE A recent addition to our beautiful campus and an area that creates many photo opportunities, an Instagram photoshoot at Founders Square is a common occurrence. The addition of the new library as a backdrop only further increase how surprisingly aesthetically pleasing grey paving stones can become. A dark rainy day, however, is when you’ll get the best shot of this location: the spotlights are scattered across the floor and illuminate the surrounding greenery and reflect perfectly of the floor. IMAGINE

WINDSOR Windsor is one spot that you absolutely must visit during your time at Royal Holloway; whether you intend to Instagram your trip or not. The streets are cobbled and lined with quaint little tea shops and souvenir vendors, all of which when captured show how charming this old town is. The castle is another spot of photographic interest and a good way to show everybody that you are out exploring your new local area. CANADA COPSE More frequently known as the path to Jane Holloway Hall, Canada Copse creates the feel of going for a forest stroll without you having to leave campus. With deer sightings, beautiful displays of wildflowers, and two duck ponds, it’s Instagram gold. Two of my all-time Instagram favourites from Canada Copse include trying to balance on an icy bridge over the river and a stereotypical selfie with Colossus.

As one of the main features that originally attracted me to Royal Holloway, Imagine deserved a place on this list. It’s a true heaven for someone wanting to keep their Instagram fun and colourful with its oversized deckchairs, swinging seats, and brightly coloured furniture. Whether it’s one of its quirky decorative pieces, or a snap of your brightly coloured bubble tea, an Imagine-inspired photo is almost definitely going to find a place on your Instagram over the years.

RUNNYMEDE

KASPAS

LONDON

Just a short work into Egham will provide you with one of the most Instagrammable places you could ever have dreamed of eating at. Although the lighting is a little harsh, Kaspa’s takes the form of an American diner serving nothing but sweet treats. Here the perfectly prepared mouth-watering food steals the cameras focus, allowing you to truly make your friends at home jealous.

London is a beautiful city, there’s no doubt about it. Chances are, no matter where you go, you’ll find a fitting background for that perfect Insta shot. Trains from Egham run to Waterloo, which just so happens to be a stone’s throw away from South Bank, a fun area and a great place to run wild with your iPhone camera.

PHotography Credit: Michele theil & Unsplash

One of the few large green areas near campus, Runnymede is a beautiful open space to escape to. The memorial, in particular, is a beautiful sight and offers an incredible view of the surrounding area. It is also only a short walk down to the river Thames which has proved to be a popular Instagram model all over the country.

There you go, head down for a quick photoshoot when you’re feeling like your Insta could use a freshening up! •

FINDING LOVE: THE LOVE ISLAND WAY Will someone on this year’s fresher’s Island be your type on paper? Holly feeny gives you tips to find out.

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hile I’m sure we all wish we could jet off to Majorca for 8 weeks, with a bunch of hot people and free food, the Love Island experience isn’t quite what most of us get when searching for romance. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t take some valuable lessons from the show and its lovely contestants in our own quests for love. Here’s how you can use the Love Island method to bag the guy/gal/person of your dreams. (Note: Author is not responsible for any negative consequences of this brilliant and completely serious advice.) Your T y pe on Paper : If you watched Series three of the show, then you remember that they said this literally every five minutes. It was annoying, but now we can take some constructive advice from it. Of course, it’s important that you feel a physical attraction to someone you’re thinking about dating, but sometimes what a person is like on paper and what they’re like in real life are worlds apart. Try to avoid the temptation of someone being ‘more your type’ and go for the person you get on with the best, who makes you laugh and make sure you can see yourself having a future with. The D o Bits Socie ty : It’s no secret that almost all of this year’s islanders were active members of the Do Bits Society. If you want to take that next step with someone, that’s great! More power to you. Don’t let anyone shame you into thinking you can’t have a sexual relationship when it feels right for you. At the same time, if you’re more like Jack and Dani and you want to wait it out until you get to know each other a little better, that’s great too! Listen

to your body and your partner, and do what feels right. Be a J ac k , no t an Adam : Geordie contestant Adam quickly built an infamous reputation on the show for having a wandering eye. After he pied off Kendall, Rosie, Zara and Daryll before finally deciding to go back to Zara, his behaviour was a hot topic with the fans. Adam’s behaviour has been called out by women’s charities as a red flag of emotional abuse. This may seem far-fetched to some, but this kind of behaviour is really toxic. Don’t tell people you feel things if you don’t, don’t trivialise the feelings of others, and definitely don’t gaslight them when they’re trying to share with you. Try and be more like lovely Jack, who for the most part was kind, loyal, and respectful of Dani and all the other girls. Fo l l ow Yo u r H e ar t : There were definitely some scandalous moments during the show this year. There was Wes ruthlessly breaking up with Laura after Megan showed the slightest bit of interest in him, and Josh breaking Georgia’s heart by bringing Kaz back from Casa Amor. Even though we all hated Wes and Josh for a little while after, in the end Megan and Kaz were the girls for them (this was written whilst they are still together… we’ll see how long it lasts). Their valiant bravery teaches us that it’s important to follow your heart and do what feels right. If you think something is off with someone, be honest with them (kindly) and if you really feel a connection with someone then go for it! These simple concepts will be sure to help you find the Jack to your Dani… or the Dani to your Jack. Or someone else completely different if that’s what you want. The point is, you do you. •

O R B I TA L Est. 1986

rbital Magazine is an award-winning student publication. We are the official publication of the Student’s Union and offer our members the opportunity to improve their writing skills, take a shot with photography, try your hand at design, face your fear of social media and more. Become a member and work with a dedicated editorial board, who are all seeking to make this magazine the best it can be and want to do so with your input! Your name may appear in our print magazine or on our website, which is visited by students looking for the high-quality journalism that only we can provide. Orbital Magazine has several sections across our print magazine and website, including News, Features, Comment, Photography, Lifestyle, Culture, Science & Gaming and Sports & Societies. This wide variety offers you the chance of writing an article about anything you may be interested in, whether it’s something you’ve experienced at RHUL or a comment on Twitter. Our editorial board will support you from idea conception all the way to the end product and will give you feedback on your articles and teach you techniques you may not have been exposed to before.

involved with this. This gives you a chance to engage with alternative media and it may pique your interest in broadcast journalism in addition to written journalism. Photography is going to be a main focus for Orbital this year so any budding photographers are encouraged to get involved to have their work printed in this very magazine with a credit to them. If you’re interested in learning about designing and improving the Adobe skills that you developed during GCSEs, our membership gives you access to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, which includes Photoshop, InDesign and various others. Our editorial board will teach you, work with you and allow you to contribute to the design of our beloved magazine. Orbital’s team prides itself on working together to ensure our work comes to life as a tangible magazine. While there are countless benefits to becoming a member of Orbital, ultimately the best part about Orbital is the people – without our editorial board, you wouldn’t be reading this or flipping through this magazine. It’s the perfect place to make friends, build up your university family and find people who have similar interests to you.

Of course, we offer the chance to try your hand at journalism but we aim to have every Orbital member leave with more skills than they came to us with. Not only will we help you with your articles, we will also hold regular career sessions that will teach you different journalism styles and give you an insight into the industry. We will teach you how to pitch to publications and what you can do at RHUL and afterwards to enter into the industries of journalism, publishing, PR and other similar fields.

We will be at Fresher’s Fair and are happy to talk to anyone who is interested in joing Orbital. Feel free to email editor@theorbital.co.uk for more information.

We host a radio show each week with our sister outlet, Insanity Radio, and are eager for members to get

michele theil & jasmine cox editor & deputy editor

You can also attend our taster session on Friday 28 September 10am - 12pm in the Student’s Union Media Suite or visit theorbital.co.uk to find out more. We look forward to welcoming you to Orbital Magazine.•

tarting university means you have to make a lot of decisions. One of the most important decisions is to choose, out of the huge range, what sports club, society, or media outlet you want to join. Here’s why you should join Insanity Radio:

culminates in the RHINOs, the joint media outlet end of year awards ceremony. Plus on top of all that, there’s the Societies’ Ball in second term, and also the Student Radio Association Awards, which we’re very proud to have been nominated for and subsequently have been awarded in the past (fingers crossed for this year!).

1 - If you like music, you’re in the right place. If you’re into a particularly niche genre or period of music, or feel, like me, that punk music from 1970s New York is underrated and more people need to hear it - well, then you’re in luck. As a presenter on Insanity Radio, you get to choose what music you play on your show, no matter what it is. We also have a dedicated music team that write articles for the music section of Insanity’s website, ranging from gig reviews, to interviews, and playlists compiled by the team. 2 - We’re not JUST all about the music, though. If the thought of being an on-air presenter fills you with fear, you can get involved with Insanity, through our offair teams instead. If you’ve always fancied yourself as a news reporter - great, you can join our news team and get involved with news bulletins! More of a techie? Brilliant. Join our tech team and you can get involved with exciting projects such as visualised radio. There’s also a community team, and a producing team - the list goes on. If there’s something you want to get involved with, chances are we have a team for it. 3 - Socials! Awards! Balls! Of course, university is as much about the social aspect as it is about the academic side of things, and Insanity is no different. We have a number of termly socials, including the infamous ‘Come In Your Socs’, and the whole year

4 - Want a career in the music industry but no clue where to start? Help is at hand. Insanity Radio is extremely proud to host a yearly training day, with both music and radio industry professionals attending. If you’re serious about considering a career in the music industry, then this day is honestly invaluable, and the experience you’ll gain from it is unparalleled. We’re amazingly lucky to have some ridiculously talented alumni that have made it in the industry and come back to talk to our current members. I can’t stress enough how amazing it is that we have a training day with industry professionals on our very own campus. 5 - Honestly? The best people you’ll ever meet. Many societies will claim to have the best members, but in the case of Insanity, it’s actually true. Insanity wouldn’t be anything without it’s incredibly talented team, and each person brings something different to the station. Whether it’s outstanding presenting skills, or knowledge of the technical side of things, each person contributes in their own way, and it wouldn’t be the same without them. And, fingers crossed, you’ll be part of that team too very soon. Head over to insanityradio.com to find out more! See you in the studio. •

PHOEBE HAGAN Insanity’s HEAD OF MUSIC

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hubarbTV is going to start off big this year. We’ve been chosen by NaSTA (National Student TV Association) to represent Student TV across the country this year in one big live stream this October. We can’t wait. You should all stay tuned and get involved! Even back in First Year, I was given the chance to operate a camera, direct, and edit content, which really gave me a taste for the film and TV industry and inspired me to continue to participate in rhubarbTV productions. In Second Year I organised my own team and had to hold meetings to coordinate live coverage of campus events. Now I’m a third year, all grown up, and lucky enough to be rhubarbTV’s station manager, so let the fun begin!

