September 2017

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SEPTEMBER 2017 | FREE

MENINGITIS:

THE SILENT UNIVERSITY KILLER

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF ROYAL HOLLOWAY STUDENTS’ UNION

ORBITAL BOARD EDITOR Abbie Cheeseman DEPUTY EDITOR Stephanie Bagnall

Inside

NEWS Maria Green Shannon Gray

FEATURES Dominic Barrett Amber Choudhary LIFESTYLE Victoria Chapman Chloe Buck ARTS Josip Martinčić Georgia Beith SPORTS & SOCIETIES William Sanders Louisa Wicks SCIENCE & GAMING Clara Cohen OPERATIONS Joanne Archer PHOTOGRAPHY Fab Piolini-Castle MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA Emma Halahan SUB-EDITOR Michele Theil ONLINE Beth Gooding

EDITORIAL

COMMENT Natasha Phillips Izzy Swanson

Abbie Cheeseman EDITOR

Well, September came around fast didn’t it!

If, like me, you have ticked off almost none of your summer to-do list well I don’t really have much advice, but hey, we can cry together.

Moving swiftly on before we all start getting a tad hysterical - welcome Freshers! You are about to embark upon the most insane and amazing 3 years of your life. If my old third year self could give you any advice it would be to get involved in as much as you physically can. There are so many incredible sports, societies, media outlets, academic & career opportunities that you can get involved with and they will quite literally make your degree.

I don’t want to shamelessly plug too much but you should probably start by joining this really cool magazine that you’re holding. You don’t have to be an incredible writer, or even a writer at all. We have something for absolutely everyone: journalists,

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

DESIGN Abbie Cheeseman Stephanie Bagnall Emma Halahan Michele Theil

The magazine is published by Royal Holloway

CO-PRESIDENT SOCIETIES & MEDIA Pippa Gentry

If you would like to make a complaint or comment

ADDRESS Media Suite, Students’ Union, Royal Holloway University of London, TW20 0EX WEBSITE theorbital.co.uk EMAIL editor@theorbital.co.uk

Students’ Union, but the views presented do not necessarily mirror those of RHSU or the editorial team.

about our journalism, please contact the Editor, Abbie Cheeseman, on editor@theorbital.co.uk in the first instance.

photographers, designers, digital geeks, illustrators, copy editors, events managers, sports journalists, science journalists, multimedia experts, investigative hacks, social media enthusiasts - literally everyone.

If you are at all interested in hearing about any of the cool stuff that we have on offer this year - come to our big ‘Get Involved Meeting’. It will be on Monday 25th September in Arts Lecture Theatre 2 at 6pm. There’s no commitment, just come along, meet the team and see if it’s for you!

So, in this magazine: our news team have used Police UK data to reveal the most dangerous streets in Egham & Englefield Green. Features warns new students about how at risk freshers’ are to Meningitis, as well as discussing the 70th anniversary of the partition of India.

We’ve launched 2 new regular features into the magazine - Debrief, our regular interview with people inspiring change, and Orbital Explains, where we will break down a complicated subject, such as geometric infinity, so that it’s accessible to all.

Have a brilliant Freshers’ Festival everyone. Stay safe, make mistakes and embarrass yourself, but enjoy it and make sure you keep picking up Orbital!

e ORBITAL CONTENTS

REVEALED: THE MOST DANGEROUS STREETS IN EGHAM & ENGLEFIELD GREEN Abbie Cheeseman investigates the crime rates around what used to be the UK’s safest campus.

DEBRIEF: BEN EINE Stephanie Bagnall interviews Ben Eine, the street artist who created the Grenfell Tower Memorial Mural

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A BONE TO PICK Sub-Editor Michele Theil critiques Netflix’s portrayal of eating disorders in their new film To The Bone and explains the issues with it.

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ROHOROSCOPES MENINGITIS: THE SILENT UNIVERSITY KILLER Abbie Cheeseman warns of the vulnerability of students to Meningitis.

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THE PARTITION OF INDIA, 70 YEARS ON. Amber Choudhary shares her grandparent’s experience of the partition on its 70th anniversary.

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Find out what is written in the stars for you in this month’s RoHoroscopes.

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A DARK SEASON - AN OVERVIEW OF UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS AT ROYAL HOLLOWAY Arts editor, Josip Martinčić, draws parallels between the dark themes explored within the shows put on by the Performing Arts Societies on campus in Term One.

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WOMEN’S SPORT: CONSUMPTION, IDENTITY & SUCCESS Sophie Harrison discusses how women’s sport is on the rise, why it deserves more sponsorship and how its success is changing perceptions.

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ORBITAL EXPLAINS: THE LINE AT INFINITY. Simon Williams breaks down the mathematical theory of geometric infinity,

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THE ELIZABETH LINE Deputy News Editor, Shannon Gray answers key questions on the upcoming Elizabeth tube line and explores how it will impact Royal Holloway students.

What is the Elizabeth Line?

The Elizabeth Line is London’s newest addition to the TfL rail and tube network. It is set to stretch a full 60 miles through the London and Greater London area - almost double the current tube-span record holder, the Central Line.

The Elizabeth Line will span from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. It is set to service 40 accessible stations, 10 of which are newly built and 30 of which are newly upgraded. The line will launch in December 2018 and is expected to serve around 200 million people per year.

How will this affect you?

As a Royal Holloway student, you are a short distance away from 4

Heathrow Airport and therefore the Elizabeth Line may benefit your London-based travels. Servicing stations such as Paddington, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street, the line will offer an alternative travel route that may prove less time consuming and more cost effective than the current Egham to London journey.

service for the majority of Holloway students.

However…

Is it underground or overground?

While the line itself may prove faster and more cost effective, there is, as yet, no planned University shuttle service to Heathrow. This means that students will be travelling via public transport, which is not only more expensive than the £1 shuttle bus to Egham station, but also much more time-consuming. Therefore it is unclear if the Elizabeth Line will replace the South West Trains

Nevertheless, the expansion will no doubt provide a greater travelling experience for all Holloway students who choose to venture into the capital, and by creating 30 brand new stations, it will most definitely expand the travelling ease of many.

Well, it’s sort of a combination of the two. The line will be run by the London Underground. However, the new trains currently being rolled out feel much more like an overground train. They are spacious, have air condition and even a promise of Wifi and 4G. Whilst most of the service will run above ground, 13 miles of it will stretch underground. •

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n 2015, Royal Holloway was named the Of the 108 crimes reported, 41 of them safest university in the country based were reports of violence or sexual offence. on crime rates in the local area.

Highfield Road sits between South Road in Englefield Green, and takes you through In 2016, we didn’t make it into the the postgraduate accommodation Penrose Complete University Guide’s top 10 low Court, to the bridge over the main road onto level crime universities. So how safe is our campus. local area now?

Amongst many more, there were also 15 Using data supplied by Police U.K, Orbital cases of bicycle theft and 10 anti-social Magazine can reveal the most dangerous behaviour reports. streets surrounding our campus.

For both Egham Town and Englefield Green, Between July 2016 and June 2017, who are both serviced by Surrey Police, Highfield Road was the street that had the there were two types of crime getting the highest amount of crimes reported on. most reports: anti-social behaviour and violence and sexual offence.

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REVEALED: THE MOST DANGEROUS STREETS IN EGHAM & ENGLEFIELD GREEN Abbie Cheeseman breaks down the crime rates in Egham & Englefield Green from July 2016 to June 2017.

#1 HIGHFIELD ROAD // 108 CRIMES REPORTED

#2 STATION ROAD NORTH // 35 CRIMES REPORTED

#3 BLAY’S LANE // 35 CRIMES REPORTED

#4 BEECHTREE AVENUE // 27 CRIMES REPORTED

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Now, as far as crime rates go, these aren’t too bad. Runnymede’s crime rates are around the same average as similar areas. Over the last 12 months, there were 61.76 crimes per thousand residents. From a nation-wide perspective, this isn’t bad for a borough that contains a university. However, it does place us as having the second highest crime rates in Surrey, with only Spelthorne ahead of us,

It’s a similar story with Englefield Green.

Only 57 of the 816 reported cases resulted in an offender being dealt with.

For comparison, Surrey University in Guildford had 58.18 crimes per thousand residents over the time period.

During a 2016 inspection, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary rated Surrey Police as good for their effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy in keeping people safe and reducing crime.

Further investigation into the data revealed something slightly more alarming: the outcomes of these crime reports.

For Egham Town between July 2016 and June 2017, 502 cases had no further action taken against them - that’s 80.45% of all crimes reported.

The two biggest factors for this are: ‘Investigation complete, no suspect identified’ and ‘Unable to prosecute suspect’.

So our crime rates may not be soaring, but this is surprising given that for over 62% of crimes, a suspect isn’t even identified.

In fact, in only 66 of the 869 reported cases was an offender dealt with in this time period.

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With 321 cases of violence and sexual offences in Egham & Englefield being reported within the last year alone, these statistics become all the more worrying.

So, are the police performing well enough?

However, the report did claim that “too often the quality of investigations remains poor due to the fact that some frontline officers still do not have the skills to investigate some of the crimes they are allocated.”

As residents, we can only hope that increased training and provisions within Surrey Police result in more of these cases being solved. •

80.45% OF ALL CRIMES REPORTED IN EGHAM TOWN HAD NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN AGAINST THEM.

Want to work with our investigations team?

Email editor@theorbital.co.uk to get involved.

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SO, IS THIS STUDENT ACTIVISM? Emma Halahan asks what it means to be a student activist in the 21st Century and whether the student voice still counts.

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or many, student activism denotes the image of sitins, marches, protests and glamorous arrests with nights spent in a cell for the cause.

