June 2017 by Orbital Magazine

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JUNE 2017 | FREE

SNAP ELECTION:

WHO WILL YOU VOTE FOR?

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

EDITOR Abbie Cheeseman DEPUTY EDITOR Stephanie Bagnall NEWS Maria Green Shannon Gray COMMENT Natasha Phillips Izzy Swanson 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 ONLINE Beth Gooding CO-PRESIDENT SOCIETIES & MEDIA Pippa Gentry COVER ARTWORK Elliot Parkinson Fab Piolini-Castle With thanks to the outgoing board of 2016/17 ADDRESS Media Suite, Students’ Union, Royal Holloway University of London, TW20 0EX WEBSITE theorbital.co.uk EMAIL editor@theorbital.co.uk

Inside Abbie Cheeseman

EDITOR

EDITORIAL

ORBITAL BOARD

This issue of Orbital is an exciting one- it marks not only the beginning of Stephanie & I’s editorship but also welcomes a new design. Hopefully, the new design will highlight the fact that things are about to change in Orbital - not only the physical magazine, but the running of the magazine and its presence across campus. We have big plans and I promise you that you will not be able to hide from us! Anyone can get involved with Orbital - you don’t have to be the most talented writer, photographer or graphic designer on campus - you just need to have a passion to create something innovative, professional and beautiful. You can make the magazine as much of a commitment as you want - you can become a member, submit

Orbital Magazine is produced monthly by a team of student volunteers. The magazine is published by Royal Holloway Students’ Union, but the views presented do not necessarily mirror those of RHSU or the editorial team. If you would like to make a complaint or comment about our journalism, please contact the Editor, Abbie Cheeseman, on editor@theorbital.co.uk in the first instance.

regularly, attend training sessions and career events and receive feedback on your work, or you can submit one article a year - it’s entirely up to you. If you want to get involved in the next academic year then keep an eye out for our events during Freshers’ Week or drop me an email at editor@theorbital.co.uk. This issue is a Snap Election special as we talk to the incoming committees of PIR, Conservative, Labour & Liberal Democrats societies. Head to pages 8-12 to see an introduction to the election by PIR President, Jack O’Neill, and why each political society thinks you should vote for their party. Elsewhere in the magazine, our News Team discusses gender pay gaps within the college and changes to the hall support system. Comment look at the pros and cons of fox hunting and have a debate on censorship in music, whilst our Sports & Societies section devotes a throwback to Royal Holloway’s first ever Varsity back in March. While this issue marks my first as Editor, it also means we are saying goodbye to the board of 2016/17. The team have put so much time and energy into putting the magazine together each month and without their enthusiasm, the magazine would not be at the standard that it is today. Finally, a massive thank you to the outgoing Editor & Deputy, Holly and Louise. Your passion for the magazine has been inspiring. On behalf of myself and the rest of the board, we wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

e ORBITAL

RSA CHANGES Emma Halahan discusses the changes being made to the hall support programme.

NEWS

O CUTS TO YOUTH CAMPAIGNS Outgoing Deputy Editor, Louise Jones discusses funding cuts to the youth campaigns that engage young people to vote in general elections.

n the 16th of May, the college announced that the Residential Support Advisor programme (RSA) would be changed significantly for the 2017/18 year. The new programme, The Hall Life Team, will include 24 Hall Life Assistants and just six Hall Life Duty Officers. Only the six Hall Life Duty Officers will go on call, responding to emergencies and disturbances in halls during out of hours. This is significantly reduced from the previous programme where an RSA for every individual hall would be on call each night, now the six Hall Life Duty Officers will be responsible for the entire campus. It is unclear how this gap in service provision would be filled.

A current RSA, who wished to remain anonymous, commented on the changes: “RSAs are already understaffed and overworked; significantly reducing unding previously provided commented that: “We are in an environment where many charities the numbers of people on call each night is dangerous by the Cabinet office for youth vote campaigns has are already working really hard to for students. This year I was called in for a disciplinary meeting with the RSA team stating that I shouldn’t get our campaigns to encourage been slashed and will not be have put my academics ahead of my duties. We are young people to vote up and available due to the nature of over stretched and increasing the workload on a running but we are asking just the snap election. smaller team is just going to create a danger to mental how much of an impact we can health for both students and the Hall Life Team.” make in such a short time.” Youth vote campaigners are warning of a ‘democratic deficit’ in the general election, Young people could be left feeling A spokesperson from Royal Holloway University of London stated: as it emerged that the Cabinet ignored as charities are left to “There will be 24 Hall Life Assistants and six Hall Life make the decision as to whether Office will not provide funding Duty Officers working proactively with students living to groups focused on increasing investing money into resources in halls. Each evening, members of the Hall Life Team encouraging the youth vote is turnout among young and will be engaging with students though innovative financially viable as, for many marginalised people. This events and campaigns to bring the student community charities, the EU referendum includes groups such as together and to promote a happy hall experience. Hall vote was a costly affair which LGBTQ+ and BAME. Life Officers will also be on-call throughout the night jeopardised their financial future supporting students living in halls, alongside security for at least the next five years . The electoral commission and Campus Watch.” Likewise, the election falls during has launched a campaign to the examination period, and so increase voter registration some students are unsure whether before the deadline on 22 to register at their university May, according to a Guardian address or at home, causing some article: “funding provided by disruption in getting votes from the Cabinet Office in past people under the age of 24. general elections will not be available this time because the pre-election period has already The election also coincides with the Muslim month of Ramadan, begun”. raising questions about a further Lucy Caldicott, Chief Executive potential barrier for ethnic and faith minorities who are already of the youth leadership under-registered. organisation UpRising

SCIENCE LESSONS IN BEDFORD COLLEGE

Times Higher Education (THE) recently released a list of the ten highest gender pay gaps for full-time professors in the UK and placed Royal Holloway at number seven, with an average of £7,735 difference in wages between men and women. Further investigation into their data shows that this is not the highest gender pay gap within the college. The category of ‘all academics’ has a gender pay gap of 10.48%, all non-academic staff 10.92% and the most significant gap is in professional, technical and clerical at 19.33%.