Why should I join, I hear you ask? Like most societies there are many reasons for joining rhubarbTV. Maybe it’s the free merchandise at our Fresher’s stall or the jazzy equipment on display that entices you. You might just want to try something new or you could have an actual interest in film and TV. Either way, everyone is welcome to join rhubarbTV – it could be the start of something great! I’m looking forward to seeing where I can take this student TV station after being a member for two years. I’ll be working alongside Assistant Station Manager Eshan Puri, who will hopefully keep me on track. Join us as we embark on this journey! •

JOSH BARKER station manager

ot to drive the point home too much but we’ve definitely got a bunch of cool things planned for this year. If you are someone interested in creating video content, whether that’s behind the camera, presenting in front of it, editing or even recording audio rhubarbTV is the place to be. I joined rhubarbTV as a fresher who didn’t have a clue what he wanted to do with his life, but I knew I was interested in media. Signing up for rhubarbTV allowed me to have more opportunities to film and edit videos, which I thought would help build up my experience. It also gave me the chance to meet and interact with people across all years who had similar interests.

You’re probably wondering why you should join rhubarbTV over any other society. Well, if you’ve ever had the urge to create, or wondered what that experience may be like, ‘rhubarbTV Wants You!’ Our big focus of this year is to make sure our members have chances to take part in a range of activities. We are always looking for keen and enthusiastic people to help on our productions. Our members receive training in all types of equipment, even if you are not a media arts student. We want to give our members the chance to broaden their horizons, and our aim is that each member’s experience as a part of the TV station will help contribute to their development throughout their university journey. •

ESHAN Puri assistant station manager

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STUDENT PRODUCTIONS: ONE TO WATCH By Michele Theil

heatre is a gift. There are hundreds of self-proclaimed ‘Theatre Kids’ around the world that would wholeheartedly agree with that statement. The dedication and hardwork that goes into producing a high quality show for the audience to enjoy is unparalleled and should be appreciated - even at the student level. University students juggle degrees, part-time jobs and socialising with hours and hours of rehearsals almost every night so that, in just a couple of months, they can stand in the Student’s Union or the newly-minted Medicine performing their hearts out for the students who attend. However, while these shows do attract quite a lot of people, there are scores of RHUL students who will graduate without ever seeing a student production. My only question is this: why? Student productions are an opportunity to watch a high-quality show for a relatively low cost. Most shows at RHUL cost an average of £5 per show, making it a very cost-effective but fun event to attend. Compare that to a high-quality West End show where a ticket would cost you upwards of £55 - not to mention the train fare into London on top of it. The upcoming Musical Theatre Society (MTS) show is The Addams Family, a comedic musical that has been out of production for years now. Previous productions have included Bring It On, by the pulitzer-winning Lin Manuel Miranda, Spring Awakening, Cabaret and Bare: A Pop Opera. All of these

productions have been off of Broadway and the West End for years, meaning that watching these performances at RHUL may be your only chance of experiencing these shows outside of a pre-recorded cast album. It’s often the same with the Drama Society, who tend to put on shows that are more niche or at least haven’t been performed recently. They found great success with Owen Sheers’ verse-drama about the Iraq War, Pink Mist, and are looking to revive Oscar Wilde’s infamous novel The Picture of Dorian Gray this term. Moreover, the drama department at RHUL is considered to be ranked 5th nationally for performing arts, according to QS World University Rankings. They have to be doing something right to be ranked so highly. So, why wouldn’t you want to watch a student production that features student performers of such a high calibre? It’s really a no-brainer. There’s also a very good chance that at least one or two of the performers you see here at RHUL may go on to bigger and better things on the West End, Broadway or even on television. You may get the opportunity to brag to Linda from Marketing in 10 years time that you saw that popular actress perform live back at university. I’m sure she’ll be very jealous. Each term has at least four productions on offer to you, from MTS, Drama Soc, Savoy Opera Society and The Student Workshop - take advantage of them. •

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S t u d e n t 12

ti vi sm

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t is often thought that your student days are your most political, with university students historically at the forefront of political activism. With the Library named after former student and suffragette, Emily Wilding Davison, Royal Holloway is no stranger to protest. In recent years, activism has come in the form of objection against both government policy and university regulations. From petitions to sit-ins, students at Royal Holloway are always keen to express their views and exercise their right to demonstrate. Following the controversial decision by the coalition government in 2010 to increase tuition fees from £3,000 a year to £9,000 there was a wave of national student outrage. Students at Royal Holloway staged an occupation of the Principal’s corridor in defiance of the perceived compliance of RHUL management to national cuts to education. This occupation lasted over 200 days but the legacy of upset over the state of higher education still exists today.

“

Activism provides skills not learnt in the classroom, from leadership to time management and it is rewarding to see real change come about due to hard work. A similar situation arose earlier this year when Royal Holloway students came together to support staff that were undertaking industrial action due to a dispute over pensions. Students from across the university joined staff on the

picket lines and at national demonstrations in a mass show of support. As the situation became increasingly fraught, a group of students took it upon themselves to stage a sit-in protest outside Professor Paul Layzell’s Office in protest of his handling of the strike. The protest was successful in its aims, but tension between staff and management over the issue of pensions remains. Naturally, activism comes in many forms. In this day and age there are new ways to have your voice heard. Royal Holloway students are very resourceful when it comes to challenging the status quo with petitions and boycotts being increasingly effective. In the past year there has been increasing unrest over the quality of service provided by both the new library and the health centre. Petitions to improve both services have generated a great deal of support and the pressure is on for the university to listen to student worries and take action. The benefits of getting involved in activism at university are wide-ranging. Activism provides skills not learnt in the classroom, from leadership to time management and it is rewarding to see real change come about due to hard work. Whether it’s through a society or as an individual, there is no end to what can be achieved with a bit of courage and determination. For a relatively small institution, Royal Holloway is increasingly seeing its fair share of activism and rightly so. Universities are hives of knowledge and self-discovery; in an era of increasing political uncertainty, students must be encouraged to stand up for what they believe in and be counted. There has never been a better time to get involved. •

by Abby King

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UNETHICAL INVESTMENTS SU President, Clem Jones, argues for fossil fuel divestment.

eing your Students’ Union Vice-President of Education last year was extremely rewarding. As I was a course rep for three years, I was extremely excited to represent your academic interests to the College, and I’m pleased that Jack O’Neill has now picked up the reigns.

and Aerospace where military involvement amounts to greater than 33.3% in turnover. The profligate burning of fossil fuels is undoubtedly a major worldwide contributor to global warming, which presents a very real risk to the longevity of the College (and indeed the human race).

However, another burning desire of mine was to ensure that, as an academic community, we were taking drastic measures to fight against what the famous United Nations’ Copenhagen Accords acknowledges as “one of the greatest challenges of our time”: climate change. I ran to be your President on a flagship manifesto point of pledging to ‘Clean Up Our Campus’ by lobbying the College to make sure it is investing its money in socially responsible industries.

It is my view that a commitment to fossil fuel divestment from the college would carry significant symbolic weight in the our fight for national acceptance of the scale of change needed to avoid disaster and achieve a more equitable society (and world). The College’s endowment investments are actively managed by third party fund managers in line with the above policy of ‘ethical investment’. However, the College recently updated me about their financial plans and informed me that it is planning to review its investment management arrangements, which will include a review of best practice arrangements surrounding ethical investment management. This is a good first step.

