Platform Magazine - Summer Edition 3

www.platform-online.net www.platform-online.net

Issue Three

May 2013

ONE YEAR AT NTSU Our top 10 moments

GRAD BALL

Acts announced

VARSITY SERIES Playing for pride

BACKPACKING

Southeast Asia explored

JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT WORKING...

DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE NOT WORKING TOWARDS...

For more information go to www.trentstudents.org/skills Platform is an independent publication and any views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor or of the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union and it’s elected directors and officers. Companies advertised in Platform are not necessarily endorsed by Nottingham Trent Students’ Union. No part of this publication maybe reproduced without the prior permission of the editor. Printed

by Hickling & Squires Print Solutions www.hickling-squires.co.uk

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Cover illustration by Katie James kathleenrosejames.tumblr.com

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PEOPLE

www.platform-online.net

EDITOR’S NOTE We are now coming to the end of the term, and as dissertations are handed in, the revision begins and we become ever closer to the summer holidays. Well done to everyone completing assignments and dissertations and to anyone who has handed in theirs already. A big pat on the back!

In this third edition we have a lot going on too, including an elections round up, the infamous Trent Street Style, news updates around your new SU, food for thought and exam revision tips.

We have the last three sports and 5 matches on the Charity Varsity Series coming up this term with Football, Rugby Union and Cricket still to play, so make sure you show your support to NTU at the events in the next few weeks, and follow live results through our live-feed on Twitter at @PlatformOnline. We may have lost the series but we still have pride to play for!

I would personally like to thank the committee this year who have worked hard beyond belief online and on every print edition. It has meant it has been possible to get in to print three times this year, something that a year ago seemed ambitious to say the least. And also another massive thank you to everyone who has contributed and written for us this year… you are what makes Platform what it is. The student magazine, for students, by students.

We wish everyone leaving Nottingham Trent University this academic year the very best in whatever you chose to do in your future and hope that you take everything that you have learnt whilst here at university in to the rest of your lives.

If you want to get involved next year, make sure you follow us in the next few weeks. It’s never too late to get involved in your union!

EDITOR

SOPHIE DAVIS

editor@platform-online.net

Deputy EditorS

AARON STEVENS MATTHEW McGLONE deputy-editor@platform-online.net

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS

GRACE BURMAN

promo@platform-online.net

NEWS

SIMON PAICE news@platform-online.net

MINT

ALICE McDAVID mint@platform-online.net

MUSIC

MARK LINSDELL music@platform-online.net

FASHION & BEAUTY

NATALIE GARLAND fashion@platform-online.net

CULTURE

JOSHUA GILTRAP culture@platform-online.net

LIFESTYLE

Sophie Davis Editor-in-Chief

ALANNA LINTIN lifestyle@platform-online.net

SPORTS

george torr

CONTACT PLATFORM

@

sports@platform-online.net

GAMING & TECH

/platformmagazine

KEEGAN SPINDLER gaming@platform-online.net

@PlatformOnline

PHOTOGRAPHY

CRAIG PROUD

Tel: (0115) 848 6200 www.platform-online.net

photos@platform-online.net

DESIGNER

TOM KING

Platform Magazine, NTU Clifton Campus, Clifton Lane, Nottinghamshire, NG11 8NS

tom.king@su.ntu.ac.uk

Contributors: The Platform Committee 2012-2013, James Lindsay, Liz McLuskey, Ashleigh McLeod, Paul Flynn, Jacob Van Kelly, Joes Rees-Long, Helena Smith, Rhea Warren, Jade Cragg, Heather Collier, Sophie Colquhoun, Martin Weightman, Rob Murray, Alex Copley, Alex Finlay, Matt Maddren, Greg MattocksEvans, Simon Murfitt, Rhianne Haplin, Callum Kirkwood, James Lewer, Jonathan Beck, Clara McKechnie, Nathan Gibbons, Ellis Whitehouse, Jack Crofts, Ross McQueen, Elly Thomas, Priya Sund, Jack Reed, Louisa Davies, Allison Harley, Sophia Ng, Alex Fowkes, Jodie Simms, Raluca Moraru.

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May 2013

Margaret Thatcher: Her life and legacy Richard Lloyd Parry on North Korea Britain’s Youth Crisis

11-12 13 14

MINT Exec elections roundup The New SU The NTSU Awards 2013 RAG Week

15-16 17 18 19

LIFESTYLE Food for thought Backpacking: Southeast Asia Sun, Sea and Cancer Top 5 Foodie hotspots Beating the exam blues

21 22 23 24-25 26

PHOTOGRAPHY, ART & DESIGN Spotlight on: Jack Reed Interview: Alex Fowkes Velkomin til baka frá Íslandi Festival fashion Callum Kirkwood

27 28-29 30-31 32-33 34-35

FASHION & BEAUTY So, you want to work in fashion?

Job interview fashion Trent street style Sunbed alternatives

37-39 40 41 42

CULTURE & ENTS 3 films to beat revision blues Michael Bay: A passion for exposions Interview: Mick Foley In defence of Adam Sandler

43 44 45 46

MUSIC Festival Roundup Gig prices debate Dot to Dot festival Denizen records

47 48 49 50

GAMING & TECH LucasArts autopsy My gaming alter ego Ingress Video game realism

51 52 53 54

SPORT Playing for pride Men’s football: season review Interview: Rhianne Halpin Interview: Martin Weightman Susie Wolff in F1?

Stand up if you hate the seats George Soloman on: The Ashes

www.trentstudents.org

57 58 59 60 61 62 63

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CONTENTS

NEWS

www.platform-online.net

PRESIDENT

Jonny Ellison

From Jonny...

President@su.ntu.ac.uk VP Services & Comms

So as third term draws to an end, it’s time to reflect on what has been an incredible year for NTSU. Thanks to you, our members, we have improved in every aspect and that achievement is put in the context of the closure of Byron House, it’s something that we can all be extremely proud of.

Kate Willcox

VP Welfare & Community

Charley Greening VP Education & Representation

Jo Southwell-Sander

Achievements this year include over 4,500 joining an NTSU society, RAG being well on target to raise £250,000 for a range of good causes, halls committees being established and nearly 6,000 students voting in the NTSU Elections ranking us as one of the most democratically involved Unions in the country. On behalf of the Executive Officers and the Union, I want to say a massive

VP Activities

Liz McCluskEy VP Sports

Pru Bowley Brackenhurst LiaIson Officer

Rebecca Northern

‘Thank You’ for all your hard efforts!

So as this is the final welcome section I’ll write, I want to wish all of those who are graduating this year the best of luck in your future careers and for those of you still studying, I hope you make the most of the new students union building next year.

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Clifton LiaIson Officer

Marcus Boswell City LiaIson Officer

Ben Bradley

May 2013

The end of term is nearly here and soon you’ll be packing up ready to go home for the summer so, what a better time to stop and look back on the year?

We have decided to collect together the top ten Student Union moments of Nottingham Trent for you to enjoy. There have been some amazing moments throughout the past year and with the new Byron House being revealed in September, next year looks set to be a good year too!

The SU are the people who make your university experience the best it could possibly be by providing anything from great nights out to invaluable boosts to your CV. There is a dedicated team making sure things run smoothly offering advice and importantly, making sure the student voice is heard. There are a lot of things to be proud of being a Trent student so let’s begin the countdown and celebrate this year’s success!

Here are our Top 10 moments of this year that have happened in and around NTSU:

2.

1.

RAG Week – more mo ney was raised than ever be fore!

new Byron Progress of the ing set to be ok building - lo ber! em pt Se open in

4.

3.

ries 2013 – Charity Varsity Se n! wi even if we didn’t

Fresher’s Week 2012 – biggest Fresher’s Week to date.

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www.platform-online.net

6.

5. ns – the new The NTSU Electio d in and more Exec were vote an ever before! people voted th

Photo by George Brow

n

Jakwob playing live at The Point – massive suc cess for such a small venue.

8.

7.

acts were Grad Ball 2013 – ove the ball pr announced and s. es cc su to be a huge

Platform went back in to print – after three years out of print!

10.

9.

Completion of the new shop on Clifton campus – creating more of a community feel.

Global Week – suppo rted by Jo, showed off our intern ational presence at NTU.

the NTSU website www.trentstudents.org and follow Platform on Twitter to hear up to date new coverage from the NTSU at @PlatformOnline

As you can see this year has been incredible with lots of progress and accomplishments achieved along the way. Next year looks set to be bigger and better for Trent and the SU who will be working hard to make sure your university days are as enjoyable as can be!

If you would like to get involved with Platform next year, look out for us during Freshers Week 2013, or alternatively email our Editor Sophie Davis at sophie.davis@su.ntu.ac.uk before September to get involved and help us with promo during the run up and our possible Fresher’s Editon!

You can get involved too with future events by checking out

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May 2013

THE PLATFORM COMMITTEE 2013/14 Sophie Davis – Editor in Chief Hannah Byrne – Deputy Editor (Secretary) Alanna Lintin – Deputy Editor (Treasurer) Rhea Warren – Promotions and Marketing Manager News Editor - William Wilson News Deputy – Helena Smith MINT Editor - Jade Cragg MINT Deputy – Simon Davis Music Editor – Robin Murray Music Deputy – Harry Hammett Sports Editor – George Solomon Sports Deputy – James Lewer Sport Deputy – Simon Murfitt Culture Editor – Josh Giltrap Culture Deputy – Chris Collins Lifestyle Editor – Sophie Colquhoun Lifestyle Deputy – Shara Samra Gaming Editor – Tom Beresford Gaming Deputy – Daryl Baxter Fashion & Beauty Editor – Priya Sund Fashion & Beauty Deputy – Louisa Davies Photography Editor – Craig Proud Photography and Art Deputy – Sayuri Standing

PLATFORM-ONLINE.NET

www.trentstudents.org

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www.platform-online.net

THE NTSU AWARDS 2013 Here’s a quick roundup of the winners from the 2013 NTSU Awards, which took place on Wednesday 1st May at The Point, Clifton:

Society Event of the Year Funky Fresh Collective

RAG Event of the Year Matt Rodgers for Movie Night

Best New Society Trent TV

RAG Outstanding Contribution Nicola Todd

Society – Individual Contribution Sajni Shah

Volunteering Project of the Year Katy Watson

Society of the Year Astonomy and Physics society

Volunteering Outstanding Contribution Jess Vernon

Halls Rep of the Year Alexandra Baulk

Best City Fresher Rep Joe Smith

Halls Committee of the Year Norton Court

Best Clifton Fresher Rep Nicki Porter

Course Rep of the Year Katy Watson

Best Brackenhust Fresher Rep Lucy Guriry

Student Officer of the Year Mark Naylor

Head Rep of the Year Matt Parish

Community Campaigner of the Year Sophie Davis

Rep Team of the Year Norton Court

The RAG Award Pole Dancing

Ian King Student of the Year Nicola Todd

TURN TO PAGE 18 FOR A FULL REVIEW OF THE NIGHT.

JADE CRAGG

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May 2013

Photo by Jay Galvin

www.trentstudents.org

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NEWS MARGARET THATCHER: HER LIFE AND LEGACY / RICHARD LLOYD PARRY ON NORTH KOREA / BRITAIN’S YOUTH CRISIS

Margaret Thatcher: Her life and legacy

by Ashleigh McLeod “We leave the United Kingdom in a very, very much better state than when we came here eleven and a half years ago,” spoke the first woman Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, upon leaving Number 10 Downing Street.

The passing of Thatcher on Monday 8th April at the age of 87 has prompted an insurmountable amount of public noise; some of fond memories, others of viscous grumblings. But there are none without an opinion.

People revered her and despised her for her ‘no-mess’ attitude and candid way of dealing with time wasters. It is this and her unwillingness to swerve off course that gave her the lasting title of the Iron Lady.

She had some highs: Not only did she become the first woman Prime Minister, against all the odds and against the popular choice of the House of Commons, but she secured three terms in office, becoming the longest serving Prime Minister of the 20th Century. This made history for women’s liberation, but Thatcher never encouraged or stood for such a cause. Her policy of privatisation granted tenants of council houses the right to buy their own homes and gave people the ability to become stakeholders in companies.

