Pluto 270

FEATURES

WORLD’S FIRST CROWD FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP PAGE 9

MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015

LIFESTYLE

TIPS FOR GETTING BIKINI READY PAGE 12

Issue 270

SUPPORT FOR SEX WORKERS’ EXCLUSIVE

UCLAN COLOUR RUN PAGE 7

CULTURE

TRAVELLING THE WORLD THROUGH FILM

PAGE 16

PLUTO is fuelled by

www.pluto-online.com

UCLAN ‘SHOULD OFFER Pluto Reporter

NEWS

Facebook & Twitter: UCLan Pluto

Sex workers who are students at UCLan want the university to actively support their career choice.

Their call comes after a recent report by the University of Swansea revealing that one in twenty students in the UK have worked in the sex industry to fund their studies. The findings suggest that as many as 1500 UCLan students could be employed in the sex industry.

Pluto spoke exclusively to three undergraduates using sex work to pay their way through uni. They all highlighted ‘a lack of university guidance’ for students in their position.

Jayme*, a lap dancer, said: “I would want fair treatment from lecturers if I was outed, and I worry about the impact on my grades due to the stigma.” She fears that being ‘named and shamed’ could also damage her long-term career prospects.

Millie*, a student working as an outcall escort, agreed. “I’m afraid that if my lecturers found out [about my job] I would potentially lose my place at Uni,” she said.

“I feel that UCLan is ashamed of us. I’m worried that if [the university] found out, I may not get the career I want. The university could make it easier for us to access support without the pressure of lying. I want to be able to access services without the pressure to leave my job.”

Millie added that UCLan should ‘tailor services’ to prevent student sex workers feeling judged. Sex workers have suggested holding an awareness week could be helpful.

Organisations including Preston’s Foxton Centre on Knowsley St provide specialised services for street-based sex workers. The centre can also provide student support if required. But there isn’t currently any advertised support for sex

COULD YOUR VOTE MAKE A DIFFERENCE? PAGE 10

GENERAL ELECTION

2015

2

ONLINE www.pluto-online.com @UCLanPluto facebook.com/UCLanPluto issuu.com/UCLanPluto

ADVERTISING To advertise in PLUTO or online through our website please contact our marketing manager: Nicci Proctor 01772 894885 Printed by Trinity Mirror Ltd The opinions expressed in PLUTO are not necessarily those of the PLUTO Editors nor the University of Central Lancashire’s Students’ Union. While every care is taken to make sure the information is accurate, the Publisher can accept no liability for any consequential loss or damage, however caused, arising as a result of using the information printed. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss or damage to artwork or material submitted. The contents of this, unless stated otherwise, are copyright of PLUTO. Reproduction in any form requires the prior consent of PLUTO

TEAM Editor-in-Chief Matthew Murphy Deputy Editor Vacant News Editor Vacant Deputies Abi Donoghue Lewis Downes Jacob Waite Features Editor Jasleen Kaur Deputy Emmi Bowles Comment Editor Alex Sambrook Deputy Megan Critchley Lifestyle Editor Chloe Kenyon Deputy Emma Rosemurgey Culture Editor Sam McKeown Deputy (Gaming) Georgia Dana Gregoriou Deputy (Music) Priscila C. Sarmento Societies Editor Toby Samuel Robertson Deputies Emili Peake

MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015 | PLUTO

BLITZ DEMOLITION CAUSES Lewis Downes Deputy News Editor

STUDENT UNREST

Student residents of Walker Street Halls felt ‘disregarded’ after the demolition of Blitz night club woke them at 7am on Easter Sunday.

Students said they were left confused as to why Preston City Council granted permission for the ‘noisy’ operation to take place during the morning of a national holiday.

The official council guidelines regarding construction site noise states that work is not to take place on a Sunday or Bank Holiday.

Rob Squires, a UCLan Motorsports Engineering student, said: “I woke up and the room was shaking, and my room is on the opposite side of the building.

Pluto contacted a spokesman for Portergate Developments Ltd who stated that in hindsight hall residents should have been given more prior notice before the demolition took place.

He added that he thought many of the students occupying the surrounding area would have travelled back home for Easter, therefore avoiding the noise.

Anna Hearty, a final year Fashion Design student also commented: “I came home from an all nighter in the library at 6:30am and they started demolishing at 6:45am.

I was furious and didn’t get any sleep until they had finished.”

The night club was initially scheduled for demolition on the 15th December

Sport Editor Jack Wilson-Mumford Deputies Matt Weston, Pete Mccarthy Online Editor Paul Kelly Deputies Stephanie Smith, Emmi Bowles, Andrew Delaney Head of PR/Social Media Matt Cuerden Deputies Chloe Ingleby, Hannah Ellis Head of Graphic Design Matt Houghton Deputy Jack Knight Head of Photography Conor Clarke Deputy Emily Whitehall

Joining PLUTO

Special thanks to: Nikki Walsh

Want to be part of the team?

Contact Matt Murphy 01772 894891 sumedia@uclan.ac.uk

CONTACT Pluto University of Central Lancashire Students’ Union Fylde Road Preston PR1 7BY Office Phone 01772 894891 Newsroom Phone 01772 894883/4889 Email sumedia@uclan.ac.uk

last year, although owner Pete Alexander vowed to keep the club standing Utill January.

A spokesperson from the Council has explained: “The contractors were granted oneoff approval for demolishing on a Sunday for health and safety reasons. This also took into consideration the

disruption to traffic that would result should demolition have taken place during the week.

As part of the approval, the contractors were tasked with dropping off leaflets to affected residents and businesses to forewarn them.”

Blitz was demolished in order to make room for the construction of an £18 million block of student accommodation as well as multiple new stores.

Before demolition: BLITZ nightclub

UCLAN STUDENT

WINS MISS PRESTON Abi Donoghue Deputy News Editor

Dominique Harrison-Bentzen was crowned Miss Preston 2015.

Known for her charity work, she was also awarded Miss Charity Preston.

In December last year she raised £46,231 for the Foxton Centre after spending 24 hours living on the streets. She then went on to raise money for children’s charity, Variety by walking from Preston Guild Hall to Blackpool Tower.

Photo by Hayley Tayloy

She is going on to represent Preston at the semi-finals of Miss England.

Dominique told Pluto; “I feel honoured to have won the title of Miss. Preston and I am looking forward to representing Preston in the Miss. England semi finals. I am also extremely proud to have been awarded Miss. Charity Preston.”

She also added that she would like to use her title as a platform for positive communication and inspire the younger generations with talks at local schools and continuing to raise money for local charities.

3

PLUTO | Issue 270

£25K LOANS FOR PHD STUDENTS Christopher Daly Reporter George Osbourne has recently announced loans of up to £25k will be available to PHD and research led master students.

In the final budget before the General Election, the Chancellor states that the Government would conduct a review into how funding for postgraduate research can be ‘strengthened’.

However, there is no clarification whether the loan pledges will be instituted or who has the ability to apply.

The announcement follows the autumn statement pledges of £10k loans for post-grad students under 30, which is set be introduced in the 2016/17 academic year.

The budget states: “Demand

for individuals with doctorates is outstripping supply, both in the UK and internationally… In addition, the market for postgraduate skills is becoming more internationally competitive.”

“Countries such as the US and China are competing more for top researchers and have increased PhD student numbers in recent years, whereas in the UK PhD enrolment has remained relatively flat.”

The loans were one of the more prominent elements of the “package of measures to broaden and strengthen support for postgraduate researchers” created to bolster PHD enrolment.

This features the introduction of £25k income contingent loans designed to aid existing funding from universities, industry and charities.

The existing plans will see the

introduction of financial support for Master’s students under the age of 30 for the 2016/17 academic year onwards.

UCLAN IN TOP 50 FOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Emmi Bowles Deputy Features Editor UCLan has been placed 48th in the UK for student experience, according to a Times Higher Education survey.

Results showed the university had jumped twenty two places from last year, ranking highest (19) in the category for students’ relationships with teaching staff.

Professor Gai Murphy, UCLan Pro

Vice-Chancellor said: “providing an excellent student experience is at the heart what we do and a rise in 22 places reflects our continuing commitment to this.”

The university has invested heavily over the past few years in new facilities for students such as the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, and a new £12.5million forensic science building.

This is topped with the recent £200million master plan development to start early next year. The masterplan is to further

enhance the quality of the UCLan student experience, along with a unified, sustainable and welcoming campus.

UCLan also placed 22nd in the UK for the price of bars, shops and amenities on campus.

Michael Nutter, Duty Manager of Source told Pluto: “It is great to see we are competitive in our pricing and that we are on the right track by delivering this to our students.”

“We have done what we can in the past 12 months to improve the quality of our food and

UCLAN TO ASSESS EXTREMISM Parliament.

What is not yet clear to UCLan Jacob Waite students is how the university Deputy News Editor would respond not just to ‘violent extremism’, but also to ‘non-violent extremism’. Under UCLan says it takes the safety the Act, universities have a duty and security of its students and to address any situations in staff ‘very seriously’ in response which they feel an ‘atmosphere to Home Office guidance on conducive to terrorism’ is being monitoring extremist created. In practice, this activity. may be hard to do A university without silencing spokesperson outspoken said that extreme students, or views on forcing student ethnicity and THERESA MAY societies to HOME SECRETARY sexuality, not tone down any just religion and contentious politics, would campaigning. be dealt with But despite fears through the uni’s that UK campuses could ‘regulatory framework’, be hotbeds for radicalisation, as well as ongoing interUCLan does not intend to silence faith and community relations its students, the spokesperson work. said. Instead, it seeks to “The University of Central balance freedom of speech Lancashire (UCLan) takes the with anti-terrorism and criminal issue of extremism very seriously legislation, by keeping lines of and is alert to it in all its forms,” communication open. the spokesperson said. What is “The University manages less clear is how the university the challenges of extremism ensures its awareness of student through its regulatory activity. framework, engagement with Home Office guidance on the government’s ‘Prevent’ monitoring extremism - issued strategy and through the active earlier this year under the promotion of good inter-faith Counter-Terrorism Act 2015 - has and community relations,” he been seen by some UK students said. as a ‘snooper’s charter’, with “The university and the universities apparently being students’ union promote good directed to risk assess students and healthy community relations and identify and monitor by supporting the legitimate those thought to be vulnerable activities of a wide range of well to radicalisation, then take managed student societies and ‘appropriate action’. activities, and provide close However, such an approach support for their activities within could shut down free speech, the framework of the policies according to students at Cardiff of the union, and the University University who led a national Code of Practice on Freedom of outcry against the legislation Speech.” while it was still going through

beverages and to bring them up well for providing tuition in to a standard that we have never small groups at number 20, and been able to achieve in the past, having helping and interesting but also keeping our staff. Students also voted prices reasonable and highly in forging good affordable which relationships with was a difficult their teaching UCLAN PLACED balancing act. staff and But this does creating a good show we are community achieving what atmosphere at we set out. number 19 on We are the list.

