Staffordshire University Stoke-on-Trent photojournalism.staffs.ac.uk
Faculty of Arts and Creative Technology June 2015
Freedom of Speech?
On Wednesday 7th January, two brothers, ChĂŠrif and SaĂŻd Kouachi attacked the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris armed with Kalashnikovs. Story continued on page 10
They killed 12 people, including cartoonists, journalists, a maintenance worker and a policeman. When leaving the scene, they coldly executed another police officer who was lying injured on the street.
1/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
NEWS
Credits Editor Vitanee Oliver Sub Editor Gemma Williams Gabby Moran Amy Hurst Sports Editor Sophie Robinson Jo Kirkaldy Olisaemeka Osanakpo Amy-Lynne Hartley Design Editor Holly Webster Amy Jo Sheldon Krzysztof Kaplon Ali Maye Abbotts Picture Editor Bradley Hadwin Jack Monahan Tara Daniels Laura Davies Chief Photographer Kristian Quillinan Martin Allfrey Nathan Stirk Kayley Jemma Carter News Editor Sally Young
Editor’s Letter By Vitanee Oliver
When his infamous image, ‘The Falling Soldier’, was published in LIFE Magazine in 1937, it became Robert Capa’s most iconic image – but it was not without controversy. To combat questions of it’s authenticity, Capa was heard to say, “…The pictures are there, and you just take them. The truth is the best picture, the best propaganda.” Concepts of truth and accuracy are central to the philosophies of photojournalism, and this is what we have tried to embody in creating The Fact. The newspaper’s name itself references not only the faculty in which Staffordshire University’s Photojournalism award is housed, but also the honest journalism we have strived to achieve. The publication is completely run and produced by BA Photojournalism students from all three years, and it has forced us out of our comfort zones and given us a taste of life after graduation. While leaving education and beginning careers seems far off for some, for final year students it’s only a few short weeks away. The challenge of creating an entire newspaper in just one “newsweek” is an opportunity to show off
our best work and gives us the confidence to pursue dreams of working in the industry. With a hugely varied range of stories – from student news and local entertainment, to global headline grabbers and international photo stories - the newspaper reflects the interests, talents and passions of the equally diverse range of students that make up the team. As editor, it has been an exciting journey to see the newspaper develop from it’s creation in brainstorming sessions, to witness a wall invaded by front page designs and page templates, and to oversee the sheer quantity of images and written content that a group of photojournalists can produce in five days. The Fact is the result of teamwork, dedication, professionalism and creativity. The process has not been without the inevitable hiccups and technical difficulties, but as a unit we’ve managed to overcome these hurdles. I’d like to thank my team of student editors, journalists, photographers and designers. Your enthusiasm to the production of this publication has lead to the successful creation of something I think we can all be proud of.
Vitanee Oliver Editor
Robert Capa’s “The Falliing Soldier”.
Editor’s Pick 72 Hours in New York
Martin Needham Heena Murad Maryan Al-Ansari Beth May Knowles Fiona Cole Features Editor Sarah Reeve Ben Furst Louisa Wileman Lauren Miller Laura Mellor All content and photographs were produced by Photojournalism students at Staffordshire University students.
Staffordshire University Stoke-on-Trent photojournalism.staffs.ac.uk Published: June 2014
FOCUS15
PULLOUT MAGAZINE FEATURING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WORK OF THIS YEARS GRADUATING PHOTOJOURNALISTS
2/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
NEWS
Inside Today
Pottery welcomes royal visit p.4
Vintage tea party success p.5
Venue desighn takes off at Staffs Uni p.8
72 Hours in New York p.17
A ‘Canon’ of fashion p.13
Freedom of Speech Under Attack p.10
I AMsterdam p.19
Metal detecting p.20
Top tips on race day p.22
3/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
NEWS
“Judge me by what’s IN my head, not what’s ON my head” By Maryam Al-Ansari
Reflections on life in Britain for a young Libyan female. Have you ever been verbally or physically abused because of where you come from? I was physically abused because of my religion. I was involved in a racial attack in November 2014, which included my scarf being pulled off, of which identifies me and my religion, and also my friend was called “a f*****g paki slag.” My friend Sarah, who is also Libyan, was with me in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, drinking hot chocolate and catching up about work and University. An Iranian “beggar” came to a group of white girls that were sitting next to us, and had her hand out asking for money. They replied by swearing at her and saying “why are you begging in my country, go back to your own county. What if I went to your country and begged for money I would get kidnapped and killed.” She was identifiable as a Muslim because she was wearing the headscarf. I overheard what these girls were saying and, to be honest, I couldn’t keep quiet. Especially because I’m a photojournalism student, I’ve been taught to speak up for the truth. I said to the girls politely “listen, that wasn’t a nice thing to say.” They lashed out and swore at me for butting in, I guess, saying “go back to your country you f*****g terrorist Paki, I will bomb your face off ” which didn’t stop her from then slapping my face, pulling off my headscarf and kicking me on the left side on my hip. That didn’t bother me. What bothered me was what she said. The words hit me more than the physical attacks. I was born in Libya. My parents fled the country when I was two in fear of getting picked up by Gaddafi loyalists. For that reason, growing up in a different country to home with diverse culture was quite difficult. I feel torn between the two because I’m too “Libyan” to fit in the UK and too “British” to live in Libya, even if it was safe to do so. Back home, those that have dual citizenship are identified as “double shafra” The phrase “shafra” signifies a mobile SIM card. Which is a phone with a built-in dual SIM card access. Just as
“I’m too “Libyan” to fit in the UK and too “British” to live in Libya” dual SIM phones are considered convenient devices, a “double shafra” appreciates the handiness of having two passports as opposed to one. That being said, owning a citizenship in another country makes you less loyal to your motherland, in my case Libya. Which can be a pain. Although I’ve lived in England for most of my life, I feel as though I have to be extra nice to non-Muslims because I have a fear of people labelling Muslims as terrorists. Which of course isn’t the case. Acknowledging the incident that happened in Paris in January 2015, I sense that the rise in Islamophobia in the UK and around the world has immensely increased, especially via social media. It’s one thing to hear about these incidents and another to be involved in it. I felt weak. I felt horrible from shock, and I started crying. My friend, from the shock, stood still and didn’t know what to do. And yes, maybe it wasn’t my place to intervene because I knew what I was getting myself into, but then I thought if I don’t stand up against these people, who will? Will they ever learn? I can’t keep seeing and hearing people getting verbally abused. It was a disgusting scene and I hope, I really hope no one ever goes through this again. I went to Manchester City police station, where I filled
in a report and gave them a statement. Police said there’s a 0.1% chance they will find these girls and “even if they do find them, they’d probably get a warning.” I got verbally and physically abused, but I will continue to stand up for what’s right regardless of whom you are and where you come from. If it’s one thing my mother taught me it’s to stand up for what’s right, even if it means standing alone. “Judge me by what’s in my head not what’s on my head.”
“If it’s one thing my mother taught me it’s to stand up for what’s right, even if it means standing alone.”
4/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
NEWS
Pottery welcomes royal visit
By Gemma Williams
The Duchess of Cambridge visited Stoke-on-Trent pottery, Emma Bridgewater, on 18 February in aid of children’s charities. Kate, who was seven months pregnant with her second child, was invited to the pottery to help create mugs to raise money for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Royal patron of the charity, EACH, Kate met with youngsters from the Donna Louise Children’s Hospice during her visit to the pottery. Kate was welcomed by Emma and her Husband Matthew Rice and was given a tour of the factory before trying her hand at decorating some pottery herself. Two mugs were created for the charity costing £19.95 each with £5 being donated to EACH from every purchase.
Crash closes Fenton Road
By Beth Knowles
A crash took place on the morning of the 17th March, shortly before 8:00am. The 63-year-old man escaped with minor injuries after his car crashed into the front of a Fenton pub, causing substantial damage. West Midlands Ambulance service treated the victim at the scene as he sustained neck pain and had to be extricated from the wreckage with the help of the fire service. The man was immobilised with a neck collar and spinal board before being taken by ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital. The road remained closed until around midday.
A fox on a lead visiting schools across Stoke By Beth Knowles Todd the rescue fox has been brought up believing he is a pet dog. Raised as a domestic pet from 11 months old, Todd can be seen being walked on a lead around Stoke on Trent. The fox acts just like a dog; he wags his tail, plays with doggie toys, and even sleeps in a kennel. Todd’s owner Emma D’Sylva, 25, also keeps other wild and unusual animals at her home including a raccoon and a skunk. Emma can’t let Todd off a lead like a dog, as he is deaf, so she wouldn’t be able to shout for him to come back if he runs off. Emma takes Todd into local schools so the children can see a real fox, not a dog!
Student safety at Staffs Uni
By Fiona Cole
With up to 1041 people living in the Stoke-onTrent campus of Staffordshire University, are there enough procedures put in place to keep all of these students safe?
Last November second year student Eni Mevish was murdered by local resident David Marshall. Eni Mevish is not the only death the University has experienced this year, with a student at the university discovering a body in the river near student accommodation this month. We spoke to students to find out their concerns about their safety. PC Simon Stone is the liaison officer at the university. He patrols the Stoke campus and also visits the Stafford site twice a month. PC Stone’s main role is to give safety advice to students, making sure they don’t leave things like laptops and iPads on display. “Safety talks at night time when they’re either coming out of the venues like the LRV, or going out to Hanley, Newcastle or Stafford” said PC Stone when commenting on his responsibilities. Simon deals with most of the problems on campus. Simon also patrols the
houses that surround the university but there are also neighbourhood officers for the Shelton area. PC Stone said, “There are three neighbourhood police offers and three community support officers (PCSO’s), they work days and noon shifts, working on a Friday, Saturday and a Monday, and they work until 3 in the morning. Then Name: Dominique Baker you’ve got response officers who respond to jobs who are also pa- Dominique lived in the university accommodation last year trolling the area.” The university’s ac- where she got placed in Clarice commodation also has wardens Cliff. “I know a lot of Clarice Cliff students that didn’t feel to protect students. “We work very closely safe, obviously because of the with the student liaison officer walk way.” She said the accom(PC Simon Stone). We liaise modation was safe itself bewith him very closely and we cause of the amount of times have weekly meetings with him,” you had to use your keys to get said Shazad Khan, a warden for into your flat. Clarice Cliff Court, “for example if someone has come to him with regards to an incident I’d be sitting in on that meeting to offer the protection he or she needs.” There is support for students 24 hours a day, including 24 hour security which prevents people without a stu- By Heena Murad dent card coming into the cam- Locals in Congleton are pus, keeping the students campaigning to save a safe.
Name: Cara Williams
Name: Najaab Ghrayeb
Cara is a first year student and lives in the Wedgwood building. She said that the University accommodation isn’t very secure. “There are no gates to get in; anybody could get in if they wanted to.”
Najaab never lived in University accommodation; he decided to live in private accommodation as he felt this was a better option than University accommodation. His comment on the private accommodation that he lives in is that is it safer in general as “there’s a security system there but here there is nothing.”
Residents save allotments from development
piece of land used by local residents and gardeners.
The owner is plan-
ning to sell the 3,067 sq ft. allotment, which has prompted residents to raise money to buy it by buying a square foot of land each at the price of £20.
There has already been a good response from the locals, who plan for it to beopen to the town and local schools.