And then she had some lows: She was an avid follower of her father’s advice, “you do not follow the crowd because you are afraid of being different, you...

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May 2013

Margaret Thatcher Her life and legacy, continued...

NEWS

...decide what to do yourself, if necessary you lead the crowd but you never just follow.” This advice stayed with her throughout her years as Prime Minister, where often she would act against popular opinion increasing a nation’s anger towards her.

Finally, the lynch pin in her demise was brought by her own persistence over the poll tax and her antipathy toward the European Union.

Whether you loved her or hated her, everyone can learn from her. Whether it be from her mistakes, of which she made many, you must step back and observe the bigger picture, or from her successes, you can learn that if you believe in something, do not give up on it.

The Miners’ strike in 1984 served as a massive movement against her, almost towards ruin. With a spike in unemployment during her time in office, it is very true that the “rich got richer and the poor got poorer.”

“What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.”

In the same year as the 1984 Miners’ strike there was a failed assassination attempt by the IRA against her life, where five people were unfortunately killed. Luckily for Thatcher, the bomb was planted on the wrong floor of the hotel.

Platform Magazine’s George Torr explains why he feels Thatcher ruined Britain: “Let me start by saying the death of anyone is sad. But I shed no tears for Thatcher.

1984. The height of Miner’s Strike. Men from all over the country met up at the Orgreave pit South Yorkshire to peacefully protest and picket. It soon became apparent that the South Yorkshire Police had a plan. At 11am on a hot June morning – they charged. Shields raised batons aloft they beat them, arrested innocent men and fabricated evidence to produce trumped up charges. My own Grandad was there. A striking miner himself, he heard Police batons crack against heads and saw men caked in blood. What was the government going to do about this? Nothing. Margaret Thatcher backed the SYP all the way. “Let them eat grass!” she once scorned.

Thatcher was a woman with no heart, no compassion and no care for ordinary working class people. Savaging industry across vast parts of the UK where jobs were a plenty. Now these areas are ravaged with poverty, drug abuse and huge welfare dependence. She said coal has ‘no economic benefit’, whereas today we have an energy crisis. Do the maths.

It was all a smokescreen to butcher the union movement. The price? Thousands of jobs from hard working people who will not forgive nor forget.”

Image by Chris Collins of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation

www.trentstudents.org

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www.platform-online.net

Richard Lloyd Parry on North Korea

NEWS

Richard Lloyd Parry is the Asia Editor of The Times and author of the critically acclaimed true crime book, People Who Eat Darkness. Lloyd Parry has been based in Tokyo since 1995 and was named Foreign Correspondent of the Year in 2005 at the What the Papers Say awards. He has recently been in Seoul reporting on the North Korean nuclear threat. Platform’s Deputy News Editor, William Wilson spoke to Richard about the crisis.

Who is Kim Jong Un?

How easy is it for reporters to enter North Korea?

“Kim Jong Un is the grandson of North Korea’s president, Kim Il Sung, the son of his late successor, Kim Jong Il, and now the country’s supreme leader. We don’t know whether he is really leading the country himself, or is just a figurehead for more powerful figures behind the scenes. But whoever is in charge they have a single motivation: the survival of their regime.”

“It’s not impossible. I’ve been in six times, in various guises – twice as a journalist, and otherwise as a “businessman”, “teacher” etc.”

How does the North Korean nuclear threat compare to other stories you’ve worked on, such as Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011, the Burmese antigovernment protest in 2007 and the Iraq War in 2003?

Does North Korea have the capability to perform a nuclear strike on the US and the UK?

“Those were real emergencies, with real violence, and real victims. This is a phoney war, so far, and I think it will remain so.”

“No. Not that I have any inside information, but the consensus among experts is that, although they have a few nuclear warheads, these are not small enough to mount on a long range missile. They may not even be able to lob one at South Korea or Japan.”

What is the current situation, and what does the near future hold?

“The Norks (as we call them) seem to have eased off the rhetorical aggression for the time being. There will probably be a lull in the short term. But the threats will resume again in the future. They always do.”

What has the atmosphere in Seoul been like recently?

“This is an inverse crisis. The closer you get to North Korea, the less dangerous it seems. I was in Seoul in early April, and everyone was very relaxed. Life was going on just as normal. I took a tour bus right up to the North Korean border and it was if anything, less tense – tourists happily taking photographs of one another, and buying souvenir Demilitarised Zone baseball caps. In London and Washington, by contrast, people seemed very nervous.”

Photo by John Pavelka

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May 2013

“this generation can expect to grow up poorer than their parents”

NEWS

You might be forgiven, if you tune into the news frequently, for thinking that right now our generation are getting a pretty raw deal, but is it really that unusual historically for young people to go through hard times, especially in times of economic downturn?

Tuition fees, which were tripled in 2010 by the coalition, present another obvious problem to people trying to start independent lives - but some have forgotten that these fees were first introduced just 15 years ago by the Labour Party. Perhaps thanks to policies like this, an NTU study has shown that almost two-thirds of young people thought that political parties were not interested in them, and politicians, knowing this, have little incentive to protect young people who were unlikely to vote for them anyway.

Well, to put it simply, yes and no. Although it’s true that every generation has faced its own problems, the scale of financial hardship facing us today is almost unprecedented in the UK, and attacks are coming from a variety of directions.

Of course, even graduating from university doesn’t guarantee you a job, much less one that would have once been called ‘degreelevel’. “I don’t feel like the amount of work I do is proportionate to the pay I receive”, a 20 year-old apprentice teaching assistant told me. Such is the story for many - after putting in the hard work of education or training, many discover that the rewards they were promised fail to materialise.

“This generation can expect to grow up poorer than their parents”, Paul Mason of the Guardian and Alvin Hall of the BBC declare, observing a trend which seems to be leading to a collapse of the traditional relationship between young and old, where economic power is gradually relinquished to the younger by the older in return for pensions and other care.

The problems are clear, but the solutions are unsure.

Instead, while youth unemployment recently hit its highest level since the first world war and is now a shocking 21%, wealth is concentrated in the hands of those aged 55 and above at a level never before seen particularly property. The fact that so many homes are in private ownership has led to rises in house prices and rent in the last 30 years, with drastic consequences - today, 1.6 million people aged 20 to 40 who want to move out of their parent’s home cannot, with almost 3 in 5 saying this negatively affected their relationships or career. This tethering to the family home was not seen in previous generations, where independence was achievable and seen as a rite of passage into adulthood, giving young people new freedoms and opportunities that are today denied to many.

www.trentstudents.org

“youth unemployment recently hit its highest level since the first world war and is now a shocking 21%”

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MINT ELECTIONS ROUNDUP/ THE NEW SU / THE NTSU AWARDS 2013 / RAG WEEK

EXEC ELECTIONS ROUNDUP Elections are an important part of University life, electing in those who you think will do the best for students in the upcoming year, and making sure that they will keep all of the promises they made.

The first positions to be announced were both City and Clifton liaison officers, Costa Charalambous was elected City liaison and elected as Clifton liaison officer was Chantelle Farr.

After both liaison officers were announced it was onto the fulltime VP winners, first VP Education and Representation which was fiercely contested, Libby Farrier-Williams was elected the winner with 1887 votes, she told us, “I don’t know what to say, I’m so happy right now. I cannot wait, I was in the new SU on Friday and I just cannot wait.” (continued...)

This year the candidates where out campaigning in full force and it paid off for those won were elected into office this year. This year there was an increase of votes compared to last year, a total of 5974 students voted this year compared to 5948 last year, a 3.1% increase overall.

This was said to be the highest turnout ever, with 23.3% of students voting. When we interviewed current president Jonny Ellison before elections, he said, “The more votes that our candidates actually get, the stronger the mandate that they have to go to the university and the more influence they will have over people in the university to get what the students want.” This was shown this year that students really felt that voting mattered seen in the increase of votes from last year.

This year was also important because the exec committee will be based in the new SU Byron building, and current president Jonny Ellison told us it gives the elections “added symbolism”. Results night sealed the deal for those who are now going to be in office next year, and we were there to capture the highs and the lows from the night, and interviewing the elated winners.

Jo Southwell-Sander, NTSU President 2013-14.

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May 2013

Liz McCluskey -

MINT

VP Activities

Next, VP Activities was announced, with this year’s current VP, Liz McCluskey being re-elected, winning with 2657 votes, she was elated and said “I’m staying at Trent another year!” VP services and commutation was a close call but Marcus ‘Patches’ Boswell secured it with 1834 votes.

Up next was VP Sport, which was the most popular role having six candidates, but Paddy Atkinson was voted into office with 1543 votes in his favour, he spoke to us and said, “I would like to say a massive thank you to the other candidates, who made it so tough over the past couple of weeks. A massive thanks to my campaigners too.”

Katie Wright - VP Welfare

“I don’t know what to say, I’m so happy right now.”

& Community

The last of the 5 VP roles was VP Welfare and Community, which was the closest call of the night, with it being between 100, but Katie Wright was elected in with 1409 votes overall.

iams rrier-Will tion Libby Fa epresenta ation & R VP Educ

Finally, it was all down to who would be elected as next year’s president, with both Jo Southwell-Sander and Pru Bowely already part of the exec committee it was going to be a close call as to who would win. Jo Southwell-Sander was re-elected for another year in the committee winning with 2131 votes overall.

Feeling ecstatic that she’s president for next year, she told us, “Thank you to the other candidates, it was a tough competition and everyone put there all in. I’m really grateful that I can be up here as the new President, thank you to my campaigners, bring on next year.”

Your executive committee 2013/14 – Libby Farrier-Williams, Liz McCluskey, Marcus ‘Patches’ Boswell, Paddy Atkinson, Katie Wright and Jo Southwell-Sander.

Marcus ‘Patches’ Boswell VP Serv ices & C omms

So now elections are out of the way for another year, but it’s still important to see how they will affect the University and what impact the candidates will have upon our University lives.

The exec will represent you whilst you study at Nottingham Trent University, and every one of them wants to get the best out of the university for students and they represent student voice and opinions.

Let’s hope the exec will thrive in the new SU building next year!!

BY JADE CRAGG P Sport

inson - V

tk Paddy A

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The new Students’ Union finally coming together If you, like me, have spent the last two years on City campus traumatised about the fact that you haven’t got an SU, the idea of an upgraded new building designed exactly how Trent students want it is all a bit too much to handle.

Plus if you’re not into the nightlife of Nottingham, there is going to superb sporting facilities, including a 100 station fitness suite, a 30ft climbing wall and dance studios.

President Jonny Ellison says:

The building, which is set to be completed by the beginning of September, is to replace Byron House and give students everything that they have ever wanted from a Student Union.

Apart from being a hub of social antics, the SU is to be a home from home, a place which is easy to access for all students, whether you’re going to go for a night out or just simply to spend the day in the SU.

“One of the best bits has to be the music venue, it has the capacity to hold 2000 students and with live music it’ll be perfect. Nottingham itself hasn’t had a new club since the opening of Oceana.

But the difference is that it’ll be students only, somewhere they can call their own.

The SU is going to be amazing and we’ve got a really good Exec team going in to the building, so I’m delighted.”

It is hard to miss the new building, with 5,500 square meters of social and leisure space, it is positioned in an ideal location, meaning that you can finish revising in the library or a lecture and head straight to the SU. With music venues, daytime and night-time bars; Byron buildings replacement is to be one of the best SU’s in the country, and we at Trent are lucky enough to have it at our feet.

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May 2013

MINT

By Helena Smith

MINT The atmosphere was electric with nominees and supportive friends anxiously waiting to find out if they had won an NTSU award.

Alongside all of these, there were also awards for course rep of the year, won by Katy Watson, who won two awards of the night.

Also resident assistants were recognised for their hard work this year, and halls reps were an exciting addition to 2012 and have done really well. And the winner for ‘halls rep of the year’ was Alexandra Baulk who was so thankful to everyone for winning the award.

Chris and Hewgill kicked off the night with their usual hilarious double and banter, and the night was sure to be an entertaining one.

There were also awards for fresher repping, were Kate Wilcox (VP Services and Communication) explained how much hard work all of the fresher reps put in to helping new students settle into University life this year. There were separate awards for ‘fresher rep’ over the three campuses, first City rep were Joe Smith won, Clifton were Nikki Porter won the award and Brackenhurst were Lucy Guirny was announced the winner.

