Issue 1354

Laugh a minute

Example

No catachphrases please.

Jonathan Craven talks

Simon Fairbanks on Simon Bird's Guild

Time for a time out?

Check out the the all new

inspiration, music videos,

Redbrick Travel section on the

touring and gig venues

performance

with the new superstar

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brand new website

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REDBRICK

16th OCT 2009 ISSUE 1354 VOL 73

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1936

www.redbrickonline.co.uk

News

4

This house proposes drugs should be legalised

Film

16

Silver screen: Guns, romance and a ski chase, it can only be: Bond, James...

Sport

25

Ben Whitelaw talks to Scott Quinnell about rugby and his battle with dyslexia Birmingham’s Premier Private Hire Company

Left to right: Kenyan runner-up, Bernard Kiprop Kipyego, and American second runner-up, Dathan Ritzenhein, at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham on Sunday 11th October. See article on Page 4 Photo: Tom Flathers

Carnage UK Cancelled James Williams CARNAGE UK, the nationwide company imitating the Guild's Carnival RAG Socitey's charity bar crawl, has been thrown out of the city after Broad Street venues refused to allow the event to take place.

The events company runs a rip-off of Carnival RAG Society's own fancy dress 'Carnage' bar crawl, which is enjoyed by thousands of Birmingham students each term and has raised tens of thousands of pounds for local charities.

Carnage UK, who created their replica events company in 2003 without the permission of Carnival RAG, is run for private

profit and regularly features in the national news due to its poor safety practices, lurid fancy dress themes and its blatant encouragement of binge drinking.

A recent event in Lincoln was dubbed 'grossly offensive' by several Labour Councillors, and the bar crawl has already been banned in many cities by councils and the police. In April, the National Union of Students made a policy at its Annual Conference that students' unions were not to affiliate with Carnage UK in any way.

In August, the Guild became aware that Carnage UK was intending to run its first event in Birmingham in the same week that the real event is scheduled

take place, after having avoided the city for over six years.

Guild President, Fabian Neuner, explained the measures the Guild took to combat Carnage UK's intended presence: 'Representatives of the Guild and Carnival RAG contacted the management of Gatecrasher, Walkabout, Sports Café, Revolutions and Risa to discuss the matter. All of these Birmingham venues were happy to cooperate with us, and have subsequently ceased all business with Carnage UK.'

Many of Broad Street's bars were already unhappy with the business practices of the events company. Gordon Keen, Manager of Walkabout Birmingham, told Redbrick, 'I don’t like the way

Carnage UK went about their business in this city. They quite clearly knew these issues would crop up if they moved into Birmingham.'

A spokesperson for Carnival RAG commented, 'We are overwhelmed by the fantastic support and loyalty shown to us by these Broad Street venues.

Hopefully, Carnage UK has learnt their lesson and will now stay out of Birmingham for good.'

Carnival RAG's 'Carnage: Part One' takes place on Wednesday 21st October; tickets are only £5 and available from www.carnagebirmingham. com and from Joes Bar.

414 0000 472 2222

2 News

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

On Campus News

Calendar

Contributors: Ned Murray, Richard Tuckett, Natalie Vincent University of Birmingham student wins prestigious 'UK Chemistry Student of the Year' award NICOLA Rogers, a 4th Year MSci (Chem) student who graduated with 1st class Honours in July 2009, has won the Science Engineering Technology (SET) 2009 UK Chemistry Student of the Year award.

She was nominated by her project supervisor, Professor Richard Tuckett, for her overall academic performance throughout her time at university, her project work, and her wider contribution to education in Birmingham through helping in secondary schools as part of the Undergraduate Ambassador Scheme.

The SET awards have been running since 1998, and could be seen as the 'Oscars' of Undergraduate Science, Engineering and Technology degree courses. Awards are given for fifteen different catego-

ries, covering all areas of the Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering.

Nicola's submission consisted of a description of her project work in layperson's language, a conference-size A0 poster of her work, and a commendation from staff at Birmingham.

Her winning poster is displayed in the ground floor foyer of the Haworth Building. Nicola received her award from Dr Kevin McIvor, Director of Group Human Resources at Yule Catto PLC, at the SET 2009 Prize Dinner last month.

This is a fantastic achievement for an Undergraduate in any of the STEM subjects, all the more significant since the University is now host to the STEM National Centre. It is only the second time that any of the SET prizes has been won by a Birmingham undergraduate, and we congratulate Nicola on this prestigious award.

Student group, NO2ID, screening of Taking Liberties Wednesday 21st October 6pm, Room LT3 Arts Building STUDENT group NO2ID (students against surveillance at the University of Birmingham) is organising a free screening of the film Taking Liberties directed by Chris Atkins.

This film takes a lighthearted look at some serious issues concerning the legal changes that have taken place in the UK over the last ten to fifteen years.

The film also covers how the Government have severely curtailed our civil liberties such as the right to protest, freedom of speech, the right to a trial and innocence until proof of guilt.

The film will be followed by the chance to discuss any questions raised by the film immediately afterwards.

Picture of the week Tom Flathers

Fun run for Acorns Children's Hospital Sunday 16th October 5km race starts at 11.30am. 2k fun run starts at 12.15pm. Both races begin at Chancellor's Court THE University of Birmingham's annual fun run takes place this Sunday on campus.

The event will be raising money for the Acorns Children's Hospice Trust, which has three hospices, located in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester.

Peter Hinton from the School of Chemical Engineering organized the race; he said 'We hope to see people of all ages on the day and welcome new participants each year.

We often have runners in fancy dress which adds to the entertaining atmosphere of the event.'

Last year the run raised an impressive £6,000 for the Acorns Children's Hospice Trust,

and has raised an overall £65,000 for charities since it began twelve years ago.

The 5K race is expected to draw more experienced runners to the campus to enable them to practise and improve their speed, as well as to raise money for the Children's Hospital. There is a £100 prize for the first man and woman to cross the finishing line. There are also lots of other prizes to be won by those who choose to run, including a veteran's prize.

The 2K fun run is aimed more at those who just want to do something for charity and have a good time whilst doing it.

Everyone who runs will get a medal to show off upon completion of the course, and every child who takes part will receive a goodie bag.

If you are interested in getting involved in the Acorns Children's Hospice Trust run, call 0121 414 5329, or alternately visit the website at www. uni5K.org.uk

MP to give law Lecture Thursday 29th October MP Jack Straw, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, will be giving a free lecture at the University of Birmingham as part of the ninth annual series of 'Issues in Criminal Justice' lectures.

The title has yet to be confirmed.

Guild Council Elections Monday 19th - Wednesday 21st October Elections will take place for the International Students' Officer and Postgraduate and Mature Students' Officer positions.

There may also be elections for two other positions; nominations not being revealed until after Redbrick went to press.

There will also be elections for Guild Council representatives from academic departments. You can vote online by visiting your my.bham page.

4 News

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Campus News

University debate to 'legalise all drugs' causes controversy Danny McCarthy ANOTHER semester begins at Birmingham and with it comes a fresh new set of issues to be chewed over by the University's Debating Society.

On Thursday 8th October the first public debate of the year was held and attracted a large crowd to the Guild Council Chambers. The motion put forward on this occasion was 'This house believes all drugs should be legalised' which, perhaps surprisingly, passed after some entertaining arguments.

Dr Peter Kerr, of the University's Political Science Department, led a hypothetical proposition argument and to the audience's delight, provided some novel reasons for the legalisation of all drugs. The lecturer pointed out the supposed hypocrisy of opponents by highlighting the use of other drugs such as caffeine, tobacco and alcohol in society and questioning where the threshold should be drawn. He jokingly argued that Britain

is a 'nation of drug addicts' and is dependent upon its regular 'Starbucks fix'.

He moved on to talk

about the cost of alcohol in this country. Every year there are 9,000 alcoholrelated deaths and bil-

lions of pounds are spent annually on its effects, yet it remains perfectly legal to buy - unlike other

substances such as cocaine and heroin. Thus, he concluded, if personal choice remains the only

Peter Kerr, of the Political Science Department, who led the hypothetical debate on legalising drugs Photo: Pete Blakemore

deterrence towards alcohol and tobacco consumption then the same standard should apply for other drugs.

The opposition, headed by Tim Lees, refuted that the same logic could be used towards all drugs.

Rather, he insisted that there is a 'gradation of drugs' and that it is in both individuals' and society's interest to ensure that the more dangerous types are banned by the Government.

As usual, the debate was then opened up to the floor and the audience was free to make their own contributions before the motion was voted on by the House - which was won by the proposition on a swing vote. Student, Rob Hunter, commented: 'There were some captivating speeches and hopefully that will encourage even more people to come next time.'

Peter Kerr was full of praise for his fellow debaters after leading the proposition to victory and said: 'I'm absolutely thrilled to be involved in such a high quality debate.'

Local News

Controversial new gentleman's club considered for Solihull Nadia Tavana THERE'S fresh controversy over the potential opening of a new gentleman's club in Solihull, after council leaders scrutinized plans to redevelop the night club into a lap dancing establishment.

Councillor Ken Meeson has stepped up in opposition as plans were revealed to open the club in the middle of Solihull. He has remarked that the club will not be in keeping with the family-orientated and picturesque town.

Yet residents and councillors are up in arms over the proposed club which will be discussed on Tuesday in a full council meeting.

Richard McKay, the club owner, has said that in no way will the club lower the tone of the town, and has instead said that it may enhance Solihull by encouraging business into the area

from nearby Birmingham via wealthy executives who visit the club. Meesen, on the other hand has voiced his anger at the legislation which has allowed the proposal to take place.

In a statement to Redbrick, he describes the club as setting 'a bad example that is incompatible with a civilised society and inappropriate as part of town centre life.'

The club will open until 4am for six nights a week and will be a strictly over twenty-fives venue, and will be the first of its kind in Solihull.

The allowance for the variation in venue from night club to gentleman's club, which will be named the 'Honey Club', was permitted a year ago by the council's licensing committee. The club is planning to open at the end of October.

Redbrick decided to ask some students their opinion concerning the opening of this controversial new club...

Amy Banaghan

James Stewart

Jessica Wheaton

Ingrid Magnusson

Second year BA Political Science

Second year BA English and History

Second year BA International Studies and Spanish

Second year BA Political Science

'Instead of pushing these places underground it is better to keep them out in the open to prevent further misconduct happening.'

'It's a decision that women make independently if they want to work there or not.'

'It's wrong because students may be drawn into it due to money. It's not dirty but predatory.'

'It doesn't surprise me as Birmingham has a high density of strip clubs. I don't think society should be shielded from it.'

News

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Local and University News

Half-Marathon in Selly Oak Helen Crane THE streets of Selly Oak played host to some of the world's top athletes for an international halfmarathon followed by a fundraising run on Sunday.

The IAAF World Half Marathon Championship began on Centenary Square in the city centre at 9 am and passed along Bournbrook, Raddlebarn and Pershore roads before returning to the finish line on Broad Street.

The men's race was won by Jean Ndaesenga of Burundi, and the women's by Susan Partridge from the British team.

Star athlete Paula Radcliffe was prevented from competing after being diagnosed with tonsillitis.

The race was followed at 10 am by the Birmingham Half Marathon, sponsored by EDF Energy, along the same 13.1 mile course.

Despite the adverse weather conditions the streets were lined with supporters of the event, which had around 12,000 runners of all ages and abilities.

One of these was second year student Mairi Davies, who completed the course in around 2 hours 20 minutes and raised ÂŁ80 for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Davies commented, 'It was a really good experience. There were lots of supporters which was great, and finishing the race gives you such a good feeling. I'd definitely do it again next year'.

Second year Sport and Physical Education student Tom Holt volunteered as a marshal at the event. He said: 'I wasn't quite up to running a half marathon myself, so I thought it'd be good to volunteer and do something to help out the local community.'

It's ready, steady, cook and run with Ainsley and Dame Kelly Jack Davis ON Saturday the 10th of October, the University College Birmingham played host to a special event for the students who are part of Dame Kelly Holmes 'On Camp with Kelly' initiative.

The long term initiative began in 2004 with Dame Kelly wanting to pass on her experience as an athlete to those who aimed to represent Great Britain in the Olympics one day. What started with a mere eight athletes has now snowballed into a programme that has spanned over six years and involves sixty students.

Dame Kelly teamed up with celebrity chef Ainsley Harriot, of Ready Steady Cook fame, to bring forty-five students from her athletics programme, nine of which are from the University of Birmingham, for a day of learning how to cook and

Taxi company falsely using University logo Catrin Shi A TAXI firm has falsely claimed to be the University of Birmingham's accredited taxi company, causing concern for the welfare of Birmingham students.

Falcon Cars distributed leaflets around campus and Selly Oak last week, marketing themselves as 'approved' by the University and featuring the university logo without permission. When questioned on their association with the University, Falcon Cars stated that they were the only accredited taxi firm, and had been for a while.'

Falcon Cars had previously had a long rela-

tionship with the Guild until the end of the academic year 2007/8, which saw a change in Guild policy after safety concerns and claims of inconsistent pricing, as well as frequent lateness for bookings. The firm was later replaced by Castle Cars after a careful but seperate selection process run by both the Guild and the University.

The leaflets that were distributed advertised offers very similar to those run by Castle Cars, such as the student emergency fare scheme and a night bus. The flyers even mimic the design and presentation of Castle's scheme.

However the flyers are not the Guild's only

Unafiliated taxi company, 'Falcon Taxis' Photo: Tom Flathers

5

point of concern. In recent weeks there have been allegations of Falcon taxis blocking in the Guild Night Bus, preventing students from using the safer and cheaper alternative to getting home.

According to Johnny Davis, VP Welfare, the Guild have been in discussion with Falcon about the leaflets. Falcon Cars have agreed to stop the distribution of flyers immediately, as well as allow the Guild Night Bus easy access to pick up students on their journey home. The police have been contacted, as well as the University's legal department.

Guild President, Fabian Neuner, insists; 'We take the welfare of students very seriously.

This is why we have an accredited taxi company and a Night Bus scheme'.

'The Guild are working closely with the University to prevent such issues, and we are making good progress' says Neuner.

To see the full version of this article, please go online to www.redbrickonine.co.uk and click 'News'

eat properly while at university so that their athletics talents will not be wasted.

During the course of the day, the athletes were taught how to cook six healthy and nutritious meals by Harriot, as well as attending a lecture from the 'On Camp with Kelly' nutritionist, and receiving personal advice from Dame Kelly herself.

The student athletes then got to try their hand at cooking the meals that were demonstrated to them earlier.

Non Stanford, a third year at the University of Birmingham who is studying Sport and Exercise Science, said 'Its been really fun working with Ainsley. It's pretty cool to see how a professional chef works. The nutrition-

Ainsley Harriot and Dame Kelly cooking up a storm Photo: Courtesy of Amy King

al advice we received today will be great in helping me with my winter training.'

Ainsley summerised the aim of the day by saying; 'Education in food and nutrition is the difference between a personal best and what might have been.'

Ainsley also stressed the importance of 'On Camp with Kelly' having the sponsorship of insurance giant 'Aviva' behind them, due to the fact that sports falls into decline without it.

So what is Ainsley Harriots advice to all the students who want to eat and live well? Well the answer is as much about planning as it is about the cooking. Simply budget, plan your menus and don't buy what you won't eat.

If you are an athletic student and are inspired by the 'On Camp with Kelly' programme, simply go on the website and get involved at www.oncamp withkelly.co.uk

Sociology Department review follow-up Nadine Baldwick THE Sociology Department took measures this week to quash the rumours that have been circulating on campus after it was announced in June this year that the Sociology Department was under review. Undergraduate sociology students were invited to attend a meeting in the Gisbert Kapp building on Monday 12th October at 2 pm to set the record straight on what the review entails.

The meeting was chaired by two members of University staff relating to the department: Cillian Ryan and Professor Paul Jackson.

Ryan emphasised that a review of a department and its provision is an 'entirely normal process'; this statement was reiterated by Jackson who assured students that this review process 'is not unusual'.

The meeting turned into more of a debate when students were asked if they had any questions.

One student asked the question that was on many students' minds: 'Why are all the Sociology

staff leaving?'

Ryan refused to accept the notion that the review of the Department had anything to do with why some members of staff were leaving, as the review group has yet to make its report outlining the recommendations.

More specifically, questions were asked as to why Dr Pete Webb, a lecturer in the Department, was leaving.

Jackson replied that the 'university profession is a fluid profession' and that it is not uncommon for lecturers to come and go.

Students in the lecture hall appeared to be less than convinced at the explanations given and as expected speculation continues amongst students.

Questions were also asked about the method in which students were initially informed of the review in June. When asked why the flawed 'pigeon hole' method was used for this purpose, Ryan appeared apologetic. He agreed that communication should have taken the form of three strategies: by letters in pigeon holes, letters to students' home addresses and by email.

Perhaps the most encouraging comment made during the meeting came from Ryan when asked by a student what would happen in the worst case scenario if the Sociology Department closes: '(it is) entirely hypothetical... I can't see it happening'.

Despite this seemingly reassuring comment, it appeared students' confidence was not restored.

One student, Kehinde Andrews, commented; 'The loss of the department of Sociology and Cultural Studies should be unacceptable to the student body and we should do everything in our power to stop it.'

Students are encouraged to voice their opinion on the strengths and weaknesses of the Sociology department by sending an email to socview@contacts.bham. ac.uk.

To see the full version of this article, or to comment on this issue, please visit: www.redbrickonline.co.uk and click on 'News'

6 Comment

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Comment: Hall Rivalry Victoria Shires gives us an insight into the rivalries between halls I HAVE a confession to make: my name is Victoria, I'm a second year and last year I lived in Shackleton Hall.

But don't be too quick to judge me because of this. My dad doesn't pay my fees and I've got a student loan. I have friends who lived in Tennis Courts, Elgar Court, Pritchatts Park and - dare I say it - Mason Hall.

There are far too many stereotypes and generalisations here in Birmingham stemming from students' first year accomodation. Your Hall of Residence - the place where you were randomly allocated to live before you even arrived at the University - is, it would seem, what defines you.

Hall rivalry has been amplified for the freshers of 2009, with cruder chants coming from louder voices. As a Hall Ambassador for Welcome Week, I witnessed this at first hand. I fear that the fun and banter I used to enjoy and revel in last year may be being taken a step too far...