1st June 2015 /The Fact
5/ NEWS
Vintage Tea Party success in loc By Beth Knowles
On Tuesday 17 March, Scholar Green Village Hall held a Vintage Tea Party offering a selection of home-made cakes, sandwiches, hot drinks, craft demonstrations and vintage goods, all for the affordable price of £2.50.
There was a large turnout and many local residents all ages gathered in the Village Hall. Visitors bought raffle tickets which were drawn later on in the event, with a variety of prizes available. Doreen said, “I was housebound and coming here weekly has done me the world of good, it started as three of us, myself, Bernadette and Marion but we opened it up as a community and to tell you the truth I have really blossomed. It’s nice to see the turnout of people today and there is a lot going on, the money people are paying to get in, will go in
“I was housebound and coming here weekly has done me the world of good.
”
the fund for the community” Mary, who is working on a memorial rug to commemorate World War One, said, “It will be filled with poppies that the children from Scholar Green School have made and its taken a long long time for us to get this far with it. Anybody in the community can take part in the crochet but we find it very therapeutic. When the rug is complete it will eventually hang at Scholar Green School.” Family and friends enjoyed the afternoon tea whilst sitting around and having a chat. Shirley said, “Its a proper afternoon tea, I was shocked as I expected tea and cake, but you get a lot more and its very nice”. The funds raised will contribute towards the community fund and cover the cost of the hall. The cheerful atmosphere meant everyone enjoyed themselves, tucking into the afternoon tea for a lovely few hours spent with friends and family.
6/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
NEWS
cal town
Visiting Photographic Editor with Top Tips for Students By Beth Knowles
Staffordshire University organises regular lectures for Photography and Photojournalism students from a variety of professional photographers in a lecture series called ‘Photo-Voices’.
In those sessions, photographers and photojournalists come in to talk to students about their professional and life experiences. Speakers such as Emma Case, an alternative wedding photographer, Ben Edwards, a lecturer in photojournalism and Richard Maxted, an award winning still life and product photographer have visited
the university. Our most recent speaker, Krishna Sheth, a part-time commissioning editor and former photo editor for the Telegraph magazine, spoke about her involvement and experience in the industry. She has also worked for numerous glossy magazine enhancements such as Aston Martin, Maserati and English Heritage. After interviewing her, she says for photojournalists, it requires a certain type of person to be able to work in a war zone and for that reason the face of photojournalism itself is changing. “I see photojournalism as captur-
ing that moment” she said. She concludes her speech with top tips for photographers that are looking to work in the business: - Make sure to not email your entire portfolio at once. One or two images with two lines describing your personality will suffice. - You need to be aware of who the photo editor is at your chosen magazine company. - There is more chance of the editor to hire you based on your personality than your work.
Solar eclipse casts darkness across Europe Words by Martin Needham Pictues by Nathan Stirk, Lauren Mellor and Martin Alfrey
The United Kingdom was cast into shadow on the morning of Friday, March 20 in the biggest eclipse since 1999. It was seen as a total eclipse in the Faroe Islands and Svalbard. In the UK the moon obscured around 95% of the sun in the Scottish highlands. Solar glasses sold out because of the large interest in the solar eclipse, leading astronomers at Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire, issued stringent safety advice ahead of the event. Jamie Sloan, education manager at the observatory’s discovery centre stressed that looking directly at the sun can cause “severe long-term damage”, with the use of binoculars or a telescope far more harmful, having the potential to cause “instant and permanent damage to sight”. There is due to be another partial eclipse in 2018, although stargazers will have to wait until 2026 for another eclipse of a similar magnitude to that on March 20. The next total eclipse to be witnessed in the UK will be on September 23, 2090.
Red Nose Day blasts the £1 billion mark By Beth Knowles
This years Red Nose Day charity event raised a staggering £78.1 million on the evening.
Donations are still being received so the final 2015 total is yet to be announced. With the amount already raised it brings the overall total raised during the first 30 years of
Red Nose Day to over £1 billion. Staffordshire University collected a variety of funny face selfies to raise money for the charity by students sharing the ‘selfie’ on Facebook, donating, then nominating another Staffs Uni student to do the same. Some of the Comic Relief money
has gone to help ‘North Staffs Mind’ who offer specialist support in a non-traditional setting to reduce stigma associated with mental health centres. This allows young people to manage their conditions and achieve potential in life.
7/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
NEWS
Highlighted Events
Where to eat... By Sophie Robinson
The Black Lake Inn: Relaxed family-run country inn with locally sourced meats and ales. Deep fireplaces and comfortable seating areas make this pub a lovely place to drink and dine. Hilderstone Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 7NT 01782 397385
Calendar By Fiona Cole
What is it? Damion Larkin When is it? 18th July Where is it? Regent Theatre, Stoke-OnTrent Damion Larkin is the longest and best comedy club in Stoke. It includes four great comedians.
Castro’s: Classic Mexican and South American menus in a lively venue with themed décor and fine cocktails. Including specialist children’s menu. 11 Cheadle Road, Cheddleton, Leek ST13 7HN 01538 361500
What is it? Gay Pride When is it? 18th July Where is it? Northwood Park, Hanley While this Gay Pride event is catered to the LGBT community, anyone is welcome to come and join in the parade and celebrations.
What is it? The Fantastic Four When is it? 7th August Where is it? ODEON, Stoke-on-Trent
David’s Brasserie: Locally sourced ingredients and a vast menu catering for breakfast, lunch and dinner making this a perfect eatery for families, friends, couples and groups. The Trentham Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 8JG 01782 657783 The Dog and Doublet: Great way to spend afternoon tea and light lunch here. Whilst in the evening meals are held in a relaxed and comfortable environment. Sandon Road, Sandon ST18 ODJ 01889 508331 The Hand & Trumpet: Traditional country pub with a wide range of meats, game and vegetarian dishes, all home cooked and locally sourced. Main Rd, Crewe CW3 9BJ
The Fantastic Four is another phenomenal Marvel film coming out in early August. The film is about “four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.”
The Huntsman Inn: Traditional homemade pub food, low reasonable prices and great food. Close enough to travel back from Alton Towers to visit. The Green, Cheadle, Staffordshire, ST10 1XS 01538 750502
What is it? Just So Festival When is it? 23rd August Where is it? Rode Estate, Kidsgrove
Moddershall Oakes Country Spa Retreat: Make a day of it in the beautiful countryside of Moddershall, taking a spa day and meal or even just to dine, the fine food and drink makes this place perfect for afternoon tea, tasting dinners or group events. Also, this place is perfect for holding special occasions even weddings. Moddershall Oaks Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8TH
By Vitanee Oliver
Trentham Gardens
Trentham Gardens is arguably one of the best days out in Staffordshire.
Pasta Di Piazza La Favourita: Specialist Italian restaurant excelling in pasta dishes and stone baked pizzas, a great restaurant for couples and families. 12 High St, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8AW 01785 813214 Pecks Restaurant: Sophisticated, long-standing spot for Modern British fine dining, with 5 to 7-course tasting menus and set-time dining, Pecks is an experience not to be missed. (More suited to adults due to the length of stay.) Newcastle Road, Alsager, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 4SB 01260 275161 Rare Steak House: A grill ideal for couples, groups or families; Rare uses the finest cuts of meat for their bistro-style grills, generously served with all the trimmings, a must visit. 39 Ironmarket, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 1PB 01782 740750
Open all year round, and winner of the 2013 Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Gold Award, you are sure to find something that tickles your fancy. From tranquil gardens to the enchanting fairy trail, as well as oodles of eateries and shops, it is certainly, as described by Alan Titchmarsh, “one of the UK’s must-see gardens.” From April until June, visitors are invited to take a gentle cruise along Trentham’s mile long lake on board the Miss Elizabeth. Upon disembarking, breath-taking views of the River Trent, cascading weir and woodland trails can be seen along the lakeside walk. Alternatively, refreshments are available at the Italian Garden Tearoom or Lakeside café, both of which look out over the impressive lake.
However, the most popular attraction at Trentham Gardens is its Monkey Forest. Open to the public from March, visitors are free to roam the 60 acres of Staffordshire woodland and meadows – which happens to be home to 140 monkeys! The Barbary Macaques live in total freedom, and are often seen swinging through the branches of trees, or chasing each other through their habitat. The monkeys originate in Algeria and Morocco, and the park aims to raise awareness for the endangered Barbary Macaques, who are taken from their mothers and sold as pets in some parts of the world. Visitors are able to take part in talks or feeding time with one of the park’s keepers, or enjoy lunch at the ‘Banana Café’.
Jazz and Blues Festival
ByHeena Murad
The long awaited Jazz and Blues festival is back and hoping for a successful year.
The event will be taking place in Newcastle-under-Lyme with 20 venues hosting musical performances. It will run from 22 to 25 May with free
parking on car parks implemented by the council. The six Towns radio awarding winning festival will also include market stalls that will be available each day. Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is initially funding the festival but due to budget cuts, the funding was reduced from £5,000 to £3,000.
Just So Festival is a weekend-long camping festival for children and their families, which occurs annually. The festival includes art, music and literature alongside music, theatrical and visual performances, workshops and installations.
What is it? Stone Food and Drink Festival When is it? 2 - 4th October 2015 Where is it? Westbridge Park in Stone, Staffordshire The festival, which always takes place in the first week of October, is an exhibtion of some of the tastiest food on offer. With pop-up restaurants, cooking demonstrations, street food stalls and live music, the weekend is set to be one of the Midlands best and busiest food festivals.
The overall budget will be £8,000 due to additional funding by sponsorship and business donations. So if you are a fan of Jazz and Blues or a general admirer of great music then it is definitely something to check out.
8/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
NEWS
Students uninspired to vote in May general election
By Beth Knowles
After over 2,300 votes were cast and 31 candidates battling to be full time officers at the Stoke Campus, five lucky winners are now aiming for change within Staffordshire University.