There was also an award for ‘Head rep’, Matt Parish was announced the winner, he was delighted and said “This is for every head rep, you were all amazing so thankyou!”

Current president Jonny Ellison gave a review of his year in office and said these awards are a highlight of the years calendar and he talked about his time here at Trent. Also highlighting how well societies have done this year, with there now being 83 societies with increased membership this year, with 1 in 5 students being part of a society.

The first award was to the ‘society event of the year’, with the winners being Funky Fresh Collective, a few words of appreciation for winning their award, “I’d like to thank everyone in my society!” They later on gave an amazing performance, setting everyone into a trance, collaborating house music such as Disclosure with classic R n B.

“we wouldn’t be able to do it without everyone and it’s one of the biggest pleasures!”

Liz McCluskey (VP Activities) again announced a further society award, ‘best new society’, with the nominations being mainly dominated by Trent media, the overall winners were Trent TV, “Trent TV has grown so much this year, it’s been amazing and hopefully we can continue to grow.”

The final award of the night was Ian King’s Student of the year award, an important award in recognition of the work the late Ian King did in helping to develop students unions around the country, his wife came to the stage to announce the award and winner. The winner was Nicola Todd, described as someone who has been constantly involved with the union from the start of her studies her at NTU, a deserving winner of the award. She said, “Without Liz and Louise and the amazing RAG committee I wouldn’t be here, there’s so many inspirational people out there.”

The final societies award of the night was ‘society of the year’ award with a diverse range of societies being nominated, the final winners were the astronomy and physics society, they wanted to thank everyone, “we wouldn’t be able to do it without everyone and it’s one of the biggest pleasures!”

Well done to all of those who won at the NTSU awards!

by Jade Cragg Photos by Sayuri Standing

www.trentstudents.org

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MINT

www.platform-online.net

RAG is the Trent Union’s fundraising group that gives students the chance to get involved in fun activities to raise funds for very important charities. The chosen charities are Childreach, MNDA, FSID, Operation Orphan and this year’s varsity charity, Headway Nottingham. There is always something going on so check the RAG page on the Student Union website and get involved. Being a RAG volunteer is the perfect chance to do some rewarding and important charity work but it is also a great way of making good friends and memories and is a fantastic boost on your CV.

During RAG week, RAG volunteers cycled the distance from London to Paris – which amounts to a massive 457km - in just two days! Saturday was the day of the main event, which involved students jumping out of planes at Langar Skydive Centre. The event was an excellent way to round off the week.

Every year RAG work hard to help charities locally and worldwide, putting on some of the best student led activities. All the hard work and fundraising is really worthwhile as the benefits the Charity and its users receive are so vital and allows the charities to keep on providing. Last year RAG broke their target of £100,000 and raised an amazing £194,680.30.

It is really easy to do your bit for RAG and there’s still time for you to get involved. You may have even done your bit without realising - you may have brought a cake last week on your way into the library or finally paid off those library fines, where the money received went towards RAG. If you went to Spanky Van Dykes acoustic night, played FIFA at the Broadway cinema or took part in the coin challenge, it all helped RAG get a step closer to that all important target.

So after a successful 2012, the RAG team are hoping 2013 is going to be bigger and better and hope to raise a quarter of million pounds with the help of Trent students. To help reach that aim, RAG week took place from the 15th -21st April, where there was an array of activities, ranging from high adrenaline activities to donating spare change.

The total raised so far, without RAG week included is £93,837 and with the Summer challenges, including climbing up Kilimanjaro, still to come, there is no doubt Trent will reach beyond the target again.

By Sophie Colquhoun

“

“

13 oping 20tter h e r a team d be the RAGto be bigger anarter of is going e to raise a qu he help and hoppounds with t million t students. of Tren

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May 2013

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Photo from kerryj.com

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LIFESTYLE FOOD FOR THOUGHT / BACKPACKING: SOUTHEAST ASIA / SUN, SEA AND CANCER? / 5 HOLIDAYS DESTINATIONS FOR FOODIES / BEATING THE EXAM BLUES

As the exam period draws nearer, students often find their hours in the library drastically increasing. Being neck deep in books often doesn’t leave much time for preparing meals and snacking has become a time honoured tradition amongst young scholars. With this in mind it is important that the right food is eaten. Whilst junk food can have detrimental effects, there are many foods that can help to improve memory and brain activity, perfect for the revision period.

A Library Lunchbox Tuna

Oat Bread

Blueberries

Apple Juice

Eating fish speeds up brain waves and helps improve concentration. This is due to the presence of omega-3 acids, which have numerous positive effects on the cells in the brain. A tin of tuna would make a great library snack.

Oats aid the body in many ways, and are known to help prevent diseases ranging from diabetes to several types of cancer. In terms of the brain they can reduce stress and anxiety. This would help considerably during hectic exam periods. A couple of slices of oat bread would also complement the tuna nicely..

Blueberries are known for having many beneficial effects.

They protect the brain from oxidative stress and have been found to help prevent conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. They’ve also been shown to increase learning capacity. A small packet of blueberries would make an ideal addition to the lunchbox.

Apples help to both fight Alzheimer’s and prevent memory loss. Drinking apple juice can improve memory by preventing the decline of an essential neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine. A bottle of apple juice completes the essential library lunch.

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May 2013

LIFESTYLE

Backpacking: Southeast Asia

Malaysia

Southeast Asia, once an unexplored paradise is now many a backpacker’s first choice of destination. With its perfect beaches, tasty cuisine, low prices, and good air connections it’s not hard to see why. Platform have put together a guide to the top five places to explore in this breath-taking region for the would-be travellers amongst you.

Malaysia is the go to place for cultural diversity. A rich country, beware of the inflated prices, but don’t let this put you off; its spectacular wildlife, natural beauty and cultural attractions more than make up for it.

If you do one thing: Visit during Chinese New Year when the celebrations and parades turn Malaysia into a colourful wonderland.

Cambodia Cambodia is an enchanting place, with welcoming, ‘live for the moment’ locals. You can explore the lively capital of Phnom Penh, or relax on the golden beaches of the South. Still recovering from the Vietnamese war it is not a typical touristy place but well worth a visit.

Thailand Thailand really does have something for everyone, nicknamed ‘the land of smiles’ it is sure to have you grinning from ear to ear.

For the outdoorsy there’s rafting, hill climbing and jungletrekking (with or without the help of an elephant), or if you’re the cultural sort there’s yoga, Thai massage, cooking courses and even Buddhist meditation retreats. For everyone else the white sand beaches, friendly locals, delicious food and crazy nightlife will have you begging not to leave.

If you do one thing: Visit the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Museum in Phnom Penh to learn more about the country’s history.

Laos

If you do one thing: Experience a Full Moon party in Ko Pha-Ngan.

Laos offers a glimpse into village life that is rapidly diminishing in much of South East Asia. This unspoilt country is about as laid back as it gets. Drivers sleep in hammocks in the back of their tuk tuks whilst locals go about their daily work with a slow pace of life. It’s a completely different world to hectic city life. Visit here for a relaxed taste of real Southeast Asian life.

Vietnam Vietnam’s main attraction is its sheer diversity. Fishing villages, sandy beaches, buzzing cities and misty mountains make up this small, skinny country. Its shape means it’s easy to travel around – for the equivalent of around just £10. Vietnam is perfect for backpackers with lots of adventure to be had as well as lively, vibrant cities.

If you do one thing: Head to Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands) to see the endangered irrawaddy dolphins.

If you do one thing: Head to the UNESCO World Heritage towns of Hue and Hoi An which are full of great architecture, history and art. For foodies, there you can also try some delicious Vietnamese local specialities.

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By Alanna Lintin

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LIFESTYLE

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by rhea warren Summer is coming and we’re feeling pale and pasty. We want to get into our bikini or our speedos or shorts but we’re hesitant to do so, because the Hollywood tanned girl or guy standing next to us by the pool puts our tinted moisturized beach bods to shame. The difference is, the person standing next to us, has been using a sun-bed since they turned 18 and their chances of developing a melanoma skin cancer has increased by 59%.

A study by Cancer Research UK claims that the use of sunbeds “by anyone under the age of 25 increases the risk of BCC (a basal cell developed skin cancer) by 40%”. It may appear silly to think about something so serious so early on and we often overlook the dangers of severe exposure to UV rays and sunburn; too focused on our tan to pick up higher factor sun cream or avoid the tanning salons. However, statistics show that in 2010 alone, 12,818 people in the UK were diagnosed with malignant melanoma skin cancer, with 2,203 deaths caused by the condition.

The early signs of melanoma can include the change of shape or colour of existing moles or the appearance of new lumps and can at a later stage, bleed, itch or grow. Macmillan, a cancer support organisation, states that melanoma in women is most commonly developed on the legs and in men, on their back and chest.

Looking out for signs of Melanoma, especially if you have been exposed to high UV-rays and are exposed regularly, is essential, as the earlier you are diagnosed, the chances of being cured are increased.

‘Binge-tanning’ is a term adopted by the media to describe the phenomenon of people, especially young adults, becoming addicted to the quick fix tan that sunbeds provide. It is often a big misunderstanding that sunbeds are in fact good for your health; increasing exposure to vitamin D when really, doing our shopping around the city centre on an average day in the summer can be sufficient enough for us to get the right amount of rays. There is also the myth that using a sunbed before going abroad protects us from the natural rays. Sadly, using a sun-bed is around ten times stronger than the midday rays at a Mediterranean beach, with an estimated 20 minutes on a sunbed being equivalent to around four hours in the sun.

If fake-tanning or going ‘au naturel’ isn’t your thing, be sure to keep to the recommended guidelines and avoid using a sunbed more than twice a week.

If you have any questions about cancer of any kind, do not hesitate to contact Macmillan on 0808 8080000 (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm) or Cancer Research UK, on 08088004040 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) Turn to the Fashion and Beauty section for alternatives to sunbeds for achieving that perfect glow.

If reading this, and you’ve just got back from the tanning salon, you’re planning to go in the next couple of days or you’re on eBay bidding on a mobile sunbed for your bedroom; stop and think about the risks as well as being aware of the symptoms of skin cancers.

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May 2013

LIFESTYLE

Consider yourself a foodie? Is the warmer weather inspiring feelings of wanderlust? I’ve asked some of the most well-travelled people I know where they’ve experienced the best food in order to give you a list of the top five holiday hotspots based solely on food.

5.

Squeezing deservedly into my top five is a country that has been placed for simplicity of recipes and quality of ingredients. In fifth place are our neighbours from across the pond – France – whose cuisine is bursting with cheeses, wines and pastries. The French pride themselves on their use of fresh and local produce and we Brits are already familiar with many French dishes including coq-au-vin, ratatouille and quiche, making French food equally as perfect for the unadventurous palette as the over adventurous one…there’s a reason they’re known as the frogs.

4.

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Narrowly missing out on a medal position is Italy which reached fourth place based on sheer popularity. Italian food is mild but not bland, easy to cook and uses ingredients readily available to all. Pizza, pasta, gnocchi, focaccia; no matter whether or not you recognise it, you’ll love it. You’ll suffer no nasty surprises when dining in Italy, except maybe the fact that meals are not automatically inclusive of side orders. That steak you ordered? It’s a lonely steak with no friends of the potato or onion variety.

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2.

1.

LIFESTYLE

3.

Hold onto your sombreros because sliding into bronze medal position is Mexico. Mexican is arguably the king of all cuisine for those of us who enjoy the spicier things in life but is also remarkably tangible and can be enjoyed even by those with a milder preference. We’re all familiar with the more famous fajitas, enchiladas and burritos, but have you ever tried homemade quesadilla? Do you know where to start with an avocado? Do you even know what a flauta is? Mexican cuisine is far more varied and intricate than our isolated experience of their northern cooking and it really needs to be experienced to be believed.

In second place is Morocco with its array of spices, flavours and colours. For the vegetarians among us eating abroad can be a tricky affair, however Morocco offers many vegetarian options and will make you feel at home. Traditionally used ingredients include chicken, lamb, aubergines, potatoes, chickpeas, couscous and nuts.