When I arrived at Shackleton this time a year ago, the feelings of loyalty and pride weren't half as strong among stu-

Elgar Court show their community spirit Photo: Lucy Percival dents - and I believe it was similar for a lot of the other halls. I didn't even know who our Residents’ Association were or what they did until the new one was elected.

However, the class of '09 are already devout Shackletonians, living and breathing in not only the smell of Fusion food, but true love and admiration

for their hall and their RA. I think this is brilliant. I enjoy the Hall spirit, the sense of belonging that most freshers crave in their first few weeks of university and I believe this territorial outlook is necessary, to an extent.

The jokey chants that fly between Aitken, Maple, Vicky Halls and the rest is amusing and the ban-

ter can be quite exciting.

It's fun, it's games and the healthy competition is a good way to meet and interact with people from different halls who you may not otherwise speak to. In the first few weeks of university when you don't know many people apart from your flat- or block- mates, revelling in a bit of hall-on-hall teas-

ing is totally relevant.

Then you hear the rumours that a fresher got egged by other freshers from 'opposing' halls, or you hear revolting tales about those Tennis Court boys who urinated on Mason windows. I was even confronted by a Pritchatts resident in Mechu on a night out who drunkenly made her opinions about

the Vale and the 'fat ugly' girls who lived on it clearly heard.

Is this not a fine example of the 'step too far' I was referring to? Isn't this lending too significant a meaning to the 'rival' in 'hall rivalry'? At the end of the day we are all here, studying for a degree at the University of Birmingham. Aren't we all in the same boat? Won't most of us move to Selly Oak after our year in halls is up?

Shouldn't we be making as many friends as we can rather than enemies with people who, apart from their address, are exactly the same?

The notion of the 'battle of the halls' is always going to be current, whether we like it or not.

I'm sure that Colourfest in a few weeks will see some fierce competition and, hopefully, some mutual fun for our freshers.

I do believe it is entirely necessary to feel that hall spirit, and some pride for your hall, but let's leave it at that. Let's forget the aggression and enmity and make the most of freshers year without confrontations – or eggs.

Comment: Departmental Assessment How can we accurately measure the success of University departments? asks Caroline Mortimer LAST week Redbrick reported that the Sociology Department was facing a critical review over its research and teaching performance in the face of a supposedly poor Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

This means that if the department were to receive further condemnation in the critical review, it may be forced to close. It must be stressed that this is not a final decision, but if this proves to be the case - will it be the right one?

In essence, the RAE is just a number. It does not take into account the quality of teaching or general facilities on offer to students, so to close the department or even consider doing so over something like one report is foolish. It smacks of the University caring more about being seen to be a place of academic excellence than providing that excellence to the students.

After all, although it may be a prestigious item on their undergraduate prospectus, the RAE does not pay tuition fees.

In any case, why does this particular statistic matter? As Mark Twain once said, 'There are lies, damn lies and statistics.'

A university cannot be measured by a number; that's a cold mathematical rationale that cannot be used to judge success. Birmingham ranked fourth in the country for Sociology in the Guardian's Good University Guide 2010 but only twenty-sixth in the Times for the same course.

So which is correct? Statistics suffer from the fatal flaw of being considered mathematical fact when they are still largely influenced by opinion.

Although the Higher

Education Funding Council (who conduct the RAE) may believe that Birmingham's Sociology department's research is only worth a certain rating, who says that the students or other universities will think the same?

Success and excellence are not quantitative measures; they are fluid concepts based on perception and as far as the University should be concerned the only perception that really matters is the students'.

Furthermore, the way in which this is being handled by the department is poor. They claimed that all students were given information about this review in their pigeonholes, but these letters were sent during the last exam period i.e. a long time ago.

Although the Sociology Review Group is opening up an email for students to voice their opinions about what is going on, shouldn't students have more say in the fate of their own department?

There should be at least one student representative on this review board to plead the case of the students, (not just in this case, but all departmental reviews) who believe the quality of research is excellent. The University should be measured by how much the students enjoy the course, or their career prospects afterwards. Although these are standard procedures after a poor RAE review, to leave students out of such an important decision is

Should students at the University have more say on how their department is assessed? Photo: Lucy Percival

incredibly unfair.

Finally, regardless of the department's prestige, knowledge is supposed to be the foundation of a university's philosophy.

The front page of the Birmingham University website says 'for over a hundred years, learning and research at the University has played a major part in the success of the city, the region and the world - and has contributed to the advancement of knowledge and its application.' Why does this have to change because of one council's assessment not being what they hoped? Knowledge should be pursued simply for the sake of knowledge; it does not have to always be valuable to society or development. The research that the sociology department is conducting is obviously of interest to the researchers, lecturers and students so it should not matter if the council doesn't think it is 'excellent' enough. According to the Guardian website, student satisfaction for Sociology at Birmingham is eighty-nine per cent.

They must be doing something right.

Features

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Just a pretty face?

Clocking Off

Stephanie Jenner objects to a Vice-Chancellor's controversial comments on female students being a 'perk' of his job

Jude Hill

No object: students are offended by Kealey's comments Photo: Lucy Percival A COUPLE of weeks ago, Terence Kealey, ViceChancellor of the University of Buckingham, was asked by The Times to contribute to a humorous article, 'The seven deadly sins of the academy'.

While the parts on procrastination were mildly entertaining, Kealey's input for lust was, quite frankly, disturbing: 'Normal girls - more interested in abs than in labs, more interested in pecs than specs, more interested in triceps than tripods - will abjure their lecturers for the company of their peers, but nonetheless, most male lecturers know that, most years, there will be a girl in class who flashes her admiration and who asks for advice on her essays. What to do?

Enjoy her! She's a perk…she will flaunt you her curves. Which you should admire daily to spice up your sex, nightly, with the wife.

Yup, I’m afraid so.

As in Stringfellows, you should look but not touch.'

Firstly, I freely admit that this happens. Most people, when they see someone attractive, have an appreciative glance.

But while it's one thing to think it, it's different to actually say it, and is totally inappropriate to publish it.

Astoundingly, people have defended Kealey.

The usual defences for outrageously offensive writing have been trotted out, such as how he has freedom of speech to express himself. But if that freedom of speech causes such offence and shows a distinct lack of respect and professionalism, then Kealey will have to accept the immense backlash that has followed.

Strangely, Aristotle was invoked (on The Times's online forum) concerning the sexual component to the mentor/mentee relationship, and how relationships between professors and their students are not unusual. However, this defence assumes that the female students are equally enamoured with Kealey as he is with them, which I doubt is the case for the majority. A spark of sexual interest born of mutual attraction and respect can be amazing, but if it's not reciprocated then it can become borderline sexual harassment. Besides, it's clear from Kealey's language that this isn't a mentor/mentee relationship; he doesn't care about the girl's intellectual capabilities, just that she flaunts her curves. Additionally, his accusation that the Quality Assurance Agency is 'intrusive' (for monitoring instances where fe-

male students have slept with their professors in order to improve their marks) shows, I think, his lack of respect and care for either his students or the quality of his University.

Of course, as the whole article was intended as humorous and satirical, Kealey's overwhelmingly misogynistic and predatory comments are immaterial, claim his defendants. While there are many who think this backlash against Kealey to be unfounded, I think it's a sign of how these issues are not taken as seriously as they should be. To joke about how female students are a perk of the job and can be used as sexual fantasies is not funny.

Everyone has the right to work and learn in a nonthreatening environment where they can trust their teachers to only think about their best interests, and not have a hidden agenda. Will future students' marks suffer as they no longer attend lectures because Kealey's lechery has become too much?

Kealey's assumption that a girl who asks him for help on her essays is actually lusting after him is not only ridiculous, but is a sign of something more sinister; the widespread assumption amongst arrogant males

that all females really, secretly, want them, despite all evidence to the contrary. Will Kealey ever get a female student asking him for help again, or will they all be too nervous to get the feedback they need to improve because they fear he'll just be picturing them naked? And, of course, a girl who dresses to flaunt her curves must surely be doing it for his benefit only…

Kealey defends his claims by asserting that 'the fault lies with the females' (but of course), and also proposes that it is acceptable for him to fantasise about his students, because the girls in his fictitious books fantasise about their male tutors.

While girls do fantasise, and some fantasise about their lecturers, it doesn't mean that he is one of them. It doesn't make it right for him to do it back on the off-chance that he is, and it certainly doesn't give him the right to publish it in a national newspaper.

What will this attitude do to claims of sexual harassment? Do female students feel that they can't report people like Kealey because the 'Academy' accepts the ogling of them to be acceptable and it is just something they have to suffer in silence? What of the lecturers who are plagued by unwanted attention from their students – will they feel as though they cannot complain, that they are in some way abnormal for not enjoying their 'perks', because Kealey has instructed that they 'should look'?

Kealey's attitude suggests he has no respect for his female students, with little thought to their feelings or education. What the parents of students at Buckingham would have thought when they read this article is unimaginable.

After centuries of campaigning for female equality and the validity of women's intelligence, Kealey manages to reduce female students into nothing more than pretty furnishings there for the sole purpose of male enjoyment, in nine pretentious paragraphs. It would be pathetic if it wasn't so distressing.

Kealey's original article in The Times Higher can be read at: http:// www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story. asp?storycode=408135

I WILL start off by saying welcome to my first Clocking Off as Features editor. I am expecting a very productive year and the amount of enthusiasm shown by our writers has only cemented that idea in my mind.

I have spent the majority of my time this week balancing Redbrick work with my course work, but in my rare spare hours I managed to read an article in the G2 from the 24th of September. It was about the mystery surrounding the Arctic Sea boat that went missing in the Baltic sea. It spoke about the various theories that have been put forward about how and why it went missing. These went from illegal arms deals, smuggling nuclear weapons out of Russia and framing seven Environmentalists for piracy.

One of the main themes that ran through all of the theories is the involvement of the Russian government and the fallibility of the evidence against the seven men who were arrested in the ensuing recovery. They have always denied their guilt and continue to maintain their innocence.

Although government conspiracies are not a new thing, it made me think about the amount of monitoring that the government has us under. It has become a Big Brother state in the middle of the Bullring, as our editor and online editor found out recently when they toured the central police station in Birmingham. They saw several cameras so powerful that they could read the articles that people were reading in the newspaper from the top of a building. With this kind of information-gathering our government must be held accountable and kept under constant scrutiny from both the electorate and the media.

There is very little

7

that can be done by the electorate. As the march against the Iraq war showed, the government does not have to listen to the little guy.

Frankie Boyle put it best when he said that people were signing a petition against ID cards because the government wanted to hold too much information on people - so the way to protest was by sending 'a big list of their names and addresses'.

The importance of the media is being questioned every single day, with more and more blogs and independent opinions being expressed on various websites all over the internet; the weight of the media who traditionally kept the government in check is dwindling. Newspaper sales are falling and the amount of hits on online newspapers are diluted by the sheer volume of information on the internet. People think that the press is just there for entertainment, for informing the public of the news, but it isn't; it is the single most important factor in keeping the government in check and maintaining our civil liberties.

Before I started out at Birmingham I did not think this at all - I had no view one way or the other - but since I have lived in a city, spent the majority of my time being filmed by government cameras and started writing, I have realised the importance of it all.

The future of writing lies amongst publications like Redbrick.

You are not going to be able to waltz out of university and find yourself a job in journalism - it takes experience, dedication and time to even get on the lowest rung of the ladder.

Redbrick gives you the opportunity not just to get some writing experience under your belt but it also the confidence to, as NWA put it, 'express yourself'.

Do you want to write for the Features section?

Email us at: features@redbrickonline.co.uk

8 Features

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Graduates: Where are they now?

Abi Gill looks at the paths taken by various Birmingham graduates and picks up some advice

Life after university: work, travelling or further education? Photo: Rob Senior IT has now been four months since the last batch of Birmingham University fledglings flew the nest. Those who sat their finals back in May and June faced the prospect that amid the worst economic crises in decades, they may not find it quite as easy to gain employment as their predecessors had. The Times recently released the unsettling statistic that graduate unemployment has more than doubled since 2008, with a jump from 3% to 6.3%. Likewise, those choosing to remain within the education system were met with fierce competition due to rocketing numbers of applicants. Redbrick caught up with a few old friends to see where life after Bir-

mingham had lead them.

For many graduates, getting those first vital steps on the career ladder take priority. After at least three hard years of surviving on the pittance amount that is the British student loan, many graduates understandably long for that all-important first wage payment.

Our very own ex-Features editor Matt Caines told me: 'Mere weeks after graduation I had landed freelance employment as a restaurant critic for one of the UK's leading food & drink magazines.' Matt found that expanding his CV whilst at university gave him a real edge over competing graduates.

'What I found solace in, and what employers are really lapping up, was that

I had expanded my CV to more than just an expensive qualification; editorship at Redbrick, written publication, website design and various software languages had really put me inside a top percentage of journalistic wannabes.'

Time and time again we hear that extracurricular activities are a vital string to the graduate's bow and those facts really do speak for themselves. Employers want well rounded candidates and not just intellect. Nick Falkowski, a graduate in Philosophy, Classical Literature and Civilization followed a well-trodden graduate path and relocated to London. However, his attempts to find work in the Capital meant he came face to face with the

This week on redbrickonline.co.uk Callum Anderson on the Conservative party conference: 'With the media on his side, David Cameron's only task was not to make a massive mistake.'

Tom Pratt reports on the state of Labour after a potential turning-point in their fortunes: 'For all of Labour's posturing, it remains to be seen whether the party haven't received a knock-out blow.'

Plus, Martin Theaker on whether the Conservatives' proposal for a 10% discount of early loan repayments is quite as good as it sounds

problems of the recession.

'It's been a very bad year for all jobs, but graduate jobs especially. Keeping motivated and applying lots has been essential, even when it seems like there is nothing out there.

Leaving uni is a complete lifestyle change and it can be difficult to adapt to rarely seeing friends you used to meet daily.'

Luckily Nick gained a sales role and has hopes of working as a conference producer in the near future. Many people find that their chosen degree course isn't directly linked to their career aspirations.

It's important to remember that the lifestyle path you envisaged when you first applied to university has probably been greatly altered by the university experience itself. Charlotte Spencer explained that her degree in Childhood, Culture and Education didn't especially compliment her desire to work within the field of Event Planning and Marketing, so professional work experience and internships were her first step following graduation. She explained, 'Work experience is vital as it makes you look passionate, hard-working and fills up your CV. Always keep in contact with people who you've worked for via email, just so they remember you.' She also discovered how luck can play an important role in your career; 'I did work experience for a PR company which wasn't exactly what I wanted to do but a client came into the office, who turned out to work for a massive events company.

I was introduced and was in the right place at the right time because their intern at the event company had just dropped out.'

So, from our ex Brummies who have managed to find employment we can conclude three necessities: experience, experience and yet more experience. Yet what about those who wanted to avoid the rat race a little longer? According to The Times the employment rate amongst those with postgraduate level qualifications was 85% compared to only 56% amongst those with a bachelor's degree.

It is no wonder that many now wish to stay on and continue investing in their futures. When Sandhya Lachmansingh completed her third-year English dissertation she thought that was her last chance to be academically creative. However, the prospect of applying for jobs amid the recession made her rethink.

'I wanted to stay for that extra year to get ahead of the competition. I also really didn't like the thought of moving home and leaving my friends.'

Besides Masters qualifications, the number applying for PGCE courses has also increased, as Clare Hartill discovered.

'I applied to do a PGCE in January and only Keele had places left in the West Midlands. I hadn't done any work experience and didn't get in, so

Economic History graduate, celebrated the end of a fruitful university career with a trip to Kenya with his housemates. He is currently temping for a local company before heading off to the Alps in November to work as a chalet chef for a ski season. 'It's the final part of my gap year so I can do something I'll never really have the chance of doing again.'

It is worth remembering that the summer following your gradua-

Will you end up working in the Gherkin or McDonalds?

I've had to reapply this year.' This didn't discourage her, however, and she is currently building up her CV by working within schools whilst reapplying for her course. 'Even though this isn't what I wanted to happen it's worked out pretty well.'

Finally, there are those who decide to take a year out before working towards their career or further education. Jeremy Thomson, a Social and

tion may well be your last chance of freedom before employment, which, let's face it, you're probably going to be in for at least forty years. As that really is a fairly depressing prospect, you shouldn't feel guilty if you want to take some time out before climbing that career ladder, especially if you're participating in activities that will help build an attractive CV for future employers.

Features

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Student visa crisis abroad

9

Jen Waghorn tells us about the visa crisis amongst Pakistani students

Up to 5,000 Pakistani students unable to get a UK visa Photo: Laura Rainsford THE start of a new year at university is a stressful time for everyone. But if you think packing everything into a few cases and working out a new timetable is tough, think again.

Five thousand Pakistani students hoping to study at British universities have been caught up in a huge visa mix-up, meaning that they can't even enter the country, let alone go to university.

The affected students' visa requests are among the vast backlog, now numbering 14,000, and supposedly being dealt with by the UK Borders Agency (UKBA). Applications have been taking an unbelievable 60 days to be processed. Many perfectly legitimate visa requests have been groundlessly refused, or simply lost somewhere in the socalled 'developed' British

system. Frustrated students have found it almost impossible to contact the visa centre by telephone or email, while many others have found that the passports they have submitted have gone missing, even if they have been granted applications.

Over the last few months, there has been an ongoing rift over immigration between the Pakistani authorities and

UKBA, who shifted their headquarters 1,400 miles from Islamabad, Pakistan, to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last year due to 'security concerns'. The Pakistani government is furious at the length of time it is taking to process the visa requests, stating that the delays are 'unacceptable'. The disputes have sparked a flood of angry responses from the press – one paper called the crisis 'a monster cockup', while in Pakistan the system has been slated as 'grindingly slow, faceless and error-prone'.

Alan Johnson, the UK Home Secretary, visited Pakistan last week in an attempt to mollify the authorities and untangle the mess surrounding the visa system. He claimed that the delays were not caused by moving the visa centre, but by 'particular failings with new technology'. Johnson promised that the visa processing time would be reduced from sixty days to fourteen to twenty-eight days, adding that by November he hoped that UKBA would be able to guaran-

tee a fifteen-day response time. He also stated his hopes that 'most students applying for visas will be able to start their courses by the start of November'.