Bal Deol, Tom Hope, Jaime-Lee Cunningham, Emma Simend Zhou and Ashley Holland are the five individuals who won the leadership race and are now proudly working for the university to ensure the university is safe, offering equal opportunities, listening to student opinions and working to improve the facilities available. The voting ended on Friday 13 March and the five candidates celebrated their success with friends after attending a live broadcast from Stafford TV studios to hear the winners announced. Many tuned in to watch this online, on Youtube or attended the Staffs TV studio in person, eagerly waiting for the big reveal. Jaime-Lee Cunningham, 20, a Psychology student at Stoke campus spoke about how she promoted herself on the build up to the voting closing. “I used a variety of techniques from posters, leaflets and speaking to students on Facebook, however I preferred to take a more face to face approach doing lecture shout-outs in psychology talks, along with visiting the student accommodation to explain what I am aiming to achieve if I got the position. I also targeted sports groups as I aim to improve the facilities so I knew that giving them information about myself and what I was wanting to achieve would hopefully offer me more votes from those passionate about sport”. Jaime-Lee mentioned why she thought she had been successful in getting elected: “I believe that people agreed with what I aim to change and it’s really nice how I have received a variety of messages from random people asking questions and saying they respect what I am doing, especially because I am aiming to target
stigma against mental health which is quite a large issue as well as getting more access to rooms which would highly benefit the students of this university.” Jaime-Lee discussed how she also felt about the general election coming up in May: “I think I will take part in the vote but I am quite 50/50 about how I feel about it. If I knew more about the voting system, I would be more inclined to vote as I would know who I was voting for. However, a few of my friends are taking part as they are quite passionate about it and more aware.” Bal Deol, 22, a BA Hons Business Management student graduating in July, has received the title of ‘President of the Student Union’ after receiving an astonishing 564 votes. Bal mentioned “I start the position on July 1st, which is very exciting for me, this means over the summer I can get use to the role. I have also been given the opportunity to live at the university’s student accommodation for another year, which benefits me because of my disability.” Bal used various ways to promote herself and
By Heena Murad There has been outrage by some of the local residents of Hanley in protest of the YMCA’s new scheme. There has been a proposal to set up a shop at the national charity in Harding Road that would sell alcohol. In the past there have been drug and alcohol problems in the area and there is concern that this will create more problems for the community. The scheme is being said to help the community grow by opening up six new retail jobs for local residents. There has also been some support of the scheme as the money is going to be put back in to helping young people and families.
to gain votes, on the build up to and throughout the election. Bal spoke out saying “I used posters to promote myself and I dressed up as a banana for a week, this then created a rapport with students and made me even more recognizable. I also gave out flyers in the student union and I sold stickers to students who often stuck them on the back of their phone. I targeted specific areas such as the LRV as it’s a popular location especially during Gobble. The Facebook page ‘Vote Annual StaffordBal for full time shire Recorder officer’, was also very successful, 5000 Festival people saw the page and I had a total of By Heena Murad
269 likes.” Bal has three main campaigns she aims to change at the university “I want to change the internet here on campus and in halls, I can’t even watch Eastenders without it being interrupted. Increased security around campus is also a big issue for me, I want there to be more security guards on campus, more CCTV and awareness of the CCTV so that student know is works as there has been a few incidents this year which is slightly worrying.” “I generally didn’t think I would win, I was so shocked and just cried, my stomach was doing somersaults, I’m just really happy and can’t wait to start changing things. I was in disbelief that I even got in the top ten, but to become president is just something beyond what I thought was possible.” Bal talked about how she was intending on voting in the general election coming up in May. “I will definitely be voting in the election, I will be voting for a party who will be supporting the disabled students allowance, as this is something that I find important.”
Venue design takes off at Staffordshire University By Martin Needham
Staffordshire University is to acquire a Boeing 737 airliner as part of a new degree course.
Hanley residents protest against new
first intake of students this coming September.
Nearly 700 students gathered together at the Victoria Hall in Hanley, on the 18 March for the annual Recorder Festival.
The Hall itself was built in 1888 and was at full capacity due to the Festival having the biggest gathering of performers in their 15 year history. The students were from 32 different schools from around Staffordshire which stunned the audience with their performance. Anna Bradburn, who is known to be one of the best young musicians in the region, also took part in the festival. Bradburn first played at the event at the age of five. The festival is a great opportunity for young students to show off their skills and is hoped to be an even bigger success in the future.
Design, a Staffordshire based design company currently involved with the rejuvenation of Cleethorpes Pier. Rowena Brighton Dykes, Staf The aircraft, believed to We need to use fordshire University’s Academic have flown for Air France, is to be Partnerships Manager, is overseeimagination to get the right transformed into a design studio and ing the project and believes that teaching space, with plans afoot for it results and offer a course that the airliner will generate exciteto also serve as a bar and nightclub. ment in the course: The course, an undergradstudents have faith in. “We need to use imagination uate degree in Venue Design, is to be to get the right results and offer a run in course that students have faith in.” conjunction with the National Design The aircraft will be located in The course is only the second Academy, with whom Staffordshire Uni- versity have had a working partnership Rugeley, between Stoke-on-Trent and of its kind in the UK and will have a Stafford. The course will have strong strong practical element with students for more than eight years. The course is likely to see its links to industry with students working working in the type of environment that on live projects in association with GMP they are learning about.
“
”
9/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
NEWS
Bal is the most ‘A-peel-ing’
Words and pictures by Sarah Reeve With the run up to the general election Staffordshire University have also been trying to encourage votes and form a new leadership within their student union. Every year the university conduct the leadership race in which students vote for who they would like to be their next student union team. This year 2, 317 students voted to ensure their voices were heard. One candidate who stood out from the crowd was Bal Deol, receiving 564 votes making her the student union president of 2015/16. This was no surprise considering during the campaign week the final year Business Management student made every effort to stand out from the crowd by parading around
campus in her vibrant banana costume and customised wheelchair. Bal never expected her campaign to be as successful as it was, saying: “I didn’t expect to win at all! I was completely shocked that I even made it into the top ten. I felt sick all day and I was completely overwhelmed and ecstatic when the current president Mel Ramsay called out my name. “I don’t know why people voted for me, you would have to ask them but I hope it was based on my campaign ideas. I featured on BBC’s inside out on taxi drivers overcharging disabled people; I feel this raised awareness of who I am.” On the days leading up to the election Bal spent time meeting and talking to fellow students about
her campaign, which was “bananas”. She encouraged students to have their photo taken within the “#Vote Bal” banana frame and used this hash tag to promote herself on social media. The banana theme originated from Bal’s fun and bubbly personality, when she went out for the night dressed as a tomato and woke up as the yellow fruit. Being the chair of the disabled student network and a member of the women’s forum, Bal already has plenty of experience in leadership roles and trying to make a difference to university life. Her campaign focused on internet, security and accessibility. Emma Laddiman, one of Bal’s campaign managers said: “I’ve
been close friends with Bal for four years now and when she told me she wanted to run in the leadership race I was ecstatic! She has always excelled in everything she puts her mind to and I knew this would be no different. I’m unbelievably proud of what she has achieved and everyone of Staffordshire University is lucky to have her as president for 2015/16.” Bal’s campaign team weren’t the only ones who were pleased with the leadership results, Mel Ramsay, the current president of the student union said: “Myself and Bal are very close, it was incredible to see her win. All the way through the elections, I ensured that I was neutral when it came to the candidates as I
thought they were all fantastic.” As Mel’s leadership is coming to an end, the new president Bal is looking forward to her new role and responsibilities. “I am very happy because the team is very diverse, different cultures, races and backgrounds and it will be good to work with these people.” Deciding whether to run for the leadership race can be a tough decision, but Bal says it is worth it: “Just go for it! I have had the best experiences running in the leadership race. Go out and talk to as many students as possible the year before so people get to know you. Relax and enjoy it, it is fantastic speaking to people I have never spoke to before and it is such a great experience.”
1st June 2015 /The Fact
10/NEWS
Bollywood comes to Staffs By Heena Murad money for a new minibus for Staffordshire University’s disabled students. Swetha Kommareddy, who has organised the event said: “It’s a unique idea, which you don’t see much in this country. It’s a reason to learn about each other’s culture which will benefit a good cause at the same time”. Staffordshire University currently only has one minibus for disabled students that is over 14 years old. The minibus, is used by all disabled students, can only accommodate one wheelchair user at a time, and the driver uses his own system to figure out who is going to be using it and when. Robert Stanier, bus driver says “More modern vehicles have better adaptations and it’s more up to date and have better accommodation as I have to synchronize the timings with the students that want to use it”. There also needs to be adjustments made to the vehicle which is said to cost more money than the vehicle itself. Which begs the question whether it would just be easier and cheaper to get a new vehicle altogether. With modern
minibuses there are chair lifts which make it safer and easier for the students to get on and off, and this is the aim. Although the University currently have a shuttle minibus to transport students from Stafford station and to both the campuses, it is not viable for disabled students to use. Bal Deol who is currently the President Elect, often uses the vehicle and is the chair of the disabled student network. She said “It costs up to £40,000 to adapt a normal standard minibus and make it accessible. And so the university has offered to match our £20,000 if we raise that money”. Fiona Wood who is the Chair of the Woman’s Network has said, “At the beginning of the year we thought we have to do something about this. My suggestion was that why don’t we, as disabled people help ourselves”. They are looking into different ways in which to raise the money. The Bollywood night is only one of the three ideas they hope pursue. Another proposed fundraiser is a sponsored charity event to do Europe’s longest zip
line in Wales. A wheelchair race is also currently being organised to raise money and awareness on how difficult it is to live in a wheelchair and traveling places with a prize for the winner. The Bollywood fusion Night’s intention is to get the international students and home students to come together and learn about the culture. There will be stalls set up to raise as much money as possible by selling ethnic jewellery and clothing. It’s a fancy dress event so students will be dressing up as characters from films that are either Bollywood or Hollywood. They will be showing Bollywood movies and playing music later in the night. Swetha Kommareddy in the past has organised a Navaratri festival, which was a big hit amongst the international students. She is hoping this years event will be even bigger and better. The event will be taking place at in April and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, tickets will be available on the door. For more information visit the student website: www.staffsunion.com.
Is there such thing as freedom of speech? Continued from cover story Words and Pictures by Ben Furst The two brothers then shouted “We have killed Charlie Hebdo, We have avenged Muhammed”. A police car arrived at the scene and tried to stop the two terrorists. They then managed to escape in their stolen Citroen C3 and decided to steal another car on their way out of the capital despite the lockdown of the capital. The two brothers were identified shortly after the attack. One of the brothers left his National ID Card in the car. The day after the attack on Charlie Hebdo, a young police officer, Clarissa Jean-Philippe was shot dead in Montrouge by Amedy Coulibaly who was involved in a car collision. The French secret service had previously closely followed the Kouachi brothers after being involved in Jihadi groups. They might have been trained in Yemen by Al-Qaida. It is not known if the two brothers were still under surveillance just before the attacks. On Friday 9th January at around one o’clock Amedy Coulibaly, a member of the Islamic State, entered Hyper Cacher, a Jewish supermarket in Paris. He killed four Jewish customers and held 15 other hostages. Meanwhile 30 miles north of Paris, the Kouachi brothers have taken refuge in a printing factory. The two terrorists stated that they wanted to die as martyrs. At around five’ o clock the brothers went outside to face the French special forces. The two brothers were killed. In Paris, the police decide to launch an assault on Hyper Cacher. Coulibaly is killed by several gunshots. The fifteen hostages are freed. The Police then linked Amedy Coulibaly to the previous attack on the young police officer in the suburb of Montrouge. 9/11 in the US and the bombings on Madrid and London were all attacks on the
free world. What differences those attacks to the Paris attack is the fact that this time, the three terrorists knew who they wanted to kill. This year their target was France, a country known as the country of human rights and of freedom of speech, its motto is “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”. France is one of the first European modern democracies. Charlie Hebdo has always been known for its provocative and sometimes blasphemous headlines and cartoons. In 2011, Charlie Hebdo’s offices were destroyed by a firebomb after publishing a cartoon of Muhammed with the headline “Sharia Hebdo”. Their head quarters were then relocated and its staff placed under police protection. But the controversial newspaper did not just criticise radical Islam but also other faiths such as Catholicismand Judaism, in fact Charlie Hebdo was known for its strong atheist views. This attack was not only an attack on France but also on the free world. Coulibaly said in a video published after the attacks that he had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and that he committed these attack as a result of France taking part in the fight against ISIS. France is a completely secular country. The State separated from the church in 1905. For this reason, there are no blasphemy laws in France. This also means that anyone is allowed to criticise a religion as long as communities are not discriminated against. People are free to practice their faith but are asked by the law to keep it private. For example, school children cannot wear any “conspicuous”religious symbols at school e.g. headscarves, cross necklaces. France also enforced a ban on the Burqa in 2010 which was widely criticised by human rights activists.
