November 2015 by Orbital Magazine

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NOVEMBER 2015 | FREE

Emelia Gorecka ON LIFE AS A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE AND STUDENT

Kings-wouldn’t Simple fixes to make your room feel more like your home

ULET CLOSURE Will it come back bigger and better?

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF STUDENTS’ UNION ROYAL HOLLOWAY

THIS ISSUE

EDITOR Laura Denham DEPUTY EDITOR Holly Pyne SUBEDITOR Alice Mason NEWS Chloe Wright Louise Jones OPINION Beth Carr FEATURES Tomike Adeniji Imogen Lily Trinder LIFESTYLE Abigail Rebecca Turner ARTS Michaelangelo J Fano Lis Carlton

NEWS

CRIME DOUBLES

ULET CLOSED

Crime rate doubles in Englefield Green over the last year The students’ union letting agency closed for business this week

COMMENT

UN FAILURE

GRANTS CUT

A discussion of John Ashe’s corruption charges How will the scrapping of maintenance grants affect students

SPORT & SOCIETIES Corrie Wheeler OPERATIONS Hayley Ashworth PHOTOGRAPHY Saurav Chowdhury DESIGN Molly Harding MARKETING Aakriti Gupta ADVERTISING Sasha Stone

FEATURES

LIFESTYLE

OLYMPIC AMBITION

FRIGHT NIGHT

UK VS USA

KINGS-WOULDN’T

Interview with rising sporting star and Holloway student Emelia Gorekca How does Freshers’ week in the Uk compare to US universities

Find out how to create simple, cheap and easy looks ready for halloween How to make your Kingswood room feel a little bit more like home!

WEBSITE Dylan Maryk CO-PRESIDENT SOCIETIES & MEDIA Brianna Middleton MacPherson

ADDRESS Media Suite, Students’ Union, Royal Holloway University of London, TW20 0EX TEL +44 1784 276 744 EMAIL editor@theorbital.co.uk WEBSITE theorbital.co.uk Cover Photography: Saurav Chowdhury

ARTS

SPORTS & SOCS

INTO THE WOODS

FENCING

HEPBURN

DANCE

Find out all about MTS’s new production

A review of the Portrait of an Icon exhibition in London

Blades of glory? We catch up with one of Holloway’s most successful clubs With a new drama and dance degree we find out what dance have in store this year

November 2015

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

EDITORIAL ith the closure of the Students’ Union’s own letting agency Ulet on the cards very soon because it wasn’t profitable, it got me thinking this week, what kind of support is actually on offer to students around Holloway and across the UK when it comes to renting? Having had terrible experiences myself with student housing, from exploding boilers to the dodgy-looking mattress stains when I moved in, I’m well aware of the nightmare renting in the private

sector can be. And I’m not alone, a 2014 NUS survey revealed than over a quarter of students have experienced problems with their student houses and over two thirds felt there was not enough support out there for students when it comes to renting. So we at the Orbital want to run a feature on the standard of housing around Holloway, and we want to know all your housing horror stories, so get in touch. Talking of horror stories, this issue we’ve got an incredible lifestyle spread on page 20, we had some

Our Editor Laura discusses what you can expect from this month’s issue. amazing helpers from the Fashion and Drama societies, and it’s all the inspiration you need to look sufficiently spooky by Saturday. Other societies and clubs featured in this month’s issue range from Fencing to Dance to MTS, have a flick through and see what they have in store over the next term. Ever wondered what life is like at a US uni, well our year abroad columnist has it covered on page 16 be sure to have a read about her experiences. If you like what you see in this month’s edition and we’ve got you inspired to write, don’t panic, it’s not too late, head to theorbital.co.uk/getinvolved and become part of team today.

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CRIME RATE DOUBLES IN ENGLEFIELD GREEN Crime in Englefield Green is on the rise, figures show the number of sexual and violent crimes have almost tripled Hannah Foord hilst Royal Holloway can be proud of its status of being amongst some of safest Universities in the UK, according to sturents.com Egham is the safest place for students to live, unfortunately there is still crime that occurs around the neighbouring areas.

Students after their first year flock down the hill to Egham or up to Englefield Green and whilst the quiet areas seem like a safe haven for students there, like all towns, are numerous crime reports. According to police.co.uk the most commonly reported crimes for this area are anti-social behaviour and violence/

sexual crimes. And whilst the idea of any crime is alarming what is even more so is that within a year reports of crime have almost doubled. In August 2014 the total reported crimes within the area were 45, with 20 of these reports being due to anti-social behaviour. However this number has almost doubled. When looking at crime reports for August 2015 the number of reports stands at 83. Whilst this is alarming what is even more alarming is that the number of violent and sexual crimes has almost tripled, from 6 crimes reported in August 2014 to 19 in August 2015. If you find yourself walking home in the dark try to walk in pairs and if this is not

ENGLEFIELD GRAVEYARD

The infamous graveyard has often been imagined to be a location for potential crimes

possible stick to well known and well lit routes. Also visit Founders building to pick up a free rape alarm from Security Services to carry on your persons. When leaving your new abode remember to lock your windows and doors and keep all expensive equipment out of plain view, especially if your room is on the ground floor. Despite Royal Holloway being in one of the safest cities in the UK, like any where it is always good to remain cautious and a reminder to be vigilant in these areas.

November 2015

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

GUN CRIME POLICY ISSUED BY COLLEGE

After a 26-year-old man opened fire on a community college campus at Oregon State University on the 1st October 2015, where a total of 10 people ranging in ages of 18 to 65 were killed, Police have been investigating an online copycat threat made against students attending the University of Edinburgh. he comments were posted on an anonymous website, after the shooting at an Oregon college in the US on Thursday the 1st October 2015 took place. It was suggested something similar would happen in Edinburgh and warned students not to go to the University on the Friday that followed. The post has now been removed and is not thought to be credible.

Helen Groenendaal Senior Student Wellbeing officer here at Royal Holloway University of London, gave a statement on the collage’s policy if such an incident was ever to occur saying. “Our campus and community is well known for being a safe and supportive one and we are committed to doing all we can to maintain this and ensure we are not complacent about risk. We work to identify any vulnerabilities or risks affecting the student body and to help students and others to mitigate these

risks. To help achieve this we have a wide range of support services available for students who have concerns about themselves or friends. We would ask any member of the university with worries to contact our welfare teams so we can ensure students are given appropriate support or advice. As with all large institutions we have

procedures in place to respond to the unlikely event of an emergency situation and these are regularly reviewed to reflect current threats or trends.” However rare these incidents may be, they reminds us to remain vigilant and attentive should there be any unusual or suspicious behaviour occurring.

Louise Jones

We would ask any member of the university with worries to contact our welfare teams”

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US SHOOTING

Yet another shooting jolts the US with terrifying threats of copy cat attacks hitting UK universities

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ULET IS CLOSED

Students’ Union housing service ULet expected close this week due to finance issues. Words by Louise Jones. It was announced on Tuesday the 13th October 2015 that ULet the accommodation service here on campus will be closing, due to plans to restructure. The Students’ Union have approved a plan to restructure the way that they help support students in their search for private housing, in order to make it more efficient and cost-effective.

HOLLOWAY TO DROP LONDON Word on campus is Royal Holloway may choose to drop the University of London from its name. Word on campus is Royal Holloway may choose to lose its University of London name, however will not be leaving the group altogether.

I spoke to a perspective student who, although did not think this change would stop her applying, did say that “you’re probably more likely to look at the uni in the first place if its a university of London” and that it would particularly affect someones decision if they were not from Britain. Especially because of its size Royal Holloway is not a Russell Group so the University of London status puts us above the rest.

