March 2017 by Orbital Magazine

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MARCH 2017 | FREE

THE VINTAGE REVIVAL: FASHION, MUSIC AND ART.

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF ROYAL HOLLOWAY STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UNION

EDITOR Holly Pyne DEPUTY EDITOR Louise Jones SUBEDITOR Rosalie Falla NEWS Anna Robinson Paco Tijdink COMMENT Abbie Cheeseman Cemre Camuz SCIENCE AND GAMING Grace Yeadon Alis Reid

NEWS

LIGHTS CAMPAIGN

ZERO FOR HYGIENE

Council plans to turn off the street lights in Englefield Green and Egham. Egham Indian Takeaway receives zero for hygiene standards.

FEATURES

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EDUCATION

Stephanie Bagnall talks about education, it as a privelege and what it means.

HOMELESSNESS

Yasmeen Frasso interviews Rebecca Wilson about the homellessness campaign.

FEATURES Yasmeen Frasso Stephanie Bagnall LIFESTYLE Annie Pantry Elizabeth Rosenberg ARTS Joanne Archer Elizabeth Carr SPORT & SOCIETIES Michele Theil Kathryn Pearson ONLINE Beth Gooding

SCIENCE

COMMENT

WOMEN IN STEM

SCIENCE TRAVEL

Grace Yeadon spoke to three RHUL academics about their experiences. Find some travel inspiration with Alis Reid’s list of science locations to visit.

LIBRARY NAMING

Anya Eastman talks about why Emily Davidson was not the right choice.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Isabel Swanson talks about why marching can make a difference in politics.

OPERATIONS Nebiu Samuel PHOTOGRAPHY Cameron James Seymour DESIGN Holly Pyne Louise Jones MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA Emma Halahan ADVERTISING Hannah Foord EVENTS AND TRAINING Lis Carlton

LIFESTYLE

THE VINTAGE CRAZE

ROHOROSCOPES

Beth Gooding talks about how vintage has been revived in music and fashion. Annie Pantry predicts your life at Holloway for the next four weeks.

ARTS

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FOUNDING FATHERS

rachel Perry-Watts talks us through the historical significance of Hamilton.

SPOTLIGHT

Our Arts Section talks you through where to go this month- they’re talking museums.

CO-PRESIDENT SOCIETIES & MEDIA Pippa Gentry ADDRESS Media Suite, Students’ Union, Royal Holloway University of London, TW20 0EX WEBSITE theorbital.co.uk COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Cameron James Seymour

SPORTS AND SOCIETIES

#NOFILTER BY RHCU Beth Carr spoke to RHCU President, Lizzy Fretwell about their week.

WRITING CAFE

Beenish Khan gives some advice on how to improve your academic writing.

EDITORIAL The Orbital’s Editor, Holly Pyne, lets you know what we’re up to this term and the great things sports and societies have been up to around campus. elcome to the March Issue of The Orbital Magazine! This issue is exploring the theme of vintage and its influence on fashion, music and art.

In the Science and Gaming section, Editor Grace Yeadon spoke to academics about what it is like being a woman in STEM. They also talk about their personal interests and provide some advice to anyone interested in a career in STEM.

This month, we sat down with Rebecca Wilson, President of English PEN, about her Homelessness event and everyone who helped run it. Head over to page eight to read about all the great work she has been doing.

RHUL’s Fashion Society joined us to create a vintage inspired photoshoot, showing off all the trends from 90s grunge to 1920s Hollywood Glamour. Thank you again for RHUL Fashion Society for all their help for

making the photoshoot possible. Also, to Cameron James Seymour for shooting the day and providing some great photography (featured on the front cover and above). If you would like to get involved in with The Orbital Magazine, either as a photographer or journalist, please email me at: editor@theorbital.co.uk. Also, check out our social media to keep up to date with news, events and for our behind the scenes feature.

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SWIMMING POOL PLANS Anna Robinson reports on further developments plans for Egham town centre.

ollowing the announcement of plans to redevelop Egham town centre, Runnymede Borough council is now asking for feedback on building a new leisure facility, with a swimming pool and health spa. The first public consultation was held on Saturday 28 January, from 10am to 4pm, to give the chance for Egham residents to feedback, offering a local perspective on the developments. This is an exciting prospect for the small suburb, not only for local Egham residents, but also for students at Royal Holloway. Royal Holloway Swimming Club currently trains a 10-minute drive away, at Bishopsgate Pool, so having a pool closer to campus could mean exciting things for the success of the ever-growing club, as well as other students of the university able to access a new leisure facility so close to campus.

President of the club, Hannah Willcocks, comments on how it would be “fantastic for the university Swimming Club”, alongside the positive impact it could have encouraging more students to take up swimming. “The prospect of a pool in Egham is not only exciting for the local community, but also the university and the Swimming Club. I hope it will be more of an incentive for people to take up the sport – which is such a good stress release, especially around deadlines.” Hannah notes it would really “put Royal Holloway Swimming Club on the map”, and could potentially allow the club to be the host of London League Galas, which tend to be hosted in central London locations. The new leisure centre will be built on the same site of the current leisure centre on Vicarage Road, although the

REDEVELOPMENT PLANS

Photography Credit: Cameron James Seymour

current building will remain open until work is completed. Paul Turrell, chief executive of Runnymede Borough Council, said: “The new leisure centre at Egham will see the council deliver on a long-held promise to bring a swimming pool to the town. I’m sure there will be huge demand for the pools and the other state of the art facilities in the new centre.” Achieve Fitness have invested in the project after success in converting Addlestone Leisure Centre in 2010, and the project in Egham is set to begin later this year. Anna Robinson

March 2017

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COUNCIL PLANS TO TURN OFF LIGHTS

nna Robinson reports on the recent council plans to turn off street lights in Egham and Englefield Green.

From 1 December 2016, Surrey County Council implemented a new ‘part-night lighting’ policy, which proposed that street lights in many residential areas across the county would be switched off between midnight and 5am every night. Runnymede Council have announced that this county policy will be instated in the Borough of Runnymede from February 2017, affecting the areas of both Egham and Englefield Green. This will stretch from Staines-upon-Thames, all the way up to West Byfleet. This is causing concern for students

in the area, as it could mean the walk home from work, the library, the train station, or an evening at the SU, will be in the pitch black. As of recently there has already been a spike in crime rates around Egham, so by turning off street lights could we expect an increase of such incidents in the early hours? The policy comes as Surrey County Council is hoping to make budget savings, and whilst there has been a significant precedent in the UK for the introduction of part-night lighting, undoubtedly, not all residents are in favour of the light switch off. The roads near the back gate already confirmed to be affected by this include; Spring Rise, Spring Avenue and Clarence Street. In a local area, this is not only going to affect students, but

COUNCIL TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS’

Photography Credit: Cameron James Seymour

also residents. The trains to and from Egham station run past midnight; the last train arriving at 00:27 during the week, therefore, commuters, residents and students alike will be returning to their homes in the dark. A petition has been created on change. org, and residents in the area are also send residential request forms to the council stating their concern. Anna Robinson

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ZERO FOR HYGIENE Anna Robinson reports on an Egham takeaway receiving zero for hygiene.

ESSAY

PUBLISHED

Paco Tijdink reports on a Royal Holloway student has had his final-year essay published.

R journal.

oyal Holloway student has had his final-year essay published in an esteemed theatre

Kai Green graduated from the 2015 Drama and Philosophy program with a First Class Honours degree. His final-year essay, part of his seminar on Contemporary British Theatre, was considered to demonstrate extraordinary originality and insight, and so passed the strict criteria of the peer-reviewed journal, ‘Performance Philosophy’.

dramatic composition) using the ideas of Emmanuel Levinas as a theoretical framework. Emmanuel Levinas was a French philosopher known for his approach to Jewish philosophy and ethics, among other things. Dr Chris Megson, of the department of Drama, Theatre, and Dance, taught Kai. Dr Megson had this to say: “This is a huge achievement for Kai and a source of inspiration to students and staff alike. It also shows the benefits of linking teaching and research in the curriculum.”

Kai sent in the essay some months after he graduated, and it was published in January of this year.

Kai is currently studying for an MSc in Social Entrepreneurship at Rosekilde University in Denmark.

As part of a nexus between drama and philosophy, his article examined the possibility of maleauthored feminist dramaturgy (the theory and practice of

Kai’s article, titled ‘Attempts on (writing) her life: ethics and ontology in pro-feminist playwriting’, can be found online on the journal’s website.

n Egham Indian takeaway has been rated zero out of five for food hygiene.