UKBA seems completely unaware that term has already started for most universities – at least a month earlier, in early October – and that students will have missed weeks of study.

Various students have spoken out against the authorities' inefficiency.

Qudsia, a 24-year old student, talked to the press about the refusal of her application to study a masters course at the University of Nottingham.

Qudsia was denied a visa on the grounds of having no primary degree. But she explained that when her application was returned, it included a sealed envelope containing proof that she attended a renowned establishment in Pakistan.

Her appeal will take up to four weeks to be processed, which she stated would be 'far too late'.

The BBC also interviewed another Pakistani student, Razi Farooqui,

who explained that there had been no response to his visa request to attend a masters course at Oxford. The application was submitted in July. Razi feels 'highly aggrieved', explaining: 'I will have to postpone my course for a year, and the British authorities still have my passport… it's mindbogglingly incompetent'.

Mr Ilyas Khan, the BBC's correspondent in Pakistan, has also said that 'students and applicants seeking medical treatment have suffered the most, as many have missed crucial appointments at colleges and hospitals'.

The real frustration for students affected by the system snarl-up is that the vast majority of visa requests are legitimate, and backed-up with clear evidence. The students aren't trying to get into the country illegally; they just want to study their degrees. Is it really so difficult to get a system running that allows them to start their studies on time?

passion, coupled with the huge catchment area of pubs and clubs such as The Rainbow, Air and The Custard Factory, surely

shows that urban conservation is equally as important as change.

Developing Digbeth Janine Rasiah reports on the proposed Digbeth regeneration

A new view? Photo: www.beormaquarter.com AS one of the oldest and most loved areas of Birmingham, any suggestion of extensive change in Digbeth was always going to encounter a backlash.

Tuesday's meeting of residents and a panel chaired

by Nicky Getgood, writer of the popular blog Digbeth is Good may not have resulted in a definitive plan of action, but it did serve as a stern reminder to developers that this is an area that is unlikely to lose its vibrancy and diversity without a fight.

The evening began with a compilation of television footage showing the changes to Digbeth from 1956-1978, including the opening of Midland Red Bus Station, closure of the Typhoo Tea factory and even an escaped bull.

Conversation soon turned to the future of Digbeth and a flashy presentation unveiled further details about the 'Big City Plan', which includes the first new city park in Birmingham for 125 years.

Although another

recreation area was welcomed, fears were expressed that large-scale conventual redevelopment would soon remove all traces of old, distinctive buildings. The discrepancy between keeping the area faithful to its past and changing it to increase footfall is extremely difficult to solve, particularly as many attendees had a strong emotional connection to Digbeth and are angry at changes that have already been made and are therefore unwilling to compromise further. The movement of the Birmingham Wholesale Market from Digbeth to Witton by 2012 is just one decision that has caused upset and unfortunately it looks like it will not be the last.

One of the issues that was of particular concern to many was that the area may begin to be dominated by one function, especially as the council are putting a lot of emphasis on building new, fairly generic houses. Currently Digbeth is celebrated because of its eclectic mix of uses, and to dilute this would serve only to un-

necessarily change the whole atmosphere.

The success of the redevelopment of Brindleyplace has been suggested as a point of reference for the forthcoming changes to Digbeth, which is a real cause for concern considering the differences in the areas. Whilst Brindleyplace is lovely in its own right, it seems bizarre that Digbeth ever could, or should, be similar in the future.

Also mentioned was the Council's proposal to transform Digbeth into a 'digital district,' an area with extremely fast internet connection, in a bid to support existing businesses, attract new ones and increase the quality of life for citizens. However, the council representative did admit that the outcomes of this plan were not certain, which made it fairly unpopular considering the fact that this scheme has an estimated cost of ten million pounds.

It would seem imperative that the council takes into consideration the issues raised at this meeting. The residents'

The view from the Bullring Photo: www.beormaquarter.com

10 Television

An X-ceptional beginning...

With the controversial new-look audition stage over, Matthew Williamson discusses the first live shows on this year's X Factor...

THE weekends leading up to Christmas are undeniably all about The X Factor: Facebook statuses change in unison, everybody delays pre-Fab drinking sessions and a quiet Sunday tea at the pub descends into sheer panic when the barmaid announces an hour before results time that there's 'a half an hour wait on food'. Panic over, week one's installments certainly didn't fail to deliver – killer performances, amazing makeovers, bitchy judges and a truly controversial Dannii Minogue moment.

Let's get the inevitable over with: the John and Edward discussion. Loathsome, arrogant, irritating, talentless, tiresome: all words I would use to describe this disastrous duo. Cheryl Cole hit the nail on the head with this analysis: 'You can't sing.

Fact. But it's not your fault you're in the final twelve'.

It is, however, their fault that they entered the competition in the first place.

Yes, there's an act every year that gets far further than is socially acceptable (step forward, Chico), but with the amount of genuine talent in the competition this year, this terrible twosome must go. Immediately.

With that over, let's look at the real talent. Stacey Solomon took everyone aback with a stunning makeover, before delivering a surprisingly effective version of The Scientist by Coldplay. That, combined with her ditzy personality and charming honesty, seem to suggest a promising future for her in the competition. Miss Frank, the girl-group put together at bootcamp, shone in their category, looking like Louis' only real hope this year (that is, of course, presuming Louis decides to return to the show amid his devastation at the death of Stephen Gateley). In the over25's, Olly Murs continued to develop his cheeky persona with a version of She's The One by Robbie Williams, complete with his token dance moves. In Cheryl's category, Joseph

McElderry also delivered, outshining fellow under25s Lloyd and Ricky with an assured and confident first performance.

Not content with already appearing on American TV and delivering what Simon Cowell labelled as 'the best first audition I have ever seen', Danyl Johnson took to the stage and incited what will go down in history as the most awkward TV moment of the year. Performing And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going, Danyl changed the words from those sung by the traditional female vocalist to those fitting for a male performer. Delivering her comments, judge Dannii Minogue cattily said: 'If we believe everything we hear in the papers, you wouldn't need to change those gender references', referring of course to Danyl's very public announcement in the press, after his first audition, that he is bisexual. Controversy has since ensued and a very public apology was made by Dannii on Sunday's results show, before Simon stepped in and actively encouraged everybody to move on.

While it is evident that Dannii meant no harm, Danyl was clearly uncomfortable and this provides a reminder early on that it should be the performance that is judged, not the singer's appearance or sexual preference.

However, with no harm intended, it seems all that Dannii is truly guilty of is an incredibly ill-timed and badly-executed attempt at banter. With the audience stunned and Cowell more than a little confused, you could literally hear a pin drop in the studio. This year, more than any other, has so far been Dannii's year, and we would hate to see her ruin it with any more inappropriate comments.

As for the first week's result, few seemed very surprised when girl-group Kandy Rain were sent home. The voting public (i.e. 14-year-old girls calling off someone else's phone whilst babysitting) were never going to warm to these girls, who failed to shy away from their stripper past and show off any real vocal talent.

Whether Kandy Rain can somehow develop a career in the music industry (or, perhaps, learn to spell properly in the meantime) remains to be seen, but one thing that's crystal clear is that this year's X Factor promises to simply get better and better. The weekends are officially a write-off.

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Transatlantic Treats With a new season firmly underway on American TV, Sara Sherwood and Harriet Tisdall review two of their favourite exports from across the pond...

The Hills Sara Sherwood IF you haven't watched The Hills before, the basic premise is: Lauren Conrad, from the equally as awesome Laguna Beach: The Real OC, has her own spinoff show charting her rise through the fashion world; first with Teen Vogue and then fashion PR company People's Revolution. She's joined in LA by her best friend and legendary party girl Heidi Montag, roommate Audrina Patridge, and work colleague Whitney Port.

However, this all changed at the end of last season, when we all watched in wide-eyed silence as Lauren left on a scripted high, looking fabulous, and rival/replacement Kristin Cavallari swished into the ridiculous wedding of Spencer and Heidi. Kristin will be joining the California girls and boys this season, bringing with her the mandatory textureless West Coast drawl, Chanel 2.55 and a pathological need to create drama.

Nonetheless, Kristin isn't the only person who has ever graced The Hills. As faithful viewers will know, there have been numerous additions and guest stars throughout the course of the reality show. The most fantastic of these additions is the man, the myth, the maverick - and now monarch - Spencer Pratt, who ripped up season three

by splitting up Lauren and Heidi’s infamous friendship, with his flesh coloured beard and warped sense of logic. As a result, Heidi – always my favourite – turned from being fabulous party-girl-extreme to a plastic, fantastic wannabe.

As the seasons have progressed they have become more scripted and have given celebrity status to those who star in it (Heidi and Spencer

were on the American version of I'm a Celebrity… and Whitney Port has her own spin-off reality show, The City) which is perhaps the reason why the show's original star, Lauren, decided to leave. Regardless of all this, The Hills gives us a chance to escape our monotonous lives and sink into the uber-melodramatic and beautifully affluent world of the young and vain. So despite not quite trusting this new queen bee, The Hills is setting itself up to be super-compulsive viewing. And after all, every show needs a villain.

Gossip Girl Harriet Tisdall BASED on the popular series of books by Cecily von Ziegesar, Gossip Girl, set in Manhattan's luxurious Upper East Side, focuses on the lives of the wealthy and popular inhabitants of the fictional New York private schools Constance Billard and St Jude's.

These characters shop, drink Martinis and partake in a number of illegal activities to a modern soundtrack, whilst wearing fabulous designer clothes. It is no coincidence that sales of headbands and coloured tights increased after the show's debut in 2007, especially with the hunt firmly on for new style icons in the wake of Sex and the City's departure from our screens.

The first season begins with reformed bad girl Serena Van Der Woodsen's mysterious return from boarding school.

Her former best friend 'Queen B', Blair Waldorf,

and her band of identical followers shamelessly snub her, due to Blair's boyfriend - the dim-witted jock Nate Archibald - and his searing crush on Serena. The devilish Chuck Bass rides around town in his limo wearing outlandish clothes, with a woman on each arm.

However, not all of the characters in Gossip Girl are rich: social climbers Dan and Jenny Humphrey live on 'the other side of the bridge' - also known as Brooklyn - with their failed-musician father.

The first season alone includes various wild parties, death, a pregnancy scare, and more drama per episode than we may hope to expect from a full season of rival shows. All this alongside arguably one of the most attractive young casts ever to hit our TV screens - what more could you ask for?

Labelled as 'television's guilty pleasure', and with celebrity fans including Marc Jacobs and Victoria Beckham, this is the show for fans of The OC, Clueless and Mean Girls. Gossip Girl was adapted for television by The OC's Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and has the wit and style of the former show with less of a moral compass.

The show offers an hour of absolute escapism to a world where teenagers are far more glamorous and privileged than the majority of us could ever have dreamed of at the age of sixteen.

Not on our Street Anna Reynolds gives her thoughts on one of Coronation Street's most bizarre affairs...

I AM inclined to believe that the widespread consensus on Coronation Street's Kevin/Molly affair is that it is: a) one of the most excruciating displays of affection ever to hit the cobbles and b) that they make one of the most unlikely couples yet to grace our screens.

Merely the sight of Kevin in his mechanics overalls is enough to send Molly swooning, to such an extent that she has to support herself up against Dev's corner-shop lest she keel over under the sheer weight of infatuation. This, together with her overly flirtatious glances, is starting to make me feel increasingly nauseous.

It's not that I disagree with the affair per se; we can't deny Kevin deserves a break from Sally's incessant nagging,

but Molly has no excuse.

The doting Tyrone cooks, cleans and has even redecorated the living room, only to be repaid with endless lies and betrayal, only made worse by the fact that Kevin's constant offerings of afternoons-off are not just thoughtful gestures from boss to employee, but signs of the mechanic's secret shame and guilt.

The unfaithful pair's most recent liaison saw them lounging in a hotel room wearing matching dressing-gowns - a sight not recommended for those who want to keep their dinner down.

The sight of Molly pretty much throwing herself at Kevin, offering innuendo after innuendo, is definitive proof that tea-time should occur well before soap-hour begins.

It all began with an

innocent run, however their romance soon started to pick up the pace during training for a mini-marathon. For most of us, being hot and sweaty in-front of your crush doesn't generally bode too well, although in this instance it was clearly the making of what has become the soap's most talked-about fling. It is only a matter of time before the two get found out; Sally already came close a while back during a family party, although Molly's quick thinking saved the day. And given Sally's recent wrath during a showdown in the Rovers with Fiz over John Stape, she has proven herself to be a woman we wouldn't want to rile.

For now though, we can continue to watch as the storyline is set to

run up to, and beyond, Christmas. It may have been daughter Rosie who ruined Christmas lunch for the Websters last year but I have a feeling it will be Kevin's turn to face Sally's wrath this Noel, especially with the rumours in the press recently that Sally is tragically to discover she has breast cancer just as Kevin plans to leave her for Molly. Kevin will apparently be left with the decision between following his heart (and his running shoes) or standing by his family and supporting Sally through her treatment. But, after the ultimate betrayal, will Sally even want his support? Let's just hope all that training pays off so that he can make a speedy getaway.

Television

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Top Ten TV Crushes Emily Board counts down our favourite TV eye-candy...

Boys

5. Philip Schofield He may be number five here but he's definitely our guiltiest crush! Most of us will remember watching Mr Schofield with Gordon the Gofer and ridiculously bright jumpers on Saturday mornings, but since his reincarnation as the silver fox on This Morning and new game show The Cube we can really see that he's improved with age.

4. Joseph Fiennes Most recognisable from Shakespeare in Love, he is now the star of Channel Five's new drama Flash-Forward playing Agent Mark Benford. Those who know him will understand the appeal, and for the rest of you a crush on this suave and sophisticated man may creep up on you as his new series progresses.

3. Josh Holloway One of the stars of the addictive Lost and now the face (or should we say the amazing body) of Davidoff fragrances, this strapping blonde is our third crush.

Whether you were on Team Jack or Team Sawyer, no one can deny the appeal of the southern gent as he tried to seduce fellow castaway Kate.

2. Ashley Taylor-Dawson Better known as Darren from Hollyoaks, this young actor has proven his ability to keep us fancying him even through bad goatee, greasy hair and leopard print tops. Originally in CITV's forgotten children's television programme STARstreet, his multi-talented ways gained him a successful career as Darren Osborne, even managing to return from the dead!

1. Chace Crawford Star of Gossip Girl and star of the upcoming remake of Footloose, this undeniably beautiful actor has stolen our hearts as Nate Archibald. Just beating out his screen mate Ed Westwick, we felt no one could deny the appeal of his blue eyes and perfectly coiffed hair. He is our number one male TV crush!

Girls

Have you been experiencing Archi-burn?

5. Holly Willoughby The new half of the This Morning team with Philip Schofield and currently hosting Xtra Factor, this bubbly presenter seems to be everywhere at the moment! Her low-cut dresses set hearts racing and tongues wagging on Dancing on Ice. We think she's as gorgeous as she is likeable, with guys and girls alike falling for her charms.

4. Hayden Panettiere Best known as the indestructible Claire Bennett from Heroes, this pint-sized star's feistiness is her most appealing aspect. She stole the heart of her cast mate Milo Ventimiglia, and her anti-dolphin-hunting activism proves she takes girl power to a new level!

3. Eva Longoria Parker This petite Desperate Housewives actress and L'Oreal model is a stunning example of the exotic stars of America today. Her fun and relaxed attitude to her career retains her appeal while the men out there try to ignore the wedding ring on her finger!

2. Blake Lively Rising to fame playing Serena Van Der Woodsen in the socialite drama Gossip Girl, she steals every scene with her stunning natural beauty. I'm sure neither sex would mind seeing more of Blake on the small and big screen!

1. Cheryl Cole One piece of the ultimate girlband Girls Aloud and now huge star of The X Factor, Ms Cole is every man's perfect woman. Moving from chavette to WAG and a constant presence in the tabloids, she is no stranger to interrogation from the press, but throughout it all retains her newfound dignity and poise. Long may she reign as the Saturday night TV queen.

Reality TV War: Katie vs. Peter

11

This week, Matthew Williamson and Natalie Timmins take sides in the biggest divorce battle since the Mills-McCartney fiasco, and tell you why they're on Team Andre and Team Price...

Team Andre Matthew Williamson WHILE I'm not a man willing to spend my Wednesday afternoon queuing round the Bullring to get a signed copy of Revelations, it's evident to any of us why 'Team Andre' far outnumbers 'Team Price'. Women fancy him, parents admire him, even celebrity-gossip-phobic men seem to have sympathy for him (especially now Jordan is past her glamour-model best) and anyone who has been through a break-up in the past few months wishes they had his selfrestraint and composure.

You wouldn't see Peter Andre sat outside Kebab Land sobbing into his chips or at the bar, firmly drowning his sorrows.

Here's a man who has got up, composed himself and walked away with far more dignity and self-respect than ex-wife Katie Price could ever muster.

Andre's firm refusal to talk about the reasons he left his marriage have only helped his cause. He uses his ITV2 series, Peter Andre: Going It Alone, not to attack Jordan, but simply to set the record straight on stories that have been in the press and show that he is moving on. By comparison, watching Jordan's series, What Katie Did Next, feels like watching an episode

of The Hills – it's virtually impossible to see what is genuine from what is just a clever spin from Price's media company.

Not only is it evident that Andre is a thoroughly nice man - his show sees him shaking hands with everyone he encounters from white-van drivers to fellow shoppers in Ikea – but he is also incredibly hard-working. Let's be honest – soon after Insania hit the shelves, most of us would have packed our bags and fled the country in shame, but not Mr Andre. He has worked tirelessly on both his latest TV series and his new album and finally achieved the success he deserves, reaching number three in the album charts and giving ITV2 their highest viewing figures of 2009 so far. While nobody's denying What Katie Did Next is highly watchable, the real victor of this fly-onthe-wall war will always be Andre – living proof that life goes on.

Team Price Natalie Timmins GLAMOUR girl, businesswoman, mother, wife, singer, divorcee… contrary to the (very) popular opinion that she's an awful person, I can't help but like this woman. How many people have the guts to be themselves and tell the world where they

can stick their preconceived notions of how the divorced mother should act without being afraid of the fallout?