FEMINIST INSTITUTION WITH A 10% GENDER PAY GAP?

Editor, Abbie Cheeseman investigates the extent of gender pay gaps within Royal Holloway, University of London. tribunal over equal pay. Following the legal proceedings, Royal Holloway introduced a banding system which provides a more transparent pay scale in a hope to close the ‘scandalous’ gap.

The college’s 2012 Equal Pay Review highlighted an 8.2% gender pay gap for full-time professors as well as other significant pay gaps in manual and ancillary staff groups. This, alongside the previous tribunal case triggered the college to develop a 2014-17 Equality Diversity Scheme. This entailed an independent The UK average gender pay gap for full 2014 Equal Pay Audit which highlighted an 8.9% pay gap for professorial roles and time professors in Higher Education the recently revealed 2015/16 data at institutions is 5.70%, highlighting the 10.01% illustrates how year upon year the fact that Royal Holloway’s is almost extent of the gender pay gap for full time double the national average. professors at Royal Holloway is growing. THE, who extrapolated the pay rates used for this article from data provided Whilst the 2014 pay review audit did not elude to any grave concerns for the college by the Higher Education Statistics with regard to pay equality, they do show Agency, warned that: “as with all pay data, caveats have to be borne in mind. that there are significantly fewer women For instance, the mix of roles in a large in senior positions. However, there is no category such as “all academics” can hiding from the fact that since 2012 the pay gap for full-time professors is getting affect the data, and large salaries in a category with smaller numbers can worse year after year. skew the average.” Gender pay gaps should not be seen as a direct case of sexism, there are many Further investigation into THE’s data by Orbital Magazine found that the pay variables that can cause them and often, as was the case in Royal Holloway’s 2014 gap for full time professors at Royal pay audit, if you look at the median pay Holloway is the third worst in the 18 institutions that make up the University rate, the gap decreases significantly. Gaps can also be accounted for by low turnover of London. of staff in professorial roles. Furthermore, efforts to decrease the gap - such as Whilst nation-wide efforts to close allowing more opportunities for entry level the gender pay gaps within Higher professorial roles for women, have in the Education have been underway for short term increased the gap as they have a number of years, Royal Holloway’s figures seem to be taking a step in the a lower rate of pay than more established professors. wrong direction. In 2010, Drama & Theatre Studies Professor, Liz Schafer A spokesperson from the college commented: took the college to an employment

“Royal Holloway was among the first colleges in the UK to give women access to higher education, and we continue to strive to combat the under-representation of women in certain fields. For example, Royal Holloway has more female than male students studying science, contrary to the sector. However, there is still work to be done to close the gap in females attaining the highest band of professorship.

Royal Holloway’s 2014 independent Equal Pay Audit report showed that male and female academics on the same professional grades did not experience disparity. However, there were fewer women in senior positions. Work continues to increase the number of senior female academics and therefore close the average pay gap. We have spent considerable time over the last few years working with campus unions to improve the mechanisms for promotion and to make them more fair and transparent.

NEWS

oyal Holloway, University of London - one of the country’s most iconic flagship feminist institutions for Higher Education has been found to have 10.01% gender pay gap for professors.

Photography credit: BC PH/2/2/4 Archives, Royal Holloway, University of London.

In 2016 the THE awarded Royal Holloway the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development’ award for our Enabling Women Academics through the Promotion Process programme, designed to close the gender gap in the number of male versus female professors. We are delighted that 65 percent of participants in this programme have gone on to secure promotions. We’ve also launched a Mentoring and Coaching Scheme which supports staff development and progression for women, and other traditionally under-represented groups.

Despite these programmes we know there is still work to be done. We will continue to work with our staff to ensure they are supported to succeed, regardless of gender and will work with the sector, taking steps as a whole to ensure the gender pay gap is 5 closed.”

PHOTGRAPHY CREDIT: IZZY SWANSON

COMMENT Censorship is a hotly contested issue and one with a long history of misuse and authoritarian control, but does it still have place in 21st century society? Izzy Swanson discusses how censorship in music can be seen as a breach of freedom of speech.

without charge. However, in the past, Tanzanian President John Magufuli has been known to send people who have criticised him on social media to prison, which does not suggest that he is accepting of adverse quarter of the current top 40 singles on the official UK music opinions. This is not an isolated case; chart contain explicit language. Venezuelan singer Oscarcito received As a result, these songs are censored death threats from an MP while when played on the radio. According Spanish rapper Valtonyc is serving a to Ofcom, the government-approved three-year sentence for insulting the regulatory body for broadcasting, the King Felipe VI of Spain in one of his reason for this censorship is to ensure songs. This brings into question the that “under-eighteens are protected” extent of freedom of speech in this from being exposed to “offensive and industry. Surely, if anyone is allowed to harmful material”. While the majority of dictate what you can and cannot say, listeners would argue that skipping out it breaches the democratic human or replacing swear words is warranted right to “seek, receive and impart on the radio, in a wider context, music information and ideas of all kinds, by any means”. Therefore, censorship in censorship can be a much more music can, in some cases, be seen as serious issue. a direct breach of freedom of speech. In Tanzania, last March, rapper Ney “THIS BRINGS INTO wa Mitego was held in police custody QUESTION THE EXTENT OF for two days after he released a FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN song criticising the government. THIS INDUSTRY” In this instance he was released

According to the band Rage Against the Machine, whose songs have relayed sentiments against government oppression, war and cultural imperialism, “music has the power to cross borders… and to establish real dialogue”. We live in an age where everything is accessible to us online, which makes it harder to block or ban people from listening to controversial songs - however, the idea that current governments or corporations are attempting to deter people from voicing their opinions simply because it disagrees with their own is extremely worrying. Even though there are plenty of songs out there which are problematic and controversial in their lyrical content, surely censoring, in any form, turns music from being a limitless and unrestrained medium into a restrictive political tool.

WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT IS CENSORSHIP NEEDED IN MUSIC?

FOUNDER’S WEST Izzy Swanson and Natasha Phillips debate the need for censorship in music. Let’s be clear: I am not advocating for a complete crackdown of authorities to regulate the media. But perhaps we should consider the upshot of freedom of expression when lyrics glamorise violent and abusive behaviour. Not only usic is, and always has been, does this content have a detrimental a medium for ideological impact on young listeners, it creates a expression. It is the ultimate platform whereby harmful ideologies outlet for marginalised voices – a are normalised. Recall the ‘Blurred notable contribution coming from Lines’ debacle of 2013; under the the Black Lives Matter movement flimsy exterior of a catchy melody, which has become well-established Robin Thicke talks about preying on in mainstream hip hop. But just as progressive social, political and cultural women in nightclubs, insisting that he messages can reach a wider audience can ‘domesticate’ them - it is an anthem of rape culture and toxic masculinity. through the many and varied means of music distribution, so too can those And yet, everyone knows this song. Four years later, it still gets airtime messages promoting intolerance and on national radio stations and while inciting hatred. It is not uncommon they might skip the expletive-filled rap to see music glorifying violence, drug interlude, the slimy, lewd lyrics are still use and criminal behaviour. It is rife, not only in the deepest crevices of the blasted across the airwaves without underground music scene, but on the concern for who might hear it. You’ll stereos and portable audio devices of never hear a swear word in a song played on the radio, but it’s okay to the masses. reference sexual abuse? What is really

going to cause more harm?

“LET’S BE CLEAR: I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR A COMPLETE CRACKDOWN OF AUTHORITIES TO REGULATE THE MEDIA” In the age of the internet, anyone can create and share music, without censorship – this is a core tenet of net neutrality. Controlling the distribution of music that incites sexism, racism or homophobia is advantageous for all internet users, but in the interest of a free and open internet, this is often not a possibility. Perhaps then, the responsibility falls upon us – individuals and institutions alike – to prevent engagement with, and distribution of, media which exacerbates the spread of harmful and offensive ideals.

COMMENT

Natasha Phillips argues that some censorship in music is necessary to stop the spread of harmful ideas.

POLITICS & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SOCIETY

GENERAL ELECTION

#VOTEBE

JACK O’NEILL PRESIDENT SNAP ELECTION SPECIAL # R H VOT ES

s a result of Theresa May calling for a snap election on 18th April 2017, the British public will be casting votes across the country for a third year in a row. I think it was quite evident that many people shared the views of the now infamous Brenda in her reaction towards another General Election: not another? Similarly, the last year or so has represented a very turbulent time in global and British politics as sharp divides have become visible and a worrying culture has emerged. Political discussion on the national stage has started to turn into a conversation of “I am right, you are wrong”, leaving no room for discussion at all: we are talking about each other, even talking at each other but failing to talk with one another. But do not despair, we have the power to change this. It is very noticeable, and everyone is well aware of the stereotype towards young people in society. ‘Millennials’ are seen as oblivious to politics, unaware and uninterested. Yet this stereotype simply doesn’t line up with the views and debates one hears on a daily basis.

The problem is that young people simply do not turn up at the polls. Whilst the older bracket of voters consistently turn up with a turnout of approximately 80%, the young voter turnout normally lingers around 40%. Change can only occur when we act to instigate it and thus, while the political landscape may not be favourable to your ideals, it is only through exercising your right to vote that you can hope to change it.

“CHANGE CAN ONLY OCCUR WHEN WE ACT TO INSTIGATE IT” Politics isn’t this distant entity that is labelled as dull and boring, politics affects everyday life for us all and is at the heart of the decisions that will impact your life now and your future. Unlike the case in previous years, the political parties are offering a range of different policies and each party offers a path that could appeal to you for

various different reasons. The issue of Brexit and how our negotiations with the European Union has been heralded as a major part of this election and whilst I would encourage people to of course consider each party’s direction on said negotiations, it is also important not to overlook the other issues and policies raised. General Elections are seen as opportunities for politicians, chances for political parties to make gains. The fact of the matter is that General Elections are opportunities for you. They enable you to have your voice heard. Enable you to exercise your right. Granted, voting seems to have become a yearly thing at this moment in time, but voting takes only a matter of minutes. The vote on June 8th will affect you for many years to come and looking into the stances of the options on offer takes little effort. Nonetheless, this task has been made easier for you thanks to the Presidents of the political societies here at Royal Holloway. Don’t let your voice be silenced. Vote.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SOCIETY

BECAUSE

JAKE SHORT PRESIDENT What do you think should be the main concern for students in the Brexit negotiations?