The Red Rose, which is located on the High Street has been told it needs to make improvements in the hygienic handling, preparation, and cooking of their food in order to meet the required standards. The curry house on the High Street which claims to be the “best choice for Indian food in Egham” online, was inspected on 7 December, 2016 by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Runnymede Borough Council and the FSA have stated “improvement” is needed. Reviews from TripAdvisor offer an illuminating perspective. Wantabana commenting on the decline of the food establishment over the last few months: “I’m genuinely gutted - have been a big fan of this restaurant for 15 years, but their standards have fallen considerably in recent months, and I won’t be using them again”. Another customer review, TailLynch from Addlestone, shared their experience from the 6 December, 2016, only a day before the FSA were due to inspect. In the review they stated that “when the food arrived it all looked nice. However, I found a small piece of metal in my chicken korma and the korma was so dry and overcooked it was horrible”. Although the Red Rose is still open for business, the owners refuse to make a comment on the recent inspection. For more information, please head to the Food Standard Agency website. Anna Robinson

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EDUCATION: WHAT WAS IT ALL FOR? Stephanie Bagnall talks about education and what a privilege it can be.

s a Fresher, it’s scary to think of this time a year ago. A level exams crept nearer and nearer and we were nervously waiting on UCAS confirmations of university offers and places. It is also scary to think of this time three years ago where our GCSEs were dawning upon us, keeping us at revision sessions after school and trapping us in five lesson a day. Its also incredible to think that eight years ago, we were at primary school where the most homework we got was a few sheets of questions a week. I come from a community in which education is, on the whole, discouraged. I am lucky enough to have a family who let me choose to stay in school and chose my own career path. This was not the case for many of my peers where they are not given so much of a freedom. There was an attitude of ‘what for?’ ‘what is this teaching you of real life?’ This is possibly just one of the factors influencing the amount of drop outs of pupils from schools. Many other reasons for this can be students feeling that school didn’t ‘offer them enough’ or else pupils having to go straight into paid work. According to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the dropout

rate from UK education institutions has increased for the first time in four years by six percent.

EDUCATION AS A PRIVILEGE

Photography Credit: Irvin Lau

Even though GCSEs were more about recalling information rather than understanding, these smaller and formative years of our educational experience are crucial in teaching time management skills, responding to stress, keeping to deadlines and also getting used to an academic environment. Without these seemingly tedious years, we are missing out on a chance to improve. Obviously, education is not for everyone but these years are important for finding more about ourselves as well as the beginnings of our subjects, even when they seem insignificant now that we are at university.

It’s the uncomfortable truth that the grading systems are not the fairest way to test pupils and it seems that the only way to get to the best kind of learning such as we receive at university, is to jump through hoops made by anonymous examiners and their very specific mark schemes. We are all different and of course, not one person learns the same way as the next. The quote from Einstein comes to mind; ‘Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.’.

It is worrying that so many young people disappear from their school register at such a young age as 14. Chief Advisers of London Schools estimated that up to 10,000 teenagers across the country leave early because they believe school “has nothing to offer them”. A law conducted in 2015 stated that teenagers will have to stay in school or some form of training until the age of 18. Despite these laws, drop outs still are on the increase.

Maybe it’s time to see education, not as a way to discourage the fish, but to show the fish the water, and let it stretch its fins. As long as we are thirsty for knowledge and willing to listen and to work, we will succeed. Rather than think of school as a restriction, as so it seems the attitude towards education has become so, maybe it’s time to change it to a reminder that school is an opportunity that many people do not have the privilege to choose.

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CAMPAIGN FOR HOMELESSNESS Yasmeen Frasso interviews Rebecca Wilson, President of English PEN at Royal Holloway, about organising the Big Sleepout event on campus. ebecca, firstly congratulations for the result of the Big Sleepout, you began with the target of only £500 and now you’ve raised over £2,000. Did you expect the result to be as impressive? No, not at all! I will admit that I was totally cynical about the amount we were going to raise because I wasn’t entirely confident in how enthusiastic people were going to be about giving money to a comparatively small, independent homelessness organisation. Without Sarah Newell’s (SU Women’s Officer) constant encouragement and hard work, the event wouldn’t have been half as successful. But yes, the response to The Sleepout has been insane, a big thank you is required to all the parents, friends and students that sponsored us so generously.

People were talking about the Sleepout on campus and social media, whether they took part or not. It really seemed to engage a lot of people, through societies, friends or just individuals, don’t you think? That’s really cool to hear! Of course, I can only see the level of engagement online from people that I know (and

I emotionally bribed lots of people to share our JustGiving page) so it’s brilliant that other people had been chatting about it and had seemed interested. We had such unwavering support from the Feminist Society, the rest of the English PEN committee, Labour Society and from the Women of Colour Collective, representatives of which came and help steward the event and helped massively with the general set up. I’ve always maintained that university is the perfect environment to encourage charitable initiatives like this, as it’s unlikely that you will ever again have the ability to rally a cohort of such like-minded, politically and socially motivated people. This was absolutely a collaborative event and I like the idea that it may have subverted any anxiety that exists with people when it comes to joining societies and their events; it was very much a coming together of individuals in support of a common cause.

people not been so enthusiastic about the reasons we were ‘sleeping rough’ for the night. Everyone was given a cardboard box upon arrival which they set up in the way that they thought would best keep them warm. Everyone was then given stew or soup to eat at the beginning of the night which is what myself and other volunteers tend to cook for our hot food stall, we were then serenaded by Sarah Ryan and her guitar whilst we wrote messages to people that are forced to sleep rough. I plan to slip these in to any donations I’ll give out in the near future, just to let people know that they’re in our thoughts. Even with the promise of breakfast supplied by Eggham on Toast in the morning, people certainly struggled. I got the impression that people came away from the event with more empathy and understanding of what homeless people endure on a daily basis and how deadly those conditions can really be.

How did the night go itself? I was over the moon with how it all panned out. As I’ve said, Sarah and I could not have done it alone (shout out to Alice Sanderson who ferried myself and three car loads of cardboard boxes to and from campus) and the event would not have been as enjoyable had

So, what was it that inspired you to get involved with helping combat homelessness in the first place? I’ve had the feeling of hopelessness towards the issue of homelessness that I imagine most people do, the want to help and understand the intricacies

March 2017 of the problem, but not knowing how to go about it. I took part in the Trinity Homelessness Big Sleepout event after seeing it advertised at our Fresher’s Fair (do visit their stall next year, they’re a fantastic local charity) and although it happened to be a much warmer night than the one we experienced during our own sleepout event, it was wet and windy, and I cried lots. I think I had a sudden realisation that I was allowing other human beings to go through this pain and upset every night by remaining idle. I am in the privileged position of having my education funded by the government and I was receiving more in student grants than I needed, which could undoubtedly be put to better use. I wanted to start an initiative here in Egham to help the homeless people of Runnymede, but I got in contact with a Labour councillor who had started The Labour Campaign to End Homelessness and there, of course was a high demand for volunteers in London. I then started running the campaign’s outreach efforts in London and have been doing that for just over a year. A lack of funds and volunteers (although the few that helped me out on a number of occasions were absolutely phenomenal, thank you) have made it difficult to be of real help over an extended period of time, but now we’ve managed to raise over £2,000 and the majority of my time is dedicated to my degree, that should all change.

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL aimed at incentivising preventative measures against homelessness should be a positive thing. It does make me twitchy however, when I know that communication with grassroots organisation that have worked tirelessly to provide homeless people with the provisions they deserve and are entitled to, appears not to be a priority. Large figures of money appear impressive on the surface but I fear the government is missing a vital trick, preventative measures are imperative to sustaining an end to homelessness but the attitude of ‘help homeless people help themselves’ hasn’t worked particularly well thus far. I think if we could subvert the attitude that homelessness is more often than not caused by or is the fault of the sufferer then we’d be making far greater progress in combating homelessness. I have been guilty of it before too, the perception that because I, or my family have managed to avoid homelessness then those who are must have done something terrible. When in fact, none of us are immune to the causes of homelessness and we’re all in the position to help, even if it is to revise our own attitude towards the issue.