Dishes are accompanied by traditional round bread known locally as khobz, which is often substituted for cutlery and used to scoop up soup and vegetables, making it a perfect accompaniment to the country’s most well-known dish, the tagine. Before you even reach the tantalising main courses, Morocco will reel you in with its famous mint tea as well its flatbreads and sickly sweet selection of Arabic cakes and pastries.

Slipping into first place, where east meets west, is Turkey. With eclectic influences hailing from across the Middle East, Central Asia and the Mediterranean, Turkish cuisine is remarkably balanced and offers something for everyone, whether you’re on the hunt for a meat feast, follow a vegetarian diet or want something a little sweeter. Typical Turkish ingredients include lamb or beef; a variety of fresh fish, nuts and yoghurt, and Turkish meze oozes with flatbreads, houmous, olives, stuffed peppers and aubergines. For the less adventurous diner you’ll find the typical döner kebabs we’re familiar with in the UK, and if all that doesn’t fill you up you can always enjoy some baklava or Turkish delight for dessert.

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May 2013

For more information about exam revision techniques, visit the NTU website: http://www.ntu.ac.uk/student_services

LIFESTYLE Take a break.

As all students know, the exam period can be an incredibly stressful time of the academic year.

For many, the culmination of a year or more of studies often comes down to how you perform over a period of just a couple of hours. It isn’t surprising then, that it can all become somewhat overwhelming, especially when numerous assessments are spread over a period of just a few weeks or sometimes days. Luckily, Platform has some useful tips at hand to make your revision period as effective and stress-free as possible.

Allocate time within your schedule to take your mind off things.

Sitting in the same place for hours on end never did anybody any good. Do something you enjoy, socialise and have a conversation with your friends to take your mind off revision. The books will still be there once you get back. It has been proven that short breaks, five minutes every hour or so is highly beneficial to cognitive performance.

Say no to couch-potato.

Similarly, having an active lifestyle is incredibly beneficial, both physically and mentally. Be proactive, not reactive and allow yourself time to exercise regularly. Regardless of whether you enjoy team sports or hitting the gym, an active lifestyle is beneficial to all. Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s happy hormones, allowing you to relax and unwind.

Sounds like a plan.

The key to exam preparation is organising your time effectively.

By writing a manageable revision timetable that you can stick to you know what you have to revise, at what point, and for how long. This process will allow you to focus your attention on one subject at a time, making exam revision more refined and less daunting.

What’s on the menu?

Having a good, balanced diet is important. During a stressful time it is only natural to long for those comfort foods which taste oh so good. The odd chocolate bar or take-away never hurt anybody, but remember, maintaining a healthy diet is key to keeping yourself healthy both physically and mentally. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg, drink plenty of water and cut-out those foods brimming with high levels of saturated fat and salt.

Perspective.

Realise that whilst important, exams aren’t the be all and end all of life. Recognise and be proud of what you have achieved and remember there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Finally, stick to the plan but don’t be afraid to ‘mix things up’.

If something isn’t working, change it. The process is dynamic, remember, you have all the tools you need to make your exam revision as rewarding as it is manageable. The message is simple, don’t panic! It is normal to be stressed about things that matter, we are all human after all.

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PHOTOGRAPHY, ART & DESIGN SPOTLIGHT ON: JACK REED / ALEX FOWKES / Velkomin til baka frá Íslandi / FESTIVAL FASHION / CALLUM KIRKWOOD

Spotlight on: Jack Reed In anticipation of the summer sun, good times and musical vibes, here at Platform we’ve decided to showcase a photographer not all that unfamiliar with the Great British festival. This spotlight features final year Photography student Jack Reed and his honest images of our love/hate summer.

Jack’s work revels in the oddness of the human species, and no more so than his series ‘British Festivals’. Scenes I’m sure many of you recognize from your own experiences of our beloved weekends, sincere photographs of metal heads, drenched packa-macs and spaced out festival characters cast our minds back to those days we spent hours loving life with people we love and ones we don’t, yet.

The pleasant documentary images provide an insight into the beautiful scenes one expects at a music festival and is all captured in a style utterly immersive.

For more work visit: www.jackreed.co.uk Words by Craig Proud

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May 2013

ALEX FOWKES

INTERVIEW BY OLIVIA WILLIAMS

DESIGN

Alex Fowkes graduated with a degree in Graphic Design, here at Trent and is now working freelance as a graphic designer.

When did you graduate from NTU? Errrr I graduated in 2010 (I think) Time travels very fast!

What would you consider your biggest achievement since leaving NTU, career wise?

Biggest achievement is quitting my job at a very nice studio and going freelance.

What is the piece you are most proud of and why?

The piece I’m most proud of has to be the Sony Music Timeline I completed back in October 2011.

Do you think studying at NTU has helped you into a career in Graphic Design? If so, how?

Massively - it gave me confidence, taught me the ropes and allowed me to explore different things. I loved my time at Trent.

When did you first discover you had a flare for Graphic Design?

I stumbled into graphic design really after just following the fact I enjoyed making things!

You don’t seem to have one particular style you work in. What do you enjoy doing the most?

When you get a brief, where do you start?

Either I get really excited or really nervous and it usually stems from whether I have done something like it before or not. If I haven’t, I get nervous but I try to channel that into the piece and try new things otherwise I just get stuck. The first port of call varies for every project: usually I sit on it for a few days, before I try and do anything, to let myself understand exactly what’s needed.

I try to enjoy all aspects of my work. Whether it’s illustration, graphics or typography there’s always one part of the process I enjoy.

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What inspires your work today?

Lots of things inspire my work from designers out there, like Jessica Hische and Timba Smits, to cycling and snowboarding.

Often time off can give you the inspiration you need.

I collaborate with a filmmaker Rob Antill as much as I can.

We’ve been very close friends since the first year of Uni. His area of work is totally different to mine so it’s really good to see what he’s up to and what he’s making.

What is your workspace like?

My workspace tends to be messy with about 4 mugs on it, various books, loads of pens and contracts. It usually reflects the state of my mind.

What is your most valuable tool? - What can’t you do without?

What are your other interests besides Graphic Design?

Ermm I have a bunch of hobbies like skateboarding, snowboarding and cycling - I’m pretty active. Also travelling will always be a big interest.

What aspirations do you have for the future?

Maybe owning my own studio or maybe still working for just myself. I try not to plan too much and see where my work takes me. I enjoy the freedom of freelance so I’ll enjoy the next 5 years before I start making big plans.

My mac. Obviously.

You made a process video of your work for Sony Music. Is this something you do for every brief for yourself or was this just a one off?

I try and do it for loads of my projects - its both a personal and promotional thing for me. I’m excited to look back at it in 10 years and realise how naive and foolish I was!

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Can you give us a sneak peak at what you are doing currently/ next?

I’m working for clients both in Japan the USA and Europe at the minute so keep an eye on www.alexfowkes.com

May 2013

DESIGN

Do you like to collaborate with other designers/ artists? If so, who?

Velkomin til baka frá Íslandi Winners of the Dean’s Art and Design International Research Scholarship fill us in on a 3-week long exploration of Iceland.

PHOTO

By Jodie Simms & Raluca Moraru When we initially applied for the Dean’s Art and Design Scholarship we never expected the great adventure that awaited us. With a population the same size of Nottingham and breathtaking landscapes, we couldn’t think of anywhere better to spend 3 weeks working on a photographic project than Iceland.

stay in Reykjavik we got stranded on an lighthouse island, took a bus tour of the golden circle, ate too many hotdogs and saw the Northern lights in a happy accident involving a Twix bar, a lost iPhone and a sprint to recover camera batteries, all in the pitch black. However we soon came to realise that in order to experience the real Iceland we needed to get out of the city and go explore the countryside.

Our trip started with a week in Reykjavik exploring what the City had to offer before we ventured out in to the wilderness.

We visited the many Art galleries and were lucky enough to see exhibitions by both Robert Smithson and post modern Icelandic artist Erró as well as a handful of independent shows featuring the work of emerging local artists, which were not only intriguing, but inspired our photography. During our first

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It was a two and a half hour drive to Vik the most southern town in Iceland. With a population of just 300 it was quite possibly the only place we managed to not get lost. No matter which way you looked out of the town there was a postcard worthy view, black beaches that stretched out in to the distance and snow-covered

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PHOTO

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Left image: Raluca Moraru, Above image: Jodie Simms

order to experience the “ in real Iceland we needed to

We checked in to Kex Hostel, which was pretty much the coolest place in town (The guys from Sigur Ros were downstairs at the bar a couple of nights) and its here we met some amazing people with who we drove to the Snæfellsnes peninsular north of the capital, an English girl, a Romanian girl, an Irish man, a Canadian and an Australian all squeezed in to a Kia. It sounds like the beginning of a joke but was trip full of surprises getting locked in a lighthouse and spotting orca whales off the coast as well as some good photo opportunities. Being back in Nottingham just isn’t the same we miss the blue lagoon, the way people would leave prams outside of shops and most of all…skyr yogurt, heaven in a tub.

get out of the city and go explore the countryside.

“

mountains. We had previously been in contact with a local hostel who agreed to let us stay for free in exchange for us doing a morning hoover, it was almost like staying at your grandmas except a strange American man would pass through every now and again. We spent our days climbing the hills and trying out the local fish restaurants washed down with 2% watery Viking beer, which probably cost more than the fish. After 4 days in Vik we headed east to the glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón the only place in the country you can see the floating icebergs (with a few waterfalls thrown in along the way) this 14-hour trip ended with us returning to Reykjavik.

www.ralucamoraru.co.uk www.jodiesimmsiceland.blogspot.com

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May 2013

FESTIVAL FASHION

plain fedora

£25 one size, Topshop

Fashion goes wild this summer as style on an African twist.

tribal style necklace

Geometric tribal prints and animal inspired flamboyant clothing is what to wear this season so lose the army camo and embrace your wild side!

£19.99 Zara

draped chain shoulder cape

Wellies have become an icon of muddy festivities but that was before Dr. Martens came up with their ingenious Drench Boot. Based on the classic 1460 8-eye shoe these must-haves are 100% waterproof and ready to be danced in.

£35 one size, River Island

basic crop tank top

£6 6-16, Topshop

zebra jungle woven joggers

£35 4-14, Topshop

stripe denim backpack

£34 Topshop

dr. martens wellington drench boots

oversized circle sunglasses

£75 3-9, Dr. Martens

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£13 32

River Island

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tusk pendant necklace

£10 Topshop

black denim acid wash backpack

huf trademark t-shirt

£32

S-XL, Nonstop Sport

£35

Topshop

humour cotton check shirt

£25 M-L, TK Maxx

levi’s 510 jeans

£80 27-38, 32-34, Levi’s

Photos: Alex Finlay Styling: Raluca Moraru & Craig Proud Shoot Co-ordinator: Craig Proud Words: Craig Proud Models: Jack Crofts, Elly Thomas

Dr. martens pascal boots

£100 3-13, Dr. Martens

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May 2013

PHOTO Callum Kirkwood is the winner of the NTU Photography Bursary Award 2012, supported by the Djanogly Art Gallery and HIVE. The exhibition is kindly sponsored by Genesis Imaging, London. Here Jonathan Beck tells us more about the series ‘Rendered Light’.

exhibition has also won him the NTU Photography Bursary as well as receiving high praise and support from the Djangoly Art Gallery and Genesis Imaging.

The context of his current work, Rendered Light, above all focuses on the dimensional consequence of mirroring imagery in 3D space through methods of data mapping. The method of producing the work is complex; through using a sensor to capture a three-dimensional space it is restricted by its inability to comprehend the line-of sight of the area. The images produced are only available to exist within a virtual space, resulting in a strangely unclear and distorted subject matter that could be seen as fitting to an Aphex Twin soundtrack.

Being one of the few contemporary galleries in Nottingham, we’re lucky to have access to the Lakeside Arts Centre that has always offered diverse and well-produced exhibitions from current artists; recently opened exhibition ‘Rendered Light’ is no exception. With the increasing misapprehension we’d hear “oh dear, yet another photography exhibition?” within the art world, Callum Kirkwood’s most recent production definitely rejects this thought and keeps up the innovation and fun within photography at a high level.