tuition fees themselves. Without these grants, I myself would likely not be able to afford to go to university given the day to day cost of living would n June last year, the vast majority Maintaining our place within the simply be too great, especially with of students voted to Remain in the Erasmus programme and securing skyrocketing rent prices. Our manifesto European Union. Since then we’ve the status of EU students studying also commits to requiring universities seen the Conservative Party interpret here are top priorities ahead of the to be far more transparent about their the narrow Leave vote to mean that Brexit negotiations.They offer RHUL selection criteria for applications, and we have to sever all ties with the students incredible opportunities on to fight to maintain funding that our continent, regardless of whether that the continent and to interact with universities will lose as a result of the is something the electorate at large different cultures and perspectives Brexit agenda being pushed by the actually wants. We’ve also seen the right here in Egham, enriching our lives Conservatives and enabled by the Labour Party entirely abdicate its in the process. Sadly, I don’t think either Labour Party. responsibility to hold the government the Conservatives or Labour are up to to account on the issue, voting the task of fighting for these priorities, Why should voters trust your party overwhelmingly with the Conservatives with Labour refusing to back countless to continue universal health care to trigger Article 50 in spite of the Liberal Democrat amendments in the with the NHS? fact that every amendment that House of Lords and the Conservatives would safeguard key elements of our pressing ahead regardless. It’s this Our party is proud of the role that cardrelationship with Europe failed. The refusal on the part of both parties that carrying Liberal Party members played Liberal Democrats, on the other hand, means a referendum- in which we in the establishment of the NHS. We’ve are offering to give every one of us the can loudly say we need to keep these got a long record of electing MPs chance to have the final say on Brexit programmes, or refuse to consent who work tirelessly to safeguard local in a referendum- giving us students to the deal- is the only way forward, service provision and are committed the chance to fight for the Erasmus and the only way to ensure these to properly funding our NHS. Our programme, freedom of movement and programmes are kept in place. plan calls for a 1p rise in Income Tax, cooperation with our neighbours and ringfenced for the provision of NHS the values of openness and tolerance With reference to the Higher services and providing an equal footing that this country is supposed to hold Education bill, what does your for mental health. Our manifesto dear. We’re also fighting tirelessly to party see as the way forward for calls for the continued roll out of bring back maintenance grants, to safeguarding Higher Education? maximum waiting time standards help poorer students cope with the for mental health treatment- a policy increasingly steep cost of living and are As I mentioned briefly, we’re committed implemented by Liberal Democrats in the first major party in British politics to reintroducing the maintenance government, and under threat now the to back the legalisation of cannabis. grants that Liberal Democrats Conservatives are alone in government. If these policies sound good to you, strengthened during the CoalitionWe would also tackle the stigma voting Liberal Democrat in June is the something often forgotten with the against mental health, working with key only way to make them a reality. discussion usually being dominated by charities like Heads Together.

GENERAL ELECTION

Why should Royal Holloway students vote for Liberal Democrats?

LABOUR AND COOPERATIVE SOCIETY

GENERAL ELECTION

#VOTEBE

JACQUELINE FLETCHER PRESIDENT

Why should Royal Holloway students vote for Labour?

oyal Holloway students should vote Labour in this election and send a powerful message to Theresa May that her policies are anything but strong and stable. The Con-Lib coalition proved that given the chance both parties would sacrifice the future of young people for political gain. Enough is enough and it’s time for radical change. Students deserve better than a stalling economy, lack of quality affordable housing, and public services in crisis. A Labour government would end tuition fees, restore maintenance loans for poorer students, introduce a £10 minimum wage and ban exploitative zero hours’ contracts. All of this would be paid through progressive taxation and not letting big corporations get away with not paying their tax bills.

What do you think should be the main concern for students in the Brexit negotiations?

create a ‘student bill of rights’, ensure that universities are transparent with students about resources and ensure that teaching standards are regulated Students’ main concerns over the Brexit more rigorously to ensure all students receive a high quality education. negotiations should be concerned around getting the best deal for young people that protects our rights to travel Why should voters trust your party to continue universal health care and study abroad. Young people should also focus on ensuring that the government maintains the rights of EU students and citizens living in the UK. Theresa May has failed to give these people a guarantee and using them as pawns in the negotiations is not acceptable.

With reference to the Higher Education bill, what does your party see as the way forward for safeguarding Higher Education?

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats gambled with the free Crucially, a vote for Labour is a vote for market and the future of young people hope. It’s a vote to put people before when they tripled the fee cap in 2010, profits and to ensure that everybody in naively believing that few universities society can succeed no matter who they would charge such high rates. are or where they come from. Again, Conservatives seek to raise Students should vote Labour on 8 fees in line with inflation at a time June for a fairer society but also for a when maintenance grants have been government that listens to the concerns scrapped and fewer students from and aspirations of young people - from poorer backgrounds are attending education, owning their own house, university. getting a good job, and fixing the broken Labour will ensure that education is free, economy. accessible to all and valuable by creating high quality jobs, apprenticeships and Students deserve better, Britain grad schemes across the country. deserves better. We’ve fought the Tories tooth and nail in the commons during the debates around the Higher Education Bill to 10

with the NHS?

Only a Labour government can be trusted with the NHS. A vote for Labour is a vote to protect this valuable national resource that has been cut to the bone by the Conservative and Liberal democrats. 3.9 million people are on waiting lists, ¼ of people have to wait more than a week to see their GP and social care is in crisis. Labour will renationalize the NHS and ensure that it’s free at the point of access by removing private companies and by actually funding it properly for the first time in several years. Doctors, midwives and nurses will get a pay-rise by ending the 1% pay cap on public sector workers who have lost out in terms of real wages. We’ll also reverse the cuts to the NHS bursaries which has caused a drop in applications by 23% in England and Wales for medicine, nursing and midwifery. Enough is enough, it’s time to fund our NHS properly again and give overworked and underpaid staff the pay rise they deserve.

CONSERVATIVE SOCIETY

BECAUSE

SIMON MOORE VICE -PRESIDENT

he Conservative Party Manifesto has identified a number of great challenges facing our country today, amongst these are: Brexit and changes taking place across the world in general, the need to retain a “strong and stable” economy over the next few years, and a need to address problems which come about as the result of our ageing society. We, as students, will have to face up to these challenges in the coming years. A section of the manifesto is dedicated to the concept of “inter-generational fairness,” I have no doubt that very few of us will leap for joy at the prospect of being a member of the first generation to have been poorer than their parents or grandparents, the Conservatives acknowledge this and have called for a “Restored Contract between the Generations.” This contract will ensure that we don’t end up being saddled with paying our parents debts, that each graduate is able to own their own home, and that mental health services are brought up to scratch. We aim to build solidarity between generations.