It’s very exciting news to hear that you’ll be starting your own charity later in the year, is there anything you can tell us about it and what you want to achieve even though it is still in the early stages? The aim of the charity will be to produce and deliver innovative ways of homing Why do you think that a lot of people don’t regard homelessness and sheltering people. I was inspired by the work of ‘The Bus Shelter Isle as a serious issue in society? I think people would be very stupid to not of Wight’ who have actually ended the need to sleep rough on the Island. consider homelessness a serious issue, They’ve kitted out a double decker bus indeed, a serious infringement of basic human rights. It is a massive failing of our with bunk beds, a kitchen and bathroom area and it can accommodate up to society that 4,134 were sleeping rough in England last year and that people are 20 people at one time. Please visit their website: http://thebusshelteriow. dying in the temperatures that we’ve been experiencing in the UK this winter; co.uk/ for a more comprehensive a man died in Birmingham city centre at explanation of all the wonderful work the beginning of December and another they do as I couldn’t possible do it justice in a few sentences. I would died on Christmas eve in Chatham. love to follow a similar model in small The passing of The Homelessness towns and cities to prove to those in Reduction Bill at the last stage is a step government that a permanent end and in the right direction and the injection continued prevention of homelessness of £20 million by the Prime Minister is a complete possibility - a possibility into projects and Select Committees

CAMPAIGN FOR HOMELESSNESS Photography Credit: Michele Theil

that needn’t have £20 million thrown at it in order for lots of people to chat about the issue. I intend to keep outreach going whilst also focusing on sheltering people and as I’ll be living in London for at least a year from around August, it will make weekly, bi-weekly and possibly even daily hot food stalls far easier. The name of the charity is still a total mystery to me, my creative juices don’t appear to be flowing in that department at the moment so please, if you have any suggestions, send them my way! Applying for charitable status and appointing trustees all kicks off in May, once my dissertations finished – I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to get started on it all. And lastly, what advice would you give to people who encounter somebody homeless and aren’t sure how to proceed? Just talk to homeless people like you’d talk to anyone else, introduce yourself, offer them your hand to shake. I was so shocked when I first started outreach how many people say they didn’t want to shake my hand because they ‘were dirty’ and didn’t want to dirty my hands. It does break your heart, because you begin to realise that the conversation you’re making with them is very often the only conversation they’ve had all day. Ask them if you can get them anything to eat, the moral argument behind giving money to homeless people is a contentious one so I won’t advise you either way. If you find approaching homeless people difficult for whatever reason, do donate to smaller, independent charities who habitually go out and feed homeless people, their work is vital and ensures people are not forgotten. SWAT (the Sikh Welfare and Awareness Team) are wonderful so look them up and look me up again in May when I’m sure I’ll be imploring you all to donate to the UK’s newly established homelessness charity!

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WOMEN IN STEM Left to Right: Julia Koricheva, Tracey Berry and Stefanie Kuenzel

WOMEN IN STEM

Grace Yeadon spoke to RHUL academics; Professor Julia Koricheva of Biological Sciences, Dr Tracey Berry of Physics, and Dr Stefanie Kuenzel of Electronic Engineering, about being women in STEM.

o celebrate ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science’ on the 11 February, The Orbital Magazine spoke to three incredible academics in science departments at Royal Holloway, about what inspired them to follow a career in STEM, their unsung science heroes and what advice they would give to other women in science. What is your speciality? Julia Koricheva - My research field is ecology. I am interested in mechanisms of plant resistance to pests, the effects of tree species diversity on the functioning of forest ecosystems, and methods of quantitative literature reviews in ecology. Tracey Berry - Searching for evidence of new physics in very high energy proton proton collisions at the large hadron collider at CERN. I look for evidence of the existence of extra dimensions which could explain why

gravity is so weak. I also search for new particles, Z’ bosons, which have some properties like the particles we know, but are heavier. Stefanie Kuenzel. - My research interests are in the field of power systems, in particular wind generation and high voltage direct current transmission. The Power Systems Group, which I am heading, encompasses a wider range of topics related to power generation, power transmission and demand. What inspired you to get involved in STEM? J.K. - Ever since I can remember, I was interested in biology. Now it strikes me that nearly all of my biology heroes were men, but it did not concern me in the slightest when I was a child. I knew I wanted to be biologist since I was six years old, there was never any plan B. T.B. - I enjoy maths, equations and logic, and like travel and conferences too. I

loved university undergraduate learning and wanted to be a become a tutor myself. S.K. - Math and Physics were subjects that came to me easily. Engineering is a discipline which directly relates to many types of jobs and our daily lives are surrounded by the products of Engineering. I feel privileged to work in this field since STEM has always been an option for me. For many students, in particular girls, Engineering is often a career option that is discovered too late. Raising awareness of STEM subjects is not about attracting students at all costs. It’s about making students aware of the possibilities and inherent talents and interests that they may have, which they did not know about before. What work are you most proud of? J.K. - Probably the handbook on research synthesis in ecology that I co-edited a few years ago. It took seven years and I had to coordinate the work

March 2017

of 14 different scientists on different chapters. It was challenging, but a lot of fun. T.B. - I have enjoyed lots of moments in my career: getting my lectureship, then my first PhD student passing his viva, doing PhD viva examinations for Oxford & Cambridge, giving international talks, each paper being published, getting IoP Project Juno Champion for the Department, and when students say you have made a difference! S.K. - With the integration of new

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supplies to the city were cut off and the population was starving. The institute has a massive seed bank with nearly 200,000 varieties of plants, one of the world’s largest repositories of the genetic diversity of food crops. Whilst the scientific value of this collection was immense, the seed bank included tons of potential food. To protect the collection from both the Nazis and from starving people in their own city,the staff of the institute barricaded themselves inside the vaults of the institute. Several

advice from the people you respect and trust. Try to keep healthy work/ life balance, don’t give up your hobbies and other interests outside science. Be prepared that you will encounter obstacles along the way, so be patient, stubborn and resilient. Not every experiment will work, not every avenue of research will be fruitful. Don’t take rejections personally, learn from your failures, and move on. Always look for opportunities to learn something new and get new experience which might be useful for you later on.

“ Not every experiment will work, not every avenue of research will be fruitful. Don’t take rejections personally, learn from your failures, and move on. Always look for opportunities to learn something new and get new experience which might be useful for you later on.” technologies, the drive for a greener future with reduced CO2 emissions and a reduced reliance on fossil fuels, power systems around the globe are changing. Imagine that your neighbourhood is experiencing a black-out and all of the products that you use stop working. ‘Keeping the lights on’ is what being a power systems engineer is all about. I am most proud of my research contributions to the field of power systems. Most recently, my previous research team, from Imperial College, and I received the “2016 President’s Award for Outstanding Research Team”. Do you have an unsung science hero whom people should know more about? J.K. - The botanists from the Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources in my home city of St Petersburg in Russia. St Petersburg was under a siege by Nazis for close to 900 days between 1941 and 1944. During the siege, food

of them died of hunger, but had not touched the seeds and the collection was largely preserved. T.B. - My Dad! It is fun when people use science and maths to find beauty and symmetry in things. S.K. - Many engineering products are not developed by individuals but by teams of engineers who work together. My unsung science hero is not a specific person, but any individual using their team working skills, understanding of science and creativity to help create something that transforms our lives.

T.B. - Put family first! Be confident of your abilities, take opportunities that come to you and network to let people know what work you have done. You need to sell yourself. Use the coffee breaks to talk to people and ask lots of questions while you are young! S.K. - I would give them the same advice that I would give any student – pursue the things that interest you! It is human nature to be the best at the things we deeply enjoy. Do not get put off by opinions and advice from others. If you are not sure if engineering is for you, find a beginners project you could do and see if you enjoy the challenge. Simply expose yourself to the subject in any way possible. You are in the best position to begin a rewarding career if you can find a profession that really suits you!

Finally, what advice would you give to any current or prospective female students looking to pursue a career in science? J.K. - Don’t think about yourself as ‘a woman in STEM’, i.e. ‘a special case’. If you have passion for science, go for it and have confidence in yourself. Interview conducted by Grace Surround yourself by positive, supportive Yeadon, Science and Gaming Editor. people, set realistic aims, and ask for

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WHERE TO NEXT?

Giving you some travel inspiration and the opportunity to learn cool things at the same time

TRAVEL MEETS SCIENCE lis Reid gives you some travel inspiration with a twist. Science can be found all over the world and can create some pretty amazing holidays as well!

Far from the images of far off lands and exploration that the word ‘travel’ inspires, the word ‘science’ is often synonymous with dark laboratories and maybe a class you hated in school. However, the two can have far greater a connection than you might think.

Whether it’s chemistry, physics or biology, getting on a plane and exploring really does bring the quirks of science to life. So in the next few months, when the deadlines get too much and you need a holiday, consider ‘science’ and what it can offer. Listen up, because you might just learn a thing or two more about science than in those 9am lectures when you take the plunge and start exploring this superbly scientific world.

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CHEMISTRY: PHYSICS: BOLIVIA NEPAL

BIOLOGY: AUSTRALIA

Watching salt dissolve in a beaker probably wasn’t the most inspiring science lesson ever encountered. However, there is one particular place on earth that will leave even those of us who despised chemistry in awe of the white stuff: The Salt Flats, Bolivia. A short (by South American standards) 12 hour bus journey from the capital city, La Paz, is this white wonderland.