The Copenhagen Accords maintain “that climate change is one of the greatest challenges our time”. Every Head of State or Government, Ministers, and other heads of delegation present at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2009 emphasised their “strong political will to urgently combat climate change in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”. It is clear that climate change is a big issue and we must work together to tackle it. Despite this, however, the College’s ethical investment policy does not preclude investment in fossil fuel companies; its policy only precludes the direct investment in FTSE All Share Index stocks in Military 14

However, I am very interested in seeing what potential bidders propose as being ‘ethical’ ways of investing the College’s money, and have asked to be kept involved with the review report, which I will receive by the end of October. There is no time to waste – if we want to avoid an irreversibly dangerous rise in the Earth’s temperature, we have to keep fossil fuels in the ground, and it is my belief that the College should play its part by moving any money invested in the fossil fuel industry into cleaner ones. •

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COMMUTING as a student Amal Abdi talks about life as a commuter student at RHUL.

tudent who commute to university from home are growing in number. But, their specific experiences are often ignored in the student narrative. It might be difficult to understand why people choose to commute but for me and many of my friends, growing up in London, the idea of moving out for a university was not even something to contemplate. Of course, commuting is far cheaper than living on campus, especially with the scrapping of the maintenance grant now becoming a loan. The reality is that many students from working-class backgrounds, simply cannot afford for many reasons to leave their family homes and be straddled with so much debt. There are also cultural reasons for commuting, as some children are expected to stay at home throughout university. I commuted to Royal Holloway from West London in my first two years. 9 am lectures were my worst enemy, especially when I had to travel just for one lecture or seminar. It was demoralizing to make all that effort – waking up early, making a 3-hour round trip – just for a 50-minute seminar. Not to mention travelling at rush hour on crowded trains, which were often inevitably late. Between my classes, I was not able to go home like peers but instead had to cower in the library looking for a seat where I could watch Netflix and quietly eat the overpriced sandwich I bought from the SU shop. Much of university life isn’t for everyone. Clubbing

and drinking had never appealed to me, so missing fresher’s week was never an issue. However, I can understand the frustration of not fully enjoying your night out of fear for missing the last train. It doesn’t help that social media exacerbates all the FOMO feels with people flaunting themselves all over Facebook and Instagram. But, commuting is not all bad. Despite Royal Holloway being in the middle of nowhere, I was surprised to find that many other students also commuted. Befriending fellow commuters gave me the chance to chat to other students experiencing university the same way I was. Truthfully, commuting to university is not as much of a hassle as people would imagine. In my second year, I only had classes two days of the week and was able to spend the rest of my week at home in London. This meant I could maintain part-time work for the whole year, instead of just the holidays. The smart thing to do is, of course, to acquire a railcard that gives you a third off of travel. I’m known for preaching about that great podcast I listened to on the train: buying a good pair of headphones is a great investment, as well as always carrying a book in your bag. With good organisational skills and building up patience for the ever disappointing train service, being a student commuter becomes very manageable and sometimes even enjoyable. • 15

COMMENT

REMEmber your herstory Becca Bashford discusses RuPaul’s trans-exclusionary rules of drag.

f you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag”. We’re all familiar with RuPaul’s famous one-liners, which are often expressions of self-love, which defend our right to be authentically and unapologetically ourselves. RuPaul’s status within the LGBTQ+ community cannot be understated. Bringing drag into mainstream culture is no small feat, but being the most famous drag queen in the world also comes at a price. When RuPaul recently sparked a debate about who can or can’t be a drag queen, it made me wonder how valuable RuPaul’s opinions still are when he’s clearly forgotten his Herstory. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Ru shocked us all when he said he wouldn’t accept a transgender contestant on his show if they had already transitioned. According to Ru: “Drag loses its sense of danger once its not men doing it… you can identify as a woman and say you’re transitioning, but it changes once you start changing your body… it changes the whole concept of what we’re doing”. It seems to me that Ru, the queen who constantly claims how “punk rock” it is to rebel against male-dominated culture through drag, is upholding that exact culture by saying which women should (or shouldn’t) do drag, based upon their physical characteristics. Reducing women down to body parts is not just thinly

veiled misogyny, but completely trans-exclusionary. Looking back at past contestants of Drag Race - such as Detox, Chad Michaels and Sharon Needles - we can see time and time again that Ru does accept queens who have changed their bodies to look more ‘feminine’ with lip fillers, hip padding and cheek fillers, but there is one crucial difference: none of these queens are trans. The comments of a bigoted queen are just a small part of a much bigger and far more widespread issue, though; as trans visibility and activism grows, there has been a disturbing increase in transphobic abuse in the UK and beyond. We are in the middle of what can only be described as an epidemic of violence towards trans people. The tip of the iceberg might be the recent disruption to London Pride, where a Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist (TERF) group called ‘Get The L Out’ delayed the beginning of the parade and handed out transphobic literature which claimed that the inclusion of trans people in the LGBTQ+ community was an attempt at lesbian erasure, and that “The trans movement with the complicity of ‘queer’ LGBT politics is coercing lesbians to have sex with men.” The reality that groups like this exist within LGBTQ+ spaces is terrifying enough but, as I said, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Trans people are constantly hounded by trolls and TERFS like ‘Get The L Out’; with trans activists such as Munroe Bergdorf, Lily Madigan, and Shon Faye being bombarded with vile verbal abuse and threats of physical

COMMENT

violence which include – but are not limited to – death and rape threats online. On the streets, the situation is far worse. A recent report from Stonewall revealed that in the last 12 months alone: – 41% of transgender people have experienced a hate crime – 35% of transgender youth have experienced physical assault – 72% of transgender youth have self-harmed – Almost half of all transgender people in Britain have attempted suicide – Over half have been diagnosed with depression or severe anxiety

These statistics are heart-wrenching, to say the least, and RuPaul’s comments might seem almost insignificant in comparison. However, now seems like a good time to remind people like RuPaul, Get The L Out, and everyone else for that matter, of a bar in Manhattan called The Stonewall Inn. In 1969, trans women of colour stood at the front lines of the gay liberation movement. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, self-proclaimed trans activists and drag queens, threw the first bricks at police who were raiding the Inn, and sparked the riot that is largely considered to be the tipping point of LGBTQ+ visibility and activism. The first ever pride was held on the one year anniversary of the riots, once again with trans women at the forefront of it all. So really, it’s not the case that trans people are ‘suddenly’ appearing on our televisions, Twitter feeds, beauty campaigns, in our political parties and pride parades – they have been there all along, as the quiet chamipons of liberation. •

WE DESERVE BETTER Caitlin Robin questions whether banning a song is helpful to RHUL’s victims of sexual assault.

eminism Society recently launched a petition to ban Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke from playing at Student’s Union venues. They released a statement on their social media outlets promoting the ban, arguing that the song “incites violence against women and utilises rape rhetoric and language that rapists often use to silence their victims” and “has no place on campus.” Don’t get me wrong, I don’t disagree with this argument at all. Back in 2013, when this song was first released, the song was heavily criticized worldwide for the use of misogynistic lyrics which degrades and objectifies women. Yet, despite this controversy, it remained very popular and was played very often... in 2013. So, why are Feminism Society trying to chase this up now? How often is it actually playing in the Student’s Union? In the Bright Ideas petition made by Feminism Society, they referenced that the SU-affiliated media outlet, Insanity Radio, had played the song Blurred Lines. However, when speaking to the Insanity’s Station Manager, Madeleine Breed, she explained that: “When Blurred Lines was first released in 2013, the board of Insanity Radio chose to ban the song from our airwaves as they believed it was misogynistic and promoted rape culture. We have continued this ban, as we believe these ideas have no place within Insanity.” Contrary to the original Bright Ideas petition, it appears as if Insanity had already taken action and a ban has been in place for the past five years. Therefore, I question why this is what the Feminism Society is putting their time into.

To me, this appears to be an empty gesture that has been placed under the umbrella of ‘feminism’. At a University where so many have been victim to such acts, so much more is needed than the banning of a song that references sexual assault. To make a genuine impact, Feminism Society could prioritise campaigning for more disciplinary action against those who commit such assaults, promote the support available for those affected on campus, and promote messages of consent alongside the Student’s Union. These are just a few suggestions – there is so much more we could do. Personally, I believe a song has no impact on a person’s desire to assault another person, or to commit rape upon another person. This is their choice and their behaviour needs to be stopped. Of course the song is unpleasant, but this is one of many. Recently, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding R Kelly’s sexual misconduct allegations, but that doesn’t mean we are now banning Ignition. We aren’t trying to ban Get Low by Lil Jon, which often objectifies and belittles women. We live in a world that is overtly sexual particularly in popular music genres like Hip Hop and Rap. Banning one song at your local Student’s Union does not change this pattern. Rather than making playlist requests at the SU, maybe we could put some more time into helping deal with real issues on campus. Banning a song will do nothing except boost the egos of those seeking to ban the song, and maybe make a start in banning every song which is seen in some way to be controversial. •

top-tier discrimination Rachel Hains considers the international outlook of universities and the discrimnation felt by students.

mmigration: a word that nowadays never fails to provoke controversy. Looking at the U.S in particular, immigration seems to be the ‘hot topic’, with a never-ending barrage of stories about the dangers of allowing foreigners inside the country being hurled at the public. Is it any surprise, then, that this latest rhetoric has finally spread across the pond?

people, to create citizens of the world, as well as giving people degrees crucial to their chosen professions. What is to stop this kind of policing from spreading to international students in general? With the number of English students applying for some degrees, such as nursing courses, falling by 23% (according to UCAS) we need international students – wherever they come from.

Back in July, the public learned that UCL lecturers could be “liable to a £20,000 personal fine per case” if they fail to report Tier Level 4 students. According to The Guardian, Lecturers have also been advised to verify foreign students’ IDs, as Tier 4 students’ attendance must be regulated using “spot-checks based on face-to-face verification”. The regulations also demand that academic supervisors have to meet postgraduates personally once per month, even during the summer holidays.

Unsurprisingly, UCL lecturers strongly disagree with the guidance they have received from the university administration. Who can blame them? They are teachers, not Immigration officers. Threats like these are pressuring them into forming their very own Inquisition and can also only have a negative impact.