FOR STUDENT l o o k i n g Last year the EXPERIENCE forward to what university was we can achieve in ranked in The the next academic Guardian’s University year as we try to better Guide as one of the our food and beverages and highest one of the UK’s most bring a better dining and social improved universities having experience to the students of leaped 20 places to 67th position UCLan.” He added out of 116 universities.

The university also scored

48

th

4

MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015 | PLUTO

GOLDEN ROSES SHORTLIST RELEASED

UCLan Students’ Union has announced the shortlisted nominees for the 6th annual Golden Roses awards.

The Golden Roses are a student-led teaching award ceremony which allow pupils to reward staff at the University of Central Lancashire with awards from a range of categories.

Stevie Seymour, UCLan Education Officer said: “It’s been a really positive way to build good relationships and to find out what students think great teaching and support looks like, as well as bringing staff and students together to celebrate success.

This good practice allows

the university to identify the fantastic work their employees do and share these examples.”

This year will be the sixth annual Student-Led Teaching Awards event held at UCLan Students’ Union.

He added: “What is particularly special about our awards is that the process is entirely student-led from nomination to presentation.

So thank you to all who have nominated, and those staff who have worked so hard that their efforts have been recognised and have resulted in students nominating them.

On behalf of the Student Affairs Committee, we would like to congratulate all those that have been nominated this year” UCLan have received 1593 nominations across various award projects including We Heart U, Runshaw and Myerscough Golden Roses.

The Golden Roses awards ceremony is due to take place on Tuesday 28th April at 6pm in 53 degrees. The event is not ticketed and is open to all staff and students to attend.

SUMMER SURVIVAL Emmi Bowles Deputy Features Editor UCLan will be hosting its annual Summer Survival on May 16th at the Student’s Union and Source Bar. It has been announced that UCLan’s Summer Survival, hosted

by Source will take place on Saturday 16th May. Summer Survival is a full day of activities hosted by the university’s student bar Source and 53 Degrees. The day will start a 12pm and carry on until 4am.

“The event is a good way to say farewell to your friends before you leave for the summer.” Said

Michael Nutter, Duty Manager of Source.

The event will be split across three rooms where there will be DJ’s and a music theme for each room. This will included a Sourcey Saturday theme and Karaoke.

Outside events are planned but are weather dependent.

The theme for survival this year is Mardi Gras. There will be free Mardi Gras theme masks up for grabs and the first 500 tickets to be purchased will get a free T-shirt.

Tickets are £5 each and are on sale now. You can purchased them from the Source bar, next to the Student’s Union.

LEADIING EQUALITY AWARD • Susan Uttley (School of Education and Social Science) • David Leeming (School of Language, Literature and International Studies) • Carl Morris (School of Education and Social Science) • Rachel Nir (Lancashire Law School) OUSTANDING FEEDBACK AWARD • John Hrycak (School of Education and Social Science) • Matthew Davies (School of Language, Literature and International Studies) • Dominic Bowman (School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences) • Alina Petrescu (Lancashire Business School).

REAL WORLD LEARNING AWARD • Debbie Williams (School of Journalism and Media) • Takako Amano (School of Language, Literature and International Studies) • Emma McAndry (Lancashire Law School) • Nick Passenger (School of Sport, Tourism and the Outdoors) SUSTAINABLE TEACHING AWARD • Carol Wallace (School of Sport, Tourism and the Outdoors) • Dianne Scullion (Lancashire Law School) • Nicola Lowe (School of Sport, Tourism and the Outdoors).

MOST INNOVATIVE TEACHING AWARD • Chris Kiely (School of Health) • David Leeming (School of Language, Literature and International Studies) • Ash Khan (Myerscough College) • Louise Bell (Myerscough College).

POSTGRADUATE SUPPORT AWARD • (Peter) Shaun Mills (Lancashire Law School) • Chris Kiely (School of Health) • Clive Palmer (School of Sport, Tourism and the Outdoors).

PERSONAL TUTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD • Carolyn King (School of Education and Social Science) • Karl Lester (Lancashire Business School) • Alice O’Sullivan (School of Social Work) • Judith Murphy (School of Health).

UNIVERSITY SERVICE OF THE YEAR AWARD • Lancashire Law School Office (Lancashire Law School) • Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre (Facilities Management) • School of Health Office (School of Health) • Law Clinic (Lancashire Law School).

BEYIND THE SCENES AWARD • Linda Burns (Hospitality and

Catering) • Paul Jackson (School of Heath) • Brian Moss (Learning and Information Services) • Paul Birbeck (School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences).

SCHOOL OF THE YEAR AWARD • School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences • School of Health • Lancashire Law School • School of Language • Literature and International Studies.

COURSE TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD • BA (Hons) Acting (School of Art, Design and Performance) • BA/BSc (Hons) Geography/ Environmental Mgmt (School of Architecture, Construction and Environment) • FdA Sports Coaching (Runshaw College) • FdSc Policing (School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences).

LECTURER OF THE YEAR AWARD • Debbie Williams (School of Journalism and Media) • Takako Amano (School of Language • Literature and International Studies) • (Peter) Shaun Mills (Lancashire Law School) • Edward Beaman (School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences).

Advantage Credits: GOT A NEWS STORY? TWEET US @UCLANPLUTO

Jacob Waite Deputy News Editor

Use them or Lose them!!

Spend them by 30th June 2015...

Time is running out!

Acer TravelMate Laptop 15.6” HD Screen Windows 8 64-bit Installed 1.70 GHz Intel Pentium DC Processor 4GB RAM 500GB Hard Drive 3 Year Warranty 399 Credits Macbook Pro 13-inch: 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 4GB RAM 500GB Hard Drive Intel HD Graphics with Neoprene Case 975 Credits

MOS Exams Registration and Exam 10 Credits

And don’t forget you can also buy Waterstones Book Vouchers Vouchers, Printing and Photocopying Credit as well as a range of services from UCLan Print using your Credits!

5

PLUTO | Issue 270

EX-UCLAN STUDENT VOWS TO IMPORVE PRESTON’S HEALTH Georgie Clark Reporter A UCLan graduate has made it his mission to get Preston fit.

Personal trainer, Shaun Spencer, is doing everything he can to get people of the city healthy, after Preston was named the UK’s unhealthiest high-street.

Spencer is determined to follow in the footsteps of family members who have successfully ran their own fitness businesses.

At the age of 28, Spencer, became one of the youngest UEFA coaches in England and has trained Premier League footballers like Joleon Lescott and Tom Ince.

Whilst at university he was given the opportunity to study at Manchester United’s Academy, where he was later offered a job at Blackpool Football Club.

Spencer was part of the coaching staff during Blackpool’s best ever start to a season, and reminisces about the time he spent with the club at their pre-season training in Portugal.

Now no longer under contract with Blackpool Spencer wants to change the lives of others in the city he first studied.

He feels the best tip he can give when it comes to physical exercise is: “If you’re going to train, train.

Don’t let your brain trick you into staying within your comfort zone.”

UCLAN’S BUSINESS BREAKFAST

DEEMED SUCCESS Abi Donoghue Deputy News Editor UCLan played host to the second Breakfast Forum in the University’s Media Factory, which Business leaders throughout the North West attended.

The event was run by UCLan’s Lancashire Business School and the Innovation and Enterprise team, focusing upon creative thinking.

Guests were asked to use their innovative skills in a ‘LEGO Serious Play’ taster session, being asked

to build the tallest tower possible which then had to endure a ‘tilt test’ to see if it could stay standing.

After this, the business experts were tasked to build models which they felt reflected their personalities or jobs out of the Lego.

Dharma Kovvuri, Dean of the Lancashire Business School told UCLan: “This was a great event which brought many business people from across the region to express their creativity and share their experiences.

It was also excellent to see examples of pupils move on from UCLan and thrive so well in what

can be a tough environment by bringing new ideas and a fresh approach to companies.”

The next Breakfast Forum is scheduled to take place in the summer of this year.

SEX INDUSTRY STUDENTS ASK

FOR HELP

advice to avoid it. The University of Swansea’s three year study: ‘Student Sex Work Project’ also found that a fifth of students ....workers in Preston. have “considered” sex work. More However, the university say they than half of those feared they would never back students’ choice would have to keep their risqué to work in this field. work a secret to avoid prejudice.

A university spokesperson said: Despite some aspects of the “The safety and welfare of UCLan sex industry being legal, such students is a key priority for the as licensed strip clubs, Pluto University. understands there are at least six “We would never advocate illegal brothels within the Preston working in the sex industry area. but we recognise that Other internet-based some students will go work such as webcam, down this path. phone lines and chat “Working in messaging is also the sex industry easily accessible. should never be a STUDENTS ARE Isabel*, who is necessity and the SEX WORKERS a webcam model university has a range said: “People can of measures in place get weirdly obsessed for students who need and you don’t want them advice, support and sometimes turning up on your doorstep or at assistance to step away from it. your uni!

“Students can be assured they Jayme* added: “I have been can access university support found by clients as I have services and discuss this subject identifiable features and they’ve without feeling stigmatised.” tried to contact me outside of Nationally, sex work still work. remains an active career choice for students despite university *Not their real names

continued from front page

1/20

6

MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015 | PLUTO

LIVE ART IN PRESTON Abi Donoghue Deputy News Editor UCLan and Angel Club (north) partnered up last week to bring live art to Preston city centre.

The micro-festival, Derelict Sites, ran until Sunday 19th April, taking place all over the city. Shopping centres, cafes, museums and the train station were just some of the places the art appeared. One of the highlights being an outdoor performance on the roof of the Harris Museum A collection of artists were invited to engage the public in exciting and new explorations of the city.

Festival director Chris Gilligan commented: “At Derelict we are dedicated to promoting Preston as a developing cultural city.

Through this festival and in our continued work, we

hope to engage and inspire the community of Preston, generating wider participation and encouraging new audiences for contemporary performance and art in the North West of England.”

Derelict is an original programme that has been developed from an old platform that UCLan hosted between 2003 and 2008 at its old art centre.

It was originally named after a neo-classical building. They originally supported emergent artists and gave support to the likes of Levantes Dance Theatre, Ben Faulkes, Jamie Fletcher and Pigeon Theatre to name a few.

Derelict Spaces is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and The University or Central Lancashire.

For more information on performances, times and venues visit the Derelict Spaces website or the Posthaven blog.

STUDENTS NEED HELP WITH UNIVERSITY TRANSITION Ellen Kirwin Reporter University students ‘urgently need more support’ in the transition from school, according to the HMC. Richard Harman, chair of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ conference (HMC), said: “Considerable work will be needed to ensure all students in the UK are resilient at each stage of their development.”

The University of Central Lancashire aim to tackle the adversities of transitioning through higher education by offering new students the chance to experience university life before enrolling in September with its ‘Flying Start’ scheme.

Flying Start aims to help new students understand what to expect with the opportunity to stay on campus or attend a nonresidential event. The scheme offers extensive knowledge of how to manage life as a student and learn where to access through UCLan’s Support Services and meet new students.

UCLan state students who attend Flying Start are “far more likely to progress to the second year and will be more likely to complete their undergraduate degree.”

Pluto spoke to students who attended the Flying Start scheme.