It’s no secret that Australia is home to some of the world’s most weird and wonderful wildlife, and anyone with an interest in zoology (or anyone who just loves fluffy creatures) needs to put this country on their bucket list. Australia happens to be one of the only continents that is home to marsupials, placentals, and monotremes: the three groups of mammals.

The Salt Flats, otherwise known as Salar de Uyuni, are pretty much exactly what they say they are: a huge expanse of flat land (4086 square meters to be exact) covered in salt. Anyone who has backpacked South America will have at least one Facebook picture utilising this immense spread of white for unique perspective photos. Bizarrely, this salt desert is also home to pink flamingos in November, and there also exists the odd rocky ‘island’ teeming with giant cacti. Salt Flats start out as prehistorical lakes located in the desert, which eventually dry up faster than rain can refill the space, leaving behind a solidified coating of salt and other minerals. Not only that, but the Salar de Uyuni is the largest source of lithium in the world, which is used in batteries and even as part of a drug for some psychiatric disorders. A bit more interesting than GCSE chemistry? One might say so.

Nepal is often thought of as the home of Mount Everest, and not a whole lot else. Whilst climbing the world’s tallest mountain is an astounding achievement, Nepal has a lot more to offer than just mountaineering. I was lucky enough to volunteer in Pokhara, a hippie-town which is about a 7 hour bus ride north-west of the capital, Kathmandu. Here I experienced paragliding, which is extremely popular in this region. This unique sport works in a similar way to skydiving through used of a parachute, however instead of falling out of a plane, a paraglider literally launches themselves off the top of a mountain and can travel quite a distance.

The physics behind this madness is impressive - paragliders manage to stay in the air for so long through the special shape of the parachute. Lift is achieved due to different air pressures on top of and under the material, which lets the paraglider control how fast they are going, while they manage to steer by changing the shape of the wing and the resulting pressure. While this might be something I had never even thought about before, actually experiencing the power of the wind while soaring above mountains and spinning 2000 ft in the air can make this one of the most exhilaration parts of any trip to Nepal.

One of the most peculiar groups here is the monotreme, represented by the platypus and the echidna, which are only found native to Australia. Unlike most mammals, these bizarre looking creatures lay eggs, much like birds and reptiles. This resemblance is continued in their bone structure, which ultimately gives them a slithery, reptile-esque movement, and when it comes to DNA, their X chromosome resembles the Z sex-chromosome of birds. Scientists believe that this odd missmatch of traits could tell us more about early forms of animals, and the ways in which mammals, reptiles and birds shared characteristics before branching off - perhaps even indicating characteristics of our own early ancestors. And no trip to the land down under is complete without witnessing the echidna waddle.

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DUNE: FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER Syed Aadil Ali talks about how this influential game series has been forgotten. erhaps due to the recent announcement of a possible rebirth of a new Dune TV series or a movie, or just simply because I love Dune (1969) the novel, I wanted to discuss the game Dune and its impact. It’s themes and ideas are something that hark back to the 60s concept of understanding the relation of the mind and body, but yet dreaming of a future shaped by the events of the past. This lead me to look into the second Dune, ‘Dune II: Battle for Arrakis’, which is largely considered the grandfather of the real-time strategy genre (also called RTS).

At the start of the game you pick one of three houses and although they had limited differences between them, they each had certain unique units, themes and colours providing replayability and the illusion of choice. There was also the importance of ‘Spice production’, which in the novel allows for travel between different worlds - a sign of wealth, power and status. The more spice you gathered, the more units you could build and the more units you had, the more likely you were to crush your enemies. The idea of tiers of technology in the form of construction of new buildings allowed for players to tier up slowly and so added an element of risk/reward

(Game Theory). Would you wait till you had just enough spice to buy the most powerful units, then striking and defeating your foe? Or would you try to find any weakness in your enemy before sneaking your way in? These core ideas helped lay the foundation for the RTS genre and perhaps the most important element was micro management. So then the big question is why is Dune 2 forgotten, or the very least not known by many gamers? Its due, firstly, to WarCraft (1994) and Command and Conquer (1995) being able to build on what Dune 2 had initially laid out, that a game can focus on resource production, micro management, choice and Game Theory. This allowed Warcraft and Command and Conquer to focus on polishing the mechanics and adding their own unique flair, with Warcraft having a focus on high fantasy and pre-rendered cutscenes and Command and Conquer offering a 90s look at the world following the collapse of the Soviet Union. This lead to possibly the second killing blow to the Dune franchise, that it never had as big an impact on the gaming industry as Dune 2, as it was too successful for its own good. Even the reboot of Dune 2 called ‘Dune 2000’ (1998), which had an amazing

soundtrack from Klepacki, never had the ability to be as influential. This is sadly something a lot of games go through, in which they make a massive splash in the video game industry once, but can never recapture that initial feeling. The last major killing blow for Dune was simply copyright, as a number of games in 2001 were released for Dune. There was the aforementioned ‘Emperor: Battle for Dune’ (2001), Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ (2001) and the cancelled ‘DUNE Generations’ (2001). Dune was never a financial success and it has largely disappeared from the public eye and wandered into the desert of the forgotten, having been blinded by its success, searching for its eventual return. Dune 2 is one of the most important games in video game industry history, as without it there would be no Blizzard or Westwood Studios, meaning no Overwatch (2016), World of Warcraft (2004), or Starcraft (1998). It shows that the best ideas come when the stars are aligned, with the right skills at the right time, and you have to make every bit of space count due to the limitations you face. Or perhaps you need to have the luck of a mouse, a mouse that jumps in the shadow of the moon light.

March 2017

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YOUTH POLITICS Danny Angove laments the lack of youth-centric and inclusive politics.

ife’s full of disappointments, isn’t it?

convinced that he’s the right man for the job.

Imagine: you’ve been forced to endure a long, hard day of lectures and seminars, so you decide to treat yourself to a night in with your housemates, junk food, and one of your favourite films. You hit the shops, but they’ve run out of ice cream. When you get home, you find that the film you want to watch isn’t on Netflix. One of your housemates bails on you to go to the SU; he eventually stumbles in at 2am, and vomits all over the kitchen floor.

If you ask me, he’s just not vocal enough to be the Leader of the Opposition. The Leader needs to be the voice of the people. They need to be vocal and they need to publicly scrutinise everything the Government do. So far, we haven’t seen enough of this from Corbyn.

You’re tired, you’re stressed, and your floor is sticky from VK-tinged vomit. The night is an unmitigated disaster.

It should’ve been Labour. It really should’ve been Labour. When Corbyn was elected, we were promised that he would usher in a new wave of youthcentric politics. Instead, we got a weak leader, and a party that’s on the verge of self-destruction.

This is, in short, how I feel about the Labour Party. When Jeremy Corbyn was elected to lead Labour, I was hopeful. Heck – I was excited. I was a nineteen-year-old student, and like many of us, thought that he could really make a difference. Since then, though, I’ve yet to be

Still, I’m not writing to complain about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. I’m writing this to point out that there’s no longer an ‘obvious’ political party for young people.

If there’s not a party for us, then why should we care? The rhetoric of ‘politicians are all as bad as each other’ is a tired one, but in this case it seems to ring true. Who are the party for the youth? Do any of them really

YOUTH POLITICS

Talking about the lack of youthcentric politics in the United Kingdom at the moment

have our best interests at heart? We’re forced to choose between a handful of uninspiring leaders, and to pick a party based on who we think will screw us over the least. That doesn’t seem good enough. Every party has its own policies, but none of them seem to cater to the youth. We care about issues like minimum wage parity, affordable education, and improving access to mental health services – why aren’t any of the major political parties pushing to rectify these issues? We need a mainstream political party to stand up and fight for this country’s young people. Something has to be done, otherwise the British political system is at risk of alienating an entire generation of voters. Wouldn’t that be a disappointment? Danny Angove

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CONTESTING RHUL’S GLORIFICATION OF ITS MOST NOTORIOUS ALUMNA Anya Eastman on why Emily Wilding Davison should not have been an option for the new library name.

ithin the 21st century the term ‘terrorist’ is loaded with connotations and emotional responses.

Removing it from this context is not easy and obviously problematic but if we look on the OED the term is simply described as ‘A person who uses violent and intimidating methods in the pursuit of political aims’. In popular culture Emily Wilding Davison is considered to be integral to the success of the campaign to gain votes for women. However, many believe that the extreme actions of the suffragettes hindered rather than helped the cause. Davison’s methods of protest were indisputably militant and violent. In 1911 she was arrested for setting fire to pillar boxes,

in 1912 she threw her-self down a 10-metre iron staircase and in 1913 she momentously threw herself in front of the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby in an attempt to throw a ‘votes for women’ banner over the horse.

of Emily Davison? This glorification has led to Davison’s name being syn-onymous with the introduction of votes for women and whether this is right or wrong is obviously out of Royal Holloway’s control.

