Pluto Issue 250 by SU Media

250th Issue

PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue -PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

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The verdict on Bieber’s visit to the Anne Frank museum Page 16

Issue 250

The ultimate guide to this years music festivals - from Leeds to Latitude

Pages 8 & 13

UCLan students left stranded UCLan students claim they were mislead by Preston Student Homes Preston Student Homes previously missused UCLan logo on website The company deny all the students’ allegations

Matthew Murphy News Editor

Students who claim they were “ripped off ” by a Prestonbased housing company have come forward to warn fellow pupils of the possible threat. Preston Student Homes, run by Michael Gibbons, allegedly allowed their prospective clients to sign contracts and pay deposits on a house that the company didn’t even own at the time. UCLan students Claire Wilkinson and Keara Lynch spoke of their

ordeal, exclaiming distress of the situation they were placed in. “The seven of us were asked to pay a £99 deposit. But then we found that it was just a so-called ‘booking fee’ on the contract, and that he needed another £149. And then he was asking for next year’s rent in advance!” said Keara. The group were allegedly told when they put forward their deposit that the house would be refurbished in the next month, but five months on from this the house was still not ready. More worryingly, the group discovered through enquiries that the landlord didn’t even own the house to begin with, as they found it for sale online.

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

News

UCLan’s Golden Roses are honoured Tom Greggan Deputy News Editor The School of Education and Social Sciences has been voted The School of the Year in the fourth annual Golden Roses awards. The Golden Roses are run by the Students’ Union and students were asked to nominate their lecturers, tutors and schools in eight different categories. The awards evening was hosted by SU President Ed Graham-Hyde and held in the Atrium. Speaking about the awards, Ed said: “The event is important because it promotes a model of best practice amongst uni staff but equally solidifies the partnership approach that UCLan SU wants to take forward with UCLan making the academic experience more vast, challenging

and enjoyable for the student community.” The Lecturer of the Year Award went to Peter Cross from the School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences while the School of Health’s Robin Bailey won Personal Tutor of the Year. Dr. Carolyn King from the School of Education and Social Sciences was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement for Services to Students Award. Amanda Taylor, a senior lecturer also from the School of Social Sciences won the Most Innovative Teaching of the Year award and she told us how she felt when her name was called out, saying: “The initial feeling was just shock and the second feeling was that it was really humbling and I think the third thing was, ‘Oh my goodness, I haven’t prepared any kind of speech’ because I wasn’t expecting it.”

Amanda also said she was humbled that her students had nominated her. “When you think that you’re doing your job every day, to be nominated by students is quite phenomenal actually.” Speaking about her work throughout the year, Amanda said: “The innovations around some of the things I’ve been involved in this year have got national recognition and now I just look at different ways of working with students that offers them flexibility so at the same time gives them some sense of re-assurance.” Other winners included the HE Centre Café at Myerscough College which won University Service of the Year, the BA Business Foundation Course who won the Best Course Team of the Year and finally, Robert Frost from Burnley Library won the Professional Services of the Year award.

Inside this issue News Record Store Day hits Preston Luke Beardsworth, page 4

Features Spotted in your hometown Adam Legg, page 14

Comment Noel Gallagher doesn’t need the X-Factor Richard Moore, page 16

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Sport 2013 Matthew Hesketh Award Tom Bell-Green, page

Editorial Editor-in-Chief Sophie Bennett sumedia@uclan.ac.uk 01772 894883 Deputy Editor Luke Beardsworth News Editors Matthew Murphy Anastasia Bates Tom Greggan Features Editors Adam Legg Michelle Hennessy Comment Editors Megan Lincoln Charlotte Alty

Sports Editors Joe Angove Ste Thomas

Address Pluto, UCLan Students’ Union, Fylde Road, Preston, PR1 2TQ

@plutonews

@pluto_sport Printed by: Iliffe Print, Cambridge. www.iliffeprint.co.uk/iliffeprint Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the Students’ Union (SU) and the SU excludes responsibility for the opinions expressed in articles authored by students. Whilst PLUTO has used reasonable endeavours to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date at the time of issue, it does not warrant that it is accurate or complete and reserves the right to make corrections in future issues. © 2012 All content is the copyright of SU UCLAN unless otherwise stated.

PLUTO | FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013

UCLan shelves plans to become private company Jasleen Kaur Reporter The decision to transform UCLan into a “company limited by guarantee” (CLG) has been shelved for the foreseeable future. UCLan caused uproar in November of last year (2012) when it announced plans to become a private company. The decision to dissolve the university’s ‘higher education corporation’ was met with a strongly opposing reaction from both staff and the student union; one of the greatest concerns was that UCLan would become a “for – profit enterprise selling off university assets”. This week, vice chancellor Malcolm McVicar announced: “While we are confident that the move would be positive for the university as an organisation, allowing us to be suitably agile to make the most of our international ambitions, we still have some concerns around the impact on staff terms and conditions,

Private: The row over privatisation has been controversial including pensions”. He went on to hint at the possibility of privatisation in the future,

stating that CLG status is still a “preferred option” but will only go ahead if it is “the right choice for all parties

and does not result in any increased costs to the university. The news will come as a blow to other universities established post 1992; UCLan was set to become a trailblazer for other universities wanting to become private companies. Some of the benefits arising from privatisation are that the university would be open to commercial investment – allowing it to “raise equity investment from third parties”. UCU (University and College Union) regional officer Martyn Moss said: “We are pleased the university has recognised the problems of becoming a company” He went on to say how it was a relief that the university “recognised the concerns the unions raised about how such a move would impact on staff ”. Moss said he realises the move may have been prompted by the “new higher education landscape” and that UCLan is not the only institution considering the status change.

Illicit tobacco could be more dangerous than illegal drugs Anastasia Bates Deputy News Editor Chemistry students want to study where illicit tobacco is sourced from, after studying samples in Preston. A bid of £200,000 will be made to continue the studies, after cadmium, a metal used in paint, was discovered to be ten times the amount found in a legitimate sample. Cadmium is said to cause damage to kidneys, cancer and symptoms such as chills, known as ‘the cadmium blues’. A brand named Jin Ling was sold to an undercover reporter from the Lancashire Evening Post, and contained a substance that causes chemical burns. Other products were tested, with damages including those linked to infertility, leukaemia and cancer. The report said: “Although the sale

of illicit tobacco may not, in the public’s view, be as big an issue as drug laundering and people trafficking, the sale of illicit and counterfeit to-

bacco can be more dangerous than the two put together”. Dr Matt Baker led the study of the students. He said: “We hope to

be able to look at the geographical source of these samples. “Hopefully it will assist the police and Trading Standards.”

Seized illicit tobacco: It could be more hazardous to your health than drugs

News

Wuchie line up out soon New boutique festival Wuchiefest will be announcing its line-up very soon. The festival, which will take place in Aspull near Wigan, was announced recently. It has begun to tease music fans with photos of the different stages, such as Antics stage which is named after the music night at The Mad Ferret. Gareth Butterworth, PressOfficer of Wuchiefest, said: “We’ve been hard at work for a while now so I’m just itching for everyone to see it.” The festival has been generating the interest of artists in the local area since it was announced. The festival’s Facebook page recently announced that there would be an application process for those interested. Tickets, which will be limited, are expected to sell for between £25 and £45. The event is co-organised by The Ark Preston, an online music coverage provider based in Preston whose contributors are mainly UCLan students.

An apology to Dewi Powell Media Officer and Editor-InChief Sophie Bennett would like to retrract comments made regarding Dewi Powell in Issue 249 of Pluto. The comment piece, entitled “How I Lost Faith in Journalists”, outlined several inaccuracies that had been printed about either Miss Bennett herself or the Students’ Union in general. Dewi Powell was included in this piece but Miss Bennett would like to make it clear that Mr Powell did not write anything incorrect about her in his piece for the Huffington Post. Sophie Bennett, and Pluto as a whole, regret any comments made towards Dewi Powell and apologise for any inconviencnce that the siutation has caused.

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

News

Students get a piece of Record Store Day action Luke Beardsworth Deputy Editor UCLan students got a taste of Record Store Day action as the annual event hit Preston. Hundreds of vinyl lovers queued up outside Action Records in the early hours of Saturday morning to get their hands on the releases limited to the day. Record Store Day was created in 2007 as a way to celebrate both independent music stores and the art of music in general. This year’s day saw releases from The White Stripes, The Black Keys, The Gaslight Anthem and Biffy Clyro. Ida Muhonen, second year Media student, said of the day: “I think RSD is important because it supports the independent, local music stores. For me RSD represents kind of the 80s heyday when independent record shops flourished. It’s like getting a glimpse what it used to be like when

a record shop was a living room for everybody. “Anybody who knows even a bit about music industry knows that record shops are dying and RSD is like a survival kit to them.” This year’s event had Jack White as its ambassador. Jack White is the former frontman of The White Stripes and is now the owner of Third Man Records. Rob Watson, second year Journalism student and a Frequency Host, said: “People have stopped buying records really and now look what has happened at HMV? They’ll be fine but they’re building a model around t-shirts instead of records. Record Store Day provides a real boost to the little stores so it’s really important”. Record Store Day has been hailed by many as one of the key factors behind the resurgence in the vinyl format. Sales are up 78% on previous years in 2013 so far, and

while Independent Record Stores only accounted for 3% of all album sales in in 2012, they contributed to

38% of all vinyl sales. The sales of vinyl records are expected to increase into the future.

Action Records: Preston’s own indie record store

New NUS President is elected without degree Jess Millington Reporter The new president of the National Union of Students was elected last week, becoming the first leader of the NUS without a degree. Toni Pearce, 23, from Camborne, was voted NUS President at the elections in Sheffield and will take over from Liam Burns this summer. She will represent more than nine million students in her new role with previous experience as the president of the Student’s Union at Cornwall College. Miss Pearce said: “I’m really proud to have been given the opportunity to build the student movement around a vision of public education and to be leading NUS as we build towards the next general election.” On becoming only the second

NUS President to have studied at college rather than University, Miss Pearce says she will put Further Education back on the agenda: “Higher Education and Further Education students face many of the same problems – from student finance to the lack of affordable accommodation, we should tackle these together.” Winning 58% of the valid votes cast, her priorities for her presidency will include linking college and university students’ unions together to fight for local wins in the upcoming general election, to campaign for a single central admissions system for all colleges and universities, and to increase efforts to organise and support students to run and win campaigns in their local areas. Miss Pearce said her college was incredible in letting her start the course again after she became ill and failed her exams. She said: “If I hadn’t had the op-

Toni Pearce: New NUS President portunity [to start again], I wouldn’t be here today. I’d probably still be working as a waitress and that’s not where I wanted to be. “Between now and 2015 we need to hold a full and frank debate about what education means to society and to properly articulate the public value

of education in communities up and down the country.” Miss Pearce added that she is worried that people in a similar situation will not find it as easy to continue their studies, due to restrictions put in place for resits, proposed by the education secretary, Michael Gove.