Alex Sleight, a first year Policing and Criminal Investigation student

said: “…It helped know your way around and meet people before arriving and the different types of help you can get from student finance.”

He added: “You realised that you’re all in the same boat and nervous about leaving home.”

One foundation student said: “It was really good I met some new people and got a taste for uni life before I actually started, and it gave me an insight to uni life so I was less nervous about starting.”

However, the head of Uppingham School in Rutland, warns that both independent and state school pupils are under “more pressure than ever before”, with worries about jobs, housing and increased debt contributing to this anxiety.

Support for sixth form pupils can “dry up” when they reach university, despite it being a time of “acute anxiety”, Harman states.

The results of a previously unpublished HMC survey from

2011, shows that 75 per cent of state and independent school pupils rated their school’s pastoral support as either ‘very’ or ‘quite’ good.

This is in comparison to 53 per cent of those in higher education.

In the final year of university, only 18 per cent of students consider support to have been ‘very good’, according to the study.

UCLAN LECTURER CONSIDERED FOR ORWELL AWARD Lewis Downes Deputy News Editor

Clare Sambrook, UCLan Journalism Tutor

A part-time UCLan Journalism tutor has been longlisted for the ‘highly prestigious’ Orwell Prize.

Clare Sambrook, who teaches at the University of Central Lancashire, has been nominated for the highly prestigious Orwell Prize.

The award-winning journalist is in contention for one of journalism’s highest honours and is recognised for the second time in the journalism category of the Orwell Prize for her work in exposing injustice, challenging official lying, and providing intelligence and ammunition to people working for policy change.

In addition to her work at UCLan, Clare is a novelist, freelance journalist and a founder of the

citizens’ campaign End Child Detention Now. She is a co-editor of Our Kingdom, the UK section of open Democracy and an editor of the Shine A Light project.

Clare said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have made the Orwell Prize longlist for the second time in three years. It’s a real honour to be in such strong company on the list, and I’m delighted that Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi, whose work I publish, is there too.”

Her submission exposes waste, greed and dishonesty in the privatisation of public services.

For “The racist texts; What the Mubenga trial jury was not told” Clare dredged inquest transcripts to gather violent racist material that was found in possession of two of the three G4S guards who were cleared of the manslaughter of Jimmy Mubenga.

“Nice work: G4S wins $118

million Guantánamo contract”, written by Clare was followed by The Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, and the Daily Mail, and provoked a complaint from Reprieve to the UK government.

In 2010 she won both the Paul Foot Award and Bevins Prize for Outstanding Investigative Reporting. Clare is one of 15 journalists who have made it on to the longlist and will find out on the 21st April if she has been selected for the shortlist of six.

The Orwell Prize is Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing and was established by the late Professor Sir Bernard Crick in 1994. Every year, prizes are awarded for the work which comes closest to George Orwell’s ambition ‘to make political writing into an art’.

7

PLUTO | Issue 270

ARENA TO HOLD FIRST COLOUR RUN UCLan’s students and staff are ready to be showered in paint as they gear up for the first ever colour run.

UCLan Sports Arena (USA) will play host to the event on 25 April.

The race, which costs £5 for students and staff to enter, includes a 5K run which equals to three times round the running track at the arena.

Samantha Cadwallader, one of the main organisers for the event, spoke to Pluto about the run.

“The timing of it is great,” She said, “In terms of it being towards the end of the semester, it’s a bit of a celebration, something fun enabling students to wind down after a tough year of

studying.

“The focus was to say to students ‘come and join in and have some fun.’ It’s also quite challenging and cheap as well!”

She also made it clear that it is not a timed event and so those who desire a finishing time will have to self-time. Participants can walk, run, dance or ‘skip your way to the finish line, and a white t-shirt will be provided on the day of the event to show off all the colours.

Students have been assured that the paint is safe, eco-friendly powder paint, and to turn up on time for 9:30am for registration on the day.

Shiva Omidvar-Tehrani from the Sports Arena is also helping in the organisation of the event, and said it’s the ‘finale’ to one of the many events they’ve held at the arena this year to help encourage more students to ‘be

active’. “We are all very excited.”

She said. “It is something new to us and we have been working with various other organisations such as YBD, PSTV, UCLan Worldwise Samba Drummers, and Preston Photographic Society to make this event a great success.”

The event will be raising money for the Marie Curie and donations can be made on the day or you can set up a JustGiving page

NEW CAMP AMERICA SCHEME FOR UCLAN Lily O’Sullivan Reporter UCLan have introduced a graduate scheme allowing students to use experience gained from Camp America toward a postgraduate-level degree.

The Camp America Graduate scheme allows students to gain 20 academic credits and a postgraduate certificate in International Industry Based Experience for their summer’s work. These credits can then be put towards a relevant full degree, which are typically valued at a total of 180 credits.

The introduction is held at the universities Preston Campus, where UCLan students attend a variety of lectures and workshops.

The rest of the work is conducted online, and culminates in a written assignment which covers the personal, professional and academic development from the summer camp experience, based on recognised theoretical models and perspectives.

Nigel Garratt, head of CPD at UCLan said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for students interested in postgraduate study.

Staff members from the sports arena explain the colour run on a YouTube video

Experiences like Camp America can be invaluable for both personal and professional development, and this new initiative provides a unique chance to gain academic recognition too. Our expert lecturers will ensure the benefits of this experience are maximised.”

Pluto spoke to Elliot Ditton, UCLan Camp Counsellor at Camp Turk in New York, who believes the scheme is an “absolutely excellent idea” and prepares you for future employers.

He said: “I was in the theatre department so I put on shows with the kids, after that successful year I was rehired for another three years as a theatre director so I train new staff and I get paid a bit more which is always good… but your main job is looking after the kids.”

Students that wish to continue with their studies can progress to the next module, where an additional 40 credits are on offer for completing another assignment.

The second year Music Theatre student added: “You learn a lot about yourself and you grow as a person.”

This year’s introduction to the course is being held at UCLan’s Preston Campus on Friday 1 – Sunday 3 May

GOT A NEWS STORY? TWEET US @UCLANPLUTO

Lucy Hill Reporter

UCLan SU Activities & Participation Officer (APO) Josie Linsel said: “Looking like it’s going to be a big success. Great to see something new on campus. It would be great to work with the sports arena and UCLan Sport next year to help it grow even more” For anymore information, visit the event page: “UCLan Color Fun” or contact sarena@uclan.ac.uk by email and 01772 761000 by phone.

Going along to the event?

Tweet your pictures to @UCLanPluto

8

MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015 | PLUTO

F E A T U R E S

SUSTAINING OUR WORLD UCLAN GREEN LADDER GO TO THE STUDENT SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT Izaac Cole Reporter On Monday, March 23rd, UCLan’s Green Ladder volunteers came together with students from across the country for the UK’s first ever Student Sustainability Summit.

The purpose of the event was to encourage students to voice their concerns at a time when climate change targets are fast approaching, and they fear we are not doing enough.

“Our leaders haven’t been leading on sustainability. It’s time for the student movement to lead instead” – Piers Telemacque, NUS Vice President, Society and Citizenship - as he opened the conference.

The agenda is reminiscent of UCLan’s Green week back in February – just on a much, much bigger scale. It was organized between the National Union for Students, EAUC and People and Planet. It took place at the University of Leeds – they have a duck house, yes, a DUCK HOUSE! Sustainability as a student means living in a way that minimises our waste, whether that be food or energy.

It also means thinking about where we get these products from; and how far they have travelled. Is the petrol we put in our student motors environmentally friendly?

‘Disinvesting’ from

Be the change because you are the change. unsustainable business is key as a university; stopping any relationship between UCLan and dirty providers is essential. Instead we should work with ethical and environmentally sensitive partners.

No one brought this home as much as conference guest speaker Crystal Lameman, who has seen her Canadian homeland, carved up by the oil industry.

Features Editor Jasleen Kaur

Deputy Editor Emmi Bowles

Crystal explains how in decades gone by her ancestors made a legally binding treaty in 1876, which has been completely ignored by the oil industry.

Their intervention has caused widespread pollution leading to the draining of lakes and mutation of wildlife; things her family relied on and enjoyed.

Her talk made me reflect on the current Fracking debate in Lancashire and the potential consequences of letting Cuadrilla get their own way.

Crystal said, “Your role as young academics is to build skills and understanding. Be the change because you are the change. You have to want something different.”

Naomi McLellan, third year Community and Social Care student, said “After seeing her speak on stage, she made me realize how important it is to act locally and have a positive impact – both nationally and globally.”

Crystal’s sentiment was carried in the days following activity workshops, with titles such as “Disinvest Uni’s 5.2 billion”, to “Get sustainability into the curriculum” During the workshops our Green Ladder group, consisting of Abi Law, Naomi McLellan, Emma Bartlet, Vanessa Silva and Lisa Moench.

I asked Abi Law, UCLan 3rd year Business student: What have you taken away from the “Circular Economy” session?

“I’ve learned that we could generate a sustainable economy at UCLan by buying disposable plastic products out of plant based substances. That means they can decompose afterwards.”

I attended the “Strategy and Curriculum” workshop with Vanessa Silva and Emma Bartlet (Student Union staff).

The workshop involved discussion with other students as to how we could create impact.

Afterwards, I asked Vanessa Silva, Green Ladder employee: How do you rank your influence to create sustainable change at UCLan? “6 out of 10.

My job is more about talking to students and staff regarding

sustainability in the curriculum.

Today has helped me to see outside our university bubble and be inspired by what other institutions are doing.

Take action by contacting Green Ladder and getting involved or join UCLan’s Go Green society.

Crystal Lame man and Naomi McLellan (Above) Emma Bartlet and Vanessa Silva (Below) Lisa Moench, McLellan, Vanessa Silva, Izaac Cole Emma Bartlet and Abi Law (Bottom)

9

PLUTO | Issue 270

CROWDFUNDING FOR STUDENTS Worldwide Debt Free Accomodation Scholarship Launched

Emmi Bowles Deputy Features Editor With tuition fees at £9,000 here in the UK, and accommodation taking up a big chunk of your student loan, it is surprising that we as students have anything left over.

University courses have hidden costs, from printing fees, to text books and trips. Students may to get part-time jobs to help pay their way at university, or even work full-time over the summer months.

But now a new way of obtaining the funds for the roof over your head has popped up in the form of crowd-funding scholarships.

Uniplaces, a company that helps students find accommodation, has started the first ever crowd-funded accommodation scholarship. Living the Dream Scholarship is a worldwide project that aims to fund the housing cost for selected students. It will work on a social growth model, and for every booking that Uniplaces gets, they will put £1 into the fund, and the cycle will continue with each new applicant. With a 500% growth from last year,

there is no way of knowing how big this project will become.

In celebration of its launch, Uniplaces have announced a trial run of the scholarship, offering five students across the globe the chance to win the funds for their accommodation for the rest of the current semester.

In order for students to be in with a chance of winning, all they have to do is upload videos of themselves committing random acts of kindness that make their university or the lives of fellow students better. Examples suggested so far on the Uniplaces social media include topping up a housemate’s travel card to organising furniture swap shops on campus.