What do you think should be the main concern for students in the Brexit negotiations? The Conservative Party, under Theresa May, is committed to “a stable and orderly” exit from the EU. The Party

possible outcomes and hopes to be able to deliver a Brexit which works for everyone, not only in the UK but also in the rest of the EU. Students’ concerns have been raised about our access to programs like Erasmus, as well as our ability to travel and study in Europe generally. Concerns have also been raised, particularly for our scientific researchers, that sources of funding will be much harder to come by outside of the EU. Our aim is to negotiate an opt-in to many of these programs so that Britain can continue to be a world leader in education and research. It is vital that we have a strong team of negotiators sitting at the negotiating table in Brussels and it is my firm belief that Theresa May and her team are up for the challenge.

been placed at the very centre of our Manifesto. We hope to establish technical education as a viable, respected, alternative to a traditional academic one. This will have the dual benefit of providing highly skilled engineers for our world-leading STEMbased companies as well as allowing our universities to concentrate on what they are best at, research, rather than having to train people for the workplace.

Why should voters trust your party to continue universal health care with the NHS?

The Conservative Party will never advocate the end of universal health care through the NHS. We believe that the NHS is a symbol of our With reference to the Higher commitment, as a society, to care for Education bill, what does your each other in times of great personal party see as the way forward for strife, without regard to wealth and safeguarding Higher Education? status. The Party are committed to spending an extra £8 billion in real Theresa May’s government was terms on the NHS over the course of responsible for passing the Higher the next parliament. But we recognise Education and Research Act. It was an that simply pumping more money into exceptionally wide ranging act, but its the health service will not necessarily leading provision was the establishment bring about the improvements that the of a new “Office for Students” the office country deserves. We feel that only will place student choice, teaching an efficient and effective NHS is fit for quality and social mobility at the very purpose in 21st century Britain. heart of what it does. The Act also simplified the bureaucracy surrounding funding for academic research. But the job is unfinished, as part of the Prime 11

GENERAL ELECTION

Why should Royal Holloway students recognizes that many people, including Minister’s vision for building Britain’s many students, are anxious about “great meritocracy,” education has vote for Conservatives?

COMMENT

FOX HUNTING: A THING OF THE PAST OR THE FUTURE?

PHOTGRAPHY CREDIT: GEORGIE WOOD EVENTING

Izzy Swanson discusses the arguments for and against the sport being back on the agenda.

ith the current political climate, I doubt that you were thinking about fox hunting a couple of weeks ago when you were deciding who to vote for in the upcoming general election. But now that Theresa May has revealed that she is continuing the Conservatives’ trend of putting the repeal of the fox hunting ban on the party’s manifesto, it has brought the debate into the foreground again. However, as a YouGov poll made known in 2015, the majority of the UK do not want to see a return of the ‘sport’ in its original form, which was outlawed in 2004, so why does the Prime Minister want to revive something so unpopular? One reason is Theresa May’s personal preference as, in her own words, she has “always been in favour of fox hunting”. Just to be clear, foxes can be killed by farmers and homeowners, but they cannot be chased by up to 40 dogs and eaten alive after a 10-mile chase. According to David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, killing foxes in this way is, “barbaric and brutal” and has “no place in civilised society”. One Conservative MP agreed, stating that it is unnecessary and will distance the party even further from an increasingly significant section of the electorate - the 18-24-year-old age bracket. Other reports have suggested that it is her way of affirming the support of traditional tory voters, especially in rural areas, but these are people who do not really need

encouragement to put a cross in the Conservative box. Defenders of the traditional pastime argue that it is a humane and ecological way to control the population of the animals, targeting the weaker foxes which are less likely to survive and reproduce. Furthermore, according to the Countryside Alliance, the hounds are more efficient than alternative ways of killing, meaning death is instantaneous and not traumatising. Supporter James Delingpole states that fox hunting, “combines so many of the things that make life worth living: the matchless beauty of our countryside… the thrill of the chase… the relationship with your horse” and others also suggest that the ‘sport’ contributes to the conservation of the landscape and encourages trade and socialisation which are vital to rural communities. But can the countryside not be preserved, regulated and enjoyed without the gratification of killing animals in a way that makes the majority of the population uncomfortable? “CAN THE COUNTRYSIDE NOT BE PRESERVED, REGULATED AND ENJOYED WITHOUT THE GRATIFICATION OF KILLING ANIMALS?” Time will only tell if fox hunting will return. But one thing is for sure, if the vote finally makes it to the floor of the commons, the result is sure to continue to divide opinions.

AND THE WINNER IS... Georgia Beith discusses MTV’s introduction of gender neutral award categories and what it means for the future of awards.

cting is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, and that doesn’t need to be separated into two different categories.”

These were Emma Watson’s words as she accepted the MTV Award for “Best Actor in a Movie” as a result of her role as Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Her acceptance speech expressed her joy at it being the first ever gender neutral award for acting. While the MTV Awards are not renowned for being the most prestigious, in comparison to awards like the Oscars or the Emmy’s, the 2017 awards mark a milestone for gender equality in Hollywood. Billions’ actor Asia Kate Dillon, who presented Watson with the award, perfectly summed up the motivation behind merging the male and female categories, eloquently stating that “the only distinction we should be making when it comes to awards is between each outstanding performance”. Dillon, who made history as the first ever non-binary character on TV, previously challenged the Television Academy on its binary classification of categories - neither of which Dillon subscribes to. Concerns have prevented the merge from occurring until now. Some criticisms are the expected shouts of the change being “ridiculous” and a threat to traditional gender roles. However, other criticisms are based in genuine concern that if such changes were widely introduced, it would only exacerbate the sexism within the entertainment industry. The worry is that, if male and female actors were nominated in a single category, then this would lead to female actors being pushed out in favour of their male counterparts. In 2016, women only made up twenty-nine per cent of lead roles, as reported by San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film. Considering this low percentage was actually a historic record, the likelihood that women would achieve the same number of nominations as men is unlikely. The more prestigious accolades, such as the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes, have their winners decided upon by an exclusive body of industry professionals. These bodies are overwhelmingly male, which naturally lessens the opportunity for woman to receive proper recognition. One only has to look at the Academy Award for “Best Director” to see that moves towards gender neutral awards would not work as intended, as it has only seen four female nominees in its 88 year history, despite being open to directors of any gender. Following MTV’s lead in gender neutrality is a goal that the entertainment industry should strive towards. But if such a change was not backed up by efforts to increase diversity and representation in a wider sense, then it would be essentially useless. And, now that the precedent has been set, gender neutral awards seem the only obvious choice for the future.