11/
FEATURES
1st June 2015 /The Fact
Staffordshire University’s music scene thriving on multigenre themed gigs
Words and Pictures by Vitanee Oliver
Staffordshire University has become a hub for live music events and gigs of every genre. The University’s very own radio station, One Media Group (OMG), hold Transmission events on the last Thursday of every month where local talent and bands from all over the country aim to entertain Staffs students with their musical abilities. Each Transmission night is centred around a genre – everything from candle-lit acoustic nights to anarchic evenings of metal. October’s Transmission was held in honour of Black
History Month, and featured Staffordshire University’s Student Union Vice President and BAFTA nominee, Docta Dee. The list of acts taking part is a long one. From metal band, Violet, to rapper, Illicit, there is something for everyone. The February event featured Ghost Riders In The Sky, whose frontman, Steph, is known globally as guitarist for punk giants, Gallows, and the brother of Frank Carter. With fantastic turnouts every month and some big names, Transmission is taking off – I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Ireland’s biggest export…? “Yee-Haa!” Calamity Jane Words by Lauren Miller
Despite what you might think its not Guinness but St Patrick’s Day. Over the years, St. Patrick’s Day has morphed into a far bigger celebration around the world than anybody could have predicted. Traditionally, St. Patrick’s Day is intended to be a day to ‘renew your spirit’ and start afresh, ready for the next year. What used to be a religious day for Irish families to spend at home worshipping their patron saint has transformed in recent history into a worldwide phenomenon, especially in English spoken countries. Despite the holiday growing in popularity all over the world, Ireland remains the biggest country with regards to celebrations - it is understandably the only country in the world where St Patrick’s Day is an official national holiday. The history of St. Patrick is steeped in mystery, with nobody quite sure which stories about him are true and which is folklore. Many of the tales, such as banishing the snakes from Ireland and being taken prisoner as a teenager by Irish raiders, are the product of many years of exaggeration regarding his accomplishments. The tales aren’t taken seriously today, except as a bedtime stories for Irish children. One story most likely to hold some truth is that St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the 17th March as this was the date of his death, all the way back in the late 5th Century. However, the conflicting stories regarding the exact year of his death could imply that the exact day may not be so accurate either. A long-standing tradition of St. Patrick’s Day, that nobody can explain, is the significance of the colour green. One theory says that since green is so synonymous with Ireland as a whole; it was simply a natural progression to also associate the colour with the saint. Another popular idea claims that green represents the colour of the shamrock - thought to be a metaphor for St. Patrick himself, representing the Holy Trinity. Every year, people of Irish ancestry get together to celebrate with parades in thousands of cities around the world. One of the smallest yet most significant parades is held in Downpat-
rick, no prizes for guessing how they came up with that name, Northern Ireland - with Down Cathedral thought to be where St. Patrick is buried. Over the years, many countries have adopted and adapted traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to create their own unique way of celebrating. The growth in popularity of St. Patrick’s Day can be attributed to the migration of Irish citizens all around the world, especially to America. One unintended consequence of St. Patrick’s Day’s popularity is that lots of people are claiming Irish heritage when they do not have one at all, something that does not go over well with the more patriotic older generation in Ireland. The popularity of St Patrick’s Day has produced some unintended benefits. The day has become a major holiday and an opportunity to get together and reconnect with family and friends. Many families now have a big day out, spending the day at their nearest parade and having a family dinner together. To many people, Irish or not, the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day may not mean a lot, but that doesn’t matter as long as they get to spend the day with each other and enjoy the craic.
rounds up the audience at The Regent Theatre
Words and Pictures by Laura Mellor The Regent Theatre has recently hosted a rootin’ tootin’ near sell out production of Calamity Jane from The Watermill Theatre. The cast was outstanding multi-talented, not only can they sing and dance, but can also play various musical instruments, including the spoons. The cast includes well-known leading male and female actors, Tom Lister who played Carl King in itv’s Emmerdale, and West End leading lady Jodie Prenger. Calamity Jane (Jodie Prenger) travels to Chicago to recruit musical star Adelaide Adams for the Deadwood stage, with only a cigarette card to identify her. As everyone in the town, including Wild Bill Hickok (Tom Lister), starts to favour the new girl (Phoebe Street), Calamity Jane struggles to keep her jealousy at bay and realises her Secret Love for Bill. This is the point where Jodie sings the breathtaking song, Secret Love, which was
appreciated by all and received one of the biggest round of applause I have ever heard. The cast was given a full standing ovation at the end of the show, which was well deserved as the show was incredible. After the show Tom explained about his charity Cycle ride in aid of Hope for Justice. Cycling to London to Manchester, approximately 250 miles within 24 hours. When everyone exited through the front of the theatre after the show the whole cast were standing with buckets for the audience to donate any money for the fundraiser, and posing for photographs. Overall this show was outstanding and a must see. It is no longer at The Regent Theatre, but it can still be enjoyed at various locations around the country such as Liverpool, Oxford and more locally, Buxton Opera House. The tour ends at Richmond Theatre in Surrey on the 8th August 2015.
1st June 2015 /The Fact
12/ FEATURES
Are the other five towns being left behind in Hanley’s regeneration? Words by Laura Mellor In his 1974 architectural guide to Staffordshire, part of the Buildings of England series; Sir Nikolaus Pevsner described the six towns of Stoke-on-Trent as “an urban tragedy.” Six towns hopelessly interconnected by factories, by streets of slummy cottages, by better suburban areas. There is no centre to the whole, not even an attempt at one, there are not even in all six towns real local centre.” Whilst much has been done to improve Hanley, with its Potteries Centre and City Sentral redevelopment, what of Stoke’s other five towns, Burslem, Tunstall, Hanley, Longton, and Fenton? These towns had their rivalries back in the day, and also have different dialects and special characteristics. In 1910, the six towns were unwilling to unite to form one city called Stokeon-Trent. The older borough of Newcastle-underLyme, a mile or so to the west, retained its independence. This year, Stoke-onTrent is celebrating their 90th year as a city, which had been awarded the city status by King George V in 1925. The Potteries Shopping Centre which is owned by Intu is adding 10% to the existing shopping centre, by including family friendly leisure facilities, six restaurants and a cinema. But are the other five towns being left behind? The new development of Alexandra Park, Tunstall, in 2014, shows that perhaps some areas outside of Hanley are being redeveloped. However, one in three shops in Burslem have been left standing empty, and was named as being England’s loneliest high street. Not that long ago Burslem was a thriving town on the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent, famous for the Potteries that gave the area its nickname. A small amount of bars and restaurants are appearing in Burslem due to theNational Lottery regeneration money which is helping to redevelop dilapidated areas. Not only is the council redeveloping the Intu shopping centre, but have also built a £15million bus station, and a £60million county council headquarters, Smithfield. Councillor Jackie Barnes, said, “The residents of Stoke recognise Stoke as the town centre and this is left unattended, without even Christmas lights. This is all creating unrest and
animosity towards the council, by the residents, staff and workers alike disagreeing with the move to Hanley, they don't agree with new bus station as it is not fit for purpose, particularly when it has removed a car park when the old site was much bigger to use as a bus station, but it was chosen to be sited on the car park land and must be effecting business to Victoria Hall. There is no logic to that or not considered the consequences. Many residents disliked Hanley. Now they dislike it even more.” Some areas are being redeveloped but some areas are being forgotten by Stoke City Council. A large chunk of its budget is being spent on some parts of Hanley, but other shops are being left standing empty or derelict in Hanley and the other five towns of Stoke-on-Trent.
Stoke fashion may be right up your street By Amy Hurst 19-year-old Callum Bradbury, an entrepreneur from Stoke-on-Trent, has created his own street wear clothing range, FACE clothing. Talking about how he started his brand, Callum states, “In early 2013, I was working with a former clothing brand called ‘Dirty Slut clothing’ but the dynamics of the brand just weren’t suited for me and things weren’t going as well as planned, so I just decided basically to start up my own street wear brand and came up with the whole concept of it. It slowly progressed from early 2013 and is still going.” Over the years, the company has designed a range of clothing for both males and females including tops, jumpers, tote bags and beanies in a range of designs and sizes. The Facebook bio for the business reads, “This is a new FACE within clothing, an up and coming street wear brand dedicated to giving you quality affordable products. FACE the world. Contact Callum Bradbury for more info.” When the business started out in 2013, he created a small fan base using Facebook helping to get information and news out to the public. He also had a website, which helped
to improve the market size including giving the company a larger area to sell to, however, he eventually removed the website to use his money to fund the clothing instead. He’s sold his t-shirts to people in various places including Stafford, Stoke-On-Trent and Manchester. In 2014, Callum opened a shop in collaboration with Superficial Clothing run by friend, Joe Martin. In this shop they were able to advertise other local clothing companies, sharing some of the profit from the business’ success. The two colleagues Callum and Joe worked well together helping to build and expand their clothing ranges as well as increasing their customer market. Despite their best efforts, the shop was forced to close after 6 months due to other commitments and financial difficulty. Callum got back on track in 2015 when he began working for Dazed, a street wear retailer, to help fund his dream. It allowed him to him open a new collection of t-shirts for the business called the ‘Ruin collection’. Find Search for FACE // Clothing on Facebook: www.facebook.com/clothingface
Local Band ready to rock on second tour
Words and Pictures by Laura Mellor
Local Stoke-on-Trent band Cardinal are gearing up for their second tour, however this will be their first time on the road as a three piece. They formed in early 2010, and first toured in November 2014 with five piece band, The Wilde, from Yorkshire. Lead singer John Barks from Staffordshire rural village Ipstones, revealed that “we are excited to be touring our second record which will be a four track EP.”
“Our EP will be released via assorted records at the end of April, along with a video for a single taken from the EP” Cardinal’s style of music is energetic pop rock with a punk influence, and the band are influenced by bands such as Green Day, Alkaline Trio and Blink 182. The members are all professional musicians, not just within Cardinal, but within other function bands, as John and fellow band mate Jon-
ny Mansell are members of Live Wires, and Andy Maton, the third member of Cardinal, plays with various cover bands. But the lives of these guys don’t just stop at music. John is a qualified Youth Worker and runs Ipstones Voluntary Youth club and he also works at local theme park, Alton Towers, whereas member Andy is also a plumber. For more information, visit the website: www.thisiscardinal.com
The tour dates and venues for Cardinal are: 19th April – Nottingham, The Basement 20th April – Wakefield, Players Bar 22nd April – Leeds, Bad Apples 23rd April – Hull, O’Rileys
13/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
FEATURES
Bolton life under the spotlight Words and Pictures by Louisa Wileman
Students photograph a ‘Canon’ of fashion Every year Somerset House is home to what is known in the design world as ‘Fashion’s Biggest Pop-Up’, the Vodafone-sponsored London Fashion Weekend. This event marks the end of London Fashion Week, showcasing the hottest established British designers and up-and-comers to keep your eye on in future seasons and brings the latest trends found on the streets of London to the catwalk. This year, photography students from around the country (myself included) were given the opportunity to come along and shoot the event for the day. This was a great opportunity for us to spend the day photographing the various runway shows taking place - an opportunity not usually provided to those outside of the professional media. The day was facilitated by Canon as a way of introducing young photographers to their Canon Professional Services program Canon’s exclusive support system they supply to those who commit to using their system. Help provided by Canon to those who qualify for the service includes a priority repair service (including free backup equipment) and local support at major events. This major event support is the service’s big selling point when it comes to convincing professional photographers to commit to the Canon system - the intricate level of on-site support offered to photographers is unmatched by other major camera companies. The day began in a meeting room in the One Aldwych Hotel, with students from several universities around the UK gathering for an introduction to the day by a team of Canon professionals. We started off with a talk from a Getty Images staff photographer about his experiences in the world of photography since graduating and moving to London in 2007. We were then shown a PowerPoint demonstrating all the wonderful perks of using CPS, and provided with our press passes for the day (once we had signed an image waiver form, of course). After we had been properly prepped for the day, we ventured over to Somerset House to set up for the shows. We had access to 3 shows for the day - 2 Trend shows run by The Outnet to showcase the latest fashions available on their website and a designer show featuring the latest collection from Jean-Pierre Braganza. Getting to attend the same show
twice gave us the opportunity to shoot from different angles and find what different angles and lenses worked best for each of us individually. In my opinion, the best part of the day was not getting to shoot the actual fashion shows, but actually walking around outside the show photographing the spectators who dressed up in many weird and wonderful ways for their day out. Documenting these people was, for me, more visually interesting than dozens of interchangeable models making their way down the runway again and again. It was fascinating to observe how the general public act at these kinds of events on their best behaviour whilst they are in the tent and then downing the champagne and cigarettes as soon as they walk out the door. The event itself was a fantastic opportunity to explore the world of fashion, both on the runway and off of it. The Canon team was incredibly helpful, providing a deep insight into working in the photography industry today and giving us tips as to how to best prepare ourselves for the transition from student life to the working world. This event was just one of the many ways that Canon have made an effort to reach out and support young photographers as they are starting to define what areas they would like to focus on within the business. The personal approach they have developed, both through their repair service and comprehensive event support on the day, has set them apart from their competitors in the best possible way. Judging from the positive reactions from my fellow photographers on the day, I think it is safe to say that those of us in attendance definitely took notice.