Ben Greth , co-founder of Uniplaces said: “The Living the Dream Scholarship is testament to our commitment to breaking down social and geographical barriers for students. It offers the chance of financial support while at the same time inspiring students to be extra nice to each other from day to day.”

Francisco Peres, who has had a big role in creating the scholarship and blog Editor for Uniplaces said: “we wanted to help make

UNIPLACES TRAIL SCHOLARSHIP VIDEO

this world we live in one where students can help other students.”

With the scholarship being a wordwide, Francisco said that to catch their attention you should think outside the box. “It is not just an act of kindness, but a random act of kindness. The more random the more you’ll stand out.”

Kind acts could be submitted by Friday 17th April. Anyone can head to the website to sign up to vote for their favourite kind acts and donate to the Scholarship fund.

Profiles with the most votes will be in with the best chance of obtaining one of the first ever Living the Dream Scholarships.

Winners of the pilot Scholarship, will be selected by a Uniplaces judging panel, and then be announced on Tuesday 21st April.

Any donations received will go

straight into the Living the Dream Scholarship fund for next semester.

Crowdfunding has become a new and diverse way of obtaining funds for projects. The worldwide crowdfunding volume is $2,806million according to statista. com. With companies available such as Kickstarter and UCLan’s own Pushfund.me crowd funding service, students are able to try and raise funds they need to complete projects they have a passion for.

Pushfund.me, UCLan’s’ own crowd-funding service was set up a year ago, and is still in the process of being completed. Currently the team at Pushfund.me are able to help students develop videos and pitches for other crowd-funding services, such as Kickstarter.

One current example of the work Pushfund.me has done

with helping students can be seen with the third year Fashion and Brand Promotion students. They have created a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign in order to raise £1600.

The students have decided to embark on an innovative crowdfunding method to help them cover the costs of producing a creative brochure to showcase all of their skills gained throughout the four year course.

The brochure will be distributed to prospective employers and at Graduate Fashion Week where industry representatives scout the latest talent.

Eve Astle, Course Leader expresses her excitement as this is one of the first university courses to be featured on Kickstarter.

“I am extremely proud of all the students for their dedication and professionalism in producing and directing every aspect on the Kickstarter video. A great promotion idea, a worthy cause and a great way to help them get noticed” Charlie Craven, social media and marketing assistant at UCLan, spoke to Pluto about

crowdfunding.

“The great thing about crowdfunding is that if you were to go to a venture capitalist you would have a 1% chance of succeeding, with crowd funding there is a 44% chance.”

Crowdfunding is all about getting the public to fund your project, and they will do so if they believe in it or find it interesting.

“If it has social value then people are more likely to put in to it.” Charlie said. “I think it is really important because it democratises something, it is not just those who have the money who decide what gets funded but everybody.”

For anybody who wishes to start their own crowd funding project, they can email Charlie at CPCraven1@uclan.ac.uk to find out more information on the support they can get.

YOU

could be featuring in our next Pluto!

Contact us now @UCLanPluto or message us on Facebook

10

MONDAY 16 MARCH 2015 | PLUTO

C O

THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF BRITAIN COULD DECIDE THE GENERAL ELECTION

M M E N T Alex Sambrook Comment Editor With the General Election almost upon us people up and down the country are wading through the swamp of political jargon and frustratingly ambiguous sound bites ,trying to figure out which party best deserves their vote.

Emmi There is,Bowles however, a rather large section of society that has chosen to Deputy Features Editor shun the ballot booths altogether, instead opting to moan about how they’re disillusioned by Westminster politics inbetween retweeting Russell Brand and taking selfies in Che Guevara T-shirts they got from the Topman sale.

That section of society is, of course, young people.

The idea of organised revolution appeals to young people about as much as any other organised activity – it quite simply just doesn’t

Comment Editor Alex Sambrook

Deputy Editor Megan Critchley

I accept that not all of Britain’s youth can be accurately tarnished with this trendy, super left-wing brush. However, only 32% of 18-24 year old voted in the 2013 local elections - although one might be more inclined to accept that this low percentage might be more to do with young people’s apathy towards politics in general rather than a revolutionary desire to burn our political elite at the stake.

Despite what good old Russ might think, mobilising Britain’s youth to march on Westminster waving pitchforks might prove a bit more difficult than he first imagined. The idea of organised revolution appeals to young people about as much as any other organised activity – it quite simply just doesn’t.

This is why if Mr Brand wants to see real change in the way political processes occur in this country, he should be encouraging young people to vote. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for direct action, but you’re a lot more likely to see a 19-year-old student popping down to a polling booth for five minutes than standing in a picket line freezing off their nether-regions.

The argument put forward most often when I speak to students and young people who aren’t planning to exercise their right to vote is that they feel neglected by politicians who spend so much time and money on hashing out policies for the middleaged and elderly whilst implementing policies such as the rise in tuition fees and the abolition of EMA (education maintenance allowance) that actively disadvantage them.

As a student it’s easy to empathise with these grievances but if we continue to be vastly under represented at the ballot booth they will do nothing but continue As a student it’s easy to empathise

with these grievances but if we continue to be vastly under represented at the ballot booth they will do nothing but continue.

It is no surprise that so much policy is geared towards appeasing the elderly when 72% of those over the age of 65 managed to vote in the 2013 local elections The reason parties are so quick to neglect young people is because it’s quite simply doesn’t matter. If we’re not turning up to polling stations on 7th May then it doesn’t matter how many of us call the Prime Minister a wanker on Twitter (don’t lie, you’ve done it) because we’re not a threat to his job so he’s not going to waste time and resources bending over backwards to make us happy.

It is no surprise that so much policy is geared towards appeasing the elderly when 72% of those over the age of 65 managed to vote in the 2013 local elections. It would also come as no surprise then that if young people turned out in similar swathes in the next election we would see a lot more policy directed our way.

We are at the most interesting political crossroads in a number of years with parties like UKIP, no matter what you think of them, showing that it is possible for new parties and ideas to break into Britain’s political elite.

As young people we have a social responsibility to make our presence known so that we do not get left

behind as we move into a new era of politics. I’m not suggesting that simply turning up to vote is going to uproot hundreds of years of Westminster politics but even spoiling your ballot is a step in the right direction.

Got an opinion you think should be heard?

YOU could be writing our next comment article.

Contact us now: Twitter @UCLanPluto Email sumedia@uclan.ac.uk

PLUTO | Issue 270

MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS UNDERSTANDING NOT BRANDING

11

Hannah Bober gives her take on Chamali Fernando’s controversial suggestion that mental health patients should wear wristbands...

Hannah Bober Reporter

Last week Chamali Fernando, a Conservative parliamentary candidate for Cambridge, sparked controversy when she suggested that mental health patients should wear wristbands to identify their illness. Since then both mental health campaigners and fellow politicians have called for her to retract her comments and step down.

My life revolves around mental illness. When I was younger I suffered from severe bouts of depression and early last year I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I also work at a clinic helping with art projects for people who suffer from mental health issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and many more.

My friends and family have been very supportive throughout - encouraging me to seek help, asking questions and generally being there when I’ve

needed support. However, I have met people who have not been as fortunate as me.

Sadly, even today, mental illness still comes with a stigma attached. This is why so many people try to hide their feelings, avoid admitting problems and could possibly be why suicide rates are rising.

After all, I am the person who takes the medication every day, I am the person who regularly attends counselling sessions and I am the person who is living with this illness, no one else The idea of reaching out and revealing that you are not coping mentally is hard enough without having other peoples’ judgements to deal with on top of that.

Since I was diagnosed, I have been quite open about the fact that I live with mental health issues and that is because I want people to see that it’s okay to struggle. I strongly believe that people need to realise that admitting there is a problem does not mean that you are a weak person, but instead it should be seen as a sign of strength.

However, being open about my bipolar disorder was my choice to make. After all, I am the person who takes the medication every day, I am the person who regularly attends counselling sessions and I am the person who is living with this illness, no one else.

Personally, wearing a wristband identifying my mental illness would not bother me in the slightest because I don’t mind people knowing, but not everybody feels the same way as I do.

Throughout my counselling sessions and my work at a mental health clinic I have been fortunate enough to meet some incredible people. Some people are like me and very open about their

conditions, but quite a high number of people I’ve met choose only to tell a select number of people about their diagnosis.

there, some who suffered anxiety found it difficult with the constant clapping that took place on the conference floor. ‘Jazz hands’ is actually the British sign language sign for clapping which is why it was used. The Women’s conference aims to be a safe space for all people who come to feel comfortable and enjoy their experience. This is how it should be everywhere.

What is frustrating is that all the amazing work that went on at the conference was overshadowed and not reported on as heavily.

What should have been trending on Twitter was the policy passed which featured the inclusivity and representation of trans people both at university and at the conference; free education; free periods; greater support and government accountability against FGM; the decriminalisation of sex work; greater support for parents and carers and discussion on intersectionality.

This was my first women’s conference and it was an amazing experience, but it felt like people on the internet were waiting for an excuse to attack the conference, the people there and to condemn

the idea of work towards women’s liberation.

Mental health is a difficult topic that not many people are able to comprehend and I know that although my family and friends are supportive, none of them truly understand about my mental illness It is because of these people that people with mental illnesses should not have to wear wristbands identifying their conditions. People with mental health issues are no different from people with other illnesses, yet people who have cancer, AIDS or other illnesses do not have to out themselves publicly with their illness, so why should we have to?

Chamali Fernando In regards to Chamali Fernando, I don’t believe that she should stand down. Mental health is a difficult topic that not many people are able to comprehend and I know that although my family and friends are supportive, none of them truly understand about my mental illness, and that is because thankfully they haven’t experienced it first-hand like I have.

Ms Fernando should revisit the comments she made and realise that while she may have meant them in a positive way, producing ideas that mean outing people with mental health issues and forcing them stand out in society is not the way forward.

Many of us already feel like outsiders on the inside, we don’t need to be identified as different on the outside as well.

ALL THAT JAZZ Rachelle Cohen Reporter

On the 24th of March, I and other self-defining women from all over the country attended the NUS Women’s conference. Featuring a range of wonderful women with a passion for activism, the event started out as a great experience.

This was until what seemed like the whole of the internet was shaken by a tweet sent out by NUS Women’s’ Conference asking delegates to use ‘Jazz Hands’ instead of clapping for people who suffer Anxiety.

Trolls found social networking profiles, dating profiles and made pictures cruelly mocking the people there – making fun of the use of ‘jazz hands’ and disrespecting people’s needs.

That evening the BBC wrote an article explaining this and what followed was a storm of tweets sent out, mocking the use of ‘jazz hands’ which then became one of the most popular topics trending

on Twitter. This then caused a range of horrific tweets aimed at the people who attended women’s conference.

Trolls found social networking profiles, dating profiles and made pictures cruelly mocking the people there – making fun of the use of ‘jazz hands’ and disrespecting people’s needs.

We shouldn’t be mocking people’s mental health needs, taking up a Twitter feed with sexist, racist, transphobic and homophobic comments This was not only on Twitter, but news feeds on Facebook were becoming clogged up with people commenting on feminists apparently trying to ban clapping and making jokes over the delegates there affected by it. Over the 3 days the hatred became worse which led to the women’s conference hashtag being changed three times in a bid to avoid these comments.