That was the student activism of our parents and grandparents generation: unapologetic, radical and at the core of the nuclear disarmament, civil rights and women’s rights movements.

This, however, is the 21st century and the face of activism and what it means to be an activist has changed significantly. Are students still at the heart of global movements?

For previous generations, universities underpinned radical movements. They were the organising body mobilising large groups of students, many of whom were learning about the world’s injustices in detail for the first time.

Fuelled by anger at the establishment, it’s the students that gave us the sitins during the Civil Rights Movement and built up much of the grassroots network for the CMD. Today, student activism seems to look a little different. What is striking is that the protests organised by the likes of NUS seemingly attract the same crowd of extremely radical activists whose political opinion lie way outside of the norm, each time. Whilst I know people outside of that broad generalisation and bracket who attend

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protests, it is a very small percentage of the student body who attend them nonetheless and some universities have no presence at NUS protests at all.

The landscape of student activism is changing. Instead of large amounts of students taking to the streets, it feels like much of the world’s political discussion, even in the White House, takes place on Twitter. Can contributing to a growing voice on social media count as active when it is intrinsically so passive?

For student activism in the Twittersphere to work, we need to ask directly for change beyond just being angry.

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The issue is, however, that passively voicing discontent is not the same as actively doing something about it.

Whilst it is fine for students to air their opinions, not asking directly for change contributes to the complaining culture we are blamed for having developed as millennials. For student activism in

the Twittersphere to work, we need to ask directly for change beyond just being angry.

Twitter can become the organising force of movements so long as protest and physical demand for change is still at the heart of activism. The proliferation of information means we are exposed to far more atrocities and injustices than our parents and grandparents were, and so we are much more awake and in tune with the world than our predecessors ever could be. Consequently, student activism has never been as plugged-in to global networks as it is now thanks to digital activist channels.

If we can utilise the broad audience of Twitter and be seen for asking for simple and sensible change, as opposed to radically opposing everything, we might just cultivate a further generation of activists.

The question is, will student activism still alienate much of the student body by simply being too radical? Or will it instead mobilise a wider force of students by diluting its asks and an all important image rebranding that focuses on digital media? • PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: FAB PIOLINI-CASTLE

THE NEW VOICES OF PODCASTING Natasha Phillips discusses how podcasts could be the answer to increasing diversity in the media.

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he advent of podcasts saw the movement of media consumption into the online space, and changed the relationship between creator and audience. The continued decline in TV ratings reflects a change in the way that we seek out entertainment. We’re no longer satisfied by ‘what’s on’ and thus, podcasting allows for people to produce and consume exactly the content that they want, with minimal or no cost to either party. This format also supersedes the barriers to entry posed by traditional media – all you need to make a podcast is a microphone and a good idea. What has ensued is a new wave of minority voices infiltrating a new platform, affording the representation not seen in TV or radio broadcasting.

Lack of representation of minority groups in traditional media still poses a significant problem. A recent review of diversity in broadcasting found that Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people constituted only 10% of those represented on UK television, with even lower figures for LGBTQ+

and disabled people. An even bigger problem for television is diversity of thought; even when quotas ensure representation of different people, their unique experiences may not be seen. Podcasting allows for underrepresented people to create their own content and share their own perspectives, rather than a producer or script dictating the direction.

Not only does this medium allow for a greater diversity of creators, it naturally attracts a more diverse audience. A new podcast network, ShoutOut, has created five podcasts about culture literature, sports and current affairs, made by and for young black British people. This is an important step for minority representation, but the impact of these podcasts could be even widerreaching.

This content is readily available to anyone with an internet connection, which means that anyone could benefit from hearing about life from a perspective other than their own.

This could be a critical tool in helping

people to understand and empathise with others and the social issues that affect them, as opposed to the neutral, detached way that you hear about them on the news.

Podcasting is gaining traction in a big way. So many new voices are being heard, but the growth of the platform comes at a cost. With so much to choose from, who is worth listening to and how can you find them? The sheer quantity of podcasts on offer makes it difficult to navigate. Podcast categories on iTunes are limited to genre, which makes it difficult for listeners to find podcasts by diverse voices, and leads to an overreliance on social media to get the word out.

But ultimately, the biggest barrier to the spread of lesser heard perspectives is an unwillingness of people to seek out an engage with them, even though they are only a click away. • PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: FAB PIOLINI-CASTLE

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A BONE TO PICK Sub-Editor Michele Theil critiques Netflix’s portrayal of eating disorders in their new film To The Bone and explains the issues with it.

Content Warning: Eating Disorders

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etflix’ new film To The Bone stars Lily Collins as Eli, a girl struggling with anorexia nervosa. The film portrays her journey towards recovery as she is admitted to a new in-patient facility for sufferers of eating disorders.

dangerously thin. In addition, the look, while a raw and accurate depiction of anorexia, sadly has served as inspiration for those that aspire to be thin. Noxon stated that during filming, Collins was often approached by women who asked her for her “secret” as she was so skinny.

When the trailer was released earlier this year, there were many who thought of the movie as ground breaking, with some hailing Netflix, and writer & director Marti Noxon, for portraying an often stigmatised and usually difficult topic.

There was also praise for the production team leading the project, many of whom suffered from or had experience dealing with eating disorders and using their own stories to shape the narrative, Noxon herself included. However, it also sparked controversy among critics who suggested that the portrayal would glamourise the illness. Some claimed that the use of romantic entanglement within the story could hinder the impact of the portrayal of eating disorders and the subsequent struggle through recovery.

Screenshots of Collins from the film have already circulated on the social media site Tumblr, among the “thinspo” and “pro-ana” blogs that operate a community dedicated to guiding people through anorexia and ‘helping’ them to become thinner. This issue is actually addressed on screen, where there are references to Ellen’s anorexia-based artwork being posted onto Tumblr and even Influencing a girl who later killed herself.

The images released from To The Bone show Lily Collins, an anorexia survivor herself, looking extremely pale and 12

Unfortunately, though, neither Noxon or Collins have mentioned this particular plot point in detail, nor have they explored how the film could become the inspiration that they criticised.The prominent romantic story line, involving Ellen and Luke (Alex Sharp), another “rexie” staying at the treatment facility, undermines their illnesses and exacerbates a commonly used Hollywood trope that argues that ‘love can save you’. It was a theme seen

in Netflix series Thirteen Reasons Why with characters Clay Jensen and Hannah Baker, dismissing her suicidal thoughts and depression as merely after effects of Clay’s inability to love her. It is both a ridiculous and detrimental notion to portray throughout the films.

A particularly poignant scene is one where Luke walks in on crutches while Ellen is trying to leave the treatment

In response to these views concerning To The Bone glamourising eating disorders, Noxon said that she wanted the film to “serve as a conversation starter”. Both Noxon and Collins claimed they had the best intentions in attempting to start a conversation about a debilitating illness they have both experienced. The conversation may have started, but it has not been a healthy one due to the

The conversation may have started, but it has not been a healthy one due to the tragic reality of people being influenced and inspired by this kind of portrayal.

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facility, telling her that he is unable to return to his role as a ballet dancer. He pleads with her to stay - “I need you, Eli.” - as his recovery, and subsequent life, apparently depends on her, diminishing his own accomplishments in overcoming such a difficult disorder, as many anorexia survivors can attest to.

Spoilers here - the end of the film showcases a dream she has after she has passed out from exhaustion, due to her continued decline in weight, and you see a healthier-looking version of her kissing Luke. Luke then encourages her to have courage and live, prompting her to wake up and seek out recovery once again, thereby leaving the film with a happy ending. Here, the focus on the resolution of the ‘will-they-or-won’t-they’ theme that ran throughout To The Bone doesn’t sit right with me.

It urges the audience to root for and rejoice at her desire to seek help not solely because Ellen should fight to live and move past her disorder in order to have a fulfilling life, but also because her recovery grants the happy ending and coupledom that romantic storylines seek.

tragic reality of people being influenced and inspired by this kind of portrayal.

Intentions don’t help when the result of the film causes this kind of reaction in a significant percentage of its audience.

Of course, there are those that feel that the film showcased a “sympathetic response” to eating disorders and portrayed a difficult issue in an enjoyable and lighthearted way. However, I feel that, despite how “sympathetic” they tried to be or how “enjoyable” the story was supposed to seem, they could have and should have done it better.

To The Bone was a bold attempt at telling a critical story and was incredibly wellmeant. But, it unfortunately fell short in critical areas where slight changes could have made all the difference and captured the topic of eating disorders in an even better, and less problematic, light.

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If you are affected by any of the issues mentioned you can find support here; Beat at 0808 801 0711 Mind at 0300 123 3393 13

THE BALLOT BOX ADVANTAGE Beth Gooding discusses the generational imbalance in voting.

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n the 8th of June, an unprecedented number of 18-24 year olds turned up to vote in the general election Theresa May had called for just two months earlier. The following day people took to Twitter claiming that 72% of young people had voted in the snap election. Although this figure is now believed to sit at around 66%, this remains the highest turnout for young people in 25 years.

The rise of young voters was also seen in the EU referendum when 64% of under-25s voted. This is still such a small number when compared to the 90% of those aged over-65 who voted. In the referendum, 71% of under-25s voted Remain compared to 36% of over-65s, so it stands to reason that the outcome could have been significantly different if there were a higher number of younger voters. These facts have caused public outrage following the Brexit result as many young people have claimed that their futures have been jeopardised by the older generation who will perhaps not even live to experience the impact of their vote.