Words by Lauren Miller Pictures by Jo Kirkaldy and Lauren Miller
The town of Bolton has a lot to offer, something I experienced first-hand when we went on a trip there as part of our Photojournalism course. In Bolton we were given a lecture by Caroline Steel who introduced us to what Mass Observation was, and what it stands for. Everyday life in Bolton was documented in the form of the Worktown Archive. As described by the Bolton Worktown website, this project was started in 1937 and was funded by the UK government as part of their effort to monitor public morale during the war. The archive is still ongoing to this day and is currently housed at the University of Sussex. We were given different themes to photograph (Religion, Old & New, Food & Drink and Leisure) and sent off to explore the wonders of Bolton. Opening our minds to what Bolton has to offer, we delved into the history of the town. We were shown the original archives that members of the Mass Observation recorded. It was a fantastic insight into how they developed this series of historical imagery. Students from Bolton University were also taking photographs for the Worktown Archive and we were informed that we would be competing against them. The competition was for the winning student to have their photograph hung up and framed in Bolton’s Museum. The photograph would also be integrated into the original Mass Observation archives, and as an added bonus you could cite the award in your CV. I handed in my final 2 images and was informed two weeks later that I had won the competition. It took a while to sink in that I had actually won, but once it did I was especially happy as I had won not just against students from my own course, but also from Bolton University too.
1st June 2015 /The Fact
14/FEATURES
Miss Stoke-on-Trent goes international Words by Sophie Robinson Picture by Kelsey Johnson
It’s been a big year for 25-year-old Weston Coyney girl Lucy Jay Hancock as this summer will be one of her biggest challenges to date. After losing substantial amount of weight in the past year, she plucked up the courage to enter beauty contests to help build her confidence and show off all of her hard work. The local beauty was nervous about putting herself forward for such a big competition but all her hard work is playing off at super speed. This time last year, little did she know that her bold move would mean her competing as Miss Stoke on Trent, in the Miss International pageant in which contestants work closely with charities and local businesses to raise funds and help for people who need it. Keeping to a regimented nutrition programme and with regular exercise, her goal is to keep off the weight and build a lean and strong figure to help in her various rounds of the beauty contest. Her drastic change has meant that she is also able to compete in Miss Inspiration 2015 in which her weight loss and lifestyle change will be celebrated in various rounds of the contest. As well as the pageants to focus her attentions, Lucy is currently studying her History degree, specialising in heritage history, is organising charity events and training for the Race for Life. Her keen enthusiasm for horses also means that Lucy spends her spare time tending to and riding her six horses to keep her grounded and motivated and ensures that they always come first, no mater how busy she may be. After entering and managing to clinch the title of Miss Stoke on Trent International, Lucy is now preparing for the big competition in July. The overall winner of the contest will take home the title of Miss International UK, winning a trip to Japan to compete in the Miss International final. Three winners will also be crowned for Miss Intercontinental ( from England, Scotland and Wales) will go on to represent their country in the international Miss Intercontinental final. The pageant itself will include swimwear and eveningwear rounds so Lucy is ensuring to
keep herself disciplined to be in the best shape for the competition. As part of her reign, Lucy has been sponsored by local businesses including Graham Machin Windows and Conservatories in order to progress in the contest and help organise events for her chosen charities throughout the year. She works closely with the Douglas McMillan Hospice and The Christie Charity who have been a big help to people who are close to her and continues to raise funds for them. “I’m over the moon about representing Stoke-On-Trent in the Miss International UK pageant and also representing such a brilliant charity.” Lucy says. “I’m nervous but I’m well prepared and have the right support around me.” Her family and friends have encouraged her to go all the way and have been her rock throughout the process. “I feel that with this support and excitement, the whole competition will be an amazing opportunity and lots of fun” Lucy is currently organising a Black Tie evening on June 5th at the Moat House on Festival Park to raise money for The Christie Charity. The special evening will include a three-course meal with entertainment provided by a Michael Bublé tribute act and a magician, followed by a party. Tickets for the event will be £35 and half of the proceeds will go towards the Charity Fund and the rest will cover venue hire and entertainment costs.
Miss International finals take place at The Palace Hotel, Manchester on the 18th-19th July 2015. Lucy’s beauty profile is on the Miss International Pageant page: www.internationalpageantsuk.com/finalists/miss-stoke-on-trent-international/
Students exhibit photographs at Uni Words by Lauren Miller Picture by Level 5 students Every year, the completed work of Level 5 Staffordshire University students in their History, Theory and Practice module is displayed in an end-of-year exhibition. A huge benefit to this module is that each student has been given the chance to explore one particular photographer who inspires them, giving the students a deep insight into how they operated in their work to achieve the photographs that have stuck in their
minds to this day. This year students are covering a wide range of photographers from many different corners of photography, including Raymond Depardon, Jan Banning and Bill Brandt. The aim of researching these photographers is to generate a set of pictures emulating the work of your chosen practitioner, which will be put on display in this exhibition. The module also tests our abilities in areas such as printing
and framing, as even the slightest flaws will be scrutinised and may be counted against us when it comes to our final marks. I decided to research W. Eugene Smith, in part because I was already familiar with his work regarding publicising the effects of Minamata disease. My idea was to do a project around Stoke in the same style as Smith’s work in Pittsburgh, and whilst I have only had varying
levels of success in achieving this so far, Smith’s work has given me a clear idea of what I need to aim for to do well in this module. This year our exhibition opens on Friday May, 1 at 6pm for the opening night so make sure to come down and take a look at the work we have done - and tell your friends to do the same.
15/
FEATURES
JE SUIS CHARLIE Words and pictures by
Benjamin Furst
In the weeks before the attacks on Paris, I was aware that the threat was real. ISIS [spell out exactly who this is] made it clear that France was one of their targets by constantly making threats in their propaganda videos. France had been under threat since the French [or ‘since its military was deployed for former colony to fight the extremist Islamic rebels’] army was deployed in Mali to fight against Islamic rebels. Back in December, a man attacked two policemen near Tours with a knife whilst shouting “God is great” in Arabic. He was shot dead at the scene. Extra police forces and the army were deployed all around France to protect the population over the Christmas Period. I was personally scared, always being very careful when using the Parisian Metro, always trying to avoid the tourist areas of the capital but then I ask myself, why should those people stop me from doing what we usually do? Then the attacks on Charlie Hebdo happened. I woke up on 7th January in my quiet suburb north of Paris, everything seemed normal until 11.30a.m. When I look at my Twitter feed saying, “Charlie Hebdo under attack”. I quickly put on the news on TV. A few minutes later, the first shaky amateur video emerged on TV. We could clearly see two gunmen shouting, “God is Great” in Arabic. That is when I figured out that this attack was linked to Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons of Muhammad. What shocked me the most was this video of this wounded police laying on the pavement begging for his life being executed and I thought, What is wrong with those people? How can something so horrific happen so close to home? The two terrorists managed to escape and the police had no idea where they were but at least, the police knew who they were. In the evening, President Hollande announced a national day of mourning on Thursday in honour of our ‘heroes’ who died during the attack. On Thursday morning the two Kouachi brothers were located robbing a petrol station in the middle of the countryside 50 miles north east of Paris. Soon after that, I heard that a young police officer was killed in Montrouge near Paris that morning by a man dressed in black, wearing a balaclava and a bullet proof jacket. It was clear that this man was linked to the attack on Charlie Hebdo. Then started the hunt for the Kouachi brothers who were still on the run, even though they had been localised earlier on that morning. The army and Police forces were quickly deployed north of Paris. Army Checkpoints were put in place at road junctions. Cars were randomly pulled over and inspected. I would not usually wish death on people but I just could not wait for the police to catch them and hopefully kill them. People were scared and this needed to stop. I had never seen that many guns in my life. It is not everyday that you see soldiers with weapons of war at every street corner. Things didn’t look good but as a photojournalism student, I really wanted to go out and document those events. Understandably my parents were concerned when on Friday morning I went to the scene of attack on Charlie Hebdo to take some pictures. That is when I realised the emotional impact that these attacks had on people. People from all kinds of background, children and older people were paying their respect. People left flowers, pencils, tricolour and flags near the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo. I also went to Place de la République, which is where the French people usually gather to protest on different occasions. People had been gathering there every night since the attack. Many were trying to light candles in the rain. Nothing could stop them from showing their support. There was a lot of tension around the capital. The famous Parisian boulevards seemed empty but life went on. Well, at least until 1pm: the news that a gunman had taken several hostages in a Jewish supermarket came through as I sat in a café two miles away. There was a lot of movement, non-stop police and ambulance sirens. I decided not to take any risks and went home. Later that afternoon, the police launched a synchronised assault on Hyper Casher whilst the Kouachi brothers were fighting against the police at a printer factory where they had taken refuge earlier that morning. Adam Coulibaly, the Hyper Cacher gunman as well as the Kouachi brothers were shot dead by the commandos. It was announced that Coulibaly killed the young police officer in Montrouge.
1st June 2015 /The Fact
16/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
FEATURES
On Sunday 11th January I was one of the million people who took part in the “Republican March”in Paris. I had never seen anything this huge. I’m not a fan of protests. I had never been to one before. It was great for the world to see what France is all about: “Liberty, Equality,Fraternity”. When I watch the news here in the UK, most of the stories on France are about the glorified rise of Marine Le Pen’s National Front and the French economic policies. Those stories of course, do not represent the French people at all. It was great to see people from different faiths and atheists singing the French National anthem - which is in fact about fighting against tyrannical forces - in support for freedom of the press and against religious extremism. What is next for journalism? Should we be scared? Should journalists have to give special treatment to religious extremists? Journalism has a proud history of questioning ideology. Wouldn’t it be boring if all of it was factual? We should all be allowed to express our opinion, no matter what the
subject is. French enlightenment writer Voltaire once said: “I might disagree with your opinion but I am willing to give my life for your right to express it.” These attacks were first of all, an attack against freedom of press, one of the common values that Western countries share. The attack on Hyper Cacher targeted the Jewish community but was also an attack on the French society. A society where for the past century, people from different origins and faiths live happily together and share the values of “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”. My only wishis that in these troubled times citizens of the free world, living in multicultural societies will understand that those actions were supported by a small minority of people and will not stigmatise the Muslim community.