Team Peter has definitely benefited by refusing to talk about the split, whereas what Katie did next seriously damaged her popularity. But then

would she have avoided the flack if she'd kept quiet? Having been a hated figure before, the media found it easy to pick back up on their anti-Katie campaign, and naturally we all look for who's to blame: human errors sell papers.

Through interviews and reality shows, the fact remains that Katie's giving the public what it wants: we're desperate for details and grabbing for gossip.

She's simply turning a bad situation into a winner for herself. Look at the sales of her latest novel, Sapphire, released after the split - two weeks at the top of the fictional book charts shows Pricey hasn't

lost her media magic yet.

All Katie's done is get on with her life. Take her trip to Ibiza: a normal single mother or dumped woman would be encouraged to holiday to get over her troubles: Katie goes and gets absolutely slated for partying without Pete. I'm sorry, but I fail to see why someone who is trying to get over heartbreak should be housebound and eternally in the depths of depression. Or maybe that's the problem. Team Price has a strong exterior, and the public have only seen this as opposed to the heartache that naturally comes with the end of any marriage, and viewed this as an attitude problem.

This leads me onto the non-stop criticism for her decision to go solo on a reality show, but what people forget is that Pete wasn't too slow off the mark to get his claws into his coveted ITV2 contract and continue his media exposure, boosting his album sales and general post-divorce profile.

So, after all that, I honestly think that Katie Price isn't quite the monster the media have painted her to be. Strong-willed and resilient, she's simply bounced back from a severe blow and is coping in her own way. So yes, 'Team Peter' gets my sympathies, but that doesn't stop me from thinking Team Katie deserves the same treatment.

Only Fools Flog Dead Horses...

Simon Fairbanks tells us why the BBC's decision to commission an Only Fools and Horses prequel is bad news for fans of the dodgy dealers THE BBC's plan to make a prequel to Only Fools And Horses fills me with nothing but dread.

Cast your mind back to Christmas 1996: the BBC commissioned a trilogy of Only Fools And Horses Christmas specials in order to bring some closure to Britain's best-loved sitcom.

These three episodes were perfect, providing the hilarious and heartwarming mixture that we had come to expect from writer John Sullivan.

They stayed true to the spirit and characters of

the earlier shows, whilst adding their own iconic comedy moments to the canon: the Batman & Robin entrance, the auction room revelation and Del Boy making barman Mike turn over his hands without touching them.

Most importantly, there was a happy ending for these much-cherished characters: they marched off into the sunset as millionaires on 29th December 1996. The end...

If only. Unfortunately, based on the popularity of these episodes, the BBC decided they wanted

more. The characters were happy, the fans were happy but the BBC wanted to squeeze some more viewing figures out of poor ol' Del Boy and Rodney.

Five years later, they were dragged back to our screens for three more episodes. These were terrible. In Christmas 2001 the Trotters lost their millions. Christmas 2002: they scattered Albert's ashes And finally, Christmas 2003: the Trotters get rich again (in a shameless rip-off of 1996) and they introduce Rodney's biological father, Freddie 'The Frog' Robdal, tidily setting up the prequel.

This prequel, with the clunky title of Sex, Drugs, Rock N Chips, will tell the story of The Frog (played by the returning Nicholas Lyndhurst) and his release from prison.

It will star a teenage Del Boy (James Buckley), his mother Joan (Kellie Bright) and his granddad

Ted with fan-pleasing glimpses of a young Denzil, Trigger and Boycie.

But is there really any need for this? Wasn't the Boycie spin-off, The Green Green Grass, bad enough? And as much as I love James Buckley (Jay from The Inbetweeners), is he honestly the best choice for a young David Jason?

Mark Freeland, Head of BBC Comedy, said the prospect of 'once upon a time in Peckham' was 'incredibly tantalising'. I find it incredibly lazy. We expect a higher pedigree of comedy nowadays.

Our generation has been treated to The Office, Extras, Peep Show and Green Wing. No laughter tracks, no catchphrases, no tacky studio sets – just great comedy.

Quite simply, the BBC needs to provide its viewers with something original and stop flogging treasured characters who found their Happily Ever After back in 1996.

Arts & Culture

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Simon Bird @ Deb Hall Simon Fairbanks

SIMON Bird's appearance at the Guild was always going to be popular, especially as there are very few students out there who do not love The Inbetweeners. I was also aware that Bird was a member of The Footlights, the famous Cambridge University comedy group whose alumni boasts Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Therefore, there was a lot riding on his performance.

Bird did not disappoint. Admittedly, I was expecting a stand-up

Elis James @ The Old Joint Stock routine but instead I was rewarded with a Cardinal-themed game show, whereby everybody in the audience was a candidate for the next Pope and only a series of comical tasks would decide the winner.

This was great: original, entertaining and with lots of audience participation.

The show was also littered with religious trivia.

For instance, the word 'cat' does not appear anywhere in The Bible. This reminded me of Ricky Gervais shows such as Animals and Politics, both referred to as 'lectures' in order to emphasise that his performance should inform as well as entertain. Bird clearly strives for a similar objective.

Bird also takes inspiration from Jimmy Carr, who similarly communicates with the audience via PowerPoint presentation before walking out on stage. In this instance, we were politely asked not to shout out any catchphrases from award-winning TV show The Inbetweeners, such as 'clunge' and 'football friend'. The audience was laughing before Bird even appeared.

It was a crowd-pleasing evening and I look forward to future comedy performances at the Guild of Students.

David Lewis

Photo courtesy of The Old Joint Stock FRESH from his first Edinburgh Fringe as a standup, Elis James bounds onto the stage with his hour-long show about growing up in rural Wales.

His comedy is grounded in the ordinary and the mundane but he manages to make even the most normal of situations sparkle with wit and a flair for storytelling.

In the early part of the show, James' nerves as a newcomer are evident,

Michael McIntyre @ NIA Jessica Bull MICHAEL McIntyre has fast become one of Britain's favourite stand-up comedians, entertaining the masses through the satire of everyday life, appealing to people from every walk of life and it seems that the 2009 stand-up tour is no exception. Warmly welcomed by the crowd at the NIA he skipped onto the stage in his signature fashion (something which he described as 'magnificent' in last year's tour) and began to show up the people in the front few rows who hadn't found their seats, getting off to a cracking start. His new material is ever original and included a comic take on British behaviour under foreign sunshine and the male attitudes to nudity in the gym changing rooms, both of which were presented with his skilled technique of making the obvious and ordinary hilariously funny and causing us to laugh at ourselves almost as much as we laughed at him.

In tailoring the show for Birmingham, he delighted in the frequently noted fact that Birmingham has more canals than Venice and derived the concept of the 'Broad

Street walk', poking gentle fun at the second city.

However, the days of his intimate gigs are over and unless you're quick enough to book a front row seat you'll find yourself watching the screens

sometimes stumbling and sometimes pausing in the middle of sentences to drink rather awkwardly.

However, he soon relaxes into his routine, and the strength of his material shines through. Mostly concerning his childhood, James speaks with flair about having the same meals on rotation and terrible, unexciting theme parks. Although he sometimes verges into nostalgic role-call, his material is very strong. A story of a shocked goose and attempting to lift your girlfriend out of the pool may not be the obvious choices for comedy, but in James' hands they are utterly hilarious. Little falls flat, and it feels like the work of an experienced professional, not a relative newcomer.

James has a warmth and innocence that endears him to the small audience. He is genuinely pleased even to see 20 people, saying he wouldn't mind playing to an empty room, which I suspect he won't be doing much longer. He isn't a must see stand-up yet, but is an earnest and consistently hilarious performer. Definitely one to look out for in the future as he grows in confidence.

Previews

13

Upcoming events & shows that will stimulate your hearts, minds and loins Vic Hoyland & The Brum Contemporary Music Group @ The CBSO Centre, Friday, 16th October, 6.30 pm - Two concerts featuring the university's very own music professor. Tickets £15.

The Grapes of Wrath @ The REP, Tuesday, 20th - Saturday, 31st October, 7.00 pm - John Steinbeck's classic novel now a theatrical production. Tickets £12 - £32.

Oliver! @ The Crescent, Tuesday, 20th - Saturday, 24th October, 7.30pm - The musical classic makes an expected appearance. Tickets £10-14.

The Runner Stumbles @ The Crescent, Tuesday, 20th October, 7.45pm - Set in 1911 Milan, and based on a true story, a Catholic priest was accused of murdering a nun in his charge in the desolate landscape of the American Midwest. Tickets £7.

A Window - Saturday, ward Bond's manity in an

@ The REP, Wednesday, 21st 24th October, 7.00pm - Edplay examines the nature of huinhuman society. Tickets £10.

Scrooge @ The Hippodrome, Wednesday 21st - Saturday, 31st October, 7.30pm. The musical adaption of the classic Dicken's novel makes a pre-christmas appearance. Tickets £20.

Russell Kane @ The Glee Club, Wednesday 21st October, 7.30pm - The upcoming star of British comedy makes a stop in Birmingham with his tour, Human Dressage. Definitely one not to miss as critics are calling him the next big thing. Tickets £11 (£10 NUS).

Markus The Sadist @ The Drum, Thursday, 22nd - Friday, 23rd October, 7.30pm - From one of the most creative hubs of Birmingham comes an engaging tale of an emcee's rise and fall. A rap opera that can promise that it'll at least be better then R Kelly's Trapped In the Closet. Tickets £13

Something About Nothing @ The Old Joint Stock for the majority of the evening. Despite a terrible impression of the Brummy accent (which he apologised for in his encore, respectively) he was warmly received and defnitely well worth a watch.

The adorably hilarious McIntyre

Rosie Mckaig 'CHALLENGING theatre' for me suggests grief stricken characters; victims turned mass murderers forging their pain into the audience with harrowing scenes of rape and brutality. However, Something About Nothing opened to me a huge window of 'challenging' performances that do not require blood and torment.

The comedy used a discussion-based style, the topic being 'nothing'. Matt Pritchard, performing as Dr Johnny Facade, used a slide show throughout to present his argument: 'Nothing' really can be nothing and doesn't have to be something, as scientists insist.

A survey showed that people considered 'nothing' to be things such as couscous and a Media GCSE. Pritchard ran us through a series of mathematical equations using cats instead of numbers; tried to fit 'nothing’ into 'men' and 'women'; wowed the audience with his loony predictions; tested our memories and proved the superior sucking power of a Dyson vacuum cleaner over Charles (Henry had apparently pulled a hamstring). All of

Photo courtesy of The Old this, occasionally punctuated with hands-in-the air exclamations of 'woah, woah, woah mysterious girl!' and various other song lyrics. His final trick transported a blue haired egg, Derek, into the past using a Prototype Transporter (a blender). A time and location was selected by a member of the audience: The Bull Ring, 7.00 pm on 6th October. Pritchard's unsuspecting blue bouffanted assistant was whizzed back in time us-

Joint Stock ing a pre-recorded film clip to prove the success of the trick. Pritchard challenged the audience, preventing us from trying to find a solution to the great 'nothing'.

At times I was completely lost in the chaos, which made this performance so unique, discovering that it is extremely difficult to grasp slippery, fishy 'nothing'.

14 Arts & Culture

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Battle in the Box @ LiveBox Nicole Zandi THE Drum rumbled with an unexpected collaboration of hip-hop and jazz music. Audience members were called to battle, freestyling on topics that ranged from Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize to Marge Simpson featuring on the front cover of Playboy, all to the effortless hum of the band, which consisted of a drummer, bass and keyboard player. Host Soweto Kinch also employed other gimmicks, such as hats and buzzwords often political - to focus the musical wit and avoid the tedium of 'your mum' lines.

The audie n c e , w h i c h started 'small b u t

perfectly formed', grew both in size and confidence as they were called upon to rate the MCs in each battle, using the flawless scientific scale of 1-4. Audience participation was paramount to the running of this show and encouraged the acts with a catchy chorus: 'Skipped on down to the LiveBox: to the L, to the I, to the V, to the E'.

The night was funny, witty, politically informative and, not to forget, musically invigorating.

The effortless bass playing was particularly remarkable. The LiveBox is a completely unique performance concept and is a melting pot of talent.

Whilst improvisation is at its core, talent and charisma sprawl out of it’s limbs. The winner of the battle won recording time sponsored by NU Century Arts. Whether a budding MC or not, this weekly Birmingham event is not to be missed.

Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club @ Symphony Hall Rebekah Cork Rosie Price IMAGINE the scene: smoky stage, Latin American music, fourteen snappily dressed, big band musicians - and all in the ornate Symphony Hall. This was the beginning of Redbrick Arts' evening to see the Buena Vista Social Club.

After almost mistaking the Symphony Hall for a rather large jazz club, we were welcomed to the concert in true Cuban style: a fast paced rhythmic opener and Cuban band introductions. The band then proceeded to play more diverse Latin musical

Battle in the Box varies between The Hare and Hound, The Drum and The Y Centre.

Lyrical kung-fu. Photo courtesy of The Drum

Birmingham: The second city of culture or void of artistic importance?

Venice of England?

Mediocrity over originality?

James Sant IN Shane Meadow's Midlands-set films one encounters a black and white, desaturated tableau. The characters are impoverished and so is the external landscape.

Visitors to Birmingham, then, are probably unhinged when they encounter something different.

However, they presumably feel satisfied as their prejudices are confirmed on approaching New Street Station: the prison greys, crumbling concrete, and scurrying rats confirm a Meadowesque city portraiture. Yet another face of the city awaits. The renovated Bullring Market is a composite of bright hues, glass facades, innovative architecture, suggesting the city has one foot in the future, not in the grave. The jury is out, though: its detractors call it an expensive face-lift that betrays its real ugliness. Vacuous beauty perhaps comes to mind.

If something more edifying is required there is the Museum and Art Galley which offers the largest collection of works

by Edward Burne-Jones; meanwhile the Ikon Gallery boasts some of the most coruscating exhibitions outside London. If the Rep Theatre is too bland then numerous fringe theatres are dotted around, the venue above the Old Joint Stock Pub being popular. The refurbished Electric Cinema is a welcomed

antidote to the multiplexes – and if the Birmingham accent is an affront to privileged ears the Symphony Hall may be an attractive remedy.

Alternatively, the relocated O2 Academy on Bristol Street provides a platform for the contemporary sounds of the unheard.

Birmingham is not a polished gem – but at least it is brighter than the impoverished perceptions that are perpetually recycled. The Venice of England? Perhaps that's

Noel Byrne I'M a Brummie, and growing up as a Brummie is hard. You're stuck with an accent that no-one would ever want, whilst the city's two main football teams excel in mediocrity and its two main cultural exports seem to be Duran Duran and Howard from the Halifax ads. I feel that this all stems from Birmingham itself and its multiple, misguided efforts to 'rein-

vigorate the city's culture'.

Some may praise the redevelopment from an industrial behemoth into a more commercial and user-friendly city as a key factor for its regeneration, but is knocking down grimy factories and replacing them with an Aldi here or a Topshop there a massive cultural step forward? Even the few classic buildings that are left intact, such as the Town Hall, are plastered with wide-screen TVs so the unwashed masses can

Sian Grey watch snooker in public.

Ever seen the Forward statue in Centenary Square?

Current Birmingham students probably haven't, since it was burned down by chavs a couple of years ago, whilst its replacement was the gaudy , 'blinged-out' gold Boulton-Watt-Murdock statue.

Music venues like the soulless new O2 Academy have money poured into them, while older venues with genuine history and character, like the Rainbow pub, are being threatened with closure by a Birmingham City Council which isn’t even trusted by government watchdogs to rebuild the city’s sad, grey public library. How can a city survive culturally when its originality is destroyed in favour of mediocrity?

Do you agree with James or Noel? Have your say at redbrickonline.co.uk

Birmingham Town Hall: cultural paragon or a bandaid on the bullethole of the city's lack of arts venues?

A ROMANTIC folk band, scantily clad bluesgrass singers and gypsy punks in glam rock outfits is not what one would expect from the Town Hall's 175th anniversary celebrations. When Sunday night's entertainment opened with 'and have you all had your tea?' I almost gave up on this being a particularly exciting event. It was therefore somewhat unexpected when the evening developed into a brilliant display of local folk music.

It began calmly enough; The Old Dance School played harmonious pieces based on medieval love stories and 'Penguin Classics'. The lead singer, Robin Beatty, described the songs as 'smoochy' and yet successfully grabbed the attention of his audience with a politically incorrect sense of humour and tales of unrequited love.

The second act, The Toy Hearts, are a family band and, already being aware of this, I had prepared for the unfortunate possibility that they might resemble The Corrs. Thankfully, they

showed few similarities.

The band formed in 2006 and the voices of sisters Hannah and Sophia Johnson are confident, lonesome and raw. The influence of Patsy Cline and the Nashville sound was palpable. Sung by sisters in mini dresses and stilettos the performance of the final song , Tequila and High Heels, made bluesgrass look sexy.

The final band, The Destroyers, quite literally obliterated the harmony of the previous bands.

The 60 year old 'narrator' sung songs of the quest for eternal youth over a

styles, making prominent use of percussion, (particularly the bongo-player wearing shades) impressive trumpet techniques and instrument switches.

Not to mention the dancing in the solos! This was certainly no formal classical concert. The Orquestra even slipped in a few musical jokes and familiar jazz tunes, including Autumn Leaves.

All in all, the evening was a very different one to what most Symphony Hall patrons are used to seeing; dancing in the aisles, massed crowd singa-longs and musicians in their late 60s who can still bust a move - not quite the same atmosphere that the CBSO bring to a concert! It was refreshing to see something totally individual and to welcome the Buena Vista Social club to Birmingham with their Cuban salsa music, dance moves and fantastic solos. This brilliant and innovative mix made the whole evening hugely enjoyable and we couldn’t help but really get into the swing of things.

Photo courtesy of Symphony Hall

The Destroyers, Toy Hearts & Old Dance School @ Town Hall

The Big Debate

Arts & Culture

megaphone while the other 14 musicians danced manically in kilts and military costumes behind him, occasionally throwing flags like javelins into the audience to enhance that anarchistic, Reading Festival vibe.

The night was eclectic to say the least. It had begun civilised but of course, like any good birthday bash, progressed into an uncivilised and raucous affair!