The reason we decided not to clap was to ensure the inclusivity and the comfort of all delegates

What I want is for people not to make offensive judgements on what they do not understand - ask questions instead, we welcome that!

In the 21st century this should not be the case, yet it is something which is thriving. We shouldn’t be mocking people’s mental health needs, taking up a Twitter feed with sexist, racist, transphobic and homophobic comments and making ignorant and offensive comments about the use of something as simple, yet as important, as jazz hands.

More than ever this highlighted the validity of what

Could this be the end for clapping?

we are advocating. This is why we need a National Women’s Conference and people actively advocating women’s rights.

We don’t want to ban clapping, nor do we want to ban cake (according to certain comments made all feminists hate cake too).

What I want is for people not to make offensive judgements on what they do not understand - ask questions instead, we welcome that!

12

All the latest fashion, advice, recipes and more.

For more coverage, head over to PLUTO online: pluto-online.com/lifestyle

L I F E S T Y L E

REVIEW OF THE MONTH SLEEK CONTOUR KIT

Chloe Kenyon Lifestyle Editor Each month the lifestyle team will try out a new product and provide an honest review for our students.

This month, we have chosen to review a popular beauty product; the Sleek contour kit.

Instagram feeds everywhere are filled with filtered selfies of girls with contoured skin and they have products like the Sleek contour kit to thank for their hundreds of likes.

At a reasonable price, the kit provides a dark powder to apply as your contour and lighter powder as a highlight. While the packaging is basic, the product itself is amazing.

Both the contour powder and the highlight are highly pigmented and blend very easily; allowing for easy application for newbies.

The kit makes any makeup look appear polished and put together

and will have you Instagram ready in no time. This Sleek palette is my favourite contour kit and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a reasonably priced, great makeup product.

MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015 | PLUTO

SURVIVING THE

EXAM PERIOD Chloe Kenyon Lifestyle Editor It’s here.

The dreaded exam period is upon us. With deadlines looming and test dates rapidly approaching, students everywhere are thinking the same thing; “how am I going to survive?”

Luckily for you, Pluto have decided to put to gether a list of tips, tricks and hacks for surviving the exam period.

Happy studying!

1. Revision timetables One of the most important things to do during the exam period is to manage your time wisely. Creating a revision or work time table is a great way of doing this. Planning what you will do and when makes it much more difficult to procrastinate.

2. Rewards The biggest incentive for any student is getting a reward for your work. Set a goal for yourself; a certain amount of hours of revision will earn you a takeaway, finishing an assignment will earn you a pint or two – It could be anything, as long as it motivates you.

3. Block distractions If you’re using your computer to study or complete assignments, ensure you have everything you’ll need downloaded, then switch off your internet. The same can be done for your phone using an app called SelfControl, which will eliminate your access to selected websites for however long you choose, removing the temptation.

4. Record your lectures Dictaphones are free to loan from Harrington and the Media Factory and are a great way of getting all the information from your lectures. When taking notes, there is a good chance you’ll miss something important; recording them ensures you capture every word.

5. Stressed out Students (S.O.S)

Our Campaigns Officer Lucy Haigh is organising a week for UCLan’s stressed out students.

People will be handing out S.O.S packs, offering a free BBQ and even a puppy room.

Dont forget to celebrate and reward yourself for your hard work when its all over.

TOP TIPS ON GETTING

BIKINI-READY THIS SUMMER

Vanessa King Reporter The academic year is drawing to a close and our minds are turning to summer. Whether going abroad or staying at home we are all keen to whip ourselves into shape for the hottest period of the year. Here are some basic tips to get yourself bikini confident.

Lifestyle Editor Chloe Kenyon

Deputy Editor Emma Rosemurgey

1. Squats With celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé flaunting the ideal derrière, we have become keen to make our bums look as pert as possible. As a result, the squat challenge has become a major phenomenon in the Western world. The 30 day challenge, which includes rest days, begins with 50 squats a day and slowly works its way up to 250 by the 30th day.

Many girls have been impressed by their results. The aim of squatting

for beginner runners. The room also includes TVs, meaning you won’t get bored as you jog. And with the gym being free to UCLan students we should definitely take full advantage in preparation for summer.

is to tone and lift the bum, some also argue it reduces cellulite. This is a promising way to get yourself booty ready for summer.

2. Sit ups The stomach is considered a problem area by many teenage girls. We all dream of having Kendall Jenner’s washboard stomach, but being a student with a diet of takeaways and vast amounts of alcohol makes it hard to achieve. However, doing a sequence of sit ups each day could land yourself the ideal beach body.

Start yourself with 40 sit ups a day, slowly working yourself up to 150 before summer. The results will leave you oozing with confidence to show off your fabulous stomach.

3. Running

After over indulging at Easter, many of us feel that we have put on a few extra pounds and are keen to shape up before summer

approaches. Running is a basic form of exercise which easily burns those calories, enabling you to have the perfect summer figure. If you’re not sure where to run, Avenham Park is great.

With picturesque views to admire as you run, it is a popular choice for joggers in the Preston area.

If you’re not keen on running in public, then UCLan’s Tom Finney Sports Centre is a great place to start. The gym includes a dark room named the “Cardio Zone” with limited light so no one is able to see you on the running machine. It is a great place to start

4. Drink plenty of water Drinking water is good for our bodies in so many different ways.

It will flush out all the toxins in our body, as well as keeping us hydrated through the exercises.

It is also essential to keep your skin hydrated which is important if you want to maintain a healthy tan. Doctors recommend that everyone drinks about 8 glasses a day, however more if you’re planning to detox.

With summer fast approaching we all are keen to achieve that ideal beach body.

Following these basic tips will leave you feeling summer ready, ready to flaunt your fabulous bikini figure.

PLUTO | Issue 270

All the latest fashion, love advice, recipes and more.

For more coverage, head over to PLUTO online: pluto-online.com/lifestyle

SPEND YOUR

SUMMER BEING

SMART

Matt Cuerden Head of PR

Summer is fast approaching and lying in bed all day, binge-watching Netflix seems like a dream after deadlines and exams. However, there are only so many shows on Netflix and this won’t help your bank account or your future career plans unless you land a coveted job working for Netflix.

No one is telling you to stop watching Netflix, however, there are several much more productive ways in which you could be spending your summer.

You essentially have three options, find an internship, volunteer or find yourself a summer job. You’ll look into a different options depending on your needs and goals, either way any of the options will look good on your CV. A hermit isn’t a valid occupation.

Your first step is the search. This can be the most boring part for some people as it can seem an endless task of scrolling through listings on search engines. There are websites out there

that tailor towards students such as www.ratemyplacement.co.uk or www. e4s.co.uk that show listings nationwide.

So it doesn’t matter if you’re staying in Preston or going home. If you’re worried about missing out on going away for summer then why not look for a summer job abroad? Www. summerjobsabroad.co.uk has listings for different industries across the world. For some lucky students, their tutors will email them links to industry jobs or placements; don’t ignore these, even if you don’t think they’re relevant to you. They show you the industry requirements for a job. Finally, you could try good old nepotism. Speak to your family and friends, even if they can’t help you find what you’re after, they might know someone who can.

When looking for a job it is important never to put all your eggs in one basket, apply for multiple places, put yourself out there.

Now, it’s time to get over the fear of talking to strangers, yes it was naughty as a child, but you need to get yourself out there to make yourself known.

Don’t be afraid to get in contact with an organisation, whether it’s emailing,

tweeting or phoning them; it shows them you have confidence and that you’re interested. Going the extra mile with a potential employer and engaging with them from the get-go makes a huge difference when it comes to recruitment. One rule about talking with potential employers is never lie!

They will find out.

Next, you need to dust of the CV. Don’t just submit the one you made three years ago, it’s out dated and you’ve (hopefully) done so much more with your life since then. Always make it a rule to re-read your CV before applying for jobs as it allows you to spot any gaps in it and check for mistakes. Always proof-read. You’re not fresh out of high-school now and there are certain expectations. If you’re struggling with updating or writing a CV, there is help out there. Check in with Careers, their expertise can help you put together a CV to get noticed.

Alternatively, there are other ways such as www.nationalcareersservice. direct.gov.uk who provide a CV builder to help you put it together in manageable chunks. Please do not download a template as they’ve become overly used which means your CV will not stand out in the pile. Give your CV a creative format. Be original, use colour, use an unusual layout you’re more likely to get noticed.

However, eep in mind it should still make sense. Be bold but be smart.

Your cover letter is just as important.

There are two tips for cover letters; either plan out each cover letter before you write it or have a generic one written out which can be tailored to each job you apply for. Don’t submit

Lifestyle

something plain and generic. Talk about what you expect to get off the company but talk about what you can do for them. This is your opportunity to expand on your CV and make it more personal. Remember we all had to write a personal statement to apply for university, if you can do that then you can do this.

Prepare for interviews. You’ve made it past the first hurdle now it’s time to sell yourself with some personal time with your potential employer.

Research the organisation; you’re not just there to talk about yourself you’re there to prove that you’d be an asset and a good fit with them. This means not applying for jobs you can’t do; smooth talking your way into a job where you’re expected to have previous experience when you don’t is just going to result in a bad reference.

However, if you meet the requirements, smooth talk away.

You’re trying to make yourself likeable.

This means you have to prepare for an interview. Try to find someone to practice with, preferably not with a bottle of tequila as you can’t bring the tequila to the actual interview.

Look the part. How you present yourself says a lot about yourself.

As a rule it is better to over dress than under dress for an interview, as it shows you’ve put the time in to your presentation.

If you dress too

13

casual it can come across as you not taking the process or job seriously.

Finally have questions for them.

Don’t be afraid to ask about benefits or something that wasn’t clear in the job description, it shows you think ahead and pay attention to detail.

Remember, applying for a job is a sales pitch; you’re trying to sell yourself.

Throughout the process, remind yourself why you are doing this.

Maybe you need the money, or the experience, or maybe you’re volunteering for a cause you care about. If you keep this in mind it will make the whole process seem less tedious. It’s time to stop investing in the TV and start investing in yourself. Remember it’s just summer and if you’re a good fit it could lead to furthering your career after your degree.

14

MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015 | PLUTO

C U L T U R E Culture Editor (Books/Film) Samuel McKeown

Deputy (Gaming) Georgia Dana Gregoriou

Deputy (Music) Priscila C. Sarmento

Music

The very latest music news, reviews and interviews “When words fail, music speaks.” - Hans Christian Andersen

MUSIC LOVERS:

RYAN NEEDS YOU Priscila Sarmento Deputy Culture Editor

I met Ryan during one of my study sessions in the library and I was quite surprised to see how nervous he was, “I’m not prepared for this” he kept saying as soon as he saw the amount of questions I had for him.

The 20 year old entered the music world quite young by doing karaoke with his family and participating in a few shows. He also did a few talents shows in his hometown but unfortunately, he stopped this when he got in school.

He started writing his own hip hop lyrics by the age of 14 and did a bit of recording as well.