With ever-increasing competition for places at universities, measures designed to regulate the number of students accepted from places outside of Europe could be a good thing. Perhaps more universities should re-examine their policies surrounding Tier Level 4 students. Donald Trump even argued recently that he feels the UK is losing its culture due to immigration, claiming oh-so-eloquently, “[I] think allowing millions and millions of people to come into Europe is very, very sad” and that we “are losing [our] culture.” However, it can not be ignored that universities are supposed to be places of learning. They exist to encourage

A recent survey published by the UCL Student’s Union found that 83% of the 400 international students surveyed felt that the university’s regulations were discriminatory. The Union said numerous students – as well as staff – feel threatened. Many have even described the fear and pressure these regulations have put them under physically and emotionally, making it harder for them to remain focused on their studies. Here at Royal Holloway, we pride ourselves on our wide range of international students. The range of cultures and nationalities enriches our university as a whole. We are a wonderful example of why I believe welcoming students from other countries can only be beneficial. True, there need to be regulations to ensure a fair distribution of spaces but not ones as harsh, and as threatening, as those at UCL. •

COMMENT

WHERE’S THE DIVERSITY? AMAL ABDI DISCUSSES THE LACK OF RACIAL DIVERSITY on love island

his year, Love Island saw its first black woman entering the villa in Samira Mighty. But, the show failed her. From the moment Samira was left standing by the Love Island men in the first episode, I knew that she would be facing this kind of rejection for the rest of the series. Throughout the show, she was either seen as a second choice by the men of the show or served her role as an asexual agony aunt there to save the relationships of her white friends. Unfortunately, Samira’s experience on the show is simply representative of black women’s experience in the real world. Misogynoir is a portmanteau that combines ‘misogyny’ with the French word for black, ‘noir’. The term coined by the black feminist Moya Bailey is often overlooked by mainstream feminist discourse as it describes the racialised sexism experienced specifically by black women. In many ways, Love Island is completely inconsequential, but it is also a microcosm of what our society values: beauty, wealth and fame. The rejection of Samira in the villa only mirrors the rejection of black women from such values. Whilst white women can watch Love Island and choose to identify with any of the women on their screen, Samira is the only one black women can share their identity with. Samira cannot represent all black women in Britain, nor should she have that responsibility, but it was the responsibility of the producers to show her as a full and well-rounded person instead of antiquated black women stereotypes. We know now that Samira was

cheated by Love Island producers who kept the footage of her and Frankie in the hideaway causing him to be dumped by the viewers and her to be left devastated. ITV2 did not do right by Samira. In her twitter thread, black actress Susan Wokoma writes about her time on a reality show when she was a teenager. Wokoma expresses that she felt like an extra, showing that time and time again black women are meant to feel insignificant in shows they are integral to. To add to this, all the talk about ‘types’ this season only increases the Love Island exclusion problem. It would be unfair to say that Love Island makes only black women feel ugly – the truth it makes everyone feel that way – but when male contestants like Charlie say their type is blonde and petite, I cannot help but think about the politics of preferring the archetype of a delicate European women to a strong or ‘angry’ black women. Samira’s experience on Love Island and the discourse surrounding her only reaffirms the prejudice black women have had to face for centuries and will continue to face in the present. Despite our society’s obsession with hyper sexualising the black body, Samira was ignored and made to feel inconsequential in a show which is supposed to be all about love. Did the producers decide that she was not worthy of the love that her white peers experienced? Perhaps I’m reading too much into a show that is only relevant for 8 weeks out an entire year. But, maybe not. •

COMMENT

FEATURES

ARE WE TRULY CONTACTLESS? Abby King asks the all important questions about a cashless society.

ver 80% of us in Britain have a Smartphone and 96% of us have a payment (debit or credit) card. As a result, we are becoming increasingly less reliant on cash. Finance experts both in the UK and across the world are talking of a “cashless revolution”, one that has already come to some European countries like Sweden. But what does this all mean for a small town like Egham? Will we see the benefits, or will small businesses that make the high street what it is be left behind? For commuting students and staff alike, the idea of a cashless society is a mixed blessing. If you are coming from London, the ease of being able to tap in and out using contactless payments is no doubt a positive. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the introduction of the infamous Oyster Card but its popularity is in sharp decline. According to figures from Transport for London, the surge of people swapping their Oyster Card for contactless payments has left a cash mountain of over £321 million in unclaimed credit. The simplicity of being able to use your bank card to travel is no doubt a significant factor in this shift. However, is it all rosy for travellers? London’s buses do not accept cash but many rural bus services have struggled to adapt to modern technology. The campus bus that runs from Egham station to campus has been accepting contactless payments for a while now due to pressure from the Student’s Union. Nevertheless, other buses in Surrey, including the 441 which links Englefield Green to Staines are still yet to succumb. Finding enough small change for an exact bus fare is a

hassle for some, but many would still prefer the option to pay by either cash or card. For some small businesses in Egham and Englefield Green, they are yet to move to card payments. Digital payments are often more convenient for the consumer than cash payments but how much benefit is there for the vendor? Having a card terminal in your shop or business is a cost in itself. As was proved earlier in the year after card company Visa experienced an outage in its terminals across Europe, to be reliant on card payments is to be vulnerable to problems with technology. A recent piece of EU legislation has prohibited companies from charging for card payments which puts added pressure on small businesses to fund the transaction costs in other ways. Many critics of the idea of a cashless society argue that card payments are a threat to individual privacy. Using cash to make a payment means that payment is untraceable, whereas with cards or services like PayPal, every detail of that payment is noted. This could arguably be a good thing, as it works to prevent fraud and robbery. However others are not convinced. In a year when stories of privacy and data misuse have dominated the headlines, campaigners are more eager than ever to identify threats to privacy wherever they may appear. Cashless payments are inevitably becoming the norm and understandably so. It is much easier and quicker to pay using a card or an app and the benefits when it comes to cracking down on fraud are obvious. But, cash isn’t disappearing yet. •

FEATURES

THE SAFETY OF STUDENT DATA Jasmine Cox questions whether our data is safe in the hands of universities.

s thousands of new Freshers embark on their university experience this September, new information and data will be given to institutions. Under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, the Office for Students (OfS) is permitted to share student data with bodies such as the Student Loan Company and HMRC. The OfS holds information such as mental and physical health, graduate employment and academic growth of all students. This is under Section 63 of the Act, which declares OfS may cooperate and share information where it considers appropriate to do so. A Department of Education spokesperson said that it is important that OfS has the right to distribute information in order to avoid issues such as poor quality of management and governance, protecting the student experience and any potential wrongdoing. However, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR legisaltion that claims to ‘give people more control over use of their data’, it appears that the government are dropping the ball with student data. Somehow, OfS has been able to escape GDPR and it is questionable as to whether this is due to the fact that we are seen as profitable, thus making fraudulent crime and theft a bigger issue for students as our information becomes more accessible. Labour MP and

Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Gordon Marsden, stated that “there is nothing we know of to stop that data being passed on or sold on to another company”. There is not much point talking about people being in control of their own data if you have the government blindly handing over masses of personal data to large companies without any of us knowing the terms under which it is handed to them, how much money they will earn from it and what they will do with it’. According to UCAS Admissions Team of 2015, 93 per cent of students voted against the idea of having their data shared with commercial companies without their consent. Is the current government out of touch with the education sector because they are viewing HE as a business? It opens up questions about how students are potentially being exploited as a population, and if we don’t know the terms of the sharing of our data, then how can we be aware of the benefits that we receive from this new act of protection? With the risk of safety for student data being prevalent, there is a real lack of questioning and talk on the subject by the government and media. Therefore, as a student body, we should continue to raise awareness of this issue ourselves. •

Are you lonely? Francesca Tyer explores how increasingly common loneliness is in young people.

oneliness is something most people experience at least once during their lifetime. Whilst generally associated with older generations, it has come to light as an issue increasingly affecting young people. In April this year, the BBC published an article which suggested that loneliness is “more likely to affect young people” than those with greater life experience. The question that must be asked is this: why are young people suffering from loneliness? One contributing factor is the swift digitalisation of our modern world. The reliance most people, especially teenagers, place on technology is a major cause for concern. Frequent communication via Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram detaches young people from raw social experiences such as talking face-to-face. Whilst this issue is not exclusive to young people, it appears to be a particular problem amongst those born into the digital age. Various societal pressures are often enhanced through social media and contribute to the rising number of young adults experiencing loneliness. On these media outlets, idealised images of life and how one should look contribute to the problem. In this form, social media opens up vulnerabilities, perhaps causing someone to feel different or alienated from society. Through focusing on these false depictions of reality, it is easy to become isolated and become caught in a digital maze. Whilst social media appears to be a key culprit in the rise of loneliness in young people, it is of course able to reduce it by providing communication to those who can’t necessarily get out and about. Work loads may also contribute to isolation, particularly for the younger generations suffering from the pressures of today’s world. The important thing to remain aware of is making sure we don’t become the cause of our own isolation. Having a community and a sense of belonging is something which can help counteract loneliness. Spending time with family, speaking to friends face to face, and joining in with activities are all part of leading a fulfilling life. In many cases, it is the absence of talking and sharing real experiences that leads to loneliness. It is easy to feel lonely, particularly during transitional phases of life. Those of you starting university this year are beginning a new phase of life and some of you may be worried about feeling lonely. A word of advice – go out, join a society, or test out a sport, even if it’s something you’ve never tried before. University gives you many opportunities so enjoy them and don’t be afraid to try new things and meet new people. •