Now, removed from a contemporary context, these acts do adhere to the definition of a terrorist that the OED provides us. In light of this, should Royal Holloway really be naming the new library after someone who committed acts of terrorism whilst there were so many worthy women without such acts to their name?

The argument to be made reflects whether it was wise for her name to be on the (digital) ballot paper in the first place - knowing how notorious Davison was in comparison to her fellow alumna.

Let us consider what the response would be to a political campaigner committing such acts today, would we be able to glorify the individual in the way that popular culture has glorified the legacy

Is it right that due to her popularity, Davison’s violent and militant acts were overlooked whilst the impressive acts of all the other competing alumna members go unnoticed? Other than the runner-up prize awarded to George Eliot of the new accommodation block being named after her.

March 2017

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

THE NEW LIBRARY SET TO BE FINISHED SUMMER 2017 Photography credit: Cameron James Seymour

Obviously, everyone deserved to cast their vote and it’s great that students and staff were afforded the opportunity to name the new library. Also, it goes without saying that Emily Davison’s radical acts contributed to the effort of gaining votes for women and the development towards equality in society, but the severity of her acts should not be forgotten. It would not have mattered which of the other three contenders had won, none of their legacies carry with them the sinister, yet often omitted, weight that Davison’s does. This library naming should not go unquestioned because it is controversial statement to name the new library after Emily Davison and therefore it should be considered as such. Although less

drastic, each of the other candidates embody and promote Royal Holloway’s historical status as a women’s college - in an undeniably less contentious statement than the eponymous Emily Wilding Davison library. A Spokesperson for the College commented, saying: “With our Colleges being two of the first in the UK to give women access to higher education, we wanted our landmark new Library and Student Services Centre to celebrate an eminent alumna, nominated and celebrated by our community. We were delighted that nearly 1,000 students, staff and alumni leant their support to their favourite nomination, and Emily gained a huge amount of

support. Throughout the naming campaign her supporters referenced Emily’s campaigning spirit, her commitment to equality, and her determination to bring about positive change – all principals that can be seen in Royal Holloway today. Our commitment to free enquiry and of free speech within the law means that vigorous debate is proper, acceptable and encouraged here at Royal Holloway so it is fitting that the choice has inspired such thought and debate. As one of the first women to be able to pursue a university education, her spirit lives on at Royal Holloway, where we believe in supporting every individual to succeed no matter gender or background.”

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WOMEN’S MARCH Marching makes a political point as shown that protesting is a unifying force.

ince January, millions of people have taken part in protests centred around the new U.S. President, a man who has come to represents a dangerous threat to human rights, equality and social justice, not just in his own country but across the world.

As I was standing in the crowd of thousands awaiting the start of the Women’s March, I felt an immense

feeling of unity, which I am sure was shared by everyone there. People of all genders, races, ages, sexual identities and backgrounds were marching together as advocators for change; passionate and determined to make their voices heard. But the positivity experienced, both at the demonstration itself and online, was infiltrated by comments such as ‘it won’t change anything’, ‘it’s pointless’ or ‘it’s too late’.

To some, protests and marches are nothing more than a group of attention-seeking people with vague and conflicting motives standing in the street complaining. Holding a hand-painted sign for a couple of hours does not qualify as sustained political action; while the moment may highlight discontent, as the crowds disband, the movement fades and its target has no obligation to comply with their wishes. This

March 2017

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

DOES MARCHING MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Isabel Swanson on why political activism of any scale, can make a difference.

was seen in the 2003 protest against the invasion of Iraq which, despite attracting around 3 million in London alone, did little to change the government’s mind. But history has shown us that marching makes a difference. The introduction of the Equal Pay Act in 1970, the American Civil Rights Movement and the 2011 overthrow of Hosni Mubarak’s dictatorship in Egypt, for example, were all based

upon the impact of protests; its participants did not sit around and hope for change but inspired it themselves. The Women’s March now over, its organisers are continuing their fight through their ‘10 Actions for the First 100 Days’ campaign, proving that their voices are not fading just yet.

won’t change anything overnight. But they encourage people to exercise their democratic rights, to connect and animate others and remind the government that they’re there and they are watching, as has been demonstrated on our very own campus.

Despite it all, Theresa May still flew to Washington D. C. and talked about retaining the U.K.’s ‘special relationship’ with the U.S. A march

Isabel’s photography can also be found on The Orbital Magazine Instagram: @orbitalmagazine

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VINTAGE

FASHION he Orbital Magazine teamed up with Royal Holloway’s Fashion Society to create a vintage inspired fashion shoot.

The next few pages are dedicated to everything from 90s grunge to 1920s Hollywood Glamour. Take a look and get some new fashion inspiration to shake up your wardrobe. To see ‘Behind the Scenes’ photos head over to our Instagram page.

90S GRUNGE

Photography Credit: Cameron James Seymour

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THE

VINTAGE CRAZE

rom fashion to music to cameras, the love of vintage has taken hold in the last few years. I myself have a record player and a Polaroid camera, wear winged eyeliner and love the odd plaid shirt along with many others that I know.

But why is vintage so popular these days? Royal Holloway often finds the SU full of vintage clothing when the vintage sale comes to visit and we’re not far from London where vintage can be found most places, from Shoreditch to Camden. Bomber jackets, plaid shirts, eyeliner and denim jackets are just some of the vintage fashions popular at the moment. The love of vintage clothing may have arisen from the desire of many people these days to be unique and individual, straying from the ‘mainstream’ clothes which are seen as too generic. Vintage clothing offers individuals the opportunity to buy one-of-a-kind pieces and set themselves apart from

Bomber jackets, plaid shirts, eyeliner and denim jackets are just some of the vintage fashions popular at the moment. The love of vintage clothing may have arisen from the desire of many people these days to be unique and individual, straying from the ‘mainstream’ clothes which are seen as too generic.”

“

mainstream fashion whilst still blending in due to the huge rise in popularity of vintage clothing. Vintage technology has also become popular recently, with many people owning a record player, becoming record collectors and filling up their Instagram feeds with pictures of Polaroid pictures. The rise of vinyl may be due to the rise of digitalising music which takes away

the quality of the sound. Digital records only capture sound at certain snapshots whereas vinyl records capture the entire original recording, making them more accurate. In a world where we are obsessed with having the highest quality media, vinyl has become popular as it provides a greater sound. And besides, who doesn’t agree that they’re cool? The rise of Polaroid cameras may be due in part to Instagram whose logo is based on Polaroid. Polaroid cameras also allow users to hold the picture in their hands straight away, an alternative to simply having a phone full of pictures we will rarely look back at. So, will the vintage craze ever end? Or will vinyl players, Polaroid cameras and vintage fashion remain a part of our lives from now on? We will have to see, although I’m not sure the cassette tape will ever make a comeback… Beth Gooding

FROM FASHION TO MUSIC Photography Credit: Cameron James Seymour

RHUL FASHION Photography Credit: Cameron James Seymour

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ROHOROSCOPES

What have the stars got in store for you this month? Our resident mystic Annie Pantry predicts your life at Holloway for the next four weeks.

Scorpio

Aquarius

Taurus

Leo

23rd October

– 21st November

Love: Grow a pair and ask your crush on a date! Travel: Brighton isn’t too far! Take a trip to the pier. Study: Post it notes come in handy when revising!

20th January

– 18th February

Love: Try compromising, you can’t both have it your way. Travel: Bored on the weekends? Visit London, there are so many free museums and galleries. Study: Try colour coding your notes, it helps make key facts stick in your brain.

20th April – 20th May

Love: Ever tried Bumble? Travel: Visit home to relieve some stress. Study: You’ve worked hard so far this term, kick back and relax for a few days.

23rd July – 22nd August

Love: Try spicing things

up! Travel: I hear Italy is picturesque this time of year. Study: Seeing as we are a University of London why not visit Senate House Library.

Sagittarius

Pisces

Gemini

Virgo

22nd November

– 21st December

Love: Maybe they are more than a friend? Travel: Easter break is coming up, how about a few days away to take a break from coursework? Study: If it all gets too much then take a coffee break.

19th February – 20th March

Love: A relationship isn’t on the cards. Maybe get a pet? Travel: There are so many last minute deals. Look for a weekend away. Study: Time to hit the books!

21st May – 20th June

Love: Love from your friends is all you need right now. Travel: Take a trip to Staines and browse the market. Study: Time to crack down and head to the silent section of Bedford Library.

23rd August

- 22nd September

Love: Your soulmate is just around the corner. Travel: If you haven’t been to Virginia Water in a while then why not take a stroll. Study: Try group revision, everything is better with friends.