His first project was a band with two other friends called Blind Corners. They were a North-West based acoustic band mixed with hip hop. One played guitar and sang, the other wrote really good hip hop verses and rapped while Ryan sang and wrote.

They bought all their recording equipment and set a little studio up. The band recorded a few songs and uploaded them on Soundcloud which resulted in people wanting to record with them. Unfortunately this project never really worked out due to problems with time

management. They hope to do something together in the future because they work together well. “We had been planning to do some stuff together since we were 14.”

I’ve asked him what’s normally in his mind when he’s performing and he amusingly said that he doesn’t get nervous normally. “I just get in the zone and go for it” The Biomedical sciences student listens to different music genres, but mostly indie and pop. “I listen to everything but I don’t like heavy metal and screaming. Indie rock is my favourite genre at the moment.” He added that his main inspirations at the moment are people like Ben Howard, Passenger and Ed

Sheeran. But when he’s writing hip hop lyrics his main inspirations are Plan B and Eminem.

“It’s weird rapping because I’m from up north in England and I’ve got a really broad accent” Plan B is quite important for him since “Who needs actions when you got words”. The rawness of his early work and his versatility is something that Ryan admires. Plan B versatility can be seen in his “The Defamation of Strickland Banks” album.

It’s interesting how Ryan looks up to completely different styles to create his own.

Ryan is currently trying to get his work out and working on an EP which is aimed to include both acoustic and acoustic hip hop

songs. This EP is aimed to be recorded over the summer. He also plans to start a new band and perform where he can. The young singer still writes is own lyrics because it’s something he really enjoys doing: “I don’t write just to write. I need to be inspired and I normally get inspiration from daily situations”. Since all his previous projects never really worked out, Ryan is enjoying writing for himself and doing bits of self-promotion.

When asked if there’s anyone else in his family that likes music he said that his dad and him used to sing karaoke together.

They used to sing Robbie Williams – Rock DJ but apart from that he doesn’t know anyone else. He proudly added that his mum pushed him when he was younger. His family is his main inspiration in life because they have always supported him.

My last question was the hardest of them all, according to Ryan: I asked him where he would like to perform the most in the future.

It took him quite a while to answer this and he kept saying that all my questions where hard and that he wasn’t prepared for them.

After a while he said he doesn’t have a specific place, anywhere would be fine because he wants to take one step at the time. As long as it’s a chilled out place with a good crowd he is happy to perform.

As I said before, Ryan is looking for people to join him in a musical adventure. If you’re interested you can contact him via Facebook.

If you liked this interview or know anyone worth interviewing please contact me on Pluto’s Facebook or via Twitter at @UCLanPluto.

PLUTO | Issue 270

Gaming

Pushing your buttons makes us happy “We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood” – Bloodborne

15

BLOODBORNE: A BEAST OF A GAME Georgia Gregoriou Deputy Culture Editor From Japan Studios and From Software, Bloodborne, like most of the Souls games is a punishingly difficult game. If you’re an avid Dark Souls fan, then I have news for you, Bloodborne is definitely the game you desire.

Bloodborne is undeniably one of the most highly acclaimed, anticipated and compelling PS4 exclusives this generation of gaming has experienced, and it’s not something you would want to miss out on. It is a combination of Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls which would be familiar to the veterans of the Souls franchise.

Only just a year after Dark Souls II’s release, director Hideteka Miyazaki conjured up Bloodborne transferring the concept of souls to the new focus of blood.

The gothic Victorian atmosphere of Yharnam’s decaying architecture and environments are dark and gritty, with secrets lying around almost every crevice. Bloodborne shares everything but the name of its predecessor, with enemies in previous games dropping ‘souls’, Bloodborne’s enemies drop ‘blood echoes’ which have an identical functionality.

Blood echoes allow players to level up their hunters attributes such as: Vitality, Skill, Arcane and Strength, as well as utilizing blood echoes

for currency in order to buy healing potions, molotov’s or quicksilver bullets.

In addition to the blood echoes, ‘Insight’ is another form of currency used to buy more unique items as well as granting you the ability to summon other players into your world like the ‘Summoning Bell’.

As with all Soul’s games, playing online opens up a level of communication between players with notes left on various surfaces on the ground, which can either be unbelievably helpful or annoyingly deceitful. Instead of the blood stained surfaces or puddles from Souls, Bloodborne alters that presentation into ‘spectres’, which pops up as a grave and shows a replay of how another player had died in that area.

Soul’s games are renowned for their caution and defensive build when players would opt for utilizing their shields then waiting for the right moment to strike. This is not as viable in Bloodborne as the gameplay style demands precision and speed.

Enemies are menacingly agile and aggressive – dodging is your best friend and your only defence against every kind of mob and boss battle. An advantage of Bloodborne is the equipment weight and armour encumbrance, which Dark Souls fans would be familiar with, has been opted out completely.

Bloodborne focuses on the more offensive build as opposed to defensive, placing greater importance

on speed and skill. Impatience is the greatest weakness in any Soul’s theme game, something these games thrive on.

A new recovery mechanic seen throughout Bloodborne encourages such offensive tactics and risk. This recovery mode permits a short window for a counter attack to regain lost health, however if you’re hit multiple times in succession your hunter won’t make a full recovery. The boss fights in Bloodborne are the most intense and fear inducing sequences throughout the game. Each boss varies in size, agility and capability, to the point of you almost always walk into a boss fight expecting to die in the first run, until you learn the pattern of each individual boss.

There are substantially complex weapons t h r o u g h o u t Bloodborne which all have one handed and dual wielding capabilities.

For instance the Ludwig’s Holy Blade which is considered a normal long sword can be inserted into a bigger scabbard to be used as a great sword. In the Hunter’s dream there is a workshop which allows players to fortify, or repair their weapons with items such as a ‘Tempering Blood

Gemstone’, which gives your arsenal of weapons different effects like poison damage.

The multiplayer mode in Bloodborne is a streamlined system which plays on the concept of co-operating and teaming up with other hunters to help take down bosses or engage in PvP by invading players worlds – the hunters become the hunted. When successfully summoned, bell-ringing NPC’s appear in your world who rings a sinister bell to attract invaders.

One of the downsides to Bloodborne is undeniably the loading time, which is only one of the very minor but annoying issues. If you die in Bloodborne or perhaps you want to travel to and from the Hunter’s dream hub, the loading time can take from 20 to 40 seconds if not more. Other than the tediously extensive loading times, the game suffers from a few frame rate drops which can get overbearing, however doesn’t dull the experience any less.

Bloodborne definitely brings out the masochist in all of us who willingly buy a Dark Souls game knowing full well the outcome – and that outcome is to die, rage quit and repeat until that victorious moment when you slay a boss like the Blood Starved Beast.

DARK SOULS II: SCHOLAR OF THE FIRST SIN Ben Chuter Reporter The Souls series may be the most polarising in video games.

From its conception with 2010’s PS3 exclusive Demon’s Souls, there were those who praised it for its lack of handholding and its trust in the players intellect, while others said it was too hard and that it didn’t help players acclimatise to

the controls or mechanics at all.

Accessibility was again among the key criticisms of 2011’s Dark Souls, which was still well received by critics and hailed as one of the best action RPG’s of the seventh console generation.

When Dark Souls II came around however, things were a bit different. The core gameplay was still commended and “hard but fair” still came up a lot in reviews, but the love of the game world was largely gone. The innovative

level design and the fantasy setting were less praised since so much of the game was similar or just completely recycled from the first Dark Souls.

Don’t get me wrong, Dark Souls II was still a great game, but it wasn’t a great Souls game.

Now comes Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, its nextgen rerelease. Or at least it would have been a re-release if From Software hadn’t decided to pump it full of steroids. So much of the core game has changed that my latest trip to Drangleic has been nothing short of wonderful.

The changes to this version are apparent in the first 30 minutes of gameplay as the starting area, usually just a dull tutorial, now has half of the level blocked by a petrified enemy, for which you need an item available later in the game to get past. The strangeness of this was refreshing but I decided to be on my way, and to get on with the first area.

What greets you in the Forest of Fallen Giants is a shallow stream and its bank which are usually populated by weak enemies who die in two or three hits to a starter weapon. In Scholar, I approached the entrance carefully, since I was spooked by the petrified enemy earlier, and immediately caught an eyeful of a massive ogre, strolling confidently up and down through the

water. It became apparent quickly that I had to either sneak by him, or run like hell to escape his gaze, kill all the enemies who were lying in ambush ahead of me and get to the first bonfire (checkpoint) before he inevitably caught up and killed me in one hit.

This kind of design is why I think Scholar demands another playthrough from Souls veterans.

The risk involved if I had misplayed that ogre situation was huge – if I hadn’t run as his back turned, he would have noticed me.

If I didn’t kill those enemies in time, he would have annihilated me. This is what Dark Souls is all about!

The game’s sub-standard lore has also been shaken up a bit by the new NPC, the titular Scholar, who explains the finer points of the lore with new dialogue. The new dialogue definitely improves the lore significantly, but it’s still lacking the powerful emotional stories of some of the characters from its predecessor.

People were worried about this game coming to next-gen as the old versions were criticised for their graphical downgrade from trailer footage and looked mediocre at best. The upgrade lighting and textures have improved this dramatically. I played the PC version which looked amazing in places but was still messy at points.

The lava in Iron Keep still looks awful, as does the low-res background photo in the Cathedral of Blue, but these are anomalies in a beautiful game. Also, you actually need to use torches now!

Some areas are incredibly dark so the choice between hiding behind

a shield in the dark or spotting your foes but fighting with no defence is actually necessary. The game also performed markedly better than last-gen versions. It ran at a smooth, never dipping 60fps for me, which should be consistent with the PS4 and Xbox One versions too.

The new enemy placements really are the stars of this package though, since even grizzled Souls veterans can get caught out fairly often. There’s an enemy type called Heide Knights who sit passively in multiple areas, only attacking if you do first.

These enemies are quite a challenge for the first quarter to half of the game, so there was always only one in any given place in the base game, but in Scholar, the area Heide’s Tower of Flame is populated by a lot of Heide Knights, all spaced out across the area, so that the player can duel them one at a time.

This is fine until you kill the area boss and all of them are permanently aggro’d onto the player, making the area’s bonfire incredibly challenging to survive.

Add on the plethora of bosses who turn up in the middle of levels and you’ve got a really difficult and surprising game.

Surprising is probably the most suitable word for Scholar. As a new player, or as a returning one, you’ll definitely be dumbfounded in places, whether it be the ridiculous enemy placements, the breath taking DLC packs, which are all included, or the world itself. It’s definitely worth giving another chance, especially if you didn’t enjoy Dark Souls II. It’s a whole different game now.

16 Books

MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015 | PLUTO

SUMMER TIME READS

Film

IDEOLOGY WITHIN FILM

Emmi Bowles Deputy Features Editor With the UK experiencing warm weather for once in a very long time you may wish to start cracking open a book. These picks will fill you with warmth and getting you in the mood for summer and adventure.

The DUFF: The designated ugly fat friend, now a movie. This novel will fill you with that stereotypical American high school adventure.

With drama and laugh out loud moments this book will be one you will fall in love with in the sun.