17 /
1st June 2015 /The Fact
FEATURES
72
HOURS IN NEW YORK
Starting off in a big city is never stress free, particularly when you have unruly luggage and a polar vortex to contend with. After 20 years of experience, Sex and the City icon Carrie Bradshaw makes this look stylish and elegant, but with just 72 hours how did students from Staffordshire University manage?
Walking out of JFK airport gave the students a diverse start to the trip with temperatures dipping as low as minus 10, however seeing yellow cabs line the street outside gave us some distraction from the cold. Multiple layers were definitely essential. The coach from the airport provided a glimpse of the skyscrapers and the bright lights of the big city. Driving through Manhattan distances you from the chaos of the streets but stepping off the coach soon throws you into the deep end- the atmosphere was hectic and demanding with advertising absolutely everywhere. To start off the trip, the students headed to 53rd Street to visit the Museum of Modern Art. Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein star in the pop art exhibition next door to masters Jackson Pollock and Chuck Close. However, the real attraction for photography students had to be Modern Photographs: The Thomas Walther Collection 1910 – 1949. Overflowing with prints by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Walker Evans amongst many other favourites, this was definitely a must see. Although the time looking at art was matched by an unreasonable amount of time spent in the gift shop. During the visit to the museum, the group were delighted to bump into Stephen Shore who is best known for pioneering colour photography, third year student Sarah Reeve said, “Shaking the hand of a well-known American photographer is something I thought I would never do. Stephen was very friendly and approachable. The lectures were very happy about us meeting him too. When I returned to uni the following week the tutors that didn’t go on the trip were green with envy it seemed at
meeting Mr Shore.” Students then split into several groups to explore New York’s most famous landmarks. If you are looking for a skyline view then the Rockefeller Centre will take you 70 floors up to a clear open spaced 360 degree view of New York City. We recommend the sun and stars ticket which gives you access of this stunning view in the day and night. If it’s your first trip to New York, arguably one of the places on your bucket list to visit is Ground Zero. Visited by around 18 million people since September 2001, the memorial has a surreal yet sombre atmosphere. This is a peaceful place to reflect and take a break from the city’s hustle and bustle. Travelling between landmarks can be easily arranged by hailing one of New York’s famous yellow cabs, but arguably the cheapest option is the subway. If it’s not tourist attractions you are into, walking along the streets can give you an insight into everyday New York life. You can find everything from retail therapy to world famous restaurants like Katz Deli, serving one pound of meat into a single sandwich. Another recommendation is Bill’s Bar and Burgers, home of one of CNN’s top 10 Burgers: the Fat Cat. Breakfast in New York is a massive deal; Andrew’s Café on 7th Avenue gives you a classic, relaxed diner experience serving delicious dishes. Different groups had different experiences, Editor in Chief editor Vitanee Oliver spoke about her stay in the big apple. “Our trip to New York was fantastic! The hotel was super central, so the attractions were just a walk or short subway ride away. We managed
to fit so much into such a short stay; I can’t wait to go back! My top tip: Take the free Staten Island ferry to see Lady Liberty and the Manhattan skyline, preferably at night, it’s an incredible view!” Serial visitor Rachel McHaffie gave her thoughts on returning to the big apple. “Seeing New York’s sky line will never be something that I take for granted – its a moment where you feel your heart miss a beat, towering and impressive, but strangely familiar. The yellow taxis look more modern, the hot dog sellers have digressed into falafel, but the streets are always alive and full of expectation. For most of us, we first experience New York’s high rises, steam vents, and other mysteries of its visual landscape through film, but seeing it first hand is a bit like walking into one of those films and is as exciting as it is surreal. I would recommend a visit to anyone; it’s got to be one of the best city breaks out there.” Recommendations: Apart from the usual tourist hot spots – if I were to give advice to friends visiting I would suggest losing the map for an afternoon and just follow your nose; you will find some quirky corners with unusual shops and cafes to visit. For night life try a ‘speak easy’ Landmark Tavern: The 11th Avenue location opened its doors in 1868, long before prohibition, and is still around today. Club Intime: the Midtown outpost of Flute Bar and Lounge was once a ‘speak easy’ stop for society men who frequented Polly Adler’s brothel nearby. For a guaranteed and less tourist-y night out head to the villages – Greenwich and the east village are always hopping with life.
18/
FEATURES
1st June 2015 /The Fact
19 /
FEATURES
I AMsterdam
In November 2014 Level 4 Photojournalism students of Staffordshire University paid a visit to Amsterdam the capital city and most populous of the kingdom of the Netherlands. Level 4 photojournalism students of Staffordshire University visited the iconic city to explore the history and arts, gaining some interesting imagery and inspiration.
Amsterdam has a huge reputation for drugs and prostitution here in the UK so our imaginations and expectations were running wild. When we arrived, everyone wanted to take to the streets to explorewhat the city had to offer, however, we soon learned that Amsterdam was not as centred arounddrugs as we thought. The streets were not lined with ‘coffee shops’ or prostitutes as we had pictured but with food, clothing and souvenir shops. The hotel that we occupied for the duration of our stay was quirky to say the least, the foyer was completely wooden and outdated and there was an old spiralled staircase that led to one floor.When we entered the rooms our jaws hit the floor, a completely different setting stood in front of us. A very modern style, with simple colours, outstandingly printed images and glistening mirrors hung all around, definitely not what we were expecting. The main reason for our visit was to experience FOAM, a photography museum that displays many photographers including August Sander and Vivian Maier. We were given a guided tour of some of the galleries and took part in an exercise of choosing what our favourite image from the collection was and why. Seeing all of this published work hanging in crisp glass frames gave us some inspiration and we took to the streets
to photograph our new environment for the next few days.
We also visited Anne Frank’s house. After the war the secret annex was on a list of buildings to be knocked down, however, the citizens of Amsterdam campaigned and set up a foundation now known as the Anne Frank House. The museum is one of three most popular museums in Amsterdam its main goal being to preserve the hiding place of Anne Frank and her family. This visit was truly breathtaking as the rooms the family and friends lived in were so small and difficult to get tohow they kept the secret so long is a complete mystery to me. There was so much photographic potential, from the crooked buildings to the lines of bikes in the streets and along canals. The aesthetics of the city made for some stimulating and beautiful imagery, expressly the houses reflecting in the numerous canals throughout. Day and night in Amsterdam were completely different. By day, the city was still and peaceful, thendarkness came and what seemed like a tranquil setting burst into life with lights, music and atmosphere, it became a different type of beautiful. Overall the trip was very successful with many of us returning with a new outlook on Amsterdam and some interesting images to share with the world.
1st June 2015 /The Fact
20/
1st June 2015 /The Fact
FEATURES
METAL DETECTING: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE BUZZ
The National metal detecting society have seen an increase of 8% in memberships and it is set to rise. Here Laura Mellor investigates what the buzz is all about. It’s not all swinging a stick and walking across fields waiting for a bleep to signify treasure. Metal detecting is an intricate skill. Not only does the contraption bleep at you by transmitting an electromagnetic field from a coil at the end of the stem, but you then have to learn how to identify what your detector is trying to tell you from the variety of noises it produces. Is it scratchy or dull? Is it a two-way signal? Is it perfectly clear? All the noises signify the type of metal that you have found in the ground. If the signal is scratchy or dull, then it is more likely to be iron – also known as rubbish. According to Alastair Hacket, National Council Metal Detecting Chairman, “There has been an increase in NCMD membership in the last 12 months of around 8%, and if the trend continues, we anticipate that this year will see membership well beyond 10,000 and possibly as much as 15,000.”
Metal detectorist, Paul Webster from Staffordshire, has found various objects while out and about metal detecting over the past 26 years, ranging from “good finds such as Gold Iron Age coins, roman brooches, and Silver coins, through to the normal day to day finds of buttons and buckles, and the bizarre items such as false eyes – accompanied by agricultural rubbish such as ointment tubes, shotgun cartridge ends and machinery parts.” There are a variety of detectors to be had, ranging from humble beginners models costing £200, to more specialised models that track your movements with GPS and log your findings, costing as much as £1800. Metal detectorists have found many amazing finds below the surface. In July 2009, Terry Herbert discovered the Anglo-Saxon treasure “The Staffordshire Hoard”, which was worth over £3 million, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, which consisted of more than 3,500 items. More recently, the Viking hoard which was found in Dumfries and Galloway in September 2014 by Derek McLennan, which is worth a six figure amount. The Portable Antiquities Scheme
(PAS), a government-funded project, is designed detectors to find this stuff – so a fair ‘market valto encourage the public to voluntarily record any uation’ should mean that.” artefacts that they may find. The PAS has been Metal detecting can be a dangerous up and running since 1997, and has recorded hobby, as bombs from various wars have been over 800,000 objects in England and Wales. Ac- discovered many years on. This was highlightcording to Steve Ashby, medieed in the BBC Four comedy val archaeologist and lecturer “Good finds such as Gold programme, Detectorists at University of York, “working (2014), when the president Iron Age coins” with metal detectorists can be of the Danebury metal dechallenging, as there is often a mutual lack of tecting club discovered an unexploded bomb, trust which needs to be addressed. I have been and luckily escaped without serious injury when called a liar, I have been threatened, and I have it exploded. Paul has also had experience with been undermined and cheated. But I have also this, “While taking part in a metal detecting rally met some of the most honest, hardworking and alongside the M25, myself and another guy dug genuinely interested enthusiasts you could care up two WW2 German bombs. The bomb squad to meet. Some even see themselves as protectors were called, and sealed off the field and made of archaeology, rescuing material ahead of de- them safe by a controlled explosion.” velopment. This diversity is important to under- Whatever your view is on metal detecstand; to paint all detectorists as troublemakers torists, they invest a lot of time, energy and monor thieves is a massive injustice.” ey into their hobby, with mostly minimal return. “The main stumbling block is the val- Many enjoy it for the freedom that a couple of uation system – finds are typically suspected of hours in the great outdoors offers, or many enbeing undervalued by 50-60%, to allow museums joy it for finding historic items for future generto buy. True we do find them for free, but put in ations to see and learn from. I’m inspired to pick a lot of hours, fuel, batteries, public liability in- up a metal detector and spade, are you? surance, and not forgetting the purchase of the
An insight into The Photography show at Birmingham NEC From Saturday 21st to Tuesday 24th March 2015 the Birmingham NEC will open its doors to all photography enthusiasts, from seasoned professionals to budding enthusiasts. The show also offers students the chance to attend the show for free on the last day. The show will take place in Hall 5 at the
NEC, as there is plenty of space for you to enjoy, plus it’s only a 2 minute walk from the train station. The Photography show is produced by Future, the international media group and world-leading photography publisher. Visitors to the Photography Show will get an exciting overview of the ever-changing industry, plus the chance to discover new ideas, learn the latest techniques, and hear from the experts. This year The Super Stage will be host to talks from various photographers including Martin Parr and Tim
hoping to meet lots of A mem- “we will be offering the vistiors some-lovely new people to work with and supber of Tim’s team thing they didn’t know existed” port.” said, “He’s very ex On their stand, cited to speak at they will be running the Photography show, and is very much so looking forward to it, portfolio reviews and consultations every day, and it’s great to be supporting Photovoice, which and hosting a meet and greet with the founders of Portrait Salon on Monday, where exhibitors is a great charity.” Photovoice, which can be found at can buy copies of the latest limited edition newsstand H123, is a charity that believes that no one paper. Association of Photographers will also should be denied the opportunity to speak out and be heard and is achieved by photography be attending the show. General manager Seamus McGibbon said, “We are very excited about havand digital storytelling methods. Creative Advice Network will also be ing a stand at this year’s show. It will be great to attending The Photography Show. A representa- meet lots of photographers and those interested tive said, “We will be offering the visitors some- in the profession in person and for them to talk thing they didn’t know existed, a one stop shop to someone from the AOP.” “We are holding three seminars as part to help them with anything their creative busi- nesses need. Portfolio advice, marketing advice, of the Pro Conference on 23rd on subjects like business mentoring, how to cost on jobs, how to Marketing, Copyright and Contracts. We have find new clients, and social media training. We’re discounts on membership and on the books of Flach.