Capricorn

Aries

Cancer

Libra

22nd December – 19th January

Love: Don’t worry, you just haven’t met the one yet. Travel: Hop on a train to Reading, it’s great for shopping. Study: If you didn’t get the mark you wanted then speak to your seminar leader.

21st March – 19th April

Love: With it being your Birthday month, maybe your secret admirer will pipe up. Travel: Better start planning summer, it isn’t fair away now! Study: Exams are just around the corner, better get revising.

21st June – 22nd July

Love: Maybe take the hint? He’s just not that into you. Travel: Stop getting Uber’s to campus and start walking. Study: Better take back those overdue library books.

23rd September – 22nd October

Love: Make 2017 the year of being single. Travel: Visit Kaspas, students get 10% off ya know. Study: Get a friend to read over your work, constructive criticism helps.

March 2017

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

FREE THE NIPPLE Elizabeth Rosenberg discusses how our nipples are a stepping stone to gender equality.

e all remember Rachel Green, right? Jennifer Aniston’s character in the hit sit-com ‘Friends’, [didn’t] go on a break with Ross Geller, flatmate of Monica, quite often had her nipples out? What happened to that glorious time? I seem to recall everyone being completely in love with Rachel Green’s ~aesthetic~ and her glorious nipples but nowadays nipples are no longer free. They are covered, they are shamed. Some might be aware of the #FreeTheNipple movement, especially as RHUL have recently launched an Instagram account entitled ‘RHULANippleADay’ where you can show off your own fabulous nipples. The #FreeTheNipple movement, and RHUL’s insta, aims to show that female nipples are not entirely dissimilar from the male equivalent and that females should not have to cover themselves

for fear of causing offence. They are, as Julia Roberts points out “just breasts” they are designed to help feed our young - not to be sexualised. Men are the cause of this. Not all men, of course, but men nonetheless. It is the male gaze that sexualises women so that they cannot work out, sunbathe topless, or exhibit their work the same way as men can. RHUL’s Instagram account is completely anonymous and the nipples so zoomed into that you can barely tell which nipples belong to male or females. However, if we could tell the difference, would the account be treated differently? Would it be looked at for a laugh, a giggle and an exclamation of “look at them titties!” No doubt the university would have shut it down immediately if it had not been so tastefully done...with male nipples being used as well. More than likely the account would no longer exist had it just been female nipples.

Personally, I no longer wear a bra and if you see my nipples poking through my shirt on a cold day - I don’t think it should be something completely out of the ordinary or to be stared at. If men have the same size breasts as me would they wear a bra? I know some of these men and they certainly do not and I can see their nipples. The fight for equality is never-ending, it’s even constricting our nipples, let alone our pay-check. So maybe, in our vintage issue, we should start making something vintage ourselves. Lets start making stigmatisation of our nipples a thing of the past. Let us take a tip out of Jennifer Aniston’s book and throw our bras away with gay abandon and, in 25 years or so, have someone write an article about how women used to cover up their nipples for fear of having them sexualised.

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THE FOUNDING FATHERS: HAMILTON THE MUSICAL Rachel Perry-Watts discusses the historical basis of the musical and its creation.

s many will be aware, and many will not, the hit musical ‘Hamilton’ recently released tickets to its West End show, opening at the Victoria Palace Theatre in November this year. According to the Telegraph, over 100,00 people registered to be notified of the general sale of these tickets.

I was lucky enough to get one through the pre-release sales, however as time goes on tickets will undoubtedly become like gold dust. But what is it that has made this show such a global phenomenon? The musical was written by the multitalented playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda and tells of the life of the lesser known

founding father, Alexander Hamilton, predominantly through the medium of rap and show tunes. To many, this might sound like an absolute nightmare, but to others, like myself, it gives a fresh new perspective on history; capturing the past and making it both relevant and accessible to audiences today. Although, the show is no stranger to criticism, and recently it received some less than positive feedback from everyone’s favourite twitter troll and President of the United States, Donald Trump. Trump, who arguably represents the exact opposite of what the founding fathers set out to achieve, stated that ‘The cast of Hamilton was very rude

last night to a very good man, Mike Pence’ and then demanded that they ‘apologize!’. The incident he is referring to occurred a week or so after the American election, when Vice-President Mike Pence attended the show on Broadway. At the end of the show, the cast, who are a diverse group of Americans, gave a rousing speech, clearly aimed at Pence, asking that the new administration work for all Americans, not just those with wealth and power. Now this seems like a reasonable request, and an admirable one, but as happens all too often with Trump, he took to Twitter to label to show

March 2017

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

HAMILTON THE MUSICAL Talking about American identity and what Hamilton represents in Contemporary politics

‘overrated’, a word which he also used to describe an actress who has received a total of 20 Oscar nominations. I am not going to focus on questioning Trump’s judgements, despite that I certainly don’t agree with them, I believe there to be a far more fundamental issue at play here, and that Trump is merely the figurehead of this. National identity is something that can be extremely unifying, and yet extremely destructive. I am no political expert, but it does not take an expert to notice that in this era of post-truth politics, elections can be won on an almost entirely emotional basis. Something that the Brexit and the

Trump votes have in common is that they can be seen as the result of a large group of dissatisfied people who feel they have been alienated and neglected politically banding together.

slavery and the exploitation of native Americans were unspeakably awful. Yet, the America that the founding fathers envisioned was one of liberty and justice, two words that few people would associated with the current administration.

The American identity has been polarised, and this is what may have led to a President who has promised to build Although it does not have an outwardly walls and discriminate against people on political agenda, there is surely much the basis of race and religion. we can learn from ‘Hamilton’ and its stance on the purpose of America. As Hamilton so brilliantly portrays, America started as a nation of Rachel Perry-Watts immigrants who worked together to start a nation that could be the ‘Land of the Free’. Of course, America’s origins are not perfect, the issues of

30 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

LA LA LAND: VINTAGE TRENDS Rhona Reed delves into ‘La La Land’ and the controversial topic of modern-day jazz. Should it be an experimental reinvention, or purely replicate the past?

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March 2017

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f La La Land proves anything – beyond the fact that Linus Sandgren’s cinematography is genius – it is that we cannot frown at today’s reinterpretations of classic trends. Purchasing a remastered vinyl or an overpriced imitation of a vintage dress may make many purists grimace. Yet, every season reinvents a classic trend from past decades. Do we really want to just repeat history, rather than alter it? The predicted revival of 2017 is the controversial kitten heel and, while you may scorn now, this is the perfect opportunity to see how our reinvention of a retro trend may actually make a dated style fashionable and enjoyable. The box office hit musical La La Land epitomises today’s current trends being heavily inspired by the vintage. It can be traced in their style of parties, clothes, and even their cars. Sebastian’s convertible Buick Riviera has far more character and individuality, exemplified in the comical scene of Sebastian trying to identify which Prius key belongs to Mia at the end of a party. Through the immediate foreshadowing of him listening to cassettes in traffic, we can already tell that Sebastian is a true traditionalist. Beyond the romantic storyline and stunning visuals, what really captivated me was the insistence on keeping jazz alive. Ryan Gosling’s character Sebastian is determined to remain true to jazz’s roots, meticulously covering jazz songs on his piano without the slightest room for alteration. Meanwhile, John Legend’s character Keith insists the only way such an old trend can be heartily received in the modern-day is through reinvention: “How you gonna save jazz if no-one’s listening?” His song ‘Start a Fire’ is a hard-hitting nod to how modern music should be inspired by jazz, yet not afraid to stray from a traditional framework.

Justin Hurwitz’s soundtrack to La La Land is doused in jazz influence, yet prioritises being catchy and enhancing. It leaps between aspects of jazz and classical piano, and it is this freedom from genre boundaries that all music should encapsulate. The result is a nostalgic soundtrack with songs that even manage to foreshadow the romantic story arch of the movie. Jamie Cullum is a great example of a modern jazz musician who is not afraid to break the mould. As a regular listener to his jazz show (BBC Radio 2, Tuesdays 7-8 PM), he proves tremendously knowledgeable about the history of jazz, and is influenced by many of its founding mothers and fathers. His skill at the piano is inspiring and versatile, with innovative techniques of hitting a piano as a drum and reaching into the lid to mute strings. He has performed at the BBC Proms in both 2010 and 2016, inevitably in front of many music purists. He played stunning renditions of ‘If I Ruled The World’ and ‘You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You’. However, he also covered modern artists such as The Weeknd and Rihanna, and made the audience jump to his original track ‘Mixtape’. Further great examples of modern musicians with great jazz influence include The Neil Cowley Trio (contemporary jazz), Gregory Porter (blues, soul), and Ben Folds (jazz fusion). La La Land illustrates the essential idea that nostalgia is a beautiful emotion that should not be confined. But moving on and reinventing the past should definitely not be frowned upon. ‘City of Stars’ appears to have gathered the greatest overall acclaim in the musical’s soundtrack. It is not overtly jazzy, but evokes a sense of nostalgia and simplicity that truly epitomises how we should treat the past. Let Ryan Gosling’s three dedicated months of learning to play the piano for his role inspire you, but think twice before you are swayed by Sebastian’s insistence that the only way you can love jazz is to never stray from the framework.