DEBRIEF

RenEe Landell I

’d heard about Renee Landell long before I met her. Her reputation as an extremely successful Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) officer for the SU definitely preceded her. Being a member of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) group myself, it would have been stranger if I hadn’t heard about her. Landell was first elected as BME officer in 2017, when she was a third-year finalist and was recently re-elected for the 2018/19 academic year, just as she is embarking on a PHD in Comparative Literature and Culture. We met at the Boilerhouse Cafe in June, just a few days after Landell won a Laurel Award at the SU. Renee is all smiles when she arrives, pleased that I’m interviewing her and eager to see what questions I have for her. My list of questions is long; I want to get a sense of who she is and the work she does because it’s important. Renee did not know about the role of BME officer until the Black Students Officer at the National Union for Students (NUS) contacted her and recommended she look into the role. Being a BME officer on a campus that has a majority of non-BME students “is difficult”, Renee says, but “it makes the role that much more beneficial and that much more rewarding” Her roles and responsbilities as BME officer vary on a day-to-day basis. “As BME officer, I file complaints if there are any reports from students about discrimnation, misconduct, anything like that.” She explains. “Students can come to me at any time with racial or religious discrimination, whether that’s in or out of class and I will take it forward. We’ve organised a violence and harassment working group which will look at the abuse BME students experience here at RHUL and find ways of tackling it.” Renee is optimistic about RHUL: “It isn’t inherently

raist or discrimnatory. We have a problem of a lack of understanding. And it’s essential to help nonBME students learn how to treat their BME peers. This is how we can make the most change: through education.” I asked Renee if she considered herself an activist, a common phrase in today’s nomenclature. She said, “Yes, but within reason. Sure, I’m an activist but only in that I am acting within my remit to help BME students. A lot of activism is spoken but words don’t mean anything. There needs to be action and I’m all about being proactive, running campaigns and being at the forefront of these issues.” Many self-proclaimed activists at this campus, like Renee, find RHUL a difficult environment for true activism. She agrees with others who say that it is very “apathetic”. Renee has found a lack of support for her activism, either from the college, the SU or the students. “A lot of campaigns have been dealt with singlehandedly and there’s a general lack of understanding from the SU that we need to keep working on these campaigns for them to succeed. It’s clear they don’t feel comfortable with doing them and I believe the SU should encourage them more than they do now.” Out of curiosity, I asked Renee about her attitude towards the BME acronym, which is used at RHUL rather than the more inclusive BAME acronym. Renee jumps in: “I had an issue with that straight away. Taking out the A means it is centered on Black and Minority Ethnic and that isn’t inclusive, it’s exclusive. But I have an issue with the acronym as a whole because symbolically it sometimes makes us feel like we’re less than what we are. Renee is juggling a lot, doing her PHD, a job and being the BME officer here at RHUL. She says, “It’s not about the workload. It’s about understanding the reward that comes along with it. My parents said it was too much at first but, somehow, I’m managing it.” •

DEBRIEF

Read the full interview detailing more of Reneeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work at theorbital.co.uk.

Words by Michele Theil Photography provided by Renee Landell

PHOTOGRAPHY

MEET EMILY: photography editor

here are you from?” – I have been asked this question many, many times throughout my life. Every new school, new city, new country, everyone always wanted to know where I was from. To many people, it’s as simple as placing a pin on the map, but for me this is something that was never straightforward. Moving from place to place from a young age gave me the opportunity to grow up in many different cultures and experience a variety of lifestyles. Like many people on their travels, I captured iPhone snapshot images to try to preserve the memory of that moment but to me this has never been enough. My love for photography started in high school when I went on a volunteer service trip to Peru. The raw nature of the rural landscape was something I had never previously experienced and I found myself so intrigued by both the architecture and the way of life. The ability to capture a single moment in a culture’s history through my lens gave me a small understanding of someone else’s life and world view. Photography isn’t just about taking a photo of something, it’s how you tell a story with an image. Each photo is more than just a snapshot of time, it’s a memory portal into the past and a rediscovery. Creating unique perspectives through photography can expand your own mind and creativity from a single moment in time. My camera has allowed me to tell a story of my past and develop an answer to the question, “where are you from?”. The ground I stand on is where I am from. There is not one location that I am tied to but I’m still exploring to one day find the place I call home. The place that tells me this is where I belong. •

emilybradbury.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

@orbitalmagazine

Cameron James Seymour

Emily Bradbury

Gez Downing

Michele Theil

PHOTOGRAPHY

Becca Bashford

Natasha Lam

Daniel Hurworth

Emily Bradbury

LIFESTYLE

DESIGNER DUPES: LUXE ON A BUDGET

£15 Noughts & Kisses

Chloe Hill has got the best alternatives for those luxury items that may be out of your budget.

s students, we all know how real the struggle is when it comes to keeping up with the latest trends. Unfortunately our budgets don’t tend to cover designer items, so I have chosen a few shoes and accessories that are particularly sought after at the moment and have offered a high street dupe for a fraction of the price – you’re welcome! I’m going to start off with a belt, and no - it is not the classic Gucci belt! The belt I would like to focus on is the Off White Industrial Belt, which retails for £145. Off White has been gaining a lot of attention on social media lately and naturally the high streets have caught on. Sold at Urban Outfitters, Iets Frans offer a “Slogan D-ring Belt” at less than ten percent of the price at only £14. Whether you love the tiny sunglasses trend or still

associate them with memes, you can’t deny that they have completely permeated our Instagram feeds. From Gigi to Kendall to Rihanna, everybody seems to have a pair. Whilst luxe brands like Prada offer the frames for around £300, high street chains such as Boohoo, Pretty Little Thing and Nasty Gal have pages and pages for you to scroll through to find your perfect pair – with most falling under the £10 category. However, if you are really into designer sunglasses, definitely have a browse on the Noughts and Kisses website. From Miu Miu to Dior to Céline, they are always offering a dupe for what’s on trend. Now, when it comes to shoes, I wanted to offer a shoe that’s currently trending and one that will remain classic and wearable for years to come. When it comes to the on-trend-shoe of the moment, it would definitely be the Dad Sneaker. What once

LIFESTYLE

£30 Missy Empire £34.99 Public Desire

£145 Off-White

£14 Urban Outfitters

would have been considered as an ugly and dated style is now being embraced as contemporary and fresh. However if you are on a budget I certainly wouldn’t invest in a pair such as Balenciaga’s, which retail for about £600, as I imagine these will phase out relatively soon. Instead, why not get yourself a pair of chunky trainers from Missy Empire or Public Desire, which will only set you back about £30. When it comes to the more classic and durable shoe, the Gucci loafer is not going anywhere. I’m sure we all wish we could afford the timeless Princetown Leather Slipper by Gucci, but for now we’ll have to swap the £515 price tag for the more realistic H&M slip-on Loafer for a far more manageable £17.99. In terms of jewellery, I feel like the Cartier Love Bracelet is always going to be one of those items that everybody seems to want. I remember rolling my eyes a few years ago when I saw that photo of Kylie Jenner wearing about six on one arm, especially when the prices begin at £3500 each. Luckily, Kate Spade saves the day here by offering a “Stone Hinged Bangle” for a much friendlier price of £40, which comes in gold, silver and rose gold. Fashion doesn’t always have to come at a high cost. A little bit of searching can go a long way – without maxing out your overdraft! •

£3500 Cartier

£615 Balenciaga

£540 Gucci

£17.99 H&M 33

IT’S THE RULE OF THIRDS Natasha Lam talks all things dating, starting with everyone’s favourite position: third-wheeling.

es, that’s right, I am not in a relationship. That’s not for you to coo at sadly, or to pat me on the back with a patronising ‘you’ll find someone’ – it’s just a fact. For the most part, I am quite happy with being single and, excluding the occasional drunken swipe on Tinder, I do not find myself yearning for a boyfriend. However, there is one thing that makes me wish I was in the relationship: most of my friends are in one. Of course, I want my friends to be happy and I definitely like some of their significant others. But, it gets quite lonely to not be in a relationship when everyone aorund you is in one. Every time a new movie is playing, I am left to go alone or to wait until it’s inevitably made its way to a streaming platform while all my friends skulk off handin-hand with their boyfriends, girlfriends and partners. More than a few of my group hangouts are now infiltrated by a partner or two, and every “what are you doing tonight?” text either goes unanswered or is met with a “I’m out with Simon*”. Clearly my friends don’t believe in The Rule of Thirds: everything’s usually better in threes. 90% of the time, I am very happy in my own company and I am usually so busy with my degree, my job and my writing that I go days without seeing my housemates. But even the most introverted among us – and I am more of an ambivert than anything else – 34

need a little bit of human interaction once in a while. Socialisation is an inherent part of our DNA, no matter how minor, and going without it so often makes me feel incredibly lonely and is enforcing a societal norm of ‘needing a relationship’. Women are consistently told they need a boyfriend, which is misogynistic and, in some cases, also homophobic. There’s a common idea that you can’t live a fulfilled life if you’re not in a relationship and that you need to be dating someone to be happy. Because, of course, women can’t be content with their successful careers or multiple degrees or their best friends. And, the sad thing is, it’s hard not to play into that stereotype. I don’t believe or support that belief, obviously. But, sometimes you just want a cuddle and it’s hard not to have that when those around you do. Saying that, I will scream if one more person tells me to “try Tinder” or “find someone at the SU” – thanks for the great advice but I think I’m good. One day, maybe I’ll be the one in the relationship and – at risk of sounding too narcisstic– my friends will be vying for my attention. Until that happens though, it wouldn’t hurt if I was invited along to the see the new Marvel movie too. • *Names have been changed to protect the guilty.