The exhibition is currently held at the Wallner Gallery at The Lakeside Arts Centre, the ideal environment for the piece for such images held within a busier setting would easily have distracted me from the fragile compositions of the piece.

“ Since leaving university he was

All in all, the work produced by Kirkwood is beguiling, and I’m not surprised by the positive acclaim from Genesis Images, Djangoly Art Gallery and NTU. Whether you’re studying photography or have an interest in the area I’d wholeheartedly recommend the exhibition to anyone, of course if you were willing to take some time to comprehend the complex concept of Kirkwood’s production and don’t mind not presenting your own mythologies and desires onto the project.

shortlisted and chosen to exhibit at Brick Lane’s annual Free Range photography festival

“

Kirkwood has already shown promise with his work since his graduation from BA photography at Nottingham Trent only last year. Since leaving university he was shortlisted and chosen to exhibit at Brick Lane’s annual Free Range photography festival and has shown no signs of stopping with his first solo exhibition at Lakeside Arts Centre. The progression of the concept and

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PHOTO

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‘Bedroom’

By Callum Kirkwood

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May 2013

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FASHION & BEAUTY

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SO, YOU WANT TO WORK IN FASHION? / WHAT I I WEAR FOR A JOB INTERVIEW / TRENT STREET STYLE / SUNBED ALTERNATIVES

By Natalie Garland After all the deadlines and dissertation stress is out of the way the last thing you want to worry about is the frantic hunt to get a job when you graduate. We’ve spoken to a number of university graduates now with fashion and PR careers to ask for their top tips to make it in the industry. They did it – you can too!

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May 2013

Jenny Smith Graduated 2012. Fashion Promotion and Communication at Southampton Solent.

Now works for...

FASHION

WatchWarehouse as a PR and Marketing executive. My roles here include managing social media accounts, managing the blog, creating content for the company bi-monthly newsletter, organising events, contacting the press for product placements, attending press events, collating press releases and the list goes on!

WatchWarehouse have an online site - www.watchwarehouse.co.uk and a store in Edgware road, they also have sales platforms across 10 4-5* hotels across the UK. How I got my job...

I interned part-time at the PR Company, CMJ Media, based in Mayfair. I worked there for six months and gained a job with one of their clients WatchWarehouse at the end of the internship. I started my full time role there at the beginning of the March 2013.

My advice to students and graduates...

My top tip would have to be to try and carry out internships whilst you are still studying at university. I found this hard myself as I always had a part time job but even if it’s a few weeks each year it really does help to give you some industry experience to talk about in interviews and stand out against others. I would also say that it is important to tailor your portfolio to the area of the industry that you wish to go into and to showcase a number of skills to show your employer what you are capable of.

Gozde Demirezen Graduated 2007. Fashion Design with Marketing, Manufacture & Promotion at University of Huddersfield.

Now works for...

The Communications Store as a Fashion PR Manager. My main responsibilities are media and client management – as well as contributing to growing of the agency and team operations. Day to day activity could vary from shooting next seasons’ look books, writing press releases, organising fashion shows or liaising with journalists for the next editorial opportunity. Working in a large fashion agency means multi-tasking and time management is key. Every client’s requirements and expectations from the company are different, it’s important to understand your client and identify their brand to go forward with their PR activity.

How I got my job...

I was recommended by a recruiter for the position I am currently in and have been working in Fashion PR for the past 7 years.

My advice to students and graduates...

Fashion PR is a very restricted, limited, cut throat area of the business. You will HAVE to love what you do and do it with passion – otherwise not only you will hate it, you will also not get very far.

It’s a bit of a rat race and it requires a certain personality to make it as a successful fashion PR, I knew when I first started my degree I wanted to work in PR and I haven’t looked back. If you feel passionate about it and know 100% it’s what you want to do, don’t let anyone hold you back. It’s those that shine and impress who eventually get offered fulltime positions.

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Lucy Hirsch Graduated 2011. Textile Design at Central St Martins, University of the Arts London.

I am the Account Executive at Radiator PR, mainly working on VIP relations for Eastpak, Gola + Liberty & Pioneer - gifting celebrities in return for tweet shout out and images of them in the product. Recent placements have been Delilah, Lethal Bizzle, Dionne Bromfield, Jamal Edwards, Little Mix and K Koke. I also do product placement within the fashion media and secure coverage for brands I work on.

How I got my job...

I was interning for 18 months after graduating in 2011 across different areas in fashion, including design work, PR & magazines to broaden my skills. I happened to bump into a friend whilst I was working in Topshop last year who had worked at Radiator and she passed my CV onto the Director.

Next thing I had an interview for a junior role and got hired. I got hired in September 2012 and have been here for seven months now. I was very lucky for this to happen though, but I worked very hard interning constantly, it paid off as they hired me due to my experience and personality.

My advice to students and graduates...

Interning is the most important way for you to gain experience in the fashion industry, actually in any industry now. Never think you’re too good to intern, it won’t get you anywhere and there is always someone ready to be taken on as an intern. Always work hard and take initiative, effort gets noticed. Try and hold out as an intern for as long as possible, it is better to do three to six months in one place as you gain more responsibility and are trusted to do the bigger jobs if you’re hard working.

Stacey Beggs Graduated 2010. Fashion Design at Northumbria University Now works for...

Pia Rossini as a Design and Graphic Assistant. I am working mainly on the Resortwear collection, researching latest trends, new design ideas, prints and corresponding with suppliers. I am also responsible for graphics with includes the organising and managing of the A/W & S/S brochures including all the products of the company, developing designs and ideas for lookbooks, features and newsletters, to name a few. My job entails working with different software such as Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator. Within my job role I get to work alongside marketing, web, photography and design but I mainly work with our lead designer Debbie Shaw.

How I got my job...

I was very fortunate that I got this job shortly after I had graduated. I applied for the job online however the position was for a fashion buyer but once I had my interview and they saw my portfolio I was offered the job of design and graphic assistant.

My advice to students and graduates...

Keep your portfolio and CV up to date. Even though you may be fed up and exhausted from your final year of university start applying and looking for jobs straight away. Everything is fresh in your mind and going for interviews will give you experience of what questions to expect.

If you are finding it difficult to get work experience for your CV, apply for placements & internships.

I was fortunate to have a placement year in my degree course & this was one of the reasons I had got an interview for the position I am in, any experience is an added bonus. I also developed my computer skills on different programmes I now use every day, for example Photoshop, Illustrator & Indesign, that I hadn’t had much experience in beforehand.

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May 2013

FASHION

Now works for...

FASHION It’s nearing the end of the academic year, soon the stress and exam revision will be a thing of the past, and the only thing on your mind will be the excitement of the summer ahead.

Until of course, you remember you have to spend most of your summer working like many other students, or even worse, you’ve graduated and now you have to get that all important job you’ve spent many years getting the qualifications for. Although I cannot help you with some of those frightful interview questions, I can try and give you some tips on what to wear, which is of course a worry the night before an interview. I recently found myself having this very issue. I was frantically searching through my wardrobe hoping that something long and conservative

would magically appear before my eyes amongst an array of leather trousers, crop tops and shorts. The prospect of purchasing something new for said interview was less than appealing, because let’s face it, you’re not even getting the opportunity for a Facebook photo in your new outfit, and if you don’t get the job, what a waste of money that would be. Then it struck me. As long as the outfit is appropriate and professional, it is probably okay to wear something along the lines of your normal attire, rather than pretending you dress like a nun on a day to day basis. So here are a few ideas on how to stay classy and fashionable:

Shirts do not have to be plain, as long as they aren’t too in your face, having a pattern can show personality.

You can never go wrong with a formal yet fashionable black dress. A nice bright collar gives the dress an edge. Remember not to get too caught up on the length of your hemline. As long as you’re wearing tights, just above the knee is perfectly acceptable, after all, it’s not 1930.

This colour block pencil skirt is safely within the boundaries of normal interview attire; however, injecting some colour into your outfit makes it look less drab.

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Not all suits have to be black, stand out in this dark green respectable yet stylish suit that shouts ‘hire me’.

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English Jumper - ASOS Jacket – Topman Jeans – Topman Boots – River Island

FASHION

Ryan Garwood

Maria Parkin Photography

Photography

Top – ARK Disco Pants – ARK Jacket – Topshop Shoes – River Island Bag – River Island Sunglasses – Ray Ban

Top – ASOS Jacket – ASOS Jeans – Topman Bag – ASOS Shoes – Schuh

Rebecca Harries

Josh Clifford

Photography Top – New Look Skirt – Ebay Bag – ASOS Shoes – Schuh

Lewis Heath

Laura Dempsey

www.platform-online.net

Fashion Design Jumper - UNIQLO Jeans – All Saints Shirt – Box Fresh Sunglasses- Topman

International Fashion & Business Jacket – ASDA Shirt – borrowed from a relative Leggings – Matalan Scarf – ZARA

Trent Street Style by: Louisa Davies, Allison Harley and Natalie Garland

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May 2013

BEAUTY by priya sund We all know the dangers associated with sun beds while trying to achieve that much-desired glow we’ve been desperately deprived of in Britain. Luckily there are so many ways to get that sun kissed look without having to risk the dangers of skin cancer.

We’ve picked out some of the best sun bed alternatives to keep you looking bronzed and beautiful this summer.

Garnier No Streaks Bronzer £9.33

The Tanning Shop

Eating fish speeds up brain waves and helps improve concentration. This is due to the presence of omega-3 acids, which have numerous positive effects on the cells in the brain. A tin of tuna would make a great library snack.

Located on St. James’s Street in Nottingham city centre, the Tanning Shop offers a Mystic Tan at £19.99 per session or three sessions for £45.99. For information and appointments call 0115 941 0262.

Rimmel Waterproof Instant Tan £6.99 and eraser, £5.99

Beauty Temple Bang in the centre on Queen Street a Beauty Temple tan costs £22 with a 10% student discount Monday- Friday and 20% on Tuesdays! Great for a quality spray tan without breaking the bank, for details call 0845 402 4003.

Great for a spontaneous night out where you need an instant glow. Just apply with a tanning mitt but don’t worry if you get a little streaky as the remover makes it easy to correct any mistakes you make.

Famous Dave Self Tan Wipes £9.95

Joshua Tree Salon

These handy wipes are perfect for tanning on the go, one quick swipe and they’ll leave your skin golden and without any mess. Free of toxins and nasty smells, this self-tan dries and develops quickly. Be careful that the tan doesn’t go streaky though as you can’t see where you’ve applied. Great for this summer’s festivals!

I’ve not forgotten about those of you at the Clifton campus, the Joshua Tree Salon on Wilford Lane offer a Fake Bake Original Spray Tan for £25 among many other pampering treats.

www.trentstudents.org

Or of course the cheapest alternative is to keep your skin nourished and healthy and to embrace your natural skin tone!

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CULTURE & ENTS

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THREE STUDENT FILM TO BEAT THE REVISION BLUES / MICHAEL BAY: A PASSION FOR EXPLOSIONS / MICK FOLEY / IN DEFENCE OF ADAM SANDLER

Three student films to beat the revision blues Feeling the weight of university exam revision? Forgotten what makes being a student so fun? Here’s a list of three ‘school-based’ films guaranteed to make you smile.

1

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1987)

2

Old School (2003)

3

American Pie (1999)

Scrap revision for a few hours and join mischievous Ferris on his ‘day off’ school as he ditches his classes to take a joyride in the city of Chicago to see the sights. A classic 80s comedy, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is the perfect film to escape your work – you’ll be dancing to ‘Twist and Shout’ in no time.

Proof that your best years are at university; Old School follows a group of middle-aged men as they attempt to rekindle the ‘glory days’ by launching their own fraternity. Expect drinking games, house parties and mayhem that will make you wish for ‘Fresher’s Week’ all over again.

Laying student life bare, it’s the teen sex comedy that made waves. It may be raunchy, crude and wacky at times, but American Pie has won the hearts of many with its entertainingly madcap scenarios, true-to-life characters, and of course the infamous apple pie scene – enjoy!

By Clara McKechnie

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May 2013

michael bay:

CULTURE

a passion

for explosions by ellis whitehouse

In May 2013, critically slaughtered film director Michael Bay returns to cinemas with his latest extravaganza, Pain and Gain.