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FACT OR FICTION

Georgia Beith talks about whether historical dramas neeed to be historical accurate.

piece of historical fiction, whether that be in the form of a book or a period drama, is one of life’s ultimate guilty pleasures. And as a student, especially a History student like myself, it’s not the most respectable thing in the world to admit that you like them. They’re riddled with anachronisms and inaccuracies that make a lot of people look down on them but that doesn’t diminish their entertainment factor. Perhaps as someone who studies the past it should bother me that Anne Boleyn probably didn’t consider sleeping with her brother in order to produce a child, or that Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ wasn’t likely to be heard at medieval jousting tournaments. But it doesn’t, though there are a number of people who seem to be in utter despair at the quality of history being presented in the media today. Is it the case that the fact gets lost in the fiction? And does it really matter if it does?

When making any form of historical fiction and choosing to base it on real events and people, there comes with it a certain expectation that the past will be honoured truthfully. That’s why production companies and publishers will often hire historical consultants and fact checkers, to keep whatever is being made firmly rooted in historical fact. But often these good intentions fall to the wayside in favour of creating a compelling story and focusing on attracting an audience, much to the annoyance of academics and pedants alike. Notable public historian of the Tudor period, David Starkey, once described the hugely popular TV show ‘The Tudors’ as “gratuitously awful” in reference to its errors and inaccuracies. And often when reading a review for a historical fiction novel, the term “historically inaccurate” will be thrown in as though that constitutes a criticism of the quality of the book itself. But do these things actually make them poor TV shows and books?

HISTORICAL DRAMAS

The accuracuy of period dramas is a contentious issue

Not necessarily. Of course, if a soldier from World War I was to start referencing events from World War II, or if a Roman gladiator was to start using his iPhone, then that would be rather distracting. But the crimes committed are rarely ever so obvious. In fact, to most who are engrossed in the film they are watching, or the book they are reading, it’s easy to miss these supposedly obvious mistakes. All creators have the right to an artistic license, even those dealing with the past. And as creators, their first intention is to create, not to deliver historical truths. Although there have to be some limits, art should be judged on its artistic merits, not its factual ones. Accuracy in fiction is vastly overrated, because it’s just that: fiction.

March 2017

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS:

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

M MUSEUMS Our Arts team give you the low down about their favourite museums and art galleries in the capital. From the Science Museum to the Saatchi gallery; there really is something for everyone!

useums and galleries are a great day out - many are free and therefore, a way for students to have an inexpensive day.

Beth Carr: The Science Museum- This great childhood favourite does not disappoint after 10 years: alongside the interactive experiences, which I loved as much as the children around me, there’s amazing exhibitions that make science accessible and understandable. I especially recommend ‘Information Age’ that looks at all sorts of communication - you can fangirl over all the old technology that you remember owning! Georgia Beith: The National Portrait Gallery - If you’re like me and you don’t fancy going into your overdraft on a trip into London then it is hard to find better value for money than the National Portrait Gallery. There’s no admission fee (except for select exhibitions which often are worth forking out the extra cash) and you get to see paintings of our country’s most important figures, past and present. There is something a little bit exciting about seeing such famous works in the flesh, even if you’re not an art buff. Joanne Archer: The Saatchi Gallery - This is my personal favourite artsy place. Few people know about this gallery as it’s tucked away in a corner of London but it’s full of really unique and interesting art and sculpture from all over the world with its exhibitions changing fairly often. It’s a great place to question whether something can really be considered art which, let’s face it, is always a bit of a laugh: last time I went, there was a room of giant ants and another filled with crude oil. Ruby Rodgers:The V&A Museum - I’ve always loved fashion and would consider it to be an art form in itself. It’s free admission (and who doesn’t love free things?) and has a huge variety of beautiful things from clothes to art to architecture - definitely worth a visit! Holly Pyne: The British Museum - I’ll never get bored of it. The scale and variety of exhibitions really means there is something for everyone, from Samurai swords to Egyptian mummies. If nothing else, the Great Court in the centre of the building has a spectacular ceiling; great for those Instagram shots. It also has a cookie bar - seriously, you’ll never want to leave. Lousie Jones:The Imperial War Museum - It’s a fascinating insight into the lives of people who lived through modern war; from WW1 right through to present day conflicts. In particular, the Holocaust exhibition is very poignant and well worth a visit. A great museum and also very helpful if you’re studying any humanities: win win- trip to London and keeping on top of your work! Photography Credit: Joanne Archer

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PUTTING ON THE RITZ Kathryn Pearson reports on RHUL Classical Society’s highly anticipated Bacchanalia Ball.

n the 27 January, Classical Society hosted a night of glamour and style at their annual Bacchanalia Ball. The black-tie event was hosted in aid of the Iris Project, a charity dedicated to the promotion of Classics in state schools across the UK, and raised a staggering total of £744. The evening kicked off with a drinks reception in Founder’s where guests received complimentary nibbles and a Buck’s Fizz on arrival, before heading down to the Dining Hall to enjoy live entertainment, provided by RHUL’s Gospel Choir, as well as Australian singer Sam Lawrence. As the society’s chosen charity, the Iris Project is based on the principle that all children should have the opportunity to learn the Classical languages, literature, histories and art of the ancient world, regardless of their social background. They are focussed on reaching out to children in socially excluded inner-city

regions, while also running projects introducing the Classics to city-based adults. Gospel Choir’s 25 minute performance included a number of songs from their Winter concert set list last December, as well as renditions of modern classics. This included Prince’s Purple Rain and Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven Is A Place on Earth. Traditional gospel songs were also performed as guests entered, providing a cheerful and uplifting atmosphere to the start of the night. Following on from their talented performance was Sam Lawrence, a swing, jazz and soul singer (who has previously paired up with Grammyaward winner Kimbra). Lawrence sang several songs, and even interacted playfully with the crowd, inviting guests to get up and dance. After attending the ball, President of Gospel Choir Charlie Isbell shared her enthusiasm for the evening with us:

‘My personal highlight of the night was seeing Sam perform and rope several ball guests into dancing and getting involved. You could definitely tell that he was having a great time! He was so friendly and really welcomed us as a choir before the ball even began. His voice was amazing but he is a true performer in every sense, not just a talented singer!’ Classical Society also organised a fantastic raffle with the money raised being donated to their chosen charity, along with a photographer to capture the glamorous event. The ball received the highest rate of attendance to date, with Talia Melesie, co-president of the society commenting that, ‘[w]e always make the ball charity focussed, I think that draws in a lot of people. The whole committee were approached across the night being thanked for an amazing evening.’

March 2017

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

#NO FILTER WITH RHCU

Beth Carr speaks to Christian Union President, Lizzy Fretwell, about their upcoming events week, entitled #NoFilter.

aking place from 20-24 February, the Christian Union’s annual events week has been getting bigger and better every year. But what actually is events week? Lizzy explains: “It’s a week of events hosted by the CU including lunchtime and evening talks, a Mark Drama, a meal and a Celidh”. These are not unfamiliar events for the society: the Celidh is back after its success last year, with an accessible way to enjoy the traditional Scottish dance. On a more serious note, the Mark Drama explores Jesus’ life in the round and is a nonthreatening, immersive experience that really makes you think. The talks are “an opportunity to ask big questions about faith, God and

the Bible” with guest speaker, Reuben Hunter. Reuben is pastor of Trinity West Church in White City, starting the church in 2011 after working as part of church leadership in St Albans and Washington D.C. He’ll be speaking on a variety of topics at lunchtimes and in the evenings, including Donald Trump, judgement, and university life. The week is designed to be accessible to people of all faiths so all are welcome to partake in the events. There are also Breakfast Bars in the mornings, so what better motivator could there be for getting up and heading down to see what’s going on! Although this is an annual event, the CU hopes that this year will be even bigger. “We have a marquee in the South Quad to make it really easy to find and

#NO FILTER

Photography Credit: Ella-Sophia Peaple

there are plans to bring in furniture and snazzy decorations to make it a really cool space to hang out”, says Lizzy. It’s not just about exploring faith, it’s a chance to come together with new people and enjoy alternative evening events. You can keep an eye on the plans on the No Filter Royal Holloway Facebook page so watch that space for more details! Interview conducted by Beth Carr

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DISSENT AND DISAPPROVAL

Michele Theil reports on the recent protest at Royal Holloway against Donald Trump and his policies.

resident Trump’s executive order banning refugees, migrants and visitors from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia from entering the United States for a period of three months has sparked protests all over the whole world. As those seven countries are predominantly Muslim, people have taken to calling it a ‘Muslim Ban’ and protesting against it in an effort to stand against the somewhat questionable reasoning behind the ban.