YOUR GUIDE TO BARCELONA Chloe Hill has got low-down on Where to Stay, What to See, Where to Go and Where to Shop.

ne of the things that really drew us to Barcelona when we spontaneously decided to book a summer break was that it really does have a bit of everything. From the sunnier climate and the beaches to the rich history and culture, the city will certainly spoil you for choice when you’re trying to plan your trip. 3 Top Tips – Wear comfortable shoes – Take your student card everywhere – Be vigilant – Barcelona has an extremely high rate of street theft. Where to Stay: As I visited with three of my best friends, we all really wanted to relax after the blood, sweat and tears of second year – literally. So we decided to stay in a small, beachy resort called Santa Susanna, which is located towards the north end of the city’s coast. We stayed in a cute apartment in Odissea Park Aparthotel, which had the most relaxing pool and was only minutes away from the beach. I will say though that, if you are going purely to explore the city, book a hotel right in the centre, as the metro took about an hour for us. It got hot and tedious very quickly! Where to Go: As we only ventured into the city on one of our days, we didn’t even make a dent in the amount that Barcelona has to offer. So I can only speak from experience and recommend what we did manage to fit in. One of the simplest pleasures was roaming around the Gothic Quarter and taking in all the amazing architecture that these winding streets have to offer.

A large majority of the buildings here were designed by Antoni Gaudí and the most beautiful ones that we saw were Casa Batlló and Sagrada Família. Just before we went for dinner on the waterfront at Port Vell, we stopped off at the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. Not only is the fountain extremely pretty, but it is also renowned for its sustainability, as it operates by using groundwater and LED lighting. What to See: There are a crazy amount of museums in Barcelona, but the one that we chose to visit was the Picasso Museum. What looks like a medieval mansion from the outside houses an extensive collection of Picasso’s paintings, also offering facts about his formative years as a painter and his relationship with the city. Where to Shop: I can imagine most of you won’t prioritise shopping when you’re in such a beautiful city – but luckily you don’t have to go out of your way for this experience! The alleyways offer so many shops, so you end up walking past both independent and familiar shops without even intending to. There were cute little Korean beauty stores and then just around the corner would be a massive Sephora, and for the more fashion orientated: Passeig de Gràcia avenue is home to luxury and renowned fashion houses such as Gucci and Dior. Whether you’re planning on visiting the city or not, I hope this little guide has given you some sort of vision in terms of how amazing it is to visit. Obviously I can only speak for the small parts that we experienced, but I already can’t wait to go back and experience some more. •

Taurus

20 April - 20 May

Cancer

You’ll be tasked with working alongside others this month, don’t let your stubbornness get in the way of success. A windfall may come your way, consider investment rather than impulsive spending.

21 June - 22 July

Leo

22 July - 22 August

You may have the opportunity to work on a creative project this month, look to your surroundings for inspiration but don’t let your imagination run wild.

If you continue to exercise generosity, you will be rewarded in a field of personal interest. You might lose contact with an old friend if you don’t question your arrogant attitudes.

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Your bravery is a trait to be admired, but be careful not to let it lead you to a situation you might regret. Someone close to you sees you as a true friend, try and let go of your mistrust and embrace it!

You have a great sense of humour, but don’t let your mouth run away with you in a professional scenario. Some people may find your idealism unrealistic, but your wishes may come to fruition soon.

23 October - 21 November

22 November - 21 December

Pisces

19 February - 20 March

If you have a disagreement this month, don’t play the victim as it is just as important to own up to your mistakes as your successes.

Gemini 21 May - 20 June

Virgo

You may be tested in a personal relationship, be decisive in any judgement calls you may have to make. You’ll get closer to a personal goal: channel consistency in your work and you will meet it.

Libra

23 September - 22 October

23 August - 22 September

You’ve been working hard recently. Your hard work will pay off but don’t forget to let loose every now and again. You may find faults in yourself; remember that you are your own harshest critic.

You might have been carrying a grudge for a while now; the more diplomatic solution is to forgive and forget. Your fair-minded attitude will introduce to new opportunities go ahead and take them by the horns.

Capricorn

Aquarius

22 December - 19 January

20 January - 18 February

An exciting opportunity to do something different may present itself soon, let go and try something new. Two friends might be at odds soon – your diplomatic skills can help them resolve the issue.

You’ve always been independent and original; that will take you to great places. In personal relationships you tend to shy away from emotional expression, which you must overcome.

Aries

21 March - 19 April

A new person will enter your life soon: take notice, they will be very important. You might be presented with a new challenge. Believe in your abilities and you will succeed.

CULTURE

onestly, writing this feels the tiniest bit surreal, so please bear with me for a few lines while I have a mild freakout about the fact my writing is finally going to be in print. Wild. So, now that’s out of the way – hi. Nice little bit of cross-media-outlet collaboration this is, because I’m also the Head of Music for Insanity Radio, so you’re going to be getting the best of both worlds. This column is going to be my way of sharing the best in new music with you, as well as catching you up on my recent exploits to gigs, and letting you know about local live music happening on your very campus! So, if you want to be at the absolute cutting edge of new music and music news, watch this space.

PUNk’s not dead With a brand new column in Orbital’s Culture section, Phoebe Hagan is here to talk about music. Whether its her favourite band or the worst artist she’s ever heard, you will hear about it. Read Phoebe’s column to broaden your horizons and expand your music taste, starting with her top picks for Fresher’s Week:

PHOEBE’s TOP PICKS: 1.

margate

fired up

red light

- the regrettes

missing you

robyn

overthrown

thee oh sees

chinese medicine

call your mother

sports team yonaka

king nun

anteros

By the time you’re reading this, festival season will sadly be over. However, as I sit at my computer, I’m currently surrounded by a mess of tent pegs, glitter, and cans of own-brand lager. Reading Festival is quite literally just around the corner, and myself and Insanity Radio will be there, catching some of the best alternative artists around, and interviewing them for your listening pleasure. There’s really nothing like festival season, is there? After Reading, I’m hot-footing it down to Dorset for End of the Road Festival, where I’ll be seeing Vampire Weekend, Oh Sees, St. Vincent, Ezra Furman – and one of my favourite current bands, Shame. I’ve been lucky enough to catch the London post-punks a number of times this summer, including at All Points East (which, I’m sure I’ll be telling you about soon enough, because I never shut up about the day I not only saw Patti Smith, but also was witness to Nick Cave bringing out KYLIE MINOGUE onstage and I’ve never been the same since). Speaking of punks… I promised I’d be sharing the best new music with you, and this week, my new tune of the month is the latest release from punk band, IDLES – ‘Great’. The most recent track from their upcoming second album, ‘Great’ is, as the name suggests, – great. It’s a scathing look at the reasons that people voted for Brexit, and is the politically charged, socially conscious snarling punk that we’ve come to love from the band. Don’t forget to listen to the album – you can thank me later. •

CULTURE

obsessed with reality tv Ian Hayes posits some strong opinions about our obsession with reality TV in the 21st century.

riting this, I am sat in a dimly lit, overpriced coffee shop in the middle of nowhere. It is the morning after the seminal event of our times, the cultural zenith for all those who dare to be ‘edgy’, ‘hip’ and part of the ‘in’ crowd. This is of course the day after the Love Island final. Love Island is the most recent evolution of reality TV, in which first came Big Brother, some strange show in which an ever dwindling group of people (contestants are ‘evicted’ by the public each week) are forced to live with each other for the length of the series until there was 1 winner left standing. Big Brother takes its name from George Orwell’s 1984, in which ‘Big Brother’ is always watching. One of the issues I have with the name in particular is that it implies that we’re always watching, which if you look at the viewing figures is evidently not the case. In 2002, it peaked at 5.8 million viewers whereas it only amassed 1.2 million in 2017. Furthermore, the winners of Big Brother always seemed to have had this sneaky way of trying to start fights and drama within the house for boosted effect, and ultimately viewing figures. These tactics for me are straight out of the Machiavellian playbook; getting people invested something they wouldn’t normally care about and then forcing them to pay for it so that their ‘vote’ can save the least awful human from being evicted. It really is psychological manipulation, akin to a Francis Underwood/Urquhart for the ASBO inclined.

Now back to Love island, apparently Dani Dyer and some, vapid chiselled adonis (named Jack) won. All I know is that she’s the daughter of Danny Dyer, the well known cockney in EastEnders who went on a tirade against David Cameron which was pretty funny and made the rounds on everybody’s Facebook feed a few weeks back. But therein lies the point. Why are we so captivated by D list celebrities with penchants for plastic surgery stuffed together in close proximity rearing to have a fight? It’s like a Victorian freakshow for the modern age, where tabloids like Heat and Take a Break! are being consumed by the botox-loving people of the 21st century. I think our obsession is that we love seeing those seemingly perfect individuals who we see in the fanciest clubs and bars, jet setting off to the nicest places fail in different ways. Often they’re not the sharpest tools in the box (see Hayley as 2018’s example), fight all the time and are predominantly concerned about their looks. I feel that by watching Love island, or any reality show for that matter, we get some sort of relief as we can laugh at those who may be better looking than you or I but are failing to live a normal life. And it is this difference that to an extent makes the contestants of such shows seem like they belong in a quasi-victorian sideshow. • 39