The huge turnout of young people in the 2017 election is said to be the reason for the Conservative’s failing to secure a majority as under-25’s rallied behind Labour. The Labour manifesto appealed to the younger generations as it focused on topics important to them such as saving the NHS and cutting tuition fees. Corbyn’s ability to connect with under-25’s and the wider public was something other political leaders failed to do, engaging a generation of people who need to see the person behind the manifesto. Social media was

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instrumental in boosting the number of young people registered to vote and celebrities used their platforms to encourage their followers to register and flock to the polling stations. Despite this huge increase of young people registering to vote, there remained an imbalance in the age of voters.

But what has caused such a huge generational imbalance? Jack O’Neill, President of Politics and International Relations Society, argues that politicians’ lack of concern for contemporary issues is responsible: “Young people care about aspects of society considered ‘new’ and ones that aren’t focused on in elections as much as the conventional debates around immigration and the economy.

Things like mental health, educational opportunities, gender equality, and the environment to name a few.

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Young people care about aspects of society considered new.

The problem lies in a dangerous cycle; young people don’t vote because politicians don’t focus on the issues that young people care about, but then they don’t focus on these because doing so would not provide a return in votes”.The trend of youth involvement in politics is changing due to the introduction of issues that affect them directly. The shock of the EU referendum pushed more people to register to vote this year as they were suddenly faced with a future taken out of their hands. With more young people registering to vote, politicians will have to focus on their needs, which could alter the future of politics for the good. •

THE POLITICAL THEATRE LOSING ITS AUDIENCE JACK O’NEILL

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or centuries we have heralded ourselves as the champions of democracy, but could you think the same after watching Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs)?

Political disenfranchisement has always been there, but I now think it is in feverpitch. With politicians rattling their cages like an imprisoned animal, jeering and sneering like a pantomime crowd and waving their papers like they were at the races; how many people can truly relate to the political theatre of PMQs? PMQs are supposed to hold the Prime Minister to account, to increase scrutiny.

Yet instead, we are provided with a scripted melody of shouting insults and jokes that would make most Dads quiver in their boots.

If a class of 10-year-olds acted like this in a classroom then they would all be kept behind at lunch – so why do we accept it from our elected representatives?

In a recent interview, Nick Clegg said, “Sometimes I worry that we can be too self-congratulatory, we can get a little carried away with our pomp and theatre of Westminster.”

PMQs undermines the hard-work that the majority of MPs undertake in the Commons; it illustrates politicians as detached, childish individuals seeking to score political points rather than representatives of the people challenging Governmental action.

As entertaining as PMQs can be, it is not serving its purpose. Rather than engaging the public, it is removing them. Rather than giving the public answers, it is leaving them with more questions. Rather than making us proud, it is making us ashamed.

No longer must we tolerate the repetitive churning of slogans, the failure to assertively challenge the Government and the boisterous shrieking that resembles a football match, and a non-league one at that.

If the integrity of Parliament, and the respect of politicians, is to be saved then it is imperative for PMQs to be radically transformed.

A PRESCRIPTION FOR STIGMA Mental Health Chair, Emma Halahan, discusses Panorama episode, A Prescription for Murder, and why it is sending shockwaves through the mental health community.

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ould taking a pill your doctor has prescribed you turn you into a murderer? This is the awful premise that viewers of BBC’s Panorama were presented with as they tuned in to A Prescription for Murder?, an hour long feature into Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants and their potential link to extreme violence.

The episode presided over the case of James Holmes, who walked into a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado and opened fire, killing 12 and injuring 70. Holmes had no previous record of violence but 17 weeks before the killing he began a course of sertraline, an SSRI anti-depressant.

Panorama is supported by Professor David Healy, who helped with James’ defence but was never actually asked to provide evidence. Within the story, Healy asks us to consider that if James had never taken an SSRI, he wouldn’t have been driven to mass murder.

The idea sounds ludicrous; even Holmes’ defence team refused to put the idea in front of the jury. But Panorama pushed on. They presented us with what felt largely like circumstantial evidence, conveniently lining up timelines of prescriptions with the purchases of guns and ammunition.

What Panorama didn’t seem to consider is James’ mental health, the isolation he was experiencing and the breakdown of his personal relationships. Instead of presenting these as individual reasons someone might be driven into crisis, Panorama chooses to present them as consequences of the SSRI’s.

They brush off the interview with Doctor William Reid, who states categorically that he believes SSRI’s had nothing to do with the demise of James Holmes, in favour of a correlation equals causation approach that completely misses the complexities of any mental health problem.

Despite hearing that James suffered through intrusive thoughts of mass murder years before an anti-depressant prescription was handed to him, Panorama concludes that SSRI’s could have played a very real part in the timeline of events.

The real issue with the episode is that many people will see the title and read the synopsis without tuning in to see how little hard evidence was actually presented.

When an unbiased news network chooses to air a programme with a largely unfounded conclusion and such a sensationalist headline, we run a real risk of stigmatising the 40 million people who were prescribed SSRI’s in the UK last year alone. Even more dangerously, we risk deterring people from taking anti-depressants all together.

A correlation equals causation approach that completely misses the complexities of any mental health problem.

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Conversations on twitter confirmed fears of mental health advocates as people spoke out about how if they had seen the programme before being put on antidepressants, it would have made them think otherwise, maybe even cause them to delay seeking help. The Royal College of Psychiatrists released a statement stating that they were “disappointed with recent media coverage of anti-depressants” and urged people not to stop taking their medications in response to the show.

Scaremongering and sensationalist programming like A Prescription for Murder? sets the reporting of mental health issues back by decades. It also contributes to an underpinning discourse in mainstream media of mistrust towards medicating mental health issues. But the fact is, SSRI anti-depressants are a lifesaving drug for millions of people and it’s time we asked mainstream media to present them as such. •

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MENINGITIS: THE SILENT UNIVERSITY KILLER Why are students at particular risk?

Meningitis is normally caught through people who are carrying the bacteria at the back of their nose or throat but aren’t ill themselves.

This means that infections that cause meningitis can be spread through kissing, sneezing, coughing and even sharing cutlery.

Therefore, when students move to university, and start mixing closely with lots of new people, they are increasingly at risk.

One strand, Meningitis W has been on the rise since 2009 and it is students that are most at risk of catching it. 1 in 3 teenagers who have caught Men W have died.

What are the symptoms?

- A temperature of 38*C or above - Being sick - Headache -A blotchy rash that doesn’t fade with the glass test -Stiff Neck -Dislike of bright lights -Drowsiness or unresponsiveness -Seizures

What is Meningitis?

Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord that is caused by bacterial or viral infection.

It can be very serious if not treated quickly and can develop to life threatening blood poisoning. Viral Meningitis will usually get 16

better on its own and doesn’t often result in any long term problems. Bacterial Meningitis, on the other hand, needs to be treated urgently and can lead to many long term complications.

How do I know if I’ve been vaccinated?

First things first - get yourself registered at the Health Centre. Do not wait until you get ill.

Secondly, call them and ask them to check your records. They will be able to tell you if you need to be vaccinated.

Close to home: In April this year, one student at Surrey University died and two were hospitalised because of Meningitis. Whilst it may not be common, the risk is real. Get vaccinated.

The Glass Test Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin Spots/ rash may fade at first Keep checking A fever with spots/rash that doesn’t fade is a medical emergency.

Don’t wait for the rash - if you suspect you have meningitis, seek medical attention immediately.

All teenagers born between 01/09/1998 and 31/08/1999 are advised to get the Men ACWY vaccination now.

Anyone born after September 1996 who missed their vaccination in year 9 & 10 or their catch up vaccination can still get vaccinated.

Trust your instincts - it may not be Freshers’ Flu. •

Know the symptoms – act fast

Meningitis changes lives Jacob contracted meningitis and septicaemia, aged 21.

He had both legs amputated below the knee.

He spent 699 days in hospital as he recovered.

Learn more at www.fightfornow.org Š Meningitis Now 2017. Registered Charity Number 803016 (England & Wales) SC037790 (Scotland). Company Registration Number 2469130.

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THE PARTITION OF INDIA: THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY

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DEPUTY FEATURES EDITOR, AMBER CHOUDHARY DESCRIBES HER GRANDPARENTS EXPERIENCE

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he year was 1947. My grandparents lived in a village in Amritsar, a city in the north-western part of India. The partition of India into two separate states was agreed upon by Britain as a way to solve the mounting tension amongst its inhabitants. Pakistan was to become a Muslim-majority country, and India was to have a dominant Hindu population. South Asians are notorious for keeping quiet about things that happened in the past. The talk of partition was never a conversation I had directly with my grandparents; my grandmother often provided glimpses of her life growing up on a farm in India in the 1930s and early 1940s, but never spoke about partition. It was through what they had told my father that I got a glimpse into how chaotic, difficult and dangerous that year was for them.

and valuables, my family included, but belongings were later stolen when their whereabouts were uncovered.

Three religious groups divided the province of Punjab: the Muslims, the Hindus and the Sikhs.

Each group was separated by language, culture and faith. Tension and animosity existed long before British colonisation. As one of India’s biggest provinces, it became a hotbed for conflict that year. My mother’s parents were from the district of Hoshiapur, in the northeast part of Punjab. Their trek west was much longer, and incredibly violent on both ends. There was a lot of walking, jumping on passing trucks, hopping on and off trains that were crowded with bodies eager to escape. My grandma had a severe toothache that required immediate medical attention. She was treated by a kind Hindu doctor they met on their way. At one Riots broke out throughout the city; local towns point, my granddad became separated from his and villages were being set alight. Violence family and almost died when he was attacked between Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus had by a group of Sikh men. reached a new high as Muslims headed west and Hindus and Sikhs headed east. A group of About two million people were killed across Hindus in a nearby town were running rampant the country. Over twelve million people had killing sprees. My grandfather had a friend in migrated east and west and reached refugee the army who warned him a week prior about status. Militarised gangs found ways to inflict the massacres and was able to rally together violence on people of the opposite faith; people his friends and family in time to start moving. who were once their neighbours, were now Located in the state of Punjab, Amritsar is their enemy. This year marks 70 years since the close to the border of Pakistan, which resulted partition that changed so many lives. For us, its in a swift journey west to Lahore. Travelling by just another terrible moment in history, but for foot, only essential items were carried on the others, it was their reality. • journey. Many resorted to burying their gold 19

WHEN DID WE DECIDE OUR PRIVACY WAS OVERRATED? Dominic Barrett, Features Editor, asks why we are so relaxed about our personal information.