Whilst this is currently only a rumour however, the results of this change could have a huge impact on current and perspective students. There are multiple benefits to being part of the university of London group of colleges. Furthermore the detrimental change to our loan by not being For instance, access to all of the counted as a University in London libraries of each college and to the would mean, as my housemates Careers Group, London’s leading pointed out, many current careers service, a university of students would not be able to London degree which is extremely afford the high rent of halls, prestigious and well looked on houses in Egham, and the now by employers, and an option to £7 entrance to the SU. take courses at other universities within the high-achieving group. Saffron Amis

The service provides guidance and support when students are looking for off-campus accommodation and ULet has a offered a “let-only service and acted as a “go between for students and landlords”and do not charge administration fees. However, over the past six months the Students’ Union has been assessing the service that is provided to those that use it, when students are deciding to move into off-campus accommodation. According to the Students’ Union, they have helped approximately 80 students per year, but it has become clear that the current model is not effective and that the resources could be better invested. The aim is to increase the reach of their new service in order to provide positive help for all students at Royal Holloway, whilst also hiring a team of students into a brand new service situated in the Advice Centre. Support includes offering a contract checking service during November to February, ensuring that students are getting the best for their money. These positions are being advertised on the Student Union’s website, and means that students will have easier access to help and advice concerning housing issues. In addition, the service is working alongside the College on a “feasibility study,” which will include a large piece of research, into whether the new venture, working in partnership with the Accommodation Office cold be successful in the long term from 2016. It is advised if you have any questions or queries take a look at the FAQ on the SU website, or contact Nayab Cheema- President of Education and Campaigns, and the Chair of Trustees.

Royal Holloway Peer Mediation Service

Mediation is a confidential, voluntary process which allows parties in a dispute to talk about the situation, the effect it is having on them and how they think the situation can be resolved. Eight Royal Holloway student mediators have been trained to deal with conflict and are supported by staff members from the College and Southwark Mediation Centre . The mediators have the skills required to deal with all types of disputes but are also aware of the need to refer cases back to members of staff if the issues involved are considered as serious within safeguarding. The mediation service is for the whole university and is designed to reduce conflict and help change the way disputes are dealt with by the students. If you have a case you feel could benefit from peer mediation please email wellbeing@royalholloway.ac.uk with a brief description of the issues involved so we can assess whether it is suitable for mediation.

Royal Holloway Welfare & Wellbeing

@RHULSuppAdv

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TRUST: ON SALE FOR $1.3MIL

he United Nations. An organisation forged in the furnace of pacifistic desperation, in the spirit of multi-national cooperation and with a beating povertyreducing heart at the centre of a body of good will. Ruined. By the greed of one man.

John Ashe, 61, from the small 281km squared island of Antigua in the Caribbean was accused on the 6th October 2015, of bribery and corruption charges. The charges as they stand detail that Mr Ashe used his high-ranking position in the UN to obtain for a Chinese businessman a lucrative business deal for the construction of a conference centre in Macau, HongKong, China. You read this sort of headline frequently,

and it strikes you as awful, clearly, but humans do have their weaknesses and money is a fundamental enabler to happiness for many and, although you condemn such behaviour, you accept it. But with John William Ashe, you don’t. You don’t, because John William Ashe worked for the United Nations. With this headline, the essence of hope in you retches and writhes under the idea that he probably is not the only UN official involved in such a scandal, under the thought that this man was able to head the largest and most important UN assembly, under the knowledge that he genuinely spent this bribery money on Rolex watches and branded suits. The shallowness of his aspiration and the depth of his treachery are no match in scale for the extent of the loss of hope that people will have.

UN FAILURE

This scandal marks yet another failure for the global instituion designed to promote equality

Millions of people around the world, in impoverished countries, in unequal societies, in war-torn districts, rely upon the UN quite literally to stay alive. UNAID provides food bags on every continent, UN peacekeeping troops pervade the Gaza Strip, UNLGBT work to reduce the homophobia in Russia. This man has undermined every one of these efforts. What sort impoverished of country would feel comfortable accepting offers of aid when its head is as corrupt as their own government officials? Mr Ashe has not simply stolen what was not his, of course he hasn’t. This man has denied to the poorest, most

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November 2015

JOHN ASHE

John Ashe was accused of bribery and corruption charges at the beginning of october

deprived the aptitude to hope. This all comes in the same month that Volkswagen revealed that they had indeed been lying to the western world about emissions tests on their cars. Isn’t this all a bit too much to take? What effects will this herald? I have an idea. Obviously, it is too soon to tell, but let’s see. There will be a greater alienation from those in power and influence, to those not, the consumers. What is meant by this a distancing and undercurrent of distrust on behalf of the regular person, looking up at the big-bad-men-in-skyscrapers type alienation. We live in the age of the media, truly, we have never been more able to communicate deliciously scandalous news across the world than now. However, the taste of this is turning

The shallowness of his aspiration and the depth of his treachery are no match in scale for the extent of the loss of hope that people will have. Millions of people around the world, in impoverished countries, in unequal societies, in war-torn districts, rely upon the UN quite literally to stay alive.”

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sour. After too much exposure to this, we being to ponder just how lovely our world is, just how ethical practises are, just how morally driven people at the top are not. Another inherent problem of this media flow, is that bad news is a lot more interesting, and therefore a lot more readable, than good news. A negative image is formed. I seriously considered not writing this article, because, I love the UN. I represented Russia at NMUN (National Model United Nations) in New York,

and adored the experience, the bureaucratic intricacies of resolution drafting were truly thrilling, and the sensation that your memorandum will initiate aid, very heart warming. I did not want to be part of spreading the damage of the United Nations. But this, like the other betrayals of the people who make the decisions, was too good a premise from which to urge: do not blindly follow the man in the great suit.

Tom Vaughan

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THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER

The lack of water fountains around campus is frustrating and could surely be easily fixed?

KEEP US HYDRATED Amie Dredge asks why the university is not doing more to keep us hydrated ater: that little necessity in life that comprises over 70% of your body weight. We are constantly being told to drink more water, yet there are very few places on campus to get this water.

The recommended daily intake of water is set at 2 litres. The proven advantages of drinking lots of water include: better skin, decreased tiredness; feeling tired can be a result of dehydration and the NHS recommends drinking more water if you feel frequently tired, help to lose weight; a 2015 study by the University of Birmingham reported that drinking water before meal times means you eat fewer calories because you feel fuller, and to ace your exam; University of East London released the results of a study in 2012 suggesting that water aided exam performance.

I have been in contact with the Estates department on campus and we have drafted up a list of locations around campus for the fountains (the SU being one of them). Estates is currently looking towards installing some around campus, within the next few weeks, so hopefully I’ll be able to update you more fully when they’ve been installed!” Nayab Cheema, SURHUL President

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So, all in all water, is essential in life, yet there are very few water fountains on campus. Going around campus this week, I was only able to spot three - in Bedford Library, in the Hub and in the International building. Three water fountains to serve over 10,000 staff and students is hardly enough. If you want to fill up your water bottle or even grab a cup of water in between lectures, you are at risk of being late to your next class. Traipsing across campus just for some water is not fun.

And it’s not just me. Jess, a 2nd year History student, wants “more water fountains to refill my bottle on campus”, while Cecilia, a 2nd year History and German student, thinks “water is completely necessary to keep up the standard of learning, and buildings should have some source of water, accessible to everyone”.

I urge whoever is in charge of water, please install more water fountains on campus to keep us students hydrated and healthy. You may even see our productivity levels increase!

November 2015

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

THE COST OF SCRAPPING MAINTENANCE GRANTS Yasmeen Frasso discusses the implications for students of the government’s recent decision to scrap maintenance grants in favour of maintenance loans hen I was going through the UCAS process there were two things that lessened the stress and caused me a bit of relief. The first was the obvious news of knowing that my chosen universities saw me as worthy of an offer. But what was perhaps even more reassuring was finding out that I was eligible for a maintenance grant.