SU staff members trek for Oxfam The next Students’ Union President Ben Latham will be part of a team of 12 people doing a 100km walk known as TrailTrekker. The event, taking place on June 1, aims to raise £4200 for Oxfam in the gruelling event. Twelve volunteers will be split into teams of four. The event will also include future Media Officer Michael Bailey as well as various staff members from Source and 53 Degrees such as Bar and Catering Operations Manager Jon Russ. Oxfam is a charity that works to overcome poverty and suffering. Around 300 teams take on the challenge each year.

Northern Lights Footage Captured While Preston’s winter may have seemed like it would never end, eight UCLan students faced much harsher conditions in a remote adventure to the Arctic Circle. This once in a lifetime research opportunity allowed the students the chance to capture footage and photos of The Aurora Borealis, or more commonly known as The Northern Lights, as part of a long term academic project. The logistics were provided by Off The Map Travels, a company that specialises in adventure travelling with a twist, while the overall project has been supported by UCLan Publishing, UCLan’s very own in house, not-for-profit publishers. Manager of UCLan Publishing and Course Leader of MA Publishing, Debbie Williams, said: “The students on this project have been absolutely brilliant and worked so hard.” The explorers themselves, whose academic disciplines range from photography to astrophysics, had been involved in the planning of the trip that took over a year to organise.

PLUTO | FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013

Students let down by housing company Continued from front page After several attempts of trying to retrieve their money the two students are still in dispute with the housing company. “We were shocked when we saw on a website that the house was for sale. We thought it was his,” Claire proclaimed. “So we called up the estate agent and they said he [Mark Gibbons] had viewed the house but never bought it. And when we tried to talk to him again he cut all contact with us.” Preston Student Homes have also been found misusing the UCLan logo on their website, although they aren’t registered with the university. UCLan confirmed this as the third time they’ve found the company abusing their trademark in the last four years, and will legal action should this happen again. “Preston Student Homes has not been approved to use the UCLan logo. Doing so misrepresents the company as an authorised provider

of student accommodation. Said Joel Arber, UCLan’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “This is something we take very seriously given the importance of our brand and reputation. We will be monitoring the situation closely and will seek to pursue the matter through the University’s legal team should they flagrantly resume their unauthorised use of our logo.” When Preston Student Homes created a Facebook page in February, Keara Lynch attempted to voice her opinion, but was blocked from the page, which has now been deleted. “They set new standards by ripping off innocent students with their fake contracts for houses they do not own.” She said. “At first we were just trying to get our money back from them. Now we’re spreading the word to stop other people from having to face something like this again.” Two other students, currently in the same situation as Keara and Claire were last year, said they were asked for “needless” deposits

that they were “unsure about”. “We didn’t know whether to trust him after we heard what had happened to them [Keara and Claire].” Said one of them. According to both sets of students the company requested deposits from each that amount up to £450, including an alleged £200 ‘summer retainer’ and £149 ‘key retainer’. “We understand he might not have the money to do up the property, but now we don’t know if we’re willing to take the risk. What if it gets to June or July and they still haven’t done anything? It’s worrying to think we might not have a house to come back to in September.” Pluto contacted Preston Student homes, and they have replied denying these allegations.

Anastasia Bates Deputy News Editor

Winner: Fanshawe beat 36 participants from eight universities part of what I do and this win looks great on my CV, which is essential as I graduate in July.” Richard Bailey, Editor of BehindThe-Spin said: “For most of the 20 weeks, the same two students com-

peted for the top place. But in the final few weeks before Easter several new names emerged. One of these, Daniel Fanshawe, went on to win the ranking.” A senior lecturer in the subject at

Ann Widdecoming Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe will visit UCLan in the summer for a charity book signing. Organised by the independent book-retailer SilverDell, the exShadow Health Secretary will be signing copies of her autobiography ‘Simply Ann’ and giving a talk in Greenbank Lecture Theatre before a Q&A session. Proceeds from the event will go to the Harris Bursary Fund. She will talk about her political career that stretched 20 years, her work on television documentaries and her infamous time on Strictly Come Dancing. The event will take place on Tuesday July 16 and tickets cost £20, which also includes a personalised hardback copy of her book. Refreshments and free parking will be available on site. For tickets, call SilverDell on 01772683444.

Behind the Spin fans of Fanshawe A Public Relations student at UCLan has won a national talent competition for their PR skills in social media. Daniel Fanshawe won the 20 week long ‘Behind-The-Spin’ #SocialStudent competition which saw 36 people compete by the final stage, from eight institutions. The participants were ranked based on Klout and PeerIndex scores, companies which measure the benchmark of social media influence. The competition gages how social media can influence and engage employers as it’s use becomes increasingly more common. Daniel said: “I’m still really surprised and over joyed to have won the competition. Social media is a big

News

UCLan said: “At UCLan we actively encourage students to take a strong interest in social media and participate in conversations and have seen alumni gain jobs and work placements as a result.”

UCLan students get high for charity Students from UCLan have climbed to the top of Ben Nevis to raise money for charity. The students, from the Fire and Leadership course reached the 4409 foot high summit using 13.5 meter ladders, raising £1500 for the National Fire Fighters Charity, a charity which funds re-habilitation treatments for fire fighters who have been injured on duty. The students climbed Ben Nevis after taking part in a three week operational fire fighting course at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Training Centre. Ben Nevis is the tallest peak in the British Isles, located in the Grampian mountain range in the Scottish Highlands.

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

News

Tanked up student apologises for fire hoax Luke Beardsworth Deputy Editor A UCLan student has apologised to the emergency services for setting off a fire alarm in his halls while drunk. Around 300 students were evacuated in the early hours at Leighton Halls while the fire crew established that there was no fire in the building. Lancashire police arranged for the student to meet Lancashire Fire and Rescue officers so he could apologise for his prank. He was also fined £80 for knowingly raising a false alarm. PC Lynne Wilson said: “This type of action can help offenders to understand the consequences of their actions and encourage them to make amends. It can be a very powerful tool in reducing re-offending. “The man was very remorseful

of his actions and was keen to apologise”. Ian MacDonald, a Lancashire Fire and Rescue watch manager, said: “Setting off the fire alarm when there’s no fire takes fire fighters away from real emergencies or fire prevention duties and increases public complacency when reacting to fire alarms. “On this occasion, it also disrupted the work of the university students and staff and imposed costs on the university and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. “In this instance, we’re satisfied that the culprit has seen the error of his ways, will not be re-offending and a prosecution was unnecessary”. UCLan has a history of false fire call outs, however a UCLan spokesperson noted: “In the whole of 2012, there were only six of these call-outs to UCLan which is a sharp reduction on previous years”.

Former UCLan student Jonathan Duncan has been involved in a legitimate fire incident, he said: “People should probably be more careful when they’re drunk in

general, but particularly if the word fire is involved. “It only takes a moment of stupidity for a fire to start and then you’re in no state to act sensibly”.

Apology accepted: UCLan student only fined £80

MCYC event opens doors for students Journalism students were treated to a day of networking, thanks to UCLan’s alumni and industry professionals. The ‘My Career: Your Career’ event held in the Media Factory on Tuesday saw guest speakers from around the world, with Skype links with alumni in New York and Cyprus. Guests included Tessa Chapman, chief correspondent from Channel 5 News, Richard Frediani, editor for the ITV 6:30 News and Neil Dunwoodie who is Executive Producer at Sky News. It celebrated 50 years of teaching journalism at UCLan and students had the chance to get career advice and pitch ideas to respected members of the industry. Charlie Craven and Matt Cox claimed placements at Sky News as a result of pitching with Faye Grima winning a placement at BBC North West Tonight.

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PLUTO | FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013

UCLan student tastes olympic fever Tom Greggan Deputy News Editor A publishing student from UCLan has edited a book about the 2012 London Olympics. Lorna Hargreaves, 24, was commissioned by officials from the Oceanic National Olympics Committee (ONOC) to edit the book which contains the experiences of athletes from 15 countries in Oceania at last year’s Olympic Games. The athletes trained in the North West in the build-up to the Games. The book is called Oceania: An Odyssey to the Olympic Games and all the athletes who contributed for the book had to overcome socioeconomic barriers to make it to London. Their stories were written by journalists from the charity The Reporters’ Academy who have bases

in Manchester and Melbourne and work with under privileged youth. Lorna will now travel to Fiji next month for the ONOC General Meeting where the book will be officially launched. There, she will personally present members of the committee with the book, which took less than two months to complete. Lorna described the athletes’ stories at ‘unique’ and ‘inspiring’. She said: “I’m really proud of the final result. “I’m nervous but really excited about presenting it to them. “I’m nervous but really excited about presenting it to them. It’s taken a lot of work to weave the stories together in a narrative that captures the Olympic experiences of athletes who had to go the extra mile to make it; they came from islands that have limited facilities and suffer from a lack of funding.” Debbie Williams, Head of UCLan Publishing was full of praise for

Lorna. She said: “Taking on such a complex and high-profile book was a challenge but Lorna is a great student

and rose to the challenge. UCLan Publishing is proud to be involved with this wonderful project.”

Lorna Hargreaves: Pictured with the book

LGBT Chair plans event against hate crime Michelle Hennessy Deputy Features Editor UCLan liberation reps have announced a three day event to raise awareness and help stop hate crime. The events, taking place between April 29 and May 1 in the Atrium, will cover all aspects of hate crime, including speeches, exhibitions, workshops and self – defence classes. ‘Campus Invasion!’ on April 29 will see external organisations involved in the project, as well as liberation groups, together to go out on campus and speak about hate crime. The ‘Hate Crime Workshop’, at 7.30pm on April 30, will include presentations, speeches and pub quizzes to inform students on the issues of hate crime, with the following day being aimed at free classes including personal safety with the union’s karate society at 6:30.