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ver since the creation and implementation of mass surveillance, whether that be through extensive CCTV networks or even drones attached with cameras, we have been slowly losing our right to privacy.

Only last year, the Investigatory Powers Act, known informally as the ‘Snoopers’ Charter’, was passed by Parliament.

billion active members. Every photo you upload and every status you’re tagged in is seen by all of your ‘friends’. They know when your birthday is, where you like to spend time and where you work. And, with a little time and effort, they could even work out where you live. In fact, depending on your privacy settings, anyone could start to work out who you are.

This allows government agencies to gain access to the information from phones, computers networks and a vast array of other electronic devices whether the user wants them to or not and potentially spy on them. Terrifying, yes, but are we really surprised? After all, we’ve been slowly forsaking our own privacy for years now anyway.

This isn’t designed to make you paranoid, or become a hermit who throws their phone out of a window. It is worth noting though that, if you post it online, the chances are someone will see it. Sometimes you have to consider whether you want your holiday stories scrolled through by that random guy you added on Snapchat ages ago, or whether you want your future boss to see the drunken night outs you’ve had.

You might say that that’s ridiculous, but hear me out, because it may not be as strange as it sounds. Social media has undeniably exploded in the last decade - Facebook alone has almost 2 20

According to one Jobvite recruiter report, 43% of recruiters check the Facebook of those they recommend for jobs, and according to

CareerBuilder, around 55% of employers check the social media of their employees - although this does vary depending on the job. For us university students, this probably doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it is worth remembering that one day the world of work will be calling, and no one wants to be left behind.

This is all fairly obvious stuff, but with social media so widespread, it is easy to forget the scope of just how many people are dipping into your life. It isn’t just people either; large corporations are involved as well. Everything about you and your photos, tags, likes, Facebook makes a record of. Similarly, every Google search you enter is logged and a complex image of you is created.

How much information Google actually holds is unknown, but some estimates say it may have as much as 15 exabytes - enough data to fill 30 million 500GB computers. This information

is then often sold to advertising companies to show you certain products and it does make you wonder just how much of what makes you, you, is left online.

When did we as a society decide that we were happy with all our information being readily harvested and then sold to the highest bidder?

If someone walked into your home and put cameras everywhere, you’d probably object. And yet, we are content with putting our entire lives up on platforms which have far more reach than merely one person with a few cameras.

At this point, the answer isn’t to simply switch off or never share anything online ever again.

However, it might be a good idea to prepare ourselves for the day we wake up and realise we sacrificed every scrap of privacy we have, just to show off a few cute Snapchat filters, and a few blurry holiday pictures. • 21

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: STUART HOLDWORTH

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

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BEN EINE Deputy Editor, Stephanie Bagnall, speaks to the street artist who created the Grenfell Tower Memorial Mural.

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mural to honour the victims and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire was created on Thursday 21st July in London at Village Underground. Painted by the renowned English street artist, Ben Eine, the mural featured a poem about the disaster by the Booker Prize winner and Nigerian writer Ben Okri.

Okri's poem "Grenfell Tower, June 2017", composed in the days after the fire and first broadcast on Channel 4 News and published in the Financial Times, will be rendered across the 120-square-metre wall of the Village Underground on Holywell Lane, Shoreditch, East London. The lines "You saw it in the tears of those who survived" will appear in Eine's colourful style – with the full 1,600word poem appearing across the wall as the background to the main text.

Okri is most famous for his 1991 Booker Prize winning novel The Famished Road. He was born in Nigeria and educated in England before taking up poetry and fiction in the 1970s. His writing has had flavours of political and social issues since the beginning of his career.

Okri lives very close to the North Kensington neighbourhood where the fire took place.

"I think it is an extraordinary idea," Okri said, referring to the mural of his poem. "Anything that can draw attention to that outrage

to humanity, anything that can commemorate the dead and help the survivors has my support."

Eine, who was asked to design the Amnesty International 50th anniversary poster in 2011, has had his work appear all across East London and other cities around the world for over a decade. Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron even presented an Eine piece as a gift to former US President Barack Obama in 2010.

It will help keep this discussion alive and bring the victims and survivors out of the shadows so that they can receive justice.

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"As a Londoner," Eine said, "with deep roots in the city's subculture, I am proud and privileged to be involved in this important and historic initiative. Our hope for this mural, which we're painting in response to the Grenfell fire, is that it will help keep this discussion alive and bring the victims and survivors out of the shadows so that they can receive justice. I'm happy that my skills can try to help make a positive difference after such an awful tragedy."

The organisation who delivered this mural, Paint The Change, was created by Maziar Bahari, an IranianCanadian journalist and filmmaker who has lived in London for over a decade.

Bahari started Paint the Change to encourage dialogue around critical social issues through the arts. The Grenfell fire artwork is the project's first mural. Paint the Change grew out of Bahari's street art and human rights project, 'Education Is Not A Crime', which has produced more than 40 murals around the world and two documentary films to raise awareness of education inequality.

The new project will use public art and film to address issues from injustice against minorities to environmental degradation and other social causes.

"Our wall in Shoreditch is an attempt to reflect the anger in West London in our corner of the city," Bahari said.

"We're honoured to have Ben Okri's blessing, and proud to be working with Ben Eine, who's going to create a new masterpiece on this wall."

Village Underground has hosted murals on its Holywell Lane wall for 10 years – visible to thousands of people a day.

Ben Eine, globally celebrated street artist and painter of the Grenfell mural, talked to Stephanie about his experience and thoughts of the art piece in our exclusive interview.

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What was the process like for the creation of the mural?

the tower to be pictured. Why use text in your mural?

“I was approached by Paint the Change who are a charity that work with different artists around the world and basically organise walls for them to paint on. They asked if I would like to paint a wall in the London Underground in collaboration with Ben who wrote a poem a few days after the fire.

“I don’t do images. I spent years doing graffiti and graffiti has always been about letterforms. I cant draw f*cking skylines.

I said yes because I’m a Londoner and feel strongly about the disaster.

They sent me his poem and I went through it and its basically a mile long. An amazing poem.

I saw it for the first time and it was like f*ck, what are they going to do with this? Seriously what will they do with it? Cover it in plastic and pretend its not there?

“

But obviously I was dictated by the size and shape of the wall to what I can actually write and so I went through this poem quite a few times and I pulled out a line that meant the most to me that wasn’t aggressive or negative but something I felt was unbelievably poignant so I picked that line and Ben was happy with it so I turned up and painted it.”

I have an unbelievably nerdy fascination with typography. My understanding of why a font or type works and why the London underground map works - it fascinates me. You are seamlessly guided round this gigantic city and you don’t know you’re being guided.

Your mural is a typography piece. I was surprised about this because for such a iconic image of disaster, I expected

That is typography working at its best. Words and typography make a flow. That’s what I really like about it.

It’s more positive.”

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How did you feel when you were working on this particular piece?

“It was a really and incredibly difficult subject to approach because people died and people are angry and people have been displaced people have lost everything so basically I’m an artist that makes things look better. Now someone has come to me with this really important job whereby I have to come and make people aware of everything that’s happened.

I got kicked out of America and was just left with a suitcase and was homeless after that. I’ve experienced losing everything, but not like these people did. Its an impossible task to take on. I think I did the best I thing I could have done and I’m happy with what I did. That’s all I can do.“ Do you think this piece has been significant in the voice of the London community?

“There’s a big role for it to play in London, but I stuck it up on my Instagram and its interesting to see the amount of foreigners who are reposting it. I had friends from New

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: STUART HOLDWORTH

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York and LA that saw it so it hasn’t just been a London piece of news.

It’s become a global disaster. My art here in London has helped share it around the world.”

What do you want people to see/feel when they look at this mural?

Its bright and colourful. I want people to be happy. I want people to read what it says. I deliberately didn’t make it complicated so people can read it. The really really amazing thing for me while I was painting this was that I painted the line which took two days and the guys that organized it had laser cut outs of the lyrics to the poem which I painted on the right hand corner and it was like 16 sheets of card. My daughter was helping me at the time and as I was spraying the lyrics to this poem I was crying. I was like this is so f*cking sad. I was literally spraying the lyrics to the poem and was like crying at the same time.

I want people to see this painting but I want them to go over the poem and reflect. The saddest thing is, is anything really going to change? I think the only sad thing about it is that we painted it in Shoreditch, not

in west London. I guess the tower is a mural itself. I saw it for the first time and it was like f*ck, what are they going to do with this? Seriously what will they do with it? Cover it in plastic and pretend its not there?

Knock it down?

vote for or something but if I can highlight some of the things that are wrong with the world, if I can, even if it just makes someone thing a little differently. I’m not going to change the world, but I can change one persons attitude.

Why do you think street art is an effective way to receive justice for the victims of the fire?

Was there anything difficult in giving a visual to the reproduction of Ben Okri’s poem?

For quite a long time I painted street art and I always tried to be nonpolitical. In the last year or so I’ve been like f**k it, I have walls to paint and I can actually say something.