For an interview with the Toy Hearts' Hannah Johnson go to redbrickonline.co.uk

The Toy Hearts: keeping it in the family.

Bollywood Steps @ Town Hall Jenny Stevens LAST weekend marked the 175th anniversary of Birmingham's Town Hall.

A cause of celebration indeed for a city highly concerned with serving the community, and what could be more symbolic of Birmingham's culturally diverse and fun ethos than a taste of Bollywood?

The dance's colourful display was executed with panache on pink steps, whilst wet sarees and sensuous dance moves provided a wonderful spectacle of cultural fusion against the backdrop of the Town Hall. For those of us who arrived early there was a chance to practice the dance moves in advance. Reducing the choreography to 'wash the windows' or 'sweep the floor', for those with two left feet was tedious.

Most were now eager for the professionals to begin.

Water fountains

15

erupted from the side steps and smoke trickled down from the top of the Town Hall. A screen showing the dance on stage was provided for those at the back of the crowd.

Bright lights flickered over the steps with the Indian drummers providing a rhythmic accompaniment.

The enactment of courting rituals was done with pantomime hilarity, with the girls in beautiful dresses carrying white parasols. A more sombre dance, making use of a moon and black skirts, was equally evocative.

Dancers were also placed between the pillars to add to the dramatic effect. At the end, children from local schools were invited onto the stage.

This vibrant show in the heart of our culturally rich city stood as a paradigm for the dynamic energy of Birmingham.

Endorsed by the 2012 Olympics Campaign, it proved a memorable celebration.

Photo courtesy of Birmingham Town Hall

16 Editorial

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

REDBRICK EDITORIAL

Please send all letters to letters@redbrickonline.co.uk. Letters/emails for publication must be marked 'for publication' and include your name and course title. Letters without these details will not be published. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Who's your 'nod' friend?

Nick Petrie THIS is an important question, especially as you might have more than one. I know I do and it's not just that I am claiming to be popular. We meet so many people at university that we can't remember everyones name or where and why we met them; yet some people are on their morning walk or the route you use to move from your first lecture of the day to your second. You both recognise each other, but you don't really know why - a drunken night out? Friend of a friend? So instead of a hello (which is quite a commitment - after all it may lead to an actual conversation and seeing as you don't know each others names is a worst case scenario) you nod. It is non committal, non threatening means of communicating.

This slight dip of the head says, I know we have seen each other before but I just can't remember why I am supposed to know who you are. It also allows you to avoid one of those conversations where you call each other 'mate' the whole way through because you think person 'x's name is Sophie, but you are not quite confident enough to use it. It also allows you to avoid a conversation that I am sure we have all had, where you have one friend in common - person 'x': 'so have you spoken to Ben recently'?, you: 'yeah we had dinner last night', 'x': 'oh cool'. Excruciating and you are nearly always left with the distinct impression that it was a totally pointless and utterly painful venture. However, these moments are what make up our lives and we should embrace them when they happen.

It is a similar experience when you wave (not that anyone waves anymore) at someone who you think you know and they turn out to be a complete stranger; embarrassing to the extreme and in some ways painful. Life is full of these moments that we would rather avoid, which is why a simple nod can be such a powerful thing. It is a whole new means of communication and although I would like to take credit for it, I don't think that would be appropriate. I am sure after reading this you will find yourself in these situations all the more; campus is a big place and there are a lot of people

that we meet or recongnise even when we don't know why. You may not have as many 'nod' friends as Facebook friends but at least they are human and you meet them in person rather than via the invisible, and yet ever present, Internet.

Who knows, maybe Twitter will add a 'nod' feature like Facebook's long forgotten 'poking' system. Either way, real life is best and Nod friends are a part it.

Now for a little business: this week the website took over 8,000 hits, we launched our first podcast (you can listen to the sport boys yourself on iTunes by searching Redbrick and on the website) and we also covered the first XI Rugby game vs Nottingham live via the website. Both the Film and Features sections will be following up with podcasts of their own in the following week, so please make sure you feedback to us, let us know what you think is working and what needs more work.

We also have the Acorns fun run on Sunday. If you are not running, you should be, and if you are, we will see you there. Acorns is a charity that has become very close to the hearts of Redbrick. The only way to describe the work they do is 'stunning', with little funding and even less Government support they provide a service that is invaluable to many families. However, tucked away in the depths of Selly Oak they are often a forgotten cause and this is often exacerbated by having their name on the Aston Villa kit - it is free advertising for them, but they are not receiving any money directly from the club (although the club contributes in many ways to Acorns).

Last years Features Editor Matthew Caines wrote about the charity last term and it can be found here http://bit. ly/3PYOxS on the Redbrick website. On Sunday we will be live blogging the fun run, with interviews, tweets, photographs and blog posts throughout the day. We also want to encourage everyone to send in their own photos of the day to Redbrick - you can upload them to Flickr and add them to the Redbrick group or send them direct to multimedia@redbrickonline.co.uk. The hashtag on twitter will be #acornsfr so please follow us @redbrickpaper and join in the day in some form or other.

Clarifications and Apologies Apologies to Brigid Jones who's name was misspelt in last weeks front page Apologies to Holly Pickford who should have been credited on the Cyrano article in Arts and Culture last week.

Apologies to Matthew Williamson TV Editor, who was not credited last week.

Letters I'm writing regarding the article 'Let's hear it for the gays' featured in last weeks Lifestyle section. Whilst I'd be lying if I said it had offended me I do think the article was inappropriate and I seriously object to the majority of its content. Starting university is a great time for many young LGBTQ students to come out; I sincerely hope that none of them have been put off by reading this ludicrous piece. It's depiction of Birmingham's gay scene is highly exaggerated and incredibly intimidating.

The claims made in this article are the opinion of one person and do not reflect the wider LGBTQ community. Students should be themselves and judge for themselves.

I'd also like to stress that coming out does not mean you have to adopt a 'certain lifestyle' and spend all of your evenings on Hurst Street. I hope this helps to clear things up.

Aaron Wright 4th Year, History, Film and Television

Website Comments The comments about the tensions and contradictions in the Philosophy of the Social Sciences will never be resolved and have nothing to do with the review or RAE. But, for now I think all Sociology students in Birmingham should read the essay that Professor David Marsh wrote entitled 'Cultural Studies at Birmingham and Beyond', in Cultural Studies (2005), Vol 19 (3), pp389-93.

When Professor Dave Marsh was Head of the 'restructured' Department of Sociology he made it clear to all staff and postgrad research students that it would be a 'broad church' that acknowledged the 'cultural turn' but would not be dominated by it. Neither would it be one characterised as positivist. As different researchers embody different ontological positions, we have a mutual agreement to disagree with one another.

It is theoretically led empirical research that is important. An academic's performance in RAE depends solely on the number of peer-reviewed journal articles and monographs published in the year up to RAE. To achieve the max score of 4* you need to have published one monograph and 3 essays in an international journal, within the discipline or sub-discipline. So, irrespective of whether theoretical, empirical, qualitative or quantitative, an essay in a ISI high impact journal like Sociological Review, American Journal of Sociology etc would be better than thousands of articles published in edited books and non-refereed journals. Chapters in edited books and non-refereed journals count for absolutely nothing in RAE. Comment made by: 'green-bottles'

We do take on all feedback we receive on the website and via email. So

To get involved with Acorns please visit :

please feel free to comment at www.redbrickonline.co.uk and email us

http://www.acorns.org.uk/Support_us.asp

at questions@redbrickonline.co.uk

Editor Nick Petrie Deputy Editors Jessica Tarrant Nadine Baldwick Online Editor Pete Blakemore Treasurer Rosie Aggett Pictures Editor Thomas Walters Chief Photographer Tom Flathers

t.flathers@redbrickonline.co.uk

News Editors Becky Shewell Ned Murray Natalie Vincent news@redbrickonline.co.uk Features Editors Laura Hewitt Jude Hill features@redbrickonline.co.uk

Music Editors Erica Vernon Alex Spencer music@redbrickonline.co.uk Arts & Culture Editors Jess Kim Sam Langtree Robert Gardham

arts@redbrickonline.co.uk

Lifestyle Editors Jessica Geary Alex Beard

Television Editors Matthew Williamson Natalie Timmins

Film Editors Alex Jacques Rosie Willmot film@redbrickonline.co.uk

Sport Editors Tom Clarke Ben Whitelaw Simon Hall sport@redbrickonline.co.uk

lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk

tv@redbrickonline.co.uk

Crossword Editor Sephron Mansell Editorial Assistants Natasha Williams Jonathan Gilbert Anna Reynolds Victoria Shires Head Copy Editor Felix Rehren Copy Editors Thanks to everyone that came along on Wednesday - full name credits will appear on the website. n.baldwick@redbrickonline.co.uk

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Copyright (C) Redbrick 2009 Redbrick strives to uphold the NUJ Code of Conduct. The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the Editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.

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18 Film

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Opening Credits

Film of the Week Kate Davies takes a look at low-budget Le Donk and Scor-Zay-Zee Director: Shane Meadows Cast: Paddy Considine, Olivia Colman Cert: 15

Alex Jacques Rosie Willmot WHILST watching Pixar's superlative Toy Story in needless 3D this week, it struck home the impact that the animation studio has had on the medium over the last 14 years.

The ability to repeat commercial and critical success on the level they've achieved is nothing short of brilliant. No other studio can claim that for 14 years they didn't produce a poor film. It's high time that award bodies pay homage accordingly.

Restriction to 'best animated film' is almost insulting to Pixar. Last year's WALL•E, a film primarily aimed at children, had no dialogue for the opening 20 minutes, yet such is Pixar's Midas touch, the youngsterpacked cinema featured no screaming, no crying and a total lack of popcorn throwing. That they can captivate such a wide

audience highlights the sheer talent that adorns every title they produce.

So whilst the narratives may still be poisoned with Disney's compulsion for death, Pixar chief John Lasseter should join Chaplin and Hitchcock as a worthy recipient of an honorary Oscar come February.

Talking of talent, the film's writers have done it again, churning out articles so astounding it's best you read this section sitting down. 'Film of the Week' has a look at Shane Meadows' new comedy, whilst Couples Retreat tries to convince everyone that it is a comedy.

The dire rom-com Love Happens is tolerated by Rebecca Gresley-Jones, yet in the interest of balance Holly Edwards has the sheer nerve to defend the genre. 'Top Ten' covers superheroes and 'Silverscreen' returns with the Bond where 007 gets hitched.

Film News Emily Board This week the internet provided more posters and images to feast our eyes upon from upcoming films The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Toy Story 3, just to get us even more excited at the prospect of their release.

We have to wait until next year for our favourite toys but Parnassus comes out this week and reminds us of the tragic passing of Heath Ledger almost two years ago. It is a sure sign that many will go out to see his final film. On a lighter note it has been alleged that Postman Pat is going to be gracing the big screen sometime in the future, with plans to make a CGI 3D feature length film.

Rumour has it that Pat will discover he has a talent for singing and enter a contest to that affect. X Factor eat you heart out.

If horror is more up your street, Saw fans may be pleased to hear that Twisted Pictures have bought the rights to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and is planning to release it as a 3D franchise.

Wonder how many annual sequels they will do this time?

My recommendation

for future cinema viewing goes to the December release of The Box. The plot centres on Cameron Diaz and James Marsden's married couple, who are given a box which promises to give them $1 million with the press of a button. Nothing is that

simple however, with the moral dilemma being that in pressing that button someone they do not know will die. We'll have to see if Cameron can make it out of the romcom abyss with this film.

Finally, in the musicals world, Kristen Bell has reportedly joined the cast of a bizarre sounding burlesque musical starring Cher and Christina Aguilera; and those waiting for the release of Nine, starring Daniel Day Lewis, may have to wait just a little longer, with the date being put back to Christmas.

Shane Meadows' latest feature does not disappoint; that said, don't expect another Dead Man's Shoes. The film is shot in a documentary style where Shane Meadows plays both the director and principle cameraman. Shot in only five days, and with apparently completely improvised dialogue, the film follows Le Donk - a wouldbe music manager and roadie as he tries to kick start the career of rap protégée Scor-Zay-Zee, a rotund bedroom dweller.

Their trip takes them to an Arctic Monkeys show where Le Donk is working as a roadie and attempting to get Scor-Zay-Zee a slot on the big day.

Meanwhile, Le Donk's exgirlfriend, played by Peep Show's Olivia Colman, is at home on the verge of giving birth to his child.

Meadows' previous films may have demonstrated humour, but they have also been rather gritty and the humour has never been as juvenile or light as this. In Le Donk

Meadows proves that he can do pure comedy, on his own terms. It is reminiscent of the mockumentaries Spinal Tap and the comic strip feature Bad News, and is a showcase of both Meadows' and Considine's comic abilities, with Considine cowriting the film. And it is Considine that carries the film, grabbing a majority of the screen time and providing much of the laughter. He is brilliant as the self-deluded roadie in one of his most outgoing roles to date. The actor is

totally convincing in this Alan Partridge-esque role of a character that 'seemed to have it all. Now his life is shit.' Le Donk is a man who takes himself quite seriously yet doesn't quite grasp what's happening around him, as evidenced in the scene in which he reels off a list of names instead of a bona fide rap, much to the amusement of the crew. It is an entertaining scene in which Considine's ability to immerse himself into a role is captured.

However it also dem-

onstrates that the loose style of the film does tend to create jokes that were probably funnier whilst filming than when watched on screen.

under two hours without a single joke or line worth remembering. In fact it's hard to imagine anything less funny than this film without imagining the death of a child or beloved family pet.

The main cause of this is the script. John Favreau and Vince Vaughn have collaborated successfully in the past and you could imagine the pair striking a rapport if they were reading from something a little more exciting than the phone book.

What makes this so exasperating is that Favreau and Vaughn wrote the film, and yet seem to have no idea of what they

are trying to say or of how to bring any of the characters to life.

The whole affair seems bloated, middle-aged and far too friendly.

The only things that succeed are the blatant attempts at advertising for the resort, and the cameo by Peter Serafinowicz as the resort manager.

VERDICT A funny, endearing feature, produced with a miniscule budget. It is essentially the director and his mates having a laugh whilst also making a consistently funny film that is a pleasure to watch.

Couples Retreat Richard Armitage Director: Peter Billingsley Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Malik Akerman Cert: 15 Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell decide that their marriage is in trouble and see the only solution as being a 'couples only' getaway. They invite along three of their closest couple friends to get a couples discount and then merrily head off to a tropical island called Eden.

The only catch is that they must endure a week of couples therapy and avoid the temptations of a luxurious singles resort next door.

This is a turgid premise that should interest no-one. The couples in question have no actual problems; each partner is a mirror image of the other, which assures the viewer that their love will endure until the credits have rolled. Their main issues appear to be trivial bickering and the stresses of everyday life.

What this means is that there are no emotional problems to overcome and no interesting comment to be made on relationships; instead we watch scene after scene of fat middle

aged men complaining about how early they have to get up in the morning before arguing the toss with their disproportionately attractive wives.

The final scenes of reconciliation, in which all four of our couples rediscover their love, (that's kind of a spoiler) send the message that marriage isn't hard; if you just hang around long enough you eventually become happy, because the screenwriter says so.

Of course all would be redeemed if Couples Retreat was peppered with caustic one liners and hilarious farcical set pieces. But it is not. The film rumbles on for just

VERDICT A boring, bland, utterly uninteresting film that on two occasions forces the audience to contemplate the idea of John Favreau masturbating.

It's not worth seeing.

Film

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Top Ten: Superhero Films the Caped Crusader; he feels more human and sympathetic than Christian Bale. And, of course, Jack Nicholson was the Joker yardstick to be held by fans until the release of The Dark Knight.

Izzy Rae Sanders WHEN writing this list I was faced with the difficult question: 'Just what is a superhero movie? Are the Extraordinary Gentlemen extraordinary enough? Who would win in a fight between Superman and Iron Man? And why was the Captain America movie so awful?'

9

10 10) Superman The original and the best.

Camp, dated, but the precursor to many Superhero cliches enjoyed today.

9) Spiderman I Despite a slightly lifeless performance, Tobey Maguire pulls off this superhero rom-com with a certain adolescent charm.

4) The Knight

8) Hancock A new spin on the superhero movie with crotchety, alcoholic, anti-hero Will Smith.

The story drags towards the end, but the premise remains intriguing.

8 7) Batman Tim Burton's take on the Batman legend shows Michael Keaton giving my favourite incarnation of

hero franchise. The characters are recognisable and well-rounded, with a unique take on known superhero tropes and themes. A loveable adventure, and welcome respite from the recent grittier Superhero films.

7 6) X2 This was the high point of the X-Men movie franchise. The pacing is better than both its predecessor, which felt juvenile, and its successor, which tried too hard to be 'epic'.

The movie is worth it, if only for the inclusion of Nightcrawler and the spectacular opening sequence.

5) The Incredibles Disney skillfully takes its open, approachable sense of humour to the super-

Dark

Compared to The Incredibles, this shows how to use grit and darkness with flair. I tried not to get sucked into the post-Ledger hype but it is undeniable that he has brought a whole new anarchic and modern face to the iconic Joker. The action scenes and set

2

3) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm A surprise entry, the movie of an early-90s animated show, but to me, Phantasm symbolises everything I love about Batman.

It has all the brooding of Dark Knight, the character depth of Michael Keaton, but without ever being patronising or self-congratulating.

2) Iron Man

pieces make this a fastpaced, darkly engaging must-see.

Rebecca GresleyJones

Abi Mealey

Director: Brandon Camp Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston Cert: 12A

Director: Ruben Fleischer Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson Cert: 15

The trailer to Love Happens, starring Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston, invites you into what is advertised as another addition to the predictable-but-pleasant romantic comedy genre. I was personally looking forward to the bit of escapism that rom-coms often provide; a few laughs, an all-too-familiar romantic story and a happy ending. So when the plot began to unfold, I was slightly puzzled to find more of a drama than a comedy, and a romance that was certainly not as typical as one would expect from a film with 'love' in the title.

Eckhart plays a widower who finds fame as a self-help guru/grief counsellor, through writing a book about how to deal with grief. Slightly hypocritically however, Eckhart's character is still secretly struggling with

I HAVE to admit that before seeing Zombieland I'd already pegged it as just another 'zom-com'- a lacklustre attempt to freshen an overdone genre.