UCLan SU Council Open Place/ Vice-Chair and LGBT Society Chair, Alex Re, said: “The idea is to not only address what hate crime is; but what students can and should be doing about them, whilst alerting them to what support exists on their door step.” Liberation reps have long been trying to end hate crime after surveys and interviews around campus showed that current students wanted things to change. After putting a motion through council, UCLan now offers a 24 hour emailing service and sign posting, as well as campaigning for a more visible reporting service and negotiations are being put forward to turn downstairs areas in the library into ‘safe spaces’. Local businesses are also being approached, persuading them to become ‘safe spaces’ by displaying the logo in windows and agreeing to look out for any victims of hate crime that walk in.

Several large chains have already taken on the scheme, with REACT (an advocacy for young people with disabilities) requesting use of the logo to create ‘safe spaces’ during the day time. The student LGBT society has become heavily involved in the project

and has assisted contacting organisations to gain resources. Lancashire Constabulary Diversity Unit, Racial Equality Council, Tell Mama Faith Matters, Men Against Violence and REACT are now working with the scheme to help promote awareness and end hate crime.

Alex Re: Wants you to know how to stop hate crime

News

UCLan fashion students on display at Debenhams UCLan students have been given the opportunity to put their twist on Debenhams summer range. The first year Fashion and Brand Management students unveiled their creations at a free fashion show in the Debenhams store in Preston. The students collaborated with the world famous store to create day wear, night wear, lingerie and swim wear based on this summer’s latest trends; floral, 60s and riveria. Fashion and Brand Management Course Leader Louise Smith said of the event: “This has been an amazing opportunity for our students to work with one of the best-known and most respected stores on the High Street and once again our undergraduates put on an amazing show for the public.” And Debenhams Restaurant Manager Julie Briody was also full of praise. She said: “This is the second time we have hosted the UCLan student fashion show in what is a truly unique event. “Last year the students put on a show rivaling anything a professional agency could manage and they certainly delivered more of the same this time.”

Charity Curry Night Students of UCLan have helped organise a charity curry night to raise money for underprivileged children in Pakistan. EastZEast teamed up with The Abaseen Foundation to help raise over £500 for nutritional and educational schemes. The students have worked with the projects since September 2012, and the ‘Have You Seen Abaseen?’ campaign will continue running through the Spring of this year. Dr Elizabeth Westaway, from The Abaseen Foundation, said: “Six pounds allows Abaseen to provide vital nutritional supplements such as daily milk and fruit for a child for a week.”

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

Features

Your guide to big festivals With summer fast approaching, it’s that time of year again to dig out the wellies and dry hair shampoo. Deputy Features Editor, Michelle Hennessy, gives you all you need to know about the bigger festivals of 2013...

Similarly to Reading/Leeds fest, V splits its bill between Chelmsford and Staffordshire. Whilst predominantly a rock festival, much like every major festival, it has expanded to cover a much larger range of genres with N.E.R.D, Dido and Mel C (unfortunately) all having played there. Prices: £185.50 + Booking Fee/Dates: 17-18 August Headliners: Beyoncé and Kings of Leon. Ones to watch: Kendrick Lamar, Maverick Sabre and Of Monsters and Men. What we think: Whilst still not having announced as many acts as the rest of the festivals, their line-up seems promising though slightly predictable. Chances are you

won’t find a new favourite band here as most are already fairly integrated in the music industry, on the flip-side, you’re guaranteed to see some of the biggest acts worldwide.

PHOTO: Jonathan_Fenton

Bestival

Bestival, also located in the Isle of Wight, is often known for its fancy dress ethos. By 2010 it set the Guinness World Record for most people in fancy dress at one event, when 55,000 people all dressed up. Known for its organic and innovative feel, the festival has covered all things weird and wonderful, including an inflatable church that you can marry in. Price: £180 + Booking Fee /Dates: 5-8 September Headliners: Elton John and his band, Snoop Dogg. Ones to watch: Angel Haze, James Blake and Mikill Pane. What we think: Whilst perhaps not attracting the biggest names in the industry, this is a festival that you go to for the event more than the music. Its big reputation is warranted

for its big personality and if crazy and alternative is your scene, you can’t go wrong.

PHOTO: rebeccapoolton

Download

After Reading/Leeds fest drifted away from rock music, Download became one of the few ‘bigger’ festivals to stick to its roots in terms of genre and still attracts an all-rock line-up. Not for the faint-hearted (I’d predict fairly unrecognisable toilet cubicles by the end of its three days) Download can promise an almost exclusive rock weekend. Price: £195 + Booking Fee /Dates: 14-16 June Headliners: Slipknot, Iron Maiden and Rammstein. Ones to watch: Gogol Bordello, The Hives and Queens of the Stone Age. What we think: If you’re into massive on-stage dildos that spray foam over its audience then this is for you. Need I say more?

PHOTO: chris_ford_uk

Splitting their often first-class acts between Reading and Leeds, the festival originated as the one-stop destination for progressive rock, blues and heavy metal fans. Now, with its dance stage attracting the likes of Katy B, Modestep and Clement Marfo & The Frontline, the festival has expanded to ensure a line-up for everyone. Price: £202.50 + Booking Fee/Dates: 23-35 August. Headliners: EMINEM, Biffy Clyro and Green Day. Ones to watch: DEVLIN, Disclosure, Major Lazer and The 1975. What we think: On a personal note, Eminem and Devlin together at one festival brings to life dreams of them writing lyrics on a tour bus together, whilst sharing a few pints (in ‘the dream’ Eminem isn’t sober – obviously). On a more sane level, the festival carries on going from strength to strength, each year outshining the last.

Isle of Wight

Having won ‘Best Major Festival’ and attracting major acts like the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, this festival has grown year on year after it was revived in 2002. Whilst initially a smaller event, 1971 saw unexpectedly high attendance levels that led to Parliament passing the ‘Isle of Wight Act’ that prevents more than 5,000 people on the island without a licence: Musical and political. Price: £185 + Booking Fee /Dates: 13-16 June. Headliners: The Stone Roses, Bon Jovi and Killers. Ones to watch: Palma Violets, Bastille, Kodaline and Devlin. What we think: A strong line-up, but this festival boasts much more than just that. Its quirky features set it apart from most others in its field, including the ‘Intoxicated Tea Rooms’ with cocktails served in vintage crockery with retro music.

PHOTO: Hot Rod Thunder

PHOTO: Bethan

V Festival

Reading & Leeds

T in the Park

By far one of the better things to come out of Scotland, T in the Park’s three day festival has become widely popular over the years since it started out in 1993. Like many other festivals, it shares its line-up with Oxegen in Ireland and has covered most genres with appearences from the likes of Blur to Kylie Minogue to Rage Against the Machine. Price: £194 + Booking Fee / Dates: 12-14 July. Headliners: Mumford & Sons, Rihanna and the Killers. Ones to watch: Daughter, Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, the Creator. What we think: Whilst their line-ups in recent years have been going slowly downhill, their bookings of X-Factor favourites, Little Mix and James Arthur have really turned that around. Sarcasm aside, the line-up does have some good points, with members of Odd Future making an appearance with other promising acts in tow.

PHOTO: StephenMcleod

PHOTO: MojoBaron

Set in Somerset, Glastonbury festival started up the day after Jimi Hendrix died and cost only £1. Glastonbury-goers can now expect to pay over £200 for a ticket and it has since transformed into one of the biggest festivals in the UK. Price: £205 + Booking Fee/Dates: 26-30 June. Headliners: Arctic Monkeys, Rolling Stones & Mumford & Sons Ones to watch: Laura Mvula, Tame Impala, Django Django and Tom Odell. What we think: After taking a two year hiatus, this year’s Glastonbury is set to be bigger than ever, with their lastchance tickets selling out in only one hour. The line-up includes dance act favourites including Azelia Banks, Dizzee Rascal and Professor Green as well as indie-flicks Jake Bugg, The XX and Goat. A definite ‘something-for-everyone’ line-up.

Or, if you want to go abroad... PHOTO: Tiger-photography

Glastonbury

If you don’t fancy gambling your chances with English weather - and you can afford to - going to see one of the many notorious festivals abroad may seem more appealing. Here are some of the best: • Coachella - set in Indio, California, there doesn’t seem to be a much better place to spend your summer. • Benicàssim - Set on the coast in the Comunidad Valenciana, this festival can offer you great music whilst on a holiday in Spain.

Happy Birthday Pluto!

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

250th Special

Pluto through the years 1983 1985

1992

2000

2007

2008

Current

Lance Manley Cultural correspondant

1991 - 1993

In 1991 I first read Pluto. It was dull. Political correctness and stories of just how wicked new bands were (this was pre-Nirvana, post-Joy Division and mid-Neds Atomic Dustbin). Everyone in the SU management was wearing dungarees, Doc Martens and “Free Nelson Mandella” t-shirts. Hunt sabbing, anti-McDonald’s Day, “Contaminated with Apartheid” stickers on Asda corned beef. A glorious free-for-all of self expression and right-on leftyism. I thought they were all berks. Deciding to liven things up a bit I wrote a “poem” for Pluto. I didn’t think it would create much of a stir but it in fact created a right stink. It was called “The Rag Week Victim’s Revenge” and was about the feelings of those in the student body who didn’t act like arrogant twonks just to get a point across. The kind of student who just wanted to study (a bit) and have a quiet drink or seven in the SU bar. The following issue and I found I’d hit a nerve. A letter from “The Campaign for the Compulsory Castration of Men Who Stand for the Subjection of Women”. And so it began. 18 months submitting controversial, un-PC filth that usually got printed on The Bad Taste Page and invariably led to cries of “SEXIST PIG!!!” when I stepped into The Lamb and Packet. Only two articles ever got binned. A poem entitled “Girl Freshers” (Pluto editor Paul Tate said he’d be fired if he printed it) and my advertising slogan when I stood for the Pluto editor’s job in 1993. It read “Vote Lance Richard Manley…he’s got a bigger d***!” Most people got the joke. Unfortunately a few didn’t. I came second in the elections, from 5 candidates (6 including R.O.N) but then was able to say with a straight face “hey! I never cum first!” Lance Manley LLB (Hons) Preston Polytechnic/ UCLan 1990- 1993 Author of The Catastrophe of the Emerald Queen and Cowboy

John Lister Chief Reporter 1995 - 1998

Ed Walker Communications Officer 2007 - 2008

While I studied journalism on my UCLan course, I learned to be a journalist at Pluto. Lecturers can help you pass exams, but there’s nothing to compare with spending 20 to 40 hours a week working on a real newspaper read by real people and breaking real stories. There’s nothing quite like the magic of starting with seven blank pages at and somehow writing and laying out an entire news section in a single through-the-night sitting. That’s where you learn all the little tricks, from the 48-point byline on a story that just can’t be padded out any more, to digging out scrumpled-up university press releases at 4am because suddenly they don’t seem quite so unnewsworthy. While I’m sure the basics haven’t changed much, the technology certainly has. We didn’t have internet access in the Pluto office and although we could receive e-mails, we had to walk over to the library during working hours to pick them up. Instead of a network, “filing your copy” meant flinging a 3.5” floppy disk across the newsroom and praying it didn’t house a virus. I think we learned more from our mistakes than our successes. A misinterpreted spoof story gave us a very quick lesson in the libel laws and a very slow lesson in attaching a sticker reading “this article is a joke” to every remaining copy. We also learned the failings of auto-hyphenation when a therapist who kindly helped out with a story was understandably upset when the printed copy referred to him as “the-rapist”. While winning the NUS/Guardian award for best student newspaper in 1998 was incredibly rewarding, the real pleasure of Pluto was seeing the moment when people picked up a copy on publication day, glanced through it, and then eagerly told a bystander that “you won’t believe what it says here.” That’s when you knew you’d really found a great story.