the AOP Awards 2014 and Beyond the Lens. “ “I hope that the Show inspires students and others to pick up their cameras and join our amazing industry.” There will be over 250 stands for the visitors to visit and enjoy, but also various workshops and such as Behind the Lens, mobileography, and Canonare carrying out a student programme. There will also be many discussions from the Live stage, and a panel discussion on Women in Photography. The Photography Show is a fun filled show that not only can you speak to the experts and listen to top photographers, but also dive in with your own camera and learn new tips for example at the Streetscape, which is an urban street scene style stage that is hosted by a range of professional photographers. If you are new to photography or are a professional photographer, The Photography show has it all for you.
21 /
SPORTS
1st June2015 /The Fact
Staffordshire society snowed under by donations
Text and Photograph by: Jo Kirkaldy
This year Staffordshire University Snow Sports Club has been raising money for charity events, from a naked calendar to a Peak to Peak challenge. On 11 March 2015, members of the society skied over 55km, the same distance it is from Mont Blanc to Mont Rosa. This took place at Stoke’s Ski Centre to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s Society. Hattie Mills, organizer and social secretary for the club, said “Alzheimer’s and dementia are both really common and misunderstood diseases. Everyone at some point will be affected by it and when that time comes Alzheimer’s society will hopefully be there to help.” Hattie is also creating a snow sports naked calendar that will be available to buy with all proceeds going to Alzheimer’s Society. So far the team have risen over £300, a third of their £1000 target. The charity event crossed over with the Staffordshire Vs Keele Varsity where the teams went head to head in Ski Slalom, Ski Cross and Snowboard Cross events. Keele University came out on top with an overall score of 19 points to Staffordshire University’s 11. Jared Bajina, the club’s promotion officer who came out with the fastest time for Staffordshire, said “The event was really good and everyone got into the competitive spirit. Big thank you to Stoke ski centre for helping it run so smoothly.” Amy Bailey, Law student at Staffordshire University, qualified 2nd fastest but couldn’t make the final. “Skiing varsity this year was once again a fantastic event, a great chance for some friendly competition. I was unfortunately unable to stay for the final due to work commitments but enjoyed myself all the same. Congratulations Jared on winning.” Amy said. You can donate online at www.justgiving.com/Staffs-Snowsports Stoke Ski Centre is open to the public 7 days a week for more information visit their website: www.stokeskicentre.co.uk/
Confessions of a referee By Sophie Robinson
Many young boys dream about working in a career in sport. From their Dad taking them to football matches on a Sunday morning to the long hours their Mum spends getting the cricket whites sparkling clean; it’s no surprise that sports at grass roots level are always a popular choice for youngsters. This is no different for 18-year-old Ben Robinson from Draycott-in-the-Moors who, after trying his hand at a myriad of sports throughout his life, is now venturing down a new path; working the line and covering every inch of the field as a football referee. The college student is in his final year of his A-Levels and hopes to pursue a degree in physiotherapy to help with sports injuries and recovery, but uses refereeing as a way of learning more about the game and to build his confidence. “I stopped playing football at 15” Ben says, “I saw refereeing as a new challenge for me whilst not straying too far away from the game I loved.” “I started my basic refereeing course when I was sixteen,” Ben says, “I am currently in my second season but I have entered my promotion season to take me from Level 7 to Level 6, meaning I can referee Open Age football (adult football, 18 and over).” The role of a referee compared to a player is very different; it has been well documented that referees deal with a lot of frustration on the field.
“I face a lot of challenges on the football field, not least including the pressures of getting the decision right. The managers, spectators and players all get on your back,” he added, “you have to make sure you get all the big decisions right and handle the game with good control.” You have to get away from the area when you make a decision, as often after a decision, players surround you, you have to take yourself out of that environment, away from the incident to calm things down and then calmly explain the decision.” Ben is part of the Staffordshire County Senior League and explains that the perfect candidate to be a professional referee will be reliable and alert. “You also have to have a superb fitness level and be able to have a clear thought process to stay calm under the pressure” he said, “My job is to enforce the rules of football and ensure the safety of all involved. As the official, I am responsible for that environment as an official and I ensure safety comes first.” Ben also plays golf and coaches cricket when he gets some spare time, but mentions that refereeing provides many highlights even though the hours can often be long and tiring. “My career highlight so far would have to be when I was the fourth Official for Port Vale reserves vs Stoke City U.21s,” he said, “I was really happy to get that game.” Ben prepares himself for
a game by eating right and keeping in shape. “For an adult game, I turn up about an hour before the game, usually in shirt and tie” he says, “I have to check the pitch conditions, warm up and set the kit and get the team sheets to ensure everything runs smoothly by the time the players come out” “I can see myself staying in refereeing,”
“
There is plenty of support for young referees
”
he added, “a promotion is my short term goal, and who knows how far I could get in the long term. There is plenty of money in football and a clear path to progress” When asked what advice he would give to youngsters looking to get into refereeing: “Be confident; don’t let anyone sway your decisions. Your gut instincts are usually right and if you are a strong communicator on the field you’ll go far in the game of football.”
22 /
SPORTS
Top tips on race day At the Doncaster Race Course, watching horse racing at the higher levels of the sport is a wonderful experience. I’m really not much for any other forms of gambling, and personally I don’t see the fun in losing my shirt in some dark, smoky casino. However, horse racing I enjoy; it’s an entertaining experience and outing. I like that you’re outside. I love the history and tradition behind the sport. All in all, whether I win or lose money, I still have a great time. These days if you want to take the family to a football or basketball game, the tickets and food can easily cost you up to £400. Admis-
1st June 2015 /The Fact
sion to a racetrack is often free, the minimum bet on each horse race is just £2, and you can often bring your own food and drinks. You get to spend all afternoon and evening outside, watching beautiful animals perform at their peak ability. And this entire day can cost you less than a trip to the movies. Also, if you’re looking for an affordable, unique date, where you won’t run out of things to talk about, look no further! You have two categories of wagers to choose from when you bet on the horses: straight wagers and exotic wagers. For beginners, it’s recommend to stick with straight wagers because well, they’re simple and cheap. You simply pick one horse which you think will come in first, second, or third. The minimum bet at the track for a straight wager is just £2. Exotic wagers allow you to make multiple bets on multiple horses in a single wager. Exotic wagers are generally much more difficult to win than straight wagers as it requires
an advanced degree of skills and knowledge on the horse you’re picking, and is more expensive. However, the payoffs on exotic wagers are much greater than straight ones. Knowing how to place a bet at a horse race will allow you to bet at any track, not just in Doncaster or Uttoxeter. But if you’re like most people, your goal isn’t to simply pay £2 to watch a bunch of horses run around a course. You actually want to win some money. That’s what makes horse racing exciting– the suspense and thrill of knowing that each race can make you a bit richer is overwhelming. You can’t help yourself from jumping up, pumping your fist, and yelling as your horse turns the last corner on the track and makes a break for the lead, as the cheerers for horses number 3, number 6 and number 4 (see photo) did as their horses approached the line in favourable positions. Having spoken about betting on horses, I spoke to a man who had won some money on betting that day and he advised, “you don’t always
Alternative sports around the world It isn't only the usual sports like football, tennis and cricket that happen around the UK each week, but the little lesser known activities make it on to the list of alternative sports which make the United Kingdom a truly eccentric place that caters for anyone and anything. Below are some of the more specialised activities we class as sports which may raise an eyebrow or two. Ultimate Frisbee Ultimate Frisbee, or ‘Ultimate’ is a fast paced sport that is made up of teams of six. It is either played to 15 points or more generally played in ‘Best of 3’ stages. It begins with both teams starting in the opposite point zones and the one team will throw the disk to the other to begin the point,
similar to netball they may not move whilst holding the disk. To score, the player must catch the disk in the point zone, after which they will claim that zone and begin the next match point from there. Cheese Rolling This unusual sport takes place annually each spring upon The Infamous Coopers Hill in Gloucestershire. It began as a traditional event for locals of the village of Brockworth but is now known as a world-famous event. A 7-9lb round of Double Gloucester cheese is rolled down the hill and competitors will race after it. The aim is to catch the cheese. The cheese can travel speeds of up to 70mph, which means it is highly dangerous not only for competitors running down the extremely steep hill, but also for spectators. The cheese then becomes the prize for the competitor who either catches, or more commonly crosses the finish line first. Royal Shrovetide Football or “Hugball” The historic sport of “Hugball” is an event that takes place on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday each year in the town of Ashbourne,
Derbyshire. It has been played since around 1667, but where it originates from is unknown. Crowds gather in their hundreds for this mad two-day event, all in the hope to get to see the ball across town to the goal. It is a delicately decorated ball made of pigskin and filled with Portuguese cork, and once a goal is scored the ball becomes the goal scorers possession and their name will be painted on to it. Mud Olympics Wattolumpiade, otherwise known as ‘Mud Olympics’ takes place in Brunsbuttel near Hamburg, Germany every year. It is a sports event that has been taking place in Germany since 1978. It includes mud versions of the usual Olympic sports such as football and handball, but also its own mud specific sports such as the mud-eel race and long distance rubber boot toss. The ‘JCB Mud Run’ In 2012 this high stamina sporting event first took its place in the Staffordshire countryside and is attracting more and more people each year, from 500 at it’s debut to 2700 in 2014. It is a 5-mile course, which includes extreme activities, but all
have to bet on every race.” He continued, “for the beginner, the temptation would be to bet on every single race in the program, though there is definitely one horse that will win each race, the clever horseplayer picks the entire program for the best bets and might, possibly, only bet on two or three races out of the entire card (card is the term for all the races that day).” If you think you might get carried away with your betting, setting a budget and simply bringing a certain amount of cash Text and Photograph by: Olysa Osanakpo
for a good cause and a lot of fun, it’s hosted for the NSPCC Charity organisation and last year managed to raise as much as £50,000. World Marble Championships The World Marble Championships Federation is held in Prague, Czech Republic, and will only take place once it has enough participants entered. Two competitors will use different coloured marbles and the aim is to get all their marbles into the hole first, the game is played on the ground mostly outside oneither a green or flattened sand. Foot-golf Originated from North America in 2011, Foot-golf is a combination of footballand golf. The rules mirror those of golf however the games are shorter than a standard round of golf. A general 9-hole game can last between 60-90 minutes, and a longer 18 holes can be around 2 to 2.5 hours. You are not allowed to push the ball with the top or bottom of your foot and the ball must be played in a single movement. The general aim is simple, try and pot the ball into the hole and in as little kicks as possible to win.