However, the action certainly packed a punch, with the fast, dangerous zombies of films like 28 Days Later rather than the sluggish shufflers that have gone before, and if you're a fan of gore then you won't be disappointed.

The main character Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) provides a running narration not dissimilar to the style of Scrubs, and it is his internal monologue that is our survival guide. He runs through every method possible of killing a zombie, as well as his own perfected rules of survival, like 'Rule #2: Beware Of Bathrooms' or 'Rule #12: Bounty', as in the paper towels. The film

VERDICT If this mildly depressing theme is what you look for in a romance film, I suggest investing in a copy of P.S. I Love You, which tackles this subject in a much more watchable and uplifting way.

1) Watchmen A controversial top choice, but one I shall vehemently defend.

Watchmen, from the director of 300, gives me everything I long for in a superhero movie while remaining faithful to the original text. The style and tone is pitch perfect, from the muted colour palette to the choice of music. And of course, the casting is nothing short of sublime.

1

Zombieland

more apt title for this film would be 'Tragedy Happens…but give it three years, write a book about it and when you meet a gorgeous florist, you'll cheer up a bit.'

A film that is able to stand on its own merits outside of the superhero genre. It is a smoother watch than many films.

Robert Downey Jr. lends his not inconsiderate wit and suave charm to the legendary character of Tony Stark. The abilty to toneshift between drama and comedy is Iron Man's great strength.

4

Love Happens

the loss of his wife, which is where Aniston's character, a bohemian florist, steps in to save the day.

Aniston plays her part well, but with Eckhart still clearly in love with his dead wife, when the two finally get together it feels a tad awkward.

However, Judy Greer in the eccentric-best-friend role is delightful, and gives the film a much needed light-hearted lift each time she is onscreen.

Overall, perhaps a

19

takes on the road trip/ buddy aspect as Columbus teams up with the hilarious Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) who has found his purpose in life as a Zombie slayer- he's 'in the ass kicking business and business is gooooood!'

The plot thickens when the pair meet two sisters, Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), and team up to increase their chances of survival; making their way to the fabled zombie-free land. As if

this wasn't enough, there is also an un-missable cameo by a Hollywood star, but I won't spoil it for you by saying who.

VERDICT Admittedly, Zombieland isn't perfect, as at times it lacks character substance. However, this is easily overlooked with the sharp and clever script, and the sweet and awkward Eisenberg is key to making it a must-see.

20 Film/Music

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Silverscreen

Justified Existence

Parvitar Matharu reminisces about On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Holly Edwards bravely defends the Romantic Comedy

Originally I was going to start this Silverscreen review with a look back at one of the Sean Connery era Bond films, because let's face it, he is regarded by many as the best Bond of all time. But sometimes I wonder if he only has that reputation because he was the first to play Bond as far the official movie franchise is concerned. Does first always mean best?

Connery had so firmly established himself as 007 over the course of five films previously that it left OHMSS somewhat out in the cold (appropriately perhaps since much of the film is set in Switzerland) but now four decades since its release in 1969, I feel it needs to be brought back into the public consciousness and, as such, this review may be considered a proud celebration of its 40th anniversary.

The plot of the film still feels rather modern, even today – Bond's arch nemesis and leader of SPECTRE, Ernst Stravro Blofeld (played rather ably here by Telly Savalas) is launching a biological warfare plot that could kill millions worldwide.

Enter 007, who will not

We all know that love and laughter make this life bearable, and in romantic comedies, these are united to create some unforgettable film moments.

Regardless of this fact, some people constantly criticise and belittle romcoms, saying that most of these films are unoriginal, boring, banal chic flicks. So I have five compelling reasons for everyone to love this genre:

Firstly, there is the humour. There is nothing better than seeing a brutish misogynist burst out laughing as Bridget Jones sings into her hairbrush or as John Tucker has a girly tantrum on the basketball court. Secondly, there is the utter predictability of every romantic comedy. We all know the plot before the titles even start. A boy is going to meet a girl, hilarity will ensue along with a few lovey-dovey moments followed by a misunderstanding; eventually, they will share THE KISS and maybe a declaration of love, whereafter the world rights itself. While some might say this repetition shows a complete lack of imagination in the writers and directors, I find that this is what makes rom-

even be stopped by M (Bernard Lee) attempting to take him off the case.

Bond instead turns to a mob boss, Draco (Gabriele Ferzetti) and his daughter Tracy (Diana Rigg) – who later becomes Mrs Bondfor help.

The script seems to be tailored more for Connery than Lazenby in some parts, particularly the one liners, but this is forgivable when you consider the subtle brilliance of the film as a whole; little things such as John Barry's use of the Bond theme at just the right moment all add to make

this little forgotten gem what it is – a truly awesome Bond film.

The most refreshing aspect of the film for me, as a die-hard fan, is that it stays true to the novel. A lot of people don't like that because it is also essentially gadget free.

Lazenby's great performance was highlighted by his reaction to the death of Tracy, which was just perfect, but who is the best Bond? We have all the time in the world to discuss it, but sadly all the time in the world is not enough to write about it.

coms so comforting, because we know there will be a happy ending.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, without romcoms we would never have seen Heath Ledger serenading Julia Stiles, Meg Ryan faking an orgasm in a cafe, Julia Roberts saying she was just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her, Hugh Grant being charming, blustering and utterly loveable or Jerry Maguire declaring 'you complete me', only to hear in reply 'Shut up, you had me at hello.'

Magical. The fourth reason is realism - the quirky,

flawed characters in these films are always so much closer to being the people we see around us everyday. They may not be heroic, they may not look perfect, but they are darned funny to watch.

And the final, most important reason is that these films inspire us to believe that every stupid, embarrassing, heartbreaking moment of our lives is simply filler, padding out our lives until that inevitable moment where the lights will dim, rousing music will begin and suddenly our true love will find us in a crowd, ending as always, in a kiss.

What's On...

Music Diary Friday 16th

Tuesday 20th

Basshunter O2 Academy

Delays O2 Academy 3

White Belt Yellow Tag Rainbow

Underground Heroes The Flapper

Noah & The Whale O2 Academy 2

Brendan Benson O2 Academy 2

Saturday 17th

Eastpak Antidote Tour: Alexisonfire, Antiflag, Ghost of a Thousand O2 Academy

Dizzee Rascal O2 Academy

Live Reviews

Black Stone Cherry supported by Loaded 10/10 @ O2 Academy Richard Warrell

Baddies 10/10 @ O2 Academy 3 Will Hunter

UNKNOWN to most, Loaded lead singer Duff McKagan (who made his name with Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver) is a multi-millionaire shares trader.

You wouldn't know it looking at him though, as Loaded charge across a stage, looking like any other American street punks. Every song is greeted with cheers, but the crowd turns another kind of crazy when Duff breaks out the few obligatory Guns covers. Loaded won't shift many albums, but punk has always been about the live experience anyway.

Then Black Stone

HAVING never really properly listened to Baddies, I decided to combine the two things that matter to me most in the world: Spotify and the opinions of others. Peoples' opinions weren't too complimentary, and the mesh of mindless shouting and trashy barre chords available on Spotify made me less than excited for the upcoming gig.

However, Baddies are one of those bands who make up in performance, what they lack in recorded

material. The lead singer's presence on stage keeps you engaged for almost the whole performance.

Almost being the operative word.

After opening with a few catchy foot tappers, such as One Eye Open and At the Party, the songs began to merge into one big shouty mess. So much so that I found myself clapping in all the wrong places. Baddies were listenable, but I won't be rushing back to see them again.

Cherry strut the stage, the previous band's momentum clearly having had a positive impact on their confidence. They lose some credibility when they insist on playing bonus tracks from a recent album re-issue, but make up for it by handing out doughnuts. Sound problems plague the set, but the band stride onwards with a mix of triumphant anthems and emotional ballads, closing the show with an extended meet and greet session. Arenas no doubt await this band; catch them in these smaller venues while you still can.

Girls O2 Academy 3

Wednesday 21st

Esoteric The Asylum

The Holloways O2 Academy 2

Sunday 18th

Slaid Gleaves Kitchen Garden Cafe

Tom Jones LG Arena

Thursday 22nd

Paul Potts Symphony Hall

Jack Penate Rainbow

Monday 19th

Stereo Decade The Flapper

The Felice Brothers Glee Club

Bowling For Soup O2 Academy

This Will Destroy You O2 Academy 3

Does It Offend Yeah?

O2 Academy

Nine Black Alps Hare & Hounds

You,

Music

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

21

Spotlight On... Is the new O2 Academy any good?

Redbrick's two sexiest writers have a naked mudfight over the new O2 Academy.

First, Edwina Moorhouse argues for.

WHEN it comes down to a new venue, my opinion always tends to be based on the layout, its employees, the people who go and its clubnights. With all these in mind, I'm pretty sure that the O2 Academy isn't worth writing off just yet.

I've never been a big fan of trying to dodge high-speed taxis, so to see the venue well away from the roadside was a nice surprise. You'd expect there to be a bit of chaos between the leaving giggoers, security, and the incoming clubbers; but at the O2 there was a smooth transition, with no unnecessary waiting around. On both occasions at Propaganda the queue was ten people or less at just after half past ten, my impression being it was because of an efficient ticket booth as opposed to a lack of people.

The bar was wellstaffed and those on shift worked harder than most places I've been to, trying to cut the time you have to wait for your drink.

The main room layout

is like something out of an American high school prom: a wooden dancefloor surrounded by carpet with stools dotted about, and a long bar at the back. The DJ booth is positioned perfectly - elevated right in the centre, so that you can see the DJ from wherever you are on the floor. They're not hidden behind any high plastic partition either!

The venue is open and spacious, slightly cutting down manic searching time when you lose your friends, and great when you're having a boogie. I was amazed to find that at midnight I had enough room to swing a cat on the dancefloor, as opposed to being shoulder to shoulder with some leery middle-aged man.

It seemed that the same crowd migrated from Gatecrasher, but were just less jam-packed on a less awkwardly-shaped dancefloor. The music was as good as it has always been at Propaganda: diverse tunes across various rooms with cool décor

in each of them. In fact the décor in the women's toilets was pretty plush and the toilets as a whole were still clean when I left at half two – a wonder to behold no less.

In some respects the O2 is better than alternative venues, and in various ways I’ll always prefer other hotspots in Birmingham, but overall I've had two Friday nights there with friends drinking, dancing, playing Guitar Hero … and they've been more than half decent.

Now resident grumpy cow Jessica Blackburn argues against.

I MIGHT just be hankering after the familiarity of a venue I know when I dismiss the new O2 Academy out of hand.

This new, shiny Academy might have a state-of-theart sound system and it might even have less grotty backstage quarters for the bands. The new venue is bigger, they tell me, but that just detracts from the intimacy and atmosphere.

There's also a seated balcony, which sounds great for both younger and older audiences, but this isn't supposed to be a small NEC. The old venue often

Inside the new venue Photo: Erica Anne Vernon got called 'tired' and 'grim' but it was like a pair of old well-worn jeans: they fit perfectly if you are willing to ignore how worn the knees are. One of my main concerns is the god-awful location. It's even further away from New Street. Even worse,

Redbrick Meets....

Example Between negotiations to free one of the band who was held hostage, Jonathan Craven snatched a quick interview IS touring something you enjoy doing?

I love going out on the road, but I don't like the driving and I don't like the fact that you just live off chicken and chips. I get free Nando's so that's all we eat, alongside the occasional smoothie. The diet side isn't that good, but the performance side is wicked.

Do you enjoy playing in Birmingham?

Yeah, this is the seventh or eighth time I've played Birmingham; we've been up before supporting acts like The Streets. We've played the Rainbow before and it's one of my favourite venues for its size. It's got sort of a house party, illegal rave kind of feel to it.

Is rapping something you've always wanted to do or was it something that came about by chance?

Photo: www.myspace.com/leadingbyexample

I always wanted to be a rapper, but I never thought I could be; I never thought I'd get the chance. When I

was growing up, the only rappers I knew of were people from New York and LA. I used to laugh at other people who attempted to rap, especially if they were English or French or Australian. But, when I heard people like Skinny Man and Mike Skinner I realised that, if you make it British enough, it does actually work. As long as you don't copy the Americans, then it can work.

You were signed to Frank Skinner's label 'The Beats'. Are you and him good friends?

We went on tour together and we had a few laughs, but I wouldn't say we were best mates. We get on, but I only really chat to him now by e-mail and Twitter; I don't really call him or go round his house or anything.

A cliché, but do you consider your rap to be poetry?

I don't know, it's not as calculated as that. You record and write a song, but it's just whatever's in your head at the time; the

and possibly the part I am most upset by, is the part where Scruffy Murphy's is no longer there to provide alcohol during the long queues and shelter from the scene kids. I'll also be rather sad to see the old Academy 2 go, despite the horrifically placed stage;

just because the low ceiling made for hilarious moments of pain whenever there was anyone tall on stage that happened to mistakenly try and jump.

I am still bitter. RIP Dale End Academy.

beat inspires you. It's not like when I filmed in Chernobyl; I felt I had to write a song about nuclear energy. It's just whatever the beat asks for, you write a catchy chorus and it's just whatever it needs to be.

London Posse – Gangster Chronicle.

You filmed 'What we Made' in Chernobyl. Why did you choose it as a place to shoot?

The producer who made that had been wanting to shoot a music video there and do a documentary for years, and 'What we Made' gave him the perfect opportunity to do that. It was really wired shooting there, mental.

Do you have any favourite artists that have inspired you to write songs?

My favourite rapper of all time is Slick Rick. I think rappers like Jay-Z are some of the best rappers out there, but Slick Rick is probably my favourite. If you only listen to one song, then listen to I Don’t Want To off my first album, it's very similar in terms of laid-back rapping and story telling. I don't really listen to much modern hip-hop; there isn't that much good new stuff coming out, I only really listen to old stuff. At the moment I'm listening to everything from Chromeo to Dead Weather.

Do you have a favourite album?

Gig: I arrived at The Rainbow and, after purchasing a rather expensive pint of lager, took my place in the crowd. Example's warmup act, the BeatBullyz, got the crowd going with a mix of slick rapping and energetic tunes.

During a quick toilet break, I happened to bump into Example himself. If that wasn't enough, he even gave me an 'Alright mate', in recognition of the interview I'd had with him earlier that day.

Needless to say I felt pretty damn cool.

After a short tension-building intro, he launched straight into Time Machine, a track off his eagerly anticipated new album. Audience participation was high, so much so that a group of girls jumped up on stage to dance and generally draw attention to themselves. They were quickly dispatched by a rather stern looking bouncer and the gig stepped up a gear with the aptly titled Girl Can’t Dance followed by Mandy and Me, a favourite of mine. After a few songs from his early album, including You Can't Rap, he rounded the show off with Watch the Sun Come Up, his newest single.

A performance full of energy, with a crowd who gave him an equally energetic reception. Brilliant.

22 Music

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Album Reviews Zero 7 Yeah Ghost

6

Ross Fisher IF you ever wondered what a Thom Yorke album would sound like if you removed all the conventional instruments, you might well find your answer here. From the first lunging chords, to the last dying hum, Yeah Ghost is awash with just about every kind of strange noise you could ask for.

Codeine Velvet Club Codeine Velvet Club

7 Richard Warrell LET'S get the namedropping out of the way: This is a side project by Jon Fratelli and Lou Hickey.

John first made a splash in music as singer from – take a wild guess - The Fratellis. Their reed-thin brand of indie pop never impressed or excited me, so it was relieving to discover that CVC's sound sits comfortably between The Kinks, T-Rex and 50s Hollywood rock 'n' roll.

However, whilst this is fun, it isn't easy on the ear. Like a disc packed with samples and then put on random, it is a fiendish concoction that requires you to dedicate either your full concentration or almost none of it.

In all fairness we do love Zero 7 and they have produced some really interesting material in the past. What's more, there are some really good tracks on this album; it's just that, when it comes to kicking back in your room and putting a CD on, this is really not the sort of thing that you will be reaching for.

For all that it is an interesting album, and the artwork is really cool.

Certainly worth a listen, even if you don't stretch to the purchase.

The two singers work together well but the production is the key factor in defining their sound.

Glam rock jingles combine with large synthesised strings to create a full, resonating sound that dwarfs indie minimalism in scale. One can't help but feel Fratelli sounds more at home here than in his day job in this environment, playing with enthusiasm and passion.

Songs often threaten to fall into generic indieisms, but tend to surprise you and continue to be engaging. The guiltiest of this is album opener Hollywood – a track that sounds carefully designed to seduce Fratellis fans.

Check out The Black Roses for a better representation of the group. The album cannot compete with the classic artists it apes, but is a worthy pick-up and refreshing to hear from a modern band.

Massive Attack Splitting The Atom EP

7 Noel Byrne THIS EP is essentially a release to pass the time and preview new material from Massive Attack's forthcoming LP, and only four songs appear on this, two of them remixes. The most striking thing about this EP is that it sounds very 'Massive Attack', with hardly anything new on offer. Massive Attack seem to have adopted a style similar to their smash hit Levi Roots Red Hot

7 Edwina Moorhouse ONCE in a while, an album absolutely shatters any preconceptions I had previously held. For someone who could only conjure up Bob Marley when pressed for a reggae artist, and only knows who Levi is because of being a Dragon's Den addict, I thought I'd made a mistake by agreeing to do a review. I was pleasantly surprised to find the first song, Share Love, not making me crawl up the walls.

Mezzanine album for this release. While songs like Splitting the Atom and Pray for Rain are defiantly moody and brooding, it's been done before... by the same band. The remixes continue the sombre yet hopeful tone of the EP and provide a sneak peek at forthcoming album tracks, how heavily manipulated these tracks are by the remixers we don't know yet, but they fit in well here.

The standout track is definitely Pray For Rain with a fantastic vocal performance from TV On The Radio lead singer Tunde Adebimpe. Creating an atmospheric six minutes mixing powerful vocals and a subtle bass building to a haunting crescendo towards the end. This EP is interesting to the uninitiated, but for fans it might seem a little too familiar.

Hockey Mind Chaos

With its relaxed tempo and gentle vocals it's the sort of 'Sunday morning music' that we all have a guilty pleasure for.