I work for Trinity Mirror, managing the central digital publishing team and working across all our regional newspaper websites including the likes of the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo and WalesOnline. I also founded and ran a hyperlocal news site called Blog Preston, I now manage a team of volunteer contributors to run it. I was media officer (then called communications officer) from 2007 to 2008. My year running Pluto was one of the best of my life (so far), I’d started out writing for the paper in my first week at UCLan (it was a magazine during my first year), became deputy music editor in Autumn 2004 and then Assistant Editor in second year when under Mark Hudson’s editorship we turned it back into a newspaper and PR1 was also born. I was Assistant Editor for second year and most of my third year at UCLan before winning the election in 2007 to become communications officer and editor. Having been so closely involved for three years it was awesome to really take the paper on and put it at the heart of student conversations, issues and campaigns. We had a great year culminating in one of our reporters winning the Press Gazette student journalist of the year award and scoop of the year for an undercover investigation we put together on a Chinese student at UCLan selling plagiarised essays around the UK at different universities. Taking long lens photos from opposite the library, confirming his identity and battling the university authorities to run the stories made it a very exciting time. Without my time at Pluto and having the chance to run not just the paper but all the other media I doubt I’d have been able to get my role at Trinity Mirror and have the confidence to do the role I now do. It’s great Pluto is celebrating 250 issues and here’s to many more, all the nights spent eating cold pizza at 4am arguing with the printers for a later deadline slot are always, always, worth it when you see students picking up a copy of the paper, reading the website or seeing a Facebook update and being informed or entertained by what the great student media teams produce.

PLUTO | FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013

250th Special Andy Squires Media Officer 2009 - 2010

I was Media Officer during 2008/09, after several years of working on Pluto and PR1 as a volunteer. You can never really describe how hectic and diverse the position is, or the incredible rewards you get from the hours you spend with your team trying to make everything perfect. Being either a student volunteer or Media Officer can give a huge rush, especially when you get the paper delivered and see your work in print – having the opportunity to be in both positions was a blessing. Deciding to run for Media Officer was, in hindsight, one of the most influential decisions I’ve ever made. The demands of the role can shape you into somebody with a great deal of skills and abilities to take a great next step in your career. I can’t recommend running for election strongly enough. My term as Media Officer was really exciting. We reduced the physical dimensions of PR1 and increased the pagination, making it its own publication, rather than Pluto’s shy sister. PR1 was also given a complete redesign to make it visually much more like a magazine. It was also the first year that PS-TV had serious investment, and started producing regular content after relocating and streamlining Frequency’s studio space. I now work at University for the Creative Arts Students’ Union in Surrey as a member of staff dealing with Communications and Media. Basically the job is to shape any way the Union talks to, or listens to, students. There was no student media in place when I started the job, and in January 2012 I launched a magazine and radio station. The magazine is now the longest running student-led publication in the institution’s history.

Keron Knight Media Officer 2010 - 2011

One thing I never thought I’d miss as I sent off my last issue of Pluto was deadline days. Surprisingly I do miss the total chaos of being fuelled to the brim with energy drinks desperately trying to prioritise and edit stories to fit the layout. Although we got off on a bad start (I insulted them during my election) I miss the team I got to work with while I was Editor; they were a fantastic highly skilled bunch that helped me no end for no other reason than because they enjoyed it. They also helped me to see Pluto for what it is: Much more than a student newspaper it’s a chronicle of student life at UCLan. You only need to dig around the archived copies in the office for an hour our two to see that a lot has changed since Preston Polytechnic some of it truly unbelievable. Pluto is a huge part of what makes UCLan the great university it is and an important record of the student culture on campus and it was a privilege to be able to edit it for a year. Since joining the real world I’ve ended up in London managing the online marketing in 17 countries. It’s okay but you’re never going to get the fun of leading hundreds of students on a March to London and then hosting Take Me Out in front of a pack out Source bar the next. My advice to next years Media Officer would be to make it your newspaper the students chose you to do just that and enjoy it while you can, because by the time you know what you’re doing it’ll be time to leave.

Dave Stubbings Media Officer 2011 -2012

Being Media Officer in 2011-12 was a fun and rewarding time. The hours were long at times. I remember everyone else going off for a party after election night while I and some of the Pluto volunteers worked on the results edition, not leaving until gone 1am. But it was more than worth it with some really good work produced throughout the year. It may not have pleased everyone all of the time, but we believed in what we did and it was worth it. While nobody tried to sue us, I had to be prepared to stand my ground for the paper and justify that what we were doing was in the student interest. Occasions include the ending ofVodka Nationwide and when a student had items stolen from their flat. It may have upset some people the way we reported it but it was in the student interest. Producing two supplements during the year was an added challenge, and we built on previous versions such as the housing supplement and an eight page special with interviews with all election candidates. The website work we did was really important; covering Preston North End, council meetings, producing videos and maps and publishing the edition online were all part of improving Pluto’s online presence as much as possible. One day, will Pluto be a solely online publication? Since I have left to become a reporter on the Surrey Herald newspaper, I’ve noticed how similar the weeks are to the ones we did on Pluto, just without the extremely late finishes. Slowly but surely building up the paper through the week with features and non-news pieces going in first before the bigger news stories coming in later, but still with a really busy deadline day. Pluto has definitely helped with adjusting to that and any budding young reporter, regardless of whether they become Media Officer or not, will benefit from getting involved with the paper as it does give a taste of real life. Here’s to another 250 editions.

Sophie Bennett Media Officer 2012 -2013

I can’t believe this is the last edition of Pluto that I will be creating. This year has had its ups and downs but if someone offered me to do the year again with no changes; I would still jump at the chance. I would never have been able to create a paper such as this without the dedication of the volunteers, past and present. Some of the volunteers have been volunteering from the very start of the year and showed their loyalty even when the paper was under scrutiny and for that I thank them. Media Officer has given me invaluable experience that I couldn’t have gained in a work placement and given me new skills that I will be able to use throughout my career. I’m glad I had the opportunity to stand in this position and thank everyone who gave me the chance and voted for me as Media Officer. Although I will say goodbye to the Media Officer role I know this won’t be the last I see of Pluto!

Luke Beardsworth Deputy Editor

“I think everyone involved with, or who has been involved with, Pluto this year would agree that it’s been an up and down year. The current team were thrust into the deep end by a situation that was out of their hands. It is to the credit of them all that they persevered through a difficult learning curve. The first years in particularly have performed beyond all my expectations. Next year will be a largely new editorial team will have the chance to work with Michael Bailey who will be a great media officer. The turbulence of this year will not be repeated and I am confident Pluto can resume being a platform that student journalists take pride in writing for. “

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

250th Special Friday 21 September 2012

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Union hits back against external promoters after copycat events pop up around Issue 245 Preston www.pluto-online.com

this year to stage Freshers events, how- ue which is ran in connection with the Faye Grima ever, the club rejected the plans for being SU who are a non-profit organisation”. News Editor “money grabbing and lacking any value”. David Evans, 53 Degrees’ Events ProExternal promoters, U.N.I, FuA spokesperson for U.N.I has said: grammer has said: “The promoters are ture Clubnights and Fuzzy Logic have “This year, 53 decided to hold Skoolies on simply in it to line their pockets promising been branded “desperate Event Pro- a Wednesday, and we thought if we can’t the world and delivering nothing more moters” by 53 Degrees, following a beat them we might as well join them. than a branded night with no attractions.” number of bogus attempts to “overtly “There are enough students copy the official programme”, cre- to “They know that first year stugo around…the competiated by the Students’ Union club venue. tion should be fun”, they added. dents are sometimes open to abuse and will do anything and say anyFreshers 2012 is due to start on SepThe major shakeup between the Stu- thing to con students into buying tember 4 and promises some great dents’ Union and external promoters tickets for their substandard nights.” nights run by UCLan Students’ Un- has caused uncertainty for many forthion, including the infamous Skoolies coming students, as questions continue “You only have to make the below comnight and Super Sundays which has run to be raised regarding the cross-miss parison to decide who really offers the consecutively for a number of years. identity of the two separate institutions. best deals for students and who just wants to rip students off!!” he further added. But this year external promoters have SU President Edd Graham-Hyde has provided extra competition for the club, issued a warning to students regarding Events Programmers and staff at by “stealing” [according to the Students’ the real identity of the Students’ Un- 53 Degrees are clearly worried about Union] their original ideas and also clos- ion following a worry over the event the welfare of students, whilst branding an hour later [4am] than 53 Degrees. confusion, claiming that Lava Ignite do ing local competitors as “a joke “nothing but provide drinks for students who put no effort in what so ever”. The promoters outside of the SU pre- who are nothing but a local business, viously approached 53 Degrees earlier whereas 53 Degrees is a student-led ven-

The decision over the twitter comment

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Issue 240

PLUTO

Why you should vote in the Students Elections

Friday 26 October 2012

Bogus loft inspectors target students

“CHILL THE F*** OUT!”