Like the majority of people, the weeks and months leading up to university were filled with financial discussions – how much allowance you would get, how you would pay for your accommodation, what your budget should be etc. But for those of us who are from lower-income backgrounds, the worry was all that bit more prevalent. After applying for student finance back in the earlier months, I remember thinking of what my plan B would be, should I receive a lower loan than expected. Would I get a part time job around my studies? Would that even suffice? Maybe the best option would be to defer my entry, take a gap year and work, in the hope of saving up some money for the following year. Luckily enough I did get what I expected to in the end. So you can imagine my horror when the 2015 Budget came out earlier this year in July and claimed that maintenance grants had become “unaffordable” and were going to be replaced by a higher loan. Whilst the Tories claim this will be giving university students the highest degree of support that has ever been provided,

WESTMINSTER

Have the government really thought through the impact the changes will have upon students?

and whilst it’s short term impact may not be as detrimental as simply scrapping the grant, the longer term picture of graduating with a higher amount of debt (up to £59,000 if studying in London) is enough to put many people off even applying to university – I know I would have thought twice. An NUS report released soon after the Budget showed that 35% of students in receipt of a maintenance grant would not have chosen to go to university without it which is a staggering amount. This is even more important considering University Minister, Greg Clark, stated that the Tories are aiming to “ensure that there is a place at university for all those that have the aspiration and capability.” Yes the number of places might be

increasing, and yes the higher loan does provide short term help but honestly, if anything, what the budget is really doing is pulling the ladder away from the feet those who need it the most. More than anything, scrapping the grants is discouraging. With the grant, those who felt like they couldn’t otherwise afford university had a degree of support to fall back on and the semblance of being somewhere they actually belonged. Without it, the ever-rising costs of university life will be too much for some. A petition, supported by the Green Party, is currently underway with over 45,000 signatures to oppose this change. Hopefully support for it will grow and lower income students will be able to #keepthegrants.

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‘NO TO EU’ SOCIETY? The potential of exiting the EU hits the headlines weekly, but now is the debate heading for Royal Holloway?

ecently, on the university noticeboard I came upon a request asking for a society to be created in regards to Britain’s status in the EU. However the preferred title of the society was “Better off out”, indicating the society would lean mostly towards Britain leaving the EU. This initially upset me as it was very one sided; mentioning those who are undecided are still welcome. But what if you’re ProEU? But besides that, isn’t a society meant to unite you in a new or known topic of interest? This topic can, to some, be a huge subject of interest, but creating it for one side didn’t seem fair.

However this feeling soon drifted as one point this post managed to succeed in, is the question of promoting a debate. A debate to occur within the university among both British students and international students alike. Considering the Pro’s and Con’s being in the EU and being out of it. How does it affect everyone? From the British or to others. Being a university renowned for its international students there’s bound to be a varied response. The only issue is let’s not limit it to simply discuss one side and discuss both, as it is essential to understand both. You simply can’t conclude your essays, discussing one side; why should a topic of this importance have to. On the other hand, I do commend this post in its quest to commence discussions. Some students are unaware of what being in the EU means. Maybe you know, but perhaps you could know more. I think this noticeboard post got it right that we should be openly debating it. But let’s not just stick this into a society. Let’s make this debate open for all students to contribute their opinions. While also allowing those who aren’t that politically savvy to get a sense of what this referendum (if it is to happen) means.

Sara Carvalho

EU EXIT

Should we be promoting debate about exitting the EU?

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November 2015

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

EMELIA GORECKA

One of Britain’s Rio 2016 hopefuls and fourth year student at Royal Holloway

OLYMPIC AMBITION Not heard the name Emelia Gorekca? She’s one of Britain’s rising sporting stars and a Psychology student here at Royal Holloway. Remember the name ready for Rio 2016. Here at Royal Holloway there are many so-called ‘big names on campus’, whether it be that girl with thousands of Instagram followers or the guy who only ever wears a suit on to campus, regardless, the real campus celebrity is perhaps one the most unassuming and grounded people you could meet. You may not have even heard the name, but Emelia Gorecka is one of Britain’s most promising athletes, competing in

5000m on track and cross country in the winter, and a psychology third year at Holloway. With a sponsorship deal with Nike and a huge range of wins under her belt already, including European Junior Champion, you would perhaps expect a bit of an ego, but Emelia came to speak to us on her first day off from training in weeks. Does she ever get tired of the constant training? “I’m

normally always tired! But I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on work without using up my adrenaline on running!’” Having split her final year in two, to deal with the pressures of training and completing a degree she admits she doesn’t spend much time on campus, but comes on for lectures and leaves again to head to training “I spend most of my time in my car-

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it’s like my best friend” she laughs. It hasn’t always been plain sailing on her rise to the top of her field however, having fractured a bone in her foot last year, but has this dampened her competitive spirit? “It’s a long term plan, this year was mean to be a practice year for Rio, but unfortunately it hasn’t quite worked out. But I’ve ran the time I need to qualify before, the injury will only make me want it more, make me stronger.” She trains three times a day, every day, with sessions consisting of a ten mile run in the morning, a gym session in the middle of the day and four miles again in the evening, all of which with lectures and university work squeezed in between. I ask does she ever wonder why she puts herself through it, she laughs “It’s just my life, I forget most of the time that it’s not normal!” She credits her flatmates and family for putting up with her 4pm naps and O.C.D. planning, and of course, Royal Holloway for supporting her in her studies. Emelia has spent her summer term in the USA at Stanford University to sit her exams, and ensure she can train and hit her qualifications times. The campus is as beautiful as Royal Holloway she comments: “I realise how lucky I am to be able to split my time between such cool places.” So with all the intense

training, is she confident of hitting her qualification times for the Rio 2016 Olympics? “It’s going to be tough, given my injury time, but I’m stronger now and have run the times before. A lot of girls come out of the woodwork and surprise you by running the times they need. But as I see it, if it’s easy then it’s not worth doing.” It’s this attitude which, when you talk to Emelia in person, immediately makes you believe that she has what it takes to achieve her Olympic ambitions. I ask after graduation whether she’ll then move into full time

CHAMPION

Emelia trains three times day with lectures in between, but just treats it as normal life

training, “That’s the plan!” she answers, her training will then consist of travelling abroad to complete altitude training in places such as Kenya, ‘I didn’t ever do a gap year, so I suppose this is my way of travelling and seeing the world,’ she comments. And the ultimate end goal? “I’ve had a taste of being one of the best in the world as a junior, so to repeat that at senior level is the ultimate dream.” And we have no doubt she’ll achieve it.

But as I see it, if it’s easy then it’s not worth doing.”

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ULTIMATE GOAL

Her ultimate ambition is to claim medals in the Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth championships

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November 2015

CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU

WRECK YOURSELF

This week marks the start of Check Yourself Week, a week focused on arising awareness for a range of issues, here your Co-President Welfare and Diversity, Jack Kilker tells you all about it Check Yourself Week, while a small start, is, I hope, an important move towards trying to ingrain our wellbeing services in the student experience at Royal Holloway”

A strange title, I know, but this notion of looking after yourself pre-emptively, rather than waiting for things to start to go wrong, is one that has driven me to establish the new campaign week which the Students’ Union will be running at the end of October: Check Yourself Week.