I'm not saying the whole album is something your local masseuse or yoga instructor would have on repeat. The songs vary and develop from mellow reggae to heavier rhythms and vocals. Roots has managed to embrace the genre, make it accessible and, as clichéd as it sounds, does reflect what the press release calls 'his insatiable passion for the music'. Despite the instrumental having a distinctively similar sound across the album, it is not repetitive.

Reggae fans will in no way be disappointed with the entrepreneur's musical venture and neither will people who are unfamiliar with this music. Not only can this man make fantastic bbq sauce, but he can sing too.

Mumford & Sons Sigh No More

7 Jonathan Warrell THE debut album from Oregon's rising stars incorporates plenty of different styles and sounds, using sprightly synth lines, dry throaty vocals and folky guitars, all coming together to produce the rather aptly named album Mind Chaos.

Many of the songs on this album have a definite feel of The Virgins or even The Strokes about them.

10 Rachael Hogg EVERYBODY needs a bit of folky goodness in their lives. This is expertly delivered by four-piece London band, Mumford and Sons on their debut album Sigh No More.

The title track sets up the album wonderfully.

It is strikingly simple, opening with stunning four-part harmony, which grows into a driving and heart-warming climax.

White Blank Page's waltzlike rhythms will have

But to say Hockey have just copied these artists would be unfair; they have simply used these styles to create catchy songs, which, in the most part, are very listenable.

Using this idea, they have created an album with a number of potentially big hits.

However, in the relatively few cases where they have tried to create an original sound, it doesn't seem to have completely worked out.

The mix of keyboard and acoustic guitar in Work, disappointingly, fails to produce as clean a sound as other tracks on the album.

Despite that, Mind Chaos should be watched carefully. It's only a matter of time before you find yourself humming one of its catchy tunes.

Decent songs, but nothing too original. you swaying along, and Timshel's haunting vocal harmonies will have you mesmerised.

With the array of instruments heard on Sigh no More (four vocalists, three guitars, two drummers, piano, organ, double-bass, banjo, dobro, and mandolin) the sound is obviously going to be an interesting and varied one!

Their sound is similar to artists such as Fleet Foxes, Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale, but I believe that Mumford and Sons will appeal to a wider audience due to the rawbeauty and remarkable nature of their sound.

A perfect contrast between some truly heartwrenching moments and a good-ol' fashioned, well-mannered hoedown.

Sigh No More is a breath of fresh air in today's generic-Indie swamped charts. A beautiful album, for beautiful moments.

Spotlight On... The illegal downloading saga

Photo: Erica Anne Vernon

Jessica Blackburn literally burns with a heart that is, most definitely, black.

YOU might have noticed that over the summer several people have declared war on illegal music file -sharing. You might not

care, but you probably should. It was sparked by the news that Peter Mandelson had been gallivanting on holiday with

certain record company executives (Geffen) and then, lo and behold, suddenly he's supporting the Government's 'threestrike' proposal of cutting off offenders' internet.

You only needed to sit down, make some popcorn and wait for the artists themselves to weigh in on the debate. This time it was Lily Allen. Whatever your opinion of her, she's relatively well-spoken and passionate about her job (it could have been much worse). In her several blogs on the subject she argues that there are many ways of listening to music for free and that 'file-sharing is not okay for British music. We need to find new ways to help consumers access and buy music legally, but saying file-sharing is fine is not helping anyone and definitely not helping British music.'

The Featured Artists Coalition, featuring successful bands such as Radiohead and Pink Floyd, seemed initially opposed to the Government's proposal, insinuating that artists would benefit if their music was downloaded because of the additional promotion. They later back-tracked after Lily Allen pointed out that filesharing 'is great if you're a big artist at the back end of your career with loads of albums to flog to a new audience, but emerging artists don't have this luxury'.

As Allen pointed out, it is new music that bears the biggest brunt of illegal file-sharing. And yet, for someone whose career was launched by the very people who (probably) have been downloading music this whole time, she ends up between a rock and a hard place. On the

other side of the scale, a lot of bands actually make more money from playing gigs than selling albums.

There's a reason why your favourite band has been touring more and it isn't just for the groupies and free beer.

Then god-awful James Blunt weighed in, was as pretentious as usual, and offered this gem support: 'she's asking British musicians to galvanise over a serious crime: the death of a great British industry — our music business.'

Yeah, I know, he's saying the exact same thing as everyone else. The difference is that I couldn't care less about his music.

Yes, downloading music for free is wrong. Students are possibly among the worst offenders in this region, more likely to spend twenty quid on a night out than bother to buy a CD. Spotify has

made listening to music easier but more frustrating- I'm not about to waste £10 a month just to get rid of the ads, are you? I'd rather spend my money on gig tickets and maybe buy a band a couple of drinks.

Some bands have managed to gain fans by offering their music for free.

Yes, Radiohead have done it, but they can afford to.

A lesser-known band, Empires, released their debut album last May for free on their website weareempires.com and it enabled them to get a wider fanbase than just their Chicago support.

Treating music as a free commodity is a mindset we need to rid ourselves of so just try to swap downloading for Spotify. The ads might even get less annoying over time.

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

A big hello from Alex and Jess!

THIS has been an exciting week for us Lifestyle ladies. Alex has been admittedly getting a tiny bit too inebriated and falling asleep in O2 Academy toilets. Note to self; napping is not a cure for drunkenness. Jess, on the other hand, has been getting her fill of cultural stimulation at a rather different Bluegrass gig this week.

It was a bit like watching your weird uncle play air guitar at a family do.

In this issue of Lifestyle we've realised we mention X Factor an unhealthy amount but when it's that dramtic and the boys this year are THAT good-looking it's worth it's weight in mentions.

This week we feature articles on up and coming autumn trends straight off the catwalks of London Fashion Week.

Our debate this week discusses whether or not you can tell your other hal that you don't like their friends; Vanessa Say warns us of the dangers of over indulging in Galaxy and Cheeseburgers; the fabulous Vriony Sing helps us stear clear of dodgy landlords and we get some advice on dressing for your body shape.

And let's not forget good old Fierce and Finished, letting us know what's hot and what's not!

Bye! (Time for cocktails)

Lifestyle

Catwalk: High fashion: for students Heather Maxwell As any dedicated fashionista knows, London Fashion Week is the place to be for all the inside info on the up and coming trends, and what a beautiful occasion it was this year, with all the great British fashion houses such as Burberry and Vivienne Westwood, putting on a stunning show.

However, being a student, it can be problematic to follow these trends to the extent that one would like. Firstly, there is the slight issue of the old overdraft, buying the new season Balmain stripey top that Cheryl Cole herself is lusting over would set me back my entire overdraft, leaving precious little for food and rent. Secondly, some of the gorgeous pieces you see aren't entirely appropriate for university attire (fancy teetering around campus in Christopher Kane six inch studded ankle boots anyone?!).

Therefore, it is essential, when you are a student, to pick and choose the looks which you will be coveting this season, and so I have come up with a few key trends which are perfectly Selly Oak friendly.

So, glitterbugs, you can rejoice, as sequins were hot on the catwalk this year. From Vera Wang to Gucci and Michael Kors, sequins well and truly sparkled.

Perfect for

those nights at Gatecrasher, sequins are one style that we students really can experiment with.

On the high street, Topshop have achieved this fabulously, with hot pants, blazers, and leggings all being given the twinkle treatment, and for tighter purse strings, H & M have followed suit with

a few dresses that can be worn in the evening, accessorized with a fur shrug for vintage cocktail glamour. Try mixing up your sequins with different materials, such as leather, denim and even feathers for a wow factor.

The second trend that we can fully embrace is the switch from stilettos to flats.

Thanks to Vivienne Westwood and Twenty8Twelve (brainchild of the gorgeous Sienna Miller and her sister), flats have shed their frumpy image and become the footwear of the recession, enabling us to forgo taxis and cars in place of public transport and walking. Lindsay Lohan and Geri Halliwell have recently been spotted in sneakers and, Anna Wintour, of all people, was photographed at a party in New York in a pair of white leather mules.

Remember, fashion isn't just about following all the latest trends to the word, good style comes from the ability to pick and choose according to your means and lifestyle and knowing what suits you. For example, petite shapes will rock the sequin hot pants, whereas taller girls will welcome the ballet pump with open arms and no one, not anyone, suits thigh high PVC boots à la Stella McCartney...

Sienna Miller's fashion label - Twenty8Twelve

There are two things that differentiate us lads from the ladies - one of these differences is anatomical, the other is emotionaland lads, sometimes we need to talk these things through. As a rule of thumb, we blokes rarely make a fuss, we rarely bitch and we rarely panic.

So when the worst happens and your girlfriend’s mates give you the glare, stay calm and stay civil.

Don't confront them as this will only make the situation more uncomfortable than it already is.

Cause a stir and everyone will feel far more awkward than an adolescent with a badly timed erection. We've all been there!

Don't change how you act as your girl will notice this sudden change of character and know something is wrong. It will also send across a strong signal to her mates that their

opinions are of little consequence to you and your relationship with your lass is stronger than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Talk to your girlfriend if you believe it's starting to affect your relationship. In most cases her friends have already aired their distaste and she'll know that there's a 'situation'. It could well be a simple misunderstanding… or a major problem.

Either way the passive aggressive approach will only work for so long my friends.

The key thing to remember is that a relationship by definition is between two people.

Friends on both sides are important but aren't the be all and end all. If you've tried to solve the problem and your girlfriend's mates still don't like you then it's not the end of the world. Do what we lads do best and just get on with it.

Fierce Shoulder pads - yes the 80s are back with a vengance! Be brave and head to Topshop!

Stephen Gately - perhaps not as appreciated as he should have been, but definitely a 90s icon.

Olly Murs and Joe McElderry! Lots of eye candy on this years X Factor- several inappropriate crushes being developed as we speak!

Jude Hill - our very own Redbrick stud muffin, he's got the girls all hot under the collar!

Alexandra Burke - after Sunday's X Factor performance, she's back up there!

Pale skin - summer's over boys and girls, so now let's embrace our natural skin tone. We're pale and we like it!

Fashion Blogging - blogging is the new 'buying magazines'. Fashionable, relevant and available at the click of a mouse. Some of our faves include sisterthursday.blogspot.com, thisbirdcage.blogspot.com and thesoundavenue.blogspot.com.

Feelunique.com - thousands of beauty products at your fingertips + free delivery = no need to even leave your sofa. Perfect.

The Toy Hearts - this family based bluesgrass band is certain to bring sexy back to good old Texan blues music. Check out Sian Gray's review of them in the Arts and Culture section.

Winter Coats - a good winter coat should be an investment so go on a guilt-free spree.

Finished Dannii Minogue - after her bitchy and irrelevant comments on Saturday night I think most would agree that she has somewhat dropped in our estimations.

John and Edward- what the f**k? What else is there to say?

Debate: Don't like your partner's friends? Do you tell them? Craig Owen and Sarah King investigate.

Guy's opinion:

23

Girl's opinion: When it comes to telling your other half you can't stand some of their friends, is honesty really the best policy? In my eyes, certain things within your relationship should remain unsaid, for very good reasons, especially when it involves your partner's nearest and dearest. It's just like in Friends when Janine, Joey's new date riskily reveals she hates Monica as she's too loud and Chandler because he's 'blah'. Shortly after she finds herself boyfriendless, and I can definitely see why. If my boyfriend told me he finds spending time with my friends an excruciating experience, he may have to follow in Janine's footsteps. After all, they're the people I have shared some of the happiest and hardest moments of my life with.

But the question is; what's the answer to this tricky situation? Well it's

probably not the most moral choice, but it's got to be to lie. There we go, I said it, feel free to judge.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should say, 'They're amazing, so funny, can't wait to see them again', when in fact you're distraught that you've just lost 4 hours of your life. More like a slight bend of the truth, a white lie that not only saves their feelings but most likely your relationship.

And if you can't do that, well, then prepare for the consequences. So there we have it, perhaps honesty isn't the best policy.

Our constant references to X Factor - for those of you not as in love with X Factor as we are, we apologise for our enthusiasm.

Waiting to be served! I spent a ridiculous 20 minutes waiting to be served in Gunnies on Friday- it's madness: I do not like having to wait for my alcohol; it should just be given to me for free, on a silver platter being carried by a half-naked Rob Pattinson look alike ... Hmmm.

Freshers Week - yes it's over! Now we can finally rest our poor abused alcohol filled bodies.

Hangovers getting worse with age - why did no one warn us about this? There was a time, not so long ago, where I could bound out of bed after a night of alcohol fuelled debauchery and happily skip into my 9am lecture; well not anymore. After just two glasses of pinot I now have to spend the following morning/afternoon/evening wallowing in a self-pitying duvet coccoon.

Actually having to do work for our degrees - the lazy days of casually pretending to read have been replaced with terrifying words such as 'assessments' 'dissertation' and 'deadlines'. We are not impressed.

Girls who insist on getting their legs out when it's a freezing cold morning- please put them away, I'm wearing thermals over here.

Remember to comment on any of our articles that you have an opinion on at www.redbrickonline.co.uk

24 Lifestyle

An apple a day: The worst 'F' word

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

Issue: Terrorised Tenants Briony Singh

Vanessa Say So we all do it; calorie counting, fat watching... truth is, all it's good for is inspiring guilt. I regularly look at the nutritional information of some undoubtedly unhealthy food, exclaim in outrage at its horrendous calorie count, and continue with eating it anyway...Clearly this is not a particularly effective method for weight control if, like me, you're doing it completely half-heartedly and hoping for the best.

The unfair truth is that women tend to store more fat subcutaneously, i.e. directly under the skin, while men hide it more around their organs. Brilliant. So what should we do to avoid the dreaded 'F' word spreading around the midsection and ruining our social lives and shopping experiences?

Exercise training actually increases your ability to oxidise ('burn') fat both concurrently and, as some evidence suggests, while resting too – awesome. Most fat is used as a source of energy at approximately 62 per cent of your maximum heart rate. For us 20-somethings that's around 125 - 130 beats per minute, which is low-moderate intensity exercise. So before you attempt extreme sprinting on a treadmill for all of a sustainable one and a half minutes, be aware that you can actually lose more body fat with lower intensity long-duration exercise; much less painful and less potentially embarrassing, reducing that fear of somebody you know spotting you at the gym red-faced, out-ofbreath and sweaty.

The type of exercise you choose to do may also be important. Recent research by one of our own Sports Science lecturers, Asker Jeukendrup, and colleagues, found much to my despair that running was more effective at burning fat during exercise than cycling...

Didn't you just know that exercising whilst sitting down was too good to be true? Typical.

A little tip for maximising fat-busting during exercise is to avoid eating any carbohydrates in the hours leading up to a gym session, perhaps achieved best by going in the morning. This will result in a reduced reliance on carbohydrates for fuel, as there's less available, and instead your wobbly bits (fat stores) become the bodies predominant fuel source.

Approach 'low fat' foods with caution (not literally); it's not always that straightforward.

Samuel Klein, a professor of medicine and nutrition at Washington University proposes: 'If you reduce the fat, you have to replace it with something' either for taste or to replace fat's richness; the food industry may use sugar. The ingestion of high levels of carbohydrate stimulates the hormone insulin which not only is responsible for the conversion of excess carbohydrate into fat, but also inhibits the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of fat stores in the body.

For this reason, it is suggested that highly refined carbohydrates (sugar) may actually be more to blame for rising obesity levels than fat, bless it.

Of course, not all fat is bad for you either; essential fatty acids are necessary for maintaining healthy cardiovascular, immune and nervous system function. Foods we might actually consume that contain these essential fats include: salmon, tuna, cod, houmous, some margarines (look for a label boasting this) and eggs, specifically their yolk.

And so to conclude, try to follow this simple advice: exercise, beware of misleading food jargon, and love the good fat.

Landlords. Yes that's right; a term that may strike fear and frustration into many who have chosen to live off campus this year. Unfortunately for myself, I am amongst the ranks of disgruntled students with a less than helpful landlord.

I have just begun my second year here at Birmingham and I can safely say getting my landlord to do, well, anything, has been remarkably akin to pulling teeth. Now I am not about to go on a bitter rant condemning evil landlords (or landladies – yes they are lurking out there) and their wicked ways. However, as much as you dress it up, we are students and as such we are regrettably stigmatized as easy targets for dodgy landlords.

If you have been messed around by your landlord, rest assured you are not the only one; it is nothing personal. I have had numerous dire experiences with my landlord, the most frustrating of which is his uncanny ability to magically disappear when I need something

fixing. When he eventually reappears and returns my calls, he promises to come round 'later that day'. In landlord terms this means sometime between 9 and 11pm the following week. I feel like a desperate schoolgirl haranguing a neglectful boyfriend. When he does finally surface (after I’ve just snuggled down to watch a bit of 4oD) he completely denies the existence of any problems I have. Of course there is no damp in my room: the musty smell is completely normal. And - silly me!

- the black spots in the corner of the walls aren't mould, they are 'just dirt'.

Wonderful. With instances such as this, if a landlord tries hard to convince you there is not a problem, most likely there is and yes, it is his responsibility to fix it! Do not be afraid to put your foot down.

Remember: he or she is secretly cackling at how much money they are squeezing out of you. The least they can do is their job.

Taking a step back for a moment I will concede that some landlords are honest and will be as helpful as they have to be.

However, from personal

and collective student experience, it makes sense to be a bit wary when looking to rent for the first time. Here are a few friendly 'do's' and 'don'ts' I have collated to help any curious fresher or aggravated returner when dealing with the more slippery individuals: DO know your rights!

As cliché as it sounds, you have the power, so find out how you can exercise it if needs be. Check out the housing section of the council website; that should steer you on the right track. (http:// www.birmingham.gov.uk/ housing) DO read your contract. Many don't and then

end up paying for their landlord's new TV. DON'T let your landlord use you as a doormat.

Especially us girls; they seem to think we are more 'naive' than guys. WRONG. He or she has the responsibility for the maintenance of your house, so if something's wrong it is their job to fix it, not yours.

DON'T forget when looking at a house, make sure you see every room.

Don't take the 'Sorry this one is locked' excuse, because it could have a rather large slug infestation, but don't worry, they aren't bothersome house guests.