Solitaire by Alice Oseman, is not a love story but a story you will love. High school pranks that get out of hand and the mystery of who is behind solitaire to solve. A fast paced novel that will keep you turning the pages.

The Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu is one for everyone. It has love, humour, action, adventure and is all wrapped together in a dystopian world. June and Day are two protagonists that will capture your heart and by the end of the third book you will be begging for more.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, is Lord of the Flies meets Project Runway. When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.

Panic by Lauren Oliver, follows the children of a small town who take part in the dangerous game that is Panic. There is no time for hesitation in the game Panic and it will leave you on the edge of your seat. People have died in Panic, and now Heather is planning to take part.

A summer adventure you will never forget.

Summer is the perfect time to pick up a book an you will not be disappointed with any of the ones on this list.

Samuel McKeown Culture Editor Film making is power. Arguably the most important aspects of film are it has the power to persuade, create fear and to teach. We now live in an age where technology is everywhere and easily accessible and so if used incorrectly, can result in catastrophic consequences. Film, however is a way to escape modern societies’ increasing ‘faux pas’ by enlightening the viewer of the hidden depths of society that are not so easy to find at first glance.

As said before we live in the modern age, which is much more liberal than olden day cinema of ‘cops versus robbers’ and ‘good versus evil’; it’s a little bit more complicated than that...

This can be seen in the 2002 futuristic sci-fi film, Minority Report (starring Tom Cruise), which is about a time in which special police units are able to arrest murderers before they commit their crime.

It is a film that tackles the doctrine of determinism

and that all human action can be predicted by a cause regarded as greater and external to free will.

Any philosophy student, whether it’s at undergraduate level, college or maybe even at GCSE level, will know Plato’s Cave. This theory of human beings state of reality can be compared to The Truman Show (1998) starring Jim Carrey.

The Allegory of the Cave is that people are metaphorically living chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front from a fire behind them and begin to designate names to these shadows. The Truman Show is similar to this because Jim Carrey’s character Truman is living in a contained world of which is the main protagonist for the world to watch as his every escapade is a form of entertainment. Eventually, Truman feels a sense of being watched and starts to question the notions of reality and his own physical existence. It isn’t just futuristic and extreme surveillance films that have ideological thought entwined within them, there are films based on real lives that tackle some of the most controversial issues that exist in relation to ideology. Hannah Arendt (2012) is a film based on the real life occurrence of a young Jewish journalist who travelled to Jerusalem, Israel to attend the trial for Nazi Adolf Eichmann. She discovered the term ‘banality of evil’.

The term basically means that she did not see the “monster” Adolf Eichmann was portrayed to be by the mainstream media. Eichmann was high up in the hierarchy of the holocaust death machine that was the Nazi regime in World War II and with Mrs Arendt being Jewish, you would probably predict her to be one of the first to call for Eichmann to be hung, but no. Hannah Arendt saw Eichmann as nothing more than a man who was just ‘following orders’

and arguably ‘following the law’. Her concept of ‘the banality of evil’ challenged the notion that people guilty of mass murder were seen to be mentally ill or fanatics.

The final point to make is that the term ‘banality’ is something that states how extremely ordinary Eichmann was, but how he was placed in an extremely unordinary situation of which he was motivated by professional promotion not ideology. Also Hannah Arendt didn’t want to confuse anyone by assuming all ordinary people have murderous traits within them, but that his actions were unintelligent which is unexceptional and within all of us.

If you have seen any ideological films or documentaries that we’ve missed, which you feel strongly about, then message us on our Pluto Facebook or Twitter page..

DO FILMS SHOW A REALITY OR A MYTH OF TRAVELLING

AROUND THE WORLD? Samuel McKeown Culture Editor With the month of May rapidly approaching, some if not most students are either visiting or working in other countries for the summer, or at least thinking about doing so. Here are four different genre of travelling films to check out before you take the big leap into the unknown...

Thriller

Horror

Comedy

Another travelling film based in Australia is Wolf Creek. The film tackles some seriously strong concepts of the dangers that can be encountered by young backpackers. The three main characters Ben, Liz and Kirsty are constantly partying in Broome, Western Australian until they decide to drive to Cairns, the far North of Australia. However, the three must travel through the Outback, a vast and remote area of nothingness. Their car mysteriously breaks down, but they are assisted by a strange ‘anti-Crocodile Dundee’ type character who soon reveals his true nature. This film is being mentioned not to deter young people from travelling, but Wolf Creek emphasises aspects of isolation, the great unknown and now and again feeling ill at ease, which is arguably what travelling and back-packing is all about.

Moving away from Australia now with the film Hostel, which is about two American students who are inter-railing around Europe, but after a heavy night of drinking and drug abuse, find themselves at the centre of a Slovakian business of which wealthy clients pay to come from all around the world to torture and kill innocent people. Hostel is probably the most exaggerated out of the films that are being discussed because of its farfetched nature of the dangers of travelling and how it can end in such a dramatic/gruesome end. It is plausible in relation to how arrogant some back-packers can be from the UK and US, which seems to be a problem with the British at least. The main message to take from Hostel is these countries and their people aren’t as stupid as we think they are so take care and respect others and respect will surely be returned... (above)

The Inbetweeners 2 is the second instalment of big screen jump from the popular television programme. It’s a story of four luckless friends (ooo friend), three of whom, Simon, Will and Neil travel to Australia to meet Jay who is living with relatives and is by all accords attempting a ‘gap year’ with no avail. The lads then get roped into travelling with a group, who couldn’t be more opposite to quartet’s thinking, cue awkward moments with hilarious consequences. The film really touches on aspects that travelling isn’t for everyone. By all means people with any sense should see the world and take in the rich culture that different countries have to offer, but what’s interesting with this film is it comically shows that there isn’t a set guideline of how to experience travelling abroad. (left)

Adventure/Indie In the Wild is a film based on the true story of Christopher McCandless who basically graduates from college and gives all of his savings to Oxfam. He then sets out literally into the wild with nothing more than a few pieces of literature and tools to help him along the way. It’s basically a story of rebellion and ideology which centres on anti-

capitalism, which bolds well for most travellers and back-packers who study philosophy and art subjects at university. These antagonistic values against corporations is where this film excels because it gives the viewer a true reflection of why people go travelling, which is to let go and get away from the hectic life of modern society.

17

PLUTO | Issue 270

Spitting isn’t rude when it’s for charity Give a spit, save a life. Sounds pretty simple – doesn’t it? UCLan Marrow are here to help register students and staff to the Bone Marrow donor register, fundraise for Anthony Nolan help raise awareness of blood cancer and leukemia.

Last summer Lucy Haigh, the SU Campaigns Officer, began creating a society for students to start saving lives by signing up to be on the donor register for Bone Marrow. “It’s an important cause and together the Students’ Union and our students can make a real impact on people’s lives.”

Why get involved? Gracie Donoghue, a first year volunteer, said “I wanted to join a society but with this one it was a way of helping others and making change.” One of the great things about the society is the volunteers.

Speaking to the Chair, Debii O’Connor-Neil, the main reason she got involved was because it was close to her heart. After her experience with a family member, she wanted to give back so got

was great to get them involved.”

Each month UCLan Marrow hold at least one event as well as having regular training sessions for new volunteers, Debii revealed the society have a range of brilliant ideas and plans for future events and ways to get students involved.

They don’t just stay on our campus, there’s opportunities for the society to go to both regional and national AGM meetings. Through this they meet other students from different universities who share their experiences of Anthony Nolan and Marrow. The society enjoy this because through attending the events they get to hear new campaigns and news related to Anthony Nolan and learn more

YOUR ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATION OFFICER:

Saying Goodbye to Josie Linsel (kind of...)

Emili Peake Deputy Societies Editor

April brings us closer to saying goodbye to our current sabbatical team. This includes Josie who; as the current Activities and Participations Officer, has been looking after our lovely societies.

We wondered if she had enjoyed looking after societies.

Josie’s biggest legacy has been the creation of the Societies Development Committee which has led to societies being more student led. If you’ve read our previous editions, you’ll know that these students look after similar societies, Josie feels that this has made her role as APO easier.

One of the highlights of Josie’s year is seeing the society membership explode. The amount of students who are participating in societies has nearly doubled and is at a record high. This could be attributed to the hard work of Josie and the societies team.

However Josie’s other highlight will have certainly had an effect on membership figures. She tells us that she has enjoyed the consistent number of events. She has especially enjoyed the outreach events like the Japanese Society’s Japan Day, Christian Union’s

Christianity Week, Discover Islam from the Islamic Society and Skeptics Week run by the Atheist, Humanist and Secular Society.

However, the role hasn’t been without its challenges. “The sheer number of societies, coupled with the speed and regularity at which new societies affiliate pose challenges in simply keeping up.”

Josie goes on to say “I wish the societies team had been able to support more at events.” We spoke to societies to see what they thought about the support Josie has given. Hayley Robson, the Societies Development Political Representative says “She’s the inspiration behind so many new societies that she has supported and helped to grow.”

“The support we received by Josie for funding our societies was excellent. We simply wouldn’t be able to run our society without her help.” – UCLan Pole. Abigail Law from the Board and Card Games Society says “She’s listened to the fact we felt second class to sports and helped us.”

Josie ended the interview by saying that she would have liked to have worked on the ‘Stripes Awards’ however hopes that this is something Tom, the APO-elect may take up.

In the future I’d like to see successful societies mentoring

information that they can pass on to UCLan students.

This ever growing society has their success story, their hardwork and dedication has meant more volunteers, more awareness and more importantly – more future donors.

Continuing on next year they hope they’ll come back bigger and louder. Lucy’s delighted with the society “it’s now student led and I’m really happy with it and the students involved should be so proud of what they’ve accomplished.”

You can get involved too, the next UCLan Marrow training session is Wednesday 22nd April, Greenbank Lecture Theatre at 2pm. Or just pop along to one of their events to sign up for the donor register. Donors need to be healthy students and between the ages of 16 and 30. Just spitting in a tube could potentially mean you saving somebody’s life.

SOC

The

Hannah Mason Reporter

involved with the society to help raise awareness. Overall there’s twenty-three volunteers involved with the campaign and 70 donors but the amount of volunteers continues to grow.

They have been visibly active across campus by educating students and raising awareness, and have helped seventy students sign up to the donor register. “We are short of donors, especially BME, it can be hard to get across to students that it’s something which needs to be done,” Debii explained that on the various events they’ve had they’ve managed to branch out to a variety of students across campus, “we’ve spoken to lots of different students, most recently the new Nursing students which

S O C I E T I E S

TIMELINE What’s Coming Up UCLAN MARROW #Varsitysaveslives @UCLan Sports Arena 29th April All Day

newer societies and creating stronger partnerships with university and external companies.”

We asked Societies Development Faith Representative, Sana Iqbal, what she thought of Josie as APO. “Josie has made a real change in development of societies. Not only by listening to our views but by implementing change and leading by example. She’s not afraid to try new things and admit when things go wrong. All in all she’s been a very strong APO and an inspiring person to work with.”