MEDEA: A MONSTER, A MOTHER, OR A MURDERER?

Googled ‘violent women in art’ and the results were dominated by articles titled ‘Violence Against Women in Art’. To me, this demonstrates how in art we often attempt to distance women from being portrayed as the perpetrators of violence, perhaps because of cultural expectations of the ‘ideal woman’ as either the nurturing mother or passive victim. But what about the violent women who do appear in art and literature? By Jove Theatre Company have been addressing this question by re-imagining some of the most iconic violent women who appear in literature from classical antiquity and the Renaissance with their ‘Season of Violent Women’.

described as everything from misogynistic to proto-feminist shows how violent women in literature pose an opposition to categorisation as feminist icons because the problem still stands - they commit atrocities that cannot be celebrated. David Bullen, co-founder of By Jove, described how the ‘Season on Violent Women’ has thrown up interesting connections between these characters “from recurring visual motifs to repeated ideological snags we’re having to tackle again and again. We’re beginning to unpick how and why violent women occupy such a potent part of the collective cultural imagination.”

These recurring themes in By Jove’s productions made me think about the portrayal of violent women in the media today. I had to roll my eyes at the BBC’s recent drama ‘The Replacement’, in which a woman who covers maternity leave Between May 9th-12th I participated in becomes obsessed with the woman she workshops to research and develop the replaces and attempts to drive her to madness. This presentation of women still first draft of By Jove’s feminist retelling of Euripides’ ‘Medea’, written by Wendy conforms to all the stereotypes of violent Haines. The week of workshops revealed women by portraying the two female leads as a monster and a helpless victim. how the company adapted scripts to become 21st century feminist versions Whether they are victims or monsters, we whilst remaining faithful to aspects of still appear to be suffering from the cultural the original. overhang in Euripides’ ‘Medea’ because we are reluctant to portray violent women as Approaching a script like ‘Medea’ from a feminist perspective poses issues; the real people who walk, breathe and exist in our society. fact that Euripides’ ‘Medea’ has been

ARTS

Vicotria Bastable reviews By Jove Theatre company and their ‘Season of Violent Women’.

THE POLITICS OF SOCIAL MEDIA LIFESTYLE

Victoria Chapman discusses how social media is used to engage people in current aﬀairs and its inﬂuence on modern day politics.

A Amber Choudhary highlights 7 reasons why you should vote in the 2017 General Election.

uring the 2015 General Election, electoral participation was stronger amongst older age groups, with only 44% of 18-24 year olds even voting. Individually, your vote may seem insignificant, but together, we can make e a real difference.

1. We live in a democracy, which means that we can choose who runs our country; a freedom that many countries do not have. 2. Voting is a privilege and has never been so easy. The Suffrage movement fought for women’s right to vote. We live in a society where our race and gender has no affect on our ability to vote. 3. The upcoming general election will dictate the next five years of your life. Who doesn’t want to have a say in their future? 4. Students are always looking for ways to save money; fortunately, registering to vote is free! 5. Voting is an opportunity for change. The more young people vote, the more likely it is politicians will enforce policies beneficial to your demographic. 6. Every vote counts in an election. The 2015 General Election saw that in more than half of the UK constituencies, non-voters actually outnumbered the votes cast for the winning party.

7. Voting gets your voice heard: if you don’t vote for your own interests, then who will?

day doesn’t go by where you don’t see a disgruntled socialist complaining about Theresa May’s cutbacks, or a Conservative supporter making yet another statement about Labour’s debt and denial. And whether you’re into politics or not, you have to agree it makes for an interesting debate on Facebook. But how exactly does social media have such an impact over politics? Everyone’s on social media now; politics can be accessed through every technological medium, allowing it to reach out to everyone rather than the select few. Anyone can get involved in a discussion or movement on Facebook, Twitter, you name it. Even Instagram had users posting photos of their favourite candidate during the US Election last November. This leads me to my main point - this isn’t just about the British General Election in a few weeks, this is about ideas, beliefs, allegiances and collective identities across the globe, with people worldwide communicating together and expressing what politics means to them.

Twitter. The debating between Clinton and Trump began with 140 characters or less instead of the traditional televised debates candidates partake in. Politicians are thus getting head starts to their campaign, before any sort of interview or televised appearance. Does not that prove something in itself? All you have to do is type in the word “election” on Twitter and thousands of posts come up with people expressing their different ideas and opinions. In literally seconds you can scroll through these tweets or statuses and engage with the political atmosphere that is palpable on social media. Politics is changing, the virtual revolution of social media has given some of the power back to the people. So, keep your eye on Facebook and Twitter this coming election and question, criticise, and engage with everything being said. Remember, YOU have a voice now and it’s more important than ever that you use it.

Politics has overtaken social media, but not just for the voters. Hillary Clinton posted a tonne of photos to her Instagram with celebrities like Pharrell, Katy Perry and even Beyoncé. Crazy right? Here, social media allows candidates to connect with those who might otherwise be disengaged with politics. It has now become the newest platform for political debate, both during an election campaign and outside of it. For instance, Donald Trump’s main form of communication with his voters last year was primarily through

PHOTGRAPHY CREDIT: FAB PIOLINI- CASTLE

ARIES on’t be afraid to say ‘no’ to going out. Everyone needs time to relax and focus on themselves and chill. You’ve been working too hard - make sure that you’re not running yourself into the ground! Head into London for an impromptu night out!

TAURUS

20 April – 20 May

eople can be confusing and difficult to understand every now and again. Don’t let a small argument affect your relationship with a close friend. Maybe meet up in Imagine and rebuild over a nice bubble tea and a catch up.