So yeah I just painted a wall that said ‘things fall apart but we all stick together’ and it was quite close to the Syrian boarder and I’m doing a big project with more charities but I like to use the position I have to make a message as well as creating art. Giving a message is what street art is for me now.

No actually. And I say this because Ben was incredibly open to my interpretation of what he’d done.

We had one conversation. That was it. He’s wrote the poem and I’m the artist. I’m not going to tell him what to write and he’s not going to tell me what to paint. And really weirdly I get lots of opportunities to work with different people over time and I never do them because I never feel its going to work out and. This time, it worked out incredibly. I think we were both very happy with the outcome. •

I can’t speak for other people, for me now I feel like I’m in the position to write something for people to see and possibly hear and maybe change an opinion. I’m not going to go around telling people who to

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: STUART HOLDWORTH

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RELATIONSHIPS: THE UNIVERSITY TEST Shannon Gray gives her top tips for making that long distance relationship work.

I was 17 when I began my first real relationship. We were an inseparable, strong and loving couple. Despite our devoted appearance, the one question that seemed to keep cropping up from friends and family was “Do you think you’ll break up when you go to University?”. It felt insulting. Shocking, even.

Yet it wasn’t until I arrived at university, miles away from my partner, that I began to understand that it wasn’t actually an insult at all.

I began to see relationships triple the length of mine fall to pieces within weeks, and relationships half the length of mine strengthen at full force.

This was the milestone that separated the dedicated from the convenient.

Bring up your insecurities and emotions If you bottle up your feelings of insecurity and your relationship fears, they’ll likely consume you and lead to outbursts, arguments, or even a full force break-up.

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Pick up the phone at 3am and tell them you’re scared that their housemates are more attractive and convenient than you are. Talk it through together.

Trust your partner If you are with someone you cannot trust, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to jump the university hurdle. After all, university is a whole new world with all new experiences, and you need to trust your partner enough to know that they won’t start searching for new experiences behind your back.

Trust that your relationship is stronger than a couple of shots of tequila during freshers’ week, and if it is, you’ll make it through this.

Talk about every single detail Sometimes it’s hard to remember that someone you used to spend every day with may now not understand basic landmarks in your life. Try to get used to the “what?” and “huh?” responses to your trip to Medicine, the Packhorse, then

Stumble Inn, all in one crazy night.

Slow down and explain the little things so they feel more involved with you and your university.

Make the effort to visit, if you can If they’re international, skip this step, your loan won’t cover this. If they’re national, this is a key component of your relationship. Video and voice calls are fantastic, but they also won’t hold your hand or make you tea in the mornings.

So make the effort to book a train ticket every now and again. You’ll be grateful for the hugs every time you do.

Make sure you’re truly committed At the end of the day, nothing else really matters if you haven’t made sure that the person you’re with now could be the person you end up with. I’m not suggesting a full blown wedding proposal but merely a small moment of introspection on the future of your relationship. Because if they aren’t, well none of this advice was really worth a read. But if they are, then you should give it all you’ve got. •

LIVING HARMONIOUSLY WITH YOUR HOUSEMATES Chloe Buck explains the simple rules for a happy student home.

It’s September, you’re moving into a house and you couldn’t be more excited to be living with your mates.

However, there may be a time when you suddenly realise that the people you’re living with may be the most wonderful friends but are severely lacking in the ‘ideal housemate’ department.

The easiest way to get around these issues is to just communicate. It can turn into a much bigger problem if you don’t talk it through. Simple communication can surprisingly solve issues.

With noise control, you may want to consider setting some ground rules so that no-one’s blasting out their music the night before When there are lots of different personalities living under the same someone has a 9am lecture - it’s roof, with different values and ideas all about communication. You may also want to consider purchasing about living in a private house some pretty good headphones that situation, there is bound to be a clash at some point. Use these tips have the power to drown out noisy housemates. They may come in to keep the peace! handy when all you want to do is to go into their room and scream at Unless a discussion on chores them. happens early on, this will be the one thing that will cause the most There are times when you just need disruption and arguments. If you a good old house bonding sesh, don’t know your housemates that whether it’s having a movie night, well, you should talk to each other going out for drinks or just cooking about your living habits. The best a meal together. Tell each other your thing to do is to set up a rota woes and laugh about comedy cat hoovering, dusting, taking the bin out etc. If someone forgets to take videos and other funny things. As much as you’ll irritate each other the bin out you can simply remind with your annoying habits, it’s good them! to spend time with each other and Now, with food and drink, the best remind yourselves why you agreed to live with each other. thing to do is to label the things that are yours and decide together which things are communal so that When there’s an issue in the house, the best thing to do is to address there are no misunderstandings.

it as quickly as you can and reduce tension, before it slips into a daily annoyance. It may be more convenient to leave a note, saying “Don’t use my milk.” with a smiley face next to it.

But, try not to make it come across as passive aggressive.

Drunken arguments are never a good idea so don’t ever confront someone about an issue in the house when you’re anything but sober.

The last thing you need is a drunken argument with your housemate over a hoover that didn’t really bother you that much in the first place. Yet sometimes, there are times when we cannot control what we say when intoxicated so if you have an argument with one of your housemates, just ensure that you talk it out the next morning over a cup of coffee (and a muffin depending on how bad the argument was).

Sometimes you will just need to ‘suck it up’ and ‘let it go’ and not start an argument. The time may come when you have to put on ‘Let it Go’ and sing out to release all that inner tension, or go for a run - whichever takes your fancy. University only lasts a few years so it’s important not to let silly things get to you, and if they do, then there’s nothing that a cup of tea can’t fix. • 27

PRODUCTIVE PROCRASTINATION Emma Halahan gives us five apps to get us off of Netflix and shows us how to procrastinate with a purpose.

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etflix is the procrastination tool of choice for many of us and it’s not hard to see why. A seemingly endless supply of the world’s favourite TV shows is an appealing premise, but for those of you wondering how else to kill the boredom in a slightly more productive manner, here are the top picks.

Mapswipe Mapswipe is one of those mindless but addictive tasks. Across the globe, Medicine Sans Frontiers is looking to digitally map parts of the world which we currently haven’t. You simply help them along their way by telling them whether the tile you’re presented with has any structures, major roads or rivers on it. One day, if the area is struck by a crisis, your contribution to the mapping project will tell aid workers where human populations are, as well as what roads they can use to get there. It’s also floated as the ‘tinder of the mapping world’ if that convinces you at all.

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PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: FAB PIOLINI-CASTLE

Earthmiles

Origami

This app measures your steps and gives you rewards for walking and keeping fit through syncing with whatever tracker is your mode of choice for fitness. The rewards can include discounts on gym classes, cool health food and active wear. It gives you the perfect motivation to head on over to Virginia Water and Windsor park to experience the local beauty that this side of Surrey has to offer.

I was recently introduced to the app ‘Origami’, which holds around fifty tutorials for a wide and very fun range of origami projects.

Considering you usually just need a single piece of paper and some focus, it’s a good way to unwind, especially if you are someone who needs to have their hands full at all times. It’s also an easy way of decorating your halls.

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Podcasts Audio media has made quite the comeback.

The podcast app on the apple store or Pocket Cast for android are solid choices. Current favourites include ‘Kicking the Kyriarchy’ – a podcast picked up by the Guardian and founded by Royal Holloway Alumnus Elena Guthrie and Sidonie BertrandShelton about intersectional feminism and the interwoven nature of oppression. Take a look at Ingrid Nilsen’s ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ and ‘Guys We F***cked’ produced by Corinne Fisher & Krystyna Hutchinson for more podcasting gold.

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4

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

Sagittarius

Capricorn

22nd November – 21st December

22 December - 19 January

Love: Take your head out of your book and look around, your next fling could be sat next to you.

Study: The new library is calling your name. Go and see what all the fuss is about.

Travel: Travelling? I don’t think so. Have you seen your bank account?

Love: Stop analysing everything and see where life takes you!

Study: Group study sessions are the way forward - bring some treats for your pals.

Travel: London isn’t that far away. Make the most of the free museums.

Love: You certainly threw yourself back into the dating scene didn’t you?

Remember to keep it classy.

Study: Deadlines are there for a reason, at least try to stick to them.

Travel: It’s time to find the backpacker inside yourself and let loose, before you get too old!

Aquarius

Pisces

Aries

Scorpio 23 October - 21 November

20 January - 18 February

19 February - 20 March

Love: Just ask them out - someone has to make the first move!

Study: It’s only September, ease yourself back in steadily.

Travel: Stop using Uber and get some exercise!

Love: It’s time to move on, this clearly isn’t working for you.

Study: Get some highlighters and try and colour-code those disorganised notes.

Travel: Adventure calls. Find somewhere new that you’ve never been before.

Taurus

Gemini

20 April - 20 May

21 May - 20 June

21 March - 19 April

Love: Your soulmate is waiting for you, don’t you worry.

Study: Start the year off strong, at least attempt to do the seminar reading.

Travel: Venture to a new restaurant and try some fancy new food.

Cancer 21 June - 22 July

Love: Your friends are all you need right now.

Study: Communication is key - go chat to your seminar tutor and get those grades up!

Travel: You’ve never checked out the Picture Gallery? Go. Now.

Love: The only late night hook-up you should be having is with the new library.

Study: When was the last time you read for pleasure? Chill out and grab an easy read!

Travel: Have a look what’s going on in London this weekend, you might find some great deals.

Leo

Virgo

Libra

23 July - 22 August

23 August - 22 September

23 September - 22 October

Love: Change things up a bit, don’t get stuck in the same routine - you’re too young.

Study: Studying is so much easier with a cuppa and some chocolate.