Friday 15 February 2013

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Joey Guy, Union Education Officer:

Friday 12 October 2012

Manchester shooting: Tribute to UCLan alumni

TRAGEDY

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Issue 239

GIVE A xxxx

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Guild Arrives in Preston!

As you may or may not know this year is Preston 2012. But whats it all about?

Being involved in Pluto this year has been such a good experience for me, it has really helped me improve my journalistic skills and has been great working as part of such a lovely team of people. I have been able to learn how to use the program InDesign when laying my section of the paper which is going to be a really useful skill I plan to use in the future. It has definitely been good practice of the kind of writing and deadlines I will hopefully encounter in my future career. After the fact that I don’t feel like the Union awards truly reflect the work we do here at Pluto, I have decided to do my own awards. First of all I have the slowest writer in the world award. Seeing as I can’t give myself an award, this, highly prestigious award goes to Mr Matt Murphy, who has shown us that, sometimes, monkeys on typewriters can sometimes be the quicker solution. Next, the alcoholics anonymous award goes to Ana “Southern Comfort Goes with Everything” Bates. Michelle Hennessy gets the last minute panic award. Tom Greggan gets the “You like Football?” award. Joe and Ste get the late night partier awards. I can’t print the award that Luke Beardsworth got due to common decency. Charlotte and Megan get the coveted ‘yeah we do comment’ award. Well done to all of you.... Oh and Sophie gets to go home.FinallyActually I’ve changed your bitSophie Bennet gets the “Okay, Can I go home now?” Award.

Students protested in the heart of the capital on Wednesday to campaign for lower tuition fees, better graduate employment and better student representation. UCLan students were among those marching at the “Educate, Employ, Empower” NUS demonstration in London marched from Temple Place to Kennington Park, where an NUS rally was due to take place. More than 10,000 students from across the country marched through London, but due to the weather the crowd had dwindled down to a few hundred by the time the crowd reached the rally. PLUTO - Ribble - Created in 1983 People whoEcho gave speeches at - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in the rally included comedian Josie autumn - ItGrace has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Long,2007 singer Petrie and union Tabloid Offering - Pluto uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The representatives Kathysometimes Taylor from Sun?” line was removed duringUnion re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - 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I think we made Continues on page 4 the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO -

Happy PHOTO: Michelle Hennessy

Friday 7th September 2012

Ste Thomas Deputy Sport Editor

250th

Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue -PLUTO - Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline “Furthest From The Sun?”, in reference to the British national tabloid format “red top” newspaper - The “Furthest From The Sun?” tag line was removed during re-launch in autumn 2007 - It has now reached the 250th Issue - PLUTO Ribble Echo - Created in 1983 - Changed from Ribble Echo in 1989 - PLUTO originally stood for Preston Liberal Undergraduate Tabloid Offering - Pluto sometimes uses the below Masthead tagline

In my two years spent volunteering at Pluto, I have learnt many valuable lessons which will certainly help me in future employment. Starting off as a sports reporter and then eventually working my way to sports editor has shown me many aspects of what it takes to work for a publication. Of course, it’s not all work – I’ve had so many laughs and met some great people! The late nights and enduring freezing cold temperatures have all been worth it, and it is an experience that I will look back on with a smile on my face for the rest of my life.

Being the Deputy Sports Editor of Pluto this year has been stressful! The late nights, the last minute changes and the frantic edits are just some things that make the job demanding – but it is an experience I wouldn’t change for the world. Through editing the sports pages, I have been able to put in to practice the things I have learnt in class but also have learnt little tricks to put me ahead of the game. We always try to make the sports pages the best they can be and I feel this year we have made steady progress and hopefully it will get better next.

Michelle Hennessy

Deputy Features Editor Arriving at UCLan as a first year, the prospect of pitching ideas and writing for the student paper was quite daunting at first. By the fourth edition I was promoted from writer to Deputy Features Editor. While I had experience on my Sixth Form magazine, I had no knowledge how to lay a paper, practice in pitching ideas and writing articles on a fortnightly basis. The editors were very supportive and now I’m (fairly) confident on my abilities as a deputy as well as using InDesign. I would definitely recommend anyone to get involved with the paper next year, not only for your CV but to develop your communication skills, confidence and experiences on a paper.

PLUTO | FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013

Features

Your guide to small festivals The festival scene is not limited to just the mainstream ones. Deputy Editor Luke Beardsworth evaluates the cream of the small festival crop and gives his verdict on where your loans should be going...

Latitude

PHOTO: prusakolep

The highly-regarded younger brother of Leeds and Reading Festival is both notoriously difficult to get to and the most expensive on this list. However, the Suffolk festival has received wide plaudits for its variety, both in line-up and in its punters. Last year, Elbow were nominated for Best Headline Performance for their slot. Price: £190.50 + booking fee / Date: 18 – 21 July Headliners: Bloc Party, Kraftwerk & Foals Ones to watch: Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, James Blake, King Creosote and Swim Deep What we think: For those looking for an alternative music festival and not concerned about the price, Latitude Festival is simply the best option for you. Even if you are concerned about the price, this is another stellar line-up that Melvin Benn has produced and it sits above the rest in terms of value for money as long as you can make those ends meet.

PHOTO: scotbot

Festival No. 6

A festival for those who are worried about the grime that often goes along with the experience, Festival Number 6 is set in the incredibly picturesque community of Portmeirion. The variety of food and luxury camping on offer is beyond the other contenders we have selected, if you can afford it. Price: £170 + booking fee / Date: 13-15 September Headliners: Manic Street Preachers & James Blake Ones to watch: AlunaGeorge, John Cooper Clarke and Temples What we think: If you can get past the price and the difficulty in actually getting the place, the festival combines the holiday experience with the festival experience perfectly.

The headliners and line-up are largely unique and it was crowned Best New Festival last year. As they say themselves, it is a festival like no other, in a place like no other. It’s also useful for those who don’t quite want to return to University yet.

PHOTO: kate.gardiner

Y Not Festival

Derbyshire’s Y Not Festival offers a broad range of genres and a line-up from household names to local talents who are housed on their own stage known as The Allotment. Price: £79.50 + booking fee OR £136 + booking fee with 2000 Trees / Date: 2-4 August Headliners: The Cribs & The Horrors Ones to watch: TOY, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip and 65daysofstatic What we think: The inclusion of 65daysofstatic makes the festival worth going to in one breath. Elsewhere TOY are brilliant and the headliners are very well chosen. Anyone in the Midlands should make this festival a priority.

PHOTO: alterna2

Beacons Festival

Located at the Funkirk Estate in Skipton, Beacons Festival 2013 promises to be one of the strongest line-ups they’ve had. Last yea,r Peace provided a festival memory by performing in various unfit states. Price: £99:50 + booking fee / Date: 16-18 August Headliners: Django Django, Local Natives & Bonobo Ones to watch: Savages, Ghostpoet, Drenge and Temples. What we think: Although the headliners may be smaller in significance than the other local festival in Kendal Calling, the all-round line-up is probably stronger. On top of our ones to watch, Splashh will play at the festival and we struggle to think of a band that typifies summer music

better than they do.

2000 Trees

This festival began when six friends sat around a campfire and complained about the state of festivals in the UK. Typically, the line-up tends to favour musicians who are virtuosos and it was inspired by another of our picks in Y Not Festival. For those who have a heavier music taste than most. Price: £72 + booking fee OR £136 + booking fee with Y Not Festival / Date: 11-13 July Headliners: Frank Turner & Mystery Jets Ones to watch: Future of the Left, And So I Watch You From Afar and King Charles What we think: In Future of the Left and And So I Watch You From Afar, you have two of the most innovative and original acts available in the UK today. The headliners may be underwhelming but that deal with Y Not Festival is hard for anybody with even a passing interest in the festivals to pass up..

PHOTO: KimMcKelvey

PHOTO: Paul Whiteley

Set in the beautiful Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District, Kendal Calling has gone from strength to strength in recent years, featuring headliners such as Pendulum, Dizzee Rascal and James. Price: £122.50 + booking fee / Date: 26-28 July Headliners: Primal Scream, The Charlatans & Basement Jaxx Ones to watch: Drenge, I am Kloot, Mystery Jets and Preston’s own, Flight of Arrows. What we think: It’s another strong line-up from arguably the most scenic festival in the UK. It’s been successful for so long for a reason and we expect it to sell out for the eighth consecutive year. Flight of Arrows’ inclusion continues the trend of acts from our area playing after Rae Morris played at the event last year.

Green Man Festival

Like the majority of small festivals in the UK, this claims to have the most beautiful setting. Located in the Black Mountains in Wales, it even offers the chance to combine a festival ticket with a booked holiday in the country. The festival offers free shuttle buses from the local train station to the site itself. Price: £125 + booking fee (student price) / Date: 15-18 August Headliners: Band of Horses, Kings of Convenience and Ben Howard Ones to watch: The Horrors, Jon Hopkins and Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit What we think: A festival for those who saw Ben Howard up there and felt their hearts flutter. The line-up largely reflects that style of music, even though The Horrors stick out like a sore thumb of innovative quality.

PHOTO: Nicholas Smale

Kendal Calling

Don’t forget about.... The most local festival is Wuchiefest, which will be held in Wigan over the summer. Unfortunately, the line-up isn’t quite ready to be unveiled at the time of writing. Like the festival on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for all the latest news.