The Societies team at Pluto wish to thank Josie for all her effort and wish her a success in her term of office as President next year.

As Hayley Robson from the Oxfam society put rather nicely:

“She’s awesome.”

REACHOUT BOOK SOCIETY Leadership Session based on books @Oppurtunities Centre 30th April 5pm UCLAN MARROW Find a match for Finn @Students’ Union 30th April All Day UNION AWARDS Announcement of Awards for Societies @53 Degrees 7pm

Societies Editor Toby Samuel Robertson

Save the Date UCLAN Midwifery Society Launch Conference 3rd June

Deputy Editor Emili Peake

18

MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015 | PLUTO

S

C A P TA I N ’ S C O R N E R . . .

UCLAN BADMINTON CAPTAIN CHRISTIAN LANE SPEAKS TO PLUTO SPORT TO REFLECT ON A SUCCESSFUL TITLE WINNING SEASON Pete McCarthy Deputy Sports Editor

P O R T

Sports Editor Jack WilsonMumford

Deputy Editors Pete McCarthy Matt Weston

At the start of the academic year, the men’s badminton 2nd team didn’t have too many expectations for the forthcoming season ahead but under captain Christian Lane, they’ve gone above and beyond, winning the league and gaining promotion. In doing so, the team also remained undefeated throughout their league campaign, with just one meeting ending in a tie. We caught up with the 22 yearold captain to reflect on a groundbreaking season.

“The season has gone perfect. We were expecting a mid-table finish by the end of the season but to gain promotion and to remain unbeaten all year in the league was an amazing achievement.” Said Lane.

The team secured promotion from the Northern 4A division despite being tipped for another season in mid-table mediocracy, but the badminton skipper puts the recent success down to hard work, saying “I’ve been extremely

proud of my team. Everyone had put in 110% to get the best possible results and as captain it’s even better.”

An outstanding unbeaten run for Christian’s badminton side included winning nine out their ten league games, dropping points just once against title challengers Lancaster.

The return match proved to be the pivotal game in the race to be crowned champions as they won emphatically, explained Lane: “we went into the match away at Lancaster knowing that if we won, the league was ours and come away with a 6-2 victory was amazing, even though the game was

We went into the match away at Lancaster knowing that if we won, the league was ours and come away with a 6-2 victory was amazing

fiery with the match deciding who would win the league.”

Promotion and champion status was then secured in the following, and final, fixture – a comfortable 5-3 home win over Edge Hill perfectly topped off a hugely successful season for the UCLan team.

As for the future? Christian was realistic in his ambitions for next year but was still confident that his team can cement their place in a new division: “Ambitions for next season are to stay up, get a mid-table finish or even to scrape through from getting relegated. It’s going to be so tough and losing a few players at the end of the year will be a big loss for UCLan.” Upon being asked whether he’ll be staying on as captain of the side, however, Christian responded with news that he will be standing down from his role on a high note and handing the captaincy over, explaining: “I’ve decided to step away from being captain next year and focus on my studies. Just to be a team member and help out with decisions when needed is a role I thought would be most appropriate”.

VARSITY VS EDGE HILL ON WEDNESDAY 29TH APRIL. WHY NOT HEAD OUT TO SUPPORT UCLAN’S TEAMS?

STUDENTS ON SPORTS TRIP IN SALOU Matt Weston Deputy Sports Editor Sports and societies from the University joined thousands of other students from across the UK as they arrived in the North of Spain for the famous Saloufest.

The festival has been run by I Love Tour since 2010 and the event proved to be as popular as ever.

Over the Easter break, the week-long trip played host to nights out, sports tournaments and time spent icebreaking with other members of the teams.

The trip starts with a 30 hour coach trip to Costa Dorada before the antics unfold in the Spanish sun. Although the journey may put some off heading on the break, it can prove to be an entertaining part of the holiday as everybody looks forward to the sun, sea, sport and San Miguel.

With the weather heading to temperatures of 25°C during the day, the night was somewhat colder with British teenagers wearing fancy dress costumes which included Zoo Animals, Frat Party and plentiful Where’s Wally’s on the Spanish streets.

I Love Tour organised sports competitions on the beaches for the guests which involved Rugby, Cricket, Volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee.

Whilst most competed in a friendly manner, others made the most of the hot weather; or recovered from the night before.

Students made the most of the sun and generous prices of alcohol to enjoy the 5 days in the sun before heading back to England on another 30 hour bus journey, the second in a week.

Nothing is better than getting back home and having a detox period away from alcohol.

The week of drinking and sleep deprivation takes its toll on inexperienced overseas partygoers.

But the week which leaves its mark on Salou is for the majority of students one of the best weeks of their year.

KEEP UP TO DATE AT

PLUTO-ONLINE.COM

19

PLUTO | Issue 270 PRESTON NORTH END

PNE MUST STAY FOCUSED TO FINISH PROMOTION JOB OFF Joseph Richardson Reporter After four seasons in League One, it finally seems like this is the year Preston North End return to English football’s second tier.

After suffering another play off heart ache against Rotherham a year ago, the emphasis this campaign has solely been on automatic promotion.

But those hopes looked remote at best in January. No league wins, and significant points dropped at home.

And then North End’s fortunes changed. Since the Crawley defeat, PNE have put together a quite sensational run of 15 league games unbeaten, including ten wins.

On paper, April’s fixtures looked extremely challenging, as the promotion race hotted up. The month started with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Rochdale. Not vintage, but a vital three points after costly late goals at Fleetwood and Barnsley.

A quite superb 3-0 away win against Bradford followed. Despite playing the majority of the match against ten men, it was a flawless away performance.

The fans were buoyant, and could taste

promotion going into the game with runaway leaders Bristol City. Deepdale was bouncing, and Beckford gave North End the lead, but they were pegged back and had to settle for a point.

The current team are a transformation from the side that looked bereft of quality in January.

Defensively they are solid, allowing their attacking midfielders Gallagher and Robinson to provide the guile and feed two of the league’s most potent strikers: Jermaine Beckford, and of course top scorer Joe Garner.

Garner’s return has certainly been a huge influence. There’s no doubt he galvanises others around him, not to mention his devastating eye for goal.

The fact he is the league’s joint top scorer, discounting Chesterfield’s Eoin Doyle is remarkable, having missed nine league games through injury. It’s not to say Preston are a one man team, but they definitely ooze confidence with him up top.

Garner has stolen the headlines, but the impact of January signing Daniel Johnson cannot be underestimated.

Possessing a wonderful left foot, and an eye for goal, the Jamaican has been a superb acquisition.

Watching this team, you feel the

Preston celebrate one of their many league goals at Deepdale this season

E-QUEEN-STRIAN Jack Wilson-Mumford Sports Editor A UCLan student will be performing in front of the Queen at an international horse show next month.

Daniel Petho, a 2nd year Psychology student, is set to represent the UK Armed Forces Reserves at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May, alongside his horse Corporal.

Mr Petho, 22, of the Lancaster detachment of Liverpool University Officers Training Corps will be competing in the International Military Class show jumping after impressing during recent qualifying tournaments in the Cotswolds.

Mr Petho said: “This makes me feel immensely proud that I am not only representing my regiment and the Army Reserve team, but also my university on an international level.”

Competitors from all over the world are not the only thing Daniel has to consider when his time comes, he will also be performing in front of the Queen, something he is using to motivate him to work even harder.

“To be performing in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is something that I never would have dreamt of doing. I cannot lie and say it doesn’t make me feel nervous, because it does, the amount of pressure to excel myself has hit home. However, I always find I perform better on the course when placed under pressure.”

In order to qualify for the event, Daniel and his horse had to cleanly navigate a

KOPA KABANA: THE HOTTEST TEAM NORTH OF HAVANA Jack Wilson-Mumford Sports Editor Kopa Kobana have been crowned champions of the Student’s Union League with a game to spare.

The new champions have won every single match they have played in a glorious season, scoring 92 goals and only conceding 13 goals in the process.

They will now be hoping to end the season with their 100% record intact by beating third placed Mancunians on

Dan and his horse, Corporal, prepare for the event

tight course of 10 fences at 1.05 metre and 1.10 metre heights demonstrating a rhythmical, balanced and powerful canter at all times. Daniel was invited back to the Cotswolds to begin training for the showpiece event.

This training weekend is where Daniel met his horse for the competition, Corporal. They’ve since only been able to work together for four hours, a small amount of time compared with the majority of competitors who will have been riding with their horses for months.

He isn’t putting too much pressure on himself ahead of the big day though: “I expect to give it my all, we can only see how it goes on the day.”

Preparations are well underway for Daniel. He’s spent some time working out Corporal’s quirks and has even had a go at polo to improve his body position and balance within the saddle.

He plans to use the Combined Services show early next month as his final warm up before he appears in front of the Queen between the 13th and 17th May.

confidence and belief on the terraces.

When results weren’t going their way, there was unrest and anxiousness amongst fans. Every misplaced pass, every wayward shot would be greeted with groans. But now, the expectations are sky high.

They will have been deflated somewhat after letting two points slip against Gillingham. At half time, North End were two goals up and cruising towards another crucial three points but perhaps complacency set in. The visitors pulled a goal back, and Preston’s Achilles heel of dropping deep and inviting pressure allowed Gillingham to level in stoppage time.

On the plus side, their unbeaten run remains intact, and manager Simon Grayson will hope this is a mere blip.

Let’s face it, Preston were never going to make it a comfortable ride for their long suffering fans.

A huge game now awaits them at home against fellow promotion chasers Swindon Town, with dropped points simply not an option, with MK Dons breathing down their necks.

With just a handful of games left, owner Trevor Hemmings will hope his Grand National victory is imminently followed by the Lilywhites promotion back to the Championship.

the final day.

Some of the highlights of the season for the team that play in Netherlands shirts have included a 7-1 win over The New Breed, a 10-1 victory versus Untouchables FC and winning 9-0 against AC MeRollin’, all of whom have spent the season sitting in mid-table.

Kopa will finish the season comfortably ahead of the chasing pack that includes Moor Lane FC and Mancunians who have lost three and four games respectively.

The season is due to finish on the 29th April before the year concludes with a six-a-side tournament on the 6th May If you want to view the full table and all the results from this year’s Student’s Union League go to:

toptournament.co.uk/uclan_sul

HAVE YOU GOT A SPORTS STORY FOR PLUTO TO REPORT ON?

EMAIL: jwilson-mumford@ uclan.ac.uk

TWEET: @UCLanPLuto

FACEBOOK: ‘PLUTO’

VARSITY IS COMING PAGE 18 MONDAY 20 APRIL 2015

CAPTAIN’S CORNER

UCLAN VS EDGE HILL

www.PLUTO-ONLINE.com

UCLAN RIDER TO PERFORM FOR THE QUEEN PAGE 19

PAGE 18 PNE EDGING CLOSER TO PROMOTION

PAGE 19 PRESTON NORTH END FOOTBALL CLUB PP

STUDENT TICKETS FOR HOME GAMES FROM JUST £15! * * Full-time students with NUS ID only.

This must be shown at the time of purchase or upon collection.

BUY ONLINE MYPNE.COM

BY PHONE 0844 856 1966