Travel: Need to clear your head? Head to Kew Gardens for the afternoon.

Love: It’s okay to be the single one in your friendship group. You’ll find someone soon.

Study: Don’t let your nightmares about getting a third become a reality.

Travel: Did you read the study bit? Get to the library!

Love: Love is written in the stars for you this month..

Study: Find yourself a study buddy to get you through the pain.

Travel: Christmas will be here before you know it, get in a weekend away before you run out money.

Love: They’re just not that into you.

Study: Return some of those books that you’ve been renewing for the last year, please.

Travel: Head to Kaspas and treat yourself!

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LEARNING FRENCH WITH KIMMY SCHMIDT Beth Carr discusses how Netflix has more benefits than you may think...

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hen I got a free trial of Netflix, it was because I wanted to finally watch some of the Netflix Original Series and also because you can watch endless episodes of Doctor Who without having to swap the DVDs around. What I didn’t expect to gain from Netflix was the ability to learn a language.

You may well have heard of a programme called Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It’s a very funny comedy series about a woman named Kimmy Schmidt living in New York, with a premise that I won’t elaborate on too much because it was a very funny surprise for me.

One thing that stands out about the programme is how easy it is to watch. Hours can fly by in the company of Kimmy and her friends and there’s good, light-hearted stories that you can easily follow, whether you binge watch a season

or dip in and out.

There’s another great feature of Netflix, which is the ability to change the language of what you are watching. Depending on what languages the programme has been dubbed into, you can select change your selection from the default English to whichever other option you choose. Netflix Originals are especially good for this but other films also have a good language selection. I first discovered the language selection option when watching a childhood favourite, Spy Kids 3, and as I knew the story I gave watching it in French a go, complete with French subtitles so I didn’t cheat and read what was going on.

The next day I logged into Netflix to watch some more Kimmy Schmidt.

And I couldn’t understand it....but then I realised that I could (Netflix remembers your most recently selected language preferences). I mean, not every word, but between reading the subtitles and listening to

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: BETH CARR 30

the words (they are quite different when you are using both!) I started to recall what I had learnt in GCSE and AS Level French. Taking visual cues from the action on screen, I managed to pass the time fairly happily watching and understanding the show in a completely different language. To make things a bit easier, I rewatched a few episodes in French that I’d already seen in English and found I was picking up words: it was almost strange to watch shows in English after my French experience.

Of course, if you’re aiming to learn a language from scratch, the Netflix method isn’t the way to go. You need a certain level of comprehension to even start to understand the words in the subtitles and a higher ability with languages to understand the spoken word. However, if you’ve learnt a language before and want to get back to it in a fun and cheap way, you can simply refresh your memory during your daily Netflix fix!

MATILDA THE MUSICAL: A REVIEW

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: FAB PIOLINI-CASLTE

Amber Choudhary reviews the West End production of Matilda The vibrantly lit stage of the Cambridge Theatre is littered with colourful wooden blocks spelling out words like “shiny”, “joy” and “escape”, a nod to Matilda Wormwood’s love for books and the escapism reading provides. Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Matilda the Musical is based on the 1988 children’s novel Matilda, written by Roald Dahl. The premise follows a similar narrative to the novel. A young girl discovers her magical powers as she navigates parents who’d rather she were a boy, and a headmistress who uses any opportunity to throw her in the much-feared chokey, a narrow cupboard with nails and sharp, pointy pieces of glass sticking outwards from every corner.

With an army of schoolchildren dancing and singing atop classroom desks and chairs, Matilda the Musical opens with a promising start. In the song ‘Miracle’, children at a birthday party voice the praises sung upon them by their mothers, proudly singing, “my Mummy says I’m a

miracle.” Matilda’s mother, however, calls her a “lousy, little worm.” The irony is not lost, as Matilda really is a miracle.

Accompanied by her Latin-dancing partner, Mrs Wormwood’s personality is as loud and gaudy as her bright dancing costumes. Her fixation with vanity, (at one point telling Miss Honey, “You have books and I have looks”), makes for an entertaining character who prioritises her dancing competitions above the wellbeing of her daughter. The emphasis on Matilda’s home life compared to other children, is one of many juxtapositions in the play, including the dichotomy between brutish Miss Trunchbull with the caring, gentle countenance of Miss Honey.

Dressed in long brown coat, a matching leather belt and a sinister smile, headmistress Miss Trunchbull, played by Craige Els, exudes an arrogant and hilariously pompous attitude, reminiscent of the character portrayed in the 1997 film

adaptation. When she breaks out into song, grumbling about maggot-like schoolchildren, her status as a villain is called into question. She develops into more of a satirical anti-hero than a scary villain. Clad in a garish, green chequered suit, Michael Begley’s Mr Wormwood delivers a fantastically sleazy persona that could contend with Danny DeVito’s portrayal.

In the West End production of the musical, four young actresses portray the titular character. The young protagonist in the role of Matilda delivered a strong performance driving a theatre production with such ease and confidence, despite appearing a little contentious and whiny at times, an odd combination for such a likeable character. Matilda the Musical is a little bit too long and at times overly dramatic, but from the catchy lyrics, funny dialogue and colourful production, it captures the heart and spirit of Roald Dahl’s novel.

It’s not just a play for children, it’s a play for everyone. •

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A DARK SEASON OF UNIVERSITY THEATRE Arts editor, Josip Martinčić draws parallels between the dark themes explored within the shows put on by the Performing Arts Societies on campus in Term One.

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theatre will usually create a season of shows with a shared concept, and an example of this is the upcoming season of Oscar Wilde at the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End. It is often the case with Shakespeare’s Globe, especially during Emma Rice’s time as the artistic director, with seasons called ‘Summer of Love’, for example, or ‘The Wonder Season’.

Therefore, it is very interesting to see that, unintentionally, the Performing Arts Societies on campus are all putting on some very dark shows.

The Drama Society is putting on Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Musical Theatre Society (MTS) is doing Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret, Savoy Opera Society is offering Brecht’s Threepenny Opera and Shakespeare Society is performing Titus Andronicus. Ranging from the Salem witch trials to Weimar Germany and from The Bard’s bloodiest work to the beggars and criminals of Victorian London, there is definitely a variety of genres and content for a variety of performers.

I asked the directors of these shows on their thoughts about the fact that they all picked works with dark themes.

“I am genuinely excited about the dark season of shows we have this coming term.”

“

- Tom Williams, Director of The Crucible “With so many committee-elects having expressed their wish for better inter-societal relations, what better way to start the term off than having a common overarching theme for our shows,” he continues.

It’s true, this year more than ever, there

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seems to be a desire to feel connected, and the overlapping memberships will be even better represented by committee members of one society being on a crew of another society’s show.

Tom rationalises his decision for picking a dark show, claiming it was an easy choice, as he thinks that “we learn far more from shows that end in tragedy then when all the characters live happily ever after.” It’s interesting that the focus here is on education, audience selfreflection and their potential catharsis.

His directorial intentions scream out for change, and this is probably most evident in the fact that he hopes “the audience will leave truly understanding the power fear and hysteria had on Salem, and the power it still has to inflict damage in the 21st century.”

Anthony Underwood, director of Cabaret, agrees, stating that “prejudice and political ignorance are subjects that are still extremely potent in today’s society.” The idea of an ignorant public,

interesting stage connotations.” This isn’t the only link between those two shows. The other comes in the form of the positivity found just as prominently, as “Titus is a very dark play, but you can also find light in it which is what makes it so amazing.”

Being able to focus on the multifaceted nature of the show is very important, as it is easy to just see the darkness within these shows, but for both of these directors to recognise and embrace the lighter parts of the pieces will be interesting to see.

Rafael Aptroot, who is directing The Threepenny Opera, asserts that he is “so drawn to dark themes that The Threepenny Opera seemed like a lighter tone!” The show does have a lot of very interesting and twisted humour, and “finding humour in the darker aspects of life” is what Rafael finds “helps to deal with the days when the world can seem cold, uncaring, even brutal.”

They explore a side of humanity that we don’t see as often.

He concludes his thoughts on dark themes by stating that they “explore a side of humanity that we don’t see as often

Prejudice and political ignorance are subjects that are still extremely potent in today’s society.

“

in our day to day, helping us explore and address the side of our human experience we can prefer to sweep under the rug.”

Helping, and even encouraging, the audience to explore their internal darkness through the shows will be very exciting. Brech is famous for his use of the chorus and the relationship with the audience, which is very exciting and unusual. This will only be highlighted by the space it is performed in (Jane Holloway Hall) and the staging.

Michael Day, the director of Titus Andronicus, claims that “the dark side of theatre is very alluring as it has such

“

The Student Workshop, on the other hand, decided to do a more lighthearted show. Bluey Little, the director of The Student Workshop’s original show, seems to disagree wholeheartedly with the ideas above.

“Often the high stakes of plays revolve around far-fetched plots that don’t

reflect the actual emotional conflicts I face, even if they do philosophise on how to deal with them.”

Bluey describes her show, Alphabet, which she will devise with her co-director James Douglas and a company of drama students, as “a sort of retaliation to this idea that theatre has to be ‘gritty’ to have an impact on its audience.” She continues, insisting that the show isn’t “dark but it’s relatable and hopefully it will make the audience think about their approach to life as much as any other show this season.”

So there you have it. The shows might be dark, the themes explored a little bit difficult to digest, but ultimately, they are the artists’ joint shout into the void; a wake-up call and a tool to instigate change and reflection about our world and our place in it.