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

Features

Meanwhile... in Warwickshire Did you do anything productive over Easter? Perhaps start a plan of that assignment you keep promising to do tomorrow? Here’s what Tom Pinks did with his... Features Editor Adam Legg reports on Spotted: Rugby

magine you are sat in a classroom, it’s the first day after the Easter Holiday and your teacher has asked you to present what you did while you were away. You have a fantastic story about how you went camping, saved a kitten and bought back a leaf to show everyone. This is when Tom Pinks put his hand up; he has quite the story for everyone. “After realising the success of UCLan’s Spotted page on Facebook I decided to make one for my hometown.” Begins Mr Pinks, the rest of the class in the palm of his hand; “The page followed the same themes as the University’s but it gradually became a centre-point for all news happening in and around the town.” Well, this walks all over your leaf story. You put it back in the book, in which it had been previously pressed, and listen to the rest of Tom’s story. Amongst the many posts that were written on the wall of the page, there were a couple of major incidents that occurred on it. “Three people were sacked due

to the comments they posted and one man was arrested in relation to a house burglary,” Reported Tom. Spotted: Rugby currently has, at time of writing, 11,614 likes, which beats the UCLan one by a couple of thousand, and, according to Tom has “about 100 more each day”, which has put him in the sights of some of the news organisations in the local area. “I am now working with the local authorities in bringing the page into a new way of broadcasting up to date and important information.” Said Tom: “I have been offered work as a journalist for the local newspaper and I’m currently incorporating local charities and upcoming talent into the page to promote and celebrate them.” Not only had he been really productive, said Tom, to his hypothetical audience, he had also caused some mischief on a certain day… “On April’s Fools Day I announced that my local chip shop would be giving away free chips,” Pinks recalled: “This caused over

Spotted: Rugby Town has become really popular with the locals 800 hungry customers queuing up outside the establishment and resulted in some rather annoyed chip shop owners.” The spotted idea has now spread to other small towns and cities across

the country including; Coventry, Birmingham and areas of London. “So, kids,” says your teacher; “What have you done with your Easter?”

Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 Section 127 of the 2003 Communications act is the piece of legislation that people have been prosecuted under over some of the recent Twitter cases and various other social networking related cases. This is what it says: (1)A person is guilty of an offence if he— (a)sends by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character; or (b)causes any such message or matter to be so sent. (2)A person is guilty of an offence if, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another, he— (a)sends by means of a public electronic communications network, a message that he knows to be false, (b)causes such a message to be sent; or (c)persistently makes use of a public electronic communications network.

Learning & Information Services www.uclan.ac.uk/lis

PLUTO | FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013

Comment

Photo: Steve Nimmons

Iron Lady: Rust in Peace

Luke Beardsworth Deputy Editor

here is nothing better than hypocrisy, whether it is realised or not. Shortly after a week in which The Daily Mail (only the worst example, mind you) exploited the tragic deaths of six children in order to fit their own political agenda, came news of Margaret Thatcher’s death. Involuntarily or not, a lot of people smiled at the news. I smiled at the news. I didn’t smile when Bin Laden was killed, or Sadaam Hussein for that matter, but I did here. Those on the right decide this is the right time to respect the dead. Most laughable of all, was Piers Morgan telling us to “show some respect”. Shall we keep a lid on that one? Elsewhere, usual twitter rival Sir Alan Sugar tells us that: “Some of the despicable scum tweeting foul mouth comments on my Baroness Thatcher tweet, were still drinking milk from a teat in the 80’s”. Presumably then, young people are not allowed to have an opinion on Thatcher. Shall we keep our opinions on Hitler to ourselves too then? As Owen Jones pointed out in the Independent, death etiquette is

a sketchy idea at the best of times. I know what he means because there is nothing worse than going to a funeral and hearing things that simply aren’t true about somebody that is deceased. It is arguably more disrespectful when this is done than if the truth were told. For public figures however, it is very important that we continue to associate the person with the acts they committed. When people throw parties in the wake of the death of Margaret Thatcher, many do so with a very good reason. There are no doubt bandwagon jumpers on both sides of the argument, but that shouldn’t eclipse the importance of this. She opened up the greatest divisions that Britain has experienced for arguably hundreds of years. Yet the word “divisive” is being thrown around like it is a redeeming quality. We are told she put the “great” back in Great Britain, but anybody who touts this has to be someone I strongly disagree with. She has said herself that her greatest achievement is New Labour. It is a result of her shifting the centre of UK politics that people on the left have arguably no mainstream party to support. She ruled out talks with the Argentineans, knowing that decisive

action (even if it be war) would ensure that her flagging popularity would increase. She played a huge role in the cover up of the Hillsborough disaster and discussed leaving the city of Liverpool to stagnate and die. It is no wonder that the celebrations were most active on Merseyside. There are 96 reasons why she didn’t get a minutes silence at Old Trafford shortly after her death. She created section 28, the first new homophobic law for over 100 years. During her period as Prime Minister, homophobic behaviour rocketed and arrests for consenting homosexual activity skyrocketed. She was friends with dictator Chile Pinochet and supported the racist apartheid in South Africa. While she may have shattered the glass ceiling in politics from a feminist point of view, she only did so by strengthening every other glass ceiling around her. One person on my twitter timeline however, doesn’t cite any of this as her biggest crime. The change in culture, from one that promoted a community feel to one that promoted selfishness and greed was his compliant. This is the belief that led to the privatisation of several key institutions and the selling of council houses. Can’t find housing at

the moment? Rent too high? This is a result of actions that mean wealthy landlords will continue to get richer while those who can’t afford to buy continue to get poorer. All of this was done in the name of building a brighter Britain. She was a profits driven mind and this is why those at the top and in the middle support her. She made them richer. However, there have been three recessions since World War II and all of them having taken place since the dawn of Thatcherism. Her low tax on the rich model has failed miserably for the overwhelming majority, while Britain indeed suffered its biggest and most sustained period of growth before Thatcherism, when taxing on the rich was high. It’s amazing how many people that paragraph would shock, but then the press in the UK is nearly unanimously in favour of the Conservatives and their greatest Prime Minister. However, while the symbolism of her death is important for many who

suffered as a result of her policies, there is little literal cause to celebrate her death. Thatcher may be gone, but Thatcherism is rife. Cameron goes where Thatcher didn’t dare in attacking the NHS and the Welfare state. The right might argue that it’s unfair for people to criticise her so soon after her death, but the left will do well to remember that her death and subsequent glorification will be used as support for the modern Tory government. For years Thatcher had nothing good to say about the majority of the UK, so don’t be surprised if we have nothing nice to say now.

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

Comment

Charlotte Alty Deputy Comment Editor

ho ever thought that we would see Justin Bieber and Anne Frank sharing headlines? Well, it’s happened; and is just the latest in a long line of excuses to hate The Biebs. He recently visited the house of Anne Frank in Amsterdam (how many of us can say the same?) and before leaving, he wrote in the guestbook that he hoped Anne Frank would have been a ‘Belieber’. Yes, this was obviously not a well thought out remark, but what can we expect from a barely 19 year old pop star? He also wrote that it was truly inspiring to be able to visit, and he did spend quite a while in there; it was no flying visit. He was

obviously genuinely interested and respects that Anne is an inspiration. So, why is everyone so outraged? Thousands of people took to Twitter and Facebook to proclaim the remark ‘disrespectful’, ‘disgusting’ and even an ‘embarrassment to Canadians’. A little bit harsh really, but why break this habit of Bieber bashing that everyone loves so much? I really doubt that the youngster meant any kind of disrespect at all; in fact it seems to me that he was almost definitely trying to be positive about Anne Frank, if anything. Hoping she would be a ‘Belieber’ is a somewhat laughable claim, which in some ways could be seen as taking away the respect that Anne Frank is due, however this obviously wasn’t Bieber’s intention. If anything he has done a really great thing, getting his younger fans

talking about Anne Frank. I doubt a lot of them had any idea who she even was before this, which says more about the youth of today than Bieber, but now they will surely all be reading about the scandal in dismay and in turn learning all about Anne Frank and the Holocaust. Everyone seems to forget that, although he is a multimillionaire pop star, he is a just-turned 19 year old boy first and foremost. Obviously, this does not excuse everything he does, sometimes he really is ridiculous; but to try and find malice in every little mistake he makes is pretty unfair. I have a feeling that if any other celebrity had commented that they hoped Anne Frank would have been a fan, there would not have been uproar like this. At least he has actually made the effort to go and see such a historic for Anne Frank, even if it has come place, and to try and proclaim his awe out a bit wrong. Sooner or later I

Photo: LilJaiiY

Anne Frankly, Bieber hasn’t done much wrong

think everyone needs to give The Biebs a break.

Noel should definitely maybe avoid X Factor Richard Moore Reporter

Photo: ant217

s the new X-Factor season inches closer, so too does the potential ruin of one of arguably the best songwriters of our generation. Reports have suggested that Noel Gallagher has been offered a staggering £2million for a place on their panel of judges, an offer that would tempt even the most principled of musicians. Having turned down the position before, it comes as no surprise that Cowell is chasing the former Oasis man again. Gary Barlow, the only judge with the slightest bit of credibility, is threatening to abandon the show, which would leave ITV with an Irishman, who in Noel’s words is “as mad as a box of frogs”, and a member of N-Dubz (enough said). The X-factor has done enough damage to real music. Instead of picking up a guitar and trying to imitate the greatest musicians in history, people dream of nothing more than winning this competition. This is an achievement that usually ends in complete abandonment a year later when fans look to the next series and industry executives lose interest. On top of that, the show promotes a complete lack

of originality and creativity. Songwriting is none existent and so is variety, demonstrated by the inclusion of ballad after ballad, which for some absurd reason viewers can’t ever get enough of. That being said, there is a lot of support for the idea of Noel joining the show. He is notorious for his inspired mockery and many people see him as a great potential addition to the line-up. A recent poll in the Guardian asked “Should Noel Gallagher become an X-Factor judge?” and depressingly, 59% answered “Yes, he would make the show supersonic!” His own daughter is also a fan of the show and apparently put a lot of pressure on him the last time he received an offer, so the prospect of joining the dark side must be incredibly tempting. Nevertheless, for someone who once slammed the organisers of Glastonbury for including a hip-hop musician as one of its headline acts, supporting a show like The X-Factor just is not an option. Noel knows more than anyone what would happen if he accepted the job. He wouldn’t necessarily lose record sales, and I’m sure his core fan base would stick by him, but the respect that he universally commands would be thrown straight out of the window.