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While perhaps not the most alluring of titles, this will be an important week of signposting and awareness raising, across a diverse range of issues which can all fall under the Welfare & Diversity remit. There will be old favourites appearing during the week, such as Puppy Therapy between 12pm and 2pm on Monday 26th October. There will be new ventures for the Students’ Union, such as the ‘Stay Safe & Stay Well’ Fayre, taking place in the Students’ Union building and as a collaboration with College. This will be all about signposting all of the different welfare and support services that the College provides, that the Students’ Union provides, and

that we work with collaboratively from outside of the University. Other highlights will be a focus on STI Testing, with Thames Valley Positive Support having been in to offer free testing by appointment on Thursday 22nd October, and Sexual Health Surrey running a testing stall at the Fayre to reach as many of our students as possible. On Wednesday 28th October, ‘Time To Change’ Surrey will be leading an afternoon of tea and cake and talking about mental health, and our Advice & Support Centre staff and Welfare Committee will be around to chat to students about any problems they might be facing as we reach the middle of the term.

A big problem with student welfare and wellbeing, is that more often than not, we don’t seek advice or guidance until it’s too late, and we really, really need it. Check Yourself Week, while a small start, is, I hope, an important move towards trying to ingrain our wellbeing services in the student experience at Royal Holloway. If we’re able to be aware of self-care, to be aware of our mental wellbeing and to take care of our sexual health, and to know where to find financial support, academic advice and housing help, then ultimately we’ll feel more secure, more supported, and more confident in the decisions that we’re making day-to-day. I hope to see lots of you in the Students’ Union for these events throughout the coming week, and I always welcome suggestions of new ways to engage students in our welfare campaigns!

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FRESHERS WEEK

UK v USA Third year student Abbie Jones speaks about her first few weeks on her study abroad year in California. headed into UCLA with no expectations whatsoever. I believed that the movies about college in America must be wildly exaggerated. I didn’t expect a Project X or Bad Neighbours scenario when I arrived. But Fresher’s week or ‘Zero Week’ as UCLA students call it has differed fairly radically from my Fresher’s experience at Holloway.

Roommates: it is the oddest thing to arrive home to someone snooping around my personal belongings but it happens and there is no forgetting it happened.

Having a roommate is the norm in the USA and so far it hasn’t been as bad as expected. Although I do pray for those in triple occupancy. Luckily my roommate does not snore or scream in her sleep but I definitely miss the privacy of my old Wedderburn room, even though I could hear my flatmates through the walls. Drinking: it was a shock to the system to be told I could not drink after two years of becoming all too frequently intoxicated on neon coloured VK’s. Fortunately the American’s have found a way around it; frat parties. They are not as crazy as the movies make

VENICE BEACH

Abbie has settled quickly into L.A. life, being able to visit world famous attractions such as Venice Beach

them out to be but the alcohol is free and flowing making them unmistakably better than many SU nights (sorry SU fans!). The secrecy around alcohol makes you all feel like you’re in on some illicit and shocking secret which is kind of hilarious too... Until the cops come and shut down the frat houses. Classes: I’m no expert on my classes considering it’s the

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UCLA CAMPUS

The campus of UCLA is arguably almost and picturesque as that of Royal Holloway

ALL THE GEAR

Abbie has quickly stocked up on the classic American University essentials, especially as part of teh cheer squad

SPORTS

The sporting culture of the USA is completely different to that of the UK and takes some getting used to

DRINKING

It wasa shock to the system not being able to legalling drink, but the frat parties make up for it!

second week. But what I do already love about the American system is the lack of pressure on choosing what is right for you. You are encouraged to swap and experiment with different fields. Say if you want to switch from Math to Journalism? Absolutely no issue, even if you are no longer in your first year. Extra-Cirricular: sports are undeniably taken more seriously in the USA which sucks if you are like me and enjoy participating within a range of different sports. Before Uni I’d never cheered before, but Royal Holloway made that happen.

Frat parties. They are not as crazy as the movies make them out to be but the alcohol is free and flowing making them unmistakably better than many SU nights (sorry SU fans!)The secrecy around alcohol makes you all feel like you’re in on some illicit and shocking secret which is kind of hilarious too...”

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I would not dream of joining the UCLA Cheer squad if I had never done Cheer before! With that said however, there is more team unity here and travelling to a stadium for American football games is kind of surreal and awesome. There are definitely positives and

negatives to freshers in both the USA and UK. There is much less drinking in the USA but made up for in terms of sports and extra curricular so much so that you almost do not notice that you are not catatonic. But if someone could send me a bottle of Absolut I’d be forever grateful!

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DAN EVANS: HOLLOWAY’S NEW SMALL SCREEN STAR There are always “Big Names on Campus”, the people who have become either famous or categorically infamous, for a grand variety of reasons. One of Royal Holloway’s most rapidly rising stars is an unassuming, third-year geography student called Dan Evans. But if he’s so unassuming, why is he simultaneously a rising star? Interview by Alice Barnes-Brown. In his spare time, Dan enjoys reading and making radio podcasts. But he is better known for the YouTube videos he makes about the geographic features of his beloved home county, Norfolk. They introduce the viewer to Dan’s endearing love for this often neglected county, but his unique style of presenting is what’s really given him the edge. His first national TV appearance was on Viral Tap, an ITV panel show hosted by Caroline Flack. Since then, he’s been discussed in the LAD Bible, and is soon to appear on Rude Tube. With all this, Dan has essentially become an internet meme, and it’s his passion for geography that led him there. I caught up with Dan to see what he thinks of all this.

Did your YouTube channel start as a passion project, a hobby you did for fun?

How do you feel about the recent surge in popularity, or even ‘internet meme’ status?

Well, I’ve always loved getting outdoors and exploring and I think my film-making emanated from that. When I was quite little, I used to make lots of home documentaries; from our back garden to the local area. Then, when we started going on more exotic holidays, I always used to take my tripod and camera and would spend my holiday with a script in my hand! Later on, when I was in college, I produced a series called Difference with Dan which took two similar geographical terms (such as rock and stone) and attempted to outline their essential differences. That went really well, and the rest as they say, is history!

I think ‘surge’ is the operative word there; my popularity seems to come and go. A couple of years back Greg James from Radio One tweeted one of my videos which created a surge for me. Then I did some presenting at the end of an ITV2 Viral Tap episode. Recently, I was given a great boost of subscribers when I was featured on the LADBible website. It’s nice to know all these hours of hard work are being appreciated! But, when things die down and the surge drifts away, it gives me time to relax and channel my thoughts.

November 2015

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

TALES OF A THAILAND TOURIST

Thailand is one of the many places that people regard as a massive tourist attraction but it isn’t. You have to dive deep into the culture to truly experience its beauty and not just settle for seeing the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Words by Annie Pantry.

hailand is one of the many places that people regard as a massive tourist attraction but it isn’t. You have to dive deep into the culture to truly experience its beauty and not just settle for seeing the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Yes, you can swim in the warm Gulf of Thailand and eat insane cuisine at a 5 star spa resort and lay blissfully in 40 degree heat all day topping up your tan; but wouldn’t you rather party until sunrise during the full moon on KoPhangan, travel through the mountains of Koh Smaui, walk bare foot across scorching stone to see Buddha, dance with elephants, see a ping pong show or even eat the best stir fry of your life from a small family stall in a street market at midnight? I wanted to do all this and much more so I did. Not only this but I visited night markets, swam in a waterfall, kayaked through caves, walked across the real bridge across the River Kwai. I cannot wait to go back to what I call my little piece of heaven. I think everybody needs to experience and indulge themselves in this amazing country. I spent a month touring Thailand and I can happily say it was the best experience of my life. You don’t need a gap year or a ‘Gap Yah’ as some say; all you need is 4 weeks, a backpack, some ambition and a hell of a lot of water (trust me it’s hot). You will be welcomed with open arms and

treated as family and I promise you that you won’t want to leave. Now, as a tourist in Thailand it is essential to see or even ride an elephant but most likely they are mistreated and used for amusement so I did one step better and I encourage you to do the same. The majority of my travelling was spent volunteering at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, caring for, feeding and bathing elephants of all ages and backgrounds. They may be some of the world’s giants but they are the gentlest creatures I have ever encountered and I highly recommend this sanctuary. I could write endlessly about my experience but fundamentally I want to share the best things that Thailand gave me. So here are the top 6 things to see and do whilst travelling around Thailand. It’s a big place but I feel the small Island of Koh Smaui will offer you all you need: 1. Experience Buddhist culture: visit The Big Buddha. This 12-metre

seated golden Buddha statue was built in 1972 and depicts the time he journeyed to enlightenment. 2. Swim in Na Muang waterfall; it truly is the most beautiful waterfall in Thailand, surrounded by the purple rocks of the mountains. 4. Eat Pad Thai from a real Thai street Market (guaranteed to be the best Thai food you will ever eat). Thai food festivals are a must! 5. Visit the Tiger Sanctuary in Lamai and say hello to the Royal Bengal tigers and even feed a cub.