Bay is also famous for his Transformers series, which consist of robots fighting, crashing, exploding, clanking, sparking and bashing the hell out of each other for two and a half hours with plot holes the size of abysses as well as uninspired and annoying performances. A fourth instalment is due in 2014, likely to put several million dollars into Bay’s pocket.

Since filming a toy train exploding with firecrackers in his childhood, Bay has had a love for flame-filled explosions, which is evident in his work as he can’t direct a film without blowing multiple things right in the viewers’ faces for nearly three hours.

So, how will the true story of Miami bodybuilders kidnapping and torturing a rich businessman fair under Bay’s treatment? Looking at his previous directorial efforts, we can hardly await with baited breath.

When looking back at Bay’s commercially successful, but in all other aspects, god-awful career, there lies little hope for Pain and Gain. Upon viewing the trailer, it appears that Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will be used purely to show off their muscular strength, as their dialogue looks diabolical. “You can’t just kidnap a guy and take his things. That’s so illegal!” insists Johnson. “Look, don’t worry, after this we’ll all go camping” replies Wahlberg, hugging him for reassurance. Not to worry though, Bay will probably blow their car up to try and make up for the inevitable drivel between the explosions.

“You can probably determine that it was a brainless and utterly absurd film including unnecessary blowing up of numerous objects, held aloft only by its lead cast.”

Bay’s film career kicked off with Bad Boys (1995), a buddy-cop picture starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Although not a total atrocity, its script did not play to the lead characters’ strengths, and to counteract this, Bay decided to blow up an entire warehouse and aircraft. A year later Bay directed The Rock, starring Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage, depicting a hostage situation on Alcatraz led by a marine corporal. From that you can probably determine that it was a brainless and utterly absurd film including unnecessary blowing up of numerous objects, held aloft only by its lead cast.

Pain and Gain will be released 3rd May 2013 and will be reviewed by Platform-Online at a later date.

One of Bay’s most horrific and hated films was Pearl Harbour (2001). Aiming to be the Titanic of war films by telling the attack through a love story, Bay failed in every aspect in making the film work. The script lacked any emotional depth, with lead performances from Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale being equivalent to a gormless statue trying to spark a relationship with Kristen Stewart. Plagued by countless historical inaccuracies making it feel like you were in some parallel dimension, and an unbearable length of 182 grinding, emotionless minutes, Pearl Harbour plummeted to the depths of film hell.

www.trentstudents.org

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On the 5th May, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley appeared at the Assembly Rooms in Derby as part of his ‘Tales From Wrestling Past’ spoken word tour. Platform caught up with the ‘hardcore legend’ himself to get the low-down.

How much did wrestling influence your later comedy career?

The start of it was my Hell in a Cell match with the Undertaker.

Really? Being thrown off a 16ft cage and suffering multiple injuries was what brought you into comedy?

Yeah, that’s when it became clear that I had to start connecting with the audience in a way that did not require that much physical sacrifice. If you look at the aftermath of that match, that’s when the Mankind character started taking off. Within a year of that match, Mankind had become this beloved, almost muppet-like character. That was out of necessity because I couldn’t do those [physical] things anymore. I’m equally proud of the fact I that I was considered to be one of the most hardcore wrestlers and one of the goofiest.

What kind of show will it be in Derby?

One review of my show said I should probably be in the ‘spoken word’ section as opposed to the ‘stand-up’. It’s not classic stand-up and there’s very few ‘jokes’ involved. I’m a story teller and I gravitate towards the funny stories but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be times when the story might lean towards the poignant or even the sad, which is my way of excusing the lack of laughter! When people see me, I think they will see that I really enjoy myself. I love being up there and I think it shows.

How did you get started with the comedy stuff?

It was a transition from speaking at colleges for several years. The success of my first two books made me a credible speaker at universities and I spoke at some of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. With only a couple of exceptions I was never really given any ground rules of what to talk about. I tried to talk about matters of substance but I really enjoyed telling the funny stories.

What’s the difference between this tour and the 2011 one?

On the last tour I wanted to prove that I could perform (non-wrestling material). I didn’t want to be seen as the ‘wrestling guy’. But now I’m much more comfortable with that. I accept that that’s who I am. Make no mistake, it is a show that is geared towards wrestling fans.

By Ross McQueen

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May 2013

CULTURE

www.platform-online.net

CULTURE

In defence of Adam Sandler...

By Nathan Gibbons

Whether you love him, hate him or are indifferent towards him, it cannot be denied that despite being in the acting business for 24 years, Adam Sandler still has a large following. Sure he is not the most popular actor within the critic universe (That’s My Boy, Jack and Jill, Just Go With It and Grown Ups all failed to reach the 20 percent mark on Rotten Tomatoes), but the box office receipts defy critical opinion as his films rarely recoup less than one-hundred million dollars at the box office.

Funny People Why it’s great: For once Adam Sandler has chosen to play an unlikeable character...and he’s bloody good at it! At a first glance, it would appear that having Sandler play a stand up comedian is the height of typecasting. However, with the help of Judd Apatow (who took on both writing and directing duties for the film) Sandler managed create a character that is in equal measures humorous, repulsive and constantly engaging. There is also a brilliantly self-referential scene where Sandler’s character shows apprentice comedian Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) all of the strange high-concept films he has been in

Now to celebrate the fact that he is re-teaming with Drew Barrymore for the third time for a new romantic comedy (and this summer’s release of Grown Ups 2...for those who are interested), it’s time to look at the three best films that the Sandman his given us.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry Why it’s great: Now please let me attempt to defend myself on this one before pitch forks get sharpened! In this pretty prejudiced society, this is probably the closest thing we will get to a mainstream film which promotes gay acceptance on some level. And considering the audiences that Adam Sandler and Kevin James bring in, it’s a rather challenging subject to tackle. The film also takes pleasure in saying how stupid and backward homophobic people generally are...even if it does wince out towards the end.

Big Daddy Why it’s great: This is the film which officially kick-started the Adam Sandler formula: a semi-likeable loser learns the error of his ways through a high-concept circumstance. Here, New York toll guy Sonny Kofax (Sandler), becomes the legal guardian of his friend’s child Julian. The reason that this is at number one is because this is probably the first film where he proves that he actually has acting chops - especially during the final reel where only the most cold hearted of individuals won’t get even slightly emotional.

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MUSIC

www.platform-online.net

FESTIVAL ROUNDUP / GIG PRICES DEBATE / DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL / DENIZEN RECORDS

Bestival

Reading and Leeds

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Bestival offers one of the most diverse line-ups of any UK festival. Set amongst the leafy glades of Robin Hill Country Park in the Isle of Wight the festival offers everything; from headliners Snoop Dogg and Elton John to the perennially wacky Flaming Lips and the ever popular Bastille or if fancy dress is your thing there are plenty of opportunities to show off some wacky outfits. Also, in a first for festivals, Bestival is offering a weekly payment plan for tickets which is sure to make this the biggest Bestival yet (full price is £189.95 for students).

Now somewhat of a veteran on the UK festival scene (it’s the longest running music festival in the world), Reading has been through many phases. From the Jazz music of the 60s, the prog, punk and metal of the ‘70s and ‘80s, to this year’s headliners (Green Day, Eminem and Biffy Clyro). It’s had its fair share of moments over the years, what with the Stone Roses disastrous final appearance in 1996 and Kurt Cobain’s wheelchair entrance in 1992. However, it does cost a hefty £210.50 for the weekend although individual days are available for between £90 and £97.

Latitude

T in the Park

One of the more family friendly festivals, Latitude encompasses music, theatre, art, literature, comedy, dance and poetry. It suits the cosy and charming seaside town of Southwold perfectly.

The music is arguably still the main event though. This year the headliners are indie darlings Bloc Party and Foals and electronic pioneers Kraftwerk- possibly the only band which performs in 3D. The only problem with this festival is that there is literally so much going on that it’ll be impossible to see everything you want to! Nevertheless, it’s probably one of the most relaxed UK festivals. Tickets are £190.50, but an instalment plan is available.

Now in its 20th year, T in the Park is now one of the biggest and liveliest festivals in the UK and easily the best in Scotland.

The headliners this year are Mumford and Sons, Rihanna and the Killers although there are a number of dedicated stages for dance, alternative and jazz. There’s also a fairground for those who need a bit of a thrill after sitting through the Script on the main stage. Tickets are fairly reasonable ranging between £184 and £194 for the weekend between £75 and £82.50 for day tickets. Not one for the families this, but for anyone wanting a good time it’s ideal.

Glastonbury This is the daddy of them all. Inspired by seeing Led Zeppelin at an open air festival in 1970, festival organiser Michael Eavis decided to host his own festival with the help of fourteen people investing everything they had to build the stage. This year is particularly special as Eavis, after many years of asking, has managed to secure the Rolling Stones to headline along with Arctic Monkeys and Mumford and Sons. Although what makes Glastonbury special isn’t the music, it marks the spiritual start of the summer (or perhaps just a muddy one).

Greg Mattock-Evans

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May 2013

for

MUSIC

I was amongst the thousands of broken-hearted fans left gutted when Beyonce’s tickets sold out. I am proud to stand tall and admit that I was willing to part with the excessive £85 that it cost to see Queen B do her thing, and I’m not ashamed.

adrenaline you get when the lights go out, and that’s before the show has even begun. Gigs which are slightly pricier tend to offer up a show unlike any other. With more lights, more dancers, more members of the band, more special effects... it’ll feel alive and you’ll more than likely be blown away by the amount of hard work that’s gone into making that concert different from the rest.

Whilst I am still a student, and will feel absolutely mugged when I have to pay more than £5 for anything, I would be happy to part with the cash for a show such as Beyonce or another worldwide artist. I feel that the price for a ticket, whilst agreeably excessive, is not just to sit there and mime along to the songs that you love...it’s for the sheer experience that you’ll get. The excited train journey to the venue, queuing up surrounded by fans, the

I get it, I really do. We’re students, we shouldn’t have to part with the little cash we have just to see an artist we love. But once you’ve left that gig, you’re sat with a ringing in your ears and a huge smile on your face. I doubt that you’d be left feeling so hard done by.

LOUISA DAVIES

I’m writing this from a very bitter disposition. I have not got Glastonbury tickets and after my favourite dinosaurs of rock n roll, The Rolling Stones were announced, I was devastated. However, things looked up when I found out that Jagger and Richards et al were to play at Hyde Park this June.

Artists that charge this much do not need the money. When was the last time Beyonce was papped buying some questionable Hamlet from Asda or Mick Jagger texting furiously on the tram in a bane attempt to avoid eye contact with the conductor? No, me neither.

Undoubtedly the live shows of The Stones or the main child of Destiny are incredible but their high pricing creates a hierarchy in their fan base.

My enthusiasm was short lived. The tickets STARTED at a whopping £85, and while you could argue that a band with back catalogue that spans an astounding 50 years can charge what they like, this is nothing short of extortion.

Artists need to remember that headlining venues like the 02 and Hyde Park should be a career highlight and they should reward all their fans for giving them the opportunity to do so.

From GQ readers to tram dodgers, we all deserve cheaper gig tickets. MARK LINSDELL

I shop in the reduced isle, I bunk the tram, and I always get a free cheeseburger with my student card at McDonalds. I cannot justify throwing away 21 guarantees of a free cheeseburger on any band.

AGAINST www.trentstudents.org

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DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL COMING TO NOTTINGHAM

MUSIC

BY Alex Copley One of the UK’s hottest and fastest rising festivals will be hitting Nottingham very, very soon.

Also appearing is sugar-sweet acoustic starlet, Lucy Rose.

The talented songwriter’s penchant for beautifully-crafted emotional songs has made her an NME and BBC 6 Music favourite.

Dot to Dot Festival, which has previously seen performances from the likes of Jake Bugg, Mumford and Sons and Florence and the Machine, will take place across Nottingham on May 26th after touring Manchester and Bristol.

Benjamin Francis Leftwich returns to the bill after wowing crowds with a spine-tingling performance in 2011.

Other exciting acts include the chocolate loving The 1975, Chapel Club, Beans On Toast, Swim Deep and Deep Valley.

The critically acclaimed multi-venue festival, now in its ninth year, continues to showcase the biggest talent around with 2013’s eclectic line-up.