And if that doesn’t make you want to buy a ticket to each of the shows, I don’t know what will. •

ARTWORK CREDIT: STEPHANIE BAGNALL

it seems, is found in both shows, and is highlighted by both of the directors’ concepts. As for the connection between the shows, Anthony unreservedly claims that “Without a doubt, Cabaret can be considered one of the darkest pieces of musical theatre within theatre history.”

The hyperbolic choice of words is representative of the show itself. “Kander and Ebb’s creation ingeniously combines both comedy and terror, whilst engulfing the audiences into a pivotal time of the falsely glamorous world of Weimar Germany.”, Underwood states.

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34 PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT; RFU COLLECTION

WOMEN’S SPORT: CONSUMPTION, IDENTITY & SUCCESS Sophie Harrison discusses how women’s sport is on the rise, why it deserves more sponsorship and how its success is changing perceptions.

For women’s sport, this summer has been an incredible success that has enthralled the nation. The increased profile, awareness and success of women’s sport has been unparalleled. From the pitch to the wicket, British women have seen a summer which has started to prompt important questions surrounding the landscape of elite female sport.

Reaching an all-time high of 7.21 million women playing regular sport in December 2016, more and more women are engaging in active pursuits. National campaigns such as This Girl Can have raised the profile of female engagement in sport, which begs the question – why is this not more interest in national women’s sport?

Many broadcasting companies have noted a public disinterest in the viewing of women’s sport and therefore have little commercial interest in purchasing the viewing rights to high profile female competitions. Yet, 1.1 million viewers tuned in to see the English Cricket team beating India in the World Cup Final and 2.6 million viewers watched the English defeat to New Zealand in the recent Women’s Rugby World Cup final. All of these figures show positive signs to growing interest in women’s sport and with fan

engagement rising at fixtures and competitions, the next step is an increase in sponsorship.

If any significant development could be noted from recent years, it would be the rise of self-identity and acceptance in culture.

The increase in popularity and significance of women’s sport is directly ied to this rise of accepted self-identity. Belk’s extended self theory suggests that what we consumes can be a direct link to who we are and what we value and that essentially, our consumption is a true reflection of our self. This explains how sport and how one consumes sport, is a major extension of the self - feminism does not have to mean strong activism, but neither does watching women’s sport require strong feminist feeling - our consumption essentially comes down to what we truly accept.

Women’s sport is at a very defined crossroads of opportunity, so how can we make women’s sport more popular with a more diverse audience?

Perhaps a good starting point is that British sportswomen are in many cases outperforming their male counterparts.

With the Lionesses reaching the Euros semi-finals; Johanna Konta and Heather Watson reaching semis and finals respectively at Wimbledon; and the England Women’s Rugby team reaching the final at the World Cup in August, we are as a nation celebrating more and more success on the international stage. Supporting this, an increased awareness of marketing campaigns which highlight the values and strengths associated with sport are penetrating the public perception.

This has been seen by the Red Roses and the Lionesses and are now starting to become known terms and identities for fans to get behind. Propelling this motivating image further are the grass roots campaigns which utilise role models to showcase why women engage with sport, such as the Inner Warrior camps run by England Rugby.

Now is the time to find out more about women’s sport – get down to your local matches, engage on social media or even put those boots or trainers on and become one of the many who are engaging.

This is exactly how women’s sport will have the platform to keep breaking down barriers, changing perceptions and reaching their deserved levels of success. • 35

A SUMMER OF SPORT Louisa Wicks brings you some of the sporting highlights of Summer 2017.

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he summer of 2017 has been extremely successful, both for world sport as a whole and also for British sport. With 3 world championships in the space of a month following the success of the British athletes at the Olympic Games in 2016, the world championship teams were obviously eager to keep the success going.

And the world was not disappointed.

World Para Athletics Championships British athletics got off to a flying start at London Stadium, as the World Para Athletics Championships got underway. Ending the competition with an amazing 39 medals, Team GB proved that their para athletes are getting stronger every year. One of the stars of the championships was Hannah Cockroft, who competed in the 100m, 400m and 800m (all in the T34 category).

She won gold medals in all 3 events, proving that she is unstoppable. Team GB’s 18 gold medals came from a variety of different backgrounds, for example both T44 100m races were won by British athletes – upand-coming athlete Sophie Kamlish, and powerhouse athlete Jonnie Peacock. As they collected up medals from both track and field events, it became evident that this was going to be an extremely successful competition for British para athletics.

World Swimming Championships Meanwhile, in Budapest, the world’s most talented swimmers gathered for their championships. Much like the Para Athletics Championships, it was an extremely successful competition for British sport.

2016 Olympic Champion Adam Peaty held onto his 100m breaststroke title, and also broke the world record in both the semi-finals and finals 36

of the 50m breaststroke. Great Britain ended the championships with 5 golds, 3 silvers and 3 bronzes, further proving that British swimming is getting stronger and stronger. But, swimmers from other countries also proved their strength. A key example is Team USA’s Katie Ledecky, the most successful female swimmer of all time. She walked away with 5 golds and 1 silver, with the gold medals in a huge variety of distances.

IAAF World Championships The summer of sport ended with the athletics championships, taking the competition back to the Olympic Stadium. Whilst this competition was as successful for British sport as the Para Athletics just a few weeks before, Team GB did end the championships with 6 medals. One of the big surprises for Britain was the relay events, resulting in a gold medal, 2 silvers and a bronze. Great Britain’s other 2 medals came from Mo Farah, who won a gold and a silver in the last track events of his career. But, the big shock of the championships came from the short distance events, in the form of Olympic Champion Usain Bolt.

With his extremely publicised retirement approaching, the world was expecting a big finish from the Jamaican athlete. But, when it was time for the 100m, Bolt shocked the world by finishing third. Then, just when the world thought the athlete’s final championships couldn’t get any worse, the 4x100m relay ended in disaster as Bolt was unable to finish his leg of the race. Although Jamaica did not have a very successful end to their world championships, many other countries did. Team GB celebrated their relay success, and hopefully this success will continue as we approach Tokyo 2020. •

BUCS CLUB OF THE YEAR: Louisa Wicks chats to Women’s Football President, Laura Vinton and explains how the club managed to win such a prestigious award.

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he 2016-17 season has been incredible for Women’s Football, ending the year with a win that university teams can only dream of. BUCS Club of the Year is a highly prestigious award, and it now belongs to a club that has gone from strength to strength this season.

Women’s Football is gradually becoming more and more popular, and this win is likely to raise the club’s profile on campus. We spoke to new president Laura Vinton to get her view on the club’s incredible achievement: “This year we had the highest number of members ever and our sport is growing in popularity with every season. We had members volunteering at the local primary school running football sessions for both boys and girls, as well as at Spelthorne Disability Centre. We raised over £2,300 for a variety of charities, such as Cancer Research, and ran awareness campaigns for causes which our members are passionate about, such as #itsoktotalk.

We may not have won every game this season, but we did leave every match with our heads held high and a smile on our faces. Last but not least, our club continues to be there for its members, from allowing them to release stress by kicking balls to developing life-long friendships.

We were all proud of our club and when we won RAG Club of the Year and Club of the Year at Colours Ball, we were over the moon and a little bit emotional.

Then we won BUCS Club of the Year and we were all a mix of amazed, ecstatic and proud. For years our members have been telling freshers, friends and family that Royal Holloway Women’s Football is the best club in the country, but that’s just been our biased opinion.

Now we can say it as a fact, which is slightly unreal. We could not be happier or prouder to be BUCS Club Of The Year, and we are going to use this opportunity to encourage more girls to give women’s football a try, and to get involved with our club whether that’s through playing matches, volunteering, socials or charity fundraising.”

As September and the arrival of freshers comes ever closer, it is highly likely that Women’s Football and its increasingly positive reputation will attract new members, thus making the club even bigger and more successful.

2017 has been a great year for the club, and hopefully 2018 will be even better. •

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Y

ou’ve probably never stood on a train track, and looked as it disappeared off into the distance. But let’s imagine you have. The two mutually parallel tracks seem to meet just as they venture over the crest of the horizon - a strange illusion.

You know that the two tracks can never meet, because a train has to be able to move over them, with a fixed distance between its wheels. Perhaps it is just an illusion, created by the optical receptors in your eye - or perhaps it isn’t.

In Euclidean mathematics, two parallel lines will exist along side each other at a fixed length and never meet. Euclid also explained that two lines will meet at exactly one point, unless they are parallel. This idea upsets modern day mathematicians, who don’t like the word ‘unless’; they believe it’s not elegant.

“

The line at infinity is just an example of a mathematician’s desire to ‘plug’ a hole in mathematical inconsistencies.

Intuitively, the line acts as the boundary to the infinite plane, if the plane had a boundary. Walk in any direction across the plane forever, and you’ll get there!

Back to the island, now imagine the infinite plane (the ocean) as the interior of a circle and the circle itself is the line at infinity, bounding the plane. Any line that travels across the plane will only ever meet any other line once.

However, this line will meet the line at infinity twice, once at either side of the circle; this is a problem. Therefore, we must alter the meaning of a point. Let’s say the first point where the line meets the circle is called A, and the second point is called B. If I walked from the centre of the infinite plane forever, I’d reach A.

So if every other pair of lines meet, why can’t parallel lines meet too?

So if every other pair of lines meet, why can’t parallel lines meet too? This is the premise behind geometric infinity.

This idea is concreted by the following thought experiment: imagine you are stood on a very small island and all around you is ocean. Now imagine this ocean extends out to infinity, and so you are at the centre of an infinite plane. The line from your eye to the horizon is consequently parallel to the ocean, and also extends for infinity. If a boat sets off from your island, and you draw a line from your eye to the bottom of the boat, this line will never be above the horizon line despite how far away the boat sails, because the ocean is infinite. The line would only go above the horizon when the boat passed over it, which it cannot do as the horizon is at infinity.