I could write endlessly about my experience but fundamentally I want to share the best things that Thailand gave me”

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20 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

al lowe en, Bonfire Night, and Mischief Night are this month’s fiery holidays. Positioned in the archaic building that Thomas Holloway, the Victorian entrepreneur, opened in 1879 RoHo students revive the Gothic roots of the University. The Orbital, Fashion society, and Drama society collaborate one Friday evening in October to raise the dead.

a deathly, mischievous look perfect for lurking the cobwebbed, dark corridors of Founders late on a dark night where the moon shines in full. Fashion society likewise showed stylist talent in their fashioning of creepy sartorial from their dayto-day wardrobes. In keeping with the simple, do it yourself Halloween outfit we took advantage of the eerie surroundings of Royal Holloway. The

Positioned in the archaic building that Thomas Holloway, the Victorian entrepreneur, opened in 1879, RoHo students revive the Gothic roots of the University. “

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The SU became a soirée of face paint, fake blood, and makeup palates, nail varnish and clothes. Ludovica Marcucci created bewitching nail art whilst Annie Pantry and Dana Hudson painted the faces of vampire, pot doll, half face witch and count Dracula. We certainly have talented artists that can use the simplest essentials of your makeup bag to create

music rooms in the woods, Founders’ steps, Chapel, Picture gallery, Quads and corridors gave ample opportunity to celebrate the innovative amplitude of our creative societies. What has been crafted here is a performance of simple outfits and makeup being used to make this month your most frightful and fashionable.

Abi Turner

theorbital.co.uk

November 2015

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

FASHION FRIGHT NIGHT Our ORBITAL Lifestyle journalists joined up with Royal Hollowayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Drama and Fashion Societies to show you the cheap and simple looks you can create for Halloween

22 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

theorbital.co.uk

BROKEN DOLL

Use a simple white base with sharp pointed eyeliner pen to draw on the cracks

THE JOKER

Use fake blood to create the classic joker smile, team with smart clothes

HALF AND HALF

Use a mixture of eyeliner andfake blood to create this simple half and half look

ZOMBIE

Use a simple white base and black eye shawdow to create this easy halloween look for guys or girls

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

November 2015

KINGS-WOULDN’T Living in Kingswood this year? Joanne Archer provides her with your guide to making Kingswood feel like home.

ost students of Royal Holloway will be familiar with the horror stories that revolve around the far-off and mysterious halls of the residence that is Kingswood. Notarially a place for the destitute student, often one who had placed Royal Holloway as their insurance choice or, for the unlucky, the only choice they were given.

your studying at what is effectively Hogwarts, halls of residence isn’t that important, is it? Friends, chocolate frogs and buckets of butter beer is surely what matters?

Upon discovering I had been placed in Kingswood 1, I could only really compare it to the sentiment of being placed in Slytherin on Pottermore. After waiting weeks on a waiting list and with the fear of having to go into private housing for my first year looming overhead, I took the offer, lowered all of my expectations and ran. After all, when

It wasn’t long before it dawned on us ‘Kingswoodiens’, now gathered in Facebook camaraderie, that we would be in for a rough time. Just a week before setting off we received a vague email detailing problems with Wi-Fi and a severe lack of showers with the refurbishments still in progress. Upon arrival these problems were just the beginning! We were greeted by a building site. As I was lugging my worldly goods up several flights of steep steps, I was having to leave room for builders as they darted about, seemingly looking busy. Luckily for my flat of eight girls,

SHORT STRAW

Most people consider living in Kingswood to be the short straw , but you can make it your own

we had two out of three showers and two toilets completed but this was not the case for the whole floor of over 50 girls. Soon we discovered that many flats had no showers whatsoever and so we would be the generous benefactors for the floor. You can imagine the World War Z-style chaos as nearing 30 girls share a handful of showers. Not to mention that this open door policy imposed on our flat lead to some strange occurrences with a pack of playing cards mysteriously being thrown down and around the toilet, graffiti on our precious ‘chunder

24 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

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PICTURE PERFECT

A simple string of polariods can really brighten up your room and remind you of your friends from home

COMMUNITY

Soon enough you’ll be out in the corridor spending time with your new mates from Kingswood

HOME COMFORTS

Cushions, bunting and bedding is all you need to make your room look that bit more homely

FINAL TOUCHES

Little touches from clocks to photo frames dotted around your room and be all the difference

Chart’ and to my flatmates distress, the disappearance of her prized salami. Times like this we needed Potter’s invisibility cloak and Marauders map. For all it’s flaws, 7am fire alarms, consistent drilling, intensive security, broken heating and temperamental showers to name but a few, Kingswood is home. There is something about returning to the complex, be it by bus or a 20 minute treacherous walk, that is vaguely satisfying. When you hear that we have the best community of all the halls of residence I can only admit it to be true. This being said, there are a few things you can do to improve on your time in

There is something about returning to the complex, be it by bus or a 20 minute treacherous walk, that is vaguely satisfying. When you hear that we have the best community of all the halls of residence I can only admit it to be true.”

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Kingswood, or any halls for that matter. 1. Stock up on food. 2. Leave behind visions of a perfect kitchen. 3. Photos and posters disguise everything. 4. Bedding, bedding, bedding. Bed sheets, throw blankets, scatter cushions are everything. 5. Décor in general is always a good idea.

6. Prepare to never be on time for anything ever again. 7. Invest in ear plugs. 8. Not exactly unique to Kingswood, but prepare to lose a few more socks than usual in the laundry room. 9. Embrace it. Kingswood may not be perfect, but it’s the place where all the best people live, obviously!