esedi are an amazing band made up of three second-years. They’ve done gigs at various places around the country and have performed regularly at The Packhorse, the SU pub. We wanted to interview them to find out a little more about them and their music. So perhaps we can start with you guys introducing yourselves. E: I’m Eve! I play sax, flute and sing, and I study Music along with Dan and Tom. T: I’m Tom, I’m going into second year and I’m the drummer! D: I’m Dan, I’m also going into my second year studying Music and I play keys for the band. Who are your greatest influences as individual musicians, and as a band? E: Ooh, I personally have a huge range of influences! People such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder sparked my interest in funk and soul music, but I listen to a wide range of music and have taken inspiration from Newton Faulkner, Nirvana and Herbie Hancock just to name a few! I do have to admit that I’m also a little bit obsessed with McFly! T: I’ve been influenced by plenty of people, from drummers to friends. I’ve always been a fan of Michael Jackson and his music, but also more modern people like Jacob Collier and Cory Henry who are fantastic musicians! D: For me, I’m influenced by anything I hear around me! I like to think I’ve taken something from the funk bands we cover, and added in some of the 70s rhythms from the likes of Earth Wind and Fire to give everything that unique Lesedi flavour! T: Those that know us would probably be surprised to know that we all really love Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Was there anything in particular that made you decide on this line-up, as opposed to the more conventional drums, bass and guitar? E: Honestly, I always wanted to be in a band with like-minded musicians and after having spent some time with Tom and Dan, we just became really good friends! We then had a jam together and absolutely loved it – the music just happened so naturally and we were able to have fun! The use of the keys instead of a guitar feels so much more versatile; we can experiment with a wide variety of sounds and it’s quite unique! T: I’d say it’s original for sure! Not many bands with two saxophones, a flute AND a penny whistle! What sorts of things do you see in your future - do you see a life for Lesedi beyond your time at Royal Holloway? T: We are all really passionate on keeping the band going, and we’re hoping that we can use our time at RHUL to build a fan base and a name for ourselves going forward! We’d love to try some more festivals and gigs at the SU, but we’re also looking into recording some of our own stuff, maybe releasing some merch and getting some wedding gigs booked! Great, so some big plans! Do you have any advice you would give to other students hoping to get involved with music nonacademically at Royal Holloway? D: I’d say find some friends and just get playing – see what happens! Don’t worry about what instruments you have or if any of you have played in a group before. Our first performance was at the Packhorse open mic night, and events like that are a really good chance to see what you’ve got and have some fun in a low pressure environment, so definitely try that too! T: There’s definitely a lack of live music at RHUL at the moment, so the more the merrier!

WORDS BY MARIA GREEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHSU 40 40

Keep updated with Lesedi on their website (www.lesediband.wixsite.com/lesedi), via their Instagram (@lesedi_band), or by finding them on Facebook.

CULTURE

crazy rich representation Natasha Lam discusses the recent influx of Asian representation: it’s exactly what we needed.

sian representation on both the small and big screen is reaching a peak at the moment. We’ve got Crazy Rich Asians, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and even veteran show Fresh Off The Boat all trying to represent Asians in pop culture and give us all someone to look at that is reminiscent of the face in the mirror. Fresh Off The Boat, Crazy Rich Asians and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before are vastly different stories. And yet, having Asian characters at the forefront of any story is so powerful that my Twitter feed is exploding with praise and love for what they represent: a milestone through which culturally, we are accepting that Asian characters are what acceptable and will be popular, especially as it seeks to give a voice to those that didn’t have one before.

was important to have the character present as Asian to keep the character authentic. Thankfully, Han and Netflix’ recently released film kept to their promise. HuffPost Asian Voices Editor, Kimberly Yam, went viral with her Twitter thread, which was a personal story regarding the shame she felt being Asian growing up, with many of her peers not respecting her due to her race. She goes on to say that she didn’t see herself on TV for many years, continuing to reinforce the idea that being White is favourable over her own race. Yam had to learn to love herself and her heritage years later and now, with Crazy Rich Asians coming out and seeing the positive reaction to the movie, she is proud to be Asian. It’s a heartwrenching story and one that many Asians, including myself, resonate with.

Crazy Rich Asians is considered to be revolutionary for the simple fact that it features an all-Asian cast, something that has not been seen in Hollywood for a number of years. It’s since come out that many production companies wanted to white-wash the film, asking to cast fully white or even white-passing actors in the film. Kevin Kwan, the author of the source novel, told them that they were “missing the point”.

These shows and films aren’t necesarily considered ‘serious’ – they’re all classified as comedies in one form or another – and that can actually a good thing. Sure, Crazy Rich Asians or To All The Boys in both book and movie form may not be what we consider ‘high-brow’ culture, but it distinctly shows that Asian people are like everybody else. Asian people don’t need stories to surround their race or to make a dark comment about society at all times. We just need to be normal.

Jenny Han, author of the source novel for To All The Boys, has said similar things about production companies wanting to cast a non-Asian person as main character, Lara Jean. Han said that, while the character is specifically written as Asian-American, it

I never really thought about Asian representation before these films and shows came out. But, now that they’re here, I know that it’s important for myself and others to see ourselves on the screen and to feel a connection to the people we’re watching. •

SCIENCE & GAMING

ARE CLOUDS AFFECTED BY THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL? Simon Williams explores the CLOUD, an experiment being conducted at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), which looks at the effects of cosmic rays on the Earth’s weather systems.

osmic rays are charged particles that come from outer space and bombard the Earth’s atmosphere. These particles usually decay in the early stages of the Earth’s atmosphere, raining down a shower of product particles onto the Earth’s surface. If you have never heard about cosmic rays, this may seem very alarming. But the fact is that these particles have been showering over you for your entire life, and can cause little harm. However, a collaboration of scientists from across the globe have been wondering whether this continuous barrage of extra terrestrial particles has an effect on the Earth’s atmosphere, and more particularly its cloud formation. To investigate this question, the Cosmics Leaving Outdoor Droplets (CLOUD) experiment, was formed. Since 1750 the Earth’s surface temperature has risen by 0.8 degrees, a deceivingly small number which has had a very large effect on the climate of the Earth. Since then, and more fervently in the past few decades, scientists have been trying to predict how the surface temperature of the Earth will rise in the next century. At the moment, our current estimate is that by 2096 the surface temperature of the Earth will have risen by 1.5-4.5 degrees since 1750. The keen eyed reader might notice that this is a very large error, seeing as the temperature has only risen by 0.8 degrees in the past 250 years. The difference in these temperatures is huge, and will effect what precautions, and preparations the human race must put in to survive the different temperatures. For scaling

purposes, one would expect that the lower estimation would be an ‘okay’ situation. Some areas of the Earth would become too hot for production, and will be essentially inhabitable, however other areas will grow in production and will become more habitable, almost balancing each other out. However, the upper estimation is a very different story indeed. This temperature rise would be comparable to that of the temperature rise since the last Glacial Maxima: a time when most of the Northern Hemisphere was under 2km of ice. Not a promising outlook for the Earth. So it is clear that scientists must make their estimation more precise, so that the human race can prepare for the clear track that the Earth’s climate will take. In order to do this, scientists must understand something called the climate sensitivity. This is the ratio of temperature change to a radiative forcing (essentially the difference in the amount of radiation absorbed, to the amount of radiation emitted by the Earth and its atmosphere). Since 1750, the pre-industrial era, the human race has increased the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. This molecule has a good ability of absorbing heat from the Sun and warming the Earth’s atmosphere. It should be noted that CO2 is natural in the atmosphere, but the increased amount produced by the human race is not, and causes the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect. However, since 1750, the human race has also released a lot of aerosols into the atmosphere, which form clouds. Clouds cool the atmosphere by

SCIENCE & GAMING

reflecting radiation from the Sun. Measurements of ice from Antarctica can tell us the CO2 levels in the atmosphere of the pre-industrial world. However, we do not have a way of telling how cloudy it was at this time. This is the main source of the uncertainty in our calculation of climate sensitivity. Atmospheric aerosols are particles that are suspended in the air, and can be liquid or solids. They come in two types: primary, which include dust particles and carbon particulates from burning; or secondary, formed by particle nucleation. These aerosols are the seeds of clouds: cloud droplets can form around the particles, which then clump together to make clouds. Without aerosols, there would be no clouds, and without clouds there would be no life! However, the mechanism in how aerosols are created in the atmosphere is poorly known. In fact, scientists know very little about aerosol’s effect on clouds themselves. This is where CLOUD comes into play. In its first five years of operation, the CLOUD experiment has already identified the vapours responsible for the formation of many aerosols. The CLOUD experiment is a 3 metre high cloud chamber which is situated in one of the test beam facilities at CERN. This is the first experiment that has been able to study cloud formation under precise conditions, and is lighting the way in understanding cloud formation. This is the first goal of CLOUD: exploring how cloud formation has changed since the industrial era,

and cracking down on the uncertainty of climate predictions. As a particle physicist I find CLOUD’s second goal extremely interesting – do cosmic rays effect cloud formation in the atmosphere? The barrage of charged particles from outer space changes over time with the Sun’s activity. Events known as Forbush decreases happen when the Sun releases a lot of plasma into the solar system. This blocks galactic cosmic rays, and thus the number of cosmic rays incident on the atmosphere is less. Could this be an unexpected form of radiative forcing? CLOUD investigates this by using the proton beam from the Proton Synchrotron (PS) at CERN as an artificial source of cosmic rays. By firing this beam of high energy charged particles at the cloud chamber, scientists working on CLOUD can analyse the effect of this beam on the formation of the clouds within the chamber. Several recent papers have linked a change in cloud formation and characteristics with Forbush decreases, but the results from CLOUD should confirm whether our hypothesis that cosmic rays effect clouds is correct or not. This ambitious experiment looks to change our view on climate change completely, and could dramatically improve the predictions of climate change. An extremely important task, and one which will benefit the human race in generations to come, CLOUD is one of a kind! With thanks to CERN, and the CLOUD experiment. • 45

SCIENCE & GAMING

FORTNITE: THE GOOD, The BAD AND the UGLY Anna Irwin delves deeper into the highly popular Fornite and looks at its effect on gamers everywhere.