Body: Dressing for your shape Jennifer Morris Georgina Ratnatunga the start to the new academic year saw me browsing the Bullring to update and inspire my A/W wardrobe. However, as I was wandering around empty -handed, flashbacks of an article titled 'It's all about legs' hit me and looking around, the realisation sunk in: it's legs, legs and more legs this season.

Being a firm pearshape, dressing the lower half has always been somewhat of a disaster.

Despite this, I fool myself into believing that this dress I've been eyeing up might not look too short on…of course the sneaky flash of underwear and uncontrolled wobble that's present as I move about in front of the mirror confirms that there is no way I can pull this off.

What happened to the days when men would fall on their knees at a glance of a sexy ankle? Shopping has turned into a nightmare for those attempting to stuff a womanly body into the recent trends of body con dresses, highwaist skirts and jeggings.

It seems that the fashion world is currently being particularly harsh on those with sizable thighs and some junk in the trunk. I can only find

comfort in the truth that whilst the hems are getting higher, the wind is getting stronger meaning tights are becoming a favoured accessory to make an outfit more acceptable for all shapes.

For Jen, the problem lies further north. Being an ample-bosomed girl, dressing day-to-day can become a bit of a nightmare. Indeed, you want to wear the strapless-dresses or teeny camisoles but sometimes a bra is just necessary if you want to avoid knocking out an unsuspecting passer-by.

Even if I find a rare top which accommodates the bangers without it being too baggy round the tummy, it's hard to avoid looking kind of slutty. It's a shame that having big boobs can have this effect, even in day-wear: 'that woolly polo-neck makes you look like a whore' – it could happen!

Like Georgie, I just wish the shops would pay more attention to the tailoring of their clothes sometimes. I don't want to have to sacrifice wearing a fitted top or tight dress. In theory you’d think living in a house of five girls we would be in material heaven, but the truth is every night we run wildly round each other's wardrobes before eventually retreating back to our

own room where we know our safe choices are. The reality is no matter what shape you are, the art of dressing nowadays is not really about being up to date with the latest catwalk trends, but more about understanding your own lumps and bumps and embracing them to

create your own style.

If you would like to comment on this article or give us your own style tips, you can become part of the debate by registering for our brand new website at www.redbrickonline.co.uk.

26 Sport Lacrosse take first step towards title

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th October 2009

Women's Lacrosse Birmingham v Edinburgh 10-4 Jessica Blackburn LACROSSE has often been called the fastest sport on two feet and this is definitely the impression that came across during the women's 1st team's 10-4 defeat against Edinburgh.

Wednesday saw the team's first competitive fixture in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) Northern Premier League season and, despite club captain Ellie Sayers calling the opponents 'a very strong team', Birmingham were quickly out of the traps.

Despite losing the initial toss-up, the home side pulled no punches and managed to score twice in the first few minutes with a third goal within the first ten.

After a fourth goal in the first fifteen minutes, this one by Kirsten Lafferty, Edinburgh finally managed to get possession long enough to attempt a launch at goal but succeeded only in a couple of dire misses, with ViceCaptain Rosie Townsend missing an open goal.

Jamie Lawrence got Birmingham's fifth after an extended bit of offensive dodging and quick footwork.

Soon after, Lafferty put pressure on Edinburgh's goalie once again but she managed to save it at the last second.

Notably, Edinburgh's Megan Folley was so busy shouting at her team that she made quite a few stupid fumbles, dropping the ball at crucial moments for her team and enabling

Birmingham to get possession back. This allowed Lizzie Sharp to get her first goal of the match, bringing the score to 6-0 at half time.

In the second half, Edinburgh improved and Rosie Townsend orchestrated an attack to reduce the deficit to 6-1. However, soon after, Birmingham were chasing their opponents once again with Kirsten Lafferty earning a free shot after

being blocked, bringing the score to 7-1. But once again Edinburgh hit back and captain Sophie Sweerts managed a second goal which was quickly followed by a third and Birmingham's lead was closed further to a still rather impressive 7-3.

Possibly the best goal of the match followed with goalie Cat Gaunt saving another shot from their rivals and passing swiftly, first to Lafferty who threw

Even some desperate Edinburgh defence could not prevent a Birmingham victory

to Alice Bruynseels who managed to pass to Palfrey who slammed the ball home. Shortly after there was another example of the fast throwing with Lafferty once again passing to Lizzie Sharp who put the ball straight past the keeper into the goal bringing the score to 9-3.

Sixteen minutes from the end Lawrence managed her third goal of the match, with a free shot after being hit on the head

Photo: Tom Clarke

whilst being checked.

After a minor delay whilst players from both teams were injured, Edinburgh's Sweerts scored a second time by circling round behind the goal and taking advantage of a hole in Gaunt's defence to bring up the finishing score of 10-4 to Birmingham.

New coach Dave Abini has seemingly had a postive impact on the team who have benefited from his existing knowledge of those that have worked with him in the Senior Women's World Cup. He's a strong figure of authority and much better than having to coach ourselves,' says Lawrence.

Team co-captain Jamie Lawrence was confident about their chances before the match and was equally pleased afterwards. 'In the second half we sort of fell asleep a little bit and let them have four goals which we really shouldn’t have.' She was also pleased with the way that the new members of the team performed noting that, 'we’ve got a lot of new freshers so they’ve really shown us what they’ve got'.

The performance and result certainly bodes well for the coming season and the team's next challenge when they meet Loughborough on the 11th of November, where they will look to avenge their loss in the BUCS finals last year.

Williams inspires Brum as table tennis seal tight win Men's Table Tennis Birmingham v UEA 9-8 Oli Sly THERE was optimism amongst the new look University table tennis side as they lined up against difficult opposition in the form of the University of East Anglia on Wednesday afternoon at the Munrow Sports Centre.

The hosts got off to a solid start, Mark Williams looking focused as he swept to a comfortable 11-6 victory in the opening game against Long Zhang. The visitor showed more fight early on in the second, but it was Williams who prevailed once again showing control and patience as he accelerated away from Zhang to take the second game 11-5 before securing the home

side's first win of the afternoon by clinching a tightly fought third game by 12 points to 10.

Birmingham then doubled their advantage over on Table 2, as captain David Walton kept his nerve against the visiting Chris Heathcroft in a five game thriller, with the skipper claiming the decider 11-4.

Birmingham could have pulled further in front if it was not for Sam Collins unbelievable fight back against debutant Michael Lowden. Lowden's excellent groundstrokes powered him into a two game lead and 10-7 up in the third before he squandered four match points to hand Collins the third set.

Lowden struggled to recover and although continuing on the offensive, Collins' excellent defensive play from deep behind the back of the table continued to frustrate his opponent. Collins then swiftly took the fourth and fifth as East Anglia pulled one back.

The visitors were soon level, the excellent Matt Haynes comfortably beat-

ing Hampshire player Ed Slot to level at 2-2.

With the momentum having swung towards the away side, it was for captain Walton to try and stop the rot, as he raced into a two game lead over Zhang, but a lapse in concentration let the Birmingham players opponent equalise to take it into a decider. Both players were fired up, but it was Walton who raced into an 8-4 lead, before handing the initiative right back to his opponent by conceding 5 consecutive points.

A captain's performance was now required and was duly delivered as Walton kept his cool to claim the fifth 11-9.

Over on the parallel table, East Anglia's Haynes again ran riot, not once but twice, this time claiming a straight game victory over skipper Walton after cruising past the seemingly out of form Lowden. But credit to the Derbyshire county player as he battled back in his next game against Zhang to produce his best performance of the afternoon as he beat Zhang in four sets.

With the home side trailing 5-4, enter Mark Williams, Birmingham's man of the afternoon sealed a vital victory over visiting captain Collins in a full five game contest, before overcoming an early wobble to sail past Chris Heathcote to pull the home side back in front. Ed Slot then added to Heathcote's loss tally via a 3-0 drubbing, helped nicely by some masterful interchange of length and pace on the offence, whilst frustrating Heathcote further through some excellent back of the court recoveries.

Despite Haynes' 100% record, victories for Walton and Slot pushed Birmingham over the finishing line to land themselves a 9-8 victory on the opening day of their campaign.

Against strong opposition early in the season, Birmingham showed their clinical side and won the vital matches when it really mattered. If this victory does not translate into optimism for the upcoming season, then a win against Loughborough next week.

Birmingham's aggressive attacking in full flow Photo: Robert Senior

Sport

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

27

All smiles as Tennis girls beat Warwick Women's Tennis: Birmingham v Warwick 9-1

James Phillips THE University of Birmingham's women's tennis team were victorious against their Warwick counterparts at the Priory Tennis Club this Wednesday, winning 9-1 overall in the Midlands Division 1A matches.

In their first game of the season, captain Faye Dixey and her team-mate Laura Gilbert won their doubles match 8-6 against Warwick's captain Carla Keenan and her partner Jennifer Holgate. Despite some good rallies, Essex born third year student Dixey and Gilbert found themselves 4-1 down after the first five games on indoor court one.

However, they turned things around with a comfortable win in the sixth game to reduce the deficit to 4-2 and, after impressive serving from Gilbert, won the next four in a row to claim a 6-4 lead. As it was an 'eight-match', it wasn't quite over and the Warwick girls fought back with consecutive victories, Lancastrian first year Holgate and her second year captain Keenan scraping through two tense games to draw level at 6-6.

There was no need for alarm though. With Dixey serving in game thirteen

W

the Birmingham girls won easily and, in the final game, Holgate failed to return a forceful hit from Gilbert confirming the 8-6 victory. Dixey was pleased with the overall performance, especially the five consecutive victories which took the score from 1-4 to 6-4 within minutes.

Unfortunately on Court two, second year Kerry Smith, originally from Bath, and first year debutant Marina Lavarello were left feeling hard done-by after losing 6-8 to Warwick’s Claudia Dahinter and Hollie Earnshaw.

The Birmingham team were unhappy with what they felt was not particularly fair play. Lavarello expressed her disappointment at losing the first game but looked forward to the chance to redeem herself in the singles match later on.

Following a short interval, the singles matches took place. First up was Gilbert taking on Warwick's tall, German player Dahinter on court one in a conventional best of three sets match. The home player battled to a well earned 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Gilbert started formidably, cruising into a 3-0 lead over her feisty opponent who was becoming audibly frustrated.

The set became more equal after the visitor pulled a game back, and from this point onwards the two opponents alternated games to take the score to 5-3 to Gilbert.

However, Dahinter won the next, despite Gilbert having the serve, to put the pressure on at 5-4.

However, Gilbert made sure the set didn't go on any longer an returned well to claim a first set

The Birmingham girls enjoyed their opening fixture of the season and produced some impressive displays despite some resiliant and at times frustrating play from their opponents Photo: Tom Flathers victory.

Second year Gilbert, originally from North Yorkshire, again started positively by winning the first two games of the second set after a couple of good rallies. Dahinter pulled one back for Warwick after going to deuce in the third set before the Birmingham player stormed into a seemingly unassailable 4-1 lead.

However, the fifth game was disrupted when

the two players had a strong disagreement as to whether a point had counted earlier in the game. A heated argument ensued leaving the players visibly hostile towards each other. When play resumed, Gilbert made no mistake with the game point.

Credit must go to Dahinter who didn't give up and fought back to 4-3 and 5-4 before a slightly flustered Gilbert regained her cool, winning the fi-

nal game impressively to claim a well-deserved victory to the delight of her onlooking team-mates.

Meanwhile on court two, captain Dixey had outplayed her counterpart Carla Keenan, crushing her 7-5, 6-0. Keenan was visibly disappointed in her performance and was overheard expressing that she needs to regain her match fitness.

Afterwards, on the outdoor courts, Lavarello

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Redbrick 1354

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Sponsored by Waterstone's at the University of Birmingham The prize this week is a £10 gift voucher from Waterstone's

Across

Down

1. Tanzanian mountainous volcano (11) 5. Opinionated, intolerant (8) 7. Endurance, vitality (7) 10. Bellows, spouts (5) 12. Excessive, exceptionally (5) 13. Clear, comprehensible (5) 14. Twister, typhoon (7) 16. Gustave ________, author of Madame Bovary (8) 18. Ancient, primeval (11)

1. Home stadium of Gloucester Rugby Club (9) 2. _____ Bennet, Pride and Prejudice character (5) 3. Significance, grandeur (9) 4. Monica ___, author of 2003 novel, Brick Lane (3) 6. ____ Seymour, mother of Edward VI (4) 8. Terry _________, author of Nightwatch (9) 9. Of equal measure (9) 11. Idol, hero (4) 15. Semi-aquatic mammal (5) 17. Harper ___, author of To Kill A Mockingbird (3)

took the opportunity to redeem herself, winning 6-1, 5-7, 10-8 against Holgate.

Smith also claimed victory in her game against Earnshaw, eventually winning a tight contest, 6-4, 7-6.

These victories rounded off an impressive 9-1 victory for Birmingham. The team will now take this winning form and confidence into next week's match when they face Cambridge 2nds away from home.

Last issue's solutions:

decathlon=yak i=o=a=o=ode== s=m=x=r=d=web gradient=j==u r==u==a=quail a==c=a=d=d==l c=thackeray=e e==e=t=n=i==t floss=l==s==p u==s=december leo=r=w=d=a=o ==who=i=g=b=o mel=disbelief Think you've cracked it? Pop your completed crosswords (and bribes, naturally) in to the Redbrick office with your NAME, COURSE, YEAR and EMAIL ADDRESS for a chance to win the £10 book voucher from Waterstone's at the University of Birmingham.

The deadline for the crossword is Tuesday 20th October 2009.

Last issue's winner was Amy Jones 2nd year, Law and French.

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28 Sport

REDBRICK 1354 / 16th OCTOBER 2009

SPORT

27 Tennis The girls secure a hard fought win over Warwick

25 Scott Quinnell Welsh rugby legend talks to Redbrick Sport

Yellow cards leave Birmingham red faced Men's Rugby Union 1st: Birmingham v Nottingham 18 - 25 Mesh Johal THE Men's rugby 1st XV were left disappointed having lost their first game of the season in the ‘Big Event’ against Nottingham.

In front of a vocal Bournbrook crowd, Brum's powerful pack dominated early proceedings against their Midland counterparts.

Number eight Stephan Cooksammy had a solid game, breaking the gain line on many occasions.

It was his break from a line out which helped set up the home team’s first try. Good support play from flanker Phil Wright enabled inside centre Lloyd Collier to crash over for the first score of the evening.

In control of affairs, Birmingham continued to cause the visitors problems, with a marauding run from Andy Robinson nearly helping the hosts extend their lead. However Nottingham hit back after a mistake saw the visitors win an attacking line out. Quick ball and a chip over the top saw the Nottingham winger show a good pace to touch down in the corner.

Still in the lead, Birmingham continued to be an attacking threat, with the impressive Robinson again causing problems

for the opponents. The combative Brum pack also showed their domination in the scrum and in open play, with neat interplay and offloading.

After the hosts were held up over the line, a break from the Nottingham inside centre concluded with a penalty which was duly scored by the visitor’s kicker.

Birmingham replied back instantly though, with full back Pat Gillham cutting a great line to open up the defence.

Decent support play from Collier and winger Nick Barrett nearly saw Brum score in the corner. Unable to touch down, it was left to Brody to slot a penalty in front of the post.

Leading 10-8, the hosts were hit with two body blows as forwards Alex Baines and Cooksammy were both sent to the sin-bin. With tempers flaring, it was the Brum pack that impressed again with a huge defensive effort to see off numerous Nottingham attempts at the line. However, their resistance finally crumbled as the visitors scored just before half time to lead 10-15 at the break.

Still two men down, Birmingham came out for the second half and seized the initiative, scoring through the boot of Brody, reducing the deficit to two points.

Yet again though, an individual run helped contribute to a Nottingham try. This time, an intricate run from the visitors fly half help set up a try underneath the posts.

Holding a 13-22 lead, Nottingham saw 'game point' after a fumble set up a great breakaway opportunity. With the winger in the clear and

the try line in sight, Birmingham’s Barrett raced the length of the pitch and pulled off a stunning try saving tackle. The inspired Bournbrook crowd again raised the noise levels in appreciation of the miraculous defending.

With renewed spirits, Brum produced some quality attacking rugby.

Another break from Cooksammy saw Birmingham within the oppositions twenty two. Quick ball finally enabled the backs to show their flair, and a great placed chip from Robinson nearly saw Brum score in the corner.

Birmingham’s pressure saw Nottingham have to attempt a penalty from the half way line, with the awful attempt scuffed well wide.

The Notts kicker did redeem himself however, slotting three points after scrum half Ed McKee was adjudged to have high tackled his opponent.

Even though 13-25 down, Birmingham do deserve credit for continuing to chase the victory.

Powerful prop Bill Mairs aggressive ball carrying helped give Brum a great attacking platform. Unfortunately the home side were again held up over the line, this time James Roach unable to ground.

Swift interplay between Cooksammy and Barrett then helped get Birmingham into great field position, but yet again poor execution saw Brum come up short. It seemed destined not to be Birmingham’s night.

When the home side did score, it was too late.

After line out ball was won

by John Taylor, a peeling run from Cooksammy saw him score near the post. With the conversion

Birmingham's efficient line out could not prevent defeat Photo: Tom Flathers missed, the final whistle blew with the score 18-25 to Nottingham.

Whilst disappointed to have lost the game, Birmingham will surely take confidence from a promising performance.

Club Vice-Captain Tom Dyke said afterwards, ‘Up front I thought we were a real handful tonight. We had aggression, power and weight which did affect Nottingham. The two men off did hurt but in saying that we were still competitive. The bitter

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blow was conceding just before half time’.

The performance was very much a team effort rather than any one individual standing out. During phases of the game, Birmingham were by far the better team but the inability to execute when the opportunities were available cost the team the game.

Dyke said, ‘I think we played well enough, we just didn’t get the rub of the green. Opportunities were there and we didn’t

take them. Had we gone in at half time leading, I think it would have had a massive psychological advantage. We needed to come out all guns blazing in the second half but it's hard to do that when your missing key players'.

With promising signs, Birmingham head north next week to play league leaders Leeds University.

Dyke, for one, can’t wait.

‘We’ve now got rid of the rust and I’m sure we will be very competitive next week against Leeds’.