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

November 2015

ROHOROSCOPES

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

Scorpio 23rd October

– 21st November

Love: You are going to cause heartache this month Travel: Windsor has a wild weekend in store for you and a member of the Rowing team Study: It’s going to be a rocky start

Sagittarius

Pisces

22nd November

– 21st Decemberr

Love: There will be a love triangle with you, a gym receptionist and one of the Exec committee Travel: To avoid the awkward triangle you will escape to London Study: Despite a messy social life your grades are up

Aquarius

Love: You search Bedford for a onenight mystery that got away Travel: Home is not far from your thoughts this month Study: It’s a lucky month and you can get away without putting much effort in

Love: There’s someone involved in media, whether The Orbital or Insanity, that has caught your eye Travel: Consists only of Egham to Englefield Green Study: Founders Library will be your best friend

Taurus

Gemini

Leo

Virgo

20th January

– 18th February

20th April – 20th May

Love: You will find love on the SU dance floor Travel: It’s a month for staying close to uni you won’t leave Egham Study: After your SU escapades there will be many a 9am skipped

23rd July – 22nd August

Love: Unfortunately there is not a lot love that you are willing to spare on others Travel: You will spend time in London Study: A steady month, take advantage of the library online resources

19th February – 20th March

21st May – 20th June

Love: Heartbreak is on the cards for you this month Travel: There is something new for you discover in Staines Study: It’s not a great month for Gemini and this will show in your first essay

23rd August

- 22nd September

Love: This month will take a turn for the worst after a messy fling with someone from Rhubarb Travel: Something is in Virginia Waters for you to find Study: Regular study sessions in Café Jules will help

Capricorn

Aries

22nd December – 19th January

Love: It’s a quiet month this month Travel: Staines is your area of choice this month; pound land and Gregg’s calls to your empty wallet Study: It’s going to be tough but do your seminar preparation you’ll sail through unscathed

21st March – 19th April

Love: An old flame will reappear Travel: You will find adventure in Richmond and disappear for four days Study: make time to prepare for your lectures, as you fear falling behind

Cancer

Libra

21st June – 22nd July

Love: This is the month when you let your hair down and flirt your way through the chilly autumn nights Travel: The decider, do you prefer Englefield or Egham Study: The month of Firsts

23rd September – 22nd October

Love: A cheeky bar tender in Medicine will catch your eye Travel: Something essential on Egham high street will have you rooted Study: You will surprise yourself and tutor

26 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

theorbital.co.uk

MTS ON INTO THE WOODS Louise Jones caught up with MTS director Kathryn Pickering and spoke with her about the “Into the Woods” performance and its production, and why being involved in MTS is such an excitement.

REHEARSAL TIME

Into the Woods is in rehersal now ready for its opening night on the 14th of Novermber.

hy did you decide to get involved in MTS? – is it because of the course you did or because it is just something you love to do?

It is something I love to do (although I do study drama and music). When I started I had to make a decision about whether to continue in drama society or MTS, I chose MTS as I had been cast in their performance of A Little Shop of Horrors, however I wonder how different my university life would have been if I had continued with another society. Was there someone who inspired you to get into theatre?

Sounds silly but not particularly. I always wanted to do it (performing), I’ve been an avid performer since I was a kid. How does it feel to direct your first ever show as a part of a society? A bit daunting and stressful at times but it’s always something I’ve wanted to have a go at. I’ve always been involved in performances as cast, but had to bite my tong about my opinions on directing. Now I’m finally doing it alongside a fantastic cast and crew, where so far I am really enjoying it. What are you most excited about for the musical? Controlling the setting is something that has been exciting and putting the show into a different era. Our version is set in

the war time of the 1940s, there’s no actual physical ‘woods’ and for example the princes palace is a night club. Even the characters are put into their relevant positions, like Cinderella is a nurse. I think that these connections make the scenes relevant in the show and make them more punchy, especially for an audience member. There has been a very successful movie of Into the Woods. Has that production and likewise other theatrical production influenced your staging of the musical? The movie not so much, however the Regents Park production (which had the likes of Imelda Staunton leading the cast) we’ve incorporated. The narrator within that production was a little boy,

November 2015

whereas we are using a little girl to narrate; through her and alongside her, the audience escapes the hardship of war time Britain. What would you say to someone who wants to get involved with further MTS performances? The society prides itself on being an exclusive society- there’s something for everyone. This year we’ve run the 1st year shadow scheme for all the major production roles like myself (director), as well as the likes of musical and arts director – we all have 1st year students watching what we do, this is a really successful scheme and a great way for those fresher’s to get a foot in the door as it were. If performing is not your thing you can get involved

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

If you could describe the show in three words what would they be? Mysterious, lovable, patriotic. If you were stranded on a desert Island and could only listen to one musical song which one would it be? Last Midnight from ‘Into the Woods’.

“

with stage crew, like stage managing, lighting, set and props. Not only do we do main term productions but we do smaller shows and cabarets during the year like ANNAT which involves all the performing arts societies, so it’s a great place to meet like-minded people.

remember why you wanted to do it. When you have a great team like I do, you can rely on them without the need to worry about things going wrong. Likewise the cast too, they are so quick at learning, it’s a really a great satisfaction knowing I’m doing my job properly.

How much pressure do you feel as the director? I feel a lot of pressure, it’s not a bad thing to feel nervous, it’s just quite a daunting thing but you have to

The show is running from the 14th November to the 17th with four evening shows and one matinee performance. You can buy all tickets online at the SU website.

28 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

theorbital.co.uk

PORTRAIT

OF AN ICON

London’s National Portrait Gallery have opened their doors to a special exhibition following the life of 1950s cinema icon Audrey Hepburn, Isabella Mansell reviews her experience ver wondered how life began for the fashion icon and infamous actress, Audrey Hepburn? From her traumatic upbringing in the German-occupied Netherlands to her overwhelming success in Hollywood and inspirational outreach work, get up-close and personal with some rarely seen photographs and prints donated by her family.

This wonderful exhibition has been on at the National Portrait Gallery in London since 2nd July, but it hasn’t decreased in popularity. Do not fear,

SCREEN STAR

The exhibition has proved to be one of the most successful exhibitons at the National Picture Gallery

there’s still just over a week left to experience this unique opportunity (finishing 18th October). Although likely to be very crowded, the enjoyment far outweighs pushing through groups of people when approaching a photograph. Learn about her dancing career, read about her iconic films and watch her striking style progress. Whether “Roman Holiday”, “Gigi” or “My Fair Lady”, you’ll be sure to spot your favourite Hepburn movie. Featuring a wall plastered with the covers of magazines leading designer’s photoshoots with like Vogue and Look, spectators can appreciate her beauty at this abundant Hepburn and experience serious wardrobe envy when seeing that ‘classic exhibition. black dress’ in action for the filming of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”! This isn’t all As the face of “Givenchy” for the about the frivolities of screen and fashmajority of her life, take a look at the ion though - get an intimate insight into her rich personal life and charity work and catch a glimpse of ‘the woman behind the eyebrows’ with exclusive on-set photographs. So what are you waiting for? With student tickets from only £7.50 and a fantastic Hepburn-inspired gift shop, what could be better than spending a day submerged in the glamour and admiration of Audrey Hepburn’s life?

This isn’t all about the frivolities of screen and fashion though - get an intimate insight into her rich personal life and charity work and catch a glimpse of ‘the woman behind the eyebrows’

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November 2015

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

ONE FOR THE

RECORD With sales of viynl records back on the rise, George Somers asks whether viynl records are here to stay

n the not-so-distant future, our children will be jealous beyond belief of our VHS videos and the battered cassette tapes we find in the attic.

IIt’s not as bizarre as it may seem. With the surprise resurrection of vinyl, and record sales rising swiftly from the horizon, the ancient relics of our parents’ teenage rebellion years are now selling for far more than they were originally worth. The quirky, counter-culture markets of Portobello Road and Spitalfields in London are now dominated by typewriters and polaroid cameras, while indie fashion trends are subtly creeping their way back into mainstream life. How have those retro devices suddenly surged in popularity in our hyper-technological and interconnected era?

...this isn’t some kind of audio revolution. The common streetwalkers aren’t throwing down their headphones, smashing their iPods and marching on Parliament.”