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

Comment

Megan Lincoln Comment Editor

ccording to a BBC news report, sex education in schools is at risk of being watered down. This stems from new proposals to the curriculum regarding science lessons. Currently, science is the only compulsory subject that teaches pupils about relationships and sexual health, so limiting what it is allowed to teach on these topics could seriously inhibit school childrens’ knowledge of life and the changes they themselves will face. If the proposals for the new science curriculum go ahead, it will mean that any reference to public heath, puberty, and sexual health in science lessons is prohibited. This change of the curriculum has faced some serious opposition, with a letter signed by over one hundred organisations, ranging from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to Mumsnet, the Sex Education Forum and the

National Children’s Bureau. They have dubbed the reluctance to talk about the so-called taboo words relating to sex and genitalia as ‘adult squeamishness’, and urge teachers and the government to disregard this. To be quite honest, they are absolutely right. What kind of an example is that setting to children when their teachers can’t even talk about sex in front in front of them? It’s like when a child says a rude word and they suddenly cover their moth and being to blush and giggle. Are we seriously that immature? We are living in a country where the teenage pregnancy rate is exceedingly high, and the average age for a teenager to lose their virginity is 16, although it is not unusual for that age to be lower. Whilst many may argue that it is the parents ‘responsibility to ensure that their child is educated in sex and puberty within the home, fact of the matter is, not all parents do. At 16 a teenager is still in school, which means that when they are going through puberty

and beginning to have sex, they are in school. Surely limiting their knowledge on sex, puberty, and relationships when they may not be getting the information elsewhere is only going to cause them upset and confusion? If anything, shouldn’t the new proposals for a science curriculum propose a more focussed programme on sex education rather than wanting to water it down? The letter written by the organisations to the government states that: “The National Curriculum science is the only compulsory part of sex and relationships in education in schools and must teach children about how their bodies work to prepare them for growing up and to protect them from harm.” The group of organisations is particularly concerned that children will not be taught about puberty in time for them to be prepared for when they begin to experience it. It is absolutely atrocious that the draft curriculum being proposed only teaches eleven year olds about

Learning & Information Services www.uclan.ac.uk/lis

Photo:Sheeshoo

Why don’t we talk about sex?

the reproduction in plants and animals. My sex education in year six came from a very matter-of-fact nurse who brought along a series of very confusing plastic models and proceeded to talk about weird things to a group of eleven year old girls, who she had to ask to shut up every ten seconds. I remember thinking more about how strange-looking her nurses’ uniform was and why the boys and girls were having separate talks, rather than what she had to say. This topic was furthered in my science classes at secondary school, however, so I did gain insight from elsewhere. But now the new draft curriculum proposes to limit that?

A Department for Education spokeswoman has said: “While the new draft curriculum focuses on core science, we expect teachers to cover sexual health when they teach about reproduction.” They expect. They do not require. What happens when a teacher gets has a moment of embarrassment when talking about the birds and the bees to a group of loud twelve year olds and just moves on without teaching it? These new proposals could lead to children missing out on a vital part of life education if passed. Surely, that cannot be allowed to happen?

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

Sports Comment

The Season in Review – Preston North End Ste Thomas Deputy Sports Editor It’s with a great sense of déjà vu that I write about this season. It’s been another year of peaks and troughs with yet another change of manager and a huge variety of players coming in and out of the squad. Just like last season, we enter the next with a sense of hope and belief that we might reenter the Championship. Former manager Graham Westley will remain a hugely controversial figure. He is undoubtedly arrogant and his man-management skills have been questioned. He was described by many PNE supporters as “a nutter” or “a headcase”. The best comparison comes in the figure of Paolo Di Canio. You could, arguably, apply all the same attributes to him, but these types of character become hugely popular if they experience success. Another good example is José Mourinho, though the Madrid fans don’t appear to have warmed to him even now. At the beginning of the season, the future seemed rosy under Graham Westley. Early convincing wins over Championship sides Huddersfield and Crystal Palace gave the largely

new squad huge belief. There were also big 4-1 wins over Swindon, where Paolo Di Canio and keeper Wes Foderingham had an hilarious falling out, and Stevenage, the former and future club of Westley. As a result of this period of success, the fans finally began to warm to Westley. At the end of last season, the chant was “f**k Graham Westley, we’re here for Sir Tom”, a nod to the birthday of PNE legend Sir Tom Finney. This had now changed to “Oh Graham Westley, he’ll text who he wants”, a reference to the stories that he had named his debut first team and told players they were transfer listed, via text. As with the earlier example, the controversial nature of the manager was creating extra passion amongst sections of fans who just want an interesting character in what is often a profession populated by dullards. The turning point of the season was seemingly the 0-0 draw at home to Notts County. It was a match where the passion of the fans almost turned ugly after injuries to two key players and a cynical style of football from the away team. At full-time, Lee Hughes, convicted for causing death by dangerous driving in 2004, was subjected to chants of

“murderer”, to which he responded with a grin. Hearing Scott Laird’s leg snap from Row 25 is not something I will forget anytime soon. From there, Graham Westley’s tenure went rapidly down hill. From that match in November until his sacking, Preston North End won once, drew four times, and lost five times in the league. The excuses and team-selections of Westley in this period were questionable, with best available left-back David Buchanan mysteriously left out of the squad for untested youth player Ben Davies. Westley was sacked under huge pressure from a crowd that didn’t help the confidence of the squad, regularly chanting “how sh*t must you be, we’re winning at home” if the team went ahead in a home match. After the defeat to Yeovil in February, Westley said he felt “relieved” because he would never have walked away from the job. A member of the backroom staff was given the caretakers job in John Dreyer. He inspired the team to a 2-0 win over league leaders Bournemouth before handing the reigns to hugely successful League One manager Simon Grayson, who kept Dreyer on in order to

learn quickly about the strengths and weaknesses of the playing squad. Although the playing style of Grayson is the more direct style usually frowned upon my many fans, the results he has gotten cannot be argued with. Due to the marmite nature of the former manager, and these results, the fans have immediately gotten behind Grayson. The home form of Grayson has been particularly promising. Since he took over, Preston has won four and drawn two, conceding just one goal in the process – the result of a wayward back-pass from muchmaligned former club captain John Mousinho. The form and effort of Mousinho has been in question for some time, and Grayson had to step in and ask the fans to get off his back in what has been an injury-riddled season. It is debatable whether or not he would be getting the same reception, if not for his relationship with the former manager Graham Westley, who has now returned to Stevenage. There are several reasons cited for the turnaround in form. The first is the selection of a consistent back five – something which wasn’t happening in the early half of the season. The group of Rudd,

Connolly, Huntington, Wright and Buchanan has been exceptional, resulting in Preston conceding only six goals since February and Huntington being nominated for the League 1 Player of the Month Award. Another key point is in the confidence of the youth players. Will Hayhurst has looked a completely different player since Grayson’s appointment, developing the confidence to take the ball past a player, and scoring several goals. Jeffrey Monakana has also turned his game around, and although he can still be frustrating, is far more consistent now than he ever was in the early part of the season. All of this has resulted in Preston becoming favourites for promotion next year. The clubs’ form since Grayson arrived has been that which averages third place over the course of a season. A few signings and streamlining of the squad should leave us in a strong position to return to the Championship next season. Westley built the foundations strong for Grayson to achieve success, so when he returns next season with Stevenage, I hope he receives a warm reception from at least some of the home supporters.

Matthew Murphy News Editor All moderately interested football fans will know by now that Luis Suarez has been banned for 10 games, his second ban in his second full season in England. He is probably one of the most hated football players on the planet. Why? Well there’s good evidence to suggest that whilst his football skills excelled as he grew up, his manners never seemed to make their way past the pram stage. As Mark Lawrenson told 5 Live: “There’s probably a sheet of A4 paper with all his offences over his career.” And he’s right. Suarez has already given the middle finger to fans, racially abused and bitten twice. And with critics constantly branding him a diver and a cheat there’s no wonder he’s not everyone’s favourite at the moment. Looking back at replays of the ordeal with Ivanovic, I can’t help but

look away each time in fear of being a Liverpool fan and seeing our best player give off a toddler-like image. But in all seriousness, why 10 games for a bite? Ivanovic wasn’t exactly rushed to A&E. Yes, I know. It’s the principal, and he’s supposed to be a role model. So why did he get 7 games when he last bit someone? And the fact that Jermaine Defoe was simply yellow carded for biting Javier Mascherano back in 2006 is laughable when comparing these two. Technically this ban is shooting the FAs “strong reinforcement of kicking racism out of football” in the foot by saying that this incident is more severe than a racism case. A number of Chelsea fans complained that it was “immoral” to see him still on the pitch after it happened. Frankly, (and Johnly) they were mainly angered that they couldn’t secure the important win. Speaking of which, and the term “immoral”, let’s not forget they have a captain that has an issue with keeping it in his pants, which the FA did

nothing further about. However, saying this, Suarez should still have been sent for an early bath. It upset me to hear Telegraph reporter Henry Winter saying there was “No chance” of Suarez winning a PFA award after this, and that it’s “disappointing” to think Liverpool have not given the Uruguayan his P45. Although Suarez is undeniably dragging down the Red reputation, to think of chucking their most

PHOTO:Brio (flickr)

Luis Suarez Saga: A bite too

valuable asset at a time they need him most, when they don’t have infinite funds to find another Premier League top scorer, would surely be ludicrous. I’m not putting down Gareth Bale, I think he’s fantastic, but surely you’d think the top scorer in the league and a player that leaves commentators with no option but to name him man of the match countless times this season would be the PFAs player of the year.

Bringing this argument back to my point. Suarez can be a loose cannon, we should all know that by now. But the general public, find him easy to hate, and so yes he does deserve to be banned for his latest grenade, but not 10 matches. The FA probably wouldn’t have even considered the bite offensive if this was Rooney. And Suarez is supposed to be the racist?

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

Sports

UCLan Sport Teams start and finish year The UCLan Cricket 1st team has some very good players that play at a good level with their club sides. The batting line-up is very strong with captain Liam Biddlestone, Nathan Armstrong, Laurence Browes, Matt Smith and ‘new boy’ Charlie Jackson all capable of piling on the runs. Freshers Adam Holt and Mark Williams will also be key to the success of the 1st X1 as they provide vital depth in the front line batting order. The bowling department was hit hard by departures at the end of last year but there is still an abundance of quality with Jake Sunderland having represented Spain at youth level and Liam Carroll is always a contender for a wicket with his spin. The 2nds also suffered with departures at the end of last year but they have every chance of success this season with captain Gaz Walker more than capable of producing the goods with both bat and ball. Last season the second team played with no permanent wicket-keeper but fresher Sam Davies has joined this

year and has already proved to be a fantastic addition to the team, both off the pitch and behind the stumps. Andrew St Maur and Kieron Exley will lead the 2nd team bowling attack and have more than enough talent to rattle through batting line-ups. * * * * * * UCLan’s Table Tennis club are pleased with their first year as a team, having finished strongly in both the men’s and women’s leagues. Coach Graham Coupe improved both teams upon joining UCLan and watched the men’s team claim 4th spot in the BUCS Northern 2A division, while the women finished 2nd in their division. And after good effort in the Northern Conference Cup, men’s captain Ritesh Poojary revealed how proud he was of the club’s season as a whole. “We are all really pleased with how we have done in both the men’s and women’s league’s this season. We found it tough at times because we didn’t know what to expect about the standard of other teams going

PHOTO: Charlie Lambert

UCLan Cricket chairman Alex Renshaw talks about prospects for this coming season, and our sport reporter Sam Gilliland looks back at what has been a rather successful year for the Table Tennis team in their debut season

Successful season: Table Tennis team look to build on their first season into our first matches against them. However, I think we all gave our best.” Victor Cai proved to be the star man in the men’s team on numerous occasions, while both Sarah Li and Adele Spibey battled hard in the women’s side this season. And Poojary, one of many who may be unable to return to the club next season, wants to see more players of Cai’s ability brought through.