GEMINI

21 May – 20 June

hings are going well for you, you may find happiness in an unexpected places. Your exams went better than you think so don’t dwell too much on the past and look forward to the summer!

CANCER

21 June - 22 July

on’t let your emotions override your rational thoughts. Take time away from campus and take a breather, clear your thoughts and you will begin to see the positives of what has happened. Maybe take a stroll through Virginia Waters to clear your mind a little.

LEO

23 July – 22 August

ood things don’t always happen to those who wait! Say ‘yes’ more and take the first step. Text them first, put yourself out there! You never know where you may end up. Great things are coming your way but only if you make the effort to take opportunities.

VIRGO

23 August - 22 September

f the fire is dying out then don’t attempt to relight it. Focus on yourself and think about what you really want rather what looks good. Maybe it’s time to rely less on others and get to know yourself. Who knows, you may meet

23 September - 22 October on’t be afraid to ask for help, there is no point struggling in silence. Your friends are there to help! Maybe a movie night or a squad outing will provide the opportunity to ask for advice but also help you relax and keep things in perspective. Maybe it’s time to consider a little

SCORPIO

23 October - 21 November

ometimes we forget things when we are enjoying ourselves. Life seems amazing now exams are over and its getting warmer but don’t get caught up in all the chillaxing. Pick up your reading lists and prepare to make this summer productive. Don’t let yourself waste time.

SAGITTARIUS

22 November - 21 December

ou need to make the effort with other people. Take a friend out and treat them to lunch or an ice cream and let them know you care. Make yourself ready to take a step back and be prepared to listen.

CAPRICORN

22 December - 19 January

ou would benefit by catching a train to London and spending a day being adventurous. Do something that you’ve never done before or something unusual. Set aside a day for you to go exploring.

AQUARIUS

20 January - 18 February

t’s time for you to stop stressing! Take the day off and get yourself to the quads with a pint of something good for you. Grab your friends and seize the day! Make sure you kick back, relax your workload and remembers it’s okay to just rest.

Rohoroscopes

21 March - 19 April

LIBRA

LIFESTYLE

What have the stars got in store for you this month? Our resident mystic Chloe Buck predicts your RoHoroscopes

PISCES

19 February - 20 March

et yourself to Toast and party like its 1999. The year is finally over so its time to blow off all that stress! Go hard or go home this month. Expand your social circles and dont be afraid to meet new people and embarrass yourself.

TECHNO LO G Y: FR IEND OR FO E ?

FEATURES

Dominic Barrett discusses how far is ‘too far’ when it comes to technological advancements.

t has been a busy few months, exams are still fresh in everyone’s minds and in the big scary world, outside the walls of Royal Holloway, an election is looming. But when surrounded by all the big things, sometimes it’s easier to forget the little things, like that phone that’s probably in your pocket right now, or maybe on the table in front of you. Now you might be wondering why I have suddenly switched to talking about phones; what’s that got to do with anything? Having a phone might not seem important when you’ve probably had one for a while and using it is just second nature. What neither you or I might not think about is how much the technology used to build your phone, and thus the phone itself, has advanced in the last few years. An iPhone 6 is 32,600 faster in terms of processing power than the computers that took the Apollo astronauts to the moon in 1969, and, obviously, an iPhone is significantly smaller than any Apollo era computers. In the last 10 years, technology surrounding virtual reality, augmented reality, hologram tech and even

robotic limbs and organs has gotten to the point where the line between fact and science fiction is becoming increasingly blurred. It might not come as a surprise that Stephen Hawking, when questioned about Artificial Intelligence (AI) said it could “either the best, or the worst, thing to ever happen to humanity”. Of course, AI is a very specific example of developing technology, but his comment does raise an interesting point – when have we gone too far?

wasn’t. Clearly, simply putting your phone on vibrate can literally change your perception of reality.

Maybe it’s my inner old man talking, or maybe binging the entirety of ‘Black Mirror’ on Netflix was a mistake, but I can’t help but wonder where exactly this is all taking us. You look around a room and you always see people with their heads down, buried in their phones. It’s not necessarily a bad thing - I do it too. But, phones, or any piece of technology, shouldn’t replace a little human connection now and again because sometimes we can forget just how powerful technology can be. In 2007, it was discovered that a new neurological condition called ‘Phantom Vibration Syndrome’ had come about, where people believed that their phone was vibrating in their pocket when it

“TECHNOLOGY SHOULD HELP ENHANCE OUR LIVES, NOT CONTROL OR RUIN IT”

Thus, technology should help enhance our lives, not control or ruin it. You’re probably scoffing at me right now, safe in the knowledge that I’m clearly a loon who’s afraid of change. However, in the words of Albert Einstein, ‘technological progress is like an axe in the hands of pathological criminal’.

This might all seem pretty heavy, but in a world full of exams and elections, it’s worth remembering that little piece of tech in your pocket has the potential to change the world – for better or for worse. PHOTGRAPHY CREDIT: FAB PIOLINI- CASTLE

VARSITY 2017: STAGS VS BEARS

PHOTGRAPHY CREDIT: EMILY HARRIS

ACTIVATE YOUR BEAST MODE AT #HOMEOFTHEBEARS n the 29 March, 30 of Royal Holloway’s sports teams gathered at Surrey Sports Park for their first ever Varsity Cup. They were joined by sports teams from the University of Surrey, and the intense competition between the Bears and the Stags was soon underway.