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‘The Guardian reports that sales are at an 18-year high, which make up a total of £20 million revenue for the UK music industry this year alone. You could argue that older music simply has a better quality of songwriting, and that therefore owning an album like Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ on 12-inch plastic cements you into the elite ‘die-hard fan’ club. Golden era pop-rock artists such as “The Smiths” and “The Queen”, very popular in today’s vinyl consumption, seem to have recaptured the focus of twenty-first century listeners. Also the fastest selling LP of the century, Arctic Monkeys’ ‘AM’ went down in a storm of excitement when it was first released back in 2013. However, this isn’t some kind of audio revolution. The common streetwalkers aren’t throwing down their headphones, smashing their iPods and marching on Parliament. Far from it, since vinyl sales still account for less than 5% of the UK’s recorded music market. Perhaps it’ll be a while until a barricade made entirely of gramophones, blocks the entrance to HMV, the leading British music retailer, in protest against the non-stop consumption of digital music.

IS VIYNL HERE TO STAY?

Sales of viynl records are back on the rise, does this resurgent mean records are back to stay?

30 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

theorbital.co.uk

REVIEW: SELF/LESS

Karina Zedzian reviews October’s cinema release: Self/less

REVIEW: ACOUSTIC NIGHT Laura Lawrence reviews the Christian Union’s recent Acoustic Night which saw a range of performers take to the stage. hristian Union hosted it’s very own acoustic night in Stumble Out this month, which centred on the theme of love.

innovative mash up of “Ain’t No Rock”. The night even showcased Royal Holloway Alumni as the gospel girl band “Hope Gene” came to the stage. The award for the queens of multi-tasking goes to Alice, Hayley and Hannah The night featured the musical from “Alice” and the “Almond ensemble Alice and Shona Pots” who managed to play who sang acoustic chart the flute, violin, guitar and music from stars such as Ellie keyboard in their set as well Goulding, Jason Mraz and The as having some awesome Black Eyed Peas. Suzie Troup harmonies. did an acoustic guitar set with love favourites such as John However the crowd favourite Mayer’s “Love is a Verb” and seemed to be Eliz, Same and Carly Rae Jepson “I Really Joe who closed the show with Like You”. covers from Gnarls Barkley, Walk the Moon and Toploader. The night was broken up Overall the night provided a by Nicole Acquah’s original chilled atmosphere to catch spoken word poem followed up with friends and listen to by Sabriena and Docus’ some amazing talent.

film with a concept that could’ve blown up to become a hit movie – but turned out be yet another box office bomb.

Director Tarsem Singh produced a film with incredible concepts and interesting scientific ideas that by the end fizzled out to an action filled movie with a predictable plot. It is an enjoyable film to watch: what someone might call an easy film for a relaxed evening, containing cinematography that is pleasing to the eye and a story that is told decently well. The elegant introductory setting of New York, as usual, doesn’t fail to catch the viewer’s attention. It especially starts off with enormous potential, capturing the viewer’s interest with Ben Kingsley’s character of the rich powerful man and the mysterious scientific procedure that seems almost comic book like. Perhaps this very ‘comic-bookesque’ dramatization pulls the viewer in; transplanting humans into different bodies had always been sensationalized, shown as a miracle operation of a mad scientist. However, this becomes the problem of the film, these recycled ideas that are poorly repainted as fresh, and so unfortunately the film is rife with such clichés; bad guy turned good (Ben Kingsley, later Ryan Reynolds), the calculated ‘evil scientist’ with a greed for money (Matthew Goode), the wounded ‘damsel in distress’ with innocent children (Natalie Martinez), and the aggrieved man only striving to help his family (Ryan Reynolds). I believe more developed characters and perhaps a better exploration of the story containing these kinds of scientific procedures would have been a lot more engaging: the spiral into an unsurprising action thriller is what moved a potential distinguishable movie back onto the dusty shelf. Nevertheless, the film still managed to hold my attention and be gripping in certain places – the tension created in certain scenes was certainly well done. It was a wellcrafted film in terms of all of the special effects and twists in the plot, no matter how easy it was to predict the next turn. The acting was great at some points, yet mediocre in others. Yet as a whole it was simply not fleshed out enough to create a truly prominent, remarkable movie: Singh’s ambitious film contains a lot of highs and lows, but once you piece them together they paint a pretty prosaic picture..

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

November 2015

AI WEIWEI

LONDON EXHIBITION Controversial Chinese political activist and famed artist Ai Weiwei has opened and exhibition at London’s Royal academy of Arts, Annie Liu reviews her experience t the entrance to the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London, visitors encounter the new wood-themed art installation, “Tree”, created by one of the world’s best known living artists: Ai Weiwei.

The chinese contemporary artist, Ai weiwei, known for his art works and political activism, is popular for showing his attitude towards human rights and speech freedom.The Royal Academy of Arts, the art institution based in the heart of London, opens its doors and makes 11 halls available for the exposition of Ai’s feelings on different social aspects and cultures of every era. This massive artwork was moved from China to London using over £120,000 fundraising. The installation consists in various pieces of trees taken from mountains in the southern part of China, which have died naturally, and bought by the Chinese artist in the markets of Jingdezhen, a town in the north of the country. Those bits of trunk are then put together to form complete trees. Ai uses an ancient technique to build this grand

and massive artwork, which strikes every visitor when entering the yard of the RA. The artist succeeds in rebuilding tress by combining antique and modern materials to express his opinion. In the last several decades, many old constructions and temples were demolished, not only in China but also in many other countries around the world. By witnessing this crush between modernization and old traditional culture, Ai produced a series of artworks

ROYAL ACADEMY The exhibition runs at the Royal Academy until the 13th of December.

using a mixture of abandoned antiques and modern building materials. This should stimulate us to think about the drawbacks modernization has and maybe to question, if this kind of progress is ultimately the right path to follow. The exhibition runs until the 13th of December. Chinese contemporary artist, Ai Weiwei, known for his art works and political activism, is popular for showing his attitude towards human rights and speech freedom”

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CONTROVERSY

Ai Weiwei’s installation at Alcatraz, he is reknowned for his cntroversial political activtism

32 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

theorbital.co.uk

BLADES OF

GLORY? Last year saw the most successful season yet for Royal Holloway Fencing in its history, scoring 100 BUCS points and with the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team gaining promotion. Holly Pyne spoke to President Michael Geary to find out more about what the club is aiming for this year

EN GUARDE

The fencing club accepts those who have never fenced before to help train you and get up to match standard

encing is one of those mysterious sports that many people tend to know nothing about, however here at Royal Holloway our Fencing club happens to be one of the best on campus. With over fifty members, the club meets to train every Tuesday from 8-10 in the Sports Hall, we sent some of our Orbital photographers down to capture the action, and our Deputy Editor Holly Pyne spoke to Fencing Club President Michael Geary to find out more about one of the most sucessful sports on campus.

What is the best part of your sport? Whilst we all spend hours a week training and competing to be good at fencing, the club members can all agree that the socials and post-training gatherings at the Happy Man are our favourite part of fencing.

OLYMPIC POTENTIAL

Many of Royal Hollowayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fencing club fence to an incredibly high standard, make sure you keep up to date with their progress this year

November 2015

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

We want the same for the Men’s too – we aren’t looking for a Premier league promotion this year but we want to perform in the cup and bring back some BUCS points, ideally beating our 100 BUCS points University record”

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How did last season go? Last Season was the best season for RH fencing in recorded history, with the Men’s 1st team powering into the upper league with an undefeated year. Fencing scored 100 BUCS points that year of RHUL’s 650.5 total BUCS point record. What was your best moment of last year? Despite being on the 1st team and winning every game, my favourite memories from last year are actually

the celebrations with the club after winning the cup, we had some really great nights out in the SU after some of our wins. What are you striving for this year? Our Women’s team lost a lot of good members last year but we also gained a lot of potential, if they can stay up in their league and get through a couple of stages of the cup that would be great for our BUCS points total. We want

the same for the Men’s too – we aren’t looking for a Premier league promotion this year but we want to perform in the cup and bring back some BUCS points, ideally beating our 100 BUCS points University record What are you most looking forward to this year? After last year’s Men’s 1sts had to fence the Men’s 2nds in an official cup match, we had so much fun publicly trash talking each other that I’ve made it an official club event – The Rekkening. Whilst it’s not a league match for points anymore, we are going to have a big fencing day where everyone comes and watches the men fight it out, of course followed by Happy Man and the SU.