“Victor was amazing this year. He won so many of his matches and, at times, saved us from losing positions. We need to find more players like Victor for next season. It is going to be difficult because he really raised the bar for us, but we believe it is possible. “The interest in table tennis at UCLan has grown dramatically, thanks to Graham’s promotional work and also the sessions put on by

Sport 4 U. We also want to say a big thanks to Adele Spibey for setting up the club in the first place, because nobody has looked back ever since. “Many of us won’t be here to play next season, but we really want to show people just how good things have been with the club. It has been really fun for all of us, and with Graham around again next season the expectancy to push on and finish higher in the league will be greater.”

Ste Thomas The 2013 Matthew Hesketh Award has been awarded to Sports Journalism second year student Josh de Kooker. The award was launched in 2008 in memory of Matthew Hesketh, a former UCLan Sports Journalism student who died tragically in a car accident in February 2007. He was 18-years-old, lived here in Preston and was a huge fan of Chelsea FC. To commemorate Matthew’s life the university instituted an annual award in his name, to be awarded to the student who achieves the highest marks in his/her core modules over the first 18 months of their Sports Journalism degree. The prize includes the opportunity to join the media department at Chelsea FC, on placement, in the summer. The winner was announced last Thursday by BBC Sport presenter Dan Walker, who gave a short question and answer session. He talked to students about how he started out in the industry and gave valuable advice about how to succeed in the world of journalism. Speaking

after the event, Josh couldn’t believe he had won. “I’m obviously delighted to have won this award; a bit surprised as well as there are some outstanding students on my course,” he said. “Hopefully this can push me on to bigger and better things, starting with work experience at Chelsea over the summer. “I just want to say thank you to all my course mates and friends for their support, also to all of our lecturers, as without them I wouldn’t have won this!” Charlie Lambert, Sports Journalism Lecturer who taught Matthew and helped set up the award, said: “Josh is a deserved winner of this year’s award. He is a well-liked guy by peers and staff and hopefully will go and learn a lot in his work experience at Chelsea. ” Last year’s winner of the award was third year Michael Bailey, who was recently elected as media officer for the UCLan Students’ Union – showing that those who earn the Hesketh honour are capable of furthering themselves following the work experience.

Ecstatic: Josh was blown away with recieving The Matthew Hesketh Award

PHOTO: Charlie Lambert

2013 Matthew Hesketh Award presented to student by BBC Sport’s Dan Walker

PLUTO | FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013

Sport

Joe Angove and Gavin Mawn Sport Editor and Reporter ‘Close but no cigar’ is a phrase which would perhaps sum up the men’s football 2012/13 campaign, having experienced the highs and lows which come with participating in competitive sport. The 2nds produced a fantastic Northern Conference Cup run, as they reached the final of the competition where they were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Yorkshire side Sheffield Hallam University. It is fair to say that the team will have taken some real positives along the way to reaching the final, though, as they overcame some real top competition, and were on the right side of a semifinal penalty shoot-out victory at the Sports Arena – which cued an array of embracing celebrations amongst the UCLan players. A third placed finish in the

Northern 3A League didn’t match their cup success, but has most certainly left them with something to build on looking forward to next season. Meanwhile, three more points in this season’s Northern 2A League would have resulted in the 1sts getting their hands on the title, after an impressive campaign. A narrow defeat earlier in the season by eventual table-toppers Liverpool John Moores 1sts played a big part in the final outcome of the campaign. And after conceding late goals in the encounter to surrender their lead, UCLan will perhaps look at that day with regret, as team captain Ashleigh Brierley explained. “I’m personally gutted with our overall league position, but that doesn’t reflect the season as a whole,” said Ashleigh. “We were the better team but will look bad and regret switching off for the last ten minutes of the John Moores game - letting them capitalise on our mistakes.”

But despite the somewhat disappointing end to the season, the on-pitch leader expressed his feelings of having worn the armband this campaign, and believes next season could lead to promotion for the side. “As a team we had quality all over the pitch and have set a great basis for next year and with the introduction of a few good first years, promotion is a real possibility,” he said. “I have enjoyed every minute of being the captain this season and it has been an honour and a pleasure to captain a squad of 15 mates who have had a memorable season, regardless of the league position.” And commentating on the most influential player for the side this season, the skipper said: “Our stand out player undoubtedly was Joe Lolley, who I am pretty sure will go far in the game and is a name to watch out for but I know he will agree with me when I say it wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination a one-man show. “I would like to thank every lad that made me proud this season,” he added.

PHOTO: Courtesey Pluto 2011 Issue 6

Football 1sts narrowly miss out on league title

Oh so close: Mens Football came within touching distance of silverware

Basketball bounce their way to Northern 1A League safety

PHOTO: Marilena Lou

Joe Angove Sports Editor

Breaking away: Pulled away from the opponents to ensure survival

A comprehensive victory against fellow relegation strugglers Leeds Metropolitan 2nds on the final day of the season meant the men’s 1sts ensured survival in the BUCS Northern 1A League. The 108-65 triumph meant that UCLan were level on points with the Yorkshire side, but had a superior 11 point difference come the final whistle – which consequently sent their opponents down a division. Despite the fight for survival this season, though, UCLan basketball chairman Jake Hunt has hopes of pushing for promotion in the next campaign. “This year’s campaign didn’t exactly go as planned,” said Jake. “At the start of the season we were struck with a number of injuries to key players who were ruled out for half of the season, meaning we lost a number of important matches. Luckily we came together as a team towards the end of the campaign, though,

and managed to avoid relegation. “Next season is a big one for us, we are hoping to challenge for promotion in the top league, and although we are losing a lot of key players we also gain a lot of brilliant first years who have developed throughout the year. One of those is Maz Latif who started the season as seventh man, but worked his way in the starting five and helped us avoid relegation.” Furthermore, Jake spoke of plans to enter UCLan’s first men’s 2nd team into one of the BUCS Leagues. “We are hoping to enter a second team into BUCS next season,” he said. “It’s something which we have been looking at for a number of years.” And Jake pointed out who his key player had been in the team’s fight for survival this year, amongst what he admitted was a great side. “The whole squad has been fantastic this season,” he said. “Alex Hodgson has been brilliant, though, and we greatly missed him when he didn’t play. He was always there to defend the oppositions’ best player and constantly scored double figures in games.”

FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013 | PLUTO

Pluto Sport

PHOTO: Jarrad Bowes

Rugby 1sts win league title and promotion with ease

Champions: UCLan Mens 1st crowned winners putting them at the top of the league Ste Thomas Deputy Sport Editor It has been a contrasting season for the men’s rugby union sides at UCLan this year. The men’s 1sts had a sensational season in the Northern 2A League, topping the table. They won 12 of the games that they played; only losing two. Those losses both came against University of Liverpool 2nds. Highlight scores include a thumping 103-3 win against University of Salford 1sts and a 55-12 triumph against Liverpool John Moores University 1sts. Jarrad Bowes, chairman of the Men’s Rugby Union team said: “The season for the first team has gone very well. They won the

Northern 2A in the BUCS League, which means promotion to 1A League next season which is great. “There have been many highlights for the team. These include winning the league; beating every team apart from Liverpool; and also breaking the ‘most amount of points scored’ total which was a huge achievement – not to mention beating Lancaster three times, even before varsity!” He highlighted the stand out players of the season: “Ashley Scriven has had a really good season; he made some big hits and never missed a tackle. He got awarded Players’ Player of the Season. Our fly-half Adam Smith ran the show, keeping us going forward with his fantastic kicking game. Also, wingers Jack Thomas and James Farnsworth and back rows Vee Sambhi and Andrew Kerr had a great season

“Some of the notable freshers and newcomers that came to the team and have had a massive impact include Cameron McClean, Jack Waite and Andrew Pollock.” The Mens 2nds, however, didn’t experience a similarly successful campaign as they finished in 7th place in the table, leaving them secondfrom-bottom of the Northern 3A League, totalling just four points – consequently suffering relegation. Commenting on the 2nds, Bowes said: “They will sadly be going back down to the league they have come from; this will hopefully better them and make them stronger as a team, which is mainly full of fresher’s. The challenge will be moving back up but by then they will be an older and stronger team. Despite the somewhat negative campaign for the 2nds, there were

some highlights for the players, as Jarrad pointed out. He said: “Highlights for the side include beating Manchester University 3rds and Liverpool 3rds who were amongst the top sides in the league. Another was beating Manchester Met 3rds in the Northern Conference Cup, who are a league above us.” In the Northern Conference Cup, both sides failed to make a significant impact on the tournament. The 2nds narrowly lost to 14-12 Glyndwr University 1sts in the last 32, whereas the 1sts also lost narrowly in a low-scoring match to Keele University 1sts, 8-5 in the last 16. Bowes commented on the amount of players that will be leaving the university in the summer: “The club, as a whole, will be losing a lot of quality players. We have students that have made a massive

impact and played a big part in the promotion in the firsts such as: Ashley Scriven, Andrew Pollock, Andrew Kerr and Fergal Lynch. “Then, we have senior members of the club that have been playing for 3 years and have played a big part: myself, Vee Sambhi, Harry Avent, Adam Smith, James Smith. “Notable players from the 2nd team are players such as Ady Sutherland, who had the hard task of being the 2nd Captain; Simon Lomiiko, Leny Fluery and Reggi Toppin. “These players leaving the club will definitely have a lasting impression, though. It does mean we have a lot of places to fill for next year, and hopefully we will end up getting a good influx of freshers who will replace the valuable players that we have lost to keep the club moving forward.”