Dot to Dot puts an emphasis on unearthing the best new talent on the planet – and this year is no exception.

Topping this year’s bill is Brit award winner Tom Odell and folkrock five piece Dry the River.

BBC Sound of 2013 nominees Little Green Cars will be the ones to watch and whether their frantic live shows live up to the hype.

Tom Odell will be showcasing tracks from his much anticipated debut album.

Dot to Dot Organiser Anton Lockwood said: “At Dot to Dot Festival we pride ourselves on bringing you the very best in emerging talent.

He received the Critics’ Choice award at this year’s Brits and is hotly tipped to go in the same direction as previous winners Adele and Emeli Sande.

“Stay tuned for many, many more exciting artists to be announced.”

Dry The River will be performing songs off their critically acclaimed debut album Shallow Bed.

Tickets are now on sale at £20.

Check http://www.dottodotfestival.co.uk/ for all the latest news and ticket info.

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May 2013

By Jonathan Day

‘weirds’ photo by Issac Eastgate

For an independent record label that was only founded in 2010, Denizen Recordings and the wide range of artists it supports have already seen an impressive amount of national exposure and success.

support slot at Rock City for Dog Is Dead. Each member of the three-piece are all in their final year at college, and have an impressive amount of festival appearances behind them despite only being together for two years, including Dot to Dot, Y-Not and Branch Out. The grunge-influenced group has also embarked on a mini-tour of the UK with fellow Denizen band, Kappa Gamma, as well as releasing a double A side single, Monarchy/Mudhole on limited edition 7” vinyl to positive acclaim.

The label came to fruition three years ago after Pete Fletcher, Head of Label, decided to join forces with Confetti, an institution based in Nottingham which offers courses at college and degree level in music, gaming and film, to further develop the musical talent in Nottingham.

Weirds are one of the newer bands to become a part of the Denizen label, but have hit the ground running straight away.

The four-piece has been described as “the key to new levels of liberation” by NME, and has seen their tune Crocodile played on television show, Soccer AM, which is officially released on 27 May 2013.

Last July, the label was selected as Huw Stephens’ ‘Label of Love’ on his BBC Radio One show, giving both the label and the artists on it a huge degree of exposure to a national audience.

“As well as the attention from BBC

Radio One on the label as a whole, several of Denizen’s artists themselves have been given coverage.

Denizen Recordings will be looking forward with keen interest to the Splendour music festival, taking place at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, on 20 July 2013. Kagoule and Injured Birds (another promising band on the label) have both secured slots at the summer music event.

“

MUSIC

denizen recordings

Kappa Gamma saw their track, Just Another make its way onto the BBC Radio One playlist at the end of 2012, as well as being played on a host of shows on the station, including and Jen Long and Ally McCrae’s Sunday programme and the famous BBC Introducing show, The Beat, where they have been described as “tight and alluring” and “as captivating to watch as to hear” by presenter Dean Jackson.

The five-piece were still at college when they got signed by Denizen Recordings, where Max (bass) and Juilan (guitar) of the band recorded a song for a project at Confetti, which impressed Pete Fletcher so much he decided to sign them up.

Kappa Gamma, who were once known as Cromwell Street, have supported the likes of Rolo Tomassi on a European Tour, and Nottingham’s Dog Is Dead at Rock City.

Another band on the label to have been given national recognition is Kagoule. Their track Made of Concrete has been played on both BBC Radio One and Xfm, as well as playing a

‘Kagoule’ photo by Issac Eastgate

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GAMING & TECHNOLOGY LUCASARTS AUTOPSY / MY GAMING ALTER EGO / INGRESS / VIDEO GAME REALISM

51

May 2013

GAMING Until recently I had never realised just how many gamers prefer to play as the hero who saves the day, even when a game gives you the opportunity to be as evil as you want and still achieve the same goal. I have to be the good guy every day, minus the saving the world part, so my gaming alter ego has always been the anti-hero.

had left me with no choice but to kill him. The Krogan were a war obsessed species and too much of a threat and I already secured their help in the war efforts, how hypocritical of a human, I know.

If all that still isn’t enough to convince you that playing as an evil protagonist is better, then you need to play Assassin’s Creed 3.

Not only is Haytham Kenway English and a colonial James Bond, but the player is never asked to do anything which seems out of character for an assassin. As it later turns out he is the Grand Master of the Templars and the less said about his eventual fate the better.

Before you read any further my paragon side would like to point out that this article is going to contain numerous spoilers.

Sure I’m still going to reach the ending the developers want me to reach, but I’m going to do it on my terms and I’m going to have some unforgettable experiences along the way. I can save the galaxy anytime, how many chances am I actually going to get to be a Sith Lord or punch an egotistical reporter in the face and get away with it.

I guess for most people when they are presented with a moral dilemma in a game the question will always be what would they do. Others just like to sit on the fence and pick the neutral option, neither is wrong but you could be having so much more fun being a jerk. I have to pretend I like people every day, there is no way I’m doing that while playing a game. Next time a game gives you the chance to be a badass, give it a shot.

Only 3.8 percent of Mass Effect 3 players were able to pull the trigger on Mordin, thanks guys like I wasn’t already feeling guilty enough about this one. He wanted to put right the mistakes he made and watching him crawl and die just before he could achieve it was heart wrenching. My Shepard had a war to win and losing the support of a single race was unfortunately not an option.

I had sacrificed or caused so many unnecessary deaths before this, yet ironically having to kill one of my own team mates was too much for me. It didn’t help that I had to shoot him with a pistol he gave me in the previous game. This is why I love the Mass Effect series and BioWare games in general though, I can make crazy and downright evil decisions, but in these games they actually have a significant impact on the narrative and final outcome. Combine that with their emotionally engaging characters and even my alter ego finds it hard to justify his renegade way of life.

That being said, I didn’t feel quite so guilty about betraying the Krogan and my squad mate Wrex in particular, when I was part of the 8 percent of people who sabotaged the Genophage cure.

Once again my actions of stabbing a friend in the back

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Believe it or not, Google’s latest augmented reality game is taking over the world. Literally.

GAMING

Ingress To perform any action in the game, one would require XM. (Think of it as the equivalent of mana.) This can only be acquired by walking around in real-life and gathering them. Furthermore, it is only possible to attack an enemy portal when you’re within a 35 metre radius of it. Because of this, many players have improved their fitness by walking all over town. Some have reported weight loss in stones!

Ingress is an augmented reality game, developed by Niantic Labs at Google and released exclusively on Android. (Sorry Apple fans!) Players across the world join either of two factions: The Enlightened or The Resistance. The two factions fight to gain as many Mind Units as possible all over the globe.

The players then work to collectively gain control of as many portals as possible, which are real-life landmarks. Examples include the Left Lion on the Old Market Square, as well as our beloved Boots Library in town. (Yes, some of us have been fighting over the library even as we pretend to work on our assignments.)

Currently, because the game is still in closed beta, the game can only be accessed with invites, which can be obtained from existing players, or through requests on www.ingress.com. There are less than 200 highly active players in the East Midlands.

However, the numbers are increasing as the days go by, and both factions are really active. Some of the higher level players collaborate and organise raids in other towns. For an example, a high-level group of Resistance players recently turned the whole of Sheffield blue.

Players can then level up the portals and link them to other portals to form fields and gain Mind Units. (The number of Mind Units within any given area reflect the population density of the area.) The stronger the portals, the further they can link. The weakest ones can just about link across our university campuses, while the strongest ones can link across countries.

According to one of the developers at Niantic Labs, Ingress will be the first game implemented on Google Glass, which is set for release by the end of this year. Players will be able to identify other players as they will flag up on the Google Glass, opening up the possibility of player interaction in real-life while on the go. Can this get any cooler? We’ll see later this year! In the meantime, go score yourself an invite and join the fray.

“According to one of the developers at Niantic Labs, Ingress will be the first game implemented on Google Glass”

by Sophia Ng

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May 2013

GAMING

Video game realism Video games really are a wonderful thing. Each and every one opens up a world of infinite possibilities where everything we’d only ever dreamed of in our wildest fantasies can come true. We can be great heroes, despicable villains and outstanding sportsman. We can meet characters which make us happy, sad or angry. Take part in epic quests, compete with sporting legends and achieve fame and fortune. Our imaginations are well and truly the limit… so with this in mind, why do we insist on bringing in the mundane norms of everyday life?

Sadly though as game developers work to fix these non-existent problems words like ‘realistic’ and ‘realism’ have become synonymous with ‘better’ and ‘intuitive’. Why? Reality can be a pretty damn boring place, a realm of endless problems like taxes, politics, pollution, terrorism and One Direction. Yet we accept these things going into our games.

That’s not to say that I don’t want my game to look nice, or that I don’t expect a challenge overcoming enemy AI’s or wish encounter characters whose range of facial expressions equals that of a soggy loaf of bread. If reality can help in these matters then I’m all for it but there is a line.

We have access to worlds of endless potential, yet game developers forever work on shackling them with the structures and rigors of reality, and what’s more they do so at our behest.

They strive to get AI that will act like a real person would, pour endlessly over ensuring that every fleck of paint on a car looks just right and that characters can express every single emotion under the sun thanks to having a face crammed full of a million, bagillion polygons.

Some people seem to understand this. The sadly deceased THQ gifted us one of the best game series to ever throw reality out of the window and plunge us headlong into a world of insane action, Saints Row. Zany, wild and completely out there, Saints Row and games like it give me hope that our virtual realities can hold onto their fun and wild sides.

It’s understandable for gamers to demand a lot of their games; they want the best of everything a virtual world can offer. It is nice when your landscapes look like a real place, and it’s great if you can drive a car that makes you feel as though you’re sat in the real thing, these are examples of realism bringing something to the game. Do you care that the car’s paint job doesn’t look 100% real? No, you’re having a good time and surely you’d rather have them put their time into making more chances to experience this thrill than fix a problem that isn’t there?

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Now I’m not encouraging game developers to hurl their sanity aside, just relax a little. If you do have to use reality, then use it to solve real, genuine problems. Otherwise just let your hair down and have fun.

By Tom Beresford 54

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May 2013

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SPORT PLAYING FOR PRIDE / RHIANNE HALPIN / MARTIN WEIGHTMAN / DOES SUSIE WOLFF DESERVE A CHANCE IN F1? / STAND UP IF YOU HATE THE SEATS / THE ASHES

Playing for pride!

By George Torr is eager as ever to get going in the 20/20 clash in June when the two sides meet at Clifton.

Ok let’s cut straight to the chase. Our hopes of winning the Varsity series have vanished until next year. Most will know but for those who don’t, the Gideon’s and Priscilla’s over at the University of Nottingham have taken an unassailable lead with an 8-2 score line. Victories in the Swimming, Lacrosse, Hockey and Netball have accumulated to such an advantage that they cannot be caught. Although Trent beat ‘Unay’ in a thrilling comeback at the Darts, this doesn’t count unfortunately …

“Here at NTU we don’t just lay down and die.”

Platform also gives reaction to the BBC documentary ‘Driven: The Fastest Woman in the World’ staring Susie Wolff as she bids to become the first women since 1976 to race in F1. Simon Paice and Matt Maddren give opposing views.

But here at NTU we don’t just lay down and die. There are still lots to play for with some more big Varsity matches coming up in this third and final term.

George Solomon reviews England’s chances in the up and coming Ashes series. The Barmy Army is set to flock on mass to Nottingham’s Trent Bridge on 10th July. I round off on my own piece as to why it’s time to re-introduce standing areas at football grounds.

It’s another packed edition for the sports section. Platform’s Robin Murray caught up with the NTU Men’s Football lads as they prepare to face Beeston at Notts County’s Meadow Lane on 9th May. The BUCS Trophy winners will be looking to build on their thrilling 3-1 extra time victory last time around.

Finally, I would like to thank Olly Dickenson for his hard work before he stood down as Sports Editor, I would like to also thank all the writers for all their efforts writing for the section this year.

I hope you enjoy the sports section and hope to see many of you at the last remaining Varsity fixtures cheering on the Trent Army.

Our man at the Ice Hockey, James Lewer, also took a trip to Clifton to see how NTU’s Women’s Rugby lot were preparing for their own Varsity clash against UoN at Meadow Lane. He talks intense training sessions and revenge after last year’s defeat.