23 /
1st June 2015 /The Fact
SPORTS
VARSITY SCORES
Women’s Lacrosse Men’s Lacrosse American Football Rugby
5 - 4 Men’s Basketball 83 - 43 8 - 2 Fencing 83 - 135 46 - 0 (Staffs) Cricket Keele won by 5 0 - 35 Swimming Gala 34 - 50
Ultimate Frisbee Women’s Basketball
15 - 0 37 - 65
Tennis Men’s and Women’s Badminton
2 - 4 0 - 8 (Keele)
Women’s Hockey Women’s Football
1 - 3 0 - 1
Netball
30 - 49
Men’s Hockey
1 - 5
Volleyball
25 - 15
Men’s Football
Overall
STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY
0 - 0 (Staffs)
7
KEELE UNIVERSITY
12
Ladies netball By Olysa Osanakpo
Sir Stanley Mathews sports hall housed Staffs ladies netball team as they took on Keele ladies for Varsity.The tension in the atmosphere somewhat inferred both teams as bitter rivals about to clash. The referee blew the whistle to signal commencement. The two teams got on their way to what was a close game of netball in the first half. Staffs Ladies commanded the first half with quick precise passing and scoring that eventually led to them ending the first half being ahead in points. At the interim, the Keele ladies formed a sombre unity circle for the purpose of motivation to guide them into the second half, the Staffs ladies did the same but it was not sombre in nature, it was roaring with optimism as they intended to maintain their lead. The second half all the way through
the end of the game was a tug-of-war. Keele ladies stole the lead a couple of times from the Staffs ladies, and at some points didn’t look like they were going to give it away. Keele Ladies were aggressive, direct and effective in their play. Their defence was a match to Staffs sublime offence, as Staffs ladies found it quite challenging to score after repeatedly seeing the majority of their offensive play blocked. As Keele blocked, Staffs Ladies supporters above in the stands jeered loudly but as soon as they found a way to score, they cheered incessantly, it was thrilling. At the end, the Staffs Ladies began to seem exhausted, Keele Ladies capitalised on this and ran away with the lead, with the score ending 49 – 30. The 19-point difference proved to be the distinction between the two enthralling sides that played an exciting game of Netball.
A day in the life of a cheerleader By Amy-Lynne Hartley With only a couple of hours till Varsity kicks off with Women’s Lacrosse it’s time for me to start preparing with the squad to go and support ‘Team Staffs’. The hair goes high and the bow goes on, our kits are worn fully for the first time this semester, red lipstick brightens everyone’s nervous, but excited smiles and the ‘Staffordshire Scarlettes’ are ready to go and cheer on the first team of Varsity 2015. When I arrive at the Lacrosse pitch the atmosphere is buzzing with excitement and competitive chants are already filling the air, I spot more cheerleaders and join them on the side-line ready for the game to begin. It wasn’t the best of starts. After the first quarter Staffs are 2-0 down and Keele are chanting in a smug manner. The second quarter starts and again Keele score, 3-0 down and it’s getting tense. The girls bring it back slightly by scoring 2 goals
and manage to reach half time at 3-2 to Keele. Half time is over and the crowd is buzzing. Staffs have gone and made it a lot more exciting by making it a draw, it’s neck and neck and both fans are beginning to battle it out with chants as well as the competitive play on the pitch already. Another goal for Team Staffs puts the score at 4-3 to us, the crowd roars with excitement on the Staffordshire side and the girls on pitch are pumping their sticks in the air, this is getting interesting. Third quarter over, team talks on both sides go on longer than the previous breaks; this last quarter is the one to count. This is it, the final quarter has kicked off, and I speak for most when I say there were some very anxious moments in this last quarter. Suddenly, Staffs go and score a fifth goal making it 5-3 to staffs and the crowd goes wild, me and the other cheerleaders jumping with excitement along with the rest of the crowd. There’s around 10 minutes left and I can see it’s getting close, Keele have had more shots and before we know it one has gone in. 5-4 to Staffs with only 5 minutes left, if they score again it will either end a draw or most likely go to extra time and we don’t want to have to risk that. After a long 5 minutes the referee finally blows his whistle, and all I see is people running on to celebrate with the Staffs girls and everybody on our side cheering and throwing drinks in the air. A great finish from the Lacrosse ladies; what a way to kick start
Varsity here on home turf ! After half an hour of excitement and congratulating the Lacrosse girls, it was time to head over to the opposite pitch ready to cheer on the American Football team. I don’t fully understand the rules of American football but a half time score of 31-0 to Staffs was good enough news for me. Most of the crowd moved away for the half time break, including my squad. We headed down to the Astroturf for the Men’s Lacrosse-which we could cheer for with confidence- leaving the rowdy lads to haggle one another on the field. The atmosphere was buzzing and the support for Team Staffs was sky high, with two wins in the bag already it was no onder there was so much excitement, especially when I discovered an early lead in the Men’s Lacrosse. Smoke from small flares were filling the sides of the court with a red mist and chants filled the air, with only half an hour left it was an almost definite massive first day defeat against Keele University, so with that it was time for our own squad to train. The Scarlettes have 2 weeks left to train for the BCA National Cheerleading Competition, in which the squad will compete in small groups pulling stunts for a minute and a half, and all that training means that our support for Team Staffs will always be energetic. For more details on the Cheer squad the Staffordshire Scarlettes, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at amy_0706@live.com
24 /
SPORTS
2015
The long-running rivalry between the Staffordshire and Keele Universities was cemented in 2001 with the arrival of Varsity- a multi-sports series event that sees both contenders battle to win the competition annually. Starting off with just one sport at its point of creation, Varsity has grown to encompass a total of 13 sports, with the event growing bigger and more competitive each year. The event is held each March at alternate locations, culminating with the final event- men’s football- traditionally being held at the Newcastle Town F.C ground. With the stakes high, both universities are coming head-to-head once again for the chance to be victorious. By
Gabby
Moran
Women’s Lacrosse
The game was a close one, with Keele ladies scoring the first goal and finishing the first quarter with the lead. Staffordshire took the lead in the third quarter, bringing the score to 4-3. A goal was scored by each team in the final quarter with Staffs winning 5-4 over Keele.
Men’s Lacrosse
The men’s game had far more contact. After winning the women’s, Team Staffs spirits were very high. The men’s team carried on the winning streak with the final score 8-2 to Staffs.
Men’s Basketball
This was one of the most anticipates sports. There were many penalties taken at Fenton Manor and the game finished 83-43 to Staffs.
Men’s Hockey
The team looked pumped along with the crowd. However, Keele took the lead scoring after just eight minutes. The first half finished with the Staffordshire University team having three goals scored against them. Staffs scored in the second half, making the score 3-1 to Keele. The game finished 5-1
Men’s Football
Varsity ended with the men’s football match at the Aspire stadium. It was tense as the game when to a penalty shoot out. The last penalty from Keele was saved by the Staffs goalkeeper and fans swarmed the pitched.
1st June 2015 /The Fact
25 /
1st June 2015 /The Fact
SPORTS
VARSITY 2015 GALLERY
SEE MORE AT www.photojournalism.staffs.ac.uk
26 /
SPORTS
1st June 2015 /The Fact
27 /
1st June 2015 /The Fact
SPORTS
Touchdown! Stallions reign over Crusaders By Sophie Robinson
The camaraderie of American sport has always been something to be marveled at. From the half time show at the Super Bowl to the all-out effort that fans make to dress up for their team, the spectacle that of US sports is rarely rivaled. In the past decade or so, the UK has seen rise to the participation in American style sports in universities and professional level leagues all around the country, not least the exhibition that is American Football. The rise of the sport in the UK has no doubt been encouraged by the rise in coverage in the media over here, with the Super Bowl being shown over various channels on British TV. The aim of the game is for a teams offense to gain ten yards on each play of the game for which they have four attempts, if the attempt is successful, a new set of downs is set and the attempts start again in order to advance all the way down the field for a touchdown, worth six points for that team. A field goal attempt or new run is then attempted to get an extra point, or two points. As part of the 2015 Varsity events, where neighboring universities Keele University and Staffordshire University (another American tradition full of colour, energy and peppy fans) face-off against one another, local rivalries fuelled the sheer determination for annihilation for the American Football match up between the Keele Crusaders and the Staffordshire Stallions. Of course this is a university league, but many of the players from both sides also play for the local teams, not least the Staffordshire Surge who play in the British American Football Association (BAFA) league, travelling all around the country competing to be the best in their division. It is not unusual for players from league teams to compete for their respective universities as the seasons only have a short overlap through winter, meaning that they can participate in football for a longer period of time through the year. The Keele and Staffordshire football rivalry is a relatively new phenomenon with Keele only setting up their team within the past two years. The tension was sky high and the banter was flowing as the teams warmed up along the sidelines. The fans were out in force waving flags, blasting horns and drinking beer, making the atmosphere electric. The matchup between Keele and Staffordshire is always a heated one, which makes it all the more exciting. Big guys in pads are the last people you want to get on the wrong side of on game day. Mark Walter, Head Coach of the Keele Crusaders had to get his game head on for this match up, as it can be one of the most anticipated match up’s of the entire year and so an important one for the players and coaches. “We always look forward to playing Staffs,” he said, “it is always a well-fought game and the rivalry makes it even better for us as coaches to try and think up plays and tactics to make it a good game.” After a long and cold afternoon, the game ended as a shut out with Staffs clinching the win 46-0, it was always
going to be a tough fight for new-team Keele but their effort was second to none. “Going into the game we knew it was going to be hard fought,” said Mark, “The Stallions are a well established team in BUAFL (British University American Football League) football with a great coaching staff and some fantastic players.” Keele went into the game with great expectations despite many key plays carrying significant injuries resulting in a few essential players being sidelined. “I feel we did well we held our own especially on defence with silly mistakes causing our offensive series to come to abrupt ends in a few cases.” As the second Quarter came to an end a few key officials decisions meant that the frustration for Keele was high with a few heated
moments to follow. “Staffs were able to take full advantage of our dropped heads,” Mark added, “After half time when people calmed down I thought we’d begun to give our all but Stallions took a controlling lead we were unable to recover from. “Obviously I am disappointed about the result but I’m very proud of what is still a very young team in BUAFL,” He adds, “the lads played their hearts out and fought till the final whistle. There is a lot the team can take from the game it was a great platform to build on for next season. Staffordshire Stallions Head Coach, Anthony Charles remained calm and collected on the sidelines throughout despite the rising of the chants, cheers and shouts as his team continued to dominate on the field. Ant touched upon how the university games differ from any other:
“I do find our lads approach this game different to any other,” he said, “It may be something to do with the "Posh" uni against the "Poly". “This year's game was no different as there were a few heated moments. The game itself was all one way traffic with us dominating proceedings.” The ethos behind the sport is teamwork, and despite the banter the two teams still come together at the end to shake hands, a true testament to the respect that this massive game commands. “It was a great team effort with even our third string Quarterback who has yet to play a game getting a touchdown.” Ant added. “In all a very satisfying day at the office against a team that we knew were a potential threat when they get things right, last year's game was apparently a lot closer”