We can see the horizon line is the point where the sky meets the ocean. The parallel lines once again meet at a point.

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However, our last thought experiment confirms that this point is no ordinary point that lies on the infinite plane, but in fact is an abstract point that exists at infinity. This point is what mathematicians call the ‘line at infinity’, and is simply an extension of Euclid’s idea of an infinite plane.

Then, if I followed the line at infinity clockwise forever, I’d reach B. If I then carried on from B, walking clockwise forever, I’d once again reach A. I would have walked the same distance, in the same direction, to end up at two different points. This is counter intuitive; so why not let A and B be the same? Thus, the line at infinity is in fact semi-circular. Similarly, A and B are, in fact, the same point in space. Consequently, the line at infinity is a semi-circle that wraps around itself to make a circle. Thus, every line in Euclidean space in turn wraps around itself to make a circle. A depressing result of this idea of infinity is that one can walk forever, and return to exactly the same place.

So what does this have to do with the train tracks from earlier?

The parallel lines now do meet, but only at the line at infinity. All parallel lines meet at the point where the line at infinity meets itself: point A. So at the end of it all, everything in existence on this infinite plane revolves not around the centre, but in fact around point A; a point that exists not in three dimensional space, but at infinity - the end of the line. •

ORBITAL EXPLAINS: THE LINE AT INFINITY Simon Williams breaks down the mathematical theory of geometric inďŹ nity.

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METAL GEAR ECHOES CALLS OF ‘FAKE NEWS’

Daniel Woolley discusses a key theme of the game, Metal Gear and its relation to the modern calls of misinformation.

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he digital society furthers human flaws and selectively rewards development of convenient half-truths”

The Metal Gear series is a linear action-stealth series that is firmly rooted in fantasy. This includes ridiculous concepts from floating psychics, cyborg ninjas, all the way to nuclear-armed bipedal tanks.

However, the series is also known for its grounded realism and its dealing of complicated themes.

There are several games within the series but my personal favourite is the 2001 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. This game in particular shows this juxtaposition of realism and the surreal alongside a discussion of multiple themes - including misinformation.

The game is set during 2009 where a rookie special forces agent, Raiden, is sent to the ‘Big Shell’ facility (apparently, a decontamination facility) to take down a terrorist group called the ‘Sons of Liberty’ who are holding the President hostage and are demanding money. This lie is fed to the player and Raiden at the start of the game but, as the game goes on, the truth begins to reveal itself. The ‘Big Shell’ facility isn’t a decontamination facility but was instead used to cover up the existence of the super-weapon ‘Arsenal Gear’, which they plan to use against a group of called ‘The Patriots’.

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However, this is another lie as the reality of the situation is that ‘Arsenal Gear’ is not a super-weapon but a data processing system designed to process and control all digital information. ‘The Patriots’ apparently orchestrated all the events of the game as part of a plan to see if they could control the spread of information and manipulate the players’ actions via false information A common theme within the game, therefore, is misinformation as both player and characters are lied to about the purpose of the mission and then are manipulated by this false information into enacting the Patriot’s plans. Consequently, the game is principally a discussion of the issues surrounding digital information.

Uncontrolled digital information is portrayed as a threat to society as it can create multiple truths and thus give others the ability to shape the actions of those around them.

Metal Gear Solid 2 is therefore a discussion on how the controlling of information can affect the truths people see and, subsequently, their actions.

You may be wondering why this game is still relevant today despite being over sixteen years old. With the rise of digital media and the unceasing declarations of ‘Fake News’, information is constantly being challenged, creating multiple truths.

This echoes the reality presented in the game as it acknowledges the threat of uncontrolled digital information and its ability to create truths that are different to a person’s reality, or the reality they wish to impose. Fundamentally, the Patriots fear of the power of digital media is reflected in the modern age with the internet’s ability to spread lies, misinformation and the willingness of some to try and control this.

We can see that in our day and age, people are attempting to do what the Patriots do in the game and try to control information to spread their reality and halt the spread of what they see as misinformation. The key theme of misinformation remains significant in an era where people question news and media more often and accept the ones that fit their reality rather than the actual truth.

The Metal Gear series is not to everyone’s taste with its overreliance on cut-scenes, difficult controls, complicated story and quivering tone.

But, not often can one say that a sixteen-year-old video game and the themes it portrays remain relevant to this day.

It’s clear when we look at the news that this complex theme of information control remains a central discussion of the internet and news and, as such, we can see that Metal Gear Solid 2 remains relevant to this day. •

AI ON THE RADAR Michele Theil analyses the threat to the journalism industry arising from Artificial Intelligence.

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ver since its inception, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has not only been at the forefront of technological advancement but also a major theme within many action films. What many films of the last decade have told us is that AI will either stage a hostile takeover of the world, or send us into obsolescence by one day replacing us, thus taking over the world regardless.

For any journalist, current or aspiring, that day may be today, as it was announced earlier this year that Google is funding an AI program that will create news stories for publications. Google manages a fund, the Digital News Initiative (DNI), that awards grants to digital journalism projects around Europe. They awarded a grant of over £600,000 to Ireland’s Press Association and Urbs Media for their collaboration on the Reporters And Data And Robots (RADAR) project in order to generate 30,000 local news stories a month starting in 2018. The AI will use Natural Language Generation, a system of converting information to real-world language, to aid the production of automated news stories.

A team of five journalists will work together to create templates for “data-driven stories” involving crime, health and employment and RADAR will be used to fill in the information that’s missing. The AI will use data from public databases to add to any relevant articles. For example, a health related article will draw information from the UK’s NHS database.

This isn’t the first time AI journalism has reared its head. It has been used with the US publication Associated Press as well as publications like The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times for more basic stories. Press Association’s editor-in-chief Pete Clifton praised

the RADAR program as a “game-changer”, giving additional credence within the world of journalism to the cutting-edge technology.

This is innovative as the technological application of AI to real-world situations allows the publications to produce more stories in a shorter period of time. It will often be difficult for smaller outlets to churn out 30,000 local news stories in one month, despite the abundance of material. However, the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the world of journalism can have negative connotations for young and experienced writers alike.

Many young writers that intern or begin work at news outlets are often given the ‘grunt work’ and learning to research and apply the extensive information to their stories is a big part of that. Using AI to sort through the information and produce low-level copy could mean that they would not be able to do that and opportunities for young journalists could become even more scarce than they already are. A domino effect could occur here as it could possibly reduce the need for less experienced writers at publication, leaving them unable to gain the experience they require in the future.

More experienced journalists are concerned with how the AI technology could advance in the future and what this might mean for the industry as AI could end up eliminating the need for human journalists. This isn’t merely a concern for journalism and media-related fields but for many other industries too.

Journalists will just have to wait and see if they will soon be put out of work and their articles co-opted by machines. • 41

THE PUZZLES

WELCOME TO THE PUZZLES

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Take a break and grab the pen! Become the ultimate problem solver and test yourself with our monthly puzzles.

Across 7. Collect these points an extra-curricular award 10. The home of chicken in Egham 11. The place for a Monday night out 12. A place for the sesh, for the food & for the helpdesk!

14. Some of the older students among us 15. One of the Queen’s favourite residences.

16. First name of the Holloway founder.

17. For some of us, seminars are compulsory... but these aren’t!

Down 1. RHUL was founded in this year 2. New students 3. A place to study 4. A place for a long walk 5. A place for a coffee and theatre 6. A place where you can buy literally everything.

8. The new Monkey’s 9. A place to eat 15. The Big Smoke

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

Difficult

PASTA BAKE Preheat your oven to 180C/350, gas mark 4 1. Melt the butter gently, then stir in flour and cook through for a minute or two.

Gradually add the milk and continue to cook gently, stirring all the time, until thickened. Season with pepper and mustard. Cover and leave aside.

2. Put on a pan of water to boil and when boiling add the pasta and cook for 12 minutes. Drain, cover and leave aside until ready to assemble the dish.

3. Fry the pancetta in a dry frying pan until crispy and then set aside in a bowl. Throw away the fat which has rendered from the pancetta.

4. Put the sunflower oil into the frying pan to heat, chop the chicken breasts into pieces and cook through until all pinkness has disappeared.

5. Chop the tomatoes and add to the chicken, along with the sweetcorn and cook until the tomatoes start to collapse.

6. Turn the heat down, then add the cooked sauce and pancetta to the chicken. Lastly, add the cooked pasta and stir through until everything is coated in the sauce.

7. Place the pasta mixture into an oven proof dish, sprinkle with cheese and bake in the oven until the cheese is melted and the pasta is bubbling nicely - about 15 minutes.

Ingredients (enough for two large servings) 40g plain flour 50g unsalted butter 1 pint of milk Ground pepper 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard 200g dried pasta 2 chicken breasts 2 tables spoons of sunflower oil Pancetta 2 tomatoes 1 Small tin of sweetcorn

STUDENT RECIPES

An easy ‘home away from home dish’ and a classic student choice. It carries a delicious warm undertone that will fill you up for now but can also be reheated for tomorrow too.

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Careers Fair Our biggest careers event ever with opportunities for all!

Wednesday 25 October 11am-3pm Picture Gallery & North Quad Come along to our annual Careers Fair to: •

Review your options by networking informally with employers

•

Check out placement and internship opportunities

•

Find out about application and interview procedures for graduate jobs

New This Year: 20 minute workshop sessions and the Career Planning Café.

Download our app for more info: Search for ‘Careers Fair Plus’ on the App Store and Google Play Store.

No need to register – just turn up any time!

01784 443073 RHCareers

careers@royalholloway.ac.uk @RHCareers