or those who don’t know, Fortnite is a video game in which around 100 players skydive from a plane onto an island. The goal is to be the ‘last man standing’. Players find weapons hidden throughout the island and are also able to collect materials and build structures – think Hunger Games meets Minecraft. There are many unique elements within the game, which is what makes it so popular. However, what those elements stand for changes as you go on. Sure, Fornite may be good to play but, it can also be bad and, sometimes, a little ugly. Fortnite has been a huge success across the world. Many players, including myself, find it a light and easy game, meaning it is easy to just pick up the controller and start playing. The determination to obtain that allfamous screen with “#1 Victory Royale” written across the top – and then running into the storm or dancing to entertain any watching fans – is undeniable. Another huge benefit is that it is free! Game prices have skyrocketed with some games reaching £70/£80, so the fact that Fortnite is free means it is available to all, including those who don’t have large amounts of money lying around every time a new game comes out. Now, there’s where the ‘good’ ends. The art style of the game is cartoon and brightly coloured. When you shoot someone, there is no blood or gore, the player just disappears and their loot remains for the killer

to collect. From a parental point of view, the game sounds ideal for a young child wanting to play Call Of Duty or Battlefield as Fortnite appears to be a less violent and less realistic version. But this raises the question: is this just making violence appropriate for children? Many adult gamers I have spoken to do not play Fortnite as it is considered a game for kids. This is an immediate reaction as everything is multicoloured which is associated with games aimed for a younger audience. Young children may not yet understand violence and the reality of it in the real world, so it could be dangerous to expose them to it in a light-hearted and colourful way. And, here comes the ugly. The obviously ‘ugly’ element of this game is its competition with PUBG. Launched in March 2017, PUBG Corp sued Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, for copyright infringement. Whilst there are a lot of games that are fairly similar in style, there is often obvious differences. PUBG Corp’s game drops 100 players onto a map and each player battles until one player is left… sound familiar? Battle Royale styles are becoming more and more popular and it is thought that this will appear in other well-known games. Regardless though, PUBG Corp were not happy to say the least. In June 2018 PUBG Corp pulled out of their lawsuit against Epic Games, without any public explanation. So there you have it. Many still play the game, whilst others believe it has become boring and repetitive. Whatever your opinion is, Epic Games are still producing new seasons of the game, and clearly there is no sign of them stopping. •

SPORTS & SOCIETIES

it’s time to find your ‘thing’ Hefina Everard tells you why you should try out a Sports Club or Society here at RHUL.

he Freshers Festival blues have arrived (as well as the flu) and you’re setting your alarm for your 9am tomorrow morning. Doesn’t seem much fun, right? However, it would be better knowing that after your lecture, you have a Travel society social or a Lacrosse game. Becoming a member of a society or a sports team is one of THE best ways to make the most out of your journey here at Royal Holloway. Here’s why you should join a club or society: Happiness Levels: As much as university can be jam-packed with things to do, sometimes it is normal to feel lonely. Your mental health can be hugely impacted by this new wave of independence. Being part of a society or playing in a sports team is something that can contribute greatly to your happiness levels. By playing a sport or being in an environment that you enjoy, your serotonin levels will be soaring, giving you a boost of happiness during your time here at university. Friendship: The common word that is associated with joining a sports team or society is often ‘family’. You may have found friends within your course or your accommodation, but this gives a greater opportunity to meet people that have a common interest.

Push yourself: With university comes the concept of a fresh start; a chance to change what you’re doing or start something completely new. This means, socially, it can give you a chance to experience things you’ve never done before, giving you a newfound confidence and taking you out of your comfort zone. University life is all about pushing yourself and gaining the confidence to be independent, which is an added bonus that comes with trying out a new sport or society. Social Calendar: One thing you’ll realise with joining a sport or society is how much more social your life becomes. The whole point of being part of something is to bond with other people. This can be anything from organised meetings to pre-drinks before the SU. Here at Royal Holloway, we have annual events specifically for sports and societies. These include: the Socs and Colours Ball in Term 2, Varsity and the highly anticipated Come In Your Kit and Come In Your Socs SU nights. If you want any more information about what sports and societies Royal Holloway has to offer then check out the Fresher’s Fair, head to the SU website to find a complete list or check out our exclusive interviews with a wide variety of clubs and societies at theorbital.co.uk. • 47

SPORTS & SOCIETIES

ZUCCHINI and bok choy noodles: Ingredients: 1 Zucchini (Courgette) 3 Bok Choy (Pak Choi) Heads 1 400ml can of Chickpeas (drained and rinsed) 2 cloves of Garlic 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

2 tbsp Soy Sauce 1 tsp Sugar 1 packet of Noodles Chili Flakes (optional) Sesame Seeds (optional)

Cut the zucchini into 2 inch slices, then into quarters. Separate the stems and leaves of the bok choy, then slice the stems into 2 inch bits and shred the leaves. Drain the brine from the chickpeas and rinse under cool water. Mix the soy sauce and sugar together in a mug/bowl to make a sauce. Heat oil in a pan and add garlic and chilli flakes (optional), fry for 30 seconds (not too long or it’ll burn!), then add chickpeas (this may spit) and cook for a few minutes. Add the zucchini and cook for 1 minute, then add the bok choy stems and cook for another minute and lastly add the leaves and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Pour over the sauce and add the noodles. Mix the ingredients and simmer for several minutes until cooked and the sauce is partly absorbed. You may have to add a little water to create steam. Serve sprinkled with sesame seeds and enjoy!

Stir fry and noodle recipes are very versatile and can be adapted to personal taste using different spices, combinations of vegetables and any tinned beans/legumes you have in your cupboard. Noodles can also be swapped for a gluten free alternative. Just alter cooking times depending on the ingredients!

Adasi – An Easy Lentil Stew: Ingredients: 1 can Brown Lentils (drained and rinsed) 1 Onion (chopped) 1 large Potato (chopped) 2 tbsp Oil 1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Turmeric ¾ tsp Cumin ¾ tsp Smoked Paprika (optional) Salt and Pepper

1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan and fry the onions gently until golden. 2. Add cinnamon, turmeric, cumin and smoked paprika (optional). Fry for another 30 seconds, stirring to infuse the flavours. 3. Add chopped potato and lentils, then cover with boiling water. Stir well. 4. Cook gently for about an hour, or until the lentils are mushy and the potato is cooked through. Stir occasionally and don’t let it dry out. You may have to add a little hot water. 5. Add salt and pepper to your liking and stir well (taste it to adjust flavours). 6. Optional: Blend with a hand blender for a few seconds for a smoother consistency, but don’t blend the whole thing. 7. Serve when the stew is reasonably thick, but not stodgy, it should pour like a thick soup. 8. Perfect served with a toasted pitta bread! Both dishes make two servings, so you can eat half for one meal (or all of it if you’re really hungry) and save the rest in a reusable tupperware container in the fridge/freezer for later. That way you have a quick meal which can just be defrosted and warmed up in the microwave (until piping hot throughout) another day, so you don’t have to cook!

Wait, is this Vegan?

iving as a student can be expensive, and a vegan diet is totally unaffordable, right? Not necessarily! We advocate for a lifestyle that is beneficial to the planet, the animals, personal health AND your wallet! Plus, there’s tons of amazing recipes that happen to be vegan, without you even realising it. Avoiding animal products is becoming easier, with supermarkets developing substitutes and restaurants producing improved veggie menus. However, cooking meals from scratch can be both cheaper and more rewarding - and it’s easy to get all the necessary nutrients while still making tasty meals. Many varied dishes can be made with a simple pasta, rice or legume base - and these ingredients also contain plenty of protein. A vegan’s best friend is a varied spice rack, and a little goes a long way! Not sure where to start? Try googling recipes for your favourite dishes and just add ‘vegan’ at the beginning, there are hundreds of recipe blogs devoted to simple plant based alternatives which you can experiment with.

The next step is easy: try out the recipes in this article and get googling! If you need any inspiration, our first event is a cooking demonstration, where we’ll show you how to cook the stir fry recipe described here and give you a chance to taste some - who doesn’t love free food?! This will be held at Tommy’s bar at 17:00 on Thursday 27th September, and all are welcome! If you’re interested in joining the society, or coming to our events, then find us at Freshers Fair, take a look on the societies pages of the SU website, and follow us on Facebook (RHUL Vegan Society) and Instagram (@ rhulvegsoc). • Thank you! – RHUL Vegan Society

SPORTS & SOCIETIES

Chertsey Halt Pretoria Road, Chertsey KT16 9LN

New release of apartments now ready to reserve Now you can afford to buy your own brand new 2-bedroom apartment in Chertsey with just 5% deposit, using the Help to Buy scheme*

NEW SHOWHOMES NOW OPEN Help to Buy ...how it works Based on a purchased price £299,995 for a 2-bedroom apartment You pay a 5% deposit of £15,000 20% interest free equity loan of £59,999 is provided by the Government You only need to secure a 75% mortgage of £224,996

Ideally located just two minutes walk from Chertsey train station, these contemporary apartments come packed with features such as sleek fitted kitchens, integrated appliances and Roca sanitaryware. 2-bedroom apartments from £299,995 Allocated parking to all homes.

Make your move, call 0333 577 1152

Sales Centre open daily 10.00am – 5.00pm

www.bellway.co.uk

Help to Buy – Equity Loan. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. Available on new build homes up to £600,000 subject to the Government ‘Help to Buy’ terms and conditions and only available to customers where a primary mortgage is secured. Not available on second or additional homes, buy-to-let and let-to-buy properties. HomeBuy agent eligibility check required. The equity loan is interest free for the first five years and needs to be a minimum of 10% of the purchase price up to a maximum of 20%. After five years, an annual fee of 1.75% of the outstanding equity loan is charged. This is increased annually by RPI plus 1%. Subject to status, terms and conditions apply. Price correct at time of going to press. Interior photographs of the Chertsey Halt show apartment. Specification on site may differ. Travel time is approximate only.

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