And rounding off the Varsity preview coverage, Simon Murfitt talks to 2011 Varsity hero, Martin Weightman, who pretty much single handily secured the title for Trent in that year with his impressive ton. With it being rained off last year, Weightman

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Photo from Flickr user: I_Believe_

SPORT

Men’s football 1st team: season review

By Robin Murray They say football is a game of two halves, and for Nottingham Trent men’s football firsts, this proved to be the case for their whole season, as the boys experienced an extremely ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ campaign.

It’s not just this winning streak that was impressive, but it’s the manner in which the turnaround was completed that particularly stands out. The boys produced a string of emphatic victories, brushing aside the likes of Warwick and even Loughborough on their whistle-stop tour of league annihilation.

Things couldn’t have started any worse for the boys in pink, as they slumped to five consecutive defeats leaving them in a highly precarious position in the BUCS league and relegation looked well and truly on the cards.

Buoyed by their glistening league form, Trent took to the BUCS cup and looked in good shape to win the prestigious trophy.

This proved to be the case, as the lads ran away 4-1 winners in the final against high-flying Cambridge; a performance that encapsulated the incredible turnaround the boys managed to pull off.

“ It’s not just this winning streak that was impressive, but it’s the manner in which the turnaround was completed that particularly stands out. “

Captain Nick Elliot reflected on Trent’s season.

Needing to win their remaining five games to avoid the drop, the boys displayed grit, determination and a never-say-die attitude which led them to a remarkable five game winning streak – a complete juxtaposition of the torrid start they made to the season.

www.trentstudents.org

He said: “It’s been a really strange season. It’s extraordinary to think at the start of the season we looked like favourites to go down but we managed to finish third in the league and won the BUCS trophy. It’s a real testimony to all the hard work the boys have put in, they’ve been excellent.”

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- 2013 varsity preview -

SPORT

Rhianne Halpin interview - women’s rugby union Varsity 2013 might be over as a competition between Nottingham’s two universities, with UoN holding an unassailable 8-2 lead over Trent. However, the NTU Women’s Rugby team are ready for battle and still feel they have a cause worth fighting for.

James Lewer went down to the training ground at Clifton Campus to speak to Captain Rhianne Halpin ahead of the big Varsity showdown.

Do you want revenge for last year’s defeat?

Are you confident that you’ll receive plenty of support from Trent?

Absolutely, we can’t wait for Varsity, we’ve been training so hard, and we’ve building up to this throughout the year. In our last game of season we trounced the top of the league (University of Bedfordshire), we’ve moved on this year so much.

I think there will be, it seems to have picked up from when I was in first year, every year more people seem to come down to watch us. I think we’ve got our name out in the Uni more as well.

Have you been working on any specific training tactics building up to Varsity?

Are you looking forward to playing at Meadow Lane?

I think it’s going to be a really good experience, in front of a big crowd. It’ll be nice to play on a professional rugby pitch.

It’s been hard-core, we’ve been doing fun and fantastic hill sprints. We are doing it more intense, and more times a week.

We are feeling like more of a team. We’ve got a lot more training schedules this time, we’ve got 4 a week plus gym time as well.

So it’s picked up compared to last year.

How do you feel despite Varsity is over – something to play for?

Even if we don’t win Varsity, we can still go out and smash the opposing team.

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- 2013 varsity preview Martin Weightman interview - cricket

SPORT

The last stop on the varsity tour will be at NTU’s Clifton campus in June for the men’s cricket 20/20 showdown.

The hosts will be out for revenge for last year’s loss which saw Nottingham University claim a contentious victory in a rain-shortened match.

Platform’s Simon Murfitt caught up with former Nottinghamshire County cricketer and now Trent star all-rounder Martin Weightman to discuss the upcoming tie.

Would you make Trent favourites for this Varsity clash?

With the team we’ve got at the minute I reckon on paper we look slightly stronger. As we’re in the same league as Nottingham Uni we’ll get a good indication of what they’re like when we play them a few weeks before Varsity.

What are the strengths of the Trent team?

Our strength is definitely batting, we’ve got a lot of good players at the top of the order and if one of them goes well it could easily take the game away from Uni of quite quickly. That’s probably the advantage we’ve got that they haven’t – they may have one or two danger-men but all of our top six could get in and do well. If two or three of them come off we’ll be looking at a really good score.

Will the overall loss of the Varsity series affect the performance of the two teams?

Obviously it’s disappointing to have lost the series already but we’ll go about our business as usual. It’s still Trent versus Nottingham (Uni) at the end of the day. We’ve got that rivalry with them so won’t lower our standards just because we’ve lost and they shouldn’t get complacent just because they’ve won.

Will home advantage be important?

In this type of game it’s crucial because they won’t know how the pitch plays or what tactics to go with like whether to bat or bowl first. Hopefully we’ll get some good weather so a good crowd can come down as most exams will be finished. I expect a lot of banter to fly about, verging on abuse at times but it can really drive you on. I think every sportsman at this Uni loves playing Varsity because of the crowd. If the crowd are on your side it gives you a buzz that can really push your team forward.

How has the Trent team changed since last year’s encounter and who are the ones to watch?

We’ve got probably seven of the regulars from last year. We have a new wicket keeper in Bill Anderson who’s really good and Ewart Thompson has come in at the top of the order. He’s done a lot of work with Kent and will be a good addition to the side. We’ve lost some good players but we’ve gained six or seven that could all do a good job in the team.

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Does Susie Wolff deserve a chance in Formula 1?

Why she does...

Formula 1 has always seen to be a man’s sports, so whenever a woman attempts to break ranks, it is always surprising. Susie Wolff is different though. Put simply she is quick!

At her test with the Williams Team, she managed to surpass all expectation by posting a lap of 52 seconds on the shortened Silverstone circuit, no mean feat on a difficult track at the best of times.

She has proven this by racing competitively against the likes of Lewis Hamilton in her karting days. Then in DTM, a code renowned for containing ex-f1 drivers like David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher she has been able to race them and at times beat them.

Wolff is on a similar fitness regime to the men, which proved dividends at the test with her not having any major physical issues.

She deserves a place on the official F1 young drivers test later this year. There we will truly see whether she is worthy of a place in an F1 car ahead of other talented male drivers.

She has earned the opportunity. Matt Maddren

Yes she hasn’t scored points consistently but there are plenty of Formula One Drivers from over the years that have not been successful in their previous championships and still got a race seat ( remember Yuji Ide anyone?)

Why she doesn’t...

Susie Wolff does not deserve a chance to race in Formula 1 at the moment.

We’ve seen in recent years with the likes of Susie, Alice Powell and Danica Patrick that women can compete competitively in motorsport, that shouldn’t be questioned.

Wolff has spent her last seven seasons in DTM, Europe’s premier touring car championship, producing an array of underwhelming results to make many question her true potential.

But if Susie Wolff is to be treated like any other racing driver, gender aside, then she simply has not shown the talent required to make Formula 1 yet. She hasn’t shown the improvement, or picked up the front-running results, to prove she deserves a chance.

The easiest comparison to make for her is to current Force India F1 driver Paul Di Resta, who competed in DTM from 2007 to 2010, winning the title in his final season.

There’s no doubt Susie is a quick driver and she will make a career in the sport, but there is a large number of drivers, including a host of single-seater champions, who deserve to be way ahead of Susie in the queue for Formula 1. Simon Paice

In 71 DTM races, Susie picked up 2 points-scoring top-ten finishes, for a grand total of 4 points.

In 42 DTM races, Paul picked up 37 points-scoring top-ten finishes, including six wins, for a grand total of 219 points.

These statistics prove why Paul Di Resta is in Formula 1 and Susie Wolff isn’t … Paul deserves to be.

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Platform’s Sports Editor, George Torr gives his reasons on why standing areas at football grounds should come back.

“I’m not telling you again lads, sit down or you’re going out” barked the snarly Scunthorpe United steward drenched in his oversized luminous yellow jacket. Before I could even take breath to reply, one man shouted back four rows behind me, “You’ll have a job to make us all sit down mate!” He was right.

Making the rest of the 2,500 plus travelling horde of Sheffield Wednesday supporters sit down for the duration of the 90 minutes would be a near impossible task.

Prices for these areas of the ground are cheaper. With the ever rising ticket prices at Premier League and Football League clubs, this would be a welcome addition to football. In Germany, attendances have increased at the installation of Safe Standing areas.

I’ve found standing at matches better all round. The atmosphere increases, the game seems less relaxed and you’re on edge.

Atmospheres at new all seater stadiums are dull and artificial.

The unoriginal ‘bowl’ design is often criticised by many fans.

Safe standing terracing should be brought back to boost numbers and atmospheres. You only have to watch any Borussia Dortmund home game to see what effect it has on the atmosphere.

It got me thinking even back then in 2009. I have stood up at every away game I’ve been to watch my side play. Why not bring back standing areas at football grounds?

Often, I’ve come home from away games to bruised shins from bouncing off the back end of seats through standing. This happened recently to me again when Chris Maguire scored a stoppage time winner against Millwall down in South East London.

However, the counter argument for this is as strong. Ask anyone affected by the Hillsborough disaster regarding a return to standing areas at football grounds and the reply will be a stern ‘No’.

The ‘rail seat’ currently being used in Germany, incorporates a safety barrier and a flip-down seat on every other row. This means that two people per row can stand dramatically reducing the risk of a crush.

“There are 96 reasons why it should not be allowed,” said Margaret Aspinall speaking to the BBC, whose son died at Hillsborough.

However the new system is a much safer way. The anti-crush barrier between each row ensures this. When the Taylor report was published in 1990, it said that all stadiums should be all seater, abolishing terraces all together. Technology and the know-how for football stadium safety has moved on massively from 1989.

13 clubs are in favour of a ‘trial-run’. Aston Villa, Brentford, Bristol City, Burnley, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle, Watford and AFC Wimbledon have all throw support behind the scheme. Many clubs, fans and MP’s have thrown support behind it. Maybe it’s time to introduce it.

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George Solomon on: The Ashes Series It was 2am on a dark, dank, and desolate night at the start of January two years ago. My Dad was asleep on the sofa next to me, his tiredness betraying his promise that he would stay up until the historic end - but I was wide awake, enlivened and inspired by what I was seeing on the TV.

Furthermore, although England have toiled a little fruitlessly at times, Australia have been banging their heads against a rather solid brick wall. There have been some highlights, a 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka the stand out, but whereas England go into the summer on the back of a spiriting win over India, Australia go in having been crushed 4-0 by them.

Beamed all the way from Sydney, it was the clearest and most beautiful looking summer day England could have asked for as they utterly demolished Australia on the last day of the 66th Ashes to seal the series 3-1 and crown arguably the finest English cricketing achievement ever.

And where England come into the series with a tranquil team, Australia’s is aggravated and full of angst – vice-captain Shane Watson recently stepped down, four players were dropped on the Indian tour for ‘breaches of conduct’ and it’s generally a young, inexperienced side lacking the usual Aussie ability, vim, and vigour.

The Barmy Army were in top gear and on top form, singing their hearts out for the eleven men stood on the perfect green outfield in front of them; it’s a sporting memory that will remain with me forever and made me vow to one day go and watch an Ashes series in Australia.

But the beauty of an Ashes series is that it transcends all the cricketing norms. Form is casually tossed out of the window, closely followed by the reserved and hushed atmosphere of a cricketing crowd.

But the iconic little urn is up for grabs again this summer, this time on home turf, and England are clear favourites to make it three series wins in a row, despite failing to maintain the lofty heights they reached during that incredible winter down under.

A devastating whitewash defeat against Pakistan in Dubai and a humbling 2-1 loss to South Africa in England have been the real low points, but recently a morale boosting series win in India has turned the tide slightly and after some selection quandaries for a while, coach Andy Flower now has a consistent and settled side, led by the quite immaculate Alastair Cook.

Nottingham’s very own Trent Bridge is host to the fourth test this time around - although sadly for us students the majority of us will be back at home rather than in Notts to witness the frenzy that will envelope the city.

We can however all watch yet more cricketing history unfold on the TV - and thankfully we won’t have to wait up till 2am to see it.

Photo from Flickr user: duncanh1

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