The English PEN society, headed up by Rebecca Wilson, organised a protest on the 2 February for Royal Holloway students. People gathered at The Hub and proceeded to march along the road up past the Students’ Union, congregating in Founder’s South Quad to stand, chant and listen to speeches made by representatives from the English PEN society, the Middle Eastern society and the Islamic society. Many people made and carried signs with everything from quotes in literature to Hamilton lyrics in addition to general

statements and chants against the ban. It is estimated that nearly 100 students attended the protest, bringing people together in a safe space to protest against and disagree with the ban. The protest and the speakers also criticised Prime Minister Theresa May’s refusal to condemn the ban, as many leaders across the world has already done, and disapproved of Donald Trump’s impending visit to the UK. A petition to block the visit has reached 1.6 million signatures and has forced parliament to discuss the petition and the overwhelming desire to stop the visit from happening. Many in attendance at the RHUL protest spoke about the petition and their disappointment over May’s political reaction to Trump and the public dissent surrounding the ban. Chants like “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA”, “No Ban, No Wall” and “F*** Trump” rung out loudly several times over the course of the protest, attracting the attention of the people living in Founder’s and sitting in Crosslands.

When the speeches concluded, the crowd dissipated and only a handful of people were left in the quad. A heated debate began between several selfproclaimed Conservative and Trump supporters and others, with the English PEN committee members and security standing by to keep the atmosphere safe and friendly. President Trump and Trump supporters have defended his executive order by refuting the belief that it is a ‘Muslim ban’ and stating that his decision has nothing to do with religion. However, as the countries affected are largely Muslim and with Trump’s own admission that Christian refugees would be given priority to enter the US, religion does play a key role in this travel ban. Wilson was very keen on making it known that Royal Holloway and the English PEN society, in particular, was very inclusionary and that the protests only serve to show the compassionate nature of students here. Article and Photography by Michele Theil

March 2017

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JUMPING FENCES: RIDING RAISES MONEY

ollowing from their 13,000ft skydive and success in winning of Club of the Year in 2015/16, Royal Holloway Riding have set the bar high in terms of their charity work - and they have no plans of slowing down. Already having put in over 480 voluntary hours this academic year working with the children’s charity Windsor Horse Rangers and their local stables, Riding are proving to be an asset to the community. Last December, the society focused their efforts on a more visible issue: homelessness. Ditching the saddle for a cardboard box, the society headed to a car park in Uxbridge to bed down for the night at Trinity Homeless Project’s “The Big Sleep Out” in order to raise money for those in need.

Riding Society members have demonstrated themselves as outstanding in their contribution to this cause, raising an outstanding £887 and smashing their JustGiving target of £500. Equipped with the hashtag ‘ItCouldBeMe,’ the members suffered through rain and freezing temperatures, undergoing the harsh reality that so many people are faced with every night. But the evening was not an entirely disheartening experience. Trinity organised live music, street food,

spoken word artist performers and carol singing, channelling the actions of the volunteers into much-needed light relief and encapsulating the sense of generosity and solidarity within the community. Secretary Abbie Cheeseman is one member of Riding who participated in the fundraiser. Speaking about their efforts to organise the night, she told us, “This is the second year that Riding have attended Trinity’s Big Sleep Out and we’ll definitely be going back next year. It’s an incredible charity that works tirelessly to help the homeless community around Uxbridge. Our members raised a colossus £887 and we’re so grateful for all of their hard work.” The club also attended Windsor Racecourse earlier this year, dedicating their time to “bucket shaking” for Thames Valley Air Ambulance who provide life-saving medical care across three counties. In total, the entire team was able to raise a massive £1,500 for the charity, who do not receive any government funding and rely solely on fundraising to “deliver unique life-saving service to you wherever and whenever you need it.”

Yet Riding’s charitable work is carried out on a small scale as well as on a large one, and the ethic for this club seems to be little and often, occasionally breaking routine to achieve ambitious accomplishments as with the Big Sleep Out. Speaking about their smaller, yet noteworthy accomplishments, Cheeseman told us how, “13 members featured in our own naked calendar for Riding for the Disabled Association – once they’ve all sold we will have raised over £400.” In addition, Riding’s focus for this year is on Willberry Wonder Pony, their selected sponsor charity. In perhaps a less conspicuous display of charity than their calendar, the club raised £40 by spending an entire week on campus wearing jodhpurs, a type of riding trouser. The club has organised a number of other events in aid of this charity, including Jailbreak, a ‘Red Ride’ on their weekly Wednesday lesson and numerous bake sales. All profits go to Willberry, which raises funds for bone cancer research and grants equine wishes to the seriously ill. For more information on Riding’s events, fundraisers, visit the club’s Facebook page or the SU website. Kathryn Pearson

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CEDAS: WRITING CAFE Beenish Khan, the student support and outreach advisor (academic) at RHSU, lets you know about the Writing Cafe. very day I meet students who are not completely sure about what is expected from different forms of assessed writing (for example, case studies, reports, essays, even reflective assignments) and who need help with how to use sources and reference correctly.

People often have misconceptions around academic writing, thinking that it has to include complex vocabulary with long sentences. However, academic writing should be clear and concise to help the reader follow an argument as they go through your work. It’s important to note that each subject has its own style of writing and vocabulary. You will find out more about this as you progress through your course. The good news is that the SU and CeDAS (the Centre for the Development of Academic Skills) have got together to create a Writing Café that aims to build confidence and highlight the rewards of academic writing. The Writing Café runs twice a week on Wednesday and Thursday and is staffed by volunteer peer mentors. These guys really know their stuff as they are students

themselves and most of them are doing PhDs, so they have lots of friendly advice to give you and they can really empathise with what you might be struggling with. There may be numerous questions you have about academic writing; what’s important, how do I start or what should I avoid. I thought it would be useful to ask our mentors for their responses to frequently asked questions on the more general features of writing at university. Read on as they tell us what they have learnt from their journeys as academic writers. Beenish: Why is it a good idea to have an essay-plan before you start writing? Lana (Mentor and MSc Candidate in Biological Sciences): When tackling a piece of work as long as an essay, it can be easy to forget why you’re writing it in the first place. That’s why it is incredibly important to first come up with a plan of everything you wish to include and outline a basic structure before launching into it. Then the important bit - bulking out your points with in depth analysis, keeping everything you discuss relevant to the essay title.

Beenish: What advice would you give to a student who has writer’s block? Freida (Mentor and PhD Candidate in Music and French): The first thing that I would say to anyone with a writer’s block is: Don’t worry, this happens to everyone and is completely normal. There are, however, some tricks that may help. Try taking a break: to stop thinking about the assignment, in order to inspire some new ideas. When you do know what to write, but don’t know how to say it, my advice would be similar: get it down on paper. Beenish: Why is it important for students to proof-read their work? Rebecca (Mentor and PhD Candidate in Music): A few years ago, I was given the following advice by my supervisor: ‘Writing is 40% getting words on the page, and 60% proofreading and editing.’ I remember thinking at the time that this must be the wrong way round. Over the years since, I’ve learnt that this is absolutely true spell-check hasn’t picked it up. CeDAS also offers a range of academic writing support. Further details available at: royalholloway. ac.uk/cedas.

Astronomy: a journey from amateur to (more) professional Stewart Boogert, Department of Physics Looking in wonder at celestial objects through a small telescope can also be the first step on a long, exciting and fun journey towards becoming an Astronomer. On the occasion of BBC Stargazing Live and British Science Week, Professor Stewart Boogert describes his journey from amateur astronomer towards making complex measurements with Royal Hollowayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teaching telescope. His talk will cover the faintest, furthest, biggest, coldest things which can be observed, or even measured with a small telescope. After the lecture, weather permitting, Professor Boogert and his students will make real time observations with the telescope and discuss the observable night sky in spring. All are welcome to this free public lecture and GCSE/A-level students with an interest in science may find it particularly suitable.

Science for Schools Lecture Series - all welcome Register your free place at RHULPhysics.eventbrite.co.uk

6.30pm Thur 16 March 2017

Windsor Building Auditorium

For more information: royalholloway.ac.uk/physics physics.outreach@rhul.ac.uk Royal Holloway, University of London Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX @RHULPhysics Image by Dr Laurie Nevay

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