34 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

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SPOTLIGHT ON DANCE SOCIETY One of Royal Holloway’s largest societies, we caught up with Dance Society to see what impact the new Dance and Drama degree at will have on their success this year.

REHEARSALS

Our Orbital photographers went to Dance’s rehersals to caputure all the action

ith a new Dance and Drama degree starting this year at Royal Holloway, we can expect big things from Dance society this year. Louise Jones met with President Veronica to find out more.

Which dance styles do you specialise in? We try to cover as wide a variety of styles as possible, in order to ensure that there is something of every one of our members. We have competition teams as well as drop-in classes for the “Big Five”: Ballet, Hiphop, Contemporary, Jazz and Tap. However, we have been adding a variety of other styles to our

repertoire in the last years, including Commercial, Lyrical, Bollywood and Rock n’ Roll. What is the boy:girl ratio of your members? “Historically” speaking, our female members have, perhaps unsurprisingly, outnumbered the boys in the society. However, we have several dedicated and incredibly talented long-term male society-members and have successfully been making an active effort to interest and involve more guys this year. Do you have any on-campus events happening soon? We will be involved in the annual ANATT show as both performers and, in my

case, as part of the committee in charge of putting on the show. The show is a great way of starting the stage-year and there will be a Launch Night in Medicine on the 12th of October. It is a huge collaborative effort of all the performing arts societies, and well worth seeing, or even better: being involved in. How long does it tend to take to choreograph a routine? This, of course, varies vastly from choreographer to choreographer. For some people, inspiration strikes and they find themselves with the better part of a dance within hours. For others it takes weeks and months of minutely figuring things out. Personally, I tend to daydream up a routine for a week or

November 2015

two as I walk to and from campus and eventually, turn up the music in my room and put them into movements as best I can, without letting the lack of space lead to any injuries.

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

We’ve had a huge influx of amazingly talented freshers this year, giving us more faith than ever, in the fact that we will blow everyone away at our competition in November. It is great to see dancers of all different abilities, How has the dynamic of the society levels and styles work and play together” changed now that Royal Holloway has a dance degree? We’ve had a huge influx of amazingly talented freshers this year, giving us more faith than ever, in the fact that we will blow everyone away at our competition in November. It is great to see dancers of all different abilities, levels and styles work (and play) together, and the Dance and Drama students we have been lucky enough to meet this year have contributed hugely to further diversifying our membership group.

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What is the best part of being a member of the dance society? For me, it was (and is) definitely the sense of community. There are so many opportunities and activities offered to members throughout the year, ranging far beyond “just” shows, competitions and rehearsals. We organise countless socials and events – whether it is a night-out, a quiet drink and a chat, a movie night or an afternoon of having

tea and cake: there is something for everyone – as well as being very involved with RHUL’s volunteering schemes. Spending so much time with people, who share the same passion as myself, fosters a feeling of family and togetherness, which continues to make my time at university special beyond belief.

36 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

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WALKING ON WATER Royal Holloway Women’s Football are going from strength to strength, from being the poster girls for FA Girl’s Football week to appearing on Sky Sports.

ednesday 7th October may not have seen any BUCS action down at the revamped Nobles Fields, however the Women’s Football club were out in force for their annual charity tournament. This year the tournament was bigger and better than ever, raising £367 and with girls travelling to play from the likes of Reading and other London universities.

MORE SUCCESS?

Their President Chloe Logdon had big plans for her 3 teams this year

BETTER THAN EVER

This year the charity tournament raised over £350

Royal Holloway Women’s Football are going from strength to strength, they are the current poster girls for BUCS (check out the BUCS facebook page for a cheeky cameo from the team) and the FA have been supporting the club’s work in promotion of Girl’s Football Week. This year’s charity tournament saw England star Danielle Carter arrived at Holloway to support the effort. As a recent university graduate herself, and having recently scored a hatrick on her England debut, she provided the

perfect inspiration for those playing and watching. Speaking to Sky Sports later in the day she comment that “On the back of the Women’s World Cup in the Summer I think it’s encouraging that so many girls want to be involved in Women’s Football.” We caught up with Royal Holloway Women’s Football President Chloe Longdon to find out more about the event and FA Girl’s Football Week. What is FA Girls’ Football Week? FA Girl’s Football Week is to encourage and develop the opportunities available for girls and women who want to take part in football. How are you involved? As the university football activator, it

November 2015

On the back of the Women’s World Cup in the Summer I think it’s encouraging that so many girls want to be involved in Women’s Football.”

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is my job to encourage participation in football on campus, with this week focusing particularly on women’s participation, it was especially important to me that Royal Holloway took part. What are your biggest goals this year for your sport? For the club to have its highest number of members yet. For all three teams to have solid seasons, both on and off the pitch . For the club to make the most of the opportunities available with Be.Active, eg Futsal.

Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL

SPORTS STAR

Danielle Carter chats with Royal Holloway Sport’s Sophie Harrison

Be.Active

You can get involved with women’s football through Be.Active Futsal

FA POSTER GIRLS

Royal Holloway have been supported by the FA in their endeavours, with Sky Sports coming down to caputure the action

38 ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine

SPORT MADE INCLUSIVE

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SPORTING CHAMPION

Sophie Christiansen visted campus to talk about disability in sport

Royal Holloway Alumni Sophie Christiansen recently came to campus to talk about disability and sport, Rafmary Millan reviews the talk and inclusion in Sport in general.

n Wednesday the 7th, we attended to a forum with Sophie Christiansen who spoke about her experiences as Paralympic Champion and a disabled student at Royal Holloway. The talk was very inspiring and engaging. One of the topics that was touched upon, and one that the attendees felt strongly about, was the myths and deterrent factors surrounding disability and sports on campus. The top factors we gathered from the talk were: self- denial of disability, lack of knowledge about inclusive sports, getting out of the comfort zone, stigma and stereotypes in sports. As Inclusion Officer, my aim is to tackle each of these factors to “break the lock” on disability in sports. The current goal is to get at least 50% of the student body involved in Active Lifestyle and Sport at Royal Holloway. This will only be achieved, I believe,

if we focus more on this sector and other marginalised student body members who evidently need more representation, more opportunities and more profile on campus.

LOOK OUT FOR

Our plan to address these aforementioned “problems” or “factors” has already started with, firstly ‘Sports made inclusive’. So far we have had lots of enthusiasm and disposition to participate in this inclusive sports scheme from Table Tennis, Swimming and Archery Clubs. Secondly with ‘gym facilities made more inclusive’. Currently there are three functioning machines such as chest press, seated row and shoulder press which can be easily adaptable for wheelchair users. There are other bits of equipment such as the cables machines which can be used but do not need adapting before using. This is on a par with a very friendly and supportive staff.

BREAK THE ICE

#RHWOMENINSPIRE

Our College has a strong legacy of courageous women. It is time to celebrate the women who most inspire us!

Clubs will be encouraged to include in their information profile in the SU website the opportunities they offer to cater disabled students needs in that specific sport.

ADAPTED BE.ACTIVE

Have you ever challenged yourself and tried variants of your favourite sport? How about sitting volleyball? Join our sports clubs and be.active in their new and inclusive sessions

MYTH BUSTERS

Sporting culture is as insidious as it sounds, break the myth surrounding your favourite sport

LGBT+

Celebrate sexual diversity and sports achievement in an “LGBT in Sports” Orbital special edition.

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Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; union reception