We had some truly deserving wins in many sports, including this year’s Team of the Year: Golf. We also had wins in Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Chess, Cheerleading, Men’s Fencing and a draw in Pole Fitness. Although we weren’t able to bring the trophy back to Egham, I think we can all agree that the sports teams performed so well and made our university proud. For many teams, it was an exciting and very successful end to the season. But it wasn’t just our wins that made the day so exciting; there was an amazing atmosphere around the sports park all day, thanks to all of the teams and the huge number of spectators who came to

support us. There was a real feeling of unity and pride all day, as people from all teams and all departments came together to support the university. With the help of the media outlets, anyone who wasn’t at Surrey was still able to keep updated with all of the scores and watch livestreams of many events. As a result, the entire university was united in supporting our sports teams at their first ever Varsity.

game, joining in with our chants and supporting the players. The playful rivalry between the two mascots only added to the exciting competition between the universities, and the whole crowd was on its feet in the final minutes of the game. It was an extremely exhilarating day and all of Royal Holloway’s sports teams and spectators left Surrey with an immense feeling of pride.

The day ended with a thrilling finale, thanks to the Men’s Basketball team and the two Cheerleading teams. Cheer powered up the crowd with their exciting performances – ending their successful season – and the atmosphere was truly electric as Men’s Basketball took on the Stags in the last match of the day. With the help of Principal Paul Layzell and CoPresident of Sports and Development, Steff Milne, Royal Holloway’s chants easily drowned out Surrey and showed what we were capable of. Colossus was on the sidelines for the whole

This was our first ever Varsity, and we have proved that we’re a tough competitor in the world of university sports. Next year we’ll be welcoming Surrey onto our campus, as Varsity 2018 comes to Royal Holloway. We showed Surrey what we’re capable of this year and next year, we’ll be ready to take them on!

SPORTS & SOCS

Louisa Wicks reports on Royal Holloway’s ﬁrst ever Varsity against Surrey earlier this term.

Get training, Bears.

WHY YOU SHOULD SWTICH TO THE NEW NINTENDO Oliver Richards reviews the Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

SCIENCE & GAMING

PHOTGRAPHY CREDIT: BRETT CHALUPA

am an addict. I may be in recovery, but once an addiction starts, it never really goes away. 12-year-old Ollie couldn’t go a day without playing Call of Duty 4 or Burnout Paradise so, naturally, my inner child started brimming with excitement at the idea of an Nintendo home console that you could play anywhere. Frankly, I was ready for Nintendo to deliver again, after the painfully underwhelming and confusing Wii U. I was worried that the Switch might yet again be too ambitious… boy was I wrong.

adventure through a diverse and dense Hyrule. The plague of most explorationbased games is a lack of purpose; but, with this game, that’s no issue. It’s difficult to walk for thirty seconds in this Zelda game without stumbling across another secret or side quest, and it is spectacular. Importantly, Breath of the Wild’s visual style is sensational on the tablet’s 720p IPS screen, with vibrant colours; the graphics translate well to a larger screen when in console mode too, with only minor frame-rate issues. The most recent addition to the eShop I’m sitting in a cafe in Bordeaux right however is the most fitting title for this now playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath The Switch’s weakest attribute as console. Minecraft has always been at of the Wild, waiting to check into my of right now is its software library. A home across multiple different platforms. Airbnb. “How was the flight here?” you promising future can’t make up for However, it feels like it was designed for ask. What flight here? I was building a an underwhelming launch selection. the Switch. It’s just casual enough that mountaintop fortress in Minecraft, and In what’s becoming Nintendo’s style, it can be dipped into for 5 minutes at a barely noticed I was travelling. Whilst the system’s first Mario game will be bus stop, yet rich enough to make you handheld consoles have been around released a full six months down the line. wish that your flight was an hour or two since more-or-less the beginning of video Nintendo also decided not to include longer. game history, none have quite managed this generation’s party game selection, to capture the same level of immersion 1-2-Switch, in the box; but trust me All things considered, the Switch as the Switch; it’s the answer to my inner it’s not worth the £39.99 asking price. is a spectacular gaming machine 12-year-old’s prayers. Nintendo didn’t even include a web - and nothing else. While that may browser, never mind apps for services seem negative at first glance, the My largest gripe with handheld consoles like Netflix that we’ve come to expect important thing is that Nintendo has before the switch was their controls. The from other consoles touting themselves not compromised here. They’ve made Gameboy had too few buttons, the DS as ‘media centres’. What does that a device that allows you to take your was convoluted, the PSP was fiddly, and leave then? Why Zelda of course! AAA games with you anywhere with modern touch screens just don’t cut it. Whilst I’ve never been the biggest unwavering controls and graphics. The Joycons on the Switch are a breath fan of Legend of Zelda titles in the of fresh air. They snap directly onto past, Breath of the Wild is a beautiful

the tablet to make a classic handheld console, or can be detached and used wirelessly, in what Nintendo refers to as ‘Tabletop Mode’, using the tablet’s built-in kickstand. The buttons and joysticks are tight and responsive, and whilst they may not be as ergonomic as an Xbox One controller when used whilst the console is docked, they don’t detract greatly from the experience. If a control scheme is designed well, it should be unnoticeable, and I’m glad to say this is exactly what Nintendo has achieved.

The Big Bang Experience! A brief history and future of the Large Hadron Collider If you're familiar with The Big Bang Theory on TV, you may think of particle physicists as an odd bunch! Why do boffins spend their time in huge underground labs like CERN accelerating particles in endless circles like a giant train set? How do you get a train of particles to nearly the speed of light anyway, and why would you want to? What happens when the particles collide and might anything go wrong? Find out from Particle Accelerator Physicist Dr Stephen Gibson, and friends, as they present live demonstrations on the wonders of the Large Hadron Collider, and how it is unlocking the secrets of nature. Learn why it was built, how it works and how Royal Hollowayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team are helping to stop it self-destruct (again) in an explosion of liquid helium! Warning: loud demonstrations; not for the faint of heart!

Physics evening lecture series - all welcome

6.30pm 22 June 2017

Windsor Auditorium

For more information and to register a free place: rhul-the-big-bangexperience.eventbrite.co.uk Royal Holloway, University of London Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX

physics.outreach@rhul.ac.uk

Your future, your vote It’s polling day on Thursday 8 June. Vote to make your voice heard in the shaping of our country’s future. #VoteBecause